Early Morning in the Midwest

 Everyone tells me that Chicago is a wonderful city. I’ve heard ‘cleaner and easier to get around than New York’. I’ve heard ‘friendlier than Boston.’ ‘One of the best cities in America.’

And I’d like to believe that. I’d just also like to be able to come to Chicago when it wasn’t being dominated by weather that makes you regret being born.

Setting aside passing through the city’s two airports, this is my third trip to Chicago. All three have been for work and all three have been in the winter. This trip will have me here for about 40 hours, leaving little time to explore a city that had a wind chill of -20 yesterday and that is going to be covered in snow today and tomorrow, making my flight back an adventure I’m sure. Last time I was here I arrived at 10 in the morning and was back on a plane by 7 that same evening, a good chunk of time spent in traffic to and from O’Hare.

My first trip to Chicago, while working for a magazine in NY, was the best of the three trips. I got to go to some very good places for dinner. Granted, I did so via cabs as snow whipped up and down the streets of the city, making me feel like the whole city was in a snow-globe that wouldn’t stop moving. That trip could have been a lot better without the bone chilling cold, the snow and the emotional free-fall I was in upon seeing the IrishLass. Eventually I’ll tell that story. Just possibly not here.

I shouldn’t blame Chicago really. To me the city is like that person who you’ve been introduced to by mutual friends after hearing great stories about them. And part of you really wants to get into a decent conversation with them to see if everything you’ve heard is true and to see if you can be good friends with this new person. After all, considering the fantastic things you’ve heard, there’s a lot of potential there. But each time you try to talk to them, something comes up or you get cut off, leaving you not disappointed per se, but wondering if you have a good basis for a judgment or not.

Damn, it still isn’t 6 am yet here in Chicago and I’ve been about for an hour and a half already. Between the hour difference and everything that’s on my mind, my body couldn’t stay at rest.

So, we’ll see how the day treats me and if I can somehow find a way to have a decent conversation with Chicago.

Damn

I wanted my next post to be a much happier one, but it can’t.

My friend 5-7 (and especially now I’m not giving up his name) is in the hospital. The doctor’s think that its a form of viral pneumonia, but they’re not sure if that’s it and what else might be wrong.

His lung capacity is diminished to the point where he’s being assisted with his breathing. His heart is struggling to function and they have him sedated, heavily.

In some moments, I’ve lamented not being in New England anymore. All of those moments involved missing my friends… my second family.

That’s never been stronger or more true in my heart than today.

Get better my friend. I want my next trip back there to include me hugging you and telling you how happy I am to see you healthy.

If you’re inclined to pray, please offer some for my friend.

Geek Out: Things I’m Enjoying, This I Miss and Why the Writer’s Strike is Pissing Me Off

It’s been a while since I’ve had a geek out moment here and due to incredibly goofy geek theories I’m hearing lately – who the FUCK thinks that the Highlander series is one of the key inspirations for Angel – I feel the need to comment on various forms of entertainment that I’m salivating over or suffering through.

SPOILERS AHEAD: Turn back now if you don’t want to know…

Still there? Okay, here we go…

I Am Legend: I really enjoyed this movie. Yes, it was very different from the book (but so have the previous incarnations). And YES, the third act could have been stronger. But this movie was still very enjoyable and not so subtle reminder that Will Smith can actually act when you give him something to do other than look and act like an action hero. The stark manner that this story is presented in, saving the ‘action’ sequences for late in the movie in favor of a lot of quiet, atmospheric moments as Smith and his dog travel about the vacant New York City, really creates a story and a character that is grounded and compelling.

Had I made this movie (and yes, I’m arrogant enough to not only analyze stuff that I truly enjoy, but consider how it could have been improved…) I would have made Dr. Neville’s struggle with science, his faith and his guilt a little bit clearer. The science and guilt portions are easy enough to see, but since his faith plays a pivotal role in the choice he makes at the end, it needs to be crystal clear. That and it might have helped to get an actress with some (any) presence at all to debate God and destiny against Smith’s broken man at the end of the movie. After showing us how conflicted and deep Smith’s character was for two thirds of the movie, you need someone to walk into the story who makes us believe that they believe, someone who can own the moment enough to stand up to the stature of Smith in that moment and Neville’s story at the same time.

That and the plot hole big enough to drive a truck through about getting out of NY and getting to Vermont at the end are certainly issues they could have and should have fixed. But as critical as I’m being here, the fact that I still really enjoyed this movie and will likely buy it on DVD, should tell you how good it was overall.

Sweeney Todd: Yet another grim movie released for the holiday season. However, unlike the moments of hope and redemption at the end of I Am Legend, Sweeney Todd is a beautiful piece of misery. There are only the barest moments of actual happiness in this story and they are like flickering torches in the darkness of the hate, anger and betrayal that makes up this tale.

Tim Burton does a masterful job with the dark tale, adding touches that make you say “oh, a Tim Burton” movie without making those touches a distraction. It certainly doesn’t hurt when you have a cast full of incredible actors and singers. Helena, Alan and all the rest of the cast live in their roles, but Deep is once again the man. He makes you mourn and resent Todd at the same time.

Cloverfield: Yes, comparisons to the Blair Witch Project are obvious for this film but it is one of the movies, one of those moments that makes you say “Damn, why hadn’t anyone done this before?”

It is a monster movie from the viewpoint of the people on the ground as the massive beast du jour rampages through the major metropolis. Unlike monster movies where we get a little running and screaming before we cut back the heroic world leaders and scientists determined to stop the beast, we are with a small band of average folks as the struggle to find their friend. Really, they’re struggling to find the girl that one of the characters is in love with, but who is trapped in another part of the crumbling death trap that the city has rapidly become. Now, as with any movie you still have to willfully suspend that disbelief (huge monster, willingness to march into deadly situations while still filming, etc) but the humanity of the main leads and the people around them seals the movie.

From the people fleeing, to the people in shock, the people looting and the hardened resolve mingling with caring for each other displayed by the people in this story… the raw humanity of the whole story is what makes it work for me. Geek issues aside, it is a good story of going back into danger to try and save the thing, or the person, you love most in the world.

RockBand: Simply put: If you’ve ever imagined being on stage, buy this game. Yes it can be a challenge and it may get discouraging, but rocking out on Easy Mode to songs by the Foo Fighters and Bon Jovi and the Ramones is completely worth the money and makes up for the ass kicking you’ll take on higher difficulty setting without practice. But it is still worth it. Especially if you playing with friends.

I would get into the new Terminator show, but I’ll save that for the next geek out moment (when Lost and House are back as well). For now, a two paragraph rant on the Writer’s Strike.

Producers: I understand you’re trying to protect a business model, but these are the people who drive your damn product. If you don’t covet and protect this resource, they will find a way to make those Interwebs that you need to study more bite you in the ass.

Writers: Please don’t give in to a candy ass deal. Be strong. This fight is worth it. Just make sure you’re writing quietly now so that we can get back to the good shows and movies soon.

This was supposed to be longer and better plotted out, but I lost steam on this entry and need to get to some personal stuff. Like the return of a friend from long ago and how she’s making me smile a lot these days.