KATIE: My Happily Ever After

14 Groundhog Days ago I asked my beautiful wife to marry me as we were parked by a dumpster behind UVU's blackbox theatre. I didn't have an official ring to give her yet, so I gave her my glow-n-the-dark CTR ring to wear as an engagement ring until we could go pick out something better. Surprisingly enough she didn't run screaming from the car. She said yes and 14 years ago TODAY we were married in the Mt. Timpanogos Temple. I can't describe just how amazing that day was. That was the beginning of the best 14 years of my life.

We were recently able to get away for a few days out toward St. George, in the lovely town of Hurricane, Utah. And, actually, the town IS quite lovely. I plan to purchase a vacation home out there some day. One of the highlights of the trip was definitely walking through Zion National Park with my sweetheart and talking together as we enjoyed the amazing beauty there. Anytime I get to forget about everything else and just be with Katie, is beyond the best. I married the most amazing woman that will ever live anywhere. She has made the past 14 years the beginning of my happily ever after. She is my once upon a time and my happily ever after.

I'M YOUR HUCKLEBERRY

Well, I had a great idea for a blog post, but now I'm not feeling it, so I'll put that one on the shelf and post about something else for today.

I'll post about cowboys.

I am in no way an expert on cowboys. I've ridden a horse on...well, maybe two occasions (one where the horse was tied to a post and someone led it around). I've shot a gun on even fewer occasions. One pair of boots, I think, when I was 5 (or maybe that was a dream). But there is a cowboy living somewhere inside me, there must be. One word: Lazenby. One of my greatest heroes is my grandfather, Albert Lazenby, whom I consider a true cowboy. He died when I was about 11 and perhaps that is part of why I have this cowboy void that needs to be filled.


I loved to dress up like a cowboy and play cowboys when I was little. I've always loved watching cowboy movies. Two of my favorite movies of all time: Young Guns and Tombstone. I've always wanted to be in a Western.

For many years, I have toyed with the idea of writing some kind of cowboy story--a screenplay, to be specific. Well, I've talked about it for a long time, even started one story or another, but last night I actually finished my first step down the cowboy screenplay path--a very small step, but a step nonetheless. Last night I finished writing a very, very short screenplay about cowboys. A comedy Western short. I wrote it very quickly, so it's not perfect, but I knew that if I didn't just write it and stop waiting for the perfect idea that I wouldn't ever write it. I wrote it. It's written (well...typed). It's currently being reviewed by a few trusted critics, and next week we'll shoot it (starring the Redux Brothers).

Now on to the next step, a much bigger one. I begin my journey now to write a full length screenplay about a cowboy. As I write and discover the story, I will post about my progress and experience from time to time. I'm hoping this will help keep me motivated. I will keep posting about it until it's out of theatres and released on DVD (if I maybe so bold).

I can't believe I'm actually doing this. Thrilled. Excited. Anxious.

More to come--I'll keep you posted.

Happy Birthday to Isabelle!!!

http://purdiepeople.blogspot.com/2012/02/original-monkey-brains.html

ANOTHER EARTH

My wife and I had planned to go out to see a movie this past Saturday, but at the last minute we decided we would just do the Redbox thing. Katie looked through the local Redbox selection and came up with a few options. In the end, a successful Sundance film caught our fancy and, in my pajamas, I drove down to pick it up.

Long story short...I loved it. I love those surprise movies (one of the greatest things). I liked the lead guy (William Mapother--Ethan Rom from Lost) in parts (he actually had some great moments--loved the Wii scene), but in some key moments he fell short for me. The main actress (and screenwriter), Britt Marling, was fabulous. From what I've learned, she actually taught herself how to write because she didn't want to have to...well, let me just quote her.

"How terrifying to surrender your life to being chosen all the time. Having to be chosen and re-chosen. Writing so that I can act became a way of having not more control over my future but not having to wait for permission. You can choose yourself. Hmm, who should play this part? I nominate me!"

So, I'm going to do the same. End of story. Thanks, Brit Marling, for inspiring me to go after my dreams.

The Power of Shyness

That's what I'm talkin' 'bout.

My Favorite Zorro

The best Zorro movie of all time! Ron Leibman and George Hamilton are so brilliant together. I've included a couple of my favorite clips below.

Fast forward and then start watching this first clip at 4 minutes into the video--this is the scene that always jumps into my head when I think of this movie.



This next scene is also fantastic! Sorry about the weird subtitles--this was the only clip I could find online. Start watching this one at 0:50 into the video.



If you haven't seen this movie, go rent it and watch it tonight. These youtube clips don't do it justice at all.

Moneyball

#1 life-changing movie of 2011: Moneyball.

This movie had a HUGE impact on me. It made me think. It inspired me. The acting was great. A great story, and more importantly, such a great execution of a true story on the big screen. I don't want to spoil it for anyone that hasn't seen it, so I won't say too much. I will say though that I loved the way they tied it to the importance of family in the end. As my brother put it, in the end you saw that the game that was being played wasn't baseball, it was life and Brad Pitt's character won. I couldn't stop thinking about this story and the message for weeks. So many great messages!!!

And on an exciting acting note: Jonah Hill, who I always think is hilarious, was so much more than just hilarious in this movie--he was a legitimate actor. I'm excited to see more of this from him.

If you haven't seen this movie, see it.