{ what i had in mind }

It's Your's And Mine, It's Demo Time

2008-05-06T01:26:43Z

What did I do this weekend? Well, I whipped it out of course... my iaito that is. Why what did you think I was talkin' about? Perv.

New York Budokai, my iaido dojo, was invited to perform a demonstration at the Asian American Heritage Festival out in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. It had been a while since our group had even participated in a demo and as an intermediate member, this one would be my first. I have never been a performer and I could say I was a little nervous, but when I got out there I felt relatively calm (of course, it probably helped that I wasn't wearing my glasses and couldn't see a damn thing). That's not to say I didn't screw up a little bit. I took a wrong step in one of my forms and I missed a block doing irohauchi.

"Really? Irohauchi? You don't say..." Irohauchi is a partner form where you basically beat on each other with a pair of sticks called bokken. The form is choreographed and ideally, you and your partner are so syncopated that you don't lay a finger on each other. I lost my rhythm, as ADD people often do, and Deborah Sensei caught me on the arm. Thankfully, she was holding back.

Outside of that I did pretty well and, hey... I had fun.

UPDATE: Beth did such a wonderful job taking pictures and videos from the demonstration that decided to post them on their own site. Check them out here.

The Jen(n)s Wed

2008-05-01T00:43:02Z

This past weekend, our good friends Jenn Colella and Jeny Foote were married. Jeny and Beth were best friends growing up in Sacramento and, while their lives have taken them in different directions, some friendships just never quite fade. And so Beth was honored when, along with the other "theatre kids," she got to dust off her pipes and take part in the ceremony.

An intimate gathering that brought together people from all over and all walks of life, it was a beautiful and thoughtful ceremony. And while their union is yet to be recognized by the government, their love is not only recognized but celebrated by their friends and family (awww...). Congratulations, Jenn and Jeny!

The Day The Video Game Died

2008-04-18T16:32:33Z

I love video games. Always have. Always will. And with the exception of a few years in high school when I thought I was too cool for them (I'm not), I have always owned one of the generational game consoles. For a long time, I was a strict Nintendo loyalist. But, despite their graphical improvements with that bouncing plumber, I began to get bored. This time around I wanted to try something different, so I ask for and got an Xbox 360.

With an excellent game library and relatively decent physical and interface design (especially for being a Microsoft product) I have been very happy with my Xbox. That is, until last night...

In a hurry to get their next generation console to market a full year ahead of Sony and Nintendo, Microsoft rushed through their engineering process and shoved a flawed piece of hardware out the door and onto market. As a result, many early Xbox 360 owners have been plagued by a catastrophic system failure, designated by three flashing lights known as the "red ring of death." Last night, after a nearly a year and a half of relative peace and joy, that red eyed specter paid me a visit. Sigh...

This problem is so pervasive, that Microsoft agreed to extend the hardware warranty by 2 years, and I directly benefit as a result. With little debate or argument, Microsoft customer service agree to repair/replace my console free-of-charge, including the shipping. Of course, it might have helped that I was calling them at 1AM and they wanted to go home. I'm pissed, but at least Microsoft is taking responsibility.

This marks my third (and hopefully final) major electronics failure this year. I'll keep you up-to-date as developments unfold (since I'm sure you're dying to know). In the meantime, I guess I'll start using our Wii.

The Doctor Is In

2008-04-16T20:43:47Z

After 6+ years of hard work, headaches, self-doubt and sacrifice (mostly on my part) Beth successfully defend her doctoral thesis today.

When Beth had just started to consider going back to school seven years ago, she knew it would take a lot of time and effort. And even with that realistic perspective, she almost ran out of steam before accomplishing her goal. By the time her coarse [sic] work officially ended and she began her internship with the Manhattan VA, Beth was well ahead of the curve but burning herself out in compiling her research and processing the data. Working nights and weekends on her dissertation — all the while working full-time — she managed to get her thesis done and copies of its 100+ pages to her review board this month. That same review board (after a severe paddling) granted her passage into the realm of doctor-hood today. Beth Manning, Doctor of Philosophy in Clinical Psychology (that's a PhD, baby). Congratulations, Beth!

Whitey

2008-04-15T01:05:20Z

I recently stumbled across a little web gem that I thought was worth sharing. Stuff White People Like is blog written for white people, about white people and all the while making fun of white people... and really, if we don't make fun of ourselves, who will? The best part of the site is its running list of whitey favorites that include such truisms as Oscar parties, organic food and Barack Obama. If we where to use this site as a measure, I myself am about 80-85% white. Try it for yourself.

Web Lozenge

2008-04-13T19:08:25Z

While I haven't had much to write about lately, I have taken the time to give the old blog a little spruce up. It doesn't look like too drastic a change but, I thought a little modernizing was in order. I cal it the "lozenge look." Enjoy.

Make It So, Macduff

2008-03-25T20:22:43Z

Even if it's tear-your-hair-out, fill-your-ears-in-with-cement bad, theatre can be expensive proposition in New York. When garbage like Mamma Mia! feels inexplicable justified in charging its patrons $230 a pop for orchestra seats, you can imagine how a truly sublime theatre experience might hit your wallet. Needless to say, Beth and I tend to save up our entertainment dollars for what we can only hope are worthy shows.

So, when we found out that Patrick Stewart (yes, that Patrick Stewart) was staring in Macbeth we decided it was time to empty out the change jar again. I saw Mr. Stewart over 10 years ago in a brilliant staging of Shakespeare's Tempest that may still be my favorite theatre experience of all time. I have always loved Macbeth as a written play, but every staging I have ever seen has been a disaster (Macbeth in revolutionary Cuba? — I don't think so).

This version of Macbeth puts the play in a white-tiled post-industrial basement that, when lit by the harsh monochromatic lighting, is every bit reminiscent of a morgue. Stark, sterile and yet somehow still dirty, the space makes for an appropriate atmosphere for one of Shakespeare's bloodiest plays. Mr. Stewart, of course, was superb. It is absolutely amazing to hear Shakespearean dialog delivered in a fluid, conversational manner that still retains its gravity. None of his time on stage is wasted — even standing on the sidelines distractedly contemplating a beer bottle, his posture and body language holds meaning for Macbeth. And it can be said that most of the cast had every right to share the stage with him. [Spoiler alert!] When Macduff, played by Michael Feast learns of his families' massacre at the hands of Macbeth, he so convincingly displays his shock and grief that the audience can't help but pity him. The only real disappointment of the show was Lady Macbeth as performed by the understudy. Lady Macbeth as role should never been taken lightly and few actresses are up to performing this nuanced and flawed character. I was really looking forward to seeing a strong Lady Macbeth and, while the understudy made an admirable attempt, the best I can say is she knew her lines (but not the part). It was still amazing bit of theatre.

Rack 'Em Up

2008-02-12T03:48:27Z

So Beth was out of town this weekend and, finding myself a swinging bachelor, I decided to celebrate in the only way I know how... with meat!

Before I explain, let me begin with a diatribe against the state of bar-b-que in New York. As much as the locals feel they understand bar-b-que, most of the establishments they hold in such high esteem couldn't hold a burnt-end against even the most humble of roadside pits in the likes of Tennessee, Kansas, or Texas. Virgil's makes a great pulled pork but, their ribs remain tasteless. Daisy May's has chili, and that's about it. Rub BBQ has some of the fattiest meat I have ever let pass my lips and the desiccated slabs they pass off as ribs at Blue Smoke are a sin. Year's ago, Pearson's was the only respectable game in town but, they have long since closed.

But fortunately, some new pits have opened up and stepped forward to fill that bar-b-que void.

Not necessarily new but certainly noteworthy, Dinosaur Bar-b-que on the upper west side offers up a smoky and succulent rib for the discerning connoisseur. It was about a year and a half ago that Beth treated me to a birthday dinner at Dinosaur and I must say, it did satisfy. And for the vegetarians in the audience, Beth recommends the smoked Portobello if you can just get past the pervasive stench of seared flesh. My only regret is that I didn't sufficiently starve myself beforehand — I had to leave a few ribs behind.

But this weekend, I discovered Rack and Soul. Okay, that's not entirely true — I actually discovered Rack and Soul back in June at the annual Big Apple BBQ Block Party. But for me, the only true test of pit is to visit the source. At first glance the generic NY dinner setting might keep you walking, but the sweat, woody smell will certainly stop you in your tracks. I took a booth by myself and ordered up a 1/2 rack and beer. Let me just say, not since the close of Pearson's have I tasted such a flavorful, juicy, tender rib in New York City. Period. The torch has been passed. Enjoy.

My Mind Gets Smaller

2008-01-27T21:10:37Z

In the quest to keep pace with technology, I've updated my blog so that is now iPhone and iPod Touch compatible. I've replaced the Flash navigation with a friendlier Javascript navigation. Not as elegant looking, but there is something to be said for simplicity when dealing with the inter-tubes. And for those sporting the 1.1.3 firmware upgrades, there is also a webclip icon you can add to your home screen (if you are so inclined).

So stick me in your pocket and enjoy.

For Those About To Rock

2008-01-26T20:09:56Z

With it's ever increasing popularity, I always thought of the Guitar Hero franchise as gimmicky fad that would eventually disappear. I have long been a hardcore gamer and something about it just didn't fit into my idea of a fun game. Clearly I was wrong.

It started with the generous and surprising gift we received from Beth's parents for Christmas — a Nintendo Wii. The idea was that Beth (who is not a big gamer) and I would play the Wii together and, while that intention is still a work in progress, I have found some new uses for the console. My inspiration came when I got the chance to visit with my good friend Nat while he was in New York for the holidays. His parents live in the city and the holidays are usually my best chance to spend time with him during the course of the year. Nat just so happened to have received a copy of Guitar Hero III for Christmas and, after connecting it to his parent's Wii, proceeded to jam for at least a couple of hours. I was hooked. And knowing that I could play against him and my friend Kevin (also a Christmas Guitar Hero recipient) over the internet, I just had to get one.

Well, my virtual ax arrived last night. So, put in your earplugs and lock you daughters up. It's time to rock.

Restless Weekends

2008-01-21T21:18:38Z

Nothing like a nice, long three-day weekend to unwind after a hard week at work. And what did I do to make the most of my time off?... Why I worked, of course.

After several month's stagnation, I finally took the time to review my portfolio and update the work on my website. The updating was more significant for book (which I rarely if ever use) than for my website but, I had a lot of retouching to make this happen. So I figured, if I'm going to update one I should really update the other. If you're interested, look for several new poster designs for Ford and Meals on Wheels as well as I book I designed for the Climate Groups — all of my new work is in the print section. I know this is shameless self-promotion but, hey, somebody's got to do it.

Holidays Over, So Tired...

2008-01-14T00:54:57Z

Ever since we came back from Hawaii, it's been a non-stop barrage of busi-ness. Almost as soon as we landed, it seemed we were hosting the Mannings for the Thanksgiving. Although they were thoughtful enough to give us some time to unpack, a week long visit still took a bit out of us. Laundry, cleaning, grocery shopping, cooking — the time was fun but it flew by quickly and before we knew it, the holidays were in full swing. End of year gatherings and Christmas gifts occupied our time right up until we flew off to Cincinnati for Christmas.

Christmas itself was a bit of a break. We were looking forward to seeing my mom's new house and visiting with her and the few friends I have left in Cincinnati. It was a fairly laid back holiday and we found ourselves with a little time relax but, we still weren't at home. Just like Thanksgiving, almost as soon as we arrived, we were stowing our loot and heading back to an airport.

So now it's the new year, and... we're completely exhausted. Don't think we didn't enjoy the holidays, but they did leave us a bit worn out. We're both back to work full time and looking for a little mundane routine to reinvigorate us. Either that, or we hibernate.

Aloha

2007-11-29T02:16:47Z

You must forgive me for not writing in so long, but we've been pretty busy. Over the last few weeks, Beth and I went on vacation to Hawaii and we hosted the Mannings for Thanksgiving, all pretty much without a break. I have a lot to say about both events but right now, and by popular demand, I'm going to focus on sharing our pictures from Hawaii. So without further ado, here are the pictures. And don't worry, I'll write more about our trip and Thanksgiving later.

UPDATE: Sometime between last night and this morning, it would appear that the internet gremlins had their way with our Hawaii pictures site. You can access the site but none of the pictures will load. I don't know what happened, but I won't be able to fix it until I get home from work tonight. Check back later tonight or tomorrow and I'll let you know when I have things back up and running. Sorry.

UPDATE: All fixed. Everything is up and running here. If you tried viewing the site earlier and you are still having trouble seeing the pictures, clear your browser cache and refresh the page. That should clear up any technical difficulties.

Ikkyu

2007-11-07T03:54:57Z

It's been about ten months now since I first started to study the martial art of iaido. I have certainly come a long way in that time, but what I really have managed to learn is that there is so much more to know — and that's why individuals devote a lifetime to studying even just one style of iaido. I myself study two styles and I'm happy to say that I have achieved the rank of ikkyu (pronounced EE-Q) in Muso Shinden. When I tested, it was a complete surprise. I nearly botched it as got increasingly nervous and stiffened up but, somehow I showed enough aptitude to pass (either that or my sensei felt sorry for me). Ikkyu is the first of six rankings before I reach the first black belt or "dan" level — I have a long way to go.

And I Ran...

2007-11-04T20:02:25Z

...actually, no I didn't. But, I watched about 40,000 other people do it. In case you didn't know, this weekend was the annual New York City Marathon. With the course running through all five boroughs, the city pretty much shuts down to accommodate the runners with many of the locals heading out-of-doors to root the athletes on. This year, I headed out to my usual spot on 106th Street and 5th Avenue, hoping to catch my friends John, Rick and Pete accomplish something that I have neither the inclination nor the willpower to do — run 26.2 miles. If you've ever tried to pick 3 people out of a large crowd, you know it can be difficult. Now imagine finding 3 people out 40,000 as they steadily and quickly stream past you down a 3 lane road. Rick managed to get past me but, I did find John and Pete. Yes, my life is hard. Congratulations to you guys, and to everyone who ran this weekend.