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Post by CBG on Mar 1, 2009 10:55:57 GMT -5
What's particularly satisfying is that it was a call outside the Union Hall system. Let me explain...for 17 of the 18 years I've been in this labor union, I worked as an accountant. It's a long story, but it allowed by employers to pay me a higher wage than my contemporaries in similar positions. Well, actually, no one had a comparable position to mine, in that I was the sole provider of daily set construction costs. As I've explained previously, relationships are part of this business, and when those relationships got fired or transfered...anyway, when the writer's strike ended last February, I had to go back to work with split duties of laborer and accountant. So, when I got the call Friday to come to work as a laborer, it showed me that these guys didn't see me as "that guy in the office who got foisted on us", but respected me enough to know I could do the job. It's nice...I feel like I've turned a corner.
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Post by Crowfan on Mar 1, 2009 16:35:06 GMT -5
That's pretty awesome indeed. I hope this will lead to even more work for you.
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Post by abomb on Mar 15, 2009 18:16:55 GMT -5
Hope things just keep getting better and better, "Two-Sheds."
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Post by CBG on Mar 16, 2009 20:36:46 GMT -5
Haven't been around much...especially today...started that new gig at Paramount today...we'll see how it goes.
Thanks to all for the well-wishes.
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Post by mummifiedstalin on Mar 17, 2009 10:21:20 GMT -5
I don't like Paramount movies. That means that I hope you screw up your job, cause the company to collapse, and have to find a new one.
Good luck!
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Post by CBG on Mar 22, 2009 0:52:00 GMT -5
Thank you.
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Post by CBG on Mar 28, 2009 2:33:39 GMT -5
Greetings- Well, where to start? I've just completed my second week back at Paramount, and it's nice to be home again. Wednesday before last (03/18), my sister called me at work and stated, in no uncertain terms, that I needed to get over to my step-father's house right away. Apparently he had taken a fall, and was unable to walk or even stand-up. We took him to emergency, and after about six hours he was admitted to the hospital for observation and further tests. The next day we were informed that he had had a stroke, and would need to stay in the hospital for an indefinite period for stroke rehabilitation. A little background, if I may...my mother died in 2004 from pancreatic cancer. My step-father Joseph ( I call him 'Doc' 'cuz he used to be a chiropractor), has lived alone since. I stayed with him for a period of time in 2006 and 2007 when my family was in New Mexico, and I was here working. Anyway, last May he began having pain in his lower legs and feet. His feet swelled, and he had difficulty walking or standing for any length of time. He then began to lose weight, and take on the countenance of someone suffering with cancer. His hair started falling out, and he was getting weaker by the month. Several batteries of tests were performed over the course of last summer/fall, and every one of 'em came back negative. No cancer...'healthy as a horse'. One thing that did show up was a very high iron count in his blood. His oncologist prescribed a treatment of injections administered by a visiting nurse, three times weekly. As he got weaker, and we (my sister and I) got more and more frustrated with the medical machine's inability to diagnose an obviously ill man, he suddenly turned a corner. He began to gain weight. Ten pounds between doctor's visits, that was phenomenal. His spirits began to pick up, and he had even started running his own errands again. Oh, and his iron levels had gone down as well, and his doctor changed the injection to once a week. My apologies for the monologue, but I haven't shared any of this here, and thought you might like a reference point. So, the plan was he was to be transfered this week to in-patient physical therapy, which was a relief to my sister and I because then he could get his strength back, and we wouldn't have to worry about him being alone. My sister lives in the next city over, and I am 65 miles away. Come to find out today that his crappy insurance won't cover him being in that therapy program, and we've been informed that they (the hospital) will be moving him to a convalescent home tomorrow as soon as the details can be worked out. My sister's a little stressed out, I'm taking a 'wait and see' attitude about it, and will take the situation as it comes, and just do what's best for Doc. Sis is gonna take a ride by the facilities in question and do a little inspection to see if they're clean, etc. I always thought that I'd be going through this with my mom. She was a bit of a hypochondriac/Camile, but never complained once when she was dying...God, I miss her. Doc sometimes gets 'the guilts' for supposedly taking up our time. Mom would want it this way, I tell him. They were married for thirty years...he misses her too, God. So, back on the work-front... As I stated, it's nice to be back at Paramount. I was talking with a friend today who was the Department Head for Construction back in the day, and talked about how surreal it was to be back as a 'worker drone' when we used to run the place. He said he liked it...I think I do too. I've gotten about five job offers since I went back to Paramount. Mostly one or two day gigs for less than I'm making in the Wood Moulding shop. It's hard work, but I like it. I've only put in a couple of hours paperwork time...I keep pressing it...in the meantime, I'm making myself very useful. On a future note...I was talking with the foreman I worked with on 'The Game', and he's working on a Jerry Bruckheimer pilot right now, and he's got an almost automatic green light track record these days...anyway, if they pick it up, he's gonna hire me for his second, which would probably mean a long run on a show with some MONEY! I've missed being around here every day. I've been visiting Doc everyday after work, and sometimes just staying in Glendale to avoid driving 65 miles to go to bed, get up and drive back for work. There's no internet there, and I leave the aircard at home for the family's use. Anyway...it's late, and I've taken enough of your time. For which I thank you. CBG
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Post by Crowfan on Mar 28, 2009 17:43:21 GMT -5
Change, just saw your post buddy. I can relate, believe me. I hope that Doc will be okay. It sounds like you and your sister are doing everything you can. Hang in there.
On the work front, I'm glad you've got the work. Congrats!!!
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Post by CBG on Apr 17, 2009 11:52:16 GMT -5
Greetings- First an update on Doc: I brought him to my home after he was discharged from the 'rest home' because he was not strong enough to stay alone. He was doing wonderfully. His appetite was amazing, and he was regaining strength and stamina. Wednesday I took him to a doctor's appointment, then he wanted to go back to his house, and just be there. I fed him lunch, let him watch his soaps (we don't have TV at my house), and check his mail. He then insisted on going out to the garage and starting his car to avoid the prospect of a dead battery the next time he tried to start it. He wouldn't let me do it (he's very picky about his old Buick), so I carefully watched him as he got into the car and started it up. He then got out of the car and sat on a kitchen stool. I told him in no uncertain terms that he was NOT TO MOVE from that spot. I was gonna go inside and shut up the house, and we would be on our way back to my house. I wasn't in there for five minutes, and when I came out, there was a stranger standing outside of the garage, and Doc was sitting on the same stool only this time he was outside of the garage. At first I thought this guy was a neighbor who had not seen him in a while, and was stopping to say hello. So, I said "Hello?", and he asked if I was his step-son. I said yes, and he told me that Doc had taken a 'pretty bad spill'. Apparently this guy was driving by and saw Doc fall on the sidewalk. I thanked him immensely for stopping to help, and checked out Doc. He couldn't stand or move his leg. I carried him to my truck, and rushed him to emergency. Turns out he broke his hip, and will require orthopedic surgery which will be done this afternoon. I'm on my way now to the hospital, and I'll keep you posted. As you've been able to read here, my life has gotten quite a bit more complicated that it had been. On the employment front: I've been unemployed all week, which has actually been a Godsend given Doc's recent set back. I got a call from my buddy working on the Bruckheimer pilot. It got picked up! So we'll start in about a month, just hope I can get a few day playing gigs until then. Thanks for your time and your support. CBG
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Post by callipygias on Apr 17, 2009 14:13:16 GMT -5
I wish I could believe that I could roll with it all as well as you in similar circumstances, but no chance. I whine when it doesn't rain in a timely manner and I have to go water the garden for a half hour.
Great news about the show, though. I hope it's a success and that it features Salma Hayek in a bikini and that she takes you on as second too.
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Post by Crowfan on Apr 17, 2009 18:43:23 GMT -5
Great news about the gig, but I'm sorry about Doc. It's good that you were there.
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Post by CBG on Jun 15, 2009 1:42:26 GMT -5
Greetings- Well, I see by my previous post, that it's been almost two months since I've updated...feels like a lifetime. Not much has changed with Doc. He is still very weak, and cannot stand for long, and walking is dicey at best. He has recovered nicely from the hip surgery, but his peripheral neuropathy has not improved. He basically cannot feel his feet most of the time, and when he can he's in pain. I know he's gotta be goin' stir crazy. I know livin' with my family drives me nuts. We try to get him out as often as we can. Those trips are all day ones. He's very unsteady on his feet, as I stated, and is stubborn about using a wheel chair. This must be hell for him. He was always so active. Even after my Mom passed away, he had his routine. He had his work, and care taking of his house. For the last fourteen months, he hasn't worked and has spent more time than anyone should in and out of hospitals and doctor's offices. I feel so helpless sometimes, and yet there are times when I have to treat him like my fourth child. He wants to do for himself, but he puts himself in precarious situations. Trying to take his dishes to the sink, for example. Or carry a hot beverage. It's just not safe, no matter how much his mind tells him he can do it. I can't tell you how many times I've caught him and avoided a fall. Maybe if I had been a little more stern with him before, he wouldn't have broken his hip. Water under the bridge. Our hopes and prayers are for a full recovery, and return to living at home and working. The reality of it is I'm gonna have to start talking with him about selling the house, because I've been doing his bills, and without work, he can't afford his mortgage. He's going to be staying with my aunt (mom's sole surviving sibling) for a couple of weeks starting on Father's Day. My Aunt Janet is, shall we say...blunt. If anyone can convince him to let go of that house... As far as the work front goes, I've had a few gigs since last met. While waiting to hear from my buddy on the hospital show, I picked up a few days at Paramount, my old stomping grounds for seventeen years. It's always nice to go home...but I digress. I did about a week with Facilities painting sealant on recently installed a/c ducting on the roof of the Zukor Building. Then I spent a few unpleasant days demoing the roof of Stages 8&9, preparing for a digital upgrade to the utilities servicing the stage. Stages 8&9, by the way, was where they shot TNG and Voyager for 14 years. The other task I was assigned was tearing down the Insulquilt (quilted insulation-sound proofing) from the interior of the catwalks. Thirty feet in the air, and hotter than blazes. After two days of this, I got a phone call from the labor department at Universal Studios. The union hall had recommended my name for hire to work on the backlot rebuild going on there. If you'll recall Universal had a devastating fire last year that took out most of the backlot facades, and the King Kong ride. The guy who called me asked me if I wanted to make a 'bunch of money'. I said of course, of course, and then he told me the shift would be Wed-Sun, Monday being a time-and-half day if worked, and Tues double time. I would be working 'Fire Watch' with the welders. Starting at noon, and going 'til ten o'clock at night. I balked at first when I heard the hours, but called my wife and asked her what she thought about it. She told me to go for it, (we needed the cash) and I could stay in Glendale, and not have to drive so far so late at night. So I called him back, and told him I'd take it if it were still available. It was. This was one sweet gig. I would arrive at noon, work for four hours with the welders making sure nothing caught on fire near where the were working; and then the next four-six hours basically reading and checking for any hot spots. Legally they have to have someone on scene for four hours after work is finished for the day. After a week, things changed. The budgets had obviously been checked, and found lacking. They threw a B-B-Q at lunch, and laid off 120 carpenters and laborers. Fortunately, I was with the metal shop, and all welders were retained. So they changed my shift to M-F 10 am - 6:30. Again, I would come in, work for four, watch for four. The following week scheduled changed again to 6 am - 2:30. So much for four hours of reading. But I was really enjoying this. I had the hang of the fire safety by then, and had gotten to know the guys to the point where they were requesting to work with me. Talk was of work lasting until Christmas. Pfew! In the meantime, my buddy on the hospital show calls me. I'm thinking, sorry but this gig trumps your show anytime. I didn't say that, of course, I don't burn bridges. So he tells me the start is postponed until July 20, but he'll still try to get me on if I'm interested. I tell him I'm cool for now, and kept the channel open...you never know in this biz. So I'm happy go lucky, got a nice gig and a nice routine goin'...then they checked the budgets...again. You guessed it, last one hired...first one fired. I'm optimistic about the future, the timing's just bad, that's all. I've been off for a week now, but I'm getting stuff done around the farm, and catching up with my family...even though they drive me nuts. My name's moving up on the roster, and in another week the hospital show starts...meh, life could be worse. Thank you for your time and support, CBG
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Post by CBG on Jun 17, 2009 2:38:35 GMT -5
Greetings- Back in December, I was in the throws of moving a household. As I was packing, I ran across some pictures of the action figure collection I used to have back in the '90s. Throughout most of that decade, I was a fanatical collector of pretty much everything and anything. Toys, games, action figures, comics, pop culture icons. You name it, if there was a set of 'em, I wanted to put one together. Anyway, I know some of you around here appreciate these little objects d'art as much as I did, so I thought I'd share some of them with you all. First up: A picture of part of my Star Trek Collection: Those carded TNG figures up top were all autographed. Those TOS dolls on the upper right are made of porcelain. This is another angle of that TOS shelf on the right: The 'wallpaper' you see behind them is actually cut-up comic books and Wizards, applied with a simple water and flour paste. It was grueling work, but the finished product was worth it. If memory serves, and it usually doesn't, this was taken during the pasting process...a completed wall, sans displayed figs: Sorry about the glare, there's more pics later that will give you a better look at the walls. Thanks, more later... CBG
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Post by callipygias on Jun 17, 2009 10:31:32 GMT -5
Holy hell! That was only part of your Star Trek collection?
What happened to them all? Did you sell them and travel the world for a decade with the $$$?
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Post by CBG on Jun 17, 2009 12:18:44 GMT -5
Yeah, they all went the way of the Ebay. I think we paid bills. Here's some X-Men: They're in alphabetical order by character. These are the super-sized 10"ers, and you can see some Terminator figs upper left, and a little more of that 'wallpaper': And some figures I made from She Ra Princess of Power figures. Mystic and Jean Grey: More later... CBG
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