Observations From Within by Chuka McCoy | Make Your Own Book

Hooray!

I did it! I got my poems that I've been writing for twenty years now in a book and published it. I am so happy to get my stuff out there for rest of the world to see. Here's the link for my book. http://www.blurb.com/my/book/detail/2675805#promote-pane

I'm closing one door and running through another

I am officially done and cutting the cord. I have said it's not a constant thing that keep happening. Today, I realize it is in my best interest to stay away from you, Wendy's. I have put in order after order at this restaurant chain. For the last month and a half, I had to drive back to a Wendy's because the order wasn't right. Some of you may have the classic Joe Pesci line from Lethal Weapon II in your head while I say this. It has happened in the lobby as well as the drive thru. Today was the last straw. I ordered a sandwich with bacon on it and surprise....no bacon. I wasn't upset but wanted to get it corrected since I wasn't that far away.   While I was waiting on the sandwich, I went to stretch out my arms.  I didn't really notice this big not so soft plastic sign out way beyond where it should be. By the time I noticed it, the sign already got a big chunk of flesh off of my left arm. I have a scar on that same arm from a decade ago before I knew about Neosporin. As I stared at both marks on my arms, I said to myself "You know, I don't need to eat here that bad anymore". It reminded me of the decision I made last night. Starting Monday, I'm going to increase my exercise that I do throughout the week. It will help me with some of the things that I have coming up. I'm on record,folks.

What I saw this week

I've noticed a few things this week that I had to comment on.

1. I witnessed a person crank up their vehicle, pull out of the parking spot and then load up their groceries. What type of sense does this make? None, in my opinion. You're wasting gas and blocking other people to find a parking spot. Thank you for the consideration of others.
2. I had a woman come into the store talking as loud as possible trying to find stuff. As she gets to the counter, her son is running around and talking loud as well. She tells him to use his inside voice. Wow, ironic statement.
3. As I walked out of Wal Mart, I heard a woman behind me say"Oh My God! It's like raining. I can't like walk home in the rain!". Really? Is it the 80's again? The main part of this one is that it was only sprinkling.
4. On a happier note: I found a Monopoly piece from McDonald's for a free Quarter Pounder. Yay!

That's all for now. More posts to come soon.

Things I don't understand

A brief view of two things I don't understand.

The first thing would be people that wear their pant so baggy, it's down to their knees or lower. I am remembering the days where your family member or somebody in the neighbor would tell you to pull your pants up. Most of the time back then, it was easily solved by wearing a belt or getting one for the adult to use. I know we got away with Kris Kross or Marky Mark for a moment but that is nothing compared to what some wear today. I am not keen on seeing every piece of your underwear fashion. They even have belts for the pants but it doesn't do any good. It is like the dance Dick Van Dyke does with the penguins in Mary Poppins. The difference is there is no animated characters around(at least to us anyway). The pop in the back of the head is a missing technique and is surely needed there.

The second pertains to this commercial I saw on television. It was for a website that states "you can do a background check on anyone, even yourself." What type of drunken, self loathing person would wanna do a background on themselves? "I don't know what type of person I am. I should do a background check on myself just in case I've ever been in Turkish prison or something." Just in case you blocked out the time you robbed a liquor store or did blow out of your mansion, you can background yourself. Why not get Professor X to peek inside your head for that. By the way, those were all movies you fell asleep to. I just saved you from going through that investigation of yourself.

3D: Is it necessary?

I remember, when I was growing up, that 3D was a novelty to the film that you were watching. It was more of a gimmick than anything. Granted, the movies that were offered in 3D wasn't the greatest motion pictures of all time either. Jaws 3D, Friday the 13th 3D (I think every 3rd movie of a franchise really) were the ones that stick out in my head. Soon, the novelty faded and 3D was available only for certain kids films like Spy Kids 3D(still that 3rd movie), Coraline and Adventures of Shark Boy and Lava Girl. Now since James Cameron brought Avatar to the screen to be the #1 grossing movie of all time(non inflation), the studios want the movies to be in 3D as well. I know this new era didn't start again with this movie but that's when it got popular. I was with it when it was just a novelty, here and there kinda thing. Now that almost every film is forcing 3D down your throat, I find it very annoying.  I've only seen three films in 3D at the theater: Shrek Forever After(technically a 3rd movie lol), Rio and Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides. Only one of these films I would say was enjoyable in 3D and that was Rio. Shrek didn't really need it and Pirates showed me food and fire coming at me. Did I see the top ones in 3D? No but do I have to sit through everything shot in and/or up converted to find that out. I start to tune out a movie when it says "IN 3D" in the trailer. That gets repetitive hearing that again and again(like the point I make it this blog, i.e. the hidden 3D drinking game). We know why these movies exist in that format. It's so the studios can shake an extra $3-7 out of your pocket. I have no problem with 3D movies if you make it once in awhile and worth it. Make it unique again.

Updating

I have finished a couple of writing projects. These are stories that are near and dear to me. I am looking into getting them published. As soon as that happens, I will let everyone know. I have a few projects that I'm starting up very soon. That is it for now. I will try to be more long winded next time.

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides is the fourth installment of the franchise starring Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow. The story this time centered around finding the Fountain of Youth.  The government for both England and Spain are competing to find it first. As Jack gets entangled into the search, he runs into every side hunting that spot down. There is Angelica(Penelope Cruz), his former love that he spurred before. His old rival Barbossa(Geoffrey Rush) is now working for the British government and helping them lead their search. Jack has a run in with Blackbeard(Ian McShane),whose looking for the fountain to avoid a prophesied death. Mixed in with all of this is a subplot about mermaids that could scare some children at first. Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides is a fun addition to the Pirates franchise. Johnny Depp is awesome in it as usually and the rest of the cast is great too. The movie is directed by Rob Marshall(Chicago, Memoirs of a Geisha, Nine) and it is the first Pirates film under his helm. While the movie does miss Gore Verbinski(director of the first three Pirates movies), Marshall does well most of the time of not letting us know the difference. It's not better than the first but it is less bogged down than the second and third film. Please advise, just like the first three, to stay after the credits roll.

Review-Rio

Rio is an animated movie about two birds that are brought together to save their species. Blu(voiced by Jesse Eisenberg) is a sheltered bird who lives with his owner Linda(voice by Leslie Mann). Linda is told that there is another like Blu but they are the last of their kind. To have the birds mate, Linda and Blu must go to Rio with bird expert Tulio(voiced by Rodrigo Santoro). It is in Rio where you meet Jewel(voice by Anne Hathaway), the bird Blu is suppose to meet up with. She is a little more street smart than he is. Before they can give comfortable with one another, they are kidnapped and force to escape to save themselves. That is when the fun begins. Rio is fun, sweet and charming movie that people of any age can enjoy.It is a good fish out of water story and has a romantic element to as well. It reminds me of The Little Mermaid in parts of the movie. With actor/musicians Jamie Foxx, will.i.am and Jemaine Clement(from Flight of the Conchords) providing voices, the music for the movie is great and will have you dancing in your seats.

The convenience has ruined the experience

I have always enjoyed the experience of going to the movies. It was like being transported to another world for a short period of time. As the years have gone by, technology has wanted to emulate that movie theater experience at home. If you have the right amount of money, you never have to leave your home to see a movie unless you really want to. I salute the person/family that has that ability. The problem is that people have lost the ability to enjoy a movie without feeling like they are at home. Before the movie starts, it tells you to remain quiet during the movie and turn your cell phones off. Those warnings seem to fall upon deaf ears.  I'm not saying that people did not act stupid in the theater before. It's a little more noticeable and blatant. A group of people act more like they are having a  party for a sporting event than watching a movie. People yelling at the screen like it was no else around(more than the occasional "Girl, DON'T go in there" in a horror movie) is ridiculous. There is a moment in the movie Thor where a character says "This is madness". Some already know what happens next. There was the group of guys that screams "THIS IS SPARTA"(thank you, Zack Snyder for forever tainting that phrase). If I want Mystery Science Theater 3000, I'll watch it at home. Nowhere on the sign did it say Now Playing Thor(Rocky Horror Picture Show style). Viewing stuff at home never meant being rude to others. There are some people that just do not know when to STFU(in case the kids are reading too). Fifteen minutes after the movie Paul started, this couple kept talking like there was no movie playing. These are moments where you wish there was tasers built into the seats. That would not have helped in my last example. In the middle of the same movie, a baby starts to cry over and over again. That would be understandable in a movie that's geared towards kids. This was a R rated movie at 10:30pm on a Sunday. No matter how much the audience screamed to take baby out, that parent refused to. Has the convenience of home entertainment ruined the movie going experience or is it just people losing the ability to know how to act in public? I don't know but I hope it gets better before it gets worse.

RIP Myrtle McCoy

My mom had been sick for awhile. She been living in an assisted living facility for several years now. He called me in late October to tell me the doctors were giving her six months. Her liver and the effects of being on dialysis for many years had taken its toll. Then, in mid November, the nurses told us that everyone need to come to see her before the beginning of the year. So, my sister, 3 of my nephews and I went to Georgia to see her for Christmas. She never opened her eyes to us while we were there. I did kiss her on her forehead and told her I loved her. Today, my brother called me to tell me that she passed away around 2:30 today. I miss her.

So it begins

It's 2011 and time for something different. I'm working on more things to write about in the new year. This is my first step in that process. More to come soon.