Thursday, June 28, 2007

Too Much Time On My Hands?

Last month for Josh’s birthday I decided I wanted to get him tickets to an upcoming concert but wasn’t sure which event he would most prefer to attend. I narrowed it down to three choices and put together the following "comic book" to present them to Josh. There are a few semi-obscure jokes that may or may not be funny to you if you don’t know the back story but everyone that has seen it in person has chuckled at least a bit so I decided to make it available to the entire world. Here it is in all it’s cheesy glory:
Just in case you’re wondering, Josh chose #3, Alison Kraus and Union Station at the Greek Theater tomorrow night. We would still like to see Weird Al but we missed the boat on getting tickets for any of the OC Fair performances so we’re going to have to wait till the end of his tour when he comes back through SoCal. Also, you may have noticed my "subtle" subliminal message about the Keith Urban concert- I guess it worked! (see June 26 post)

Tuesday, June 26, 2007

The Perfect Alibi (by Katie)

If for some strange reason I was ever named the prime suspect of a crime that happened the Saturday before last, and was dramatically asked the question, "Where were you the night of June 16, 2007?!" I might have difficulty deciding whether I should use my rock solid alibi or just take credit for the crime and go to jail. After all, would anyone even believe me if I told the truth? I wouldn't have even believed it myself if you had told me I would actually be where I was that night. I can picture myself on the witness stand with the "edge of your seat" courtroom suspense becoming unbearable and everyone waiting for me to answer. I would decide that jail probably isn't worth it and then slowly lean forward and mumble something about being at a concert into the microphone. From there, they would undoubtedly want to know the details of said concert and, to ensure the credibility of my statement, I would have to offer up a painfully precise description of the evening. There would probably be many shocked faces, audibly sharp gasps, and maybe even fainting- depending on who was telling the story afterward.
So, just in case by some freak coincidence I am wrongly accused of a crime I didn't commit and in order to clear my name I am forced to testify on my own behalf, revealing where I actually was on June 16, 2007, I would prefer you read it here in my own words, rather than those of the over-sensationalized press.
Now, for those of you who care enough to actually still be reading, I was ... drum roll please ... at-a-Keith-Urban-concert-experiencing-the-Love-Pain-and-the-Whole-Crazy-Thing-tour-live-and-in-stereo-at-the-Staples-Center...there, I said it. Now you know.
Okay, okay, I know you're probably thinking one of two things, "So what," or "Who the heck is this Keith Urban guy and why does Katie seem so self consious about going to his concert?" (or perhaps if you know who he is and you are mildly obsessed with him like I am, you may be wishing you got to go too). For those of you who really just don't care, I give you permission to stop reading right now, I won't be offended- just don't blame me when everyone is talking about how this one ends and you don't know because you didn't bother to read the whole thing. Now, for those of you who do wish to continue reading but don't already know who Keith Urban is, let me introduce you. Keith-everyone......everyone-Keith. Keith Urban has been on the country music scene for several years now but was most recently in the news/tabloids for marrying Nicole Kidman (who is almost as pretty as he is) and then a few months later, just days before the release of his latest album, checking himself into rehab. Now, with his life back on track, he is touring the world showcasing his latest album and greatest hits including, "Stupid Boy," "I Told You So," -referred to by Keith as a "ckeeky sarcastic love song" and "You'll think of me," -referred to by me and Josh as the "Suh-weater Song" (ask us why sometime- don't worry, it's not embarassing or even that funny).
I guess I feel a little rediculous about this whole thing because my initial interest in Keith Urban was his scruffy good looks and well-styled hair. Somehow, I've reverted back to being a junior high girl. I can't exactly pinpoint the moment I decided to start listening to country music radio just to hear his songs or when I made the decision to buy one of his albums, then all of his albums, and tickets to his concert, and a comemorative T-shirt and life-size poster at the concert. (I'm kidding about that last part- I only got the poster). I guess the road that brought me to this point has been a gradual journey paved by Country Music Television (CMT) when I was between jobs, KFROG 95.1FM, and the newly back on the air Go Country 105FM. I had never been a fan of country music before all of this- except for a very brief time in 1992 when my family was so caught up in the "Achy Breaky Heart" craze and the legendary mullet of Billy Ray Cyrus, that we actually bought the album and listened to it...a lot. So, I guess maybe I'm just a product of my raisin'. After all, I am a white girl who lived in "the sticks" (also known as the Inland Empire) for about eighteen years- sounds pretty redneck to me. Why should anyone be surprised that songs about horses, beer, and tractors are suddenly appealing to me? This does slightly complicate my theory that I am secretly Canadian but hey, Keith Urban is from Australia so I guess it doesn't really matter. All I know is I had a great time at the concert singing along to every word of every song. Josh was a good sport and sat there beside me the whole time probably wishing country music had stayed in Texas where he left it. I have no way of knowing how long this little phase of mine will last (again, I'm like a junior high girl) but I do know that June 16, 2007 will live in my memory as the night I breathed the same air as Keith Urban...and a few thousand other people in boots and cowboy hats. It's great to feel thirteen again, without actually having to be thirteen again.
- Katie

Wednesday, June 13, 2007

Hipahipa! Part II

Congrats and 100 points to Adam for submitting the correct answer to our June 11th word scramble. And another 100 points to Adam for being the only one to even make an effort. Yes, the answer was "King Kamehameha Day." Josh came up with the fun illustrations based on the items we ate drank, and watched in celebration of Hawaii's famous monarch. But what do these things have to do with Hawaii?
Hawaii consumes massive amounts of Spam- more than any other US state. Hawaiians prefer eating the canned meat in a dish called Spam Musubi- and so do we.Spam musubi has become a favorite "special occasion" food at our house. It's fun to make and to eat! Check it out at [wikipedia].
I honestly didn't know pineapple wine existed until I walked into BevMo and found a bottle of it in the dessert wine section. Produced and bottled by Tedeschi Vineyards, LTD. in Ulupalakua, Maui, Hawaii, the description on the back reads, "...a soft, dry fruity, wine with an unmistakable pineapple bouquet." Mmmmmm pineappley.
And last but not least, being the rabbid Mystery Science Theater 3000 fiends that we are, we managed to track down the one and only episode (that we know of) where the characters watch a movie that is set in Hawaii, "Code Name: Diamond Head." As usual, the movie is terrible and the jokes are funny- especially after a little of the Maui Blanc.
In the true spirit of Aloha, we thoroughly enjoyed our evening. Mahalo to King Kamehameha for giving us a great excuse to celebrate. Hipahipa!
Mark your calendars (June 11, 2008) and feel free to come share in the fun with us next year!

Monday, June 11, 2007

Hipahipa!

One hundred points to the person who can figure out what today's date has in common with these things...Unscramble these letters for the three word answer:
MKAGMEYHANDEIAKAH

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Friday, June 01, 2007

Superbusy

Yes, it has obviously been a very long time since our last post. This is not because we’re lazy but because we have been very busy both professionally and personally. I’m not sure how the average blogger finds the time to make posts in times like these. Anyway, let’s get ya’ll up-to-date!
The short comedy film of Superpowers has been completed and had its premier in San Diego on Saturday May 26.We got word that it was a huge hit and due to the audience demands, shown three times!
We missed the premier since we were in Dallas for the wedding of my lifetime friend Randall Knuton to a woman who is a true blessing from God, Ryanna. I was the Best Man! Thank you Randall and CONGRATULATIONS to both of you!! Speaking of weddings, my friend Ryan Agadoni also got married on the same day to a wonderful girl named Amy. CONGRATULATIONS!!
Superpowers was a great film to work on and I feel very grateful that my friend and director Mike Olson let Katie and I share in the creative development. I completed the comic book pages that were featured in a great opening credit sequence created by Jared Gerbrandt and Nathan Morgan.These pages were created using Photoshop, they do not exist in real life! I basically pasted the comic onto some scanned paper that I crinkled and then added a rough paper texture along with painting in some paper stains to show decay. Katie provided all the text for the comic book and the opening credits themselves! The film will be available online soon and when it is I'll let you know.

These days I’ve been working a large illustration and design project for a summer camp curriculum with a superhero theme. How funny is that? The projects are many and diverse (character, logo, costume, set, etc.) One of the projects I’m working on is a small four page comic that will act as a flyer for the camp program.
Here is a sneak preview:This job has taken up most of my time these days. I’ve been working on this while going to an 8-5 job with traffic, a life drawing class two days a week, my birthday (May 8), our trip to Dallas, and our computer was down for almost two weeks. I hope to have more info and images in my next post!