15 Minutes of Fame

The image of this toilet is from a video I uploaded to YouTube. Click on the play button in the middle of the image to watch this short out-take from one of our recording sessions.

Who/What/Why Flapper©™?*

I have been working in a home improvement store for 10 years. I have answered thousands of questions ranging from "where is the bathroom?" to "how do I build a deck?" Every now and again, I get a question that stimulates my brain beyond the immediate answer. One day, about 8 months ago a woman walked by me using hand gestures, wondering where to find the replacement for the leaking "thing-y" in the back of her toilet. As I walked her to our plumbing department, I immediately imagined this "flapper" talking about his experiences living in a toilet tank.

This idea would not leave my brain. I shared a description of this image with friends at work and with family. I thought about things my character Flapper might say and asked others to brainstorm with me quips that might come from Flapper.

I imagined how Flapper and friends could share his adventures with the world if the front of the toilet tank was cutaway and he could talk. So I bought a toilet and cut out the front of the tank and set it up in my backyard.

Elley and I have played around with some video, voices and jokes with Flapper, his mute pal Wilson the float ball, and we even have put faces on the toilet seat "Seat" and the toilet paper "TP." We have discovered me are not comedy writers. We can handle the video and the technology around making Flapper and his friends' mouths move, but although we have some funny ideas about what they would say, we struggle with the dialogue.

If you, or anybody you know is a comedian or comedy writer, please have him/her get in touch with me. We all need more laughter and you have to agree that Flapper has an opportunity to be very funny because of his unique view of humans and the human condition.

*Flapper©™, with a capital F, is a character created by Robert "Robby" Hoffman in 2012.  Extensive research on Google and YouTube cannot uncover any previous use of a toilet flapper as a character. I have let it be known that I have a Trademark on Flapper as my character's name and have an exclusive Copyright to use Flapper in video or animated clips, in or outside his natural environment the toilet tank.

NFL

Today is 4 weeks since my operation. I am walking everyday, having fun designing a backyard water feature, and working on dialogue for some Flapper©™video shorts. I can feel my ribs and cartilage knitting together along my sternum. NFL = Nap-Friends-Laughter

My days now have a rhythm, including my nap at around 2 pm. I am watching some pre-season football, anticipating another solid year for the 49'ers, Seahawks, Falcons and Saints. These are my favorite teams for a variety of reasons and it is interesting to note that the former and latter pair up as huge rivals.

I have found a couple of new blogs from the recent Time Top 25 list. Tynan and News From ME are well written, stimulating and thought provoking. My idea of interesting "newsie" items includes the success at Tesla Motors and the progress on SpaceX. Elon Musk is also announcing a new transport system that will take passengers from LA to SF in 60 minutes. Shwush!

I'm looking forward to seeing the new movie Elysium. You know me to be a big believer in the truth about the 1%. As society continues to collapse, they will continue to abandon the 99% and seek out higher ground. But the 99% won't take it lying down. Viva La Revolution! (Fantasy! I know the people take to the streets in the movies and in Egypt, but not in America.)

I have plans to take a vacation in the Bay Area in late August for a change of scenery and to assure all family up north that I am whole. Then it's off to Borrego Springs over Labor Day weekend for camping in the stark beauty of the desert.

I return to work on September 9th.  I may get to see two old friends the week before. Alan and Don could be in SD for a hug, a meal and to launch the next 30 years. Beep Beep!

Waffles

Waffles is spending the weekend at our pad. Lola likes having Waffles around. He's very cute, curious and entertaining. Dog sitting can  be challenging because our 4 legged visitor isn't used to the sounds around our apartment complex.

But one night of restless sleep with Waffles unable to settle on the right place to lay his head, is offset by the pure joy and smiles he brings us. And, of course, Lola decided the best place to hang out was on Waffles' bed.

Having Waffles around with his positive stimulation is uplifting. We took Waffles with us to spend Saturday evening on a friend's back deck drinking vodka and cranberry juice and feasting on my best BBQ chicken marinated in Anchor Steam, with grilled vegies and sweet potato. We shared interesting, intelligent, progressive conversation and I proclaimed it to be the best I have felt in mind, body and spirit since my operation 3 weeks ago.


Tomorrow we have appointments with my Cardiologist and Surgeon. This is cookie cutter stuff, scheduled 3 weeks out from surgery for a check up. I am healing, walking, eating well, and although I admit to having the challenge of cabin fever and anticipating that the month of August is going to go slowly, it's all good. If you'd like to help make August more fun, give me a call, text or email and let's make a plan.