First day back to School (Work)

After more than a decade of being recognized by as a Set Decorator by IATSE (International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Moving Picture Technicians, Artists and Allied Crafts of the United States, its Territories and Canada) Local 44, I gave up my Union status as such so that I could work as a Property Person, which is what I was doing leading up to being reclassified as a Decorator. We can't hold both cards at once, so I had a tough decision that was brewing for a few years. I re qualified to be a property person several months back and have worked as a shopper, however this would be the first time in probably 15 plus years that I would be working as a set dresser.

I was a little nervous. Didn't know this crew, besides the lead who had given me the call. I have only done a handful of commercials and have stayed away from working on-set as much I could.

The day started out with me leaving the house a little after 5, giving myself more than enough time to get to the location, only to realize as I got closer to the set that I had left the details on my desk at home. Thank goodness for cell phones. Also realized, that although I packed every tool I could imagine while still being able to be semi-mobile, I didn't have gloves. The 7-11 had cotton garden glove, which I bought in spite of their geekiness.

Hazing, candid-camera or....

My first mission of the day was to get the production designer's phone from his car. I was tossed the keys and pointed toward where his car was.

It was a pretty beat up car for the department head, but maybe just different priorities. I understand, I don't partically care what I'm driving.

The keys don't fit and the remote car alarm devise isn't working.

I finally wiggle the keys and the lock opens. When I open the door, the alarm goes off.

I'm trying to get the key in the ignition and get it started hoping that will shut off the racket. Which is beginning to turn heads.

No luck.

I am hitting the buttons on the alarm remote.

No use.

Also looking for the cell phone, which isn't there but his wallet is..



After what seemed like forever, but was legitmate minute or so of this loud alarm going off at crew parking, next to the set and the catering truck, I start looking around for my boss(the leadman, not the designer) and also for hidden cameras.

Nothing.

Someone comes over and tells me to pop the hood so we can disconnect the alarm.

The alarm stops and we shut the hood. I slam the door to go off in search of the leadman.

The alarm starts. I keep walking away.

When I catch up to my buddy, tell him what's going on, he looks over to the car with the alarm still sounding.

"That's not his car. How'd you get it open?"

The alarm stopped and we kept walking.

That was how I started off my day back on the job.

The rest of the day went relatively smoothly and even got to see and elephant and run a fire hose.








How cool is that?

Thursday's Run

As I started off on my latest trail run, I ran across the stray dogs that had mangled my rabbits. Pretty mean customers actually, poor little bunnies didn't have a chance. Seeing these guys up close, makes me really consider calling up the pound, even though I know what's in store. But these guys were skittish and sulky which given there size makes for a pretty dangerous mix.




Around 10 0r 15 minutes into the run, I realized that I hadn't reset my training watch and was adding a lap to a run I had done the previous week. So much for GPS technology. Chalk it up to operator error.



I love running in the hills of Kenneth Hahn park, beautiful and only a short jog away from the house.



A view of Century City



And downtown Los Angeles in the mist.

A nice hour-ish run to start off the day.

FUNctional workouts a go-go

I have been avoiding regular workouts for a while now, but still wanting to stay in shape. I wanted to run marathons with the least amount of running possible. And so far I have been fairing well on these attempts.

At the LA Fitness convention, I picked up a Bodirocker, a"Balance Resistance Trainer", and had a lot of fun doing Power Planks, Rocking Plants, Power Rocking Crunches and much more....

Continued playing around with the Spartacus workout, actually got in a got workout on our aerial silks, although at a couple points I was tangled up and began to fear for my life and limbs, mostly limbs as I felt like a dolphin in a tuna net.

Wednesday was a big fitness day, hour-plus trail run, aerial arts class, and top it off with an hour and a half jui jitsu training session.

I thought Thursday might be a rest day until I helped spot at Skye's aerial arts class and then got to be fully into the second aerial arts class. By the end my forearms felt very Popeye-like.

Then I received something I ordered on line with a goodly amount of hesitation, Indian Clubs.

They are the most beautiful pieces of workout equipment I own. They are absolutely exquisite. The DVD by Dr. Ed Thomas, from what I have watched thus far, is amazing. I always thought Indian clubs were born of the Native American world, but turns out it is from Asia's sub continent of India. I played around with them for around 20 minutes and was enjoying a delightful burn. Wow!!! I love these little gems.

Along with them I also got a lovely little training book, "Hand-Balancing for Muscular Development", all this came from functionalhandstrength.com and oldtimestrongman.com, two very interesting websites.

Even juggled a bit and played around on the unicycle.

Aerial Arts Demo

We recently started studying aerial arts at a wonderful fitness studio that just opened up in Manhattan Beach, The Power Plant. Last Sunday they had an open house of sorts, with several performances which included our instructors from the Eagle Rock school we've been going to as well as some of our home school friends/aerial artists from that neck of the woods. It was a great experience, especially when juxtaposed with my previous days tour of the Go Green LA/LA Fitness Expo.

I turned off my flash and was squished in the back, so my photos are fuzzier and lamer than usual.

The show started off with a very fun and cool Lion Dance which is similar to the Chinese Dragon dance, except its a Lion and only two people as opposed to the dragon which can have up to ten people. It was a very cute routine, but I was not camera ready so no pics, but it was very interesting to see the use of traditional martial arts moves coupled with life-size puppetry and theater.

After that our instructor from the Eagle Rock facility opened the aerial arts part of the show with a performance using an apparatus called the aerial hammock, similar to the aerial silks we do but its one big loop of fabric.



Our "PE " instructor, Leslie in action. Not like the Phys. Ed I had when I was in school.



It's hard to get an idea of what's going on with my bad pics, hopefully you get the picture.



The cocoon-like aspect of the hammock can be quite magical. I have seen it in theater performances, with proper lighting and effects, creepy and exquisite.




A traditional Wushu master did an invigorating sword dance.


A sensual dance and aerial performance followed.



They were very beautiful together, passionate and loving, but like I said quite sensual. I don't know how the daytime, kid infested crowd took it in. But with such great vibes flowing through the place, I don't think anyone was weirded out. I was glad that Skye got to see such a relevant and thoughtful piece that combined so many mediums and was being performed at the space where we would be training at.


And then the home schoolers took the floor. First with a couple of theatrical pieces.



The poise, composure and abilities of these "kids" was quite impressive.



And then the performances ended with a mad free for all with the home school troop literally throwing themselves into one frenetic, spontaneous frenzy of free play and movement on trapeze and silks and flying and swirling all about.








Fun and inspiring.








So many of the kids can go into these amazing splits on the silks.

I almost got really hurt yesterday trying to duplicate it. First when my legs weren't quite that gumby-like and second get my feet out and struggled like a dolphin in a tuna net. Luckily I got out before I was Starkissed.




At the end they had audencie participation with drums passed out to many of the spectators. Skye and cool friend would have no part in such an embarassing expression of lameness.

Too cool for School........literally.

Resolution Revolution

How'd That Trial Week/Month Go???

Pretty much exactly a month ago today, a week before New Year's, I gave myself a week to try out some resolutions for the New Year before committing to resolve.

A week turned into a month, so where am I at with this trial?


1 I resolve to organize my magazine collection.

Started in on that tangle mess, trying to find a certain magazine, hours latter I had done more damage than good. That said it needs happen.

Verdict: I Resolve.

2 I resolve to cook 2 new recipes a week from the many books and magazines that have taken residence under my roof.

I have in fact done quite well on this.

Verdict: I Resolve


3 I resolve to chisel out some six-pack abs... by whatever means necessary,(baring medical procedures and spray tanning)

A chest cold and the rain have derailed my training, lame excuses I know but after attending the Fitness Expo yesterday I got inspired. That coupled with resolution 2.

Verdict: I resolve

4 By ends year 2010 have posted 365 entries

Pretty good on this one

Verdict: I resolve

5. Get my website, "Jon-Of-All-Trades" up and running

Goose egg on this one, but like magazine organization, MUST happen

Verdict: I resolve


5 Get Back Yard Buddies up and running

Too Busy to do anything real about this but public interest is high

Verdict: I resolve


6. Pursue Educational Co-op Opportunities

Starting to teach an Ecology 101 class tomorrow for other home schoolers and Skye

Verdict: I resolve


7. One long run each week

See above excuse for 6 pack abs. However I never really loved running, at least not a regular basis.

Verdict: I am not resolved to commit.

8. Juijitsu class or training at least 2 times a week

See excuse that keeps on excusing, however have paid for classes and love it

Verdict: I resolve

9 Get out of the country at some point

Yes, yes, yes

Verdict: I resolve


10 Finish all animal housing

I can't let the rabbits deaths to be in vein.

Verdict: I resolve.

11 Patch holes through out house from previous explorations

Don't want my marriage to be in vein.

Verdict: I resolve

12. REDUCE PROJECTS AND LISTS TO SOMETHING SANE & MANAGEABLE!

It goes totally against my nature and instincts.

Verdict: I can not with a clear conscience resolve to be sane or manageable

So how did that trial period work out?

11 out of 13 proposals hang tough.

Let's see how they stack up in another 6 months.

Natural and Super Natural

I headed downtown to the Go Green Expo at the convention center. The "Greenness" of the event was more than overwhelming. Green is definitely the new Gold. Slap "eco-friendly", "local",
"sustainable" or "fair-trade" on something and the price suddenly shoots up.





That said it is amazing the products that are out there and available. Being green never looked so good.

After collecting a bunch of freebies and samples and buying some some cool t-shirts that were made from recycled plastic bottles and organic cotton, I headed out. I hate to sound jaded but one eco-fest ain't so different than another eco-fest.

As I headed out, I realized that right next door was the LA Fitness Expo with some Jui Jitsu and Mixed Martial Art demos, so since I was already downtown....

You would think that Being Green and Being Fit would attract a similar crowd.

I was in for a shock. It was really a case of natural and super-natural or rather hyper-natural.
The photo-ops for the Fitness Expo were definitely more abundant than the Green event.



When I started training Brazilian Juijitsu way back when it was hard to find a place to train outside of Los Angeles and New York City. Now everywhere you turn there is a Juijitsu studio or a MMA training camp. I'm still sore from training yesterday. It is still one heck of a workout.



"Strong-man" work out gear



I didn't realize that LA had a football team




Or that the team would be at the Expo to meet their fans. Those are the players by the way not the cheerleaders.




Fitter than fit, kind of looking like those characters in a comics strip or graphic novel or.....






On exiting I realized that there were auditions for "America's Got Talent" and a whole other slew of characters filled the halls of the LA Convention Center.

I love LA!!!!

The Hollywood Sign

It was cold when I woke up this morning. I didn't really realize how cold until I went up on the roof to find a puddle that had frozen over.

The frost on the roof was beautiful, even if short-lived.







The view was amazing and if it weren't for the Hollywood Sign it would be hard to believe it was Los Angeles.



I know that to the better part of the country frost and snow are nothing new, but here in LaLa land it is a novelty and beautiful because of it.

Today's second crime attempt

I went to check on the chickens, you know make sure they roosted, make sure the hawk didn't make a second go at it.

And while I am just taking it all in, I hear, "HELP!!!!"

Or that's what I thought I heard.....

And then I see this guy running to get in his car and tears off like a bat from hell.....

Yeah, I probably heard right.

The ensuing helicopter and squad cars confirmed it.

We marched down to the crime scene and gave what little info I had to the officer and...

A bird in the hand is worth three in the coup

This morning my post on Facebook read;

"made jambalaya last night. Between the table scraps from prep and what was scraped off the plates after, my chickens and red wigglers are becoming quite accustomed to good eats."

Apparently a hawk or falcon, don't know which was also on Facebook, cause just a bit after I posted, Skye and I hear the chickens squawking.

I send her down to check and....

"Emergency......There's a hawk in the chicken area!!!!"




A beautiful raptor but how was I to get him/her out. I was more than a little nervous about grabbing him with these crazy talons, not to mention the sharp beak.



Not looking happy or co-operative.



At this point the little guy was pretty tired from flaying about trying to escape.




I asked Skye to get a picture of me and the hawk.

I was hoping for a shot that was a bitter wider, like maybe my face. Skye assured me that because you could see the solar panels in the background, you'd know it was our house, and who else would be holding a hawk in our back yard?

Good point?



I only have eyes for you.

Adventures in the rain

We get home, I walk in the door and it sounds like someone left a faucet on somewhere. In a way I suppose that's an accurate assessment.

Nature opened up the spigot and our gutters apparently forgot to unclog themselves. So just as it was getting dark, Skye and I climbed up on the roof in search of standing water to explain why there was water spilling from the can lights onto the bar downstairs. BTW, that can't be a good mix, water, electricity and booze....



We found what had become a four inch deep pond on top of our house and were able to clear out the downspout creating this spectacular waterfall and putting and end to the dicey light-faucet.

We'll see what surprises tomorrows storm brings.

At least this go around I am actually finding and resolving our water issues, as opposed to some of the mystery leaks of rains past.

Magazines--The Obsession Continues

As is happening more often than not, we were racing to get somewhere on time.

Racing,

Racing,

Racing

When we got to destination, the people we were meeting were'nt there.

We were only a minute late, I mean a minute late is like being early these days.

A minute's tardiness and yet there was no one around.

I looked at my watch again,

10:03.

It was 10:01 at first glance, now after apparently searching for 2 minutes.....
It was 10:03.

We were supposed to meet at 11 am.

We were an hour early.

Waiting

Waiting

Waiting

So we went over to a nearby bookseller which had a coffee shop included as is the fashion of the day. So I ordered up a breakfast type thing that was sealed in plastic, then microwaved fresh for me, since I had skipped that in order to be on time, and then wandered over to the magazine rack.

Why can't I control myself?




There's a reason behind the purchase of each;

Urban Farm, Hobby Farm, Gardening and Dwell; see previous post, but seriously there is at least one article of interest/import in each. And these are just the three that made the cut. I had probably a dozen more on topic that I didn't get.

Getting Published and Writer's Digest Guide to Creativity--Because I should get paid for all the babble I commit to paper or to a computer screen. Technology sure can change common expressions, yet still a far cry from being a "paperless" society. The sheer number of magazines out there is testament to that.

Pirates--A tough magazine to find, so I usually buy it when I run across it.

Tap Out --Because my 1st jui jitsu instructor--Rigan Machado has an article in it and there are some techniques in there that might get me out of a jam. No really.

The Atlantic is kind of a cheat. I didn't actually buy that on this spree. I have a subscription but I needed an additional glossy to finish off the grid.

I love my magazines.

Farmer Jon and the Marauding Chickens

For a while I had let the animals have free reign, but they were having too much of a negative effect on the local flora.




Evidence of what they are capable of. This was one of my prized pepper plants. Was...


My New Resolve

Trying to find the silver lining in the clouds of despair of our rabbit episode, I resolved to get out and plant, as I had been holding off until I had proper housing for both the chickens and the aforementioned bunnies. Seeing as to how in the past they were all guilty for certain levels of crop destruction.

Well now I had the chicken coop and run completed, at least to the point of containment, there are modifications and additions but I can keep them in their place, more or less. And the rabbits well, ......



I know why the cage bird sings, or clucks.....

In this vein I planted one of the beds that the panels to keep the critters out had been 100% completed. "And it was good"



I used straw from where the bunnies used to bed down for the night as a mulch.

And then I planted and seeded the second bed. I had panels but the hooks to keep them in place weren't put in yet so I had the idea to simply set them in place. In fact I basically divided the garden in half and was able to not only plant and seed a second bed but also to plant the pathway, under which Shadow(the rabbit that was found and whose body was recovered) was burried. I broadcast seeded the path with Crimson Clover which I thought was a fitting gesture in memory of the bunnies past.




The avian horde peers in longingly at the newly planted bed and path.

The winds that didn't reach the tornado level of Long Beach did manage to blow down the separating panel. The hens got in and had there way with my flora friends.



This is what I came home to.





There was a beautiful fennel plant next to this marker. I don't know if they pulled out the entire plant or if there is still a nub of life down there somewhere. Rain ended my search.





The guilty parties back in their run, avoiding the rain under a makeshift lean to.



An artichoke plant the is big and mean enough to withstand the ravaging hordes.

After the rain

I patched the roof over Skye's room and I wondered whether it would do the trick.
It did. A leak that had tortured us for way too long had to surrender. However......

there were other drips and .......



There goes our awning.



Ooops




And when the storm passed, you could see how close the snow capped mountains were.





Pretty