Hey Gina (the Gorgeous one), Randy (he of the fuzzy p.j. pants), and Elijah (producer par excellance),

Just listened to PGP 625 and all your celebrity sightings and meetings; and just felt the need to tell you my favorite meet.

First of, Gina, you are absolutely correct about the big stars being (as a rule) nicer than the the minor celebs.  I work in a Concert Hall here in Berlin which is normaly used for Classic music.  I have met all the major conductors in the the world, Simon Rattle, Daniel Barionborn, Kurt Sanderling, Kent Nagano and so forth.  The are without exception, all extremely nice and polite.  However, when one of these pimply kids who have just finished their exams from music collage comes in to conduct;  you can rest assured he will be pissed that his dressing room is not the way he wants it, and why doesn’t anyone know who he is, I mean, they really think they are the shit.

However:  I stray.

The house I currently work in, is occasionally used as a event location for seminars and work shops for major firms or associations.  One particular event was for International Capital Investment Opportunities in Computer Technologies.  The key not speaker was none other than Bill Gates.  Naturally everything was planned down to the minute.

When security would be in place.

When the house would be searched for explosives,

and most importantly:  When he (as all the coordination staff reverently referred to Bill Gates).

Well, Mr. Gates walked in, quite alone (he had escaped his security detail at the hotel) and about 2 hours ahead of schedule.  He politely introduced himself (as if it were neccesary), and asked for directions to the confrence site.

I told him how to get there and mentioned that they would probably not be ready for him as his security detail was not even scheduled to arrive for another hour.

His endearing response was to giggle (yes giggle) and say some thing to the effect of I, know, they are just going to freak out.  I love doing this to them, they all take it so seriously.

He then went unescorted to the confrence hall; where they did in fact all freak out at his presence.

I have met many other stars and personalities in my job, but this short encounter is one of my favorite memories.

Keep up the great work and I can not wait to hear the big discussion next week.

As I have said before, you are my slice of American Life here in Berlin, and I grow fonder of you with every passing podcast.

Talk at ya later,

Chris

What’s up you crazy fools.  I’m a few episodes back…and I need to catch up.  But I have a couple of things to comment on!  First up is Randy’s Arizona vacation…DUDE, my face was full of TARES!!!!   Not once, but twice…first the bloody pimple/ingrown hair laceration…then the bloody poops…damn, that was hilarious. (and scary that Gina new beforehand).

OK…I don’t know how you missed it…but if you ever do the Tucson/Phoenix thing again..you have to visit Rooster Cogburn’s Ostrich farm.  (http://www.roostercogburn.com/)  and the military plane graveyard from “Can’t Buy Me Love”!

PLUSSSSS!  Gina…I can’t remember if you said you watched it…but My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding is must see TV for you.  It’s a truly fascinating documentary on gypsy culture…(sorry no kitties).

Finally, can you give a Birthday shoutout to my son Oliver…maybe play a little “Happy Birthday” Ting Tings style from Yo Gabba Gabba!

Matt in Colorado Springs  (Your next vaca…well after Machu Pichu…should be the Denver/Colorado Springs area)…plenty to see and do!

Matt

Gina,

It blows me away how some people earn money.

I’ll set this up for you. Here is a guy by the name
of Steve Gadlin – a web developer, writer and
comedian living in Chicago, Illinois. He appeared on
a recent episode of “Shark Tank”, and Mark Cuban
decided to throw some money at him. What does he do
??? He draws pictures of cats, for about 10 dollars each.

If you have some time to kill, the site is:

http://iwanttodrawacatforyou.com/

–> mike

Randy and Elijah, youll likely back me up on this.

Gina,

I appriciate all the work that you (and everyone) put into this show. And I also understand that you have to get all of your plugs in at the end of the show because that is how you (potentially) make money.

But…

If the Zelda theme is being played, on overdrive guitar, you need to shut up. Randy and E had such reserved excitement for playing Ashleys Zelda cover at the end of the show, but you just kep going on and on and on and on with plug after plug and tease after tease and thank you after thank you. By the time you were done, the song was more than half over, and I felt sad.

Randy and E didn’t say a word, they were silent the whole time, and unless I am completely off the mark, I could almost feel them wishing you would be quiet in their heads.

Chicks just don’t understand the connection (and elation) that video game music gives to guys.

Anyway, good show, but just had to let you know because I think girls are oblivious to what really makes guys happy. If they don’t understand, it must not be important.

-Shaun