| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| MguyXXV |
Posted - 03/23/2009 : 07:46:02
Every once in a while you just happen to be in the right place at the right time. Quite to my surprise and delight, I spotted the illustious and ever-so talented AussieCanuck, the soon-to-be "Dr." Toby Malone in Los Angeles, along with his ever-so lovely and equally delightful Mrs., the soon-to-be "Mom" Meg Malone (who is a high school teacher in music and drama). What a treat!
How did it happen: well, it seems I was on the internet about six years ago and met a few odd folks who like to review films using four words or fewer. One of them was this prolific chap who went by the moniker AussieCanuck, which he later changed to "AC" (though, for the life of me, I am puzzled at what that stands for) before changing it back. This fellow began posting some great reviews like nobody's business. And a lot of them: he's curently No. 4 in the all-time list. Back in 2004, he starred in a little film called "Roll". Then he ran off and started studying for a Ph.D in English Literature with a specialization in Shakespeare.
Turns out my longtime friend promised to have a beer with me if ever he was in L.A. And -- LO AND BEHOLD -- he and Meg showed up in L.A. one day!  What a coincidence!
I am so glad to have had the greatest of opportunities to spend the day with Toby and Meg. So far, I can attest that all of the travelling fwffrs who've visited L.A. are some of the best, most congenial, most loveable people you'd ever want to meet (so nobody go and ruin it by being one of those creepy chat room people who wants to meet in an alley  ). Add Toby and Meg to that list.
We started out with the usual -- MguyX in some inevitable and certainly avoidable mix-up (this one involving the entry ticket for the parking garage) -- which is always my way of making sure that all of the crappy stuff that can happen gets taken care of immediately. Ever the guy with the keen eye, I spotted a couple in the lobby of their hotel and bounced up to them. "I'd recognize you guys from a mile away!"
It wasn't them. From the corner of my eye I noticed a young woman sitting about 10 feet away who cautiously flagged me down and asked "Are you looking for Toby?" It was Meg, who seemed maybe a little amused at my mistake.
"Ah-ha! I'd recognize you guys from a mile away!" I announced, a little garbled whereas a bit of my shoe was still sliding out of my mouth. What's worse, Toby looks nothing like the fellow I first mistook him as (who looked a bit like this). Hard to believe that so ruggedly handsome a fellow has been a life-long, hardcore footballer (as in "rugby")! (Um ... Toby, not the Asian chap). Luckily, his teaching duties have rescued him from the fate of many a footballer who has played maybe a game or two too many.
We had a very, very pleasant and relaxing time together. I swear, after all of these years of fourum chatter and PMs, getting together with AC and Meg felt like hanging out with long-lost childhood friends. Among some of the names that came up: GHCool, Sludge, Corduroy Pillow, noncentz, Salopian, others I don't recall, and some fellow called "benj". We had a lot to laugh and talk about, but I'm afraid that'll just have to remain private.         
We spent the day touring U.C.L.A. and tripping off to the Getty Museum, which was quite a handful, before a hearty steak at a really nice steakhouse (which Toby and Meg especially enjoyed, since the day before someone had "suprised" them with a visit to an exotic food eatery featuring Ethiopian food. I like Ethiopian food, but it is an acquired taste and eating methodology, so I didn't begrudge my good friends their still being a little unsatisfied their prior experience, which they endured with great grace and aplomb, mind you).
Toby is about four months away from completing his doctorate.
Unfortunately, I am a bit of a frustrated Shakespeare geek: I majored in English Literature in college, but I barely get to read anything artistic these days (*sigh*). I guess I should have taken it for granted, but when I asked a couple Shakespeare questions that had been floating in my head for a while, Toby completely floored me with some of the freshest, most thoughtful and insightful observations about "Romeo and Juliette," "Richard III" and "Othello" I think I've ever heard. Fancy that coming from a Ph.D candidate! (I know, I know: sometimes I'm slow on the uptake.) So aside from having a great time and great playful banter throughout the day, I ended up getting a graduate tutorial in about 30 minutes! 
I'm very glad you two gave me a call Toby! I will be happy to have you guys back any time.
P.S. Drat! I forgot to get an autograph!!!!! |
| 15 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| randall |
Posted - 04/01/2009 : 14:12:54
Nice pic of both fwiffers. Next time I get to L.A., *my first task* will be to look up MguyX! And GHcool! Etc etc. |
| MguyXXV |
Posted - 04/01/2009 : 12:48:10
quote:
Originally posted by Ro�k G01f
I knew I should have added a ...
April's fool!
(always a convenient way of disguising my own failure to get the gag I thought something was fishy. ) |
| RockGolf |
Posted - 04/01/2009 : 11:00:28
I knew I should have added a ... |
| MguyXXV |
Posted - 04/01/2009 : 01:08:51
AC's on the left. Didn't you click on the link in the first post?  What about duh's George Clooney quip? Why didn'y you use your super psychic powers?! |
| RockGolf |
Posted - 03/31/2009 : 23:15:43
Which one's which? |
| duh |
Posted - 03/31/2009 : 07:09:55
quote:
Originally posted by MguyX
No, Drat!: I had nowhere else to post this (that I could figure out easily), so I put it here:
AC and MguyX chillin' at the Getty (with guest - oh yeah!)
Two drool-worthy men!!!
And MguyX, how could you ever have mistaken anyone else for George Clooney's younger clone? |
| MguyXXV |
Posted - 03/31/2009 : 00:24:20
No, Drat!: I had nowhere else to post this (that I could figure out easily), so I put it here:
AC and MguyX chillin' at the Getty (with guest - oh yeah!) |
| Sean |
Posted - 03/24/2009 : 03:39:52
quote:
Originally posted by MguyX
With his dissertation defense coming up in a few months, he'd better not come back until after he gets those three letters.
DrAC? |
| MguyXXV |
Posted - 03/24/2009 : 02:38:13
With his dissertation defense coming up in a few months, he'd better not come back until after he gets those three letters. |
| GHcool |
Posted - 03/23/2009 : 17:28:53
That's awesome! Any chance AC will be back on FWFR any time soon? |
| MguyXXV |
Posted - 03/23/2009 : 17:03:36
Oops! You came up in conversdation too, lemmy (several times! but in a good way ). How could I have omitted to mention that??? |
| Cheese_Ed |
Posted - 03/23/2009 : 17:03:34
No pics?
Mrs. Cheese is coming to LA LA land in two weeks but I didn't want to risk bumping into the mad ranter, so instead Cheese will be melting in the sun of Arizona this weekend.
|
| lemmycaution |
Posted - 03/23/2009 : 14:30:47
Thanks for the update. I think that AC might hold the record for number of FWIFFERs met. That reminds me, I miss the old photo gallery.
I hope that the old rogue and peasant slave finds himself back here after he earns his gown. |
| Larry |
Posted - 03/23/2009 : 11:08:56
What a great chronicle, MguyX.
I realize Orlando FL isn't quite the travel hub that Los Angeles is, although we'd like to think we are. Anyway, if anybody's coming to the Central Florida area, I'd love to meet up with you. We have plenty of dark alleys and places with parking problems, or we can actually meet some place nice. Let me know if you're coming this way. |
| w22dheartlivie |
Posted - 03/23/2009 : 10:56:37
quote:
Originally posted by MguyX
...nobody go and ruin it by being one of those creepy chat room people who wants to meet in an alley ).
I wonder why he always wants to meet me in a dark alley...
 |
|
|
