Not letting go...

If you are a fan of LOST (and were all the way to the end), you know the significance of the post's title. I'm looking forward to the final DVD release on August 24, which will include a never-seen epilogue. In the meantime, here's a newly-released deleted scene from the finale. Enjoy:

Inception

Tonight I saw a movie for the second time at the theatre. I only do this in two situations: either I want to go with a friend who has not seen the movie (and it's a good one), or it is so rich and deep that it needs a second viewing to fully absorb it. Inception (the link is to the youtube trailer) qualified on both fronts.

Dreams have always been a fascinating subject to me. They have played a key role over the years in God's revelation (for example, Daniel's interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar's dreams), and they have an awful lot to say about what's really going on in our minds. My favorite horror movie is Nightmare on Elm Street, because it isn't just a slasher movie but is based on the idea of dreams becoming real...and deadly.

In Inception, dreams are the medium for thought theft, manipulation, and, yes, the deep problems of the main character, portrayed by Leonardo DiCaprio. It is another tremendous performance on his part, and he has become one of my favorite actors. In an upcoming blog post I'll discuss his performance in Blood Diamond, and how that movie relates to the lesson God taught me in Africa earlier this month.

Bottom line: Inception is one of my favorite movies ever...it has suspense, action, humor, and thought-provoking ideas. If you like all that, see it!

Five flavors?

I have learned a couple of things since Thursday that deserve a quick mention before getting my last night of sleep this weekend.

1) Macy, Haley, and Brooke are GOOD at digging up fun things to do. Over the last two days in L.A. we have been places I didn't know much about and had a blast there. And they have found some good food.

2) Speaking of which, I had one of my best dinners in a long time at Ketchup on Sunset Blvd. My fried chicken cut into strips over seasoned mashed potatoes was awesome. And the atmosphere was fun.

3) As you can see in this picture, they serve five different kinds of ketchup. They all were pretty good, except, no I couldn't find anything that chocolate ketchup goes well with. I'm sure there's something.

Great trip, great evening!

No, I'm FOUR...a birthday story

The little boy was excited about his birthday party...but also confused. He knew that he was about to hit a major milestone -- five. years. old. But it wasn't his birthday yet. It was Sunday, and he had three days to wait. But for some reason, there were the presents. (Would he get that Superman suit he wanted?) There were the kids from his neighborhood. And there was the cake. With five candles.

As the cameras rolled (yes, he had one of those fathers), his parents tried over and over to get him to hold up five fingers. After all, this video record of his fifth birthday would be preserved for a long time, and when you're five, you hold up five fingers. But the little boy was stubborn, and they could not make him do it. "How old are you?" "Four" came the answer...over and over and over. Why the early birthday party? Why would his family do this to such a sweet little boy?

Well, he was about to get an amazing birthday present -- one that required his mother to miss being home for his birthday. For you see, his mother was checking into the hospital the next day to have a baby. A baby sister, who would be born the day before he turned five, and the best birthday present ever. A present that would multiply into another present 26 years later, and still be giving until the most current anniversary of that date...which happens to be today.

Yes, I was that stubborn little boy, and I haven't changed much...I'm still like that And the present was my youngest sister Kristy.

Happy birthday, sis!