Monthly Archives: December 2007

Norwalk In the Park

Personal Bits

Uhg. I uh… just a sec.

*flush*

I got this bug from my brother-in-law while in Vermont– Sec…

*flush*

…and I have never felt more gross in my life. Not because I have zero energy or desire to live, but because I keep on pooping and washing and pooping.

*flush*

I’m glad it hit me when I got home and not in some embarrassing “drive home” situation or worse yet, at the house we were staying at. I hate being sick away from home.

*flush*

I’m feeling better and rather svelt! I pooped out my entire Xmas indulgences in a period of 24 hours! However, I doubt that I will be hosting/going to any New Years parties.

*flush*

Now I have to get ready for work. Insert cork, get on TTC, etc.

Home From The Holidays

Personal Bits

Hi kids! It was robots galore for me this year! I finally got Rock’Em Sock’Em Robots (about 38 yrs late, but very welcome, for sure) as well as the new Blade Runner DVD. Throw in a custom Dead Robot hat and it was a faboo season!

We were all sick when we got to Vermont. I and Sharkboy were on the tail end of a cold, and so was his sister when we arrived. Our brother-in-law managed to pick up some exotic 24 hour bug over Xmas eve that knocked him down hard. Our nephew had a broken hand. Needless to say we didn’t do much but we did have fun.

Pics below. Includes dinner at my brother’s house a few days before going to the US. Enjoy!

Xmas, Delayed

General

When I was 6, I was swinging my teddy bear around in a wide arc around my bedroom on Xmas morning.

Okay it was 5am and my brothers and sister and I were too excited to sleep and I guess I should not have been swinging the damn thing while jumping up and down on the bed but I was a kid, ok?

My sister: “You better stop. You’re going to…”

I fall.

The corner of my left eye makes contact with my bedside table. Blood everywhere.

Xmas was postponed until late afternoon, after I got back from the hospital. I got 6 stitches in the corner of my eye.

Lifestyles of the Rich

Distractions

SharkBoy and I were invited to an Xmas party in a downtown condo last week. I won’t say who’s or where, ’cause I’m not a name dropper, but I do have to mention two things about the unit.

Situated on the 30th floor, this two-storey penthouse faced south and west. It was the kind of home with beautiful furnishings that makes you not notice the fact that you’re in a potentially pretentious condo. Subtle good taste. At one point, after the cater-waiter filled my glass the third time, I noticed the three hanging lamps over the kitchen island swaying simultaneously, slowly. I turned and noticed the crystal chandelier doing the same. I asked the owner if this was a regular occurrence. “Only with winds over 50kph,” he answered. Freaky.

Later that night, I wandered down onto the “bedroom floor” (two bedrooms, one den/office, three bathrooms) and had a look around. When I hit the master bath, I had what can only be called “an emotional reaction” to the loo. It was about 30 ft x 12 ft with three sinks, I think. I don’t recall because as I walked in, your eye immediately goes to the end of the long room to the shower.

The shower. God. It was about 10x12ft glass encased, exquisitely tiled room. Two walls were just that: Glass room divider separated the no-step into the shower area from the sink/potty zone. The opposite wall was floor to ceiling glass overlooking the gay village from the 30th floor. No tinting, no curtains. Glass. Anyone could, with a powerful enough binoc/telescope could watch you soap your butt. And wash you could: 7 shower heads (two sets of 3 vertical spigots up either side of the taps, one rapper-hubcap-sized rain spout set into the ceiling) blasted you from many directions. Joan Crawford wept.

I stood in the shower and pressed my forehead against the glass and looked down. Sheer down the side of the building. I was too stunned at this marvel to be scared. I wanted to dump hot cheese on myself from the buffet upstairs to have an excuse to get naked and take a shower.

I later had a dream about that shower. I’ve become obsessed.

Christmas

Hobbies

One of the earliest toy memories I’ve ever had was a barn with animals, which was the first time I can remember getting a gift where I said to myself “WTF?”. I also got a flashlight that would double as a Hanna Barbara film strip projector. The flashlight batteries died long after my interest in the barn. Moo.

One year I got my own bike. No small feat for the youngest in a hand-me-down family of 7.

I’ve told you about the Big Trak.

After my religious hajj to Star Wars (8 times the summer it came out), I would get model after model of space cruisers, battle ships and star destroyers. In my tiny bedroom, the fumes killed off most of my brain cells. I would hang the damn things from the ceiling and line them up neatly on shelves to gather dust and discolouration.

My last big hurrah of a gift as a kid was an Atari 2600. After that it was like I had matured and would get socks and shirts every year. Not that I’m complaining. I’ve had a banner year for gadgets this year and I’m quite happy for it.

I’ll be away for the season so I want all of you, dear readers, to have an excellent holiday, no matter what or how you celebrate it.

Do Right

Celebs and Media

Sharkboy’s post of the Cure swinging a camera around all crazy like made me think of one camera effect back in the MTV era that I really enjoyed. A camera is mounted onto an arc and flipped over the actors, but with the arc supports outside the frame, giving a smooth ride down bizarre perspective street. I’ve searched for a while and could not find the name of this camera or effect.

Originally seen in this Cabaret Voltaire video:

Then echoed by ABC (embedding disabled, worth a look just for Martin Fry’s hair)

Then U2 did it too in one of their videos a decade later. Such innovators.

How to Write a Michael Bay Movie

Celebs and Media

Start out with homoerotic images of US Army soldiers spouting guy comments about not understanding their wives/women (girl soldiers can join in too!), but loving them a lot.

Cut to some catastrophe mixed with some buzz saw rock guitar anthem. Make people die while this happens but ensure that our hero(es) get a good look at the attacking monster/asteroid/robot. They narrowly evade the attack.

Cut to a war room in full bloom. Dig up some B list 80s actor to be the Secretary of Defense. Make him wise, but angry. Order barking time! Swing the camera around as techno-jargon is released into throat mikes. Onscreen Graphics!

Cut to a atypical US upper middle class family in an upper middle class home that is in danger of dropping a few pegs to lower middle class. Make sure you write in a kitchen scene to place products on the counter: Aquafina, Pepsi, Vagisil, etc. Introduce troubled teen, a good kid really, who is just misguided. Teen discovers opposing force to Monster/Asteroid/Robot but doesn’t understand the gravity this discovery may entail. He may use the new discovery to overcome a bully or get a girl. He’s on top of the world!

Cut to more catastrophe from the attacking Monster/Asteroid/Robot. Show that the Monster/Asteroid/Robot has the potential to fuck up everyone’s day. Cut back the soldiers numbers a bit by a slow motion death scene. Great teary eyed, slow mo of battle ravaged soldiers pulling their own onto Blackhawk helicopters.

Cut to the destruction of an American city. After, show survivors erecting flags. Severe gloom and doom.

Cut to War Room. Slow pan over everyone’s worried face. Will we make it past this catastrophe? Sub secretary may mention having family in newly flattened city. Secretary may utter “Damn” under his breath.

Cut to Teen being a teen, impressing a young girl who is three strata out of his league, with his new found power. Pay attention, this is pivotal: Show the teen in sharp focus just right of frame being goofy, totally unaware of the impending doom of the Monster/Asteroid/Robot that is advancing behind him slightly out of focus. Swap focus. The Monster/Asteroid/Robot is coming after the kid! Upshot kid’s head. Add movie catch phrase here, such as “Damn! Gym class is looking good right now!” or “Mother. Of. PEARL!” or even “SonovaXBOX!” (this one will ensure product placement!). Teen is rescued by his opposing force power.

Cut to the teen leaving home to ensure the safety of the opposing force. He may need to get to a military base or some recruitment centre or some official office, but he’s gotta get there now! Cue car chase! Cue music!

At any time throw in African American people being “urban” for comedy effect. Have them shout at their parents to “shut up or they’ll come over there and give them what for”.

Battle scene.

Battle scene.

Hopeless moment of teen getting injured. Hopeless moment of soldiers losing one of their own. Slow motion moment.

Cut to war room where the teen has finally made it. Secretary is stunned that the fate of the world rests on this kid’s shoulders. Shouting ensues. Teen spouts second movie catch phrase: “Yes, many will die.” or “You can forget me, but can you forget that crater out there that use to be Seattle?” or even “You, sir, are an asshole!”

Teen convinces Secretary that he holds the key. Stunned faces as the opposing force thing does something amazing. But it’s quickly interrupted by–

Battle.

Girl might get hurt. “Funny” soldier may die.

Battle.

Teen overcomes impossible odds in a deus ex machina moment and rams home the solution to the Monster/Asteroid/Robot’s demise. Ta da!

Slow motion of Monster/Asteroid/Robot’s death.

Cheering in the War Room! Secretary takes off his glasses and whispers “You did good, kid”

Sunset shot of teen with girl.

Fade out.