The Spirit of Adventure

Laura and I went last night to see the new Pixar movie Up. As with anything Pixar seems to touch it was stellar. Great characters, solid plot, using emotional elements in a way that was very real and not contrived, good humor, and lots of fun hidden references.

One of the major themes presented through the film were how a person experiences adventure throughout life. The writer’s definition matched my own pretty spot on (either that or I was reading too much into the film). The perspective (more likely in hindsight) that your experiences, even the mundane and routine, are caught up in something larger than your limited perspective and effective will. A perspective that produces wonder, humility, and a pursuit of the depth of life that God has given us.

It was a little fortuitous that I should watch this film a few nights after we returned from our most recent big adventure in California. I’ll dedicate some posts to specific aspects of the trip but we already have some pictures up at Laura’s site and on facebook if you care to take a look.

Graduation Celebration and Tioga Road

A few updates:

Laura graduated this past weekend. I wanted to especially thank Grace, my mom and sister, and Brad for helping out with everything and bringing food. Yay for accomplishment and Grace’s peacan pie cookie bars!



We leave for California Saturday morning. Yay for natural beauty and the highway system on which to see so much of it in such a short time!



Speaking of our trip: Tioga road opens up today, which means we are going to Death Valley next week. Yay for snow plows and mysterious moving rocks!

Come Out

"I am the resurrection and the life.”

When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out." The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, "Unbind him, and let him go."

-John 11

Children's Book Part 2

I just got around to making the jpgs of the second children's book I illustrated last week for Theresa (who was taking the same class with Laura). I had less time to illustrate it but it came out pretty good nevertheless.

Also would like to wish Brian a happy birthday from the blogosphere.

Children’s Book

For Laura’s Children’s Literature class she got to write a children’s book, and I got to illustrate it. So we put much effort these past couple of weeks into it (and a late night last night) but it is finally finished. Much of the book was based on stories from both of our families. Hope you like it. (I know a blog is not the easiest format in which to read such a creation, but it hasn’t stopped me yet.)

Indi Summer Movie Guide

While I will probably be seeing several blockbusters this summer (Wolverine, Up, Star Trek, Harry Potter, etc.) it seems that there has been a plethora of potentially good smaller budgeted, indi-like films on the horizon. So here is a list of eight films I will be keeping my eye on (though will probably wait for DVD):

Is Anybody There?
In theaters: April 17, 2009
Reasons It Looks Good: Michael Caine and magicians
What it Reminds me of: Up
http://www.apple.com/trailers/independent/isanybodythere/

Rudo Y Cursi
In theaters: May 8, 2009
Reasons It Looks Good: Gael García Bernal (Motorcycle Diaries)
http://www.apple.com/trailers/sony/rudoycursi/

The Brothers Bloom
In theaters: May 29, 2009
Reasons It Looks Good: fun con movie, Rachel Wiesz,
What it Reminds me of: Ocean’s 11
http://www.apple.com/trailers/summit/thebrothersbloom/

Moon
In theaters: June 12, 2009
Reasons It Looks Good: I usually like Low budget Science Fiction
What it Reminds me of: Pi
http://www.apple.com/trailers/sony/moon/

Away We Go
In theaters: June 12, 2009
Reasons It Looks Good: John Krasinski (the Office)
What it Reminds me of: Garden State
http://www.apple.com/trailers/focus_features/awaywego/

Food, Inc.
In theaters: June 12, 2009
Reasons It Looks Good: this one walk a precarious line, could be really good if balanced but probably will fall into the pit of political smear tactics
http://www.apple.com/trailers/magnolia/foodinc/

Paper Heart
In theaters: August 7, 2009
Reasons It Looks Good: documentary about current cultural understanding of love, Michael Cera (Arrested Development)
http://www.apple.com/trailers/independent/paperheart/

Where the Wild Things Are
In theaters: October 16, 2009
Reasons It Looks Good: if Though not really a summer release (even in a Texas sense), the trailer is very cool, in fact you should go watch it now, , seriously the link is right under this line, click it
http://www.apple.com/trailers/wb/wherethewildthingsare/

Allegiances on LOST

One of the few shows I watch on television is Lost. I made this diagram to help me sort through what group was against what group in what year. There are potential spoilers if you are not caught up on the current season. Let me know if there is anyone I need to add.