OK, I just Found Out I'm a bit Nerdy

I'm not a total nerd. Nor am I a true geek, though I work with computers.

I'm a bit too social to be a nerd for one thing. And, I'm not a true expert in computers. I endeavor to be, but I'm not a guru by any stretch-- which precludes me from being a geek.

I am a bit nerdy and geeky, though. I found out I'm more so than I once thought after I found myself really enjoying watching the first season of The Big Bang Theory on DVD.

I really get that show; Watching The Big Bang Theory helps ease my IT Crowd withdrawal. It doesn't totally quench my withdrawal, but it does help ease the ache.

Damn! When are they going to release the 4th season of IT Crowd on DVD?!

Hopefully after I've caught up on The Big Bang Theory and Battlestar Galactica the next season of IT Crowd will be out.

Geesh, I am a nerd and a geek.

What a Nice Surprise

I don't like surprises.

I got one coming back from my trip.

I returned to find that a really important computer at work was having some big issues.

That's the first thing my co-worker tells me after I get comfy in my chair at my desk.

Yeah. What a nice surprise.

So, I think I'll be neglecting my blogging for a few days.

Avatar Aang

I'm a huge fan of the Nickelodeon cartoon series Avatar: The Last Air Bender. I love that story. This show may sound silly and goofy because I used the words Nickelodeon and cartoon in the same sentence. But, don't let those two terms fool you. The Nickelodeon presentation of Mike DiMartino's epic masterpiece is unfolded through his nigh flawless story telling while dressed in the medium of solidly good animation. The show ranked high in ratings among adults, kids, and critics alike.

But when I heard that the movie adaptation directed by M. Night Shyamalan was on the horizon, I had mixed feelings. I was excited to know that people wanted to see more of Avatar (no, not Cameron's twelve-feet-tall blue people. I mean Avatar Aang).

But I wasn't very excited about Shyamalan being the director.

After all, how can the nigh perfect story be told even better?

I don't think one can unless one does a better job of bringing the original story to life.

Shyamalan did not accomplish this. He deviated from the original story in subtle ways that irked true Air Bender fans. Add on rushed story telling, rushed character development, and bland acting and you end up with critics and Avatar Fans alike slamming Shyamalan very hard for what is being declared a cinematic block-blunder.

I've read people say that Shyamalan only has one more chance to make a good movie before Hollywood throws him out of the movie making business. And people are already saying that the rest of the Air Bender movies will never get made because he sank the Air Bender cinematic franchise before it ever went afloat.

But let it be known, that this movie and all the bitter reviews are in no way a reflection upon the original series headed by Mark DiMartino and his partner Bryan Konietzko.

See, when a co-worker of mine told me that she really enjoyed watching Avatar: The Last Air Bender, yet she hated all other anime . . . I knew this Avatar cartoon had be great stuff.

So, I eventually started with renting disk one, season one from Netflix and our family watched every single episode in every single season-- all the way to the end (over the course of several weeks, mind you).

I might have to watch the entire cartoon series all over again in order to wash my mind of the mediocre movie experience I had watching The Last Air Bender movie adaptation.

If Shyamalan somehow gets clearance to make any of the other Air Bender movies, he would be well advised to sit down and pay closer attention to the cartoon series himself. Apparently, he missed the heart of the story. Shymalan and DiMartino need to have a serious talk if the rest of the movies have any hope of being successful.

Smiling Faces

We're home, safe and sound.

The kids ran to us and hugged us. They really missed us.

We missed them, too.

All is well.

We all have broad smiles on our faces.

Heading Home

Well, my time here is up. I'm getting on a plane and heading back home with my wife.

I've learned a lot that can help me do my job better.

I've had a little fun.

I've complained a good bit while out of town. But honestly, I've had a decent time. Caught a movie or two. Finally found a few neat places to eat. Spent some time with my wife. And she got to lay around and just relax and unplug while I was in class.

Now we're getting ready to board the plane. And like I said before making my way here . . . if this blog doesn't update again after this post . . . you'll know what happened.

But again . . . let's be positive, eh?

The Sunshine State

Florida is the Sunshine State, right?

Not this week.

It has rained every single fucking day that I've been here.

Everyday after 3:00 PM, it rains buckets. Thunder and lightning. Rain. Rain. Rain.

Before it rains, I look up at gray, heavy, overcast skies. I packed my sunglasses all for nothing.

Sunshine State my ass!

Chipotle

I found a Chipotle restaurant in the area where I'm staying for my training class this week.

I heard of this place from a new employee who had moved in from another state. He raved about Chipotle and was very disappointed that one couldn't be found in his new local.

I became very interested in this place. He talked about it a good bit for his first few weeks at work. He talked about it so much that I too became disappointed that we have no Chipotle anywhere nearby-- and I had never been there before!

I started to feel a bit offended. What? My town isn't good enough for a Chipotle restaurant?

I even wrote the owners and asked them that very question. They replied and said that they admitted to being selective about where they open new restaurants. But, they try to take care in how fast they grow their business. They don't just haphazardly open restaurants anywhere. But, they assured me that they would consider opening up in my area one of these days.

Hmph.

Well, I ran across a Chipotle while I'm out here training in Tampa, Florida.

Chipotle is awesomeness!

I still feel a bit offended that they won't open a restaurant back home where I must soon return.

I think I'll write the owners again.

Maybe it's time for me to quit my job and open one myself. I know the perfect spot where I can start one when I get back home.

Right around the corner from that Five Guys Burgers and Fries joint that recently opened up at that cool shopping park they just built. I'd make a killin' and Five Guys wouldn't even miss a beat from my presence. If anything, we'd feed on each other's attraction of hungry customers longing to get rid of the munchies.