Yesterday we found a ladybug sitting happily on our green screen. The poor thing probably thought it was a leaf. We've taken it as a good luck omen! The ladybug is a symbol of luck, after all. According to wikipedia: "In many countries, including Russia, Turkey, and Italy, the sight of a
coccinellid [What we call ladybugs] is either a call to make a wish or a sign that a wish will
soon be granted."
Ladybugs usually hibernate in the Winter, and even in the Spring I don't see them that often. It's been so wickedly cold this last month that we were completely surprised to see the ladybug.
We've decided to accept the luck. Who doesn't like a little luck now and then? And that it's a sign that our wishes and aspirations will come true :0)
Our next song and music video, Done With Gravity, is coming along nicely. We've done our first set of videotaping, and Robbie's been working with the video recordings in one of those fancy computer programs of his. For the record all computer programs are fancy . . .
Steven's been modeling a working 3D digital city, which looks amazing. He's got some texturing left, but this stage is almost finished. I can't wait to see how this works into the music video. What's even cooler is that he can move around the buildings, zooming in and out at different angles.
I'm getting more and more excited about sharing this video with everyone.
When I was in High School I had a fun little group with my friends called the PPPPA (the Poor Pathetic People of Porterville Association). We would get together on Friday nights and watch old black and white movies. Probably sounds a little lame,
but it was fun.
Because of that I've since been obsessed with creating lists of words that all start with the same letter. This time the 4 words are a list of values I want to model my life after. Something to live towards and incorporate each day.
Curiosity
Albert Einstein said that "I have no special talent. I am only passionately curious." And he also said "It's a miracle that curiosity survives formal education." One of the brightest minds of this last century loves both curiosity and imagination. I've always felt that it's better to be curious then smart, though being smart is good, it's limited. Curiosity isn't limited; one discovery leads to another. So each day I want to find something to be curious about and discover.
Creativity
Curiosity in many ways leads to creativity. For me it's in writing and music composition, photography, and crafts. There's a power in creativity, in letting a part of ourselves out, in creating something new, or simply rearranging something old. Unfortunately I don't always set time each day to be creative, though I'm that sort of person who thrives by it. It's pure joy. Who doesn't want to embrace joy? . . . it's a bit frustrating as well when things aren't working out, or the mind's blocked, but that which is worth having must be worked towards.
Courage
"Without courage, all other virtues lose their meaning." Winston Churchill. I vow each day to find courage. Courage to be myself. Courage to embrace what's uncomfortable or terrifying, which, for me, usually means anything technological. I vow to banish my inner demons and fully be the person I'm meant to be.
Charity
Charity is the last virtue, because it's the most important. Charity is the pure love of Christ, and Charity never faileth. Those last two phrases I've grown up hearing my entire life, and I believe it. The most essential Christlike character we can learn to have is Charity, a combination of love and service, and who better understands love and service then our Lord and Savior who sacrificed all for us? We are not him, but we can strive to be like him. Sometimes we think serving others needs to be big; that that's the only type of service that's important, because it gets noticed. All types of service is important, and the first place Charity should start is at home. A kind act, a kind deed, a simple smile can mean the World to someone, and it's never wasted.
I hate spiders! Hate, hate, hate them! It all stems from my childhood when my Dad was watching "Arachnophobia" with my brother Michael and I present. I don't think Michael ever recovered.
Still, when Steven showed me this YouTube video I couldn't help but laugh.
I guess this is the post where I admit I haven't grown up . . .
Right before Christmas a dear Japanese family friend sent my Mom the above Hello Kitty on the left. It was an incredible, most unexpected surprise. The Hello Kitty on the right I got several years ago at a Sanrio store in the Mall.
My first experience with Hello Kitty was in the first grade at Christmas. I got a Hello Kitty backpack full of school supplies. That day I became a fan, and that backpack went everywhere.
Now, I'm no fanatic or anything, but I do have a few token items I really enjoy, such as the original Hello Kitty perfume by Sephora. It's fruity, yet sophisticated. Honestly, Sephora has quite a collection of nice beauty products for us older fans. And a few years ago MAC did a Hello Kitty cosmetics line.
It almost seems like she's more popular now then when I was a kid. She's everywhere, literally, and I get the feeling she ain't going away anytime soon.
It's kinda funny but my Mom, who didn't know I was already planning to write on this subject, got me the Honey Day gift below. (A honey day gift is a gift you give a friend, family member, etc, on a day other then a holiday.)
Looking at the picture of this cake you would think the birthday that happened this last week was for one of my nieces. If you assumed this you are wrong. This cake was for my brother Michael, who is closer to 30 then 20. Then you might assume that being the father of two little girls is starting to get to him . . . and you would be partially right. Just partially, because there is a phenomenon sweeping the geeky nerd World that I don't yet understand.
You see, my brother is a Brony. And what is a Brony?
The male, older fans of my little pony: friendship is magic.
Bronies internet convo=
Brony "yo man, you seen the new episode last night?"
Brony 2 "totally, midnight sparkle was the bomb with that friendship blast."
Micheal's a Brony. Michael and Robbie's friends are Bronies, and I'm not talking gal friends, it's all their guy friends who love My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. Robbie went to a friends birthday party and every one of his friends presents were my little pony gifts! Shirts, toys, etc.
So to enlighten my Mom and I, who still have a hard time believing the core audience of the new My Little Pony series are teenage/young adult guys, my brothers showed us the first two episodes of season one. My Mom and I kept looking at each other in shock. This show is what's causing this craze?
Apparently, according to Robbie, the show really takes off after episode 13. And I must say I do like the animation style. A lot of animation these days are just plain bad ( *cough* Sponge Bob *cough*). Back in my day we had Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Darkwing Duck, Duck Tales, and a few other great kid shows. And I did watch the original My Little Pony, Strawberry shortcake, Care Bears, and Rainbow Bright. I had it pretty good as a kid, so I am glad that the younger generation is getting quality, new animation.
I don't know, I need to see more episodes to decide if I'll become a fan. Chances are I will, and I'm just avoiding the inevitable. Though I got to say the below clip, with John de Lancie channeling Q through Discord, is pure awesome.
The beautiful song above is a Tribute Song for the Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown. There's a lot of information under the YouTube information page, but 100% of the proceeds for downloading this song will be donated to the
It's fun to note that the choir singing with Alex Boye and the Soulsaints in this video is called LDC (Latter-Day Celebration), the touring choir at the Orem Institute of Religion at Utah Valley University.
I sang with the choir for two years under the direction of Douglas Brenchley between 2002-2004. I have many choice memories singing with this choir and made many choice friendships, so I was thrilled and amazed to see that it was LDC singing in this video. Really exciting.
Singing in LDC during the Canada Tour
Having a fun brake during the LDC Moab Tour
Support Newtown, the families, and this beautiful music :0)
I got this bracelet last week after one of my Institute of Religion classes. I wish I was one of those people who didn't doubt and is always full of optimism. It's something I'm working on, but for the time being perfectionism and the need to get things right the first time still gets to me. Patience is a virtue.
It's nice to be reminded that "we are enough," and to accept ourselves as we are. Brush away those voices of criticism! They're doing nothing but destruction. Easier said then done, right? But change is a process, and a constant reminder that we are beautiful just the way we are is always nice.
So I will now be wearing this gift of a reminder often.
When you feel like giving up, that all is lost, that you can't go on, or that there is no point because you'll just end up failing anyway, remember:
