Summer Goes
Here it is, September 1. So, where has the summer gone? Well, I've been working a lot. Since my last update, most every Saturday, even a bunch of Sundays. In fact, this past weekend was the first day off after 28 in a row... And this week, already put in an 18-hour day (something I don't think I even did at Weta). The end is in sight, but still could be a few days out. (They're yet debating whether people will be called in on Labor Day). One other work event : they had scheduled the company picnic for Saturday the 18th, but, in deference to people's workload, they brought the picnic to us. They set up grills in the parking lot between the hangars, put up a bouncy house and inflatable slip'n'slide for the kids, and had live music. Bonnie came out and got to see the workplace, and meet some of my coworkers. And I got to catch up w/ people's families that I hadn't seen in a while.
Anyway, enough about work, here's what I've been doing for play : July 24th, saw the new Miyazaki film, Ponyo. Magical tale, about the sea squaring off against man's encroaching progress, and a bond of love that bridges the gap between worlds. Pretty simple story, one of MIyazaki's more simple and juvenile movies, and a little creepy to have such a strong romantic-style dynamic between 6-year-old characters (esp to a Westerner who isn't steeped in Japanese tradition and honor code). The fun aspect was that this was an advanced screening, Ponyo didn't come out at theatres till a couple later. Miyazaki himself spoke at a presentation at UC Berkeley the following day, but I decided not to go.
The next weekend, I got to see an old-school metal band, Sadus at the new Oakland Metro, and meet my favorite metal bassist, Steve DiGiorgio . The strangest part about the show was the pre-teen daughter of one of the band members was there with all her school friends. Like the crowd at a Jonas Brothers, but backstage at the Metro... Saturday evening we got comps for the Joe Goode Dance Performance at the SF Old Mint. Really oustanding performance, they made use of the space where audience moved from room to room, dancers came in and out, and the interacted or played out scenarios between the rooms. Sunday, we saw Shotgun Players' free outdoor theatre performance of "Animal Farm", done as a hiphop musical, in a Mad Max world. Came across very well, very engaging and very physical.
The next weekend was Nicole's birthday, Bonnie took her out of town for some camping/hiking in Yosemite. And my college friend Joe Behl was in town! (Dark Side represent!). We met up with him, and another ex-coworker friend of his who lives in SF, for drinks at Jupiter, then I got togther with them Saturday night for Memphis Minnie's BBQ and beers at The Toronado. The weekend after (Aug 15 / 16), Saturday was "the Big Idea" at YBCA arts museum (of which I am a member). Sunday, had some friends (Ed, Nina, M) over for a BBQ.
Let's see... trying to piece together the itinerary from my Edgar Allen Poe planner calendar... can't recall what was up for Aug22/23rd. Worked both days, and I did have to cancel band practice, partially because Jimmy had technical problems. Still bums me out to do it, feel like I'm losing out, and losing ground with getting the band gigs... Saturday we caught "Film Night in the Park" : "On the Waterfront". Bonnie had never seen it & didn't realize how iconic it was ("I coulda been a contender"). Ah yes, because mine (and Bonnie's) evening was suddenly freed up, on a whim we went out to the Solano Drive-in in Concord. Fun movie-going time, and it's great to see a place like this still open. Concessions was unbelievable - only $18 for a pizza, pretzel, popcorn, 2 drinks, and candy. Oh, we saw G.I. Joe, which was awful but mildly entertaining, and we were able to make fun of it loudly the whole time. It's a double feature at the drive-in, but I couldn't handle the thought of watching Transformers 2 starting at 11 PM, and facing a half-hour drive home after that... Oh, other movies we've seen in that stretch are "Food, Inc" (scary stuff, know what you're eating!), and "500 Days of Summer" which was well-done and stirred some interesting conversation between us.
During the week, caught later dinner with Tom Gilx at Marc 49. The next weekend (29th/30th) : Friday, the 28th was a show by Shelley Doty at Caffe Trieste in Berekeley. Awesome night with a lot of folks, pulling out all the stops! Saturday, after work, we went into Oakland for the Eat Real Festival. It was nice to walk around outside and sample a variety of foods (and beers) but the lines were very long, and places were closing down by that time of day.
Sunday, I actually took a day off & we went down to the Niles Flea Market , which is basically a big yard sale in an old-town district of Fremont. But it really does spark the community - you walk around the side streets, and every other house has a yard sale, people hanging out, kids running lemonade stands. I mainly went down to catch up with some old friends and hang out (some of the very first people I met when I moved to the Bay Area and started at Tippett Studio), so that was great.
That brings us to the present - after the day off, I put in an 19 hour day (well, with a lunch break) to get our sequence ready to finish this week (got home after 2am). Like I said, the end is coming up this week (or next) - it'll be great to see everyone's hard work payoff!
Just a note for Michigan folk reading this - the "Chistmas Carol" Train tour makes its stop, at the Henry Ford Museum! Check it out.
Anyway, enough about work, here's what I've been doing for play : July 24th, saw the new Miyazaki film, Ponyo. Magical tale, about the sea squaring off against man's encroaching progress, and a bond of love that bridges the gap between worlds. Pretty simple story, one of MIyazaki's more simple and juvenile movies, and a little creepy to have such a strong romantic-style dynamic between 6-year-old characters (esp to a Westerner who isn't steeped in Japanese tradition and honor code). The fun aspect was that this was an advanced screening, Ponyo didn't come out at theatres till a couple later. Miyazaki himself spoke at a presentation at UC Berkeley the following day, but I decided not to go.
The next weekend, I got to see an old-school metal band, Sadus at the new Oakland Metro, and meet my favorite metal bassist, Steve DiGiorgio . The strangest part about the show was the pre-teen daughter of one of the band members was there with all her school friends. Like the crowd at a Jonas Brothers, but backstage at the Metro... Saturday evening we got comps for the Joe Goode Dance Performance at the SF Old Mint. Really oustanding performance, they made use of the space where audience moved from room to room, dancers came in and out, and the interacted or played out scenarios between the rooms. Sunday, we saw Shotgun Players' free outdoor theatre performance of "Animal Farm", done as a hiphop musical, in a Mad Max world. Came across very well, very engaging and very physical.
The next weekend was Nicole's birthday, Bonnie took her out of town for some camping/hiking in Yosemite. And my college friend Joe Behl was in town! (Dark Side represent!). We met up with him, and another ex-coworker friend of his who lives in SF, for drinks at Jupiter, then I got togther with them Saturday night for Memphis Minnie's BBQ and beers at The Toronado. The weekend after (Aug 15 / 16), Saturday was "the Big Idea" at YBCA arts museum (of which I am a member). Sunday, had some friends (Ed, Nina, M) over for a BBQ.
Let's see... trying to piece together the itinerary from my Edgar Allen Poe planner calendar... can't recall what was up for Aug22/23rd. Worked both days, and I did have to cancel band practice, partially because Jimmy had technical problems. Still bums me out to do it, feel like I'm losing out, and losing ground with getting the band gigs... Saturday we caught "Film Night in the Park" : "On the Waterfront". Bonnie had never seen it & didn't realize how iconic it was ("I coulda been a contender"). Ah yes, because mine (and Bonnie's) evening was suddenly freed up, on a whim we went out to the Solano Drive-in in Concord. Fun movie-going time, and it's great to see a place like this still open. Concessions was unbelievable - only $18 for a pizza, pretzel, popcorn, 2 drinks, and candy. Oh, we saw G.I. Joe, which was awful but mildly entertaining, and we were able to make fun of it loudly the whole time. It's a double feature at the drive-in, but I couldn't handle the thought of watching Transformers 2 starting at 11 PM, and facing a half-hour drive home after that... Oh, other movies we've seen in that stretch are "Food, Inc" (scary stuff, know what you're eating!), and "500 Days of Summer" which was well-done and stirred some interesting conversation between us.
During the week, caught later dinner with Tom Gilx at Marc 49. The next weekend (29th/30th) : Friday, the 28th was a show by Shelley Doty at Caffe Trieste in Berekeley. Awesome night with a lot of folks, pulling out all the stops! Saturday, after work, we went into Oakland for the Eat Real Festival. It was nice to walk around outside and sample a variety of foods (and beers) but the lines were very long, and places were closing down by that time of day.
Sunday, I actually took a day off & we went down to the Niles Flea Market , which is basically a big yard sale in an old-town district of Fremont. But it really does spark the community - you walk around the side streets, and every other house has a yard sale, people hanging out, kids running lemonade stands. I mainly went down to catch up with some old friends and hang out (some of the very first people I met when I moved to the Bay Area and started at Tippett Studio), so that was great.
That brings us to the present - after the day off, I put in an 19 hour day (well, with a lunch break) to get our sequence ready to finish this week (got home after 2am). Like I said, the end is coming up this week (or next) - it'll be great to see everyone's hard work payoff!
Just a note for Michigan folk reading this - the "Chistmas Carol" Train tour makes its stop, at the Henry Ford Museum! Check it out.
posted by pegasusgiraffe at 10:38 PM
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