Ok, here it was. Time to hit the 405, 105, 110, and whatever other FWYs needed to get to where America's Got Talent is taped. I was completely blown away by how courteous the drivers are in LA. Sure, you'll come across a few asshats, but, overall, it was a pleasant drive. I think I had more traffic trouble on the street to get to "The Grove" in Hollywood, than the freeways themselves.
I remember tweeting being lost at The Grove and loving it - and those words weren't a lie! What a beautiful open-air shopping area with awesome open-air restaurants which served anything your heart desires! I would of loved to have gotten even more lost, but, I needed to make my way to AGT.
Time passes, and I'm finally being lead into the studio. The nice crew from Mission Control Media set this up for me, and I was seated in Section A (from the stage looking out, right hand, lower side). What a beautiful studio, and it was exciting. Meanwhile, Cory, the guy that keeps the audience occupied before and during the show was trying to get us energized! He did a great job, and I guess I did as well. At one point, he's on the AGT stage and points at me, asking me to join him.
I'm a fairly reserved guy at first, and now staring at an audience with all their eyes on me - while doing "dance moves" was definitely overwhelming! Cory directs me to do some dance moves and I follow through. I kicked ass doing the "Cowboy" - hello? I'm from Texas, Cory. =)
Finally, he asks for me to shake my booty where I instantly stop and go "uhhh.. no." However, I forgot I was not in charge here. Cory, picked up the mic and asked the audience if they wanted me to shake it - and well you know what they said. Of course, I couldn't go against the audience, and I started doing it. Embarrassed as hell, the audience cheered, and applauded offering support. Those couple of minutes felt like an eternity - and frankly, looking back, what a HELL of a time I had!
As expected, the show taping was phenomenal. I was about 10 or feet from the AGT judges - my favorite being Howie Mandel.
The show taping ends, and it was time for us to leave. As I make my way to my vehicle, the "audience" recognizes me amongst the crowd and offer their compliments on my "performance."
So glad, I don't live in LA!
This was obviously an awesome day! But, it's about to get even better!
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
LA Vacation - Day 2 - Part I
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!
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!
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!
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