The End of February

 

    It's short, yet it feels so long. As if....it lasts forever. Every February is different every four years.

 This year, we have 29 days. It seems as if every February is different. When it's near the end, it feels as if it won't leave. At all as if it gets colder one day, warmer the next and everyone feels as if they want Spring to come sooner than later.

 Early Easter, Late Thanksgiving this year as Easter is on the last day of March. Does it mean it will be forgotten? Maybe, maybe not. But with Easter closer and February on its way out.... would it mean summer is around the corner? 

 The leap day is coming. Were you born that day? A few people were and only celebrate their birthday once every four years (alternating Last of February first day of March) For them, they feel as if they don't age, but they do. 

 It'll start to feel like spring soon. Maybe now even with temperatures getting warmer and rain about to appear. Does it mean it will be March showers bringing April Flowers? LOL, I don't know, but we are in for a wet March when that time comes. February meant love and presidents. While this coming month has Leprechauns and Easter Bunnies. 

  Cadbury Eggs are famous around Easter time, and they already are here. Yes, it's true. Easter candy has replaced the Valentine candy since Mid-Feb. Peeps, Jellybeans, Chocolate bunny rabbits and much more. Easter Baskets replace hearts as one month replaces another.

  Welp, alls well that ends well for another month. A short one it was, but it didn't feel that way too many. March does give us snow, but rain and sun. Does it mix up once the 21sth of March arrives? Like many, we can't wait for warmer weather, but we don't want it to get too warm, or we're going to be whining for cool air instead of heat. Goodbye February, see you next year.

Goodbye, Carl Weathers

 

  He had many names. Greef Kargo, Apollo, Chubbs even Combat Carl. His actual name was Carl Weathers. Why am I blogging about him? Well...on February first of this year, he went to the great sky above and we lost a legend.

   Born on January fourteenth in 1948, Carl Weathers lived most of his childhood in New Orleans, Louisiana. His father was day labor while his mother wasn't much in the picture. He succeeded into sports with Wrestling, Boxing and even football. Yes, before he got into acting, Carl Weathers used to play football for the Oakland Raiders.

  However, his dreams of going pro ended when he suffered an injury to his ankle injury. He ended up tripping and falling ruining his ankle and the chance of him ever playing football again. But he didn't give up with sports. Thanks to one movie, his career of boxing would take off thanks to Sylvester Stallone and the hit movie 'Rocky' which came out in 1976.

 HIs character was named Apollo Creed and in the first movie...his goal was to defeat Rocky in boxing. He defeats Rocky but they end up reconciling and became friends afterwards. Until...one of the sequels, Rocky 4, he ends up killed in a boxing ring fighting a Russian Boxer named Drago. Even if his character is dead, it doesn't mean his career portraying Apollo was. He ends up having a son who also wants to go into boxing with the help of Rocky. 

  Car Weathers has done TV as well. Whether it's a guest spot or a main character. He was in Starsky and Hutch as well as Barnaby Jones. But there's one role I will remember him in the most. His character does end up dead in it...but it was movie that made us realize Carl Weathers does have a funny side.

  Not many people are fans of Adam Sandler movies. Some of them...are passible, but this one is my favorite. I've blogged about Adam Sandler's movie choices and in this movie 'Happy Gilmore', Carl Weathers character is named Chubbs. A former golfer who helps Happy train to be a great golfer even if Happy doesn't want any help. He lost his hand to an alligator and Happy decides to thank him by showing the head of the alligator that took Chubb's hand. Let's say...it didn't end well for Chubbs. Happily, he ends up in Happy's happy place. 

 Even though I wasn't a fan of the predator movies, he starred as a character named Al Dillon. He and Arnold Schwarzenegger go to find predators like aliens or something like that. When he died, Arnold made a loving tribute to someone he would call his best friend and great partner. Many tributes poured out from Silverster Stallone to Adam Sandler

   In a short Toy Story Horror tv episode, Carl Weathers voiced a character named Combat Carl, and the junior as well. This was when the third Toy Story ended and, and they were just about to do a fourth (they should have stopped after the third) In this one, the toys Woody, Buzz, Jesse and more are in a motel with their owner Bonnie. They end up going missing and Jesse is the only one that could save them, only she has a fear of claustrophobia and Combat Carl needs to save her and get her to save her friends.

   It was pretty good.

   Carl Weathers was also in a few Star Wars miniseries or movies. One of them being the Mandalorian where he portrayed Greef Karga. His role was not only to help the Mandalorian, but his mission was also to protect baby yoda 'aka Groku'

   He returned each season and his character benefited from helping every character good or evil. I guess now...his character will be killed off and replaced by someone else. I don't know why, but when I was young and becoming a fan of Star Wars, I would always confuse Carl Weathers with Billy Dee Williams who played Lando Calrissian in the Star Wars universe. 

  We are going to miss him and always remember that he is still alive in the tv shows and movies with the characters he portrayed. They even use his voice as audio for the Creed movies. Each and every one. Recently, in a Super Bowl ad, he was considered the coach to help Payton Manning (I forget) to help kick a field goal before the Super Bowl started. They dedicated the commercial in his memory. We'll miss you Carl Weathers, but you'll never be forgotten.

Remember Waking Ned Devine?

 

   There are many independent films out there and some aren't mention much because of it. This is one of them. The real reason with this one though is because of where it was filmed. Filming took place in Ireland and in 1998, we were all welcomed to seeing a film called "Waking Ned Devine." What was this film about? 

  Well, it was originally about a few people in Ireland waiting to find out who would win the Jackpot lottery of over millions of dollars (different currency in Ireland of course) There are only fifty-two people in the small town of Ireland and all fifty two of them were playing to find out who would in it big.

    Nobody wins, and everyone goes back to their dreary lives...or so they thought.

 Jackie O'Shea and Michael Sullivan are good friends and Jackie's house is where they had the drawing for the winning numbers. However, someone does not show up. His name...Ned Devine. When there is a plate of chicken left. He realizes Ned Devine did not show up to the party. When he and Mihcael decide to visit him...they find him dead.

   How did Ned die? Well, the mystery of who won the money in the lottery is solved when they see Ned holding the winning Lottery ticket and died of shock. Not knowing what they were going to do, Jackie has a dream of him and Ned on a boat as Ned says that he should split the winning lottery ticket with the whole town. However, they had to find a sneaky way to keep the ticket without the commissioner of the lottery know the real truth.

  There's also a B plot story involving a young woman falling in love with a man who also used to be an old flame with the name of Finn "Pig" who is considered a pig farmer. There are other people in the village that think it's a good idea to keep the money and find a way to show Ned Devine is still alive. They decide to make Michael O'Sullivan portray Ned. 

   There is one old woman who believes that what Jackie and Michael are doing is wrong. She's considered the Karen of the film. (Back before the name Karen was a bad thing) She wants to find the man from the Lottery and tell him the truth that Ned is dead and they should keep the winning ticket, or something like that.

  There are funny moments like the man who works with the Lottery has an allergy when he arrives in Ireland. Michael portrays himself as Ned fooling the Lottery guy as he has to be on a vespa naked going from house to house saying that Michael is the man that is dead. At the funeral, Jackie O'Sullivan makes a eulogy and when the man arrives.... he says something nice about Michael that he never had the heart to say before.

   The funeral happens, the woman who wants to stop the whole travesty ends up getting thrown off a cliff as she tries to call the Irish Lottery to tell the truth, and the ruse works. Even the pig boy ends up getting the young woman in the end. There are some songs that come with it. My favorite is called the Parting Glass. Played at the end of the movie as Jackie, Michael, Finn and a young boy all lift their drinks to the sky and toast Ned.

   I wish this movie was talked about more because it's very good. Sadly, most of the actors that played the lead roles have passed away. Some of the actors are still alive and well...I part my glass to them with this movie being really good. Even the songs were good in the soundtrack. Find a way to get the songs on line if you can because it is very good. To Ned Devine, a movie that is definitely underated. 

Dragons give good luck

    I'm not big with the Chinese New Year as I am with original Astrology. But this year....is the year of the dragon. Dragons are supposedly creatures that appeared around the Middle Ages. Burning castles and breathing fire.  

    Sometimes they would burn down cities ala game of thrones. But are they good luck?

  Mostly any of the symbols in the Chinese Zodiac is considered good luck and fortune in their world. For us, Dragons have a mysterious way of bringing good fortune anywhere you go. The year of the Dragon might not be the luckiest symbol, but it's a symbol that brings a fortune for anyone that believes in good luck.

    In the Chinese Zodiac, there are different versions of the Dragon. Sometimes, it would be fire. Other times water or earth. This year, it's wood. Some people that are professional wood carvers would carve Dragon statues out of wood. They are pretty amazing depending on who carves. But what is the Wood Dragon?

     Wood or Wuxing as they call it, considered no matter what animal, has the strength and flexibility as well as warmth and generosity to grow and needs water for the growth. I'm not that good at predicting what wood dragons or pigs or oxeas need as I do with the twelve signs of Astrology.

 While the signs change by month, in Chinese New Year, they go by years and animals. We might one day go by water barrier and the next fish. One year it'll be an Ox the next a Rabbit. Both Zodiacs have similarities and differences. They also have water, earth, air and fire.

   In the Chinese Zodiac, they believe their animal brings good luck to whoever it falls on. For people born in the year of the dragon, they have a higher belief that there will receive good luck while others born on another animal believe otherwise. They say the golden dragon has good luck, but do rats or Oxeas or any other animal under the Chinese Zodiac?

 

 Maybe not every animal in the Chinese Zodiac brings good luck, but if you fall under the sign of that animal, it could mean the year will give you good luck as well as happiness. But I can't be the one that thinks if you were born under that animal, and it comes around later...you will be blessed with good fortune.

     They say the history of the dragon is mystical while others believe dragons belong in fairy tales. Does it mean this coming year will bring good fortune for anyone? No one knows, but I believe the spirit of the dragon and if it brings good luck or not is sacred. In my opinion, during the Chinese New Year, on the year of the dragon, brings brighter lulck to anyone who believes in it.

Who will win the super bowl?- POEM

 

Kansas City'

or

San Francisco

who

will

win

the party begins,

endless amounts of food,

drinks,

games.

and much more

Two teams

One in the West,

and the other

in the Midwest

San Francisco,

and 

Kansas City

both,

have won before,

as both,

are considered,

not the favorite,

in other states,

except their own

San Francisco,

has won

five times,

and we don't

need another win

from them 

again

Kansas City won

last year 

and a few years before that

three times,

another team,

we don't,

want to see win

To me,

either team,

is ok, 

but not worth,

a

super bowl win

do the colors,

on the logo,

matter which team,

will win?

Some thought it did,

and some thought,

it would be Baltimore,

to win it all

The year of Taylor Swift,

they say,

as she dates,

Travis Kelce,

from the Kansas City Chiefs,

is she a good luck charm,

or bad voodoo

She will be there,

by the start,

of the game,

in the players only box,

but,

who will,

win?

Commercials also matter,

as well,

as food,

for they,

not only have celebrity endorsements,

but,

they bring in,

the big bucks

Some good,

some bad,

but so many,

celebrities,

in each,

ad 

who will win,

take the trophy,

and walk away,

a champion,

to me,

this year,

I don't care,

do you

The best Bradley Cooper movies

  Philadelphia born Bradley Cooper has been in many movies to date. I have seen many of them, but I want to talk about some that he has been in that are considered the best to see, and some that you might not have noticed that he was in. Here are a few of the movies Bradley Cooper starred in.

     His first movie role was "Wet Hot American Summer" in 2001. He portrayed a man named Ben. What's the movie about? I don't know because I never saw it. All I know it was the begging of his film career. I guess this movie, starring many actors like Paul Rudd, Molly Shannon, Michael Ian Black, David Hyde Pierce and more is about a summer camp in the early 1980's. 

 

   Another movie that had him in a minor role was "Failure to Launch" back in 2006. A chick flick movie starring Matthew McConaughey and Sarah Jessica Parker. I'm....not a fan of her or this movie. What was Bradley's role? Portraying a friend of Matthew McConaughey. Again, a chick flick that I never saw. I guess it deals with Matthew's character falling for Sarah's and Bradley's just a friend.

 One movie got him to full stardom as he stars in the Hangover movie (and the less popular sequels afterwards) Bradley's character, along with three others, lose the groom the night before the wedding and I'm guessing Bradley is one of the best men of the groom. Eventually, after getting death threats, going on high-speed chases and much more...they finally find the groom on top of the Vegas Hotel they were staying at. After this movie, Bradley got more opportunities for lead roles.

     Based on a book, Silver Linings Playbook is about Bradley Coopers character falling for Jennifer Lawrence's character at the same time completing eight months of therapy for his bi-polar. He has to be taking medication which he has been neglecting, and for Jennifer's part.... well, I remember this being a dramatic role that won some nominees in the Oscars. I think at the end they develop a relationship.

    With every Avenger movie out there, Bradley's voice is heard through a raccoon who first appeared in the first Guardians of the Galaxy. About a few misfits that fight against evil in every situation they're in. Sadly, the model for the raccoon passed away, but will always be remembered by Bradley and everyone else that worked on the Guardians/Avengers movie.

     'A Star is Born' was a movie that came out three times. The third time having Bradley Cooper as the male lead. Helping Lady Gaga's character break out into a singing career which ended up diminishing his. What did I think about it? I loved the song; Bradley can sing and well....it is heartbreaking at the end to see what happens. But then again, if you've seen the movie before, you wouldn't be surprised.

  Bradley guest starred in a minor role in 'Licorice Pizza' which starred the late Phillip Seymour-Hoffman's son. Bradley's scenes are short, but memorable as he helps the young couple on their journey. His character is based on a real person named Joe Peters who is still alive today. Although his scenes aren't short, his character is memorable, just like the movie was. It was ok, not great, but worth the watch and not just for Bradley's performance either.

   His recent movie that he has been nominated for a few Oscars is called "Maestro' which is the story and tragic life of Leonard Berstein. A composer who had a lust for men while married only for his wife to die soon after. It's ok, and it wasn't the best being so depressing, but not many people knew of his homosexuality. Back then, it was taboo. Even I knew about it, and he died before I was born. 

   Bradley is still acting today, now starring in a new movie called Joker which he also is co producer. He even produced Maestro and a few other movies he was in. He has been an executive producer in almost every movie he has starred in. He even stated that he would rather see the Eagles win another Superbowl instead of winning an Oscar. Well....let's hope someone else wins the Oscar for lead actor this year.