The other night as I was handing the homie Vernon his ass in Marvel vs. Capcom 2 I also had a chance to kind of halfway watch David Simon’s new show “Generation Kill” on HBO. Dude who played one of my favorite characters from the Wire (Ziggy played by James Ransone) is also on there. I’ll give it it’s due diligence at some point in the future, but what the show really did was remind me that I needed to watch my favorite season of the Wire again, season 2.

*don’t read any further if you haven’t seen the Wire and want to remain spoiler free*

Whenever I get into discussions about the Wire with other people, invariably they mention that season 2 was their least favorite, because it was “slow” and “so different”. Of course, those are the things that make it so appealing to me, but I’ll get into that later.

One of the things that makes The Wire as a whole so great is that it’s SO layered. It’s literally the closest thing we’ll ever get to a series of novels written for television. Each episode is a chapter that could stand alone, just fine, but you’d never want it to stand alone. You want to know what comes before and after. That’s what hooks you. That is why whenever I let someone borrow a season, they will almost inevitably end up watching most of the episodes back to back to back, often in one night, never longer than a week. It’s like a good book you can’t put down.

The people who I haven’t managed to hook often share the sentiment that it’s depressing to watch a show about “hood people doing hood things”. I hate when people say things like that because it really sells the show short. It’s like describing Goodfellas as “a mob movie about mob people doing mob things” or Jimi Hendrix as “a left handed guitarist”. It’s so much more than that, and no season of the show speaks to that more than season 2.

Don’t get me wrong, season 2 is still very much “hood”, I think it’s the saving grace for alot of the people who watch it for that element and were turned off by the dock element. The dock element to me made the show transcendental. Without it, it would have just been a really good “hood” show, which would have been fine with me. With it, it became probably the greatest television drama ever.

On the docks, we learned about the Baltimore working class. We learned that it’s not just Black folks out there struggling to get by and not just us affected by drug trafficking. We learned about the so called “victimless” crimes like prostitution’s effects on people’s lives. We saw the corruption of the prison system without the ostentatiousness and surrealism of Oz.

Key characters were gained (The Greek and Vondas and Bunny Colvin towards the end) and lost (D’Angelo Barksdale) this season (some within the season, like the Sobotkas). Stringer Bell’s character is fleshed out, McNulty hits rock bottom for the first time, the unlikely partnership of the Bunk and Lester Freamon is born here, Prez manages to stay out of trouble, Prop Joe’s family tree is expanded (say Cheese!), Omar was Omar and had probably his greatest moment as he took Maury Levy to task for his seperate but equal role in “the game”.

I think the opening shots of McNulty on the water unnerved alot of people because it was what they least expected, and rightly so, as Bubs pointed out “something just ain’t right with that scene”. It was righted in a jarring, Wire-like fashion by the end.

Speaking of Bubs if I found fault with any one thing about this season it was his lack of presence through most of it. I guess some sacrifices had to be made.

I don’t know if this will manage to turn any of you into season 2 fans, but I implore you to give it a second look! It’s one of those things that gets better with each viewing.

Way back in 2005, right before the Oscars, me and the homie Geoff realized we had seen very few of the films in contention (since then I’ve seen all except “Finding Neverland”). Little did we know we’d be walking into one of those movies that kind of changes your life. Err..I guess now is a good time to say that if you haven’t seen the movie and want to don’t read any further, because I’m going to talk about it in depth.

I’ve bought two copies of that movie, Geoff had the copy I recently watched for about 2 years before I told him to bring it with him this weekend. I hadn’t seen the movie in awhile and I needed to refresh myself.

I used to relate alot to Miles (I mean it’s even my middle name!) but this most recent viewing forced me to change my perspective a bit. For whatever reason I could always sort of convince myself to sort of forget or at least gloss over the part where he stole the money from his mother. I could never do anything like that. Wouldn’t even think about it.

I am however fragile like him, but gradually I’m becoming less of a Pinot Noir and more “hardy”. I’m becoming more and more like Jack in actual fact, something that is somewhat scary to me. Well maybe I’m not becoming like him, but I definitely see where he’s coming from now. Sometimes you just do things, whether it’s uncertainty about the future that drives the decision or just a wreckless streak, whatever the case, some actions defy logic or good sense, but they take place anyway. Jack was a creature of impulse (something that is in my nature/instinct) whereas Miles was a creature of calculation (what I’ve been for most of my life).

Anyway I watched it this time with the commentary featuring Thomas Haden Church and Paul Giamatti (had no idea he was the former MLB Commish’s son). They seemed to have a genuine friendship which explains alot about the chemistry in the movie. Watching it with that in mind kind of gave me “new eyes” to alter my original view of the movie as a whole.

I gave serious thought for the first time that perhaps they were no longer friends after Jack’s wedding. Also maybe Maya wasn’t at that door at the end. It’d fit with Alexander Payne’s other movies to have an ending as such.

Anyway I still love this movie, probably more than before….in retrospect.

First of all I have to say, I had one of the best weekends in a long, long, long time. The homie Geoff came to town, one of my favorite readers TT came to town. My ex (and future) wife Dara was in town. Melani, Calvin, Johnson, Cookie, etc. all came to town for the most wonderful time of the year! Beerfest!

Beerfest 2008 did not disappoint. But let’s go back a day before because honestly that’s when the festivities began.

I arrived at H’s house after cashing my last Pre-Bac check *sigh* and no sooner do we get there but Dara arrives. Needless to say I was overjoyed. I had cooked some spaghetti the night before that was good with one major problem. See I thought the crushed red pepper flakes were in one of those twist off caps….wrong….WRONG….I ended up spilling most of it into the sauce and scooping alot (but not enough) out. So the spaghetti was too spicy, I had intended to stretch it a bit with more tomatoes, but I think it was still too spicy (though the core taste was still excellent, Jennie-O makes excellent turkey sausage!). Anyway shortly thereafter Geoff arrived. We partook of drinks and I made a bad decision which I won’t publicize here, but needless to say it won’t happen again! Said decision caused me to turn in early and wake up on my bed with clothing in different rooms of my NEWLY CLEAN apartment. Mistakes were made.

Anyway, the next day was Beerfest and like I said it was outstanding. We were joined by the Beer Goddess Veronica and I think she had a good time at her inaugural Beer Fest. It sucks that Candice couldn’t make it this year, but she had her priorities in order so I can’t fault her. We drank and drank and drank. We hit the mist tents a few times, hell if you are my facebook friend you’ve probably already seen the pictures. Yes that’s right, I resurrected the camera for the Beerfest! Fun was had by all and in true Killa Cal fashion, I fell off and missed the evening move over at Fry’s house, but it’s okay!

Sunday was a day for relaxation….well at least it started that way. I downloaded alot of music to my trusty *the tears are starting to flow* flash drive. I had the entire Rolling Stone 100 greatest guitar songs PLUS the new N.E.R.D. on that thing. We went to go see Step Brothers (WHICH WAS HILARIOUS!!!!) and when I got home to plug my flash drive in……BLANK.

All of the material is on there somewhere, but I can’t access it and I think I have to format it. I lost my CV, my personal statement, my financial aid appeal letter, all of the power point presentations that I’ve done. I lost everything!….I can’t type anymore about it…..

So yeah…good weekend…bad ending……

I just ran into a friend of mine whose eyes were welled up with tears. She’s going through some of the same financial stress that I am and she’s frustrated. I’m with her, I know how she feels. I keep trying to tell myself that it’s almost over and it’s always the darkest before dawn!

People tend to think that those of us in higher education have it easy. It’s not easy by any means. Sometimes I wish I’d gotten a job straight away because some of the things we go through just aren’t worth it. Don’t get me wrong, I love medicine and I know ultimately things will work out in my favor, but the here and now can be tough to grit out.

So when I see my friends and classmates going through it, I put my arm around their shoulder and tell them it’s always darkest before the dawn and our dawn is coming sooner than later!

The Sopranos has a huge influence, right or wrong, on my way of thinking and general personal philosophy. I find myself adopting many of the sayings and phrases from the show, because I find that they have alot of practical application. One such phrase is one that Carmela told Tony once in regards to a critical choice they were making as a family, “More is lost by indecision than wrong decision.” So theoretical reader, I ask you, what do we think of that statement?

The Killa currently has an abundance of choices on a certain matter. Well at least I like to think I do. And now I’m in the unenviable position of having to choose between a few (for all intents and purposes) equally desirable options. And what I’m doing is wasting time weighing the odds in my favor on one versus another and this that and the other instead of making my move.

I think in the grand scheme of things it speaks to a larger problem with me, not wanting to make a decision in the first place (which is different from indecision mind you….with indecision the intention is there). But I guess that’s a blog for another day.

Right now I think I’m going to seize the day. By tomorrow I’ll be working towards a goal…one way or the other.

Depending on how you know me or how you got here you may or may not know that once upon a time during my senior year in high school I tried out for Jeopardy’s Teen Tournament. I made it to the mock game and everything but didn’t get invited to be on the show. Some dude who made chicken noises in the audition made it instead. I’m not bitter….no wait, yes I am!

Anyway, I’m checking my email as I do, and I see one from my little sister Che informing me that she was invited to try out for Jeopardy’s adult version in September! I’m so excited for her. I hope she makes it on the show and wins for me! Hell I’ll go to L.A. and sit in the audience while she kicks ass!

Don’t read to much into that title theorhetical reader! I just like the song, honestly….okay maybe read a little into it.

Today was a good day. I talked to my good friend Mizzle. I haven’t talked to her in God knows how long so it was good catching up with her. I miss the Mizzle!

Speaking of old friends, I talked my old friend up, because sure enough I heard from her today and that put a smile upon me face!

I’ve decided though that I’ve either had good days or good days with bad events. From hence forth no more bad days, even if it TRULY is a “bad day” I’m not going to speak it. We’ll see how long that lasts.

I don’t know how many of you theoretical readers are also my friend on Facebook. If you are, make sure you read my little note about my playlist. I would repost it here, but I have images and such that I don’t quite know how to import here. Perhaps I should have done it here first and then imported it there, but dah well, sometimes I do things without rhyme or reason.

I had a pretty good day. I made some major strides toward doing something I should have done a LONG time ago today. I had a great dinner. I spent time with one of my favorite people in the world. I don’t think I could ask for much more and I wouldn’t think of trying.

So I’m sitting here listening to my main man Peabo. My homie who shills albums for Time-Life nowadays, trying to get out from under the ponderous shadow of the IRS. Peabo’s music makes things happen in my mind. I tend to think of the girl who isn’t receiving outside calls right now (not the one here, the one there). I miss her, there is no denying that, but I think I am cool with how things appear to be ending up….she’ll always have a place in my heart.

With that said, I feel the need to stop listening to the same old songs if you know what I mean. Right now what I need is some Hall and Oates….maybe Method of Modern Love or Kiss On My List….liven up a little bit. Maybe take a risk or two.

Something magic is going to happen this week…I can feel it!

You know the ONLY bad thing about the “downtime” my site had was losing the Batman entry I wrote about that dumb ass kid who lost his head at Six Flags on the grounds of the Batman ride.

Batman is the last scion for D.C. Comics. He’s the only reason for their continued relevance as far as I’m concerned. Don’t worry, I don’t believe in spoilers so I won’t ruin the new movie, The Dark Knight, for you, but suffice it to say that it is easily not only the best movie of this summer, but probably the best movie in a few years. It’s THAT good. Much better than Batman Begins which was a damned good movie. I implore you to see it, I’ll see it again. And yes Heath Ledger was THAT good. You’ll forget anyone ever played the Joker before!

Leading up to last night’s viewing I went out to eat with the classmates. We ate at the Cheesecake Factory and while there we had jokes and jokes and jokes and….well you get the point. One of the funnier jokes (because we’re all nerds) was our constant referencing of Howard Dean’s infamous “Whee-ah!” and fist pump which pretty much took him out of contention in 2004 for the presidential election. It became a pretty funny running joke as did the admission of a classmate that she was born a very sexual person.

The most interesting part of the night to me was our Hubie Brown-esque breakdown of the mechanics of the “slow clap” (the dramatic kind, not the derisive type). I’ve concluded that it takes special ability and inherent timing in creating a slow clap and only the chosen can do them. I demonstrated that I am one of those types at the end of The Dark Knight. One of my classmates…..ehhhh…not so much! It’s okay we still love her!

In Kaplan news, this guy for Internal sucks. That’s the reason I’m up here typing this entry. Oh well, at least I won’t feel bad about Beerfest next week!

This summer is rapidly coming to a close, I know it seems silly to say that because today is pretty much the halfway point of July, but nowadays the summer is shorter than ever. Pretty soon it’ll be back to seeing patients, no more Kaplan, no more basic sciences, and the real countdown will begin.

I guess I should be kind of excited about it right? Actually I guess I kind of am.

Last night I had a really good time hanging out with my classmates. We went to Dave and Buster’s to celebrate the homie Vernon’s birthday. I won well over 2000 tickets playing trivia and I stole food from a girl who has the same birthday as me (this pretty much makes her the most awesome person ever, by default). I drank, but not to excess….okay maybe a STEP over excess…I gotta keep the psuedo-Dean Martin-isms….

I’m still not back in my place, but you know…that’s cool….it’s whatever at this point…I went into the office today with a list of demands….