I just got home from watching Inglorious Basterds. Now, let it be known that I've always been a fan of Tarantino's. Not just his direction but his writing as well. From True Romance right up to Kill Bill, the only movie of his I never really connected with was Death Proof. Even then I still enjoyed watching it. But, onto Inglorious Basterds. I never knew how much hate there was out there for Tarantino until the time leading up to Basterds release, but apparently there are a lot of... boorish and unfortunate people out there who are invested in Tarantino's eventual demise. I don't get it. I suppose I understand that when someone or something is successful and appeals to a great deal of people, certain folks will go against the grain just for the sake of going against the grain. Those folks will have to wait a little longer, however, because Basterds is Tarantino at his best. Easily his best work since Pulp Fiction and I say that with a bit of grit in my teeth since I loved Kill Bill so much, but Basterds has that certain... I don't know what. You know when a movie comes out at just the right time, as if all the planets alligned and the universe was at one for 153 minutes. It's just like that. Now, of course I've seen better movies in the past, I just can't remember when. Basterds is that good. Unfortunately, I believe Quentin had his one and only chance with the Academy with Pulp Fiction and Basterds will be forgotton come Spring time, but here's hoping they at least recognize Christopher Waltz' performance as he completely stole the entire movie. Needless to say, I highly recommend this movie to anyone and everyone. Especially if you've been a fan of Tarantino's in the past. If you hate him, this wont change your mind, but if you can keep and open mind you'll be entertained for a little over two hours.

5/5

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So check this out, life has been going pretty alright as of late. I seem to have my mojo back (if I ever had any) in all respects. I've been hanging out with a new crowd, a much younger one at that. A crew more apt to enjoy the finer things in life. Unfortunately, I've been losing touch with those who stuck by me through the bad times. Not to say I haven't reached out to them, they've just been leaving me dry lately. It's fine they have families to take care of, but if you don't take care of your friendships too, they'll wilt away and eventually not be around anymore. I'm getting tired of trying to get together, even if it's just to go to the movies only to be turned down. Eventually I'm gonna stop asking. It's kind of a bummer. However this new crew is full of some really cool people. Of which I hope to keep in contact with.

Speaking of old friends, I sort of drunk-facebooked this one girl I kind of dig a few weeks ago only to feel the crushing defeat of a non-response. It wasn't really that bad of a message either, it was mostly a "I miss hanging out with you" sort of a soliloquy. Anyway, I felt like a complete jackass for sending the message and have been waiting for the impending restraining order only to find out she's been trying to call me ever since only she's been calling the wrong number. We finally talked tonight and all is cool. I suppose. She made it seem that way, but appearances can be deceiving. The painfully self-saboteur in me thinks she's just being nice while the alpha in me thinks she digs my ish. We talked for a while, or rather she talked and I listened. Apparently she was in town this past weekend but thought I was ignoring her because she had the wrong phone number. Funny how life works sometimes. She's coming back in October, though which I'm looking forward to. Although I know I gotta stop pining for the unattainable. In terms of proximity, I mean.

So that's that. A complete update on the life of Al. Mostly. I'm sure there's a lot more I can tell you about, but I doubt any of it would really translate all that well. You know when you tell someone about something really cool that happened to you and all throughout the story you can see their attention span shrinking? Maybe you don't catch onto those things or maybe you're too entranced by the sound of your own voice to notice (as too many people are) but it happens. Me telling you about the happenings of my life would probably follow that path.

There's this guy I work with. Nice enough fella, but perpetually lonely. Kind of like me only he's blissfully unaware of his situation or how others perceive him. He tries to make the most mundane of activities in his life sound amazing and when he actually does do something worthy of a note he'll embellish it to the point of no return. I don't want to ever be that guy. I don't want him to be that guy. Part of me wants to shake him and tell him the way he perceives himself is not how the rest of the world sees him, but that's not my place. Sorry, just thinking out loud.

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Is it me or do I seem to post this exact same blog every couple of months? Pretty much the same, anyway. The words are shuffled around a little and the main characters sometimes change, but the plot remains the same.

Oh well.

I hope everyone is well,

Al.