Gold On The Inside

On the grind.

2012-01-17T21:15:00.001-08:00

Just a little over 15 days into the New Year, and my new management company is pushing me hard. They got me an audition on Friday that went well. So well that I am the casting directors pick on avail, I just have to be cleared by network. It would shoot Friday and Monday day. I had headshots scheduled on Friday, but that's up in the air depending if I book the show or not. And if the day couldn't get better, Helen came home early from work and cooked a great meal(as always). Shortly after she came home, I got a call for another audition tomorrow for a commercial from my managers office for tommorrow at 11. Color me impressed.
I have also changed a lot about my auditioning technique, after some pretty big personal A-Ha! moments in the last couple of months just before the New Year. I was anxious to see if changing techniques and altering myinitial approach would work. Getting that call from my Agency today and being put on avail was a huge triumph for me and completely invigorating as well. It was also a confirmation that I had more up my sleeve than even I thought. Its incredibly hard not to be hugely optimistic about the year when things seem to be clicking. Not just professionally, but personally. Herc is getting older, and so much fun and way less intense. Its like the fog of fatigue has lifted to reveal my beautiful family.
It was my birthday on Sunday, and what a perfect day it was. We went to Malibu and I flew my big delta kite. I took something back to the car, and was walking back when I looked up and saw my wife and boy playing. That moment is one I used to see in every cliche "Life-flashing-before-my-eyes" movie sequence I have seen. I used to dismiss it, I never will again. California dreaming, Californication, In to the great wide open, or whatever it may be can seem like a dream.

L.A. Day

2011-12-08T00:33:00.001-08:00

I don't know where to begin, and I must go to sleep, but I'll start by saying I had an L.A. Day. Yes, there are two kinds. This day was not the good kind. Chasing my dream is by far the most soul crushing journey I have ever embarked on. And now that I have other responsibilities, it really makes me question whether or not its worth it. Just the quest for success, success-not fucking stardom, seems to have taken away parts of my soul that I thought were inaccessible to anyone else but me. Those are two VERY different things success and stardom. I understand life is not fair, that is clear. Even if its not fair, the Sun shines on a dogs ass every once in a while. Im hoping tomorrow I'm a dog and there's not a cloud in the sky. I have a meeting tomorrow with a Manager that was made possible by a referral through my Agent. For that, I am very grateful. I'll keep you posted. It's at 2:30 PST, so cross your fingers for me.

Midwest Hot

2011-09-07T00:25:00.000-07:00

Thats how hot it was today. Brutal. So bad, that I finally pulled the A/C unit out of storage and set it up in the bedroom. It's still hot tonight, which for a dessert climate is strange, usually there is a nightly 20-30 degree reprieve at night from the swelter. That is not the case tonight. Our apartment is usually cool, with a great cross breeze because of our front and back door. September always kicks our ass a little. On the real, we have had a BEAUTIFUL summer, much cooler than average. So, you gotta suck it up when the heat drops by.

I was getting Herc's diner ready tonight, watching him move across the floor and keeping an eye out on him. He just started crawling, its crazy to watch him get after it! Of course he crawled right up to my stereo and started playin with it. Now, my Hi-Fi is special to me. Its vintage, and stronger than anyone would ever need, I bought it when I lived in a loft in Chicago, from Decibel Audio. I was super proud of it,and by chance found the matching analog tuner a couple years later at Saturday Audio Exchange, where I picked up my speakers(Paradigm Mark II 9se). I love this stereo. It has traveled with me, and been lovingly repaired and kept. It's so beautiful, and simple. Just knobs and buttons, nothing fancy. It's powerful, rated at 150 watts per channel. SO loud, that when I lived above a Salon on Chicago Avenue, the stylists would ask who that last song was. I play it loud, whenever I can.

I got some history with this piece, and watching my little boy play with it kind of blew my mind. The first thought in my head was "Vintage Audio for a bachelor=Cool. Vintage Audio within reach of a crawling infant=Not Cool." the thought that won out was " Who Cares? Its a stereo, and almost 25 years old. If it can't take the heat, it ass need to get out the kitchen. Its built solid, and it does get broken, I'll fix it or get something else." What if he breaks it? Well, I broke my dads fly rod when I was a boy because I needed an awesome sword to play with. I realized much later in life that I pulled a dick move. But, my Dad took me trout fishing a lot while growing up. And I reintroduced him to his love for fly fishing, and now he has a a hobby that he loves and is passionate about. We talk about fishing and his latest fly designs and attempts whenever we speak, and its something very important and special that we share a passion for. His latest attempt was tying a fly with a piece of pink of condom. Imagining my father going from pharmacy to pharmacy looking for a particular brand and color of condom makes me chuckle. He finally got them form a condom website, which opened his eyes to the strange depths of the new world of e-commerce. I feel responsible for his new found enthusaism, and hope he forgave me for that asshole move. Well, his rod and reel are epic, and his flies are amazing. So, Go a head Herc, tear the input selection knob off. We'll laugh about it later. Who knows where it might take the both of us.

Palm Springs-The Ace Hotel, of course.

2011-09-01T20:58:00.000-07:00

We had the first official family vacation a couple days ago. It was very needed,a nd damn was hot in the desert. It was 118 Sunday when we arrived, and 115 on Monday. We stayed until Tuesday afternoon, then headed back to Los Angeles. The Ace Hotel is many things to many people. To most, it's the swimming pool scene between Vegas and LA. It's loud on the weekends, with DJ's spinning and tons of tomfoolery around the pool. It's a scene, but that's only one aspect of it. Everyone leaves on Sunday to head back to where ever they came from, and the whole vibe changes. It becomes the best mix between an old Howard Johnson(which it is) and a group of beach bungalows with no ocean in site.

You see freelancers carrying their laptops from the cafe, people who decided to stay there for one more day, and the people who purposely go when no ones around. Helen and I have been going to the Ace for three years, and every trip has been fantastic. Mostly, its because of my wife being the best travel partner I could imagine. The tone of our vacations was really set on our road trip moving to LA. No rules, no times, no schedules. Deal with it as it comes or as it strikes or fancy. This time, there was a little more planning, because our son needs his naps. Since it was so hot, we swam early int he morn and late in the afternoon. But, even Herc was chill. He sat in his Bumbo, watching a Baby Einstein feeding himself while Helen and I ate our Room Service Dinners. One of my favorite trips, was when Helen and I went with JuJu, our dog, and got a room with a fireplace and a private patio. It started to rain as we lay in bed with the french doors open listening to music, talking about what it was going to be like when we become parents. We then walked around the grounds as it rained, a rarity in the desert. Holding hands with my best girl, enjoying every moment. This trip was different, only because we had a little boy sleeping between us, and it was just as good. One of my favorite things is just how much of a Dad I felt like. Actually, I felt like my dad. Packing up the car, keeping it cool, make sure check out went smooth. I learned from the best, he made a vacation with a family of six look easy.

Herc and Shepard Fairey

2011-08-19T10:48:00.000-07:00

This is my son Herc, not looking at the camera, but instead looking at Shepard Fairey. If you aren't aware of who he is, you should wikipedia him. I had to post this pic of Herc. Herc at 7 months in the womb has a picture with Mike Ditka, an autographed card and lucky coin given to him by the coach. He's already met some big people and he's not even 1. I also posted it because it makes me smile, and I need it I lost someone very dear to me yesterday. As I was holding back the tears, I looked over at Heracles playing with his toys and just beaming at me from ear to ear. I scooped him up and held him close, and realized it is the cycle of life. I hope he has the kind of charmed life I have had. I hope I can provide for him what was provided for me. And, I hope he has some one in his life one day as special as Rose Yochum. She was amazing, and we all are going to miss her dearly. Rose, I'm sorry Greg and I lied to you all the time about shooting your birds. I had a plum yesterday, and thought about those endless summer stays at your house that seemed to carry on for just one more day. Eating all the fruit off your trees, the grapes off your vines, and seriously asking if that zucchini you grew was real. You were the best country momma a city boy could ever have.

HUMMIN'

2011-05-21T17:44:00.000-07:00

She's running, now she needs a little tweaking. I have to adjust the carb, throttle linkage, and the transmission kickdown linkage. I had some little things, leaks and tightening some clamps and brackets, but she's looking good.

Nesting

2011-05-06T12:01:00.000-07:00

This was an independent I had a role in last summer. My scene is apparently cut, but they gave my character a name at least, and I'll take the IMDB credit. The day of the shoot, The craft services table cloth/plastic caught on fire. I saved the day by dousing it with a water bottle I unscrewed with my teeth. Why? I couldn't use the other hand because I had a full plate of food. Gotta save the grub. I can't wait to see it, and I'm grateful for the opportunity.

My boy, Heracles.

2011-04-29T13:12:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to post a picture of our little man.

Engine Progress

2011-04-28T11:17:00.000-07:00

Lining up the front end and finding the correct brackets took longer than I thought, but how sweet it is. Finding parts nowadays is so easy, that any part time mechanic can make it work. Twenty years ago, you would have had to go through junkyards, or machine the part yourself.The alternator bracket fit like a glove, as well as the new power steering pump and the pump bracket. It's getting close to the end now, and I am looking forward to starting her up.

Bounced home a minute

2011-04-20T14:03:00.000-07:00

I had a chance to go back to STL recently. Helen and Herc kicked in LA, and I went back solo. I surprised my sister for her surprise 40th birthday party. The whole thing was a success, and a lot of people worked awful hard to make it happen. It was great getting her goat, and seeing a lot of her friends. We had a family dinner Saturday night, and I went fishing with pops for about three days in Lebanon, MO. I christened my new fly rod that my dad gave me, and caught more fish than I ever have. That was mostly due to the use of some amazing flies my dad tied and we were using. I got the privilege of using my dads new fly rod rig. His new rod and reel are so responsive and light, its almost unbelievable. It was the best fishing trip to date. I had a lot of time to think, and miss my family. Fishing takes me to another place.Some of the best memories of childhood and life in general are tied into angling. Its a game of self improvement and reflection, two things most people don't start valuing until much later in life. My started taking me fishing when I was very young, and it was one thing we always have done together. My dad said that when I first started, I would fish for 5 minutes, then throw rocks for 30 minutes. And each year, I would fish more, and throw rocks less. I can't wait to see how far Heracles can throw a rock, and see what kind of fisherman he turns into. I'm in trouble if we continue this generational pace, I'll have some serious competition.

Almost there.

2011-03-26T19:52:00.000-07:00

The old block is gone

2011-03-16T19:21:00.000-07:00

Look, Ma!! No teef!!

2011-02-22T13:52:00.001-08:00

Almost ready to pull out the old engine. I have to seperate it from the bell housing and motor mounts then lift it out. I have a couple other things I would like to do to the engine compartment before the new one goes in, I should have the time. I literally had to scrape off oil and dirt in layers to get to some of the bolts. As I was pulling her apart piece by piece, I was astonished at how she was able to run at all, let alone be driven on a daily basis. Ol' Gurl has the soul of a champion, she just needs a heart transplant. It almost doesn't compute in my mind that the new engine wont have all the grime and dirt on it like the old one. I guess 44 years of living will do that to you. The new engine is quitely sitting in its wooden crate in the garage. It's waiting to be part of the team.

TOEZ2NOZE

2011-01-31T20:22:00.000-08:00

Herc 8 weeks Video

2011-01-07T10:44:00.000-08:00

Doritos

2010-11-09T08:47:00.000-08:00

Doritos Spot

Got a new Doritos Spot in the running this year, take a look and vote. Pass it along!

2010-11-01T09:52:00.000-07:00

Jacob The Artist

This is a short I did this summer I had mentioned before. Thats my car we are driving, she still looks good, even though she needs a heart(engine) transplant. Brian Jones is the lead, and a friend of a friend. Funny thing is, he was one of the first people I had met in Los Angeles. It always comes back. His friend, Larry, is the director of the Doritos Crash The Superbowl spot I shot last month. Once that is posted on the official site, I"ll send out a link to it. It is November first, our baby is actually due on the third. Just realizing how soon that is. Helen is at the midwives right now, and I am sitting and having an iced coffee, watching the sunlight dance on the computer desk. The dogs are curled up on the couch, and we are about to go on a walk. I am relishing this perfect little moment of silence, knowing that very soon, these moments will not be abundant. But, I am sure I wont be too upset when I am holding our beautiful baby in my arms, having an iced coffee, and watching the dogs sleep on the couch. For all those people that keep warning me about the impending "CHANGE YOUR LIFE" experience that is days(?) away, I welcome it.

Wed.

2010-10-27T00:45:00.000-07:00

(click)INTEGRITY DEFICIT(click)

Click on the link above, and then really think about what is being said in this article. Pass it on to some friends and just get people to at least acknowledge what has happened. The architects of both our country and society would be ashamed. People really think this has anything to do with being democratic or republican? Creating more congressional gridlock and inefficiency during these midterms elections will not solve anything. Putting in incumbents is even worse, if you actually know their track records. We are in definite need of a Reboot. See what really caused the meltdown in the video below. Take the time to watch it, and then get angry, and do nothing about it. Or maybe we should do something, your call.

All the news thats fit to print.

2010-10-19T17:13:00.002-07:00

Jesus, anybody reading this should have stopped a while ago. Really, I suck for taking so long to post. But, looking at the date, all that time lost has good reason. See picture below for reason.

No, not the new white foster dog next to JuJu, the baby bump. Helen and I went back to the mid west for some baby showers that our families threw for us. It was a whirlwind tour, as always. The showers were sweet and thoughtful, and a great opportunity to catch up and spend time with friends and family. We got back and have played catch up for a while. LA is expensive, but being here is a necessity for me. Also, not working for us means no dough coming in. While trips home are great, they can be hard as well one we get back. Also, when we got back from the showers, I filmed about three projects. One short, one USC Thesis Film named The Case of the Missing Garden Gnome, and a little low budget independent called Nesting.OH SHIT!

I forgot to mention Helen and I got to do a little project with the one and only Mike Ditka as well when we came back. That was rad, people will call him coach for the rest of his life. He was so sweet, so nice to us. He signed an autograph for the baby, and gave me a coin of his out of his pocket, his IRON MIKE coin. Its silver, and makes me smile every time I see it. Those projects took up some time, but have all been worth it. I shot a promo for Conan, that is goiog to play in Regal Cinemas. Last weekend I did a another commercial for submission to the Doritos Crash the SuperBowl contest. Thats about it for the work front.

On to the baby front. I know there is a baby in her stomach, I have watched it grow. I feel it move. I see it kick her so hard she stops talking mid-sentence. We have been to the midwives and to Birthing classes. I do feel like I know what is going on in there. All of these things make me feel connected. The showers, the phone calls from anxious soon-to-be grandparents, aunts and uncles, and friends all make this experience real, heart warming, and exciting. I am emotional, sometimes a little too much, thanks to being raised by far too many women. Throughout this, I haven't gotten that stomach swell ,or that lump in the throat. Which surprised, because i can be a real woman sometimes. That was the case until Sunday. I was painting and retouching some walls in the nursery, and it hit me like a a ton of bricks. I was painting my child;s room. Me, painting, listening to music, having a couple of beers feeling like my father. That moment was indescribable, it was the most meaningful instant I have had as a father during this pregnancy. The baby isn't going in the nursery right away, its going to be in the room with us. I am working on the nursery like crazy because I want it to be ready to go when we are ready to make that move for the baby. And also because all of the boxes and baby stuff we had stored in that room are now displaced around the house seriously fucking with our feng shui. And we have more to do still.

Last Night

2010-06-14T14:45:00.001-07:00

I went out with a dear friend for some drinks and a little pool. I got sauced, and came back to the house after a long night. I stopped by one of my favorite websites, and they had a link to some amazing photos. These photos are so beautiful, sad, and haunting that they got my blood boiling. These photos of urban blight, Americans that need jobs and support domestically, and how sadly out of tune our national priorities are really got to me last night. I then proceeded to write a blog that was not really that coherent, but its heart was there. I talked briefly about issues this country is not dealing which bother me immensely. Ignorance is bliss. Self centered people, which this country seems to lately have the production market cornered, don't worry about anything else but themselves and there immediate surroundings. Money is not the only price you pay for education, it takes taxes long after you left school. Once you set the mind in motion, really set it in motion, its is hard to stop. Below is a link to the photos that ripped my heart wide open.

DETROIT

Teh uno clicka Globahlazaytion.

2010-05-31T23:26:00.000-07:00

My wife tenderly suggested that I take the blogpost I had already worked out in my head, and switch the shit around. By that, as she sits here consuming her Lucky Charms cereal for two, she means, "Make it positive, Biggie." The original post is about how a lot of places are losing their cultural identity since information is a mouse click and/or an imported news stand magazine away. I was going to write about how all of these places are losing their identities by trying to be uber cosmopolitan. And, how even my hometown is losing itself in a race the of market size homogenization. But, I am not going down that path. The fact is, most and nearly all of the people that make up my friends are from far and wide, and have sacrificed certain comforts and security to chase their dreams and follow their path. That's amazing to me. I have friends from different countries, different domestic regions, and a neighbor who is a working actor who fucked off to Africa for three months to do a little soul searching. While I was going to focus on the bland and overwhelming tonight, I now want to focus on the strong and unique. Places and people should be proud of who they are and where they come from. Being clever and doing things out of cleverness make the insecure secure in the fact they have something to talk about at the next party. I am glad I no longer feel the need to fill empty spaces with unformed thoughts. I truly no longer give a shit about what people think about me, or do I feel the need to constantly stay ahead of the curve. Hipsters-either rich kids trying to look poor and edgy, or boring people trying to look interesting. I' m rambling now, leaning towards the negative. So, I'll leave the back of my apartment, and the half window that keeps me abreast to the sounds of the latest turf wars between the local feline gangs. The path to the bedroom that is illuminated by tiny trickles of Sodium based streetlights that reminds me always of the miles of orange lights leading to my arrival gate at Midway when returning home to Chicago. I haven't heard a Police Chopper in a too long this evening, then again, it is a holiday tomorrow. Good night.

OIl Spill.

2010-05-26T17:14:00.001-07:00

I had an oil spill myself this morning. I knocked a full glass bottle of olive oil onto the floor. As I stood there, thinking of causing damage to some inanimate object that had nothing to do with it, I got sad. The insurmountable challenge of cleaning up my kitchen floor, with a mixture of oil and glass shards, seemed insignificant to what is going on in the Gulf of Mexico. I have vacationed on the beaches of the Gulf of Mexico since I was a boy. I have swam and fished its waters with family and a couple of lucky friends for as long as my memory serves me. To think about what is happening to that water, the wildlife, and the people along the coastline is enough to make me sick, really. You want to know whats messed up? Ever since I needed a fishing license to fish on the beach in Destin, I bought one. I was raised in Missouri, where conservation is highly regarded, and a tradition passed down through generations of hunters and fisherman. All the years I fished on the beach in Destin, I was never checked by a Game Warden. I didn't buy the license out of fear, I bought that motherfucker out of respect. Respect for the men and women who work for conservation agenies that ensure our wildlife and resources shall endure for generations. BP is killing our wildlife, tourist industry, and the lively hood of many people when this economy is already in a recession. Before you drill at over 5000 feet, shouldn't there be some kind of contingency plan if something goes wrong? As I sit here thinking about it, I am actually starting to feel sick. I don't know what the answer is. I was hoping the people who drilled that hole in the first place might have a better idea how to fix it. I am going to start by boycotting all BP stations. I will no longer purchase gas from them, or there affiliates. Help me out people, lets start an email chain. WE HAVE THE CHEAPEST GAS OF ANY MAJOR NATION, AND WE CANT GO SPEND A LITTLE MORE FOR GAS FROM COMPANIES THAT ARE RESPONSIBLE? LETS BE RESPONSIBLE. BOYCOTT BP.

Where to begin.

2010-05-23T21:02:00.000-07:00

I have an audition tomorrow morning. Too bad I feel like my sinus cavities are filled with fucking concrete. Oh, well. I spent all day laying or sitting on something soft. Helen made some chicken soup from scratch. All day long its been fruits, vegetables, and soup. I'm gonna take a hot shower soon and try and get all the shit stuck in face running right.

We are heading to St. Louis this summer in July. My sisters and mother are having a baby shower for Helen. I am really looking forward to the trip. It's almost been two years since I have been home. Luckily, we haven't been that home sick as of late due to all the visitor we have had in town. Yes, it has been busy, and a little difficult for Helen initially because the bulk of the visitors were here during Helen's first trimester when she was exhausted. But, we loved having all of the company. We looked forward to every visitor we had, and we enjoyed them immensely. Helen's mother came in January, and we took a side trip to Vegas. My mom and dad came in March, and then traveled up the PCH to San Francisco. It was extra special getting to tell them in person that we are expecting. Helen's cousins came in March with two of the three kids. Then our Koumbara came in with her beau in April, and we took small side trip to Palm Springs. My sister Antoinette just came about a week and a half ago. It was amazing, always nice to play tour guide in any city you start to take for granted.

On to the plans for St. Louis, I think I am actually going to get an IV drip of Ted Drewes and White Castles. I know you are having a hard time wrapping your head around administering White Castles by IV. I will liquefy them first, stoopid. Then, whilst I'm there, maybe a small fishing trip with my father, and lots of quality time with my family and friends. Imo's and i might even bring back some Provel cheese. Not provolone, Provel, for those in the know or just west of the Mississippi.

Finally, this blog and Facebook. I dropped my Facebook profile. So, for the three people that read this-Mom, Helen, and myself- just look at this blog, because I am attacking it with new vigor. I dropped my Facebook for a number of reasons. I joined Facebook at first because I wanted to keep in touch with some folk from Ireland I had the pleasure of working with my last summer in Chicago. It served a purpose as a means of keeping contact with a bunch of people. So, you friend request someone. Then you either trade private messages or a couple wall posts catching up, then you never really bother with them again. That's fucking lame. You are not supposed to talk to everyone you once knew at one point or another in your life. There are a select few you keep. Life is constantly moving forward, and you have to shed weight along the way. Life is more exciting when you have that chance encounter with people you used to know. And, I can honestly say I no longer think life is a popularity contest. Now, for all you Facebook lovers, do your thing, it just wasn't working for me. That and I couldn't see another fucking picture of newly minted parents with their shirts off holding their newborn baby. Annie Leibovits isn't taking your photo, and no one wants to see that shit. Another reason is that Idon't want anything about my child on a social networking site, period. Also, I found myself spending too much time with it. I wasn't spending hours on it, but the time I was spending on it could better be used to call the friends I actually have a relationship with. I am trying to focus on real life, rather than information absorbed in front of a screen. I think the computer is very useful, but it can also be a great distraction. So, there it is.

Auditioning has been picking up lately, that has been quite nice. I have had three in the past week and a half. Its nice to stay active and go out on these auditions, after all, its just a numbers game. You aren't right for everything you go out for, but the more you get seen by casting directors the better. If you are consistently doing good work, it all adds up. Nice talking to you. Good Night.

Birthday.

2010-01-19T10:46:00.000-08:00

The year started off with a bang, and its been fun as hell ever since. For my Birthday, we were thinking of heading off to Vegas. We decided to put it off, and maybe take Helens mom when she comes in town. On my actual birthday, I worked a double. But on my break between shifts, Helen made me dinner and a cake from scratch that was so good it made you wanna smack someone. I was definitely spoiled this weekend. So, instead of going to Vegas on Sunday, we used a gift certificate to get away for the night at one of our favorite Hotels. I took Helen here for her birthday last year, it had only been open a for about 6 to 8 weeks when we went. We had a blast, we loved it. This place is a like a grown up summer camp. You can do whatever the hell you want, and enjoy yourself any way you want. This place can be a scene out of Vegas sometimes, with a lot of Angelenos hanging out around the pool and using their bits as bait. There are a lot of different people that frequent this place, and often the type of people I usually wouldn't hang out with. But, we all have one thing in common, you decide your fun down here. We got a great room with a fireplace, and layed in bed with the patio doors open, listening to the rain. JuJu got to come along with us, and she watched diligently for intruders to the patio. It was a great little family vacation, but the drive back was a little slow. It was raining, and raining hard on the drive. Now, you have to understand, a stiff rain is akin to a blizzard out here. The highways aren't realy built to drain water off that successfully, so your tires are catching tire rut puddles, and months and months of oil and other slick shit get combine to make things even more interesting. We made it in one piece, had some dinner, and went to bed a little early. Cold and rainy weather in LA is always provide you with a good reason to stay in a little bit. Its raining o0utside right now, perfect day to do nothing

New Year

2010-01-05T12:46:00.000-08:00

The end of the year was great for us. If we could have visited our families back in the midwest, it would have been the bees knees. Christmas day was low key, and very small, and very tasty. Helen made lamb. I don't have to say anything more. Last year was the best year of my life. For many reasons, and it is all coming to a close in about two weeks on birthday. I got my first commercial, got SAG eligible, got to visit Chicago on my 3oth, and got surprised by some family members. Got married, went on my honeymoon, and shot a network TV show, which is yet to air. Helen and I were laying in bed on New Years day, talking about how fortunate we are. We also talked about our hopes and aspirations for us in the next year. I told her I wanted to start the year off on a good foot. got a call yesterday from my agent, and she said Heroes booked me one more day for some pickup shots. I got my call late last night, and as soon as I am done writing this, I will head over to the studio. Five days into the New Year and counting, and I am already having to keep from smiling constantly. I ordered a TV antenna, so I can watch the show live. This will mark the first time we have reception on the new TV. And, to boot, I am heading to Vegas on my birthday with Helen. Five days into the New Year and counting. Go ahead, pinch me.

The Deals in.

2009-11-10T15:32:00.000-08:00

Apparently the details have been hammered out, and I shoot for about five days at the end of this week, and the begining of next week. I have my costume appointment tomorrow. This is going to be a whole lot of fun. Stella, my agent is going to come visit and hopefully bring Helen along. I am beyond excited, really. I just don't want to put an exclamation point behind that previous sentence. It seems girly. But, Hell, proper punctuation is a good thing. I am beyond excited, really!

Honeymoon!

2009-10-29T21:57:00.000-07:00

Just a couple pictures and a video from the
Honeymoon. You can't tell in the video,but
the Park looks over the whole city.
Too bad we got completely soaked by
some unexpectedly heavy rains.
It was fantastic. The three day journey up PCH into San
Francisco was too beautiful for words. We got to know San Francisco quite well,
thanks to handy map and a list of To Do's that made
us feel like locals. Stay tuned to the blog, I might have some exciting news!

Getting there is the adventure

2009-10-15T20:54:00.001-07:00

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We leave tomorrow morning. I cannot tell you how excited we are to go on our honeymoon. I have one more thing to do to the whip before I go, and that is gap and put in the new spark plugs. I replaced the points with a solid state ignition, new ignition coil,new tires, oil change, transmission and differential service. Helen and I drove down to Seal Beach the other day to get a part from the place I used to order my parts from when I lived in the midwest. The facility is beautiful, not to mention the cars inside the show room. Too bad they gave me the wrong part. Shit on it. Not to mention that for most of the last week it was raining, which makes street mechanics like myself a little frustrated. But, we are almost finished, and we are almost out. I cannot wait. I'll put up a post when we get back. Take care.

Swimmingly

2009-10-05T21:57:00.000-07:00

That's how things are going around here. Helen and I are both working a lot, which is great. It keeps us busy, and gets us all riled up for our trip. I promised her we would take Ol' Gurl. For those of you who do not know who Ol' Gurl is, she is our 67 Chevelle Malibu. She got us out here, and we think there is something awfully special about road tripping in an old car. She needs a little attention/TLC before we go on the trip. Her front two tires are balding, so today she got three new tires delivered to my front porch. I am going to take the back two, which are perfect, and put them on the front. And, put the new ones on the back. The third tire is for the rim that my spare tire SHOULD be on, but isn't. Tomorrow, I have to go get those mounted. I also got some parts coming from JEGS. She needed a nice free flowing air cleaner, so I got her an old timey one. The next order of business, is to swap out my points in the distributor. I searched forever for conversions online, and finally decided it needed a new distributor. That was going to be a tough install that would probably require the expert oversight of my neighbor, Juan. So, I understood that was going to be a little difficult. Replacing it would have been fine, I am actually getting quite good with her. I was just wondering about the timing. How in the hell to do it, and how hard it was going to be. Well, all that can be avoided now, thanks to my friend Todd. Todd has a beautiful Mustang, and he told me about a very effective and inexpensive conversion with a simple installation. Needless to say, I checked it out, and it should arrive here on Wednesday. Replacing the points will help her run stronger, and get better mileage. After I pull that conversion off, I gotta swap out her spark plugs. Then she gets an oil change, a transmission service, and a good cleaning. Then she will be ready to go. Oh yeah, I also need to renew my AAA membership.
My dad warned me not to get old girl. I remember the phone call as I was heading south on Damen in Chicago. He was warning me about reliability, and other problems that come with the territory of having an old car. I was stubborn, and didn't budge. The argument continued and he finally gave up I bought her, and man was she ugly. My dad really did a lot on that car. He worked on it daily while I was still in Chicago. That was his send off to me, that is how he took care of me, even at 28 years old. And I couldn't have done it with out my brother-in-law Marks help as well. I like to think I was a great help to him as we worked on it. I just watched and learned, hoping to get a Come to think about it, she had a lot of good people around her, bringing her back to life. Maybe that's why I smile DAILY when I drive her, thinking about all of the love that went it to her, and the love Helen and I found when we traipsed out into the unknown and over almost 1,500 miles. I know my dad was only concerned about me when he advised me not to get it, but he should have known better. I was just trying to be like him. He finally got it, I think.

Honeymoon Planned.

2009-09-30T14:42:00.000-07:00

Today is absolutely gorgeous. I cant even begin to tell you how amazing it is outside. Last night, Helen and I planned our Honeymoon. People are asking why we waited, but the timing couldn't be better. After the wedding, we moved next door, and we are finally settled in. The Thank you's have gone out, and we are looking forward to the vacation. We are going to spend about four and a half days in San Francisco, and then we are going to take about three days to drive south on the Pacific Coast Highway. Three days seems like a long time to do PCH, but early on in our relationship, Helen and I decided we have to have at least two adventures a day while road tripping. We shouldn't rush it, so we dont intend to. We booked our hotel in San Francisco, we are both excited to stay at Tomo Hotel, it looks like it will suit us very well. Here are a couple pics of the hotel, cant wait.

Bath Time.

2009-09-23T16:31:00.000-07:00

It was bath time today for JuJu and our foster dog, Bella. Guess they weren't to happy about it.

RTE 66 Car Show

2009-09-23T16:22:00.000-07:00

Helen and I went out to San Bernardino for the RTE 66 Car Show this past Sunday. We went with some cousins that live in West Covina. By the time we got out there, the pickens were slim, but there were still some nice cars. Next year, we will make it out there on Saturday, which apparently is the day to go.

Station Fire Pictures

2009-09-23T16:17:00.001-07:00

Now that the station fire is contained, we are all literally breathing a little easier. There is still some soot around the house mixed with the dust. Here is a view of the fire from our front porch in Echo Park. None of that is clouds, it is all smoke. It got worse, but these are some earlt pictures when it was visible from where we live. I heard we got some new ones today, lets hope they get contained quickly.

Labor Day BBQ

2009-09-17T14:08:00.001-07:00

Helen and I had a little Labor day BBQ. Here are a couple videos and a pic of me and Helen. I know the blog posts have been lagging, but it has been hot!!! Let me tell you, you dont want to be sitting back by the computer in the sunny office typin' away. Its cooler out now, and life is finally evening out. That means more posts, sorry to disappoint. I bet my audience has dwindled down to my mother only, so, Hi Mom. Any one else still folllowing, you are a true friend, and you get an invite to the first OSCAR party.

On with the show

2009-07-20T18:18:00.001-07:00

For those of you who do not know, I got married to the girl of my dreams on July 11th. We worked our asses off, but could not have asked for a better party and better weather. The day would have been empty if weren't for our family and friends from near and far who came to Chicago to hang out with us. We hired a photographer, Tyler Stoffel, but there were a lot of amateur photogs taking shots and they keep sending them to us. We also had video courtesy of Kyle Obriot, who sliced some things together for us. Here is a little taste.

Its nice to be back in California, although its hotter than hell here. So hot, that we actually purchased an air conditioner. To most, this may not seem like a big deal, But, my wife, like most Greeks, are wary of drafts and air conditioning. We came to a compromise yesterday when she was faced with a decision. Deal with the A/C and have a cool, calm, collected Biggie. Or, no A/C and deal with a big fellar that turns into a crab ass when he gets overheated. Now, daytime, I understand, you can go find things to do. But, sweating while you sleep is where I draw the line. I think that's one of, if not the worst feeling in the world, At least for me, anyway. So hot last night, I woke up at around four, grapped an ice pack out of the freezer, wrapped it in a T-shirt, and slept with the sumbitch. Damn hot, too damn hot. I"ll get back at you REAL soon.

2009-05-18T01:52:00.000-07:00

So, shortly after my last post, Helen came back to town. And we have been nothing but busy ever since. Putting together some last minute invites, Shower Thank Yous, storage for all of the gifts from said shower, and just a ton of other stuff. We got moody with each other the other day, and then we realized all that we have been doing, and both of us working a lot more, and the fact that the wedding is around the corner. We got it together though, and realized that we just needed some time and a day to do our own thing that will be tomorrow. As far as the career is going, this town is hardly moving at all. Some might say its a Ghost Town, which got me thinking about this song. Enjoy the video.

Now I really feel like Harold Yochum.

2009-05-04T23:51:00.000-07:00

MY girl has been in Albuquerque for almost a week. I don't like this really, not one bit. Kinda sucks. Hey, Harold, I get it now. I promise, I will no longer break your balls. At least I have the dog.

Awesome Bears

2009-04-30T12:14:00.000-07:00

Helen and I love this guys art. We pass it constantly, and it never fails to make us smile or brighten our day. We have been trying to figure out where it came from, and then this video popped up on BoingBoing. If you look inthe corner, you will see his sign of peace+love+happiness in pictures, I am definitely going to get some of his fine art. Enjoy

Header Gasket Fixed.

2009-04-30T02:10:00.000-07:00

Ol' Gurl sounds like herself again. Come to think of it, she hasn't sounded this good in quite a long time. Now, to get the pterodactyl sized bird shit off of the hood, and clean her up real nice.

Project day.

2009-04-27T20:09:00.000-07:00

Our neighbors were on the front porch, stripping and painting a piece of furniture. I walked out of the house and saw their get ups, then I went to get the camera. Snapped them, and their daughter, and got to work on my car. I pulled my exhaust gasket off, and got it all set up for a new one tomorrow. The parts that you can see through, thats bad. No wonder its been sounding like a Sherman Tank lately. Then, after work tonight, my lovely fiance will be home. SHe skeedaddled off to Chicago this weekend for her Bridal Shower. All the wedding talk became real, real quick. I can't wait for my wedding. And, I cant wait to seethe beautiful face of my fiance. If I didn't have the dog, I would have felt like or old friend Harold Yochum, who ate dinner with my family every night when his wife was out of town. If Rosemary was on vacation, you would find Harold sitting in one of the blue chairs, drinking iced tea, still in his business suit. I had/have an amazing life. With lots of family and friends that always seemed to just stopping by. Hopefully, Helen and I will have the kind of house and marriage that our parents have and had. I cant think about my famly and all those times too much, because, wherever I am, I will start to tear up, like I am right now. Life is brief, love all that you can.

Easter

2009-04-20T12:56:00.000-07:00

Before you say it, I know Easter was last week. Now, understand I am with a Greek. Blah Blah Blah eek. I had to get all that rhyming out of my system. That means that in the Orthodox religion, they celebrate their Easter a week later. Moving on, the weekend kind of sucked. I had some plumbing issues Friday night and could not reach my landlord because he is Bulgarian and an Orthodox Priest!!! Of all the times for shit to hit the fan, Easter weekend. The plumbing got fixed, I hardly saw Helen this last week, and work was just okay. Sunday, however, we went to her Aunt Eleni's house for Easter, which is always a lot fun. She is a saint, and her kids are all sweethearts. Chris and Uncle Pete, who did almost all of the cooking, really took care of us. Uncle Pete had to take a little bit of a break, so I filled in for him. We had lamb, hot wings, Carne Asada, Suvlakia, and brisket. They cooked the whole lamb in a cuban style grill box that uses the coals on top to create an oven big enough for whole animals. Oh, by the way, Chris has a 1970 Cadillac that is amazing. I'll give you a pic for the heck of it. We had to leave there, and run by her cousins Aunt's house in Pasadena before I finally had to go to work at 9. I had a great meat and ber drunk going all day. No worries, Helen drove. And now for no reason at all, I just want to let you all know it is Almost a hundred degrees right now, with no humidity though. Ha.

Ace Hotel. Palm Springs.

2009-04-13T20:27:00.000-07:00

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Sunday was Helen's 30th Birthday. I was going to throw her a party, but I asked her first what she wanted. She said she wanted to get away for night. So, I saw and advertisement for the ACE HOTEL, so we booked a room and headed down on Sunday morning. We got there, checked in, and never the left the hotel. Well, we signed some bikes out and took off to grab some beer and bottled water. We ate dinner and breakfast at the hotel. we had panned to leave for both, but after a simple and fantastic dinner, we just stayed at the hotel. The staff was amazing. the manager chatted us up whenever we saw him, and the treated us like family. The whole stay was amazing. They have outdoor beds, hammocks, a little poolside bus for drinks and grub. The pool is open 24 hours, and they have community fireplaces with seating areas scattered around the grounds. I could literally go on forever and with great detail about how great it was, but maybe you will just have to go and see for yourself. Its only been open for about two months, and we have a feeling that once word gets out, its gonna get way more crowded. I am glad we got in before it got real well known. Everything about this place is great, from the food to the decor. We will be going back soon.

Brought it back to the mountains yesterday

2009-04-06T11:26:00.000-07:00

I got all sorts of nostalgic yesterday. I started thinking about all of the St. Louis Dads and Uncles we all know and love, and their love for Busch Beer. That can looked so good, I had to grab a couple and bring them home to have with dinner.

$1

2009-04-04T14:51:00.001-07:00

Helen and I woke up and headed out for a walk. We had several errands to run, and on the way to our first stop after the walk we saw a yard sale sign. So, we checked it out. Not much, it had been mostly picked over, but, I did find this really great old alarm clock, no radio. She gave it to me for a dollar. It was a little dingy, and I could see some dead dry bug carcasses gummin' up the works. So, I pulled it apart, grabbed some cotton swabs, some paper towels, and some cleaner and got to work. After I cleaned it thoroughly, I put it back together. I love the way it looks. I love the little sharp angles, and the solitary snooze button on the top. It reminds me of bomb detonator. My favorite thing about this product, is that JAPAN is stamped in the lower right hand corner of the screen, just below the AM PM indicator. This baby was made when quality electronics HAD to be built in Japan, there was nothing else. It now lives next to the small jade Buddha. The Buddha was placed on top for no reason what so ever, he just wanted his picture taken.

Nothing Like it.

2009-03-28T16:21:00.000-07:00

I don't want to hear it. I am going to say it once and for all. Vienna Beef Hotdogs are the best ever made. So, with an afternoon audition in Santa Monica, it JUST SO HAPPENED that we had to drive by a little burger joint called Marty's for some Hot Dogs. This is not related at all to the program we watched on Hot Dogs that I requested from Netflix. I repeat, not related at all. Our smiles say it all.

Helen and I spring cleaning, while JuJu just relaxes.

2009-03-27T15:38:00.000-07:00

In all fairness, I put her in that position, but she stayed there, and is still in that position, while we clean, and while I post this. Unbelievable. She rocks.

A stroke of Luck

2009-03-19T12:43:00.000-07:00

Whilst taking Helen downtown this morning to the fashion district to meet her seamstress that is going to sew her wedding dress, we noticed a lot of the streets were being closed. Helen had heard the President was in town, we stopped by a motorcycle cop to ask, he confirmed. They were closing down Glendale/2nd street, which is right around the corner from our house, luckily I had charged the camera battery this morning while going back to the house to get some material Helen had forgot, while she was picking up the rest downtown. So, once we got back, we grabbed the camera, and headed down the street. We me t a nice fella name Juan and his pound puppy, Kobe as we waited. I asked another officer where would be a good vantage point, and he directed us with telling us-*winkwink*. I thanked him after, now we are going for a walk around silverlake. Here is the video. It was really cool.

BBQ and Double Dutch

2009-03-18T23:57:00.000-07:00

Today was beautiful, even a little on the warm side. I went to a friends place to help with some computer stuff, and Helen hit me up saying her and her cousin were coming home from the beach, and they felt like a Biggie Burger. I make a mean hamburger, not tootin the old horn, but I would challenge anyone on burgers. Chicken, shit, I can ruin chicken, but chicken sucks to grill. I can cook the shit out of it in Kabob form. So, I fired up the chimney starter, reached into my bag of 40 lb. bag of hardwood charcoal, put it in the chimney starter, and got down. Beth and Bill, some of our friends (STL WHAT!!) called at the perfect time, and they were invited to the 'Que. I really want to perfect my BBQ this summer, dry rubs, try and get my hands on some Maulls, take it to the next level. I am trying to learn a little about everything right now. I went to a home brew beer class last night in Culver City. Since getting a free beer making kit from a friend, I have read and studied up on the subject. I went to the class last night so I could see someone actually do it. Now, I think I am ready to brew my own, but will probably wait till the fall when temps are more consistent. So, we had our burgers, we hung out for a while, Murph, Helen's cousin, left and Bill, Helen, Beth, and myself were the only ones left. So, we thought it would be good idea to take ourselves, our dog, and the jump ropes down to the tennis courts to do a little double dutch. Helen is obsessed with it, and we have all taken a liking to it. We took some pics, and worked off them burgers. We came back to the house, and Billy was getting a little dessert hungry, so we headed over to Diddy Riese for some cookie and ice cream sandwiches. Its no Ted Drewes, but it hit the spot. Everyone left, and its just the family here hanging out. I am doing some routine maintenance o my buddy's computer, and then we are going to bed. Good night.

Beautiful Everyday

2009-03-16T16:03:00.001-07:00

You all must be tired of hearing it by now, but its gorgeous out here. Everyday is beautiful! Helen and I woke up today, grabbed some iced coffee, and went for a walk. Helen and I have been walking everyday for the past couple of weeks. I turned 30 this year, and with that is the realization that my body is no longer functioning like a mid-20's drinking too much and eating poorly fun factory. So, with a LOT of motivation from my fiance, I have just started to begin making choices that are going to ensure I am going be right next to her as long as I can be. We have been walking around the Silver Lake Reservoir daily, which is around 3 miles. It's a beautiful walk, and there is a dog park that JuJu hates to go to, but we make her every once in while. She just hangs out by us until she is chased. Good luck catching her, because she is faster than lightning! Its crazy how fast she is! But, lucky for us she is as sweet as she is fast. Maybe i'll get some video of her tomorrow. After the walk, had some Thai food, and came on home. I have to work tonight, so I am just knockin around the house doing some wash and a little straightening up. I just cleaned the pots out for this years crop of plants, and searching CraigsList for some free or uber cheap wind chimes to hang up alon the front porch. I am going to grill some chicken tonight, probably smoke a cigar on the back swing, and head off to SpaceLand. Get at yall later.

I know, I know

2009-03-13T14:47:00.000-07:00

I know, I know, its time to update the blog. Gotta love it. My Mom wrote me and was like "No updates in a while, what's up?" So, then I pulled my head out of my ass, and decided to post. Well, the biggest reason for not posting was I wanted to wait until I had some good news. I had a feature audition for a small bit role. They brought me cback a week and a half later for a bigger role, same project. I had good feedback, I just don't know what happened. I think the biggest thing is, is that I just don't have alot of credits on my resume. But, for shits sake, I am just starting out. what are you going to do. The good news is I think I made a good impression on a very important casting director. The final casting decision isn't always their call, the producers have to weigh in as well. So, nothing came of it. Goddamn, I could taste it. I wanted it so bad. I lost sleep over it for a while , then I finally said, to hell with it. So, thats why I haven't posted in a while. I would have loved to post about me getting my first feature. Oh, well. On to the next audition, everything happens for a reason. I promise to post more often. Take Care.

And it goes on

2009-02-03T18:48:00.000-08:00

Everything is kinda going on. Wedding plans, career plans, backyard plans, and life plans. Had a couple more auditions last week, haven't heard, which means not happening. I have another audition tomorrow, so we'll see how that goes. I actually look forward to auditioning now that I booked my first job. It feels like a lot of weight has been lifted off my shoulders.
Helens friend Helen Tragas is here visiting. Yeah, I know. Helen Tragas is our Koumbara. If you don't know what it is, click the word and it will take you to a link. Tragas has been an amazing friend to Helen, and she actually likes me, so we will definitely keep her around. For those who don't know, we aren't doing a huge wedding party. I am going to have only one groomsman, and he is also serving as the best man. That would be my father, Richard. The choice was a no brainer, him being the best man I know, and half of the reason I turned out so well. And by well, I mean not in prison. Anywho, it has been great seeing Tragas, she leaves tomorrow. Just not enough time, Tragas.
So, new year, lots of shit going on. I decided to get out in the yard today and start doing some work. I got off to a good start, then the weed whacker shot craps. So, I pulled it apart, put the belt back, trying not to notice the semi-melted drive gear that would probably give out very soon. So, I fixed it, put it back together, and got to trimming. It lasted 5 minutes. Shit. So, I then decided to start trimming some ivy that grow behind the swing and the grill. Its funny how I want to be as good at things as my dad is you know fixing things yourself. It just took adulthood to realize that. Took care of that, and had to clean the grill. So I threw some charcoal in there, burnt the grill off, and threw on a couple of hot dogs. I had a couple of hot dogs, some potato salad, and a Bud. I sat on the back porch, loving life. The weather out here is amazing. Just gorgeous everyday. I finshed my dinner witht smile on my face, cleaned the grill and seasoned the actual grills with some oil over a good low heat. Doing some dishes now, gonna hop in the shower, and probably go see my lady. She is overnighting with the kids she watches. So, me and JuJu are just kicking it, and we will probably meet up with Uncle Bill and go get some dessert at Yogurtland. I hope all is well with everyone. Take care

200FINE.

2009-01-24T15:58:00.001-08:00

So, if you didn't know, Helen and I skeedaddled out to Chicago for a little 30th Birthday celebration for yours truly, and to do some serious wedding planning. Well, the trip was amazing, full of family on both sides, surprise visits from most of my family members, and a door to my mother-in-laws house that never stopped opening and closing. I won't get into what exactly our itinerary was, let's just say it was busy, and the arctic temperatures sure as hell didn't help. We were glad to get back to L.A., and our dog, JuJu. The week went pretty well, and I got an audition for last wednesday for a Bravo awards show promotional spot. I got a call from my agent on Thursday, shot it on Friday morning, and am now SAG eligible. Whew, done and done. Being SAG eligible is a huge weight off my shoulders. It was my main priority for this year. Shit, took care of that. Good thing I have two agents that go to the matts for me, Thank you Jen and Stella. I finally got paid for being an actor. From my first eight line part in a play, to some great projects at Meramec, off to Chicago, and finally L.A. I know ther is only more in stor for me in the future, but getting that taste sure is sweeter than all hell. Driving down to the set on Friday, I realized I have done everything in life I said I was going to do, and I didn't have to take no for an answer to anything. I also thought of all my family and friends who always pushed me and told me to never give up, even when there was lull's in my forward motion. Helen is amazingly supprotive as well. For all of you who know or have met Helen, I don't have to dedicate a paragraph to her. She is the Bees Knees. Another little milestone happened Friday morning. I got in my Chevelle to drive to the audition, and relaized the hard work she put in. She got me more that half way across the country, got my to auditions, braved horrible LA streets and traffic, and got me to my first paid gig. I swear to God, if life gets any better, I just might explode.

Lunch with the neighbors.

2009-01-13T14:27:00.000-08:00

Helen and I had some things to gather up for the Chicago trip, so we boogied out of the house this morning at 9:30, got our things done, and had time for a little lunch. Patricia and Jahna, our neighbors stopped by for some lunch. Jahna may not be hungry, but she likes having lunch with us any chance she gets. The fact that she is adorable doesn't hurt much either. JuJu jumped up and got some of the action as well. Now its off to do some dishes, gather the luggage, do some laundry, and find the courage to go freeze my ass off.

Birfday Outlook.

2009-01-12T12:03:00.000-08:00

Keep in mind, my birthday is the 15th. Click on the following:

AWESOME

BOOOO!!!

Time to celebrate it.

2009-01-10T01:06:00.001-08:00

Biggins turns 30 on January 15th, 2009!

Helen and and I are heading to Chicago next week. We leave on Wednesday the 14th, and we are going to spend about five days there. Now, my birthday isn't the main reason for this trip. The main reason is to meet the priest that is going to marry us. You know Greeks, he has to look me over and give me the go ahead. I am looking forward to the seeing Helens' family and our friends. I think my moms and pops are driving up on Saturday to spend a little time with us. Let me tell what I am not looking forward to. SINGLE DIGIT TEMPERATURES. Not looking forward to that at all. Listen, I thought/think Chicago is a great town, but screw that cold ass shit. Be careful, Chicagoans, before you defend her to the end. She is a lovely town, with a lot of experience and beautiful curves(architecture), sweet as hell, and loves a good drink. But, she can also be a miserable bitch. You know its true, so don't start. I got to thinking, it has been about a year and a half since I have experienced COLD weather. I had to tell my Mom to ship my winter coat up to my soon-to-be mother-in-law's house. The most protection I have out here, and need, is a doubled up hoodie and a sock hat. So, Monday I will dig through my box of hats and find my good ol' Chicago Cop black fur lined ear flap hat. Now, the question is do I buy gloves out here, or go to Ragstock on Thursday(Birthday) after breakfast at Bongo Room. I'm thinking Ragstock, after my Turkey sandwich and some awesome gob of pancake goodness. I am looking forward to seeing my friends and seeing that old bitch of a city again. Its going to be a hell of a year. Turning 30, getting married, and hopefully in a highly opportunistic Hollywood. I can't believe it is going to be in the single digits on my Birthday. Damn, Chicago, I thought I was good to you. I thought we could be civil. Good thing I will be drunk enough to take you in the state your in. Your mean, you old bitch, but I love you. Put something nice on, Daddy's home.

To Idris Goodwin-The First to send a Mix

2008-12-16T13:08:00.000-08:00

There is lots of love comin round to 1626 Cortez. First of all, my friend Chris Klapp sent me a painting of mine that I had never seen in person, click HERE for the blog post dedicated to the painting. I was seriously touched that he shipped it all the way out here, and was renedered speechless by how amazing it looks in person, Thank you to Andrew DeLeo, click his name for his Facebook page, for creating such an amazing painting. Not just amazing because it has me in it, but its beauty is really in the subtleties that don not translate in photos. Andrew, don't get comfortable, you might even have to move out of Chicago one day to stay fresh and really find out what you are capable of. Also, Idris, Thank you for being the First Mix received, I aprreciate the effort you put into it. If you want to friend Idris, HERE is a link to his Facebook. He is a good guy, first and foremost. A guy that would go to the matts for you. And, he is a very talented, multi-faceted artist that dedicates his skills and time to the community out of love and not out of guilt. Thanks , Idris. And to all the people so far that have offered their assistance in solving my iPod/iTunes/Music problems, and to all of those who have promised that their mixers are in the mail- Thanks for just giving a shit, thanks for making my day, as I type this I have a huge smile on my face.

I challenge you to Please Make Me A Mix CD!

2008-12-15T15:32:00.001-08:00

My name is John Gerbin, and this is my blog.

PLEASE READ THIS POST AND PASS IT ALONG

For those of you who don't know or care, I contracted a nasty computer virus about a month ago. The nasty little bugger took away a lot of things I now miss. It took pictures, some writing, and MY ENTIRE iTUNES LIBRARY. We'll get back to the iTunes dilemma in a minute. I understand that I should have had a back up for my data, trust me when I say that I will definitely be backing up all of my information on a regular basis from here on out. Also, no Apple fan boy flack about how they never get infected with viruses. Apples are becoming quite popular, especially with all of the iPhone sales. I know that the previous fact is obvious, but what I am trying to say is that finally wrting viruses for Apple will become more popular as they get a larger market share. So, please don't make me feel any worse than I already do about losing everything. So, here is what I am asking of all the my friends, people on Facebook, and their friends, and their friends friends is-

PLEASE, MAKE ME A MIX CD!!!!

Due to the loss of my iTunes library,
I now have an iPod that I cannot connect to my computer in order to maintain whats
left of my now missing iTunes library.
I have decided to try and collect as many mix CD's , hopefully breaking a record
of some kind in the process, as I can to
turn me on to music I have not been exposed to. I am asking
for people I know and don't know, to make a CD and send it to me by mail. You know you
love your music, and you love when other people love at as much as you. So share it with me!
I cannot pay for the postage, I am hoping that everyone can spare about a dollar(avg cost of blank CD, envelope, and postage) and about twenty minutes to help me out.
I am requesting that you include a track and listing with artist's names. If I dig it, I would love to go buy the full album. Let me in on your world of music, share the love.
My mission is to get as many as I possibly can, I'll even open a P.O. Box
if I have to accomodate large quantiities(Hopefully!) of mail. I have been given some amazing mix CD's in my time(Kyle o and Andy), and have given out more than my fair share. I will post my address, and hopefully this post will reach everywhere from the borroughs of NY, to the Mid West, and the West Coast. I will happily post the number of CD's I receive and highlight some of the stand outs based on the criteria of Music, Cover Art, and Genre. NO GENRE IS OFF LIMITS!! I 'll take anything from Pop, to Hip-Hop, SOUL, RNB, PUnK, Metal, Indie, Classical, Jazz, Rag Time, Female vocalists, Male vocalists, trios, quartets, you name it! I will also post pictures and videos of the results. I knows times is rough, but hopefully you all agree that this is something creative you would love to do. Thank you for reading this, I hope to get something in the mail from you all soon.

John Gerbin
1626 Cortez St.
Los Angeles CA
90026

This is for Gerry and Bill. GHB is a nasty drug.

2008-12-08T18:26:00.001-08:00

Trouble.

2008-12-04T15:50:00.001-08:00

Tino found his way back to Chicago, it was great having him out here. It was truly a pleasure to have him as a guest. Wednesday was kind of uneventful, until Billy came over for dinner, we broke out the turn tables, and gots down just a bit.

Sunday Dinner

2008-12-01T19:39:00.000-08:00

Malibu, PCH on Saturday.

2008-11-30T12:53:00.000-08:00

Martin and I took a drive up the PCH to a favorite public beach of mine in Malibu. My favorite things about these beaches is that it takes some hiking to get to the shoreline. After the beach, we drove through Topanga Canyon, boogied home. I went to work, dropped Tino off in Hollywood, and he ended up at CineSpace drinking whiskey unitl Helen came and got him. Fin.

LACMA

2008-11-28T16:53:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving

2008-11-28T13:27:00.000-08:00

Here are a couple videos, some didn't turn out that well. Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving.

Video ode to the afore mentioned California Wildfires of November 2008

2008-11-20T02:32:00.000-08:00

This was a clip taken by some classical musicians on the way to the Riverside Philharmonic to perform the exact song accompanied to the video while the wild fire JUMPED the 91 Freeway. Click HERE.

No News is Good News.

2008-11-19T22:13:00.001-08:00

Whats happenin? So here is a picture of the California wildfires that were taking place about a week ago. Last Saturday, Helen and I were driving home down Sunset Blvd, and we could see the plume of smoke drifting very high into the air. Your mind tries to convince you its a cloud, but it is not. The smoke was really bad last Saturday. I go to Ritual on the weekends early to work at the door for the dinner crowd. Driving into Hollywood on the 101 heading west, the lights and the views of the houses in the Hills were abstructed by just a gray cloud hanging over everything. If you looked at the lights acroos the street from Ritual, you could see the smoke inthe air. Needless to say, I got a scratchy throat, a fever, and hae been hanging out with this pain in the ass sick feeling for almost a week now. So, thats that. Helen and I live pretty far away from the fires, they were all in the hills to the southwest, west and north of us. We couldn't see anything from our house. And, in case we are trapped in the fires path, we are in deep trouble, because we are pretty close to downtown and that overal situation would not be good.
Thanksgiving is next week, and we are starteing to plan already. If you didn't know, my buddy Martin is coming out for about a week. I am really looking forward to his visit. We plan on having a great Tahnksgiving over here. Trust me, with Helen, Bill, and Martin in the kitchen, it is going to be a good one. In case you are keeping track Greece, Italy and Mexico will be represented on Cortez street next week. DAMN!!! We are also trying to plan a Thanksgiving Eve (Wednesday night) beach bonfire at Docweilers State Beach by LAX. So, if anyone is reading this in California, consider yourself invited. Thanksgiving is lining up to be a great evening of friends and food. I would love to be able to spend it with Helen and her, or my, family. But let me say this, If we can't be them, being sorrounded by the people expected to come next Thursday is a close as you can get to the real thing, although over 2000 miles away. In case I forget, I want to wish everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours. Gobble Gobble, Suckas.

My Komputater got sick

2008-11-12T11:28:00.000-08:00

Sorry, kids. It has been a while since I posted. I got a nasty virus last week and had to wipe the slate clean and reinstall my operating system. So, I am finally getting back up to date, installing drivers and other apps that I no longer have installed on the computer. So, I apologize, and I plan to be up and blogging real soon. Not a lot of auditions to speak of lately, the town is is slow right now. I hope all is well with everyone, and expect some save the dates for our wedding real soon.

Election Night Fun

2008-11-05T00:35:00.000-08:00

So's, Helen and I, her cousins Sundee and Murph, and our friend Bill got together for the election results. Don't think I need to say anything else about it. We headed to Century City(Fox Studios) to a hotel where the Obama rally was taking place. We thought it was goinig to a fun outdoor thing, so we brought our dog, and a an awesome rubber kick ball we found in the parking lot. The line to get into the hotel was long, we had the dog, so we headed back to the car. And wouldn't you know it, a soccer match broke out. Great night.

Thanksgiving Guest

2008-10-29T00:52:00.001-07:00

Just got word today that a very dear friend of mine, Martin, is coming to Los Angeles for Thanksgiving. I can't tell you how anxious I am to see him. He's a good man, and a great friend. Most of you know Martin, and are probably wondering why I posted this goofy ass picture of Bill. Well, look to the right of Bill in the mirror, and there you will find Martin laughing his ass off. Martin has been working a lot lately and is looking forward to this little vacation. An amazing thing about Tino coming out, is that he will be a part of the Thanksgiving meal crew. Helen and Bill did it last year, and it was amazing. I can only imagine what it is going to be like when Tino joins in. Really looking forward to seeing you, Martin.

Smash these guys together, and

2008-10-25T13:48:00.000-07:00

you would have the kind of career choices and fame I can only dream of. Dennis Franz? Amazing, he always made the audience walk the fine line between loving and hating his characters. Dennis seemed to always put in solid acting work. And, any man who wears short sleeve button downs with polyester ties is kind of my hero. As for John Candy, enough said. He started with Second City Toronto when he was 19, paling around with the likes of Akroyd, Radner, amd Eugen Levy. No one, will ever play a better comical movie dad. Some might say Chevy Chase, but he never cared enough to connect with his kids by renting a pontoon boat, or taking the family to a SUMMER RENTAL. His comedy and his heart, I don't beleive, will ever be captured again. My favorite as of late? Chi McBride. The guys incredible. He can play anything. Started loving him in Boston Public, he had a small part in I, ROBOT, and then his choices get way more eclectic. He hit the mark as a soulful therapist/dishwasher in a movie about a dysfunctional chain restaurant called WAITING. Oh, don't forget about LET'S GO TO PRISON. In it he plays a mans man large soulful gay guy, buying new ass and brewing merlot . After that movie, the guy still gets a network show. Chi McBride, as of late, definitely has the career I would want for myself. Just wanted to share all that with you, just feeling the love from everyone today. Thank you to you all that supported me following my dream all of these years. Almost there, guys, almost there. Enjoy your weekend.

Maybe its a food blog now.

2008-10-24T16:19:00.001-07:00

I believe Sunday night we are going to grill. We have pork brisket in the freezer we got from Costco. I pulled it out, and we will marinate it tomorrow. Right up the street is a little mexican grocery store, and they sell all natural charcoal for $4 a bag. It takes a little longer to get started, but once it is started, it creates a perfect steady heat. Once we have a little more of a budget, I would love to buy charcoal and wood chips from a place I found not to far from here. Click here for the link. We will post some pics, I hope everyone has a great weekend.

There are plenty of reasons,

2008-10-23T18:28:00.000-07:00

Why I love my Eleni, and endless amount. Homemade from scratch amazing spinach pie is DEFINITELY one of them.spinachpie Yeah, tastes twenty times better than it looks. Unbelievable. If anyone has anything to say spinachpie about me drinking a Miller product, I will simply reply "It was Free". Accepting spinachpie donations if this offends anyone.

TO MY SISTER ANN-
I have informed Helen that the Greek salad making you
have been attempting hasn't been wildly successful, which surprises me, because you can cook quite well. So, in response e are going to post a video
very soon that will walk you through the whole process of making
the Greek salad in all of its glory. Spinach Pie.

Guess what the temperature was today.

2008-10-22T19:32:00.001-07:00

One more of these days, and I'll be back in Chicago, facing the freezing cold winter chill with a proudly earned three hour local bar beer buzz. Try me LA, I'll hit the fuckin bricks. It was milder this summer that it has been for the last month. Tried to get some fall in the midwest, no dice-80 degress. Unbelievable. I really am tired of this heat, its no longer amusing. I don't smile thinking about all of my friends and family in the midwest enjoying their nice jackets and amazingly comforting fall/winter gear while I bask in the warmth. I hate all of you right now. Yup, I know its a strong word. Still hatecha'all. Seriously, one more high above 90 before Thanksgiving, and I will be in Chicago or St. Louis, and wont look back.

The trip to St. Louis.

2008-10-19T23:25:00.000-07:00

I went to St. Louis last weekend for the wedding of my dear friend, Shannon. It was a whirlwind five day trip, rehearsel dinner, wedding, reception, a family day, a day and a half fishing trip with the old man, snagged some Ted Drewes, flew back to L.A. Here are some pics. I have an audition tomorrow for a guy who's wife didn't know she was pregnant and they only found out after she had an enema, went to the toilet and had the baby(Baby was in toilet). This shit is true, it is for a Discovery Health show. Can't make this up. I'll let you know how it goes.

Not Like They Used To Be.

2008-10-06T01:40:00.000-07:00

Movies aren't. Every once in a while you get something good comes along, but that's it. I miss movies that just make do without CGI. Movies that have classic stories, fist fights, beer, women, Clint Eastwood, and a monkey. Raise a glass to EVERY WHICH WAY BUT LOOSE. Click the movie title for a video.

My love.

2008-09-30T20:18:00.000-07:00

This is my Helen. She is the greatest. For those of you who do not know her face, or her very well. This posting is just to say how much I truly love her. SHe is linked to my blog now, check her out on the left called Bluebirds & HoneyBees.

24 Hours worth of World Wide Air Traffic.

2008-09-26T13:11:00.001-07:00

Not Orange Shoes, Shannon. My OWN Shoes!!

2008-09-26T12:49:00.000-07:00

So, I have to attend a wedding in St. Louis in a couple weeks. My dear friend Shannon is marrying some guy named John, I think. Anywho, got measured for the tux yesterday in Glendale, and arranged for pick up in the Lou. I called Shannon, and told her I wanted to wear my own shoes. Rental shoes kill me, I got a nice pair black Kenneth Coles I usually substitute for rentals. She said sure, Which is what I love about her, because she didn't even flinch. Get a text from her about 15 minutes later, and she said "John(her fiance) doesn't think the orange shoes are gonna work." I lost it, called her back, and told her I said my OWN shoes, not orange ones. She laughed her ass off, and we cleared it up. But then I got to thinkin, and planning. Which ones will they be? Can't wait for the wedding, and seeing the family. And Ted Drewes, and also some White Castle. MMMMMMMmmmmmmmmmmm.

Jail Break.

2008-09-11T11:44:00.000-07:00

Woke up this morning to take JuJu out. Usually before I let her go, I scan the yard for cats. There are a LOT of strays around our neighborhood. She will go after them. I usually wouldn't care, but the fence is wooden slats, and on the two sides she would most likely chase the cats to, there is a bout a twenty foot drop off in either direction. It's hard to explain, but my whole yard is shored in by huge retaining walls, except to the left. To left is where Juan and his family live. So, before turning JuJu loose this morning, I scanned the yard. Right in the middle was a chicken. One of the the neighbor chickens had escaped! I ran into Juan, he came over and tried to help me, but to no avail. It went back into hiding. I just went out fifteen minutes ago, and almost got her. I am giving her a little time to come out. Hopefully the next post will be a picture of me with a chicken under my arm. Goddamn, I forgot how fast they are. Gonna be a fun day. Sorry about the grainy photo, it was taken with my phone.

And the Date is....

2008-09-09T12:13:00.000-07:00

June 27th, 2009

We have a motherf*&kin date!

2008-09-08T12:49:00.000-07:00

All right kids, hot off the press, we have a wedding date. We have been looking for a church that fits some criteria for our wedding. We wanted to get married in an orthodox church. We want this because we want to baptize our kids. If we didn't plan on baptizing, we would been to Vegas and back. Yeah, I know, Mary Ann and my sisters would have formed a line to whoop my ass, but I ain't scared of those women, I am engaged to a Greek. We were very close to doing this. So, if we were in the midwest, either my parents church, or Helen's church would be our options. But, we insist on doing things the hard way. When we rented our apartment, Our landlord, Nikolay, told us he was a priest. He is a Bulgarian Orthodox priest at a small little church not far away. I actually met him at the church to give him the security deposit. He always invites us to events, and is a great old school priest. He is an artist, he smokes, drinks, and rocks a ponytail. Helen, Shannon, and I went to the Hollywood farmers market on Sunday. After, we took a drive and Helen asked me to take her by Nikolay's church. We went in, took a look and lit a couple of candles. On the way back to the car, with Shannon and the dog inside, we spotted our landlords car, and decided to go around back and see if we could find him. We did, drinking beer and smoking behind the church at a table with some other men. Look, smoking and drinking don't qualify a Man of God with me. But, I remember looking at pictures of my baptism, and after, the priest sitting at my kitchen table having a scotch and a cigarette. And that priest, ,whose name I forget at the moment, was a favorite of my parents. I think its great that a priest enjoys himself, and has a real side to him. I remember lloking at the picture when I was older and thinking Priests don't have to be perfect, just human. And the more human, the more we can relate to each other. So, Nikolay introduced us to everyone in the basement. We sat down at at a table, had some water and beer, and met some of the churchs founders. It was warm and inviting, and brought back all the memories of The Society, family gatherings, and even the church my parents attend now. We visited for a while, thanked, hugged and shook hands, and went on our way. Nikolay came by to collect rent last night and we asked him about a date, he said it was fine and he would marry us. I think its great, somebody we actually know, like and respect, is going to marry us. We don't care that it is Bulgarian, orthodox is orthodox, no matter the language. And now we have a date, a great starting point for the planning as well. Now, I have a deadline, and a lot of work to do.

Long time, no update. Meet JUJU!!

2008-07-30T18:19:00.000-07:00

Hey, sorry its been a while, I promise to start posting more regularly. My camera was missing for a while. I found it today, and now I can't find the battery charger. Awesome. Helen's cousin will replacing our old camera very shortly, and I will post better pics and videos. Here is our new dog, JuJu. We went to the Burbank Animal shelter last Monday, and found out she was available for adoption on this past Thursday. One of the employees told uys to come back on Thursday morning, and if we were the onyl ones looking to adopt her, we could do it right away. However, if there was more than one person or family looking o adopt her, there would be a drawing. Well, we got to the shelter on Thursday morning around 9:15, the shelter open at 10:00. People were already lining up. While standing in the line, I asked out loud who was there to adopt the Cockapoo, and everyone in line was waiting to adopt her. We all walked into the lobby, and one person from each family gave their license, and they gave us a raffle ticket. They put the tickets in a bucket, and drew. We won her. I told Helen before the drawing, if we won the lottery, it was meant to be. So, she got spayed on Friday, and we picked her up from the vet office. She is the most chill dog in the world. She is totally smitten with us, and is uber gentle. We are getting used to eachother, and we can'ty wait to get her a bath. SHe can't get groomed unitl this Friday. So, yeah, we are a little crazy about her, and so is everyone that meets her. More pics to come!

Our Neighbors, the Lathans.

2008-07-09T02:10:00.000-07:00

This is the daughter of our neighbors, Patricia and John. Her name is Jahnna, here she is on our chair, all wrapped up in our blanket. On Saturday, Patricia and Helen went to Ikea to do a little shopping, and Jahnna and I hung out. We did sidewalk chalk, swung on the swing, and danced on the front porch. Sunday Night, we had family dinner. Grilled salmon, corn, cole slaw, and some shrimp. We seem to eat together at least once a week, and Jahnna is always around, being cuter than all get out. Tonight, Patricia made Lasagna, and Bill came over later and did some clean up work. It's funny how things work out. We have neighbors that we already consider family, and their little girl brings us so much happiness. And our Landlord is Bulgarian Orthodox Priest, who, in fact, could marry us. Helen and I feel so fortunate to find our little apartment, with our yard, and our incredible neighbors. I guess you could say we are really feeling the love. Oh, by the way, Jahnna calls me Biggie. We adore her. We just wish we could share it with all of you. And we can, we are just a round trip flight away. I will try and get a family picture of the Lathans to post.

Meg and Andy

2008-06-25T11:05:00.000-07:00

www.themitchellsinmoshi.blogspot.com

This is a link to a new blog started by some good friends of mine, Meg and Andy. They are good friends of mine from Chicago, and they are going to Africa for three weeks. They are going to volunteer at a school, teaching, mentoring, and finsihing some construction. They are two of the most giving, warm, and motivated people I know. Also, Andy makes some of the most amazing mix CD's in the world. If you check in with the blog and comment, or, make a donation to the school, he might make and send one to you. I will be checking this blog religiously over the next three weeks to get their insight and share their experiences. I hope you guys do the same. Send them some love!! Safe Travels, Andy and Meg. And to make it easy, all you have to do is click the link Meg & Andy in the Stuffs I likes columns on the left to go straight to their blog.

Emd of the Tour.

2008-06-25T10:56:00.000-07:00

DAMN!! It was a whirlind tour with FLorida, the engagement, the Chicago party, and the trip home. Oh, the trip home pushed the scales in favor of a California wedding. Florida was amazing. It was a great week to spend some uninterrupted time with my family. My nieces and nephews are getting so big, and adorable. Here is our family pic that we take each time we go, which my brother in law Mark takes. The best part is getting set up, and then watching Mark run into the frame. The crazy thing about this picutre, to me, is that the family is finally set. Any one else is coming by way of creation. Just geeked about geting married, thats all.

Some More Pics

2008-06-16T21:44:00.000-07:00

Finally.

2008-06-16T21:34:00.000-07:00

For all of those who didn't know, Helen and I got engaged on Sunday night. I have been a wreck the last couple of weeks, and tried to keep her from finding anything out. I have been palnning this for quite a while. I started ring shopping around march, and have kept the whole thing quiet. Pretty much everyone knew but Helen. The last couple of months have been pretty trying, because I have had to act less than sweet to throw her off the trail. I wanted to plan the whole thing for our family vacation. I wanted her to spend some time with my family, and, with the help of her cousin Angie and her sister/friend Helen, we succesfully planned a family get together/engagement party in Chicago on Saturday. Helen was completely surprised by everything, and this vacation couldn't be better. We drank champagne and ouzo, and just hunng out all night. It really was one of the best nights I could imagine. Thank you to everyone who helped me keep this a secret and helped me plan this whole thing. Special thanks to my friend Shannon who tirelessly helped me find the perfect ring. More to come, I promise. And, to my Helen, for saying yes to this guy.

Past Wendesday at the beach.

2008-06-06T14:38:00.000-07:00

"Where did Lena find you?"

2008-05-29T23:17:00.000-07:00

So. If you don't know, I help Helen nanny from time to time. The job is pretty easy. I simply chauffeur some kids-Nicky, Stella, and Sascha, from school and any other activities they have. They are great kids, and they love to play after school in the playground. The kids are allowed to stay after school in a supervised environment while other nannies, as well as moms and dads, pick them up. Sascha, the youngest is in the Bahama with Helen, so I am just shuttling Nicky and Stella. So yesterday, Wednesday, I had to pick them right after school. There was no time to play, I had to drive them over Laurel Canyon, and then boogie out to Universal to make my audition. Well, picking them up directly after school means Nicky couldn't play, and Stella had to miss her Animal Adventures class. Animal Adventures class is a program where an instructor brings domesticated and wild animals into the class so the kids can interact and ask question about it. Stella is a serious animal lover, and because of my schedule, she couldn't attend it. So, both Nicky and Stella bore the brunt of schedule. So, today, I picked them up around 4:30, so they both had plenty of time to play. So I always walk in, hang out for a while, and usually I play with the kids. Not just Stella, Nicky or Sascha, but sometimes other kids. So, today, while playing one on one basketball with this kid Sam,(u should see how stylish this kids are, its almost too much), I was teaching him a couple things and just hanging out with him. I was giving some pointers to Sam, and then this woman says to me-"Where did Lena find you?". Lena is the mother of the children that I take care of. I kinda flipped at first. I was thinking "What? Did this bitch just ask me where the fuck they found me?" Like I hadn't existed, and my soul/sole purpose was to be hatched at a factory where blue collar people who work for the rich and are good with kids are born. She said it in that really shitty, late 80's, early 90's stuck up Beverly Hills wife way eg., an evil mother in Troupe Beverly Hills, that Blond Lesbian thing in Beverly Hills Cop II. And then, I remembered that I was playing with her son about fifteen minutes ago, and she was really sweet, and she was completely complimenting me. Then I realized that being good with kids is probably one of my favorite attributes of mine, and I am proud of it. But, Shit, when it first came out of her mouth, I had to bite my tongue. She then told me her and her husband hire a Manny for their sons in the summer, and how important is that boys have have a guy watching them. Two days before, at Nicky's baseball game, I was playing with Stella and another lady complimented me on my interaction with Stella. I just remembered that. There are a lot of men out there that are good with kids. Grandpa's and Dad's alike that are great with children, and know how to talk to kids. And not only with children they are related to, but others as well. I think a lot of men can be great with kids, they just need a chance for the mothers to take the leash off them. Men also need to stop being looked at cautiously out of the corner of other peoples eyes when ever they are interacting with kids. I know, I know, their are some sick people out there, but if Men didn't feel like they were on trial every time they interacted with kids, I think things would be a little different. Thats just some love for all the amazing men out there that know what it takes to be real man.

Wednesday at Universal

2008-05-29T23:10:00.000-07:00

I had an audition at Universal Studios on Wednesday. I really thought I blew the audition. I walked out of the room, and straight to the car, mulling it over. I didn't think it was strong. So, I let it go, talked to some people about it, and mentally buried it. I got a call today from my Agency, and I have a producers call back at 5:00 today. I am pretty jazzed, and proud, and hoping to book this one. Oh, the policy for auditions- Unless I tell you I got it, I didn't get it.

To my girlfriend Helen:Destroyer of cell phones!!!

2008-05-29T23:01:00.000-07:00

My girl Helen washed my cell phone last weekend on Sunday. She woke me up with gentle nudging, while saying "Biggie, Biggiieee, Biggie, I washed your cellphone". After I woke up, she handed me the phone in three respectable pieces. While replacing mine last Friday, we bought her a desperately needed new phone. Wednesday, while flying one of the kids she nannies for to the Bahamas, she dropped her less-than-a-week-old cellphone down the chemical airplane toilet. Way to go, Greek! Mine is the Nokia, Helens is the Motorola.

Paramount Studios this past Thursday.

2008-05-24T19:26:00.000-07:00

Had an audition on Thursday at the Paramount Lot. Auditioned, got called back for that day at 2:45, and read again. There were only two guys going for the part. Me and the other guy. So, I was pleased to get the call back. Walking onto the lot was indescribable. I felt incredible. A lot of people here go on the lots to audition, and its old Hat to them, but let me tell you, I thought it was great. First time, I'll never forget it. I never want to lose that. I swear, I will never get bored of this stuff. I finally have everything together. Resumes, and head shots and all that, and I am feeling really confident ou of the gate. The audition was for Monk, I hoped to get it for several reasons, one of them being that my Aunt Chris watches the show. But a week from tomorrow night(SUN), i will make my T.V. debut. I am in the opening sequence for the new USA series "In Plain Sight". It is only a still photo of me, but hey, its a credit on the ol' resume. Check out the show, it is going to be a good one. Helen babysits for the Executive Producer, David, and his wife, Holly, for their two kids Joely James and Will Parker. So, watch it, or at least record it, because if it gets picked up for another season, I might end up with a role. On top of it, David and Holly have helped Helen and I immensely, and they deserve the success. Have a/Hope you had- a great memorial day weekend. Take Care

Me, Bill. Jim and Doveed.

2008-05-20T00:57:00.000-07:00

We knew each other over ten years ago, reuniting for a fluke of a night for my friend shannons birthday. I guess the stars aligned. Good fucking times. Me, Jimmy the Saint, Billy Boat, and Doveed Linder. Back together for the first time since ought something. Good things, Kids. Good things.

First piece of art hung.

2008-05-19T13:23:00.001-07:00

This is the piece that I knocked off a wire in downtown L.A. I have video of the excursion on the blog. Helen was good enough to bring some other pieces back from Chicago. Now, I gots to figure out where the hell I am going to put/hang 'em. This is the view form the kitchen looking out towards the front room.

Howdy DO!!

2008-05-15T12:02:00.000-07:00

Hey, kids. First post in a long time, I know. Just getting situated in the new place. Haven't posted pictures in a long time, also. Well, here is a little pic of dinner last night in the backyard. I made my first beer can chicken. It was pretty good, but it needs a little tweaking. It was myself, Helen, and our friend Casey. Casey and I started discussing our new project together. We are really excited about the potential of this project, and hope to work with all of our creative friends. Once it is submitted to the writers guild and registered with them, and after we copyright it, we will begin spilling the beans. Life is grand. The backyard is quite the project. We have an enormous avocado tree in our backyard. The whole notion of having a avocado tree in our backyard is crazy to me in the first place. Well, the avocados have gotten out of hand, and there was just layer of them on the ground. They stink, are hard to dig out of the high weeds/grass, and have been quite a chore getting out. I filled three large yard waste bins, and they probably weighed about 150 lbs a piece, easy. We have cactus, a loquat tree, and an orange tree in our backyard. It has a lot of potential, but just needs work.My neighbor John and I are working on it together. I will start posting pictures soon, and a little video, ans soon as we replace our camera with capabilities. I hope all is well with everyone.

The Move

2008-04-26T14:09:00.000-07:00

View Larger Map

Long Day.

2008-04-23T00:52:00.000-07:00

Spent the day at the new apartment painting and getting it ready. We had planned to spend the whole day there painting up a storm. I got a phone call from my commercial agent and had an audition today around 3:30, and Helen had to work for a couple of hours. So we finished painting the front room, went back to the house on beachwood, ate some lunch in a hurry, I printed out directions and a resume, dropped her off at work, auditioned, drove back to her work, played with the kids for a minute, jumped back in the car, back to beachwood, Burrito King in Silverlake (Good, but not as good as La Pasadita or Tecalitlan) for dinner, ate on the patio, painted the kitchen and now home and showered finally at about 12:30. It was a long day, but I(we) couldn't be more excited about our new place. It is close to downtown, has an amazing backyard(not yet amazing, but it will be!) and has a covered front porch. This place is the kind of place I never thought I would have until I could actually afford to buy a house. Yeah, I know it is still an apartment, but for those of us whose life still dictates apartment occupancy, to put it in the words of a friend when showed the place, "You guys struck Gold!". I know we have, but right now I am to tired to admit. It will be nice to move into a place that has already been painted in the colors we want. I can't wait for any of you to visit. We have a pull out couch, with the bar in the back, but I guarantee a walk in the park and breakfast on the patio will straighten you right up. I know a lot of my friends would appreciate it, but none more than Martin. I could use a cigar, doot!

Here you go, all.

2008-04-15T17:04:00.000-07:00

For those who give two shits, here are the final head shots. I sent them off to get proof copies before I pay for the printing. The proofs should be done Thursday and Friday, then I will get them printed. The agents get some, and then I'll be shipping some home for MOM and POPS and the rest of the family.

I have heard about it, and here is the real deal, Holyfield. (Some NSFW Language)

2008-04-14T20:58:00.000-07:00

The last Clamdiggin Post.

2008-04-11T03:25:00.001-07:00

Here is the art that Clamdiggin displayed at the first loft party/film fundraiser for Kyle. Needless to say, they stood out. That whole experience will never be forgotten. Goddamn, I miss that gray table. Billy, the gay older gentlemen that ran the thrift store downstairs, always saved the department store display tables for me.

Moving Clamdiggin out of the Washtenaw Compound.(The easel by which all other easels are judged by)

2008-04-09T11:11:00.000-07:00

Clamdiggin was moving to the great southwest from Chicago, so I showed up and helped them. Here is a link to their site, and if you haven't gotten hip to them, do it. They create beautiful things and try to save the earth at the same time. I think I have two more Clamdiggin photos I'll post over the next couple of days.

http://clamdiggin.typepad.com/