Ender's Game

I just finished Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card, and liked it a lot. The ending was weird, but we'll have to see where it takes us in Ender's Shadow, which I will read next.

---Warning may contain spoilers------

I really like the main question / theme of the book: Is is worth it to ruin the life of one to save a whole world? Well, I think that Graff choose correctly, it was worth it. And was Ender's life really ruined? Is he smart enough to become something more than just a military weapon? Sure, I think that was the whole weird-carring-the-egg ending, it was the start of him becomming more than an killing machine.

I'm really excited to see the film adaptation sometime next year. that will be interesting. Will they touch as heavily on the same themes, or just try to have the amazing battle sequences carry the movie because it would be hard to cram in the interesting moral dilemas with all the astounding action. I hope they pull it off. I haven't seen any of the movies that Wolfgang Petersen has directed (troy, perfect storm, in the line of fire, air force one, outbreak) but I have a lot of hope.

speaking of movies, who is excited for Lion Witch and the Wardrobe, Nacho Libre, King Kong and Corpus Bride?

by the way...

by the way, sam is walking like 8 steps at a time now. he may look like a drunken sailor still, but he gets more sober every day.

My sweet little sister

Danica just got married in Denver, and here are some pictures from the temple.



Here are all the barrand girls. oh, wait, i guess that there are only two barrand girls and a balio, and a mcdonald. well, at least they were all a barrand girl at some point in their life.



and the barrand boys. always and forever. well, i guess one used to be an olson. but at least we won't ever change again. man this is confusing.



Danica, you need to send me some pics from your star-wars themed reception in IL.

One year ago

Today is Samuel's birthday. He is the most awesomest kid in the universe. This picture was taken on this very special day. We went for a bike ride to celebrate.

One small step...

Sam took his first step yesterday. He went from not being able to stand by himself on saturday, to taking a "baby step" yesterday for the first time. It was awesome.

Willy vs Charlie

Last weekend I saw Tim Burtons Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. I was amazed. And it had a lot to live up to. I love burton films and I loved the original. So here is my comparision. I will give an aspect of the film then which I liked better.

Willy himself: This one goes to Gene Wilder. I loved Johnny depp, but gene's dry humor was perfect. Johnny depp was a little too over the top sometimes and by the end of the film it was a little like too much sugar.

Charlie: Little Freddie Highmore was awesome! I'm not suprised that burton paired depp and highmore again. they did so well together in Finding Neverland. He just seemed far less selfish, more volitional, and just fit the part better than the 1971 Charlie did.

Verca Salt: Definatley the Mel Stuart (1971) version. Far more bratty, and anoying.

Augustus, Violet, Mike Teevee: Way better in the burton version. I loved augustus' eyes, the way he looked around, it looked like he was just looking excitededly for the next thing to eat. Mike had much more personality. He was actually the way that kids are who get over-tv-ized, and I loved how Violet was driven to win, and pushed by her freaky mother.

Oopa Loompas: Burton's. Definatley. Hats off to Danny Elfman.

Character Detail: Burton's. There was more background on all of the characters.

Sets & Costumes: Burton's was way better. Take charlie's house for example. The Stuart version looked just like a sound stage with some thrift store furniture, whereas the Burton version looked great, with very rich detail, slanted doors and all.

In the end, I'm going to buy them both, but I did like the Burton version better.

Lake Powell

Last weekend we spent 4 days in lake powell with some family friends. It was an amazing trip

Here is the big house boat we were on.


Here are my parents with little sam. It was pretty wonderful how every time he got in his uncomfortable life vest, he just went straight to sleep instead of crying. So here he is asleep.


Here is Marcia and I up one of the little canyons. Check out the tan on that girl.


Here is me wakeboarding. This is right before one of my sorry attempts at a backflip.


Here is marcia wakeboarding.


Here is my dad Marcia and Sam happy as a clam in his life vest. (he'd be mad at me for showing him with the girly, pink binky. Sorry Sam)


Here is a sunset from the top of the houseboat.


Here is the monster cliff that my dad and I jumped off of. You can see us little specks at the top. According to the rope we dropped down, this is a 87 footer. I'll never do that again. How are your ribs dad?