Back seat driving

The trips and I were driving around the other day. Colin said something I didn't quite understand, so I reached my right arm back to the back seat and put my hand on his and asked him to repeat himself. He was about halfway through his sentence when he stopped cold and said rather forcefully, "Dad! Use both hands to drive the car!"
He might look like me, but he gets THAT from his mother. ;)
Kids rock.

Back from the dead... almost...

How time flies! The trips are nearly FIVE years old! (And Trips' Dad just turned 32... as if the way the kids are growing up didn't make me feel old enough!) They're healthy, happy and sweet. They take good care of each other... most of the time... and they are without a doubt the three most beautiful jewels in the crown of my life. And, I'm still very happily dating a lovely young lady named Marissa. What a revelation she has been. She's a real sweetheart. She loves the kiddos, cooks like a champion, has a great singing voice and is a fantastic actress. Not to mention, she never fails to make me laugh - at life AND at myself. I'm a very lucky guy. I'm currently rehearsing for TWO shows at the Hale Centre Theatre in Salt Lake City. "A Christmas Carol" opens on December 2, and "See How They Run" opens on December 30, I think. I'm playing Jacob Marley in "Carol" and Clive in SHTR. Both casts are VERY talented and I can't wait to get going. Things at ABC 4 are busier than ever... we're in the heart of sweeps right now, the quarterly ratings period, and everyone's running around with their hair on fire... which is a convenient reason not to blog so much, sooooo... back to work!

Abby-isms of the Day

While watching the Sesame Street movie "Follow That Bird":
Dad: Ooohhh, there's Oscar the Grouch.
Abby: Oscar the Grouch? Why?
Dad: That's his name.
Abby: Why?
Dad: He's always grouchy, he doesn't like anything, just yucky stuff.
Abby: He doesn't?
Dad: Nope. He hates everything.
Abby: Oh.

(Later.)

Ben tickles my armpit.
Dad: Don't, Ben! I HATE that ticklin'!
Abby: Dad! You're a grouch, too!

(And later.)

Big Bird is stolen by the bad guys.
Abby: I'm not very happy about this.

Jungle Jim's!

Grandma Debbie took us all to Jungle Jim's to play. Good times!
Lots of pics from the fun-filled evening on my Flickr site.

Rock Star: Supernova

I was completely, totally and otherwise freakishly addicted to this show.
And now that I step back and attempt to analyze it with an objective eye (which, as we all know, is the real purpose of a blog... self-psychoanalysis), I see that I'm not as in love with it as I thought I was.
Sure, the performances were entertaining, and everyone from the final six or so had real talent, but this "band" Supernova is a super joke.
Former Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee, ex-Metallica bassist Jason Newsted and fired Guns 'N' Roses guitarist Gilby Clarke are, in large part, just plain lame. After each performance, while Gilby and Jason attempted some cerebral advice (why we're giving them any credit, I don't really know), Tommy would say how much he wished that the girls were wearing less clothing. Now don't get me wrong, I'm all for that: it's just that his blathering makes for really bad TV. And you just know they'll pick that loser Lukas instead of the fun & charismatic Toby or the intensely engaging Magni. Dilana - love ya, but ya got no shot.
Point being, Supernova sucks. I'd rather hear their "House Band" over Supernova. Sure, those washed-up has-beens can play and all, but they're boring and just formulaic at best. Toby or Magni could infuse some real heart or soul, respectively, into an otherwise crap-sounding piece of rubbish... but I just KNOW they'll pick Lukas.
I hate summer TV.
Boston Legal, save us! (Season premiere next week!)

Sugar...

I've heard some people say they have a sweet tooth.
They don't know the meaning of the phrase.
If I had MY way, Pepsi would flow like Moses' water from the rock in the desert. Washington growers would harvest candied apples. Peeps would come not only on Easter, but on EVERY Sunday morning. Movie theaters in my world would have little shelves in front of each seat with the entire concession collection on tap (and a little freezer for the Haagen-Daz and Junior Mints). Bars and clubs would add taps for soft-serve, hot fudge and caramel. The food groups would break down thus: chocolate (subcategories: with or without nuts, with or without peanut butter), nougat, marshmallow, caramel, ice cream, licorice, soda, little candies with fruit flavors, straight sugar (Bottle Caps, Pixie Sticks, etc.), and liquid gold (Pepsi).
I know, Pepsi is a soda.
But to me, it's a way of life.

P.S. - about 80 new photos up on my Flickr site. Enjoy!

"A hit! A very palpable hit!"

First of all, a happy 29th birthday to my little brother Dave. Many more, dude!
So, Marissa and her family took me to the Utah Shakespearean Festival in Cedar City this weekend. What a great time. Good company, good food and GREAT theater. Brian Vaughn's Hamlet is one of the best I've ever seen. The curtain call in Room Service WAS the best I've ever seen. I found myself telling myself, "Ah, so THAT'S what it's supposed to look like." Fred Adams and Co. deserve every accolade they receive.
I want to be Brian Vaughn.

Tiger vs. Phil... um... er... J/K!

So, TNT bought the rights to early-round coverage of this year's PGA Championship, golf's fourth major tournament. Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson are paired together for the first two days of the four-day event. The ideal pairing. A marketer's and advertiser's dream. The top two in the world. Huge fan bases. Endorsement megastars. An intense and often icy rivalry. The biggest draw in golf, arguably in sports. TNT will cover the entire afternoon.
Only, Tiger vs. Phil tees off at 9:30 a.m. Eastern time.
Now, I know I only work at ABC 4 TV in Salt Lake City, and we're only the 35th largest TV market in the nation, so perhaps I'm speaking out of turn here, but WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU THINKING, TNT?! Which TNT executive's grandmother needed to see her reruns of ER instead of the best major tournament pairing of all time (and one that may never be repeated, ever)? Golf on TV has enough marketing and survival issues without this travesty of exclusion.
So come on, Ted Turner. Pony up the extra several million that the PGA is undoubtedly asking for to buy the first few hours of the round. Earn my loyalty as a viewer. Make millions of TiVo owners happy. Do the right thing.
And Phil, to ensure a competitive round... please leave that damn driver in the bag.

Weekend fun

Spent this past Sunday playing with the kiddos and introducing my girlfriend Marissa to the family. We've been dating for a few months and it was high time to meet the kinfolk. I was so glad we all got to hang out and spend some quality time. My brother Dave, sister Jaime & her husband Nick were also there, along with their little doggie Gage, so they all got to know Marissa a bit better, too. One of the things I love about her is that she gets along so well with anyone and everyone she meets. She's so sweet. Anyway, I think we all had a lot of fun together. We had a great dinner and played in the backyard with the trips, trying to teach them baseball. What a hoot. Wish I'd had my camera.
I sometimes wonder if, in my rush to put every little thing they do on film (or memory card), I miss being a dad. I turn into this photo-megalo-manic shooter guy who's watching light, colors and angles instead of noticing that Colin already has a strong throwing arm, or that Ben just swished that basket, or that Abby just smacked that ball into the upper deck. I'm trying to learn to savor those things "in the moment," as well as on camera. Dueling Dads in my head.
Or it could just be that imaginary friend that I never acknowledge.

'Til we meet again

For Sally Hale Rice

Thank you Sally, for sharing your love of theatre with me. The "bug" couldn't help but bite with you around! Thank you for your wry and gentle humor, that contagious laugh, your timeless class, your serene dignity, and especially for your living testament to God's love for all of his children (even actors). Your life is an example for the ages; I'm sure your sweet mother and father have already told you how proud they are of the way you've continued the wonderful legacy of your extraordinary family. I'll miss you 'til we all meet again.