Video du Jour • San Francisco

Before taking our vacation in Northern California last week, I purchased a video camera. This was very exciting because I haven't had a video camera in a couple of years. Here is a little 5 minute taste of the visit. We had a delightful visit with Chris & Jeanette Karney.






View Video • Click Here

Back from a trip to Northern, CA

We just got back from San Francisco and Mendocino. In San Fran we visited with Chris Karney and his wife Jeanette, we also got to see Polly's friend Ruth who has been up there with Jersey Boys for the last 6 months. In Mendocino we visited Dack, Melosi and Kola. I hope to make a proper post and share my pics of the trip. Guess we'll see. We're happy to be back in our own bed and back in LA.

Card Man du Jour • Paul LePaul

Warner Bros. Photo Adventure • Click Here

Met Polly this afternoon in Burbank. She had been at work since 5:45AM. Security checked my drivers license against their list, checked my trunk, issued me a drive on pass and waved me on to a . . . working piece of motion picture history. Back lots are exciting places, full of unlimited possibilities. Every studio has one. In the picture, is the ambulance bay for the hit show ER.

I took a bunch of other pics of my private tour of the Warner Brothers Back Lot, to view them click in the title of this post

Home of Warner Brothers and First National Pictures, Burbank, Calif.

Home of Warner Brothers and First National Pictures, Burbank, Calif., originally uploaded by zilf.

Windy City

The wind storm yesterday ripped palm plumes from their trees, downed power cables, sparked brush fires and with winds pushing 70 mph in the valley’s, made for an exciting day all around. Dust, dirt and microorganisms had every asthmatic in the region running for their inhalers.

I, on the other hand, sat naked in the back yard smoking a cigar, reading a Genii Magazine and learning a couple new tricks.

The other day I went to Hollywood Magic to pick up a few magazines. Manny was working behind the counter and greeted me with a big smile. I’d met him a couple of times. He’s a friend of Omar’s.

While driving in, I noticed the heavy foot traffic around Hollywood and Highland. I had an hour on the meter, so I decided to see what was going on. During my walk, I saw a street magician who I had never met before. His name was Arturo and I think he said he was from Columbia or Bogota. He didn’t look like a magician. . . whatever that means. His hands were large with big bruised knuckles that looked like he was either a brawler or did some sort of manual labor. He was pitching the magic worm and seemed to be doing pretty good. After one of his pitches, I introduced myself to him. We had a bit of a chat, he recently got back in town and said he had been working in South Central LA, where he lives. I told him that I didn’t realize that people street performed there. He said that was why he liked it there, no competition. Interesting.

Video du Jour • Slydini

Old Slydini Pic & Post • Click Here

This old chair

This old chair that I’m sitting in, has seen better days. An old upholstered Lazy Boy that I bought used 15 years ago. Banished to the garage, we’ve set up a make shift cigar lounge and satellite office for me out here.

With Polly’s wi-fi laptop and my standing brass cigar ashtray I noodle away the afternoon.

Smoke rises from my mouth and I remember many a happy times sitting in this chair with my kids. They were my snacking buddies, always happy to help dad with his chips and dip as we watched a football game, or the Teletubbies or a movie.

To get rid of this chair, would be to get rid of a part of my life. I don’t think I’m ready to do that yet.

I think about them all the time. I just don’t torture myself anymore.

I wish Moira would send the kids down here for the summer, or a part of it. . . but that will never happen now.

When I left Seattle and ended the fight, she got everything she was asking for. Little or no contact with me and my kids, and if there was any, it would be for 5 hours under court ordered supervision.

Kids need their Dad, maybe she will understand that; or Maybe Dom is their Dad at this point.

Sad state of affairs and little I can do to appease a psycho control freak.

I'm the April Fool

April 4th was Buster’s 17th birthday. I didn’t have unrealistic expectations about his desire to talk to me as he hasn’t spoken a word to me since he left months ago. I leave a weekly message for him to call me, I tell him that I love him and that I miss him.

I also put in a weekly call to Max, Hope and Liam. . . sadly they don’t want to talk to me either. . . or they’re not getting the messages or. . . whatever.

It just seems so crazy to me. I have so much love to give my children. I love them, and miss them and want to be a part of their lives; but as fate and circumstance have dealt this hand, there is little to call a relationship with my kids.

It’s been overcast for a few days, but the sun came out and wiped away any doubts of the beauty in this life.

Polly finished up the pilot she was working on, and has now started her spring hiatus. It will be nice having her around the house more.

Things are good at work and play. My work at the City Walk is as good as ever and getting better. Life is good. . . what can I say. . . . I wish I could talk to my kids, and hold them and kiss them and be there for them. Life is an interesting series of challenges. I hope one day they will honor me with the gift of getting to know them.

I know what it’s like to have a mother who puts the kids in the middle and pits the kids against the dad. I didn’t like it when it was happening to me at Max’s age and I like it even less now that it’s happening to them (I can only guess. . . history has a way of repeating itself whether we like it or not).

Pic du Jour • A pleasant surprise

Joe,

Thanks for the smokes! I think I'll enjoy one now.

Video du Jour • Chris Karney

Hot Day in Hollywood

Hollywood's on fire!, originally uploaded by Jeramy Boberamy.

Street in front of apartment, originally uploaded by adam.pash.

Hollywood Fire 20070330000000, originally uploaded by StewartJames.

Brush Fires in the Hollywood Hills

Fire in Hollywood, originally uploaded by J.H.C..

Dancing with Kaite

Dancing makes me happy, sometimes nervous. . . but happy. I was meeting a new friend at Joe's All American Bar & Grill Tuesday night. Her name is Katie and she loves to dance and talk about magic, cool huh? A chick magician! Her dad does magic and so does the guy she's dating (I would say who that is, but he's famous and I'm not sure what the ethics are on that sort of thing). Lets just say that we can talk about Erdnase between dances.

I was nervous about dancing and looking foolish, but the band started up and before I knew it we were on the dance floor cutting a rug. It wasn't so bad, I was doing just fine and she was doing great. She has danced most of her life and it shows.

We're gonna try and make this a regular Tuesday Night Dance Night. This is great news for me as that's one of the things I was missing about Seattle. It's great fun and good exercise. I was chicken shit about asking other women to dance, but Katie didn't seem to mind me hogging most of the dances with her. We both danced with other people as well. I was glad she had a couple of dances with excellent dancers. I think I hold my own OK, but lack confidence. Weekly dancing and not being such a chicken shit should help with that.

For those of you who may not know what swing dancing looks like, here is a clip I found on You Tube.

Doens't this look like fun!?

College du Jour • Magic Man

Magic Man, originally uploaded by queenoffools1974.