The most wonderful time of the year

Christmas has come and gone, and we're entering what I am realizing to be one of my favorite weeks of the year; the last week of the year. I love year-end recaps of the stuff that's happened all year long. I realized that with this blog I can do one of my own. Now remember that I had my first baby this year, so my list isn't very long as Ozzie has pretty much consumed my life since June, but here are my memorable moments 2013 in no order.

Beyonce's halftime performance at the Super Bowl

I had to work the night of the Super Bowl, but I DVR'd the game to see the commercials. I got home that night at 10:30 and started the show. I don't even remember any of the commercials. They are getting less and less memorable every year, but I got to the halftime show featuring Beyonce. I'm not a super fan  or anything, but I like her music. I thought I'd watch the first few minutes to see if it was fun.
I was blown away from the beginning. I watched the entire performance, and felt energized afterwards. It was probably close to midnight and I couldn't sleep thinking about how cool the halftime show was. Best Super Bowl halftime since Prince. Now I would actually love to see her live if she comes to Minneapolis again.

Stephen King's 11/22/63

This book was released in 2011, but I read it in 2013, so it makes my year-end list. I got a Kindle for Christmas last year, and I read the most this year than I've ever read. I had the time to after graduating college last December. My co-worker Rachael started reading this and told me about it. I remembered I had heard about it and it sounded interesting, so I got it that night. It's cool how you buy a Kindle book and it just appears on your Kindle. 

It is the best book I've ever read. It's about a guy who goes back in time to stop the assassination of Kennedy. The time travel reminded me of one of my favorite films, Back to the Future. It's almost 1000 pages. Rachael read the actual book and brought it in to show me one night, and it looked like a phone book. I'd recommend reading it on a Kindle, but if you don't have one, I would just recommend reading it.

Breaking Bad series finale (spoiler free)

Around last Christmas I saw Breaking Bad season 1 at Target for $12. I had only heard good things about the show and I thought that was a perfect time to start watching it. Megan was pregnant with Ozzie and just entering the phase of pregnancy where all you want to do is watch TV, so it worked out really well, because I'm always in that phase of life. 

My screenwriting instructor stressed having a strong opening image for any script. Breaking Bad starts with a pair of pants falling from the sky, cut to our main characters speeding down a desert road in their tighty-whities in a winnebago with dead bodies in the back. What an opening image! After the first show Megan said "that was a great episode," and it was. 

The thing is every episode got better and better. The stakes kept raising when you thought they couldn't get higher. I went and got the rest of the seasons that were available, and we caught up on whole series by the time the final episodes aired on AMC this summer. The Sopranos was always my barometer for great writing, but now it's Breaking Bad. The series finale tied everything up neatly, and was a satisfying way to say goodbye to all of the characters on the show, which can't be said about The Sopranos. 

James Gandolfini dies

Speaking of The Sopranos, Tony Soprano, James Gandolfini died in June. Ozzie was born on June 26th. June 19th Megan was 19 months pregnant, it was hotter than hell out, and me and my friend Billy were putting together our new Weber grill on the deck. We got it all put together, Billy left, and I went in the air conditioning. I checked Facebook and saw posts of RIP Tony Soprano. I thought that maybe there had been a movie in the works that was scrapped. Turned out the actor, who I first knew as the slimy gangster that Alabama blows away in True Romance, James Gandolfini, died. 

Lou Reed dies

Later in the year (10/27), I was wasting time on Facebook again and saw a post from Rolling Stone that rock and roll legend Lou Reed died. I love Lou. I got to see him live two or three times with my dad, who saw him many times before I was born, and as I grew up. I heard Lou Reed and The Velvet Underground during my whole childhood. I remember checking out a Lou Reed record from the library when I was in grade school because I knew my dad liked him, and I liked him. I don't remember the album, but it wasn't one of his iconic ones. 

There was a brief report that news of his death was a hoax that turned out to be a hoax itself. He's gone leaving groundbreaking music behind. I hope Ozzie loves his music as much as I do. Check out a great documentary released in 1998 about Reed's life and career up to then called Lou Reed: Rock and Roll Heart. Really well done. 

Oswald Gilbert Anderson is born 6/26/13

I was a nervous wreck leading up to the birth of my son Ozzie. Nervous that I didn't have any baby experience. All of the anxiety and worry went away the moment they handed him to me in the operating room, and he and I went into the recovery room to wait for his mommy, Megan. We spent about 30 minutes together, just he and I, in a dark warm room. I told him that I'd love him forever as I was trying to figure out if he looked like either of us. He looks completely different today than when he was just minutes old. 

He's changed my life in the best possible way. When it comes to Ozzie I am completely selfless, and would do anything for him. If you have a kid you know what I'm talking about. If you don't have a kid, ditch the worry during pregnancy and enjoy the ride. It's been a great six months, and I can't wait to see him grow up. Maybe he'll be old enough to want to see Beyonce with dad next time she's in town. Then I'll have to go to the show. 

Graduation

Tonight Nerd Dad's wife Megan graduates with a bachelor's degree for nursing. She has been an RN since graduating with her associate's degree, but obtaining the bachelor's degree opens the door for further schooling, and better paying jobs.

It makes me remember my graduation this time last year. I graduated with a bachelor's for screenwriting. I knew it was a silly thing to have a degree for, but it was the third thing I changed my major to, after pursuing psycology and criminal justice. I found out that I would need much more schooling to make any kind of money with either of those majors, so I changed to something that my heart was in.

I have had that $30,000 piece of paper for a year now, and what have I done in that time? I have started two screenplays. I have a feature that I wrote in school, and I dread looking at it. I'm really glad that I wrote it to get the first one out of the way, and to see what it takes to write a feature. As with any script, it needs a rewrite. It needs about 12 rewrites. It features about 6 "main characters," the obstacle isn't really clear, and it has a lot of problems. In my mind, the script looks like this:

But I know what it takes to get through writing the length of a feature. That is the biggest thing I got out of it. The stories of my two scripts that I've started since graduation have much more focus, but writing them is where I get into trouble. I like to map out the story first and then write, but if a character takes it in another direction, I follow it. That's what makes my feature look like that picture above.

But Nerd Dad, you said you've started two scripts. What happened to them? Right. I get all geared up to keep writing them, sit down and re-read what I have so far, then I daydream about where it can go. No problems there. Then I realize that I could be sleeping during this time while Ozzie is quiet, or catching up on Homeland, or another show that is piling up on the DVR. So I think I've made good progress for the day and go do something else. I'm writing this right now. I could be working on a script.

The thing is, I don't have any deadlines. No one is paying me to write, so it really is for the fun of it. I feel that I can take as long as I want, because I really can take as long as I want. I think telling you about it might kick me in the pants enough to bear down and finish one. Then again, I do have the Homeland season finale to watch. Then I'll have to get Ozzie from daycare and get ready to go to the graduation. Oh well, they're not going anywhere.

My oldest friend (oldest, like I've known him the longest)

I met Greg Anderson when he transferred to my high school. Greg was my only friend that I hung out with outside of school, and we hung out a lot; usually playing pool or Mortal Kombat. We didn't party, smoke or drink, and we didn't really gamble on the games. It was an activity that we did as wholesome as a couple of kids can, really.

Greg joined The Marines out of high school, and we wrote each other a couple of times when he was in boot camp, but we lost touch with each other after a while. I didn't think I'd ever see him again being Andy Anderson in Minnesota, and he has the same name as my dad, so there are probably more than a few Greg Andersons too. I remember searching for him on classmates.com. I made it as far as them asking me to pay. I would search for him periodically on Facebook, but again we're Andersons.

Then one day I was fooling around on Facebook and he started chatting with me. I couldn't believe it. We chatted for about 3 hours that night. I had my friend back. He lived in San Diego, but we'd connected again!

Last Saturday I was doing laundry. I love to fold clothes while watching TV. I lose myself in whatever crap I find on TV, and before I know it, all of the laundry is ready to be put away. Saturday I sat down with my full basket and The Color of Money was on. I've loved that movie since it came out. I hadn't seen it in a long time, and it was in the middle, but I didn't care. I watched the rest of it.

A lot of the lines reminded me of Greg and I quoting the film over the pool table. I was thinking of those old days on Saturday, and ironically Greg sent me a message that he was on his way to Minnesota for the week and we should hang out. I have seen him since we reconnected, but a lot has happened since I saw him last. He moved across the country, and got married. I quit drinking, and moved to Fridley, and had a kid. We had some catching up to do. We had dinner and played pool at Two Stooges.

I picked him up ay his parent's house and met his wife Martha. She's a delight, but was ill so she couldn't come out with us. I talked with Mrs. Anderson for a few minutes too. I haven't played pool in years, but we don't play for money, so it was fun to knock the balls around. Greg was always a little better than me at pool and Mortal Kombat, and playing him made me better. He's still a little better than me, but it was a lot of fun. 

You know those pool stick bridges that all pool hall tables have? We found that we both almost always made the shot when using the bridge. We would "clean house" with it. Pearl was the housekeeper on Diff'rent Strokes; she "cleaned their house," so we've always only called the bridge Pearl. 

Greg using Pearl (he made the shot)

We played and ate and laughed for a few hours. It was sad that we had to leave. I honestly could have closed the place down, but Greg ordered food to go for his mom and wife. I suppose he wanted to get it to them at a decent hour. It was great to spend some time with my old friend. 

Music in my iTunes/iPod that I can't listen to anymore

Alice In Chains
I only ever mildly liked them. They were one of the first bands who's album I bought with my own money at Musicland in Northtown. (The very first that I spent my money on was Warrant. You won't find them on this list as they are not in my iTunes).

Boston
Megan had the CD. It's been imported, but not for my listening pleasure.

Bush
I bought the CD before an Edgefest I went to where Gavin Rosdale was going to play. I suppose that I liked Bush at the time, but it really is cry-baby garbage.

CAKE
Everyone loved the song Going The Distance. My friend Aaron B showed me that the whole album is good, and it was. I loved CAKE, but now I am so sick of all of their music that I get nauseous when I hear it.

Dr. Dre
Didn't we all go through a faze listening to The Chronic? The album is iconic, and started Snoop Dogg's career, and I'm not ashamed that I own it, but I just can't listen to it anymore.

The Eagles
I've never liked the Eagles. I like Smokin' Joe Walsh, but can't listen to the Eagles. This is another of Megan's albums.

Foreigner
See Boston and The Eagles. People bring albums into a relationship, and these are a few of the ones that she brought to ours.

Korn
No interest. They played an Edgefest I went to. In fact I think I remember buying it used at Cheapo on Central. Not my kind of music, and don't care if I ever hear it.

Nine Inch Nails
I think everyone who went to high school in the 90's had/has The Downward Spiral. I got it for Closer, and was turned onto Pretty Hate Machine from there, but I'm just done with it. Over it.

Red Hot Chili Peppers
They have one song. One song that is slowed down a little, and sped up a little.

Snoop Dogg
See the Dr. Dre entry above. Snoop became wildly popular following The Chronic, and it would only follow suit to listen to Snoop from there. I can't point to any Snoop song that I've ever liked though. To this day people sing along to Snoop if he comes on, that is everyone but me.

Sublime
I liked a couple of their tunes I'd hear at a party, or what-have-you. I picked up an album of thiers used at Cheapo, and liked it. Now I've heard it so much that, like CAKE, hearing it makes me a little ill.



On The Bubble:
Beck
Saw him in concert at an Edgefest, and it was a great show. He's a wild showman, and I'd see him live anytime. I'm just getting sick of his music. Can still listen, but wouldn't mind a break.

Ben Folds Five
The first 21+ show I saw at First Ave, and the second time I used a fake ID (the 1st being to see Tracy Bonham at the Fine Line. Remember her? I met her once). The show was awesome. High energy, and everyone knew all of the songs. I actually haven't listened to them in a long time, and they may actually be back in my good graces.

Dave Matthews Band
My brother and I used to listen to them a lot when we drank, then when I started dating Megan, we listened to them a lot too. It got to be overkill for me, but I think I've not put them on any playlists for long enough that I can listen to them again.

Eminem
Lose Yourself is an awesome, inspiring song. I really like his hits, but I have a few of his albums where the hate is so vicious toward his mom, step dad(s), and women that it's uncomfortable to listen to.


So with these artists always getting a skip from me when they come on, I love when I find considerable new (to me) music. The latest being OK Go and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs.

Nerd Dad over and out.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower-Movie

I had heard that this is a good book and film. Whenever I want to see a movie (or read a book), I avoid reading anything about it before I see it. The most I'll do is check out Rotten Tomatoes for the average score, but I didn't even do that with this film. I've had it on my DVR for a while. I have today off work, and my plan is to do laundry all day. I watched The Perks of Being a Wallflower to start my day, and I'm glad I did.

I loved this movie. A coming of age tale about Charlie. A shy, quiet kid, starting high school. He's nervous about it, naturally. He's awkward and self-conscience. His friends from middle school, and even his older sister, don't want anything do do with him in school. Then a kid in shop class, seinor Patrick, is nice to Charlie and accepts him into his circle of friends.

The circle of friends aren't the popular crowd. They are the 'alt' cast-offs and rejects who have formed their own tight-knit group. I identifiy with Charlie not being popular in high school myself, then again, do the popular kids even know they're popular? Anyways, Patrick's group of friends accept Charlie immediately, and he gets to experience friendship and camaraderie. He fits in for the first time in his life.

The soundtrack is awesome. I was trying to figure out when the film is set, as no one ever uses a cell  phone. IMDB trivia says it's set during the 1991-1992 school year. That's when I was a freshman. The time period doesn't play a role in the film, but I wonder if that's why I identified with it so well. I haven't read the book, but it's next on my to-read list now.

I haven't felt like this after seeing a flick in a long time. Movies this good are few and far between, and I love discovering one this way. It's too cold to go anywhere, or do anything outside on my day off. I hesitate even walking the dog, so I stayed under blankets and watched a 4/4 star movie.