Sam gave me a ride to the Fall Festival at SBCC. The Fall Festival offers an alternative to Halloween trick-or-treating, with fun and games in the worship center and all of the classrooms upstairs. Costumes were not mandatory and a lot of kids came in street clothes.
Since our lifegroup volunteered to help at the Cafe on the patio, I took the wheelchair in order to be mobile, yet keeping my hands free to carry something. As a result, I was given a tray of pastries. Unfortunately, there were five others with similar trays. Fortunately, my tray was in my lap and at eye-level of the kids.
There were four card tables set-up with chairs. At one point, when it got slow, some of our group members were sitting at two of the tables.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
1031 hard-of-hearing
Koinonia got together at Sheri’s house to celebrate Stephanie’s leaving to lead her own lifegroup. The fare was pizza and pasta, and entertainment was provided by Sam, Ed, Caleb (Sheri’s son), and Mo (Sheri’s husband) on “Rock Band” instruments. For those of us in the dining room, it was more like “Name That Tune”. There were a few songs where we were stumped, as the lyrics weren’t making any sense.It was nice to see everyone outside of church and the lifegroup meeting.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
1029 therapy
Christina told me that she was going to be a “hippie” for Halloween. I gave her a couple of suggestions. We’ll find out how she did next week.
One exercise focused on lifting the right foot onto a wooden box, a couple of inches high. We used a raised table as a support, but I concentrated on putting my weight on my left leg.
One exercise focused on lifting the right foot onto a wooden box, a couple of inches high. We used a raised table as a support, but I concentrated on putting my weight on my left leg.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
1027 jellyfish
Calvin told me about a Halloween Party he was going to. All of the invitees were given “fins” and instructed to come as a type of fish. But the “type” was up to each person as well as how they conveyed the idea.
One guy was going as a clownfish, so the costume was a clown outfit with the “fin” on the back. Get it? I think it’s an interesting idea.
Calvin decided to go as a “jellyfish”, so his costume was going to be a jar of Smucker’s. I told him that if he wanted to be different, make it a jar of Vaseline. Petroleum jelly. Get it? I also had a wild idea of a tube of K-Y jelly, but we’ll see.
I would’ve worn it when I was in college. That was when I wore a bed sheet as a toga. I’m just glad that no pictures exist that I know of.
Our exercises involve walking with the sticks and seeing if we can beat the timer on the door-opener mechanism.
One guy was going as a clownfish, so the costume was a clown outfit with the “fin” on the back. Get it? I think it’s an interesting idea.
Calvin decided to go as a “jellyfish”, so his costume was going to be a jar of Smucker’s. I told him that if he wanted to be different, make it a jar of Vaseline. Petroleum jelly. Get it? I also had a wild idea of a tube of K-Y jelly, but we’ll see.
I would’ve worn it when I was in college. That was when I wore a bed sheet as a toga. I’m just glad that no pictures exist that I know of.
Our exercises involve walking with the sticks and seeing if we can beat the timer on the door-opener mechanism.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
1022 takin' leave
I went to Cal State Long Beach for my therapy session. I was met by Christina and Calvin, and was told that it was time for the mid-semester evaluations.
Time was spent on measuring my limbs and muscles to see how much I’ve improved. I found my limbs lifted and stretched, while I laid on my back, on my side, on my stomach, and sitting up.
I was thinking ... if there was ever a good time for an “out-of-body” experience, this was it.
I could’ve gone to Starbucks and left my body there.
Time was spent on measuring my limbs and muscles to see how much I’ve improved. I found my limbs lifted and stretched, while I laid on my back, on my side, on my stomach, and sitting up.
I was thinking ... if there was ever a good time for an “out-of-body” experience, this was it.
I could’ve gone to Starbucks and left my body there.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
1021 deadly leather
I was watching a DVD from the second season of “Stargate: Atlantis” and listening to a commentary on one of the episodes. The director was commenting on a scene showing a confrontation. On one side was one of the series’ regulars, flanked by three armed marines. On the other side was the leader of a planet and behind him were three security officers.
The director said, “The prop department goofed. They issued holsters to the security officers but forgot to put guns in the holsters.”
Fortunately, the situation was able to be resolved. Otherwise, the security officers would have had to threaten to throw their leather holsters. That would have left a mark.
The director said, “The prop department goofed. They issued holsters to the security officers but forgot to put guns in the holsters.”
Fortunately, the situation was able to be resolved. Otherwise, the security officers would have had to threaten to throw their leather holsters. That would have left a mark.
1021 deadly leather
I was watching a DVD from the second season of “Stargate: Atlantis” and listening to a commentary on one of the episodes. The director was commenting on a scene showing a confrontation. On one side was one of the series’ regulars, flanked by three armed marines. On the other side was the leader of a planet and behind him were three security officers.
The director said, “The prop department goofed. They issued holsters to the security officers but forgot to put guns in the holsters.”
Fortunately, the situation was able to be resolved. Otherwise, the security officers would have had to threaten to throw their leather holsters. That would have left a mark.
The director said, “The prop department goofed. They issued holsters to the security officers but forgot to put guns in the holsters.”
Fortunately, the situation was able to be resolved. Otherwise, the security officers would have had to threaten to throw their leather holsters. That would have left a mark.
Monday, October 19, 2009
1019 wraiths
I was watching a DVD from the first season of “Stargate: Atlantis” and listening to a commentary while watching an episode. The commentary was voiced by the episode director and one of the series’ regulars.
The director was talking about the Wraiths, the “villains” of the series. The Wraith hierarchy consists of a queen at the top, drones at the bottom, and workers in the middle. Much like ants or bees (the colony ships are called “hives”), the workers and drones are male. The drones are large and muscular (imagine guys as big as NFL linebackers, but without shoulder pads) but have no facial features to differentiate them.
The “workers” however, are about six feet two, muscular and trim, with faces that express emotions and intent. The director mentioned that the creators wanted them to be similar, so that they would appear the same throughout the race. The director mentioned that it was thought to be a casting nightmare, since the part would require supporting actors that matched a specific set of criteria.
Then someone realized that the “worker” in each episode was “killed off”, so it was possible to re-cast the same actor but make small changes in the facial make-up. And so it was done that way.
The series’ regular commented that he thought it was a different person each time, because he didn’t get a chance to see him until after the make-up was finished, so each week, when they started taping a new episode, he made it a point to introduce himself. It was at a party halfway through the season that he met the actor who played all of the parts and was told by the supporting actor that the situation was quite amusing.
On a side note, the “workers” didn’t have names, so for ease, the cast and crew gave them “names” such as “Bob”, “Lenny” or “Steve”. It was easier than saying, “Hey you, stand at this mark and face the camera!”
The director was talking about the Wraiths, the “villains” of the series. The Wraith hierarchy consists of a queen at the top, drones at the bottom, and workers in the middle. Much like ants or bees (the colony ships are called “hives”), the workers and drones are male. The drones are large and muscular (imagine guys as big as NFL linebackers, but without shoulder pads) but have no facial features to differentiate them.
The “workers” however, are about six feet two, muscular and trim, with faces that express emotions and intent. The director mentioned that the creators wanted them to be similar, so that they would appear the same throughout the race. The director mentioned that it was thought to be a casting nightmare, since the part would require supporting actors that matched a specific set of criteria.
Then someone realized that the “worker” in each episode was “killed off”, so it was possible to re-cast the same actor but make small changes in the facial make-up. And so it was done that way.
The series’ regular commented that he thought it was a different person each time, because he didn’t get a chance to see him until after the make-up was finished, so each week, when they started taping a new episode, he made it a point to introduce himself. It was at a party halfway through the season that he met the actor who played all of the parts and was told by the supporting actor that the situation was quite amusing.
On a side note, the “workers” didn’t have names, so for ease, the cast and crew gave them “names” such as “Bob”, “Lenny” or “Steve”. It was easier than saying, “Hey you, stand at this mark and face the camera!”
Friday, October 16, 2009
1016 maggie who?
Jim Y was unable to make it on Saturday, so we went walking today. He picked me up at the usual time and we headed for Liberty Park in Cerritos.
The route we picked for today included a short descent and a long incline. I was tempted to lean back during the incline and if Jim wasn’t there, I know I would have fallen down several times.
After the exercise, we had lunch at Red Robin. While we were unloading at my house, we talked about a mutual friend who is pregnant with her third child. Jim said that he was done, “unless Maggie O asked him to.”
I told him that I knew of Maggie Q (see my post on 1/10/08), but I didn’t know who “Maggie O” was.
The route we picked for today included a short descent and a long incline. I was tempted to lean back during the incline and if Jim wasn’t there, I know I would have fallen down several times.
After the exercise, we had lunch at Red Robin. While we were unloading at my house, we talked about a mutual friend who is pregnant with her third child. Jim said that he was done, “unless Maggie O asked him to.”
I told him that I knew of Maggie Q (see my post on 1/10/08), but I didn’t know who “Maggie O” was.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
1014 shadows
I was watching a first season episode of “Stargate: Atlantis” and listened to the commentary the second time around. The director was commenting on how scenes were shot and some things to look for.
The episode was about a giant storm and one scene was shot in a forest. The director mentioned that it was a sunny day when they shot, but special effects used computer graphics to make it appear that there was a storm brewing, with overcast skies and drops of water. The problem was that they forgot to remove the shadows that each of the actors cast.
Sure enough, they were there, but you had to be looking for them.
The episode was about a giant storm and one scene was shot in a forest. The director mentioned that it was a sunny day when they shot, but special effects used computer graphics to make it appear that there was a storm brewing, with overcast skies and drops of water. The problem was that they forgot to remove the shadows that each of the actors cast.
Sure enough, they were there, but you had to be looking for them.
Friday, October 9, 2009
1009 wardrobe
I was watching a sci-fi television show and was listening to the commentary. It featured the voices of two directors. One had shot the episode; the other was his friend, who had shot a previous episode.
One scene was in a room and featured two actors, one male and one female. Both were young and very attractive. The director of the episode told the other director that he wasn’t able to cover the back wall.
Sure enough, when you ignore the dialog and focus on the back wall, you can see that it was part of another set. The other director asked why.
The first director mentioned that it was too costly and covering the wall would have put him way over budget. The second director asked him how he handled it.
The first director replied, “Misdirection.”
The second director said, “Misdirection? How?”
The first director said, “I told wardrobe to make the actors wear one size smaller. THAT, I could afford.”
When I saw the scene, I wasn’t thinking that I’d seen that wall someplace else. I was thinking that the female’s outfit was so snug I could hardly breathe.
One scene was in a room and featured two actors, one male and one female. Both were young and very attractive. The director of the episode told the other director that he wasn’t able to cover the back wall.
Sure enough, when you ignore the dialog and focus on the back wall, you can see that it was part of another set. The other director asked why.
The first director mentioned that it was too costly and covering the wall would have put him way over budget. The second director asked him how he handled it.
The first director replied, “Misdirection.”
The second director said, “Misdirection? How?”
The first director said, “I told wardrobe to make the actors wear one size smaller. THAT, I could afford.”
When I saw the scene, I wasn’t thinking that I’d seen that wall someplace else. I was thinking that the female’s outfit was so snug I could hardly breathe.
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