Mattlog

Bad Service

A hang over from Prepping. Here's a lot of what Prepping involves. Weigh out this into 6 oz bags. 6oz in this bag. 6oz in this bag. 6oz in this bag. 6oz in this bag. 6oz in this bag. 6oz in this bag. 6oz in this bag. 6oz in this bag. 6oz in this bag. 6oz in this bag. 6oz in this bag. 6oz in this bag. 6oz in this bag. 6oz in this bag. 6oz in this bag. 6oz in this bag.

This is why my head has the oppertunity to randomly spawn stupid ideas.

Well tonight my brian is not cooking. I mean is not working. I mean my brain. It's possible I hot too much lseep. so the mis takes that areusually here will most likely be doubled.

I slept for 11 hours last night. And my brain apparently never woke up. Tonight I work I did alot of poor serving. Just bad bad service. The kind of bad service you get that makes you wonder why every so often you get a server where you wonder how they keep their job. Well that was me tonight.

And It sucked. I actually hate giving bad service. Most of the time people are just out to eat but what about those who are out for the first since their baby's been born. Or the couple on the second important date... nothing can put a bad vibe on a date like bad service.

Anyway, sorry. On behalf of all ther servers you've had who have been on a bad night. And for those who REALLY suck well there's just no helping them. They just don't have the right wiring.

Oh and one more thing on the Marriage from Britney. There was an interview with Britney outside before the opening of a musical in London. She's still wearing her wedding ring and when the reporter asked her about it she walked away. WHAT THE HELL IS SHE DOING?

Just asking.

Matt

AND NOW.... your moment of Zen.

Prep Musings

I helped out my manager today by prepping in the kitchen. If you've never prepped it's HORRIBLE when your left on your own. My other kitchen back in Springtown there at least two guys and a manager...you had people to talk to. Here the store is slow enough, they give it to one guy. AND holy cow ALL I HAD WERE MY OWN THOUGHTS! You who read this can only imagine what it's like to be me. Imagine the things I think but that don't make it on here.

At anyrate here's a small summery of the things I intended to remember.

Today we were joined in the kitchen by two people. It's part of the resturant industry to help people with physically or mentall handicapped get work. So today we had a fellow who portioned our Oriental noodles into small bags. My mom did this for a while, she brought people into the Applebee's in Jefferson City to roll silverware. And so the woman today was cheering on the fellow. "good job rolling" and "that's the perfect amount!" And it made me think of my mom... cause I could see her saying the same thing. All the good jobs to help the fellow gain confidence in their work. She loved her work. I remember one of her clients was to roll the silver and then scrub and mop the floors in the front of the store. Well within the capabilities of her client. But they had a dishwasher, (a bit of a mental case himself, for I had worked him previously, but not under anyone's care) who believed that this was part of his job. And would purposely show up to work early to do the floors. So this battle ensues the entire week they're there and the managers unfortunatley stuck in the middle. It was finally agreed to let the dishwasher to the floor and have the client vacuum.

The point is it's all about making the clients part of the new system. And this fellow seemed jolly enough and everyone was used to talking to him.

**** Skipping a bit*******

It's currently 2:47 in the morning and I am well probably over tired as I woke at 7:15 in the AM and well I've written a bunch of new stuff on the screenplay and it's all good. Which begs the question do I have to be up for a full 16 hours before I can write anything good. And what is it that's condusive to writing at this late hour. Is a partial sleep dep.... allowing your brain to to not be so critical of ideas so that no good makes the final cut?

Many of you are reading this now wishing this whole entry had been. But I know have a solid 25 pages which kinda sucks cause I started with 37.... but you know... only the good can stay. Unfortunatly at the this rate it'll be about another month before this damn thing is done... but at least it'll be solid.

Next time: Music that gets me in the mood... for writing, sickos.

To Too Two for the Price of One

SO all you dream analysis people out there revup your engines.

So I had a dream I'm helping do a number for some kind of awards show or something. And I'm next to Ben Affleck, cause you know, I think in real life Ben and I could be buds. But, anyway, so in the number we're supposed to become over come iwth water (or lava) and we have these little things we're supposed to sing and the lava takes out last bit of rock away. So I go then Affleck is last in the group. Well, Britney Spears is supposed to be singing her love for all of us (as if humanity can be saved by Britney's singing or something) anyway at the end of the song I Britney pulls out of character as if she thinks Ben is really dead or something. So I find out this juicey little nugget of info about Ben and Britney. And when the shows over I walk up to Britney (I assume we're friends to cause I always go for the crazy chicks) and give her a knowig glance like "hey, I know."

And she's like "Oh my gawd, y'all, don't tell anyone okay." "You're secrets safe with me, but you owe me And I pat her on the tush (how uncharacteristic) and she smiles and I woke off. I think... well that's interesting. Ben and Brit. So I'm about to call Affleck on out on it when I'm suddenly man handled and pulled into a room where Britney's publicist (who happens to look like Paul Giamatti) sits

"I don't care what you thought you heard, there ain't shit going on." "Dude, Brit and I get along, I'm not going to say anything." "Well, make sure you don't, cause I don't want you looking like and idiot." "What?" "I'm just saying this gets out and you're dead in the press." I'm not going to say anything!" See that you don't," he says and manhandled back out of the room.

So I walk outside into the into the sunshine and I see Haley Joel Osmat playing buy a fountain. So I say, "Good to meet you." "Good to know you too." Then he starts talking Latin and I have no idea what he's saying. My last words were "I loved A.I."

Then I woke up. I was a little freaked out to even post this for fear Britney's team will write me and say stop dreaming about Ms. Spears.

So I must imagine this what they're doing to Jason Alexander, Mr. Britney Spears for 55 hours. HE seems kind of freaked and really upset that he didn't get to talk to Britney and what does Britney's people say it was a mistake and mysteriously all these crappy things from his past show up in the media.

This is the part of Hollywood that sucks. Here's the other thing I'd never say anything about Britney and Affleck (in my little dream world) I hate Tabloids. It's gotta be so hard dating someone with a million people watching you. Look at Ben and Jen, Nicole and Lenny Kravitz, and Paris and well, everyone. Sometimes people need some freaking space. And the media just won't. It sucks. When did people's lives become public domain. It's not they're living on Tax payer dollars.

Ah I'm done. I want to be just big enough where the media stays off my ass. Like Kevin Smith... no gives a shit what he does... and he's a self-declared media whore. Man, I love that guy.

Matt

Star Trek

We're hitting Vega$ on March 18th. This also just happens to be the weekend the new Star Trek attraction opens at the Vega$ Hilton. If you haven't gone to the firstone it's awesome. This new on involving the borg and what not is probably going to be great. Just great.

The original is an immersive expierence... you end up on the bridge of the Next Generation vessel. And all the actors are completely into it... no tongue in cheek. The oddest thing is actually seeing people in the uniforms. Being a movie guy it's hard to not to think... this is an impressive set. It's hard to get into something when you see it for what's it worth.

I think this is why so many people laugh off Star Trek and Star Wars. They're looking at people with goofy masks and clothes. They're not seeing the true heart of the story. Obviously it's hard not to sound like a geek talking about such things. But really, what makes this less believable than, say Batman or Spiderman. Why is it easier to believe a kid can be bitten by radioactive spider can gain special powers than to believe that people in other galaxies have wierd shaped heads and in the future everyone wears unitards. OK, maybe the unitard thing is hard to believe.

But I've been watching all the Extra stuff on the Star Trek V disk. And you know even though some say this is a by far the worst film (certainly the worst special effects if your into such things) this is idea is Trek at it's finest. #1 Human story. All Trek is. #2 The trifecta Bones, Kirk and Spock. This is also what Trek is all about. These three battling the moral issues. Kirk the "man who rushes in where angels fear to tread." [quote from STVI: TUC] Spock the logical reserved one. And Bones the emotional doctor. Debating about life and family. It's awsome. Klingons who want to kill Kirk. They always want to kill Kirk. I think it has something to do with when Kirk beat the Klingons out of the planet of Orgonia. He has a way of grating on the Klingons. In many ways V does alot to return to the original series. Someone takes over the ship. Don't how many times that happened in the original series.

This was the lowest grossing film of the entire Star Trek series up until last years release of Nemesis. ST:N actually grossed $10 million less than V which opened in 1989.

And considering V's competition that summer a few little films like Batman and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade and Back to the Future II and Driving Miss Daisy. Well Star Trek V didn't do all that bad. Course it did come in behind Tango and Cash.

Either way this film is great. And definitly worth another viewing if you have any interest in Star Trek. And if you don't.... well you probably stopped reading a long time ago.

And a quicj mention that despite all the crap Shatner had to but up with.... he really put together and Ambitious film. Even if didn't turn out as well as he or anyone was hoping.

My dad and Shatner have the same sense of humor, the same delivery but most importantly... they look alike. This could have been my dad in college. I just wish I had a pic to compare. :)

The Good Book Song.

Well Aj decided to step up and produce a video of himself singing some song I'd never heard of. But since I thought he might be trying to one up :) I decided I'd take it to the next level.

Do of course, remeber this is all on a Quikcam I bought 6 years ago and I did it with no help. I just propped up the camera and there I went. And I edited it only using Movie Maker that comes with XP. it's not even a high end editor. It's from the film A Mighty Wind... great movie funny song I thought I'd do something stupid to. Only took me a few hours.

You will need Windows Media Player to play it but it's also possible if your player has a media player plugin.

Enjoy.

CLICK HERE!

Matt

The Final Frontier

I'm a middle of the road kinda guy. I see both sides of issues. This all tends to make me a middle of the road democrat. But again I side Republican on this issue of space. And it's true that maybe the Republicans have just said taken this issue and made their's for the year but I love.

I love space. There are answers out there we don't have about the universe. And I take a typically libral view that if we find other people out there (if there ARE other people out there earth would come together. We're microscopic. ) But anyway... I have a passion about this but Lileks beat me to it. And I quote part of it without quoting the whole so click HERE and go read it. I'll be here when you get back.

Good read.... I agree with it. It's not and either or situation. It's not cure cancer OR got to the moon. It's not social security or the moon. It's just more money in space research. Look what NASA has given to us in the past. The list goes on and on. And a lot of this stuff has to gone on to help medical research.

Long live the space program.

In other news, Remember the end of episodes of Full House when Uncle Joey and Danny would sit Michelle and Dj down and teach them the lesson to be learned that week. Well here was my lesson learned this week.

It's a good thing, for both of us, that Jeff is married. For if we not married.... he and I would never do anything but set out two computer up next to each other and play games FOREVER.

This we did. Amy went out of town with baby Sydney and we had a weekend to go out and do what ever we want. And Thursday, that's what we did. Went downtown ate, drank andwatched at the ole Alamo Drafthouse, Bruce Campbell VS. the Army of Darkness. Bruce Campbell at his finest.

After work on Friday we went to get some food (about 2pm) and about 6pm we returned home and I brought my computer over to his house hooked it up and side by side he and i played Galaxies until about 4 in the morning. Went to bed went to work, got off work at midnight and played more Star Wars till about 5. Went to work got off at 2 ate and played again util about 1.

And this is what our life would become if he was not married.

So it's a good thing he is.

Matt

Here's a pic of what we did all weekend.

Yep, that's us and Luke Skywalker. That's Jeff in the Sunglasses. I'm the other guy.... but you knew that all ready.

Ramble

I usually write on Wednesday mornings.... but well, my life was pretty boring since Monday. Except for a tantalizing tidbit that Greg Maddox may POSSIBLY be making his way to the Cubs. Once a Cub always a Cub.

And I almost wrote something on tipping but it didn't come across as well as I hoping so I just scrapped it. Point.... tip nicely. a 15% is average. Anything less is well.... unhelpful.

I did well tonight, though, I wasn't bitching about a bad night.... perhaps because it WAS a good night and I was wondering why they can't all be.

Back to working on my screenplay. It's been tough... I write a beautiful scene and then the next two suck and I wonder.... why can't they all be as good as that one?

I psyche myself out. It's very unhelpful as writer.

And now for the news I promised. I cancelled my cable. Why? Cause it's 60 dollars a month. And, well, that'd be nice to have. You know I'm broke if there's no TV.

So how am I filling my viewing time? I'll tell ya. Aj, in his infinite wisdom, or lack of anything better to get me ;), bought two books. One by Roger Ebert called The Great Movies which basically 100 great movies. Only about 15 of which I've seen. And then the second called 100 Great Movies You've Never Heard Of although I've heard of 25 of them.... I had only actually seen 10... so I'm like "How can I call myself a Movie Guy if I haven't seen these films." So I am. A little movie history for myself. I'm sure a few of them will wander on here. I'll actually save money. Crazy man.

So for now, I recommend the Director's Cut of Almost Famous. What great f#$@ing film this is. Rent it. Buy it. Cameron Crowe said he was going for a feeling. And by god I felt it. In the DC there's a scene where they give her a cake and she finds out she's not going to New York. Aw... you wanna cry. It's so sad.

And now.... your moment of Zen.

Matt

Mondays

I think I got a case of the Mondays.

Just don't want to be up.... don't want to go to work. Just really am quite tired and don't want do anything that doesn't involve a movie, my tv or my computer.

I would really rather just, well, do nothing. This is a growing problem for me but more on that some other day... it's Monday no soul searching allowed. It's time for cheering yourself as you ready to face a work week.

In sad news, however, for all the Cubs/ Cardinals fans out there... Houston went and got themselves another hall of Fame pitcher. Roger Clemens. So now Andy Petite and Roger Clemens are on the Houston roster. This of course is COMPLETELY hellish. For those of you hoping for that three way race last year. Hold up, you'll get it this summer.

So, Houston, who's team was already super last year adds pitching to the team. Something they sorely missed last year. But the Cubs, who I NEED remind you own the NLC last year, also made some greatpick ups for this year. Starting with Derrek Lee formt he Marlins. He played 155 games got a hit in 146 og them and scored 91 runs over the course of the year. With a batting average for the season of .271 Lee is a sorely needed bat for first base since Hee-Sop Choi-to-the-World did not work out as the Cubs had hoped.

With the additiong of LaTroy Hawkins a RHP from the Twins last year with a decent 9-3 record and 1.86 ERA and LHP Kent Mercker with an ERA last year of 2.13 to the bullpen the Cubs staff has made stome great additions to it's staff.

Surely this year will be another spectacular Cubs year.

The biggest problem with our three year race is the Cardinals who haven't done much with their off season. But perhaps this is because there was little to change. However with the depature of Vina the Cards may find a hard time finding someone to play 2b. There other problem is their 5 outfielders consisting of Edgar Renteria, Anderson, Bo Hart, Brent Butler and Rule 5 draftee Hector Luna -- on their Major League roster. It will be impossible to carry all five, so someone will have to go.

On to the Cardinals pitching staff where all I have to do is quote Cardinals.com-- the No. 3 spot remains a question mark. Whether it's Suppan, Carpenter or Marquis, that's a little short of Houston's Andy Pettitte and Chicago's Carlos Zambrano. Don't rule out a major move to bring in another front-line starter, someone to match up with Pettitte and Zambrano, even though that would likely require moving a prominent position player.

Gee, it'd suck if they had to lose Edmonds who has been rumoured to be traded since off season began. Time will tell. And while I'm on the Subject of the Cardinals.... LIKE YOU GUYS NEED ANOTHER STADIUM. Seriously. I like Busch Stadium. But, oh well, only Red Sox and Clubs will stay with our tried and true parks. We love them dearly... just don't add a pool in yours.

How's that for a Monday? Looking ahead toward summer. MMMMMMMM summer. Luckily here in Austin that only means March before the warm air is back for good and more importantly Spring Training.

I have other news but if I type it all now.... I'll have nothing for Wednesday. So tune in Wednesday for all that. But, Believe me it's not worth all this hype.

Matt

And now... your moment of Zen.
I thought for once "Why not mean it?"

Think before I Speak?

I like to talk out of my ass.

Sometimes I just go on these rants about things and then after I do someone a couple of days later will say to me, "You know I was thinking about that conversation we were having the other day and you're right... I'm going to do what you said." Then I have to follow with "Whoa whoa whoa! slow it down.... think about what you're doing."

First of all there are, actually,Sometimes, I think before I speak. Sometimes I give good advice and when people follow it I think... well that was the right move. Sometimes I actually know where of I speak. Especially when people need my opinion on something. "Well, it's just my opinion... I could be wrong." That sort of lets you off the hook. Here's what I think... and if it's wrong it's still you're fault.

Other times I'll talk about paths I should take. And in these instances I am only speaking for myself. But sometimes people apply it their own life. For instance, the other day I was talking about how I was waiting for the perfect woman. Someone funny, hot.... blah blah blah you've all heard it before. "Why settle?" is how I ended it. Two days later this guy walks into work and says, "I was thinking about what you were saying... I think I'm going to dump my girlfriend." A girl he's been dating for like a year! And I'm like, "Don't pay attention to ME. If this thing's working don't drop her cause of what I said. I'M SINGLE. I have been for a while. I'm not the right guy to listen to."

And then sometimes I'm just working on bit. You know, a piece of comedy. I remember in High School I was talking to this girl, who I only sorta new, and I went of this thing about how animalistic the whole sex thing is. The biting and juices and the primitive place you disappear tol. And so I stop realizing there's silence on the other end and I say, "hello?" And in a voice full of tears the girl says "But not if you're in love with somene." I realized I had gone to a place a bit over her head. Someplace she wasn't ready go. A place... less about emotion. So I quicky got out of that convo and don't think I talked to her much after that.

But I was just riffing, just talking about something at the time I had no real knowledge of, and thought was amusing.

It's the knoweledge part to that gets not only me but lots of people into trouble. People ranting about this or that without having all the facts. I think there have been a few blogs here I've written that I wasn't sure I knew all about and probably should have kept my mouth shut on.

But it's amazing how prevelant it is everywhere. People just complaing and talking about stuff they have no idea about and passing themselves off as experts on the subject.

So I think I'll work on thinking before I speak. At least there will be one less A-hole out there.

And only better blogs will come of it.

Matt

The Top News Story

When woke up this morning and logged in, MSN's top story was not Osama, no Pete Rose (which I'll discuss further in a second) but was Britney's quickie marriage and her quickie anullment.

Most of you faithful readers have read that I have declared the end of Britney. This quickie marriage just continues to show how out of control she is. In previous post I mentioned how much she lies. Always. And now more drunken silliness as she gets married in Vega$. According to FoxNews: The chapel staff told the couple they couldn't get married without a license, so they were taken to get a license and driven back to the chapel, where they were married. The official story is that this was an impulse and a "joke taken too far." Well for those of you who haven't been to Vega$, it takes a good half hour to go from one end of the Strip to the other cause the traffic SUCKS. So Britney and her longtime friend, (known from now on as Lucky as you know he prolly banged her on their "wedding night.") So they drove from the Palms on the south side of the stirp all the way down to the north side of the stip, found out they need a license, went and got a license, drove back and got married.

That doesn't sound impulsive to me. And while I'm on the subject of Pop divas I've ALWAYS thought Christina has a better voice. She may have been slutty and easy to poke fun at but her songs have a sincere emotionl depth to them that just don't see in Britney's songs. Her song "Beautful" is awesome and her newest song about her father is very revealing and such a simple video.

Plus, deep down, in parts I don't talk about but a few have seen, I like getting DIRRTY. ;)

Oh and here's a correction I have to make about my Madonna post a few months back you can read it if you figure out how:

Upon rewatching Letterman's interview with Madonna, I realized she was joking when she mentioned her daughter going to a convent. It was to subtle to realize since she was pretty unfunny through most the interview. But my apologies are here. But the rest is all true.

In other News, Pete Rose is finally in admiting he bet on baseball. Not so much I'm shocked, but I'm thinking about his teammates who stood by his side and believed he didn't bet. How betrayed are these guys. Seriously. If it's not obvious from the rant above I hate liars. I hate 'em. And if I was one of his buddies and he told me and swore he never bet, and then 13 years later admits he did. There's a call I'm never taking again.

This guy lied to the world and his friends and thought it would all be okay. But I think he deserves hall of fame coverage. This guy has a few records that amazing including most Career hits EVER. But he should never be allowed back in baseball again. Ever. What team could trust him? Would want to trust him? Except maybe the Cardinals..... hee hee.

All right I'm done this is long enough...

Christina.... just cause how can I talk about two hot chicks and show one of them.

New Years Whoops

Here's how Lileks spent his New Years:

Comforting a dog, finishing off the pizza, breaking out the 18-year old Macallen – this wasn’t what we intended. We were going to have a few friends over, but everyone and their kids fell ill. Ear infections. Nose infections. Throat infections. They sail the sea of phlegm. So it’s just us – Gnat dreaming in her warm bed, Jasper sitting in a corner of the room depressed, and my wife folding laundry while I prowl the channels looking for news on that British Airways plane at Dulles.

This would have seemed like HELL when I was 21. But what does any 21 year old really know about these things? I’m sorry, but there’s a certain comfort in knowing that whatever may happen in tonight, I will not be throwing up in a restaurant sink around 2 AM while waiting for pancakes. Been there, heaved that. I prefer the comforts of home now. The decorations are boxed and the tree’s on the boulevard; there’s still some peppermint bark left. We’re together.

Should have listened to Lileks. I went to Remingtons cause that's where everyone's going to be. I should go there too. Got there about eight a buddy had a table. His girlfirend, so hot, bought us a shot for our reconcilliation. Jager. I drank a couple Bloody Marys, did another shot of Ameretto and beer. Then a drank a beer. My buddy Lucas, back from the Navy I bought him a shot of Liquid Cocaine. This is, Jaeger and Peppermint Schnapps. This turned the tide. I lost some time. I ended up in the bathroom. Puking. Passed out. No one knew where I was. I heard the ball drop. I spent more time in the stall. I then decided this was dumb and walked, drunkenly home. Where I woke up at 8 AM on the floor. Not comfy on a couch, NO, the floor.

I also broke my chain of kissing someone on New Years, I had six years in a row. No luck. Instead I did a stuipd amout of shots and ruined my new year.

I'm an idiot.

Huge.

It's not that I'm old but obviously saying Happy New Year with my friends would be far favorable then being in a bathroom alone... I mean NO ONE else was in there, unless they too were passed out and quiet. I can't drink like I could. I mean like I could six months ago. Well I guess it's about to wrap this up. I never threw up drinking except for New Years 2000 but it was the next day and from Champegne. And now a few shots and couple of Bloody Marys? And I pass out? WHat the...? Well I'm old. In the end that's what it always comes back to. Being old.

I'm sad now.

So Happy New Year. Maybe not kissing someone on New Years will change my luck and make it a good year for once.

Matt

Here's your moment of Zen. Even this makes me sick.