"Spit is good for wounds because it gets in the germs eyes and they lunge at each other!"
"Why do we fall. So we can learn to pick ourselves up."
It's a phrase that's been on my mind lately. I guess that's why I haven't been as down as Juli thinks I should be. Thing is, I've always been able to adapt well to most environments. Plus here is usually not as different as there. I went to Russia once and realized that the Soviet Union aint too different from the U.S. Yeah, yeah, there's that whole language thang, but we've got problems and they've got problems. They've got slums we've got slums. They've got Macdonalds we've got Macdonalds. They've got Red Square we've got Time Square. They have hairy women we have Anna Nicole. Differences aside most of the world's got the same problems and the same goals. Make money, take care of your family, do what makes you happy and try not to hurt anyone. Although that last bit tends to get blurred alot more than the others.
I know Juli's goin through a rough patch but I gotta stay positive. We both do. She's not liking her return to her old job too much and her leg hurts. All this is really bringing her down. Hey I've been there. Heck we've all been there. Down that is.
Down.
The opposite of Up. And up is where most of us want to be. Up is where it's at. Up is when the sun is out and the bills are paid and the future looks bright. Down is gas prices tomorrow. Down is not being sure of your future. Down is a Uwe Boll movie. Down sucks balls.
But that's why it's there. Down is there so you can feel Up later. Can't have one without the other. Ya can't go left without having been to the right. Can't very well start if you haven't already been in a stoppping position. Can't exhale if you haven't taken a breath in. Can't rise up if you haven't been squatting down. And I guess that's why I'm not so down about things right now. I can see up. I know it's there. And I know I'll be there soon. I'll be up. The movie will be finished. We will save money. We won't always be down. We won't always be stuck doing jobs we don't really want to do. And I think it's because I realize this that makes it easier to appreciate DOWN so much more. I respect it's existence. It's there so I can be UP. I can admire this process, because this has become the obvious process of life. Well, to me at least. A good example is the rich versus the poor. Rich kids don't know what it's like to appreciate the things they have. If you grow up poor and then get money later it's just a bit easier to appreciate it more cuz you knew what it felt like not having it.
I'm reminded of a line from The Aviator. Howard Hughes is annoyed at all the swift and confusing banter going on while he's a guest of Katherine Hepburn's, having dinner with her family. A discussion of money comes up and Katherine Hepburn's mom says: "We don't care about money." Howard Hughes replies angrily with "That's because you've always had it!" Really you should see the movie. I'm pretty sure I butchered that line.
Ok, ok, you get the point. I'll stop all this UP DOWN yappin. It's starting to sound like fucking Sesame Street up in here. (insert photo, Patrick dressed as Grover, doing the "near / far" bit)
My subject heading is acutally a quote from the great and amazing Harry Anderson. Now there's a celebrity I would love to meet. Harry Anderson. Aside from Hitchcock and Davinci I can honestly say that this man has influenced me tremendously. I mean really, how can you not look up to a guy who says things like:
"If you can't laugh at yourself, then you've never seen what you look like sleeping."
I learned much from Harry about Magic, Comedy, but mainly about being wise. I'm not talking like Merlin or Moses type of WISE (or am I). I'm refering to the street smart type of WISE. The watching your back but looking like your not kind of WISE. The kind of WISE one needs to play the game. The game of life that is. When your WISE a guy can come up behind you and take your wallet and it won't bother ya because you know when he opens it, the only thing he'll find is a piece of paper that says you suck, because you hid the money someplace else. When your WISE you can be funny without being annoying. When your WISE you can be clever without being an asshole. When your WISE you can be an asshole and still have people love you. When your WISE you can flip the coin and call it correct every single time, why? Because you are WISE. WISE means knowing what's going on behind the scenes and being able to use it to your advantage. It's being prepared so when opportunity comes a knocking, you'll be ready to answer. It's bringing a gun to a knife fight. It's gassin up the car before you go drivin. It's building the Ark BEFORE the storm.
Right now it's something I can't get outta my head. That vibe that Harry had. Like he always knew something you didn't. Some piece of good news that you weren't aware of. That sly smile under that hat. I can't seem to get Harry's words outta my head right now. "Even a fool knows you can't touch the stars, but it doesn't stop a wise man from trying."
I dunno. I have this sneaky positive buzz going on right now. I think things will work out fine. Down here. Looking up. I can see those stars. All twinkly and shit. Soon enough we'll be up there, looking down. Just gotta be wise enough to play the game right and we'll be up again. And if I fall, it's alright. I've learned to pick myself up.
in other news ...
- Saw a music video that really got my attention. It was nicely done. Can't put my finger on why I like it but I do. It's from Vivian Green. The song is "Gotta Go, Gotta Leave." Matter of fact, I'm kinda liking most of the songs on this album that I've heard.
- Never underestimate the power of Aaron Sorkin.
- Alien Shooter is my current fav game to play while I'm waiting for a render or if I need to workout some writer's block. Been playing it for months now and I never tire of it. Something about firing weapons and watching aliens explode in bursts of flesh and blood, really gets my creative juices flowing and my brain in the right mind set.
- I cannot get enough of the Batman Begins score.
- Cinderella Man is amazing. Well for me at least. Heck it's about a guy who's down and fights his way back up. Of course I love it.
Keep looking up and stay wise.