
Over the years I've known a few 'roadies'. These people are employed by musicians on tour to set up and maintain equipment. The phrase they used in my presence to refer to their skillset was "roadie stuff". By and large it was a scruffy longhaired drug doing but essential bunch who accompanied musical groups to various venues for performances.
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I've also had interactions with a few stage managers as well. I remember in Mr Yehuda Guttman and his wife Ruth and the Red Barn Theater when I lived at Key West. My childhood friend Chris who shared my budding theatrical interests would accompany me there at every opportunity.
They were a lively bunch and engaged in spirited discussions of their craft. Mr Guttman was a piano virtuoso and puppeteer who produced various plays and such. Mrs Guttman was a puppeteer and stage manager. It was a sublime time to be in their company. I always left their presence smiling and feeling more well informed that I was before. I went to school with their two sons Darren and Evan — who like them are sadly no longer with us.
Yehuda and Ruth worked with me on voice projection, which refers to having strength of speaking or singing which enables the human voice to be used with power and clarity. The technique is utilized to affect commanding respect and attention in the appropriate venue, be it classroom or stage production. It seems they found my ability to project to be somewhat lacking but were kind in their instructions and advice and always very encouraging.
And this is International Stage Management Day marking the work that stage managers do behind the scenes.
Each October 10 I am drawn back to those days when I aspired to be a thespian and though long gone not forgotten and wistfully remembered as what "might have been".
So the stage and stage hands did their things and the stage managers coordinated efforts and the set builders and the gaffer and grips went about the business of making for a successful production with all the rehearsal schedules and rigamarole which went in between.
So I miss those days as well but they are so far removed from my now that I can only remember and wonder regarding those past possibilities.
Like Chris Gagnon, the Guttman family are relegated to that space between my ears known as my memory. They left their mark upon the person I ultimately became and I am glad I had that opportunity to mingle and share.
See Also:
My Bucket List Was Emptied Friday, May 30, 2014
Birthday of the late Chris Gagnon
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Nice. It means pleasant, agreeable, satisfactory, fine, or subtle. Mother Teresa was nice.
It's not exactly something for which I ever became known.
October 5th is National Do Something Nice Day.
The day is observed in the hopes that people will do something nice for others.
In that busy hubub which is the workaday world we get all preoccupied with things personal or career oriented and we aren't always as nice as we might be otherwise.
I'm afraid that since I've retired my base notions and comportment have not changed, i.e., I try to be socially aware and reasonable — but by no means have I ever intended to project "nice" at anyone.
I do get told that I do nice things periodically. I just don't pursue it as a career.
This day is meant for you to share a little bit of kindness with the people you encounter.
Doing nice things can lead to even more nice things among all of us.
Happy National Do Something Nice Day.
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One thing my advancing age has brought with it is presbyopia.
Presbyopia is a typical part of aging where the gradual loss of your eyes' ability to focus on nearby objects becomes problematic, depending on how well you are accustomed to seeing.
It is said to begin somwhere around your early to mid-40s and continues to worsen until around age 65.
Being past the high boundary limit I have compensated with various spectacles which I wear often — and increasing the lighting in my work spaces in particular.
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Today is Change A Light Day. It happens on the first Sunday of October so this year it falls on the second of October.
The observance is meant to raise awareness on light and energy saving techniques related to light bulbs.
I have taken to LED lamps myself. They put out more light and use less power.
I am particularly fond of the 8000 lumen BRAUN jobbies I have bought from Harbor Freight and installed strategically in my home.
When you turn on these lights it's difficult to miss anything. However their power limits their indoor usefulness. They really aren't for ambiance at all.
I hope that as you get on down the road of life you too can find effective solutions for life's little glitches — like presbyopia — along the way.
Change a Light and don't curse the darkness.
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Revelation 12:7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, 12:8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. 12:9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. 12:10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. 12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. 12:12 Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.
Jude1:1 Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called: 1:2 Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied. 1:3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. 1:4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. 1:5 I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not. 1:6 And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day. 1:7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. 1:8 Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities. 1:9 Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee. 1:10 But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves. 1:11 Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core. 1:12 These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; 1:13 Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever. 1:14 And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, 1:15 To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him. 1:16 These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage. 1:17 But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; 1:18 How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. 1:19 These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit. 1:20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, 1:21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. 1:22 And of some have compassion, making a difference: 1:23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. 1:24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, 1:25 To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.
Holy Bible - King James Version
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