Monday, June 30, 2008

Monday June 29, 2008

It was a pretty full weekend all things considered. Nothing too exciting, but very domestic. I spent both nights doing some freelance work; providing a facelift for a godawful children's book that a failed wirter/director/PA is trying to get off the ground. The writing alone will set literacy back 50 years.

Saturday I completely regressed back to high school. I spent the day at the beach shooting photos, listening to some playlists I made on my iPod of 80's music and doing some bodysurfing. I think it's been more than 3 years since I've been in the ocean. Sad, really, considering I live so close and really like swimming.

Ran Into Phil which was funny though not unexpected. I don't know why I thought I might see him, just sometimes I get a feeling. We're still in that awkward getting a feel for each other stage but, to paraphrase him, "He's good people" and a bit inspirational to me.

Sunday had a bit of excitement. I came home after running errands most of the day to find a note under the mat that my [adopted] cat had been bleeding from the mouth and the neighbor was worried. His former owner had taken him into his apartment and reported that, although he had no visible wounds, it looked like he'd been attacked by a dog. According to Tony, Rhet [the cat] was covered in slobber and did have blood on and around his mouth.

Try as I might I couldn't and still can't find and wounds. After I got back from work last night I noticed that Rhet was uncharacteristically needy; he followed me around the apartment and would climb on my lap every chance he could. It was late anyway, so I just stopped what I was doing and decided to curl up in bed with him.

I notice this morning that he's moving a little slowly and favoring his back right leg a bit. That doesn't worry me as much as the fact that he seems to be drooling quite a bit [unusual for him] and hasn't touched his food this morning.

I'm starting to realize that though I grew up with a cat, I'm woefully unprepared to take care of one. I think I may have to figure out a way to get him to a vet for a checkup, at least for my piece of mind. Not, mind you, that I need this kind of expense right now. Ugh.

Saturday, June 28, 2008

Good with Service People

I'm constantly amazed at how easy it is to get to know people. To get behind their shields and have real conversations with people. Case in point, I just finished having a conversation with a guy at a place down the street. He's a 49 year old pensioner living in Bangkok, Thailand. I walked away with his name, U.S. and Thai contact numbers and we talked for over 2 hours.

I remember distinctly being on one of those drunk cruises in Cabo San Lucas and while my erstwhile partner in crime spent his time trying to get somewhere with two young women on the boat, I was in the back talking to an elderly couple on vacation from Colorado. We left the boat and while he had a case of blue balls, I had an invitation to stay anytime with them at their house in Colorado Springs, some phone numbers and a lasting impression that while my friend was a jackass, I reminded them of the way the wish their son could be.

Some of my friends came to saying something of the sort of, "Oh, Scott, he's good with service people." Really, it's just that I treat them like people; I ask about them, their families and how they are doing in their lives. It's amazing how far a simple act like this can get you. I've received everything from free food and drink to invitations to stay with them on vacation.

Now, I don't want to be disengenuous about this. I'm actually very interested and involved in the conversations that I have. I don't enter into anything with any ulterior motive beyond general curiosity. I love meeting new people and finding out about them and their experiences. It's the sense of the new and novel that compels me. But I find that in general the more open that you are, the more open they will be. I've learned so much about the world and about other cultures just from being open to spirited conversation from Taxis that it's crazy. Although I've forgotten most of it, I've learned phrases in Uzbekh, Armenian and Pakistani from cab drivers. I used to take phonetic notes on the back of business cards and napkins.

It seems to me that the world would be much better off if people were more open and understanding to these kind of interactions.

Of course, the bonus is that I get a lot of free shit, so that's not all that bad either, is it?

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Miami Vice S1 Ep4:

More shirtless Don Johnson than I can handle. Pointer Sisters "I'm So Excited" on the soundtrack!

Miami Vice S1 Ep5:

Paul Michael Glaser (Starsky) directed. Best so far. Long stylish shots w/nothing but music. Solid Ruggiero/Surnow script

Miami Vice S1 Ep6:

Ultimately a forgettable episode after Ep4-5 two parter. Dennis Farina guest spot is the only highlight.

Miami Vice S1 Ep7:

Picks up the slack left from last ep. Crocket has to convince an abused wife to stay with a violent criminal [Bruce Willis] to keep the investigation alive. The freeze-frame at the end reinforces why the show was so good forit's time.