Home Of The Blogger

My Oscar Tweets

2010-03-07T21:54:00.000-08:00

-Bring in on Steve & Alec - let's see what you got!
-I'm with those pulling for John Hughes to win tonight's In Memorian Montage competition
-"Taylor Lautner, what are you wearing?" "Something I don't usually wear - a shirt"
-Hey, It's NPH!!!!
...and the Oscar for best supporting actor goes to Christopher Waltz
-Hey, It's the Green Lantern!
...and the Oscar for best animated film goes to UP
-Looks like Miley came straight from prom
-It's James T. Kirk!
-As Tina Fey says "Writers look for actors that are afraid to ad lib" they show Robin Williams - Awsome!
-OK, now I wanna see Logorama
-Hey, It's Ben "I'll do anything for a laugh" Stiller
-OK, now they need to end the Oscars with Ferris saying "It's over, you can go home now": www.youtu.be/FVZobzVJrSo
-Long Live & Prosper Makeup Artist
-I really thought District 9 had a chance at best adapted screenplay
...and the Oscar for best supporting actress goes to Monique
-Did I hear that right? A salute to whore films?
-ahhhh...Horror films, not whore films...my bad!
-That's the violin music from Young Frankenstein in the Horror Montage
-Was "Little Shop of Horrors" really a Horror film or did they just want to show Steve Martin in the montage?
-How nice geting a glorious bastard to introduce Inglorious Basterds
-And now, a moment of silence
-How does Brittany Murphy get a bigger applause than Dom DeLuise?
-Next year performing at the Oscars: The Chicago Matadors!
-No Farrah Fawcett in the memorial tribute?
-via Todd Mengay: Hey two guys Jennifer Aniston slept with. Just need Brad Pitt to make it a trifecta.
-Fisher Stevens sure has come a long way from being Indian in Short Circuit 2
-"A tribute to Horror Films, Roger Cormen, and my Wife" what is scarier to this guy?
-No Bea Arthur either - WTF?
…and the Oscar for Best Actor goes to Beau...I mean Jeff Bridges
-What Lloyd Bridges wold have said if his son lost: www.bit.ly/aDOPZt
-It's good Oprah is getting some face time on ABC. we never get to see it here in Chicago
-I'm 4 for 4 tonight, And the Oscar for Best Actress goes to Sandra Bullock. the first person to win a Razzie and an Oscar in the same year
…and the Oscar for Best Director goes to James Cameron
-I meant his ex wife...now I'm 5 for 6
-Ravens Coach Shows Movie About Michael Oher To Inspire Michael Oher: www.onion.com/add8LM
-I was gonna say District 9...so I ended up 5 for 7
-Jeff Bridges - You just won an Acadamy Award. What are you going to do next? Tron Legacy www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1IpPpB3iWI

My Acceptance Speech

2010-03-07T20:00:00.000-08:00

Everybody that was involved with this show / movie, you know who you are, and you are all appreciated very much, but I have over 30 years of people to thank first.

In 2006, when I decided to go full steam ahead with performing, I wrote this speech as inspiration, that someday I would read it at a Tony, Emmy, or Academy Award. I promised myself I would read this so here it goes:

First I’d like to thank my ex-wife, Theresa and my boss at Burger King for 14 years, Eric. If I hadn’t lost my Marriage and my Career within a year, I never would have gotten into acting. I would like to thank those people that have made me who I am today and taught me what is funny: Both of my Grandfathers; My Godfather-Frank Rotella; The man who gave me either the best advice or worst advice I ever received, “Never to be afraid to say what’s on your mind”-Ross Heise; Two inspirations from my days in radio-Harry Teinowitz & Spike Manton; Brian Posen, Michael Pieper and Jason Flowers from the Second City in Chicago; Joe Tomaska for teaching me more than you know; My sister, Angie and my mother, Phyllis, for always being there for me. And finally, I’d like to thank the man who built me up when I was down and tore me down when I was high, The man who kept me grounded, The man who taught me the joys of acting, the man who all my life I didn’t want to be, and every time I tried that I became more like him than I like to admit. Dad, I love you…and this is for you.

ABC Family Announces Cast for "Dancing with Kids of the Stars"

2010-03-01T21:49:00.000-08:00

Los Angeles, CA - Minutes after ABC announced the season 10 cast of “Dancing With The Stars”, ABC Family announced the cast for the first season of “Dancing with the Kids of the Stars.”

Miley Cyrus, the daughter of Season 4 dancer, Billy Ray Cyrus, headlines the cast that includes Jerry Springer’s daughter, Katie Springer and all eight children of Season 10 contestant, Kate Gosselin.

While she was never on the show, Katie Springer was mentioned many times on Season 3 as Jerry kept saying he wanted learn how to waltz for his daughter's wedding. The newlywed said she is coming on the show to learn how to bunny hop for her father’s retirement.

Since Kate will be dancing in the ABC mother ship, John Gosselin has agreed to take Cara, Madelyn, Alexis, Hannah, Aaden, Collin, Leah, and Joel to their daily rehearsals. John is just happy to be allowed to see his kids more than twice a month and said he will stay out of the spotlight…but we’ve heard this before.

The original lineup was to have the step son of Season 5 third place finisher, Marie Osmond, but due to unforeseen circumstances, Michel Blosil could not join the cast.

Chicago Matadors trade 7 year Vet to Dallas ManiAACs for Expiring Contract

2010-02-18T20:46:00.001-08:00

February 18, 2010

CHICAGO- In a move they hope will help them pick up a big name free agent this off season, The Chicago Matadors Traded one of their original members, Kevin B, to the Dallas ManiAAC's for little man BAM and a fat man to be named later. The move was announced just minutes before the NBA Trade deadline.

The 3’11” BAM was in his third year as a ManiAACs after signing as a free agent before the 2007-08 season. He will be a free agent after the season.

Known best for his leadership abilities and the birthmark on his butt, Kevin B. helped raise the franchise from it's infancy to its prominence today. "It's a tough day here at the UC, because Kevin meant so much to the organization,” said Matador Matriarch, Cathy Core. “It will hurt us for the remainder of the season, but we truly believe that this move puts us in a great position to acquire one of the BIG names that will be available in the off season.”

Those free agents include Shaquille O'Neal, Kevin Federline, and the recently out of work, Andy Richter.

Shella Sattler, director of the Dallas Dancers, is excited to bring the veteran big man into the fold. “Kevin brings us some much needed experienced in the middle. It’s sad to see BAM go, but this is not a game for little men”

The Matadors, who have been known more for their dancing skills, including the patented “grapevine”, than their ability to make people laugh are excited to have BAM join them. “What makes people laugh more than a 3’11” man dancing?” said Matador coach Kristi P. “Not Much!”

Tom Bergeron to Introduce both Emmit Smith and Jerry Rice at the Hall of Fame

2010-02-18T20:43:00.000-08:00

February 11, 2010

Canton, OH – For the first time ever, two NFL Hall of Famers will

be introduced by the same person, “Dancing with the Stars’” Host,

Tom Bergeron. Emmit Smith and Jerry Rice announced on ABC’s

“The View” this morning that the man who turned around their post-

NFL careers is the obvious choice to introduce them on Saturday,

August 7, 2010.

“Tom has a quick wit as we all saw when he co-hosted the Emmy’s a few years back.” Said Smith, “And it’s not unprecedented to have someone from outside the football world introduce you, Walter Payton had his son do it for him.”

Rice agreed, “Every Sunday night for the past decade, as soon as I was done with football, I couldn’t wait to get home to see him host ‘America’s Funniest Home Videos’. It will definitely be an amusing introduction.”

Tom was honored to be asked, “To see two former winners of our show go in to the Hall of Fame together is great, but to be asked to introduce them once again on that stage in August is an honor. I will not let them down.”

When asked if he would recruit other Hall of Famers for the Show, Tom joked, “Maybe if Richard Dent came on the show, he’d get in.”

Good Bye MySpace

2010-02-14T17:35:00.000-08:00

So I started blogging here back in 2005, I eventually left to blog at MySpace, but with the rise of Facebook, MySpace became obsolete.

So today, I joined the rising trend of those whe have left MySpace for good.

I transfered over all my blogs (minus the comments) and saved all my pics to my computer and finally pulled the plug.

In doing so I realized I havent blogged in over a year.

I've been busy with TnT, Matados, Day job, GF...but now, I have some more free time, So I will start blogging again.

Actually, That might be what I do for Lent. Blog every night for 40 days.

I woke up early thismorning with insporation to write again, so I'm gonna take advantage of it...

Here we go Blog 2010...45 days into the year!

1-12-09

2010-02-14T17:24:00.000-08:00

Rickey Henderson and Jim Rice make MLB HOF

I have no problem with Rickey Henderson making the HOF. He is the Greatest of all time...just ask him. It was the last year Jim Rice was on the Ballot, so I'm happy he got in before he went Ronville (Santo).

But how does Andre Dawson not make the HOF. Dawson ranks 24th all-time in RBIs, 32nd all-time in home runs and 21st in extra-base hits. Dawson is one of four players to hit 400 home runs and steal 300 bases. He's the only eligible player with more than 1,000 career extra-base hits who is not in the Hall of Fame. An eight-time Gold Glove winner and eight-time All-Star...WTF???That's not my only complaint about this years ballot - Who are the 28 writers that didn't feel like Henderson deserved to be in the HOF? probably the same 22 people that voted for Mark Grace. Now, I'm a HUGE Cubs fan, but even I wasn't stupid enough to think he deserved to be in the HOF. Thank God he got less than 5% and we won't have to deal with him on the ballot again. And HTF do Jay Bell and Jesse Orosco get votes.And my final complaint - Jack Morris! This guy led three differnt teams to a World Series, and pitched THE BEST World Series game of my life - Game 7, 1991, 10 innings, 1 run. How is this guy only getting 44%???Well, let's hope Hawk gets in next year with a class likely to include Roberto Alomar, Barry Larkin, Edgar Martinez, & Fred McGriff.

Here are the final numbers:Rickey Henderson 511 (94.8 percent); Jim Rice 412 (76.4 percent); Andre Dawson 361 (67.0 percent); Bert Blyleven 338 (62.7 percent); Lee Smith 240 (44.5 percent); Jack Morris 237 (44.0 percent); Tommy John 171 (31.7 percent); Tim Raines 122 (22.6 percent); Mark McGwire 118 (21.9 percent); Alan Trammell 94 (17.4 percent); Dave Parker 81 (15.0 percent); Don Mattingly 64 (11.9 percent); Dale Murphy 62 (11.5 percent); Harold Baines 32 (5.9 percent); Mark Grace 22 (4.1 percent); David Cone 21 (3.9 percent); Matt Williams 7 (1.3 percent); Mo Vaughn 6 (1.1 percent); Jay Bell 2 (0.4 percent); Jesse Orosco 1 (0.2 percent); Ron Gant 0; Dan Plesac 0; Greg Vaughn 0.

11-5-08 Obama Rally

2010-02-14T17:23:00.000-08:00

Grant Park

It was amazing to be there. And I will have pictures up as soon as my camera battery charges. The weather in Chicago was a new high for this date. The buzz in and around Chicago throughout the days leading up to today was something I have seen here since the 1985 Bears Championship Parade. Everyone got along, no fighting, no arguing, Cubs fans and White Sox fans hugging in Grant Park. The chants of "Obama" and "Yes We Can" that erupted when CNN said it was near impossible for McCain to win after he lost Ohio. The tears of joy that flowed as Obama's acceptance speech was read. "It's...spoken by young and old, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, Black, White, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, Gay, Straight, Disabled and not Disabled. Americans who sent a message to the world that we have never been just a collection of individuals or a collection of red states and blue states. We are, and always will be, the United States of America."They closed all the streets to non-police vehicles. from Roosevelt up to the River and from the lake into I-94, so after his acceptance speech ended, the streets were flooded with proud Americans. High fiving, singing "God Bless America"I went with a Republican who just wanted to be part of what ever was going to happen. He still wasn't happy about the result, but agreed that the buzz in that park made him proud to be an American and he even felt like this can be a good thing.I'm so glad I went, because we witnessed history tonight. And there aren't many times in life you can say you did that.

9-22-08

2010-02-14T17:22:00.000-08:00

Funniest bit of the night - going to Commercial before announcing Jeff Probst as reality host winner. 30 RocksMissing : Awards for NPH, Michael Emerson, & Michael C Hall...and Christina Applegate's chest (too soon?)You have Kristin Chenoweth and NPH on stage together and you don't have them sing??I am now officially a fan of Josh Grobin and hope that TV theme Montage is available on I-tunesDid Steve Carell say a word all night?Lot's of McCain Bashing:Don Rickles (A Living Legend) and Kathy Griffen compared to McCain & Palin. Colbert's bit with the Prunes. And Finally:WHO THOUGHT IT WAS A GOOD IDEA TO PUT UP THE NAME "CHEF" DURING THE IN MEMORIAM SECTION? I understand showing Isaac Hayes and maybe showing the character Chef, but to actually put up the name "CHEF" - c'mon...you never see "Kenny" up there and he used to die every week.

9-11-08

2010-02-14T17:18:00.000-08:00

It happens every fall - 5th Edition

Wow, I Can't believe I've been blogging for 5 years now.
My second blog ever was in September of 2004 on what my Tivo will be recording every night. and every September since, I've done he same. So here's my take on the 2008-2009
Season:

Mondays:
Thursdays used to be the most difficult night of the week. This year that distinction goes to Mondays.
7:00 Chuck (NBC) or the CBS Comedies of Big Bang Theory and & How I met your Mother - Tough choice, but NPH pushes me to the eye network
8:00 Heroes (NBC) or Prison Break (FOX) - damn you Fox for moving PB to 8pm. 4 Years waiting for Lincoln and Michael to be free and I won't see it happen because Heroes is just so much better of a show.
9:00 Final Season of Boston Legal (ABC)- All Hail Shattner

Tuesday:
7:00 House (FOX)
8:00 Fringe (FOX) Watched the Pilot last night. JJ Abrams does X Files ( Why do all his TV show Pilots deal with problems on an airplane)
9:00 not much till January, then I need to choose between Scrubs (ABC) and Nip/Tuck (FX)

Wednesday:
7:00 Pushing Dasies (ABC) - Funny and amazingly filmed.
8:00 Private Practice (ABC) - By Default. At least it has a great cast-The guy from Wings, The guy from Kevin Hill, The guy from Prison Break, The gal from Judging Amy, The guy from Veronica Mars, and staring the gal from Grey's Anatomy

9:00 Will be going to LOST (ABC) when it comes back on 2/4/09. There will be some South Park in the Meantime

Thursday:
7:00 Smallville-(CW) My Favorite Show on TV
8:00 The Office & SNL Thursday / 30 Rock (NBC) ...and hilarity ensues!
9:00 It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (FX) - Life on Mars (ABC) looks Interesting, guess it depends when FX replays the Boys with no Morals

Friday:
7:00 Everybody Hates Chris (CW) put this show on NBC at 7:30 on Thursdays and it would be compared to 30 Rock, put it on the CW without a steady time slot and you understand why the CW will be going away very soon. Too bad Aliens in America didn't get renewed, that was a great hour on the CW
8:00 Friday Night Lights (NBC) This is a good show that will be canceled soon because no one will watch it on Fridays
11:00 The Soup-(E!) & Best Week Ever (VH1) - These shows tell you what's going on in the world
Saturday:
8:00 Knight Rider (NBC) nothing better on all Knight, I'll give it a shot.
SNL (NBC) First Host this week is Michael Phelps will do his Monolouge from a swimming pool .

Sunday:12-4 NFL
4:00 Spaceballs: The Animated Series (G4). I've been waiting for this almost as long as I've been waitng for Fan Boys, but it finally debuts 9/21/08.
7:00 Extreme Home Makeover-ABC Almost makes me cry every week
8:00 Family Guy (FOX)Also, let's not forget midseason replacements.

I Already Mentioned Scrubs, Lost, & Nip/Tuck. Rescue Me (FX) is due back in March and Reaper (CW) was renewed for 13 episodes, but no one seems to know when it will air. Of course, some of these will change when the Bears on MNF, SNF, & one ThrNF. And let's not forget the Cubs World Series games.

8-8-08

2010-02-14T17:17:00.000-08:00

There's an article at EW.com with the three stars of Tropic Thunder. But I never thought that of all actors, I relate to Robert Downey & Jack Black the most.

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: One thing you all have in common is a total lack of inhibition about putting yourselves in potentially embarrassing situations on screen. Do you have a high tolerance for humiliation or is it something you can tap into just in your work?

ROBERT DOWNEY JR.: I have been so wantonly, flagrantly humiliated [in my personal life] that anything that could happen as a result of a movie doesn't even register.

BEN STILLER: [To Downey] Does that give you more fearlessness working — because you're just, like, Who gives a s---?

DOWNEY: It's pretty effective.

JACK BLACK: Look, humiliation hurts. So on the one hand, you have the pain of humiliation. But on the other, you have the delicious guava nectar of laughter. You have to balance it out: How much of this are you willing to endure to get that? Certain people have that thing where they need that guava so badly they'd do anything for it.

DOWNEY: Ben? Humiliation?

STILLER: Yeah, it's definitely been a part of my career. We've all gone for that guava. But I don't know if anybody has a high tolerance for it personally or enjoys it.

DOWNEY: I do. I like it.

7-31-08

2010-02-14T17:13:00.001-08:00

I rember the first time I questioned my Team Loyalty/Hatred over a player Loyalty/Hatred. It was 1994 and my favorite Bear, Steve McMichael, signed with the Packers. I was so confussed, do I still cheer for the guy that led me to wear 76 when I played HS Football, or do I cheer against the team that I was raised to hate - The Packers.

Then a year later, the Cubs signed Howard Johnson. The long time Met who had killed the Cubs over and over agin thru the late 80's and early 90's (he then went on to continue killing the Cubs with his .195 average). Later that year Jim McMahon would sign with the Packers.

Then came Dennis Rodman and Bob Probert. Both Bad Boys from Detroit that fans of the Bulls and Blackhawks couldn't stand. Then former Knick, John Starks, played for the Bulls for a while, but he never caught on.

Now this year, the Cubs signed a hated Cardinal, Jim Edmonds, and he's produced.
And today the Blackhawks sign Scotty Bowman as Asst. GM and rumors on ESPN say the Packers are considering trading Farve to the Bears.

Maybe I'm just old, but I remember a time when something like this would never happen. And I'm not sure if I like it.

"The Motivation Stops" 7-14-08

2010-02-14T17:12:00.000-08:00

So I occasionally wake up in the middle of the night with ideas, but dont always have paper nearby...last night at 4am, I did. so I wrote it down, went back to sleep, adn when I woke up, was still happy with it, so here is the debut of "The Motivation Stops". Unlike the majority of my songs, this isn't a parody. I have a melody in my head, but it's kinda hard to blog the notes"Getting there's the easy part, staying there's difficult.It's probably different for other. Maybe that's how I'm built.Get a job, get a date, never was a problem.But now that I got what I want, what do I do with 'em.Always striving for a goal, reaching for the top.But when you got nothing to reach for, the motivation stops.Wanted to live a movie life with a Happy Ending story.I got the gig, I got the girl, and now it's getting boring.You never see what happens after "Happily Ever After"Does Prince Charming stop going out, sit around the house, get fatter.Cinderella couldn't wait to stop being a slave to her Step Sisters.Then she cooked, cleaned, and raised kids for a guy who always dissed her.Always striving for a goal, reaching for the top.But when you got nothing to reach for, the motivation stops.I need to go on interviews so I don't get robotic.I need to flirt with other gals, so I know I still got it.If I keep searching for my Grail, someone might get hurt.Needing motivation is a gift and yet my curse.It's always good to know that if I want it, it's still there.But I'm probably staying where I am, cause I have it good here.

Sticks & Stones VII 6-24-08

2010-02-14T17:11:00.000-08:00

So when I started doing my Sticks and Stones rants, it was due to people being up in arms over the Don Imus fiasco over a year ago....and in my 7th installment, it comes back to 3-time Marconi Award Winner.
On Imus's Monday morning news, the announcer did a story that per capita more blacks make up the American prison population than other races. He then followed up with a story on Pacman Jones dropping the nickname Pacman and tis followed:
ANNOUNCER: Defensive back Adams "Pacman" Jones, recently signed by the Cowboys, here's a guy suspended all of 2007, following a shooting in a Vegas nightclub.
IMUS: Well, stuff happens. You're in a nightclub, for God's sake. What do you think is gonna happen in a nightclub. People are drinking, and doing drugs. There are women there and people have guns. So there, go ahead.
ANNOUNCER: Also, he's been arrested six times since being drafted by Tennessee in 2005.
IMUS: What color is he?
ANNOUNCER: He's African American.
IMUS: Well there you go, now we know.
Now I can see if you didn't hear the first story, how you would think that's racist, but that's the problem with the media today...they only show the contriversial part, they rarely show the whole story.
I'm not a big fan of Imus, but like most people in Comedy/Radio, doing a call back to previously heard material on the fly is what seperates the boys from the men.
He was referring to the fact that the police target Blacks and not that he was black, so therefore he should be arrested 7 times.
this is small now, but wait till Jessie and Al getta hold of this.
Sticks and stones people, sticks and stones.

6-24-08

2010-02-14T17:09:00.000-08:00

I can't believe I havent blogged in two months... Been busy...which is a good thing.
Still doin the M-F, 9-5, that pays the bills, going on 14 months at Tony & Tina's, and recently got cast in what stated out as a TV Pilot, but might now turn out to be a short film. The reason I got cast in this is because of a character I've been playing for 10 years.

I had few relationships in HS and after HS, the ones I had didn't last and I beleived it was beacuse of me most of time..I was depressed for a long time.

I went thru some good times in the late 90'S when I was a psydo-celeb working in radio where I was going thru women like old socks. I was a good catch and I wasn't about to turn any of them down...Then I fell for an Italian beauty named Ali...she knew more about me than just about anyone I've ever known...which is why she left...she knew my demons and couldn't accept them. I was crushed and didn't want any women to get close to me, I didn't ever want to feel that pain ever again. So I found out what would scare off the women and started to become that person. I started out small by using the "dirty old man" look with the eyebrows, then started with the perverted comments and though some people saw though the act, I kept myself out of serious relationships...till the married woman I was seeing actually got her divorce and moved in with me...I would marry the rebound girl...she accepted my deamons at first, but in the end, I found out I couldn't live with hers.

I kept the act going, because I was happy being single. Now the dirty old man act had gotten me an acting job...God works in mysterious ways.

Speaking of which, If I could of asked God for the perfect woman, I would have asked for someone who is a good person, beautiful, younger, great sense of humor, has a job, understands the value of a dollar, gets along with her family and mine, sees thru my BS an knows I'm a good person, doesn't complain, and understand that if I'm busy, it's not that I don't want to be with her, it's that I'm just busy.
and God listened.
Life is good.

4-22-08

2010-02-14T17:04:00.000-08:00

I'm a little tipsy now, so I appoligize if the spelling or grammer is bad in this.12 years ago I worked in Radio at WLUP & WMVP in Chicago. I worked with the very taleneted Harry Teinowitz and Spike Manton. Both very successful Stand-Ups that encouraged me to go to Open Mikes and do my Comedy. I wrote and rehersed a 5 minutes act, but never had the courage to actually go up on stage and perform.Tonight, at Wisefools Pub, along with my friends Joe Marrese, Pete Wood, & Jose Quervo, I wiped off the old material...along with some new stuff...and went on stage...and got some laughs. When rehersing on the way home from work, I was coming in at five & a half minutes, but once I got on stage, it went by in under 4 minutes. I think I skipped over some of my material along with going a little fast, but overall, I got good reviews from the people there. I've never had a problem talking in front of people, but I've always been hesitant about doing stand up, because one of my goals in life is to make a living making people laugh, & I'd hate to see that dream go down in a ball of flames.I feel good right now. I'm not sure weather it's the Quervo or the high from getting laughs on stage. But maybe I'll go back next week, and maybe this time I'll do it sober.

Sticks & Stones VI 4-18-08

2010-02-14T17:02:00.000-08:00

What is the Hottest selling T-shirt outside of Wrigley Field?
A racist one according to the Sun-Times' Gordon Wittenmyer.
This T-Shirt was brought to the attention of Kosuke Fukudome - The Cubs Japanese Import - Who suprisingly said through his interpreter "I knew I was coming to a different country, so I expected something like this. Maybe not necessarily racial, but that anybody could take any context of my words and degrade me if they wanted to. But if I make a big deal out of it, it's not going to benefit me, so I'm not going to make a big deal of it.''
The guy selling the shirt went on to say he is "indifferent" to the image because he's "making money" and then went on to say he doesn't see what the big deal is, cause it was created by "an Oriental guy"
Oh No!, He said Oriental.
It's a fricken T-Shirt people.
This is the same newspaper that got offended by the Cubs Ad Campaign this year promoting the diversity on the Cubs Roster because of the way they showed the flags of each playes country. It's also the same newspaper that cut half it's staff, got rid of 40 pages and is probably just looking for contriversy to sell papers.
One thing I like about Asian Atheletes that you don't see from most American Atheltes is that they just do their job and don't let what's out of there control bother them. But too bad the same can't be said about the Media.
Sticks and stone will break your bones, but images on a T-shirts should not hurt you.

Sticks & Stones V 4-9-08

2010-02-14T17:00:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, The Second City posted a video on their Web Page, Their MySpace Page, and on YouTube that was hilarious. After I first showed my dad, my first question to him was "How long till they’re forced to take it down?" Today it is down.
More than likely it because the got Jessied*.
(*To Be Jessied - Definition: to stop doing something becuase Jessie Jackson is offended by it.)
I’m gonna paraphrase the video since it’s not up to show you, so I appolagize to the writers and actors from the Second City if I misremember some of it.
Two gentlemen in a room dressed like they are from the late 1700’s are talking about finishing up the Constitution and one says to the other "Do you think we should put in something saying that the President should be a white male?"
The second says "Well, that’s obivous, someone would really need to screw up for a negro or a woman to be made president."
They laugh, then in unison say " A Woman?"
They continue to laugh then look at eachother and in unison say "A Negro?" and laugh
I understand where Negro could be found to be offensive, but it was done as a period piece, and that’s how they spoke then.
I feel sorry for the director and editor of the piece who put in all that time and work into a minute video that’s only seen one day.
Now we can’t even do period pieces that reflect the period.
sticks and stones, people, sticks and stones.

1-2-08

2010-02-14T16:59:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I posted that my new agent got me a speaking role in the Johnny Depp Movie "Public Enimies" now filming in Chicago.It was an APRIL FOOLS JOKE that atleast a dozen people fell for.Unfortunatly I don’t have a magic agent that can get me roles I don’t audition for.

The top 10 jokes of the day in my opinion went to:
1) IGN.com who had a movie trailer up for "The Legend of Zelda" Movie
2) Butterfiger, who changed the name of their candy bar to "The Finger" .
3) ThinkGeek.com had this handy item for sale
4) ESPN Presidential Deathmatch between Barack & Hillary
5) BBC Documentary on Special Penguins
6) eHarmony Founder finds love on Match.com
7) The Irate Gamer’s latest review on Q-Bert
8) Virgin & Google (Virgle) going to Mars
9) Kryptonsite’s Annual fake spoilers for "Smallville"
10) The Most Common was getting RickRolled, but I preferred the TayRoll

2-5-08

2010-02-14T16:58:00.000-08:00

Well, Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday. And being the good Catholic Boy I am (Shut up) I have to give up something I enjoy. I haven't been to a church in over three years due to a priest telling me till I get my marriage annulled, I can't recieve communion. If they don't want my money, that's their choice, but I'm still gonna live my life like a good Catholic (Shut up, I do)
Lent's come early this year, and I'm having a hard time deciding what to give up for the next 47 days. The last three years I've given up sex, but I wasn't in a relationship then, so that's out of the equation now.
I've narrowed it down to a top 10 list. . If you think I should go with one of these or if anyone has any other ideas, let me know by midnight.
1) Giving Up Meat other than Fish on Fridays during Lent (I'm gonna do this anyway)
2) Giving Up Watching Football during Lent (Who watches the Pro Bowl anyway)
3) Giving Up Voting during Lent (Thank God I got that in this morning)
4) Giving Up Mardi Gras Celebrating during Lent (I'm running out of beads anyway)
5) Giving Up Playing Dominic in Tony n Tina's Wedding except on tours during Lent (Nunzio Lockdown starts this week)
6) Giving Up buying things for Angela during Lent (Gets me out of Valentines & her B-Day)
7) Giving Up Watching New Episodes of Heroes, 30 Rock, The Office, My Name is Earl, Chuck, Grey's Anatomy, House, & Pushing Dasies during Lent. (Just a little bit longer WGA)
8) Giving Up Blogging at Work during Lent (ummmm...)
9) Giving Up Coaching at Texas Tech during Lent (Damn, Bobby Knight did that already)
10) Giving Up Procrastinating about going to the Gym 2 times a week during Lent (no smart ass comment)

Stix & Sones IV 2-1-08

2010-02-14T16:57:00.002-08:00

Here we go again..Last night on ESPN, Stan Verrett, a black acnhor, had to appolpgize at the end of Sportscenter for a comment he made about an A-line T-shirt worn by Cleveland Caveliers Forward Donyell Marshell. Marshell didn't have his Jersey on and was only wearing the T-shirt when he came into the game.Did her call it a Dago-T?No, cause the Italians wouldda been all over thatHe called it a "Wife-Beater"Is he gonna get flack for this, probably not becuase: a) he appologized right away b) he's black so Al & Jesse won't cause a stink c) woman that have been beat aren't know to speak up.but what is this world coming to when we have to appologize to clothing for offending it.

Sticks and Stones III 1-24-08

2010-02-14T16:57:00.001-08:00

Here we go again...
Last Friday night, at a Roast for "Mike & Mike" (morning raido hosts on AM1000) a drunk ESPN Personality, Dana Jacobson, was rosting Notre Dame grad Mike Golic by reportedly saying "Fuck Notre Dame, Fuck Touchdown Jesus... Hell...Fuck Jesus!". No Video or Audio of this has been leaked to the net yet, but this was reported by deadspin.com on Monday and has been confirmed by numerous souces.
Dana was suspended for a week from ESPN and has issued a Public Appology to the Catholic League (not as cool as the Justice League becuase they don't beleive humans evolved from Gleek).
Where do I start...
I know - IT'S A FUCKING ROAST HOSTED BY JEFFERY ROSS. Has noone ever watched a Roast? It's supposed to be offensive. That's how Lisa Lampanelli makes a living.

Stix & Stones II 1-10-08

2010-02-14T16:56:00.000-08:00

This pisses me off and I'm bored at work , so...
During a telecast from Hawaii over the weekend, Golf Channel anchor Kelly Tilghman said that the only way young golfer have a chance of beating Tiger Woods would be to "lynch him in a back alley."
Tiger said it was no big deal and Kelly appoligzed to Tiger and on air to anybody that may have been offended. The Golf Channel even put out a press release stating the same thing. And all was well...
But that wasn't good enough for Al Sharpton , who went on CNN and said "If I got on this show and said I wanted to put some Jewish-American in a gas chamber, I don't care what context I said it in, the entire Jewish community would have the right to say I should be put off this show or my radio show if I said it there, or if I said I wanted to see a woman raped" (1:37 into video)
Kelly is now being suspended for two weeks, but it's amazing to me that a slip of the tounge that was in no way meant to be offensive leads to a two week suspension, but the good Reverend will get no backlash for his pre-concieved words. The same way he got little backlash for saying about Mit Romney a few months ago: " As for the one Mormon running for office, those who really believe in God will defeat him anyways, so don't worry about that; that's a temporary situation."
I've said things I'm not too proud of, and I have lost a job for using the word "Chink" (It was a parody song and it rhymed with "Think"), but why is it OK for Big Al to say whatever he wants,but if it comes out of the mouth of me, or Steve, or any other non-black - it must me racist.
My parents taught me young that "Sticks and Stones will break my bones, but Names will never hurt me." I think that's a platform for a president to run on.
Now let's just hope I don't get lynched with sticks and stones for saying this.

1-8-08

2010-02-14T16:55:00.001-08:00

think there is a rule that says either the Last Blog of the Year or First Blog of the New Year has to be a reflective one...so here we go.

I was copying all the Birthdays & Aniversaries from my 2007 to my 2008 Calender when I realized that it was one year ago today that walked out on Burger King. One year ago today I:

1) Had an 18 year career
2) Was a homeowner
3) Had a bumper and all three mirrors on my car
4) Was single
5) Needed Glasses and/or Contacts
6) Was only Dreaming of someday getting paid to act
7) Was preparing for a Super Bowl run by the Bears
8) Was Angry and Depressed at the World

What a Difference a year can make & may 2008 be better.

11-25-07

2010-02-14T16:50:00.000-08:00

It's 2:45 in the morning and I might be a bit tipsy, so if this seems like some random rant, it probably is.I have all these idea's in my head but no motivation to put them on paper. all these Video ideas but no motivation to put them on YouTube. A filthy apartment, but no motivation to clean.I've had two days in a row with nothing to do till TnT Shows (Friday @ 7, Saturday @ 5) and I slept the days away...well not completely, I did go to the gym both days, but I didn't really do anything productive.I've been a bit down because I didn't get into Conservatory AGAIN, and I didn't make it into a show I know I should've been a part of (A Sunday morning show making fun of religion). And I didn't get an audition for cruise line host. I know a few people that at least got called in for auditions, but not I.

I've come to accept rejection as a part of my life. like I've said in previous blogs, my biggset fear is for someone to say yes...be it a date, or a shot at my dream job. But then you actually do get that yes and you work at making it last, and you get that confidence to ask again then try again, thinking you have what it takes and them somebody who's only seen you for 10 minutes rejects you - even though in your heart, you know it was meant to be. and then you get depressed becuase you know deep down you never should have gotten a big head. you should have been ready to accept rejection.

If I truely want this acting thing to last, I know I'm gonna be rejected 95% of the time. and I've accepted that. I'm being paid to act, so I really have nothing to complain about. Tony and Tina's has accepted me in to their 14 year old family, but there's more in me than this job and I don't know how to get it out...or maybe I'm content with my position and don't wanna risk it by trying to do more. Or mayby I'm thinking too much about it.

Anyway, speaking of fear of acceptance, I finally asked someone out for the first time since my divorce...almost three years ago...and she did say yes. we've been on 3 dates and things are going well. She's been out of town for a week to spend Thanxgivin with the family and I missed her. That leads me to beleive that I want her to be part of my life.

People - or I should just say Family at Thanksgiving -are asking me if we're boyfriend- girlfriend, or to define the relationship - a conversation we haven't even really done. I was mentally damaged for a long time from Theresa and I think the fact that I've finally allowed myself to start dating is a huge step and I wish my family would get off my back. and I don't know where I'm going with this.

I'm starting to doze off as it has now reached 3am and I have to be up early for the Bears-Broncos game. I'm probably gonna read this in the morning and say WTF, but it's here for now.
g'night

10-5-07 (23)

2010-02-14T16:34:00.001-08:00

Many have asked what's the significance of the 23 on my License Plate, and the answer is always the same. In 1990, when I got my first car, I wanted personalized plates, but the state of Illinois charged 100 for plates without a number , & 65 for plates with, so I decided to have a number on it. My first choice was VINNIE 1, but that was taken. I got my second choice of VINIE 23.
In 1990, Ryne Sandberg, Robin Ventura, Michael Jordan, Stu Grimson, & Shaun Gayle all wore 23 in Chicago. That year all were All-Stars in their respective sport except for Grimson, who was the best enforcer in the NHL at the time. The late 80's early 90's were good times for 23's, but not so much anymore.
MJ has since made a fool of himself in DC, before he divorced his long time wife amid allegations of a gambling problem. Ventura Dissapeared off the face of the earth. Ryno, went thru his own divorce, had to wait three years to get into the HOF and is now managing in Peoria. And the worst fate went to Stu Grimson, who had to play four years in Detroit.
Now newscomes out last night the Gayle is the leading suspect in the shooting death of his pregnant girlfriend.
I learned recently from a Jim Carrey horror movie, that the 23 is cursed, and I didn't want to beleive it. But now I see all these bad things happening and I've lived the life of a person who pick it as a Lucky Number.
So watch out Devin Hester.
The Number Gods aren't on your side.

9-19-07

2010-02-14T16:32:00.000-08:00

So I got home from work and there it was in the mail. The letter I've been waiting for. Second City Training Center. Everyone always says the third time's the charm. My first audition was good, but not great. My second audition, I knew before I got home, I wasn't gonna make it, but this time...this time it felt right, this time I got laughs, this was the time I got in...
Notre Dame doesn't accept senior transfers...
sorry, wrong movie...
But as I opened the letter, it started the same way as the other two...You Suck...
OK, that's not what it said, but that's what it felt like. So I'm gonna tell SC they suck right now. I signed up for classes at the Annoyance.
I need to do somthing,
Improv is like sex, if you don't do it for long spans, when you do get the opportunity, you're so worried about doing it right and being a giver, that you don't enjoying it like you did when it was a weekly occurance. Then it ends quickly and unsatisfyingly. And people might tell you to your face you were good, but you know as well as they do that it was a bad performance.
or maybe I just need to get laid.

9-14-07

2010-02-14T16:30:00.000-08:00

So, as most of you know, I've been addicted to MySpace Surveys the last few weeks...OK,months...I was reading through a few of the ones I've filled out and some of the ones friends filled out and I've come to realize the the best time of my life was at about age 22-25, I've also realized I was a real asshole back then, & maybe that's what made me have such a good time.

Back then I was working in Radio, goin out drinking, dancing, & singing Kareoke 3-4 nights a week. And I was basically a "Man Whore". Boy, the sex stories I could tell about those day. I broke many hearts I didn't care, It was just another piece of ass. I would drink a whole bottle of Tequilla and wake up with out a hangover. I thought I was untouchable.

Then in one week in September of 1999, it all changed. The Radio Station I worked at changed formats and brought in a whole new staff. The one woman I really loved, left me for another guy, for a couple reasons, but mainly cause I wasn't the kinda guy that would commit. Then the week ended up with a DUI.

I changed after that. I went back to the the King full time, saved up and bought a house and a new car, and the next thing I know I'm married to the rebound girl. I thought it was the right thing to do. No more being immature, be an adult. But now that that has all fallen apart, I've been fighting with myself about being the 22-25 year old me again.

Most people will tell you I'm a nice guy now, I help stranded cars on the side of the road, give fast food gift cards to homeless people at stoplights, help numerous people move, and am always the one buying the first round. I might make an off color comment here or there, but I beleive most people know it's just in jest. I like the newer me. It fits me in my older age, but now that I'm living in the City, I know I need a little of that inner asshole to come out if ever wanna date. City girls aren't in to the "Nice Guys" like the Suburbs can be.

So the question I've been asking myself is- Am I willing to change who I am just to get some ass? So far...the answer has been no. But we'll see.

I want to end with what got me thinking about this the most and it was a Survey question about how your last relationship ended and as a read another person's answer, I knew she was talking about me. I broke up with one woman (who is now a MySpace friend as well as one of my best friends) very poorly, and though I may never have actually said it, I am truely sorry on how that went down. You know who you are, no need to respond.

9-10-07

2010-02-14T16:28:00.000-08:00

Fat, slow, out of sync, showing disinterest, letting everone run circles around.
Everyone talking about how this is where the rise back to the top starts, and this is the performance we recieve.

and that outfit...

Damn you Brittney Spears
(What? thought I was talking bout the Bears?...Them too...except for the outfit part.)

9-6-07

2010-02-14T16:25:00.000-08:00

It happens every fall - 4th Edition Category

So as some of you may know, I spend more time with my Tivo than I do with friends & family. For the last three years I have blogged on what my Tivo will be recording and 2007-2008 is no Different.

Let's start with Mondays: (Premiere Date)
CW replays Everyboy Hates Chris(10/1) & Aliens in America(10/1) on Sunday's, so I'll record the replays.
7:00 Prison Break-FOX (9/17) I know 4 people who were extra's in it when it was filmed in Chicago and I got hooked.
8:00 Heroes-NBC (9/24) My inner geek is showing
9:00 Journeyman-NBC (9/24) - Quantum Leap for the 21st Century

Tuesday:
7:00 Beauty & The Geek-CW (9/18) one of the best reality shows on TV
8:00 grrrrr New show I wanna watch [Reaper CW(9/25)] against a show I kinda like [House FOX (9/25)] I'm gonna give Reaper a chance, & if it doesn't grow on me I can always go back to House
9:00 Boston Legal ABC (9/25) Shattner - enough said
10:00 Nip/Tuck FX (10/30) Following the form of Laverne & Shirley - When you run out of things to do in your town, Move to Califonia

Wednesday:
7:00 Pushing Dasies-ABC (10/3) Most hyped show of the fall, lets hope it can live up to the hpye
8:00 Private Practice-ABC (9/26) Great cast-The guy from Wings, The guy from Kevin Hill, The guy from Prison Break, The gal from Judging Amy, The guy from Veronica Mars, and staring the gal from Grey's Anatomy
9:00 Will be going to LOST when it comes back in Febuary. There will be some South Park(10/3) in the Meantime

Thursday:
There are way to many shows on Thursdays, and my Tivo only tapes one show at a time. Thank god CBS.com replays Survivor and NBC offers the 4 Comidies (30 Rock, Earl, Office, Scrubs) on iTunes.So that leaves...
7:00 Smallville-CW (9/27) My Favorite Show on TV
8:00 Grey's Anatomy ABC (9/27)
9:00 It's Always Sunny in Philidelphia-FX (9/13) This is what it's like to live with no Morals

Friday:
8:00 Friday Night Lights NBC (10/5) This is a good show that will be canceled because no one will watch it on Fridays
9:00 The Soup-E! - If I don't make it on SNL, I wanna host this show

Saturday:
SNL-NBC (9/29) First Host LeBron James with Musical Guest Amy Winehouse-if she's out of Rehab-no no no
Sunday:
10-6 NFL
6:00 Everybody hates Chris-CW Hilarious
6:30 Aliens in America-CW-Getting lots of great reviews
7:00 Extreme Home Makeover-ABC (9/30) Almost makes me cry every week
8:00 Family Guy-FOX (9/23) First episode is 1 hour remake of Star Wars IV: A New Hope

Of course, some of these will change when the Bears on MNF, SNF, & one ThrNF. And let's not forget the Cubs World Series games.

9-4-07

2010-02-14T16:23:00.000-08:00

The first Wednesday of every month Tony & Tina's does a Matinee. It's a nice change of pace from the night shows and it gets me a day off my usual boring day job.

The hard part about it is that since so many of the actors have day jobs, we always seem to be rushing at the last minute to get a cast together. And by last minute, I mean last month I got a call at 1am telling me I was gonna be Barry for a noon show the next day. I was up till 3am studying lines, and even went thru blocking that morning till at 11am, we got a Barry.

Now today I just got a call that I'll be playing the 46 year old father of the Groom, Tony Nunzio Sr.

So instead of watching the great Steve Trachsel make his Cub debut tonight, I'll be spending it learning blocking, backstory and my lines.

Don't get me wrong, I love the fact that I'm getting a new role. Sometimes you just wish you had a little more time to prepare.

8-23-07

2010-02-14T16:20:00.000-08:00

One week from today I will be able to see for first time since 1987 without glasses or contacts. I have friends on here who were born after that year.

I'll never forget the day at Lombard Jr High when Nate Dhamers walked in to science class and said " Vince, now you're a full flegged nerd." It wasn't till Freshman year of HS that I got the contacts and have rarely taken them out since.

I have Vision Insurance thru Cobra with BK that expires soon and wanted to get every last bit out of "The King" after giving them 18 years of my life. While lookin at their website, I found that they give a 15% discount on LASIK. I was kinda hesitant bout it, but have heard really good things from Margo, Debbie, & My cousin Mike about their results.

The next week will be the hardest becasue I can't wear my contacts for a week prior to the surgery. I've got to play one of the toughest guys in TnT with glasses. I've got to run and lift people without losing them or worse yet haveing a lens pop out, which they do on occasion. I have to drive at night with them, which sucks. and then the hardest part...I'm not supposed to sweat for three days afterwards.

Being a fat guy, rolling out of bed sometimes brings on a sweat. TnT is all about getting Sweaty, and then comes Saturday September 1st.

I'm not complaining cause I'm all about being there for friends, But I'm helping two people move on the first, have a TnT Show and then a one time show at the Skybox Theatre at Midnight. Gonna be a long day & am not supposed to get sweat in my eyes.

We'll see how it turns out. what's the worst that could happen? I could earn disability for the rest of my life.

7-29-07

2010-02-14T16:19:00.000-08:00

One of the Funniest men alive Mel Brooks, is getting ready for a big year and so are all his fans.

Next week, "Young Frankenstien, The Musical" opens it's preview run in Seattle. And it goes to the Hilton Theatre in NY starting October 11 . A few years back Mel premeired "The Producers" in Chicago and was hoping he would do the same with YF, but it gives me a reason to go to NY next year.

Also, we are just a month away from the highly anticipated "Spaceballs: The Animated Series" on the G4 Network. It's being Written by Brooks and Thomas Meehan who wrote the Movie.

And then the news out of Comic Con yesterday that the Movie Version of Get Smart (Staring Second City Alum Steve Carrell & Alan Arkin) will have cameos by the original writers of the series - Mel Brooks and Buck Henry.

7-13-07

2010-02-14T16:18:00.000-08:00

So as most of you know, I am one of the biggest Cub Fans around, but even this goes beyond somthing I would consider buying.

For Kerry Wood's charity event, they have an On-line Auction for alot of autographed items from current & former Cubs as well as from people who have sang the 7th inning strech. But one of the odder items is an Urinal from Wrigley Field signed by the entire team.

Bonus, if you swab it you might be able to find out if steroids were used by any of the Cubs. Hope Prior & Sosa didn't use this.

All proceeds go to Project 3000, Founded by current Cub Derrek Lee

6-19-07

2010-02-14T16:16:00.000-08:00

RIP

Oswego Home

4.1.2000-6.18.2007

At approximitly 3:10pm on 6.18.2007 I finally sold my house in Oswego. It took a little longer than I would've liked, but now I am ofically back in Chicago. Roscoe Village to be exact. 1.5 miles west of Wrigley Field, 4 miles from Piper's Alley, & 27 miles from my day job (was driving 25 miles each way before I moved).

Still getting settled into the new place, actually just checked my E-mail for the first time since Friday. If anyone wants my new address, just ask. I'll E-mail it out to people who's E-mail address I have.

6-9-07

2010-02-14T16:15:00.000-08:00

I've never been more proud to be a Graduate of Glenbard East High School after what happend this week. But maybe we should have a litle history lesson first.In May of 1993, my defensive line coach for the GEHS Football team, Richard Cruz, was arrested for for having sex with a minor...in the school...on a couch in the football coach's office.
In July, 2004, School Librarian, Laurie Augustine, was arrested for having sex with 3, yes I said three, teenage boys at GEHS.
Now comes news that Former Athletic Director at GEHS, and current Drivers Ed Teacher, George Langlotz, had taken a 17 year old girl home with him to give her private afterschool tutoring...IN DRIVERS ED.

Now I know why I never got past 3rd base in HS. Everyone was sleeping with their Teacher.

5-25-07

2010-02-14T16:13:00.000-08:00

So after almost a year on the housing market, I finally got an offer on my house this week. 17,000 less that my current asking price, which is already 6,000 less that the house was appraised for. We've been going back & forth the last three days, but we're still almost 2 grand apart.

I'm to the point where I just want to cut my losses and sell the damn thing, but if I sell for what they want, I'm gonna have to live with the parents for a few months to get some cash saved up for a condo.

And that's so gonna cut into my dating...who am I kidding.

Anyway...enought about my house. Tonight is family night at TnT. Originally just my parents and sister, now an aunt, uncle, & grandmother are coming too. Hopefully I won't throw out any more racial slurs this week..."Just a Gigalo", not gigab**.

EDIT: 20 minutes after writing this, they raised their offer to 183,000. So I have finally sold the house.

5-15-07

2010-02-14T16:11:00.000-08:00

So I haven't blogged for a few weeks, been kinda busy. Turned 33 this past week. The best part of my B-day was for the first time in almost 10 years, Mom, Dad, Angie, Tony, & I went out to eat together (Angie's husband Warren and my neice Mary were there too). It was nice to be together as a family without all the extended family around. We joked around and had a real good time. It was the second time in a week I got together with my brother, after seeing him outside of holidays maybe twice in the last year. It'll probably be the last time it happens for another few years as my sister, Warren and the baby are moving to Steelville next week. I've been leaving work early three days a week, so I've been staying to almost 7 on Monday & Tuesday to keep up. Stil trying to write and shoot videos with SJJ. Our latest video, "Bum Off" is top to bottom our best work. TnT has been awesome, and after three weeks as wait staff, this Thursday will mark my Debut as Dominic Fabrizzi. I thought I would have one more week, but they tell me I'm ready. Everyone in the cast has been great and welcomed in all of us newbies like family. After my first week they had me training the new people that started my second week. I felt my years as a BK trainer coming back to me, especially with all the Spanish I've been speaking in the kitchen there.
Anyway, I gotta admit I'm a bit nervous about Thursday. Lot's of homework for TnT that I'm procrastinating by doing this blog right now. I'm meeting with the Director on Thursday before the show. Meeting with the cute costume gal, Margo, for a final fitting, then showtime. Everything has been going so fast the past few months. To think this time last year I was still in major debt from "her", starting a new job after 17 years at BK, and going back to school at 32. What's next? Dating again? Maybe I shouldn't get to far ahead of myself.I'm trying not to get too happy, cause it never fails that when I get too high on life, it crushes me like a bug. But here's to my 33rd year be better than the previous 20.

4-28-07

2010-02-14T16:07:00.000-08:00

If you had told me two weeks ago that I would fail to get into the Second City Conservatory and I'd be Happy about it. I would have laughed in your face. But after the last 48 hours, it doesn't bother me at all.
Thursday about 3:00 I got the call from TnT that I offically got the job. I started Friday night (but we'll get back to Friday in a bit)This whole week is the 10th annual Chicago Improv Festival, and Tursday I was going to the Atheneum Theatre to see Seth Meyers & Boom Chicago. My Parents did alot of acting at the Atheneum back in the 60's & 70's (they still had posters up with my dad's name on it) and I know just about everyone that runs the ticket booth and concessions there like family.
Boom Chicago does a bit where they talk about Identity Theft and asked the ticket booth for a name, address, & last 4 didgets of a credit card so they can pull someone on stage and pretent to buy stuff on they're card. The people I know in the ticket booth didn't feel comfortable doing this to a regular Customer, so they called me and asked me if they could use my info for the bit, I was all for making a fool of myself.

So Seth Meyers was hilarious, & for those who don't know, I beleive he's one of only 2 people to work on both Mad TV & SNL, and is currently the head writer at SNL. Then Boom Chicago came up and did their show "Me, MySpace, & I-Pod" The last bit they do is the Identity Theft and I get pulled on stage with Suzy. She asks why I came and I said becuase I was a huge Seth Meyers fan and they bring up a Satilie image of my house, do a few fat jokes, and tell me they bought champaign, a Limo, & a cruise with my credit card. They get all this info and then do a Song about me - Funny Shit. At the end say if anyone sees me after the show, I'm buying drinks. So I go to the After Party and people are coming up to me asking for drinks and & tell them I already bought my round, they were late. Then Seth Meyers comes up to me and say "I hear your a big fan" OMG - so I'm standing in a bar talking with Seth Meyers and asked him about SNL & he said he doesn't do the hiring and they're not allowed to take scripts from outside the writers room because of possible lawsuits, but he gave me his E-Mail and said he'd look at some of my skits and give his opinion.

On TV he comes off as an A-Hole, but he was one of the nicest guys. So as if this night couldn't get any better, two guys dressed to the T's walk up to me and ask me to buy them drinks. I was outta cash by this time, and the Barteneder said credit cards were a $12 minimum, so If I wanted a drink, I had to buy 2 more anyway, so I bought these guys drinks. I ask them what brought them to the show, and they said they were in town filming The Express with Dennis Quaid. I joked I'd love to get into a movie. They ask for my card and said they'd give me a call if there's anything. Now for all I know they're pulling my leg, but I'm still on a high from the Seth Meyers thing.

So I get home about 2 am on Friday morning, knowing I still have my 9-5 and TnT on Friday.Cut to Friday afternoon I get a call asking if I'm available at all this weekend to be an extra in The Express. With TnT, I couldn't on Friday or Saturday, so now that will be my whole Sunday. Then came my TnT debut. The first month you play the wait staff, each waiter/waitress has a back story, and I do a little dance. It was a ball. and I'm there again Saturday night. But I got home late on Saturday & in the mail is the letter from Second City.

Now as I said, two weeks ago, I wanted Conservatory more than anything. but as I'm opening it, I'm hoping I didn't because I'm already being streatched. And I didn't. and that's OK - for now.

4-21-07

2010-02-14T16:05:00.000-08:00

So as I posted in my last blog, I auditioned for Tony n Tina's wedding last Thursday and I didn't think I did that well...well I was wrong....But we'll talk about that in a minute.

Friday I had my Conservatory Audition for the Second City. 15 people Auditioning in 15 minutes. - It's a fast paced Audition. I was in three scenes. Two good, one not so good, but I felt good about the process. We should hear back within 10 days.

BUT THE BETTER NEWS IS...Gotta call back this past Thursday For T-n-T.An all Improv Audition - and I felt I nailed it (had an awsome partner)Four hours after the Audition, I getta call from the stage manager asking me to come see the show on Friday and "we'll talk afterwards".

I knew this was either:
a) Thank you for Auditioning, please see the show as a Thank you for your timeor
b) See what your getting yourself into so if you want out, you can do it now.

It was the later.So even though it wasn't officially said that I was hired, it was said "If you don't want to do it, let us know, if we don't hear from you, you'll hear from us"After talking with the other six people that auditioned and came to see the show Friday, we all feel that means we got the Job. And after having a few people in the show tell me "we desperatly need people" it almost confirmed it. So it looks like I'm offically a Paid Actor.

4-12-07

2010-02-14T16:04:00.000-08:00

They say that the Biggest fear Americans have is talking in front of a crowd. Even more so than death or going homeless.
So why is it the only time I feel comfortable is in front of a crowd?
Out with a bunch of friends, on stage at Second City or The Playground, MC-ing the Central US Burger King Conference - No Problem, just say what comes to mind and I'm OK.
But when I get 1-on-1 with someone, I get uncomfortable? Dr. Freud might call it Intimacy Issues. Maybe it's years of bad 1-on-1 experiences. who knows?
So why bring this out now? Because twice today I had bad 1-on-1 momets. First came about 4:30 when I had an Audition for Tony-n-Tina's Wedding. A friend of a friend works there, and said they were looking for "Italian looking" men, so I sent in a Headshot and Resume - and they actually called. I was fine leading in to it, but when it came to just the director and me in the room, and all of a sudden I got nervous, started talking fast, and I feel like I might have rushed thru my monologue.
Then, for my acting class, we are doing two-person scenes. My acting partner, a very good looking woman in her late 20's, and I got together at her place to reherse. We rehersed, ordered a pizza, watched Grey's Anatomy, and I thought there was a spark there - I was wrong. I didn't put on any moves, just made a comment that made her feel uneasy. Now I'm gonna feel awkward around her for the rest of our class.
Now that's probably gonna lead me to another blog, but I just had to get this off my chest.

GPP

2007-06-22T08:15:00.000-07:00

Just Lose Baby

2007-01-07T11:40:00.000-08:00

As most of you know, I'm A huge Bears Fan and very rarely criticize another team besides the Packers, BUT Then I Saw This.

From 1999-2003 This man led the Bears Offense
1999 - Cant find team stats, but this says it all:
Leading Passer Shane Mathews 1645 yrds
Leading Rusher Curtis Enis 916 yards
2000 - 283 ypg (23rd), 13 ppg
2001 -293 ypg (28th), 21 PPG
2002 - 274 ypg (29th), 17 PPG
2003 - 273 ypg (28th), 17 PPG

And this past year leading the Oaklad Offense

242 ypg (Last), 10.5 ppg (last)

Al Davis - Just lose Baby

Sorry Rex

2006-12-09T13:48:00.000-08:00

I've noticed that since my last blog, Rex Grossman's play has suffered. So I am writing to help the 2 time defending NFC North Champions.

Prior to my last Blog Bear 5-0, Grossman was avg 249 yards per game with 10 TD, 3 int, 1 fumble
Since, Bear 5-2, Grosman avg 169 yards per game, 8 TD, 14 int, 6 fumbles.

My bad Bears Fans

I can't beleive I've been away for almost two months.

What's been going on?

I had my Level C show at Second City. It went great and I got the last line.
I've auditioned for two movies and the Writing show at SC, no luck with those.
I Auditioned for "Show me the Money" -the Shat-tastic new game show on ABC, and think it went really well. Could you imagine being in a room with Shatner and 20 beautiful, half naked women.
0 (I know you can John)

Other than that, getting ready for my Level D show at SC on Dec 17th, Work still sux, but it pays the bills, and remortgaged and gotta roommate so that I'm just paying $450 a month for my house now. maybe I won't be moving anytime soon.

Lastly, my best friend in the world, my sister Angie, has told the family that she is moving near St. Louis in Feb. because of my brother in law getting a "Promotion" at work. they will be down there about 4-5 years. So I'm a little sad about not seeing her or my neice on a weekly basis.

Another DDS Article posted

2006-10-17T18:25:00.000-07:00

When I worked in radio with two comidians (Harry Teinowitz & Spike Manton) they taught me a few ruled of comedy.
Things are funnier in threes.
Disagreeing is funny, arguing is not.
Tragidy + Time = Funny.

After I submitted this, I feel like I might have broken the last rule by not waiting long enough, but it was published.

YANKEE'S CUT PAYROLL

2006-10-16T11:06:00.000-07:00

CUBS New Manager

First, I have to say that I love that I figured out how to put YouTube Videos on my Blog.

Anyway...
We wanted a Manager that was anti-Dusty. One that would not just sit back, but would show passion-and it looks like that's what we got.

But we also needed a Manager that worked well with Kids, and Sweet Lou is not that man.

Pinella left Tampa Bay because he didn't like working with inexperienced players, but that's 1/2 the Cubs pitching Staff.
I am predicting here that Joe Girardi wins a WS managing the Nationals before Pinella wins one with the Cubs.
All the stars were aligned, Jim. The Prodigal Son Returns. I've been one of your biggest supporters, but this move is the begining of the end in the Jim Hendry Regime.

2006-10-14T18:12:00.000-07:00

Improv Murder

A few weeks ago I was asked to be in a short film called Improv Murder. It will be featured at the Improv Kitchen on Clark in November as part of a bit by "the Unfinished Project". I'm not great in it, but it's a start.

Mainstage

2006-10-10T16:54:00.000-07:00

Sunday I Performed on the Mainstage at Second City:Chicago.

I only told close family and a couple people at work because it was only a 17 minute show and I didn't want too many people paying an arm and a leg for parking to see me perform in maybe 4 minutes. We just finished level C of classes and things are going great. The Show went without a hitch, and I'm especially happy to have had the last line. But the thing that made me happiest about the midday show was the my parents were there and they were proud of me. Ever since my divorce, I've felt alot of my family has looked down on me as a black sheep. And one relitive came right out and told me I embarress her. So it was nice to have another day as the good son.

There was a bad part of the day though. My show was at noon. Bears kicked off at noon. So I had to miss most of the first half and watched the rest on TV. I had to sell my tickets. My Dad sold his tickets too. 40-0 (I don't count that last TD) Not a game you want to miss.

Next Show on the Mainstage 12/17 at noon. Bears host the Bucs at noon.
They better not be 13-0.

Brooks Revival

2006-09-27T05:50:00.000-07:00

As the 1990's rolled along this country got very politically correct to avoid lawsuits based on discrimination. As political corrrectness took over the main stream, those who thrived on making fun of everybody had to tone it down. No one, in my opinion, was hit harder by this than Mel Brooks. The man who had a Black Sheriff, a Nazi Playwrite, and a Drewish Princess had to settle for making "Robin Hood-Men in Tights" because no studio would make the movie's he wanted to make becuase of fear of lawsuit.

S0 back in 2000, Mel decided to see what he could get out of an old Idea in a new form and created the TONY winning "The Producers:The Musical". With that sucess, Mel has recently finished the first draft of "Young Frankenstein: The Musical".

And now comes news that the G4 network ordered 13 episodes of "Spaceballs: The Cartoon"

And in that article, he claims that he might actually make "History of the World: Part II"

I Am so excited about these new projects that I'm proposing a few more for Mel (because we all know the funniest man alive reads my blog religiously)

"To Be or Not To Be: The Video Game - Escape from Poland"

New reality show "Who Wants to be a Jew in Space?"

And to make today's world happy - the Short-and I mean really short-Film "Blazing Saddles: Pollitically Corrtect.

Second Colum at DDS

2006-09-18T20:47:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago I let you all know that I had an article posted at DeepDishSports.com about my beloved Cubs.

Well, as football season starts, I had to write an article on THE beloved. So everyone enjoy, and hopefully noone will be offended. Remember- The site exists to satirize the Chicago sports scene.

Sweetness' Window says Walter Would've Won "Dancing With The Stars"

Weird Al

2006-09-05T22:38:00.000-07:00

Three time Grammy Winner "Weird" Al Yankovich is coming out with his 12th Album on Sept. 26th Titled "Straight outta Lynnwood"

Some of the singles are already making their way to the web.
"White and Nerdy" is on my MySpace page
"Don't Download this Song" is on Al's MySpace Page

What really excites me about this is that there will be 8 Video's on a Dual Disk release.
"White & Nerdy" will be a live action video. The other 7 will be Animated. The "Don't Download This Song" Video is available (ironically) to be downloaded on Yahoo Music.

The creative team at "Robot Chicken" will me doing a stop motion Video for the song "Weasel Stomping Day" and it will premeir on Cartoon Network 10:30pm September 24th.

Ren & Stimpy cartoonist John Kricfalusi will be doing the Video for "Close but no Cigar"

Songs I'm getting excited about just by hearing the titles are "Trapped in a Drive Thru" parody of R. Kelly's "Trapped in a Closet" and "Canadian Idiot" a parody of Green Day's "American Idiot" someone told me it's a song about Willam Shatner, but I can't confirm this.

It happens every fall - 2006

2006-09-05T21:56:00.000-07:00

Wow, almost one year blogging and I return to talking about the same topic as my first blog - Fall TV schedule.

Here's what I'll be watching:

Monday
7:00 Prison Break - Already started. and where's the first place they go when they escape from Jail...Oswego.
8:00 Heros - Jeph Loeb is one of the writers - enough said
9:00 Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip - behind the scenes of an SNL type show

Tuesday
7:00 Friday Night Lights - I loved the book and the Movie, and it brings Kyle Chandler (Early Edition) back to prime time
8:00 House
9:00 Boston Legal - Denny Crain
10:00 Nip/Tuck - One of the top shows on TV today

Wednesday
7:00 30 Rock - behind the scenes of an SNL type show...Wait, didn't I say that already?
7:30 - Laundry - not a show, just a 1/2 hour for me to do Laundry
8:00 LOST
9:00 South Park

Thursday
7:00 Smallville (Survivor, Earl/Office) It's a tough decision, but the Man of Steel wins out as this year starts the formation of the JLA. Al Gough has already stated that there will be an episode with Green Arrow, Cyborg, Flash, & Possibly Aquaman all coming together.
8:00 Grey's Anatomy

Friday
10:00 Bill Mahr - HBO
(Not much on Friday Nights)

Saturday
10:30 SNL
(ditto Saturday)

Sunday
BEARS
6:00 Everybody Hates Chris - Finally on with no competition
7:00 Extreme Home Makeover - tearjerker every week
8:00 Sopranos (eventually)
10:30 Robot Chicken Sept 24th- Weird Al Video Premiere (more on that later)

Have I mentioned how much I love my TIVO?

Survivor: Cook Island

2006-08-24T10:02:00.000-07:00

My boss would love the new edition of Survivor where for the first time they are seperating the Survivors by race. Five Caucasions, Five Asians, Five Hispanics, Five African-Americans.

Is it just me or does this country seem to be taking a step backwards in race relations in all phases?

New Policy at Work

2006-08-24T00:16:00.000-07:00

The owner of the Restaraunt chain I work at (Let's call him Dick) has installed a new policy that we may not hire anyone that doesn't speak english for anything other than dishwasher. For anyone who hasn't worked in the resteraunt business in the last 15 years, The Mexicans are the reason we are open. Not many "White" people will clean toilets and work in a fast food kitchen for minimal benifits and $7.50 an hour. "White" people would start a fast food workers Union and the next thing you know a Whopper costs $5.99 becuase money has to go into the pension fund.

Dick had received five E-mails over the past six months from customers complaining about not being able to understand our employees. Less than 1/2 of 1% of all E-mails he has received. These are probably the same people that still want slavery, thought the Nazi's were right and think Bush got elected becuase those damn women are allowed to vote now. This is America. A melting pot where all men & women should be given the same rights no matter what their race, religion, or sexual orintation.

I am not Anti-Union, and I an not Anti-"White" employee's...but the simple truth is White people in Naperville don't apply at fast food resteraunts. Mexicans work harder than any other people I have ever known and we will be forced to fire five of them by September 1st if we can not teach them "Business" English in two weeks.

I am already debating whether this job move was right for me and now this might be the final blow.

Let it Be

2006-08-24T00:04:00.000-07:00

I remember a time when Popeye could eat spinich or Underdog could get his Super-Energy Pill from his ring and it wasn't considered a form of steroids.

I remember a time when Scooby and Shaggy were just hungry for Scooby Snacks and it wasn't becuause they had the munchies from smoking pot.

I remember when Speedy Gonzolez was funny and not a racist cartoon against Mexicans.

Now news that Hanna-Barbarra is going thru over 1,500 cartoons, including Tom & Jerry and the Flinstones and removing any scene's with smoking.

C'mon people...don't you have anything better to do with your time and money??

What's next?

All car crashes will have the cartoon character wearing a seatbelt and having Airbags?

Mr. Spacely going to sesnitivity training for yelling at employees?

Wimpy eating Jenny Craig rather than Hamburgers to promote healthy eating?

Pepe Le'Peu is a bad way to perceive the French?

LEAVE OUR CARTOONS ALONE !!

If you want to fix a cartoon, start with Japanamation and make the words line up with their mouths before all our children need speech theripsts.

Fantasy Draft

2006-08-21T01:24:00.000-07:00

I have been playing Fantasy Baseball since 1995, and got into Fantasy Football in 1996. I have been hooked ever since. About a year and a half ago, when my Grandpa passed away, I knew without all the family gatherings we had at his house, I wouldn't be seeing my cousins as much. I was trying to think of somthing that could get all the cousins together a few times a year. Knowing that just about all of us were football fans, I asked them all if they wanted to join a fantasy fooball league together. Not all the cousins participated, but there are 7 cousins and my brother-in-law, Warren and we had our draft on my grandpa's B-day last year.

While the first year of Patsy's boys(my grandpa's name was Pasquale, but he always went by Patsy) leauge started out rough, I ended up winning the Championship becuase Larry Johnson went wild the last four weeks. We just had our Draft this week, and I'm ready to defend my title and figured I'd post my team here.

Starteres
Donovan McNabb Phi QB
Larry Johnson , KC RB
Reuben Droughns, Cle RB
Kevan Barlow, SF RB/WR
Randy Moss, Oak WR
Chris Chambers, Mia WR
Heath Miller, Pit TE
Ravens D/ST, Bal D/ST
Mike Vanderjagt, Dal K

Bench
Michael Vick, Atl QB
Drew Brees, NO QB
Reggie Bush, NO RB
Mike Bell, Den RB
Vernon Davis, SF TE
Lee Evans, Buf WR
Derrick Mason, Bal WR
Buccaneers D/ST, TB D/ST

Guest Columnist

2006-08-10T23:20:00.000-07:00

DeepDishSports.com (Like the Onion.com, but mainly talking about Chicago sports) has a guest Columnist every week. And I just found out that my Article has been chosen as their Guest Column next week.

So Tuesday, check out DeepDishSports.com under Column and see what I wrote. Most of you won't be surprised to know it has to do with the Cubs.

Double Feature

2006-07-25T10:57:00.000-07:00

It's kinda funny how my last post started out about double features and the Drive-In and then I read in the paper that the Hi-Lite 30 Drive-In Theatre in Mongomery was torn down this weekend. Having only lived in this area for 6 years, I don't have a long relationship with this theatre. I've shared some employees-who got me into free movies. I Went with the Ex a few times. But the one great thing about the Drive-In was that they would allow you to bring your dog.

Last summer, I must have gone there atleast once a month to watch a double features with Pimby. We'd share popcorn, I'd bring a 2-litter, he'd have his bowl of water. It was his chance to socialize, becuase other people would bring their dogs too. And the kids loved him, becaue he loved Kids. I don't have Pimby anymore, so I'm not sure why I got upset about the theatre being torn down.

Maybe it's just knowing that there are good memories that I know I can never re-live.

The Tao of Smith & Shyamalan

2006-07-22T00:49:00.000-07:00

Let me start out that if you don't want to read about how I realte Movie's to my life, then stop reading now and don't bother leaving me shit comments about how you just wasted 5 minutes of your life reading my blog. I kind of use this as a Public Diary to get thoughts out of my head and onto paper.

Anyway...
One of the great things my father taught me while growing up was the Double Feature. The Double feature is when you see two movies for the price of one. Drive in's used to do them, now you have to sneak into the second one to do it. But the way we look at it, $9.50 should get you two movies. Now I'm not gonna do film reviews on the two movies other than to say that both "Clerks II" and "Lady in the Water" got me thinking about my life.

Clerks felt kinda like my life store, Dante is in his early 30's feeling that life has passed him by. He's working in fast food, kept saying he's going to get out, but never does. He watches as everyone he knew from HS was more successful than him. He then meets a woman that loves him and represents what a guy wants in a woman, and he know's it's that time in your life where you have to grow up, get married and do what adults do. And even though she doesn't quite get him, he's going to marry her. (back to this in a moment)

In LITW, M. Night does what M. Night does, he throws in little clues in the begining and in the end, all the little peices come together to be what is needed in the end. (OK, mini-film review tidbit here: I think the best performance in this move is by Bob Balaban who plays a film critic who makes fun of how all Horror/Mystery fills have the same formula). But even though I don't think this in Shyamalan's best work, I learned somthing about myself.

In Clerks, what gives the movie it's happy ending is when two charecters that, though big parts of the "View Askewnivers", have little parts in each Kevin Smith film, end up giving Dante what is needed to make him happy. And it LITW, same thing. Charecters that only get a quick screen shot in the begining, end up making the happy ending.

So now anyone that has stuck around this far in my blog want to know -Vince, WTF does this have to do with your life??

Well, I have always beleived that maybe bad things happen for a reason so that good things will come out of them. The best example is that if I didn't get my DUI in 1998, I never would have stopped drinking and I never would have saved up the money for a down payment on a house.
But maybe it's not just the bad things, maybe it's that little thing that you don't think of that often that happened for a reason to get you where you are today or where you will get in the future.

For those that don't know (and I know there are a lot of you-and this is going to shock most of you, and I've been thru years of therapy to deal with it, and I am finally at peace that it wasn't my fault- I was the victim, and I've moved on) I was raped when I was 15. It led me to be a sheltered-shy person through HS and beyond till I finally admited it to a doctor and my family when I was 25. Over those 10 years of hiding this big secret (and now I'm using s Shrek Reference) Problems grew on top of problems like an onion-some of which I still carry with me today. But I dealt with the pain with Humor and becoming a workaholic. trying to keep my head on anything else so that I wouldn't think of the pain.

I would get depressed about my marriage falling apart and the company I worked for for 12 years selling out and letting me go. I know for a fact that if I was still married and working for the King that I wouldn't be taking classes at Second City.

I hear comidic actors talk about why they got in to comedy say it was becuase things didn't go well for them growing up, and this was a way of acceptence from others when they laughed at somthing you'd say.

I keep telling myself that if that didn't happen at 15, I would have been more outgoing in HS, I would have probably gone to college because I would have had more self confidence. I would have gone to Second City 10 years ago and really have a chance of making people laught for a living. I sometimes feel like I'm starting this too late in life to make a living doing it.

But what if it happened for a reason, what if the reason it happend was so that I could have some experiences in life to make fun of. I see these 19-24 year old students in class that have no idea how to start a scene because they've had nothing in their lives that relate to the situations thrown out.

So that leaves me where I am now. Is there a balance in the Universe and everything that has gone wrong in my life will lead to a big thing going right. or will my life be like these movies- Predictable endin waiting for Jay & Silent Bob to save the day?

Ibnly was to

Cubs

2006-07-16T21:02:00.000-07:00

How bout giving up Two Grand Slams in One Inning, does it get any worse.

This Team is reminding me of my marriage-
Starts out with promise,
lots of injuries,
things start going down hill,
stuff gets thrown out on the lawn.

Hopefully the Cubs will be smart enough to get a divorce from Dusty Baker.

Oh wait, it's the Cubs.

Ego Boost Day

2006-07-14T12:54:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was an awsome day for me and I don't have many so I had to blog about it.

Back in Level A of class I was told by my classmates at Second City I was the funniest person in the class. Now we are finishing up Level B classes and the teacher-Brian Posen- went around to all of us and asked the whole class why we like working with eachother. As we are going around people would say this person has confidence, this person brings energy, this person becomes the charecter...

When it came to me he asked "Why do we like working with Vinnie-Vince" (he calls me that cause 45%the class calls me Vinnie, 45% call me Vince, and the other 10% call me Tony-I don't know why)

Anyway, when he asked, nobody said anything, but everyone had a smile on their face. At first I was worried becuase there was no response, but Brian saw the smiles too and asked why is everyone smiling?

The responses ranged from "he has no fear" "He has stage presence" "He doesn't always have to be the funny one, he'll set you up for the joke if it's there" , and one woman said" just seeing him on stage makes me laugh"-at first I took this as an insult, but Brian said that I have the best facial expressions (It's the Eyebrow).

Then, with this added confidence, I went to perform at the Playground with a classmate of mine and I felt i got great laughs there. After the show we were told that the Chicago Tribune will be there next week to write an article and take pictures. They will be starting earlier than usual, so peope that haven't been coming don't know this and won't be let in late.

So I'm doing great in class and have the chance for some free publicity. Now if I could just get my house sold and quit my job, things would be perfect.

2006-07-12T21:06:00.000-07:00

The Following is from TVGuide.com Ask Ausiello Column:

"Holy Kryptonite, yes! For those of you who didn't see the Super prattle I posted yesterday in the Ausiello Report, Jimmy Olsen will make his eagerly anticipated debut in the season premiere...Now, here's the other big news I teased about in AR: Sources say that a pivotal comic-book character will show up this season — and it's got "fanboy orgasm" written all over it. "

Since I was Accurate in picking who the new Northwestern Head Coach would be, I figured I'd try another prediction.

Bruce Wayne will be on Smallville this season. Fans of the show have been waiting for this for 6 years. For the last 4 they said no becuase of "Batman Begins" but with the second Batman film two years away and with the new CW Network trying to draw fans quickly, it kinda makes sense.

Other things I've considered, but doubt:
Robin/Dick Grayson, Diana Prince/Wonderwoman,
Hal Jordan/Green Lantern, or J'onn J'onzz/Martian Manhunter.

And the two things I keep hoping for, that I know will never happen:
Dean Cain or Adam West.

They did do the Tom Wopat last year for all the Dukes of Hazzard fans, so who knows.

I love when all the Fall TV rumors start.

The Obits continue

2006-06-30T06:32:00.000-07:00

Back in 1995 I was working at AM 1000 in Chicago as a producer for a Saturday Night Show "Harry & Spike". The best part of that year was feeling a part of Northwestern's Big 10 Championship. Every Saturday Night as they beat Notre Dame, Wisconson, Michigan we would have on players such as Steve Shcnur, Darnell Autry, & Pat Fitzgerald. I'll never forget working New years Day with NU in the Rose Bowl. We even got Charlton Heston on the air during half time. That year I became a Northwestern Football fan.

Since that time Northwestern has had a Coaching change to Randy Walker. Walker has taken the Wildcats to Three Bowl games in his 7 years here (the most ever for any NU coach) and has the second most wins in team history.

Last night, at age 52, Coach Walker died of an apparent Heart Attack.

I don't know why 1/2 of my last posts have been Obits. Probably because when you lose someone or somthing that has given you a sense of joy in your life, you just need a way of closure.

Back to Northwestern, I'm hoping Linebackers Coach and two time NCAA Defensive player of the year for NU in 95-96- Pat Fitzgerald- gets the job.

RIP Tori's Dad

2006-06-23T21:48:00.000-07:00

Charlie's Angels, Love Boat, Fantasy Island, 90210, Melrose Place, & Charmed.

He was the man took the "T" out of T&A" and put it in "TV"

He was responsible for helping all teenage boys without cable get through puberty.

He was a man that didn't know the meaning of nepotism.

And he was the only man that understood Charro and Herve Villechaize.

Aaron Spelling - you will be missed.

20 Years Later and still going strong

2006-06-23T20:28:00.000-07:00

Pitchfork Media has listed their 100 Most Awsome Music Video's of all time.
Unforunatly, they are not ranked, they are listed alphabetically be that band's name

But making the top 100 was "The Super Bowl Shuffle".

At first I thought it this was "Awsome" till I saw at also on the list was David Hasslehoff "Hooked on a Feeling"

I really haven't watched MTV since GEHS, so I decided to watch a few of these to see what was so good about them. One of my favorites was "Bad Cover Version" by Pulp. The song is pretty bad, but the "We Are The World" type Video with Cher, Meatloaf, & Paul McCartney imitators is pretty funny to watch.

If it's on CNN.com, It must be true

2006-06-13T10:48:00.000-07:00

Men will love the following link

Revelation 13:18

2006-06-05T23:49:00.000-07:00

6/6/6 is here, so here is the verse from the bible that started the whole craze.

“This calls for wisdom: let him who has understanding reckon the number of the beast, for it is a human number, its number is 6-6-6.”

Dog Gone Shame

2006-06-05T11:11:00.001-07:00

R.I.P.

Pimby

July 1, 1999-June 1, 2006

I keep telling people it was just a dog, it's no big deal, what was I going to do with him when I sell my house anyway, maybe it's a blessing in disguise. But I know deep down all of those are just BS ways for me to deal with the loss of a dog that has been my only companion for the last year.

Pimby, the corgi in the picture, was adopted by my ex-wife before we ever met. the first week in my house he ate thru a wall, got on my kitchen table and scratched the wood, & knocked over a parifan waxer all over the bedroom carpet. I was ready to kill him then. But I was continually told that putting a pet in a new enviornment will cause them to act out, which he did. By 2004, you could tell he was part of the family though when he started out the year with ACL surgery, then the Ex had brain surgery in April, and I had work on my back in July.

The other dog in the picture was Wrigley. Growing up, my family had two Lhasa Apso's. They are loving dogs that don't shed. Theresa always loved going into pet stores and playing with the dogs. For me, it was a cheap way to make her happy. We had been talking about getting a "friend" for Pimby, but never really considered any of the dogs we saw, because we couldn't agree on what type to get.

One day we were at a small pet store in Montgomery and the cutest little Lhaso Apso was staring at me with those puppy dog eyes, literaly, and whining for attention. One of the pet shop boys took him out and you could tell there was a conection right away, but I was hesitant about buying another dog. The next day my wife called me at work, sounded angry, and said "I'm coming there now, we need to talk." I'm going thru my head anything I might have done to piss her off, but was drawing a blank. When she pulled up, she had in her arms the Lhasa Apso and said it was a gift because she saw that I really liked her in the pet shop. We named her Wrigley and she loved to play, run around, and that was probably the best time of my marriage was when we had Wrigley around.

One night when Wrigley was just past her third birthday, she jumped off the bed and there was a whimper. We didn't think much about it till the next morning. She was dragging her back legs and had no bladder control. From her midsection forward she was as perky as ever, running around with the smile she always had, but the back end was dead. When she jumped off the bed, she broke two vertabrae in her back and would never use her back legs again. we could have kept her alive with a doggie wheel chair for her hind legs, but there was no promise that after a $1,200 surgery that she would get bladder control back.

After 3 days of watching her drag around the house and leaving piss stripes on the carpet, we decided along with the Vet that it would be best to put her to sleep. Looking back on it, that loss was the begining of the end for my marriage. When Wrigley left, so did alot of the love in our marriage.

After the divorce, she could not keep Pimby at the apartment where she was staying, so I agreed to keep him. Again, he started acting up when Theresa wasn't around, but I had goten used to his act. Over the last year, he gained about 10 lbs with me working two jobs and going to school. I really didn't spend more than an hour a day with him, because when I was home, I was usally just sleeping.

Memorial Day weekend, he got sick. he was throwing up and not eating. I took him to the vet and after blood testing, it was found that he had eaten rat poison. The Vet said that he's seen this alot in our area lately becuase of all the construction. Rodents are looking for new homes. They eat rat poison, run off to die, and Dogs eat the mouse with the poison in it. It had caused him to go blind. He had internal bleeding in his stomach and was shitting and pissing blood. $800 and five days later the vet said he had done everything he could, buy he felt it was best to put him out of his misery.

I know Wrigley was the first dog he saw as he followed that white light. Wrig jumped on his back and they chased eachother's tails and licked eachother's faces. I know they are both in a better place now.

When He's 64

2006-05-28T18:03:00.000-07:00

As I was sitting in the Vet's office yesterday, I saw an Article in AARP magizine about Sir Paul McCartney turning 64. Today's Tribune also had an article about Paul turning 64. But what really Irks me about these articles were their titles. Both said "Now He's 64"...

HE DOESN'T TURN 64 TILL JUNE 18TH.

I thought I'd have a few more weeks to put some finishing touches on this, but with everyone trying to beat me to the punch, here's my Parody of a famous Beatles tune.

"Now I'm 64"

Now that I’m older, dying my hair, on my second wife,

There is talk that we will be separating, and she’ll get ½ of my life earnings.
What was I thinking when I hooked up with that one legged whore?
Linda I miss ya, wish I could kiss ya, Now that I'm sixty-four.

Pre-Nups are a must.
And if I had signed one, I might not go bust.

Wish that I had the rights to my songs, but they’re owned by some freak.
What was I thinking doin “The Girl Is Mine”, Fon-del-ing children is a crime.
haven’t ate a drumstick in 30 years, don’t miss it anymore.
In England was Knighted, In Japan was cited, Now I'm sixty four.

Maybe I’m Amazed that Yesterday we had a Freedom
but some could just not Let It Be.
Just Live and Let Die.
The Long and Winding Road Will fly you to a Vanilla Sky.

Johnnie has passed on, and so had George, But we still got Ringo.
Don’t know how many years I left to go, I just want to outlive Ono.
Long been a Beatle, Shortly a Wing, Go solo ever more.
Lovin’ Two Nations, Chaos & Creation, Now that I'm sixty four.

Who am I trying to please?

2006-05-19T21:31:00.000-07:00

Anyone who's been reading my blogs over the past months have known there is a lot of change going on in my life, some for the better, some for the worse.

I have lived my whole life trying to please others; my parents, grandparents, roommates, girlfriends, and the Ex. It's really hard for me to think of one decision in my life where I haven't considered "What are my parents going to think?" "What's Theresa gonna say about this?"
Most of my wedding, from the Church to the Guest List, was given to me as an ultimatum: "If you don't get married in the Catholic Church, you're grandparents will disown you."

Now I've made a decision thinking only of me. Going to Second City has been a godsend for me. It has given me the opportunity to open up and be me. It's almost like group therapy in the way that most of the class came in with that "it's now or never" mentality and we all want to reach a goal together.

It has given me a happiness that I haven't had since before I was a teenager. It makes me want to give up the "Safe" things in life- my home & my job- so I can pursue this fully. I've put my house on the market and have been looking at Condo's in the City. I've been throwing away furniture and things that remind me of the past. My brother and I are selling off our 20 year collection of Baseball cards. And I'm really considering giving up on Portillo's to take a job as a doorman at a bar Brian works at.

I've found something that I believe I'm good at and that makes me happy and I want to pursue it fully, but I keep hearing family in my ear saying "there's no security in that life" and my father saying "you can't live without Health Insurance" and my grandmother saying "You just need to find a good woman and settle down and have children."

I just turned 32 last week and for the first time in almost 2 decades, I can smile without being on antidepressants. Now the only question is, do I continue goin the safe route and make everyone around me happy, or do I go out on a limb and make myself happy?

Leaving the Comfort Zone

2006-05-05T22:21:00.000-07:00

I've really never been one to take risks, I think it's because over the years, I've been hurt by the one's I've taken and have always been scared to try again. I'm always looking three - four months in the future to see where I'll be with my bills and what kind of shopping budget I'll have. I like to play it safe. Which has led to a pretty boring life of late.

For the past 12 years I've been content with what life had dealt me and worked a job where at the very least I was appriciated and made a decent buck. I made some friends (and some enemies) and I played it safe and didn't move when better oppurtunities arose, because men in general don't want to leave thier comfort zone.

I bought a house 6 years ago that I could barely afford then, but I had a roommate and then a wife to help pay some of the bills, which eased much of the financial burdon. I wanted to live the American dream. I really wanted to get out of the "Bud Bundy Suite" in my parents basement. Yes it could be considered a risk, by I knew in the long run it was a smart financial decision.

But due to circumstances beyond my control. I've been at a new job for 6 weeks and have to sell my house- Neither of which is in my "Comfort Zone" but was a nescesity.

The new job has been a pain in the ass first of all, because it's less money than the BK, but mostly because nobody has any idea what I'm doing, including me. They have 7 different people teaching me 7 different ways on how to make a sandwich. and then the big boss comes in at the end of a station to see how I'm doing- he yells at me becuase he can't beleive after three days on a station, I don't do it his way. But worse than that, he called me "Lazy". I've been called and Asshole, Son of a Bitch, & Fucking Prick- and it didn't bother me becuase at the time, I probably was. But never in my life have I been lazy.

That caused me to finally snap at him this week and told him "I don't care how important you think you are but you don't talk down to me infront of co-workers, I'm pulling you off to the side for this and I would hope for the same respect in return. And don't you ever call me lazy becuase I don't seem to be getting what is taught me. I'm being taught 7 different ways to take orders and it changes everyday. If you want me to get it right, maybe you need to sit down with everyone you have training me and make sure they are all on the same page, becuase this is bull shit the way you people are trying to train me."

needless to say, he wasn't too happy with me, but I know that there was a meeeting with the rest of the managers the next day where my training was one of the topics.

Having been living alone for 18 months now, I will officially have cleaned out me savings by July 1st and that's not even counting Taxes due in July that aren't in my escrow. so it is with much sadness that I must now sell my house. And I can't even look for a new place till mine is under contract to sell, becuase I have no $$$ to put torward a new house till mine is sold.

The only Positive right now is School where I was told by my teacher I could be the funniest person in the class if I didn't step over the line of deceny (using Cum Guzzling Whore is to descriptivly off color for her). I'm done with level A as of Thursday and start level B on the 18th. It's the one place in life I'm allowing myself to get out of my Comfort Zone.

...More Than Meets The Eye's

2006-04-21T18:54:00.000-07:00

Transformsers, The Movie, Is about to start filming next month and the cast list is starting to leak out. When I first heard Michael Clark Duncan was in it, I figured he would be a Transformer. But instead he plays a Sammy Sosa.

The Cast is listed on the Link. The Transformers will be CGIBMW.

Nervousness

2006-04-18T19:56:00.001-07:00

As I beleived I've mentioned in an earlier Blog, My parents were actors in their teens and twentys and occasionally thru their 30's and beyond (All on stage, nothing in movies or on TV). My father's Degree from Depaul in in Theatre. As he got older he always wished he had continued his acting and always wanted to go to Arizona State U. to continue his acting and do somthing with it, but he knew he had a family and gave up his dream to raise my siblings and me. As I get older I look at what I gave up for my breif marriage and know some, but not all, of what he went thru.

A couple of years ago, my cousin, who now lives and acts in London, got a part in a small play in Chicago. After a few weeks of rehersal, the actor who played the part of a 40-50 y.o. bartender backed out and my cousin told the director she knew someone perfect for the job...My dad.

With my sister getting married and my brother and me out of the house, he knew it was time for him to go back to his first love. He auditioned and got the part and it was probably the happiest I've seen my father in a long while.

This weekend my dad is acting again with a small part in "The Cemetary Tree" and I'm going to see him on Saturday night. The only thing is he know's I've been performing at Second City at midnight on Saturday nights so now he wants to come see me after his show.

I always told myself growing up I did not want to become my father, but the older I get, the more like him I get. He always told me the reviews in the Reader and Trib weren' t the ones he was worried about, but he always knew he would hear the truth from his mother, and sometimes it scared him what she would say. And I'm in that position right now. I've been performing for the past 6 weeks in front of people I could care less what they thought. as long as I got more laughs than moans, (actually, sometimes I go for the "I can't beleive he went there" moan) I was happy when I went home. But this Saturday will be different, I will be performing for the man who has always been my biggest critic...and right now I'm a bit Nervous.

Improv Jelly

2006-03-26T21:25:00.000-08:00

As most of you know I've been taking Improv Classes at Second City on Thursday nights for the past 3 weeks. First class had 20 people, second class had 16, third class 11. The teacher, Jackie Stone, has been pushing us be more blue. "Adults want to hear adult humor" which for anyone knows me hasn't been a problem. The classes have been great. For the most part the other students in the class are in the 27-35 range and are all in that "put up or shut up" phase of life. I have been having a blast in class, but the most fun I've been having has been on Saturday nights.

From Midnight to about 1:30 am on Saturday nights/Sunday mornings Second City has been allowing students a chance to be on stage at what they are calling the Improv Jelly. When you get there you have the chance to sign up to perform, and then they call up 2-5 students at a time to be on stage. If you look at the picture, you won't see me on stage, but that's me on the bottom right sitting in the stands (I took this picture off the Blog of someone else going)

Other than Choir, I have not been on stage since I was 7. The first week of the Jelly I was too nervous to go on stage. Week two, after a shot of Jose and an Old Style, I made people laugh for the most part. This past weekend was the first time I've felt comfortable on stage. Of the people on stage with me, I fealt I get the most laughs. I won't be going next week, because the new job has me working till midnight.

My parents acted, my sister acted, just about all my friends acted, but I always stayed back stage or took tickets. But to hear people laugh at my unscriptedI not usually one to be positive, but I'm liking where this is going.

Thoughts On The Final Four

2006-03-26T17:03:00.000-08:00

Of the over Six Million entries into the ESPN NCAA Challenge, only TWO people picked the final Four. So here's an unconventional look at how the unbelievable Final Four will end.

It can't be any worse predictions than Billy Packer and Dickie V.

Game 1 UCLA vs LSU

Both teams have a U and an L so they cancel each other out so it comes down to AC vs S. I predict AC will be cold and LSU comes out on top.

Game 2 GMU vs UF

Again, the U's cancel each other out so it comes down to GM vs F. As anyone who watches sports can tell you a GM never rarely gets credit for winning, but always gets the blame for losing. I blame the GM for the UF win.

Finals LSU vs UF.

Whenever there is a battle between teenagers, FU is usually the last thing said and that means UF wins the title.

The Legacy of Payton and Puckett

2006-03-15T17:22:00.000-08:00

In my life, the greatest World Series I've ever seen was the
1991 series between the Braves and Twins. Both teams going from
worst to first, watching Jack Morris pitch 10 innings in Game 7,
but the greatest feat was Kirby Puckett's game 6. A 5'9 kid from
the projects of Chicago who graduated from Triton College in 1980
(where ironically my mother sent me to daycare from 1978-1981).
In that game he made a game saving catch in the 3rd inning and then
hit a game winning HR in the 11th. Last week Puckett passed away
and after hearing everything that's been said about him the past
10 days I only have one question.

If someone asked you to name a Hall of Fame Chicago athlete
who won a championship while wearing #34, who was loved and
respected by teammates and opponents, who was always
smiling, who had his greatest individual game in Minnesota
and died too young in his mid 40's; who would you name?


Walter or Kirby?

Reunited and it feels so good

2006-03-03T19:48:00.000-08:00

For those of you that read this blog, you know I'm going to take Classes at Second City Starting March 9th. SC is located on North Ave. & Wells in Chicago.

My Brother is also taking a big step in his life, as for the first time in his near 31 years he's moving into his GF's Condo near North Ave. & Clark. Litarly a Block away from where I'll be going to School.

Growing up we were inseperable. Mostly because we were a year apart and weren't allowed to leave the backyard of our Chicago Apartment. As we grew up we shared friends in Lombard but you could tell he wanted to be his own person. We finally got our own rooms when we were in Jr. High. In the three years we went to HS together, we shared one class together, Accounting. We both got A's in the class. I really enjoyed that class and went on to excell in all my math classes thru HS, and when I went to NIU, I declared my Major as Accounting because I thought it was what I was meant to do. But it wasn't as fun as it was in HS and it's scary that it takes writing a blog 16 year later that the reason you might have enjoyed the class so much was because of your little Brother. I became one of the many NIU Dropouts and went back to BK, My brother went on to play College Football and Wrestling, and was even Senior athlete of the year. I only saw about 6 of his football games because working in the Restaraunt Biz meant you didn't get many Saturday afternoons off. And we just grew apart.

For the last 10 years or so I can name on one hand the times me and my brother have gone to get a drink, a bite to eat, or to a ball game...just the two of us. And I'm not going Brokeback Mountain here, I'm just saying I miss time with my brother.

As I called him tonight to tell him about my new job, and then found out that where he was living I knew my dad was happy because we agreed to get together for a drink or a late snack every Thusday after my class.

For the past 5 years Thusday nights have meant nothing more to me than TV Family Comedy's. Now, at least for the next few months it will be known for Comdey and My Family.

Wednesday Afternoon Cubs Games.

2006-03-03T19:29:00.000-08:00

One of the few pleasures in my life is going to Cubs games. For years I've usually been off work on Wednesday's and Sunday's. Since trying to get a Sunday ticket at Wrigley would cost you and Arm, a Leg, and you first born's Naming rights, I usually went to Wednesday Afternoon (WA) games...TILL THIS YEAR. The Cubs have three WA games this year-all before the end of May. Every Wed. game for the rest of the season is a night game.

Other than it being my day off, why are WA games so appealing you may ask??
1) Free Parking On the Streets around Wrigley till 5. WA games usually started at 1:20 and I could be driving past the place I was born before rush hour got too bad.
2) Not too crowded. And this is probably the main reason the Cubs decided to make them night games.

Now the last few years due to cash flow problems I have not bought Cubs Tickets (Except for the Red Sox last year). This year will proably more of the same but not as much for the $$ issue's. New Job & Going to School are going to be my focus this year.

Home of the Italian Sausage?

2006-03-03T17:05:00.000-08:00

It was late May of 1988, I had just turned 15 and was riding the bus to School. On the way there was a new Burger King being built with a sign in front saying "Now Hiring". I had just come off my first (and only) school suspension for fighting. I had been home alone for a week and was getting angry and depressed. My parents made me go to a shrink because they felt this fight was a cry for help. I didn't have many friends and I was fine with that because all the friends I've had from 1st to 7th grade all moved away, and to avoid being hurt again I figured alone is the best way to be. My Shrink felt differently and told my parents and me it would be a good idea for me to get a job so I could get some better acquaintances in life. So I interviewed with a 20-something Manager named Christopher at the yellow post outside the drive-thru because they were putting the ceiling in the dining room that day. The store was going to open June 2nd. My first day would be June 6, 1988...A day still known in the history books as D-Day (Some history books have the year as 1944).

Through the past 18 years very few in my life has been consistent, 7 part time jobs, 6 Cars, 5 addresses, 4 Dogs, and my 3-year Radio Career. Not to mention all the failed relationships. The one constant however has always been Burger King. As Mel Brooks has said on many occasions, "It's Good to Be The King" and it was until January 19th, 2006. On that day the best boss I've ever had decided to sell all his stores to a Larger Franchise of BK called Heartland. But as far as anyone could tell, It should have been named Heartless. If that wasn't bad enough, I was pulled out of my Naperville store thrown to the wolves in Aurora. In Naperville, Everyone had personality, everyone enjoyed their jobs, it was a fun atmosphere, and we worked as a team no matter whether we worked days, nights, kitchen, or cash. Aurora is a Me-First Store, a That's-Not-My-Job Store, a Racially-Divided Store.

So it is with much regret that I say goodbye to the longest relationship I've ever had - 17 1/2 years of Burger King.

And Hello.....Portillo's.

The Fredom to have a Cow, Man

2006-03-02T22:46:00.000-08:00

I Wish I could write this funnier than just the facts, but it's one of those stories that's Sad...I mean Funny, just by clicking the link(Don't do it yet, see if you can answer the question first without seeing the answers.)

The soon to open McCormick/Tribune Freedom Museum recently took a poll of 1005 Americans asking to name the five Freedom's of the First Amendment and the five members of the Simpsons. 22% of those polled knew Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, & Maggie. BUT ONLY ONE PERSON could name all 5 freedom's.

Now, myself, having not taken a Constitution class since 1990 was still able to name four of them (which really shocked me).

Better yet, 25% could name the American Idol Judges...Fat Black Man, Angry Brit, and the Whore...right? But only 8 % only knew 3 Freedom's.

The reason this comes to my Blog is because earlier today I had a 19 year old punk vandalizing the restaraunt I work at and when I asked him to leave he stared swearing F.U. you G.D. Spic (and I'm not even spanish which made him look like more of a fool than he already was.) He started in with it was his First Amedment right to Swear if he wanted. Luckily, the Cops beleived diferently and he was taken to Jail.

Now I have to go to court in a couple weeks to get this kid for Vandalism and Public Disturbance charges. I'm almost tempted to tell him in court that'd I'd drop the charges if he could name the five fredoms of the First Amendment.

MLT Baby Photo's

2006-02-20T22:36:00.000-08:00

True Love is the greatest thing in the world, except for a nice MLT

2006-02-19T13:09:00.001-08:00

At 4:04pm Last night, I officially became Uncle Vince. My sister gave birth to a 22 inch tall, 10lb baby girl-Mary LuciaRose Turner (MLT). I hope to have pictures up later in the week.

Growing up, I never really wanted a child of my own, I didn't believe I could deal with what my parents dealt with. And I knew I didn't want to be like my Godfather in the way he didn't have his son till he was in his late 30's and now he's mid-50's trying to deal with a teenager. So in my late 20's, while married, The Ex and I discussed having children. We agreed to do it once she was done with school. I even had her agreed that in the slim chance we had a boy and girl twins that we could name them Clark and Addison.

But then Theresa had the brain surgery and school fell on the back burner to health. Then when she was ready to go back to school, I was out of work with my back problems, and school had to wait again so she could support us for two months. And the next thing you know, we'd been together for 4 years and had not gone foreword in our lives. Then torward the end of the relationship, I found out, from her cousin, that Theresa was pregnant. I wasn't supposed to know this, and to this day, my parents are convinced it was the Ex's way at hurting me one last time before she left me. She had it aborted. When I asked her about it she said that she wasn't even sure it was mine.

Now I've never really been one that was against Abortion 100%. I believe that Abortion is OK if you were raped. I also believe that the law should read that in order to have an Abortion, you must be willing to file a police report on the father. But to do it because she couldn't deal with a black baby (if it wasn't mine) or a baby after a failed marriage, wasn't right.

In two months I'll be 32, and I came to the realization over the last year that I will never have a child of my own. So at 4:04 last night I was overjoyed not only for my sister and her husband, but for me a little to because I realized that this will probably be the closest I come to experiencing the miracle of life.

This child will be so spoiled.

Back To School

2006-02-08T10:11:00.000-08:00

IT'S PUT UP OR SHUT UP TIME.

My parents met doing Comedy Theatre together at Depaul University. My mother was 8 months pregnant with me while she was performing in "Two by Two" in Chicago. All my life I have been exposed to Comedy and Theatre but have never done anything with it till I got into radio.

About 13 years ago I dropped out of NIU because I felt I didn't need school to move ahead in life. In 1995 I went to the Illinois Center for Broadcasting and reveived a degree in Radio Broadcasting. I even attended some classes at Collumbia College in Chicago for Broadcasting. I had a good 5 year radio carrer, during that time I met a few men that helped me learn a few rules of Comedy, Harry Teinowitz & Spike Manton. They even got me to go to amatuer night at a Comedy club once and do 5 minutes (I think I only did 3 cause I rushed thru it).

What does all of this have to do with going back to school you ask??

I registered for begining Improv classes at Second City today.

Ever since the new owners took over at my job, I've been asking myself what else am I good at in life. and the only answer I've ever come to is making people laugh. So where this leads me, who knows? But anybody who was there for me when I hit bottom, know that if I become famous with this, I won't forget you. And if I don't become famous, know I'll do all I can to make you laugh.

Pitchers and Catchers Report

2006-02-02T20:51:00.000-08:00

A bit of a history lesson here, as well as some more poetry.

When I started this blog is was to help my friends and family know what's going on with my life. But since I really don't have a life I have been trying to express some of my few talents: Rhyming , Poetry, Lyrics, Comedy, and my love of sports.
but enough about me...to the history lesson. Of all the Cubs in the Hall Of Fame, Some think that Johnny Evers and Joe Tinker don't belong and that the only reason they made it was because of a 1910 poem by Franklin Pierce Adams called "Baseball's Sad Lexicon" (See Link). Being a Cub fan, I disagree, but not because of their stats. Evers, Tinkers, & Chance (and 3rd baseman Harry Steinfeldt) led the Cubs to three straight World Series in 1906, 07, & 08, and they won two of those. In my oppinion, that whole team belongs in.

But on to another rant that will lead to my final reason for this posting. I have a part time job at a White Hen and late at night, after all my cleaning is done and I'm waiting for the clock to strike midnight, I read the magizines in the store and somthing appeared last night that brought on the biggest chills of happiness thru my body that I've had since Nathan Vashers 108 yard return vs. the 49ers. What brought on that chill you ask? The First Baseball Fantasy Guide of 2006.

With all the excitment about the Super Bowl this week, I almost forgot that Pitchers and Catchers report to spring training on February 15th. The Day after many Hallmark Executive are smiling, I will be smiling too knowing that the White Sox and Cubs have the same record again.

So...to the reason I posted, as I was reading this Magizine I realized that "Pitchers and Catchers Report" has the same rythem as "Evers to Tinker, to Chance" so I looked up the poem (did I mention to see the link) and wanted to mordernize it, becase I have nothing better to do than writte parodies that no one will hear but me and a few friends and relitives ("Ain't it be Ebonics" & "Night Court Reruns") so if you wanted to see the original poem, google it (or see the link) and here's my version:

These are the greatest of possible words:
"Pitchers and Catchers Report"
Two weeks to go now for us baseball nerds,
"Pitchers and Catchers Report"
Letting us forget 'bout Bears and the Panthers,
figuring out who is our second batter,
The Beaver, as always, will be Jerry Mathers.
"Pitchers and Catchers Report"

(It's hard to find somthing to rhyme with Panthers)

Why do I keep writing 1986 on my Checks today

2006-01-26T16:10:00.000-08:00

11 Days ago the Bears Season ended on a disappointing note. But 20 years ago today, it ended in a triumphant crescendo.

For my father's Generation, they say you never forget where you were when you found out Kennedy was assassinated. For my generation, they say you never forget where you were when the Challenger Exploded. But for any Chicago Sports Fan over the age of 25, You will never forget where you were when the Bears Dominated the Patriots 46-10 in Superbowl XX. My brother and I spent the weekend at a friend of my brother's (Brent Lewis) at the Cove Landings Condo's in Lombard. We played D&D all morning, and then watched the game at 3:00 in the afternoon (remember the 3:00 kickoff for a Superbowl)

My parents went to New Orleans. My dad bought one ticket, watched the first half while my mom waited in a bar. At Half-time (and this is soooooo pre-9-11) some Patriot fans were leaving and threw their ticket stubs on the ground, my dad picked them up. They let people leave the Superdome and come back in back in the day. So my dad went across the street, got my mom, and they both watched the second half from the 40 yard line. Not many women would do that.

Anyway, I don't have much to say about me in this post right now. The new job/owner is not going as easy as I had hoped. But I couldn't Not make a post on January 26, 1986..

damn, I did it again.

New Job

2006-01-03T22:35:00.000-08:00

Twas a week before Christmas and all thru the King,
Managers were buzzing about the rumors flying.
The Owner of ours franchise for the past 18 years,
might be selling his business, all of us feared.

I'd been with this man since mid 94
was there for the good times and there for my divorce.
A boss who's a friend, and treated every one fair.
twas rumors that soon he would not be there.

Then in thru the back door the boss man did walk,
"come into the office Vince, we need to talk."
At first I was nervous, to the store he rarley came
I was fraid it might be another sexual harrasment claim.

"The rumors you hear are bout to come true.
I'm getting rid of all my stores except the one run by you"
"I'm telling you first so it's not a surprise,
but you're part of the sale to the Heartland Franchise."

When he said he was giving me up, I almost wept.
He had no other chioce, he was in so much debt.
"But in order to do this" he went on with his score,
"I need to switch you with a manager from another store.

I trembled with fear, cause I've heard this before,
there was Marseilles, Joliet, and the Blue Island Store.
But he said Aurora would be my new beat
I sighed in releif, it was right up the street.

He Said "I really appriciate all that you do,
but I know running one store is not the end for you"
"There's room for advancement if you play your card's right.
They have 250 BK's" I smiled with delight

Two days before Christmas we all met the new Owner,
I was ready for this, but soon felt like a loner.
I knew this gentleman, and not for somthing dear.
he left my store last week, an angry Customer.

We were not allowed to sell the Star Wars Toys without a kids meal.
It was explained to him thrice and he made it a big deal.
I showed him the sign, he didn't give a shit.
I said "Are you Deaf, Blind, or just Illiterate"

I don't know if her remebered me as we all sat and mingled,
but he gave me a look that made my spine tingle.
He said not one word about the ordeal.
but I fear that a promotion is not in the deal.

We'll meet one on one later this week
and the sale will take place soon after the 15th.
we'll see what goes down, if that day I do rue,
what's a 31 year old with no College to do?

where do you keep your Buccaneers?

2006-01-03T22:04:00.000-08:00

Under your Buccan hat...
But anyway, I can't beleive I haven't posted in almost a month. Another Christmas, Another New Year, and a new Job (possibly)...but we'll get to that later.

What brings me here today is January 14th or 15th?
A question that is pissing off Bears fans with Tickets. The NFL has said that if the Buccaneers beat the Redskins, The Bears play on Saturday, BUT, if the Redskins pull off the upset, the Bears will play either the Giants or Panthers winner on Sunday.

There are a few reasons I'll be cheering for the Buc's this weekend. None of which is to make Kal happy.
First being for my sister. My mother, in her non-sports thinking mind, scheduled my sister's baby shower on the 15th. My 8-month pregnant sister and her husband have already told my mother that if the Bears play a home playoff game on Sunday, tell everyone "Thanks for the gifts, and Go Bears" because they be at Soilder Field, not the Baby Shower.
Secondly, My Current Job. I have to have a schedule posted by this Thursday, and I have to work either Saturday or Sunday (they really don't want me posting two schedules) .And on the 15th of every month, I have to do a full inventory of my store, and I only have one other manager that can work on Sunday's at the new store I'm in (again, more on this new store later)

And the biggest reason is if Bears can beat the Buccaneers with Kyle Orton, They can kill 'em with Grossman.

So please Football Gods, Give me a Bucaneers win, it'll be like the good 'ol days when the Bears would beat the Buc's twice a year. And Football Gods, if by some chane you could give Matt Haslebeck a sore shoulder or Shaun Alexander an MCL tear, we'd appriciate that the following week too.

Amen

The McClown Takes From The Pigtailed Girl

2005-12-03T23:17:00.000-08:00

Having worked for Burger King for more than half my life, this is one of those stories that when I read it, puts a Happy Meal smirk on my face.

A New Hampshire man name Ronald MacDonald, who worked at a Wendy's was caught by the manager at 1:30am taking money from the safe.

As many people in the Quick Service Resteraunt Biz know,(but not many int real world), McDonalds has been the standard that all other QSR resteraunts are held to...until the last 5 years. McE D's has been falling like a tree in the woods. And the only people arond to hear it were their stockholders. But they were so far ahead of the pack, thet were still considerd the golden child till the last half decade.

The Clowns from Oakbrook wanted to expand beyond Burgers. They started Chipoltes Mexican Resteraunt and tried their white gloved hands at the Coffee House Craze. Then a Hindu man was reading a nutrition guide to see what the ingredients of his food was. Under fries it said "Meat Flavoring". After much digging, he found out that McDonalds used a 50/50 blend of animal fat and vegtable shortning in their fryers and was outraged. If the media Blitz over real news stories weren't enough, they were hit hard by Hollywood. First with Morgan Spurlock and his Super Sized Movie, Then Franny Armstrong's Movie "McLibel"

Sales were down so much that what used to be a near 20% margin over their competitors dropped under 3%. So what do the Golden Arched ones do to show the stockholders that they were going in the right direction? they introduce Higher Priced items and go 24 hours. To the stockholders it looks like profits are up, but to people who work in QSR, we know if you're open 33% more but only making 10% more profit, is it really making a difference.

But anyway, back to the point of this blog. After Raising Prices and Extending Hours and still making minimal profit gain, they did the only thing left to do to gain their market share back...Steal it.

It's Like I Always Say " You want cheap, go to Mc Donalds, You want fast, go to Wendy's, and if you want Quality, Come to BK."

It's Good to be the King

Rock & Roll, Part 12

2005-11-24T05:46:00.000-08:00

Gary glitter, Best known for his 1972 hit "Rock & Roll, Part 2" still played at Chicago Bulls game regularly (and least known for "Rock & Roll, Part 1" which scarily, I own) is being detained in Vietnam.

Glitter, 61, alledgedly had sex with five 12-year old girls, saying "together they are just a year younger than me."

This isn't the first time Glitter has had problems like this. In 1999, he was convicted of possessing child pornography in Britain, and served 2 months in jail. In 2002, he was expelled from Cambodia for what is believed to be the same offense.

If convicted in Vietnam, the maximum penalty is death by firing squad, where Gary will be asked what he wants on his tombstone, and he will most likely reply "Sausage, Mushroom, and a Teenage Girl"

After hearing this, Michael Jackson bought the rights to "R&R, Part 2".

Old School

2005-11-07T13:00:00.000-08:00

Let me start this out by saying I love my whole family, especially my grandparents. And everyone I know says I'm lucky to have three of my four grandparents alive after my 30th B-day. And I agree. A little back story to this is that both my parents worked full time jobs and all four of my grandparents watched my brother and I, and I really feel thy helped make me who I am today. But there are times I wonder who these people think they are. I guess I shouldn't say "these people" it's just one grandparent that is just making me feel like I'm the worst person in the world. A few months back, I visited my grandmother in the Hospitol. She introduced me to her nurse, and I thought the nurse and I had a nice conversation going. Then my grandmother starts saying how I had such a beautiful wedding, the nurse thought I was married, I said no, I'm recently divorced...and then all hell broke loose. After the nurse left, my grandmother pulls me to her side and says " you are never to say you are divorced around me, it's embaressing to me and the whole family."

My grandma is Old School, she's the oldest of I beleive 13 children who grew up in Italy. She met my grandfather during the war and came to America with him. She beleives I'm going to meet the girl of my dreams at church on Sunday morning. She has never been one to hide her opinions on the Polish, Blacks, Hispanics and the Jews, but I never thought her hatred would turn torward me.

I haven't visited her since. I've been told "Get over it, she's old and doesn't know what she's saying." And I feel bad about it because my Grandfather has been really sick but I can't look her in the eyes right now.

She always taught me you love your family no matter what, through the good and the bad. But she also said no mule is as stubborn as an Italian man.

Let's change the Cubs name to the Blue Sox

2005-11-07T12:00:00.000-08:00

Red, White, Then Blue Sox... It's Got to be !

I've been a bit depressed over the White Sox winning. Just as I'm getting out of debt, people I havent spoken to in years are calling asking me to pay up on bets made over the years. I've always felt the Cubs would win a World Seried Before the Sox. More people in the seats equals more money in the pockets, which equals better players on the field. And being the kinda guy who can get along with anyone, icluding Sox Fans and Packer Fans, I've made friendly wagers with these people...my loss.

As much as I want them to win in 2006, why not just wait till 2008. I can see the headlines already

A Century Of Mediocrity Comes To An End

At least we have our First Place Bears.

End Of The World

2005-10-16T22:00:00.000-07:00

My father always beleived he would never live past 35. I never thought I would live past 25. We both were wrong. Once I reached 26, the pessimest in me picked June 6, 2006 (6-6-6) as the day the world would end. But I might have been wrong again by almost 9 months.

Tonight the Chicago White Sox made it to the World Series, and sometime this week, I feel the hated Cardinals will join them. Being a lifelong Cub fan, I'm stuck between a Rock Raines & a Big Hurt. I have Family switching alegences to the point I had to write this E-Mail to my cousin:

Blasphemer...How dare you take the side of the hated Pale Hoes. Do you not remember 2 years ago, when the Cubs were one win away from the World Series. Do you not remember what City sold the Most Florida Marlins Caps in the whole U.S. of A.? It's payback time. It's time to wear your Angel hat with pride. It's time to say Josh Paul caught that F'n Ball the same way Sox fans were mocking us when Bartman grabbed at that ball from the stands. Don't do it Davey, Don't Jump on that bandwagon. Because on that bandwagon are two Mullet Headed Hicks ready to jump you and beat you up just because they think your faded Cubs hat is Royal Blue. Just keep beleiving that if the Sox do good, it will force the Cubs to pull their heads out of their asses (watch out for the toothpick Dusty, this could hurt), and put not just a "competitive" team on the field, but a WINNING team on the field. To semi quote a fans of the south siders "Say it ain't so Davey, Say it ain't so."
13 years ago, I made a promise to my mother that I would never try to kill myself again ( A promise I intend to keep), but if there is anything that would make think about it would be a SOX-CARDS Series. All I can hope for now is that the Astro's make it instead of the Cards. I know the Stro's are division rivals too, but if I had to pick two non-Cubs I'd like to see win a WS, It would be Bagwell & Biggio.

Being a Die Hard baseball fan, I can't beleive I'm about to say this, but I'll probably not watch the WS. Thank God I have the Paul McCartney Concert Tuesday night to help me forget about this pain.

Up Up, Down Down, Left Right, Left Right, B A Select Start

2005-10-01T19:00:00.000-07:00

Some of you may know this, and some of you may not, but on occasion I write songs. Funny songs, parodies, serious songs and sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night from a dream, write something down, and then grab my Casio Keyboard to get some notes put to the words.

Some of my favorite parodies that few have heard are "Ain't it be Ebonics"(which at one point was produced, but no one would play it cause it was too racy),& The Carlos Huerta Song "Bye Bye Chicano Bear"

I've also have a few serious ones, "Reflection of a Suicide", & "My Happy Meal Life"

Maybe someday I'll post those, but today I'm here to talk about the idea that hit me last week...Up Up, Down Down, Left Right, Left Right, B A Select Start. For those of you that don't know what this it is was one of the first secret codes in a video game, that game being Contra, on Nintendo.

What does this have to do with my song writing? Well any writer will tell you every thing they write has a little bit of themselves in it. That code on Contra gave you 30 lives. If you made a mistake in the game, you could try again. And all you lost was one of your lives. And in a way, I kinda wish I could have a do-over on few things in life. The inappropriate behaviors at 15, the near death experience at 18, being blackballed in my short lived radio career at 24, the DUI at 25, and the biggest "what the fuck were you thinking" moment, my wedding at 27.

That would leave me with 25 lives to go.

At my job, I have 5 Employees who are in bands. So whenever I get a song idea, I ask them their thoughts (and if they'd be interested in buying it). All but one loved the idea (the one thought it would be a Macarena or Electric Slide because of the title), but they also didn't think anyone would get it. So, being the "I need to prove a point" guy that I am, I asked 20 customers if they knew what it was. 12 did. Now they were all white males 20-35 that got it, but isn't that the demographic that all groups and advertisers go after?

I Promise, sometime in the near future, I will post this, but like Smallville & Batman Begins, Every story has a beginning, and this is the beginning of my song.

It Happens Every Fall

2005-09-27T20:00:00.000-07:00

As the Baseball Season ends, and the Football Season starts, one more thing takes over my head...The New Fall TV lineup.

And nothing upsets me more than when two or more of the show I want to watch are up against each other. It started tonight, but thank God that F/X repeats it's shows. Tuesday's will be kinda rough with Boston Leagal and Nip/Tuck both on at 9pm. I've been hooked on Nip/Tuck for years, but following Desperate Housewives last year, BL became a show I had to watch, not just for Shattner, but because one of the hottest women on TV was on the show-Rhona Mitra (A close second to Nikki Cox). So Nip/Tuck says if you can't beat them, join them, and Rhona is on their show too. Luckily, having Tivo in one room and a VCR in another, this will be an easy problem to solve, But Thursday's at 7 will be the most difficult.

WB - Smallville, CBS - Survivor, UPN - Everyone Hates Chris

Smallville is no contest my favorite show on TV. I am on 5 different websites devoted to the show daily. The back story of the Man of Steel might not have 20 great episodes a year, but the ones that are their top episodes are Brilliant. and this year Aquaman, Tom Wopat, & Carrie Fisher come aboard. Survivor is the original "Reality" show. I've applied three times, but no luck. This year seems like their toughest, and they have a former NFL QB - Gary Hogeboom to give the sport fan in me an extra push to watch it. Then the upstart UPN, the same network that brought us Brittney Spears & Kevin Federline's Chaotic, gets Chris Rock. From everything I read and the one episode I've seen, it's hilarious, but unfortunatly it falls to third on the list, and with only two TV's it get's left out.

The rest of the week goes like this:
Monday - Prison Break & Football
Tuesday - My name is Earl & The Office leading in to the 9pm double dip
Wednesday - Lost & Invasion
Thursday - Tough choices at 7pm, but 8pm will be Reunioun, Just for the music in the episodes.
Friday - Threshold, Numb3rs, & Bill Mahr
Saturday Night Live - Steve Carell this week, Napolean Dynomite Next week
Sunday starts early with football all day til 6pm then it's ABC till i go to sleep. Extreme Home Makeover Desperate Housewives, & Grey's Anatomy.

You might be wondering why I would write a blog about TV. well, when you have no money, it's the best entertainment a single guy in his 30's can get. Some people live their lives, some watch other lives live.

I'm a watcher.

Sometimes It's OK to lie

2005-09-19T21:00:00.000-07:00

January 2003, Ryne Sandberg is on the ballot for the first time to get into the H.O.F. I had hotel reservations just outside of Cooperstown, NY for my new wife and me. The Baseball Player that was my Idol growing up was going into the Hall of Fame. To me it was a given, to all of Chicago it was a given. He deserved it, he was the Best Secondbaseman of his generation. But it wasn't meant to be. He only receives 49.2% of the vote and he needed 75% to get in. I canceled my reservations and told myself, just like every other Cub fan, "Wait Till Next Year"

Janruary, 2004, Same Situation, And Ryno gets the third most votes on the ballot, but still is at only 61.1%. Again I cancel my reservations.

December 2003, Comes and my Divorce is final, I'm flat broke, all my Credit Cards are maxed out. I want to make Hotel reservations again, but Can't. So as always happens, whenever I really want something, I can't afford it. Sandberg gets in in Janruary, 2005. It's an exciting day for me and I tell myself no matter what, I'm going to NY, even if I need to sleep in my car.

Fast Forward to the weekend of July 31st, 2005. In the near eight months since the divorce, the Ex had moved three times and where she was staying at the time, she couldn't keep the dog anymore. Being the nice guy that I am, I agreed to keep her dog, even though he was never really "my" dog. Her brother and her had bought him over a year before I met her.

Anyway, she knows how Important this weekend is to me and agrees to take the dog for the weekend. Probably the first nice thing she would've done for me since the middle of 2004. But on the 28th, she calls and cancels. The Bitch Cancels. What was I to do, so I told her if she didn't take the dog, I had no other options and was going to take him to the Aurora Animal Shelter. She Dared Me. After five years, you think she would've known better.

Saturday rolls around, I'm in Cooperstown,watching Fergie, Billy, & Kirby signing autographs and my phone rings...It's the Ex. "So who did you get to watch Pimby, I want to know he's all right"

I tell her, "He's at the Shelter, and if they haven't found a taker for him today, he probably was going to be put down"

She starts crying "If you really did that, I don't ever want to talk to you again!" and she hangs up

Now did I really do it? Of course not, I told you I'm a nice guy. Luckily, I had a desperate housewife and Kara's son that live nearby and they stopped by and took care of the dog. But I really believed her when she said she "never wants to talk to me again"...But I wouldn't be writing all this if she didn't call me this afternoon.

She called and started out with how sorry she was to have ruined our relationship, and that she knew it was all her fault and it took her ten months to realize it and yadda yadda bull shit. So I asked her why did she really called (because she is NOT the type to apologize unless she wants something) And of course, she wanted to know if I had something of hers (like she doesn't have 20 things of mine). But I was Honest and said I didn't have it. Then she asks THE question. Tell me the truth about Pimby. Do I tell the truth and possibly bring the She-Devil back into my life or do I continue the lie. Well, if you couldn't tell by the title, I continued the lie. She cried, and we said our good byes. Was it the nice guy thing to do? Probably not. But was it a necessary lie so that I could move on with my life? Yes.
After five years, she knows me,I still have the dog. But she doesn't need to know that.

Things I Learned At The Stone's Concert

2005-09-11T00:00:00.000-07:00

I've been going to Soilder Field every year since 1976 and Saturday was the first time I was there for something besides a Bears Game. Here are a few things I learned:
I learned that "Bear Down, Chicago Bears" isn't the only song that can be sung by over 50,000 fans at Soilder Field
woo hoo
I learned that white men can still dance in the north endzone of Soilder Field
woo hoo
I learned that there are seats higher than my Bears season tix
woo hoo
I learned that I shouldn't try to one up my parents, because they will tell me they have floor seats and are sitting next to Harold Ramis
woo hoo
I learned that it may only be Rock & Roll, but I like it, I like it, yes I do
woo hoo
I learned that Brown Sugar tastes so good
woo hoo
I learned that no matter how hard I try, I can't get no satisfaction
woo hoo
And Finally, I learned that you must have sympathy for the
Ex-wife
woo hoo
woo hoo
woo hoo
woo hoo

September 7th, 2005

2005-09-07T21:52:00.000-07:00

It was 5am thismorning and I'm counting money at work, I write the date on the cash balancing form...September 7th, 2005...I don't think much about it.
Throughout the day I write the date on frozen food to be thawed, bank deposit forms, checks written to pay bills...september 7th, 2005...each time thinking I'm supposed to be somewhere today that I forgot about.
Work goes bad, people call in sick, we get busy, customers complain, worst day I've had in a few weeks...Septembet 7th, 2005.
I leave my day job to run as many errends as i can in the fourty-five minutes till I have to be at my next job. I stop home to let out the dog and
he's wimpering, more than usual. like he's trying to tell me that today means somthing. At the time I think he just wants attention because I'm on my 3rd straight day of double shifts...September 7th, 2005.
Night job is just as bad as the day job, busier than usual, customers complaining, I REACH MY BREAKING POINT, I CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE, I HAVEN'T BEEN THIS PISSED OFF SINCE I WAS MARRIED...on September 7th, 2002.

At this point it hits me like a cup of tea thrown by my ex-wife...today would have been our 3rd anniversarry. After nine months of divorce, you try as hard as you can to forget everything, but there is one thing that stick in your mind...September 7th, 2005.