This was weird. I woke up at 6:55am! This is nearly unheard of for me considering I'm not a morning person. Obviously the time zone change was working in my favor, plus the excitement of being in a new city most probably contributed.
I got dressed, and arrived downstairs to eat breakfast. Now, Embassy Suites LAX South offers cook-to-order breakfast and it's quite popular. There were people everywhere enjoying their first meal of the day. So many people, I had to find an alternate location to eat - which in this case was a bench near the entrance to "breakfastland."
I'm about to start eating, and the hotel manager approaches. He immediately offered me a booth in the closed dining room area to enjoy my breakfast. I was in a semi-darken, quieter area - chomping down breakfast while catching up to the day's news, facebook and twitter feeds. I felt like a VIP but without the entourage.
Next up? Venice Beach! On my way there, my mouth drooled as I passed the "Electronic Arts" building. And when I finally arrived, I was taken back by the awesome air temperature! It was likely 70F and a bit foggy. Beautiful!
I was fully prepared for this impromptu trip. With jeans and tennis shoes, I stepped onto the sand. =) And, it wasn't long before my feet met the Pacific ocean - shoes removed of course.
Having a great time, I had to make my way back to the hotel to get ready as later in the day, I was going to be an audience member for America's Got Talent!
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
LA Vacation - Day 1
I awoke, and was excited, nervous and anxious all rolled into one!
No problems when I arrived at airport security, and before long I was sitting on the plane making my way to DFW - my first stop before LAX.
Very nice, smooth flight and 1st class service was ... interesting.
DFW > LAX
Once at DFW, I couldn't wait to get on the plane. A bigger plane this time and more goodies awaited. During the flight, I was surprised to have the flight attendant not only ask for a drink order, but what I would like for dinner. I've heard people talking about how bad airline food can be, but I can't complaint. Cheese pasta with meat sauce, salad with grapes and pecans, a small dish of shrimp with a cup of marinara, warm sourdough (or wheat) rolls and your beverage of choice. For dessert? A nice, warn brownie with vanilla ice cream!
Finally at LAX, I proceeded to the baggage claim an saw that my luggage was first to appear. After getting directions on how to take the shuttle to my rental car location, I was on my way.
Once in my rental vehicle, I was a bit nervous - as I'm used to driving in a city of 100,000, not millions! My flight was delayed, so it was night now and I still had to drive to my hotel.
Before long, I was in 5 lane street, going through tunnels and a myriad of road signs. However, my trusty Google Navigation was keeping me on the right track. I breathed a sigh of relief when I arrived and checked in at the hotel.
I remember that night thinking to myself that I just drove in a foreign city - at night - my fear tossed aside. It was clear, there was nothing to it, and whatever FWY traveling I had to do was going to be easier from now on.
I settled in, and after a 7 hour trip - tiredness took its toll.
No problems when I arrived at airport security, and before long I was sitting on the plane making my way to DFW - my first stop before LAX.
Very nice, smooth flight and 1st class service was ... interesting.
DFW > LAX
Once at DFW, I couldn't wait to get on the plane. A bigger plane this time and more goodies awaited. During the flight, I was surprised to have the flight attendant not only ask for a drink order, but what I would like for dinner. I've heard people talking about how bad airline food can be, but I can't complaint. Cheese pasta with meat sauce, salad with grapes and pecans, a small dish of shrimp with a cup of marinara, warm sourdough (or wheat) rolls and your beverage of choice. For dessert? A nice, warn brownie with vanilla ice cream!
Finally at LAX, I proceeded to the baggage claim an saw that my luggage was first to appear. After getting directions on how to take the shuttle to my rental car location, I was on my way.
Once in my rental vehicle, I was a bit nervous - as I'm used to driving in a city of 100,000, not millions! My flight was delayed, so it was night now and I still had to drive to my hotel.
Before long, I was in 5 lane street, going through tunnels and a myriad of road signs. However, my trusty Google Navigation was keeping me on the right track. I breathed a sigh of relief when I arrived and checked in at the hotel.
I remember that night thinking to myself that I just drove in a foreign city - at night - my fear tossed aside. It was clear, there was nothing to it, and whatever FWY traveling I had to do was going to be easier from now on.
I settled in, and after a 7 hour trip - tiredness took its toll.
LA vacation - Preps
Alas, had some time coming and at first decided I'd stick around home and relax. However, for the longest time, I had wanted to visit Los Angeles & things just starting meshing.
For one, being a big fan of #FaceOff & Marcel's Quantum Kitchen which is produced by Mission Control Media I thought I'd ask them if they offered a tour of their production facility. Now, I had been in frequent contact with MCM via twitter and facebook so we got to know each other well over time.
I was elated when they offered an opportunity for a lunch meeting! Texas meets LA! Couldn't turn this down.
Things couldn't have been scripted better
This being early July, and my trip not until early August, I started preparing, checking flights, hotels etc. Things were just falling into place as though in a carefully written script! Having had a work-related accident earlier in the year which could of easily have been life threatening, I decided that I needed to live life to the fullest! I was full-filling a childhood dream in visiting LA, and that you just never know what the future holds.
Alas, this trip was an event of "firsts." I had never flown 1st class, and with the airline offering a reasonable "upgrade", I went with it. I had also been pricing car rentals, and as soon as I made my flight reservation, I decided to check car rentals via the airline reservation page and found a great deal - better than what I had seen so far.
I waited on the hotel reservation, knowing that as time passed by, the rates would go up. Nope. When the time came, I found the rate had actually gone down - another win!
Finally, a few days before my flight, Tropical Storm Don wanted to make a visit. On the day of its arrival, it fizzled. This was obviously a trip that was meant to be.
Alas, excited, the day before my flight, I packed and got a good night's rest as I knew tomorrow was the beginning of an exciting trip!
For one, being a big fan of #FaceOff & Marcel's Quantum Kitchen which is produced by Mission Control Media I thought I'd ask them if they offered a tour of their production facility. Now, I had been in frequent contact with MCM via twitter and facebook so we got to know each other well over time.
I was elated when they offered an opportunity for a lunch meeting! Texas meets LA! Couldn't turn this down.
Things couldn't have been scripted better
This being early July, and my trip not until early August, I started preparing, checking flights, hotels etc. Things were just falling into place as though in a carefully written script! Having had a work-related accident earlier in the year which could of easily have been life threatening, I decided that I needed to live life to the fullest! I was full-filling a childhood dream in visiting LA, and that you just never know what the future holds.
Alas, this trip was an event of "firsts." I had never flown 1st class, and with the airline offering a reasonable "upgrade", I went with it. I had also been pricing car rentals, and as soon as I made my flight reservation, I decided to check car rentals via the airline reservation page and found a great deal - better than what I had seen so far.
I waited on the hotel reservation, knowing that as time passed by, the rates would go up. Nope. When the time came, I found the rate had actually gone down - another win!
Finally, a few days before my flight, Tropical Storm Don wanted to make a visit. On the day of its arrival, it fizzled. This was obviously a trip that was meant to be.
Alas, excited, the day before my flight, I packed and got a good night's rest as I knew tomorrow was the beginning of an exciting trip!
Monday, January 3, 2011
2011: New Year / Old School
So, I'm rummaging around my harddrive and I came across a mix I created way back. It's about 45 mins of continually mixed trance/progressive trance. The mix has survived at least 2-3 computer crashes, so I never got around to saving higher than 128K. =o/
Feel free to download! - No worries, no virus here; I don't roll that way. (Right-click the link - and select "Save As" or similar on the drop-down)
Enjoy!
Feel free to download! - No worries, no virus here; I don't roll that way. (Right-click the link - and select "Save As" or similar on the drop-down)
Enjoy!
Monday, November 22, 2010
My fascination with Split/Second - Explained
So, here we are, over 6 months after release, and those that know me are probably asking - "What's up with this guy and his non-stop rant about a racing game?"
So, thought I'd provide a bit of insight.
Ever since I was a young tyke, I somehow grew attached to car racing. I remember, running around with my "red wagon"; making (and winning) my "Pinewood Derby" car in the Boy Scouts; and the awesome birthday cake my mom surprised me with showcasing a "track" and an actual race car on top.
Fast-forward a bit, and my career life intermixed with broadcast media. I've worked both the radio and television side of it performing a variety of responsibilities. One duty being "technical directing."
For those not knowing what this is - this is the individual that in most cases "switches" camera views during a TV (Live/Recorded) show. Fades to and from black, chroma/alpha keys, instructs VTR/DVR play, and so forth. In a sense, basically edits the show on-the-fly... No margin for error, especially during a live show as whatever mistake made is instantly seen.
You sit in a room, much like this:
Image courtesy of: WKYC - Channel 3
In this image, the technical director is sitting on the left side with that big monster of gadgetry (aka switcher) in front of him. (This is a more elaborate control room, but the switcher I used was similar.) For the duration of the show, you're in the "hot seat." Stress/pressure and occasional confusion is your constant companion.
This was fun, but luckily it wasn't my core responsibility - otherwise I'd be a resident of a white room with a unique jacket to wear.
So, what does this have to do with Split/Second? Given what I've said - the video below should help:
A few more S/S vids were released, much in the same fashion like this "TV/Director" feel... and well, that's all it took. It almost seems like I was destined to play S/S and it's a pretty damn good game to boot!
Disney / Black Rock - you never thought that one day, a while back, when brainstorming what is now "Split/Second" - would hit a positive nerve on an unsuspecting, but thankful fan - huh?
So, thought I'd provide a bit of insight.
Ever since I was a young tyke, I somehow grew attached to car racing. I remember, running around with my "red wagon"; making (and winning) my "Pinewood Derby" car in the Boy Scouts; and the awesome birthday cake my mom surprised me with showcasing a "track" and an actual race car on top.
Fast-forward a bit, and my career life intermixed with broadcast media. I've worked both the radio and television side of it performing a variety of responsibilities. One duty being "technical directing."
For those not knowing what this is - this is the individual that in most cases "switches" camera views during a TV (Live/Recorded) show. Fades to and from black, chroma/alpha keys, instructs VTR/DVR play, and so forth. In a sense, basically edits the show on-the-fly... No margin for error, especially during a live show as whatever mistake made is instantly seen.
You sit in a room, much like this:
Image courtesy of: WKYC - Channel 3In this image, the technical director is sitting on the left side with that big monster of gadgetry (aka switcher) in front of him. (This is a more elaborate control room, but the switcher I used was similar.) For the duration of the show, you're in the "hot seat." Stress/pressure and occasional confusion is your constant companion.
This was fun, but luckily it wasn't my core responsibility - otherwise I'd be a resident of a white room with a unique jacket to wear.
So, what does this have to do with Split/Second? Given what I've said - the video below should help:
A few more S/S vids were released, much in the same fashion like this "TV/Director" feel... and well, that's all it took. It almost seems like I was destined to play S/S and it's a pretty damn good game to boot!
Disney / Black Rock - you never thought that one day, a while back, when brainstorming what is now "Split/Second" - would hit a positive nerve on an unsuspecting, but thankful fan - huh?
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