Day 117 – Sauce



Day 117 – Sauce
By Jiddoe S'Phatt


Warmest greetings! My name is Jiddoe S’Phatt. Welcome to Day 117 of “Blog 365”.
A little piece of me goes into each entry I write. I hope you enjoy this one!
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My sauce pan was ready. All the ingredients were in front of me, ready to be combined. It was time to start making my homemade enchilada sauce. But I couldn’t. Not right away. My mind wasn’t fully on cooking.

My thoughts were preoccupied by ‘Avengers: Infinity War’. A day later I was still in awe of the film I’d seen. From its many standout moments one was dominating my imagination.

Thanos beat up the Hulk. Convincingly.

This altercation was meant to shock the audience. It was done to establish how much of a threat Thanos was to Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. And it worked like a charm.

Hulk rushed him out of nowhere, pounding him as expected. Then, to the surprise of everyone, he out muscles Hulk before treating him like a heavy bag at the gym where young Mike Tyson worked out. Combinations of brutal punches followed by a crippling knee to the face. To add insult to injury Thanos scooped up Hulk and emphatically body slammed him.

Sauce.



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Day 116 – Wait … What?



Day 116 – Wait … What?
By Jiddoe S'Phatt


Warmest greetings! My name is Jiddoe S’Phatt. Welcome to Day 116 of “Blog 365”.
A little piece of me goes into each entry I write. I hope you enjoy this one!
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The theater was mostly silent as ‘Avengers: Infinity War’ came to a close. With good reason.

I predicted some of the characters would meet their end at the hands of Thanos. But that many??!!

Emotions hung in the air longer than the scent of popcorn. People walked out perplexed, angry, sad, and everything else. I just needed to collect my thoughts. The movie left me with a lot to process. Earlier I was so excited I could hardly sit still. After seeing the film I just wanted to sit down.

I exited left out of the theater towards the emergency exit that’s directly in front of the parking lot. When I got to the doors I just stood there for a moment. Part of me wanted to turn around, head to the lobby to purchase another ticket so I could watch ‘Infinity War’ again immediately.

I need to confirm what I’d just witnessed on the big screen. I was unsure what happened really happened. Like passing a bear on the side of the road.
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Day 115 – Wait



Day 115 – Wait
By Jiddoe S'Phatt


Warmest greetings! My name is Jiddoe S’Phatt. Welcome to Day 115 of “Blog 365”.

A little piece of me goes into each entry I write. I hope you enjoy this one!
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The wait is almost over.

In just a couple hours I’ll finally be sitting in a movie theater watching ‘Avengers: Infinity War’. Ten years of storytelling will come to an end. All my questions will be answered. Each of my theories will be proven right or wrong.

Seeing this movie is what I’ve thought about most today.

I purchased advanced tickets and paid extra for assigned seats. I’m not standing in a line outside the theater. I won’t be lined up in the lobby waiting for someone to say it’s okay to go in. There’s no worry of will there be good seats left.

I know there’s good seats. I picked them out. It’s been assured and my receipt proves it.

I’m going to walk in that theater holding whatever snacks I’ve decided on, sit down, and wait for that Marvel signature to appear on screen, getting me even more excited then I’ll already be while sitting there.

Out of courtesy they should forego any previews and get right to the film. No more waiting. Just get right to it.
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Day 114 – Five



Day 114 – Five
By Jiddoe S'Phatt


Warmest greetings! My name is Jiddoe S’Phatt. Welcome to Day 114 of “Blog 365”.

A little piece of me goes into each entry I write. I hope you enjoy this one!
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I sat on my living room floor, my hands pressed into the carpet at my sides, watching Iron Man, Hulk, and Wonder Woman challenge a newly formed Voltron with no success.

As powerful as the 3 of them are individually, even their combined superhero efforts paled to against the might of The Legendary Defender. At least not while my son was controlling the giant robot.

It was his 5th birthday. Of his many requests, he wanted Voltron - a character and toy I loved and desired to own as a child too. He was clear on not wanting a Voltron that was already assembled. He wanted the full set of its 5 robot lions so he could himself assemble it.

The Black, Red, Green, Blue and Yellow lions today a bit cooler than their toy versions I got in the 80s. This Voltron talks. As the 4 smaller pieces are merged with the larger Black Lion, it audibly acknowledges their placement then calls for the remaining parts. Pretty cool.

My now 5-year-old was all smiles as all 5 lions formed Voltron in our living room. I was smiling too.

Iron Man, Hulk, and Wonder Woman soon had no reason to smile.
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Day 113 – Marvel



Day 113 – Marvel
By Jiddoe S'Phatt



Warmest greetings! My name is Jiddoe S’Phatt. Welcome to Day 113 of “Blog 365”.
A little piece of me goes into each entry I write. I hope you enjoy this one!

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I’m a fan of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, indeed. I’m also inspired by it. I admire it. They’ve been telling one long story for 10 years. It’s a tale that’s garnered unwavering investment from audiences around the world for an entire decade.

Back in 2008 when ‘Iron Man’ wrapped, I remember lingering in the theater having a conversation as the credits rolled. I and the few other people still in there were caught completely off guard when the post-credits scene started.

Every one of was stunned to see Samuel Jackson as Nick Fury. Then he mentioned “The Avengers Initiative”. From that moment on I salivated for an Avengers movie, a film I still drool over even though I’ve watched it, oh, 45 times? 50?

I’ve watched it an insane amount of times.

Seeing it for the first in the theater was the best, though. I can still hear the packed house explode with excitement when Thanos was revealed at the end. A story I thought was just building to where we were in 2012 was actually just getting started.

In a couple days I’ll finally see the culmination of 10 years of storytelling. It’s impressive, inspiring, and darn admirable.

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Day 112 - Joseph



Day 112 - Joseph
By Jiddoe S'Phatt



Warmest greetings! My name is Jiddoe S’Phatt. Welcome to Day 112 of “Blog 365”.
A little piece of me goes into each entry I write. I hope you enjoy this one!

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I used to be better about remembering birthdays. I stayed on top of dates and was prepared to send my blessing and best wishes ahead of time.

These days they slip by me, regrettably, unless I’m scheduling something. Looking at the calendar triggers a reminder. It happened today.

The birthday it prompted was my grandfather’s. Joseph. The man I was named after.

I lost him 5 years ago to cancer just a couple weeks after losing my grandmother, his wife, to a stroke. I think about them all the time. What’s funny is just 4 days ago I was sharing with neighbors the stories my grandfather shared with me about Pearl Harbor during his time in the Navy.

Yet 4 days later and, had I not looked at the calendar for something un-grandparent related, I would have likely missed acknowledging his birthday.

I remember him being busy and forgetful. He’d forgive me.
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Day 111 – Cheese



Day 111 – Cheese
By Jiddoe S'Phatt


Warmest greetings! My name is Jiddoe S’Phatt. Welcome to Day 111 of “Blog 365”.
A little piece of me goes into each entry I write. I hope you enjoy this one!

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I’ve waited 10 years for these. Now I have them.

I stood in line at the Regal Cinema box office patiently waiting. Once it was my turn I approached the window with a smile on my face. A big one. Full cheese.

“I need 3 tickets for ‘Avengers: Infinity War’, Thursday at 7PM!”

The person at the counter started smiling too. “I’ve had my tickets for 4 weeks,” she remarked, excitedly. The feeling is apparently as universal as I’ve imaged.

I’ve never been this hype for a movie. I’ve never anticipated the theatrical release of a film as much as I have this one. I’ve read numerous articles and watched cast interviews from just about every major news outlet available. Each one gets me more pumped! The only other movie that comes close is ‘Avengers’ in 2012.

And soon I’ll finally get to learn if Marvel’s 10 years of cinematic storytelling is worth the tremendous buildup.

If it is I assure you I’ll be buying more tickets to see it again. With a smile on my face. A big one. Full cheese.
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Day 110 – Yes, I Am Joe



Day 110 – Yes, I Am Joe
By Jiddoe S'Phatt


Warmest greetings! My name is Jiddoe S’Phatt. Welcome to Day 110 of “Blog 365”.
A little piece of me goes into each entry I write. I hope you enjoy this one!

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I was lucky enough to attend “To Ray with Love”, music legend Maceo Parker’s tribute concert to his Idol Ray Charles at Wharton Center in East Lansing, MI last night. Great show.

As I was strolling through the lobby once it ended I was startled by someone inquisitively shouting my name.

“Joe?!”

I responded by turning suddenly to see an excited lady I didn’t recognize and about 9 other strangers grouped together by a bench. She asked, “Aren’t you Joe the singer?”

No, ma’am, I’m not.

“You look just like him!”

Just like him, though? I don’t think so. My name is Joe, by the way. Only my last name is Walker. His is Thomas. I can still sing something for you if you’d like.

They all laughed, she and two ladies sitting on her immediate left and right looked embarrassed as they roared while falling against each other.

“Well, you look just like him! Has anyone ever told you that?”

Yes, but only about 105,000 times since I was in high school … 20 years ago.

I don’t think Joe Thomas and I look anything alike.
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Day 109 – Maceo!



Day 109 – Maceo!
By Jiddoe S'Phatt



Warmest greetings! My name is Jiddoe S’Phatt. Welcome to Day 109 of “Blog 365”.
A little piece of me goes into each entry I write. I hope you enjoy this one!

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I’m one of the lucky ones today. I get to attend a Maceo Parker concert. This is something I never thought I’d do. Growing up hearing the music of the late “Godfather of Soul” James Brown and him shouting “Maceo!” during performances, Parker to me was more of a myth.

As a kid I didn’t know what Maceo looked like. I just knew he was someone Brown gave frequent shout outs. I didn’t know how key of a band member he was. I was unaware of his role with Parliament-Funkadelic. 

Grown-up-me learned about the music legend that is Maceo Parker; he’s a motivating band leader, a doubler, a soulful singer, and dynamic jazz saxophonist who fully embraced the funk, the whole funk, and nothing but the funk.

Tonight I've been gifted the pleasure to experience Maceo’s music during “To Ray with Love”, his orchestral tribute to his idol, the late Ray Charles.

Yep. Lucky me.
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Day 104 – According to the Calendar



Day 104 – According to the Calendar
By Jiddoe S'Phatt


Warmest greetings! My name is Jiddoe S’Phatt. Welcome to Day 104 of “Blog 365”.
A little piece of me goes into each entry I write. I hope you enjoy this one!

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When you’re as involved in entertainment as I am, you value trips to events. I look forward to drives from city to city because it allows me time to be trapped with my ideas. I can go over them, process them, and talk my way through them without any other voices but my own.

The problem is I’m tired of driving in the snow. For starters, it’s Spring according to the calendar. Michigan apparently has other ideas. Ones it’s not simply talking through, but implementing with literal chilling results.

The last thing I want to do in April before heading to a play, movie, listening session or concert is brush a mound of snow off my vehicle!

I heard someone say how pretty it looked outside with everything covered in snowflakes. I didn’t have to ask to know they weren’t from around here. Out of respect they should have said that to themselves in their head.

That’s an idea.
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Day 103 – Spur of the Moment



Day 103 – Spur of the Moment
By Jiddoe S'Phatt


Warmest greetings! My name is Jiddoe S’Phatt. Welcome to Day 103 of “Blog 365”.
A little piece of me goes into each entry I write. I hope you enjoy this one!

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The 2018 NBA Playoffs started today. I cleared my schedule to watch what I hoped would be an exciting professional basketball game between the #7 ranked San Antonio Spurs vs the defending NBA Champions, the 2nd ranked Golden State Warriors.

With both Westcoast teams missing their best player due to injury – Stephen Curry for the Warriors and Kawhi Leonard for the Spurs – I expected San Antonio’s All-star center LaMarcus Aldridge to come up huge in this game. His toughness and consistency are often questioned, so this would have been the perfect opportunity to prove himself in front of a major viewing audience.

After scoring just 14 points in a 21-point loss while also getting out played by the Warriors’ JaVale McGee, this moment looked like more than Aldridge could handle.

Of course I couldn’t do any better. I can still expect it, though.

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