Rico Lamoureux's Blog: Cafe Lamoureux - Posts Tagged "autobiography"
Day 60 - Giveaway!
Welcome my wonderful readers!
I'm putting the finishing touches on my autobiography, which will be released next month. Will be randomly choosing one of my fans once I'm done with the polish to receive FREE copy(PDF ebook). So if you're already a Fan, you're already entered:) And if not, all you have to do to be eligible is click Become A Fan!
To keep the giveaway in the spotlight, so that everyone who wants to enter has an opportunity to do so, the daily blog will be going on hiatus until I'm done with the polish and ready to randomly choose a winner.
See you then:)
I'm putting the finishing touches on my autobiography, which will be released next month. Will be randomly choosing one of my fans once I'm done with the polish to receive FREE copy(PDF ebook). So if you're already a Fan, you're already entered:) And if not, all you have to do to be eligible is click Become A Fan!
To keep the giveaway in the spotlight, so that everyone who wants to enter has an opportunity to do so, the daily blog will be going on hiatus until I'm done with the polish and ready to randomly choose a winner.
See you then:)
DAY 61 - New Release/Tonight Show Excerpt
Welcome my wonderful readers!
The daily blog is back! Right in time for this month's release. Unlike the rest of the months for 2014, February is reserved for my autobiography. This is a no-holds-barred look at my diverse life thus far, and this month's winner is...
Cissie!
Exclusively for readers of this blog I have included a special excerpt from the ebook. Since Jay Leno's time on The Tonight Show will be ending this week, I thought I'd share my last experience with the show that took place several years ago. You see, at the time I was a struggling screenwriter, who couldn't see anything due to a cataract I had developed. I had written a script specifically for the actor Jack Black, and although I couldn't see anything at the time, my mission was to somehow get the screenplay to him. All I had to rely on was the half-ass help of my drug-addicted brother, and so we set out for The Tonight Show...
BEGINNING OF EXCERPT...
...through my many hours a day of listening to the TV, since it was the only thing to do to fill my days, I heard that Jack Black was coming out with a new film, School of Rock. Knowing he must be making the talk show rounds to promote the movie, I convinced Daniel, by means of gas money of course since it really meant drug money, to take me to the library and help me look up The Tonight Show’s website online. Sure enough Jack was scheduled, and so I hit the ATM a few more times to motivate the chronic fiend to take me to Hollywood so we could pick up a standard release form, then make plans to attend the taping of the show. If all went well we’d be able to get Jack’s attention long enough to hand off Boarding Papa to him. And since I‘d include a release form, hopefully he wouldn’t hesitate on reading it. After all, I had pretty much went blind by typing it up with hopes of somehow getting it to him!
Since this was the second time Daniel and I would be attending The Tonight Show together we knew what to expect. I told him we’d have to get there the night before, no later than midnight to increase our odds of being the first in line. Of course he agreed to it since talk is cheap. Nhi wouldn’t be able to make it due to other obligations, so Daniel invited one of his fellow potheads to join us. Despite his assurances that we’d arrive by midnight, there was no getting around the fact that we were on his addict clock and therefore ended up being a couple of hours late. Fortunately we were only the second party to line up, and so it would be on to step two of our mission.
The next fourteen hours was full of nothing but tedious waiting, with Daniel stepping away to take his frequent pocket-pipe breaks. But then something unexpected happened. Ellen Degeneres, who’s show also taped at that Burbank location, passed by. Besides excitement from a few people waiting in line, I knew right off the bat that it was her because of her distinctive voice. The original plan of getting Jack the script was for Daniel to raise his hand when Jay comes out before the show. When he asks the audience if they have any questions after he gives his little speech. Although from past experience we knew of Jay’s preference of mostly calling on females, I thought we’d have a pretty good shot of being called on since we would be seated right up front. Once Daniel was called upon he’d tap me on the shoulder to let me know. (Since I couldn’t see) I’d then stand and tell Jay my situation and ask if I could give Jack the script. Well, if an easier opportunity presented itself I’d sure be willing to adapt! And there it was! Ellen passing right by! Unfortunately, Daniel was off on one of his many pocket-pipe breaks, and I obviously didn’t have the clear vision to run up and have a word with her. And so we would have to rely solely on plan A.
When we finally started to file into the studio we realized that security was so tight they were not only forbidding small bags, but even items as simple as magazines! So I had to think fast. Do I try to conceal the script and risk getting kicked out if they catch me having done so….? At the last minute we decided to use my disability to our advantage. The script was now actually important medical records we couldn’t part with. Fortunately the guard didn’t press the matter.
Ok, we had made it to the show, through security, and was now positioned right up front. One more step and we’d be home free!
As Jay explained to the studio audience how the show worked I could feel my heart pumping in my chest. We’re almost there, honey, I telepathically said to Jocelyn. And then the time came… “Does anyone have any questions?” First one called upon: Female. Second one: Female. My heart was starting to sink. Third one: Female. And that was it. Jay was now heading backstage until the start of the show. Shit! Now what?!
Our only other hope would be to get Jack’s attention once the show started and he was up on stage seated by Jay. The other guests were Rosie O’donnell and Boy George, both of which would be interviewed before Jack. As Boy George was up there talking Daniel turned to me and said, “It’s Boy George!” At least for this one moment we were on the same brain wave. Back in the mid 80’s Cultural Club was one of our family’s favorite groups. And now, so many years later, there Daniel and I was, just a few yards from Boy George.
After Rosie and Boy’s interview Jack was up next. As soon as it was time for the commercial break Daniel was motioning his hands and facial gestures in Jack’s direction, but the only one who picked up on it was Rosie. She shot a gesture back at Daniel as if to say ‘What?!’ Hey now… At least we had waited ‘til commercial and not tried to interrupt the actual interview!
A game of charades then started between the two. Continuing with his hand gestures Daniel explained that I couldn’t see and just wanted to get the script I had written for Jack to him. Now understanding the situation, Rosie then responded with a sympathetic look and motioned for Daniel to hang on a minute and that she would help us out. When I heard this from Daniel I felt so much gratitude in my heart for Rosie. I was now truly happy I had helped support her by having watched her show for quite a number of years. I would never forget this…
Back from the commercial, the show resumed. Jack performed a song from the movie with some of the actual kids who were also in it. Afterwards the guests all gathered on stage to close out the show. Ok, this was it. Now we were just waiting on Rosie to fulfill her word, or shall I say gesture, and get Jack to come over and see us. Rosie…? Why wasn’t she telling him anything about us? You could tell things were wrapping up and they’d be heading off stage soon. Come on, Rosie…!
Security was now starting to guide people out of the studio. Shit! Had Rosie just offered to help to get Daniel to shut up?! Did she actually have no intention on helping us out?! Daniel and his friend did the best they could to get her or Jack’s attention, but it was proving to be of no use and our turn to file out was fast approaching. Shit! Didn’t these people know how much this meant to me?! Didn’t they know the Third World conditions I’d be headed back to?! Didn’t they know I had lost my vision due to typing this damn script?!
And so we left the show that day having failed our mission. We drove around to the side of the studio where the celebs exit, but couldn’t spot him. Daniel’s friend even got out and asked the security guard at the gate if Jack was still on the lot and if there was any way we could get the script to him. The response was typical. “Contact his agent”. I may not have been a Hollywood insider, but I knew enough to know that that was a bunch of bullshit and there would be no way I would even be given one true moment if I didn’t have a referral. So what happened with Rosie? Had she honestly forgot due to the happenings around her? This is what I wanted to believe in my heart, and once I got my eye fixed I planned to try to find out. If this was the case, perhaps she’d still be willing to help.
END OF EXCERPT
The full ebook is now available at the following link...
http://www.lulu.com/shop/rico-lamoure...
See you tomorrow:)
P.S. If you'd like to support this daily blog, please click Become A Fan:)
The daily blog is back! Right in time for this month's release. Unlike the rest of the months for 2014, February is reserved for my autobiography. This is a no-holds-barred look at my diverse life thus far, and this month's winner is...
Cissie!
Exclusively for readers of this blog I have included a special excerpt from the ebook. Since Jay Leno's time on The Tonight Show will be ending this week, I thought I'd share my last experience with the show that took place several years ago. You see, at the time I was a struggling screenwriter, who couldn't see anything due to a cataract I had developed. I had written a script specifically for the actor Jack Black, and although I couldn't see anything at the time, my mission was to somehow get the screenplay to him. All I had to rely on was the half-ass help of my drug-addicted brother, and so we set out for The Tonight Show...
BEGINNING OF EXCERPT...
...through my many hours a day of listening to the TV, since it was the only thing to do to fill my days, I heard that Jack Black was coming out with a new film, School of Rock. Knowing he must be making the talk show rounds to promote the movie, I convinced Daniel, by means of gas money of course since it really meant drug money, to take me to the library and help me look up The Tonight Show’s website online. Sure enough Jack was scheduled, and so I hit the ATM a few more times to motivate the chronic fiend to take me to Hollywood so we could pick up a standard release form, then make plans to attend the taping of the show. If all went well we’d be able to get Jack’s attention long enough to hand off Boarding Papa to him. And since I‘d include a release form, hopefully he wouldn’t hesitate on reading it. After all, I had pretty much went blind by typing it up with hopes of somehow getting it to him!
Since this was the second time Daniel and I would be attending The Tonight Show together we knew what to expect. I told him we’d have to get there the night before, no later than midnight to increase our odds of being the first in line. Of course he agreed to it since talk is cheap. Nhi wouldn’t be able to make it due to other obligations, so Daniel invited one of his fellow potheads to join us. Despite his assurances that we’d arrive by midnight, there was no getting around the fact that we were on his addict clock and therefore ended up being a couple of hours late. Fortunately we were only the second party to line up, and so it would be on to step two of our mission.
The next fourteen hours was full of nothing but tedious waiting, with Daniel stepping away to take his frequent pocket-pipe breaks. But then something unexpected happened. Ellen Degeneres, who’s show also taped at that Burbank location, passed by. Besides excitement from a few people waiting in line, I knew right off the bat that it was her because of her distinctive voice. The original plan of getting Jack the script was for Daniel to raise his hand when Jay comes out before the show. When he asks the audience if they have any questions after he gives his little speech. Although from past experience we knew of Jay’s preference of mostly calling on females, I thought we’d have a pretty good shot of being called on since we would be seated right up front. Once Daniel was called upon he’d tap me on the shoulder to let me know. (Since I couldn’t see) I’d then stand and tell Jay my situation and ask if I could give Jack the script. Well, if an easier opportunity presented itself I’d sure be willing to adapt! And there it was! Ellen passing right by! Unfortunately, Daniel was off on one of his many pocket-pipe breaks, and I obviously didn’t have the clear vision to run up and have a word with her. And so we would have to rely solely on plan A.
When we finally started to file into the studio we realized that security was so tight they were not only forbidding small bags, but even items as simple as magazines! So I had to think fast. Do I try to conceal the script and risk getting kicked out if they catch me having done so….? At the last minute we decided to use my disability to our advantage. The script was now actually important medical records we couldn’t part with. Fortunately the guard didn’t press the matter.
Ok, we had made it to the show, through security, and was now positioned right up front. One more step and we’d be home free!
As Jay explained to the studio audience how the show worked I could feel my heart pumping in my chest. We’re almost there, honey, I telepathically said to Jocelyn. And then the time came… “Does anyone have any questions?” First one called upon: Female. Second one: Female. My heart was starting to sink. Third one: Female. And that was it. Jay was now heading backstage until the start of the show. Shit! Now what?!
Our only other hope would be to get Jack’s attention once the show started and he was up on stage seated by Jay. The other guests were Rosie O’donnell and Boy George, both of which would be interviewed before Jack. As Boy George was up there talking Daniel turned to me and said, “It’s Boy George!” At least for this one moment we were on the same brain wave. Back in the mid 80’s Cultural Club was one of our family’s favorite groups. And now, so many years later, there Daniel and I was, just a few yards from Boy George.
After Rosie and Boy’s interview Jack was up next. As soon as it was time for the commercial break Daniel was motioning his hands and facial gestures in Jack’s direction, but the only one who picked up on it was Rosie. She shot a gesture back at Daniel as if to say ‘What?!’ Hey now… At least we had waited ‘til commercial and not tried to interrupt the actual interview!
A game of charades then started between the two. Continuing with his hand gestures Daniel explained that I couldn’t see and just wanted to get the script I had written for Jack to him. Now understanding the situation, Rosie then responded with a sympathetic look and motioned for Daniel to hang on a minute and that she would help us out. When I heard this from Daniel I felt so much gratitude in my heart for Rosie. I was now truly happy I had helped support her by having watched her show for quite a number of years. I would never forget this…
Back from the commercial, the show resumed. Jack performed a song from the movie with some of the actual kids who were also in it. Afterwards the guests all gathered on stage to close out the show. Ok, this was it. Now we were just waiting on Rosie to fulfill her word, or shall I say gesture, and get Jack to come over and see us. Rosie…? Why wasn’t she telling him anything about us? You could tell things were wrapping up and they’d be heading off stage soon. Come on, Rosie…!
Security was now starting to guide people out of the studio. Shit! Had Rosie just offered to help to get Daniel to shut up?! Did she actually have no intention on helping us out?! Daniel and his friend did the best they could to get her or Jack’s attention, but it was proving to be of no use and our turn to file out was fast approaching. Shit! Didn’t these people know how much this meant to me?! Didn’t they know the Third World conditions I’d be headed back to?! Didn’t they know I had lost my vision due to typing this damn script?!
And so we left the show that day having failed our mission. We drove around to the side of the studio where the celebs exit, but couldn’t spot him. Daniel’s friend even got out and asked the security guard at the gate if Jack was still on the lot and if there was any way we could get the script to him. The response was typical. “Contact his agent”. I may not have been a Hollywood insider, but I knew enough to know that that was a bunch of bullshit and there would be no way I would even be given one true moment if I didn’t have a referral. So what happened with Rosie? Had she honestly forgot due to the happenings around her? This is what I wanted to believe in my heart, and once I got my eye fixed I planned to try to find out. If this was the case, perhaps she’d still be willing to help.
END OF EXCERPT
The full ebook is now available at the following link...
http://www.lulu.com/shop/rico-lamoure...
See you tomorrow:)
P.S. If you'd like to support this daily blog, please click Become A Fan:)
DAY 66 - Heartbreak 24
Welcome my wonderful readers!
24 years ago today I experienced my first heartbreak. I had transferred schools to be closer to my girlfriend, and a few days before Valentine's Day she left me to go back to her ex. To say I was devastated would be an understatement!
What came out of this terrible event was a life-long appreciation(some might say obsession-LOL) with the gift of innocence, as this is when I first learned that a girl's first always stays with her.
The whole story of this tragic time in my past, as well as all other chapters of my life, are recounted in my autobiography(http://www.lulu.com/shop/rico-lamoure...).
See you tomorrow:)
P.S. If you'd like to support this daily blog, please click Become A Fan. All fans/supporters are automatically entered into monthly giveaway to win latest release!
24 years ago today I experienced my first heartbreak. I had transferred schools to be closer to my girlfriend, and a few days before Valentine's Day she left me to go back to her ex. To say I was devastated would be an understatement!
What came out of this terrible event was a life-long appreciation(some might say obsession-LOL) with the gift of innocence, as this is when I first learned that a girl's first always stays with her.
The whole story of this tragic time in my past, as well as all other chapters of my life, are recounted in my autobiography(http://www.lulu.com/shop/rico-lamoure...).
See you tomorrow:)
P.S. If you'd like to support this daily blog, please click Become A Fan. All fans/supporters are automatically entered into monthly giveaway to win latest release!
Day 77 - V.I.P.
Welcome my wonderful readers!
Sometimes I think that if I weren't a Visually-Impaired Person I'd be super human. I'd get so much more done. Imagine taking away the entire sight of your left eye and impairing your right eye to the point to where you couldn't see anything beyond a foot. That's my world, and yeah, it sucks. But I'm a doer, so I just keep soldiering on. But I'm not gonna lie, waking up each day wondering how much longer my remaining sight is going to last is a very scary thing to go through. I do find comfort in knowing I could still write if the worse were to happen, although I'd have to train myself to use the keyboard without looking at it. (I'm a traditionalist. Love using pen and paper).
See you tomorrow:)
P.S. If you'd like to support this daily blog, please click Become A Fan. All fans/supporters are automatically entered into monthly giveaway to win latest release!
Sometimes I think that if I weren't a Visually-Impaired Person I'd be super human. I'd get so much more done. Imagine taking away the entire sight of your left eye and impairing your right eye to the point to where you couldn't see anything beyond a foot. That's my world, and yeah, it sucks. But I'm a doer, so I just keep soldiering on. But I'm not gonna lie, waking up each day wondering how much longer my remaining sight is going to last is a very scary thing to go through. I do find comfort in knowing I could still write if the worse were to happen, although I'd have to train myself to use the keyboard without looking at it. (I'm a traditionalist. Love using pen and paper).
See you tomorrow:)
P.S. If you'd like to support this daily blog, please click Become A Fan. All fans/supporters are automatically entered into monthly giveaway to win latest release!
DAY 109 - Culture
Welcome my wonderful readers!
As many of you know by now, I am an American living with my Filipina wife in her native country until I can meet the income requirements to acquire a visa for her.
With the exception of a terrorist attack, nothing will make you more patriotic than being away from home, for it is through this experience that you will learn just how precious 'home' really is!
I could never have imagined I'd be away for so long. But I guess it was my destiny to sacrifice comfort, health, potential for prosperity, and all the other treasures for the love of my wife. And so I remain in an environment that robbed me of my youth some twelve years ago. A discriminate society that never passes up an opportunity to remind me of how fortunate I was to have been born and raised in a culture of common sense, open-mindedness, ambition, and REAL chances to make ambitions reality!
When it comes to drive and striving for excellence, no other culture in the world compares to that of Americans. Not a boasted opinion, but just a true undisputed fact. Which is why I couldn't help but take offense when an ignorant comment was made by a German guy my wife met at the park here in Baguio City.
(Don't worry, she wasn't going behind my back cheating or anything-LOL!)
Walking in the park enjoying a snack(while I was home writing) my wife passed this German and his crying baby while they waited for the child's mother to return. Clearly, the father didn't have much experience in pacifying the little guy, and being the lover of kids she is, my wife stopped and admired the foreign infant.
Soon she had asked to hold little Timmy, and almost right away the baby stopped crying and was on his way to falling asleep.
While his child doze in this stranger's arms, the German told my wife how he, his significant other, and Timmy were visiting Baguio City as part of their vacation to the Philippines. He was quite the traveler, and mentioned how he enjoyed experiencing different cultures. The fact had been raised that my wife was married to an American, and before long Mr. German made an ignorant statement that I would have taken offense to if I were there.
"Americans have no culture."
Sure, I'm patriotic and all, but that doesn't mean I'm bias. I live my life in alignment with truth. If he would have said something like, "Americans, in general, are poor linguists," I couldn't really argue against such a point, because in reality, in general, we are. But to say something as utterly stupid as "Americans have no culture"?! Just because we're not running around in loincloths dancing to drums doesn't mean we don't have culture! (Some might bring up Native Americans, and say we imprisoned our culture on reservations, but that was actually sins of those who came before us, just as slavery was.)
The fact of the matter is, the whole world adopted our culture of prosperity! Of equality and opportunity! Including Germany!
Man, this guy was lucky he didn't receive the ranting and raving my wife endured once she returned home and told me of her afternoon! I mean, by no means are we a perfect culture, but to have changed the world with a culture all other countries aspire to emulate...?
Now that's a pretty amazing damn culture if you ask me!
See you tomorrow:)
The story of my diverse life thus far...
http://www.lulu.com/shop/rico-lamoure...
As many of you know by now, I am an American living with my Filipina wife in her native country until I can meet the income requirements to acquire a visa for her.
With the exception of a terrorist attack, nothing will make you more patriotic than being away from home, for it is through this experience that you will learn just how precious 'home' really is!
I could never have imagined I'd be away for so long. But I guess it was my destiny to sacrifice comfort, health, potential for prosperity, and all the other treasures for the love of my wife. And so I remain in an environment that robbed me of my youth some twelve years ago. A discriminate society that never passes up an opportunity to remind me of how fortunate I was to have been born and raised in a culture of common sense, open-mindedness, ambition, and REAL chances to make ambitions reality!
When it comes to drive and striving for excellence, no other culture in the world compares to that of Americans. Not a boasted opinion, but just a true undisputed fact. Which is why I couldn't help but take offense when an ignorant comment was made by a German guy my wife met at the park here in Baguio City.
(Don't worry, she wasn't going behind my back cheating or anything-LOL!)
Walking in the park enjoying a snack(while I was home writing) my wife passed this German and his crying baby while they waited for the child's mother to return. Clearly, the father didn't have much experience in pacifying the little guy, and being the lover of kids she is, my wife stopped and admired the foreign infant.
Soon she had asked to hold little Timmy, and almost right away the baby stopped crying and was on his way to falling asleep.
While his child doze in this stranger's arms, the German told my wife how he, his significant other, and Timmy were visiting Baguio City as part of their vacation to the Philippines. He was quite the traveler, and mentioned how he enjoyed experiencing different cultures. The fact had been raised that my wife was married to an American, and before long Mr. German made an ignorant statement that I would have taken offense to if I were there.
"Americans have no culture."
Sure, I'm patriotic and all, but that doesn't mean I'm bias. I live my life in alignment with truth. If he would have said something like, "Americans, in general, are poor linguists," I couldn't really argue against such a point, because in reality, in general, we are. But to say something as utterly stupid as "Americans have no culture"?! Just because we're not running around in loincloths dancing to drums doesn't mean we don't have culture! (Some might bring up Native Americans, and say we imprisoned our culture on reservations, but that was actually sins of those who came before us, just as slavery was.)
The fact of the matter is, the whole world adopted our culture of prosperity! Of equality and opportunity! Including Germany!
Man, this guy was lucky he didn't receive the ranting and raving my wife endured once she returned home and told me of her afternoon! I mean, by no means are we a perfect culture, but to have changed the world with a culture all other countries aspire to emulate...?
Now that's a pretty amazing damn culture if you ask me!
See you tomorrow:)
The story of my diverse life thus far...
http://www.lulu.com/shop/rico-lamoure...
DAY 141 - Summer Showers
Welcome my wonderful readers!
Like many other areas of the world, the weather here in Baguio City is out of whack, strong showers invading for a couple of hours a day on what's supposed to be afternoons of clear blue sky.
Back home in California spring is still in the air, but I've been away from my native four seasons for twelve years now, weather never having really been a source of anxiety until I experienced typhoon madness here in the Philippines.
We lost nearly everything we owned back in '09 due to flooding (pic in my autobiography: http://www.lulu.com/shop/rico-lamoure...)
and received absolutely no help from the government afterwards. (Most Third World countries have such a status because of their Third World mentalities, and this country's no different!)
Three years later, in 2012, we again were scattering like rats to higher ground(although not nearly as bad).
So yeah, like a veteran who jumps every time he hears the backfire of a passing car, whenever there's strong rain I can't help but feel a bit of post traumatic stress,and can't help but dread each and every rainy season in these parts.
And now thanks to climate change, 'tis the season to be anxious starts earlier and ends later-UGH!
See you tomorrow:)
Like many other areas of the world, the weather here in Baguio City is out of whack, strong showers invading for a couple of hours a day on what's supposed to be afternoons of clear blue sky.
Back home in California spring is still in the air, but I've been away from my native four seasons for twelve years now, weather never having really been a source of anxiety until I experienced typhoon madness here in the Philippines.
We lost nearly everything we owned back in '09 due to flooding (pic in my autobiography: http://www.lulu.com/shop/rico-lamoure...)
and received absolutely no help from the government afterwards. (Most Third World countries have such a status because of their Third World mentalities, and this country's no different!)
Three years later, in 2012, we again were scattering like rats to higher ground(although not nearly as bad).
So yeah, like a veteran who jumps every time he hears the backfire of a passing car, whenever there's strong rain I can't help but feel a bit of post traumatic stress,and can't help but dread each and every rainy season in these parts.
And now thanks to climate change, 'tis the season to be anxious starts earlier and ends later-UGH!
See you tomorrow:)
Cafe Lamoureux
Cafe Lamoureux started off as a daily video blog on youtube and has now taken the form of a daily blog here on goodreads. In addition to discussing his literary works, Rico Lamoureux will be posting d
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