Neal Archives
You have 2 letters archived!
June 14, 2003.....Once you go Mac, you can't go back
(image pilfered from www.styxworld.com)
This scene realllllly does my heart good! *sigh*
Greetings and solicitations, Mr. Doughty, sir!! Welcome to your official Kimmers cyber letter page! I was really bummed out when you announced that band member snail mail service was no longer available through the office, but then I came up with the idea of creating this web site to stay in touch. The bridge building process may have to be momentarily re-directed, but it can never be stopped!!
First, I wrote the title for your page, and the day I uploaded all the website files, I found this picture on styxworld.com, and I couldn't resist! The original caption reads: "Boys and their toys--Duke Zurek, Matt Lenz show REO sound engineer Neil Schaefer and me around one of the best toy stores on earth here in Minneapolis." *sigh* I scanned it, then when I opened it in Photoshop, the image size dialog box said it was 300 d.p.i., and something like 33 inches by 27 inches!! Their webmaster must work for NASA or something! If I even offer to go above 72 d.p.i. and 4 by 5 inches, my browser gets really, REAAAALLLLLY bitchy. AAAAHHHHH!! Is Schaef a long-time Mac user, or a recent convert?
I was checking out the official REO web site the other day, and I got such a kick out of the streaming video clips in the Backstage/Members section. Too bad you can't put that kind of stuff online at a higher resolution. I felt like I had to get a magnifying glass to see everything! LOL!
Remember that short story I wrote for you guys when I lived in L.A., the one where I went on the road with you for a week? When I saw the video clip of you guys on the bus, I thought of the bus scenes in that story. I could easily see me & Hittman in the lounge, howling with laughter over Blazing Saddles, or showing you guys all my REO goodies, watching concert tapes, etc. And don't forget the tender scene at the end of the story, when I was too roadburned to be on my best behavior, and we started getting real with each other after I got done crying on Bruce's shoulder. Awwwwww.....:O)
Cerisa said she gave that story to you guys at rehearsal, but she never got it back, so I assume it's still in circulation, being enjoyed. I had a sleep dream a few months ago where Kevin had written favorable comments in the margins of the manuscript I'd sent you guys, and snail mailed it back to me. I know what his handwriting looks like in real life, so that's how I knew it was him. I woke up feeling sooooo happy. It was a moment right out of In My Dreams!!
That story was more than just a piece of fan fiction to me. It represents a few of my most ardent REO dreams. Maybe one day, with your kind indulgence, they will become reality.
More
official web site stuff: have you ever denied anyone membership to the Backstage
section? I always wonder about these kind of "exclusive", password
restricted things. Or is mostly a marketing tool to build up a database of
fan information? Also, will K.C. start up another online diary to take the
place of Lucky Bamboo, or will he stick with his newsletters? I really like
it when he talks about life on the road. Makes me realize what I'm missing!
:O) His video clip introducing L.B. is cute, especially at the end where he
asks Lucky a question, then makes it nod "yes". K.C. is so funny!
I also like the video clip where he introduces people to the Backstage section. He promises, among other things, that people will get to see "naked pictures of the band." Then you step into the frame and quickly correct him, saying that it's "false advertising." Well, it wouldn't be, if you really and truly did have such a product to offer, and that's where I come in.
You see, I'm a whiz in Photoshop, and....well, modesty prohibits me from tooting my own horn too much, but it turned out pretty damn good, if I do say so my damn self! Only took me about an hour to get it right, experimenting with various tool palettes and drop down menu options! Hehehehe!
Hey, K.C. thinks it would be a great idea, and I couldn't let my favorite band member down, now could I? (wink)
Later, Mac daddy!
July 16, 2003....You're a young man and it's time to go west
Howdy,
stranger!
The reason I chose this particular title for this cyber letter is because it inspired me to make a critical life choice recently. As I was listening to "Wherever You're Goin (It's Allright)" on my walkman the other night, that lyric made a light bulb go off over my brain. My gut instinct quietly whispered, "It's time for you to move back to Los Angeles, Kim."
I've been thinking about this for the past 3 years, ever since I moved back to Florida, but I didn't feel ready until that light bulb moment. This time, I'm gonna plan the crap out of this move.Through trial and error, I found out what works and what doesn't, and exactly what I need to make a happy life for myself.These lessons in the "school of hard L.A. knocks" have crystallized my vision for the future once I'm back on tierra Angelino.
My timeline for achieving this goal is 6 months from now, in January, 2004. Thanks to my "low maintenance" way o' life from July '99 to November 2000, I know what I need to do differently, to ensure a much happier outcome now. I can definitely SURVIVE out in L.A. Now it's time to THRIVE. I don't need a fancy shmancy Beverly Hills mansion to make that happen, either. Just a nice, quiet, modest studio apartment in a nice, quiet, modest part of town that doesn't have bars on the windows, and is close to Ralphs, and the MTA bus line. Give me a monthly bus pass and a Ralphs Club card, and I'm safe as a kitten!
As I get all my little ducks lined up, in preparation for the move, I'll keep you updated through this website.
Well,
I need to go wash some clothes for work tommorrow morning, so I'll bark at
ya later. (((Neal)))
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© 2003, Rent A Geek/Kimberly Tolley
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