Top Five Favorite Films: #2 Apollo 13 (1995)

All this week, I have been reviewing my top five favorite films and explained how each came to be on the list. I may, at some future point, move to the top ten, but for now these will suffice. To recap;

#5 Back to the Future (1985)

#4 Phantom of the Opera (2004)

#3 The Avengers (2012)

#2 Apollo 13 (1995)

Among my friends, there are a number of films that we sometimes find ourselves quoting depending on a given situation, usually in an attempt to be funny. Whether it’s a scene from Twister, Office Space, or SuperTroopers, there is usually one line that fits in a given situation. The same can be said for Apollo 13.

It’s only been recently that I decided that this film is my second favorite film of all time. In a way, it’s something I’ve always known, but I never really wanted to admit to myself. The fact remains that I’ve seen this particular film more times than any other film. When I was younger, and we would visit my grandparents, we would watch this film. They owned it, and it seemed like it was the thing we would do each and every time. Through the years since it was released, I have viewed it on each available format, and owned each available format. I can quote the film at length, if not the entire film itself. But given all of that, it isn’t enough to place it on this list, especially at this position, so why?

Well, simply put, the film contains many of the things I look for in a great film. It has a great story, rich characters, tension, amazing effects, awesome score, a historical film, and above all, it is highly entertaining and fun to watch.

Apollo 13 is the story of the ill-fated mission to the moon back in April 1970. Apollo 11 lands on the moon in July 1969 and Neil Armstrong makes the first steps, thereby wining the so called Space Race, and fulfilling the goal of President Kennedy to beat the Soviet Union to the moon. NASA has many future missions planned, but public confidence in the program has waned and people have moved onto other matters.

The film centers on the participants of the mission. Jim Lovell (Tom Hanks), Fred Haise (Bill Paxton), Ken Mattingly (Gary Sinise), and Jack Swigert (Kevin Bacon). Additionally, the astronaut’s families, primarily Marilyn Lovell (Kathleen Quinlan), are featured as well as those in Mission Control, which is led by Eugene Kranz (Ed Harris).

The superstition around the number 13 comes into play a bit as the mission suffers some setbacks. Lovell and Co. were originally supposed to fly on Apollo 14 but the crew led by America’s first astronaut, Alan Shepherd, is grounded. Then a few days before launch, Mattingly, is exposed to the measles by backup, Charlie Duke, and the backup, Swigert, is brought in to replace him. Then while enroute and close to the moon, suffers an explosion in its oxygen tanks. The mission to the moon is over, and the crew must now use their brains and available resources to get back to Earth. Mission Control is then moved into action, tasked with providing the astronauts with all the support it can from the ground, and the pain and anguish that the families suffered while not knowing what happened or if their loved ones will return.

And when compared to real photos of the time, you can see the filmmakers captured the essence completely

Apollo 13 is an epic film, told through the lens of history and through the voices of all the participants. The film flashes between the space ship itself, Mission Control, and the home front, keeping tabs on what was happening in each. It is through this narrative structure that the real story lies. We see how all of these factors played significant parts in order to have these men return to Earth alive, and a bit of the true cost of exploration and discovery.

What makes Apollo 13 a bit better than many other films set in space as well is the fact that it was actually shot in space, in a manner of speaking. While doing research for the film, the producers liked the idea of using the weightlessness in the film itself and had the sets built inside the cargo plane that is used for that training. Then, in a series of flights, were able to shoot many of the scenes that take place in space. As opposed to other films which would simulate such an environment, the film opts for the real thing.

However, I believe that the best moments in the film belong to the Mission Control. Here are the brightest minds in the world all in one room and are tasked with determining courses of action which can be helpful or fatal to the crew. They have no ability to see any more than the readings on their consoles and have to rely on information and educated guesses in order to make life or death decisions. And Harris captures the essence of Kranz completely.

Gene Kranz is a bulldog general, who demands as much out of his crew as he does himself. He keeps everyone in check with reality and drives the team to find solutions that would otherwise not be considered, and he refuses to accept anything but total victory. One of my favorite lines, ever spoken on film is spoken by Kranz as he assembles his team.

KRANZ: “We’ve never lost and American in space and we’re sure as hell not going to lose one on my watch. Failure is NOT an option!”

It’s a great mantra to adopt and one which I try to take to heart and live by. Truth is I have always been a fan of Kranz and largely due to Harris performance in this film, I once wrote to him, thanking him for his service. He sent me back an autographed copy of the Mission Control mission statement, which remains today one of my most prized possessions.

In spite of its virtues, the film does contain two moments which have never set well with me, one, involving Lovell’s young son. Early in the film, while talking with his son about the Apollo 1 fire, which killed three fellow astronauts, Lovell tells him that the door malfunctioned and failed to open which led to their deaths. After the accident, when Marilyn tells this young boy about the accident, he innocently asks “Was it the door?” The moment, in and of itself isn’t much but, for some reason, it always sounds like nails on a chalkboard to me each time I view the movie.

The other scene is shortly before the accident, when the Lovell family is at Mission Control to watch a closed circuit broadcast from the spaceship. None of the networks had an interest in carrying this broadcast so the families came to Mission Control to view it. As they go to leave, the fictional NASA Press Officer, Henry Hurt (played by Xander Berkeley) leans in to Lovell’s 16 year old daughter and says “hey” much as a creep would do while hitting on women at a bar. It’s not much, and doesn't add anything to the story, nor is it a long moment, but I always found it to be a bit out of place and unsettling.

In spite of those moments, the film remains my second favorite film of all time. As I noted above, I have owned this film in just about every format that it exists in. Just looking at my iTunes log, I have viewed it ninety-four times as of this writing, and that’s just one format. Any film viewed as much would have to resonate with the viewer and Apollo 13 does. It is a gripping epic of survival and a showcase of the talent, wisdom, and attitude that makes America great. It is a story of all of us. Frankly, as said by Gene Kranz himself, in response to all the factors going against the mission right before reentry:

And, it was.

Top Five Favorite Films: #3 The Avengers (2012)

All this week, I have been reviewing my top five favorite films and explained how each came to be on the list. I may, at some future point, move to the top ten, but for now these will suffice. To recap;

#5 Back to the Future (1985)

#4 Phantom of the Opera (2004)

#3 The Avengers (2012)

At first glance, it would seem that including a film that I only first saw a couple of weeks ago, let alone making it a top five favorite film, would be asinine, and frankly, I can understand that. On paper, this is a film that had everything going for it, and everything going against it. Marvel Pictures set up all of the main characters in a truly remarkable fashion, which did nothing but raise expectations on this film to completely ridiculous levels. There was simply no way the film could ever be as good as expected because the bar was set so high. And yet, upon viewing The Avengers, all of those factors came together to craft a great piece of film.

I wonder what the planning process was originally for this film. Was it to simply tell the story itself, diving into the characters backgrounds in the short span of time that the film could give? Perhaps, but somewhere along the like, someone got the bright idea that it might work better to introduce, or reintroduce each main character in their own story and then pull the best features from each of those stories and combine them together into one large film. By combining the talents and established characters of Tony Stark (Iron Man), Bruce Banner (Hulk), Natasha Romanoff (Black Widow), Thor, Steve Rogers (Captain America), and Clint Barton (Hawkeye) into one grand epic, and yet not allowing the enormity, or ego of each dictate the rules of the film over the others, is what makes it such an amazing feat.

The film begins at a secret research facility run by the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division, or SHIELD. Run by a mysterious and charismatic individual, Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson), the agents of SHIELD are trying to tap the power hidden inside this blue cube, (first seen in Captain America). The cube contains what is purported to be unlimited power. But before they can, they are attacked by Loki (Tom Hiddleston), brother of Thor and banished from Asgard, the home world of Thor.

Loki intends to use the cube to open a portal into another world in an attempt to bring an army to earth to conquer and rule it. His initial attack succeeds and Fury is then forced to initiate the Avenger’s Initiative, a secret project that would only be used in extreme circumstances. The first part of the film is the rounding up of all the various players from each of the previous movies and making them jive together in a working mechanism. Predictably, this doesn’t happen at first as the different characters and egos are exploited by Loki in an effort to gain the upper hand. However, extreme and deadly measures taken by Loki bring each of the fabled parts together in perfect motion to bring the battle literally to Loki’s (and Starks) front door. What happens thereafter is what can only be described as the most epic final showdown in movie history.

There is so much to love about The Avengers. It is an action film that doesn’t take its own material so seriously that it forgets to inject humor at appropriate moments. It’s an interesting take on character and motivation, as well as what factors can drive that motivation, and it doesn’t fall into the typical pitfalls that most team up films fall into. Sure the main characters get into a pissing contest with each other, but only in a manner which makes sense to the overall plot. Loki also serves as an excellent foil in being able to frustrate each of the main characters and still maintaining that selfish and childlike ego that despots throughout history have all shared. Loki is quite pathetic, but when someone like this also has access to powers and abilities, it can combine for a deadly combination.

No performance outshines another. Robert Downey Jr. brings the raw brains, brawns and large ego of Stark so memorably portrayed in the first two Iron Man films, Mark Ruffalo, replacing Edward Norton, finds the conflicted nature of Banner and the fine like he walks with gusto, Chris Hemsworth channels the reserved nature of Thor, and Chris Evans brings back the heart and determination of Steve Rogers. One line in particular best describes Rogers approach to a situation. When told that Loki and Thor are like gods among men, Rogers, very matter of fact, responds, “There’s only one God, and I don’t think he dresses like that.” Rogers, a natural leader, isn’t swayed by all the fantastic things happening around him. He keeps his mind focused on the mission at hand.

Scarlett Johansson and Jeremy Renner as Black Widow and Hawkeye also are amazing to watch. First appearing as minor characters in earlier films, the two have a bit of a history together, and despite not possessing any of the amazing powers of the others, can hold their own as efficiently. They both deserve to fight alongside the rest. Other performances, from Cobie Smulders, as Agent Hill, and Clark Gregg as Agent Coulson are also great. Smulders takes what would normally be an eye candy role and makes it a fully formed character who can hold her own against any adversity, and Gregg, having played Coulson in each of the previous films, is the silent catalyst that not only brings all the Avengers together but becomes the glue which cements all the parts into one formidable machine.

The Avengers works, because it took the best parts of each earlier film, and combined it into one major epic. I would contend that to truly appreciate the film, one must view each of the proceeding chapters, (Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man 2, Thor, and Captain America); much like you would if viewing a series such as Star Wars or Harry Potter. Though, frankly it isn’t necessary. I saw the film with my sister, who hadn’t seen any of the proceeding films, and she enjoyed it as much as did I.

Going in, I wasn't really familiar with the characters as I never read the comics. So I approached it with an open mind. The meter by which I judge most films is was it entertaining, and/or fun. With The Avengers, you get the best of both. It’s been a couple of years since I’ve seen a film that was as much fun to watch as The Avengers, a truly remarkable film.

Top Five Favorite Films: #4 Phantom of the Opera (2004)

All this week, I'll review my top five favorite films and explain how each came to be on the list. I may, at some future point, move to the top ten, but for now these will suffice. To recap;

#5 Back to the Future (1985)

#4 Phantom of the Opera (2004)

One of the stories that has been around for many ages, and told countless times, is the one of the mysterious teacher who lives in the shadows of the Paris Opera house, and helping a young woman discover her natural talents, while at the same time taking out anyone who would dare to stand in her way. Based on the “novel” by Gaston Leroux, the Phantom of the Opera is multiple stories in one. It is a forbidden love story, an action flick, a horror movie, and, as in the case of the Andrew Lloyd Webber film, a musical.

There have been many incarnations of Phantom over the years. Lon Chaney, the master of the movie monster, famously portrayed the villain in an iconic performance in the 1925 silent film that seems to more or less, have defined his career. Another great performance was in the 1943 version where the Phantom was played by the legendary Claude Rains (who also played the conflicted, and corrupt, Senator Joseph Paine in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington). Even Freddy Krueger himself, Robert Englund, donned the mask for a gritty and bloody horror take back in 1989. But the film I place on this list is the one released in 2004 with much anticipation, and yet not much acclaim.

From L to R: Chaney, Rains, Englund, and Butler

Andrew Lloyd Webber first developed his vision for Phantom of the Opera back in the 1980’s and it went on to be one of the most successful, and longest running shows in the history of the stage. The music of the show became iconic of the show itself, and as a result, today many of the earlier versions are compared to this one (which is rather unfair.)

Phantom begins in the year 1919 at the run down Opera Populaire (based on the Paris Opéra House) at an auction of the artifacts found throughout the building. The audience is told that many of the artifacts figured into the famous disaster, including the chandelier. The auctioneer commands that the chandelier be risen to showcase the repair work done on it, and as it is, the audience is transported back to the year 1870 when the opera house was in its prime.

Two men, Firmin (Ciarán Hinds) and Andre (Simon Callow) had recently bought the opera house with the help of a wealthy patron, Raoul, Vicomte de Chagny (Patrick Wilson) and all three were touring it. Throughout they heard rumors of a mysterious opera ghost but paid it little mind. The current feature at the company is the lead soprano, Carlotta Giudecelli (Minnie Driver, in an over the top performance). Much of the company finds Carlotta to be quite insufferable, as does the Opera Ghost, who prefers the younger and more natural talent of Christine Daaé (Emmy Rossum).

The Ghost or Phantom (Gerald Butler), through manipulation and intimidation, arranges it so that Christine can sing in Carlotta’s place in the current show. Christine does, to much fanfare and success. Raoul, recognizing Christine as a friend from childhood, is instantly taken by the young woman and afterward goes to her dressing room to court her. However the Phantom has other plans and has decided that the time is right to reveal his existence to Christine and take her back to his lair, which lies in the passages far beneath the opera house.

Christine had come to the opera house at a very young age, as her father, a famous musician, died when she was very young. She knows no life outside of the theater where she lives. Naturally, she is completely taken by the seductive nature of the Phantom.

Eventually, she becomes fearful of the Phantom as he begins to show signs of lust, vengeance, and, she learns, a thirst for blood that takes anyone who might be a person standing in his way. Throughout the film, Christine is torn between her childhood friend, Raoul, and her teacher, The Phantom, which builds to a final climax toward the end of the film that leaves the viewer, oddly, satisfied.

Phantom is not without its faults. The film can be long winded at times, and some of the scenes which were created for the film, and not in the stage show, enable this to happen. One scene in particular, where the Phantom and Raoul are fencing in the cemetery at the grave of Christine’s father in particular is a drag. Much of the acting is a big over the top in many scenes, (especially in regards to the aforementioned Carlotta) and Wilson doesn’t really give the character of Raoul much depth (but to be fair, the character is written as a bit of a priss and a dullard), and the big reveal of the Phantom’s face leaves much to be desired. However, the film overcomes these faults with a great take on character interaction, motivation, and some insight on human nature.

Phantom is really about the coming of age for Christine. Throughout the film, she is transformed from the innocent teenager, to a young woman who is willing to give up all that she is, and ever will be, for someone else. It’s about the ultimate sacrifices that many of us make for each other throughout our lives and the ramifications of our decisions, for good and bad.

What makes this Phantom great is the music. Not simply background noise, or even choppy and cheap setups which are found in many old musicals. The music of Phantom of the Opera has a way of reaching out and grabbing you in your sub conscious (as all great music does.) It’s no surprise, to me, that Webber was married to Sarah Brightman, who played the original Christine on stage, when he wrote the music. Only someone with a deep connection to someone else or a higher power could really dig deep to find that which transcends. It is, and will remain, his greatest work.

Phantom is not for everyone. But I have always found an unusual connection to it. It’s best not to labor on that point too much, but I will say that it’s one of those films you could find yourself identifying with, and appreciating with each viewing, and it is thoroughly entertaining.

Top Five Favorite Films: #5 Back to the Future (1985)

All this week, I am going to try to post my top five favorite movies. I am a fan of films. As far back as I can remember, I have enjoyed movies for the escape they can offer, and over the years, I have developed a mental criterion, as many of us do, when we want to pick our favorites. The films I choose this week, are not necessarily amazing films in general, nor are grand epics as determined by the Academy, or so called industry insiders. Rather they are the films that I enjoy immensely and ones that I go back to enjoy time and time again. I’ll review each film; pointing out how each made my top five list, as well as acknowledging their flaws. At the end, I hope you’ll get a bit of insight as to how I approach a feature film and, who knows? Maybe you’ll pop one of these in someday and find you enjoy them as much as I do.

#5, Back to the Future (1985)

Let’s start this list off with, what has to be my first favorite film. I remember first seeing this movie when I was very young. It was made a year after I was born and I believe I first saw it in the late 1980’s or early 90’s so it had been out for several years. I can remember being completely immersed in the story to the point where my brother and I built our own flux compasators in an effort to mimic time travel ourselves. (TRUTH: Several years ago we were cleaning our parents’ home and ran across these which provided a health laugh and trip down memory lane)

Back to the Future is the story of a teenager (Marty McFly, played by Michael J. Fox) in the mid 1980’s who befriends an eccentric scientist (Dr. Emmitt L. Brown, played by Christopher Lloyd in what has to be his signature role). McFly is a bit down on his luck, but like most of us at that age, has an ideal view of what he wants to achieve in life and how to get it. He is burdened, however, by the circumstances that life has dealt him. Dr. Brown, or Doc, as he is referred to, is also a bit of an outsider, and in order to escape the nature of the world he sees develops a time machine to travel throughout history. The two connect, I believe, because they are drawn to each other’s ideals and can identify with one another.

Doc, at this point in life, is an older man and wishes to see the future beyond his years. However, is gunned down before he can depart. McFly, in an effort to elude the gunmen, commandeers the time machine to simply outrun them, but instead travels back in time to the year 1955. Obviously, putting a teenager from the present (1985) to the past will present many challenges, one of which is his interfering with his parents first meeting, an event which can potentially destroy his entire existence.

In an effort to correct history, and get home, he locates the younger Doc Brown of 1955 and implores upon him to help. Doc is skeptical at first, but realizes that he is the only man alive that could potentially help, and being a student of science, and having a thirst for knowledge, realizes he can’t pass up an opportunity like this.

Naturally, the protagonists of the film are successful, but it is how the payout works that makes the film so interesting. It also demonstrates how our everyday experiences can shape our futures in ways that we cannot possibly understand. Every action we take, determines every action thereafter, and can change our lives in many ways.

Back to the Future is a dated film, ironic of course, and by watching it, you can clearly see the influences of the 1980’s. Brand names and attitudes of the 1980’s are clearly in force, with an emphasis on material wealth and objects, and it’s for this reason that it is dated. However, the film overcomes this with its heart. At the end of the day, it’s about a teenager, not clear about his place in this world, and is trying to make sense of it. (And how many of us haven’t been there?)

The best performance of the film is, by far, Christopher Lloyd as Doc Brown. Lloyd was able to craft a character that was a combination of many of the great minds of history into one solid character. Many talk of the like between genius and insanity, and it’s a line that Doc Brown walks each and every day. Ultimately, Doc Brown begins as a selfish individual, but realizes that he needs to help McFly get home, because without that, he can never hope to achieve time travel, and frankly, he seems to like McFly and wants to help him.

I would also argue that a great performance in the film belongs to Tom Wilson as Biff Tannen. Tannen is the ultimate bully. He bullied McFlys father throughout his entire life, had a desire for McFly’s mother, and felt that simply yelling or threatening anyone who stood in his way was the way to get things done. But, as all movie antagonists, Tannen finally gets his, and when it happens, it’s done in a way that makes sense and is completely satisfying. Bullies, as portrayed by Hollywood films, don’t get much better, nor cliché as Biff Tannen, and Tom Wilson was able to make that role as solid as it needed to be.

Tom Wilson also has a stand up comedy act which is simply AMAZING.

When released, Back to the Future was a major success, shortly followed by two sequels. The film was originally intended to be a standalone film, a fact which is made clear by watching the other two. Parts II and III are interesting films and ones which I enjoyed when I was younger (especially Part III) but, today, they pale in comparison to the original film.

Back to the Future is not a perfect film, but it is highly entertaining and fun to watch. The problem with films released today, is that many of them might be great movies, but they’re simply not fun, and sometimes that’s what we, as a public need. Back to the Future is a film that I’ve watched countless times over the years, watching it more than some of the other films of this list, and I have enjoyed each and every viewing. 

Going to do some traveling this summer.

At the end of the last college semester several months ago, I determined that I wasn’t going to simply spend the summer months just doing my job. The semester itself was rather taxing, and I wanted to get away and do something, or go somewhere worthwhile. To that end, I decided that I would spend the summer touring county fairs and festivals throughout the state of Ohio and write about them.

I have always had a connection to the Ohio Fairs. My mother once told me that my first fair happened when I was just a month or so old. I can’t remember a time when I didn’t attend, or be involved in the county fair. In Hardin County a large county fair is held each year, running the week of Labor Day. It can create a bit of havoc with the schools as kids are just in class a few weeks before they are off for the whole fair week. But the alternative, of course, would be that many of the students would be out the entire week anyway, so for years, many of the county schools would simply take the week off to allow the kids to participate.

My brother trying, and failing, to win a cane at the Hardin County Fair

When I was younger, my parents encouraged us (my brother, sister, and I) to participate in the fair, from the potato decorating contest, to the flower show, and the style show as well as a sheep lead contest (for those of you not familiar, this is a contest where younger kids dress in costumes and show a lamb, also dressed in a costume). My mother told me recently that we did all these things so that we would have something to do while at the fair. (And also to make us physically walk around the fairgrounds)

Even today, the sheep lead contest is quite popular at the Hardin County Fair

This was quite an impression on a kid, as you can imagine. Later, of course, I would look up to the Jr. Fair board kids, wanting to be that myself one day, and then, of course, when I was older, getting the opportunity to do so. Even today, I still find things to do and participate in at the fair.

Dad & I driving draft horses at the Hardin County Fair (Dad always puts on a good show)

Ohio has a rich history of fairs and festivals. Each community has a large gathering that defines it. From the Circleville Pumpkin Fest, to the Tree Town Fest in Forest, to the Utica Ice Cream Fest to each county fair held each year, and the Ohio State Fair, Ohio has a tradition of festivities. What I will attempt to do, with this blog is offer you some insight into a different fair or festival each week.

However, this blog won’t be comprehensive. I have a full time job that takes up the majority of my time during the week, so on the weekends and if I get any time off this summer I will be touring as many fairs and festivals as I can. However, I realize that I will not be able to get to see everything.

I have a list of county fairs from the Ohio Agriculture Society which can be found here. So it’s a good starting point. I am also aware of a number of different fairs and festivals in my area but I would like some help.

If anyone reading this knows of a fair or festival in their area that they would like to see highlighted, let me know, and I will attempt to cover it. Additionally, if anyone would like to write for this blog this summer, I would be more than happy and willing to oblige. Just drop me a line at aflinn26@gmail.com and we’ll see if we can make it work. I can’t pay anyone, so if you were to write, it would for fun. Full credit will be given to any writer who is published on this blog (which might be a good way to showcase your journalism skills. Just a thought)

I don’t know how this will work, or even if it will work, but I am willing to give it a try and see what I can find. I have always been fond of the local fair or festival and I am looking forward to this summer and looking forward to seeing what Ohio has to offer.

And if you are interested in reading my blog on Ohio Fairs and Festivals, visit it at http://ohiofairsandfestivals.blogspot.com/

A Promise To Myself

It’s been a couple of weeks, and it occurred to me that I have been neglecting this blog a bit. Most of the time people post things that are going on in their lives and what has happened in the time since the last posting. This will be done in a similar vein.

Last month, I joined the YMCA. I don’t really know why but I have wanted to lose some weight for some time now. It seems to me that the majority of people who do this do so because they either have self-esteem issues or lack an ability to look beyond the flaws. I don’t think that I fall into either category. I have always been comfortable with myself and who I am. I suppose that you could say that if I am happy with myself who cares what ANYONE else thinks, and for the most part, that is true.

However

I am somewhat self-conscious about my weight simply because I think people make assumptions about those who are in my situation, whether intentional or not. People assume that if you are overweight you must lack ambition, are lazy, spend your days sitting around watching television or on a computer doing busy work and not out living life. Again, I don’t believe everyone thinks this, but I think some people do, even if they don’t realize it.

And normally, I could care less about this sort of thing, but when you are sitting across from someone at a job interview, that person is looking for any reason as to why you would not be a good fit for the position. Why give them one?

At any rate, I decided earlier this year that I wanted to lose weight. Up until this week, I have put in a poor performance toward this goal. I started out going out about three times in the past month, and while it was fine, I just didn’t commit. In the last week, that changed.

I have made a promise to myself to at least go out to work out each morning in the week. Considering I work afternoons and evenings, my mornings are perfect for this sort of thing. (At least till this fall) I figure I’ll begin spending ½ hour to 45 minutes each day doing a variety of different things till I condition myself to the point where I can go longer.

I try something different each time, but basically I do a couple of laps on the elliptical machines and then do a variety of the different weight lifting machines spending most of the time working on the upper body and arms. I conclude with one of the bikes and run for about ten minutes or so. It’s not much, and compared to some, it’s very little but for me, it’s a start.

Some use a personal trainer and frankly, someone there telling you what to do is not for me. I’ve always been one to do things my own way, whether right or wrong, because ultimately, I am only responsible for myself. Some people also use journals to track their progress and, again, that is OK for some, but I am not the type to tie things to numbers simply because I don’t really care that much about it. I just do what I think will work best. (Frankly, my main motivation to continue is simply because I am paying for it. If you pay for it, you need to use it; otherwise you’re simply wasting money, and who can afford to do that these days?)

So we’ll see what happens. I don’t know if this will work, but I am going to try to make a commitment to it. 

Remembering Uncle Todd

It was a year ago today that my family lost one of its members and a great friend. My Uncle, Todd Augsburger passed away, last year after a battle with ALS. To say that I miss him and that the family misses him would be a major understatement.

Naturally, I cannot remember a time without Uncle Todd. When my brother and sister and I were kids, we used to spend much time at my Aunt and Uncles house. If my parents were going out of town we would stay with them. When we were very young, they lived in a house across from a park, which was nice. Later, they had a bookstore, located in downtown Kenton and owned the apartment above the store. We would spend much time there, playing games and visiting.

Uncle Todd would always be working on projects and their home was full of older antiques that he would work on and get working again. He always seemed to be interested in how things work and what makes them tick. He would work on models and refinish furniture. I remember he had an old pinball machine that he got to work, and that provided all of us with hours of entertainment.

When we were younger, we would watch PBS and every so often we would watch a show of a guy who painted landscapes (Bob Ross). We would say that we were watching Uncle Todd because, at that time, he had the same style of hair and beard.

While the picture might not be very good, you get the idea

Uncle Todd loved to try new things. As far back as I can remember, he was always trying something different. As far back as I can remember, he managed a hardware store, a Christian Bookstore, was a Church Secretary, and also developed computer software. It always seemed like he was interested in how things operate and if he had inkling to see how something worked, he would just do it or work with it to see for himself.

Later on, he developed an interest in Roller Organs. Odd choice of course, but not at all surprising considering his personality. He read about them, researched them, and collected them. I know he had the largest collection of Roller Organs in Hardin County and perhaps even Northwest Ohio. He and my aunt owned a house south of town which also included an old school house and he would display his organs and also renovated the school house so it looked authentic. Once I interviewed him for a college project and it was great to see him walk around and talk about his collection.

He even wrote a book about Roller Organs!

He would sometimes take one of the organs uptown for parades and would walk around the square showcasing it. He had the hat, and a little monkey that would ride along, and he would just walk around the square playing the organ and showing it off to anyone who happened to be there.

The two "Todds". My brother, Willam Todd, and his namesake

Music was important to Uncle Todd (and I think that was imparted to me in a small way) He played the guitar and was in the church choir. I remember going up to Lakeside which is a Methodist Church retreat and he would wake the whole house up every morning by going room to room playing his guitar.

Like I said above he would always be interested in trying new things. One of these was fishing. I think he always had a knack for it. When I was younger, he and my aunt lived near a pond and we would go fishing there often. All types, summer fishing, ice fishing, you name it. Once, when I was much younger, I was not having a particularly successful day on the pond and he came out, and was almost catching them left and right. I, like a typical kid, would follow him around the pond hoping to get a bite at the place he did (and this, of course, never happened). As I got older, I got better, of course, but I’ll never forget that memory.

One of my favorite memories of Uncle Todd happened a few years ago. The family was all out at their house and we were fishing at the pond. There is a picture of all of us sitting on a bench beside the pond looking at the water. This was posted to Facebook and someone had left a comment asking what we were all doing. I, being the smartass that I am, and thinking I was being clever, commented that we were all waiting for Godot. (Waiting for Godot is a play by Beckett. More info can be found here). I didn’t think anyone would get it but to my surprise, Uncle Todd commented that he thought it was hilarious line. I’ll never forget that.

Like most of my family, I miss Uncle Todd. He had a unique way of looking at the world, and I always thought he was genuinely interested in what was going on in our lives. He was funny, honest, confident, and committed to whatever he set his mind to. He loved my Aunt very much and all of us as well. To say that a void exists in his absence would be an understatement. However, I know a time will come again when we will meet in the afterlife so I don’t consider him gone forever. I have the memories, some of which I’ve shared here among many others. I’ll never forget.

In closing I leave you with this song from the film “Prairie Home Companion” which I think is appropriate. In the film the character, Chuck Akers, sings this on the live radio show just before he passes away. Every time I hear it, I think of Uncle Todd.