I came to the end of a very busy work period, and it happened to coincide with a family gathering. My sister and her kids were flying east to see my Dad for his birthday. I used my fast fingers of fury to fly through Expedia and found quite an enchanting deal. After double checking that no work would sneak in (clients have had a habit of calling just as I leave, with more work) but they said "nope" and wished me well on a mini-vacation. That sealed the deal. Albany, ho!
Traveling from Burbank to Albany NY is arduous. But I think I found a key: flying through Las Vegas. There seems to always be deals involving the City of Sin. I stopped in Vegas going in and out. (TWSS?) To make an early AM flight in Vegas, I flew out the night before. And coming back west, I had to stop in Vegas and stay again last night. So twice in the last week, I was A Single Man Loose In Las Vegas.
I could tell you more about what happened, but from what I understand, that information is privileged, and I violate some marketing rule about discussing the events. (Perhaps a future blog is in store.)
I got to see my niece and nephew, which was just loads of fun. They are ages 8 and 11, respectively. We went go-kart racing at a "funplex," and they also were on a trampoline/ bungee thing which looked like fun. My nephew "beat" me in racing (I decided it would be mean for me to bump his kart, since it's not allowed and all that.) The temptation was there. Niece was just a bit too short to run the go-kart herself, but Grandpa let both of them drive around the backyard on the tractor. That may have been their favorite thing in the world.
The niece also found an accountant/ adding machine, the kind that spits out paper. She went out with my sister in support of an Obama presidency last fall, and has decided that Uncle Dan is rich enough to give bills to. Bills larger than the federal deficit. Oh the numbers! I think my bills reached into the trillions. I tried to express that her bills were not itemized. She didn't flinch at ignoring that remark!
Ergo, I did something I never have done before: I wrote her a check that will bounce. I wrote it out for a gazillion dollars. I don't have a gazillion dollars. Very hard to teach such an important lesson to an 8 year old. But, this is how our country got in this current mess to begin with! I don't forsee a federal bail-out for Uncle Dan.
Saying goodbye to the kids, and then flying back was a little tough. They're at a great age. Uncle Dan is someone to have fun with, and abuse, and race and send bills. I think I'm gonna have to fly up north and visit them when they get out of school this summer.
Lastly, a quick note: I blogged Belz! Suck it!
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Friday, April 10, 2009
The Trailer Blog
I just saw this online. Even though it looks like it could be good, it kinda bugs me. But first, here's the trailer for Extract.
First, the music. "Free Ride"? Really? I just looked it up, it's from 1972. And it's the main music in a current day office comedy? I'm being Seth and Amy-ish right now-- REALLY??
I like most of the people in the cast. But nothing about this made me laugh at all. A guy gets hit in the nuts! Hilarious I guess. JK Simmons remembers the hot girl's name, but not the other guy. Affleck thinks the boss called the "temp" a "tramp." And I LIKE Mike Judge and Office Space!
This trailer does nothing.
Also, I'm waffling on what, if any, movies to see. Observe and Report- looks like it could be funny, but I know it gets way raunchy. You can tell from the spots.
First, the music. "Free Ride"? Really? I just looked it up, it's from 1972. And it's the main music in a current day office comedy? I'm being Seth and Amy-ish right now-- REALLY??
I like most of the people in the cast. But nothing about this made me laugh at all. A guy gets hit in the nuts! Hilarious I guess. JK Simmons remembers the hot girl's name, but not the other guy. Affleck thinks the boss called the "temp" a "tramp." And I LIKE Mike Judge and Office Space!
This trailer does nothing.
Also, I'm waffling on what, if any, movies to see. Observe and Report- looks like it could be funny, but I know it gets way raunchy. You can tell from the spots.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
The Bugs Bunny Blog
Yes, I know. Hold onto yer hats! "Bob" is blogging again! Two consecutive days in a row. It's a miracle.
Today was Opening Day of baseball for my beloved Red Sox. They looked mighty good today, posting a Win over the Tampa Bay Rays. 161 more to go!
But I clicked in my tivo and saw that I recorded some Bugs Bunny classics on TCM a few weeks ago, and was just watching them- What's Opera Doc? & Duck Amuck. And I realize that I miss cartoons. I know they have entire channels devoted to cartoons now, but I don't think the WB classics have their own channel. (DO they? I have like 600 channels on DirecTV, point it out to me.)
I don't get some of the channels like BOOM - it's an extra cost. But I see things like Speed Buggy and Flintstones/ Jetsons flipping through the BOOM schedule. No Bugs Bunny.
Bugs is stuff for kids to watch with their parents. I used to get up around 7am on Saturdays ... yes, way back in the 1970s. Popeye was on early, maybe Pink Panther. Scooby-doo and the other stuff on those mornings were just mediocrities. But Bugs? My Dad would even come in and watch Bugs with us. I love my Dad for doing that. We always knew he was a big kid when he'd sit and watch the Looney Tunes with us. Plus, if Foghorn Leghorn made an appearance, we'd get his impecable Foghorn imitation. Good stuff.
I know my buddy Bill watches The Clone Wars /Star Wars stuff with his boys. They're geeks like that. I won't demean their shared experience- I see them interact all the time and it's a great family to be a part of, when I do things with them. But I wish that other parents could watch the Bugs Bunny stuff with their kids today too.
Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd, The Rabbit of Seville.
Today was Opening Day of baseball for my beloved Red Sox. They looked mighty good today, posting a Win over the Tampa Bay Rays. 161 more to go!
But I clicked in my tivo and saw that I recorded some Bugs Bunny classics on TCM a few weeks ago, and was just watching them- What's Opera Doc? & Duck Amuck. And I realize that I miss cartoons. I know they have entire channels devoted to cartoons now, but I don't think the WB classics have their own channel. (DO they? I have like 600 channels on DirecTV, point it out to me.)
I don't get some of the channels like BOOM - it's an extra cost. But I see things like Speed Buggy and Flintstones/ Jetsons flipping through the BOOM schedule. No Bugs Bunny.
Bugs is stuff for kids to watch with their parents. I used to get up around 7am on Saturdays ... yes, way back in the 1970s. Popeye was on early, maybe Pink Panther. Scooby-doo and the other stuff on those mornings were just mediocrities. But Bugs? My Dad would even come in and watch Bugs with us. I love my Dad for doing that. We always knew he was a big kid when he'd sit and watch the Looney Tunes with us. Plus, if Foghorn Leghorn made an appearance, we'd get his impecable Foghorn imitation. Good stuff.
I know my buddy Bill watches The Clone Wars /Star Wars stuff with his boys. They're geeks like that. I won't demean their shared experience- I see them interact all the time and it's a great family to be a part of, when I do things with them. But I wish that other parents could watch the Bugs Bunny stuff with their kids today too.
Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd, The Rabbit of Seville.
Monday, April 6, 2009
The Quarterly Blog
Hola my peeps. Long time, no blog.
It's not that I've not blogged for a long time. It's that I lost track of the flow, the je ne sais qua, the concept of "hey that'll make a good blog" that's needed. Watching a bad reality tv show, or washing the kitchen floor, or the inanity of building an apartment complex 10 feet away from the LA River --> these are things to write about.
I could write about Obama and the concept of "hope."
I could write about my issue with nationally broadcast sporting events.
I could write about mini sirloin burgers. Or Eliza Dushku in that new Hulu commercial. Or the cool new movies coming out in 3D. Or the car accident I was involved with on March 20th.
But I came across the issue of the day when I was leaving my office earlier today. I should also say, that I've become used to working out of my house. I had a big mental block with it at first. But as long as I get out and take a walk either at lunch, or at the end of the day, I find I'm okay with it now.
I had a to-do list today. I was dealing with a trailer that's finishing, and I needed to go to a lab to look at the 2k timeline of the trailer build. Plus, I had to go to the bank. And mail the checks I wrote this weekend and this morning. And stop by a 2nd bank and deal with a brief tax-related thing. I hoped to also grab lunch. And then get to the lab for the session.
Put all the bank stuff in one folder. Oh, and I found some coupons and miscellaneous stuff that was in my Lexus (my poor, smashed front end Lexus that's costing thousands of dollars to fix) that I normally have in the glove compartment. (Why do they call it the glove compartment? There's never any gloves...)
Had all of that in one pile. Then, the bills, all stamped and ready to go. Now, what else to carry? I have a new "fob" for the alarm system I installed in the house. Then, the car keys for the rental. Keys for the doors to my house. Wallet with license and cash and debit/credit cards. Glass case for my glasses- I really need my prescription glasses now that I'm older. Wearing my shades as I go out.
And of course I can't go anywhere without my damn cellphone now. Due to circumstances, I also have an earpiece bluetooth that I need to bring as well (it's the LAW here in CA now.)
Lastly, the laptop, with all my work files that I'll need at this session at the lab.
Hit the button to open the garage door, and I'm off! Had the house keys in my hand to lock the door and ---
Such a pile of keys and paper and crap that it all nearly slid out of my grasp while locking the front door. Just to leave the freaking house! I did throw a lot of this in the laptop carry-case I have, but it's bulky enough with flash drives, power cord and other computer stuff.
Such an ordeal to leave the house now. I refuse the man- purse. I have my old briefcase, but that and the laptop is overkill. And people tell me I should get a Blackberry? No more hand-held crap! I've only got two hands. And they're quite full. With stuff.
Never made it to lunch either.
(Is this blog worth waiting for 4 months?)
It's not that I've not blogged for a long time. It's that I lost track of the flow, the je ne sais qua, the concept of "hey that'll make a good blog" that's needed. Watching a bad reality tv show, or washing the kitchen floor, or the inanity of building an apartment complex 10 feet away from the LA River --> these are things to write about.
I could write about Obama and the concept of "hope."
I could write about my issue with nationally broadcast sporting events.
I could write about mini sirloin burgers. Or Eliza Dushku in that new Hulu commercial. Or the cool new movies coming out in 3D. Or the car accident I was involved with on March 20th.
But I came across the issue of the day when I was leaving my office earlier today. I should also say, that I've become used to working out of my house. I had a big mental block with it at first. But as long as I get out and take a walk either at lunch, or at the end of the day, I find I'm okay with it now.
I had a to-do list today. I was dealing with a trailer that's finishing, and I needed to go to a lab to look at the 2k timeline of the trailer build. Plus, I had to go to the bank. And mail the checks I wrote this weekend and this morning. And stop by a 2nd bank and deal with a brief tax-related thing. I hoped to also grab lunch. And then get to the lab for the session.
Put all the bank stuff in one folder. Oh, and I found some coupons and miscellaneous stuff that was in my Lexus (my poor, smashed front end Lexus that's costing thousands of dollars to fix) that I normally have in the glove compartment. (Why do they call it the glove compartment? There's never any gloves...)
Had all of that in one pile. Then, the bills, all stamped and ready to go. Now, what else to carry? I have a new "fob" for the alarm system I installed in the house. Then, the car keys for the rental. Keys for the doors to my house. Wallet with license and cash and debit/credit cards. Glass case for my glasses- I really need my prescription glasses now that I'm older. Wearing my shades as I go out.
And of course I can't go anywhere without my damn cellphone now. Due to circumstances, I also have an earpiece bluetooth that I need to bring as well (it's the LAW here in CA now.)
Lastly, the laptop, with all my work files that I'll need at this session at the lab.
Hit the button to open the garage door, and I'm off! Had the house keys in my hand to lock the door and ---
Such a pile of keys and paper and crap that it all nearly slid out of my grasp while locking the front door. Just to leave the freaking house! I did throw a lot of this in the laptop carry-case I have, but it's bulky enough with flash drives, power cord and other computer stuff.
Such an ordeal to leave the house now. I refuse the man- purse. I have my old briefcase, but that and the laptop is overkill. And people tell me I should get a Blackberry? No more hand-held crap! I've only got two hands. And they're quite full. With stuff.
Never made it to lunch either.
(Is this blog worth waiting for 4 months?)
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