Trying... Very...

I'm trying to get back into the 'blog of things. But, I keep a very busy schedule right now. I work late on Mondays, until 9pm. Tuesday's I work until 5:30 and then have rehearsals for a show I'm stage managing. Wednesdays, work until 5:30pm, then Texas Live meetings until 10pm. Thursdays, work until 5:30pm. Fridays and Saturdays are off, but I've been keeping those days busy with various on-location shoots and editing at home. Sundays, I work the late shift. It leaves very little time for family and friends, much less blogging.

This weekend, I'm directing a skit for Texas Live. It's a skit I wrote spoofing "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy." It's a role reversal thing. A few weeks ago, I got really pissed off when I heard that Comedy Central was planning on doing the "Straight Eye for the Queer Eye" thing. That's my idea. I had the script written and in various stages of pre-production since August. So, I want this puppy shot, edited and aired before the year is out. Just so I can be first. I'm excited and at the same time nervous about the shoot. I know what I'm doing and have every detail planned out. The storyboard and shot list is complete. The only thing that worries me is I haven't heard from or seen one of the actors since a read-thru rehearsals a few weeks ago. I'm doing what I can to get in touch with him, but I don't have a back-up in case he flakes. If he can't make it, that will totally fuck this shoot. Hopefully, I will be able to share the skits when they are completed.

Working on a Seinfeld promo. I have seen about 1000 clips of Seinfeld in the past few days. It's not really that bad. I enjoy the show a lot. But, looking though clip reels is not like watching the show. You don't get the story or plot and you only get one-liners. Imagine watching a video and it goes like this:

Jerry: Not that there's anything wrong with that.
1 second of Black
George: Yada Yada Yada.
1 second of Black
Elaine: I don't know if he's spongeworthy.
1 second of Black
Kramer: So, you're still master of your domain?
1 seconds of Black
George: I'm still king of the county.
1 second of Black
Elaine: I'm Queen of the Castle.
1 second of Black
Kramer: I'm out!

It can get a little tedious. Still, there are worse things I could do for work.

We're looking to relocate. The townhome we're in now is getting too expensive rentwise. And with the wife losing her job (the bridal store she worked for closed), money is extremely tight.

We're trying to figure out what do to about the kid's Tae Kwon Do classes. He hasn't gone since the mid-summer and isn't interested in going any more. We are trying to pull him out of the classes, but we signed a three-year contract that should be up in April. That's $65 bucks a month we can't afford to throw away on classes the kid's not taking. I can't find our copy of the contact, so I can't figure out how to get out of it. The Master of the School, who doesn't speak very good English, is going to give me a copy of the contract. It would seem that this contract rock-solid, like even if we moved out of town before it was up, we'd still have to pay $65 a month until it was over. That's bullshit. Surely, there's a way out. The worst part is the payments are automatically withdrawn. Could I call the bank and have them not pay? Like a stop payment on a check? What sort of repercussions would there be? Seriously, right now if that payment comes out, it'll bounce. I can maneuver money into the account it comes out of so it doesn't bounce, but I'd really rather not. So, what can we do? Why do I HAVE to pay for a service we're not going to use? I can see the "I signed the contract" thing, but there has to be a way out of it...

Festivus for the rest of us

I'll admit that I'm not really in the Xmas spirit. Yes, I'm sure I'll be full of joy and happiness and warmth on the days around Xmas, but I'm not really feelin' it this year. We're surviving at least. In the black, but not enough to be comfortable.

The blue is coming. The wave was set in motion and I can feel the first ripples lapping at the shore. If I can keep busy enough, maybe I won't notice and the tide will die down.

I'm talking and acting out in my sleep again. Of course, I'm not talking the meds and haven't for almost a year. Haven't seen the doctor since March. I don't want to take medication everyday for the rest of my life just so I don't act out my dreams at night. Perhaps, the acting out is all psychological. Maybe the depression has something to do with it.

God, this was gloomy. Time to smile.

Liz Phair makes me smile.

This hair cut and godchildren make me smile, too.

Jesus on the Radio

I was listening to the Morning Show on Sportsradio 610 here and the discussion somehow turned to who would you want to play poker with. One of the guys said there's always someone who says they'd choose Jesus. Various hilarities ensued, including discussion on is bluffing Jesus a sin. Then, someone said, "Well, how about Judas?"

I have the feeling this post will be a little controversial. There's your disclaimer.

How about Judas? Often thought of as an bad man. But, isn't his crime only doing what he thought was the right thing to do? He turned one of his best friends in to the cops because he thought it was the right thing to do. Furthermore, if he didn't do what he thought was right, where would Christianity be today? How many of us would be willing to sacrifice a close friend because we thought it was ultimately the right thing to do? Besides, Jesus wanted him to do it, right? I mean, JC knew that he had to "die for our sins." Someone had to "betray" him. But, if JC had committed himself to that path, is it really a betrayal when Judas was just doing what Jesus wanted him to do?

Next to Jesus commiting himself to "dying for us," didn't Judas commit the (second) most ultimate act of altruism? The man was so heartbroken with himself for betraying his friend that he commited suicide. Could you handle that guilt? I don't know if I would be able to turn in my best friend for any crime they may have committed.

Just something to think about.

Annoying Habits of other people

5 things other people do that annoy the piss out of me:

1) Butting into a private conversation.
2) Sitting behind me reading what I type over my shoulder as if it had ANYTHING to do with them.
3) Checking on me and my work, as if they were my supervisor.
4) Kiss so much ass that only the Ass respects you.
5) Eavesdropping on private conversations at work while pretending to looking busy, like being on the phone.

Oh, what a coincidence. The guy sitting behind me does all of that. No wonder the nicknames he's picked up are cruel...

Update

Yes, I'm alive. I don't really have anything to say. But, I am alive and things are... okay. Just very busy with work and extracurricular activities. Haven't had time for introspection, or maybe I have and don't like what I see. I still have my sense of humor. I was telling a friend of mine that Life is full of irony and you have to laugh at it or it will get you.

Good News: I'm number one in both my fantasy leagues. Kicking major ass and taking names. Go Texans and Panthers! I've all but given up on the Saints, at least for this year. What's really scaring me is that I'm really behind the Cowboys continued sucess. I'm gonna regret admiting that one day...

Good News 2: The new Barenaked Ladies' CD, Everything To Everyone, is their best album yet. Fuck you if you don't belee dat, playa!

Good News 3: I'm going to be a godfather... again... for a third time. My sister and her husband have asked me to be godfather to their newborn, Carly Renee. I'll be flying to Orlando for the baptism at the end of the month and meeting my newest godchild for the first time.

Here's something strange to think about... How does a non-Christian end up being asked by 3 families to be a godfather? My answer (without trying to brag), they all know that I am a good role model and quite capable of answering questions of Theology when their brood start asking questions about God and such.

Until ... another day...