The films that shape us

I remember being a kid and seeing a lot of different movies on TV, and watching home-taped VHS tapes that my dad made for me. I remember watching Beethoven 15 minutes at a time every morning before school when I was in early elementary. I remember renting Rock A Doodle Doo from Blockbuster, watching it so many times before it was due back that my dad connected two VCR's together and copied the tape for me (Looking back, I think he's one of my greatest influences when it comes to my skills of... Acquiring things) behind the original Batman movie he taped off of the Superchannel preview one holiday season, making a double-feature VHS for me. Movies like The Last Starfighter and The Navigator were a staple of the Family Channel holiday preview. I remember staying up late, hiding on the stairs, watching Star Trek. I remember seeing part of Star Wars on TV and asking my mom what movie it was. She told me what it was and was then shocked I didn't know (She doesn't remember this, but I sure do), then taking me to rent the original trology on VHS and watching through them all (almost in one sitting!) with me.

Indiana Jones. Jurrasic Park. The Jungle Book. 101 Dalmations. Ninja Turtles. WarGames.

There are a number of VHS tapes at my parents house that are barely watchable because I used them so much. A big collection of home-recorded movies (thanks dad), both from rentals and tv boradcast.

The movies we watch as kids shape the movies we love as adults. To this day, more than anything, I love adventure and science fiction. The thrill of adventure and the wonder of science fiction. My imagination was filled with possibilities.

I don't remember how old I was at the time, and I really didn't know what I had seen until I saw it again many years later as an adult, but I remember seeing part of a movie that was like nothing else. Glowing people inside a digital environment. I saw part of TRON, and it light up my mind like nothing else. I didn't know what to think, I didn't even know what I had seen. It wasn't the whole movie, maybe only 30 minutes of it, but it was one of the most amazing things I'd ever seen. It's a shame to say, but I only saw TRON for the first time in its entirety a few years ago, but it instantly went on my list of favourite movies alongside Star Wars and Shawshank. The sense of wonder in me it created is something that I'm not sure I can explain, but I'm sure many people can relate to. In hindsight, TRON helped spark an interest in computers and technology that permanently shaped who I am today. I think all of my friends would like to thank the producers for that inspiration.

Last night I saw TRON: Legacy, and it's the closest thing I've seen that's come close to creating that same sense of childlike wonder I experienced so long ago. Legacy is easily the most visually stunning movie I've seen in a long time, recaptured my imagination, and made me really hate reality. I absolutely loved seeing it, and would see it again in a heartbeat.

I'll be the first to say I've got a terrible memory. Trying to think back at the movies that helped shape who I've grown to be is an impossible task, I'll never think of them all. But as I watch old movies, I remember the ones I've seen and the ones I've loved. So many terrible movies from my childhood and I will watch over and over again. Nostalgia creates thick goggles, but I wouldn't have it any other way.

And I'm curious, what movies do you remember from childhood really shaped your tastes and who you are now? I wish I could remember back through the fog of my mind, maybe you can do better.

And for anyone who's wondering, a light cycle for Christmas would be radical.

November 17th, in which Steve had a sinus headache, watched a documemntary about Yoga, and thought about what he's doing.

In which he sits at home and wonders where to go and what to do. Not this evening or tomorrow or even on the weekend. In which he sits at home and wonders where to go and what to do, to assert himself and become great, or to stay at a level of being where he does not input more energy that it takes to walk. In which he sits at home and imagines what he may become, or what he may continue to be. In which he sits at home and hopes instead of taking action. In which he sits at home and wonders what could be and what has been. In which he sits at home and thinks of what has passed him by. In which he sits at home and has curiosity of the world around him which he has yet to explore. In which he sits at home and thinks of more reasons why he hasn't done thing than there are thing he hasn't done. In which he sits at home and thinks.

In which he sits at home.

The map to Adventure

Here's what I'm thinking. Saskatoon to Revvy: Like 13 hours. Revvy to Salmo: Like 4 hours. Epic road trip to Shambhalla that includes a visit with Erik and Liz: Timeless.


View The road to Shambhalla in a larger map

Had a dream

I had a dream last night and I keep remembering parts of it as I see things today. Here's what I've got so far:

I think we were camping, in a big trailer, I'm not sure where. Nick, Braden, Will, Tony, Corey, Cheap, pretty much all of 613 and their girls. And Ryan too. The trailer was really long and kinda wide, almost like one from a trailer park, but in the woods. Maybe we were at the lake. I think that makes sense. Before I was in the trailer I was outside, on my cell phone, I had a new iPhone 4. I was talking to Tabi and she kept commenting on how clear I sounded, and I did the same. I'm not sure what we talked about. After I hung up I went inside the trailer, and everyone was sitting down about to eat lunch. I remember Kraft Dinner and hash browns. I sat down on the floor for some reason, and then I heard Stacey's voice. I stood up, and saw the Aussies. I yelled something and they looked my way, then Sarah ran towards me and I gave her a gigantic hug. We all talked, though I'm again not sure what about, and then we all went outside without eating anything. There was music, I don't know what kind, just that there was music, then there was a white light and that's it.

I could feel overwhelming happiness the entire time. There was absolutely no negative energy the entire time, I felt great. Everyone was excited and happy, and it was just amplifying how I felt. It was amazing.

That's all I've got for now, if I remember anything else I'll try and update it.

Diet experiment, March 2010 (Preview)

As many of my friends already know, I've been doing a little diet experiment through the month of March. Well, there's only three days left, so I'll be trying to do a writup on it when it's finished. I'll say right now that it's so far so good! I'll have a full premis and outcome written up, with all of my misadventures and keen discoveries. Until then, ciaoabunga!

An activity pledge to myself

I'm taking this from the Facebook note I wrote yesterday and slapping it here for prosperity sake. Enjoy!




Well, it's the new year, and I'm sure lots of people have made resolutions for 2010. One of my resolutions for this year is to be a lot more active, and get myself back to a practible level of fitness. I don't want to run a marathon or lift obscene amounts of weight, I just want to be healthy and be able to do what I used to be able to do without hesitation; bike for more than 5 minutes, run for more than 2, and lift myself more than a foot. Biking and climbing were my bread and butter when I was a kid, and I want to get back to that.

So, I'm pledging to myself to be more active this year, and I've tried to come up with a little regime to be able to do that. I've wanted to start running again for a while now, and going climbing with Jill ans Ann and Dan the other day really brought that back into my mind, I forgot how much I liked climbing. Anyways, this is what I've come up with for myself.

I'm on campus 5 days a week, and I've been wasting away the PAC membership we all have this school year, so I'm going to try and use it every day.

Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays will be cardio and endurance training. Running, rowing, cycling, and maybe some low-weight lifting. I need to strengthen up my cardio system so my muscles can actually recouperate when I'm lifting my heavy self up. And as it stands right now, I get a kittle winded walking up the Arts ramp on campus, and that's just not good.

Tuesdays and Thursdays are going to be strength days. I've never been into weight lifting, I don't know how to target muscle groups, and I've always found watching myself in the mirror to be way to self indulgent and superficial for my tastes. So, with inspiration from Jill and Ann the other day, I want to use wall climbing as a full body strength and endurance training workout. I like it for two reasons; first, I'm kindof heavy right now, so lifing myself around will be a great form of natural resistance.
Second, I'm a big fan of practical exercise. I think focusing on one or two muscles at a time is a little silly, and not really all that helpful in the real world. Climbing not only works most of my body at once, but it works it in useful ways, ways I can actually use in the world. Also, it's just down right fun.

I also want to start playing squash again, but I need a new squash partner. Graham isn't going to school this year so i'm down an opponent. I can also use squash as one of my cardio/endurance days, lots of running involved. Plus it's super fun, I think. Any kind of sport would be great, really.

Right now the only thing I need to do is take the climbing safety orientation at the PAC so I can start climbing at school, and maybe a partner to climb with would be handy too.

So that's step one to a happier Steve in 2010, the rest of the steps will take a little more work, but hopefully they shape up well. Overall I'm really looking forward to this year, it started great and has been going strong ever since. I hope everyone is looking forward to a great year as well, and will help me keep the good times rolling.

Mood: happy :)
Listening to: Hot Hot Heat on Sirius Alt Nation [can't find my Zune for work today :( ]
State of mind: forward thinking and excited