"Shrek 2". Funny, really funny.

YES!!! I have a callback for the "Lowe's" @ Kathy Knowles Casting. While I am signing in at the callback is see that the production company is "Schofield Films/NY". Hmmmm......... That is the same production company that produced the "Ford Expedition" spot I did in Brooklyn, NY back in July '98. When I went in the room the first person I see is Stan Schofield, the director of that spot. I said "hello". I'm not sure if he knew who I was, but it was good to see him. He was really a pleasure to work with back then. At any rate the audition went well and we'll if I fit in the spot anywhere.

I called the ad agency for the "Tufts Health Plan" commercial to see if I could find out what the projected run is. I left a message, they returned my call with the information and offered to send me a copy.......I didn't even have to ask. Cool!

I so often think about how fortunate I am. It was just about a year ago that I saw the casting notice for "The Terminal" on the Actorsite website and dropped off my photo. Here it is a year later and that drop-off has lead to some pretty cool things:

Both are big budget studio filmsBoth were cast by the same casting office (Debra Zane Casting)

Both were from dropping off my own photosBoth directors first and last names start with the letter "S" (Steven Spielberg & Steven Soderbergh)

Both directors are Oscar winnersOne of my characters works in an airport, the other is a flight attendant

Both films star Catherine Zeta-Jones

How do these amazing things continue to materialize for me? I can't really answer that, but I'll stay faithful to the plan I hatch 10+ years ago. Often time I simply "wow".

What is going on with my life? Sometimes I feel I really know and other times I have no clue. It's not that I'm unhappy or disenchanted about the way things are working. Actually, things are quite well. It's just that there is so much more I want to do. I am really feeling the itch to go back to Virginia Beach and work in the family business or start up a new one with my two brothers.

This is not a new thought for me. I have always planned to make this happen in some form or fashion, but lately the urge has been quite strong. I actually thought about the notion of really doing it. The problem is that I really like what I do here in Los Angeles. I guess that's not a problem really.

I have a connection with my little brother Todd like no one else on this planet and I look forward to working together with him. I don't see myself severely cutting back my time in LA, but I am thinking about. Everything starts with an idea.

It was scary to even think about the reality of doing it. I know I was really serious because tears came to my eyes just pondering the notion.

I usually get kinda weird about things in May/June & December before I go home for vacation. I think I'm just a little rundown and need a break.

With all of this being said I don't see myself walking in my agents' offices and saying "Thanks for everything, I'm leaving" anytime soon. I still have a lot of work to do in this business, more countries to visit, more characters to explore, more legends to work with, bigger checks to deposit, etc. My agents have worked hard, they believe in me and I have put in a lot of time and dedication to get where I am. I can't just walk away from what momentum I have...........at least not now.

I'm sure this anxiety will subside a bit once I get back to Virginia in the middle of June, but I definitely have an itch that may need scratching.

I became a godfather this afternoon. WHAT!!! Yeah, my friend of about 20 years Jonathan Julian became a first time dad and blessed with me with being the godfather of his daughter. Hazel Bashir was born @ 3:54 this afternoon. Incredible!

Audition: "Lowes" @ Kathy Knowles Casting. This audition goes really well. It felt great all the way around; from the drive there to finding parking, reading with two fabulous actors and not getting a parking ticket. A couple of years ago I did get a parking ticket while at a callback at this same casting facility. Hmmmmm........

Today I received a call about the indie film I booked a couple of months ago. It's called "Three Wise Women" and it's being produced by my friend Jennifer Fontaine. I shoot on June 2nd. It's great to see actors getting their own projects up and running. Many people talk the talk, Jennifer is walking the walk. Go girl!!

Cricket sounds. Can you hear them? I think it's time to leave town

Audition: "FannieMae Foundation" @ Pamela Starks Casting. It goes well.

Wow! It was 9 years ago today that I moved to New York from Virginia Beach, VA. What a ride it's been. I can't believe some of the experiences that I've had along the way. It boggles my mind that I've traveled to Japan, Spain, Washington DC & Miami all for acting work.

I remember arriving at Port Authority NYC @ 6:30am like it was yesterday. The first thing I noticed was that the weather was much cooler than what I was used to in the month of May and course how filthy 42nd Street was. The next thing that woke me up was how much cash I "didn't" have.

My buddy, Greg and I, had a ton of stuff with us so we needed a taxi to get to our destination on 46th & 10th. By this time I was wide awake to the fact that my life-savings of $200 wasn't going to take me very far. WHAT!!!

Arriving on 46th St. in Hell's Kitchen was a "you are no longer in Kansas" message to say the least. I had visited NYC many times before, but now I was going to be living here. Let the games begin, and they did...........

..........9 years later I find myself in Los Angeles feeling pretty good about things. It's definitely a roller-coaster ride, but I am extremely fortunate.

I must say as time goes by I find myself really wanting to do other things. I don't know, I miss working with my hands. Not that I ever did too much manual labor, but things like changing the oil in my car and cutting the grass.I am trying to figure out a way to divide myself into about five different people so I can do all of what I want to do. One can be a motivational speaker on a book tour, another playing stick-ball with his kids, still another cooking with the "wifey", another waxing my 2 little brothers asses on the motocross track with my sisters laughing and lastly getting to work with Denzel Washington in a film. Wait!! Maybe I just need to plan better and get my priorities straightened out. Perhaps? Probably. Oh well.

YES!!! Today I went to see a motocross race out at Glen Helen Raceway in San Bernardino. I love this sport, I just wish I got to ride more often. It feels good to be really impressed by the talent of others. I feel like such a fan when I attend the races. I've been fortunate to work with some really big names in the TV/Film business, but when I see these MX riders I am just as impressed with their talent if not more. It was a good day that totally made me forget about a lot of things.

Today I dropped off a "thank you" card to Sheila Manning @ Sheila Manning Casting. That is who cast the commercial I recently shot. I wanted to get in and out quickly and not get in the way. She was at her desk when I walked in and didn't expect her to know who I was; and she didn't. She said "can I help you?" I told her I came to bring her a thank you card and she perked up. I was trying to leave right away, but she started talking and was racing to open the card so she would know who I was. She saw my name and the name of the spot I did and was very thankful for the gesture. We chatted for a bit and she told me what the original concept for the spot was. I told what a great time I had working with Franklin Cover from "The Jefferson" fame. I also gave her some other info that she didn't already know and she was delighted. This is the second booking I've had through her office and I think she might remember me from now on. At any rate she keeps bring me in. Thanks Sheila!!

I have an ADR session for the "Tufts Health Plan" commercial today. This is good news because it indicates that the spot is going to run and I didn't get edited out. I had one line to due and I was in/out in a flash.

More drop-offs are the order for the day. I am really trying to get an audition for "XXX2". I did another drop-off at that office today. Maybe they'll write a scene with me and Ice Cube chasing the bad guys. Or maybe not.

After a long, hot day behind the wheel I received a call from Brooke, one of my commercial agents @ KSA. She just wanted to let me know that they are really happy to have me as a client. They check in on this Long Assssss story from time to time and get a kick out of it. They are wonderful agents and wonderful people; the type of people that I like to be associated with. I plan to booked many more jobs, travel to more places and cash more checks with them in the future. Go KSA!!

I am SOOO excited about my life. They are so many things I want to do in this world. I really have a vision of working in the business that my family has had for 24 years. I've had this vision since before I left Virginia Beach to begin my acting career almost a decade ago. I feel that if my father wasn't running the business my brothers and I could be wildly successful. My father lacks the vision that my brothers and I have.

It's just one of the many things I think we can do. A friend recently asked if I was thinking of leaving the acting world to pursue other interest. No!! I just plan to add many other things to my life. For instance I would love to be a talent agent or manager, a Honda salesman, an auto mechanic, a photographer, etc. I can't forget that I also plan to be one heck of a father, husband and continue to be a supportive brother. In due time, in due time my son.