DOUG ON THE GO » Life

Mission Accomplished in 48 Hours

admin — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 12:15:05 +0000

Some of the cast and crew - Julie, Tiffany, Dawn, Moonpie and Toni

Well it's complete! The 48 hour film project wrapped up last night and the film was turned in just three minutes before the deadline (7:27 pm).

This is how our weekend broke down:

Friday evening after getting off of work we headed to the Embassy Suites which doubled as our 'war room.' Everyone threw some concepts around and than left it into the hands of the screen writer which took us well into the morning.

Saturday morning the call time was at 8:30 AM at the 'Carling' building downtown. The Carling has some interesting history behind it, built in 1926 as the Roosevelt hotel, caught fire and left abandoned for years -- recently renovated to become apartments. That place is rich in history. I suggest googling it, you may learn something.

After our shoot was complete at the Carling, we went to lunch, then off to our next location. We shot in the Riverside area of Jacksonville which is a quaint side of town, historic and artsy. We had to wind up cutting one of the scenes out of our movie so afternoon production went by quicker than I imagined it would and it was good with 99 degree weather. We finally wrapped up at 5:00 pm and went on break. The actors were amazing and were flawless and a big thanks to them.

The next part is where the chaos began. Post production. Since you only have 48 to complete everything, our time was dwindling down big time. I spent a good six hours in the editing suite trying to piece together the movie only to realize we were show a minute and seventeen seconds. Not a problem, we went around and shot some B roll of Jacksonville, the streets of Riverside and woods.

I am in the process of putting up some out takes of our movie.

Will I do the film festival next year? Hell Yes!

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Oink Oink Oink

admin — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 10:15:33 +0000

Holy shit! Those were the first two words that came out of my mouth when I stepped on the scale last night at the supermarket. I weighed in at 208 lbs. Not a big fan of scales, I avoid the scales and with reason, for some reason I sub-conscientiously think I am always huge and I know deep down I'm not. There was a point in my life when i was 235 lbs so I have to steer away from those size 38 jeans again. Just thinking about 2004 and that weight makes me shake my head in disgust.

So, from this point forward I am going jump back on the healthy train. From this point on I will just drink water with my meals, eat less fast food, more home cooked meals and watch my eating times. Most importantly, be responsible with my eating habits.

How am I going to do this?

Run more

More water

Skip the sweets

Quit eating so fast

Eat smaller, more frequently

More fruits and vegetables

Eat at least three hours before bed time

So those are my goals and I am starting them this morning. There is no way I can keep eating like a pig. I have to save that for when I go on cruises and travels!

Do you have an effective way to lose weight?

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Oink Oink Oink

First Hand Look at Gulf Coast

admin — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 10:22:35 +0000

So after our interview with Ashley with Visit Pensacola we went out to a little beach 20 miles west of Pensacola Beach, called Pedido Key. The took us about 30 minutes to get there. The way the crow flies, the route would be a lot quicker but because of the geographical outlaw, we had to do a lot of back tracking on the roads to get there.

We arrived at the public beach access point that reminded me a lot of Vilano Beach in Florida. We packed up our camera and our video camera and started to the beach. A long catwalk divided us between the road and the beach. When we stepped off the catwalk and hopped down on the sand there was a station set up where folks were cleaning the beach and putting the bags full of garbage.

At the time of writing this Pensacola Beach isn't seeing the worst of it surely its not far off. Pensacola Beach was packed with people when we headed off to Pedido Key. Pedido Key was a ghost town. One couple was on the beach and the team of folks trying to do recovery.

The shoreline was unbelievable. Saying that there was tar balls on the beach would be an understatement. The whole coast line was pelted with tar balls. What made me sick was the seaweed which seemed to attract the tar and oil the most was covered. A big ball of seaweed was now a ball of oil. I only saw one dead fish on the coast and who am I to say that it came from the oil.. it could have died of natural causes.

We shot some video on the shore of Pedido Key to illustrate how bad it really is........

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First Hand Look at Gulf Coast

Friday Funday

admin — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 10:21:31 +0000

We all look forward to Friday, you'd be lying if you said you didn't. I had a mocking bird outside my window all night and it wouldnt shut up. I'm glad I dont have a BB gun, I would revert back to my childhood years.... so thanks for making me have another sleepless night.

This weekend is another busy weekend. After work today we embark on another journey. We are doing this weeks Cruise Radio show on the beaches of Pensacola, Florida.

If you don't know or have been living under a rock, the oil spill has beaches on the gulf coast a mess right now. We are going to be broadcasting from the beaches, talking to some local business owners, residents and fisherman to get their take on it all and to see how the clean up process is going. It would suck to have your lively hood taken from you like that. With more than two million gallons a day pouring into our ocean, something has to give.

courtesy of the Pensacola Beach blog

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Friday Funday

Four Hours in Baltimore

admin — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 11:40:34 +0000

I called this entry "4 Hours in Baltimore" because I was stuck in Baltimore, Maryland yesterday morning for four hours. At first I wasn't looking forward to being stuck there then I realized the airport isn't that far from the inner harbor. So we landed in Baltimore about 7:30 AM and my flight didn't leave til 11:30 AM so that gave me a couple of hours to play with.

Exiting the concourse, I followed the signs to the public transportation and it was there I found the light rail. The light rail is a train system that runs through Baltimore, I guess you could call it a subway on top of the ground. Very inexpensive and easy to use too. Round trip ticket to the harbor and back was $2.60 and was purchased through and automated machine.

The trains run about every 20 minute and the ride to Baltimore's Inner Harbor was 30 minutes. Luckily when I purchased my ticket there was a train waiting.

When you get off on the Convention Center stop on the light rail you'll walk about 10 minutes and pretty much dead end into the harbor. Alongside the harbor is awesome. Plenty of dining, local art, cruise ships, tourist attractions and sky scrapers. I checked out some of the historic battle ships and buildings then then headed back to the airport. With this being my first time venturing out on my own, I didn't want to cut it too close.

The commute back to the airport took me 45 minutes. The reason the train ride back took me so long is because I got on the wrong one and had to transfer at another station (totally my fault). I got back to the airport with plenty of time to spare only to find that I left my boarding pass on the plane. So I had to go back to the check in counter and get a board pass reprinted (again, my fault).

Baltimore's Inner Harbor

If you have more than a couple hour layover in Baltimore, taking the light rail into the city is a cheap and affordable way to spend some time out of the airport.

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Life at 23,000 feet

admin — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 22:51:19 +0000

23,000 ft above Indianapolis via iPhone Photography

Looking at the above picture I know you are probably thinking its a really crappy iPhone photo or a pretty cool view from 23,000 feet above of Indianapolis.

Even though the digital devices shouldn't have been on that the time, I had to bend the rules. Oh and in reality, ask any pilot, digital devices don't interfere with airplanes communications devices, they are for safety... so if the plane ever does have an emergency you aren't playing with your iPod and not paying attention to the instructions.

Okay, back to the pictures, if you look deeper into that picture that's how you should look at life. Life from that high is a hell of a lot easier to navigate than at ground zero. Having a master plan is one thing but you have to execute it. Saying your going to go back to school, get another job, or be a millionaire doesn't mean jack unless you actually do it.

So every once in a while put yourself at 23,000 feet and look down. Is your life where you want it to be? Is it a wake up call?

Are you doing the right things or doing what you were put on this earth to do...... or just going through the motions of life?

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Life at 23,000 feet

Oh AirTran!

admin — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 10:06:34 +0000

So I know in a previous post I wasnt too nice about AirTran Airways but now that I have a three hour layover in Baltimore Airport I think I have to retract some of those comments.

The flight crew on my flight was amazing and were very attentive.

We will start when I got to the airport. I wasn't about to lug my bag around with me the whole trip so I did pay the $15 to check my bag to Indianapolis. Not a problem and I was happy to pay it.

When I got to my terminal, apparently the flight wasn't full and I was upgraded to business class on my segment ($69 value) for free. Unlimited drinks in business class. Yay!

One thing AirTran does have over Southwest Airlines is the internet aboard every flight. Sure, its $4.95 per segment or $12.95 for a 24 hour pass but totally worth it. Also, there is a promotion code that will save you like 20% on in flight internet, just ask what it is (its been "airtran20" lately).

Speaking of internet, it's kind of funny. I put on my Twitter that I just got upgraded to business class and my friend Meghann replied back that she too was on an AirTran flight from Orlando to Washington, DC. Small world. Meghann and I were talking back and forth on gmail chat for about thirty minutes until we came on final approach and I had to put my netbook up. If you have never checked out Meghann's blog, you can check it out here.

So AirTran, I was wrong what I said and what I talked about you in my earlier post, I had a preconceived notion of your flights and I was wrong. I should know better because I get aggravated about people who talk crap about cruising when they have never been. I have been on AirTran before but it has been years. Clearly people will pay the extra charges. Although I still think its jacked up charging for advanced seat assignments!

Right now I am sitting at a bar in Baltimore airport called Bateman's Bistro, it's nothing to write home. BWI doesn't even have free wireless here (boo!) but they do have seafood! I just ordered a cup of of crab soup and crab sliders... they are famous for crab right? After dinner I am going to scout out the Baltimore Airport and let you know what in the hell there is to do here.

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Oh AirTran!

The H20 Tour

admin — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 10:29:51 +0000

Verizon Wireless Music Center in Noblesville, Indiana

So last night I landed in Indianapolis around 10 pm and by the time I deplaned, got my bags and caught up with Derrick it was about 10:40 or so. We went to a couple of bars down the street from his house and than called it an early night because of the big day.

The H20 tour is in Indy today and it has quite a few country artists on the bill. Brad Paisley, Darius Rucker, Justin Moore, Josh Thompson, Easton Corbin and Steel Magnolia were on the docket. It's neat to see Brad Paisley taking the up and comers on his tour and playing with them too. Brad is known to join his opening acts on stage and play a couple songs on the guitar just for fun.

This was my first time at an outdoor venue up here and it was pretty cool. We did a little tailgating before the concert. All the reviews I read online said that the venue was one road in, one road out and that traffic could be at a stand still for a couple hours during shows. After reading that this morning, we road out to the venue and scouted the area well (for back roads and are plan of attack). Ten minutes later we arrived at the venue and found out what we were going to do and it was pouring rain. Not cool. Fingers were crossed that the rain would stop by show time. Thank God it did.

Fast forward to that afternoon, we got to the venue. To my surprise the parking was free. We tailgated for a bit then went inside the area when the first act started play (4:45 PM). There was a side stage so not everyone played on the main stage. The main stage acts started playing at 7:30 PM and it included Justin Moore, Darius Rucker and Brad Paisley.
Since we got our tickets through the record label there was also a meet and greet to meet Justin Moore (sings "Small Town USA").

Justin Moore and I

We randomly bumped into Josh Thompson (sings "Beer on the Table") when we were heading to one on the bars on the side of the stage.

Josh Thompson and I

Darius Rucker was great. He did a lot of his cover songs from Hootie and the Blowfish and all his newer stuff as well. He played for about 45 minutes. It's funny cause of all the main stream artists in the 90's, Darius was the last person I would have ever expected to cross over to country.

Brad Paisley really brought it too. The effects Brad had on his backdrop and on the stage were amazing. He played for a good hour and a half. I have a little video off Brad playing his guitar in the crowd but Derrick was holding the camera upside down so I have to figure out how to make the video "right side up" with the editing program (my phone died).

If you get a chance to catch the Brad Paisley H20 Tour this year I would definitely catch it. It's worth every penny and being an outdoor event makes it even ten times better. Indoor concerts always seem so restricting.

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Run, Pack and Laugh

admin — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 10:55:10 +0000

Doesn't it always make you feel better when you go for a nice run or a good work out? Sometimes it can really clear your mind and give you a good sweat. After my run yesterday I was drenched with sweat but totally worth it. The good news is when you eat just after you run your adrenaline is still pumping and it helps break down the fatty acids, more so than just eating without exercising.

I try to run three miles every other day, seems like here of lately its only been a couple days per week because my sleep schedule is so jacked up and sometimes I feel lethargic when I get off and just want to grab my blanket and sleep.

Off subject for a moment, I'm watching the news and they are showing birds on the Gulf coast covered with oil... so disturbing. It's a shame the rig blew up in mid April and there's still no stopping the leakage. Tragic.

In under 12 hours I fly to Indianapolis on AirTran and I still haven't packed. When I checked in yesterday I was the first person to check in for both my flights so I got the seats I wanted right off the bat. Advice: Always check into your flight soon as your allowed. The middle seat sucks and that's one place you don't want to be stuck for a few hours. Even though I cant wait to head up to Indy, it's hard to get motivated to pack up. Don't believe me? Check out all the clothes on my bed. Kind of embarrassing! Packing is the only part of a trip that I don't look forward too... or the laundry when I return!

Joan Rivers at Florida Theatre

So I totally forgot yesterday that Joan Rivers was performing at the Florida Theatre. When I got off work yesterday morning I sent Matt a text to ask him if we could get tickets to the show and we did. She was ripping on Jacksonville and how ugly the buildings are, Tom Cruise, all the way to Gary Coleman. I know its a comedy act but some of the material may have been a little bit in bad taste or too soon.

Joan holds nothing back on her stand up routine and I havent laughed that much in months, it was great therapy. She performed for almost two hours. We tried to get in her meet and greet line to meet her after the show but security were being real sticklers about it. So after the show, we waited out by the limo. We were going to see Joan Rivers dammit! People couldnt believe I was going to see Joan Rivers perform but she IS a legend. Shes like 77 -- she wont be around much longer!

Have you ever been to a Joan Rivers performance? It' s a must see!

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Bad Apples

admin — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 16:26:59 +0000

photo courtesy of flickr

Have you ever had a friend you've had a falling out with, that broke trust or just did something that is irreparable and then a couple years later they try walk back into your life? That happens every now and then. I think God takes certain people out of your life for a reason, whether it be to protect you or just to make you realize that there is more to life. Life has a way of purging the bad apples.

I'm not talking about the friends that you keep in touch with randomly. My friend Meghann in NYC or Derrick who lives up in Indianapolis, if I don't talk to them for a while, I can pick up the phone and it will be like we were just talking on the phone yesterday. So that's not what I am talking about.

Sometimes you want to accept the friends that walk back into your life and sometimes you do. Sometimes you ignore their calls or texts. What it boils down to is some people never change and will stick to their ways, if they tell you they change.. rest assure they probably haven't. No matter how much fun you have with them, keep your distance. They were out of your life for a reason the first time. It's not just a stroke of luck that they're gone.

Have you ever had someone you let back into your life only to be disappointed by their actions.... again?

Oh yeah, and be a good friend!

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