November 2012 - Chris Ullrich dot net
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November 2012

All I Want for Christmas Is . . . Nothing

Posted on November 27, 2012

With both Christmas and my birthday fast approaching, I thought it would be prudent to share some thoughts I have about the holidays that will hopefully answer the question I frequently get asked around this time of year: “What do you want for Christmas and/or your birthday?”

The short answer is I don’t really want anything. That’s right, I don’t want you (or anyone else) to get me anything.

Confused? Allow me to elaborate.

I don’t need anything — The truth is I already have pretty much everything I need. If I do really want or need something I don’t already have, I’m extremely fortunate enough to be in the position to just go ahead and buy it for myself.

If there is something I haven’t already bought that I really want, it’s probably very expensive and definitely not something I would ever expect anyone to buy for me. Or, as it is in a lot of cases, I just don’t need it that bad and am willing to go without.

I already have too much stuff — In fact, I’m really trying to downsize the amount of stuff I already have, so adding new stuff is not really a priority. Plus, I am currently looking for a new place to live, which may or may not have more space than I currently have, so I really can’t be adding a lot of new until that’s sorted out.

Although, even if I did end up with a lot more space, I would likely still be trying to downsize. The simple fact is I realized a few years ago I can live with less. It was a terrific realization and I’ve tried to stick with it. So far, I’ve been pretty successful.

I could go on with more reasons, but those are the big ones. I have a good life and I’m thankful for it. I’m also extremely satisfied with the current quantity and quality of “things” in my life.

Although, if someone did want to buy me one of these, or one of these, or one of these (perhaps all three?), I might find a way to make an exception.

Until then, I’m just gonna sit over here on my more than adequate pile of stuff.

Happy Long Weekend and a Fitness Update

Posted on November 25, 2012

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and ate until they could eat no more. As for me, I didn’t actually do that much eating this weekend as I’m in the midst of getting in shape for the rest of my life.

Yes, I realize the “rest of my life” thing might be heady stuff for this early on a Sunday, but what can I say? I’m taking steps to better myself, it’s going pretty well and I feel like sharing.

Since I started eating better, not drinking booze/beer and working with a personal trainer three months ago, I’ve lost over 20 pounds and can now fit into clothes I used to wear long ago and new ones I bought thinking I would eventually fit into them. I gotta say, it’s a pretty great feeling to be accomplishing a goal like this.

I’ve still got a lot of work to do so I can’t stop just yet and start eating pizza and drinking beer. That will come around again once I get to the weight and level of fitness I want to get to. At that point, an occasional binge here and there won’t be a problem.

Until then, it’s protein bars and turkey wraps on whole wheat tortillas for me. Fortunately, I actually like eating both of those things, so it’s not really that much of a problem.

The weird part is that I don’t really miss the bad food or booze all that much. I really thought I would. Sure, I think about eating pizza or a cheese burger, having a beer or, perhaps, a bit of 21 year old scotch now and then, but I really don’t miss any of it. It just isn’t as important as I thought it was.

What it really comes down to is this: I want to live a long, happy and healthy life instead of any of the alternatives. In short, I choose me.

I think I made the right choice.

Working for the Weekend

Posted on November 16, 2012

That title goes back a long way. Back to an ’80’s pop band called Loverboy. Yes, I’m making a Loverboy reference. Deal with it.

Hey, they were pretty popular in the ’80’s. I’ll bet if you think about it, or hear some of their songs, you’ll realize you know them and maybe even like them. Sure, they’re Canadian, but you can’t really hold that against them, can you?

I don’t. In fact, I have some good friends that are either from Canada or live in Canada right now. So there. I’m no Canada hater.

In fact, I’ll prove it by posting a video for one of the band’s most famous songs right here. That’s right, it’s “Working for the Weekend.” Did you expect something else? If so, you really haven’t been paying attention.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zL8G5pBZ5CI?rel=0&w=500&h=375]

And, as if that wasn’t enough, here’s some bloopers from Big Bang Theory. Why? Why the heck not? They’re funny.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULHHQiFfK9o?rel=0&w=500&h=281]

I’m not entirely sure what any of this has to do with anything, but if I’m being completely honest here (and I should be, right?) I’m really just stalling instead of working on the script I’m supposed to be writing.

I do that. Stalling, I mean. I’m really good at it. In fact, I’m really, really good at it. Really, really, really good.

Now I’m doing it again. Crap.

I’m hoping Loverboy references and Big Bang bloopers help get the creative blood flowing. Maybe I should have gone a different way?

Some New Photos

Posted on November 13, 2012

Took these over the weekend. One more in my “California” series and one just because I thought it was funny. Taken with the iPhone 5 using Instagram.

House Hunting

Posted on November 10, 2012

Be very, very quiet . . . I’m hunting houses. Yes, that’s right, I’m in the market for a new place to live. I would like it to be somewhere with a yard, although I’m not completely sold on that. That’s more of H’s thing.

Still, having a yard would be cool for some things, I suppose. Of course, if you have a yard people will want to come over and be in it for BBQs and so forth, which is also one of the many hazards to having a yard.

And don’t get me started on the zombies. They love a good yard . . . especially when there’s lots of people in it gathered for said BBQ.

Maybe I need to look for a nice, easily defensible condo? Or, perhaps, a place like this.

The ‘World War Z’ Movie Could Be Good

Posted on November 8, 2012

As my esteemed colleague Joe Gillis wrote over at The Flickcast, let’s try to forget this movie has supposedly had a bunch of problems during production. That won’t mean dick if the movie turns out well and makes money — even if it only makes money.

The long and short of it is this trailer looks cool and I’m liking what I see. I think it bodes well for the movie when it finally arrives. It’s certainly been a long time coming.

The novel came out in 2006 and hell, it’s been four years since I interviewed the novel’s author Max Brooks about the movie and that’s the week Brad Pitt’s company bought the rights to the novel and started working on adapting it for the big screen.

A long time indeed. Anyway, check out the first World War Z trailer below and let me know what you think. Or don’t. Whatever.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndIYGD0Vidk]

Moving Forward . . .Together

Posted on November 8, 2012

This post will not be a victory dance or joyful celebration of any sort. That’s not what’s needed now. The election is over and the best man, in my opinion, won. You may have a different opinion and may have voted for the other guy, and that’s just fine.

I’m glad you voted at all. As I expressed recently, voting is very important.

But now that we’ve decided, by popular and electoral majority, to give President Barack Obama four more years, I think it’s time to put aside our differences and the vitriol generated by the election and at least try to work together to solve the country’s problems.

In the words of the well-intentioned, but highly misguided, Grand Moff Tarkin: This bickering is pointless.

Let’s all try to work together for once and see how it goes. Who knows, if we stop blaming each other for everything, we might actually accomplish something?

I know it may be just a dream and a crazy notion, but then again, this country was founded by a bunch of dreamers with a crazy notion or two. We’ve already got that crazy dreamer thing going for us, and if we harness it, we can accomplish anything.

The truth is we are much stronger together than we are apart. It’s really that simple.

Voting Is Very Important

Posted on November 5, 2012

I find it somewhat hard to believe that in this day and age I have to remind people voting is important. Regardless of which candidate you like, or even if you’re just voting for the guy who seems like the lesser of two evils, the act of voting itself is significant.

Ask anyone, I’m pretty lazy and don’t like to leave the house unless absolutely necessary, but I still managed to vote. My 87-year-old mother who can barely walk, and really shouldn’t be driving, still managed to vote.

In other words, there’s no excuse not to vote. Just get off your ass and do it. Those episodes of Dancing with the Stars, Honey Boo Boo or The Real Housewives of wherever will still be on your TiVo when you get back. I promise.

If you don’t vote, you have no right to complain. If you do vote, you can bitch for the next four years about how you picked the other guy and that everyone is crazy for thinking the guy who won would do a good job. It’s your right as a voter and as an American.

If you don’t vote and then try to complain, I will ask you to kindly shut the hell up.

It’s that simple.

Oh, in case anyone was wondering or had any doubt, I voted to give President Barack Obama a second term (I’ve been a fan of his for some time). My reasons are many but the bottom line is I don’t believe Mitt Romney’s values and beliefs are in line with my own.

I don’t think he’s a bad person, I just don’t think he represents what I believe in and that he wants to make this county a place I would choose to live in. He’s simply not the person I want as my President.

You are, of course, free to disagree. But if you do, please, keep it civil. Of course, if you do disagree but violate the above and don’t vote, kindly see that you, once again, shut the hell up.