Day to Day in Venice CA

Lane's Birthday Weekend

2012-02-07T13:38:00.000-08:00

On Tuesday of Last week I finished a long, Hard and mentally trying CiCi's Pizza Commercial.

It involved Fake Pigs and a speeding Van.

I got done just in time to plan Lane's birthday week.

On Thursday Lane went to a wine tasting with a friend after work. Met up with them for some fish at the real in, in Malibu.

Got some new artwork from our nephews.

On Friday Night we met some friends at Chez Jay. Pronounced Shay Jay.

Ate some steak, went to a few bars, and stayed up late into the night having good times.

Watched a few basketball games and did little else on Saturday. I hate Missouri.

Super Sunday stared with breakfast at Cafe Buna then a bike ride to the beach, saw a painted fire hydrant, spent a little time in the sun, Lunch at Larry's. They have our favorite Mussels. Then, a Zelda's Deli picnic for supper during sunset.

As the sun set we walked up the boardwalk and went to see Circ de Soleil "OVO" at the pier.

After the show we spent a little more time on the beach, took a night bike ride home. Stopped for some Ice Cream at Charlie Tremmel and snuggled up on the couch to watch the Super Bowl.

Fake Pigs

Van

The Reel In

New Artwork. Thanks Ben and Dez

Dinner at Chez Jay

Vicroy Bar

Late Night. Good Times.

We hate when our team looses.

Cafe Buna.

Bikes at the beach.

A moment in the sun.

Painted Hydrant.

Larry's

Zelda's

Picnic

OVO

Beach time after the show.

Night ride home.

2012-02-02T11:35:00.000-08:00

A lot has happened since I last posted.

We got Engaged and Married.

We went on several memorable road trips and an amazing Honeymoon.

We added a new member to the family. Our dog Leon.

We moved into a new home.

I am no longer a Production Assistant. I am now a Production Coordinator.

We got a new Niece. Who I call Veevs.

Besides that, not much has changed.

We still live day to day out here in Venice, CA.

Engaged.

Married.

One of our Trips.

Honeymoon.

Leon.

New Home.

View from the Coordinating Chair.

Veevs.

The middle of February has been a blur

2010-02-25T16:30:00.000-08:00

Went to Ikea to by something to hang our new pots on. Ate cheap hot dogs and got cheap furniture. Went to the flea market in Pasadena. The LA river is a joke. Ate good pizza in the shade of the Rose Bowl. Camped out near Angeles Crest Mountain. Cooked great food. Drank good beer. Dogs barked all night. Almost got mauled by a bobcat. Had a great time. Rode our Bikes to the beach. Sat in the sun. An Army helicopter flew really low over the beach. Threw the Bee. Got asked by a homeless guy to kick him in the ass. Freak Show. Drum Circle. Saw Tinkerbell. Lots of minstrels. Ran into our friend Erik. Had pitchers at the Waterfront. Started a Land o Lakes butter commercial. A huge kitchen was set up to make toast. No toasters though, just two PA's holding heating wands. The first AD looked like a villain from James bond. Blofeld. Went to see a Grateful Dead cover band. It smelled like B/O. Saw a Wurlitzer Amplifier. Lane looked Great. Hippies lying in Pile in the corner. Worked on an infomercial. Decisions. Saw a mural in the dust of a mirror. The Make-Up artist slept the whole job. Clouds over LA make the City look weird. Worked on a Saturday. Party at the compound after a long day of work. Dance Party. Broke out a dance move I hadn't used since High School. Parking lots can have some of the best views of the city. Some people hold the door for people when they are too far away forcing them to hustle to the door. That never makes since to me. Started working on a Dunkin Donuts commercial. The office has a great view of the Hollywood sign. Drove down this street where almost all of the houses had an old antenna on the chimney. Who still uses those? The casting house we used had a pond with turtles in front of it. Walked into a Starbucks and saw a man wearing a cape. Walked out of the Starbucks and saw the big tall blonde German Villain from Die Hard. The one that gets neck broken then comes back at the end, and the black cop from Family Matters shoots him.

Ikea Food

Flea Market

LA River.

MMM Pizza

Funny Sign.

Campsite.

View from campsite.

Dinner

Breakfast.

Headed to the Beach

Throwing the Bee

Enjoying a day in the sun.

Get Down! Get to the Choppa!

No I will not kick you in the Ass.

Freak Show.

Small Drum Circle.

Tinker Bell.

Minstrels.

Erik.

The Waterfront.

Beer is good.

"No Mr. Bond... I want you to Die!"

Hero Butter.

Toast Kitchen.

Thanks Crafty!

Clubensis. Dead Cover band

Steal your Face on Your Fist.

Wurlitzer

Hippy Dance.

Clouds over LA.

Party at the Compound.

Dance Party!

Breaking out the Box dance.

Parking Garage Views.

Mirror Mural

Its a tough

Make-up is a tough job.

If you squint you can see the sign there in the middle.

Houses with antenna.

Turtle pond.

Man with cape.

Microsoft all Week.

2010-02-13T12:26:00.000-08:00

Finished off Lane's birthday with a Lobster and Steak dinner at James Beach. The mural in the post office is cool. Bought a Matisse print. Thanks Mom and Dad. Started a Microsoft job. Raining on Monday. Saw Super Man walking in the rain on Hollywood Blvd. Found a Burger joint called Hole in the Wall. Good Burger. Hung out with three Second City teachers. Those guys are funny. Got my car towed. Stood in on a wardrobe fitting. Lane picked me up from work. KU beat Texas. Go JayHawks. Raining on Tuesday. Got my car back. Saw a Rainbow over the 101 Freeway. Shot in a coffee shop. Got home late. Shot in a fake plane on Wednesday. The Microsoft commercial is trying to be funny but it is not. Our Director wore a suit everyday to work. Worked as a 2nd AD (for a pa rate) on a toy commercial Thursday. Bondai Ben Ten Alien Force. "Humongousaur Transform!" "Echo Echo Expand!" Directing kids playing with toys looks hard. Shot in Onterio on Friday. Left the house at 3:00 am. Saw a statue of an Asian guard in front of a Payless Shoe store. Stood under palm trees and looked up at snow covered mountains. Wrapped late. Traffic on the way home. Took Lane out for a late cocktail at World Cafe. Went home ready for the weekend. Lane starts her week of vacation.

James Beach

Post Office Mural

Shopping for Art.

Matisse we bought.

Superman in the Rain.

Hole in the Wall.

Rainbow.

Fake Plane.

Hard day at the Office.

Bondai Ben 10 Alien Force.

Humongousaur transformed.

Echo Echo expanded

"Put the toys down please boys"

Guarding the Payless.

Palm trees and snow peaks

Coors Light Job

2010-02-04T20:45:00.001-08:00

Started a new job. Coors Light. Pick Ups on Monday. Made it home in time to watch the OSU game. Go Cowboys. In Pasadena on Tuesday. An overweight guy in the agency named Ziggy talked my ear off about KU. Company move. Locking up on Wilshire is hard. Tried to watch the new Lost episode. Fell asleep on the couch. Wednesday. Happy birthday baby. Shot at a wedding gown shop and a Liquor store. Had to take 8 different highways to get to work. Company move. The previous owner of the liquor store where we were shooting sold the place one week before the winning lotto ticket was purchased there. Owners of the winning store receive $500.000. He heard about the winning ticket and had a stroke. I asked the new owner how he knew that. "He is my brother in law" the new owner said. We had Pizza for second meal. (second meal is when you shoot long enough that they have to pay for a second meal. Usually pizza or cold Baja Fresh.) Watched the KU game in the back of the truck on my laptop. Go Jayhawks. Wrapped Late. Free Coors Light in the Truck while we wrap. Got pulled over on the way home because I "fit the description of a fugitive." Got home late. Watched Lost all the way through. Thursday. Downtown. Shooting in a jewelry shop and a fake bakery with a cool ceiling. I love spending a whole day outside downtown. Saw a car I one day will own. Los Angeles Athletic Club does not look that athletic. The buildings down here are beautiful. Saw a pigeon with a club foot. Everyone speaks a different language. The traffic is loud. "Is there concrete all around or is it in my head?" I'm glad I don't live downtown. 20 Extras. Wrapped early. Home before the sun went down. Returns tomorrow. Ready for the weekend.

Shooting in Pasadena

First and

Chops & Noah

Beer after work.

GTO's are tough

Fake Bakery

Cool Ceiling

Shooting Down Town

LA Athletic Club?

Club Foot Pigeon

Surprise Party Saturday

2010-01-31T20:12:00.000-08:00

Here are some pictures from our San Diego trip.

Minstrel.

GasLamp District.

Out and about.

Dirty Martini.

Fancy Chandelier

Elevator split jump.

Old fashion elevator.

Bars

Shoes Lane thought were dorky.

Getting ready.

Out on the town.

Waiting at Hodad's

Buying a Record.

Sea Weed Sculpture.

Slept in a little on Saturday morning, then Lane made us biscuits and gravy. We watched the Cowboys game. Go Cowboys. Went and got a frame. Shopped for some new kitchen ware. Watched the Jayhawks win. Go Jayhawks. I told Lane we were going to the Canal Club for just a few drinks. When we got there I took her up to the upstairs private room where about 10 of our closest friends were waiting for her. Surprise. Sushi. Saki. Good times. Henano's. The Whaler. Stayed up late to celebrate. Slept in again Sunday. Cleaned the house while Lane slept. New cartoons. Ready to start the week.

Surprise!

Bobby and Rogers

Lane and Kristie

Andy and Robin

Ed and Kristie

Presents.

Bobby and Me

Good Times.

Natalie and Justin

Hanano's

Finishing the Hertz Job.

2010-01-30T10:02:00.000-08:00

The buildings in West Adams looked kinda nice as the sun went down. Fake minstrels singing on the side of Wilshire Boulevard. Got off work somewhat early. Picked up some chicken. Forgot the Asparagus. Went to Bed Early. Got to sleep in a little. Split shift. Rose Bowl in the morning. Descanto Gardens all evening. I heard that the gardens are beautiful, but we were there at night so I will have to go back to find out. Fake concert. 50 extras. Long wrap. Took us 3 hours to load the trucks. A "Precision" Driver backed into one of the PA's car. He tried to drive off, but we stopped him. I put Precision in quotes up there because that is actually what it says next to his name on the call sheet, but he was not precise enough to get out of the parking lot without hitting anyone. Downtown looked nice as I drove past on the 110. No traffic at midnight. Went to McDonald's got a burger. Finally got home to Lane. Went to sleep looking forward to the weekend.

Shooting in West Adams

Fake Minstrels

Side of the Rose Bowl

Fake Concert

View from the truck on the ride home.

Back to LA

2010-01-28T11:45:00.000-08:00

We shot all day next to a lake. Saw a sign that reminded me of Lane. We left Temecula just before the rain started. Drove home in the rain. Watched Goodfellas. It was Lane's first time to see it. She loved it. Started the next day shooting just under LAX at a Hertz lot. Company move down to where we used to live. West Adams. A parking attendent parked in a red zone, in front of a hydrant, during street sweeping for over 2 hours. Not fair. Homeless man asked me if he could be an extra. I told him no. He said. "I know karate." He showed me a jump kick. "How bout now?" He asked. I called for security and he ran away. We had to lug our gear up the stair cause we are shooting in an old building. Made it home in time for dinner with Lane. Baked potato. Back to West Adams. Locking up on Wilshire. People not happy. Working with one of my favorite groups of people. "Team Heaps"

Shutters Lake

You and me Baby.

West Adams

Stairs leading to set.

No Parking.

Hertz

The Team.

Tubbs

Gino Patrelly

Cory.

B.H. "Our Leader"

George

Back to work

2010-01-26T12:37:00.000-08:00

Started work about 1:30 on Monday. Pick ups for a Hertz job. Had to wait on Camera until around 6:30. Hit the road to Temecula. Pechanga Casino. Black Jack. Won $200. Hit the food court and got a burger. It was pretty good. The crowd at Pechanga late night on a Monday is a sight to see. Had an early call so we could get a sunrise shot. Left the hotel at 5 am. Just before we left I locked the keys in the car with the engine running. Thanks AAA. Barley made it in time to shoot. Saw 6 balloons take off at once. The day got better.

Waiting for Camera at Otto's

Pechanga Casino

Filling the balloons.

Taking off.

In flight.

A soft landing.

Back to LA

2010-01-25T10:16:00.000-08:00

We stayed in the room until room service made us leave. Drove around San Diego a while. Went to Ocean beach and had lunch at Hodads. Had a burger. Went for a short walk. Bought a Queen record Ocean Beach reminds us a little of Venice. We hit the road. Uneventful drive back. Plopped down on the couch for some football. Ready for the week ahead.

Hodads Burger.

Sunny Saturday San Diego

2010-01-24T09:08:00.000-08:00

Woke up slowly and watched basketball in bed. Rotten Nikky's for lunch, beer, two victories and some tequila. I had one of their famous Rotten Burgers. It was good. After about 4 hours we went back to the room and got ready for the night. On the way we saw a woman balancing on a ball juggling bowling pins and a man playing the accordion. We decided to dress up a little for the night. I wore a suit and Lane wore a great grey dress. Oysters, Sushi Deli, Saki. Gas Lamp Tavern. Switched to Whiskey. Went to a club. They let us in free because we were dressed up. $12.00 Whiskeys. It reminded us of why we never go to clubs. It was dark, but not in a cool way. Clean, but in a hospital kind of way. We did not stay long. Stopped for a slice on the way to the hotel. Stopped in at the hotel bar to get one last cocktail. When we sat at the bar the drunk next to us quickly got up and left the bar. Security brought him back and the bar tender asked "you going to pay for your food?" "What food?" he mumbled. "The chicken fried fried steak." "It's coming right up."

We woke up to our full drinks from the hotel bar on the night stand. Ordered room service and fell back asleep.

Oysters.

Sushi Deli

Bar Hopping.

Slice.

Off to San Diego

2010-01-23T08:50:00.000-08:00

I had the day off so I went and developed the pictures from our Oklahoma Christmas trip. It was hailing on Lincoln. Here are some of the good ones.

Jeff came by 3 times in the morning and got the hot water back on. Hot Shower. I spent the rest of the afternoon packing and waiting excitedly for Lane to get home. When we took off it was pouring rain. We stopped at Bob's BIg Boy (I will stop and warn you now, I eat a lot of burgers.) After we went buy a Starbucks so I could use the internet. A smelly homeless man sitting behind me spoke very eloquently to no one about how he could criss cross through time. We hit the road again. At this point we had been gone about 2 hours. We were 20 minutes away from our apartment.

The clouds looked amazing as we drove out of the rain storm.

We made good time and got to down town San Diego around 6:00. We got a great little room right downtown in the Gaslamp District. We have a great view at night, and we can see the ocean a little this morning. We had a Three course dinner at Flemmings. We laughed the whole time. Bar Hopping. Cigar Bar. To much smoke. Breath gun.

Bob's

The Room.

The View

Flemmings.

Bar Hopping.

Raining all week

2010-01-21T15:13:00.000-08:00

It has rained all week. Everything looks very clean in Venice. I feel sorry for the homeless people, well some of them. Not the one who stole our bikes. I hope he is wet. I worked on an Arby's commercial. We filmed in the rain. I was standing in a barn with a small group of people, just trying to stay dry, when we were offered crab legs and BBQ ribs. I heard we might have to do re-shoots because there was something wet on the camera lens. More work for me. The line was long at Tommy's burger. I wonder if that had anything to do with the rain? But that wouldn't make sense.

I saw Tim meadows coming into a 7-11 as I was on my way out. He was short. The hot water is not working in our apartment and Jeff (our landlord) is "swiftly" taking care of the problem. I put swiftly in quotes because he is taking his sweet ass time. Jeff mostly sucks.

I would like for Lane and I to get a dog. On days like this I wonder what we would do. I would not want to walk him or, and especially pic up his poo in the rain. On the other hand I do not want dog poo in the house.

Tomorrow Lane and I are going to San Diego (whale's vagina)Sorry. Lane has never been there, and I have only been there for work. We are staying in the Gas Lamp district. It should be a whole lot of fun.

Before the Rain.

Arby's Sign.

Shooting in the rain

Crab legs in Barn.

I shall use the old road, but if I find a shorter and easier one I shall open it up. The men who pioneered the old routes are leaders, not our masters. Truth lies open to anyone." -Seneca