D.E.A.R. Is Born

I like to do what I can to help people.  I think I've found a way to do just that.  I would like to formally announce the creation of D.E.A.R  The acronym stands for Derek's Expert Analysis and Recommendations.  My goal is to not only to help people by pointing out things that need to be changed, but I also want to help encourage and help them to find ways to accomplish that.  I want to kick this thing off with something that is very close to my heart.  Without further ado, D.E.A.R. PART I...

Dear people who start your facebook status with “Dear (fill in the blank)”,

I wanted to write to inform you that this style of status writing has run its course. I must admit that I was once pulled in by the bright light of sarcasm that seemed to ooze out as the words were typed. As a lover of everything sarcastic, it seemed that I found all of the things I was looking for in one little package. I consider myself to be one of the pioneers of this writing style (Seriously, I went back and checked dates to make sure...)

For those not familiar with what I'm talking about I'll give you a couple examples so you can feel more in the loop.  We'll start with an easy one: "Dear pants, thanks for making me feel even fatter than you did the last time."  Or, if I wanted to go all out then my status may read as follows: "Dear Arby's, thanks for getting my order wrong.  I really wanted a piece of lettuce drenched in mayonnaise in the place of three pieces of bacon and Swiss cheese.  I will be sure to come back soon."  I hope that helped.  Now, let's move on.

As one of the pioneers who helped introduce this trend to facebook-dom, I also feel that it is my duty to assist in its disbanding. Just as it goes when a hilarious joke has been told over and over again, there comes a day when you desire nothing more than finding any way to ignore a teller of that joke. In the beginning it can be the funniest thing you've ever heard, but after the five-hundredth time you want no more of it.

I believe that one day all of this “Dear So and So” and “Dear Such and Such” nonsense may be able to make a comeback. In fact, I think it is possible that it could make a comeback and be bigger than ever. The crucial part is that it is forgotten for a while now, allowed to leave, and able to come back bigger and stronger than ever.

In the mean time I challenge all of you to find a new way of writing. Find that new way that is original and distinctly you. It's time for a new trend. I have complete faith in all of you. Well, the people that read this anyway. Those who don't apparently don't have very good taste in the first place.

Love-
   Derek

P.S. Please know that this was not intended to be directed at any one specific person. I even waited a couple of days to post this to try to avoid even the appearance of it being directed at anyone.

Prison Dollar Breaky

Two years and some odd months ago I began a relationship with the hit Fox TV show Prison Break. I began watching the show a little into the third season. While I wasn’t completely sure who all the characters were or how the plot had progressed to this point, the mixture of intelligence with suspense and action were enough to make me an addict from almost the very beginning. I continued to watch through the end of that season and looked forward to seeing what would happen in the fourth. I should mention that I had started watching the show with my friend, Jason. As the fourth season commenced he decided that he wanted to watch the first couple of seasons that we had not seen before he started with the new one. I couldn’t wait and watched the fourth while he and I, along with his wife, caught up on the previous seasons.  

Fast forward some time and I, very unfortunately, found out that the show would be cancelled at the end of the current season. What was to be the season finale had now become the series finale. I must admit that as the season had unfolded I found myself wondering how they could possibly dig themselves out of the current storyline and make for a realistic and satisfying ending. The two hour finale started with all of the drama and suspense I could have hoped for and I quickly moved to the edge of my seat. Near the end I found myself content with the path they had taken. Although it was a bit unbelievable, given what they had to work with and needing to finish the show they had done about the best that they could. T-Bag had been put back in jail and the rest of the main characters were freed of all charges. A subtitle on the screen indicates that time has moved forward four years since then and it seems that there is some kind of reunion forming. As the characters leave their loved ones you see that they are gathering in Panama. This is shaping up to end just the way I wanted. But, wait a second. Where’s Michael? Everyone seems to be here but him. He had that nose bleed on the beach, but that had to have had something to do with the stress of everything going on. He had surgery to have the problem with his brain fixed earlier in the season. What are they all looking at?

WHAT?! Michael is dead? This just went to being the worst show ever. It is the TV equivalent to what Million Dollar Baby is to the movie world. I heard rave reviews about the movie. Talk of all the awards it was going to get was everywhere. I decided that it was time that I should check it out. Worst ending ever. Again, another great start with a crushing ending. If you’ve seen it you know exactly what I’m talking about. If not, please do not waste your time. The blow I felt at the end of that movie was only a small percentage of the hurt and betrayal I felt at the end of Prison Break. I think I very well might have cried had I not been screaming so much. Look at what you’ve done to me Prison Break--look at me. Or should I say Prison Dollar Breaky…

Love-
   Derek

Welcome

Welcome to my blog.  First, I want to explain the name.  I picked Love-Derek since I figured that would be an easy way to end each entry while tying my random thoughts together into something that would fit into one blog.  That way I can be as sincere or sarcastic (or anywhere in between) as I want to be.  I’m not going to tie myself down with any kind of guidelines as to when I will post entries.  There may be times when I am putting things on here often, but there may also be times when I might go weeks or even months.  I don’t see the latter happening very often, but I’m just covering my bases.  So, I hope enjoyment can be found here from at least time to time.  Here goes… 

Love-
   Derek