Chris

The Laker game last night seemed familiar somehow. Oh yeah, they sucked last night too. Although, it wasn’t as bad as the last game (at least they didn’t loose by 20 points) They still lost. Don’t misunderstand, if a team tries their hardest and gets beat by a better team, I don’t feel cheated. I feel like my team got beat, not necessarily by a better team. By themselves.

In this case, I just don’t get what team was playing against the Pistons. It didn’t look like the Lakers that I’ve seen before. I guess what it comes down to, as I have said before, is great coaching by Larry Brown. Maybe we can get him for next year if Phil Jackson retires?

Ok, enough about the Lakers, that’s just getting old. Here’s an update on “Operation: Timewarp”. I actually heard back from a few people from the past that I sent a shout out to. Hard to believe. And here’s the really amazing part: they were actually glad to hear from me. Can you believe it?

Maybe I wasn’t as much of a jerk when I was younger as I thought? Mmmm. Or, maybe they have some kind of memory loss? I don’t know. Right now, we are at the stage where they have replied to my inquiries but I have not replied to their reply (confused?). I didn’t actually expect to get any response at all, let alone this soon so I am somewhat at a loss as to what to write back. I need to take a minute and try to say something good. (that will be a good trick).

Of late, I have found myself more interested in the past. Maybe its because every day I get older? It is only very recently that I have started to feel like an adult. I always considered myself a big kid at heart and prided myself (mostly privately) on my ability to stay that way this long. However, it seems like time is finally catching up to me, the sneaky bastard.

Over the years I have been able to avoid all the problems and ailments that I have always associated with “getting older”. Now, I have back pain. And, I am starting to go to bed earlier and get up earlier. Lucky me. At least I don’t have to get up three times in the middle of the night to take a piss. Although I know I have that to look forward to in the future. Again, lucky me.

I guess it could be worse. At least I am mostly still healthy and can still walk around and still have most of my mental functions intact (such as they are). So, all in all, I am lucky. Plus, people from my past want to speak to me. Maybe I’m not such a bad guy after all.

Later.

I cannot believe how much the Lakers sucked. It is unreal to me. To watch a team that has won so many championships and has so much talent just piss it away is amazing to me. Actually, I think it wasn’t al the Lakers doing. I have to hand it to Larry Brown, coach of the Pistons. He took a look at the Lakers and then told his guys how to shut them down. And shut them down they did. Kobe Bryant with only one point in the entire first half of any game is difficult to believe. That it happened in game three of the finals is unreal.

I have to admit that when I was growing up I didn’t think too much about basketball. I was a football and tennis guy (sometimes golf). It was the Lakers that got me interested in basketball. Their love of the game and excellence at it made me love the game too. Guys like Kareem, Magic, A.C. and Worthy made me a fan. Now, I don’t know what to think. I guess I will think that it was just a fluke and move on. I hope the Lakers do too.

This will be a short one as I have just returned from a long drive to Redondo Beach to see my friend Kris. She and her fiance got a house there. It’s quite a drive from beautiful, downtown Sherman Oaks where your humble writer resides. However, I had work in Santa Monica today so I decided to make the trek. I also felt bad that I had missed their housewarming party as I was in New Orleans at the time. So, I went. It’s far, even from Santa Monica.

But, once you get there it is really quite nice. And an added bonus, they have only lived there for three months but they already know all the bartenders and the best bars. Obviously, they have their priorities straight. Good for them. Kris deserves to be happy and I think she finally will be so that’s good.

Ok, getting sleepy. Too many cocktails. Although, I was good and waited quite some time so I would not be under the influence when driving home. I made it home safely (obviously, or I wouldn’t be writing this) so I feel that is a shout out to my newfound responsible side. So, kudos to me.

Man, I really hate this keyboard. I gotta get a better one. Apple, what were you thinking with this piece of crap? The keys suck and it is very uncomfortable. Three grand for a computer and they stick you with a crap keyboard and a piece of shit one-button mouse. Come on Apple, get your shit together. Come into the new world. Two-button mice are ok and people actually like to type on their keyboards not just look at them and say “ohhh, white, pretty”.

I don’t usually say many negative things about Apple but sometimes their shit really pisses me off. I’m sure if Steve wanted two-button mice there would be two-button mice but not until then. That’s one of the big problems with companies that are driven by the vision of one person. It’s great when that vision is good but hell when that vision is missing the mark. Another case in point is George Lucas. Now, before I say anything about Mr. Lucas, understand that it was Star Wars that made me realize what movies could be. I and many others were captivated by the magic and still are, to a lesser extent, today.

The problem is that George has all the money and controls every bit of the process. There isn’t anyone around to say ” Come on George, Jar Jar Binks for fucks sake? Are you kidding me with this shit”. And God, we all wish their had been. Maybe there were people who had problems with “The Phantom Menace” or “Attack of the Clones” but they sure were not at the creative table. They were mostly in the audience.

When one person is in charge and won’t listen to other opinions, you tend to get into a little trouble. We all wished that the two latest Star Wars movies had been as magical as the original. Maybe it isn’t George’s fault at all. Maybe we just don’t believe in magic anymore?

No, I blame George. Although I will be seeing the next one on opening day, just in case. Maybe it will be the surprise we all hope for.

Later.

I’m watching a great movie right now and only want to mention a few bits of news. The movie is Alfred Hitchcock’s masterpiece “North by Northwest”. Great fun with Cary Grant at his best. And now, here’s the news:

Apple again announces new products in the form of upgraded G5 Towers. For all the specs and dirt, go here.

This is cool. Dual 2.5 Ghz is pretty darn fast. However, they also announced that they will not be able to get to 3Ghz “any time soon” even though Steve promised they would at the last developer’s gathering. Apparently, the good folks at IBM cannot get their act together and make the chips work the way they are supposed to. Isn’t this the reason that Apple started buying chips from IBM instead of Motorola in the first place? We’ll see how this shakes out.

And, according to The New York Times (registration required) TiVo will offer a service in the near future that will allow you to stream video content from the internet right to your TV. This is in response to their deal with Direct TV going away. The feeling is that Direct TV is going to start offering their own TiVo-like boxes and also going to start doing the video streaming thing. So, the good folks at TiVo are trying to get a leg up now.

TiVo is a great gadget. We love it. If you don’t have one you don’t know what you’re missing. Go to the TiVo site to check it out and get one as soon as possible. It will change your life, believe me.

One other thing. If you are ever trying to find out who is trying to kill you and you go someplace to talk to a guy who can help answer some questions for you and he suddenly gets a knife in the back, for fuck’s sake don’t grab the knife and stand there for a picture.

If you don’t understand what I am talking about, go out immediately and rent “North by Northwest” and watch it. You’ll love it. I often wonder what Hitch could have done in today’s Hollywood with all the tools at his disposal. That would have been something to see.

Later.

I never looked before but a few minutes ago I clicked on the stats page at TypePad, curious to know if anyone was reading this site besides some of my bored relatives. Much to my surprise, I have recieved several hundred hits. So, in light of this development, I have decided to try to make this site more interesting and more insightful (as if that was possible). I, of course, have no real idea how to accomplish this. Like many things in my life I guess I will just wing it and hope for the best.

Which bring me to my next thought. Are the Lakers the luckiest mother effers around or what? If it wasn’t for the stellar play, practically at the buzzer, of Mr. Kobe Bryant, the Lakers would be down two games and heading for Motown. The fact that Kobe can be going through what he is going through and still pull that 3-Point shot out of his ass amazes me. That’s focus people. Pretty impressive.

I don’t pretend to know what happened between Kobe and his accuser in Colorado but I do know that even if his is found not guilty there will still be a stigma attached to him. Maybe for the rest of his life. You don’t just bounce back from that and resume your normal life. Forget being the spokesman for McDonalds or Coke or any other of the “family-friendly” companies. That’s all over. There will always be people who will think he’s guilty. Too bad, really, if he’s not guilty. If he is guilty, I have no sympathy for him. Of course, either way, he’s not a saint. He still cheated on his wife.

Keep in mind that there are still people out there who think OJ is innocent. These are the same people who will be thrilled with this next bit of info. OJ is going to be coming out with a new TV show. I can’t go into much detail right now to protect my source, but suffice to say that if what I have heard about it is true, it will definately spark heated debate. One tidbit for now: The concept is very similar to a show on MTV right now which was created by a certain male actor who like older women. The title, of course, is different but the concept is almost identical. More on this story as it developes. Also, you can probably find info about it if you look for it as OJ talked about it on TV last weekend during an interview.

What a crazy world we live in. And we are just getting started. But don’t dispair because here’s a bit of inspiration if you ever feel like life is getting too difficult and you can’t go on.

Go to this site and read the story of a 38-year-old woman who is rowing from Cape Cod, USA to Brittany, France. Amazing.

Later.

I had a long day today (actually, it wasn’t any longer than other days really, just felt that way) and am going to make a short entry tonight. First, some quick news:

An interesting article on why the FCC should be abolished can be found here.

Before reading the article I felt that the FCC, despite its somewhat evil reputation, probably performs some valuable services for the country. After reading the article, which makes some pretty interesting points, I am less sure. Perhaps the market can regulate itself after all. Anyway, its worth checking out.

Also, Apple introduced some pretty cool new things today. Airport Express and AirTunes. Airport Express is a tiny wireless access point that will, among other things, allow you to stream your iTunes music to a stereo and play it through your speakers in any room. Pretty great. I think they will sell a bunch of these (probably one or two to yours truly even). Check them out for the full run down on features, specs and whatnot.

Lastly, the wife is leaving tomorrow to go see her parents. As she is, as we say in showbiz “between gigs” she felt that this was a good time to go. And I agree. Even though it will most likely rain every day she is home, she will have a nice time. And really, with the kind of hours she has been putting in for the last year and a half, she really needs some time off. Series television at the network level (NBC, CBS, ABC, etc.) is a pain in the ass for the people who actually work on the shows.

Try to imagine going to work for 12 to 14 hours a day and pounding your head against a wall while being told to hurry the fuck up and that you are doing it wrong and you will have some idea of what fun it is to work on series television. Some people will say that its fun and they have a great time and blah, blah, blah. They’re lying. The only people who have any fun are the actors, the writers and sometimes the producers, believe me.

Anyone who actually has to work on the show: the grips, drivers, caterer, production coordinator, pa’s, etc. will tell you that its just a grind that you have no hope of any kind of life while its happening. You just have to get through it until it ends. And it does end. Sometimes rather abruptly like my wife’s last show “The Handler”. Everyone broke for Christmas vacation thinking they were going to come back and finish the season but surprise, the show got axed. Oh well. I still like Joey Pants.

One more thing for the record. The most under appreciated and under compensated job on any film or television production is that of the Production Coordinator. This is one of the hardest jobs you never heard of. If the Production Coordinator does his or her job well, nothing happens. If you do your job right, nobody notices. How’s that for messed up?

Plus, you do much of the work that the Production Manager (your immediate boss) is supposed to do (in some cases all of it) and you get paid a fourth of what he or she makes. I know this sounds like I am just venting, and I sort of am. I just want to call attention to this job so maybe when you have finished watching your favorite TV show or movie and the credits are flashing by in a corner of the screen at a hundred miles an hour you will see the credit of Production Coordinator and give props where they are due.

Just keep in mind that maybe hundreds of people whose names you will never know contributed to your entertainment. All those names and credits like Production Coordinator that come at the end of the show that you never stay to watch or change the channel during. A handful of them do it just for the money but most of them do it for the love. For you.

Ok, end of sermon.

Later.

Made it back to good old Los Angeles. The place I now call home (for the last nine years). Even though I went down to where I grew up I didn’t feel like that was really “home” anymore. It isn’t. I like it there, don’t get me wrong. There are many things to like. There are also many things to like about LA.

I know what you are thinking, how can there be anything to like about LA? Its crowded, smoggy, people are rude, no culture, crime, riots, OJ and all of that stuff. Some of that is true. We have definitely had our share of weirdos and weird happenings here.

However, there are also many things to like than dislike. First off, I have met so many great people here. Yes, many of them are in the Entertainment Industry and some are odd in their own way but all of them are genuinely caring, creative and passionate people. Plus, they are all pretty smart to boot.

As I get older I find that I enjoy some intelligent discussion about the news of the day or technology or politics or the merit of low-rise jeans. I also enjoy a good beer and good wine and good food. All of which LA has in abundance. Not to mention the girls with the low-rise jeans.

They have even vastly improved Hollywood Blvd and vicinity. It used to be a dump, now its quite nice with the Hollywood and Highland mall complex and the Kodak theater, home of the Academy Awards. The transformation is much like Times Square in New York. If you were there for the before, it is amazing what they have done to it. It’s clean and family friendly just like Hollywood Blvd. is now. So, stop by and bring the kids.

Let me end this (gotta watch the Soprano’s finale) by recommending a great Steak Restaurant. It’s actually not in LA proper but in Panadena, which is close. It is called the Arroyo Chophouse and it is probably the best place to get meat I have ever been. If you are in the area and have the means you should definitely go there. One thing, it isn’t cheap so bring some cash and be ready to eat. It’s worth it. I go there for my birthday every year.

I will talk more about LA spots as these entries progress. Not that this is meant to be a travelogue or anything. I just feel I would like LA to get a better rap out there in the world. I think sometimes it gets a raw deal and I want to help dispel that. Besides, its a pretty cool place to live. And did I mention the jeans?

Later.

Still in Encinitas and vicinity. Took a little more time looking around after lunch (went to Roberto’s in Solana Beach this time. Still great Carne Asada). I find it odd or ironic or both that the Solana Beach City Hall used to be a bar. Actually, not really a bar, exactly, but a nightclub. Many years ago it opened up as a wannabe trendy spot where the elite of North County could meet, eat, greet and get their drink on. For those who don’t know, “North County” is a colorful name given to those communities in “North” San Diego County. Del Mar, Solana Beach, Encinitas, Cardiff, Leucadia, etc. Kind of like when newscasters in LA refer to that area as “The Southland”

Sadly, like many great ideas, the nightclub failed miserably. I can’t remember exactly how long the place was open, or even its name for that matter, but it wasn’t long. A few months maybe. Then, oblivion. It was an abandoned building for some time until Solana Beach decided to make it respectable as the seat of city government. Good for them, I say. It makes perfect sense that it would have been a nightclub considering how many times me and mine drank within the city limits. Maybe they found that twenty bucks I lost in the bathroom. If so, put it to good use I say.

I was thinking about the past some more. Maybe I am getting nostalgic or something but I feel like getting in touch with people I haven’t seen or spoken to in many years. Not for anything in particular, just to see what’s what. Some of these lucky SOB’s include Rob, Sean, Becca, Chris, Marie, Robin, Kelly and maybe a few others. Some may not want to hear from me. Probably a great percentage of them, truthfully. That’s ok though. It will be interesting to find out what happened to some of these people. I hope nothing too bad. Well, maybe for one or two (just kidding).

People that you grow up with seem pretty important at the time. Sometimes they stay important and sometimes they don’t. I have not been very good at keeping in touch with people. I wish I was. But life seems to intrude on the things you really want to do. Or, maybe I am just lazy. Will I get any responses from this new attempt? Will people be happy to hear from me? Will they be rude and tell me to go away? Will I eat pie for dessert today? We shall see.

Later.

Still in Encinitas and vicinity. Took a little more time looking around after lunch (went to Roberto’s in Solana Beach this time. Still great Carne Asada). I find it odd or ironic or both that the Solana Beach City Hall used to be a bar. Actually, not really a bar, exactly, but a nightclub. Many years ago it opened up as a wannabe trendy spot where the elite of North County could meet, eat, greet and get their drink on. For those who don’t know, “North County” is a colorful name given to those communities in “North” San Diego County. Del Mar, Solana Beach, Encinitas, Cardiff, Leucadia, etc. Kind of like when newscasters in LA refer to that area as “The Southland”

Sadly, like many great ideas, the nightclub failed miserably. I can’t remember exactly how long the place was open, or even its name for that matter, but it wasn’t long. A few months maybe. Then, oblivion. It was an abandoned building for some time until Solana Beach decided to make it respectable as the seat of city government. Good for them, I say. It makes perfect sense that it would have been a nightclub considering how many times me and mine drank within the city limits. Maybe they found that twenty bucks I lost in the bathroom. If so, put it to good use I say.

I was thinking about the past some more. Maybe I am getting nostalgic or something but I feel like getting in touch with people I haven’t seen or spoken to in many years. Not for anything in particular, just to see what’s what. Some of these lucky SOB’s include Rob, Sean, Becca, Chris, Marie, Robin, Kelly and maybe a few others. Some may not want to hear from me. Probably a great percentage of them, truthfully. That’s ok though. It will be interesting to find out what happened to some of these people. I hope nothing too bad. Well, maybe for one or two (just kidding).

People that you grow up with seem pretty important at the time. Sometimes they stay important and sometimes they don’t. I have not been very good at keeping in touch with people. I wish I was. But life seems to intrude on the things you really want to do. Or, maybe I am just lazy. Will I get any responses from this new attempt? Will people be happy to hear from me? Will they be rude and tell me to go away? Will I eat pie for dessert today? We shall see.

Later.

Well, I wouldn’t call Encinitas a “hood” exactly. It’s a combo beach town suburb where some people have lots of money and others don’t. However, it is neighbor to more exclusive areas like Solana Beach and Del Mar which have many more rich people and fancy cars. In High School, we used to hang with girls that lived in Solana Beach and Del Mar. Their houses were bigger and their parents were gone most of the time (out earning the dough for the houses and cars) so we pretty much had the run of the place. Although sometimes, the maid or cook would make us a sandwich or something so that was nice.

Anyway, the trip has been interesting so far. Many things are the same and many things are different. Bars have different names and some dive restaurants have a new coat of paint and still have good food (or bad). Raul’s shack is still there, looking better, and still has the best rolled tacos and quesadilla around. And their guacamole is first rate also. A must go to if you are ever in the area. Also great is Filibirto’s (which used to be called Alberto’s but changed as Filibirto got bigger in the family. Brothers you see). They have great guacamole also and carne asada as well. All good.

Also saw an old friend and we got along very well. I have to admit I was a little pissed off at him for a few past issues but I decided that life is too short to hold a grudge so we went out, had dinner and a few beers and all is well. Plus, he has great kids so he must have some good qualities I guess. Maybe they all come from his wife?

I also heard that Ronald Reagan died today. Even if you don’t agree with his politics (which I don’t) you gotta give “The Great Communicator” props. He made politics interesting to me as a child of the 80’s. Hey, at one point I was a registered Republican so there you go. CNN.com has all the scoop. Rest in piece Gipper.

More to follow but now I gotta go find something to eat. It’s already almost 3PM and no lunch yet. Although, I could probably afford to go without lunch once in awhile. Yeah, I’ll start that diet tomorrow.

Later.

My parents are going to visit the place where they want to be buried. I have to admit I find that a little strange. I don’t think about death that much. More than I used too but still, not that much. For them to be so able to deal with it and to go and work out the details about where they are going to go when they die amazes me.

For me, they are two of the bravest and most thoughtful people I know. Not only do they have the courage to deal with the details but they are especially concerned about ever being a “burden” to me and mine after they are gone. Are these people great or what?

To have put up with all my shit as I was growing up and still want to make things easier for me now is something I probably won’t understand until I have kids of my own. Until then, I will just consider myself one of the luckiest people around. Thanks for being cool Mom and Dad.

Now, on to the other part of this. As my parents have left town I will be going down to their place for the weekend to water the plants, check on the place, etc. It has been some time since I have been back to Encinitas (a.k.a the flower and surf capitol of the world. trust me, it says that on the sign) and I don’t know quite what to expect.

Every time I go back the place seems to have gotten bigger and, much to my dismay, more like LA. Too many people, too many giant SUV’s and Mercedes drivers with their heads up their ass. Too many people on cell phones. All the things that make LA a less than pleasant experience sometimes. However, the house is very close to the beach which is a plus. I used to go to the beach all the time but now it takes too much time on the 405 so I almost never go.

I may end up seeing a few old friends and having a cocktail or two (i know, big surprise) so that could be cool. Whatever happens I will take some pix and be posting the gory details right here. Maybe I will drink to much beer and get in a bar fight! Or get stopped by the cops and have to walk home. See, in those days the cops were pretty cool. We got pulled over one night and the cop knew we had had a few. Does he give us a ticket or arrest us? Impound the car? Beat us with his baton? Nope.

He makes us park the car at a nearby 7-11 and walk home. That’s it. They don’t call them the good old days for nothing I guess. Oh well, maybe you can’t go home again but you can visit for a few days.

Later.