2010...

So another decade has come and gone. 1999-2009 has left me with some fleeting memories of the past and many of the memories have been quite fond. I've fallen in and out of love, watched my siblings grow-up, traveled to many wonderful places and seen Radiohead perform live three times. I think of all the friends I've met and the neat experiences and challenges that I've shared with them..

I remember NYE 1999, 18 and celebrating on the streets of Saltillo, Mexico while red-state America was fearing the end of the world or as cable News reffered to it, Y2K!!! Remember all those fools gathering bottled water and canned goods from Sam's? People actually holing themselves up in underground bunkers just in case the huge computer glitch sent this world into such a turnspin that god himself would have to come down and end it for all of us.

Now we find ourselves two years from the next big NYE phenomenon, 2012...Some people believe it will be a positive transformation spiritually while other think the world will explode into pieces because thats what some Mexican Mayan Indians predicted would happen. Many fundamentalist Christians actually root for the apocalypse because they are too cowardly to just kill themselves and rid us of their idiotic superstitions.

For all the people who believe that our world will end when the new year is about to begin...which time zone will the apocalypse begin on? Will I watch Ryan Seacrest in Times Square and realize I have one hour to repent? Will it catch us by surprise on like a Tuesday afternoon in July?

I say just live, let live and remember that no one gets out of here alive. I want to enjoy the days and stop looking towards the future imagining a better life for myself and this place we inhabit. Time passes fast and the future is always a second away. Focus on the present, thats the only time you really can influence what happens and how you live.

Have a great new year and I love you all very much.

Cheers,

Brendan

Pale Blue Dot

We succeeded in taking that picture [from deep space], and, if you look at it, you see a dot. That's here. That's home. That's us. On it, everyone you ever heard of, every human being who ever lived, lived out their lives. The aggregate of all our joys and sufferings, thousands of confident religions, ideologies and economic doctrines, every hunter and forager, every hero and coward, every creator and destroyer of civilizations, every king and peasant, every young couple in love, every hopeful child, every mother and father, every inventor and explorer, every teacher of morals, every corrupt politician, every superstar, every supreme leader, every saint and sinner in the history of our species, lived there on a mote of dust, suspended in a sunbeam.

The earth is a very small stage in a vast cosmic arena. Think of the rivers of blood spilled by all those generals and emperors so that in glory and in triumph they could become the momentary masters of a fraction of a dot. Think of the endless cruelties visited by the inhabitants of one corner of the dot on scarcely distinguishable inhabitants of some other corner of the dot. How frequent their misunderstandings, how eager they are to kill one another, how fervent their hatreds. Our posturings, our imagined self-importance, the delusion that we have some privileged position in the universe, are challenged by this point of pale light.

Our planet is a lonely speck in the great enveloping cosmic dark. In our obscurity -- in all this vastness -- there is no hint that help will come from elsewhere to save us from ourselves. It is up to us. It's been said that astronomy is a humbling, and I might add, a character-building experience. To my mind, there is perhaps no better demonstration of the folly of human conceits than this distant image of our tiny world. To me, it underscores our responsibility to deal more kindly and compassionately with one another and to preserve and cherish that pale blue dot, the only home we've ever known.

-Carl Sagan

New Years Resolution

Every year people decide that this is the year they're going to ________ (save money, lose weight, quit smoking, read a book, stop watching FOX news). It never happens (for most) they talk themselves up and expect a pat on the back for doing things that they should do anyway and then fail miserably and give it a go the next year. Majority of people are stupid and lazy and that is why companies cater to their flaws, knowing that they can make some $$$$ of of their zero-willpower and ignorance.

Beer with only 55 calories?!?! Drink some real beer, enjoy the flavor and the craftsmanship of a real beer and don't worry about the calories.

Taco Bell Drive-Through Diet!?!? Don't eat at taco bell (www.tacobell.com/nutrition/ingredient-statement)
Nice diet! Drive your fat ass to the local Taco Bell and get some grade D beef with a large diet coke. How about WALK to the local Grocery store and make your own tacos using fresh ingredients.

Save money...okay, I'm not really good at that either...

To be a more enlightened person, turn off FOX new, MSNBC and CNN. Instead, tune into NPR, watch BBC and read the paper; even my blog.

Being a better person or achieving ones goals shouldn't be an annual struggle, it should be a daily one. Try to have more successful days than not and you will be far closer to happiness than you think.

its already 2 pm...I should get out of bed!

Christmas Cheer

If I said this was the best Christmas ever, would you believe me?


Well it wasn't the best christmas ever. As a matter of fact it was one of the SHITTIEST Chirstmases ever. Don't feel bad for me though, feel bad for Baby Jesus. I hope he forgives some of my family for not celebrating his birth properly and worrying more about thier prime rib and mashed potatoes than spreading Christmas cheer. You know what? I could go into detail as to why this Christmas sucked harder than Pam Anderson on a yacht but I'm not going to...Why? Because I hate drama baby!!!

Let's focus on the good stuff.

I got a sonic care toothbrush and brushing my teeth is so much fun now.

My Mom and Dad ordered me a screen press so I can make my own graphic tees.

I have more cookware than storage space!

My Dog Loves me

I got to see my sister

I hugged my Mom a bunch

I played Ping Pong

Whenever Hakeem Warrick makes a basket they play an audio clip from He-Man

&

The sun will come up tomorrow

Hey its the birthday of baby Jesus! Lets celebrate by breaking the seven deadly sins!!!!

Yesterday I went to see Avatar in 3-D with my pal Erik. Typically I don't go to the big blockbuster movies. Honestly, if I added up all the graphic novel, comic book, and Eddie Murphy movies I probably have seen three blockbusters since the early 2000's. Avatar was cliche "Hollywood" in many aspects, like the lines Sigourney Weaver delivered, they were so contrived that I wanted to laugh out-loud at her performance. That being said, the 3-D effects and animation were amazing and I definitely got Erik's $10.50 worth. I would recommend going especially if you smoke some cabbage beforehand.

This past weekend was superb. All this down time has afforded me much laziness. I know there isn't much to do when its a Tuesday afternoon and I'm contemplating whether or not to shower and if I should give myself a neck trim, or go to the barbershop and have them do it. I think I'm gonna have a spa day for my mouth (Pervs). Not only brush and floss but use my threaders, and my gum stimulator. I owe my body a day at the gym too. I Will do that in a couple hours.

Tomorrow I will head to Green Bay early morning and spend ALL day with my friends Dave and Chris. I might even see Cathryn and Emily! Thursday is our annual Jones family Christmas Eve and I can't wait to open presents and spend quality time with my parents and sibs.

ENVY- Why did everyone of my friends get the new game console and I didn't?

SLOTH- I'm not going to do anything but sit on this couch and watch football.

GLUTTONY- Sure I'll have some more dessert, let me inject some insulin first.

WRATH- Dammit, why can't I put together this FUCKING race track. "put driver screw in hole A-87, turn super times....stupid made in china shit". "Honey take this back to walmart and buy us some footlongs from subway please."

PRIDE-It's Christmas idiots, if you don't believe in my god go back to work and vote for Obama in 2012, I'm gonna sip egg nog and read my sarah palin book by my fireplace in my 5,000 sq ft home.

LUST- I need to have sex with someone...NOW.

GREED- Cheap bastards only gave me a $25 gas gift card...it takes $40 to fill my tank!!!

To all my Jesus is the messiah friends, Merry Christmas.

To all my Jesus was a man not the messiah friends, Happy Chanukah.

To all my Jesus is the hombre who cuts my lawn and roofed my neighbors house friends, Happy Holidays!

Love Brendan

Lazy Days

I was tempted to replace the "y" in days with a "z" but then decided against it.

I have absolutely loved the last few days. Going to bed at 3 am and waking up around anywhere from 10am-2pm. I feel pretty worthless but it feels nice. I'm just chilling in Alterra drinking some hot spiced cider, avoiding the walk home in the 7 degree weather (at least the sun is out). Yesterday was enjoyable. I hung out with my childhood friend, Kyle Nelson, who is a handful of months away from starting his residency. He went through a difficult divorce and it was nice to see him so focused on himself and positive for his new future. Kyle is very religious, something I am not. I am spiritual but don't have a strong faith in the Christian God. I know that he was very let-down with his unsuccessful marriage and it challenged him immensely but his relationship with his creator has helped him through all of this and I give him a lot of credit for managing his marriage and medical school over the past year. We drove around, went to lunch and then watched some "Curb Your Enthusiasm." Kyle is one of the few people in my life that make me genuinely happy. I never bore of his presence and wish it was more frequent.

Last night I decided to do some baking. I would classify myself as a very good cook, but baking has never been an interest until recently. Giorgio and I went to Trader Joe's and bought the store, including some plant life. Our friend Mikey and Chelsea came over and it became a nice little party. We drank wine, had great conversation with some nice tunes.

Today I think I'll watch some movies and finally finish cleaning my room. Hopefully the gym lures me in like this cute Asian here at the coffee shop has.

The weekend receives an 85%

I don't like to plan on having too good a time, usually, if I do, the planned fun doesn't pan out.

Friday night I was supposed to meet my friend Megan out for some drinks and really wanted to go to the Bayview Brewhaus to see a show. After getting many texts explaining on where to meet I finally braved the sub zero temps and drove to the venue, found parking and received a text saying..."We're leaving and going to National Ave., meet us there!" Well I already was out of the car and a block away...I got in my car and went home. I slept real nicely friday night and saturday bummed around the house and listened to some music, came across a band called "Headlights" and checked them out online. When I looked at their tour information I learned that they played at the Bayview Brewhaus the night before-CRAZY!

Saturday before work I tore apart the house looking for my Ugly Christmas Sweater from 2008 (see bearded picture below) and had no luck finding it. I then rushed to the Value Village in kinda-ghetto Milwaukee and found this gem (see other picture). I was all set for Chelsea's big Ugly sweater party. I was a little late for work because of the sweater shopping but no one noticed, whew. I was pumped, I love hanging out with my co-workers and sipping on some beers.

We get to Chelsea's pretty late and all said co-workers stayed for like an hour because they had to be up at 8 am to work...Last time I checked we were Wisconsinites and this was an Ugly sweater party. Why so lame? I don't know?..So, I was bummed and had to make some new friends on the fly. I befriended some of Chelsea's amigos and ended up getting pretty fucked up singing Sublime all night (not too bad).

Today I burned a few dozen calories from breathing while watching 9 hours of football and the movie "The Cove" (see it) with my friend Erik. We actually did get off the couch to go eat some brunch at Cafe Centraal and drink a couple Bloody Mary's. I like spending time with Erik, he's the kind of friend you can just do anything with and have a great time. His social commentary is stellar as well. I managed to fall asleep for an hour during the late game tonight, must've been the nachos I ate at halftime that made me so sleepy.

I think I will go to the gym tomorrow and run some errands, I need to stay away from the couch/TV until next Sunday.

Snow day!

So, I was supposed to return to work after 3 months away but won't be since everything is closed due to the heavy snowfall. I don't really want to go back to the Country Club, every time I go back after a show they treat me like I've been on a vacation.

"So Brendan how was the time off?"

The time off? Yeah it was great! I got up everyday at 2 am, went outside in the rain for a few hours prepping the trucks in the dark and then drove with the most annoying Yinzer on this earth, Chuck. Got to inhale his second hand smoke which helped me wake up and be alert for the day which consisted of getting yelled at by my bipolar boss. We'd get to set which was in this lovely place called McKee's Rocks, you really should visit there sometime! Great people and beautiful landmarks like Club Erotica and the AMPM. We had this really great abandoned warehouse to work out of too! There were groundhogs and raccoons that would hide in the dark and totally scare us as we set-up-those guys!!! There was also this tent that had Propane heaters and a mildewy carpet, the scent was nice and it covered up all the asbestos in the air. After chilling in the moist tent for 12 hours we got to pack up and head back to our lot where we'd shoot the shit in a giant refrigerator/freezer for a couple hours. We'd eventually decide to go back to the hotel and get some rest. I mean we couldn't wait to do it again eight hours later.

Yeah, the time off was great, 3 months in paradise...

Really though, it was hard work, hard work that I miss already...call me crazy (but don't call me late for dinner) but I think I got addicted to the job a little bit.

I don't know what to do today? I have no plans and it is getting hard for me to get out of this bed. What should I do?

I'll go back to work tomorrow and fight through the next couple weeks, then go on unemployment for a couple months until a job pops up...Keep your eyes open for me, I want my next "vacation" to happen real soon!

GO PACK GO

Last night was my first Packer game in Lambeau Field in quite sometime. No matter how old I get or how much I see of the world, one thing is for sure, Green Bay will always be Green Bay. I don't know what it is about the cake faced girls in snowmobile jackets, the topless overweight men, the blaze orange hunters, or the obnoxious homer fans that think our team can do no wrong; but it brings me to a happy place.

I enjoy the game and cheer for my team, I mean, I love the pack but I can see why some think Green Bay fans are a tad strange. Maybe its the air pollution from the paper mills or the endless happy hours. Whatever it is I hope it never changes. I've never been to a Major league city with such a diversity of crazy fans that take pride in their silliness and sometimes ignorance. Whatever it is, Green Bay Packer fans are special in all the right and wrong ways.

Date Night

So last night I went on a date. I will not say with who but it was with a girl (surprise) that I've been wanting to go on a date with for months but couldn't because I was working in Pitt. I haven't gone on many dates since breaking up with Emily 2 years ago (and we dated for 5 years....That is 7 years)!

28-7= 21 years old (dating age)

I dated a girl from 16-19 and lived in Mexico for a year....Pretty much what I'm saying is I SUCK at dating and I was like a nervous teenager; minus those constant erections a teenage boy gets while in the company of a beautiful female.

So the night started with me being late by 35 minutes because I was working an audition for a local film that ran late and then had to go into Waukesha, WI. If you're not from "the shaw", driving there is next to impossible...I got lost. I knew she said her address was ___ but I went to ___ and it was a hick family with 4 wheelers as lawn ornaments, oops.

While driving with said date, I whipped a u-turn and ran into the curb and while parking at the restaurant ran past the curb again...no big damage just some crunching noises...It entertained her but made me feel like an idiot.

During dinner I decided to get the messiest meal that consisted of sauces that wanted to drip down my face every time I bit into my tortilla. When I excused myself to go to the bathroom to clean up my face I knocked over her crutches and that made a loud crash, but hey, she was laughing...

We went to a movie...it was 2 hours of quiet time...whew!

Fast forward to the end of the night, the drop off... I knew I wasn't gonna go in for a kiss or anything too sassy on the first date, (even if it was the 33rd date I am not good at that stuff) so I helped her upstairs like a gentleman and gave her a hug and made plans for this Thursday...

I need to not be so nervous!

Back in the kitchen!!!!

I am delighted to be back in the kitchen! The last three months I haven't been able to go shopping or cook for myself; so last night I made some kick-ass Mushroom, spinach artichoke stuffed chicken breasts with rosemary potatoes and some good ol' Brussel sprouts. This morning I woke up and in between doing laundry I made some scrambled eggs with carnitas style pork, pico de gallo, mexican cheeses, salsa verde and topped it with sour cream....I'm sure it wasn't the healthiest breakfast but it will keep my engine going throughout the day.

This afternoon I am doing a casting call for a short comedy to be shot in late January and then gonna go check out that flick "Brothers" with my lady friend Pah-tricia. Busy day you might say, well yes, it will be busy. I then will head north where all the fireworks, and cheese stands exist to get ready for some Packer football tomorrow night. Fill you in on how that goes later. GO PACK GO!!

Home Sweet Home...

I arrived home last night after 13 hours on the road. America is one big, ever-expanding strip mall with a few trees left in between. Seriously, does every place with a few thousand people need a walgreens?

When I got home I was relieved that my keys still opened the doors and the house was nice and toasty. Giorgio was happy to have me home but as with every show it will be difficult re-adjusting life back home. It's a strange depressing feeling that is difficult to explain. I'll get over it and I know work will come soon enough but I am going to miss all those people that brightened my days on and off set. The money was nice and so was the scenery. Where to next? I have no idea? Hopefully somewhere warm.

Love and Other Drugs -Wrap Party

Whew! Another production has come and gone and last night was the official wrap party. It's always bittersweet finishing a marathon-of-a-job (this one especially). So many people over the last 3 months have brightened my days and shared some good memories and stories. It was a fun party and getting a sneak peek at the film was a nice treat. The movie looks to be hilarious. Set in the 90's its gonna have a rocking soundtrack and the performances look like they won't disappoint.

I don't know if I want to leave Pittsburgh all that much. I seriously am a BIG fan of this place and hope to find work here again someday. If not I'll just have to visit. Well, I have to get out of this hotel bed and wrap out the truck. One more night in this place and then to a real house. The water pressure on the shower head will be the thing I miss most from my hotel room.