Well for those of you who have ever said to me “RJ – I live vicariously through you”, this is the blog entry for you. As I admittedly have a tendency to be verbose in my entries, I will make my best attempt to be concise, as I have a lot to cover.
Seattle Trip – AMAZING! I interviewed at Valley Family Medicine in Renton, WA and they rolled out the red carpet for me in every way possible. The program was solid, the people were super friendly, the facilities were modern, the location was ideal and I felt very suited for it. Drawbacks – they want me to start Jan 19th at the latest. It doesn’t give me a lot of time to make the move out there, find a house, have my goods and car shipped (and yes, the Navy is paying for me and my goods to get back – thank God), but I may need to just cut my Christmas vacation a little shorter than I had planned because I think it might be worth it to take this position.
While in Seattle, I re-connected with some old friends (Dan Southwick)...
...I ate at my favorite restaurant (Ivar’s)...
...went to the Fish Market and even found a little time to go out and check out the scene. Lo and behold I ran into my ex-roommate Chris - remember him?...credit card and identity theft/felon? He ran from Hawaii back to Seattle after being fired from his job at Roy’s Restaurant in Waikiki for pulling the same bullshit he did with me – stealing people’s credit card numbers, only this time he went a step further and was caught adding extra gratuity to their checks! The restaurant turned him in and once the police got involved, he fled and now is hiding in Seattle…but I digress…the Seattle scene was fun.
So I flew back to Honolulu and then flew to Maui to meet my friends Victor and Josh. Josh and I have a friend Kevin who rented out an amazing multi-million dollar house, overlooking the ocean, with a personal golf course attached, heated pool, Jacuzzi,...
...yeah, it was pretty pimp and just the 4 day retreat I needed before my movie premiere. We played croquet while sipping on Mimosas for 4 days of living lavishly. It was a great group of 8 guys. For Halloween I dressed up as, …well, maybe some things are better left unsaid. (But Karen I think you know – just add a black spandex hood) Below are some pictures of Victor, Josh, our friend Kevin (with the tequila shots) and myself...
On to Halloween... I woke up that morning early. I couldn’t sleep, I was way too excited for the Movie Premiere! Josh, Victor and I took the Hawaii Superferry from Maui to Oahu. It was my first time on the Superferry and even though it opened the three of us up to a slew of gay jokes from some of our predator friends (Anthony), all in all it was really cool. Of course I got us tickets in the VIP section of the ferry, but it was worth it for the extra 40 bones. The crew in the VIP lounge walked around offering us complimentary shrimp puffs, beer/wine and sea sickness medicine, seriously. I was impressed. Before I knew it, the 2nd biggest night of my life began…
It started with a big black stretch limousine that comfortably sat 20! It had 8 LCD TVs inside, Sunroof, was equipped with IPOD adapter, leather seats and 20 champagne glasses for each of us. We started in Waikiki and drove around the island to pick up my cast members. Of course we were all dressed very runway and playing the part of famous movie stars! The pictures below are of the cast on the way to the club (inside and out of the limmo). You can click on the picture (or any picture) to blow it up.
So after about 20 bottles of Moet, we pulled up to a red carpet that was rolled out from the club to the street...
The club posted 2 security guards for crowd control and the photographer and videographer started rolling as we stepped out of the limmo for our arrival. It was awesome! Below is the link to the YouTube clip of our arrival. The club’s videographer posted some clips on You Tube. Copy the link below and put it into your web browser.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g59gCiQDLNY
(Red Carpet Arrival)
We had a few group shots outside...
...then proceeded upstairs where another red carpet awaited us, along with a wall sized poster of my movie, balloons and scary décor. Inside the club had a VIP area sectioned off for our cast party, which was catered with Hawaiian pupus (or “appetizers” for my mom who can never remember what that word means). Below is a YouTube Clip of the main movie screen and the area of the club where our cast party was held just as we were about to come in.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZF9kh_GnKy4
(Cast Party)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kge7fof87W0
(Movie Screen)
The club itself had one large movie screen and then 15 other LCD TVs which all were showing the movie. I gave a 10 minute warning and then screened the preview to the movie (see below).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPkOPaj6eN4
(10 Minute Warning)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FC7Z0jBkdc
(Preview)
Then it was go time. I gave a small speech thanking everyone for their involvement and also to recognize a few cast members who couldn’t be there (Jacintha, Eli, Kylie & Robbie).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUfuguspj4A
(RJ’s Opening Speech)
Sitting there watching everyone watch my movie was such a high...everyone was screaming and laughing and they were really into it. It was the biggest rush I’ve ever experienced. I know my sister Kelly can relate to this feeling, having been on tv before. Below is a clip of the crowd’s reaction to a scene from my movie and a clip of the Ending Credits when everyone stood up and started cheering my name. Again – words can’t describe the feeling.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDyfVkcmFk0
(RJ’s Scene from Movie)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4J4hP-7gmMs
(Ending Credits / Applause)
Before I knew it, it all came to a close and it was over. And then began Victor’s vacation! (Below is a picture of Victor and our friend Jen in Waikiki)
He’s been in Hawaii for about 12 days now and we’ve had the chance to do some amazing things together. We went snorkeling with Hawaiian Sea Turtles, went to the Polynesian Cultural Center, did a traditional Hawaiian Luau, went to the Honolulu Zoo...(saw turtles having sex)...
...had some nice dinners, went bar hopping in Honolulu and of course, went out clubbing ‘Victor and RJ style’. As I write (at 10:21 am), Victor, after walking in the door only moments ago from last night, barely made it to the couch before collapsing in exhaustion. (I, to everyone’s surprise, decided to stay in last night, because I finally finished my first wedding video – Joe & Jacquie’s – and had a small screening at my house last night with some members of the bridal party.)
So next stop, Hollywood! Tomorrow I fly out to Los Angeles for an interview at the Los Angeles Medical Center on Tuesday and then fly back to Hawaii Wednesday. This is my final interview before I’m making my decision about which program to go to. Ideally, I’ll have made my choice by Wednesday. And while a position actually opened up right here in Hawaii for a 2nd year spot, I’m getting off this island and starting a new chapter in my life. It’s going to take a lot for Los Angeles to out beat Seattle at this point, but you never know until you try, and I have to go see for myself.
Well people, that’s the latest from this end. I want send a special hello to Anthony, deployed overseas to Germany. He’s an ER nurse. Miss ya buddy. Karen Yamada and Kathy Sweeney – thanks for your e-mails and for standing behind me. Thanks for everyone’s thoughts and players. Kelly, Mike, Mom – I can’t wait to come home and see you all again, I miss you guys and I miss Kiera and Ryan (pictures of the two of them are on my sister’s blog at http://www.magyarics.blogspot.com
Aloha for now, and oh, PS - - -
I’m getting another tattoo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
