Ok, in the words of my sweet wife "rapidshare ain't that rapid" so I bit the bullet and put it on YouTube. Yep, embarrassment for all the world to see. Soooo, here you go.
Video ... BIG Video
Ok, In Dallas this week, with a very little time to do other things, but here's my first attempt at getting a fiddler movie file posted for you all to chuckle at. This is the dream scene. My lovely wife is the main ghost Fruma Sara. I'm that guy that get's zoomed in on. Enjoy - should be good for at least a little chuckle.
http://rapidshare.com/files/89806507/fiddlerdream.mpg.html
Lego Maniac
In all the excitement of actually posting something to my blog - forgot to mention the weekend excitement. A year or so ago Michael was invited to participate in a neighborhood Lego robotics team. Well, they were in the top 5 so got to go on to the state competition which was held last Saturday. Michael's team ended up taking first place in the robotic design division. Michael was chief programmer and robot controller, so was a crucial part of the team. WAY TO GO MIKE!
How the Time Flies
Well, Seattle, was my last trip for the year. I ended up getting to stay home for the rest of the year. We did the Wii thing for Christmas. Games all around. Am now trying (semi-successfully) to get up in the morning and Dance Dance Revolution for some exercise.
The next big upload here should/will be (hopefully soon) video files of our Fiddler tech rehearsal. That being said, this was a rehearsal, and probably the worst full run through we did - ever! And yes the ONLY time I dropped the bottle in a run through was immortalized on video. Oh well. The actual performances were much MUCH better.
So recent/upcoming travel. The kids are back in school (YEAH!) but we're pulling them out for a day this week, so we can go cruising with the in-laws. We're just doing a three day trip to sunny baja (63° and raining) but it will be fun to get away (and eat).
Earlier this month I went to Columbus and back for a quick customer call. First time there, but it was very familiar. It's funny it could have been San Antonio, Detroit, Chicago or Maryland. I've driven that same road in each of those places - almost spooky. You'd think with the variety of landscapes and environments in the world that places so similar shouldn't exist, but then perception always drives what you perceive towards the familiar.
So February I go back on the road. First week I'll be in Dallas. Second week I'll hit a couple of days in Costa Mesa. Third week I turn 40 (AUGHHH!!!). Fourth week I get to do a few days in Utah (so planning on seeing Ben, Tatianna, Sasha, Em and a an old high school buddy and anyone else interested in cheering up an OLD man.
Thanks to Marie, for getting me back on this! Take care and look for updates (yes, they will happen more frequently)
The next big upload here should/will be (hopefully soon) video files of our Fiddler tech rehearsal. That being said, this was a rehearsal, and probably the worst full run through we did - ever! And yes the ONLY time I dropped the bottle in a run through was immortalized on video. Oh well. The actual performances were much MUCH better.
So recent/upcoming travel. The kids are back in school (YEAH!) but we're pulling them out for a day this week, so we can go cruising with the in-laws. We're just doing a three day trip to sunny baja (63° and raining) but it will be fun to get away (and eat).
Earlier this month I went to Columbus and back for a quick customer call. First time there, but it was very familiar. It's funny it could have been San Antonio, Detroit, Chicago or Maryland. I've driven that same road in each of those places - almost spooky. You'd think with the variety of landscapes and environments in the world that places so similar shouldn't exist, but then perception always drives what you perceive towards the familiar.
So February I go back on the road. First week I'll be in Dallas. Second week I'll hit a couple of days in Costa Mesa. Third week I turn 40 (AUGHHH!!!). Fourth week I get to do a few days in Utah (so planning on seeing Ben, Tatianna, Sasha, Em and a an old high school buddy and anyone else interested in cheering up an OLD man.
Thanks to Marie, for getting me back on this! Take care and look for updates (yes, they will happen more frequently)
Where am I and what am I doing?
So last week finished up three weeks in a row in the Los Angeles area. All very busy weeks, so sorry if I didn't get to see you. Did get to eat way too much at Todai with my brother from another mother, Menji (yes that's his blog in the links). As much as I dislike the amount of travel I do, it is great to see people when I travel. The other thing I had time to do was tweak the blog a little. Got a GPS program loaded on my phone, so now the map on will show where I was the last time I turned it on. I'll be changing the calendar to reflect where I'm going versus what I'm doing. If you want to know what I'm doing - give me a call.
So this week off to Seattle. Was going to drive, but don't know if I trust the road, so I'll end up training or planing depending on which schedule is better. Way too much to do, and too little time, but hey, that's the way it is for now.
So this week off to Seattle. Was going to drive, but don't know if I trust the road, so I'll end up training or planing depending on which schedule is better. Way too much to do, and too little time, but hey, that's the way it is for now.
What I did last summer
And now for the promised Fiddler pictures.
These are from our tech rehearsal.
This is me hanging with Tevya.
Yes, the beard was real, but now it's gone.
Here is me as a bottle dancer...
(We had black coats for our performances)
and me in winter (in the tan coat).
Here is my Lovely Wife - as Frumah Sara.
Here's a wider shot of the dream scene.
I'm hiding in the background.
Here are a couple with Laura as a villager.
She's the one in red.
And look, I'm in the first one too.
It was a wonderful experience being in Fiddler with my Sweetie. We had a great cast and when it finally came down to the performances, we put so much heart into it, we had as much fun performing as the audience had watching. Would I do another play? Well, maybe, if it was a story I liked, but if I had the chance to do Fiddler again, I'd be there in a heartbeat.
These are from our tech rehearsal.
This is me hanging with Tevya.
Yes, the beard was real, but now it's gone.
Here is me as a bottle dancer...
(We had black coats for our performances)
and me in winter (in the tan coat).
Here is my Lovely Wife - as Frumah Sara.
Here's a wider shot of the dream scene.
I'm hiding in the background.
Here are a couple with Laura as a villager.
She's the one in red.
And look, I'm in the first one too.
It was a wonderful experience being in Fiddler with my Sweetie. We had a great cast and when it finally came down to the performances, we put so much heart into it, we had as much fun performing as the audience had watching. Would I do another play? Well, maybe, if it was a story I liked, but if I had the chance to do Fiddler again, I'd be there in a heartbeat.
Only a few more miles, but many hours
Well, that one 22 hour day I was going to work ... well, turned out they canceled my flight, couldn't get me there until late afternoon, and couldn't get me home until Wednesday morning. So my day trip turned into a three day trip - stupid holiday travelers wanting to get home to their families. But the trip was successful and I made it home for Thanksgiving.
... And miles to go before I sleep.
Today's one of those days you just have to get through. Up at 3AM to catch a flight to Los Angeles - I plan on being home about 1AM, if they haven't overbooked my return flight (I think they have). A 22 hour day just seems to be a little long, but at least at the beginning and end, I'm in my own bed.
Mr. Magorium
We took the gang to see Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium tonight. I really liked it. It wasn't exciting enough for the older boys, too old for the younger kids, but I liked it. It was a very simple story, but with heart. Not a rush right out and see it movie, but a fun little movie nonetheless.
The Great Soap Making Event
Well, I plan to attempt making a batch of shaving soap this weekend. If all goes well ... well, it will be fun. If all doesn't go well, there will be pain, heartache and a huge mess to clean up. So for you do it yourselfers out there here's the recipe I'm using.
Modified from http://www.teachsoap.com/shaving.html
Ingredients:
12 oz. coconut oil
10 oz. lard
12 oz. olive oil
2 oz. castor oil
14 oz. distilled water
1 heaping tablespoon of bentonite clay
5.3 oz. lye
mixture of essential oils for scent
Instructions:
1. Heat your oils (no scent) until they reach a temperature of 115 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. With all your SAFETY GEAR on pour the pre-measured lye into 14oz. of distilled water.
3. Mix in a glass or unbreakable, heat-friendly Pyrex bowl with a stainless steel mixing spoon. Do NOT breathe the lye fumes. This mixture will heat all the way up to approximately 180 degrees Fahrenheit.
4. Cool this mixture to approximately 115 degrees.
5. When both the oils and the lye water are within 10 degrees of 115 degrees, pour the lye/water mixture into the melted oils.
6. If you have a stick blender, now is the time to use it. If you do not have a stick blender, hand stir with a whisk or stainless steel tool. If you're using a stick blender, you should see trace (the point where you can see faint soap trailings when you drizzle the mixture over the surface) within 5 minutes. If you're using a hand propelled mixer (a spoon), this process could take up to a full 3 hours.
7. Once you've hit trace, add your clay, scent and mix in well. Wait for a minute to make sure that the soap is fully traced and is not going to separate in the bowl (and thus, in your molds).
8. Pour the thick, white, creamy soap mixture into your molds. Your soap will need to sit out for a full 6 weeks before using.
Modified from http://www.teachsoap.com/shaving.html
Ingredients:
12 oz. coconut oil
10 oz. lard
12 oz. olive oil
2 oz. castor oil
14 oz. distilled water
1 heaping tablespoon of bentonite clay
5.3 oz. lye
mixture of essential oils for scent
Instructions:
1. Heat your oils (no scent) until they reach a temperature of 115 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. With all your SAFETY GEAR on pour the pre-measured lye into 14oz. of distilled water.
3. Mix in a glass or unbreakable, heat-friendly Pyrex bowl with a stainless steel mixing spoon. Do NOT breathe the lye fumes. This mixture will heat all the way up to approximately 180 degrees Fahrenheit.
4. Cool this mixture to approximately 115 degrees.
5. When both the oils and the lye water are within 10 degrees of 115 degrees, pour the lye/water mixture into the melted oils.
6. If you have a stick blender, now is the time to use it. If you do not have a stick blender, hand stir with a whisk or stainless steel tool. If you're using a stick blender, you should see trace (the point where you can see faint soap trailings when you drizzle the mixture over the surface) within 5 minutes. If you're using a hand propelled mixer (a spoon), this process could take up to a full 3 hours.
7. Once you've hit trace, add your clay, scent and mix in well. Wait for a minute to make sure that the soap is fully traced and is not going to separate in the bowl (and thus, in your molds).
8. Pour the thick, white, creamy soap mixture into your molds. Your soap will need to sit out for a full 6 weeks before using.
A View
There is no such thing as fair. Fairness is perceived equality, but in the various vagaries of individuality there will always be advantages in any situation.
Welcome ... to a strange place
The imagination is an infinite realm, harshly bounded by the familiar situations of our experiences. The ulitimate exercise of imagination is to seek the truly alien.
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