The Soprano's Box Complete Series

Greetings Readers

There was no question, no hesitation, and no expense that I had to purchase the complete Soprano’s series boxed set DVDs right away.

With me being a die-hard fan and still a faithful watcher to this day, I had to get this set as soon as possible.

And with the release of this set this past week I knew I had a chance before the week was up that the sale price would be a good price to buy the complete Soprano’s series at. Basically, Target had the lowest price at 249.99. That was that. I knew that once the week was over the opening week sale price was going to go to normal MSRP. And once after the first week was over I knew the complete series will be staying at normal price for a while.

Why? Well first it is an HBO set, which means any DVD sets hardly go on sale until four years later or so. And in between now and Christmas I highly doubt there is going to be a bigger sale price on the Complete Soprano’s seasons DVD set. Either buy the set now or wait, which the set will not get any cheaper. Or that much cheaper than what I paid.

Needless to say, I bought the set and I am so glad I did. The big reason that I decided to buy the set was that I have been waiting and waiting until the Season Six, Part II to come down in price. What I mean is that for the eight episodes HBO still wanted full price of a regular season (roughly $ 80.00). To me, that was a rip off. So ever since seeing the last episode I have not be able to see the second part of Season six.

When I got to Target and saw the Soprano’s I picked up the box and it was heavy. And I mean heavy. But the weight of the complete series I held in my hands I knew I was about to be reunited with my second family.

Tone, Carm, AJ and Med. A family not so much different than our families that we may know. I know that it is a fictional family, but it is pretty close to dysfunctional to a family that you may know of. Besides being dysfunctional, the Soprano’s are a family that you could relate to on another level.

I care about the family. I feel their heartaches, their anger and their issues. All in all they have secrets, have race issues, money issues, life issues and day-to-day relationship issues that are not much different from our issues in life. To say that is not true is not accepting that it is true.

Anyway, this past weekend I made it a Season Six – Part Two marathon. I had to catch up where I left the family last. Those last eight episodes are pretty remarkable. Written, directed and nicely put together those eight episodes gave us “the beginning of the end”

I could not help to reflect on the last commercial I saw for Season Six – Part Two being released on DVD. The woman crying because she saw two garbage men throwing a rolled carpet up in the trash dump truck in an alley, the black guy crying when he sees a heavy set guy walk past him by in a track suit. The man crying in the deli over deli meats he sees in the window counter display. And lastly, the guy crying outside a train store window that holds a model train set being run.

That commercial ranks up in my top 5 commercials of all time. Yes, it was sad to see those last eight episodes. Bobby, AJ, Christopher, Uncle Junior, Silvio, to name the “good guys.” And then a couple of the bad guys, Johnny (I have to admit I got choked up), Phil (oh yes!). Overall, I did mimic that commercial, I shed a tear and then some.

Readers, I want to tell you about my favorite scenes and episodes, but I am sure that some of you Readers have not seen the Soprano’s and perhaps are waiting to see the Soprano’s when the time is right.

Getting back to the box set. Beautifully put together. There is a black box made out of sturdy material as opposed to just cardboard. Inside the box is a black velvet-like bag that contains a “family” album. An album like you Readers might have for photos. The album is also black with red lettering of “the Soprano’s” on the front of the album. Inside the album contains album like pages made out of very sturdy material. Pretty thick pages so the pages will not get bent. Each page holds four discs (two on each side). At the back of the album there is are some pages that give a brief description of each of the season’s episode. Unlike the normal description, these brief descriptions are to the point and are pretty humorous to read. Funny, but to the point.

I just love my family Album. With my box Seasons of the Soprano’s I plan to give them to my parents.

Anyway, I am very, very proud to own and say that I have the complete series of the Soprano’s on DVD. I can see Paulie, Pie o Mine, Big Pussy, Dr. Melfi, Hesch, Vito, Agent Harris, “Ichabod Crane”, to name a few characters whenever I want. 86 Episodes, 33 DVD’s, over 3 ½ hours of extra stuff. Nice.

And in my opinion - the last scene of the Soprano’s that has the song playing “Don’t Stop Believing” is very good. To this day I still wonder. The Soprano’s getting together in a restaurant after all that has happened and Tony’s last look, supposedly, to the front door of the restaurant then the scene goes black. Wow.

Mad? Yes. Yet, after being mad it was a perfect ending to the Soprano’s. Granted, I wanted an ending to wrap up loose ends, but then again whatever happened to the Russian in the forest in the middle of winter?

I am still wondering about what ever happened to that Russian that “supposedly” got shot. So, with the series finale you Readers can see that David Chase is not unfamiliar to leaving loose ends open.

P.S. To be honest I miss Tony, Carmella, A.J. and Meadow as much as miss my parents and brother. The Soprano’s are as real as my family. I did care about the Soprano’s and always hoped the best for them.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

The RTD Light Rail incident in Lonetree, CO

Greetings People

Well, I guess... er I know, my mood has gotten better, improved one might say, over the past 24 hours.

As I have mentioned in the past, I think. Well, maybe not on this blog, but sometimes "It is the little things in life that might bring a smile to your face"

Well, I walking to the light rail station after work yesterday. Still full of piss and vineager one might say. Actually, I would relate myself to was that I was walking with attitude and the chip on my shoulder from when I woke up was still there. Oh yes, sometimes you wake up with an attitude and that stays for the whole day. As was the case with me on this particular day. So, I was walking with my head high, taking long strides and with the face of "Don't fuck me with" mood all over.

A woman was "pacing" from which I saw from a distance, but I thought she was just waiting for the light rail started making a straight line for me and I knew she had her sights on me, but I gave no acknowledgement of her. I kept my eyes straight and my stride was still strong. Then, those immortal words were spoken by her "Excuse me. excuse me." I had picked up my pace so she actually had to pick up her pace in order to intercept me from getting by her. Oh, I nearly lost my cool. I did not want to do a survey tonight, nor could I fucking care less about how you have no money and need to borrow a dollar to get home. As you readers know, I have my Russian "girlfriend" asking for money and you know that outcome. I was not even going to give any money away - especially today. And more importantly no dollar to an American woman this evening.

So, getting back to story I turned my head to her, showed my "who the fuck do you think you are?!" face and said "yes" in cold, terminator voice. She then start a speel and I gave her less than 10 seconds in my mind to wrap it up. She said she was sorry on behalf of RTD and please accept this gift from her, RTD. I might of mentioned before - I was wound up, like a crack ho needing some drugs, and I said something to the effect "what is the catch?!" I was still having the attitude and I was not going to give her any of my information nor was I going to sign any papers. She said "Nothing. free." Immediately, I got rid of the attitude and came down from the archs of heaven and joined the rest of the human race on earth and said "thank you" with remorse in my voice. I managed a smile and became submissive in this conversation. I think, I said sorry for my initial "coldness", but I did follow up with more thank you's since the initial thank you I said.

The gift was a $ 5.00 dollar gift card to Starbucks. I hate to say this, but that $ 5.00 dollar gift card turned my day right around. Not just because of $ 5.00 dollars, but the gift itself. I thought and have been thinking about buying my Large Mocha Frap with whipped cream in my "OG" coffee mug from the 90's tomorrow.

In closing, yes I am human and yes I have my days where I want to be left alone. I realize how bold it was her to approach me in what I am sure she saw hostilty in me. She took her chance with me and now I post my "I am sorry" to her even though she will never know most likely.

Until the next time readers...

Daryl Charley

The Fallen Athlete

My Russian Woman and new DVD player

Greetings People

I think that I am almost up to being well. I have a slight cough, I am still blowing my nose like crazy and I have stopped taking any medication. All this is a good sign and I do not have to worry about having a relapse.

Although, today I woke up in a foul mood. Well, let me tell you I think that it started yesterday afternoon and I was getting pissed more and more every hour. Nothing to mention since there are many people who might read the reason why I am fucking pissed off. No need to bring any more conflict into my life. I have learned that you have to let it go.

Oh by the way, in case one of you readers are wondering if it is the person who did not say "thank you" to me when I held two doors open for you. It is not that, but as you can tell I am still not over that. I would probably let it go if it was one door, but two doors and no thank you. Well, that is just plain rude. Oh yes I know who this person is and I this particular face is hard not to remember.

Guess what folks? My russian woman has email me that she is coming to the US and wants some help with some money to finance her visa. I was laughing hard at this. I was laughing so hard that I was coughing, since I am still sick. Oh, I am not that easy. ::snicker:: I guess I better let you on this. I had googled her name (information) early in our correspondence and guess what - she is a scammer. Apparently, she sends out emails to guys, and yes I saw the same exact emails that were sent to me that were posted on a scammer identification site. I also saw the same pictures that were sent to me that were sent to other people. I also read that other guys that did post to the site did send money to her. How stupid are these guys. If you are desperate guys - stay in the US, go to bar/nightclub or something local. Sending money to a foreign woman and expecting her to come for you alone is a "sucker bet" Get off the computer and go socialize with the real world. There are women, US women, out there looking also. Yes, you got an email from a foreign woman that says you are wonderful, she tells you about her "life", she sends you pictures of herself, etc. I started emailing with her about two months ago so now it two months into emailing back and forth and I was just waiting for the day she was "going to come to the US and she needs money". hah hah. I could of busted her on this, but I did enjoy getting her emails. No loss for me, except to enjoy another experience of life. She was leading me on, but more importantly I was leading her on, by taking two months from her life. I guess we will see or not, since I have given her this link in one of my emails.

That is another thing. I am sure that any emails they send are full of information and I am sure that all the info is bogus. Anyway, I have responded to a few, to make sure that she knows that I am still interested. 99 % percent of the time I never got any answers to my questions I asked. She can write a email, with such adverbs and colorful adjectives, but the sentence structure was awful. I responded with bogus information also and never pledged "my love" to her. I said this and that, nothing concrete. Just like a pen pal.

Oh alright, I better get going, but let me see if I can find some pictures to show you. She is cute though - if it is her =) Nothing dirty, but pictures of her in different poses. Oh, I could go on and on this subject. Perhaps this is something I can talk about indepth later. Thinking about this more and more I could actually talk a lot about this. Kind of interesting when I have started to think about this more and more.

As I blogged the other day about my new contacts I decided to buy an impulse gift for me and that was a portable DVD player. Yes, I do like it. It is no name brand, but for 90 dollars I could not resist. You know what this is really? - that is the $ 90.00 dollars that Julia could of had in order to help her cause to get to the US just for me - HAHAHAHAHHAHA. I will think of Julia everytime I watch a movie on my portable DVD player! Now my friend, that is my love pledged.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

First day of the Last Month in 2006

Greetings People

I have to say that it was pretty interesting doing some searches on Blogger.com by different words. I only browsed for about an hour and a half, but I was able to "surf" the entire North American region - I went from PA, to Buffafo, to Portland, then to South Carolina, then Halifax and then finished up in New York. Sort of a mixed bag of info. Only a couple blogs really caught my eye and gave me some ideas on a direction for next year, which I am already planning.

Oh I almost forgot to tell you about which direction I am thinking about - planning a biking journal perhaps, or maybe a wealth of useless info maybe. I could do a daily blog of riding, but that does not really sound interesting, unless something happens. Yet true to life, about 95 percent of the time something does happen to me while riding around "my hood".

I am someone unique. Yes, I know that we all are unique, but I am more unique that you think. I have mentioned some words about me and after reading them again to myself I am someone you may relate to, but would never admit it. Hah hah.

Well, Just a quick blog and then I am going to think more about this blogging direction this weekend and see what sort of ideas that I might come up with.

I know this might be rambling you are reading, but that is what a "blog" means to me. It is also some of the things that I have noticed on others blogs.

"Welcome People" things will get interesting...

Maybe I even will tell you about my "Russian" woman I am corresponding with from St Petersberg, Russia. That is something interesting already, baby!. You think you are laughing now, well wait until you hear this story.

Told you I was unique

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete