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Monday, June 30, 2008

See Me, Feed Me

"I wonder what kind of food they serve," CM asked as we drove along Vermont Ave. around 11:30AM on Sunday.

"Well," I pulled a note from my shirt pocket with the word Nesamis and an address. "My guess is probably Indian or Persian." We crested the small hill, slowly leaving the apartment buildings and expensive homes in favor of boutique clothing stores, Skylight books and dozens of restaurants. I scanned the storefronts for the restaurant at which we were to meet Ike and his partner. "I think that was it," I pointed as we passed a French restaurant called Mes Amis.

We circled about, drove by one more time to make certain, then turned into a neighborhood to find parking. Ike phoned as we paralleled into a space. "I just saw you two pass. You should be able to find parking down any one of the side streets."

Ike greeted us as we stepped onto the curb and ushered us to a small table along the sidewalk. I tried sliding my legs beneath the table as I sat down, but the construction of the table made that literally impossible so I sat sidesaddle, twisting my torso to grab my drink or to talk with Ike and CM. Ike had invited us to this quaint little bistro to make up for his guilt at not being able to attend the 40th fiesta last week. Something about his 76-year-old neighbor and a sick dog. Excuses, excuses. So, while I glanced over the menu, he handed CM a gift bag covered in rubber duckies, and inside: a mix CD with some great music, an artistic sepia-toned photograph of a cat, and a mug and letter opener from the Sigmund Freud Museum in Vienna.

After the initial giggles and jokes about the letter opener, I sat back and listened while they chatted away, talking shop, talking about former co-workers, about Ike's recent adventures in Europe, telling the story of the 76-year-old neighbor. I'm not much of a conversationist and enjoyed their ease at speaking, the easy laughter at the mention of Tang and the Carpenters, the subtle humor injected into talk of work. I jumped in a few times, but just let them talk and catch up.

Ike's partner called during their chat to say that he was on the way and asked us to order for him. We placed the order (a Frittata Provençale for me, scrambled eggs and potatoes for CM, a vegetarian sandwich for Ike and a chicken breast sandwich for Ike's partner). Ike's partner showed up 15 minutes after his call, and we all talked about Europe, roller coasters, robert Downey Jr., movies, blogs and much more, all the while our stomachs rumbling. The waiter stopped by to say the food was almost ready, then disappeared for almost 45 minutes, leaving us with nothing but our drinks. We finally signaled another waitress to find our waiter who, when he appeared, assured us that the food would be ready in about two minutes then started offering excuses as he hurriedly backed away from the four disgruntled gay men at his station. By 1:15PM, the food was finally set on the table, none of us is sure why such small portions took almost an hour and 15 minutes to make it to the table. At least it tasted okay.

We wrapped up about half an hour later, hugging our goodbyes and making a quick dash into Skylight Books before heading for Hollywood.
I purchased tickets early Saturday morning for a matinée of The Who's Tommy at the Ricardo Montalbán Theatre. CM had seen it twice before, but this production was said to offer a unique listening experience in the form of headphones to be worn during the entire show. The papers all raved about the technology which induced us to get the tickets. That, and being able to see Alice Ripley (from the original Broadway cast) and Nona Hendryx perform.

One window at the front of the theater displayed a gigantic ad for the Bose headphones to be used during the performance, and the ad was replicated in the program. We found our seats in the mezzanine, placed the headphones on, and I bopped along to a very jazzed-up version of The Girl from Ipenema. An usher was still going row to row with a damp cloth wiping headphones as through the bright stage light shining directly into my eyes, I made out a border of sharp steel rods meshed with black fabric surrounding the stage. Like a dark, monstrous mouth waiting to bite the audience. We glanced through the programs until a voice with somewhat of a British accent instructed us to put on our "Bose around-ear headphones to enjoy the EXP3D experience." When the orchestra finally started, we could every strum of the guitars, click of the drumsticks and inhale of the wind players.

A little after 3PM, the lights dimmed and then, in sporadic, disconnected scenes, the story of Tommy played itself on stage. The first fifteen minutes or so relied solely on the orchestra and the actor's movements - no dialogue or singing at all. Which was a bit odd, only because between the scenes, the stage lights were dark for long periods of time while the music and sound effects, including a parachute drop and a B17 flying overhead, continued. The entire first act was like that and came across rather disjointed. Thankfully, the music was incredible as was the dancing and the acrobatics of all the Tommys (because at various times, they hovered above the stage while singing). During intermission, we stepped outside for some air, noticing that my watch read only 4PM. The first act lasted a scant 50 minutes. The second act also sped by, but seemed more cohesive. The story gelled, and we suffered through fewer moments of complete darkness on stage while someone sang through the headphones. But as we walked to the car, CM checked his cell phone, and the time, in glowing white numbers, was barely after 5PM. Neither of us was certain if anything had been cut, but less than two hours for The Who's "Tommy"? that just didn't feel right.

I will say that the performances made up for the quick pace of the show. The fantastic Alice Ripley reprised her Broadway role of Mrs. Walker, Tommy's Mother. Tom Schmid surprised us as Capt. Walker, with a solid, pure voice. The two boys who played young Tommy (L.J. Benet and Lorenzo Doryon) did amazing jobs as the other characters bandied them about while they remained like rag dolls, unaware of what was going on around them. Jenna Leigh Green gave a good performance as Sally Simpson, and Nona Hendryx was a good choice for the Acid Queen. But the best performance of all was delivered by Aleks Pevec as Tommy. Powerful voice, great dancing skills and his shirtless homage to Roger Daultry throughout the second act, well, I'm sure all the gay boys in the audience were atwitter.

We tried piecing together what was missing from the show as we drove to Lakewood for dinner, but by the time we sat down at the El Torito, we gave up.

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Today's the Day!

“Life begins at 40 - but so do fallen arches, rheumatism, faulty eyesight, and the tendency to tell a story to the same person, three or four times.”

Helen Rowland (English-American writer, 1876-1950)

Happy Birthday, Sassy Boy!

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Cyber, Baby

I bought it as a gag gift. I swear! I didn't realize just how enrapt CM would be with his new little toy.
>Say "Hello" to Matteo, our new little cyberbaby, thanks to a little game I found called baby pals. CM spent a good hour and a half Sunday night "adopting" little Matteo: choosing skin and eye color, head and belly shape, even gender. And once that was done, he started feeding, playing, bathing, changing diapers, talking to and teaching him how to walk and talk. I seriously believed we would laugh over the game, then I would take it back to the store in exchange for a more exciting game, but CM is enthralled with it, tinkering around for a good two hours before finally turning in last night. In fact, he's on the couch as I type, messing with Matteo's hairstyle. Hopefully, he got rid of the blue ....

Monday, June 23, 2008

The Big 4-0

7:15 on Sunday morning. Both cars filled with piñatas, gift boxes, tables, chairs, all the necessities to get the fiesta started. Within 15 minutes, the first batch of supplies was spread along a stone picnic table while I assisted CM with marking our party spot with vinyl Mexican party flags. A good thing, too, as a man carrying a roll of yellow caution tape stopped between the tress near our area not a few minutes later, hands on hips and staring at our area. He quickly pulled out his cell and called his wife, telling her that someone had already staked out the area. I privately smiled as I trekked back and forth hefting card tables, chairs, cartons of sodas and bottled water up and down the small hill.

The area or park we commandeered sat in just the right spot to see Mothers' Beach to the right and the Marine Stadium, with its speed boats and water skiers, to the left. Two wide trees -- one strong enough to hold the 4 pounds of candy in the piñata -- provided the perfect amount of shade which was enhanced by the cool breeze blowing in from the harbor. A few of the guests would be bringing their children so the playground not 50 feet away would do nicely. The perfect spot. Andy by 10am, everything was in its place.

Around 11:30, I headed back to the apartment to gussy up, grab the cake and stop by the store for some last minute foodstuffs. As I set the cake on one of the card tables, CM told me that two people had already cancelled, "Because it's too hot." He'd also talked a third person who was about to cancel into coming. Silly people. We had shade, a cool breeze, gallons of cold water for drinking or pouring over someone's, they already said that they would come. I felt sad for CM, watching him amble toward his car.

I finished the rest of the setup then sat down with a book and a Coke to wait, glancing up every 5 minutes or so to wave to the first partygoer whenever he or she should arrive. Finally, around 1:35 PM, our friend CS called, just a little bit lost though he lives in Long Beach, too. I managed to get him turned around and within a few minutes, he pulled his car alongside mine, and together, we unloaded a few more chairs and a lawn bowling game (oversized plastic bowing pins with a red and a blue ball) for the kids. CM showed up soon after with the two humongous burritos, trays of beans and rice and shredded chicken, and tortillas from SuperMex, which we held back from devouring until the other guests arrived.

A few more people had called to cancel, but by the time we dug into the food, we had roughly twenty guests. M&L brought the twins for everyone to coo and cuddle over, my Area Manager arrived with her husband and son, a former co-worker of CM's made an appearance as well as a few of his long-time friends. I made sure everyone signed the special "Birthday Dog" instead of a guestbook. We ate until our bellies hurt, played silly party games like "Stick the Nose on the Clown" and CM Trivia, watched as one of the kids party-hopped almost the entire park, then pulled out the blindfold and whacked away at the piñata. Let me tell you, some of those kids can hit pretty darn hard! So can some of the adults, but we laughed hard as our friend RG swung at the floating ball of papier maché and streamers like Luke Skywalker while I raised and dropped the piñata just out of striking distance. CM eventually broke it open, spewing candy all over the ground, while the kids (and some adults) grabbed as much as they could stuff in to their little party boxes. (Oh, I almost forgot: CM made little gift boxes for each guest containing a luchadore (Mexican wrestler) doll, either a donkey piñata figurine or a rubber duckie wearing a sombrero, a plastic ring, a little maze game with a bb inside, a tube of bubbles, and more candy.) We decided early on against having 40 candles in the cake (fire hazard) but found a few candles with a "40" on top; however, the wind refused to allow the candles to stay lit so CM pretended to blow them out and then divvied the chocolate cream with buttercream frosting cake.

What a great party, and CS and RG stayed later to help with the clean up, which was greatly appreciated. Each took home quite a bit of extra food, as well. After all the fun, the presents, the food, the friends, the clean up, we finally headed for home, tired, burnt redder than lobsters, but very happy. Check out all the pictures here.

Friday, June 20, 2008

Tag! I'm It!!

I've been tagged by Alex over at Black Queens Logic to reveal a few unknown facts about myself. Who am I not to oblige a fellow blogger? so without further ado....

1. Share 5 unknown Facts about yourself.

2. Pay it forward! Link 5 more bloggers and include their names in your post.

3. Leave them a comment on their blog and let them know that they’ve been tagged.

1. I collect souvenir programs from plays and musicals. My drawer beneath the built-in display cabinet in the living room overflows with such oversized programs from The Lion King, two productions of Show Boat, Cabaret and about 35-40 others. Not to mention the little handouts and playbills sometimes given.

2. I love reading ghost and zombie stories, getting caught up in the action and gore, rapidly flipping the pages. But sit me down in front of Session 9 or Dawn of the Dead, and I watch through closed eyes or latticed fingers.

3. I write much better than I speak. At least, I hope I do. My public speaking abilities amount to almost nothing. Too many ideas float through my mind, and I want to present them all at once, causing me to stammer and hesitate. When writing, though, I take my time, think things through.

4. Outside the U.S., I've been to Spain, Russia, Sweden and Canada. But I've never been to me.

5. I've only met one other blogger whose blog I read. (I spied another at the gym, but we never spoke to one another.)

As for tagging, if you've read this post -- and haven't already written five things about yourself -- consider yourself tagged.

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Random Long Beach Moments

Last night, CM and I lounged on the couch each playing our little Nintendo DS. Diesel had stretched himself on the carpet in front of the kitchen, enjoying the cool breeze flowing into the apartment. Around 10PM, the unmuffled cries and moans, the headboard rattling against the wall, the thump and thrust of bodies ramming into each other jolted us from our games. Diesel sprang from the ground, ears pointed, head cautiously bobbing up and down, not sure if someone were in distress or if one of the feral cats in the neighborhood were in heat. CM and I looked at each, stifling a laugh and tried to return to our games, but the downstairs neighbors didn't let up until well after 11PM.

Even as we climbed into bed, their racket echoed off the walls of other apartment buildings.

"No one orgasms that much that often," I said. "She is so faking it."

CM laughed as the rattling and grunting finally stopped.

Monday, June 16, 2008

Saturday marked the first birthday party for Riley and Jackie, our friend's twins, so we headed for Huntington Harbor to spend a few hours around the pool with the kids. Before leaving Long Beach, we stopped at the Creative Cakery, per the Mother's request, for two individual nut-free mini-bunt cakes for the twins. We selected two double-chocolate chocolate chip cakes with cream cheese frosting and held ourselves back from devouring them before reaching the party.

We arrived soon afterwards at our friend's Mom's condo complex and gathered with the rest of the adult partiers around the tables and the food while a few others kept an eye on the kids in the pool. The twins were already grabbing everyone's attention acting all cute and smiley and chatty, and before I had a chance to sit down, my index fingers were gripped tightly and I found myself helping Riley as he high-stepped and tiptoed toward the pool and the other kids. (Now, I'm not used to little kids; I've no nieces or nephews, never changed a diaper, never airplaned Gerbers into a babe's mouth. I don't consider myself even remotely capable of handling kids, but Riley and Jackie don't seem to sense my fear and will grab my hands, pull my glasses from my head, giggle and squeal at my goofy faces.) I made sure he didn't get to close to the water, but I could tell he wanted to jump right in and splash around. His Mommy scooped him up and changed him into his little swim trunks then allowed him to sit in the water with his older half-sister and half-brother. Then, she slipped Jackie into her little one piece and sat on the steps creating little splashes and smiles. CM and I took the opportunity to grab a few platefuls of beans, tortillas, rice and chicken to silence our growling stomachs.

When it came time to blow out the candles, the twins just stared at the cake while Mommy and Daddy tried to get them to blow. Maybe they're still too young to understand that part of the party. No matter, though, as we all cheered and their faces lit up. While someone cut the cake, the twins were strapped into their high chairs and presented with their personal mini-cakes. Jackie tentatively touched the cream cheese frosting then opened her mouth and tied to shove the entire cake in there; Riley looked at the cake, looked at us, looked back at the cake, looked at us and on and on until Mommy pushed his hand into the cake and raised it to his mouth. Once he tasted it, the rest of the cake ended up smeared across his cheeks.

The next day -- Fathers Day -- I drove to meet the folks at their house for a little barbecue while CM headed for his to watch the Lakers game. Unbeknownst to my Brother and myself, we had been volunteered by our folks to help with a few things around the place. While my brother barbecued the pork loins, I hooked up the (very) old VCR to the TV in my parents' bedroom and managed to get it right the first time as the main title of Cinderella faded onto the screen. Lunch was great, and we munched corn on the cob, pork loin baked beans and applesauce while discussing tiger Woods at the US Open, my parents' upcoming tip through the Panama Canal (my Father is excited beyond belief!!), the renovations my Brother is wreaking on his house. After lunch, I climbed into the attic to find a tarp which my brother used to cover a sliding lounge in the backyard, then loaded a few folding chairs into my car for the coming weekend.

Thursday, June 12, 2008

To My Cousin

I can still remember those days back in elementary school, when we would stop by for a visit. Usually around the time when my Brother and I were in need of a haircut. Your Mother would seat us in a high stool, one at a time, and trim the excess hair sticking out from beneath the large mixing bowl she'd placed over our heads. Then, you and I would gather some of the neighborhood kids and scramble to the nearest park for war games, rides on the swings and down the slide, chasing each other around until time to eat.

Times have definitely changed. We both survived high school band geek syndrome, earned Bachelor Degrees, traveled around the U.S. and Europe, and now enjoy being who we were meant to be with the people we love. But the travel bug sunk its teeth deep into you, carrying you across the Atlantic to Spain. How long have you lived there? I seem to remember it was only to be for a semester abroad and now....

Almost thirteen, fourteen years later, and you're finally tying the knot. I'm happy that you and R. found each other and have stayed together for so long. I can't remember a time after college when you weren't together, traveling across Europe or forcing our family on an unsuspecting R. for Christmases. And I believe that you two will continue to see the world together for many, many years to come.

Here's to the two of you on your wedding day. May you live happy and love always.

Your Cousin.

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Behind the Door

"Don't do that!"

I quickly shook my head, blinked my eyes into focus. The fingers of my outstretched hand almost touched the doorknob.

"Mister, don't do that."

I half-turned and saw a young boy at the bottom of the steps, staring up at me. "I..." was all I could manage. Glancing quickly around, I found myself standing on the porch of the Eidolon place, but I couldn't for the life of me remember getting there. My mind replayed parking my car (still down the street a few houses), walking along the sidewalk as always, passing the old place, and then...and then.....

The boy offered a small, pale hand to me. I reached mine toward him and stepped away from the door. A frantic scratching started on the other side of it, near the bottom, rattling the door like a snare drum. A sharp stabbing pain slashed behind my eyes, and I pressed my fists into them, trying to rub the pain away. The worst smell, of something rotten and festering, seemed to cloud around me, to wrap around my waist like a rope and tug me back to the door as the rattling scratching intensified cracking the frame splintering into pieces as another rope coiled around my legs I opened my mouth to scream

"You should come down now, Mister." The boy's hand genlty held mine. The scratching had stopped. The smell, gone. The pain, gone. I dared to look at the door, still solid but badly in need of paint. With a slight tug, the boy guided me carefully down the steps to the end of the walk. He released my hand at the sidewalk while I continued a few more steps. "He's not allowed to come out."

I turned around. "Who's not--" I was alone, staring at the house. I reached into my pocket, grabbed my keys and ran to the car to move it as far away from there as possible.

Monday, June 09, 2008

What a Loverly Sunday!
I started a tradition about 8 years ago of taking my Mother to see a play or a musical for Mothers Day. Many years ago, she and a few friends had season tickets to the Ahmanson in downtown Los Angeles, and their many years of faithful ticketing managed to move them all the way to the Orchestra level. But one year, the first touring company of The Phantom of the Opera. rolled into town, rooting themselves into the Ahmanson for the next five years and displacing the season ticket holders to a smaller theater -- the James Doolittle (now known as the Ricardo Montalban) -- in a seedier part of Hollywood. Thanks to the move and the terrible parking in poorly lit lots and curbsides, she finally gave up her tickets, and only occasionally saw a show. I decided to revive that because I knew how much she enjoyed the theater, and that Mothers Day, I treated her to Amy's View. Since that time, we've seen quite a few shows, both plays and musicals.

My Father felt left out, so I took him to see Saturday Night Fever one Fathers Day, and as with my Mother, we've now seen quite a few shows.

This year, I combined the two special occasions and treated them to a matinée performance of My Fair Lady, the latest production direct from London. Such a great musical -- even though I don't like how the ending veers from Shaw's original Pygmalion, my only gripe about the entire show. Not everything requires a happy ending. Lisa O'Hare played a wonderful Eliza Doolittle, with such a commanding voice that she outshined Christopher Cazenove as Professor Henry Higgins. What was an even greater thrill was seeing Marni Nixon on stage, though in a non-singing role as Mrs. Higgins. (Isn't it ironic?) I particularly enjoyed the choreography by Matthew Bourne because it related to the scenes and music -- the aristocrat's equine prancing while at the races was a marvelous touch.

My parents raved about the show as we rode the elevator down, as we drove to the restaurant for a bite, and all during the meal. I guess I made the right choice. :-)

Friday, June 06, 2008

Latest Musical Obsession

The Ting Tings -- think of them as a mix of '80s British New Wave, Missing Persons and New Order. A fantastic album, full of catchy beats and smart lyrics. Favorite songs: Great DJ (above), Fruit Machine, Keep Your Head and That's Not My Name.

Wednesday, June 04, 2008

Bookwhore Chronicles: 123 Meme

Well, since I've been tagged by Ur-Spo, and he is a doctor, I guess I should follow his advice and participate. I wonder if I should ask him for a prescription....?

Step One – pull out a book on the book shelf.
Step Two – go to page 123.
Step Three – locate the fifth sentence and post the next three sentences on your blog.

Step Four – tag 5 more people.

My book: The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins

"I sat down at once to write the letter, expressing myself in it as civilly, as clearly, and as briefly as possible. Mr. Fairlie did not hurry his reply. Nearly an hour elapsed before the answer was placed in my hands."

I'm not sure whom I should tag, though. I've seen this on many blogs already. If you would like to participate, please do so and leave a comment!!

Tuesday, June 03, 2008

Random Long Beach Moments

A new Ralphs opened on 4th St. about a month ago. Okay, not a "new" Ralphs, but a remodeled one complete with shiny new, rust-colored floors and narrow aisles crammed into a tiny building with an even tinier parking lot. It's nice to have one so close to the apartment, and I'm sure the residents right across the street love it since they no longer have to trek all the way to PCH for groceries.

On my drive home this evening, I slowed to a stop so that a group of women and children -- two women each pushing a stroller and surrounded by four or five children -- could cross at the crosswalk. The woman at the front nodded and smiled in my direction, glancing left and right as the group crossed to watch for cars. A black convertible Volkswagen approached from the opposite direction, swiftly closing in on the crosswalk. As the crossers reached the halfway point, the lead woman quickly pulled back her stroller as the black Volkswagen sped through, narrowly missing the stroller. Every driver behind me, and many of the stunned pedestians, turned to watch the older woman, sunglasses shielding her eyes, cell phone in hand glued to the side of her face, as she sped along 4th St. not in the least aware that she almost hit someone.

Monday, June 02, 2008

Young at Heart

Early Sunday afternoon, CM and I headed down Pacific Coast Highway to briefly visit my Aunt and Uncle in Huntington Beach. They will be flying to Spain soon for my cousin's wedding, and in lieu of sending a gift, which more than likely would never reach its intended destination, we opted to give cash to my Aunt to deposit into my cousin's account. No fuss, no muss, no customs official ripping open a box and possibly pocketing the gift for his/herself.

After handing her the check but before we could beat a hasty retreat, my Uncle asked if I wouldn't mind watering the plants a few times a week while they were away. I sighed quietly and said yes, knowing full well what was to come next. CM settled into the couch while I followed my Uncle to the backyard, listening to him explain how each pot was to be watered -- this one only lightly on the topsoil, don't set the hose in this pot but use the watering can instead, set the hose at one end of the dirt to allow the water to slowly work its way into the dirt around the onions and peas, those must be watered heavily each time you come over. I've watered their plants before so I nodded my head, asked a few questions here and there. But I must say, the garden looked incredible. A sea of bright red wildflowers, tall onion stalks with yellowy flowers on the tips, a few small squash almost ready for picking, young tomatoes, fava beans, snow peas (he pulled two from the plant and handed me one which crunched with a sweetness I'd never tasted in a pea before), rosemary, oranges and Thai dragon peppers. "Much of it's for making my own salsa," he said smiling. Between two of the larger planters, he had stationed two plastic garbage cans, each filled with yard clippings, fruit rinds, and assorted biodegradble stuffs, stewing in the heat to create a very rich compost. He promised to spread the mush throughout the planters before they left.

As we stepped back inside the house, he recommended taking any of the vegetables that I wanted, otherwise they would rot and go to waste in the summer sun. CM and I gave each other that special little nod, and we politely excused ourselves, wishing them well on the trip, and promising to take good care of the plants.

We stopped for lunch at a little coffee shop not too far from where I used to live in Huntington Beach, then raced to Irvine to reach the movie theater in time. We both wanted to see Young@Heart, but the only theater within a 25-mile area showing it was way down in Irvine, fairly close to my office. Young@Heart is a British documentary about a chorus of senior citizens in a small New England community. But not just any chorus. These seniors sing everything from The Ramones' I Want To Be Sedated to Talking Head's Road To Nowhere. In fact, the opening of the film focuses on 92-year-old Eileen Hall, using her cane to step up to the mic and take the lead on The Clash's Should I Stay Or Should I Go?. The documentary follows the chorus during a seven-week rehearsal to prepare a new show that will be taking them to Europe, a trip they've made in the past to much critical and public acclaim. The film offers a unique glimpse into the lives of seniors, how they handle the pressure of rehearsing, performing and the difficulties of aging, and dealing with the loss of friends. And they threw in a few cheeky music videos, to boot. It's a charming, sometimes sad, always very uplifting documentary. I just hope when I'm their age that I'm as active and sharp as they are.


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Sunday, June 3, 2012

#SummerReading and #ALA12

Katherine Schulten, editor of The Learning Network, is hosting an all-day Twitter discussion about summer reading on June 7. What can you say on June 7? Well, Katherine recommends the following topics:

*What you want to read — or have to read — this summer

*Wonderful, or awful, memories of summer reading

*Quotes about summer reading, or about reading in general

*Book recommendations for others

*Tips for getting students to read in the summer

*Links to booklists, contests and other resources

*Summer book-club ideas

*Visuals! Summer-book photos might be worth 1,000 words…

*Summer site-specific recommendations: best beach books, camping books, car-trip audio books, family-reunion books, etc.

*Best places to summer-read, or best things to eat and drink while summer reading

I look forward to following the hashtag #summerreading on June 7, and I hope to "see" you there.

Are you heading to Anaheim in a few weeks for this year's American Library Association conference? If yes, check out "Best in the West." If you're not attending, you might still want to take a look at the article because you'll see me reading in an interesting outfit. :)
A sneak peek

1 comment:

  1. Thanks for this-I hadn't heard about this twitter event and would love to join it.

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Mt Pleasant News

Neighbors Growing Together | May 27, 2015

Carol Jean "Jeanie" Buck Haffner

Aug 01, 2013

Carol Jean “Jeanie” Buck Haffner, 72, Farmington, died on Tuesday, July 30, 2013, from leukemia at Great River Hospice House in West Burlington.

Friends may call after 2 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 1, at the Schmitz-Lynk Funeral Home in Donnellson where the family will meet with friends from 5 to 7 p.m.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 2, at the Sharon Presbyterian Church rural Farmington with the Rev. Daniel Hemken officiating. Burial will be in the Sharon Church Cemetery.

A memorial has been established in her memory.

The Schmitz-Lynk Funeral Home of Donnellson is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be sent to the family at .

Born Oct. 20, 1940, in Ft. Madison, she was the daughter of Silas Buck and Alma (Jones) Buck. She married Danny Haffner on July 10, 1960.

She was a member of the Sharon Presbyterian Church. She worked for Woolworths Drug Store, Kresskes Five and Dime and Ft. Madison Savings and Loan. After she was married, she drove the kindergarten school bus for Farmington Elementary, worked for Conrad Inc. in Houghton and was office manager for Haffner Trucking Service. She was a partner with her husband in the trucking business and farming operation. She enjoyed spending time with her family, fine arts, photography and pictures. She also enjoyed reading and writing.

Survivors include her husband; one son, Tony Haffner of Houghton; and one daughter, Dana (Vernon) Hoskins of New London.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

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Flinchum descendents reunite for annual gathering

July 17, 2013

Well it happened again. The Flinchum clan met at Homeplace Park on June 30 for a grand reunion with lots of talking, laughing and eating.

The reunion was for the descendants of the late William Henry Flinchum, his first wife Anna Key Flinchum and second wife Lula Denny Flinchum. Henry Flinchum and his first wife, Anna, had six sons and one daughter, all are deceased. He and his second wife, Lula, had four children, two boys and two girls, Virginia Hill, Shirley Simmons, Rex Flinchum and Spencer Flinchum. Shirley and Spencer are the only children living. There are also daughters-in-law, Eva Flinchum, wife of the late Bert Flinchum; Gaye Nell Flinchum, wife of the late Rex Flinchum; and Frances Flinchum, wife of Spencer Flinchum.

The Shirley Flinchum Simmons family was in charge of the reunion this year. Many thanks to Shirley, her daughters and sons-in-law, Joy and Dennis Smith and Joan and Randy Simpson, brother Spencer and everyone else who helped to make this a special event.

The color scheme this year was red, white and blue. The tables were covered with red, white and blue cloths. Upon entering the recreation room, to the right was a round table with “print your own” name tags and copies of some past reunion news. Down the right side of the room were several long tables filled with all kinds of delicious food. Across the back were tables of desserts and drinks. Each dessert had a name, such as pie or cake, and a number for a dessert contest.

Shirley Simmons welcomed everyone and the Rev. Gordon Flanagan, son-in-law of Terry and Patricia Shoffner, gave the blessing on the food. There was so much good food and everyone really enjoyed it.

Those in attendance this year were Shirley Simmons, Randy and Joan Simpson and daughter Hannah and her friend Ava Cox, Spencer Flinchum, Faye Turney, Melissa Sewell and son Mason, all of Pilot Mountain; Katelyn Kitts, friend of Mason Sewell, of Walnut Cove; Dennis and Joy Smith of Dobson; Matthew and Ashley Smith of Kannapolis; Gaye Nell Flinchum, Delana Shinault and daughter Lela, all of Ararat; the Terry and Patricia Shoffner, Jean Clapp, Lucy Clapp, Annale Elkins and son Leeland Williams and Annalee’s friend Phillip Kellum, all of Julian; the Rev. Gordon and Kim Flanagan and children Sean and Katie of Winston-Salem; Eva Flinchum, Russ and Sandy Dameron, all of Pfafftown; Bert (B.W.) and Martha Flinchum and daughter Katie and friend Kent Scarborough, all of Wadesboro; John and Carrie Imler and children Sophie and Maddie of Louisville, Ky.; Mitchell and Teri Flinchum and son Graham of Burlington; and Jeannie Clapp Hunt and children Ben and Sara of Kernersville. We were so glad to have all these with us.

We also had some visitors from descendants way back. We were so glad ot get to know them and enjoyed talking to them.

They were O.C. and Peggy Flinchum and daughter Kaye Oxton and fiancé Don Perkins, all of Julian; Doris Scott and Rozena Huizinga of Lowgap; Dawn Huizinga Verdeber of Vero Beach, Fla.; Lilly Ann Scott Ingram and children Chelsea and Michael Beamer, all of King; and Vicki Gordon and grandchildren Molly Gordon and Riley Hayes, all of Pinnacle. We were so glad to have these with us and hope they will come back every year.

We were really glad to have the Rev. Gordon and Kim Flanagan and children Sean and Katie with us this year. Gordon had a church in Goldsboro and they had not been able to come to the reunion on Sunday. They have recently moved to Winston-Salem to be closer to Kim’s parents, Terry and Patricia Shoffner. Please pray for this family and for Gordon to find a church in the area.

Carrie Imler sponsored a dessert contest again this year. We had some really delicious desserts. The winners were Butterscotch Supreme by Doris Scott; Almost Heaven cake by Ashley Smith; and Cherry Dump cake by Martha Flinchum. They all received a gift certificate to Target.

Patricia Shoffner made lots of pictures and had pictures of past reunions. We all love the pictures. Thank you, Patricia.

Several of the young ones enjoyed playing in the the pool while the older folks talked abut the abundance of rain, gardens and things past and yet to come.

Also on Saturday at 5 p.m., about 40 out-of-town and locals met at Mountain View Restaurant in Pilot Mountain for a meal with lots of good food and fellowship.

The family of the late Rex Flinchum will be in charge of the reuion next year, unless the Lord calls us all home. Then we’ll have a reunion in Heaven.

Hope everyone has a healthy, happy and blessed year. May God bless and watch over us all until we meet again.


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Saturday, February 28, 2009

Sign of the times

Former Chili's

"For Lease", that seems to be the popular sign popping up on restaurant fronts all over. Not to mention retail spaces. I was SHOCKED to be passing Chili's near Northgate Mall in San Rafael and see it sporting this new sign. It seemed to still be busy last time I was around, and have a reasonable price-point. It's not my typical type of place to review, but I have people, especially kids like the twins, who loved this place so I found myself here.

Chili's closure sign

Here's all the news they left. Rohnert Park the closest? I just can't see myself driving that far for this kind of place, even with the twins cajoling. Not when Chili's are nearly as thick around their home in So. Cal. as Starbucks. Anyway this made me sad, and shocked.

Friday, February 27, 2009

The hot spot

It's not been open long, but already there's a wait even early on a week night! Marinitas in San Anselmo already has a following it seems. The greeters were sparkly and got us seated quickly despite the crowd.

Chips and Salsas

The waiter immediately brought over some light and luscious crunchy chips with salsa. I hear these are baked, probably why these are not greasy.

Mexicana Salad

Everything on the menu is made for sharing, so Dad and I shared everything starting with this inventive and stylish Mexicana salad. The salad consisted of chopped romaine lettuce and cabbage with radish, jicama, green onions, queso fresco, fresh oregano, crispy tortilla ribbons and cumin citrus vinaigrette.

Pescado Yucateco

Next up was the Pescado Yucateco which came highly recommended by the waiter. This roast cod with Sikil Pak, corn cakes with epazote, cherry tomato-pumpkin seed vinaigrette was heavenly!

Plato vegetariano

And how could a mostly veggie person pass up an amazing sounding Plato Vegetariano? The plate included achile relleno stuffed with grilled corn and queso oaxaca, quinoa pilaf, chard with raja crema and chipotle glazed butternut squash. As complex and flavorful as colorful!

Arroz verde

And I was just so curious about the Arroz Verde, that we had to try some of this green rice. And the kitchen let me in on the mix - half parsley and half cilantro - that gives this dish its distinctive flavor.

Dad and I decided to make it a celebration and ordered desserts.

These light as a feather churros with chocolate dipping sauce had me thinking about churros in a whole new way. Previously, I never sought out churros, but am rethinking that stance.

Tres leche cake

And noting a famous Mexican dessert, Tres Leche Cake on the menu, we had to try Marinta's version. This one was a delicious rendition with strawberry garnish. We had a totally enjoyable experience here with good service and delicious unique dishes. This is definitely a keeper. However, expect to pay more than at a more pedestrian Mexican restaurant. It was worth it.

Restaurant Inspection Results
Critical: 0
Noncritical: 1
Last inspected: 6/2/2008

Thursday, February 26, 2009

Scoring at the Farmer's Market

Vegetable Stir Fry with Massa Rice

I made this score long ago, and have gone back for a number of bags of this delicious Massa Organics Rice. This rice is so good, it tastes 'alive' when you bite into a forkful! I paired it with a fresh vegetable stir fry that I sprinkled fresh tomatoes over just before serving.

I've been using it for about a year now, and I bought my first bag from this gentleman. He told me that the grain is allowed to mature on the head which makes a big flavor difference. I agree! This organic rice is good and good for you!

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Value lunch for carnivores

Hot Wok

My mother taught me that the centerpiece of the meal is the MEAT, which you then plan side dishes around. I think that this was not only about the protein content, but also the fact that the meat was usually the most expensive dish on the table. Dad and I stopped in to Hot Wok in San Anselmo the other day, and found that considering the quality and amount of meat in the dishes, and the price, this is a great value place. However, I don't eat meat.

Vegetables Lunch Combo

There are no labels on the dishes in the glass case, but a paper sign does say that vegetarian egg rolls are available. Of course I chose those, and the proprietor was so friendly and helpful that he took just the green beans from one dish, and some mixed vegetables from another to give me a veggie entree. I had to pick around the delectable looking chicken in the chow mein, and the pork cubes in the fried rice. This wouldn't work for a strict vegetarian, but I enjoyed my meal and kept the feeling of being mostly vegetarian this way. And the vegetables that he picked were great! I didn't see any seafood options.

General Tsao's Chicken Lunch Combo

Dad was in heaven with what looked like a General Tsao's chicken in a mildly sweet sauce, and he had no issues with any of the meat. He loved his lunch, and at the same time, the portions were so generous that we both took a good portion of ours home and enjoyed it once again, reheated. It won't be my hang out simply because of the meat-laden entrees, however the meat looked good, all white meat chicken and the beef had a nice appearance as well.

Restaurant Inspection Results
Critical: 0
Noncritical: 0
Last inspected: 6/10/2008

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Japanese Restaurants in Marin, and Beyond

Special Vegetable Mulitgrain Roll
Sushi Holic's Special Vegetable Multigrain Roll

Well, I did it. I've visited every Japanese restaurant in Marin at least once. At least until the next new one opens up! I've visited a few in San Francisco as well, and that list is expanding too. If I'm missing any in Marin, please let me know!

Japanese Restaurants and others serving "Japanese" food (and link to my review, if I wrote one, or other info)

Corte Madera

Pacific Catch - Fusion

King of the Roll
Sushi Ko

Mill Valley

Ino Sushi

May Lee's

Robata Grill & Sushi
Sushi Gourmet

Masa's Sushi & Appetizer Bar
Neo Tataki
Sushi Holic
Taki Japanese Restaurant

San Anselmo

May Lee's Asian Bistro - Fusion
Sushi 69

San Rafael

Fujiyama Restaurant & Sushi Bar
Mikado Sushi
Oedo Grill
Sushi Boat Restaurant
Umi Sushi & Grill
Yu Shang Restaurant & Sushi Bar - Fusion

Sushi Ran
Sweet Ginger
Tsukiji Sushi

Ginza Sushi

Japanese Restaurants reviewed in other places...

San Francisco

Ai Sushi

Delica rf1
Japanese Tea Garden (Not really a restaurant, but a nice place to enjoy Japanese Tea)
Shabu House
Sozai Restaurant & Sake Lounge
Sushi Bistro

San Francisco's Japantown

Kushi Tsuru
Mifune Udon

On the Bridge
Sanuki Udon

Other Greater Bay Area Places

Boat House Sushi

Monday, February 23, 2009

Still bright and busy

Half Day Cafe

The Half Day Cafe in Kentfield is one of the consistently cheeriest and light filled breakfast places in Marin. And given that their food has been consistently good over time, it seems to never cease to have a crowd waiting for a seat!

Scrambled Eggs & Fruit

Dad and I revisited one fine morning, and Dad wanted some specific things for breakfast, without being overwhelmed by the sheer amount of food. Well, the amount was still quite a bit, but he enjoyed having his choice, part of which were the scrambled eggs with fresh fruit and some toast (the toast just came with the meal, or he wouldn't have had it, considering what else he had with this breakfast.)

One Pancake

And he had a side order of one pancake with this. The orange butter impressed him so much he asked why I didn't buy this brand of butter... I took a little taste too and had to agree it was a sweet fruit finish to the smoothness.

Tofu Scramble

I on the other hand ordered the Tofu Scramble out of the 'egg' section. I was thus surprised when it didn't include eggs, however, it was delicious just as it was with fresh tomatoes, crisp-fresh corn and lightly sauteed spinach mixed in with the firm tofu. The home fries were good too, soft yet with some brownness on the outside of most of the pieces.

You can upscale to a fresh bakery item for a small amount so I went for the freshly baked biscuit. After tasting a smidgen of my Dad's orange butter I was sorry that I hadn't taken the server's advice about having it instead of plain. Next time I'll know better! We had a delightful breakfast with prompt and friendly service, and despite the crowd we were able to get a seat relatively quickly.

Restaurant Inspection Results
Critical: 1
Noncritical: 0
Last inspected: 1/2/2009

Previously reviewed:
December 12, 2006

Sunday, February 22, 2009

Tasty Thai in Rohnert Park

Jo-Ann and I were out bargain shopping one day a few weeks ago, and she had wanted to try an interesting looking Thai place, Sukhothai in Rohnert Park. I was all for trying something new! The interior was very clean and pleasant, and the staff very quick and kind.

Thai Iced Tea

The Thai iced tea was served in a pretty glass. It was quite refreshing after a morning of running around.

Fresh roll with Noodles

The lunch specials included pieces of fresh spring rolls, which were great, and I chose a wide rice noodle entree with mine. The noodles were tender and the other vegetables, such as the bright green broccoli were perfectly done. The shrimp in the dish tasted very fresh too.

Fresh Roll with Pumpkin Curry

And Jo-Ann was even more adventurous, trying the pumpkin curry with duck. I tasted a bit of the pumpkin and curry from the dish and was favorably impressed with the complexity and flavor of the curry sauce. The pumpkin was tender and well cooked. Jo-Ann also enjoyed the restaurant. We'd made a new cool find together! I'd stop by here again anytime!

Sonoma County also makes their restaurant inspection results easily obtainable on line, so I will be including those when venturing into their eating space from this point as well.

Restaurant Inspection Results
Critical: 1
Noncritical: 2
Last inspected: 12/2/2008

Saturday, February 21, 2009

Slow growing broccoli

Broccoli February 2009

I believe I planted this broccoli from a start towards the end of September. It never died, but just didn't seem to grow much. In the sunny spurts we've had, it's grown a little, and finally is growing a flower that we can eventually eat. This is the largest of the six starts planted, and coincidentally has the biggest pot. I'm glad we were not counting on this winter vegetable for our food supply! It is interesting learning about how the various vegetables grow.

Friday, February 20, 2009

"An Adult Day Care Center"

Dave & Mike's

I just love Dave & Mike's slogan for their restaurant. And ever since I noticed, and enjoyed their retro setting in Tiburon, I knew I'd have to bring my Dad here. We wanted a simple lunch recently, and were in the neighborhood so we stopped by.

Egg Salad Sandwich

There's not a whole lot of vegetarian choices, but I found an egg salad sandwich which I paired with a yellow lentil soup. There's nothing like a classic recipe done well, and with a twist. This egg salad sandwich had the right amounts of the usual ingredients, plus a noticeable amount of fresh diced celery. The crunch was great, and lightened up what could have been a heavy choice. The soup was awesome, with a complexity of flavor I didn't expect.

Turkey Sandwich

Dad went with a classic turkey and cheese sandwich, which had fresh lettuce and tomato topping the sandwich as well. The service was friendly, everything fresh, and I just had to query about those odd prices, ending in things like .93 or .98. The clever staff has calculated the amounts so that with tax the check amount comes out even!

Restaurant Inspection Results
Critical: 0
Noncritical: 0
Last inspected: 6/5/2008

Previously reviewed:
April 4, 2007

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Pizzas are still great

Pizza Antica

Dad & I stopped by Pizza Antica at the end of a hectic day. Seemed like a good time for pizza and salad.

Fall Chopped Salad

We ordered the Fall Chopped Salad, which had mangoes, pears, pomegranate seeds as well as red cabbage mixed in. I thought it was taking an unusually long time, and then I discovered why. The waiter thought we wanted everything delivered at once. I have no idea why since we were at a small table which physically would not hold all the dishes, nor had the topic of timing come up in the conversation. And after all of that actually, I like the more typical chopped salad that they previously served better. The fruit was too mushy except for the pomegranate seeds, which were too seedy.

Three Cheeses, Shaved Broccoli, Caramelized Onion and Pancetta

On to better things, this pizza of Three Cheeses, Shaved Broccoli, Caramelized Onion and Pancetta is what my Dad craves. I've had this one on previous visits, and it's a fabulous combination. I picked off some of the Pancetta and enjoyed some of this one too.

Spinach Tomato Portabello Pizza

We also had a custom creation, pizza with spinach, fresh tomatoes and portabello mushrooms. It's making me crave another one just writing about it. It was lovely with ingredients that were so fresh and at their peak. Pizza Antica has a solid place in Mill Valley and I will enjoy returning the next time.

Restaurant Inspection Results
Critical: 1
Noncritical: 0
Last inspected: 2/9/2009

Previously reviewed:
November 6, 2008
July 12, 2007

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Tsukiji Sushi

I'd previously made some posts about a building that has long been closed in Sausalito. It appeared that a new Japanese restaurant, Tsukiji Sushi would be moving in. Then a big blue 'for lease' sign appeared in the window. I speculated that perhaps Tsujiki was not coming after all. In the last few days, a new double doorway appeared in the building! It is easily identifiable in the right part of the photo, being made of lighter, unpainted wood. Is the building being divided into two spaces? Is Tsukiji coming after all? Stay tuned, and if you know anything about this mystery, please comment!

Previous posts on this topic:
December 24, 2008
September 5, 2008

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Hidden delights

Ambrosia Pizza

There's a neighborhood Italian place in Larkspur, Ambrosia Pizza which blends in to the point of being easily overlooked from the street. This would be a mistake. Not only is there an extensive menu, with an extensive specials list, but an amazingly large choice of wines by the glass.

Caesar Salad

The service was friendly and prompt. In fact I had hardly voice the 'd' at the end of Caesar Salad, when it arrived in front of me! This was a generous portion of salad, cool and well dressed.

Linguine with clams

I was drawn to their Linguine with Clams. I was wary when it first arrived as I'm not a fan of 'soupy' sauces. However, I sipped a little, and was floored by the amazing flavor. I kept sipping the broth until nearly dry thinking is was so good that I wouldn't mind if the broth was all I had room to eat! I did tuck into the noodles, and found that these were cooked to the al dente degree that I liked. And there were SO many clams, both fresh and additional chopped, layered all through the noodles. These I couldn't finish. I'd come here again in a heartbeat.

Restaurant Inspection Results
Critical: 1
Noncritical: 5
Last inspected: 2/7/2008

Monday, February 16, 2009

View breakfast

Bridgeway Cafe

Sitting in front of the windows at Bridgeway Cafe in Sausalito gives you a fabulous view of the Richardson Bay and San Francisco skyline. However the day I last visited, I was with Paul who was visiting from Portland and we were more interested in talking. And it was fun to introduce him to this delicious breakfast spot.

Short Stack of French Toast

Paul ordered the short stack of French toast with bacon. He gave it high marks and enjoyed the nice piece of cantaloupe on the side.

I had a custom omelet with some perfectly cooked home fries.

Omelet interior

I was very happy of my choice of spinach, tomatoes and jack cheese for the filling. I've never had a bad experience here, and the breakfasts have always been meticulously plated and delicious!

Restaurant Inspection Results
Critical: 4
Noncritical: 7
Last inspected: 8/14/2008

Previously reviewed:
June 21, 2008
June 24, 2005

Sunday, February 15, 2009

Warm red and friendly

Thai Bistro

I made it over to Novato to try Thai Bistro the other day. The place has been transformed with the new ownership. It is stylish and warm with lots of red tones. The staff was friendly too.

Spicy and Sour Soup with Lemongrass

Having recently had a good experience with a Thai soup, I couldn't resist trying one from their specials list, Spicy and Sour Soup with Lemongrass. I ordered it with tofu, and it was not only delicious, the tofu pieces were cut into blossom shapes!

Pumpkin Curry with Tofu

I love pumpkin curry, so ordered the Pumpkin Curry special, again with tofu. The tofu was again cut into pretty blossom shapes, and the whole plate was stylized. The curry was tasty and the entree held together well. I would order it again. The only surprise was that although the menu said it was served inside a 'fresh pumpkin', it came in an oval dish. There was plenty of pumpkin inside, although I do wonder how that presentation would have looked, pretty I'm sure. I also enjoyed the light sesame taste of the salad dressing. Thai Bistro is a positive upscale option in Novato's food scene.

Restaurant Inspection Results
Critical: 0
Noncritical: 0
Last inspected: 11/17/2008

Saturday, February 14, 2009

Happy Valentine's Day!

I'm noticing a pattern. Dad rarely requests steak dinners, but request it he did the other night. So we found ourselves at Outback Steakhouse in Sausalito just a few days short of Valentine's Day. I've blogged Outback previously related to Valentine's Day. Maybe it's the red color?

Bread and Butter

After you order, hot fresh bread appears magically at your table with lots of butter to slather on it.

Caesar Salad

I had a decent Caesar Salad to start my meal, Dad declined his salad course, stating he just wanted to get to the steak!

Small sirloin

Dad ate every bit of his 7 oz Outback Special steak. In accordance with the times, the restaurant seems to have added this smaller size since the last visit, and priced it the same as the previously bigger size. However, this version was perfect for Dad's 88 year old appetite.

Alaskan King Crab

I have a weakness for their Alaskan King Crab offering. Simple and tasty, I also enjoyed it all. Although a chain, it provides a nice change of pace and allows Dad to get a sized well steak while I can enjoy a luxury seafood.

Tonight I'm taking Dad, Toran & Aurelia to Round Table Pizza while the kid's parents get some romantic Valentine's moments. The company will be fun and high spirited I'm sure!

Restaurant Inspection Results
Critical: 1
Noncritical: 1
Last inspected: 5/22/2008

Previously reviewed:
February 15, 2007


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Saturday, July 28, 2012

It Ain’t Easy Being 3D

-Tim Bruckner

Let’s say you’re a 2D artist. Well, you my friend are the Supreme Master of Your Universe. You decree the time of day. Location is yours to decide, be it under the sea, on a distant planet, an endless desert or a Starbucks. The light bends at your desire; blinding sun, dappled shadows, the brooding gloom of a cloud sliced moon or the humming neon of an office cubicle. Time? Your call. Pick a century. Make up a century! In your Universe, people fly, men with super powers lift city blocks with the flex of a finger. Jugglers juggle. Pumas pounce. Robots emit lasers through their eyes with devastating effect. In short, your only constraint is the limits of your imagination.

Now, pity the plight of the poor sculptor. We share some of your powers; creation of character, size, shape, mass. We determine finesse of finish, level of detail. Action. Intent of action. Same as you. But that’s it. The context in which our work is viewed is out of our control. The conditions under which our sculptures are seen is left to the whim and whimsy of an art director who will decide which lighting setup to use. (For some inexplicable reason, they sometimes choose to light a sculpture from beneath. Will ya look at those nostrils!)

Or, the consumer who may place his sculpture in a cabinet, on a mantle, in a bookshelf or next to the toaster on the kitchen counter. And then there’s the gallery with its pin point overheads that makes everything under them look like a Judy Garland revival.

And it gets worse. In your world, you compose proximity. The dragon battles the valiant knight. A group of bug-eyed aliens abducts a leggy blonde.

Unless the sculptor’s statue contains two or more figures, it’s just as likely that Superman will be sharing shelf space with Under Dog or Wolverine paling around with Uncle Creepy.

So, what’s a sculptor to do? Well, there ain’t a lot of options, but there are a few. A base is a good contexter. (I made that up, but you get the idea) A well designed base can help set the location. It can even infer distance like a mountain top or a valley.

Then there’s weather. In the sculptor’s world, there’s often a lot of wind. Usually it blows in against the character, sending hair and wardrobe alike, undulating in elegant inverted “S” curves. Flying is a tough one. It’s that damn pesky gravity that gets in the way of a convincing airborne composition. But a sculptor is like a magician. Its all about misdirection. Look here! Don’t look there. A character who’s supposed to be flying needs to be supported somehow. It’s the sculptor’s job to help you suspend logic and physics in support of make believe.

Most problematic is the concession to the material. Its often going to be resin or silicone, and in some case, bronze. They each carry their own liabilities. Resin, as with all thermal cure plastics, is subject to heat warp. In winter, that flying super hero defies gravity at ninety degrees. During the summer swelter of late July, he’s kissing the ground. There’s a one word cure for that. Buttress! As long as you can’t see what it is, it’s a damn dandy solution. So, knowing what a material can do, or more importantly, what it can’t do, and knowing how to make it look like it can… that there is golden.

But, the sculptor has one special power all our own. And it’s a doozey! The element of surprise. All you 2D guys, you can make anything happen anywhere, anytime. You can make the impossible, possible. But the sculptor, we can give the audience something you can’t. A back view. And don’t you know, we play it for all their worth. Why, look here. It’s a statue of Wonder Woman. Just standing there, minding her own Amazonian business. But turn her around and she’s standing on a pile of skulls of her vanquished foes. Try that in 2D! A good sculptor will stack the visual deck. We’ll leave visual bread crumbs for you to follow and take you where we want you to go and back again.

And then there’s presence. As compelling and as a brilliant as 2D work can be, and man, a lot of it is just jaw dropping, they don’t share the presence that occupies the same physical space as we all do. Might not seem like a big deal, but it kind of is. You can get up all in that, with a piece of sculpture. You can get up all in that with a wonderful work in 2D art, but it takes more work.

I’ve said this before, sculptors are like the drummers of the art world. If you’ve ever been in a band or are a sculptor, you’ll know what I mean. We sculptors are not prone to great conceptual leaps. We’re often too busy trying to figure out how make a squint look intense as opposed to myopic.

She: This is something I’ve been rolling around for a couple of years. How could I contextualize a sculpture the same way a 2D guy can? Well, you’d have to start with creating an environment that, by and large, accepts traditional lighting methods as overhead and be willing to embrace the variables of that. This is the rough clay. When she’s done, the leaves will be cast in translucent resin allowing a little more light and increasing the play between light and shadow. I’ll let you know how it turns out.

  1. If you want to control the lighting, why not incorporate it into the sculpture? Or is that tacky?

    1. Good point; miniature painters do it as well, but I think it is a matter of taste/style too.

  2. Nice post! The element of being able to look at a sculpt from any angle one wishes is the greatest advantage of that medium. No stereoscopic glasses needed, no weird squinting required ... just pure 3-dimensional reality. That is why I have painted 28 / 32 / 54mm miniatures for many years and will never sell or give away any of them, painted or unpainted.

    This WIP project seems like a great opportunity to push the basing. Sculptors tend to love their sculpts are clean as possible, but with grass, moss, pigment powders, etc. ... the setting can be described almost completely. Looking forward to an update on this one!

  3. She: Make those two frontal lobes jiggle and I'll be impressed.

  4. I hadn't fully realized just how easy we have it, us 2D guys, until now. I remember trying a few times playing around with clay back in the days when I was painting miniatures. I was so frustratingly hard to just get a face right! Your post just furthered the immense respect I have for you 3D guys.

    By the way, even though I got acquainted only recently with your work through this blog, I immediately fell in love with every piece you've been showing here. That flying faerie is a new favorite. Truly amazing. I'm also looking forward to seeing how that WIP is going to turn out. Looks very promising!