Weekend Day Adventure

So last weekend I was able to given the chance to help out a coworker do some shooting for a show. She called me up a little while back asking if she could borrow my camera for some casting tapes. She also mentioned that if I would like to come along I could be allowed to see how the casting would work. Considering I have not done any shooting for a bit I was happy to do it.

We met up on Saturday and were going to interview a number of different people around the Boston Area for this show. This show is not related to Must Love Cats and is on an entirely different network. We had to go too four different experts in different fields. It was to show the type of people they are and weather or not they would be good for the show.

Our first expert had great personality and seemed to be a local type that anyone watching could be like “oh yea there totally from Boston”. He was very friendly and very knowledgeable and seemed to have passion for what he does. The best part though was after we were done we met his dog who had this amazing trick of getting the mail for you. I know it has nothing to do with the shoot but it was just so cute and honestly it was a nice change to see a dog do something instead of a cat (that being said still totally love cats).

Our second expert was very different from the first, however she was really good. The idea of her was to present an image that even though she was a woman she was a guys  girl. She seemed very friendly and knew many different things in her field. She was a little nervous at first but because it was just me and my producer, and because my producer is awesome at making people feel relaxed she opened up and made the casting a whole lot easier.

As we were making our way to the third interview, we received a phone call and found out that they had to back out. While it was unfortunate I”m not going to lie I was happy because that interview would have been outside, and well shooting outside in February on a windy day is not the funnest thing in the world. I would have done it happily but still not complaining it did not happen.

Our final interview took place in the historic North End. We went into this shop, a type that I have passed by hundreds of times and always thought “I should check it out” but I never did, well until now. Our last interview was a great, tons of personality and had great character. All the things he talked about were unique and there were a few things I have never heard of before. I always enjoy it when I have a chance to learn something new and that interview did that.

So after our fourth interview we were all wrapped the sun was gone and it was cold, but I think we interviewed a few great people. Sorry for being so secretive but I cannot really say what the show is or what the topic was, but that is the nature of the beast. I was just happy to have the chance to do some shooting again. As odd as it sounds it was a great way to spend a Saturday.

Hopefully more shoots in the future!

Yea You Must Love Cats!

So this past Saturday was the big premiere and it was every bit as awesome as I thought it would be. It was crazy crazy surreal to see the project I worked on to be on the TV and knowing thousands of people were watching it too. The best part for me though had to be this.

Its the first time seeing my name in the credits of a TV show. This has been my first TV show its such a great accomplishment to me I feel really proud and honored.

Anyways! on the big night I had two old High School Friends come over to see the show. There was a lot of food and beer and I was really happy to see my friends enjoying the show, not just because I worked on it but because for what it was. No sooner was the show over I received a call from my mom to tell me what they thought and from my grandmother to tell me as well. For a first episode they showed our time in the north west in Seattle and California. Now I have seen the episodes so many times now because of the logging I had to do but its completely different watching it with friends and family on the actual TV. On Sunday I did it all over again. I got even more friends to come by to see the show along with the Fella. They seemed to really enjoy the show but also really loved hearing about the behind the scenes things that happened. My friends seemed to really enjoy Klepto Cat and Cooper the Photography cat the most. My friends are now inspired to put a small camera on there Corgi and see what happens.

People seem to really enjoy it and I hope everyone will continue to watch the other episodes coming up in the next few weeks. As I said earlier I’m very proud of this show and the work we all did on it. So with that all I have left is to ask.
What did you think?

Freelance, Must Love Cats, & With These Hands

So this past weekend I was able to do some more freelance for my production company. I was asked to get some more footage for a project I helped out with a few months back about a new possible reality show. with the shoot we did a few months ago they were able to  compile a trailer and then the development section of production company pitched this show idea to a few different networks. The reviews they got were positive and so they asked for some more footage, so that is where I was called in.

On Friday I met up with my producer and our subjects for the show. I would like to say that everything went off with out a hitch but well that would just be all out lying now. Sadly there was a pretty big issue that happened right off. Because it was just myself and the producer we were not using that much equipment. Really it was just me with the camera and using either two wireless lav mics or the cameras internal shotgun mic. However I noticed as I was setting up the camera that there seemed to be an issue with the audio. I noticed that for whatever reason I was not getting any readings from both channels. After checking the settings, plugs and inputs I could not find a solution. It was pretty nerve wracking telling your producer “hey I’m sorry can you give me some time to figure this out?” I felt really bad, I have used this particular camera for a while now. It was the same type of camera I used as a B Camera for MLC, and I do know the settings on it really well. So the more I sat with it, the more frustrated/guilty I was feeling, the more time was wasting. I made some calls including the shooter who had used it previously the day beforehand, and after three different sets of advice I realized that I could not waste any more time. I called the office and asked if they could deliver a second camera. There was only one channel of audio working but I could not get it to satisfactory levels, but my producer wanted us to tape something while the second camera was being delivered. So we did with what we could and our second camera arrived. I had the guy look over the first one and he agreed that there was something messed up with it. I felt a little better that it was indeed something wrong with the camera and not me being totally incompetent. The second camera worked fine and we were up and running for the rest of the day.

For the most of it we were just there to see what action unfolded and get it all on tape. We did get some great scenes that I think will help out. We saw our subjects work and interact. We then went with out main subject back to there home. We saw them interact with there family and even went with them on a walk. Where they live has this amazing marsh/park area and while there was deep deep snow (like up to my waist) it was still very pleasant. Once the sun was set that was a wrap for the day and I started making my way home. On the way though I received a call from one of the producers asking if I could also help out the next day as well, which I agreed to happily.

Saturday was a little of the same thing except with a bit more travel. Our main subject had two different events to attend, so that meant a little bit of traveling back and forth but it was still great to capture. During the first event I thought my camera’s audio was wigging out again and had a momentarily silent panic moment but I realized that my mic just needed new batteries. Sadly because of our first event we were a little late to our second one so there was not that much to tape, but it was all very real and I am sure it can be used one way or another. It was not that long of a shoot day but when factoring having to return all the equipment to the office, drop off the tapes for the editor and having to drive all the way back to Nahant to return my car, I did not get back home till close to 10 so it was a nice long day. I do not know wether or not this will help sell the show or not, but if it does we could have a whole new series I might be able to help out with in the future.

So with that out of the way I am here to deliver another plug about Must Love Cats. It premieres THIS SATURDAY AT 8! Seriously you should check it out, it is really well done. Get a chance to finally see what I was referring too for all these months.

Lastly my friends and I have been continuing work on our web series With These Hands! We just made Episode 3 live check it out!

roughweek.org

So that’s it for now, once a new adventure happens you will be sure to hear about it.

Till then!

 

 

 

Random Jobs & Announcement Time

So as January has rolled around I am still doing the fun unemployment thing. But I have had a few good random jobs here and there. Weather it’s taping Bar Mitzvahs, or editing projects I have had something to do to bring in some cash here and there. Until a new show starts up at the production company I work at I just sort of have to sit tight. However I have been lucky enough to help out back at the office for the past few weeks.

A good friend of mine who also works there has called me in a few times to help out with various things. A few weeks ago I helped set up for a photo shoot that was going to be used for promotion of a new show. Funny enough the show was actually one of the shows I helped crew on. So it was nice to see the cast and crew of that show again even if it was for a  day. I was able to do fun things with green screens, learn more about lighting because I sort of suck a lot at that. I was even allowed to take some still photos on a fancy Canon camera. I know a few things backwards and forwards about video cameras, however I have not really had that much of a hands on experience with professional Still Cameras. Nice to know that allot of the same concepts apply, and it was fun just getting my hands on a new type of camera I have never really used before.

I also helped out yesterday as well. Last night was the premiere of a new show on PBS called Making Stuff that our company helped produce. While I was not able to do as much technical stuff as I would like, it was nice to help out for the premiere and well right now jobs a job and money is money so I’m really not going to mind. So I really do not know when I will start up a new show, all I can do is just keep waiting and see what unfolds next.

ok so BIG ANNOUNCEMENT TIME!!!! The show I was working on last year. The show I pretty much started this whole blog for is going to be premiering very soon! The show will be premiering on Animal Planet on February 12th at 8PM!  All of you should check it out and see what all this crazyness I have been talking about for the past year has been for. No seriously its going to be a great show, with a great host and a huge ton of great cats. Check it out in about 3 weeks.

Get Ready

Unemployment Adventure Month 1

So it has been just about over a month since I ended my job at my production company. It’s also  the first time since probably spring break of Senior year that I have had nothing to do for this long. Its been pretty fun though actually not having to get up and go to the same place everyday, granted most of the time I just get up and stay at home but the commute is a lot shorter. Most of the time I have been just relaxing seeing friends and what have you but in this past month I have done some shooting related things.

I did shoot that fun/interesting Bar Mitzvah back in the beginning of the month. This company recently hired me again to help them make a end of the year holiday video. As projects go it was not the most challenging in the world it was just taking a bunch of clips and putting them together using Animoto of all things, but hey I got paid very well for one day of work and considering I do not get a regular pay check any more I was happy to do it.

The funny thing about this place that  hired me to tape this Bar Mitzvah is that I have actually known them for a while. Way back while in School I saw them at a job fair looking for Emerson kids to do internships. I remember meeting the owner with my friend and expressing interest in working with them. The owner clearly liked my friend more then me because she was a proper dressed up lady and while I was dressed up nicely I still had some blue hair left and she could not get over the fact that I had an industrial piercing and said all of that would have to go if I was to work for them. Well here we are 3 years later and my friend is one of there partners at the company and suddenly she does not care how my hair or ears look they just need shooters.

Very recently and tragically a good friend of mine lost her husband in the war and had to come back home. She asked me if I would be willing to video his coming home ceremony for family who could not be there. I’ve taped allot of things but nothing as somber this. It was another experience but I really do not wish it had to be because a close close friend of mine had to loose someone. I thought about writing more on this one but, I just don’t really feel comfortable doing so.

And finally my friends and I have been putting the final touches to our third episode of our web series With These Hands. We finished taping a few weeks ago and now I am laying down the ground work for a rough cut. I do think that if I continue to have more free time I will try to do things like learn more After Effects, and Maybe build a website or at least a new demo cut of my work.

So while it has been a month of relaxation I still managed to get some new video taping and experiences. So as a generic woo hoo 2011 phrase lets see what this years Adventures bring.

The End of Cats

So today was my final day on the show I was working on. Its weird to think that something I have been so invested in since March is now finally over. But to be really cliche and hokey “every adventure must end at one point”.

For the most of it I have been involved in the paperwork and organization of the show which is all very crucial just a little on the slow side of things. However today I was able to wrap up every log and every release. The final episode will be going off to the big company soon and then all I have to do is wait for the show to finally air on TV.

See it’s that last part that seems so unbelievable to me, seen on tv. Something I worked on that I spent two months of my life on is going to be on tv, national tv. People from all over the country and the world is going to see this show. Its going to be on a top network, Animal Planet if no one could tell at this point. It seems so unreal to me but at the same time I feel so humbled and proud that I have worked on a show that will be seen by so many people. I was organizing mailing address to everyone who we featured on the show earlier and I realized just how many people we have interviewed and how many people are now involved in it. It’s a little over whelming.

I’m sort of at a loss of words, well loss of words and constant repetition, hence why this post is a little repeating in feelings and words. The idea that I have been out of school for two years now and I am going to have a full network show under my belt. But still the idea to go from attending classes to being asked to travel the entire country for a show is a little crazy but in the good way. And you know I hope I get asked again to do more of the same. Tell me you want me to go off to another part of the country or hell even another part of the world and I will probably do it happily. I know I still have a long way to go in my carrier until I have made it to the spot I want, but I am already doing something I love and something I have been wanting to do since I first laid eyes on a camera back in High School.

So what now? Well now that my show is done, I now enter work limbo. My production company has a few other shows going on but they are already currently being worked on. And really this time of the season there are not allot of new shows going into production or old shows starting a new season. However that means I do not really know when I will start a new show. So that means I will be going back whatever freelance I can, and then just hanging out. Really I will be happy to have some time off and just relax. But it is going to be weird not having my daily life revolving around cats.

Speaking of Cats I really hope all who have read this will enjoy the show. It is called Must Love Cats and it is going to premiere next year in February on Animal Planet. I think people will really enjoy it.  if any of you are interested you should totally check out our Facebook fan page.

http://www.facebook.com/mustlovecatsfanpage

It has been a great time and I can’t wait for the next Adventure.

 

Organizing Cats

So a few of my friends and general people will ask me what I do now that my grand cat adventure is over. What I normally say is the grand cat adventure still continues there is just less travel at this point. This entire job here has been my big cat adventure and like I said it continues still. Now that we are done traveling around the country seeing all the interesting kitties and there stories revolving around it, my job now focus on paperwork, lots and lots of paperwork.

One of the many things I was in charge of while on the road was making sure that we had releases for everything we did. If we were going to a place to film we needed a location release. If we were interviewing someone on the street, we needed an appearance release. If someone gives us a photo of there cat doing something cute we need an acquired footage release. If someone has a sign or a business we need a logo release. While traveling I had to make sure those for every single place we went too and every single person we spoke too on camera. So you can imagine two months straight of doing this we have a few of those releases stacking up.

So since I have been back I have to organize all of the releases and put them in order, sort of like a big puzzle as it were. As the episodes are getting worked on I make sure that all of places/people etc is logged and that each log has the corresponding release with it. It does take some time, but it all needs to be done and its not bad at all. For the most of it I am not the most organized person in the world, my memory can be so bad that I will literally have a small notebook in my back pocket so I can write an idea down, or have to remember something because I know in twenty minutes time it will be gone from my head. However doing things like this is actually really helpful for me because it forces me to have to stick to an organised format. Have all the releases been accounted for, do they match up with the logs, are all of them scanned. Like I said it takes a bit of time but it does help me organize and I make sure that nothing is missing or too crazy.

Now I know that may not seem as glamorous as traveling around the US and seeing new things everyday. However my job now focuses on me having to look at footage of adorable cats, kittens and sometimes dogs on a daily basis.

I feel as jobs go I really can’t complain.

Adventure Day 69 – The Last Cat

So I really have been lying last week and a half was in fact my last shoot related with our show. I know I have said this like two times before, but this time I’m really really realllly sure (maybe). Anyways this shoot was not a new segment but more of adding on to an additional segment.

You might remember how when we went to Plymouth to shoot various things related to Cats and Plymouth, that was the whole basis for our shoot last Tuesday, it was to add more to the segment. So I geared up a equipment van one last time as we headed out to the different parts of MA.  One funny thing is you know you have done this a few times when the people at the Avis rent a center recognize who you are. When I first picked up our first van there was a small issue because I am technically under 25 they could not rent me a vehicle, so after a few calls we were able to sort out how my company had an agreement that even though I was under 25 I could rent a van. The first few times I did this we would have to go through this process. At this point now not only do the people there know me they don’t even have to look anything up they just set up the account and give me the keys heh.

We started out not that far out from Boston. We had an interview segment where we interviewed a author of a new book all about cats. This book also relates to cats in Plymouth. It was a very nice and informative interview. Sadly we did not have our host with us this time, and while it sucked not having him there. Because it was just our producer asking questions our interview was pretty quick. One simple set up on a porch a half hour later were all done and were heading out to our next spot.

After the interview everything else was just getting B-Roll of different cats in different barns doing things that cats during plantation times might do. We made our way to 3 different farms along the way each farm farther then the previous one. By the time we made our way to our third barn I was all the way out on the Cape. Each B-Roll segment was really good. Each cat was unique and did different things that will look great for the segment. Everyone we met with was super friendly and I even got to see some beautiful horses which made me want to go riding again.

By the time we were back at the main office it was already nightfall. However it was a good shoot with some good elements that only make the show stronger. So now that that is all done I could say we are now all wrapped with our show. However considering how I have now said that twice in the past and I have been proven wrong so I will just say Its been another great shoot for our great show.

If another shoot happens I will be sure to tell you all about it. Now I go back to the regular work of putting all the post pieces together.

Look at that almost close to 70 adventure day’s total how awesome is that?

Adventure Day 67 & 68: *looks around* I think I can say its a wrap now.

So today marks I think the official end of production for our show. I’m like now 98% sure I will not be going on any more shoots now and the rest is up to post and then getting it out there for you fine people to watch and enjoy. So sorry for no post last night, yesterday was just very long and kind of epic in how much we did. How much did we do? Let me tell you.

We started up nice and early at 5:30 in the morning, damn you 5:30 in the morning it is one of my evil enemies and there is mutual mutual hatred. In anyways Once up we packed up the cars and made our way out to the Algonquin to get our host. There we met up with him and our audio guy. The DP, Producer, Audio, and Host took the rental car and I hopped in the other PA’s car to our first destination Washington Heights.

We arrived at this community garden in Washington Heights just before eight. Because our entire segment is based around cats working in NYC we went to a place where feral cats roam and help out. That part of the shoot went very well. We met a women who takes care of the cats and how they can be a benefit to everyone there at the garden. For feral cats they were quite nice and almost playful. They still had there feral attributes where they would nip at you but for feral cats they could almost be domesticated they were that nice. We got some nice footage of the cats in the gardens and some good interviews. With that part of the day done we had to say goodbye to Manhattan for a little bit and then head off to Brooklyn!

We arrived in Brooklyn home to thousands of shops and bodegas. Apparently allot of stores and bodegas will use cats as mousers to help them. The funny thing is, having a cat in a bodega is considered illegal in the city of New York. However we found someone who owns a bodega that would allow us to shoot in there as long as we did not show where they were actually located. Coming from Boston I do not see many Bodegas really, for me there are just CVS’s and Wallgreens all over the place. The Bodega was really cool though and I realized wow these really are everywhere and are really cool. We interviewed a man who is trying to help change the laws so Cats can legally be allowed to be in Bodegas. He told us that so many cats are used even though there is a law against it because it cuts down on the pest problems so much so they consider it a cost saver in the end despite the fines and consequences. So while we were not at the bodega for that long we did get allot of good footage and another great side of the story. After we were done with that we were off to our third location. The Brooklyn Brewery.

The Brewery was a last minute add on but it was a very nice one. We got to meet the owner and the brewery cat who helps patrol the area but also lies around and acts as a stress reliever and adorable mascot for them. The owner was very nice and showed us around and we got to learn the history of the brewery and the cat. We did not stay too long at he brewery but it was still a very good time. So after this point in the day we encounter our big snafu.

Because we were shooting so much our camera batteries were draining quite fast. So a decision was made that while the rest of the crew got lunch with members of the brewery the other PA and I would go back to the Algonquin and set up the batteries on chargers and then get some lunch. So the other PA and I made our way back to Manhattan and the Algonquin and in a half hour we were there. We got into the room unpacked our stuff and were about to get some food when I realized something….the keys to the other car were resting perfectly on my key link…and the other car was back in Brooklyn…. Sooooooo we realized ok and started making our way back to Brooklyn. The tricky problem is apparently it is much easier to get into Manhattan then out of it. What should have been a “17″ minute drive according to the GPS  actually took an hour. Thanks to NYC wonderful every changing streets, traffic, construction and bizzaro streets that have bizzaro signs or roads so you can’t make a simple right turn made it difficult for us to get back to the brewery. However we eventually did and were able to get the keys back to the rest of the crew. Luckily even despite the delay we were not behind schedule and were able to make our way back to the Algonquin for our final part of the Segment, hotel cats and the birthday of said hotel cat.

The other PA and I were able to quickly get some good food from a food cart and started setting up our equipment for the cats birthday/event. I do not want to give away too much on the event itself but it is way more then just a birthday and is a big deal, that is a great cause for animals and shelters. Lets just say there might have been a cat fashion show but that’s all I’m saying and you should really check it out when it airs. Even though it was a crazy party with tons of people we were able to finish up our shoot with ease. However there was a second snafu that might have caused us to not be so smooth. As we were setting up we realized we had a light that needed to be plugged in. However all the outlets near the light were being used by the hotel. The only outlet that could be used was across the room, and to make sure no one tripped I had to snake our cords around the the parameter of the room. I used both extension cords but it still was not enough. I asked the employees at the Algonquin if they had any extension cords left and sadly they didn’t So after some quick advice from the DP I did the next best thing I rand out into the middle of times square looking to find another extension cord to buy…with a half hour until show time. The nice thing is it is time square so there is practically every store you could imagine around there and one staples, one 25 foot extension chord and the sad goodbye to $40 dollars later I had another extension chord. I raced back to the hotel and was able to get the light in with 10 minutes to spare and then the rest of the event went smooth as silk!

So finally at 8:30 we were officially wrapped and done. I said goodnight to my crew and packed away everything into my room. Now I have been up since 5:30 if I was a smart rational human being I would have gone straight to bed but of course I’m not so I decide to stay up late and go out again. I met up with my buddy Joel where we hung out got a late dinner and lots of tasty drinks. We caught up considering the last time I saw him was last month when I was in NYC. It was a very good time however by the time I got back it was already close to 1 am whoops!

Today I woke up at 7 am and by 8 the DP and I were making our way back to Boston. Luckily! there was not much traffic at all getting out of the city or New York in itself and by noon I was finally back in home territory. The rest of the day involved me returning lots of equipment and tapes and paper work. I actually stayed in office for the last 3 hours and somehow was able to get some work done despite how long of a day it was today and yesterday.

So that being all said I think the great cat adventure traveling wise is over but who knows I may be asked to go off on another crazy cat adventure at any moment. And you know what I’m ok with that.

Adventure Day 57 & 58: Happy Birthday and Remembering Fredrick

So the adventure has begun again!

Yesterday was the start of Episode Six for our wonderful cat related program. After a nice long break we started off with a good long day of work. Our first segment was located in our very own Plymouth MA. I woke up said goodbye to the Roomates, BF, and Cat and left to get our DP. Once there it was a brief hour drive and then we were in Plymouth. I gotta say I was a little bit worried at the idea of starting again only thinking that after two weeks of not working all day on cats I would not be able to get into the flow of what would be needed of me. However it was like a light switch, as soon as I met up with our Host and Producer it felt like no time had passed at all and it was just another day at work.  However we had a nice change for that day, we were very fortunate to have the help of two interns today. Because we are in the same state of our production company we were able to get there help for the day and oh man was it ever appreciated. Having two extra people to help me and the rest of the crew made the entire day go by faster and allot easier. Our segment was actually allot of little segments all rolled in together to show how cool of a cat play Plymouth can be.

We started with a trip to the Mayflower II a wonderful recreation of what we believe the original Mayflower looked like.

We met with the captain of the ship and learned about the history of cats in sailing and how there might have been cats on the original Mayflower itself. It was extremely fun to be on this ship. After our tour of the ship we actually met some Plymouth Locals who have some interesting cats that are regulars in the communities. They go off for walks together and even take bike rides together! After our tour of the area we got some nice footage of the town itself, Plymouth does remind me allot of Nahant just that small portside/island town feel.

After our tour there we actually went off towards the famous Plymouth Plantation, to get some more insight and history of how cats might have been back in those times. Plymouth Plantation is one of those places I have known about forever, it could be one of those places you might have gone to on a school trip or something, however I have never been there for one reason or another. Being a history dork it was truly amazing to see how houses, life and communities looked back in those times. You can only do so much with the information that’s told to you but when you see an actual representation it truly makes you think it was very very cool.

After that we traveled to our last location which was this great community and program that deals with trapping and fixing feral cats. We met with allot of members of this volunteer organization and people of the community that help out. We learned how most feral cats are trapped and the way they go about trying to help feral cats and lower the cat population, it was very educational. And with that by 7pm our shoot was done but our day was not.

We said goodbye to our awesome interns and then  we set out on our way to our next location New York City! Now after all the driving I have done these days four hours of driving was nothing to me, however it was my first experience of night driving. However it really was not bad at all, I mostly listened to allot of podcasts and before I knew it we were there.  By the time we were in our hotel unpacked, it was past midnight so I prombtly went to bed realzing that this was one of the most interesting Birthdays I have had.

That’s the funny thing it did not really register with me that it was in fact my birthday or for that fact that I now “felt” 24. I did not really pay attention however through out the day I did get allot of texts, calls from people wishing me a happy birthday and it did put me in a good mood for the entire day. When I finally got settled into my hotel I checked my facebook and found like over 40 well wishes it was truly truly touching. It was also a good close to a long but very well done first segment of our final episode.

Now we are onto Today!

Today started the first part in a three part segment that we are doing through out the entire week. It is about this orginization that helps soilders out in the field now adopt pets that they find out there. We spent this morning in Central Park talking to a woman who helps work on this orgniztion. We talked about how they got started, what they try to accieve and the different challenges and happy endings they get when they try to help out a soldier. It was really great doing the entire interview in Central Park, yes I am bragging now but I have always found it cool that my great ancestor Fredick designed this giant and amazing space right in the heart of one of the biggest cities in the world. We were only in one area but to just walk around it and try to think of what he must have thought of to create all of it is really inspiring. It also has amazing views.

With our interview done were finished for the day and decided to get lunch and went back to our hotel. We stayed at the Algonquin last night which I always knew it was famous and historical. The Algonquin has a resident cat there that has been around for quite a bit so I figured that was the main reason why we stayed there. Through out the day I had this nagging feeling that I knew that this hotel was important for a reason but it kept escaping me it didn’t hit me until I was walking by and noticed this picture.

The woman on the left on the top and the woman on the right on the bottom is the famous Dorthy Parker. I remembered a few years ago how I read a great biography on her and it all swept back to me how she stayed at the Algonquin and was part of its “golden years” with the rest of the Vanity Fair crew. The fact that someone as famous as her and F Scott Fitzgerald and countless other famous people of such a classic time is really amazing. I heart Dorthy Parker so relazing that I was staying in one of her most favored spots was an a great surprise. I even got to see the famous Round Table, where there is a great portrait of the old gang hanging behind it and little plackards of some of there quotes. However sadly I realized this as I was leaving the hotel! However through the grace of the good scheduling gods of this trip I will be back there for one ore night in the week so huzzah!

After lunch we made our way out of the city and let me just say that I have now driven through Downtown Manhattan and even Times Square itself during the high noon period, I feel like I should get a medal for bravery or something now. Once we were out of the craziness of the city we made our way to New Jersey as George Carlin would call it “The Toll Booth State”.  So now I will just find food and collapse for the night.

Adventure!!