Man On The Can

I'm Back!

2010-04-08T17:59:00.000-07:00

6 months later.......I'm an assistant in the reality department of the agency I work at. I love my job. More to come.

MOTC

Hey Ya'll

2009-11-19T10:13:00.000-08:00

I'm sorry I haven't written in a while. I guess I wasn't compelled to write. This blog was a great tool for me when I was feeling lost and unsure of my future, but now that I am working five days a week in the industry I've chosen and love my job, that need to vent, and discuss, have dissipated some. I just want you all to know that I am very happy, and I will do my best to write at least every weekend, if not a few times during the week.

Keep on truckin',

Man On The Can

I'm Back!!!!!!

2009-11-04T20:04:00.000-08:00

Hello All!

I've been gone for some time....this is what you've missed:

I moved into a great apartment with Danny and Chelsey (who I've mentioned in earlier posts). We love our place and we're constantly adding cool things to it and moving stuff around.

I interned at a Literary Agency in Beverly Hills and was hired by them full time after one week! I was so surprised, pleasantly of course. So now I am working full time, everyday, 9:30am - 7pm. I love my job. Every day there's a new challenge and something new to learn. The people I work with are each very different from one another and have so much to offer me because of their varying levels of experience and knowledge of the business.

So I guess to sum things up....I'm a really happy guy. I'm living in a great place with two amazing people. We compliment each other very well. AND I have a cool job at agency that caters to talented writers of TV and Film, AND I get to read great scripts everyday (They're not all great, but I get to read nonetheless, which I love)

I'll try to give updates more frequently. Thanks for reading!

Man On The Can

Getting Settled in LA

2009-10-21T12:56:00.000-07:00

Being as I am not yet gainfully employed, I am spending my time taking care of the little things, such as opening a bank account here in LA, rearranging my room over and over again, moving furniture around the house, waiting for people to put in the cable, yesterday it was Internet, tomorrow someone is coming to fix a broken piece in the stove and someone is coming to make sure the green substance in the tile cracks in our pink "ladies room", not to be confused with our blue "men's room", is not mold. I wish I were kidding about the bathrooms, but alas I am not. Whoever previously owned this house or designed it must have been going for an old school, traditional vibe. It's a great apartment/house, don't get me wrong, it's just vintage, and some things seem to be dated. Soon enough we will put our 21st century spin on things and the house will be a mish mash of styles and decor pleasing to all generations. I've already begun by adding a 42'' plasma to our "den", which is fun because this will be the family/entertaining/lounging and chatting room, which is also decorated with stained wood panelling and looks like it came right out of a 70's real estate brochure. We're going to IKEA tonight to get some small items, bath mats, trash bins, etc. I am still waiting to hear back from every single person I've inquired about work, the "dream jobs", so to speak. However it's getting to the point where I will have to find a job to get a pay check so I can pay rent, bills, etc, until I do finally land the job I am desperately seeking, and that's OK. Until then, I have enough to keep me busy here in my new home, which I love very, very much. I also love my roommates Danny and Chelsey. Chelsey I have known since first grade and after reconnecting with her here in Cali, told me she and Danny needed a third person to live with, the rest is history. Danny is a singer/songwriter, writer, actor and gives guitar lessons (hopefully to me soon). He is truly a Renascence man, does it all. Danny and I get a long great, like brothers do, and Chelsey is the one who keeps me in line. She is organized, neat, a great chef and is also creative and fun. Danny has those same qualities. Living with these two can only mean good things for my development as an independent man. While I may not be doing what I'd like to be doing out here, well I'm not really doing anything just yet, I'm really happy about this place and my friends. I'm optimistic, maybe too much so, but so what, that everything will work out as long as I stay on top of my calls, emails, the usual harassing I enjoy so much. So, for now, that is all I have to report on, but tune in later in the week and I am sure I will have more to say, perhaps a movie critique, TV commentary, and something about the men coming to work in the house tomorrow, if anything interesting does occur. I'll talk to you all soon.

Man On The Can

I Have A Home!!!

2009-10-12T19:05:00.000-07:00

Chelsey, Danny and I finally got a place!!!! We are signing our lease agreement tomorrow for a 3 bedroom 2 bath, BIG apartment, which is more like a house than most of the houses we've seen. I can't believe it's actually happening. I'm getting my own place. No more mom and dad, no more couch!

A Very Excited,

Man On The Can

Where am I going to live??

2009-10-11T10:31:00.001-07:00

We switched our attention from houses to apartments, condos and town houses. We did this because, well, the houses we applied to we didn't get, and the ones that we could have gotten on the spot had one or more things wrong with them, 'deal breakers' we call them. It's OK though. There are two places we saw just yesterday that we would be very happy to get. One is a huge condo in a really nice building and the other is a town house. Both are great places and we are filling out applications right now. After seeing roughly 5 houses, 6 apartments, several condos and town houses, I am ready to find a place I can call my home base. We should know sometime next week. I don't know how much longer I can stand sleeping on this couch. It's putting quite the strain on my body and mind for that matter. I feel like a squatter, or a visitor who won't leave. Lets hope this is the week all my dreams come true and I move into my own place!

MOTC

Yesterday

2009-10-06T10:23:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I was evaluated and met with a temp agency that works exclusively in the realm of entertainment. The benefit of this will be to gain experience in different facets of the business and learn as much as I can during a time when not too many company's are hiring. That being said, I also met with a few people from my dream job, a well known production company. The first person I met was an executive who loves comics and is looking for an assistant, the second was a man who is in charge of the PA's at the company. The first would obviously be the end all be all of amazing jobs, but to be a PA at this company would also be amazing and invaluable experience. We'll see how it plays out. Man on the can is on the hunt.

MOTC

Last Night

2009-10-02T20:15:00.000-07:00

Last night I saw a bunch of comics and my future house mate and his improv group, The Younger Statesman perform at a small theater. It was a lot of fun. I love nothing more than hearing funny people say funny things, then later saying them to others pretending they are my own.

Monday I have a meeting at a temp agency. This is going to be my "interim" gig until I land a position at an agency. I'll have more on that Monday.

MOTC

No Luck

2009-09-30T10:50:00.000-07:00

Once again we didn't get the house. The homeowner told us his wife, who is in China, didn't want a bunch of 20 somethings living there, throwing parties, and probably wouldn't make the payments. First of all, he used his wife who lives in China as the reason why he couldn't rent to us, and then he fed us a bunch of bs about wanting to rent to a family, and then gave us a list of reasons why it wouldn't be a good match. This man doesn't even live in the area. And, he was an awkward racist creep. He told us that there are already a bunch of Armenian families in the neighborhood that have loud parties and he didn't think we'd want to live there anyway. We were excited to have neighbors like that. It sounded fun. It's not cool that he judged us without knowing us. The whole situation was uncomfortable. So we're still looking.

MOTC

I Have Arrived

2009-09-28T17:02:00.000-07:00

Before I began writing this entry, I read a few of my first posts. Roughly six months ago I was hanging out by the lake, fishing, not quite sure what it was I going to do with myself now that I had graduated from school. All it took was a suggestion, an informational trip if you will, out west, and I was hooked. Upon my return home from that first trip, I knew I needed to move to L.A. if I wanted to become a part of the Hollywood machine. Now, after 3,000 miles of driving, I am laying in my friends bed in the Valley, still with no permanent address of my own just yet, pursuing a dream with a fire burning underneath me. So much so in fact that my tactic of harassing the company's I want to work for via email and voice mails has actually paid off. I got a call this morning from one of my favorite film and TV production company's who has their own temp agency. They are going to put my name on the list, which means I will be called in to work on big studio lots as well as in smaller company's, in variety of different positions that need filling. This will be the best way for me to learn the business, the town and everything in between. This is THE BEST way for me to go from having zero experience, to tons, in a short amount of time. I have no doubt it will be challenging, and I simply can't wait for the challenge. The thing you learn as an athlete and as an aggressive student is that the challenges are what make it all worth doing. I don't say this naively either. I'm fueled by passion for an industry that has had a hand in making me in to the person I am today, who will in turn, be getting a piece of me, even if it is minimally to start.

If today could not get any better, my mother, who went in for surgery this morning to improve her quality of life, did so successfully. Getting a job is my #1 goal, but my family is my #1 priority. I'm happy her surgery was a success, and naturally I am sad I can't be there with her during her recovery, but I know she wants me to be here doing just what I am doing. Any success that comes my way is a result of my parents unwavering love and support of whatever I am passionate about.

I am still looking for a house with my two friends. We have an appointment this evening to see a house which they both love and I'm sure I will too. I'll have more on that later on tonight.

I'm feeling good, confident and ready to absorb all that this great city has to offer.

Stick Around,

Man On The Can

Final Night of My Road to L.A.

2009-09-27T21:30:00.000-07:00

Today I drove from Colorado Springs to Las Vegas. It took roughly 12 hours. I'm only 4 hours from Los Angeles so I can finally sleep in and enjoy an easy drive tomorrow to my final destination. I've traveled back in time, only my mind and body aren't aware of this. I'm exhausted so I'm going to hit the sheets momentarily. I can't wait to finally be done with this trip. It's been fun, it's been an adventure, and it's been real.......real fu**ing long! Tune in next time for another addition of "Find a job already!", starring me. Utah was beautiful, Arizona was hot and Las Vegas never goes to sleep, but I do. Goodnight and good luck.

So long for now,

Man On The Can

Day 2 Road to LA

2009-09-24T19:35:00.000-07:00

Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska...11 hrs, 730 miles....sleep. Colorado tomorrow.

MOTC

Day 1 On The Road To L.A.

2009-09-23T19:49:00.000-07:00

I drove 733 miles and made it to South Bend, Indiana where I'm calling it a night. It took me about 11 hours. I stopped three times for gas and snacks. One interesting thing happened. It started to rain hard and the sky turned black. This took place somewhere in PA. During this ten minute period of gloom, the lights were flashing above the "If lights are flashing tune to channel...AM for an emergency message." So I tuned in to the AM channel and heard a bazaar message from an ominous sounding robotic female voice. It said, "IF TRAVELING ON ROUTE 80 WEST, DO NOT PICK UP HITCHHIKERS. A PRISONER HAS ESCAPED....." I was traveling on route 80 West at the time and could not see five feet in front of me. The corn maze seemed to go on forever on either side of me and it was cloaked in fog. Spooky right? The message and weather didn't give me the optimism about the long trip ahead I was hoping for. Luckily for me "Something About Mary" taught me not to pick up hitchhikers anyway, so that was a non-issue. But I was still worried about stopping for gas since my car and body needed refueling. What if the convict is hanging around the rest stop? I thought to myself. Thankfully some humor ensued and all my worries went away. When I got to the rest stop, I saw two bearded, rugged looking truckers were holding towels and went up the stairs by the bathroom to what I can only assume were the showers. That put a smile on my face and calmed my nerves. It was the sign I was looking for. Then the sun came out, and I soon made it through the scary Amish, escaped convict country and kept on truckin'. Very long, odd first day on the road. I can only imagine what tomorrow will hold in store for this weary traveler.

Man On The Can

Hittin' the Road

2009-09-22T10:34:00.000-07:00

I'm leaving tomorrow, Wednesday September 23 from my home in Greenwich, CT and starting my cross country trip to Los Angeles, CA. I'm driving alone, I have no permanent place to stay once I arrive and no job lined up just yet. I am however optimistic that if I can make it safely from coast to coast, anythings possible. I've always loved road trips, and this will be the ultimate road trip. I'm going to try and write from the road, but can't promise I will always have Internet access. I should arrive in L.A. sometime this weekend. This is only the beginning.....

Stick Around,

Man On The Can

Californication

2009-09-16T14:31:00.000-07:00

I've just finished watching season two of the hit show "Californication", which I bought at Best Buy yesterday which means I spent the entire night and most of this morning watching and soaking it in. There's so much I want to comment on, but the most important thing I've learned from watching this show is that I am destined to be a part of an industry that produces entertainment like this. Everything about the writing and the acting f-ing caught a hold of my me. My instincts perked up, my heart started beating faster, I could recognize the caliber of the show right away and was not disappointed until "the end" appeared on the screen. I feel very strongly that I am more than just a fan of cable programming. I am meant to be engrossed in the shit, be a part of it all, the bigger picture if you will, behind the scenes. Hopefully that will come with my gaining employment at an agency, and if not, I'll find another way. If I've learned anything from lead character Hank Moody(David Duchovny), besides the fact that self loathing is a road to perpetual disappointment, it's that things always work out if you keep an open mind about the path you think you're supposed to be on and those that come your way unexpectedly.

I am still currently in Los Angeles. In fact, two comrades of mine as well as myself have applied to rent a pretty cool house in the "Valley". I'm told this is where I am currently residing at my friends place, sitting here on my "couchbed" as I've come to call it. Although, I didn't put the pieces together until I took what I learned from "Clueless" and the orienteering skills I learned at summer camp that my location now and where I will hopefully be moving to is in a valley surrounded by mountains. It all makes sense to me now. Thankfully I brought my GPS with me from the east coast so I know if I'm heading up the hill instead of down it, I'm going the wrong way.

In other news, I've had one interview already and have not heard back yet. I followed up with a hand written thank you note, so we'll see what happens there. I plan on calling and harassing them, but not until the appropriate amount of time has passed. Timing is everything with these things. I have an interview at another agency on Friday, who I am hoping to woo and make my new home. I'm prepping as much as I can at this point. But with only two days to go, what I'm doing now is simply relaxing, taking care of the details of getting this house and trying not to obsess about it all too much. My plan is to fly back east on Monday, pack up the car and drive back out here as soon as I can to start my new life. I'll have a lot more to report on after Friday, but for now, I'm going to appreciate the fact that "...the sun is chirping, the birds are shining, and the water is wet" (Hank Moody on L.A..)

Stick Around,

Man On The can

Live from L.A.....ramblings

2009-09-08T17:58:00.000-07:00

Long plane ride, too many people were sick, it was gross. Had trouble renting a car, finally got one...a silver 09 Mustang, feel like a tool driving it but...could be worse. Miss my Jetta.

I got an interview for Thursday with a great agency. Had lunch with my mentor this afternoon and went over interview tricks and tips. I bought a nice suit, feel like a success when I put it on. Have a meeting tomorrow with the SVP of a great film studio..hopefully it will lead to another interview with the agency that reps them. Fingers crossed.

Check in for updates after tomorrow and Thursday.

Hard Work does pay off.....if you're patient.

One Love,

Man On The Can

Update On My Life

2009-09-01T21:18:00.000-07:00

Sorry I've been MIA. Here is what's happening. I am currently at my home in CT, preparing for my trip to LA. I've bought my ticket and I'm leaving (for real this time) on labor day. I found a cheap one way flight on jet blue with extra leg room so I'm happy. My stay is open ended. I am still waiting to hear from the HR departments at Paradigm and C.A.A.. I am counting on them contacting me at some point this week. If they don't, at least I will already be in L.A. and can be at their offices at a moments notice. I don't have a place to stay yet, but I'm working on it. I am not leaving this time until I land a job. When that happens, I will then be able to fly home, get in my car and start my trek back out west to start my new life. I am prepared for the reality that the agencies don't have a place for me right now, and the possibility that I will have to find a job to pay the rent, bills, etc, until I land the job I'm working hard to get. I have a great support team behind me, and I am excited for what's to come in the near future. Once I hear from the coast, I will be right back on here to let you all know what's next.

Stick Around,

Man On The Can

1 on 1

2009-08-25T18:34:00.000-07:00

I played basketball my entire life, right up through college. But I haven't picked up a ball in over a year now. My playing days have long been gone. I've been in the gym maybe five times over the course of this summer. My plans of getting in shape and living a healthier life have been replaced by summertime merriment and laziness. I can accept this. What I can't accept is when I lose a game of 1 on 1 to a 16 year old because I'm out of shape and can't hit a shot! I say this in a joking manner of course. The kid I played was my good friend Paul's younger brother. He's my height, but weighs 100 lbs less than I do, jumps through the roof and had a great mid range shot, not to mention the fact that he never stopped running around. It was awful. I told myself, if I don't throw up, it's a win for me. Well, I didn't get sick, but I felt absolutely miserable afterwards. A jump in the lake helped, but it didn't change the fact that I was just hit with the reality check that I am too young to have the body of a middle age man. Like I've said many times before, tomorrow I am going to stop eating crap and do something in the way of exercise and see if I can't get on the right track. I'm also going to make sure I get a rematch against this kid.

Summer's almost over. Make the most of it.

Man On The Can

The Sky is Black

2009-08-21T14:24:00.000-07:00

I was on the boat listening to a local FM station when the National Weather Emergency something or other interrupted the crappy song playing and told everyone on the lake to get inside. They weren't kidding. Not ten minutes after that warning the sky turned black, so I booked it home. Apparently southern NH has a tornado warning, lightening storms, the whole deal. Good thing I wasn't far from home. It's pouring rain and windy now, haven't seen any tornado's but I kind of want to, as long as they stay on the lake and don't come to shore.

In other news, my plans of moving to LA and pursuing a career as a Hollywood agent are finally coming together. After some conversations with my friends and mentor in the business, I have made the decision to take one last trip out west before I move for good. I will be leaving August 31st and my stay will be open ended. If all goes to plan I should be granted at least two interviews at the two agencies I'm hoping to work for, but if not, at least I will be close enough to knock on their doors and harass them until they agree to see me. I am fairly confident that this plan will work out. I will have more information within the next few days.

I'm hoping the weather will get better as I have family coming to visit tomorrow and the lake is every one's reason for coming. I like to think it's because my company is so valuable, but I'm pretty sure it's the majestic, serenity of this place. I know I love it, but I'm about ready to give it all up and live in the desert.

More to come,

Man On The Can

Today was filled with culture, class, and a little mischief

2009-08-14T17:55:00.000-07:00

I began my day by heading over to our friend Doug's art gallery. He and his wife went to a show this weekend and I offered to watch the gallery. From 10-4 I sat there, waiting, and waiting and waiting, and I got one visitor. She didn't buy anything. I pushed her a little bit, but she was more in the mood to peruse and not purchase. Oh well. I acted like I knew the inspiration for all the pieces, the origins, etc. About 10 minutes into her visit I told her I wasn't the artist. She had no idea. I guess I faked it pretty well.

At about 5, i met up with a few friends in town and since it was the nicest day of the summer, we went tubing for an hour or so and had a great time. It was hot and sunny and perfect! I came home all sweaty to find my house had already been taken over by Wolfeboro residents for a fundraiser. By this time it was about 6 and I didn't think anyone was arriving until 6:30, so I scurried upstairs, showered and got dressed for the event. There were roughly 50 people at my house. The fundraiser was for a non-profit called "Canine Guardians for Life". A local women started the company to rescue dogs who would have otherwise been killed. The night was a huge success. There was live music, great food and plenty to drink. I even played bartender for some of the time.

I am now a little tipsy, exhausted and ready for bed. It's supposed to be sunny and nice all weekend. I can't wait.

More to come,

Man On The Can

Hey Guys, I'm Back

2009-08-12T13:28:00.001-07:00

I just finished watching last weeks episode of HBO's Entourage with Paul. That show makes me want to start working, now! This was after a few of us got back from the Kangamangus River, specifically, Lower Falls, where we "celebrated" Sterling's 21st birthday. Before it started raining we spent a few hours swimming in the river, fighting the current and falling on our assess. The water was freezing, but there were tons of people there. It was a great time.

In other news, mom put Bear (my huge dog) on low jack. She got him a GPS collar so when he runs out the door to explore the neighborhood, he will be easier to track down. Bear's too big for a regular electric fence, it doesn't phase him. Hopefully this will make our lives easier. Bear is a big trouble maker.

My sister and baby Abbey were just up. Abbey is getting bigger and showed me a new side of hers. Her excited side. When she's hungry and her bottle is in view she tweaks out, she smiles and giggles and waves her arms. It's hilarious to watch. I'm sad she's gone.

That's all the news for now. I'll be back sooner rather than later with another update and something about L.A. very soon.

Man On The Can

Moving Day and Monday Night Update(Exhausted entry, read at own risk)

2009-08-03T18:15:00.001-07:00

I left NH yesterday at 7am after sleeping very little the night before and drove to Mass to help my sister Jenny and husband Fred move every little thing out of their small, old house in to their new, big, amazing house. Abbey is about 20 lbs now and she needs more room to grow and play. This new pad can definitely accommodate. It's very cool. It even has a swing set, jungle gym type apparatus in the backyard which I may or may not have played on for a bit. They also now have a library! How cool is that? It will soon be filled with many leather bound books and fancy furniture just waiting to be feng shui'd about. It was a very long day of hard work and heavy lifting, which we all know, I am a little rusty with. I did OK....There were about 12 of us helping out, including Abbey, the cats and Jeremy who's six and a half and just loves his Nintendo DS. I might have stolen that from him for just a minute to play Sonic. It was pretty awesome, Jeremy will tell you. So besides the constant sweating, back aches and bitching from all of us at one time or another, the day went really well. I've never been a part of a move like this and I can tell you some of things that contributed to our success. The first is to have one, maybe two people be in charge of directing the workers on where to put what, and how to pack this or that. If someone hadn't told me that glasses shouldn't go in pillow cases, there would have been some surprise shatters in the back of the truck. Don't worry, someone was watching me closely. The best people for this job are usually the owners of the home where the stuff is being emptied out and brought to, like Jenny and Fred. There should also be a packing expert in the inside the truck while stuff is being thrown in all willy nilly, to help make a solid structure capable of travel. For the first trip, this job was Eric's, and for unloading we had Art, Fred's stepfather. Art is a power house and was lifting things with ease that were literally killing me to carry. It was a real help when he showed up. Not that we couldn't have done it without him, but well, we probably couldn't have, at least, not as efficiently and as quickly, that's for sure. Thank you Art! Everyone who was a part of this move was patient and were genuinely nice, cool people who I really hope I get to see again soon. Especially you Jeremy Senior, I think we connected by the stairs. You had me at "Hello, lets take our union mandated break".....what a great day. I never knew hard work could be so much fun

Today: I have been out on the lake all day. It was sunny, it was hot, it was perfect, and I am wiped and ready for bed. I have a lot of sleep to catch up on. Hope all of you enjoyed this beautiful day in a similar, relaxed fashion. Be well and take care of you.

So much more to come,

Man On The Can

Tuesday Night Rant

2009-07-28T19:22:00.000-07:00

I was floating out in the middle of the lake today, enjoying what can only be described as a perfect summer day, which is a treat after nothing but weeks of wind and rain when suddenly, yet another epiphany arrived.

I've been stressed out lately because my plans for employment in a Hollywood Talent Agency have not come to fruition, albeit I have been told that nothing will happen until my "connections" get my resume from the bottom of the pile to the top. Nevertheless, I began to feel lazy, like there must be more I could be doing to make this happen for myself, instead of having someone else do it for me. And that's when it hit me. Why is it always the theme....."I want to do it on my own" "I will never ask for help" "On my own merits or not at all!" ....I know that once I get my foot in the door I will thrive, but what's so damn wrong about getting a little help budging open that door which is almost impossible to open on your own?! It frustrates me to think that there are people filled with nothing but good intentions who claim to be looking out for MY best interest that feel that there are a million things I could be doing instead of enjoying what I can tell you is the most breathtaking place on this earth, the place where I live, with my mother, dog and father on the weekends. And if this is where I have to be while people who have enough faith in me, and think my character and personality are worth putting in a good word for, do just that, then you know what, I will take any criticism that I have to, because I wouldn't rather be anywhere in this world while I wait.

I took a real chance going back to school after losing everything about myself that made me who I am, and I succeeded with flying colors. I know I will succeed with this too. I'm just smart enough to know that sometimes in life you have to know when to be a go-getter and when to let things take their course. There is so much pressure on my generation, on my specific year of college graduates to find work in areas that don't interest us at all! Why?! I'm not buying that garbage. I have a dream, I'm sticking with it, and I have a family who is supporting me, even during this lull. I'm happy, I think. You should be too, for any number of reasons I'm sure I wouldn't understand, but as long as you are happy, I'm happy. If anyone gives you a hard time about your "career path" or lack their of, just say " It's my life, it's my journey, don't rush me!" or "If you don't like it, stay out of my business!" Both of these feel pretty good when said with feeling, to the right people. I'm rantin' and ravin' baby.

Stick Around,

Man On The Can

Back To Sleep

2009-07-26T07:06:00.000-07:00

I almost didn't get up for the fishing trip this morning. I slept through my 4:30am alarm, but luckily my uncle came and got me around 5 and told me to get a move on, so I did. We fished for a good four hours, caught a lot of fish. We caught perch, large mouth, small mouth, pickerel. I started off the morning strong with a big large mouth bass, and ended with the tiniest little smallie. It was a great morning. And now, I am going back to sleep, well after I shower and remove all the fish "stuff" from my person.

So long for now,

Man On The Can

Bed Time

2009-07-25T20:47:00.000-07:00

The birthday celebration was a success. I'm very "tired" and ready for bed. I have a 4:30am wake up call. I'm fishing with my two uncles and Adam, the man with the skill and the bass boat. I'm not looking forward to getting up early, but I am pumped for the fishing. Goodnight everyone.

Man On The Can

P.S. They are making a movie out of one of my all time favorite books as a child, "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs". Anyone else excited about this??

Saturday

2009-07-25T16:50:00.000-07:00

I was woken up this morning around 8am to the sight of my cousin Scott hovering over me. He and his parents must have left CT around 4am to get up here because, they're nuts. Today's Scott's birthday, he turned 22. After a long shower at 8:15am, I could here the voices of two young boys downstairs, yelling because they were wondering "where Jed was!?", because they wanted to go tubing before they had to leave with grandma and grandpa. I was happy to oblige. Yesterday I took a few of my friends out tubing and launched them both in the air due to my "figure 8" method of boat maneuvering, and I was feeling pretty confident that I could give the boys a similar thrill ride. It turned out that the younger of the two held on the whole time, but the older boy, age 12, went flying in the air on his last ride. Thankfully he was OK. Just a little shook up.

This afternoon, after the kids left, Scott, Paul and I went fishing. It was a hot, sunny day and the lake conditions were perfect. I caught one large mouth, Paul caught a rock, and Scott caught some sun after giving it up after watching me almost kill my fish trying to take the hook out.

After some pizza, and downtime on the couch watching a movie, it's time for a shower and then Scott and I are going to hit the town and celebrate his birthday. There are only a few bars in Wolfeboro, and I'm pretty sure we will not move from the first one we go to, but we'll see. Everything is within walking distance so it makes the night a lot more interesting.

So long for now,

Man On The Can

I'm Back!

2009-07-23T17:54:00.000-07:00

Hello All!

I've been gone for almost a week. Miss me? New York City was unreal. I spent every waking minute with my best bud, Andries. His apartment is great and his couch was even better, that's where I crashed each night. The parties, the bars, the clubs, the people, the food, the drinks, all of it was simply, awesome. I try to keep this thing PG13 so I can't say too much about what went down. We did our Sex and The City thing, hung out at Soho House where Andries is a member, swam on the rooftop pool, drank bloodymary's before noon and worked on our tan. Rough life right? After that I spent a few days in Connecticut, met up with some old friends and caught up on sleep, sort of.

I am now back in New Hampshire. Family friends of ours are up visiting and they brought with them their two grand kids. They are two boys, ages 10 and 12. They love sports, fishing and beating me in pool. We're having a really fun time obviously, since I am just an overgrown kid myself. I like having playmates around.

More tomorrow,

Man On The Can

Counting Sheep Doesn't Work

2009-07-16T22:34:00.000-07:00

It's about 2am and I'm up, mind's racing and there's no way I'll be getting to sleep anytime soon. My alarm is set for 6:30am. I'm driving from Wolfeboro, NH to NYC to spend a few days with my best pal in the world, Andries. I haven't seen him in a very, very long time and a visit is long overdo. I don't know exactly what we'll be up to, but I know it will be a good time, it always is. It's going to be about a 6 hour trip so I should probably try to get some sleep. It's just not happening for me tonight. Not yet at least. This will be the first time I've seen Andries since I've been out of school. He did the boring 4 year college thing, then got a job and started working. As we all know I took the leisurely road and at 24 am just now looking for work. Hey, Robert Frost has my back on this one, it's cool. I'm looking forward to spending time with him. I've missed the fast paced life and hubbub of New York City and Andries makes a terrific tour guide, host and best friend. I'm pumped! Whenever I prepare to leave the sticks and rejoin civilization I get a little antsy. I feel like the Country Mouse going to visit his cousin the City Mouse. (Reference to one of the five books I've ever read, anyone?) So that's my weekend. Check in next week for the recap. Well, as much as I'm willing to share.

No news about L.A. at the moment, but as soon as I know something, I'll divulge.

Have a fun weekend,

Man On The Can

Thoughts on Moving to L.A.

2009-07-13T22:58:00.000-07:00

It's 2am and I'm not entirely with it....but there are a few things I want to share before i do finally fall asleep, which so far this evening has proven almost impossible. But here is what's on my mind, read slowly and with patience:

I had a great phone call with someone from an agency in L.A. just a little while ago. Well actually about 4 hours ago, which was 10pm my time, 7pm his time. I was surprised and pleased to get a call after his work day had ended. Our conversation had one major theme and that theme was that I will not get hired unless I move there, to L.A.. He told me if I moved to L.A., took the risk, then he would meet with me and see what we could come up with. A very vague, very general sort of idea about what would happen, if I do in fact decide to move to L.A., like, soonish. I couldn't sleep initially so I took some NyQuil, figuring it would solve the problem of my perpetual cold that I only seem to get during the summer and help me sleep. Now, two hours later I am still awake obsessing over this decision of whether or not to just pack up and move out west, soon. But before I made any hasty decisions, I decided to write him back an email first saying that a pre-move trip for a meeting, interview, etc, would make the decision to make the move for real, much easier. I told him that I would love nothing more than to move to L.A. and chase my dream, but I think to make a very risky decision a little more intelligent, I should make one more trip first to meet with him and see his agency first hand, to see if this is really what I want. I can read about it, I can educate myself, I can find out who all of their clients are and what they do, how much everyone makes and how I can do it too, but nothing compares to sitting down and talking with someone who lives it, every day and knows what it's really like. I want my questions answered in person and I want the good, the bad and ugly to be told to me face to face. So my hope is, that sooner rather than later I will get a reply telling me that he would love to meet with me, and if that happens i will be on a plane asap. There is nothing on a piece of paper sent electronically or hand written that can compare to meeting me and spending a little bit of time with me. I can't sell myself through words, although I do try. My personality, my work ethic, my organization, my ability to multitask, my people skills, my experience in things entertainment related, all of that needs to be shown on one piece of paper. The resume is the most important, most evil one Page of paper ever invented. It's like the SATs, I'm not a fan. I just want to be locked in a room with prospective employer, like a UFC cage match. No resumes, no interview, just me and him, or her, and see what happens. If by the end they are impressed, I get the job, and if not, I don't and I'm TKOd. But since that's not how it goes, I will have to work on my resume a little more and hope that I get some good news soon about this trip.

I'm not frustrated with the process just yet, I'm more anxious and excited, and a little frustrated, maybe. It's just that I have this feeling deep in my core that the longer I am denied entry into their world, they are losing money and as soon as I am on board, they will be revived and start thriving! Is that like the most insane wishful thinking or what?! It's how I feel. I need to make it all happen.

More to come, so stick around,

Man On The Can

I'm Tired

2009-07-13T13:44:00.001-07:00

There isn't too much to report on. Currently my sister and her baby, my mother's two sisters and her friend Marilyn are all visiting. The house has been taken over by women! I've been up at 4:30am the past few days fishing. So that, plus the fact that I'm pretty sure I'm sun burnt all over my body and I've just gotten back from the gym mean that I am exhausted and it's time for a nap. I swear I am on the same sleep schedule as my father and it's scary. Now we don't both just get up a few times at night to use the bathroom, but we both require an afternoon nap.

I don't have much to say about the job search other than I hope my resume is being looked at and not just tossed aside. The unfortunate thing about resumes when you're young are that they don't have much on them. Nothing on my resume really shows that I am ready to learn the agency business or that I have any clue about it. I need an interview and face time to show that stuff. In an economy where veterans in the business are being laid off, how am I supposed to get anyone to give me a chance? Hopefully I will get some good advice today from someone who is in the business. I'm expecting a phone call back at some point. The last email exchange we had was him saying "you have to move here to get a job". But I don't know how I can move to California without knowing I have a job. There's a lot I need to work out before I can make that decision. Maybe bar tend?

Time for a nap. I'm exhausted.

Man On The Can

"Bass Assassins"

2009-07-11T06:54:00.000-07:00

Adam's friend's wife wouldn't let him come fishing with us for some reason, so it was just the two of us. We left around 5:15am, fished Wolfeboro Bay for a little bit, caught a couple smallies, nothing too big. Then whipped it across the broads over to Winter Harbor. When I drive my boat there it takes about 15 mins., when Adam drove us in his boat we were there in 5. Amazing how fast that thing goes. We fished the shore line for a good 45 mins. and caught some nice fish. All small mouth today, varying in size from about 1 to 2lbs. We then made our way over to Rattlesnake Island, caught a few more smallies, again nothing to write home about. I caught the fish of the day over on the Alton side, across from Wolfeboro bay. I got a great picture of it. A nice small mouth, at least 2.5, maybe 3lbs.

We fished for about four hours total. Once a lot of boats were in the lake and people were water skiing and bass boats were encroaching on our spots, we decided to call it a day. We made a date for tomorrow morning, same time, all new spots. We'll try our luck once more and maybe have a 3rd join us, if he gets permission from his wife. I guess I'm lucky to be 24, no woman to keep me from my obsession. The Bass Assassins will hit the water once again.

It's beautiful out today and I'm going to go for a swim. But first I need fuel. I think someones cookin' up some eggs.

Gotta go!

Man On The Can

The Early Bird Catches the Bass

2009-07-11T01:38:00.000-07:00

Regardless of what the time keeper on this site says, it's about 4:30 in the morning here and I am in the process of waking myself up because I, your friend, the Man On The Can, is going out on the big lake, Lake Winni, in a real bass boat!!! Not my Sea Ray, and not some row boat, but an actual bass fishing boat like the one's I described in an entry a while back.

A family friend of ours Adam, who I have mentioned once or twice before has a house on Lake Wentworth, which is a smaller, man made lake not too far away in Wolfeboro, and that's where he keeps his boat and usually fishes. Adam's won tournaments and is the most experienced fisherman I know and going out with him is always a great experience, especially because when I'm out with him, we catch fish!!! He's bringing another guy with him who he takes out every summer for an outing, and we're leaving from my dock where his boat has been tied up since last night. Adam's boat cuts through the water like it's nothing and he jets across Wentworth from spot to spot, finding drop offs and fish with his on board computer that detects the lakes topography and finds fish. Can you believe it, the boat finds fish!! Some of you might be thinking, isn't that cheating? Well here is my answer, NO!!! I spend hours upon hours every day trying to find fish so I can get a little bit of satisfaction and adrenalin pumping through my veins. I'm excited to see how his boat does in the chop of this much bigger, more intense lake. It's going to be a great trip.

Adam should be here any minute so I need to dress warmly and figure out how to make my vision go from I just woke up blurry to lets catch some bass ready! I'll be back later to tell you how we fared out there.

So long for now,

Man On The Can

Today Was A Great Day

2009-07-09T20:12:00.000-07:00

Coming off a late night, I decided to do something I don't usually do, I slept in. I rolled out of bed at around 11, which for me is unheard of. I picked up Paul and went to a little place called "Crepes Ooh La La". Guess what they serve there? Yup, an assortment of delicious crepes. After "breakfast", Paul and I grabbed our gear and hit the water to do some fishing. After a few hours of losing bait, losing lures, tangling lines, anchoring and re-anchoring to avoid the shallow rocky bottom, I caught one very small, small mouth bass. Normally I would have been frustrated with an outing like this, but something about today made it OK. I wasn't bothered in the least. I think Paul was more concerned with protecting himself from the sun, being as last time we were out he forgot to glob on the SPF and got pretty burnt. Upon my return I saw that my mother and her two friends were sitting on the porch drinking wine and no doubt discussing small town politics and gossiping like mothers do. I asked them if they'd like a ride around the bay and they agreed. Just as we were about to leave, my father walked out the back door and greeted us all with a smile. He had just made the four hour trek from Connecticut to NH, the same trip he makes twice a week, every week. He was happy to join us and I was happy to take the helm as he was tired from his trip. Although I know he is the real captain around these parts.

Once the sun went down, my parents and I went out for burgers at a local restaurant, then came home and turned on the T.V.. Apollo 13 was on. I had never seen it in it's entirety so pop and I watched it. The whole time he was telling me the physics of space travel, and little facts about the movie he'd heard. It's a truly great movie, and like most films I've seen and loved instantly, I recommend that you see it, if you haven't already.

That's about it for today. My computer is low on battery and my charger doesn't seem to want to work. I'll probably have to replace it soon. I hope all of you had nice weather today and enjoyed yourselves. I'll be back tomorrow with more news about yours truly.

So long for now,

Man On The Can

Step 1 - Complete

2009-07-08T12:06:00.001-07:00

I've sent resumes and cover letters to two different agencies I'd be excited to work for. I also put a call in to an old friend of my brother's who works for one of the agencies, but I haven't heard back from him yet. Writing the cover letter proved to be the hardest part of the beginning process. I've only ever written one and it was not nearly as important as these were, so I had to take my time and pick each word and phrase carefully so that it would show my sincerity, show I'm motivated, and let them know I'm eager to begin working. I'm now in the waiting period. I don't want to appear overeager, but all of you know I am exactly that. As I told my mentor in L.A., "I'm chomping at the bit, i want to start working!" I'll have to wait and see what happens. My job now is to learn as much as I can about agencies I'm applying to so nothing comes as a surprise if I get an interview. Becoming educated about both the business in general and the two individual shops is a must.

I am currently still in NH, fishing and spending time with my mother. Fourth of July weekend was a blast, but I'm glad the mad house is empty again. I'm going to the gym in a little while. I've taken some time off from my weight loss plan and it's been making me feel like crap, both physically and emotionally. I should be feeling much better tonight.

I'm going to try and write more frequently because I don't want to lose my readers and I know my friends want updates. Thanks for sticking with it and I'll talk to you soon.

So long for now,

Man On The Can

Back to Normal

2009-07-06T05:23:00.000-07:00

The house that was once filled with about 40 people is now empty again, and I'm happy about it. While I very much enjoy having a lot of family and friends around, it was just about getting to that point where I wanted the peace and quiet back. I missed the serenity of the lake, and always having to be on, and hosting gets tiring.

I took the weekend off from being proactive in my job search, but I am back on today. My plan of attack is to send my resume and cover letters to all the agencies whose contact information I possess. For those whose information I don't have, I will have to call and find out where to send it. The funny thing about the Hollywood agencies is that most of their websites are very mysterious. They have no contact page or "about us" section, just phone numbers and a sweet layout. So that's what I'm up to in terms of job stuff.

The weekend was great. It was pretty much one long party, well in my case it was, some of the guests were more low key but that's just not how I roll. I had to wake up this morning at 5am once again, not to fish this time, but rather to take my brother and his wife to the airport. I am now going to go back to bed and sleep off my weekend before I take on the day.

Hope you all had as much fun over the holiday weekend as I did.

So long for now,

Man On The Can

So Far So Good

2009-07-04T10:28:00.000-07:00

I skipped the parade and did some fishing. After about 20 casts or so, I landed my biggest large mouth of the summer so far. It was a little over 2.5lbs and over a foot long. Great looking fish. It was lucky too because I used my patriotic American Flag spinner bait that shines and spins as it cuts through the water, which I usually don't have much luck with. I guess the fish wanted to support it's nation and feed my anglin' addiction. Thank you Larry.

Soon enough we'll be on the boat pulling tubers and anything else we can rig up and tow behind us, as long as we have a willing candidate. It should be a great afternoon, leading up to an even better evening.

So long for now,

Man On The Can

The House on 4th Of July Weekend

2009-07-03T11:56:00.000-07:00

The wimpy sun just got eaten by a mashed potato of a rain cloud and the rain came pouring down hard, but not before we got to enjoy the nice weather for a little while. We swam, it was cold, we went boating, fished and it was great of course, and those of us who don't burn, got some color.

There are currently 19 people in our home enjoying the festivities of this rainy holiday weekend. Tomorrow we will be joined by many more friends who want to watch the town fireworks from our waterfront abode. The special treat however is that after the town fireworks end, the guys next door will be doing their own explosive firework show, which is usually better then the towns. Lots of fun in store for those here tomorrow.

For now, this is who's here: me, my mom and dad, my brother and sister, and their spouses, my sister's daughter, my niece, my love, abbey (all one little person), two couples who came with my brother, our friends the Geiger's, my aunt and uncle and my cousins. Suffice it to say, our pad is packed! I love it when there are a lot of people here, it's a nice change from the usual dynamic of me and mom, and sometimes the old man. (He's not that old...love ya Pop) Abbey played in her little tike's swimming pool we filled up with lake water so she could get the full experience of being here. She had a blast. I on the other hand jumped in the lake twice, not learning from my first time that the water was very cold, and the wind, didn't help. I'll go in again later to see if it's warmed up. It could happen.

I haven't gotten too much sleep in the past few nights, and I've been doing a lot of driving lately, so before I embark on every one's favorite time of day "hors d'oeuvres and cocktails", I'm going to take a much needed nap.

I'll return either this evening or tomorrow with an update on the craziness of my house, which is far superior to that of "John and Kate Plus 8". What a lame show.

So long for now,

Man On The Can

Recap and 4th of July

2009-07-02T16:21:00.000-07:00

Hey ya folks. I've been on hiatus, took a little trip, but now I'm back in good old NH.

I'm looking out the window and I can see that this rain just will not let up. It's upsetting, especially because we have friends and family coming to to stay with us for the holiday weekend and I believe it's supposed to rain the whole time. All we want to do is enjoy the sun and make use of the lake, but no, the rain commeth and hath taken over our lives and is determined to ruin our fun. But we won't let it! Whenever my cousins and I get together we have a good time, rain or shine and that is what we are going to do. No matter how old we get or how far apart we all move away from one another, once reunited we revert back into a childhood state, scheme, and find things to do. Sure we don't build forts or play man hunt anymore (although I don't know why not!), but we watch movies, play pool, maybe go to a bar, and it's fun just the same. Regardless of the weather there will be good food, laughs and enjoyment had by all.

I bought a few new rods that I want to try out, weather permitting. I haven't fished in a week and I'm jonesin' for a smallie! I'll be back to talk about that after I hit the water, if I ever get there.

The job search is going well. I've been researching agencies and been in contact with my mentor in L.A. who is helpful and supportive of my dream to move out west. It's coming along. I'll keep you posted on this as it develops.

Back Soon,

Man On The Can

Summer Is Here

2009-06-29T12:42:00.000-07:00

For those of you who are daily readers, you know I took the weekend off from the blog. I enjoyed myself, spent time with close friends and loved ones. I hung out by a pool, drank some (light) beers, and had fun in the sun. Summer is here and I'm loving it.

When I first started this thing I tried to write at least twice a day, once in the morning and once at night. It was going to be my sort of column. It would be the voice of a generation of graduates, those of us who finished school and were back living at home with mom and dad (fun fun fun), trying to figure out what direction to take and where we fit in this awful economy. I have stopped doing it that way, because I felt like my entries were becoming thin and I was scrounging for material. I think instead I am only going to write when something inspires me, or when there is an update for my friends and readers relating to my job search. And if you know me, there will entries solely relating to a great day of fishing (or anything else that pops into my head that I think will amuse you).

I think I, like a lot of my peers have felt a little bit helpless lately, and maybe somewhat pessimistic about things. But we have to stop thinking that way. We have to be proactive, we cannot allow ourselves to be victims. We need to be risk takers and cannot be afraid to fail. When i told my best friend in the world I thought I wanted to go to L.A. and try to become an agent (that's where I'm leaning currently), he told me was proud of me for finally getting my ass out of school and being a grown up (I'm still not quite sure what a grown up does), and his best advice was that he told me not worry about failing. He told me to be ready to try and fail, try and fail, and failing was just part of it all. He is right and I know this. The difference between me and someone else who will apply for the same job is that I have failed plenty, I am very knowledgeable about failing. The difference between me and the punk I'll beat out for a job is that I always get back up on the horse after I fall off. I am not afraid to risk everything, leave my comfort zone and enter a world I am not familiar with, where I might possibly fail. But I'm going to give it a shot, I'll do my best and I'll work my ass off. If I'm not willing to do all that, there is really no point in even trying.

That's my advice for you reading this who are in a similar position. Take a chance, and don't be afraid to fail. This is not coming from some bullshit Dear ___ advice writer, or from a quote in a movie, it's coming from a guy who sometime soon will be interviewing for jobs and will be put in a position where he will have to answer the questions, "why should we hire you?" or "what will you bring to our company?" I don't have the perfect answer yet, for these or any answers, and I don't know if I ever will. All I can do is be myself and know that my best is the best and that's what I will bring wherever I go. I think rehearsing for interviews is important, but knowing who you really are and what you can do is more important, the rest will come naturally.

I'm going to have to be honest with myself. Is the fast paced world of the entertainment industry right for me? Is California right for me? Am I a cut throat, go getter, do anything to make the deal kind of guy? Will i give up? That I know the answer to, NO F-ING way will I ever give up. The more I stay up late at night thinking about it, I get excited. I get excited thinking that soon I'll get my shot, my chance to show that I am better than the next guy. So, we'll see, and I'll keep you all posted.

Get outside and enjoy the sun.

So long for now,

Man On The Can

Weekend Update

2009-06-26T21:06:00.000-07:00

Paul and I went fishing the day before last. We both did very well, for us. We got some pictures as proof, of course. All large mouth. They're just about done spawning, and they have begun to feed, which makes fishing more fun, because they're no longer sluggish and are now active. We both got sun burnt, but it was worth it to finally enjoy some sunlight. I'm applying aloe like crazy, hoping it'll turn into a tan. For now, I'm just red, everywhere.

Being back on the east coast has certainly put a lot of things in perspective for me. I don't want to base my entire decision of whether or not to move out west on weather. But come on. I was driving today and got stuck in a severe storm, with tornado warnings. There was lightening striking on either side of the highway. It freaked me out, and I couldn't help but think that the worst thing I would have to deal with in L.A. is traffic on the 405. Traffic I can deal with. tornado's, not so much.

I have begun to hone in on what I want to do with my life, in terms of a career. But I'm not ready to divulge that information here just yet. I need to make a few more inquires to the appropriate people to see if it's going to happen. Whatever the outcome of this first attempt is, I am confident that by the summer's end I will be living in California, taking control of my future. It's not an easy thing to do, uprooting like this, but I think it's time I take a chance and make a change.

I'll be back soon with another update. Hope all of you get to enjoy some good weather, and don't end up in OZ like I almost did.

So long for now,

Man On The Can

The Sun is Finally Out!

2009-06-25T08:31:00.000-07:00

Lets take a break from the discussion of finding a job and the "real world". Today let's just enjoy the fact that the rain has stopped and the sun is shining. I'm going fishing and then I'm going to the gym, two things I haven't done in a while and two things that usually end up leaving me frustrated and sweaty. I'll be back later to tell you all about it, in detail, with visuals.

More to come,

Man On The Can

Last Entry Before I pass out

2009-06-22T21:14:00.000-07:00

It's a funny thing this life after graduation. While I am inching closer to finding my way, trying to pin point what it is I want to do with myself, a few classmates of mine have already started their own business. It's a clothing line called Fli Tees. They even have a website, flitees.com. I suggest all of you check it out. They have a variety of stuff there, different designs, it's nuts. I wear the T-Shirt Fli Tee's President and CEO Andy McLean gave me almost every day (I do laundry constantly....) For some of us, that one great idea is all it takes to get the ball rolling. I am shooting for these guys because they're not just my good friends, but their product is awesome, and it's reasonably priced. If Jackson Pollock were around he'd purchase the "Fli Swatter", which is nothing short of imaginary and the dawn of a new phase in clothing decor.

That's my plug. I hope you do check it out. And keep reading because pretty soon some major life decisions are going to be made and I want you to be a part of the adventure.

More to come,

Man On The Can

Out of Cali, back in New Hampshire

2009-06-22T17:41:00.001-07:00

I am jet lagged, I am tired and I have a lot to say. This is a long list, stream of consciousness if you will, of my day of travel from LAX to BOS, the homecoming and my final thoughts. This will almost definitely be riddled with mistakes and incomplete sentences, deal with it. Thanks and enjoy, or don't, it's up to you.

Shuttle service picked me up at 8:30am, shared the shuttle with 5 elderly Asian women going to Vegas and one sweaty short fat guy going to Boston, got to the airport at 9:30am, flight at 11:50 so I finished my book "Too Fat To Fish", by Artie Lange, loved the book, saw a friend from college, talked with him, boarded the flight, said goodbye to my friend who was sitting at the back of the plane, sat in my seat for half an hour, sat next to a once pro baseball player now sports agent, can't remember his name, Bill Paxton from Big Love sat three seats in front of me, wow, cool, voice comes over the speaker, "flight is delayed two hours", got off the plane, got a soda and some trail mix, met up with my friend from school, voice in the airport told us to board an hour later, weather wasn't as bad as they thought, said goodbye again to my buddy, sat down again, the guy sitting next to me told me his life story, mine apparently wasn't too interesting so I didn't speak much and he didn't mind, he had a lot to say, yelled "show me the money!", he didn't think it was funny, he's not that kind of agent he told me and told me some more and then some more about what he did, oy, finally we were air born, the 5+ hour flight had begun, the people sitting in front and next to me were asking Bill Paxton all kinds of questions, he was trying to enjoy the company of his wife and daughter who they were bringing to summer camp in Vermont, I was not eavesdropping, OK maybe a little, guy next to me told me he doesn't get star struck because he was a star and represents stars and lives in cali where all he sees are stars, he was a big deal, I've never heard of him, I watched two movies, Iron Man which I've seen and love, and Paul Blart Mall Cop which was very funny. We Landed in Boston at 11pm east coast time which made me feel like I had been in the air for 9 hours, we all got off the plane, I had to beat the rush of people who wanted to be near Bill Paxton, I whispered in my friends ear when he finally got off the plane "Titanic was lame, loved you in Weird Science" and walked past Mr. Paxton, I hope he didn't hear me, finally got my luggage after an hour of waiting at the baggage claim area with a bunch of annoyed travelers and was on my way and now a day later I am still jet lagged, which in my mind means being dizzy, tired, grouchy, hungry and want nothing more than to sleep, which I am about to do.

While I was gone my mother rearranged the furniture in my room, put in a new dresser that has opening drawers now, there's a different T.V. in there which is fine, my bathroom sink is now unclogged, all the hinges seem to be opening smoother on all the doors in my hallway and my bedroom, all the lights seem to be brighter and everything is much cleaner than when I left. Either I am going a little insane, or my parents get a lot more done when I'm not around.

The finale analysis of my trip to L.A. is this: I met a lot of great people out there which include writers, producers, directors, actors and agents, people who all very candid and very nice, each with their own piece of advice to give, and people I will continue to communicate with over the course of this next month, and we will see what happens from there. There is no comparing California to any other place in the continental US. It's always sunny, the people are great and always in a good mood. When I hear people say "I miss the seasons", like a few did out there who came from the east coast, I laughed at them. As if they wished they were in the rain forest that has taken over. I love New York and I have had a lot of fun there, I just don't know if I could live there, but who knows? The point is this, my family and good friends here in eastern standard time as I like to call it now, and if I can find the right first job to "get my foot in the door"over here in eastern standard time, I will consider staying, but I will completely honest with anyone reading this and say that I am leaning so hard to moving out to California and giving it at least a year to enjoy the sun, the atmosphere, the laid back attitude and the business that I'm dying to get into. I don't know what's going to happen, I just know that I'm home now and I'm going to spend some time with my mom, hang out with my New Hampshire posse and get in some fishing between thunder storms.

So long for now,

Man On The Can

Saturday at Midnight-Last night in California

2009-06-20T23:59:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I was inside the Paramount lot in an office, talking to someone about my future aspirations and things of that nature. But once that was over, mostly we talked about movies, old and new.

I spent a day at the Griffith Observatory, where Rebel Without a Cause was shot, and I've driven all over Southern California trying to find all the locations where famous old films have been shot over the years.

I didn't visit the normal tourist hot spots. I wasn't interested in seeing hand prints in cement, nor did I want to spend much time in the city at all. I got to see Hollywood the way I wanted to. We've just finished watching an old western shot in the 50's called High Noon, which starred Gary Cooper, Loyd Bridges and the beautiful Grace Kelly. During the movie, my hosts and I were talking about how much films have changed, and actors and everything in between. I don't know if I would consider High Noon to be one of the best films ever made, but that may be because I was never much into westerns. It was a really good movie, nonetheless.

I'm now lying in my bed in West Lake Village, CA., where I have been staying during this trip of mine, and I have to say I am truly sad to be leaving tomorrow. Not only are my hosts unbelievably gracious and patient with me (I'm a handful, as you must know by now), but the weather is always beautiful out here and the people could not be nicer. I realize I have been given the royal treatment on this trip, but it doesn't matter. When I stood on the steps of the Observatory and looked out to see Los Angeles and Hollywood and all it's wonder, it made me really happy. But I was also a little sad because I don't know if this town is the right fit for me. I might just have to move out here and give it a shot - or perhaps stay in NH and work as a fisherman for hire.(Kidding... sort of) It's all up in the air. I'm feeling very good about the possibilities that lay in front of me.

I've talked to enough people of varying positions in T.V., film, and the business side of things, all with a different perspective and with different kinds of advice given - that I now have a better understanding of the business. I just have to ask myself now, is it right for me?

I'm getting on a plane tomorrow and I'll be in the air from noon till 9pm. I have the fun of jet lag to look forward to, but mostly, I have a long plane ride back to reality where I'm going to be doing a lot of pondering and maybe some writing. A list of pros and cons might be in order. We'll see. I'm going home tomorrow and I'm going to let the events of this trip "percolate", to quote my host and now friend. I have a lot to think about.

Well my friends, it's time for bed. Tomorrow is a big day. My next entry might not be for a day or two. If you're reading this, I'm guessing you have read the entries before and understand that the next few weeks will be some of the most important and difficult of my life. There is no more procrastinating, no more dawdling and no more wondering what my future will hold. It's time to make some decisions, take some chances, and begin my career as a......

Man On The Can

Wednesday in California

2009-06-17T22:06:00.001-07:00

I don't want to give too much away. I'm going to recap the entire trip when I get back to my little cottage in New Hampshire. (Truthfully, its 10pm here, but I feel like it's way later. I think I'm still weird from the time change. When does that wear off anyway?) I'll just say that my first meeting went very well. It was constructive and motivating and I feel really good about it. My second meeting, which was to take place at one of the...famous film studios (fancy, fancy), was cancelled, BUT was rescheduled for Friday afternoon. You know what that means, I'm staying an extra day!!! So excited. Now I get to see an old friend who is near and dear to my heart and enjoy one more night of excitement and day of sun in this land full of dreamers. (Maybe it's just me, I don't know)

I'm currently staying with family friends in their beautiful home with the most unbelievable view I have ever seen. It's unreal, I can't stand it. They are, by the way, the coolest people too, and super knowledgeable about the world of T.V. They have some great perspectives on the industry. What I love most is that they tell me the truth, give it to me straight, don't hold anything back, pick a cliche. They are telling me what's what. And I love it. I've already found out that everyone has an angle to play when giving advice. My host and hostess have proven to be good people as well as honest, caring individuals. I'm very lucky to be here. Plus they have a hot tub, so I'm in heaven.

Stick around. Tomorrow I'm getting a tour of a real life T.V. show, or at least, I get to see a place where one man does hilarious voices amidst the operations of a thriving sports channel. Did I mention he's the boss?

I couldn't be happier here. I'll report back tomorrow evening, unless something better comes up. (Kidding! Nothing is more important than my friends and followers - you know that!)

So long for now,

Man On The Can

It's Tuesday and I'm in....Hollywood!

2009-06-16T19:26:00.000-07:00

After a very, very long flight from Boston to L.A., I'm currently resting in my hotel room in Beverly Hills, exhausted and a little dizzy. I now understand the term "Jet Lagged" much better. If this entry is in any way confusing, I apologize.

My flight was a lot of fun. I sat next to a woman who owns a special effects/makeup company with her husband. Not only does her company design ghoulish and extravagant characters for films, but she herself played Nancy in the classic horror film, Nightmare On Elm Street. How cool is that?! She gave me a list of all the places I need to visit while in L.A., so I'll have to check them out.

I wanted to see some sights today, but I can't seem to get myself out of bed. I've instead been watching the hotel's tourist channel on T.V., and researching the people/company's I'm going to be seeing tomorrow. I'm no longer nervous about it, I'm excited, prepared, and really looking forward to them. I think it's partly because I know I don't have to do any more shopping for the trip and I can finally focus on being here. I don't know why I was so caught up on buying the right clothes for L.A. anyway, I couldn't fit half of the stuff in my suitcase. Oh, and for the record, I haven't seen one guy with a surfboard! Maybe they're at the beach? I'll have to go there and find out. (refer to last entry)

I can see out my hotel room window the HOLLYWOOD sign up in the hills. If my phone didn't have such a crappy camera I'd take a picture of it.

For now, I'm going to continue to read "Too Fat to Fish", Artie Lange's new book. If you don't know who Artie is, he's a regular on the Howard Stern show on Sirius Satellite Radio. So far the book is both hilarious and depressing. I'm not a big reader, but that flight required some time killing and this was the perfect choice.

I know when you think of Beverly Hills, you have this image of what it's like. Well let me tell you, all I've seen so far is this hotel, and it's not what you would expect. The toilet is still making loud, weird noises from when I flushed it 10 minutes ago and the AC goes on and off and is making me hot then cold, which isn't helping my jet lag. I'm tired enough now that soon it won't matter. They'll both just be sounds in what I'm sure will be an awkward dream.

I'll be back tomorrow with news about my big day of bumping elbows with execs and agents and anyone else who will give me the time of day. I can't wait and I know you can't either!

So long for now,

Man On The Can

Saturday Night Update

2009-06-13T18:48:00.000-07:00

After spending the last three days in stores trying on pants and shirts, dealing with sly salesmen and listening to cashiers go on and on about their rewards program, deals and "how much I could be saving" routine, I am officially done with my shopping for this long anticipated trip to the west coast. All the clothes I've bought are still in their bags because, I pack just like I shop and I don't want to rush that joyous process. I'm excited for the trip, I just wonder if I'll have room in my suitcase for all the surfing gear I bought.(Just Kidding) Nothing like a New Hampshire kid heading to L.A.. If it's not all blonde's, surfer dudes and Hollywood types, I will be very surprised. I know my favorite T.V shows wouldn't lie to me!

One last thing before I call it a night. I spent the last half hour watching a baseball game because a friend of mine was sitting a few rows up the 3rd base line and told me I might be able to see her. I'm not a big baseball fan but I was excited that I might see my friend on T.V. I didn't realize that the only reason for the cameras to show that side of the field would be if there was someone on third, or a pop up, or whatever else could happen. So I'm watching the game, not sure what's going on, nor why after every play the fans are in an uproar, and I never see her. No big deal. This little experiment made me think about the people who hold up signs at sporting events, hoping to get on T.V.. While I personally don't think being a fanatic of any kind is a good idea, nor why anyone would ever paint their chest or run across a field naked (although that's one of the only reasons I would ever watch baseball, or Hockey, to see a fight) I have respect for those who take the time and energy to care about something bigger than themselves. My advice to those with the signs is, sit behind home plate, that's where you will be seen. Anywhere else and it's unlikely, from my experience at least.

Well my friends, It's been a long day. I didn't even get the chance to fish today, so you know I'm serious. I'll be on the water tomorrow for sure. Thanks for reading and I'll talk to you soon.

So long for now,

Man On The Can

More L.A. Trip Info

2009-06-12T15:29:00.001-07:00

No matter how much I prepare, I still get all skittish when I'm about to make a call or I am expecting a call from someone who is potentially an important connection. As we speak, I am waiting to get a call back from an important person who may be able to meet with me during my trip out west. If this goes well and he agrees to meet with me, I will be getting the full experience of speaking with someone who is involved with the creative side, the business side and the production side of the entertainment industry, specifically Television and Film. Hopefully one if not all of the men who are generous enough to meet me, will be able to enlighten me enough about these different aspects of the business, that I may then pick which area is the best fit for me and then of course I will begin to pursue that area endlessly. If only I had a clue, things would be much simpler, right? I am obsessed with films and television, all genres and programming. I am intrigued and interested in the creative process, the behind the scenes work, all of that. I feed off the energy of others, I want to be involved in the nitty gritty of it all. But what does that mean in terms of a career? Where do I shoot to land a job when I only know what turns me on about the business and not so much about the business itself? That's what this trip is all about. Helping me find my niche.

More to come,

Man On The Can

Thursday

2009-06-11T17:29:00.000-07:00

Today couldn't have been a better day. Well, after I shook off the horrible dream I had, I finally went shopping for my trip to L.A.. I bought a shirt, pants, two pairs of jeans and some undergarments. Everything fit! It was a huge surprise that I could actually find clothes that fit, and fit well. I still need a few things, and I'm hoping to find them tomorrow on my shopping adventure part II.

After I got home I decided to unwind, because as we all know, shopping takes a lot out of a young man. So I camped out on the dock behind my house and threw in a few, OK about 100 lines. I caught 3 huge small mouth bass not 20 yards from where I stood. Which is very good for me. My average has gone up by leaps and bounds. I held one up over my head and tried to get my dads attention from the kitchen, but I think he was more interested in his dinner, and less with my fish. No matter, I got pictures on my phone for proof when I tell the guys. The phrase "I once caught a fish thiiiiiis big" is thrown around a lot. I like to have backup.

After that, I went to the local bar and had a few LIGHT beers with friends I used to work with. I'm still trying to watch my weight as we all know. And now, I get to watch my two favorite shows, Burn Notice and my new obsession, Royal Pains. Please, if you have not seen either of these programs, start tuning in. Thursday nights at 9 and 10pm respectively.

Well, that's all the news for today and tonight. Tune in tomorrow for something special I'm sure.

So long for now,

Man On The Can

A Bad Dream

2009-06-11T04:38:00.000-07:00

The downside of remembering your dreams is that they are not always about drinking margaritas on the beach or being a movie star. This dream certainly wasn't. I don't know if it was some kind of Jewish guilt creeping in or delusions of grandeur, but last night my dream was that I was the key note speaker at a banquet or some other kind of big event. The kicker was that the only people there were those I had wronged, disappointed or upset in the past. I consider myself a good person, but I know in my heart that there were times in the past when my morals could be brought into question and I acted like an ass. There are those that I wish I could say to now, "I'm sorry, that was the old me, I've changed". Maybe they'd listen, but maybe they'd flip me the bird. Who knows?

It was a black tie event and everyone was dressed to the nines, drinking and carrying on. Everyone looked really happy, until I hit the podium. As soon as I got up there, hands were raised. I called on them one by one to state their complaint. The room was filled with people I knew, people I thought liked me, and people I knew I had upset. I don't remember the exact words they said, but I remember not being physically able to respond to any of their questions or comments. I could only listen. After everyone had gotten out what they wanted to say, I left the podium with my head down. I walked to my table where I was seated alone and watched as everyone else sat at their packed tables having a great time. The only question I was able to audibly respond to was the waiter asking me if I wanted chicken or fish. I chose neither. I wasn't hungry.

What was that about?! I woke up early this morning like someone in 12 step, itching to make phone calls to make amends. But who would I call, a girl I used to date who now hates my guts, or a kid I hit with an intentional elbow in a basketball game? Was this some kind of sign? Is my character in question here?

I'm glad this was only a dream and I don't actually spend my days feeling guilty about things I may regret doing. While there are times I wish I could go back in time and make a different choice, that's not the point of life as I see it. Making mistakes is just part of it. All I can do from here on out is try to live each day a little better than the one before.

I don't have any strong beliefs or any religion that guides me, but I do believe in Karma. I know that before the age of 24 I've had enough bad things happen in and around my life that if I have ever done anything wrong to another person, I have already paid my dues and survived the wrath of 'Karma Kong'. (If I had to name my God, that would be it).

So that was my dream. Pretty awful right? While I feel a lot better now that I've gotten it out there in the open, I'm still not satisfied. I'm going to see if my dad needs any work done around the house. Maybe then Karma Kong will give me safe passage for a while.

Do you remember your last dream? Was it something so good that you were annoyed when you had to wake up, or was it like mine and you were happy when you realized it wasn't real? Sometimes I think it's better to just wake up, shake it off and have some breakfast. That's exactly what I'm about to do.

So long for now,

Man On The Can

Preparing for my trip, sort of.

2009-06-10T11:05:00.001-07:00

My father and I joke about how I am a tad, unorganized. I managed to graduate college with honors, although if you were to see what my room looked like at school, it would be a mystery to you how it happened. It's sort of a mystery to me too. I kept my clothes in piles on the floor right next to the piles of papers I received from my classes. You know things like syllabi's, quizzes, tests, etc. I never felt comfortable using a dresser (NOT OK with mom while I'm home), nor did I use my desk like I was supposed to. I knew exactly where everything was, all scattered across my floor, just where I left it. (To my roommate Greg, I'm sorry for the mess.)

It was no surprise then when my father sent me an email this morning (like he sometimes does) asking me to make sure I had everything I needed for my trip to the west coast. Things like my hotel confirmation, flight information, and of course clothes I might need. Just as I was about to head out of the house this morning for my anticipated day of shopping for my trip, it occurred to me that I had no idea what I needed to buy. I am an impulsive, just get in the car and drive to the store kind of shopper. I attribute this mostly to the fact that I hate trying on clothes during this period in my life I call "my fat stage". This wasn't an issue when I played ball in college, but now it is a real pain trying to find pants that fit my awkward leg length to waist ratio. So instead of just driving an hour to the nearest city to find clothes that cater to my specific size requirements, I am researching stores and clothes, and I will discuss with someone knowledgeable about what I need to bring with me for interviews/L.A. wear. Just when I think I'm adult and I can handle simple tasks like getting dressed in the morning and pack a suitcase for a trip, all these details come into play. Thanks Dad. But he's right, there is a lot to take into consideration. Things were a lot easier in school. Wake up, shower, don't shower, throw something on and stumble into class. It all really depended on what you did the night before.

Today, instead of shopping. I have found out where I need to go and what clothes I should get. When that's done, I'm meeting up with my buddy Paul and heading to a new fishing spot, which may end up being just as upsetting and trying on tight jeans.

More to come,

Man On The Can

Have you ever....

2009-06-09T12:59:00.000-07:00

Have you ever watched a film so bizarre that it actually puts you in a strange mood? Watch "Synecdoche, New York", you'll know what I mean. I'm off now to see "The Hangover". Hopefully a comedy will revive me from this lull.

I'm tired of the rain.

Back later,

Man On The Can

Tuesday

2009-06-09T09:29:00.000-07:00

Not a lot to report on. It's raining and cold today, which is good because I spent all day yesterday on the boat in the hot sun. I need a day inside to recoup and let the aloe I spread on do it's job. I haven't been sticking to my diet lately, a few nights of eating at restaurants and hanging out with friends has made me a bit lazy. I'm going to break out the bow flex this afternoon and give it a whirl. I need to get back on track.

I'm super excited for my trip to L.A.. I leave a week from today (Tuesday) and I'll return Friday. I need to do some shopping tomorrow because my wardrobe is an embarrassment. I'm not sure exactly what I am supposed to wear to my meeting or what the style of dress is out in Cali. I just don't want to be overdressed, or look like the kid whose wearing his daddy's blazer which is clearly too big for him. Better to be overdressed than under dressed, right? If you have ever been shopping when you are on the verge of losing weight, or have just gained a few pounds, you know how fun it is to go shopping. We'll see how it goes tomorrow.

So long for now,

Man On The Can

Taking a trip

2009-06-07T18:09:00.000-07:00

I stood on the back porch this evening and watched the lake ripple in the moon light. From the end of my dock stretched out to the town on the other side of the bay, the water looked like the Yellow Brick Road, and I couldn't help but feel like Dorothy, about to embark on a journey that might very well change the course of my life.

In about a weeks time, I'll leave the comfort of my home and family and take a trip to Los Angeles, where I'm guessing the air won't taste the same, and the sky will look a little different than it does in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, and the people, well, I'll have wait to find out what they are like. I leave with no reservations. While I'm perpetually nervous about my future, there is nothing lately that I've looked forward to more than this trip. I will be meeting people who have years of professional experience in the entertainment field and who will no doubt be a great help in helping me find my niche. I am grateful to them for taking the time to take an interest in me and for making this trip possible.

My father could not be more thrilled that I will finally get a taste of the west coast. I've been talking about it for a long time and it's finally happening. My mom on the other hand isn't as pleased. I know she's happy that this trip may open doors and help me out in the long run, but I know she's worried. I think she's afraid that I'll love it and never come back. But she's wrong. I don't think I could get rid of her if I wanted to. I'm the "baby" of the family and that is my blessing as well as my curse.

So, I'm taking a trip. That's my big news for now. I didn't catch any fish today, but if all goes well, Walter will be waiting for me out west. I just need to bring the right bait.

Stick around,

Man On The Can

A quick Sunday update

2009-06-07T09:19:00.000-07:00

I spent the morning playing with my five month old niece, Abbey. She is my new favorite playmate. Everything I do, every face or noise I make amuses her. Why can't I get the same reaction out of girls my own age?

This afternoon I will take to the water and do my best to catch some fish. I'll be back later either excited about my trip, or frustrated, depending on how I did. Guess which one it'll be.... I'll let you know. Wish me luck.

Oh, and I am planning my trip to the west coast. I leave in about a week. More on that later.

So long for now,

Man On The Can

Time For Bed

2009-06-05T19:42:00.000-07:00

I didn't get a lot of sleep last night. I was up thinking about my future and what will become of it. While it's easy to be pessimistic because of the economy and such, I do my best to stay optimistic, but that doesn't mean I don't worry. I need to remember that I am just starting out, and my life will unfold before my eyes if I apply myself and make things happen. After all, "The great majority of men are bundles of beginnings." (R.W. Emerson)

What did I do today? In a sort of sleepy daze, I spent a few hours for the second day in a row on a ladder scraping paint off the side of a friend's house so he could paint it. If you have been paying attention to my previous entries, you know I have a fear of heights. Well, yesterday was my first day being that high on a ladder and while I tried to look comfortable since my "boss" on the job, a family friend, was painting the other side of the house, my entire body was shaking and I was sweating uncontrollably. Looking down to see how high up I was didn't help. The upside was that I have never had a better total body work out. While I was holding on for dear life to the top rung with one hand, trying to hold myself still, my other arm was doing a Karate Kid "wax on, wax off" motion with the scraper. After a few hours of doing this, every muscle had been worked and it was time to fish. Today was a lot easier, I wasn't as scared on the ladder. I learned that looking down makes things a lot harder, so naturally I didn't do that again. I got a good sweat going, and I think I improved my scraping skills greatly from yesterday.

My late afternoon into evening was spent on the end of my dock, where I threw out about 200 casts and caught one fish, an improvement. He was a small mouth bass, about thirteen inches. I was so happy to finally catch one after being out there for so long. I thought maybe a school was passing by so I threw out another cast, and my line got caught on a rock, or a fallen tree branch. I had to cut the line. The warm fuzzy feeling was gone, and I went inside.

It was a pretty good day. I'm off to sleep now. Tomorrow I will do it all over again.

More to come,

Man On The Can

Living in a T.V. Series

2009-06-03T05:42:00.000-07:00

When are you inspired to write? If you are like me, it can be the most random daily experiences that trigger a thought or an idea. When this happens, as it did for me this morning, some of us run to our computers or journals or find a scrap of paper and get it all down before even one morsel is lost. I don't know if it was a dream I had (I often don't remember my dreams) or just a recurring theme that's been bouncing around in my head, but this morning I began to feel as if my life is one of those reality TV shows!

It's a combo of a comical fishing show (naturally), The Biggest Loser and Three and a Half Men. That's my life, those three shows....no more, no less. I could toss The Apprentice in there and make it work, but I don't want to sully this potentially funny post by going over the dreary facts of my less than successful job search. I'll save that for another day.

My fishing show, or as I call it, "Anglers Anonymous", is an afternoon program, where I and one or more guys take to the water, or on various docks , and fish our hearts out. We have three slightly bent, almost unusable poles, and often times tangled lines. We have a tackle box filled with a variety of colorful, sometimes expensive lures that we do not know how to use. Usually at an average of five or more times per episode our viewers find we have a casted incorrectly and tangled up our lines, caught a snag on the bottom or if there are low hanging telephone or electrical lines, designed a new decor for the skyline filled with bobbers and multicolored jig heads. If the stars are aligned, and the universe is on our side, we'll have a fish on the line (which we more often than not will lose!), and then the finale, a group of guys arguing over who has to "man up", grab the fish and take the hook out. If all goes well we have caught and successfully released about, one, maybe two fish, any more than that and we get cocky, which only sets us up for disappointment for our next episode. We never expect a great show, but it always turns out to be a fun time for us anglers and for those who have made the mistake of tuning in to us in action. An alternative title , if I want to connect with my familial roots might be the "The Gefilte Fisherman".....but we'll leave that on the table for now.

The Biggest Loser is one of those reality shows where overweight contestants go on to try and lose a ton of weight. They are given nutritionists and trainers and have all the tools in place for them to be successful. My show is much less entertaining version of this popular show. It does however on occasion bring about some drama in the household. I have consulted no nutritionist and the closest thing I have to a trainer is my father who has dusted off the Bow Flex in the basement with the inspirational words, "Those bars bend, it's like a machine at the gym. Have fun." No it's not, it's just one more piece of equipment people have in their homes that don't get any use and look out of place. The show begins with me sleeping in until about 10 A.M.. By the time I get downstairs it's in that in between period where you don't know if it's OK to have lunch yet or if cereal is still an option. By this time, I have already screwed up the cardinal rule of weight loss, which is to have breakfast and get your metabolism going. I will often times skip breakfast and go right to lunch. Since I don't have the first clue about what and what not to eat, I do the evaluation of "healthy" on the spot, and without fail, my mother (who assumes she knows more about what I should be eating than I do), will combat every meal decision I make, which causes some good drama for the audience, who can clearly see that I am merely pissed off that I can't eat my greasy college delicacies anymore and I snap like an addict who can't get his fix. This is what happens during meal time. In between those fun filled hours, it is nothing but a barrage of long walks, a brief stint at the ALL MIGHTY BOW FLEX, a game of tennis every now and again and lets not forget, the endless amount of water being drunk, which interrupts the previously stated daily routines because I am running to find a bathroom again and again and again. I suggest changing the channel.

The last show, and my favorite one, had its debut a few months ago when I first met a very special person. My spin off of Two and a Half Men, where I play the uncle (Charlie Sheen) to my almost five month old niece Abigail Joanna Danger Kass. The other characters in the show are my sister Jenny and her husband Fred, Abbey's mom and dad, and my parents, Abbey's grandparents. Abbey is coming to visit today and I could not be more thrilled. She has brought new meaning into my life. The knowledge that I might have even the smallest influence over how she will turn out is exciting for me and no doubt terrifying for my sister! Jenny has been practicing the phrase,"Oh, that's just your uncle Jed" in preparation for Abbey's childhood years. On our last show, my cousin Scott and I took a trip to "The Baby Depot" and bought Abbey an "Exersaucer Walk Around Active Learning Center" in a garden motif. At first read, this concept is normal, nothing too entertaining about buying a gift for your niece, but what transpired after could not have been better for ratings. While in the store, after almost an hour of searching for the thing, we finally found a sales associate who was free, a nice woman. The other kid working in the section we were in looked at us several times, he had seen us, but kept avoiding us, walking in opposite directions. I complained to the woman who finally helped us locate the Exersaucer Walk Around Active Learning Center in a garden motif, that the young male associate didn't appear to want to help "two dads" buy a gift for their son. She was quite embarrassed and helped us with our purchase. We left holding hands. The second part to this episode took place in the living room. I asked my sister and her husband that since Scott and I delivered the merchandise that we be the ones who put it together. They reluctantly agreed. The show ended with me holding Abbey on the couch, me giggling, smiling and having fun, her with a look of confusion, probably hunger and discomfort, and Scott putting the entire Excersaucer Walk Around Active Learning Center together on his own. Given that there's never going to be an episode of "This Old House" in my life and that I sometimes confuse the working end of most handyman tools....it seemed like a better choice for little Abbey's safety anyway.

Stick Around,

Man On The Can

Why I love Movies

2009-06-02T09:12:00.000-07:00

If you love movies like I do, you have developed a specific criteria for what makes a movie superb. We all have our favorites; it might be a film that it is filled with great action sequences, a murder mystery, a psychological thriller, or maybe that it has a love story in it so beautiful and rich with human emotion that it makes you smile and even cry.

There are those critics who think the glory days of film making are over. I am constantly reading about people who say sensationalism has taken over, that CG technology is ruining films, and that modern movies do not come close to those of the past. Well, I disagree. My generation is living in a new time and having new experiences. The issues we are dealing with are not those of our parents or their parents, so naturally the films we enjoy are not going to be those of our predecessors.

I have just finished watching the film, "Seven Pounds" for maybe the fifth time. It stars Will Smith and Rosario Dawson, who are in my opinion two amazingly talented actors. This is one of those movies that does something to me, it hits a chord. Even as I write this I'm still in an emotional state, slow to wipe the tears that fell during the last scene because it feels good to feel. If you have not seen this movie, I strongly suggest you watch it. It has everything I look for in a cinematic experience.

What are the reasons we love to watch movies? In the past, during times when national morale was low, going to the movies gave families something to do to take their minds off of the the problems that plagued their daily lives. Movies have been used as tools for propaganda, as entertainment and as a distraction. I watch them simply because it allows me to take a trip without having to lift a finger. I don't have to sit at my computer and write a script to see it come to fruition, someone has done that for me. I don't need to write a heart wrenching score to hear it played when I need a lift because a musician has given me that gift.

I do, however, think it is paramount in our lives to have intrinsic, tangible experiences so we may better relate to what we see in the films we watch. Isn't a love story more moving when we have experienced being in love? Isn't a tale of travelers setting sail across the Atlantic simply better if we have been on a ship and seen the vastness of the ocean first hand?

Movies are great. Nothing is better than watching the perfect scene with the perfect music with the ones you love, all sharing in the experience. I only suggest that we all try to find in our lives outside of the theaters, our living rooms or wherever it is that we sit down to be immersed in a story of someone else's life, that we look for the same excitement in our own lives.

It's like someone once said to me, "talking about doing it is one thing, actually getting out there and making it happen is a different story".

I want to get out there and write my own story. I think it will be my favorite one yet.

More to come,

Man On The Can

Making a Change

2009-06-01T06:05:00.000-07:00

It's a funny thing this growing up business. I've recently decided to start taking responsibility for my own actions. It was easy to make excuses while I was in college for why I wasn't getting enough sleep, making it to all my classes, gaining weight, drinking too much and all the rest. Now, those things have all been rectified by my simply not acting like such a schmuck. Allow me to delicately describe how my change to a healthier lifestyle has put the name of this blog in jeopardy. Don't fret, it's just a thought.

Man On The Can originated because I was spending a lot of time on the throne, due to the fact that I was eating all kinds of shit, not exercising, drinking like it was going out of style (it's college so party hardy, right?), and sleeping so little each night that my body must have been trying endlessly to save itself without the help of proper nutrition and rest and couldn't. Which is why it relied on disposing of the evil I put into it so frequently.

Hopefully that didn't gross you out. In my family, we talk way too much about what goes on the in the bathroom - kind of like how the geriatric set love to discuss their, you know, movements. I was very embarrassed by my gut distress; having to leave the party to 'write a short story', or walk out of class to 'work on my sonnet'.

Not anymore, though! On the same day I started writing here, I began a work out and diet regime that I have yet to stray from. Sure I'm still stressed out because I'm twenty-four and living at home with no job prospects, but that's normal, right? The happy and yet sad truth about the matter is, because I am eating so healthy and treating my body like a temple (no one likes that phrase, "my body is my temple", it's too much of a straight edge, work out, Nazi turn of phrase), I am spending hardly any time on the can. In fact, I am writing this to you right now from my bed. I am stretched out, watching an older man on the TV teach me how to fly fish, which I desperately want to try. And I have never felt better.

The funny thing about trying to lose weight is what happens with all the water you are supposed to be drinking. It gets a bit annoying doesn't it? I'm OK with drowning in H20, it's the getting up every twenty-minutes to pee that I can't stand. (Man Above The Can?)

This would be a great time to segway into my story about how we all turn into our parents (Well, it's clearly not my theory, but I agree with it.) More specifically, how my father and I will meet several times in the middle of the night on our way to the bathroom, me wearing his warm-up pants, flannel shirt and sandals, and him wearing the same. Nothing is more precious than the look on our faces; his with a smirk, and mine, a look of fear, no doubt because I have just seen into my future.

More to come,

Man Off The Can? (I just don't know)

Tales of a Failed Fisherman

2009-05-31T06:44:00.000-07:00

If you have ever seen a fishing show on television or been on a lake or river and watched anglers on the hunt for bass, walleye, trout or perch, the first thing you would probably notice is the boat they're in. If you're serious about fishing anywhere besides the ocean, it's a must to have a one of those 19 to 23 foot, sleek, beautiful boats. The boat I am obsessed with and dream about having is one of Triton's newest models, the 21X3 Pro DC. It's 21 feet long, 42.5 gal livewell capacity (where you store the fish you catch), a built in ice chest, 675 lbs capacity for people, trolling motor, and a huge Mercury motor to help any lucky s.o.b. whip across the water! With this boat I could hug the coast in the shallow waters, go in and out of coves and docks. It is the perfect way to spend the day fishing. But alas, I do not have a boat that even comes close to resembling this one, I don't even have the most generic model of a boat like this. A tin can with a small motor would be just fine, but I don't have one. Since I still don't have a job either I suspect the chances of scoring one is, at the moment, pretty remote.

You may be asking yourself then, how is that I am always fishing. The answer is this, I am what one would call, a nomad of the the land fisherman. I research the towns that have coves and fishing spots rated the best around the lake, and find out where the marinas and public docks are, and go there. I do have access to a larger family boat that's good for towing waterskiers and tubers, but to fish, I have to throw out the anchor, or float out in the middle of the lake. This causes problems because I am constantly being rocked by passing boats and I know I look ridiculous. (My heroes whiz by me in their pimped out fishing boats and smile. But I know what they're thinking) So what I do instead, is drive my bigger boat all over the lake to these docks and tie up.

In my deluded mind, I believe that if there is a spot out in the lake near my land location known for good fishing, then I too should have luck . Without me telling you how this story ends, I'm sure you can guess. If a person on their beautiful fishing boat had caught twenty fish just around the corner from where I stand, (watching boats being launched, constantly scaring away any fish that might even be contemplating nibbling on my line) then I catch maybe, one fish.

What happens more often than not is a family will come walking down to the end of the dock and ask me if I've had any luck. They are usually waiting to be picked up by friends, or waiting for their boat to be put in the water. Nothing is more thrilling than if I have a fish on the line, or if I've had a few bites that day so I can say "Yes! I've had luck!" But no, most days I drop my head and look at their children and confess, "No, no luck today". The sad, disappointed look in a child's eye when they hear that I have not caught any fish, makes me feel a tad, worthless.

I am like a gambling fisherman. I take a chance, pick a location, and never expect to catch a thing because I usually don't. But when I do, there's not much of a celebration because I know it was a fluke (no pun intended) and will be a short lived experience.

So why oh why do I keep at it!? I continue to embarrass myself and spend money on bait, hooks, line and poles that have done nothing but crush my morale and frustrate me. I think the reason for this is simple. I love it. Have you ever been to a pickup basketball game and seen a guy on the court who runs funny, wears headbands, and simply looks like he doesn't belong, well I'm that guy when I fish. So, will I learn my lesson and give it a rest for a while? Absolutely not. It's my duty as the "Nomad of Land Fisherman" to continue on my quest, no matter how demoralizing it may be.

Do you have a hobby you enjoy, but are rather terrible at?

Man On The Can

The Importance of Relating to Your Audience

2009-05-30T17:22:00.000-07:00

Now that I've posted a few of these blogs I've been thinking that I want people to read what I write and find some kind of connection to their own lives. I want adults to read this and say, "He sounds like my kid" or "I remember when I felt like that" or even, "What an odd fellow." All that's cool with me. I hope people my age read my stuff and feel like they are getting to know me and can relate to some of my experiences. And I'd like to think that everyone who stumbles upon my page at least gets a chuckle out of it every now and again. For those of you who have missed the point of this blog, and can't wrap your heads around it, I'm sure you will find your niche elsewhere. Here is an anecdote for all you manly men out there.

Itsy Bitsy Spider:

I am new to life in New Hampshire, and I am not what one would call "outdoorsy" by any means. I know I talk a lot about fishing, and getting lost on the lake, but that's about the extent of my outdoors experience. I've been camping as a kid only a limited number of times, and I hated it. I know, I know, that must make me "soft" and not a "manly man", but it's me. I'm dainty. Because of this, I have developed not a fear, but a very cautious/uneasy feeling towards insects. OK, it's a fear. Anything small, creepy and crawling around freaks me out. Especially if they're in my bedroom. ( I'm also afraid of heights and fire, anything hot really, I'm like a caveman) That's where this horrifying experience took place.

About a week ago I was laying in bed, dreaming about having my own radio show, or maybe I was deep sea fishing, well whatever the dream was, it was interrupted by a small (about the size of your pinky nail) little spider, which fell down onto my face. It propelled itself down there from the ceiling like a climber repelling down the face of a mountain, right onto my forehead. Just thinking about it now freaks me out. And without wasting any time, I ran to the door, tripped over my hamper, got up and turned on the light. At this point I was delirious because it was the middle of the night and I was sweating because an intruder had entered my place of rest. I ripped the sheets off my bed and searched for the tarantula so I could dispose of it, but he was gone, disappeared into the cracks. After that I did what any twenty-four year old would do, I grabbed my pillows and my glass of water and made my way into the room down the hall. I woke up the next morning in an unfamiliar bed, still shaking with fear about what had transpired in the night. And why don't spiders sleep at night too? I don't want to have to set up mosquito netting.

Judge me if you must,

Man On The Can

Waiting in the shower

2009-05-29T19:19:00.001-07:00

Something occurred to me while taking a shower just moments ago. I have these mini epiphanies several times a day and this was just another one of those. So bear with me.

When I stand up tall in the shower, the curtain only covers me to about the top of my chest. If you were to see that scene in a movie, you would laugh, because it looks like a giant in a tiny shower. The reason for that beautifully painted picture is this, when I'm in the shower I usually look at my phone which sits on the counter top. (My phone goes everywhere I go) I find myself looking at my little mobile device, waiting for the red light to blink which means I have a text message, or the awesome be all to end all , A PHONE CALL. More often than not, it's just a text. I don't know if you are all as pathetic as I am, but nothing is better than seeing that little light go off, or hearing that beep or if you're really advanced, a song clip. And it occurred to me that I do this all the time, not just in the shower. (And not to sound like Dr. Phil, or some kind of authority on the inner workings of us young people) But I started to think to myself, why am I always waiting? I'm constantly waiting around for some kind of conversation, no matter how asinine, on the computer, on the phone..... Maybe I just crave human conversation, or maybe I'm bored, who knows. And as I stood there thinking about what can only be some kind of insecurity, soap made its way into my eyes and the shower mat slipped from under me and I fell on my butt.

"Ow, what the....!" The rant of expletives lasted only a short moment. And there I sat, in my tiny shower/bathtub for toddlers and started to laugh at myself and the ridiculous position I was in, literally. My epiphany turned out not to be about why I'm constantly waiting around for a little red light to go off, but instead that I should make sure all the little suction things on the bottom of the shower mat are stuck down before I get in there. I think I bruised my tail bone.

Stick around,

Man On The Can

Landing that first job

2009-05-29T06:38:00.000-07:00

At the risk of sounding like a rant, I have to express some feelings. Something is bugging me, and it's the word, connections. My professors at school, as well as my parents have told me time and time again that the key to landing a job is using all of your connections. "It's who you know" they tell me. It's friends of the family; dad's buddy from college, people you meet throughout experiences, internships, etc. They tell me to exhaust every possibility, because that is the key to finding a job. But what happens when you do this, you make the calls, you send the emails and you get nothing back in return? You end up feeling like this sort of, "job hunting stalker". I know if it were me I would be on the fence between setting up an interview with a kid and getting a restraining order out.

How important is it to land that first job? I need experience in my field. As much as I want to be a success in whatever I end up doing, I realize that I need to get that first job, somewhere, doing something, to pad the resume, have people on hand that I know will be good references. But how I am supposed to know what that first job should be?!

I want to break in to the entertainment industry, but my only real work experience is in radio. While I would love to gain some experience in film or television, I need to work with what I know. I spent last summer interning at a small AM radio station in New Hampshire. I got the chance to do a little bit of everything at this station. I was a reporter, a writer, an editor, and even on-air talent. There's just one thing, I didn't get along with the owner of the radio station. My motto was and still is, to "work smarter, not harder". When someone from an older generation asks you to do something for them, as a a person from the Internet generation, the action I believe to take is to find the most time efficient, economic way to do it. This did not fly with my previous employer. I'll put it to you this way. Instead of sending out emails, he would send faxes. When another employee tried to make the move for the station to "to green", he was offended, as if saving paper would ruin the "vintage feel" and integrity of his extremely small radio station which he had absolutely no idea how to run. I'm not saying I could run a radio station, but I could certainly be better with people, support my staff and make it a fun, productive working environment. I also have to realize that when working anywhere, I have to be understanding that my way of doing things, task, no matter how small, needs to be done in the manner in which the boss man would like it done. I have to learn at times to swallow my pride and be a team player. This was a learning experience to say the least.

Back to my main point though. What are we supposed to do as recent college graduates? How many of us have landed jobs right out of school vs. just landing a summer job? We are spouted pessimistic views of the job market and the economy by the same parents and professors who are supposed to be motivating us to get out there and be determined to find a job. Well not me! I'm willing to have a restraining order out against me. I look at this beginning process just like I look at fishing. I know there's a big bass sitting under my dock, and while he is illusive and hasn't taken my bait yet, if I dangle my lure in front of his face long enough, he'll bite. I'm optimistic about that.

Not to sound like a cheesy positive affirmation, but I think if you use whatever talents you have, and let them shine, someone is bound to notice and will want you to work for them and be a part of their team. I need to figure out a way to show a prospective employer that I will be a good addition to their company, and that my specific set of skills are unmatched, unchallenged, and better than that of the nervous graduate next in line for an interview. Shouldn't be too hard right? Let's hope not.

Stick Around,

Man On The Can

A short one before I hit the sheets

2009-05-28T18:56:00.000-07:00

I'm tired. I'm hungry, and my body hurts. Forty pounds seems like a lofty, far, far off goal. But that's not what I want to talk about tonight. I don't have the energy. I just want to thank all of you who have read my first two blogs. I know they were a little dry, but I don't want to give everything away on the first day. I have SO much to say and this seems like the perfect forum for it. Soon enough you will know all about my future aspirations, what I'm passionate about, and also what I'm fearful of, which is more than you might have imagined.

(Thanks to my loving parents who have yet to kick me out of the house) I'm currently laying in my big comfortable bed , watching Nick at Night, specifically, George Lopez. "Whhhhhaaaaaatcha!" I can't get to sleep without some Lopez in me. (That sound bad?) As my mother would say, "What's better than mindless television?" Although I think her shows range from "The Housewives of New Jersey" to "Flavor of.....", whatever the flavor of the month is. She has definitely rubbed off on me, and I'm OK with that.

I hope you all have a great night, and I'll speak to you tomorrow.

Yours Truly,

Man On The Can

Getting in shape to get a job?

2009-05-28T10:28:00.000-07:00

I know I'm not the only one who has ever gained weight at college. For me, the freshman fifteen was no problem because I was on an athletic team. But once that ended, the weight just piled on. You ever see a pro athlete a few years after he's retired? Just look at Charles Barkley, or any NFL lineman, not that they were svelte to begin with.

Years later, all done with school, I've decided to do something about it. I have about forty pounds to lose. Yikes! I'm watching what I eat, and I've even started exercising. Instead of fishing in the rain today, I went for a walk/jog/I'm out of breath and need to stop. It was sad. While it was only about a mile jaunt, it was harder than I thought it would be. Hey, I need to start somewhere. Then I did some sit-ups and push-ups. My dog Bear watched me with confusion because he had never seen me do anything like that before. He was just as perplexed as I was. "I know Bear, it looks strange, but I gotta lose the gut so I can buy some new clothes". I don't think he gets me.

There are two reasons why I need to lose weight. The first is obvious, for health reasons. The second, is because statistically I have a better chance of getting hired if I am an in shape young lad, vs. a fat, haggard looking frat boy. While this may sound troubling to some, the business world truly is just that shallow. Which is fine with me, I just need to get with the program.

Patience is not my virtue. If anyone has ever tried to lose weight, you know that the hardest part about it is the realization that it's all not going to come off overnight. It takes time, stickdoitiveness, and what I call, the "passups". I have to pass up dessert, candy, all the carbs, and mayo and processed food, fast food. All the stuff that college kids live for, like that late night binge of wings and pizza. Beer! No more beer. That's what killed me in college. Beer, a.k.a liquid bread, did not help my physique.

I'm a little light headed from my marathon so I'm going to take a shower and lie down.

Man On the Can

Hi, I'm Jed.

2009-05-28T07:21:00.000-07:00

This is a very, very broad overview of who I am and what I'm about. I hope you stick around, because it's only going to get better from here.

I graduated from Curry College in Milton, Mass. on May 17th, 2009. I graduated Cum Laude (if you know me at all, you know how amazing a feat that is), with a B.A. in Communication.

Some people are thrilled when they've finally finished school. Four years is long enough to be in college, away from one's family and friends, far from home, dealing with problems you'd never foreseen while living with mom and dad. Problems like time management, crazy amounts of "peer pressure," and making daily choices that would determine whether you will succeed or fail at school. I've been a college student for 6 years - in and out of universities from upstate New York to CT to Mass. since 2003. I relocated after graduation to Wolfeboro, NH where I used to spend my summers. We have a house on Lake Winnipesaukee, which acts as my home base while I am actively looking for a job. OK, that's not entirely true - I do a lot of fishing, like, A LOT of fishing. I'm on the lake rain or shine trying to snag a big fish. The kicker is, I'm terrible at it, but it's an addiction! When I'm bored, I go fishing, when my mom's being a little too overbearing, I go fishing, when I should be making calls and writing emails to prospective employers.......yup, I grab my poles and hit the water. It's like the ultimate form of procrastination because I can get lost out there for hours, often without catching a thing. I don't know where it all started or why I'm such an avid angler. It might be because that's all there is for me at the moment. I forgot to mention earlier that I am a former athlete. I played basketball for most of my life, even in college, well, at my first college. That party ended after my second back surgery. By age 21 I just couldn't do it anymore. Rehab was too hard, and it was easier just to give up on athletics - and school for that matter - and just....find something else. So, I drank and I womanized and I put the ball and the weights down, packed on a few pounds and became a sloth (a hedonistic sloth), for a couple years. Turned out not to be the right choice. There is a big chunk of time missing in this blog from when I put away the sneaks to when I graduated from school in '09 to be a fisherman. But that's a story for another day. I guess what I'm really doing is trying to find that competitive edge again. Although fishing might not seem like the most action packed, intense sport to some of you, I suggest you tune in to the Bass Masters competitions and or watch Charlie Moore do his thing. The Mad Fisherman taught me that fishing and an insane personality go hand in hand.

So, that's where I'm at. It took me a long time to graduate. I had my ups and downs, put on the some weight, but I did it. I survived. Right now I'm looking out the bathroom window and I can see that the lake is calm. It's drizzling, and that can only mean one thing; the fish are biting! Well, at least they're out there. They probably won't bite for me. So, I'll look for a job tomorrow. But for now, I'm hittin' the water.

More to come,

Man On The Can