Intro
Greetings, Tortugaholics! Welcome to my March Journal. Arizona has been very good to me this time around. I’ve divided my time equally between furthering various projects and spending quality time with good friends.
My Social Calendar
I’ve spent a lot of my social time lately with Arizona Tortugaholics Dave & June Esparza. Between throwing a cookout for all the Tortuga Twins, dragging us out to fine-dining restaurants like Chandler, Arizona’s Heart Attack Grill, and playing St. Patty’s Day tour guides, they have kept us pretty busy. These are just a few of the services they have provided to make us feel home away from home. Dave & June are both Coast Guard auxiliary who we met in 2008 at the Tacoma Tall Ships Festival, and it has been smooth sailing ever since. (Actually, I’m told that we met years earlier, but who’s telling this story anyway?)
I had another reunion of sorts recently. Every year or so, I get together with some of my former college roommates. Back in the mid to late 80’s, I lived with four to five (depending on which dates you’re checking) women at the La Place Apartments in Tampa, Florida. Since that time, we’ve scattered to various parts of the globe and done very well in our respective fields. Usually it’s only while here in Arizona that I have the opportunity to get back together with any of them again. BJ’s Restaurant played host to a large table of friends & family where I caught up and swapped stories with Mike & Jamie Wrage and Ryne & Wendi Reed and their kids (Jamie and Wendi being my former roommates). As always, it was a grand time. Everyone is doing and looking better than the last time I saw them, which made me feel great about having such wonderful friends. I can only assume that I was able to do the same for them. Here’s hopin’. =)
Beware! Tortuga with a Gun!
Ryne & Wendi stepped up to the adventure plate by taking me out to the desert for some bona fide target practice. Using rifles, pistols, and a shotgun, we hunted paper targets, aluminum cans, plastic milk jugs, and clay pigeons. I had a very good time, and it turns out that I’m not too bad a shot. Just don’t ask me what it was I was shooting with—I don’t know what you call them; I only know they were loud.
Avenue Q
If you ever have the opportunity to see the Broadway musical Avenue Q, take it. Inspired by the Sesame Street & The Muppet Show themes, it takes a non-confrontational, tongue-in-cheek look at some of today’s hot social issues. Everything from racism to gay rights gets covered to make for an interesting song-filled “puppet show.” And, then there’s the puppet sex. You heard me…puppet sex. I got to take a tour backstage after the show. There is a different puppet for each of the costume changes. And, the “naked” puppets…they had buttons for nipples. How cute is that?! If Jim Henson is turning over in his grave, it’s only due to laugher. The show is just that good.
Pirate Show DVD Shoot
We shot the Pirate Comedy Show for our newest DVD, Captain Morgan & the Island Queen. We had actually pushed the shoot back as far as next year sometime. However, Jeff Southwick, a buddy of Wendi & Ryne’s that I met at the Tempe Improv last year, happens to be an excellent producer/videographer/editor. Phone calls were made, deals were struck, and viola! the Pirate Show DVD shoot was green lighted.
Jeff actually teaches filmmaking, editing, and video special effects. He brought students extraordinaire Joey Hargett, Michael Tomoiaga, and Chesney Becker (video blogger Chez101 on You Tube—watch her video blog about their shoot day at the Arizona Renaissance Festival) out as our film crew. Honestly, with the advancement in camera technology and the professionalism of his crew, this was one of the smoothest and most non-invasive shoots we have ever done. We look forward to working with him and his production crew again in the future . . . almost as much as we’re looking forward to bringing you the finished DVD.
Keep your eyes peeled for our newest Tortuga Twins DVD. At the rate Jeff’s been editing, it should be in our hands much faster than the six to eight months turnaround time that we’re used to. Woot!
My Truck Woes
Traveling across the United States and Canada like we do, we tend to add a ton of extra mileage onto our mighty metal mean machines. As a result, routine maintenance is a requirement if we want to keep everything running smoothly. However, no matter what we do right, occasionally something mechanical gives up the ghost. This time it was my rear brakes and then my passenger-side catalytic converter.
The brakes I took in to get worked on at two different Nissan dealerships. I say two because the first one (Earnhardt Nissan in Mesa, AZ) tried to sell me on a completely new rear end (costing roughly $2,000). I, instead, opted for a second opinion. This brought me to Power Nissan in Chandler where they told me that I did not, in fact need a rear end at all. Hmmm . . . interesting.
Sooo . . . when my cat converted decided to go belly up, I was already loathe to shell out too much dinero for the repair. Dr. Dave Esparza (Dr. being an honorary title bestowed upon him by me) to the rescue! We spent (with him doing most of the work) the large part of a day and a half switching that biz-nitch out. I am happy to say that the operation was a success and the patient is doing oh-so-fine. And, don’t worry—I’ll have my favorite rednecks at Rimz One in Mooresville, North Carolina check our work once I get back there.
Quantum Coaching
For those of you who have been reading my journal over the last few years, you know that I have a predominantly positive attitude. At least, that’s what I tell myself (and you). Ask Ronn, Jef, & the Blue Team and you might get a slightly different story. I do have my off days, and, unfortunately, my Tortuga Boyz are usually the “lucky winners” when it comes to seeing me at my grumpiest.
That caveat aside, I’m a pretty positive guy. I believe that we are in command of our own destiny, and that Belief & Attitude have a lot to do with what we become, do, and have in life—both the good and the bad.
As a result of all this, I cofounded the self-help company Quantum Manifestations in 2008. This year, I am taking QMI to a new level by offering life coaching sessions. Who’da thunk that a wild and crazy Tortuga Twin could settle down long enough (an hour or two) to offer up sage advice to those seeking to Seize their Dreams and to create a better life for themselves. Go Figure.
Outro
Alrighty, my Tortugaholics . . . this ends yet another journal from yours truly. Here’s hoping that you are loving living your fabulous lives and finding sweet adventures wherever you can. Don’t worry if you skin your knees along the way. We’ll help you laugh about it later, and you’ll feel aces about making the attempt. Until the next time—see you in thirty or so.
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