cherry picker on hollywood blvd

2003.05.27 10.54

My dad and I crashed at 8 PM last night intending to kill off the jet lag that may impede our ability to party tonight at ''The Italian Job'' premiere here in Los Angeles. We are back at the CyberCafe this morning. We are thinking about going to see the NBC Studio tour this morning. Later in the day we'll pick up dad's suit from the cleaners and prepare. Several key scenes of ''Italian Job'' are filmed right where we are staying, as well as in front of the same theater that we will be seeing the premiere at. Very cool. Last time that happened was when I was watching that Tim Robbins movie ''Arlington Road'' which was filmed in Houston. The theater we were watching the film at was across the street in one of the key scenes. So, that was weird. I'm sure this will be much more interesting. I have lots and lots of photos of course. There is a Star Trek slant to a lot of the Hollywood Stars that line the street, as well as the footprint tracts that they have in front of the Chinese Theater. All of that will show up when I get back to Philly and post my updates. I'll also think of something funny to say so that these entries won't be so fact filled. Bleah.

hollywood

2003.05.26 12.38

Sitting in the CyberJava cafe on the corner of Hollywood and Le Brea sipping coffee and surfing the internet with my dad. Lots of photos will follow. We flew up here on Saturday on separate flights. Mine arrived 9 hours after his. He found solace in the International Terminal of LAX. I managed to sit next to a standard plane freak who had no getting out of his seat courtesies to speak of. I'll go more into that after I'm back home. We are going to see the world premiere of ''The Italian Job'' at the Mann's Chinese Theater on Hollywood. Sunday, however, we hit Disneyland. This was my dad's first trip there. Pirates of the Carribean and Space Mountain were both closed -- which is terrible! Those are critical parts of the park to experience. Space Mountain is apparently so closed it won't open again until 2005. Not sure what the deal is, but they'd better at least upgrade it to 21st century specifications if they are going to keep it closed for that long. No explation about Pirates was given. We returned late in the day to The Roosevelt Hotel which is right across the street from the Chinese Theater. The Kodak Theater is next to that, as well, and we ate dinner in the mall plaza there. Very nice. We attempted to watch Matrix Reloaded but the jet lag got too unbearable. We made it to The Burly Brawl and then exited the theater. Having your hotel across the street from where you are out at is way cool. Must look into that at some point. Today we are probably doing some shopping and some Walk of Fame walking. Maybe more. Check back soon for updates. Typos will be corrected as soon as is humanly posseble.

operator...

2003.05.22 15.34

Got the new phone and it is geekalicious. If you know my phone number, call me right now, and call me often. Do you need to know what time it is? Call me. Need movie times? Call me. Need directions? Call me. Want my personal recommendation for things to do on a rainy day? Call me. Don't hesitate! Call now! And let the phone ring a bunch so everyone can hear my ringer.

my other phone

2003.05.16 10.34

Bought this yesterday. Hey, I need it in case I, uhhh... need to find an exit.

the one word movie review

2003.05.15 2.06

Entry 8:11 PM 5.14.2003

Sitting in the Taste of New York diner enjoying two slices and a big ass Diet Coke. So piping hot that I can't hold the pizza. I am totally tossing out my healthy regiment this evening, but I have been faithful in the last two weeks in avoiding the food that put a dirt bike tire around my belly. After 10 days I am noticing an improvement. A few more days and I will be down to touring bike tire size. The Regal Cinema River View Theater is right outside. Fellow Geekoids and Matrifreaks are outside milling about. I'll be joining them soon.

Entry 9:23 PM 5.14.2003

Now I'm standing in a line at the theater waiting to get in. I'm upstairs. This is the "good" theater. Auditorium #1. I was in the "sucky small" theater before. Auditorium #13. This bit of info came from the guy who cut my ticket in half after I finished scarfing down my pizza. My ensuing video game experience at the theater was not so hot. The Star Wars Episode 2 pinball game was "good" but the shoot 'em up projection TV game that I can't remember the name of even though it stole 5 quarters from me dammit was "sucky." That description came from me... just so we're clear. Okay? This is the fourth or fifth movie I've had to watch by myself. I definitely do not like solo theater experiences. Nobody to save your seat. Nobody to kill time with. Nobody to share how much the movie was "good" or "sucky" with after it's all over. Including Matrix Reloaded I have also seen X-Men 2, Anger Management, and The Core -- all Han Solo style. The upside to being alone? Seating is a snap cuz excellent single seats are always everywhere. Nobody to argue with in case you liked the movie and the other person didn't. After the movie is over you can take your sweet time in the restroom getting your b to the uzzo, s to the shizzo, n to the ezo, s to the seezo... in order. Okay. Blog sharing over. Next time I write the movie will be over. Buhbye.

Entry 1:56 AM 5.15.2003

Woah!

CALL ME NEO

2003.05.14 10.27

Sorry for the stale blog. Been working like a madman as of late. My machine is doing a rebuild now so I have a few moments. Rebuild means I'm running my java compiler, not that I am instructing helper cells in my body to fix a scratch I got from walking into the elevator before the door completely opened. I hate it when I do that! My dog, however, couldn't possibly care. If he knocks into the door, he will step aside and pretend like it didn't happen. He's cool like that.

Tonight I am going to see ''The Matrix: Reloaded'' at 10 P.M. I am as giddy as a schoolgirl! The review by internet critic Harry Knowles posted this morning on AintItCoolNews.com seems to indicate that he was let down, but RottenTomatoes.com leads me to believe that this movie will entertain me regardless. My good friend and fellow Matrix fan Martina, who sits in the cube next to me, has an article up on her laptop that talks about how albinos are pissed that the Matrix is casting them as villains. A Warner Bros. spokesman was quick to snap at the reporter that suggested the characters were albino. ''They are NOT albino! They have black lips and dark eyebrows!'' The reporter then countered that other papers have been calling the characters albino. The spokesman fired back, ''They are DEAD. That's why they are pale.'' This reminds me of the same reporters who tryed to stir up some controversy when Star Wars: Episode I came out. They suggested that the accents of some characters were culturally offensive. Reports suggested that Jar Jar sounded African, some of the bad guy aliens sound Japanese, and that Annakin's owner sounded Jewish. I don't recall the exact response from the LucasFilm, but it was something like, "This is the Star Wars universe. Hellooooo?''

I turned in my Saab two weeks ago and I'm glad to be free of it. I had to pay for maintenance and insurance which was very annoying. I got the car because I wanted to keep my travel expenses low and had no intention of buying it. In lieu of visiting Hertz everytime I came and left, it worked out OK. I wouldn't do it again, however, as leasing a car is way too close to almost buying it. It would be cheaper to have my own car shipped out here instead. Of course that would make driving in Houston a problem. I think I need a spare car. I came thisclose to buying the Family Truckster from National Lampoon's Vacation. The real one, not a replica. Hey, I need the trunkspace, okay, and I hear the Dead Aunt Edna option can be removed if I need the extra cargo space. How nice would that be? Don't believe me?