Morning Blend staff photo shoot

The Morning Blend (the show I work on) had a staff photo shoot today.

I had some fun after the staff photos were taken and Scott the photographer was kind enough to play along.

I love love looooooove photo shoots!

One of the serious photos of the Morning Blend staff...
with Producer Allison, myself, hosts Ann and Alex, and Creative Services Director Steve.

I thought this photo needed a bit of KENergy.

The rest of the staff left... its me time!
Tah dah!

Look over here... its the Morning Blend set!
Tah dah!

Now... no one can say I don't put my head into the show.

"Curtains" at Pima Community College

I attended the musical production of "Curtain" at Pima College's Proscenium Theatre last night put on by the Pima Performing Arts department.

Pima, the community / junior college in Tucson, has numerous campus locations and I had to Google where it's located (turned out to be on the west campus, half an hour drive to the other side of town from me) since I have only stepped foot onto one of their campuses in the 11 years I have lived in Tucson... and that's to drop off and pick up Anthony when he was tutoring there.

I went because Alex, one of the hosts on the Morning Blend, was making a cameo appearance in the production.  He asked if I could go shoot some video to air on the Blend to show off his one line of acting.

I got the video footage, he flubbed the line, and I enjoyed the musical even though I felt like ass the entire day (it was like a brief flu or something... headache, stomach ache, basically like a hangover but without the heavy drinking the night before).

Of course, this blog entry wouldn't be complete without a photo.  Cause that's what I do.

"Curtains"

ChicKEN at El Taco Tote

Dinner tonight was at El Taco Tote on Wilmot Road.

I usually get top sirloin tacos (basically carne asada) but decided to get chicKEN instead.

It was deeeeelicious!

There's chicKEN in there!

Then... I put in the chicKEN in there!

KENterview at UATV3 - The Video

As promised, here's the video of my appearance on UA Tonight with Mike Brilliant on UATV3 at the University of Arizona.

It was fun to be on.  One thing that's a bit different than a commercial TV station -- they can be a bit more adventurous as you'll see.  For my part of the show, I was well behaved... and kind of silly.

KENterview at UATV3

I was asked by Mike Brilliant, the host of UATV3's "UA Tonight" at the University of Arizona, to be a guest on his show tonight.

My new job as Executive Producer is a behind the scenes kind of position so it was fun to appear in front of the camera.

Mike follows me on Twitter and thought it would be fun to chat about KENisms, or KENglish, basically words that I figure out how to put my name into.  I quizzed him with words like KENiversity, MexiKEN, KENited States of America, broKEN, KENderwear, KENtoxicated... you get the idea.

He also asked me about my job and about @whatsuptucson on Twitter.

It was a lot of fun.  They're putting the show up on YouTube so I'll share when its available.

In the meantime, here are some photos I took while I was there:

Back of the set at UATV3
Mike on the left, and Kenny Brown a.k.a. "Mr. Wildcat" on the right

In front of the green screen with Mike Brilliant

Mike checkin' his hair, and Zach Clark

I am not sure what Mike was doing.
Staring at cords. We'll go with that.

The show starts, Mike on camera reading his monologue.
Zach and his dog Teddy on the left.

Isaac Gealer taking photos of the show

Issac and I.
Overhead lights make my head glow.
Good times.

Mike interviews Kenny

The show had musical guest Justin Fanus

Behind the cameras as Justin performs.

Globetrotters - the video

Here's the video I shot and edited from last night's Globetrotters game and halftime featuring Ann and Alex from the Morning Blend battling it out with Mrs. Grant and Greg Curtis from 94.9 MIX-fm.

KENjoy!

Harlem Globetrotters in Tucson - Kenparazzi photos

I went and shot pictures and video at the Harlem Globetrotters game at the Tucson Convention Center earlier.

Halftime featured a competition between the Morning Blend's Ann and Alex and Mrs. Grant and Greg Curtis from 94.9 MIX-fm.  In case you're wondering, the MIX-fm team won by a slim margin.

Here are the photos I shot:

View looking north outside of the Tucson Convention Center at dusk

Inside of the TCC Arena from the concourse

Mrs. Grant's sparkly red shoes

Alex, Mrs. Grant, Ann, and Greg
A bit of smack talkin' before the halftime battle

Globetrotters playing some hoops

I took a picture of JP taking a picture

Courtside at the Harlem Globetrotters game.
I'm feeling a bit devilish for no particular reason.

"Come down here hoop so I can put a ball in you."

I'm pretending I'm sporty basketball guy.
Pretending is the important word here.

They also play hockey at the TCC and this KGUN 9 banner was on the wall board.
I thought chief meteorologist Erin Christensen needed a kiss.

I gave meteorologist Aaron Brackett one too.

And... the door falls off of the refrigerator

One of the things I missed during the four months away from working at Journal / KGUN:  The random and unusual things that would happen.

I'm back two weeks and an epic occurence today:  The door fell off of the refrigerator in the first floor breakroom.

Yes, FELL OFF!

The refrigerator is only three years old.  The door coming off is proof that I work with some really really strong people.  Or, they just don't make 'em like they used to.

UPDATE:  The door was repaired by 2:00 p.m.  Co-worker's leftovers are safe to rot and mold slowly in chilled comfort once again.

The door is just leaning against the front.
I was going to pull on it to get a better photo but I am not living a life of danger today.

Crappy parking space

I was leaving for work this morning and the parking space next to me was empty... except for one thing:  A diaper.

I know its a tough economy but isn't it better to drive a car instead?

Diaper in a parking space.
I wonder if it pulled in forward... or backed in?

This gives new meaning to "crappy parking".

Walmart Market, Safeway, and the search for potato salad

Anyone that has ever gone grocery shopping with me knows that its an experience.  I am on the constant lookout for new, odd, and silly products and product names.  Plus, I like to Tweet and Facebook while I'm at the store so I'm a bit distracted.  But, I'm a creative type so it goes along with my personality.

A trip to Walmart Neighborhood Market and Safeway tonight with Anthony was fun.  I found some interesting items.  I also was in search of my favorite kind of potato salad at Walmart Market and they didn't have any potato salad in stock at all.  The store at Grant and Alvernon doesn't stock enough potato salad and they are out half the time.  Its frustrating because I have to go to another store for potato salad and that was Safeway.

I found Loaded Baked Potato Salad at Safeway.  Shopping trip was a success!

And now... the photos:

They now make chocolate creme filled Twinkies.
Proof that everything is alright in the world.

This describes a lot of women I know.

When this bag gets cold it gets hard enough to cut glass.

This is apparently made for kinky citrus.

My quest for potato salad after they didn't have any at Walmart Market
became a win at Safeway... not only did they have loaded baked potato salad,
it was 50% off!

This is the largest Lean Cuisine dinner I have ever seen in my life.
I think if you actually ate a Lean Cuisine this size it wouldn't do much to make your waist smaller.

Anthony doesn't like Kenparazzi photos.
After I took this unauthorized picture at Safeway he almost threw coupons at me.
Almost.

Wendy's - better than Five Guys!

My previous post was a review of Five Guys Burgers and Fries.  That was a disappointing experience.

Anthony and I went to Wendy's tonight and it was delicious.  Much better!  I had a burger they call "W" (which I said on Twitter stood for "Wacky") and it was juicy, tasty, and fresh tasting.  The fries were good, too.  A huge improvement from what I had at Five Guys.  Dinner was less expensive, too.

I enjoyed the food so much I forgot to take a photo of it until we were done eating.  Oopsie.

The only thing left after eating at Wendy's was a little bit of ketchup.
No, I didn't take it with me.

Five Guys Burgers and Fries review

Anthony and I went to Five Guys Burgers and Fries at Broadway and Craycroft in Tucson tonight.

We tried going to BJ's Brewhouse across the parking lot first but they had a 30-40 minute wait and we were starvin'.

I had heard that the place is supposedly in the same league as In N' Out Burger.  I like In N' Out so I was curious if the food was any good.

Its kind of a unique place.  You can eat free peanuts (served in the shell).  Burgers, fries and hot dogs comprise most of the menu.  If you order regular burgers they come with two patties, little burgers come with one.  They have about twenty toppings you can choose from to add to your burger.

I had a "Little Bacon Burger" and fries.

The food wasn't very good.  The fries tasted like fry oil without any french fry flavor.  The burger was dry.  I was disappointed.

One good thing:  The employees were nice.

The inside of Five Guys Burgers and Fries at Broadway and Craycroft

Yucky fries and burger

I rock at stuffing my face.

Party City lost a y

I went to snoop around Party City at Broadway & Craycroft in Tucson and the sign on the door lost a 'y'.

Welcome to Part City.

I looked but I didn't find any parts.
Everything was whole.

Cheese Chisholm of the Harlem Globetrotters

We get some great guests on the Morning Blend and today was no exception.

I had the privilege of meeting Cheese Chisholm of the Harlem Globetrotters.  The Globetrotters are in Tucson Monday night February 20 at the Tucson Convention Center.

Cheese was kind enough to let me hold his basketball.
I tried to palm it with one hand but I couldn't keep my grip so it ended up being a two hand grab.

Cheese muggin' for the Kenparazzi camera on the Morning Blend set.
Say Cheese!

Valentine's Day dinner at Boston Market

After I got home from work tonight I was exhausted.  So I took a nap.

I got back up around 8 p.m. and Anthony and I decided we were going to go find some Valentine's Day dinner.

Finding a sit down restaurant at 8 p.m. on Valentine's night that doesn't have a long wait is nearly impossible so we decided on Boston Market.  I didn't think they would be terribly busy.

We pulled up in the parking lot at the location at Grant and Tanque Verde here in Tucson.  My car was the only one in the parking lot.  Apparently Boston Market isn't a popular Valentine's night destination.

We ordered our food and they put it in plastic containers and didn't give us a tray.  They didn't ask if we were eating in or getting it to go.  I wondered if it was a subtle hint to get the hell out after paying but no one said anything so we picked a table, pulled the food out of the bag, and starting eating.  I discovered we had no silverware so I went up to the counter to ask.  The employee said "Oh, I guess I'll find you some".  She was smiling when she said it so I knew she was joking.  I wonder if I had been eating mashed potatoes and gravy with my hands if she would have realized I was joking.

We were the only customers in the restaurant.

As we ate, employees started cleaning the dining room.  It was about 8:50 p.m.  I overheard someone who worked there say "ten minutes 'til close".  That was followed by a woman who brought out a mop bucket and proceeded to slop the entire dining room.  I looked over and the wet floor made it seem like we were two people stranded on a desert island with nothing but Chicken Carver sandwiches, mashed potatoes and gravy, and plastic forks and knives to survive.  I am one of those people who feels bad walking on a newly mopped / wet tile floor.  It was so wet that I wondered if we were going to have to sleep at the booth we were sitting in and get rescued by the Boston Market staff who would open the restaurant in the morning.  I looked around for a lifeboat.

We finished dinner, put all of the containers, papers, plastic silverware and napkins into the plastic bag that it was served in, ventured across the vast wet tile landscape to the garbage receptacle, and asked an employee to let us out.  It felt like we were survivors of a flooded land.

I'll eat at Boston Market again because I like the food.  However, I'm sure I'll avoid it close to closing time unless I bring a life preserver and flare gun to signal passing vessels of our location.

Valentine's night next year may have a change of venue.  I'm making reservations at Taco Bell.

Fancy dining at Boston Market on Valentine's Day...
Served on the finest paper and plastic money can buy.

Happy ValKENtine's Day

I brought home flowers, chocolates, and a tall can of frosting.

It must be ValKENtine's Day.

I was tempted to squirt frosting on the flowers to see if Anthony
would automatically eat them.

Dinner at Macayo's

Anthony and I grabbed some dinner last night at Macayo's at Broadway and Kolb.

Here I am stuffing my pie hole.  Or burrito hole.


Eating a California burro.
I'm sooooo west coast.

A couple of chicks

A new pair of baby birds in the tree near my apartment's master bedroom balcony.

Aren't they cute?

Mama bird was out getting them food.
Cheep cheep!