WIL WHEATON dot NET: Where is my mind?: Make it burn!

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March 10, 2002

Make it burn!

As I write this, Anne is behind me, doing some workout video tape, and I can just hear the breathless voice of the girl who is leading the workout saying, "Oh yeah, oh yeah, doesn't that feel good? Don't stop, you're almost there *pant* *pant*"

If I didn't know any better, I'd think she was watching "Debbie Does 7 Minute Abs" or something...but anyway...

A few weeks ago, I did an interview for the 4th season DVD release of Star Trek: TNG. While I was at Paramount doing my interview, a friend of mine who writes for Star Trek: The Magazine asked me if she could talk to me about a special issue they were doing, focusing on the second season. I told her that I'd be glad to do the interview, if they'd put me on a mailing list, and send me issues of the magazine.

Hey, daddy needs to get nice things, you know?

So she said that'd be no problem, and we did the interview. It was really cool, and I won't spoil it for you by talking about it here. It should be on the stands in a month or so.

On Friday, my first issue of the magazine showed up, and the whole thing is devoted to the first season of TNG. It focuses mostly on the behind the scenes aspects, with all these cool production drawings, interviews with the producers (Bob Justman says that "Wil Wheaton was always going to be our Wesley"), and a brief history of that first season.

Reading it really made me feel nostalgic, and I was flooded with wonderful memories from those years.

As I read it, I got to thinking...I have some unfinished business here...so, today, my dear Sunday reader, I am proud to give to you:

SPONGEBOB VEGA$ PANTS: SCREAM SPONGEBOB, SCREAM!

When we last left our intrepid hero, he had finished performing the highly anticipated "Mind Meld presents: Assimilate This!".

With minimal rehearsal, with less than ideal performing conditions, and needing to pee for the last 30 minutes of the show, we had managed to pull it off. The crowd loved us, and would have made me cry, if I was not, as I have pointed out many times before, such a complete badass.

So, to pick things up...

The house empties out, and I run at mach 4 to the bathroom. When I get back into the ballroom, I get the most important review, of all. My wife comes up to me, puts her arms around me, and says, "Honey, you were great. I've never laughed so hard in my whole life."

We stand in the ballroom for a few minutes, and I feel the familiar rush of left over adrenaline that I get at the end of every show. Even though it's been a hellishly long day, and I've performed twice (once on stage with the sketch group, and once during my talk) I've got this massive surge of energy, and I must use it.

So we pack up the show, say goodnight to my parents, and head out into Vega$ for some drinks, some slots, some craps, and some fun. We can't decide where we are going to go, because it's a weekend, and most of the casinos have insanely high table minimums, and somehow we all end up at The Rio. Now, I'm not too crazy about The Rio, since they kicked out De La Guarda, which is, I think, one of the coolest and most unique shows I've ever seen. But we ended up there, anyway.

Travis and I were really hungry, and just wanted to get something to eat, and the rest of the gang just wanted to get a few drinks in them and throw some money away -- er, I mean, gamble. So Travis and I head off to some 24 hour restaurant in the hotel (walking, of course, through the casino, then through more of the casino, and, finally, past some slot machines). The rest of the crew heads up to some club at the top of the hotel, which they later tell us is filled with poseurs, and I try to act surprised.

Travis and I talk about the show, and how it went. It's funny when you get two actor/writers together. We did a really good show, and we were, and are, very proud of it...but we can only talk about the things that we didn't like. We talk about the fact that I should have picked up a mic at the end of the show to say my thank yous and introduce the group. I was unhappy that I flubbed some lines, and could have had a funnier ad-lib here or there...but that's the nature of being a perfectionist, I guess. It's also the reason most of my shows are so good. I won't allow myself to do anything less than my absolute best, and I am always pushing myself to be better.

So Travis and I deconstruct the show, talk about the possibility of taking it on the road, talk about how much fun we had, complain about how horrible the farking food is, and we head back to meet the rest of the gang, in the casino.

So, by now, it's got to be close to 2AM, and that adrenaline buzz is wearing off. Remember when you were a teenager, and you'd just started hanging out all night? That first or second time you stayed up all night with your friends, watching the sun rise, thinking to yourself how cool it was that you were awake this late, never wanting the night to end? That's how we all felt...but we're all exhausted, and some of us have to fly home early the next morning. So we gamble a bit, I collect on a bet from Tracy Burns (she had to buy me a scotch. I forget why, now), and we say a teary farewell.

We all go our Separate Ways, seeking out our own Frontiers, filled with Lights, knowing that we'll never Stop Believin'.

What happened there? Sorry.

Anne and I return to our we-would-never-get-this-if-we-were-paying-for-it suite at Bellagio, and fall asleep before our heads even hit the pillows.

The next morning, we get up, eat breakfast, and pack our bags. We're going to stay the rest of the weekend, so we can attend the party at The Star Trek Experience on Sunday night, but we're not staying at Bellagio any more. We're moving to Monte Carlo.

I've decided to spend the day sitting in the Autograph room at the convention, so people who missed me the first two days can get their picture or autograph, and so I can hawk my friend's CD. (if any of you were RFB listeners, before it went off the air, you may have heard me play them from time to time)

The thing is, it kind of sucks. I realize that I'm spending the entire day there, really to sign what amounts to less than 10 pictures, and I only convince 3 people that Warp 11 is really funny. I also know that 2 of our friends (Stephanie, who introduced me to Anne, and BURNS! who is one of our best friends) are on their way to meet us, so I decide that I'm done. I pack up, and screw up the courage to introduce myself to Alan Ruck, who played Cameron in Ferris Bueller's Day Off, and was in some Trek movie, I guess. He is really cool, and as excited to meet me as I am to meet him, which always surprises me and makes me feel good.

I meet Anne, Steph, and BURNS! at the Monte Carlo, where I am discover what will be the theme for the remainder of our trip. That theme is "Who can be the most rude to Wil and his friends?"

Now, here is the thing. I am an extremely patient, understanding, forgiving person, when I am in a restaurant, or at the front desk of a hotel, or dealing with any person who works in the "service industry." I figure that most people treat them badly, talking down to them, and stuff, and I really go out of my way to be extra nice, and patient with them. I also know that they may appreciate this, and hook a brother up with a free desert or something, so it's not completely altruistic. Hey, at least I'm honest about it, preachy.

When we're checking in, the girl who is checking us in is really cool. She's sweet, friendly, helpful, and all the things you'd hope for. She tells us that we're in some sort of suite, and I tell her that we were just at the Bellagio, and while we were staying in that suite they gave us some sort of VIP pass, for some lounge or something, and a buffet line pass.

Tangent: let me tell you, when you're in Vega$ during a busy weekend, having that buffet or cafe line pass is GOLD. The last two times I've been in Vega$, which I hate, by the way, the lines for restaurants have been insane, and I would have sold my soul for a line pass. (Don't get too excited. My picture's been taken so many times, I don't have any soul left)

End of Tangent.

So the girl tells me that she isn't sure, but I can go and ask Casino Services if the suites at Monte Carlo come with the same pass as the suites at Bellagio. I cross the large lobby, and enter through some french doors to the Casino Services area. It's a small room, with a lovingly handcrafted particle board desk, and two armed chairs. A pinched woman is sitting behind the desk, and she makes no effort to mask her obvious contempt for me as I approach her.

"Can I help you?" she sneers.

"Yeah," I tell her, and proceed to explain the situation at Bellagio, and I ask her if Monte Carlo has a similar policy.

Although I am taller than her, and she is sitting at a desk, she somehow manages to look down her nose at me. She tells me, with complete disdain, "No, sir. Our Casino Premiums [you can hear in her voice that she capitalizes those words in her mind] are reserved for a certain caliber of guest."

A certain caliber of guest?! Did she just say that?!

I take a second to imagine how hollow her life must be when she's not sitting behind that desk, and I thank her for her time. Remember, I'm patient, forgiving and understanding.

I cross back to the check-in desk, and the girl asks me if the woman was able to help me. I tell her that she was not able to help me, and, in fact, insulted me. I tell her that when that woman told me that they "are reserved for a certain caliber of guest", what she clearly communicated to me was that I was not of a certain caliber, and therefore not worthy of her time.

I was upset. Not because I didn't get that magic card, I mean, that's their policy, so that's fine with me. I don't expect preferential treatment, ever (well, unless I'm at Jumbo's Clown Room, but that's more like frequent flier miles, if you get my drift). What upset me was the way she talked to me. The way she treated me as if I was beneath her from the moment I walked in.

A manager has heard me relaying my story to the check-in girl, and she has joined the conversation. She apologizes many times, and asks me to wait a minute. She crosses to the Casino Services room, and I see her have a heated exchange with the woman behind the desk of power. She then returns, and gives me, Anne, Steph and BURNS! these cool VIP passes, which are good for lines, shows, and get us into some sort of lounge on an upper floor of the hotel. She apologizes many times, and implores us to enjoy our stay. I am impressed with her kindness, and for a brief second I bask in the customer service.

We head up to our room, Steph and BURNS! head off to meet one of our other friends, Jen, and Anne and I unpack, and take a nap.

Isn't the weird? We take lots of naps in Vega$. I think it's because we really like to stay out all night, or as close to all night, as we can. I think that staying out all night is part of the mystique of Vega$.

I wanna digress for a minute, and talk about the mystique of Vega$. See, I think that we all want to buy into the "romance" of Vega$. That thing that the city has, as portrayed in "Viva Las Vegas!" and "Swingers" and anything concerning the Rat Pack. We want to believe that it is the land of all-you-can-eat $2.00 buffets, where we are always one pull of the slot machine away from the Rainman suite. But the truth is, Vega$ is a sad, hollow, tragic monument to greed and excess, where parents dump their kids at the edge of the casino with some fast food while they get drunk and gamble. It's a place where you'll find more unemployed locals than tourists at a five dollar buffet, and it's more like "Taxicab Confessions" than anything else. I can only take it for 48 hours at a time...and this time, I was there for 5 freakin' days. However, it does have Nomi Malone, and Nomi's got heat, so it's not all bad.

So we take our nap, and we get ready for our big night out. We've got reservations at this restaurant that is supposed to be really cool, and I've even put on a clean shirt to go out.

NEXT TIME:

Dinner at Chez Midlife Crisis!
The Roulette that ate my wallet!

And

The Star Trek Experience

When WWDN presents, Spongebob Vega$Pants: The Final Chapter!

Posted by wil at March 10, 2002 05:23 PM

Comments

Woah..he must have been at his computer all day. That's quite a bit.

Posted by: Pmacca01 at March 10, 2002 06:13 PM

growl. you were even bored enough to visit my site. haha

Posted by: sarah at March 10, 2002 06:18 PM

OK...now that I have actually read what was in the update, I would like to say:

I have never been to Vegas. I personally think that going to any place where you throw away $100, get $5 back and are grateful that you got that $5 is a place I need to stay away from. But I guess the shows would be kinda fun to go to, not to mention the fact that I would like to say I have been to Vega$.

It was an interesting story, and I would be interested in hearing the end. I guess I missed something from earlier, but why Spongebob Vega$pants?

Posted by: Frank at March 10, 2002 06:18 PM

sarah, you're my favorite. :)

Posted by: wil at March 10, 2002 06:18 PM

Wait a minute...where did my first post go?

THe one where I was first...oh well.

Posted by: Frank at March 10, 2002 06:20 PM

Frank: right on about that. SpongeBob Vega$ Pants is what I call the saga of my trip to Vega$ and the Las Vegas Star Trek convention back in September of last year.

Posted by: wil at March 10, 2002 06:20 PM

To my complete surprise and delight SpondgeBob.
Yeayh. Thank you. I hate people that treat others like their beneath them. It only takes one. Anyway, thanks again.

Posted by: ymous_annon at March 10, 2002 06:22 PM

mmm. Vega$.

mmm. Losing $1000 grand on blackjack.

waitamin.

Posted by: Courtney at March 10, 2002 06:22 PM

Thanks for the clarification Wil.

Thats pretty cool that you can remember the trip from that long ago. I can barely remember what I did yesterday...in fact...what did I do yesterday....:)

Posted by: Frank at March 10, 2002 06:23 PM

Er, I meant a grand.

Heh, I can be redundant.

Just ask Cherish.

Posted by: Courtney at March 10, 2002 06:23 PM

wow will sounds like you had a good time in vega$, whats that with the "certain caliber" of guests. thats a load of bunk! I mean can;t they recognize you? ack the idiots! well all is not lose you got the pass and the show went well. the next installment about the trek party?

Posted by: Pikachu at March 10, 2002 06:24 PM

First one to actually read the entire post! Hahaha. that's lame I know. I'm watching the SAG awards now and they look so much fun. I know a lot of you readers are part of the union. Wondering if any of you were among the "Two randomly selected panels totaling 4200 SAG members across the United States [who} chose the nominees" (from http://www.sagawards.org/nominations.html) Just a thought. Hey Wil, you were in a Stand by Me clip in their "tribute to child actors" with River. The scene with you being chased by the train. Go Uncle Willy! Run from that there train!

Posted by: Jess Lat at March 10, 2002 06:25 PM

I lived in Vegas for four years. Luckily I was only a child and so never had to experience the hell that has been described here. Although one of my earliest memories is of me hanging out in the bar after daycare with my dad. I'm not sure if that's a good thing. He used to give me diet coke with a cherry in it. Ah, those were the days.

Posted by: Jess Lat at March 10, 2002 06:28 PM

The famous train scene. Cool.

Posted by: ymous_annon at March 10, 2002 06:28 PM

Wil, I'm a bit confused on which hotel you were staying at. I'm exhasted and that might be why I don't get it, but if you could be kind enough to clarify?

Thanks.

Posted by: Pmacca01 at March 10, 2002 06:34 PM

Great story Wil - looking forward to the next instalment!
Sounds like Mrs. Caliber got her customer services training in the Isle of Man. Have run into several like her when looking for accommodation for film crews there.
Wish I could make it to LA for your shows - hope they all go well.

Posted by: Londoner at March 10, 2002 06:36 PM

Man... lotsa typing going on there. And, as for the story of the second hotel (never been farther west than Ohio, man), kick ass, you show 'em, Wil!

Posted by: Thlayli at March 10, 2002 06:39 PM

I haven't been to Vegas since you were 14, Wil.

But, I recall loathing the people that were hanging on to some shred of untangible cheese.

And then they introduced the "casinos" to the Midwest and I stopped by once.

And saw almost nothing more than elderly folks and minorities, pissing away whatever it was that they could spare for the one-armed bandit.

In Ireland, they had these Nestle "Aero" bars that I brought back a lot of.

They made me forget all about the lure of gambling.

And that's how it should be.

That woman that you mentioned, though...

I know her.

She works everywhere I go.

Everywhere.

Tonight she was at Target and refused to look in a few additional drawers to find our one-hour photos.

She called a manager, which is apparently the caliber of person you need to be to open one drawer lower than the top drawer and then stammer because you cannot find it and the customer who is PAYING for ONE HOUR service is now going to get 24 hour service.

I need to work on my ability to tolerate that...it's truly a flaw in my personality and I see it creeping out more.

Either that or people could simply pass along manners, etiquette and a bit of couthe to their children.

Hmmm. What a novel thought.

The fat kid's gonna eat it.

Posted by: Roughy at March 10, 2002 06:40 PM

Hey, is this that site with that guy who starred in "Parker Lewis Can't Lose"?

Posted by: Roughy at March 10, 2002 06:43 PM

No, wait...

That was Corin Nemec.

Scientologist.

HTML guru.

http://www.oursites.org/corinnemec/

"I’m on the path to Spiritual freedom and the freedom to create! Come along and together we can dream up the future! Take care and be true to yourself. Live and create!"

What kind of crap is that?

Long live cheese, suckas.

Posted by: Roughy at March 10, 2002 06:46 PM

Slot machines in McDonalds.

Slot machines in 7-11.

It's enough to make you lose your money!

Posted by: Courtney at March 10, 2002 06:47 PM

Alan Ruck played the captain of the Enterprise-B I think. In Generations. He was so green... (can't think of a cool metaphor for this part)... yeah.

Posted by: Jess Lat at March 10, 2002 06:47 PM

He was also wuss bait business man on the bus in Speed.

Keanu...now there's a guy you want on your bus, yo.

Posted by: Roughy at March 10, 2002 06:57 PM

Keanu: "FUCK ME!!!"
Alan: "uhm... uh... oh, darn."

Posted by: Jess Lat at March 10, 2002 07:02 PM

"I haven't been to Vegas since you were 14, Wil."

Wait, you mean when you were 15, Russ?

Posted by: wil at March 10, 2002 07:03 PM

Let's see, when i was in Vega$, Wil would have been... *math time* 9 thu 13. I think. Like any of you care :P

Posted by: Jess Lat at March 10, 2002 07:06 PM

Did you catch my question, Wil?

Posted by: Pmacca01 at March 10, 2002 07:07 PM

Yeah, exactly, when I was SIXTEEN, kiddo.

I just hit 32, remember?

Some guy at Durty Nellie's thought I was like 25.

Bloke.

Then I proceeded to drink him under the table.

Stupid warm-beer drinkers. Putting stupid ice in Nic's cider.

Chastising me for getting half cider half Guinness.

Yeah, well, who was throwing up on the plane ride home? The Irish lady.

That's right, the Irish lady.

Cannot handle the Windy City and cannot keep your cheese down.

That's why I am the keeper of the Cheese.

And, my cousin used to be Prince's waitress whenever he came to down in Vegas.

Posted by: Roughy at March 10, 2002 07:09 PM

A brief update of my utterly unrelated post in the previous thread....

As a quick summary, Junior decided to declare that america is ready to use nukes against terrorists.

Great. Really.

I ran a quick yahoo search for related news articles--nothing too surprising so far.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/americas/newsid_1865000/1865616.stm
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=536&u=/ap/20020310/ap_on_go_pr_wh/us_nuclear_11
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-030902bombs.story
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=578&u=/nm/20020309/ts_nm/bush_nuclear_dc_2
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nyt/20020310/ts_nyt/u_s__nuclear_plan_sees_new_weapons_and_new_targets
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20020310/ap_on_re_eu/us_nuclear_overseas_reax_2
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20020310/ap_on_re_eu/attacks_europe_s_mood_1

I suspect most of you already know my opinion re: the "war on terrorism," so I'll save that diatribe for another time.

JSc

Posted by: JSc at March 10, 2002 07:12 PM

Roughy: hmmmm, aeros
did ya kiss the blarney stone?

Posted by: Londoner at March 10, 2002 07:19 PM

JSc: awesome, but completely off topic. Please cut and paste into the Soapbox, or save for a political post, okay? :)

Posted by: wil at March 10, 2002 07:20 PM

Wil, sorry to sound impatient, but I reread it and I still don't get the thing about the hotel....

Posted by: Pmacca01 at March 10, 2002 07:23 PM

I'm not impatient, btw. Just wonderin'.

Posted by: Pmacca01 at March 10, 2002 07:25 PM

Hey Wil...I would say more and be on topic but I'm kinda tired...but good to see ya online :)...just haven't been posting lately.
Love and light.
BTW, PLEASE answer Macca's question, she's asking me on the phone and saying, "Wil, PLEASE ANSWER MY POST" -not mad, just a like, "please please please!"
:)
SO please answer this for her!

Posted by: Shayne at March 10, 2002 07:27 PM

I saw that! And I know your secret; you are a closet Journey fan JUST LIKE ME.

Hee!

--belle

Posted by: belle at March 10, 2002 07:28 PM

Oh, gods, Shayne..
You're so funky.
Weirdo.

Posted by: Pmacca01 at March 10, 2002 07:28 PM

Roughy: hmmmm, aeros
did ya kiss the blarney stone?

Yep, I sure did.

Pictures coming in 4-6 weeks.

Riiiiiiight....

Like it'll be easy to just dispute that one.

But, I'll tell you...

I thought the Blarney Stone was some big ol' honkin' GEMSTONE or something.

It ain't.

I mean, if you'd've been in a bathroom, it'd pretty much have just been any other brick in the wall.

Not to mention, I'm a bit woosy with heights and I had to go and hang my ass over a windy hole and kiss some ugly-ass rock.

Posted by: Roughy at March 10, 2002 07:28 PM

http://goodwoods.safeshopper.com/14/690.htm?672

Aeros.

Posted by: Roughy at March 10, 2002 07:31 PM

Your a fine one to talk Deyvn (Macca)!!!
Your going to cause the GREAT ONE to get pissed off at us! ;-P
BTW, I'll tell Lightspeed, you cancelled the "Motorcity Con" b/c its still listed your going Wil!
I really need to read that post you posted Wil!
I'll read it...laterz..honest, but if I had the money I'd go to Vegas...but I'm broke off my ass and going to the Star Trek The Experience and the GRAND Convention that is put on by CREATION/FEDORA is way costly!
We down here in Texas tend to be poor. All goes to gas!
But gas down here is only $1.13 at most! I heard its like $1.30...and wil have you ever been "car-surfing" or heard anyone who has? I heard its a new sport down there in Cali!

Posted by: Shayne at March 10, 2002 07:33 PM

I've never been to Vegas. The only exposure I've ever had was from the Rat Pack, and as Wil said, it's not quite accurate.

Posted by: Pmacca01 at March 10, 2002 07:33 PM

Roughy: ah but you gained the gift of eloquence!

do try this at home folks
http://www.usacitylink.com/lucky/stone.html

Posted by: Londoner at March 10, 2002 07:36 PM

And one more question: Why the dollar sign for the S?

Posted by: Pmacca01 at March 10, 2002 07:37 PM

Wil,
Devyn, says we (her and I) are from Houston, home to Brent spiner, remember him? ;)
Can you PLEASE attend convention down here?
We're "convention-less"!!! :(
We're deprived!!
The Space City without its Stars!
We need a Star Trek the Experience down here, we could put it in CLEAR LAKE and NASA or "Reliant Park!"
Then RELIANT Park could change it from that to "AstroPark" that would be awesome!!
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE!!! Come down here, I'd love to meet ya! (yea this sounds like a typical normal fan?)
I don't bite, maybe Deyvn does, but she's getting her rabies shots next week!

Posted by: Shayne at March 10, 2002 07:37 PM

Actually, Shayne, I can't afford my rabies shots anymore. They jacked up the prices. :)

Posted by: Pmacca01 at March 10, 2002 07:39 PM

Wil...

When did you start aligning stars and controlling conventions?

How old was I then?

Posted by: Roughy at March 10, 2002 07:39 PM

That's what I was thinking, Roughly.

Posted by: Pmacca01 at March 10, 2002 07:40 PM

Sans the L.

Posted by: Pmacca01 at March 10, 2002 07:41 PM

Down here instead of "have you had your Break today?"...(McDonalds) ..its more have you had your shots today? (both drink and vaccine)...people drive like nutcases here!! :P
okay Devyn so I'll lend you the money...THIS time!!

Posted by: Shayne at March 10, 2002 07:42 PM

Hey Wil,

You should try Laughlin one of these days. All the hotels now have arcades for kids that are supervised by 3-5 people who patrol the game area and see that there isn't any trouble. The Riverside Hotel not only has an arcade but a bowling alley and movie theater.

Theres even huge theater where comedians like George Carlin have performed.

And we get free goodies and VIP passes all the time.

We also saw George Carlin there last year for $40.00 and dinner.

If you and your wife want to avoid the glitz of Vegas and have somewhat of laidback trip, try Laughlin. Harrah's, The Gold Nugget, and The Riverside are the best hotel/casinos for people with families and for people 25 to 50.

Laughlin is also not far from Lake Havasu, Oatman, and being along the Colorado River is fun.
Theres so much stuff to do there.

As for gambling...since I was 21 years old, I have ALWAYS won at least $500 playing the slots.
The most I won was $2500. And for most of these times, I've spent no more than $50 gambling.

All the times I've been to Vegas and the most I ever won was 5000 nickels.

Its so easy to win in Laughlin. :)

Posted by: melodyc at March 10, 2002 07:44 PM

The Cheese should be on any cool list out there, btw.

fwiw, I'm roflmgdao at the Roughly thing.

I might bbl, but I've ggp, but hopefully we'll always be f/f.

Posted by: Roughy at March 10, 2002 07:47 PM

I wish I could understand half of Roughy's last post.

Posted by: Pmacca01 at March 10, 2002 07:48 PM

Don't feel bad, Pmacca, I'm sure he's heard that before.

Posted by: Internal Audience at March 10, 2002 07:51 PM

by the way
for what it's worth
rolling on the floor laughing my gosh darn arse off
be back later
gotta go pee
friends forever

Posted by: Roughy at March 10, 2002 07:52 PM

Roughy, you are most definitely on my cool list. I loved story of when you went to court for that -what was it 12 year-old?- traffic violation. I'll have to go find it again and reread it so I can laugh at it again. Those hits from missouri.edu? those are me. Just thought you'd like to know :)

Posted by: Jess Lat at March 10, 2002 07:53 PM

Guess Wil went offline. Thanks, Roughy for that dictionary for the layman.

Posted by: Pmacca01 at March 10, 2002 07:56 PM

Mmmmmm....

Aeros in wrappers
And warm baps in mittens,
Krumpets at tea-time
And clean heads for shittin's,
IKEA packages, shaggings for flings,
These are my English half-remember things!!

Posted by: Internal Audience at March 10, 2002 07:56 PM

half-remembered, that is....

Posted by: Internal Audience at March 10, 2002 07:58 PM

lol...

Even funnier, Jess Lat...

That's not even my post!

That's Rusty.

I'm Roughy.

Or Roughly.

But, we're still BFF, right? Even if you cannot tell me apart from that other guy...

(that's BEST Friends Forever)

It's just like high school all over again...some other dude getting all the chicks and me laying all the ground work.

You know, the geeky buddy who was always there when y'all got dumped.

That was me.

Priming you up...and then BAM!

Along comes the new captain of the [sport] team just as I was getting ready to let you wear my class ring, even though you didn't know I existed.

[sigh]

Posted by: Roughy at March 10, 2002 07:58 PM

aw crap. now i feel like a dork. well shit. gonna have to go look again and figure out what the hell i'm talking about :) bbs (I didn't need the dictionary, thanks though :) )

Posted by: Jess Lat at March 10, 2002 08:03 PM

Less than 10 pictures sold???
Having purchased 2, I guess that makes me a big roller then. Does that mean I get a VIP pass the next time I see Wil on stage? HA!

Speaking of pictures Wil....???

Posted by: Keith in Montana at March 10, 2002 08:06 PM

Wil schmil...

Has anyone seen that hot piece o' blonde goodness that he duped into marrying him for he could get some freebie haircuts?

And then he gets to watch her video workouts?

When's that webcam coming back online, anyway?

Posted by: Roughy at March 10, 2002 08:08 PM

So, Roughy, what you're saying is that you're the blonde dude with the afro from My So-Called Life?

Posted by: Internal Audience at March 10, 2002 08:09 PM

It's more like Corky from "Life Goes On"...

Well, it's ROUGHLY like that.

Posted by: Roughy at March 10, 2002 08:11 PM

Interesting... Corky... Corkscrew... Cork... Wine... Cheese!!

Posted by: Internal Audience at March 10, 2002 08:14 PM

Spongebob Vega$ Pants, yeah baby!

Just wanted to comment on your section about people with jobs that involve much interaction with the public. I really related since I am one of those people.......I work retail, nuff said. It's really nice to know that there are people who understand that we do get a lot of crap from certain people and don't want to be that type of person we (workers who much have much public interaction) have to deal with. When I get to work with a customer who is so friendly and just a joy to interact with, it just leaves me with a nice feeling at the end of the day. It's good to know that you're that type of person who is responsible for that great feeling, Wil.

Anyway, can't wait for the final chapter of Spongebob Vega$ Pants. :-)

Posted by: Michelle at March 10, 2002 08:21 PM

I hate Vegas. Okay I might be a little prejudice since I come from the north in a little boring city called Reno. It's a north and south thing. Anyway I went down to LV to open a store and was there for two weeks. Yeah there is a lot to do. But it is the most ugliest city I have ever been to. The surrounding brown mountains do not help the scenery and the fact that it is a tract housing nightmare doesn't help. Visiting is fine but to live there is just...wrong. Now as for the people. I am sorry Nevada but we are all just narrow minded people with no manners or consideration for how we treat people. I am included in that since I was born in Reno. Nevadans are very narrow minded about their views and we all think we know everything. We don't. In fact I know LV is the fastest growing city and Reno is growing as well. But I think we have not really matured all that well. We sure know how to complain about everything though. Anyway Wil if you were treated badly from one of us I will apologize about that. It's just how we are. Which is actually sad and pathetic. Maybe one day Nevadans will realize that there is a whole other world outside of that state. I have which is why I moved away. As for people in Nevada we all need to grow up. Great I will probably get myself into trouble. Oh well I am just being opinionated. Makes me a true Nevadan, doesn't it.

Posted by: Mike at March 10, 2002 08:26 PM

Yeah, I finally got out of service jobs (sort of--now I'm a secutity guard, where you deal with a completely different type of asshole). My last job was at a movie theater. Try dealing with the average asshole *and* the asshole who can't speak English. When you ask if they want butter, they nod their heads because they can't understand you, then their *girlfriend* brings it back five minutes later bitching at you because he didn't want butter. Wil, people like you are a godsend to people in service jobs. So on behalf of all of us, a huge, huge Thank YOU. (That goes for all you other non-assholes too ;) )

Posted by: Jess Lat at March 10, 2002 08:27 PM

wil,
okay, so now yer daddy? i'm still gonna call you Uncle Willy. damn, i need to go to a casino, but i'm broke. but up here i can be on the other side of it, i'm part indian.
just to let y'all know, i got a job. i start at the mcdonalds down the street from the campus tomorrow afternoon. i don't like the idea myself, but i'm still looking to get into my writing/ singing/ acting career. i wanna make a movie soon, and sing on the soundtrack. this is why i am always on the net, looking for the hook-up. hey, jun likes my stories :shrugs:.
my roommate put sexy red streaks in my hair tonight for anyone who cares, just thought i'd add that. i look so good. yes, i have an ego.
'kay, that's it for now.

peace, love, and bubble-gum,
Ronda LOU

Posted by: ayngil at March 10, 2002 08:28 PM

dude wil.. i am banned from the star trek experience for stealing a cup at quarks bar :(

Can u put in a good word for me??

Posted by: hops at March 10, 2002 08:29 PM

As a person chooses to work with the public, I am constantly bombarded by crappy people. I am a waitress and a teacher, and would rather deal with my 5th graders then annoyed customers. It is refreshing to have polite customers who recognize that people make mistakes and it is not an attack on their being.

As for unions, we could talk about why I am a teacher AND a waitress!

Posted by: Alexa at March 10, 2002 08:31 PM

Roughy = Ducky.

The similarities betwixt our two lives continue, d00d.

Posted by: wil at March 10, 2002 08:32 PM

Wil, why the $ instead of the S in Vega$ pants. Can you see my posts??

Posted by: Pmacca01 at March 10, 2002 08:34 PM

Alexa shows something that is fundamentally wrong with our country: "I am a waitress and a teacher."

Teachers should make 10X what they make now.

Quoth the bumper: "If you think education is expensive, try ignorance."

Posted by: wil at March 10, 2002 08:36 PM

I am unloved. :(

Posted by: Pmacca01 at March 10, 2002 08:37 PM

Thanks wil, if only the rest of the country felt that way...

Posted by: Alexa at March 10, 2002 08:38 PM

Hey Alexa, I work at a diamond engagement store that just opened and for which the management refuses to advertise.
Be grateful you even have customers. :)

Posted by: Internal Audience at March 10, 2002 08:40 PM

Yeah! Rock on with Journey, Wil! Frontiers is the best album ever!

Posted by: Josh at March 10, 2002 08:42 PM

Hey Wil,
Not that I don't agree with you that teachers are underappreciated, but just as a comparison, teachers in the UK (last time I checked) are making approximately half the salary that the average teacher does over here, and that in a country that is significantly more expensive in which to live.

Posted by: Internal Audience at March 10, 2002 08:42 PM

Sure, I have customers, but the ones I like leave in June for summer vacation :) And they don't tip me...(unless you count the construction paper birthday cards).

Posted by: Alexa at March 10, 2002 08:43 PM

Oh, and by comparison, teachers make a MUCH better living now than they did 25+ years ago.

Posted by: Internal Audience at March 10, 2002 08:45 PM

Watchin enterprise right now.. it rulz all?

Posted by: hops at March 10, 2002 08:45 PM

Alexa...

You bring up exactly why I think that, to a degree, cops have the right to be "on the take" from time to time.

And, "on the take" could be free meals, etc.

The people who do the most for us and our future (and the future of our children) have to have more heart than they do a desire to do well for themselves, and it's shit.

Don't get me started...

I did research in high school b/c my aunt was big with the politicians in Illinois. I got A LOT of information and I gave a final speech on how teachers' salaries could get an easy 5% increase by cutting down on the winnings in lotteries--hey, a millionaire's a friggin' millionaire, right? Right.

The PRINCIPAL of my school mocked me by asking me if I was going to be a teacher for a career.

"No; I don't see how I can afford to."

"Oh, then will you be a truckdriver, like your father?"

"Oh, my father who makes $15k more per year than you do--your salary is public knowledge--and he got a GED because he was in the Army? No, I won't be a truck driver, either, but I'll always respect him. Can you say the same for your kids?"

When you get down to it, maybe that's it.

Respect is worth so much more than money.

I hope you win a thousand lotteries. And a thousand of your friends, and police officers and ambulance drivers and volunteers of all sorts.

Posted by: Roughy at March 10, 2002 08:47 PM

Unfortunately, they all come to my area in June, and not all of them are what you would call nice. I was working in our casino store (Atlantic City) and would have men coming in with receipts for the jewelry they had bought their girlfriends, and foolishly had enabled their wives to see, and hence were DEMANDING that they get the exact same jewelry PRONTO to present to their wives. Not the happiest (not to mention brightest or morally superior) customers imaginable.

Posted by: Internal Audience at March 10, 2002 08:48 PM

Hey Roughy, I don't care what those other people were saying, you're cool in my book.

Posted by: Internal Audience at March 10, 2002 08:52 PM

Well said, Rougy.

Posted by: Jess Lat at March 10, 2002 08:55 PM

wow, that's two typos for your name this same thread. wow.

Posted by: Jess Lat at March 10, 2002 08:55 PM

I chose my career because I couldn't imagine doing anything else. I still can't. Teachers may make more than they did 25+ years ago, but they didn't have students that had severe behavior problems in their classroom, unbelievable amounts of testing to prove to the government that you are doing an acceptable job, etc. etc. Teachers will never make 10x as much as they do now, but it's nice to dream.

Posted by: Alexa at March 10, 2002 08:56 PM

Mine was better.

Posted by: Pmacca01 at March 10, 2002 08:56 PM

i fix computers for a living :(

Posted by: hops at March 10, 2002 09:01 PM

Alexa, I didn't in any way mean to minimize what you teachers do now; believe me, I have the utmost respect for you. Not only do you have to deal with out-of-control kids, you no longer have the luxury of a parent's reinforcing your authority over a child. Teaching is indeed one of our most undervalued professions.

Posted by: Internal Audience at March 10, 2002 09:02 PM

I'm an actress, in other words: I'm broker than a hollywood whore on crack.

Posted by: Pmacca01 at March 10, 2002 09:02 PM

Posted by: Pmacca01 at March 10, 2002 09:03 PM

.....where we are always one pull of the slot machine away from the Rainman suite.....

you ca-rack me up! wil, you're my favorite.

Posted by: pavegirl at March 10, 2002 09:04 PM

and sarah is wil's favorite. i'm so jealous.

Posted by: Jess Lat at March 10, 2002 09:06 PM

sarah is hot?

Posted by: hops at March 10, 2002 09:09 PM

I was not offended, I just find myself justifying what I do to so many people that I have continued today. Kansas has just WAY overspent their budget and their first cut is...education. Another topic, another day! Thanks for the support.

Posted by: alexa at March 10, 2002 09:11 PM

a friend of mine teaches at a school for kids who r trouble makers.. she has to deal with kids who dont listen to her.. talk all class.. throw things.. she gets paid shit.. the turnover for the teachers is crazy at her school.. the school is in a strip mall.. the principal sexually harasses the teachers there.. but they stay because they need the experience..

what is the world coming to?

Posted by: hops at March 10, 2002 09:12 PM

Wow! How pathetic am I? No one even notices me when I mention crack.

Posted by: Pmacca01 at March 10, 2002 09:13 PM

I can't imagine any rational person making you feel like you have to justify being an educator. If only through pure self interest, most people will want to procreate, so there needs to be someone to teach their children!! And someone who WANTS to do it and WILL BE GOOD at doing it, ergo. Oy.

Posted by: Internal Audience at March 10, 2002 09:15 PM

i noticed the crack.. but i thought u were talkin about butt crack.. got me all excited..

Posted by: hops at March 10, 2002 09:16 PM

Again, I live in Kansas. We are not talking about rational people.

Posted by: alexa at March 10, 2002 09:16 PM

Reading the Spongester while listening to the Black Sabbath "Paranoid" album was.......interesting.

Posted by: Fred Fowler at March 10, 2002 09:16 PM

Wow, someone noticed me. I think I'll have a party. At least someone cares. Even if it's only about booty.

Posted by: Pmacca01 at March 10, 2002 09:17 PM

Alexa, I think it's great that you teach. I once considered it, but I know I would suck at it. I have zero patience. I have two really good friends who teach at the high school level and props to them for surviving. It's shit that you guys have to take so much crap and get paid so little. I couldn't take it. So take that as a compliment. You have much stronger character than I. Good luck. :)

Posted by: Jess Lat at March 10, 2002 09:19 PM

it all cums back to the booty doesnt it..

Posted by: hops at March 10, 2002 09:19 PM

Hey you're not in Kansas City are you? I go to Mizzou and I've been told by people who used to go there that they lost their accreditation (sp) and half the teachers lost their jobs. I hope you never find yourself in a position like that.

Posted by: Jess Lat at March 10, 2002 09:23 PM

God NO! I am in Topeka for 6 more weeks and then KC. I am planning on teaching in Shawnee Mission, Kansas. KCMO lost their accreditation and the state is now running the district. I don't know which is better.

Posted by: alexa at March 10, 2002 09:25 PM

the new 311 music.. its awesome..

thoughts?

Posted by: hops at March 10, 2002 09:26 PM

also I saw the time machine.. new movie.. IT SUCKED. tried to be planet of the apes.. LAME!

Posted by: hops at March 10, 2002 09:28 PM

When I was a child,
I caught a fleeting glimpse
Out of the corner of my eye.
I turned to look, but it was gone,
I cannot put my finger on it now.
The child is grown.
The dream is gone...

Posted by: Internal Audience at March 10, 2002 09:32 PM

i once walked in to a bar.
my head really hurt after that..

Posted by: hops at March 10, 2002 09:33 PM

Wow! I log on for one last check of things before bed and find SpongeBobVega$Pants! With wild Journey references! Whoda thunk it?

Hey Pmacca01, don't sweat it. There are much worse things than not being acknowledged in the comments.

Things like seeing over 100 comments already on a new entry by the time you see it for the first time, for instance. ; )

Or, hops' little bar pun there... : )

Posted by: olafandy jon at March 10, 2002 09:38 PM

I know, just giving myself something to complain about.

Posted by: Pmacca01 at March 10, 2002 09:42 PM

Yeah, even worse is reading hops' pun and NOT getting it, ascribing the headache to an eventual hangover. Then realizing that you were accepted at all the top law schools in the nation and wondering what the state of the world could possibly be.

Posted by: Internal Audience at March 10, 2002 09:42 PM

Ooooh...that is bad...

But I must commend hops for coming up with one of those reaaaalllly bad puns that isn't quite obvious if you approach it from a higher level of thinking.

Sort of like when a termite walks into a bar and asks, "Is the bar tender here?"

Posted by: olafandy jon at March 10, 2002 09:54 PM

LOL...I like that one.

Posted by: Pmacca01 at March 10, 2002 09:58 PM

What I want to know, is why is Wil at Jumbo's Clown Room? Didn't think I would actually see him there. hmmm...

Posted by: poiboy at March 10, 2002 09:59 PM

Oh, man, Jon, that's poor. The worst part about it is it reminds me of the following joke.

A piece of string wanders into a bar, gets up to the counter and asks for a drink.
The bartender sneers at him and says "We don't serve any string here."
So the piece of string is heartbroken and wanders away.
He goes up to a mirror back at his pad and takes both his ends and fans them out, quite prettily. Then, he whirls himself around to look much denser and tougher than he was before. He then marches back to the bar, authoritatively.
The new and improved piece of string hops up to the stool and orders a drink.
The bartender looks at him suspiciously and asks:
"Hey, aren't you that piece of string I just threw out of here??"
The string replies "No sir, I'm a frayed not."

THAT'S ALL FOLKS!
/me ducks the flying tomatoes and scampers off to bed.

Posted by: Internal Audience at March 10, 2002 10:01 PM

"a frayed knot" that is. Damn, how bad is it when you misspell monosyllabic words and can't even have the excuse of typing too quickly...?

Posted by: Internal Audience at March 10, 2002 10:03 PM

Oh god...torture!!!

Posted by: Pmacca01 at March 10, 2002 10:03 PM

Posted by: Pmacca01 at March 10, 2002 10:04 PM

whoa...
that was bitchin!!!

Posted by: shaynie at March 10, 2002 10:10 PM

Wil wheaton.....thats all that can be said. When I read about this site a flood of memories just came back the times you made me laugh and cry, with the leeches...and that movie with the train...and that movie with keifer sutherland...and that movie with feldman and his burnt fucking ear...and that movie where you strive to find a dead kid.....wait that was all one movie. But it was a great one. And that one where your a football player? Or something. I dunno but dammit your a funny funny man! You bring me laughter with your stories and bring laughter to the masses i would hope! Keep watching kevin smith movies! and liking them! And listening to good music that we enjoy to be called punk rock! YES! And most of all do not let that fucker from the DELL computer commercials make a website...hopefully the power of all that is wil wheaton can stop that occurence that may already be IN FACT a site...let us pray. You know you and Jason Lee should be in a movie a kevin smith movie and perhaps since you would like to work with him, it will be soon! oh for i hope. Oh lord shine down upon me I have released the devil. I have one main question wil: Have you ever met Patirck Duffy? Step by step, eek times 2. farwell.

Posted by: Benson at March 10, 2002 10:16 PM

Dont worry Pmacca01, I love you (referring to an earlier post). And I noticed the crack mention.

Hey, it took me quite some time ( and being near the top) for me to get noticed by Wil. In other words...I got lucky

Posted by: Frank at March 10, 2002 10:36 PM

Wow! 123 comments in less than a day! Amazing.

Anyway, Wil, have you ever been to one of those Chinese restaurants with waiters from Hong Kong? The really really rude ones? Are you nice to them as well?

Posted by: callista at March 10, 2002 10:42 PM

Damn... by the time I get to say anything the topic has skewed a bit.... anyway, I would like to recommend a book to y'all who likes to look at the allure of viva las vegas baby,

What do you get when you managed to convince/con your publisher for an advance of $50,000 to gamble in Vegas so you can write a book?

I recommend, 24/7: Doubling Down and Living it up in Las Vegas. Funny book as hell. As a guy who was there for a month (long story), it is so true.

I also saw Elvis...... made my day.

Posted by: Ramius at March 10, 2002 11:04 PM

Mr. Wheaton (SIR!),

I'll cross-post it in the soapbox when I can get the [insert several colorful expletives here] thing to load the religion/politics board.

*hint*

*hint* *hint*

I hadn't really intended it as a political rant, though--that's why I stfu instead of going into one of my typical posts....

JSc

Posted by: JSc at March 10, 2002 11:12 PM

Thanks for the laugh Wil-

That woman disgusts us too, along with her counterparts who find it amusing to "look down noses" at us the way she did because we wait on them.

The world would be a much different place if people would remember that karma is cyclical...

and repetitive.

I can't help but smile at the way it came back to her, and so rapidly! :)

Posted by: one of those "service" people at March 10, 2002 11:19 PM

i dont think we'll ever get a star trek convention here. oh, woe is me. (completely off subject) i used to chat at scifi.com, hung out in #startrekchat back in the days when the original star trek was simulcast(or what i think means that everyone saw it at the same time) anyhow.. i'd get bored and talk to the bot that kept the channel open. it was named "tricorder".. isn't that clever @_@.. i think im trying to say i want scifi to simulcast the show again. yeah.. that's my point. heh..

Posted by: wargoddess at March 10, 2002 11:32 PM

now i'm angry.

Posted by: the cheese at March 10, 2002 11:35 PM

Apparently the desk woman doesn't have high caliber self esteem, or she wouldn't act like that. Empty indeed, and her punishment for being such a bi-yatch is to have to wait on the very people she admires (God knows why) but whom will never accept her as one of their own. A shallow and sad existence. You were too forgiving. I would have at least strutted back by her desk, waved the passes and gloated. But that's just me, I guess.

Posted by: Anne at March 10, 2002 11:36 PM

Somewhat on topic (for a change!), though I've never had the chance (or really the desire) to go to Vegas, I *will* be at LLNL in California for a month this summer.

If I'm lucky, I'll be able to talk everyone into going to see Mr. Wheaton (SIR!) live.

Who would have thought that being a chemistry geek would score me a trip to California?

Posted by: JSc at March 10, 2002 11:36 PM

By the way, I can't stand Vegas.

Posted by: Anne at March 10, 2002 11:38 PM

Son of a weenie... STNG on DVD and the Spouse Thingy is spending $25 a month to get the whole frigging series from Columbia House on VIDEO TAPE. If I tell him, he will want it. If I don't, by the time he has all the tapes he'll have blown over $2000. I wonder how far into it he is, after buying a tape a month for the last THREE years...

[vent over]

I wanna go to Vega$ and feed money into slot machines, but I think there's a law that once you hit 40, you have to have dinner at 4pm and be out of the casino and in bed by 7... and what's the fun in that...?

=sigh=

It sucks to get old...

Posted by: Thumper at March 11, 2002 12:08 AM

Who doesn't love Pmacca01?

C'mon, you know you do.

Posted by: Courtney at March 11, 2002 12:27 AM

Alan Ruck played a hapless Captain of Enterprise on it's maiden voyage, "a spin around the solar system and back to dry dock." I forgot the name of the film but it's the one where Kirk buys the farm for good.

Posted by: Kman at March 11, 2002 12:50 AM

OMG! I had nearly forgotten about that horrible woman during check-in at the hotel.
Looking forward to the rest of the story, particularly dinner at Chez Midlife Crisis. It occurs to me that the picture that I finally got to you guys was immediately following that dinner.
Always interesting to hear someone else's take on shared experiences.

Posted by: BURNS! at March 11, 2002 12:56 AM

This is SO 126 posts ago, but that Corky Nemec link was really freaky!

I've only been to the Vegas airport. It was really late at night, and I remember seductive voices over the intercom saying "This is your lady luck..."

And no one ever notices me either. But I notice you. I look through your lockers. I read your letters. I am the eyes and ears of this institution! (guess the movie)

Posted by: tammy at March 11, 2002 12:59 AM

Ducky was so the cheese.

And then he went back to high school with those blonde-colored streaks in his hair in that other movie.

And he got the chick, damn him.

Looks like that IS how it happens in the movies...and to movie stars.

Glad you got your star, Wil.

Gimme my cheese back.

Posted by: Roughy at March 11, 2002 03:50 AM

Casinos have this sound and smell to them that is not as exciting as the owners would have you believe. It's a mixture of the sounds of hundreds of slot machines, some anonymous music being played on public address systems, and the smell of stale cigarette smoke. The first casino I ever visited was cheap, sad, and had a few loners in there, bored out of their gourds pulling the one-armed bandits.

We have a self-imposed limit that we follow when we visit casinos (which isn't too often) -- when the limit is spent, that's it. Sure we've won a bit of money, but, we don't go to too many of them these days. And, frankly, as you describe Wil, the allure that we all bought into from people like Sinatra, Dean Martin, etc. etc. just crumbles in the face of the reality that stalks these casino towns.

Last year I was a lecturer on a cruise ship (all expenses paid for me and the spousal unit). It was a blast! But, one thing I noticed -- with all the hundreds of things to do and the gorgeous scenery around (we were in South America), there were still a few folks who spent nearly the entire time sitting in the casino, playing roulette or the machines. One woman was in there nearly every day, gambling away her time and money while the ship moved through some of the most gorgeous places on Earth.

One last casino story... in Colorado we voted in limited-stakes gambling in order to "preserve" the historical towns of Black Hawk, Central City, and Leadville -- and I think some of the money goes to shore up the state budget (I forget).

These three towns were once mining towns high in the Rockies, little villages surrounded by tailing dumps and gashes in the sides of the mountains. After most of the mines closed down, they became tourist destinations and banked on their "quaintness." I always thought they looked like movie sets, but their one saving grace was that the scenery around them (aside from the dumps) was spectacular. Today that assumed quaintness is gone, replaced by monster casinos that have eaten up the available space in return for what... it's not clear. The scenery is chewed up, and the light pollution and car traffic are horrible.

It's really sad... not just for the folks who lose their money at these establishments, but for the places that lost their soul by allowing them to be built.

/rant

Posted by: SpaceWriter at March 11, 2002 05:46 AM

Great edition of Vega$ Bob Sponge Pants!

I especially loved the reference to "Showgirls", one of the great films of celluloid history ;-)

Posted by: Brent at March 11, 2002 06:30 AM

Cool, Wil, enjoyed the spongebob post, which inspired me to go cruisin' around the con links. Then I saw it. Creation. AAARRRGGHHH!!! Creation sux! Don't do creation! Just say no to Creation! Back in our heavy con-going days, before kids-n responsibility-n-shit, Creation was about the only thing going, aside from some well-meaning but piddly little independents. They knew they were the only thing going, and they let you know it. They had some con-director guy, coincidentally named Berman, who was the most arrogant asswipe I ever met in my life. His whole attitude: "You foolish mortals are all silly enough to pay all sorts of money to see these so-called celebrities and buy silly trinkets, and we will capitalize on you and talk down to you while we take your money hand-over-fist, and not bother to say thank you." Geez, he could've at least used a little lubie before he... oh wait, that's not family-friendly. And neither is Creation!!!!

Posted by: Gette at March 11, 2002 08:00 AM

Speaking of the Rat Pack. I remember a great quote from the "Dean Martin" character. More or less, he said, Sammy, the world is in a drinking binge. One day, they will wake up with one hell of a hangover and that's when we will see that we were just the drink of the moment." Again, ore or less, but that was the sentiment.

Posted by: JohnnyA at March 11, 2002 09:01 AM

Wow...see what happens when I go for a weekend without checking into WWDN? More SpongeBob Vega$Pants, _and_ I get something like post #143.

Damn.

I'm lucky if I get 2 comments on any posts on my blog.

But then, I'm not Uncle Willy (SIR!). And my readership is...um...five. I think. Maybe 10 on a good day, when family _and_ friends check in.

But that's okay. Because...

...Nomi Malone has heat. Lots if it. She rocks my world.

And my really cheesy neon-palm-tree lit swimming pool. But any more about that would push this post into NC-17 territory, so - time to stop.

I've never been to Vega$. Should someday. If I ever go, though, I'm going to take the gambling advice that a friend of mine gave me.

Figure out your budget. What can you afford to gamble? Take what you're willing and able to spend (be that $50, $500, or $5000, whatever), and put it in your _right_ pocket.

When you gamble, take money out of that _right_ pocket.

When you win, put the winnings in your _left_ pocket.

When the _right_ pocket is empty - walk out of the casino.

Gambling this way, he said he usually starts with $500, usually (but not always) comes out ahead, and often walked out at least doubling what he started with.

Posted by: djwudi at March 11, 2002 09:06 AM

Okay, make that post #144 (and #145). JohnnyA snuck in there ahead of me.

That bastich. ;-)

Must...type...faster...

Posted by: djwudi at March 11, 2002 09:07 AM

Wil..not sure if you read old bottom of the threads..but I had already emailed "those" people
before I saw your note to me..but I was nice or
at the very least civil..glad you rephrased the
page before they felt the POWER of the POSSE!
Hey THAT would make a good t-shirt/sticker! lol

Posted by: bluecat/redblanket at March 11, 2002 09:09 AM

first chance I've had to post today so bare with me, several things...

yeah, we teachers are paid too little for all we do, but at the same time I find have have more job satisfaction then some people who make ten times as much as me. hearing a kid laugh or smile at me when they "get it" makes all the crappy dinners and missed lunches worth it (most of the time) but don't tell my boss that. and as for the fact that teachers made less 25 years ago, who didn't? most professions have pay increases over the years because the cost of living goes up.

the corky nemic site was kinda scary. I think I am gonna have to sleep with the light on tonight. actually though you gotta support someone who says what he believes in.

I missed the sag awards last night, but congrats on the clip uncle willy.

have a good one all,

amellia

Posted by: jadis at March 11, 2002 09:19 AM

Tammy:

Sounds a little Breakfast Clubby to me. I could be wrong though. Being half-asleep and all. Mmm... breakfast.

Posted by: Mandy at March 11, 2002 09:50 AM

I cannot believe that teachers are paid so little in the States. And half as much in the UK?
What the hell? Does the Governments have so little respect to the teachers of the countries
children? B****rds.

Posted by: ymous_annon at March 11, 2002 10:01 AM

Yeah...

And someone almost always recognizes "that teacher who..." as a major influence in their lives.

Nice way of doing things around here...

If we SAY we're focused on education...people will think we are!

Posted by: Roughy at March 11, 2002 11:09 AM

heh...don't worry Wil...I've worked in casinos...that attitude is usually with the hosts/hostesses....the folks that have to earn tips for a living know better then to condescend to the guests...can't pay bills that way...

speaking of tips...off to work...late...

Posted by: Mavrick at March 11, 2002 11:15 AM

I never had a teacher who was a major influence in my life. I had a couple of real jerks. But, at least they I learned something from them. Other than be nice to everyone. They really do deserve earn to make alot of money.

Posted by: ymous_annon at March 11, 2002 11:28 AM

I loved that story!! :o ) And, realizing it's not over (yet), I must peruse through the archives of this site to find out more. As in the beginning and the middle...

I had a grin on the old face about the "wonderful" customer service lady...lol...the words "pinched" and "particle board" just really jumped out at me, for some strange reason. Very well told, Wil...thanks! :o )

So, that's what everyone else, who have been at this site since it's inception, have been asking for...cool.

Looking forward to more,

Posted by: Mark at March 11, 2002 11:28 AM

It seems I can't make any sense today. I think I'll just shut up.

Posted by: ymous_annon at March 11, 2002 11:30 AM

Did anyone here make it up to the show this past Friday? How was it? How hard was it to get tickets last minute? I wanted to make it but realized I was too damn tired to drive up from O.C. to make it to a show that might have been sold out.

(A-ha...the power of calling ahead, hey?)

Posted by: Moe at March 11, 2002 12:24 PM

Alexa:
You'd be surprised how many other teachers have second jobs to help pay their bills. Usually because they have families. My dad had to work as a phlebotomist at our local hospital to help pay the bills. I don't think he realized how low his salary would be, over the years. Which means I must be really stupid for knowing it and still planning to become a high school teacher. Still, I'll probably have more fun than most people. I mean, how many jobs can you retire from knowing that what you did mattered, that you made a difference in people's lives?

Posted by: dake at March 11, 2002 12:53 PM

To keep things entirely in perspective re: teachers, keep in mind that although the pay is usually only 30-50k a year (50k only with a lot of seniority) for a teacher who only has a bachelor's degree, that is paid for 9 months of work (unless the teacher *chooses* to teach summer school) and is physically teaching for about 6 hours a day (yes, I'm including prep hours and grading). Additionally, most school districts have an insanely good health/dental/etc. plan for the teachers, which (given the high cost of any sort of insurance nowadays) does a lot to help balance things out.

Then again, this isn't a political thread.... So I'll stfu... ;)

With a master's or a PhD, it's not unusual for a teacher to be making between 50 and 70k, not including the

Posted by: JSc at March 11, 2002 01:09 PM

People with Master's or PH.D.'s aren't usually teaching in elementary/high school... and 6 hours a day MIGHT be the hours a teacher spends in front of students teaching, but it DOES NOT include hours spent grading, correcting, making tests, developing lesson plans (they don't just make up classes off the cuff you know), and totaling up grades for report cards. And it's actually more like 10 months. Teachers spend an extra approx 2 weeks after the school year finishing up their grading, ordering textbooks, cleaning their classrooms; and then they start preparing for the new school year about approx 2 weeks before school actually starts. None of this is hearsay, like I said, my dad's a teacher, I KNOW all of this is fact.

Posted by: dake at March 11, 2002 01:20 PM

And I don't mean to imply that you don't know what you're talking about JSc, its just that people use those arguments to say that teachers should make less money, and that just tends to frost me. If you pay less money, do you think you're going to attract the most qualified, intelligent, hard-working, or dedicated teachers?
Just a thought...

Posted by: dake at March 11, 2002 01:23 PM

Don't you hate when you intend to cut a post short, but forget to delete all the stuff at the end?

Posted by: JSc at March 11, 2002 01:26 PM

S'ok, we still luv ya

Posted by: dake at March 11, 2002 01:28 PM

Must... resist... urge... to... argue.......

Posted by: JSc at March 11, 2002 01:48 PM

Lost Wages rules. Pay my income tax. :D

I like it here, actually. Except for the drivers. And the cabbies. And the commercialism. And the congested strip. And trying to cross that strip on a Friday night. And the buffets. Last place I was near the strip was the star trek experience (for the 203948203480329 time). But that's because I know people that work there. :)

Reno Mike: I'm from Gardnerville originally. I'm sure by now I've been totally and completely brainwashed and forgotten that there's another side of the state...hahah...no wonder mom gets mad because I forget to call.

Wil: Nice site...stumbled by it via fark.com.

Wow..i'll quit...too much to comment on. I'm on the path to an epic diatribe.

Posted by: Nene at March 11, 2002 02:26 PM

Will, you should have pulled a full-tilt, off-the-hook, prima-donna "Don't you know who I AM???!!!" type scene on the gal who said the "certain caliber of guest" stuff...dude, you gotta learn to work that Star Trek angle.

Hell, god forbid I was ever on Star Trek - I'd be all: "My Big Mac...has pickles..PICKLES! I specifically said NO PICKLES, don't you know who I AM???? I am goddamn Wesley CRUSHER and if you don't get this pickle off my sandwich NOW you're going to have about a million guys dressed in Klingon suits, along with a half a million weblog readers tearing this BK apart, baby - pronto! Okay...so maybe I wouldn't, gotta admit, though, it'd make a great scene in a Wil Wheaton documentary :)

Posted by: Jimmy Olsen at March 11, 2002 02:33 PM

Wil and everyone else, Not sure if you know this already but I just did a search on google for Star Trek Geek and the first result for WWDN! lol.

~slugfro

Posted by: slugfro at March 11, 2002 03:05 PM

Jumping in late in THIS discussion. I would want
to think that we all have had a teacher that did
influence us in one way or the other..(mine was not English)HA!..and that is really the point is it not? To make a difference...and NO they do NOT
get paid fairly in ANY state in the U.S.. A very
sad state of affairs.

Posted by: bluecat-redblanket at March 11, 2002 03:29 PM

can't wait for the conclusion of SpongeBob Vega$ pants. yeah ok i'll avoid saying something lame and just say see ya
~pyro

Posted by: kristin at March 11, 2002 03:52 PM

Slugfro, LOL. Funniest thing I heard all day.
I wonder what happened to the other comments.
There was some really nice ones there.

Posted by: ymous_annon at March 11, 2002 04:16 PM

Did anyone watch The Screen Actors Guild Awards last night on TNT? Stand by me was mentioned for the best young actors of all time. Stand by me's on now on the Cinemax channel.

Posted by: lanie at March 11, 2002 04:16 PM

There was some other post's for today but I kinda
think Wil pulled them so we would THINK instead of
babbling on like I am now.

Posted by: bluecat-redblanket at March 11, 2002 04:28 PM

I think it's going to take s'more alcohol to keep me from joining the "non-political" thread....

Posted by: JSc at March 11, 2002 05:52 PM

Hey kids, I saw that River's biography is on tomorrow. I remember reading that Mr Wheaton was going to have something to do with that. Is the biography that he's in??? :D

Posted by: Chelsey at March 11, 2002 07:04 PM

Great story Wil. Can't wait to hear the end!

Posted by: Fimpster at March 11, 2002 07:55 PM

Hey Wil,
uh sir, let's be real you know I think the reason why you napped so much other then for the night life is because the heat alone would wipe you out right? Hell I would sleep during the hot points and get up intime for the fun hours-
However I have to comment about people who look down upon others-
-For one they suck!
2nd- Karma does kick you in the ass
3rd- it's never fun being on the recieving end...
4th - If I have to be on the sending end,, i make sure to get my point across of why I am rude back but I have never done that in a customer service type of thing, the custromer is always right, and if he's happy he comes back for more
*Cha- Ching$$$$****
Someday I hope to get to Vegas- I wanna see the Star Trek expereince.

Posted by: Andie G. at March 11, 2002 11:15 PM

OMG- I almost forgot!!
my Star Trek experince the closest I ever got to was on a flight home to El Paso From Cali. one year they were actually having a con here and I met on the flight the stopped in Arizonia was John DeLance- he was really cool with me and gave me his autograph 3 times so I could give copies to my sister and Dad. However my stupid Ex- was jelouse and he threw it away! :(
I could tell he was so tired and just wanted to rest so I tried not to bug him to the flight was alomost over- what can I say - I am curtious- :)

Posted by: Andie G. at March 11, 2002 11:22 PM

I don't know about you guys but I think it's time we get to see what Wil's wife looks like.

Posted by: Guy at March 11, 2002 11:56 PM

Guy; Wil has posted pictures of his lovely wife on this site before. But right now no pictures. Can't wait until the gallery comes back!

Posted by: wkeith@bigsky.net at March 12, 2002 06:47 AM

I was getting down to the bottom of the comments thinking I was gonna be the only one to get the sly Showgirls reference.

clickie

Posted by: jodilyn at March 12, 2002 09:37 AM

alright now - what's the secret to a link? damn I was just trying to make you smile.

http://www.livejournal.com/talkread.bml?itemid=21986490

if not... paste me although nothing every remotely funny when you have to go through so much damn work.

http://www.livejournal.com/talkread.bml?itemid=21986490

Posted by: jodilyn at March 12, 2002 09:42 AM

what happening to comments???

Posted by: Gesikah at March 12, 2002 09:50 AM

that sucks. a lot. why do some assholes have to ruin things for the rest of us?

Posted by: Jess Lat at March 12, 2002 10:58 AM

Yeah,

Turning off comments, no farkin' fair man. Assholes begone already........

Posted by: fenaray at March 12, 2002 11:05 AM

wil doesn't believe in free speech anymore :(

Posted by: hops at March 12, 2002 11:42 AM

Just relax guys, he said they are only off 'till the new version of MT comes out.

I think he made a good decision turning them off. It lets everyone know who's site this is and what kind of behavior he expects on it. Wil puts all the work into this thing, we just show up and read it.

Posted by: Purple Nurple at March 12, 2002 11:55 AM

Good point, Nurple. It's Wil's site; he does what he wants. End of story.

I sure do enjoy seeing what he has to say. I usually don't even read the comments anyway.

Posted by: John at March 12, 2002 12:45 PM

what is WT anyway?
Isn't this OUR site? :)

Posted by: hops at March 12, 2002 01:03 PM

Hops:
In the sense that its OUR community here because we're all a part of it, yes.
In the sense that we maintain the site and pay for its up-keep and so-forth, no. Uncle Willy does that all himself.

Posted by: dake at March 12, 2002 01:57 PM

hops... you bug.

Posted by: pavegirl at March 12, 2002 02:34 PM

Although you of course have the right to say anything you want, there is nothing that says Mr. Wheaton (SIR!) either has to listen to it, or allow you to say it here.

(That of course is the "you" in the greater sense, and I'm not attempting to single anyone out here....)

Posted by: JSc at March 12, 2002 03:50 PM

This is wils realm, here he is omnipotent, if he tells you to wipe your ass, you better well do it or he will shut this bitch down

Posted by: bluesman at March 13, 2002 12:22 AM

pavegirl I'm trying to get some conversation going. I wasn't trying to bug anyone.

Posted by: hops at March 13, 2002 06:26 AM

The last time I was in Vega$ was for a meeting. I flew in, stayed at the Polo Club (executive timeshare) and went to my meeting the next day. Pretty boring stuff. I flew out that afternoon. During the cab ride back to the airport the driver asked me why I was in town. I couldn't manage to convince him that it was only for a meeting and not other stuff.

Posted by: Charles at March 13, 2002 06:34 AM

Maybe you were on taxi cab confessions?

Posted by: hops at March 13, 2002 06:36 AM

Nomi is gone Wil. She's gone. Never to return.

Please Nomi, I beg of you. DON'T RETURN.

Posted by: Dave at March 13, 2002 06:54 AM

i've been to vegas twice for a fast 3 day weekend... both were for weddings... and both stays were completely fast paced and awesome. i'm not a gambler by trade, so giving myself a budget of $40 to gamble seemed perfect. went and saw the foos one time and o.... what beats that? i loooove, love, love vegas. what's wrong w/the rest of you?

Posted by: pavegirl at March 13, 2002 08:46 AM

last time i went to vegas.. the britney spears concert was happening.. tons of teeny boppers around..
our cab driver tried to convince me that the cabbies were run by the mafia. He wanted to bring us to hookers and we were like uh no thanks.
anyone count cards playing blackjack? its the only way to go.. the last two times i have gone ive won 400$.. thats with 5 bux as my minimum and with 40$ being my maximum when the count is good.

I LOVE VEGAS WHO WANTS TO GO

Posted by: hops at March 13, 2002 09:15 AM

Wil could we have some data as to WHEN the new
"posty thingy" will be availiable? PLEASE. I am
sure you know some of us are in WITHDRAWAL here!

The soapbox is OK but not as good in my humble
opinion..grumble grumble.

Posted by: bluecat-redblanket at March 15, 2002 06:24 AM

I'll have to agree with Bluecat, this can become on some level a source of daily outlet. I enjoy the 'conversations' over the various topics. I hope that there's a new "posty thingy" coming soon!

Cam

Posted by: Cameron at March 15, 2002 08:51 AM

Figures,I go away for a week and everything goes to hell in hand basket. I hope that comments are back up soon.

I have this voodoo doll I brought back from New Orleans that I can use on the people who caused this mess if anyone wants me to. On the plus side it did mean hours less of reading in order to catch up here.

How does one explain WWWDN withdrawl to one's spousal unit?

Seven things for today.
1. WWDN is still here even though comments are not
2. Chocolate.
3. Vacations.
4. My godson Xander.
5. Being back home.
6. My loving husband.
7. Cats.

Posted by: Gaea at March 17, 2002 09:39 PM

that was really bad

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