So we finally went to see The Batman last night. It was okay. I liked the way the Joker was portrayed by Heath Ledger, but... the movie felt shallow. Instead of diving into the issue of darkness and heroism and whether any of it was worth it, the smallest toe was dipped in to this vast lake. There is so much more they could have shown, particularly with Batman, that they didn't even bother exploring, for the sake of special effects. For all the hype and so forth, I decided something which kind of surprises me: I don't need this movie in my collection.

Now, that isn't an uncommon judgment for me, and it actually takes a lot for a movie to make onto my list. This one doesn't really even come close. Not deep enough, it drags on too long, the characters were shallow and uninteresting. I felt the actions portrayed weren't really understood by the actors, so they weren't portrayed correctly.

Maybe the hype was just too much?

Holly pretty much agrees, though. Her biggest complaint was that they should have stopped the movie when the girl died, when Harvey becomes two faced, and done a second movie with that whole mess. It wouldn't have been difficult, and because they didn't, the movie was too long. She wanted an "Empire Strikes Back" moment, a movie with an expected sequel where the heroes fail. Miserably. I think I agree with her. Yes, Jedi was the best, but part of that was because of the desperate losses suffered in Empire. This is a trope not used often enough in movies.

Overall? 3 of 5.

This is one thing I kind of want for my birthday.

http://www.bethkinderman.com/buy.htm

There are lots of other things, if you really want to know, ask my wife.

I did this a very long time ago, and I'm curious to see what happens now.

Ask me three questions, any three questions, and I will answer them as truthfully as I am able.

When you are done, if you like, you can do this on your own journal (but it is hardly required).

I would call my restaurant Nic's Place. It would be a smoke free urban fusion club, reviving the concept of a dinner club, where food and entertainment are blended. It would serve food and flavors from a variety of sources and serve high brow liquors and other drinks, including smoothies and exotic juices for those who chose not to indulge or are the designated driver (which would be strongly encouraged). A dj would play on the weekends, and a comedy troupe would perform on weeknights. Occasionally it would pick up local bands or big name artists to come perform on the stage.

This is a pretty tough question, primarily because it largely depends on what industry the business is. Without knowing that, I would say my brother Jose, and Pops. Because they are smart and wise and know a lot about a lot of different things, including finance and business.

I don't have a birthmark, just moles. Lots of them. Including a set that looks vaguely like Orion's Belt.

Moles aren't that different from birthmarks, except they aren't as cool and are more likely to give you cancer.

Yeah.

If I could have a birthmark, I think one on the tongue would be cool. Is that even possible?

If not, then I don't want one.

Life is good, money is tight, things are starting to resolve themselves in our new place.

Kansas didn't happen, and I'm ok with that. Kind of waiting before I start hunting again, I feel an exodus is starting here, and that will eventually mean places to move up into, which is good. I just have to be patient. I'm trying to keep my eyes open, though, so if you see something that you think "Hey, this guy would be great in this job," let me know.

Otherwise, not much to post. Considering saving up the money to get into a random mlm we discovered.

So... we're here with Holly's folks now. It has, on the whole, been significantly better than I expected. In general we are left to our own devices, which is pretty nice. Holly likes it, cause there are always people around. Speaking of Holly... she's starting to do better. When she doesn't get food often enough she feels a bit sick, but otherwise I think the morning sickness is over. I don't think she really realizes yet, partly because she went down with a cold this week, but... its good. And, in awesome cool news, I felt the baby kick this morning (and again later) which is really cool.

AJ is taking us to play D&D with a group in Provo tomorrow evening, which is awesome, partly just cause it is D&D, but mainly because I don't have to DM, I get to play, which is just awesome. I haven't played since Joshiwoshi ran his campaign over a year ago (sniff!).

I have two job interviews tomorrow, one of which I'm pretty sure I'm not going to take, and the other one I just don't even remember what it is. And we found some work from home stuff that we think is actually legit, so Holly can make some extra cash without having a dedicated schedule she has to worry about. So life is good.

Oh, and for the Laubers... we are planning on coming. Thanks!

I got grades. 3.18... my Geography prof. gave me a C, but otherwise we're good.

Finals have been just awful. This morning... ugh. Philosophy, right? Anyone who knows me, knows I have no problems with philosophy. Fitz just has to go and prove me wrong. The book was really easy, Bertrand Russell. Trouble is, he wanted us to practically have the damn thing memorized. Fortunately, I was expecting this, so I studied, but I SUCK at memorization. One question (40%) was: Discuss the main arguments of each chapter. Do as many as you can. I ran out, eventually. 15 chapters. I just can't memorize that much crap. Maybe this is why I'm not in science... I hate memorizing. It is pointless. I won't remember this stuff by next week, much less by next year. Ugh.

In other news... the job hunt is going well. I already have one job interview on Monday the 14th, and I haven't even really done anything yet (disseminated my resume on Monster). It was kinda cool.

So, I'm updating.

Life is good. I'm in the middle of finals week right now, so I'm pretty busy, but it will all be over soon (YAY!). I'm not taking classes this summer, because we are moving up to Salt Lake. It isn't the best situation in the world (moving in with her parents) but it lets us save up for a car, a baby, school, and maybe, just maybe, a decent computer (ours really sucks). Um... I really don't have a lot to say. We don't know the gender of the baby just yet, but we should relatively soon (probably not until after the move, though). Holly keeps losing weight though, which is worrying us really bad...

I have a job interview in Salt Lake on Monday the 14th, which is kind of cool to already have. And there is another place that is considering my resume still, but I might not be moving up in time for their needs. Holly is hoping to just stay at Convergys (so she can keep the benefits), but we don't know if/how that is going to work yet. She is also considering getting a part time job at the Rumbi Island Grill, just so she can get the employee discount/free meals.

We're going to miss our new friends down here, especially Kamie and Brandon M, but it'll be nice to be up in Salt Lake, so we can visit with old friends, like the Laubers. We haven't figured out what we're doing as far as D&D is concerned, but I'm really itching to play, so if anyone wants to run a game for us... Or we can run one. Whatever.

Um. Yeah. That's about it, I think.

Sorry it has been so long since I posted. No updates, except one. For anyone that doesn't know already, Holly is pregnant. And it is NOT twins... April Fools, if any of you still think she is. Sorry! It was just a lot of fun. It started out with the idea that we would tell her parents today. Then it extended to mine, and by the time today rolled around, we decided to text a bunch of people and let them know she was pregnant with twins. Yeah. Maybe I'll come on later and post favorite responses, but since most of them actually come from my readership, that might not be a good idea. Heh...

Bizarre linkage
http://www.nfctd.com/home.html

Step 1: Put your iTunes or equivalent on random. (I used yahoo music, but I've twinked this thing beyond compare, so as long as I've rated the song, I'm counting it.)
Step 2: Post the first line from the first 30 songs that play, no matter how embarrassing.
Step 3: Bold out the songs when someone guesses correctly.
Step 4: Looking them up on Google or any other search engine is CHEATING!

1. Mom and Dad don't look so hot these days
2. Meet me at midnight at the broadcast tower
3. Too late to hide and too tired to care
4. Perfect by nature, icons of self indulgence Evanescence, Everybody's Fool
5. I have to block out thoughts of you so I don't lose my head Blue October, Hate Me
6. Something is wrong with the sum of us Matchbox Twenty, Could I Be You?
7. I've got 5 dollars, eighty-five relations
8. I'm not alone 'cause the tv's on
9. I'm sick of being alone, when are you coming home?
10. She screams when I'm away.
11. More and more I can't say no.
12. Baby you're all that I want, when you're lying here in my arms DJ Sammy remix
13. Slow roll, quick drags, I'm gonna wrap my head in plastic.
14. I took this girl out last night, and we left around twelve.
15. Get a shiver in the dark, it's rainin' in the park, meantime. Sultans of Swing, the Dire Straits
16. You were shining in a white light like a fairytale movie star
17. Save some face, you know you've only got one.
18. I'm always assuming the worst, but you're going on none the less.
19. Oh, you gonna take me home tonight.
20. Crawling in my skin, these wounds they will not heal. Linkin Park, Crawling
21. From underneath the trees we watch the sky.
22. He's losing the girl now. His feelings overwhelm her so.
23. Hanging round downtown by myself, and I had so much time, Sex and Candy, Marcy's Playground.
24. No pennies from heaven, no pennies in my hand
25. Everybody knows, but no ones saying nothing.
26. Hey little sister what have you done? Billy Idol, White Wedding
27. Oh my love, please don't cry.
28. There's no combination of words I can put on the back of a postcard.
29. When you were here before, couldn't look you in the eye.
30. I need an easy friend, I do, with an ear to lend.

So... Valentines Day. I got Holly a bunch of stuff, none of which I can post here. I've never been big on Valentines Day, and I don't really understand it, it seems pretty silly to me, but at the same time, I understand she wouldn't be too thrilled if I were to skimp on it, so... no worries. What I don't get at all, though, is how big of a deal it is for HER family. They treat it almost like another Christmas, which totally baffles me. I mean, she got me a book, which isn't very valentiney, and it was one I've wanted for eons. Joseph, prepare to be jealous... she got me Card's A Planet Called Treason. The Original. Published in 1979. [Giddily runs around in circles]. So I'm pretty thrilled. But I still totally don't get it. Like, her mom sent down a package (we haven't gotten it yet, but from my understanding it will be rather large) full of gifts and things. A lot of it will be stuff we need, like a three hole punch (Hopefully) and a DVD player (crosses fingers) but some of it is just random ("Do you know what Dominic REALLY wants?").

Oh, and the snow we are receiving? Pitiful. The other day it hailed, actually, and then stayed frozen on the ground. I passed some girls yesterday, in town for one of SUU's incessant conferences, and she said, "This snow is really weird... its like Dippin' Dots Snow!" and she and the girl she was talking to walked best laughing at this concept. I wanted to smack sense into them, literally. Some people can be so annoyingly stupid...

But yeah. Sorry if my last post scared/depressed anyone. I'm really doing ok, and things are really starting to look better, I'm just (ie, but...) having some minor issues. But I'm OK! Honest.

So... life is good. I had my first test in Philosophy on Friday (my first test of the semester, in any class) and I think I did fairly well on it, but am not entirely sure that such as the case as we haven't gotten them back yet. Fitz is awesome, though, and I'm pretty sure I'll do well. This is a pretty basic level class. Yawn. I'm kind of wishing I'd signed up for Metaphysics instead... they went deep hardcore into Descartes' Meditations, including a Testimonia and then a couple of different critiques, which would be fun.

Anyway. Holly is sick, poor thing, but she got a job (Convergys, Cingular) and starts on Monday. We have friends down here, real friends, couple friends, the kind that we've been wishing we had since we moved away from Matt & Elizabeth. These two, Cami and Brandon, are pretty awesome... they are newerly weds than us, having gotten married Jan. 13, and are in the Institute class Holly and I are going to have to drop because of her work schedule during training. Sadness. Fortunately we are still friends and will still do stuff... we went to Off the Cuff on Friday, and have gotten together for games... three times? It is pretty awesome.

And... that's about all.

Oh, and D&D is on Thursday this week, if anyone reads this. (Ericka. Poke!)

Interactive clicky clicky thing, stolen from my cousin. It is really quick, and then you can do one for you, which is also really quick. Enjoy!

http://kevan.org/johari?name=Kaminoshi

Oh, and life is good. Gotta go do a paper, though.

So yeah... books were crazy expensive this year. I don't think I've ever paid this much for books before. It really doesn't help that several of my professors are either using new books or new editions of books, so I could only get two of the smaller books used, which really only saved me like ten or twenty bucks, at best. Total spent: 378.20. Grumble cakes. But otherwise I have everything, and am enjoying classes. I don't know if I posted what I'm taking, but here is what I like: Geography, first thing after work on MWF, with one of my favorite professors, whom I need to go terrorize one of these days (maybe Friday, when I don't have Institute). Then an Intro to Philosophy, which I kind of feel is somewhat stupid for me to be taking, but it was the only one of Fitz's classes that fit my schedule, and I don't want to jump in the philosophic deep end and drown, so I'll take it. And the rest of the class will hate me. And then, of course, one of Ping's classes. I'm taking them slowly, one semester at a time, so I don't run out of classes too quickly. This one is about Rome, and I've already got an awesome quote from him. He talked about the symbolism on the "real" quarter, and then complained of the stupidity of the state quarters, "South Dakota? I don't want South Dakota! All South Dakota does is lead into North Dakota! Give me the Roman eagle, the Imperial eagle, the American eagle, clutching the fasces of authority! Now that's money!"

And yeah.

Oh, and poor Holly is sick. Sadness.

So it snowed again last night. Another foot dropped in silent wrath. When I looked out my window this morning, all I could see was a couple inches on the steps, because of the wind. Some drifts went up to my knees, but not a lot, and most of those were partly because of the snow that hadn't happened to melt off. Yeah. Spent an hour shoveling it off stairs... it was really wet and really heavy, good for snowballs and statues and whitewashing, but terrible for shoveling, snowplows, and cars. Kids love it, adults hate it. Go figure, eh?

And then I got to vacuum a bunch of stuff, which leads to a vaguely rhetorical question. Would you rather have a big huge vacuum you have to lug around, but only have to cover the floor in three strokes, or a little household vacuum with which you have to go over the same ground about seven times?

Which brings me here, with not much happening.

Oh... my mom bought us a portable foldup cart thingy for christmas... vaguely similar to this... http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r90/kaminoshi/57986557.jpg, but nicer and it folds up out of the way, and works wonders... we went to the library yesterday, and stopped at the store to pick up some supplies on the way home. That may not sound like a big deal to most people, especially those with cars, but we have over half a mile between us and the store/library (they are across the street from each other, and roughly equidistant from home). Also, we checked out 15 books, and bought a bunch of two liters of soda. Normally that much weight would be hard to deal with, but we put the books, soda, and some groceries in the cart, and almost all the rest (except TP and Cereal) in the back pack, and trekked home. I'm just glad we went yesterday, considering the snow today...

So I'm sitting here, in the computer lab of the city library, pretty much just bored and hanging around, waiting for my lovely wife to finish whatever nonsense she is doing. I can't see her, because even though the numbers I got were next to each other, they aren't in actuality adjacent. Grr...

But yeah. Bored. And stuff.

I'm getting ready for D&D on saturday. We might have a third player, which is nice. I'm doing an Aztecan world, rather than a vaguely Medieval one, although so far the changes have been pretty superficial... I'm still using the old ruleset, and haven't changed most weapons or anything (they are just made out of specially forged copper...), but I did change the Pantheon (completely) and am going to change Dragons to reflect the more uh... feathery... concept the Tenochtli have. And that's all for now. I'm going to go wander around for a while.