Let's play the quiet game...

Everywhere I lived, I found a place where I could go and be alone with my thoughts. It wasn't always an isolated or secluded place, just somewhere the hustle and bustle of everyday life can be contemplated or ignored, depending on the preference. When I attended private school in Florida, it was the landing at the top of the stairs that led to the roof, in Georgia it took the form of a lake dock, and in North Carolina it was an empty meadow next to Lowe's. I bring this up because I believe I have discovered one of those peaceful places at the Edmond Public Library. I only recently discovered it because of an English class I am taking through the University of Central Oklahoma. I felt uninspired and too distracted to write an essay at home; I needed a quiet place to study and overcome writer's block. My search led me to the library and I was pleasently surprised at the space and selection they provided. I found my focus and inspiration here and encourage you to do the same!

FOR A LIMITED TIME ONLY...

Why is it that car commercials, in large, yell and scream to get you to notice them? What if fabric softener or detergent commercials did the same? "BAD STAINS!?! BAD CREDIT!?! NO PROBLEM! IF YOU HAVE A JOB AND 99 CENTS, YOU COULD BE ROLLING AROUND IN CLEAN CLOTHES! (participation may vary, not all individuals may qualify; taxes and fees not included). Speaking of selling cars, I am on the cusp of selling my first vehicle on Craigslist! I put a Kawasaki Ninja up for sale last month. I don't really ride it anymore; straight Oklahoma roads are not conducive to sportbike riding. The world of Craigslist is seemingly littered with scammers, traders, and cheapskates, to put it nicely. I got a positive response on my bike two days after listing it. I thought I should be named salesman of the year, until I learned it was a scam. I'm extremely apprehensive about inquiries now. I've had numerous calls about trading for other vehicles, and others offering ridiculously low bids. However, I'm holding out hope that the individual who is interested in purchasing the bike tomorrow is legit. 

Not Frozen, but Slightly Chilled

     Despite the fact that I don't have kids (children or baby goats), I was coerced, albeit somewhat willingly, to catch the latest Disney animated movie, "Frozen". It received great reviews and I love Disney cartoons, but I heard there was quite a bit of singing in the show, and I wasn't really in the mood for a singing, animated film that night. Outvoted by my friends and wife, however, that's what we watched. It wasn't that bad, actually. There were a LOT of songs in the show, even for a Disney flick, and I felt that the inital story set-up and character develpment was a bit rushed. In the first fifteen minutes we had met the family and supporting cast, demonstrated oldest sister's powers, almost killed, but successfully revived the youngest sister, alienated and banished the oldest daughter because of said powers, killed off mom and dad, skipped ahead 13 years, sang two or three songs, skipped ahead 3 more years before beginning the actual storyline. The story was entertaining, but fairly shallow, as were the characters. The movie lacked any cleverly hidden adult related humor one finds in many of today's animated children's shows, but the music was catchy, real catchy.

     I know it sounds like I hated it, but it was a good hour and a half of mindless entertainment spent in good company.  Apparently, the rest of the world doesn't share my half hearted review of the film; it recently surpassed all other animated films as the top grossing animated fim of all time, according to the Washington Post. I am glad that I waited to see it on Blu-ray rather than in the theaters; spending twenty dollars on tickets would have resulted in further negative reviews. Needless to say, I am not buying this DVD, but I will be forced to perpetually sing along with the soundtrack that has been playing in my head since last Friday. "Let it go, let it go..."