Brrr....

Off to the east coast where the temperature is currently 50 degrees - man o man! There's going to be one temperature whilst I am on the east cold - cold, cold and cold - what's a native born San Diegan to do? Stay indoors and drink warm beverages? Enjoy the song for old Saint Nick. Happy Holidays, everyone!

This is for you, Keith

I've kept myself busy intentionally this month so the memories don't flood back. However, as I leave for the east coast tomorrow to spend the holidays with my mom my thoughts and my heart draw to my brother. Keith died on the 17th of December last year and we had his funeral services on Christmas Eve day. We were two peas in a pod, there's not a day that goes by without me thinking of him and missing him. My heart just breaks and aches at his absence and whoever said things get better with time are full of shit - things don't get better, we just learn to adapt and live without the loved ones who go much too soon, as did my brother. The heart doesn't heal as there will always be a portion missing with the void. I don 't want, nor do I have the fortitude to get into a long blog about my brother. However, my brother was a great Dave Matthews Band fan - in fact, we had planned on seeing him in concert on the east coast but, alas, he was taken before we could go. Anyway, he liked all of Dave Matthews' work and particularily "Why I Am" and the Grux intro off Matthews' GooGrux King cd. So, Keith, here's a clip of the band playing "Why I Am" on the Letterman show as well as a studio track of "Grux". I miss you, I love you and I would change places with you in a heartbeat - I'm hope you and Dad are looking down on all of us who treasured our time with you.

The Nutcracker

Saw The Nutcracker yesterday - one of my favorite holiday activities. Enjoy the clips below - they weren't from the production I saw yesterday (they're from the San Francisco Ballet's 2008 production, which I did see) but a)the russian dance is one of my favorite scenes and the included version is excellent, and was live when I saw it and b) the second clip is just so lovely (clip starts at the end of the Nutcracker/Toy Soldiers and Mice fight- you'll see the Mouse King slithering down a hole at the very beginning). Enlarge to fukll screen for best effect, enjoy and may visions of whatever dance in your head :-).

It's not Christmas until...

It's not Christmas until, besides watching The Grinch Stole Christmas, one watches A Christmas Story. Below are three of my favorite scenes (with regard to the second scene - wait for the little 10ish second intro). Enjoy...and "don't shoot your eye out"





mindless factoid - the kid who gets his tongue stuck on the pole
grew up to do porn for a while.

Holiday Live Theatre - The Grinch

Saw Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! at The Old Globe Friday eve - as usual, the production was fabulous (as was dinner at The Prado before the event and adults beverages after the event). Today it's The Nutcracker.

Enjoy the clip from the original animation ('tis better viewing if you enlarge the screen to full size).

The photos are from this year's production. Photography by Henry DiRocco.

'Tis the mad dash to finish grades

About 250 final (and in cases of the slackers who turned in late work, multiple essays) papers to grade, final semester grades to compute and post before leaving for the holidays. The image below says it all - god, Starbucks loooooooooooooooves me... .

image from gosmellthecoffee

It truly was a magical day at Walt's place

This was Snow White's castle tonight. Got to the park at 9:30 this morning and just got home about a half hour ago. Awesome day - small crowds, didn't have to wait in line for any rides due to a special pass - great Christmas themed parade - fabulous Christmas fireworks - "snow" falling this evening. Everyone should experience Disneyland during December - the whole park is decked out in Christmas finery - some of the rides (like the Haunted Mansion, It's a Small World are changed for the Christmas holiday). Must have walked about a jillion miles but it was totally worth it - just an awesome day all around.

Off to the land of Disney

Off to Disneyland tomorrow - 'twill be my first time to experience a Christmas Disneyland - everyone who's been this time of year so it's quite groovy and magical. The weather is going to be cooooooooooooold but, hey it's "the happiest place on earth" so it should be a blast!