Mixed review.

So here I am at 1:30 in the AM Posting. Well, I just got done watching 'The Ringer' and had to get my thoughts down.

To set the stage, I need to let you know a little bit about my past. I was a job coach/community access specialist for adults with disabilities for five years. I had a need to see this movie.

It was very good. It was funny and a real feel good movie. And most of all it treated the disabled population with respect and dignity. It was a great shout out for the Special Olympics.

Then I watched the special features.

The actor, writer, and the director all gave moving testimonials. They all said how great these 'kids' were.

KIDS?????

Arrrrrrgh! Man, that burns my muffins!

Here they are promoting equality and acceptance while telling the world that the entire population are children. As long as people think of the disabled as little kids, they will always be looked down upon.

The average person with a disability has put up with crap that would make the average 'normal' person ball up in the fetal position, cry, and never want to get up.

They are PEOPLE.

OK, I feel a little better now.

Thought for the day -

Isn't it about time for us to treat people like people?

Car problems.

The one bad thing about cars is that it is only a matter of time before something goes wrong with them.

The other night I was driving home and I ended up behind a street sweeper. It hit a bump and sent a shower of rocks at my car. The result is that now I need a new windshield. Oh well, I didn't need that hundred bucks anyway.

And I can't even complain about it to Sweetie Pie because her car has decided to act up. I haven't figured out what is wrong with it yet, but I know it won't be cheap.

Bummer.

Thought for the day -

The two things that we never have enough of are time and money. Maybe if I had more money, I could buy some more time.

This just in...

The Committee on Ranking Unimportant Things (that would be me) has added a movie to the top five funny movies of all time.

For those of you not familiar with the list, here it is.

1. Airplane
2. Monty Python and the Holy Grail
3. The Three Amigos
4. Happy Gilmore
5. (Tie)The Princess Bride and Better Off Dead

After much deliberation, the committee has decided to add The Emperor's New Groove, making a three way tie in the fifth place spot.

Thank you.

Thought for the day -

Always be willing to listen to new ideas.

Just like my last post, only different.

More of Drew 101

11 -20

8. I love the kids in my church youth group. They are some of the coolest people in the world.
9. I was once kissed by a seal.
10. I am a writer. I write young adult fiction and songs. I hope to get published someday so I can call myself an author.
11. I love soccer
12. I have lived in the greater Seattle area my whole life and I don't want to live anywhere else.
13. I love going to Disney theme parks. It's cool to step outside of reality every once in a while.
14. I have Crohn's disease. I got it when I was 15. It's a big drag.
15. In the last 30 years, I have seen Jimmy Buffett in concert 4 times in 4 different venues.
16. Right now, my itunes library has over 5 days of music in it.
17. I believe that 1 person can, and should, make a positive difference in the world.
18. I have seen the movie Airplane about 100 times.
19. I wear shorts from April 1st thru September 30. The rest of the year, you will find me in my 501's.
20. I was a punk rocker in the 80's
21. I don't parallel park very well.
22. I don't like chocolate.

Thought for the day -

Just because you can't see something doesn't mean that it's not there and that it's not beautiful.

Get it right back to where we started from.

Over the last several months, I have been an inconsistent blogger at best. I thought that the best way to get back into the blogging groove was to do 101 things about Drew. Some of you may remember that I started this once before and never finished. A few of these will be repeats, so if you've seen them before, you're seeing them again.

Drew 101

1 - 1o

1. I love God. Not as much as I should.
2. I love my wife (Sweetie pie). Not as much as she deserves.
3. I drove a Ford Pinto in high school.
4. I can't stand to wear new clothes (except for socks) until they've been washed.
5. My ipod is bright pink.
6. I am a lousy speller.
7. I like black olives, but not on pizza.

Thought for the day -

Be careful what you say. You can't take back a voice mail.

Remember.

No matter how you feel about how things have gone since, it's important to remember how we felt on that day.

This is what I wrote last year. I didn't think I could say anything better this year.

The cobwebs slowly cleared from his mind as the news on the radio told him that it was time to get up. He was glad to have the extra hour of sleep that came from having to take his car into the shop that morning.

Then he heard the words.

"...Two small planes have crashed into the World Trade Center. It appears to be deliberate..."

He jumped out of bed and ran to the spare room. For the first time, he was mad that he was to cheap to buy cable as the fuzzy picture of the towers came on the screen. Smoke was billowing from both buildings.

"Stacy, get in here," he called to his wife.
"What's the matter? Oh my God."
"This is huge. There is no way this is a accident."

They watched numbly as he thought about what to do. Should he let Stacy go to work? He figured that Lynnwood wasn't much of a target, so that would be OK.

"Don't believe anything you hear right away." He told her as she left. "There's going to be a bunch of rumors flying around. Wait until they know what's going on. I love you and I'll see you tonight."

He took one last look at the burning towers and went to take his shower. There sure was going to be a lot of talk at work today. He wondered if anybody would get anything done today.

After he got dressed, he went back to look at the TV. There was only one tower on the screen.

That is when the first tear came.

Some quick computations about how many people that building could hold gave him a number too horrific to think about. He sank down onto the couch and hugged his dog.

In an explosion of dust and smoke, the second tower started to fall.

"Oh my God. Oh my God," Tom Brokaw was saying.

The dog looked at him with that vacant happy expression so common with golden retrievers. Unconcerned with the world and only wanting to be scratched behind his ear.

"You are so lucky you aren't human today," he said to his companion through the sobs. "You are so lucky."

Thought for the day -

Make sure to let those you love know that you love them.

How stupid can I be?

Apparently, pretty stupid.

So anyway, the other day I was out in my back yard attacking the blackberry's that are intent on taking over the world. I used to sell safety equipment, so I had my glasses and heavy gloves on to protect myself from any mishaps that might occur with my electric hedge trimmer. With my ipod cranked up, I was grooving along, hacking the sticker bushes to bits.

Now remember, I sold safety equipment for a whole year.

With one mighty swing, I slice through several branches and the extension cord. Thank God for ground fault interrupters.

Fortunately, the only injury I sustained was to my pride and all is well at Casa de Drew.

Thought for the day -

Always keep track of where your cord is dangling. (Stop that snickering!)

Woo hoo!

Last night, I auditioned for a part in a play. The competition was strong and I was a tad concerned about it.

Well, I just got the word. I have one of the big parts! (Get your mind out of the gutter, Manic)

The play is 'The Night of January 16th'. It's a courtroom drama and I play the defense attorney. And we have a performance on my birthday. How cool is that?

Thought for the day -

Never say 'Good luck' to an actor. Remember, it's always 'Break a leg'.

Home sweet home.

Well, I made it through the summer of three vacations. I was away more than I was home. It was cool in a crazy, far out sort of way. After much rest and recuperation, I am home and returning to my normal life.

I've started writing another novel and am very excited about it. Sweetie Pie even said that the first chapter was excellent. She always tells it like it is, so that's the best endorsement I could get.

I am looking forward to getting back in touch with all of Drew's Crew.

Thought for the day -

I've really missed you guys.