The Alchemist

(Thanks, Wil!)

I shot another commercial today. And, of course, although I had the script prepared and memorized, I came as always ready for anything… because “anything” is often what happens!

Indeed, I showed up all set for a shot with my “wife and kids”. I was the first one there, so just wandered around a little, checked out the little set they had in their studio, and asked about my “family.” As it turns out, the kids had been cut from the shot. (Oh well, but no real problem there - they didn’t have lines anyway and although I really love kids, the more people in the shot, the more complicated everything tends to get.) So it was to be just me and the “wife”…. so we waited for her…. and waited… but she didn’t show. Thankfully, the director decided not to wait any longer and said we’d just shoot without her.

So we shot our little “family” shot with just me on camera and the director reading my “wife’s” lines from behind the camera. Despite having done this before, it still strikes me as fairly funny to be standing there in front of a camera with nothing but a green wall behind me pretending my “wife” is there with me. Thankfully once post is done I won’t look like a lonely, crazy dude talking to himself anymore. No sir! I’ll be standing in someplace I’ve never been, chatting to a wife I’ve never seen, let alone met…

Hehe. I love this job!

Having spent the last week and a half sniffling after a particularly nasty cold, I am acutely aware of articles on colds. So, while it’s too late for me on this one - for future reference and as a public service to you… well, let me put it the way my kids would:

Echinacea rules! Vitamin C drools.

Hehe.

Hey! I just got back this morning from visiting my parents and sisters in Florida this last weekend! It’s always nice to have a chance to reconnect with family that’s so far away - but especially fun when we’re celebrating both my and my sister Naomi’s birthday! All because of a little initiative and plane ticket - both courtesy of my sister Shari! Thanks! And thanks to everyone for the fun in Jacksonville and St. Augustine! I love you all!

Oh, one more thing: Here’s a little quote I just saw that’s apparently used at West Point as a charge to the cadets:

RISK more than others think is safe.
CARE more than others think is wise.
DREAM more than others think is practical.
EXPECT more than others think is possible.

Fantastic advice! I will do that!

Happy birthday to me!

I just learned that a photo of me has made it’s way to the front page of the Indy.org web site! Check it out!