The other night I went and saw Joe Ely at The Mystic here in Petaluma. One perk of moving back here is the fact I can walk down there from our house. It's literally 2 blocks away which is pretty sweet.
Also sweet was the fact I got in for free. I have no idea how...I just walked up to the door, $20 in hand and the guy apparently knew me and let me in. Makes me glad I'm not an angry drunk as the last few times I've been there, I've been hammered. I also know the bartender there. Another small town perk I guess.
Anyway..the show was super cool. It was a Wednesday night and I was probably the youngest person there, not counting the little kids that were dragged down there by their parents. The place was half full and everyone was sitting at tables and chairs about 20 yards from the stage. Kind of weird for such a legendary troubador, but it was midweek.
If you've never heard of him, Joe Ely is easily one of the best songsmiths around. I wish I could say, "you know that song ______, well he wrote that" but he really doesn't have any "hits." His fans include The Clash and Bruce Springsteen who sings on his album "Letter to Laredo" which, if he sounds interesting to you at all, is a great album to get.
The show was just Joe and Joel Guzman on accordian. Guzman apparently won a grammy for best tejano album. Ely didn't really seem to have a setlist and just kind of meandered around, playing whatever he felt like. But every one of his songs is like a story. He also told some great stories in between.
Then, about 3/4 of the way through the show, he played a slow song and out of nowhere, this older couple just got up and started slow dancing. It was so....cool. These 2 just didn't give a shit that 200 people were sitting there. And fortunately, they were good dancers.
After that, everyone started getting closer and closer to the stage and by the end of the 2 hour set, everyone that had been quietly sitting was gathered around the stage. It was really neat...one of those special kind of nights. I'm so glad I went.
Saturday, July 16, 2005
Wednesday, July 06, 2005
Pants...meet Pee. Pee...meet Pants.
Saturday, July 02, 2005
I fought the law and the law is STUPID!
Last night I went down to my favorite local brew pub to watch the Giants game and have some beers. We took the kids at my work to the County fair ALL day yesterday so my feet were hurting. I decided to ride my bike which I rarely do. Dempseys is maybe 3 blocks away so I usually walk.
I go down and hang out for a while and probably drink 5-7 beers. I head out around 11:00 and remember thinking to myself, "if I was really hammered, I couldn't be riding this bike so I must be O.K." I'm about a block from my house when I see some cop pull up behind me and turn on his lights.
Baffled, I "pull over" and look back. This cop steps out and goes, "sir, can't you please get off the bike and show me some ID." Are you fucking kidding me?? I know I wasn't driving erratically so I was thouroughly confused. John Q. Law comes up and takes my ID and says "have you been drinking?" I felt like saying, "Well, duh. why the hell else would I be on a bike at 11:00 at night?" But instead I told him yes in a very sheepish way.
So I stand on the corner for a good 10 minutes with this cop running my ID...his lights going, police scanner blaring and start to actually get really worried. I got a DUI when I was 22 and I NEVER drink and drive. EVER. How ironic would it be if I got another fricking DUI on a BIKE?? It was taking him forever to run my info and the longer it took, the more I started sweating it.
Eventually the cop came back and told me he was citing me for not having a light. He said there have been alot of people getting hit by cars so they're out citing bicyclists who don't have lights and whatnot. I was relieved to say the least. He even seemed a little embarrassed and thanked me for being so polite. I still can't believe I didn't mouth off but the thought of going to jail for being drunk on a bike didn't appeal to me at all.
It's nice to know that at 11:00 on a Friday, 4th of July weekend even, that our local police are running a bike sting 2 blocks from where there are 6 bars and nightclubs in a row. Brilliant work fellas.
I go down and hang out for a while and probably drink 5-7 beers. I head out around 11:00 and remember thinking to myself, "if I was really hammered, I couldn't be riding this bike so I must be O.K." I'm about a block from my house when I see some cop pull up behind me and turn on his lights.
Baffled, I "pull over" and look back. This cop steps out and goes, "sir, can't you please get off the bike and show me some ID." Are you fucking kidding me?? I know I wasn't driving erratically so I was thouroughly confused. John Q. Law comes up and takes my ID and says "have you been drinking?" I felt like saying, "Well, duh. why the hell else would I be on a bike at 11:00 at night?" But instead I told him yes in a very sheepish way.
So I stand on the corner for a good 10 minutes with this cop running my ID...his lights going, police scanner blaring and start to actually get really worried. I got a DUI when I was 22 and I NEVER drink and drive. EVER. How ironic would it be if I got another fricking DUI on a BIKE?? It was taking him forever to run my info and the longer it took, the more I started sweating it.
Eventually the cop came back and told me he was citing me for not having a light. He said there have been alot of people getting hit by cars so they're out citing bicyclists who don't have lights and whatnot. I was relieved to say the least. He even seemed a little embarrassed and thanked me for being so polite. I still can't believe I didn't mouth off but the thought of going to jail for being drunk on a bike didn't appeal to me at all.
It's nice to know that at 11:00 on a Friday, 4th of July weekend even, that our local police are running a bike sting 2 blocks from where there are 6 bars and nightclubs in a row. Brilliant work fellas.
Thursday, June 23, 2005
There goes the last DJ...
My friend and my favorite radio DJ Doug Smith died last Saturday night in a motorcycle accident. I still cannot believe it. When I got in my car to go to work Monday morning, I fully expected to hear his show on The Krush. What I got instead was this horrible news. I know it might seem silly to still be upset at the loss of "a voice on the radio" almost 5 days later, but you'd have to have heard Doug's shows to appreciate the man.
He had killer taste in music and brought a ton of new and interesting people onto his morning show. Wine experts, science experts, food experts..all local. He even had segments on film, books, plays and live music. His show was more than entertainment...it was enlightenment.
I got to know Doug over the years and the guy was as genuine in person as he was on-air. I'd see him at shows and we bumped into each other on the ferry to the Giants games all the time. We'd grab some beers and talk about the Giants or music until we docked and then off we'd go.
Lately I've kind of resisted the fact that I'm a part of this community, but the loss of Doug has made me feel closer to this area- and moreso the "scene" here- than ever before. I'm going to try to live my life a little bit more like Doug and appreciate what I've got around here. Yet...not having him and his show make it hard to know what direction to go next to find out where all the cool stuff is. I hope he's doing well someplace else but I know the people of this community miss him dearly.Check This page out and see what I mean.
He had killer taste in music and brought a ton of new and interesting people onto his morning show. Wine experts, science experts, food experts..all local. He even had segments on film, books, plays and live music. His show was more than entertainment...it was enlightenment.
I got to know Doug over the years and the guy was as genuine in person as he was on-air. I'd see him at shows and we bumped into each other on the ferry to the Giants games all the time. We'd grab some beers and talk about the Giants or music until we docked and then off we'd go.
Lately I've kind of resisted the fact that I'm a part of this community, but the loss of Doug has made me feel closer to this area- and moreso the "scene" here- than ever before. I'm going to try to live my life a little bit more like Doug and appreciate what I've got around here. Yet...not having him and his show make it hard to know what direction to go next to find out where all the cool stuff is. I hope he's doing well someplace else but I know the people of this community miss him dearly.Check This page out and see what I mean.
Thursday, June 16, 2005
...slap it up, flip it, rub it down...OH NOOooo
Last Christmas my in-laws got us an overnight stay at a spa in Calistoga. It included a room (duh), a mud bath, a blanket wrap and a 1 hour massage. I've never had a "real" massage so the idea was both appealing and scary as hell. See, I work with youngins in Calistoga and I have just the kind of luck that says I'll get one of the kids' parents as my masseuse. Or worse...as my masseur. "So, Billy tells me you don't let him play with Legoes any more {crack!} why is that..."
We checked in and went to our room which had a HUGE hot tub in the room. That was a nice start. Being six-foot four and 250 pounds, my usual routine of sitting in the tub with a 6pack of Coors Light tall boys isn't usually very satisfying. A big ole hot tub seemed pretty sweet so I already felt the trip was a success. After checking for the bible (none) and seeing what kind of coffee was available (crappy), we headed down for our mud bath.
Calistoga has a geyser and a natural hot springs. All the water in the place is powered by said hot springs. Pretty neat. However, such natural amenities are usually powered by sulfur which smells like a cow-shit/rotten egg milkshake. So as we stripped down and went into our private mud room, I saw what looked like a giant "L" shaped tub of shit with the accompanying smell. What the hell, you only live once so into the drink I went.
It was actually kind of neat and very hot. I closed my eyes and it felt like I was one with the mud. Very relaxing in a weird, everything-your-mom-said-not-to-ever-do kind of way. My wife however, couldn't quit squirming around and that was annoying. It's bad enough sitting in a tub of hot mud but when the person at your feet is like a 4 year old at a movie, it's a drag.
After we rinsed off, we got wrapped up in cozy blankets and they locked us in a dark room. It felt like preschool nap time and I conked out immediately. Although the back of my mind was plagued with who my massager would be. I decided it's not right to kill the massager (ohhh SNAP!) so I let it go. Soon our guide came in and said it was massage time.
As we waited in the hallway, a tall nurse looking gal and a short, portly, could be Ron Jeremy's brother guy in a pony tail approached. I looked at my wife and smiled. "Heh heh...your masseur looks freaky. Have fun!" But sure enough, per my usual luck, I get a chubby hand in mine and a nasally plugged voice says, "I'm Son-Bear, I'll be your masseur today." Perfect. We had asked for a female masseuse for me but...whatever.
The massage was O.K. I was pretty knotty (not naughty, dick) but as an eternally smart-assed guy, the sound of lotion being squeezed into a hand is cause for an automatic Beavis & Butthead type moment. I stifled my laugh and eventually realized *I'M* not rubbing on *HIM*, it's the other way around and I'm fairly certain that sucks more for him than for me. When it was all over I felt so-so and went to take a nap.
When I woke up my neck and shoulders were pinched to no end and they still are today...a day and a half later. Isn't that exactly what's NOT supposed to happen? I even sat in the hot tub watching Bruce Springsteen: Live in New York which was on PBS. That's a LONG show and my neck still hurts. Ugh, annoying. I can't say I'd never get another massage, but it wasn't everything I had hoped for. At least there was no happy ending from Ron-Bear.
We checked in and went to our room which had a HUGE hot tub in the room. That was a nice start. Being six-foot four and 250 pounds, my usual routine of sitting in the tub with a 6pack of Coors Light tall boys isn't usually very satisfying. A big ole hot tub seemed pretty sweet so I already felt the trip was a success. After checking for the bible (none) and seeing what kind of coffee was available (crappy), we headed down for our mud bath.
Calistoga has a geyser and a natural hot springs. All the water in the place is powered by said hot springs. Pretty neat. However, such natural amenities are usually powered by sulfur which smells like a cow-shit/rotten egg milkshake. So as we stripped down and went into our private mud room, I saw what looked like a giant "L" shaped tub of shit with the accompanying smell. What the hell, you only live once so into the drink I went.
It was actually kind of neat and very hot. I closed my eyes and it felt like I was one with the mud. Very relaxing in a weird, everything-your-mom-said-not-to-ever-do kind of way. My wife however, couldn't quit squirming around and that was annoying. It's bad enough sitting in a tub of hot mud but when the person at your feet is like a 4 year old at a movie, it's a drag.
After we rinsed off, we got wrapped up in cozy blankets and they locked us in a dark room. It felt like preschool nap time and I conked out immediately. Although the back of my mind was plagued with who my massager would be. I decided it's not right to kill the massager (ohhh SNAP!) so I let it go. Soon our guide came in and said it was massage time.
As we waited in the hallway, a tall nurse looking gal and a short, portly, could be Ron Jeremy's brother guy in a pony tail approached. I looked at my wife and smiled. "Heh heh...your masseur looks freaky. Have fun!" But sure enough, per my usual luck, I get a chubby hand in mine and a nasally plugged voice says, "I'm Son-Bear, I'll be your masseur today." Perfect. We had asked for a female masseuse for me but...whatever.
The massage was O.K. I was pretty knotty (not naughty, dick) but as an eternally smart-assed guy, the sound of lotion being squeezed into a hand is cause for an automatic Beavis & Butthead type moment. I stifled my laugh and eventually realized *I'M* not rubbing on *HIM*, it's the other way around and I'm fairly certain that sucks more for him than for me. When it was all over I felt so-so and went to take a nap.
When I woke up my neck and shoulders were pinched to no end and they still are today...a day and a half later. Isn't that exactly what's NOT supposed to happen? I even sat in the hot tub watching Bruce Springsteen: Live in New York which was on PBS. That's a LONG show and my neck still hurts. Ugh, annoying. I can't say I'd never get another massage, but it wasn't everything I had hoped for. At least there was no happy ending from Ron-Bear.
Sunday, June 12, 2005
Everybody's workin' for the weekend
So how was your weekend? Mine ended up being pretty damn good! It didn't start out looking that way...
I manage a band called five a.m. which is pretty miraculous considering I can barely manage getting through a day. The other miracle is...they're really, really good and they allow me to drink all their beer while onstage. The guys just finished their new album entitled "This Morphine Life" and it's fricking awesome. Go buy it...NOW! Anyway...
I book the gigs and I booked them to play this great venue called The Mystic last night, June 11. No sooner did I do that than I see the greatest band ever just announced a gig in Berkeley at the Greek. DAMN IT! That hurts. But I believe in my boys so was able to get over it...for the most part.
A few days after that I get an email from my heterosexual lifemate Pete that says he and the Film Threat crew are going to VEGAS for this really great film festival. I call Gore and he says I can totally go! Sweet! What days are the guys going? You guessed it...June 10-12. SHIT!
I made my bed and had to lie in it but I'll tell ya what. Five a.m. kicked so much ass last night, it made it all worth it. I've "managed" these guys for almost 10 years and there's been some highlights and some lowlights. but last night was one of the best life experiences I've ever had and I'm glad I could be there. Plus, Vegas is really hot and I've seen Wilco about 12 times. So...there.
I manage a band called five a.m. which is pretty miraculous considering I can barely manage getting through a day. The other miracle is...they're really, really good and they allow me to drink all their beer while onstage. The guys just finished their new album entitled "This Morphine Life" and it's fricking awesome. Go buy it...NOW! Anyway...
I book the gigs and I booked them to play this great venue called The Mystic last night, June 11. No sooner did I do that than I see the greatest band ever just announced a gig in Berkeley at the Greek. DAMN IT! That hurts. But I believe in my boys so was able to get over it...for the most part.
A few days after that I get an email from my heterosexual lifemate Pete that says he and the Film Threat crew are going to VEGAS for this really great film festival. I call Gore and he says I can totally go! Sweet! What days are the guys going? You guessed it...June 10-12. SHIT!
I made my bed and had to lie in it but I'll tell ya what. Five a.m. kicked so much ass last night, it made it all worth it. I've "managed" these guys for almost 10 years and there's been some highlights and some lowlights. but last night was one of the best life experiences I've ever had and I'm glad I could be there. Plus, Vegas is really hot and I've seen Wilco about 12 times. So...there.
Tuesday, May 31, 2005
Darlin' don't you go and cut your hair....
With the 3 day Memorial Day weekend upon us, I set out to do what any other bored American male should do on a 3 day weekend: Drink beer.
I started off at McNears where local radio personalities Sarah and the oh-so-cleverly named "No Name" were doing a radio shin dig. I hate their show, but they often have Kevin Smith on so I occasionally listen. Plus, my band is having their CD release there June 11 and we wanted to hand out postcards. See! I have an excuse for slumming it with piss poor radio personalities.
The promoting of the show went really, really well and I hope it helps our draw. But....people who are fans of radio personalities are fucking weird. I understand it's the job of local radio people to make
the show feel like it belongs to the fans. But, and I've noticed this when listening as well, you don't actually know these hosts. They aren't your "friend." Still, over 200 people crammed in this little party room to hob-nob with No-Name and other b-list radio personalities and it was just plain creepy. I saw 2 or 3 girls come up to these radio hosts and go "Ohh, No-Name...I'm Jamie -Lee, I called last month about the monsoon season in Tibet" (or whatever) and these poor shmoes have to pretend like they give a shit. It was sad. Anyway...
After that, I cruised over to my favorite local hang-out which will remain nameless due to the nature of the following story. The person involved could get mad at me. The place has really good beer and I can sometimes manage to snap off a halfway decent conversation about music or movies there. Key word: sometimes. So after 2-3 pints, the head chef comes out. She and I have a love/hate relationship. I always manage to say just the wrong thing and when I do, she smells blood in the water and never lets me off the hook. Oh, by the way, she's a full-on butch lesbian. Insert typical "but that's cool with me" backpedalling here..but it's true. I really don't care and I actually like her quite a bit.
So, she walks out of the kitchen looking very peppy and kind of...trim or...glowing. I go, "oh, _____ you seem really happy. You look really trim or sleek or something. Did you get a haircut? She laughs and tells me, "No...I just got back from having my breasts removed." Gulp. This was done for purely aesthetic purposes by the way and I have to admit, the intended look definitely happened. It just struck me as funny that one persons breast removal is another guys haircut.
I started off at McNears where local radio personalities Sarah and the oh-so-cleverly named "No Name" were doing a radio shin dig. I hate their show, but they often have Kevin Smith on so I occasionally listen. Plus, my band is having their CD release there June 11 and we wanted to hand out postcards. See! I have an excuse for slumming it with piss poor radio personalities.
The promoting of the show went really, really well and I hope it helps our draw. But....people who are fans of radio personalities are fucking weird. I understand it's the job of local radio people to make
the show feel like it belongs to the fans. But, and I've noticed this when listening as well, you don't actually know these hosts. They aren't your "friend." Still, over 200 people crammed in this little party room to hob-nob with No-Name and other b-list radio personalities and it was just plain creepy. I saw 2 or 3 girls come up to these radio hosts and go "Ohh, No-Name...I'm Jamie -Lee, I called last month about the monsoon season in Tibet" (or whatever) and these poor shmoes have to pretend like they give a shit. It was sad. Anyway...
After that, I cruised over to my favorite local hang-out which will remain nameless due to the nature of the following story. The person involved could get mad at me. The place has really good beer and I can sometimes manage to snap off a halfway decent conversation about music or movies there. Key word: sometimes. So after 2-3 pints, the head chef comes out. She and I have a love/hate relationship. I always manage to say just the wrong thing and when I do, she smells blood in the water and never lets me off the hook. Oh, by the way, she's a full-on butch lesbian. Insert typical "but that's cool with me" backpedalling here..but it's true. I really don't care and I actually like her quite a bit.
So, she walks out of the kitchen looking very peppy and kind of...trim or...glowing. I go, "oh, _____ you seem really happy. You look really trim or sleek or something. Did you get a haircut? She laughs and tells me, "No...I just got back from having my breasts removed." Gulp. This was done for purely aesthetic purposes by the way and I have to admit, the intended look definitely happened. It just struck me as funny that one persons breast removal is another guys haircut.
Saturday, May 28, 2005
KABOOM!
So...since I'm forever late on blogging, I thought I'd share what I did last weekend. Every Spring, local radio station KFOGhas this big ole shin-dig in San Francisco. They have bands, beer, food and the BEST fireworks show ever. I don't know how they do it or what they do to make it so freeking cool...but it's simply awesome. The bands this year were sort of lacking, especially considering Wilco, The Old 97's and other bands I like have played before. This year was Kathleen Edwards (who was great) John Butler Trio (who I liked better when they were called Ben Harper) and The Wallflowers who somehow keep growing on me. Matt got me into the VIP area so I spent most of the Wallflowers set drinking free beer and rehearsing for the photo below this one. But the Wallflowers sounded great, from what I could hear. I even got to harass "Rock Star Whore" Nic throughout the day which is always a highlight. Nic's guaranteed to love any male with some semblance of good looks if he's on stage holding a guitar. She fought her way to near the front just to snap a pic of the Fruit of Mr. Zimmerman's loins.
When the day was over, we were beat but had a GREAT time! We took a taxi back to Sausalito where we were lucky enough to have some Russian taxi driver who was kind enough to point out all the shortcomings of America. In a followup story to "America's education system is lacking," "beer is good" and "water is wet." Thanks, ya damn pinko commie.
When the day was over, we were beat but had a GREAT time! We took a taxi back to Sausalito where we were lucky enough to have some Russian taxi driver who was kind enough to point out all the shortcomings of America. In a followup story to "America's education system is lacking," "beer is good" and "water is wet." Thanks, ya damn pinko commie.
Spot the drunk guy!
I have no clue what's going on here. i mean, clearly I'm drunk...but look at my hand (the one on the hot chick dressed in blacks shoulder). Sweet Christ! When did I become lobster hands Lewis? The other, less intoxicated people in the photo are (l-r) Nic, Matt, retardo the drunk ass, Erica, (my wife) and
1/2 of our friend Mary-Colleens face.
1/2 of our friend Mary-Colleens face.
Ahhh...the City.
This is a shot of the ferry terminal as we approached San Francisco last Saturday. I still find it hi-larious whenever I hear the word "ferry"...considering San Francisco's reputation. I particularly like when someone says "Oh, you guys rode the ferry?"
Thursday, May 26, 2005
A long time ago....
So yeah. I'm a flake on my own damn blog. I was supposed to be giving updates on my STAR WARS viewing and a mini SITH review but I completely dropped the ball. My bad. I did take a photo of the theater marquee...you can see it here. Yay. Whatta dork. As I mentioned about REVENGE OF THE SITH, I absolutely and totally loved it. I loved the build up. I loved cutting work...err...getting sick and deciding to go to the movies. I loved the people in sleeping bags out front. And, most importantly, I loved the movie.
In a way I'm more angry about the other 2 prequels because this one was so good, I wonder what the hell was going on with the last two. Episode one was a total waste of time, energy and anything else. Episode 2 was slightly better. I actually liked it quite a bit but mostly because of Yoda.
Episode Three does NOT screw around. Heads, arms and legs get chopped off and a general mood of darkness settles in pretty quick. I don't want to give anything way but I will say that by the end, I truly felt a sense of closure. It felt good that something that started for me when I was 5 or 6 ended in a good way. Hard to believe that these films have basically been with me my whole life and now I'll probably never see another new one.
Kinda sad...but kinda neat too. It's not like I sat around waiting for new STAR WARS installments, but they've always been there. Now I'll have to move on to something else or become an incurable dork who collects every STAR WARS releated item he can find. Only time will tell if I choose the way of the Jedi or the Sith...
In a way I'm more angry about the other 2 prequels because this one was so good, I wonder what the hell was going on with the last two. Episode one was a total waste of time, energy and anything else. Episode 2 was slightly better. I actually liked it quite a bit but mostly because of Yoda.
Episode Three does NOT screw around. Heads, arms and legs get chopped off and a general mood of darkness settles in pretty quick. I don't want to give anything way but I will say that by the end, I truly felt a sense of closure. It felt good that something that started for me when I was 5 or 6 ended in a good way. Hard to believe that these films have basically been with me my whole life and now I'll probably never see another new one.
Kinda sad...but kinda neat too. It's not like I sat around waiting for new STAR WARS installments, but they've always been there. Now I'll have to move on to something else or become an incurable dork who collects every STAR WARS releated item he can find. Only time will tell if I choose the way of the Jedi or the Sith...
Thursday, May 19, 2005
You are my father?
Just got in from REVENGE OF THE SITH and looooved it. But I want to digest it a little more before I post. Also, I conked out during ATTACK OF THE CLONES so no re-review. Not because it was bad, moreso because I've been fighting a cold.
So on a previous blog, I mentioned I raced all over town trying to find copies of THE PHANTOM MENACE and ATTACK OF THE CLONES only to find them all rented and/or purchased. I forgot to add my own little Luke/Annakin Father/Son happenning to the anecdote.
I've lived here for over 25 years and my parents have lived in the same house all that time. We've also rented from the same video store over all that time...well, until I moved. I also have an account at a larger chain store NOT named BLOCKBUSTER. So I head to the stalwart indie video store of my youth and after discovering no STAR WARS, I decide to rent IN GOOD COMPANY which I loved the first time and had originally seen without my wife. I figured a little
Scarlett Johansson would make the lack of Lucas's stunning writing all O.K.
So I grab the flick and head to the counter. I kick the digits and the girl goes..."are you Don Lewis Senior or Junior?" I go.."Junior, why?" She gets that look on her face that says "minimum wage isn't high enough to have to say things like this" and goes, "well...it says on here not to rent to Don Lewis Jr." My dad had blocked me from the account. The account we've had on the phone number we've, well they've had for years. I had just used the account maybe 6 months ago and turned the movie back in on time as well.
To make matters worse there was a "description" of me in the computer. The girl read it to me (apparently so I'd really believe I was blocked or due to my high security threat) and it read "tall...brown hair...around 27 years old." Nice one, pops...I'm over 30.
I opened my own account in about 90 seconds...but still. What a dick. I know it was him too because my mom doesn't rent movies. It's nice to know that you don't have to be a Jedi to want to kick your dads ass.
So on a previous blog, I mentioned I raced all over town trying to find copies of THE PHANTOM MENACE and ATTACK OF THE CLONES only to find them all rented and/or purchased. I forgot to add my own little Luke/Annakin Father/Son happenning to the anecdote.
I've lived here for over 25 years and my parents have lived in the same house all that time. We've also rented from the same video store over all that time...well, until I moved. I also have an account at a larger chain store NOT named BLOCKBUSTER. So I head to the stalwart indie video store of my youth and after discovering no STAR WARS, I decide to rent IN GOOD COMPANY which I loved the first time and had originally seen without my wife. I figured a little
Scarlett Johansson would make the lack of Lucas's stunning writing all O.K.
So I grab the flick and head to the counter. I kick the digits and the girl goes..."are you Don Lewis Senior or Junior?" I go.."Junior, why?" She gets that look on her face that says "minimum wage isn't high enough to have to say things like this" and goes, "well...it says on here not to rent to Don Lewis Jr." My dad had blocked me from the account. The account we've had on the phone number we've, well they've had for years. I had just used the account maybe 6 months ago and turned the movie back in on time as well.
To make matters worse there was a "description" of me in the computer. The girl read it to me (apparently so I'd really believe I was blocked or due to my high security threat) and it read "tall...brown hair...around 27 years old." Nice one, pops...I'm over 30.
I opened my own account in about 90 seconds...but still. What a dick. I know it was him too because my mom doesn't rent movies. It's nice to know that you don't have to be a Jedi to want to kick your dads ass.
Monday, May 16, 2005
You're Gonna Miss Me When I'm Gone...
IT'S STAR WARS WEEK HERE ON PETALUMAFILMS BLOG!!!
Unless you live under a rock, you know that the "final" installment of STAR WARS hits theaters this Thursday. Now, if you're not excited you're either:
A) Female
B) A stick-in-the mud
C) Some uber-chic wannabe jackass
or
D) Still living under the aforementioned rock.
I'm excited...in a big way. So much so that I think I have a case of "Sith Fever" set to hit Thursday and I won't be able to come into work.
Now, I know the last 2 STAR WARS films have sucked mightily. They're especially galling to me as a screenwriter because George Lucas does every Screenwriting 101 no-no in both films. If you're Charlie Kaufman or Jean Luc Godard , hey...knock yourself out. Those guys mess with screenwriting in creative and exciting ways. Lucas merely wallows in cliches, hackery, cheese and the worst of all offenses, exposition through dialogue.
Yet I'm still excited and I know millions of people are as well. How do I know this you ask? Because as I got off work I decided to have a little STAR WARS prequel marathon this week. I went to THREE different video stores to wither buy or rent the prequels and all four stores said "Yes, we have no Padme." They also had no Annakin, Jar-Jar or Obi-wan for that matter.
Bag on the films and the die-hard fans all you want but we're never going to see a social/cinematic experience like this again. I'm glad I care enough to enjoy it while it's still here. I mean, sure. I loved the LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy and was there for the first screening all three times. But I also know that parts 1 & 2 didn't fly off store shelves the way CLONE WARS and PHANTOM MENACE have as we speak.
Stay tuned for more STAR WARS musings that will take you right up to the release this Thursday. I'm seeing the 12:00 (noon) show at Lucas's favorite theater in Corte Madera, CA.
Unless you live under a rock, you know that the "final" installment of STAR WARS hits theaters this Thursday. Now, if you're not excited you're either:
A) Female
B) A stick-in-the mud
C) Some uber-chic wannabe jackass
or
D) Still living under the aforementioned rock.
I'm excited...in a big way. So much so that I think I have a case of "Sith Fever" set to hit Thursday and I won't be able to come into work.
Now, I know the last 2 STAR WARS films have sucked mightily. They're especially galling to me as a screenwriter because George Lucas does every Screenwriting 101 no-no in both films. If you're Charlie Kaufman or Jean Luc Godard , hey...knock yourself out. Those guys mess with screenwriting in creative and exciting ways. Lucas merely wallows in cliches, hackery, cheese and the worst of all offenses, exposition through dialogue.
Yet I'm still excited and I know millions of people are as well. How do I know this you ask? Because as I got off work I decided to have a little STAR WARS prequel marathon this week. I went to THREE different video stores to wither buy or rent the prequels and all four stores said "Yes, we have no Padme." They also had no Annakin, Jar-Jar or Obi-wan for that matter.
Bag on the films and the die-hard fans all you want but we're never going to see a social/cinematic experience like this again. I'm glad I care enough to enjoy it while it's still here. I mean, sure. I loved the LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy and was there for the first screening all three times. But I also know that parts 1 & 2 didn't fly off store shelves the way CLONE WARS and PHANTOM MENACE have as we speak.
Stay tuned for more STAR WARS musings that will take you right up to the release this Thursday. I'm seeing the 12:00 (noon) show at Lucas's favorite theater in Corte Madera, CA.
Friday, May 06, 2005
Bruce at the Paramount
Also strange but cool was his set list. He of course played alot off the new album "Devils and Dust" and those songs sounded great. They're very introspective and reminded me that Bruce is like, 55 years old! The only real "hit" was "The Rising" and even that's not really a hit. Some highlights were "Youngstown" off his "The Ghost of Tom Joad" album as well as "My Best Was Never Good Enough"
from the same album. "Racing in the Street" isn't one of my faves, but he did a nice version of it on the piano and dedicated it to Monte Hellman. He also did "Nebraska," "The River," "Johnny 99" and a killer version of "The Promised Land." I also have to admit to not being as big a fan as I thought I was as I didnn't recognize half the songs. But in a way, that was really cool. I was totally engrossed by the show even though I was lost set-list wise. As I started to get a little sleepy, I looked at my watch and saw he had been playing for just over 2 hours! It seemed like an hour at most.
The show was really somber and intense and Bruce again asked people not to applaud in the beginning of songs. It was funny because he seemed to think people were clapping to give him positive feedback. Some may have been but my friend Chuck pointed something out to me after seeing a recent Paul Westerberg show. He said when people shout obscure requests they're really doing it to show off to everyone that they are HUGE fans and that they know alllll the songs. I had never thought of that before and Chuck is right. I think the same can be said for people who go nuts when an obscure song gets played. "Lookit me! I know this song! You probably don't!" I'm sure that's not the case for everyone, but it rings true if you think about it.
Anyway....Bruce Springsteen remains an idol of mine. He rules because he is who he is. He tried to sell out in the 80's when he married that starlet and released those 2 cheesy albums "Lucky Town" and "Tunnel of Love," but the selling out didn't take. He got a divorce, moved back to Jersey and married Patty Scalfia..but maybe not in that order. He not only plays his heart out, he makes music that can be fun, thought provoking and socially powerful. But, he never preaches. He lets his music talk for him. Bruce is the man.
from the same album. "Racing in the Street" isn't one of my faves, but he did a nice version of it on the piano and dedicated it to Monte Hellman. He also did "Nebraska," "The River," "Johnny 99" and a killer version of "The Promised Land." I also have to admit to not being as big a fan as I thought I was as I didnn't recognize half the songs. But in a way, that was really cool. I was totally engrossed by the show even though I was lost set-list wise. As I started to get a little sleepy, I looked at my watch and saw he had been playing for just over 2 hours! It seemed like an hour at most.
The show was really somber and intense and Bruce again asked people not to applaud in the beginning of songs. It was funny because he seemed to think people were clapping to give him positive feedback. Some may have been but my friend Chuck pointed something out to me after seeing a recent Paul Westerberg show. He said when people shout obscure requests they're really doing it to show off to everyone that they are HUGE fans and that they know alllll the songs. I had never thought of that before and Chuck is right. I think the same can be said for people who go nuts when an obscure song gets played. "Lookit me! I know this song! You probably don't!" I'm sure that's not the case for everyone, but it rings true if you think about it.
Anyway....Bruce Springsteen remains an idol of mine. He rules because he is who he is. He tried to sell out in the 80's when he married that starlet and released those 2 cheesy albums "Lucky Town" and "Tunnel of Love," but the selling out didn't take. He got a divorce, moved back to Jersey and married Patty Scalfia..but maybe not in that order. He not only plays his heart out, he makes music that can be fun, thought provoking and socially powerful. But, he never preaches. He lets his music talk for him. Bruce is the man.
Oaktown....Holla!
In an effort to avoid scalpers, tickets could only be picked up in person the day of the show. You had to have your I.D. and the credit card you used to buy the tickets and after they saw that, in you went. No lolly-gagging, no going back to the car for bong hits or beer. In you go. But the line was like the one at Space Mountain! We lined up across the street from the venue and then headed into an adjacent parking lot. Once in the lot, the line snaked around in a seried of 3-4 switchbacks. If you were flying over, it probably looked like we were in some crazy maze. After the switchbacks, we went out of the parking lot, back around the parking lot and into the venue. It was crazy. Plus, I had drank about 1/2 gallon of water at work and was having a red level pee attack.
Anyway...I made it in and after relieving myself, I was glad I did. Bruce walked out at about 8:15 solo. He asked the audience to turn off their cell phones or else he'd "run through the audience with a chainsaw." He also asked people not to sing or clap along as it would throw him off. It seemed weird, but as the show progressed, it all made sense. Bruce simply owned the stage and the crowd. Having seen the guy run around for 3 plus hours with the E Street band, it was quite a change to see him alone onstage playing guitar, piano and organ. For a couple of songs he just stomped his foot, played harmonica and sang through this old fashioned mic that was all distorted. Very cool.
Anyway...I made it in and after relieving myself, I was glad I did. Bruce walked out at about 8:15 solo. He asked the audience to turn off their cell phones or else he'd "run through the audience with a chainsaw." He also asked people not to sing or clap along as it would throw him off. It seemed weird, but as the show progressed, it all made sense. Bruce simply owned the stage and the crowd. Having seen the guy run around for 3 plus hours with the E Street band, it was quite a change to see him alone onstage playing guitar, piano and organ. For a couple of songs he just stomped his foot, played harmonica and sang through this old fashioned mic that was all distorted. Very cool.
"Ain't no sin to be glad you're alive..."
I'm a pretty big fan of Bruce Springsteen. I'm certainly not as "fanatical" about him as I am about other bands , but I do love The Boss. I was always a fan of his but it wasn't until the 9/11 tragedy that he became a hero of mine. While everyone was off using their limited brain power and oh-so-hillarious punditry to analyze and try to come to grips with what had happened, Bruce just remained Bruce. He let his music do the talking.
I know I was really shaken by what happened on 9/11 and it was Bruce's opening number "My City's in Ruins" on that national TV broadcast that helped me get past feeling scared, confused, sad and generally despondent. Then a year or so ago I was going through another funk (not related to national tragedies as much as personal ones) and my Aunt got me and my wife tickets to see Bruce and the E Street Band at Dodger Stadium. The show completely uplifted me and drew me out of the major state of depression I was in. So when I heard Bruuuuuuce (!) was coming on a solo acoustic tour, I was super excited to go. However, I found out what date he would be here about a week after it went on sale. D'oh.
Never one to take no for an answer (unless it has something to do with making money or furthering my career) I latched onto Satan-in-a-website, ticketmaster.com all week, trying to score some last minute tickets. No luck. I kept trying and trying like a chump at a poker table trying to snag one measly ticket. Finally, last night, I told myself it ain't gonna happen. I did what every good junkie does and said, "one more hit and I'm done." I logged onto ticketmaster and my call was answered! I got ONE $80 ticket in row X of the balconey at the Paramount Theater in Oakland.
For those of you who follow the alphabet, X is 2 rows from Z and Z is the last row in most cases. In this case the seating followed that logic. But it didn't matter! I was IN! I left work in Calistoga and raced to the venue. I got there about an hour before the 7:30 show and found the most ridiculous line to get in I've ever seen.
To be continued.....
I know I was really shaken by what happened on 9/11 and it was Bruce's opening number "My City's in Ruins" on that national TV broadcast that helped me get past feeling scared, confused, sad and generally despondent. Then a year or so ago I was going through another funk (not related to national tragedies as much as personal ones) and my Aunt got me and my wife tickets to see Bruce and the E Street Band at Dodger Stadium. The show completely uplifted me and drew me out of the major state of depression I was in. So when I heard Bruuuuuuce (!) was coming on a solo acoustic tour, I was super excited to go. However, I found out what date he would be here about a week after it went on sale. D'oh.
Never one to take no for an answer (unless it has something to do with making money or furthering my career) I latched onto Satan-in-a-website, ticketmaster.com all week, trying to score some last minute tickets. No luck. I kept trying and trying like a chump at a poker table trying to snag one measly ticket. Finally, last night, I told myself it ain't gonna happen. I did what every good junkie does and said, "one more hit and I'm done." I logged onto ticketmaster and my call was answered! I got ONE $80 ticket in row X of the balconey at the Paramount Theater in Oakland.
For those of you who follow the alphabet, X is 2 rows from Z and Z is the last row in most cases. In this case the seating followed that logic. But it didn't matter! I was IN! I left work in Calistoga and raced to the venue. I got there about an hour before the 7:30 show and found the most ridiculous line to get in I've ever seen.
To be continued.....
Wednesday, May 04, 2005
Does this blog look infected?
Infected with HILLARITY maybe! HAHAHAHAHAHah..hah...hah? Ohhh....damn that was good.
So...I started a blog. Yeah, yeah...everyone is doing it. But...I haven't been doing it and me, being the eternal late bloomer, must jump on a trend at the last possible second. Speaking of...have you seen my disheveled bedhead haircut? How about my Camaro?
Feel free to leave comments for me and join in the conversation. We're all good people here...to the best of my knowledge anyway. Thanks for reading and I hope you visit again!
So...I started a blog. Yeah, yeah...everyone is doing it. But...I haven't been doing it and me, being the eternal late bloomer, must jump on a trend at the last possible second. Speaking of...have you seen my disheveled bedhead haircut? How about my Camaro?
Feel free to leave comments for me and join in the conversation. We're all good people here...to the best of my knowledge anyway. Thanks for reading and I hope you visit again!
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