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Why

It's been a long almost 2 weeks now....I have tried to post this a few times but I just never could. I didn't know how. And doing a video about what has been happening, was just too much and still is. So you get text. If I tried to go into everything, I would have to sit here for hours writing, so.....

My father has been missing for almost 2 weeks now. The last time my sister or I heard from or saw him was the 25th of April. He had dissaperaed for almost 24 hours when we found him but he wouldn't let us help him and he has been gone since. My father is an alcoholic, he has been for years now. Actually both my parents are but one thing at a time, right? He has been serverly depressed for about 4 years now and he refuses to get help. My sister and I have tried, we thought about 3 years ago when he tried to commit suicide and we got him to get some help. We thought he may turn the corner but sadly he didn't. There is a ton more to the story but I just can't get into it right now. We don't think he is dead but I don't think he wants to be found and he does not want help. And it's so hard to get help. You would think with everything Keli (my sister) and I have been through and all the "evidence" we have we could get him commited or something, but you would be wrong. As long as he appears "normal" around the right people.....there is not a whole lot we can do.

I don't know what to do....both my parents they just don't want to be healthy, I don't understand that. God knows I know depression....but I just don't understand why they won't get help. They know they are misserable but........it's just sad......

I don't know what else to say....

Transformers just got dissed!!!!!

I just got the new "Entertainment Weekly".  It's a special double issue "All the buzz on 115 New Films Summer Movie Preview".  Our good friend Toby is on the cover and they mention all the expected heavy hitters of the summer, Spider-Man 3 Pirates, Harry Potter, Shrek, The Simpsons, Die Hard 4, The Bourne Ultimatum, Knocked Up and Hairspray.

See anything missing?  How bout a little Transformer movie?!  Nowhere on the cover my friends, but surly in the "Contents" they will mention it, no?  NOPE!!!!!  Well but they have to do a write up in the mag, right, I mean it's the freakin July 4th movie!!  And they do!!  It's a question and answer with Optimus Prime!!  Let's check out the article, shall we?!

Question:  Do you keep in touch with your old Autobot buddies from the show?

OP:  We have a monthly poker game in Atlantic City.  I was also best man at Ratchet's Wedding

Question:  What is it like to work with Michael Bay?  We hear the guy can be a wee bit demanding.

OP: Like most humans, there's more to him than meets the eye.  Mike is nearly as attracted to Ferraris as Ironhide was in high school.

Question:  Was it awkward at all between you and Decepticon leader Megatron at the craft-services table?

OP:  We lunched seperately.  Megatron is a Method actor; it is therefore wise to keep on'e distance when he's in character or he will vaporize you.

Question:  You got to work with Orsen Welles in 1986's Transformers: The Movie.  Any other run-ins with cinema visionaries?

OP:  I did some uncredited stunt work with Sly Stallone in "Over the Top"

Question:  Erver crank call the GoBots?

OP:  Now you're being preposterous.  That's just a cartoon.

I kid you not this is the actual article from EW.  Now if this was some fan site or even the TF mag, this would be funny as hell.  But EW?!!?  Man this is one major diss IMO. 

What do you all think?

 

I'm a writer?

Chapter 1

For some reason I got this silly notion that I am a writer.  I used to have no idea why but now I do.  Rob.....I blame Rob.  I guess a little history is in order here.

You see it all started a number of years ago, I can't remember how many because I just don't remember.  As you can tell this moment I am going to tell you about left a lasting impression.  We both work at a bank but we didn't know each other.  Heck until I saw him at the comic shop during lunch one day I didn't know he read comics.  To look at Rob now you would think he is an anti-social, homicidal, crazy (it's the hair)Star Wars freak who likes toys and has tatoo's.  And you would be mostly right, except for the homicidal part, he's a teddy bear.   Back then he just looked like a Star Wars freak.  It's been an interesting few years let me tell you.   But I digress.

After I found out that Rob worked across the hall from me.  I found out his name from a fellow comic/sci-fi/pop culture/movie/TV/nerd, Johnny.  Johnny told me what Rob's name was and where he worked at in the bank.  Johnny assured me Rob was really a good guy.  Most of the time I agree with that... Once I found out where he sat, I just went over an introduced myself to him.  I think it went something like this "Hello, my name is Heath, I like Batman".  And he replied "How cool is that?  I like Star Wars but only becuase my mom and dad made me.  I wanted to like and be Batman but until this moment I did not know such a thing was allowed". If you are waiting for me to say "just kidding" I am sorry to disapoint you, this is really what happened.  Weird huh?

We talked for a bit, we could have been working; but really, who works at work?  We found out that we had a lot in common, we both liked comics, toys, cartoon, etc.  Yes I am fully aware that I am a grown man, but really I just grew older I really never "grew up".  I mean in all honesty why?  Who says you have to stop liking toys or cartoons or comics once you reach a certain age?  I mean  all men are really just grown boys, even those guys who like sports and cars and tech and stuff, I mean they are all toys of some form or another.  Sorry for that geek rant, I don't know where that came from. I need a 1966 Batmobile from Hot Wheels, that should help these sudden mood swings.  Soon we were going to lunch once a week at the comic shop picking up books and heading to the King for some whopper love.  Which is a one way love, because the whopper doesn't love you back let me tell you.  We would sit and talk not just about toys or comics or stuff like that but we would talk about our lifes, our dreams, our hopes.

End Chapter 1

Scared Shitless....

I woke up this fine Easter Sunday and was getting ready and I asked Glenna (my wife) to turn on my computer so I could check something real quick. When I got in my room I was looking at the following message "insert boot disk. boot drive failure"

My heart sank......we have 2 computers, one a crappy family one I bought about 4-5 years ago, that is just for general stuff. "My" computer is the 2nd one, it's the powerhouse I bought just over a year ago when I started doing video and stuff. I wanted a machine that could handle all the grand plans I had. So of course that was the one with the "boot drive failure" message on it.

I know it's just a computer and it can be replaced but what can't be replaced is all the video that is stored on the hard drive. Now I back up pretty often but since the move things have got out of whack a bit and I had not had a chance to back up my short filmand all of our Zombie Tale stuff. That and some other stuff. But the thought that I may have lost my movie and the ZT stuff is what made me want to puke right then and right there.

I mean I had poured my heart and soul into those projects and so did Rob for the ZT stuff, well he is always there we are partners/friends/lovers...ok, not "lovers" in a bad sense....I am sure you know what I mean ( I am kidding) Anyway I have been wanting to create full blown DVD's of the movie and ZT stuff to give to friends and all those that helped us out. That is one of the main reason's I didn't back them up yet, I kept meaning to get to it. And now I sat looking at a black screen and I just wanted to die.

I had bought the extended warrenty in such a case but I prayed I would never have to use it. Knowing there was nothing I could do today didn't help matters any. I am the kind of guy who has to fix stuff "right now/right here", well at least on some stuff. Things like this, I can't let it sit. Well since there was nothing I could do, we went to Glenna's aunts and had Easter, but my mind kept wandering back home to the computer. "Was everything gone?" "Could they bring it back and the hard drive still be intact?" "Or was I just screwed?"

I didn't mind so much if it was just my stuff, it would suck but feeling like I let other people down (which I know they would have understood and would have been cool), but I don't like letting people down. My word is my bond. When I tell someone I am there for them or that I will do something for them I do it. (I am not always timely....but I think all of my friends would tell you that they can count and depend on me......I hope, anyway)

Well we get home and Glenna says, "just try it again" (even though I had tried about 20 times this morning) so I did.......and low and behold it came up. Now I don't know what the heck is happening but I am wasting no time. As I write this right now, I am backing up the remainder of the video I need to back up. I know I am living on borrowed time here it appears but if I can back everything up.....well at least you can put software and stuff back on pretty easy.....memories, as I know all to well, visual memories can be gone in an instant. ( I have no pictures of me (well I have 3 I think) growing up, me or my sister and my family, the pictures were destroyed durning my parents 2nd divorce) It's why I am so anal about my video and pictures....

So who knows how long this computer's got and I now for sure now, I need to get me a big old honking 500gb external drive along with my dvd backups....

Wish me luck..

Heath, who is still scared shitless right now.....

Looking for Candy!

I am really hoping someone can help me out here. I know I am new to the whole "myspace" thing so I may have done something wrong here and not realized it.

I got a friend request the other day from this really nice girl named Candy. She said she had just signed up and was surfing around and found my site and she wanted to be my friend. She also said that she had other friends who liked to dress a little "naughty" and to check out her friends website for the pics and videos.

Well as I am sure you can guess I was pretty excited because you all know how much I love video. But now for some reason MySpace has canceled her account and the website is gone. So does anyone know Candy? Has anything like this happened to anyone else? I am at a loss myself, she seemed like such a nice girl. So did Angel, Megan and Stardust. If you guys have heard from any of them let me know as well.

Thanks!

Technorati tags MySpace, porn, funny

Lost is starting to hack me off!

Ok, just a bit ago I wrotethat I thought "Lost" had gotten back on track. I have been a fan of the show from the begining. I know it has taken some flack here and there from people but I really do like it. I like multi arc stories like Babylon 5. Where you have layers upon layers and a story has a begining, middle and and end. But with this last episode I am really begining to wonder about the show.

Nikki and Palo were introduced this year and instanstly most fans hated them. Me, I didn't care one way or the other. Now according to the producers, Nikki and Palo had an important part to play. They said they regreted how they were handled because of the early season break. But rest assured Nikki and Palo served a purpose.

So what was the purpose, to die a few episodes in the second half of the season. And the big "part", Nikki and Palo found the Pearl station and Plane first and oh, yea Palo saw the "others", specficly Ben and Juliet. WTF!?!? This was the "important" part they had to play? I don't buy it.

The producers killed them off because of the fans, which is just stupid. If the charactors were important, then make them important, follow the story. To do this is a slap in the face to all of us who defend and still watch the show. This episode did nothing, NOTHING to advance the story line. And it really makes me wonder if they know what the hell they are doing with the show!

And that's the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth!

Technorati tags TV, Lost, blog, rant, batman geek

A quick update

Ok, I haven't posted here in ages. But I have been blogging, just on "MySpace". So what I have deceided to do is "mirror" my "MySpace" posts over here to my blog, because well...I can.

Heath aka The Batman Geek!

It's been a while

Yeah I know, it's been almost 2 months since my last text post. What can I say between my vlog site, my buddy's site and summer......it's been a bit chaotic. It's been crazy to say the least. Crazy but fun......we (my wife and my buddy and his girlfriend) just got back from Dragon Con a couple of days ago and I have been busy messing with some video and a few other fun things. Life is pretty good right now, even with my BIG mess up (I actcidently taped over part of an interview I did.) I know you are saying "what's the big deal".......but for me, it was.

You see, I spent most of my young life being told I was worthless and good for nothing, that I could never do anything right.......and no amount of theapry or faith or self help can ever completly take that away. You do learn to cope but it is always there under the surface and sometimes it (the feeling of dispair) will rear it's ugly head. So for a couple of days, I was not.......well......it just wasn't fun. But I'm better and OK....for now ;) I wonder sometimes if anyone is listening or even cares what I am doing, but then I think......it doesn't really matter, I am still having fun and still learning a bit more about myself everyday......not a bad life really.....

Take care "The Batman Geek"

It's Alive.....The Story

Ok, hopefully you have watched the clip.....and you saw this little logo to your left. What is ICFTB.com....well my bud actually does a pretty good job of explaining "what" ICFTB is here. But it's more than just a site to us.....it's the promise of a dream fullfilled, Rob and I are artist's...he draws and writes. I film and write and act! ;) We sit in a cube 8-9 hours a day M-F....don't get me wrong I'm grateful that I have a job, but have you ever wanted more?

Have you ever thought that you should be doing something else....that where you were at was not where you were destined to be? Life's a journey and it is a strange one sometimes....I hated people telling me what to do, so I joined the Army.....LOL.....I wanted to be an actor in Hollywood...I worked in retail......, I never thought I would get married.....it will be 15 years this Aug.......and I had long given up of ever following my heart......

Then my bud had surgery and a crazy idea....the seeds had been planted by my wife (Glenna) who kept telling me, just audition for a play or for a part....I kept saying "no, I'm to old, I don't have the time, I have resposabilities" and so on....well I finally did do a play and I loved it, so I thought "hey it's just community theather but's it's fun".....

I had always wanted to "make movies" ever since I was a kid....it was a way for me to escape, my childhood was.........hard.......my parents divorced each other...twice.....there was abuse.....and.......well anyany, it wasn't all that fun.....I grew up pretty quick, I had to.....but it never broke me and I used it to become a better person.......

Which brings me back to the site and in a round about way to my vlog site and why I do what I do........It's fun, plain and simple.....when I started vlogging and all this I had no idea where it would lead and I still don't......but I am having the time of my life...I have "met" so many great people and....well it's just fun and a blast.....so now I can help my buddy out with his site, make "movies" tell my story, share my dreams and hopes.......and who knows what tomorrow will bring........

So look if you have a few minutes go to the site check it out, let us know what you think and be on the lookout for something we like to call......"Fanboy Forum"...... ;)

ICFTB.com....a place for geeks, by geeks.......may your dreams come true

Technorati tags media, entertainment, vlog, Batman, comics, toys, fun, geeks, silly, silly, blog, reviews, TV, movies, dream

It's 3:30 in the morning and I can't sleep.....

Ok......like the title says....It's now 3:30.....AM.....and I can't sleep.....well that is not entirely true....I am sure if I laid down I could get to sleep....it's just that......well I am kinda in a weird mood right now.

You see......something good is going to happen pretty soon......how good, only time will tell. But I am pretty pumped up about it. What is it.....well I really can't say till later TODAY......(the whole it's already today thing)....anyway......it's a weird feeling to think that something you have dreamed about your whole life, well maybe not my WHOLE life.....but it's weird to think.......listen my thoughts are all over the place right now.....and I have got to get some sleep....so till later today this is THE Batman Geek saying.....sleep well........

Random thoughts

Does the the adversity that you experience in life make you stronger, or does it slowly chip away at you and comsume you?

That's a question I find myself asking more and more......and I wish I knew the answer. My wife says it's a matter of choice and I do agree with that to a degree....but sometimes it hard to make the "right" choice isn't it?

Just stuff

Ok......I haven't posted to the blog site in over a month.....not that anyone is probably even reading it..... ;) But this has been a rough 4-5 weeks......and in some ways it is not getting any better......Just found out last night that we are probably going to have to buy a new central air unit.....well a whole system actually......we have been living on borrowed time anyway and as it always does it finally bit us in the a$$......oh well, that is life sometimes......the sucky thing about this really is not the money.....well yea it is that....it's just that I was hoping to get a new video camera before the convention season started up.....and well now.....

Look I know in the big scheme of things it is not a big deal.....it just kinda sucks is all.......you know life is definatily funny, sometimes it is a glorious song and you can't stop smiling and sometimes it is just a kick in the groin........some of the other things that have been going on is that I had a heart scare.....I thought I was having a heart attack......I didn't thank God.....and as far as the other stuff.....well.....I can only say watching your kids grow up and try and find their way can be a painful experience sometimes.......

Anyway I hope you like the picture......it's my wife and I to a T.......I make her pant!! ;)

Technorati tags life, kids, funny,

X3 review

Well I just saw X3 The Last Stand...........Overall I liked the movie but it felt like something was missing. I am not sure if I can put my finger on it, but it just seemed.......off. Of course it could be due to the fact of the obnoxious "talkers" that were around us........I just wanted to sit up and shout "SHUT THE #%&(@! UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" But I didn't because well.....that would have been rude.........

I have to say I had my doubts about the movie after Singer left and perhaps that was the missing element, his touch. And I know I am not a Marvel guy but I have liked their movies especially the X series.....X2 is in my top 3 of comic book movies of all time, it rocked! I know this is going to sound weird but I think that there were to many "fanboy" elements in the film. I mean unless you know alot about the X-Men you didn't know who alot of the "new" charactors were. Case in point Angel....my wife and her cousin had NO IDEA who Angel was...Glenna's (my wife) cousin said she thought "that hawk guy was pretty cool. And that blue guy changed alot from the last movie"

The "casual" fan had no idea what was really going on in this movie and that's not good. I know I may take some flack for that last comment but it is true. As much as we "fanboys" want the movies to be true to the roots, you have to make the movies accessible to the causal fans. That is the only way to broaden the audience for the books. Not all comic books translate onto the big screen and some stories are to big to tell in movies. That was the beauty of the first two X-Men films they had the right balance of "fan" stuff and "new" stuff. At least that is MHO.

This one is more like the desert after a great meal. A meal in which you were stuffed, you get the desert because you want it but then it just seems like to much. That is what this movie felt like to me. But I will say given the situation that Ratner was put into and the time frame he had to work with, I think he did a pretty good job. I liked Kesley Grammer as the Beast, like most "fans" when I heard about the casting, I was like "you have GOT to be kidding me!?" But he pulled it off.

So again I have to say overall I liked the movie, visually it was a site to behold, the fight scene at the end was really good as well. A lot to take in but done very well. I am sure it will make a boatload this weekend the true test will come next weekend. What will the drop off be? That is what I want to see!

So I guess I will just say if you want to be entertained go see the movie. If you want some meat......go watch X2 again.

Heath - The Batman Geek

Technorati tags movies, X3, X-men, Marvel, Wolverine, reviews, blog

Graduation Pt.2

Well last night was the big one.......High School gratuation.......it's funny, I am sad and glad at the same time....who knew.......now she just needs to find a job! ;)

Graduation Pt. 1

Well after 12 LONG years (j/k) my little girl has graduated....I get the "honor" of going to not one, but TWO ceromonies....she (Marie) is graduating from vocational school and High School, so last night was the vocational school and this Friday is the High School one. It's weird, Jimmy (our son) graduated a couple of years ago so now, both of them will probably be moving out soon......(I hope!!) again, I kid........mostly..... :) Anyway it is a weird feeling, the rest of her life begins.......

Motor City Con recap

Don't I look happy?!......I have to say it was a great time at the show. We got to Novi, MI Friday morning about 10:30 AM (I was up at 4:15 AM, picked up my buddy Eddie and Randy and hit the road about 6:00). Met up with some friends, ate lunch and then hit the show before it opened at 1:30 PM. It pays to have connections sometimes, you know who you are you big freak you :) Once inside I made my way to the lines to get all the the Bat gangs photos and autograph's. That was my main mission as a number of years ago I got to meet Adam and Frank Gorshin at a show but forgot my camera. But I figured "oh well, there will be plenty of chances again" And when Mr. Gorshin passed away last year it hit me like a ton of bricks, that the people I grew up admiring, were not getting any younger. I don't want to think that but it is true. So when I found out that Adam, Burt, Yvonne, Julie, Lee and others were going to be at the Motor City Con, I booked my hotel and made plans!!

So after meeting everyone, they were all so great and fun, I stated filming (which I will post to my vlog, soon I hope, lot's of footage to go through) and just started soaking everything in. Along the way I met up with some members of the 1966 Batman Board and I enjoyed meeting all of them it was just a blast, before I knew it, it was 8:00 and the show was closing for the night. It felt like I was there only a couple of hours I swear.

Well then Eddie, Randy and I along with some friends went out to dinner and just had fun hanging out, talking, joking, sharing stories, it's what a con is all about. Well about 11 or so we figured we should find our hotel so we set off and luckily we found it no problem and everything was good to go. After a few more hours of us just talking and laughing we finally went to sleep.

The next day it was pretty packed, at least for the Bat guests, and most others as well, Adam's line zig-zagged around there were so many people. We did a bit of walking around looking for some deals and costumes and such then about (Oh, I almost forgot I did an interview with one of the main Batman costume guys, I have vidoe on that as well) 1:30 or so the 1966 Bat board members showed up in costumes (most of them ) and as you can tell from the pics they looked great! I got some footage and some pics and just hung for a while. Later that night after the show we went to a "party" at the Double Tree and a Canadian TV crew showed up, so I may be on TV up north, look for me! The show is called "Fanatic's" I think. Anyway it was a great time. Talking with so many different people and just having fun.

Sunday was laid back as we had to hit the road before the show ended to get back home, but we stayed for the Q & A with the Batman cast. And I am so glad we did too, it was fun, they are all so witty and "on". Julie Newmar was a scream, she has still got presense let me tell you, they all "introduced" themselves and when it was Julie's turn, she glided on top the the "table and wiped around and crossed her legs, with such grace and then just sat there for a moment looking and then finally said "I have nothig to say". The crowd urupted in applause, it was great. The most interesting thing I thought was someone asked the question to those that had appeared on both Star Trek and Batman if they could compare Adam and William......well, it is no secret that Mr. Shatner was "difficult" to work with back then (I have no idea how he is now) but let's just say EVERYONE agreed that Adam was a better to work with. It was just cool seeing the people that inspired me as a kid.......being a latchkey kid, I was home alone a lot and to be honest most of my values came from shows like Batman, Star Trek, The Saint, The Avengers (I saw them all in reruns as I was not born until the late 60's). It may seem sad but those shows taught me lessons, about how to be a "hero" how to do the right thing. So it may be silly and I know it is sometimes but it is a fond part of my childhood, and it was just fun, and what is wrong with that?

Anyway I am beat and still have to eat dinner so......this is the Batman Geek saying so long for now!!

Technorati tags Batman, Motor City Con, comic books, convention, Adam West,