The Owl & The Palm Frond

It's hard to distinguish between each visit down to what my friends call "South Beach". They can be very routine and therefore blur into one another. But I have a feeling that this one will stand out, for numerous reasons. Possible, potential numerous reasons that are yet to be divulged.

A lovely sight at Newark airport. You'd be crazy to give up this life of travel.

Anyhow, Lopez & Matt picked me up from the uncharacteristically frigid Miami airport at 1am, which was already a change from Daniel or Alex being 2 hours late in the blistering January heat, so that was nice. And spending some time catching up with two of my favorite people was also a pleasure, even if it was semi-comatose at 4am over black berry Red Stag.

This is a rare photo of Lopez's face. He thinks photos steal your soul and usually covers his face. I am serious.

I was there to teach tho, and early Saturday afternoon that's just what I did. Braddock's putting a show about the last hours of Jesus on the floor this year. Pretty heavy material, but I didn't let it weigh me down. I had my very first "WWJD" moment and all of the sudden I was halfway thru the rifle feature. Amen.

Daniel showed up late Saturday evening from his HS to approve my displays of mediocrity, and I got to make some jokes with my kindred spirit Keith, a pasttime I will miss once it's gone.

Once it's out of me, I'm pretty much done, so I spent the remainder of the rehearsals snapping some shots around the school including a session with a little silver owl who may or may not have threatened my life.

Mark, Daniel & I saw a film Sunday night; Up in The Air. While it was ultimately just a little disappointing in the end, I can't help but feel that the defeatist motif throughout put a slight damper on the rest of our evening. I tried to lighten the mood by posing with Alvin, Simon & Theodore, but to no avail.

When that didn't work I had to pull out the big guns and abduct a fallen palm frond from the parking lot and present it to Daniel as a gift. Getting it home in the already crowded 2-door was a challenge, but we proved were up to it after a red light transition from passenger window to sunroof without even unbuckling.

And I think it really ties together the room.

What's that? You wanna know if I had Chicken Kitchen?

It's the only reason I go.

It Was Bright, This Morning

It wasn't really.

It still isn't.

I watched Public Enemies this morning, the John Dillinger film. It was good but I was distracted, by planes & snow & not really wanting to watch a movie, even tho I did.

I'm off to Miami this weekend. Only gonna feel like two days since I'm leaving so late. Late flight tonight, early Monday, but at least it's JetBlue. Maybe they'll have a film worth watching. Maybe I'll sleep. Maybe I'll start that book. Maybe I'll be home safe & quick.

Since it may nearing my last visit to teach down on South Beach, maybe I'll try to actually make the most of it, get out to Coral Castle or maybe step foot on the beach. In all the times I've been down there I've never gotten so much as a grain of sand between my toes. Hmm.

Bring The Water To Horse

Since I didn't go to Miami...

I made my own.

For Yonder Breaks A New And Glorious Morn

I have been busy lately. Catching a flight down to Miami to teach for the weekend and into Monday and then finishing up some shopping on the way home from the airport, coming home to get ready for Dani & Vic's arrival and then the blissfully inevitable Christmas celebration begins. Christmas cards went out this morning and finishing touches being put on decor about the house, all to make sure our guests and ourselves have the holliest jolliest frigin Christmas weekend.

So why am I sitting here at my computer?

I didn't go. I decided it would be in my best interest to stay home and not deal with the oncoming snow blizzard. I had planned on just going, I even checked in this morning online ($25 for extra legroom on JetBlue) but when i got a text from my sister drawing my attention to the fact that Cadets were canceling their weekend camp, I thought again. Cadets would rehearse in a meteor shower. This may be bad. I had a brief conversation with Daniel and the decision was made. I'm staying here. The last thing I wanted was to be stranded in Miami for the holiday or get home late and miss my family visit.

So here I am. I'll be here all weekend folks. Not planning on going out. The shopping is done now. I took advantage of my new freedom today and finished that off. Town is gonna get crazy next week and I don't wanna see it.

Ya wanna know what I got Laura for Christmas tho?

I re-organized the refrigerator and the cupboards..

Not impressed? You should've seen the before picture.

And then I made her this delicious dessert...

Those are fresh berries yo! I know right! Best husband ever! I'm kidding. I'll have a couple real gifts under the tree. Mainly stuff that I want but I can pretend I got it for her. You know how that works.

Anyhow.. Sorry Daniel.

Tomorrow is a new day.

Miami Is.... And That's What I Want

Always a trip, literally & figuratively when I gotta teach down in Miami, once again, the least likely place I am ever to be found on a vacation, road trip or anything concerning travel on my own volition. The shiny cars, the fancy style, the heat, it's everything I care not to concern myself with. But duty calls. Someday I gotta screen that call.

CHAYCE!!!

He's gotten so big. And he's talking and asking lots of questions. Granted no one can understand him but that doesn't stop him. He really is too cute and a handful I'm sure. Nothing April & Marcos can't handle tho. At least he's taking an early interest in sports.

Here's the crew outside Ale House Friday night.

Then we went to Focal Point to watch Michael's dance class
where Chayce also took over the dance floor.

Saturday mornings are always a little rough.

But when we smell Marcos cooking breakfast it gives
us that boost we know we'll need to make it thru the day.

Spent a little time being creeped out by Chayce's vast array of Elmo toys.

And then took a quiet moment to reflect on just why I come
down here so often, and what I am doing with this life.

Taught the kids a ton of counts and I gave myself a wicked blood blister.

For the evening we headed to Bahama Breeze for dinner. The grilled peppers stuffed with goat cheese was delectable. And for an entree I had the mango butter pan seared salmon. Eating healthy, here come the holidays.

But this is the real reason I visit Miami.

The genius chop-chop chefs...

And mustard curry to die for.


Now I can't wait to go back, but if someone can find me a recipe for this mustard curry, maybe I can save Braddock some money.

The Winter Kickstart

I've filled up the iPod with all sorts of new thrills and I'm off to Miami to kickstart another impending winter season full of drama, intrigue, mayhem and apathy. I do enjoy spending time with that crew, Daniel, April and Greg is coming down this weekend so it promises to be good times. Daniel & I usually teach a little, watch as many movies as we can and eat Chicken Kitchen for breakfast, lunch & dinner. I don't see anything wrong with that come to think of it. Mmmmmmmmmmmmmustard-curry.

Bring on winter!!

Only In Frigin Miami

Had to jet off to Miami again last weekend. Early flight after a late night celebrating Mom's birthday. Pretty exhausted. Marc was down so I knew we'd be battling for time, which we were. He won. Of the 10 or so hours of rehearsal Saturday I taught maybe 4 minutes and then none at all on Sunday. So I kinda felt bad I didn't get anything taught but... it was more important for them to finish with Marc. I go back first weekend of the new year so...

But I did get to have a flat tire. Daniel had to go to a circuit meeting so I drove back with Marc and about a half mile from Daniel's place *POP! flat tire. Sucked, but it was kinda funny.

We later joked that I flew all the way to Miami to change a tire. Good times. Only in Miami tho.

'Bout 2 Git Bizzy

Yeah sometimes I dabble in ebonics. Wut ov it?

But seriously folks, I am about to get busy. Not busy like a DJ on the turntables or a rapper on the mic who rocks the mic right. Just good ol' fashioned busy. This may be one of the busiest November/Decembers in recollection. I just got back from Miami, and I got a few days here, but then I go, and hopefully by the time Christmas rolls around I will be welcoming those tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy, O tidings of comfort and joy.

Breaking it down

• Nov. 21-23 in Philadelphia
• Nov. 27 Thanksgiving in NJ
• Nov. 28-Dec. 3 London
• Dec. 4-8 Xmas in Georgia
• Dec. 11-14 in Miami
• Dec. 18-21 in Alabama
• Dec. 24 & 25 CHRISTMAS!!
• Dec. 26-28 back to Miami

I should just set up a bed at the airport terminal.


Add to this, pretty much every Tuesday & Thursday I'm in town I'll be over at ESHS doing my thing. Hope I make it. Eggnog & yule logs can't come fast enough.

A New & Improved Miami

Back from Miami. Actually got back Monday. Today's Thursday. Told you it takes me a long time to recover from going there. This time be no exception.

The weekend was somewhat different from my usual hum-drum visits to the sunshine state. This time there was a new director, a new convention, a new bed in a new house every night, and a new baby. Alot to cram into 3 days.

Let's start with Chayce.



Aprils baby boy Chayce. Probably one of the most well behaved babies I know, but I don't know too many so.... but he is damn cute. Seems like everyone I know is having a baby nowadays. It's one of those "getting older" quotas everyone seems to fill. April & Marcos are so happy & they're great with him; shocker. Happy family of three.

I was happy as always to see Daniel. Here we are hugging hello at the airport.



Daniel has taken over Braddock so that's exciting. I been helping him out with his show this season. We decided on using Radiohead music. I think it could be very cool. Let's see how it turns out. The team was their normal rowdy selves. They learned a nice chunk o' work to 'Where Bluebirds Fly' Friday & Saturday out in the blistering heat, and Marc is down staging it this weekend. Coming together.



Sunday morning came. We were at Aprils so she made us a delicious breakfast, as is tradition there.



Michael had asked me to participate in his Project Spin convention, and that went off really well. Lots of kids, lots of spinning and dancing, and a little surprise performance by Amanda Taes Focal Point dancers. Pretty awesome. Makes me wish I kept my jazz shoes.



Project Spin 2008

Sleepy-Headed Sum-Up

I'm home. A day late, but no worse for the wear. But I'm going on next to no sleep so I'm gonna summarize.

Left April's Tuesday to stay with Daniel in Coral Springs. Fun fact for all you trivial pursuit geeks; it's illegal to cut down trees in Coral Springs. Anyhow, there to teach Stoneman Douglas. Good kids, internal issues.


Here's Daniel in what can only be described as a "sultry pose"


Michael sleeping at Stoneman near a duck


A Stoneman Douglas runthru

I was also in town to teach the all too adorable West Boca collective. Those girls are a little off. They're nutso, but nutso is better than contemptuous so I didn't mind one bit. Plus I gotta to teach with my favorite Cadet ever Allison Dinsmore.


Emily, Michelle & Christina from West Boca

We managed to get over to Amy Hernandez's for an evening of Domino's and Wii, so what could have been better than that. Amy is always entertaining and this evening proved to be no disappointment.


Amy & Daniel are B.F.F.


My Mii (handsome huh?)

Then it was back to Braddock. Marc was in town so this was going to be an interesting weekend. And it was. A relatively counter-productive 14 hour Saturday rehearsal followed by an amazingly efficient 3 hour rehearsal Sunday, that guard is crazed.


Alex performs a feat of strength


A lone flag spins

Mario & Monica drove me to airport, but due to the possibility of a massive storm up north, late flights were cancelled, and I walked into a swarm of angry vacationers clamoring to bump up to an earlier flight. I was standby so I knew I wasn't going anywhere. Luckily my bestest bud from back in Boston, Hayden, lived just near the airport and he & Monica came & picked me up. So after a harrowing ordeal, near riots, and the inept JetBlue staff almost sending my luggage home without me, I was let loose on the South Florida streets again.
Hayden & I went to a grocery store where we bought macaroni & cheese, chicken strips, and flirted with the bakery lady for free cookies & donuts. We then returned home to wax poetic about our days past and watch Adult Swim.


Hayden enjoying his free cookie

All in all, good week, saw lotsa people this time, that's always the goal. It's retarded how many people I know down there. Miami, probably the most unlikely place in this world that I would desire to visit.