Break the Rock!
Break the Rock!
It’s a phrase that I heard for the first time today as I was dropping my nephew, Sam Birdsong, off at LAX to fly home to Louisiana for a television commercial shoot. I was fascinated by it’s meaning.
The day started early. We had agreed to help Shane Wall of Boot Camp Records with an audition for a swimsuit calender for Boot Camp Girlz. We had a slow start at the audition. Even though it went from 10AM to Noon none of the girls showed up until the last fifteen minutes… Somehow this seems so typical of Los Angeles.
Sam and I got caught up with Shane and his beautiful wife Carmen, and networked with the photographer Michael Crouch. It was a pretty cool way to spend the morning and when the girls came in it got really interesting. I always enjoy auditions. It’s the kind of work that makes the entertainment industry fun. Except of course when you have to tell someone that they didn’t get the part. That part pretty much sucks.
After the shoot Sam and I headed towards LAX with a few hours to go until he had to be there. We stopped off at UGO An Italian Cafe, a wonderful place for brunch in Culver City. Our conversation covered films, money, girls, travel, work, goals, food, the cafe’s service, and a little bit of politics. We had a great time, and the food was excellent.
Once we finished lunch it was time to head over to the airport. As we were driving in Sam told me about the first time he had ever been to LAX. He was flying out to Japan for duty onboard USS Vincennes. His best friend Scott was going to begin B.U.D.S. (Basic Underwater Demolition School) the next day. B.U.D.S. is considered to be one of the toughest training courses in the U.S. Military. It is very difficult.
The last thing Sam did with his U.S. cellphone was to text Scott. He sent Break the Rock!
The phrase is catchy. I asked Sam what it mean’t, and he explained. If you hit the rock 1000 times and it breaks it isn’t the 1000th blow that breaks the rock. It’s the 999 blows before the 1000th blow.
Whatever you’re doing; Break the Rock!
