Redbox delivering movie gold

As much as I like going to a theater to watch a movie, I don't do it much anymore because it is too expensive.  Unfortunately, it is becoming tougher and tougher to find a theater that sells tickets to a matinee for less than eight dollars.  It's not that I can't afford the ticket.  It's just the principle of the matter because eight dollars is too much for a matinee ticket.

The last movie I saw in a theater was at the two-dollar theater near the old Hickory Hollow Mall in Nashville.  I'm glad I went because I saw Gravity and it is a film that really needs to be seen on a big screen.  On the negative side, that is not the safest part of the city, and I feel a little uneasy there after sunset.

Because of this, Redbox has become an invaluable resource when seeing films I want to view.  Of course, this means a person has to wait a few weeks/months before seeing new releases, but I think saving the money is worth it.  In recent weeks, I've caught up on many of the critically-acclaimed films from 2013.

American Hustle, The Wolf of Wall Street, Inside Llewyn Davis, and Dallas Buyers Club have all gotten close inspection at my house in recent weeks.  Of that group, I believe American Hustle and Inside Llewyn Davis are the best.  Of the two, American Hustle is slicker, but it tells its story well and has a strong ensemble cast (Amy Adams, Christian Bale, etc.).  Inside Llewyn Davis is another strong film from the Coen Brothers and is a well-told story about a folk singer who is frequently unlikable but still compelling.

I guess the point of this post is that if a person likes movies but is sick of theater high prices then use resources like Redbox.  It does require some patience, but the savings add up.

2014 is a third complete...if you don't believe me, do the math

If it is May 1, it must mean that 2014 is one-third finished.  The math is quite simple.  We have twelve months and the fourth one just ended.  4/12 = 1/3.  I've had math on my mind a lot lately, but that is another story for another time.

The first third of the year has been eventful and flown by.  This isn't an original thought, but time does move faster as we get older.  It seems like the other day we were freezing our rear ends off in the below zero chill of January, and now, spring is in full bloom with all the spectacular colors it produces.

If we all agree time is moving fast, then we need to be about making the most of our time. This is because we aren't getting any more of it.  So, let's get things together and get the most out of the rest of the year.

As for me, I'm about to go eat chicken.  I've got a coupon from KFC.

The Braves are off to a hot start, so why can't I relax?

It's late April, and the Atlanta Braves are off to a hot start.  So, all is well, right?  I guess so, but I just can't seem to relax when it comes to this year's team.  True, we are in first place, and the pitching and defense have been good.  However, when I look at the team, I see many holes.

My anxiety may be a holdover from spring training when the team suffered key injuries.  Starting pitchers Kris Medlen and Brandon Beachy were lost for the year, and a third pitcher (Mike Minor) has been on the disabled list all season (though he is expected to return next week).

I guess the problem is I am waiting for our rag tag starting rotation to go poof.  Seriously, who expected Aaron Harang to be 3-1 with a 0.85 earned run average at this point?  Also, the entire starting rotation has an ERA under three.  Even if all these guys have good years, there's no way we can continue at this pace.

Also, the offense continues to live and die by the home run.  When we are hitting them, life is good.  When we are not, we are incapable of manufacturing runs.  For example, our starting pitchers appear allergic to bunting.  At this point, they have only managed to lay down three successful sacrifice bunts.  Call me crazy, but I think a major league player (even if it is just a pitcher) should be a skilled bunter.

Additionally, the top of the batting order is a concern.  Jason Heyward is not a prototypical lead-off hitter and has only hit around .200 so far.  He is certain to improve, but I wonder if leading off is a big distraction.  B.J. Upton as the number two hitter does not help me sleep better either.  We all know what a disaster last season was for him, and he is not exactly the contact hitter needed for the two hole.

The good news offensively is that Freddie Freeman is knocking the cover off the ball, and Evan Gattis and Justin Upton are not far behind.  Freeman and Gattis are both hitting over .300, and Justin is not far below it.

Maybe I just need to relax.  The baseball season is a marathon and not a sprint, and it's too early to get worked up about some of the things I have whined about. If there is anything I've learned about baseball, it is that a person should soak it in when his team is in first place whether it is in April or September.

Success comes and goes like the wind in baseball.