To Protect and Serve, and share a laugh

Archived MySpace blog

OK, so I've been tagged, and should be writing another blog... but I wanted to tell this little story first. So... tough; my blog, you read what I type. OK, no, I will get back to being tagged later. But, for now, let me tell you about last night.

So, Molly and I are coming home from Brian's Birthday party. Kudos to Brian and moreover Jack, for putting together such an amazing party. But, as happens, the night wore on, and it was time for us to make the trek back from Norwalk to Branford.

We decide to drive up Rte. 1 for a while, instead of getting straight on the highway, in hopes of finding Dunkin Donuts on our way... and, about a mile up, in the sleepy town of Westport, we do.

Two coffees now on board, back onto Rt. 1. About a quarter mile up, on the right, in a gas station that seems to have been closed for hours, I spy one of Westport's Finest. No worries. Just going a half mile to the highway entrance, it's late, doing nothing wrong.

"That's odd." "What's that?" "The lights on the top of his car... he doesn't seem to have any." "Oh I've seen that. Some of..." "I think they're on the sides." "Makes sense. Whalen is making... oh, he's following us." "Why?" "No reason, I'm sure. Just gotta earn his donut."

Turn right toward the highway, 5-0 still following. I've known he's there for the last 1/2 mile or so, no way I've stepped over 40. Lights: red and blues. Pull over. Grab my license, and reg and insurance card from the glove box. Window down. See the usual swagger up, and the mag-lite.

"Mornin' Officer." "Morning. You got a taillight out. Just have to harass you for it." 'Harass.' Yes he said 'Harass'. "Oh." Kinda sighed, kinda laughed. Wow they really have nothing to do in Westport at 1 in the morning. "I'll get that fixed tomorrow." "Been drinking tonight?" Molly gives a no; I tell him "had a beer and hour or so." "Got any warrants?" "Nah... I work for the State's Attorney's office; couldn't let that happen." "OK, I just gotta run these [license and reg], and you're all set."

"He pulled me over for a taillight. Wow, these have nothing to do out here. Told you... just gotta earn his..."

"OK, you're all set. This is a written warning; just gotta prove to my boss that I did something tonight" "OK, is this the kind I have to bring to DMV?" "No, I didn't check off 'defective equipment'. I just need something to give to my Sergeant. Just throw it away. You can just toss it out the window when I turn around." Ummm... so you can pull me over again for littering?" "Nah... I'm turning right around as soon as I'm back in my car." "OK. Have a good night." "Hey," Molly interjects, "did you see this?" The mag-lite shines back in the car. "This", as she reaches for my air freshener. It's a picture of this Officer Friendly looking cop, with the words 'Police Are My Favorite People' "That's great. Where'd you get that?" "Some little shop in Newport. Horribly... it's donut scented." "That's great. I have to get one."

In the town of Westport, busted taillights are considered especially heinous. At 1 in the morning, these cases are handles by the men and women of the Special Taillight Unit. These are their stories.

In Bloom

Archived MySpace blog
Category: Movies, TV, Celebrities

I may complain about it, but my job does have its unique perks. One of which is that nothing goes on in this city without the cops knowing, and everything they know gets passed on to me.

So this month's interesting new haven news is that filmmaker Vadim Perelman has decided to film his latest work on the streets of the fair Elm City. Based on the prop ambulance, the upper Chapel Street area around Yale is actually supposed to represent the Big Apple for this film, but nonetheless, principal photography is occurring a couple blocks from my office.

So today we get the word, that they're filming a principal scene out in front of the Union League Café. So off we go. It's lunch time, why not watch the making of a film. Why not see if we can meet Uma Thurman.

So, it's 1:05, and we're walking up to the corner of Chapel and Temple, and bullshitting with a couple cops, when a trailer door opens, and out walks the statuesque Uma Thurman -- much prettier than I'd formerly believed when viewed in person, and she proceeds to walk by the 25 or so of us on the corner, pause and say hello, and stroll up to the set on the next block.

Not close enough, or enough time for autographs, but close enough for a very nice, very friendly, brush with stardom.

So 25 feet up the road, dollied steadi-cam, 1000 candlepower floods, a big lighting reflector on a crane, a tent full of directors of photography, light and sound guys, Ms. Thurman's stunt double (all dressed), and somewhere Vadim Perelman -- if I knew what he looked like I might have seen him.

The assembled group of cranky production assistants are trying to keep the 100 or so people congregated out of the way of filming, while my boss, looking like over-dress paparazzi, is snapping pictures with his telephoto lens. All this while a 6 second shot commences 5 times in a row: Diana (Thurman) walks diagonally across Chapel, turns, and looks into the camera with horror. The next scene will be Uma's double being run over by a car, but lunch wasn't long enough to stay for them to set up that shoot.

Sorry, I hope I didn't spoil the movie with that tidbit of info there, but by 2007 when In Bloom opens, you'll likely have forgotten this little blog.

Hopefully in a couple days, I can update with some of the pictures my boss took. The previews looked really good.