Sherman's Head

Sunday, October 30, 2005

language

So today was when we had to "fall back" according to Daylight Savings Time. I had to call my friend James in Las Vegas just to announce to him, "Time changed!" It's an inside joke between us. There are only 3 people privy to that joke and we haven't talked to the other one for quite a while. I have a lot of these inside jokes with most of my friends. I've heard many comments about these jokes and inside sayings. The best has to be by James's wife who said something like "it's weird how you guys can talk to each other and suddenly switch to a conversation you started years ago without missing a step."

So, yeah, I do have this almost "secret" language that only me and my friends can understand. Our lingo was born of pop culture references and personal "you-had-to-be-there" experiences. I wish I could write down where all our references come from and how we came up with the phrases that we repeat, ad nauseam, to each other. I wish there was a small Shermspeak-English guidebook I could sell to all of you to help you understand my slang. But I can't. The words come all too quickly to explain and some meanings have been lost in time. The language comes along with my friendship and there's no shortcut to learning it. Just hang out with me, it'll come, all will be explained and you can add to the lexicon.

Thursday, October 27, 2005

fortune

Your Fortune Is

Man who snatches kisses when young, kisses snatches when old.


The weird thing is, this works for me.

I actually stole a kiss once. When I was a kid in the Philippines, I remember sitting around with a couple of new friends in the yard near my grandma's house. My aunt (dad's sister) yelled out from the house, "Halika na" (translation: come here, now). One of the boys in the group convinced me that she actually said "Halikan na" (translation: kiss, now). So, I went up to a girl and kissed her on the lips. Her response: she started crying. I drew a crowd of onlookers wondering how/why this girl was crying. I had to explain everything and, of course, the adults laughed out loud at my folly.

Sherman=Georgy Porgy

Sunday, October 23, 2005

taylor


So today, I went with my sister to see Ben Taylor. My sister, who has an uncanny ability to win things from radio stations, got a pass for her and a friend to see Ben Taylor at the Hard Rock Cafe. I had never heard any of his music, save one track from a CD that my friend, Mandi, gave me(Thanks Mandi!). I enjoyed that track so I thought I'd catch the show with my sister when she asked.

The show was great. He started the show acoustically because the theater above the Hard Rock had a show going on and he was asked to keep it down for the first part of his set. I have to say that he sounds a lot like his father, James Taylor. He admits it himself and even performed a song that speaks about it. After about 4 solo acoustic songs, the band joined him up on stage. Ben stayed on the acoustic guitar with his band except for the last band song when he switched to electric. After that Ben played two last songs alone to close out the set. The last two songs were the only ones I recognized. The first of the two Surround Me was the track Mandi sent me. The last song was a wonderful cover of Prince's, Nothing Compares 2 U.

The concert was very much a treat. I enjoyed seeing him and he was very friendly at the signing after his show. I definitely welcome him into my musical consciousness and look forward to hearing more from him.

Wednesday, October 19, 2005

substitute

So again with the movie reviews...

I watched Elizabethtown last Friday and loved it. Not only because Cameron Crowe can make one hell of a soundtrack, but he seems to know how to write for me. Somehow, he seems to "write" women that I can instantly fall for. In the last three Crowe movies I saw (Almost Famous, Elizabethtown and Jerry Maguire), I fell for each of the leading ladies. Not because they are played by beautiful women, but because they each had this intangible quality about them that I wasn't able to place until this last movie. They all had faith in their importance in their man's life. In Elizabethtown, it seemed like Claire (Kirsten Dunst) had this uncanny sense that Drew (Orlando Bloom) needed her when his life was turning into a fiasco. Ditto for Renee Zellweger's character in Jerry Maguire. These women's ability to inspire and, in a sense, save the men they loved was what attracted me to them. Much like Penny Lane in Almost Famous,each of Crowe's women was a muse to her man. They knew they were needed and believed in their destiny to inspire.

Elizabethtown, introduced a concept that struck a chord in me. The concept was one of being someone's "substitute person." The way I understood it, a "substitute person" is a person that one can get caught up in to fill a momentary void in their life. Not the love of one's life, but a reasonable "substitute." I was this guy many times in life. I filled that need for companionship and intimacy for many women in my life. I was always the friend they could cuddle up with, that guy that would make them chicken soup when they were sick (happened once) or would fill their arms when they longed to feel someone close to them. Dunst's character, Claire, felt that way. She felt that she was always the substitute and never “the one.” I, Like Claire, am tired of being the substitute. I’m tired of being the one who always hears, “Why can’t my boyfriend be more like you?” or, “If I ever get a boyfriend, I hope he’s as nice and sweet as you.” I’m tired of it. I’m ready to be the person in the red hat that will show her a new plan, take her down a new path and draw a new map for her, whoever she may be.

The other great thing about this movie was the road trip. This movie made me yearn to take a road trip, drive around the country, and see what there is to see… just me, my map and a handful of mix-tapes. The road trip scenes in this movie were powerful. Set to an eclectic soundtrack of Claire’s design, Drew’s trip was moving and cathartic. It was the drive he’d always dreamed of and could never have imagined. I want to live that road trip. I want to drive.

So… needless to say I highly recommend this film. Some critics have said it’s wandering and slow. I think it’s thoughtful and pensive. Cameron Crowe gifted this hopeFUL romantic with this film.

Thursday, October 13, 2005

spaghetti

If you've read this blog in the last 3 entries you would think I was some sort of hack movie critic.

Well, I am, sort of. By putting them in my blog I am recommending these movies. I can't always explain in words what it is about these films that make them "must-sees"in my book but they are.

So, recently, the only thing I've done save going to work and hanging out at home is attending a spaghetti feed at the San Rafael Elks Club last Friday. It was fun and I did a little bit of serving and food running. I wasn't there to do so but I did. I ended up serving on the line a bit, running food from the kitchen to the line, and I also helped clear the dining room after the meal was over. They served over 100 people that day. I took some meatballs home and they became meatball sandwiches for dinner earlier this week. I don't know what it is about food events when I know the cook staff, I always end up helping in some way. I went to a wedding once of a friend I made at City College of San Francisco. He hired another student in our program who did some catering on the side to cater his wedding. Needless to say, I ended up helping that evening with the clean-up, even though I was invited as a guest.

At these events, when I am comfortable with the staff, I always end up doing something. I have always felt more comfortable serving and doing work than trying to socialize. I think that the helping out actually helps me to socialize better. I approach people easier and I am less afraid to make small talk when I am serving. Hosting has always been my social outlet. Even in college, a lot of the parties for my group of friends were held at my house. I always served food and the bar was always open. I had a full bar in my house. I bartended most of the time (I learned how from my friend James) but a few of my friends ended up learning to mix drinks, as well.

Next month is a roast chicken and tri-tip. Joe says I can help cook and serve again. I say, "Great!"

Tuesday, October 04, 2005

within

Saw The War Within today. It was an intense film given current societal circumstances. The story is of a Pakistani suicide bomber named Hassan who's "cell" gets caught before they can carry out their plans. He goes to his friend, Sayeed's, house under the guise of interviewing for engineering jobs. As new plans are made to carry out their mission, Hassan's resolve begins to wane. Upon seeing his friend's life in America, a dilemma begins within Hassan. He sees the life that is possible for him in America and that the Pakistani living there have not become the greedy, evil people he has come to associate with the the U.S. We see his internal struggle between what he believes is the right thing to do and hurting the people he loves. All-in all the film was well made. The acting was amazing and the characters were fleshed out and three-dimensional. The War Within is thought-provoking and is highly recommended viewing.

Saturday, October 01, 2005

klatu

Klatu barada nikto!

So this evening I went to a San Francisco Film Society's annual event, Film in the Fog. Basically it's a classic film they show outside for free. This is the first year I went and I really didn't know what to expect. I had only gotten wind of the event two days before from a postcard my sister had picked up. This year's film was "The Day the Earth Stood Still." I had only heard about the movie through friends who were fans of classic films. I had gotten the impression that this picture was kind of a cult film. I had that impression in mind when I walked into this performance and was pleasantly surprised. When I think of a cult film, I get the feeling of "so bad it was funny." I was totally expecting a cheesy scifi flick and in actuality watched a genuinely great science fiction picture.

Yes, there were moments of laughter in the film, but those were more due to the age of the film and the changed values of our society in relation to the time of the film's release. Like when Klatu said " ...and we hire policemen to enforce them," in regard to the rules of society. The laughter was more elicited by our present day cynicism that policemen break the rules instead of truly just enforcing them. The Day the Earth Stood Still was a great tale of morality in a time when the Cold War was at it's height and nobody trusted "red" Russia. It was trying to send out a message of peace and unity before our own distrust and petty squabbling might destroy the Earth. I walked into this picture hoping to be entertained by cheesy special effects and over-the-top acting. Instead, I came out with a good feeling that I had watched a great film with a universal message that was ahead of its time.