The Master of Narration

We headed to the Hippodrome last night for Brian Regan's comedy show. It was fantastic! Talk about narration...this guy is one of the best storytellers around. I've seen him on Comedy Central a few times, but live, he is unstoppable. My cheeks hurt after the show because I was doubled over with laughter throughout his entire bit. Think about how hard it must be to memorize a series of jokes. In addition, you have to read your audience each night and decide which jokes you're going to pull out of your magic hat. The delivery is also key. You can't just stand on stage and let jokes spew from your lips. You have to have good expression, feeling, and gestures. Brian Regan had it all...outstanding show.

No Offense or Anything...

The monthly parent mailing was to go out today. It's a pretty routine project. I include the school lunch menus, the calendar of events, various announcements, etc. But this month, our Head Master is including a letter to the parents.

Did you know that it can take up to four days to draft a one page letter? We have to be so careful. We can't offend anyone, so we must choose our words appropriately and pick over every single phrase, sentence, and paragraph. I have come to the conclusion that we could work on a letter for the entire school year, and it would still be offensive to someone. What if we just sent it out? What if we didn't proofread the letter for hours on end, wasting precious time and eyesight? What if eight people out of the 500 on our mailing list were offended? Would it be so bad? Would our annual fund numbers drop? Would people pull their kids out of school? Would we be the topic of discussion in the carpool line? In my opinion....NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! Yes, we should have proper grammar and all, but say what you want to say! Be upfront. Get your point across. Don't sweat the small stuff!

Thanks for letting me vent. The day has been full of frustration. And...the mailing did not go out. WHOHOO!!

Road Trip

This past Saturday, my boyfriend and I went to the outlets in Hagerstown for some Spring shopping. If you've never made the trip, it is well worth it. You can find great deals on shoes, purses, jewelry, furniture...my bank account takes a major hit every time we go!

Anyway, let me get to the point of this story. We were craving Burger King fries, so we pulled off of the interstate to grab a quick bite. The minute I walked through the front door I knew this fast food experience was going to be like no other. Have you ever seen a themed BK? I haven't, so I was overwhelmed by the 50s diner I had just entered. The booths were shaped liked cadillacs with sprawling pink leather seats. The ceiling was covered with neon records and the music was blaring from the juke box. Kids were dancing, parents were singing...I could not get over it! I felt like I was at a sock hop. My boyfriend said, "Do you think this is where people hang out on Friday nights?" Since we seemed to be in the middle of nowhere, I'd have to say his estimation is not too far off! This BK diner would never survive in Baltimore, but I think the people in this western Maryland town couldn't survive without it!

What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas...

It's Friday!! I've gotten up early every morning (damn job), but I haven't done an ounce of school work all week...how liberating!

I stuck around Baltimore for Spring Break (here comes that damn job thing again), but I did book a trip to Vegas for Memorial Day weekend! The vacation can't come soon enough!

Real-Life Sopranos

Tell me a good story, and I'll be enthralled for hours. It's interesting to hear other people's life experiences. It entertains me and allows me to look at things differently.

I chose "The Enforcer" for my example of narration. This book is about Nicky Spilotro, the Chicago mob boss who represented the Windy City in Vegas. The story is told by William F. Roemer, Jr., an FBI agent who disabled the Chicago mob in the late 70s. He dealt with organized crime for nearly 30 years, and his first-hand accounts of this sleezy lifestyle make the book come alive. I couldn't put it down. It was suspenseful, intruiging, and at times, downright scary. Here is an excerpt:

"Anthony, called Tony by his neighbors, attended Burbank Elementary School, not St. John Bosco, the Catholic School in the neighborhood. Later, the nuns at St. John Bosco would be happy he had not been one of theirs, though perhaps it would have made a difference.

But six boys were a lot to look after and take care of, even if Patsy and Antoinette hadn't owned a restaurant that required much of their attention. Several of their sons began spending time with the wrong crowd, with older boys who had more money and glamour than those who were harder-working and law-abiding. The allure of the easy life was there, and young impressionable boys like Tony Spilotro were taken in by it. Slowly, he chose to be corrupted."

Who Let the Dogs Out

I tried to resist the temptation as long as I could, but I am caving to the pressure. It seems like our class is full of cat people, so I'm changing it up a bit with a photo of my dog. His name is Scooter and he is a seven year old pug. He has a personality all his own, and is the true alpha male. He loves to sun himself on warm Spring days and could be considered a master-sleeper. Scooter's favorite foods are cheese, peanuts, and Fisher's popcorn.

iFrustrated with iMovie

This project is testing my patience, my nerves, and my brain. Taking the photos and selecting the music was clearly the easy part. Now, I'm struggling to drag my butt to the Graphics Lab to wrap things up. I hope this process works smoothly, but I have a feeling I'm going to hit some speed bumps along the way. Oh well, if it doesn't kill me, it will make me stronger!

1000 Words

Images have power. Some photographs and illustrations can stand on their own. No words are needed to accompany them. The message is clear and it stirs the emotions of the viewer.

None of us will ever forget the horrific events of 9/11. The imagery is burned into our brains. These photos are just two examples of how people reacted that day. Civilians were running for their lives and wanted to reach a safe place as quickly as possible. The emergency and fire crews of New York City did just the opposite. They faced the crisis head-on and marched into the debris to help recover anyone they could find.

Spring Fever

What a gorgeous day! I escaped from work a few hours early and headed to Miami Beach. Did you know we have our own Miami Beach right here in Baltimore County? It is located at the end of Bowley's Quarters Road and it is worth the trip. We put our flip-flops on, we grabbed a loaf of bread, and we headed to the beach to feed the seagulls, play in the sand, and dip our toes into the chilling waters! What a day! I hope Spring is here to stay!

Don't Be "That Guy"

I went to a seminar tonight which was supposed to help me find free lance work, but instead taught me how to find a job in the corporate arena through networking. It was helpful, but it was not exactly what I signed up for.

Funny story...you know when you're sitting in class (or a seminar, in this case) and without fail, there is always "that guy" who has to raise his hand and ask another question or broadcast his brilliance to the crowd? Well, tonight was no exception. The person sitting next to me felt the need to comment on damn near everything the speaker had to say. Whether it was a question or a clarification, it wouldn't stop. It got to the point where it was comical. You saw that hand go up in the air and you knew something ridiculous was about to be said! The best line of the night was, "I've been in therapy for years and I've learned never to take criticism personally." Wow!!

To give you a better idea of what the therapist has to deal with...this person reached into a bag half way through the talk, pulled out a packet of Nicorette gum....AND a retractable box cutter!!! In case you are wondering, it was used to cut the piece of gum from its plastic compartment...SCARY! I decided to keep my facial expressions and my snickering to a minimum after that.

Could this be an idea for our narration project?

What's the Word Dirty Bird

When we were asked to come up with a list of our favorite words, I immediately thought of the ones I hate! Here they are:

• Creamy
• Crusty
• Lucious

These words sound gross to me, and I have stricken them from my vocabulary!

Now for some language I love:

NOUNS

• Adventure
• Perspective
• Cinnamon
• Infinity
• Anonymity
• Humdinger
• Independence
• Ecstasy
• Inspiration
• Matriculation
• Phenomenon
• Gratification
• Irony
• Hilarity
• Stamina

ADJECTIVES

• Delicious
• Tantalizing
• Breathtaking
• Savory
• Stellar
• Rich
• Beauteous
• Ubiquitous
• Vivacious
• Scandalous
• Superfluous
• Idealistic
• Delectable
• Satisfying

VERBS

• Manhandle
• Abhor
• Circumvent

My Own Worst Enemy

Most of us are in the communications field, right?!? Whether it is graphic arts, web design, writing, or editing, we pay attention to some things other people may never consider. I find myself critiquing magazine layouts, solicitations, direct mail pieces, billboards...the list never ends. Why can't I just look at a piece of design and see it for what it is instead of immediately ripping it to shreds? Why can't I just let it be? ANSWER: Because I'm critical...or anal...or crazy...or my own worst enemy...pick one!

I got a capital campaign solicitation piece in the mail yesterday. Should I give money to my elementary school? Oh sure! But first, let me analyze the layout, ponder the color choice, examine the resolution of the photos, and decide whether or not I like the font choice. WHO DOES THIS??? You guessed it...I do!