nostatic at all...

And we're in post. But we need footage from the game guys. So cracketh the whip. Oh, and I have to log and transfer the live footage. Unfortunately FCP 6 doesn't want to make it all the way through the batch capture. So all my work of logging and labeling the clips went for naught as I had to default to a mass import via iMovie. Sad when the consumer app is better behaved than the pro app. maybe it is operator error though...

I hope I don't snap before we finish this one.

Sometimes one should just continue to fly under the radar. And in other news, one should be careful who's feet one steps on as they might be attached to someone's butt that needs to be kissed at a later date.

otoh, one only gets somewhere by pushing envelopes. And I'm not talking about across a desk...

Well it was fun while it lasted. Sure, wasn't that long but I take my victories where I can find them. After the first two softball games this season I was 7 for 7 at the plate. Opened game three with a single going to 8 for 8, but for some reason the next time up I pulled the trigger a hair early and popped out. Oh well. A walk and two more singles however added up to a 3 for 4 night so I can't complain. Plus solid plays on a few tough chances at short. Not bad for a 46 year old body...

So I've been waiting since May for a $4K travel reimbursement. For a grant-related project I flew to China. The coach class airfare was covered by the group that wanted me to go, and having made the trip before (and knowing that others in the group would be traveling business), I booked a business class fare, intending to make up the difference of my grant. MY grant from a foundation that is administered by USC (for an overhead fee of course). After delay followed by delay I finally thought we were making headway. Until today when I was informed that "USC does not allow business class travel and will not reimburse." Excuse me? You're telling me that Deans and senior faculty all fly coach on University-related business? Overseas? Right. Well, apparently Deans do get to fly business but I'm not a Dean. True, but this isn't even USC's budget. Bastards. Somebody's going to pay. And it ain't gonna be me...

Some people have too much time on their hands...or maybe not enough.

A lot of people don't know of Little Feat. They maybe have heard "Dixie Chicken," but the band is so much more than that. The usual rock and roll heartbreak stories with the band, but some amazing music. "Long Distance Love" 2:42 of beautiful sorrow.

Ah, hello, give me missing persons, they said
What is it that you need?
I said, oh, I need her so.
She said, you've got to stop your pleading.

Played a wedding on a boat last night. 'Twas for a good friend of Harry's. Was good to get out of the usual rut and make the road trip to San Diego. Beautiful night on the water. Funny to be what appeared to be the only not-paired-off person in the place. I did get to find out that my behavior at the '00 Steely Dan concert has lived on in infamy (I don't like it when people have a conversation about their trip to Mexico during the middle of "Time Out of Mind"). Was fine though...I have the view.

that's all I can say...wow.

And its a palindrome.

Big plans for a big training bang. But a terribly boring meeting for me. Then sorting through some footage because everyone wants footage. But of course no one wants to pay for it. Repeat after me: "I don't do stuff for free anymore..."

OK, I'll say it again. Because I can. Wow.

On another note, chalk one up for age and treachery. Tonight our softball team (not that old...at 46 I'm the oldest guy on the team but we have another 40-something and the rest a smattering of 20-30 year olds) took on a hotshot set of 20-somethings with a 4-1 record who evidently beat us the first game of the season (I was out of town during that game). Well, tonight was a different story. We spanked them 15-9 I think. I missed a game-ending sinking line drive in the bottom of the 7th, making it closer than it should have been (hey, nobody's perfect).

Hey, this could have been your job for the day...somebody decided to run over the fire hydrant outside my office today. Ain't it purty?

I'm no Lowell George. but then again....who is? If not me then who? Why not? Be perilous...

the missing link broken
her lies were so sweet
but what do you need
when your turn is beat
and the news has gone to seed

slide that socket over
strings so silky and jones
would sing into the night
cold feeling in my bones
dancing alone was such a sight

i seem to get what i need
despite my best intentions
no matter what i do or say
waves crashing surly inventions
dear, do you mind if i stay?

it's not about me
or about you either
don't look too deep
or read between
the lines in my face
they leave no trace
just feeling the space
around three octobers

tired of hearing jive
shucking empty oysters
or holding court
raise your left hand
and pledge undying
love without crying
the mirror isn't lying
about three octobers

is this the one that
sticks and leaves no
stone unturned and
shines a light on all
the darkest corners
touching the mourners
joining beautiful foreigners
between three octobers

Watching Layer Cake tonight. Someone mentioned that I look like Daniel Craig. Hmm, not sure I see it. I don't feel like a drug dealer or Bond for that matter...

Watching "Standing in the Shadows of Motown." Great stuff, and a study in pop music history. Too bad that James Jamerson died young...he was a monster. Time to put down the computer and pick up the bass and play.

Well, getting it from all sides these days. Ever feel like a balloon being squeezed? Amazing how it can deform in response to pressure...right up until it explodes.

Ok, so is it less pressure, less air, or a bigger balloon? Why do I feel like a 5th Dimension song?

Funny how the more things change...the more they change. Hey, I'm a director. Now to execute my directorial vision. Unfortunately it requires a ton of work. Could be worse.

For some reason I felt compelled to watch the final two Sopranos episodes. Interesting how my eye has changed. The more things change...but the whole Meadow not being able to part and cut to black is still bullshit. Complete bullshit. Remind me never to insult my audience like that...

It never ceases to amaze me how uptight some guys can be on the softball diamond. Maybe it is just my age or experience or my personality (or all of the above). But I'm about as laid back as you can get (except of course about my own performance, but I've gotten a lot better about that as well). I'm always the guy joking with the umpire and trying to chat up the other team. But these guys tonight...many of them older than the 20-somethings of last week but perhaps more surly. I couldn't get the 3rd baseman or SS to talk to me to save my life. The SS kept looking at me with that, "you're the enemy...I don't talk to THE ENEMY." Geez...it's a stupid softball game.

I'm under the weather and played like it. 2-4 night at the plate and a few rough times in the field (I'll have a bruise on my chest from a mis-played hard grounder). But the highlight was my acting. In the field one of their guys hit a single and tried to stretch it into a double. I took the throw at second and did a sweep tag (he didn't slide). I might have lightly brushed him, but I totally "sold" the tag...after the sweep I turned to the 1st base umpire (who is responsible for the call) and make a big motion showing him that the ball was still in my glove. As if I tagged him so hard that the ball might have been dislodged but I still had it. He called him out. Heh...age and treachery...

The next step in an interesting path? Indeed it would seem...pitching but not on the sandlot. Will it pan out? I guess we'll have to see. Need to solve the transformation aspect. If we can do that, I think it is a done deal. Here's hoping. Now, back to plotting the next move...

OK, I wish I could remember who recommended Garden State to me. Because I'd smack them, and give them a bill for time lost. Egad, that movie SUCKED. It started off as self-indulgent and ended as a bad parody of bad parodies. I like Zapf Brannigan, um, er, I mean Zach whateverhisnameis. I have like Scrubs since it came out. But I really don't care for Natalie Portman...as soon as I see her onscreen a little bile comes up in my throat. Visceral reaction to the recent Star Wars movies. But I digress. Well, not really. She was part of why it SUCKED.

Now to watch some F1 to cleanse my poor abused palette. I have Lawrence of Arabia in the wings but not sure I'm up for that. And the Infernal Affairs trilogy is waiting for me at the post office. So things are looking up.

A man on a mission. That was me. Maybe it is the delusions of grandeur or pitching hangover, but for whatever reason there was no way I could watch my new DVDs on my old small (20") tv. So after some trips back and forth, a little research, and finally an impulse last-minute buy, it was a Panasonic 42" plasma that ended up in the apartment. A quick setup (I was a cable installer after all) and Infernal Affairs was on tap and downright beautiful. Now I can actually see what shots I want to steal. I mean be inspired by.

Well, what good is big picture if you have small sound? Here's I'm a sound professional and musician, yet I've never come close to owning a surround sound setup. Hell, I don't even have a subwoofer. Well, until tonight. So after another quick setup and some tweaking of settings, it was Kung Fu Hustle in big, beautiful glory. Good gawd, what a gorgeous film.

Another meeting with the editor today. The piece is coming together, but still needs a lot of my "directorial" vision. Heh. I said vision. I don't know what that means...

It started with me just doing voiceover as the "ICT Scientist." Then we figured we needed a face to match the voice. So we setup a typical documentary shot and I went on camera. Then we figured that in fact I should talk to camera. Well, that's all well and good but I'm not going to memorize a tons of lines. Ah, but we have a teleprompter. Ok. Now to set it up...wait, where's the freakin' video cable?

An hour later it is found, and we're off and rolling. Despite phlegm in the chest (too much smoke in the air?) I did a couple of reads. We'll see how it turns out...

Back during grad school I bought a softball bat. Loved that thing...34" 30 oz signature model...Todd somebody. Anyway, kept it all these years until last season when I left it at the field and of course it disappeared. Right after Calvin had done a custom tape job. I ended up buying a new one but couldn't find a 30 oz one so had to settle for 28 oz. I can't complain as I hit .700 or so last season (my first season back) and was hitting almost .800 this season, starting out going 7 for 7. But tonight, lo and behold, I see this familiar bat against the fence. Yes, it made a comeback. Eric on our team had found it as it was left by another team. I tried it my 3rd and 4th at bat (single off the handle the first time, pop out the second time), then went back to my lighter bat. Turns out I might have a little less upper body strength than I had back then. Hmm...well, either get back to the gym or keep using the 28 oz bat.

In the name of safety, upgraded to a full cage in the 911. I didn't have time to paint the raw steel, so instead just installed all the padding. 2 hours later...well, at least if I bonk my head it won't hurt as much. Tomorrow Calvin and I load up the car and head north to Sonoma. Staying with Don and his family in Petaluma and racing Saturday and Sunday at Infineon. I hope 2nd gear cooperates...

Packed and on the road again. This time with the boy in tow and in the 911 heading north for a weekend of racing at Infineon. We're staying with friend Don and his family in Petaluma, and the hospitality is great. Calvin gets to hang with Don's son Curtis...the older brother he never had. Today was a long day, hitting the 405 around 10am and rolling into Petaluma a little after 5pm. Some nasty traffic up in the bay area...LA does not have a corner on that market. Now to get some sleep before an early alarm...

Well, an eventful day. In both good and bad ways. The alarm went off at 6am and it was rude. Especially for Calvin as he'd been up until about 10:30 playing video games with Curtis. We grabbed a quick bagel and some coffee (well, I got coffee) and headed to Infineon. In the pitch black. And no front defroster. Oh well, such is life...

A very long day, but for all the right reasons. The alarm was a bit later (6:30am), and thankfully no incidents in the morning session. The track wasn't a slick as Saturday, it was warmer, and the car felt good except for the failing syncros in 2nd and 3rd gear. I was starting to feel better about the track and figuring out some places to pick up time. Mike and I were running very close although in yesterday's race even though I beat him in the race, he was over a second faster than me in lap times, breaking below 2:00. I've never run that fast at Infineon.

Little Feat on shuffle play, not so much for me but for a friend having a bad job day.

I've been down, but not like this before
Can't be 'round this kind of show no more

All, all that you dream
Comes through shinin' silver lining
Clouds, clouds change the scene
Rain starts washing all these cautions
Right into your life, makes you realize
Just what is true, what else can you do
You just follow the rule
Keep your eyes on the road that's ahead of you

fry fry frazzle frazzle

that's about it in a nutshell