Yes, sorry, I'm mostly abandoning any blogging here (not like I was doing a whole lot of it) and doing that on my own blog on my site:

Michael O'Blogger at Michaeloconnell.com

Sorry to betray the MySpace community like that, but my site, it's me barrio, holmes.  Must represent.  Feel free to drop by and see if I'm any better at posting there.

Okay, I'll join in.  As I got tagged by Kevin, I'll chose eight people he hasn't already picked.

"Each player starts with eight random facts/habits or embarrassing things about themselves. People who are tagged need to write their own blog about their eight things and post these rules. At the end of your blog, you need to choose eight people to get tagged and list their names. Don't forget to leave them a comment telling them they're tagged, and to read your blog."
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1.  I used to have a perm.

2.  I've seen James Taylor in concert.  Twice.

3.  I have one tattoo, which I've had since '91, before it became a fad and got adopted by every high school girl in America.

4.  I don't put ketchup on my burgers.  I put ketchup on my plate, and dip my burger in it.  It's kind of like a welfare French dip...

5.  For some reason, I like all those Kevin Costner movies that everyone else makes fun of.  Waterworld.  The Postman. Wyatt Earp.  I even own the director's cut of Wyatt Earp on VHS (because it's not available on DVD), making what seemed to some to be the longest movie every made, like, 30 minutes longer.

6.  I sang on stage at the World's Fair in Canada in 1986.  With a choir, that is.  Lucky thing for Canada.

7.  For those who haven't heard the story, I once accidentally picked up a hooker in my van in Phoenix on the way to a job interview.  If you haven't, you can hear it at http://michaeloconnell.com/hooker.htm.

8.  I saw the first Transformers movie (the animated one) in the theater...and stoned out of my mind.  My life was different back then...  And I think SOMEone on my tag list knows that story very well...

9.  I've listened to many Tony Robbins CDs.  And I'm now thinking about getting my teeth capped and giving him all my wordly possessions...

10.  Back in high school, I was a regular on-air caller to the morning show on KWOD-106.  I was known as "Mike from Carmichael".  I did bits.  Somewhere in a dusty box, I probably still have the tape I made of many of them, but it's been so long, the tape ITSELF has probably turned to dust.

My tag list:

1.  A.T.
2.  Summer
3.  Everett
4.  Sarah
5.  Dr. K. (Chris)
6.  Darcy
7.  Mike D. (no, not from the Beastie Boys.  The REAL Mike D...)
8.  Dora

...I may have to smack...

...the next guy who not only accepts a MySpace webcam stripper's friend invite, but who then posts a "Thanks for the add, gorgeous!" comment on her page like he's just scored.

...the next girl who puts either "Dance like there's no one watching" or "Don't you wish your girlfriend was hot like me?" as her MySpace quote.

...the next girl who posts, as her main MySpace pic, a shot of her and a group of, like, eight girls, and then does the same with all her pics.  Let me guess...you're the one with the mustache...  Come on!  It's your page!  Put your photo up!  Be the girl with the mustache!  Magnum P.I. is selling really well on DVD right now.  RIDE that nostalgia wave and make it work for you, girlfriend!

...the next guy who posts as his MySpace pic a shot of him with his friend's wife or girlfriend, because 1) it makes him look "in demand" and 2) that's the only female that's gotten that close to him other than in an elevator.

...the next person who prefaces their turning on of a lamp by saying "Let there be light" or "Let's shed a little light on the subject".  Oh, you're SLAYING me, dude!  I haven't heard that one since Amos n' Andy were still on the radio!

...the next person who refers to Shakespeare as "The Bard".

...the next person who purposely takes something pretentious to read into a coffee place so people will notice.  Oh, I see, you just HAPPENED to have that copy of "Atlas Shrugged" on you and got a hankering for some beanage.  Yeah.  It could happen.

...the next screenwriter who types any of the following as dialogue:

"That's gonna leave a mark."

"That's gotta hurt."

"When you're right, you're right...and you're right."

"Let's kick some butt." (Any kids' sports (or ninja) movie made since 1992).

"Let's rock!"

"You're not worth it."

...the next person who forwards me a bogus virus warning that was debunked back in 1995.

...the next person who excitedly tries to point out that that joke on the animated show they're watching could ONLY be for grownups!  Kids wouldn't get it!  Okay, look...YOU LIKE CARTOONS.  Accept it.  Embrace it.  Be one with your inner child.

...Joel Shumacher.  Just in general.

...Noel or Liam Gallagher.  Whichever one's closest.

...your mother.  No, not yours.  Sorry.  I was talking to Noel and Liam.

...Pamela Anderson, but only because she seems to like it, and I think it might give me a better shot with her...

...anyone who's ever said "It was better than the first one!" about a movie sequel.  When has it EVER been better than the first one?  Okay, there was "Wrath of Khan"...

...anyone who thinks "The Royal Tenenbaums" was stupid, yet thinks "Mrs. Doubtfire" is the funniest movie ever made.

...the next person who says, "'Serenity'?  Wasn't that the movie with John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale?"

...the next person who feels the need to verbally identify the origin of a pop culture reference.  Like, if person "A" says to me, "I took my kids to the petting zoo last weekend", and I put a pinky to my lip and say, "An EVIL petting zoo?", and person "B" chimes in and says, "Ah!  Austin Powers!"  Um...yes.  It was.  Glad you saw it.  But pointing out that you know where it comes from doesn't make you look hip...it makes you look like you're happy you finally GOT a pop culture reference for a change.  And it then makes the joke not funny.  You want to join in and look "down", the next words out of your mouth should be "And at that petting zoo, did they have SHARKS with frickin' LASER BEAMS on their heads?"  NOW you're getting it.  Don't be lame...get in the game!

...anyone who makes up crappy rhyming catch phrases like I just did.

...Lou Diamond Phillips, for doing the same to his girlfriend (smacking her, I mean, not making up a crappy rhyming catch phrase...).  Come on, man.  It's not her fault your agent can only get you jobs on Sci Fi Channel original movies these days, so don't take it out on her.  Loser.

...the next religious person who says, "Ah, but what does this Bible verse REALLY mean?"  If for no other reason than to see if they'll turn the other cheek.

...any fan of Dennis Rodman.  As a ball player.  You want to appreciate his acting work, fine.  "Double Team" got me kind of misty, too...

...the next girl who gets the MySpace comment "baby u so fukin hott!!" and is actually flattered by it.

...Mariah Carey.  It might not help, but you never know until you try.

...the next person who misuses the word "literally".

"So I told my Dad about the car, and he LITERALLY exploded!!"

"So there are pieces of your Dad all over the floor, then?"

"Huh?"

LITERALLY means it ACTUALLY happened!  If you can't use it, don't abuse it.  Damnit!  It just slipped out...

...the next person who comes up to me and Tim at an autograph signing and tries to get a job.  Dude, we're a company of TWO...and we can't even get our OWN comic out.

...any rabid fan of Kevin Smith, Jim Rome or Howard Stern.  Being a fan of theirs does not make you like them, or smarter, cooler, or less of a loser than you really are.

...the next guy who's been married so long that when he belches in a group of other guys, he says, "Oh, excuse me!" in a panic.  Dude.  You're with GUYS.  She's not here.  Let it fly!  Enjoy being a guy again for those couple of hours before you have to go home and she makes you watch "Dancing with the Stars" with her and put on those jean shorts and belt she makes you wear.

...anyone who spouts a bumper sticker slogan in a political discussion in lieu of having an opinion of their own.

...the Wachowski brothers on any day on or after May 7, 2003.

...George Lucas on any day on or after May 25, 1983.

...Joan and/or Melissa Rivers, but I'd have to stand in a long line, and I don't have that kind of time.

...the entire nation of France.  I'll make the time.

...anyone who defends Michael Jackson, specifically with the phrase, "No, you just don't understand Michael!  He's like Peter Pan!"  Hmm.  I don't remember the part in Peter Pan where Pete laid the bad touch on the lost boys.  Must have been some pages missing from my copy.

...Rita Cosby.  Oh my GOD that is the most annoying woman to ever pretend to do TV news.  I hear that husky voice sometimes in my darkest nightmares...

...myself for writing long blog entries when I have other work to do.  Ow!

In case you're not hip to this (in case anyone on my list missed the bulletin), I am doing something that's VERY hard for me and asking for help.  In short, I need a new van, as my old one is about to go under, and one with the exact driving system I need in it is now available.  So, not having the VERY LARGE amount of money needed to buy it, I've turned to the internet to see if people might be willing to help out.  And the response for far has been really astounding and incredibly touching.  But there's still a long way to go.

You can check out all the details at my van page here:

"I Need a Van"

If there's any way you can help out (even just by spreading the link around, which I could really use!), I would appreciate it more than you know.  Thanks in advance.  I know this can happen!  I can feel it!

Michael


(Old van)


(New van.  PIMP!)

Vandalize them.  I love doing this.

All right, Chris got me convinced.  I'm a MySpacer now.  A.T. just joined up, too, and I know Tim and Cindy and Ken and Darcy and James are up here at least.  So I can definitely say I'm in good company.

If you don't know me, the name's Michael.  I could lie about my age, but I went ahead and entered the DOB, so that's not gonna happen.  I live in Sac-Town, which occasionally makes me sad (because I just moved back here after 7 years in San Diego), but there's good times to be had.  My friends are here, a lot of my family's here, and Hell...it's home.

I'm an insurance guy by day, writer by night.  I write a comic called "The Nice Guy", which you can check out at:

www.theniceguycomic.com

I write it, my best bud Tim draws it, and it's going pretty well for us.  We actually have fans in Denmark!  Sweet!  We're currently working on our second print comic, and the online strip has been going on for a couple of years.  It's pretty cool...in a very small circle, we're very minor celebrities.  We get to do autograph signings, go to conventions, and even have shown up on TV pushing our stuff.  It's a nice creative outlet that we hope takes off.

Other than that, I'm a terminally creative person that always has dozens of new projects going.  I'm trying to get back to updating my official site:

www.michaeloconnell.com

...which at this time still says I live in San Diego (trouble letting go much?  No, just laziness).  I work other web projects and enjoy making web pages.  I even did one for a political candidate once.  He lost, but I think that had more to do with his name (Najundapa) than my work.  I've got screenplays and novels on the works, and other comics.  I'm more of a homebody these days, just because my time is so limited between work and Nice Guy and other projects, but I do like getting together with the boys (and gals) and going out or playing some poker or catching a movie premiere.  BIG movie guy I am.  Massive DVD collection.  I was a film major before I dropped out of college.  I love movies and I love TV.  Don't watch that much TV anymore, again because of the time, but I like to sit down and have a good marathon with a TV DVD set once in a while (I just got Millennium seasons 1 and 2!  Yeah, baby!).  Like music a lot, and I've recently joined the iPod generation.  I used to read more, but these days, just can't seem to find the time.

Oh, did I mention the wheelchair thing?

Yeah.  I have Muscular Dystrophy.  Which equals wheelchair.  In case you're not hip to the Jerry clan, it's a disease that progressively weakens the muscles.  So I used to walk.  Then I used a cane.  Eventually got down to just the chair.  But by the time that happened walking had become such a pain in the ass I didn't miss it.  I drive a pretty tricked out van with a badass driving system that's a piece of CRAP that's always falling apart, but it (usually) gets me around.  Tough life?  Yeah, sometimes.  But there's always somebody worse off than you, so you count your blessings and deal.  Life, as someone once said (and probably never saw a nickel off the royalties), is too short.

I smoke cigars, I like the occasional Guinness, I love spending time with both friends and family, and I am the prototypical "Nice Guy" (notice the plug there?  Smooth, huh?) that you'll probably end up telling all your problems to.  Still single (came close to marriage), still trying to find myself, still waiting for my big break, still waiting to work my way back to San Diego.  I like to think I have a pretty active sense of humor (or the comic strip wouldn't be very comic), I'm unshakably loyal, and I do dig meeting new people.

Hope you end up being one of them.

Okay, got to get back to writing.  Deadlines suck.

Michael