UPDATE
I just realised a whole 'nother aspect to this issue. Evidently the whole thing was started by southern-Christians, and was first made popular by that chick from "The Facts of Life" in her book that backs up creative disciplinary practices WITH SCRIPTURE. I'm really sorry, but I hardly think that the Bible is the best manual for bringing up kids. If it was, there would be a lot more parents telling their sons that an angel told them to take them to the mountain top AND KILL THEM if they don't behave...

I'm having difficulty dealing with the usual duality of time (it went by REALLY fast, and yet seems like we have been here forever,) and as I try to wrap my head around the milestone I'm remembering how much of a struggle it had been. Leaving my friends and family and home was one of the hardest things I've ever done, and without the (ample) support of my family, my friends (even the ones I felt like I was abandoning) and especially Julie, there is no doubt in my mind that I wouldn't be writing this post today. (So thanks everybody!)

We have come a long way in the last twelve months and, there is a long way still to go. But now that we have found the stability and have developed the necessary support-network we can keep-on moving towards our dreams.

In other news I fell victim to a similar attack when I tried to watch "KIll Bill Vol 2" last night. I booted the DVD in the new player and before I knew it Tarantino's gargantuan ego was farcing its way into my living room. You may know I was no fan of the first volume of QT's masturbatory opus, but i have to say that Vol1 is WAY better than Vol2, which ended up being a disjointed and boring experiment in how many styles of 70s cinema can one man forcefully shove into 130 minuets of runtime. It was extra frustrating because the film almost had something cool going on with the different visual styles for each of the "chapters" but they didn't seem to be motivated by anything. I couldn't help but think that a lot of the time the film felt like a student film (if an extremely well shot and beautiful student film,) in the way that so many cinematographic "tricks" were employed on top of flashy camera moves and dialogue that seemed to rip-off Tarantino. Julie mentioned that she felt like the film was made by a "Tarantino Impersonator" or alternately "QT doing his best impression of himself." And maybe that was the point. But somehow I doubt it.

I was sitting at my temporary desk here at work (which is right inside the main door and overlooks the parking lot) when a cab pulled up. No big deal, our darkroom tech (who is blind) cabs to and from work everyday. But who should step out but John Flansburg, followed by his Brother in Rock John Linnell. They Might Be Giants just stepped into my fucking office. I knew that their new DVD was being cut in one of our suites upstairs, and that they have a couple of shows in the LA area this week, but it never even crossed my mind that they would come in to check with the editor.

Just to give some background, I've been a TMBG fan since 1986. Their fist album, was in fact, the very first CD I ever owned. I've seen them live 6 or 7 times. And here they are asking me if there is any coffee. I somehow managed to speak and tell them that I'll put a fresh pot on, and show them up to the suite. As we walked up the stairs I stammered, "I would normally not say anything, but this is too much. I've been a huge fan of yours for pretty much my whole life." They were very nice and thanked me. Before they entered the editing suite.

I still can't believe it. They came back down a few minuets later for the coffee and thanked me again. Julie and I have often talked about seeing celebrities, and who we would actually have to say something to if we saw them (as we usually have to do the "cool LA" thing and at they very MOST say "hey" at the famous people.) Steven Soderbergh was sitting one booth over from us at dinner on Friday night I can did nothing more than smile at him, but seeing John and John was like seeing mythic figures step into reality from some extra-planar realm.

So much for having a shitty day!

Sometimes I think my lack of updates is because the "thrill" of blogging has waned. It doens't hold the magic and rush that it did in the beginning. But my dear friend John Forrest (previously of JFP3 fame) recently started up a new blog that is still radiates the heat of newness. John is doing everything right over there. Frequent updates, a clear voice, and lots of pics (plus a kick-ass sidebar.) I REALLY should have linked to his site weeks ago, but I suck.

If things do change around here soon, if I can't manage to being the spark back to the 'Hat then I'm prepared to shutter things and move on. I can't stay silent for too long though, so something new and exciting will be born to take up some more cyberspace.

I realise that this law will never be enforced. No denizens of Beverly Hills will get fined for driving upto their houses, but it is fun to think about.

And this year, Jack will make some waves!