ATTN: STOP USING YOUR CELL PHONE DURING A MOVIE AT THE MOVIE
THEATER

I did NOT pay ten bucks to watch you text your buddy every
ten seconds during the last half of Talladega Nights. I don’t care what you are
doing or what you have going on, it’s RUDE. If you want to text someone or
answer your phone, GO OUTSIDE—ALL THE WAY OUTSIDE (not just in the back of the
theater). Either somebody needs to start teaching etiquette in school about
movie-going, or theaters need to start cracking-down on cell phone users in
theaters. I think this has become my number one pet peeve, and I just won’t
stand for it anymore. I’m glad this was my second time seeing the movie.

On the other hand, I did walk out to the guest services desk
and ask them very nicely if they had a policy against using cell phones during
the movie because of what just happened. I explained that the guy right in
front of me was texting for the last hour of the movie, and she gave us all
free passes. She also told me that if it happened again, I should come get
somebody—and you KNOW I will. Thank you for good customer service.

On that note, we had a not-so-great experience at The Old
Spaghetti Factory a couple of weeks ago. When an employee asked if we would
fill out a feedback form, I gladly obliged. Knowing how to give proper
criticism without sounding overly angry, I explained that my dish was cold, and
when we asked the waiter for a new one, he brought me back a slightly warmed up
version of the same one (you know, like it was under the heat lamp for 2
minutes, and now its supposed to taste good?). In addition, I asked if they
would get the gluten-free pasta like their branch in Fullerton just recently got because our
waiter said they didn’t have it and that was part of the reason we came (Noah).

Yesterday I got a hand-written letter from the manager
apologizing for the under par service, explaining that they DO have the GF
pasta, and the waiter just didn’t know. She also included a coupon for a free
meal on her. Thanks again, for great customer service.

Good customer service counts. It’s what keeps the customer
coming back. I don’t care how big of a company or chain you are, if you don’t
have good customer service, forget about it—you’re already done.

 

And this concludes yet another session of DANIEL YELLING AT
AMERICA.

 

Last chance to watch Germans Who Say Nice Things…I’m going to take it off soon…

Also, here’s the official invitation to join the M. Night Shyamalan Fans blogring at xanga. Just go to the page if you like any of his movies and click join. So easy. I started this particular blogring, so I’d appreciate your support!

I finished another arrangement I owe Judd. Two down and two to go. The hardest one is ahead (the opener). I’m about half done.

I met tonight with the worship planning committee at the church I’m applying. It was nice, we planned out the worship set for the 20th when I’ll be leading. Ironically, today our music pastor from Yorba Linda Friends Church came to lunch at APU with us and offered two of the fifteen spots open for their new worship team setup. They were cutting down from thirty vocalists to fifteen, and picking people they wanted to invest in as future leaders and stuff…he’s the best guy. He was totally understanding when we told him about our situation, but I was a little bit bummed, none the less. Not bummed that we are moving onto a great new chapter and everything, just bummed that we won’t get a chance to be a part of that. I really do love Yorba Linda Friends, and will miss it.

I put my iTunes on shuffle today. It was my first time. I don’t really take risks like that–shuffling around over 3,000 songs on my library at work (about 6,500 at home). I’m a systematic music listener; I will listen to something if I’m in the mood, and I will pick something I WANT to listen to, not just have the computer haphazrdley pick something. It was crazy, and a little bit fun. You can see what I’ve been listening here.

In other news, Christy’s become addicted to myspace. But really, who hasn’t?

If you haven’t taken the opportunity to actually go to my xanga page in the past few days (email subscribers, listen up!) you totally should. In my custom module I have a youtube video of Steve Carell and Dana Carvey as the Germans Who Say Nice Things. It’s pretty funny. My buddies and I did a version of this in high school. There were four of us and we just improved the whole thing. Take a look–soon, cause it makes the page look all funny and I’ll probably delete it sometime soon.

I haven taken some criticism lately because apparently I am quite liberal with my praise of the recent movies I have seen.  Everybody says, “Well Daniel, you just say that every movie is good, and the greatest this and that…and this person was SO great and all of these things…”

I have two things to say to that.

1) I am very picky with the movies I watch. I decide months in advance what movies I am going to see in the theaters via trailers and articles in magazines. In this same vain, I don’t rent movies because I’ve seen all the movies that are on DVD that I would want to see. I don’t rely heavily on word-of-mouth because I’ve probably made my decision based on the overall story, director, production company, and or actors. For instance, I love M. Night Shyamalan movies. I’ve seen them all and I love them. We know this, I’ve talked about it. I will probably watch every one of the movies Night makes from now on because I like the way he makes movies. However, I won’t see every movie Bruce Willis is in, or every movie Michael Bay directs, but I will probably see Transformers because the trailer looks cool and Dreamworks is making it–not to mention Speilberg is Exec. Producing–we’ll just see how that plays out though. (I know it sounds like Bruce Willis will be in transformers, but he’s not, just bad grammar on my part).

–In review, I only see movies I know I will love.

——-Exceptions: if Christy will love it, then I go with her. We take turns.

2) I have seen a couple of movies lately that I thought were OK, but not necessarily worth my high praises. I saw Pirates 2 with a group from work. I wouldn’t have bothered with it otherwise, and I thought is was alright but not worth being the highest grossing movie of the summer/year. DEFINITELY not that good. I saw X-Men when it came out, and I gave it moderate reviews. So there. AND I watched V for Vendetta last night–and although I liked it and was highly entertained by it, it did get pretty political AND I wouldn’t say it was a GREAT film. It was pretty cool and strange (in that Matrix way), but I felt like there was a bigger political metaphor that I was missing, and I just didn’t feel like trying to figure it out at that time. I took the film at face value for some entertainment and I enjoyed it, but not as much Superman Returns, or Lady in the Water, or Talladega Nights…

–In review, I don’t give all the movies I see high praise, I guess I just mention the ones on my blog that I feel like you should see.

——-Exceptions: none.

I gotta get these arrangements for Jud done…

Thanks to APU for giving all it’s employees three Fridays where we get off work at Noon. Today was one of those days.

We took our extra time and went to see Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby. I dare say it was the best Will Farrell film to date. It was incredibly hilarious, and much less dirty than Anchorman or Wedding Crashers (where he played a minor role). Christy was not interested one bit in seeing it, but she enjoyed it fabulously. It is much better than the previews give it credit for, and actually has a semi-good message in it, AND a real plot (gasp!). I loved it. I want to go again. Anybody down? Mike? Leanne?

I also saw a trailer for another movie starring Will Farrell that comes out in November. It looks funny, but not in a ridiculously funny sort of way. This would be a little bit smarter humor. I can’t wait to see it. Go Will Farrell.

Tonight we had the opportunity to meet the staff at a “meet and greet” type of function at the church we are going to be working at very soon. It looks like I’ll be starting the beginning of September in an interim role. This type of position was actually something I suggested, and I believe gives me the greatest freedom and flexibility. I love church ministry, and this interim-type of position as part-time Music Pastor will be a perfect time to get to know the church and the people. We had a fun time meeting and talking to the staff, they seem very nice and it will be nice to see them again. I have a more formal interview on Monday evening, and I’ll be leading worship on Sunday August 20th. It’ll be nice to be back in the driver’s seat again…so to speak.

Also–great to have Mike back in town. We got to hang out with him and Leanne on Thursday. Good times. We’re happy to have him back.

I’m playing Racquetball with the film composer on Saturday at Noon. I don’t know what I got myself into. I don’t know how to play racquetball…I’m going to look like an idiot…

Talladega Nights was hilarious! I totally recommend it for anybody ready for a laugh. Will Farrell is the best!

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Bryan Ruan’s funeral/memorial service is in Munson Chapel on Tuesday August 8th, at 11AM.

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I am passing this on because although I am not close enough
to a Pat & Oscars to frequent their eatery as often as I used to, I still
love their tasty food and excellently casual atmosphere. Please use this
coupon, and when you do, think of me…

 

Not too much happening right now. I am meeting the staff
this Friday night at the church I will most likely be working at in the fall. I
will miss the big church excitement of Yorba Linda Friends, but will enjoy
leading worship again and will enjoy leading people again. Christy will get a
chance to direct a kids choir again, which she loves, and I think the most
exciting part of this place is that they want change. Change and progress are
the things that bring me back to the plate. I love change. I love innovation and
creativity. I love new ideas, and I guess, just the excitement of newness
altogether. I despise the mundane, the status quo, the ordinary, the rut. I
hate it. 

However, I prefer to be in somewhat of a routine in my going
about daily life. I know, weird. It’s a personality thing, and I’ve read about
it and had it explained to me before, I just can’t remember exactly how to
regurgitate it. I’m an ESTJ (Myers-Briggs). It’s just me.

Nathaniel loves T-ball. Mike was going to come over last
night to play with him, and when Mike changed it to tonight, Nathaniel was so
sad he cried. We ended up playing with him for a while, but he was pretty
heartbroken for a little bit. Our boys love their Uncle Mike.

I also have a meeting next Tuesday with one of the coordinators
of the Gala that I am directing next May in Irvine. I’m excited, it’s the first meeting
where I’m sure we’ll discuss contracts, etc…I’ve been feeling great about this
gig because of the opportunity to do exactly what I’m gifted to do. Not one
thing about this scares me, it’s totally what I am educated and experienced
in/at. I feel very privileged to have this opportunity.

Along those lines, I have been really meditating on these
verses, which I feel are important for a person like myself that is trying to
be a professional musician. I just want to make sure that I never get focused
on the wrong thing…it’s a very difficult balance.

Psalm 119:36-37 (New International Version)

 36 Turn my heart toward your statutes
       and not toward selfish gain.

 37 Turn my eyes away from worthless things;
       preserve my life according to your word.