The Truth

Prior to September 10, 1993 if you heard someone say the word nerd or geek you were most likely moments away from getting your ass kicked. Today those words still carry weight but not as much of a negative social stigma. I refer to myself as those things almost every day and I can do that today because of the X-Files. It was a show that not only validated my life but no doubt saved it.
I've always loved weird stuff years before it was cool or mainstream to like these things. I read about alien encounters and sightings. Roswell and Groom Lake were destinations I desperately wanted to visit even if it meant trespassing and putting myself at risk. I knew the story of Barney and Betty Hill by heart. These interests weren't normal at all and I kept them to myself.

When The X-Files first aired on September 10th 1993 and immediately tackled subjects that I knew about I was hooked. The show spoke to many people like me but unfortunately, at that time, there weren't many people like me. It took a bit of time for those people not normally interested in that kind of stuff to watch the show. I don't recall my mom watching anything on TV other than QVC but she would often sit down and watch the show with me. I was a die hard fan and she was a casual fan but it brought us together for one of the few things I remember my mom and I enjoying together. Years down the road when I left for college she stopped watching the show when I wasn't there to watch it with her. That idea is as depressing as it is confusing and I often times think about buying her the season sets on DVD or blu-ray but I'm not sure it is something she'd ever finish alone.

I think The X-Files was the first show I ever started to collect. I'm not even sure that other current shows were being put out on VHS to purchase. They didn't do season sets but did a "Best Of" collection. Each tape contained 2 episodes. It also contained a trading card of sorts for each episode that had some of the most bizarre and amazing art I had ever seen at the time. All those years later and those cards are still preserved in perfect condition in my movie room. These VHS tapes inspired me,gave me material enough and the confidence enough to do a project on alien abduction my senior year of high school. I spent hours in the library splicing together clips from these VHS tapes to show aspects of alien abductions. I also used information I had previously known to flesh out a presentation. The class seemed responsive to my project, I received a good grade for my work but most of all I enjoyed every moment of the project. It was one of the few times I was given freedom to pick my topic and it made a huge difference. 

While in college my grandparents would buy my food for my house but more importantly they would takes me to the crappy little Ames location in Punxsutawney and let me get more X-Files tapes. They supported my habit.

The only reason I visited the computer lab at school was because of The X-Files. Go to Google and type in "TV Guide X-Files Ads" and then click on images. Easy, huh? If only the process in 1996 was as simple. The work I put into finding and printing those ads was insane and there wasn't any real reason for me to do it. The artwork wasn't amazing but I kept those printouts for years. Honestly when I'm done typing this blog entry out I'm going to save all those pictures again because I'm still that much of a fan.

Years later when the movie came out I bought 12 tickets and went with a bunch of friends to the midnight showing. Midnight shows are always the best because you get the die hard fans and this was no exception. The moment when Mulder and Scully almost kiss caused a deafening roar from the crowd. It was amazing to see that on screen and hear hundreds of fan like myself react to it. 

My friends in Florida almost bought me a beautiful Flukeman statue as a wedding present because they knew I was a massive fan of the show but backed off of the idea when they realized maybe Kelsey wouldn't appreciate the joint gift as much.

Kelsey and I returned to Pennsylvania and briefly lived with her parents while we searched for other housing. I stopped in a comic book store in Indiana one day and found a set of Mulder and Scully limited edition busts.  We didn't have the money for them and it killed me to walk away from them. I can't even recall how many times I probably mentioned these things over the next few weeks or months. When Christmas rolled around we didn't have much money to shop for gifts so I was stunned to open two very heavy boxes and find the statues I left behind inside of them. Kelsey had asked family members to pitch what money they were going to spend on me so that she could pool it together and go get these statues. It was and remains the most surprised I've ever been by a gift.

During the final year of The X-Files I didn't trust my VCR to record the show. It was a completely irrational fear. Every week during that final season I would leave work, drive the very short distance home and press record. Then I could return to finish my hour or two of work knowing the show would be there for me when I got home. 

When the season sets came out eventually on DVD they wanted 150.00 per season. To put that in perspective you can get the entire series on blu-ray for less than 200.00 at this very moment. The DVDs were insanely overpriced but it was still the best show on TV so what was I to do? I turned to a Canadian DVD store and used the exchange rate at the time to get each season for about 80.00 a piece. They released a season set every 6 months so twice a year I would order my sets and wait for they unbearably long shipping process. Then when the sets came in it would take me barely over a day to watch 20+ episodes at 40 minutes a piece. 

Those are a few of the highlights that detail my obsession with this show. It was far more detailed and complex than even these stories make it sound. The news of the revival some time ago made me emotional to say the least. Would it be the same? Would it be amazing? Would it tarnish the orginal series in some way?

The first episode of the new "season" was tough to watch. It got things right, did some things wrong and it revisited fictional characters I love but they weren't where I thought they would be. They weren't who I thought they would be. To find out Mulder and Scully aren't together was tough. After all the years they spent together I wanted these characters to be happy and be a couple. They aren't a couple and they certainly didn't look happy. I'm sure my idea of where the show should pick up wouldn't of made for a compelling story but I still wanted it my way. It's very jarring how quickly these push these characters from the lives they lead now to a life back in the FBI. It was rushed and poorly done. I'm not sure if it would of been improved had this revival been longer than 6 episodes. Thankfully the 2nd episode was much better and more like what I remember. Now the show feels the same. Now it will be even harder when it is over in a few weeks. 

I can't blame critics for not giving the show great reviews. Their job is to be critical and clinical. I just hope other fans like me enjoy the show and speak up. We might not get more after this run. The rumored 3rd movie might not come to be. If nothing else I want the people who helped bring this show back know that it is appreciated. This show is comforting to me and comes during a really shitty time in my life. It was something I looked forward to so it gave me a reason to keep going. It reminds me of a much better time in my life. It was a show that made it ok to different, out there or even spooky.  I'm a part of so many fandoms and have an interest in hundreds of pop culture subjects but I've never been more proud to be an X-Phile. 

You Can't Make This Shit Up

Some time ago I set up email accounts for both my boys. I like to send them short stories or pictures that they can enjoy when they get older. Most are cute or sentimental.  This one is neither. It's fucking gross. This is what I sent them.....

Its been awhile since I've gotten a chance to message you guys.  I guess I've been saving up for whenever I have a really good story to share.  The other night I went to work like any other day. I was there for maybe an hour or so when the manager tells me your Mom is on the phone and that's it's an emergency.  Your Mom says Xander fell head over heels down the steps and that we have to go to the ER. I'm off the phone and out the door in a matter of moments. When I get home I see Xander shuffling out the door as if he were auditioning for a role role in a zombie movie.  With a puke bucket in hand Xander is escorted into the car and we race to the hospital.   That is where everything g slows to a crawl.  We wait for HOURS to see someone, get a CT scan and get the results back.  While we try to keep Xander awake fearing serious head trauma I have some crazy hillbilly wanting to make small talk talk about the weather 3 states away.  I humor him for a bit until I see Xander needs a lot of attention and help staying awake. I cut the redneck off quickly the next time he speaks and tell him I need to focus on the patient a bit. 
When all is said and done your Mom and I are worn out mentally and physically and Xander has a concussion.  When the nurse dates that Xander isn't not allowed to watch TV for few days we realize we are in big trouble.  Without missing a beat you boys start playing rough the moment we get home.  We can't even get you to comprehend that perhaps playing on the steps isn't the best idea. As I use the bathroom at the the top of the steps I can hear you both running up and down then steps countless times for no real reason.  The next day Xander appears to be 100% healthy and as active as ever. 
I'm upstairs the day after the accident and suddenly I hear someone gagging and retching.  Since vomiting was the main symptom after the accident I'm immediately concerned. When I hear your Mom yell for me I go racing down the steps. Before I'm even the entire way down the steps I can see that Xander looks completely normal and is not throwing up.  However  I get to the kitchen and see something rather unexpected. Your Mom is laughing really hard. There are a few puddles of puke on the floor.  Logan looks  very distraught as he wipes his tongue over and over.  The barf wasn't a result of the concussion.  The puking was because Logan got into the trash, spotted a turd that had escaped from one of his dirty diapers and ate it thinking it was chocolate candy. Thanks to technology I got to hear your Mom google voice search the phrase..."My toddler just ate his own poop."  That's not something I'm ever going to unhear.  And since I'll never forget it I'm emailing it to you guys so you won't ever forget it either. 

Love,
Dad

The Next 24 Hours

What are you planning for the next 24 hours?  Big meal? Small meal? Intimate gathering? Huge family meetup?  All those are acceptable answers. Going shopping at some point?  

Think that is harsh? Well believe me when I say dochebag wasn't the first descriptor I thought of. I scaled it back a bit. 

Now let me add that I'm materialistic, antisocial and the only thing better than sitting in my movie room surrounded by toys, films and games is knowing I'm amazing at finding deals and saving money on them.

But I'm also old enough to remember a small slice on time where Thanksgiving, and to a larger degree Christmas, turned my hometown in a ghost town. Didn't fill up the tank on Wednesday? Good luck finding a gas station open on the way to grandma's house. Forgot an important ingredient for the big meal? You better call around to the family who will be coming over because the stores aren't an option. With the exception of my Aunt being needed at the hospital during the holidays I knew I would get to see every local retaliative and a few distant ones because they were all off work and dedicated to being with family.

We've slowly chipped away at this holiday.  It is wasn't for this nation's love of food I almost think we'd eventually just think of today as simply another Thursday. It's certainly not about family as much as it used to be. I really am proud of the few stores that have promised to not open until Friday but that list is still so small that it is disheartening.  Maybe the list will get larger next year and little by little the trend will change.

The thing that confuses me are the people who say going shopping on Thanksgiving after the meal is a tradition .  Well your outing with your loved ones means loved ones stocking shelves and checking you out instead of these people doing any traditions at home with their families.  I'm not against stores making money or flooding my radio, Facebook feed or e-mail with sale announcements. If you are reading this you have a smartphone, tablet or a computer and most every store out there is offering you a way to stay home and till score some deals.  

I'm not an old fashioned type of guy but if you go shopping today it is impacting someone.  Someone is missing out on a family meal because their company feels a need to be competitive with countless other stores.  I'd love to see the list of stores closed today grow each year and in turn more families will get the quality time we seemed to take for granted these days. 

In Need? Yes....Of A Shower!

My normal routine for a bit now on Sundays has been to leave work at Hoss's, go to Moe's to check my schedule and get something to eat while I'm there.  This week the only change was I left Hoss's early enough to come home and get Xander so he could go grab dinner with me.  We had yet another great meal at Moe's and then went to the Sincerely Yogurt location next door for dessert.  Since my meals at Moe's are half off even when I'm not working I figured I'd treat myself.  I proceeded to get cheesecake yogurt and load it up.  When I went to pay for it the owner, who I know from him dining at Moe's all the time, informed me that the girls in front of us had paid for our dessert.  He mistook my surprise for confusion and continued to elaborate on an idea that I've heard of but never experienced first hand.  It really struck me and shocked me and it is upsetting that you never get to thank the people who do these amazing things.  As Xander and I sit and eat we chat up the owner and he even gives Xander some candy since I refused to allow him to put Sour Patch Kids in our New York Cheesecake yogurt.  When we went to leave I approached the counter to keep the kindess going and help pay for the next patron that comes along.  As I am doing so the owner hands me a roll of money and tells me that the people in front of me wanted us to have this as well.  This is where I get totally lost.  This is out of the ordinary, right?  I mean the roll contained less than 10.00 but it is still very odd.  I told the owner to keep the money and keep the generosity going all while refusing to grab the money.  While I continue to urge him to keep it he hands it to Xander.  Back and forth we went for a few moments and in the end we thanked him and walked out with Xander clutching a wad of bills.
Now I realize that I looked rough after working, falling down the steps and limping my way to dinner,  I'm not offended if the girls ahead of me thought I was poor because I kinda looked the part in a dirty uniform and a jacket covered in liquid that previously occupied.  If anything I would like to thank the girls.  If anything ELSE I'd like to tell them I didn't let Xander get yogurt because he's so picky he refuses even delicious snacks until you almost have to force him to eat them.  In the end I went to get Mexican and yogurt and pretty much came home with more money in my pocket than I left with.

It's Long, Boring, Sad But Also It's Personal Catharsis

I lost my Aunt this week to cancer.  I got a call last Sunday that she was given about a week to live.  That night I packed the car and made the drive from Pittsburgh to Hershey where she was being "treated".  Hearing that someone is days away from passing does nothing to prepare you for seeing someone motionless and completely unresponsive.  The entire time I was there she slept.  She was motionless, except for her chest moving ever so slightly when she would inhale and exhale, and she was completely unresponsive.  She only sounds she made during my visit was when the nurses would come in to turn or move her.  When that happened my mom and I had to retreat to the hall because the moans and cries of pain were unbearable.
Now that she's gone I should be lamenting her passing and speaking about the horrors associated with cancer.  While I will miss her immensely  I won't be shaking my first and cursing about how cancer took her from me.  It was as much her unwillingness to get treatment YEARS ago as it was the fault of the cancer.  In the final weeks of her life the doctors couldn't believe how fast the cancer had spread.  Her deterioration ramped up unbelievably fast since Christmas but I can't tell you the last time I recall her walking without pain and a serious limp.  She was the oldest sibling on my Dad's side and was never in great health so for a bit we brushed it off just like my Aunt would.  Then we'd comment about the duration of these ailments and and would  get no response.  Family members even guilted her and said about she wouldn't be around to see her nephews graduate or get married if she didn't seek out help.  The biggest response you would get was that after all the years she spent working at a hospital the last thing she wanted to do was go to one voluntarily. This one sided conversation with her was initiated with her numerous times over the years and quietly I thought that when we had our first son it might be a motivator for her to seek help.  It wasn't and neither was the birth of our second child.  She even got so bad that she moved out of her very old and dilapidated trailer and moved into the rental property my parents had on their land.  She had just recently started her retirement and she was excited about relaxing on my parent's farm, talking walks in the woods and relaxing on her porch.  She got to enjoy none of that.  With being so close to my parents on a daily basis I think it became much harder to hide the discomfort and pain she had.  She couldn't even walk the less that 100 feet from her trailer to my parents house when they would invite her to dinner.  She'd drive down her driveway and up there driveway so she could shave a few feet off her trip.
Once she went to the doctors, around October or early November, it was a constant string of bad or worse news.  When I went to visit her just before Christmas I had already heard she'd most likely never live on her own again.  Whether she had heard or accepted this news I'm not sure but she was talking about being late on getting Christmas gifts to people because she was behind on her wrapping.  She was talking about how nice everyone was at the hospital and about how all the people she had worked with for years at this very hospital were stopping to see her.  While this action brought comfort to her it also enlightened the rest of my family as to how bad off my Aunt had been and for how long. These visitors would talk privately with my Mom and Dad after visiting my Aunt.  We found out that she'd come to work HOURS early to score a close parking space and then she would sit in her car waiting for her shift to start.  She could barely walk from the lot into the hospital so she had to stake her claim on a spot close enough that she could fake it and hobble to from each day.  Little stories like this one made it clear that she was far more ill than we ever thought and for much longer than we realized.
Towards the end she initiated the DNR order at the hospital and refused a feeding tube.  She knew her time was limited and from what I gather some of the very last gestures and sentences were used to convey her wishes to be cremated and to not have a viewing. There were no goodbyes or last calls for visitors while she still had to energy to talk or acknowledge people.  When I walked into the dark hospital room the day before she passed I thought I walked into the wrong room.  The person laying on the bed wasn't who I had seen just 3 weeks prior.
So fuck cancer, right?  Well......yeah.....duh.  Cancer really does suck and it took my aunt down at a brutal speed toward the end.   But I have a hard time not being angry with my Aunt.  Surely in all her years working at the hospital she not only saw families suffer over the loss of a loved on but I'm pretty sure she saw some amazing recoveries.  Perhaps my anger over her refusal to get care is a way for me to avoid getting so sad I cry.  Haven't cried a single tear yet and that's awful to say since my Aunt was the cool relative all my life that taught me all the stuff parents warn you about.  She taught me how ti drive.  She gave me booze when I wasn't even close to 21.  She took me to Blockbuster to rent movies and buy snacks.  She took me out to do fun things in State College with her friends.  She was the bad influence that I knew still cared about me and wanted to look after me.
So I'm certainly left with a range of emotions but sadness is a rather small fraction of it.  We warned Xander that Aunt Sandy was very sick for some time.  He knew my trip out to see her was because she wouldn't be around much longer.  When she passed I broke the news to him and he took the news without question and didn't need much clarification.  Now I come to find out that when not around me he's been talking about her and her trailer.  I'm guessing until he goes to visit my parents again she sees Aunt Sandy isn't in the trailer any longer it isn't something that will really settle/sink in.  Hopefully he has enough good memories of her like I do that it makes the loss somewhat easier to cope with.
Cancer is a real fuck.  No question about it. But I can't fully blame a disease when the person carrying it had so much time to get help and treatment.  I'll always remember the good times and fun but I fear it will often be punctuated with bit of anger and resentment.  No matter how angry or upset I am not I don't want to feel that way for any longer than I have to in order to cope with all this.

AMC = A Mediocre Chain

The only theatre in PA to show the recent Cornetto Trilogy was the AMC Lowes Waterfront 22.  I used to frequent this location years and years ago.  Before that my theatre of choice when I lived in Orlando was the AMC at Downtown Disney.  I only abnadoned AMC because there were closer chains locally and then once the Pittsburgh Mills theartre opened I found a new "special occasson" theatre for big events like midnight Harry Potter or Avengers showings.

My most recent visit to the Waterfront location was less than stellar and to show my displeasure I tweeted this out between films..

You'd think this @AMCTheatres would be more prepared for this Cornetto showing. The concession stand lines are beyond ridiculous.
— Thomas Stark (@MasterofDVD) August 22, 2013

Someone reached out to me for more details....so I expanded my thoughts a bit and sent them this..

 I’ll quickly go over a few of the issues I had in regards to the Cornetto screening. 

 

The first would be that when I purchased the ticket I attempted to get the reserved seating but it wouldn’t allow it to be added to my cart.  I had been ages, the release of Hellboy 2?, since I had been to that theatre so I assumed that maybe meant the auditorium we would be in might not have reserved seating.  Turns out I was incorrect.  I heard from some other people that you either had to call or go to the theatre in person to get reserved seats.  Had I known that I would have been more than willing to buy my tickets over the phone...but I never saw that information on your site.

 

Another minor detail was that a number of people I spoke to that might were very confused about the 5.00 off deal for snack.  Someone asked and found out that only paid members of your reward program were able to get in on that.  It had been so long since I had been to an AMC Theatre I recall when the rewards card program didn’t require an annual fee. 

 

My main concern is/was the concession stands that evening.  I was the first person in line for the trilogy screening that might and that meant I arrived around 12:30 for a 5:30 screening.  I purchased a few items almost without incident before the first movie.  It wasn’t until I returned to my seat I realized the popcorn was a bit on the burnt side and the kernels were more like crumbs.  Between the 1st and 2nd film our theatre let out and we were met with huge concession stand lines.  I immediately used the restroom and then got in line.  Since I hadn’t finished my popcorn I ordered the pretzel bites.  The cashier said they were temporarily out.  I asked how long it would be until more were ready.  She excused herself and went around the corner to ask.  I heard her ask somebody and they said it would be 15 minutes and then when she returned to me a few feet away she said they were complete out for the night.  I didn’t have the 15 minutes to wait, since the time between movies was about 30 minutes, but I would of preferred honesty to what she did.  I simply got another drink and returned to the auditorium.  After the 2nd film I skipped the main concession area and went to where the coffee stand is.  There was 1 gentleman in front of me who ordered 1 drink and I purchased a cold blended espresso.  I guess the reason that wait took a long time was because there were 2 people working and one was training.  If the food at a theatre was cheap I could excuse some of these things but to enjoy a 20.00 movie I spent more than double that on snacks and drinks that night.  I’ve run a kitchen for over 12 years and we tend to plan our staffing around major events in and around Pittsburgh.  If you are going to have an auditorium full of people from 5:30, at the latest, until midnight PLUS all the other auditoriums I would think all food outlets would be staffed and stocked accordingly. 

 

I appreciate that you do events like this and that I was allowed to wait in line so early on in the day but it was very hard to enjoy the theatre going experience like I used to.

I really dislike the theatre these days because the people normally ruin it.  This time the business is the one that really let me down.  Thankfully this chain will be very easy to avoid in the future,

What’s The Matter……Chikin?

Perhaps a previous Facebook post didn’t clearly detail my issues with Chick-Fil-A.  I will rectify and clarify things as best I can…but before I explain it all I’ll start with this….

Fuck Chick-Fil-A President Dan Cathy. 

Now the calmer part of my entry….

Even as much as this Dan Cathy upsets me he is certainly entitled to his opinion.  He is against same sex marriage? That is his right.  He can feel that way and shout it from the rooftops if he wants.  The upsetting part is Cathy has in a way.  He’s been vocal about being pro-family as long as that family consists of a male and female marriage and not a same sex one.  Once again this isn’t my issue because he can say whatever he wants.  The problem is after his opinion is shared with the public he often has to do damage control and release a press statement to soften the blow and alter his stance.  If you feel a certain way and share it with people you have to hope that people will stand with you and those that don’t have that choice too.  That statement not only expresses now Cathy should act but it reflects what countless men and women have to deal with when they share with friends and family that that are gay.  It’s a tough thing to express and once someone announces they are gay they don’t have the luxury of a press release to fall back on if their feelings are not well received.  They often are ignored or shunned by people they once loved. 

I’m getting to the moral of the story before I’m even done with Cathy.  Besides the few times he has doubled back of his opionions there is the money he has donated to anti-gay marriage groups.  On the surface the groups that receive donations obliviously sound very religious but also have friendly or harmless names.  Take the Fellowship Of Christian Athletes as one of many examples I’ve found.  The group seems harmless.  Then you investigate a bit and find that they hold a yearly conference to help “free” people from homosexuality.  Then to became a Ministry Leader within that group you have a to sign an application where you have to agree to condemn gays and their lifestyle.  Another group that received donations is called Exodus International.  This group uses some of the funds they receive to provide homosexuals with therapy that will cure their gay tendencies.  Still I have to back down a bit and say that Cathy can donate his money how he pleases and these groups, sadly, can do with these funds how they please.
Thankfully there are some people and groups out there that are holding Cathy to his original word on this matter.  This is the letter from the Mayor of Boston…



Losing the opportunity to open a few new locations won’t hurt Chick-Fil-A but hopefully this type of exposure will.

Lastly this is the bit that sent me over the edge and had me post my Facebook status.  Recently The Jim Henson company released this statement..




What is Chic-Fil-A’s reason that they no longer have Muppet toys for their kids meals?



Since those pictures speak for themselves I’ll just move on with my final thoughts I eluded to earlier.  I’m all for someone stating what they are for and against.  Hell….I’ve lost friends because I’ve been “too honest” or blunt.  I didn’t once think about changing my opinion or how I feel to win them back.  I have to state how I feel, be true to myself and live with whatever happens.  Cathy needs to be who he is and stop being who he needs to be at that particular moment.