Okay, Flip-philes, I’m back to deliver another stellar (if slightly belated) installment of the Weekly Flippo. If you’re allergic to things that are awesome, I recommend you steer clear of this blog, take two tablespoons of John Mayer, and call me in the morning.
My last day at Double Feature was... fun (“Uh oh! An ellipsis! This can’t be good!”). Since one of the receptionists was out, the company’s regular runner took her position, and I took his. All was well, until I was asked to drive my boss’s Mercedes Benz to the gas station. Now, that may not seem like great fodder for an anecdote, but I have to say, that driving this damn car was the most terrifying experience of my life. This is the sort of guy who can’t stand a cold lunch, much less a scratch on his car. I’m sure that there is a guillotine out back just for the interns.
Anyway, I’m glad to say I pulled it off and am alive to write this blog, which also means that I survived the trip back as well. Dad was excited about the trip back. He said that he was going on a “Calification,” which is a word he came up with by taking “California” and combining it with “vacation.” Get it? Well, I suppose its better than “Vacafornia.” I don’t know what a “Vacafornia” is, but I sure as hell don’t want one.
Coming through New Mexico, our trusty Buick recorded temperatures that topped out at 114 degrees (looking back, jeans were a poor choice). As soon as we hit Oklahoma, I felt we were attempting the land speed record. The last day we went from Oklahoma City back to Chattanooga, arriving home at just minutes till midnight. It was like a Steinbeck novel on fast forward.
Though I’m going to miss the hell out of L.A., I am not going to miss the UCLA apartment where I was staying. The bachelor lifestyle was causing that place to smell funky, like old Chinese food and soured milk. I don’t know what the reason for this is (though I was starting to suspect the old Chinese food and soured milk), but I think a little bit of Peach State air did me some good.
Also, now that is it safe to say, I might have had the weirdest roommate known to man. Now, I know that’s a tall order. There are plenty of oddballs out there and I’m sure most of them have found people to split the rent. That being said, this guy was something special. He asked me to wake him up one day by pouring water on his face. Okay, okay. Maybe I’m overreacting. Its not like he was an amateur taxidermist or that he collected rainwater. But still... Here are some things I’ve discovered about yours truly while in L.A.
*I sunburn a little too easily. If there’s an Easy-Bake Oven in the room, I should at least bust out the SPF 30.
*I can maneuver the Buick down the 405 without any problems, but L.A. parking lots give me trouble. You try parking your car inside a matchbox and then we’ll talk!
*Its been eight years, but I still have Smash Mouth’s “All Star” down pat, dammit! Remember that “we could all use a little change” part? Proust himself never expressed a concept so beautifully.
*Speaking of which, I have a lovely singing voice.
*I can usually tell when people have absolutely no idea what they are talking about. Since I usually don’t, I’ve come to learn when someone is speaking my language.
*I want to hate Hootie and the Blowfish, but, dammit... I just can’t do it.
*One day I shared an elevator with Gene Simmons, and I learned that we had absolutely nothing in common (except that whole 10,000 women thing).
Also, in other news, my friend Hadjii Hand is currently writing, directing, and starring in Somebodies, BET’s first scripted program. I believe they are currently shooting their seventh or eighth episode in Athens, Georgia right now. The series is based off his feature that went to Sundance a couple of years ago, and I wish him the best. You can read my interview with Hadjii at http://www.athensexchange.com/articles/524/?search=Chris%20Flippo . You can also see a short promo for his book at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lz2WbwRZDR0
For the third straight week in a row (my personal best), I have assembled some youtube clips I’ve really enjoyed lately.
1. Beck’s music video for “Girl” off the Guero album. Pay special attention to the lyrics. The Mad-style fold-ins are a clue to how you should interpret them.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13iLkTrDlbI
2. I don’t know if you’re a fan of Coldplay or not (I am). Either way, I think you’ll enjoy this video for their song “Trouble.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LolJmyDjRsQ
3. The Flight of the Conchords are billed as “formerly New Zealand’s fourth most popular guitar-based digi-bongo acapella-rap-funk-comedy folk duo.” I can’t think of any introduction better than that.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLEK0UZH4cs
4. My friend Ben Greene’s music video for Blue Oyster Cult’s “Burnin For You.” This video has more wardrobe changes than a Cher concert. I have no idea why I hang out with these guys.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbA0Qk3kVZU
5. Oh, and while we’re on the subject, here is a thirty-second short by Ben at my apartment. Where else are you going to see a man killed with Skittles?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKyqsgsuu2w
And with that, I conclude this week’s Weekly Flippo. Come back next week as I give you more of the same senselessness, just re-gifted with a prettier bow.
xoxo
Flippo
No comments:
Post a Comment