RANDOM PIC OF THE WEEK
While looking around on Amazon I found a series of new books called “These Are The Voyages,” which chronicle the behind-the-scenes struggles during the making of the original “Star Trek” TV series. In one of the books was this shot, which I absolutely love!
I was in my local CVS Sunday afternoon waiting in line to get my prescription. The overhead music system played “Give A Little Bit” by Supertramp. It sounded so good, and it caused a flood of memories to rush into my mind. I remember playing that song on KABR 1420 in Aberdeen, South Dakota when it first came out in 1978 for a classmate named Rose, who also loved the song. It’s all I could do to contain myself in the store. I wanted to break out in song and dance!
Monday the 9th – HERE WE GO AGAIN! – Just after 1pm I awoke and did a quick audition for my agent Vinnie. I sent it in, and I figured while I was at it I’d blow out a few other auditions that were in my inbox. I took Roxy over to Panera to meet my pal Edi for lunch, and then I headed back home to start writing Wally’s Week. I got about halfway through and decided to lay down on the couch for a bit for a quick refresher nap. When I got up I finished Wally’s Week and did a few more auditions. I made some dinner and watched another “Mannix” episode from the eighth (and final) season DVD set.
Tuesday the 10th – CEASE AND DE-CYST! – I hit the road and headed to Santa Monica for a 1pm session for Samsung. As I was walking into the studio, the legendary Sam Elliott was walking out! Though I had my camera with me I figured if might be unprofessional if I geeked out and asked for a photo. So I just said, “Mr. Elliott…big fan!” He thanked me, and just then a couple of other guys from the studio came outside to take pictures with him. Rats! I should’ve gone for it! Oh well. He seemed like a very nice guy and I’m glad to have at least said hi. But he was without his legendary mustache!! I finished up the session for Samsung, and then headed over to my doctor’s office about a mile away. I wanted him to look at this ganglion cyst that was growing on my right wrist and causing pain. He said he could drain it, but there would be a 50% chance it would return. The likely remedy would be to visit a hand specialist and have it surgically removed. EEK! It was a long drive back home in afternoon traffic. I met with my pal Emily to grab dinner at Jersey Mike’s subs, and then I came back home to grab a nap on the couch. I got up and did my auditions, and then hit the hay to watch “Mannix” and polish off the rest of my Jersey Mike’s sub!
Wednesday the 11th – WEDNESDAY WORKSHOP! – After only 3 hours of sleep, I snapped wide awake! Time to start the day I guess. I did some work around the house, sent out my movie night invites, and prepped for my evening Voice-Over workshop. I tried to grab a quick nap before the class, but my animals wouldn’t leave me alone. I fed them and then got showered and headed off to the workshop. After a quick stop at McDonald’s for dinner to go, I got to the studio at 6:45, slammed down my dinner and started the workshop with Meredith Layne from Nickelodeon. It was a great class and a lot of fun! I got back home and walked Roxy, but I decided to grab a quick nap on the couch. I got up for a ton of auditions, did some work around the house and hit the hay for another busy day ahead.
Thursday the 12th – GORGEOUS & HOT! – Around 11am I got up and started the day by checking e-mails and walking Roxy. I headed down the freeway to Global Eagle in Marina Del Rey to do some pick-ups for an American Airlines session I had done late last year. It was a warm, gorgeous day and the drive was quick and pleasant. I got to the westside so early that I decided to swing by Campo’s (my favorite Mexican restaurant) and get a #3 to go. I sat in the Global Eagle parking lot eating my lunch and listening to the radio, enjoying the day. At 2pm I went inside and started the session. It only lasted 45 minutes, so it wasn’t long before I was back in the car and headed back home. The drive home lasted longer than the session…almost an hour! I rested a little bit, and later I met with my assistant Sara to get some dinner at DuPar’s. I came back and did some work around the house, then met up with Alexandria, a lovely speech therapist at Jerry’s Famous Deli. Though she’s still in school studying speech therapy, it was fascinating talking about the mechanics of the human voice. When our dinner was finished I came home and did my auditions, sent them to my agents, and hit the hay with dinner to watch another “Mannix” episode.
Friday the 13th – OOOOO SCARY! – No bad luck at all on THIS Friday the 13th! Just after noon I headed to Regenix for a follow-up visit and to get more supplies. After the appointment I stopped by International Silks and Woolens and grabbed about 10 yards of champagne gold satin. I’m having my seamstress Karyn re-do the cape for my Robin figure in Planet Wallywood. When the costume was originally made in the early 2000s, the photos and video we used for color reference showed the cape to be bright yellow. However, after inspecting original Batman and Robin costumes close-up and in-person, I realized the actual color of Robin’s cape was more of a gold/yellow color. Now that this information has been widely disseminated, and now that the capes on the newly released Robin figures all have gold/yellow capes, the yellow cape on my figure no longer pleases my eye. So I’m taking the cape off my figure so Karyn can take a pattern from it, and she’ll make 2 new capes from the new fabric. I got a text from a friend on the way home that our good pal Gary Owens passed away at the age of 80. Also originally from South Dakota, Gary had a long, illustrious career in both on-camera and Voice-Over. One of the greats, to be sure. When I got home I headed to my neighbor Caroline’s house to prep for her niece Emma’s birthday party. She’s a huge fan of “Big Hero 6” and for her birthday, my agent Pat acquired a signed photo for her from Ryan Potter, the actor who provides the voice for Hiro in the film. But as opposed to just handing it over to her, I created a fun little “clue game” so she would find it. So we had to plant the clue cards all over the house to get her to eventually find it. She did a great job figuring out all the clues and eventually finding the signed photo! Caroline barbecued some burgers and hot dogs and we all had a great time. Emma’s dad was in the original “Halloween” film in 1978. He was one of the mean kids tormenting Tommy. If you remember the kid that runs out of the schoolyard and is grabbed by Michael Myers, that’s him! So I just had to bring him over to Planet Wallywood so he could check out my lifesize Michael Myers figure. He was amazed at the workmanship and was particularly amazed by the creepy factor of the glass eyes in the figure. I sped off to Jerry’s Famous Deli to meet with my pal Kevin, an old friend from “The Tonight Show.” His production partner Boz was there and we talked about several ideas about fun internet shows we’d like to produce. When I got back home I grabbed a nap on the couch. When I got up I went to get a few grocery items, and then returned home to make some chili and watch “Mannix” before bed.
Saturday the 14th – GRAN TORI-NO?! – Today was the day I was supposed to pick up my Gran Torino from the shop. It had been in getting worked on for almost 2 months. I had scraped it up after a stupid move pulling it out of my parking spot over the Christmas holiday. I had really missed it, and was anxious to pick it up at 1pm. But at the last minute my pal Bodie Stroud called and said he just noticed that a piece was still missing and wasn’t due in until the first part of the week. When you deal with old cars like that, you get good parts where you can. So I need to wait a few more days until the little chrome piece that lines the right rear wheel well comes in. It’s better to wait for it, instead of going over there to get it, and then having to take it back again a few days later. So I just relaxed around the house all afternoon. The past couple of days had been a whirlwind so it felt good to just do nothing and hang out. It was about 85 degrees out and lots of people were out in the pool swimming and playing. A great preview of the summer months to come. A friend of mine loaned me a screener of “American Sniper” and we watched that at movie night. What a film! When my guests left I grabbed a quick nap on the couch, and then got up to feed and walk Roxy. During our walk around the neighborhood we discovered the body of a squirrel in the driveway. It wasn’t squished by a car, but had definitely suffered some sort of trauma. Sad. I hope it wasn’t one of the ones that come to my house to visit. After I finished our walk I went back outside and dug a hole in a nearby patch of dirt, and gave him a burial. I didn’t want neighborhood predators; dogs, coyotes, hawks, etc. bothering his body and scattering parts everywhere. So it’s always best to bury them right away when you find them. I went back inside to do some work, and being Saturday night, I made my traditional salad and watched another episode of the old British 60’s show “The Avengers” on Blu Ray.
Sunday the 15th – COMPUTER BLUE! – A few weeks ago I woke up from a nap and turned on my computer. But instead of seeing the usual screen saver photo, all I got was the infamous “blue screen of death!” What could have happened? I have all sorts of anti-virus programs on my computer, so I don’t think it was a virus. But you never know. So my computer Brian Boyd was on his way over to have a look to make sure it was all good. Before he got there I went over to CVS to pick up a prescription. While I was waiting “Give A Little Bit” by Supertramp came on the overhead music system. For some reason that song just hit my emotional button. My mind instantly flashed back to working in the dingy little KABR 1420 radio studio in 1978, playing this song from a 45 rpm record. I became very reflective and thankful about all that’s happened since those old radio days. Lots has happened in this wonderful life. I really enjoyed hearing that “blast from the past!” I got my prescription and headed over to the bank to make a deposit of checks in the Depository. I grabbed some food at Chipotle and headed home to meet with Brian. Come to find out, after checking the log, Brian said that my audio interface had a bug in its driver. Brian downloaded the patch and I was good to go! He also checked out a few other things and he sped off to his next appointment. I got cleaned up for church and Roxy and I walked over to enjoy the service. Again, it was another 84 degrees out! After the service we walked home and I grabbed a nap on the couch. When I got up I paid some bills, went through all my bank statements (always a “good” time…ugh) and then fed Roxy. We went on our late night stroll through the neighborhood and didn’t find any more dead squirrels. I came back inside to do Wally’s Week and then hit the hay with some dinner and “Mannix.” A VERY busy week is in store for the coming week, so I’m prepping myself mentally for the onslaught!
And how was YOUR week??!!
