Random thoughts

Just some random thoughts, because I felt like pounding something out here instead of on Facebook. Facebook is fun, but anything you put there is lost in a day, so tedious to recall.

We have wrapped up Cinderella at Workshop Theatre. It ran for about 16 shows starting in mid-July. It was a lot of fun. I was working the mics for the actors, which was a fun and stressful endeavor. Two mics died on me during the run. Thankfully the actors could project and be heard. I don't think Jeni will be producing another show until maybe the spring, so it will be nice to have than break. Maybe we'll get a chance to do the other things on our to do list, like tend to the yard or read a book. (Although it has been so unbearably hot that the yard hasn't been an issue lately.) I need to post some Cinderella pictures, because we have some really good ones and I should show off the set and the costumes because they were amazing.

I'm eager for fall to get here, although I hate to say that because I don't want to wish time away. It goes fast enough already. I just love that time of year. Things seem calmer for some reason -- the season just doesn't seem to last long enough.

We went to see Cowboys & Aliens the other day, which could have been Cowboys & You-Name-It because the aliens were almost too matter-of-fact in the way they were addressed. But before the show we saw the trailer for Battleship. I'm going to say it now, this will be the Snakes on a Plane of this year. It looks so pointless and ridiculous. I'm amazed that they have based a movie on the board game. We truly have run out of ideas.

Earlier this month we went to Fripp Island with some friends. It is an amazing place, and officially one of my favorite beaches.


We saw a baby sea turtle make its last 20 feet of its journey to the sea. I know I shouldn't have taken a picture, but I couldn't help myself. I stunned her briefly with the flash, but she did OK.


They also had deer all over the place. The deer were so tame and accustomed to people. Just amazing.


Could you imagine having this in your front yard every evening?

Recycled Disney scenes

Robin Hood is easily one of my favorite Disney movies, but as I watch the video here I am amazed to see how scenes are essentially recycled from other Disney classics, motion for motion, and used for Robin Hood. Maybe I love Robin Hood because it is a "best of" all these other Disney movies.

Week in Review

We've been real busy with so many things going on lately. The blog should be a chronicle of what's happening in our lives, but somehow our lives got so busy that the blog got left behind. This last week has been full and exciting.

Last Friday was opening night for Caroline or Change at Workshop Theatre. Jeni is the co-producer of the play, as well as doing props and stepping in to help stage manage when necessary.


Here's a shot from after opening night of Jeni with Caroline (the musical director) and Jocelyn (the director) Jocelyn (the lead, Caroline), LaToya (the radio), Jeni, and Anna (grandma). We have more pictures from the show, and afterward, on Flickr. The show has been a fun experience for Jeni, but very exhausting and time-consuming, too. Jeni may have to step in and help stage manage this weekend, which may interrupt our plans to visit with Lisa for her birthday.

On Tuesday, I donated some blood -- seven vials, to be exact -- for genetic testing. Back in 1998 Jeni and I registered with the National Bone Marrow Program as possible donors. There was someone in Davenport who was in need. We weren't a match -- didn't really expect to be, honestly. But then last week, 11 years later, we got a phone call. Apparently, I might be a match for a five-year-old boy. So they're doing some more specific testing of certain genetic markers (there's a pdf here, if you are really curious). So I guess it's wait and see time, now. It's pretty humbling to get a call like that.

Last night, Jeni, Tiff and I went to see Coraline while it is still in 3D. I really wanted to see it in the theatre to experience the "Real3D" effect. It was pretty cool. I was really impressed with the movie. I'm glad the Jonas Brothers Movie tanked so we got a second chance to see Coraline (since there are only so many 3D screens to go around ... Monsters vs Aliens takes over tomorrow). If you go see Coraline tonight (and you should) sit through to the very end of the credits for the best 3D effect of the whole movie. I think at that point they were just showing off.


Here I am with buttons for eyes ... I always felt this picture of me was a little creepy before the buttons, but the buttons sure make a difference. You can trade your eyes for buttons, too, here.

So I guess this was a Caroline/Coraline themed week.

I'm going to try to keep the updates more regular. I still owe a post about Gracie and Clara Ann's birthday party, too.

Sex and the City

Jeni and I were invited to a Sex and the City party and went to see the movie yesterday afternoon. I never really watched the show, but I had an idea about the characters from the five-or-so episodes I watched, and they did a good enough job of re-introducing the characters that anyone with half a brain could pick up and enjoy the movie. There were definitely some awkward moments where you wouldn't want to be watching the movie with your parents. I don't know if I would have thought, this is a movie I have to see right away, but I'm glad we went.

The get-together afterward was very nice, too ... a little cookout and garden party in a very nice house with the kind of backyard we would love to have one day. Kristen Davis, who plays Charlotte in the movie, is from Columbia, and Jeni and I have had the opportunity to meet her parents. They hosted about 50 people at the "Columbia premiere" of the movie. (No surprise guest at the party...)

Today it's back to the pool to work on that base tan for the beach in a few weeks. (Or, for me, the base burn...)

Stardust

I'm really excited about the Stardust movie, and Jeni actually is interested in it, too. We'll be on the run this weekend, so I won't get to lend my $20 of support to opening weekend totals, but I do plan on catching it in the theater (and I think you should too!). It's one of the few books I've read twice, and the movie version is supposed to be accurate to the book, within movie limits.

01-18-08

I'm kinda surprised Doug hasn't caught onto the mystery of the 01-18-08 movie trailer yet. Brought to us by the same guy behind the mysteries of Lost, this trailer looks like it could be a missing piece from a Dharma film -- obscure and hinting, with minimal details ("It's huge. It's a lion!"). There's an equally unrevealing website, and tons of speculation and guessing on the web. You ask me, a VOLTRON film is just as likely as anything, besides the guy in the trailer is supposed to be leaving for Japan, which could be another hint (Manga inspiration to the film?).

Been a while...

I didn't realize how long it'd been since an update. We had a very nice visit with Sue, Don, Jackie and Aaron. They came in on Tuesday, and were very complimentary of the house. We enjoyed some nice company, and Jeni's great cooking. As the week went on they began scattering, Jackie and Aaron on Friday to Raleigh, NC for a tennis tournament (won 3, lost 2 matches ... we're pretty proud of him -- Jeni even made it up on Monday to see him play), Sunday morning Sue headed on down to Florida, then later Sunday we took Don to Charlotte for him to fly back to Detroit. Always on the go...

We've seen a few movies lately, too. We went with Don and Sue to see License to Wed with Robin Williams. It was cute (date movie) but I'd wait to rent it. (At moments during the movie the boy in me was distracted by the explosions next door at Transformers.) We also rented Man of the Year, also with Robin Williams. Less funny than the previews, but good like Wag the Dog was good. In the meantime, the list of movies I'd never even consider watching again continues to grow. OK, Saw II I expected to be mediocre, but Superman Returns was horrible, possibly more disappointing than Saw II only because it had promise with a good cast and hype and, come on, it's Superman, and yet is was horrible, boring and pointless. I was also disappointed by Deja Vu with Denzel Washington. I expected more from this movie. American Dreamz was funny-ish, but pointless, too, and we couldn't even get started watching Because I Said So (no, we're not intentionally watching everything Mandy Moore has been in). Still, like the big nerd I am, I'm eagerly awaiting the new Harry Potter movie. (But now I'm rambling...)

Jeni should be on the road home from Raleigh about now, caravaning with Jackie and Aaron. Her ride's only about three-and-a-half hours. Poor Jackie and Aaron are looking at about 12. Ugh! Anyhow, hopefully Jeni got some pictures of Aaron playing and we'll have something visual to post for you.

OK... this is getting too long, and even I won't want to read it, so I'm going to end it here.