PusherPix 11/30/16

Pusherpix
Wednesday, November 30, 2016

Salad bar potluck at work today for a going-away party.

I made a pretty plate of food!

PusherPix 11/29/16

PusherPix
Tuesday, November 29, 2016

Made a Welcome Basket/Survival Kit for the new Assistant Manager

PusherPix 11/28/16

PusherPix
Monday, November 28, 2016

Is this why so many people came in my office today and I got so little else done today?

PusherPix 11/27/16

PusherPix
Sunday, November 27, 2016

Today's goodness from Paradis:  Cold Brew Latte and Stracciatella

I Want A Thunderbird

To catch up on the movies I wanted to see in the theater, I saw "Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them" today.  I guess I got the time wrong for the LFX theater and was there about an hour early, so I went shopping and found a couple of things for Christmas gifts after I bought my ticket.  I was the first to choose my seat.  Yay!    Even after shopping, I was still early, so I sat in the theater as soon as it was available.  I was only alone for a short time before other people sat down.  Then a family sat down right next to me.  No, the theater was NOT full.  Seats were reserved.  What kind of psycho buys seats right next to another person when there are plenty of seats available?  I guess someone that has no issues with personal space.  I mean, the row behind me had plenty of seats available.  Or just leave one seat open between us.  Can you tell that I was annoyed?   I'm just glad they didn't talk during the show.

• I like the title logo. So cool.
• The opening sequence was kind of dizzying with all of the rotations of the newspapers that I wanted to read.  I'm glad that I didn't watch it in 3D.
• I heart Eddie Redmayne.  I really, really do.  This movie made me heart him even more than I did before.  I loved how he always had his head down, especially in the presence of the larger beasts, as he portrays Newt as a humble man.
• "My philosophy is if you worry, you suffer twice."
• There's a wizarding school in the USA.  Cool.  Wish they would have gone to the Tri-Wizard Tournament. I would have liked to see some sassy Ilvermorny Americans in the mix.
• HIPPO!!!!!  (I almost said that out loud in the theater, I was so excited).
• Wait.  One of the songs they played was The Mills Brothers? "Diga Diga Doo" --  I need to listen for it when I see it again.
• I want to eat all of the kinds of baked goods in Jacob's suitcase.  Also in the store.
• "I ain't got the brains to make this up."
• I think my favorite beast was the Thunderbird.  I wouldn't have any space at my house to keep one, though...unless I had a magical suitcase.  I also loved Niffler, but he would just get me into too much trouble with his love for all things shiny.  Demiguise was really cute, but how am I supposed to find him most of the time?  

• Heeeere's Johnny!  :)
• I wonder how Jacob explained the collateral to the banker.

I enjoyed this film, and will probably see it lots of times when it is aired on TV, as I do with all of the Wizarding World films.  I'm looking forward to seeing the sequels!

PusherPix 11/26/16

PusherPix
Saturday, November 26, 2016

Brunch at "our place by your house" today: cinnamon roll French toast combo.  Yum.

High Fiving the Ocean

Bro and family and I saw "Moana" this morning.  Yup, I got to go with my ohana for a Disney movie!  We arrived early and there were plenty of seats available.  The theater filled up, though, and was almost full.

The live action "Beauty and the Beast" trailer made me cry.  I don't know what to make of the "Cars 3" trailer because it looked so real and I kinda freaked out about Lightning McQueen for a little while.  Then the "A Dog's Purpose" trailer played.  That's going to make me cry, isn't it?  

The short that played before the movie was "Inner Workings".  

• He looks like Carl from "Up".
• They showed the bladder while he was in the ocean and my reaction was "Uh oh!" 
• Liked all of the different tombstone scenarios.

On to "Moana".

• Moana has such a cute face!  I love her and her determined personality!
• How was I already crying with her first song?!  Beautiful. Auli-i Cravalho has a gorgeous voice.
• Those rays reminded me of swimming at the sand bar with Jenn.
• "Bang the drum and find out who you are."
• "You're Welcome" -- so very Lin Manuel Miranda, so very cool.  Loved it.
• "You're wearing a nice dress, you've got an animal sidekick -- you're a princess."
• How?  How does that water look so darn REAL? (The regular ocean water, not the Abyss water).
• Moana's Gramma Tala = Pocahontas' Grandmother Willow
• "My name is Moana" = "My name is Inigo Montoya"
• "When you write on an oar with a bird's beak, it's called tweeting."
• I want cute but vicious Kakamora coconuts!  You can make your own.  
• So...does Heihei ever actually eat anything nutritious? 
• Sven!
• Loved the tag at the end of the credits: "If I was named Sebastian and I had a Jamaican accent, you know that you would be helping me out right now."
• Also in the credits: Wreck It Ralph :)

I loved this movie.  I cried about 8 times.  Or 3 times, and the last one was just a long, continous cry.  I couldn't keep track by that time.  Looking forward to getting the soundtrack and learning all of the songs.

My Kakamoji

PusherPix 11/25/16

PusherPix
Friday, November 25, 2016

Got Harold yesterday!

More Than 76 Trombones

SCSBOA 6A Field Show Championships

Citrus College Stadium

Glendora, CA

Saturday, November 19, 2016

I attended the Arcadia Festival of Bands in the morning and we did our tradition of watching the Apache Marching band and listening to the cadence while walking with them back to the high school. 

We only watched some of the other bands.  Bro and the kids had other plans to attend to, so I decided to leave, too, so that I could have lunch and go to Citrus for my volunteer time. I worked the souvenir booth for AFOB, but there wasn't much to sell except programs.  We usually also sell pins and patches, but the vendor got confused and didn't think the event was until next week.  So we pretty much sat at the table while the woman in charge of the pins/patches took orders from folks.  We did put inserts in the programs and sold some, but I wasn't bored because I had the company of other volunteers.  We had pins and patches from previous years, and I saw one from 1988 that said "West Arcadia Band Review" and bought it for nostalgia's sake.  I don't even know if I attended that one because I would have been at college during that time...or I already have this pin.  I don't know. It makes me happy anyway.

Due to my volunteer shift, I missed the first set of bands.

LOS OSOS -- "Over The Moon"

This show reminded me Blue Devils B's 2016 show because of the phases of the moon on their screens.   I like the purple and yellow on the color guard uniforms.  Nice musical dynamics.

RANCHO BUENA VISTA -- "Once Upon a Time..."

Is that cauliflower?  This show is like Blue Devils' 2015 show "Ink" with the storytelling and the huge book from which the CG entered through the pages.  Beautiful flute solo during "Pure Imagination".

RANCHO BERNARDO -- "Hemispheres"

Am I the only one that's tire of hearing "Pure Imagination"? Nice sax solo, though.  Nice rendition of "Young Person's Guide".  Their screens represent the left and right sides of the brain with formulas on one side of the field and colorful patterns on the other.

SAVANNA -- "Weight of the World"

The show seemed short, even though it didn't really interest me.  Oh, it was an original composition, which makes sense now because I didn't recognize the music.  The huge globe reminded me of Blue Knights' Circles show.

ARCADIA -- "A Rose By Any Other Name"

OK, you know I'm going to be biased because this is my school.  I'm also biased because I love Tchaikovsky's "Romeo and Juliet".  I hadn't watched the show on youTube because I wanted to see it in person first.  And now I want to see it again, please.  I like how they start on opposite corners of the field as Capulets and Montagues face off.  Beautiful!  Loved the parasols!  Music was played at an outstanding level.  This is just a really, really lovely show.

CHINO -- "The Concrete Jungle"

I like the reveal of the shiny purple flags.  Nice visuals like when they are trying to pop through the silver screens and the reveal of the color pattern, even though I don't actually like the pattern.  Uh oh: green sperm ribbon things.  They have colored SCV trees.

Overheard:  "Why are you guys called the 77th Cavalry?  Is it because you guys have more brass?"

Sher's inside voice: "WHAT?!"

Bro's response to my text because I couldn't contain my inside voice: "More than 76 trombones?"

<giggle>  

ETIWANDA -- "Lost"

I don't like those uniforms. They're too busy.  The lady singing needs to enunciate the 1st "T" in "Enchantment".  Smoke comes out of the chimney when they put the witch in the oven.  I like those flame flags.  Oh, they're going to London for New Year!  Neat!  

MOUNT CARMEL -- "Discover the Ancient Skies"

That's a really nice show!  Ooh, partial star formation!  Cool, glowing star and orbs on sticks.  Nice double flags at the end.  I like the simplicity of hte show and I really like the musical arrangement.  How could I not?  It's got Holst's "Planets" and everything.

I did not stick around to wait 40 minutes for the scores because my butt was numb due to not bringing my SCV blanket.  

Results, thanks to World of Pageantry:

CLASS 6A (Arcadia Festival of Bands)
91.45 Mt Carmel
91.35 Chino
88.95 Etiwanda
88.70 Arcadia
87.90 Savanna
86.85 Los Osos
86.80 Rancho Buena Vista
85.30 Rancho Bernardo
81.75 Riverside King
81.60 Rowland
80.00 El Dorado
77.80 Mira Mesa
  

Auxiliary
   94.50 Mt Carmel
   92.50 Chino
   91.00 Rancho Buena Vista
   88.00 Arcadia
   86.00 Rancho Bernardo
   85.50 El Dorado
   84.25 Etiwanda
   83.50 Savanna
   82.75 Los Osos
   82.50 Mira Mesa
   81.50 Rowland
   79.50 Riverside King
   

Percussion
   94.50 Etiwanda
   93.50 Arcadia
   93.00 Rowland
   91.75 Chino
   91.50 Los Osos
   90.50 El Dorado
   89.50 Rancho Buena Vista
   88.00 Mira Mesa
   87.00 Rancho Bernardo
   86.75 Mt Carmel
   85.50 Riverside King
   85.00 Savanna

Visual Perf - 186 Chino
Visual Effect - 178 Chino
Music Effect - 185.5 Arcadia

Music Perf - 375 Arcadia

Way to go with the music categories, Apaches!  Congratulations!

PusherPix 11/24/16

PusherPix
Thursday, November 24, 2016

Tradition:. Bro carving the Thanksgiving turkey

DLR LotD 11/23/16

Disneyland Resort
Line of the Day

Wednesday, November 23, 2016

"Is the parade coming, or is that just the fluffy truck? -- Ramona, to Sherry, on Main Street

PusherPix 11/23/16

PusherPix
Wednesday, November 23, 2016

The North Wind blows in the cold air at It's A Small World Holiday

PusherPix 11/22/16

PusherPix
Tuesday, November 22, 2016

Cooked dinner tonight, thanks to Mamasita's seasoning:. Chicken Afritada, one of my favorite Filipino dishes.  Yummy!

PusherPix 11/21/16

PusherPix
Monday, November 21, 2016

My new Smuggler's Bounty arrived, and it's Rogue One!  I have a shirt to wear to the show!  I like the distressed font on the box.

PusherPix 11/20/16

PusherPix
Sunday, November 20, 2016

My favorite acquisition from DesignerCon today

PusherPix 11/19/16

PusherPix
Saturday, November 19, 2016

The Capulets and the Montagues face off.
#pache

PusherPix 11/18/16

PusherPix
Friday, November 18, 2016

Happy that Starbucks has almond milk now.  Free PSL due to Rewards, and in a pretty cup!  Reindeer!

PusherPix 11/17/16

PusherPix
Thursday, November 17, 2016

BBQ King has a pop-up at Macy's Plaza in Downtown LA on Thursdays and Fridays.  Yummy sauce and the huge beef ribs reminded me of The Flintstones. 

So then I just had Fluff Ice for dinner.

PusherPix 11/16/16

PusherPix
Wednesday, November 16, 2016

After choir rehearsal, I passed by my alma mater and listened to the marching band rehearse their field show for Saturday night's competition.  My view through the sun roof.

PusherPix 11/15/16

PusherPix
Tuesday, November 15, 2016

It's this guy's birthday today.  The guy in the cool shirt.  Not the guy with the headband.

Happy Birthday, FFE!

PusherPix 11/14/16

PusherPix
Monday, November 14, 2016

My lame attempt at capturing a shot of the Supermoon from behind a palm tree.  X-process filter on Android

PusherPix 11/13/16

PusherPix
Sunday, November 13, 2016

I really like this stylized photo done by the Google Photo Assistant...except maybe the trees that look like they're on fire.

Bring on the Bass Man, Vocalosity!

Vocalosity

Saturday, November 12, 2016

Haugh Performing Arts Center - Citrus College

Glendora, CA

Back in August, I had asked Bryant what he'd be doing after he was done with his Rockapella subbing gig in Laguna.  He said that he'd be finishing out his contract with Vocalosity, as well as touring with another vocal group. Wendy saw that Vocalosity would be performing in town in November, so we decided to see Bryant in his other gig.  I'm glad we did!

• Our seats were front row center.  We weren't close in proximity to the performers, though, because the stage is huge, and they set their monitors about halfway back on the stage, so they didn't use the front portion.
• Opening a/c group Premiere only did 2 songs in their set, which were both well done. I would have liked to hear a third song, maybe a ballad.
• I like that they show off their different personalities already in the opening number, Michael Jackson's "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'".
• They asked us to shout out our favorite band.  Maybe if I had been feeling better, I might have yelled out, "ROCKAPELLA!!!".  Would that have been rude?  I did like the way they showed the evolution of a cappella with Beatles songs.
• Kelli was my favorite female singer of the group.  I especially liked her rendition of "Fever", and I liked the characters she portrayed.  I also like the tone of her voice: not too high, never shrieky, just right.
• Tracy's VP solo was fun, as he had the audience play call and response with him.
• This should be of no surprise: I really liked the VP battle between Tracy, RJ, Bryant, and Sound Man Tony.  
• The posse and I think that Fred needs to do a surprise VP stint somewhere during Rockapella's show.
• Whoo!  That "Whole Lotta Love" by Amy and the guys as rock instruments was awesome!
• The step song that started out the show again after intermission was really cool.
• "Sound of Music" was hilarious, although there were a couple of intonation problems, which didn't happen very much during the rest of the show, which is why it stood out for me.
• Bryant mentioned to us afterward that Tony was in The Sing Off, and his group lost to Pentatonix.  I remember rooting for the other group, which was Urban Method.  Now that I see the bios, I know why I recognize Hannah: she was on the show, too! So was Amy, whom was also on The Voice.  (When I was watching her during the rock song, I thought, "She sounds like she's on 'The Voice'."  Must have seen her back when I was watching the show.
• I loved hearing the different paths to singing that some of the cast shared.  It was quite emotional.  Thank you for sharing that part of yourselves, Nattalyee, Cheeyang, Tracy and Nicole! Nattalyee's "His Eyes Are On The Sparrow" was especially moving.  I love that song.
• Their encore song, "Fix You", was posted on Facebook last week, so I was really looking forward to it. They did it off mic, and did not disappoint!

Afterward, we talked to Bryant for a little bit, and told him we'd see him with Rockapella in Malibu.  Yay!  

Great show. Thank you, Posse, for going with me and dealing with me and my cold.  :)

Mister Doctor

I went to the movie theater to watch "Doctor Strange" with Glenndy on opening weekend.  It's, like Cumberbatch season, I guess.  :)

• New Marvel logo/fanfare!
• I spotted the Avengers building in the opening shot.
• The visuals!  Wow.  They reminded me of "Inception", and they were quite dizzying, so I'm glad that we didn't watch it in 3D this time.  If I see it again, though, I might see it in 3D format.  The format got good scores on To 3D or Not to 3D, which is a site that helps me decide sometimes.  
• Nice car.  Nice watch collection. Nice pad.  This isn't going to go well, is it? 
• It took me a few minutes before I realized what was happening with the apple.
• Do you think Rachel McAdams said to herself, "I'm in love with a time traveler?  Again?"
• "It's the wi-fi password.   We're not savages."
• I call that one scene the Groundhog Day scene.  
• "They really should put the warnings before this stuff."
• I want that cloak. I mean, it even wipes away tears!

Great movie!  I would definitely see this in the theater again.

PusherPix 11/12/16

PusherPix
Saturday, November 12, 2016

There are too many chairs on this stage.  Also, they should be stools.

Creature Discomfort

When Linda and I were in the movie theater to watch "Young Frankenstein", we saw an ad for Nick Dear's "Frankenstein", starring Benedict Cumberbatch, at the National Theater, via Fathom Events.   We immediately turned to each other and agreed to go together, so when I got home, I bought our tickets right away.  

The show was prefaced by some making-of clips, which showed that the two leads sometimes played each other's parts.  Our showing was of Benedict Cumberbatch as the Creature, with Jonny Lee Miller as Dr. Frankenstein.  They also showed Mary Shelley's actual manuscript of the novel, and I was not happy that the dude was touching the pages with his bare hands instead of using gloves.

• The set was incredible, with the center portion of the stage rotating between scenes, and a beautiful chandelier of thousands of light bulbs hanging from the ceiling, to give the feeling of the era when electricity was the most significant discovery of the time.
• The opening scene is of the creature adapting to the world as he comes to life, learning how to control his body, eventually learning to stand and walk.  There is no dialogue in this scene until the doctor discovers that his experiment worked, and immediately shuns the creature out of fear.
• Eventually, after learning a little bit of speech and being cruelly treated in the streets, the creature finds a blind man, whom is alone in a cabin while his family is out in the fields during the day.  Linda and I simultaneously remembered one of my favorite scenes from "Young Frankenstein" and couldn't keep from giggling when this scene started. For those that are not remembering what I'm writing about, it's the scene wherein the monster visits blind man Gene Hackman and Hackman pours soup onto his lap.  Love that scene.
• In this play, though, the blind man educates the creature, teaching him all kinds of culture and philosophy.  The transformation is at times humorous, and overall incredible.
• Horrifying events occur after this enlightenment, though, because the blind man's family comes back and the creature is again treated like a monster.  I mean, it IS a horror novel, so stuff does happen and it's not pretty.  
• This is why you should treat people kindly, even though they're different from you.  That's my take on this story, anyway.
• Cumberbatch is AMAZING.  I love watching genuine actors in genuinely meaty roles.  
• Miller is also quite good, although I am glad that we saw BC's version of the creature, because the doctor isn't in most of the first half of the play.
• This makes me want to watch BC in "Hamlet" again, although I won't do so in the coming week when that will be aired again.

Next up: BC again, but this time as Dr. Strange!

DLR LotD 11/11/16

Disneyland Resort
Line of the Day

Friday, November 11, 2016

"You should have told her that you're in the backyard!" -- Michelle, to Sherry, on Main Street, USA

PusherPix 11/11/16

PusherPix
Friday, November 11, 2016

Flag Retreat

Thank you, Veterans, for your service!

PusherPix 11/10/16

PusherPix
Thursday, November 10, 2016

Three years ago today, this kid was the Rebel Spy.
#ThrowBackThursday

PusherPix 11/09/16

PusherPix
Wednesday, November 9, 2016

I just needed something to make me smile today.

PusherPix 11/08/16

PusherPix
Tuesday, November 8, 2016

If this wasn't a week night, there would probably be at least two more empty bottles in this picture.  #ElectionNight2016

PusherPix 11/07/16

PusherPix
Monday, November 7, 2016

I know Hallowe'en was a week ago but look at the cute pin I got after I was done with the Expo!

PusherPix 11/06/16

PusherPix
Sunday, November 6, 2016

Acquisitions from the Dapper Day Expo

ROCKAPELLA - Better 2gether

Rockapella's newest video, filmed when they were Artists in Residence at the Laguna Playhouse this August.

Love the Easter Egg of Sean / Elliott.  Wish they had Easter Eggs of the other guys, too.

The song makes me bounce in my chair while I listen to it.  It's probably Mitch's fault.  He's bouncy.

DLR LotD 11/06/16

Disneyland Resort
Line of the Day

Sunday, November 6, 2016

"Look, that's so '90s vintage!" -- Hipster Doofus at Dapper Day Expo, looking at jackets from the 1990s.

PusherPix 11/05/16

PusherPix
Saturday, November 5, 2016

Back when I was in high school, this was the banner for the marching band.  When they got their new banner, this one was only used for special events, like the Rose Parade. 

This year, though, Arcadia has a new Junior Varsity marching band, so they get to use the awesome banner.  Seeing it always makes me happy.

PusherPix 11/04/16

PusherPix
Friday, November 4, 2016

Shirt and bib for Hard Rock Cafe Run 10k.  I like my number!

PusherPix 11/03/16

PusherPix
Thursday, November 3, 2016

Shake Shack icon on one of their tables

PusherPix 11/02/16

PusherPix
November 2, 2016

Maleficent in Dragon form, wreaking havoc on Emoji Blitz.  It took me about 10 tries to finally get this screenshot.

PusherPix 11/01/16

PusherPix
Tuesday, November 1, 2016

Disney Emoji Blitz has a new Villain challenge, and it's Maleficent!

PusherPix 10/31/16

PusherPix
Monday, October 31, 2016

Hallowe'en cupcakes from My Delight!  Mmmmm....Reese's!