Presidential Libraries

Since Hollywood, we have visited two Presidential libraries. (Reagan and Nixon) Interestingly enough, Presidential libraries are not, in fact, libraries. They are museums honoring the lives of the Presidents. There are only thirteen libraries (two are in California, two in Texas. . . soon to be three upon the completion of the George W. Bush Library in Dallas.)
Reagan's library was, to keep this short, awesome. It had a real Air Force One and a replica of the Oval Office. There was also a room that looked vaguely like the Press room (complete with a podium, behind which I took a picture. For pictures, see my Facebook page.)
The Nixon Library had a replica of the East Room (quite fancy). Overall, very cool.
I bought The Reagan Diaries. Reagan kept a diary each day that he was in office. Looking forward to reading those. Tomorrow, I take off for Australia. Tomorrow. Crazy.

In Cold Blood

I am currently reading In Cold Blood by Truman Capote. It is a really good book so far (I'm only through part one.) It is based on the true story of some Kansas murders, which sounds like it would be quite the drag. However, throughout part one, the family that ends up murdered is constantly described as being likable. They all seem to have had some positive effect on the world (with the exception of Mrs. Clutter, who was just kind of a fragile little thing). Well, it made me start to wonder how people would describe me if I were murdered. I want to leave a positive mark on everyone I meet. Even if that mark is just to make them smile and laugh for a few moments.
I leave for Australia on Wednesday. Ready to make a positive impact in a different hemisphere.

Hollywood

It was just a matter of time before I made it to Hollywood, I guess. Yesterday, it finally happened. Daniel, Sarah, and I went on a tour of Paramount Studios.
When we got there, we realized our reservation was listed under the last name Burgeron, party of three, which was the source of more than one point of confusion.

Guide: What is your reservation under?
Sarah: 10 O'Clock.
*Guide gives confused look*
Sarah: Eddlemann.
Sarah: Daniel.
Daniel: Burgner?
Daniel: Or it could be Burgeron.
Guide: Oh, ok.
Brent: We're not very prepared, as a group.

As we were waiting for our tour to start, we saw the HBO series "Entourage" shooting right down the street. We stood and watched them and saw three time Emmy award winner Jeremy Piven. They were shooting a scene that was set in a studio lot. We don't know exactly what was going on, but Ari Gold (Piven) was talking to a woman, who got into a yellow car and drove away. We watched this happen three times, so they could shoot it from different camera angles. And we may or may not be (far, far, far) in the background of one of the shots.

We learned a lot about the history of the studios, including Lucielle Ball's dressing room (left, underneath the awning). It was made to look just like the facade of her New York townhouse. That way, she could do a photo shoot in front of her dressing room in LA and look like she was spending quality time with her family in New York.
Countless movies and TV shows were shot in Paramount studios (including part of one episode of "Friends"). They were shooting "Glee" while we were there. (It is a new show on Fox, which is extremely funny.) We saw the star of the show, Matthew Morrison. He walked right behind us. (Daniel kind of freaked out, which was funny.) He was walking from the sound stage to his trailer.
They have a 7 million dollar theater in the studios where they have premieres. It was crazy nice. Each seat cost $900 and you could tell. They want to make sure critics have the best possible environment to view their movies.
After the studio tour, we got lost on our way to watch a taping of "Chelsea Lately." We didn't quite make it to the 1:30 taping, but we got lucky and they added another taping at 3:30. So we ended up first in line for the second taping. We were able to sit in the second row. It was hilarious, of course. But I got a headache from laughing. We didn't make it to the taping of Tosh.0. (But it is ok, I think forcing more laughter might have given me a migraine.)
After the taping, we went to the area with the Kodak Theater, the place where they have the Academy Awards every year. We walked through the entrance, where all the Best Picture winners are listed on columns. Outside were the stars on the sidewalk with the names on them. Sometimes it is pretty funny to see certain stars' proximity to other stars. (An example refuses to come to mind.) Ed McMahon's star had a wreath and some flowers on it.
Outside Grauman's Chinese Theatre, I found out that I have the exact same size hands as Bing Crosby. That should count for something, right?
Well, tomorrow we're going to Disneyland (for free!). So expect another update soonish.

Facebook Suggestions

Morgan Freeman's voice. That is what is prompting this blog post. Facebook just suggested to me that I become a fan of Morgan Freeman's voice. Honestly, I think this is getting out of hand. Becoming a fan of something used to mean something. Now, apparently anything can get a page and start collecting fans. Nothing is more disturbing than logging on and seeing someone just became a fan of "Morning Sex." That is more information than we needed, quite honestly. I'm not saying delete the feature altogether. I am just saying maybe we should limit it to things that you can actually be a fan of. You cannot be a "fan" of traveling. You can be interested in traveling. And guess what: there is already a place for you to list your interests.

Redunkulous Wal-mart Lady

So I already posted today, but I need to share what happened at Wal-mart. Daniel, Sarah, and I were all in the same lane at the Wal.
Our check-out lady was frazzled to say the least. Here is the conversation as close to word for word as I can remember it.

Daniel: Hi. How are you?
Wal-Mart Lady (WML): I've been better.
All: Oh...
(Awkward silence)
WML: Well, yesterday my neighbor got shot and killed. My boyfriend's ex-wife called him and wants him back. I haven't had electricity in two days. And they cut off my phone earlier today.
(Awkward laughter)
WML: The funny thing is I live in an all-bills-paid facility.
Daniel: Well, my friend won't text me back. So...
(Sarah tries to ignore the ridiculous situation. Brent is laughing pretty hard.)
WML: Well, a bad day is a bad day.
Daniel: Yeah. Tell me about it.
(WML continues checking us out. Upon completion. . .)
Brent: Well, night. Hope. . . your life. . . gets better.

This is non-fiction. You can't make this stuff up.

Excursion Number 1

Well, the summer fun has begun (rhyme). On Monday, Daniel, Sarah, and I were bored, so we decided to drive to San Antonio for a few hours. We drove the four (4) hours there
and went to the Alamo (as pictured).


Here's a hint: don't go see a icon of Texas history with two Californians who constantly remind you that Texas lost the Alamo.
Although, we did have fun standing in front of it and asking people "So, what's so great about the aLAMo?" Funny looks. We got em.

Afterwards, we went down to the River Walk, which was fun. It was stiflingly hot, so we sat down and had a margarita at a nice margarita bar (which had fans and misters for their sidewalk seating). When we finished those margaritas, we walked a little further and ate at Casa Rio. It was deemed by Daniel "The Best Mexican Food in Texas." At this point Daniel had to go on a tangent about how Texas Mexican food and California Mexican food are simply different genres of food. . . and cannot be compared. Sarah, however, claimed the California Mexican food was better. Good thing we all know she was lying.

After San Antonio, we drove the four (4) hours baaaaack to Abilene. We stopped in Fredericksburg for a few minutes and said hi to my friend, Rhett, who lives there. It was fun. Now all I have to do before I leave on Saturday is pack up all my belongings from my room, decide what needs to go home and what can stay in the garage, pack a bag for California, and pack two bags for Australia. Shouldn't be too hard, right? . . . right?

Crap.

Countdown to Sydney

In one week, I will leave Texas for over a month. First California, then Australia. I am not sure at this point which one will be the bigger culture shock. This week I have to pack for the trip at some point. I'm pretty psyched about it.
So lately, I have been looking at graduate schools. I am thinking I want to study linguistics. In fact, I don't think I want to take the LSAT anymore. I think I will focus on the GRE and try (very hard) to get into the program at Rice. They have a five year program to get a Master's and Doctorate. Aim high. I am looking at a lots of schools.
I've been watching True Blood. Don't tell anyone.
Soon the updates will be a lot more interesting, I promise. I'll be sure to write about the interesting things I do.
Sarah just told me that she used to go to strip clubs every week.
The End