After yesterday's experience, the key grip is the rest of the production company's bee-yotch. In addition to everything else going on at the Zoo these days, one of the national talk shows was here filiming a series of segments on animal diets. While the Zoo's p.r. coordinator was wrangling with the local guys, I was part of the talk show crew for the day.

It was kind of cool to be outside and away from my desk, but I'm feeling the effects today. We did five segments at various portions of the Zoo. I had to be a bad guy and shoo some folks away from the giraffe filming, but it was kind of cool to be "working the crowd" as we set up for stuff with the Sea Lions and Tigers. When we were working with the Sea Lions, one got a little too happy to see the food bucket and balanced on the ledge of the pool for a few seconds before being scolded to go back into the water. The Lion jumped up just opposite of this little kid, who's eyes were as big as saucers with delight.

We staged a gorilla photo op for the final segment and I got to admit it was very cool to stand on top of the exhibit with a care package of snacks and playthings only to have a gorilla stand not too far away with a look of "C'mon throw it already" on his face.

In between the fun stuff, I was a roadie. We lugged equipment all over the place. One film crew can bring a lot of crap. The host brought a friend of his. The two of us formed a very efficient crowd control/crew monkey alliance. Host was giving me good natured grief, "only in the not-for-profit world would a marketing manager be a key grip." I told him I was getting a little long on the tooth to be a best boy. It was a hoot, basically spent all day in the sun, at various times running a boom mike for weary audio guy, helping white balance the camera dude and looking smarter than I really am for Zoo guests (don't tell).

Very cool to get "back stage" at a few exhibits. These were places I hadn't been yet. Coolest picture that I hope came out was when the gorillas were looking throught their window into their off limits cage, trying to see what was going on.

Not your average monday.

3rd dates are good. That is all

Damn, what a day, spiritually renewing, sunlight on your face for a lengthy period of time. Practically wanted to smoke when the sun went down, settled for a trip to Dairy Queen with number one son. That was after we traipsed up the marina and into the Naval park, resulting in the following Sunny Afternoon photo dump

I miss Calvin and Hobbes for just such observations.

Lacking in cleverness, that is the best I got for today.

Had a pointless 7:30 meeting this morning, so I had to cut out on the hoopla at Mr. Goodbar last night practically old man early (which I know isn't much of a stretch). Nice to see everybody again and finally meet (e:Ajay). Good time, but it's been awhile since I've been out on a school night

My forties haven't taken too much of a toll on my hairline, yet somehow walking from my apartment to my car, the biggest, fattest rain drops managed to find precisely where my hair is the thinnest for two impressive sounding smacks. That kind of nonsense will wake you up.

I walked the ring road at Delaware Park at lunchtime yesterday for the first time in quite awhile. I didn't embarass myself but my knees went to great pains to remind me of how not a kid anymore that I am. It was an interesting reminder how joggers work with clouded thinking. On the inset of the grass is a rarely used trail that was set up for the jogger, smaill gravel that was set on the grass so it is a little softer than running on the asphalt. Do the joggers go for it? No, they stay out on the asphalt. That makes me wonder. Why punish yourself further when the only person that rewards is a spinal specialist? Maybe, it's jealousy as I can't run for shit. But to watch them as I was walking, it seemed like none of them were enjoying their runs so why not reduce the torture a little bit.

Maybe it's me.

There is a certain population of park goer that might need smacked with a bag of hammers. The peeling paint down the middle of the road apparently provides a line that a small population needs to trace as they walk. These folks remind me of the folks who walk the street on snowy days even though the sidewalks are clear. In the park, they follow that painted line, which would be no big deal except cars travel right on the other side of that line. Personally, I have a healthy respect for my right cheek so I don't go where an SUV can smack it. Hug that grass side, people.

Maybe it's me

My Colbert ticket connection collapsed, which kind of sucks, but alas, stuff happens. Gonna be a good weekend anyway. Temperatures are a little more human. Actually went out on a Thursday, gonna drag the kids kicking and screaming to the Art Gallery for free friday, going the movies with a fellow grownup tomorrow night, gonna drag my bike over to the Elmwood bike shop for a tuneup somewhere in between.

Amazing, what a little sun can do.