My buddy Mike has been tapped to do a week's worth of extra work on the new Kevin Spacey film, Twenty-one, shooting in Boston. While we both signed up, I have yet to receive a similar call. Am I bitter? Not really. He's got the look. Though I don't have a picture of him, suffice to say he looks a bit like a 26-year-old Luke Wilson.
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
The Look
My buddy Mike has been tapped to do a week's worth of extra work on the new Kevin Spacey film, Twenty-one, shooting in Boston. While we both signed up, I have yet to receive a similar call. Am I bitter? Not really. He's got the look. Though I don't have a picture of him, suffice to say he looks a bit like a 26-year-old Luke Wilson.
Thursday, March 22, 2007
A Little Something About the Locals....
I had been warned by plenty of folks about the nature of New Englanders. Some told me they'd be rude. Some said they're just not as friendly as your average folks in California. So, have I encountered rude and/or less-than-friendly people in Boston? Sure. Probably the same as anywhere else. But, what I quickly realized was that what so many might mistake for rudeness is actually a no-nonsense approach to life. Plenty of the locals simply won't suffer fools - or tourists, or newcomers - lightly. Most are actually friendly and will help you out - but don't ask them twice. Stand toe-to-toe and they'll respect you immediately. Shy away or come off as soft and they're done with you. Truthfully, I find something rather refreshing about their lack of facade, their willingness to be who they are and say what they will. Again, sure there's some jerks. But, they certainly aren't all meatheads.
The Return of Mediacopia!
Some of you might remember another blog I had running about a year ago. Well, I've had a few calls to bring it back, but I wanted to make sure I could - and would - devote some time to it. In truth, I've been working on it in secret for a few days, just to see if I'd contribute with any regularity. So, here goes.... Mediacopia 2.0!
Monday, March 19, 2007
500 Words for Snow
Okay, so the whole notion of Eskimos/Inuit having some insane number of words to describe snow is actually an urban legend, but.... I don't know. I experienced at least a dozen different kinds of snow over the last few days. And for someone who grew up in Southern California and who's spent the last decade in San Francisco, this was all a bit overwhelming.
There was gentle-falling-snow, the kind I'd experienced before on trips to Redding, CA, Lake Tahoe, and Payson, AZ. This quickly combined with 20+ mph winds to become something a little less cute, a little more annoying. Then there was the freezing rain. Heard about it; never really thought about what it was. For those of you still in that boat, let me use this analogy: You're a giant. All around you are thousands of tiny warriors - armed with bows and arrows. Any exposed skin is their target. Ow, ow, ouch.
Of course, once the snow settled on the ground, the types multiplied. Sometimes it's powdery and you sink. Sometimes it's like walking on Planet Icee. Sometimes it's almost rock solid and sturdy and you can easily walk over it. More often - if the weather after the snowfall is cold and clear - the world becomes one big ice rink. Believe it or not I haven't fallen. I've quickly learned to spot the different stabilities of snow and ice. I do not fear them. I am their master. (Well, maybe not master, but I've certainly negotiated a shaky truce.)
By late yesterday, enough snow plows and dedicated shovelers had made the town more accessible, although it was still inclement enough to keep me from checking out any "points of interest". I did manage to visit Trinity Church. Nice, big, old cathedral. I took some pics, but - as I foolishly packed the camera-specific usb cable in my moving crate - those will have to wait. In the meantime, here's one someone else took:
Oh, and sad to say I missed out on St. Patrick's Day. Thought I was getting sick. Turned out it was just severe allergies. FYI, whenever there's a sudden change in weather - from, say, nice and mid-60's to below freezing, allergies kick in with a vengeance.
That's it for now. Lots coming up on the horizon, so my posts may be a bit more sporadic in the immediate future. Just know that I'm doing well, that I'm thinking of you all - yes, even you - and that this adventure's already got a few interesting twists in store....
There was gentle-falling-snow, the kind I'd experienced before on trips to Redding, CA, Lake Tahoe, and Payson, AZ. This quickly combined with 20+ mph winds to become something a little less cute, a little more annoying. Then there was the freezing rain. Heard about it; never really thought about what it was. For those of you still in that boat, let me use this analogy: You're a giant. All around you are thousands of tiny warriors - armed with bows and arrows. Any exposed skin is their target. Ow, ow, ouch.
Of course, once the snow settled on the ground, the types multiplied. Sometimes it's powdery and you sink. Sometimes it's like walking on Planet Icee. Sometimes it's almost rock solid and sturdy and you can easily walk over it. More often - if the weather after the snowfall is cold and clear - the world becomes one big ice rink. Believe it or not I haven't fallen. I've quickly learned to spot the different stabilities of snow and ice. I do not fear them. I am their master. (Well, maybe not master, but I've certainly negotiated a shaky truce.)
By late yesterday, enough snow plows and dedicated shovelers had made the town more accessible, although it was still inclement enough to keep me from checking out any "points of interest". I did manage to visit Trinity Church. Nice, big, old cathedral. I took some pics, but - as I foolishly packed the camera-specific usb cable in my moving crate - those will have to wait. In the meantime, here's one someone else took:
Oh, and sad to say I missed out on St. Patrick's Day. Thought I was getting sick. Turned out it was just severe allergies. FYI, whenever there's a sudden change in weather - from, say, nice and mid-60's to below freezing, allergies kick in with a vengeance.
That's it for now. Lots coming up on the horizon, so my posts may be a bit more sporadic in the immediate future. Just know that I'm doing well, that I'm thinking of you all - yes, even you - and that this adventure's already got a few interesting twists in store....
Friday, March 16, 2007
Job Hunting - and Snow
Went for my first (pseudo-) job interview today. I say pseudo because it appears the vast majority of jobs posted on craigslist here in Boston come by way of middleman placement services. No cost to me - which is good - but adds another step to getting a job. Also good, the guy I met with really liked me and feels confident that together we'll find something that suits me. Or, he just says that to all the boys....
Oh, and I did go in there for a specific position, not just to be placed on their "we'll call you when we've got something" board. Office/admin work at a local software company. Small, laid-back group who can pay me a nice chunk of change - which is good. If all goes as planned, I should be meeting with them directly early next week.
Temperature has dipped some 25-30 degrees since yesterday. We've got snow and 25-30 mph wind. Expecting 3-4 inches, but I'll bet it tops that. I thought snow in Payson, AZ had prepared me. I was wrong - which is bad. All this snow will likely turn to ice by this time tomorrow. Yay! St. Patrick's Day + drunks + ice = Wheeee!
Oh, and I did go in there for a specific position, not just to be placed on their "we'll call you when we've got something" board. Office/admin work at a local software company. Small, laid-back group who can pay me a nice chunk of change - which is good. If all goes as planned, I should be meeting with them directly early next week.
Temperature has dipped some 25-30 degrees since yesterday. We've got snow and 25-30 mph wind. Expecting 3-4 inches, but I'll bet it tops that. I thought snow in Payson, AZ had prepared me. I was wrong - which is bad. All this snow will likely turn to ice by this time tomorrow. Yay! St. Patrick's Day + drunks + ice = Wheeee!
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Day 3, Post 1
Okay, I yielded once again to my instinct and have started a blog to share my adventures here in Boston with you, gentle reader(s).
As the post title implies, I've been here for going on 58 hours. (Friend Jason will knock me for focusing too much on time; really, aside from this, I've been pretty good. Honest.) I've seen and done so many things since arriving that I can neither recount nor remember them all. I've signed up to be an extra in a Kevin Spacey film (they'll call if they need me), witnessed a spontaneous "yo-yo duel" on a train (if you weren't looking and just heard them talking to each other, you'd think they were pulling out knives or guns), had a couple beers and ate a Peanut Butter Burger - yep, burger w/peanut butter on it - at Bukowski (an out-of-the-way semi-dive, dedicated to the late author), and heard the tale of a lunatic/drunk/student who tried to drive his car across the partially still frozen Charles River. He made it about half-way before becoming a submarine. Rumor has it he was rescued and arrested.
Getting acclimated fairly quickly, thanks in part to some liberal running around, but moreso to my temporary roommate Mike. Not only did he meet me at the airport after only a couple phone calls, he's shown me how to get around town, where to go, and - more importantly? - where not to go. We share a "two-bedroom" apartment in the hip/student-flooded Allston-Brighton part of town. I say "two-bedroom" because.... Well, it's a long story. Maybe another post. For now, let's just say no one could actually live in this place. We call it our halfway house. (Mike's also an expat from California. He's been here for two months and already has another - a real - place to live lined up after we bug out at the end of March.)
Much of my time is spent looking for a job online. I've sent out about a dozen resumes today and received two calls. Playing phone tag with both; hope to connect tomorrow. (FYI, my computer access comes courtesy of a local cafe that rents out time on their 21 PC stations. Costs me about $3.85/hour, but worth it - and necessary. My computer is still in my moving crate, ostensibly somewhere south of Boston right now. I won't retrieve it - or any of my other belongings - until I have a more permanent residence next month.)
Okay. Long enough initial post. I suspect I'll scribble a bit more tomorrow. Until then, I hope you're all doing well and trust that I am doing the same.
As the post title implies, I've been here for going on 58 hours. (Friend Jason will knock me for focusing too much on time; really, aside from this, I've been pretty good. Honest.) I've seen and done so many things since arriving that I can neither recount nor remember them all. I've signed up to be an extra in a Kevin Spacey film (they'll call if they need me), witnessed a spontaneous "yo-yo duel" on a train (if you weren't looking and just heard them talking to each other, you'd think they were pulling out knives or guns), had a couple beers and ate a Peanut Butter Burger - yep, burger w/peanut butter on it - at Bukowski (an out-of-the-way semi-dive, dedicated to the late author), and heard the tale of a lunatic/drunk/student who tried to drive his car across the partially still frozen Charles River. He made it about half-way before becoming a submarine. Rumor has it he was rescued and arrested.
Getting acclimated fairly quickly, thanks in part to some liberal running around, but moreso to my temporary roommate Mike. Not only did he meet me at the airport after only a couple phone calls, he's shown me how to get around town, where to go, and - more importantly? - where not to go. We share a "two-bedroom" apartment in the hip/student-flooded Allston-Brighton part of town. I say "two-bedroom" because.... Well, it's a long story. Maybe another post. For now, let's just say no one could actually live in this place. We call it our halfway house. (Mike's also an expat from California. He's been here for two months and already has another - a real - place to live lined up after we bug out at the end of March.)
Much of my time is spent looking for a job online. I've sent out about a dozen resumes today and received two calls. Playing phone tag with both; hope to connect tomorrow. (FYI, my computer access comes courtesy of a local cafe that rents out time on their 21 PC stations. Costs me about $3.85/hour, but worth it - and necessary. My computer is still in my moving crate, ostensibly somewhere south of Boston right now. I won't retrieve it - or any of my other belongings - until I have a more permanent residence next month.)
Okay. Long enough initial post. I suspect I'll scribble a bit more tomorrow. Until then, I hope you're all doing well and trust that I am doing the same.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)