As most people who crawl out of their beds and work for a living, I’m happy it’s Friday.  I don’t have much planned this weekend except for a neighbor kid’s birthday party and running down to Montgomery to drop off some group supplies for Kevin.  Got a fundraiser next weekend for Project Ecto in B’ham, but I won’t be able to make due to plans for my birthday.

Speaking of Project Ecto, I’m ready to get it off my plate.  We need to raise $2,500 more, and the car will be ours.  No one is really contributing anything despite the fact this will be a charity/community event car.  It’s not for any of our personal uses, and I don’t even know if that belief is the reason we’re not getting many donations for it.  I’d like to think it’s just because the economy stinks right now.  Either way, I’m tired of asking businesses and private folks for a hand (on that note, please see the above link if you’d like to donate online).

The freelance voice gig site is in dire need of an update.  Yeah, I only launched it a couple of weeks ago, but you’ve got to maintain a site like that to draw people in.  I have one potential paying gig so far, and I hope that will open the door for more.  I’ve got a lead from a friend about a video production house nearby that could possibly use my services.  I need to call them early next week.  (Click here to “like” the BPVP Facebook page)

I’m also still taking freelance projects for websites.  The guy I’ve been working with hasn’t bothered to respond to my e-mails in almost two months, so I’m open for new jobs right now.  I really need the money to buy a new computer because my current one isn’t handling all the new CS5 software too well.  Actually, it’s not handling a lot of stuff too well right now.  The motherboard and CPU are almost six-years-old, so it’s time to upgrade.

We took lil’ man back to his cardiologist a couple of weeks ago, and he got a great report.  Doc said by the time he’s 10, all this will be an afterthought.  I’m so thankful for the doctors at UAB.  God has given them talents beyond my wildest imagination.

I’m hoping to see “Inception” some time this weekend.  I probably won’t, but I’ll try.  I’m really looking forward to it and what Chris Nolan brings to it.  After this dies down, they’ll start focusing heavily on Batman 3.  To say I’m excited about that is a huge understatement.

Speaking of sequels, we’re all hoping Ghostbusters 3 will get the green light soon.  I’ve actually been e-mailing back-and-forth with Ernie Hudson (“Winston”) about some things.  I won’t say what they are at this time, but he is an incredibly nice man.  I’m enjoying getting to know him a little, and I hope that will continue to grow as I work on some things with him.

Work has been great this week, except for the fact all my friends are gone.  A few are in Europe until this weekend, and a couple others took some time off.  I’ve been able to catch up on almost all my projects which is awesome.  This fall will be hectic as we move the university into a new website design.  I’ll be migrating possibly thousands of pages over to the new look, so any rest I can get right now is awesome.

Speaking of, we’re hiring a new multimedia specialist.  It’s a position that has been abandoned for about 1.5 years now, and I’ve been the sole keeper of the fort.  This will be a starter position, but it will allow me to toss all these small Web updates people want over to the new person.  That will give me more time to do bigger projects, as well as focus more on our social media plans.  I’m very grateful for that.  It’s so hard to work on any one project when e-mails come flying in from all over campus wanting these mundane changes.  It’s not mundane to them, but it is when I’m swamped with bigger projects.

Well, the official start time of the work day has arrived.  Need to knock out a couple of things before I get into weekend mode.

I had a great time yesterday with the guys from Birmingham GB (soon to be, if not already Alabama GB).  It’s a group of dedicated “Ghostbusters” fans that are working on props, costumes, etc.  We are planning some events right now for some local fairs, the Birmingham Zoo and others.

Why do I do it?  It’s a release from the stress of everyday life.  It gives me a chance to hang out with some nice guys who share the same love I have for this franchise.  It’s a chance to show our appreciation to the people who made something so culturally significant.  It’s also a chance for us to go out and do things for local communities.

If you know me, you know I’m into quite a few things entertainment-related: “Star Trek,” “Ghostbusters,” “Batman,” “The Office,” horror movies.  I’m not hung up on celebrity news, or anything of that sort.  I just have these few things that give me pleasure and time away from work and the daily grind at home.

I don’t have costumes or props from these other things (save a lot of toys and some screen-used props from a couple of the “Batman” movies and “Star Trek: The Next Generation”). But the props I’ve put together from “Ghostbusters” are instantly recognizable anywhere.  That, and they’re fun to put together.

It’s late, and I’m tired.  I don’t think I made a good effort to glue these thoughts together.  If you have an interest in “Ghostbusters,” why not join us?  It’s a pretty fun hobby with some great folks.

“We’re ready to believe you.”

This has been lifted from my Facebook profile.  Reposting it here:

1. I am not tagging a lot of people in this because it looks like everyone I know has already completed one of these.

2. My first love is God. Then it’s unconditional love for my beautiful wife and kids.

3. I am proud I served in the U.S. Air Force, but I never forgave them for making me spend three years of my time at Ft. Hood, TX, with the Army. I almost made it a career until they gave me orders to another Army post in South Korea. I gave them back and once again entered civilian life.

4. I haven’t played a trombone or baritone in many years despite eight years of band and two years of drum corps. I also never wanted to play football.

5. I was drum major my junior and senior years.

6. I wanted to get married at a young age and have kids by the time I was 30. Mission accomplished.

7. I have many friends with different political views from my own, and I don’t want to damage my friendships. However, I’m very vocal about politics and stubborn in my beliefs.

8. I cherish and require a lot of quiet and alone time since I was an only child.

9. Even though I worked as a television reporter, I never watch(ed) the news.

10. I am quick to lose my temper despite how easy going I appear.

11. In high school, if a girlfriend and I ever broke up, I usually never spoke to them again. That cost me a couple of opportunities to date some girls I really wanted to, but it made our friendships grow stronger.

12. I’ve gotten out of many tickets thanks to my dad being a state trooper.

13. I am horrible with finances despite my mom being a banker.

14. I’m an absolute geek for Star Trek, Batman, computers and gadgets.

15. I want to lose weight, but lack the will power to tear myself away from other chores and work on it.

16. I could care less how fashionable I am. I’ve got other things to worry about.

17. My tolerance for many things runs shallow. Ditto for patience.

18. I collect a lot of toys and autographs.

19. Despite getting a degree in broadcasting and working for 16 years in radio and TV news, I *H-A-T-E* having my picture taken. My family, immediate and extended, still has yet to fully realize this.

20. God has forgiven me, but I still sometimes regret a lot of things I did while in my late teens and early 20s.

21. I didn’t cry about my grandmother dying until the funeral director gave me the key to her casket.

22. I will always regret not being able to make it home for both my Paw-Paw and Maw-Maw’s funerals (they died within a week of each other while I was in Texas).

23. I don’t read books a lot anymore, but wish I did.

24. I dislike clutter, but can’t seem to get away from it.

25. I want a tattoo, and I’ve always known exactly what I want. I’m afraid to get one, though, because my kids will see it. I even won one once, but let a friend take my place.

In honor of Batman laying the smackdown on Spider-Man for best comic-based movie ever…

I’ve been very busy, not only at work, but also on a side project.  I’m not saying a lot about it right now, but it’s certainly an answered prayer.  I’m very happy about doing this job, and it will be very rewarding.

Not much else to talk about.  Lane Dogg and I are heading to Projekt Revolution Sunday to see Linkin Park again.  I can’t wait for that!  I’m also thinking about taking a couple of days off after that to go see “The Dark Knight” in IMAX.

Late for bed.  I’m going to be groggy tomorrow!