Pirates On Stranger Tides

Have I expressed gratitude for this already? Does that matter?

Anyway, I finally, finally, got to see the fourth movie in the Pirates of the Caribbean series, On Stranger Tides, today. I like the Pirates movies (even the third one, despite a plot as twisted and convoluted as the giant whirlpool at the end), and I love the original Disneyland ride. I'm excited to see the fifth Pirates movie later this year, but I figured I needed to see the fourth one first.

It was a fun film, every bit as ridiculous, surprising, and entertaining as the ones before it. I especially appreciated this one scene with the skeleton on the bed looking at a map through a magnifying glass. The pose of that skeleton came straight from the Disneyland ride. I also remember that on the ride, the magnifying glass was positioned such that as you ride by on your boat, the skeleton's teeth look bigger through the glass. A really cool effect.

Anyway, I am grateful for Pirates of the Caribbean. All of it. Including the fourth movie.

Websites for Fanfiction

My wife has recently had some small success with a fanfiction piece she's been updating weekly online. She seems to have a pretty consistent group of readers for her story, and it is exciting to see other people react to it.

Naturally, this inspired me to start writing a fanfic of my own. Now, I don't expect the same success my wife has been enjoying, but I suspect I will have fun writing it. That is why I am grateful for website platforms (Fanfiction.net, Wattpad, etc.) that provide a suitable place for fanfiction.

Old Solid Oak Furniture

Shortly after my parents got married, they got an oak table and chair set for their kitchen. This is the set that I've used all my life until I left for college. My parents took the table and chairs with them when they moved. Then, they got a newer and better set, and decided to give the old one to me and my wife. Now, I'm still using the same table and chairs I grew up with.

Even more impressive, it's all still strong and solid. Sure, the finish isn't the best, and there are many scratches if you look closely, but it's all still working—after more than 25 years.

I am grateful for old solid oak kitchen furniture.

Walk Breaks at Work

Occasionally, afternoon breaks at work involve a short walk around a couple blocks with other co-workers. It is enjoyable and a great change of pace (literally). Although the sun and fresh air is initially a shock after hours at a computer desk, I always welcome this type of break.

As an added bonus, I get to play Pokemon GO while walking outside (yes, I still play that awesome game).

I am grateful for walk breaks at work.

Playtesting Tabletop Games

It should come as no surprise that I love tabletop games, old and new. In addition, I love to playtest new games of all kinds. Of course, I never get paid to playtest games (though that would be awesome), I still find it a very fulfilling type of work (play?).

I have had some recent opportunities to playtest some games, which is why it's on my mind now. (Also, I'm aware that National Tabletop Day is this Saturday). I won't go into specifics about the games themselves, but I will say that it plays right into a strength I've always had since I was a kid: I love to read game instructions. I like knowing just how a game is supposed to go so I can take the lead in explaining it all in simple terms for everyone else.

Also, playtesting helps me to be a better critic. It is easy for me to focus on the good of anything, but it's often hard for me to notice many areas of possible improvement. Playtesting tabletop games helps me to look for ways to make a game more fun or understandable.

I am grateful for opportunities to playtest tabletop games.

When Someone Else Sees What You Always See

I had a busy but wonderful Sunday today. One thing that happened was a visit from my aunt and young cousins. They had never been to my home since I've been married so I was excited to see them again and to show off the home to them.

I love my current home, and yet I think I've forgotten—in even a small degree—how blessed I am to live in it. My aunt had many good things to say about the place and I realized that I truly am very blessed to live where I live (of course, being married also makes living somewhere a lot better, at least for me). I enjoyed seeing my home through new and grateful eyes.

I am grateful for a chance to see my home through someone else's eyes.

Today Felt Like Friday...But Still On A Thursday

Normally, I like Fridays the most. But this week I was really looking forward to Thursday, today. Two reasons: First, my wife and I attended a brief but uplifting church-related meeting after work today. Second, game night with friends (specifically, Dungeons & Dragons). It felt like a Friday today.

I am grateful for days that feel like Fridays.

Now, I know it can be depressing to think it's Friday when it's not, but I think it's great to have otherwise normal days feel more special sometimes. I prefer to focus on the good. :)

QA

QA here stands for Quality Assurance. I know it could mean many different things for different companies and organizations. In my workplace, Quality Assurance refers to a task done by one of my direct supervisors. Each week, my direct supervisor looks over a sample of my work and provides helpful feedback. It can be easy for me to get into a simple and overly-efficient routine with my editing work. So, weekly quality assurance helps me see where I fall short and allows me to get back on track.

I am grateful for the QA (Quality Assurance) work done by my co-workers.

Cast Commentary on DVDs

I've been watching the extended edition of The Lord of the Rings on DVD these pas few weeks (a little here, a little there). I've seen all of it by now, but now I'm about to finish it all again—with cast commentary. It is fascinating! I love hearing how such great films are created, and few films have such complex processes or sincerity in the work as the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit films.

Also, listening to the cast talk comment on the making of the film at times brings me back to my high school acting days. Those were the days when I experienced a sample of what professional actors do in their work. I remember the silly and the meaningful interactions I had with directors, technicians, and fellow cast members.

I am grateful for cast commentary of DVDs (particularly on The Lord of the Rings).

The Prince of Egypt

The title refers to the film produced by Dreamworks, the most popular animated adaptation of the story of Moses in the Old Testament of the Bible. I watched it again tonight and was again impressed with its sincere and mostly believable interpretation. Of course they take some artistic license, but the dramatic relationships between the main characters (especially Moses and Ramses) are extrapolated from what can be found in the Bible.

Not to mention the music. It is very well done, throughout the entire film, and does a fantastic job of setting up the drama or the relief when appropriate.

In summation, the film has given my generation a new way to look at the Moses story, as well as any other story in revealed scripture. I am grateful for Dreamwork's film, The Prince of Egypt.

Nursery Workers at Church

For those unfamiliar with church services for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, there are three one-hour blocks. The congregational meeting is usually the first hour (with the sacrament/communion), while the other two hours are taken up by various religious classes for various age groups and interests. One of those classes is nursery, where toddlers (ages 18 months to 3 years) go before they are old enough for Primary-age classes (ages 3 through 12).

I have never seen a nursery class since I was young enough for nursery myself, until today. They needed more volunteers to watch over the children during activities, snack time, and the brief lesson about Jesus Christ. My wife loves to help, and somehow I got volunteered as well. I didn't do very much except participate in the singing and games, as well as making sure the kids stayed safe and were having fun. For the most part, the kids weren't too rowdy. Still, I have now seen for myself what nursery workers at church do, and my respect and admiration for their service has grown tremendously.

I am grateful for nursery workers at church.

How I Know the Weekend Has Arrived

My wife and I love spending time together, but we don't always go on formal "dates." Sometimes, just sitting by each other is enough. Still, it is nice to do something a little extra to sort of "celebrate" the start of a new weekend. What we usually do is go out for dinner somewhere. Anywhere from fast food to a nice sit-down place. Just the act of eating out feels great, and one reason for that is it just feels like a weekend. It's almost a reminder to us that it's finally Friday night, and we can start the fun things we have planned for the next couple of days.

I am grateful for going out to eat on Friday evenings.

A Bubble Wand for My Sister

This post is about a piece of Disney merchandise that I bought for someone else, lest you read my previous post and "pin" me as selfish or too much of a Disney fanatic (though I'm fairly close to that status, I'm sure). In a recent visit to Disneyland, my family and I noticed one particular toy that showed up all over the place. Little kids everywhere were playing with this bubble wand. It was a plastic wand with bubble solution in it. It makes sounds and lights as you push a button, all while a continuous stream of little bubbles erupt from the wand. We'd see one of these every few minutes (at least, it felt that way). The occasional harmless distribution of bubbles actually made Disneyland feel a little more magical, if you can believe it.

My sister, who is old enough for college, mind you, said out loud that she wanted one. So, I decided to buy her one as a surprise. Like everything else at Disneyland, it was a little expensive, but an even $20 was a great price for the reaction my sister gave when I presented her the present. She was beaming. Seriously, if Disneyland were any more magical, she would have glitter and rainbows coming out of her ears. She was surprised, and that reaction was truly priceless.

Man, those bubble wands. Magical. I am grateful for Disneyland bubble wands.

Disney Pins

After spending a month and a half focusing my blog on American presidents, I now have to get used to coming up with something to mention here.

Let's see...what am I grateful for today?

Oh yes, Disney pins!

I don't go to Disneyland often, but when I do, I buy and trade Disney pins. I noticed some really near Star Wars pins in my last visit there and got some of those. I don't know what it is about pins, but they're something I like to collect. I find it fun to hold cool-looking emblems and characters in my hands. Some of the Star Wars pins even looked like the what an X-Wing or Tie Fighter pilot would wear! Great stuff.

Today, I am grateful for Disney pins.

45th President: Donald Trump

This particular president is the most difficult to write about, mostly because the history of his presidency is now. I can't rely on the book or internet sources (esp. Wikipedia for preliminary research) I used for all the other posts because its all too recent. So, as I gather my thoughts, please forgive this longer entry.

Of course, it's hard for me because my social network in person and online is almost entirely full of people who didn't like the idea of having Trump as a president. But, the biggest lesson the election of 2016 taught me is this: when it comes to national policy and issues, I nor anyone else should ever forget or discount the fact that there are millions of people who may think very differently.

I may be wrong, but I believe a big part of the shock and confusion over Trump's election (even by expert political pundits) was a direct result of people believing that almost everyone felt the same way they did. My own network is largely based on areas in the states of the West and Midwest. Apart from media and entertainment figures, I knew almost nothing about the direct opinions of the people in the South, in New England, on the far west coast, or in other areas. So, if nothing else Trump's election taught me to be more aware of the people outside my personal and online networks.

As for Donald Trump himself, it was hard for me to find sources that discussed his accomplishments as president beyond his first week or first month in office. It does appear that he has delivered or made efforts on many of the things he said he would do in his first 100 days. Unfortunately, the number of sources that focus primarily on positive achievements is disappointingly few.

To those who don't like Donald Trump, may I suggest to you that it's not as bad as you think. I think I've explained that no other president in the past has "ruined" our country. Do we blame Warren G. Harding or any other former president for the state of our nation? (Wait, who's Harding? My point exactly.) No. In our history, we tend to remember those who made tremendous positive impact, and it's just too early to tell what kind of president Trump will end up becoming.

Instantaneous messaging and a 24-hour news cycle tends to cause people to focus on things moment by moment. But, something that was a huge deal last month isn't so much this month. I've decided to take a few steps back and continue to look at the world and my country with gratitude and gladness. I prefer to give people, even Trump, the benefit of the doubt.

Besides, if nothing else at all, recent political events have given many people (including myself) a reason to reflect on their own personal convictions and expressions of patriotism. America is self-evaluating itself a little more, and I like that.

I am grateful for Donald Trump.

P.S.—I have thoroughly enjoyed expressing gratitude for each American president to date. My appreciation for America has become a little deeper and more sincere, and my belief that it's possible to find a reason to be grateful for just about anything is reinforced.

44th President: Barak Obama

I'd like to start with a seemingly random fun fact. It's related to my personal observation that a noticeable amount of Christian families (such as the Mormons in Utah or the Baptists in the South) like to name their children after people in scripture. I never truly understood where the name Barak could come from until I discovered that Barak was the name of a man who, with the blessing of God and the assistance of a prophetess named Deborah, helped deliver Israel from the Canaanites. Knowing that Barak Obama is a self-proclaimed Christian, I am currently assuming that his name came from this reference (in the 4th and 5th chapters of Judges in the Bible, if you're interested).

As for the man himself: He certainly made history as the first African-American to be elected president in America. He also had a busy eight years in office as he focused on many pressing issues, such as health care, gun control, and LGBT rights. Apart from his political endeavors, I really loved his class and his sense of humor. It was endearing to see him laugh at himself on occasion, and it always seemed to me that the way he and his wife interacted with other American citizens was nothing short of gracious and respectful.

I am grateful for Barak Obama.

43rd President: Geroge W. Bush

I am old enough to remember 9/11, and I say that here because of course it was George W. Bush who was our president at that time. He hadn't completed his first year in office when the attacks happened in New York. He is praised and criticized for the way he handled things as president. Based on my knowledge and the sources I've encountered, I admire the man for doing everything he thought and felt was best for the country at the time.

We know anything made by humans has its flaws. Even laws and acts that were more controversial, such as the Patriot Act and the No Child Left Behind Act and others put forth during the Bush years, were created and put into place with the intention of improving the nation.

I am grateful for George W. Bush.

42nd President: Bill Clinton

Along with being one of the younger presidents we've had, Bill Clinton is also known for being president over the longest period of peace and prosperity since WWII. Though he didn't make much headway with health care reform, he was involved in successful welfare reform, as well as the American Free Trade Agreement.

I am grateful for Bill Clinton.

41st President: George H. W. Bush

George H. W. Bush was president during the fall of the Berlin Wall, as well as the dissolution of the Soviet Union (USSR). What a time that must have been to be alive in the world!

President Bush (the first, I suppose we could call him), worked hard on humanitarian causes, as well as the issues of deregulation and the War on Drugs, as it is so named. His administration was also the beginning of the recovery from economic recession, paving the way to economic prosperity in the years ahead.

I am grateful for George H. W. Bush.

40th President: Ronald Reagan

Among the memorable achievements of this energetic president were bringing an end to the Cold War and becoming instrumental in the reshaping of the Republican party as we know it in modern times.

Also, as a child of the 90s, I personally find it significant that he was the last president before the final decade of the 20th century. The 90s were a fairly positive time for America, if I recall, and the next couple of days will reflect on the presidents of that decade.

I am grateful for Ronald Reagan.

39th President: Jimmy Carter

First, my apologies for the brief hiatus on this blog. I am resuming with Jimmy Carter and will still carry on to our current president.

When I think of Jimmy Carter, I think of a speech he once gave titled, "Crisis of Confidence." I remember hearing an excerpt in my favorite hockey movie, Miracle, and then focusing on it for an entry in a speech & debate team in which I was asked to choose a "great speech," and offer an analysis of it. From the start, I loved the hope inherent in that speech, even though Carter was speaking about how America, he felt, had lost their confidence. I loved the call to action to believe in America again. I think that may be the beginnings of my personal, sincere beliefs in this country.

Now, historically, Jimmy Carter isn't considered a tremendously successful president, but it seems that it was his presidential and ex-presidential actions in humanitarian and peacekeeping causes that brought much positivity in the public's opinion of him. Of particular note along this vein is his work at Camp David in facilitating meaningful peace to Middle Eastern countries.

I am grateful for Jimmy Carter.