Palaver & Parlance

I've Moved

2010-01-12T02:03:00.000-06:00

I've moved everything!
Including my blog.
Visit me at
Love and Light Images.

Wrigley's 5 Gum

2009-01-15T12:12:00.005-06:00

Just another "THINGS THAT ROCK" post -- that random and entirely unregular post reminding others of things that rock my world. Today we have Wrigley's Five Gum. The Lush Flavor. Wrigley even sent out a press release. Five comes in an envelope style package that is really quite sassy. It's matte black with a "5" on the package. Unwrap it, and it's almost like a box of Dunhill cigarettes but tastier and healthier. Flip open the top and there lie 15 flat sticks of gum. I opened the pack and the scent of the "new" Lush flavor wafted around my nose immediately. I unwrapped the stick of gum, laying the orange colored metallic wrapper to the side. Wow, super fruity, with a hint of mint that hit the back of my throat nicely. And for gum, especially Wrigley's, the flavor lasts. In fact, I can still taste it in the time it's taken to write this post -- But chewing gum too long hurts my jaws. I'm throwing it out in favor of another thing that rocks: HEB Rotisserie Chicken Salad. Maybe I'll post on that tomorrow.

p.s. is that a sperm on the Wrigley's 5 Cobalt Package?

Love and Light Images

2009-01-10T12:11:00.007-06:00

I've really been searching in the new year about how to express in words what I do as a photographer. Sure, I'm an actor, director and visual artist who takes photos of actors and business people and singing groups and bands. But really, what difference does my photography make? How am I different from anyone else ? How do I and can I contribute to the world through this work?

Hmmm. My commitment is in capturing in a photo what my subjects want to say to others . It's not just making people look good or even unique, which I hope I do, but in making them look authentic. I am committed to authenticity in my photography.

Ahhh... if I hadn't muddled through writing a blog post I might not have ever figured that one out.

Been to my website or my Facebook page? Oh, and if you'd like me to photograph you, let me know.

The Only Resolution You'll Ever Need

2009-01-02T21:25:00.005-06:00

Be the person of your dreams.

See life through THEIR eyes.

Make decisions with THEIR mind.

Let every thought, word, and action come from THEIR perspective, as if you had already arrived, and just watch how 2009 warps into the kind of year you talk and laugh about forever and ever and ever...

Peace, love, and green M&Ms!

AND here's a little secret: That person already exists, there's nothing new to learn, just "let 'em out."

Feelings, whoa, oh, oh... pffft

2008-12-29T19:48:00.006-06:00

Ever have one of those days, weeks, maybe even years, where you know something is out of whack and you just can’t put your finger on it?

Ever feel you should follow your intuition no matter how crazy everyone else thinks it is?

Ever have feelings that your mind refuses to allow you to shake, even when logic tells you that no one would understand your feelings but you? (But of course, someone would…)

It’s an interesting place to be, sometimes.

I don’t mean to sound morose. Not at all. I'm not having bad feelings. Feelings are a great barometer. Well followed, strong, unabashed unashamed intuition can make one a successful psychic. At the other end, survival of the species has required us to possess and maintain healthy feelings of flight or fight, fear, pain, hunger, etc... They’re very important to growth and survival.

It’s interesting to me, how many of our feelings we overlook or brush off everyday. Feelings we were made and bred to have. Some are feelings we were taught not to verbalize – both the perceived positive and negative. I mean the intuitive thoughts and impulses about ourselves and others that occur in a nanosecond that are warning us or soothing us, lifting us or dragging us. What do we with them, how do we be appropriate with them – everything from love to rancor? How do we use them fully, without them using us? How do we validate them and use them as the finest of tools? And how do we love them all?

I’m just saying…

Oh, and don’t worry. My intuition is not telling me anything about the world ending, or anything terrible like that. Just change, ya know? I feel it at this time of year more than any other. It makes me think. And I think enough as it is. In 2009 I will have to set about feeling more, and maybe thinking less. Heh. Oh, and have a lot more fun.

Various and Sundry Things Part II

2008-12-03T21:30:00.009-06:00

Ok... I Masterminded today, as I do with my Mastermind (hereto after referred to as "MM")group just about every Wednesday. (Want to start your own? A variation on the steps we use can be found here.)Today, I was inspired with a very powerful affirmation -- no wisecracks, yeah, you'll do it anyway... something like, "I will commit to my desires and take action on them." If you've got a dirty mind that's not what I mean. I've already taken action on those desires. ;-P No, I mean auditioning for a show again. Reading fiction. Staying on the computer all night if I want. Sleeping in. It really helped me to think about how goal driven I am instead of just doing things for the joy of them. (You'd think by now I'd be rich and famous if I was so goal driven, right?) Interestingly, certain things I originally did for the joy of them have now become somewhat joyless based on being goal driven about them. That is ironic. That is also painful to realize. This pissed me off. (Prepositions are good things to end sentences with. Especially if the phrase is "pissed off.")

After MM'ing, I took action on my first desire and bought a novel on which both my MM partners have heard good buzz, called, The Shack. So how much fun is a Christian novel about about a grieving father who meets God in the form of a jolly African-American woman? But my aversive to "traditional Christianity" friends recommend it. Ok. Stay tuned. Perhaps I will post a review.

I then made my way to a VERY crowded McNeil High School to enjoy a stroll down the halls picking up pens from every college recruiter this side and that of the Mason-Dixon line. While the Sexy Beast asked the hard questions like "how much is tuition" I asked, "is this gel or ballpoint?"

And here I am.

OH! D*mnit. WHAT is the deal? I was so THRILLED to purchase new bras last week. I just love this Bali brand, this Seductive Curves bra. Woo Hoo!!! IMHO, though they're quite tailored, they're super sexy on my tatas. Especially the red one. I get 'em home, and WTF? Two of the three SQUEAK. I sound like the f*cking Tin Man. "Oil me." What, I'm supposed to put WD40 on them? I Google squeaky bra and I get nothing but bloggers just like me writing about squeaky bras. No answers. No, I didn't try them on and jog around the block in them before I bought them, I've been wearing this brand for several years, and -- if you're like me and at an age when lift really counts, you know what works and you don't need to try on these things.

Imagine the sexiness of this situation. Take for instance your Sexy Beast (this has not happened to me, ok?) reaches around you in that smooth move of unhooking your bra, with one hand even. You put your arms around your Sexy Beast's neck and suddenly it sounds like you're crossing a footbridge in an Indiana Jones movie. Damn.

Oh -- to put an end to this entry I will point out that I know who gets murdered in the first episode of The L Word... lalalala....

I'm going to go read this book now... it's a desire of mine.

p.s. tickled pink Hillary has been nominated for Secretary of State...

The L Word...

2008-11-29T17:06:00.004-06:00

Please.

"Going Down In History?"

:-P

OK, someone dies. I just don't want another season without Helena. Ugh!

Various and Sundry Stuff

2008-11-29T15:50:00.003-06:00

So this inspired me to blog today. Lately, not so much has inspired me to do so. I've been in a funk, really -- and not so much this week, so... ya know, here I am.

Today in Macy's... two teen girls are in the Calvin Klein/DKNY section for Women. Tall one says to short one, "Let's get out of here, these clothes are for old people."

Ugh...

In other news...

Sierra Mist Cranberry rocks.
We had a great time at my sister's for Thanksgiving.
NxNW Theatre auditions The Shadow Box in two weeks.
Sexy Beast celebrates her 40th next weekend with a trip to the coast.
The video for I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change is DONE. I'm excited.
We're on the 4th season of Battlestar Galactica, finally.

That ought to do it.

:-)

Obama, Kate, Prop 8, Jennifer

2008-11-09T09:06:00.004-06:00

Wow. I know. I haven't posted in forever. What would get me out of hiding?

Obama's election, which is a fantastic change? Random ranting about Prop 8 in California? Texas getting pink and growing blue instead of red?

No.

Jennifer and Kate.

Wow.

Crucial Conversations

2008-09-25T17:08:00.001-05:00

Meme stolen from Julie’s journal

1.Grab the nearest book.
2. Open the book to page 42.
3. Find the first full sentence.
4. Post the text of the next seven sentences in your journal along with these instructions.
5. Don't dig for your favorite book, the cool book, or the intellectual one: pick the CLOSEST.

When we (the authors) are in the middle of an on-site workshop and we suggest there are alternatives to Sucker’s Choices, someone invariably says: “Maybe you can speak honestly and still be heard in other organizations, but if you try it here, you’ll be eaten alive!” Or the flip side: “You’ve got to know when to fold if you want to survive here for another day.” Then in a hail of “I’ll say” and “Here, here!” many nod in agreement.

At first we thought that maybe there *were* places where dialogue couldn’t survive. But then we learned to ask, “Are you saying there isn’t *anyone* you know who is able to hold a high-risk conversation in a way that solves problems *and* builds relationship? There usually is.

Start with heart.

-from Crucial Conversations, Tools for Talking When The Stakes Are High

I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change

2008-09-20T13:13:00.006-05:00

We opened last night to a sold out house, but not a sold out crowd. It was FANTASTIC nonetheless. The cast had a good time, the audience had a good time, and a standing ovation was had... and I don't see those in Austin crowds very often.

I could say the usual, this cast has worked their butts off (and they have) they have given themselves over to the project (and they have) and they are ALL strong -- all capable -- all having their very important moments (scenes in fact) on stage. They were terrific. We were at high levels in rehearsal and it just went to another one last night.

And then there was the reviewer in the front row. Writing away on a pad in an intimate venue. That's ok -- really! We LOVE getting press. It's a little awkward for the cast though. Opening night enjoyment gives way to, "What was she writing there?" "what did I do and what are her notes about this time?" I'm sure that became the focus of backstage conversation last night instead of the pure joy of getting this wonderful show in front of an audience. And who was that reviewer? We had two seats set aside for the Statesman, but they went unclaimed. What if it was an ACC student doing an assignment? And if so -- I'd like to see her paper on it! This time of year lots of ACC students are given this assignment. Oh sheesh... all that energy the cast spent wondering what was going on with the reviewer -- who may have been a student doing a homework assignment.

That's a good primary lesson in not worrying about who is in the audience and just doing your best and having a good time doing it.

Their energy was outstanding, there's not a weak link in the bunch, and I am very pleased. Let's see if the reviewer enjoyed herself too. I guarantee the review won't be as bad as this. We've "done the work" Ouch. Wow.

In the meantime, I've found time to post a blog entry, lounge around the house this morning, and enjoy some quality time with the SB. NiiiIIIIce. Come see the show!

Here's the cast a few weeks ago working on a filmed scene:

THAT Really Is Love

2008-07-19T10:08:00.004-05:00

This morning the SB and I were lounging around in bed, me sulking some because I'm not feeling too well. Sweet SB said she was more in love with me than ever --especially over the last two weeks. She said she'd just grown more deeply in love with me ever since she saw my face when the bumper of the car got ripped off in the sand at the beach.

And the way I just threw my hands in the air and stopped the car when we got stuck -- the way I looked at her and said, "Ok, Ok, YOU drive!"

She was laughing her ass off about it, well, about ME, this morning.

Come to think of it, I have to laugh now, all alone writing this post, at how she valiantly gave getting out of the sand a shot -- the wind and tires blowing sand all up in the car, me protecting my camera from the hideous dangerous grains, SB shouting, "I'm about to blow out my ENGINE!" and me saying, "Well, STOP it then!"

Driving together. There's a song about it in my next show! Come see it.

Oh, and that laughing thing with one another, THAT Really Is Love.

July Flies By

2008-07-10T21:28:00.007-05:00

Wow! It's the 10th already. This could be the last blog I do this month! I will try to keep up, and statistically speaking, that I blog on a regular basis like, at least once a month for a few years here, makes me unique according to Business Week's latest on Internet Business.

Ok, here's WHY I can't imagine blogging a lot. So keep up:

1. I gotta go BACK to the coast tomorrow to get the car. See last post. Sucks to be me. NOT.
2. Going to direct this. Go see it.
3. GOTTA see this. Maybe you should too!
4. Gotta see this.
5. Going to see this.
6. Gotta keep working here.
7. Going to keep up momentum on this.
8. Will keep enjoying this woman:

9. Will continue to count my blessings.
10. Going to execute my plan on becoming a millionaire - in my spare time.

Stop Laughing

2008-07-01T21:37:00.012-05:00

Ok, the SB and I enjoyed our vacation immensely! Except for this one teeny thing. About twenty minutes after we got there, after we had unloaded and embarked on our first foray onto the beach to check out the scene, er... I got us stuck in the sand. I didn't realize it, really, as the SB kept saying "you're going to get us stuck in the sand," and "don't stop!" and it was counter intuitive to keep going so I just got fed up like any half of a couple who is unhappy with being told how to drive, and said, "ok, you drive" and I stopped the car, not realizing I'd already gotten us stuck. Luckily, someone drove by and bailed us out. Unfortunately, while he was pulling us out via the rear of the car, the force of the sand pulled the bumper off the front. You can see that it fit in the trunk so we could take it to the shop the next day.

(Ok, stop laughing.) SB was driving and I was watching from a few yards away -- she looked over at me when it happened -- and said she hadn't seen that look on my face since the glass dining table fell over and broke while we were rearranging the dining area several years ago.

STOP laughing.

BTW, this is the part where I mention just how absurdly light such a piece of a vehicle can be. I lifted her entire bumper with one hand. Effortlessly. I was surprised that it didn't just blow away in the coastal breeze.

So, on the first day of our vacation we spent a couple of hours handling that.

We landed a handsome silver Chevy Silverado for the rest of our vacation -- a behemoth of a vehicle for which we must never reveal our enjoyment. We turned it in for a Pontiac Grand Prix (better on gas mileage) and drove the Pontiac home.

Uh, yeah, this means we have to go back to get the Veedub.

We think Zeta had a good time but we can't be sure. It was her first trip away from home without other furry friends, and her first visit to the beach. Do you think she enjoyed it? We think she enjoyed the truck -- a safe haven after being made to swim in the gulf.

We spent a day at The USS Lexington, as I had never visited the ship, even though I go to the coast every summer. Interesting... but not as fun as shopping. I ate french fries I hadn't tasted as good since I visited my sister in Germany. I loved those things, but I digress -- what do fried potatoes in Germany have to do with the USS Lexington, really? Nothing.

There's a great Pearl Harbor exhibit. People were so much smaller, even in the '40's, than we are now. This is a uniform donated by a tiny real live WWII soldier.

Zeta and the SB.

I surprised the SB with the necklace below before we left. FINALLY, I surprised her with a gift. She usually gets me -- but this time I am pleased to report, I trumped her in the surprise gift department. Not that you can see it above that hysterical shirt.

The trip was good. Very good.

I Want To Believe

2008-06-20T23:32:00.001-05:00

One more month!

Into The Nightlife

2008-06-14T21:04:00.004-05:00

Go Cyndi.

What's The Name of Your Business...

2008-06-14T19:13:00.003-05:00

I know I just posted. But I had to share again. Every once in awhile, I like to look at available schnauzer puppies via the internet. Zeta might need a little brother, ya know? Sometime.

So, uh... I came across a breeder whose business is named:
The Poochie Patch

I'll leave you with that.

(and no kvetching about that crappy photo of Zeta. I took it with my phone, while I was driving.)

Did I say that out loud?

The Price of Gas

2008-06-14T18:56:00.003-05:00

In my neighborhood we have those "kiosks" for our mailboxes -- you know, one central area in the neighborhood where you go to get your mail. I miss having a mailbox where I just grab the mail as I come in the house, but, we live in a newer neighborhood than all that.

Today, as I found my way home from a very productive NxNW Theatre meeting, lunch with our friend er... Mimi, which is her nickname and not her real name because she's pretty famous and she thinks the nickname Sexy Beast is amusing, even though her nickname is Mimi... anyway -- and a jaunt to Precision Camera, which to me is as exciting as a being a fifth grader at Fiesta Texas (LOVE it!) and a visit to GMan's HEB, I circled around on my way home and got my mail.

As I approached the mailboxes and swing toward them (on the wrong side of the road but politely) I noticed a HUGE, Ford Pickup approaching the mailboxes on the correct side of the road. I stopped where we'd have room for the both of us, and got my mail. As I left, the woman driving the HUGE Ford Pickup got out of her truck but then got back in -- I guess she forgot her mailbox keys.

I travel back to my house, and realize once I gather all my goodies that she's getting out of the truck in the house next door to mine. She's my neighbor.

That's ok. But here's the deal. I hope she didn't drive that big huge truck from her house to the mailboxes. It's like, 50 yards, maybe. I hope she was picking her mail up on her way home from somewhere, just like me. That truck is big, and... uh... gas is $3.97 gallon now.

She was nice, all the same.

Hillary Clinton

2008-06-07T16:50:00.004-05:00

I watched Hillary's speech today on CNN. When's the last time you saw such fanfare over a losing candidate? She carries much political weight, no matter what kind of polarizing she might cause.

I actually got choked up and sad a couple of times. I live in a district where Clinton won but in a precinct and county where she did not. I hope I got that right. I went to the County convention, as you might have noticed from an earlier blog, and I feel that I'm a part of history in a different way now because of it.

Still, I am deeply saddened. There's a brilliant and superbly written entry on this topic that I couldn't have worded better (or I would have) at Dorothy Surrenders.

However she may allegedly polarize the Democratic party and the Republicans, one thing is for sure as far as I can see: Obama needs Hillary Clinton. Check out the Huffington Post on this one. Sorry. I agree with Michael Fauntroy.

Maybe I'm delusional, but... I don't think it's over. And I'd say I'll miss her, but somehow, I don't think she's going anywhere.

Still. I'm sad.

Kissing

2008-06-07T16:45:00.003-05:00

Sexy Beast and I went with Beast Boy 2 and a friend to the Round Rock Express game last Tuesday night and had a great time. I scored some seats right at the home dugout. No. I mean right there. We rested our feet on the dugout.

Anyway, they do this Kiss Cam thing, and of course, it always brings up the question of whether or not I would kiss the SB if the camera fell on us for such a thing. How they figure out which same gender couples are together as gay or lesbian is always my concern. Ever pragmatic, that's me.

THEN I become concerned with the gay thing. Whaddya know, a couple of days later, I find this online.

Lesbian kiss at Seattle ballpark stirs up gay-friendly town

Oh well.

Name The Starlet

2008-06-06T08:48:00.003-05:00

This is a great piece of video.

Go see!

I Love You You're Perfect Now Change

2008-06-01T00:32:00.011-05:00

There's nothing like getting a good shot of The Sexy Beast. Here she is helping me out at the shoot I did earlier today for Love, Perfect, Change. I love that hat. I'm not sure about the key. I think it's a premonitory symbol for the price she would pay for new tires later in the afternoon.

Anyway, I got some loverly shots of the cast of Love, Perfect, Change. And I am so grateful to my friend and mentor Brenda Ladd for the use of her studio. It was so luxurious! These are not quite complete, and need some retouching but the subjects are great!

I'd blog more about the shoot but it's very late. I'll share more tomorrow!

"I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change"

2008-05-30T23:27:00.005-05:00

I am so excited! We're doing a photo shoot tomorrow for the cast of Love, Perfect, Change. We haven't even begun rehearsal yet, but we'll have shots for the website, where you can make your reservations already!

So what are you waiting for? Go make 'em!

Oh, yeah, well. In the meantime, I'm also tickled about the last couple of sessions I did.

Here's Henry. He's a kind, powerful and wonderful man, who also happens to be a lawyer.

Paullette is a playwright, and the Artistic Director for Paradox Players. If I had no other light but the north light from her window here, I could die a happy photographer.

Who wants a portrait session with me? C'mon...

Go see more at Love and Light Images. Oh. And stay tuned for more on "I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change."

Special Photographer Trick

2008-05-19T22:52:00.003-05:00

This is just a photo -- no post processing. I cropped it. But that's all. The Sexy Beast. Looking heavenly.

This is a old fashioned photographer's trick called, "Taking A Photo of A Reflection."

Life Imitates Art Imitates Life

2008-05-19T07:37:00.001-05:00

Von Trapp Family Mansion Becomes A Hotel

First Prom

2008-05-18T16:17:00.006-05:00

Sexy Beast and I made a brief jaunt to Houston this weekend to take GMan to enjoy his girlfriend's junior prom. I think he had a good time. I know we did. (A side note: His prom was at the Majestic Theatre downtown. If you print a map to the Rothko Chapel, you should make sure it's a map to the Rothko Chapel, and not the Majestic Theatre.)

We left town noonish on Friday after I had my hair colored. I like it lots, and look forward to showing it off. ;-)

We enjoyed our stay at the Hotel Derek. Room 1125. All the rooms are apparently "corner rooms" thanks to the architecture of this groovy hotel, redecorated "loft" style in 2004, after it was bought in 2001. Stay here in Houston.

We took photos of GMan and his girlfriend at the hotel, then went out to dinner at Ninfa's Galleria (no need to go there again) just across the street and up the block from the hotel and then we retired to the hotel room again.

Saturday we lunched at Niko Niko's (Great place! As proof, the line was out the door, and the wait on food was a half an hour.) We had a wonderful conversation in the rain, at a dry table just under the awning of the building on the patio. Then, we visited the Rothko Chapel , the Houston Center For Photography (ok, just me, SB was napping) and then we viewed the Menil Collection.

From there we proceed to meet GMan, took him to a party, and went to dinner at CoCo's (we are SAD there is not one of these here.) The crepes were amazing, the tomato bisque soup velvety, tangy rich deliciousness.

Then we picked up the GMan and proceeded home, pulling in the drive at just before 1 this morning.

And! Zeta decided to take a field trip while we were out of town. She's fine and at home now, though she took a walk through the neighborhood where she was visiting and found some cute little girls and another schnauzer to play with while she was out. We're glad she's safe. We felt terrible for our sweet friend who had to call us and tell us he couldn't find her.

Tonight, we're going to take a jaunt up the road to see Iron Man. I'm excited not just to see the movie, but I understand the X-Files trailer is tagged on to the Iron Man film...

Another quiz

2008-04-29T14:06:00.001-05:00

Hey. I really can read Tarot cards, too.

Your hidden talent is psychic

You are able to foresee certain things, and prevent bad things from happening to yourself. It could just be a lot of common sense, but it’s probably something a little more.

Take this quiz at QuizGalaxy.com

More X-Files News

2008-04-17T13:59:00.002-05:00

The Movie Gets A Title!

And Gillian Anderson gets covered in Maxim again!

It's a good week for me. Ahhhhhh....

What Will YOUR Obituary Say?

2008-04-15T19:19:00.001-05:00

'What will your obituary say?' at QuizGalaxy.com

Technology

2008-04-13T15:52:00.002-05:00

Hmmm... today the SB and I make our way to the car in the driveway-- SB is on her way to meet a friend to go sailing, and I to church. I meander to the back of the car as I need to put my camera in my trunk. I ask SB to push the remote button. She does. Repeatedly. I ask her to try the button in the cab of the car. Nothing again. Repeat, nothing, repeat, nothing.

At this point I'm in a panic. I have three photo shoots this week. Every piece of equipment I need is trapped in my trunk. I am mentally cursing my car for taking my livelihood hostage. I am trying to figure out how to get my car to the dealer.

All the while, SB had made her way around from the front of the car to the trunk.

And.

Opened it.

With the key.

Rude Mechs "The Method Gun"

2008-04-06T16:27:00.003-05:00

SB, BB2 and I met with friends yesterday for a trip to the Long Center to see The Rude Mech's performance of "The Method Gun." If you haven't seen enough of it here or here, I'm here to tell you, just go see this thing.

You can get your fill of review like information on the links above, and there's something amusing about full frontal nudity happening not just onstage but in the communal backstage areas of The Rollins Theatre and The Dell Hall -- especially with The Austin Symphony performing next door Saturday when we saw the show.

I'll leave the theatre reviews to others and I'll take this space to tell ya about the Long Center.

We chose to take plenty of time to get there, and parked in the garage on the North side. We had an early dinner at Vinny's and walked around the Palmer Auditorium to get to The Long Center.

I've lived here all my life and I remember when the high schools were small enough to conduct their commencement exercises at Palmer Auditorium and NOT the Erwin Center. I remembered those quiet and simple times as I rounded the building, cars in a veritable parking lot beside me, being directed into the parking lot by a pleasant Sheriff's deputy who informed us that they were expecting about 8000 people to the Center/Palmer that night.

The kids Imaginarium was happening in Palmer Auditorium, The Austin Symphony was in Dell Hall, and the Rudes were in The Rollins Studio -- oh, and UrbanFest was on Auditorium Shores. Welcome to the culture that is Austin.

It's a little confusing at the front of the Long Center -- where's the "will call" for The Rollins and Dell Hall? Well, the Rollins was NOT a part of the huge box office area where Dell Hall was admitting well dressed patrons of the Symphony. We were directed into a doorway just to the left of the wide staircase out front. We siphoned ourselves in with the patrons of the symphony and were directed to a tiny table that was will call for The Method Gun. Interestingly, there's a door that is a short hallway away from The Rollins Theatre, and no one thought to funnel us through that door. Instead, they placed that tiny table just to the right of the small lobby where all those Symphony fans were entering. Live and Learn.

I admit. As glad as I am to have it, The Long Center reeks of, well, Houston and it's culture. It's grey, and big, and most of the patrons around us were posh and such. We headed straight for the bathroom, shouting behind us amidst all the culture to BB2, "Look, you can come to the bathroom with us sweetie, there's a *family* bathroom." Which there is. How that child manages to tolerate us makes him a saint, really. It's like his life really is a little like Patrick's in Auntie Mame, a role he played opposite just the very sweet friends we were out with last night. And that was some "culture" he got last night!

Ok, so we take our seats in the Rollins Theatre, an industrial strength black box theatre with "one and a half hour" seats. No, they're not two hour seats, so keep your show short. (The Rudes did). We took our seats and shortly thereafter a very polite usher informed us the show would be starting later (there were 60 unclaimed tickets) than it's designated 7:30 curtain. Certainly the traffic and Austin's notorious inability to manage crowd control had something to do with it.

Someone asked if we had enough time for cocktails. Of course that someone was in my party. Surprise.

So, after having a smoke (not me) a reasonably priced latte (me) and an $8 gin and tonic (not me!) we ventured back to our seats. The theatre was noticeably more full, and the show started shortly thereafter.

Here's the part where you can learn more about the show, as linked above. Go see the show. And make sure you check the times, which are as odd as 10pm or 6pm. This makes it a great candidate for my BIP friends, who I INSIST must see the show.

My comment above about Houston notwithstanding, we're still in Austin, and it really does rule, even with traffic and crowd control and expensive cocktails, to know that The Rudes were running around naked with the Symphony happening right next door. THAT is why I love Austin. But please, if we're going to brave such a parade of people and traffic, make sure your show is as good as this one.

Even in all The Method Gun's brilliance, we spent the ride home having a conversation that gave new meaning to the innocence we could no longer associate with helium balloons, backstage mothers and whether size matters. You'll just have to see the show to understand.

So, at a mere 9:20, it took quite some time to snake through the parking garage and find our way to Barton Springs Road. That's ok. The company, the show, and the conversation was great. Especially the company.

Bring Me A Shrubbery

2008-04-02T22:35:00.002-05:00

Epic Democratic County Convention Entry

2008-03-29T22:50:00.003-05:00

Greetings from the Williamson County Democratic Convention. The SB and I got up this morning at our usual weekday go to work time and promptly got ready, loaded the car with a cooler full of snacks we haven’t eaten yet and it’s 10:40. We scampered into the Starbucks at 7:40 and got fuel, then made the short jaunt to Stony Point High School where there were still prime parking spots on the west side of the school.

At 7:50, we took our place in line. There was a computer glitch that caused our system to print out every name tag as a visitor. Ok, they fixed that. I didn’t notice it as an issue, I just figured we’d have to wait, just like my precinct chair had told us. That’s why I wasn’t surprised that I was still in line at 9:15.

Around that time, my precinct chair, in an effort to be democratic (yeah… well… that’s why we’re here) and helpful, joined us at one end of the hallway while we were waiting in line. The line that snaked around three hallways twice, btw. She made an announcement that had already been made toward the front of the line indicating that the line started at the other end of the building. She also noted that folks didn’t need to be in a group in line with their precinct, but they did need to have their driver’s license or voter registration. Finally she mentioned indicating presidential and sexual preference when we signed in. Well… at least I had both of those figured out.

Some time thereafter another woman joined us and said the same thing. She shouted, “I have a long day ahead of me and you need to be quiet so I don’t have to talk over you and lose my voice.” Also, she indicated she didn’t care if people cut in line. Sheesh! I can bet she’s not a supporter of my candidate. Really, suppose you were part of the 2/3 majority of the attendees here at the convention. Of course you wouldn’t care. But if you were in the 1/3, and you didn’t get to register because the bullish 2/3rds were being less than fair, when they didn’t need to… you might appear confrontational.

If I didn’t know what I was in for, it would have felt a little er… “Auschwitzean.“ Ten people at a time were allowed in the small gymnasium (which isn’t small) to be ushered to people using laptops where their credentials are verified. (I’ll mention here that originally, they figured they only needed one Dymo printer for the nametags for over 1300 people.) See, if we were willing to be microchipped like our furry friends they could’ve just scanned us and the process would have been much faster. Next, we were ushered to separate doorways for delegates and alternates. I went one way. The SB went another. I stood in one hall, she in another. Then a select group of volunteers brought us all big long name badges to wear. Yellow for delegates, white for alternates.

Ok, then we’re allowed in the big gymnasium. Alternates on one side, delegates on another. It didn’t work that way. You’ll hear more about that later.

Jim Mattox is yapping away for all he’s worth while registration still continues for over one thousand delegates and alternates.
Let’s see. Some math. We each represent 15 people. Nice.

As I understand it, the “Obama people” are “steamrolling” the process here at this convention. I don’t know about that, the folks I was in line with were exceptionally friendly and unimposing. Seems to me, if you’re an Obama candidate, that’s the way you ought to be. If you share Obama’s values, walking the walk here at the convention in the line to register, you ought to be friendly and unimposing. That’s a good model.

Ok, so I’m gonna go out to the car and snag a snack. Whew. Much better.

I admit. There’s nothing happening. It’s just getting more crowded. That’s all. Let’s see. It’s 11:50. We have not started yet. My ass is killing me. I’ve got two movies, and I haven’t explored the games available on my laptop. The six democratic candidates for various open seats for county positions have all talked, including the wacky Jim Dillon, who thinks Mexico is a wealthy country that is building an army to infiltrate Texas… or something like that.

OH! Hey, it’s noon, and we’ve officially STARTED! Wait, gotta do the pledge of allegiance, now the National Anthem. Ok, we’re taking nominations for permanent officers to the convention. Ok those are closed. Ok, now we can get down to business! Wait! We have to clear the floor for delegates only. There are a bunch of alternates on the floor. Man. Now it’s gonna get crowded up here at the top of the gym on my side.

Also, someone interjected a point of order that the rolls weren’t balance before we started the meeting, so, uh… that’ll take awhile.

No. Wrong! Oops. We just broke for lunch.

Democrats.

(Insert lunch break here)

Not that the Democratic County Convention officials aren’t good at what they do, but Pok-E_Jo’s BBQ is quicker to serve the 1200 people who are here today. And my ass is killing me again. Already.

WOOHOOO! 2:10, and now we’re going to upgrade the alternates.
Uh… we’re supposed to be done by 4, according to the agenda.

Ok, still balancing the rolls. J

I’m not complaining -- it ROCKS to have THIS many democrats together in this county -- where they’ve already decided to cite the party for illegal parking. It’s a red county you know.

I’m glad the SB wore a yellow cap today. I can see her in the crownd just under the “P” in “STONY POINT on the other side of the gymnasium. Teenagers have to navigate crowds worse than this in these halls every day. I did it too. How did we DO that?

Now we’re handling business on registering members at large and balancing the delegate numbers. It must be handled before we can move on. I think I will investigate the games on my new computer.

Now we are going to take the time to allow precincts who do not have a delegation chair to elect one.

My ass is killing me.

Heh. The wireless network available is named “donkey.” It doesn’t work. Would that be ironic to a Republican? If I was a Republican, I’d be blogging at home.

Aghhhh… there’s a precinct that doesn’t have ANY delegates at all.

I MUST interject here, that there are LOTS of uninformed people here serving in positions of precinct chair. Our precinct chair was GREAT about informing us about the process, the way to vote, our strategy.

So, I should say here, that whatever you might have thought the popular vote was in your precinct and at your caucus, it is changing at the speed of light at this very moment, right in front of my face. The bleachers for the alternates are wearing thin. Again -- the Clinton delegates in my precinct is in great order. I’ll probably still be sitting here, amused until we vote.

It really is exciting for all the waiting.

My ass is killing me.

3:20. Still waiting.

3:45 Still waiting. Haven’t played Mahjong in awhile. Now I have.

3:50 Meeting called back to order. 3:51 Back to waiting

4:10 Had a snack, a sparkling water, went to the bathroom, more Mahjong, proceeded to a Photshop tutorial. Can’t ever get enough knowledge on Photoshop.

My ass is ok.

4:30: We’re down to business. The rolls have been returned. And… Beast boy needs to be picked up. I have to leave. Sigh.

Maybe I won’t miss the voting.

:-/

Ok, Beast Boy 2 deposited safely at home. I’m sitting in the bleachers again, and yes even when my ass was on a comfy car seat, it was hurting. I feel it worth it though. Across the gym from me, and here’s the part where I feel so important -- is my precinct, voting for their candidates.

Here’s how it turned out at my precinct caucus:17 for Obama and 9 for Clinton. You see, no matter what, if we all vote for one person, that one person WILL be a delegate to the convention because we’re a two delegate, two alternate precinct. The Obama team was down by two when the day started, so they put two alternates in then. Here it is at 6:05 and the rest of their alternates -- as far as we could tell, have been seated as delegates. See, that’s some democratic process at work, no? They have 17 delegates and 17 alternates but the total number of people left supporting Obama at the end of the day could be as low as 15 or more. We still have 9 and we’ve sent in only 1 alternate, and Clinton had 9 and 9. We had one delegate back out and we seated an alternate while 5 of our 9 alternates showed today.

Forgive me for throwing Strunk and White to the wind by not spelling out all numbers under the number 10. Or, ten.

So back to strategy. The idea the Obama people *should* have implemented (and we thought they *would* have implemented) would be to attempt to get the Clinton delegates to vote first so we would be forced to vote our 9. If we could see how they were going to vote, then we could vote 8 and 1. Then we would stand a chance at sending an alternate. Have I made sense? Ok, let’s make it more interesting. If they vote … wait, wait, wait. This is funny. The Obama people are being democratic. Well ok, that’s what we’re here for… but, uh, strategy? Did they have one? Am I missing something? Did our whole team miss something? They’re nominating more than three people. What? Ok, It took me two years to finish four years of algebra in high school but I’m going to go ahead and say it: You do the math. If they nominate more than two people and give those three people the majority of their votes from highest to lowest they’ve now divided their 17 no matter how you slice it, in a way that leaves us an open door for an alternate AND a delegate. We had a meeting Thursday night and voted on who we were going to vote on. What a pile o’

OMG!!! They just announced the nominations committee in San Antonio is still checking credentials. You’ll remember from this epic blog entry of mine that we finished that at -- let me check… 4:30.

Can’t tell if my precinct has voted. SB tried sign language but it looked like it was in Swahili to me. OH. OH! B-E-E-R.

…and guess what! My ass is killing me!

6:40: The chair is waiting on three packages. One of them is my precinct’s. Wonder what’s happening over there.

LOL! They’re tearing down the decorations around me.

Hm. Looking forward to letting you know what happened with our precinct’s voting delegates.

I'll have to do it in past tense. My battery is going D-E-D.

7:15: My district finally signed off on the elected delegates.

7:20ish: The floor opened for any comments desired. A lesbian woman spoke of her experience of Williamson County. It was totally positive. She had lived in Travis County for a very long time, and moved last year to Williamson with her partner of twenty years. They had some reasonable trepidation. So did I when I moved here. She said she wanted to thank Williamson County (well, us I assume) for welcoming her, and urged us to continue to stand up for the unconstitutional, illegal discrimination we experience as gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgendered. That was good to hear. The positive cheers and applause she got was great to hear too… yes! In Williamson County!

As we left I got the lowdown on what happened with my precinct. Some sort of strategy did prevail. We wound up voting the 8 and 1, and not the full 9 in hope of also getting an alternate to state. The process was taking so long thanks to my team’s strategy of slowing down the Obama people by asking for a roll call vote, then a stand up vote to vote for the roll call vote and other things that confused both me and apparently the Obama people. Eventually, the other side got confused and wound up using a roll sheet that had the precinct voting in alternate order (Obama, Clinton, Obama, Clinton) . They just about had our strategy figured out when the precinct chair voted for the woman designated to become our alternate, were we to win one. BTW, if you tie with a delegate choosing the other party, Texas Democratic Party rules state that the seat is left to chance. That’s right. Draw straws. Pick a number closest to the number I’m thinking of. Yep.

At 7:40 we drug ourselves out the door, ventured to Taco Cabana, and then home.

We were greeted by Beast Boy 2 feeding the dogs -- Zeta was particularly happy to see us! SB had a bath, and I followed suit, leaving her to read this blog on my laptop.

I found her asleep in the same position I left her.

Zeta climbed in my lap for a visit.

My ass is still killing me…

G’nite.

Puns at The Expense of Others

2008-03-22T09:08:00.002-05:00

Found this piece on the web a couple of days ago. Doesn't seem respectful to be clever at times like these, does it?
------------------------------------------------

Suicide at Mel Gibson's Place

Posted Mar 20th 2008 1:28PM by TMZ Staff

A construction worker who worked in the movie business committed suicide at one of Mel Gibson's homes.

It happened at Mel's Agoura Hills home -- near Malibu. Law enforcement sources tell TMZ, 48-year-old Michael John Van Dyke hanged himself on one of the structures under construction on the property. He was discovered early yesterday morning by the job site foreman.

A rep for Mel tells TMZ the actor feels "terrible" that someone committed suicide on his property. Mel has never lived in the house and has no current plans to move in. The home is less than a mile from The Holy family Catholic Church, founded by Mel. It's where his daughter was married back in 2006.

We're told Mel did not know Van Dyke, although Van Dyke has worked on a number of movies as a set construction foreman, including "The Matrix Reloaded," "Dr. Dolittle 2," "Star Trek: Nemesis," and "Karate Kid."

Sources say Van Dyke was on the ropes after a messy, prolonged divorce a few years ago. He was having intense financial problems.

Ohhh yeahhhh...

2008-03-04T23:22:00.004-06:00

I took a few delicious photos of the Sexy Beast this weekend. We found an abandoned house with windows and doors in the most perfect of places at the most opportune time of the day. I do plan to return there -- with further subjects.

Just look at the Sexy Beast! That light! That woman! She's beautiful!

Election Day!!!

2008-03-04T23:10:00.002-06:00

How freekin' exciting! It's after 11:00 -- we were caucusing until 9. The SB is a delegate to the county convention -- I'm an alternate. There were 288 people who caucused in our precinct.

I've been watching the returns -- too close to call in Texas.

I'm so glad we matter. It's very exciting to be a part of this!

'gnite...

$38

2008-03-03T20:35:00.005-06:00

Can we talk? Just a little thing really, as I gratefully type on my new laptop? I really should think about this before I say it.

It's petulant, somewhat...

especially since I'm grateful, really for all the discomfort I've avoided this year -- and how I am and was so well taken care of while I was out of work this summer and I didn't suffer -- which is different from being grateful for all I've received, which is a lot mind you.

Ok, oh, alright, I'll make a list.

I drive weekdays to a job, which I didn't have in the summer in a car that I have salary enough to pay for. I work for a company that has profit sharing, paid vacation, sick leave, insurance...

On weekends I sleep in on Saturdays, and sometimes I have a meeting or work on a set, or rehearse for either my theatre company or someone else's. Often, I go to the theatre, dinner, a movie or any combination of the above in the same weekend. On Sundays, I actually have to warn the youngest beast boy if we're not going to church so that he won't be surprised and terribly disappointed. I annually tithe to my church more than a middle class family makes in a year in Singapore -- and after placing my check in the offering basket and enjoying the music from some of our city's finest talent, I usually go out to lunch.

On weekends I also do portraiture -- using my not so cheap camera and lighting equipment and while my fees for one session would feed a child for a year in Bangladesh, they're very reasonable here in our country.

I am grateful for a frankly, huge, HDTV and the other tv's in two of our three bedrooms in a house on which there is no foreclosure. Everyone is healthy, and even though I've got palpitations caused by anemia... well... we're pretty sure there's a very manageable fix for it.

By most of the world's standards , my car is a honker -- a Mazda6 with a V6 engine that I am able to fill up twice monthly with exorbitantly priced gasoline that is made from a world resource that the next generation may not get to use.

I have satellite, high speed internet, wireless, food in the fridge, heat when it's cold and air when it's hot (which in this part of the world, at this time of year, happens in the same day.) Two dogs that are fed very well -- go Zeta! -- wonderful clothes to wear...

A loving friend, partner and Sexy Beast, and Beast Boys who have never had to, out of necessity, go hungry, without clothing, shelter, or warmth.

I am blessed with friends galore, a loving community that accepts me as I am, and a family that does, too.

Why am I so freekin' pissed that I have to pay the IRS $38???

ARggghhhhhhhhhhhh....

...what IS that???

Juliet van Otteren

2008-02-29T12:09:00.007-06:00

Last night I did my first class with Juliet van Otteren. She is an outstanding artist and an sizzling, passionate person. She loves life, her work, and being on the planet. Prints from her books, Heart of The Horse, and the upcoming Being Dog, are hung in an exhibit where I go to church which is probably the least prestigious place she’s ever hung an exhibit. She has otherwise had exhibits at The Brooklyn Museum of Art, The National Portrait Gallery in London, The Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in France, and lots more. In terms of the success terms we white bread Americans can understand, she’s so good you can buy her stuff at Art.com and Amazon.com.

Her results are in and of themselves amazing but how she does it is a courageous, spiritual experience. For Heart of The Horse, she used real film and painstakingly took the time to go into the darkroom herself to accomplish the results she wanted. I spent some of the evening staring at her photos in ways that are considered impolite if you are looking at real people. But that’s not as astounding as how she gets the shot.

So Juliet sets up a studio and lets the animals roam about as they wish, and do what they want. For her horse series, she used five strobes with a gi-normous backdrop set up in a barn. She left the barn door open so the horses could leave any time they wanted. She did the same for the dogs.

I'm inspired and intrigued. Our first assignment, a self portrait. Hmmm oh geeeesh... the anxiety!

When The Sexy Beast is Away... or I Should Have Bought The Dell Sooner...

2008-02-24T18:26:00.006-06:00

No, I don't play, when the Sexy Beast is away.

I miss her. It's glorious out today, a balmy 80 degrees and she's in rainy cold Salt Lake with her mother, brother, and grandfather, who is dying. He's quite old enough now to deserve a good send off, and according to my love, his body is doing what a body does when it's just too worn out to keep going.

I'm so glad she gets to be with that part of her family even though this part of her family misses her lots and lots.

As for me, I am feeling a bit overly geeky in happy anticipation of the arrival of my new laptop. Yeah, I got a Dell... it seems so Republican in light of being a creative person who entertained voting for Apple. But Apples are too rich for my blood. Here's what I got:
I shopped the factory outlet and then kept going back to review the competitors, who couldn't even come close --even on refurbished models.

A refurbished Apple costs three times what this honker costs. And I confess it's a honker -- weighing in at around eight pounds with a 17 inch screen. I need the big screen! I do photo work! And I don't plan on schlepping it to every Starbucks, airport and boardroom in the country. I plan on using it at home on a consistent basis without feeling guilty for bumping Beast Boy 2 offline when he's doing homework (if he's really doing it.)

Yes I chose a brown cover. Black lacked expression, white was too... "apple-ey." Flamingo Pink and Spring Green will either a) never resell on Craig's List or, b) never be used by Beast Boy Two if he wants it down the line and is willing to use a hand me down computer that is older than an infant's shirt size. Red and Blue both seem so ... so... I don't know... elementary. school. (What's your favorite color? Blue. Red. Pfft.)

So, here we are with brown. Unique, but not outrageous. Risky, but calculated. The messenger bag that matches though, it's very cool... Home design fashionistas have enjoyed this color combination for a few of the most recent years.

I am further blessed to be able to get the bag at just over cost! Whee!

Ok, I can't believe that I'm about to have this conversation, but I am. The Dell comes with 3gb RAM and 160 gb Sata hard drive. Now it also comes with a Graphics Media accelerator X3100, which pulls it's performance from the main memory, but I really won't be playing a bunch of games, or running DVD's while I'm working in Photoshop -- but, I might do either separately. The card is built into the motherboard chipset, and that's what slows her down. What? ZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzZZZ... I know a little about these things. I work for a company that builds workstations. No, they didn't make me one because they're workstations, not laptops. We don't do laptops.

Now, since we're all nodding off from this boring conversation, I think I'll sign off and watch the Oscars... before getting bored and switching to The L Word.

It would be a perfect weekend to have set up my new laptop, but I still would miss the Sexy Beast.

YaaaAAAAAY!!!!!!!!!!!

2008-02-13T21:18:00.004-06:00

Lookie what I found today: X-Files 2

Yay for summer.

Yay for The X-Files. Yay!!!!

Snipped entirely from Variety Online:

"Fox sets date for 'X-Files' sequel

Scully, Mulder return to theaters on July 25

The long-awaited second "X-Files" film is finally a go, with 20th Century Fox setting a July 25, 2008 release date.

Untitled project reunites "X-Files" creator Chris Carter will thesps David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson, who will reprise their signature roles as FBI agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully.

Carter begins lensing in December in Vancouver from a script he co-wrote with Frank

Spotnitz, a veteran scribe of the long-running "X-Files" television series, which became a worldwide hit during its 1993-2002 run on the Fox network. Spotnitz also co-wrote with Carter the screenplay for 1998 feature "X-Files." Carter and Spotnitz will also serve as producers.

Studio is keeping the film's logline under wraps, but stressed the pic is a stand-alone story and supernatural thriller that takes the complicated relationship between Mulder and Scully in new directions."

Oh that they had been shooting in Vancouver at the VERY SAME time as The L Word.

The Sexy Beast would have had to fly me there.... pant, pant.

The lovely ladies in the last blog have nothing on Gillian Anderson.

L Girls

2008-02-12T19:43:00.000-06:00

I was at Subway today, getting that favorite sandwich of mine that, the last time I was at Subway, the guy before me ordered in exactly the same fashion until we got to the end of the line. He went for Ranch, I went for Italian -- on our sandwiches. Creepy. But I digress.

While there today, I heard OMG! Flashdance! Playing! Remember that? It actually made me smile to hear it somewhere besides in my head after all this time. Remember this?

Well... now we have this:
And we like it. It's one of the things that currently rocks. I may have to rent Flashdance from Netflix and laugh and laugh and laugh.

One of the things that doesn't rock:

Where is Rachel Shelley? Whaaaaaa? I like her best. When I have time I'll go trolling and find spoilers or something and see what's up.

Aside from Rachel's absence, it's been a pretty good L Word season. Some worthy plot lines. Some Tibette goin' on. They've got the right chemistry. Doncha think? Cheating sucks though, but I guess there just wasn't a more creative way to thicken the plot and keep viewers? I mean, it is a soap opera, if we get right down to it.

So I'm off to the gym... laugh if you must.

Fin.

Jane Lynch... But I Digress

2008-02-11T20:51:00.000-06:00

I love Jane Lynch.

You know those ridiculous questions on Myspace pages like "who would you like to meet?" -- Does that mean, like, a mate, or Jesus, or what? BTW, the only reason I have a Myspace page is to spy on the Beast Boys. There's nothing there, don't go looking.

So, anyway... I "would like to meet" Jane Lynch. Here's an actress that works. (Six films coming out in 2008) I mean never out of work. And she's never been in the closet. I would go for meeting Catherine O'Hara, too. They're both brilliant, but something about Jane Lynch suggests she's just lots and lots and lots of fun offscreen.

Now, I got sidetracked looking for a Jane Lynch clip and ran into this (read this if you care at all about the rights of GLBT people) on The L Word's "Our Chart."

I wish I had taken that photo. Richard Phibbs took it. It's all retouched but it's great. I know someone who lurks on my blog who would love this photo -- if she hasn't seen it already.

But, I digress.

Sorta.

I'd like to meet Hillary Clinton. I WOULD. I know, I know, Obama is great, but I think Hillary has bigger cahones. And our next president will need them.

I have seen Hillary in person a couple of times. She said in an interview last week or so, that she sits down and has a beer with people, lots of them. I wouldn't mind being one of them.

Here's a little of what Hillary says in her address post on Our Chart.

"My father was a conservative Republican, who held very traditional views for much of his life. Yet in his last years, it was a gay couple who lived next door who provided much of the compassion and comfort he and my mother needed as he grew ill. And it was that same neighbor who held his hand as he died. If my father can move, America can move.

To each and every LGBT American, I say this. You have done so much to help this country understand your lives by simply being open and honest about who you are and living your lives with dignity. Thank you for your courage. It is time that we recognize your hard work. I know that this country is ready for changes in the law that reflect the evolution in our hearts."

Ok, so Jane Lynch. Jane has done lots and lots of work, in film and television, including two of my favorite shows, The X-Files and The L Word. (If it doesn't have a single consonant somewhere in the title, I don't watch it.) I know, I know! You're wondering if I know WHICH X-Files episode she's in -- "Lord of The Flies." Season Nine. Crappy Season. I had to look up which episode, and only vaguely remember it.

Ok, so Jane Lynch. Here ya go.

Enjoy.

Five Women Wearing The Same Dress

2008-02-08T21:15:00.001-06:00

I suppose I should encourage the six people that read my blog to reserve their seats for Five Women Wearing The Same Dress. At least two of you have.

To the other four of you, I say make your reservation.

I've become somewhat compulsive about checking out the reservation system -- only because this show is selling so fast! Under the blog entry "Things That Rock," this is one of them... it's a phenomenon, I guess. I say this because we're a new theatre in our first season and our third show. That we're booking at 80-90% capacity is, from a business standpoint, absolutely amazing.

Anyway, I'm sure my webmaster can keep stats on this sort of thing and tell me how much traffic we get, but still, I love watching that number go up 20-30 seats a day.

In other news, I did two photo sessions last weekend with two beautiful women, and, when Beast Boy #2 isn't standing over my shoulder to get online, I'll post them. Looks like it's time for another computer in the house, as the Beast Boy usually needs it for home work at the same time I am working on photo management. Nice to have that sort of problem! Suggestions are welcome -- and I think a laptop is called for.

...make your reservations for Five Women.

The End.

These Shoes Rock!

2008-01-26T20:45:00.000-06:00

These are the most fantastic shoes I've ever put on my feet. I bought a pair last weekend at Whole Earth Provisions. They're from the Earth Co.

If you check the website out, it'll say lots of things like how these shoes improve your posture, eliminate your back pain, strengthen your core muscles, dust your furniture... they do. Well... almost all of that.

The Coolest Thing That Rocks This Week

2008-01-25T19:21:00.000-06:00

...and last week too...

The Sexy Beast got me this and it came last Friday in the mail:

This lens in the Canon line is so absurdly cheap and amazingly effective that you have got to have it if you shoot with a Canon. It's a prime lens, and performs WAY, WAY better than you could possibly imagine for a lens that costs so little. It's fantastic for low light work, which I do a lot of -- and it's the perfect range for portraits, which I do a lot of, and it has great bokeh.

I haven't gotten to work with it a lot yet, but here's one shot -- the rest are in the gallery at Love and Light Images :

It'll be great for show shots and portraits. Whee!

Oh, and the only thing better: The Sexy Beast, to whom I am so grateful for gifting me with it!

Oh, and p.s. HEB Anniversary Cake Ice Cream. That rocks too.

More Things That Rock

2008-01-23T21:50:00.001-06:00

The runaway best seller "The Secret" recommends the highest and fastest way to prosperity is gratitude. Having taken a course or two on the subject, most folks who know what they're talking about agree. I suppose, in addition to all the stuff I'm thankful for in heart and mind, that the ol' blog here is good for that too... and I shall call the posts, "Things That Rock." What is it Oprah does? She does her "favorite things" or some such?

Ok so let's see. I remembered at least two today.

Ok, the first is my new mascara. This new stuff is the first mascara I've liked more than the original, can't be beat "America's #1 Mascara," Maybelline Great Lash in the pink bottle with the lime green cap.

So what could be better? Maybelline of course. But... it's Maybelline "Define A Lash."

Personally, I think it's just Great Lash with a better brush. It's bouncy! The brush, I mean. LOVE this mascara.

Next, I love my Christmas present from Santa, which I use extensively even though it's not an iPod. I take any music I want "to go" using my Rhapsody To Go subscription on my Sansa.

What's even cooler are the earbuds I finally found that produce, imho, the finest sound around. Interestingly enough, I have always preferred Koss -- even as a dj in a nightclub and in radio in my youth, I preferred them over Sennhauser. Everyone else was all about Sennhauser. Nope. I love Koss! And the earbuds I purchased were only $14.99!

Gratitude doesn't have to be as deep as one might think, but, when it is, I also give thanks for my friends, my family, my animals, my profound and rich relationship with the SB and the Beast Boys...

I could go on and on and on and on... but I'm grateful for a good book and a warm bed, too.

G'night.

Have I Mentioned...

2008-01-20T09:34:00.000-06:00

I think I have. But I'll mention again. I have a new website up and running.

Love And Light Images.

Call me if you wanna portrait done!

Oh, and I was sad today to hear that Suzanne Pleshette died. I was infatuated with her in my youth. Such a beautiful woman. An LA Times article says: "Her conversations -- mostly meandering monologues -- are sprinkled with aphorisms, anecdotes, salty opinions and X-rated expletives." However, she was still able to carry herself off as a class act. My kind of woman.

Wikipedia sure gets updated quickly.

She will be missed.

Things That Currently Rock

2008-01-14T21:23:00.000-06:00

I've been enjoying so many things lately. Not that I don't enjoy soooooOOooo many things all the time, but these things top the list.

Number one is the Sexy Beast. You're not allowed to enjoy the Sexy Beast as I do, but she is indeed enjoyable.

Zeta, as always, is enjoyable, even if she's wearing clothes.

Edamame. TaaaAAAAsteeee!!!!!

Juno. Go see this movie! We loved it!

And finally, Almond Stuffed Olives

The New Hampshire Primaries

2008-01-09T20:28:00.000-06:00

I'm just finishing up a peanut butter and honey sammich, which has always reminded me of my first girlfriend Keri Huddleston who turned me on to them some mumble something years ago. The SB is still working on her laptop mere feet away from me, and I am satisfied to say I've launched a website to promote my photography work at Love and Light Images ! So, after years of a) being not so inspired about my own work and b) not making any dough off prints because I just can't stand the administrative tedium that goes with it, I don't have to worry about either anymore. I'd have never thought to continue to pursue photography again, but Marsha of The Marshalogues encouraged me to pursue said work again. So here I am.

I set the website up last night whilst tuning in now and again to the results of the New Hampshire primaries.

Ok, so, what is Hillary Clinton supposed to be? Tough or soft? If she's tough she's unapproachable if she's soft she's incapable? A woman in this country can't win for losing the stereotypical battle that, given it's the 21st century now, shouldn't even be considered. But it is.

From my perspective here's how emotion reads on the genders in politics:

Woman:
Crying = weakness
Decisive = bitchy
Moderate = Undecided

Man:
Crying = vulnerable
Decisive = Tough
Moderate = Moderate

And I realized last night, through my own glee of Hillary's win, even though I wish she had made different choices and voted different ways in the past, I still am gender biased. I take great delight in knowing I could be part of history by being alive at a time when America not only voted a woman into the office of President, but to have lived during the Bush/Clinton/Bush/Clinton era. LOL! Oh, and the fun I could have as a reporter just calling out "President Clinton" and hearing both of them answer.

And finally, maybe, just maybe, the country could use a little mothering instead of fathering? A healing sort of energy that comes with the intimate knowledge of maternal parenting. Caring for and raising an entity that doesn't belong to you and you don't "own." Working to put it back on course when it goes off course? Making sure it's healthy for years to come? Maybe, at least from my sexist point of view, that would be good for this country.

If I think of it that way, I wonder... is Hillary Clinton not just "man enough" but "woman enough" to do the job?

Recent Headshots

2008-01-06T09:36:00.000-06:00

If you're thinking of a portrait or headshot, let me know!

Here's a few I've done lately

This work is licensed under a
Creative
Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States
License

Random Questions

2008-01-03T21:00:00.000-06:00

"Will alterations to the p16, p53, telomere maintenance system, and especially the oncogenic Ras pathway in metaplastic Barrett's esophagus cells result in neopastic transformation?"

"What are the acute and chronic effects of venlafaxine, an emerging aquatic contaminant, on Daphnia magna, a model aquatic invertebrate?"

"In relation to modern thinkers, can nihilism be defined as a life affirming philosophy or as cultural pessimism when juxtaposed the the Nietzchean ethic of nihilism?"

"How effective are quantum dots in their application to solar energy conversion in comparison to conventional forms of photovoltaics?"

"What are the ethical aspects of developments in neuroscience and genomics?"

"What can the study of metathesises, especially focusing on transpositions, tell us about the English language and the evolution thereof?"

If you are a genius, or a student from Westwood High School (yes high school) planning on doing an essay on these International Baccalaureate (which I spelled right the first time!) questions, please give me the answers. I included a link in each question, just for fun.

What the frickenfrack?

I'll even post the answers, if I get any.

Here's an easy one:
"Is the United States' foreign policy towards Iran's nuclear program in the 21st century misguided?"

G'Night. My brain kinda hurts.

The Christmas Weekend

2007-12-26T20:06:00.001-06:00

We had such a lovely and pleasant Christmas weekend.

The SB had her birthday party on Friday, Saturday we had that wonderful brunch with Marsha and Elaine, grocery shopped, made yummy soup, Sunday we did church and went to Drippin' for a dedication of a bench in my late nephew's honor at the Episcopal church. THAT was sweet. I got a few shots of the bench, and a sweet photo of my brother and me.

(You like the tree growing out of my head? Those are my reindeer antlers. For the winter solstice I change genders and morph into Cernunnos the Celtic Stag God. )
But I digress...

Here's an inscription on the bench, which is perfect for my nephew, who was a diver.

On Monday, which was SB's birthday proper, we went to church, and dinner, and on Monday got up for a leisurely Christmas day... The Sexy Beast got a wonderful shot of Zeta with that ridiculous jester collar!!!

and I got a wonderful shot of Zeta and the SB

The boys are just plain grown up big now, here with the SB ...

It was all very nice.

Sexy Beast's Birthday Party

2007-12-22T19:33:00.000-06:00

We had a GREAT time last night at The Armadillo Christmas Bazaar celebrating SB's birthday and listening to the phenomenal Ruthie Foster.

Thanks to all who joined us, and those that we ran into who we knew. The world seemed really small last night.

Note the Beer Princess t-shirt.

Here she is, sporting a fantastic smile, new braces shining.

Today we slept in, had breakfast at Cafe Java, and had a chance to hang out with Elaine and Marsha, who looks great no matter what her mood or physical condition. This makes her a diva in our book. It was SOOOOoooOOOO good to see her!

Then off we went to "Thuh" new "ACH-e-b" -- see previous post about pronunciation of "The HEB"... and shopped in relative peace. This, thanks to a new HEB between the other two we usually frequent. They're everywhere, those HEB's.

...and so, apparently, are we.

Random Photos...

2007-12-19T22:19:00.000-06:00

Recently found these.

This is from Arcadia, the last role I played, which, gulp, was five years ago. I've been busy directing. I'll have to act again soon. I played Lady Croom (note the big ass bun on my li'l blonde head) Funny, the Beast Boy Two played Gus in a production of this last year. Gus is Lady Croom's son. Go figure.

Here's me, playing Lorraine Sheldon in The Man Who Came To Dinner in 2001. It's an odd role to be a favorite, having played Kate in Taming Of The Shrew and Titania in Midsummer, and a couple of other leads that should top the list. No. Scenery chewing, washed up ingenue Lorraine is still my favorite.

Photo Time

2007-12-19T21:12:00.000-06:00

Yeah, I promised some photos from the Cruise a long time ago.

Ok, here are some more.

Here's the Sexy Beast preparing for a safety drill. Wow. I LOVE this woman.
She is getting braces tomorrow. Not that she needs them.
Below that, she is enjoying a cigar in the no smoking section.

Here we are with our shipboard waiter Cirilo, and below, some guy working in a great little restaurant in Cozumel who gave the Sexy Beast a massage for a few bucks. Me, I just tried to balance on those saddles they called barstools. By the way, that smile I'm smiling in the photo with Cirilo? It's the same smile in the photo I have of myself at six months old.

Shipping Panic

2007-12-19T16:21:00.000-06:00

Yikes.

Ya know, I'm having a panic like moment. I can't do a thing about it, it's beyond my control (sorta) and I am gonna probably just have to sit and wait. At least two of the several Christmas gifts I intend to give are in UPS transit, right now, and should have, by my accounts, shipped WAY sooner than they have. So I'm not really surprised, but I am sorta wondering, what all those extra holiday workers are doing? They musta not been packing my shipments??? Those extra elves musta not been making my toys???

If I don't get what I need by Friday, I'll be sitting on the warehouse stoop at my office on Monday, forlornly waiting for the UPS truck that won't come, because they've been notified that we're closed.

And there's one I paid for on two day that I haven't gotten shipment notification on yet either.

ACK! Just the thought of tomorrow actually being the 20th sets my heart aflutter -- and not in so gooda way.

This is really a performance issue. I gotta perform at least a little in the gift giving department right? I so don't want to disappoint anyone! I will be wrapping pictures of the freekin' presents I bought.

And... we'll see if the Sexy Beast reads my blog. Let's see if she mentions this.

SHEESH. If my own Sexy Beast doesn't read my blog AND my packages don't arrive on time, I might wonder if I should have some self-esteem issues.

Nah... I don't really have self-esteem issues. Not high ones anyway. LOL.

OMG. Those packages HAVE to get here. God loves me. So, er... they will. Now, whether I will be in the right place at the right time, is another story.

Ok, ok... so I'll tell the family it's Channukah and this year we're celebrating the rededication of the altar for eight days. Yeah. That.

Boy am I glad there's not one of those current mood icons on Blogger.

Current mood: Panicked. (Or, maybe it's just all the holiday sugar)

You know that scene in The Big Chill where Glenn Close's character has done a little cocaine and she can't sleep and she's goin' on and on and on...

Yeah... that.

Aghhhhhkkkgrrrr.....

Five Women Wearing The Same Dress

2007-12-18T21:44:00.000-06:00

NxNW's next show is Five Women Wearing The Same Dress.

We still need a space to perform. And soon!

I did some publicity photos last week.

I'm excited about this show!

Does this post read like a Dick and Jane book?

Holiday Treats

2007-12-12T20:32:00.001-06:00

I started this blog specifically because I had just about had it with Christmas yard art.

AND! For about as long as I've lived where I live, my neighbors put out the classic plastic Jesus, Mary and Joseph. And every other time I pass it, one of them has "fallen and can't get up."

I finally got a photo of it, if a crappy one. I'll snap a better photo later.

Use the comment section for your caption.

Mine reads, "Please God, get my husband up off his drunk ass to help me raise the Son of Man. There's no way I can do this alone."

What's yours?

Love...

2007-12-03T20:31:00.000-06:00

Marsha called me a lazy blogger again.

Yeah, well...

Mostly, I've been busy. Also, for several months there's been lots of change happening, not just for me, but for so many of my friends. Sometimes change makes me quiet and consumes me.

I was reminded yesterday of an Emmett Fox quote on love, which I had transferred from planner to planner since I was 21 years old up until the time I went from planner to PDA. And no Renee, that's not a public display of affection. I realized yesterday that I had taken this quote on almost like a mantra for my own life. And I really have. I strive to reach toward a sufficient realization of love, and it's never failed to heal every single situation that I've held up to it's light. Don't get me wrong, I haven't been codependent about it. Also, I realize I haven't (yet) held every single troubling situation in my life up to the standards of the quote, but for every one I that I have, it never fails to heal.

Anyway, the quote from Fox:

Love Will Conquer

There is no difficulty that enough love will not conquer;
no disease that enough love will not heal;
no door that enough love will not open;
no gulf that enough love will not bridge;
no wall that enough love will not throw down;
no sin that enough love will not redeem . . .

It makes no difference how deeply seated may be the trouble;
how hopeless the outlook;
how muddled the tangle;
how great the mistake.
A sufficient realization of love will dissolve it all.
If only you could love enough you would be the happiest and most powerful being in the world.

There's something I don't do anymore, jot down quotes to view every day, in a planner. I am relatively new where I work, so I haven't "moved in" and revealed too much of my personality by covering my cubicle in quotes and photos and postcards in the same fashion as my refrigerator. In my world, the refrigerator and cubicle are the adult equivalent of the teenager's bedroom wall.

And this quote also reminds me of Marsha, who posted yesterday about being angry about her lymphoma. Marsha has a healthy respect and love for herself, so where was the room in the process of recovery for anything but healing and love until now -- when anger has time to visit?

I may resolve next year to bring back the quotes. And devise a way to remember everyone's birthday, and to prioritize my time so that I spend more time being with people than doing things.

That would include more photography I think. It's a beautiful way to be with people, to hang around, talk, create a comfortable space for someone, and illuminate them. I like it. Recently, I did these people:

Ok... I am going to bed. G'night.

Oh yeah...

2007-11-26T15:15:00.000-06:00

I'll forgive last season, but only for oil wrestling... sheesh...

Anniversary Trip

2007-11-13T13:01:00.000-06:00

The Sexy Beast and I had a blissful, wonderful, joyous time celebrating our tenth anniversary on a cruise to Cozumel. I'd so go again, and for even lesser reasons! Like oh, to celebrate a long weekend, or because it was Tuesday, or I bought a new pair of shoes...

First let me just say, as most people can testify, the water is very different. Interesting that you shouldn't drink the water in Mexico, but it looks like this:

And here in Texas, you can drink the water, but it looks like this:

What's with that?

Another thing about these cruises. You can wear yourself out -- easily, so you should pace yourself. We have no idea who this is, hanging out, passed out in the Grand Atrium at the bar, pajamas and all, waiting for her debarkation number to be called. Maybe she was one of those suckahs who packed everything the night before and had her steward take the luggage out the night before without setting something out to wear? You know she's not the first. No matter. I hope she has a great story to tell.

By the way, the photos on this trip are taken mostly by the Sexy Beast, who received a new li'l camera from moi prior to the trip. I was too cautious to take mine, as I use it for financial gain. She set up some glorious shots of her own!

Yeah, that's right... this is the opposite side of the island where they film those Corona commercials. Honest.

We didn't go to the other side -- we swam with the dolphins and shopped instead. Next time... the beach on the other side of the island.

Tomorrow, more details on our trip -- and maybe even, dolphin photos...

Do I really have to go back to work?

Anniversary trip

2007-11-06T22:13:00.000-06:00

Sexy Beast, Carnival Cruise Lines, Cozumel.

I might post pictures, and have something to blog about when I get home.

Bon Voyage, and... sorry about not blogging more frequently. I've been busy, so sue me!

Score for Gore

2007-10-12T08:20:00.001-05:00

He didn't win the election. (Exciting reading at this link, I tell ya...)

He won the Nobel Peace prize instead.

Score for Gore

Building The Set

2007-10-07T07:53:00.000-05:00

NxNW Theatre is beginning and completing our first set for our first show this weekend.

Julie Holden, theatre reviewer for the Austinist, took some shots of the work everyone did today. There are a lot of the baby Johanna, but we're glad to have Johanna with us. And Julie's her mother... so... there you have it.

Everyone involved is poooped, as is anyone who pulls more than their fair share of weight for a production, while starting a new theatre at the same time. I couldn't be more grateful for the work they've done.

Mary Ellen Butler, Artistic Director of the Palace Theatre in Georgetown, loaned us a truck load of furniture and lumber. A HUGE truck. She's devoted her life to this theatre thing and even sent an email to her patrons and volunteers inviting them to support us. She's an amazing ball of nonstop energy.

Today I thought of all the people I should have asked to advertise in the program. I wonder if Amie, our brilliant marketer, can do it this late in the process? I know tons of people who would probably say yes to the advertising. What was I thinking?

Come see the show!

Make your reservations at www.nxnwtheatre.org

WTF???

2007-10-03T14:45:00.000-05:00

Perhaps you want a humping dog USB or something equally as clever for your desk?

Maybe some Dr. Pepper Beef Jerky?

Ok, I don’t have time to explain the total randomness of this blog and how it came about.

It does however, give me a grand idea for a new blog:

Shit That Is So Weird That Even The People Who Have All The Weird Ass Shit They Could Ask For Don't Have.

Not Your Average Conservative Politician

2007-09-28T11:21:00.003-05:00

Gabrielle Pauli

Wow.

Whaddya think of THAT?

Matthew Shepard Act

2007-09-28T08:53:00.000-05:00

The Matthew Shepard Act passed the Senate.

If you don't know about Matthew Shepard and the fallout of his murder -- The Laramie Project is running in Austin right this minute.

Ted introduced this one. Yay Ted!!!

Nice start. "Nuff said. For now.

General Groovy News

2007-09-23T20:37:00.000-05:00

Whee! We have secured a space for NxNW Theatre's first production. Did I think we'd ever get here? Yes. But sometimes no. But here we are!

Come see the show.

I'll shout:

COME SEE THE SHOW!

Learn more about what show to come see here.

If I wasn't so tired from being up so late last night, I'd be way more thrilled. But as for this very moment, I'm thrilled to have stayed out so late! ;-)

Oh...

COME SEE THE SHOW!

Reverence, Irreverence, Faith and Annie

2007-09-20T11:17:00.000-05:00

I'm a chaplain -- a prayer chaplain see, and, there's another chaplain (actually there's lots of prayer chaplains but I'm speaking about one in particular) -- she gets to pray about whether or not her group gets to do a second number at The Road To Austin Concert -- she gets stuff like that. Kris Kristofferson decides he should move over for them and the freekin' mayor lifts the curfew so everyone can sing. That's the kind of praying she gets to do.

Me? I get the opportunity to pray over the souls who do funky stuff, like... I dunno, drown. I prayed over the guy who drowned at the lake last month. Not like, RIGHT over him, but a small distance from the search and rescue team. I was thinking to myself on the upper deck of that boat I was on with a group at church... as soon as The Sexy Beast came up to get me, that I was being summoned to pray over this situation that we knew wasn't good news. Now... how is it some folks get the entertainment praying and I get the accidental death praying? Is this like law school? Like I get personal injury and someone else specializes in corporate? What IS that?

I'm just kidding. It's because I'm not so reverent a chaplain. I'm one of the irreverent ones.

One of the dearest and reverent of our chaplains, Annie, recently made her transition, as we say in our faith. I love that phrase so much more than any other for “died.” I won’t go into it here because that’s not what this post is about but to me, “made her transition” is the most accurate, other than “died.” I mean, passed away doesn’t really do it. “We lost her,” is totally inaccurate.

Anyway… she made her transition. She’s been conquering cancer that has been in remission for many years, and this one was quick and she asked us to stop praying for her healing and to pray for her wholeness. That has a totally different meaning.

I visited with her two days before she died. She was in hospice – and was on as much methadone and morphine as is allowable. Still, when her husband uttered my name she looked up, smiled, waved, and zonked right out again. I understand. I’m a recovering alcoholic/addict. It was probably NiiIIIIiiiiIIIice where she was – particularly in comparison to what kind of pain her husband described she was experiencing when she wasn’t on drugs.

I prayed with her anyway, of course. For her wholeness, our connection, her connection, the powerful soul she is and the strong difference she makes and presence she is. For her comfort. For the highest and best vision of her wholeness. It was an extraordinary experience to simply touch her. To be in this presence so peaceful and centered and solid and so between the two worlds was amazing. I didn't want to leave, I felt a little like a thief, staying there, in her presence, just to be a part of that amazing energy.

I was asked to read some letters and poems for her memorial service.

I couldn't be more honored. I can only hope, while everyone else felt I had done a great job of sharing the notes from friends and colleagues, that I did right by Annie. That's most important.

Lazy Blogger II

2007-09-16T21:25:00.000-05:00

And thanks for coming over and celebrating my birthday with me everyone.

Especially Jennie -- for whom I will personally blog more often.

Heh.

Lazy Blogger

2007-09-16T21:04:00.000-05:00

We had friends over last night for my birthday and I was told I was a lazy blogger. I had no idea anyone besides the Sexy Beast read the thing... well, and Marsha and Ronni.

And sometimes Julie.

And. Nah.

Ok, yeah, I'm busy not lazy... I'm picking up some extra gigs as a photographer -- which I credit Marsha for...

In fact, I hadda get my old ass out of bed to start a shoot at 6:30 Saturday morning and did that until 12:40, and then I had my hair colored and got a groovy blessing of $25 off -- because it was my birthday and my hairdresser just wanted to give me the gift, and then I came home and got ready for a birthday party wherein I was called a lazy blogger. :-P

Oh, it doesn't matter.

Marsha looks GREAT.

And I had a great time at the shoot, with my new lights I got for my birthday, and again, I credit Marsha, who looks GREAT.

And I hope David enjoyed the cake.

:-)

A little something about Zeta... it's been so long!

2007-08-30T21:20:00.001-05:00

I haven't mentioned Zeta in awhile.

She's grown into a beautiful teen with few adolescent issues.

In fact, tonight I was killing a wasp hanging out on the door leading to the patio in my bedroom. She stayed right where I told her to whilst all the distractions of my frenetic swatting occurred right in front of her... and she didn't move, even as I scooted the dead thing out the open door. She was terrific. I knew she was trained but this was a situation when I needed to really count on her.

I see the value of training -- otherwise one or both of us could have been stung!

Yay Zeta! I am so proud of both of us!

Interview Questions

2007-08-30T20:59:00.000-05:00

Marsha sent me these interview questions quite some time ago. Life got away from us, so to speak. I have finally done them.

1. What was the first show you ever directed? Would you like a do-over or are you happy with how it went and what it taught you?

I count Agnes of God as the first show I directed. I did scene work and short plays throughout my education and the Directors Workshop at Sam Bass Theatre in Round Rock -- so erm... officially, I did Agnes of God. It was amazing. It taught me the most important thing about directing: Choices. Make only those choices that you can back up with logical evidence that is clear to an audience. I also, for lack of a better way of putting it, experienced the show romantically. I was deeply in love with what I was doing, in love with the cast, in love with the work, the script, the characters. I was very fortunate in that respect. That's not the case in every show, as we all know. Good thing new works keep rolling off playwrights pens, or the list of plays that I would love to direct would be awfully short. That, along with Artistic Directors who will actually work to marry you with a show you love is helpful, though rare.

2. You have been into directing these last few years. But I know you are an actor first. What role you would most like to play in what show?

Role? Not roles? Pssst... a secret... I've only just tapped into singing and am now getting secure enough to feel I won't scare off anyone if I sing in at least the chorus. I fantasize about doing a musical ( I have recently learned I am a soprano whilst all these years I thought I was an alto!) As I evolve, maybe I could play an adequate Mona in Best Little Whorehouse. That would be a grand fantasy! Then there's a fantasy of playing Rose in Gypsy or at this point being in any musical at all. But let's discuss the non-musical: Sabina in Skin of Our Teeth -- but no one will produce that behemoth -- it's so long. I could cut it! And I could look ten years younger too. ;-) I'd like take a shot at Martha in Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf in a few years and if he ever finishes his stage adaptation of it, I'd do Aurora Greenway in Larry McMurtry's Terms of Endearment, eventually. Finally, I would love the opportunity to reprise my role as Lorraine Sheldon in The Man Who Came To Dinner (without 9/11 dust all over it this time!) I LOVE it when the integrity of the character actually REQUIRES me to chew the scenery in a role.

3. What is one thing about being a step-mom that took you by surprise?

This week?

One thing? ONE thing? Ok, I'll give you the top two:

1) How I knew it would be harder than I thought and it was harder than I thought than I thought that I thought!

2) Nurture is as valid as nature. We think I may have actually birthed GMan P and erased it from memory, as his personality, sense of humor, and temperment resembles mine so much more closely than his own parents.

4. Tell me about your favorite book or author. Fiction or non-fiction, but not a play.

Gone With The Wind -- don't laugh! (Also, The Stand and Mysts of Avalon) My grandmother instilled in me a love for that grand story -- and it remains with me to this day. If you haven't read it you really should. It was indeed the grandmother of romance novels, but remember, it did win a Pulitzer prize for literature -- it is an epic story, not just a romance. It broke my heart. I stayed up night after night at my grandparents in my 13th summer reading the book and I remember weeping as if in personal grief. It's a lot more powerful and grand in scope than the movie, and is about survival and the courage of a woman. The film did more romanticizing of the whole thing. AND! It has sold more copies worldwide than any other book except the Bible. Don't knock it until you try it.

5. If you were in a band, what kind of music would you play and what would your role be?

Ack! Lawdie, I dunno. Er... boring, but... I'd play brass (and I love the french horn) in a big band and make some money working in the pit for musicals.

Steel Magnolias

2007-08-18T14:54:00.000-05:00

Yesterday the SB and I planted a magnolia tree. So... I've been pining (no pun intended) for a magnolia tree for my yard for several years, first for several Mother's Days past as a gift to one another, then, as a Memorial for my mother. Wouldn't you know, it would occur in the most unceremonious possible way.

"Hey! These 5 gallon Southern Magnolia trees are only twenty bucks," I said.

"Ok, let's get it. Grab it, let's go," SB replied, as she was at the register already, paying for the eight bags of red mulch some of which she insisted putting around the tree prior to my snapping a pic. So insistent was she, that she rose from a nap and put her clothes on to ensure her magnolia was adorned properly, and, er... her gnome was positioned properly.

We do not have a pool in which the magnolia blossoms can float, but our neighbors do. We're saving that for the next house. Unlike in the production of Steel Magnolias, there will be no question as to whose side of the fence this tree lives.

BTW, we also bought this plant.

In other Magnolia news, here's the full cast of Steel Magnolias. In this photo Shelby is portrayed by the brilliant Nikki Zook.

I would imagine this production as being a powerful one for any cast that performs it, if, imho, they've done it right. With this production we had our own plot that was similar to the plot within the show down to Marsha, who originated the role of Shelby, being the one who got sick! A friend who played Ouiser in another recent production said a similar circumstance had occurred during the run of the production she did. I'd say Steel Magnolias, based on certain circumstances, holds potential to be the modern day "Scottish play," but I can't -- because in the face of said circumstances, we all had a ball, and came to deeply cherish the experience and one another.

This is NOT commonplace in the realm of theatre, but in my estimation as a director of this particular show -- chemistry offstage should be as much a requirement as onstage. I'm not talking like everyone should hang out together, but that the cast for this show should be the kind of women who have a high regard for one another, their work, and the good of the play.

I couldn't have asked for a better cast. Or a better review, except that the review outright swore the actress playing Truvy was channeling Dolly Parton and she was in no way shape or form doing such a thing! We received the reviewers highest praise and rating, broke the record for highest attended non-musical for the Georgetown Palace, and the cast had a wonderful experience. Couldn't ask for better.

And so... now I proceed again with NxNW Theatre and it's first production: The Nerd.

Oh, and maybe get a job or something. Seriously, I might take up photography occupationally -- it's become a great financial supplement. Let me know if you want me to do some photos for you. ;-)

Authenticity

2007-07-30T14:19:00.000-05:00

I appreciate the Sexy Beast today.

I am in one of those fatigued and, oh, I'll admit it, cynical, moods. She's been my positive outlook lately.

I stand on a sort of precipice and I am well... frankly bored and burnt out on this sort of white bread world of manufacturing where I have gotten most of my work experience. It is sometimes so lacking in heart that I can barely stand it. Don't get me wrong. I am grateful for those who buy things that go on the assembly of an ATM so that I can have cash on the weekends but damn it all -- I don't want that person to be me if it involves... dare I say it... dull people or a reckless need to simply produce results. Blech.

Don't get me wrong, not all companies who make and build things are boring, nor are all the people who work there. I've come across several where the people are more than interesting enough!

Nevertheless, I stand with my feet in both the creative and "corporate" worlds. The Sexy Beast described me yesterday (and I paraphrase) as someone who brings a creative and artistic personality to play to the work force and that that is my true contribution. Some such thing like that. And I realized I am not really a buyer, or purchaser at all. I realized that I'd be fine with doing that, sure... but... the more I interview in the field, the more I feel like everyone is more interested in results than authenticity and I just can't produce results unless I'm being authentic. And to be entirely authentic, I don't know that I care to produce results for the company that funds the war, aerospace engineering, half the world's banks, etc...

I am facing it. I am a people based person, much more well versed in the ability of being authentic than I am in producing results in an industry where it's impossible to be authentic unless you are into producing results instead of making people happy. I don't mean this in a codependent way. I just have a hard time getting into having been a part of a team that "streamlined logistics processing 30%" or "improved efficiency by 60%." What does that really mean in the grand scheme of things and for whom does it make a difference.

I really do admire in this sort of alien way, the people who can do both, but it's growing harder and harder for me to do both myself. I suppose because I am growing more and more into this driving need to be authentic.

So I'm wrestling with this one. How does authenticity produce results? How does my particular authenticity produce results? Why do I separate the two when it comes to creating financial and career success? What is it I truly should be doing to marry the two?

The Sexy Beast says I'm an Artist. She's right. I'm an artist. But I'm even more interested in being authentic.

And there's still this office supply sales thing. Intriguing.

Stay tuned.

Bald Headedness For Marsha

2007-07-26T17:27:00.000-05:00

I told Marsha I'd make a list on being bald -- just a list of things... she's pissed about losing her hair because of chemo. I'm not so grand as to say I wouldn't be pissed too!

This one's for Marsha.

Let's see:

You can be a Conehead for Halloween.

You can play The King of Siam in the all female version of "The King And I at Vassar" -- if you went to Vassar.

You can get together with another bald headed person and make an appearance -- and the radiologist, who doesn't know your ass from your head, won't know the difference. (Really, if you're going to mess with someone's ass for any length of time, I'd think you'd at least introduce yourself.)

You can claim a legitimate reason for your pate, unlike Britney.

It's manly. Wait... wrong gender... or... erm... sexual orientation, too.

You can tell everyone that you really WILL lose your hair if you do It too much.

If bald men make better lovers...

I saw something on a website when researching this list about men who have no testicles never go bald. What if a man has only one testicle? Wonder why the same wouldn't stand to reason in women?

Anyway -- I'm sorry Marsha, that you're gonna lose your hair. Thank GOODNESS it won't grow back on your palms.

Divine Order

2007-07-24T17:14:00.000-05:00

I suppose titling this post "Divine Order" is appropriate. I've been so busy I have no way to put things in order so I suppose the Divine will have to do it for me.

I haven't blogged since I lost my job. First things first: How did I EVER manage to put 40 hours of work in and do everything else I've been doing? OMIGOSH.

So what's been happenin'?

I should just make a list:
1. Lost my job, don't care to find it again.

2. Beast Boy 1 returned home for a brief stay.

3. Unity Church of The Hills needed a publicity person to manage some vast amounts of collateral and bestowed upon me "Volunteer of The Month" -- I think it is a ploy to keep me at the desk doing all those documents ;-)

4. Steel Magnolias rehearsals and production started. THIS was a lot more work than anticipated -- but I'm not complaining. Directing theatre is a true pleasure but when you have to do some of the producing, too it's like walking through wet tar. In the case of this production, it was like walking through tar that had dried while I was walking through it. Mercury went retrograde through the rehearsal process -- and as most of my friends know by now, my lead and friend the AMAZING Marsha was diagnosed with lymphoma during the final week of rehearsals -- we added another week of rehearsal after opening for the FANTASTIC actress who is standing in for her. Here is the amazing Marsha in a publicity photo for Steel Magnolias. Yeah I took it. BTW, later, I will post the review -- which was also AMAZING. And the houses have been selling out!

I don't usually gripe about Mercury retrograde, and before you go calling me airy fairy, I don't let them bother me either -- they happen three times a year so it makes no matter to me if I'm rehearsing or not. Nonetheless, this one seemed to create a very real drag on the communication. Misunderstandings abounded.

5. Beast Boy 2 has been at TSU -- Theatre Camp. It's like he's in college already. I called the other day and he answered the phone, "May I help you?" and I said, "Is this Burger King?" We'll be catching his shows and picking him up this weekend.

Sexy Beast may have to pick him up alone. I have a hair appt. We can't miss those now can we?

So... back to this Divine Order thing. Seems interviews and calls from potential employers ceased for about two weeks. I think it's interesting that they started up again once we got Steel Magnolias propped up and ready to go. Next week I have an interview with Wincor-Nixdorf. Do I want to work for a company named Nixdorf? We'll see. I also have an opportunity to sell office supplies. Sexy Beast couldn't be more bored with such a thing. But me? I LOVE office supplies. I am a office supply geek. That's weird isn't it? Pens, especially. Groovy post-its. There's nothing like opening the office supply order when it arrives at the office!

6. Photography. Lots of it. Enough to supplement my income. I'd have thought admin work or something less creative would supplement my income (something to fall back on, as we used to say, back in the day) but as Divine Order would have it, everyone has wanted a photo! I have to thank Marsha for handling the headshot clinic I did for the Palace. I am so resistant to starting my own business in this way, but for Whatever Reason this photography thing has been the only thing that hasn't presented me with a number of annoying obstacles in the last few months. Should I take that as a Sign? Sheesh...

Here is an ad I did this week, just in case Divine would have it that I should proceed with this endeavor:
(btw, not one of these people has agreed to be used as a model, so if you know them, don't tell 'em... ok? LOL)

Wanna picture? I'll take yours. OMIGOSH -- what if I sold office supplies and took photos while I was at it?

7. NxNW Theatre -- we've compiled a realistic first season and found one or two -- not so particularly perfect but acceptable -- locations to perform. Now it's time to ask for money. Will you give us money? Say yes and go to the NxNW Theatre website. Click on the "donate now" button. It's easy. You may as well do it now and save me asking you later, because I will.

8. FINALLY! I have been enjoying a terrific week with the AMAZING Sexy Beast. How she does all the amazing things she does gets me... she is like the most superior buyer for Solectron, and she's singing with an acapella group at the moment and is about to sing with the "FUN Singers" at church again. She even outrageously suggested I join her for the FUN singers. I told her I'd do it if she'd do Gay/Lesbian salsa lessons with me. :-D. This is also a warning to anyone else singing with the FUN Singers.

The most AMAZING thing about the Sexy Beast, aside from her ability to disappear entirely from view in a 1/2 second when she is in a Target, and her... erm... well... I can't blog about that here -- is that, as mother of Beast Boy #1, she is able to function when being so challenged by his adventures.

I don't tell her enough that she is amazing. Oh wait. She has been pestering me to blog so now she knows. Whew.

Finally -- in case you were wondering:

Zeta is doing fine! Brilliant dog. You can tell from the photo. She is definitely wondering what that idiot is doing. The human one, not the canine.

I Was Tagged

2007-05-07T22:53:00.000-05:00

Marsha tagged me. See the Marshalogues at right. Whee.

Here are the rules: Each player starts with 7 random facts/habits about themselves. People who are tagged need to write on their own blog about their seven things, as well as these rules. You need to choose 7 people to get tagged and list their names. Don't forget to leave them a comment telling them that they have been tagged and to read your blog!

1. The biggest random fact about me is that I am a prayer chaplain and that I am sometimes embarrassed to share that with certain people. As chaplains we just "hold spiritual space," -- and pray with people. It is some of the most important work I do -- and it keeps me humble and honest. Nothing has changed my life so much for the better than being of service in this way... except...

2. I tithe 10% of my income -- that totally changed my life too. It's not bullshit. Pick a theatre, a church, a needy organization -- even Suze Orman agrees. It Works.

3. I tithe to Unity Church of the Hills, a church considered outside the "Christian" realm -- a pantheistic, perverted, cult. I feel proud. Join us next Sunday for worshipping and pagan animal sacrifices. LMAO. My devout Episcopalian grandmother subscribed to the Daily Word from the day I could remember being able to read -- which is published by Silent Unity -- the very same pagan, pantheistic church a branch of which I attend.

4. I miss my mother and grandmother. Not an interesting fact -- but a true one.

5. I am a native Austinite -- third generation.

6. Capt Krunch

7. I so want to be in a show again. I've been directing for the last four years and I haven't acted in a play in that long. Sigh...

And Marsha and Ronni have already tagged everyone I know who has a blog so there.

Arcadia

2007-05-05T17:49:00.000-05:00

We're off to see Beast Boy Two in Arcadia by Tom Stoppard. It's a theatre geek family for sure when TWO of the people in your family have been in two different productions. Good thing the Sexy Beast had a nap... Tom Stoppard is not her cup o' tea. And she's had to do TWO in the last week. No... wait, that was Peter Shaffer... ok... two British Playwrights -- and British is not exactly her cup of tea... though we caught a lovely and dashing production of Lettice and Loveage last week produced by Different Stages!

Here is a photo of the production of Arcadia in which I performed.

And a photo that I did for the poster of the one Beast Boy Two is doing. Although I can't recall if this is the one they used -- it gives it a Gothic Romance flavor -- which is totally not what you're seeing above is it? Sage green is, well, not a shade that falls within the romantic spectrum of my emotional color wheel.

Soon enough, I might have photos from his production. The set is gorg-a-mous.

Good Show!

Like You Haven't Heard This RIDICULOUS news already...

2007-05-03T21:01:00.000-05:00

but the abortion bill passed in Texas just got even more creepy.

Pedantic paternal parenting should be outlawed EVERYWHERE -- the home, the office, the government.

Blech, blech, blech, blech, blech.

In Case You Were Wondering...

2007-05-03T20:03:00.000-05:00

... the three of you who read this blog...

I'm not dead. I think I'm avoiding blogging because I've been doing a lot of "writing" lately -- I change my resume for every job for which I've applied in the last few weeks. And, believe it or not, I've been keeping busy as best I can! Wouldn't want to get rusty and lay around all day.

Now I think I'm blogging to avoid blocking Steel Magnolias. I'll do it. In an hour or so.

I feel the most boring blog entry coming along.

Oh alright. Here is Zeta. She practically owns the house now. The Sexy Beast and I can hardly stand how much we love this little dog!!!!

Here she is snoozing (she can sleep like this, or on her back stretched out or sideways and hardly anything will disturb her sleep even a photographer-- she gets that from her Sexy Beast Mom):

Alright! Now I have satisfied the Sexy Beast's desire for another photo of Zeta -- who, as you can see, is not quite black (Zeta, not the Sexy Beast) . As she has grown up, her beard is brown, and she has some salt and pepper on the back of her ears, and even more salt on the backs of her legs....zzzzzzzz ohmigoodness boring, boring, boring -- it's like we're parents of a toddler or something!

Ok, try this: my favorite new drink is Lime LaCroix but I have to have to almond stuffed green olives in it as a garnish. And they MUST be the HEB brand. We've started to call HEB, "THUH HEB" in my house because we have friends who are HEB careerists and they call it that -- and occassionally I go to Randall's and that makes me a Randallist. It's a thing in my house -- The Sexy Beast says "I'm going to THUH Heb... (note the emphasis on the "H" when I grew up emphasizing the "B")" Or, she'll say I'm going to Round Rock 4 or Round Rock 2 and I don't know what the f*ck that is! I just say... Ok, please get me some olives.

Go figure.

And THUH Heb version of LaCroix isn't so bad either!

I'm gonna do a "My HEB" commercial -- it'll be me sitting on the patio furniture shouting at people in the parking lot and not letting them in the store. "Nope! Sorry. This is MY HEB -- keep moving, that's right... try the 7-11."

How did this blog get to be about HEB?

OH... I'm sorry. THUH "H"EB.

Just for good measure, here is Zeta again -- looking like the cranky old man Schnauzers are accused of looking like! She needs a 'do -- we're taking her to get one tomorrow. After a 'do, she looks very distinguished -- I'll try to remember to post another photo. After she gets a hairdo, her eyebrows resemble Brook Shields even more than in the photo below.

Now. I'm out of La Croix so I'm going to run to Randall's and get some.

Yeah. You heard me.

Randall's # whatever.

Liz Clairborne No Iron Shirt

2007-04-05T18:27:00.000-05:00

I don't think so.

I haven't had a shirt that gets so wrinkled since the button down Polo's I wore in the 80's.

How does this guy do it?

2007-04-05T07:10:00.000-05:00

I'm just ...

speechless.

Swift Boater Gets New Berth

Employment

2007-04-02T10:17:00.000-05:00

I've not been out of work in probably twenty years. That changed last week.

This is my first real adventure as a person who is not employed by a company. The IRS tells me I am self employed and makes sure they get the benefit of it, so I can't really say I'm not employed. However, self-employment hasn't paid a majority of the bills. YET.

I am looking for new avenues of income that please me -- and the perfect way to create it.

Here are some things I've noticed today, that would please me about "work." Working at home would be kinda cool. Here's why:

1. A short commute. It took me 20 seconds to get to work today.
2. A pet friendly environment. My dogs came to work with me today.
3. I can control the temperature in my office to suit me.
4. The coffee is just the way I like it.
5. I can leave at any time to run personal errands.
6. Naps. This is negotiable.
7. My coworkers are like family.
8. There is time to strategize.

NxNW Theatre's First Fundraiser!

2007-03-25T09:55:00.000-05:00

Join us for our first fundraiser!

You won't be disappointed.

I'll link the banner as soon as our webmaster does his stuff, but for now... I just feel thrilled to have such a creative marketing director on my team who has put such an effort into the consistency our our look. She's wonderful, and the above is her creation.

Hate Crimes Legislation

2007-02-26T16:38:00.000-06:00

It's hard to not feel hate, anger or vengeance against such people as the man who attacked Andrew Anthos .

Instead, please simply urge your Congressman to pass a Hate Crimes Prevention Act.

I prefer a Honor All People Act but until then, a hate crimes prevention act will have to do.

Peace.

It's Me Again...

2007-02-25T15:44:00.000-06:00

Oh alright it's been a long time -- you're right.

Here's why:

1. Big fat new job wherein I am just now getting over the 90 day learning curve. I was working a lot and made myself a little sick even -- I got a cold last week. It's been hectic since the infamous two day freeze that Gladys Hardy told Ellen about on Ellen's show.

2. Three really big events with NxNW Theatre. A fundraiser cabaret in April, another fundraiser in May, and a show in June. Wow!

3. We're now in a Law of Attraction Club, long a part of our thought processes - you've probably lately seen The Secret rise to the top of the NY Times Best Seller list, Amazon.com, and/or seen or heard about it being on Oprah. I've had the banner in my right hand corner up there for quite some time.

4. This weekend we got a new HDTV and home theatre system. These guys have gotten quite reasonable in price. The screen is BIG! OMG. That's not why I haven't blogged in awhile -- but it is the latest news. Oh... that and Zeta will be a year old next month and we've just got to have a party!

Mostly I've just been working! Blech. Now that I'm feeling more secure in my position, I can relax a little.

I got the HDTV system set up with a friend yesterday but have not mounted my speakers in the most opportune locations yet. No wise cracks.

Today the Sexy Beast is rehearsing for a murder mystery musical! I'm so glad she's out being creative -- as for me, today I will just relax in my living room and stare at the big screen.

Here's the TV!

It's Been Cold Here

2007-01-17T14:21:00.000-06:00

The big news in my area is this insanely cold wet weather. In parts of the country where they are accustomed to it, they don't shut down the way we do. In Austin Texas, we just sit and wait it out. It only took one day for the nine trucks Austin had to use up all the supplies Austin possessed to de-ice the roads. So... all the flyovers closed last night -- Monday was a holiday for most and Tuesday we had school and business closures so I suppose two days of freezing rain is all the city plans for, as we are on day three. Rightly so, as that's the most we ever expect every ten years. The airport was packed and all the surrounding hotels. The people here from northern cities were practically appalled that we couldn't get them home. We're just not equipped for it -- not on the ground nor in the air.

Perhaps the funnest thing (aside from The Sexy Beast grilling today) was seeing the dorks who refused to move the Governor's Inauguaral Ceremony inside until the morning of the event. It really was a stitch to watch these guys, via KVUE news, blowtorch the steps of the Capitol Building, and later, pick up the thousands of COLD, METAL FOLDING CHAIRS they'd set out the day before and pound the inch thick ice off of them. I'll give Governor Big Hair this: If he hadn't gone on with the BBQ, the caterer wouldn't have had that extra 1000 meals to give away to the cold and hungry homeless. Yay!

Today the weather improved some -- a good thing... we've lost two and a half days of school and business here -- THREE and a half if you weren't off for MLK day on Monday. Nonetheless, as God would have it, we apparently required mandatory rest. I'm not complaining -- but my lips are chapped. I am quite excited to blog later about the story of the Sexy Beast choosing to whip the cover off the Weber Grill and make steaks on it. Too bad she doesn't own ice skates. And she keeps coming in and out of the house! Brrrrr. In the meantime, I'm going to trek up the tallest hill in the neighborhood to get the mail -- which actually came today! Stay tuned, because see,

Here's what it looks like around my house:

This is NOT a dead fish

2007-01-16T16:19:00.000-06:00

This fish cracks me up!

He sleeps this way. I SCHWEAR! You thought I posted a photo of a dead fish. I did not.

He lives in a pitcher shaped like Kool Aid on my mantle, and I have two more that live individually in each bathroom in my home. They do not sleep this way and do not creep out our guests who think they might be dead for sleeping on their sides. Different strokes I guess... Ha! Especially if you swim. Oh, man. Bad pun.

I hope he is not creeped out by the huge shadow in his image the flash made on the wall behind him. Serves him right for sleeping sideways and freaking out my guests.

Today is a "winter weather day." I am enjoying the lack of outside intrusion into our little abode and we haven't left all day. Zeta enjoyed her first snow -- which happens in Austin more often than it used to -- global warming methinks. Zeta likes it. She thinks it's -- well, one big ice cube for her to eat. Here are her little paw tracks (have I yet posted such a boring blog?) and a snap of her eating the snow -- yum.

Ok, now I have a further opportunity to stay in and watch another movie. The Devil Wears Prada is on the agenda.

In the meantime, congratulations go to Ronni of Ronni's Rants , who's a new grandma again -- and Vanessa, for her new baby boy Ethan. He'll probably like winter weather!

Ta!

Amazing New Year

2007-01-02T20:57:00.000-06:00

Because I just can't post such a terrible yet fascinating photo as you are about to see in my first blog of the new year, I won't do it immediately.

In the meantime, if how I brought in the new year is any indication of how the year will be, then I am so excited! I had a fanTAStic time participating in our usual party/cavort in a circle in the direction of the northern hemisphere. We enjoyed old friends and new. What once was a gathering of friends who just wanted to do nothing together has now grown into a certain kind of tradition.

In the meantime, here are Dubya's sentiments on my liberal, gay and lesbian, cavorting new year:

This photo was lifted from the brilliant Milo Johnson's Jones Alley blog (see link at right!) I think he and Marsha of The Marshalogues should connect.

Happy New Year!

LIVE!

2006-12-29T21:51:00.000-06:00

Nice question huh? So... what DO you do? :-)

I love The Pondering Pool.

This is what Susan Mrosek's website states:

The Pondering Pool is an unusual collection of note cards written, illustrated, and designed by Susan Mrosek.

I love Susan Mrosek's work.

For 2007, I shall bellow less, be grateful even more, and I have decided... I will succeed.

What will you do?

While I Was In The Bathroom...

2006-12-06T10:33:00.000-06:00

Ok, dog people are certainly aware of the damage a pup can do in, say, a matter of being alone for an hour. Now... what about say -- mere moments? I was in the bathroom for goodness' sake!

This is Zeta's first Christmas. She apparently thinks we bought her a seven foot toy. It certainly is a Noble Fir that would allow such abuse.

Ok, the positive side of this deal is that ZBear has taken a shine to the side of the tree that is closest to her nose, and it's more full toward the bottom than the other side, so! If she gets to it much more, the bottom will be equally bare on both sides.

I shoulda seen it coming. Nearly nine months with Zeta and she's only done minor damage, and only twice at that. I'm pleased about this, but the one thing she can't keep her molars away from is fringe -- which is, I suppose, not unlike the needles on a Noble Fir. Or, after Zeta got hold of it, a "not so" Noble Fir. At this rate, we'll have to buy a tree a week until Christmas.

Buy this!

2006-11-27T16:43:00.000-06:00

I'm pleased.

NxNW apparel and stuff.

WTF? Mood phone?

2006-11-27T15:04:00.000-06:00

Because I can't tell whether I'm happy or sad.

Mood Phone from Panasonic.

WTF?

Thanksgiving, The Little Beast Dog and Gratitude

2006-11-26T19:24:00.000-06:00

Zeta Bear went to the country for Thanksgiving -- and enjoyed herself as a farm dog! We love it out there at my sister's. Fresh eggs from the neighbors, burning your own trash, drinking as soon as you get up -- because if you don't start first thing "you can't say you've been drinking all day!" Just kiddin' -- sorta...

...this from someone clean and sober nineteen years today.

Back to Zeta. She was POOPED when she got home -- and was sick last night-- possibly because some unsuspecting (my sister) soul thought no poor dog should go without table scraps on Thanksgiving, but, farm dog in other ways, Zeta does NOT have an iron stomach. She gets sick when she eats grown up dog food!

I was so worried I was surprised I was so worried. I don't worry much. I worried through church, and was only feeling better about her by the time we got home and I felt her cool nose rub against me as she whizzed by in a black blur -- her normal self.

Last night she slept right next to me, sometimes betwixt the SB and me, which is not allowed! No pets betwixt the humans --- but she was sick! So... I put her on my other side. :-) I held her close and she woke us up about four times and we shooed her out of doors to be ill whilst we stood by for comfort.

Are we pathetic? Yes, we'd do the same for the kids when they were small, they slept with us when they were ill and we shooed them into the back yard when they needed to throw up.

Alright back to the weekend. We had a great Thanksgiving -- my brother was very genuinely happy to get a Longhorn Polo and new mp3 player -- which we presented to him with much glee. No special occasion, just because we felt like it. The turkeys -- all THREE of them, were fried and delicious. We ate, as is customary, plenty of stuff that was not good for us, and when we were done, ate some more and bought some more on the way home!

What a sense of gratitude I felt this year. My sister in law commented that it all felt good and she didn't know why. I said, "not to minimize your current feelings, or the grief any of us might be feeling, but I bet it feels good this year simply because it is NOT last year."

We were all still acutely grieving the loss of her son and also my mother last year. We still do, but we are moving forward. It was wonderful to see my brother and his wife smile -- to hug and touch the rest of us on purpose.

Don't get me wrong -- we miss my mother and nephew, painfully at times ... and they are not just a part of our past certainly, but are now, in a new way, a part of our future.

I was more aware this year of what a lavish life we lead as Americans. Truth is, I feel we forget too often that our lives are already lavish. Even those of us who sometimes struggle lead quite lavish lives in comparison to those in constant poverty.

Let's start with the beds in which we sleep, that are clean, comfortable and covered. Next, we usually have a choice about what to eat for breakfast. A choice! Then, many of us get into overpriced lavish cars that we've been able to purchase, or, for that matter, we have public transportation to get us where we need to go, so that we can continue to earn the money that gets us what we want.

Don't get me wrong! I learned today in the lesson at church that desire is God's way of notifying you of which direction to go toward for your next blessing! That's one way of looking at it. Greed is a different matter altogether.

So, "What do you have that someone else would pay $1 million for?"

We posed that question from time to time this weekend.

Here are some answers I got:

"My dimples and smile."
"My relationship."
"My eyesight."

...and that's just a start.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Wow!

2006-11-17T09:19:00.000-06:00

I'm just busier than a one armed wallpaper hanger.

Yep. OK. That's all the time I have to blog.

Whew.

Boys Are Cool

2006-11-12T21:11:00.000-06:00

These guys are CUTE!

Did a photo shoot today!

Here's my tip for shooting tots this age -- let me rephrase... here's a tip for photographing tots this age: just let 'em do what they want if you can, and capture them as best you can when they're immobile for that nanosecond they might provide you from time to time. I mean, really -- what's to accomplish by having them sit still for a photo session? If you let them do as the please, sometimes you'll be blessed with their joy -- just snapped and stopped at the right moment in time.

I did a photo shoot a couple of weeks ago -- the photo was supposed to go into Texas Monthly for an ad for the Palace Theatre in Georgetown. Didn't happen that way. Anyhoo. These guys are er... er... erm... uhhh... cute too. Go see Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged).

See how much room I left on the left for advertising? :-(

Boys are cool.

I Miss My Sexy Beast

2006-11-12T09:06:00.000-06:00

The comedian Elaine Boosler used to have this bit she did about being single. She said the British called it being "on your own" when you went into restaurants. I'm on my own this week, but no worries -- I'm not single again. SB has travelled to California to visit with her mom and has extended her stay for another week.

SB's mom is healing from a burst appendix which is a very grueling process if you are unaware. Ever so icky dinner conversation... also icky conversation for a blog so I won't repeat it here.

Nevertheless, I'm on my own with Beast Boy II and the Canines. Should that be a name of a band?

I grew stressed to think about it at first but it's really not going to be that hectic of a week. Beast Boy has late rehearsal every night but Tuesday, which means I will do a lot of driving but it's not an insurmountable feat. I have rehearsal on Monday and a meeting on Thursday. The dog beasts are handled on those evenings. The week leaves me quite a bit of time alone. I don't mind that. And I have TONS of stuff to do -- several people to meet up with for NxNW Theatre. Hey! Look at this picture. If you look past the dog beasts you might say my carpet was clean enough to have these folks I need to meet with over to my own house, no? That carpet looks pretty good for being eight years old.

One of my dearest friends let out an evil yet compassionate laugh (Yes, both at the same time! We are actors!) upon hearing of my "single parenting" predicament. But is it single parenting or is it really just running a taxi service with one cab if your kids are teenagers?

So back to my initial stress about the whole situation. It's not the business of running a household and being a sole parent for a couple of weeks that bothers me at all.

I miss my Sexy Beast. It's the longest period of time we've been apart in nine years. NINE years. We celebrated nine years on Friday. Yeah. I miss her. But please! Don't tell her! I wouldn't want her being any more Sexy Beast Princess conceited than she already is. ;-)

I miss her.

A lot.

Molly Ivins: Campaign ‘06—Goodbye and Good Riddance

2006-11-08T09:26:00.000-06:00

So good I reposted it here.

Molly Ivins: Campaign ‘06—Goodbye and Good Riddance

Posted on Nov 6, 2006 on TruthDig.org

AUSTIN, Texas—Right to the end, this insane conversation between reality and Not Reality. The president of the United States STILL says we are reducing terrorism by fighting in Iraq; STILL says we are creating democracy; STILL says we’re preventing the spread of nuclear weapons and making Israel more secure; and, shoddiest of all, STILL not allowing that our fallen have died in vain.

The vice president, meanwhile, has announced that, all things considered in Iraq, “if you look at the general, overall situation, [the Iraqi government is] doing remarkably well.” And now he’s gone off to hunt in South Dakota, thus demonstrating a perfectly balanced sense of reality. South Dakota is so sparsely populated, it’s really hard to hit another hunter.

Meanwhile, in case you hadn’t noticed, Iraq is in a state of full collapse. And Afghanistan is not far from it. Baghdad is worse off for water, sewer, electricity and infrastructure than it was before the war. The R’s have taken care of the whole problem with the brilliance we have come to expect from them—they have decided to abolish the Office of the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction (which has exposed bribery, contracts to cronies, shoddy work, the loss of billions of dollars, the failure to track hundreds of thousands of weapons shipped there, and more). You must admit this is big, bold and brainy. This is Karl Rove problem-solving at its best.

This campaign has been like getting stuck in Alice’s Wonderland for three months. “There is no use trying,” Alice said, “one can’t believe impossible things.”

“I daresay you haven’t had much practice,” replied the White Queen. “When I was your age, I always did it for half an hour a day. Why, sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.”

Every time you turn around, you run into the Jabberwocky or the Frumious Bandersnatch—Richard Perle in penitence—or some other equally fantastic sight. The great Skywriter in the Sky has positively run amok with irony and has been splashing it all over the campaign like Jackson Pollock. Fortunately, it is not my duty to lend dignity to the proceedings. I do make it a rule to skip talk of sex, drugs and rock ’n’ roll—but when Mark Foley turns out to be the chairman of the House Caucus on Missing and Exploited Children, you know you just have to sit down like a tired dog and scratch for a while.

While this perfectly insane dialogue has been taking place, Congress stands before us so hopelessly corrupt that the stench has washed all over the country. Perhaps my least favorite excuse for cheating is “Everybody does it.” NO, everybody DOESN’T do it. Nor does the system make you do it, or alcohol or drugs or Jack Abramoff. I do not want to hear one more excuse—apologize and go.

On the other hand, I am really going to miss the stories this Congress provided. Remember Terri Schiavo? I mean, you wake up one morning and there it is, kind of like finding Fidel Castro in the refrigerator. And you listen to these people who hold high elective office having this debate—as though they know, as though they have any idea, as though they have any right. And then there are some of the troops, like Randy “Duke” Cunningham, semi-owner of the houseboat The Duke-Stir. Some days you couldn’t wait to get up to find out who’d been indicted. I miss watching Katherine Harris from Florida wear less and less blue eye shadow as she went through her Senate race.

Well, it’s been rank—racist, sleazy, lying and full of insinuating scare tactics. Thank God it’s over.

Election Night

2006-11-07T21:37:00.000-06:00

CNN has most Democrats winning in their races for Congress.
I'm happy about that.

Zeta is too. Here she is watching the election returns with Beast Boy.