TALES FROM CARMAGEDDON - 'Ten Minutes with Tom'

Last time we left off, our courageous hero (me), was on a collision course with the event known as 'Carmaggedon'. Since then his blog has remained empty, leaving some folks to ponder his fate… until now.

Ghostcockroach presents...

TALES FROM CARMAGEDDON - 'Ten Minutes with Tom'

It was the year of the celebrity, 2011. As a lover of all things film and tv, my encounters this year has brought the inner hot dog eating, roller skating Brad child front and center. I've been straight geeking, yo. 

Brief sightings and encounters are awesome, but during the weekend of Carmageddon - I had one of the coolest experiences of my life. It's an experience known now as 'Ten with Tom'. It followed two other pretty kickass events - 'Ten with Rita' and '5 with Mary Kay Place'. Oh, and 'Awkward few seconds with Eugene Levy' was noteworthy as well. 

It all happened at McCabe's Guitar Shop in Santa Monica. It was a rare, but well deserved perk of the industry that I've chosen to work in - the music industry :( It's here I found myself in a corner conversing one on one with Tom Hanks. Ten minutes of uninterrupted conversation with perhaps the greatest actor of our generation, and somebody I have grown up watching on the small and big screen.

This full story is best told in person, as it involves animation, reenactments, and a brief role playing scenario. But, what I will do here is release rare photos from the night. 

After talking with Tommy, I couldn't resist getting my picture taken with Hollywood royalty. A somewhat simple task, right? Wrong…. wrong. It took several times to get a picture that I could actually show people. Here's how it all unfolded. 

Attempt # 1:

Point and click - easy. Well, that is if your smart phone is set to camera and not video camera. Watch as the hijinks ensue. 

Attempt # 2:

Okay - we've got it. Feeling good. I take a few pictures for some other people, then the Hanks and Levy crew say their goodbyes. As I sit down to look at the picture with me and Tommy - my stomach drops when I see this. 

Attempt # 3: 

WTF? You always snap two photos! I might cry - wait, I hear Rita still talking in the hallway. I'm pushing it now, but let's face it - I'll never get this opportunity again. I peek out in the hallway and Tom is texting. 'Hey, Tom? Can I get one with you and Rita?' Sure he says...

Attempt # 4: 

You always take two :) 

Then there is this... the blurry corner convo shot.

Look kids, Big Ben and Parliament...

I sat down with Brad Talley recently to talk with him about his upcoming LA trip. 

Interviewer: Brad, I understand you're traveling to LA this weekend.
Brad: Yes, that's correct!

(I): But, but, but, Brad - have you heard about Carmageddon?
(B): Yes, about a million f**king times.

(I): Oh goodness, Brad.
(B): …….

(I): Can't you go another time? Do you have to go now?
(B): Yes, but I still have to go this time.

(I): Why, why do you have to go this time?
(B): Because of work. I have artists playing shows.

(I): Oh, man - okay. Why did you do that?!
(B): I didn't, these were booked before we knew about this.

(I): Some reports say that traffic can be backed all the way to the Mexican border!
(B): …..

(I): Some say to the moon!
(B): ……

(I): Did you know there is a web-
(B): Shut the f**k up.

(I): There's also a twitter page… called Carmageddon.
(B): ……..

(end transcript)

Activate dynothrusters...

If you haven't seen the story about the Southwest pilot unknowingly jibber jabbing over the air traffic control channel, then just watch the video below.

(warning - heed the warning)


Okay, so now we're all caught up.

As a 36 year-old fellow, I'm a realist and a pessimist. In other words, nothing much shocks me - hell, I work in the music industry, it's has more villainy and scum than the Mos Eisley Cantina. Yet, this video, it shocked me. Just when I though all naivety was gone, this caught me off guard.

I don't mind flying. In fact, I rather enjoy it. There have been times it freaked me out, but as I get older the less anxious I've become. And, there's always drugs.

I've always thought of pilots being distinguished, a little better than me. Sure, they have their flaws, but you're surely supposed to be focused in the cockpit - doing smart stuff. You know, math and shit. Much like how I imagine a surgeon. A superior mind with physical reflexes and precision, doing the job that I can't do.

I'm not sure what freaked me out more, to hear the pilot talking like this, or the simple fact that his dumbass hit the wrong switch. He cluelessly babbles away, while cutting off communication between air traffic control and the other aircraft flying around trying to land.

They can't all be Good Ole Capt'n Sully, Hero of the Hudson, right? But, they could at least be a little better than Hollywood and Wolfman from Top Gun.



In other Southwest related news, if you fly with them this month, be sure to read the Spirit Magazine. One of my artists, The Apache Relay are featured as one of the forty up and coming artists.

How you like them apples?

Normally - trips to NYC are pretty spectacular. However, last weeks work based adventure provided more stressful moments that peaceful ones.

In the end, the energy of the city and the company of good friends turned my frown upside down.

Sunday, I took a nice walk across the Brooklyn Bridge, over to ground zero, then down through the financial district to Battery Park. It was there that I found myself on the set of Men In Black 3, and yes I saw Will Smith, and Jada :) After that, I popped up to Tribecca so I could snap a shot of the Ghostbusters firehouse.

A good day, indeed.

NYC Summer 2011

Happiness is...

I can't tell you how much I love this video. The coughing, the impact of the fall, the fact that the beat never stops, the snoring mixed with the death rattle cough. Hell, just the wallpaper or wood paneling, or whatever the hell it is.

This is the cure for any bad day.

The Return...

After a long hiatus from my blog, I've decided it's time to come back. Like when Tony Almeida came back on 24.

Here's a little of what I've been up to...

Hey Buddy! You need whole new parts buddy!

Every now and then, I get to enjoy the aspect of my job that brought me to this place to begin with, the music. Tonight, I’m enjoying a rare moment of just sitting and listening. No drama, just checking the record for any strange glitches and faux pas. Throw in some Bombay Sapphire, and you have a hell of an evening.

I’m not allowed to say what I’m listening to just yet, as this would surely show up in somebody’s Google alert, and my loose lips would have sunk a ship. Mine. I will say that I’m listening to one of the greatest songwriters of our lifetime, and right now it’s easy to see why.

Since I have some time, I figured I’d catch up on my blogging. I have so much I’d like to jump into, but the music tonight is sort of dictating the content. In other words, not the right time to tell you if I think Jay Cutler is a pussy willow or not.

No, the sounds tonight feature tales of love, and love lost - relationships that have ended, and others that have yet to begin. Including the pain that surrounds all of that. I’m not sentimental just yet, but it does tap into something I’ve been thinking about over the past week. That is that I have some wonderful people in my life right now.

To that sentiment, have you ever wondered what your process of selection is for those that you surround yourself with? Of course, some people are related, and some just happen to occupy the same space with you, albeit a job or some weird roommate you get stuck with. Not to diminish those relationships. But still, even among family and co-workers – you vibe with some more than others.

Maybe I’m over analyzing, but I’m realizing that I use humor as a way of finding those I love. My closest friends (a small group) have one thing in common – a great sense of humor, topped off with an outstanding laugh. Nothing makes me happier.

In my experience, a good laugh can tell you a lot about a person. A strong laugh is a sign of security and confidence, unless it’s a fake one. But, you can usually catch those. A good laugh usually comes with the ‘what you see is what you get’ personality. Granted, sometimes that visible personality can be that of an asshole. Still, there’s no hiding.

There’s nothing I’d rather do than sit with my friends and laugh. You know who you are, and I appreciate and love everyone of you.

Okay, the record is almost over. Perfect timing…

Not pictured, but thinking of Jessica S, Bendte, and most recently Daina. Oh, and Jilly Bean and Houck Finn.