6-28

My back seems to be healing. ( I just realized, I haven't had my coffee yet...) My hip is questionable. I hurt it by not listening to my doctors. They warned me to take it easy with an injured back. That the muscles weren't going to behave as expected when injured.

Consequently, I displaced several vertebra and my hip. The hip displacement crimped some nerves where they exit the spine. That in turn pissed off several more muscle groups, spraining three more muscles, throughout my hip and leg.

I've been to the chiropractor 5 times in two weeks. I think it's time to look into physical therapy. Maybe some mental therapy while I'm at it.

Joker

In an attempt to keep up with my bonfire brain, I recently purchased a digital recorder. Now I wish I could upload the sound bytes onto my blog for all to hear. Some are pretty silly!

Case in point:

"I think it's time my wife...got a buzz cut. That is...she uses one towel to wrap her body, and another towel, to wrap her hair. Like many women in this country, you know? Well, in the world. I don't know. And, anyway, you know, out in Arizona you do that and you hang up your towel, it's sopping wet, it comes out smelling like a, um, silicon-scorched summer breeze. But here, in New York, it comes out smelling like...mildew. And it's funny, 'cause she used the green towel. The manly green towel and left the purple towel. So, I'm using the purple towel. Not that...that should make me feel...emasculated or anything, but, you know. It's not my first choice.

"And it's funny, too, that I'm lookin' at green and purple towels and I'm thinkin', 'Those are the colors of the Joker!' Man! I've got Batman on the brain!"

Wish to Write

I hate how I'll have these fascinating insights and moments of clarity, which I simply must write down before they slip away, while I'm right in the middle of running an order at work. Or driving. Or grocery shopping.

I worry that my psychological profile would refer to my past as evidence that I indeed fit the bill for suicidal. I can see the finer points of that argument and why it's reasonable. However, in my case, I beg to differ: my thoughts of suicide are far more likely to be simply emotional implosions from a section of my soul that has yet to mature: Times are tough, draw in and refuse help; times are really tough, ponder suicide. Frustrated? Porn! Really frustrated? Punch something. That kind of immaturity. Though I do not possess--am not possessed by--all those attributes. I learned to stop punching things (for the most part) years ago, after I shattered my knuckles...(Ass!)

Speaking of Profiling, I'm reading Deaver's latest novel, The Broken Window, in hardback. A gift from my cherished wife. The creepy perpetrator uses identity theft to steal, rape, kill, and frame innocent people for his crimes. Here's hoping Rhyme and Sachs can bust his as by page 150. I'll know in a couple hours.

It got me thinking, though, about our habits. The ones we tend to overlook. The ones a spectator would come to find predictable. For instance:

• I always buy Folger's Columbian: Medium-Dark roast.
• When I break down and buy any pain medicine, it's Excedrin. Excedrin Extra-Strength. Excedrin Migraine. Excedrin Back & Body.
• I switch toothbrushes regularly.
  
• Irish Spring is my soap of choice.
• I NEVER adhere to the posted speed limit. EVER. Not even when a cop is present.
  
• It seems I love clocks and trash cans. I have two of each within eyesight everywhere in the apartment.
  
• I HATE going to the Doctor/hospital.
• I like dramas when I'm feeling upbeat and action flicks when I'm down. I think...
  
• I loathe gore in my movies, unless they are "Creature Features".
• Speaking of which, I dislike horror movies in the slasher sense, but opt for sci-fi themed horror--"Creature Features". (Alien, Predator...)
  
• I treat my car about as nice as I treat myself...
• I love to read, but I gravitate only toward a select few authors.
• I'm most content when COMPLETELY alone. Sucks for my wife; she thinks I'm always moody and NEVER happy. She's an extrovert--what can I say?!
• I cuss and complain more consistently and reliably than I breathe. Literally; sometimes I catch myself not breathing when I'm in deep thought.
  

2008 movies

Thus far, the first and only 5-star movie I've seen this year caught me quite by surprise. But, first let's cover some others.

• Indiana Jones and the Temple of the Crystal Skull 2 stars. Campy, more like Temple of Doom than Raiders or Last Crusade. Nonetheless, it's worth going to see it at the theater just to keep the ticket stub. Indie's a historical icon, you know? Like the new Star Wars trilogy: Stench. But I'm proud to have all the ticket stubs!
• The Other Boleyn Girl 4 stars. Vibrant cinematography that will mesmerize you long after you've forgotten the plot's details. Not to say the plot isn't captivating. If you haven't seen it and don't know what it's about, it's even better!
  
• Iron Man 4 stars By far, not the best comic book plot. But Robert Downey, Jr. portrays the character better than any actor who portrayed Batman, Spiderman, or Wolverine.
• Jumper 2 stars It's campy and lowbrow but interesting enough. The kind of movie that you could imagine you could tweak into a masterpiece or franchise.
• Cloverfield 1 star Unfortunately, this is rumored to be an upcoming franchise. The bouncing camera isn't what makes you feel ill. It's that the opening party scene is more intriguing than the monster invasion that's introduced to "drive" the plot.
• 10,000 B.C. 2 stars If you see this movie WITHOUT the kiddies in tow, you'll regret it. It's basically a "live-action" Ice Age, only without heart or lovable characters.
  

Finally! (Drum Roll) The only 5 star movie thus far (June 13th - missed all today's openers)

• Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian 5 stars Seriously. I was awed. The characters were developed, they had familiarity, chemistry, depth, growth. They drew you in. Most of the battles were riveting and a few scenes were positively INTENSE. My only complaint: how the crap is that movie only PG?