Taking Off, Eh!

Off to camp for a week, so I won't post again until next weekend. Wish me luck - I got a lot of stuff to get my head together about.

See ya in a week.

Dave the Gone

Post-Filming Recap

OK, so I promised I'd recap how the filming went today, so here it is... though I have to admit, at this point, my feelings are mixed about it.

The drive up was about 2 hours, and gave me plenty of time to go over things in my head. I'm glad I did, since it gave me a chance to get my story together. I wasn't sure what was going to be covered, really, or if I'd be asked for the quick version and rushed out after ten minutes... so I pondered a lot of different possible questions and directions the conversation could go - and I'm glad I did, since we covered all of it, and more. We sat outside of the directors' home in this small, pretty walkway between two quiet rows of apartments, with the camera man, and, after setting the gear up, getting good sound going, fixing the white balance, and applying the right filters, we just chatted for about an hour. It was surprisingly relaxing.

He asked a bit about my background and my day job, then segued into how/why I started this blog, and then smoothly transitioned into the events surrounding the day I went to the mall to film that hot dog eating qualifier. I tried my best to be pleasant, interesting, entertaining, well-spoken, etc., when I thought of it, but really, most of the time we just chatted in a friendly, relaxed manner... which is where the mixed feelings start to come in.

Frankly, I don't remember everything I said. Not that it matters much, since through the magic of clever editing, I can be made to say just about anything. They seemed trustworthy and professional, I'm not saying I don't trust them. Yet as we chatted, it became clear that the tone of the film will be rather critical of the organization that runs competitive eating, and that made me a bit nervous. I am about as casual a fan as one can be, when you boil it down... and I really don't want to be presented in any way that makes it seem like I have any sort of legitimate opinion about the industry in general, or the governing body specifically. I'm just a random, detail-ignorant fan who happened to capture video of one of the industry "stars" cheating. That doesn't make me anything at all, beyond a curiosity, really.

So, I'm kind of nervous about how I'll be presented. There are a lot of passionate people in this realm of competitive eating, and I don't want to be used as a tool to further stir the pot, so to speak. That's all.

Again, I trust these guys, so far as one can trust people one has just met. Still, it's clear that they are privy to far more detail about the behind-the-scenes stuff, and the players and politics than I, and so I just don't know what to expect. They seemed very pleased with the footage they got, and the way I presented myself, and were grateful for my participation (just as I was very grateful for the opportunity). And likely, this is just me worrying too much, and making a lot out of nothing.

Still, part of me hopes you all forget about it for now, and that I could get a quiet chance to view the movie first before you all get to see it, just in case I've inadvertently embarrassed myself by stepping into the middle of something that I had no business messing with.

We finished up by going inside and watching the footage that I shot, and they filmed me doing some running commentary as the footage played. It was a bit awkward, but I see why they'd want to do it.

He said they were aiming for a late-August release, and that it will be in festivals, and hopefully in theaters for people to see. Apparently, it is going to be a big deal. Which makes me doubly-nervous. I don't want to come across as anything but a casual fan who happened to catch something controversial on tape, and not someone slamming the industry or particular people, as though I had a clue about any of it. That's why I wish I could better remember everything I said. I think I'm good. As a rule, I try not to say anything about a person that I wouldn't also say if the person was before me in the flesh.

In all, I was done in about 90 minutes or so. And in all the excitement, I didn't remember to take any pictures to post here. I had my camera in my pocket the whole time. I was just caught up in it all. It really was fun, and I'm glad I did it... I'm just concerned about how things will play out, and how I will be perceived when it's all edited together. If I come across poorly, I will be grossly embarrassed... so I don't want to hype it all up here, have you all run out to see it, and then have you be puzzled/disappointed... I'd rather make sure I'm happy with it, and then "remind" you about it... "Oh, yeah, guys, remember that movie? Yeah, it's cool, go see it, eh!"

Anyway, what's done is done. All that remains now is trust (in the director/producer) and patience. We'll see how it plays out.

Dave the Ambivalent

A Typical Wandering Mishmash

Short post tonight. Hope you don't mind. Both of you, I mean...

So, I played hookie from work again on Thursday, and went to see Super8 in the theater. It's good, mindless popcorn-chomping summer movie fare, I recommend it. Don't think too hard about the script, though, or you could easily get sucked into one of the gaping plot holes...

But before I went to see it, I sat in Panera with my mini-laptop and made an interesting discovery. I was going to fire it up so I could journal for a while, just to get some stuff off my chest, that I can't write about here in this blog. I went to create a new file, but inadvertently hit "open" instead, and the window that popped up had some of my journal files from last year in it. So, I clicked one from last May (2010) and started reading it. I kid you not... everything I was going to unload into a new journal entry was already written in the one from last year...

I'm stuck in the same stuff.

I only started writing in the webbook last year, so I couldn't go back further into the archived journals... but I bet if I pulled up some of my files from my desktop, from two, three, four years ago, I might make a similar discovery. I'm afraid to look. So I didn't write anything at Panera. In a mild fit of anger mixed with disappointment, I shut the thing off and went to a movie. I bought a $6 matinee ticket, then thought I could use some water, so I went up to the concession stand and bought a bottle... for $5.25! Are you kidding me? $5.25 for a bottle of water? I figured for that price, it must make me younger, stronger and better looking, so I took a chance...

I should have bought two...

So, yeah, I'm a bit bummed. As usual, trying to find that balance between being grateful for the wonderful blessings in my life, and deciding how (and if) it's possible to change the things about me and my life that grate on my soul. But I know you've heard this song before, so I shall shift gears...

So, I'm going up Saturday to LA to do the filming for that documentary on competitive eating. No idea how it will play out, but I'll go up with an open mind and try and stoke up my lackluster sense of adventure. I'll try to get a picture or two of the proceedings, and make a post Saturday night. Hopefully, it will be memorable and/or interesting enough to write about here in some detail. Then I'm off to camp with Middle Daughter for a week.

You'll survive without me somehow, I'm sure... both of you...

Check out these cool fold-down bookshelves...

Honestly, I have mixed feelings about them. Aside from the novelty of the idea and the apparently nice execution, not sure, not sure...

I may like this idea better...

A custom-built staircase/bookshelf combo. It's a nice way to make use of normally-unused space, and a good solution for storing all those books that get bought with the best of intentions, but never end up being read.

That reminds me, I was in the tub last night, with iPad on, and wanted to watch something using my NetFlix app while I soaked away my angst. I have 126 titles in my Watch Instantly queue that I could have watched. I swear, I spent ten minutes slowly scrolling through, contemplating, and dismissing every single title on that list, before finally picking a kung-fu flick at random to watch ten minutes of. Every one of those titles I added to the queue at some point, like that bookshelf reference above, with every intention of watching them with great interest. Some of those have been in my queue for YEARS.

I wonder what the dynamics are, behind that? I wonder if it's just me that does that (or if both of you do it also). I do it with games as well. Buy them with every intention of playing them... then promptly file them away and forget about them... then when I see them, I shrug my shoulders and say, "someday... but not now."

Speaking of games...

This is called "Democratic Chess"...

As you capture an enemy piece, you assimilate it, combining it (and it's attributes) with the piece that captured it. So if a rook captures a bishop (for example) it is now a hybrid piece that moves like a rook and a bishop. As you can see, the pieces are stack-able. A pawn-knight combo would be an interesting piece...

Here's a video of a polar bear going ninja on a seal... it's worth the watch, stay with it, it's cool...



I love the moment at 2:13.... classic... that film crew either had camera equipment with ridiculous zoom levels, or they got right up on the action... how they avoided becoming lunch instead of the seal is beyond me...

Ah, well, so much for a short post tonight... guess I just needed to wander. Thanks for reading it, if you got this far.

Dave Meander

Artless Dodging, Acting and More Acting...

Greetings, everyone! Wow, look at that sky! And that ocean! And those cool red flowers, eh? I'm trying to deceive you all! Will it work?

I am now going to attempt an experiment. I shall pretend all is normal and well in my world, and make a blog post as though the world is right, and everything is in its place... that rumbling you hear? It is not a volcano threatening to erupt...

A quick diversion! Like a PRO!

Logan and his wife had their baby! Woohoo! First a wedding (V&R) and now a new baby. Most excellent. Babies are treasures and miracles, all rolled up into a wonderful little bundle of love and diapers. I am happy for Logan... go over to his blog, eh, and check out the pictures of little Avonlea Brynn Stewart.

Being a dad is the accomplishment on my 'life resume' that I am most proud of. I'm lucky to have my kids!

Of course, not everyone likes little kids...



I think they need to feed those lions more frequently at that zoo, eh?

So there will be a flurry of activity around the ol' Wagner Household in the coming weeks... school officially ends on Wednesday for the Wagner Women, which means beach season will be kicking off poste haste. Although, from what I understand, their favorite spot at the beach has been eroded away, so they'll have to find a new place to go, eh? Mags is bummed, but they'll manage.

Sister-in-law is coming for a long weekend as well, so we'll have a house guest, which is always good for a mild uproar, a few laughs and some familial angst. Then it's Father's Day on Sunday, with all the weirdness that will bring this year (for reasons I won't elaborate on... see "volcano reference"), and then the next day, Middle Daughter and I leave for Church Camp. Then the Wagner Women are off to ALBQ for a couple weeks. Then we get the house recarpeted (downstairs), Middle Daughter has a birthday, and finally, we see the ortho about getting braces started.

Was just going to get Middle Daughter braces, but I think I might look into getting them as well. I'm tired of being a snaggletooth. It's from all that coffee I drink... I mean, coffee cake I eat... I mean...

... well... both!

Not sure if I'll be able to squeeze in a LAN party while the Wagner Women are gone, like last time. The last LAN wasn't really all that successful. Yanni wasn't able to attend, and neither was Vye, so we lacked a strong choleric personality to drive the LAN through to completion. There was too much, "So, what should we play, eh?" "I don't know, what do you want to play?" "Whatever you want."

It fizzled. But at least the sandwiches were good!

It was my mom's birthday today! Happy Birthday, Mom! She does so much for me and the Wagner Chicks, it boggles my mind. I know a lot of great, generous, loving people (some of whom read this blog!), but I'm sorry, as wonderful as they are, no one can come close to matching my mom. She's my fave.

And now, ladies and gentlemen, a moment I have been waiting months and months for. In fact... since Feb 18th, to be exact.... I found the following picture, saved it to my archive, knowing that someday, I would be able to use it... and today is that day. OK, ready?

So, yeah, like, I saw a film recently that really blew my mind...

Thank you! Thank you, ladies and gentlemen! That has been so long in waiting to make it's appearance here, it has lost all pretense of cleverness and humor, and was stale from the outset! Woohoo!

Anyway, I saw an amazing movie that I got from Netflix, called "Biutiful" starring Javier Bardem. His performance was really incredible. It's a foreign film (Spanish), with subtitles. I would do a full-on review of it, were it not for the fact that there are a couple scenes that are best fast forwarded. I hate that! When a scene or two prevents me from fully recommending a movie! But again, the writing and the acting are truly top-notch. I was extremely moved.

Javier's character plays a man in a shady line of work, who is divorced, and a single dad... and finds out he has cancer and a couple months to live. The film is basically his character trying to come to grips with that, and make certain things right before he goes, with decidedly mixed results. For a variety of reasons best left un-elaborated upon (because they'd be tedious for you to read), I wept like a schoolgirl. Very moving.

In fact, here's the trailer. Not too crazy about the trailer, since the first 49 seconds of it is just rapid-fire montage imagery, but after that, the trailer settles down and gives a good idea of what the film is like.



Incredible acting. There's nothing like a great performance to remind me of why I love acting.

So, yeah, that film blew my mind!

OK, well, lemme post a comic strip, and then leave this "epic dodge" of a post behind...

That's from the webcomic "Left-Handed Toons (by Right-Handed People)". Yes, it's absurd... but you should know by now that I have a thing for absurdity.

OH, where I could take THAT topic right now!!!

But I won't.

Adios

Dave the Artless Dodger