Friday, September 29, 2006

Birthday Wishes...

Hey all...
It's Friday September 29th...and we're still in Silver City, NM. The shows went well - and the kids here in Silver City were AWESOME! They bought into it hook, line and sinker. They freaked out when Charlie found the Golden Ticket...they clapped along to the Oompa's...they were puddy in our hands!
Today (Friday morning) we pack up and head to the Phoenix, Arizona area! And just you look out...there is going to be an Anderson Family gathering like NO other. Party.
So today as a cast, we are celebrating the birthday of the baby of our group...our very own RACHEL BRENNAN! Our little spitfire Rachel turns 23 today...and I sit here and try to imagine this experience without her, and I simply can't! She brings SO much to our group..including her amazing voice, her quick wit and sense of humor, and an inecredibly long history of the vegan lifestyle! PLUS....she "gets" Ronnie Mars...so you know she's got a special place in my heart! So HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Rachel. You're one of the greatest van-seat-mates a guy could ask for!
And if I could get the assistance of all you out there in blog-reader-land, please feel free to send a comment along to Rachel today here on the blog...wishing her the happiest 23rd EVER! She deserves it!
See ya later, New Mexico. Literally. Like, next week....
ciao.
G

Here is the newest RACHEL picture. This is a sign she and I saw today walking around town. It delighted us!

And now, a collection of Rachel Brennan in her honor...for her birthday.

THANKS for so many laughs in such a short time, Prostitute! You = SUPER!

Thursday, September 28, 2006

Mining For FUN In Silver City!

Howdy folks! We're here in the historic town of Silver City, New Mexico! West of the Black Mountains of New Mexico...childhood home of Billy the Kid...and the ending place for the wild goose chase in the hit Hollywood film 'Rat Race'. ("Eeet's a rrrrrace!") Fans of the movie will be sad to know that the Train Station which is so attractively highlighted in the movie is NOT an actual property in the actual town. And there is nothing more satisfying than the look on the face of a local when you ask them something completely ridiculous (perhaps ABOUT said train station) and they don't quite know how to answer you without making you feel like an idiot. Not that it happened to me....it's just something I, uh, IMAGINE would be satisfying.
But even without a train station, we took to the streets of Historic Silver City like the good tourists we are becoming, and shopped, ate and explored this City of Silver. We had excellent Mexican food, found some good buys, and I even went out on a limb and tried some jalapeno fudge from a local candy shop. QUITE a kick, folks. Quite a kick, indeed.
So without further ado, take a look at our day-off as we enjoyed the weather, sites and sounds of the historic Silver City.

Some of the views out the van window from our drive through the Black Mountains in the Gila National Forest, New Mexico.

While driving through the mountains, we had to make a rest stop at a camp ground area. While we were there, we explored a little bit. Here are Eric and Elisa playing in the stream.

And here is Elisa after i acted like I was going to push her in the stream, and she fell on her butt in the mud beside the stream.

L: While walking back to the van I saw this tree with writing on it.... R: ...and THIS is what it said....

Here's where the magic begins!

Eric, Tara, Roe and I enjoyed an amazing lunch at Jalisco Cafe. Their guacamole is NOT a joke!

A look at some of the architecture and 'flavor' along the main shopping area of downtown Silver City.

Hoops and Yoyo, being huge fans of the old Wild West history AND movies, were most excited to see the homesite for Mr. Kid.

And then you turn around and BAM! There is an old cabin! So we got a picture with them in the entryway.

But just after taking the picture, we find ANOTHER sign...indicating that it isn't Billy the Kid's cabin at all. (Please notice the 'editing' techniques of someone on the sign....) And from the looks of Eric's face, Hoops and Yoyo weren't the ONLY visitors angry about the whole situation that day....Ron Howard movie set piece or NOT!

Here is the Silver City Museum. I didn't go in...mainly because I was pretty sure it was going to have something that said, "The train station, used in the movie Rat Race, was fictional and never stood on the grounds of our town." And who wants to see me cry at a museum?

They sure had a nice flag out front. I saw a T-shirt that was the same colors as the state flag, and it said, "NEW MEXICO. It's not NEW and it's not MEXICO." I loved that shirt.

While walking around, I saw this cool church. So I walked up to it and we had a PHOTO SHOOT!
I did a SEPIA SHOT.
Then I did some shots from different angles.


And to wrap things up, I did a couple of shots from a distance.

Wednesday, September 27, 2006

A Lesson In Knowing

So a lot of people ask me, as I move from city to city around this great country of ours, "Matt...how do you KNOW you've really arrived in the BIG TIME, like you have with your stint in Willy Wonka?" I have always tried to hmmmm and haaaaaa an answer for them...UNTIL NOW! NOW...my answer to those people and that question is this: "Friend, you know you've arrived in the big time when you start doing amazing interviews with the press in big cities like THIS. When that starts to happen, and you see your words in print, you know your time has come."

Only time will really tell how big this interview will go. I don't want to jinx anything...but I keep hearing 'Pulitzer Prize'....somewhere in the back of my mind....

Mmmm....I also keep hearing 'Diet Coke'....gotta run.......

Tuesday, September 26, 2006

As Promised...A Photographic Journey

Why read - when you can just SEE the fun we had in Helena and on our amazing trip through Yellowstone and The Teton Mountains! Sit back, relax and check out the Wonka Crew as they undergo another "day at the office."


Having A HELENA Time
L: Elisa and Steve working hard on a project after our shows in Helena. R: Eric and Jeffrey supervise the project.
Roe takes a break from giving a hand at load-out.
So what trip to Helena is complete without a ride on the Great Northern Carousel!? Steve and Roe agreed...so we headed out to find the ride!
We FOUND IT!
Roe and Steve test out the animals they want to ride. Many of the animals, sans Roe's Merman-Horse-Thingy, are supposedly animals found arond Montana.
This was no ORDINARY carousel. It came complete with it's own 'Grab The Brass Ring' thingy. So here is Steve grabbing for the rings....and also a shot of Steve with the winning brass ring! (He ended up riding the rainbow trout, if you were wondering...) Steve won a FREE RIDE ticket for the carousel...and because he is a nice guy (and because we were done riding), he handed it off to a mom standing in the line with her boys.
A fun statue/fountain we saw downtown
L: Roe learns to let sleeping bears lie. R: Steve and I catch a shot with the fishing bear.
OK...I just have to ask. Do you really want to advertise that you can 'Catch It All' in Helena? Sketchy, if you ask me.
So part of the "skyline" of Helena is this mosque-looking building. TRICKED YOU, VISITORS! It's not a mosque. It's the Civic Center and downtown fire station. Obviously...
2 additions to the Matt Anderson B&W Collection. Model credits to Roe.
So lots of people get excited about lots of things on tour...but I would be hard-pressed to find someone as excited as Steve when he got to Aunt Bonnie's Used Bookstore. LOOK at the joy he is experiencing!
Steve also lends a hand in modeling a sculpture outside the Helena Art Museum.
Selections from the Matt Anderson B&W Collection.
WELCOME to my first really official 'Cheesecake Tour' experience on the road! This white cholocate raspberry cheesecake comes to us from Lewis & Clark Brewing Company in Helena. It was a delicious piece of cheesecake. I am going to give it a low 8 on the MASE. I wanted more crust and I felt like there was too much cream on top, masking flavors. BUT...you know...we still ate the whole thing!
And now....the Montana State Capital Building.
HEY MONTANA! Raise your hands....if you're sure!
Inside the Rotunda.
A few varying shots looking up into the Capital Dome.
L: A great window in the Capital...looking out the front of the building. R: Looking out the same window over the Helena Valley.
A piece from the Matt Anderson B&W Collection. Model credit to Roe.
So EVERYTIME I turned around in the Capital, Rachel had fallen and was sprawled out on the floor. The altitude was REALLY getting to her.
A re-creation of the statue out front...compliments of Steve, Roe and Rachel.
A Day Of Natural Fun: Yellowstone & The Tetons
The first sights of Yellowstone...out the van windows.
The first BUFFALO sightings in Yellowstone. They're in there...I promise.
Each turn brought a new sight and sound and experience for us all. Evidently, it was too much for Steve, who had to take a seat and let it all soak in.
...and then we saw Roaring Mountain...
Um...see how close that buffalo is? Yeah. Pretty cool.
Another corner brought another sight...and this one was GROUP WORTHY!
And then we saw MORE buffalo...and Hoops and Yoyo insisted on a photo opportunity.
AND THEN...we finally made it to Old Faithful...with about 20 minutes to spare before it performed.
Hoops was so excited, he kept asking me if it was time yet.
And then, it was time. And Hoops and Yoyo watched in awe.
Everyone else was pretty amazed, too. Just look how amazed Rachel is.
Um. The sign. And a few different pics.
2 Old Faithful "Case Of The Unfortunates"
L: HEY! Did someone let that woman borrow Violet's blueberry costume? R: Just WOW. That's all.
A couple views of the Grand Teton Mountains.
All in all, a pretty amazing way to spend a day!
Oh COME ON, PEOPLE! Is 'Bear Spray' so normal that you all looked at this and thought NOTHING was odd? BEAR SPRAY?