Cerulean Jade Update 01-31-2013

 We filmed some more scenes this last week.  It's a group of scenes where I'm piloting a ship into space.  Looks a little crazy, right?  There's a method to our madness!  For these scenes what's important is my silhouette, 

so the clothes I'm wearing is for shape.  

Robbie showing me what floating in space looks like.

  The jet pack scene that I mentioned in the past got thrown out, much to my dismay, jet packs are retro cool, but the scene was proving too difficult for what we have.  It was a wise choice, and I got my ship back! Now I get two space ships: One, the ship taking me to space is of the old fashion classic 60's sci-fi variety, and two, the ship I originally picked out that got swapped with a possible jet pack scene. When we threw out the jet pack, I got my personal ship back.  Can't complain about that.  And I've got to say it's looking really cool.

Steven's finishing up and polishing assets today, which is really exciting, and then the composting begins, and fingers crossed it all fits!

An Undignified Way to Sprain an Elbow

When I was a kid I wanted to be a competitive ice skater.  It was one of those fanciful dreams that held no bases in reality.  The closest ice rink was in Fresno growing up, and only having gone a couple times there was never a chance to discover if I had the potential to be good or not.  I watched all the specials on T.V., the competitions, etc.  When music plays I still choreograph routines in my mind.

Now, more then ever, I've realized that some childhood dreams 

are better left as dreams.

Ice skating terrifies me!  The last time I was on the ice was two years ago.  Spent the whole time hyperventilating!  Not once did I get use to the skates.

Then this last Monday I went again with my church singles group.  Once again the first hour was pure drudgery.  Nerves running rampant, clutching to the wall when I wasn't having to go around those who were trying tricks or being reckless.  I was miserable!  And I don't think I kept it a secret because a look of horror constantly graced my face.

We were there for two hours.  One girl from our group fell about seven times.  By the end of the session I was feeling quite proud for not falling once.  Pride!  Never a good emotion.  I should have known better, because karma was about to attack.

The clock showed there were only fifteen minutes left to skate.  I was getting braver.  Skating stronger.  Moving further away from the wall with each lap.  Then something dreadful happened.  Something dreadful in the name of the toe pick.  Those nasty little spikes at the tip of the blade.  I know they're great for jumps and fancy skating elements, but for the novice they're just plain evil.

I was skating faster, leaning forward, being careless in my footing when my right toe pick caught the ice.  I don't know how far I flew, but I landed sprawled out, arms flat under me, keeping my face from crashing into the ice as my glasses flew off my face.

Thankfully no one ran over me, and several people came to help.  I lay there a good minute or so as I realized I couldn't feel or move my left hand.

Nothing's broken, but I did badly sprain my left elbow, and bruised my left arm, wrist, hand, and right knee.  Overall it could have been worst, so I'm quite lucky.  I'm healing.

I take so many things for granted!  This whole entry was written with my right hand.  I've been counting my blessings, and I'm really lucky to have what I have.

Still, I don't believe I'll ever stop dreaming up ice skating routines.

Big Bang Theory and Vasquez Rocks

 (Picture taken from the 14 Antelope Valley Freeway)

 Geology 101 made me a total natural science nerd.  It was one of those college general ed. classes I was absolutely dreading, but in the end I was completely loving.  Whenever I now see an interesting rock formation, I like to try and figure out how in Earth's history it was formed.

The above rocks are viewed from the Antelope Valley Freeway in the Santa Clarita area, Los Angeles County.  In the last 10 years I've driven by this place many times on the way to Ventura, and each time I get super excited.  

Seeing the rocks only lasts a minute or so, but right before it happens I seem to know it's just around the corner.  This happy feeling bubbles up inside letting me know.  (Geology nerd.)  On all those trips I never found out what the rocks are called, only that the Escondido Canyon Road exit would lead me to it.  Since we tend to pass this way towards the end of the day, usually after 10 hours on the road, we never pull off to check it out.

Funny enough, thanks to a Big Bang Theory episode I finally know the name of the rocks!  They're the Vasquez Rocks.  Leonard and the gang are heading to a convention in Bakersfield, only to get distracted by a spontaneous photo shot.  Honestly, their Star Trek: The Next Generation cosplay outfits are awesome.

But in the Big Bang Theory episode "The Bakersfield Expedition," it was mentioned that several Star Trek scenes were filmed at Vasquez Rocks . . . suddenly images of 1994's Star Trek Generations flashed in front of me, and an overwhelming feeling of stupidity engulfed. 

Somewhere in the deep recesses of my mind I must have made the Star Trek connection with these rocks, so I was being a geeky nerd on two accounts!!!

  

And I now know how these rocks were formed.  From wikipedia: "The Vasquez Rocks were formed via Quaternary sediments deposited in alluvial fans, approximately 25 million years ago, from the erosion of the San Gabriel mountains located to the south.  The collision of the North American and Pacific Plates created an anticline, due to the Elkhorn Fault, that then weathered away from the top."

I actually understood that, but this makes me regret selling back my geology book to the college book store . . . the life of a poor student.

Ned the Newt, An Original Poem

Ned the Newt

Ned the Newt was quite the snoot

He loved to laugh and linger

Didn't he mind the use of his time?

He didn't, and that's why he faltered

Around he would go

Poking his nose

In places he shouldn't have bothered

He gossiped and teased

With the wind and the breeze

Until he had no friends at all

~ Sarah Stufflebeam

A Found Ladybug = a Cerulean Jade Good Luck Omen

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)

Cerulean Jade Update 01-24-2013

 I haven't had an update for a while!

 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.

The 4 C's = Curiosity, Creativity, Courage, and Charity

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.

The Happy Hidden Spider

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 still don't like spiders . . .

The Ever Popular Hello Kitty

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.)

Fun, sweet, and cute, she never gets old. 

Soft Flowing Rapids, An Original Poem

(By Maureen from Buffalo, USA)

 Soft Flowing Rapids

Upon a mountain top packed with snow

Where wind looks down on rocks below

Where nothings changed for months apply

I see myself in years gone by

The sun beats down and drops collect

And with each effort all are met

Slowly moving by and by

A life for me I have to find

I see another coming near

We join together and face this fear

With our strengths we form a team

Hope shines on our trying stream

A storm arrives, we separate

And then my heart begins to ache

A cliff arrives and I fall down

In the splash I will not drown

The rapids of life do crash and burn

And I am at loss for where to turn

Dear Heavenly Father up above

I know you're there with all your love

For in my thoughts I send this prayer

With my faith I have no fear

The Ocean shore I'll someday meet

Life right now is incomplete

I can wait through sun filled days

For life is joy in all its rays   

                 

~ Sarah Stufflebeam