OH CANADA!

I'm back.
In Indiana.
Yippy!
First off, I was WRONG about where we were going. Pointe Pelee (which I learned that I've been pronouncing WRONG for years...) is not a park where you can camp at. So, they directed us to Rondeau Provincial Park - and it turned out to be AWESOME!!! Here's a new map, explaining where we ended up.
Second, I'm going to start this off with some pictures, before I get into my thoughts and experiences in Canada.

I'm told this means "Following too closely, kills". those Canadians have a sense of humor!

Zach and Jason at our campsite. It was VERY nice and SPACIOUS.

As if it was a twist of fate, our campsite was on Manning Road. Rondeau was the main road in the camp.

There was a nice long pier in the park. This was on the Canada side, in the bay - looking back north, towards Canada.

It appears that Canadians have a much more advanced Bird House Building Philosophy. Or, this might be a hotel?

I SWEAR, we had NOTHING to do with the table ending up in the middle of the water...

I found this hatch. I REALLY wanted to find some dynomite and blow it open. I can only imagine what's down it...

Other signs read:
"Fatigue Kills, Take a Break." and
"Drinking and Driving Kills. Don't Drink and Drive."

Okay. Now onto my thoughts on Canada.
I LOVE THE COUNTRY and I LOVE THE PEOPLE.
EVERYONE is nice.
Example, from Canadian Customs - as we were crossing the bridge into Canada:

Canadian Customs Officer: Where ya goin' boys?
Us: Camping at Rondeau Park, sir.
Canadian Customs Officer: Do ya got any booze in theer? (YES, mispelled on purose)
Us: No sir. We didn't think we could bring it across the border.
Canadian Customs Officer: Ooohhh.... Well, ya shoulda been buyin' it at the Duty Free. Its cheep an' no taxes on it.
Us: Really? And we can bring it across the border?
Canadian Customs Officer: O' Course! I don't know whereya gonna be gettin' it now.
Us: I'm sure we'll find somewhere.
Canadian Customs Officer: Well, if you go... (HE GIVES US SOME DETAILED DIRECTIONS, I DON'T REMEMBER THEM...)
Us: Well, thank you, sir.
Canadian Customs Officer: If you boys be comin' back, I suggest the Duty Free, it's tha best place to buy stuff. Enjoy yer stay!

Let me just say that the Unites States Custom guy WAS NOT friendly AT ALL. He was rather, rude and mean. He looked ex-military, and like he didn't trust a word we said. He was short, simple, and didn't talk much, other than to ask us question about what was in the car and why we were in Canada.

This brings me to my First Point: Canadians ARE SUPER-FRIENDLY. EVERYONE is nice. EVERY road we drove down, people on the side of the road waved at us - EVERYONE. This is no exaggeration.

Here's a short quick list of the notes I made about Canada:

1. They use thinner and longer straws.
2. They put gravy on their french fries - and look at you very funny when you ask for "no gravy".
3. Potato Skins are actually THE SKIN OF POTATOS - not the same are America.
4. I was told I sounded like I was from Australia.
5. Nobody likes the government - probably because the tax rate is 14%!!!
6. People are very friendly and talkative - they walk right up to you and start talking about stuff. I almost punched the first guy who did it. I was scared!
7. No one locks their bikes - ANYWHERE. Outside of the supermarket, the drug store, the park - no locks on bikes, EVER.
8. The don't have Mt. Dew - instead its called Dew Fuel. I forgot to take a picture.
9. "Detour" means - the lanes up ahead and merging into one road. NOT - you have to take an alternate route.

Luckily, almost all of the Canadians we talked to were VERY willing to teach us about their culture and their country - without treating us like we were morons.

One really odd fact is that there is no SET exchange rate. At the Gas Stations there was NO EXCHANGE RATE. At the Beer Store it was 1.06 to 1. At the restaurants it was 1.09 to 1. At the Park it was 1.11 to 1. Eventually we asked someone after things weren't making sense. Basically, there is no set rate - each business can set their own rate. However, this is the bank rate: They BUY U.S. Dollars at a rate of 1.09 to 1, and the SELL U.S. Dollars at the rate of 1.13 to 1. It's an odd country... But, I can't complain about the service and the kindness. At the final gas station we stopped at - we were trying to spend the rest of our Canadian Dollars, and we forgot about the 14% Sales Tax, and ended up being 30 cents short - the guy at the counter was like, "Forget aboot it. It's cool. I'll take care of it." REALLY!?!?! Yep. The guy said we were fine, and let us go. It was cool, good kharma for you - Canadian Gas Station Man.

Also, we learned that in school the Canadians have to learn the U.S. Pledge of Allegiance and the National Anthem. It was crazy to hear that. This one girl we talked to told us that she could probably answer more questions about United States history than we could about Canadian history. We didn't even test her, or argue with her, we told her she was right.

The ENTIRE time were we in Canada, we NEVER ONCE saw a police car or police man, and we only saw the Park Ranger once. Also, sadly, I never got to see the two guys on horseback... Someone told us that we'd only see law enforcement "...if something was really wrong..." Interesting...

There WAS NOT a McDonalds the entire time we were there. Although, we were told there was one in Toronto. Also, NO STARBUCKS. However, we were told there was one in London, but only in a bookstore called Chapters. Appearently, that's their version of Borders.

If only people in American could be nice as Canadian. I look forward to going back sometime. It was a REALLY GREAT TRIP.

Oh, and we camped too. And we were eaten alive by mosquitos. We forgot citronella candles. That was a MISTAKE!

"Accepted" Get an A+

"Accepted" was funny. It was really funny. I had a good time watching the flick. It's right up there with "Grandma's Boy" for the funniest COMEDY of the year. ("Snakes on a Plane" wins Funniest FILM of the Year, hands down). It's very much along the lines of "Animal House" and "P.C.U." - in that its rather unbelievable, yet enjoyable at the same time. It's a good time.

My mother brought this T.V. series to my attention - "The Class" - it's from the people who created "Friends" and "Mad About You", so I have a good feeling that I'm going to enjoy the show. The preview doesn't show much, but the description has be interested in the show. Also, the piolt is directed by one of my favorite directors, James Burrows. Mr. Burrows created one of my all-time favorite shows, "Cheers" and has directed TONS of other T.V. shows that I watch. Chances are, if you watch a lot of T.V. Comedies - you've seen his named attached as the director, alot of times on the Pilot episode.

A VERY shocking revelation happened yesterday. I realized that I only have TWO more days at work! Then I'm done - and unemployeed. But, I'll be a "true starving artist". And I've got a lot of plans for the upcoming time - which MOST IMPORTANTLY revolves around writing a new script. SCARY times ahead!

Finally, I HAVE TO CUT this blog short. Last night, following "Accepted", Troy and I were goofing off a little, and got into a sparing match - in which I JAMMED my hand pretty bad. It's swollen up today, and I'm icing it, but its kind of painful, and typing hasn't been helping. I hope it heals quickly! Sorry to make this so short, I'm sure you're disappointed...

Crappy Movie Day

Today, I had the distaste of viewing two completely HORRIBLE films.

First up, Sibley and I went to see "The Night Listener" - and it SUCKED.
There was SO MUCH CRAP in that movie that didn't need to be there, and didn't make sense, and didn't progress the story AT ALL. But, then the problem is that if you remove all of that: You've got a ten minute movie, that doesn't make ANY SENSE! There was really no way and nothing to do to save this movie - UNLESS the remade the movie with the twist that I predicted at the beginning. I leaned over to Dave and I told him what I thought was going to happen. I was wrong, but had I been right - it would have been a GOOD movie. Sometimes I REALLY wonder how crap like this gets funding and produced. Friends of Friends with money... I guess that's how, because this script was AWFUL!

Then, I was convinced to go watch "The Descent" with some other friends. I've been very adament that I didn't want to see the film, but then three of foru good friends have been telling me that they REALLY liked the film. Employees and managers at work, other friends I do movies with, etc... I had not heard one bad review of the flick. WHAT WAS EVERYONE ELSE WATCHING!?!?!?!?! That was one of the worst movies I've seen this year! HOLY CRAP it was stupid! STUPID! STUPID, I SAY! I can't believe people actually enjoyed and found it scary. I laughed through most of it, and thought the rest was just dumb. It takes WAY to long to start killing these girls, and by the time they do start to get killed - I'm ROOTING for the bad guys, because these chicks have annoyed me to death!

Why do films like this get made? It BLOWS my mind!

"Brick"

I picked up "Brick" on DVD today. I haven't seen the flick - but the preview is AMAZING. I kept waiting and waiting for Landmark to get the film, and it kept getting pushed back and back. Everything I've read was positive, and I think it's my kind of film. Sadly, it looks like it's going to be Saturday before I get the chance to actually watch it.

Also on DVD today is one of the BEST shows currently on Television. "Prison Break" - The Complete First Season came out today. I'm SO EXCITED about it, even though I've got the whole first season on my iPod, I can now watch it on a nice big T.V. Next to "Lost", this is my current favorite show on T.V. I can't wait for Season Two to start, even though the first episode is the week that I'm camping with Zach, Troy and Romberg. I sure hope SOMEONE (FATHER!) records it for me!

Right now, I can highly recommend "Prison Break". By the end of the weekend, I should have a review of "Brick" up.

I'm really looking forward to Saturday. Or even Friday night. Once this "screening" of "Crazy About You" is over, and I no longer have to sit in front of a computer for hours, getting more and more upset about the fact that this all got dumped on me - then perhaps I can calm down and remember that I enjoy life. And maybe I'll stop being so moody around my friends. I can hope...

The Day We Stood Still

It's REALLY hard for me to comment about this film. Here's the downside: I NEVER got into this, as a film. It was very much a docu-drama to me, which I can see being the intent. Perhaps its the fact that I lived through it, that I see it differently than films like "We Were Soldiers". In no way can I say it's a bad film, but I can't talk about it like I could with anything else.

If nothing else, this "film" is an experience. It has its up and downs, and it really takes you on an emotional roller coaster with its characters. While I can't say I enjoyed all of the movie - it has some moments that I just don't feel need to be there - I can't say anything negative about it. I can say that they handled many situations very well. The handled the planes and the buildings in an impressive manner - one that I can't see offending anyone in any way. They handled the mass confusion of the day very well. People talking about what they heard happened - when as a viewer, we know their comments to be false (or misled).

Since "Family Man", Nic Cage has only done one good film - "National Treasure" - so it was good to see him in something that I liked him in. Perhaps it had something to do with the fact that he couldn't move for most of the film, and his face was covered in ash - but... Who knows? I liked him in the role, I think he did it well. I also really enjoyed Maria Bello in the flick.

I honestly think more than anything - the flick served more of a "Where Was I" type memory in my mind while I was watching it.

I can remember the day clearly.
I didn't have a job.
I woke up around 8am, and went to the bathroom - with the full intention of going back to sleep. When I got out of the bathroom the T.V. was on in the living room. Both of my parents should have been at work, so I went to see what was going on. It turns out Lawrence Township was doing their ISTEP testing in the fall, and my brother was home, because he didn't have to go to school until noon-ish-sometime. I said "hey" to him, then went back to bed. The radio was on while I was trying to fall back asleep, and that's when I heard the first report. I honestly thought it was some kind of hoax - but quickly learned it wasn't. I leaped out of bed, tossed on a shirt and went back to the living room, to find my brother already down from the loft, and watching the replay of the first plane hitting. I stood with Scott in the living for the next hour, watching the events unfold.

The second plane hit.
The hit on the Pentagon.
The plane in Pennslyvania.
The President on T.V.

I remember around 11am, my cell phone went off. It was Jason. He'd been watching too, but he was calling to tell me that AMC was closing all of their theatres for the day. At this time, I spent a lot of time at Castleton Arts, working on scripts, watching movies, and hanging out with my friends who worked there. They didn't want me to drive all the way out there, when they were going to be closed.

I don't remember what time my Father came home from work, but I know it was early. I remember sitting in the living room with him and my brother watching T.V. coverage.

Sometime around 5pm, Zach called. He didn't have anyone to hang out with, and wondered what I was up to. We eventually decided to try O'Rourke's. I called Sloan's phone, to find out if they were even going to be open, "I've got nowhere else to go, and nothing else to do..." was his reply. Zach and I made it up to the bar, and spent most of the night watching the T.V.s and talking to Sloan. I don't think he made his waitresses come in that night, but I know a couple stopped in from time to time. I don't think there was more than seven people in the place all night - Sloan, Zach, and myself being the three that never left. We talked about it, we made some food and ate it, we watched T.V., we shot some pool, and we just kind of did nothing. I think that's kind of how to sum up the day: The country was so in shock - we didn't know what to do, or how to react. We all were just kind of there. I remember being in the middle of a game of pool, at 8pm - when the President came on the news. We quit the game, and sat and listened.

If nothing else, "World Trade Center" made me remember that day, and how I felt.

Here's a collection of the Magazines I still own from that horrible time in history:


I suppose this blog would be more fitting on September 11th of this year - when we commemorate 5 Year Anniversary of that day, but since I saw the film tonight, it was on my mind. Anyways, on that day - Scott will be living with Letha in NYC, and I'm hoping that Jason and I can drive up there - so that I can be in the city on that day. Jason gets to see Letha, I get to see my brother, and the four of us get to be a part of a historical day. An infamous historical day.

I'm honestly getting worried that "Crazy About You" isn't going to be done by Friday. Part of me is ready to say "SCREW IT" no one else ever put in this much time on this project, and now they're all making me finish up a film I swore I would never edit. But, at the same time - I know if I don't do it, none of the others will. So, sadly - in order to save my reputation and artistic name, I have to finish a project that I have long since stopped caring about. I want to move on. I want to work on the films I want to work on. I'm tired of cleaning up this mess, when I've got three other producers who don't give a crap about it. Lucky for them, I like the actors in the flick, and want to keep my good relationship with them. Or I would have long since stopped working on this thing, and waited to see if anyone else ever took the time to finish it.

Okay, it's late. I'm upset and frustrated. And I didn't exactly watch an "uplifting" film tonight - so I should go to bed, and KNOW that in five hours I'll be up editing AGAIN!