And. Here. We. Go.

Hard to believe, but this time last week I had no idea that I would be in Morocco. In fact I was lost in the wilds of Flint, teaching my latest class of aspiring Michigan Film technicians the finer arts of being an onset grip. And I fully expected to be teaching the same group the finer arts of being on onset electric this week. It's incredibly rewarding work, which has managed to keep my head above the water during the SAG strike and economic holocaust that has all but wiped out the film industry in Toronto. The thing is - the bed I made over 20 years ago, and the one from which I cannot escape without considerable re-education, where I crush three dimensions into two on the filmset factory floor, is that of a Freelance Film Technician - more specifically, a dolly grip. If you don't know, don't ask... Now factory might make it sound monontonous, and tedious, of which it can both, but being a dolly grip is also incredibly addictive, and out-of-the-blue one of my favorite drug pushers called to let me know he could hook me up with some seriously surprising shit.

Francois Daignault is his name. He's one of Montreal's, if not Canada's, top camera operators and if you make friends with him on facebook and check out his "trip map" you would be stunned by just how much he travels to work. And his latest gig? A made-for-television re-telling of one of Charleton Heston's greatest movies - BEN HUR. Jesus wept... how could I say no? So I replaced myself in Michigan, much to the dismay of my students... yes that's a bit of ego talking (as I am an awesome instructor:)) and got my ass back to Toronto last friday night.

Then I spent two harried days getting my shit together and hanging out with my sweet treat of a girlfriend, my Russian Princess (in all the right ways:)) - Alissa Ourakova. Did I mention she's Russian? After a year with her I am stumped as to how her people could be so hot-blooded... I mean most of them were born in snow banks up in Siberia, no? I'll tell you this - the absolute last thing I want to do is go up against a Russian in a fair fight. There's something about being so cut off and insular from the rest of the world, for so many centuries, that has made them terrifying badasses... and insanely passionate in regards to living life. Like no one else on this planet.

Anyhow, I digress... wait, I forgot to mention Alissa's incredibly bizarre, but terrific little dog, Benny LaRue (a teacup Chihuahua crossed with god knows what). He is a serious show-stopper. On the street everyone wants to meet him and invariably asks where they could get such a weird little beasty. I honestly don't know, but I'm glad she went against me and picked him up. The little guy will be my main man for years to come. He's a blessing in disguise, just don't tell my girl:)) We hung together all weekend as well.

Okay back it up and find the track. Two days racing around Toronto, buying anything and everything I could think of that I might need while away in Morocco for 10 weeks (forgot to mention that didn't I? 'Cause I didn't want to make anyone out there jealous... let me say it again - 10 weeks in Morocco, on someone elses dime! Woo-fucking-hoo!:)) Okay, so I get my shit together, go out for one final sushi meal on Sunday, wait a second, no I didn't, God how I wanted to - if I could only eat one meal for the rest of my life (happily of course), it would be sushi. Anyhow the weekend flew by and before I knew it, it was Sunday night at 7:PM and my mother was knocking on the back door of our apartment, ready to drive me to the airport. so after some serious kissing (from both Alissa and Benny) and a little heavy gropping (just my girl you pervs), mixed in with a dash of tears (all hers of course) out the door I went...

Which I think is the perfect place to end this first blog... seeing as I've had 4 hours sleep in the last 60 hours and am fading fast... yes I'm now in Morocco... and yes I'm two days behind on this blog, but hell at least I've started it... and yes it's my first one, so who knows how this is going to turn out:)

Anyhow, now I must sleep, more likely fall into a dreamless blackout, so goodnight all...

Tom out.

PS: A next morning note - just re-read this after prematurely unleashing it last night in my exhaustion... not too bad for a first attempt - a little heavy on the sickly sweet goofiness, but hey it can only get better from here... the next posting should come tonight, it's heading? SO YOU THINK YOU CAN FLY?