Stupid VCR. Went to Wal*Mart at 10:30 tonight to buy a new VCR, since the one we bought back in November of last year crapped out on us. The company wasn't even going to cover labor for the repair, just parts. So don't buy any Emerson Electronics. They suck. But I did get to see Survivor. And that's all that really counts, right?

Today was slow. I fear I've gotten stagnant here at home, just chilling out till I return to the workforce tomorrow. I can openly admit that I haven't watched a lick of daytime television, with the only exception being kids shows and a little of The Price is Right. But I have put my time in on the internet, a few movies and talk radio. But tommorow my nose returns to the grindstone. I think I'm being honest if I say it's a relief. But I bought a bowling shirt in honor of going back to work. It's awesome. Check out the Front here Check out the Back here Isn't it sweet? Time to go to spend time with the wife! Soundtrack: James Clay - Self Titled Check his website out here! - He's really awesome - his album comes out June 15th, and if you dig music with a sweet coffee house/reggae/worship/funk flair, you'll dig him.

Today's Fortune Cookie Said: Two small jumps are sometimes better than one big leap. So today I no sooner log off of the internet when I get a phone call from one of my prospective jobs. I used to work at this place, and the phone conversation went well. So, it's looking like I might be making my triumphant return to the hospitality industry. Sure, it's not a job writing for a major publication, or doing graphic design work. But it's a job. A job is good, especially when you're not making squat sitting at home. And I really liked this job when I was there (it was the management back then that made me want to get out of there) so I'm pretty happy to go back. And hey, that means hotel discounts. Can't beat that. One small leap down, another to go. Fun with E-Bay! These look fun.... I dunno if I should laugh or be offended... This is really the bowling shirt I want... I just need to figure out a cool fake name to have embroidered over the pocket....(post your ideas below) Can you tell I'm on a bowling shirt kick?

I bought The Breakfast Club on DVD today at Wal*Mart. I had a Jrecks Sub for lunch - one of the only delicacies I can find while driving North on I-81. Good stuff. I'd love to say something poignant. I dropped off three applications for jobs on Friday. Here's hoping something pans out. For now, I'm gonna enjoy the days off I get with Josiah. Soundtrack: The Jesus Demos - Rich Mullins

The Hunt For Red Job-Tober So Work has slowed to a halt for me now. It was down to a trickle of two to three days a week, and then I had a week off, worked for a week, and again I'm off. There's some clients trying to get me into input data, but so far, nothing. I don't like having time off. Sure, it has it's perks. Shower while the kid is napping, movie watching galores, long walks to the library for exercise. And with the weather being so nice, who would want to be cooped up among the cubicle army? Not me, that's for sure. So the job hunt is in full swing. I've got a couple of leads, I've sent one resume, so here's hoping that something will pan out. Lost in Whatnow? So the library got Lost in Translation on DVD and I've watched a little over half of it. It's not terrible, but it's definitly not everyone's cup of tea. While I appreciate the overwhelming sense of loneliness captured by the lens, I'm not quite sure what it is I'm watching. Is this a comedy? Is this a drama? I just can't tell. Bill Murray is still a great actor though. Ever since his role in Rushmore, I've grown more and more impressed with his range. Scarlett Johannson is wonderful as well - she's wise beyond her years, and I expect more great stuff from her in the future (She was awesome in Ghost World too.) But as for Lost in Translation I'm not sure what to think yet. I like it, but I don't like it too. It's not the gem the Academy was pushing it to be, but it's not unworthy of being noticed. Maybe after I see it entirely, I might be able to formulate a more concise opinion. But until then.... Soundtrack: Plankeye - Relocation

Jeremy at the Movies, Yet Again Time off from work has been beneficial, at least in my ability to screen more movies. I love movies, and I'm pretty sure if you know me, that's not news to you. But if you don't, and you found me via Google, than there you have it. I love movies. Or Films, if you will. Film is one of the most awesome mediums ever created. Sequential storytelling, visual artistry and witty dialogue oftentimes blend together to create something beautiful. Not as often as I'd like (*cough*Anything by Cloud Ten Pictures *cough*) but there are those few gems that make their way onto my television or into my local theater that I gladly enjoy. So I've seen a lot of movies while off from work - here's a short list: Fight Club Kill Bill, Volume 1 and 2 Cheaper by the Dozen School of Rock Secondhand Lions Hellboy Judgement Not only that, I've also been able to consume most of season 2 of Oz and Lion King 1 1/2. Not all of these movies are recommendable films, but a lot of them are quite good. Cheaper by the Dozen was cute and funny - clean fun. Kill Bill was an amazing "duology", but I doubt I'll be recommending it to anyone but fans of kung fu movies and artists. But Fight Club was one of the weirdest films I've ever seen. And that's saying a lot. I'm a guy whose seen the Salvador Dali movie Un Chien Andalous, so I know weird movies. But Fight Club was just...wow. I don't think I could really describe it. Funny. Violent. Frighteningly violent. Grim. Beautiful. Can anything described that way be good? I dunno. All I really can say is Quentin Tarantino is brilliant, but probably a bit sick. But so was Van Gogh. Five Years Can you believe five years ago today two nutcases shot up a school in Colorado? Me either. I wonder if there's still a push to eliminate bullying in schools or if apathy has set in. I have a feeling it's the latter, but I hope for the former. Extreme Makeover, Jeremy Edition I've lost five pounds in two days. Michelle bought me my much coveted black low top Converse Chuck Taylors today. I got a haircut today and resculpted my facial hair for the spring/summer. Next thing you'll know I'll be Western NY's answer to Ryan Seacrest. Oh God, I hope not....

I really want to post something deep, meaningful - but my head is killing me. I cut out caffeine yesterday, did fine all day, but today I feel like my head is being pressed between a vice. So I caved, and now I'm sipping on a 20 oz. Diet Dr. Pepper. One a day can't kill me, right? The past week has been busy, though. I finally had a job site last week, so I was there every day, and every night I was busy with church and home stuff. Both of which take precedence over my oh so neglected blog. I have been doing some movie watching. I finally saw Kill Bill: Vol. 1 today, and I'm going to see if I can't see Volume 2 tomorrow night. It wasn't as great as I was expecting after all of the hype, but it's an excellent movie for comic artists to look at when it comes to composition. If it weren't for the heavy cartoon violence and the gallons of blood, I'd recommend it to everyone. But, alas, I cannot. Anyway, my head is screaming and I'm trying to watch Fight Club for the fourth time without falling asleep. Soundtrack: Plankeye - Relocation

I Have A New Filmmaking Hero Alright, so far my filmmaking heroes have been limited to greats like Lucas, Spielberg, Wells and Edwards. Guys who have made movies that will forever be etched into my memory - movies like Star Wars, E.T., Citizen Kane and The Pink Panther. Now there's a new name to add to my list - Robert Rodriguez. Rodriguez has yet to make a movie considered classic by the normal terms. He has no Oscar Wins under his belt, nor do I really expect him to ever gain that recognition. But, Rodriguez has it. I recently rented Once Upon A Time In Mexico, and I've watched it twice. I have fond memories of Desperado, and this only solidified that as one of my favorites of all time. Rodriguez doesn't mess around - he makes movies and has fun doing it. And while having fun, he's amazing everyone with his uncanny ability to create, adapt and entertain. With Once Upon A Time In Mexico, Rodriguez raised the bar by shooting on High Definition Video, something once only reserved to effects master George Lucas. Not only did the movie look good, it gives us wannabe filmmakers something to strive for. High Def has so many possibilities, that I wouldn't be surprised if twenty years down the road, film was close to obsolete. NowI wanna go out and make a movie. Sure, I don't have a script, a budget, stars or crew, but seeing what Rodriguez has done has lit a fire under my butt. I'm not sure how long it will last, but hey, it's inspiring right now. So, Robert Rodriguez, welcome to the Jeremy Zehr Hall of Filmmaking Heroes. You deserve it. Soundtrack: Starflyer 59 - I Am The Portuguese Blues

Ten Years I remember where I was ten years ago this morning. Putting on my trademark flannel shirt, watching CBS This Morning. Getting ready for school. Scenes of a small home in a wooded area in Washington, police and yellow tape everywhere. Kurt Cobain, lead singer of Nirvana, was dead. I remember two years prior when I had my first glimpse of the video for "Smells Like Teen Spirit". It was late at night, and as I saw the raw emotion and tasted my first taste of the musical genre which would come to be known as "grunge". I'll admit, it did something. I don't know what it did - I'm not really sure. I just can't put my finger on it. But Nirvana changed the world of music - and it would never go back. I don't think it wanted to even look back. Looking back would bring visions of hair bands and tight leather. Nirvana ripped the hair out and replaced the leather with flannel and jeans. Rock music was reborn with an angry veneer. I don't want to glorify Kurt Cobain in this column. He's not a hero. He's not worthy of the amount of worship he's been attributed for the past ten years. He was a musician, plain and simple. He was an artist in the truest sense - channeling the pain and brokenness of his life in the only way he knew how. Kurt's become our generation's Jim Morrison, and I have a feeling that even twenty years from now they'll be spinning Nirvana tunes and trying to wax nostalgic about the days of grunge's birth, and it's death in 1994. There have been very few musical artists that have done what Kurt has done, at least to me. Gene Eugene is one. Jason Martin is another. I'd add Terry Scott Taylor to that list too, but I think he does more for me intellectually than emotionally. But music needs more people like Kurt. Not people who will blow their brains out. But people who are honest about who they are, how they feel, what they want. If there were more honesty in music, there might be a whole lot less crap on the radio. I've seen more kids in the last ten years wearing Nirvana t-shirts than when they were at the height of their success. Kurt Cobain was the voice of our generation. Too bad somebody else didn't step into that role. Somebody with the guts to face life's hardships and the resolve to resist blowing their brains out. Soundtrack: Starflyer 59 - I Am The Porteguese Blues