and waved them in

WEEKEND RECAP

Friday
Dinner at my beloved Canterbury with Dom, Faye and Andrew. We were all very tired and planned to make an “early” night of it, but somehow that never quite works out. Probably continuing to order beer doesn't help either. We may or may not have pissed off the staff of the Canterbury when we encouraged Andrew to inquire as to why his juke box selections were cut off. Turns out they have the power to skip tracks if they are so inclined and when it comes to Phil Collins and Cream, they ARE so inclined. The delightful Shawna (sp?) gave Andrew his dollar back and we tipped her extremely well in order to make amends (just in case she was more annoyed than she let on). Can't be burning our bridges at The Local.
We returned to mine and Dom's, slightly tipsy and forced Andrew to watch our short films and listen to Tickle Me Emo. It was that kind of night. Then we broke out the new “80's power ballads” karaoke cd's that I purchased. Derek joined us after a while and did a heart-wrenching rendition of “Everybody Wants to Rule The World”. I can't remember what anyone else sang because at that point, 3 beers has turned to 6 (or 7). Meanwhile, Faye was fighting narcolepsy on the couch. Early night, indeed.

Saturday
We (being Dom, Faye, Sherrard, Dan and me) loaded up the car and headed up to Bellingham for the Projections Film Festival at which two of my shorts, the lovely Slavka Kolbel's (6SFP fame) and the talented (and baby soft) Daniel Purcell's films were playing. We sat through 4 hours of several good films (and a few…well, if you can't say anything nice…) After that we were exhausted and hungry. We had initially planned to go to a very El Toro-like establishment called “La Pinata” (which means The Pinata). Turns out, it was a little TOO El Toro-like in that it was out of business. No mexican food and karaoke for us! (Which is probably good because we were still a little sick from some really sub-par Mount Vernon Taco Bell. Yes, it was actually WORSE than Taco Bell-quality.) We entertained visiting “Taco Lobo” (meaning Wolf Taco) or La Casa Que Pasa (meaning The House of What's Up) but we decided instead to get pizza and cut our losses. On the way we got yelled at by two passing cars in a row! (What are the odds?). The first were girls shouting something about a flower. The second was a pickup truck full of (I'm assuming) frat boys who yelled something to us about being foreigners and going back to where we came from. (I blame them for that awkward diction). Anywho, we ate our foreign asses some pizza and then retreated to our hotel rooms at the Rodeway Inn (past tense of “Ride”), ate pie and were in bed by midnight. It was that kind of night.

Sunday
We decided not to stay for the awards ceremony, as it would have gotten us back home very late. I will let you know if we won anything. I'm not holding my breath though. My good friend DJ won an award for best in category though! (The Category was
“Pure Schlock”. Doesn't sound terribly flattering, I know :) Congrats DJ!
Instead we ate a delicious breakfast and hit the road back home (resisting the temptation of first visiting the hemp museum). I forced everyone to listen to my cheesy road trip mixes. We arrived home around 1:00 in time for me to go to yoga! I am trying to cram as much yoga in as possible before my surgery. It's difficult though being that I'm so busy. The temptation to get lazy about exercise is very strong. Must resist…

Anywho, the weekend wasn't as adventure-ridden as I'd predicted, but it was fun nonetheless. And now…The Working Week!

November 8, 2004
Categories: Dear Diary . . Author: Baxter . Comments: Leave a comment

Don't cry daddy

Ok. After two days of paralysis, I'm back. And here's what I've decided: Despite the fact that a horribly evil man has once again taken leadership of this country, I still (perhaps naively) feel that if things get REALLY bad (I mean REALLY) there are enough of us liberals out there that we we can band together and just mother-effing RIOT in the streets. I don't know what that will do, if anything. But I'm still pretty proud of what we did during the W.T.O. And even if THAT doesn't help repair ANY of the damage that Bushy is going to do in this country during his regime, we can at least be confident in the fact that there will probably be a whole lot of good rock music made that is political as hell. It can be just like the sixties! Only this time the Bob Dylans and the Phil Ochs's will have electric guitars (and not in that crappy way)! And maybe the liberals will smell a little bit better!
I'm just trying to see the bright side here, people. There HAS to be one…hasn't there?

In other news, we are going to Bellingham this weekend because two of my shorts (as well as Slavka's short from the 6SFP) are going to be in the Projections Film Festival! This is actually kind of a big deal because this festival gets a fair amount of exposure and important people go to it. (Not as many as SIFF, of course…but STILL). So I'm excited. I'm also excited about this bar up in Bellingham that is a mexican restaurant/karaoke bar. Those of you from Tacoma might remember the beloved El Toro which boasted the same features and was the stomping ground for a lot of our misspent college days. I have tremendously fond memories of El Toro and was utterly devastated when I stumbled upon its smoldering remains one sunny summer day. Anywhosel, I am hoping that this La Pinata will be at least 1/10 the fun that El Toro was. (Or at least that they will have free chips and salsa. {{{Homer Simpson noise}}}. I will be aided in this mission by the charismatic , the lovely , the superfun and the moustachy Dan.
I'll regail you will tails upon my return! In the meantime, happy Friday!
I'm gonna go listen to folk music and get riled up!

PS: I just want to say that Dominic Monaghan is a fine actor and Charlie is the only character on “Lost” thus far that has elicited an emotional response from me. And I'm not just talking about “down there”.

November 5, 2004
Categories: Dear Diary, I Made Movies, Poly-tics . . Author: Baxter . Comments: Leave a comment

Massive dlck in action!!

I have no words for what has happened. All I know is that I am terrified for this country and for myself. This is a dark day.

November 3, 2004
Categories: Dear Diary, Poly-tics . . Author: Baxter . Comments: Leave a comment

bubble bath 49 dissidents

WEEKEND RECAP (To forget about life for a while)

Friday
Had a quiet evening in at Faye's house wherein we watched Martin (George Romero's fun vampire effort) and ate delicious pumpkin pie. Ale and Pie is always a good idea, even if, as Americans, we get it slightly wrong.

Saturday

We had some interviews at Vita for SDBSD ( update later today). Found some more good folks. Then we putzed around and began to get ready for the party. Dom dressed as Ash, Faye and I were Beavis and Butthead, Jacob was Patrick Bateman (of COURSE) and Sherrard was Donnie Darko. And OH, the party! We arrived around 9:00 and began singing straight away. I sang a bunch of songs I've never sung before including “Science Fiction/Double Feature” (from Rocky Horror)with Gene, “More Than Words” with and “Feed Me” (from Little Shop of Horrors) with ! I especially enjoyed singing the showtunes because I have always wanted to be talented enough to be in a musical and beer gives me the delusions that I am!
Costume highlights as Courtney Love and Andrew as Stanz from Ghostbusters! Hopefully, Dom will upload the pictures soon!
Around 4am I became vaguely aware that I was really tired. We gathered up the troops and headed home.

SundayIt's a good thing we had that extra hour of sleep because, well, let's just say my old bones aren't as resilient as they used to be. I spend almost ALL of Sunday completely wrecked. Sherrard was kind enough to bring me some gatorade, which helped a bit, but mostly, I couldn't get up off the couch. I was out of my pajamas for all of an hour when I went to the grocery store. Yikes! I feel pretty guilty about not making it to yoga, especially since I've only been making it once a week anyway. I'M TOO BUSY!!! I plan to MAKE time to go twice a week 6 weeks prior to my surgery though because who knows when I will be able to get back in there after that. I'll be damned if I turn back into cookie dough! I'll be damned. Because everyone will want to eat my delicious cookie limbs.

I'm off to find other ways to distract myself for the next several hours.

November 2, 2004
Categories: Dear Diary, I Made Movies . . Author: Baxter . Comments: Leave a comment

what makes you so nervous?

If I may quote Bill The Cat, “ACK!”

I can't take it! It's only 9:00 and I'm already FREAKING OUT. Everywhere I turn there's someone talking about the election. Luckily, living in Seattle as I do, most of it is liberal chatter. Pat Cashman is making light of it on the radio with a re-working of “Bohemian Rhapsody”. There's “fun” little blurbs and things all over the place. Zach Galifianakis sent his newsletter subscribers a plea to vote for Dukakis. (But in all seriousness to vote Kerry, obviously). Nonetheless, I am TERRIFIED and I feel like I should just lock myself in a sensory deprivation chamber until later tonight to avoid having a panic attack. Especially when I think about Faye's (hopefully not prophetic) freudian slip uttered last night wherein she called tomorrow “The Day After America”.

In the meantime, if you voted absentee, you can check to see if they received your ballot heyah. I checked mine days ago. It says they received it so I've done all I can do.

November 2, 2004
Categories: Uncategorized . . Author: Baxter . Comments: Leave a comment

descendant ravish opacity

Grrrraaarrg!
It is insanely busy here today. (I should clarify by saying that I am insanely busy). I've not taken my break yet. When I do, I shall have to do a post office run so it won't be entirely a break. I am not pleased.
I want to talk all about the weekend but it will have to wait till tomorrow. Which is probably good because I will need to distract myself with happy thoughts. I was unable to eat lunch today because my stomach was all a-flutter.
That is all for now.
Back into hell like Meat Loaf.

November 1, 2004
Categories: Uncategorized . . Author: Baxter . Comments: Leave a comment

arrowhead advisor incubi

Today is Halloween in offices everywhere. Here only Lil D. and myself dressed up. I dressed up as Mary Katherine Gallagher (Superstar!). I will try to post a picture later if I can figure out how. We were a part of a company-wide costume contest that was clearly rigged as only the popular people in Portland won. But ah well. The REAL Halloween party will be on Saturday and it will rule! (And I will be wearing a DIFFERENT COSTUME!)

I am also annoyed because my work load is gradually getting unmanageable. I keep getting stuck with these HUGE time-consuming projects and I barely have enough time to do my own job. I mentioned before that I asked for that raise because I felt like I wasn’t paid enough for the work I was doing. So I got my little raise and my workload tripled. I never even have time to take my breaks anymore. I am going to talk to the boss man again after my one year anniversary in February. (My one-year FULL time anyway. I’ve already been here a year.)

I am also tired as hell because things with the film are filling up my evenings. I’m pretty much going from 7am to 11pm every day. There’s enough work to do for the film to fill up an 8 hour day easily. I wish wish WISH it were my day job. Soon, I hope, for the sake of myself and my co-workers who might die a horrible bloody death at my disgruntled hand.

Tonight I plan to watch a movie and go to bed early. Rockin’ Friday night, I know. But I NEED to rest, if for no other reason than to be able to party that much harder tomorrow at the House of Fun. But I probably also need to rest for the sake of my health or some junk. Saturday will be HUGE. It might also be the party of the century because who knows if the world will end on Tuesday night. I am prepared for the apocalypse. I have my Buffy-style trunk full of weapons all ready to go.

In the meantime, I gotta update these goddamned spreadsheets.

October 29, 2004
Categories: Dear Diary, I'm Working . . Author: Baxter . Comments: Leave a comment

archipelago chore

Yesterday I stayed home from work because I had been up most of Monday night with pretty awful stomach pains. I won't go into the gross details, but I will say that it was related to IBS. Which sucks my ass.

I always hate going to work after being absent because there is usually a HUGE inconsiderate pile of work waiting for me on my desk. Today was no exception. Gurgle.

However, Halloween is fast approaching and that makes me happy.

Last night I went to the Women In Film Festival which screened “Terry”. I felt a bit awkward because it was very much a festival full of “empowering women” type films and/or “socially important” films. I just like to make silly movies. Hmm. But it was still nice for more strangers to see “Terry” and people did laugh in the appropriate places. Even though the sound system was awful.
I still feel kinda crappy today. I doubt it's related to the other night, but I've just been feeling pretty run down lately. I need some good solid time off. And unfortunately, the next time I will have extended holiday, I will be doped up and in pain from surgery. Not exactly my idea of a good time. (Well, the in-pain part, anyway). It will all be worth it though (hopefully), as my back pain has been increasing since the cold weather started.

I feel like such a genetic mess sometimes. Maybe someday I'll make a socially important film about it. :)

In the meantime, very exciting things are happening with “Snow Day”. I will update the blog very soon!

October 27, 2004
Categories: Dear Diary, I Made Movies . Tags: . Author: Baxter . Comments: Leave a comment

The procurator was obviously

Alrighty. Now for the fun post!

Friday
Faye, Dom and I met Andrew and Derek at the Six Arms for dinner and too much beer. They were killing time before going to see Interpol at the Paramount. The company was great (as were the tater tots) but our waiter was ick with a capitol D. I know waiting isn't fun and stuff, but just because we paused a little bit when deciding what to order, they guy got all uppity on us and would disappear for ages. When he DID come by our table, he was very terse with us. Once I didn't know what kind of beer I wanted yet so I asked if I could have a minute to think while he went to get Faye's beer. When he came back, he quickly plopped Faye's beer on the table and took off. And we didn't see him again till he brought us our bill. Well, Mr., that's one way to get a low tip from us usually kind tippers. Also, apparently the Six Arms is a big 'ol hipster hangout now and the nice pubby feel converts to house music and standing room only after 9pm. We blamed it on the fact that they now serve liquor there instead of just beer. Stupid hipsters.
We had a great time anyway though! Afterward, Andrew and Derek headed off to the Paramount and we met up with Sherrard at mine and Dom's to watch The Fog and drink…MORE BEER!! For me, this film did not live up to the hype that I had heard on horror websites/forums. But then again, I am fast becoming an intolerable horror film snob.
Saturday
Faye and I met with a storyboard candidate at Cafe Vita, followed by our writer's meeting for Plight. Turns our writer's meetings are a lot more productive when there's no beer. Go figure.
Later, we supped at The Canterbury (where I found the fries to be particularly delicious). Much later, we met a number of people at the Wok & Grill where we were able to partake in one of our favorite past times: Making the old lady who runs the place stay up late on a Saturday!! This time she was a bit more forceful. She called “last call” at midnight and hovered around us.
Old lady: one
Us: 3 or 4
Sunday
I woke up pretty damned hung over. Actually, I didn't so much wake up as was forced out of bed by Marilyn who couldn't stand me being asleep one second longer. She demonstrated this by jumping on me and walking up and down my person meowing loudly until I got up. I suppose she had a point though. It was noon, after all.
(UPDATE I almost forgot! We also watched Ashlee Simpson end her career on my tape of Saturday Night Live. Craaaaaazy. It's not often that you can pinpoint such things to one specific moment in time.)
Sherrard came over and I dyed his hair, as promised. I think it looks pretty good and not at all goth because he isn't lilly-white, like…well, me.
Then I stumbled out to yoga with Elyse. And it kicked my previously mentioned lilly-white ass. Today I am sore in places that I haven't been in a long time. (Not like that, you filthy bastards!)
I then watched Bring Out the Dead which was just too slow and boring for my exhausted brain. I fell asleep for a bit in the middle, and when I woke up the SAME shit was still happening. I thought maybe I just hadn't been asleep for long. But no, the same shit continued to happen for about an hour longer. So I got up and checked my email until it was over. I might have been exhausted, but I'm pretty sure that the movie was also a piece of crap. Why am I meant to care about these people? Never given a reason. Alrighty then. Thanks for that, Marty.
And we're back to Monday. Woohoo!

October 25, 2004
Categories: Dear Diary . . Author: Baxter . Comments: Leave a comment

Peopless

Hey everybody, guess what. Last week, Boss Man decreed that 7am was too early for a meeting. (Let me be the first to channel my inner Middle Schooler by saying “No doi”). Therefore, he decided we should move our Monday mornings to 7:30. He is in Alaska today on business but the rest of us agreed that we would meet in his absence. Something told me I would regret it, but I got on the 7am bus this morning and here I am at 7:45 all by my lonesome in this office. Tell me again why I am paid less than everybody here?

UPDATE:

I want to die. I have to go to this STUPID FUCKING training session in Phoenix on the 6th and 7th of December. I'm flying out at 5:45 in FUCKING MORNING on the 6th. That means I have to get to the airport at 4:45 which means that I have to leave the house at 4:00 in the morning which means I have to wake up at…god, I can't even type it.

THREE FUCKING THIRTY IN THE MORNING!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh my god!!!!! If I wanted to get 8 hours of sleep that night (which I probably would since I have to be alert for intensive training for 48 hours) I will have to go to bed at 7:30pm on Sunday evening. This will be the weekend of the fundraiser so I just might be that tired. But WHAT THE HELL??!! And how am I getting to the airport? I'm not paying for a cab and the buses won't be running that early and of course there's no way in HELL Dom will drive me (not that I would ask him). Fucking Little Hitler never had to do this. And what's more, they're making it sound like a TREAT. Like I get to go on a little vacation in lovely Phoenix on the company dime. Yeah this is going to be SO AMAZINGLY FUN!!!!!! AAAARRRGGG!!!
I can barely function right now from having WOKEN UP at 6am. I can't handle this.
I HATE THIS GODDAMNED MOTHERFUCKING JOB!!!!

OK. Sorry about that. I just needed to get it off my chest.

October 25, 2004
Categories: Dear Diary, I'm Working . . Author: Baxter . Comments: Leave a comment

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