I'd like to introduce my ...I think I have 7 readers now, to my Blogspawn. I can hardly claim her as my blogspawn because she started flying on her own although it may have been the gusts of hot air that I produce on this site that shot her out of the nest and into the blogsphere.
Ladies and Gentlemen.... It's my pleasure to introduce to you *drumroll*.. Silverwing.
This blogspawn has indeed ventured out into the wild of cyberspace and you can see the new nest at http://silverwings-silverings.blogspot.com/ . She unlike I, can blog on multiple topics. I'm still working on it.
Pamibe, Mrs Who, BR, Hap, and my other 3 readers...ya'll be nice.
Showing posts with label Little Sisters. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Little Sisters. Show all posts
2/6/09
8/18/08
Moving Day
Today, I trekked to Ames to help little sis Sarah move back for college. It was a nice change of pace for me - as I've been somewhat busy (yet bored at the same time).
The trip was fun & we talked about tons of stuff (best joke: What are the sexiest animals on a farm?). It took just under 2 hours & we only needed an hour to move her in - it's not a big moving day at ISU, apparently.
Now, I don't know when the last time was any of you saw a dorm room but HOLY CRAP! This thing was huge. Sure, it's technically 3 rooms, 6 people but that's TWO floors, TWO full bathrooms, a living area, kitchen across the hall, etc. This place is amazing. Heck, it's almost better than my apartment! It's light years better than the dorms at UI (miserable bastion of liberalism that it is).
So, after a rather enjoyable, uneventful move-in, we all went to lunch at Applebees - which is a nice enough place...when you're not getting a bit of the food poisoning, that is. Yeah, less than 1 hour later, ol' big brother is in the bathroom making more noise than a high school marching band backed up by a 747 jet engine. It was bad.
Still, I recovered & it was a good day. I left about 1pm & made it home about 3 - just in time to get ready for class...
The trip was fun & we talked about tons of stuff (best joke: What are the sexiest animals on a farm?). It took just under 2 hours & we only needed an hour to move her in - it's not a big moving day at ISU, apparently.
Now, I don't know when the last time was any of you saw a dorm room but HOLY CRAP! This thing was huge. Sure, it's technically 3 rooms, 6 people but that's TWO floors, TWO full bathrooms, a living area, kitchen across the hall, etc. This place is amazing. Heck, it's almost better than my apartment! It's light years better than the dorms at UI (miserable bastion of liberalism that it is).
So, after a rather enjoyable, uneventful move-in, we all went to lunch at Applebees - which is a nice enough place...when you're not getting a bit of the food poisoning, that is. Yeah, less than 1 hour later, ol' big brother is in the bathroom making more noise than a high school marching band backed up by a 747 jet engine. It was bad.
Still, I recovered & it was a good day. I left about 1pm & made it home about 3 - just in time to get ready for class...
11/20/07
Peter Pan
I picked up little sis, Sarah, at Iowa State on Sunday. She asked me to since her parents were busy that day & she was late getting in Saturday night from the ISU football game in Kansas (she's in the band). I thought it was a nice chance to see how college has been for her, how her
boyfriend, Bob, was doing & how life in general was going for her.
boyfriend, Bob, was doing & how life in general was going for her.
We left Ames about 10AM & stopped at a Perkins for breakfast in some po-dunk town. She's doing well in college & having fun. I think it helps she's staying with her older sister. Besides, that keeps me from worrying about her too much (I swear, I'm more like another parent than a sibling sometimes!). Smart kid & has a good head on her shoulders but there are some jerks out there, unfortunately. She's got a lot of the "normal" concerns a college student has in life: boys, social life & such.
Anyway, I suppose I should get to the subject of this post. Her parents are season-ticket holders at the Paramount Theater & she asked me to see a production of Peter Pan with her. As we all know, anyone who doesn't like Peter Pan is un-American, so of course I went to see it. I must say it was a very good show. The lady who played Peter was, um, V-E-R-Y into her role.
She put so much energy into it, you know she loved the part...and probably needed a nap afterwards.
As I've noticed in these shows, the villains have the best personalities. Captain Hook was just pure entertainment. He took a role that's fun & added his own little twists (hook poking his good hand - great timing). Tiger Lily was played by a young lady who had some of the best facial expressions I've ever seen. She seemed "devious" in an endearing way - Kind of like she'd catch your eye but poke it out at the same time.
Smee, one of the best characters in Peter Pan, was just great. Funny, a little goofy & you just couldn't fault the guy for being a little mean-spirited. Something about that part just makes you like it more than any character in the story.
I had a great time seeing my imoto (Sarah told me that's Japanese for "little sister") again after a few months of her being at college. Being able to see her grow from a quiet, shy little girl into a social, confident young lady has been a great experience. Of course, just because she's growing up doesn't mean I won't look out for her. She's got a great start going in college & I'll help her keep that going in any way I can.
8/19/07
Wedding
No, I didn't make some crazy decision from the last post...
My little sis, Liz & her fiance, Mickey, were married yesterday at Saint Patrick's in Cedar Rapids,IA at 1pm! Beautiful (thankfully, the short) catholic ceremony during which I, being the only catholic in my row, managed to drop the kneeling rest on the foot of the lady next to me (I am so, so sorry!). Fortunately, she did not make a sound at the obvious pain & forgave me immediately. It sure made that sign of peace much less apprehensive... :-)
Liz looked absolutely beautiful in her dress: It was a traditional deal without any overkill. Let's face it, I've seen women go bonkers with the train that literally stops traffic, frills that would turn Liberace jealous & pretentious crowns that should be slapped off their heads. She was a sensible bride & picked a dress that she would enjoy, could breathe in & that wouldn't make the mass gasp in shock.
Mickey, of course, was dressed impeccably & had a rather nice tux going for him. I'm not a tails kind of guy, but it works for him. In addition to being ready-to-go in the grooming department, he was calm & cool the whole ceremony. Heck, you couldn't tell he was nervous (which, of course, he was) & he calmed an obviously emotional (in a good way!) Liz in a matter of seconds.
The reception was done on the other side of town & not until 6pm, so I took my friends Loren, Scott & Vicki to lunch at Granite City. Nice place. They don't rush you out of there & the food was well prepared.
At the reception, it was straight to the martinis for me! Grey Goose, dry, straight-up, with three olives. Yeah, I know how I like 'em! I had three over the course of three hours or so (I stopped there because I'd have to drive later on). I talked for a few minutes with Jackie, a friend in the wedding party, met a few new people who were incredibly nice & gabbed with a buddy who moved away from the area a couple years ago. I wished the bride & groom well - DUH! - & a good time was had by all.
Congratulations, sis & Mickey! You're a beautiful couple. I wish only the best blessings for you, your family & your future family! *wink* *wink* :-)
My little sis, Liz & her fiance, Mickey, were married yesterday at Saint Patrick's in Cedar Rapids,IA at 1pm! Beautiful (thankfully, the short) catholic ceremony during which I, being the only catholic in my row, managed to drop the kneeling rest on the foot of the lady next to me (I am so, so sorry!). Fortunately, she did not make a sound at the obvious pain & forgave me immediately. It sure made that sign of peace much less apprehensive... :-)
Liz looked absolutely beautiful in her dress: It was a traditional deal without any overkill. Let's face it, I've seen women go bonkers with the train that literally stops traffic, frills that would turn Liberace jealous & pretentious crowns that should be slapped off their heads. She was a sensible bride & picked a dress that she would enjoy, could breathe in & that wouldn't make the mass gasp in shock.
Mickey, of course, was dressed impeccably & had a rather nice tux going for him. I'm not a tails kind of guy, but it works for him. In addition to being ready-to-go in the grooming department, he was calm & cool the whole ceremony. Heck, you couldn't tell he was nervous (which, of course, he was) & he calmed an obviously emotional (in a good way!) Liz in a matter of seconds.
The reception was done on the other side of town & not until 6pm, so I took my friends Loren, Scott & Vicki to lunch at Granite City. Nice place. They don't rush you out of there & the food was well prepared.
At the reception, it was straight to the martinis for me! Grey Goose, dry, straight-up, with three olives. Yeah, I know how I like 'em! I had three over the course of three hours or so (I stopped there because I'd have to drive later on). I talked for a few minutes with Jackie, a friend in the wedding party, met a few new people who were incredibly nice & gabbed with a buddy who moved away from the area a couple years ago. I wished the bride & groom well - DUH! - & a good time was had by all.
Congratulations, sis & Mickey! You're a beautiful couple. I wish only the best blessings for you, your family & your future family! *wink* *wink* :-)
6/22/07
I'm Back, Baby!
After an enjoyable (AND eventful) trip to College Station,TX I have finally returned. For four straight days, I didn't give one darn care about life in (blech!) Iowa.
I'll be posting some pics - mostly of the beautiful A&M campus - that I took during the trip. Of course, a picture may say a thousand words (does that count when you're writing an article?) but regaling you with tales of woe & adventure through standard prose is more entertaining for me.
Day 1) Relatively uneventful. We started a touch later than planned but my brilliant planning in using a shorter route made up for that. Yes, it actually *was* a shortcut!
We stopped at Red Robin around Kansas City,MO & had a good, fast lunch. Discovered parking a full size Penske truck, with car trailer, is even more space-consuming than Rosie O'Donnell's posterior...but not by much.
After arriving in Durant,OK (stopped there for the night) we checked in to the hotel, cleaned up & went to dinner at a Mexican restaurant. Unfortunately, none of them really spoke English. Fortunately, little sis Liz speaks it very well! Ah, dinner was excellent - if incomprehensible.
Day 2) Woke up about 530am to get ready. Liz & Mickey wanted to sleep in. After politely telling them to get off their duffs, we got ready to go. Mickey & I were trying to get breakfast at the hotel (good stuff - omelet sandwich, cinnamon rolls, coffee) & Liz was doing her best to get us going immediately. A T-storm had knocked out power at the local diesel station, so we headed to the next exit for fuel.
Not only did we find the fuel we were looking for but also the very hard-to-find Onyx brand cigar. I picked up three & we headed out.
This is where the real fun begins.
As we crossed into Texas (yee haw!) there was a massive T-storm moving in. Now, I used to live in Kansas, so I've seen a few of these. What I haven't seen is the incredible torrent that caused flooding on US-69 (heh!). Cars on the frontage roads were under water, traffic was stopped & you could hardly see. I guess that's why we missed the obvious...
A wall of water went OVER the truck! We were going about 45mph & this huge flow of the wet stuff running across the highway just rolled over us as we plowed through it. Seriously, I was looking for the stuff & never saw it. We did make it through OK, counted our blessings & forged ahead.
I've always believed God has a sense of humor. Why else then would we have a blowout on the trailer tire after just getting away from the storm? We sat on the side of the road (no spare - I know how to change them) for about 1/2 hour & called road service. Triangles out, flashers on, etc. We noticed the storm was rolling around to us & decided to limp up to the next exit to wait for road service. As we got out to pick up the triangles, God decided our morning showers weren't enough to get the three of us clean & sent us enough water to make my red shirt see-through (ICK!).
After waiting two hours at the gas station, we were repaired & rolling out. We hit a minor traffic delay near Dallas but the rest of the trip was uneventful. We arrived in College Station,TX about 230pm or so.
We went through the process of checking Liz & Mickey in to the apartment (small, but a very nice place) & unloaded a few of the bigger things from the truck. Since we were tired, sweaty & such, showers were the order of the day. Lunch was at Dave's BBQ across the street. $18.00 for 1lb of Brisket, three drinks & two sides. The food was hot, juicy & melted right in your mouth! Great BBQ if you can get it. I lived in Memphis for awhile, so you can take my word on it.
Day 3) HOT! Yes, here's the day when we toured the A&M campus. Beautiful place. I'll be posting that soon enough. I actually might go there to finish college. Just fell in love with it. First stop was IHOP for breakfast. Yummy. Later, we stopped at the school store to pick up some baubles (A&M metal car tag, ball cap for me) & looked around the place for a bit. We did tons of stuff all day & were just dead tired at the end of it. Took Mickey & Liz to Outback (2 blocks from their apartment - how cool is that?) for dinner since I had to leave on Wednesday. Still didn't get to smoke the cigars...
Day 4) :-( Had to fly out of College Station, lay over in Dallas for five hours & fly into Iowa (blech!). Met some nice people on the plane - one guy who started a business in LA, but lived in TX. Other had family in the Navy - which I was in - so we had stuff to talk about.
Layover in Dallas wasn't five hours. It was 7 hours. The flight got pushed back an hour, the pilot didn't show up for a 1/2 hour after that & we had to wait (seventh in line) to take off. They made up time on the trip, but I didn't get into CR until about 1045pm.
So, there's the recap of my first excursion into Texas. I must say, I do see why everyone who lives there loves the state. It's big, beautiful & the people are friendly beyond belief. If you get the chance to visit the people of College Station, do so. I promise you won't be disappointed. ($7.50 for TWO double shots of Dewar's on the rocks doesn't hurt, either!)
I'll be posting some pics - mostly of the beautiful A&M campus - that I took during the trip. Of course, a picture may say a thousand words (does that count when you're writing an article?) but regaling you with tales of woe & adventure through standard prose is more entertaining for me.
Day 1) Relatively uneventful. We started a touch later than planned but my brilliant planning in using a shorter route made up for that. Yes, it actually *was* a shortcut!
We stopped at Red Robin around Kansas City,MO & had a good, fast lunch. Discovered parking a full size Penske truck, with car trailer, is even more space-consuming than Rosie O'Donnell's posterior...but not by much.
After arriving in Durant,OK (stopped there for the night) we checked in to the hotel, cleaned up & went to dinner at a Mexican restaurant. Unfortunately, none of them really spoke English. Fortunately, little sis Liz speaks it very well! Ah, dinner was excellent - if incomprehensible.
Day 2) Woke up about 530am to get ready. Liz & Mickey wanted to sleep in. After politely telling them to get off their duffs, we got ready to go. Mickey & I were trying to get breakfast at the hotel (good stuff - omelet sandwich, cinnamon rolls, coffee) & Liz was doing her best to get us going immediately. A T-storm had knocked out power at the local diesel station, so we headed to the next exit for fuel.
Not only did we find the fuel we were looking for but also the very hard-to-find Onyx brand cigar. I picked up three & we headed out.
This is where the real fun begins.
As we crossed into Texas (yee haw!) there was a massive T-storm moving in. Now, I used to live in Kansas, so I've seen a few of these. What I haven't seen is the incredible torrent that caused flooding on US-69 (heh!). Cars on the frontage roads were under water, traffic was stopped & you could hardly see. I guess that's why we missed the obvious...
A wall of water went OVER the truck! We were going about 45mph & this huge flow of the wet stuff running across the highway just rolled over us as we plowed through it. Seriously, I was looking for the stuff & never saw it. We did make it through OK, counted our blessings & forged ahead.
I've always believed God has a sense of humor. Why else then would we have a blowout on the trailer tire after just getting away from the storm? We sat on the side of the road (no spare - I know how to change them) for about 1/2 hour & called road service. Triangles out, flashers on, etc. We noticed the storm was rolling around to us & decided to limp up to the next exit to wait for road service. As we got out to pick up the triangles, God decided our morning showers weren't enough to get the three of us clean & sent us enough water to make my red shirt see-through (ICK!).
After waiting two hours at the gas station, we were repaired & rolling out. We hit a minor traffic delay near Dallas but the rest of the trip was uneventful. We arrived in College Station,TX about 230pm or so.
We went through the process of checking Liz & Mickey in to the apartment (small, but a very nice place) & unloaded a few of the bigger things from the truck. Since we were tired, sweaty & such, showers were the order of the day. Lunch was at Dave's BBQ across the street. $18.00 for 1lb of Brisket, three drinks & two sides. The food was hot, juicy & melted right in your mouth! Great BBQ if you can get it. I lived in Memphis for awhile, so you can take my word on it.
Day 3) HOT! Yes, here's the day when we toured the A&M campus. Beautiful place. I'll be posting that soon enough. I actually might go there to finish college. Just fell in love with it. First stop was IHOP for breakfast. Yummy. Later, we stopped at the school store to pick up some baubles (A&M metal car tag, ball cap for me) & looked around the place for a bit. We did tons of stuff all day & were just dead tired at the end of it. Took Mickey & Liz to Outback (2 blocks from their apartment - how cool is that?) for dinner since I had to leave on Wednesday. Still didn't get to smoke the cigars...
Day 4) :-( Had to fly out of College Station, lay over in Dallas for five hours & fly into Iowa (blech!). Met some nice people on the plane - one guy who started a business in LA, but lived in TX. Other had family in the Navy - which I was in - so we had stuff to talk about.
Layover in Dallas wasn't five hours. It was 7 hours. The flight got pushed back an hour, the pilot didn't show up for a 1/2 hour after that & we had to wait (seventh in line) to take off. They made up time on the trip, but I didn't get into CR until about 1045pm.
So, there's the recap of my first excursion into Texas. I must say, I do see why everyone who lives there loves the state. It's big, beautiful & the people are friendly beyond belief. If you get the chance to visit the people of College Station, do so. I promise you won't be disappointed. ($7.50 for TWO double shots of Dewar's on the rocks doesn't hurt, either!)
6/15/07
The Stars At Night...
Well, I'm headed to Texas for a brief excursion. I'll be taking off on Sunday morning & driving (oh! the humanity!) all the way down to College Station,TX to help my little sis, Liz, & her fiance move there for college.
This is my first time through Oklahoma & Texas, so I'm at least excited about that. I'm slightly less excited about the 100-degree heat, humidity & fact that my southern drawl has long since been lost when I left South Carolina. I do have that "honorary" Texan card from my friend, JP, so maybe I'll be able to survive. ;-)
I'll be out of town until Wednesday night, so if there's a lack of posting, y'all don't blame me, OK? I'm on an adventure!
This is my first time through Oklahoma & Texas, so I'm at least excited about that. I'm slightly less excited about the 100-degree heat, humidity & fact that my southern drawl has long since been lost when I left South Carolina. I do have that "honorary" Texan card from my friend, JP, so maybe I'll be able to survive. ;-)
I'll be out of town until Wednesday night, so if there's a lack of posting, y'all don't blame me, OK? I'm on an adventure!
5/28/07
Graduation!
Little sis Sarah had her official commencement yesterday! Of course, me being the responsible big brother, I completely forgot my camera. :-(
Still, I have plenty of pics of her...which gives me the freedom to choose the one I like best & post it here.
She's going to Iowa State with & rooming her sister, Erin. Her friend, Dana, is also heading up to Cyclone country so it sounds like she'll have a good, familiar start to college! She's already talking about what she's going to do for extra-curricular activities & I advised her to make sure she finds something that will keep her busy but doesn't involve the same stuff she'll be studying.
Of course, that's pretty generic advice. She listed me in her graduation announcement as one of the most influential people in her life (isn't she sweet?) & I promise I've given her better words of wisdom. She's got a good head on her shoulders, so I'm not too worried about her decisions. I see my job as just looking out for anyone who might not have completely altruistic intentions!
Well, congratulations to my Imoto on her recent graduation! She's got a great future ahead of her & as much as I'll miss her in Hapkido, I'm happy to know she's taking the next step into a great life.
Here's a cute pic of an even cuter graduate!
Still, I have plenty of pics of her...which gives me the freedom to choose the one I like best & post it here.
She's going to Iowa State with & rooming her sister, Erin. Her friend, Dana, is also heading up to Cyclone country so it sounds like she'll have a good, familiar start to college! She's already talking about what she's going to do for extra-curricular activities & I advised her to make sure she finds something that will keep her busy but doesn't involve the same stuff she'll be studying.
Of course, that's pretty generic advice. She listed me in her graduation announcement as one of the most influential people in her life (isn't she sweet?) & I promise I've given her better words of wisdom. She's got a good head on her shoulders, so I'm not too worried about her decisions. I see my job as just looking out for anyone who might not have completely altruistic intentions!
Well, congratulations to my Imoto on her recent graduation! She's got a great future ahead of her & as much as I'll miss her in Hapkido, I'm happy to know she's taking the next step into a great life.
Here's a cute pic of an even cuter graduate!
4/8/07
Flirty McGee
That's the official name of the new lady here at work. Don't get me wrong, she's cute & all (bit young for "Grampa" if you catch my meaning...) though not the sharpest knife in the drawer.
After talking with little sis', Liz - who also works here - we observed she won't talk to anyone who isn't in possession of a "Y" chromosome (that's a guy for those lacking a clue). She'll cackle like a rooster when talking about UFC (something I like) - though that's not to imply her end of the conversation is intelligent - but completely ignore Liz & Jackie in any situation. This amazing ability to ignore people of similar gender earned "Flirty" the derogatory moniker.
Since Liz & Jax are my friends, lil' miss McGee ain't on my good list. OK, being a guy, I'll admit to being extremely susceptible to feminine wiles. This is the nature of manhood. Flirtation is flattery almost as much as imitation. A couple guys around the office have picked up on this & suddenly out comes the Acqua di Gio (LPR).
You're probably saying right now, "HapKiDo, I'll bet you're full of crap & really like this girl". Ah, but there's one problem with that observation - she plays the ditsy card. Anyone who knows this fella also knows that's not my cup of tea
After talking with little sis', Liz - who also works here - we observed she won't talk to anyone who isn't in possession of a "Y" chromosome (that's a guy for those lacking a clue). She'll cackle like a rooster when talking about UFC (something I like) - though that's not to imply her end of the conversation is intelligent - but completely ignore Liz & Jackie in any situation. This amazing ability to ignore people of similar gender earned "Flirty" the derogatory moniker.
Since Liz & Jax are my friends, lil' miss McGee ain't on my good list. OK, being a guy, I'll admit to being extremely susceptible to feminine wiles. This is the nature of manhood. Flirtation is flattery almost as much as imitation. A couple guys around the office have picked up on this & suddenly out comes the Acqua di Gio (LPR).
You're probably saying right now, "HapKiDo, I'll bet you're full of crap & really like this girl". Ah, but there's one problem with that observation - she plays the ditsy card. Anyone who knows this fella also knows that's not my cup of tea
Steering Wheel
I don't expect this title will mean anything except to those in HKD...and even then only ones in the class I attend.
I taught my little sis, Liz, how to do this technique today. It's a delightful little wrist lock designed to cinch the shoulder, elbow & wrist joints in place to perform a takedown/break. Most likely a break if the attacker doesn't have the brains to fall down. It draws it's name from the motion you make when turning the wrist.
Heaven knows poor Liz has been subjected to this little gem more times than she'd care to count (she had it coming a couple times!). I figured it's about time she learned how it works.
For safety reasons, I'm not going to detail the technique here - you can visit a local school to get more information. It's dangerous to do this stuff without training & a lock involving three joints is particularly risky.
Anyway, we had a bit of an audience while I was showing her how to get the lock set. Jamie, a new lady here at work, was pretty well fascinated with the "trick". Yeah, I was there once so I know how she feels: part of you just can't believe the body has those limitations. I offered her the chance to learn more for self-defense.
While I'm at it, I'd ask any young lady to check out a self-defense course. It doesn't have to be as rigorous as HKD. Master Rion offers a self-defense course specifically for people not wanting to endure various falls & "complicated" techniques. I'm sure there are plenty of schools that offer the same in your town for a reasonable price.
I taught my little sis, Liz, how to do this technique today. It's a delightful little wrist lock designed to cinch the shoulder, elbow & wrist joints in place to perform a takedown/break. Most likely a break if the attacker doesn't have the brains to fall down. It draws it's name from the motion you make when turning the wrist.
Heaven knows poor Liz has been subjected to this little gem more times than she'd care to count (she had it coming a couple times!). I figured it's about time she learned how it works.
For safety reasons, I'm not going to detail the technique here - you can visit a local school to get more information. It's dangerous to do this stuff without training & a lock involving three joints is particularly risky.
Anyway, we had a bit of an audience while I was showing her how to get the lock set. Jamie, a new lady here at work, was pretty well fascinated with the "trick". Yeah, I was there once so I know how she feels: part of you just can't believe the body has those limitations. I offered her the chance to learn more for self-defense.
While I'm at it, I'd ask any young lady to check out a self-defense course. It doesn't have to be as rigorous as HKD. Master Rion offers a self-defense course specifically for people not wanting to endure various falls & "complicated" techniques. I'm sure there are plenty of schools that offer the same in your town for a reasonable price.
3/5/07
Coffee House 2007
I thought it was a nice show. Merrick, as usual, did an excellent job & really took things above & beyond with his rendition of Don McLean's "American Pie". It was a highlight to an already entertaining night.
My Imoto, Sarah, played an original piece titled "Burial". It's not as sorrowful as you might think. There are some powerful, precise chords in the higher octaves - something I'd call a resolution (as opposed to mournful). She's always included quite a bit of depth in her music & this song shows her appreciation for giving you something emotional to interpret.
Some of her outfits were just adorable! I hope she'll forgive me for posting a couple here but you have to agree she's the cutest little sister in the world. :-)
Nurse Sarah
"Little Shop of Horrors"
Pianist Sarah
"Burial"
Peanut Butter & Chocolate Pie
OK, I know the one with her eating pie wasn't a "costume" but it's still a nice picture... :-)
My Imoto, Sarah, played an original piece titled "Burial". It's not as sorrowful as you might think. There are some powerful, precise chords in the higher octaves - something I'd call a resolution (as opposed to mournful). She's always included quite a bit of depth in her music & this song shows her appreciation for giving you something emotional to interpret.
Some of her outfits were just adorable! I hope she'll forgive me for posting a couple here but you have to agree she's the cutest little sister in the world. :-)
Nurse Sarah
"Little Shop of Horrors"
Pianist Sarah
"Burial"
Peanut Butter & Chocolate Pie
OK, I know the one with her eating pie wasn't a "costume" but it's still a nice picture... :-)
3/3/07
Coffee House Rescheduled
It looks like the weather caused the cancellation of Coffee House last night. Sarah sent me a text & said it's going to be on Sunday at 730pm.
Of course, I had to try & contact some other folks to let them know what was happening & that captured about three hours of my time. Fortunately, everyone is on the same page now & we should have a perfect attendance record for Sarah's last musical.
Of course, I had to try & contact some other folks to let them know what was happening & that captured about three hours of my time. Fortunately, everyone is on the same page now & we should have a perfect attendance record for Sarah's last musical.
3/1/07
Coffee House 2007
This one is Sarah's last concert in high school. After that, it's off to college at Iowa State University.
I had to make arrangements to be there for this one - it interfered with my normal work schedule. Fortunately, Liz (the other little sister), was willing to cover me for the extra time. In return, she'll be able to sleep in for a bit & I'll cover her.
The "Coffee House" is an Alburnett tradition of sorts. I can't tell you how long it's been around (OK, because I really don't know) but it's a nice production every year.
The idea is simple: You give certain people tables & have servers come around to sell them various confections & drinks. This, of course, is included with the main production of an entertaining musical. They do very well every year & I've always been happy to attend.
So, thanks to Liz & "break a leg" to Sarah at her farewell performance tomorrow!
I had to make arrangements to be there for this one - it interfered with my normal work schedule. Fortunately, Liz (the other little sister), was willing to cover me for the extra time. In return, she'll be able to sleep in for a bit & I'll cover her.
The "Coffee House" is an Alburnett tradition of sorts. I can't tell you how long it's been around (OK, because I really don't know) but it's a nice production every year.
The idea is simple: You give certain people tables & have servers come around to sell them various confections & drinks. This, of course, is included with the main production of an entertaining musical. They do very well every year & I've always been happy to attend.
So, thanks to Liz & "break a leg" to Sarah at her farewell performance tomorrow!
2/24/07
Confidence Builder
My other little sister, Liz, wants me to do something different for Lent. I wouldn't have ever come up with this.
Instead of giving up something, she wants me to write down one positive thing everyday. The goal is to work on my confidence - which, unfortunately, is something in which I am VERY lacking.
I couldn't put my finger on where this exactly became my trademark problem. For a large part of my life, I am fairly confident in my ability to accomplish goals. However, there are a few notable facets of my existence in which I feel little more than inept:
1) Martial Arts - OK, this isn't the big one. Heck, I work hard at this & enjoy it so I wouldn't say I feel completely inept. Actually, I'm not bad at all. I'll never be of the ability I'd like, but it won't stop me from trying.
2) Socially - I've always felt a bit awkward in this area. I was pretty outgoing when I was young & became more introverted as I got older. It was around the time we moved from KY to SC, I think. I don't believe I got the best reception there & it just stuck with me. School can be rough that way.
3) Women - Yeah, this is the BIG one. Look, I know everyone has their sob story about the other gender & I can't say mine's so different from anyone elses. My biggest problem is completely not believing I have anything to offer over any other guy - that a woman would do just as well, or better, with someone else. Essentially, that I can't compete. Not helping is the fact I've only ever had one woman who said yes to my asking her out. In all other cases it's blind dates, friends setting me up, etc. Getting shot down repeatedly doesn't temper you for the next round, it tends to wear you down a bit.
So, I have to overcome all the above (the 1st one will be easy) & manage to write something positive about myself for the next month. I can do this, I'm sure. How it'll make me more confident is something of which I'm not certain.
How do I manage to convince myself I DO have a lot to offer, I'm a good person, etc? Friends tell me this all the time but they are, by association, a little biased to my side of things. What can I find in me that reinforces those statements & gives me the confidence to move beyond this weakness in my personality?
Instead of giving up something, she wants me to write down one positive thing everyday. The goal is to work on my confidence - which, unfortunately, is something in which I am VERY lacking.
I couldn't put my finger on where this exactly became my trademark problem. For a large part of my life, I am fairly confident in my ability to accomplish goals. However, there are a few notable facets of my existence in which I feel little more than inept:
1) Martial Arts - OK, this isn't the big one. Heck, I work hard at this & enjoy it so I wouldn't say I feel completely inept. Actually, I'm not bad at all. I'll never be of the ability I'd like, but it won't stop me from trying.
2) Socially - I've always felt a bit awkward in this area. I was pretty outgoing when I was young & became more introverted as I got older. It was around the time we moved from KY to SC, I think. I don't believe I got the best reception there & it just stuck with me. School can be rough that way.
3) Women - Yeah, this is the BIG one. Look, I know everyone has their sob story about the other gender & I can't say mine's so different from anyone elses. My biggest problem is completely not believing I have anything to offer over any other guy - that a woman would do just as well, or better, with someone else. Essentially, that I can't compete. Not helping is the fact I've only ever had one woman who said yes to my asking her out. In all other cases it's blind dates, friends setting me up, etc. Getting shot down repeatedly doesn't temper you for the next round, it tends to wear you down a bit.
So, I have to overcome all the above (the 1st one will be easy) & manage to write something positive about myself for the next month. I can do this, I'm sure. How it'll make me more confident is something of which I'm not certain.
How do I manage to convince myself I DO have a lot to offer, I'm a good person, etc? Friends tell me this all the time but they are, by association, a little biased to my side of things. What can I find in me that reinforces those statements & gives me the confidence to move beyond this weakness in my personality?
2/22/07
I Saw My Imoto!
I went to Hapkido tonight. Of course, that's pretty much my regular thing. Monday through Thursday with TKD & HKD. I just skip TKD on Thursday - for the most part.
Anyway, that's not the point of this post. About 1/2-way through class, my little sister, Sarah, showed up! Surprised didn't quite sum it up. I haven't seen her in almost three months.
Needless to say, I was very happy she was there. It's important she's doing well & keeping up with her overall feeling is a priority of mine. She's in good spirits & working hard in school. Her grades are good (a little trouble with one class, but she can do it!) & she's been working hard on her musical.
Oh, that's right! She gave me a ticket for that. It's next Friday & I'm having to ask for a couple hours off work to make it...but I will definitely make it!
We had the chance to catch up a bit on how things are going for her - pretty well by her account - & it does my heart good to see a nice, well-mannered young lady like her in this world. I know if she stays true to that, she'll realize all the great potential she has to be a success. It helps me feel I'm being a good brother to her.
Anyway, that's not the point of this post. About 1/2-way through class, my little sister, Sarah, showed up! Surprised didn't quite sum it up. I haven't seen her in almost three months.
Needless to say, I was very happy she was there. It's important she's doing well & keeping up with her overall feeling is a priority of mine. She's in good spirits & working hard in school. Her grades are good (a little trouble with one class, but she can do it!) & she's been working hard on her musical.
Oh, that's right! She gave me a ticket for that. It's next Friday & I'm having to ask for a couple hours off work to make it...but I will definitely make it!
We had the chance to catch up a bit on how things are going for her - pretty well by her account - & it does my heart good to see a nice, well-mannered young lady like her in this world. I know if she stays true to that, she'll realize all the great potential she has to be a success. It helps me feel I'm being a good brother to her.
2/18/07
Where's Little Sister Sarah?
She hasn't been to class in a loooong time (for those not in "the know" that's over a month) so I'm wondering if everything's OK with her.
Yeah, I suppose I should e-mail her & make sure everything's going well. It's been so long since she's been to Hapkido, I haven't even given her Christmas present. Yeah, it's been that long.
Little sisters - I tell you, it's a handful trying to keep tabs on those three...
Yeah, I suppose I should e-mail her & make sure everything's going well. It's been so long since she's been to Hapkido, I haven't even given her Christmas present. Yeah, it's been that long.
Little sisters - I tell you, it's a handful trying to keep tabs on those three...
1/13/07
That's When I Realized We're Family.
My adopted little sister, Liz, & I got into a heated argument over a politically-charged subject.
No, I won't get into the details of the matter. I will say we're both stubborn people who aren't easily swayed. So yeah, it was a "spirited" argument.
It says a lot that she could get me so worked up & assertive with my opinions. I only do that with - you guessed it - family.
That, paired with the fact we were willing to apologize to each other & drop it after the whole thing just goes to show she is, in fact, my sister after all. :-)
No, I won't get into the details of the matter. I will say we're both stubborn people who aren't easily swayed. So yeah, it was a "spirited" argument.
It says a lot that she could get me so worked up & assertive with my opinions. I only do that with - you guessed it - family.
That, paired with the fact we were willing to apologize to each other & drop it after the whole thing just goes to show she is, in fact, my sister after all. :-)
1/4/07
Somewhere In Solitude
My Imoto, Sarah, just gave me a copy of her new (& first) CD! It's titled "Somewhere In Solitude" & being the dutiful big brother (Ani - in Japanese), I of course need to offer my opinions of this first official work.
I'm listening to the CD right now. There are six songs (all written/performed by Sarah) on piano. Yes, I'm a bit on the biased-side, but just pretend I'm part of the mainstream media & it won't be so tough to follow along. ;-)
1) Hitori (Alone): This song captures exactly the feeling of solitude. It actually makes me feel a bit isolated, which I'm guessing is the spirit of this piece. It has a very solemn tempo with an almost playful undertone in the harmony. I'd consider this, above all, a song for quiet reflection.
2) Kaleidoscope: Almost a continuation (at the start) of Hitori, this song plays with greater depth & is reminiscent of a Sartre meditation - though, instead of descending further, this piece brings the listener a more lively, powerful essence than the previous track.
3) Sakura Matsuri: There's a slightly cheerful undertone to this one. The feeling given is similar to a successful resolution to an obstacle. The noticeable pause close to the finish invokes a brief anticipation where the melody continues on its same path.
4) Envy: "A sorrowful longing" is the best way I can describe this. Envy definitely does capture the mood. Tempo & melody combine to offer a feeling of want without hope of resolution. There's still a glimmer of idealism &, as a result, hope that underlies the emotions stirred.
5) Kouryuu: A slower & more grandiose piece of music, Kouryuu is possessed of a gentle gravity. For the most part there is a noticeable flow. This is highlighted to excellent effect by the occasional pause. Something about this track makes it feel like it slips away from you all too soon. I'm at a loss to describe this, however.
6) Owari: Actually invokes an image of a sad farewell. It's the kind of song played in a classic movie where the impending & unwanted separation of a couple - complete with an internal struggle against the inevitable - cannot be held at bay any longer. Seriously, I got all that out of this! Black & white, elegantly dressed woman with an equally handsomely dressed gentleman, tearfully separating themselves with the sincerest regret of having to do so.
OK, so you may be wondering where you can get this CD. Well, I'll have to get with Sarah on that. I received a copy for Christmas & don't know if she has anything set up for everyone to purchase. As I get more information, I'll make sure to post an update.
Seriously, I'm the first to admit I'm going to post a good review on Sarah's musical talents no matter what work she produces but this really is an excellent CD. Consider that she wrote her own songs, is still in high school (AP classes included) & still finds the time to come out for Hapkido & you'll be pleasantly impressed.
I'm listening to the CD right now. There are six songs (all written/performed by Sarah) on piano. Yes, I'm a bit on the biased-side, but just pretend I'm part of the mainstream media & it won't be so tough to follow along. ;-)
1) Hitori (Alone): This song captures exactly the feeling of solitude. It actually makes me feel a bit isolated, which I'm guessing is the spirit of this piece. It has a very solemn tempo with an almost playful undertone in the harmony. I'd consider this, above all, a song for quiet reflection.
2) Kaleidoscope: Almost a continuation (at the start) of Hitori, this song plays with greater depth & is reminiscent of a Sartre meditation - though, instead of descending further, this piece brings the listener a more lively, powerful essence than the previous track.
3) Sakura Matsuri: There's a slightly cheerful undertone to this one. The feeling given is similar to a successful resolution to an obstacle. The noticeable pause close to the finish invokes a brief anticipation where the melody continues on its same path.
4) Envy: "A sorrowful longing" is the best way I can describe this. Envy definitely does capture the mood. Tempo & melody combine to offer a feeling of want without hope of resolution. There's still a glimmer of idealism &, as a result, hope that underlies the emotions stirred.
5) Kouryuu: A slower & more grandiose piece of music, Kouryuu is possessed of a gentle gravity. For the most part there is a noticeable flow. This is highlighted to excellent effect by the occasional pause. Something about this track makes it feel like it slips away from you all too soon. I'm at a loss to describe this, however.
6) Owari: Actually invokes an image of a sad farewell. It's the kind of song played in a classic movie where the impending & unwanted separation of a couple - complete with an internal struggle against the inevitable - cannot be held at bay any longer. Seriously, I got all that out of this! Black & white, elegantly dressed woman with an equally handsomely dressed gentleman, tearfully separating themselves with the sincerest regret of having to do so.
OK, so you may be wondering where you can get this CD. Well, I'll have to get with Sarah on that. I received a copy for Christmas & don't know if she has anything set up for everyone to purchase. As I get more information, I'll make sure to post an update.
Seriously, I'm the first to admit I'm going to post a good review on Sarah's musical talents no matter what work she produces but this really is an excellent CD. Consider that she wrote her own songs, is still in high school (AP classes included) & still finds the time to come out for Hapkido & you'll be pleasantly impressed.
11/11/06
How To Succeed At A Musical...
Last night, I went to my little sis', Sarah, musical How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying. As usual, the kids at Alburnett High School did an excellent job. Merrick, playing the lead of Mr. Finch just takes any role & runs with it. His facial expressions are priceless. I have to say I've enjoyed all the musicals they put on twice a year.
Sarah plays Miss Jones, the big boss' secretary. For her interpretation of the role, she adopted a heavy German accent, a mean snarling sneer on her face & a loud stomp when she walked. OK, I *realize* that's not the character as it was written. However, we're talking about a 5'2", 100lb high school girl here. The fact she pulled intimidating off was pretty impressive to me. I would have hated it if her character got in my face. Somehow, someone who's small & overly assertive is more intimidating than a bigger person.
The play ran about 3 hours, with a 20-minute intermission. I thought it flew by. Among the highlights were Hedy LaRue (Dana Kuehl). She got the ditzy part of the character & had fun with it. She was so dolled up that I didn't recognize her at all. Sam Baier played the big boss, J.B. Biggley. Nice, understated success for him in that role. Understated may be a bit off considering his booming voice but he did manage to almost steal the show with his less-than-obvious humor (in addition to being a world-class knitter). Smitty (Mackenzie Reed) really showed a lot of energy for the part. Probably pound for pound for pound the best actor on the stage. She doted as an excellent foil between Finch (Merrick Robinson) & Rosemary Pilkington (Cassidy LeClaire). The young lady portraying Rosemary put a ton of emotion into the role & took an initially conniving character into a more innocent person by end of the second act. I actually liked that quite a bit. Honestly, as most characters develop they tend towards disillusionment or corruption.
Great job to the entire cast. Congratulations to all of them for a great show!
***UPDATE***
Sarah e-mailed me the cast list. Here's the acknowledgements:
J. Pierrepont Finch.......Merrick Robinson
Cassidy LeClaire..........Rosemary Pilkington
Mackenzie Reed...........Smitty
Kyle Loux.......................Bud Frump
Dana Kuehl....................Hedy LaRue
Sam Baier.....................J.B. Biggley
Kyle Francios................Wally Womper/Janitor
Sarah George...............Miss Jones
Billy Meiners..................Mr. Bratt
Dugan Knoll...................Mr. Twimble
Caleb Carver.................Mr. Gatch
Sarah plays Miss Jones, the big boss' secretary. For her interpretation of the role, she adopted a heavy German accent, a mean snarling sneer on her face & a loud stomp when she walked. OK, I *realize* that's not the character as it was written. However, we're talking about a 5'2", 100lb high school girl here. The fact she pulled intimidating off was pretty impressive to me. I would have hated it if her character got in my face. Somehow, someone who's small & overly assertive is more intimidating than a bigger person.
The play ran about 3 hours, with a 20-minute intermission. I thought it flew by. Among the highlights were Hedy LaRue (Dana Kuehl). She got the ditzy part of the character & had fun with it. She was so dolled up that I didn't recognize her at all. Sam Baier played the big boss, J.B. Biggley. Nice, understated success for him in that role. Understated may be a bit off considering his booming voice but he did manage to almost steal the show with his less-than-obvious humor (in addition to being a world-class knitter). Smitty (Mackenzie Reed) really showed a lot of energy for the part. Probably pound for pound for pound the best actor on the stage. She doted as an excellent foil between Finch (Merrick Robinson) & Rosemary Pilkington (Cassidy LeClaire). The young lady portraying Rosemary put a ton of emotion into the role & took an initially conniving character into a more innocent person by end of the second act. I actually liked that quite a bit. Honestly, as most characters develop they tend towards disillusionment or corruption.
Great job to the entire cast. Congratulations to all of them for a great show!
***UPDATE***
Sarah e-mailed me the cast list. Here's the acknowledgements:
J. Pierrepont Finch.......Merrick Robinson
Cassidy LeClaire..........Rosemary Pilkington
Mackenzie Reed...........Smitty
Kyle Loux.......................Bud Frump
Dana Kuehl....................Hedy LaRue
Sam Baier.....................J.B. Biggley
Kyle Francios................Wally Womper/Janitor
Sarah George...............Miss Jones
Billy Meiners..................Mr. Bratt
Dugan Knoll...................Mr. Twimble
Caleb Carver.................Mr. Gatch
10/19/06
Engagement!
We've got ourselves an engagement to announce! No, not me...I plan (& am succeeding) to dodge that bullet as long as I can. Heck, I don't even date anymore.
My adopted little sis, Liz, just accepted her boyfriend's, Mickey, proposal. She's a great kid, has a lot to offer & Mickey seems like he's up to the task of treating her well. Liz knows the consequences for anyone who doesn't show her the appreciation she deserves. :-)
Anyway, here's a photo of the happy couple. No date has been set yet, but I'm sure it'll be after she's well into or completed with grad school. Congratulations again, sis!
My adopted little sis, Liz, just accepted her boyfriend's, Mickey, proposal. She's a great kid, has a lot to offer & Mickey seems like he's up to the task of treating her well. Liz knows the consequences for anyone who doesn't show her the appreciation she deserves. :-)
Anyway, here's a photo of the happy couple. No date has been set yet, but I'm sure it'll be after she's well into or completed with grad school. Congratulations again, sis!
10/10/06
Happy Birthday
Happy Birthday to my little sister! 24 years old today...
Here's a recent pic with my brother, Matt, me, the Birthday Girl & her fella, Jamie.
Hope you have a great birthday, sis! Talk to you today.
Here's a recent pic with my brother, Matt, me, the Birthday Girl & her fella, Jamie.
Hope you have a great birthday, sis! Talk to you today.
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