Trekgeekscott

Some things I think....

2007-08-17T15:41:00.000-04:00

I have to admit that I ripped of the things I think from a writer on SI.com named Peter King who has a weekly football column. so there's your props Pete. In any case, here are a few things I think this week:

1. Movies I have seen recently and would highly recommend to anyone...Hero, starring Jet Li; The Last King of Scotland (Wow is Forrest Whitaker good!); and Blood Diamond (now I know why Leonardo DiCaprio didn't get nominated for "the Departed). Amazingly enough, there wasn't one actor from Star Trek in any of these films...Despite how good the movies are...I feel strangely unfulfilled.

2. Movie I would recommend avoiding: Eragon. Lame ass movie. Thank God I didn't see any Trek alumn in this one too!

3. Vikings are starting really soon! Already in preseason...I can't wait to see how good they are...

4. Haven't decided whether I am going to do Fantasy football this year. Really don't want to spend the time and money necessary.

5. This weekend, I am going to the MN Renaissance festival! I love Renfest. The food, the acts, Puke and Snot...It's been about 5 years since my last visit. I am very excited.

6. Krissy's family finally came and got most of her stuff. Just some furniture left. Soon I will be back to my old bachelor self again... Any young ladies out there interested in a slightly overweight, football rabid, Star Trek geek with two soccer playing kids? If so, let me know.

7. Speaking of my kids...they have become absolute grasshopper lovers. They go run out in the yard and trap dozens of them and carry them around showing everyone the grasshoppers they caught. I HATE BUGS! They have been forbidden to bring them into my house. But Killian seems to be becoming a little amateur entomologist with a specialty in grasshoppers. Of course, I haven't checked his facts yet, but I wouldn't be surprised if he is right.

8. Liam, who officially starts Kindergarden this fall, has been in the school's Adventures Plus program at the school all summer (daycare out of the school). If you ask him if he is starting school this fall, he will tell you that he is already going to school! Love 5 year old logic.

9. I love my photography! Since I posted last, well before August 3rd's post, I have taken a class and gotten some pretty amazing pictures. In a few days, I will make an effort to post some of my favorites.

10. I hope that this isn't my last post until Christmas, but considering my recent history...

Whew!!! It's been a while

2007-08-02T15:17:00.000-04:00

Well, it has been a while since I posted hasn't it?

Let's see, what have I been up to...

Pissing off Krissy's family
browsing dating websites
getting further into debt
gaining weight
and...kids soccer.

Love watching my boys play soccer. 4 and 5 year olds are really funny, as there just tends to be this mass of kids following around the soccer ball and if they happen to be close to a net, any net, they try to kick it in there.

I will have to add some photos later.

Oscar Buzz

2007-01-24T10:07:00.000-05:00

OK, the Oscar Nominations have been announced and here is my…um…analysis of what I think will happen (take this with a grain of salt as I have hardly seen any of these films):

Best Picture
This category has two likely winners and three very little chances
Babel, from everything I have heard, this is a very good film well acted and directed and has gotten great reviews but limited release. This one in my opinion is the front runner for the award and its main competition will be…
The Departed – Now I did see this film and it is really good, extremely well acted by the entire cast and tells a great story.
After that You have Letter from Iwo Jima, Little Miss Sunshine, and The Queen. None make sense to me to win the award.

Best Director
I think that once again a director will win this award and a different film will win for best picture. This time the academy will get past its political punishment of Scorcese and finally give him an award. He has only directed some of Hollywood’s biggest films, and Departed was really really good. Clint has two awards already and that will work against him. The director of Babel is a relative unknown, as are the directors of The Queen and that United 93 movie that I don’t ever want to see. He really doesn’t stand a chance since his film isn’t even nominated for best pic.

Best Actor
If Forrest Whitaker doesn’t win, the Academy is nuts, though I wouldn’t be surprised to see Peter O’Toole get a pity Oscar. Leonardo DiCaprio was really good in the Departed so he must have been amazing in Blood Diamond. Ryan Gosling…Who? Will Smith will get overlooked again.

Best Actress
By all accounts Helen Mirren is practically a shoe in for the award, however, Meryl Streep should never be overlooked (14th nomination). Kate Winslet will win one eventually, and once again Judi Dench is nominated (when has she done any film not associated with 007 and not been nominated?). Penelope Cruz wont win, but there had to be at least one actress that wasn’t nominated before.

Best Supporting Actor
Now this is an interesting category. Let’s see. Alan Arkin as a heroin addicted grandpa. Djimon Honsou, whom I think is one of the most underrated actors out there. Dr, Nutty Proffessor Doolittle Eddie Murphy (He must have paid somebody for the nomination (but I have heard he is really good in Dreamgirls). And that kid from Bad News Bears. From what I am hearing Murphy will likely win, but the guy I would really love to see win is Mark Walberg. He was just awesome in the Departed. I loved the character and he mastered it.

Best Supporting Actress
Adrianna Barraza – Who?
Rinko Kikuchi – Who?
Abigail Breslin – Child actors don’t usually do that well at the Oscars (personally I think there should be a special category for best child actor of the year) with exceptions to Tatum O’Neill, and Anna Pacquin
Cate Blanchett – a Great actress that has already won an Oscar for playing a multiple Oscar winner
Jennifer Hudson – By all accounts, there is no question that this former American Idol contestant will win this award.

So there it is.
There is actually a good chance that an African American will win three of the four major acting awards this year. And I would have no problem with that. Though my preferences are as follows: The Departed, Martin Scorcese, Forrest Whitaker, Judi Dench, Mark Walberg, Jennifer Hudson.

There it is. Feel free to criticize my analysis all you want.

Cobra

2007-01-24T09:52:00.000-05:00

Well, it seems that I am falling back into the habit of not posting.

So anyway, I was cleaning my house for some houseguests on Saturday (Krissy's family coming over to go through some of her things). and I turned on the TV for some noise while I was cleaning. On Spike TV there was a mid to late 80s film called "Cobra" This film was clearly made during the height of the Stallone/Schwarzenaggar action film era. It had all the cliches. The beautiful damsel being hunted by the highly organized crew of killers. The police lieutenant on his case, the big shootout at the end, even ending in a factory/foundry.

Now let's get to the unreal part of the movie, basically, all of it. Some psycho killer just happens to have an entire army of killers at his disposal, how or why is never explained. Sylvester Stallone wiping all of them out, without getting a single scratch, bruise or blemish. Everytime Stallone shoots, a bad guy dies. When the bad guys shoot they miss by a mile. Stallone flips his car, and come out of it without any harm. The star of the movie gets to lay the beautiful damsel in distress.

In one scene, they make this big deal of Stallone putting his gun together with all the clicks, snaps, pings etc, making tons of noise. Then he turns his head and notices that the beautiful damsel is awake and he actually asks the question, "Can't sleep". DUH! You just spent the last 20 minutes assembling a gun as noisily as anything possible.

Don't ask me why I kept watching this film. It must have been some curiousity at a really bad action film. Cause is just doesn't make any sense. Now granted, when I was younger, the lack of a real plot and the unrealistic BS that occurs in this film would have been quite entertaining. But now that I am older and prefer good movies...well this film just totally sucked.

It did have one redeeming quality though. The bad guy was Brian Thompson (who vaguely resembles Arnold Schwarzeneggar) who has appeared numerous times in Star Trek. And Andrew Robinson (DS9's Garak) was a police detective that gives Stallone a lot of grief.

The Geek strikes again! And I can honestly say that if I ever see this movie on the TV again I will instantaneously change the channel.

Aren't They Cute?

2006-12-26T22:18:00.000-05:00

I am really having fun with my new Digital Camera. These are some of Krissy's niece's and nephews. This is Jayden, Note the curly hair. This kid loves to give hugs and just melts your heart.
This is his sister Gabby. She is adorable. Until you meet her in person. She can, from time to time be a real devil (but then what kid isn't from time to time).
This is Madison, or Maddy for short. She is at that cooing stage that is just sooooooooo cute.
And finally this is Kallie. She is becoming quite the talker. Typical girl. Thing is one must spend a few moments deciphering what she said. Nonetheless it is quite cute.
No doubt I will be adding more pictures before long.

Holy Christmas!

2006-12-26T22:04:00.000-05:00

OK, So this Christmas wasn't so exciting for me. First, it is my first without Krissy (which can be really quite depressing, Second, my parents and one of my sisters and her family went on a cruise. Yep. Left Minnesota and the rest of their family behind. I really am not trying to send them on any kind of guilt trip or anything. But how do you leave your son or brother at home on the first Christmas without his love? OK, So maybe I do want them to feel a little bit guilty.

Really, I was OK as I had plenty of people to see and things to do. Check this out:

My boys loved their presents. And making a major mess in my living room. They got transformers, transformers, more transformers, Bionicles, and some classic games. Like Operation, and Battleship! I forsee hours of fun.

I am also starting to realize that there aren't many board games I like to play. I am in this regard becoming much like my Mom. God Bless her but the only board game you could ever get her to play was Scrabble. And even that was preceded by great reluctance. I really am starting to hate the game Sorry and I only play the games with great reluctance.

Any way, I hope everyone's Christmas was enjoyable.

Something I predicted actually came true!

2006-12-18T21:48:00.000-05:00

I decided to go back and read some of my historical blogs and found that In April 2005 I posted the following:"Brittney Spears - one of the least talented performers ever - IS PREGNANT.She is going to have a kid with a guy that is using her for her money. This is a single mother waiting to happen."

There it is folks! I am the new Nostradumbass!

These are my boys...

2006-12-18T21:28:00.000-05:00

OK, Now I have spoken about my boys repeatedly on this sight. There are at this time my reason for living. I love them very much. Check out this picture:

Killian is almost seven and can spell compicated words like pneumonia and antidisestablishmentarianism. OK, maybe not that complicated, but he is pretty smart. Liam will be five just after Christmas and is sooooooo ready to start Kindergarden.

This is ME.

2006-12-18T21:22:00.000-05:00

OK, I promised that I would post a picture from my digital camera and this is the first one you will see. The dorky looking guy you are seeking is your resident trek geek. I really don't photograph well.

I kind of look scary with that beard don't I? Don't worry. Aside from an obsession with Star Trek, I'm not crazy at all. Though I don't have any kind of inhibitions about making a complete ass of myself in public.

Enjoy!

Bruce Springsteen sucks!

2006-12-18T21:19:00.000-05:00

I have never cared much for the music of Bruce Springsteen. There is however, on Springsteen song I can stomach. I'm on Fire. Now, I figured that this song would appear on a three disc greatest hits compilation album called "The Essential Bruce Springsteen". So I went to the Library and checked it out. Three discs people, and the only good song the fucker has isn't on it. Can someone please explain this?

the New Camera!

2006-12-05T14:46:00.000-05:00

I recently purchased (at a very good rate) a brand new 8 Megapixel Cannon Rebel XL. I love it. As soon as I figure out how to post pictures on here I will...Stay tuned.

New thoughts from Scott

2006-12-05T14:35:00.000-05:00

Here are some new thinks I have been thinking.

1. The election last month was a very nice change of pace. At last, America is waking up from its stupidity in allowing George W Bush free reign!

2. Donny Rumsfeld is gone! There is a reason to live!

3. John Bolton will not represent the US at the UN. Hallelujah, there is a God!

4. Found this website. Found it funny. http://www.bettybowers.com/nl_christmas2006.html

5. I am now watching Ugly Betty all the time. Kind of humerous show. Vanessa Williams is a villanous, conniving, plotting assistant editor of a fashion magazine. She was in one episode of Deep Space Nine. In addition, the character's father was in an episode and was played by another Star Trek Alum Ron Canada. He played a few characters. The Geek lives on!

6. Vikings suck! But I can't stop watching.

7. There are some funny Vikings in the "Spam" sketch on Monty Python.

8. Christmas is going to put me in the poorhouse, which might not be such a bad thing after all. Then I wouldn't have to deal with a stupid association.

9. I have grown a beard. the full "Grizzley Adams". I am kind of liking it. and I don't care what anyone says. I am keeping it until I don't like it anymore. Which will probably be in about 2 months. Kind of caught between a rock and a hard place. I hate to shave, but beards can itch and stuff from time to time. But I kind of like the look of my current beard. But even beards need upkeep or they start to look really ratty.

10. Well that's it for now. The Geek is back. Hope you enjoy my new thinks.

OK, grief has kept me away.

2006-12-05T14:33:00.000-05:00

The past few months have been difficult to say the least. I miss my Krissy very much. I appreciate all the well wishers that have been there for the TrekGeek. I will make a effort to post on a regular basis from this point on...

I know, I Know! I have made that promise before...but I will try nonetheless.

Sadness beyond anything I have ever felt before

2006-09-10T10:57:00.000-04:00

Yesterday, my fiance' Krissy died after a long battle with Leukemia.

I am profoundly sad today.

I Love Star Trek

2006-08-11T11:19:00.000-04:00

In a comment on one of my posts the following website was sent in.

Imagine Inspirational posters from Star Trek. My favorite is this one "expendability".

http://echosphere.net/star_trek_insp/star_trek_insp.html

You Me and Dupree - there is a Trek Connection!

2006-07-28T17:00:00.000-04:00

Hah! My previous post was wrong.

There was a guy named Todd Stashwick that played a Vulcan named Tulok on Enterprise!

AND

Sidney Liufau was Paco in this movie and was a flame baton twirling extra on Deep Space Nine.

Sure they were small parts but Trek Connections nonetheless.

Tee Hee. I knew it! It is hard to escape the Trek Geek!

Some thoughts I thought I think...I think

2006-07-28T16:41:00.000-04:00

1. I went to see Superman Returns...the girls won writing contests for free tickets...I found it to be quite entertaining. The story was well thought out and Acting was exceptional. I love Kevin Spacey and he was perfect as Lex Luthor. Bad ass! In addition Frank Langella is a Star Trek Alum! He played Bajoran Minister Jaro Essa on Deep Space Nine.

2. I also saw You, Me and Dupree. I am not the biggest fan of Owen Wilson and this was definately a Wilson vehicle. Though there were several humorous moments, I wasn't terribly thrilled with the movie. It does have Kate Hudson in it though and I find her very sexy! Hubba Hubba. Sadly I actually couldn't find one Trek connection in this film. Something is wrong in the world.

3. Killian is now riding a bike like a pro. Still working on good control of the bike but he gets better every time he rides. and he loves to ride his bike.

4. This weekend I get to go to Costco, Wal-Mart, and the Grocery store. Nothing I can't normally handle, until you factor in that the boys will be with me at every stop. We all know how that usually goes.

5. Geek Alert. There is a new show coming out this fall on ABC called the Nine. One of the Nine is John Billingsley (Dr. Phlox from Enterprise). Keep your eyes open.

6. Twins were sucking not so long ago are right in the thick of the playoff hunt now. It is getting really fun to watch them now.

7. Vikings have opened training camp. Football is right around the corner. what Fun.

8. I have signed up for fantasy football this year with some friends. I sure would like to win it all! But I would like a solid draft out of the deal.

9. Got to watch Liam have swimming lessons. He loves the water. I was a wreck watching after the near drowning fiasco. But he was having a blast. God bless him that he didn't have any adverse effects from the drowning incident.

10. Finally, I know I have said this before but I think I will start to post more frequently. Seems I have a lot to talk about. And I find Geek references everywhere (even on the Gilmore Girls, my brother got me watching that. Not a bad show.)

She's in the Hospital again.

2006-07-28T16:39:00.000-04:00

Krissy has now been admitted the University of Minnesota Bone Marrow transplant clinic. She will be receiving her transplant next week. See her blog for full details krissysoika.blogspot.com

Happy Birthday to me!

2006-07-06T13:25:00.000-04:00

Yep. July 6th is my Birthday. Unfortunately, so is George W Bush's. I can't even enjoy my birthday without that dipstick butting his head into it.

It isn't enough that he needs to listen in on all my calls and track back records. But he has to take my Birthday as well?

Jerk.

The Worst day of my life. NO KIDDING

2006-07-03T15:16:00.001-04:00

Saturday July 1, 2006. A day I will remember for the rest of my life. Why? Because it was the day I almost lost one of my children.

On Thursday, My sister calls me and says, "having an early July 4th, Zoe's Birthday celebration, bring potatoes, we'll swim." Seeing as how I don't see my sister nearly enough, nor my brother (planetdan), nor my other sister, or parents or nieces, nephews (you get the picture?) and the kids love swimming, I of course agree to come and bring potatoes. The threat of good behavior or no swimming works wonders on the boys attitude for two days.

Saturday I wake up, Krissy is upstairs with the kids. Score! I get to sleep in a little. She then takes the boys and her girls to the "bank". and is gone for two hours. Clearly shopping for my birthday presents (coming up on the 6th). I was able to prepare the potatoes and do a couple of little things that have been nagging at me. Well, then Krissy comes home an we go to my sisters. All is going well, I am with my family enjoying a fine afternoon, despite the heat and my sister's house not having the AC. Everyone is swimming and having a grand old time.

Then my life turned upside down. My sister and I, doing one of our headcounts of all the kids can't locate my four year old son Liam. We look in the deep end of the pool and I see something that will be burned into my memory forever. My son, face down, unconscious in the water.

I leapt like I have never leapt before. I got him out of the water as quickly as I could. My sister, an angel sent from heaven, God bless her, performed mouth to mouth. My Father aided. All I could do was think and pray "God, don't do this to me, Please." I was in a complete panic. I could not live if one of my kids was taken from me. After what seemed like hours, it was only seconds, Liam started spitting up water, and breathing. He was groggy and weak, but Praise God, he was still alive. The Paramedics, EMT, Police came and we went to the Hospital. I was in shock for most of the remainder of the day. Liam after a few hours at the Hospital was his old rambunctious self. Krissy followed me and the abulance to the Hospital. Liam was OK. I was a wreck. I couldn't think straight. Once Liam's Mom was with him, Krissy and I went for a walk where I finally cracked. Uncontrollable sobbing and crying. I had almost killed my son with my inattentiveness (I know this isn't true, but I couldn't stop thinking this. I could not help feeling guilty for what had happened. I can't get that image out of my head of my boy face down in the water. That will haunt me forever. Mom decided to spend the night with Liam at the Hospital. I went picked up my other son at my parents. Killian's first words were, "Daddy, Did Liam go up to heaven?"

Thank God he didn't. Cause I don't know how I could have gone on without him. I couldn't hardly sleep for two days. I can't close my eyes or I see my boy floating...

In the end I have the following people to thank that my son is still alive.
My sister Colleen who did the CPR. My Dad who aided her. My family and their support, Krissy for being there when I needed her the most. The EMTs for doing their job so professionally and keeping me calm. The Nurses and Doctors at Children's Hospital for their great care. And finally God, for not taking my son from me. It wasn't his time. He's still MY angel. I still need him.

The Worst day of my life. NO KIDDING

2006-07-03T15:16:00.000-04:00

The Bad News Twins

2006-05-30T14:00:00.000-04:00

The Twins this year have been a comedy of errors.

Let's break all that joy down, shall we?

Starting pitching:
Johan Santana - after a horrible start he is starting to look like the Johan that is the most dominant pitcher in the AL.
Brad Radke - Finally has a good start after two months of futility. Time to retire Brad!
Carlos Silva - Banished to the Bullpen after sucking really bad.
Kyle Lohse - Banished to the minor leagues after sucking so bad. Likely trade bait but we wont likely get much in retur.
Scott Baker - Early in the season was the only bright spot, since then he has been a train wreck.
Francisco Liriano - replaced Silva in the rotation and hasn't disappointed. As one of the top pitching prospects in Baseball, he sure is living up to the hype. Just needs to add some endurance so he pitch farther into games.
Boof Bonser - Looked good in his debut, replacing the aforementioned Kyle Lohse in the rotation and on the roster.

Postions
Catcher - Starter Joe Mauer is really hitting well (.350s) and plays good defensively behind the plate and handles calling a game and the pitchers well. Backup - Mike Redmond plays about once a week but makes the most of it. Batting near .500 in limited playing time.

1B - When Justin Morneau hits the ball it goes a long way. The power is there, he is gettin the RBIs but his Batting average (.230s) is abyssmal. That needs to come up. Defensively he has been pretty good.

2B - Best Acquisition of the offseason by the Twins - Luis Castillo has done exactly what everyone expected him to do. Hit well, get on base and play solid defense. No problems here

SS - I wish I knew what Ron Gardenhire is thinking with this position. Juan Castro is not an everyday SS. He is a utility player. This position is dragging the team down.

3B - Worst acquistion of the offseason by the Twins - Tony Batista is a wasted roster spot. Signed for this power, he isn't delivering that. And defensively he has the range of a signpost, and the speed of Slowpoke Rodriquez.

OF - Torii Hunter is his old self. Great defensively, Average at best at the plate. Likely tradebait at the deadline. Shannon Stewart is good at the plate but really struggles on the field. On the DL again with foot problems. This man should be the teams DH. Likely tradebait at the trade deadline. Michael Cuddyer has been good defensively and has been one consistent force in the batting lineup. Jason Kubel doesn't get enough playing time. Lew Ford gets way too much playing time for a fourth OF at best.

DH - Rondell White. Who could have predicted this poor production? This should be where Stewart is hitting.

Utility - Nick Punto and Luis Rodriguez have done what a Utility guy is expected to do.

Bullpen. Joe Nathan is one of the best closers in the game. and he has had exactly 6 opportunities this year. Jesse Crain, and Juan Rincon have been much more erradic this season. The other guys have done OK. Though Silva is struggling here now too.

What this team needs is to retool, rebuild. It is time to cast off the old and bring up the new. Let the young guys play and work toward competing for a title in the next couple of years.

Good thing that Vikings camp opens in just under 2 months.

Geek Central

2006-05-30T13:54:00.000-04:00

OK, So out of curiosity, I watched the show Boston Legal, since it has that William Shatner (Capt. Kirk) guy on it. I found out that Rene Auberjonois (Odo) is a regular character on the show. And the one episode that I watched also had Robert Foxworth (A few differect characters) as a judge and Jeri Ryan (Seven of Nine) as a papparazzi harrassed so she shot one actress.

The show also has Parker Posey as a young junior partner in the law firm. I like her from "Best in Show". And it has Candice Bergen, of Murphy Brown fame. and James Spader. All in all, not a bad show. Kind of cute with a lot of tongue in cheek humor. I might take another gander at it next year.

Been a While

2006-05-30T11:24:00.000-04:00

I know, it's been a while since I posted so I thought I should update everyone on my life.

1. I have been quite destructive as of late. In late April, I let my temper get the better of me. Kris was in the Hospital with another round of Chemo and the boys were sleeping over. Now, that leaves me alone with 4 kids. Have I ever said I deeply respect any single parent doing it by themselves now? Well let's just say the boys were listening about as much as a deaf turtle, the 11 year old (now 12) wasn't PMSing and doing a fine job of it and I didn't have the best day at work. Everything came to a head and I walked into the kitchen and kicked out the door under the sink.

2. Destructive incident number 2 - Scott got quite angry after having brought the boys home. Kris had to go to the Hospital again. This time the girls were supposed to have a bath. They were fighting over who got to take one first. Morgan was ready to go. She was naked. Her sister, Alex not even close. She was being stubborn about going first. Anyone who knows me knows I can be pretty stubborn too. I eventually gentally removed Alex from the bathroom to allow Morgan her bath. Alex after having been removed made some comments that made me angry. I punched the light switch, hard, twice. The plate cracked the light sparked and hasn't worked since. Needless to say the next day I sought counselling. This is not me.

The counselor said that I need to take care of me. and find me time and do things that I enjoy. I have been trying to do too much and I have given up too much that I enjoy to deal with Kris' illness.

Pray for me. I kind of need it.

Geek Alert

2006-04-13T17:02:00.000-04:00

OK, So I was at home this weekend and came across some lame movie that starred Jamie Lee Curtis and Kevin Pollack.

The movie is called "House Arrest". It is set on the premise of a couple on the verge of a separation and their kids lock them in the basement to work out their problems. They then get some friends to help them keep their parents there who subsequently add their parents to the basement. It
was supposed to be funny I guess, but it was one of those family comedies that wasn't all that funny.

Anyway, this movie did have a distinction of having Three Star Trek Alumni in it.

First was Wallace Shawn - Grand Nagus Zek, He appeared in several episodes as the lovable yet greedy head of the Ferengi.

Christopher MacDonald - was Lt. Castillo on one of my favorite episodes "Yesterday's Enterprise".

Finally there was Ray Walston - Who played lovable and wise Starfleet Academy groundskeeper Boothby.

So the movie did offer me one thing. I got a little geek time.