All Moved In

Well, yesterday was the big moving day! I packed up my car, and left my house in Miami at 7 AM! I got at my Aunt/Uncle's house in St. Augustine at 12 Noon, and enlisted my 2 cousins to help the removal of my life from the car. We got everything up the stairs into what will be my bedroom.

After. we drove to the office, which is in Jacksonville. I got to start my list of To Do's for the week, and for the next few days. It is an easy drive into the office, which I got to try today.

Oh, speaking of driving, my grandmother got me a shiny new GPS for my car and for getting around the new surroundings. I have named her Eileen. There are a few reasons I choose this name too! For two and a half years, I worked at the Go Kart Track down in Homestead, where there was a co-worker who was extremely annoying and had a loud loud loud voice! Well, if you have heard the GPS voices, they are loud and annoying! The other reason, is that when she decides to slow down a little, which she does sometimes, I can just tell her "Come On Eileen."

Anyways, I will be keeping this blog updated from the Northern parts of Florida. So keep an eye out for more adventures!

The BIG Announcement

That's right everybody, I have a fairly huge announcement. It's one that I haven't told very many people yet, in fact right now, before this blog post, only my parents, grandmother, and 5 other people know. But it is something that I have thought about for a while.

I have talked on here, albeit briefly, about the discouraging job it is to find a job, especially in Miami. Well, I found a job...and...it's not in Miami! That's right, my BIG announcement, is that I am moving.

Well, where are you moving to Matt?

That is a good question, I am moving on up, to the east side...wait that's The Jeffersons, even though I am moving up to the East Coast of Florida, in St. Augustine. I am going to live with my Aunt/Uncle and cousins until I can save up some money for rent and find my own place. I will be starting out as an Office Manager, for their company, and once we have a large enough staff, I will begin to work as the Sales Manager.

Yes, it is a risk, but with risk can come reward. So it's a risk I am willing to try! For everyone that is here in Miami, you will be missed, but I will be talking to all of you on the phone! I do have a 20 minute drive to and from work every day! And, of course I will be down now and again for special events and to visit.

Of course, I will continue to blog no matter where I am!

The Top 10: Suspense/Mystery/Thriller Movies

It's Monday, which means an all new Top 10 Movie List. Last week I had to chance to list my top ten animated movies. This week, I am going to go in a completely different direction and list my top 10 Suspense/Mystery/Thriller movies! Now, to me, this category is completely different than Horror movies (those will come another week). So, now here is the top ten!

Top 10 Suspense/Mystery/Thriller Movies

10. The Craft
9. When A Stranger Calls
8. The Village
7. Memento
6. The Manchurian Candidate
5. Fight Club
4. Rebecca
3. The Sixth Sense
2. Vertigo
1. Donnie Darko

The AFI Lists: My Own Top Tens

So this is something that I don't know if it is out there somewhere, but I am going to start my own kinda of meme, top ten lists! Last night the American Film Institute presented its 10 Top 10, the top ten films in ten different genres. So, for the next ten weeks, instead of the usual Monday Morning Mix-Up, I will have my top ten films in ten different genres!

I am not going to tag anyone to participate, but if you do choose to do the same, please leave me a comment and let me know you are playing along!

The Top 10 Animated Films

10. Aladdin
9. Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland
8. Finding Nemo
7. 101 Dalmations
6. Snow White and the Seven Dwarves
5. The Nightmare Before Christmas
4. The Secret of Nimh
3. The Lion King
2. Toy Story
1. Beauty and the Beast

The Monday Morning Mix-Up: The I Heart REO Speedwagon Edition

So this week there was a tie, and I could not decide between Heart and REO Speedwagon, so instead I will do a mix of both! So, please enjoy!

Heart

• Surrender To Me
• All I Wanna Do Is Make Love To You
• I Didn't Want To Need You
• Magic Man
• Will You Be There (In The Morning)

REO Speedwagon

• Lightning
• Say You Love Me Or Say Goodnight
• Can't Fight This Feeling
• Building The Bridge
• I Don't Want To Lose You
  

My BFF

This past Wednesday was my most recent Toastmasters meeting. I had the opportunity to prepare a speech for this meeting and took the chance to try out a newer style of speech and speaking. Many of you have commented and shared your stories when I had previously posted on topics such as Faith, Dreams and Imagination, so I took this new found confidence on fairly vague yet inspirational subjects and used it!

In my speech, I talked about my BFF...best friend failure! Yes, I talked about failure! But I talked about it in a positive light. Now, when I teach classes I always emphasize that no matter how much my students might learn from me or from each other, it isn't until things go wrong that they will truly learn the lessons. I point out how failure can be turned around into success and how I have learned many things through failure.

It was a great speech, and now I have to work on actually writing it out. You see, when I create a speech, I tend to write out my opening and my conclusion, but everything in the middle are bullet points that I expand upon. But now, I think this might become a contest speech and I would like to have it written out...

Anyways, once I write it I will post it here, but until then...how to you get past failure? Do you pick yourself up and try again, or do you just leave it behind you and not look back?

Pure Imagination?

As kids, we read all sorts of books and fall in love with all sorts of mythological creatures. We read about the ancient greek creatures such as the Pegasus, the minotaur, and the cyclops. We read fantasy tales that revolve around far off lands and fair maidens being saved by their knight and sometimes with the help of a wizard, or even fighting off the evil witch. (Which is another question, why was the evil villan always a woman or step-mother figure while the savior was always a man, and the maiden was in distress...but that's another post.

Well, one of the most beloved creatures, might not be too much of a figment after all. There were people who have found evidence of single horned creatures and fossils from the dinosaur days. But none were ever consistant with the true unicorn lore. But now, something miraculous has occurred...or at least a genetic mutation might be occurring! In Italy, a deer was born with a single horn that appears to be twisted in the center of its head.

So, for those of you who always believed in unicorns, and for those of you who continue to believe in these mythical creatures, here it is:

The Monday Morning Mix-Up: The Sheryl Crow Edition

So, we've got a brand new mix up this week! I added Neil Young again this week, after the tie the previous week, but no one voted for it so it is gone next week! In fact the poll for this week, is a bit more themed...think 80's Rock (if you can call it that)! Anyways, here is the Sheryl Crow version of the Monday Morning Mix-Up:

• It's So Easy (from the album C'mon C'mon)
• Always on Your Side (featuring Sting) (from the album Wildflower)
• You're An Original (from the album C'mon C'mon)
• Sweet Rosalyn (from the album Sheryl Crow)
• Oh Marie (from the album Sheryl Crow)
• No One Said It Would Be Easy (from the album Tuesday Night Music Club)
• There Goes The Neighborhood (from the album The Globe Sessions)
• Wildflower (from the album Wildflower)
• Love Is Free (from the album Detours)
• First Cut Is The Deepest (from the album The Very Best of Sheryl Crow)
  

Books, Books, and more Books!

Well, as some of you know, or remember from one of my New Year's posts back in January, I am trying to read 40 books in 2008. So far I have finished 10, and am currently working on 3! But I have yet to write my reviews of the previous two that I had finished! So, here they are, the genuine Matt Reviews of Randy Pausch's The Last Lecture, and Chuck Palahniuk's Snuff.

The Last Lecture

So, this book actually started as a lecture that was given. Traditionally, the last lecture is a series that is done on universities and colleges, where the professor is asked to hypothetically consider his demise, and if he/she were to leave (either the college or the planet) what has he/she learned or want to impart on their class. Randy Pausch was asked to give one of these lectures, right before he was diagnosed with advanced stage pancreatic cancer. The lecture quickly turned from hypotheticals to reality.

He delivered the lecture, which was filmed by Carnagie Mellon University and placed on You Tube, where it became an internet sensation, garnering over 15 million views to this day! The lecture was approximately 75 minutes, but created a 10 minute version that he delivered on Oprah. The next step was to turn this lecture into a book, so that everyone could read the important things that were being said. And that is what was done. The book was written directly based off the lecture. The book is full of wisdom and knowledge that obviously seemed to take Randy years to learn, yet is in plain view.

One of the stories that stands out, is talking about getting a brand new convertible, and going to pick up his neice and nephew for the weekend. Their mom told them to be careful not to get Uncle Randy's new car dirty. As she was saying this, Randy, with his neice and nephew watching, opened a can of soda and proceeded to pour it all over the backseat of the new car. He didn't care what had happened to the car, or how clean or dirty it was, rather it was all about spending the time with his family.

And while, more than 15 million people have seen the lecture, and probably 5 million people have the book, this was all done for only two people. Randy's two daughters, so that they would be able to learn life's lessons, without daddy around.

Snuff

A very, very, very, very different book from the one I described above! This book is by Chuck Palahniuk, author of Fight Club, Choke, and many others. This however, might be his most odd work yet!

The basis behind Snuff is that Cassie Wright, aging porn star, decides to break the record and go for 600 sexual acts in a single day. The story is from the point of view of 3 men in the waiting room and Cassie's assistant. Of the three men, one is a man who is a stalker of porn stars who thinks he might be gay, one is a former porn star who got Cassie pregnant, and one is a young man who thinks he is Cassie's son who was put up for adoption. So, all together now: WHAT?

The book is crafted so well that the transition between point of views is smooth and fluid. Chuck creates characters that have both good and bad sides to them, and that is seen in this book as well. The best part to the book though, are the massive collection of made up porn movie names! They are hysterical and fun to read. Some examples include:
- The DaVinci Load
- To Drill A Mockingbird
- World Whore One: In The Trenches

It is a fun book, it makes you think, but not to the point where you head explodes. It makes you laugh, and it even makes you blush from time to time. Another great novel by Chuck! One of the greatest oddball writers of our time!

Ladies & Gentlemen I Present To You...

The Democratic Nominee for the office of President of the United States of America

So, last night, Senator Barak Obama, gained enough delegates to clinch the Democratic nomination for this years presidential election. Congratulations to Senator Obama! Even though, I have been rooting for Senator Clinton, I do think that Senator Obama, will be a worthy candidate, and if elected will do a world of wonders for this country!

So now the question comes down to, who will be either parties Vice President? I personally, think that this is something that should be declared, prior to primary season. In an election this huge, I think that either nominee can "make it or break it" based on who they choose as their running mate.

Either way, again congrats to Senator Barak Obama, for making history, and for getting the democratic nomination!

The Monday Morning Mix-Up: The Carly Simon Edition

Well, it was a tie again this week, with one vote going to Carly Simon and one vote going to Neil Young. I have choosen that this weeks mix-up will be all about Carly Simon, but Neil Young will be left in the polls for next week. So if you want Neil, get your friends to visit the blog and vote for him! Anyways, here it is, the Carly Simon Mix-Up!!!

• Legend In Your Own Time (from the album Anticipation)
• Summer's Coming Around Again (from the album Anticipation)
• Devoted To You (from the album Boys In The Trees)
• De Bat (Fly In Me Face) (from the album Boys In The Trees)
• Oh! Susanna (from the album In White)
• All The Things You Are (from the album Moonlight Serenade)
• Hola Soleil (from the album This Kind of Love)
• Sangre Dolce (from the album This Kind of Love)
• The Right Thing To Do (with Megan Mullally) (from the soundtrack to Will & Grace)
• Mockingbird (with James Taylor) (from the album For The Children Too!)
  

Coming Soon to a Scribbler's Nook Near You

• The Monday Morning Mix Up

• Book Reviews: The Last Lecture, Snuff

• Movie Reviews: Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, Sex and the City, The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian
  

• Lots of fun & reflection