Andrea takes a bite out of the big apple!


She has come to the city with an appetite to explore.


Yesterday we went by Central Park and down fifth ave stopping at Trump Tower for Starbucks. On our way to Times Square where we had lunch at the Hard Rock Cafe. Horrray for overpriced ham- burgers!


Today we went to the South Street Seaport for lunch. We then walked down to the financial district to check out the World Trade Center Memorial Cite were a new display of pictures has been put up to commemorate the fifth aniversary.

Lastly we checked out Wall St to make sure it wasn't just a bunch of Bull.

IF YOU HAVE NOT SEEN A PREVIEW FOR "THE DEPARTED" THE NEW MARTIN SCORSESE FILM GO TO APPLE.COM AND WATCH IT NOW.

Subways Are Cool
A true benefit of living in the boondocks of Manhattan is that I have plenty of reading time on the city's fine subway system.
Although they can be hotter than the firery pitts (my theory is that because they are so far below ground it's just that much closer to hell) the cars themselves are air conditioned (most of the time) and my roughly half hour commute has provided me the time to read two books in the last month. Freakenomics is terrific I am almost done, and You're Only as Good as Your Last One, film industry book, was equally entertaining. Three cheers for not having to watch the road on the way to work.

New Film From Wes Anderson
"The Darjeeling Limited" is set to shoot this Decmber in India starring Adrian Brody, Owen Wilson, and Jason Schwartzman. Written by Schwartzman, Roman Coppola, and of course Anderson. This is said to be the story of three brothers who set off on a road trip after their father's death. It will be interesting to see how this film will stand up in Anderson's filmography. This is his fourth film in a row to deal with the father son dynamic and I wonder if the death of the father will break this tradition in the future of his work.

My apologies to Barney's of NYC.

My wife and I are just cheap, and in no way meant to harm this fine name in retail apparel.

What a Crock

Amber and I attended our first sample sale in NYC. Barney's of NY held a huge clearance sale in the basement of an old building down a creepy side street and we went to shop. Sticker shock didn't wear off until we left. Amber looked at some great shoes today that were like 40% off, but when the original price is over 500 bones it really doesn't play off like a great deal. Our favorite of the day was a tule skirt that was originally over $5000 marked down to a thrifty $3200. We walked out of there with armloads of nothing but the notion that cheap label whores are over tanned and under patient willing to push, shove or glare if you are between them and a pair of gold strappy Prada shoes.

THANK YOU NEW YORK CITY


We saw Little Miss Sunshine last night and after a terrific film and a side slpittingly funny finale the audience clapped. This is something I tried, on multiple occassions, to do in Medford and was consistently ridiculed. Long live watching movies at a theatre with your fellow man.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ALFRED HITCHCOCK!

One of cinema's great masters would be 107 if he were still alive today, and you can bet that he would still be making movies.

Spoiler Alert-Lady in the Water-
I saw M Night Shamalama-ding-dong's new comedy, Lady in the Water last night. I thought it was the most self-serving and arrogent piece of work I've seen in a long time. I cannot believe the entire point of the movie is that... I am afraid that people will uknowingly read this and I hate to spoil it. Well I can say that the theatre patrons were laughing way more than the director intended and especially at the end I thought I was watching Wedding Crashers with all the riotous laughing. The feeling from those I've talked to is that the mythology is fun, but the execution was off the mark, to say the least. All that being said Paul Giamatti was fantastic and the reason the movie was still an enjoyable experience for me. I really was entertained through the movie I just left the theatre with a feeling of not connecting to the film. Similar to, although I enjoyed it much more, Superman Returns. Needless to say I have not been too impressed by this summer's offerings, but have not gotten to the movies enough.

News to Come...
Hey everyone, Amber and I just moved in to our apartment, hence the delay in blogging, and I am just dropping a quick note to all that we are well and we own more crap than fits in tiny NYC apartments. We had sushi the other night and when you dine in it is half price! We had dinner for $11. There are good parts to the NYC as well. I am working on a Vince Vaughn Vs. Owen Wilson 2006 blog stay tuned...........Pictures of the apartment next time.

Super Man?
We saw the new Superman Returns last night. Most of my filmschool friends saw the IMAX version of the film opening week, and they were less than amazed. I went into the film without a feeling of what to expect. Superman is obviously one of the biggest fictional icons for young men, but I realized at my age Superman movies were a little before my time. I remember watching some of the originals as a child, but it has been many years since I've seen any of them. After talking with people who have recently seen them, and then watching the new one in the theatre I must admit I enjoyed myself but was left wanting more. Which is funny that a two and a hlaf hour movie could feel unfinished, but Returns just left me not quite full. I was impressed with the special effects, the actors all did a great job, and director Bryan Singer handled much of the film with a nice touch. I did feel as though the movie's first act is so long that the second felt incomplete. It was one of those movies were I noticed the end coming quickly and I was not quite sure if everything had been set up yet. I have heard from a repeat viewer that the film was more satisfying the second, third time around, but in NYC I will not be investing the $10.50... maybe on video.

Hello Everybody,
My Pop's grilled me about not updating my blog. So Pop's, I'm back in the game. First things first, I now have a MacBook from the fifth ave Mac store located in midtown (it's pretty cool). We got a free ipod (upgraded to a 30 gig) with the purches and now I am back on the internet. I will begin spilling the beans on the big apple, but today I would like to share with the world how great it is being right here right now. Film school is great, I had a revelation the other day. I could actually make a living doing this when I am done. I could not be more excited that Amber is in a great salon that she really enjoys and that I am making movies and that we both followed our dreams. Rosco has a brother now, Monte has been keeping her busy with the wrestling, and the chasing, so she wishes you all well.

HEY EVERYBODY
Quick note, Amber and I have arrived in NYC and we still don't have a place to live. It sucks but I started school and hopefully everything will be well soon. More updates to come including a detailed report from the road.

Sleeping too well?

Here's the new nightmare of a video from Pearl Jam for their second single Life Wasted. It's my favorite song on the new album, but I won't be watching this video before bed.

Bill Walton.
I have had the opportunity to watch some playoff basketball because I am unemployed and I have to admit that Bill Walton is the worst announcer I have ever heard call a game. To aleve the sting from this ego crushing blog, I will admit I have heard him on radio shows and I believe his energy and passion translate quite well. He seems always prepared with a long winded take on contemporary NBA life that is entertaining and amusing, but listening to him call a game one starts to think his cleverness is scripted. When I watched Portland Trailblazer games in my youth, Walton would constantly dog my home team while professing his everlasting love for the greatest human being to walk the planet since our lord and savior Jesus Christ aka Shaquille O'Neal. I once believed that maybe Walton wanted to have Shaq's love child or maybe his years in P-Town were so unpleasant he holds a grudge, but listening to him this year I am coming to terms with the fact that he just loves to say the most profound thing that comes to his mind whether or not it is or is not true. You can tell by the way fellow announcer Steve Jones gasps for breath while repeating whatever senile word vomit quote Walton has just dropped that his peers might just feel the same as I do. Bill, I don't want to sound too angry I really am not, but your energy translates just fine w/o a profound statement every five seconds. Good luck to all of us as the finals quickly approach.

Oregon. It's my favorite state.

Yesterday I went to Applegate Lake with my wife and friends. I realized when we drove off our second dirt road onto the side of a tributary just how beautiful my great state is and just how much I will miss what Oregon means to me. To me Oregon is a place of natural beauty, friendly people, and meth. I love how quickly a person can move from the bustle of the city to the utter peace and quiet of a stream, trail, or mountain. The water in the river was about 33 degrees fahrenheit, which for the educated, means about a half-hour ago it was still snowpack.

So we went to the swimming area of the reservior. I was coaxed in, and after five minutes the stabbing pain went away and normal breath patterns could resume. As we ready for our cross country journey I cannot help but think about how much I will miss buzzing, chirping, non-motor motivated water movement, and just how small nature can make one feel.

I am Stuck on an Island: Hear's Ten Discs for me to Bring.






Arcade Fire: Funeral
If you have not heard this album, you need to. Every song is a gem and I could listen to it on replay for a week and not be board track 1 is one of my favorite songs of all time.
Audioslave: Audioslave
If I needed to cut down a palm tree or do anything that required testosterone, I would be listening to this beefy disc to get it done. Plus I really like it.
Interpol: Turn on the Bright Lights
Have to thank GAP for putting a newer song on their CD that I could seek out and purchase one of my new favorite bands second CD. This is their first and it is genius. Moody might soon pop up to you as a theme in music choices and these guys certainly fit that bill, but the energy of this album is terrific.
The Killers: Hot Fuss
The Killers could keep me dancing all nigh long, terrific CD, for me the disc that ushered in this contemporary rock scene we are in and I appreciate that very much.
Pearl Jam: Yield
My favorite band, not sure how to pick just one, but this is the album PJ was touring on when I saw them in concert first and I remember the first single Give in to Fly played on a radio during class in high school and I will never forget the feeling of hearing it for the first time when I should not have been listening to the radio at all.
Postal Service: Give Up
Endlessly listenable. The result of a terrific collaberation that will hopefully make another record.
RadioHead: OK Computer
Creepy, but that is why I like it. RadioHead seems to march to their own tune which reminds me of PearlJam in that they would cut off their noses to spite their faces and not sell out. I admire them very much for that.
REM: Automatic For the People
A classic. I have been a fan of this album as long as I have been seriously listening to music. It is one of the best all time albums.
The Smashing Pumkins: Siamese Dream
Another moody piece that reminds me of my youth and yet feels accomplished and contemporary.
The Strokes: Room on Fire
The Strokes saved rock, it has been said and I agree, they gave me something to listen to when the smell of bubble gum and M&M's were ruling the radio. It is also no coincidence that the rise in popularity of The Stroke is in direct correlation the decline in popularity of LimpBisquick, so thank the Lord for The Strokes.

Honorable Mention
Coldplay: A Rush of Blood to the Head, Counting Crowes: august and Everything After, Cranberries: No Need to Argue, Death Cab for Cutie: Transatlaticism, David Gray: White Ladder, Green Day: Dookie, Nirvana: Unplugged in NY, Mazzy Starr: So Tonight That I Might Sleep, The Shins: Oh! Inverted World, Soundgarden: Superunknown, StoneTemplePilots: Core, U2: Achtung Baby, The Verve: Urban hymns, Weezer: The Blue Album, Yeah Yeah Yeah's: Show Your Bones,

Oldies but Goodies
I was trying to pick singular albums that through my life I have tried to wear out. These artists are from an era before me and all I have at this point are greatest hits albums that obviously rule because they are the best of collections. So here are the artists who's songs I cherish, but whose albums either never existed or I am not familiar enough with just one to pick. This does not diminish the importance of this music however, because I do own most of these greatest hits albums
The Beatles
Johnny Cash
Bob Dylan
Jimi Hendrix
Elvis Presley
Rolling Stones
Violent Femmes
The Who
Neil Young

America, you dumb idiots
I understand that of the top four American Idols, rocker Chris Daultry would be the least in need of an AI title to enjoy a successful music career, but what the bleep people. He has not had one bad week, not every one perfect, but mr. consistancy goes out in fourth place. Bad form and I am ashamed to be an American right now. You may be asking yourself if I have the right to complain? You bet I am an AI voter and my voice was not heard. Luckily I still have a touch of McFeeeever and the voters better make her the new princess of pop or else. Lastly the term "douche bag" has been thrown around on a couple of my good friends blogs and I would like to now nominate myself for that perticular title. E Strahl OUT

The Life of Riley

I have been unemployed for about a week now and I must admit that life is good my friends. I have played golf twice and jogged to the IslandJuice one morning with Amber after waking up at ten. I am enjoying it while it lasts.

Five-Second Movie Reviews
Match Point was an interesting movie that suffered from a slow second act. The middle of the movie kind of hung for a while with what seemed like no place to go. Which is weird because the character development was good, and as an audience we knew the direction the story would head toward but the pacing seemed a tad stagnet. The movie is 2 hours 4 minutes. Overall I turned off my DVD player with a sense that I had been entertained by a movie more mature and sophisticated than the next reviewed masterpiece American Dreamz with a Z. This movie was the unfiltered bitter rantings of what I hope is an educated liberal American. If that is true it did not come through in the telling of this perticular story. Some good comedic performances, but nothing exciting was said. And that is why I go to the movies my friends, to see something better than I feel I could come up with after an evening's discussion with friends. This movie sucked.