From the Inside Out

Domino’s Pizza has recently been advertising a complete overhaul of its 50-year old pizza recipe. In a 2009 Brand Keys survey of taste preference among national pizza chains, Domino’s came in last — tied with Chuck E. Cheese. No wonder they are making a change!

I have to admit, Domino’s appears last on my list too. The only time I ever order Domino’s Pizza is when all other pizza places are closed, and I honestly can’t even remember the last time I did that. But now their ads have intrigued me. Domino’s is responding to critics and consumers alike by completely changing the core elements of their pizza — new crust, sauce, and cheeses.

Curious, I decided to test it tonight. I started out by placing my order online. They have a great online ordering system, which is something I really like. I hate calling pizza places and being put on hold forever. It’s much more convenient to peruse your options online and order immediately. Once your order is placed, you can watch the online “order tracker” to keep tabs on the status of your pizza. You can see when it’s being prepped, put in the oven, going through a quality check, and ready for pick-up/delivery. It’s pretty cool.

The big test, however, would be the taste. Instantly, you notice that the pizza looks different. It also tastes different, very different. Gone is the cardboard crust. The new crust is hand-tossed, and it includes garlic and parsley seasonings which are quite tasty. The new sauce, according to Domino’s, has a bolder, sweeter taste with a kick of red pepper. I didn’t taste the red pepper, but I enjoyed the sauce. It wasn’t too heavy or overbearing — a nice mix. The new cheese is a mix of shredded mozzarella and provolone. I would have preferred a little more cheese on my pizza, but other than that, I had no complaints.

While I don’t think the new recipe will be winning any awards soon (do they even give out awards for great pizza?), it is a dramatic improvement over the old Domino’s pizza recipe. Both Gary and I liked it, and I think it stands up well to the other pizza delivery chains now. Mr Gatti’s and Papa Johns still rank as my No. 1 and No. 2 choices respectively, but I won’t completely rule out Domino’s as an alternative option in the future.

If you haven’t tried it out yet, give it a shot. You just might like what you see — and taste!

I had my first adventure as a TV extra today! It was a neat experience being behind the scenes of a new show being filmed for Fox TV. The show stars Bradley Whitford and Colin Hanks in a quirky cop comedy with the working title of “Code 58.” The show was created by Matt Nix who is also the creator of Burn Notice (one of my favorite shows). For more info about Code 58, check out this article.

Once I arrived at the Dallas Convention Center Arena, I checked in and completed the necessary paperwork to verify that I am a US citizen and a Texas resident. I also had to fill out a voucher which would allow me to get paid for my work. With paperwork in hand, I then sat down to wait with the rest of the extras who were cast in the show.

It wasn’t long before the staff members were giving us instructions and directing us to wardrobe to check out our clothing choices. We were instructed to wear our first choice, but also to bring additional wardrobe options (2 business; 2 casual) in case changes were required. I received approval on the outfit I was wearing, and they selected a second option just in case a change was required later in the day.

Once my wardrobe was approved, I went back into the extras holding area in the arena to await further instructions. After a short wait, the extras went to the set and were strategically placed along the corridors. We were supposed to be passengers walking through an airport. Each of us were given specific instructions (where to walk, who to partner with, how to carry our luggage, etc), and we went through a couple of brief rehearsals before filming. We were then told to stand by.

Rolling…background action….and action!

Those were the shouts we heard before all of the activity started. For the first few takes, we simply walked back and forth across the hallway acting like we were heading towards our next flight. It felt pretty realistic. There were pilots, flight attendants, and lots of passengers rushing through the hallways. It seemed just like the countless times I’ve walked through an airport for business, but this time it was for TV. WAY cool!

As we progressed through the morning, they moved people around to get different shots with the principal actors. Hallway shots, entrance shots, walking shots, standing shots, talking shots — you name it, they did it, and extras were in the background the entire time.

I had a few shots where I was passing right behind the actors as they did their dialogue. I was also close to them during some of the hallway shots, so it’s possible that I may get some screen time. As an extra, you never know if you’ll actually end up on the show. And if you do make it, it may only be for a fraction of a second. Regardless of whether I get screen time, it was a fun learning experience.

I really enjoyed watching first-hand how a professional network television show is filmed. It was efficient, professional, and thoroughly enjoyable. The staff members were easy to work with and made sure we knew what to do at all times. I would definitely do it again given the opportunity.

It was a closed set, so I couldn’t take any pictures. However, you can watch the show when it airs on Fox in the Summer (May/June timeframe). I know I’ll be watching to see if there’s a glimpse of my shoulder or a blurry image of me appearing in the background (haha)!

So, that’s the “wrap” on my first day as an extra on the set of a television series. Hopefully, there will be more to come in the future.

Tomorrow will be an interesting day. I got cast as an extra in in a new Fox TV series (Code 58) from Burn Notice creator by Matt Nix. The show will air sometime in May. As an extra, there is no guarantee that I’ll make it on the screen, but they are paying me and it should be fun to see how a show like this is made…and who knows, maybe I’ll be “discovered.”

I’m currently slated to be in the background of an airport scene. I have no idea how many other people will also be in the scene, but I guess I’ll find out tomorrow morning. They are filming at the Dallas Convention Center in downtown Dallas, and I have a 6:30 am call time, so I’m going to turn in early tonight.

I’ll try to take some pictures tomorrow (if they are allowed) and will report on my first “extra” experience in tomorrow’s blog.

Wish me luck!

Don’t you love it when good things happen unexpectedly? You are going through your day, living your life, and…bam, out of no where something good happens. It brings cheer, lifts your mood, and puts an extra hop in your step. It could be that someone passed a good deed forward and you were the beneficiary. Maybe you received some good news or someone sent you a note of appreciation. It doesn’t matter what it is, the unexpected “good thing” always seems to brighten your day.

This afternoon, I received a call from the Director of “Plaza Suite” (the play in which Gary and I have been cast). In addition to the hearty role I am currently playing in Act II, she would like me to play small roles in Act I and Act III. The part in the third act is only one line, but it’s playing a temperamental bride, so it should be fun. The character in Act I has a larger part, and she is completely different from the character I’m playing in Act II. It should be an interesting challenge playing three entirely different parts in one play, but I’m game! It’s exciting, it made my day, and I think it’ll be lots of fun.

In addition to the casting news, I got a neat package today in the mail. Our season tickets to Dallas Summer Musicals arrived! We got great seats, and Phantom of the Opera is the first performance in the series. I’m so excited and can’t wait to go see it again in a couple of weeks!

Finally, Gary is coming home after being away on a business trip for almost a week — not unexpected, but definitely a good thing!

These three “treats” brought joy in what would have been another average, easily forgettable Tuesday — and the excitement may just carry through to tomorrow also. There’s a smile on my face, joy in my heart, and a spring in my step…isn’t it funny what a few simple, unexpected “good things” can do?

You may not have known it, but January 24 was the most depressing day of the year. No wonder I felt gloomy last night! According to British psychologist, Dr. Cliff Arnall, January 24th is the day when misery peaks and reality starts to kick in.

Holiday cheer is long gone. Days are longer, and cold, dreary weather blankets most of the country. To make matters worse, the majority of people have already broken their healthy new years resolutions. Many break them 6-7 days into the new year, and even the most resolute typically fall off the wagon by the third week. Pretty sad, huh? That’s why my resolution every year is to not make a resolution.

The January 24th date was calculated by Dr. Arnall using a formula which he created. Dr. Arnall’s formula takes into account a number of factors including weather, debt, time since Christmas, low motivational levels, and time since failed quit attempts. It was actually created to help a travel company determine when people tend to book vacations. Research suggests that people are more likely to plan a vacation when they feel depressed. It gives them something to be excited about.

It’s so funny. As I read the article, I could relate completely. This time of year, I’m always trying to figure out what my next trip will be. Last year, we went to Nice, France. The year before, Breckenridge. This year, I have already signed up for a trip to Israel, and I’m trying to squeeze a quick ski trip into our schedule before the season ends. I guess I’m not immune to the winter blues either.

The good news is that we survived! The worst day of the year has already passed. And once you reach the bottom, there’s no other place to go except up. It’ll just keep getting better and better from here on out. So, shrug off those winter blues and put on a smile. Spring is on the way, and your next vacation will be here before you know it!