The Friend Zone

Bah. I have been banished (again) to The Friend Zone. You know that place: it's where Burgess Meredith wound up in a library after a nuclear war with all the books he could possibly want to read at his fingers-- only to break his glasses. Where William Shatner leaves a mental institution only to find himself on a plane that has a demonic thing attacking the wing. Where--

Oh wait, that's The Twilight Zone. Well it feels the same from where I'm standing. If I could just find the Rod Serling jerk in control of the place, I'd bust him one in the nose.

A snippet of conversation.

Here is an excahange between my boss and I yesterday:

Jack: So, if I joined a religion that required me to spend my holy days totally debauched in worship of Nyarlahotep, could I be excluded from working Sundays?

Bosslady: No, you can't use that reason. Better people than you have tried.

Jack: (pause) There are no better people than me.

Girl Interrupted Me

For the past few days, the statement "everything is going according to plan" has been running through my head. Not, let me point out, in a God sees all, knows all, etc. manner. No. Rather it plays in the smiling with a drink in his hand, astonishingly clever, loaded with charm, laconic 1960s film hero way (how's that for some keen personal insight into your scribe's brain?).

Whenever things would get messed up, go counter to my wishes, or generally go pear shaped as they inevitably do: S'alright. All is well. EIGATP. I like to think Norman Vincent Peale would be pleased, and slightly scandalised.

Last night, I had a date with a girl. We ate at Tommy's, watched Wings Of Desire, and talked. I leaned over to kiss her and...

...Girl said no. Can you believe that? Girl Said No. Urrrgh. We debated and discussed the matter. I brought out Occam's Razor and some Cream of the Jest. Girl would not be swayed. She still say no.

Still, no reason to be discouraged. Everything Is Going According To Plan. I'm seeing her again on Thursday night, where she has another chance to say, "No." On the bright side though, it is also a golden opportunity for her to say, "Yes."

Books of the moment.

Just finished:

The King's Coat by Dewey Lambdin

The Big Blow by Joe R. Lansdale

Hardcase by Dan Simmons

I've started Declare by Tim Powers. The author describes it as "tradecraft meets Lovecraft."

? ? ?

Randall, a friend of mine, is in the hospital this week. His heart is beating out of rhythm apparently. Not certain what's going to happen, but he may end up on some kind of heart medication or wearing a pacemaker. He just turned thirty. Christ.

Darn it.

It turns out the sign Is Just There. I think it's a prop or somesuch thing. Pity, as I'd really like to eat at a place with that name. L.A. has many interesting restaurants, only a short drive away from me. Someday, when I have a car and driver I'll frequent them all.

This club sounds delicious.

Just noticed that the building at the top of my street has a sign within that proclaims it: Sound Effects Research Institute & Bistro. I don't know what to make of this yet.

Bah.

Hello, my name is Jack. I'm 33 years old and live in Hollywood, CA. I do not work in the movie business. Yet.

I've started this blog in order to give myself someplace to think out loud as it were. Maybe that should be think in print. Over the next year or so I'll be posting every day about the things that fascinate, obsess, and sometimes annoy me. Sometimes all at once.

It will fairly thrum with interest I promise.

More later.

Is this a gauntlet I see before me?

My friend Michael has given me a challenge. Scroll down to his post for July 7, 2003 "Why I'm doing this."