Tag Archives: star trek

Good To The Last Drop

Posted on by
1

As usual, from the last post until today, I have started and stopped a dozen entries. By now, so much is going on, that all I can really do is sum up.

I’ve started thinking about why I’m not blogging as much as I used to. Could be that not a whole lot is going on…no, wait, that’s not true. All kinds of things are going on. And then it hits me: Twitter. AJB mentioned something about how his own blog has suffered at the hands of Twitter. I make mini-updates throughout the day, so why go back and write the long version? People get the point, right? Do I want my life memorialized in tiny, bite sized chunks or do I want to remember things the way they happened? Is there a difference?

Is “Watched TV for an hour” better than “Last night, the kids and I watched Star Trek together. It was their idea and I was happy to discover that Cat has a mean crush on Spock…which doesn’t mirror my own infatuation with Kirk, but hey…it’s Trek and we don’t have to like the same things. We’re still in the same category. It’s wonderful to see that AJB’s kids are latching onto things that I like and while we all like each other very much, it’s awesome to have pop-culture references to geek out over together. This always leads me back to the conclusion that I am the luckiest soon-to-be step-mom in history.”

I for one, like the elaboration. And by the way, that’s a true story. After watching the new JJ Abrams Star Trek, the kids have really gotten into the world of Star Trek. It piqued their interest and they now want to watch more of the original series – which makes my heart sing. Because, as you know, I’m a huge Trek fan. Not the kind that dresses up, but I do go to conventions and swoon in geekiness. Actually, I’d dress up if I could. I’ve always wanted one of those Operations Division uniforms for females. You know, the Uhura dress. I digress, where was I? Except, hold on, the Star Trek Grand Slam is taking place in November at the LAX Marriott. I think I’ll be on my honeymoon.

Onto other topics now.

On Tuesday, I saw a new doctor to help me with my skin condition – the elusive and determined eczema rashes on my hands and now, my face. Dude, I’m one of those gross weirdos with rashes on their faces. You know the kind of person you see on the bus, red patches all over their cheeks and mouth, you try not to stare, but you can’t help yourself? That’s me. AJB says it’s not that bad, but he doesn’t have to look at me in the mirror everyday. Ugly or not, it’s been rather uncomfortable as well. That said, I also can’t get married with rashes on my face. There is some reason why it’s not going away. Despite all my best efforts, it lessens, but never goes away. The good news is, it’s not nearly as bad as it was a year ago. I’m obviously exaggerating. It’s not that bad. It’s bad enough that I need to take drastic action.

This new doctor has put me on an allergy elimination diet – this means I cut out any potentially offending foods. After two weeks, I reintroduce foods one by one. The hardest thing to give up has been coffee. As a result, I had a killer migraine for 2 days. I spent those days in pain or sleeping. Today is the 3rd day and while I desperately want a cup of steaming, hot coffee, I don’t feel as terrible as I did on Day 1. AJB’s assistant reminds me that after two weeks, I probably won’t want coffee. The caffeine will be out of my system and my body will have figured out how to live without it. Going back on means I’m making a choice to continue an addiction to coffee. Well, I’ve been drinking coffee since I was 15. Is that an addiction?

I don’t really like to call my love affair with coffee an “addiction”. Many happy moments have been shared over a cup of coffee. Good conversations, beautiful cafes, good people. In fact, when AJB and I were in Italy, I made it a point to drink an espresso and have a smoke at an outdoor cafe. It was lovely. It was simply lovely.

A finished espresso and smoke at Cafe Gilli in Florence.

A finished espresso and smoke at Cafe Gilli in Florence.

The question is, after two weeks will I choose to restart a 19 year addiction? Most likely. Like smoking, there are emotional connections to the act of drinking coffee, to making a great cup, sitting at a Denny’s with my sister playing cards into the wee hours of the night, my first date with AJB, my first job in Pasadena at a coffee house, talking about the moon with my brother Paul, sitting with my Dad and arguing politics, discussing the importance of The Sims with JCS, meeting countless friends for coffee, that first cup in the morning, and discovering that after 19 years, I really do know the difference between good and bad coffee. So you see, it’s not about the caffeine (although that helps), it’s a part of my life. I might go so far as to say that it’s a part of who I am. I’m a coffee drinker.

When I was 15, the reason I started drinking coffee was because I was reading a great deal of the Beat Poets (especially Kerouac) and the idea of old fashioned coffee houses intrigued me. The idea of reading, writing, and smoking in a coffee house…it was a romantic notion to me. It still is. I wrote a lot more when I was 15. After school, I’d go to this old people diner in Camarillo, drink coffee, and write…for hours on end.

Giving up coffee is like turning your back on an old friend. Even though you know that friend might be bad for you, it still hurts. My symptoms have indeed subsided over the last few days, but I’m not ready to point the finger at coffee. I haven’t eaten much since Tuesday due to the incapacitating migraine that came with going cold turkey on just about everything I love to eat and drink. AJB continues to remind me that it’s only temporary. In 12 days I’ll have coffee again. It’s at the scary moment, I’ll determine if coffee has indeed been my friend or foe. I’m actually a little nervous to find out. Truth is, I’ve been putting off giving up coffee all this time. I suppose my kidneys deserve a rest and I have to stay positive. Whatever happens happens. Let the coffee grounds fall where they may.

Catching up is Caught

Posted on by
Reply

As usual, I don’t manage to write for a while and so much happens in between posts that I can’t figure out how to fit it all into one bite sized chunk. I then worry that I have so much to say, I’ll just end up writing a 2000 word post and annoy my two readers.

*sigh*

What I end up doing is summing up and I think I really miss the point of this blog. That is, to capture the events of my life as they unfold. The events have already unfolded and are now a bit wrinkled.

Over the last two weeks, my Mom, JCS and I have been busting ass to assemble my Save the Dates. I lie, mostly, it was Mom and JCS. They really came through. Mom spent a week at my house, staying up late, cutting out little skeletons, punching decorative bats into envelopes, addressing, and doing other miscellaneous tasks. JCS came over everyday and helped a whole lot too. I helped as much as I could, but guess what? I took a bad fall down the stairs and was out of commission right in the middle of the project. Luckily, I didn’t break anything, but I was beaten up and bruised. My legs and knees still hurt, even though I’m mobile. I spent several days in bed.

Over Mother’s Day weekend, my sister and sister-in-law came into town and got wrangled into a couple of all nighters. They’d originally came down to see Star Trek with me and celebrate Mother’s Day, but as it turned out, Mom had a wedding to attend and was gone for 3 days. Even though I was aching, I forced myself to the theater to see Star Trek. I could write an entire post on that movie. For now, I’ll just say it was good and I liked it. A lot.

We managed to get 95% of the Save the Dates out on time. You see, we’d bought these amazing Edgar Allan Poe stamps, but as fate would have it, the price of postage went up today. Rather than attach a stupid 2 cent stamp, we set a deadline which only gave us 10 days to finish. All I can say is, my family really came through for me. I can’t tell you how lucky I feel to have a family that will stay up all hours of the night getting hand cramps cutting out skeletons, attaching brads, punching lace, and stamping. This was the Project Royale – the project of all projects and my family brung it! We still have a few more to send out as addresses trickle in, but those will wait a few days and get 2 cent stamps.

And while all this is going on, I’ve started an internship with a super famous, amazing photographer named David LaChapelle. I don’t think the gravity of this position has sunk in just yet. Firstly, this is an outstanding opportunity for me. As a photographer, to watch a master at work…well, that’s priceless. And when I say priceless, I mean, I’m not getting paid. But I look at it this way: Interning is like going to school. They don’t pay you, you pay them. I’m getting a one of a kind education here and all that is required is my time. Besides, I happen to know that plenty of photographers would give their right arm to intern for this guy. Furthermore, aside from cleaning and answering phones, I’m also being given the chance to see how a lucrative photography business is run from behind the scenes. No college in the world teaches you that. When it comes to advanced lighting technique and organizing a grand scale photoshoot for Rolling Stone…well, they don’t teach that at Brooks. I mean, what does it take to get where he’s at? How did he get there? Granted, he is an amazing talent and while I’m good at what I do, I’m not that good. Truth be told, photographers on his level have a lot of help. Me? I’m on my own.

Today was my first day. So much happened. I will write about it, just not tonight.

Farewell Ricardo

Posted on by
1

ricardomontalban9 The elder generation of celebrities are dropping off like flies. Today we lost another great actor, Senor Ricardo Montalban. I grew up with this man. From Mr. Roarke on Fantasy Island, to Armando in Escape from the Planet of the Apes, and most especially, Khan Noonien Singh in Star Trek The Wrath of Khan. What can I say? He didn’t belong to the younger generation. My fiancee’s children won’t know who he is and they won’t miss him the way I will. They won’t know what you mean when you say, “Fine Corinthian leather“. They won’t want to immediately watch Wrath of Khan or think back lovingly to all the countless hours watching Fantasy Island and wondering which semi-celebrity would be on this week? I used to watch that show and think, Dang, Mr. Roake is one suave dude. And he was. He was one suave dude.

The thing about yesterday’s movie stars is that…well, they really don’t make them like they used to. I mean, let’s talk about your Judy Garlands and your Gene Kellys. Maybe I’m old, but today’s celebrities all kind of look alike, dress alike, none of them can act, and none of them are making anything important. In 70 years has anything come close to topping The Wizard of Oz? I was watching a documentary about MGM Studios today and it occurred to me, the grand era of movies is really gone. What are they making today? Remakes upon remakes. Nothing new. They take an old story, dress it up with today’s hottest star, and repackage it. I say, if it ain’t broke, why fix it? Of course, this makes me sound like your typical “get off my lawn” old person, but it’s true. Why remake the classics? Why can’t the younger generation enjoy the old stuff? It’s about money, isn’t it? Yes, I know. Granted, Poseidon was pretty good, but it’ll never compare to The Poseidon Adventure. Then again, anything with Kurt Russell is A+ in my book. Occasionally, an independent film will come along and rock my world; Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and anything from Wes Anderson, but on the whole, movies hardly carry the same impact. Do they?

Recently, my fiancee’s twin boy had a brief aversion to black and white television. He actually said he wouldn’t watch a movie if it was in black and white. He changed his tune after a full day of Twilight Zone episodes. He was spouting, “It’s a cook book!” for several days after. He quickly realized that color doesn’t necessarily make things better. Good for him. I knew he’d come around. He even applauded after It’s a Wonderful Life. He came around because classic films are a part of history that kids today aren’t easily granted access to. There are good stories there, plenty of action, damn fine acting, and cinematography to beat all cinematography. It’s good. Damn good. Kids are so berated with high-octane, edge of your seat, CGI remakes, old films hardly stand a chance. Thank goodness for Turner Classic Movies. When given the chance, kids will appreciate the old films.

When fine actors like Ricardo Montalban pass away, I can’t help but think the list is growing shorter and shorter. Because it is. Soon they’ll all be gone. Like the last remaining survivor of the Titanic. Gone. Not forgotten, but the stories they told, the lives they lead…now all a part of history and life goes on. The good news is, whenever I want to see Ricardo, there he is, for all eternity making Captain Kirk’s life a living hell, spouting Shakespeare, and dying a fine death with all kinds of awesome explosions. Revenge is a dish best served cold. It is very cold…in space. Yes Ricardo, it certainly is. And it always will be.

So long old friend. You were awesome.

If loving Wil Wheaton is wrong, I don’t wanna be right

Posted on by
Reply

OK. I figured it out. I’m boring and Wil Wheaton is a genius. When the dorks in junior high invited me to RPG, maybe I should have. Apparently, roll-playing is good for the brain. Of course, this is according to a self proclaimed geek.

On that note, every year or so, I go through a self-induced Wheaton-binge where all I do is read his blog and think about how cute he is; and how, even though he was (ocassionally) annoying on Next Generation, he was so frickin’ adorable, I couldn’t stand it – only strengthening my deep love and appreciation of nerds. Nerds = Hotness. All this means, reading his blog again everyday and after a year, discovering he’s on Twitter. So yeah, it may SOUND like I’m cyber-stalking him, but I’m really not. Really, I love him because he posts Twitterz like this: A kid just walked down my street, kicking a can. I looked for other kids rolling a hoop with a stick, but saw none. Timestream: intact.

I woke up this morning with an authentic plan to get back into eating better and exercising. Believe it or not, I use to exercise regularly. Then I started having problems with my back and it all went into the crapper. Woke up, did some exercises, realized it’s hard, went for a 20 minute walk. When I got back, I felt pretty good, but slowly this heavy feeling set in. Slug. Tired. I started watching Planet of the Apes, followed by The Day the Earth Stood Still, and fell asleep hard in the middle. Waking up intermittently to watch War Games. TCM is MIA from our cable line up, so I’ve been watching a lot of AMC. Damn commercials. Still, good stuff on my teletubes. When I woke up, I realized that today was hotter than it’s been in the last few weeks. That’ll do it. Being the delicate flower that I am, I don’t do well in the heat. It’s my hibernation time, you see.

And, I got a new gig. A vintage clothing company has hired me to shoot apparel for their eBay listings. Great. The pay is less than glamorous, but it will keep me busy several times a week. And that’s good.

Did I mention the Pasadena Weekly thing? I might have. An old friend/not friend asked me to participate in his weekly feature called “5 Questions”. It’s a neat opportunity and is the paper equivalent to MySpace surveys. Irrelevant questions towards irrelevant people. I can dig that. PT Barnum did say that one thing about publicity, so it’s all good. When it’s printed, I’ll post it. OK? I also had to include a picture – which was a new lesson in self loathing. I had a friend, who’s a kick ass concert photographer, do some shots of me. Lesson one: Fish-eye lens in my mortal enemy. Lesson Two: Concert photographers are better at catching fast moving moments, rather than still standing models. Ah well, what can I say? My good deed will be noted and the photographer will get photo credit.

Cross My Palm With Silver

Posted on by
Reply

This video featuring Harlan Ellison has been floating around for a while. Ellison is a writer best known for his work on Babylon 5, 1980′s Twilight Zone, Star Trek, and numerous other cool TV series dating back to the late 50′s. The video is an amazing rant on amateurs versus professionals in the writing industry. Naturally, it can translate well into the photography industry as well and often comes up in message board threads.

What I love about this rant is that it’s absolutely true. Not to say I’ve never done a freebie (and depending on the project still would) but there are so many low-ballers out there, it’s hard for the rest of us to make a living. I need to watch this video whenever I think about doing free work. Frankly, can anyone afford to do free work?

Japanese Monster

Posted on by
1
Which Japanese Monster?

Which Japanese Monster?

Today as I was driving to my hair appointment, I spotted this sign at the off-ramp of Fair Oaks Ave. Immediately, my brain went “Holy crap! Cloverfield!” Well, who knows. There are talks of sequels and prequels and the way J.J. Abrams and company work their secret magic, I say, you never know. Like a total dork, I followed the sign and found absolutely nothing. In fact, by the time my hair appointment was over, it was gone. You’ll also note that there is a secondary sign above with an arrow and the letters “BS” – what the heck does that mean? I’d like to think that a sequel/prequel is in the works. Tomorrow we leave for Comic-Con and who knows, maybe I’ll get a scoop. You know, a scoop that about a thousand other live-blogging nerds will get.

In preps for Comic-Con, I’ve gotten a new fresh coat of paint:

Why So Blue?

Why So Blue?

We leave for San Diego tomorrow. We’ll wander the booths and geekery on Friday and Saturday and come home Sunday. I haven’t studied the schedule yet, so I’m not sure what or who we’re going to see, but all I know is, JJ Abrams will there and that bitch better talk about Star Trek. Alright fine. I’m a nerd. I’m OK with that. And oh yes, there will be pictures.