I finished my last training job yesterday. I'll be back training on a different topic later on in the month, but this leg is done.
I was in Alhambra, CA near L.A. for most of the week, and then Sacramento on Friday.
Upon returning to the airport to fly home I noticed everyone looking out the window. Human nature kicked in and I followed them to see what was up. Right there on the runway was Air Force One...and just 5 days after I had seen it blown out of the air on 24 (season 4 disc 4...oh yeah...SPOILER).
It was far enough away that I couldn't see if the President was there. I know he was flying in to meet with the Governator.
I then flew to Denver, then to Chicago.
On the flight from Denver to Chicago there were a couple things.
1) one of the flight attendants HAD TO BE in witness protection. A stout, older guy...totally looked like he could have been ex-mob and now was a flight attendant. It was bizarre.
2) I saw the movie "Rumor Has It..." with Jennifer Aniston and Kevin Costner. Rumor Has It...that Jennifer Aniston can't act that well. She did ok, but anytime she was supposed to hysterically cry I found myself thinking "I could do better than that if I were playing the female role...I would be more believable." Another thing about this movie. The guy playing her fiancee (no idea what his name is)...this guy has popped up recently and pretty much plays the same roles all the time. I've seen him in two different movies on airplanes...both as the straight man love interest. I don't remember what the first movie was. He was also the straight man love interest in that movie where what's-her-name from Walk the Line is a ghost. I can't believe I can't think of her name...Legally Blonde...that girl. Anyway, I'm sure Eric or Rich will know the name of her, and the guy I'm talking about. So this guy. He seems to be in everything in this role, he's good at the role, but just not that interesting. He was also...uh boy....I'm blanking on names...he was in that movie with Tom Cruise (bad guy) and Jamie Foxx (cab driver). All I can think of is Minority Report...and it's not that. Anyway, the guy I'm talking about is a cop/detective that is trying to catch Tom. That's the only place I've seen him NOT as the love interest.
Man...I think I just found something hereditary that I got from my dad...inability to remember movie names and actor names. And if it IS hereditary, it will only get worse from here. My favorite movie name guess of my dad's: "Stench of a Woman" instead of "Scent of a Woman".
Saturday, April 22, 2006
Wednesday, April 19, 2006
Back in Action
Well...I had a week off. Stayed home and took some headshots, AND had a fun easter celebration!!
That's right...bunnies and bees!
The day after easter I flew to my current location...Alhambra, CA. Things have been low key this time around. One of the bonuses of flying is that someone is always sick...always. I'm feeling it a little, but fighting it off.
My flight was potentially terrible, and then got better. I was standing behind a lady who was about 5'4". As we slowly made our way to our seats on this full flight, she went to an aisle seat in the emergency row...5'4"!!! If you're short and you sit in the emergency row, Karma will get you (PS. my new name is Karma).
I, and my long legs, had a window seat. My last two flight have blessed me with aisle seats (so I can pop my knee...those who know me, know)...but they were next to an old man with a newspaper. TWO FLIGHTS! DIFFERENT OLD MEN! Why do I mention the paper? Because it would drift over onto me, as well as old man elbows. At least I was in the aisle and could easily escape.
As I took my window seat I waited to see if my old man fate would reach me. Nope...a baby! A cute adorable baby..well...1-2 year old. She sat right there in the middle seat as her mom sat in the aisle and her huge, muscular dad put things in the overhead. I'm thinking "GREAT! This is the best! I won't be fighting for the arm rest or leg space with this little kid in the seat!" And then, her huge dad sits in the middle seat. Ugh.
I had been Pepsi-ing up and used the bathroom. When I came back he offered to have me sit in the aisle and everything was good and well. Whew! That was a close one!
I got to see the Chronicles of Narnia finally. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is an animated film that I remember very well from my childhood. I almost started crying when Aslan made his "agreement" just because that little kid part of me remembered what happen and I felt like a little kid again. It wasn't that bad when they finally got back to it. Glad to finally see it.
I've been meaning to get out to IO West while I'm here, but being slightly sick has made me do nothing more than watch TV and go find food. I got 10 hours of sleep last night...which is VERY odd for me considering I woke up at 7:00am.
In other news. I got an interesting message on my MySpace page. It was from someone named simply, Kim. Turns out Kim is the Kim who is the sister of my old friend Aaron. I've been friends with Aaron since at least the 9th grade...maybe 8th...definitely not 7th. Aaron and Blaine were my friends from that era, and the only ones I really hung out with after High School. I ended up working with Blaine at the job I had before moving to Chicago (I was there for 5 years, he's still there) and still hung out with Aaron.
One day, and I don't really remember when, but I feel like it was before 1996...definitely before 1999. He just left. He didn't say anything to Blaine or I. He was just gone. We never heard from him. At my 10 year reuninon I bumped into some guys he hung out with that I also knew (I guess they were kind of friends) and they had seen him time to time, but he was always on the go, and usually burning bridges.
Well, Kim sends a message saying "how's it going" and gives me Aaron's phone number. He's living in Phoenix. I called him and got voicemail. It's weird to have a friend from childhood and later just disappear. So, it's good to know he's still alive.
Friday, April 07, 2006
Of Blasting and Stupidity
As promised...your's truly, destroying the evil Zorg.
Something that has been bugging me lately is the general stupidity of the population. In specific...ignorance...I think.
Here's what I'm talking about. I'm in at least two airports twice a week when I'm on these gigs. If the airport has a moving walkway, there is a voice saying "Caution, you are about to get on a moving walkway" at the beginning and "Caution, the moving walkway is ending" at the end.
Are we that dumb? C'mon people. Use your brains. You see a part of the floor is moving. If you pay attention, then you'll do just fine. But there are the idiots out there (case in point, grandmother on AFV who is standing backwards on the walkway and smiling at the camera, and then the walkway ends and she falls over) who don't. And quite possibly, these same idiot take it to court to be rewarded for their stupidity. I can only imagine that is the case or the airports and other businesses with other warnings would go to all the trouble to put obvious warnings on things.
If you can't tell that a toy that has small parts could be a choking hazzard for your one year old, you don't deserve to be a parent. You failed...failer.
This kind of ties into my trainings I've been doing. One of the first things they do is fill out a little form with some info for a fun activity. This week, hardly anyone brought a pen. I ask "do you have a pen?" and the reply is "nobody told me I would need a pen." Time to make some assumptions, America. I'm going to go somewhere to learn...I might need to write something.
So, there. Stupidity. Stupidity and indecisiveness drive me crazy. I may do some stupid things sometimes, but I'm decisive and informed when I do it.
Thursday, April 06, 2006
The Happiest Place on Earth!
I'm still in Tustin, and 7-10 miles away from Disneyland. DL is open until 11pm...I get done with training at 4:30.
Today I braved traffic and went to Disneyland. A lot of changes since I went in 97-98...like California Adventures where a parking lot used to be. It took me a while to find the actual parking lot. Once I did the rest was easy. I'm all by myself here in Tustin and I was all by myself in Disneyland. I got there around 5:00 or so.
First place I went was Indian Jones!!! This ride is my favorite, and it still is. I was sending pics to Joey, Tara, Rich and Deanna as I went. This ride is even better when the wait is 15 minutes. This is the perfect time of year to go to Disneyland.
From there I was going to try a ride I hadn't been on before, but I saw Star Tours and the sign said the wait was 5 minutes. On either side of me was a parent with a small child. The dad to the left of me was trying to tell his kid:
Dad: "now, this is going to have a movie screen that will show a movie. It will seem like we're going into space, but we aren't really. The room will move too..."
The kid was fine the whole time, but the dad kept checking in through the whole thing.
From there I went to Astro Rangers? The Buzz Lightyear ride with lazer tag. This was fun. You get scores and a picture. I'll put the pic up here if I remember.
Next was space mountain. High speed roller coaster in the dark, fantastic. I was laughing hard by the end of it. So fun! WITH HARDLY ANY LINES!
Then it was time to ride the Matterhorn...for Prouty! I called Prouty and had him on the phone for the ride, so that was kind of fun and ridiculous.
Then I hit Small World. Creepy as ever. This is where it dawned on me that this place isn't as fun by yourself.
There was some parade. A typical one.
I ate a $9 crappy burger and went to Thunder Mt. Railroad...another great. From there it was back to Indy Jones and Buzz. The fireworks display was cancelled, and I was ready to leave.
It was fun...but I wish you were there.
Today I braved traffic and went to Disneyland. A lot of changes since I went in 97-98...like California Adventures where a parking lot used to be. It took me a while to find the actual parking lot. Once I did the rest was easy. I'm all by myself here in Tustin and I was all by myself in Disneyland. I got there around 5:00 or so.
First place I went was Indian Jones!!! This ride is my favorite, and it still is. I was sending pics to Joey, Tara, Rich and Deanna as I went. This ride is even better when the wait is 15 minutes. This is the perfect time of year to go to Disneyland.
From there I was going to try a ride I hadn't been on before, but I saw Star Tours and the sign said the wait was 5 minutes. On either side of me was a parent with a small child. The dad to the left of me was trying to tell his kid:
Dad: "now, this is going to have a movie screen that will show a movie. It will seem like we're going into space, but we aren't really. The room will move too..."
The kid was fine the whole time, but the dad kept checking in through the whole thing.
From there I went to Astro Rangers? The Buzz Lightyear ride with lazer tag. This was fun. You get scores and a picture. I'll put the pic up here if I remember.
Next was space mountain. High speed roller coaster in the dark, fantastic. I was laughing hard by the end of it. So fun! WITH HARDLY ANY LINES!
Then it was time to ride the Matterhorn...for Prouty! I called Prouty and had him on the phone for the ride, so that was kind of fun and ridiculous.
Then I hit Small World. Creepy as ever. This is where it dawned on me that this place isn't as fun by yourself.
There was some parade. A typical one.
I ate a $9 crappy burger and went to Thunder Mt. Railroad...another great. From there it was back to Indy Jones and Buzz. The fireworks display was cancelled, and I was ready to leave.
It was fun...but I wish you were there.
Tuesday, April 04, 2006
Tustin Cologne, Tustin Fits
I'm in Tustin, CA this week...a.k.a. Santa Ana. It's weird being here after living in Chicago. I can drive for 10 miles in any direction here and go through at least three cities. Chicago is huge, these places are small.
While in the O'Hare Airport on Monday I saw...DITKA! He was on one of those carts that take people to their gates. I was heading to get food and didn't realize it fully until the cart had gone by, otherwise I would have hopped on and snapped a photo.
I'm very close to Disneyland here. I hope I make it out there sometime. The traffic is TERRIBLE when I get done doing training. It will probably take an hour to make the 10 mile drive. Add to that it was raining today. But I think I'll still go. They are open until 11:00pm, so I'll get in 5 hours. Figure I'll hit the new things that I haven't been on since I was there last (97-98ish).
SPEAKING OF CREEPY!...Kenny Rogers is on American Idol right now as the guest "star" who goes over songs with each singer. He...is...BOTOX'd! He and Barry Manilow are cree-py looking.
While in the O'Hare Airport on Monday I saw...DITKA! He was on one of those carts that take people to their gates. I was heading to get food and didn't realize it fully until the cart had gone by, otherwise I would have hopped on and snapped a photo.
I'm very close to Disneyland here. I hope I make it out there sometime. The traffic is TERRIBLE when I get done doing training. It will probably take an hour to make the 10 mile drive. Add to that it was raining today. But I think I'll still go. They are open until 11:00pm, so I'll get in 5 hours. Figure I'll hit the new things that I haven't been on since I was there last (97-98ish).
SPEAKING OF CREEPY!...Kenny Rogers is on American Idol right now as the guest "star" who goes over songs with each singer. He...is...BOTOX'd! He and Barry Manilow are cree-py looking.
Saturday, April 01, 2006
Hi-ho the derry-o. Spring is finally here.
Tomorrow morning I will be dressing up as a bumble bee. If you know me, you know I've also been: Willy Wonka, Prince Charming, a farmer, and a reindeer. Tomorrow...a bumble bee. I'll be hanging out with a Pixie and the Easter Bunny.
How else do I know Spring is here? ANTS!
I hate ants! HATE!
If you ever want me to destroy another human, cover them in ants. Ants trigger something in me that instantly says "destroy". Thank you, RAID. Although your "Kills on Contact" spray is lacking a little as I watch ants walk around after they're sprayed.
Also Deanna has killed 4 spiders this week. The bugs they are a-thawing.
How else do I know Spring is here? ANTS!
I hate ants! HATE!
If you ever want me to destroy another human, cover them in ants. Ants trigger something in me that instantly says "destroy". Thank you, RAID. Although your "Kills on Contact" spray is lacking a little as I watch ants walk around after they're sprayed.
Also Deanna has killed 4 spiders this week. The bugs they are a-thawing.
Friday, March 31, 2006
Bakersfield!
What a time to be in Bakersfield! Here is what happened of note while I was out there:
Country-
As all of you know. Bakersfield is (was) home to Buck Owens...of "Hee-Haw" and country music fame. I drove on Buck Owens Blvd. He has this country music museum, restaurant, and I think a sizeable concert space out there. It's big time.
Well, he died last Friday night. In his sleep after performing. I happened to catch a little special on TV about him. He created this country music museum...had these bronze statues made of country greats like Johnny Cash, Garth Brooks, Merle Haggard (or something like that), and others (including himself). When the statues were unvealed the people who were portrayed in bronze (who were still alive) were there. And Garth Brooks PROPOSED TO TRISHA YEARWOOD RIGHT THEN AND THERE IN FRONT OF EVERYONE!!! (I don't follow country music at all).
I found out from the Manager of the place I was doing my trainings that tomorrow (Saturday) is the funeral and they are supposedly closing the freeway that took me from my hotel to the airport. So I got out of there just in time. Farewell, Buck Owens. It seems just yesterday you were here. Once I finally made it to Bakersfield, plbbbt!, You were gone.
An Actual Country-
California is a state that is right above Mexico (the more you knooooowwwwww). Apparently there is some legislation coming up that has Mexican teens in an uproar. The legislation is supposed to crack down on illegal immigrants. There were two school walk out protests while I was here. All Jr. High-High school students waving Mexico's flag. Lots of news footage of teens talking about how Mexicans come over and do the jobs no one wants to do. The pressure is slowly building and there is another scheduled walk out for 4/10 (JOIN UP!). While I was driving from my last training to the airport I saw a white guy sitting on a wall with an american flag. Two Mexican youths were walking by and yelling at him. One of them spit on him and he just calmly picked up his phone. A couple white people popped up on the other side of the wall and yelled at the mexican teens. One of the teens threw a punch. Then the two teens made their way across the 6 lane road (not a freeway or highway...just a CA road). There were already a lot of Police driving around the area, and it wasn't long before the teens started running and two cop cars were heading there direction.
My take? Unless you're a Native American, you're pretty much an immigrant. Settle down everybody!
F this S-
I flew from Bakersfield to Phoenix, and now I am here in Phoenix. My flight was supposed to leave at 10:30pm and arrive in Chicago at 2:49am. My flight is delayed until 11:20.
I managed to get to California Pizza Kitchen right before they and every other food place closed for the night. I sat next to a table that had a mother and a son. The son was about 11 or 12. They were having a very cordial conversation that went a little something like this:
Mom: (all said in a pleasant voice)You're really just saying those thing to rebel. It really isn't nice to say S or D.
Son: I know. It just comes out sometimes....my teacher says D.
Mom: Really? When?
Son: Like "Oh I forgot to grade you D reports!"
Mom: Laughing Well...D isn't as bad as S or others, unless you are using it with his heavenly father's name...that is VERY bad. You should never do that.
Son: What do you mean?
Mom: GD.
Son: Oh. [some name] says [something I couldn't hear] but it's ok because of her beliefs.
Mom: She believes in God. But you're right. She can say what she wants. (long pause) Ben doesn't say GD does he?
Son: Sometimes.
Mom: (pause) Well he knows better than that.
It was a wonderful conversation filled with letters.
What will happen on my adventures next week? Stay tuned and find out!
Country-
As all of you know. Bakersfield is (was) home to Buck Owens...of "Hee-Haw" and country music fame. I drove on Buck Owens Blvd. He has this country music museum, restaurant, and I think a sizeable concert space out there. It's big time.
Well, he died last Friday night. In his sleep after performing. I happened to catch a little special on TV about him. He created this country music museum...had these bronze statues made of country greats like Johnny Cash, Garth Brooks, Merle Haggard (or something like that), and others (including himself). When the statues were unvealed the people who were portrayed in bronze (who were still alive) were there. And Garth Brooks PROPOSED TO TRISHA YEARWOOD RIGHT THEN AND THERE IN FRONT OF EVERYONE!!! (I don't follow country music at all).
I found out from the Manager of the place I was doing my trainings that tomorrow (Saturday) is the funeral and they are supposedly closing the freeway that took me from my hotel to the airport. So I got out of there just in time. Farewell, Buck Owens. It seems just yesterday you were here. Once I finally made it to Bakersfield, plbbbt!, You were gone.
An Actual Country-
California is a state that is right above Mexico (the more you knooooowwwwww). Apparently there is some legislation coming up that has Mexican teens in an uproar. The legislation is supposed to crack down on illegal immigrants. There were two school walk out protests while I was here. All Jr. High-High school students waving Mexico's flag. Lots of news footage of teens talking about how Mexicans come over and do the jobs no one wants to do. The pressure is slowly building and there is another scheduled walk out for 4/10 (JOIN UP!). While I was driving from my last training to the airport I saw a white guy sitting on a wall with an american flag. Two Mexican youths were walking by and yelling at him. One of them spit on him and he just calmly picked up his phone. A couple white people popped up on the other side of the wall and yelled at the mexican teens. One of the teens threw a punch. Then the two teens made their way across the 6 lane road (not a freeway or highway...just a CA road). There were already a lot of Police driving around the area, and it wasn't long before the teens started running and two cop cars were heading there direction.
My take? Unless you're a Native American, you're pretty much an immigrant. Settle down everybody!
F this S-
I flew from Bakersfield to Phoenix, and now I am here in Phoenix. My flight was supposed to leave at 10:30pm and arrive in Chicago at 2:49am. My flight is delayed until 11:20.
I managed to get to California Pizza Kitchen right before they and every other food place closed for the night. I sat next to a table that had a mother and a son. The son was about 11 or 12. They were having a very cordial conversation that went a little something like this:
Mom: (all said in a pleasant voice)You're really just saying those thing to rebel. It really isn't nice to say S or D.
Son: I know. It just comes out sometimes....my teacher says D.
Mom: Really? When?
Son: Like "Oh I forgot to grade you D reports!"
Mom: Laughing Well...D isn't as bad as S or others, unless you are using it with his heavenly father's name...that is VERY bad. You should never do that.
Son: What do you mean?
Mom: GD.
Son: Oh. [some name] says [something I couldn't hear] but it's ok because of her beliefs.
Mom: She believes in God. But you're right. She can say what she wants. (long pause) Ben doesn't say GD does he?
Son: Sometimes.
Mom: (pause) Well he knows better than that.
It was a wonderful conversation filled with letters.
What will happen on my adventures next week? Stay tuned and find out!
Wednesday, March 29, 2006
Delicious Goodness
This week I'm in lovely Bakersfield, CA. Nothing too cool of note here as of yet...except for...CARL'S JR.!!!!
Not long before I moved to Chicago I discovered the Carl's Jr. Western Burger. This is a greasy burger with cheese, bacon, BBQ sauce, and onion rings INSIDE the bun! I also put fries in the bun as well.
In Oregon the fries were terrible. I would put them in the burger because that was the only way to tollerate them.
Here...the fries are great! It is delicious and gross at the same time. I can't stop going there.
Not long before I moved to Chicago I discovered the Carl's Jr. Western Burger. This is a greasy burger with cheese, bacon, BBQ sauce, and onion rings INSIDE the bun! I also put fries in the bun as well.
In Oregon the fries were terrible. I would put them in the burger because that was the only way to tollerate them.
Here...the fries are great! It is delicious and gross at the same time. I can't stop going there.
Friday, March 24, 2006
Unexpected Hilarity
So, I'm sitting here in the Wichita, KS airport (ICT) watching season 4 of 24 on my laptop.
I am pretty done seeing everything there is in Wichita so I got to the airport super early. I'm on disc 2 of 6...I watched the first episode on the disc and started the second.
Every episode of 24 starts with "previously on 24" and then there is a recap. Since I just watched the prior episode I clicked on fast forward.
The difference between my laptop and my DVD player at home? The laptop plays sound as it fast forwards. It is...HILARIOUS! If you've ever seen those bunny shorts (I think it's actually bunnyshorts.com), it's like that. People delivering dramatic lines at break neck pace.
If you have a DVD player that plays FFWD with sound...try it out. It's great!
I am pretty done seeing everything there is in Wichita so I got to the airport super early. I'm on disc 2 of 6...I watched the first episode on the disc and started the second.
Every episode of 24 starts with "previously on 24" and then there is a recap. Since I just watched the prior episode I clicked on fast forward.
The difference between my laptop and my DVD player at home? The laptop plays sound as it fast forwards. It is...HILARIOUS! If you've ever seen those bunny shorts (I think it's actually bunnyshorts.com), it's like that. People delivering dramatic lines at break neck pace.
If you have a DVD player that plays FFWD with sound...try it out. It's great!
Thursday, March 23, 2006
Wichita, KS
I've been in Wichita, KS since Monday. I leave tomorrow (Friday). There really isn't a lot to do here.
Luckily I have a rental car, and I caught a cold on the plane. So I mostly hang out in my hotel room or drive around looking for a new place to eat.
There is a freak winter storm (in spring) that is hitting a huge area. It snowed last night and will be cold tonight (for Wichita).
I finally got to eat at a Sonic. Molly is in tons of commercials for Sonic, and they play on cable everywhere. I've seen them in Chicago, I've seen them in Portland. But there are no "Sonic" restaurants in those areas. So, I ate there two nights ago. Pretty good.
Last night I decided to try out a place called Spangles. Fast food with the slogan "It Just Tastes Better." THAT'S A LIE! Their food was crap! DON'T EAT AT SPANGLERS! GROSS!
I've been doing these corporate trainings for a major communications company. They're pretty good. I'm doing two a day this week and 3 a day for three more weeks in other cities. Luckily there are some breaks for fun stuff, but I'm pretty into the product and don't mind upselling it.
I'd rather not be sick though.
Ahhhh, airline travel. Tomorrow I get my chance to pay it forward to some other non-ill passenger.
Luckily I have a rental car, and I caught a cold on the plane. So I mostly hang out in my hotel room or drive around looking for a new place to eat.
There is a freak winter storm (in spring) that is hitting a huge area. It snowed last night and will be cold tonight (for Wichita).
I finally got to eat at a Sonic. Molly is in tons of commercials for Sonic, and they play on cable everywhere. I've seen them in Chicago, I've seen them in Portland. But there are no "Sonic" restaurants in those areas. So, I ate there two nights ago. Pretty good.
Last night I decided to try out a place called Spangles. Fast food with the slogan "It Just Tastes Better." THAT'S A LIE! Their food was crap! DON'T EAT AT SPANGLERS! GROSS!
I've been doing these corporate trainings for a major communications company. They're pretty good. I'm doing two a day this week and 3 a day for three more weeks in other cities. Luckily there are some breaks for fun stuff, but I'm pretty into the product and don't mind upselling it.
I'd rather not be sick though.
Ahhhh, airline travel. Tomorrow I get my chance to pay it forward to some other non-ill passenger.
Wichita, KS
I've been in Wichita, KS since Monday. I leave tomorrow (Friday). There really isn't a lot to do here.
Luckily I have a rental car, and I caught a cold on the plane. So I mostly hang out in my hotel room or drive around looking for a new place to eat.
There is a freak winter storm (in spring) that is hitting a huge area. It snowed last night and will be cold tonight (for Wichita).
I finally got to eat at a Sonic. Molly is in tons of commercials for Sonic, and they play on cable everywhere. I've seen them in Chicago, I've seen them in Portland. But there are no "Sonic" restaurants in those areas. So, I ate there two nights ago. Pretty good.
Last night I decided to try out a place called Spangles. Fast food with the slogan "It Just Tastes Better." THAT'S A LIE! Their food was crap! DON'T EAT AT SPANGLERS! GROSS!
I've been doing these corporate trainings for a major communications company. They're pretty good. I'm doing two a day this week and 3 a day for three more weeks in other cities. Luckily there are some breaks for fun stuff, but I'm pretty into the product and don't mind upselling it.
I'd rather not be sick though.
Ahhhh, airline travel. Tomorrow I get my chance to pay it forward to some other non-ill passenger.
Luckily I have a rental car, and I caught a cold on the plane. So I mostly hang out in my hotel room or drive around looking for a new place to eat.
There is a freak winter storm (in spring) that is hitting a huge area. It snowed last night and will be cold tonight (for Wichita).
I finally got to eat at a Sonic. Molly is in tons of commercials for Sonic, and they play on cable everywhere. I've seen them in Chicago, I've seen them in Portland. But there are no "Sonic" restaurants in those areas. So, I ate there two nights ago. Pretty good.
Last night I decided to try out a place called Spangles. Fast food with the slogan "It Just Tastes Better." THAT'S A LIE! Their food was crap! DON'T EAT AT SPANGLERS! GROSS!
I've been doing these corporate trainings for a major communications company. They're pretty good. I'm doing two a day this week and 3 a day for three more weeks in other cities. Luckily there are some breaks for fun stuff, but I'm pretty into the product and don't mind upselling it.
I'd rather not be sick though.
Ahhhh, airline travel. Tomorrow I get my chance to pay it forward to some other non-ill passenger.
Sunday, March 12, 2006
Ramping Up Again
Well...I'm sure I'll be posting more stuff soon that is boring to people in Chicago, but interesting to my family and maybe Declan.
I've got another gig coming up where I'll be out of town for 20 days in March and April. 20. Twenty. And only four cities this time...one in Kansas and three in California...I think.
On a different note. If you haven't seen an episode of "24", you should watch that show. I never seem to listen to hype about shows, and then by the time I realize "maybe this IS a good show" I'm so far behind that it makes no sense to start watching. That's where this awesome new trend in TV Shows being released on DVD comes in...mixed with a little "Netflix" goodness.
There are currently 5 seasons of 24. The currently airing season is 5. I'm up to date on that season and I just finished watching season three. This is good stuff. They kill off main characters...MAIN CHARACTERS! It is great. The only thing I haven't liked so far is that (AND THIS WILL BE A MINOR SEASON THREE SPOILER) Jack Bauer (the main character...Keifer Sutherland) is supposedly addicted to heroin because of undercover work. He is feeling the effects of it in the first episode, and it's a part of the first five or so, then that story line just sort of disappears. And the ending was a little predictable at times in three...but still good.
That being said, that is pretty much all that is wrong with it. I love to hate the character Shari Palmer. Great! She makes me so angry! Great actress in my book...I hope the actress isn't like her character in real life.
The only downfall to watching season five while catching up is that sometimes there are people who's lives are in jeopardy, but I know they'll be fine because I've seen them in season five. But not everyone survives. I don't recommend doing what I did for the first episode of season five alone...major stuff.
Go to netflix and start watching...all you need to do is watch 96 hours of the show until you get to watch the current 24 hours of this season. You've got time.
Oh! And we're going back to Maine...I think...in September/October this time.
PS. don't read the comments if you don't want to see Declan's 24 Season 5 spoilers
I've got another gig coming up where I'll be out of town for 20 days in March and April. 20. Twenty. And only four cities this time...one in Kansas and three in California...I think.
On a different note. If you haven't seen an episode of "24", you should watch that show. I never seem to listen to hype about shows, and then by the time I realize "maybe this IS a good show" I'm so far behind that it makes no sense to start watching. That's where this awesome new trend in TV Shows being released on DVD comes in...mixed with a little "Netflix" goodness.
There are currently 5 seasons of 24. The currently airing season is 5. I'm up to date on that season and I just finished watching season three. This is good stuff. They kill off main characters...MAIN CHARACTERS! It is great. The only thing I haven't liked so far is that (AND THIS WILL BE A MINOR SEASON THREE SPOILER) Jack Bauer (the main character...Keifer Sutherland) is supposedly addicted to heroin because of undercover work. He is feeling the effects of it in the first episode, and it's a part of the first five or so, then that story line just sort of disappears. And the ending was a little predictable at times in three...but still good.
That being said, that is pretty much all that is wrong with it. I love to hate the character Shari Palmer. Great! She makes me so angry! Great actress in my book...I hope the actress isn't like her character in real life.
The only downfall to watching season five while catching up is that sometimes there are people who's lives are in jeopardy, but I know they'll be fine because I've seen them in season five. But not everyone survives. I don't recommend doing what I did for the first episode of season five alone...major stuff.
Go to netflix and start watching...all you need to do is watch 96 hours of the show until you get to watch the current 24 hours of this season. You've got time.
Oh! And we're going back to Maine...I think...in September/October this time.
PS. don't read the comments if you don't want to see Declan's 24 Season 5 spoilers
Monday, February 27, 2006
Power Weekend
I don't think I've really talked about improv in a while.
I had a power weekend this time around. Friday started off with a Johnny Roast Beef show at I.O. and something was amiss with the electrical system. It was the last show for the first group. Right after their opening the lights went out. Everything was dead in the control room. It ended up being that a breaker got triggered, but this team was left to do their last show in the dark...until they came on...and until someone went back to see what the problem was by turning on the computer and tripping the breaker again. That team got the lights blown three times. We followed their show and had zero light problems...go figure. We had a great show. Big time fun. Katie Nahnsen, ladies and gentlemen...keep that name in your brains. She's funny and will go places. Emily is funny too, but she's too comfortable in her day job to take the risk of low paying opportunities.
I went straight from their to reffing at CSz. The longest show I've reffed in a while. Just a weird coincidental show where not a single game we played was short.
Saturday meant two CSz shows...reffing, then sound. Yep...3 CSz shows and I didn't play in a single one. The show I reffed was phenomenal. I told everyone before the audience even started coming in that I smelled a good show. I was getting suggestions for 5 things and this kid, who had given me plenty of suggestions, gave me "Liquid Nitrogen." I took "mud" instead, but told him if Molly said "Liquid Nitrogen" I would give him a dollar. 5 things ends and I'm telling the audience what their half-time options are when Molly stands up and says "Ref Rance? I have an announcement...Liquid Nitrogen." During the second half I gave that kid a dollar.
Tonight (Sunday) was a partial surprise. Rich text messaged me to see what I was doing. I had shoots in the afternoon and an 11:00pm show at IO. He said "we're going to play in the set at SC". See, SC is Second City. They do an improv set after their shows and they let guests play sometimes. Tonight was my second time. The first time was with Deanna and I was nervous and boring. This time I was getting some good ones in there. It was fun and the cast is very, VERY nice about welcoming and thanking guests. Thanks SC!
From there we went to IO to see Bill Arnet's one man show (I think I spelled his last name wrong), and Meta Five before I did my Super Fun Times show. Super Fun Times is a group that just kind of got together to start doing shows in this 11:00 slot. I got invited two Sundays ago and played in the last three shows. And tonight, since Rich and Molly were there for Bill's show, we invited them to play with us. It was nice for them 'cause Molly is on Mainstage SC and her and Rich don't get to perform together as much as they used to.
EVERYONE WINS!
I had a power weekend this time around. Friday started off with a Johnny Roast Beef show at I.O. and something was amiss with the electrical system. It was the last show for the first group. Right after their opening the lights went out. Everything was dead in the control room. It ended up being that a breaker got triggered, but this team was left to do their last show in the dark...until they came on...and until someone went back to see what the problem was by turning on the computer and tripping the breaker again. That team got the lights blown three times. We followed their show and had zero light problems...go figure. We had a great show. Big time fun. Katie Nahnsen, ladies and gentlemen...keep that name in your brains. She's funny and will go places. Emily is funny too, but she's too comfortable in her day job to take the risk of low paying opportunities.
I went straight from their to reffing at CSz. The longest show I've reffed in a while. Just a weird coincidental show where not a single game we played was short.
Saturday meant two CSz shows...reffing, then sound. Yep...3 CSz shows and I didn't play in a single one. The show I reffed was phenomenal. I told everyone before the audience even started coming in that I smelled a good show. I was getting suggestions for 5 things and this kid, who had given me plenty of suggestions, gave me "Liquid Nitrogen." I took "mud" instead, but told him if Molly said "Liquid Nitrogen" I would give him a dollar. 5 things ends and I'm telling the audience what their half-time options are when Molly stands up and says "Ref Rance? I have an announcement...Liquid Nitrogen." During the second half I gave that kid a dollar.
Tonight (Sunday) was a partial surprise. Rich text messaged me to see what I was doing. I had shoots in the afternoon and an 11:00pm show at IO. He said "we're going to play in the set at SC". See, SC is Second City. They do an improv set after their shows and they let guests play sometimes. Tonight was my second time. The first time was with Deanna and I was nervous and boring. This time I was getting some good ones in there. It was fun and the cast is very, VERY nice about welcoming and thanking guests. Thanks SC!
From there we went to IO to see Bill Arnet's one man show (I think I spelled his last name wrong), and Meta Five before I did my Super Fun Times show. Super Fun Times is a group that just kind of got together to start doing shows in this 11:00 slot. I got invited two Sundays ago and played in the last three shows. And tonight, since Rich and Molly were there for Bill's show, we invited them to play with us. It was nice for them 'cause Molly is on Mainstage SC and her and Rich don't get to perform together as much as they used to.
EVERYONE WINS!
Wednesday, February 22, 2006
Killing Time
Eric Lindberg wrote about this and I feel compelled to as well. Last night we had a three hour rehearsal with a guy who started Poetry Slam in Chicago. He was talking to us because he was working with our artistic director to combine CSz and Poetry Slam...into PoetrySportz. I haven't been free on a night it has played, but I hear nothing but great things.
He is at our rehearsal to help wit our poetry based games. The first hour was all him talking about history, which left me instantly disconnected. I should start by saying that Spoken Poetry is one of my least favorite forms of "entertainment". It is sort of a bastard middle ground between poems on paper, and songs...both of which I like. I like writing poems, I like reading poems, but watching someone theatrically express their poem? Poison. It's good to see in order to represent it on a comedy stage...but not on a frequent basis.
To those who love it. Good. Great! That's why it's still around! You love it!
It just makes me cringe...and apparently, it makes me lose my train of thought. Bu-bye.
He is at our rehearsal to help wit our poetry based games. The first hour was all him talking about history, which left me instantly disconnected. I should start by saying that Spoken Poetry is one of my least favorite forms of "entertainment". It is sort of a bastard middle ground between poems on paper, and songs...both of which I like. I like writing poems, I like reading poems, but watching someone theatrically express their poem? Poison. It's good to see in order to represent it on a comedy stage...but not on a frequent basis.
To those who love it. Good. Great! That's why it's still around! You love it!
It just makes me cringe...and apparently, it makes me lose my train of thought. Bu-bye.
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
Days 12 & 13: Beloit, WI
My dad emailed me for the ending to this epic adventure. Apparently my life is Harry Potter-esque...except there's no magic or school or dead Dumbledore's (if you didn't know this, keep up...c'mon).
Not a super eventful ending to the adventure. Beloit, WI. I like to pronounce it "Bloit". It was far enough away that we needed to leave Wednesday night and shoot all day Thursday. The drive was not in a corporate jet...it was in Rich's car. Pretty standard...a few rounds of 21 questions.
It was snowing the day we left. Nothing major...minor accumulation. It was the kind of snow I like...you look outside, you see snow, that song from A Charlie Brown Christmas when they're ice skating starts playing in your head.
We get to Beloit. It is still kind of snowing...but it's 12 degrees. Twelve. Degrees. Ugh.
We wake up early the next morning and head over to the main office. We had to shoot our opener and closer of the whole piece. All of the other stuff we were shooting was the stuff that went in the middle. It took us until about 7:00. I was sooooo hungry by the time we were done. I was so hungry I felt like I was going to throw up. We stopped at some place...Ruby Tuesdays? Our server had a thick Wisconsin accent...so that was fun. We were pretty out of it from a long day. We got back and I was done.
The other three have one more shoot. Tomorrow as a matter of fact.
It was fun times. I may have a different gig in March for a different client, but no video stuff.
Oh, on the way home, Dumbledore died. The End.
Not a super eventful ending to the adventure. Beloit, WI. I like to pronounce it "Bloit". It was far enough away that we needed to leave Wednesday night and shoot all day Thursday. The drive was not in a corporate jet...it was in Rich's car. Pretty standard...a few rounds of 21 questions.
It was snowing the day we left. Nothing major...minor accumulation. It was the kind of snow I like...you look outside, you see snow, that song from A Charlie Brown Christmas when they're ice skating starts playing in your head.
We get to Beloit. It is still kind of snowing...but it's 12 degrees. Twelve. Degrees. Ugh.
We wake up early the next morning and head over to the main office. We had to shoot our opener and closer of the whole piece. All of the other stuff we were shooting was the stuff that went in the middle. It took us until about 7:00. I was sooooo hungry by the time we were done. I was so hungry I felt like I was going to throw up. We stopped at some place...Ruby Tuesdays? Our server had a thick Wisconsin accent...so that was fun. We were pretty out of it from a long day. We got back and I was done.
The other three have one more shoot. Tomorrow as a matter of fact.
It was fun times. I may have a different gig in March for a different client, but no video stuff.
Oh, on the way home, Dumbledore died. The End.
Saturday, February 04, 2006
Days 9-11 of 13 (+?): Texas
The Journey continues. This time we are missing our corporate Lear jet, as well as Sarah and Paul. We meet early at the airport to check our luggage and go through security...things that have been rendered foreign to us previously.
After the flight, we drive from the George Bush Airport in Houston to Stafford, TX. I've asked myself to pass the following message along to the State of Texas from my mouth, "Your roads and tolls suck!"
Oddly enough, with our track record of driving, we made it there without a single missed turn! AMAZING! We had one car this time, so Rich and I got to see the navigation chaos up close instead of just following and wondering what they are doing. Here is how it works. The director is driving. As I said earlier, I thought he was the problem, but we found out later it was the camerman, Rich. So Rich (the cameraman...I'll refer to Rich the actor by his self-given nickname, "Draggin'") sits shotgun and has the google map. He gets easily distracted by stuff outside or by his own stories. Dan the sound guy sits behind them with a handheld GPS system. GPS! He bought this because of how bad they are with directions. But, they still don't listen as much as they should. Regardless, we get to the hotel with zero problems.
After a meal and sleep we pack up to head to the branch of the store we're shooting for. It's Texas, and it's warm. I didn't sleep well because I'm coming down with a cold. The first shoot they want to set up doesn't require either of us...this ends up meaning a two hour nap in the van. Awesome. So the shoot didn't really start until 10:00am...but we would be hitting two locations during the day.
We finish at our first location and head to the second. Rich and I get to meet AJ Foyt, Jr...four time Indy 500 winner. We're shooting at his garage. There are about 9 indy cars in there...Rich got to sit in one! Neither of us are sports fans...and racing is somehow included in sports. We also meet his newest driver, Felipe Giaffone (I think that is his name). We're just happy to meet him...but it isn't a big deal to us. Later I find out Deanna told Rebecca H. about us meeting him and she flipped out and called her dad. He's big news.
Enter Black Friday. The weather went from warm to cold and windy really fast, and then we headed out to a new hotel closer to the airport. In comes the usual driving. I'll say we took five wrong turns, and I might be missing some. We kept turning too early...all the while, Dan was saying "we need to go down further according to the GPS". He was right.
We ate. Slept. And shot some stuff at the airport...then hoped on the Commercial flight home.
We have at least one day of driving to the last(?) location and one day of shooting. There may be one more thing after that, but I think next week's 1.5 days will be the end of this job.
It has been great.
PS. I'm watching The Colbert Report on Comedy Central right now and he has referred to Oregon as "California's Canada" for the second time now.
After the flight, we drive from the George Bush Airport in Houston to Stafford, TX. I've asked myself to pass the following message along to the State of Texas from my mouth, "Your roads and tolls suck!"
Oddly enough, with our track record of driving, we made it there without a single missed turn! AMAZING! We had one car this time, so Rich and I got to see the navigation chaos up close instead of just following and wondering what they are doing. Here is how it works. The director is driving. As I said earlier, I thought he was the problem, but we found out later it was the camerman, Rich. So Rich (the cameraman...I'll refer to Rich the actor by his self-given nickname, "Draggin'") sits shotgun and has the google map. He gets easily distracted by stuff outside or by his own stories. Dan the sound guy sits behind them with a handheld GPS system. GPS! He bought this because of how bad they are with directions. But, they still don't listen as much as they should. Regardless, we get to the hotel with zero problems.
After a meal and sleep we pack up to head to the branch of the store we're shooting for. It's Texas, and it's warm. I didn't sleep well because I'm coming down with a cold. The first shoot they want to set up doesn't require either of us...this ends up meaning a two hour nap in the van. Awesome. So the shoot didn't really start until 10:00am...but we would be hitting two locations during the day.
We finish at our first location and head to the second. Rich and I get to meet AJ Foyt, Jr...four time Indy 500 winner. We're shooting at his garage. There are about 9 indy cars in there...Rich got to sit in one! Neither of us are sports fans...and racing is somehow included in sports. We also meet his newest driver, Felipe Giaffone (I think that is his name). We're just happy to meet him...but it isn't a big deal to us. Later I find out Deanna told Rebecca H. about us meeting him and she flipped out and called her dad. He's big news.
Enter Black Friday. The weather went from warm to cold and windy really fast, and then we headed out to a new hotel closer to the airport. In comes the usual driving. I'll say we took five wrong turns, and I might be missing some. We kept turning too early...all the while, Dan was saying "we need to go down further according to the GPS". He was right.
We ate. Slept. And shot some stuff at the airport...then hoped on the Commercial flight home.
We have at least one day of driving to the last(?) location and one day of shooting. There may be one more thing after that, but I think next week's 1.5 days will be the end of this job.
It has been great.
PS. I'm watching The Colbert Report on Comedy Central right now and he has referred to Oregon as "California's Canada" for the second time now.
Tuesday, January 31, 2006
Day 7 & 8 of 10 (+?): San Ramon, CA/Ogden, UT
Fun shoot today. Kidnapping/interrogation scene. I stopped by the local Target store before the shoot and picked up some DVDs. I ate a bagel. We went to the shoot. Not a lot outside of that.
Until.
We flew to Ogden, UT that night...whoa. Have you been to Ogden?! Have you?! That whole city's east side touches the base of a HUGE mountain range...HUGE! RIGHT THERE!
We landed and looked to the east and saw the strangest night sky. Why? Because it wasn't sky...it was MOUNTAIN! I can't explain it any better. It was fantastic.
I had it pretty easy here. My shoot was in the morning...in the hotel. Around 1:30am in the hotel I heard a gurgling noise from the bathroom. I went in there and watch water slowly start to rise up from the sink drain. I switched rooms and didn't end up really sleeping until around 3:30 or so.
Got up early and did the shoot. Drove over to drop of everyone and drove around Ogden. Pretty basic. Then we got out of there around 4:00 and headed back to Chicago. Rich and I made it back in time for our IO show.
Robyn Norris was celebrating her B-day right next to IO, so we stopped in there to get some food. There were a LOT of friends there and it was nice to come straight off a job to lots of friends.
Our show at 10:30 was a group of people we put together and just asked if we could play. We got two slots. Tuesday at 10:30 and next Tuesday. We're up before a show called the Lottery. We rocked it, hard. Super fun show. Especially because I got to play with Deanna. We rarely get to do longform together out here unless it is just the two of us.
Until.
We flew to Ogden, UT that night...whoa. Have you been to Ogden?! Have you?! That whole city's east side touches the base of a HUGE mountain range...HUGE! RIGHT THERE!
We landed and looked to the east and saw the strangest night sky. Why? Because it wasn't sky...it was MOUNTAIN! I can't explain it any better. It was fantastic.
I had it pretty easy here. My shoot was in the morning...in the hotel. Around 1:30am in the hotel I heard a gurgling noise from the bathroom. I went in there and watch water slowly start to rise up from the sink drain. I switched rooms and didn't end up really sleeping until around 3:30 or so.
Got up early and did the shoot. Drove over to drop of everyone and drove around Ogden. Pretty basic. Then we got out of there around 4:00 and headed back to Chicago. Rich and I made it back in time for our IO show.
Robyn Norris was celebrating her B-day right next to IO, so we stopped in there to get some food. There were a LOT of friends there and it was nice to come straight off a job to lots of friends.
Our show at 10:30 was a group of people we put together and just asked if we could play. We got two slots. Tuesday at 10:30 and next Tuesday. We're up before a show called the Lottery. We rocked it, hard. Super fun show. Especially because I got to play with Deanna. We rarely get to do longform together out here unless it is just the two of us.
Sunday, January 29, 2006
Day 6 of 10 (+?): Chicago-San Ramon, CA
After only one day off (Saturday) we're back together again and on our way to lovely San Ramon, CA. Back on the jet and hittin' the west. We left from an airport about 50 miles outside of Chicago. We started from this airport instead of a closer one so that we wouldn't have to land to refuel. The cool thing about this flight? It was my turn to watch the landing.
That's right. I stood right behind the pilots and watched the landing through the front windows. I'm the third one of the group to do this. It is pretty cool.
We land and hit a bump in our planning. The rental cars were left in the parking lot for us. The keys were left in the airport...the airport that closed 35 minutes before we landed. We lucked out in that there was a van cab waiting for a client to arrive at the airport...in three hours. Lucky. We head to our hotel...which was right next to a delicious Marie Callendar Restaurant. I've never heard of this place...except that some people I know did a big promo gig for them.
Luckily, when we got back to the hotel, we all went to my room and played Fluxx while watching the ever-terrible "Batman and Robin".
I'm not on the morning shift, so I go to bed a little late.
That's right. I stood right behind the pilots and watched the landing through the front windows. I'm the third one of the group to do this. It is pretty cool.
We land and hit a bump in our planning. The rental cars were left in the parking lot for us. The keys were left in the airport...the airport that closed 35 minutes before we landed. We lucked out in that there was a van cab waiting for a client to arrive at the airport...in three hours. Lucky. We head to our hotel...which was right next to a delicious Marie Callendar Restaurant. I've never heard of this place...except that some people I know did a big promo gig for them.
Luckily, when we got back to the hotel, we all went to my room and played Fluxx while watching the ever-terrible "Batman and Robin".
I'm not on the morning shift, so I go to bed a little late.
Friday, January 27, 2006
Day 5 of 5 (+5): Fall River, MA
Still cold in the morning. We head out to the site. This time, the director gives me a copy of his mapquest directions.
One of the directions is "Exit 2W Fall River". It is really "2B", but still Fall River. I see this and I predict they will pass the exit, even though I know it is actually the right one.
.
.
.
Yep. They pass it. Now a whole new equation.
Mapquest sucks, folks. Don't use it. I have never had possitive results with mapquest. Use mapblast.com (aka MSN Maps) or google maps if you want actual directions that work.
We get there and Rich and I do our part of the shoot. I'd say we finish at noon, which is great. We drive out to pick up Sarah and Paul at the hotel...MORE HOT 106!
We get back and drive to a nearby restaurant/bar for the Paul and Sarah shoot. They serve Portugese(sp?) food here and we all have lunch. Good stuff.
I drive around to explore the town for a while but don't really find anything interesting...sorry, Fall River.
This shoot takes awhile because we're dealing with a bunch of employees, and then random patrons of the bar. It is a very blue collar town. We ge done around 6:30 and start packing up. Paul gets cornered in the bathroom by an extremely drunk guy who wants to know about the shoot, but won't let Paul leave. Paul gets out. Later, that same drunk guy comes in and is asking a bunch of questions. Not in an angry way. In a curious, extremely wasted way. He is having trouble standing. He gets a little animated...still not angry, just super wasted. The guys from the company we're shooting are regulars at this place and in good with the owner. The drunk guy is getting louder and more animated. Right in the middle of a drunken rambling the owner comes in and says "What are you doing in here?! Stop! Go sit down!" The drunk guy instantly stops and walks off like a 5 year old who just got busted. It was great.
We finally pack up. Since I've been driving around, the director says to me "I assume you know how to get us back to the freeway?" I say yes and he tells me to lead the way and then follow him once we get to the freeway. I take a slightly alternate route. We need to head down one road then take a left on a main road. The road I pick to get to the main road, well...doesn't let you turn left onto that main road. So I start laughing that I just went the wrong way because of how many times the director has. I make a right, another right, another, and get back to the road we really need. He is flashing his lights and honking, and I know it is saying "who sucks at driving now?"
This whole day I was hoping we would make it back in time for me to be at my IO show with Johnny Roast Beef at 8:00pm....I got home at 10:15. I didn't make it.
You may have noticed the (+) and now the (+5) in the headings. We knew there would be more dates, but didn't know when. I'm back Saturday, leave Sunday for CA, Leave Monday for UT, come back Tuesday, home Wednesday, leave Thursday for TX, come back Friday. SO....more to come.
One of the directions is "Exit 2W Fall River". It is really "2B", but still Fall River. I see this and I predict they will pass the exit, even though I know it is actually the right one.
.
.
.
Yep. They pass it. Now a whole new equation.
Mapquest sucks, folks. Don't use it. I have never had possitive results with mapquest. Use mapblast.com (aka MSN Maps) or google maps if you want actual directions that work.
We get there and Rich and I do our part of the shoot. I'd say we finish at noon, which is great. We drive out to pick up Sarah and Paul at the hotel...MORE HOT 106!
We get back and drive to a nearby restaurant/bar for the Paul and Sarah shoot. They serve Portugese(sp?) food here and we all have lunch. Good stuff.
I drive around to explore the town for a while but don't really find anything interesting...sorry, Fall River.
This shoot takes awhile because we're dealing with a bunch of employees, and then random patrons of the bar. It is a very blue collar town. We ge done around 6:30 and start packing up. Paul gets cornered in the bathroom by an extremely drunk guy who wants to know about the shoot, but won't let Paul leave. Paul gets out. Later, that same drunk guy comes in and is asking a bunch of questions. Not in an angry way. In a curious, extremely wasted way. He is having trouble standing. He gets a little animated...still not angry, just super wasted. The guys from the company we're shooting are regulars at this place and in good with the owner. The drunk guy is getting louder and more animated. Right in the middle of a drunken rambling the owner comes in and says "What are you doing in here?! Stop! Go sit down!" The drunk guy instantly stops and walks off like a 5 year old who just got busted. It was great.
We finally pack up. Since I've been driving around, the director says to me "I assume you know how to get us back to the freeway?" I say yes and he tells me to lead the way and then follow him once we get to the freeway. I take a slightly alternate route. We need to head down one road then take a left on a main road. The road I pick to get to the main road, well...doesn't let you turn left onto that main road. So I start laughing that I just went the wrong way because of how many times the director has. I make a right, another right, another, and get back to the road we really need. He is flashing his lights and honking, and I know it is saying "who sucks at driving now?"
This whole day I was hoping we would make it back in time for me to be at my IO show with Johnny Roast Beef at 8:00pm....I got home at 10:15. I didn't make it.
You may have noticed the (+) and now the (+5) in the headings. We knew there would be more dates, but didn't know when. I'm back Saturday, leave Sunday for CA, Leave Monday for UT, come back Tuesday, home Wednesday, leave Thursday for TX, come back Friday. SO....more to come.
Thursday, January 26, 2006
Day 4 of 5 (+): Huntsville, AL
Huntsville was a nice shoot. We had the best hotel of the trip so far. I finally got some sleep.
I was scheduled for the afternoon shoot because Paul and Sarah's script required an employee who needed to leave by 1:00pm. I slept very well until 7:15, then fitfully until 10:00. At 10:30 there was a phone call that I missed. At 10:32 there was a knockin' on my "Do Not Disturb" laden door.
I called down to the front desk for a late check out and they said I was already checked out. I told them that I was right here.
Grabbed some chow at Chick-fil-a. I've only had their food once in Lloyd Center's Food Court, but it was close, and a little chilly out. Caught a cab to the site...here are the directions: Take a right out of the hotel; follow that road; take a left; you're there. I heard that in the morning they didn't find it.
I can't remember what I have said on this subject yet, but I must comment now. We always have two cars. One car is always the director, camera man, and sound guy. The other is us four actors. We always follow the director. Not ONE SINGLE TIME has the drive gone without a last-second exit, missed exit, or fake lane change. Everytime. Always. Even in the situation above of "go down one street and turn on the street you need" got messed up. We've been blaming the director, but the sound guy confirmed that it is the camera guy's navigation.
I don't remember if I commented before because it was a sore spot for us. By this point it is hilarious...even to the director who is doing the driving.
So I'm taking this cab and we pass something I thought was funny. A bar called "Bench Warmers" had a sign that said "SUN: Naughty Girl Contest". Naughty Girl Contest. Not Wet T-shirt or bikini...naughty. Struck me funny.
I got on site and waited a bit for Sarah and Paul's part to be done. We shot our stuff and left around 6:00 or so.
Get to the airport and we're off to Fall River, MA...two hour flight. It was a toss up as to where we would be going. Either MA of VA. Because of that toss up, we discovered on the plane that we had no hotel booked. Luckily there is a plane on the jet and we got someplace close to the airport. WHEW.
When we landed we dicovered that MA was COLD! It was only about 33 degrees but we were just in warm florida two days ago and had forgotten what Chicago feels like. COLD! We find our hotel (with only a minor wrong turn). It is the worst hotel we've stayed in, but it is much better than not having a hotel at all. The rooms were very cold. I had my heat set to 90 degrees and it felt like 55. Luckily, I was scheduled for the morning shoot.
While driving around that night looking for food, we stumbled across a radio station. Hot 106. Hip hop/rap music. Great stuff. Three 6 Mafia's "Stay Fly" was our most referenced song from that point on.
I was scheduled for the afternoon shoot because Paul and Sarah's script required an employee who needed to leave by 1:00pm. I slept very well until 7:15, then fitfully until 10:00. At 10:30 there was a phone call that I missed. At 10:32 there was a knockin' on my "Do Not Disturb" laden door.
I called down to the front desk for a late check out and they said I was already checked out. I told them that I was right here.
Grabbed some chow at Chick-fil-a. I've only had their food once in Lloyd Center's Food Court, but it was close, and a little chilly out. Caught a cab to the site...here are the directions: Take a right out of the hotel; follow that road; take a left; you're there. I heard that in the morning they didn't find it.
I can't remember what I have said on this subject yet, but I must comment now. We always have two cars. One car is always the director, camera man, and sound guy. The other is us four actors. We always follow the director. Not ONE SINGLE TIME has the drive gone without a last-second exit, missed exit, or fake lane change. Everytime. Always. Even in the situation above of "go down one street and turn on the street you need" got messed up. We've been blaming the director, but the sound guy confirmed that it is the camera guy's navigation.
I don't remember if I commented before because it was a sore spot for us. By this point it is hilarious...even to the director who is doing the driving.
So I'm taking this cab and we pass something I thought was funny. A bar called "Bench Warmers" had a sign that said "SUN: Naughty Girl Contest". Naughty Girl Contest. Not Wet T-shirt or bikini...naughty. Struck me funny.
I got on site and waited a bit for Sarah and Paul's part to be done. We shot our stuff and left around 6:00 or so.
Get to the airport and we're off to Fall River, MA...two hour flight. It was a toss up as to where we would be going. Either MA of VA. Because of that toss up, we discovered on the plane that we had no hotel booked. Luckily there is a plane on the jet and we got someplace close to the airport. WHEW.
When we landed we dicovered that MA was COLD! It was only about 33 degrees but we were just in warm florida two days ago and had forgotten what Chicago feels like. COLD! We find our hotel (with only a minor wrong turn). It is the worst hotel we've stayed in, but it is much better than not having a hotel at all. The rooms were very cold. I had my heat set to 90 degrees and it felt like 55. Luckily, I was scheduled for the morning shoot.
While driving around that night looking for food, we stumbled across a radio station. Hot 106. Hip hop/rap music. Great stuff. Three 6 Mafia's "Stay Fly" was our most referenced song from that point on.
Wednesday, January 25, 2006
Day 3 of 5 (+): Lake Worth, FL
The Ninja shoot. We're out of the hotel by 7:45am and on the way to the site. I follow one guy, who is not the best driver, so far. He misses the turn here, makes a late turn there. Just hard to follow, but we get there and laugh about it in the end.
Today we are staging a secret ninja operation. This is packed with great bits, but also takes a while to shoot. We finish up our part around 3:00 and then Paul and Sarah come in to shoot.
Rich always stays on site, I take the car out to drive around FL. It's about 75 degrees. I head to the beach, but it is hard to find because the beach is lined with huge, expensive looking mansions. I finally find a park that gives me a little access to the water. It is warm! I'm in jeans so I stay out. I do grab some shells and just keep driving north. I decide to head back around the exact right time.
I get a text from Rich saying they'll be ready to leave in 30 minutes. I get back in time and we're OFF TO THE AIRPORT!
Everyone is tired. On the flight the four of us play a game Sarah told us...I don't think it has a name. One person says the name of an actor who has been in a movie...for instance, "Clint Eastwood". The next person says an actor who's first name starts the that actors first inital of their last name...so "E" from "Eastwood" might make someone say "Elvis Presley" which might make the next person say "Parker Posie". Which brings us to the other rule. If you say a name with the same first and last initials, the play reverses order. oooOOoooOOo!
We land in Huntsville, AL. This is the best hotel so far. We just got back from eating. I'm on the afternoon shoot tomorrow and those shoots will be the easier of the ones we're doing.
Today we are staging a secret ninja operation. This is packed with great bits, but also takes a while to shoot. We finish up our part around 3:00 and then Paul and Sarah come in to shoot.
Rich always stays on site, I take the car out to drive around FL. It's about 75 degrees. I head to the beach, but it is hard to find because the beach is lined with huge, expensive looking mansions. I finally find a park that gives me a little access to the water. It is warm! I'm in jeans so I stay out. I do grab some shells and just keep driving north. I decide to head back around the exact right time.
I get a text from Rich saying they'll be ready to leave in 30 minutes. I get back in time and we're OFF TO THE AIRPORT!
Everyone is tired. On the flight the four of us play a game Sarah told us...I don't think it has a name. One person says the name of an actor who has been in a movie...for instance, "Clint Eastwood". The next person says an actor who's first name starts the that actors first inital of their last name...so "E" from "Eastwood" might make someone say "Elvis Presley" which might make the next person say "Parker Posie". Which brings us to the other rule. If you say a name with the same first and last initials, the play reverses order. oooOOoooOOo!
We land in Huntsville, AL. This is the best hotel so far. We just got back from eating. I'm on the afternoon shoot tomorrow and those shoots will be the easier of the ones we're doing.
Tuesday, January 24, 2006
Day 2 of 5 (+): Columbus, GA
As I said, I get to wake up later than the rest of the group. It doesn't do me too much good. I sleep like crap and set my alarm for 9:00 so I can get the free breakfast.
After I get ready, I head down and grab the buffet. It is a typical hotel buffet +. There is a selection of cereals, breads, donuts, bacon and sausage and potatoes and eggs. All of the last four items are typical hotel versions...cold and/or fake-ish. I just get some eggs and bacon and a couple boxes of cereal. I eat, head back to my room, check out, and wait for the morning crew to arrive. They show up and Rich and I head back to the site. Our lines work perfectly. We get to improv a few things here and there. Fun stuff. The staff at the location are friendly and cracking jokes.
I notice that I haven't seen a single bird while I've been here. Not a single one. Think about it. When you go outside, it isn't long until you at least see a pigeon or a seagull (in the city) or maybe something else. Here...nothing...not until later, but I really had to keep a sharp eye out.
We finish shooting around 4:30 and head immediately for the airport. Off to Lake Worth, FL!
Lake Worth, FL: The hotel we are staying at is in the midst of renovations. They got hit hard by the hurricane season, I guess. The sound guy gets issued a room that is occupied. This is the second time this happens. Us four actors hop in the car and head out to eat dinner. We find a place called Long Horns and decide to eat there. Paul and I went to use the restroom and wash our hands. While we're washing our hands we watch someone leave the stall and go right out the door. An employee. We both pop our heads out and watch as this someone goes straight back in the kitchen. Gross. Thank you, Boynton Beach, FL Long Horns, for pooing our food.
We head to the hotel and I find out that Rich and I are on the morning shift. The good news...we're dressing up like Ninjas!
After I get ready, I head down and grab the buffet. It is a typical hotel buffet +. There is a selection of cereals, breads, donuts, bacon and sausage and potatoes and eggs. All of the last four items are typical hotel versions...cold and/or fake-ish. I just get some eggs and bacon and a couple boxes of cereal. I eat, head back to my room, check out, and wait for the morning crew to arrive. They show up and Rich and I head back to the site. Our lines work perfectly. We get to improv a few things here and there. Fun stuff. The staff at the location are friendly and cracking jokes.
I notice that I haven't seen a single bird while I've been here. Not a single one. Think about it. When you go outside, it isn't long until you at least see a pigeon or a seagull (in the city) or maybe something else. Here...nothing...not until later, but I really had to keep a sharp eye out.
We finish shooting around 4:30 and head immediately for the airport. Off to Lake Worth, FL!
Lake Worth, FL: The hotel we are staying at is in the midst of renovations. They got hit hard by the hurricane season, I guess. The sound guy gets issued a room that is occupied. This is the second time this happens. Us four actors hop in the car and head out to eat dinner. We find a place called Long Horns and decide to eat there. Paul and I went to use the restroom and wash our hands. While we're washing our hands we watch someone leave the stall and go right out the door. An employee. We both pop our heads out and watch as this someone goes straight back in the kitchen. Gross. Thank you, Boynton Beach, FL Long Horns, for pooing our food.
We head to the hotel and I find out that Rich and I are on the morning shift. The good news...we're dressing up like Ninjas!
Day 1 of 5 (+): Columbus, GA
I got a sweet gig (thank you, sweet gig-givers) and I'm flying all around for 5 days. Yes...all around.
Day 1: Monday
The four of us who got hired met up in Chicago at the place from whence we were hired. I don't like throwing out names of places/companies. I don't know why.
We hung out, went over scripts, high-fived a toddler that came through, and did bits.
A limo came to take us to the airport. Not O'Hare...not Midway...some other, smaller one I don't know the name of. We got in the car and it was bit central. The cycle of bits went something like this: Bit starts; we all riff; Paul relates it to a Simpson's reference; Sarah relates it to dwarves replacing people; Rance kills the bit; Rich comments on Rance killing the bit; everyone/anyone comments on how we're going to use all our bits for the trip in the car; pause; repeat.
As we're driving, we find out that our flight is going to leave an hour later than planned. This was PERFECT because it gave us all time to go get food.
We were flown out on a corporate jet...8 seater. Pretty cool. I have some pics of the outside of it, I'll have to get some of the inside next time we're in the plane.
On the plane there are four seats that face each other, one that faces forward by the exit, and a sideways facing bench next to that seat. Somehow it ended up that the client, sound guy, camera man, and myself were in the four seats, and Rich, Paul, and Sarah were in the three front seats. So...I read. I was reading "My Friend Leonard" by James Frey*.
The plane lands and I am deemed "driver of car two". I go get the car and grab everyone and head to the airport. No...hotel. Yes...hotel. We get there about 11:30 at night, get our rooms, and kind of hang out in the "workout room" (2 working cardio machines, 2 broken ones, three sets of light weight dumbbells). Go to bed.
Lucky for me, my shoot is scheduled for the afternoon. Rich and I are paired up, Sarah and Paul are paired up. Before going to sleep I go over the script a few times and then luck out...Superman I on tv! Just starting! No commercials! I watch until superman saves a cat from a tree and then replaces the destroyed engine on Air Force One with himself. I would watch my DVD of Superman at home, but I don't have it at home, do I TODD!
*James Frey wrote "A Million Little Pieces" ("A" may not actually be in the title) and followed that up with "My Friend Leonard". They are both great reads. Unfortunately, the first book is doing quite well because it was in Oprah's Book Club, and then it got attacked for not being true. It's true, but people are saying some stuff was embellished. It is a BOOK, PEOPLE! Read it and move on. It's not like it is a law that just got passed saying "Everyone only has to pay $5 in taxes each year" and then we find out it was an embellishment because we actually have to pay more. THAT is something to get up in arms about. Not a book. It is only a matter of time until someone tries to sue him. We, people, are idiots. Cool it, us.
Day 1: Monday
The four of us who got hired met up in Chicago at the place from whence we were hired. I don't like throwing out names of places/companies. I don't know why.
We hung out, went over scripts, high-fived a toddler that came through, and did bits.
A limo came to take us to the airport. Not O'Hare...not Midway...some other, smaller one I don't know the name of. We got in the car and it was bit central. The cycle of bits went something like this: Bit starts; we all riff; Paul relates it to a Simpson's reference; Sarah relates it to dwarves replacing people; Rance kills the bit; Rich comments on Rance killing the bit; everyone/anyone comments on how we're going to use all our bits for the trip in the car; pause; repeat.
As we're driving, we find out that our flight is going to leave an hour later than planned. This was PERFECT because it gave us all time to go get food.
We were flown out on a corporate jet...8 seater. Pretty cool. I have some pics of the outside of it, I'll have to get some of the inside next time we're in the plane.
On the plane there are four seats that face each other, one that faces forward by the exit, and a sideways facing bench next to that seat. Somehow it ended up that the client, sound guy, camera man, and myself were in the four seats, and Rich, Paul, and Sarah were in the three front seats. So...I read. I was reading "My Friend Leonard" by James Frey*.
The plane lands and I am deemed "driver of car two". I go get the car and grab everyone and head to the airport. No...hotel. Yes...hotel. We get there about 11:30 at night, get our rooms, and kind of hang out in the "workout room" (2 working cardio machines, 2 broken ones, three sets of light weight dumbbells). Go to bed.
Lucky for me, my shoot is scheduled for the afternoon. Rich and I are paired up, Sarah and Paul are paired up. Before going to sleep I go over the script a few times and then luck out...Superman I on tv! Just starting! No commercials! I watch until superman saves a cat from a tree and then replaces the destroyed engine on Air Force One with himself. I would watch my DVD of Superman at home, but I don't have it at home, do I TODD!
*James Frey wrote "A Million Little Pieces" ("A" may not actually be in the title) and followed that up with "My Friend Leonard". They are both great reads. Unfortunately, the first book is doing quite well because it was in Oprah's Book Club, and then it got attacked for not being true. It's true, but people are saying some stuff was embellished. It is a BOOK, PEOPLE! Read it and move on. It's not like it is a law that just got passed saying "Everyone only has to pay $5 in taxes each year" and then we find out it was an embellishment because we actually have to pay more. THAT is something to get up in arms about. Not a book. It is only a matter of time until someone tries to sue him. We, people, are idiots. Cool it, us.
Sunday, January 15, 2006
The Portland Chronic- what? -les
Portland, Oregon. I've spent many countless moments in Chicago telling people that it doesn't rain as much as people think it does in Portland. I was just there for 6 days...and it rained everyday. EVERY day. Friday- I arrived around 2:00pm and set out to get the hotel and meet Michele at the photo studio I was borrowing. Got in no problem, set everything up that I needed to and went on my way. Deanna and I ate at Swagat Indian Cuisine before playing a ComedySportz show in Portland. On that note, a big part of my trip back was eating at places I like eating at. It didn't get as big as I would have liked, but I checked some off the list...and Swagat was the first. Unfortunately, Srimanth, the owner, wasn't there. He's a great guy who will rip you a new one when you first start working there, and will still try after you've worked there awhile. I got pretty good at reversing his burn attempts in my four years working there.
After we ate (and we ordered too much) we headed over to CSz and got ready for the show. It was good to be back, and weird to be back. In the show, everyone was kicking ass. It made me think of something Zach Thompson said: "The difference between half-ass and kick-ass...think about it." I've been thinking about a lot of shows I've been doing in Chicago, and the state of Chicago improv today and that rings true. I think a lot of it has become half-assed and I'm done doing that. I'm going to kick ass from now on.
We finish out the show and head over to the common aftershow hang out, McMennamin's. It has changed from a grill pub to a larger restaurant. My favorite thing to order...not on the menu. What I order, comes out wrong. A terrible experience, and I ban them.
Saturday- Today starts bright and early. I am shooting headshots today and I am shooting seven people. The most I've ever shot in a day. We get there around 8:15am to be able to let the stylist in and get set up. The nice thing is, I know everyone. So this is a great "see old friends" time while still being able to do work.
My dad wants to stop by and shows up at 10:00am. He loves my work and is very proud that I'm doing photography. He's always loved photography and has tried to get me to love it since I was a kid. I did love it...I just wasn't patient enough to shoot my film, develop my film, make prints, etc. With digital I get immediate results. Huzzah! So, he's proud. Also, while he's there, one of the ladies decides to get "slinky" in her pics. Whenever I shoot headshots, I reserve the last 10 shots for just going crazy...doing whatever they want to do. For this particular woman, it meant wearing only a man's button down shirt...some shots for her husband (who was in the room). I shoot those and then she goes to change back into her clothes. My dad looks at me and says "I gotta get into this business!"
If you've made it this far..."Hey Eric Lindberg."
The shoots continue. My dad leaves and Phil comes in to just watch what I do...and pick up lunch for Deanna, Joan Marie (the stylist) and myself. The last shoot ends around 4:30. We drop by the hotel quickly then it's off to CHRISTMAS AT APPLEBEE'S! Deanna's mom picked Applebee's for the destination and we all (our parents and we) met there. Apparently they have great soup. Gifts were exchanged. Talk was had. Then we were on our merry way. Hmmm...8:30pm. Time to go to sleep!
Sunday- got to sleep in and didn't need to be to the studio until 10:00. Shot three people and then had a couple couples come in. Jeremy and Carrie showed up and I shot them. They were very nervous in front of the camera, which I found hilarious. Then my mom and dad showed up. That was a fun shoot...plus my dad totally got me back for something I did when I was a kid.
Every easter or christmas my dad would set up the camera and tripod and we would all be dressed nicely awaiting a family picture. One easter, my sense of humor kicked in. Picture one: everyone is smiling, I have my eyes wide open in a blank stare. Picture two: everyone is smiling, my dad slightly less than the rest, I have my eyes wide open in a blank stare. Picture three: my dad has told me not to make a face...He is not smiling, my mom and sister are kind of smiling, I have my eyes wide open in a blank stare. Picture four: my dad has told me a little more harshly not to make a face...He looks angry, my mom looks upset, my sister is looking at me, I am smiling nicely. Cut to the last picture of my shoot on Sunday. Deanna is taking a picture of me and my parents. I'm kind of smiling, my mom is smiling, my dad's eyes are wide open in a blank stare. The ultimate callback.
After the shoot we headed to my parents house and played Fluxx...a card game that is fun, but that they didn't know how to play. I discovered Fluxx while I was in Maine over the Summer. I bought myself a deck and sent one to my parents. NOW they actually know how to play it. We head back and stop at The Spaghetti Factory for dinner...check another food place off the list. Sleep.
Monday- Today is a day I've been looking forward to and kind of dreading. We head out to the beach to visit my Grandpa. It was great to see him, but hard to see him as well. He just turned 90 on the 13th.
I have a hard time watching family get older...especially grandparents. My mom's parents had always been together, but my dad had step-parents. Because of this I hit the jackpot as a kid...SEVEN GRANDPARENTS! Unfortunately, they all started passing away, and it seemed like all around the same time. It makes me angry to think about it. I have one grandparent left and the thought of losing him makes me sad and angry because A) he's my last grandparent and B) that means my parents are next.
It's a nice visit, but sad. We come back to town for a romantic date of food court food and a Gay Cowboy movie. Ahhhhh, romance. I did get bourbon chicken at the Cajun Grill in the food court, check.
Brokeback Mountain was ok. It could have been 30 minutes shorter and still told the same story. I feel like it is way over-hyped. It's good...but since it's about gay cowboys dealing with their forbidden love people think it's great. It's no "Big Trouble in Little China", folks...get over it.
Monday is the day that Deanna realized her Tuesday flight doesn't leave at 11:00am...it leaves at 7:00am. YIKES! Good thing she checked.
Tuesday- 5:45am and I'm off to the airport to drop off Deanna. She needed to be back sooner than I did.
Major accomplishment: Carl's Jr. (similar to Hardee's, but not) Western Bacon Cheeseburger...HUGE check off the list. It's a burger with bacon, BBQ sauce and onion rings IN the burger. I also put my fries in the burger as well.
Today I worked on preparing all the CDs for the people who got headshots. Later that night I stopped by my old Tae Kwon Do Dojang and visited with Master Ha. I was glad to see him, and I showed up at probably the perfect time by chance. From there I went to the ComedySportz rehearsal to drop off CDs. It was a mandatory rehearsal for them, so I didn't want to intrude too much. I dropped off CDs and was on my way.
That night I hung out with Blaine (friend since 4th grade, and ex-co-worker) and Jeremy (friend and ex-co-worker). They still work at the same job I quit 3 years ago. We went out and told stories. They kept me filled in on work gossip, although I forgot to ask if that bitch, Ali, still works there. Way to make a positive impression, Ali.
Wednesday- I stayed one day too long. Not a whole lot to do. Around 1:00pm I went out to Tigard to my old High School to see my yearbook/photography teacher. I figured I would chat it up and show him my portfolio. I used to drop by and chat after I graduated. Bob Skrondal is a great teacher and very down to earth. Just a cool guy. Unfortunately, he wasn't there. They told me at the office that he works on 'B' days...which are Tuesdays and Thursdays. They said he retired, but came back to teach anyway...which really helped them out.
I don't know how screwed up schools are everywhere else, but they are very screwed up in Tigard. Let's start focusing on education, shall we? Portland has been voting against education funding because everytime the option is education or lower property tax. They always seem to be tied together. At this rate, EVERYONE will be as intelligent as our president. Yeah, I said it.
From my high school I head over to my parents. They are not there...it's Wednesday...duh, they're working. I go to the mall and slowly walk around. Come back to my parents...still not there. I walk to 7-11 for a soda. There used to be a trail through the neighbors yard that was a shortcut to 7-11. I decide not to look for it on the way there, but I DO look for it on the way back.
The trek takes me past my old grade school...which is non existant. There is a grade school there, but it isn't my old one. They completely tore down my school and built an entirely new one. It was bizarre to see. I found the trail. It didn't lead me through my neighbor's yard anymore, it went to another house. Close enough.
Still no parents. I watch TV until they get there and we go out for Mexican food. After that I head out to chill and pack and sleep for my morning flight.
Thursday- Fly home.
The whole trip I've been reading "A Million Little Pieces" and it's a good book. I know there is "controversy" as to what is true and what is not in the book, but I don't care. It's a good book. If you can accept the crap our government is dishing out, then this book will seem more than full of truth.
After we ate (and we ordered too much) we headed over to CSz and got ready for the show. It was good to be back, and weird to be back. In the show, everyone was kicking ass. It made me think of something Zach Thompson said: "The difference between half-ass and kick-ass...think about it." I've been thinking about a lot of shows I've been doing in Chicago, and the state of Chicago improv today and that rings true. I think a lot of it has become half-assed and I'm done doing that. I'm going to kick ass from now on.
We finish out the show and head over to the common aftershow hang out, McMennamin's. It has changed from a grill pub to a larger restaurant. My favorite thing to order...not on the menu. What I order, comes out wrong. A terrible experience, and I ban them.
Saturday- Today starts bright and early. I am shooting headshots today and I am shooting seven people. The most I've ever shot in a day. We get there around 8:15am to be able to let the stylist in and get set up. The nice thing is, I know everyone. So this is a great "see old friends" time while still being able to do work.
My dad wants to stop by and shows up at 10:00am. He loves my work and is very proud that I'm doing photography. He's always loved photography and has tried to get me to love it since I was a kid. I did love it...I just wasn't patient enough to shoot my film, develop my film, make prints, etc. With digital I get immediate results. Huzzah! So, he's proud. Also, while he's there, one of the ladies decides to get "slinky" in her pics. Whenever I shoot headshots, I reserve the last 10 shots for just going crazy...doing whatever they want to do. For this particular woman, it meant wearing only a man's button down shirt...some shots for her husband (who was in the room). I shoot those and then she goes to change back into her clothes. My dad looks at me and says "I gotta get into this business!"
If you've made it this far..."Hey Eric Lindberg."
The shoots continue. My dad leaves and Phil comes in to just watch what I do...and pick up lunch for Deanna, Joan Marie (the stylist) and myself. The last shoot ends around 4:30. We drop by the hotel quickly then it's off to CHRISTMAS AT APPLEBEE'S! Deanna's mom picked Applebee's for the destination and we all (our parents and we) met there. Apparently they have great soup. Gifts were exchanged. Talk was had. Then we were on our merry way. Hmmm...8:30pm. Time to go to sleep!
Sunday- got to sleep in and didn't need to be to the studio until 10:00. Shot three people and then had a couple couples come in. Jeremy and Carrie showed up and I shot them. They were very nervous in front of the camera, which I found hilarious. Then my mom and dad showed up. That was a fun shoot...plus my dad totally got me back for something I did when I was a kid.
Every easter or christmas my dad would set up the camera and tripod and we would all be dressed nicely awaiting a family picture. One easter, my sense of humor kicked in. Picture one: everyone is smiling, I have my eyes wide open in a blank stare. Picture two: everyone is smiling, my dad slightly less than the rest, I have my eyes wide open in a blank stare. Picture three: my dad has told me not to make a face...He is not smiling, my mom and sister are kind of smiling, I have my eyes wide open in a blank stare. Picture four: my dad has told me a little more harshly not to make a face...He looks angry, my mom looks upset, my sister is looking at me, I am smiling nicely. Cut to the last picture of my shoot on Sunday. Deanna is taking a picture of me and my parents. I'm kind of smiling, my mom is smiling, my dad's eyes are wide open in a blank stare. The ultimate callback.
After the shoot we headed to my parents house and played Fluxx...a card game that is fun, but that they didn't know how to play. I discovered Fluxx while I was in Maine over the Summer. I bought myself a deck and sent one to my parents. NOW they actually know how to play it. We head back and stop at The Spaghetti Factory for dinner...check another food place off the list. Sleep.
Monday- Today is a day I've been looking forward to and kind of dreading. We head out to the beach to visit my Grandpa. It was great to see him, but hard to see him as well. He just turned 90 on the 13th.
I have a hard time watching family get older...especially grandparents. My mom's parents had always been together, but my dad had step-parents. Because of this I hit the jackpot as a kid...SEVEN GRANDPARENTS! Unfortunately, they all started passing away, and it seemed like all around the same time. It makes me angry to think about it. I have one grandparent left and the thought of losing him makes me sad and angry because A) he's my last grandparent and B) that means my parents are next.
It's a nice visit, but sad. We come back to town for a romantic date of food court food and a Gay Cowboy movie. Ahhhhh, romance. I did get bourbon chicken at the Cajun Grill in the food court, check.
Brokeback Mountain was ok. It could have been 30 minutes shorter and still told the same story. I feel like it is way over-hyped. It's good...but since it's about gay cowboys dealing with their forbidden love people think it's great. It's no "Big Trouble in Little China", folks...get over it.
Monday is the day that Deanna realized her Tuesday flight doesn't leave at 11:00am...it leaves at 7:00am. YIKES! Good thing she checked.
Tuesday- 5:45am and I'm off to the airport to drop off Deanna. She needed to be back sooner than I did.
Major accomplishment: Carl's Jr. (similar to Hardee's, but not) Western Bacon Cheeseburger...HUGE check off the list. It's a burger with bacon, BBQ sauce and onion rings IN the burger. I also put my fries in the burger as well.
Today I worked on preparing all the CDs for the people who got headshots. Later that night I stopped by my old Tae Kwon Do Dojang and visited with Master Ha. I was glad to see him, and I showed up at probably the perfect time by chance. From there I went to the ComedySportz rehearsal to drop off CDs. It was a mandatory rehearsal for them, so I didn't want to intrude too much. I dropped off CDs and was on my way.
That night I hung out with Blaine (friend since 4th grade, and ex-co-worker) and Jeremy (friend and ex-co-worker). They still work at the same job I quit 3 years ago. We went out and told stories. They kept me filled in on work gossip, although I forgot to ask if that bitch, Ali, still works there. Way to make a positive impression, Ali.
Wednesday- I stayed one day too long. Not a whole lot to do. Around 1:00pm I went out to Tigard to my old High School to see my yearbook/photography teacher. I figured I would chat it up and show him my portfolio. I used to drop by and chat after I graduated. Bob Skrondal is a great teacher and very down to earth. Just a cool guy. Unfortunately, he wasn't there. They told me at the office that he works on 'B' days...which are Tuesdays and Thursdays. They said he retired, but came back to teach anyway...which really helped them out.
I don't know how screwed up schools are everywhere else, but they are very screwed up in Tigard. Let's start focusing on education, shall we? Portland has been voting against education funding because everytime the option is education or lower property tax. They always seem to be tied together. At this rate, EVERYONE will be as intelligent as our president. Yeah, I said it.
From my high school I head over to my parents. They are not there...it's Wednesday...duh, they're working. I go to the mall and slowly walk around. Come back to my parents...still not there. I walk to 7-11 for a soda. There used to be a trail through the neighbors yard that was a shortcut to 7-11. I decide not to look for it on the way there, but I DO look for it on the way back.
The trek takes me past my old grade school...which is non existant. There is a grade school there, but it isn't my old one. They completely tore down my school and built an entirely new one. It was bizarre to see. I found the trail. It didn't lead me through my neighbor's yard anymore, it went to another house. Close enough.
Still no parents. I watch TV until they get there and we go out for Mexican food. After that I head out to chill and pack and sleep for my morning flight.
Thursday- Fly home.
The whole trip I've been reading "A Million Little Pieces" and it's a good book. I know there is "controversy" as to what is true and what is not in the book, but I don't care. It's a good book. If you can accept the crap our government is dishing out, then this book will seem more than full of truth.
Wednesday, January 04, 2006
Heading Home
I head back to Portland on the 6th. I haven't been back in about a year and a half. It doesn't seem that long. It always seemed like a long time away while Deanna was still living there. Time flies.
Yesterday I woke up around 4:00am puking. STOMACH FLU! HURRAY!
I don't remember the last time I had a stomach flu, but it's been years. Yesterday I ate about 5 Saltine crackers, drank a lot of water and Sprite. Kept very little of it down. The whole thing died down by the end of the day. I basically was in bed all day when I wasn't in the bathroom.
Around 4:00am THIS morning I was hungry. I ate about 8 crackers and that tided me over enough to sleep. I had errands to run and did some across the street. I got light headed and came home with some food that I ate half of.
Now I'm pretty close to being back to normal. There has been an interesting improv development as well, but it is still in the process of being figured out...more on that later...maybe.
I'm looking forward to the little things about being home. Like getting a Western at Carl's Jr. Seeing old friends. Seeing the city. Taking pictures. Seeing family. Should be good times.
Deanna flies out tomorrow...I hope she doesn't catch my stomach flu last minute. Her flight is going to be terrible if she does. YIKES!
Yesterday I woke up around 4:00am puking. STOMACH FLU! HURRAY!
I don't remember the last time I had a stomach flu, but it's been years. Yesterday I ate about 5 Saltine crackers, drank a lot of water and Sprite. Kept very little of it down. The whole thing died down by the end of the day. I basically was in bed all day when I wasn't in the bathroom.
Around 4:00am THIS morning I was hungry. I ate about 8 crackers and that tided me over enough to sleep. I had errands to run and did some across the street. I got light headed and came home with some food that I ate half of.
Now I'm pretty close to being back to normal. There has been an interesting improv development as well, but it is still in the process of being figured out...more on that later...maybe.
I'm looking forward to the little things about being home. Like getting a Western at Carl's Jr. Seeing old friends. Seeing the city. Taking pictures. Seeing family. Should be good times.
Deanna flies out tomorrow...I hope she doesn't catch my stomach flu last minute. Her flight is going to be terrible if she does. YIKES!
Tuesday, December 27, 2005
I made it...whew!
Eight hours of Santa. I think it went pretty well. I was in a major hotel being Santa for guests at their very fancy buffet. There were all kinds of people there. My favorites were the elderly...very happy people, they. I think I saw the owner of Doug's Hot Dogs and almost said something to him as Santa, but decided not to.
The kids were good. I'm glad I didn't have to do the sit in a chair and have kids forced on my lap thing, though. There was one table that had a high chair, but the kid wasn't there. The two adults that were warned me that she didn't like Santa at all. I said I would give 10 feet...they recommended 20. They were right. She started screaming as soon as I came in. This is when this Santa broke out his "unspoken restraining order" bit for the adults...I had to stay at least 20 feet away or there was trouble!
There were three red-headed kids. Two boys and a girl. They were walking around. I asked if they were walking to their table. One of the boys said "we were supposed to have a table, but something happened. My aunt is getting to the bottom of this." The other said, very matter-of-factly, "we don't celebrate Christmas...we celebrate Chaunaka (sp?)." And the girl said "we're triplettes." These kids I saw the most often and they were VERY inquisitive. Wanting to know all the secret workings of Santa. They didn't see Santa as mystical and wonderful...they saw him as a mystery to be solved. CSI: Jewish Triplettes.
My "Santa voice" is basically a friendly version of the Darrell Hammond (SNL) impersonation of Sean Connery. About five different adults said "Santa sounds like he has a little bit of an Irish brogue." One lady even found me after asking at the table to ask where I was from...I said the North Pole. She said, "No, what part of Ireland?" To which I replied, "it's just my Santa voice" in my real voice.
There were two private rooms amongst the other dining areas. One had a family with about 7-9 kids (cousins I'd guess). They were sort of dressed alike in groups. You know how some parents like to make sure their 2 and 4 year-olds have the same dresses on for xmas and stuff like that? It was like that...except that some of the kids were boys and in the 14-16 range. Don't get me wrong, they weren't wearing dresses. But they were wearing matching shirts under matching sleeveless sweaters. The matriarch of the group let me know that this was the 6th year they had come to this, and in the same room, and later they would be caroling. They asked me to come back to the room for a picture...I came back 3 times and no one budged for a picture...their loss! No GIGANTOR SANTA FOR THEM!!!
I didn't really hit much trouble until the very end. As I was making my last rounds I found a kid who replied to my "are you having a good Christmas?" with "I KNOW YOU'RE NOT THE REAL SANTA!!!" I ignored him and moved on. I also found a 4-6 year old boy who responded with "NO!" I said, "Why aren't you having a good Christmas?" to him as he was walking right by me and he turned and said "I DON'T EVEN CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS!"
YEOWCH! Oh well...his loss.
About every 20 minutes or so I would take a 5-10 minute break to cool off, drink water, and/or use the restroom. Three times I took longer breaks to visit the employee cafeteria and eat. They had a nice salad bar and a good xmas meal going on back there. Just me and the employees...until around 2:00pm. When I went in there were also two cops back there having a meal and watching the game on TV. When I went back around 4:00pm...two other cops eating a free meal and watching the game. 6:15...when I finished...I kid you not: 14 cops all eating and talking and watching the game on TV. FOURTEEN! I wonder if being a cop is dangerous anymore?
The kids were good. I'm glad I didn't have to do the sit in a chair and have kids forced on my lap thing, though. There was one table that had a high chair, but the kid wasn't there. The two adults that were warned me that she didn't like Santa at all. I said I would give 10 feet...they recommended 20. They were right. She started screaming as soon as I came in. This is when this Santa broke out his "unspoken restraining order" bit for the adults...I had to stay at least 20 feet away or there was trouble!
There were three red-headed kids. Two boys and a girl. They were walking around. I asked if they were walking to their table. One of the boys said "we were supposed to have a table, but something happened. My aunt is getting to the bottom of this." The other said, very matter-of-factly, "we don't celebrate Christmas...we celebrate Chaunaka (sp?)." And the girl said "we're triplettes." These kids I saw the most often and they were VERY inquisitive. Wanting to know all the secret workings of Santa. They didn't see Santa as mystical and wonderful...they saw him as a mystery to be solved. CSI: Jewish Triplettes.
My "Santa voice" is basically a friendly version of the Darrell Hammond (SNL) impersonation of Sean Connery. About five different adults said "Santa sounds like he has a little bit of an Irish brogue." One lady even found me after asking at the table to ask where I was from...I said the North Pole. She said, "No, what part of Ireland?" To which I replied, "it's just my Santa voice" in my real voice.
There were two private rooms amongst the other dining areas. One had a family with about 7-9 kids (cousins I'd guess). They were sort of dressed alike in groups. You know how some parents like to make sure their 2 and 4 year-olds have the same dresses on for xmas and stuff like that? It was like that...except that some of the kids were boys and in the 14-16 range. Don't get me wrong, they weren't wearing dresses. But they were wearing matching shirts under matching sleeveless sweaters. The matriarch of the group let me know that this was the 6th year they had come to this, and in the same room, and later they would be caroling. They asked me to come back to the room for a picture...I came back 3 times and no one budged for a picture...their loss! No GIGANTOR SANTA FOR THEM!!!
I didn't really hit much trouble until the very end. As I was making my last rounds I found a kid who replied to my "are you having a good Christmas?" with "I KNOW YOU'RE NOT THE REAL SANTA!!!" I ignored him and moved on. I also found a 4-6 year old boy who responded with "NO!" I said, "Why aren't you having a good Christmas?" to him as he was walking right by me and he turned and said "I DON'T EVEN CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS!"
YEOWCH! Oh well...his loss.
About every 20 minutes or so I would take a 5-10 minute break to cool off, drink water, and/or use the restroom. Three times I took longer breaks to visit the employee cafeteria and eat. They had a nice salad bar and a good xmas meal going on back there. Just me and the employees...until around 2:00pm. When I went in there were also two cops back there having a meal and watching the game on TV. When I went back around 4:00pm...two other cops eating a free meal and watching the game. 6:15...when I finished...I kid you not: 14 cops all eating and talking and watching the game on TV. FOURTEEN! I wonder if being a cop is dangerous anymore?
Saturday, December 24, 2005
Merry Christmas!
That's right. You can stuff your "happy Holidays" in a sack. Christmas wins!
Speaking of. Deanna and I are celebrating xmas today...xmas eve. Why? I'll be playing Santa from 10am-6pm on xmas day.
That's right kids, I said "playing". The real Santa will be tired from a night of delivering toys. Why people want to see Santa on xmas day, I don't know. But I'm not questioning it.
I'l also be coming back home for a small stay in January, so that should be great!
Speaking of. Deanna and I are celebrating xmas today...xmas eve. Why? I'll be playing Santa from 10am-6pm on xmas day.
That's right kids, I said "playing". The real Santa will be tired from a night of delivering toys. Why people want to see Santa on xmas day, I don't know. But I'm not questioning it.
I'l also be coming back home for a small stay in January, so that should be great!
Thursday, December 08, 2005
Snow...a lot of snow.
Holy crap! So here's my day today. It snowed a couple of days ago. Not a lot, but enough that there was still a light covering on non-roads.
So, today, I go to ComedySportz for a remote show call time of 11:45am. I'm driving. The show isn't until 2:00pm, but we need to do sound check. Everything goes fine. The show happens. During the show I glance through a crack in the curtains to see a lot of snow coming down outside. A lot. We get done with our show around 3:00 and go to get our stuff and head out. The people we did the show are telling us that the next thing on the docket for them is a cruise on a boat. We laugh. They weren't kidding. Did I mention it was snowing?
Tara was on the remote and she was hosting rehearsal for our sketch group at 4:00pm. It was about 3:40 when our car came back from vallet. And there was snow. The drive was slow going and we got to Tara's around 4:05. Still snowing.
I park right in front of Tara's building and go inside. I'm in a sketch group who's working name is sort of like Black Angus, but we haven't settled on an actual name yet. The cool thing is none of us have day jobs, so we can rehearse during the day. Nights get filled up quick with rehearsal schedules and shows, so it is nice to have the daytime freedom. I'm there until 6:00pm. I come outside to the car...it is snowing. There is about 2 inches on the car.
I drive home with my awesome driving skills in time to eat a sandwich before a photo shoot at 7:00pm. Deanna left for a ComedySportz show right as my stylist, Monique, called me. Deanna said "is that Joe saying ComedySportz is cancelled?" No. It wasn't. She walks to ComedySportz. Monique shows up. About 10 minutes later Beau, the person I was shooting, knocks on the backdoor. I thought it might have been Deanna and that she forgot her keys. I don't know how he got to the backdoor, but he did. You have to walk through a spooky alley to find the backdoor.
About 30 minutes after he got there, Deanna actually DID come home. They cancelled the show right as she got there.
At 10:00pm I went outside (still snowing) with a ruler. 10.5 inches. Snow, ladies and gentlemen.
Tomorrow morning I will be standing on a street corner handing out fliers for 2 hours...this should be interesting.
So, today, I go to ComedySportz for a remote show call time of 11:45am. I'm driving. The show isn't until 2:00pm, but we need to do sound check. Everything goes fine. The show happens. During the show I glance through a crack in the curtains to see a lot of snow coming down outside. A lot. We get done with our show around 3:00 and go to get our stuff and head out. The people we did the show are telling us that the next thing on the docket for them is a cruise on a boat. We laugh. They weren't kidding. Did I mention it was snowing?
Tara was on the remote and she was hosting rehearsal for our sketch group at 4:00pm. It was about 3:40 when our car came back from vallet. And there was snow. The drive was slow going and we got to Tara's around 4:05. Still snowing.
I park right in front of Tara's building and go inside. I'm in a sketch group who's working name is sort of like Black Angus, but we haven't settled on an actual name yet. The cool thing is none of us have day jobs, so we can rehearse during the day. Nights get filled up quick with rehearsal schedules and shows, so it is nice to have the daytime freedom. I'm there until 6:00pm. I come outside to the car...it is snowing. There is about 2 inches on the car.
I drive home with my awesome driving skills in time to eat a sandwich before a photo shoot at 7:00pm. Deanna left for a ComedySportz show right as my stylist, Monique, called me. Deanna said "is that Joe saying ComedySportz is cancelled?" No. It wasn't. She walks to ComedySportz. Monique shows up. About 10 minutes later Beau, the person I was shooting, knocks on the backdoor. I thought it might have been Deanna and that she forgot her keys. I don't know how he got to the backdoor, but he did. You have to walk through a spooky alley to find the backdoor.
About 30 minutes after he got there, Deanna actually DID come home. They cancelled the show right as she got there.
At 10:00pm I went outside (still snowing) with a ruler. 10.5 inches. Snow, ladies and gentlemen.
Tomorrow morning I will be standing on a street corner handing out fliers for 2 hours...this should be interesting.
Wednesday, November 16, 2005
Fall is HERE!..Farewell, Fall!
Sometimes people joke that fall and spring last a month in chicago...and that winter and summer last 5 months. Well, today it is snowing.
Not heavy downfall, mass accumulation snow. But it is out there, falling from the sky. It is similar to the snow I saw the first time I came out here in April 2002...that's right, April. The snow would constantly be falling, but it would never accumulate on the ground at all. It would just disappear. It was the coolest snow I had seen. And it is back.
Some of you may remember my trip to San Francisco last year. I bought a $20 faux flight jacket kind of thing at a Walgreens. It has a velcro patch that says "cargozone" ('cargo zone' for all of you who want to try and force it to become an Italian word). And by velcro, I mean you can tear the patch off and replace it with another (I haven't found any other velcro patches yet).
This jacket is by far the best purchase I have made. It was cheap. It is light weight. It is warm.
Speaking of cheap. Marshall Field's had their 13 hour sale on Saturday, and I was there with some other people handing out fliers for the event. Rich Prouty, Sam Super and I went to take advantage of the coupons for 20% of one clearance item. Rich has an excellent bargain sense. I've hit up two of these Field's sales with him now and both times I have gotten excellent deals, and he comes away with nothing. Last time I got a cool show shirt for $20. This time Rich found a shirt and said "11 bucks! Aww, it's too big." Not for me it wasn't...and not for Sam. I got two shirts, Sam got one, Rich...none. I've been banned from bargain shopping with Rich.
Not heavy downfall, mass accumulation snow. But it is out there, falling from the sky. It is similar to the snow I saw the first time I came out here in April 2002...that's right, April. The snow would constantly be falling, but it would never accumulate on the ground at all. It would just disappear. It was the coolest snow I had seen. And it is back.
Some of you may remember my trip to San Francisco last year. I bought a $20 faux flight jacket kind of thing at a Walgreens. It has a velcro patch that says "cargozone" ('cargo zone' for all of you who want to try and force it to become an Italian word). And by velcro, I mean you can tear the patch off and replace it with another (I haven't found any other velcro patches yet).
This jacket is by far the best purchase I have made. It was cheap. It is light weight. It is warm.
Speaking of cheap. Marshall Field's had their 13 hour sale on Saturday, and I was there with some other people handing out fliers for the event. Rich Prouty, Sam Super and I went to take advantage of the coupons for 20% of one clearance item. Rich has an excellent bargain sense. I've hit up two of these Field's sales with him now and both times I have gotten excellent deals, and he comes away with nothing. Last time I got a cool show shirt for $20. This time Rich found a shirt and said "11 bucks! Aww, it's too big." Not for me it wasn't...and not for Sam. I got two shirts, Sam got one, Rich...none. I've been banned from bargain shopping with Rich.
Friday, November 04, 2005
Birthday Jamboree!
Yesterday was my birthday and it was good times!
Deanna and I went to breakfast at Uncommon Ground. Normally I get some sort of egg, meat, potato or pancake combo. Uncommon Ground thinks that is for suckers. I got eggs, pancakes and sausage, but they were all separate dishes. Luckily our server was an improvisor...we'll call him Jason. He said he could pull some strings or something along those lines. We got some sort of discount.
Deanna got me 3 DVDs I wanted and a shirt and sweater that were pretty cool. One of the DVDs (Harry Potter 3) was fullscreen mode instead of widescreen. We went back to exchange it and saw the same sweaters in different colors. Deanna got me another sweater, tshirt, and a sport coat. Nice!
For the rest of the day we hung out. I watched some of xmen 2 and then we both watched Batman Begins. The day goes on. Nice and relaxed.
We had initially decided to try to have a dinner. Deanna sent out the invite to some people I hold dear, but hardly anyone responded or they were busy. So we just mellowed out all day...until 9:55pm.
Our door buzzer makes it usual sound (like someone stepping on a baby bird). I go answer and it's Tara...with balloons, two 2-liters of soda and party hats. Suspicious.
I had thought, earlier in the day, that she might be throwing a surprise deal of some sort, but I didn't want to be the guy who expects a party all day and nothing happens. So I put that thought aside. As soon as Tara showed up, everything started making sense:
- Deanna was tidying up the apartment more than we normally do
- When we were exchanging the DVD I was looking at video games and she said "maybe you should get a party game"
I wouldn't necessarily say "I KNEW IT!", but I had minor suspicions that I let go. We already have a party game (Donkey Konga) so it would have made sense to get one...and it is nice to have a clean apartment. They didn't 100% lead to "there will be a party".
After Tara came Sam, Stacey, Robyn, and Rich. We hung out, I showed them the wonders of Michael Jackson's Moonwalker. We played celebrity...and then...as usual, I bust out Donkey Konga.
Donkey Konga is a bongo game...that's all I'm going to say about it. It is fun and hilarious to watch people play.
My Favorite shots by Deanna:
Deanna and I went to breakfast at Uncommon Ground. Normally I get some sort of egg, meat, potato or pancake combo. Uncommon Ground thinks that is for suckers. I got eggs, pancakes and sausage, but they were all separate dishes. Luckily our server was an improvisor...we'll call him Jason. He said he could pull some strings or something along those lines. We got some sort of discount.
Deanna got me 3 DVDs I wanted and a shirt and sweater that were pretty cool. One of the DVDs (Harry Potter 3) was fullscreen mode instead of widescreen. We went back to exchange it and saw the same sweaters in different colors. Deanna got me another sweater, tshirt, and a sport coat. Nice!
For the rest of the day we hung out. I watched some of xmen 2 and then we both watched Batman Begins. The day goes on. Nice and relaxed.
We had initially decided to try to have a dinner. Deanna sent out the invite to some people I hold dear, but hardly anyone responded or they were busy. So we just mellowed out all day...until 9:55pm.
Our door buzzer makes it usual sound (like someone stepping on a baby bird). I go answer and it's Tara...with balloons, two 2-liters of soda and party hats. Suspicious.
I had thought, earlier in the day, that she might be throwing a surprise deal of some sort, but I didn't want to be the guy who expects a party all day and nothing happens. So I put that thought aside. As soon as Tara showed up, everything started making sense:
- Deanna was tidying up the apartment more than we normally do
- When we were exchanging the DVD I was looking at video games and she said "maybe you should get a party game"
I wouldn't necessarily say "I KNEW IT!", but I had minor suspicions that I let go. We already have a party game (Donkey Konga) so it would have made sense to get one...and it is nice to have a clean apartment. They didn't 100% lead to "there will be a party".
After Tara came Sam, Stacey, Robyn, and Rich. We hung out, I showed them the wonders of Michael Jackson's Moonwalker. We played celebrity...and then...as usual, I bust out Donkey Konga.
Donkey Konga is a bongo game...that's all I'm going to say about it. It is fun and hilarious to watch people play.
My Favorite shots by Deanna:
Tuesday, November 01, 2005
Why Martin is Stupid:
-he wears glasses
-he smells
-the hair on top of his head is the same length as the hair on his face
-he makes people update their blogs
-he smells
-the hair on top of his head is the same length as the hair on his face
-he makes people update their blogs
Monday, October 31, 2005
Happy Halloween!
It's Halloween! Remember when it was scary and fun and mystical?!
If I remember correctly I was living here in this same apartment last year and we had zero trick or treat kids. Ah well.
I have a birthday in 3 days. I was almost born on Halloween. I have a childhood memory of my dad saying my name would have been "Goblin" if I would have been born on 10/31. It seems like my dad is now more like he was when I was a kid...a slightly mischieveous prankster. Just slightly. There was a period from my teens to twenties when time was rough...maybe it was two kids and college money. But I remember little tidbits from my youth like that.
My mom used to cut my hair in the kitchen and he would always come in and offer to do it saying he'd give me a buzz cut or a mohawk. Or when we were at the Smithsonian when I was about 5-6 years old. There were skulls in a display case. He said when I died he would put my skull in there and I thought that was the coolest thing. My mom didn't seem to care much for the comment.
I think my dad helped me develop my sense of humor. Anytime I left a light on, left stuff on a desk, or got in his way while the TV was on I got: "Are you in [room with light on that I wasn't in anymore]?"; "The sofa's not a desk."; or "you make a better door than a window." This helped me because I would start coming up with clever retorts to the 'dad burns'.
Now it's come full circle and I usually am telling Deanna to turn lights off or rinse her dishes. Ah well, the legacy continues!
If I remember correctly I was living here in this same apartment last year and we had zero trick or treat kids. Ah well.
I have a birthday in 3 days. I was almost born on Halloween. I have a childhood memory of my dad saying my name would have been "Goblin" if I would have been born on 10/31. It seems like my dad is now more like he was when I was a kid...a slightly mischieveous prankster. Just slightly. There was a period from my teens to twenties when time was rough...maybe it was two kids and college money. But I remember little tidbits from my youth like that.
My mom used to cut my hair in the kitchen and he would always come in and offer to do it saying he'd give me a buzz cut or a mohawk. Or when we were at the Smithsonian when I was about 5-6 years old. There were skulls in a display case. He said when I died he would put my skull in there and I thought that was the coolest thing. My mom didn't seem to care much for the comment.
I think my dad helped me develop my sense of humor. Anytime I left a light on, left stuff on a desk, or got in his way while the TV was on I got: "Are you in [room with light on that I wasn't in anymore]?"; "The sofa's not a desk."; or "you make a better door than a window." This helped me because I would start coming up with clever retorts to the 'dad burns'.
Now it's come full circle and I usually am telling Deanna to turn lights off or rinse her dishes. Ah well, the legacy continues!
Sunday, October 23, 2005
Saturday, October 22, 2005
Great Show!
Had a fun show tonight at IO. Our suggestion was "Ice" and I went into a scene knowing I was Vanilla Ice and I was pissed that my career sucked. Emily pimped me into singing to her and the music that was already playing was soft and ballad-esque as a sort of musical score for the scene. I just started singing Ice Ice Baby but to the music and everyone jumped in and made it this big awesome thing.
I've been going through a phase where I haven't been hungry at all and I haven't been sleeping well. I'm hungry again, but my sleep is still semi-crappy. Every night I go to sleep hoping it will be a good night's sleep. I've been robbed each night...of sleep. No sleep, I guess is what I'm trying to say.
And now Declan has nothing to do.
I've been going through a phase where I haven't been hungry at all and I haven't been sleeping well. I'm hungry again, but my sleep is still semi-crappy. Every night I go to sleep hoping it will be a good night's sleep. I've been robbed each night...of sleep. No sleep, I guess is what I'm trying to say.
And now Declan has nothing to do.
Wednesday, October 19, 2005
CORN!
Sunday we went out to a corn maze. It was more than awesome.
I moved here in March of 2003. In October of that year, there was promise of a ComedySportz gathering to go out to a corn maze. I was excited...it never happened.
The following year, remembering the awful cancellation of the prior trip, plans were made again. 10/04 would be TRIUMPHANT! ... No. Didn't happen. A lot of people blamed Shad for no real reason. I was the first and loudest of said blamers.
This year, I didn't get my hopes up. WE DID IT! There were 20 of us all in all. A mix of CSz-ers, friends or family of CSz-ers, and just other improvisors.
10 acres of corn, at night, nearly full moon in a cloudless sky. The first half of the maze isn't haunted...the second half IS!
All sorts of people dressed in dark cloaks, hiding in corn and jumping out. A couple of guys with chainsaws. One Scarecrow who would be up on a stick one minute, then gone then next. And of course...a gorilla. What? Yes...a gorilla. Probably the one that scared me the most too. Deanna got scared a LOT and her back was sore when she got back home.
On the Thursday before the corn, Deanna and I got tickets to see the Second City Mainstage show. Technically it was the last night it would be it's full self. They're starting to work on the next show and that means using the post-show improv sets to work on new material that could get entered into the show as soon as it's good. Luckily they weren't doing this stuff yet, Molly (who graced us with tickets) invited us to do the improv set after their show. The audience is invited to hang out for it.
Deanna and I were a little nervous but we went up there. I wasn't too happy with my first scene, but had fun as an Inuit Psychologist in my second scene.
Good times.
I moved here in March of 2003. In October of that year, there was promise of a ComedySportz gathering to go out to a corn maze. I was excited...it never happened.
The following year, remembering the awful cancellation of the prior trip, plans were made again. 10/04 would be TRIUMPHANT! ... No. Didn't happen. A lot of people blamed Shad for no real reason. I was the first and loudest of said blamers.
This year, I didn't get my hopes up. WE DID IT! There were 20 of us all in all. A mix of CSz-ers, friends or family of CSz-ers, and just other improvisors.
10 acres of corn, at night, nearly full moon in a cloudless sky. The first half of the maze isn't haunted...the second half IS!
All sorts of people dressed in dark cloaks, hiding in corn and jumping out. A couple of guys with chainsaws. One Scarecrow who would be up on a stick one minute, then gone then next. And of course...a gorilla. What? Yes...a gorilla. Probably the one that scared me the most too. Deanna got scared a LOT and her back was sore when she got back home.
On the Thursday before the corn, Deanna and I got tickets to see the Second City Mainstage show. Technically it was the last night it would be it's full self. They're starting to work on the next show and that means using the post-show improv sets to work on new material that could get entered into the show as soon as it's good. Luckily they weren't doing this stuff yet, Molly (who graced us with tickets) invited us to do the improv set after their show. The audience is invited to hang out for it.
Deanna and I were a little nervous but we went up there. I wasn't too happy with my first scene, but had fun as an Inuit Psychologist in my second scene.
Good times.
Monday, October 10, 2005
Halloween = SPIDERS!!!
or "What the short people in front of me don't find with their faces."
It's October, and it's finally starting to feel like it around here. Yesterday Deanna dropped her phone (my old phone that was exactly like the one she had that died) and did something bad to it. So today she bought a Blackberry 7100g for pretty cheap from some guy. Where was this guy? Aurora, IL...that's where. She asked if I wanted to come and I said "No...but I will". I had zero to do today so I figured I'd kill a couple hours. It's about 41 miles away...it's Columbus Day...we left at 1:30 and got back around 6:30. Granted, we did stop to eat, but "see you later, day" *waves*.
She then left for rehearsal and I went to 7-11 for delicious sugar water...Pepsi...which is better than Coke, no matter WHAT Robyn Norris says. I went out the back door and noticed a spider by the light. Then noticed another. I had seen them before and thought "I should get my camera out". So tonight!...I did.
CAREFUL! THEY ARE SPOOKY!
Equally as spooky were the cool shadows cast by this porch light without it's decorative cover.
It's October, and it's finally starting to feel like it around here. Yesterday Deanna dropped her phone (my old phone that was exactly like the one she had that died) and did something bad to it. So today she bought a Blackberry 7100g for pretty cheap from some guy. Where was this guy? Aurora, IL...that's where. She asked if I wanted to come and I said "No...but I will". I had zero to do today so I figured I'd kill a couple hours. It's about 41 miles away...it's Columbus Day...we left at 1:30 and got back around 6:30. Granted, we did stop to eat, but "see you later, day" *waves*.
She then left for rehearsal and I went to 7-11 for delicious sugar water...Pepsi...which is better than Coke, no matter WHAT Robyn Norris says. I went out the back door and noticed a spider by the light. Then noticed another. I had seen them before and thought "I should get my camera out". So tonight!...I did.
CAREFUL! THEY ARE SPOOKY!
Equally as spooky were the cool shadows cast by this porch light without it's decorative cover.
Sunday, October 09, 2005
Pet Peeves
I can't remember how these got planted in my mind...be it comedian or someone else's peeves.
Two simple phrases that people use a lot: "To be honest..." and "In my personal opinion..."
1) "To be honest..." or anything like that ("I honestly think...", anything with "honest"). Anytime I hear someone say this I think to myself "so, THIS is the sentence I should trust. All of the other sentences were lies, but THIS one is honest." Let this be planted in your brain and you will hear almost EVERYONE say this at some point. It also can be taken as the opposite sometimes. "Why would he say he's being honest? He must really want me to believe this...I don't buy it."
2) "In my personal opinion..." or even just "In my opinion...". Ugh. Look, you're talking right? I can already assume what you're telling me is an opinion, and if I can assume it's an opinion coming from you that it must be personal.
3) "In my honest opinion..." ... the combo. Not only did I assume it was your opinion 'cause you were telling me, but now I have to determine whether everything you've been saying is a lie.
People are story tellers. People forget things. When we tell a story we heard we make up for what we forgot, usually by embellishing.
Oh
Also
People who dress up their pets, or people who dress their twin children in the same outfits...STOP IT!
Two simple phrases that people use a lot: "To be honest..." and "In my personal opinion..."
1) "To be honest..." or anything like that ("I honestly think...", anything with "honest"). Anytime I hear someone say this I think to myself "so, THIS is the sentence I should trust. All of the other sentences were lies, but THIS one is honest." Let this be planted in your brain and you will hear almost EVERYONE say this at some point. It also can be taken as the opposite sometimes. "Why would he say he's being honest? He must really want me to believe this...I don't buy it."
2) "In my personal opinion..." or even just "In my opinion...". Ugh. Look, you're talking right? I can already assume what you're telling me is an opinion, and if I can assume it's an opinion coming from you that it must be personal.
3) "In my honest opinion..." ... the combo. Not only did I assume it was your opinion 'cause you were telling me, but now I have to determine whether everything you've been saying is a lie.
People are story tellers. People forget things. When we tell a story we heard we make up for what we forgot, usually by embellishing.
Oh
Also
People who dress up their pets, or people who dress their twin children in the same outfits...STOP IT!
Friday, October 07, 2005
Hey...Improvisors
Just updating for the sake of it. I've been getting irritated with improv lately. To the point where I took a break from doing The Beatbox. I see too many improvisors coasting through shows and over loading their schedules...bad combo. Too the point where I started doing it. When I got back from Maine I stopped doing two different shows. That left me with three. Now I'm down to ComedySportz and ImprovOlympic. I can feel something big coming...whether it's good or not I can't tell.
If you're an improvisor, and you read this, and you rely on the same bits to get through your shows, or you have no realization of how the audience is reacting to the energy level of the show while you're in the show...all I ask is that you try something new and think of the audience.
I know too many performers who come to shows like it's a chore...like they'd rather be doing anything. It shows on stage, and worse yet, it rubs off on the other performers. This usually happens in two ways. One, the performers match the crappy energy of the person who doesn't want to be there. Two, the performer notices the crappy energy of the person and the other performers infected and tries to over compensate with super energy. Neither are very effective...sometimes the second one is, but usually it comes across as creepy.
So, if you're doing a show that you don't want to be doing, stop doing it.
To my knowledge I've met one improvisor who can be in a pissy mood pre-show...but manages to not let it totally effect the others, and totally plays an A game when on stage. Kudos to you, unnamed improvisor.
If you're an improvisor, and you read this, and you rely on the same bits to get through your shows, or you have no realization of how the audience is reacting to the energy level of the show while you're in the show...all I ask is that you try something new and think of the audience.
I know too many performers who come to shows like it's a chore...like they'd rather be doing anything. It shows on stage, and worse yet, it rubs off on the other performers. This usually happens in two ways. One, the performers match the crappy energy of the person who doesn't want to be there. Two, the performer notices the crappy energy of the person and the other performers infected and tries to over compensate with super energy. Neither are very effective...sometimes the second one is, but usually it comes across as creepy.
So, if you're doing a show that you don't want to be doing, stop doing it.
To my knowledge I've met one improvisor who can be in a pissy mood pre-show...but manages to not let it totally effect the others, and totally plays an A game when on stage. Kudos to you, unnamed improvisor.
Thursday, September 29, 2005
Chicken Soup for the Soul
I just commented in someone elses blog about this, but felt inspired to repeat. The best show in the world, hands down, is AFV...America's Funniest Home Videos. I love this show. Doesn't even matter if it is a repeat or not (and Deanna knows that now).
The only stipulation is you need to watch it from a recording you have control over...VHS, TiVo...whatever. If you can skip past the hosting and get straight to the clips, you're set.
Back when I lived in Portland and worked a day job (a secret message to everyone still working there: "SUCKERS!") life was bleak. I could wait forever before I'd go in to work, couldn't wait to leave...took 2 hour lunches a lot. Didn't care for it...especially the meetings...ugh. Five days of this a week was enough to make me want to stab myself and anyone around me. Luckily, back then Fridays were the days that AFV came on.
I also had the benefit of doing a ComedySportz show on most Fridays, and that would come before viewing the AFV show.
They do these montages. All clips of the same kind of thing in rapid fire. Sometimes just as plain montages to music, sometimes as "28 _____ in 30 seconds". Some of the best ones:
- guys getting hit in the nuts
- dads changing diapers
- babies puking
- people running into clean glass doors
- pinata mishaps
At the end of a long week I would almost always be laughing to the point of tears and not being able to stop...and I would rewind the montage and watch it 3-5 times. I love it!
Speaking of pinatas. Deanna and I could throw possibly the safest pinata party after all the learning we've done. It would be called "here is an open bowl of candy, have some". There is no such thing as a safe pinata party.
The only stipulation is you need to watch it from a recording you have control over...VHS, TiVo...whatever. If you can skip past the hosting and get straight to the clips, you're set.
Back when I lived in Portland and worked a day job (a secret message to everyone still working there: "SUCKERS!") life was bleak. I could wait forever before I'd go in to work, couldn't wait to leave...took 2 hour lunches a lot. Didn't care for it...especially the meetings...ugh. Five days of this a week was enough to make me want to stab myself and anyone around me. Luckily, back then Fridays were the days that AFV came on.
I also had the benefit of doing a ComedySportz show on most Fridays, and that would come before viewing the AFV show.
They do these montages. All clips of the same kind of thing in rapid fire. Sometimes just as plain montages to music, sometimes as "28 _____ in 30 seconds". Some of the best ones:
- guys getting hit in the nuts
- dads changing diapers
- babies puking
- people running into clean glass doors
- pinata mishaps
At the end of a long week I would almost always be laughing to the point of tears and not being able to stop...and I would rewind the montage and watch it 3-5 times. I love it!
Speaking of pinatas. Deanna and I could throw possibly the safest pinata party after all the learning we've done. It would be called "here is an open bowl of candy, have some". There is no such thing as a safe pinata party.
Friday, September 23, 2005
ACKNOWLEDGE ME!!!!
So, I just spent 5 days handing out stuff for a major department store. Two shifts per day...all starting early in the morning.
It's a great gig. It pays well and the people are fun to work with. However, I have some qualms with YOU John Q. Public. (please note: this is hypocritical and I am aware of that)
If someone (me) is offering you free anything, you have two choices: "Yes" and "No" (or "No thanks", "not interested"...some verbal recognition that "I see what you have, but I'm not taking it").
There are a multitude of a-holes that didn't really start getting under my skin until the 5th day of little sleep. Why? Because they responded in the various ways to the following question:
"Free [event name] info from [major department store]?"
Response 1: Slowly walk by without glancing my direction or acknowledging that I even exist...this isn't Streetwise, people. It's free. If you don't like it, there are garbage cans everywhere. If you don't want it, save us both time and say so.
Solution: I follow them a little bit giving them more details on the event...just to make sure they don't want it.
Response 2: Slowly walk by, staring at the flier intently but never reaching out to take it. As this happens, 8-10 other people are walking by who might want it.
Solution: The creation of the 2 second rule. I give the "stare hards" 2 seconds before they are written off as a no-go. I only had one person actually ask for one after the 2 second move-on.
Response 3: Similar to Response 1, but with head phones or a cell-phone.
Solution: Same as Solution 1.
Response 4 - Over-Acknowledgement: They want to know what it's about, and something about their aura tells me immediately no matter what I say they won't want it.
Solution 4: "All the info is right here. Take it with you to read!"
My biggest peeve is the total ignore. I give the most grief to those people...albeit minimal, it's enough to feel justified.
If you're out on the street, and someone is handing out stuff, take it. Just take it and read it. That's all you have to do. There is probably a trash can nearby if you don't need whatever it is. Maybe you'll be surprised and find out that [famous singer with large buttocks] is going to be in [major department store] that day.
Chances are the person handing out stuff gets to take a break when they've handed out the stuff. Maybe not, but they DO have to hand them out. Sometimes it may be cool stuff. Sometimes they might be eyeing the garbage can 3 feet away from them with dreams of a job easily finished the wrong way, but you'll never no. Just take one.
(Also, tip your waiters and pizza delivery guys. Everyone should have to work in a restaurant for a month and deliver food for a month...actually, anything that requires tipping (stripping?). Until you have, you don't understand tipping, and you don't understand what circumstances are not your server's fault (i.e. hair in the food)
It's a great gig. It pays well and the people are fun to work with. However, I have some qualms with YOU John Q. Public. (please note: this is hypocritical and I am aware of that)
If someone (me) is offering you free anything, you have two choices: "Yes" and "No" (or "No thanks", "not interested"...some verbal recognition that "I see what you have, but I'm not taking it").
There are a multitude of a-holes that didn't really start getting under my skin until the 5th day of little sleep. Why? Because they responded in the various ways to the following question:
"Free [event name] info from [major department store]?"
Response 1: Slowly walk by without glancing my direction or acknowledging that I even exist...this isn't Streetwise, people. It's free. If you don't like it, there are garbage cans everywhere. If you don't want it, save us both time and say so.
Solution: I follow them a little bit giving them more details on the event...just to make sure they don't want it.
Response 2: Slowly walk by, staring at the flier intently but never reaching out to take it. As this happens, 8-10 other people are walking by who might want it.
Solution: The creation of the 2 second rule. I give the "stare hards" 2 seconds before they are written off as a no-go. I only had one person actually ask for one after the 2 second move-on.
Response 3: Similar to Response 1, but with head phones or a cell-phone.
Solution: Same as Solution 1.
Response 4 - Over-Acknowledgement: They want to know what it's about, and something about their aura tells me immediately no matter what I say they won't want it.
Solution 4: "All the info is right here. Take it with you to read!"
My biggest peeve is the total ignore. I give the most grief to those people...albeit minimal, it's enough to feel justified.
If you're out on the street, and someone is handing out stuff, take it. Just take it and read it. That's all you have to do. There is probably a trash can nearby if you don't need whatever it is. Maybe you'll be surprised and find out that [famous singer with large buttocks] is going to be in [major department store] that day.
Chances are the person handing out stuff gets to take a break when they've handed out the stuff. Maybe not, but they DO have to hand them out. Sometimes it may be cool stuff. Sometimes they might be eyeing the garbage can 3 feet away from them with dreams of a job easily finished the wrong way, but you'll never no. Just take one.
(Also, tip your waiters and pizza delivery guys. Everyone should have to work in a restaurant for a month and deliver food for a month...actually, anything that requires tipping (stripping?). Until you have, you don't understand tipping, and you don't understand what circumstances are not your server's fault (i.e. hair in the food)
Thursday, September 15, 2005
BUZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ, or "Everybody STOP, hey, what's that sound?"
I just got done doing a CSz remote at Northwestern University. The show got over at 12:30am and I came home around 1:20am. Our apartment is fairly close to the parking lot. There are many cars in the parking lot. One car, however, is different. One car has chosen this night/morning to run a "horn check". It's not a loud horn, as far as car horns go. It's not a horn hooked up to an alarm in a beeping pattern. It a fairly whimpy buzz-type horn that is going constant.
I'm hoping I'll be able to sleep.
PS. If you call me and I don't return your call in what seems like a normal return call time, email me...my phone has been "acting up".
I'm hoping I'll be able to sleep.
PS. If you call me and I don't return your call in what seems like a normal return call time, email me...my phone has been "acting up".
Monday, September 12, 2005
Ghost in the Machine?...around the Machine?
Anyone out there believe in ghosts? I do...a little...enough to not not believe in them. Something strange has been happening to my stuff...maybe YOU can explain it. Three times now I've found something of mine with a screw all the way unscrewed...and not always the same thing...and usually something I have on my person constantly, except at night.
I just put this altogether today...right now.
I'll go backwards. I have a belt that I have worn almost constantly since my last belt broke. It's a dress belt and it is reversable. Brown on one side, black on the other. The buckle rotates with a spring mechanism so you can flip it to whatever side you want out. There are two small screws holding the base of the buckle to the belt. The screws are about 1/4" long with small threads. I just notice one of the screws almost all the way out. I had to "spin" it a lot to get it back into place. Maybe it spun loose over time, but it was sticking out and I think I would have noticed it. This is when I remembered that this belt had that happen before. The screw was all the way out as far as it was this time. I'd understand if it was a little loose, but it was near the point of falling out, both times.
The belt incidents were pretty far spread.
In between those, about a month ago, my phone antennae popped off. There was a little hole in the back and the screw was missing. I remembered setting my phone down on my desk to charge it for a morning gig, and discovered the screw missing at the gig. When I got home I found the screw on my desk. There used to be a rubber stopper filling the screw hole, but that was gone. The screw is about 1/2" long, small threads and took me a while to screw it in. PLUS, it has a hexagonal slot...not a screw head.
Screws a little loose...understood. Screws coming all the way out while just sitting around? Mystery?
I just put this altogether today...right now.
I'll go backwards. I have a belt that I have worn almost constantly since my last belt broke. It's a dress belt and it is reversable. Brown on one side, black on the other. The buckle rotates with a spring mechanism so you can flip it to whatever side you want out. There are two small screws holding the base of the buckle to the belt. The screws are about 1/4" long with small threads. I just notice one of the screws almost all the way out. I had to "spin" it a lot to get it back into place. Maybe it spun loose over time, but it was sticking out and I think I would have noticed it. This is when I remembered that this belt had that happen before. The screw was all the way out as far as it was this time. I'd understand if it was a little loose, but it was near the point of falling out, both times.
The belt incidents were pretty far spread.
In between those, about a month ago, my phone antennae popped off. There was a little hole in the back and the screw was missing. I remembered setting my phone down on my desk to charge it for a morning gig, and discovered the screw missing at the gig. When I got home I found the screw on my desk. There used to be a rubber stopper filling the screw hole, but that was gone. The screw is about 1/2" long, small threads and took me a while to screw it in. PLUS, it has a hexagonal slot...not a screw head.
Screws a little loose...understood. Screws coming all the way out while just sitting around? Mystery?
Monday, September 05, 2005
Been there...
Everyone else is posting about this so I will too. Ever been to a fancy birthday party? Where everyone goes a little overboard and wears costumes? Maybe all the guests get a gift?
Let me ask you this then, every been to a fancy birthday party where you convert you equestrian compound into a fake airport terminal complete with check in counter, fake security guards, fake flight attendants, fake tourists, fake harekrishnas, and a fake pilot? Only to find out you'll be going from the bar area through a fake front of a plane to an outdoor seated area? Only to find a fake American Idol contest between three friends of the birthday boy? Only to find out the third guest is actually James Taylor (Tailor?) who does a 90 minute concert just for the guests? Only to find that after that you go back and a building had an iron gate on it that says "Wonka", and out comes Willy Wonka (not Johnny Depp)? Only to follow Violet, Veruca and Agustus inside to a colorful candy filled Wonka Land (complete with Oompa Loompa Dancers)?
Well, I have.
I was one of the fake security guards. I got to "x-ray" items from the guests as they came in. 400 rich people altogether in one place. Must be nice.
The fun part was that I had guitar class the following day. The first class of the session. The teacher asked if any of us had seen any live music recently, so I got to say I saw James Tailor (Taylor?)...then she asked where and I had to go into details.
Let me ask you this then, every been to a fancy birthday party where you convert you equestrian compound into a fake airport terminal complete with check in counter, fake security guards, fake flight attendants, fake tourists, fake harekrishnas, and a fake pilot? Only to find out you'll be going from the bar area through a fake front of a plane to an outdoor seated area? Only to find a fake American Idol contest between three friends of the birthday boy? Only to find out the third guest is actually James Taylor (Tailor?) who does a 90 minute concert just for the guests? Only to find that after that you go back and a building had an iron gate on it that says "Wonka", and out comes Willy Wonka (not Johnny Depp)? Only to follow Violet, Veruca and Agustus inside to a colorful candy filled Wonka Land (complete with Oompa Loompa Dancers)?
Well, I have.
I was one of the fake security guards. I got to "x-ray" items from the guests as they came in. 400 rich people altogether in one place. Must be nice.
The fun part was that I had guitar class the following day. The first class of the session. The teacher asked if any of us had seen any live music recently, so I got to say I saw James Tailor (Taylor?)...then she asked where and I had to go into details.
Thursday, September 01, 2005
Oh yeah...THIS thing!
Boy...I could have been blogging up a storm last week...if my hotel room had a non-dial-up internet connection.
Folks, I've just come back from my first time ever being in Louisiana. Guess I picked a hell of a week to be there, eh?
I got hired to do a gig from Sunday to Thursday (today) at a Casino down there. That was great! I went down with Tara, Matt, and Alida and we all got our own rooms...we got free food all week at the Casino food court or buffet...and we got to watch the sad tale of Hurricane Katrina.
I'll try and sum things up.
Sunday: We arrive early, go over the rallies we're going to do (5 rallies) and eat. At this point, Hurricane Katrina is off shore and predicted to make landfall the next day (? I can't even remember if it hit on Monday or Tuesday now). We're unsure if it will still go N by NE or got straight N, or worse, head N by NW towards us.
Monday: We are up early for a 9:00am rally. Two more rallies throughout the day. I still can't remember if it hit the coast Monday or Tuesday. It was Monday. The weather out by us is fine. Anytime we are not doing the shows, we are glued to the Weather Channel and CNN. People who heeded the warnings were slowly showing up to stay in the hotel at the Casino.
Tuesday: More gigs, more people showing up, more chaos on the TV.
Wednesday: We teach some classes, there are more people showing up. Usually the luggage they have consists of plastic bags filled with what looks like whatever they could grab in a hurry. Everyone is sort of walking around sharing stories. They are told they can't go back to New Orleans until Monday, and that will only be to grab what they can of their belongings and leave. News of looting and shooting.
Thursday: Early morning workshops and we leave for the airport. I was worried we wouldn't make it out because there was thunder and lightning. We made it. I'm home.
This whole thing is insane. I was in the state, but I wasn't close to it. It's scary. Human survival mode is kicking in and not in a safe way.
Please send good thoughts in whatever way you normally do to Cayne Collier's relatives. I know he was from there and I haven't heard from him whether he knows if they evacuated or not.
Folks, I've just come back from my first time ever being in Louisiana. Guess I picked a hell of a week to be there, eh?
I got hired to do a gig from Sunday to Thursday (today) at a Casino down there. That was great! I went down with Tara, Matt, and Alida and we all got our own rooms...we got free food all week at the Casino food court or buffet...and we got to watch the sad tale of Hurricane Katrina.
I'll try and sum things up.
Sunday: We arrive early, go over the rallies we're going to do (5 rallies) and eat. At this point, Hurricane Katrina is off shore and predicted to make landfall the next day (? I can't even remember if it hit on Monday or Tuesday now). We're unsure if it will still go N by NE or got straight N, or worse, head N by NW towards us.
Monday: We are up early for a 9:00am rally. Two more rallies throughout the day. I still can't remember if it hit the coast Monday or Tuesday. It was Monday. The weather out by us is fine. Anytime we are not doing the shows, we are glued to the Weather Channel and CNN. People who heeded the warnings were slowly showing up to stay in the hotel at the Casino.
Tuesday: More gigs, more people showing up, more chaos on the TV.
Wednesday: We teach some classes, there are more people showing up. Usually the luggage they have consists of plastic bags filled with what looks like whatever they could grab in a hurry. Everyone is sort of walking around sharing stories. They are told they can't go back to New Orleans until Monday, and that will only be to grab what they can of their belongings and leave. News of looting and shooting.
Thursday: Early morning workshops and we leave for the airport. I was worried we wouldn't make it out because there was thunder and lightning. We made it. I'm home.
This whole thing is insane. I was in the state, but I wasn't close to it. It's scary. Human survival mode is kicking in and not in a safe way.
Please send good thoughts in whatever way you normally do to Cayne Collier's relatives. I know he was from there and I haven't heard from him whether he knows if they evacuated or not.
Wednesday, August 24, 2005
I've Been Called Out...
Today someone called me out on not being thankful...well, at least for not showing thanks.
I was glad they did it, because they are right. I'm usually inwardly thankful for things, but there are a lot of things that I just take for granted.
If you've done anything at all nice or thoughtful for me in the past, thanks.
I was glad they did it, because they are right. I'm usually inwardly thankful for things, but there are a lot of things that I just take for granted.
If you've done anything at all nice or thoughtful for me in the past, thanks.
Sunday, August 14, 2005
Hey, it's money.
Some people in the non-acting world may not have any idea of what actors actually do to make money. Unless we're blessed, we don't get every commercial out there. I have yet to get any commercials while out here. But I have done "corporate" and "promotions". Corporate is a gig for a corporation of some sort...holiday party, Q4 jamboree, what have you. Promotions usually envolves plugging something going on somewhere...handing out fliers and what not. It's not always the most enjoyable process, but luckily they hire actors who can act like it's a blast.
I happen to love doing them because the pay is pretty good and the shifts are usually no longer than 2 hours. This last week I did five of these for a major department store in Chicago (I don't want to say the name...think "Law Enforcement Title" and "'_____ of Dreams' s").
I was supposed to be on a 6th that got modified last minute. They had a huge gala event and I was to dress as a glam rocker and give guests their glam rock name. I would have looked like this:
Well, they did the same event in another state earlier the week before and the head dudes didn't like the rock guys. We were replaced by women, as the rest of the roles for the night were glammed up women. No sweat here, but that costume was hilarious.
I happen to love doing them because the pay is pretty good and the shifts are usually no longer than 2 hours. This last week I did five of these for a major department store in Chicago (I don't want to say the name...think "Law Enforcement Title" and "'_____ of Dreams' s").
I was supposed to be on a 6th that got modified last minute. They had a huge gala event and I was to dress as a glam rocker and give guests their glam rock name. I would have looked like this:
Well, they did the same event in another state earlier the week before and the head dudes didn't like the rock guys. We were replaced by women, as the rest of the roles for the night were glammed up women. No sweat here, but that costume was hilarious.
Tuesday, August 09, 2005
RIP Ferny...Long Live Ferny!
Ever since I have known Deanna there has been a fern in our lives. The first one, from her marriage, died in the heat of the summer sun at the house we lived in. It was called "Ferny". As it was dwindling in death, Deanna cut away the dead parts and said it would bounce back...that it had done so before. Well, she cut EVERYTHING away. There was nothing green to absorb sunlight. We had a flower pot with roots and dirt.
It was time. We replaced "Ferny" with "Ferny", a fern. That Ferny made the trek to Chicago in the back of a Penske and was doing pretty good...until we went to Maine. It was hot while we were gone. Either the guy watching our place or the subletters who came later had neglected Ferny the gift of water...and then totally douced her with it. I trimmed away the dead parts remembering what Deanna had done. Five green branches remained. Not enough though. Ferny is dead.
Yesterday I went to a local plant and flower store and bought Ferny...a fern. Long Live Ferny!
Oddly enough, the woman helping me had only worked there 4 days and once she saw my name on the credit card she recognized me...she is Sam Super's girlfriend, Stacey. We had only briefly been introduced around Sam, and they park in the same parking lot as us...so it was kind of nice to meet meet her.
On a side note, I found a cool flash program for displaying photos that I will be using on my main website soon.
It was time. We replaced "Ferny" with "Ferny", a fern. That Ferny made the trek to Chicago in the back of a Penske and was doing pretty good...until we went to Maine. It was hot while we were gone. Either the guy watching our place or the subletters who came later had neglected Ferny the gift of water...and then totally douced her with it. I trimmed away the dead parts remembering what Deanna had done. Five green branches remained. Not enough though. Ferny is dead.
Yesterday I went to a local plant and flower store and bought Ferny...a fern. Long Live Ferny!
Oddly enough, the woman helping me had only worked there 4 days and once she saw my name on the credit card she recognized me...she is Sam Super's girlfriend, Stacey. We had only briefly been introduced around Sam, and they park in the same parking lot as us...so it was kind of nice to meet meet her.
On a side note, I found a cool flash program for displaying photos that I will be using on my main website soon.
Sunday, August 07, 2005
MORE VOLLEYBALL!
More volleyball was had this weekend. Apparently, someone at Sara's work got ahold of the picture of her flailing from last week and printed it up all over the office.
Friday, August 05, 2005
Here today gone tomorrow...
Ahhhh...the beginning of the month.
This is the time when many people are moving. We've had a lot of turn over at our apartment this month. It might have something to do with the new leases, or it might just be time for some people. A pleasant surprise for us was that the neighbors above us moved out.
I like to call them the Heavyfooters. Deanna and I are under the impression that none of them sleep...and we know for sure they are solid walkers. This would normally lead me to the conclusion that they are hefty people, but long ago when I lived in Beaverton, OR in an apartment on the third floor, my neighbor would seemingly stomp loudly on the stairs walking up to the apartment. I assumed this neighbor I had never seen weighed about 285. When I finally caught a peek one day as I heard the approaching stomps, I was surprised to see a 4'11" petite Asian girl. I never did see our upstairs neighbors for sure, but I heard them walking...a lot.
In the midst of moving somethings get left behind.
Wednesday night as I rode off on my bike, headed for a 10:00pm rehearsal, I noticed a nice purple couch sitting on the sidewalk. So nice that a homeless guy was just sitting down to enjoy it. It had rained a little and was starting to rain again, so couch was a little damp...but under a tree that protected it from some of the drizzle. I wonder if I would have remembered the couch if the homeless man hadn't just been starting to get comfortable.
Needless to say, the next morning the couch looked like this:
This is the time when many people are moving. We've had a lot of turn over at our apartment this month. It might have something to do with the new leases, or it might just be time for some people. A pleasant surprise for us was that the neighbors above us moved out.
I like to call them the Heavyfooters. Deanna and I are under the impression that none of them sleep...and we know for sure they are solid walkers. This would normally lead me to the conclusion that they are hefty people, but long ago when I lived in Beaverton, OR in an apartment on the third floor, my neighbor would seemingly stomp loudly on the stairs walking up to the apartment. I assumed this neighbor I had never seen weighed about 285. When I finally caught a peek one day as I heard the approaching stomps, I was surprised to see a 4'11" petite Asian girl. I never did see our upstairs neighbors for sure, but I heard them walking...a lot.
In the midst of moving somethings get left behind.
Wednesday night as I rode off on my bike, headed for a 10:00pm rehearsal, I noticed a nice purple couch sitting on the sidewalk. So nice that a homeless guy was just sitting down to enjoy it. It had rained a little and was starting to rain again, so couch was a little damp...but under a tree that protected it from some of the drizzle. I wonder if I would have remembered the couch if the homeless man hadn't just been starting to get comfortable.
Needless to say, the next morning the couch looked like this:
What really caught my eye as I saw this was a little pile of trash right next to it. It looked, at first, as if someone had dumped out random pieces of junk and left them. But a small figurine had been painstakingly set in an upright position...a princess looking over her land of refuse.
Thursday, August 04, 2005
Who is Joey Bland?
That's correct! Joey Bland from ComedySportz just taped in L.A. for Jeopardy yesterday. It airs 10/27 and I can't wait. Joey=hilarity. Kat Gotsick was on vacation in L.A. and watched the taping. She said that Alex Trebeck was heard to say "Joey Bland is not."
On another note, I wish humidity had nuts...that way I would know where to kick it. It is supposed to rain and thunder a little here today, but not enough to really get rid of some of this humidity.
Hey, Jen.
On another note, I wish humidity had nuts...that way I would know where to kick it. It is supposed to rain and thunder a little here today, but not enough to really get rid of some of this humidity.
Hey, Jen.
Wednesday, August 03, 2005
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