Lights...camera...giant centipedes...action

From top to bottom, photos are:

1) Me and some giant centipedes that will soon be used in the film my brother is currently shooting. Check it out at www.pilgrimproductions.blogspot.com.

2) Justin, Andy, Solomon and Robert shooting a centipede scene.

3) Justin, in hoody sweatshirt, and Andy prepare to shoot.

Oct. 25, 2008

WHERE I AM: In Portland, Oregon. I am staying with some wonderful people who are friends of a friend from Bozeman. I'm still playing catch-up with this here blog...this post will be about Kalispell, Montana. I hope to write about Portland before I leave for Sacramento. What can I say? I can't keep up with myself.

WHAT I DID TODAY: Leecia, the lady Joanna and I stayed with, took us on a tour of Portland. We stopped to smell the roses at the rose garden, had some outstanding tea at a local tea house in Sellwood, explored the various neighborhoods around town, ate chocolate, drank coffee, etc. It was great. Yesterday, Joanna and I explored downtown Portland -- the highlights being Powell's City of Books, Voodoo Donuts and the world's smallest park.

WHAT I'M DRINKING: Nothing. But did I mention I had some great tea today? It was Kali Cha Oolong from India.

WHERE I'M GOING TOMORROW: Cannon Beach on the coast of Oregon, famous for Haystack Rock. I am very excited. Seeing the coast of Oregon has been a dream of mine for nearly 20 years. Wow.

I am a 27-year-old grandma.

I mean, not really...well, let me explain.

My brother is my pride and joy. Sometimes I don't realize this until people ask about my family. And then, well, I'm sure they are sorry they did.

"My brother makes movies," I begin.

"Oh, that's interesting," they say. "Anything I would know?"

"Well, no. But he did sell one a couple years ago. To Lionsgate. Have you heard of them?"

Most people have, or they think so anyway.

"Well, they're pretty big. Anyway, it's called Dead Noon, and it's kind of a western horror with some comedy and spiritual undertones...There's a Web site, if you want to check it out."

They nod politely.

I tell them about the budget and how Andy writes, shoots, directs, edits, everything.

They start to look at their watch.

I tell them about how he first picked up a movie camera when he was, like, 12 years old.

They start to look around for an escape route.

I tell them about how much he encourages me because he is one of the few people I know who has the guts to pursue his dream with all his energy.

They squirm.

I tell them about his amazing wife who supports his movie-making dream.

They look nervously at my hands, probably wondering if I'm about to pull out a wallet full of yellowed photographs. ("This is Andy in seventh grade with his first movie camera. This is Andy on the tennis team in high school. Oh, here's a baby photo. And this is his wedding day...").

I begin to realize I've rambled too much.

I take a breath and smile a big, dorky smile.

I apologize for gushing. But I'm not really that sorry. I mean, have I told you about the time Andy saved me from a bully on the school bus when we were kids? And do you know anyone who actually makes movies? Well, Andy does. And he's darn good at it. Did I tell you about the one...

* Yeah. I like my brother. I got to hang out with him and his actors and crew on Saturday on the set of his latest movie, a family film based on "Pilgrim's Progress." That's what the photos are from. Check out his blog at http://www.pilgrimproductions.blogspot.com/.