I was out in the yard this morning, marveling at the perfectness of the day. And then I thought about my friends and family back in Missouri, where it is currently 19-21 degrees (it's 69 here). So I grabbed the camera and filmed the following in the back yard. It's my first time playing with Vimeo, but Dooce likes it, so it must be good. :)
Untitled from swtkaroline on Vimeo.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Once
I had the telly on yesterday morning while I cleaned the kitchen. VH1 Jumpstart was on (and that's an entirely different post, because, really, how do they get off calling it "Jumpstart"? it's all mellow music...), and Falling Slowly came on. I love this song. I love Once.
I sang along and enjoyed it, another video came on, and I went about my business. Then last night I dreamed of the song. A playground swing set and that song. Then this morning, because I had heard a couple songs I really liked yesterday, I turned on the telly again. First video that came on? Falling Slowly. I can't see the video or hear the song without thinking of the movie, which I watched some months ago.
So I now have to proselytize about this film. It's not exciting. It's not terribly cheerful. It doesn't have bright colors or particularly attractive people in it. It *is* gorgeous and touching and full of heartbreak and joy, bleakness and beauty. The music is amazing, and there is a slight twist in the end that, while making it a happy--or at least hopefull-ending, is not the ending you've been cheering for the entire time.
I had heard what a great movie this was from different sources, but after watching it I sort of thought "Hm, that was nice, but I don't see what the fuss is about." Now, 3 months later, I still relive the entire movie when I hear that song. I wonder how the characters' stories turned out, and I long to hear the music again and again. I dream about it.
If that's not a good review for a movie, I don't know what is.
I sang along and enjoyed it, another video came on, and I went about my business. Then last night I dreamed of the song. A playground swing set and that song. Then this morning, because I had heard a couple songs I really liked yesterday, I turned on the telly again. First video that came on? Falling Slowly. I can't see the video or hear the song without thinking of the movie, which I watched some months ago.
So I now have to proselytize about this film. It's not exciting. It's not terribly cheerful. It doesn't have bright colors or particularly attractive people in it. It *is* gorgeous and touching and full of heartbreak and joy, bleakness and beauty. The music is amazing, and there is a slight twist in the end that, while making it a happy--or at least hopefull-ending, is not the ending you've been cheering for the entire time.
I had heard what a great movie this was from different sources, but after watching it I sort of thought "Hm, that was nice, but I don't see what the fuss is about." Now, 3 months later, I still relive the entire movie when I hear that song. I wonder how the characters' stories turned out, and I long to hear the music again and again. I dream about it.
If that's not a good review for a movie, I don't know what is.
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
Noticeably Absent
The volunteer staff for the Superbowl gig posted photos of the process here. Somehow I managed *not* to be in any of them. Don't even bother checking out the "organized" photos--they didn't manage to get a single one of our cable crew. There might be a shot of the back of my head somewhere in the crowd shots, but I couldn't find one. Boo Hiss. However, there are some really interesting shots of the process, so I think they're worth checking out.
Monday, February 04, 2008
So I Went to The Superbowl. . .
And Cap was right... It was a day of World Class Standing Around.
First we drove a million miles west of town to the Maricopa Events Center in Sun City West. I had no idea it was legal to drive golf carts on city streets, but here in the land of retired golf fanatics, it's done with gusto. I saw no fewer than five on my way in, driving around like it was the most normal thing in the world.
Our check in time was 11:30 a.m. and they had food waiting for us, along with all the PRE-pregame goodness showing on the projection screen in the auditorium.
We sat and watched and chit chatted for about an hour or so before they loaded us into our busses to head over to the stadium. Luxury, baby! We got the Deer Valley Schoolbusses, complete with slide down windows and extra noise. Good to know that somethings never change. With one exception...Our schoolbusses got a POLICE ESCORT!
Yes, we had 4-6 police bikes leading us--and stopping traffic for us--to the stadium. This was particularly cool once we hit the interstate, and the cops actually pulled out ahead of us to totally stop traffic so we could pull out as a group. We also got to completely bypass all of the traffic going into the Superbowl lots. We just drove in the center lane and waved at the hundreds of cars stuck there. Good times. The photo below is *after* we'd bypassed the bulk of the traffic--here we're just getting ready to pull into the Complex.
Once we actually got the busses parked, it was more sitting around and waiting, while they got us into groups so we could head in to the security point. We entered a different way than the paying folks, but we all had to go through the same "mags".
Once we got past screening, however, for a few brief moments we were Right There--the entrance to the SuperBowl.
They were selling bottles of beer for $10. Yes. TEN DOLLARS for a 20oz bottle of beer. I shudder to think what a bottle of water might have run me. I needn't have worried however, because as volunteers, we neither had the leeway to spend this crazy money, nor the need. We were quickly ferried off to The Compound to wait around some more. You might have said to yourself, in looking at the above photos, "My, it doesn't look very crowded for the Superbowl." Well remember, these photos were taking probably around 1:30pm. The game won't start for nearly 3 hours...
Once we make it to our little tent, we watch some *more* pregame stuff, including the ASU Band rehearsal, which is happening right outside. A few more people graffiti their stage pieces, a few others exchange emails and phone numbers, and Cap comes in to tell more stories and tell us how crazy he is about us. I love that man.
It can't be easy to hold 400+ people in rapt attention, but he sure does. And when he's done speaking, people clamor around him, just trying to thank him or ask him a question, or tell him about some achievement. We're like puppies, vying for attention. It's absolutely remarkable.
I digress. Somewhere near the end of the 1st Quarter, we get to start lining up. We troupe down to The Tray (a big flat space where they store the field when it's not in use). There is a big long ramp down to The Tray, and I was so so glad that we didn't have to push a cart up or down it. Some folks did, just not my team. Go Cable Team!
Another *great* aspect of being on the cable team was that for some bizarre reason that I'll never argue but always question, we got to go *inside* to wait. We didn't get to see much, but we were in the back hallway on the Giants' side. Here's the view:
We stood back in this little storage area off to the side of the hall for most of the rest of the quarter. There were televisions for those who didn't want to crane their necks to see the Giant Screen on the back wall of the Stadium. Inexplicably, when we arrived, two of the 5 televisions were showing some ice skating program.
Anyhow, with about 5 minutes left in the second quarter, we were taken to the opposite hallway. We were supposed to enter the field on this side and cross to the other, which would have been great and might have meant that someone in my friends and family network *might* have seen me--but it's showbusiness, as they say, and things change. So. Here's *that* view.
Fascinating, yes? All those folks in red were security people. We walked out with them, and they stood facing the crowd in a big long line. A big red wall. I think they must have been there to create a barrier between the rabid fans in the stands and the players, who would soon be exiting the field. At any rate, with 2 minutes left on the clock, we went out onto the field--well, the sidelines.
So there I was, standing DIRECTLY behind the Patriots, on the field at the Superbowl, with 2 clock minutes (which we all know translates to roughly 1 hour in the real world), and my phone/camera went completely dead. Absolutely, completely dead. So, I have no other photos.
The sidelines at the Superbowl are, I'm going to guess, about 40-50 feet wide. Some of that is "field" and some of that is wood. The field is where the players, coaches, cheerleaders, and many many many people of unknown purpose stand. The wood is where camera, sound, lighting, security, and volunteer peons stand. I'm not sure how they do it, but by some trick of filming, the shots of the Superbowl--at least the ones I've seen thus far--completely ignore the 20 or so feet of wood surrounding the field. The shots are lined up so as to show the field sidelines, but never ever would you even imagine that there is anything behind the players but the stadium itself. It's both genius, and a diabolical tragedy for those of us hoping for our 15 seconds of fame.
My job changed again on game day, and I was charged with keeping "The Box" from being ripped from the wall. Our Guitar's Umbilical Cord was attached to a control box on the wall, and if the pullers got overly zealous and ripped that box from the wall, all kinds of hell might have been unleashed. So I got to stand in the most invisible part of the entire field and protect it.
Once the cable was out and I was sure no more pulling would take place, you'd better believe I ran out onto the field, under the premise that I was checking on my crew and making sure they had the slack they needed and whatnot. I was also, seriously, checking the cable as I went, to see what other cables were over, under, through, and around it. It is a veritable spaghetti bonanza out there, and since our cable had to be pulled back with super speed, I wanted to make sure it wouldn't become entangled with the camera or speaker cables. And then there were the few guys that just didn't understand that the cable they were standing on (or in one guy's case, wrapped in--I'm not kidding, and I totally don't know how he managed it, but it was looped around his ankles!!), was about to go at whiplash speed across the field and then back to the sidelines. . .
Our job was done basically by the end of the first song. The big moving "guitar" that crashed into the stage was our critter. Once the lights went out on it, it pulled back, we pulled in and coiled the cable, and ran out to enjoy the show. I was off stage left, quite a bit back from the stage and any possible camera shots, so I'm fairly certain no one even knew I was there.
But that's okay with me, because for about 5 minutes of glee and 30 seconds of absolute heart pumping adrenaline, I was most definitely there and I helped make it happen.
Oh, and we got this:
First we drove a million miles west of town to the Maricopa Events Center in Sun City West. I had no idea it was legal to drive golf carts on city streets, but here in the land of retired golf fanatics, it's done with gusto. I saw no fewer than five on my way in, driving around like it was the most normal thing in the world.
Our check in time was 11:30 a.m. and they had food waiting for us, along with all the PRE-pregame goodness showing on the projection screen in the auditorium.
We sat and watched and chit chatted for about an hour or so before they loaded us into our busses to head over to the stadium. Luxury, baby! We got the Deer Valley Schoolbusses, complete with slide down windows and extra noise. Good to know that somethings never change. With one exception...Our schoolbusses got a POLICE ESCORT!
Yes, we had 4-6 police bikes leading us--and stopping traffic for us--to the stadium. This was particularly cool once we hit the interstate, and the cops actually pulled out ahead of us to totally stop traffic so we could pull out as a group. We also got to completely bypass all of the traffic going into the Superbowl lots. We just drove in the center lane and waved at the hundreds of cars stuck there. Good times. The photo below is *after* we'd bypassed the bulk of the traffic--here we're just getting ready to pull into the Complex.
Once we actually got the busses parked, it was more sitting around and waiting, while they got us into groups so we could head in to the security point. We entered a different way than the paying folks, but we all had to go through the same "mags".
Once we got past screening, however, for a few brief moments we were Right There--the entrance to the SuperBowl.
They were selling bottles of beer for $10. Yes. TEN DOLLARS for a 20oz bottle of beer. I shudder to think what a bottle of water might have run me. I needn't have worried however, because as volunteers, we neither had the leeway to spend this crazy money, nor the need. We were quickly ferried off to The Compound to wait around some more. You might have said to yourself, in looking at the above photos, "My, it doesn't look very crowded for the Superbowl." Well remember, these photos were taking probably around 1:30pm. The game won't start for nearly 3 hours...
Once we make it to our little tent, we watch some *more* pregame stuff, including the ASU Band rehearsal, which is happening right outside. A few more people graffiti their stage pieces, a few others exchange emails and phone numbers, and Cap comes in to tell more stories and tell us how crazy he is about us. I love that man.
It can't be easy to hold 400+ people in rapt attention, but he sure does. And when he's done speaking, people clamor around him, just trying to thank him or ask him a question, or tell him about some achievement. We're like puppies, vying for attention. It's absolutely remarkable.I digress. Somewhere near the end of the 1st Quarter, we get to start lining up. We troupe down to The Tray (a big flat space where they store the field when it's not in use). There is a big long ramp down to The Tray, and I was so so glad that we didn't have to push a cart up or down it. Some folks did, just not my team. Go Cable Team!
Another *great* aspect of being on the cable team was that for some bizarre reason that I'll never argue but always question, we got to go *inside* to wait. We didn't get to see much, but we were in the back hallway on the Giants' side. Here's the view:
We stood back in this little storage area off to the side of the hall for most of the rest of the quarter. There were televisions for those who didn't want to crane their necks to see the Giant Screen on the back wall of the Stadium. Inexplicably, when we arrived, two of the 5 televisions were showing some ice skating program.Anyhow, with about 5 minutes left in the second quarter, we were taken to the opposite hallway. We were supposed to enter the field on this side and cross to the other, which would have been great and might have meant that someone in my friends and family network *might* have seen me--but it's showbusiness, as they say, and things change. So. Here's *that* view.
Fascinating, yes? All those folks in red were security people. We walked out with them, and they stood facing the crowd in a big long line. A big red wall. I think they must have been there to create a barrier between the rabid fans in the stands and the players, who would soon be exiting the field. At any rate, with 2 minutes left on the clock, we went out onto the field--well, the sidelines.So there I was, standing DIRECTLY behind the Patriots, on the field at the Superbowl, with 2 clock minutes (which we all know translates to roughly 1 hour in the real world), and my phone/camera went completely dead. Absolutely, completely dead. So, I have no other photos.
The sidelines at the Superbowl are, I'm going to guess, about 40-50 feet wide. Some of that is "field" and some of that is wood. The field is where the players, coaches, cheerleaders, and many many many people of unknown purpose stand. The wood is where camera, sound, lighting, security, and volunteer peons stand. I'm not sure how they do it, but by some trick of filming, the shots of the Superbowl--at least the ones I've seen thus far--completely ignore the 20 or so feet of wood surrounding the field. The shots are lined up so as to show the field sidelines, but never ever would you even imagine that there is anything behind the players but the stadium itself. It's both genius, and a diabolical tragedy for those of us hoping for our 15 seconds of fame.
My job changed again on game day, and I was charged with keeping "The Box" from being ripped from the wall. Our Guitar's Umbilical Cord was attached to a control box on the wall, and if the pullers got overly zealous and ripped that box from the wall, all kinds of hell might have been unleashed. So I got to stand in the most invisible part of the entire field and protect it.
Once the cable was out and I was sure no more pulling would take place, you'd better believe I ran out onto the field, under the premise that I was checking on my crew and making sure they had the slack they needed and whatnot. I was also, seriously, checking the cable as I went, to see what other cables were over, under, through, and around it. It is a veritable spaghetti bonanza out there, and since our cable had to be pulled back with super speed, I wanted to make sure it wouldn't become entangled with the camera or speaker cables. And then there were the few guys that just didn't understand that the cable they were standing on (or in one guy's case, wrapped in--I'm not kidding, and I totally don't know how he managed it, but it was looped around his ankles!!), was about to go at whiplash speed across the field and then back to the sidelines. . .
Our job was done basically by the end of the first song. The big moving "guitar" that crashed into the stage was our critter. Once the lights went out on it, it pulled back, we pulled in and coiled the cable, and ran out to enjoy the show. I was off stage left, quite a bit back from the stage and any possible camera shots, so I'm fairly certain no one even knew I was there.
But that's okay with me, because for about 5 minutes of glee and 30 seconds of absolute heart pumping adrenaline, I was most definitely there and I helped make it happen.
Oh, and we got this:
Sunday, February 03, 2008
Oh! It's Over. :(
It was over in the blink of an eye, but it was SO worth it. I'm afraid, though, that I have a rather massive headache that I'll go ahead and blame on the fact that we ate at about 11:30 this morning, and not again until after 7pm this evening.
So I'm going to bed, and tomorrow there will be blurry photos and much glee!
So I'm going to bed, and tomorrow there will be blurry photos and much glee!
Saturday, February 02, 2008
The Eyes Have It!
No. No they don't. They don't have Pink Eye. It was just a play on words. Get it?
I seem to have normal, if somewhat itchier than usual eyes. I did the warm compress thing yesterday, and rinsed them out a couple times with contact solution. Unless something go drastically wrong between now and 10am tomorrow morning, I'm going to the Superbowl!
We are supposed to show up at 11:30am at an offsite location, where they will have plasma tellys and food for us. I'm taking a couple games and some cards as well, since the game doesn't even start until 4pm. World Class Standing Around, as Cap says. I'll have my phone with me, so I'll at least try to get some shots of that. Whether I'll be able to get anything inside the Stadium is anyone's guess. I'm thinking no, since I'll be slightly preoccupied.
I seem to have normal, if somewhat itchier than usual eyes. I did the warm compress thing yesterday, and rinsed them out a couple times with contact solution. Unless something go drastically wrong between now and 10am tomorrow morning, I'm going to the Superbowl!
We are supposed to show up at 11:30am at an offsite location, where they will have plasma tellys and food for us. I'm taking a couple games and some cards as well, since the game doesn't even start until 4pm. World Class Standing Around, as Cap says. I'll have my phone with me, so I'll at least try to get some shots of that. Whether I'll be able to get anything inside the Stadium is anyone's guess. I'm thinking no, since I'll be slightly preoccupied.
Friday, February 01, 2008
Horrific Realisations, Tremendous Glee, and More Horror!
So about 4 days ago I realised that in attending Dress Rehearsal on the 31st of January, 2008, I would be missing the season premiere of Lost. This was a horrible horrible comeuppance. I had been so excited, so enamoured of the whole thing, that I had completely forgotten about this *most* important show. We'd just gotten the disc set for the previous season, watched it feverishly, and were anxiously awaiting The Return (of the show and of the Lost-ees to civilisation--see what I did there?).
So I moaned about that for a few days and yesterday completely forgot about it again in my gleeful bouncing as I watched Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers THREE TIMES. Oh Dress Rehearsals how I love thee. All the excitement of the actual show, with very little of the stress. We finally got to run our cable in sort of real time and my, how the addition of 1600 people storming the field for the concert sort of puts some kinks in *that* process! But we got it done, and quite well, I'd say, for never having done it before. We were denied ninja hoods, much to my chagrin, but that just means that I have to get to the costume shop for some glow-in-the dark hair dye or something. I warned them!
**Oh, so here's about where you'll see me, if they show any of the prep. Right at the end of the second quarter, we'll start walking out onto the field. My group will be among the first ones out, if we are not very first. We'll enter from the Giants side, and hug the back wall behind the goal posts (Which, incidentally, are MUCH smaller in real life than they look on tv. If you are like me and have ever said "How did he *miss* that!?", lemme tell you...now I know.), cross to the Patriots side and walk up to about the 35-40 yard line. Our cable starts about there, and we'll run it to the opposite end of the field, crossing the field just past the 50 yard line. We've been told explicitly that the cable must not touch the Pat's logo, so it's likely that I'll be in that area keeping it off. Cord goes out, cord moves around, cord comes back as the aforementioned 1600 come rushing in. We coil it up again, and hit the field. I'm kind of standing back from the crowd, by the speakers on about the 35 yard line, dancing and cheering my head off (of course, we're warned that there will be hundreds more people just standing around on Sunday, so there may not be that much extra room there--I'll try be in that general area though, in case you're lookin for me). Afterwards we're hoping to linger on the sidelines for a bit longer as the stage comes down. They will be racing to get everything cleared off, and since our cable is already done we won't have much to do but wait.**
So, the final horror of this story, besides hearing that we *won't* all be getting ninja caps? As we stood around getting our final pep talk last night, my right eye was super itchy, and blurry, like I had a wad of translucent gum in it or something. When I got home, I checked it out again and found (stop right here if you're eating or weak stomached cos it's gonna get gross) a big ole glob of...mucous? pus? It was pretty nasty, and it was accompanied by a bit more that had sort of congealed in the corner of my eye, although I know I had "cleaned" that corner out during the pep talk. So my immediate thought is that somehow I've contracted Pink Eye. Dear lord. It would figure that three days before one of the most exciting moments of my life I find myself with a highly contagious and (more importantly!!) highly *unsightly* ailment.
I quickly got online and did some reading and my symptoms sure sound like Pink Eye. Itchy, red eyes, blurry vision, yellow to green mucous-y discharge. Great. Everything says "Treat It Immediately!" But hey, guess what? It's 11:30 at night, and besides that, I have no insurance at the moment. I was looking for free clinics online, but only finding those that are "urgent care"--they are open all the time, but still want insurance. I figured I'd resume my search in the morning, and resorted to looking up home remedies in the meantime. I found that chamomile tea bags used as compresses is one method, and I happen to have some, so I decided to run with that until I can figure out the doctor situation.
I scrubbed my face down really well, and washed my hands about every five minutes. Meanwhile, R was busy with the alcohol, wiping down every surface I might have touched. I was relegated to the spare room last night--just in case--so I got my bed ready while he disinfected light switches, the snooze on the alarm, and anything in between. I didn't sleep very well--a combination of being in a strange bed and the feeling of having a fully developed porcupine in my eye that I just had to let be. When R got ready to leave for work, though, he came in to check on me and said it didn't look so bad. I was dubious, but too tired to get up and look for myself. I went back to sleep for a little while and oh-so-carefully opened my eyes when I finally had enough. The eye(s) were *not* sealed shut, which was my biggest fear. In the bathroom, I checked them out and, while red and a bit "sleepy", they really *don't* look so bad.
So maybe I was just allergic to something yesterday? I'm keeping a close eye (AHAHA) on it today, and I have the chamomile tea bags at the ready--and I'll probably use them just because it sounds soothing. I'm also continuing to check out clinics and other remedies, in case it flares up again. I'll take any prayers or well-wishes I can get as well. It's a silly thing to ask for, but it would really stink to miss the Superbowl at this point--especially on account of a Pink Eye scare.
So I moaned about that for a few days and yesterday completely forgot about it again in my gleeful bouncing as I watched Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers THREE TIMES. Oh Dress Rehearsals how I love thee. All the excitement of the actual show, with very little of the stress. We finally got to run our cable in sort of real time and my, how the addition of 1600 people storming the field for the concert sort of puts some kinks in *that* process! But we got it done, and quite well, I'd say, for never having done it before. We were denied ninja hoods, much to my chagrin, but that just means that I have to get to the costume shop for some glow-in-the dark hair dye or something. I warned them!
**Oh, so here's about where you'll see me, if they show any of the prep. Right at the end of the second quarter, we'll start walking out onto the field. My group will be among the first ones out, if we are not very first. We'll enter from the Giants side, and hug the back wall behind the goal posts (Which, incidentally, are MUCH smaller in real life than they look on tv. If you are like me and have ever said "How did he *miss* that!?", lemme tell you...now I know.), cross to the Patriots side and walk up to about the 35-40 yard line. Our cable starts about there, and we'll run it to the opposite end of the field, crossing the field just past the 50 yard line. We've been told explicitly that the cable must not touch the Pat's logo, so it's likely that I'll be in that area keeping it off. Cord goes out, cord moves around, cord comes back as the aforementioned 1600 come rushing in. We coil it up again, and hit the field. I'm kind of standing back from the crowd, by the speakers on about the 35 yard line, dancing and cheering my head off (of course, we're warned that there will be hundreds more people just standing around on Sunday, so there may not be that much extra room there--I'll try be in that general area though, in case you're lookin for me). Afterwards we're hoping to linger on the sidelines for a bit longer as the stage comes down. They will be racing to get everything cleared off, and since our cable is already done we won't have much to do but wait.**
So, the final horror of this story, besides hearing that we *won't* all be getting ninja caps? As we stood around getting our final pep talk last night, my right eye was super itchy, and blurry, like I had a wad of translucent gum in it or something. When I got home, I checked it out again and found (stop right here if you're eating or weak stomached cos it's gonna get gross) a big ole glob of...mucous? pus? It was pretty nasty, and it was accompanied by a bit more that had sort of congealed in the corner of my eye, although I know I had "cleaned" that corner out during the pep talk. So my immediate thought is that somehow I've contracted Pink Eye. Dear lord. It would figure that three days before one of the most exciting moments of my life I find myself with a highly contagious and (more importantly!!) highly *unsightly* ailment.
I quickly got online and did some reading and my symptoms sure sound like Pink Eye. Itchy, red eyes, blurry vision, yellow to green mucous-y discharge. Great. Everything says "Treat It Immediately!" But hey, guess what? It's 11:30 at night, and besides that, I have no insurance at the moment. I was looking for free clinics online, but only finding those that are "urgent care"--they are open all the time, but still want insurance. I figured I'd resume my search in the morning, and resorted to looking up home remedies in the meantime. I found that chamomile tea bags used as compresses is one method, and I happen to have some, so I decided to run with that until I can figure out the doctor situation.
I scrubbed my face down really well, and washed my hands about every five minutes. Meanwhile, R was busy with the alcohol, wiping down every surface I might have touched. I was relegated to the spare room last night--just in case--so I got my bed ready while he disinfected light switches, the snooze on the alarm, and anything in between. I didn't sleep very well--a combination of being in a strange bed and the feeling of having a fully developed porcupine in my eye that I just had to let be. When R got ready to leave for work, though, he came in to check on me and said it didn't look so bad. I was dubious, but too tired to get up and look for myself. I went back to sleep for a little while and oh-so-carefully opened my eyes when I finally had enough. The eye(s) were *not* sealed shut, which was my biggest fear. In the bathroom, I checked them out and, while red and a bit "sleepy", they really *don't* look so bad.
So maybe I was just allergic to something yesterday? I'm keeping a close eye (AHAHA) on it today, and I have the chamomile tea bags at the ready--and I'll probably use them just because it sounds soothing. I'm also continuing to check out clinics and other remedies, in case it flares up again. I'll take any prayers or well-wishes I can get as well. It's a silly thing to ask for, but it would really stink to miss the Superbowl at this point--especially on account of a Pink Eye scare.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Monday, January 28, 2008
Album Cover Game
This is cool.
In order to make your own, you really need some sort of photoshop-ish tool, but looking at the existing ones and going through the steps is nearly as good.
My first band was Harwich Redoubt, and the album was called "Like to Call Normal." Sadly, I don't recall the photo, but it hardly matters with a cool band name like that, now does it?
In order to make your own, you really need some sort of photoshop-ish tool, but looking at the existing ones and going through the steps is nearly as good.
My first band was Harwich Redoubt, and the album was called "Like to Call Normal." Sadly, I don't recall the photo, but it hardly matters with a cool band name like that, now does it?
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Bullet Points
1. We had a rainy rehearsal tonight, but we were mostly inside the stadium^, so it wasn't so bad. Despite everything on the webpage and in the papers we had to sign stating that cell phones/cameras are not allowed at rehearsals, and by NO MEANS inside the stadium, many many people were not-so-surreptitiously snapping away inside. I am a good girl with a major guilt complex, so I did not take mine in. So this is all you get.
2. My official job is now "Cable Feeder". It's dirty, dirty work:
3. Some of that is grass stains, from the sinfully lush grass on the playing field. They had "The Tray" in tonight, so we got to see and walk around on (covered mostly with tarps, however) Superbowl Grass. I never thought I would covet grass, but damn. This guy does it. This is his 42nd Superbowl. He's a tough little dude. You don't mess with his grass, but I'm still trying to orchestrate a "fall" so I can roll around on it. It's that nice.4. Cap told another genius story tonight, about growing up in rural Tennessee. When he was six years old, he was playing on the family farm when he saw a sharecropper plowing a field with his mule. He approached the man and told him that he wanted to learn how to plow with the mule. The sharecropper obliged and let him grab the plow handles and assisted him as he drove a few rows. When they were done, Cap noted that his rows were crooked and wobbly, whereas the sharecroppers rows were "as straight as the yard lines on this football field". Cap asked the sharecropper why this was. The reply?
"You have to pick a point and *aim* for it. Otherwise, you're just following the Ass."
Sage Words.
Friday, January 25, 2008
Today Is Friday
Another week down.
Rehearsal didn't really happen so much last night. It wasn't cancelled or anything, and I showed up along with a number of other folks. It's just that 160 people did NOT show up. See, it was sprinkling yesterday off and on, and rain was forecast for the evening as well. And despite the fact that the call board was never updated with any cancellation notices, those 160 people decided that they'd just stay home.
Those of us who *did* show up got a nice meal out of it, and a fairly long Q & A with "Cap", whose given name eludes me, but whose leadership skills and speaking prowess will never. Honestly I can't really tell you what his job is, except to sort of guide us all through this process and make it work. He's just really entertaining to listen to, and makes us feel like a valuable part of the show, instead of treating us like the untrained peons we really are. Of course the former is true as well, and I don't mean to discount that at all--they *could not* do this without the 400+ volunteers (as evidenced by the fact that with 160 short last night, we got to sit in a tent chatting with Cap instead of actually rehearsing). It's just really nice to be treated as a member of the team, and with respect, instead of just getting orders barked at us.
I talked to him about this after he wrapped up his answers and sent everyone on their way. I'm sure I came across as a total cheeseball suckup, but I told him that I was really impressed with his speaking and his leadership. We chatted for a bit about the fact that in order for it to work, the volunteers have to really *own* the process. They have to feel a part of the whole. Without that feeling of partnership, it will never come together. Cap lamented the fact that, as a society, we don't do things "together" anymore. Everyone runs around with their cell phones to their ears, in their own little worlds. No one wants to be spoken to by a stranger, let alone help them with something.
He talked about the days when there were barn raisings and community fire departments--times when people got together to help others out because it was the right thing to do--not because it was a paid job. This, in his mind, was harkening back to those activities. A bunch of strangers coming together to do something great. Not because we'll make a bunch of money, but because we can. Sure, it will be a lot of work for "Free". Most people probably signed up because they wanted to be on TV, or tell their buddies they were on the Superbowl.
Regardless of their reasons for signing up, for everyone involved it will be a huge learning experience and a chance to be part of something bigger than most of us will ever know. The production team, and Cap most notably, is ensuring our success by really including us, and not treating us as outsiders. I hope that a lot of people take that feeling away with them and remember to apply it in their everyday lives.
Rehearsal didn't really happen so much last night. It wasn't cancelled or anything, and I showed up along with a number of other folks. It's just that 160 people did NOT show up. See, it was sprinkling yesterday off and on, and rain was forecast for the evening as well. And despite the fact that the call board was never updated with any cancellation notices, those 160 people decided that they'd just stay home.
Those of us who *did* show up got a nice meal out of it, and a fairly long Q & A with "Cap", whose given name eludes me, but whose leadership skills and speaking prowess will never. Honestly I can't really tell you what his job is, except to sort of guide us all through this process and make it work. He's just really entertaining to listen to, and makes us feel like a valuable part of the show, instead of treating us like the untrained peons we really are. Of course the former is true as well, and I don't mean to discount that at all--they *could not* do this without the 400+ volunteers (as evidenced by the fact that with 160 short last night, we got to sit in a tent chatting with Cap instead of actually rehearsing). It's just really nice to be treated as a member of the team, and with respect, instead of just getting orders barked at us.
I talked to him about this after he wrapped up his answers and sent everyone on their way. I'm sure I came across as a total cheeseball suckup, but I told him that I was really impressed with his speaking and his leadership. We chatted for a bit about the fact that in order for it to work, the volunteers have to really *own* the process. They have to feel a part of the whole. Without that feeling of partnership, it will never come together. Cap lamented the fact that, as a society, we don't do things "together" anymore. Everyone runs around with their cell phones to their ears, in their own little worlds. No one wants to be spoken to by a stranger, let alone help them with something.
He talked about the days when there were barn raisings and community fire departments--times when people got together to help others out because it was the right thing to do--not because it was a paid job. This, in his mind, was harkening back to those activities. A bunch of strangers coming together to do something great. Not because we'll make a bunch of money, but because we can. Sure, it will be a lot of work for "Free". Most people probably signed up because they wanted to be on TV, or tell their buddies they were on the Superbowl.
Regardless of their reasons for signing up, for everyone involved it will be a huge learning experience and a chance to be part of something bigger than most of us will ever know. The production team, and Cap most notably, is ensuring our success by really including us, and not treating us as outsiders. I hope that a lot of people take that feeling away with them and remember to apply it in their everyday lives.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
5 Words...
I never thought I'd hear myself say:
I'm going to the Superbowl!
It's true. As some of you know, Superbowl (mumblemumble because I have no idea what number it is...) is being held in Glendale, Arizona this year. Glendale is a whopping 20 minute drive from our house.
Orginally I wanted nothing to do with the debacle. I wanted to leave town for the week and rent our our house for $20,000 (no, that's not our house...but an example of some of the many many ads posted).
Then, a message was posted to one of my Meetup groups. Superbowl Productions needed people to help with the Pregame and Halftime shows. OH EM GEE! I may not know what number Superbowl it is, or even who's playing, but I do know that the Superbowl Halftime show is one of the biggest productions....EVER. A chance to be a part of that? Sign me up!
Sign up I did, and went to our first rehearsal last night. I had to sign a confidentiality waiver, so I can't say much about it, but I will say that it's amazing. The amount of preparation and coordination involved is staggering. I am so excited to be a part of this, I can't even describe it, but R can tell you stories of my bouncing around the house and jabbering constantly and incoherently when I got home last night. It is going to be one of the more memorable experiences of my life, I'm fairly certain.
So if you're going to be watching the game, don't miss the Halftime Show! I'll be on the field...somewhere. :)
I'm going to the Superbowl!
It's true. As some of you know, Superbowl (mumblemumble because I have no idea what number it is...) is being held in Glendale, Arizona this year. Glendale is a whopping 20 minute drive from our house.
Orginally I wanted nothing to do with the debacle. I wanted to leave town for the week and rent our our house for $20,000 (no, that's not our house...but an example of some of the many many ads posted).
Then, a message was posted to one of my Meetup groups. Superbowl Productions needed people to help with the Pregame and Halftime shows. OH EM GEE! I may not know what number Superbowl it is, or even who's playing, but I do know that the Superbowl Halftime show is one of the biggest productions....EVER. A chance to be a part of that? Sign me up!
Sign up I did, and went to our first rehearsal last night. I had to sign a confidentiality waiver, so I can't say much about it, but I will say that it's amazing. The amount of preparation and coordination involved is staggering. I am so excited to be a part of this, I can't even describe it, but R can tell you stories of my bouncing around the house and jabbering constantly and incoherently when I got home last night. It is going to be one of the more memorable experiences of my life, I'm fairly certain.
So if you're going to be watching the game, don't miss the Halftime Show! I'll be on the field...somewhere. :)
Saturday, January 19, 2008
mmmmmm
Last night I made these for dinner. Yum. Honestly, I think the "gravy" would make anything edible in and of itself. Sososo tasty. And easy? The hardest part was actually assembling the raviolis. I really need to buy myself a pastry brush. Because the whole dipping ones finger in water and wetting the wontons? Tedious! But oh so worth it. I've been told that we *will* be having these again--preferably as part of our weekly routine. :P
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Taco Tooooosday!
Except not really though. For one thing, it's not Tuesday... We had grilled cheese sammiches and tomato soup, because it's just so dang cold here. And yeah yeah, my friends and family in truly cold places will scoff at that remark, but let me just say that when you're accustomed to 110 degree +, 50 degrees seems downright frigid.
I had my appointment with the good folks at Charles Schwab on Monday, and the guy agreed with me that my once fantastically performing IRA mutual fund is now a dog. A mangy, evil, kitten-eating dog. We discussed moving those funds into something else, and my interest is in a "socially repsonsible" fund--something that doesn't put a boatload of interest in oil, or mining, or the like. We found one that looks good, so I'm to see about selling/buying on my own via the online trading thing. I'm also going to *finally* reinvest some of the cash in my MM account into a smaller cap fund in the hopes of getting a little better return.
Don't I sound like I know what I'm talking about? Haha fooled you! I am anxious to learn more, indeed, and the Kiplinger magazine is pretty cool, as far as a magazine written in a foreign language about a subject that makes my head hurt can be. I think I'm picking up a few things here and there, but I doubt I'll ever be "investment savvy". Perhaps. I certainly have the time on my hands of late to do something about it. :)
Um so yeah. Hump Day! Not much else to say, unless you want to hear about how clean my bathroom is, or how much my toes hurt from trying to learn to jump rope again. Yeah, I was jumping rope barefoot, what of it?
Oh, and did I mention that it's COLD here? Supposed to get down to the 30s overnight! Oh no! I'd better run and dig up my flannel pj's!
I had my appointment with the good folks at Charles Schwab on Monday, and the guy agreed with me that my once fantastically performing IRA mutual fund is now a dog. A mangy, evil, kitten-eating dog. We discussed moving those funds into something else, and my interest is in a "socially repsonsible" fund--something that doesn't put a boatload of interest in oil, or mining, or the like. We found one that looks good, so I'm to see about selling/buying on my own via the online trading thing. I'm also going to *finally* reinvest some of the cash in my MM account into a smaller cap fund in the hopes of getting a little better return.
Don't I sound like I know what I'm talking about? Haha fooled you! I am anxious to learn more, indeed, and the Kiplinger magazine is pretty cool, as far as a magazine written in a foreign language about a subject that makes my head hurt can be. I think I'm picking up a few things here and there, but I doubt I'll ever be "investment savvy". Perhaps. I certainly have the time on my hands of late to do something about it. :)
Um so yeah. Hump Day! Not much else to say, unless you want to hear about how clean my bathroom is, or how much my toes hurt from trying to learn to jump rope again. Yeah, I was jumping rope barefoot, what of it?
Oh, and did I mention that it's COLD here? Supposed to get down to the 30s overnight! Oh no! I'd better run and dig up my flannel pj's!
Monday, January 14, 2008
Bulbous Bouffant!
A clever person with a lot of time on his or her hands has put Bulbous Bouffant by the Vestibules to "video". Please ignore the distasteful image that this person has chosen for their avatar, and instead just click play and enjoy!
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Shirking
I like that word, "shirking". It sounds sort of playful and painful at the same time. Of course it means neither of those things, but that's okay because in it's actual definition it works as a title here.
I didn't tell you about my day Thursday. Or Friday. I was shirking my duties to you, denying you the minutae that makes up my daily drill. To make up for it, here is a quick recap.
I made:
A *really* tasty taco salad using Mezzetta Vinaigretta, which I don't have a link for because--shockingly and unbelievably--I cannot find any mention of online, save for a mention on Hot Coupon World. It's not even on the main Mezzetta webpage. Very very odd. Anyway, I found it in the salad dressing aisle, entirely by accident. There are a couple different flavours, and I went with Chipotle something-or-other. If you're familiar with Mezzetta, you'll recognize the jar full of all manner of veggies, steeped in a sauce of yummy spices. This stuff, though, is meant to be tossed up with salad greens and served as is. I dumped some in a skillet and sauteed the chicken in it, then mixed it all with shredded lettuce and served it in a homemade tortilla bowl. (GO ME!) Very good stuff.
An appointment to see someone at the local Charles Schwab office. My IRA has been languishing, so I'm going to try to take charge again. But first I need a refresher course. Oh, and thanks, Dad, for the Kiplinger subscription--I got two issues yesterday! Overload!
An online order for a paper shredder. We have a lot of old documents that it's time to get rid of, and me tearing them into tiny pieces is *not* going to happen, no matter how much free time I currently have. It should be here Monday. Let the destruction ensue!
Every muscle in the top third of my body ache. I went pretty nuts on the Bowflex yesterday, and then spent some quality time in the yard with the lopper. I will soon be as trim as the trees and bushes in the back yard.
I did some other stuff too, but I've slept since then, so that's all that springs to mind. Today is Saturday, so it's laundry and dishes day. And I'm going to go for a bike ride later this afternoon. And...yeah.
<3
I didn't tell you about my day Thursday. Or Friday. I was shirking my duties to you, denying you the minutae that makes up my daily drill. To make up for it, here is a quick recap.
I made:
A *really* tasty taco salad using Mezzetta Vinaigretta, which I don't have a link for because--shockingly and unbelievably--I cannot find any mention of online, save for a mention on Hot Coupon World. It's not even on the main Mezzetta webpage. Very very odd. Anyway, I found it in the salad dressing aisle, entirely by accident. There are a couple different flavours, and I went with Chipotle something-or-other. If you're familiar with Mezzetta, you'll recognize the jar full of all manner of veggies, steeped in a sauce of yummy spices. This stuff, though, is meant to be tossed up with salad greens and served as is. I dumped some in a skillet and sauteed the chicken in it, then mixed it all with shredded lettuce and served it in a homemade tortilla bowl. (GO ME!) Very good stuff.
An appointment to see someone at the local Charles Schwab office. My IRA has been languishing, so I'm going to try to take charge again. But first I need a refresher course. Oh, and thanks, Dad, for the Kiplinger subscription--I got two issues yesterday! Overload!
An online order for a paper shredder. We have a lot of old documents that it's time to get rid of, and me tearing them into tiny pieces is *not* going to happen, no matter how much free time I currently have. It should be here Monday. Let the destruction ensue!
Every muscle in the top third of my body ache. I went pretty nuts on the Bowflex yesterday, and then spent some quality time in the yard with the lopper. I will soon be as trim as the trees and bushes in the back yard.
I did some other stuff too, but I've slept since then, so that's all that springs to mind. Today is Saturday, so it's laundry and dishes day. And I'm going to go for a bike ride later this afternoon. And...yeah.
<3
Wednesday, January 09, 2008
Wherein I try to clear my head before bedtime.
So last night I went to bed with my head full of thoughts and ideas. Not about anything specific, just...stuff. So much so that I didn't fall asleep for quite a long while. I used to write in an actual pen-and-paper journal before bed, and although I wrote about a lot of nothing, it seemed to allow me to rid my brain of all the fluff and get to sleep more quickly and to sleep more soundly once I got there.
That's the long way of saying that I'm going to attempt to do a little of that here and see if it helps. Expect a LOT of randomness, since the day is done and my head is a little like a pail of trimmings from the day's catch, if you will.
Today I:
Emptied the dishwasher but didn't reload it. I'll pay for that tomorrow. Unless it eats at me so much over the next few minutes that I succumb to the guilt and go do it before bed.
Walked the dogs and worked out on the Bowflex a bit. Turned wonky and now I have a SharPei (much love to my best friend in the entire world Even England) in my right knee. Shame, cos there was another death march up Piestewa Peak this weekend that I was going to attempt. Now, not so much.
Played on the computer more than I should have.
Went and saw Sweeny Todd which, in retrospect, makes me wonder "What was I thinking?" I had heard about the gore, but somehow convinced myself that it really wouldn't be *that* bad. But OH! It was. Very very bad. But the worst part? All the shaving! Who knew? A movie with a subtitle "The Demon Barber of Fleet Street"? Oh yeah, and the tiny fact that I actually played Mrs. Lovett in a high school production of it (not the musical). Despite all that, I somehow blocked out the fact that it is a movie about SHAVING. I'm not sure if I've mentioned it before, but I have an unfounded, yet completely real and ginormous phobia of watching people shave. I can't watch Gilette commercials, for pete's sake. I have no trouble shaving myself (although I gave it up for about 12 years, which is another post completely), and I have, in fact, shaved other people when I worked with adults with developmental disabilities. But watching someone else shave makes my skin positively crawl. It makes my teeth hurt. It makes my butt cringe. It...gives me the heebie jeebies. All that aside, it was a great movie. Tim Burton+Johnny Depp= WIN!
Tomorrow I will:
Write more and tell you what I did.
Goodnight!
That's the long way of saying that I'm going to attempt to do a little of that here and see if it helps. Expect a LOT of randomness, since the day is done and my head is a little like a pail of trimmings from the day's catch, if you will.
Today I:
Emptied the dishwasher but didn't reload it. I'll pay for that tomorrow. Unless it eats at me so much over the next few minutes that I succumb to the guilt and go do it before bed.
Walked the dogs and worked out on the Bowflex a bit. Turned wonky and now I have a SharPei (much love to my best friend in the entire world Even England) in my right knee. Shame, cos there was another death march up Piestewa Peak this weekend that I was going to attempt. Now, not so much.
Played on the computer more than I should have.
Went and saw Sweeny Todd which, in retrospect, makes me wonder "What was I thinking?" I had heard about the gore, but somehow convinced myself that it really wouldn't be *that* bad. But OH! It was. Very very bad. But the worst part? All the shaving! Who knew? A movie with a subtitle "The Demon Barber of Fleet Street"? Oh yeah, and the tiny fact that I actually played Mrs. Lovett in a high school production of it (not the musical). Despite all that, I somehow blocked out the fact that it is a movie about SHAVING. I'm not sure if I've mentioned it before, but I have an unfounded, yet completely real and ginormous phobia of watching people shave. I can't watch Gilette commercials, for pete's sake. I have no trouble shaving myself (although I gave it up for about 12 years, which is another post completely), and I have, in fact, shaved other people when I worked with adults with developmental disabilities. But watching someone else shave makes my skin positively crawl. It makes my teeth hurt. It makes my butt cringe. It...gives me the heebie jeebies. All that aside, it was a great movie. Tim Burton+Johnny Depp= WIN!
Tomorrow I will:
Write more and tell you what I did.
Goodnight!
Monday, January 07, 2008
On the 7th Day....
Yes, yes, I'm well aware that we're a full week into the new year. And that not only haven't I posted any recaps or resolutions, but that I've only posted one measley photo and a few lines of text--AT ALL. Yes, yes, shame on me.
One of my tentative resolutions was to write something--anything--on this blog every day. That quickly changed to Monday-Friday, and then realism swooped in and I thought maybe 3 times/week would be manageable. And then a week went by with nary a post and I thought maybe "more" would be the proper terminology for it. I'll blog "more" this year.
So consider this. Two posts in 7 days. That's not so far off the 3/week mark. I need some material, though. I'll take requests. What do you want to hear about?
Oh, the mile high hike? You want to hear about that? Here it is in a nutshell: "Ohmygod we're still climbing are you serious I'm going to die on this mountain."
Squaw, or Piestewa, Peak is square in the middle of town, and although everything I've read about it claims that it's a "moderate" hike, and an "easy" trail, it's a real beast. It's about 1,200-1,300 elevation gain in 1.2 miles. I'm not a mathematician, so I don't know what kind of grade that translates to, but consider climbing stairs for 1.2 miles and you're pretty much there.
I made it all the way to the top my first time up, which is no mean feat, but I was humbled by a couple people that passed me at least once doing multiple ascents.
I'll get the rest of the photos up on Flikr here pretty quick. It was kind of an overcast day, so they're not great shots, but I'm going again soon, so maybe I'll get some better light next go 'round.
Happy New Year!
One of my tentative resolutions was to write something--anything--on this blog every day. That quickly changed to Monday-Friday, and then realism swooped in and I thought maybe 3 times/week would be manageable. And then a week went by with nary a post and I thought maybe "more" would be the proper terminology for it. I'll blog "more" this year.
So consider this. Two posts in 7 days. That's not so far off the 3/week mark. I need some material, though. I'll take requests. What do you want to hear about?
Oh, the mile high hike? You want to hear about that? Here it is in a nutshell: "Ohmygod we're still climbing are you serious I'm going to die on this mountain."
Squaw, or Piestewa, Peak is square in the middle of town, and although everything I've read about it claims that it's a "moderate" hike, and an "easy" trail, it's a real beast. It's about 1,200-1,300 elevation gain in 1.2 miles. I'm not a mathematician, so I don't know what kind of grade that translates to, but consider climbing stairs for 1.2 miles and you're pretty much there.
I made it all the way to the top my first time up, which is no mean feat, but I was humbled by a couple people that passed me at least once doing multiple ascents.
I'll get the rest of the photos up on Flikr here pretty quick. It was kind of an overcast day, so they're not great shots, but I'm going again soon, so maybe I'll get some better light next go 'round.Happy New Year!
Saturday, January 05, 2008
Squaw Peak
up! No joke. More photos to come!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)