Happy Birthday Mickey!

My cell phone rang this morning at a little before 6AM. It was my Dad. He had a smile/laughter in his voice as he called me to let me know he was wishing Mickey Mouse a happy 81st birthday. I laughed and thanked him for reminding me.

Now my dad is not a Mickey Mouse fan. He read that little piece of trivia in a newspaper article that morning. But he found it important enough to call me about it because when I was a little kid, I loved Mickey Mouse. Knowing that it was Mickey's birthday reminded him of his first born and the times when the most important thing in his son's life was tucking in the various Mickey Mouse toys before going to sleep.

It's the little things that continue to reminds us of those who love us very much.

Item #260257433381

The other night, I was watching "The Big Bang Theory" (a sitcom on CBS) with my wife. The show's premise is about four friends who are on the high end of the intelligent scale (I believe most people would call them nerds) and for recreational purposes, they follow all things sci-fi and comic books. In this particular episode, one of the geniuses accidentally purchased a time machine prop from the 1970's cult film "Time Machine" on E-bay for the low, low price of $800. It was a pretty funny scenario.

All though we both found this funny, my wife looked at me with a semi-serious face and asked, "If you had the money, would you buy something like that on E-bay?" I looked at her and without thinking twice said, "Not for anything Time Machine related, but for Star Wars... oh yeah! With out a doubt!" I then began to provide specific items that I would bid on, why and most importantly, how much extra money would have to be lying around before I would throw caution to the wind and begin a bidding frenzy on E-bay.

She is SO lucky that I do not have money lying around because the very next day, I found out that the original T.I.E. Fighter (model) was on sale on E-bay. And it's not just any ol' T.I.E. Fighter but the one that crashed into Darth Vader's Fighter in the original Star Wars. It has the the crash marks and every thing. Take a look for yourself.

Is she a beauty or what? Anyway, it was at the bargain-basement starting price of $17,000. But since it is E-bay, there were a few other bids - a total of nine - and it eventually sold for $350,000.

Yeah, that we have been a nice addition. Maybe next time.

Impulse Buying

I've never liked shopping. There has always been something about the shopping experience that has always rubbed me the wrong way. So, as you would expect, I try and avoid it as much as possible.

But on the rare occasion that I am shopping, I have been known to be an impulsive buyer. That type of buying that is done at the spare of the moment, with out any previous planning or thought. You see an item and think, "Yes, I do need this." And if it's at a good price, even better.

Now, the whole "I hate shopping" has an exception. And it is a pretty big exception. That exception is that... wait for it... I love Costco. I know that is a strange statement from someone who supposedly hates shopping but it's true - I love Costco. There is something about going that huge warehouse and roaming the wide aisles filled with multi-pack items at low, low prices that gets me all happy inside. Plus you have that great return policy and $1.50 hot dog and soda, what more can you ask for.

If you ask my wife, restrain would be good.

Because she does not share my enthusiasm, I take the bi-monthly trips on my own. And as you can imagine, nothing good ever comes when I'm left to my own devises so more often than not, I come home with items that were not on my shopping list.

Case in point, this past Monday I went to the local Costco with the following items on my shopping list - chicken, sponges, chewing gum and water. All these items were purchased... along with these additional items - a 3-pack of spiral notebooks (which I just so happen to use for work), a pair of cargo shorts (because you can never have too many) and a watch (no excuse for this one.)

I think the worst or oddest purchase I've made at Costco was the time I went in to purchase milk and water and came home with those items plus a new 4-person Coleman tent. Even though I had a perfectly good 2-person tent at home... which was free... and had only used once in the six years that I had the tent.

I do like my new watch though.

The entry posted while listening to disc 4 of The Led Zeppelin Box Set which just happens to be an impulse buy from Costco.

The Bat Signal

Oh yeah, I see the Bat Signal. Boy howdy do I see the Bat Signal. Especially since today is opening day for a much anticipated film to say the least. But unlike many other Bat fans, I will not be seeing it today.

OK, I'll give you a second to gather yourself after that last statement. Don't worry - I'll see the film in due time. Why the wait? Partly because in being 34 years of age, I feel that I'm way too old to be seeing a movie at a midnight screening. Although this has been done in the past for such films as Return of the Jedi and Star Wars Episode 1 (don't get me started on this film.)

But mostly because of my 34 years of age, I've become increasingly crotchety. Which turns out to make it disagreeable for me to watch a highly anticipated film in an extremely crowded mega-plex where people are pushy and loud and over all annoying.

But don't worry, I'll be catching The Dark Knight next week. A few times even. Once with the missus and once with my brothers. Each time with a medium Coke and plethora of pop-corn.

In the mean time, I think I'm going to check out Space Chimps. One of the other films opening today. Monkeys in space! That's a whole of funny.

This entry written while listening to "The Best of The Monkees."

Free at Last

This post was originally written on June 13, 2008

Ten official days later (which spanned over a period of four weeks,) I was finally released from Jury Duty. And since I've been released and a verdict has been passed, I'm free to speak about the case - but I won't.

It was a complicated affair with a lot of in's and out's. But suffice it to say - it seemed that neither side was telling the truth. In this particular civil case, the plaintiff accused the defendant of assault and battery... at a wedding... three years ago. An even though it was documented on several occasions that there were any where from 150 to 600 guests at said wedding, no one saw the defendant assault or batter the plaintiff. And even though there is a good chance that the defendant got a shot in, because of the lack of actual evidence, we all agreed that the defendant was not guilty.

So that is that. In the end, the one thing I noticed was that the Los Angeles courts (or at least the ones in Glendale) do not look as nice as the courts in "Law & Order."

This post written while listening to Muddy Waters "Muddy Waters at Newport 1960."

$71.80

Granted, I was on echale. Echale - as in the point when you're gas gauge dial is twitching pass the E. That point where that little light-shaped gas pump is flashing feverishly reminding you that yes, you do need gas.

So there I was. Watching the gas pump dial turn and turn. I purchased 15 gallons of gas today and paid a grand total of $71.80. Jimmny Christmas! That's just not right. I remember when I bought my car in 2001 and I was paying about $25 to fill up my tank.This thing is getting out of hand.

And the worse thing about all this - there is nothing we can do about this.

Too grim?

Jury Duty

While most people were going about their daily lives, I spent Tuesday and Wednesday sitting in the gallery of a court room in Glendale waiting to see if I would become a - tan tan tan - juror.

And as I waited in the hopes of full filling my civic duty, I was entertained by the plethora of irate potential jurors that went in and then out of the juror's box. Each of them thoroughly bothered by the mere thought that the city of Los Angeles would even consider them to serve on this particular civil case. They lectured the plaintiff and then the defendant and then their lawyers for even bringing their case this far and waisting tax payers money but mostly their time.

Some claimed they already knew who they were siding with, even before hearing any piece of evidence. Some claimed that they would not side with any one. Some decided that they wouldn't award any monetary compensation. Some did not trust lawyers or doctors or police officers or any of the witnesses much less the plaintiff and defendant. A couple people claimed that they did not believe in a "trial by your peers" which pissed of a retired lawyer (a potential juror) and the seemingly mild-mannered judge. One person claimed that they were biased against certain ethnic groups.

After many reprimands were doled out by the judge to the surly jury pool, people were sent home. And in the end, I'm am Alternative Juror #1 serving on a civil case for 8-10 days.

Side Bar: Unlike most people, I was actually looking forward to jury duty. I don't see it as a burden but more like a mini-vacation. Because for 8-10 days, I'll get to disappear into a court room and do something different from my daily routine.

This entry posted while listening to "I Fought the Law" by The Clash.

Celebrating May the Fouth (on May 14th)

So some of you may be wondering why May the Fourth (Star Wars Day) has come and gone without a peep from me. The truth is, I wanted to commemorate the glorious day but I was a tad busy at work and with my terrible time management skills, it kind of slipped away from me.

So to make amends, I'm posting my May the Fourth post today... on the fourteenth. And here is what I want to say. Well actually, no, not what I really want to say. Because what I really want to say is "What the FUDGE Lucas?" Have you seen his latest money-making scheme - Star Wars: The Clone Wars?!?! He is basically tagging Star Wars on anything that he can to make a buck (like he needs it?) And this led me to my deep-seated conspiracy theory that I had long ago but only until recently have I started to speak of it.

STAR WARS is probably one of the greatest films ever made, but why is it that in the end, when the Rebels are celebrating the destruction of the Death Star and heroes were being recognized - Chewbacca did not get a medal. What's up with that?!?! Luke got a medal. Han Solo got a medal. Even R2-D2 and C-3PO got hooked up with a fancy-shmancy detail job. And Chewbacca - nothing. He walked down the aisle with his tattered old bag and watched Luke and Han get their medals and him - nothing. What, a Wookie can't get a medal?

Anyway. Now I could continue on this rant and probably go even further (Don't get me started on the supposed Episode I, II and III) until I truly give into my Dark Side but I decided to take it down a bit. I took a breather listened to some Otis Redding and searched the web for something warm and fuzzy. And what can be more warm and fuzzy than an Ewok. So click here to see a video for another unsung hero.

Happy May the Fourth... on May Fourteenth.

Crazy Love

So the other day, I was driving to the office from LAX after doing a bit of work related travel when I heard for the first time on the radio since my wedding, my or our (as in my wife and I) "first dance" song. It was very exciting to hear the song after a little over seven months of marriage. I quickly forgot the reality of the moment and only remembered that first dance. Dancing so close to her, knowing that it was right and was I happy. I started to sing along passionately to the song as a crooked smile began to grow across my face. The moment was good...

Until I was interrupted by a pesky question from my co-worker who was sitting next to me. Basically ruining the moment. What a shame.

This post written while listening to "Crazy Love" by Van Morrison which happens to be our first dance song in question.

Viva Record Store Day!

As you can see, I did my part to support Record Store Day. I celebrated by visiting a small record shop on the west side that I've been wanting to check out for sometime but never got around to it. So Record Store Day seemed like the perfect day to come a calling. The place is a true record shop, selling mostly vinyl with some other formats here and there. I came home with a few CDs that would replace the cassette versions I currently own, a few Disney albums which were reminders of childhood for the misuss and me, a Los Lobos album - just because they are my favorite band - and the piece de resistance, a promo copy of the Monterey International Pop Festival Box Set. Although it was a cassette version, the reason I picked it up is because I couldn't pass up on hearing some live Otis Redding blowing away "the Love crowd" as he called the concert goers. Throw in some Janis Joplin doing her thing with Big Brother & The Holding Company, Booker T and the MGs, The Who and Jimi Hendrix, you just couldn't beat the price. Plus - and more importantly - I was doing my part to support Record Store Day.

Can't wait until the next celebration. I'll keep you posted if I hear anything.

This post written while listening to music saved on my iTunes.

Music Lovers Unite!

This Saturday, April 19th, has been designated as RECORD STORE DAY. (Insert cricket sounds here.)

Don't tell me you haven't heard about Record Store Day? Well let me kick down some knowledge to you. On this day, independent record stores (and by independent I mean the opposite of the large, chain stores such as Best Buy, Target and Wal-Mart) around the country will come together and celebrate the beauty, culture and uniqueness that is the local record shop. Participating stores will have special promotions, give-aways and in-store performances through out the day. Ask yourself, when was the last time you visited a record store? And as you scratch your head and jog your memory, click here for more information and participating stores.

That was the informative portion of this entry. Here are my thoughts on why I will (and you should too) visit a record shop this Saturday. But before I begin, let me make a few things clear to you young whipper-snappers. Yes, I know that records shops (the local and chain store variety) rarely if ever sell records, they sell CDs. Yes, it is easier to go to the local chain store to get new music and even easier and faster to purchase music on any of the various music sites. And Yes, it is cheaper to purchase music at the chain stores or on music web sites. But where is the fun in that?

Tower Records was my local record shop. Unfortunately, it is closed now (as I have lamented in a few past post.) I'd visit on new music Tuesdays or any day that I had some time to spare. I'd open the doors and be greeted by a blast of music playing from the store's speakers as well as the carnival of employees wandering the store talking to customers. I'd walk the wide aisles, storming through like a heard of turtles. Bouncing from section to section, checking out the new music and the old. Picking up albums one by one and examining them wondering if I would find my next favorite album. By the time I was done, I had a handful of records (or CDs if you will) and then I'd begin the game of putting back items that I could hold off on and only take the necessary. But for me - everything was necessary. My love affair with the record store grew stronger when I moonlighted at a record shop for almost 2 years while I held a regular 9 to 5 job in corporate America. I was on the other side now, helping customers find their new favorite album an spinning what I wanted to listen to on the store speakers. I still dream of owning my own record shop even though it is much harder to do but still, someday.

But for now we have the few remaining records stores. I visit Amoeba when I have a chance but it is not local and is always crowded. Maybe I am getting on in age and acting like a grandpa longing for the good ol' days. But visiting the local record shop were good days. So if you can, visit a local record shop on Saturday, April 19th. Remember the good ol' days or visit for the first time.

This post written while listening to "Kiko" by Los Lobos... one of my favorite albums ever and an album the I happen to discover at my local record store.

No Es Nada Mal...

Maybe I'm over thinking this (as I commonly do) but should I be worried that for the past week, every time any of the two producers that I work with comes to see me or call me, they always* start the conversation by saying "No es nada mal." (Translation - "It's nothing bad.")

That's how they start the conversations. No "Hola," no "How's it going?" Not even a "How about that weather?" Nothing. Just a "No es nada mal." Even when they just want to see what I'm doing for lunch I get a "No es nada mal." I know that we have not had a production go smoothly since September of 2007 but seriously, every conversation starting with "No es nada mal." Hmmm, maybe I should worry.

*Note - I may have exaggerate a bit with the always. When things are bad, they start the conversation with a nervous laugh and then lengthening my name by saying it as "Frrrraankieeee" and then launch into what is wrong and how can I resolve it.

This post written while listening to disc 1 of "The Monterey International Pop Festival."

Dilemma, Dilemma

So as of yesterday, the missus is in Mexico for work leaving me home alone, pretending to be a single guy. So besides working and visiting my family, I have a few hours that I would like to occupy (and since I'm left to my own devises - stay out of trouble.) I've been mulling it over and here are a few ideas I came up with...

Option A - It just so happens that Spike TV is running a Star Wars Marathon this weekend. Although the commercials promoting the event are a bit misleading. Episodes I, II and III are airing this weekend (the sub-par films of the franchise) and Episodes IV, V and VI are airing next weekend (possibly the greatest films ever made.) Because of this, this may be a pass for this weekend but I'm willing to give the films another shot.

Option B - On another basic cable channel, TNT is running a Lord of the Rings Marathon with limited commercials. The limited commercials is important because they keep repeating it in every promo spot. The good thing is that the commercials will allow for snack and bathroom breaks but the bad thing is they are commercials.

Option C - With all the hype surrounding the upcoming film Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, I'm a bit inclined to visit the local video store and rent the Indiana Jones trilogy. I never really got into them growing up so this may be a good opportunity to see what all the fuss is about.

So those are the options that I came up with. As you can tell, it is a conundrum. I'll let you know how it turns out.

This post written while listening to the album "Let it Be... Naked" by The Beatles and avoiding work.

The Geek in Me

From wikipedia.org, a "geek" is a person with a devotion to something in a way that places him or her outside the mainstream. This could be due to the intensity, depth, or subject of their interest. For the record, this is one of many definitions of the term "geek" but the best one suited for this particular moment.

In using this definition, I will be the first to admit (and I'm sure many will agree) - that I am a geek. And proud of it. Geeks are passionate and knowledgeable about their particular area of expertise and their enthusiasm always takes over at the slightest mention of their passion.

As for me, my geek passions lie in several fields. I'm a geek-renaissance man if you will. Off the top of my head and in no particular order, my expertise lie in the following fields: Star Wars (preferably Episodes IV, V and VI but can hold an intelligent conversation on Episode I, II and III,) Batman, comic book heroes in general (knowledge is stronger in DC Comics than Marvel,) music, history (Los Angeles, American or world,) geography, cartoons, pens and the art of writing... yeah, I think that pretty much covers it.

The reason I tell you this is because it come with a cautionary tale. Along with being a geek comes great responsibility. And this responsibility lies in knowing your audience. Some people may listen to your dissertations about your geekdom (your loved ones and other fellow geeks) but most people (general public) could care less.

I'm pretty good about knowing my audience (some times) but some people really don't care and fly their geek flags high. The following pictures are for those particular geeks who shout their love for Star Wars from the highest mountains for all to hear regardless of repercussions. Some of the things are a bit odd but truth be told, my inner-geek was doing a happy dance. NOTE: Most of the pictures (except for one) involve R2-D2 in one way or another. I guess he is the easiest to adapt to every day life.

A Honda del sol posing as an X-Wing fighter. I think this is pretty tight, but the only problem I have with this is that it is a Honda del sol? Really? Couldn't they find a better car to use - like a De Lorean or something?

A Han Solo frozen in Carbonite desk. There is something about staring in to his agonized face every time I balance my check book that wigs me out.

R2-D2 computer (screen not included.) Do you think it's a PC or Mac? I hope it's a Mac.

R2-D2 beenie. Use his dome to keep your dome warm.

R2-D2 trashcan. Why didn't anyone think of this one sooner?

A mailbox dressed up as a R2-D2 (random guy standing next to it not included.)

This post written while listening to the album "Star Wars Trilogy" conducted by John Williams.

Lost in Translation

For those of you who don't know, I work in advertising. Specifically, I work in Hispanic advertising. And even more specifically, I work in Hispanic advertising on the account management side. This means that I'm management or better stated the middle-man / baby-sitter between the client and various departments that make up an advertising agency. And for those who may or may not know, as the norm, the creative department at a Hispanic advertising agency as well as the creative vendors for Hispanic advertisers are almost entirely made up of Latinos of the South America persuasion.

So with that said, I regularly speak to my editing house which is staffed by women who happen to be South American. They are very nice and extremely helpful but always end our conversations with the following cheerful farewell "un beso, ciao ciao!" And since I have the tendency to over think things at times, this leaves me perplexed because I do not know what the appropriate response should be?

I'm pretty sure they are not expecting a "un beso to you to" from me which is good because I would not feel comfortable saying that. But I'm also pretty darn sure that I can not pull off a single ciao much less a double shout-out ciao, ciao. So what do I come back with?

What I have been using is the standard but always classic adios. It seems to have been working for me and I do a good job pulling it enough. And sometimes when I'm face to face, I compliment it with a peace sign extended towards the person (too much?)

This post written while listening to the album "Rattle and Hum" by U2.

Baptism vs. Christening

So this question always plagues me every time I go to a baptism - and the question is "What is the difference between a baptism and a christening?" And the reason this question always pops up is that when I go to the local card shop (Target, Barnes and Nobles, Paper Source, what have you) to purchase the appropriate baptism card, I always find myself starring at about 5-10 christening cards to the 1 baptism card. And at this point, my mind starts to think of one of two things (1) Why are there no appropriate blank cards and (2) what is the difference between a baptism and a christening?

So as a public service announcement, here is the difference between a baptism and a christening.

According to dictionary.com, a baptism is a ceremonial immersion in water, or application of water, as an initiatory rite or sacrament of the Christian church. Where as a christening is the ceremony of baptism as accompanied by the giving of a name to a child. Further research found that a baptism is always a religious ceremony that has ties to Christianity and even Judaism. Infant baptism is practiced by more orthodox groups like Roman Catholic (my peeps,) Lutheran, Anglican, Presbyterian and Methodist. Adult baptism is practiced by Protestant denominations like Baptists, Pentecostals, Mennonites and Amish. Christening on the other hand can be religious but can also be performed as a non-religious naming ceremony.

So basically, with one you get sprinkled or dunked in water and join a religion (baptism) and in the other one, you may get wet and join a religion or you may just get a name (christening.) That seems pretty simple enough.

As for the card dilemma, next time I see a baptism card I like, I'll just by whatever they have in stock.

This post written while listening to disc 2 of Elvis Presley's "Amazing Grace - His Greatest Sacred Performances."

Blogging from Home

So finally... after some waiting and some back and forth phone calls - there is Internet service (as well as phone and digital cable) at the homestead. Yes, it is good that we can call people and they can call us. And yes, it is good that we can watch TV without the need of being situated in certain positions in order to get a clear TV channel. But it is really nice to know we have the Internet which means that I can now blogg more often and from the comfort of home.

Now if I can get a desk and chair to go along with the Internet, things would be golden.

Dang Mondern Technology

Well not so much modern technology but the services needed for said technology. Any way, here is the deal...

The last time I wrote on this blog was back on the 18th of December 2007 which will make it about (counting on my fingers) forty-one days since I last wrote. Not that I haven't had anything to write about because I've had a plethora of topics.

Normally the posting process would involve the following steps:
Step 1 - Think of an idea or topic.
Step 2 - Write down the story on available paper.
Step 3 - Avoid doing work to use the computer at work to connect to the Internet and post on my blog.

At the moment, we (the missus and I) do not have Internet services at the homestead (as well as cable or phone) so any posting has always been done from work. But the thing about that is that work has been increasingly busy and if I only want to spend no more than 10 hours at work, I do not have time to spare on posting witty commentary on my life. So, we have gone forty-one days without a new post.

The lack of posting was supposed to be solved this past Saturday when the friendly people of Time Warner Cable (the only company that offered Internet service in our area) came out between the hours of 9AM - 12PM to install DSL, Digital Cable and Phone service. Unfortunately, because we did not want wires snaking around all of the walls and doorways and it was to muddy to crawl underneath the crawl space this was not to be.

So I'm back to posting from work until Saturday, February 9th from 9AM - 12PM when Time Warner Cable will attempt the process again.

Until then, this should serve. Hopefully I can eek out a few more minutes to discuss our humorous New Year's eve and morning. And since we are on the subject - Happy New Year!