Monthly Archives: April 2010

Project 365 4-29-2010 Fontana’s Where?!

I went to Fontana this morning to see a man about a new reality show.  The concept for the show is awesome, so I’m not talking about it, but the drive to Fontana…!  Good gravy I had no idea that Fontana was so far away!  I meant to take a picture while I was there, but I just plain forgot.  Had some really good Mexican food while I was there, though.  Spicy salsa.

I was really tempted to just keep on heading to Vegas once I got on the 15, but good sense, and a half empty gas tank, made me think better of that.  I think Rene would have been a bit pissed as well if I went without her, rightfully so.

Today’s picture is what my workspace looked like at the end of the day:

That needs to get cleaned up.

See you tomorrow!

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Project 365 4-28-2010

I don’t even know where the day went today.  I woke up early, thought I was getting things done and then, BAM!, it’s 5pm!  The whole month has been moving like this.  I either need my concept of time to change or I need to find a way to add more hours to the day.

A more realistic answer is to manage my time better – which I guess, technically, would add more hours to my day.  Silly reason making everything seem simple *sarcastic smile*.

Rene and I did get a chance to catch up with our friends G. Charles Wright and the Keatings for a drink at the Disneyland Hotel, and that was very nice.  Through the course of the discussion we found out that Rene and I will have the same wedding anniversary as Amber and John!  Crazy coincidence!

Today’s picture is one that I took of the rest of the group in an old Autopia car:

John is particularly stunning.

See you tomorrow!

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Project 365 4-27-2010

Before we begin, a video presentation:

I found that on Facebook today posted by my friend Kristin.  I think it’s important to point out stuff like this because it’s easy to ignore things when you don’t see the final outcome or consequences.  I used to watch Penn & Teller’s Bull Shit on Showtime, I even own the first three seasons on DVD, and even though  they were definitely pushing an agenda I really liked seeing a different perspective on very hot topics.  What I liked best is that they could back up a lot of their claims with straight up facts.  Verifiable, cross-referenced, generally accepted facts.  There was plenty of editorial tossed in, but the facts were there all the same.  I stopped watching when I stopped paying for Showtime, is the show still on?  Just checked, it is.

I have been very bad about my workouts this week, I’m definitely placing higher priority on movie biz things then on my fitness and I’m a bit conflicted about it.  I try to ease my guilt of not working out by checking off stuff on the task list.  Honestly that could be shrinking a little faster too, but whachagonnado?  I’ve found that, in all the mire, I’m keeping my personal integrity but it isn’t making the choices any easier or making things move any faster… but I have made a commitment to not randomly vent on this page – if I did there’d be noting else – and I’m trying to push myself to write more story-like posts, in the vein of The Tobolowosky Files from /film.  Since all of these posts for the rest of the year are focused on the actual day and its associated picture it’s been hard to do genuine reflection, I mean, at best I get a day to think about what happened and the effects of it all, but I’m enjoying looking for that one part of the day, a certain hour or five minutes, that ignites deeper insight then just a list of what went on through the course of the day.

I just thought about what that would look like on paper.  Here’s the last couple days as a list:

  • Wake up.
  • Turn on computer.
  • Get water.
  • Load pages: Email, calendar, RSS reader, FB, blog pages, hootsuite.
  • Read/reply/archive email.
  • Read RSS feed.
  • Check FB messages.
  • Talk to Zeke (director for CMD!)
  • Feed dog.
  • Feed self, including making coffee if Rene didn’t yet.
  • Return phone messages.
  • Determine tasks for the day.
  • Pet dog.
  • Submit packages for film funds.
  • Eat again (Tuesday involved a lengthy trip to the post office, then eating again.).
  • Head to the school to teach.
  • Return home.
  • Last pass at email.
  • Sleep.

Most days I could literally copy/paste this string and it would be 90% accurate.  Although tonight I added a trip at the end of teaching to watch Doctor Who with Dean and then get to the grocery store for some general supplies.  Then home.

Today’s picture is from my trip to the store:

The cart just seemed so lonely.  I think I might be thinking too hard when I start impressing emotions on inanimate objects.

See you tomorrow!

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Project 365 4-26-2010

Now that Rene has a jobby-job I am the one primarily with Frankie for most of the day, working from home has its advantages.  But now that I’m spending so much time with him I’m finding it really hard to leave when I have to go places.  To alleviate that a bit I took him with me as I did my errands yesterday!  He was so excited when we first left the house.  He wanted to know where we were going and what we were going to do when we got there and who he would see.  He really perked up when he saw that we were going to my parent’s house where his puppy cousins, Abby and Pete, live.

They had a pretty typical puppy play-date: running, barking, napping, etc.  On the way back home he slept like a baby all curled up in the front seat, only popping his head up to see if we were home yet.  After a day of phone calls, emails and downloads it’s nice to remember that it’s the simple things, like Frankie playing with his puppy cousins, that really makes a day memorable.

Today’s picture is me and Frankie after we finally got home:

See you tomorrow!

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Project 365 4-25-2010 The L.A. Times Festival of Books

Day two started out with a bang!  The Reduced Shakespeare Co., two of the nicest fellas I’ve ever met, packed the crowd before their performance even began!  They did readings from their new book as well as their classics like “The Complete Works of Shakespeare: Abridged,” “The History of America: Abridged” and “The Complete Bible: Abridged.”  They had an autograph line that lasted for over an hour!  The toughest part of their performance was at the end when an English gentleman came up asking when they would be performing again.  He had seen them back in England and was so disappointed that he had missed them, but I know he got chance to speak with them after so that’s pretty cool.

Then BOOM! Studios was back with a full panel of writers talking about upcoming projects and how to break into the industry.  Very informative, especially when they got to the idea of new media, the iPad and the future of comic distribution.

From comics to culture, the L.A. Opera was up next.  I really enjoyed meeting both singers and their accompanist.  I immediately felt like we needed to add crystal chandeliers to the stage, they were really classy.  We also talked a little bit about the running of an opera company which isn’t much different from most other kinds of business management.  Of course the story I don’t want to tell is how I had a major German fail as I tried to pronounce the name of the opera they are doing this summer.  I found out later it is known as the Ring trilogy – so I joked about it being the opera equivalent of the “Lord of the Rings.”  That went over pretty well.

Another band after that: Shadow Shadow Shade!  I have never been asked by so many people who was onstage.  They were VERY popular and grew a huge crowd as their set progressed.  They just recently changed their name and so they didn’t have any merch to sell, which totally sucked for them!  They could’ve paid for a tour with the attention they got on Sunday.  Check them out if you can!

We had Joey King on after.  This was my first introduction to Joey King which just goes to show how out of touch I am with children’s entertainment.  She was a delightful child actress and the kids really dug her.  She had an insane autograph line!  They were apparently rumors going around that Selena Gomez, Joey’s co-star in “Ramona & Beezus,” would be at the stage as well.  The crew and I were a bit panicked that there would be a riot, but she wasn’t there and there wasn’t a riot so all was cool.  Crisis averted.

Cielo Nuevo returned!  Again they filled the crowd to capacity!  This time they added dance.  I took the picture too early and couldn’t get back stage to take a picture of all of their bright costumes, but they were a lot of fun!

Murphy’s Flaw bluegrass group has been a regular on the Etc. Stage for four years running, and it’s easy to see why.  Down-home funny and very talented, this music just sounds like America.  They also told more jokes about banjos then I thought existed.

As is tradition, Awaken, the A Capella group at UCLA, closed out the day.  These are talented singers doing pop songs without any instrumental backing – you know, like you’d expect from an A Capella group.

Last, but not least, I got a shot of the crowd before they bailed.

As you can see, it was a full house, and we had that all weekend!  It was a great year and I can’t wait for next year!

Today’s picture is me with the UCLA Bruin Bear that we were set up across from:

See you tomorrow!

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Filed under acting, LA Times Festival of Books, project 365 2010

Project 365 4-24-2010 The L.A. Times Festival of Books

I’m doing things a bit different for the weekend since I was at the Festival of Books both days.  While I still have an “official” picture for each day, I also have a crap ton more so you can see what all the acts looked like.  I’ll start with:

Day One – 4-24-2010:

I love the L.A. Time Festival of Books and was so happy to be asked back this year.  It’s a really fun time and everyone involved, both talent and crew, were awesome this year!  Here are the acts from this year:

First up was a program that is a personal favorite of mine: 826LA.  It is a creative writing and tutoring program for kids.  I first heard about this group on NPR.  Their classrooms are “disguised” in storefronts that are designed to stimulate imagination.  The LA storefront is a time-travel emporium!  I really want to visit one of these sites.  I would have loved that as a kid.  Hell, I’d love it now!  The kids from the program read their stories for the crowd and it was pretty cool.  The man speaking in the picture is L.A.’s program leader Joel.

Next up was the first event for a book called “Clock Without a Face.”  The book is a series of clues for a real life treasure hunt and the treasure are twelve REAL emeralds all dolled up to be the missing numbers from the clock face in the book!  I spoke with one of the authors about the concept of the book and how they forwent their advances so that all of the money could go to the emerald design.  These guys are really into the act of discovery and the group adventure that they are building here.  I found it very inspiring and it didn’t hurt that the guys were really funny as well.  They revealed a clue at the Festival and this is all that I remember: the clown knows…

God, I hope that’s right because I’ve been tweeting it to the people who have asked.

After that we had our first band, The Watson Twins!  They are real twins and I really dug their band.  It made me think of my friends out on the road, shout out to 7k!  There was a lot of load-in/load-out so I didn’t talk to them much, but they were a big hit.

As I’m sure you know by now, I’m a comic book geek.  Last year I met Mark Waid when he was part of the BOOM! Studios panel.  They were back again this year and I giggled like a little girl that he remembered me.  I forgot to take a picture of his interview, but today’s official picture is of Mark and I.

The biggest hit of the festival was a bit of a surprise.  Cielo Nuevo is a performing group of children celebrating traditional Mexican music and dance – mini-mariachis!  These kids were so popular they filled the entire quad area where the stage was that people could not pass until they were finished!  People really loved them some mariachi music!

After the music we had a series of readings from Dime Stories.  Dime Stories are three minute stories read by the original authors.  They are located all around California and inspired Three Minute Fictions on NPR.

The last group was another reading group, Word Theatre.  They use celebrities to keep the oral tradition alive.  Although the stories were good, things went a bit south when one of the stories ended up using the work “fuck” over and over is a variety of variations.  I don’t think the group realized that they would be in an open air venue at one of the largest stages surrounded by families.  Although I am surprised that when they did see the venue that the story wasn’t either swapped out or edited.  I am not a fan of censorship, but I believe that you should know your audience, especially when the PA makes it impossible for the crowd to ignore you.  It put a damper on the rest of the presentation which is a shame because John Heard told a great story about crows. 

That was day one, here comes day two!

See you tomorrow!

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Project 365 4-23-2010 Let the Registry Begin! of Unleash The UPC Scanner!

 Today was the first trip for wedding registration!  I really like this part of the wedding planning – it’s like shopping with no limits!!! 

Tonight we took part in the “Sip & Scan” event at Macy’s Home.  They have food and drinks (not the adult kind, though, due to a new restaurant in the building.  Dammit!) and all kinds of experts to show you the different kinds of cookware, juicers, coffee makers, cosmetics, bedding, flatware…  The list goes on and on! 

Personally I’m a big fan of the kitchen stuff.  When I have a kitchen full of equipment I like to make good use of it.  As we look for the place we want to live we are getting more and more excited about having a kitchen personalized with our stuff.

The best part, for me, is using the scanner.  See something you want?  Scan it!  Won’t scan?  Scan it again!  Still won’t scan?  Manually enter the number – it’s cool, there’s a keypad!  It’s like playing lazertag with home furnishings!

Today’s picture is me with my drink and my scanner:

Rene said I looked menacing.  I think I look determined and mischievous.

On a total side-note we saw the iPad at the Apple store while we were at the mall.  No, I did not register for it.  I know people are excited about this thing, and I kind of get it.  It’s a big iPod Touch, but it’s heavier than I thought it would be and it’s $500.  I can see myself really getting into a device like the iPad, but the iPad itself just seems like a Apple fan-boy toy that will probably be really cool in a couple generations, at least in my opinion.  iPad users tell me what you think in the comments.

See you tomorrow!

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Project 365 4-22-2010

I’m not a fan of the television program “The View.”  I can’t put my finger on why, exactly, but it rubs me the wrong way – although since Whoopie has been added to the mix I find that I can have it on in the background and not be completely distracted.  Today they had Vice President Joe Biden on the show.  I watched his segments because I’m starting to feel my “politics” again and I’m trying to pay attention to what is actually going on versus what each side is saying about each other.  To other people my age and younger: now is the time to start paying attention and get involved!  Anyhow, I thought the Biden stuff would be all fluff, and there was quite a bit, but they actually talked about some issues as well – mostly taxes and how the Obama Administration would be approaching them.  It was a good little talk, but way too short.  Now I need to find time to actually look up the Wall Street reform proposals and how they will effect me.

In other aggravating news about ridiculous things that make no sense to me, Rene got a new job doing HR for a marketing and sales firm that I can’t name by name since I’m going to be talking eight different kinds of shit right now and I don’t want to be sued for liable – or slander.  I forget which one is for writing (I’m pretty sure it’s liable.  Did I even spell that right?)  Anyway, this is third-party since I’m only getting Rene’s POV, but it sounds like this company has no Earthly idea how to run their company.

EDIT: OK, I’m leaving in the first paragraph but cutting out the rest of my rant.  Rene is actually writing and article on this subject that I believe will be posted on her blog when the job ends.  It’s a temporary gig.  I’m not a fan of corporate culture, especially when it endorses idiocy and cruelty.  I’ll just leave it at that.

The more I think about the day the more I realize that I was just straight up angry today.  I didn’t here from the people I wanted to hear from, I’m feeling the pressure of time on all of my projects and I feel like the people in power all over the place are more concerned with bickering with each other than actually making things happen…

Actually, that might be the root of my anger today: everybody’s talking but nobody is doing anything!  God, it’s frustrating!

OK, enough rant.  Here’s today’s picture:

It’s a sopadilla and honey.  Delicious and sweet.  A complete opposite of the day.

See you tomorrow!

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Project 365 4-21-2010 Dramarama Says Today Is Earthday

Is it Earthday?  No, apparently not.  Tomorrow is Earthday, but ever since 1991 and I first heard the Dramarama song “What Are We Going To Do?” all I can think is that, “it’s April 21st and everybody knows today is Earthday, Merry Christmas, happy birthday to whoever’s being born.”  It’s an inaccuracy that shouldn’t matter, but every year it makes go a little crazy.  Was Earthday on April 21st that year?  I suppose that I could look online and see, but that kind of ruins the fun.  A little scheduled insanity on the calendar never hurt anybody, at least that I know of.

Today was another training session with Tony, the breaker of bones and wills.  I am still sore from Monday and today we did a series of free weights that has already made me feel like my arms are made of lead and about as useful.  When we completed that workout I decided that my abs weren’t punished enough and did a bunch of work on them too. 

As much as I think I’m being funny with my workout complaints I’ve actually really enjoyed getting back in shape.  The running, punching, lifting and grunting is helping to relieve the stress as I wait on other people for the deals that I’m working on right now.  I completely cop to the fact that I don’t like it when my destiny is in the hands of other people, but that’s the nature of this business – there’s only so much that you can do on your own. 

Another side effect from waiting and working out is that my creative juices are flowing.  I’ve had an idea for a web-series that I’ve been tossing around in my head but I figured out, at least intellectually, how to actually produce it.  I don’t know how quickly I’ll actually move on that, there is so much other stuff that I feel has priority, but I like the feeling of being a “creative” again and not just the “business” guy.

Speaking of businesses my sister has just started a new cookie business!  Her first orders go out this weekend and I was asked by her and my Mom to help come up with some temporary labels for the packaging as Molly gets her logo made.  Today’s picture is of the label test sheet:

See you tomorrow! 

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Project 365 4-20-2010

I hurt pretty bad today.  Tony, the personal trainer, is definitely making me work hard for my free sessions.  When I woke up this morning it was hard to sit up.

I am so out of shape.

The only exercise I could manage today was walking the dog (a little over two miles).  It hurt to bend down to pick up his poop.  Getting in shape for the wedding might kill me.

Did I mention that it rained today?  Cuz it did… but only when I had to be outside!  Like when I was bringing up the trash cans, and it poured, and then literally stopped pouring when I was finished so I looked like this:

Yes, that’s right, the picture for today is my soaked ass.  That sweater shouldn’t be that dark – it also shouldn’t weigh eight pounds.  Rain is wonderful when you’re not in it.

See you tomorrow!

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