Johnny Appleseeds

This past weekend we celebrated the first weekend of fall with a trip to Leaman's Green Applebarn to pick some apples. The weather was perfect and the trees were filled with apples of all kinds and colors. The kids had a great time. After we filled our bag the kids stuck around and played on the playground, and we even took a hayride. As for me, no trip to the apple farm is complete without a snack of "apple cider and cider donuts." So awesome!

From The Shelf

WORLD WAR Z - Written by Max Brooks this is the story of a worldwide war between humans and zombies. Now I'm not much of a zombie guy when it comes to horror, but I had heard great things about this book so I decided to check it out. And man...am I so glad that I did. I know we've all seen a plethora of zombie stories in books and movies involving "a worldwide pandemic" and hordes of shuffling zombies chasing the last survivors. This book isn't really like that. What's refreshing about this book is how it's written. It's written in the voice of a journalist who is hired to document a worldwide zombie pandemic that happened years ago. So by the time you start reading the first page you already know how the story ends - the humans won. That's not the point here and that's what I loved about this book. The entire story is made up of a series of interviews with survivors and government officials and military personnel from around the world who give their testimonials and share their experiences handling the zombie outbreak. So the book reads more like a historical account than a narrative story. The great thing about this book is even though you know it's about zombies, you feel that if there ever was a "zombie pandemic" this book is exactly how things would go down all over the world. The way governments would turn on their citizens, how survivors would turn into pockets of resistance, and how the medical world would be clueless, etc. It's all totally believable. That's what makes this book so great. After I finished this book I gave it to a friend of mine. I always like the idea of giving a good story to someone, and this is one of those books. This was a great read!

At The Movies

BREAKING BAD: SEASON 3 - The adventures of Walt and Jesse continue in the 3rd season of this great show. Walt and Jesse produce the best crystal meth in the southwest and everyone from the feds to the Mexican cartels want it. The writing in each episode is absolutely perfect, with a great mix of drama and wit. Jenny and I are such big fans of this show. It just gets better and better with each new season. I have to admit, when each episode comes to an end I get a little sad. I just don't want this show to stop. It's that good. If you aren't watching this show right now on AMC do yourself a favor and start watching Season 1. You will be rewarded.


CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM: SEASON 7 - You might remember I've praised this show in the past. Larry David (the former writer and creator of SEINFELD) stars as himself in a "fictionalized" account of his life. The writing and tone in each season is right out of Seinfeld (except for the language of course.) If you ever liked SEINFELD you would love this show. In fact, I would say this season (Season 7) is the best one yet. The entire season follows Larry as he tries to put together a "Seinfeld Reunion" show for NBC. The entire SEINFELD cast is here throughout the entire season...right up to the finale where we see what a "Seinfeld Reunion" show would have looked like. This is by far the best season yet for this great show.


SUCKER PUNCH - This is a movie I'm not sure I liked or disliked. Even after a lengthy discussion about it with a friend of mine I'm still undecided. In short, the story is about a young girl nicknamed "Baby Doll." She is institutionalized by her abusive stepfather. Trying to cope with her new disturbing world she retreats to an "alternative reality" where she begins to envision a plan that will help her escape the mental facility. Okay...so that's the story. Sounds simple enough right? Hold on there buddy - this film is very confusing. Throughout the film you are left wondering "what is going on here?" The story is vague and the acting isn't that great. Yet despite all its flaws the film has moments of brilliance. The best scenes come when Baby Doll enters her "alternative universe." During each imaginary experience the film becomes an energy filled music video bursting with eye candy and rocking music. All the imaginary scenes are the strength of the film. So because of this I was constantly going back and forth on this film throughout the entire movie. First I hated it...then I liked it...and so on. Anyway, I'm still confused by this film but in the end I kind of liked it.


TRANSFORMERS: DARK OF THE MOON - This is the 3rd installment of this hugely successful (and highly juvenile) franchise. In short Transformers are giant robots that turn into cars and machines and fight each other for supremacy. The only reason I saw this was...well...I had a free ticket. There's that but I also heard the 3D in this movie was exceptional, so out of curiosity I checked it out. Well...the movie is as loud and pointless as its predecessors. No surprise. But what did surprise me was the use of 3D. This was one of the few times where I enjoyed watching a movie in 3D. In fact, I would say the 3D makes the film better (if that's possible.) Anyway, this movie is pointless, but the 3D is actually pretty fun.


THE TOWN - Ben Affleck directs and stars in this drama about a bank robber who falls for a girl - the same girl he held hostage at one of his earlier heists. The two begin a romance as he tries to hide his true identity from her. As the relationship develops Affleck's co-conspirators start to question him on his relationship as they risk being caught. This is one of those Boston-based movies that's filled with a lot of bad Boston accents. Yet I was surprised that I actually liked this movie. Pretty good for a rental.


SUPERHEROES - I saw this documentary recently on HBO. It's about real people who dress up as super heroes and go out into the night fighting real crime and helping people. I thought this documentary would show these people in a humorous light and we would all laugh at them. They kind of do that in the beginning. But by the end of the film you begin to feel a little respect for these people. Yes they're weird, and no they're not stopping criminal masterminds. But there's nothing wrong with anyone simply trying to help other people in need - even if it's giving food and water to the homeless on a hot afternoon. Pretty good film.

The Tornadoes - Game 3

Today was a special day for Megan because it was "picture day." Well...today was also a special day for Ben. Ben's soccer team had their 3rd game of the season today and Ben started the game as goalie. And good news - the Tornadoes got their 1st win of the season today! We were the "green" team today, and the boys played their best game to date. They were running on all cylinders, working together and playing focused. As a result they won 6-1. Between Ben and the other goalie they only allowed 1 goal. Ben always does a good job as goalie. He's got a decent leg for punting, (so he can get the ball out of there) and once in a while he comes up big with a good save. Another highlight of the game was Ben's best friend Miles got his first ever goal today. For several seasons now Miles has been trying and trying to get that first goal, and it finally happened today. The entire team and all the families were excited for him.

The Bees - Game 3

Today was "picture day" for Megan's soccer team. It was a special day for Jenny and I because Megan has never had "player photos" done before..so we're looking forward to passing those out soon. Anyway, after getting our pictures done we played our 3rd game of the season. And good news - we won again! Megan's soccer team is playing so great right now. Megan, her friend Abby, and Megan's other friend Matthew are just playing lights out right now. For being 4 years old they all have a clear sense of what to do, and they help all the other players play better. Today we were the "green" team, and Megan got another goal. Right now she's averaging a goal a game this season. She's doing amazing...and she really enjoys it. Another highlight today was a small plane flying back and forth over the soccer fields. The kids kept pointing at it making sure I saw it (so that's what they're doing in that picture below.)
For the second straight week we played a team whose players were a little distracted and fussy (which is the norm for this age.) After the game the opposing coach came up to me and asked me what I was doing to make my team so focused and talented. I just told her at this age it's all about dribbling and keeping the kids smiling. If the kids are happy they'll play hard for you. Simple as that.

Midland Balloon Festival

Last night was the annual "Midland Balloon Festival." It's held every year at the Midland County Fairgrounds, and it's a lot of fun. Each year hot-air balloon operators from around the state come and fly their balloons over the crowd. There are even sky divers who parachute overhead. It's pretty fun and it's free. Of course the highlight each year is the "afterglow," where all the balloons light up once the sun goes down. That's always everyone's favorite part.
Coincidentally each year our friends the Manchesters hold a birthday party for their son William, who has a birthday around the same time. So that was a part of the fun yesterday as well. Every year the kids love going to this event. They get so excited watching the balloons soar overhead.