Ever thus

Ready for The Wiltern

Maude Stand-in Behind The Scenes

We recently received an email from Andrea Nunn who was Julianne Moore's stand-in for The Big Lebowski. As proof, she sent in these photos which were just way too cool to sit on.

Well, enjoy.










Andrea will be attending Lebowski Fest in LA this week!

AND A GOOD DAY TO YOU, SIR.

Last week I was driving down Irving Park Road in Chicago.
I was on my way to see a concert, by the band that got mega-famous for this song.
Along the way, while I was in the left lane, a noticed a fellow Achiever in the right lane.
I know this from the sticker on the car:
I was happy this car was to my right, because on the right rear window of my car, I have the following decal:
Eye contact proved impossible. The only way to get the fellow driver's attention would have been through a sign of aggression. The honking of a horn for example. But that's the last thing either of us wanted.

It reminds me that there is still no suitable non-verbal communication between us to acknowledge that there is another Achiever in our presence. Last summer I was 4 hours away from my home at a Radiohead concert, wearing the below shirt:
"Hey, the Dude abides!" was yelled to me from a far. I was easily able to nod my head politely in return and extend my favorite salutation, "AND A GOOD DAY TO YOU, SIR."

My friend who was with me, an amateur, asked if that interaction was something Lebowski...
He quickly texted his wife the note that they had to re-watch the movie soon.

One member of the Ohio foursome known as Treehorn Productions to some, or the 7:11 crew to others, has the only idea I've heard to date of a non-verbal communication to a fellow Achiever.

It involves a hand raised high while bowing one's head in a reenactment of a Brandt gesture. Just before The Dude was directed to Mr. Lebowski, who was in seclusion in the West Wing.

This specific member of the foursome (that won the Best Costume Trophy last year) looks enough like Brandt to have a winning costume. He was perfecting this gesture last July and in my picture he's performing it to all the masses of the Executive Strike and Spare.

It's a very nice idea indeed... However, not one I could execute in my non-convertible car, let alone keeping my eyes on the road.

Speaking of salutations, be careful if you are attending this weekend's Lebowski Fest LA 2009. There's some sort of hog-related influenza frenzy around the southern U.S. border. I personally don't believe the fear, but advise against shaking the hands of any carpet-pissers. **Please note that I very confident that both Mark Pellegrino (Blonde Treehorn Thug) and Philip Moon (Woo the rug pisser) washed their hands regularly, especially after micturating.**

I wish safe travels to all about to embark on the voyage to the City of Angels. Selfishly, I've begun my countdown to 8th Annual at my desk at work... A desk which features the below sticker over my phone: However, don't forget - there are a bunch more Fests thanks to the unprecedented Speed of Sound Tour.[TQ]

Rug pee-ers did not do this

The two gentlemen flanking Jackie Treehorn will be appearing at Lebowski Fest LA in 2009!

Mark Pellegrino (Blonde Treehorn Thug) and Philip Moon (Woo the rug pisser) will reunite for the first time since they soiled The Dude's rug.

Also appearing are Jeff "The Dude" Dowd (real-life inspiration), Jon Polito (Da Fino), Jim Hoosier (Liam), Lu Elrod (waitress) and Robin Jones (Ralph's Girl).

More guests TBA.

Tickets are on sale now and going quick!

More here.

Ready? Rejoice! Rob Riggle. Remarkable... Really.

Last year Brian Posehn's stand-up routine served as a fitting lead-in for the screening of The Big Lebowski the night of the Opening Party for the 7th Annual Lebowski Fest.

It appears the stand-up trend will continue for the 8th Annual Lebowski Fest. Announced moments ago, for those of us who subscribe to the Founding Dudes' mailing list, Rob Riggle will lend his native Louisvillian (if that's even a word?) talent to the event.

More info will surely be announced in the coming weeks, but most important to me is that tickets go on sale Friday April 17!

Point of note from my lazy wiki-research: Like Walter, R.R. is a veteran.[TQ]

Ah, that must be exhausting.

Dragon, of the Achiever Forum fame, recently posted pictures from the new/old/renamed/same-or-very-close-to-geographically hotel that past Louisville-bound Achievers know very well...

I'll just post the pool picture here - the others are on the hotel's website, but they don't feature Dragon's commentary (so I recommend checking out the thread on the Forum). If I'm not mistaken - this pool used to be an outdoor pool. Now it's an indoor pool!

How can a promotional picture touting a renovation get me this excited?
My mind has just gotten it's volume turned way up...
Visions of toe nail painting Bunnys
Passed out Rockers
The lack of nearby cash machines
A nervous Brandt!

All I care about: will an empty bottle of Jack Daniels still float in it?

A SENTENCE OF UNSOLICITED LEBOWSKI FEST ADVICE:
Don't wait until tickets go on sale - book your room at the host hotel now if you know you're attending![TQ]

White Russian Flavored Ice Cream

It's not important for you to know that I work in the Grocery Industry.
And it's also not important to know the new flavor of Ice Cream I learned about today.
However, I think it's important that I can't run out to a store and buy ready-made White Russian Ice Cream.

White Russian flavored deserts are a proven success. Anybody that was at the 7th Annual Lebowski Fest, and had the pleasure of partaking in Chef Duff's cake, can attest. I had to wait until a picture was posted on the website to see the creation at it's peak. When the cake came into the Executive Strike & Spare, I was in the middle of a game with the eventual winner of "Best 'Jesus' Costume" and his wife (dressed as Smokey).

The insta-crowd that formed made me content to continue bowling. Later someone returned raving about the cake's taste. I must admit, I thought it was going to be all decoration no flavor - so I left the lane to fight for a piece before it was gone.

I'm extremely thankful that I did, for there wasn't much left. The cake, by the way, appeared to have been cut by nihilists. The large prop scissors (Inspired by the kind carried by Autobahn during the dream sequence) were long gone. I carved out a large chunk using my disposable foam plate and ate it without the use of utensils.

I am not a skilled enough writer to give its superb taste justice.
The Ace of Cakes episode featuring this cake detailed the copious amounts of liquor utilized in Chef Duff's recipe. Why not extend it to other deserts?

A quick google search yielded this recipe for my Ice Cream desire.

The temperature during the Garden Party last July was in the high 90s. It could be a new revenue stream for The Founding Dudes if they are so inclined...

Then I began to wonder which character would be the best at following a recipe. Who would be the best chef of the bunch?

My vote's for Donny.

It's not just by default:
Maude and Jeffrey Lebowski might have never cooked a meal in their lives. (a function of the Big's vanity)
Walter may be more inclined to eat a military issued MRE.
The Dude, I can see him going a full day without realizing he hasn't eaten a meal.
Jesus, well, I wouldn't be surprised if he had kitchen skills...

Donny has a long tradition of Greek Heritage that could support a life raised around a kitchen.
He's was also very forward thinking in his carbonated beverage realm, drinking that can of Slice years before it hit the market.

But that's just my opinion, I'd like to know
like uh, your opinion man. [TQ]