It’s always tough to know how people perceive you, but sometimes I get the sense that I come off as somewhat serious on this blog — at least compared to my natural inclinations. Work and parenting have made me more of a dull boy than maybe I was in the past. But, in a lot of ways, I’m still a kid at heart. Anyway, it’s a holiday weekend, and in that spirit, here is some random non-serious Stuff That I Like:
Jokes. I like all kinds, stupid, filthy, offensive, whatever, but sometimes the cornier the better sometimes: A string walks into a bar. Bartender says, “we don’t serve your kind here, get out.” Undeterred, the string goes to a second bar. Same result, “we don’t serve strings here, get out!” So, the string decides some ingenuity is called for. He finds himself a nice rough tree, rubs his head and his feet against the bark, then he contorts himself and twists himself round and round. He goes into the third bar. The bartender looks at him skeptically for a moment, and asks gruffly, “you a string?” To which the string replies, “Nope, frayed knot.”
Movies. Again, I like all kinds. But my friends have marveled at my tolerance for craptacular movies and TV – especially in the “nerd makes good” genre. But some favorites I’ve probably listed before: Starship Troopers, Repo Man, Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story; Office Space; Road House; Young Guns; UHF; The Essential Cusack Trilogy: Better Off Dead, The Sure Thing, & Say Anything; Flash Gordon . . . the list goes on and on, I’m sure I’ve left out some great cheese.
Beer. I’m a big fan. In college it looked like maybe I was headed for a life of problem drinking. But, once I got a job, consumption reduced. Kids further reduced the consumption. Now, I’m a pretty tame drinker. Usually one or two at a time – the very occasional big binge when I get together with old friends. I like upper end beers and swill, don’t have much use for intermediate beers, I guess. It’s either Natural Light or Old Milwaukee on one end or Guinness, Three Floyds, or a craft beer on the other. The mid-range beers, maybe Beck’s or Heineken, don’t seem worth the bother.
Other random things that come to mind: grilling, really processed popcorn, dogs, golf, hiking, sleeping, video games, Eastern Indiana Pizza King, Skyline, sword & sorcery fantasy books, road trips, driving through the night, home made chex mix, Weird Al, roller coasters, back scratches.
The serious stuff enables life, but the random fun stuff is what you’re living for. What about you guys, what are life’s simple pleasures? In any case, here is to an enjoyable Labor Day weekend.
Great post, and we seem to both have similar affinity for bad movies. I particularly liked The Essential Cusack Trilogy mention. No 80s movie fan collection can do without those three titles.
I happen to be a major fan of both Cusacks, John and Joan. My favorite Cusack movie though has to be Grosse Pointe Blank which includes John Cusack’s best friend Jeremy Piven (aka Entourage’s Ari Gold). Piven was also in Say Anything and is best remembered as the guy Cusack is tackled by at the end of the all night party scene at whom is yelled the line “You must chill!”, a line I have screamed at my drinking buddies on a number of occasions over the years.
As for my simple pleasures I like seafood and like to grill seafood every chance I get. I’m a major geek so computers and gadgets are a passion and since I don’t have a wife and kids I get to spend my money on toys to record audio and video with.
I love live music and love to record live music. I also record my own music but never play it for anyone because its stress relief, a kind of musical therapy. Oh and I have a love of all that is chocolate. I would eat chocolate covered anything, especially if its white chocolate.
Live music – definitely. I’m partial to seeing anyone with a guitar playing in a bar.
Oh, and I’m with you on the Cusacks. I just mentioned what I regard as the trilogy, but I like most of the stuff Cusack has done — there are a couple that he pretty obviously did for the money (Serendipity & Must Love Dogs come to mind) that I didn’t care for. One of my favorites that doesn’t get much attention was The Jack Bull with John Goodman.
I used to get a
..good first impression of new students by noting what they thought was funny and what music they listened to. Probably just as valid for adults. The films I really enjoy watching are the black and white films from 30s and 40s .Theyre just about all good in some way. On TV I like the history channels,biography and anything science or wild life.And I like to watch the Cubs if Im in a place I can tune them in. I grew up with baseball on the radio only and that gives a very unique appreciation of baseball.
I enjoy grand opera above all else and could sit through almost any opera a second time through.I also like the order of baroque music and the emotion of Chopin and Beethoven.
Reading seriously is now difficult because of eyes..Use your eyes while you can!
Three Floyds… and then Natural Light? How does your tongue not rebel?!
I’ve always been partial to white wine and fornication
One of my favorite Cusack movies was Being John Malkovich and it had a fantastic cast. It was so off the wall, Hollywood rarely makes movies like this anymore .High Fidelity is my favorite movie of Cusack , I like the scenes with Jack Black, Todd Louiso and Cusack’s arguing over the best songs and albums. Since I am a music junkie this movie speaks to me! Joan Cusack, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Lisa Bonet and Bruce Springsteen all have small but great parts in this movies. Favorite movie at the moment The Martian, it has a great script and special effects. It shows what kind of ship we need to go to Mars and we are not even close to constructing any ship of this size. I have a soft part of my heart for the The Big Short. Having read the book I was amazed how well the movie came out. My only complaint was there was to much self righteousness behavior in it. They work on Wall Street they were out to make money.. Favortie musical comedy Blues Brothers, Animal House best shock scene when the horse dies, I cannot remember a movie before that time where they killed a animal so callously! Favorites book Roughing It Mark Twain, Time Enough for Love -Robert Heinlein and Fear and Loathing: On the Campaign Trail ’72 – Hunter S. Thompson. I do love science fiction new and old short stories and novels.
Bochness Monster from Upland Brewing Company is my go to beer if I can get it. I will drink People’s beer since my brother is a part owner in the company. When push comes to shove Budweiser or regular Miller High Life if there any pretzels to be had. My favorite all time comedy bit is from The Groove Tube. Safety Sam – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UuF80YYzPA
This has nothing to do with the above post. That being said I watched the first episode of the Foundation last night and I appalled and sickened! How Hari Seldon and the Foundation was portrayed was beyond pale! I can speak for all the fans of the books that this series would have been up PBS alley. The Foundation was about ideas and and intelligent interaction between the characters in the books,. I thought nothing could compare to how New Line ravaged the Hobbit.. I was so wrong!