A Study in Productivity

In an earlier post, entitled "Retirement, Glorious Retirement," I celebrated the laziness that can accompany a lack of daily sturcture and routine. No longer! Today, I have accomplished a great deal, and it's only 11 a.m. So far, I have rolled $20 in quarters to be deposited. That brings my total over the last three days to $50. That change really adds up! I have also loaded the theme song from Super Mario Brothers - as well as a shorter, hip-hoppier remix of the same - onto my iPod. Those are two of many tracks I loaded, but I think we can all agree that, no matter what those other songs are, they are - in the company of Nintendo's greatest hits - of little consequence. Lest you think my astounding productivity ends there, I have also answered an email, instant messaged with a friend, drunk coffee (not one, but two cups) and I still have plans to shower! It's ambitious, I know, but reaching for the stars is a great way to be sure we won't end up with a handful of dirt. Remember that.

In other news, a hearty thank you and congratulations to Julie, a regular reader and commenter, who was visitor number 4000. I have promised her lunch. We'll see if that happens. Lordy knows, it'll have to be another day (see today's to-do list above).

Thank You. Thank You Very Much.

It has been far too long, my friends, and for that, I begin this day of giving thanks by apologizing. Not because I think you have necessarily missed having entertaining and informative posts to read (though perhaps you have), but because I have missed assuming that you are out there reading. I have also missed the spam comments, ridiculously poorly disguised as friendly comments, on each of the posts. So that brings us to Thanksgiving...

I am thankful for everyone who visits (we're almost at 4000! Who will the lucky visitor be? As always, use the comment feature to let me know if it's you so I can promise you a gift or prize that I may or may not deliver on.) and shares in our special ride. I'm even thankful for the spammers. It's good to know they're out there - reading, commenting, selling children's rash guards - whatever those are - and the like. What would the world be like without the spammers? (Don't answer that. This is a day to be nice.)

I have much to report once the holiday has passed. From a trip to New Orleans to my first viewing of Walk The Line, and the start of my fourth season as coach of the mighty Temple Israel Runnin' Rabbis basketball team to reading Al Franken's book, Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them, there is much for us to discuss. For now, though, enjoy the day. Take time to recognize the blessings, too many to count, that are a part of your life and be thankful for them. Remember, too, that thanksgiving makes a great everyday activity, so this day, prepare yourself for a lifetime of gratitude, for that is the attitude of the happy and the content. Also, eat a turkey.

I hope this day finds you near those who are most important to you. If not, then as the classic song says, "If you can't be with the one you love... read Ziggybackride and check back often."

Catch a Rising Star!

I just saw myself on E! Entertainment Television! I'm watching their show "Behind The Scenes" about the movie "Walk The Line" starring Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon. The movie is due in theaters next week and I did some work as an extra on one overnight concert shoot in the summer of 2004. I've been so excited for the movie to come out - partly because I think it'll be good, but mostly because I want to see if I'm in it. If I am, it will be for a split second or it might just be part of me. No telling. But they were just showing a clip from the scene we filmed in which I was a roadie on stage and I just saw my back as I took an instrument from Reese Witherspoon. Awesome! I mean, if you didn't already know it was me, there's no way to tell, but the thing is, I know! I don't know if that was a shot that's in the film or not. We'll see.

Remember, see the movie and look for the bearded guy in the ultra-tight burnt orange shirt and yellow plaid pants!

Eye Patch Shortage?

In the last couple of days, there was a pirate attack on an American-based cruise ship near the Seychelles. A pirate attack. A pirate attack?!?

Here is a link to the story...
http://articles.news.aol.com/news/article.adp?id=20051105072209990008&ncid=NWS00010000000001

I guess I just never thought that I would get news of pirate-related goings-on... over the internet. One of those things is definitely happening in the wrong century. In the news article (I hope that link works. I'm not very proficient with these things.) there are pictures of the so-called pirates. It's a few guys in a little boat with machine guns and grenade launchers, not a puffy shirt or eye patch in sight! No Jolly Roger (that's the skull-and-crossbones flag), no parrot, and no plank, as far as I can tell. Not a hook on a single hand. Aren't we throwing the term pirate around a little loosely? I believe the correct term is terrorists. Or possibly jackasses. Or both. But let's not get crazy here.

Watch yourselves on the seas, me mateys. They're out there and they mean business.

Hi. I'm in Michigan.

Okay, that one’s not in the movie, but it’s a true statement (and also – I promise – the last Wayne’s World reference for a while). I am writing from the waiting area at Detroit’s Gate A57, awaiting my flight home. Before the ziggybackride takes us back into Memphis, let’s have the final “by the numbers” on the trip now ending.

20 days out of town, during which I stayed in
6 different places and slept in/on
3 beds, for
5 nights,
2 air mattresses, for
6 nights, and
2 couches, for
8 nights (and I think
1 subway car, but that was more of a nap). I took
2 Amtrak trains, visited
4 boroughs of the New York City, ate
2 falafel sandwiches (Chickpea was better than Mahmoun’s), and
7 slices of pizza. As for comedy, the final tally includes
13 performances in
9 clubs and
2 homes, for an estimated total of
84 performance minutes. Last night, I ate
2 dinners with
1 friend because we are
stupid. Then I saw another friend before taking
3 trains back to the apartment in which I was staying. The
2 dinners were coming back to haunt me at that point, and
forever was how long the journey home felt! Northwest flight
285 boards in about
1 hour, and I expect to be in Memphis at approximately
4:04 this afternoon. Being home will make me
1 happy guy!

It has been fun! I’m going to put on my blue suede shoes before I board the plane.