Joke!

So I tried out my Joker outfit/makeup when I got home from class. It consists of white makeup, red lipstick, green hairspray, my tux tails, black pants, this colorful mod shirt I own and a purplish tie. I think that wednesday I will buy a flower to pin on the tails and I also need to buy much more white makeup, but other than that I think I am done. I love paint.net because I get to make myself look much more scary than I think I ever look.

The Cake Is A Lie!

I finished Portal last night. It was amazing. The physics themselves allow for it to be a fantastic puzzler but the humor that is injected to it by way of the voice of the A.I. that guides you through the game is sheer genius. For example, near the end of the game you are on a moving platform descending into a pit of fire as the A.I. let's you know (politley, of course) what a huge success you have been and not to worry, because your scientific equipment (the portal gun) will survive the incinerator. Once you escape, the A.I. stumbles a bit but then reassures you that it was only joking and it would never dream of harming you. Think of H.A.L., but so upfront and polite that it is funny. And while the end credits roll the A.I. sings a song about how it will let as many people die as is neccessary for the 'those who are still alive.' It really is funny, and I believe you can find it on YouTube. Actually, you can see it here. It contains spoilers, just to let you know.

Also, I have realized that if Half-Life 2 had insane multiplayer it would be ten times the game that Halo 3. When I finished Half-Life 2, despite the cliffhanger ending, I was really engrossed in the story and the characters and realized that I wanted to play the game not just to shoot shit, but also to find out what happens next. This is something that Halo was never able to achieve with me. Also, Half-Life has the gravity gun. Who DOES NOT want to pick up a radiator and chuck it at someone's head? Honestly. Team Fortress 2 is the fun multiplayer game in 'The Orange Box', but it has sparse maps and is more focused on objective than most FPS'. Enjoyable, yes. Better than Halo 3's multiplayer? Doubtful.

I apologize for today's picture, but I am posting from my almost deserted English classroom waiting for my RTF class to start. You might ask, "Why post a picture at all if it is going to suck?" And that I can tell you in a word.....Tradition! So enjoy your water lillies.

I'm going over to Melissa's apartment (one of the girls that I met doing 'Friday Night Lights') and I believe we are going to carve pumpkins. I'm planning on making mine the infamous 'Red Ring of Death' from X360 owners. I'm going to carve the symbol in the pumpkin then make compartments where I can put a few red glowsticks and another compartment for green glowsticks. If all goes as planned, this pumpkin is going to own your children.

Ugh!

So....bad news. Bad news that I am really in no mood to talk about. Suffice it to say that it is about Christy and that the damage is apparently irreparable. I think I am going to be thinking about it enough that I don't want it to be on here for now.

In other news, this weekend was god-awful busy. I had my U.S. History mid-term on Thursday and, surprisingly, it wasn't terrible. I'm pretty sure that I got at least a B on it, but knowing the professor I am sure he will find some loop hole to screw me over. I did extra work for 'Friday Night Lights' Thursday and Friday. It was a whole lot of fun and I am going to try to keep my Fridays open so that I can do it every week, if only because of the people I meet and have a fantastic time with there. I can't do the games again, or if I do I can only do one a week because you get there at 5 to check in, then you wait till sun down, and then you're there until 1-2 in the morning.

I rented 'Transformers', and I have to say that it doesn't translate to the small screen as well as the movie theatre. You lose a part of the grandeur of seeing a fucking car turning into a fucking robot when it's not larger than life. The scenes with the parents still stole the show for me, and when Barricade (the cop car) did his mid-air transform/jump/chase/ohmygod. But I found it really hard to pay attention to and actually was in my room on the computer for the last half hour of the movie.

I went and saw "We Own the Night" a few days ago. I appreciated it. It doesn't do anything you haven't seen before, but the acting is just fantastic. Question: Does anyone know if Joeqiuoqiqnidn Phoenix had a cleft pallet when he was younger? I'll probably just look it up, but he has a scar down his lip that I think was there is "Walk the Line".

Announcement!

I just wanted to thank everyone who visits this site regularly, semi-regularly or once-and-never-again. Thanks to you my blog has recieved 200 HITS!

Woo!

Now, you may ask, "How do you know how many hits you have?"
Well, I am so glad you asked. Google provides a free program called 'Google Analytics' which tracks any website that you have editing control over. It is amazing and I find myself checking it more than FaceBook. It is so interesting to me to see not only how MANY people have seen my thoughts, but WHERE they are from!

I have 197-ish from N. America. Most in the NE, where I used to live, but also random ones all over the country like Seattle and Colombus. IN ADDITION TO THOSE, I also have one hit from London, one hit from Apucarana (Brazil), and one from Doha (QATAR!! THE FUCKING MIDDLE EAST!!) I THINK THAT IS SO DAMN COOL!!! ARGHH!!!

I am going to go geek out at Transformers over dinner. THANKS AGAIN!!

Nip it in the Bud!

I just wanted to spend some time talking about the wonderment of the FX show "Nip/Tuck."
In a word: absolutely phenomenal-tastic.

I have been burning through the seasons, and I have to say that this show exemplifies not only great, addicting story-telling but also well-drawn characters that are acted with amazing precision. Every time I watch this show, I am emotionally drawn into everything in it. It's fuckin' great.
Yea, that's pretty much it.
If you have the chance, rent the first disc of the first season.
If you're not hooked, you might want to consult a physician.



You might not be human at all.

Shuffle!

I went and auditioned for a UT student film today. It's a zombie movie and it seems pretty funny. It also has the most varied shots I have ever seen (on a screenplay) for a UT student. So that's good.
I can't describe how much I love "shuffle all songs" on the iPod.
Today, I was really missing everybody and during the course of the drive to and from UT I heard the TBTA version of "Songs for a New World," which reminded me of Bart and Christy. Mine, Brandon and Travis' recording of "Best Friendz." And Scrap from "The Full Monty," which is like me and Bill's fucking BEAT. So, it was nice. I liked it.

Good Times!

I've been working on my paper for English and have been making some real headway. It's gonna be good. I can feel it.
I was an extra for "Friday Night Lights" last night. It was SO much fun. The scene took place at the High School's Homecoming dance. I wore a tux that they gave me and hung around with a few guys, one of which is a regular extra on the football team.We had to wait for around two and a half hours, but the dance was a lot of fun. This girl, Heather, came up to me when we were waiting around and introduced herself. She was an actress in one of the "BloodShots" films. So that was really cool. Her film actually won 2nd place. I asked her if she would be my prom date and she agreed, and we had a really fun time. We were both professional, but also wanted to have a lot of fun AND to try to get as much screen time as possible. I think, out of 6 or 7 different shots, we were in the foreground of at least 4. So we have a very large probability of getting some sweet screen time.
After the shoot, Heather said she and her boyfriend were going downtown and asked if I wanted to come along.................................so I did. I don't know if you recognize what a leap that is for me. I usually need a few days of knowing someone STRAIGHT before I am comfortable to do ANYTHING with them. This is a big deal for me, and a large leap for mankind as well. So I met them DOWNTOWN on 7th st. (another first) We talked, hung out. I felt like a third wheel for a few minutes and a wall flower for another few, but for the majority I was really comfortable. It was very fun, and I think we are probably going to do something next weekend as well.

Job!

I had History today and before class the professor was about ten minutes late as usual and a few of my classmates started talking. We all discussed what bullshit the class was and how none of us were learning anything and how we were all afraid for the mid-term. It felt so nice to hear that from other people, because up to that point I was afraid that I was alone in my way of thinking. So, that was nice.

I had work today.
For an hour.
You might be saying, "Work for an hour?" And you would be right. I just said that. Get with the program. But yes, work for an hour. I went in, discussed the job, sat around for an hour learning how to talk on the phone, and quit. Not only was it just not a right fit for me as a job, I also felt truly uncomfortable there. Everyone was sufficiently creepy. I hated it a lot. It felt like the only reason I was there was to call people who had no interest in coming to the opera, which meant that I would be getting 0 commission. I can get a better job. One where I feel like I might do well and not want to kill myself within the first fifteen minutes.

I watched the documentary "OutFoxed" tonight. It was a very startling look into FOX News and I'm using it for my research paper in Comp 1. I knew Bill O'Reilley was a douche bag and a half, but they featured one person he had on his program that I found awful. He invited a young, 20-something man onto his show because, although the man's father was killed in the attack on 9/11, he was opposed to the war in Iraq. During the conversation the man tried to get out his point that he wasn't angry at Afghanistan or Iraq, he was mad at the small group of radicals who attacked our country who were originally trained and funded by our government. O'Reilly then continued to tell the man to "shut up" and to tell him how he hoped his mother wasn't watching AND how the man's father wouldn't support his sons opinion on the war. What the fuck? How can a legitimate news network allow someone to say that to a guest on their program? The answer is.....a LEGITIMATE news network does not. I am definitely going to attend the next media march bringing attention the corporate ownership in media. And if one isn't happening here soon....fuck it, I might just organize my own.

I bought Stephen Colbert's book "I Am America (And So Can You!)"
It is full of win and chocolate. I am addicted to it, and it will most likely flood this blog with fuckwin quotes from it soon. Honestly, I would have bought it just to own the right to have him stare me down.

Job?!

So yea, I went in to the Austin Lyric Opera for an "interview" which was basically "When can you start?" So they need people, so I will take the job and I start work tomorrow. As long as I don't fucking hate it, I think this will take a lot of stress out of my life right now. I keep freaking out about money, but this will help. I am kind of worried, because it is a Telemarketing job and I don't know how I will feel about that. Oh well.
We'll see how I feel tomorrow!
I got my Radio, TV and Film project back. I had to design a cable channel and I chose "Broadway TV." It turned out really good and I received a 98% on it. WOO!

Tension!

So we filmed last night from about 9:30 until 5:30 A.M. Yuck.
It was a good shoot and the director really seemed to care about everybody there, even though a few of his crew were more busy being bitchy about time constraints because they needed the equipment later.
But it's done and I feel like it will turn out good. I'm not sure if I will be proud of it, but I'm pretty sure it will be funny.
I had a mini breakdown today at my Mom, who has been hounding me about getting a job. I'm not saying that she doesn't have the right to, but with school being as ridiculous as it's becoming there is only so much energy I can put into the job hunt, and I AM hunting. I look in the Chronicle every week and e-mail jobs that look good, I e-mail or call every job post that she sends me from craig's list (which I just discovered), and I am going to visit StarBuck's tomorrow to see if anyone has gotten around to looking at my application.
It's weird. Just a few days ago Christy and I were not doing well at all but now, with the inclusion of our title "exclusive break", we seem to be pretty much back to normal. She offered me to come up to her house for Thanksgiving this year because of money posing such a problem. It makes sense, and my Mom is going to look up if I can switch my ticket which may not be a possibility being so close to Thanksgiving. I haven't really seen my Brother and Sister since the wedding and holidays are really the only time I get to spend with them any more, but I am spending Christmas in Colorado with the whole family so....... I'm thinking about it.

Fill!

I had my dental appointment today and it went surprisingly well. I didn't feel much pain, and now don't have any cavities. Hoo-ray! I still have to go next week for my cleaning, but apparently flossing regularly actually does help you not get cavities. They should publish that somewhere or something.
We shoot "Melhiem Learns to Talk to Girls" tonight. The director has shown interest in the whole Sox Masterson (puppet) and Melhiem (me) becoming a viral video series, and wants to do another one in the near future. So that's cool.
Christy and I changed the terminology of our break up to "exclusive time off" which helps with my worries definitely and already seems to be helping our communication too. I feel much less stress and tension, and my stomach feels much better already. Yay!

I e-mailed "Friday Night Lights" and got into another episode as an extra. Next Friday I will be playing a High School student at a dance, I guess. So that should be fun and provide me with the money to pick up The Orange Box next week. The Orange Box = Half-Life 2 and Episodes 1 and 2, Portal and Team Fortress and it looks amazing.

Anyone have any comments or such? I know that people read this thing, (a detail that I will go into more depth hopefully later this week) so drop me a freaking line people!

ALSO! You can view the official theatrical trailer for the Sweeney Todd film here.
(Thanks to OnMyShore on LiveJournal for the link.) It looks pretty damn intense. I think that it will stand out from the crowd of terrible musical to movies (Rent, Hairspray) because it's not just taking what was on stage and putting it on the screen. It looks like the first one to have it's own damn art direction, which is amazing and I can't wait!

Tending!

I had rehearsal last night and it was pretty fun. The guy that plays Sox Masterson, the sock puppet, is pretty funny and the girl, who is in the scene for all of ten seconds, is pretty cool too. I think it's funny how all the director's that I have worked with are REALLY intent on pleasing their actors. Like last night, my director took like fifteen minutes to ask what kind of snacks we would want or drinks at the shoot and none of us had any demands. I don't know, maybe all other actors in the world are really prude and into themselves. But, i'll eat cookies and coke. You really don't have to ask if cookies and coke is ok.
Bill Cosby wasn't in class today and amazingly I learned even LESS from that class. Mainly because an assistant came in and put on a video then left, so I just read The Onion during it.
Went to the Texas School for Bartending today and sat in on a class. It seems really neat. Really fast. But, really neat. The people I saw were only in their fourth day and they were already making like three drinks in two minutes. The goal is to have 12 drinks under five minutes by the end of the course. It seems like a total possibility, and I think I am definitely going to do this.
Coolio.
Rehearsal tonight. 30 Rock season premiere! The Office!

Hung won Top Chef last night. Ugh. He seemed really fake to me. I wish Dale won. Grr.

Feelings!

I don't know if it is because of the stress in my life right now or the current girl situation or what, but I am constantly feeling sick to my stomach. I thought this break was easing my tension, but it might be making it worse (ex. always wondering if she is seeing someone, always worried that she is upset at me in this moment). It's terrible. It makes me want to call the whole separation thing off, and I probably would if it was only up to me. My Mother noticed a trend when I talked to her that I was able to flesh out in private. It seems like every time me and Christy are making actual commitment, we hit these bumps. I can't even remember what the first one was. I don't know if that was before our one year anniversary or right after. Suffice it to say that mere weeks after our one year anniversary, we broke up. Then we got back together and broke up again because of the distance (I think). Then, just recently, we got back together and broke up again when Christy moving down here and us getting an apartment together seemed like a reality. As long as I am remembering right, which, admittedly is a rare occurrence, I was seemingly unaware of any huge problems until right before we broke up over them. This says lots of things to me, and none of them are good. And I know that there were other factors that played into the breakups (especially this most recent one), but it seems to come from a lack of commitment, or simply a commitment issue, somewhere. I don't know. Maybe this is all mumbo jumbo and has no correlation at all. It just seemed odd to me.

So I would stop this if it was my choice, but that doesn't mean that I think this was a bad choice. We made it together, and it is hopefully for the best. But if I had my way right now? I would buy Christy a plane ticket to Texas. We would worry about getting her stuff later. And we would be together, living a full and happy life. Maybe that isn't supposed to happen. I think it is. I wish I would follow my own advice and not write about this here because I don't want to hurt Christy's feelings inadvertently, but once I start I feel like I have so much to say and it just comes out better here.

Christy also made the point that I would have to really do some thinking before I considered moving to CT to be with her. I just think CT can suck some people in and never let go. Clearly, I know many happy, successful people who live in, or around Danbury but you couldn't pay me to move back. This is where my life has taken me, and moving back to CT would feel like a step back to me. I understand how close Christy is with her family, who are pretty much all in CT,and that is fantastic. I wish I a large family that I was close with. But I think moving would be so good for her. I think it's what she should do, not for me (well, a little. im not a total idiot) but for HER. I don't think CT has enough of the right kind of opportunities for her, and I want to see her successful and happy.

Texas is far away. There is no escaping that point. And, in case of a NE emergency, it's going to take you at least the day to get there. But unless you live in CT, it's going to be a day trip either way. I don't want her to think that I don't get the alienation that she would feel moving out here. I was pretty much alone here for five months and she would be coming in with people she knew already, if not living with one. I don't know. I think I'm starting to ramble so I'll shut it down for tonight. I have rehearsal for the UT short tonight. Should be fun.

"Nothing about us was perfect or clear, but when paradise calls me I'd rather be here."

View....ed!

I had my interview today for Grace Marketing and, like I expected, it was for a full-time position that is for 8-6 M-Th. So that was a bust, but it made me feel good and I felt like if I had gone in there with the availability I would have had a good chance at the job. I talked to a girl waiting with me and she looked exactly like Karen from the Office.
Then, I applied at Scooter's coffee and smoothie shop in Bastrop. I feel like I have that job in the bag, but I want to make sure Starbuck's dosen't want me before I agree to Scooter's. I think the Buck's would pay much more than the Er's.

I got into the UT comedic short I auditioned for, and I think I have rehearsal tomorrow. It should be pretty damn fun. Although, it's forcing me to record the Top Chef finale. I'm hoping that Dale wins. He's ridiculous.

Sadden!

So, as much as I have been trying to remain mute on the topic in last few days I can't really keep posting about my life if I leave out the big things that happen to me. Christy and I have broken up. We are taking some time, after which we will hopefully find our ways back to each other. I still love her with all of my heart and she is still my bestest best friend in the whole wide world. I really hope that this dosent mean the end of us as a couple, and even more so, as friends. I know that sounds so cliche, but it's true. So that's that. There is little point in dwelling on it here because, lord knows, i will be dwelling on it in life enough.

Tomorrow I have an interview after J-E-L-L-O 101. It's for a company called Grace Marketing and I have to dress professionally. I don't think I have any chance at the job because it is full-time and I am guessing that it's a 9-5 job, but I want to go anyway to see what it's all about.
Then, Thursday I am going to visit the Texas School for Bartending to see what that's all about. I think it is something I would either love or hate with passion.