"Here."Monday, February 18, 2008
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Area Premiere: A Mini Serial. Post 3: WTC Sells Out
Following up on the good review, we were mentioned by one of the "big three" theatre critics in town, and made the City Pages' coveted "A-List" (actually for the 2nd time in as many shows).
Not sure if that played into attendance numbers over this past weekend, if word-of-mouth is spreading, or what, but our attendance is suddenly of control. Our Thursday night "Camden Night" was filled to the gills, with attendance further stretching our opening night record, this time pulling in a whopping 52 patrons. Additional chairs had to be brought in. Older, somewhat less comfortable ones. It was a boisterous night, made up (we imagine) of the blue-collar second-generation Camdenites; the ones who don't normally make live theatre part of their lifestyle, but know a good deal in their backyards when they see it. Laughter was frequent and loud, if sometimes somewhat oddly-placed, with the place generally sporting a faint odor of cigarettes and booze. There was a particular fellow in the back, with a deep resonant voice, who followed a number of lines delivered by actors onstage with a hearty affirmation of "hear, hear!" Good times, and quite rewarding.
The following day I sent emails to people I knew to be considering coming that night or the following, letting them know 1) if you haven't reserved your ticket, get on the stick 2) get there early if you want a good seat 3) consider going next weekend, when there's less people on the list - for the moment. And that night, had to squeeze even more chairs in and attendance was up to a whopping 56. Not too many more seats to squeeze people in.
Or so we thought.
The show tonight was unbelievable. Fifteen minutes prior to curtain we were told people were waiting in the lobby to see if there would be any no-shows. The box office people scrambled (ending up actually using the chair behind the ticket counter) and fit as many people as could possibly be squeezed into the space. Grand total of 66. And it was a fun-loving, seemingly theatre-literate crowd that went with every moment right along with us.
As far as the show itself, the repeated performances (seven under our belts thus far, with one weekend remaining) have continued to solidify. Second nature, now, are lines, "bits," and even appropriate places to anticipate holding for laughter (though "Camden Night" did throw us for a bit of a collective loop). It's immensely satisfying to have enough performances to continue to develop a character, and also to note & correct minor pieces of a performance that might not be to my satisfaction on a given night.
Two shows left, then some much needed down-time (until I fly to Austin on business the first week of March). It's going to be pretty crazy, not thinking, breathing, and dreaming The Underpants over the next five days.
Not sure if that played into attendance numbers over this past weekend, if word-of-mouth is spreading, or what, but our attendance is suddenly of control. Our Thursday night "Camden Night" was filled to the gills, with attendance further stretching our opening night record, this time pulling in a whopping 52 patrons. Additional chairs had to be brought in. Older, somewhat less comfortable ones. It was a boisterous night, made up (we imagine) of the blue-collar second-generation Camdenites; the ones who don't normally make live theatre part of their lifestyle, but know a good deal in their backyards when they see it. Laughter was frequent and loud, if sometimes somewhat oddly-placed, with the place generally sporting a faint odor of cigarettes and booze. There was a particular fellow in the back, with a deep resonant voice, who followed a number of lines delivered by actors onstage with a hearty affirmation of "hear, hear!" Good times, and quite rewarding.
The following day I sent emails to people I knew to be considering coming that night or the following, letting them know 1) if you haven't reserved your ticket, get on the stick 2) get there early if you want a good seat 3) consider going next weekend, when there's less people on the list - for the moment. And that night, had to squeeze even more chairs in and attendance was up to a whopping 56. Not too many more seats to squeeze people in.
Or so we thought.
The show tonight was unbelievable. Fifteen minutes prior to curtain we were told people were waiting in the lobby to see if there would be any no-shows. The box office people scrambled (ending up actually using the chair behind the ticket counter) and fit as many people as could possibly be squeezed into the space. Grand total of 66. And it was a fun-loving, seemingly theatre-literate crowd that went with every moment right along with us.
As far as the show itself, the repeated performances (seven under our belts thus far, with one weekend remaining) have continued to solidify. Second nature, now, are lines, "bits," and even appropriate places to anticipate holding for laughter (though "Camden Night" did throw us for a bit of a collective loop). It's immensely satisfying to have enough performances to continue to develop a character, and also to note & correct minor pieces of a performance that might not be to my satisfaction on a given night.
Two shows left, then some much needed down-time (until I fly to Austin on business the first week of March). It's going to be pretty crazy, not thinking, breathing, and dreaming The Underpants over the next five days.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Area Premiere: A Mini Serial. Post 2: Opening Weekend
In Which "Delightfully Over-The-Top" and "Not-So-Delighfully Over-The-Top" are Used To Describe Dan in the Same Evening
Bam-bam-bam-bam. Four shows in four days, following the dress rehearsal. Attendance has been up, and we even had a man who is probably the pre-eminent "theatre blogger" in the Twin Cities show up for night one and praise us somewhat lavishly in a review that just came out yesterday. If want to take time to read the entire article, he actually describes the play and just about everything that went into it, while heaping compliments on just about everything and everyone involved. If you don't want to take time to read through, I'll just note that my performance was described as being "...delightfully over-the-top." Thank goodness for that particular choice of adverb. But anyway - everything in the first night's show could not have gone much better. Huge crowd (49 patrons - we had to add chairs from our standard arrangment, which is somewhat smaller with the new, expanded stage and some somewhat reduced sightlines), lots of laughs, and I was very humbled by a lot of very kind things people said at the opening night reception, following the show.
That is - I must assume I felt that way at the reception, because I do not remember the hours after 10 pm very clearly.
I'm going to make a long and messy story very short and simply say - WHY O WHY do I not have the ability to just kind of party?
And I'm going to follow it up by saying that my hangover I had the next day was beyond agonizing. To the point that, after I had suffered through a day of a severe chills (yes, friends, chills), and probably my seventh fit of vomiting (no exaggeration) at 4:30 pm (2nd night show approaching fast with a 6:30 call-time), I actually had begun to wonder if I was maybe actually suffering, instead, from a bout of food poisoning. (I happened to posit that possible theory in the presence of my fellow actors that evening - while strategically placing plastic bags backstage - and it since become the stuff of legends, with the term "food poisoning" always being accompanied by requisite "finger quotes").
Funny also (only in retrospect) as I was curled up in front of a space heater, shaking, at 5:45 or so when Sharon came in and asked how late I'd wait till I'd decide whether to call someone.
"Call someone?" (I shot upright) "What are you talking about?!?"
"About whether you can do the show."
"And what do you suppose they'd do if I said I couldn't do the show."
"Cancel it?"
She's so cute.
Aaaanyway, the food poisoning had worked its way out of my body in time for the Sunday matinee. Crowds (from Friday through the Monday pay-what-you-can-night) have gotten steadily smaller (par for the course; they'll pick up again for the final two weekends), while I have felt my performance get more comfortable and "on."
For now, I'm looking forward to a solid final couple of weeks of the show and a little more recreational discretion in my remaining decades of This Life.
Thursday, February 07, 2008
Area Premiere: A Mini Serial. Post 1: Dress Rehearsal
In which Dan prepares himself and his daughter for the dress rehearsal and valiantly fights off an infirmity.
Tonight is Dress Rehearsal. For the layperson, that's the final rehearsal - often with close friends, family, & production crew in attendance so the performers can get a sense of timing with laughs & other audience reaction - before opening night.
Sharon & Lucy will be there. It's a pretty innuendo-laden, suggestive show, but all that stuff is going to fly right over Lucy's head. She's going to love the constant mugging, the flying in & out of doors, and the general sense of zaniness, as well as joining in with the rest of the audience when they have a good belly laugh. And she'll get a huge kick out of seeing her dad. I've been talking her through the production process; she's gotten to meet the other actors and see behind the stage doors (to backstage!), and all sort of other this-is-how-it's-done stuff and this will be a great opportunity to see how all the pieces of a production come together; how a group of committed individuals can work together to produce something that adds something to the fabric of her community. Whether or not she sees in quite those terms at age four, something will stick in that little head, somewhere. And it also is pretty cool to be a dad who can grant special privleges (Lucy wearing her own costume in the "costume parade," seeing portions of rehearsals, etc.) as a result of me being a fancy-schmancy company member.
I woke up yesterday sick. Nearly full-blown cold. Poor, poor timing. In the past 36 hours, however, an unGodly amount of forced down time, Vitamin-C, Zicam, water, (and even the mysterious, homeopathic aconite) has managed to force the thing more or less out of my body and I think I'm ready to go.
The last few nights of tech week (the final week, when all the "technical" pieces are in place), I've been either attempting to meditate, running through my scenes in my head, or reading The Geography of Nowhere (see GoodReads sidebar). Tonight I'm going to sit back and listen to the audience (hopefully) enjoy the show in the way I'm expecting them to.
The board is set. The pieces are in motion.
Tonight is Dress Rehearsal. For the layperson, that's the final rehearsal - often with close friends, family, & production crew in attendance so the performers can get a sense of timing with laughs & other audience reaction - before opening night.
Sharon & Lucy will be there. It's a pretty innuendo-laden, suggestive show, but all that stuff is going to fly right over Lucy's head. She's going to love the constant mugging, the flying in & out of doors, and the general sense of zaniness, as well as joining in with the rest of the audience when they have a good belly laugh. And she'll get a huge kick out of seeing her dad. I've been talking her through the production process; she's gotten to meet the other actors and see behind the stage doors (to backstage!), and all sort of other this-is-how-it's-done stuff and this will be a great opportunity to see how all the pieces of a production come together; how a group of committed individuals can work together to produce something that adds something to the fabric of her community. Whether or not she sees in quite those terms at age four, something will stick in that little head, somewhere. And it also is pretty cool to be a dad who can grant special privleges (Lucy wearing her own costume in the "costume parade," seeing portions of rehearsals, etc.) as a result of me being a fancy-schmancy company member.
I woke up yesterday sick. Nearly full-blown cold. Poor, poor timing. In the past 36 hours, however, an unGodly amount of forced down time, Vitamin-C, Zicam, water, (and even the mysterious, homeopathic aconite) has managed to force the thing more or less out of my body and I think I'm ready to go.
The last few nights of tech week (the final week, when all the "technical" pieces are in place), I've been either attempting to meditate, running through my scenes in my head, or reading The Geography of Nowhere (see GoodReads sidebar). Tonight I'm going to sit back and listen to the audience (hopefully) enjoy the show in the way I'm expecting them to.
The board is set. The pieces are in motion.
Saturday, February 02, 2008
A Tale of Two Parties, Minneapolis MN, 02/02/08
Mitt Romney in an unnamed office complex in Edina.
Barack Obama at the Target Center.
(photos by Jennifer Simonson and Alissa Haupt, Star Tribune)
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Monday, January 28, 2008
Sunday, January 20, 2008
The Whistle Stop Tour
US Senate candidate Al Franken came to do a North Minneapolis meet & greet at the facility where my theatre group performs. Coolio! PMixx & I both streamed his show pretty religiously for the two-odd years it was on, and consider him to be a helluva guy, with the makings to be a public servant of the highest order.
It was nice to see him in person, and pretty wild that he was sitting there, addressing a crowd of supporters, on the same stage I will be performing on in less than three weeks.
It was nice to see him in person, and pretty wild that he was sitting there, addressing a crowd of supporters, on the same stage I will be performing on in less than three weeks.
Al on our stage. Note the ever-improving interior set.
Al, Lucy, & me. Lucy doing quite well, actually, being held by a strange man. This shot is going in a box somewhere right next to the one with me & George Takei.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
The Underpants
Louise discovers the fleeting price of fame when her underpants drop during the King’s parade, much to her stuffy bureaucratic husband’s dismay. Suddenly, the couple’s "Room for Rent" sign goes down and the renters (all male) seem to want their sugar included. The Underpants is Steve Martin’s riotous adaptation of Carl Sternheim’s 1910 German farce, Die Hose. Things haven’t changed much since 1910… think Janet Jackson’s Superbowl fiasco or the recent Brittney Spears tabloid shots.So, my theatre company has been quietly marching along this season, at least as far as my communication in this venue is concerned. But I guess it is time to mention that we have an upcoming show, The Underpants, by Steve Martin (yes, that Steve Martin), and I'm in it.
You get the gist of the show in the description above. It's a sex farce; and a fast-paced, pun-laden, slapstick one at that. I play one of the renters - Frank Versati - an elegant poet (and foppish womanizer) who works to seduce Louise (unbeknownst to her husband) and makes an enemy of a rival suitor - Cohen, an asthmatic barber who seeks to thwart my efforts.
We play nine shows over three weekends beginning on Feb. 9. For those in town or within striking distance, I'd love to see you there. And for anyone who last saw one of our full-length plays in the community center, this may blow your balls off. We now have a (semi) permanent raised stage, a fully-constructed set with three doors (the more doors, the more hi-larious the farce!), and a full lighting system. The space is hot.
Smell ya later.
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Project 365 is So 2007...
See the ambitious endeavor upon which my friend Matt has embarked...
(actually - Kudos to the Project 365ers. Stephen doing what I could not - again - and Aaron for going against the odds)
(actually - Kudos to the Project 365ers. Stephen doing what I could not - again - and Aaron for going against the odds)
Monday, January 07, 2008
Packaged Up with a Bow for T-Clog
He knows where he stands on the issues. He just wants to cut through the bullshit and know who he should vote for.
The Candidate Selector, brought to you by Minnesota Public Radio.
I found it a little frustrating, as there were some issues where I was forced to choose an answer for which I would have added a caveat. But it is what it is.
My candidates, in order:
Edwards/Obama: 25
Clinton: 23
Richardson: 21
Kucinich: 19
Gravel: 15
Guiliani: 10
Paul: 9
Romney: 7
McCain: 6
Huckabee: 4
Hunter: 4
Thompson: 4
T-Clog - this is an example of how someone can be a partisan, but not for the sake of being a partisan. I can answer questionaires and do blind surveys till I'm blue in the face, but I will always end up looking like like a duck, quacking like a duck, and voting Democrat.
The Candidate Selector, brought to you by Minnesota Public Radio.
I found it a little frustrating, as there were some issues where I was forced to choose an answer for which I would have added a caveat. But it is what it is.
My candidates, in order:
Edwards/Obama: 25
Clinton: 23
Richardson: 21
Kucinich: 19
Gravel: 15
Guiliani: 10
Paul: 9
Romney: 7
McCain: 6
Huckabee: 4
Hunter: 4
Thompson: 4
T-Clog - this is an example of how someone can be a partisan, but not for the sake of being a partisan. I can answer questionaires and do blind surveys till I'm blue in the face, but I will always end up looking like like a duck, quacking like a duck, and voting Democrat.
Thursday, January 03, 2008
Later Addition: Dan's Take
I returned from a theatre rehearsal about an hour ago to see the results of the Iowa Caucus (see previous post). Understanding that I see things pretty much like Mixdorf (on all things except music and perhaps abortion), and having just wonked out to NPR for the past 45 minutes, let me offer my take on the picture, as it clears a bit.
Democrats:
Obama: To listen excerpts from his victory speech: chills. I'll tell you, there is something about that guy. He is electric, and politicians like him don't come around too often. He is a rock star, and one that seems to be on the right (read: progressive) side of pretty much every issue.
Hillary: To listen to her, she sounded mad. And Stephen, she used that "Ready to be president on Day One" thing. I'm with you on that - it just sounds wrong. It's almost like Obama caught up and passed her as soon as she started that shit. Even if it's just subconscious, I think it's tripping some kind of trigger in the back of people's minds where they wonder if the last 20 years of her life, including her time as First Lady, were not mere "experience" for the job, but a premeditated warmup. And it's freaky. Nobody should be thinking about being president for that long.
Edwards: I can't believe he's in this much longer. I haven't looked at how he's polling in New Hampshire, but it can't be good. He's been working on Iowa for 12 years now, and pretty much just blew his wad to come in 2nd (see Romney, below).
and that's just about it for the Democrats at this point.
Republicans:
Huckabee: Let's get real here. This was not a "winning the hearts of Iowa" thing, nor a huge surge in his popular appeal. Well, there was a little of both of those. But for the most part, this was all about Evangelicals doing what Evangelicals do: becoming politically active when their pastors tell them to. If you look at the non-Evangelical exit polls, he got destroyed by Romney, 3 to 1. I don't think they go for that shit in New Hampshire. The longer this race goes, the smaller the percentage of locked-in support he's going to be able to count on.
Romney: That was about the feeblest, most depressing "there's still a lot of fight left in us" speech I have ever heard. I guess it's what you should expect from A Man With Nothing. And, see "blew wad in Iowa" (Edwards, above).
McCain: This may be the guy to beat - which would be good only in this sense: on the odd chance we have to have a Republican in the Oval Office. Bad, in that I think he'd be the toughest draw for Obama when it came right down to it. That whole bullshit "maverick" thing.
Guiliani: Perhaps this is the last mention we have to have for this awful, mean little idiot (and Man Who Has Nothing #2) who is so close to being done that he should hang it up now.
no one else worth mentioning
Democrats:
Obama: To listen excerpts from his victory speech: chills. I'll tell you, there is something about that guy. He is electric, and politicians like him don't come around too often. He is a rock star, and one that seems to be on the right (read: progressive) side of pretty much every issue.
Hillary: To listen to her, she sounded mad. And Stephen, she used that "Ready to be president on Day One" thing. I'm with you on that - it just sounds wrong. It's almost like Obama caught up and passed her as soon as she started that shit. Even if it's just subconscious, I think it's tripping some kind of trigger in the back of people's minds where they wonder if the last 20 years of her life, including her time as First Lady, were not mere "experience" for the job, but a premeditated warmup. And it's freaky. Nobody should be thinking about being president for that long.
Edwards: I can't believe he's in this much longer. I haven't looked at how he's polling in New Hampshire, but it can't be good. He's been working on Iowa for 12 years now, and pretty much just blew his wad to come in 2nd (see Romney, below).
and that's just about it for the Democrats at this point.
Republicans:
Huckabee: Let's get real here. This was not a "winning the hearts of Iowa" thing, nor a huge surge in his popular appeal. Well, there was a little of both of those. But for the most part, this was all about Evangelicals doing what Evangelicals do: becoming politically active when their pastors tell them to. If you look at the non-Evangelical exit polls, he got destroyed by Romney, 3 to 1. I don't think they go for that shit in New Hampshire. The longer this race goes, the smaller the percentage of locked-in support he's going to be able to count on.
Romney: That was about the feeblest, most depressing "there's still a lot of fight left in us" speech I have ever heard. I guess it's what you should expect from A Man With Nothing. And, see "blew wad in Iowa" (Edwards, above).
McCain: This may be the guy to beat - which would be good only in this sense: on the odd chance we have to have a Republican in the Oval Office. Bad, in that I think he'd be the toughest draw for Obama when it came right down to it. That whole bullshit "maverick" thing.
Guiliani: Perhaps this is the last mention we have to have for this awful, mean little idiot (and Man Who Has Nothing #2) who is so close to being done that he should hang it up now.
no one else worth mentioning
Yay!
Obama wins. 220,000 Democrats turn out!!! That's, like, 1/10 of all Iowans.
It'd be interesting to know how many Republicans came (but, Mixx, I don't feel I have the time to seek out the answer). I do have a theory that they are much less motivated, all but admitting that their field of potential candidates sucks balls.
I also have a theory that the better Obama does, the better Obama will do. I think a lot of groups of people with traditionally low percentages of turnout (black people, young people) will consider jumping on this bandwagon when it looks like the possibility of him actually winning the nomination looks realistic. When I learned over Christmas that Obama was at the top of my dad's list, it was one of my first, "My God, this could actually happen" moment.
It'd be interesting to know how many Republicans came (but, Mixx, I don't feel I have the time to seek out the answer). I do have a theory that they are much less motivated, all but admitting that their field of potential candidates sucks balls.
I also have a theory that the better Obama does, the better Obama will do. I think a lot of groups of people with traditionally low percentages of turnout (black people, young people) will consider jumping on this bandwagon when it looks like the possibility of him actually winning the nomination looks realistic. When I learned over Christmas that Obama was at the top of my dad's list, it was one of my first, "My God, this could actually happen" moment.
Tuesday, January 01, 2008
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
All I Got for Christmas Was Tagged
Christmas Questionnaire thanks to Aaron.
Rules:
1. Link to the person that tagged you, and post the rules on your blog.
2. Share Christmas facts about yourself.
3. Tag seven random people at the end of your post, and include links to their blogs*.
4. Let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.Welcome to the Christmas edition of "Getting to Know Your Friends."
Questions:
1. Wrapping or gift bags? As I get older, I'm coming more and more to terms with my list of limitations, which includes the ability to wrap packages. I'm about 80% gift bags now, and it's just getting higher.
2. Real or artificial tree? Artificial
3. When do you put up the tree? My family's tradtion, Dec. 1. Sharon's, Christmas Eve. It has led to a little Holiday Butting of Heads. This year, things were in such disarray, the tree went up on Dec. 22, and has yet to be decorated.
4. When do you take the tree down? Shortly after New Years
5. Do you like egg nog? Not generally. But the pre-alcohol mix makes interesting French Toast batter.
6. Favorite gift received as a child? Either Hugo, or the Hoth Playset.
7. Do you have a nativity scene? No. We're holding out for something really cool (but probably expensive), like something made of olive wood from the Holy Land.
8. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Possibly something from my step-grandma. We'd get something really kitcschy that really didn't belong in our house, year after year. I specifically recall this garishly dressed teddy bear that screeched "Silent Night" if you squeezed him too hard.
9. Mail or email Christmas cards? Arg. Nothing. We really need to start doing something.
10. Favorite Christmas Movie? It's a Wonderful Life.
11. When do you start shopping for Christmas? I'm pretty early. Like, before Thanksgiving, usually. Sharon, not so much so; and one way or another, her dilemma ends up dragging me in, somehow.
12. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? My mom's brownies. Or my mom's macaroni & cheese.
13. Clear lights or colored on the tree? Multi-colored, definitely.
14. Favorite Christmas song(s)? I know it's Catholic, but Ave Maria is just beautiful. I do also love the more secular White Christmas, I'll Be Home for Christmas, and The Christmas Song. There's lots I love.
15. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Travel to W'loo for Christmas, or a week beforehand. It alternates each year.
16. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? It seems like I could, but I'm guessing I'd end up forgetting one.
17. Angel on the tree top or a star? Angel would be cool. We have nothing, for now.
18. Open the presents Christmas Eve or Christmas Morning? Christmas morning, if possible.
19. Most annoying thing about this time of year? Co-opting of two local radio stations that would normally be in my lineup for Christmas music for an entire two months, at least. I cannot even begin to imagine how annoying this would be if I were Jewish.
20. Do you decorate your tree in any specific theme or color? No.
21. What do you leave for Santa? Nothing yet.
22. Least favorite holiday song? Hmm. Maybe that "better not shout, better not cry" one. Nothing like threatening kids for Christmas.
23. Favorite ornament? Gibbons' Galileo 7 with the Spock voice that says: "Shuttle craft to Enterprise, shuttle craft to Enterprise. Spock here. Happy Holidays."
24. Family tradition? Going to W'loo. A few Christmas movies I'm trying to make more of a tradition. A number of others (unwrapped gifts are from Santa, pancakes, etc.) - but not anything particularly huge & noteworthy.
25. Ever been to Midnight Mass or late-night Christmas Eve services? I think so. A lot of Candlelight services at my old church in Iowa. The only church services out of the year that I enjoyed.
* As always, I'm sure whoever tagged me tagged everyone I would have tagged. So the buck stops here.
Rules:
1. Link to the person that tagged you, and post the rules on your blog.
2. Share Christmas facts about yourself.
3. Tag seven random people at the end of your post, and include links to their blogs*.
4. Let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.Welcome to the Christmas edition of "Getting to Know Your Friends."
Questions:
1. Wrapping or gift bags? As I get older, I'm coming more and more to terms with my list of limitations, which includes the ability to wrap packages. I'm about 80% gift bags now, and it's just getting higher.
2. Real or artificial tree? Artificial
3. When do you put up the tree? My family's tradtion, Dec. 1. Sharon's, Christmas Eve. It has led to a little Holiday Butting of Heads. This year, things were in such disarray, the tree went up on Dec. 22, and has yet to be decorated.
4. When do you take the tree down? Shortly after New Years
5. Do you like egg nog? Not generally. But the pre-alcohol mix makes interesting French Toast batter.
6. Favorite gift received as a child? Either Hugo, or the Hoth Playset.
7. Do you have a nativity scene? No. We're holding out for something really cool (but probably expensive), like something made of olive wood from the Holy Land.
8. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Possibly something from my step-grandma. We'd get something really kitcschy that really didn't belong in our house, year after year. I specifically recall this garishly dressed teddy bear that screeched "Silent Night" if you squeezed him too hard.
9. Mail or email Christmas cards? Arg. Nothing. We really need to start doing something.
10. Favorite Christmas Movie? It's a Wonderful Life.
11. When do you start shopping for Christmas? I'm pretty early. Like, before Thanksgiving, usually. Sharon, not so much so; and one way or another, her dilemma ends up dragging me in, somehow.
12. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? My mom's brownies. Or my mom's macaroni & cheese.
13. Clear lights or colored on the tree? Multi-colored, definitely.
14. Favorite Christmas song(s)? I know it's Catholic, but Ave Maria is just beautiful. I do also love the more secular White Christmas, I'll Be Home for Christmas, and The Christmas Song. There's lots I love.
15. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Travel to W'loo for Christmas, or a week beforehand. It alternates each year.
16. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? It seems like I could, but I'm guessing I'd end up forgetting one.
17. Angel on the tree top or a star? Angel would be cool. We have nothing, for now.
18. Open the presents Christmas Eve or Christmas Morning? Christmas morning, if possible.
19. Most annoying thing about this time of year? Co-opting of two local radio stations that would normally be in my lineup for Christmas music for an entire two months, at least. I cannot even begin to imagine how annoying this would be if I were Jewish.
20. Do you decorate your tree in any specific theme or color? No.
21. What do you leave for Santa? Nothing yet.
22. Least favorite holiday song? Hmm. Maybe that "better not shout, better not cry" one. Nothing like threatening kids for Christmas.
23. Favorite ornament? Gibbons' Galileo 7 with the Spock voice that says: "Shuttle craft to Enterprise, shuttle craft to Enterprise. Spock here. Happy Holidays."
24. Family tradition? Going to W'loo. A few Christmas movies I'm trying to make more of a tradition. A number of others (unwrapped gifts are from Santa, pancakes, etc.) - but not anything particularly huge & noteworthy.
25. Ever been to Midnight Mass or late-night Christmas Eve services? I think so. A lot of Candlelight services at my old church in Iowa. The only church services out of the year that I enjoyed.
* As always, I'm sure whoever tagged me tagged everyone I would have tagged. So the buck stops here.
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Good Ol' Lucy
At the doctor's with Sharon, the other day:
Doctor: So, what do you want for Christmas?
Lucy: Chapstick. My lips are very dry.
(Doctor, to himself: "Christ almighty, get the kid some chapstick already!")
Doctor: So, what do you want for Christmas?
Lucy: Chapstick. My lips are very dry.
(Doctor, to himself: "Christ almighty, get the kid some chapstick already!")
Saturday, December 15, 2007
About Face
I stand at a potentially pivotal moment in my lfe. The theory governing the entire history and intent behind my wardrobe may be at stake.
My entire adult life, the guiding principal of my clothes selections has been one of comfort over fashion. While I, admittedly, may have some vague conception (correct or not) of general styles that "become me" or somewhat adhere to my notion of myself as a hispter doofus of sorts, in the end, it comes down to comfort; both physical comfort, and psychological comfort that comes with threads that are tried and true, and not rocking the boat (think: the old Adidas hat).
Here I am, not quite three weeks out from my 37th birthday, considering throwing that entire philosophy out the window and concentrating entirely on looking good. It all depends upon whether I can find a really nice sweater to go with these amazingly hip new shoes I just purchased. I'm thinking, a sweater with argyle diamonds down the front and a collared shirt with tabs sticking out over my belt. Thoughts?
My entire adult life, the guiding principal of my clothes selections has been one of comfort over fashion. While I, admittedly, may have some vague conception (correct or not) of general styles that "become me" or somewhat adhere to my notion of myself as a hispter doofus of sorts, in the end, it comes down to comfort; both physical comfort, and psychological comfort that comes with threads that are tried and true, and not rocking the boat (think: the old Adidas hat).
Here I am, not quite three weeks out from my 37th birthday, considering throwing that entire philosophy out the window and concentrating entirely on looking good. It all depends upon whether I can find a really nice sweater to go with these amazingly hip new shoes I just purchased. I'm thinking, a sweater with argyle diamonds down the front and a collared shirt with tabs sticking out over my belt. Thoughts?
Thursday, December 06, 2007
Out of the Loop
As in, I'm so friggin.
For the past few years, I've (probably somewhat proudly) considered myself as being in the highest percentile of folks in terms of being abreast of events going on that shape our world. This has been a really busy, stressful, and somewhat sickly Fall that has pulled my focus away from current events and fixed it on staying afloat of my own life. It's been necessary for me to operate at such a high level at work that I actually cannot focus enough if I have public radio going on the web stream - a common practice of mine in the past.
Put maybe more influential in this drift away from connectedness on my part has been Wonk Overload. News related to three subjects in particular; 2008 presidential campaigning, Iraq, and Iran have been so relentless; yet seemingly, the story lines never change. I think I am actually experiencing what so many politically apethetic people in this country do when they hear the name of the Attorney General or something about the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and their eyes glaze over. "Oh no, here we go again." It's why they tend to glom onto the latest cable news fixation (read: the Omaha gunman, and before that - take your pick). The latest thing is where it's at; it's why Alicia Keyes is outselling Jimi Hendrix.
In my adult life I've held fast to the notion that an informed citizen is a powerful citizen that can make a difference in the world. Of course, all the informed, "powerful" citizens didn't prevent the election of George Bush, or the Iraq War, et. al.; and I must confess, the ceaseless barrage of news of the world, little of which is positive, has a pretty disheartening effect that can almost drive me to a state of "What's the point?" In my free time (a reminder, readers - that this generally begins around 8:30 or 9:00 pm), I am choosing escapism (pleasure reading, movie watching), rather than studying the NY Times.
A sense of civic duty may be about to drive me back into an attempt to get back on track, but I thought I'd just make this admission as some sort of late-2007 milepost.
For the past few years, I've (probably somewhat proudly) considered myself as being in the highest percentile of folks in terms of being abreast of events going on that shape our world. This has been a really busy, stressful, and somewhat sickly Fall that has pulled my focus away from current events and fixed it on staying afloat of my own life. It's been necessary for me to operate at such a high level at work that I actually cannot focus enough if I have public radio going on the web stream - a common practice of mine in the past.
Put maybe more influential in this drift away from connectedness on my part has been Wonk Overload. News related to three subjects in particular; 2008 presidential campaigning, Iraq, and Iran have been so relentless; yet seemingly, the story lines never change. I think I am actually experiencing what so many politically apethetic people in this country do when they hear the name of the Attorney General or something about the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and their eyes glaze over. "Oh no, here we go again." It's why they tend to glom onto the latest cable news fixation (read: the Omaha gunman, and before that - take your pick). The latest thing is where it's at; it's why Alicia Keyes is outselling Jimi Hendrix.
In my adult life I've held fast to the notion that an informed citizen is a powerful citizen that can make a difference in the world. Of course, all the informed, "powerful" citizens didn't prevent the election of George Bush, or the Iraq War, et. al.; and I must confess, the ceaseless barrage of news of the world, little of which is positive, has a pretty disheartening effect that can almost drive me to a state of "What's the point?" In my free time (a reminder, readers - that this generally begins around 8:30 or 9:00 pm), I am choosing escapism (pleasure reading, movie watching), rather than studying the NY Times.
A sense of civic duty may be about to drive me back into an attempt to get back on track, but I thought I'd just make this admission as some sort of late-2007 milepost.
Tuesday, December 04, 2007
Post Just to Post: My Netflix Queue Top 10
My full queue is up to 150, but here's the next 10 on tap (and the one I have at home):
(at home) Glen or Glenda: Ed Wood debacle from 1953. He was trying to make a social commentary on crossdressing, unbeknownst to Bela Legosi and his girlfriend, Dolores Fuller (both of whom were co-starring in the film). A car crash at which I cannot resist a peek.
Dracula: I've always had a bit of a fascination Dracula lore. Currently about three chapters from finishing the Librivox reading of this wonderful book, I am all the more curious about a seemingly unlimited array of interpretations have played themselves out on the silver screen. I saw the 1929 silent film Nosferatu a couple of years back and this one, released in 1931 and starring Bela Legosi (a crazy, pure co-incidence he is in my next two queued movies!), is pretty much considered the chronological 2nd of the landmark productions of the Dracula genre.
A Mighty Wind: In difference of opinion from some others, I felt Christopher Guest fell off pretty steeply in Best in Show; however, the earlier brilliance of Guffman and Spinal Tap still place his mockumentaries in a "must see" category for me.
Silent Movie: Bold concept of Mel Brooks, back in the era where he was still fresh & funny (1976), this has been on the periphery of my "gotta get around to this one" world for years and years now.
The Apartment: I'm a big Jack Lemmon fan; I think he's a tremendous actor. And this is supposed to great film, by almost any measure.
Standing in the Shadows of Motown: In my queue purely as a result of this recommendation by Aaron: "I suggest you add this movie to Your Queue. I think you'll enjoy it!" A documentary about a little-known group of background musicians for untold number of Mowtown hits througout the sixties. Think, the Jordanaires of Mowtown.
Clerks: First Cut (Not Theatrical Version): I've never had a huge yearning to see this film, but it's been generally very highly regarded by my peers. And the entire Jay & Silent Bob phenomenon came and went before I'd even heard of it, so this is me going back to gather up some of that hipster pop culture long after the parade has passed on by.
Calendar Girls: Basically, the writeup reads like a female version of The Fully Monty, which I think is one of the best comedies of recent years. Mixdorf take note: "viewers like me" rate this movie 0.4 of a point more than the average viewer.
Harvey Birdman: Vol. 1: Disc 2: My review of Vol. 1: Disc 1 was something about a great concept and moments of comedic brilliance sprinkled amidst an offering that is insubstantial and unengaging enough to not matter in the end equation. Like so many other animated comedies, in my opinion. One of my general rules of TV series, however, is: all TV series have a right to get their footing. Therefore, although I expect more of the same, the comedy was good enough when it was on to let me give disc 2 a chance.
A Midsummer Night's Sex Comedy: A Woody Allen adaptation/spoof of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream. Slowly working my way through the Allen catalog, which ranges from OK to brilliant for me.
Local Hero: The Doc Hollywoodish sounding synopsis would definitely not have landed this in my queue, but the Mixdorf recommendation did.
(at home) Glen or Glenda: Ed Wood debacle from 1953. He was trying to make a social commentary on crossdressing, unbeknownst to Bela Legosi and his girlfriend, Dolores Fuller (both of whom were co-starring in the film). A car crash at which I cannot resist a peek.
Dracula: I've always had a bit of a fascination Dracula lore. Currently about three chapters from finishing the Librivox reading of this wonderful book, I am all the more curious about a seemingly unlimited array of interpretations have played themselves out on the silver screen. I saw the 1929 silent film Nosferatu a couple of years back and this one, released in 1931 and starring Bela Legosi (a crazy, pure co-incidence he is in my next two queued movies!), is pretty much considered the chronological 2nd of the landmark productions of the Dracula genre.
A Mighty Wind: In difference of opinion from some others, I felt Christopher Guest fell off pretty steeply in Best in Show; however, the earlier brilliance of Guffman and Spinal Tap still place his mockumentaries in a "must see" category for me.
Silent Movie: Bold concept of Mel Brooks, back in the era where he was still fresh & funny (1976), this has been on the periphery of my "gotta get around to this one" world for years and years now.
The Apartment: I'm a big Jack Lemmon fan; I think he's a tremendous actor. And this is supposed to great film, by almost any measure.
Standing in the Shadows of Motown: In my queue purely as a result of this recommendation by Aaron: "I suggest you add this movie to Your Queue. I think you'll enjoy it!" A documentary about a little-known group of background musicians for untold number of Mowtown hits througout the sixties. Think, the Jordanaires of Mowtown.
Clerks: First Cut (Not Theatrical Version): I've never had a huge yearning to see this film, but it's been generally very highly regarded by my peers. And the entire Jay & Silent Bob phenomenon came and went before I'd even heard of it, so this is me going back to gather up some of that hipster pop culture long after the parade has passed on by.
Calendar Girls: Basically, the writeup reads like a female version of The Fully Monty, which I think is one of the best comedies of recent years. Mixdorf take note: "viewers like me" rate this movie 0.4 of a point more than the average viewer.
Harvey Birdman: Vol. 1: Disc 2: My review of Vol. 1: Disc 1 was something about a great concept and moments of comedic brilliance sprinkled amidst an offering that is insubstantial and unengaging enough to not matter in the end equation. Like so many other animated comedies, in my opinion. One of my general rules of TV series, however, is: all TV series have a right to get their footing. Therefore, although I expect more of the same, the comedy was good enough when it was on to let me give disc 2 a chance.
A Midsummer Night's Sex Comedy: A Woody Allen adaptation/spoof of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream. Slowly working my way through the Allen catalog, which ranges from OK to brilliant for me.
Local Hero: The Doc Hollywoodish sounding synopsis would definitely not have landed this in my queue, but the Mixdorf recommendation did.
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