Blood-Type Diet

A few years ago, I went to a show to see some friends perform. I hadn't seem them in a while and when I hooked up with them after the show, I was blown away. My buddy Brandon looked like he had lost a TON of weight and he was never overweight so I was a little confused.

Compared to the way he normally looks, he looked emaciated. But the dramatic weight loss was so surprising and shocking I had to know how he had done it because in the 5 years (at that time) since my accident (I'll blog about that later) I had put on about 50 lbs. and was having a tough time shedding the weight.

Brandon told me that he had gone on a blood-type diet with his mom.  His mom was ordered to go on the diet by her doctor and because it was such a tough and limiting diet, Brandon was an awesome son and went on it with her for support.

For the last few years, I had never forgotten that and swore I would give it a try.  Now that I have a wedding on the horizon, I am now about 1.5 months into the blood-type diet.  I am Type-O, the same and Brandon and his mom, so I have been able to consult and compare recipes and ingredients.  Here's the chart I have to follow:

In the month and a half since I started this diet, I have lost over 25 lbs. and havent felt as amazing in years.  I definitely have not been this thin (and I am nowhere near my goal, mind you) since probably 2005/2006.  As difficult as it was at the beginning, I have found it to be so rewarding and effective.  That, right there, is motivation enough to continue the diet and see it through to the end.

Who knows?  Maybe I'll have a considerable lifestyle change?  Either way, I couldnt recommend this more highly for anyone wanting to shed some lbs. easily.  Someone told me a few years ago that by cutting soda out of my life, I'd lose 10 lbs.  I didn't lose anything but I did cut it out in January of 2008 and have never looked back.  Imagine if I had still consumed soda.  I'd be a glutton for gluttony, probably.

If you are interested in the blood-type diet for you, here are links to each page with some amazing information:

• Type O
• Type A
• Type B
• Type AB

And if you don't know your blood-type (and don't have health insurance),  you can order a home-test kit from Amazon.com.  I ordered THIS ONE and while I let it sit for a few months for fear of pricking myself with a needle, I found it quick, fun, and extremely self explanatory and accurate!

I mix this diet with frequent trips to Runyon Canyon in Hollywood.  I am telling you -- this is working for me.  I'll be posting the products I have been buying and trying with reviews of how they taste and recipes for the meals I have been preparing for the next few weeks.  I couldn't be more happy to get the results I want and the reinforcement from friends and family.

Library Bar

The Library Bar at the Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood is awesome. It's a tiny little hole in the wall place that takes pride in mixology and more-than-likely frowns upon it's myriad of 'jack-and-coke' orders from the hip Hollywood culture.
While that may be not entirely true, this is the type of place that will taste-test every drink before it's handed to you and will never hesitate to remake a drink if it's not up to the high standards. While it's pricey to say the least. I can guarantee that you will not have another drink like this in Los Angeles.
Pictured: Blackberry-Basil Mojito

Party Down and other things from this week.

I have been CRAZY suck over the past few weeks. But with sickness comes the watching of new shows. I had only heard of "Party Down" from a few co-workers and that was it. I have always loved nearly everyone involved with this project but had never even heard of this show.

Now, I have watched both seasons in full and am SUPER bummed out that it's gone. I do love that I can see Adam Scott in "Parks and Recreation" every week but his relationship as Henry with Casey and Roman and Kyle and the rest of the Party Down catering crew was so real and tangeable... it's just a shame it didn't last longer.

I highly recommend you go and cop that -ish on Netflix this week. Both seasons are streaming in their entirety and are waiting to be enjoyed. I have started many-a-show before -- "Arrested Development," "Mad Men," "Weeds," "Dexter," etc. but none had captured me like this show. It will truly be missed!

On another note, the wedding planning is going well! We are about to send out our Save-the-dates, our minister has been ordained, our guest-list is finalized, and we just have a few things to take care of with the venue (fire permits, etc.) In fact, to tie these two thoughts together, if you watch the season finale of "Party Down's" first season, the location their wedding is at is also Suzi and my wedding location! Not the same location on the property but just walking distance. Maybe we will have a "Party Down" themed wedding and both get married in long-sleeved collared shirts with pink bow-ties. Hey, it could happen!

I am also working on a few projects that will be added to my web reel soon as well as some projects that will take you to an entirely different site! If you have actor or director friends or you are in need of a reel, hit me up! All the recent reels I have done are up at www.dparke.com. I am also writing a script with a good buddy for a short film that we hope to shoot more than likely this winter (after the wedding.)

MobileMe: Recently I took to the twitters and the facebooks to ask what people thought of MobileMe vs. Gmail. I got my responses and have made my decision. I am now switching over to MobileMe full-time. I will still get the emails sent to my Gmail address but will no longer be using that address. If you'd like my new email address, just hit me up and ask!

I think that covers a plethora of things going on in my life right now. Let me know if I should do more update-y type stuff here or not. Maybe this will be like my "Doogie Howser, M.D." journal.

Under Water

I made this little ditty over the weekend.  It was the first time in a long time I was home with the sun out and it was warm enough to get into the pool.  I'll tell ya, nothing gets you into the water faster than a rolling camera!

EightBit.me

Check it out!

Starbucks is Awesome

I recently wrote a letter to Starbucks when I went in to get my Pumpkin Scone and Pumpkin Spice Frappuccino -- one of my favorite festive combos I treat myself to each year -- and was told, "...the Pumpkin Scone is a seasonal item and is no longer offered for this year."  I have since found out that that Starbucks was mis-informed or something but I was told with such assurance that I had no reason to question the barista.

Starbucks is awesome and sent this letter back to me:

Click to Enlarge

How awesome is that?!  AND I got quoted.  Well played, Starbucks.  Well played, indeed.

More 8-Bit

I have been so inspired by Addison's 8-bit character design that I have now created this for the Kevin and Bean show.

I don't think I am going to show it to them yet as I might add Doc on the Roq and Producer Alex and I want to make sure credit goes where credit is due.  The character design is just so simple and fun, I am having a ball playing around with different looks, etc.

I would love feedback if you have it!  And be sure to follow Addison's EightBit.me on twitter!  Soon everyone will be able to create these awesome little dudes!

8BitMe

My Buddy Addison Kowalski made this awesome tutorial for how to create your very own 8-bit-style profile picture!  I made the one above by watching it and I think it looks pretty awesome!

The tutorial is embedded below.  All that's needed is:

• Photoshop
• The following are optional
• a computer
• a mouse
• a keyboard
• a monitor
• power
• eyes
• arms
• a torso
• hands (left and right)
• fingers (all 10 preferred.  5 on each hand if at all possible)
• hand-eye coordination
• ears
• a working knowledge of the english language

I'd love to see what you all come up with!

7 Songs in 7 Days

My good friend Addison Kowalski was jumping on a train and I was going with him.  We are going to write a song a day for a week.  These will be posted up on friendswritesongs.tumblr.com but as that site has been having some issues this past week, I thought I would post them up here for my blog readers -- although I haven't posted in months so who knows who's gonna hear them?

Along with each track I finished, I will post the blurb I sent to Mr. Andrew Capra -- mastermind of the FriendsWriteSongs blog.  I hope you all enjoy them -- they're pretty awful.

i LOVE this POST SECRET!

love it

video and song. love it

What makes time travel possible:

Ronald Reagan!

"Shut your FUCK HOLE!"

You. Are. Welcome.

Phoenix

I saw this band on SNL and loved them. Now they're all over commercials and my iPod. This Take Away Show-series they did in Paris just makes them that much more bad ass. Enjoy.

One of my favorite blink videos

and they had nothing to do with it. This was a typography project this kid had to do for a college class. This was the FIRST TIME HE EVER USED AFTER EFFECTS! Blew my mind. This was the first one I saw and I went to watch others to see if they were as good and they all sucked hard. I was blown away by this kid's work and hope blink pick up on it. Also, i LOVE this song. SO underrated!

Enjoy!

WTG Mark Silverman!

One of the stars of "The Undying Monsters!" is the leading Rod Serling VO talent in the world and did this for KTLA's Thanksgiving marathon. You may have also heard him while dropping into a seedy hotel in the dark side of Hollywood...

SO GOOD!!!!!

TEENAGER FROM THE FUTURE!

Blinkumentary

yes please:

8-bit 182

HAHAHAA

BTTF Stuff!

so I have been wanting to do this forever and someone beat me to it. I'm glad though. still looks awesome. Enjoy!

See more funny videos and funny pictures at CollegeHumor.

The top scene is from part 1 and the bottom is from part 2. LOVE IT!