This is a shirt designed for kids. I love it.

The Mis-Adventures of Aaron in California

Life has a way of being kind and cruel, funny and scary, happy and sad, and exciting and dull all at the same time. It also has a way sometimes, of taking all of your plans, crumpling them up like a ball of tissue paper, and throwing them back into your face. Is it bad? I don't know. It just is.

As many of you now know, I am no longer in California, but and am back in the southern most state of the Lower 48... Florida.

For the sake of the other people involved in this story, I'll spare you the details. But I will let you know, that no one is at fault... it was beyond the control of everyone involved... simply put... it just didn't work out.

I won't lie to you. I'm sad about the whole thing, but like I said... It just is.

California was great while it lasted. I got to experience some things that I wanted to my whole life. I got to catch up with some great friends from college. And I met some fantastic people. I grew a lot as a person, even in the 3 short months that I was there.

My life has been in constant upheaval for the last 12 months. I moved from Michigan to Florida, to California and back to Florida. I have NO CLUE what will happen anymore. My future is a blank canvas. My good friend Mike Ford put it best: "This was your wandering year." He's right. I'm so tired. Not tired of anything in particular... just tired.

There are reasons I'm happy to be back: I have a new nephew or niece on the way, I'm back with my family, I did love living in Florida, and the cost of living here is amazingly lower.

I have some things I want to do. I want to get involved with theatre down here, I want to start writing a book, I want to work on some creative stuff with my brother, and I want to stay put for a while. I definitely want to make this blog something more than it currently is.

Enjoy this PSA:

So, I realize that I haven't blogged in a REALLLY long time. For that I apologize. Holy shit, SO MUCH has happened since I've gotten here. Here's a brief overview:

-I work at The Hard Rock Cafe in Hollywood

-I live in North Hollywood

-We had a 5.4 earthquake about a month and a half after I got here. It was bizarre.

-I was almost hit by Justin Long driving his Prius on Hollywood Blvd

-Venice Beach is FANTASTIC

-I parked in the parking structure for Desperate Housewives and saw Marcia Cross getting into her car as I was getting out of mine. I Then got lost on the NBC Universal backlot while trying to just get to work.

-Eating lunch in Beverly Hills/West Hollywood is a weekly occurrence.

And last but not least... I went to THE PRICE IS RIGHT!!!!



I was in the audience but wasn't called down... which is OK. It was incredible just seeing it all happen. I live here now, and I can always go back until I DO get called down. Hehe. It's a lot smaller than it looks on TV.

Hollywood...

I'm here.

Well, in one half hour, I will officially leave tomorrow for California. My time in Florida has been good. But it's time to move on. I'm a little sad, and VERY thrilled. I still have a lot of shit to do, but nothing unmanageable. I don't know how much internet access I will have whilst on the road... it just depends on the motels I stay at, I guess. But I'll try.

After work tomorrow, I will be going to my grandparents to do laundry and I'll be staying at their house. On Saturday morning, I leave. This is my last night sleeping at my apartment. It was a good place to live (despite the huge dead palmetto bug I discovered on the floor of my closet a few minutes ago).

It was a fun tryst here in Florida, but now it comes to and end. Goodbye, and God bless.

Now That it is Official...

To all of Hillary's supporters... most of you are smart enough not to do it, but for love of god, DO NOT VOTE FOR JOHN McCAIN because you are pissed she didn't win. Seriously. Yeah, it was an ugly fight, but c'mon... of course it was, both candidates were on the brink of making history... you would've done the same thing.


This country cannot afford another 4 years of Republican fear mongering, debt building, lower class stomping, middle class shrinking, veteran starving, oil company enabling, recession denying, natural disaster ignoring, cronie appointing, gay bashing, country invading, environment raping, and Constitution destroying "leadership."

There is TOO much at stake for you to give your vote to the other team, for the sake of "making a point." The future of this country is on the line.

Well, there are only ten days left until the big move. Am I excited? Yes. Am I scared? Yes. Am I happy? YES YES YES! I'm also a little sad. I love my current job, and I have made some decent friends here. But as Stephen Schwartz once put it: "Everything has it's season. Everything has it's time." And it's my time. My grandpa told me the other day, that this is probably the best thing that has ever happened to me. I hope he's right, because I feel the same thing. I've already got some things lined up as far as work goes. I'll be helping out part time at a production company for rent money, and from what Tammie has told me, the place where she works knows that I'm coming in to apply for a job when I get there, and they are keeping an eye out for me (apparently she has put in multiple good words for me)... we'll see... I haven't even applied for the job yet.

I need new headshots. My friend 'G' who already lives in LA, is an amazing photographer and she offered to do my headshots at a good price, so I think I'm going to go that route.

I can't wait to see all my old college friends. I miss them.

Next Thing I Know, I'll be an Action Figure...

This is a new comic book character. His name is Scanner. The comic book is the brain child of a friend whom I grew up with. The characters are based on characters that were our little group of friends "alter-egos." This was my alter ego. So, now I'm a comic book character. Sweet ass.





Scanner. AKA me. Note the amazing muscle tone and awesome package.
This is yet another random twist in my increasingly bizarre life. I enjoy it though.

-Aaron

New Tires... sorta...

So, the other day, I got an estimate for 4 new tires and a wheel alignment. The estimate they gave me was for $440. Yeah right. After having spoken to Dan and Josh on the phone, they advised that I just get 2 new tires for the front, and put my 2 front tires on the back. I called another place that told me I could get 2 tires for $85, so I decided to go there. Upon arrival and subsequent inspection of my car, they told me that all of my tires had pretty bad dry rot, and I really should get them replaced, not only that but, they didn't have the sizes I needed in the price they quoted me, and to get what I needed it would be $65 per tire. Fuck that. I'm poor, and couldn't possibly afford that. So, I drove down the road, and found a place that advertises "4 New Tires for $99." I stopped there and went inside to ask if that was true... I got the same answer more or less. Yes, it was true, but not in the size tire I need. He said he could get me 4 new tires in my size for $240... same as the other place... now I'm started to freak out. I need tires desperately, and don't have the funds to get them. But then he tells me, he just got in a set of used tires in my size that are 'like new'... he takes me to look at them, and they look great. He says he'll sell me the tires and put them on for a flat $100. This is where I peed my pants. So, now I have four sorta new tires, and it didn't completely destroy my finances, although I really REALLY could use that 100 bucks. Oh well, you win some and you lose some... I guess in the scheme of things, this was a minor victory for me. This should ensure against any tire problem for the drive to California. Thank God.

Bad Day...

So, I got up to go to work today (normally, I don't work Sundays, but today is International Museum Day, so it was "All hands on deck.") and when I get out to my car, I see that I have a flat. Totally 100% flat.... shit. So I walk to work. Remarkably, I was still only 4 minutes late. Work was crazy (of course). And I'm trying to figure out how to get my car repaired. I get a hold of my brother and had him get the jack from my grandpa. I walk home after work, get the donut on, and drive to the tire place. When I got there, he told me he was swamped and that I would have to come back in the morning (of course). So, now I have to get up at the buttcrack of dawn, so I can get my tire fixed before I have to be at work in the morning. Needless to say, I'm a bit pissed.

-Aaron

Haha.

Keith really says it all here:



He's my new hero.

As some of you may know, I have decided exactly what I want for my first tattoo. Minor details still have to be worked out, but the basics are in my head. What I want to get is basically the lamppost from The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. I had originally envisioned a more cartoony version of Pauline Baynes original illustration, but I saw this and fell in love:




So basically, take this version of the lamppost (or something close to it), take out Mr. Tumnus and Lucy, and frame it in a keyhole. The illusion is that you are looking through a keyhole into Narnia. I may have the edges of the inside of the keyhole bookended with fur coats but I haven't decided yet... I would have to see it drawn out. I really like the visual of looking kind of up at the lamppost from below, as opposed to a straight on perspective. It gives it more of an epic feel. Me likey.

Come on down!

I just finished watching 'The Price is Right' Million Dollar Spectacular on CBS. Nobody won a million dollars because the contestants were kinda lame. I have to tell you though, one of the reasons I'm excited about moving to Los Angeles, is not only will I be getting my Price is Right name tag that Tammie got for me, but were also planning to go to the show when I get there. Tammie won't be eligible to be called down, but I sure as hell will... and I hope I do. It's kinda silly, but I always dreamed that I would be able to go The Price is Right. And now I can. Sweet.

These are promotional images for the new Star Trek movie which is due out at Christmas time. I'm so geeked I can't even tell you. I'm a huge nerd, I know, but I don't care. J.J. Abrams is at the helm of this one (he created the show 'Lost') so, it should be good. God, I'm excited!

At work today, my boss decided that the office was too quiet and promptly started rifling through her CD's. She looked at me and said, "Oh, you'll love this." Then put in a disk. The music started, and what hit my ears was music that I have not heard in YEARS... it was a compilation disk of music from "Sharon, Lois, and Bram's Elephant Show." It was crazy. I was totally thrown back into my childhood. I loved that show. I'm not sure why I loved it so much, but I did. It was bizarre.

It's a Spock Monkey!

The Writing is on the Wall...

The first numbers from West Virginia's primary are in, and Clinton is the easy winner, so far having about 63% of the vote with 22% of the precincts reporting.

I think it's a pretty safe bet that Barack Obama is going to be the Democratic nominee, but it's still incredible how close this race actually is. Hillary Clinton is not being a sore loser. In the grand scheme of things, this truly is a close race, and Hillary owes it to her supporters to stay in the race until every vote is counted.

Now having said that, simply for the sake of uniting the party and getting the Republicans the fuck out of the White House, I don't care how much perceived bad blood there may be between the two... Barack and Hillary NEED to be on a joint ticket! I do not care if you don't like the one who isn't the candidate of your choice... the other half of the Democratic voters DO! If they run together, it will unite the party, bring in all sorts of voters who might not necessarily vote otherwise, and finally end 8 years of blunders, lies, invasions, Constitution trampling, and mis-management. Otherwise, well get an old guy in the Oval Office who thinks the state that this country is in is 'just dandy'.

No matter how you look at the numbers, Obama is not winning by a landslide... and if Clinton was in the lead... she wouldn't have that luxury either. They need eachother. Plain and simple. Obama appeals to people that Hillary never would, and Hillary appeals to people Obama never would.

Obama-Clinton '08 That is what I want to see. And it seems most of my fellow Americans who lean slightly to the left agree with me. Let's hope that Obama and Clinton can rise above the politics that they claim they can, and put aside their differences for the sake of this country. Otherwise... we're doomed.

-Aaron

Suppertime, yeah! It's suppertime, and when suppertime comes can't supper be far away...

Just a little while ago, my new sister-in-law made dinner. I have to say, it is actually quite delicious. It was some sort of vegetarian pasta dish, that she got out of her Rachael Ray cookbook. The only problem is that the noodles were slathered in cheese. Now don't get me wrong. I love cheese. The issue is that I can't eat it. I'm allergic.

Now, I know what you are thinking and no, I'm not lactose intolerant. I have absolutely no problems digesting dairy. I have an actual allergic reaction to the stuff... I break out into hives, my throat swells, etc. So, I only was able to eat about half of what was on my plate.

Now I have that annoying tingle in my throat. I hate that feeling. The feeling that my body is saying to me, "If you don't stop at this very moment, you'll be spending the night in the emergency room, having some new nurse stabbing you in each ass cheek with a needle full of steroids, and then again in each arm only this time it's antibiotics, then having to take antibiotic and steroid pills every day for the next month." I'll pass.

The nurse would probably be ugly anyway.

-Aaron

I wish I was given this talk...

This is how every dad should talk to his son about this traditionally awkward discussion topic...




Weeds. Watch it. It's a great show. If you don't have Showtime, rent or buy the DVD. It's worth it.

For Kristina...

I got a ton of stuff accomplished at work today, which is odd, because it is a Monday. Usually Mondays seem to be the least productive. Oh well. Good for me anyway. My pile of paperwork is now tiny compared to the mountain that greeted me when I got back from Michigan (I was there for my brothers wedding).

The earthquake news out of China is crazy too. It weirds me out in a way, knowing that I am moving to a city that experiences earthquakes on that massive of a scale. Oh well. Still going.

Where Would Jesus Work Out?

Clever.

This just gets better...

The lines just get more and more blurred... I can't tell if this is an instructional video or gay porn...

...at least this doctor is wearing gloves.



P.S. I think the dude that found a "lump" just wanted to get felt up by the hot doctor.

-Aaron

Keep Your Eye on the Ball...

I'm sorry, but I just had to post this. Of course this is a very serious matter and we all need to do self exams. Not that most of us guys need another excuse to touch ourselves anyway...

But for whatever reason, this is just funny. Just watch the models face... I would kill to have been able to hear his thoughts while they were filming this. And the doctor doesn't even use gloves! What the hell? But the best part is the joke the doctor makes at the end. It almost seems like the only reason they made this video is so he could tell his little joke for a wider audience than just the patients in his office that come in for their yearly physical.

An Update of the Plan...

Since I have had such short notice with the whole moving to California thing, naturally a couple of hiccups in the process of moving have occurred. To expect this not to happen, would be asking a bit much. It's already pretty much a miracle that this is even a possibility to begin with. Last night however, the biggest hiccup thus far has been resolved, thanks to my college friend 'B'. If it becomes necessary, and it probably will... I will be staying at his place in Burbank for a couple of weeks until Dan, Ryan and I can get our own apartment. 'B' is a life-saver. The bast part is that if, for some reason we have a difficult time getting an apartment, I can start paying 'B' rent and we, in effect, will become temporary roommates. I'm as excited as ever. This is really happening... I almost can't believe it.

-Aaron

New (to me) Laptop!!

I just got my laptop (which was a gift from my friend Josh) working!! I'm popping it's blog cherry as I type. Here is a picture of one that is very similar to the one that I now have:



Me likey.

-Aaron

These are brilliant. I wish commercials like this could air in the US. Oh well, thank god for the internet.









Get tested and be smart.

-Aaron

The Big Announcement...

As some of you may now know, my life is in the midst of a major upheaval. I recently moved to Tampa, Florida from Flint, Michigan, and now I've found myself in a situation where I am again on the verge of a major change. Due to various reasons a) the pay in Florida is awful and b) my brother/roommate is getting married, I am packing my bags, leaving the east coast entirely, and moving out to Los Angeles, California.

When I was first introduced to the idea of making such a big move, I had no idea AT ALL how it was going to happen. But I soon discovered that this must be what fate has in store for me, because everything seems to be falling in place. The money for my trip out there... which was my biggest concern, is falling into my hands... even though it shouldn't be. Everyday, it seems, I hear someone or something make reference to LA or California in bizarre ways... to the point where I feel as though God is beating me over the head with a baseball bat so I'll get the hint. I can be quite dense... just ask my friend Kristina.

I have wanted to move to Los Angeles ever since I was a little kid. It's where movies are made, it's warm, it's where dreams are both fulfilled and destroyed, but most of all, it's where my friends are. I need my friends. I have great friends in Michigan and I've started to make great friends here in Florida, but there is something special about the particular friends who live out in California. I can't explain it. But a few of them share a unique bond with me. A kind of bond that only certain people ever experience in their lives. Part of that had something to do with the unique experience that happens at Oral Roberts University, and part of it has to do with the hundreds of late night drinks in quiet bars talking about our hopes and dreams and our futures that we'd spend together in Los Angeles. And now those dreams are a reality. Finally.

Again, I can attribute my situation to the fact that my life is full of odd twists and turns. I mean, when people talk about wanting to move to LA, just the decision to go is, in most cases, life altering. People will save money for years, sacrifice every luxury thinkable, just so they can afford to live in LA for a few months and hopefully get "discovered" before they have to get a real job. Now here I am, forced into a situation where (even though my financial situation is no where near ideal) my best option is to move to LA.

When I was still living in Michigan, I felt as though I was sitting on a park bench, watching life pass me by. I would see people come into my life, and then leave, off to do bigger and better things. When I moved to Florida, I got off the bench. I was trying to find my way, but I was wandering, not knowing which direction to go. And now... I have a path. For the first time in years, I feel I have a direction and a purpose again.

So at the end of May, I will be off on my next Mis-Adventure. I'll keep writing, and hopefully you'll keep reading... and you'll tell ten friends about my blog. I think the biggest lesson I've learned in the past twelve or so months, is that it's not going to just happen... I have to make it happen. My problem is that I get stubborn and comfy and I don't want to stir the pot. It's time for me to stir the fucking pot.

-Aaron

This is precious...

This is just fantastic.




"Remember to RET her into your heart..." Haha.

Too cute. Seriously.

Heh... he makes me laugh...

This guy is funny. Apparently, he is a singer/actor/comedian. He was nominated for a Tony for the Broadway version of "The Wedding Singer."

This video is hilarious.

Ah.. The Wonders of YouTube...

I literally stumbled upon this on YouTube... it's me in the video. I did the voice as well. I was but a wee freshman in college... which makes this a staggering 8 years old. The video premiered at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida for a youth conference, and later was shown at many youth conferences throughout that year.

In an amazing twist of fate, Tropicana Field is only about a half hour from where I currently live. The video was shot in Tulsa, Oklahoma where I was in college.



-Aaron

Why Does CBS Television City Keeping Popping Up in My Life?

Let me start my telling you that I have an unhealthy love affair with old school game shows. Game shows and horror movies... that was how my dad and I bonded when I was a child. Whenever I was home sick from school and EVERY DAY in the summer I would get up in the morning to watch Family Feud and The Price is Right on CBS then switch over to USA Network in the afternoon and watch The $100,000 Pyramid, Press Your Luck, Tic Tac Dough, High Rollers, Bumper Stumpers, and Block Busters.

Flash forward ten years. I am in college, and for spring break my junior year, I go to Los Angeles with my girlfriend. By pure chance we receive tickets to go see American Idol, which happens to shoot at CBS Television City.

Now, I am VERY familiar with that name as most of the game shows used to tape there, and they were all very happy to tell us, the viewing audience, as evidenced by Pyramid: "From Television City in Hollywood, THIS is the $100,000 Pyramid!"

So as we are standing in line, my mind is racing... NOT because I'm about to be in the audience of American Idol, but because I am about to enter the HOME of all of my favorite game shows, including The Price is Right, which still to this day tapes there. Needless to say, when we entered the building I nearly creamed my pants. Sure, watching Charles Grigsby get the boot, and feeling sad for Ruben Studdard, because surely there was no way America would vote for him in the end, and having my mom call me to tell me she saw me on American Idol was fun, but the whole time I just wanted to wander around and find the set of The Price is Right. I didn't get my wish, but was satisfied in knowing that at least I had been in the same building.

Flash forward four years. I'm hanging out with a friend of mine, who for the purposes of this blog, shall remain unnamed, when she gets a phone call. I later found out that phone call was from the Dr. Phil show. My friend was about to fly out to Hollywood, to be a guest on the show, which tapes where? CBS Television City. So that was weird... but in a good way.

Flash forward 5 months. I get a phone call from ANOTHER friend. I answer, and the first thing I hear from her is, "Oh my god! I was just on The Price is Right!" Then I peed my pants. She actually got called down. And she got to bid. And she got some luggage and a years supply of coffee for being a "contestant not appearing ON stage." I'm already excited for her, then she drops the bomb... she told me that she asked the guy who wrote out her name tag if he would... "...write one for my friend Aaron, who loves the show but couldn't be here, so I can send it to him." And he did. When she told me this on the phone, I had for the first time, and what will probably be the last time, a multiple orgasm.

So, maybe I didn't get to see the set of The Price is Right... oh well... I'm getting my own freakin' name tag from the show! It's just odd how my life takes these random twists, and it really has been that way my whole life... I can't explain it... but... I like it. It makes me feel like I have a story worth telling.

-Aaron

An Ode to Hot Dogs

As indicated in my previous blog... I am from Flint, Michigan. The more observant of you may know that that place is otherwise known as 'The Land of Michael Moore'. But unless you are a resident of Michigan or are an expert in Flint history you will not be aware that it is also 'The Land of the Koegel Hot Dog'. Now, I have a love-hate relationship with hot dogs. Meaning, I LOVE Koegel hot dogs, and hate all others. I have until this point gone a full four months without taking a single bite of any hot dog... this was accomplished purely out of fear and prejudice, as Koegel's are not available in Florida. However, I was browsing the grocery store the other day, and discovered that I had an intense urge for a hot dog. What was I to do? I went to the hot dog aisle and silently started praying. Maybe, just maybe, Koegel deciding to expand their market all the way down to God's Waiting Room AKA Florida. Upon searching through all the options I was disappointed, but not surprised to not find my favorite cook-out delight. What I did find, however, were Ball Park Franks. I was tempted. I mean, hey... they serve them in baseball stadiums... and I HAVE had hot dogs at baseball games... and they DID seem to taste OK... and after all... they plump when you cook 'em. So I took the plunge.

You know what? They are pretty good. It's not a Koegel... but hey... what do you do?

-Aaron

The Begining

Hi. How are you all? Good. It's good to hear. I'm Aaron... and this will be the future home of all of the interesting things I shall be proclaiming to the world.

I currently live in Tampa, Florida. I moved here from Flint, Michigan, which, let me tell you, is a HAPPENING town! I do miss it though.

This blog is an attempt to give you a glimpse into what I am convinced to be my diseased mind. I will attempt to be as open and honest as my conscience will allow. It may work... it may not. Let's think of it as an experiment or adventure... err...MIS-adventure. Heh.

-Aaron