The Daily News

1   Bang, zoom. Xanga readers, take heed. I don't know why my Xanga DN is working like a ticker-tape, traveling all the way across the page, but I'm trying to figure out which button or gizmo I need to push in order to right it.

2   I wish I could always report that everything is hunky-dory around here, but once in a while, tensions mount, and we have pressure before deadlines. That happened at rehearsal yesterday. I just had been a bit frustrated that people seemed to be lagging, and had some words with the cast. I wound up walking out of the rehearsal. I literally got shaken, like vibrating shaken, and needed to get away from the place.

3  It isn't rare at all that when it gets close to show time, tensions sometimes mount. I can't help feeling that one or two of us had tensions anyway. Hopefully, we could all re-group, shake it off, and move forward. Very rare that it would go to the lengths it did yesterday, but as I said, it is probably more than just the Show.

4  That happens sometimes in Theatre. People think it's easy, but it is a REAL pressure cooker right before showtime. Fortunately, this Cast has a lot of character.

5  After I left, the Cast pulled together. They realized a universal Truth about show business: the Show must go on. The Show is bigger than each individual part, or each indidual's needs, and that includes the director.

6  When I got home, I collapsed from total exhaustion.

7  Fortunately for me, my daughters were visiting, and we wound up laughing, singing, and dancing in my living room, just like the old days. I was able to relax, re-group, and realize that I need to bounce back instantly with as much a flourish as one could muster. All things considered, I believe I was able to do that.

8  Of course, any time there is tension, it takes time to make things right. I intend to take care of that today, as soon as possible, beginning with an apology to the entire cast for first losing my temper, then for walking away from the rehearsal without any loud announcement.

9  I had intended to go back, but I ALWAYS  go back in, and this time, I let it continue. It was a gamble, I will admit. I gambled the entire first weekend that the Cast and Crew of this Show actually had enough character to go forth with the rehearsal, make adjustments, and be heroes for me. The thing about this Show is that the Cast and Crew and entire Company has gotten along really well throughout. Sometimes kids might get frustrated here or there, but there was definitely a nice bond on this Show, and yesterday was just stress.

10  The Company came through. They rehearsed the entire Show without me, and my reports from Jose are that it was a wake-up call, and everyone was more alert and focused, which was what I needed to begin with. They had been doing fine, but seemed distant and unfocused on the reality that there is an opening night on Friday night. THAT was the reason I originally began some butt-kicking that was clearly needed.

11 So it looks like all systems go, hopefully no hard feelings; I was able to pull away from it all and get some perspective, and things righted themselves.

12  I gambled, and hopefully, this time, won. And when I win, the Show wins. I may need to make a few adjustments today, but if my reports were good, then we should open not only on time, but with a unified, bonded group. Jose said that the kids actually got WAY closer.

13  Well, I hate to point to sports all the time, but many Championship teams have won when there are words in the clubhouse. Quite often, it's because EVERYONE wants the Championship, and they realize that the TEAM is more important than any individuals, including the coaches.

14  Lesson learned.

15  Go to the play; it is really good, and funny, and sad, and soulful.

16  Opening night is TOMORROW night, not tonight, at 8.

17  And to my wonderful Company of A Love Letter, I love all you guys. You've all worked hard and put your hearts into this project. Now let's take it home.

18  Peace.

The Daily News

1   Sometimes you could work and work and then find that all your work was for almost nothing.

2   This happened to me last night when I was writing the DN.

3  I was talking about how I had come in on Saturday and gotten into the P.A. office, put on some very beautiful piano music, and then began looking at all the stuff on the walls, and then reminiscing, and even, dare I say, getting a tad sentimental.

4  As my old mate Paul McCartney used to say: "It's allowed..."

5  I was doing the sound show for our upcoming evening of one-acts entitled A Love Letter, when this gorgeous piano music came through the office, sad, sweet, and soulful.

6  I had what you might call, a moment...we all have 'em. EVERYTHING caught up with me, and I must say! Whew.

7  The walls almost began telling the history of the Drama Workshop, and of everything I have ever experienced, and this was all in a half-hour period of time.It overwhelmed me, and I soon found myself going into my bag, and taking pictures of every single thing hanging on the office wall.

8  I then took all the pictures home, and began assembling today's DN with them. I originally had around twenty some pictures of the office, and it was going to be sent out to all the alumni, just so they could see that the old place still pretty-much looks the same.

9  It took all night last night, to wait for each picture to load, to spin around, to take time, and THEN I put it together in a sort of scrapbook form.

10 Unfortunately, it didn't work on the public preview. It made the Xanga site on which the DN appears HUGE, beyond belief. So after about three hours of work, I had to flush it all, and start again.

11  Oh, well!! I was simply trying to let people know that this Friday and Saturday nights, the Drama Workshop presents A Love Letter, and evening of one-act plays, at 8 p.m. I wanted to get across to everyone that on Saturday night, I was alone in the P.A. office, working on a slide show and a sound show, when it all got to me, and all.

12  I guess nobody will ever really know what happened, but it was what they call a sort of catharsis.

13  It was a lovely half-hour...I remembered every Show, and all the laughs and wonder of that office came to me at once, and I felt wonderful. Sometimes, the past is a great place to hang out. I remembered back to nearly every Show ever, every hokey-pokey, every Fair show, and every laugh, cry, and tear ever shed for the Workshop, and it was wonderful.

14  That's it.

15  That all happened, just like I said.

16  Enjoy your day.

17  Peace.

The Daily News

1   It's sort of funny. I now put the DN up on a Xanga, which is the modern equivalent to the village square, where it is hung out there for all to see and admire. Xanga is this relatively new phenomena, having come to its peak sometime at the end of summer, '03. I always thought it was pretty charming, because it gives all the kids an opportunity to put feelings, emotions, artwork, poetry, pictures, and all the rest out there for all to see.

2  I jumped into one of those a couple of years ago, because I had been doing the Daily News since 1996 anyway, so it's basically the same thing, only EVERYBODY is doing them. It's fun being the only teacher out there with the nerve to do that. Hey, as I said, I always DID do this!

3  The reason it's sort of funny, though, is that when I go back and check my old entries, Xanga decides to replace my original pictures with my new ones. So last night, for example, I wanted to go re-visit my entry about the Senior Sunrise, because it was such a fun, lovely day, and it had a picture of the Freshmen Spriit Week! Right smack, dab in the middle of my CAREFULLY chosen pictures was a picture of the Freshmen! Ya gotta love it!

4  So Xanga needs to shape up a little in that area. Otherwise, it's a real kick to read all the fun stuff kids write about. A couple of years ago, it was the absolute RAGE, but it's tamed down somewhat. I still thoroughly enjoy throwing stuff up there on the DN each day. It takes time, but it's fun. Gives people something to goof on each day, and the alumni are still getting news from the front lines here in the Performing Arts building.

5  Speaking of which, I was busily sketching out the sound show for our upcoming night of one-acts, A Love Letter the night before last, when I began taking pictures of...well...things. Things in the P.A. office; things that have been in there since I first came into the building a long, long time ago. I was listening to some beautifully sad piano pieces, and just started looking at all the stuff on the walls, and the memories came to me, and I turned stupidly sentimental, which I have been known to do a lot lately.

6  As my mate Paul McCartney said when he got a bit choked up at his Back in the USSA dvd, "It's allowed..."

7  I coasted over the pictures that have always been up there: the weird clown guy with the ducks for hands, the somber painting of Charlie Chaplin, and that sort of mime person sitting on that half-moon, among other things. And I looked at all the programs of shows, and the music played and played, and I guess you could say I just had a moment.

8  It's allowed.

9  I thought of all the laughs, and of all the good days, with lovers and friends I still can recall...

10  Yeah, that was for you.

11  And to be honest, I found it hard to think of the bad times, because the good times smiled all over me, and I thoroughly enjoyed all of it: every Under-the-Clock, every hokey-pokey, every Fair Show, and every flower and hug, all of it.

12  A Love Letter is a salute to all of  you, to everyone who ever had a lovely moment in this building. It's one acts, yes, but it has a special feel to it this year. We play this Friday night at 8, our Opening Night, and it goes Saturday, and then Thursday through Saturday next weekend as well. I hope you can all go.

13  Curtain at 8, even though we don't have curtains!

14  And for your viewing pleasure: the essence of the Drama Workshop!! <applause, applause!>

15  Peace.

 

a love letter.

begins friday.

peace.

The Daily News

1  So...H. David Dalquist walks into a bar...

2  Oh...he's the guy who invented the Bundt pan, the most popular selling pan on the planet. Heart failure, 86. Done deal.

3  Bundt pans are those pans with the sort of stem in the middle, like a bell pepper. For whatever reason, in 1950, this guy thought it would be REALLY cool to make a pan for the Minneapolis chapter of the Hadassah Society. The purpose of the pan was that the folds would make really swell, easy-to-cut slices of cake, to feed large groups.

4  Although they had been around for sixteen years, the Bundt pans never really took off, until 1966 when some gal from Texas took a second place in the Pillsbury Bake-Off with a thing called a Tunnel of Fudge cake, featured in a Bundt pan. From that point on, no kitchen would be caught without one..

5  Okay, THAT story was buried on page 9A of yesterday's Mercury, which is where I get about 30% of the nonsense you see on these pages. I thought it was great that some reporter guy actually got SENT to Edina, Minnestota, to cover the passing away of the now immortal H. David Dalquist.

6  But REALLY, I figured the Tsunami relief, and that story gets sort of heavy after a while, and I searched the paper for something a little lighter, and came upon this article that was, arguably, THE most useless piece of news so far this year. What MAKES it news it the fact that it actually got into the paper in the first place!

7  J. Jonah Jameson would have SCREAMED at his entire staff for coming in with a story like that. Perry White would have been flabbergasted! Yet, there it was. Gotta love it.

8  I was actually perched and ready to send you news of the incoming Perfect Storm, a convergence of THREE powerful storms that were to slam into heart of America this weekend, but suddenly, THAT story has petered out as well.

9  I was GOING to talk about the 49ers' firings of General Manager Terry Donahue and Head Coach Dennis Erickson, but I really couldn't think of anything except that the firing of Donahue was long overdue, and the firing of Erickson premature. John York, the 49ers idiotic owner, seemed to think that the 49ers could possibly lure USC Coach Pete Carroll into the 49er's fold. Carroll just won his second national title the other day, and USC this year was the real deal. So I imagine there is nothing he would rather do than to switch winning careers and move north to coach a team that won two games this season, making them the LOSINGEST team in franchise history. I know I'D wanna jump on board.

10 But all that PALED in comparison to the passing of H. David Dalquist, inventor of the Bundt cake pan.

11  Let's see <tap, tap, tap>. Anything else? Oh yeah, German model Heidi Klum is engaged to Seal. Does that mean her name will be Heidi Seal? If you ask me, that guy sort of LOOKS like a seal. Great pipes though. Still, he looks like he oughta get fat like me and bark out on a pier in Fisherman's Wharf, rather than marrying that Klum girl.

12  What else...oh...the Show, next Friday and Saturday, and the following Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

13  Oh, my, my. Oh my, my. Can you boogie? Can you fly?

14  afdlafjsdkjsdkfj.

15  One time, someone mailed me an e-mail with something like that on it, you know, when you can't think of what the heck to write, so you just sort of tap the keys arbitrarily, and I was so bored that I put it up on google, just to see what came up. Believe it or not, it led to about twenty different websites.

16  The internet is so fun, and WEIRD. To me, the WEIRDEST thing is how fast yahoo maps could pop up with perfect directions to places. How does that happen?  I mean, I'm pretty amazed with MOST things computers can do for you, like take eighteen years to load things, freeze to the point of my wishing to throw the thing into the parking lot, to e-mails timing out and disappearing, and all sorts of OTHER things that make me jump up and down like Hitler, cursing and crying and screaming and going crazy and...

17  Well, I tend to think I have been rambling here for a while, so I think I'll bow out gracefully. When you start writing long pieces about the death of a cake-pan inventor, and ending with Hitler analogies, it's time to pull the plug.

18   Peace.

                                                         

19  STOP THE PRESSES!!! You know how they say be very careful about what you wish for, because you just might get it? So I went for a ride to Starbuck's last night at around 9:30, came back, parked behind one of my cars in the driveway, helped kids with papers online, and then went to bed around 1:30. This morning, I fought the windnrains of the nasty morning, scrambling quickly across my driveway so I could get the morning Merc, only to find a TICKET on the window of my TUNDRA!!! I got a ticket IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT for parking behind my own car!!! So how about THAT one!! What sort of cold-blooded cop would drive around in the middle of the night giving out tickets????? ESPECIALLY in a guy's own driveway!!!

20  Enjoy the storm...

21  Ha!

 

 

The Daily News

1   It's good to see that there are people in show business who stepped up and helped with relief efforts.  Sandra Bullock donated $1 million dollars to the Red Cross, and word has it that Leo DiCaprio has also pitched into the effort, having donated an undisclosed amount to UNICEF in Thailand, the location of his 2000 film, The Beach. 

2  Of special interest to the rock 'n roll set is the report that the people who run Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Wales have asked U2, Coldplay, and the Darkness to put on a huge benefit concert January 22. That's pretty fast, but an event of this magnitude requires a bit of quickness. That could be one to watch.

3  In Hong Kong, the Merc News reports that ove $50 million was raised as a result of charity concerts, with such notables as Any Lau and Nicolas Tse performing for the cause. Even William Hung, the sour and off-key American Idol loser guy had charity sales of his albums and posters, according to the Apple Daily newspaper.

4  Sharon Osbourne kicked in $190,000 recently, and Willie Nelson heads a relief concert called the Tsunami Relief Austin to South Asia Concert Sunday at the Austin Music Hall.  Performers for that event include Joe Ely, Alejandro Escovedo, Patty Griffin, Bruce Robison, Geezinslaws, and Kelly Willis.  In Hong Kong, Jackie Chan, Jacky Cheung, Andy Lau, and others are getting other Hong Kong stars to do a new rendition of the 1985 African relief song called We Are the World, only a Chinese version entitled simply, Love.

5  And at YB, the Senior Class and the NHS have are already approaching $200. A table set up during lunch yesterday brought in almost $40 in twenty minutes, and that's with us just getting things set up. We intend to step up the efforts today, beginning with a Senior Class meeting that will get word out to the class. Already there will be a table set up at the steps during lunch each day for the next few weeks. Feel free to donate generously. In room P-61, a Tree of Hope is hanging on the wall, and each donation will receive a leaf, as well as a message or poem from each contributer. Come by and add a leaf. We are working on hooking up with Yahoo to see if we could get some matching funds, thanks in large part to alumna Evelyn Huynh.

6  This has seemed a quick week. Usually when we get back after the Christmas holidays, my body and mind go into a severe withdrawal, almost like I have come down from some horrid drug. This year, it was nearly seamless. I actually enjoyed coming back, ready to get going on EVERYTHING. My health came into a bit of question just before we left, nothing huge, but a bit of a warning from my doctor to get the blood pressure down and the blood sugar under control, and to stop over-stressing over things.

7  I backed off, almost stopping the play, and stepping down as Senior Class advisor. I kept the play, but announced to the Senior Class that I might need to stop, that I was going to talk with my family, and then see what happens when I get back.

8  My family put me on a strict diet, and my blood pressure dropped significantly. They also talked of my stress, and concluded that it would be MUCH more stressful for me NOT to do things, and to watch my Seniors from afar, and wish that we had a show in the spring, and to sit quietly as FANTASTICS goes into action, or sitting twiddling my thumbs while on prom night. And finally, watching from behind a fence as my Seniors graduate.

9  They were right. They told me that this is what I love, and to go for it with everything I have. It might not sound like good advice to you, but to me, I was reborn!

10  So I am REALLY looking forward to the next six months! Yeah, the show immediately became a HUGE job yesterday; I had to crank and holler at people, as always. But the kids are coming through for me. My Seniors have already been all over the Tsuanmi Relief effort, as well as getting Grad Nite and Prom rolling this week. I have already begun gathering the music for the musical, and I am very excited about practically everything!!

11 This whole building is going to come alive in almost no time, so hop on the train, and let's take a fun ride through the Springtime.

12  I'm ready, and looking forward to it.

13  More to come...

The Daily News

1   Great photo on page 2A of yesterday's Merc News. I wish I could get it up here, but my computer has gone wonky, which to me, is the PERFECT word for when your computer, well, goes wonky.

2  The photo has John Stamos, you know, Uncle Jessie? with Mary Kate and Ashley, only they now look like a couple of divorcees in the picture. They are cradled under each of his arms, only they have these ha-UGE Jackie Kennedy sunglasses, looking like each is wondering just where the next available nickel is coming from. They are poised in front of Walt Disney World.

3   I stared at it for like, a year yesterday.

4  You got it, d00d.

5   Have you guys seen Bill Clinton lately? His face has hollowed, and he looks like an owl that is trying to give a hoot. I goofed on THAT yesterday too.

6  Whew. Man. Curiouser and Curiouser.

7  Rehearsal for the upcoming One-Acts, A Love Letter, went famously yesterday. While we had some people missing, the show just has SO much soul and sweetness it is utterly becoming a work of art. If you DON'T know, it  is entitled A Love Letter because it is my little play that is me, actually, saying good-bye to all of it: my wonderful Senior Class, my Drama Workshop, and everything I ever loved about that Theatre. I have little tiny messages and songs and things that are being planted in there as a wink and a nudge to the AWESOME alumni, who read this and either chuckle a bit each day, or simply push a quick "delete" each day. But really, it is sad, sweet, humorous, and just turning into a lovely little show.

8  It's been an emotional year, and I think this captures a lot of it, so look to seeing it either next Friday or Saturday, or the following Thursday, Friday, or Saturday nights at 8 p.m. All tickets are $5.00/ $4.00 with ASB card. I do hope you all come and see it.

9  So how was YOUR first day of 2005? We started off with a bang, organizing the Tsunami Relief effort at school, which I am calling the Tree of Hope. Evelyn Huynh, my personal heroine, contacted me immediately yesterday morning about arranging a matching funds deal with Yahoo. Alumni sent e-mails wishing us the best, and offering help and support.  The National Honor Society, under the leadership of the very awesome Nancy Sim, joined in our effort so that we now have a united and eminent front.

10 So be sure to keep an eye out for flyers, posters, tables, and further information as it unfolds. We have a strong army working on this, just another battle in War of Love. It's not easy, but it sure is rewarding!!

11  Snow in them thar hills!!  I absolutely LOVE when it snows on Mt. Hamilton. I have been up there a quite a few times when the sky would break, and it would always just dawn on me that snowflakes would stay on my nose and eyelashes...

12  Which reminds me, hey CHOIR!!! I am not only working on A Love Letter right now; I am ALSO getting geared up for another MUSICAL, beginning sometime in the next few weeks, so clear your after-school boards for a coupla months--the fun is about to begin, and it will be our LAST, and MY last play at Y.B., so let's make it a FUN time!!!

13   Aaron Rodgers of Cal terrified the entire academic community yesterday by announceing he was skipping his Senior year at Cal and go straight to the NFL. This casts a long shadow on the purpose of a college degree for any really talented athlete, really. They don't do that in baseball, so it will be interesting to see how this one plays.

14   Carson City, Nev. (AP) report gave us the story yesterday of the passnig of the last veteran of World War I in Nevada, Reuben Law, 106, who passed away on New Year's Day. In a recent speech, Mr. Law had this to say:

"I've guess seen it all. I've heard it all, I've done it all.
I just can't remember it all."

15   Amen, d00d.  And sometimes, I just can't believe it all.

16  I have so much more to add, but I think I'll just hold off 'til the next time.

17  'Til the next time...

The Daily News

1   "Okay, coffee break's over. Back on your heads!"

                                        --- Punchline to one of those Third-Door of Hell jokes.

2    You could pretty much figure out the rest of the joke just from the punchline.

3    But yeah, we in the education racket INSTANTLY get THAT one every time we have to go through re-entry.

4    The beauty part of a Monday after the day after New Years' Day is that it ISN'T the day after New Years' Day, to me, one of the tackiest nights and mornings of the year.

5   Okay, so it's now 2005!!!! That's pretty special!!!

6   Not so special for Artie Shaw, who walked into a bar. And Shirley Chisholm, and also Bob Matsui. Quite a party.

7   Ka-BLAMMO!!!

8   Well, welcome back everybody. This is going to be PRINTED for the hallway, so let's hear it for the Daily News going BACK UP ON THE PERFORMING ARTS' HALLWAY!!!

9   Okay then!

10  Here's the first item of business:  the Senior Class has begun an effort to raise money to help the victims of the earthquake and Tsunami that struck South Asia on December 26. In room P-61, we have a Tree of Hope. We are asking for donations, which shall immediately go to the Red Cross, and which shall be earmarked for disaster relief. Feel free to donate $1, $5, $20, or whatever you could offer. The tree will be there for at least a month, so you can donate, and then you can donate again. To donate, simply give the money to any Senior Class officer, or get the money over to Mr. H's room, P-61. For further information, check out www.xanga.com/El_Directore.

11  This is not business as usual, so PLEASE think about giving and helping. In our time, this is among the most devastating tragedies ever. I would really like to thank my officers for moving so swiftly on this event, and I would like to encourage everyone to help any way they can.

12  If you've any questions, just ask an Senior Class officer, or ask Mr. H.

13  Thanks a bunch; sometimes things just are bigger than all of us. This is one of those times.

14  In other news, the Fall One-Acts go up next Friday evening beginning at 8 p.m. The One-Acts this year are entitled A Love Letter, and already look absolutely WONDERFUL, with a lot of different types of plays, some sweet, some funny, some sad, but all good, so be sure to mark your calendars. They begin Friday, January 14, and continue Saturday the 15th, and the following weekend, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights. Ticket prices TBA, but shouldn't be too high. There will ALSO be a donation box for the Red Cross on the nights of the play, so let's keep that one out there where it belongs.

15  I hope you all had a wonderful 2004; I had good times, bad times, and sometimes, no times at all, just the New York Times...

16  I'd like to give a shout out to Jenny Valdez, who was baptized into the Church of the Latter Day Saints last night in a special ceremony for her, and her alone. It was very moving, and I would like to congratulate her on choosing a new spiritual path, and to wish her the very best in her new direction. Congratulations, Jenny!

17  I was a tad concerned, however, when the closing song at the ceremony was Nearer My God to Thee, the last song the musicians on the Titanic played just before they went down. Mormons, man. Always with the humor; always with the humor.

18  I was the only guy there in a leather jacket, and NOT on a bicycle.

19  Just kidding!

20  Actually, I pedaled over ON a bicycle, with my tie slapping me in the face the whole way.

21  Anyway, congrats, Jen. And as my good pal Thuy always says, "No cussing!"

22  Okay then, I'm outta here. OH! I LOVED the Winter Concert, guys!!! Choir AND Band almost made me cry, but you can't hurt steel, so yeah...great stuff, a day late and a dollar short over here, but yeah.

23  Okay, so coffee break's...

24  Used that one already. How 'bout this...

25  Peaceout.