Its no secret we are crossword geeks in my family. Mom and Dad, all my brothers, myself and Sean, my paternal grandparents, all have a thing for crosswords. But as good as we might think we are either individually or collectively, we are still on the human level of solving - or in golf terms we might break 80 every once in a while, otherwise bogey golf.
Our routine here in Austin is pretty simple. I work the Friday Wall Street Journal puzzle, and then the Sunday NY Times, and if I get through those the Sunday LA Times, and maybe a few dailies from the NY Times. Speed is not of the essence. I choose to solve at my own pace. Piecing together themes, wordplay, and puns is its own reward.
The crossword deity are gathering this weekend, Feb 29- March 2, for their annual competition. Its all about speed and accuracy there. Check out the movie "Word Play" for the 2005 competition caught on film. Its time for Al Sanders to break thru and win this thing. He is the Susan Lucci of this event. C'mon Al - Get 'er done.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Monday, February 25, 2008
Another Night of Theater
Saturday the 23rd was the final night for Sam and her 7th grade classmates to perform their play. A correction to earlier post - the title of the play is actually "Final Dress Rehearsal." Another cheery performance by the cast.
Not being a regular live theater goer, I can imagine that it may be a bit difficult to watch the same play on consecutive nights, and some families there may have seen this four times as there were two classes performing the same play. This being light comedy some of the punchlines were not getting the crowd reaction comparable to the previous night, especially during the fourth performance. But the cast did not notice and put full energy into their act.
Afterwards another round of high fives for all, and then the cast and crew headed out to IHOP for a post play get together. Samantha says she asked their waiter for the wine list while ordering. That's a pretty short list at IHOP.
Sean pulled up sick Saturday right as the play was ending. On the way we had to pick up Tory who had been baby sitting for some friends we know from our church. After getting him we got Sean and Tory (ever hungry) a Panda Express bowl, and evidently Sean's had some chicken in it setting off major allergic reaction. We hustle back to the house and she downs a benadryl. We watch a movie, Aragon, I pick up Sam at IHOP near 11:30 and go home.
Sean looks as if she's recovered by the time I get back from church Sunday a.m., but it seems she gets an aftershock or two periodically over the day.
Not being a regular live theater goer, I can imagine that it may be a bit difficult to watch the same play on consecutive nights, and some families there may have seen this four times as there were two classes performing the same play. This being light comedy some of the punchlines were not getting the crowd reaction comparable to the previous night, especially during the fourth performance. But the cast did not notice and put full energy into their act.
Afterwards another round of high fives for all, and then the cast and crew headed out to IHOP for a post play get together. Samantha says she asked their waiter for the wine list while ordering. That's a pretty short list at IHOP.
Sean pulled up sick Saturday right as the play was ending. On the way we had to pick up Tory who had been baby sitting for some friends we know from our church. After getting him we got Sean and Tory (ever hungry) a Panda Express bowl, and evidently Sean's had some chicken in it setting off major allergic reaction. We hustle back to the house and she downs a benadryl. We watch a movie, Aragon, I pick up Sam at IHOP near 11:30 and go home.
Sean looks as if she's recovered by the time I get back from church Sunday a.m., but it seems she gets an aftershock or two periodically over the day.
Saturday, February 23, 2008
I Love Legitimate Theater
Sam's 7th grade class performed their play tonight (2/22) titled "Curtain Call." In short, it was a play within a play, the trials and tribulations of putting on a dramatic production. The inside play was "Cinderella", and Sam's character played the Fairy Godmother. Her big moment comes when she appears to do magic for Cinderella, but couldn't find her wand, and instead is forced to use a gaudy yellow pinwheel that looks like a big sunflower. Sam makes easy light work of her part, dancing around a bit at one point during her incantations.
Sam and her classmates look to be having a good time. No one seemed nervous and no gaffes occurred, that I could tell. Although at one point the Authoress is on stage speaking and it looked like her pearls came loose from around her neck and began to clatter on the microphone. It reminded me of a scene from the movie "Singing In The Rain". The actress gathered the loose strand into her hand without missing a beat.
High fives for everyone after it was over tonight, big smiles. One more performance tomorrow afternoon and the final curtain falls.
Sam and her classmates look to be having a good time. No one seemed nervous and no gaffes occurred, that I could tell. Although at one point the Authoress is on stage speaking and it looked like her pearls came loose from around her neck and began to clatter on the microphone. It reminded me of a scene from the movie "Singing In The Rain". The actress gathered the loose strand into her hand without missing a beat.
High fives for everyone after it was over tonight, big smiles. One more performance tomorrow afternoon and the final curtain falls.
Friday, February 22, 2008
Lunar eclipse in Austin
Another lunar eclipse here in Austin TX this past Feb 20. Fortunately the powers that be scheduled this one at a decent hour and not at 3:30 am.
I was talking to my dad on the phone at the time so I walked outside and looked for the moon. Unfortunately we had a very low ceiling and I couldn't even find a single star. Horizon to horizon the sky was total mist and cloud.
Very disappointing. Celestial events are rare and awesome, and I feel deprived of a lifetime experience.
Kasey our border collie - my moon-gazing soul mate - once again failed to notice.
I was talking to my dad on the phone at the time so I walked outside and looked for the moon. Unfortunately we had a very low ceiling and I couldn't even find a single star. Horizon to horizon the sky was total mist and cloud.
Very disappointing. Celestial events are rare and awesome, and I feel deprived of a lifetime experience.
Kasey our border collie - my moon-gazing soul mate - once again failed to notice.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Don't talk to me, I have headphones on.
Sitting in a hockey game over the weekend, I glanced about at the crowd around me and noticed half a dozen folks in my end of the arena with earbuds in their ears. What could they possibly be listening to at a hockey game, and how could they possibly enjoy the music with all the crowd noise? And how could they possibly be good company to the people they were with?
I decided to venture out into public with earbuds in my own ears after this. I had to make a quick trip after work to WalMart for a few necessities and took my mp3 player with me. Threading the cord into my pocket and buds into my ears, I push PLAY and head into the store.
First up - I'll Follow The Sun (Beatles). Earlier I had built a playlist of tracks in the player of music that were greater than 1:30 but less than 2:00 in length, about 175 tracks or slightly more than 5 hours of music. I want to avoid what Tory calls "mp3ADD". If I don't like something I don't have to wait long for changes. MP3ADD is a disease that causes you to continually cycle through the music on your player trying to find something to listen to. The Beatles are a good inoculation against this ailment. Head to the grocery side of the store.
The lady inside the front door greets me welcoming me to Wal Mart. I turn taking the basket and say thanks. Mental note: turn down voice volume at once.
Next - Circus Clown Calliope. Wow, is that still in there? I am probably the only person in the world listening to calliope music.
I notice that people see me, and the headphones. Its probably my paranoia but it looks like they are thinking "What is that old dude doing with headphones on?" I did see a few others wearing earphones, and I tried to give them that knowing nod that says "yeah we're shopping and listening to tunes," but they were teens and they looked back at me with typical indifference. How disappointing. I thought I could fit in finally.
There is a sheet metal worker where I work who I have never seen without earphones in his ears. Even at our company Christmas party this year he had them in.
Ah, a Neverhood game song (titled "Jose Feliciano" by Terry Taylor). The Neverhood was probably the only computer game I have enjoyed playing, and the sound track is fun as well.
Sometime before leaving I also hear some Danny Elfman music from the movie Big Fish, a Chopin Prelude, and some brass ensemble music amoung others. Again, I will wager of all the folks wearing headphones right then, I am the only one listening to that kind of music.
At checkout I pull out the left earbud and hear the first live voice since I came in. I wouldn't say I learned why some like having music in their head constantly. Or why I would take my mp3 player into a movie theater. But having that little mp3 player with me has become more pleasant.
I decided to venture out into public with earbuds in my own ears after this. I had to make a quick trip after work to WalMart for a few necessities and took my mp3 player with me. Threading the cord into my pocket and buds into my ears, I push PLAY and head into the store.
First up - I'll Follow The Sun (Beatles). Earlier I had built a playlist of tracks in the player of music that were greater than 1:30 but less than 2:00 in length, about 175 tracks or slightly more than 5 hours of music. I want to avoid what Tory calls "mp3ADD". If I don't like something I don't have to wait long for changes. MP3ADD is a disease that causes you to continually cycle through the music on your player trying to find something to listen to. The Beatles are a good inoculation against this ailment. Head to the grocery side of the store.
The lady inside the front door greets me welcoming me to Wal Mart. I turn taking the basket and say thanks. Mental note: turn down voice volume at once.
Next - Circus Clown Calliope. Wow, is that still in there? I am probably the only person in the world listening to calliope music.
I notice that people see me, and the headphones. Its probably my paranoia but it looks like they are thinking "What is that old dude doing with headphones on?" I did see a few others wearing earphones, and I tried to give them that knowing nod that says "yeah we're shopping and listening to tunes," but they were teens and they looked back at me with typical indifference. How disappointing. I thought I could fit in finally.
There is a sheet metal worker where I work who I have never seen without earphones in his ears. Even at our company Christmas party this year he had them in.
Ah, a Neverhood game song (titled "Jose Feliciano" by Terry Taylor). The Neverhood was probably the only computer game I have enjoyed playing, and the sound track is fun as well.
Sometime before leaving I also hear some Danny Elfman music from the movie Big Fish, a Chopin Prelude, and some brass ensemble music amoung others. Again, I will wager of all the folks wearing headphones right then, I am the only one listening to that kind of music.
At checkout I pull out the left earbud and hear the first live voice since I came in. I wouldn't say I learned why some like having music in their head constantly. Or why I would take my mp3 player into a movie theater. But having that little mp3 player with me has become more pleasant.
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