Archive for the ‘You call this entertaining?’ Category

I posted a commercial earlier today that features my former employers. After seeing them on my tv a few weeks ago, I sent them a note and received an amusing letter in return. I hope I’m not out of line in posting excerpts.

Our Toyota Service Advisor asked us one day if we would like to “try out” for a Toyota commercial. He said they were having a “casting call” in Orlando on a Tuesday. We said “Sure!” We’re retired. What else exciting did we have to do? We went to the casting call, and the next day they called to say that we had been chosen for the commercial, and could we come to Tampa on Friday to film it. So off we went on Friday.

When we got there, we found ourselves at a Tampa TV station. They had wardrobe and makeup people, just like on TV. They also had a big catered lunch for everyone who was working on the commercial, and we filmed after lunch.

::snip::

Since then, the commercial has been shown on American Idol, The Olympics, football games and several other shows, including a movie on TBS. I’ve gotten emails and calls from friends in [other states]. The commercials are being shown in all southeastern states.

Yesterday, [we] both got invitations to join the Screen Actors Guild. It said that because of our employment as a principal performer in the Toyota commercial, we now qualify. We laughed till be cried.

It may not amuse you, but I found the whole story to be amusing and enlightening!

I’m not taking any sort of stand in support of or against Toyota, I’m just posting a story because it involves people I once knew very well

wRitErsbLock

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When I was 20, I was hired by him to be the receptionist at her law firm. I spent about three months answering phones and transcribing dictation (is why I can type so ridiculously fast now) before they promoted me, called me a paralegal, and moved me to the back to write estate planning documents. They were very accomodating with my full time school schedule. I worked M-Th, ten hours per day, and greatly enjoyed having every Friday off. Or, if I had class obligations, I could work whenever, as long as I met my 40 hours per week.

This was where I worked when I botched my suicide attempt. These were the people I called in dead to (charming message I left on the company voice mail). He was heading to my apartment to break down my door to check on me when my cousin called him to say she was taking me to the ER. These are the people who called my dad to tell him the news.

This is the company I left to go work where my now-husband works. And, three months after leaving, they offered me a butt load of money to come back to them. Which I did. Money talks.

This is also the most stressful job I’ve ever had. Even moreso than Ball and Hammock last year. We’re talking spider nightmares on a regular basis, screaming in the middle of the night. I left them after I graduated college for a much less stressful, short-lived job.

I’ve not made that much money since. I’ve not had that much work-related stress since.

These are also people who regularly attended Thursday night karaoke with the rest of our staff. They would get onto the dance floor and dance their hearts out! And, occasionally, drive their drunk employees home, and never hold that over our heads in the morning (we were all 21 year old girls).

I sent them a note via snail mail letting them know how much I enjoy seeing them on my television. I’ll have to post exerpts of her letter back to me telling the story of their commercial. It’s very amusing… to me.

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Because my local WESH news casters are in my house every day, preaching at me from my television, I feel like I know them. And, I’ve met some of them — Jim Payne during a race, Michelle Meredith at Tea Parties, Raul Martinez when I gave blood (and, of course, Wendi Chioji, who is no longer a WESH person, at my very first 5k) — and, let’s face it, I’m not exactly shy when I have something to say. A few months back, Jim Payne made some sarcastic joke during the news, and I immediately went online to email him about what a groaner it was. Verily, I was amused when he replied to my email with sarcasm. The point is, I interact with my local news people because I can. It’s not a frequent thing, but it is something I do.

Rewind to last Friday, when I sent this email to chief meteorologist, Tony Mainolfi:

Tony, Please please please move off screen when you show the 7 day forecast. You always block tomorrow, and rarely let me see what tomorrow’s forecast is. I ride a scooter to work, and prefer knowing what tomorrow’s weather is. But because you always block tomorrow as you ramble on about 6 days from now, I end up going to bed at 1120p not knowing what to expect on my morning commute. You are the worst offender of the WESH weather team. Please, move off screen or over to the other end of the 7 day so I can see tomorrow’s weather.

When I opened my email a few minutes ago, I had this reply:

I am very Sorry for the map blocking. I promise to go from the WORST offender to the BEST. Thanks for your imput and stay on me and keep me posted on my progress. Thanks for watching and have a wonderful evening.
Sincerely,
Tony Mainolfi

As luck had it, just as I was checking my email, Tony came onto my tv to do the weather, and… the seven day came up, and he booked off the screen! My husband and I erupted into applause, and I sent Tony a thank you email!

It’s interactive tv!

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We had a free pass to go see Hot Tub Time Machine last night. We went into it with very low expectations, and… it was hysterical. Those of you who know me in real life know I’m not generally a laugh out loud kind of girl. Some of you have complained to my face that I don’t laugh at your jokes. I’m not a laugher. This movie had me loudly guffawing in the theater, grabbing my sides, crying. It was so funny. It’s rated R, and I hope the eight year old in the front row appreciated all the sex and nekkid humor and blatant drug abuse, but I will not allow my thirteen year old to see this movie. Crispin Glover’s character drew the loudest laughs from a theater full of UCF students and we two fuddy duddy adults. I would not have regretted paying to see this movie. This is from the lady who flat out refuses to go to movies anymore because of the price and rude theater go-ers.

In other news, I’m looking at our home insurance policy and wondering if our network of webcams placed around the house qualifies as one of those wireless security systems that might then qualify me for a slight discount on my insurance? I will have to put on my adult hat one of these days and call to see if that would work out or not.

We had Hot Dog Heaven for lunch yesterday. Shortly thereafter, my stomach started screaming at me. I had some soup before the movie last night, but I sat through that movie with a very strong stomach ache, and no relief in sight. Safe at home, I climbed into bed but tossed and turned all night long due to a raging head ache and my screaming stomach; there just was not a comfortable position available. This morning, I stayed in bed until just before 9. I got up and showered, which absolutely wiped me out. And the stomach and head: screaming at me still. There’s someplace I need to be, and I just can’t bear the thought of driving ten miles to go there. I put a pot of chicken bones on the stove to make some broth for me. And I’m sipping ginger ale. But, honestly, if my stomach is going to feel like an alien is trying to break through it, shouldn’t I at least have the benefit of puking to alleviate the pain? Alas, it has not been in the cards for me. Just ridiculous stomach pain, and a headache to match because I’m afraid to put advil into my aching tummy.

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We headed out to Universal Studios tonight for the Blondie concert. Someone there said Blondie is something like 64 years old. Wow! Go her! She looks fantastic. She should market whichever deep wrinkle cream she no doubt uses. And go her with her ballsy outfit:

The concert was good. The sound was not balanced, so it was very hard to hear her singing. But it was good. I’m afraid I was unfamiliar with most of their music. Kudos to them for doing an hour and a half show; typically, Mardi Gras concerts are only 45-60 minutes. They also did an encore, which never happens at Mardi Gras concerts.

I was taking video of their last song before the encore, and something hit me. I was about to be ticked that someone threw something at me, when I discovered my huge tracts of land had caught a guitar pick! Sweet!

I’ll take a picture of the guitar pick, maybe, tomorrow. My camera ran out of memory due to the videos I took. And, I suppose I need to review them and see if any of them are worth uploading, given the unbalanced sound of the concert.

wRitErsbLock

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I love the Olympics. But for that part where we go two weeks on very little sleep.

Please refrain from telling me any results, in case I haven’t seen them yet. K thanks.

I can enjoy my Olympics more knowing that our taxes are filed, and I just filed my MIL’s taxes this evening, too. My tax season is over. Hooray!

wRitErsbLock

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Okay kids, it’s about time to put your xbox accessories away and turn on the super bowl. I hear two football teams are playing in this game. But, really, all I care about is The Who playing at half time. Too bad I don’t have a DVR anymore. But, I do NOT miss having a cable bill, even though I miss some of the cable channels.

I picked up a six pack of Spaten Oktoberfest, we found some charcoal to convert our destroyed gas grill into a charcoal grill for the on-sale porterhouses, and I’m ready to watch me some commercials!

And… THE WHO!!!

Also, Go Payton Manning’s team, whichever team that may be.

You’ll forgive me for not rooting for the Saints. I’m still jaded over the helpless attitudes of the Katrina survivors. I cannot cheer for a team from a town of people wanting hand outs.

wRitErsbLock

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It seems to be concert season. For my own reference:

Sunday, Feb 7: Dennis DeYoung — Busch Gardens (never seen, formerly of Styx)
Saturday, Feb 13: Heart — Universal (seen ‘em)
Saturday, Feb 20: Blondie — Universal (never seen)
Sunday, Feb 21: Huey Lewis & The News — Busch Gardens (seen ‘em, great show)
Saturday, Feb 27: Yes — Sea World (never seen)
Sunday, Feb 28: Pat Benatar — Busch Gardens (seen ‘em)
Saturday, Mar 27: 3 Doors Down — Universal (never seen)
Saturday, Apr 3: Beach Boys — Universal (never seen, and… eh)
Friday, April 9: Sheryl Crow — Universal (never seen, and first to be crossed off my list)
Saturday, April 17: Chicago — Universal (never seen, and without Peter Cetera, so… eh)

Holy cow, I’m gonna be busy if I plan to go to all of those! And apparently I need to renew my Busch Gardens / Sea World pass before Dennis DeYoung this weekend.

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We are out of the house by 630a every weekday. That means we get up around 550a, and cut the time really close. I cannot get up any earlier, even though I would really benefit from ten additional minutes of prep time before leaving the house.

We stay up far too late for me to get up that early in the morning. Sadly, I think the only way to remove dark circles under eyes is to go to bed earlier.

Since my half marathon, I have actually been getting a little bit more sleep. I have been falling asleep during the ten o’clock hour, or earlier. This has been disastrous for my tv watching! I’ve now missed the first four hours of Chuck, because I missed the first two hours due to falling asleep. I keep missing one of my favorite shows, Castle. I’ve missed the second half of that peculiar Christian Slater show, The Forgotten, but I assume the case was solved, as all episodes are solved. I just cannot keep my eyes open much past 1015p anymore. And since we cancelled our cable, we lost the DVR. So if I want to catch up on shows I’ve missed, I either need to find time to watch them online or ask sherlock to download them for me. Either way, that means a backlog in tv watching.

I’m really going to miss cable when Deadliest Catch is back on.

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A conversation with my ex-husband on the drive home.

He: Someone said they heard Edward is going to play Spiderman.
Me: Ed Norton?
He: No, Twilight.
Me: Pattinson? Really?
He: I couldn’t find anything online about it, but that’s what so-and-so said.
Me: But aren’t you proud of me that you said “Edward” and I followed with “Norton” instead of some vampire reference?
He: Yes, yes I am.
Me: If SarahK were in the car with us right now, she would’ve immediately jumped to Robert Pattinson, what with her new Edward Barbie doll she’s been tweeting about and all. I must not be a true Twilight Fan Girl.
He: Thank god for that.

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