Line please!

I got a callback this afternoon for that Owen Wilson film that will have a couple of scenes shot at Nationals Park. I have to call back next Wednesday for details on filming, but it's a two day committment on June 12th and 13th. The lady informed me to expect a long day. I'll let you know my role and character motivation once I obtain that information.

My winning smile won them over! :)

I need a buddy

Get Paid $25,000 To Ride Local Roller Coasters
Posted: 12:28 pm EDT June 3, 2009

ORLANDO, Fla. -- If you love roller coasters, the Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau has a job just for you.

The "67 Days of Smiles" website asks interested people to convince them "that you and your spouse, best friend, brother, mother or 'other' have an adventurous spirit and smiling personalities and land the ultimate assignment."

The Orlando CVB says the selected pair will do everything from roller coaster riding to hang gliding, swimming with dolphins, golfing, shopping, gator wrestling, museum exploring, theatre-going and more.

As the winning pair, you'll be expected to report on your experiences using cell phones, a digital video camera and still camera supplied to you and share your 67 Days of Smiles with the world through social media tools like blogs, Twitter and Facebook.

The city will pay you $25,000 to cover your expenses back home and provide a two-bedroom condo in downtown Orlando for the entire 67 days. You can learn more about it and apply at the 67 Days of Smiles website.

Copyright 2009 by wftv.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

I seriously want to do this but I need somebody else to commit with me. Who doesn't want to have fun for 67 days??? Mom, pass this on to Kevin.

Dell, we have a problem

My computer took a nose dive, AGAIN, so I'm coming to you live from my roommate's computer. I think it's dead, AGAIN. I haven't backed up my documents/photos/music in about a month, and there's some really great pictures on there I don't want to lose. Plus the resume of perfection and the cover letter that's been plagairised by my good friend was on there. So I'm hoping my tecky friend will come to my rescue, AGAIN, and extract all those files for me. Until then, I can't restore my computer, so I think the blogging might come to a bit of a standstill. Just a heads-up, but I will do my best to get up and running soon.

Photo courtesy of buymybrokenlaptop.

I'm ready for my close-up, Mr. DeMille*

This afternoon I attended my first casting call for a motion picture. The film - a James L. Brooks rom-com (that's what we in the biz call a romantic-comedy) featuring Owen Wilson as a Washington Nationals relief pitcher and Reese Witherspoon as his love interest. Paul Rudd is Wilson's nemesis in the film currently titled "How Do You Know?"

I heard about the casting call last week, which was only open to season ticket holders. After much debate with myself, I talked me into going on down to Nats Stadium this afternoon and giving it a shot. With a photo of myself with the DC United mascot in hand, I made my way on over. Expecting long lines and tons of people, I was surprised to walk on in and have absolutely no wait at all. I filled out a piece of paper that had contact and costume size info then walked over to a bunch of tables where there were several Casting Call staffers waiting. I sat and talked with a lady, and if I hadn't forced the conversation to continue, "the interview" would have lasted a mere minute consisting of info given by her to me about the filming process. She didn't take any notes or put any favorable symbols of any sort on my form. So who knows what my chances are. Hopefully the winning smile in my photo wins the director over. And hopefully the fact that I'm in a photo with the soccer mascot and not the baseball mascot won't kill my chances. If I don't get a callback, that's my scapegoat.

Who knows, this could be my big break!

*This is an oft misquoted line from Sunset Blvd. Norma Desmond actually says, "All right, Mr. DeMille, I'm ready for my close-up.

Photo courtesy of Corbis Images.

Our Family According to Mom

Mom didn't get the 'shades mandatory' memo.

It's family reunion time and ours is gearing up for a weekend retreat in the Hualapai Mountains late in June. Aunt Jackie (a loyal reader) is in charge of collecting individual updates for the family newsletter. My Mom (also a loyal reader) submitted the update for our family of four. She gets her writing skills from me. :)

"I'm sure more has happened in our family over the past two years than I can remember, but I'll give it a shot. I changed jobs last June - left the foot doctor for a dentist. It's a very small office – the dentist, the assistant and me. The Dr.'s wife was pregnant and I was hired so she could stay home with the baby, once born. I get to work 4 days a week (yay!!!), and it's a lot less stressful than my previous job.

"John retired from Edison in October of '06 and was fortunate to find work the following spring at a local boat shop (a return to his first career). He works from April thru October and takes off almost every other Friday. Since I'm off on Fridays, this allows us to get out of the heat just about every other weekend. We have a trailer we leave in Williams for the summer and stay there, sometimes taking the Harley for local rides or just hanging out in the COOL.

"Chelsea flew the local coop a year and a half ago and has settled in our nation's capitol. She is not currently working as the Republican Congressman she was working for did not seek re-election (read-indicted for some land trade deal). She is not letting that slow her down, however. She continues to follow opera the way most of us follow a sport. I wonder if they make Opera Trading Cards? I understand she is submitting her own update, so I'll leave the rest to her. Check out her blog – http://www.chelsealately.blogspot.com/.

"Kevin has also changed jobs. (At one point this past spring our household was at the 75% unemployment level!) He is working for a friend of ours who has a business cleaning up and maintaining foreclosed homes. They stay quite busy and travel all over the state. They get to bring home whatever they find at the houses. A couple weeks ago he came home with a box of about 40 LPs from the 80s. He was more excited about the album covers than the music. In August of '07, he bought a Harley (just like John's – a touring style). A couple of his buddies also had bikes and they rode quite a bit. A group of 7 rode to Sturgis in Aug '08-on the road 8 days (I believe) and about 3200 miles. Last December he traded it in on a FAAASSSST Honda Street bike. I pray for his safety every time he gets on it. He rides this bike a lot more than the Harley. He has a girlfriend, whom we have actually met and really like. Michelle is very nice, friendly and can carry on an adult conversation! She is also motorcycle savvy, having ridden dirt bikes most of her life."

"We had to have Fluffy (Himalayan cat) put down last May (he was 14) but still have Sophie (Lhasa Apso-12 ). I'm ready to be petless for a while but John would like to get another Persian. I think he's waiting for the cat fairy to leave him one on the doorstep. We're all healthy and thankful for the jobs we have."

A couple of comments: 1) If length is any indication, then my brother is the clear favorite child. :) 2) If there are Opera Trading Cards, then I want them! 3) I sure hope the cat fairy leaves dad a new cat soon (ahem, Mom, ahem wink wink nudge nudge GET A NEW CAT!!!)

P.S. Happy belated anniversary to my padres who celebrated like 50 million years of marriage on the 27th. Without them, I clearly would not be here. Seriously, I would not exist.

Finally Friday Music Clip of the Day - Take It Easy Edition

I think it’s going to be a low-key weekend. Plus I’ve stood on the corner in Winslow, Arizona before.

Eagles - Take It Easy

And it's supposed to rain all weekend: Gene Kelly - I'm Singing in the Rain

My Dad and me standing on the corner in Winslow, AZ after a ride on the Harley.

The Pen Is Mightier

Norm MacDonald spoofed Bob Dole and his habit of always carrying a pen in his right hand. Well, there's a story behind that.

Via Sen. Bob Dole's wikipedia page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Dole

In 1942, Dole joined the United State Army's Enlisted Reserve Corps to fight in World War II. He became a second lieutenant in the Army's 10th Mountain Division.

In April 1945, while engaged in combat in the hills of northern Italy, he was hit by German machine gun fire in his upper right back. His right arm was also badly injured. As Lee Sandlin describes, when fellow soldiers saw the extent of his injuries all they thought they could do was to "give him the largest dose of morphine they dared and write an 'M' for 'morphine' on his forehead in his own blood, so that nobody else who found him would give him a second, fatal dose." He had to wait nine hours on the battlefield before being taken to the 15th Evacuation Hospital. He began a recovery that would last until 1948 at Percy Jones Army hospital in Battle Creek, Michigan. His right arm was paralyzed; Dole often carried a pen in his right hand to signal that he could not shake hands with that arm.

Dole was three times decorated for heroism, receiving two Purple Hearts for his injuries, and the Bronze Star with combat "V" for valor for his attempt to assist a downed radio man.

Bob and Elizabeth Dole attended the Memorial Day Services at Arlington National Cemetery, and later, Mr. Dole spoke to veterans at the World War II Memorial on the National Mall. He was a key player in raising funds and organizing efforts to get the Greatest Generation a memorial they so greatly deserved. At 86, Mr. Dole, though moving much slower, looks to be in fairly good shape. Both the Doles were quite poised this afternoon despite the heat and humidity that rendered me exhausted (and I wasn't wearing a suit). I have always been a fan of Elizabeth Dole's since Junior year of high school. No particular reason, aside from her being a hard working gal making her way in a man's world. Anywho, was thrilled to see them at the ceremony this afternoon!

"God bless the fallen."

A Veteran saluting the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

Arlington National Cemetery, May 25th, 2009

President Obama speaking at the Memorial Day Service

Arlington National Cemetery, May 25th, 2009

(Senators Bob and Elizabeth Dole on the far left)

Tip of the Day: Memorial Concert Edition

Times are tough in this economy and people are cutting back. If you are a wine aficionado but find your pocketbook not able to afford the luxuries of vino, then head on down to the Capitol this evening. It's the Memorial Day Concert and folks excited about the first chance of summer to picnic often pack a bottle of wine. Little do they know, or try as they might to sneak it in, the Capitol Police are pretty on top of cracking down. Stand by the entrance and wait for a culprit to get caught. They'll be forced to part with the wine before entering and you'll be there to take it. If you're unsuccessful, at least you'll be at the Capitol to enjoy the concert!

Finally Friday Music Clip of the Day - Turn Up the Heat Edition

Technically speaking, summer is a month away. But those temperatures outside say otherwise. Plus it's Memorial Weekend, and that always makes me think of summer. So in honor of those climbing temps I bring you the Finally Friday Music Clip of the Day. I'm feeling generous again, so I bring you two.

The first, Renee Fleming singing "Summertime" because it almost is and just because it's Renee Fleming.



Mom likes the verions by Don Henley, but Sam (CT Sam) and I used to rock out w/ the windows down to the version by the Ataris. Nothing makes me think of summer more than blasting the music with the warm air blowing through the open windows.