At LAST!

My first semester at CSUN is now over! *throws confetti*

It's been a little while since I posted, but that's because I've been busy trying to finish everything for the semester, in addition to work, and getting ready for Christmas. I went with my mom and younger brother to Buckeye, AZ to visit with my older brother, sister-in-law, and my BRAND NEW niece!:
Yes, I'm an uncle for the first time now :D She is so cute and tiny! I can't remember the last time I held a baby so small (if ever) and it's really a strange feeling. She almost seems like some robotic toy -- she's so little, but she has all her little fingers and toes and fingernails. :D

The Christmas break though was really good. It felt refreshing, almost zen-like, to be out in the middle of fields and emptiness after spending these past several months in LA. It was like a perfect necessary antithesis.

Back to school related topics... I got my grades for most of my classes, a A-, a B, and an A. I'm still waiting on the 4th one, but I know it's going to be an A as well. I would prefer if the B was at least an A-, but I'll take what I can get. I've learned to not stress about grades less than As as much as I once did.

And now, I have a whole month to relax, (minus work). School starts not again until 29 January. Finally, a chance to catch my breath...

In other news, B & I wound up at The Abbey last night for a drink. We ended up spotting Andy Dick surrounded by a gaggle of guys at the front bar. I was going to go ask him if he really could guess the flavor of a popsicle just by sitting on it, but I thougt that my be a little rude...? ;)

Putting the "Production" into film production

This semester has had some ups and downs in my Film Production class.

We have had a semester-long project where we write, cast, shoot, edit, and then present a (very) short film project.

My group has definitely had it's flakey moments though, which have been driving me crazy. I'm talking times when we all planned to meet up and work on something, and then I'm the only one who goes and ends up trying to call others to only find out that they decided not to meet for whatever reason.

I was able, however, to take solace the other day when our professor scolded another group (who I thought had been way ahead of the class) because they were way behind.

This Wednesday is our deadline and we will be graded on whatever we have on disc. I'm a little nervous because there's more editing to be done and as of now, that responsibility lies on one person. Wish me luck because I'm a little nervous!!


My Media Writing class, although, is a totally different story. I've really enjoyed that class the whole semester and the group work that we've done has actually been - dare I say! - enjoyable! I got back my first several pages of my script (our final project is a 30-pg screenplay) and my professor gave me an 'A-' saying "Very witty + sophisticated" :D

That was a huge boost for me especially since I felt ok about what I had turned in, but not great. It was an A- though because there are of course some things I need to be careful with. I have to finish writing this script though by next Friday!

.....and the final rush to the finish line begins.

Grammy Noms

Some of my favourite musical entities have been nominated for Grammies!!!

Imogen Heap has been nominated for Best New Artist (even though she's not really "new") and also for Best Song Written For Motion Picture, Television Or Other Visual Media ('Can't Take It In' - from Narnia)!!


And Goldfrapp have been nominated for Best Dance Recording - Ooh La La and Best Electronic/Dance Album - Supernature!!


Madonna has also been nominated though (in the same categories as Goldfrapp) in addition to Best Long Form Music Video - I'm Going To Tell You A Secret!!


I'm a little torn as I love both Madonna and Goldfrapp and I want them both to win :-/

Anyway, congratulations and best of luck!! Even if they don't win, to be nominated is an honor in itself! It's nice to see when talented individuals who work hard actually get the recognition that they deserve!

For a full list of nominees go clicky, clicky.

Post-Thanksgiving Humor

This is from an e-mail forward I received - haha!

---

Pregnant Turkey

Last year at Thanksgiving my mom went to my sister's house for
the traditional feast. Knowing how gullible my sister is, my mom decided to play a trick. She told my sister that she needed something from the store.

When my sister left, my mom took the turkey out of the oven, removed
the stuffing, stuffed a Cornish hen, inserted it into the turkey, and re-stuffed the turkey. She then placed the bird(s) back in the oven.

When it was time for dinner, my sister pulled the turkey out of the oven and proceeded to remove the stuffing. When her spoon hit something she reached in and pulled out the little bird.

With a look of total shock on her face, my mother exclaimed, "Patricia,
you've cooked a pregnant bird!"

At the reality of this horrifying news, my sister started to cry.

It took the family two hours to convince her that turkeys lay eggs!

And yes... she's blonde!

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

---

That's actually sort of disturbing, don't you think? ...Sort of like Turducken.

Celebrity Dreamin' on Such a Winter's Day

I have had the weirdest dreams involving celebrities lately... Take for example:

1) I dreamt that I was in line somewhere waiting to get into this building where I think we were going to be competing for something. Whatever it was, we needed to have a partner for the competition. So, standing to my left, who was my partner? None other than Ms. Martha Stewart. Yeah, weird right? As we were standing in the line, however, Martha would NOT SHUT UP. She just kept rambling and rambling as if she was nervous and trying to relax, but no one thought she was amusing. Eventually I looked at her and said, "Martha, will you please shut up???" But it was to no avail. She just kept talking. Finally we had moved up in line to where we were almost about to go into the building. And Martha, says to me, "Oh I'll be right back. I have to go get something out of my car." I was getting annoyed and told her that it was almost our turn, but she just kept walking and saying "I know, it's ok. I'll just be right back. Don't you worry one bit." I then watched as she got in her car, started it, and drove off. Martha abandoned me!! And this is after I wore my Free Martha shirt for so long when she was *ahem* "away" :( oh well, Annie Lennox says, "Sweet dreams are made of these." (Did anyone watch The Apprentice: Martha?? There should be at least 5 people who get that reference).


2) I was in the movie Dreamgirls as....one of the Dream girls??? But I was still a guy, so I guess that makes me the odd one out. Regardless... we were going about our day and on some sort of adventure (haha!) but me and the other girls did NOT like Beyoncé. So we would talk about her behind her back, and then she would come over with her abnormaly large smile and we would start fawning all over her so she wouldn't know we didn't like her... O_o


3) Lastly, this one was just last night.. I was hanging out somewhere - at a restaurant or coffee shop or someplace similar and in walks Karl Lagerfeld with an entourage. The dream could've ended there and it would still be entertaining, but there's more! He walks up to me and a few other people around me and says to each of us, "You. You. You. You. and You." We then get ushered away by his entourage and are taken to a studio where we are informed that Karl needs models for a photoshoot for his new line and he didn't want anyone that had modeled before, therefore he handpicked us to be in his campaign. I don't remember much past that, but I do remember that he was very particular about the shoot and we had to pose and look exactly as he told us to do (he would demonstrate for us how he wanted us to look).



What do these dreams mean...?????? Tell me in the comments section, or share your own wacky celebrity dreams!

School (read: aaaaaaaaah!!!)

I can't believe I'm now in my 11th week of the semester... wait, it IS the 11th week right?
School has been crazy to put it lightly. But I'm pushing through while working 39-40 hours a week as well... If you have any free vacations you'd like to send yours truly on, then send them on over!

My group in my film prod. class is driving me crazy. I can't wait until I'm in more of the upper level classes.. it just seems like right now everyone is taking things way too laid back. My group is so much further behind on our semester projects than the rest of the class. One of my group memembers falls asleep in class EVERY SINGLE TIME. Repeatedly. Another one is there like every other class period. Seriously, folks? no...really.... seriously? *rolls eyes out of head*


Anyway.. that's that.

Troubles. Over & Out.

Squirrels + Parties

It's been a little while since my last post.. I know I know.... Way to get behind when you just started something right? Well truthly, I've just been busy and also dealing with some personal issues. Things are better now though, so onwards and upwards right? Right, so..

There's something going on with squirrels around me.

First off, the squirrels at my school are on some sort of medication - I'm sure of it.

This week I was walking towards class and a little squirrel came running down a tree and stopped to look at me. I thought he was kind of cute so I made little squirrel noises at him (don't ask)......then he hopped over from the grass and onto the sidewalk behind me. I kept walking and noticed that the squirrel was now hopping along about a foot and a half behind me. This went on for about 10-12 feet with me getting progressively more concerned. They're cute to look at, yes. But if one is scampering up my pant leg and about to bite me with a rabies infested mouth, then I don't think "cute" would be the proper word choice. O_O

That same day on may way home on the off-ramp from the 134, a squirrel darted in front of my car and I almost ran over it. Argh! psychos, I tell you.

Anyway.... last night B & I went to a party on Beverly at a friend's place. It was an early Halloween/Friday the 13th party and it ended up being lots of fun. There were several photos taken, so maybe I'll post some of those later.

Ok, I think that's about it for now... I'll leave you with this lovely imagery:

~Troubles