Vick Gets Bit

Michael Vick pleaded guilty to funding the Bad Newz Kennel and the gambling associated with the operation as well as him being a part of the enterprise responsible for killing dogs that underperformed or were not fit to participate in fights.

Michael, c'mon dude. If you're a part of the "Bad Newz Kennel", what did you think was gonna be the outcome of your courtcase? You're not a part of the "Gonnsta Get Away Wit' It Kennel" or the "I Didn't Do Dat Shit Kennel". You should've known something was going to happen to you.

Then you tried to get rid of the evidence? Bad move. You must've been a part of the LAPD evidence team. Even O.J. hid more of his wrongdoing than this guy. He even wrote a book telling people how he did it and still is out of jail! Dead dogs everywhere and skeletons in the backyard? Mike, this is a backyard, Holmes, not a damn pet cemetery. What? You want the dogs to be buried come back to life to fight again?! You trying to stir up Cujo? Just put the fight in the middle of a yellow ford Pinto and have at it!

To top it off, Mike's own father snitched on him to the press. According to Pops, he was told to stop fighting or at least put the property in a friend's name. WTF?! Dad's treating dog fighting like bad credit now.

"Uh, yo man...I got's me a mean ass chihuahua that looking to take on one of DMX' dogs. I'm a little short right now...uh...could you put this $1.5 million ranch under your name? No? Oh, c'mon man... I swear I'm good for it. I take it back next week, for real!"

I'm glad you got caught for the atrocious activity you were engaging in. Hope that the dogs up in the pen get a bite of your ass...

Currently listening : Who Let the Dogs Out By Baha Men Release date: 25 July, 2000

*Boom Chi Boom Chi Boom Chi Boom Chi...*

I checked out the SCTC Conservatory Level 4 shows tonight along with a couple of friends/colleagues. I ran into the director for some shows I'm doing later on in the year, and he asked if we could use Courageous Rue/Nelson V music in the show! He also happened to mention that he would add a little blurb in the program as to where the music is coming from. I played it off really cool and thanked him for the opportunity and the honor of being a part of the show while my insides were jumping up and down with delight!

Currently listening : 1984 By Van Halen Release date: By 19 September, 2000

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Certified Funny!

After 3 long years, I have finished my formal improvisational acting training at Second City by graduating from the Conservatory! I received my red shirt last from the directors of last night's shows (don't the guys who wear the redshirts in the original Star Trek series always get killed on away missions? ) and a congratulatory handshake/hug while being fed pizza and soda the entire time (they had beer there but I'd unfortunately started a vow of soberness 30 years ago). It was a good time!

The show for L&D was off the rusty, tetanus-laced fence! We opened the show and brought it. In this run, I had 3.5 scenes in a running order of about 13 scenes. There were 2 blackouts, 1 full length, self accompanied song, and played a wacky-ass, beat-boxing DJ in the finale rap battle (I didn't come up with the idea of the rap battle but came up with idea of using some crazy, high-energy characters along with the formal host, thus, I claim a part of the scene for myself ) From the get-go, I felt that we were going to have a killer show just because of how well the opening blackout went. The words flowed out of me with very little thought to impede them unlike previous performances. As the show went on, we put even more energy into our scenes and even managed to have a few minor callbacks that were completely unplanned till they happened. It was really awesome to watch and be a part of .

It's interesting how sentimentality creeps in when you're at the end of a long journey with other people . For the most part, most people seemed to be happy to be at the end of the road, and begin looking forward to bigger and better things down the line. There were a few who were bummed that all the fun had come to an end. I personally am happy this journey has come to an end for me (*cue* End of The Road). I became a better person and better improviser as a result of all the interactions, people, staff, and material given to me, and it opened a bunch of new opportunities and experiences my way that I'll be taking advantage of. I definitely look forward to having my Monday and Wednesday nights back, and taking a long break from October to December (creative burnout ).

One of the nicest compliments I received from the ensemble was from this one guy who said, "You know what? You're really a powerful member of the group. the best thing you did on stage was support. You support when you're on stage and you do that really well." I told him I was "just doing my job". He seemed genuinely saddened that he and I never really got the chance to work together on equal footing. I truly was touched by his comment since I've felt slighted in my abilities for such a long time. The respect I was longing for came in at the end .

Currently listening : Monkeys for Nothin’ and the Chimps for Free By Reel Big Fish Release date: 10 July, 2007

We’re No Longer In Cincinatti

It looks like HBO, in an unprecedented move, has cancelled an excellent series entitled "John From Cincinatti". My in-laws turned me onto the show as it involved Nelson-type elements such as surfing, aliens, and great acting form almost every single character. I had been slowly caching up with the series as I no longer have HBO, and was enjoying the series thus far . It looks like I'll need to rely on my reruns of Judge Mathis to get me by .

Currently watching : John from Cincinnati

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Too Many Cooks...

I'm in situations where I've got groups of talented people where everybody (included myself) is strong-minded, independent, and incredibly vocal. It's a bloody free-for-all trying to make decisions and move forward. I turn into mega-bitch when I perceive that we're wasting time by talking about the same stuff over and over again in 8 different ways. I've resorted to shutting up and allowing them to continue talk (with a pouty face no doubt).

I can't hide my feelings anymore like I used to (and even then, I couldn't really even do it then). I wish I can keep a smile on my face when I'm unhappy with things. I ostracize myself from the groups by staying away from the situations that make me unhappy. However, I am then unhappy with the outcome because it has none of my input in it . It's an interesting paradox I get myself into. I take responsibility for my role in all of the dramas.

With that said, the phrase uttered (or more like barked by) Second City legend Michael Gellman holds true:

"Too many cooks spoil the soup, *explicative*!"

I've now witnessed funny-by-committee, direction-by-committee, production-by-committee. All that's the left is sexual-gratification-by-committee .

Alright. I'm gonna go home and meditate on this.

Currently listening : What’s Going on By Marvin Gaye Release date: 14 January, 2003

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