Marathon = 26.2 miles / 42.195 Kms

In high school, while sitting in my Latin class hearing about ancient Rome and Greece, my mind would tend to wander. In particular, hearing about Pheidippides and his historic run from the Battle of Marathon to Athens to announce the defeat of the Persians. This story paired with the fact I was already getting up at 5:45am every morning to run in the dark, cold Panhandle mornings for cross country fueled the mental fire of me hoping to run a marathon one day.

Not to mention, also in high school, I took a trip to Greece and actually ran in an ancient stadium in Delphi and in the first modern Olympic stadium in Greece. (I have pictures of both. Just you wait.) All this history only added to the fire of my personal goal to run a marathon at least once in my life.

Cut to 3 months ago. I signed up to run a marathon. Part whim and part strategy, I believe this is the first time I've been in a place long enough and in a situation that I could do regular training. Also, The APLA training program offered an amazing camaraderie that would make the endeavor that much easier.

So yes, I am doing this and raising money at the same time. If you're feeling generous and this personal endeavor to not only enrich my life but to also help others has inspired you to donate to my marathon, you can donate by clicking HERE.

Like I said, this was 3 months ago and this past weekend I ran 12 miles. This is longest I've ever gone on a single run. While running, I was fun. Unfortunately, I had to cover a shift for a co-worker and, as a result, had to go straight from my run home to shower and then off to the store.

Standing on cement for another 5 hours was not fun. My little legs were shaking and I was taking absolutely every excuse to sit down. I'm not sure my legs have ever been so tired.

When I woke up on Sunday my legs were a bit sore and by Monday I was completely fine.

I am almost halfway to a full marathon and my body is holding up well. This is the first time that I truly see the long held goal actually turning into a reality. It feels really good and I'm so excited for March and to run the entire route and see that finish line. I can't wait.

Marathon, you are mine!

Maybe You'll See It Now?

See a Resemblance?

Let's hope so.

Would You Hire This Person?

Will's Outlook: Sunny; LA's Outlook: Rainy

This week has been quite the whirlwind. After leaving the ballet completely blown away and inspired to take on the world, I manage to fill out a few more job applications and mail a few more resumes. One such endeavor was at a job placement agency that specializes in advertising and public relations firms. Perfect, Right? They call me back for an interview on Thurs. Even more perfect, right?!

I go in for the interview, and might I interject, "What are people thinking when they get dressed for interviews?" I chose a very dapper look consisting mainly of business blues complete with tie. My fellow interviewees did not feel the same commitment to their wardrobe. Ryan, who interviewed after me, wore jeans, white button shirt (NO TIE), and a blue blazer with gold buttons. Was he confused and actually thought he was going to a very WASPy party at a country club? Let's hope.

Oh well, I mustn't be concerned with others choices.

Moving along, I was called in to be interviewed by a girl who spoke almost no English. My confidence that this agency will be able to find me work immediately diminishes. The conversation between us goes something like this:

Me: "I just moved to Los Angeles two weeks ago because I thought there would really great opportunities....."

Girl: "Uh Huh, How long have you lived in LA?"

Me: "Umm, two weeks?"

Girl: "Oh wow, so not long! How do you like it?"

UGH!! Seriously this girl is my hope to getting a foot in the door at some amazing PR firm? All hope is definitely, totally, completely lost.

While I'm sitting there another agent gets a call from a firm needing someone to come scan all day. Names are being thrown around the office.

Random Agent #1: "What about Lisa?"

Random Agent #2: "Oh she's at an interview."

Random Agent #3" "Good for her! Well what about ...."

This goes on for a bit. I'm completely surrounded by all of these ladies bantering about sending someone to work while my agent sits amongst them randomly circling things on my resume.

Girl: "Oh, you've worked in film."

Me: "Yes, I've some production work. For instance, I worked on 'Jumper.'"

Girl: "OH! I like that film."

She makes this last remark as she circles the word "Jumper" on my resume. She then proceeds to circle random words on my resume for no apparent reason, all the while, these three very loud ladies are discussing how they need someone NOW!!!

I'm thinking, "Me, I could go now. I'm here. for a job. Send. Me. Now."

Finally, one of the ladies must have been feeling the thoughts seeping out of my head.

Random Agent #1: "YOU!"

Me: "Me?"

Random Agent #1: "Yes YOU! Are you available to go scan?"

Me: "Yes"

So, cut to me standing in front of a scanner for 5 1/2 hours.

Don't get me wrong, I am so grateful to be out and doing something, but that was very boring. Not only that but the fact that nobody talked to each other in the entire firm. SO weird, but what matters at the end of the day is that they liked me, said they would ask for me by name if they ever needed anything else, and offered me an interview for when they were hiring 3-4 months down the road. Thanks? I guess.

Meanwhile, I've had interview offers from 3 other places including Bloomingdale's (Imagine me in a very stylish and expensive suit) and CB2 (Imagine me in the best styled apt in LA).

Forecast is proving to be mostly sunny in my world. I wish I could say the same for LA. It's been raining for almost 2 weeks! Shouldn't someone remind LA that it is indeed in a desert and do so quickly!

Turtles, Ballet and My First Celebrity Sighting

When I was little, like most smalls boys my age, I was obsessed with "The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles." I'm not really sure what their appeal was for everyone else but I know now that their high flying, acrobatic martial arts is what enthralled me from the start. Too bad I didn't start gymnastics for another ten years but I can't help but think back to the night that I saw their first live action movie. Honestly, I can't even remember the movie now, but burned into my memory is me running around the front yard in the dark for hours pretending to be Donatello. I would jump and "flip" off of tree stumps and roll in the grass evading harms way. I was so taken by what I saw on the screen that I had no choice but to try and reenact it at home.


Tonight I had a similar experience.

Over the past few weeks, I had quite a bit of time on my hands to read the free circulars that make their way around this City of Angels, I came upon an exciting little tidbit that informed of a new ballet company that was having a free showcase at USC. This ballet company is called "Trey McIntyre Project" and it was amazing. I have never seen ballet so real before. I guess you could say, I've only seen classical ballet that has done a good job of separating itself from us commoners. It was amazing to see ballet done so deconstructed, yet so technical, performed to music by Peter, Paul, and Mary and the Beatles.

I was truly inspired by what I saw on stage. I guess I'm still a child because this show had me dancing to my car. When you can't help but take what you saw on stage with you, then you know you've seen something great.

Only makes me wish ballet would have been available in Dalhart. Why do I have to begin everything so late?

After I thought the evening wouldn't be more inspiring. I have my first celebrity sighting since I moved out here to LA. A celebrity probably most of you don't know and only makes me more of a nerd for getting so excited, but I saw Jacques Haim in the lobby. Woohoo, big deal, right? Well, he choreographed Cirque du Soleil's "Ka." He's basically royalty in my world. I was so excited that I couldn't say anything, but it did let me know that I'm in a place that anything is possible. I just need to stop being a scared, timid, small town Texas boy and make it happen.

Los Angeles, here I am.

All photos shown are of Trey McIntyre Project, taken by Jonas Lunqvist. More information about Trey McIntyre Project can be found here.

LA or Bust

So it's been awhile, as usual. If you only knew how busy the last few months for me have been, you would completely understand. I promise I'll make it up to all of you, but first to very important business.

I'm moving to LA, more appropriately, driving to LA. That's a long drive and I need some music.

Which brings me to the reason for this post: What's your favorite road-trip song?

Please I need the feedback. Let's get to it.

See ya in the land of movie stars, suntans, and implants!

One More Day

Me. At Work. One More Day.

Who Is Tucker Max?

So for the past several months I have been in Shreveport, LA working on the film shoot for "I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell." The movie is based on the book of the same name, that is in turn taken from select stories from the blog of the same name. All of which began when Tucker Max started emailing his college buddies about his insane, extreme, over-indulged, and often over-exaggerated stories of his weekends.

It really is just the same old Frat Nation romp we've all seen but from the mind of a backwoods law student from Kentucky. So not only is it some of the most degrading and redneck material you've ever read but it's explained with the vocabulary of a lawyer. Just what we all needed, 40 pages taken to describe acts that you wish never existed, even if they only exist in Billy Bob's head.

I'll only go to see the movie to see my name roll by on the screen. You can guarantee it won't be for the midget stripper or the poo covered bathrooms. Yes, I did say bathroomS, plural.

Although, and it's probably the case with most movies, the behind-the-scenes action is more exciting. Tales involving laundered money, quarreling camera departments, actresses angry that they have to ride in a van with porn stars they went to high school with, and rotting meat in desks. It definitely all is in a day's work.

Needless to say I'm very glad this project is coming to an end.

Where to next? Who really knows, but from the bottom of my heart I say, "Au Revoir Louisiane," because I'm leaving and not planning to come back anytime soon.

Whoah! Holla! Whoah!

So I have been shafted many times trying to see Cirque du Soleil's first stadium show, Delirium.

First it was coming to Shreveport, LA of all places and I left two weeks before the show to return to New Zealand.

Then it was in Scandinavia just a short while after I left there as well last summer.

Now there are no scheduled dates and I'm out of luck......UNTIL they decided to release it as full-length feature event!!!

So starting tonight for 4 nights it's showing in cinemas all across the country. Granted the movie experience won't be as amazing but as least it's still an experience, right?!?!

If you're any friend of mine you should get your happy butt out there to see it!

Here's a little sneak peak.



I'M SO EXCITED!!!

Swedes Are Crazy.....Crazy Good

Lykke Li first American Release, "Little Bit"

Our Efforts Do Make a Difference

So apparently, my Satan, the evil Monsanto Corp., is not making a profit from its bovine growth hormones because people are demanding milk free of the nasty stuff. So as a result they are trying to sell off that division of their company.

It is just a small step, but it shows that our actions and choices can modify that of large, powerful corporations.

More can be read on treehugger.com.

I Guess We All Have Issues

So acclaimed NZ children's book author, Margaret Mahy, was recently convicted of drunk driving. I agree that being around all those kids, all the time, would drive me to drink too.

What makes it better is that she's 66 years old. Whoah, granny got a drink and she probably wasn't even that great of a driver to begin with.

Here's the article for all the details.

Green Thumb? Part 2

I didn't post any pics of the Pohutukawa planting before the internet at work went down. So here they are.



Haha, they are in the plastic bag. The growing directions said to keep them in there to maintain a damp soil. I thought I took another one of the tray with soil in it, but I guess I didn't. Oh well, It's not really that much to see right now. Hopefully it will be soon!

WOO HOO!!!!

Green Thumb?

I have just received packs of Cabbage Tree, Manuka Tree, and Pohutukawa Tree seeds from New Zealand.

We'll see if I have what it takes to grow a little bit of New Zealand here in the heart of America.

I'll try to keep everyone up-to-date on my progress, but first the directions for the Manuka and Cabbage trees say to soak the seeds over night. This puzzles me but I'll go ahead and trust the labels.

Here's my soaking cups up at the office.


Very exciting, I know.

A Little Gem From Down Under

Ok, it's not deep, but boy is it fun. I'm sure some of my old NZ friends would agree. Just sit back and let your booty shake.



All I can say is that I wish I had a light-up stripper pole. I'm jealous Kylie, jealous.

Cancer Reading for July 20th

"One dream at a time, small hopes compounding to become great expectations, that's the energy for you to put out today if you really want to manifest your dreams. All consuming fantasies have their place, but building possible dreams now can make the impossible happen sooner than later."

Amen!

It's Not All My Fault

So I was trying to figure out a way to post only the song but I had to settle for this weirdly homemade video. What's important is the song anyway.

I love Alanis Morissette and I listen to her quite a bit. For some reason I had never heard this song until this past week. Quite appropriate. I think we often go to extremes in our dealings with people and either take complete fault or none at all, when really we fall somewhere in the middle.

So for that, It's not all me. It's not all my fault. I may remind you but I won't take it all.



Also, She's having an online concert on July 24th at 1pm CST here.

Below are the lyrics to "Not All Me" so you can follow along with crazy Alanis's voice.

I wear their face on top of my face
I am the perfect target screen for your blindly fueled rage

I bear the brunt of your long-buried pain
I don't mind helping you out but I want you to remember my name

It's not all me
It's not all my fault
I may remind you
But I won't take it all on

past-riddled riddled rage I see the buttons I engage
with my dignity in place I'm all too happy to assuage

It's not all me
It's not all my fault
I may remind you
But I won't take it all on

Lest I find my voice find the strength to stand up to you
Lest I state my limit and take on only what is mine to

We are a team I'm here to help mend and re-seam
All I trigger unknowingly a job I hold in high esteem

It's not all me
It's not all my fault
I may remind you
But I won't take it all on
I'll take only some of it

No Wonder

I just realized that last week was the Riddu Riddu Festival in Norway. Which means that it has officially been a year since I have been up in the air on my tissu. Wow, no wonder I've been sad lately.

Trouble In Fair Christchurch

I read this article on Christchurch's The Press Website. Oh the things you have to deal with when you're a prostitute.


Prison sentence for setting up prostitute for robbery
By DEAN CALCOTT - The Press | Tuesday, 15 July 2008

Two men who set up a prostitute for a robbery were caught after she realised her supposed client was in on the crime, a court had been told.

Ali Ahmadi, 24, a refugee from Afghanistan, and Mustafa Hussaini, 19, an immigrant from Iran, who were both found guilty of aggravated robbery, were each jailed for 4½ years by Christchurch District Court Judge Phil Moran.

The judge said the victim was a prostitute working on her own account. Ahmadi had engaged her services, taking alcohol to her premises and leaving some downstairs after taking some upstairs to her room.

After talking to the woman he went back down to get the rest of the alcohol.

Meanwhile, he unlocked the door to let in Hussaini.

While Ahmadi was upstairs having sex with the prostitute, Hussaini burst in with a pistol, held it to her head and demanded money and her car.

The victim, terrified after being threatened with being shot, talked him out of tying her up, then showed where her car was parked and handed over the $120 Ahmadi had paid.

To make things look "kosher", Hussaini also took Ahmadi's wallet, the judge said.

But the woman realised something was amiss and accused Ahmadi of being in on the robbery.

The judge said the jury rightly found both men guilty, and he regarded both as equally to blame.

There was a degree of planning, the victim was a vulnerable woman on her own and the offending had a significant impact on her.

Little could be said in mitigation, apart from that her car was recovered, the judge said. Appearing for Ahmadi, David Ruth said the firearm was a starting pistol.

The case was similar to a dairy robbery because it was of an owner-operated business.

Ahmadi had already been in custody a year, Ruth said.

Appearing for Hussaini, Allister Davis said Hussaini maintained his innocence, and he was assessed at a low risk of reoffending.