Gone WonderCon-ing

Heading away to WonderCon weekend in San Francisco. I'm going to try to make it to these panels to support friends and colleagues, if I can get away from my busy schedule of sleeping and eating...

Friday

1:00-2:00 Sit Down, Shut Up

2:00-3:00 Black Panther Animated Series

3:30-4:30 The Once & Future Trek!

5:00-6:00 SpongeBob SquarePants: The Art of Writing Squared

6:00-8:15 Wonder Woman DVD Premiere + Exclusive Green Lantern Sneak Peek

Saturday

3:00-4:00 The Spectacular Spider-Man

Sunday

1:00-2:00 WildStorm

3:00-4:00 Cartoon Network: League of Super Evil

3:30-5:00 Starship Smackdown: San Francisco—Starfleet HQ Edition

February 2009 Music Diary

Haven't done one of these in a while. Here's what I'm listening to most in iTunes-

Troublemaker - Weezer
Sometime Around Midnight - The Airborne Toxic Event
Diablo Rojo - Rodrigo y Gabriela
That's Not My Name - The Ting Tings
Get On Your Boots - U2
Running to Stand Still - Elbow
The Fear - Lily Allen
Falling Slowly - Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova
Above the Bones - Mishka
Viva La Vida vs If I Could Fly (mashup) - Coldplay & Joe Satriani
99 Problems (Glastonbury) - Jay-Z

Weezer and Airborne Toxic Event tracks got burrowed in my head - great songs. Got hooked on the Ting Tings and Rodrigo y Gabriela through Indie 103.1 YouTube videos. Sigh. I miss Indie 103.1.

Looking forward to the new U2 album. Big ups on Lily Allen's catchy new track. The Glan Hansard song got introduced to me through friends on Facebook. Mishka was a free single of the week in iTunes.

I don't think Coldplay stole Joe Satriani's song, but the mash-up of the two songs stole my heart (like that line? I stole it).

Lastly, Jay-Z's live performance from Glastonbury. My favorite live performance in the past year.

Eugeneology

[Another Facebook forward.]

Tag- You're it!!! (again, killing time so don't feel like you "have" to do this)
Let others know a little more about yourself by re-posting and tagging your friends.
Repost note as your name "ology"

What is your salad dressing of choice?
Italian.

What is your favorite sit-down restaurant?
Don't really have a favorite.

What food could you eat for 2 weeks straight and not get sick of it?
No way - I need a variety. I'd give sick of anything for 2 weeks.

What are your pizza toppings of choice?
Sausage & mushrooms.

What do you like to put on your toast?
Sometimes butter, usually nothing.

How many televisions are in your house?
2.

What color cell phone do you have?
Dark gray.

Are you right-handed or left-handed?
Righty.

Have you ever had anything removed from your body?
3 wisdom teeth.

What is the last heavy item you lifted?
Comic book boxes.

Have you ever been knocked unconscious?
No.

If it were possible, would you want to know the day you were going to die?
Yup.

If you could change your name, what would you change it to?
Max Power. Or else ANYTHING other than Eugene.

Would you drink an entire bottle of hot sauce for $1000?
Yup.

How many flip flops do you own?
1 pair.

When was the last run in you had with the cops?
5 years ago along the Hana Highway in Maui.

Last person you talked to?
Nicole.

Last person you hugged?
Dominik.

Favorite Season?
Spring.

Favorite Holiday?
Christmas.

Day of the week?
Don't really have one.

Favorite Month?
Don't really have one.

First place you went this morning?
Bathroom.

What's the last movie you saw?
Wall-E.

Do you smile often?
Sure.

Do you always answer your phone?
No.

It's four in the morning and you get a text message, who is it?
Charlotte.

If you could change your eye color what would it be?
Asians should stick to brown eye colors.

What flavor drink do you get at Sonic?
Beats me. Haven't seen a Sonic in this area in decades.

Have you ever had a pet fish?
Yup.

Favorite Christmas song?
The Vince Guaraldi Trio version of O Tannenbaum

What's on your wish list for your birthday?
Nothing. I'm saving my pennies for my summer trip.

Can you do push ups?
Sure. Don't ask me how many - only my Wii Fit knows.

Can you do a chin up?
Don't know, but doubt it.

Does the future make you more nervous or excited?
Excited.

Do you have any saved texts?
Nope.

Ever been in a car wreck?
Wreck? No.

Do you have an accent?
I've been told I have a California accent, but I don't hear it.

What is the last song to make you cry?
I'm male - meaning I'm far too macho to admit such a thing.

Plans tonight?
Dinner with friends, hopefully writing.

Have you ever felt like you hit rock bottom?
Ha! I'm a writer. So yes, often.

Name 3 things you bought yesterday?
Yesterday, nothing. The last three things this week were a Diet Pepsi, take-out Chinese food, and a banana.

Have you ever been given roses?
Nope.

Current hate right now?
Dunno. My cholesterol level?

Met someone who changed your life?
Yup.

How did you bring in the New Year?
With friends and lots and lots of little kids.

What song represents you?
Wow. Don't know. Maybe "Something Good" from the Sound of Music

What were you doing 12 AM last night?
Writing a script.

What was the first thing you thought of when you woke up?
So. Tired.

Name three people who might complete this?
Beats me.

Marvel Super Hero Squad

26 episodes coming to Cartoon Network in late 2009

More on this in the next few months...

Needs

[One more of these for the week. Thanks, Nicole D!]

Google your name and needs and write the top 10 links that come up, ignoring any reference to this game.

1. Eugene needs a babysitter
(Okay, I'm a little immature, but a babysitter?)

2. Eugene needs to be loved on
(Er, um, it's from an erotic short story with the worst title ever - I kid you not - "Sleeping with Eugene." Thank you and good night!)

3. Eugene Needs | Facebook
(Ha! I wonder if Eugene Needs is related to Nicole Needs?)

4. Eugene needs a gelato shop... not!
(Who doesn't like gelato?)

5. MADD Eugene Needs You!
(Eugene, Oregon's Mothers Against Drunk Driving. No joke here.)

6. Food Not Bombs - Eugene needs your help!
(A call for volunteerism in Eugene, Oregon. Again, no joke to be found.)

7. Eugene needs more cowbell!
(I gotta have more cowbell, baby!)

8. Eugene Needs Help... will U of Oregon Step Up
(Hmm. This is the second person saying I need help. I don't like this theme.)

9. Eugene needs to reconsider taxing scheme
(I reconsider nothing!)

10. Why Eugene needs it
(Apparently *IT* is some sort of real estate.)

Okay, I just had to add one more beyond ten. #19 is-

19. Eugene needs an award
(Damn skippy.)

YOUR COLLECTIONS

[Another Facebook forward. Thanks to Gillian for this one!]

INSTRUCTIONS: Cut and paste the list of questions for each china pattern, silver pattern, or other Collection in your home. Delete my answers and fill in your own. Tag your fellow collectors.


COLLECTION TITLE: Toys from shows I've worked on
ERA: 2004-current
CURRENT SIZE OF COLLECTION: around 20
EXPERTISE LEVEL (e.g. novice, expert, bore): Novice
FAVORITE PIECE: a toy from an upcoming show signed by the actors - including one who wrote an obscenity towards me on it
WISH LIST: a steady stream of more work and toys in the future
BEST BARGAIN: an A.T.O.M. action figure prototype - free from a friend at Hasbro

COLLECTION TITLE: Comic Books
ERA: 1959-current
CURRENT SIZE OF COLLECTION: I lost count years ago - somewhere over 3000.
EXPERTISE LEVEL (e.g. novice, expert, bore): Novice. I don't actively collect anymore - just take care of the ones I have and buy a handful of new ones
FAVORITE PIECE: Iron Man #1 - autographed by writer Archie Goodwin and artist Gene Colan
WISH LIST: Giant Size X-Men #1
BEST BARGAIN: X-Men #2 for $20 in 1987, or Avengers #4 for $10 in 1989

COLLECTION TITLE: 1980s TV Animation scripts, writer's bibles, storyboards, etc
ERA: 1980s
CURRENT SIZE OF COLLECTION: around 100 pieces
EXPERTISE LEVEL (e.g. novice, expert, bore): Novice
FAVORITE PIECE: a January 1984 Saturday morning ratings report
WISH LIST: the writer's bible from "The Gary Coleman Show" or "Rubik's Cube"
BEST BARGAIN: all of it

50 things etc. etc.

[Suddenly very busy, so I'll just fill another one of these out. Thanks, Josephine!]

Copy and paste these questions on your own 'note', replacing my answers with yours, then tag 25 people to do the same thing. Remember to tag me back so I can see your answers!

1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? As far as I know, no.

2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED? Don't remember.

3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? Sure.

4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT? Roast beef or turkey.

5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS? They're around here somewhere.

6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? Hopefully.

7. DO YOU USE SARCASM? Nooooooo! I would NEVER do something like that.

8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? Yup.

9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? Nah.

10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? Don't have one.

11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? Nope.

13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM? Rocky Road.

14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE? Their look of contempt and disappointment towards me... and then their eyes.

15. RED OR PINK? Red.

16. WHAT IS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? My need for so much sleep.

17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? Young me.

18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO COMPLETE THIS LIST? Nah.

19. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? Black shorts. No shoes.

21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? Indie 103.1's online feed

22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? One of those ones with racially insensitive ones. Asian Yellow or Burnt Oriental Tan or something. Hee-hee...

23. FAVORITE SMELL? The ocean.

24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? Joaquim

25. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU? Yup!

26. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH? Hockey first, then basketball, then football - but I can watch just about anything. Australian rules footie, female lumberjacking, Gaelic games, etc.

27. HAIR COLOR? Black with brown highlights.

28. EYE COLOR? Brown.

29. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? Oval-shaped slanty ones for Asian eyes, yeah.

30. FAVORITE FOOD? Seafood.

31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? Meh, I'm not a big fan of scary movies.

32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? Wall-E.

33. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING? Gray.

34. SUMMER OR WINTER? Summer.

35. HUGS OR KISSES? Yes, please.

36. FAVORITE DESSERT? Don't have one.

37. MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND? Dunno.

38. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND? Dunno.

39. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW? Lonely Planet Guide to Germany.

40. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? Don't have one anymore.

41. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON TV LAST NIGHT? Daily Show, Colbert Report, NHL on the Fly.

42. FAVORITE SOUND(S)? Laughter.

43. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES? Beatles.

44. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME? Norway.

45. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT? How did you find out about that? I'll kill you! I mean, uh, no.

46. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? Long Beach, CA.

47. WHOSE ANSWERS ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING BACK? Dunno if I'll even forward it.

48. HOW DID YOU MEET YOUR SPOUSE/SIGNIFICANT OTHER? College.

49. IS THE CUP HALF FULL OR HALF EMPTY? Half-full... then I use the half-water to water-board everyone til I find out who drank the missing half.

50. IF YOU COULD SIT DOWN TO DINNER WITH FIVE PEOPLE WHO WOULD YOU CHOOSE? Jesus, Martin Luther King Jr, Orson Welles, Woody Allen, and my mom. Oh, the conversations we would have!

The Dolphin Story

As promised, my dolphin story.

A few years ago, as Californians are apt to do, I was vacationing in Hawaii. On this particular occasion, the island of Oahu.

We went on a snorkeling/dolphin expedition. Basically about ten of us on a small boat, the captain drives the boat off the western coast of Oahu, and we go snorkeling. Afterwards, the captain took us to look for spinner dolphins.

Once we found the spinner dolphins, we had the option of doing a "swim" with the dolphins. We'd dive into the water, hold onto hand-holds alongside the boat, and the captain would guide the boat alongside the dolphins.

I wasn't sure about how this was going to work out, but the first group got in the water. You could HEAR the girl SQUEALING through her snorkel. Okay, I thought, maybe this could be fun.

Then it was my turn. I jumped in - and it was amazing.

There was a whole pod of spinner dolphins - maybe 20 or so - all swimming together. In the water alongside the boat, the dolphins would swim under me, alongside of me, ahead of me. These weren't trained dolphins swimming around in a plexiglass pool at Sea World to look cute and perform - these were in the wild.

After a little bit of this, I stopped hearing the sounds of the ocean or the sounds of my breathing through the snorkel tube. I blocked it all out. Except for my eyes watching these wonderful animals, my senses went numb to my surroundings - all I could feel was this warm, wonderful feeling. Almost mystical. I don't know what it means to be zen, but it felt like it could be a zen experience. A magical, spiritual experience with God's creatures.

That's when I got hit by a bunch of brown debris floating in the water.

Waitaminute. Was that DOLPHIN POOP? Did those dolphins just POOP on me?!?!!

Zen experience over.

I was now keenly aware of my surroundings. Especially how gross it is to get pooped on, so I flailed my hand through my hair to make sure none had gotten stuck.

If you're curious, dolphin poop resembles rabbit droppings, except wet and mushy without form. And there was a lot of poop in the water stream, so I think it was a bunch of dolphins pooping together. But I'm no marine biologist, so for all I know it was one particularly incontinent dolphin.

And that's my swimming with dolphins story. Very fun, somewhat magical, yet kinda gross.

The Bucket List

[Boy. Fill one out, and suddenly now the flood-gates open. Thanks to the awesome Jill for tagging me on this one.]

Write a new note and place an X by all the things you've done and remove the X from the ones you have not then send it to your friends (including me). Things you have done during your lifetime.

Tag your friends and see who has done what.

( ) Gone on a blind date
(x) Skipped school
(x) Watched someone die
( ) Been to Canada
(x) Been to Mexico
(x) Been to Florida
(x) Been to Hawaii
(x) Been on a plane
(x) Been lost
(x) Gone to Washington, DC
(x) Swam in the ocean
(x) Cried yourself to sleep
(x) Played cops and robbers
( ) Recently colored with crayons
(x) Sang Karaoke
(x) Paid for a meal with coins only
( ) Been to the top of the St. Louis Arch
(x) Done something you told yourself you wouldn't
(x) Made prank phone calls
( ) Been down Bourbon Street in New Orleans
(x) Laughed until some kind of beverage came out of your nose & elsewhere
(x) Caught a snowflake on your tongue
(x) Danced in the rain
(x) Written a letter to Santa Claus
(x) Been kissed under the mistletoe
(X) Watched the sunrise with someone
(x) Blown bubbles
(x) Gone ice-skating
(x) Gone to the movies
(x) Been deep sea fishing
( ) Driven across the United States alone
(x) Been in a hot air balloon
( ) Been sky diving
( ) Gone snowmobiling
( ) Lived in more than one country
( ) Laid outside at night and admired the stars while listening to the crickets
(x) Seen a falling star and made a wish
( ) Enjoyed the beauty of Ole Faithful Geyser
( ) Seen the Statue of Liberty
( ) Gone to the top of Seattle Space Needle
( ) Been on a cruise
(x) Traveled by train
(x) Traveled by motorcycle
(x) Been horse back riding
( ) Ridden on a San Francisco Trolley
(x) Been to Disneyland or Disney World
(x) Truly believe in the power of prayer
( ) Been to the top of an active volcano and seen hot lava
( ) Been in a rain forest
(x) seen whales in the ocean
( ) Been to Niagara Falls
( ) Ridden on an elephant
(x) Swam with dolphins

1. Any nickname? Kids love to give the kid named Eugene nicknames. Egghead, Eugenius, Euglena, Euglenius, Gene Gene, Blue Jean Eugene, Sploogin Eugene, You @@$#-ing @#$#-sucker Eugene.

2. Mother's name? Jung-Sook

3. Favorite drink? Diet Pepsi

4. Body Piercings? Nope

5. How much do you love your job? I love it so much, I'd let my job @#$% me, %@#$ me, and then @#$# my @#$# while calling it "mommy" if I could. What? Was that too much information?

7. Favorite vacation spot: A tie between Maui and London.

8. Ever been to Africa? No.

9. Ever eaten just cookies for dinner? Nope.

10. Ever been on TV? Yup.

11. Ever steal any traffic signs? Yup.

12. Ever been in a car accident? Yup.

13. Drive a 2-door or 4-door vehicle? 4-door.

14. Can you drive a standard shift car? Sure, if I had to.

15. Favorite pie? Pumpkin.

16. Favorite numbers: 9, 16, 19, 91, 99.

17. Favorite Movie: Ha. Like I could name just one.

18. Favorite holiday? Beats me. Is San Diego Comic Con a holiday?

19. Favorite dessert? They're all good.

20. Favorite food? Seafood.

21. Favorite day of the week? They all disappoint me.

22. Favorite brand of body soap? For the last time, Facebook, I am hetero.

23. Favorite toothpaste? I dunno. What's that kind that comes out of a tube? Makes my teeth clean?

24. Favorite smell? The ocean.

26. How do you see yourself in 10 years? Beats me. Hopefully I'll be alive.

27. Furthest place you will send this message? Beats me.

28. Who will respond to this the fastest? Beats me. I might not even forward it.

C'est Trop Beau

[The silly fun Facebook games keep coming. Thanks, Nicole!]

1. Put your iTunes (or other MP3-like player) on shuffle.
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS!
4. Tag 10 friends who might enjoy doing the memo as well as the person you got the memo from.


IF SOMEONE SAYS "IS THIS OK" YOU SAY?
Numb

WHAT WOULD BEST DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONALITY?
The Kiss

WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL?
Respect

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE'S PURPOSE?
Le Disko

WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO?
Is this love?

WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?
Staring at the Sun

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN?
Weirdest Home Videos

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND?
My Sharona

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
Johnny Ryall

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?
A New Dawn

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
If I Should Fall Behind

WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
Gloomy Sunday

WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?
The Real Slim Shady

WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?
Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)

WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST?
Unwritten

WHAT'S YOUR BIGGEST SECRET?
No More Lonely Nights

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?
We Need A Miracle

WHAT IS THE WORST THING THAT COULD HAPPEN?
All These Things That I've Done

HOW WILL YOU DIE?
Forever Young

WHAT IS THE ONE THING YOU REGRET?
In the Midnight Hour

WHAT MAKES YOU CRY?
The Colony

WILL YOU EVER GET MARRIED?
Funplex

WHAT SCARES YOU THE MOST?
Tomorrow

DOES ANYONE LIKE YOU?
A Gift of Thistle

IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME, WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE?
Are You Lonesome Tonight?

WHAT HURTS RIGHT NOW?
Bring It On Down

WHAT WILL YOU TITLE THIS NOTE?
C'est Trop Beau

One Word (harder than you think)

[Eugene's thoughts: I've gotten these forwards all the time in the past few years through MySpace and Facebook, and I've never bothered to fill them out. But since I'm so swamped and don't have time to blog, I figure I'd go ahead and do this one. Thanks to Josephine for tagging me with it.]

USING ONLY ONE WORD! It's not as easy as you might think! Copy and change the answers to suit you and pass it on. It's really hard to only use one word answers. Be sure to tag the person you received it from!

1. Where is your cell phone? Desk

2. Your significant other? Exists

3. Your hair? Thick

4. Your mother? Gone

5. Your father? Dumbf@#!

6. Your favorite food? Seafood

7. Your dream last night? Confusing

8. Your favorite drink? Soda

9. Your dream/goal? Evolving

10. What room you are in? Office

11. Your hobby? Hockey

12. Your fear? Numerous

13. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Alive

14. Where were you last night? Home

15. Something that you aren't? Svelte

16. Muffins? Meh

17. Wish list item? Europe

18. Where you grew up? California

19. Last thing you did? Write

20. What are you wearing? Shorts

21. Your TV? Widescreen

22. Your pets? Gone

23. Friends? Awesome

24. Your life? Solid

25. Your mood? Optimistic

26. Missing someone? Nah

27. Car? Yup

28. Something you're not wearing? Pants

29. Your favorite store? Amazon

30. Your favorite color? Black

33. When is the last time you laughed? Today

34. Last time you cried? Dunno

35. Who will resend this? Dunno

36. One place that I go to over and over? Fridge

37. One person who emails me regularly? Charlotte

38. My favorite place to eat? Couch