Google Search as Cheap Entertainment

Although not as creepy or disturbing as some of TFMD's referrals, a Google search string just popped up in my own Sitemeter report, and it made me chuckle.

why do you hate my trains

Thanks, Sitemeter. I needed the laugh.

Thar Be Traysure Here!

Just when you think you've gone through all the old artwork and photos and financial records from your twenty-year relationship, there's always another little file box. You know, the plastic ones you thought had melted in the fire, or at least had failed to protect whatever was inside...

Stuff like these band photos (by Randy Hensel) from the college Mozart Air Raid days:

Or, even further back in time:

Along with four metric assloads of old scripts, short stories, novels, and original Zingo comic strips.

Stuff like that can be a real emotional roller coaster. Fortunately a lot of it was pre-Sam, so it didn't contain a lot of that particular brand of melancholy. And I was able to get rid of a whole garbage bag of stuff. So there's that.

Summer is here, which means I've been having to train the kids to respect the office as sacrosanct. No walking up behind me and just launching into a question or conversation; knock and ask first. It also means doing a daily list of chores for both kids. If they're not in school, by golly, they're pulling their weight in this household.

Got a couple shoots coming up and a lot on our collective househunting and wedding prep plate, but we're doing well, in total. I've also had a great time making new contacts in the local film scene and working with Dan & Trish on both the Duo and OA series projects.

Tune in next time when I discover yet another long lost file box full of memories... and throw half of them in the recycle bin.

I Might Have a Problem

I started the day with the noblest of intentions; began the design for the new Despot Media site, and of course followed up with several of my new contacts from the film community networking thingy last night.

Aside: I was so jazzed from making said new contacts that I completely spaced on the need to close out my tab last night. Fortunately, Producer Dan works close to the market and went down there after lunch to retrieve it for me. So I'm buying him Teriyaki for dinner. We have an OA story meeting tonight.

Being productive worked until about lunchtime. Kayleigh made mac & cheese, and we found a show on HGTV to watch while we ate. The show was Househunters, and this particular episode featured a couple looking for a home in West Seattle last year. About the same time we started looking. And one of the houses in the show was one we'd looked at.

I should have just gone back to being productive. But the next show was about homeowners increasing their curb appeal. And then one on the selling experiece. And then half the afternoon had disappeared. I think I might be addicted to HGTV.

But the first step is admitting you have a problem, right?

What the Heck??

RIP Karl Malden, a great American actor, dead at 97. I saw someone on Facebook remark that we were witnessing the slow-mo Rapture.

On happier topics, the family unit is stable. We're house hunting again. I've been writing and catching up on my office/admin duties. I finished watching season 7 of The Shield. Wow. What a denouement.

And in just about an hour, I'll be leaving to have a drink with other Seattle filmmakers at a networking event at one of my favorite pubs.

Threes.

It comes in threes.

Two days ago, Ed McMahon.

Today, Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson. Childhood icons are vanishing fast, and in Farrah's & Machael's cases, far too young (regardless of what we might feel about Mr. Jackson's personal dramas).

This is how I will remember Michael. I even had the Off the Wall album on vinyl (and admit it freely).



And this will always be Farrah.



Sometimes I have to wonder if the Universe gets a volume discount.

Feh.

A Fine Routine

I'm quite happy to report the weekend passed with very little teen/adult conflict. Sunday was spent having a really nice Father's Day with my family: lunch at Lombardi's in Ballard, followed by Up at the Majestic Bay.

Oh my gawd.

You know, I have traditionally come off as somewhat rabid in my love of Pixar films, but trust me on this - nobody has come close to this animated film in any other (certainly nothing in the Disney vault comes close). Grave of the Fireflies is probably the only animated film that gutted me as much.

The first ten minutes had Raechelle and me in tears. It's an incredibly uplifting and powerful story with wonderful characters. It's also probably the heaviest in Pixar's catalog.

After the movie, we headed to my stepmother's apartment complex for my sister-in-law's grad party. With yummy food. And a cheesecake ice cream cake. That's right. An ice cream cake made with cheesecake-flavored ice cream. That's all kinds of rich and decadent. And it was about all I could handle in the oversaturation department. Kayleigh had play rehearsal, so we had to head back and had ourselves a nice, quiet evening.

Monday was a runaround day, with a school meeting, a well child exam, grocery run and transport to Kayleigh's friend's birthday party in Burien. Raechelle and I made homemade soft tacos, Spanish rice and margaritas, and Tyler joined us for dinner and The Transporter. I think Raechelle liked it.

Today was all kinds of busy, finalizing the monogram Raechelle and I will be using for the wedding (and possibly beyond), and still more running around. The kids are out of school, and we've found a way to keep them busy: post lists of chores on the fridge. This usually keeps them active outdoors and hanging out with friends as they try to dodge the chores they will have if they stay at home. Smart.

Now I need to dig out more financials.

Huzzah.

Anon.

Exeunt.

Been There, Done That...

I feel your pain, kid.