First, I'd like to share with you a voicemail that was left for me last night while I was working a twelve-hour shift. I received a call from Superior Computers and the message left went something like this, "Good Evening, $teve. This is RK from Superior Computers letting you know that we have fixed your laptop & are open until 7 PM tonight, so feel free to stop on by & pick it up. Thank you. Good bye." The phone was set down but not hung up...so there was silence for about twenty seconds...followed by passionately jazzy humming of "Heartbreak Hotel" by RK. Another thirty seconds of silence was broken by "Oh, uh-oh. What the (edit)? Aaaagh!" Then some more silence. Then out of the blue, "BANG YOUR HEAAAAD!!!" "BANG YOUR HEAAAAAD!!!" After four minutes of random worktime whistling, the voicemail finally ended.
So I went in this morning to pick up my laptop, "Good morning RK. Hey, you might want to get your phone checked to make sure that it's disconnecting. I had an interesting voicemail last night when you called." "Really?" "Yeah, there was a jazzy rendition of Heartbreak Hotel, some hair band inspired BANG YOUR HEAAAAAD..." His face is a little pale. "Really?" "Yeah, that's the PG version though." "Wow, thanks for the heads up. I'm glad that you got it & not some hardass." I feel like I've made a small difference & helped out there business down the line...so there's my Good Deed of the Day. One of many to come, I'm sure.
MEMPHIS - Since the government cancelled my mother's daytime operations for our trip to St. Louis, we've decided to use this extra time for a rental car road trip down to Memphis, Tennessee during our vacation next week. I've heard many good things about the city...and it's the birthplace of Rock & Roll and the current residence of the Blues...so the music should be fantastic. Here are some of the many wonderful sights that I'd like to see in the two days that we're going to spend down there (God willing):- Graceland - The Royal Estate of King Elvis the First...thirty years ago. Apparently it's hot & muggy there this time of year, but that didn't stop thousands of fans from paying tribute this week...nor will it stop me from checking it out next week.
- Soulsville: Stax Museum - Great Memphis Soul & Funk music was made here. Artists such as the Isaac Hayes (more on him this weekend as he turns 65 on Monday), Otis Redding, Booker T, the Reverend Al Green, Aretha Franklin, and Earth, Wind, & Fire made this place famous...and now I have a chance to see it.
- Memphis Rock 'n' Soul Museum - The Smithsonian gets soul at yet another musical museum that I want to check out.
- Pink Palace Museum - IMAX theatre & Plane'arium, replica of the first Piggly Wiggly, a carved miniature circus, dinosaurs, this could be worth a little romp.
- Sun Studio - The Birthplace of Rock & Roll, this studio launched the careers of Elvis, Carl Perkins, B.B. King, Jerry Lee Lewis, and the other late great JC - Johnny Cash. Exhibits include Elvis' first microphone & outtakes from past sessions. I'm guessing that in the unedited version, there's a lot of swearing...but I'm sure it's still kid friendly. I just imagine a few young Southern boys like Johnny, Elvis, & Jerry in a studio full of music & drugs...and the hilarity ensues.
- BB King's Blues Club - There is nothing wrong with a lanky white boy going into the blues club on amateur night, buy a Long Island Iced Tea for his mom, go up on stage, stomp his foot in rhythm, and sing "I Got the Ain't Got No Poon Tang in a Long Time" blues. If it's from the soul, then it's all good.
- Memphis Zoo - THEY HAVE PANDAS!!! Their names are Le Le and Ya Ya, but that makes me happy happy joy joy!!! Also, a $77 million renovation is worth a few bucks to me if we have time.
- Ducks of Memphis - My preferred method of transportation is always amphibious...especially when involving the Mississippi River. I've seen the news. I'm surprised that these things aren't filling the streets personally.
- Southern Accents - I don't know what it is about a Southern accent, but it does the trick. I had a lovely girlfriend who lived in Memphis until she was 9 then moved to Utah, so she could turn her accent on & off like a light switch. She knew when to use it. Gosh, I miss her sometimes...late at night. I miss how she used to say, "GEEZ Fester, go back to your room." Now, wait! That was Debbie (brownie points for the reference). Southern Belles just now how to ring my bell, that's all I'm saying.
Anyway, so I'm obviously looking forward to checking out Memphis...and I'll have pictures in a few weeks...and hopefully some good, entertaining stories to go along with them.
New Career Idea of the Day - Over the course of this blog, I've mentioned that I would consider careers in industries ranging from filming movies to running for Governor to lawyer for the well-endowed, but now I'm really considering a new career...and I think the time to start would be very soon. Since I can't find people who want to make my movie with me, I'm considering search the complex near my work for a radio station that would be in need of a radio personality. Now, I would prefer some station with a music selection of smooth R&B or funk or jazz...but as mentioned when discussing sports team names, there's really none of that here in Utah.
However, I did stumble upon a job opening for a midday radio host gig with KENZ - The End, which is an alternative rock station (so I'll have to watch what I say about Courtney Love, right?) but they require 2-3 years experience and/or a Communications degree. I think it's worth a shot anyway...but I'll keep you posted.
This Isn't News News of the Day - Speaking of Courtney Love (no relation) & Alternative music, you all have copies of the classic album "Nevermind" by Nirvana, right? You know, the one with the nake swimming baby on the cover? Well, Spencer Elden was that baby...and he's seventeen years old now. Apparently, he told People.com that "It's kind of creepy that that many people have seen me naked, I feel like I'm the world's biggest porn star." Several things are wrong with that statement. Number one - I've seen the cover...and you are by no means the BIGGEST porn star in your old elementary school, not just the world. Number two - This is the world's biggest porn star...and how dare you defy her power??? Anyway, he also has never received any royalties or anything (except a few phone numbers because that's his only pick-up line) so I suggest that he speak to Ms. Love and get the money...dolla dolla bills y'all. You can sue for mental anguish...because of that child pornography, now everybody thinks that you have a pimple for a penis. The least they could have done was photoshop the picture so you looked like a tripod baby. See? Maybe being a lawyer is my calling...but I just couldn't live with myself...unless the money was FANTASTIC!!!
Return of the Foxx - Jamie Foxx is an incredible actor, comedian, pianist, musician, entertainer...he's what we in the industry call...an arteest!!! He may forever be known as the first "In Living Colour" alumni to win an Oscar (keep faith Jim Carrey & Marlon Wayans, one day you'll have yours) but his portrayal of Ray Charles in "Ray" was exceptional. I was impressed. Not so much with "Stealth" but other classics like "Booty Call", "Bait", "Any Given Sunday", "Dreamgirls", "Collateral", "Miami Vice", and even as the Black Tony Blair on Chappelle's Show have made up for it. Now, his next role will be that of a mentally troubled Skid Row musician named Nathaniel Anthony Ayers based upon the articles of LA Times columnist Steve Lopez a few years ago. I smell another Oscar...but what do I know about movies? The role of the Mr. Lopez hasn't been cast yet...but I think somebody great like DeNiro should be in it, just because if you read the story, it's a great story...but it's not a catchy action movie. It has Oscar written all over it...which typically means boring as all hell. I'll probably watch it though. It's the Foxx. By the way, listen to his "Unpredictable" album. You won't be sorry. Anyway, here's a side-by-side of Steve Lopez & Robert DeNiro.
Anyway, that's good for today I think. Have a great day & I'll be here on the weekend too...but hopefully my car will be registed when next we meet. Congratulations to my friend J'Sun Rodriguez for his wedding this weekend!!! Have a great weekend everybody!!!
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