this too shall pass

There is no secret ingredient. That's the message of Kung Fu Panda. It's a great message, actually rather profound for an animated movie. It's a lesson I've yet to learn. I am always looking for something, thinking Oh, only if I had a girl, or more money, or a more interesting job, or a fancy garbage can (more about that later). The truth is, it wouldn't matter because it's what's inside, what I believe I have, that's going to change how I feel about my life. Yeah, it's a big, hard truth to learn. BTW, the movie itself turned out to be quite enjoyable. Three stars. I am checking out Wall-E next, which has all the critics raving on their year end best-of lists...I got the iTouchless garbage can from Costco that has a brushed nickel finish that goes perfect with the kitchen and a sensor-controlled lid. I really wanted a lid on my kitchen garbage can, and it appealed to me to not have to touch it by hand or do the step-on thing. When I first set it up, it was kinda cool and novel. But by the second day, the thing started acting up, randomly opening by itself even when I didn't have anything in front of the sensor. Then after a short while, it plain stopped working. Fortunately it's from Costco, so return will be no problem. Lesson learned - don't try to derive your happiness from your garbage can; you are good enough, worthy enough, likable enough even if your garbage can is just some plastic, Rubbermaid thingy...Unofficial word coming out is that Tom Brady is far behind schedule in his ACL/MCL surgery recovery, due to both infection and that the ligaments remain loose. He might be missing the 2010 season as well, or this may be end of his football career. Sigh. I guess I am never going to be as interested in football as I was in the last few years. This is so freaking sad news for me, but I suppose this too shall pass...Oh on other Brady news, rumor has it that he and Gisele are engaged. He supposedly proposed on a private jet en route to Boston. Family denies rumor though, so maybe not. I am not a Gisele fan, but hey, I wouldn't kick a supermodel to the curb either...Amazon UK is terrific. I got my Planet Earth BBC blu ray edition yesterday, at least one week ahead of schedule. I watched the first two episodes so far. Episode one, where the wolf chased down the baby caribou, is so freaking sad. I honestly thought the caribou would have escaped, but at last, there is no happy ending in nature...I've called Comcast multiple times to try to get a good price for upgrading to HD, but no luck. I guess I'll just wait til my current free DVR year is over and then revisit the issue. I heard that there is this AT&T U-Verse thingy coming soon. Can't wait til Comcast gets some good competition to drive down prices. I hate the monopoly it has now on cable tv. Unfortunately I am not keen on satellite...At my coworker's insistence, I watched this movie called If It's Tuesday, It Must Be Belgium. It's a comedy from 1969, about an American tour group, led by a London bloke, going through nine European countries in eighteen days. I am actually really glad I watched it, because 1) I love travelogues; 2) Suzanne Pleshette is drop-dead gorgeous and charming; 3) it reminds me of being in a tour group in Japan; and 4) did I say Suzanne Pleshette is drop-dead gorgeous? It's actually a very likable, sweet, good-natured comedy. And it has Mr. Roper (Norman Fell) in it...I've noticed that my coworker AT has been chatting up and going to lunch with my archnemesis LG. To my face, he keeps saying that he doesn't like her, that she is sneaky and will single-handedly ruin his career, and then he turns around and asks her to lunch (I overheard him with my own ears). For me, you are either with me, or you are against me. It's like if I saw an Elf fraternizing with an Orc, I am not going to trust the Elf fighting on my side...Israel continues to bomb the bejesus out of the Gaza area, through Christmas and likely thru the New Year. I wish I could say that this too shall pass, but this crap has lasted for generations and will continue. And people continue to die over religion, which is the biggest irony in all of mankind's existence...BTW, there have been so many instances while watching Planet Earth on blu ray that I just can't help but shake my head in awe. Earth is really a beautiful place if you let it be.