abbazabba

Things you'd rather not see at a movie.

Fri, 25 Jul 2008 03:46:52 GMT

IMG00173
Originally uploaded by hattree

So me and a couple of friends drove about 40 miles away to see WarGames in a movie theater through Fathom events. When they're on the island looking for a boat the movie dies, and then this comes up. You can hear a female in the projection booth say "we've lost the satellite feed, I'll call the help desk."

20 minutes later it resumed where it had left off. 15 of those were staring at this active desktop error.

Movie

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 06:02:36 GMT

I went and saw The Dark Knight at the last show of the evening tonight. It was in the big theater, and I enjoyed it. I saw it alone, not because I wanted to; but because as per usual, everyone I know decided to see it with someone else. This is the way my life goes. Everyone else has some reason that their agenda is more important. I usually go along with it; but because I do, I often see movies alone.

What a long strange trip it's been.

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 05:01:47 GMT

Most of you know I lost my father about two and a half years ago. As a family, we came to a decision, and sold his pride and joy this past weekend, a truck came and took it away yesterday. It was though a piece of my life left with it.

That pride and joy of course, is the 1967 Plymouth Satellite that I can remember my dad purchasing after some 70's college kid had taken it to college. It had rust holes in the rear quarter panels, and the vinyl interior had started to tear. My father saw something in this car though.

Up till this point, he'd been driving a 1977 Dodge Charger SE. It was huge and white, and looked like Cordoba. Rich Corinthian Leather and all. This would have had to have been 1982 or 83, he had purchased the similar bodied 1967 Plymouth GTX that would remain in pieces for the entire time we owned it until he sold it 6 or 7 years ago. The Satellite though, was the car he would restore to near mint condition.

He found body panels that were from cars in Arizona, where there was no road salt or moisture for corrosion. He lovingly took all the trim off the car to have it re-chromed, from the badging to the bumpers. I can remember him being excited about finding a company who purchased the vinyl seat molds from Chrysler, and were making the seat covers again. He found a company that would fix the radio, a guy in Texas who had the controller to the factory air conditioning, and a company who made the loop nylon carpeting that would have come in the car. He had paint custom blended from several manufacturers to make the coppery tone that the car was originally painted. He maintained the original 3 tone paint scheme.

I can remember our dining room being filled with auto parts. My mom spending weekends painting the detail into the newly chromed hood ornament and other part with Testor's model enamel. More weekends than I can count included my dad driving 30 miles across town to a friend's service station to use the lift. Sometimes, he'd let me tag along.

It took about 2 or 3 years total, replacing systems and parts, body work, interior work, and even down to tracking down a replacement pasteboard glovebox liner, and rubber trunk mat in the original houndstoooth print.

The car ended up being a daily driver for him. He drove it all over the state. It became our family car. When other kids were piling out of minivans, and Tauruses, and Celebrities; my family was piling out of a 67 Plymouth that you could hear before you could see.

This would go on to be the vehicle I learned to drive in, and even drove for a temporary spell.

It would throw you back in the seat, and hold a curve like no other car I ever drove. It was made before shoulder straps. The ignition lock was on the dashboard. It was the coldest car air conditioning ever. The chrome vents would frost over.

The restoration started to show its age over time, and we'd have a few major repairs along the way. Dad's employment situation would change constantly for the last 10 years of his life. Most of this time included a lot of travel, and he moved on to the safety and convenience of a newer car, this time in 1997, a 1995 Grand Marquis.

The pictures below were taken a couple years ago, after cancer had taken my father, and we had decided as a family, that it was best to sell the car to someone who could appreciate it and take car of it. That journey took 2 years. We still have many parts to the car, nearly 50 boxes.

Nothing will replace the Mopar sound, or the look on my Dad's face when drove that car.

I have more pictures, but I'm sure that 3 will suffice. Now they're all I have of that time of my life.

alone on a sunday night

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 01:29:26 GMT

Not wanting another night alone in my apartment, I opted to go be alone at a movie. I saw Wall-E based on the hype. It left me sad. Now I sit in an O'Charley's eating alone. I just saw an old couple come in in bedroom slippers. It's storming outside. I'm going to have my salad now.

*sigh*

Sometimes, the original is better

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 04:40:16 GMT

Sometimes, people like the covers, and sometimes the originals are better. I've started posting some examples of where I feel the originals are better than covers by others. This is not to say that there are not situations where I prefer a cover, because sometimes, I like the cover version, but sometimes, the original is better!

Just the Two of us - Bill Withers/Grover Washington Jr.

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 04:38:08 GMT

Sometimes, the original is better.

Knocking on Heaven's Door by Bob Dylan

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 04:15:31 GMT

Sometimes, the original is better.

Venus by Shocking Blue

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 04:10:31 GMT

Sometimes, the original is better.

Dad

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 04:47:13 GMT

Dad
Originally uploaded by hattree

Thinking about how I miss Dad. He was silly, like I can be sometimes, but always happy. This is one of my favorite pictures I have of him. It's not a great quality picture, as this was scanned from an enlargement that was kind of dirty. It will never win any photo contests, but is one of my favorites, as it captures a moment I will always remember.

Sun, 22 Jun 2008 21:22:43 GMT

Often I feel like the friend in a box. I'm here for other's convenience. I wait patiently on a shelf to be called upon like a can opener, or a vacuum cleaner, only to be put away and forgotten when not needed.

FLOWERS!

Sun, 22 Jun 2008 02:41:27 GMT

FLOWERS!
Originally uploaded by hattree

I never once thought that I'd ever have flowers sent to me as long as I lived. At the age of 33, someone finally sent me some. I always thought I'd have to die first.

Double Wammy

Sun, 15 Jun 2008 15:54:04 GMT

Father's Day is always hard for me. It sneaks up like a snake waiting to strike. I'll be with one of my friends in some place like Wal-Mart or Target to get something like toilet paper or shampoo, and there it will be, a big display of "just in time for father's day" that knocks me over. I will predictably fall apart for a moment because the emotions ambush me. Then Friday, I'm in an urgent care center because I screwed up my shoulder. I look up at a TV and there is is, Tim Russert dead at 58. That's the age my dad was when he died. It totally took the wind out of my sails for a moment, and I almost collapsed. I'm fine with it of course, on reflection. It's just the sort of things that pop out of no where when you miss someone who's never coming back.

The Future

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 03:53:41 GMT

It occurs to me in this time of 103 degree day heat waves, gasoline teetering around four dollars per gallon, and prices of all goods skyrocketing; that I feel as though I have been lied to. As I've watched the infrastructure of our country fall into neglect, it occurs to me that promises for the future go unfulfilled. Where are our flying cars? Where are our domed cities with weather under control? Where are the supposed limitless supplies of energy? Where is the peace and understanding that will unite us as a race?

Maybe I grew up with a hippie influenced media. Perhaps I am too much of a cynic. Possibly, it's just my lack of a positive attitude.

It seems like society has gone on autopilot, and that we've peaked. Any of the good that may have come from the last century seems to be rapidly retreating.

It's upsetting.

Thu, 29 May 2008 04:48:40 GMT

I have a job title now, and a pay grade. Just waiting to find out what the pay grade means, who I'll be working for, and what exactly is expected of me. Just some small stuff.

Memories from Chicago

Wed, 28 May 2008 22:26:46 GMT

One of the things I did on my trip I did all alone. I did the most touristy ( and convenient) think I could think to do. On Saturday mid-day, I went to the Observatory of the John Hancock Center. It was similar to my memories of visiting the gallery of the Empire State Building, though indoors. A long trip through an elevator, being higher up than you're used to. Both times the air was clear, and it seemed you could see forever. One thing the Hancock Center has, that the Empire State Building doesn't, are the beautiful waters of Lake Michigan, which could only be described as cerulean. The views were spectacular, though the windows were dirty, and the outside portion was disappointing as there was a screen that ruined the photos. The line to leave was so long it looped back, and they only had one elevator running. It took me longer to get off the tower than on it. In the end, my group was shuffled into a service elevator, and let out of a loading area. It didn't matter, as I was hungry, and happy to get back to earth.

My hunger was sated by a smoothie from JambaJuice. A place I'd never seen or heard of.

Click here to see the cerulean waters of Lake Michigan.

Bear Pride pics

Wed, 28 May 2008 01:37:43 GMT

As promised some pics from my trip to Chicago. These are the pics of people I took (as opposed to the more touristy architectural shots I captured; which will follow later.)

I'm posting these for enjoyment, memory, and most of all, because they represent something to me.

I'm still composing my thoughts on a more complete post of my trip. For now, we'll find out if a picture really does speak a thousand words.

Bear Pride 2008

Mon, 26 May 2008 22:48:49 GMT

I made it home. I had a great time (except for the flight home.) I'll come up with some pics and stories at some point.

Mon, 26 May 2008 13:54:11 GMT

Marvelous

Flight's been delayed for "maintenance."

As if I wasn't nervous enough about flying a puddle jumper made in Brazil.

and your little dog, too

Mon, 26 May 2008 13:24:38 GMT

I'm sitting in a crowded gate in a forgetable decor at O'Hare contemplating my time spent in Chicago. In many ways it's been a window into a world that I'd never see in my home port of Richmond. Most of it was good, a few things not so much. I'll post more when I get home. One question though, wouldn't you have stayed in color instead of sepia?

Fri, 23 May 2008 05:21:24 GMT

I've confirmed my flight, and purchased an extra 5 inches of legroom. My hotel is booked, and I'm coming to Chicago tomorrow.

Email me at allenojackson AT gee mail dot com (figure it out)

Wed, 14 May 2008 04:36:00 GMT

I've booked my room in Chicago. I'll be staying in Chicago's "Magnificent Mile"

Call me Eleanor Rigby

Mon, 05 May 2008 05:41:16 GMT

For years I've had a problem going out by myself. I'm one that can famously be alone in a the middle of hundreds, thousands, even millions of people. In fact, it sometimes seems I feel more lonely the more people that are around. Normally I have friends that go out with me, and this isn't a problem. Lately my friends have been tied up with other things, mostly their respective mates. I think it's great that they've found someone. It doesn't hurt any less to be left alone.

If I go out by myself, I often feel like lines from a Smiths song when it's over. I don't know why I require the company of those I already know. It's bothering to me that I need the assistance, it just seems I need to be able to deal on my own.

I'm very worried about my trip to Chicago, where I only know a few folks. If I hadn't already bought the tickets, I probably wouldn't go. I would hate to put out the money and be simply lonely in another city.

Trip!

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 04:45:49 GMT

I'll be in Chicago for part of Bear Pride. I'll be there Friday night through the morning of Memorial Day. Anybody that's there who wants to meet up for a coffee or something, let me know.

Stuck in my head

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 04:43:05 GMT

I've had this song stuck in my head since the other day when it played on the radio. This was McCartney's first solo single after the Beatles. I like the way 2 stories are seemingly intertwined. I like the poppiness, yet unlikely nature of the subject matter. This song reached #5 in the U.S. in April of 1971.

17th Annual VCU French Film Festival...

Sat, 05 Apr 2008 21:06:48 GMT

Last weekend I spent 32 hours watching French Film in the largest French Film festival outside of France. Oddly enough, it's in a palace of 1920's movie palace excess here in Richmond, VA. It was really neat, and was my second year attending. All of the films have not been released domestically, and are specially subtitled for the festival. They also fly in directors, actors, etc. in the "French Delegation" for question and answer sessions after each screening. Most films are also receiving their North American Premier, and will most likely never make it to DVD or be seen again. That, at least for me, makes each festival a once in a lifetime experience. I highly recommend the experience to anyone who can get here for it. Check out their website for list of films screened for this year and years previous. I also saw the movie of the week at that theater, La Vie En Rose. I understand why she won the Oscar now.