Spidey-sense

The most excited I've been coming out of a movie in the past 10 years was
walking out of Spider-Man a couple years back. I came out of there feeling
like I could shoot webs out of my wrists.

The most emotionally drained I've been coming out of a movie in the past 10
years was walking out of Spider-Man 2 today. I came out of there feeling
like being a superhero might be even harder than being a sports editor at a
small-town newspaper.

These movies continue to reach into my own hopes and fears and pull
something out. A heavy theme in the new one, aside from a lot of amazing
action sequences, is the inability to be what you want to be due to your
own perceived limitations of life.

The beauty of this movie, on the "analyzing it way too deep" end, is an
implied message at the end. If you let the right people into your life,
they'll continue to love you no matter what you have to do.

I still came out of the movie thinking I could sling webs from my wrist. I
didn't make the same "fssshhht" noises I did the last time I saw a
Spider-Man movie, as I was with my dad and didn't want to visit the local
loonie bin.

And as for the other Spidey ability, climing walls? I have a hunch I might
have that by the end of my week in Ohio. I'm quickly reminded that, as much
as I like seeing all the people, there's something to be said for returning
to your own bed each night and not having to pull clothing out of a dufflebag.

Big kids

The visit back home really hit full force today, as I had a chance to see
three branches of the expansive family tree.

Each one left me thinking the same thing... there are reasons I'd like to
return to living and working in Ohio some day.

I don't know what's more touching:

* My niece Katie practically smothered me at church this morning when her
family came into mass. She barely gave me enough room to my side to breath.

* I met my newest niece, Alexis, at her mom and dad's house. There's
nothing like holding a newborn child in the world. I can't even begin to
imagine what it's like when the child's actually yours. She woke up while I
was holding her, looked up at me and sort of gave this look like, "Yeah,
you're OK, even if I don't know you." Of course, at less than a week old.
I'm probably just a huge octagon too, although she won't learn that word
for seven or eight years.

* Her big sister, Shelby, treated me like a jungle gym for most of the
visit when I wasn't holding her little sister. Shelby's sort of married
into the family (not officially yet, but for all practical purposes she
is), but it's really nice in my family that we accept "steps" so well. She
accepts me too, to the tune of about 20 minutes worth of bucking bronco
rides, which involves me on the floor on all fours, bouncing my back up and
down while she tries to stay on. It's great fun for everyone except my back.

* I taught my niece Cassie how to throw a spiral with a football. I don't
know why she wanted to know, but it's one of the few things athletically I
can share with the world, so I was game. We played for a long time.

A lot of times when I come home, I'm overcome by the sheer numbers of
people involved in my rather large family. Today was nice, since it was
broken down by branches of the family tree. These are the more tender
moments, the ones that make you realize family is a very, very good thing
to have.

Stupid hijacking

Twice in the last month, my web browser has been "hijacked."

For those of you lucky enough to never have this happen, a hijacking is when your home page changes or favorites are added without your permission. This happens when you end up on a Web site with absolutely no ethics whatsoever. Then, before you know it, you have shortcuts for Golden Casino and other such nonsense all over your computer.

The one I hit yesterday was particularly frustrating. It changed my home page, and every time I reboot the computer, it resets back to what it wants the home page to be. That's really irritating in this case, since the page wants you to install a bunch of software and won't take no for an answer.

I still haven't fixed it, although I did have the sense to create a shortcut to my home page of choice (http://news.google.com) and put it where my regular Internet Explorer button was.

I just have to wonder what kind of marketing strategy this is for Web sites. The closest comparison I can think of is watching TV. You turn on the TV and flip it to your favorite show. Then someone else in the room changes the channel with another remote to a different show. You flip back. They change it again.

At what point are you just going to say, "Well, that's what they want me to watch, so I'll watch it"?

Or are you going to get beligerant, go over there and smack the other person around?

So if anyone knows who came up with this method of forcing us onto certain Web sites, warn them. I'm looking for them, and I'm bringing my circuitboard knuckles.