Christmas Portrait 2010



Yearly Christmas portrait (click on any pix for larger version/slideshow). Only took 61 shots to get this one. Amazing how hard it is to get three kids to look at the camera and smile. Or at least look near the camera. Big brother Dylan gets the prize for being the most patient of all four of us.

For example:


     

The $250.00 Altoids tin

The $250.00 Altoids tin

The downstairs toilet has been either blocked or *very* slow flushing for the past few weeks: Preston flushed “a box” down it. Hmm.

I’ve been using a plunger periodically, but mostly we haven’t used it much. We figured it would eventually disintegrate. It wasn’t improving so the plumber came by today and had to remove the toilet to get to the blockage.

The Altoids tin was definitely not going to disintegrate (soon).

Maya Calendar for September 25, 2010

2012 Science and Prophecy of the Ancient Maya (showing glyph date on left)
2012 Science and Prophecy of the Ancient Maya (showing glyph date on left)

2012 Science and Prophecy of the Ancient Maya Last Saturday I went to an all-day symposium, “Under Cover of Darkness: The Meaning of Night in Ancient Mesoamerica” sponsored by the Pre-Columbian Society of Washington, D.C. While there, Professor Mark Van Stone was signing copies of his book, “2012: Science & Prophecy of the Ancient Maya. What was really neat is that he signed my copy by writing the current date in Maya glyphs. Really neat!


maya date glyphs
maya date glyphs

Los Lonely Boys at RamsHead Annapolis

Jojo Garza of Los Lonely Boys
Jojo Garza of Los Lonely Boys


Tuesday night I went to see Los Lonely Boys at Ram’s Head in Annapolis, MD. They sounded great! I really enjoyed the concert – the three brothers definitely put on a good show. They only played about an hour and 20 minutes, with no opening band. The short concert may be due to the bass player/lead singer Jojo having some problems with his vocal cords (the band appears to have cancelled some dates last month due to medical issues). But I certainly didn’t notice anything wrong with his voice! I do hope all is well. Definitely a band worth seeing live.

Los Lonely Boys
Los Lonely Boys

Los Lonely Boys
Los Lonely Boys

Mrs. Kemble’s Tempest at Baltimore Shakespeare Festival

Last Saturday Kirsten and I went to see Mrs. Kemble’s Tempest, a play by Tom Ziegler and directed by Lee Mikeska Gardner. We absolutely loved it! This coming weekend is the final weekend. Grab tickets and go, you won’t be disappointed. It is basically a one-woman play (Kimberly Schraf plays Mrs. Kemble).

The Fascinating story of Fanny Kemble; one of the most famous actresses to grace the 19th century American stage, an early feminist, and abolitionists. This evening is her farewell tour, as her extraordinary solo performance of the Tempest interweaves with episodes from her own tempestuous life. –(from www.baltimoreshakespeare.org)

Mrs. Kemble's Tempest
Kimberly Schraf as Mrs. Kemble in Mrs Kemble's Tempest

There is another actor (no speaking role, but very good) who plays the part of Mrs. Kemble’s onstage pianist. Ms. Schraf was just wonderful; I’m always amazed when an actor can pull off a single-person play like this. How do they ever memorize the whole shebang? Anyway, I was mesmerized by the story and the acting.

The venue itself is great – an old church (St. Mary’s in Baltimore) with good acoustics and seating.

Mrs Kemble's Tempest
Mrs Kemble's Tempest at the Baltimore Shakespeare Festival