My Stupid Lucky Brother: A Paul McCartney Tale

knigel · #1 07-17-2009, 09:57 PM

So my brother, who lives an oddly star-crossed life in NYC (he introduced me to Patton Oswalt and Fred Armisen), called me this afternoon from work. I am out of work so I'm pretty much home all day.

"What are you doing this weekend Jeff (my bro)?"

"eh, nothing, no plans. I've been trying to get tickets to NIN, but no luck. I'm pissed."

"Well that sucks, but whatever."

So we chat for a bit, get off the phone. My big plans for Friday night? Well, I put on pajama pants and watched the Iron Giant with my roommate's kid, so you can tell that I'm not a big fat party animal, just big and fat. So about 15 minutes later, I get a text from him: I just won a contest, and I'm going to see Paul McCartney at Shea Stadium for free, AND I'm filming it for a DVD.

What? The? Eff?

It's true--apparently he has access to everywhere in the stadium, including VIP areas, but not backstage. AND, he graduated from Emerson with a degree in film and photography, so he can shoot--it is likely his stuff (some of it anyway) will end up on the DVD!

Now, while he was prepping at Shea, I was watching Seinfeld, and it was the Even Steven episode, where Jerry is even, and good things happen to George and bad things happen to Elaine. While one friend is up, the other is down.

It made me think--I'm Elaine. I'm a laid off overweight carpenter with a 90k student loan debt hanging out with a ten year old on a Friday night. Whose ex GF just called to say she and her current beau broke up, she went nuts and broke some of his stuff, and could I come over in the morning and try to fix it (and I will, of course).

All so my brother can win contests and meet Paul McCartney and who knows what other celebs and help make a documentary.

I hope he appreciates it.

J. Crawford · #2 07-17-2009, 09:59 PM

A least youre not 92k in student debts!

Think on the bright side!

knigel · #3 07-17-2009, 10:02 PM

The problem is, I can't pay them. So the interest tick tick ticks. Give it time bud--I'll be at 92k soon enough!

But thanks for the good thoughts!

J. Crawford · #4 07-17-2009, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by knigel

The problem is, I can't pay them. So the interest tick tick ticks. Give it time bud--I'll be at 92k soon enough!

But thanks for the good thoughts!

And life moves on. Life is too short to be mad at your brother for meeting a left handed bassist.. They arent even from this planet, so its cool.

But Im only 16, so I dont know anything about student bills or girls! They have cooties!

knigel · #5 07-17-2009, 10:07 PM

Oh no, not anger, jealousy only. I'm sure he's somehow maneuvered his way into Ringo's limo. It should be a funny story tomorrow morning!

Pitbull Growl · #6 07-17-2009, 10:12 PM

There is one good thing to consider... You could hit your brother back and have him get whatever settings Sir Paul is using on whatever amp(s)/gear he's using on vid/stills for your own reference. Not many of us are able to do that, so from that perspective you ARE pretty lucky yourself.

funkyfretless · #7 07-17-2009, 10:15 PM

elaine.."give me a $20"
jerry gives her a $20. she then throws it out the window.
jerry :what did you do that for?"
elaine "let's see if you get your $20 back.
jerry "you could have just throw a pencil out the window you know.."

george walks in soon after...
george "i just found $20 on the street!"

wow.. how is that i can remember useless seinfeid trivia, but have a hard time going from stablesmates to moment's notice..(one 2 5 cycle goes down while the other goes up... man i'm a dork at useless theory to

WRXbase · #8 07-17-2009, 10:20 PM

Tell her to "make it worth your while". She might and then you could be the indirect reason her latest relationship won't work.

--[edit] Reminds me why I do other things than watch Seinfeld.

Jordasch: I'm 35, been married over 10 years. To help you: GIRLS -DO- HAVE COOTIES!

Chipsonfire · #9 07-17-2009, 10:40 PM

Student loans FTL (sorry for the text-talk). I have about 12k worth myself, but that's because I went to a VERY affordable college. Unfortunately, because I couldn't find a job out of college, my remedy for not being able to pay off loans is, you guessed it, MORE LOANS! (I'm going back for a Masters, using loans to get it).

Smurf-o-Deth · #10 07-17-2009, 10:50 PM

All this loan talk reminds me how glad I am to be a nerd that went to college on full academic scholorship.

I'm not sure if that's helpful to you in your situation.

Oh, I also earned departmental scholorships, so I guess I technically was paid to go to college.

My point is this: the Iron Giant is an awesome movie.

I'm not a pimp!

P.S. I'm with WRX on this one, tell her cash, gas or ass: no one rides for free. If she has any questions, direct her to the local Camero dealership.

rfclef · #11 07-18-2009, 12:15 AM

Funny... I just looked at this thread, and I am in the middle of watching the Even Steven episode....

Giddyup!

Rocker949 · #12 07-20-2009, 05:25 PM

I think it was Rod Stewart who once said that some guys have all the luck, some guys have all the pain.

Jim Campbell · #13 07-20-2009, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jordasch

And life moves on. Life is too short to be mad at your brother for meeting a left handed bassist.. They arent even from this planet, so its cool.

But Im only 16, so I dont know anything about student bills or girls! They have cooties!

when you get older you'll find that those cooties all have law degrees and are on permanent retainer with the ex's

Electric_Spank · #14 07-20-2009, 09:52 PM

I sure hope you aren't going to fix that **** for free.

knigel · #15 07-21-2009, 06:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Electric_Spank

I sure hope you aren't going to fix that **** for free.

Ha ha, no, I ended up getting coffee, lunch, and a new hat out of it.

As for the show, I guess everyone was informed of the situation except security. Every time someone stopped to shoot something, security forced them to move along. My brother said he didn't get too much usable footage, but he didn't care because he saw the show for free.

Kink Rimson · #16 07-21-2009, 07:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by knigel

Ha ha, no, I ended up getting coffee, lunch, and a new hat out of it.

.

What style of hat?

lindseyp · #17 07-21-2009, 08:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by knigel

... I'm a laid off overweight carpenter with a 90k student loan debt hanging out with a ten year old on a Friday night. Whose ex GF just called to say she and her current beau broke up, she went nuts and broke some of his stuff, and could I come over in the morning and try to fix it (and I will, of course).

....

What are you fixing; "the" stuff, or her stuff? If it's the second one then it seems like you'd be George

knigel · #18 07-21-2009, 09:12 AM

HA! The stuff--I'm still Elaine. I haven't fixed her stuff in a couple of years...