When The Corona Virus Invaded Los Angeles

"Production is shut down due to Corona Virus!" said the assistant director. "Everyone head back to base camp to sign out and then go home."

Everyone had spent two hours going through hair and makeup and getting dressed in our period costumes when that happened.

That was my last day of work as a background actor before Hollywood shutdown on March 13.

March 12 was the last time I saw my mom; the last time I ate out.

March 13 my son's school said  they would close for 3 weeks.

March 14 my gym closed.

March 15 my jobs on the 16, 17, and 18 were cancelled.

The value of my 401k collapsed over the course of three weeks

That was the bad news.

The good:
•I finally have emergency supplies for the next big earthquake
•not having to fight with my son over homework
•taking walks with my wife daily through our empty neighborhood streets
•having something to discuss with my teenagers that they are actually interested in
•amazing signs of community
•learning to adapt to a new reality

I will post every two days what interesting (and hopefully uplifting) things I have heard or seen regarding the Covid-19, how it affects me me, my family, and my fellow background actors, and how I and/or we have adapted.

I hope that you find it interesting and look forward to your comments and questions.

Take care everyone.

10 Tips for a Puerto Nuevo Lobster Run

“Three Lobsters for $16!”

My friend and I were wandering the dusty narrow streets of Puerto Nuevo hearing offers left and right from a score of men trying to lure us to their restaurants. $16 was the best offer we had heard so far. The clincher was not the included promise of beans, tortillas, chips, salsa, and tomato soup, but the one free margarita or cerveza to go along with the meal.

My friend and I used to go on an annual lobster run south of the border and taco runs more frequently until the drug violence and kidnappings reached a fever pitch in the late 90’s. Since that time, we had talked wistfully about returning but never did. Until last year, when we walked across the border to good Old Revolution for some tacos and beer and to see what had changed.

A lot.

There were fewer American tourists not of Mexican descent there than in the 90s. The restaurants and bars were relatively empty during our day trip. But the cheap beers and delicious tacos had remained the same. After this trip, we felt good about driving to Puerto Nuevo. It helped that each of us had coworkers recently visit with nothing but good things to say about their experience.

In the end, we were served more delicious lobster than we could possibly eat, ate fresh paletas for dessert, saw great sights new and old, and met many friendly people.

There are a number of things that you can do to help ensure that your trip is successful:

1. You need a passport or a PASS card to visit Mexico.

2. You need to buy Mexican insurance before you leave the United States and keep it in your car during your trip. You can purchase it online or at a few places in San Diego.

3. Drink bottled water – never tap water - or risk Montezuma’s revenge.

4. Check to see what your cell phone plan covers in Mexico. With my Verizon Unlimited Plan, I was surprised to hear that calls and data were covered in Mexico.

5. Map out your trip before you go to Mexico, making copies to keep in your car in case you lose cell service. We indicated our destination as Villa Ortega’s in Puerto Nuevo.

6. If you do use your phone, driving apps are great albeit a little tricky as the streets in Tijuana seemed purposefully confusing.  Waze did not work for me once across the border. However, Google Driving Directions did. It really was a lifesaver when we missed our first turnoff after crossing the border and found ourselves deep into Tijuana where I’m sure few Americans ever venture.

7. Take the toll road. It is faster, smoother, and feels safer.

8. Once in Puerto Nuevo, just know you will pay for parking. The streets are few and narrow and are a pain to drive.  Save yourself time and frustration and pay for parking in one of the first lots you see.

9. There are lots of lobster restaurants in town, all with different specials. Villa Ortega’s has multiple locations throughout the town as they claim to be the original. We ate at one of these.

10.. A second option on crossing the border on the way back is to cross at Otay Mesa. It usually can save you a bit of time.

Have fun!

My New Book! From Lions to Pharaohs

NOW AVAILABLE!

From Lions to Pharaohs is now available in paperback and Kindle through Amazon.com!  Click here:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07JLVRLNN

Description:

If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?

Two exotic destinations swirl in John’s mind. Destination #1: Embark upon an African safari to watch herds of elephants moving unhindered across wide open plains, to photograph lions chasing zebras, and to float in a hot air balloon over sweeping savannahs. Destination #2: Explore Egypt, land of the pharaohs. As a history buff, John imagines climbing the great pyramids, descending into the tombs in the Valley of the Kings, and cruising down the Nile like an Indiana Jones adventure.

Which experience to choose?

Fortunately, his wife likes both ideas and wisely suggests, “If we are going all that way to explore one country, we should go to both! We don’t know when we will have this opportunity again.”

With that answer began the planning of a 20-day exploration of these two fascinating countries. The two books in this series detail their exciting adventure filled with amazing wildlife, awe-inspiring monuments of Egypt, and insights into modern life.

He hopes that after reading these books, you will be inspired and entertained as well as have a deeper understanding of the people, their history, and the daily life in these countries, which are both similar and very different from our own.

From Lions to Pharaohs is a two-book series. Book 1, available now, is based on Kenya while book 2 is based on Egypt and will be released in 2019.

To order paperback or Kindle version:  Click Here