Brought out to the lovely Western side of our fair nation by Wife Swap, Michael and his compadres Theo and Luciano had an rare opporunity to enjoy a day of NOT shooting. We came out to Phoenix last night and have to shoot tomorrow, but today, we had an opporunity to drive up North to Sedona. After getting a bit lost, we finally hooked up with a Jeep tour company and took an open ride tour of one of the several amazing National Parks. The ride was as bumpy as a Taxi ride up 10th Avenue circa 1977 and it got as cold as hell, but we had a great time. Amazing rock formations and natural beauty, served up 10 fold. In fact, I think we even saw a bald eagle in the far distance. He appeared to be searching for cell service...

Labels: michael, phoenix, rocks

Just a little reminder to myself - and all other men of the world - to never forget that they are watching. The wives, that is. You can see mine eyeing me and thinking "I'M WATCHING YOU BRIDENSTINE!" Thank God the kid distracts her from time to time...

Labels: blah, eye, husbands, lori, Nicholas, wives

As Grandma and Grandpa Bridenstine were in town to watch Nicholas, Mom and Dad got a rare chance to hit the streets of NYC and have some fun. With our good friends and neighbors Amy and Dave, we rode the "A" train downtown, just like The Duke Ellington Orchestra suggested, and had dinner and a movie. Dinner at Food Bar, a fun and very yummy restaurant in Chelsea, and then seeing Atonement, which Michael gives "Seven Burp Clothes" out of 10 and Lori gives "Two and a 1/2 Binkys" out of 4. Great looking, good performances, but a bit awkward at times in its storytelling and somewhat jaunty. But hey, now that we're parents, we're just glad to get out, especially when we don't have to pay a babysitter! Extra thanks to Grandma and Grandpa for watching little Nick. Now, back to the laundromat, unfinished work around the apartment and the crushing debt of misfortune that is our lives. Good times!

Labels: dinner, Grandpa and Grandma, lori, movies, Nicholas

First of all, let it be stated that as cute as our son Nicholas is, it ain't all about him. He's coming into our world, and sometimes he's just gonnna have to step aside so that Mom and Dad can have a life. Well, at least Dad...

In that vein, consider this the first entry in the Bridenstine Family Blog that talks about what Michael is up to. Since no one really ever seems to understand what I do to pay the rent, I'm making it a mission of mine in '08 to give little crumbs of information to a hungry public. Here's crumb #1.

Since the beginning of November, I've been working for a company called DBG, Digital Broadcasting Group. Really good guys, and a great project. DBG hired me to write, produce and direct original comedy webisodes for Will Ferrell's new comedy "Semi-Pro". The film is coming out on February 29th and Will plays a player/owner of the fictious ABA basketball team, the Flint, MI Tropics. [Not sure if anyone notices that the film comes out on the 29th of Feb, which only happens during a leap year, and the film is about basketball, where people leap. See, this is why my stuff never sells...] Anyway, the guys at DBG came up with a really funny idea, which is to treat Will's character, Jackie Moon, as if he really existed by doing 5 short mockumentary pieces that talk about the ABA, the 70s, the music, etc. We've interviewed real former players, coaches, journalists, PR guys, etc. and they're all working off my super stupid scripts. And I say that with pride! I'm off to Indianapolis in one week to interview the player from the ABA who had the biggest fro - Darnell Hillman. The look was big back then. I've already interviewed Cedric Maxwell, Jo Jo White and Mark Cuban, amongst others.

And although I can't show you the final webisodes, mostly cause they ain't done yet, I can show you two seconds of Michael stupidity. Not only does this clip show you the level of comedy I'm working in, but I'm in it as well! This is my quick cameo as an ABA ref who gets hit when a player throws up a brick - literally. See the bad acting in real time and just pray that they keep me behind the camera from now on. Listen closely to hear my cameraman Chris comment on the quality of the comedy. If he had an extra appendage, he'd give my performance "Three Thumbs Down!"

Labels: ABA, brick, comedy, funny, michael, Semi-Pro, work

Labels: Exorcist, New Parent Lesson, Nicholas, puke, spewing

The Bridenstine Blog would like to make a simple point. Notice how while Mommy gets cute looks while giving tummy kisses [see video below...]

Labels: Dad, Nicholas, video, warm tummy kisses

Is this Michael's idea of art? Has fatherhood driven him mad and he now thinks a bottle is really a fungus? Do you even care? The answer is that this is what a NYC restaurant brings you when you ask for some hot water to heat the baby's bottle! Or at least that's what we got this past Sunday when we went to an old deli on the Upper West Side. Hey, they've been around since 1908, so they must be going Old School. It just struck me as being so very random and funny. Mushrooms?!

Superhero-in-training Nicholas Bridenstine was accompanied by his mother, Grandpa and Grandma Matthews and tag-along Daddy this past Monday as we all treked around NYC. Here's a pic of them shooting a pic of us on the subway!

Labels: Grandpa and Grandma, mushrooms, Nicholas, NYC

A simple "Happy New Year!" from the entire Bridenstine clan in New York City! It was a simple, humble beginning, but we still expect to have tons of fun and exciting moments in 08! Best to all!

Labels: Bridenstines, Dick Clark, New Year, Nicholas, toast