Four days off.
That’s like 5 years in internet time, isn’t it?
What a great time it was, though. The whole time we were together, Anne and I kept commenting on how we couldn’t remember the last time we did anything “just the two of us.” After some discussion, we figured out that the last time we spent any time together alone, it was over our anniversary, back in November.
It was really awesome, and a very much needed diversion from “real life.” I turned the computer off on Friday morning, and it stayed off until about 30 minutes ago. And I have to tell you, I am surprised to say that turning it back on was not an easy thing to do…mostly because my poor computer is really on it’s last legs, and it’s painful to watch the poor old girl start up… 🙂
Today is a school holiday for the kids, and I was planning on staying home, and hanging out with them, and working longer days tomorrow and Wednesday…but I have two, count ’em, two auditions tomorrow, and I won’t be able to go into work, so I spent a half day there, finishing up some re-writes that are due in two days.
I really love my job, and I really like the people I work with. I realized as I was driving home today how lucky that makes me. I know so many people who just hate their jobs, and dread going to work, and I am not amongst their number. Sure, it helps that we all play lots of games, but the creative freedom I have on my show, and the visceral excitement I feel when I watch an edit of one of our shows is what really makes the hellish commute worth it.
You know, now that I think about it, there is really a lot in my life that I love: my job, my wife, my step-kids, my dog, my friends and family…
I had an email a few months ago from a WWDN reader who mentioned to me that his Thai Chi master has him write down 7 things each day that he is thankful for. I think that’s a simply brilliant idea, and everyone should do it.
I’ll go first. Today, I am thankful for:
- Waking up to my wife’s smile.
- The traffic-free drive to work, because today is a holiday.
- The cool, crisp, ocean breeze that blew across my face when I got out of my car at work.
- Ryan’s unbridled enthusiasm as he shows me that he can ollie nearly 12 vertical inches on his skateboard.
- The sunset this evening, turning to gold the leafless branches of the trees in my neighborhood, as they reach towards a cloudy, indigo sky.
- Nolan coming to me, when I got home from work, and following me around the house, telling me all about his weekend that he spent with his dad.
- Finding my “This American Life” CD, which I had thought I’d lost.
That’s all I have for now. I’m off to prepare my auditions.
Thought for today:
If you are able, help others. If not, at least refrain from hurting them.
7:48 PM PST: I want to add something to my list…
8. Nolan serenading Anne and me during our dinner.
Now, I will explain: Earlier tonight, both kids went to play at their friend’s houses. As dinner time drew closer, we got a phone call from Ryan, asking if he could stay at his friend’s for dinner, followed almost immediately by a similar call from Nolan. So Anne and I prepared for a romantic, candle-lit dinner for 2, while the boys were off with their friends.
I raced up to the market, and picked up this yummy stuffed chicken breast, and a wonderful bottle of Bordeaux. Trouble was, the chicken took almost an hour to cook, and by the time we were sitting down to eat, both kids had come home.
Nolan walked into the dining room, assessed the situation, and announced that he would be right back. He returned with his saxaphone, and proclaimed that he would play all his songs for us while we ate dinner.
So Anne and I ate our romantic dinner for two, while Nolan played “Hot Cross Buns”, “The French Song”, “The German Waltz”, “Yankee Doodle”, and the ever-popular “Oats Peas Beans.” It was the one of the coolest things I have ever seen him do.
If I wasn’t such a badass, it may have brought tears to my eyes.
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Glad you’re weekend was nice, Wil!!
Ahem…. *clears throat*
Seven Things I’m Thankful For
1. My mom surviving a heart attack in October and double bypass surgery in December, all at the age of 47.
2. The rest of my family.
3. The Daytona 500 — 200 laps of adrenaline!!
4. My dumbass, dorky cat who can manage to entertainhimself with my hair, his tail, and his hammock.
5. My friends.
6. The Sermon on the Mount
7. Music — of any type.
isn’t it great when the kids are at the point of being able to do those nice things for parents like letting them enjoy a dinner without you having to get up every five secs to get them more of whatever- that’s so cool-
I can’t wait til my kids are a bit older- they’er just barely getting to be fun. The nine year old tries to help but then the two year old comes out and throws a fit and then i am thankful I got my tubes tide- But I love them really I do-
Seven things I am thankful for…. You know I am sitting here and I just realized something.
I am so caught up in what is wrong in this world. My problems (very much plural) that I don’t even know how to answer this question. When I try to think of 7 things, heck 1 thing, it is overshadowed by the bad.
Well that sucked… sorry bout that first post.
1. Getting my Mutant Ovender (’79 Fender Musicmaster bass neck meets an Ovation Viper with 3 coils) back from the shop and having the owner gush about it and offer $250 to buy it
2. My new 2002 Hyundai Accent, “Shinigami” who took me through a snowstorm without even slipping once!
3. My three loving happy dogs, Pepper, Kahulua, and Heidi who jump atleast three times their height whenever I come in the door
4. Having this page to come to every day
5. My awesome funny ecentric family
6. The music of Soulcracker and the way it makes me feel
7. My mom.. because she choose to adopt me and love me like I was trully hers and has never regretted it- ever
so basically you did cry? you big mommas boy 😛
where do you work Wil?
First off, congrats, John!
Seven years dry — today!
John McGregor
Now… what I’m thankful for today:
1. I am getting a Masters Degree in something I love to do!
2. I got to see the sunset today – there was a hazy cloud at the horizon that made it all BRIGHT fuscia and purple…wow!
3. I didn’t hurt myself when I tripped over something in the parking lot and landed really hard on my wrists…
4. The computer tech guy fixed my stone age machine at work! (Well… sort of…)
5. My kendo club was invited to do a demonstration for a group of at-risk kids
6. My colleague’s research project is finally on the data analysis stage
7. My red betta is STILL ALIVE after having jumped out of the tank, landing in a potted plant and getting coated in potting soil, and getting stuck to the desk for what must have been at least 45 minutes before I found him!
1. My 5 kids (3 bio, 2 steps) for making every waking moment an adventure.
2. My 5 kids for allowing me to relive the joys of childhood.
3. My 5 kids, my immortality.
4. Okay, I know I have other thankful things aside from my kids. My husband, for always allowing me to be me (with only the occasional comment about insanity).
5. My quick mind and quicker wit. Now I just need to add wisdom in there and I’ll be all set.
6. Even though it was horribly cold today there was still bright sunlight and fresh air.
7. My friends and family, who listened patiently to me all evening while I did Olympic play by plays.
I’m glad I saw this at the end of my day. It’s hard to remember to be thankful in the midst of insanity, though perhaps that’s when I need it the most.
1. Shit
2. Piss
er, wait…wrong 7 things (damned Carlin). I’ll have to get back to you
Nolan gets my vote for:
coolest…kid…EVER!
7 things I am thankful for today:
1. Taking my husband to see George Carlin live and having him love it.
2. The “take-over his whole face” grin of my two-year-old godson.
3. That I live in Canada.
4. That I have friends who actually think it’s a cool idea to have a “Jackie Chan Movie Party” this weekend.
5. My husband being a cunning linguist. ; )
6. My amazingly wonderful and unconditonally loving Grandma.
7. Cats, just cats, I love cats.
p.s Wil good luck with the auditons tomorrow.
What 7 reason do I have? I don’t have a wife or kids because I never met right the right 1 and I like being alone. Everybody in my family has health problems and my job makes my legs hurt, but I do have 7 to give you.
1.) I’m blessed I do got a family to whine to, but, in return, I gotta listen to them.
2.) I do have a job right now.
3.) I got a place to come home to.
4.) I can put in a tape and watch a movie or a favorite TV show.
5.) I can play whatever music I like.
6.) I live in a country where I can write to my local Congressman. As a matter of fact, I got a phone message from his DC office that I got to reply to. It’s over a local project I’m planning. Honest.
7.) I can actually go on-line and whine to my favorite actor in my favorite TV show. Whether or not he reads it is another story.
I know I would roll my eyes upward over this, if I was him, but call all of this the couch potato reasons to be blessed. 😉
hmmm…
i suppose i shall be number 60 as well?
sure thing there
so i guess ill give my list of thanks:
1. my mom, who is absolutely amazing! and just as crazy as me! you KNOW that i wasnt switched at birth!
2. my best friend (i almost wrote fiend) nicole
3. my love of and talent for music
4. carrots
5. my future husband…he knows who he is…and it’ll happen..oh it will…
6. johanne brahms, coz that guy was amazing
7. joanne rowling, coz without her, i would not have my obsession of harry potter, and that is such a commanding thing in my life
so thats all folks!
colleen~
That saxophone serenading is absolutely the cutest story I have ever heard. You are truly blessed.
Hey Wil, did you know that marinated or “specially prepared” meats such as steaks and poultry are usually available as such because they are starting to get old and the butcher wants to move them fast so they don’t have to trash them?
my seven for the day:
1. jimmy eat world
2. jane’s addiction
3. catherine wheel
4. the foos
5. john cusak movies
6. 120 minutes
7. snow
Eden:
Ewww.
Thanks for sharing 🙂
Your step-kids seem to be really nice! Make sure you properly appreciate them!!! Because 99% percents kids aren’t like that (here’s one).
Well, here are my seven reasons for happiness:
1. I’m going to Geneva on Sunday…
2. …and will work there with a local professor..
3. … who invited me himself…
4. … because he was interested in my previous work…
5. … and I will see there some colleagues of mine…
6. … and will meet there people who I want to meet…
7. … and luckily will get to hike all around the place!!!
Oh man, no way could I JUST list seven things… Life be good for da wabbit! 🙂
Eden,
Nice. Ranks right up there with Cheese Hints and Meat Hints. Available at your local deli counter!!
Hey Wil, I didn’t miss you! haha…only because I didn’t have access to a computer all weekend. If I would have known you hadn’t been posting then I would have missed you DREADFULLY!
ok, so here’s my seven things
1: My supportive family
2: My WONDERFUL, loving boyfriend
3: Drill for the NG (gives me something to do one weekend a month at least!)
4: The Church I go to
5: My fun funny cute kitty
6: My best friend G
7: My job at Taco Bell…hey, it’s money!
So anyway, BREAK A LEG at your auditions Wil. Love ya loads kid!
~J~
Your son should cut a demo, Wil, and maybe he could be the Debbie Gibson of jazz, with millions of screaming fans — jus’ like you.
Lists, lists , everybody has a list. So, in honor of Presidents Day……
Fun Presidential pets
1. George Washington. One of his dogs was named Sweetlips. Another, Drunkard.
2. William Taft had Pauline Wayne, the last cow at the White House.
3 Zachary Taylor and the Mrs. had a short lived canary called Johnny Ty who died shortly after they tried to pair him with a mate, only to discover it too was male.
4. Andrew Johnson It is known that President Johnson left flour out at night for a family of mice playing in his room during his dark days of impeachment.
5 Woodrow Wilson had Old Ike, a tobacco chewing ram.
6 John Quincy Adams had an alligator given to him by the Marquis de Lafayette, and the Mrs. kept silkworms.
7 Dubya. A Longhorn named Ofelia. In residence at his ranch in Texas, not the White House.
I wonder where John Q kept that alligator…?
I have nothing to be thankful for, so there won’t be a list here.
Just a “good luck tomorrow Wil, break a leg.”
7) The fact that I have a parallel “other” who just happens to live on the West Coast and pretends to be an actor, when, in fact, he is a writer.
6) A wife who tolerates me beyond acceptable norms.
5) A wife who tolerates anything to do with 0’s and 1’s.
4) The “process” of friendship.
3) Karma, baby. Freaking Karma.
2) Stupid, stupid jokes and bad humor and all who support it.
1) Cheese. Duh.
Those aren’t in order, btw. Wife stuff always goes first.
Cheese, of course, is a close second, and Fowler would never make the list because he’s like number 9 or something.
Wil, you are amazing You remind people that you are as regular as everyone else and people who “famous” are just as normal and thankful for life as much as the average joe or jane. You think people wopuld have learned that after 9/11/01 but people aer starting to forget it.
1. my family and friends
2. The animal part of my family
3. my health
4. my home & hometown
5. my job
6. my education
7. having the opportunity to help others
I find it’s difficult to compress everything I’m thankful for into a list of 7, this is the best I could do.
I got a kick out of the thought for the day…
I help others BY hurting them.
I work in a clinical laboratory as a Med Tech and sometimes have to stick a needle in peoples arm to draw blood. “SLIGHT POKE NOW” Har Har. Hey there’s a shortage of qualified people in the health care field. We need more people!! if you don’t have a career yet, check out the Med Tech section of my dorky, waste of space, monstrosity of a web site otherwise the future holds scary high school graduates and people getting their certificates through some at home Sally Struthers T.V. commerical.
1. My job
2. My family that I actually get along with
3. My dumb and naughty cats
4. My Playstation
5. Who ever invented movies
6. My identical twin sister who’s just as big a dork as me…go figure
7. Friends who are genuine
TWO DOLLARS!!!!
I WANT MY TWO DOLLARS!!
um Wil…
if you haven’t been online since friday morning, how the hell could you answer a question made by my alter-ego at 2:20 saturday afternoon?
just thought i’d call you on it.
ayngil: Technicality. Got online for a bit, while Anne was at work. Didn’t get online from home.
Clintonian hair-splitting, but, hey, at least I’m honest.
And you’re caught. :p
yeah, i am, but i didn’t feel like playing anymore.
i got you to talk to me. :p
“Slick (uncle) Willy”
tsk tsk tsk
*snicker*
Ah heck, I can sure jump on this bandwagon! 🙂
In no particular order I am thankful for:
1) The fact that my dad hasn’t called in at least 2 days. (if you knew my dad, you’d understand why this is so)
2) My wonderful husband who puts up w/ my crazy family and who makes me laugh.
3) Being able to get four pocket zip discs at about half price.
4) My kitties.
5) Having a sister who is not just my family, but my friend.
6) My cosmic twin who understands my weirdness.
7) My best friend who puts up with my strange way of explaining life’s events w. movie analogies.
8) Always having enough to eat when there a lot of people who don’t.
9) Being able to order the Anthony Stewart Head CD. (Im obsessed, what can I say?)
10) The internet because I found my husband thru it and it has helped me realize that even people that I consider famous and cool get nervous about job interviews – just like regular folk.
OK, I went over 7 – hope that’s ok – I never could color in the lines. 😉
So Anne and I ate our romantic dinner for two, while Nolan played “Hot Cross Buns”, “The French Song”, “The German Waltz”, “Yankee Doodle”, and the ever-popular “Oats Peas Beans.”
AAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHA! OMG, please tell me you got it on tape! =) I love it.
I’ll forgo the list, just to say that I couldn’t fit into seven lines the things I’m happy about at the moment.Uni, Work, Family, Friends they’re all good at the moment, and I plan to keep them that way.
BUT:
One thing I am also happy about:
MY BINARY BLANKET!
(yeah, I’ve got one, Chris!)
It’s the coolest thing I have, I think, as I’m not one to place a lot of value on “things”, but this binary blanket from thinkgeek.com is one of the coolest presents anyone has gotten me.
That and my “No, I will not fix your computer” T-shirt … heh heh heh
Okay, am I the only one who recognizes the NBC Olympic music that they play as being the intro music to “Brisco County, Jr.”?
I must be… But, I’M RIGHT!
The Cheese Knows Music!
Well, The Cheese is convinced Fowler knows everything and hates him for his Dennis Miller-esque commentary.
So, anyway, Bruce Campbell is in the ‘Lympics.
Wil Wheaton’s auditioning for 2 movies as an Olympian, and I wish him the best of luck.
In one, he’ll star as a runner, which will require a lot of working out with a personal trainer, so I know he hopes he gets it.
It’s been so long since the teen-days of posing shirtless. Oh, Teen HeartThrob…where for art thou?
In the other, he’s the coach of a bobsleigh team…he’s somewhat washed-up due to his cheating 16 years earlier in the…
No, wait, that’s Cool Runnings, with John Candy.
In this other one, I’m not allowed to discuss the role, but let’s just say this:
Nude sex scene.
Apparently, if he gets the part, he’s going to have to go under the laser for tattoo-removal.
Ouch.
I just saw “First Duty” on TNN. That was a good one Wil, very good performance. The Ready Room scene when Picard confronts Wesley was great. Only thing that doesn’t withstand the test of time.. the “step” haircut. I had the same haircut myself as a kid at that age, but nowadays it is a little goofy to see. How negative I get though.. good episode! Here’s to First Duty and the step haircut!
K, things I’m thankful for
1) my ever loving husband who I can watch bad-ass B, C and D class sci-fi movies with and obsess with new technology
2) my family
3) my bestest ever friend who ain’t these days – she’s more honorary family
4) people who have a dry, ironic/sarcastic sense of humour, cos we talk the same language
5) a new house to move into when it’s built, all brand spanking new!
6) a beautiful country to live in. Go Aussies!
7) my two cats, one of which likes to stare at me in the middle of the night until I wake up and then freak when I see 2 black eyes 10cm from my face!
8) gorgeous summer weather
9) beaches, mountains and countryside all within easy driving distance
10) my grandma, and my great-aunty, both women who really understand me and provide me with plenty of gossip-fodder!
OOps, I went over – 5 bonus points
—-
I hope you lucky bastards are enjoying watching the olympics! We’re only getting 1.5hrs per night, not even worth watching with the amount of ad breaks
Note to self – use preview button!
Note to Wil – you have the funniest kids 🙂 Good luck with the auditions. Laser tatoo removal! OUCH!! 😉
#9 with a bullet.
I luv Google. Google smart. Fred type. Google fetch.
Ozzy takes “Oats Peas Beans” for a ride on his crazy train and discovers the theme song for his new MTV reality show.
The original Olympics were done in the nude. Go ancient. A lonely shepard with dreams of glory. And sheep.
While it doesn’t surprise me now that I think about it, I am utterly shocked and amazed to find someone else who listens to This American Life.
Awesome.
Heh, Ghost, I ordered my “No I Will Not Fix Your Computer” baby tee weeks ago and it was on backorder. Bah!
I think I’ll have to go for that Binary Blanket next, but considering my location, I’ll wait.
Courtney’s Seven Things, in no particular order:
* Living in Hawaii
* A patient, sweet and loving fianc
Hey Courtney – if you don’t mind me asking – where in Hawaii are you? I grew up on the Big Island and always love it when I find someone I can “talk story” with. 🙂
The whole Nolan-serenading-the-happy-couple thing makes me wish I had had more self-esteem at that age, and that my parents were actually living together then.
No order here, because I’d worry about that too much.
– Queen
– The opportunity to go to a really nice college with a lot of really nice people
– The senses of sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell all working fairly well
– A fairly decent family, despite how much they really make me want to take a giant block of parmasan cheese and bludgeon them to death with it
– Sweets
– Love
– Really rad people
Add to this something we all ought to be grateful for – Sam Raimi – and you’re set.
Well, him, and the set of circumstances which brought about our miserable existence on this thin shell of habitable land on this unimpressive little dust speck called Earth.
But that’s hardly worth mentioning.
Just to keep the ball rolling here my 7 are as follows.
1) My family, especially my father who is my hero.
2) The fact that my girlfriend has finally agreed to move in with me! (Dances the happy dance)
3) The fact that I got a job straight out of University and it lets me pay the bills.
4) My friends. Definitely my friends!
5) Lucking out in the lottery that is birth and arriving in a loving family in an industrialised part of the world where I don’t have to worry about hunger or people shooting at me.
6) http://www.wilwheaton.net (Aren’t I a creep?)
7) The fact that I am able to make my girlfriend smile at least once a day.
1. A great family
2. having the opportunity to do something that I love more than anything else in the world for the rest of my life and get paid for it.
3. A fabulous roommate, who is not only a great decorator but puts up with my oddities and even loves me for them and forgives me when I forget to do my dishes and fall asleep in front of the TV.
4. Old friends who eventually come back. Always hoped they would…
5. The patter of rain in the alley outside my window. Nothing better to fall asleep to.
6. Chipotle burritos
7. Being surrounded by people who can always make me laugh.
From looking at the side bar on the PS2 games..I haven’t yet heard of State of Emergency..but then again I’m waaay the hell up here in Seattle. But, the ones that I have played and ACTUALLY beat are Devil May Cry & Silent Hill 2..my 2 faves =D
Thank you & have a nice day..