Lou Pickney's Online Commentary
Throwback
Saturday
October 5, 2002
As I type this, the clock reads 3:36 AM. Wanting to sleep, but not quite there yet. Thus, I'm here.
The meeting at work this morning was interesting, talking about the future of the morning show and what not. Many new things on the horizon, it seems.
Talked with some interesting people on the plane on my flight to Nashville. One guy was heading to Oxford, MS for the Florida/Ole Miss game. Another was going to Memphis, but unfortunately for him Southwest doesn't fly there. So he awaited a trip to the rental car counter. One guy was telling me all about his work with motors and that he'd worked with Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, etc. At that point the Dramamine was kicking in strong so it gets kind of fuzzy. In line for the flight, I ran into none other than Pam Green from WTSP. So that was a nice surprise-- never know who'll be on your flight. The couple next to me on the plane I think wanted to look out the window, but I needed sleep, so the shade stayed down. That is until the end, when it felt like we were in a mixer. Thank goodness for sedation.
Tonight I saw some old friends from Evansville who I hadn't seen in years. Carl Weitlauf and Brian Fuzzell and Josh Tinley and Zach Collier. Six years ago Carl, Brian, Josh and I comprised a fearsome team on the intramural bowling circuit known as the "Monopolizers". I need to hook up my old computer and put the pic up from my freshman year with the four of us holding up a Monopoly game board (and I think there was a Snapple to be seen in the background). For nostalga if nothing else.
We met up at a place called the Slow Bar, a rather small establishment that seems to thrive on good music, cute bartender chicks and a vibe that falls somewhere between alternative and the Vanderbilt crowd. Perhaps a good melding of both. Kind of reminded me in feel of the Empty Glass in Charleston, WV. We were there to see the band Verde in concert. I enjoyed a few bottles of Woodchuck cider, which I think is impossible to find in the greater Tampa area (believe me, I've tried). Carl was driving (my car is in long-term parking at TIA) so I could drink without worry.
Verde played an excellent set. Chick rock rules (or at least bands with female lead singers, which is the case with Verde). Brian is the drummer for the band (formerly with Dry Wall, National Biscuit Company and Three Hit Combo). If Verde catches the right break, they could make it big. They have the look (their lead singer Andrea is hot, albeit married) and the group has the sound (both musically and lyrically) and they have the dedication to go as far as they can take it. They put on a very good performance.
We stuck around to see the next band, a group called the Lucky Guns. Talk about a stark contrast. They were a high-energy rock quartet that made me think for a moment that I was back in the early 1970's (with their long hair, big beards, etc.) They did a good job of trying to be energetic and involve the crowd.
From there Carl and I went to Zach's house (that he and Brian share), which may have one of the coolest setups I've ever seen. Seriously, Zach should consider being an interior designer for bachelors. He'd make a killing.
First, their kitchen is adorned with pics of Britney Spears. Pepsi ads, provocative posters, you get the idea. It surrounds you, draws you in, and there's no escaping it. What's better, they have a Katie Holmes bathroom (all decked out in photos of Katie Holmes). I'm told that decorations for another bathroom are in the works to turn it into a Natalie Portman bathroom. Amazing stuff. Click here for a few pics of the decorating magic from the Carligula site (they're toward the middle). The Katie Holmes shower display is pure gold.
Downstairs the basement doubles as a recording studio. Zach is brilliant with computers, and he's hooked up the various instruments into a soundboard that feeds right into a computer. I was very impressed.
But the best part was his video game setup. It's like nothing I've ever seen. One retro gaming system after another, and I mean some obscure stuff, like the Super Famicom (a Japanese system). He somehow managed to rig it all up where he has four sets of switchers. You click on which system you want, and voila it's set. I'm amazed at how he pulled it off. Still not quite sure how all the wires hook up (I know he ran some underneath the connection between the game room and the Britney kitchen), but it's a site to behold.
From there Carl and I and some friends and roommates of Carl's met up at the Hollywood 27 movies by 100 Oaks and saw Red Dragon. $7.75 a ticket, ouch. But it was a good movie -- Ed Norton and Harvey Kietel are two of my favorites. And you can't beat Anthony Hopkins in the role of Hannibal Lecter.
It's 4:09. Time to try for some sleep (I got way too much of it after I got in yesterday afternoon). Lots of fun awaits today...
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