galaxy42

There is a difference between the activity that I called "drinking" as I was growing up in central Ohio, and the version they partake of on the west coast. While west coast beer is more potent (presumably because it's full of all natural vitamins and minerals that are good for me), "drinking" there seems to be a sprint. It's only really achieved between the hours of 9pm and whenever you pass out at some after party.

I need to get back into the swing of things in Ohio. While drinking in Portland is a sprint, here in the cornfields of central Ohio, it's a marathon. Sure, the beer is cheep and contains half the alcohol content of one of those beautiful Pacific NW mircrobrews, but that is no matter. Here, the drinkers drink for eight days straight. From morning til the wee hours of the following morning. A short nap is taken as "sleep" on the weekend, but it's all about the boozing. I... am out of shape in the marathon drinking department. God help my poor hung-over head until I get my drinkin' legs back...

Sometime before Christmas, I was talking with my guitarist over half a dozen fine Portland brews at our favorite pub. I don't even remember the topic of conversation at the moment, but something was said that took me back to my college days. As an almost involuntary reaction (I had programmed myself so well) I uttered what I believed to be the proper response in the form of a Mystery Science Theater 3000 quote (I believe it was "Trumpy, you can do stupid things!" but I can't be sure... drunk) To my most pleasant surprise he grinned and threw a few other classic lines at me. A bond was solidified that hadn't really been there before. It's not that I disliked the guitarist in my band, but I always felt as though he was a little standoffish (in reality, it was probably me... so terribly flawed when it comes to social interaction).

After not thinking about MST3K in years, references to it keep popping up. I'm remembering my own short lived run on a local television station where I, and a few others who worked there, hosted our own midnight movie show, complete with cheesy skits at commercial breaks. We didn't do anything on the scale of MST3K, but goddamn it was fun... and the only time any of us could stand to be in the building while not being paid.

At that time in my life, Joel was absolutely The Man (Mike who????). With dmac's recent blog about Cinematic Titanic, I've gone searching through storage at my parent's home and have found The Box............. all of my beloved tapes. I didn't have the sizable collection of some fans, but the ones I have never fail to put a smile on my face. I think it's time to kick back with Pod People, or maybe Mitchell (or, if I'm feeling particularly strong of will and endurance, Manos: the Hands of Fate) and get lost in a little time warp.

A good friend of mine is now dating a guy who does the amateur night at the local comedy club. A small group of us are going on Tuesday night to cheer him on. I haven't seen him do his thing yet (haven't even met the guy yet), n starts up. or have I ever been to a comedy club for amateur hour. Yeah, I'll support the dude, but that's not why I'm there. I'm considering this to be a little recon mission. If the competition is what I expect of local talent, I may throw my hat into the ring the next time the start a new "local hour".

I have an ace in the hole... two, really. Andy and Joe. They are two of the funniest people I've ever know. And I have tried, on numerous occasions, to get them to give the amateur night a go. Neither will do it. I don't understand why. Their material is golden. So I've decided to make an offer to both: If I attempt it, I want them to help write for me. If I win, I split the prize money with them...

To Be Continued...