Cadence

I run in the path of your commands for you have set my heart free. ~ King David.

Taking Chance

I won't lie. I love military theme movies. Anyone who watches military movies will know that in every military film, someone dies. Generally, the plot goes as follows:

• Introduce character by showing him with loving family (usually newly married wife)
• Show him bonding with his band of brothers
• They go into battle
• He miraculously dies saving his buddy
• Flash forward to buddy going to wife's home and she collapses in his arms and they both cry.

However, the one thing you never see, hear, or even discuss is what happens from the death at the battlefield to the time the body arrives home. And I am certain that most people never even think of all the honor and glory that goes into that process.

My friend Joanne recommended that I watch the HBO movie called Taking Chance (starring Kevin Bacon). It is based on a true journals by Lieutenant Colonel Michael Strobl, USMC. (<- click to read...well worth the read).

Point of Clarification: She did not gently recommend the movie. She rented the movie and then physically brought it over to my house and insisted that I watch it that night with implied threats of what would happen if I didn't watch the movie. (Her husband is a two-term US army veteran so I take all threats seriously..lol).

I can't even begin to express how much I love this movie. I STRONGLY recommend that everyone watch this movie. In fact, I think it should be required as part of the high school curriculum.

Although it was robbed of an Emmy award (because academy voters tend to go for dramatic star-filled heart string movies over movies with subtlety and nuance), it deserves a place of honor in your film catalogue.

I felt like I was watching a watercolor being painted. I felt like I was witnessing the most honorable of human actions with the quietest of dignity. Does anyone ever think of what happens to the body from field to funeral? Do you think about how you feel about a soldier who dies.

So I will leave with a preview and a synopsis. And then you MUST run out and get the movie.

In April 2004, Lieutenant Colonel Michael Strobl, USMC, came across the name of 19-year-old Lance Corporal Chance Phelps, a young Marine who had been killed by hostile fire in Al Anbar Province, Iraq. Strobl, a Desert Storm veteran with 17 years of military service, requested that he be assigned for military escort duty to accompany Chance's remains to his family in Dubois, Wyo.Witnessing the spontaneous outpouring of support and respect for the fallen Marine - from the groundskeepers he passed along the road to the cargo handlers at the airport - Strobl was moved to capture the experience in his personal journal. His first-person account, which began as an official trip report, gives an insight into the military's policy of providing a uniformed escort for all casualties. The story became an Internet phenomenon when it was widely circulated throughout the military community and eventually reached the mainstream media. 'Taking Chance' chronicles one of the silent, virtually unseen journeys that takes place every day across the country, bearing witness to the fallen and all those who, literally and figuratively, carry them home. A uniquely non-political film about the war in Iraq, the film pays tribute to all of the men and women who have given their lives in military service as well as their families. An HBO Films presentation of a Motion Picture Corporation of America and Civil Dawn Pictures production, Taking Chance marks the directorial debut of two-time Oscar®-nominated producer Ross Katz ('Lost in Translation'). The screenplay is by Lt. Col Michael R. Strobl, USMC (Ret.) and Ross Katz, based on the journal of the same name by Strobl, who also serves as military consultant. Strobl, who recently retired after serving 24 years in the U.S. Marine Corps, developed the original story with the strong support of Phelps' parents, John Phelps and Gretchen Mack. The executive producers are Brad Krevoy ('A Love Song for Bobby Long'), Cathy Wischner-Sola and Ross Katz; the co-executive producer is William Teitler (HBO's 'Empire Falls'); and the producer is Lori Keith Douglas ('The Notorious Bettie Page'). HBO Films vice president Jenni Sherwood is the executive in charge of the production.

Tribute Video

So I had this great idea planned for a blog today, but I'm having a bit of an architectural crisis going on at my home (water leaking from the upstairs tub into my downstairs furnace room/hall closet) so I just couldn't get the energy to post something thoughtful and insightful.

I decided to post this great You Tube Video to express what I cannot.

* Music is from my favourite band of all time, 3 Doors Down, collaborating with my favorite singer of all time, Bob Seeger. Song is called Landing in London from 3DD album 17 Days*

When You Go Home.

Quote: When you go home, tell them of us and say, for their tomorrow, we gave our today.

I have a friend who is in the Canadian Army. And while our friendship stemmed from the most unusual and funny of circumstances, he is a friend all the same.

And I'm not going to lie. Everytime I hear on the news that another Canadian Soldier has passed away, a part of me prays it's not him. It is the simple reality if you have a friend or a loved one in the military....for a brief second, you stop, pause and pray when the news comes on.

I would like to say that it is a relief when I find out it's not him. But that is simply not the case. Because the reality is that I realize that somewhere there is a person grieving for the lost of their friend and loved one. There is no solace in that.

It's easy to remove one's self from the war and argue the merits of our engagement in said war. But what should never be argued is that when a soldier dies, that loss for the friend, spouse, parent or child is our loss too.

If a country and the freedoms it posesses' are based on ideals, then someone must stand for and represent those ideals.

We take for granted that we will always be able to wake up at our leisure, go about our day, and come home. We take for granted that we can speak freely, express our opinions and desires; that there will be a venue to do so and listen to those opinions.

But for many citizens of the world, that's just not a reality. I can argue the merits of a conflict, and the excuses behind them. But what I can never argue is that the rights we are afforded should be an option for all the worlds people. It's not up to me to tell them to take that option, but the option they must have none the less.

And our military, for good are bad, are the ultimate symbol of those ideals. Soldiers represent our voices. They represent our dreams. They don't just protect our physical selves. They protect our spiritual and mental selves too. Our freedom is not perfect. We as a country will never agree. But the fact that we don't have to is a testament to the brave men and women of today and yesteryears who stepped up to the call to protect our ideals we so cherish.

It is instinctual to want to protect those you love and hold most dearest, like your friends and family. But how many of us will be willing to put our life on the line to make sure all Canadians will be able to do the same?

And I will leave you with my final thougths: Remember tomorrow what is sacrified today. Thank the soldier who goes about his way.

*Dani's note: This is the kick off to military week! I can't wait to hear your thoughts. *

Punk & Me: Reality Train Wrecks.

My lovely and animated friend mocked me for not updating my blog. She is a total punk. And why not use my blog to call her a punk. Punkity punk punk.

To protect her privacy, i will call her punk.

Putting aside my juvinile behaviour for a second, I thought I would end the week with some random t.v. inspired drivel. Because if there is one thing punk and I share, it's our mutual love of t.v. stuff. I would like to say that we are highbrow, sophisticated friends when it comes to the television program we watch and talk about. Oh no sirree. The more low-brow, the better is our motto. Well not really, but we like train wrecks. Makes for an interesting life. Specifically, we like reality train wrecks.

Big Brother. Oh. Dear. Lord. Will this show ever stop? And will we ever truly stop watching this trainwreck. Here is our usual BB routine. First, we claim after the trainwreck of the last season that we will never watch it again. Then someone will casually mention when the new season starts and we will reiterate our claims of not following the show. Then the show will start and we will watch it just to remind ourselves how horrible it is. Then punk will say she refuses to watch it and will only follow the spoiler feeds, and then proceeds to secretly watch it. I will confess that I've watched every episode. Around week 2, we e-mail each other our top 4 picks. Then we will proceed to read the spoiler feeds between each show and e-mail each other our theories. About 3/4 of the way into the season, we will get annoyed because one of our faves will be evicted and we will claim that we are over with the show. But we then secretly follow the rest of the season and continue to chat about it. At the end of the season, we will lament how awful it is and make new claims about never watching the show again.

The Biggest Loser. I will confess that this is a show that I mostly watch. In fact, my blog is peppered with comments about this show. In theory, it is a train wreck. Fat people put through the paces and competing to be less fat. But I love it. LOVE LOVE LOVE it. And I know that punk watches it too. She may claim that she doesn't, but I know that she secretly does. We don't really talk about this show but then it will randomly pop up in our conversations and we will both immediately lament our own weight loss struggles and wish that we had a BL Canada. If they ever did and we would be able to compete as "couples", I think punk and I would go. And be very cutthroat about it too.

America's Next Top Model. We both fiercely love this show. Every year, we watch, discuss during commercial break, pick our favourites, and mock the stick creatures. So. Much. Fun.

A Shot At Love/ Rock of Love etc. I will confess. I don't really watch this show. But I have seen it. It's one of those if there is nothing else on, I will watch it. Punk on the other hand quite enjoys the show. So I will at the very least show an interest in her discussion about it. However, when she does discuss it, I often wonder why I don't watch it? It sounds like quality trash and I should ride that train.

The Bachelorette. On the other hand, if she has A Shot At Love, I have the Bachelorette. God, I hate this show. Why. Can't. I. Stop. Watching? Punk probably mocks me about this, but she always seems to know what's going on with the show...hmmm. Doth she protest too much?

So You Think You Can Dance/American Idol. We so love these shows. She follows AI a bit more than I do, but we both watch SYTYCD.

So I ask you..what trash shows do you and your friends share in that you are willing to confess? Does anyone else watch the above shows? Just so you know, there are way more trashy stuff we watch...this is but the tip of the iceberg.

Hump-day Hunk: Alexander Skarsgaard.

New feature alert: Hump-day Hunk...where I get to post a pic of a guy I find hot to tide us over to the weekend.

It should come as no surprise that my first featured hunk is Alexander Skargaard, also known as the very d'lish Eric Northman on HBO's True Blood. Of course, I am only feeding into my obsession. But it's my blog and if I can't live out my slightly stalkerish fantasies here, where praytell can I have them?


Btw..the spelling of his name is all Swedish like with a fancy dot over the O. It's very sexy to read, but sadly, my computer is not set up to recognize the subtle nuances of the Sweedish language.


Here is a picture of him to kind of show just how tall he is at 6'4...and how nice his body is. Mmmm.




Yummy.

Ok..now I will direct your eyes to the vulnerable side of Alexander Skaarsgard.



Don't worry Eric/Alex...I will comfort you.

Finally, what is a hump-day worthy blog without a video? This video reminds me that he is saucy and his character is a blood-thirsty vampire. Now I don't want to get all fangirl on y'all. But the line for me is very blurred between my love of the actor and my love of the character. I seriously need an intervention after this clip.



So...do you all approve of my hump-day hunk, Alexander Skargaard? Will this satisfy you until the weekend? And I am also open to hump-day hunk suggestions for future drooling hump-day hunk posts, so leave your request in the comments section.

I'm officially a Fang-Banger: Step One is admitting I have a problem.

I want to pretend that I'm just this normal, everyday, average girl who goes about life in a serious & responsible manner. (*I can hear my friends laughing at that statement already*).

I want to pretend that I don't get madly...deeply...obsessed by a T.V. show and turn into this 14 year old fangrrl with vivid fantasies. (*Again, I can hear my friends lying over this blatent lie*).

But I must confess. I am insanely obsessed with the brilliant HBO Series True Blood.

I suspected as much when I went to my aunts house and spent two solid days watching Season One on D.V.D. What makes this story even sadder is that I booked a hair appointment as an excuse to go to my aunt's place to watch it and TOOK THE DAY OFF WORK under the pretense of a hair cut. I did have the hair cut btw. But that was after we watched the series from 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday until 5:00 a.m. on Thursday watching the show.

So how do I know I am officially a Fang-Banger? Let us examine the symptoms.

• Downloading the theme song "Bad Things" by Jace Everett after doing a CD store run to see if I could buy it.


• Buying Book One and Two of the "Sookie Stackhouse Books" by Charlaine Harris but only with the HBO Covers.


• Renting the rest of the books out from the library


• Rewatching my favourite Eric/Bill/Sookie scenes on the weekend


• Madly e-mailing everyone under the sun, or discussing it with everyone under the sun, about the show.


• A newfound interest in Civil War History (which if you watch the show you will understand why).....and watching the Ken Burns Civil War Documenatary on PBS


• Adding Sweden to your must travel list (after you visit Louisiana of course).


• Reading every blog on-line and adding input to the "Twilight vs True Blood" debates (which there is no debate...it's True Blood all the way).


• Leaving a Bridal Shower early so that you can go to your aunts to watch the latest episode of True Blood (and getting your aunt to drive into town to pick you up).


• Alternating between sighing and crying over the latest episode of True Blood.


• Spending your work days on You Tube watching episode clips and fan-tributes.


• Wondering what synthetic true blood tastes like. Wondering if we can buy it...lol.


• Rescheduling your time off so you can watch the next episode.


• Look into adding HBO to your tv just for the one show.


• Picking sides in the Eric vs Bill debates. (*Squeee...Eric).

I have it bad my friends. I have many other symptoms that I don't want to admit to. Let's just say that I will probably need an intervention after this season is over.

So I will leave you with this tribute video to watch. It's fantastic!!!... (and yes...before you ask...I did also request the Thriving Ivories from my library...sigh).

Breaking News!!!!

So I suspected something was amiss when this week. I was either putting on a hoodie with my capris and I found myself deciding if I should wear jeans or capris.

Then I started noticing a subtle crispness to the morning air. There was a different scent.

Then as I was on my afternoon walk, I noticed a subtle change in the colour of the leaves in my back yard from a dark green to to a lighter green.

Then I saw it.

Then I knew my suspicions were confirmed.

I saw....
....
...
..
.

A LEAF ON THE GROUND!!!!!!! *insert ominous duh duh duh duuuuuh music*.


Autumn is officially here!

Catholic Guilt and Dealing With A Dilemma

So every once in a while, I stumble upon a crossroads in my life in which I am faced with a great moral dilemma. Most of the time, I would carefully and painfully consider other people's thoughts & needs above my own while meagerly attempting to put my needs at the front. And more often than not I would buckle & cave in to the needs of others. As the picture above states..."I have compromised almost every major decision in my life because of other people". I can promise you that I strive for the "this one's for ME" part. I truly do. But it's never that easy. I don't want to be "that person" who does "that thing". And the few times I truly did put myself first in the most selfish way possible, It was way more trouble then it was worth.

Then I got baptised into the Catholic Faith. And I thought I was plagued with guilt before?!?

There is nothing and I repeat NOTHING that can get my panties in a bunch more than Catholic Guilt. Catholic Guilt is something entirely different then regular old guilt, or even other religious guilt. This guilt slices at the raw nerve. And I don't know if I should use the word guilt so much as I should use the words "sin association disorder".

I have a serious case of SAD going on because of a particular issue where I have to weigh out the unreasonable wants of others with my own needs but I am in a precarious situation where my options are few and my stress is high.

Just to be clear, there is nothing in our faith that says that I have to feel guilty. However, it's a natural byproduct I suppose of trying to live a God centered life. Not a "beat your head down with religious" life. But just a simple "obey the commandments and treat others well" life. The need to be closer to God and to live a better life will often put me at odds with the desire to have " this one is for me" moments.

On the other hand, how can I truly be a better person if I am always putting myself last? The strive for balance between the wants of others and the needs of myself shouldn't mean that I always put others wants before my own needs. I'm sure that God doesn't truly want me to be digging from the trenches, fostering deep resentment of others because I "love they neighbour". I don't recall reading "love thy neighbour at the expense of yourself" written anywhere in the BIble.

Oh oh. I just had an epiphany moment while I was typing. I just realized something.....If I live a life where I either put my life first or the lives of others first, where and when and how does God fit in? I just realized that living my life at either extreme means that I'm not living the best life I can, and if I don't do that, then I'll never have "this one's for me" moments.

It's like trying to stuff a VW Beetle with people. Stuff too many and you don't have room for one more. Close the door and lock the windows, and no one can get in and you sit there all alone.

So. Am I any closer to solving my dilemma and finding a state of equilibrium? Nope.

Damn

DILF: Denis Leary - Rescue Me Edition.

It's been a while since I put up a DILF pic (Daddy I'd like to F**K) but to kick off my Rescue Me Blog Series, I thought I would start off with a pic biggest crush ever....Denis Leary. You have absolutely NO IDEA the things that I want to do if I ever got a chance to be in a dark room with Denis Leary. *Just thinking about even being in the same planet with this guy...breathing the same air... is making me hypervenilate*

Yes, he's not convential sexy. He's rude sometimes. He's brash. He tells it like he sees it, regardless of what anyone else thinks. He stands by his convictions.

But damnit, I don't know if it's his Irish looks, or his sarcastic voice, or his strung out look that makes me want to do WICKED things to him.

Plus he is in my most favourite show ever ...Rescue Me (on FX in the States and Showcase in Canada).

My God, just staring at him makes me dizzy with anticipation. Squeeeeeeeee!