Dear friends, NEW YORK, If I can make it there... it means my flight didn't go down. So, phew... But then I'll need to get on the "Airtram" or whatever my friend Tyler told me to take and then find the E line to Manhattan and then either the A or the C uptown. So grown up now, so brave.
But really I'll be in NYC for 6 days. Yes, I've been before, but it was a brief visit and I didn't have a purpose. This time is different. As I entertain the idea of leaving Utah in search of.... well let's face it, "OLDER" skies, New York is my #1 option. I have a purpose this time. This trip will be very telling. I could come back either very anxious to pack up, turn right around and head back for a year or two OR very content to stay right where I am. In God's country. Utah. The "top of the mountains." Zion.
So it's off to the big city to chase my dreams! Or be very pragmatic and run a bunch of errands... mixed with high hopes? In actuality I'll be looking for housing possibilities, job opportunities, and photo opportunities. (Prepare to change gears) Especially since I have recently "purchased" a camera from Wal-mart. When I put the word purchased in quotations, it's not because I stole it. (Those days are far behind me. I wasn't a very good thief and quit the game at age 13, when I was caught stealing a Home Run Pie, can of Coke, and a can of Dintey Moore Chili from a supermarket. I got caught ever damn time!) It's because I actually purchased it, but Wal-mart has a marvelous 30 day return policy on digital cameras and I intend to return it if not fully satisfied. (And I intend to not be fully satisfied!) What?! YOU dare judge me?! People, why do you think they have this policy? To give nervous buyers the piece of mind that if they regret their decision (and I intend to fully regret it!) that Wal-mart (not hurting for cash, which is why they can offer this policy) will gladly take it back because they want you to return and spend more money later. This is what they do!!! They're the professionals! I didn't create the return policy... I'm just going to exploit it.
But anyway. listen! You don't understand HOW indecisive I've been about buying a camera. I've researched models like crazy and just can't decide. "This one has more mega pixels, this one is heavier and more rugged, this one has a better interface, this brand has better lenses..." and on and on. Now I don't make bad decisions... often. Most the time i'm deciding between 2 or 3 really good choices. So the way I make decisions (and pay attention for the NY parallel) is to try one of them out for a little and if i don't feel good about it then I've narrowed it down a little.
So I'm trying out this camera for a few weeks. And I'm trying out NY for a week. So what?!
Anyway... When I return I shall pictures to share and stories to tell. My friend Ty Willardson is always good for an adventurous vacation.
Flight of the Conchords, who describe themselves as "New Zealand's 4th most popular folk-parody duo" are a group that you should get into. Much like their forerunners They Might Be Giants or Tenacious D, they are comedy team with a propensity for songwriting and storytelling. Here's how they set themselves apart:
1. They don't follow the wacky, randomness, and downright weirdness of They Might Be Giants. You can actually understand what they're talking about, despite the British step-child accents.
2. They don't need the obscene or vulgar approach that Tenacious D deems so necessary. And they aren't as annoying or over the top as Jack Black. Plus they're skinnier. I admit that I have a penchant for British styled comedy (Yes, they are from New Zealand, but they are very subtle and dry in their comedic approach... very British.) and am therefore slightly biased. But HBO, who have hit a number of home runs with their picks in recent years (Sopranos, Sex and the City, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Rome, Da Ali G Show, etc.), have picked them up and given them their own show. It airs Sunday nights at 10:30 ET. You can see the full pilot here.
Above is a clip from their stand up stage performance titled, "Business Time." Who knows when or where they performed it. Who cares. It's funny.
KSL Radio: Earthquakes in Utah This story aired last night on KSL's Nightside Project 102.7 FM. As you all should know by now, Alex is a reporter there and uses me for fill-in "man on the street" sound bites from time to time. A couple weeks back he had me read up on earthquakes activity in Utah and pose as an expert... Grant Stackhouse. Better than the story is the comment made online about how Alex treated me, a professional. Listen to the story and read the comment if you have a spare minute or two... it's pretty good.
GRANT STACKHOUSE "We're not ready for the BIG ONE!"
I may not be able to convince many people who haven't seen the following people in real life that they have a celebrity doppelganger, but it's only because I do not have access to the best photographs and also you're all closed-minded!
To start it off is Laura Fisher vs. Keira Knightley. Luckily laura doesn't stick her lips out and make that dumb face Keira does... but she can! At any rate, they are equally beautiful, except that one is a British snot with lots of surgery, the other is an all-natural Colorado belle. I'll let you decide which is which. Woot-woot! KEIRA LAURA Next is Sally Field vs. Meg Turner vs. Maggie Gyllenhaal Meg is my friend Jordan Turner's lovely wife. Thy have a son named Noah who has a very cute and very round head (pictured below). I say she looks the most like Sally Field, but Maggie Gyllenhaal was suggested and I can definitely see it. SALLY MEG MAGGIE MEG
Wendy Malan vs. Alanis Morrissette. I know how most people feel about Alanis' music and I don't want that to cast my sister in a negative light. Wendy is awesome. And I imagine that, on a personal level, Alanis is pretty cool too. (She seemed really likable when she was a guest star on Curb Your Enthusiasm. And she's attractive, right?) But Wendy had to deal with a constant barrage of "You look like Alanis Morrissette!" when Jagged Little Pill was popular and I'm sure that was annoying. At any rate, they do look similar. ALANIS WENDY ALANIS WENDY That's all for now. Any feedback? Am I way off here? If you want to see my first attempt at lookey likeys go to this one!
If you're wondering when you missed part I, the answer is: you didn't. I wasn't blaaahhwwging back then. But rest assured it was in January and part III will be in like September or October. I try and make a regular practice of visiting my good friends and their kids a few times a year. Vegas is a quick drive and so it, and its residents, get preferential treatment. Southern California is a close second.
This is Merick Daniel Pionke. He's 1 1/2 yrs old and he chews gum for hours like an adult. Here are some more pictures from the trip. Jordan and Meg Turner (not pictured) were a big part of it, but for some reason we didn't take any pictures. I suppose we were too busy partying our faces off with their 6 month old Noah and cousin Katie. Wooh!
Tyler Anderson playing with the toy rocket I bought him. He made me take a million pictures of him shooting it, so that we caught it in flight. Here's a successful attempt!
Not to be outdone, his Dad Aaron made me take a hundred or so of him.
And then Mike got in on the action...
There were strict rules regarding the launching of the rocket in the house. (This came after I took it outside to demonstrate its power to Tyler and got it stuck on the roof on the first attempt. Like an idiot. Tyler immediately said, "Maybe this is an inside toy." The packaging said ages 5 +, but at age 4 Tyler proved them wrong...) The rules Aaron and i created included: 1. Aim it in the air. 2. Don't shoot it at the ceiling fan. 3. Do not shoot it at people... unless it's Mike, then you absolutely should. See figure 1a and 1b below... 1a.
1b.
Moving on...
Mike, Aaron and I had a band in college calledTakeitbackbrad.So every now and again we get together and rock out. It's just like old times... except heavier and balder.
And here are some more of Merick and Amber and me...
Michael took this one. Good work!
I love this one!
So there it is. My small trip to Vegas. I'm glad I got to make it down and see some of my favorite people and their fantastic kids. Miss 'em already.
Proving that what happens in Vegas... is kind of boring sometimes.
I am 30. But I'm not really 30. I was born on November 16th, 1977. Sign of the Scorpio, year of the Snake. (compatible with the Ox and the Rooster, so...) By the calendar I'm still 29. But let's face it, I'm 30. Who cares about 29 year olds anyway? Nobody. I can't remember who I was talking to, but one time, I got on this discussion of how old you are and giving your real age when you get close to the three decade mark. The conversation bloomed into the following: The Three-O Trio
Basically, what this means is that you get 3 years of 30. But why, and how, and for what reason, you ask? First off, because 29, as previously indicated, is a throw away age and no one cares about you or your age when you're 29. There are those that will cling to this year with everything they have, but it's just pathetic. Your 20's are over. There's nothing left to enjoy when you are 29, only the anticipation of turning 30 for a year. That sucks. Secondly, 31 is a dumpy age too. It just sounds sooooo stupid. If you're 31, you're 40. It's over.
So what I'm saying is this: Skip 29 and 31! Say you're 30 when you're 29 and you will have earned yourself the right to say you're 30 when you're 31. 3 years of 30! Do you get it? It's beautiful! And 30 is a great conversation starter. You get all kinds of sympathy and interest. Still within the grasp of the minds of 20-somethings, and adult enough for the 30-somethings +. And 30 is kind of sexy these days... at least that's the word from Hollywood.
So this past year, I have been referring to myself as 30, which I am... *wink!* And look forward to 2 1/2 more glorious years of hip, sexy, beautiful 30-ness. I welcome anybody who wants to join me for the one age related loophole I've discovered in the universe. But be prepared for the singular drawback that I will have to face on Nov. 16th, 2009. After 3 years of being 30, I will suddenly have to jump to 32. That will be a bitter dose of aging medicine. It might throw me into a premature mid-life crisis. I might be seen running out one day in a leather jacket to get my ears pierced, a ridiculous tattoo... and buy a new Ford Mustang.
Or maybe I'll just forget about all of this nonsense, grow up and age gracefully... or get married. And then who cares, right?
So this is one of the coolest things I've been able to do in a long time. Alex (with the microphone)is a reporter for KSL radio here in Salt Lake City and he was able to set up an interview with Mason Jennings. He invited Dave (bobby pin) and I (Nascar) along cause we are all huge fans. Dave was the "producer" and I was the "web editor." Which means I took pictures. So I posted some for everyone to see.
A lot of people say this about celebrities/personalities they meet, but this guy is truly a great person. Very humble, very nice, and very sincere and down to earth. We ended up talking with him for like 40 minutes and he and Dave talked a lot about the experience of writing and playing music and what one's motives should be. Heck of a guy. I'll stay a fan. I found out he's married, has two kids (boys 1 and 4), and when touring (about 5 months a year) he goes back home about once a week to "check in" as he put it. Which I thought was very cool.
"Do what thy manhood bids thee do,
From none but self expect applause;
He noblest lives and noblest dies
Who makes and keeps his self-made laws."
- Sir Richard Francis Burton
Dear friends,
