From the Inside Out

Today I did something I’ve wanted to do for a long time. I got behind the wheel of our Tige Wakeboarding boat and took it out on the open water again. I could give you a million excuses for why it’s been so long, but the excuses don’t really matter at this point. We’re back on the water, and I’m delighted. It’s like being a kid at Christmas time…I can’t wait for tomorrow! Not only will I be back on the lake, but I’ll also be wakeboarding — awesome!

Gary and I spent the better part of the afternoon getting the boat ready. After 2 years of sitting in an outdoor storage facility (told you it’s been a long time), the boat had some issues: flat tires on the trailer, dead batteries, outdated tags and the dreaded enemy, mold. Luckily, these were all problems we could fix, so after a couple hours of manual labor, we hooked up the trailer and pulled out of the storage facility.

After a pit stop at the gas station, we headed to the lake. Once we got there, we had only one question.

Would it start?

After two years of non-use and a partially charged battery, there was a good chance it wouldn’t.

My parents are camping this weekend at the lake in their RV, so they came over to watch the historic event. The boat was loaded up, the plugs were in, and we were ready to go. As Gary drove the trailer down the ramp, the excitement began to build. Finally, I was in the water. Everyone crowded around to watch what was going to happen next. I sat down, put the key in the ignition and heard the familiar chirp of the starter. “That’s a good sign,” I thought. As I turned the key, I got a tiny crank and…

Everything died.

“No problem,” I thought again, “my parents are here so they can give us a jump start.” After a bit of maneuvering, we got my Dad’s truck on the ramp next to our boat and hooked up the cables. “Won’t be long now….wait…nothing is happening…there’s absolutely no charge…looks like we won’t be getting back on the water after all (hopes dashed).”

Thank God for fathers, though. My Dad asked Gary if our back-up battery (which was dead) was attached to the partially charged battery. It was. Apparently, a dead cell can suck the life completely out of a good battery (who knew?). Gary unhooked it, and I saw my dashboard gauges come back to life immediately. Okay, now for the real test. Will it start?

I turn the key…it cranks…cranks…cranks…and STARTS…yay!

A few minutes later, we’re floating across the water at my favorite time of day, sundown. It’s the best time to be on the lake. You witness the colors of the sun floating across the waves, and there’s a unique sense of peace that comes with it. It’s hard to explain, but I absolutely love it. At that moment, I realized how much I missed the boat.

Even though it was late, Gary took a couple of wakeboarding runs before we headed back to the boat ramp. I’ll be getting back on the board tomorrow. At that point, I’m sure I’ll remember how much I missed wakeboarding too.

Have a great Labor Day everyone!

Tonight we filmed the video sketches for Saturday Night Life. We managed to get all of the shots we needed, and I’m really happy with the footage we captured. It was a productive evening — oh, and we managed to have a bit of fun too.

Now it’s on to the editing stage where Chad will work his magic, creating a Director’s cut for us to review. Expectations are high since last year’s show was so well received. I think we’re up for the challenge though — no fear!

The opening cast video will be similar to the one we did last year. It was shot “SNL style” with the camera moving quickly through the church until it locates cast members who happen

to be doing a few funny, and dare I say “uncharacteristic”, things along the way. I think we’ll have some genuine laugh out loud moments during that one, but I can’t give anything away so you’ll just have to wait for the show to see what I’m talking about.

I can tell you that we are bringing back Newt McNewsy, our roaming news reporter, for a couple of special interviews. Newt always seems to find the most interesting people, and he will travel anywhere, anytime to “bring the news to you.”

The Roxbury guys are also back — and this time they have a new friend. We captured some really funny stuff with these guys. And Chris, the “new guy”, was a good sport even when he was forced into dark, hot and cramped quarters that most people would complain about. It’s so nice to work with such a good natured group of actors. That makes my life SO much easier.

A few of our costumes for the live sketches came in today, so we also had a quick impromptu fitting. More pics are below…enjoy and don’t forget to mark your calendars for the live show on October 3 and 4 at 7:30 pm. It’s going to be great!

Seth Myers and Amy Poehler do a bit on SNL’s Weekend Update called, “Really? with Seth and Amy“. When I heard that John McCain selected Sarah Palin as his running mate, all I could think was “really?“.

Really, McCain? Do you really think women voters are so dumb that they will vote for any ole’ female who is trotted on stage? Really?

Did you really think it was a good idea to pick a running mate that has been a governor for less than 2 years and has no foreign-policy experience? Really?

I mean you’re 72 years old. What if (God forbid) you have a heart attack, and she has to assume the duties of the President? With only 20 months as governor of Alaska and two terms as mayor of Wasilla, Alaska (a town of 6,500 where the biggest issue is controlling growth), is she ready to lead the country? Really?

Do you really think the promise of change and new politics outweighs knowledge and experience. Really, McCain…really?

Do you want to win this election? Really?

Some praise McCain for his decision, but as you can tell, I’m really skeptical. The election process is an interview for the most important job in our country. When I’m interviewing people, I don’t make decisions based on empty promises of change, witty words, and a “maverick” reputation. I decide based on qualifications, skills, and experience.

It baffles me how the masses can be so easily swayed by affluent words. For a decision so important, how can they not delve into the issues, weigh the experience, and investigate the voting history of candidates? Seriously, if you’re going to vote, know the issues and do your research.

Okay, I’m digressing into what could be another entirely separate blog topic. Back on point…it surprises me that McCain would make this type of a decision. It makes me question his judgment. Unfortunately, I can’t support Obama’s political beliefs so I’m stuck with McCain and Palin. It’s scary, and all I have left to say is:

Really?

According to USA Today, “the most affluent city in the USA might surprise you.” For those in the Dallas metroplex, however, it’s not too big of a shock. Many people might rank San Jose, San Francisco, or Honolulu as the top city, but they would be wrong. According to the Census Bureau’s annual report on income and poverty, Plano is the most affluent city with a population of 250,000 or more. Plano also has the lowest poverty rate.

Plano’s median household income was $84,492 in 2007, up 10% from the previous year. The second runner up was San Jose (my home away from home) with a median income of 76,963. Residents in Plano have a few other benefits too. They have lower taxes than those who live in San Jose. Property is also less expensive — median price is $225,000 compared to $744,000 in San Jose. That’s why I don’t live in San Jose.

Most of my California friends and co-workers don’t understand why I live in Texas, but the numbers speak volumes, not to mention that I love the people, the hometown values and the central location. Plus, my family lives here, and my church rocks. If only we had a beach, it would be the perfect place to live.

Kids are back in school. Labor day weekend begins on Friday. Like it or not, Fall is quickly approaching. As it draws near, the television studios are getting ready to premiere their new Fall shows. I’m not sure how many of these I’ll catch since free time will be sparse in September, but in case you are wondering what’s coming up…here’s the line-up of the Top 10 most anticipated new series according to Yahoo! Buzz:

10. The Mentalist, a drama about a physic who uses his gifts to help solve crimes. It sounds like a cross between CSI and a serious version of Pysch. The Mentalist features Simon Baker from the Guardian and one of the girls that was written out (killed off) of the Fox show Prison Break. Hmm…I think I’ll PASS.

9. Opportunity Knocks, Aston Kucher brings us a new game show that quizzes families on how well they know each other, the mail carrier or the people next door. This could be mildly entertaining. I won’t go out of my way to watch it, but if it’s convenient, I may CHECK IT OUT.

8. Life on Mars, an ABC remake of a popular British drama about a cop who gets transported from present-day to the 70s after an automobile accident. I actually watched the original British version which was quite good. I was surprised to learn that ABC is doing a remake starring Harvey Keitel. If it’s as good as the original, it’s a MUST WATCH.

7. Easy Money, is a dramedy about a family that runs the modern legitimate version of a loan sharking operation — an advance payday loan business. The show centers on the matriarch and her middle son who is conflicted about the nature of their business. Yawn…that’s a PASS for me.

6. True Blood, a new vampire show appearing on HBO. The show is set in Louisiana where vampires (thanks to a Japanese invention) can now mingle amongst normal humans. Supposedly it’s getting rave reviews, but this ain’t no “Buffy” — no thanks. PASS.

5. Sanctuary, a Sci-Fi show starring Amanda Tapping (of Stargate fame) that started as a series of Webisodes released on the internet. Because of its online popularity, Sci-Fi picked it up and ordered a full season. Sanctuary is the first television show to employ virtual backgrounds (ala 300 and Sin City). Normally, this isn’t my kind of show, but because I like Amanda Tapping, I watched the Webisodes and must admit that I enjoyed them. If you like Sci-fi, check it out. For me, it’s a MUST WATCH.

4. Fringe, a JJ Abrams creation (Lost, Cloverfield) which automatically makes it a MUST SEE in my book. This show pairs a female FBI agent with a nutcase scientist and his estranged son. Together, they investigate paranormal occurrences. Hmm…could this be an updated version of the X-Files? I hope so. I still miss that show and the movie was a big disappointment. Fringe has one of the most expensive pilots ever filmed. It weighs in at a whopping $10+ million. If that doesn’t catch your attention, nothing will.

3. Sons of Anarchy, a chrome hog drama about a motorcycle-riding, gun-running family syndicate. I’m not into motorcycles, so this show doesn’t sound that appealing to me. However, it does have an interesting creative team and cast: a “Shield” script writer, “Sopranos” director, Charles Hunnam, Ron Perlman, and Katey Sagal. It’s a PASS for me, but if you’re a guy, it’s probably a CHECK IT OUT.

2. Knight Rider, a remake of the popular 80s detective show starring David Hasselhoff. I liked the original and was excited about the Knight Rider movie until I saw it. The TV movie was horrible — not just bad, terrible. Because of that, I don’t think there’s any way I can bring myself to watch the new series. PASS.

1. 90210, another remake. This time it’s a remake of a 90’s TV show, Beverly Hills 90210 . Because I watched the original show, I have a morbid curiosity about the remake. Part of me thinks that some shows should rest in peace and live on in our memories without being drug up, dusted off and resurrected. Yet I will watch the premiere anyway; I expect to PASS on subsequent episodes.