Posting daily at 1pm central about all kinds of things. One day it's dating, the next it's TV commercials. I hope you're entertained. Professional photos on SmugMug – https://benwilder.smugmug.com
I was leaving a restaurant when the hostess asked if I could give her a noun, Mad Libs style. So I wrote in “denim overalls.” The final sentence: In my dream, all I wear are denim overalls in orelectic green.
She was going to read the sentence to the entire restaurant. The bad news: I’ll never know if anyone laughed because I woke up. The good news: I don’t own a pair of green denim overalls.
Small victories.
-Out of the Wilderness
“Kings and kingdoms shall all pass away
But there’s something about that name.”
It was the end of an evening, a fleeting moment. We were gathering our things to leave. Our coats. Our keys. The leftover food from dinner. A few Bibles. I glanced over to see a friend take a bowl that was stacked on a Bible, and set it beside.
Pride. Respect. Honor. Often these words are associated with the military. But in that little moment, I could see all those things in a small gesture of a friend.
It came on the heels of a night discussing offenses. These days in the U.S., almost anything a person says or does offends someone for one reason or another. We chatted about how Christians feel, or should feel, when the name of God or Jesus is used inappropriately. As Christians, should we be offended? Most said yes. If I’m honest, when I hear God’s name used like a curse word, or Jesus’ name used carelessly, I feel a sense of pride. Why don’t people yell Mohammed’s name? What about Buddha? This may sound odd or not make sense, but I believe it’s because there’s no power in those names. Think about it, whether the name of Jesus is being used the right way or the wrong way, there’s power when it’s used. His name evokes emotion.
It’s the name some people scream when they’re upset. Some whisper it when they’re at the end of their rope. It’s the name I thank when I see a giraffe or a sunset. It’s the name people remember when all else fails. It’s the name that rolls so easily off our tongues without a passing thought. It’s the name that divides nations. It’s the name that unifies families. No matter how you feel about it, there’s something about that name.
Jesus’ name is mentioned over a thousand times in the Bible, so I have a feeling that’s why my friend took the bowl off of the Bible. There’s something about that book, too.
“Stars, they make me wonder where you are.
Stars, up on heaven’s boulevard.
And if I know you at all,
I know you’ve gone too far.
So I, I can’t look at the stars.”
Not unlike Grace Potter, I tried coming up with a list of what I can’t do because of a past relationship. For Grace, one thing is looking at stars. For me, well, there’s a lot I can’t do and sometimes I don’t even know I can’t do them till I do them. Songs I shouldn’t listen to anymore, places in Nashville that I just won’t go, movies I can’t watch without thinking of relationships that have come and gone. It’s all part of the journey, I guess. Even knowing certain things that were special with that special someone can’t be special for the next special someone, I’m hoping there’s enough wonder still in the world that fantastic memories can be created that will last a lifetime with the person I find to spend a lifetime with.
Thankfully, I can still look at the stars.
-Out of the Wilderness
“Are either of you Tiffany?”
That was a question my buddy asked two girls sitting together at a table in Nashville’s Corner Pub. The good news, they were cute. The bad news, neither of them were Tiffany. So we grabbed a table and a couple of small cups of soda, sipped, and waited. This was my friend’s first time meeting Tiffany face to face, their relationship up to this point was strictly over the phone.
He and I were hanging out earlier that evening when he got a text from the Tiffany that she and her roommate were going downtown, so he invited me to come along with him to meet them. And since most of my nights (all of them) consist of conversations with my two dogs and a replay of Monday night’s Bachelor episode, I jumped at the chance to get out in the real world.
We drove to this certain area people go to in Nashville (they call it the Gulch), and made our way over to this place where a bunch of hip people were all together (Bar Louie in… the Gulch). I kept thinking, “So this is where people who aren’t like me go on Friday and Saturday nights…” There were no tables available so my buddy was ready to leave. I was insistent that we stop for a second and stare. All these people. They had trendy coats. They were smiling and laughing. One guy had a baseball cap on and it worked. Two girls were alone at a table and seemed content with that. Servers hustling. TV’s were bright with guys skating on ice (hockey). It was a sight to behold. My dogs would’ve loved this.
We eventually ended up at the Corner Pub. Unfortunately, we didn’t know the best part of our night already happened. Remember when I said my buddy and I were hanging out earlier? We met up to watch “Life of Pi” in 3D (my review here). Maybe we should’ve called it a night after that because it was slightly downhill from there and that includes finally finding Tiffany, who was not in… the Gulch.
So we’re sitting at the table waiting to meet the elusive Tiff. Her location unbeknownst to those who wanted to beknownst. Minutes later a text comes in. My friend shovels off to find her. Seconds pass. Then minutes. Minutes turn into a quarter hour and I begin to wonder if this is some elaborate set up for fun at my expense? Was an ex-girlfriend going to appear with a camera crew in tow? Was a waiter going to tell me the table has been rising for the last hour and I never even noticed!? How embarrassing. Was the table rising?
My friend returned and so did my sanity. He had found Tiffany. He had found Tiffany to be underwhelming. He had found Tiffany to be underwhelming and sitting with a group of friends. None of which were her roommate. Some of which were guys. He hugged her hello, chatted, and said goodbye. Then he and I spent the next 45 minutes coming up with reasons we should talk to the two non-Tiffany girls from the beginning of this story.
Alas, at the end of the night, I was at home with my two favorite girls. Neither of which were Tiffany…
…fortunately.
Carpe Noctem!
-Out of the Wilderness
I remember sitting in a theater when I caught the trailer for “Life of Pi.” I knew it was a movie I had to see so I recently ventured out to make a night of it (the night turned into an adventure, for that story, click here). After reading reviews, it seemed catching it in 3D was the way to go, so that’s what I did. I feel very fortunate in that choice, because the 3D was outstanding. It felt as if they actors were up on stage acting out each scene right in front of me. The scenes at sea reminded me very realistically of fishing trips with my dad. The deep blue water, the endless sky. It was all extremely remarkable. That said, watching it in 2D must suck. But I suppose if you don’t know any better, 2D is fine. Before reading on, you should know that I give high ratings to movies that touch on more than one emotion. I like to laugh, cry, get nervous, scared, angry, and/or inspired all within the 2 hours they have my attention. This particular movie had a few laughs, my favorite being the mention of Columbus and where he was sailing. But for a reason I can’t quite name, I never felt connected. Not to the main character, nor the supporting cast (one of which was a Bengal tiger). However, there were moments my heart beat faster, mostly because some of the scenes in the ocean were relatable.
Due to the intensity of some of the scenes, a lot of reviewers were upset this movie was advertised as child-friendly. I don’t have any problem with the film being called child-friendly and I’d take my young nieces to see this movie without hesitation (and I’m an animal lover). You can see much worse on network TV any day of the week.
And if you’ve done any research yourself, you’ve probably come across the mention of a mistake. It’s when the bengal tiger is given a goat to feast on in order to teach Pi a lesson in safety. Worst scene in the movie, not because of the nature of the killing, but because of the obvious botch. I don’t know why the director/producer would let such a glaring mistake pass.
So I liked it. Didn’t love it. Loved the 3D. Didn’t care for the ending. Would I see it again?
In 2D… no.
In 3D… yes.
On DVD… no.
On a date with Kate Beckinsale… yes.
Out of the Wilderness 