Musical

I think life would be funny if it were a musical. This weekend Farah and I saw Aida at the Clark Center (thanks to the recommendation from Morgen). We liked it but only one of the performers had star quality (Mary Roach). So we went online and looked up Aida to see the REAL deal, and apparently it is impossible to find online other than on iTunes. But in the process we found some great stuff on YouTube.

So to add to the list of friends I proudly present, The Musical Edition:

Lady Ursula. I know she was on our list before, but here is the YouTube Ursula. She is really good, but TOTALLY extreme and has an intense way of doing things.

The Yawning Man from the theater. Can you believe anytime there was a slow song this man yawned EXTREMELY loud. Also he crawled into the theater up the stairs. And to answer your thoughts, I am not exaggerating at all.

I'll think of more, but this was the blog I forgot to post last week....

Superheroes

Yes, I am officially back in the blogging world and I am officially back in the realm of Movie Goers. I went to see both Narnia and Iron Man this weekend and was pleasantly surprised by both.

At any rate I thought I would re-visit the realm of Superheroes. A long time ago I assigned people superhero personas. Well, some time has passed and I thought I would reassign some people and make some additions to my superhero team.

Obviously I am the geeky, noble, and annoying Cyclops.

I follow rules (sometimes annoyingly too much) and I tend to take charge. So I give myself the Cyc role. Also I have the girl, so there.

Farah then, by placement of myself, would have to be Jean Grey.

I think this suits her well. She knows a lot about people, reads minds in someways, and is hot. So yup, she is Jean.

Parker still is the Incredible Nightcrawler.
He kind of pops into your life says something funny, then the next thing you know he is gone. Also he is a blue-ish type of person and well, there you go.

Jon is probably the Beast.
I mean he has hair that is big a scraggly, and have you seen the jaw on this guy? He's got beast status. Also I know he has to be a pretty smart so and so because he is an arcitect. Well maybe not yet, but by the end of the week I'd say so.

Morgen or Morgan is Dust.
There I said it she wears a burka and that's all there is to it.

I guess I should include some newbies on the ol' blog here. I would have to say Micah and Katrin (though I have no clue as of yet how to spell her name so I will hence forth call her Mrs. Mason until I figure out the proper spelling) are on the friends list for sure. So now to assign them some characters:


Micah is pretty much Gambit.
He has a good sense of humor like Gambit, and he's tall. People like him and well, his eyes turn red at night after three hours of Worship team non-practice--ok well maybe not but I think it goes on long enough thank you very much.

I have to say Mrs. Mason is probably best associated with Dazzler. I was tempted to put her down as the Scarlet Witch, but SW annoys me a little bit so Dazzler it is.

This picture isn't how I remember her at all, but I guess it works. Dazzler is fun, good humored, has her obsessions and in someways is startling. I'd say Mrs. Mason has all of these attributes. Also I'm pretty sure Dazzler is pregnate in a comic, and well--so is the Mrs.



I am tempted to add more characters and friends on to the list but I will stop there since I am unsure as to the ethical boundaries surrounding other people's names on the blog. So until I obtain your permission I shall leave you nameless and characterless on the blog... SO in the mean time enjoy these Most Outrageous Clips I saw this week which had me tearing up in laughter:

The Other Woman

This may come as a shock to some of you... But there are a lot of women in my life. I know some of you are planning on breaking the news to Fauf, but she already knows. Yes, Farah is still my love, but I must make time for some of these other women in my life.

In my daily conversation this she is with me, I'm sure...


At 5:00 she speaks to me...


As I drive home she reminds me KSBY 6 is the station she watches...



When I am having trouble spelling things, she comes to me...


And when I need schematics, well... there you go...


Alas, there are many women in my life.

Headlines

It is risen, indeed.

Well life has been ridiculously busy over the past 43 days, hence no blog and very little online checking-in. So here is a quick run down of the past weeks. Rather than go week by week I think the best idea is to give some headlines, which if I were savvy would turn into newslinks. Here we go:

Shaws Seek Sullivan Home: Sullivans Eagerly Await the Move

The Birthday Month Comes to the Nest

Nesters Go to Disneyland

Mimi Rolls Out the Red Carpet

SoCal Shaws Meet the Nesting Shaws at Mimi's

Nesters Call the Cops

The Birthday Month Leaves the Nest

Nesters Call the Cops... Again

Shaws Seek Silent Nest

Nest 2.0?

No Word on The New Nest

Teacher Appreciation Week Comes to PCS: Farah Honored, Michael's Life in Shame.

Sullivans Seek Rental

Sullivan Family Moves to Santa Maria

Cassidy: Child Genius?


I can go into more details on a couple of these, but I am unsure which ones to detail the most. So if you want me to comment on one of them, please comment.

Enjoy.

Art and Breaking News

So I have been working on some art over the vacation. I have been trying to branch out of my usual niche but lately things have just been turning out the way they have in the past. Which is OK I guess. So here they are, if you decide to look at these you'll have to click them to actually see the details.

The first sketch I did is all about our connections to each other in the world—every little drawing shows how hyper connected we are. It all started with the sketch in the top left hand corner (hard to see on here, but it is an inch by an inch of a basket weave.


I wanted to go back and try my Matisse-esk painting again. The last one I did was The Fall of Man. This one is about idols. Not American Idol, mind you, but those graven images kind of idols. I think it is really weird looking. There’s a whole meaning to each shape, well, almost all shapes. I’m not totally sure I am finished with it, but I suppose it will do for now.



The last one I did was this sketch on American Standards. I sketched this one in Starbucks on Betteravia, which I may add is a really boring place to get inspiration. I made the sketch reflect the notion that media has created standards for beauty and we follow along. I know it may look like a Green sketch, but it isn’t. All of the eco-friendly bits are not about the environment.



I don’t know if others share these perceptions, but there you go that’s my Spring Break art.

(play the CBS Evening News Music)

THIS JUST IN—
Good News has come to the Santa Maria Valley! This just in: The Sullivans are MOVING to Santa Maria! And here’s part two which makes the news even better: They are planning on moving before Summer! I now present the best summer preview of all: SUMMER WITH THE SULLIVANS.

Just think of all the benefits:

The IQ of the Central Coast general population will increase as Jason returns with his bulky brain.

The vocal and musical abilities of the Central Coast will improve exponentially. Not only will they bring their abilities to the Coast, they may even teach others.

Uncle Ig and Auntie Fauf will become common phrases heard around town.

And then there is the future. Somewhere in the future we can also look forward to:

Cass in the Orcutt School District. The legend will possibly even be in my class when she’s old enough! Honestly, she’ll get all E’s and A’s in my class, just because she is so cute and has good blood.

Katie will lead some memory seminars for the Central Coast. Come on she has a great memory.

The Sullivans will be able to be supporters when the Nesting Shaws have children.

Fauf and I are extremely happy and can hardly wait for Summer to arrive! Good Timese USA!

New Things in Spring

Well this Spring Break has proven to be new. I have done some new things with the Fauf, including the following:

We just came back from our first Spring Break together in Monterey. We stayed at a squished little hotel in Monterey next to the Del Monte Shopping Center (which is kind of great). And then we toured the city as well as went to the Aquarium (A note to the readers- we have year passes to the Aquarium and we love the jellies there).


We went to Boomers, baby. It was a really intense game, seeing Fauf is my best competition, however in the end I did pull out on top (A note to readers- I only won by one stroke both games).



Prior to this engagement we enjoyed our first trip to Oso Flaco. That was a great walk, filled with good conversation and loved ones (A note to the readers- Parker and Lowie were with us).



Even before this great experience we had the opportunity to go to The Great American Melodrama. (A note to the reader- while this is normally a great experience for all, this quarter's show is not worth the sawdust floors).




And lastly I would like to bring the new news into perspective. Did anyone else hear that Angelina Jolie is related to Hillary? And Brad Pitt is related to Barack? I'm just saying (A note to the reader- this is a scary picture).



Enjoy the newness of Spring People.

Logos

Yes, I am all about logos today. I am excited, perplexed and overwhelmed by logos today. So here are my top logos of the day:

1. Diet Coke. Praise God I am only four days away from reuniting with Diet Coke. I swear, food just tastes better when you are sipping on a glass of Diet Coke.



2. Mac and Cheese is really resonating in my soul these days. I would probably be content if Wednesdays turned back into Fish Stick and Macaroni nights again.



3. 20Q (Parker don't read this one). I love my new 20Q Harry Potter edition. It blows my wooly socks off!




4. The Days Inn. Sure it isn't a 5 star joint, but hey at least Farah and I will be staying there next week for a night in Monterey. Hooray for the Nesters!



5. Orcutt Academy. As of today at 10:00 AM I have a for sure job at The Orcutt Academy teaching students grades K-2. It will be a challenge but I am totally up for the job!



6. John MacKinnon 4 Judge. I love it. Everyone vote for him, he was my former neighbor and that is just good stuff. You go John with your awesome logo.

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7. Shaw's. I mean, why don't I own this place? I will really consider buying it when it goes up for sale again. Seriously, I would make a great restauranteur.

I Waited

Ya know I waited a whole two days, but my lovely wife has yet to post anything on the journey we took up north this weekend, so here it is.

This weekend we went to see Jay and Kay and their cute little ones: The Cass and Toey. It was a great experience that included: a trampoline, a walk to the park, a giggling boy, good conversations, Cheesecake Factory, and a nice drive. I had a really great time seeing them again and I can only imagine how great it would be for the Sullivan Family to pack up their van and move on south. Oh... If only. At any rate here are some Kodak moments.


Here we are. Check out the smile on the Toey!


Mr. Ig and The Cass like to jump!


Toey discovering his toes! Come on that's a cute kid!


Parker, I expect no regards from you on this blog.

My Sketchy Return

Sorry it has been so long since I last blogged. My life has been pretty intense what with budget cut scares, finishing Chapman up in the next two weeks, and the Cass and Toey. Well at any rate, I have returned and I decided sometime ago my next blog would be about my sketches I have created in the past six months. They aren't that amazing, but I thought I'd take the risk and put them out for all to see here on the ol' Blog. Here they are (you'll need to click on the image to see a regular sized shot):

1. This is the one from the BREW. You can see I was inspired by all of the things around me at the moment of the sketch. I enjoy the quote from the trash can, and I like how the sketch makes me feel warm.



2. This one is from the BUCKS. It was my interpretation of the surroundings and mood of the shop that day as well as the idea of progressivism. I like how I can perfectly recall my surroundings and thoughts because of this sketch.



3. Last, this is from the CASS. It was really hard to photograph this one, so this is the best of many I tried. Cass was my muse in this sketch, I surrounded her with things that welcome her to our crazy world of "stuff." This takes me back to the Tahoe Trip of 07. Good times, I want to play Wheel of Fortune.



Well there, a few have requested a blog, and though it is not typical, you got what you asked for.

Movies, bah-hum bug!

It has been said that Michael Shaw loves many, if not everything, about the movie going experiences. Well--I hate to burst your bubble, but it is a LIE. There are things I HATE about the movies, and well, here they are... The 5 things I hate at the movies:

Seats that don't recline.

Honestly, it is 2008! Why don't they recline?

Sticky floors.
Why are they so SO SO sticky? Honestly I know people spill a lot but can't they just run a hose on the ground? There's hardly ever carpet. Come on people.

Running children.

Who brings kids to the movies who don't sit down for the feature? I'm just saying. Take them to the Drive-In NOT the theatre.

Texting.

It has to stop. I don't mind people who accidently don't turn off their phones, but that darn light shining a couple rows in front of you! AH!

Smelly people.

Why do people who come late to a movie, and sit RIGHT next to you SMELL so odd. Radishes? Cherry Pies? Soil? Honestly, ridiculous.

Well those are my rants. There you have it, apperently I don't love EVERYTHING about the movie experience.

Love, "We're in love with love."

Now I'm sure many of you have read the 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman, in fact today I taught my first graders the same concepts to help them be more "loving" on Valentine's Day. But did you know that Fauf and I celebrate Valentine's Day by giving each other something from each Love Language category? Well, we do. And here is the list of items we exchanged:

1. Words of Affirmation I called this in class "Nice Words"
I got her: a very shnazzy Valentine's card where I professed my unending love for the Fauf.
She got me: a magic decoder puzzle where I had to assemble the puzzle and use the magic pen to reveal the love note!

2. Acts of Service: Today we called it "Doing Something"
I: put up a new cover over our window to block out the street lights at night.
She: made me dinner in a white linen restaurant called "The Nest."

3. Quality Time: We called this one "Spending Time"
I got her: a gift card for the two of us to go out to the Wine Cottage Bistro.
She got me: a movie for us to relax together with.

4. Gift Giving: Yup, we called this one "Giving Gifts"
I got her: a gift card to Khols where she can shop to her heart's content (or until it wears out).
She got me: a great game to play together which just keeps on giving.

5. Physical Touch: This one was titled "Nice Touch"
Well, Fauf and I hugged and kissed and stuff...
Oh yeah and I got her a massage at InSpaRations.

At any rate, if you want to show someone you love them--even if you are a first grader, consider which love language best suits him/her and: LOVE IT UP!


Now go read Farah's blog, cause normally she will complain I gave everything away and stole her readership. I'm sure she'll be posting in the next two days.

The Presidents Are Among Us

So I have been thinking about presidents a lot lately. I mean, next week is President's Day and yes, I know there is tons of media hype on the Primaries. So let's explore some facts and myths about presidents:

Fact- George Washington received 100% of the electoral votes to become President.


Myth- George Washington chopped down a cherry tree.



Fact- Obama is the first black man to be considered a front runner for the Democratic Party.

Myth-We have already had a black president.

Yes, it is true I once (and I think into Junior High) thought we had a black president. Abraham Lincoln. Heaven help me that I did a report on him in the 3rd grade! Oh well, at least I know he was the inventor of maple syrup. Doh- that's another myth.

Fact- Speaking of inventors, Thomas Jefferson is credited for inventing Macaroni and Cheese. Praise God for TJ!




Myth- Thomas Jefferson was the inventor of America.


Fact- Ann Coulter is a hardcore, very tough-tough-tough, Republican Political Pundit.


Fact- Ann Coulter will campaign for Hillary if she is running against John McCain! No, not a myth, FACT.

Just some facts and myths to chew on.

My Life

No I didn't do this on Wednesday:


Yes, I was one of those people who said, "Hey, you have marker on your forehead."

And, yes, I was a person who gave something up:


Sigh. Such are the months of February and March.

Crazy Woman Driver!

In case you haven't noticed this is a year of lists. For many various reasons I would stress to Parker to not read this blog.

This is dedicated to Women Who Entertain Me


Classic Entertainers:




Ridiculous Entertainer:


Laugh out Loud Entertainers:




Gemini's Twin, Sount' and Visuals Entertainers:




Makes me Want to Change my Ethnicity Entertainer:




Makes me Want to Change my Profession Entertainer:


Horrible, only Michael Will Like Entertainer:


Least Understood Entertainer:


Entertainer I'd Consider Voting for:



Most Inspirational Entertainer:


Best Entertainer: