I'm going to Disneyland.

I have an interesting gig coming up Tuesday. I'll be taking Disney employees through a team building exercise which includes creating a commercial (non-airing) from inception through to post-production. The company that runs the event has hired me to lead a team of ten people as they do this. I seem to be the master at booking acting gigs that aren't quite acting gigs, but aren't really anything else either. This seems right in my skill set and should be a fun day. Maybe I'll meet some hot shot Disney producer...or Mickey Mouse.

The group that hired me is www.teambuildingproductions.net out of Phoenix.

Just regular stuff...

We went to the Orange County Fair yesterday. It was our second year in a row, so I guess that means we've been here a year now. No auditions yet this week, but I have one tomorrow and one friday. Eli did a face plant in the driveway tonight and took a nice chunk of flesh out of his knee...he now has a big bandage and he got Taco Bell and Krispy Kreme out of it. I had a bite of each...so I went to the gym.

It's hot.

So, someone who spent the last ten summers in Las Vegas and the last four weeks in Houston, Atlanta and Orlando should not be complaining about the weather in southern California. But I'm going to for a minute. Yesterday it was 97 here and over 100 everywhere inland. Today was almost as bad. The big difference is that, for the first time in my adult life, my home does not have air conditioning. They promised "coastal breezes for natural cooling" when we moved in. That works when it's 79, not 97. So we have been leaving our home as a family this weekend and hanging out at the mall, the bookstore, Starbucks and the movie theater. Turns out that strategy is as expensive as a regular power bill...I guess its a wash.

I'm going to stand in front of a fan now.

Vanished

The Vanished audition went much better than CSI. Two network nods in my first week back was quite unexpected. This week has gone fast and been very busy. I still feel like I'm waiting to rest from the journey. It looks like this weekend might provide that.

CSI...not so great

Back at it. I've hit the ground running with a big audition today for CSI: NY and tomorrow for a new show this fall called Vanished. My CSI audition was a complete mess. I wasn't myself and I could feel myself getting nervous, which very rarely happens. Blah. I'll try to make up for it tomorrow.

No Place Like It

I'm home. I realize that I didn’t share much of the details about my 53-day journey…so here are fifty things I have been busy doing:

1. Flying. (From LA to Dallas to Houston to Atlanta to Orlando to Dallas to Orange County.)
2. Driving. A Chevy HHR with my picture on it. 3,750 miles.
3. Sleeping. At eight different Hampton Inns.
4. Wearing Pajamas most every day.
5. Eating out every day for 150 straight meals.
6. Gaining Weight (about ten pounds)
7. Losing Weight (about eight pounds)
8. Doing Radio Interviews.
9. Giving away Bobble Head Pens.
10. Giving away T-shirts.
11. Giving away Starbucks gift cards.
12. Making web commercials that never seem to make it on the website.
13. Sweating. (FYI, Texas, Georgia and Florida are hot in the summer.)
14. Losing my Blackberry and all of the information inside.
15. Buying a new Blackberry.
16. Returning my new Blackberry because it was broken.
17. Getting another new Blackberry.
18. Turning down about eight auditions.
19. Embracing the simple beauty of the text message.
20. Hanging out with local improvisers in LA, Orlando and Atlanta.
21. Eating at the original Chick-fil-A (the Dwarf House) in Hapeville, Georgia.
22. Getting rained on during fireworks at Stone Mountain Park in Georgia.
23. Getting rained on at Disney World.
24. Getting kicked out of an LA Dodgers game.
25. Getting kicked out of the CNN Building in Atlanta.
26. Getting kicked out of Downtown Disney in Orlando.
27. Getting kicked out of a mall in Houston.
28. Doing improv with my friends Mike, Jarrad and Marla.
29. Finishing 4th place at a Texas Hold Em tournament at a bar called B-52’s in Atlanta.
30. Watching Nacho Libre. (not what I had hoped for)
31. Watching A Prairie Home Companion (not at all what I had hoped for)
32. Watching Superman Returns (surprisingly what I had hoped for)
33. Waiting patiently for Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby.
34. Getting new songs on i-tunes.
35. Listening to Rich Mullins when I get sad.
36. Pondering Dallas Willard’s comments on pity.
37. Strangely missing Kentucky when I was in Atlanta.
38. Strangely missing Ohio when I was eating at Buffalo Wings and Things.
39. Strangely missing Las Vegas most everyday.
40. Not-so-strangely missing home.
41. Missing Eli’s birthday, Aidan’s pre-school graduation and all the little moments of the last month.
42. Talking to Debbie everyday on the phone.
43. Writing the great American screenplay. (12 pages down, 100 to go.)
44. Loving my new Mac.
45. Having huge breakthroughs in regard to life being a journey and my identity as a pilgrim on the journey.
46. Talking about Jesus with my new friends.
47. Praying differently.
48. Preparing to come home and help some friends through a memorial service.
49. Counting down until today.
50. Being grateful for the time away and the refining power that it has. Nothing has made me value what I already have than leaving it for a month. I’ve come home a better person.

Every Bedhead must come to an end...

Disney World Today.
A Mall Appearance and a Radio Interview Tomorrow.
Flying Home the Next Day...Priceless.

Florida is wet

In Orlando now. It has rained everyday and is supposed to continue through Tuesday. The end is very near now...five days.

Atlanta wrapped.

We finished early today...we went to a 10-K race in downtown Atlanta. This was our last work day here. Tomorrow we have a day off...then on to Orlando. Only five more work days and eight more days until I make the five hour flight home to OC.

We are going to Stone Mountain tonight to watch fireworks and then to the Georgia Aquarium tomorrow to hang out.

I wish I was having a BBQ at home...or at the Caldwell's house in Vegas...but we'll make the best of it here.

This is day three of a very strict diet for me...I think that I've gained about ten pounds since this thing started and I'm hoping to return home without them.

ATL

Day three of eight in Atlanta...thus far I have really enjoyed my stay here. We're going to a Braves game tomorrow which should be fun. We are staying 1.5 miles from The Dwarf House, which is the original Chick-fil-A. I've eaten there twice already and will definately be back. It makes me happy.

12 days left!

Time to come home yet?

I'm on a two-hour break before heading to downtown Houston for our last stop here. Tomorrow is a day off and then we fly to Atlanta. It's hot and humid in Texas. 17 days and I'll be home. That sounds like a long time, but it feels short compared to the 53 day contract that I signed back in April. I miss my family, but the end is near now.

Everyday is different, but also very much the same.

Peace.

Oh no.

My Blackberry Saga continues. I left my phone in a cab about eight hours ago and it is still MIA. If you have called, sorry. I'm going to have to replace it tomorrow if it doesnt turn up...

It is unreal how losing your cell phone can effect you. I've felt naked all day...like I can't function. (Not that I can't function naked...those were two different feelings I guess.)

Anyway, maybe the universe will let my phone find me...if not I'm getting my third new blackberry in 13 months...

Deep in the heart of Texas...

I've been in Dallas for about five days now...it's hot and very different than LA. It reminds me of Ohio with Las Vegas weather. The people are generally very nice and excited to see us. They think the stuff we are doing is cool. We spent a Day at Six Flags and another at the Fort Worth Zoo. The zoo was my favorite venue yet because I like zoos and we were given a tour before the park opened.

I miss everything about home. Debbie and the kids first of all, but also the work at church and in Hollywood. Strangely, I've missed my friends from Vegas more than ever. Just part of being alone I guess.

It's not a crippling or anything, just noticable. I'm actually very glad to be removed from the people and things I love because it is making me love them more and helping to sharpen my thinking about the future. I look forward to coming home a little different.

My new friends are great. They bought my dinner tonight at Olive Garden for Father's Day. We have had a lot of laughs and some very deep and spiritual discussions. I'm happy to be on this particular journey.

For Eli

HAPPY BIRHTDAY BUDDY!

I'll be home in 27 days....have a great day. I love you.

Daddy

Improv Matters

I wish I had more exciting things to report from the road, but time is passing quickly as we work in different venues and places along the way. The promotional work has overtaken the perfomance work of late. I have been able to see Debbie and the kids a lot so far...they spent the weekend at the hotel with me and we had my team over for dinner last night. I was very happy that Deb could meet them. It's the same old story and probably the deepest reason why I am an actor/improvisor...there is, generally speaking, an instant friendship, respect and understanding among fellow actors. This seems magnified among improvisors since trust is so important in the craft. I was glad to bring that feeling to my home for a few hours.

But...now begins the time away. Exactly one month as it turns out. A week in Dallas, Houston, Atlanta and Orlando. I fly home the morning of July 13,

Hopefully the next four weeks will move as quickly as the first three.

Peace from the journey...

Long Day Again

We are in Anaheim for two days before flying to Dallas. Debbie and the boys are here at the hotel with me. We had a twelve hour day today. To those of you who keep calling to check in, thanks! I hope to have some down time to call you all soon.

Things are good...no more panic attacks and the team is getting along.

Peace.

From the Hampton LAX

The last few days have been very busy and it looks like it will continue. The filming and performing is great, but the promotional stuff is difficult work. I get to go home for two days after work tomorrow. I'm very ready for that...which is daunting considering I will be gone for 29 straight days coming up. Overall, I'm still pretty happy about the whole thing.

I'm OK

So, I went to the doctor and she's pretty sure that I did have a panic/stress attack. She urged me to see a psychiatrist, which I will do when the tour is over or sooner if I have another episode. All of the heart tests came back fine. Thanks to all of you who checked in on me.

Today marks the official launch of the website (www.hamptonbedheads.com). Feel free to visit. We also had a full page ad in the USA Today and Wall Street Journal today. We were at Hilton HQ in Beverely Hills early this morning and have a few hours off before hitting the Dodgers game at 5:00. It's work for sure...but fun for the most part.

I'm getting lots of emails and calls...thanks for the support and keep them coming...I'll have slower days coming up to return the favor.

Maybe I'm Stressed?

I'm home tonight and tomorrow, then back to LA for the official launch of the tour. Things went well overall with training and our first show was great. On Friday I had what appears to be a panic attack while watching X-Men 3, which may or may not be a commentary on the film. I nearly fainted. I'm going to see my doctor here in OC tomorrow for a check up. They tested my heart, blood pressure and sugar levels and found them normal. I've never really had anything like that happen before, so it was a little freaky.

I think I'll pull through...

It's On...

Just finished the first day of media training. It was actually rather fascinating. Our trainer was in the White House press corps during the Reagan administration. He had some cool stories and taught us how to not say stupid things on the radio. The Hampton website will launch June 1. It's www.hamptonbedheads.com, but you won't be able to see it until June.

There will also be a full page color ad in the Wall Street Journal and USA Today on June 1 showcasing my messed-up hair if you are so inclined.

For you so-cal people, we have a gig at Westside Ecclectic in Santa Monica (In the Third St. Prominada next to the food court) this coming Saturday at 9:30 pm. It's an hour of long form improv and the unofficial kick-off.

More to come....