Litany of Godzilla – Lost Legendarys (C)

Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire

2024

Sometimes I don't notice how much insane stuff happens in these films until I write them up like this.

This is truly a Kong story, but with proper deference to Godzilla as the King of Monsters.

Three years after their last fight, because they've finally started to "get it," 

we open on scenes of Kong and Godzilla with NO PEOPLE. WOO!

Y'know, It's Hard Not To Like This, Okay - December 19, 2024

Due to Anabelle having an afternoon final the last possible day, I continued my trend of enjoying "other people's" shows at the most famous venue in this country. Rosa and I went to see Andrea Bocelli's 30th Anniversary tour the second night he was at Madison Square Garden. She had wanted to see him since before we'd met, and the timing, location and everything else had never worked out before. Because of the ticket magic she had conjured for Anabelle, we had a credit in Ticketmaster when this show was announced. 

Disneyland 2024- Day 3: May 14

The App Is Useless So We Literally Met Geppetto Two Times

Disneyland 2024- Day 2: May 13

We Begin To Practice The Hippie Art of Manifesting Characters Because The App Is Useless

The Other Italian Heavyweight Champion

 

After playing Rocky Marciano through the Rocky movie fights, I've adopted that "Gauntlet" as a way to enjoy myself with Fight Night Champion for an evening without having to spend time picking bouts. Since there's a lot of variety in the opponents, it makes for an interesting evening.

George Awards: Tell Him You'd Make a Terrific Juror

 Warning

This post contains bad, foul, filthy and unacceptable language - the words that “will curve your spine, grow hair on your hands and maybe, even bring us, God help us, peace without honor.”

This is not a post for children.  Kids, take a hike.

This is also not a post for those adults who are offended by this type of language.  Do yourself a favor, and go read some of my cute stuff before moral outrage can kick in.

Just about everything else on this blog is clean…Stupid sometimes, but clean.

End of Warning.

Mighty Catchy Stuff: Mob Hits

 

This one has family connections like last week's, but in a broader sense.  

A Segue Puzzle

 

Movies are in my blood. They have been how my family communicates for all of my life.

Up the Lake Raft Battle Part 1

When I posted the newest Up the Lake tale I was looking to link to a detailed reference to “the weeds” I knew I had written.  After digging in ancient folders I learned I never posted this long lost tale.  

Sherman, set the Wayback machine for Labor Day Weekend Up the Lake, 1997.

N-joy!!!
 

Mediocre Moments in Naval Warfare
Or...
Not to Be Used as a Flotation Device
 

Transylvania 6-5000 “I Didn’t Know That”s

First, another apology. 

Unlike a majority of my posts, which are almost totally for only my family, this post is one hundred percent COMPLETELY for my family.

Debut Album Support

Hey, remember last fall when I reported on my Nth cousin Xce removed Bobby Conte Thornton's Rat Pack/ Broadway style one man show?  (Click here if you don't)

Well, he's trying to release a CD to have it recorded for posterity.

Since I want a copy, I'm using today's post to plug it and help make sure he meets his goal.  I know I'm behind on reviews, but this is an Italian family thing, they take priority.

Click here for the kickstarter link.   There's a sample of an Alan Menken penned song he performs there.

I can personally vouch for both the awesomeness of his performing and his grandmother's lasagna.


When I first saw the playlist, I was a little disappointed that "The Worst Thing I Could Do" didn't make the cut.

Then I thought about it, and realized you really gotta see that one live to get the full impact.

The rest of the set more than makes up for it, and if it does well, we'll probably get more live shows too.   Bonus!

So Far, His Youth is Pretty Darn Good

The whole Disney Trip Clan of my immediate family drove out to Port Washington, New York to see my Nth Cousin Xce Removed Bobby Conte Thornton in his oneish man show: Blame it on My Youth, at Eight PM on Friday October 19. 

Because he had a special guest in something he normally does alone (with a four piece backup band) I called it a “oneish” man show.

Because we were worried about making it through start of weekend traffic from New Jersey to Long Island, we left…

Tuesday.

A Family Rooted Bronx Tale

Those of us who’ve been tracking my Nth cousin Xce removed Bobby Conte-Thornton’s theatrical career figured it wouldn’t be long before he was appearing on Broadway.

But man, does that kid know how to make an entrance.

Up the Lake: Bugs Part 3

Click here for Part 1

Click here for Part 2

Other insect related adventures were also connected to a club.  This time, the location of the rocks was directly behind Nick’s kitchen.  For anyone wondering, how this qualified as “far from being viewed by wherever the parents are hanging out?”

We spent most of our time there during the day while everyone else was down the Lake.

The first order of business was deciding that this was going to be a club focused on nature…

No, I take that back.

Tops on a Scale of One to Tenor

My Nth cousin Xce removed Bobby Conte-Thornton’s rapidly rising star recently brought him to the illustrious McCarter Theater in Princeton.

I still don’t have much clue about the world of plays. I’m using “illustrious” based on the two Tony’s they have in the lobby, not any personal experience. The only acts I’ve seen there are New Wave A Capella singing group The Bobs (who I’ve also seen in a small church, and an artsy-folksy coffee house type restaurant) and the original line up of juggling legends the Flying Karamazov Brothers. (Sadly, jugglers never make a joint illustrious.)

A Big Brother Story

Hey folks.

I’m handing the reins off to “Cousin Michael from Florida” today. Below you’ll find an awesome and heartfelt tribute to his big brother.

Just goes to show:

A) The writing bug runs rampant through my family.

B) Placing those descended from Italians in the Bronx into wilderness settings leads to entertaining chaos both North and South of the Mason Dixon Line.

C) We take our family bonds seriously.

Take it away, Mike-

There is no other bond like the relationship between siblings. For many of us its simply the comfort of knowing you can depend on somebody for things in times of need. I don't mean material things. I mean the things that can't be measured. The intangibles. Things like advice, consolation, sharing and most of all laughter and love.

Recently I lost my only sibling. My brother died in his sleep. He was older than me. It's been very hard to get over. Part of the reason may be because I've only known life with him. Now I have to learn what life is like for the first time without him. So far the only thing I've learned is that I don't think I'll ever get over his passing. I just have to learn to live without him.

My family has been extremely supportive. One of my cousins told me he thought it might do me some good to recall some of the memories of times I've spent with my brother. Putting them on paper might act as a sort of therapy. I agreed and I'm glad I did. It was fun reliving the old fun times we had. I would challenge anybody that has a sibling to do the same thing. Do it now and don't wait until they're no longer with us. Chances are they need a laugh too.

The following story is a recall of just one of the many great times we spent together. I hope you enjoy it.

Family Fight Festivities

The first boxing matches I remember seeing were down in the basement with my Grandfather. Whenever they’d visit, we’d move the little TV down there to my Grandparents’ bedroom to allow him to watch “The Fights.” Being an old Italian from the Bronx in the time before political correctness existed; he would root for “the white guy.”

To clarify: he was watching said fights on Proto-Telemundo and Ur-Univision UHF stations in Spanish. The only way he could see any picture at all through the static was by running about twelve feet of tin foil off the antennae and across a nearby picture frame. Honestly, with that image and sound quality, “white guy” was more akin to the lighter shade of chess pieces being referred to as “white” than any racial delineation.

Godfather "I Didn't Know That"s: Part III

After a brief trip through some early 90’s professional wrestling (There weren’t many intelligent thoughts to write out of that. It did inspire me to exercise more fiercely with the occasional yell of, “OOOH YEAHHH!” though.) I continued the commentaries folowing Part I and Part II.

Part III was tough. 

Godfather "I Didn't Know That"s: Part II

Click Here for Part I

Godfather "I Didn't Know That"s: Part I

I watched The Godfather films with the director’s commentary while exercising.  Since almost everyone I mention DVD commentaries to says, “I’ve never listened to them,” I present these lists of entertaining stuff I didn't know as a public service. 

I’ve confirmed most of the list in other books and websites.  There may still be errors, but that serves as a lesson to listen to them yourself next time.