superflyingrosa

Kira, Capo and Rose :o)

2008-07-29T14:15:00.004-04:00

ABCNews.com

2008-06-04T09:24:00.001-04:00

Here is a new video feature that posted to ABCNews.com this week:

http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=4921222

100 NY shows

2008-02-08T01:28:00.000-05:00

I'm amazed that an author decided to mention our 100th show in Playbill.com's website. That must be the work of Bridgette and Adam...I LOVE WHAT YOU'RE DOING FOR US!!!

http://www.playbill.com/news/article/114420.html
Off-Broadway's Fuerzabruta Hits 100 at Daryl Roth Theatre Jan. 18
By Ernio Hernandez
18 Jan 2008
Off-Broadway's new theatrical spectacle, Fuerzabruta (Brute Force), plays its 100th performance Jan. 18.

The show began performances Oct. 11 and opened Oct. 24 at the former home of De La Guarda, the Daryl Roth Theatre. The previously extended run plays through June 29. The 10:30 PM performance will mark the production's 100th show.

De La Guarda's Diqui James (co-founder/co-creator) and Gaby Kerpel (composer/musical director) again "push the boundaries of theatrical creativity, motivation and innovation," according to a press statement. Fuerzabruta (Brute Force) "breaks free from the confines of spoken language and theatrical convention [where] both performers and audience are immersed in an environment that floods the senses, evoking pure visceral emotion in a place where individual imagination soars."

Featured performers include Hallie Bulleit, Freddy Bosche, Daniel Case, Michael Hollick, Joshua Kobak, Gwyneth Larsen, Tamara Levinson, Rose Mallare, Brooke Miyasaki, Jon Morris, Jason Novak, Marlyn Ortiz and Kepani Salgado-Ramos.

Among visuals to be expected: "A man runs full throttle through a series of moving walls, individuals race to connect from opposite sides of a whirling sail and performers frolic and interact in a watery world suspended just above the audience."

Fans who remember De La Guarda can plan to enjoy a similar, yet completely new experience as the action is set to "percussive beats, engaging melodies and hypnotic ambient music."

Fuerzabruta first played in Buenos Aires in 2005 and has also performed in Lisbon, London, Buenos Aires and Bogota with runs in Berlin and Hamburg to follow.

Concert Productions International (CPI), Ozono Productions and David Binder Productions produce the New York run.

Tickets to Fuerzabruta (Brute Force) at the Daryl Roth Theatre, 20 Union Square East (at 15th Street), can be purchased by calling (212) 239-6200 or at the box office. A limited number of $25 (cash-only) rush tickets will be made available two hours prior to curtain. For more information visit fuerzabrutanyc.com.

Good ingredients make a great cake*

2008-02-08T00:24:00.001-05:00

Ingredients:
- Argentine images turned into reality and tested all around the world
- A crew that loves theatrical spectacles
- Climbers that chuckle in the face of fear
- 13 thrill seeking actors with way too much energy

Preheat:
8 hours of productive sleeping

Mix:
2 hours of organizing the apartment
45 minutes of hang time with Veronica at Sephora and Chipolte's
20 minutes of strategizing at the Genius Bar
20 minutes drooling over MacBook Air's
10 minutes of wolfing down a Fat Witch caramel brownie
1 hour of constructive criticism towards a better year
45 minutes of more constructive criticism for a better hour
45 minutes of laughter during a led but not followed warm-up
15 minutes of 80's dance music just before places

Bake for 1 hour in a black box with lights, sound, big sets, fun props, an astute crew and sick-ass performers.

Top it with:
1 dancing Cloud
1 spritely puppy named Capo
1 David Binder
1 Orlando Bloom
1 Neil Patrick Harris
1 dozen celebrity snowboarders still amped from the Burton expo in Union Square
300 anonymous smiling faces that voluntarily dance with you in the rain

Still high and wet from the performance, I made my way downstairs. An audience member and his friend asked me questions at the door of the women's dressing room, "Where is this from? Where is the cast from?" His friend said with an English accent, "...You made me feel like a kid again." Orlando Bloom told me this, and I couldn't help but swoon into the dressing room shortly after.

Chase it with a JD and Coke, a toast with friends, a picture with audience members and reminisce the moments with a very happy crew.

*The beauty of theater and the festivities around cake: it only happens once and isn't easily replicated. If you are there in the moment, savor it. There is an awesome feeling in knowing you are a fine ingredient of the most grandiose cake.

Fuerzabruta 8 PM performance on Thursday, February 7, 2008.

Corridor - Jason
Personas - Hallie, Mike, Rose and Jon
TV - Brooke and Josh
Cortinas - Gwyn and Marlyn
Moving Cortinas - Mike, Kapani, Josh and Hallie
Murga - Rose, Mike, Brooke, Josh and Kapani
Vela - Tamara and Freddy
Scenario Alto - Mike
Murga Finale - Gwyn, Mike, Rose, Jon, Josh, Freddy
DJ - Mike
Mylar - Brooke, Marlyn, Tamara, Kapani
Corridor Finale - Hallie, Jon and Jason

My friends are HOT! Broadway.com came back for more...

2008-02-04T14:56:00.000-05:00

Brookie, Gwyn, Mikey, Jon and Daniel are even hotter in person. Everything they say is true. My favorite line, "Its really the crew's show. We just get to play and the they have to clean it up!" said Jon.

http://www.broadway.com/Gen/Buzz_Video.aspx?ci=557076

Vogue tried to make us classy

2008-02-04T14:45:00.000-05:00

Kate Bosworth and Jim Sturgess were in our theater for a Vogue photo shoot for fashion designer Phillip Lim. Jon showed them what to do. Haven't seen the shot in the magazine yet, but its for sale on magazine stands.

http://www.style.com/vogue/voguediaries/012208

Fuerzabruta Behind the Scenes #1

2008-01-24T15:44:00.000-05:00

Thanks to Jason Novak, movie maker and performer, for putting together this very informative clip of the technical geniuses of our show.

click this link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXr3FLklbIg

I work on a playground

2008-01-24T10:48:00.000-05:00

Last night, I finally watched the show. I wanted to watch it as a true audience member, since I know everything that happens next and that I also know everyone in the cast and crew pretty well too. I paid attention to how the audience was reacting and jotted down alot of what they said, the comments they would make to each other, the reactions on their faces, how they moved throughout the space, and how they danced. I wondered during certain moments why would they laugh, scream, or even kiss each other.

It didn't take the audience long to feel suspended from reality. I sort of forgot that they're going through a journey as they watch the show unfold, but I soon realized that they were already captured in the moments of Fuerzabruta when Daniel was walking on the treadmill...the audience last night was with him on each and every step he took. There was a woman behind me who told her other friends, "I saw a different guy last time...I can't believe they switch around roles...wow, this guy is really good." Other people were talking, some people where chuckling, some people would look at their friends with their eyebrows raised. Then the corridor was shot and fell dead. I always wondered why people would laugh or cheer when he's dead, and last night, I believed they saw themselves with Daniel, or as Daniel, the corridor. And maybe they wanted to run away or run to something in their own lives. Perhaps the emotions proceeding the gun shot resulted in a sense of relief which the audience communicated through raised eyebrows, screams, laughter...and some didn't even know what to do with their body and became as stiff as a board and remained speechless.

Personas started happening and the woman behind me said, "There's the guy who did it last time," It was Josh. "He was really good too." I watched all four of you fall off the back end. To me, you each of had your own mini monologue that related to your own personal lives. I put that story there because I know all four of you. So in a way, you too are like the corridor, each of you with history, each of you with a future...and in the present, you are here now, dealing with walking, the crowd, and finding an end to your own personal madness and falling dead off the back end...and then deciding to get up again. You're all strangers, and you all eventually leave. Daniel remains on his journey, busting through doors, running at top speed and got shot...AGAIN. But this time, he remained standing.

For me, this was the most puzzling moment in the show. Why are you still standing? What are you thinking about? What's your motivation and intentions for just standing there "this time"? Why did Diqui direct the corridors to just stand at this moment? I have the luxury of asking Daniel after the show, or I can even call or email him today or tomorrow and ask him questions or any of you about that exact moment. Shit, I can even call Diqui if I feel like it and ask the creator right now if I wanted to. I'm lucky, we're lucky that we can do that, but that's not the point.

I didn't realize until this morning what that moment meant for me. To put it simply, we're not just actors here. I don't even see us actors in a theater. We are Rose dealing with living in NYC again, Freddy having a court date in LA next week, Josh saying goodbye to Michelle for a few months, and Gwyn turning the world into a greener place. We can get through anything, through extreme weather conditions, through faulty doors, with weird clown costumes, through loud gunshots, through water, through mid air, with heart aches, a new puppy, a new love, a new apartment, with language barriers, through bad times and good ones too in any country on any given day, even on holidays. Damn it, we are fucking bad ass people!!!

As I'm watching the rest of the show, I didn't want to forget what the audience is going through. I was going through my journey, maybe with more details defined because I'm on this journey with you every day. But they are here for the first time because they want to be here, and paid a lot of money to be here, because they want to participate in this hour long journey with us. And some come back with their friends and others with their cameras. They are reacting to how we are feeling when we walk, run, swim, dance. They were so happy to receive the invitation...and we're here to basically forget our lives for an hour, and to hopefully give them an amazing hour of their week.

The audience gets to witness us fall in love (TV), they watch how we start and end our day (corridor). They watch how we get excited about each other (cortinas) and how we party with each other (murga). They see us when we need to fight for survival (Vela) and watch us as we grow up to be women (mylar). In the end, we're a team, a small community of actors, climbers and crew that are on this journey together and help each other when we fall (corridor final).

The feeling I have when I bow with this group is tremendous. It really is an honor to be a part of this talented group of once strangers, and now life long friends.

As the cast and crew danced with the audience, you can see how elated the audience enjoyed receiving the invitation to dance, which was very sublte. And more over, those that took the invitation in the center really enjoyed getting wet. When the cast and the crew left the stage, the music kept playing while the audience kept dancing. Those that did stay, danced a tango, exchanged contact information and took pictures with each other and of the set.

When I went downstairs, reality sort of sunk in again. I was astonished about the mental journey I had just been on. It was kind of weird saying hello to Zack, Jon, Amy and Freddy because I couldn't believe this was my job. We, as a team, get to make audiences feel emotions that they might not normally arrive to on their own...and in my case, my feelings were indescribable. The feelings I had were awesome. When I watched how people react to the cast with laughter and dance, I'm just truly, truly amazed with the powers we as humans can have to brighten the day of complete strangers.

We're #3 of the 10 best theater shows according to TIME Magazine

2008-01-02T14:31:00.000-05:00

A little freaked out by it, that I'm part of this amazing company that's getting all kinds of recognition. WOW! I guess the blood, sweat and tears are really paying off. And to think I love everyone I work with...I'm completely blissed out!!!

The 10 Best Theater Shows
Thursday, Dec. 13, 2007 By RICHARD ZOGLIN
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1694450,00.html
http://www.playbill.com/news/article/113556.html

#1
August: Osage County
An ex-professor's suicide is the impetus for a ferocious family get-together in this horribly named but miraculous new play by Tracy Letts.

#2 | Journey's End
R.C. Sherriff's WW I play, beautifully revived on Broadway, is a harrowing portrait of men who face war's ordinariness and incomprehensibility.

#3 | Fuerzabruta
Another wordless, acrobatic, gloriously mindless performance spectacle from the De La Guarda folks.

#4 | The Overwhelming
An import from Britain, J.T. Rogers' Rwandan-massacre story is important without being dutiful.

#5 | Wooster Group's Hamlet
The tragedy re-enacted in front of a filmed version of the 1964 Richard Burton staging. Oddly watchable.

#6 | Pygmalion
Claire Danes' Broadway debut was spirited, charming and emotionally compelling. One sharp Shaw.

#7 | Grease
Even with reality-TV stars, a stylish, happy, underappreciated revival.

#8 | The Farnsworth Invention
Aaron Sorkin's account of the battle between two TV pioneers is, like his TV shows, slick, talky, entertaining.

#9 | Eurydice
The Orpheus myth retold with admirable freshness from the point of view of his bride, by Sarah Ruhl.

#10 | Intimate Exchanges
An all-but-unproducible play cycle by Alan Ayckbourn--one premise, 16 permutations--smashingly staged.

Fuerzabruta on CW11's Truly Julie

2007-12-04T14:31:00.000-05:00

http://cw11.trb.com/news/local/morningnews/wpix-trulyjulie-updates,0,3958046.htmlstory?coll=wpix-morning-news-1

The lovely Julie Cheng interviewed Daniel Case and me for the morning news. She gave us some high props!

50th Wedding Anniversary

2007-12-03T22:24:00.001-05:00

This is a photo of my parents on their wedding day on Dec. 22, 1957.

I printed this photo on 100% cotton archival unbleached paper which accompanied a 5 page golden wedding anniversary invitation laced in gold traditional fonts designed on my Mac and printed through my Canon Pixma MP210 (developed on Gwyn's HP 2100 and originally tested on Julia's dinasaur HP). Wrapped it all up in golden leafed rice paper, with trimmings cut with an exacto knife (which I had to prove I was at least 21 years old in order to purchase it.....score!), even tailored the trim with my secret cutting technique so that each formal dressing was original to its future owner, and then sealed it with an embossed "M" golden mongram. Packaged this into another larger envelope, lined in gold metalics, and was hand addressed by me to each recipient in a danelian/caligraphy style that I first learned in elementary school and have been developing slowly ever since. Put a 58 cent heart stamp on it and snail mailed it off somewhere in the country by dropping it all off in a blue box at the post office at the corner.

Took me a good 10 days to figure out what exactly I was doing and complete since all the major invitation companies (Papyrus, Kate's and Arthur's) shot down most of the ideas I had because they couldn't complete my order in any less than 2 weeks, possibly 3. By the time I gathered all the politcally correct paper (or should I say "sheets") and necessary cutting tools that I was old enough to buy (the sales people made my day and gave me a great idea for a story!), I'm hoping my parents will love the wedding anniversary invitation I created for them. They should have received it today at their Floridian residence.

Bowery Poetry Club

2007-12-03T20:17:00.000-05:00

Bowery Poetry Club Open Mic hosted on the first Sunday of every month by John Oyzon. Josh Kobak and his friends and Some Friends of Mine played another delightful evening.

Margaret Cho's show

2007-12-03T19:48:00.001-05:00

Ryan Heffington, Jon and Gwyn's friend from LA, had been peforming in her show while it was on 42nd Street.

Daryl Roth Theater now

2007-12-03T19:42:00.000-05:00

Its a very beautiful building. Funny to think I spend more time here than at my home.

Daryl Roth Theater without the banners...

2007-12-03T19:39:00.001-05:00

Truly Julie on CW11

2007-12-03T19:28:00.001-05:00

Daniel Case and I did an interview for CW11 Morning news which will air tomorrow at 750AM.

Jeslyn in Fuerzabruta

2007-12-03T18:51:00.000-05:00

Jeslyn Kelly, my friend and co-founder of 2nd Species, will be in Fuerzabruta for the next six weeks. This is us in the dressing room before her premiere in the pieces Cortinas and Corridor Finale. She's one fierce chica!!!

Friends since birth

2007-12-03T18:47:00.000-05:00

That's Gwyn, Rachel and Ramona. They're not sisters, but have known each other since birth. Pretty cool. We're celebrating Ramona's birthday at one of our favs, Galaxy in Union Square.

My first snow fall on Ludlow

2007-12-02T13:41:00.000-05:00

My friend called me this morning with a super happy chipper voice, "Do you have a window in your bedroom?"
I said in my low groggy voice, "I do have a window in my bedroom."
"Go look outside!"

It was snowing. In fact it is snowing right now. All I can think about is its going to be cold!

After talking throughout the day with a few people about the snow, seems like I'm the only one in my crew that didn't welcome change. ARGH.

Some Friends of Mine

2007-11-26T15:35:00.000-05:00

"Some Friends of Mine" is the name of the band and played last night at 169 Bar on 169 E. Broadway, NYC.

Opened with:
Collin Couvillon vocals/guitar
John Oyzon guitar
John Hartzell bass
Shaneca Adams drums
*They switched up vocals and added Jason Novak on harmonica to a few songs.

My friends are so talented!

Gwyn, Billy, Coco, Jonette, Ben and myself were in the audience, along with some 80's hipsters that couldn't stop dancing to "Some of My Friends" band.

Great thing about NYC, you can show up at this bar hungry. Everyone wants something different, but ask the bartender and she'll help you find a find a restaurant that soothes your taste buds and delivers. She had a stacks of menus wrapped in rubber bands. Each stack was designated with food type: Italian, Indian, American, Asian, etc. While you wait, she'll pour a glass of your favorite red wine. Before my friends played, my meal from India was served and complimented with a smooth California red wine in a nice tall glass.

Peggy Su Photography

2007-11-24T15:15:00.000-05:00

Peggy took some great shots of our show, Fuerzabruta.

On the opening page, click photography, then Fuerzabruta.

Fuerzabruta Bios

2007-11-21T23:48:00.000-05:00

Bridgette and Adam ROCK!!!

2007-11-21T23:40:00.000-05:00

They've already done what I wanted to do....all the reviews in one place!!!
http://fuerzabrutanyc.com/press.html

Plus they're both the GREATEST AND CUTEST PRESS AGENTS EVER!!!!!!!!!!

They are from the Karpel Group...check out the site:
http://thekarpelgroup.com

New York Post Review

2007-11-21T23:30:00.000-05:00

FUERZABRUTA IS DAZZLING BLEND OF EROTIC, HYPNOTIC, AQUATIC

By FRANK SCHECK

Women in a suspended pool descend close to the "Fuerzabruta" crowd.

October 25, 2007 -- IN "Fuerzabruta" - the latest extravaganza from creators of the hit "De La Guarda" - the audience is not only forced to stand, but is also periodically herded through the playing area like cattle, doused with water, buffeted by wind and sprayed with Styrofoam.

If it's any consolation, what the performers go through is even more grueling.

Not for nothing does the title translate to "Brute Force."

Fortunately, for the young of both heart and body, the show offers plenty of dazzling theatrical and sensory pleasures as well. And while "Fuerzabruta" - which feels like a rave on acid - isn't exactly profound, it's undeniably spectacular.

The central defining image, repeated numerous times, is that of a well-dressed businessman running in place on a giant elevated treadmill. Despite powerful blasts of wind and walls that appear out of nowhere, he soldiers on - even as shots are fired and other figures drop all around him.
A procession of memorable set pieces quickly follows. A man clings to the underside of a suspended water tank, mirroring the quick movements of the woman swimming above him. A giant Mylar curtain swiftly surrounds the audience, with two female performers speedily running on it high above our heads.

Most stunningly, a giant acrylic pool gradually descends from the ceiling until it's close enough to touch. In it are several scantily clad performers whose highly vigorous gyrations and close interaction with the audience members make for an erotic aquatic ballet.

The athletic performers, not to mention the hardworking stagehands who move the massive scenery elements into place with blazing speed and efficiency, deserve kudos for their exertions.
Then again, so do the mainly young and clearly enthusiastic audience members, most of whom continued to dance to the throbbing techno music for several minutes after the performance ended.

Fun Monday night

2007-11-20T04:52:00.000-05:00

Today, I woke up at 2 PM.

Cleaned my house, got ready for rehearsal and arrived on time at 430 PM. Should have been there earlier but that didn't happen.

Rehearsed one of my favorite pieces EVER called "La Vela".

Luckily, the rehearsal went well, and Tamara, one of our captains, offered me the glorious chance to perform the piece in the show that night.

The piece could have lasted so much longer, I had a BLAST!!! I performed the piece with Freddy Bosche, and the crew below was TA, Wes, Johnny and Tincho. It felt so right, every section, I felt so honored to perform this piece tonight, YAY!

My friends Johnny O and Coco were in the audience with friends. That helped a lot too!

Afterwards, a group of us went to one of my favorite restaurant's in NYC, La Creperie, on 8th St. between 1st and A. We were headed for Yaffa Cafe, but the wait was too long. By total chance we ended up at the French place. They were about to close, but when they saw 8 of us walk in , they stayed open for another 2 hours and treated us with excellent food and service.

We went to another place on 8th/St. Marks...65 St. Mark's? Can't remember the name. The lovely Veronica just happen to cross paths with us and hung out a bit.

From there, we went swing dancing at Banjo Jim's on Ave C and 9th St. I saw some of the best tap dancing I'd seen in the longest time. Gwyn and I were inspired. Ramona Staffeld was there too. She was actually the reason why were there. What a blast! Swing, lindsay hopping, drinks and all...we were game!

Party on the move...headed down to the Lower East Side to another bar called Milano's to hear Duran Duran, David Bowie, James and Blur on the jukebox. Danced however we felt like: I'm not exactly sure what to call it. Only 4 of us were in the bar. Because Kate was a regular, drinks and chips were on the house.

Oh what a night!

Latest in Playbill

2007-11-20T04:51:00.001-05:00

High Flying, Adored: Fuerzabruta Extends Off-Broadway Through June
By Ernio Hernandez
08 Nov 2007

Note to producers: Order more breakaway walls and pay water bill. The new theatrical spectacle Fuerzabruta (Brute Force), by the creators of De La Guarda, has extended its Off-Broadway run through June 29.

The new show began performances Oct. 11 and opened Oct. 24 at the former home of De La Guarda, the Daryl Roth Theatre, The originally scheduled 18-week run through Feb. 17, 2008, has now been extended through June 29, production spokespersons confirmed to Playbill.com.

De La Guarda's Diqui James (co-founder/co-creator) and Gaby Kerpel (composer/musical director) again "push the boundaries of theatrical creativity, motivation and innovation," according to a press statement. Fuerzabruta (Brute Force) "breaks free from the confines of spoken language and theatrical convention [where] both performers and audience are immersed in an environment that floods the senses, evoking pure visceral emotion in a place where individual imagination soars."

Featured performers include Hallie Bulleit, Freddy Bosche, Daniel Case, Michael Hollick, Joshua Kobak, Gwyneth Larsen, Tamara Levinson, Rose Mallare, Brooke Miyasaki, Jon Morris, Jason Novak, Marlyn Ortiz and Kepani Salgado-Ramos.

Among visuals to be expected: "A man runs full throttle through a series of moving walls, individuals race to connect from opposite sides of a whirling sail and performers frolic and interact in a watery world suspended just above the audience."

Fans who remember De La Guarda can plan to enjoy a similar, yet completely new experience as the action is set to "percussive beats, engaging melodies and hypnotic ambient music."

Also returning from the original team are Alejandro Garcia (technical director) and Fabio Daquila (production supervisor),

Fuerzabruta first played in Buenos Aires in 2005 and has also performed in Lisbon, London, Buenos Aires, Bogota and is slated to be part of the 2007 Edinburgh Fringe Festival with runs in Berlin and Hamburg to follow.

Concert Productions International (CPI), Ozono Productions and David Binder Productions produce the New York run.

American Express cardholders now have access to the new block of tickets, which will go on public sale Nov. 22.

Tickets to Fuerzabruta (Brute Force) at the Daryl Roth Theatre, 20 Union Square East (at 15th Street), can be purchased by calling (212) 239-6200 or at the box office. A limited number of $25 (cash-only) rush tickets will be made available two

The Unlovables

2007-11-16T01:28:00.000-05:00

My friend, Hallie Bulleit, this is her punk rock band, The Unlovables. On sale at iTunes and Virgin Mega Store.

Confidentiality

2007-11-14T11:38:00.000-05:00

Confidentiality, or secrets, is both important and annoying. Important for many reasons: no leaking of peritinent information for one. Annoying because I have no idea when I'm supposed to show up at my new job until the last minute.

I'm psyched though, I'm opening up a cool new store in the meat packing district. I'll be the first person you see at the door.

Tickled

2007-11-05T15:40:00.000-05:00

with my new monitor!!! And I haven't even received it yet!!!

http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19&sku=320-6140

After hours of searching, days of waiting, its going to come on FRIDAY!!! Hopefully sooner if possible :o)

I asked around and got the advice from my favorite Andwew's, Williams and Barracas. "It's the same panel," they both said. In fact, even on the website, Dell displays a similiar Mac image on the desktop. Interesting choice. Well, I'm going to miss not having that delicious Apple logo on my desk, but maybe I can do something goofy to it.

I'm going to love the camera and microphone on it. After reading one of the reviews, someone said it works seamlessly with PhotoBooth and iChat...YAY! The review was written prior to the Leopard release, which I don't even have yet, but hopefully there won't be an issue. And its already built into the system. So instead of buying an iSight for my system as well as taking up additioinal space, its already built in!

Its been such a drag booting my tower's HD to my lil G3. The G3 guy did as best as it could. I won't make you work so hard anymore G3, the monitor will be here Friday, if not sooner! And then you'll be able to entertain with us at the theater in your new home ;o)

Patience

2007-11-05T15:39:00.001-05:00

Sucks. I hate this lesson.

NYC Peg, Anh and I

2007-11-04T14:49:00.000-05:00

WHAAAAAA!!! I miss them already :o(................................

Video clips from Fuerzabruta and De La Guarda

2007-10-19T16:55:00.000-04:00

Fuerzabruta Trailer

DeLaGuarda (Ricoletta set up?)

Fuerzabruta piee "Mylar" - NYC opening night previews! (I think)
Looks like Tamara, Brooke, Gwyn, and ___________

Same place, different year

2007-10-18T02:46:00.000-04:00

The Blogger picture was taken July 2006. These pictures were taken this week on different days, October 2007, at the same place, Apple 5th Ave.

Injured

2007-10-18T02:45:00.000-04:00

Its tough being human.

Why? Because sometimes the body has to heal after injury. Yeah, I'm fricken injured and it sucks. During one of the acts, La Vela, my foot got tangled in the skirt and my body slammed into the mylar. My ankle grunted most of the pain. I went to the ER that night. I was sure I didn't brake it because it wasn't terribly swollen, but I did feel a few things pop on impact, which is sometimes worse.

I've been going to physical therapy for about a week now with "my personal Jesus", Mark Hunter-Hall. My mind is all ready to go back in the show and perform. He's been giving me exercises to help heal it, massaging it, icing it and even specific instructions on what I should do to it on a daily basis when he's not around. He's healed a plethora of injuries on me and countless others too. He just knows how to deal with egotistical physical actors who think than can do superhuman tricks on a regular basis.

See, in my head, I can do anything. But my ankle isn't responding with the finesse that I want it to. Because nature takes its time, I am frustrated.

This brings me back to an article that Mikey sent to me, on how we are here (on earth) to have a physical experience, not necessarily a spiritual one. The article is called Perspectives: You don't have a soul. You are a soul. You have a body. by C.S. Lewis. Mikey, Freddy, Juan-Martin, Daniel and I were lamenting on the topic in the men's dressing room discussing views of life and death for a few minutes during a rehearsal break. It certainly made us think. Of course this lovely conversation that could have easily gone into the twilight hours, but quit because rehearsal began. I've actually been revisiting the statement every day since. Which somehow brings me back to where I am right now, today, being somewhat confused on why the healing process must take so long.

Daily chores have been challenging. Even just as I am waking up, I'll point my feet in my bed to see if they crack right. I've been missing that good crack because every day since I've sprained it, it aches when I point. I can't even fully point it. And until I can point it right, that being my first movement of the day, I know immediately that it hasn't been healed. (Thank God I haven't gotten the loft bed yet. I couldn't imagine climbing ladders to get in and out of bed right now.) Even walking to and from work, climbing stairs in either the bus or subway, is such a hassle. ARGH. These are among the little things that make NYC living so hard.

My friends have been really great during this process. Brookie made me a wonderful dinner last night, which fueled both my body and my soul. (In fact, I'm having the left over right now.) Everyone in the theater (cast, crew, creators, ushers, house, production) is always asking my progress, wondering if I'm alright. Most the time I can fake it, I'll respond with a smile and say, "I'm fine, getting better. Thanks for asking!"

Not until today did I realize I had been bottling up my sorrow. Hallie asked me in the women's dressing room if I was really alright, just her and I were in there, and my eyes nearly welt. I could tell she was trying to scratch the surface.

Then Gwynnie soon entered the room, my soul sister, and I just didn't want to loose it while I was at the theater, so I left the room and recanted to a lonely bathroom stall away from everyone else for some privacy. The presence of certain friends surely have a powerful effect sometimes, especially when words haven't yet been exchanged.

I think Tamara and Marlyn most have convened. If not actually, then spiritually. I respect their talents so much and pretty much trust most everything of what they say when it comes to their crafts. On separate occasions during the day, they both made a comment that I should talk to Diqui James, the artistic director, directly so he knows exactly what's going on. It was the hierarchy of angels working again (sometimes the younger ones call you to get to speak the older ones... hmmmm...). Like C.S. Lewis said, we're spirits having a physical experience.

So when I mustered up the confidence and energy, I went upstairs to the theater to see if Diqui had a moment to spare. We caught eyes, cool, and I had hoped that he'd come towards my direction when he was done with his meeting, and he did!

As soon as he came walking towards me, I smiled. "Diqui, I just wanted to tell you that I'm so sorry I'm injured right now." Before I could finish the sentence, my eyes overflowed with tears. I couldn't believe I was crying. I thought I was strong, but I had no idea my barrier would come crashing down. I sort of couldn't believe I was having this moment right then. I didn't expect to cry while I was talking to Diqui, it just sort of happened.

I felt so lucky that our artistic director was super cool AND human AND gave me a hug as I cried. "I hate feeling like this," I said in a strange voice, "I hate being injured."

His response was, "Yes, I know. Its so hard to be human sometimes. We want to be super heros, but sometimes we are only human." That made me laugh. "I've been injured too. I understand what you must be going through." I believed him.

I must admit that being injured is embarrassing to me. Its so awkward. When you're put in a situation where you're expected to perform with the cream of the crop, the selected few, and you fall under because your body can't provide you with the actions you really want to be doing, its maddening to all hell!

I don't know how I'm going to do this, but I have accept this experience somehow. I just have to go through with it. If my perspective should be equated with C.S. Lewis' idea, then I have to look around and attempt to see the bigger picture. In essence, create my philosophy, I guess.

Maybe I'll get to perform tomorrow. Maybe I won't. Maybe I won't perform until after we open on Oct. 24. I'd love to make the assumption of when, but I guess I'm not the one who makes that call am I.

I'm not the first to have an injury, nor will I be the last. In fact, my brother and my nephew are injured right now too. They both are going through a surgical process to heal their sport injuries. Why is this happening at the same time for my family? Its all part of life's process. Coincidence is a concept I try to read into. So I figured I must talk aloud about my experience because I don't know what else to do with these thoughts. Its important to me to be helpful to my family as well as my friends.

That moment of telling Diqui what was going on in my mind was so freeing. Injury is a part of life, my life, everyones life. Its an experience that humans go through, a thought that he reminded me of. Its these types of moments that us define as human, perhaps even define us as individuals and how we cope.

So I guess this is how I heal. I needed to communicate to someone I trusted what I was going through. It was what I needed to do to get better. This is how I delt with my problem.

Together, Diqui and I figured out a track in the show I could have once I was ready. We even discussed how my costume would help cover my taped ankle. When the conversation was over, I was satisfied. The mental weight of the injury had been lifted.

I've discovered that it may be important to share this problem, whoever's reading. Because once we can show each other that we're vulnerable, that we each have our breaking points, we can teach each other how to move forward, how to get better and work better.

Lastly, when I left the theater tonight, three Artistic Coordinators (trainers), Laura, Martin and Juan-Martin, were hanging outside the theater door. I told them that I might be back in the show tomorrow. They where happy for my optimism, and politely said, "...if not, then wait. That's OK too."

Truth

2007-10-15T17:05:00.001-04:00

INFATUATION

2007-10-02T03:34:00.000-04:00

sipping an actual coconut on Ludlow during a full moon
hearing a rock star cellist play down the street with one of my best friend's singing
looking around the room and knowing I have a rich history with every gorgeous face
piling up in the bathtub in the kitchen
being interviewed on a fire escape
two buck chuck is three buck chuck and somehow I love it more
riding a beach cruiser to a playground...aka work.
trying to figure what color to paint the walls
iChatting my roommate while we're both home
cracking up with my best friends for no reason at all and having my abs ache
hearing my friends speak broken Spanish
hearing my friends speak broken English
seeing Oz run up to me and screaming my name on 1st Ave
sitting on a street bench and watching my friends walk up with a huge smile
watching a few leaves turn yellow
feeling the air getting crisp
sitting on the sidewalk and hearing my friend talk about her birth mom
having the ability to buy a cupcake and a guitar across the street
making plans to go dancing on a weekday
smelling a rose on my kitchen table
getting a pepperoni slice whenever I want
ordering at Republic and thinking we'll buy some clothes too
argueing with an old friend because I don't call enough
knowing there was an elephant in Dumbo over the weekend
knowing there's going to be camels in midtown for Christmas
being invited to plays and sitting in the first row
knowing I can walk to my best friends' apartment for dinner
discussing keychain organization on a beach
driving to a beach to surf and sleeping on the bag instead
waking up to three friends telling surf stories and still in their wetsuits
piling up in a car from Brooklyn and ducking when the cops drive by
telling new friends about my star ring
exchanging piercing stories
sharing 9/11 stories
creating workshops
wearing flip flops with jeans
learning three chords
looking at the pictures taken yesterday on someone else's camera or iPhone
knowing I can do this again tomorrow

ahhhhh...NYC. I've missed you.

Today I'm cool...why?

2007-08-29T15:55:00.001-04:00

I drove into the CBS parking lot with my top down in my red convertable Mustang GT (OK, its not mine, its a rental, and its freakin GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRREAT!). The entire lot at every stage was full. My boss sees me driving around looking for a spot and says, "Stay right here, I'll make you a spot." Huh? The head carpenter and site supervisor walk out of the sound stage and pull out the keys to 2 scissor lifts parked right outside the doors just to make room for me and Mustang. Aren't they sweet!

So that's why I felt cool today.

Surfing with Brooke

2007-08-01T07:04:00.000-04:00

There was a change in her voice that made me think this evening. She added a sense of urgency to it. She told me I have to ask the right questions to get the answers to move forward. I'm so used to playing "Classic Rose", the one that procrastinates and just rides the big wave when it comes, waiting until the last possible second to pop up. Some, correction, I mean A LOT of action needs to take place in the next few weeks. Gees, only a few more weeks. I can count those weeks on one hand.

5
4
3
2
1
go.

Veronica and Shaneca's Wedding Day

2007-08-01T06:37:00.000-04:00

Oz, Vero, Shen, Meg, Killian and Rai in Lolo, Montana

Fierce Women in Union Square

2007-08-01T06:19:00.000-04:00

City Crab in NYC

Salut Lisa et John

2007-08-01T05:58:00.000-04:00

Montreal for one year.

Montreal for one year.

1 Infinite Loop

2007-08-01T05:51:00.000-04:00

Hi Steve.

V. Sattui Winery, Napa Valley, CA

2007-08-01T05:39:00.000-04:00

Loopy luncheon lollygagging on a lawn.

Napa Valley

2007-08-01T05:31:00.000-04:00

Peggy, Tim, Alex, me and....oh yeah, Steph didn't go!

Bay to Breakers 2007

2007-08-01T05:18:00.001-04:00

Apple Juice Jones

2007-08-01T05:05:00.001-04:00

AJ knows how to make the right decisions.

My friends are red

2007-08-01T04:54:00.001-04:00

Surprise!!! Amanda and Hallie at Apple TSP :o)

My friends are blue

2007-08-01T04:48:00.000-04:00

Shaneca Adams and John Hartzell perform in Blue Man Group at the Astor Place Theater, NY, NY.

Luis' CD

2007-07-22T17:07:00.000-04:00

I listened to Luis' CD over and over again on my drive to and from Montana. Why did I do this? Is this CD that good?
-I probably know most all the lyrics now.
-Definitely know all the melodies.
-His voice is like Freddy Mercury's, yet with a spanish flare. Its crystal clear.
-The guitar is melodic, not over done. Its so pleasing. Its perfect.
-Whatever Tim is doing on the drums is fricken amazing. The drum lines make me want to RUN.
-Paz's bass line on tracks 3 + 5 is orgasmic. I start doing this body roll thing in my chair.
-Ana on cello-my heart is touched on track 8-she just told me she's gonna teach it to me....YAYAYAYAYAY!!!
-I choreographed movement to every song, whether it be dance, aerial or in the water
-I came up with ideas for his videos too, especially track 8.

...and he recorded it all in analog using tapes. They all played their part once. Superb.

Now I'm home, in my house, and all I'm doing is singing these songs. All I have to do is open up iTunes and press play to hear the band through my Mac Daddy sound system. As if I haven't heard this enough already!

Ana is laughing at me. Takes one OCD girl to know another OCD girl I guess. But I should play it because...the sound system in the house is WAY better than whats in my car!!! So there!

Driving destinations in one day...

2007-07-22T16:51:00.000-04:00

Denver to Los Angeles in one day.
Los Angeles to Houston in one day.
Los Angeles to Cupertino in one day.
Los Angeles to Lake Tahoe in one day.
Los Angleles to Bryce Canyon with a 1.5 hour bike trail before sunset in one day.
Bryce Canyon to Missoula, Montana, got lost for two hours, had with lunch with Russ in Salt Lake, in one day.
Lolo, Montana (Missoula) to Mesquite, Nevada in one day.

I do like to travel, but I also like coming home too. Thankfully, today is day to rest.

Thisby

2007-07-15T19:35:00.000-04:00

I never new exactly when Thisby's birthday was, but I usually celebrated it on July 15, which is today. She would have been 12.

Heading Back East

2007-06-19T12:43:00.000-04:00

W - Apple - FLY! to the East Coast Tribe YAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAY!!!
T - Rehearsal - show
F - Rehearsal - dinner - mmmmm
S - show - show - PARTY!
S - Brunch - FLY! into a $10,000 bed :oP
M - Pool - Rehearsal - spa/bed
T - Pool - Rehearsal - jacuzzi/bed
W - Pool - Show - jacuzzi - casino
T - Gulf Coast Family Paradise and Sunset
F - Gulf Coast Family Paradise - iPhone :o)
S - FLY! back to the West Coast Tribe

I don't have questions.
Not lookin' for answers.
Perhaps I'm content.
In fact I'm struttin!
I'm giddy inside just letting my freak flag fly.

Snagged from Miles...

2007-06-18T02:01:00.000-04:00

Found this in his blog...

Wisdom from that little girl in "E.T."

"the only fundamental rule for me is just to be yourself. let your freak-flag fly, and if someone doesn't get you, move on... i think you have to get to the point where you realize that you're happy on your own and anyone else will be a bonus to your life, not the cause or demise of your happiness."

-Drew Barrymore

my house

2007-06-14T04:04:00.000-04:00

2007-06-14T04:03:00.000-04:00

Performance on Thursday

2007-06-14T02:14:00.000-04:00

I'm actually grounded in this performance...I haven't been in a dance piece since...Trinity Rep? WOW! I've been flying for so long!

Today's rehearsal was awesome. Bianca, Gwyn, Drea and I rehearsed right here at the house, on the dance floor in the front yard. Mostly modern physical movement, scrapping my bare feet across the floor. Felt great to swing my legs and arms again without the help of an appartus. Just my own brute strength.

Before we began, Russ was rehearsing the German wheel. A great thing to watch to get all inspired.

After rehearsal, Gwyn and Billy did some rigging at an offsite, Bianca and I went for a vegan lunch. Yum. She told me fun stories about her husband's band. When we got back, Ana set up her cello and numberous pedals and let me rock out on her equipment. The harmonizer was my favorite. Russ did all the clicking action. Ana made me feel good when she said, "You've still got the fingers AND you're in tune!" My eyes were wide and I was grinning the whole time.

Somehow I ended up sleeping for a few hours. Went to the storage space and got all my costume stuff for tomorrow.

I was happy to hear that Gwyn and I are in the same boat: sore, tired and psyched that we're revisiting an old love.

May flowers brought...

2007-06-02T04:02:00.000-04:00

Brookie on the Prom - love it.
Star Party - old friends not looking old...YAY for good genes :o)
Lisa and John Farewell Party...as they head east to Montreal for one year - listen to inspiration as well as the love
Sailing with Simon, Merlin, Carson and Dajana - 35 degree angles in "Bodacious" on route to the Channel Islands
OC with Melissa - truth serum - priceless
Billy's Moroccan Birthday - unique and original - one of a kind.
Cupertino - Ikuko and Joachim - its full circle, finally
Napa Valley - Peg, Alex and Tim - perhaps a yearly ritual with new friends
Berkley - I forgot I went here
Bay to Breakers - WHOA! "Best Day of the Year" (Tom) - "What every Californian should do in their lifetime" (Tony)
2118 Pine St. - nostalgic - I sat in the car shaking my knees just as they did while climbing those stairs years ago
Kira's Birthday - Feeling lucky to have this tribe as my best friends, 9 years counting and multiplying.

working 40+ hours - there's got to be a better way
climbing training sessions - totally happening
2nd Species confirmations - totally happening...with or without me.
AiRealistic ideas - if it could happen...
Amanda Rose piece - work in progress
Schema thoughts - don't know much about it, but I'm involved.
Pepperdine sessions - acceptance - a path I haven't reached yet and the destination calls
Fuerza Bruta buzz - bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
New glasses - new look, hahahahaha!

June begins with family...a good place to start.

...I haven't gone for a bike ride or put on a wetsuit yet. My board is getting dusty. There's so much to do!

Yin Yang

2007-05-30T03:26:00.000-04:00

Bad day at work.
Good day at home.

Its funny to think how the happiness used to be more prominent in my day to day. I just didn't recognize what bad was. I guess I was just always blissed out.

I don't know if its because I'm older or wiser or maybe life just ain't the same anymore, but there's some kind of equal with good and bad in my life right now.

Hmmm...
Thinking back...
I used to have good, yet great days at work. But my homelife was chaos. I might have been a little happier back then, maybe even a bit more dumb.

Oh, I know what made me happy...my tribe :o) I don't get to see them full time anymore. That's why the homelife is so good, because I live with my favorite ones.

doggies

2007-05-24T01:43:00.000-04:00

slobbering joy paraded the store.
brookie asked me where mine was.
i act like it doesn't bother me.
but it does and i miss her.

Coachella 2007

2007-05-04T00:49:00.000-04:00

Dreading my Sunday morning meeting, I rolled out of bed any ways and went to work.

After the meeting, I remembered I'd left my phone in the office and scrolled through all my missed messages. My friend Gwynie had left me a voicemail which said, "Hey Rosie, if you're not doing anything today, we've got an extra ticket to Coachella if you want to go..." Um, what???

Super psyched, I called her back. I had time to rollerblade from Venice to Santa Monica and back, went home and cleaned my room. Took a nap, then left for Coachella around 4PM and got there by 630 PM. AbRAM met me at the vendor's gate and got me in for FREE. NIIIIIIICE!!!

First thing I saw was the Do-Lab. Suzy Q and another dancer performed a burlesque like dance piece. HOT.

Walked over to the main event and saw Willie Nelson.

Abe and I jetted back to the Do-Lab to see Lucent Dossier. I saw this company back in November in downtown LA at Lucent Delirium, EXCELLENT people to party with.

Low and behold was Ana, already a friend and soon to be my future roommate. She had her sexy blue electric cello with her. I'd never seen her play until today, and yes, she plays a mean cello! I'd never seen anyone play a cello with the style she has...which is probably the reason why she plays with all the rock stars!

Abe showed me the artist's camp, if I wanted to set up my tent and spend the night. I had all my gear with me, but wanted to be responsible and show up to work at 10 am Monday morning. I'm sure the hang would have been incredible though.

Abe took a nap, but I headed back to the festival to find some friends that told me they'd be working in the merchant tent, where ever that was.

I ran into this guy Sammy Bliss, a DJ/photographer/actor/circus performer from LA. I'd been to some of his parties, saw him perform once and I think we might have even done a show together in the past with Jen from Cirque Berzerk. Anyhoo, he immediately asked, "Where do you work?"
"I work for Apple."
"Yeah, that's right! That's where I know you from, I was there the other day, but one of your other coworkers' helped me."
"I didn't help you?"
"No, you were on the other end of the bar."

OK...at first I was sort of flattered. But then I was sort of perplexed...eeks! He remembers me as a "techie" from the Apple Store, not as an artist that flies around in the mid air. Here I was at this huge alternative music festival, and I run into someone who recognizes me from a somewhat conservative world. WEIRD!

In the distance I hear someone rapping, "...What's with the attitude, she said its all right...She gave me headphones..." lyrics to one of Cut Chemists songs. I didn't pay any mind to it because I wanted to check out the dome that Gwyn, Billy, Dave and Abe helped with on the build, but the lyrics kept getting LOUDER.

I walk into the dome that my friends built and there they were, f*ckin' Cut Chemist. Here's the video:

The other tents in this area where all about the DJs and art. FUN. I danced with whoever as the moon started to rise.

Checked out all the tents, but couldn't find Michelle, Katie or Andrew from SCP. Oh well.

Feeling hungry, I tried the garlic parmesan french fries in honor of the SCP'ers that ever walked Karl Strauss, a restaurant in Costa Mesa. In their absence, I toasted them.

I looked at my phone and realized Manu Chao was playing in 5 minutes! So I rushed to the main stage and found the perfect spot right behind the sound booth. Best place to be to hear the sound with this fine band. I called and texted Abe with my coordinates so he could find me. Pretty much everyone in this area was shaking a limb. How can you not with this distinct exotic sound? Their sound is so unique, so dancey, so AWESOME!!!

After their set, we contemplated the idea of either checking out Damien Rice or setting up for Rage Against the Machine in the VIP area. Um, did I just say there was a way we could get into the VIP area? Dayam...I love my friends!!!

So we headed over there and sat on the special grass that was sectioned off for the VIP'ers. As we waited for band to walk the stage, Abe and I figured out the answers to life, where heaven was and who really shot JFK. If I repeated the answers here, then I would be in serious trouble.

Then Rage got on stage. Yo, the music wasn't louder then our energy. So we left VIP and headed towards the stage...a potential for danger as we searched for a serious mosh pit!

We got close enough, the music was loud and the people around us didn't present any real danger. So we stayed in this spot and screamed out the lyrics with the head bangers around us. GOOD TIMES! I felt so lucky to witness a momentous moment with a great friend. Lucky me!!!

Well, as much as didn't want to, I had to leave. Rage finished their long set, the crowd wanted more, but it wasn't exactly clear if they were going to do a encore or not. Fearing traffic, I gave Abe a hug and headed back to the vendor lot with a HUGE smile on my face.

As I passed the Do-Lab, there was Ana rockin on her cello. I heard Rage go back on stage in the distance and danced all the way back to my car.

Driving home I thought I was the luckiest person alive. Not because I got a free ticket for Coachella, but because I really felt the love from my dearest of friends. They thought about me and went out of their way to invite me to something they thought I would enjoy. I got to see the dome they built, watch some of them perform and see other bands and DJs that I admired...all at the same festival...it just tickled my soul.

Life is so great right now...no complaints...just pure happiness and a whole lot of thankfulness.

The Interrogation Director and DP

2007-04-23T03:40:00.000-04:00

The Interrogation shoot

2007-04-23T03:39:00.000-04:00

The Interrogation rehearsal

2007-04-23T03:29:00.000-04:00

Apple TSP with my blood

2007-04-23T03:20:00.000-04:00

Jazz Dancers in the Rough

2007-04-23T02:36:00.000-04:00

Grand Canyon Skywalk 2

2007-04-23T02:22:00.000-04:00

Grand Canyon Skywalk

2007-04-23T02:20:00.000-04:00

Kira

2007-04-23T02:05:00.000-04:00

She works hard for her money

2007-04-23T01:54:00.000-04:00

Just in case chicken wire is not longer an option...

Follow your bliss!

Nurse Shnegger

2007-04-20T02:40:00.000-04:00

"Oh, I will miss you," said my boss.
"Take a look at my bag?"
"Make him do it, that is why he is training. Look, I make tear..." He grabs a bottle off the bar and shoots the contents into his eye.
"Why did you do that?!?!?! Why did you just squirt HAND SANITIZER in your eye???!!?!?!"
"I was making tear! One second, I must rinse."

My coworker and I stared at each other in disbelief. Both of our jaws hit the ground.

I checked up on him to the bathroom. He's in a wide second, hunched over the sink. His head underneath a running faucet rinsing both eyes with water. I asked, "Are you OK?"
"Don't worry, I am a nurse."
"Oh yeah, I heard you were once a nurse. Left that profession, eh?"
"I got sick of them whining. Get over it!"

___________________________________________
LMAO - This incident is still just so funny to me!

Certified

2007-04-19T00:41:00.000-04:00

I had an appointment this morning with an Englishman that travels a lot. His wife and kids live somewhere in London. He signed up at the Genius Bar for help with video chats on his MacBook Pro.

When I called out his name, he walked up with grief. I could tell his heart was heavy. He hasn't been able to get the iChat to work for months. He had bought his wife a MacBook so they could do video chats from London to where ever he was in the world. He wanted to both see and hear his family in real time while he traveled. He said he's only been able to get the video chats to work at certian hotels at random times during the day, but the connection was always poor.

Well, we set up the video chat between his MacBook Pro and the Genius Bar's MacBook Pro. Yay, success. This means the hardware is OK and the software is OK. Whats the problem then? Ah, the network.

The Englishman seemed dishevled when I told him about packets, bandwidth, the internet structures, the network interfaces and the overall complexity of network systems. I tried my best to explain to him that there wasn't really anything we could be doing to improve his network connection. The problem wasn't a quick fix. Fixing the network would be like trying to fix US Health care, an example I didn't want to use. I didn't want him to freak out, yet the irony is somewhat alarming. The best advice I could give him was to try different locations, such as the library, coffeeshops, even different hotels, to see if he'll have success on another network. The library was only a few blocks from the store, and why not give that shot while he was in the area.

He walked back into the store later that afternoon. He was glowing and stood very tall. "Rose, I just came back from the library. It works!"
"Did you just finish iChatting with your wife?"
"And my kids too!"
"YAY!"
"Rose, thank you. Really, I just want to thank you. We actually had a whole conversation and we didn't get disconnected."

The Englishman was SO elated. It was so obvious in his face, the way he stood, he was happy. His whole aura smiled.

I'm so glad I passed my test. If all that was meant for to see this guy be so happy, then WOW, it was totally worth it. Makes me sort of love my job. I've already loved technology, even though I'd been cursing network configurations for several months now.

There's something about that man's happiness that made me proud to be a certified Mac Genius today.

Otters

2007-04-15T22:38:00.001-04:00

I can't handle how CUTE this is! My friends and I keep watching this over and over again. We sound just like the people in the video.

Brooklyn and his girlfriend

2007-04-12T02:15:00.000-04:00

Smile of the Day

2007-04-12T01:48:00.000-04:00

…..the last shipment came today. Your dad has his i-pod on all day, all night. I could hear the music though. Is that normal?
mom

Text vs. Voicemail vs. Face to Face Conversation

2007-03-25T04:34:00.000-04:00

A friend and I have been texting a lot over the last month. In fact, I've been texting with most everyone I know. Its been so convenient, more so than actual phone calls, emails and myspace. So I've just been sticking with it and believing it was a necessity. In fact, lately, I've actually been choosing friends and acquaintances based on how easy it is to communicate with them.

After receiving so many texts from a friend, I believed everything was OK. The text messages were fun: sometimes jokes, sometimes random thoughts, nothing too major. But after hearing his voice today on my voicemail, I really had no idea what he was going through right now. He was sick, bronchitis I think. He mentioned that he was on his way to visit his grand mother, and if there was a chance, maybe we'd meet up and go climbing or something later today. That could be fun, I’d never climbed Texas rock before.

Well, he did see his grandmother. What I didn't know, was that he attended her funeral yesterday. When he called and left the message, just the "Hi Rosie" was an instant indication that something was very wrong.

I'll admit it was good to hear his voice. I never wished anything but the best for this person, yet my heart totally fell when I heard his voice. Not because his grandmother died, but because its a fact of life that we, as the living, have to accept. Its not in our power to change this part of reality and its not an easy concept to grasp. I knew I was a true friend when he said, "I know you'd understand." For the most part, I do. And its not something that I can easily talk about either, but I guess within our tribe, I'm honored that a friend can find solace with me during a time that is so difficult to understand.

I'm also embarrassed to admit that through the text messages, in fact most every text message to almost everyone I write, I'd been under the belief that everything was OK. How could I be so insensitive and ignorant? That was so not true in this case. The sounds that a person's voice can make can really evoke an emotion. I'm glad I had the time to grieve his loss.

It certainly put my goals into perspective. How I wish I had this life figured out. But I think I need to be aware, just a little bit more, of who I call my friends. A random phone call every now and then is so nice. Its not easy to do, shit, I can tell you that. Its just something a friend has to do for a friend from time to time.

Gees, I hardly ever call my family. The emails, I thought, were enough. That's so horrible of me.

Its time for me to pick up the phone and make some calls.

Perhaps I’ll call my out of state friends on Sundays. I’d also like to make an effort to call my mom and dad every day. We had something to say to each other every day when I was there. I sort of miss that.

I'm a waterfall

2007-03-16T03:22:00.000-04:00

I've been getting ready for the move and making sure my little Chickles is going to be happy and cozy here on the beach. Today was her day in the spa!

I brought her to the groomers where she got a mani/pedi and a pretty haircut. The vet gave a her a clean bill of health, a prescription for her super dog food and a preventative medicine that will keep the fleas away AND it will remain potent even if she decides to jump in the ocean water. YAY! She can catch waves in the Gulf while I'm catching waves in the Pacific! My toes and her paws will be joined in the water no matter where we are!

As my mom and I paid for the bill, I realized she needed a new dog tag with her new address on it. Thisby and I walked up to the machine and I began to type her name, the new city and state on a shiney blue tag shaped like a bone. I put both my mom and my brother's cel phone numbers on it in the unlikely event she's found by strangers (God forbid!). I asked Mom, "Should I put her email address on here too?"

"No," she said seeming bothered. I guess this wasn't the right time to ask Mom if she's seen Thisby's myspace page. I was done, so I clicked print.

As the machine engraved the new tag, my little girl just stared at me with her big brown eyes. I thought she looked so cute with her new du and the pink bandana, yet she remained stoic and she didn't even budge as she stared at me from the floor.

I think I now know why she's been sitting on my feet while I've been reading at my desk. In the mornings, she's been walking close to me even without her leash on and her fur keeps tickling my shins. While we were waiting for the vet, she slowly crawled into my lap and burried her face in my armpit. She's even been sleeping in my dirty laundry rather than her own bed the last few nights too. When I wake up, I'd been tripping over her toys that she's been leaving at my bedroom door.

Thisbers and I paced the aisles of Petsmart with long faces as the name tag finished engraving. I wish I didn't have to buy that tag. My mom patiently waited for us at the door with the blue tag in her hand. I looked at it and seemed a little empty without my name on it. We all got into my Civic and drove home.

When we arrived at the condo, mom cleared out the kitchen table to make room for her sewing machine. I thought she was going to work on Joey's fourteen black capes for him and his friends. On Saturday, Joey will have a Star Wars birthday party and Darth Vader is going to make a guest appearance. I remembered that I was going to set up a corner with my computer and speakers. I needed to download the Yoda widget and test it out first as well as get a few of the theme songs off iTunes.

Yoda is going to wish Joey a happy birthday. And when Darth Vader arrives, the Imperial March song is going to make this beach house shake. I'm searching for the sound bite to play when the kids are practicing their light saber technique. Not sure yet how I'm going to operate my computer, make Yoda speak and take action shots with my camera while I'm throwing asteroids at everybody.

As I was doing that, my mom says, "Look Rose, I repaired Thisby's bed!" She certainly did. Earlier, the washing machine tore a few weak seams in the cushions of Chicklette's bed. My mom repaired that first before working on Darth Vader's and the thirteen young Jedi capes.

I know when I see my brother tomorrow the first thing he'll ask before saying hello will be, "Where's my dog?!?!!!"

"You'll get her on Tuesday bro." That's when I'll start my journey West as Thisby becomes someone else's dog.

I'm gonna miss tripping over her toys in the morning.

My mom just finished all the capes now too. I had to dry my tears for a bit so we ran up and down the hallway to test the flowing motion of the capes. They work! The up collars filled with foam are a great touch too.

My dad was wondering what kind of ruckus was going on, he hollered from his room in a sing song voice, "Ceila....Ceila Ceila!" He sings that song at 6 o'clock in the morning sometimes too. I don't really know why.

"Try this on Rose." Mom just made me a skirt. "I had a little extra fabric left over so I made this for you too."

Thisby is already asleep in the living room on her repaired bed. Mom is on a roll making a skirt for my sister in California that I'm going to deliver. I guess I'm free to go.

(Ronald Gross) 5 Ways to Enhance your Learning

2007-03-13T23:39:00.000-04:00

Your Learning and Your Brain

From Ronald Gross

Five Ways to Enhance Your Learning

As adult learners and teachers, we can ride the crest of the current revolution in brain research. We can learn easier, faster, better, and more enjoyably!

The new scientific understanding of our most vital organ can help us improve everything about our learning -- from choosing our best times and places to learn, to setting grander goals for how much we can grow.

Based on the work of the world’s leading brain researchers over the past twenty years, here are the top five ways to enhance your learning:

1. Your brain is unique.

Structural brain “mapping” as well as functional MRIs, reveal that our brains differ markedly, both physically and in the way they work. If our faces were as different on the outside, as our brains are inside, some of us would have noses as long as an elephant’s trunk. As a result, some of us are visual learners, others learn auditorially, still others must sense the learning in our bodies.

Understanding this, we can approach any subject in our preferred style. And teachers should strive to make everyone in the class comfortable by teaching around the brain incorporating appeals to each of the different styles in the course of every class session.

Tip: Sharpen your awareness of your brain- preferences by taking some of the enjoyable exercises at Learning Style and Self-Assessment Tests

2. Your brain thrives on challenge and flow.

If we’re learning at too slow and too low a level, we feel we’re in the “drone zone.” Unchallenged, our brains turn off. But a stimulating environment not only turns your brain on, it can make it grow -- as Professor Marion Diamond has demonstrated with by nurturing Smart Rats.

On the other hand, if we’re grappling with learning that is too much of a stretch, we feel frustrated -- I call that the “groan zone.”

So we need to find that optimal state of bracing challenge, in which our brains are stretched but we can do it, if we give it all we’ve got. The result is “flow” -- that wonderful state where time seems to pass swiftly, and we are exhilarated by the sense of accomplishment.

Tip: Find the right level of challenge in what you are currently learning -- in terms of pace, level, and precision -- and shift gears to get into the “flow” zone.

3. Your brain is a physical organ.

Therefore, it is crucially affected by your physical condition and surroundings.

To enhance your learning, take control of conditions such as Lighting, Temperature, Posture and Seating, Tiredness, Air Quality, Time of day (Are you an Owl or a Lark?), and what you’re eating and drinking.

“Double the wattage of every bulb in your house!” was B. F. Skinner’s advice to older learners who complained of their difficulties in reading.

Tip: Ask yourself: what would make my study more comfortable or exciting? Then, take some simple steps to adjust your learning environment accordingly.

4. Your brain deals in emotions as well as thoughts.

Each of us still carries, deep in the back of our heads, our “limbic system” and “reptilean brain” -- legacies of our evolutionary past. These centers of emotion, fear, anxiety, and passion, can strengthen -- or undermine -- our learning. This is the great contribution to our field by the exponents of Emotional Intelligence, like Daniel Goleman in his book with that title.

So activate your feelings to fuel and bolster your learning. Use visualization, free association, and personalization in your learning. For example, list ALL of the reasons you want or need to learn something -- not just the first few which come to mind. Imagine the benefits and powers which will reward your success. Visualize yourself as a master of the subject, and begin to enjoy the gratification. This can turn resistance into attraction.

Tip: Ask yourself what feelings are sapping your motivation to learn, write them down, and consider objectively how you might cope with them better.

5. You have multiple intelligences.

Forget about IQ – it’s bogus. If you’re like most people, you have four to six other kinds of intelligence at which you are especially gifted -- athletic, musical, poetic, practical. Harold Gardner of Harvard has pioneered in this aspect of brain research.

Identify your own special mental strengths and choose your subjects of study with them in mind. When compelled to study a subject which does not seem to relate to your strengths, be creative about how it might relate.

For example, let’s say you’re struggling with Calculus but you are gifted in Music. I just googled that unlikely combination and discovered the following site, among 40 others that explore that odd nexus: Calculus Songs

Tip: Decide to enliven your study by approaching it from the direction of one of your favorite intelligences.

Even if this doesn’t directly help you prepare for tests, it will give you a boost in morale and motivation.

My own favorite way of enlisting my brain in my learning is with this invocation:

Old friend, companion, comrade,
partner, muse and guide:
please join me on my journey –
shine brightly from inside!

(Ronald Gross) Use your Whole Brain

2007-03-13T23:38:00.000-04:00

Teaching and Learning Tips

From Ronald Gross
Use your Whole Brain
Previous page > Brain Preferences

The knack of effective learning is to know which of the brain quadrants you strongly favor - and to arrange the educational process so that you get to make maximum use those strengths.

Here are some specific ways in which this can be done - whether you are a learner or a teacher.

1. Approach your subject by using one of your favorite "styles."
For example, if you are studying statistics and find the material immensely off-putting because of the emphasis on abstractions and numbers, find alternative approaches that will "warm up" the subject. Read a vivid history of the leading figures who actually invented statistical methods, to see how passionate they were about the subject, and why.

They were trying to figure out why people died in the plague, how to beat the stock market, and how to maximize the wealth of a nation. Once the numbers take on flesh and blood, you will find mastery much more appealing.

2. Learn and teach "around the brain."
As a teacher, vary the ways you present material, so that in every class period, you appeal to at least three, hopefully all, of the quadrants. For example, in a literature class, complement your discussion of the language and imaginative elements of the work you are discussing, with more literal facts about the author's life and times.

3. Take a "Learning Walk-Around."
Say you're studying Psychology. Visit each quadrant of the brain and use its distinctive powers on the material. In the upper left, consider facts, theory, and data. In the lower left, focus on order, sequence, and procedures. In the upper right, let your fantasy and imaginative full rein, inspired by Einstein's dictum that "Imagination is more important than knowledge." In the lower right, express, share, and emphasize with how others could be impacted.

4. As a learner or teacher, use a wide repertoire of ways of understanding concepts, including the abstract, the procedural, the imaginative, and the emotional.
For example, Elizabeth Cohn, who trains nurses at Adelphi University, reaches her students through each of their ways of learning. In teaching them how the heart works, as a basis for reading EKG output, she provides printed materials and lectures on the principles. But she also engages them in a "Hokey Pokey" during which they do gymnastics to enact the flow of blood through the heart. And she provides them with a "Flip and See EKG" where they can physically manipulate read-outs instead of merely trying to memorize them.

There's a larger benefit to doing all this - beyond learning easier and better. You will be strengthening the comprehensive powers of your brain, in ALL the quadrants.

This is important for two reasons:

* Most important challenges we face in life REQUIRE the use of capabilities from all four ways of thinking.
In handling our financial affairs, for example, we cannot focus on just one approach such as a bookkeeping mind-set (lower-left), or on imaginative ways to create more wealth (upper-right), or on our feelings about getting and spending (lower right). We need to use ALL of these parts of our brain to best design our financial lives in terms of savings, projections, creativity, or resourcefulness.

* Our mental health depends on using our whole brain.
Over-emphasis on only one or two kinds of thinking makes for an unbalanced personality. We are all acquainted with such people: the Nerds who are trapped in their upper left quadrant, the Dreamers who are ensnarled in grandiose fantasies, the Co-Dependents whose feelings get them into trouble, the By-the-Bookers who just follow the rules. Each of these people has under-developed potential which could enrich their lives.

To address the challenges of our lives, and to develop our full potential, we need to use our whole brains.

Fast Company: Have you seen the 5 faces of Genius?

2007-03-13T23:37:00.000-04:00

Fast Company
Have You Seen the Five Faces of Genius?

Understanding how you think is just as important as what you think about, says Annette Moser-Wellman, founder of the FireMark consultancy. She teaches managers how to identify their creative style.
From: Issue 39 | September 2000 | Page 54 | By: Cheryl Dahle

Sometimes the freshest ideas are hiding in plain sight. On a sultry afternoon at a resort in Greensboro, Georgia, a dozen or so Coca-Cola brand managers are hovering over bins of ice and beverages, magnifying glasses in hand, à la Sherlock Holmes. They've been instructed to scrutinize the drinks that their company sells and to look for details that they've never noticed before.

One manager mixes glasses of instant Powerade, testing how the taste changes with more or less of the blue powder. Another grabs a Fruitopia bottle and peers at the text messages hidden in the psychedelic graphics on the label. When it's time to share, Scott Stuckmann, 34, senior brand manager for Coca-Cola Classic, has an observation about his bottle of Barq's root beer: "Our target market for this drink is teenagers, but the packaging is designed to emphasize the history of the beverage," he says. "Why would a teenager care about that?"

That's exactly the kind of simple-yet-noteworthy insight that the exercise -- part of a two-day seminar called "The Five Faces of Genius" -- is designed to produce. Annette Moser-Wellman, the leader of the seminar and founder of FireMark Inc., an innovation consulting firm based in Bainbridge Island, Washington, has spent a good portion of her career studying these types of "aha" moments. If you want to come up with great ideas consistently, she says, analyze your own creative style and learn how to enhance it.

"We're in the midst of a business renaissance, in which innovation and new ideas are critical. Yet how many managers do you know who spend any time thinking about how they think?" asks Moser-Wellman, 41, whose ideas have helped companies such as Andersen Consulting, Kraft Foods, and Starbucks to become more inventive.

If any company is ripe for some hard thinking these days, Coke is it. After going through the most significant layoffs in its 114-year history, an extended slump in market growth, and a gut-wrenching restructuring, the company is looking for ways to shake up its hidebound corporate culture, and Moser-Wellman's program is part of that effort. More than 200 managers at Coke have been through FireMark's training so far, and another 300 are scheduled to go. "We're coming out of the Dark Ages at Coke," says Jeff Dunn, 43, deputy group president for Coca-Cola North America. "For us, this is not just another training program. Innovation is what is going to help us turn around our business and our culture."

Part of the reason Coke was attracted to the curriculum, says Dunn, is that it's not based on brainstorming around a specific business problem. Instead, it teaches people about the nature of creativity and how to cultivate it. Moser-Wellman, who has degrees in art, theology, and business, developed her ideas by studying how history's great artists, scientists, and designers came up with their ideas, and by defining their creative MOs. As part of the seminar, participants analyze their own individual creative styles and then do a series of activities designed to help them learn and borrow from other approaches.

Maria Ellis, 30, a brand manager for Powerade, found one of those activities to be particularly helpful. She wrote the name of her business unit in the middle of a chart and then surrounded it with facts about that unit -- things that seemed important, but not necessarily interrelated. Then she tried to think like an "Observer" -- one of Moser-Wellman's five creative types, someone who finds inspiration in the details -- to see if there was a way to link some of that information together. She came up with an idea that she thinks will entice more moms to buy Powerade for their families -- a potential growth market for the drink.

Moser-Wellman says that the workshop taps into people's natural craving to create and experience art, something they don't often get to do at work. "There is an artist within each person, and everybody has the capacity to find creative genius in themselves."

But even hundreds of creative geniuses can't help companies that don't know how to implement daring ideas, cautions Alan Robinson, coauthor of Corporate Creativity: How Innovation and Improvement Actually Happen (Berret-Koehler, 1998) and a professor at the University of Massachusetts. "The danger with any kind of creativity training is that you get people all fired up, and the company doesn't have the structure or procedures in place to implement these ideas."

Coke appears to be committed to making innovation training the real thing. "We're restructuring; we're changing the way we work," Dunn says. "We're doing everything we can to become a place that encourages people and rewards them for great ideas."

Contact Annette Moser-Wellman by email (firemark@fivefacesofgenius.com).
Sidebar: Inspired Instincts

You can learn from the masters. Annette Moser-Wellman explores the creative process in The Five Faces of Genius (Viking Penguin Press, February 2001). Here's a preview.

The Seer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart on his visionary moments: "My subject enlarges itself, becomes methodized and defined, and the whole, though it be long, stands almost complete and finished in my mind, so that I can survey it, like a fine picture or a beautiful statue, at a glance."

The Alchemist: Architect Frank Lloyd Wright's genius was in marrying design with the natural landscape. His masterpiece, Fallingwater, seems to spring from a rocky ledge.

The Observer: When he took his young daughter to an amusement park, Walt Disney noticed the bored adults, the run-down rides, the unfriendly operators. What if there was a place where kids and adults could play together?

The Fool: When scientist Roy Plunkett was working on a new configuration of a refrigerant, he accidentally left a container of the stuff out overnight. By the next morning, the material had polymerized into a hard, resistant material: Teflon was born.

The Sage: Pioneering photographer Alfred Stieglitz was inspired by the painter Vermeer's use of lighting and mood, and then used the techniques to create work that was entirely new.
Copyright © 2006 Mansueto Ventures LLC. All rights reserved.
Fast Company, 375 Lexington Avenue.,New York , NY 10017

Tips (more brain stuff)

2007-03-13T23:34:00.000-04:00

Tips for Teachers

As a teacher, you should be aware that your students have a range of learning styles. Appeal to this diversity by using a variety of presentation, activity and assignment formats. Some possibilities include:

* enhance lectures and presentations with visual aids
* have students research and present material, in small groups or in plenary
* introduce content through discussion or problem-solving activities
* invite students to explore issues through roleplay
* assign practical hands-on activities, where possible
* take students on field trips to experience things first-hand.

Use your imagination! Lively and varied classes engage students and foster learning.

Tips for Learners

As a learner, an understanding of your learning style can help in the classroom and at home.

In the classroom:
If you have difficulty following a teacher's presentation of new material, ask if it can be presented in a way that appeals to your style. For example, if you are a visual learner, you may find it difficult to absorb content if the teacher just speaks. Approach your teacher and ask him/her to write key points on the board while they are talking.

At home:
When working independently to study for tests or complete assignments, you will find that you use your time more effectively if you use the strategies recommended for your style. For example, if you are an auditory learner, try recording summaries of notes you have taken from readings. To study, just sit back and listen...

Good luck!

Learning Styles Questionnaire
Barbara A. Soloman and Richard M. Felder of North Carolina State University present an online learning style inventory to help learners determine whether they are
active/reflective,
sensing/intuitive,
visual/verbal and
sequential/global

Related site (forward and backward links, used PNG's as my desktop):
http://adulted.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?zi=1/XJ/Ya&sdn=adulted&cdn=education&tm=7&f=00&tt=14&bt=1&bts=1&zu=http%3A//www.journale.com/really/brain.html

A questionaire:
http://adulted.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?zi=1/XJ/Ya&sdn=adulted&cdn=education&tm=13&f=00&tt=14&bt=1&bts=1&zu=http%3A//www.engr.ncsu.edu/learningstyles/ilsweb.html

(I think this may be fluff, haven't used it yet):
http://www.maui.net/~jms/brainuse.html

Learning Styles (Ronald Gross): The Four Quadrants of the Brain

2007-03-13T23:32:00.001-04:00

Learning Styles

From Ronald Gross
The Four Quadrants of the Brain
* As an adult learner, have you noticed that you find some subjects easy and enjoyable to learn? But that learning other subjects entails industrial-strength pain?

* As a teacher of adults, have you noticed that some students in your classes are avid, effective learners - while others can't seem to get with the program?

* Whether you're a learner or a teacher, have you noticed that in everyday life, you relate to some people smoothly, while with others the process of interaction seems gnarly? Or that some tasks at work, or in your personal life, give you pleasure and satisfaction, while others are boring, irritating, and difficult?

All of these commonplace experiences derive from the same cause: the fact that we each have a preferred learning style, and that we learn most readily when we can use that style.

What does this mean for adult learning and teaching? How can we overcome the problems caused by these brain-style differences? Indeed, can we turn them into advantages and opportunities?

I have explored this topic in previous columns, including Why Won't They Learn?and Your Learning and Your Brain. Here, I'd like to suggest some practical ways that learning and teaching can be enhanced by acting on the fact that we differ in the ways we learn best.

I'll use my favorite model for such differences, developed by the late Ned Herrmann and currently carried forward with great integrity and verve by his top colleagues (www.hbdi.com).

Briefly, Herrmann suggests that we think of our brains as divided into four quadrants, each of them with distinctive strengths:

Left Front: Logical, Analytical, Theoretical, Quantitative

Left Rear: Sequential, Organized, Evaluative, Prepared

Right Front: Synthesist, Exploratory, Conceptual, Experimental

Right Rear: Kinesthetic, Emotional, Feeling, Sensing

This scheme is not a literal map of the anatomy of your brain. But it does reflect the ways in which different physical locations inside your skull specialize in different ways of processing information.

For example, in most people the areas that handle speech and verbal logic do indeed lie behind the left ear. Hippocrates noticed this: when soldiers were brought to him who had been struck in the left side of the head, they often lost the power of speech, but the same wound on the right side did not produce this result.

Next page >

Brain Gym® Exercises

2007-03-13T23:30:00.000-04:00

Brain Gym® Exercises

These simple exercises are based on the copyrighted work of Paul E. Dennison, Ph.D., and Gail E. Dennison. Brain Gym is a registered trademark of Brain Gym® International. I first encountered Brain Gym in "Smart Moves," a best selling book written by Carla Hannaford, Ph.D. Dr. Hannaford states that our bodies are very much a part of all our learning, and learning is not an isolated "brain" function. Every nerve and cell is a network contributing to our intelligence and our learning capability. Many educators have found this work quite helpful in improving overall concentration in class. Introduced here, you will find four basic "Brain Gym" exercises which implement the ideas developed in "Smart Moves" and can be used quickly in any classroom.

Below is a series of movements called PACE. They are surprisingly simple, but very effective! Everyone has a unique PACE and these activities will help both teacher and student become positive, active, clear and energetic for learning. For colorful, fun PACE and Brain Gym® supplies contact the Edu-Kinesthetics on-line bookstore at Braingym.com.

# Drink Water

As Carla Hannaford says, "Water comprises more of the brain (with estimates of 90%) than of any other organ of the body." Having students drink some water before and during class can help "grease the wheel". Drinking water is very important before any stressful situation - tests! - as we tend to perspire under stress, and de-hydration can effect our concentration negatively.

# "Brain Buttons"

This exercise helps improve blood flow to the brain to "switch on" the entire brain before a lesson begins. The increased blood flow helps improve concentration skills required for reading, writing, etc.

* Put one hand so that there is as wide a space as possible between the thumb and index finger.
* Place your index and thumb into the slight indentations below the collar bone on each side of the sternum. Press lightly in a pulsing manner.
* At the same time put the other hand over the navel area of the stomach. Gently press on these points for about 2 minutes.

* "Cross Crawl"

This exercise helps coordinate right and left brain by exercising the information flow between the two hemispheres. It is useful for spelling, writing, listening, reading and comprehension.

* Stand or sit. Put the right hand across the body to the left knee as you raise it, and then do the same thing for the left hand on the right knee just as if you were marching.
* Just do this either sitting or standing for about 2 minutes.

# "Hook Ups"

This works well for nerves before a test or special event such as making a speech. Any situation which will cause nervousness calls for a few "hook ups" to calm the mind and improve concentration.

* Stand or sit. Cross the right leg over the left at the ankles.
* Take your right wrist and cross it over the left wrist and link up the fingers so that the right wrist is on top.
* Bend the elbows out and gently turn the fingers in towards the body until they rest on the sternum (breast bone) in the center of the chest. Stay in this position.
* Keep the ankles crossed and the wrists crossed and then breathe evenly in this position for a few minutes. You will be noticeably calmer after that time.

Learning

2007-03-13T23:21:00.000-04:00

...is tough.

I did a survey tonight with a computer programmer. I asked him, "How can you read manual after manual without falling asleep?"

He said, "Wake up at 400 AM in the morning at read it then. No one will bug you. As the day moves on, you'll want to do something else."

I said, "I don't even go to bed until 300 AM."

He said, "Well, that's your first problem."

________________

I asked my mom why I'm falling asleeping during my readings. She said, "Its because its not very interesting for you." But I have to get this information into my head! I have to make it interesting for myself somehow.

________________

So I obsessed tonight while trying to understand what kind of learner I am and how the brain functions. I'm gonna solve the first problem by going to bed by midnight...its like I'm one of my niece or nephews again...I don't want to go bed!

The next few articles are ones I've found about the brain that I want to make accessible to myself if for some reason I need to reference them in the future from anywhere.

These goofy tests are fun

2007-03-13T21:18:00.000-04:00

Ethos Percussion Group

2007-03-11T23:06:00.000-04:00

If you're in NYC, go see Ethos Percussion Group play Monday night.

Monday March 12, 2007
Peter Norton Symphony Space
Leonard Nimoy Thalia
2537 Broadway at 95th Street
7:30pm
www.symphonyspace.org

Works to Include:
World Premieres by Clarice Assad and Susie Ibarra
Ethos Commissions by Dafnis Prieto and Samir Chatterjee
Double Music by John Cage and Lou Harrison

Ethos Percussionists are Trey Files, Youssef Phinney, Eric Sheronick and David Shively

Ethos Bio:

"...played with expert togetherness, sensitivity and zest." ~ New York Times

"...extraordinarily skilled ethnic drumming... one of America's finest percussion quartets." ~ Percussive Notes

For more than fifteen years, Ethos Percussion Group has inspired audiences throughout the country with its exceptional music-making and collective devotion to the incredibly diverse world of percussion music. Ensemble members Trey Files, Eric Phinney, Yousif Sheronick and David Shively are accomplished classical and world music artists, each with a distinctive background and musical perspective. Their substantial combined expertise is the source of Ethos' innovative programming, which integrates global instruments and playing styles into the conventions of Western chamber music to create a visually and aurally compelling experience. The ensemble's critically-acclaimed performances regularly feature numerous commissions and world premieres, traditional rhythms from India, West Africa and the Middle East, and landmark works by composers such as John Cage, Lou Harrison and Steve Reich.

Recent seasons have included concerts across the United States and the United Kingdom, with major engagements at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center's Walter Reade Theater, the Bermuda Festival, London's Wigmore Hall and the Percussive Arts Society International Convention. Recent collaborations include the Kansas City Symphony, Grammy-winning frame drummer Glen Velez, Indian tabla master Pandit Samir Chatterjee and Ghanaian gyil virtuoso Bernard Woma. Ethos is the recipient of a continuing grant from the Jerome Foundation which has funded fifteen commissions for the ensemble. The premieres of these works have been a significant element of the group's ongoing concert series dedicated to percussion chamber music, which was established in New York City in 1999. In April 2000, National Public Radio's Morning Edition covered the world premiere of Michael Daugherty's Used Car Salesman, which was commissioned for Ethos by Hancher Auditorium at the University of Iowa.

Ethos' discography includes Sol Tunnels (2003), The Persistence of Past Chemistries (1999) and Ethos Percussion Group (1996).

Since its founding in 1989 by Michael Sgouros, Ethos has remained committed to advancing the percussive arts in education as well as performance. In addition to presenting clinics and master classes at institutions such as The Juilliard School, Eastman School of Music and Berklee College of Music, Ethos has worked with thousands of students in New York City's public schools through concert and classroom activities. Ethos is an ensemble-in-residence at La Guardia High School for the Performing Arts, and in 2004 the group formed a satellite organization dedicated exclusively to arts education known as World Beat.

Individually, the members of Ethos have performed with Philip Glass, Branford Marsalis, Yo-Yo Ma, New World Symphony, New Music Consort, Manhattan Chamber Orchestra, Ensemble Sospeso, New York City Ballet, De La Guarda and Mabou Mines. They can be heard on a variety of recordings released by CRI, Opus One, Koch International and Decca. Ethos Percussion Group is a member ensemble of Chamber Music America and a sustaining member of the Percussive Arts Society. The ensemble gratefully endorses products from Cooperman Drums, Grover Pro Percussion, Innovative Mallets, Latin Percussion, Sabian Cymbals and Yamaha Percussion.

Coincidence strikes a nerve again

2007-03-08T10:36:00.000-05:00

Peggy Su wrote his in her myspace blog -

What should I do??

For the past month or so I have been in a big limbo over NYC. I have this great opportunity to move to this city that I love so much, yet Iam still uncertain about going. It is a life changing experience, dropping everything here and starting over in a new city. Leaving my friends and family and relocating, I think I have a difficult time with that thought. But I keep telling myself that I will make new friends, like I did a few years ago and I already have some friends there. So you ask what the hell am I waiting for?? To tell you the truth Iam not sure. I guess Iam just scared. I mean I will already have a job working for Apple Computers. I just need a decent place to live that doesnt drain my funds...haha good luck to me on that one!!! Anyways, I should so this right?? ....

I responded with this -

Wait a second...I thought you wanted to live in Australia?!!?!!!

I would tell you NYC at this point in your life.

I moved there when I was 26. I think I knew two friends that I wasn't even that close with and I was jobless. I did go out there with a plan though, I wanted to be around artists and create work with an experimental theater company.

I think moved there with maybe $3000 in my bank account, I can't really remember that detail, but I knew I'd find a job somewhere. I was ready to live grimly, yet I was so ready for a new experience.

Something NYC can give you that I don't think LA can, is a drive that's constantly in your face. You can have a lot of down time in LA. As soon as you walk out your door in NYC, the hustle and bustle begins. I love the subway and the ability to walk everywhere, you meet so many people. When I'm in my car in LA, I miss those occassional bumps into the commuting strangers on the subway. But sometimes, not all the time, that stranger is pretty cool and you find yourself engaged in a really cool conversation with a new friend.

NYC is also a safe town, contrary to parental beliefs. In Manhattan, you'll always be able to find a yellow taxi cab on every corner. There's like no back alleys anymore, just more buildings!

As far as making friends, Peg, you're so easy to get along with! So many people all over the world already love you! I noticed you already have friends there....GO FOR IT!!! Stay there for at least a year. Let your passion drive you, not your fear. If you want it, if you REALLY want it, you should go.

Posted by *R*O*S*E* on Wednesday, March 07, 2007 at 11:52 AM

What I failed to realize is Peggy wrote ths on Monday, April 3, 2006

Wait a second...you've been contemplating this for almost a year now girl!!!

I'm slow.

Posted by *R*O*S*E* on Wednesday, March 07, 2007 at 11:57 AM

So first off, I'm not 26 anymore. And my drive to live in NYC is to create with my community of professional artists that do a damn good job in their craft and are succeeding well at this. Although I never wanted to admit this, I like the idea of having a steady job and steady money. Even if its just a little bit. The idea of running around the country in search for work not only sounds annoying to me, but tiring. I want to make a great living for myself in one place.

Moreover, when I was writing in response to Peggy, I told her to follow her passion, not her fear.

The idea of running to LA right now, like in 2 weeks, is because I have to start the driving back west to get my job back at Apple. It offers me steady money, a great health insurance plan, which I love having. But I can get a steady Apple job anywhere. Its just the full time status that gets removed, which has the health care benefits.

but why run so quickly? My parents are here in Florida.

One of the reasons why I don't want to "run" in two weeks is because I just witnessed my friend Dajana go through the death of her dad. He had cancer of the lungs. She's pregnant and he came for a visit from Germany in January, and they had a wonderful time together. In Febraury, he passed away. She flew back to Germany in a moments notice. Its so sad.

I'm going to be in similiar shoes one day. I don't know when that will happen. But learning to accept the fact parents die one day is not an easy concept to swallow.

My dad could in fact live for several more years. He's in good hands here. So is my mom. Both my brother and my sister live within two miles from here, plus my dog Thisby will be entertaining everybody.

The problem is, my heart is here.

John Cambell tell us to "follow your bliss." Well, I seem to be trying to figure that out. Why the f*ck am I having a hard time figuring this out? What is my bliss? I'm living such a wonderful lifestyle here, being in the plush environment of my parents and them just loving the idea of making me happy. Its so great.

But while I've been here, I've been acting like a kid, the grass is greener in NYC and LA. I'm sure I most have complained everyday. Maybe not out loud, but inside. Its taking me a while to accept any kind of lifestyle here.

But now that I've announced I'm leaving in two weeks, my mom finds an audition for me to go to, to be a cheerleader for the Tampa Bay Bucks. Its cute, but its not really for me.

And at the climbing gym yesterday, I inquired about taking a lead climbing class which opened the door to conversations on California, 2nd Species, meeting Floridian riggers...I felt like I might be able to find friends here with talents I admire.

Morgan told me, "Don't worry, LA will still be there."

But then a famous other said, "You can never go back home."

Then I remember another saying, "The only thing constant is change."

Damn it, I'm in a conundrum again.

If I follow my heart today, its in Florida. I'm so worried about leaving my parents, because the next time I see them, my dad, who knows. I don't want to think the worst today and everyday, but I think its my fear that is driving me. I'm having a hard time living my life.

As far as where I'm going to be in three weeks:

40 - Florida - because my heart is here and I might have found some artistic friends, but I'm lazy because my life is so cushy not paying rent and living with my parents. If I stay, I'd finish renovating my parents condo so their place is a little more organized. I'd take the month of April school session at the Players Music School, fly to NYC for a few weeks in May to work on the gig with 2nd Species, maybe the gig in Hollywood Florida will pan out and I can get some of the Floridian riggers to check out and possibly make good connections. Hartzell might be doing Blue Man in Orlando, so there's one of my 2nd Species partners, now only 2 hours away. Maybe he could help me get a job there, so I'm not pulling my hair out. Oh wait, I don't want to live in Orlando. I thought maybe I'd go back to school to at the University of South Florida...music? theater directing? photography? physicians assistant? Gees, if I become a PA, that would make my finances for life comfortable.

30 - Los Angeles - because I'm driven when I'm there, but I'm somewhat not interested in grinding pavement as an actor/dancer/model. But I know that made good money for me in the past, why not do that again? I've got other skills now, stunt work, harness work, directing, choreographing and producing. Its a game though. I don't know if I want to be gambling with this career anymore, but it surely is a passion...which above all, makes me driven. On just the retail salary, I'm looking at having $100 of play money each month, argh. It does afford me free time though, so I'll have to add on a teaching or club or bar gig just get a little bit of extra cash. My aspirations are high and I will constantly be in "search mode" looking for better work, more work. I'm really hoping I'll be able to create a home with my friends. I'm also thinking about taking a few bacclaureate programs at schools...like the business school with Pepperdine. Ha, I'll have to get accepted first! But that reality could happen in May, its an extension program for adults that already have a professional career. UCLA also has extension programs for people in search of degrees. And the neighborhood I'm looking at is right here. Marshall and Abby already go there.

30 - New York - Its an easy flight to my parents house, which I can visit often. I may have to surrender my car to save on bill payments in exchange for decent living and plane fares too and from Florida if I'd like to visit them every two months. My car is like a $500 chunk of expenses. A subway card is like $80 bucks. 2nd Speces, a company I help build from the ground up, Brook Notary, who's ideas for a non profit agency can turn into a heart fullfilled full time career, and Al Flannagan, who helped me create a show that is so moving and poignant for out time, all are so ready to start spit firing ideas. Who knows where those actions can take me. There's an abundant amount of schools there too. Look at Trey, Broadway show, 2nd Species, HS teacher and doctorate student. And, he and his wife just bought this huge house in Croughton Harmon. Its so possible. One of my favorite friends.

So the idea of opportunity is available anywhere. The notion of friends, is happening on both coasts, not quite yet in Florida, but could be soon. As far as finances, they are presently under control here in Florida, and a part time job somewhere could fix that. School is available anywhere. The artists careers are clear and solid in both LA and NYC, I may have to give it a little more time in Florida.

Its the parents, thats the crux in the matrix. Where do I want to be in relation to them?
Close - living with them...not for too much longer
In Tampa - a car ride away, can visit a couple times each week if I want to.
In NYC - $160 a weekend plane ride away, could probably visit once a month, but I'd surely have to get rid of my car
In LA - $300+ plane ride way and few days off from work. Hope to visit every two-three months, that's if I get a second job.

In the past, I could go a year without seeing them. One time, I went two years. I felt bad about that though.

Oh decisions.

Quiz you on me.....

2007-03-08T02:55:00.000-05:00

Create your own Friend Quiz here

Today its LA

2007-03-06T21:57:00.000-05:00

All day I've been thinking, and actively pursuing an apartment in LA. That seemed like the logical choice.

Then out of the blue, the f*cking blue, my writing partner/agent tells me he's been thinking a lot about R + J. WTF. Now I'm in cahoots again. Should I move to NYC, live in a cheap dump and write my ass off?

Or should I live it up just a little while longer in LA and hopefully find a nitch to crawl into?

For 80% of the day, its been LA.

By Friday, I've got to choose.

Tuesday = LA 80, NYC 20

Aiguille, Longwood, FL

2007-03-05T21:54:00.000-05:00

superclimbingrosa....

I called my mom as I left the gym, and she waited for me at the door. It was nice that all her friends were expecting me and they already knew so much about me by the time I arrived. They asked me questions like, "We heard you went rock climbing. What is that?"
"My daughter is a dancer too!"
"We've been to your parents place on the beach. Your view is amazing!"
"You have an aerial company? What is that?"
They re-heated the authentic Philippino food because me and another couple showed up a bit late. There was a pleuthura of food, so much, for just the three of us and it was so tasty!!! They opened a bottle of wine too. Philippinos know how to make guests feel welcomed and I loved conversing with them too.

I got to meet the birthday girl, she turned an energetic 96 today! If I make it to 96, I hope I'll still be climbing, dancing, and flying too!

Session time: 2 hours of bouldering, V0-V1, 5.7-5.10
Projects V2, 5.11
Practice front levers

Cardio this week - at least 3 1 hour sessions with 2 pound weights

Projected workouts this week:
Monday (today) nothing
Tuesday - Cardio 1 hour
Wednesday - climb - 3 hours
Thursday - travel day to Orlando -
Friday - climb at Aiguille or Tampa
Saturday - Cardio
Sunday - Climb or cardio

Cardio or Climb each day this week. Perhaps on Sunday, do BOTH!

Florida

2007-03-02T20:13:00.000-05:00

Thisby

2007-03-02T20:02:00.000-05:00

2007-02-23T12:59:00.001-05:00

singlettes

2007-02-21T20:39:00.001-05:00

a place to post because i haven't figured out another way yet

2007-01-13T20:51:00.000-05:00

for myspace blackmail

2007-01-13T20:37:00.000-05:00

Bring on the Leopard!

2007-01-12T02:21:00.001-05:00

Me on the net

2007-01-11T15:31:00.000-05:00

Rose Mallare
http://www.2ndspecies.com/2ndSpecies.swf

http://www.thekindtickets.com/theatre_new_york.htm

http://www.creationlive.com/cast/creation.crew.cfm

http://www.networkingtalent.com/resumes/docs/0095-ian_mclaughlin.pdf

http://www.perfectrose.net/once-upon-a-rose-garden.htm

Rosemarie Mallare
http://www.projo.com/theater/content/projo_20020421_peterpan.2cafd.html

http://www.airealistic.com/who_we_are.htm

youtube.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVc7XBMDz0g

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3lRAxXGCKd4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBTE3L9uL0M&mode=related&search=

Projo on Trinity Rep

2007-01-11T15:21:00.000-05:00

""Whenever I've flown in my dreams," she said, "it's fast."

The idea of swinging and twirling on ropes came from discussions with dance companies that use aerial work and circus routines. New York dancer-choreographer Andrew Pacho, a consultant for the show, was among the most helpful.

The New York contacts led to a couple of accomplished acrobats joining the cast. Pacho's assistant Darrell Autor appears in assorted roles, and Rosemarie Mallare is the character formerly known as Tiger Lily, now called just Tiger."

I can't believe its still on the web, yeah! This is the link,
http://www.projo.com/theater/content/projo_20020421_peterpan.2cafd.html

...and here's the whole text:

Neverland for everyone
04/21/2002

BY CHANNING GRAY
Journal Arts Writer

Trinity hopes to enchant both adults and kids with its Peter Pan
You're 10 years old and invincible. And your greatest pleasure is lofting as high as possible on the backyard swing -- then leaping into the blur of sky and trees. For an instant of terror and joy, you're free.

It is this magical feeling that director Amanda Dehnert has tried to bring to Trinity Rep's Peter Pan, or The Boy Who Would Not Grow Up, which opens Friday.

Don't, in other words, expect actors swooping above the stage in harnesses a la Cathy Rigby. In the Neverland of Trinity Rep, flying is a more a state of mind, a wondrous place that we've all visited, but as busy, beleaguered adults, forgotten.

Wouldn't it be nifty, thought Dehnert, who is all of 29, to let audiences revisit that wondrous state found in the minds of the young and innocent?

"When you go to the theater," she said, "you know it's a story. But you experience real emotions.

"We want to stretch those emotional muscles, to expand the audience's ability to dream and imagine, to walk that line between fantasy and reality."

Don't worry. Not all is left to the imagination.

A chain of actors forms the fearsome croc in pursuit of Fred Sullivan's Captain Hook. The creature's gnashing jaws are fashioned from 5-foot-long rusty saw blades; the tail is an actor dragged backward, cracking a whip.

And while the cast won't be soaring above the stage like the ghosts who haunt Trinity's Christmas Carol, they will clamber about on ropes. David Jenkins has come up with a set resembling a circus big top. A half-dozen ropes -- some of which are raised and let down during the play -- dangle from the lighting grid. Peter, Wendy, John and Michael (wearing safety gear) shinny up the knotted lines and are twirled around by cast members on the ground.

"They spin very, very fast," said Dehnert, talking above the whir of drills and saws as sets for the production were being built last week in Trinity's upstairs theater.

"There is a feeling of danger, speed and uncontrolledness to it."

The cast -- Trinity regulars and some New York imports -- have spent two or three days a week for the past month working out at Ocean State School of Gymnastics in Smithfield, getting down their routines.

Dehnert considered a lot of options when it came to flying.

The original story by Scottish journalist and playwright J.M. Barrie doesn't make a lot of specific references to flight, she said. But, face it, an earth-bound Peter Pan would be a like staging Moby Dick without a whale.

Dehnert considered having the airborne cast members lifted off the floor by other actors, just as dancers are. But that seemed too tame. She wanted the audience to experience "freedom and velocity."

"Whenever I've flown in my dreams," she said, "it's fast."

The idea of swinging and twirling on ropes came from discussions with dance companies that use aerial work and circus routines. New York dancer-choreographer Andrew Pacho, a consultant for the show, was among the most helpful.

The New York contacts led to a couple of accomplished acrobats joining the cast. Pacho's assistant Darrell Autor appears in assorted roles, and Rosemarie Mallare is the character formerly known as Tiger Lily, now called just Tiger.

In Dehnert's production, Barrie's cartoonish Indians have been transformed into a band of "good-guy" guardians, which is sort of their role in the original, she said, once stripped of their ugly stereotypes.

Reworking the story

It was Fred Sullivan -- who often seems, at least on stage, to be a boy who refuses to grow up -- who first pushed for the company to do Peter Pan. A couple of years ago, as the season was being decided, Oskar Eustis decided it was time.

But what version to do?

Barrie's original story was penned in 1903, but reworked as a novel, and later a 1920 screenplay meant to have starred Charlie Chaplin as Peter. Most audiences know the musical version that starred Mary Martin on TV, or the animated Disney classic.

Trinity opted for an adaptation from the 1980s by Trevor Nunn and John Caird that draws on an array of sources -- Barrie's playscripts, the movie scenario and the novel. The final scene, in which Peter meets a grown-up Wendy, was taken from the novel and a miscellaneous scene that Barrie wrote in 1907 and that saw the light of day just once, in 1908. This will be the East Coast premiere of the Nunn-Caird version.

Dehnert, who plays the piano, among other instruments, wrote melodies for a couple of songs -- a sort of generic children's lullaby and a rollicking pirate tune. But that's the extent of the music.

Jenkins has transformed Trinity's Chace Theater into the land of pirates, fairies and the insatiable ticking croc. Actors scurry along catwalks atop the grid and down onto a spacious landing above the main stage.

But no area is designated as the nursery, say, or Peter's lair. This is a play, you will recall, that takes place in the mind of the beholder.

Props and costumes have been kept to a minimum, with just enough information to suggest a flight of fancy.

Dehnert's vision is not unlike that of youngsters exploring the contents of an attic trunk, creating a fantasy world from its keepsakes and castaway clothing. Forget the fancy duds for the pirates. At Trinity, the scallywags who hang out with Hook wear shirts made from billowing ladies' bloomers.

No kids in cast

Besides Sullivan in the role of Hook, Mauro Hantman plays Peter; Rachael Warren, Wendy. Kalani Queypo, a Trinity newcomer, and conservatory grad Mark Sutch are John and Michael.

Another 18 performers play the pirates, boys and assorted other characters. They also change sets and do whatever is needed to keep the show afloat. While the production would seem to lend itself to youngsters sprinkled among the cast, Dehnert said it's physically too demanding for kids. The youngest performer is 16.

Dehnert admits to mixed feelings when handed this project 18 months ago -- from "exciting, challenging, great" to "no way, can't do, not a clue." Her own exposure to past stagings and film versions was limited. But she did love to leap from the swing in the backyard of her childhood home in Illinois.

And she felt it was important to strip away the Disney-esque trappings and get to the heart of Barrie's original tale -- albeit with the kind of fresh approach that Trinity has come to be known for in tackling standards such as The Music Man and My Fair Lady.

Trinity, of course, is also looking at the potential for attracting an audience of both children and adults -- adults, that is, who have refused to grow up.

Peter Pan opens Friday and runs through June 9 at Trinity Rep, 201 Washington St. Tickets are $29-$45, with discounts for seniors, students and groups. Call 351-4242.

A myspace survey

2007-01-11T06:59:00.000-05:00

Jan 11, 2007 5:03 AM
One word PLUS a few from Bivot/Lipton

Oooo, I like this one! I’m up for a challenge now that its only 5 am.
Thanks Alexis!!!

----------------- Bulletin Message -----------------

Just one word.
You.
Can.
Only.
Type.
One.
Word.

Not as easy as you might think.

1. Where is your cell phone?
charging

2. Your boyfriend/girlfriend?
who?

3. Your hair?
black

4. Your mother?
sweet

5. Your father?
strong

6. Your favorite thing?
love

7. Your dream last night?
forgot

8. Your favorite drink?
wine

9. Your dream car?
fast

10. The room you're in?
kitchen

11.Your ex?
GONE!

12. Your fear?
sadness

14. Who did you hang out with last night?
myself

15. What you're not?
dead

16. Muffins?
indulge

17. one of your wish list items?
5.11a

18. Where is?
Waldo

19. The last thing you did?
email

20. What are you wearing?
HA!

21. Your TV?
LA

22. Your pet?
sleeping

23. Your computer?
duh.

24. Your life?
serving

25. Your mood?
insomnia

27. What are you thinking about right now?
daybreak

28. Your car?
downstairs

29. Your work?
what?

30. Your summer?
busy

31. Your relationship status?
hopeful

32.Your favorite color?
rainbows
__________________________________

Uno mas, por favor...

OK, so James Lipton asks these questions to his guests on the Actors Studio. Its edited so it looks like they answer really fast, but they don't really. But for shits and giggles, answer these SUPERFAST and tell us!

Uno, dos, tres...VA!!!!

SUPERFAST:
01. What is your favorite word? F*CK
02. What is your least favorite word? F*CK
03. What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally? water
04. What turns you off? piss
05. What is your favorite curse word? F*CK
06. What sound or noise do you love? Waves
07. What sound or noise do you hate? jackhammers
08. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? Doctor
09. What profession would you not like to do? lawyer
10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? YAY!

Bio for Karen Furball

2007-01-11T06:50:00.000-05:00

Pysched to have been asked to do a gig so early in the New Year, and with so many of my dear East Coast friends! Karen asked us to write a bio and put no guidelines to it. So this is what I wrote. I have no idea who's going to see it, but I don't care. The aerial performance will be at SUNY Purchase.

Rose Mallare’s Bio:

Rose grew up in a first generation Philippine family and began taking music and dance lessons at age 5 in Canton, MI. She went to college, but the love of performance made her drop out several times. She’s traveled the world to perform, rock climb, scuba dive or just hang out. Favorite credits include THEATER: Off Broadway’s De La Guarda, Radio City Rockette, Peter Pan (Trinity Repertory), Miles Davis (Audelco Award nomination) and C.O.R.E. (France). FILM: Mars Attacks!, Fool’s Rush In, and In Cane for Life. TELEVISION: David Letterman, Countdown to the Neon Armadillo, VH1/Vogue Fashion Awards, and MTV (seen in several music videos, The Daily Burn, and as a VJ). She’s also been in a few fashion shows, print ads, commercials, radio shows and marketing campaigns. She’s satisfied most while laughing and creating with her adrenaline friends. As 2nd Species LLC, which is co-founded with Trey, Jeslyn, Coco, John and John, they have proudly produced and performed in several shows in the US and Italy (www.2ndSpecies.com). She currently calls home in a small beach Floridian villa, where her parents and Thisby now live. If she decides to go back into the world of 40 hours per week with benefits, it would be as a certified Mac Genius for Apple Computers since she’s already done that, enjoyed it, and regularly geeks out any ways. Rose thinks that life is short, follows her bliss, and loves to be in love.

June 19, 2007 CORRECTION!
This bio was actually read by the producing company that did the market launch for Windows Vista. Up until that first day of rehearsal, I thought I was being flown in for a college performance...but turns out it was one of those breakthrough high profile performances off the side of a building in NYC. To see piece of the performance, go to www.myspace.com/superflyingrosa.