I’m not normally the type of person who gets excited when they see famous people. I don’t approach them and in the few cases where I’ve been spoken to I feel like I handled it relatively normal. I certainly wouldn’t blog about it on the internet…

At Disneyland last weekend, Leslie and I were enjoying dinner with her family at a character-themed restaurant just outside of the park. It’s the type of place where Chip n’ Dale or the freaky bear from “Song of the South”/Splash Mountain bother/delight you. I wouldn’t say it was completely kid-oriented but it certainly skewed that way. About half-way through our meal, a group of middle-aged men walk in and sit down just a few tables away from us. I didn’t really notice them until Leslie’s brother leans over and whispers in my ear “Is that the guy from Full House?” I steal a glance across the restaurant to confirm and  found myself locked in a steely blue-eyed death stare with the one and only John Stamos. I immediately broke off eye contact and the following thoughts floated through my mind:

1. Holy shit! Uncle Jesse!
2. “…if every word I said, could make you laugh, I talk foreeeever….oooohh oh….”

3. He has…beautiful…eyes…
4. Wait. Why is Uncle Jesse at a character-themed restaurant in Disneyland at 5:30 PM on a Saturday night with five other middle-aged men (including one who was wearing a doo-rag)

5. Fucking Uncle Jesse!

The sheer ludicrousness of the situation haunted me for the rest of the night. Why?! Why was he there?! It made no sense. They had no children with them. They weren’t showing their wives (or girlfriends(or both)) a good time. Was “Full House” shooting a secret reunion show? Were Jesse and the Rippers reuniting for a one-off show at the Tomorrowland Terrace? Was Aunt Becky there?!

After some research, the real answer turned out to be supremely disappointing: he was attending the NAMM show in Anaheim and my guess is staying at the hotel where the restaurant was located. But that still doesn’t account for the fact that he chose to have dinner in a themed restaurant with five old dudes (with three out of five sporting some sort of leather fashion). Was Chuck E Cheese out of reservations? Granted the restaurant had some really good prime rib.

Also, on his way out he wished Leslie’s grandma happy birthday. Class act, that Stamos. I’m still holding out for the reunion show.

So what do you get if you survive the terrifying experience of being trapped 2,300 feet under the earth’s surface for two months? The terrifying experience of being fake attacked by JAWS!

 

Hey there, buckaroos! What's happening in your neck of the West?

Gray day up here in the Dena that has been completely thrown off from the midnight showing of Harry Potter last night. Some updates:

• Internship: First day went well. Nerve-racking but successful. It looks like phone duties will be a primary responsibility and my anxiety level could not be higher. I hate phones but I have to remind myself that I am able to manipulate far more complicated machinery in other fields. Phones are easy. I also got to throw in some creative input and listen in on a writer’s pitch. Phones are easy. Phones are easy….
• Improv: Wrapped up Basic at The Groundlings on Monday. At the end of class I met with our teacher and was moved onto Intermediate. Whoot! The next level focuses almost exclusively on character development which I am quite found of. Yay improv!
• Job: Still at the Fruit Company. My feelings of anxiety have subsided and I have settled into a nice groove over there. Can’t get too comfortable though…
• Writing: Mixed results. My blog writing has exploded this month due to a promise to write everyday (I’ve failed but been much better) After two attempts, my Community spec script has been tabled for at least a month now. I wrote notes and character descriptions for a TV pilot but have yet to turn it into anything. I’ve got some sketch and standup ideas. I think I need to make another writing promise…
• Acting: Stalled. I’m taking a commercial class which is actually quite helpful. Trouble is I’m not in the right mentality for it. I know I need fresh headshots but I’m tentative to get more after the subtle failures of my first round. Another thing: most actors I’ve met in non-improv classes are really douchey. Is this normal?
• Movies/TV: Overwhelmed. So many things to watch, so little time. Thank God Les likes this stuff as much as I do.
• Cowboys & Aliens: Fuck. Yes.

That’s all I got for today, dudes.

Pantene Pro-V has a new face.

Les and I embarked on a journey unlike any other a few nights ago: we watched Twilight.

Breath.

Stop laughing.

WHY!? I must say I never thought it would happen. Like most sane people, I scoffed, guffawed and chided the books, films and their tween fans (not to mention their adult fans but that’s another level of loser I don’t wish to attack in this post). The whole concept of a “tween” movie makes me laugh. How did I get to the point where I carved out two hours of my life for something was sure to be disgusting? Comedy, my friends. I wanted to see what all the fuss was about. Like it or not, this crap is a cultural touchstone for the generation immediately south of my own and I was about to just add it to the list of things that are popular but I don’t get i.e. new Saturday morning cartoons, Silly Bandz, Selena Gomez (by the way, isn’t this phenomenon supposed to happen much later in life? I’m barely touching thirty and sometimes I feel as confused as my parents.) I wanted the experience that only a film like this can provide.

While up in The Mont a few weekends ago, I stumbled upon a copy of the film at Les’ parent’s house. I had not been actively thinking about watching it but when opportunity knocks you open the door and say “Okay. I guess.” My natural first reaction was derision, of course. Then a sick thought crept into my human head: what if I actually watched it? How bad could it be? At best it would surprise and be entertaining whilst providing me with some tween culture ammo/insight. At worst it would suck my brain dry. It took (shockingly) little coaxing to get Les to watch it with me. She wasn’t gung-ho but she definitely didn’t put up a fight (the things you can learn about a person…) We picked a night, cracked a bottle of wine and prepared to have our minds blown…

Well, not so much. Some thoughts:

• Location: Despite never traveling there, I love the Pacific Northwest. The cinematography does a nice job capturing the green and the rain.
• Bella: Awful character. I’m not high on dour women; why would anyone want to be with them? When she’s not moping, she’s moping that she’s not moping. Edward the Vampire has an impossible time figuring her out but I had her nailed down within five minutes (maybe this is more a testament to Edward’s intelligence. Too much vampire inbreeding, I suppose) I’m putting Kristen Stewart on my INSUFFERABLE BITCHES list along with Kate Bosworth and Julia Roberts.
• Unintentional humor: This was a high of my priority list and it didn’t disappoint. Highlights: the impossibly long and steely glances first exchanged by Edward and Bella; Robert Pattinson’s acting; RIDICULOUS special effects (they really are “special”); Taylor Lautner’s caveman wig; Robert Pattinson’s face; any exchange of dialogue between Edward and Bella; the running up the mountain scene; the jumping through the trees scene (puts you to shame, Shia); Robert Pattinson.
• Vampires: Everything that movie-going audiences have come to know about vampires is thrown out the window. They prefer animal blood. They really can’t be killed (unless they’re ripped apart and thrown into a fire at the hands of other vampires). If they go out in the sun, they don’t die; the sparkle like a Tiffany’s display window. There are some evil vampires in the world but we only get to hang out with the lame, non-human killing ones. Basically, they are vampires with a conscience. Why these powerful, pretty much unstoppable beings would choose to live in isolation instead of taking over the world is beyond me. They’d rather be playing baseball, I guess. Seriously. I’m not kidding.
• Taylor Lautner’s caveman wig: Gold.

Suffice to say, I won’t be watching New Moon.

May this smoldering web pic of Robert Pattinson tease, titillate and throb your heart in anticipation of my next post…

Exciting day! This morning our new furniture was delivered. We actually have a couch now instead of an old comforter and assorted pillows. Thank God for 12 month deferred interest.

Also, I heard back about an internship I interviewed for and they offered me the position. I cannot get into specifics on such a public forum (and risk all twelve of you saying something) but in the words of my favorite fictional television anchor it’s “kind of a big deal.” I expect it be challenging and a really good learning experience which is what matters most to me at this point. Who needs money, right? I start next week! Whoot!

Oh and about that title. I have my beautiful, intelligent and loving girlfriend to thank for that. No explanation provided. Just the stated query above. OHHHHH Leslie!

I hate unpacking. And packing. And moving. And being surrounded by crap I don’t use. Please don’t judge me to be a pack rat or (worse) a hoarder. No, this is just every day, run of the mill, can’t-get-rid-of-because-I-may-need-it-someday crap…

San Diego Charger’s legend LaDainian Tomlinson‘s Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year cover from 2006. Will I ever frame it and hang it in my man cave? Or shall it remain under the pile of unread magazines by my bed?

Leslie made this really cool butterfly out of crepe paper when she was in the credential program. Do you know how long this took her? Do you!?

 

Yearbooks from high school, research papers and old school projects. I am too much of a dork to get rid of this stuff but I did devote a significant (insignificant?) portion of my life toward their completion. Minus the yearbooks. Those were just expensive.

My broken yet still amazing C3P0 and R2D2 coin bank. I think you know what I’ll be doing with this.

Old games and Legos. Holding onto these for the kids which means I will be holding onto them for at least one more decade.

CDs. These kind of fall into the same category of old school stuff. I have little to no use for them any longer yet I can’t seem to let go. Damn you, youth memories!

And that’s a sample of what I’ve been hauling and moving and moving for the past six months. My back hurts.