Appalachian Salsa

New Show!

2006-02-03T12:22:00.000-08:00

Hey all. I wanted to let you know that I am going to be doing a new show. It is called Mister Roberts and it will be playing at Kiley's Dinner Theatre in Lodi. My friend Mike who is the owner/operator of the place called me on Monday night to see if I could come in and take over a part.....With four rehearsals to learn it. Yay! We open Saturday, and for once I'm kind of glad there is no show on Friday cause it will give me that one extra day of rehearsals that I definitely could use. The show itself is great. Just from watching it over the last couple days it is a riot at some points and gets very dramatic at other points. The cast is great, just fantastic. For those of you that know them we have DW landingham, Shawn Carrington, Larry Bourges, a newcomer named Scott Dun who is outstanding, Tom Amo, and whole mess of other people that do wonderful. I guess I kind of lucked out, this part that I will be playing is a riot. If I were to pick any part in the show to play this would be it. I get to play Ensign Pulver, whom Jack Lemmon played in the film version and won a academy award for best supporting actor. Anyway come check it out....I might wait till the second weekend or so just to give me a little time. I'm not saying this weekend is going to be bad but I am going to work my ass off to get ready in time. Kiley's phone number is 209-366-2100 feel free to call for reservations. The show runs Fridays and Saturdays from February 3 to March 4 with a special show on valentines day. Thanks! Take care.

Sausage Party!

2006-01-26T22:08:00.000-08:00

Hey all! I wanted to write and let you know that I held the first ever Feilzer Sausage Party yesterday evening. I think this may become a staple for the next years. As some of you know my family, mainly the Italians, get together in January to make sausage at my uncles house. It's been a tradition for at least 20 years. It's a blast. We get to see some family members that I don't see often at all, we get dirty making some sausage and fire up the grill and eat all day. This year was fun, as always. I think I solidified myself in the intestinal stuffing roll of the process which is cool by me cause I can't tie up links to save my life. We made 300 pounds of sausage this year and we always get a ton of it. To cut down on how much of this stuff I had in the freezer I decided to invite some people over and just cook a whole mess of it up. Overall I was happy with how everything turned out. I made pasta with sausage, baked a sausage/potato/peppers/onion platter that came out well, and BBQ sausage patties to eat with grilled onions and peppers. So, next year don't be surprised if you hear from me about an invitation to Sausage Fest 2007. Hey, maybe I'll make some shirts or something......

New Idea.

2006-01-11T11:19:00.001-08:00

Okay so I know that I suck at posting regularly so I came up with an idea that might keep me coming back a little more often. I have been involved in many conversations with my friends from the theater about the casting of shows. Not so much the shows that are going on now but shows that if we could do, who would play what. It always makes for a great conversation and gets me really excited to think of the possibility of these shows happening just like we cast them. They maybe shows, movies or whatever but we always have a blast casting them. So I am going to try and start a regular post on some ideas I have for shows and whom I would love to see do them. I do not mean to offend anyone when I do this and if I do just tell me and that will be all for these posts. These are just my suggestions to, I want to hear from all of you and your ideas as well because I don't know everyone around here and I welcome everyone's opinion.
The first show I would love to cast and do if I could is my favorite book, "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest." I love this story, I read it at least once a year and I never tired of it. It's just a great story with some fantastic characters and I hope that someday I will get the chance to do this onstage. So here we go, like I said these are my ideas and I would love to hear from all of you!

Nurse Ratched: Christina Nelson. Christina would be perfect for this. She can be clam, cool, and has the ability to hit all the range of emotions for this character. She would be perfect.

McMurphy: I really want to say myself here but I cant do that. I would love to play this role and hope to get a chance. One of my favorite characters ever. If I were casting I would have to put Rich Phipps in this role. Rich is great. He's got a strong presence and voice and the kind of personality that could pull this off.

Harding: Rob Chase. Rob could do this in his sleep and I think he could pull off this elegant yet slightly neurotic character perfectly.

Billy Bibbit: Mike Kiley. Tough role, who else to pull it off then one of my favorite actors.

Chief Bromden: Hmmmm, someone big, hairy, how bout Voque! No, no. This is a hard role because you really have to act the whole show without ever saying word. You have some speaking parts but most of all you're quiet. It takes someone very talented to do this and Voque could do it without a doubt.

Cheswick: D.W. Landingham. Do I need to say more. He's amazing. This role would be like a insane version of Costello.

Anyway, that's a short list for now. Just something I had on my mind. Let me know what you think and how you would do it. Love ya all! Take care.

Greatest Rock album ever?????

2005-11-14T00:03:00.000-08:00

So I want to make a new cd for the truck that consists of the most awesome, fist pumping, kick ass rock songs of our time. I need some suggestions, if I were to do this all on my own it would consist of too much Bon Jovi, Black Crowes, etc etc... So please help me out! Give me your suggestions on the greatest rock songs of our time, lets say from the year 1980 and up. Oh and by the way, Bon Jovi's new album "Have a Nice Day" is sweet. Thanks!

Monk.

Way to Go Arnold!

2005-11-09T21:44:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone got a couple new things for you. First I included a picture I was asked about not to long ago by the hairy one. Whats that old saying about friends not being able to pick your nose....I say bullshit! Take a look, thats almost to the knuckle. Also I want to congratulate California voters on their show of support for our Governor Arnold. Wow....he must feel like such a jackass after calling a special election and not getting one damn measure passed. From me to Arnold, in the words of Jon Stewart, I said good day sir!

Ciabatta, Peace out.

Hey Sorry!

2005-11-03T16:17:00.000-08:00

Hi all! I have to apologize that it has been so long since I have posted. I have been how do you say it.....BUSY! Holy crap! My best friend came in from Utah, Nick, with his lovely wife Julie and we got to hang out with eachother for the first time in a year or so. I love them both so much, they are the best people you could know. The funny thing is, whenever Nick and I do manage to see eachother, even if it has been a year or so, we pick up right where we left off. Their are no weird awkward feelings or nothing, just good times. I love him for it too. What else is going on.....My show! I am involved in a new show at the Stockton Empire Theatre, formally the old Stockton Royal movie theatre on Miracle Mile. The show is called Peter's Friends and is based on a movie from the early 90's. It's a great show, and definitely a different choice for Smiler's. It is somewhat of a comedy but in my eyes definitely more of a drama. The cast is outstanding, they are all wonderful people and we get along great. The show itself starts November 4th and runs every weekend thru the 19th. Minus the 12th, November 12th is my birthday and will not be present. Come check out the show! I will be including some Halloween pics with this post. This year I was a cow......but not just any cow. My cow costume had working utters! Yes I know, kind of gross, but it sold me on the costume. Through the course of the Halloween party I was at I think I had everything I can think of pass through that utter too. Water, beer, wine, margarita, cran vodka, etc etc etc..... Enjoy the photos ad I will talk to you all soon!

2005-09-25T20:21:00.000-07:00

Okay, so not often do I have a bad enough day that I have to write about it but today deserves a blog of its own. Actually the day started out fairly well. Bernice and I went to Dublin to meet our friend Crystal and got some new furniture. YAY! Crystal is a sweetheart, and everything went fine, except for almost losing a bush our of the truck on the way home. We got home and started getting ready for my good friend Angels wedding at 3:30. Angel and I go way back, she's a great friend I haven't seen in a long time and I was really looking forward to seeing her and being at her wedding. Hell, I even got a new shirt, tie, shaved, showered and even shined my shoes to go with my suit! I know, crazy isn't it? Anyway, we are on the way to the church downtown and pull up and I don't see a single car or person around. Not good. I walk around the church, in my nicely polished shoes I might add, and I can't find anyone or open any doors. So I call Angel to see what's going on and leave a message. I call her father to see if he knows what's happening thinking maybe I have the wrong church. No.....No.....The wedding.....Was.....YESTERDAY! I felt and still do feel so bad about this. The invitation did say the twenty fourth but I read it so fast and thought it was the twenty fifth. I apologized to her father for being such a heel. He did say it was a nice wedding though.....Which is a plus I guess. I called Angel back and apologized profusely and told her how much of an idiot I was. I really feel like crap. I really wanted to be there and said I was going to be there. If I say I am going to do something or be somewhere generally about 99 percent of the time I'm good for it. So I feel really bad. We go back home and decide to go out since were all dressed up and as we head out the door I lock it, from the inside. On the porch, I reach for my keys.....Nope, not there. "Bernice, please say you have your keys?" Nope.....No luck. So have to go get the apartment manager on their day off to let me back in. Thank god they were there. So we get back out and by now I am laughing and pondering only what could be next. We get to Ramano's for dinner and I decide on the Mama's Trio. Chicken canaloni, chicken parmagian, and Lasagna. All is fine for about two minutes until the waiter comes up to me and says, "I'm sorry sir but were out of lasagna." HOW THE HELL DOES AN ITALIAN RESTAURANT RUN OUT OF LASAGNA AT 5 IN THE AFTERNOON ON A SUNDAY! It was the kick in the balls to end the day. So here I sit waiting for the roof to collapse on me. If I don't post in three days, send the rescue team in.

Signing off, hopefully not for the last time
Jason

TEST!

2005-09-12T23:15:00.000-07:00

Okay, sorry this took so long but this is the second time I have done this damn thing. I had it all finished and when I went to post it, of course, nothing happens. I try to recover post, disappears, and nothing happens. I hate technology sometimes. What if I had cured cancer and it was RIGHT HERE and then it simply vanished. That would be cause for a bender right? Anyway, read on!

Seven things you plan to do before you die!!
1. Get married and have children
2. Take care of my family and friends.
3. Visit Italy, Scotland, and Germany to see the homeland.
4. Get into shape the way I know I can.
5. Catch a swordfish.
6. Perm my hair.
7. Change someone else's life for the better permanently

Seven things you can do!!
1. Learn to play an instrument well.
2. Get into good shape.
3. Keep acting.
4. Experience the things I have always wanted too.
5. Learn to clear my throat like my father, just so I can annoy my mother as well.
6. Get a motorcycle.
7. Try out for major league baseball.

Seven things you can't do!!!
1. Sing, I cant do it. I'm terrible.
2. Go swimming and not blow bubbles under water.....ewwwww
3. Stop camping or enjoying the outdoors.
4. Keep a serious situation serious. I have to make light of things no matter what.
5. Stop trying to do all that I can for my friends and family.
6. Stop acting and playing baseball.
7. Kicking the cat. That 8 pound bag of fat and fur just knows how to get in the way.

Seven things that attract you to the opposite sex!!
1. Intelligence.
2. Sense of humor.
3. Self respect.
4. Being an individual and not following the herd.
5. Dark hair, not always, but as a preference.
6. Confidence
7. Smile.

Seven things you say most!!!
1. "Now I know, and knowing is half the battle."
2. "This is why I am not management."
3. "Sweet Jesus!"
4. "Fantastic."
5. "Is this a good idea?"
6. "I need a beer."
7. "If only I were a rich man!"

Seven celebrity crushes!!!
1. Salma Hayek
2. Scarlett Johansson
3. Danica Patrick
4. Angelina Jolie.
5. Leah Remini (from the king of queens)
6. Kate Beckinsale.
7. Bea Arthur.

Seven people you want to take this quiz..
1. Bernice
2. Mom
3. Dad
4. Nick!
5. Mike K.
6. Derek and Heather.
7. Bea Arthur

Hope you enjoyed it, this is subject to change.

2005-08-12T22:15:00.000-07:00

Okay, So I heard an interesting story tonight about how a friend of mine wound up dating a good friend of mine, Lisa Anderson, her brother. Lisa has a great family and I have known her since grade school. Her brother is now dating my friend. Apparently my friend dating Lisa's brother mentioned the lore of the cones and the ongoing plight to liberate them from their forced servitude to evil construction companies. Well I guess this story has gotten around quite a bit because without missing a beat Lisa's brother asks "You know about the NCCLU and the guys who run it?" I was amazed! I had no idea we had that this was even talked about anymore but am so happy it is! As the Godfather of the NCCLU I am moved and touched to hear that this is still on peoples conscience and am dedicating myself once again to the preservation of natural cone existence in our society. We can co-exist! They are not much different than you an I, except for being made of plastic and being orange, but that's it! Besides there a lot of humans that are probably made up of more plastic than flesh now. So as a promise to you my fellow NCCLU supporters, I promise to take action once more against these oppressors and strike with a vengeance. You have my word!
Viva the Northern California Cone Liberation Underground! Come back for a revised Herbstock platform and the whole story shortly.

Sincerely,
The Godfather, Jason

Camping!

2005-07-29T19:20:00.000-07:00

Hey all, here are a couple photos from the camping trip. The first one to the left is my pops and my Uncle Russ. My dad is on the right and Russ is on the left. They have a space in between them because that's where my Uncle Jim should have been! He left basically before anyone really had a chance to see him, I guess he was really excited about moving to Missouri. Lord knows I wouldn't be. So anyway, were thinking of sending the photo to him with a question mark in between my pops and my uncle. Maybe give him a little guilt trip. The other photo my pops took of me jumping off our boat in the lake. The fishing stunk that day and there wasn't much else to do. I was joined shortly after by my sis, my cousin, and two dogs that scratched the hell out of me trying to keep from drowning. Don't worry, they're fine. Anyway, hope you enjoyed them. I'll put some more up later on. Take care!

Jason

I'm Back! With less knuckle hair.

2005-07-25T10:40:00.000-07:00

Hello all! I made it back from camping fairly unscathed. I only burned myself once and cut up my feet a bit and that's it! Got a wee bit drunk and got more stories and pictures for you guys coming soon. Hopefully my sis will put the picture she took of my hand after I burned the hair off of it up on her blog. Check it out.

Jason

Camping!

2005-07-20T20:58:00.000-07:00

Hey all! I will be camping for the next four days so you won't see any posts. If this camping trip holds true to every other one I have had I will be coming back with stories. Actually I'll probably be coming back with stories, photos, cuts, bruises, fish, pictures, and if all goes well a good hangover. So take care! I'll talk to you soon.

Jason.

Pinky Toe Debate.

2005-07-17T23:04:00.000-07:00

I went to a show last night, which was very good, and somehow got into a little debate afterwards. Frankly I don't even really know how we got on the topic but here it goes. If someone offered to pay you 500,000 dollars to cut off one of your pinky toes, would you do it?? Interesting huh? You never use the damn things, hell the only thing I can do with mine is cross them unassisted (yes I can, ask me sometime.) I would do it without thinking twice about it. 500 large would solve all my debt and allow me to do a lot of things I have been meaning too. Really the only problem it wouldn't help me solve at the time would be that I was missing a pinky toe. So what do you think? Let me know.

Ciabatta, Peace Out
Jason

Brass Ass.

2005-07-13T15:00:00.000-07:00

Okay, so while my family and I were in Puerto Vallarta we hit the downtown beach strip scene. They had really nice sculptures along the beach done by some local artist I assume. Some were quite odd, in fact I never did figure out what some of them were. There was this group of about 5 statues that were made into chairs for people to sit on and they were some kind of sea creature or alien. They were all different except for one thing.....if you went around to the backside of the statues all 5 of them had these perfectly shaped, exposed, brass asses. Does that seem odd to anyone but me? First off, why? It's a family environment, why go with the asses? Second off, all these statues were very different and if this artist was expecting me to buy the fact that all these creatures had the same ass, well that's just plain silly. And third, why are they mooning everyone? Was the artist bitter? Did he not get paid? Is he a Sir Mix-a-lot fan? I don't understand!! Any insight on this would help. Look at the photo. Unfortunately, and I don't know why, but I didn't get a photo of the brass asses. I apologize.

Ciabatta, peace out.
Jason

Hello and Welcome!

2005-07-12T21:15:00.000-07:00

Okay so I sent out a mass e-mail and for those who chose to come and see my site I thank you. Check it out, I'll be updating it frequently with things that are going on in my life this way you guys can know what I am doing without ever having to talk to me! That's awesome...... Maybe not. I would love to hear from all of you so if you would like to leave a comment that would be great. Take care. I included a picture of my family and I with my girlfriend Bernice while we were in Mexico. Great trip, lots of beer, good stories.

Jason

Explanation of all that is Weird.

2005-07-11T13:06:00.000-07:00

Okay, so now I have a chance to sit down and actually explain a little about the blog and what it is about. First off let me explain the name. Appalachian Salsa was an idea the my coworker Larry, whom I swear is a long lost brother, and I came up with while at work one day. Larry and I decided that if we wanted to live the good life we should retire and tour the country as a band. Now we had to come up with an original idea for the band so we brainstormed and came up with the blending of our to cultural backgrounds in music might work! Larry is Puerto Rican and he knows how to play the violin. Me being Italian, Scottish, and German with roots to the Appalachia Virginia figured I could learn either the banjo or the bagpipes. I know, sounds a little odd but what the hell right? So we blended music now we needed a blended name hence Appalachian Salsa! So, if you ever see us on tour come in and say. I'm not saying the music is going to be good, but it will be entertaining.

2005-07-11T01:34:00.000-07:00

Hey it's a photo of me......does this scream inbreeding or am I just crazy??????

First Blog!

2005-07-11T01:31:00.000-07:00

Ok.....so it is now 1:30 a.m. and i just created my first blog. Maybe that helps explain the name. I saw my sisters and figured what the hell. Anyway, let me figure this out and I will be back.

Jason