Diary of an Angry Mo

Thank You For Being A Friend

2008-11-12T18:23:00.000-08:00

A little dramatic, a little over the top, but the sentiment is heartfelt.

It's Already Started

2008-11-07T17:13:00.000-08:00

In an earlier post I warned, "Those that still seek to divide this country into black and white, conservative and liberal, gay and straight, democrat and republican, rich and poor, are not going away tomorrow just because we won today."

Earlier today CNN posted the following article: Young conservatives: RNC must adopt Obama's online model

A quick visit to their website, "Rebuild the Party - A plan for the future", and you'll see they are setting some pretty lofty and scary goals. Among them: recruit 5 million new online activists, establish 5,000 activists per US Representative district and 7,500 per US Senate district in time for the 2010 election. Howard Dean launched the "50 State program" for the DNC and now they are calling for a "435 District" plan for the RNC.

It seems that one fall out from Obama's hugely successful internet campaign and heavy reliance on new technology, i.e., e-mail, text messaging, etc. is just what this young conservative group is looking for. Their "new plan" for the RNC pretty copies Obama's online and technology strategy.

We must stay focused and ACTIVE!!

Obama's First Press Conference

2008-11-07T16:45:00.000-08:00

Witness to History!

2008-11-04T23:43:00.000-08:00

It's over, finally. Exhale.

I will never forget where I was on November 4th, 2008 when Barack Obama became the 44th President of the United States of America. For the rest of my life, the joy, the pride, the relief, and the overwhelming love for my country that has overtaken me tonight, will never fade from my memory.

Emotions are still raw, but it is not about who won or who lost. This is a victory for ALL Americans. Finally a promise is fulfilled. The promise that "all men are created equal". There is still work to be done and battles to win. As Obama said in is acceptance speech tonight, "The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep", but for the first time in my life I think we have a chance to transform our country and the world. I am answering the new President's call for "...a new spirit of service, a new spirit of sacrifice...let us summon a new spirit of patriotism, of responsibility, where each of us resolves to pitch in and work harder and look after not only ourselves but each other". Will you answer the call with me?

We can not rest easy knowing that we've won. Those that still seek to divide this country into black and white, conservative and liberal, gay and straight, democrat and republican, rich and poor, are not going away tomorrow just because we won today. I guarantee you they will continue to grow, re-energize and emerge in 2012 stronger than ever. It is up to us to remind these dividers that we are also VOTERS! However, we must also remind those currently in power and those elected tonight, including the President-elect, that this election is not a blank check, they too are accountable to us. We must ensure that they do not abuse their new power, that they hold true to their word and that they themselves do not attempt to divide us. We must demand results.

Tonight President-elect Obama said, "This victory alone is not the change we seek. It is only a chance for us to make that change". So true. Each one of us has the responsibility to keep the light of hope burning. We can not let inaction or apathy dim the future that so brightly shines before us. We must all stay energized and informed. Write to your city, county, state, and national officials, if you don't know who they are find out (e-mail me I'll find out for you), write letters to the editor, post on blogs, create a podcast, go to a city council meeting, do whatever you can to keep this momentum going. This is our country, we can take it back, it can truly be "of the people, for the people and by the people", but "We the people" need to get involved.

We can, we did and we must!

By Popular Demand...

2007-10-22T17:17:00.000-07:00

...more vacation photos -

Interior of Lincoln Memorial.

The north side of The White House as seen from Lafayette Square.

The National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception as seen from the top of the Washington Monument.

Looking west at sunset from steps of the Capitol Building.

The World War II Monument at night.

The south side of the Jefferson Memorial with the Wasington Monument in the background.

The Iwo Jima Memorial on the Arlington side of the Potomac.

The World War II Memorial.
The Washington Monument seen from The World War II Memorial.

The Lincoln Memorial seen from the top of The Washington Monument.

The Jefferson Memorial seen from The Washington Monument.

The south side of The White House from atop The Washington Monument.

Inside The Jefferson Memorial.

The Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial.

The Korean War Memorial.

Chuck at The Lincoln Memorial.

The Vietnam War Memorial.

The Capitol Rotunda

The Old House of Representatives Chamber in the US Capitol Building.

The Old Supreme Court Chamber in the US Capitol Builiding.

The interior of The Library of Congress.

The Jefferson Memorial and Tidal Basin.

Days Three and Four

2007-09-23T19:27:00.000-07:00

Saw alot more stuff!! The National Archives, National Portrait Gallery, National Building Museum, Petersen House (were Lincoln died) and Union Station. That was all on Saturday. On Sunday was Mt. Vernon, Arlington National Cemetery and Dupont Circle.

Here's some pics...

This the actual first page of The Constitution at the National Archives.

This is the interior of The National Building Musuem. This beautiful room is home to one of the Presidential Inaguartion Balls.
This is a reproduction of a paintinf of Abraham Lincoln at the National Portrait Gallery. The original hangs in The White House above the firelplace in the state dinning room. Which we saw when we toured The White House, however no cameras are allowed in TWH.
The front of Mt. Vernon, George Wasington's home on the Potomac river. Also located here is the tomb where George and Marth Washington are buried.
The Eternal Flame marking the gravesite of President and Mrs. Kennedy.

At Dupont Circle we ate dinner at Afterwords Cafe...crab cake appetizer and for dinner...lobster, asparagus and marscapone cheese ravioli...YUM!!!!! Oh yeah and pecan rum cake for dessert!

Day Two

2007-09-21T19:36:00.000-07:00

Our first full day and my feet are ready to come home! We walked and we walked and we walked and then walked some more! The weather is nice and warm...it was 83 today...the humidity is awful though. Thankfully the buildings are nice and cool in side. Today was Smithsonian Day!

After hitting the Starbucks across the street from the hotel we made our way to the Castle.

Inside the Sample Exhibits Hall...just what the name implies it's a sampling of things you'll see in each of the museums of the Institute.

Here are some of the highlights...there was so much to see...I took 264 pictures.

The Ruby Slippers

Mr. Roger's Sweater

From the National Art Gallery - The only DaVinci painting in the United States

From the Natural History Museum - A Fossil...

...and a rock - The Hope Diamond

After all that we then went to "The Capitol Steps" funny comedy show where they change lyrics of well-known songs to fit political figures. Then a hamburger...mmm...delicious!!

Tomorrow more walking.

DC - Day One

2007-09-20T19:32:00.000-07:00

We finally made it!! We had some delays and had to sprint to our connecting flight in Minneapolis, but we made the plane. However, our luggage did not but it was put on the next plane and arrived 35 mins after us. We got free meal and drink vouchers from the airline for having to wait...SWEET.

We got to our hotel and it is right in the middle of everything. Here are some picks of our evening walk.

The Old Post Office

The White House

The Washington Monument

Capitol

Old Executive Office Building (west of White House)

That's about all the time and energy for this evening. We went back to the hotel and had dinner at Harry's it was a warm evening and they had patio/sidewalk seating.

Time for bed and tomorrow....The Smithsonian! Ruby Slippers here I come!

The System Works

2006-11-08T07:46:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was a great day for America. The people voted and the Democrats took control of the House and are poised to take the Senate. Two races, in Virginia and Montana, have the Dems leading but the races are too close to call.

I am deeply saddened that 7 of the 8 state initiatives to ban same-sex marriage have passed (it's still too close to count in Arizona **EDIT - 11/17/06 measure was NOT passed!!!**), some, like Virginia, which passed, are very wide sweeping not only banning marriage but banning the recognition of "another union, partnership, or other legal status to which is assigned the rights, benefits, obligations, qualities or effects of marriage."

Although some state Supreme Courts, unlike Washington state, are striking down then bans as unconstitional. The battle this round may be lost but the war is by no means over. It will be interesting to see what happens in New Jersey. While I'm saddened I'm also hopeful that fairness will prevail.

We have a long way to go in order to, again, "form a more perfect union", last night proved that the system does work. The people voted and things changed. Some for the better and some for the worse, but things changed. I have to believe that deep down Americans are decent people, just misguided and unaware sometimes, marriage equality is coming, maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but it's coming.

To all that voted, whether it went the way you wanted or not, you stood up and were counted.

To all that did not vote - SHAME ON YOU!!

School, Work, Movies and Civic Duty

2006-10-26T15:37:00.000-07:00

I just realized it's been awhile since my last post. Lots going on with school, work and movies. Where to start...hmmmm.

Taking 15 credits and doing everything thing else has proven to be a bit of a challenge. The quarter is 1/2 over and my head's still above water. I'm looking forward to the Christmas break though. For the most part I am enjoying school. I was really looking forward to the Political Science class I'm taking but it has proven to be disappointing due the WACKO instructor. Oh well, the book is really good and I'm getting a lot out of that.

Work? Well, work is still work. I'm unhappy there but realize that there really isn't anything I can do until I finish school. So I persevere.

The movie stuff is going pretty good. We’re gearing up for a shoot the first part of December. I’m looking forward to it, we have some really good actors and the script is a good bit more serious than “The Adventures of Boss and Vasquez.” I’m still a little unsure about the direction the production company is headed, we have filed the papers and all that so we are an official company and we bought a domain name and are working on getting a website up, but as to actually what our business is going to be is still largely undecided. There are some of us that want to exclusively focus on developing and producing movies and then others that want to do stuff like corporate and wedding videos too.

Lastly, I would like to encourage everyone to vote on November 7th. I attended a rally this morning at Bellevue Community College…my current institution of higher learning. The rally included local, state and national politicos. This is the first such rally I have ever attended. I don’t think I could have picked a better one for my first. I was very excited to see Governor Gregoire and Senator Cantwell. I am very proud to have voted for them and will vote for Senator Cantwell on November 7th. Even though it was an honor to listen to these luminaries the real star of the event was Illinois Senator Barack Obama.

I can not even tell you how amazing it was to hear him speak. I remember listening to his speech at the 2004 Democratic National Convention and recently, thanks to CSPAN, had the chance to see that speech again. I love this guy!! Today his remarks were rather brief as he was basically stumping for Cantwell and US Representative candidate Darcy Burner from the 8th District. She is running against Dave Riechert, former King County Sheriff, who was elected after former Rep. Jennifer Dunn retired. When Riechert was elected we lived in the 8th District. However, now that we moved we are in the 1st District which is represented by Jay Inslee.

Back to Obama. His message is one of inclusion. In his 2004 speech he said -

“…there's not a liberal America and a conservative America — there's the United States of America. There's not a black America and white America and Latino America and Asian America; there's the United States of America. The pundits like to slice-and-dice our country into Red States and Blue States; Red States for Republicans, Blue States for Democrats. But I've got news for them, too. We worship an awesome God in the Blue States, and we don't like federal agents poking around our libraries in the Red States. We coach Little League in the Blue States and have gay friends in the Red States. There are patriots who opposed the war in Iraq and patriots who supported it. We are one people, all of us pledging allegiance to the stars and stripes, all of us defending the United States of America.”

His message also includes hope. Today he said -

“Because the American people are a decent people, there's no reason why we can't have a decent government. There's no reason why we can't close the gap between the government we have and the government we deserve.”

Check him out at http://www.barackobama.com/main.php you can read speeches, etc. A particularly good one is, “Call to Renewal Keynote Address”, June 28, 2006. You can also watch the 2004 DNC speech.

Don’t forget to vote November 7th!!!

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

2006-10-25T11:51:00.000-07:00

This is an article from the Yakima Herald Republic. This my Aunt Terri -

Terri Barron

When Terri Barron was 43 years old, she picked up a brochure at a doctor's office and shoved it in her purse to remind herself to schedule her first mammogram.

Six months later, when she finally scheduled the procedure, it wasn't because of the brochure.

"I woke up one morning with a lump," she says. "It was the last type of cancer I worried about."

Today, the 49-year-old carries around a different reminder.

In the depths of her large leather purse, she keeps a pair of photographs from her 44th birthday party. They show a tired woman surrounded by hats her family gave her at the beginning of 14 months of an intense chemotherapy trial that took away her hair, but, she believes, saved her life.

"I look at these pictures and I can hardly believe this was me," she says.

She doesn't pull them out very often. They're there so she'll always remember how fragile life is and that she's willing to do anything in the name of awareness.

Anything.

This spring, Terri became a volunteer for the Angel Care Breast Cancer Foundation, a Seattle-based nonprofit that matches survivors with newly diagnosed patients seeking mentors.
In June, she reluctantly posed as Ms. June in the foundation's annual fundraising calendar, sitting in a stream wearing scarcely more than a pair of angel wings.

The indignity was worth enduring, because as she well knows, life is short and cancer sometimes comes back.

"I think you always have that worry," she says. "Once you've been diagnosed you live with that kind of fear."

So she has fun with her husband and her children and her job and sees each day for what it is: an opportunity.

And in the bottom, back part of a drawer in her bedroom she keeps the best of the hats she received on her 44th birthday.

"Just in case," she whispers.

* Terri suggests that people who want individual or group support to help them deal with their diagnosis and treatment should contact:

Angel Care Breast Cancer Foundation: 425-861-5655

Wellness House: 575-6686

* On Nov. 18 from 1-3 p.m. Terri will be selling and signing the foundation's $15 calendars at Borders Book and Music at 700 E Washington Ave. in Union Gap.

Check out a sample of the calendar (Terri is June) and also order a few here - CALENDAR

Rain, Rain, Rain

2006-09-14T06:38:00.000-07:00

It's raining today. It's the first measurable rain we've had in what seems like months. I guess summer is over for us...the forecast for the next week is clouds, clouds and clouds.

In other news....No winner in the screenwriting competition. Oh well, it was a good experience and I'm proud of the script we wrote. Especially since we only had a week to write it and were restricted in genre and subject.

Got up at 4:30 this morning to get C off to Las Vegas. So it's just me and the Giz until Sunday afternoon. I think I finally got my financial aid stuff all straightened out. I had a tuition deferment on my fall quarter registration. I've been checking and it still said I owed the full amount. I was getting a little nervous cause the deferement expires today....but when I checked this morning it said total due: $0.00. SWEET!!! I got my books yesterday....my spanish book alone was $164.00!!! Although I was pleasantly surprised when I picked them up, the spanish book not only included the text book but 2 workbooks, 2 CD-Roms and a dictionary...so I guess $164 for all that isn't too bad.

Speaking of school....it starts Monday!!! I'm excited but nervous, I think I may have over extended myself...15 credits, working full-time and trying to do movie stuff...what was I thinking???

Well, better get some work done so I can knock off early and get a nap in this afternoon. Have to go to a production meeting tonight for the short we're shooting the last weekend of the month. I think we've got a good start with the script, needs some work though. Hopefully we can make some progress tonight. I read the latest draft Tuesday night and sent some notes to J, the writer, so he wants to "pick my brain" tonight.

September to Remember

2006-09-12T17:29:00.000-07:00

Lot's going on and the month isn't even 1/2 over yet!!

Labor day weekend in Spokane was a blast except for the traffic. We left Bellevue at 4pm on Friday and didn't get to Ellensburg until 7:30...that's 3 1/2 hours incase your wondering!!! Usually only takes about 1 hour and 45 minutes. Supposedly there was an accident but we didn't see anything. We finally arrived in Spokane about 11pm...OY.

Saturday was fun. My mom and D got us hooked on geocaching. You may have noticed a new little icon on the right part of screen near to bottom of this page. This is my geocaching status bar from www.geocaching.com. It tells how many I have found or hidden. I'd heard about this whole geocaching thing before but honestly I thought it was kinda nerdy...but all it took was one find and we were hooked.

Basically you go to www.geocaching.com and look for caches in your area. A cache can be anything from a film canister to an ammo can filled with anything from just a paper logbook to action figures, travel bugs, money, postcards...etc. The catch is on the website all you get is the coordinates of the cache and then you must a GPSr (Global Positioning System receiver) to find the cache. Bottom line its excersise that doesn't feel like work...at least that's how I look at it :-)

After geocaching for awhile Saturday morning we then went to Pig Out in the Park which was a huge outdoor food festival at River Front Park in Spokane. I had Shrimp Tacos....YUM!!!! and for dessert....a Ben and Jerry's Chunky Monkey ice cream cone....double YUM!!

Sunday more geocaching and then off to Silverwood for rollarcoaster fun!!! Then Monday it was back home...even though we left Spokane early...10am..we didn't get home until 4:30. Ah well!

Last weekend was the PAWS walk. My sister came over Friday night with her dog Cody and we met her friend Jenny in Bothell for dinner at The Ranch Drive-In....AWESOME HAMBURGERS!! Plus we did a quick goecache that was just up the street. Saturday morning was the PAWS walk. All turned out great. I raised a total of $250.00 and our team raised $485.00! The weather was a little drizzly but not too bad. After walking 3 miles we had lunch and then heading out to do some geocaching...3 hours and 5 miles later...we got 4 of them in the neigborhood.

Sunday we were wore out but couldn't just sit around with all those caches just laying around. We headed out to breakfast at The Brown Bag Cafe....SO GOOOOOD!!! This was our first time going there and let me tell you DELICIOUS!!!! Then we headed to Petco to get Cody (my sister's dog) a water toy and then off to Marymoor Park we went in search of caches. We found the three we set out to plus had a nice walk around the park and even let Gizmo off her leash in the off-leash area...that was a first...she did GREAT!!! We were both shocked!

Needless to say we've been recovering ever since. To top it all off I may have a sinus infection. Went to the doctor on yesterday and results were inconclusive. I got an Rx but was instructed to wait a few days and if I get worse then fill it and start taking but it may clear up on it's own.

Today is the day the results of the New York City Midnight Madness 2006 Screenwriter's Challenge...I have to wait, as of this post, another 3 hours and 15 minutes before results are announced. I'll post results here when I find out.

This weekend I get a little rest while C is in Las Vegas for week. He leaves Thursday morning and won't be back tl Sunday afternoon. So it's just me and Giz for four days. We'll probably just hang around the house....may do a couple geocaches....but just laying around and watching TV sounds pretty good.

School starts Monday the 18th. I just got an e-mail that my book are ready for pick up at the bookstore...total this quarter $290.15...OUCH! Oh well gotta get it done.

Coming up.....the 23rd...Elton John....can't wait!!

A Quick Update

2006-08-17T11:01:00.000-07:00

The Contest -

We finished our short script for The 2006 Screenwriter's Challenge and turned it in July 28th. The winners will not be announced until September 12th....the wait is killing me! The way the contest works is we were given a genre and a subject and then had 1 week to turn in a short script (20 pgs max). Our genre and subject was Drama and Soldiers. Our script is title "As You Were" and is the story of a retired Army Colonel that rallys injured troops in a VA hospital, and in doing so finds purpose at the end of his career.

I posted the script on the Screenwriter's Challange message board and we have received really good feedback from the other entrants. So far our script has been viewed 187 times and we've received 16 very positive comments like -

"You have a very beautiful story here. I think it is structured perfectly and I love the character of the Colonel."
"Being a soldier myself, I had to read this. I liked it. I totally understood where the Colonel was coming from. If you don't have a military background, you wouldn't know it from reading this short. The Colonel's character was a spot on depiction of a career military man who doesn't know how to do anything else but be a soldier. I've known many of these men."
"Your story moved me. My grandfather was a Colonel and it was hard for him to leave that life behind. You captured the feeling wondefully. Nicely done."
"I thought you did a great job with the pace of the story, it was moving and well done. "
"Overall a top notch script nailing both, genre and theme."

Naturally these great comment just make the wait all the more unbearable. Especially in our heat we are competing against 17 other writers and so far only 6 have posted their scripts to the message board so there are still 11 out there that I haven't read. Did I mention the wait is killing me?? Only 26 more days!!!

Oh well there's a bunch of other things going on. The month of September is going to be busy!!!

The first weekend we're going to visit my mom and go to Silverwood! The following weekend my sister is coming to town and we're walking 5 miles in the PAWS walk...for which I've raised $200. If you would like to donate Click Here!! Also that weekend I have a script pitch and pre-production meeting for another short our production company, 50 Prime Studios (formerly Count It! Productions), will be shooting the end of the Septemeber. The weekend of the 15th and 16th C will be in Las Vegas...lucky bastard! Then the 23rd we're going to see Elton John. Then the last weekend I'll be shooting as mentioned above.

Did I mention school starts the 18th?!?!?! Oh well, looks like October is going to pretty low key. Then on to November which is already shaping up to be busy. The first weekend is our annual company party and then next weekend we're leaving for California to see Barbra Streisand and then might have a weekend rest and then we're smack into the holidays....Uh where did 2006 go??

That's about it for now.

Let Down by the Washington State Supreme Court

2006-07-26T18:28:00.000-07:00

Today the Washington State Supreme Court upheld the state's ban on gay marriage stating the state has "a legitimate interest in regulating relationships that produce children. " What a bunch of crap. What about the woman who's had hysterectomy or the man that has had vasectomy are they not allowed to marry because their marriage will not produce children?? So the entire purpose of marriage is to have babies? I don't think so.

The times are changing and gay marriage is coming. It wasn't so long ago that popular opinion supported slavery, segregation, refusing to let women vote, ban on interracial marriage, and on and on. Popular opinion is a risky thing to bet the farm on.

Liberty and justice for ALL beats popular opinion every time!!!

The Screening and The Contest

2006-07-26T09:08:00.000-07:00

The screening for the 48-Hour Film Project went well. We did not win an audience choice award but we're still in the running for Best of City. This was the first contest we entered that held the screening in an actual real movie theatre. Let me tell you it is a little unnerving to see yourself on the big screen 15ft tall....CRAZY!!!

Oh well, we're keeping our fingers crossed hoping we place in Best of City.

Now for the contest...my friend and cohort Accidental Housekeeper...entered a screenwriting contest that started on July 21 and we have until the 29th to turn in our completed script. So far it's going well we have our story and outline completed and I'm working on writing the 1st draft.

That's about all I have time for right now...got get that 1st draft done!!!

48-Hour Film Project

2006-07-13T19:59:00.000-07:00

So I'm just now recovering from last weekend to blog about it. I'm too getting to old for this crazy stuff....can't bounce back like I used to.

The weekend started Friday at 6pm with me meeting other team members at The Seattle Film Institute to draw our genre and find out what the other requirements would be. We drew comedy and the requirements were as follows -

Prop - Sleeping Bag
Character - Bob or Bonnie Henry, Insurance Agent
Dialouge - "I expect you to prompt - prompt and courteous."

Once the drawing was complete we headed to Bothell were the rest of the team was waiting. We phone ahead and let them know what the requirements were and by the time we arrived some serious brainstorming was underway. We finished the script about 1:30am. By time I got home and too bed it was well after 2:00am.

The alarm went off way to early...6:15am...I had to meet the crew at 7:00am at Whole Foods in Bellevue...barely had time for a shower and cup of coffee. We shot at Whole Foods tl about 8:15AM then it was off to dowtown Seattle to film in an office building and adjacent martini lounge. We wrapped about 2:00pm and headed to Bothell to shoot a kickball game...yes I said kickball game...we wrapped in Bothell about 8:00pm.

After grabbing a quick bite we headed back to Seattle to film on a rooftop on Capitol Hill. We got a great shot of the Space Needle and Lake Union at sunset...so I guess it was worth it. We finished up about 10:30pm. One last location...we headed to Bellevue to shoot at a doctor's office. We finally finished about 1:15am. As you may imagine I was exhausted having only gotten about 4 hours sleep the night before and then having been up for almost 20 hours it was all I could do fall into bed. I slept tl noon on Sunday!

Despite the lack of sleep I think we did a pretty good job. The screening was Tuesday night in Seattle and we got a lot of laughs! I think we're a long shot to win but at least I thought we were on par quality wise with the other contestants.

You can see for yourself - Click Here

(Give it time to load)

Eventually I think that it will be available on the national 48-Hour Film Project site but so far they only have last years up there. There's is one more public screening tonite so I'm sure after that they'll put them on the site. In the meantime you can look at using the link above.

Pink's New Song.....Pink? Yes, Pink!

2006-07-10T14:58:00.000-07:00

I came across this song called "Dear Mr. President" by Pink the other day on You Tube and all I can say is - WOW. That takes some guts y'all. There's no clever wordplay, no sugar coating, and no apologies. It's smack in your face and balls out. I know this is going to sound cheesy but it actually brought a tear to my eye.

Check it out

Relocated

2006-07-06T10:00:00.000-07:00

We're officially moved in and settled...for the most part.

Loving the new neighborhood. There are tons of places for walking, even a few trails.

Here's some pics of 4th of July festivities.

It's Getting Serious Now

2006-06-15T17:05:00.000-07:00

There's been another, exciting, development in the movie world. Last weekend we had a pre-production meeting to prepare for the 48-Hour Film Project that's coming up in July. Nothing too major, we all brought a dessert, and talked about the rules of the contest and took inventory of our assets, equipment, props, access to locations, etc.

After about an hour or so the meeting wrapped up and people started to leave then myself and two others were asked to stick around. I was all, "sweet", cause there was still dessert left. After everyone else had left we get down to business...literally. Turns out the reason for the meeting wasn't so much about the 48-hour project but to get us together to talk about taking the next step in our careers. Basically there are six of us that are the "core" group and then a couple others that kinda float in and out. It was proposed that the six of us form a production company and start raising money to produce a short-film to submit to festivals.

Once I picked myself up off the floor it was very exciting. The more we talked the more sense it started to make. Each of us brings a unique skill to the group but we also work very well together. "J" has mad producer skills, "T" has mad directing skills, I have mad production management skills, "F" has mad camera skills, "H" has mad post-production skills and "J2" has mad writing skills....put it all together and what do you get?? Count It! Productions. Like I said we work together very well and collaborate on all aspects of production...we've worked together for about a year now and really are a good team!

After the announcement was made we went around the room and each shared our thoughts and it was really interesting because we pretty much all shared the same "story" of how we've always wanted to do this and how we feel that time is slowly ticking away. I think four out of the six are over 30 and we all seem to be in the same place. Actually one of the guys is from eastern Washington too and our stories are really similar, we both moved here to get into the movie thing and we're in our 30's and aren't getting any younger, etc. It really made me feel good and I realized how close we really are. Also expressed was the desire to do more "substantial" material, which was really nice to hear. The three minute stuff has been fun but I know that I was ready to tackle meattier material, so it was good to hear that the rest of the group wants to as well.

Right now we're in the process of the getting a website up and actually forming the company. "T" is meeting with an attorny on the 16th to get details on forming an LLC and what that takes and how much it costs and all that stuff. Then we need to nail down all the other stuff...like how we're going to raise $15,000 - $20,000 we need to shoot the film. Obviously not everyone will be able to invest at the same level. We are truly from every walk of life, two are home owners, the rest aren't, four of us have good jobs and are for the most part financially secure, and then a couple are college kids that are working 2 part-time jobs, etc. We're not thinking that all the money will come from us...I imagine probably 1/2 will but that still leaves a pretty good chunk so we'll have to come up with some fundraising schemes. Plus it's going to be a good 1 to 2 year committment. Obviously none of us are quitting our day jobs so it's going to take awhile to get everything in place and raise the money and then shoot it and edit, etc.

That's all I know now.....stay tuned for more information!!!

The Count Down Has Begun!!

2006-06-14T22:48:00.000-07:00

I can't believe the waiting is almost over!! We move next week!! In fact today I called the cable company and got my install appointment all set up to ensure that my access to the internet is in no way interupted!!

We can actually start moving in on Tuesday the 20th and might take a few boxes over that evening but the major portion of the move won't happen until the weekend of 24th and 25th. Then thankfully I have June 29th through July 6th off from work so I'll have plenty of time to get settled in and all that good stuff.

It's a good thing that we've already started packing stuff up cause we're heading to Yak this weekend so won't have time to do anything. Next week is going to be busy!! Oh well I work from home on Tuesday and Thursday and C is off on Wednesday so I'm sure we'll have it well in hand. I'm pretty sure that we can have the guest bathroom, dining room, guest bedroom and non-essential kitchen items moved before the weekend. Then when the weekend comes I'm thinking 1/2 the day on Saturday we're done.

I'm sure I'm over simplifying but we'll see :-)

No STIFFY...:-(

2006-06-05T12:57:00.000-07:00

Sadly we were not voted a winner at the "Weekend Film Challange" screenings over the weekend as part Seattle's True Independent Film Festival (STIFF). I do feel that we made a strong showing and the caliber of our work was on par with the winners. It was a fun, creative and great learning experience.

Stay tuned for information about the 48-Hour Film Project coming up in July.

Oh yeah...if you haven't already check out the new website of Angry Mo Productions at ...www.angrymo.com! That's right it's own domain!! You'll find more information on the 48-hour Film Project as well as information about other projects!!

Finally, if you haven't already, telephone or e-mail your US Senators and ask them to oppose the Federal Marriage Amendment.

Washington Won't Discriminate

2006-06-02T18:38:00.000-07:00

The Angry Mo needs your help! Keep discrimination out of Washington State. Click on the logo below to see how you can help.

First they came for the Communists, and I didn’t speak up,
because I wasn’t a Communist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I didn’t speak up,
because I wasn’t a Jew.

Then they came for the Catholics, and I didn’t speak up,
because I was a Protestant.

Then they came for me, and by that time there was no one left
to speak up for me.

--Pastor Martin Niemöller

The Dixie Chicks, The Economy and The FMA

2006-06-01T09:50:00.000-07:00

Oy….where to start?

The Dixie Chicks – GET OVER IT! It was three years ago. For those of you that say they are entertainers and should just shut up and sing I don’t pay to listen to your opinion, don't be a hypocrite. Not a day goes by that a celebrity isn’t saying something about something. So the next time a celebrity uses their voice to bring awareness to poverty, genocide, famine or human right issues remember to tell them to just shut up and sing. I guess freedom of speech only applies when it's inline with the popular opinion of the time. Just because someone says something you disagree with doesn't mean they don't have the right to say it.

I know the “America, love it or leave it” types don’t get it but let me try to explain it. The fact that they said what they said and didn’t get beheaded, thrown in jail or otherwise tortured or punished is EXACTLY what America is all about…not “love it or leave it.” That’s whole point – YOU CAN DISAGREE. And, by the by, people usually speak out because they love it. Patriotism is NOT just waiving the flag, bowing your head and saying yes sir, it’s speaking out, it’s taking chances, it’s about trying to make things better and it’s about having a voice!

All over the county folks vowed to never buy another Dixie Chick album or ever go to another concert, they even convinced some radio stations not to play their music. Fine that’s their choice. Some folks even went so far as to send letters saying the most horrible and hurtful things. These letters called them unpatriotic and accused them of treason and those were the “nice” one. Some of these letters included death threats, not only to the band, but death threats against the band’s (at the time) unborn children, their parents, their brothers and sisters. Now, compared to what the Dixie Chicks said about Bush, who's the bigger asshole?

Just an FYI…The Dixie Chick’s new album is #1 on the Billboard chart and is the most purchased CD from Amazon.com since it was released a week ago? That my friends is truly “America the Beautiful.” Hope springs eternal for the Angry Mo.

The Economy – WHO’S GETTING RICH?? It ain’t me. A recent poll reports that 60% of Americans are unhappy with how President Bush is handling the economy. Naturally Bush doesn’t get it because the economic indicators are up. Good Morning America sited gas prices as the major contributing factor to people’s dissatisfaction with the economy. While gas prices are high what I have the most problem with is how can the economic indicators look good? I don’t even really know what these indicators are but let me share some of my own indicators and then you tell me if the economy is UP?

Gas prices are up 49% since 2004

Home prices (King County, WA) are up 18% in the last year alone (**UPDATE 06/12/06 - new figures announced on the news last night...the increase over last year is 22% and in neighboring Pierce County one city saw a 32% increase. In an area that is 2,307 sq mis, roughly twice the size of the state of Rhode Island the average home price is $405,000.**)

Grocery prices are rising at a rate of 10% a year

Healthcare costs are up over 15% since 2004

My salary is up 4% since 2004

Hmmmm, you can definitely count me in the 60% of Americans that are unhappy with the way the economy is being handled. GRRRRRRR!

The FMA – LEGALIZING DISCRIMINATION. Nice, “all men are created equal”, which apparently only applies only to white heterosexual men with a PSI of at least of $98,234.67.43. With all the talk of family values and 50% of marriages ending in divorce I’m not sure I fully understand what the problem is. As a gay man, who is an American citizen, I feel that I have the right to marry my partner of 5 years. I find it insanely ridiculous that I could walk down the street, conk the first girl I see over the head and drag her off to the courthouse and get married no questions asked.

I’m about 99.99999999999% certain that the opposition is based on religious belief. That’s fine you have your belief, as do I, yes gay people believe in God. I’m fully 150% behind you, and respect your belief. However, I’m not asking that my marriage be recognized by you OR your church, I’m asking that it be recognized by the so-called non-religious government. All I want, as a taxpaying American, is equal protection under the law. My partner and I live as a married couple, we are monogamous, we combine our incomes, we make decisions based on our mutual success, we share hopes and dreams and have a made a life together.

Throughout American history, the Constitution has been amended to expand and protect the rights and liberties of the American people. It has been amended to abolish slavery, and give women and young people the right to vote. It should not be used to single out some Americans for discrimination. As gay Americans we are just a regular people, we go to work, pay our bills and our taxes, respect our neighbors and are just trying to get ahead like everyone else. We aren’t asking for special right, we are asking, if not demanding, equal rights. We just want to be treated like everyone else.

This is a civil issue NOT a religious one.

Not A Winner....Please Try Again!

2006-05-31T15:07:00.000-07:00

We were not :-( selected as one of the winners in the Seattle Times 3-minute Masterpiece contest. Oh well it was a good expierence anyway. Now I may be a little biased but I just don't get the Grand Prize winner at all....you can see it here and judge for yourself. Yes, it's animation and it probably took a long time to make...but still. Also, while you're there check out "The Diary" and "Go Fish" I think those two were really good.

Don't forget voting is this weekend for "The Cost of Reform" at the Seattle True Independent Film Festival. Unfortunately tickets are available at the door only...arrive early!!!

Saturday June 3rd @ 11AM at Central Cinema (Central Cinema is located in Seattle's Central District neighborhood at 21st Avenue and E. Union street. Look for the Neon Marquee. The address is 1411 21 Avenue Seattle WA 98122. ) S

Sunday June 4th @ 11AM at The Market Theater (1428 Post AlleySeattle, WA 98101 - this is at Pike Street Market...hence the name...Market Theater).

Angry Mo Productions

2006-05-27T21:20:00.000-07:00

In an effort to legitimize and/or publicize my creative efforts The Diary of an Angry Mo has spawned a companion website for Angry Mo Productions. So check it out and let me know what you think. Any questions, comments or advice is encouraged and greatly appreciated!!

Click Here to go Angry Mo Productions

See It Here..um..There

2006-05-26T07:30:00.000-07:00

One of my moviemaking colleagues and friends has created a website. Why should you care?? Well you can view three of our projects....the one that started it all...."Boss and Vasquez", our Seattle Times 3-minute masterpiece entry, "Addiction" and our STIFF entry, "The Cost of Reform."

Check it out

At the top, click on the title you wish to view. If you don't have it already you may be asked to download QuickTime, and if you do have it you may be asked to update...just follow the directions...IT'S FREE.

We've Done It Now

2006-05-26T07:17:00.000-07:00

We've entered another 48-Hour film competition. Though this isn't your everyday competition. This is the original "48-Hour Film Project" the one that started it all and the one that every other one copies. That's right this is the national "official" 48-Hour competition. Click here to find out more...you'll see on the right hand side of the screen under the map is a list of registered teams and there we are, "Count It! Productions."

This is by far the biggest competition we've entered. The 48-Hour Film Project hosts competitions in 35 cities around the world. The potential exposure is HUGE...city winners go on to compete nationally. Actually with competitions taking place in Brisbane and Paris it could be international exposure.

The competition kicks off Friday July 7th.....I'll let you know what happens.

HELP!!!! UPDATED

2006-05-23T18:59:00.000-07:00

***Updated information for STIFF Screenings***

This pertains to the June 3 and June 4 audience voting screenings...

The voting will be done by ballot: 3 points awarded for a first place vote, 2 points for second, and 1 for 3rd. Again, we need all of the people we can to come out and stuff the ballots for our short film titled, "The Cost of Reform," produced by Count-it! Productions.

Voting can only be done in person at one of the two screenings.

Also I believe that tickets are no longer avail online for the Sunday screening...tickets can still be purchased at the door...but admission is not guaranteed. At this point online ticket orders for Saturday are still be taken.

Finally, if you are going to be over this way over the Memorial Day weekend drop in on Sunday May 28th 11:00am at the Seattle International Film Festival to see our Seattle Times "entry "Addiction." Click HERE for tickets

HELP!!!!!

2006-05-22T14:42:00.000-07:00

So I'm reposting this e-mail blast that Travis sent out over the weekend.

WE NEED YOUR HELP!!! Travis, Jason, Jason, Justin, Frank, Jeff (that's me), Lauralee and Joel with the help of Carmen, Michelle, Michael-Ellyn, Barry, Vincent, Colin, Steve, and Rachel have entered the Seattle True Independent Film Festival's 2006 Weekend Film Challenge. We were given a character, quote, prop, and genre on Friday at 7p and had until Sunday at 7p to have a written, shot, cut, and scored short film submitted. We have come up with a piece that is way cool, BUT the judging is done by the audience for this one. Sooooooo, this is where our wonderful friends and family come in....

If you are available, please plan on attending one of two screenings as linked below:

Saturday, June 3rd, 11:00am, OR
Sunday, June 4th, 11:00am:

Our team name is Count-it! Productions and the name of our film is "The Cost of Reform." We need your support to cheer for us as LOUDLY as you possible can at either of the two venues!

"What's in it for me?" you ask. Well, here is the scenario:

1. You purchase your ticket and attend one of the screenings.

2. You do your part by cheering so loudly for our film that people in neighboring states wonder what the heck all the noise is about.

3. We win the Grand Prize, which is $2500 in services from Victory Studios (a prominent transfer house in North Seattle.)

4. We use the prize to create our next piece, which will be a wonderful short story shot on super 16mm film.

5. This film is well received and the major studios begin a furious bidding war for the rights and we finally settle on an 8-figure deal.

6. Using this money, we charter a private jet for all of you and head somewhere sunny and warm with white sandy beaches and drinks with umbrellas where we party for a week! (Please retain your ticket stub from the screening as this will be necessary to get you on the plane...)

THANK YOU in advance if you are able to attend! We are all grateful for the support given to us by all of our friends and family!

Please pass this email off to anyone who loves short films and would like to attend!

See you at the movies!

-Trav-

Update on the Google and Stuff

2006-05-17T07:21:00.000-07:00

I wasn't one of the 10,000 finalists....DAMN YOU TOM HANKS AND YOUR CRAZY EURO-MULLET! Oh well.

I saw our finished 3-minute film for STIFF....it is AWESOME!! I should hopefully be getting a DVD with this one and the other ones that we have done. So's the next time we come to the crack I can show y'all.

In the meantime...check this out....I didn't haven't anything to do with it but the Rasta Man is the same guy that played the lead in our short film "The Ideal Wife". It's pretty funny.

Chuck Norris Rap

...And We're Done!!

2006-05-15T17:17:00.000-07:00

Another 48-hour film competition under our belts!!!

Friday night we met for dinner and then headed to the meeting spot in downtown Seattle. It was kind of interesting how they did this one. There were about 15 teams and they drew, 1 character (P. Flowers: A Politician), 1 line of dialog ("More like 28, right guys?"), and 1 prop (pocket change) that ALL the teams had to use. Then each team drew a genre. I don't know what every team got, but we got drama and the team next to us got horror.

Other possible genres included: comedy, action/adventure, thriller, mockumentary, propaganda, musical, western and sci-fi. Oh yeah...the time constraint is that the finished film has to be at least 3 minutes but no longer than 6 minutes. It will be interesting to see if anyone got sci-fi or musical....I think those 2 would be really really hard to do in 48-hours.

After the drawing was over we took over the Il Forniao seating area at Pacific Place on 6th and Pine. We banged out our story in about 3 1/2 hours and recruited one of the security guard to appear in our film, (we got his number and called him Saturday morning and told him where to be and he actually showed up!!) he turned out to be fantastic. He played a double agent in charge of protecting a Senator (Peggy Flowers) and her family, but also works for a group of assasins that are targeting the Senator. Through the course of the story he gets found out and is killed by one of the assasins he is working for. He died beautifully!!!

Probably the most amazing thing that happened was that our lead actress knew someone who owns a house in the Finn Hill area of Kirkland and got permission for us to use the house as the location for the Senators house. HOLY CRAP...this house was amazing...on a bluff overlooking Lake Washington with views of downtown Bellevue, Seattle and Mt. Rainier. The inside was just as amazing as the outside...marble floor and marble columns in the foyer that lead to a sunken 2-story living room with floor to ceiling windows framing that AMAZING view. We estimated that the house had to be worth at least $3.5 - $4 million.

It was fun but really exhausting...I worked all day Friday and then went right to Seattle...didn't get home until about 11pm. Then was up at 6:30am and at our first location by 8am we shot at 3 locations, 2 in Bellevue and the Finn Hill house mentioned above. I got home about 9pm. Luckily, the last location was at the house of our team leader where all the editting equipment is so the editors were able to start editting while we finished up shooting the last couple of scenes.

We are thinking the films will be viewed and the winners announced June 3rd. I'll surely post results here!

Another 48hrs....

2006-05-12T11:55:00.000-07:00

...film contest that is. Tonight begins the Seattle's True Independent Film Festival (STIFF) 48-Hour Film Competition. The competition is sure to be bit more STIFF...pun intended...than the Maple Valley Film Festival, but we're hoping for the best. We meet tonight to draw our genre out of the hat and then have until Sunday 7pm to turn in the finished film.

Haven't heard anything about the Seattle Time 3-minute Masterpiece yet....all they said was that winners would be notified on or before May 27th. The deadline to enter was April 28th and SIFF (Seattle International Film Festival) just announced their schedule yesterday and the 3-minute winners will screen on May 28th....uh we want to know before May 27th....so we can tell people....duh!!! Guess we'll just have to wait and see.

On a completely unrelated note I've been playing the Da Vinci Code Quest on Google for the last 24 days...each day they release a new puzzle to solve starting April 17 and the contest ended May 10. The first 10,000 people to complete the 24th puzzle and register become finalists in the Quest. So I finished on the 10th and registered and nothing happened so I figured oh well I wasn't fast enough I didn't make it into the top 10. Then yesterday afternoon I got an e-mail that said they had officially received my registration and I had successfully completed all 24 puzzles and they would notify the 10,000 finalists via e-mail on Monday May 15th. So I might be one of the 10,000 after all. I can't believe I have to wait until Monday!!!

If you make it into the finals you receive a cryptex in the mail and 4 stills from the movie. You have to find the code in the stills that will open the cryptex and inside will be instructions on how to get to the final challenge. Then the first one to solve the final challenge wins the Grand Prize.

What's the Grand Prize you ask...holy moley...let me tell you -

First-class round-trip air transportation for four (4) to New York, Paris, Rome and London.
Four (4) nights deluxe hotel accommodations and ground transportation for four (4) at each travel destination.
Four Leisure Select (train) return tickets from London to Paris and London to Avignon.
One (1) Sony® 40" BRAVIA™ S-Series LCD HDTV Television
One (1) Sony® VAIO® VGN-TX770P/B Notebook computer
One (1) Sony® Cyber-shot® DSC-N1 Digital Camera
One (1) Sony® Platinum DVD Dream™ System
One (1) Sony® NV-U70 Portable Navigation System
One (1) Sony® DPP-FP50 Digital Photo Printer
Four (4) Sony® Walkman Core™ MP3 Players
Four (4) copies of the Frommer’s Guide Books and Day by Day Guides to New York, Paris, Rome and London.

The total cash value of the Grand Prize......drum roll.....$128,170!!! So I'm really not expecting to win, I'd be happy being one of the 10,000 finalists, but wouldn't it be nice to win all that stuff!!!

So that's about it. Nothing much else going on.

Snoozy McSnoozerton

2006-04-25T18:01:00.000-07:00

Nothing exciting to report...pretty boring lately. We've started packing up some stuff in preparation for the move but since it is still down the road not much we can do. I'm sitting in class right now and it is hotter than hell in here...not sure what is going on with the HVAC system. Actually I'm being lazy this quarter...only TA'ing a class...was hoping to use the class time in which I really have nothing to do to get some writing done but it is so damn HOT in here and noisy not much is happening.

A little news on the movie front...we shot our piece for the Seattle Times 3-minute contest. I think it turned out really well. I've only seen a rough cut sans music but it made me chuckle. The next thing we are gearing up for is the Seattle's True Independent Film Festival (STIFF) in which they have another 48-Hour contest that we've entered. That shoot is May 12th through the 14th...again we'll get the requirements Friday night the 12th and have until Sunday the 14th to turn in a finished project.

That's about it.

....And The Winner Is??

2006-04-07T23:29:00.000-07:00

Uh....that would be us!! That's right we won first place in the Maple Valley Film Festival 48-Hour Film competition. Out of 15 enteris we got first place, a $100 cash prize, a certificate and a groovy trophy. We were also interviewed by the Maple Valley Voice.

Up next the Seattle Times 3-minute film contest. There is no time limit like the 48-Hour contest so this one should be a little easier. We just have to turn it in by April 28th. The big deal with this one is that the winning film will be shown on The Seattle Times Web site, at the Seattle International Film Festival and the Fremont Outdoor Movies....so it's a pretty big deal.

Mov'in On Up!!

2006-04-06T09:40:00.000-07:00

After three years of borderline ghetto living we're moving....YEAH!!!! Actually the place we're in now isn't too terrible awful, but it's definitely gone down hill since we moved in.

Naturally we'll be paying more for the new place...but you get what you pay for...in this case SO TRUE. The difference in the quality between the new place and old place is night and day. Possibly the best part though is the location. Currently we are in a complex that is right of the freeway...being new to the area we thought that was a good thing...turns out the noise and isolation negates any convenience. The new place is actually in a neighborhood, a real-life, walk the dog, desperate housewives neighborhood.

It is QUIET there. However, it is still close to everything....Costco is only 5 mins away (currently about 25 mins) there are parks galore, one right across the street, another a block away and yet another 1/2 mile down the road. Did I mention it's in a real-life neighborhood? What's more, if any of you have been to our current place you will remember the crazy hills, the new place NO HILLS. We could literally take off walking in any direction and stroll down quiet residential streets!!

Oh yeah....at the new place we have covered parking and a top floor unit! That's right top floor...no hillbillies above us. The main thing though is that it is SO NICE!! I'm actually still surprised they are letting us in. It's like now we live at the bingo hall and are moving into the country club. I'm telling you the place is posh, tiled entry, gorgeous fireplace, nice millwork, brushed nickel fixtures, plush carpet in living room and bedrooms, nice laminate wood floor in kitchen and bath. The entire complex has been completely remodeled, all new appliances, carpet, floors, fixtures EVERYTHING!!! We will be the first to live in this unit after the remodel.

I can't wait to move....sadly we can't until June 20th, which actually is good because our lease here doesn't expire until June 30th....but I would move tomorrow if I could. Also, the remodel won't be done until the 20th anyway...and we have plenty of time to get organized and pack and all that stuff.

I'll keep you posted as the date approaches.

Road Trip

2006-03-19T18:05:00.000-08:00

Today was such a nice day that we decided to take a road trip. We started south and drove around Tacoma and then headed north up the Olympic Pennisula. On the way back we took the Bremerton Ferry back to the "mainland" here is a shot as we are approach the Coleman Ferry dock in Seattle. (You can tell where Chuck put the two pictures together...but it still looks pretty neat)

Here's another from a little farther away.

And another...

Happy St. Patrick's Day

2006-03-17T21:19:00.000-08:00

Isn't she festive in her green Ralph Lauren polo?

The Day After

2006-03-13T08:44:00.000-08:00

Whew.....the 48-Hour Film Competition is behind me. Actually it was not bad at all. We found out the critieria Friday at 6pm and worked until about Midnight brainstorming, writing, and making props. We re-grouped at 7am Saturday morning and started shooting. We wrapped about 5pm. The raw footage was handed over to editors extraordinaire Frank and Hayden, the rest of us dispersed to eat and sleep...yeah. We got back together Sunday afternoon for finishing touches and screening. So look for "The Adventures of Boss and Vasquez: Plight of the SIVRS" at the Maple Valley Film Festival. In case you don't know SIVRS are the infamous (and fictional) South Indian Venomous Rattle Snails.

We had a blast and it was great fun working with the "old team" again. Actually it's nice just "working", it gets the creative juices flowing and gets me re-interested in my own projects.

Up next....I think we're entering another competion in April sponsored by The Seattle Times.

48-Hour Film Competition

2006-03-09T10:45:00.000-08:00

A few of the folks that worked on "The Ideal Wife" are entering a 48-Hour Film Competition this weekend and have asked me to be invlolved. Should be a good time. If you are not familiar with how it works, basically each team has 48-hours to write, cast, shoot, and edit a short film. There are several of these going on around the country and they all vary a little in how they work. In this particular one on Friday at 6pm a line of dialog, a theme and a prop will be posted on a website. As soon as we get this information we'll have until 6pm Sunday to create a 3 minute film with that line of dialog, theme and prop.

I'll let you know how it goes. Apparently cash prizes will be awarded to the top 3 films. It sounds fun, but I doubt it will involve much sleep over the weekend.

NEW CAR

2006-02-22T07:36:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I did something I have never before done in my life. I bought a new car...I mean a brand spanking, only had 9 miles on it, all mine, NEW CAR!

I got a 2006 Toyota Matrix XR...I've wanted this car for 3 years...finally it is mine. The color is cosmic blue metallic, I gots a sunroof, an in dash cd changer, security system, alloy wheels, 4WD, uh....the whole nine yards. Oh and a plug in...not just the cigarette lighter adapter plug in thingy...well I got two of those...but I mean a real life plug in. I can plug in my laptop or a griddle, crock pot, coffee pot...whatever...right there in the dang car.

I'm running late this morning so don't have much more time...but will post some pics this evening....actually here is a pic I found on the internet....not my car....but same year, model and color...I'll post my own shortly.

Movie Premiere!!!!

2006-02-16T21:15:00.000-08:00

Last spring I worked as First Assistant Director on a short film. The film is finally completed and ready to unveil to the public. I am excited to see it finished, up to now I've only seen a rough cut. I'm told the original music is great. Below is the "official press release" or e-mail blast...whatever -

The Spring 2005 Making Movies class is proud to announce the Premiere of our short film, "The Ideal Wife," on Sunday, February 19th, 2006 at 7:30pm in the Carlson Theatre at Bellevue Community College!

The Ideal Wife is a romantic comedy about Sam (played by Cisco McCarthy) who has been married to Adrienne (Tineke Raak) for five years. Lately, Sam's been wondering if he's married to the right woman.? When he meets a magical stranger (Michelle Patrick) in a coffee shop, she gives him the opportunity to find out... For five nights, Sam must speak aloud the wife he wants to wake up to and the next morning, there she'll be. But, there is a catch: on the fifth night, the wife Sam chooses is the one he will be married to for the rest of his life! Come and watch as Sam makes each choice... for better... or for worse...

We are anticipating a packed house for this Premiere, so please plan accordingly. DVD copies of The Ideal Wife and other past Making Movies productions will be available at the Theatre.
We look forward to seeing you there! Thanks in advance for supporting BCC's Film Program!

Cat Scan - Follow Up

2006-02-08T07:53:00.000-08:00

Nothing to report. No horribly deformed sinuses, which on one hand is good news, but on the other is a little disappointing since I still have issues. So, now in addition to nasal spray at night, I also take a pill in the morning. It seems to be working so far.

New Rules

2006-01-25T13:28:00.000-08:00

I didn't write these...although for the most part I agree...this was an e-mail forward I received from a co-worker. So to avoid any acusations of plagerism if, by chance, the actual auther of these rules happens to read this post - PROPS TO YOU!! On a personal note to those who read this, as far as the Angry Mo is concerned, these rules are retroactive to January 1 and I expect them to be followed accordingly...please and thanks...enjoy! Oh yes...any personal thoughts will be designated by : [AM: presonal thought]

New Rule: Don't eat anything that's served to you out a window unless you're a seagull. People are acting all shocked that a human finger was found in a bowl of Wendy's chili. Hey, it cost less than a dollar. What did you expect it to contain? Trout?

New Rule: If you need to shave and you still collect baseball cards, you're a dope. If you're a kid, the cards are keepsakes of your idols. If you're a grown man, they're just pictures of athletic looking young men. [AM: And that's a bad thing???]

New Rule: The more complicated the Starbucks order, the bigger the ass hole. If you walk into a Starbucks and order a "decaf grande half-soy, half-low fat, iced vanilla, double-shot, gingerbread cappuccino, extra dry, light ice, with one Sweet-n'-Low and one NutraSweet," ooh, you're a huge ass hole. [AM: I live in Seattle...I'm surrounded by ass holes]

New Rule: There's no such thing as flavored water. There's a whole aisle of this crap at the supermarket, water, but without that watery taste. Sorry, but flavored water is called a soft drink. You want flavored water? Pour some scotch over ice and let it melt. That's your flavored water. [AM: And what about bottled water in general...how many kinds do we need, there are entire aisles of this crap too. More than likely it is tap water filtered to taste like nothing, and do we really need to have the nutritional information on the label?? Calories - 0, Fat - 0, Sodium - 0, blah blah - 0...UH NO SHIT...it's water! If anyone even begins to tell me they can taste a difference...see the previous rule about Starbucks...you too are a huge asshole.]

New Rule: I'm not the cashier! By the time I look up from sliding my card, entering my PIN number, pressing "Enter," verifying the amount, deciding, no, I don't want cash back, and pressing "Enter" again, the kid who is supposed to be ringing me up is standing there eating my Almond Joy.

New Rule: Just because your tattoo has Chinese characters in it doesn't make you spiritual. It's right above the crack of your ass. And it translates to "beef with broccoli." The last time you did anything spiritual, you were praying to God you weren't pregnant. You're not spiritual. You're just high.

New Rule: Competitive eating isn't a sport. It's one of the seven deadly sins. ESPN recently televised the US Open of Competitive Eating, because watching those athletes at the poker table was just too damned exciting. What's next, competitive farting? Oh wait. They're already doing that. It's called "The Howard Stern Show."

New Rule: If you're going to insist on making movies based on crappy, old television shows, then you have to give everyone in the Cineplex a remote so we can see what's playing on the other screens. Let's remember the reason something was a television show in the first place is that the idea wasn't good enough to be a movie.

New Rule: No more gift registries. You know, it used to be just for weddings. Now it's for babies and new homes and graduations from rehab. Picking out the stuff you want and having other people buy it for you isn't gift giving, it's the white people version of looting. [AM: I don't know about this one...I've had an Amazon wishlist for about 4 years running and it's worked out pretty well come Christmas time]

New Rule: When I ask how old your toddler is, I don't need to know in months. "27 Months." "He's two," will do just fine. He's not a cheese. And I didn't really care in the first place. [AM: I agree...after 12 months just respond in years. Although if I ask you I care :-) ]

CAT Scan

2006-01-24T14:30:00.000-08:00

Well that was anti-climatic. I had my CAT Scan today...I was in and out of there in 20 mins and that includes filling out paperwork. Oh well...kinda nice - I came home after and am finishing my work day home. One slight negative - I'm hanging out with the newly hormonal Gizmo. Actually she's not too bad today...pretty mellow....so far!

Gotta go...Paula's Home Cooking is on....I LOVE me some Paula!!!

Mo Speaking

2006-01-22T11:38:00.000-08:00

Been a long time since my last post. Not much going on, just seems like one thing after another. Let's recap...shall we?

Christmas -

After fall quarter ended I was very excited because Christmas was right around the corner and I had some time off coming. I was going to be off work from December 21 to January 3...YES!! Well that went to shit when I went out to the car to go to work on the 19th and discovered my car was leaking oil. SUPER! So I got it into the shop and $700 later I had a new manifold gasket. Coincidentally December 19th was also the day the rains came...it started raining and didn't stop for 27 days.

Got the car back on the 22nd and the 23rd left for Yakima to have Christmas with my dad and family. It was raining here, rained all the way, and was raining Yakima. Arrived in Yakima about 6:30pm and went to dad's and had a great time eating, drinking and being merry. Went back to my sister's house and installed XM satellite radio in my car that my sister gave me because she got 2 of them. Got to bed about midnight.

Got up at 6:30 to get ready to hit the road for Spokane to spend Christmas with my mom and family. Got ready stopped at Starbucks, gassed up, picked up grandpa and were on the road by 8:00. Arrived in Spokane around noon. Had a quiet night with family, woke up early and had did the Christmas thing. Had big dinner watched movies went to bed. Got up early on Monday to head back home cause Chuck had to work on Tuesday.

We're heading home switching between the 80's channel and the Broadway channel on the XM, cause we're gay like that. We're about an hour out of Spokane and my cell phone rings. It's my sister, she just got a call from dad. Our grandma was taken to the hospital that morning and the prognosis was not good. So instead of going home we detoured to Yakima. Unfortunately we arrived at the hospital, literally, 5 mins too late. My grandma passed away about 1:30pm December 26th. After saying our goodbyes we headed to my dad's house. After talking, telling stories and crying we left for home around 6:30.

The good times continue, Chuck goes to work Tuesday and calls me around 1:30pm. He was just heading out for lunch and his car won't start. So I have to pick him up that night and will have to drop him off and pick him up all week...so much for nice restful vacation. Meanwhile, the sinus infection that started in October is back with a vengeance, but with all that is going on can't get into the doctor until the following week.

Back to the Christmas time fun. So Friday after Christmas we head back to Yakima to go to my grandma's memorial and to have Christmas with Chuck's family. One again had good time with Christmas fun and merriment.

The New Year -

Headed home Jan 1 for a day of rest on the 2nd before we both head back to work on the 3rd.

Tuesday the 3rd comes and with my sinus issues and grandma sadness I decide work is too much to deal with so I stay home (I finally return to work on Thurs the 5th). I tell Chuck to just take my car I'm not going anywere. He is planning on calling the shop, which is right by his work to come and get his car. The come to get it and its starts right up...WHAT THE HELL!! Anyway they take it over to the shop and do some diagnostic work and can't find anything wrong. They bring it back and tell Chuck no charge...cause as much as I hate to take my car to the shop...these guys rock and I had given them $700 the week before.

Wednesday (the 4th) I head to the doctor for what I think will be my 3rd round of antibiotics....but the doctor tells me he thinks it's just allergies and to increase my nasal spray from once a day to twice a day. Well....I'm no doctor but I know the difference in the look and consistency of nasal discharge that results from allergies vs. injection. Mine were not of the allergy variety. Still no dice...so I decide to go and see Chuck's doctor and luckily he can get me in same day. He agrees with me and puts me on a 3rd course of antibiotics and a anti-inflammatory and what do you know within 3 days no more infection. However, within a week after the course of antibiotics is finished I start exhibiting symptoms again. So I just went back to the doctor last week and am now going in for a CAT scan of the sinuses to see if there is an anatomical reason for my illness. Good times...in the interim he's given me a decongestant that is working nicely.

Now we're up to just this last week (Jan 16th) I leave for lunch and as I pull out of my parking space notice that there is a small puddle of liquid..what the??? I get out and look and it is not oil but transmission fluid...I check the level and it is almost dry....SUPER. So back to the shop the car goes and $164 later I have a new transmission gasket and filter. Oh but wait there is more to this story.

Wednesday the 18th Chuck takes me to the shop to get my car. He drops me off, I pay the $164, and head to work. I arrive at work and after about an hour or so my boss calls me and tells me that 1) she has informed other members of my department that they no longer have access to me, which is good news because I have been plagued by interruption after interruption and 2) that the annual cost of living increase will be on my next check and that in addition to the COLA increase she has given me an additional 4.5% because...well lets face it I rock...this means I have just received emancipation from departmental drama and a 8% raise all in the course of 15 minutes. Oh but don't get excited yet. A couple hours later I go out to my car to go to lunch and I'm cruising along and what the hell, the check engine light comes on. So I call Chuck and have what amounts to a mild nervous break-down. I decide that I don't give a shit...let the fucking think explode I don't care. Besides there are no indications that anything is amiss and I don't have time or energy for the shop this week anyway so decide to let it ride until the following week.

Thursday the 19th brings some more news on the work front. Turns out our company has been sold. This will be the 3rd time in 5 years that it's changed hands. Now have to fill out all the insurance, 401k, and tax crap all over again...fun. Good news is, at least for now, nothing has changed for us it's business as usual. However I did receive a call from my boss later that evening at home to inform me that under penalty of death I was not to repeat what she was to tell me. Instantly I'm a little nervous...but turns out I am included in what she decribes as a very exclusive and extremely small number of employees that will receive stock options in the new company. So not too bad of a work week, seperation from the rest of the department, a raise and now stock options...I can deal with that. Oh yeah...did I mention I got a corner office in November? All of this is so great except for one tiny detail, I hate my job. Well, I don't really hate it...I'd just rather be doing something else...more on that in later posts....I'm hatching a plan.

Now we are up to the present....whew!! Yesterday we did the normal weekend errands...went to Costco and the grocery store. Got home and got everything unloaded and put away and started dinner when I noticed that poor little Gizmo has come into heat. In case you're not familiar she is pretty much menstruating. So we put dinner on hold and go to Petco to buy....are you ready for this....puppy panties and sanitary pads. Let me tell you this the sanitary pads are exactly what they sound like, miniature pads with an adhesive strip that will adhere them to the puppy panties' reinforced cotton crotch panel. So the whole time we are in the pet store I am uncontrollably laughing because I can not believe my dog got her first period. To celebrate her coming into womanhood she also received a new treat bone to hopefully make the wearing of the puppy panties a little easier to cope with. Now in a weird karmic or coincidental twist of fate we leave the pet store and get in the car and what do you know...no more check engine light.

Oh yeah with Christmas shopping expenses and the unexpected car expenses I wasn't able to go to school this quarter. Actually I'm completely okay with that because I went 5 quarters in row so the break is actually nice. I'm catching up on pleasure reading and besides with all the other stuff I don't think I would have been able to handle it anyway.

On a happier note, even with all this craziness I am happy to report that I am still smokeless. I have not had a cigarette since August 4th. Honestly I haven't really even thought about it. The only downside to this, which has become a top priority, is that I've gained all the weight back that I lost last year and am a big fat cow. E-diets here I come!

Now everyone's caught up.

Goofy and Gizmo Spot Trouble!

2005-12-01T12:01:00.000-08:00

Can't forget Gizmo. This was taken just a few days ago

I'm Back!

2005-12-01T11:46:00.000-08:00

Fall quarter officially ended for me yesterday at 2:43pm pst. Yee-HAW. What a grueling quarter it has been...last year I escaped classes the required a lot of homework....well I think I made up for it this quarter...both classes lots of homework. One class required reading two textbooks and writing four papers and a final group project, the other class, two textbooks, three novels and 3 papers, plus a brain draining essay exam.

In my October 22nd post I mentioned I had seen North Country and was planning to see Capote. I'm glad to report that I did indeed make it to see Capote. Now that I have time for personal endeavors, (how I ever thought that working full-time and going to school full-time was a good idea I don't know), I hope to get back on track with my movie marathon...I'm a bit behind.

Talk to you soon!

Good Night, and Good Luck

2005-10-24T20:34:00.000-07:00

Plot Summary from IMDB -

"Broadcast journalist Edward Murrow looks to bring down Senator Joseph McCarthy."

This film should be required viewing for every US History class. Though the events of this film happened over 50 years ago they still resonate today. The words spoken by Murrow, "We cannot defend freedom abroad while deserting it at home", could be just as easily uttered today with the same meaning. As could, "We must not confuse dissent with disloyalty." This film is proof that history does repeat itself. You owe it to yourself to see this movie.

Official Site: Good Night, and Good Luck

Another One Bites the Dust

2005-10-22T00:42:00.000-07:00

So I can cross another movie off the list. I went to see North Country this evening. Expect some remarks soon and I'm still working on posting something about Good Night, and Good Luck. Tomorrow am planning to see Capote will keep you posted.

Tired now must sleep!

A History of Violence

2005-10-22T00:35:00.000-07:00

Plot Summary from IMDB -

"Based on the graphic novel by John Wagner and Vince Locke, A History of Violence is the tale of Tom Stall. Tom is a loving family man and well-respected citizen of a small Indiana town. But when two savage criminals show up at his diner, Tom is forced to take action and thwart the robbery attempt. Suddenly heralded as a hero who took the courage to stand up to crime, people look up to Tom as a man of high moral regard. But all that media attention has the likes of mobsters showing up at his doorstep, charging that Tom is someone else they've been looking for. Is it a case of mistaken identity or does Tom have a history that no one knows about? Either way, someone's about to find out if there's a history of violence."

I liked the set up for this film but was ultimately disappointed in the outcome...no spoilers here you'll have to see it for yourself. It is a very engrossing film and the imagry is spectacular. Draw your own conclusions. I will say it is not for faint of heart, there is quite a bit of blood.

Official Site: A History of Violence

The Constant Gardener

2005-10-20T07:39:00.000-07:00

The Plot Summary from IMDB -

"Based on the best-selling John le Carré novel and from the Academy Award-nominated director of "City of God." In a remote area of Northern Kenya, activist Tessa Quayle (Rachel Weisz) is found brutally murdered. Tessa's companion, a doctor, appears to have fled the scene, and the evidence points to a crime of passion. Members of the British High Commission in Nairobi assume that Tessa's widower, their mild-mannered and unambitious colleague Justin Quayle (Ralph Fiennes), will leave the matter to them. They could not be more wrong. Haunted by remorse and jarred by rumors of his late wife's infidelities, Quayle surprises everyone by embarking on a personal odyssey that will take him across three continents. Using his privileged access to diplomatic secrets, he will risk his own life, stopping at nothing to uncover and expose the truth - a conspiracy more far-reaching and deadly than Quayle could ever have imagined."

What struck me most about this film is that by nature it is a political thriller, even nouveau film noir, but it does not hit you over the head with the car chase, shadowy figure, shoot 'em up conventions atypical of the genre. This is a smart film that relies on strength of story, not flashy tricks, to convey it's message.

If you are looking for a smart, powerful and thought provoking experience go see this film.

Official site: The Constant Gardener

Gay "Football" Season

2005-10-17T07:31:00.000-07:00

This is the time of year when Hollywood releases their best efforts in hopes of getting Oscar nominations early next year. This year I've compiled a list of movies and am determined to see them all. You may view my list by clicking here. The list is still evolving and I'm sure that it will change. Also once I see a movie I remove it from the list. I'm sure there are many that are not on my list and some that shouldn't be there. If anyone has any suggestions let me know.

So far I have seen the following films -

The Constant Gardener
A History of Violence
Good Night, and Good Luck

I hope to offer a review or at least my opinion on the films as I see them. Obviously I'm a little behind on the three above but will hope to have something knocked out in the next couple of days.

Go Team!!

Patches...We Don't Need No Stinking Patches!

2005-10-11T22:35:00.000-07:00

So I ripped the last nicotine patch from my arm at 11:36pm Friday October 7, 2005. That's right done with the patches. Saturday the 8th...a little dicey but now not so bad.

It's been a long time....almost a month since my last post. To tell the truth I've been busy with school and work. Plus I think that last couple weeks on the patch were starting to get to me. Was feeling depressed, blah blah blah. Anyway things are better now. Work still sucks, but doesn't it always? Uh...the answer is yes! Glad to be back in school. Classes this quarter so far are interesting. American Film as Literature and Media and Messages. Even better is my schedule. That is one good thing about work...I'm allowed to juggle my schedule around school.

I got about 150 more pages to read for class. I'll try to be more frequent with my posting.

OH...here's recent picture of the Gizmo. I call it "The Giz in Repose"

Kicking The Habit - Part 6

2005-09-19T09:32:00.000-07:00

It's been awhile since my last post...no I didn't fall off the face of the earth or start smoking again.

I've been on the 14mg patch for over a week now and am gearing up to "step down" to the 7mg patch this Friday. I will say that the adjustment from the 21mg patch to the 14mg patch did cause a day or two of irritability...but not too bad.

So there's the update on that....got some other things to share but no time to post right now.

Stay Sweet, TTFN, FF, and all that!

Kicking The Habit - Part 5

2005-09-02T14:56:00.000-07:00

So it's now been four weeks...yeah that's right FOUR WEEKS since my last cigarette!

I wish I could say we were 1/2 way through the weaning period...but no! Although we are almost done with Step 1. This step is six weeks on a 21mg patch. At the end of six weeks you "step" down to 14mg for two weeks and then another "step" down to a 7mg patch for another two weeks and that's it.

I'll post again when I start Step 2. In my opinion this will be another hard step. The first being stopping the act of lighting a cigarette and inhaling it. As you may remember from previous posts that this had a few ups and downs. However, even though no smoking is involved there has been no reduction in nicotine. Step 2 will be the first decrease in nicotene, so I'm sure there will be issues.

Katrina - What A Bitch

2005-08-30T15:10:00.000-07:00

My heart goes out to everyone affected by Hurricane Katrina. I can not even imagine what you must be going through. I have been glued to CNN all day and each picture and story more heartbreaking than the last.

On a positive note there was a report that people as far away as Oklahoma and Arizona were offering people displaced by the storm a free place to stay. Help is pouring in form all directions. This is the America I'm talking about. Why does it always take a tragedy to bring us together.

Here's how you can help
Craigs List
American Red Cross
Mercy Corps Northwest

Facelift

2005-08-30T13:23:00.000-07:00

Hope you all like the new look....yeah still a blogspot template. I did customize it a little. Oh yeah and a random picture of Gizmo. Enjoy!

Two Cents

2005-08-29T22:18:00.000-07:00

All over the blogosphere debates are raging about the war in Iraq, right vs. left, blue vs. red, etc, etc. I’m no expert or analyst I’m just an average citizen with an opinion. Here it is.

On terrorism and Iraq...

Why is this argument still marched out in defense of this war?? This war has nothing to do with terrorism. This war was started under false pretenses, i.e. WMD. It was only after not finding any did the focus shift to terrorism and finally spreading democracy became the main focus.

That is what angers me about this war. When the reason we went to war turned out to be non-existent...like everyone except The White House had been saying all along...what’s the next move? Play the terrorism card...then play the spreading freedom and democracy card. Iraq is not the only country in the world that is not a democracy. Oh yeah...those other countries don't have any wealth or natural resources we can exploit.

On everything else...

Yes you can disagree with the government and still love your country. Isn't that the point of democracy anyway...not this "new" freedom of speech in which you are free to say anything as long as it supports the current administration. I am so sick and tired of the “America: Love or Leave It” attitude. Whatever happened to America: The Great Melting Pot, or Land of the Free and Home of the Brave? It’s easy to stay silent. It takes bravery to speak out.

The most upsetting thing is how divided we’ve become. There seems to be no middle ground on any issue. No one is willing to listen to any other point of view. I’m not pointing fingers, right, left, Democrat, Republican, liberal, conservative, it doesn’t matter. There is no discussion it is either one way or the other.

How far does the pendulum have to swing before it comes back towards the center? I came across a great quote the other day:

"When fascism comes to America it will be wrapped in a flag, carrying a cross." - Sinclair Lewis

Admittedly "fascism" is a harsh word...but think about what is going on. Just today I saw on the news that a group I've mentioned before has now shifted their focus from cable TV to Starbucks. Apparantly cable TV isn't the downfall of America as originally thought. It's Starbucks, specifically one quote by one author that was used as part their "The Way I See It" series printed on their paper cups. I'm no huge fan of Starbucks but come on!

I’m tired of all the arguing. I’m tired of all the self-righteousness. I’m tired of this “Stepford” mentality to blindly follow the leader and don’t ask any questions. I’m tired of people being held up as moral beacons because of their job title instead of their deeds. I'm tired of the people that have had all the rights and all the power in this country for centuries are now screaming from the roof tops about how "marginalized" they've become. I’m tired of terms like “moral majority” and "liberal media".

I’m so tired I’d love to take nap but am afraid of what I’ll wake up to.

F.R.A.P

2005-08-23T15:17:00.000-07:00

Uh...that would be Frenetic Random Ass Post. It's been almost a week since my last post so I'm just spilling it all.

Kicking the Habit...

Glad to say still smoke free and have surpassed the two week mark and am about a day and half away from the three week mark.

The Giz....

The Giz is doing great!! We've started home schooling her. So far she knows "sit" and "down". She went to a BBQ last friday at a co-worker's house and had a German Shepard on the run. She's such a bad-ass! Although will have to nip that in the bud...don't want her to be a bully...she has little dog syndrom for sure.

Goings on...

Not much to report. I found out that our office is moving...AGAIN. I've been with this company for five years and this will be the 5th office I've worked in. At least this one we have signed a three year lease...so guess won't have to do this again for three years. On a positive note I will have my own office...uh wait...not only will I have my own office but it is a corner office. A CORNER OFFICE. Don't ask cause I don't know. Actually aside from the corner office I'm excited about the new office space it is by far the best one we have had so far. There is a patio right off the kitchen complete with tables and chairs, there is a fitness center and showers in the buidling that we can use for free there is also a ping-pong table! There is a deli and Tully's coffee right next door and the best part it will decrease my commute by at least 1/2. I won't even have to get on the freeway if I don't feel like it is that much closer!!!

That's about it.

Unbearable Cuteness

2005-08-17T10:25:00.000-07:00

Here's The Giz in a saucy little outfit.....

....don't be jealous!

Kicking The Habit - Part 4

2005-08-14T15:47:00.000-07:00

Well it's been a week since my last "Kicking The Habit" post. I am please to report I am still cigarette free!! I'm well on my way to the two week mark. The hostilitiy issues seem to be dwindling as I'm not nearly as inpatient and short with people. I'm also happy to report the CRAZY food cravings seem to going away. I don't feel the need to constantly eat. All in all I'm doing pretty good...a lot better than I expected.

Karma...Sweet Beautiful Karma

2005-08-11T10:18:00.000-07:00

This is kind of a long story but bear with me.

The lease on our apartment was up on June 30th and we opted to renew for another year. We asked if there were any 4th floor apartments available. We were informed that nothing was open right now but that apartment 307 would be coming up at the end of July. If we wanted that apartment we could transfer our lease. Sweeeeet!!

The manager starts talking up this apartment to us and telling us how great it is and that it has a great view of Lake Washington, overlooks the pool area instead of the parking lot, plus it has vaulted ceilings and they are going to put in hardwood floors and all this stuff. The apartment wouldn't be avail until probably mid-July but even though our lease was up June 30th we could go ahead and renew and then just transfer it to the new apartment in August no big deal. Double Sweeeet!!

Flash forward to a few weeks later. (You should look at this post if you haven't already). What you don't know is that on the very same day that the bathroom ceiling came down we also found out that we would NOT be moving into apartment 307. What you say? How can this be? I'll tell you. We did not get apartment 307 because the idiot leasing assistant (not the manager) who is about as smart as a box of hair rented it to somebody else and I quote. "I'm really sorry, I forgot we were holding that apartment for you guys and I rented it on Saturday." All I have to say is that it's good thing this exchange happened on the telephone, had it been in person she would have lost a limb. Coupled with the ceiling incident and then having to deal idiot girl AND finding out that we would not be movin' on up like George and Wheezy. IT WAS NOT A GOOD DAY!

After calming down a day or two we figured the least they could do since they gave away our apartment was to make some improvements to our current apartment. We called up the manager, who was falling all over herself apologizing, (we were like whatever, save it) we then calmly informed her of our demands. We requested a new stove, new dishwasher, new washer, new dryer, all new blinds throughout, and new insides for both of the toilets cause we were tired of jiggling the handle all the time..oh yeah and they could paint one of our walls a lovely green color. She could not grant our requests without getting approval from the "head office". Okie dokie we'll be waiting for your call back then. After a couple days I got a phone call and wouldn't you know it they agreed to EVERYTHING.

So here's where the story goes from good to SPECTACULAR. Oh but first, we got all the new stuff and it is GREAT!!! Especially the washer, dryer and dishwasher they are super quiet!! LOVE THEM!!!

Monday night we are sitting around watching TV and I see flashing lights go by the window and then a moment later another set of flashing lights and then another. What the hell's going on? So I stepped outside to investigate and there are FIVE fire trucks in the complex. I can't see any flames or see any smoke, but it smells like something is burning or has burned. I keep standing out there hoping to find something out and then all of a sudden the fire trucks start to leave. They were only there maybe 10 or 15 minutes. I'm thinking it must have been a false alarm.

The next day I am coming home from work and what do I see but one of the balconies is charred. Are you ready? Guess what apartment it is??? Yeah that's right 307...the very apartment we were supposed to get. Naturally I was curious to know what happened. Turns out the new tenant in 307 was smoking on the balcony and caught it on fire! I about died I couldn't believe it this was the coolest thing I heard all year!

Not only did they spend about $2,500.00 on new appliances and other improvements to our apartment but the person they rented 307 to SET THE PLACE ON FIRE!!! I can't wait until I have a reason to go the office....you so know I am bringing this up. It's too good.

DISCLAIMERS: 1). There were NO injuries, none whatsoever, zero, zilch. Otherwise the story isn't nearly as good and I'm an asshole. 2). There was no structural damage to the building only cosmetic.

The Beautiful Pacific Northwest...and A Little Excitement

2005-08-08T22:33:00.000-07:00

Sunday was such a gorgeous day that we decided to drive to Mt. Rainier. It's to believe that in just over an hour from the city and you are surrounded by nature. I love the Northwest!! Enjoy these photos from our drive.

This is the "postcard" view we enjoy on a clear day. In fact this picture probably is on a postcard somewhere. I didn't take it, just grabbed if off the net. That's Mt. Rainier in the distance. See...this is proof...it doesn't rain here ALL the time. Actually we have had an entire week of clear blue skies, sun and temps in the 80's. The forcast for this week is more of the same! Did I mention I LOVE LOVE LOVE the Northwest?

Here is a view of Mt. Adams on the way to the Sunrise Visitor's Center at Mt. Rainier. Mt. Adams is not visible from Seattle, but easily visible from Yakima, in eastern Washington state. This is an added bonus enroute to Mt. Rainier.

Further along...here is a Mt. Rainier looming ahead on the road to Sunrise.

And finally here is Mt. Rainier from Sunrise.

Here's Chuck and The Giz settling in for the ride back home.

Completely unrelated to Mt. Rainier but a little exciting none the less. This is two of the five fire trucks in the parking lot of our apartment complex. We are not sure what exactly is going on. I'm hoping we find out soon...I'm hoping all is well in Building 3 where the trucks seem to be concentrating. More details as they become available.

(EDIT - 08/09 - 9:01AM: Turns out the balcony on apartment 307 caught fire, not sure if it was an unattended BBQ or what the deal actually is...but interesting indeed!!)

Tags:

Mt. Rainier

Kicking The Habit - Part 3 or No People Were Harmed In The Writing Of This Post

2005-08-06T22:46:00.000-07:00

In my last post, Kicking The Habit - Part 2, I was trying to make it to the 24 hour mark without having a cigarette. Well I am happy to report that I MADE IT!!! In fact it's been 51 1/2 hours since my last cigarette. I won't lie there were some tense moments, but I made it through. The crankiness seems to be getting better although flare ups are still pretty common. All in all I would say that I'm doing pretty good. Chuck would probably disagree cause most of my crankiness seems to be directed toward him...sorry!

I'm probably going to gain a ton of weight though. I had the stoner munchies like crazy last night. We went to the store and bought frozen pizza, doughnuts, cookies, tortilla chips, ice cream and taquitos. Today I had doughnuts for breakfast, chips for lunch and frozen pizza for dinner. Oh well I'm not going to feel guilty about it. Granted not best things to be putting into your body but better than inhaling smoke. Once I am over the cigarettes for good then it's back on the diet wagon and eating healthy.

As hard as this is (and I realize I have only just begun..I mean 51 1/2 hours is hardly anything) I already realize this is probably the best thing I have ever done for myself. I am starting to feel the difference. I haven't needed to take my allergy pill for the last couple of days. My teeth are starting to look better thanks to not smoking and the twice daily use of my Sonicare.

Well wish me luck...tomorrow is another day...just to be on the safe side if my number is on your caller-id it would still be cool if you pick-up!

Kicking the Habit - Part 2

2005-08-05T14:42:00.000-07:00

Today is NOT a good day. I want a cigarette so bad. If you read Part 1 you know that I am trying to quit. You also know that I am on the patch but have been smoking up to 5 cigarettes a day. Well my friends I haven't had a cigarette since 7:30pm last night...that is over 19 fucking hours. No cigarette before I went to bed last night, no cigarette when I got up this morning...none all day.

Now if you read any of the comments posted under Part 1 you will see that I posted back and was all positive and damn near a ray of freak'in sunshine. Well I am here to tell you the ovewhelming urge to mame and kill others is back...OH it's back HARD. I have NO patience for people today. I'm at work so it doesn't make it any easier. If anyone comes up to me and talks for longer than 5 seconds I just want to punch them in the face. I don't even care what they are talking to me about. They could be saying I look good, or they are going to give me money, or take me out to lunch, buy me a car...don't care. Still wanna punch 'em.

There are two people here, one male and one female, that the actual sound of their voice.....even when I was smoking...drives me completely and totally C to the R to the A-Z-Y...CRAZY. Okay, so for the female it is mostly the sound of her voice, but the male it's not only the sound of his voice but the stupid shit he says. The other day he said "yummers." As in, "Have you ever made homemade carmel corn? It's Yummers." Uh that's right people, yummers, what a fucking knob! So, wouldn't you know it, today of all days, both of them decide to engage in a conversation WITH EACHOTHER just on the other side of my cube wall. In all seriousness I had to leave the building. This is NOT good. I can't be smack'in up co-workers. Although these two need some smack'in up (did I mention yummers?). I'm too pretty to go to jail....plus my ass would probably be traded for a carton of smokes...where would that get me? I'm trying to quit...HELLO!

I don't want to smoke but I don't want to be this cranky either. Maybe I'll start abusing prescription drugs, just until I quit smoking. Then it's off to Betty Ford. That'd be pretty cool hanging out with doped-up/cracked-out celebrities like in 'Postcards From The Edge' and then Shirley MacLaine would be my mom...how cool would that be?? That ain't gonna happen so I'll probably end up punching someone. If your phone rings it could be me making my one phone call...PLEASE pick-up!

I'm really really really going to try and get through this day and hope that tomorrow is better. If I hold on until 7:30pm I can say I haven't had a cigarette in the last 24hrs. That's pretty cool...24hrs people!! That's like a whole day!

Now I feel better! (still wanna punch someone though)

New Blog - "The Moveelvr Project"

2005-07-30T08:42:00.000-07:00

I have a new Blog!! I'll still keep this one for updates and ramblings about my personal life.

I've created the new one as an experiment to help with my creative writing. Thought it might be interesting to document the entire process.

So give The Moveelvr Project a look see.

Update on The Giz

2005-07-28T15:36:00.000-07:00

She is doing much much better. We did take her back in because it seemed like she was getting worse and they did chest x-rays to make sure it hadn't worked itself into pnuemonia. The chest x-rays came back fine...but there was an incidental finding....she has 2 staples in her stomach. I tell you she is a vaccum we should have called her Hoover. The only thing we can think is that she picked them up at Chuck's office. There was some concern because she is so small that possibly they would not pass correctly. However, the vet said that it is amazing what dogs are able to pass. As proof I offer you this lovely story about another Chuck. (thanks dooce)

So...are you ready....for the last few days we had to collect Gizmo terds and sift through them looking for the offending staples. The things we are willing to do for our pets. GREAT NEWS last night about 7:30pm Pacific Standard Time 2 staples, a small screw from a pair of eyeglasses and a piece of a nose pad, again from eyeglasses were recovered from Gizmo dung. Chuck's an optician and works at a vision clinic, hence all the eyeglass components. That is one lucky dog my friends!

She is doing just fine. The cough is reduced to just momentary fits and she is back to her old spunky and spastic self. I offer the following photo taken this morning that I call "Watcha doin' Dad?"

I know, I know she is so freakin cute it is hard to look at her for long. Love you Gizmo glad you're feeling better but please stop chewing on my fingers....I beg you, for the love of GOD!!

Exact Change

2005-07-28T12:59:00.000-07:00

Have you ever been behind and elderly person at a store and noticed that they always have exact change? Here is my query. If they're always giving exact change how do they get change in the first place? Are they minting it at home to supplement their social security? Are those old guys you see at the beach with metal detectors on to something? Are they melting down their jewelry? Were they depression era kids and started saving change in 1929? Is this a well kept uber-secret of aging, the ability to shit change? Is "fiber supplement" a code word for crapping pennies?

If anyone can provide any insight into this phenomenon please share!!

(also stay tuned for an update on The Giz)

Kicking the Habit - Part 1

2005-07-27T11:52:00.000-07:00

I’m trying to quit smoking. This endeavor started out well enough. Saturday morning got up and smoked a cigarette and didn’t smoke another one until 6 hours later and then another one before I went to bed. That’s only 3 for the entire day. Before you start considering me for sainthood I should tell you that I did chew the nicotine gum in between actual cigarettes.

I also have to tell you that only having 3 cigarettes was not that bad EXCEPT, and this is one FUCKING HUGE except, for the gum part. You have to really have your shit together and plan for this gum. First you can’t eat or drink anything 15 minutes prior to chewing the gum. Once you are chewing the gum you can’t eat or drink anything. Here’s the kicker though…you don’t actually chew the gum. You pop in your mouth and bite down on it up to 15 times until it starts to taste peppery…YUM! Then you “park” it (their instruction not mine) between your cheek and gum until it stops being peppery and then bite down on it a couple more times until the peppery starts and then “park” it again in a different spot. You repeat this process until you bite down on it and there is no flavor. This usually takes about 30 minutes. So if you’ve been keeping track that is 45 minutes. This sucks because on the package they tell you make sure and drink plenty of water. So all of a sudden your sitting there and you get a craving but you’ve just drank a glass of water and now have to wait 15 minutes before you can start the gum….this REALLY sucks!! Then you can’t drink anything while chewing for 30 minutes. Now the taste is peppery like I said….you WANT to drink water…it’s not spicy or anything just tastes like ass, but you can’t drink water for another ½ hour.

Fuck the gum, I switched to the patch on Monday. This seems to work much better. No restrictions on eating and drinking and you can do whatever you want whenever you want. It gives you a slow steady stream of nicotine for 24 hours. This is much better for avoiding the cravings and then having to go through a 45 minute process. CRAP!!

However, as I’ve long hypothesized it is not so much the nicotine that has me hooked at this point. I can get busy doing something and not smoke for hours and hours. I am confident it is the habit itself, the actual act of smoking not the need for nicotine to satisfy a craving. I find that I am not jittery or “jonesing” or anything like that. It is after I eat that I automatically want to light up, when I get in the car, when I am bored, etc. When I cheat and do smoke, it does nothing for me and I actually don’t enjoy it, but it’s so hard to break that habit. Not a having a cigarette with my cup of coffee in the morning is KILLING ME!!! Although I had one today and really wish I hadn’t…I got the patch baby!!

Now I’m at work and I’m a little bored and REALLY want to smoke to just to pass the time. However, I did not bring any cigarettes with me…Ah…check me out thinking ahead!! Other people smoke here but I’m not going to ask to bum a smoke…I have my pride.

I’m only working a ½ day today, see below, so I’ll probably have one when I get home….I SUCK!

(Editorial Comment: Sorry for the extra amount of cursing, but I am trying to fucking quit smoking and I have a sick dog).

Under the Weather

2005-07-27T07:24:00.000-07:00

Poor little Gizmo has come down with the dreaded Kennel Cough! This has been extremely rough on her and the Dads. She is hacking and hacking and did I mention hacking. She's been to the doctor and is on antibiotics and cough supressent. She does seem to be improving and will probably be no worse for wear. I can not say the same myself. It's so painful to hear her cough so much.

Here she is all snuggled up napping after a healthy dose of cough syrup.

Gizmo - The first few days

2005-07-21T09:23:00.000-07:00

By popular demand.....

It's A Girl

2005-07-21T08:22:00.000-07:00

So it's been over a week since my last post....hey I got other shit going on...see below.

We have a new addition to the family. Her name is Gizmo. She is so named because I am fairly sure that is at least part magwai, at least she sounds like she is. She makes this little gurgly clicking noise that sounds just like one....no joke!! This is thankfully the only resemblence to the aforementioned magwai. Water does not have the multiplying effect as full-breed magwai and feeding after midnight so far has not been detrimental.

This is Gizmo and Grandma. I tell ya this kid is already spoiled rotten! Within in mere minutes of being introduced Grandma whisked little Gizmo off to the pet store and returned with numerous toys and goodies.

Needless to say postings may be infrequent for awhile as we are in the midst of full frontal assault potty training. Holy moley what a chore!! However after only 5 days of having her home we are making progress. Next mission: Chewing on fingers, ears, shoes, pant legs, etc. BAD. Chewing on chew-toys and her own tail GOOD!!

As further proof to the cat that she has not been replaced I offer the following picture. She was the first child and while much of our energy is focused on Gizmo right now we still love her. Now maybe she will stop with the icy stares and the plotting to kill us in our sleep.

Gotta go....so does Gizmo....GOOD GIRL!!!!

No Free Breakfast Today

2005-07-12T12:46:00.000-07:00

The morning started out well enough. It's Tuesday and that is a work from home day. I'm usually pretty excited about that in and of itself. However, today was extra special because it was the first of our brand spanking new "Quarterly Team Building Breakfasts."

I awoke extra early in anticipation of the aforementioned breakfast, eating FREE food and getting PAID to do it.....SWEET!! That shit doesn't come along everyday and you gotta jump on it!! As I was saying I was up at 5am to make sure I got some things out of the way and got ready to go. I logged on to my computer and started going through my e-mails like I always do first thing in the morning. While getting through a good majority of them by 7:30 I set the computer aside, finished my cup of coffee and was about to get in the shower. Here's where the trouble starts.

As I walk down the hall toward the shower I pass the "other" bathroom...the one in the hall that I don't shower in. I hear water dripping. I stop and turn on the light, there is water dripping from the exhaust fan and the ceiling is bulging. The cat is sitting on the edge of the sink just starring up at the ceiling and then back at me like, "What did you do?" Like it's my fault. I go back out into the living room and call the office. Now it's only 7:45 so I know the office isn't open but am hoping that the voicemail system will direct me on what to do in case of an emergency. Luckily it does.

The maintanence guy shows up about an hour later...was I freaking out the whole time...YES! He takes a look and then goes upstairs to see what is going on. He comes back down and says that the toilet upstairs was leaking. JUST FUCKING GREAT!!! Luckily the leak was in the pipe between the valve and the toilet so it was only water....whew!!! By now the ceiling is distended to the point of bursting. So he does the only logical thing and takes a screwdriver and jabs it into the ceiling and water comes gushing out. Luckily I got the smart one (with all of his teeth) and he had put a large bucket underneath. Check this out.

Yeah my ceiling is taking a leak!! So it only gets better. I swear at least 5 gallons of water came out. So he tells me that he's going to have to cut that part of the ceiling out and put up new drywall. Obviously since it is all soaking wet this will have to wait until it dries completely for fear of mold. Supposedly some one is supposed to be dropping of a de-humidifier to put in there and he is going to check back in a day or two to see if it is dry. So meanwhile my bathroom looks like this.

Yes I do realize that it could have been worse. It could have come home to a fallen ceiling and water everywhere. So I am grateful that I was home and was able to prevent an even bigger fiasco. But why today, why on the day of free food?

Transfer Session

2005-07-07T22:42:00.000-07:00

Tuesday I spent the morning at AlphaCine in Seattle watching the transfer of our film footage to digital video. We're transferring to DV to edit and then will conform the negative to what we editted. It was first time I got to see the footage. It looked great!! I can't wait to start editting and get this thing done so people can see it. Also excited to learn more about Final Cut Pro...I dabbled with a little last quarter but just on a small video project for a class. Seeing the footage kinda breathed new life into and sort of made it seem real.

Stay tuned for more updates...

I too salute RMOG

2005-07-06T06:47:00.000-07:00

These are a series of radio ads for Budlight called "Real Men of Genius." Not all are winners but a couple of them are hilarious. See below for lyrics to "Mr. 80 SPF Sunblock Wearer" and then listen to it on the Budlight site. Also check out "Mr. Supermarket Produce Putter Outer" and "Mr. Giant Taco Salad Inventor."

Today we salute you
Mr. 80 SPF Sunblock Wearer
(mr. 80 SPF sunblock wearer)

There are 24 hours in a day
You're wearing 80 hour protection
If the sun fails to go down...
You'll be ready.
(don't forget the moonlight)

Your coconut-scented force field
blocks out all the sun's rays
and any stray rays
from another sun
in another galaxy.
(you're a star)

30 SPF?
Please...you might as well be wearing cooking oil
(something smells delicious)

So crack open an ice cold Bud Light
Mr. 80 SPF Sunblock Wearer
In fact, feel free to crack one open at high noon
In the middle of the Sahara Desert
(mr. 80 SPF sunblock wearer)

Another funny little tidbit offered by the people at Budlight...on the landing page there is a little blurb about "You know your 21 if...." the blurb changes every time you go to the site...the one I got this morning, "You know your 21 if you remember watching Menudo videos on Saturday morning TV" or "You questioned, does Smurfette just own that one dress?" - Priceless!!

Logo a No-Go - Addendum

2005-06-30T22:15:00.000-07:00

ABC News ran a story this evening about the launch of LOGO and the impending conservative backlash that is anticipated. A spokesperson for the group "Concerned Women for America" was quoted as saying "Now they are taking their activism a step further to indoctrinate our children through a special gay network that will portray homosexuality in a positive, appealing way, legitimizing the homosexual lifestyle for children in millions of American homes.” They also called the launch of the new channel "A sad day for America"

(focus people...FOCUS!!)

With all that is going on in the world a gay cable channel is the least of our worries. The great thing about TV is that if you don't like what your watching you can change the channel. Isn't that why God made the remote control to begin with?

(change the channel and FOCUS)

Gay people are everyday people earning a living, paying taxes, voting, buying groceries, buying cars and houses. In short we are just as much productive members of society as anybody else. Can't we have a cable channel...is that too much to ask? I think there is room in your cable box for one itsy bitsy gay channel...that you don't even have to watch.

Thanks for listening and for the love of God.........FOCUS!!!

Logo a No-go in Seattle

2005-06-29T21:52:00.000-07:00

MTV's newest channel LOGO the first gay cable channel in the US launches tomorrow, June 30th, in the following cities: Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Boston, Philadelphia and Atlanta. After many queries Comcast digital cable in the greater Seattle area is not carrying the channel on initial launch.

As dissapointing as this may be to all the boys and girls in the Seattle area I must remind you that there already is a gay network on cable....it's called Bravo. Bravo is truely the channel for every gay. As evidence I offer just a wee sample of their programming: Boy Meets Boy, Blow Out, Inside the Actor's Studio, Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, Manhunt....I rest my case. Now if soft-core porn is your niche then check out QAF or The L-Word on Showtime. Also, one can not forget Lifetime: Television for Women and Gay Men.

Until LOGO is a GO....I say Bravo...Bravo.

Hit Me Baby One More Time!

2005-06-24T06:05:00.000-07:00

THIS IS NOT ABOUT BRITTANY SPEARS!!!

I'm referring to the TV show on NBC. Now I don't want to oversell this...but it is the best show EVER! Every week they dig up some has been from the 80's to belt out their one hit. Previous fossils have included Tiffany, The Knack, Loverboy, Howard Jones...need I go on?

Upcoming guests include Animotion, who according to the NBC website, "Some time in the middle of recording their third album for Polygram Animotion mysteriously, spontaneously disbanded!" What?!?! Also on tap is Juice Newton...I shiver with antici........pation.

The one distraction is the host which is a scarecrow looking guy with a scottish accent that looks like he shot out of Tommy Tune's uber-gina. Apparently he is "big" in the UK. However this should not discourage you from checking out this show.

'In the midnight hour I cry more more more'

Vladimir Kush

2005-06-23T20:16:00.000-07:00

Check out this artist Vladimir Kush I love his stuff. Here's one of my favorites.

Playing Chicken With A UPS Truck....

2005-06-23T08:53:00.000-07:00

Living near Seattle I'm used to freeway traffic and the delicate art of merging. So after a long day of work which was extra special due to all the visiting corporate wonks in the office I felt that I could not possibly be forced to cook a meal. Off to Taco Bell we went. Here is where the saga begins.

We head for the border and all the cheesy fried goodness that awaits. I make the turn to get on to I-405. First you should know that I am a firm believer that during non-peak traffic times if you are merging onto the freeway you had better be at the speed limit by the time you hit the bottom of the ramp. The people that hit the bottom and merge onto the freeway going 45mph deserve any road-rage, middle fingers and honks that come their way.

Like I was saying, I make the turn onto 405, I can see off in the distance a UPS truck in the right lane...now this is not just the average brown panel truck this is a full on semi with not one but two trailers. Due to the extreme curvature of the ramp you really have to gun it on the straight of way to make sure that you hit the all important 60mph mark by time you hit the bottom. Feeling like Marty McFly trying to go Back to the Future. I finish the curve and stomp on the gas...alternately looking at the speedometer and looking in the rearview to keep track of the UPS truck. I'm about 2/3 of the way down the ramp and my speed is about 53mph...right on track to reach the holy of holy 60mph by the time I hit the bottom. I'm in great shape...the UPS truck is still about 2 or 3 car lengths behind me and as I continue to accelerate I'm increasing the distance.

Then...are you ready for this...the UPS truck guns it. I hear the rev of the huge engine, like a freight train...I look in my rearview mirror and sure enough he is right on top of me. I look down at the speedometer I'm flying at 66mph. I look in front of me and I'm running out of lane....FAST!! In one of those movie moments when time slows down and everything happens in slow motion..which made perfect sense since I was already channeling Michael J. Fox....I yell in ultra slow motion....Fuuuu$#%^*#$(%^(#kkkkk....exactly like Ralphie when he shot his eye out.

I slam on the brakes as this behemouth freakin truck goes barrelling by...think the opening scene of Star Wars with the Star Destroyer. So after an eternity the truck passes and I fall in behind. Naturally this pisses me off and jump over in the left lane...also you must know that this was non-peak traffic time and the left lane was wide open the UPS could have jumped over there at any time. So I jump over there and pass the UPS truck that nearly caused our death and dismemberment. Naturally once I pass him I get back in the right lane and reduce my speed to 50mph causing the truck to slow and making him FINALLY go into the left lane as if to pass me. Then just has he is about even with my back bumper I hit the gas so he can not pass me. He then gets back in the right lane behind me. As I approach my exit I slow back down so that he can clearly see me...I roll down the window stick out my arm and flip him the bird with all the anger I can emote from a single extended digit. Gives a whole new meaning to "What can brown do for you?" I'll tell you what brown can do for you.....almost make you go brown in your pants....yeah try to send that overnight!

After recovering from that nightmare it only gets worse once we get to Taco Bell. I order two steak quesedillas and the drive-thru worker repeats back to me 2 chicken quesedillas. I say no 2 steak...he says 1 steak, 1 chicken. NO TWO STEAK, NO CHICKEN. So you want 2 steak and a chicken...NO TWO STEAKS. Then he says how many chicken...I say ZERO and then are you ready for this...he says are you sure? What the....??? Am I sure....what the hell??? Yeah I'm freakin sure I'm placing the damn order.

So here's the cherry on the shit sundae that this quick trip to Taco Bell had become. After being burned in many a drive-thru we always check our order before leaving the parking lot....but not like those annoying people that do it while still sitting at the window and take all freakin day and you can see your food sitting getting cold while they're rummaging through their bag. We pull out of the drive-thru area making way for the next customer, but always...always check before leaving the parking lot. So Chuck is checking the bag and says damn it, pull in they forgot my chalupas. You can imagine that after the quesedilla incident and the near death by UPS it does not bode well for the Taco Bell staff.

Chuck storms into the Taco Bell...I stayed in the car for the safety of those in the restaruant...which if you think about it was probably not a good ideas since my fuse is about 3000 times longer than Chuck's, but whatever. So he's gone for a few minutes and comes back out and says "okay let's go" all like he's in a hurry. I have this crazy thought that he was so pissed he robbed the joint or something....but no. Come to find out....the damn chalupas were in the bag the whole time!!!

Not only did we almost die on the freeway then almost strangle the Taco Bell guy we end up looking like the big jack asses. The next time Yo quierro Taco Bell....Just Say NO!!

Long story short......I hate Chicken!!!

Michael Buble - Must See

2005-06-18T00:03:00.000-07:00

So I just returned from a Michael Buble concert in Seattle. What a GREAT show. If you have heard of him and like his style and voice you should see a live show. What an amazing performer. I cried, I laughed, I laughed so hard I cried. He was so gracious and humble...I don't care if that's part of his act I fell for it. If lovin' him's wrong I don't want to be right!!

I implore you to check it out if he is coming to your town or a town near you! You will not be disappointed.

First Blog Post

2005-06-17T10:56:00.000-07:00

This whole blog thing is new to me. Stay tuned for more posts.