Wherever the wind takes me.
I did an interview for Roncalli yesterday. It’s already on the interwebs if you would like to see it. The website is in German, I hope they said nice things about me. I could read the first line though, it was a quote, “das ist kalt!” (this is cold!). That’s what I said when I stuck my hand into my ice cold little red bucket of bubble juice. I like the picture too.
Here’s the link…
http://www.nwzonline.de/index_regionalausgaben_stadt_bremen_artikel.php?id=1862620
As many people now know, I am completely addicted to using my iPhone. Addicted may be too strong a word, but not too far off.
But today, I have decided to go public with this information because I found the coolest game for the iPhone. It’s a great copy of the Atari 2600 console game ‘Adventure’.
The game was put on iTunes by Peter Hirschberg and I thank him. As a kid growing up with the first generation of video games, this game completely captured my imagination. It’s the story of a quest for a magical chalice and you, oh mighty adventurer, are a little square. (that’s all the graphics you got)
And the fearsome dragons you will face look like ducks. But they will eat you just the same. Luckily, you have a sword to fight them (although, it looks more like a gold arrow).
There are three castles and many labrinths in the game land. My friend Greg and I even discovered a secret room in the game. It was probably an eighth grade sleepover but we worked an all-nighter to find that room.
And the most novel aspect of the game is that you use the iPhone’s accelerometer to control your little colored dot.
I would tell you to run out and slap down your hard earned cash at iTunes, but the game is FREE! So just go get it and what video games of the 70’s were like.
Due to a gig cancelation, I now have 6 weeks off during Christmas and New Years. I debated going back to the states but I think I will save my money and stay in Germany. Steffi and I have already made plans to take a holiday to Amsterdam. We are renting a houseboat for a couple days. We should have a great time. I am also figuring out other projects to work on during the break. I may see how hard it would be to learn to develop software on the iPhone. I may work in mein deutch. I will definitely be working on some new bubble formulas, as well as redesigning my smoke rig for the act. Hopefully, I will also have some time to work on my website or at least have enough ideas to give it to someone else to make. While I am thinking about it, I should also design a new logo for the website and promo materials. Oh yeah, and I need to edit together some new promo videos and upload them to the interwebs. Wow. That list got long really quickly.
OK. So to recap, my list now includes:
New bubble formula.
Redesigned smoke rig.
Amsterdam vacation.
A trip to Essen to chat about iPhone programming with my pal Dean.
Studying german.
Editing video.
Making a new website.
So there’s the initial list. Let’s see what I can get done.
Just a couple of Bubble Guys
I met Larry Hagman last night. He and his wife came to the show last night in Bremen, Germany. As it turns out, the Hagman’s are big fans of the circus.
I first saw Mr. Hagman during Einlass as a newspaper photographer was taking pictures of the man in the big ‘Dallas’ sized cowboy hat. Einlass is the time when the gates open for the circus and people are allowed in to the tent for the first time. We all posed for a picture with Larry, but there were so many people that I don’t think I made it into that shot. That’s OK. I went up to him afterwards and told him that I was an American and I grew up watching ‘I dream of Jeanie’ and ‘Dallas’. He said, “No shit?”. I knew immediately that I liked this guy.
Later, while in the middle of my bubble act, I notice that I am getting the biggest applause from Mr. Hagman himself. That felt great since I always liked this guy on TV. I gave him a nod and smile on the way out and was very flattered that ‘Major Nelson’/'J.R. Ewing’ liked my act (Come on, I watched a lot of TV as a kid…this was cool).
I was even more surprised when I got a message after the show to join the Hagman’s in the circus cafe. When I got there, I was warmly greeted by Mr. Hagman. He was already there with our headliner clown extrodinare, David Larible, who is a great host and story teller.
I sat down and we immediately started talking. As it turns out, Larry Hagman is a self-proclaimed ‘bubble freak’! He has ten cases of the Pustefix Bubble Bears (those are the little bubble toy were you squeeze the bear’s tummy and the bubble wand pops up through his hat). We chatted about bubbles for a long time and I even gave him some bubble recipes to try out. I even included my email in case he needed some more help. He was that interested in bubbles!
We all spent the rest of the evening exchanging stories and laughing about places we’ve been to or shows we performed. It was a fun and memorable night.
I have grown to really like the city of Köln. I know my way around on foot, but by train I am clueless. I’m using gps tracking, geo tagging, and all sorts of blinking scanning widgits.
Wait! Here comes der zug!
(18 minutes later… Nope! That was the wrong train too. Now I am jumping on the 4. This time in the right direction.)
I should explain that the reason for this trek is to pick up a shipment of bubble juice. I am running low and need to restock or else risk a bubble catastrope.
Ahhh! I really need a ubahn map!
Take a look to the left of the screen for the flickr feed. I am also trying to upload my geo tracking data to you can try to find me.
…MAJOR NEWS! I just finished my quest to pick up the magic American bubble juice and found out that Roncalli does not need me for the Weinnacht (Christmas) circus. Instead, I have been presented the opportunity to perform at the Blackpool Tower Circus.
I must be riding high on a Karmic wave because just this morning I mentioned how much I would like to go to England. And what a cool place to spend Christmas. Now, I have to work out the details and see if I can make this deal work. This is always the tricky part. Let’s hope my luck holds.
Well, THAT’S a good day of blogging on the run…take care.
As I type, i am walking to the post office in Hamberg, Germany to mail my absentee ballot for the upcoming U.S. Presidential election. (I know, I know, I must look ridiculous…but who cares?!?)
Let it be known today, Burl the Bubble Guy officially endorces Barack Obama for President of the United States of America.
Democrat, republican, or independant, what ever you do, do not miss your opportunity to vote! Do whatever it takes to get out to the polls to vote. If you can help others get out to vote, please do so.
We are at a defining moment in the history of our country. The world is ever-changing and the decision made on November 4th will tell how we face the challenges of new age. Make your voice heard!
Even chimps in Japan are more adept than George W. Bush. Of course, to his credit President Bush forgot to turn his Segway “on”. First see the pics of our ’soon to be leaving# President…
Now, check out the Japanese Segway Chimp. YATTA!!!!!
Seems like the only stories that come out of Cincinnati these days are about racists and intolerant people. Cincy is a really good place even though it is a pretty conservative town.
I will be sending my absentee ballot to Ohio on Monday and hope that my home state is BLUE this time around.
I love that this jackass even misspelled Barack Obama’s middle name.
Time to get ready for the show.
Found a nice little shopping area. Getting hungry now!
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