Goodbye Dad!

MY FATHER DIED LAST WEEK! I keep saying that over and over in my head. Let's be frank..it wasn't a surprise. Dad had Alzheimers and as my Uncle Putter said 'had been vacant for the last four years.' We all knew it was coming, and yet, when it happened, there was an instant ache in my soul. My brother, Thad, felt the same way. I guess it was compounded because I couldn't go to the funeral. Long story..just know that my physician said 'medical orders..no'. He was right, but it was SO hard to not be able to be at the final celebration service.

Over the years, Dave and I have frequently joked that we chose Michigan because there were no relatives for at least 6 states over. We loved having our little family to ourselves, but Casey and Kristen didn't get a chance to know the Jarvis side of the family. As I've learned over the last week, it's never too late. Casey is in Austin, Texas and she was prepared to pick us up at the airport and head to central Texas for the funeral. When she found out that we couldn't make it, she said 'it's on my day off from work, I'll go and represent the family.' Of course she wanted to say goodbye to her grandfather, but something truly wonderful happened that day. She walked in in to the luncheon before the service with my brother and his wife, and the Jarvis clan which is HUGE just pounced. Casey said she had never been hugged, loved, and talked to as much in her life. She said "I was never alone for the entire day until they put me in the car and sent me back to Austin."

My father died last week, and with that death my daughter rediscovered another big part of her family.
It truly is the 'circle of life.' Thanks Dr. Jarvis, goodbye!

AVATAR REALLY IS ALL THAT.........AND MORE!!!

Roger Ebert said:  Watching "Avatar," I felt sort of the same as when I saw "Star Wars" in 1977. That was another movie I walked into with uncertain expectations. The Hollywood Reporter said: 

Bottom Line: A titanic entertainment -- movie magic is back! A dozen years later, James Cameron has proven his point: He is king of the world.

Enough!  Dave Jagger and Ron Van Timmeren have been salivating over this movie for almost two months before it's release date 3 brief weeks ago.  I had the feeling that 'it's a guys movie.'    Then the movie was released and I also thought 'no movie can live up to that hype.  Then our 25 yr. old came home for Christmas and Dave wanted her to see AVATAR.  Ron has said that this movie MUST be seen in IMAX so I grabbed my credit card Monday morning and put the tickets on hold.  It seemed poinitless because everyone was back at work and/or school......and it wasn't necessary, but I also thought that if I didn't purchase the tickets before Kristen woke up, she might find a reason to skip the movie.  I was tortured by the youngest for buying the tickets before asking her, but after much screaming, she said 'fine'.  Oh yes!  Forgot to mention that I bought 3 tickets because even though I wasn't crazy about seeing this film, I wanted to be part of the family experience.

First surprise! The 3PM movie was sold out.  Good thing I bought those tickets.  Second surprise! I wasn't freaked out at paying $46 for movie tickets for 3 people for a mid-afternoon movie!  Wasn't Monday the day when people gave you stuff for free for coming into their business like Fajita-Rita Monday?...Final and best surprise ......the movie. 

I can't say anything more than what others have said except I HATE ANIMATION....except this movie was something very special.  The way the animation moved back between actors and animation was like nothing I've ever seen.  James Cameron is a visionary.  I wasn't wild about TITANIC, but AVATAR goes down as one of my Top five  favorite movies.  Here's one thing that I haven't read in a review:  I felt like I was on a three hour ride at Universal Studios......I didn't want to blink because I didn't want to miss anything (and I didn't want to pay $46 to go and see it again). From beginning to end my mind never wandered (Did I unplug the flatiron? Do I need to return any phone calls?).  From the instant that AVATAR started until the movie ended  and the final note was sung from the amazing James Horner soundtrack (the only soundtrack I'll probably buy in 2010), I was 100% entertained.


It's always nice to find a surprise.  Usually the advertising campaigns for movies like this with a gigantic budget ($300 million to make the movie) just want to herd us in like cattle so the company can start to earn back their losses.  You didn't like it?  Too bad!  Not with AVATAR.  It is superb.  If you only see one movie this year, this is the movie to see.  If you can afford it, treat yourself to the IMAX.


4 stars ••••

WHAT THE HECK IS WRONG WITH ME?

Last night was a beautiful family night.  Fire in the fireplace, dogs at our feet, #FoodNetwork on the television looking for #THEWORSTCOOKINAMERICA!  Life doesn't get a lot better.  The only thing missing was Casey.  One of the dogs had gone outside and was barking to come in.......and I put my laptop down, started to get up....and BAM....my foot was asleep and DOWN I WENT.  I tried to catch myself on the loveseat, but no, I went all the way down full force and hit my head on the edge of an end table.  Dave starts screaming "Did you hit your head?"  Kristen wakes up and is yelling "What happened?  What happened?"  The dogs ran into the other room like they had caused the fiasco.  Then I started thinking, isn't this the way Natasha Richardson died?  So I'm making my mind up that even though I'm sleepy, I'll not go to sleep until at least 3am.......that way I know I'm okay.  I love how I made deals with myself with no rhyme or reason.

So here I am 12 hours later with a big bruise on my forehead, can barely use my right foot....not sure I haven't broken a small bone there. Looks like I won't be able to go on sales calls today.  What time does #AVATAR start on the #IMAX?

The Partridge Family--2010 Version

If music is the universal language and love is the key, then #GUITARHERO makes it easy for those that always wanted to be in a band and for one reason or other......couldn't.

I have to go back to Christmas and a gift for Dave which is always hard. He has everything, doesn't use half of it....and really doesn't want anything....except a new airplane which is waaayyyyyy out of my budget.

I remembered a couple of visits back at #Costco and Dave headed to this set of electronic drums. I know very little about the Wii or the X BOX or any of the other stuff he has. However, I did a search on google......saw the latest Guitar Hero and noticed one of the bundles came with drums, a stool for the drums, microphone and a guitar. Okay....perfect! Dave could 'perfect' his sound.

Fade to last night. Kristen on lead guitar, Dave on drums, a few Sharkwater cocktails had been consumed when Kristen coaxed "Mom......it's you on vocals!" No way, I knew that was instant humiliation. Another cocktail and I was game....and within 30 seconds was booed by the make believe crowd for my rendition of Steely Dans' "Do It Again". So we switched...Dave on drums, Kristen on vocals and yours truly on lead......what a blast. We went thru tunes by Nirvana and Lenny Kravitz and Willie Nelson and Smashing Pumpkins........so much fun. Then Dave on vocals and Kristen on drums. I was rockin' the lead guitar so I stayed there.....and stayed there for the evening.

It wasn't the Partridge Family. It was better. It was a memory that I'll have for the rest of my life. GOODNIGHT L.A......thanks for coming to the Forum!

UP IN THE AIR

The last day of the year.....and Dave and I picked a movie to see. Actually, it was 11:30AM...he was in his 'man cave' in the basement, and I yelled down (so attractive) "UP IN THE AIR STARTS IN 45 MINUTES, ARE YOU IN???????????"

That's how we decided on the movie that summed up 2009 perfectly. George Clooney (what's not to like there) as a hatchet man for CTC Career Transition Counseling....in
other words, companies hire him to go in and do the dirty work. I can't tell you much more about this movie without unraveling the plot. Kristen, our youngest daughter didn't want to see it with us because "I heard it was depressing". Not even close. If that's what's keeping you away from this movie, find another reason. It certainly touches on the human condition......and it's certainly topical......and it has George Clooney. I know I mentioned that before, but again I say "what's not to love?"

Dave and I walked out with smiles on our faces and saying in unison "So glad we saw that movie." 3 stars ***

New Year.....New Hope

I'm not much for New Years Resolutions.......but there is something very cleansing about a year. 2009 was such a tragic year for us personally. So here are our hopes and dreams for 2010.....continued success with DAVE & GERI ON DEMAND. The Dave & Geri community has gathered and is there everyday......it's attractive to sponsors and gives us a way to communicate with you on the issues of the day. Additionally, my degree is in journalism and English with a minor in public relations and advertising. I'm going to go back to work this year.....or freelance, I haven't quite made up my mind yet, although I'm sure the credit card companies wish I would decide soon:) .
Dave has found a knack in sales and is very good at it. He'll be working on a top secret promotion that will have the Dave & Geri brand back in West Michigan and across this state, doing what you would expect....and that's all I can say about that. We've been to the brink and back.....and we're incredibly excited about 2010. I hope you are too.

Much love,

Geri

BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR...YOU JUST MIGHT GET IT.

Michigan is in the toilet when it comes to the economy. We've been about 3 years ahead of the nation when it comes to layoffs, lost jobs, sending companies out of the country, etc. Staggering fact: There are 6 unemployed people for every job that is available in our state.

With that in mind...Dave and I were sitting around last week and I opened my big mouth and said 'we should do something that our listeners are doing....and get you 'out there' with holiday stories. Let's have you go thru the job search for retail. With the staggering statistic, I was fairly sure it wasn't going to happen.

Dave said his favorite two stores are (1) APPLE and (2) Brookstone. He got a call back from Brookstone and he was interviewed and hired within 24 hours.

This is the amazing thing. I'm happy working from home or in an office...it doesn't matter. Dave is sounding more like the 'old Dave'. I love both Daves'...the one that works with me at home and 'Retail Dave' who is only in this until the first week of January. I have, however, noticed something in Daves'
voice if I have to call him at work. He's happy! I get it. There are people that NEED to be with other people. They draw strength from being around others. That's Dave!

We've had a stressful few years. Major job shakeup is always going to make you search your soul. Knowing what you need to make you a happy person is crucial. If you haven't done a soul search on yourself lately, I suggest you do one now. Much more interesting to do it when you don't need it, rather than when your back is to the wall.


My Dave is smiling and is happy again. He knows and now I realize that he needs to be around other people. That's one thing I now know for sure. The other thing I know is that I'm happy when I'm sure that Daves' happy. ...and the interesting thing is: It all happened to get stories about people doing their holiday shopping.


So what else makes me happy?


That's for tomorrow..................c'mon back and we'll discuss.