For weeks I had been planning out our little girl's first birthday to be held in Charleston. To spare everyone the stress and work of preparing for the birthday I decided way ahead of time to have it catered (by Sticky Fingers Barbecue - an old design client from my SAS-E Ink days). Her birthday cake I had Cher order it from Publix (called Birthday Surprise) and tried to get the details of a surprise party for Isa's Uncle Ricky together.
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
They almost share a birthday together only 3 days apart - Ricky on November 8th and Isa on the 11th. I knew Ricky wouldn't want his birthday to be a big deal so I never even acknowledged it until the day of the party so as to not "let the cat out of the bag" too soon. I dragged him out with me to "run errands, pick up food" while the rest of the family and friends assembled at Kevin and Cher's to attend to last minute details. Of course, all that planning went out the window last minute when all we could hear outside of Len's house was people saying "ssshhhh...they're here". Geezus. I'm sure he was surprised at that moment at what was unfolding before his entrance.
Either way we kept the party fairly small with only family and our closest friends who were available to share the day with us. A couple of months back we took Isa and Gabriel to Chuck E. Cheese for the day, which the kids seemed to really enjoy. I wanted evoke that seem mood by loading the house with balloons, a colorful cake, good food, and party favors - all compliments of the grandparents.
Eleanor had the great idea to also have gifts for the small kids. I guess it made sense since at a birthday party you would want to stifle any feelings of jealousy. i mean come on...the mere sight of a mountain and presents and not be able to have any would drive any child to the point of madness. She liked the idea of buying vintage reproductions of classic toys for each of them.
"Hello? We'll need a bigger car for all these toys. Thanks."
"Hello? We'll need a bigger car for all these toys. Thanks."
Lastly, we presented Ricky-boy with gifts from the family and friends. The last big one was something from the entire family. I knew he was needing a nice, gadget-laden watch so I picked out a Seiko Kinetic watch from Macy's. Hope you likes!
Friday, November 16, 2007
First REAL Animation...
As odd as this may seem I'm posting about WORK. After finally getting out of the print department at work I moved into the realm of animation. HUGE leap here. Sure I was green and totally unskilled at my new gig as an animator, but the boys in the department gave me a crash course in TV 101 - props to Al for taking the chance and also to Hughes for taking the time.
I spent a btter part of a year to learn the in's and out's of broadcast through the nightly babysitting of the live shows (Golf Central, Sprint Pre/Post Game, Updates, etc. Here and there I did odds and ends for the different departments and learning the equipment. For awhile I started to get a little bored with the work, although it was a much needed exercise. Then Al did it to me...he threw a promo at me to get my feet wet. Sadly this first promo lacked any real direction or concept from the producer and it showed in the final promo. I did learn a good deal about putting together something for tv, but the hard way. Frustrated, but not wanting to lose focus I saddled up for the next promo. Mike gave me a little push as far as what he wanted and I took to it like a fish to water.
HUGE difference here. I totally got into the promo for the little known golf tournament and it showed. I got some props for it, including from the president of the company I came to find out later on in his creative meeting. So here it is (slightly compressed) in all its Kung Fu Theater Sunday glory. I took the liberty of using some of my print skill to manually draw details onto the players and give it that old school cheesy martial arts asian movie poster look to it, Enjoy!
I spent a btter part of a year to learn the in's and out's of broadcast through the nightly babysitting of the live shows (Golf Central, Sprint Pre/Post Game, Updates, etc. Here and there I did odds and ends for the different departments and learning the equipment. For awhile I started to get a little bored with the work, although it was a much needed exercise. Then Al did it to me...he threw a promo at me to get my feet wet. Sadly this first promo lacked any real direction or concept from the producer and it showed in the final promo. I did learn a good deal about putting together something for tv, but the hard way. Frustrated, but not wanting to lose focus I saddled up for the next promo. Mike gave me a little push as far as what he wanted and I took to it like a fish to water.
HUGE difference here. I totally got into the promo for the little known golf tournament and it showed. I got some props for it, including from the president of the company I came to find out later on in his creative meeting. So here it is (slightly compressed) in all its Kung Fu Theater Sunday glory. I took the liberty of using some of my print skill to manually draw details onto the players and give it that old school cheesy martial arts asian movie poster look to it, Enjoy!
Monday, November 12, 2007
This Is A Can Of Worms Waiting To Happen...
For quite some time I really thought Isa would be walking early. At 6 months she started to crawl and not even 3 days later after that she stood up. She started to cruise within a month handrailing across her crib adn furniture. I guessed she would be walking around 10 months. It actually took a couple more months for her to get the courage to get up and go. In fact, she didn't start until the week before her first birthday.
It almost seemed like she was prepping herself for her big day in Charleston. In that one week last week she went from stumbling after 3 or four steps to standing up and holding things and carrying them over to me. She can now communicate when she doesn't want something. Her mother even taught her some basic sign language to let us know when she was thirsty or hungry.
She's no longer a baby, but more like a little girl. I admit she has gotten cuter now than ever before. She's quick to smile and laugh and her shyness is starting to be replaced with some curiousity if you play your cards right around her. She still cries around strangers, but only if she's bombarded with strangers all at once.
This damn kid...
It almost seemed like she was prepping herself for her big day in Charleston. In that one week last week she went from stumbling after 3 or four steps to standing up and holding things and carrying them over to me. She can now communicate when she doesn't want something. Her mother even taught her some basic sign language to let us know when she was thirsty or hungry.
She's no longer a baby, but more like a little girl. I admit she has gotten cuter now than ever before. She's quick to smile and laugh and her shyness is starting to be replaced with some curiousity if you play your cards right around her. She still cries around strangers, but only if she's bombarded with strangers all at once.
This damn kid...
Disney's Not So Scary Halloween Party!
In early October, I spied a fantastic costume for Isa,
surprisingly at Cracker Barrel. They seemed to be
fairly popular and I had a hard time tracking down a
small enough one for our little monkey. But success
came at the location nearest our home in South
Orlando. We were determined to break it out and take
our little girl for her first trick or treating event.
surprisingly at Cracker Barrel. They seemed to be
fairly popular and I had a hard time tracking down a
small enough one for our little monkey. But success
came at the location nearest our home in South
Orlando. We were determined to break it out and take
our little girl for her first trick or treating event.
Again to break away from our routine I went ahead and
purchased two tickets for the Disney event. I LOVE
Halloween. El knows this and it was kind of painful to
know that for the first time in years we wouldn't be
able to go downtown for an "adult" time. Halloween
actually falls on a Wednesday and I have to work the
night shift (or shaft...however you see it). This was
the next best thing. El got her dressed on my early
Sunday shift to head out to Disney while I rushed home
to eat and change for the night.
purchased two tickets for the Disney event. I LOVE
Halloween. El knows this and it was kind of painful to
know that for the first time in years we wouldn't be
able to go downtown for an "adult" time. Halloween
actually falls on a Wednesday and I have to work the
night shift (or shaft...however you see it). This was
the next best thing. El got her dressed on my early
Sunday shift to head out to Disney while I rushed home
to eat and change for the night.
Isa even got to be featured in the Monsters,
Inc. Comedy Floor Interactive Show where she was "cast"
as Boo from the movie. Quite few "ooh's" ensued when
our little ladybug flashed up on the big screen. I
gotta admit she looked adorable in her costume. El
even managed to snap off a blurry picture of her on
the monitors.
Inc. Comedy Floor Interactive Show where she was "cast"
as Boo from the movie. Quite few "ooh's" ensued when
our little ladybug flashed up on the big screen. I
gotta admit she looked adorable in her costume. El
even managed to snap off a blurry picture of her on
the monitors.
Oktoberfest!
Things have been kind of hectic lately. After the
(continuing) debacle that is our home repairs after a
polybutylene water leak I knew Ellen had been
frustrated and in a foul mood. It's unfortunate that
with my and her) new work schedules that we don't have
any family time together as a family, much less as a
couple. Our lives have been simplified to going to
work and taking turns to care for Isa.
The weather had been clearing up and becoming cooler.
Halloween was just around the corner and I was eager
to see what the fall would have in store for us. This
weekend was unlike any other we had worked in a long
time. El worked on Friday and Saturday, out of the
house at 6am and coming home at 8:30pm. She would be
dead tired and would fall asleep in front of the TV
after we had dinner. A few hours later I would give
Isa her bottle and put her to bed to repeat the cycle
yet again for Saturday. Come Monday our roles would
reverse.
(continuing) debacle that is our home repairs after a
polybutylene water leak I knew Ellen had been
frustrated and in a foul mood. It's unfortunate that
with my and her) new work schedules that we don't have
any family time together as a family, much less as a
couple. Our lives have been simplified to going to
work and taking turns to care for Isa.
The weather had been clearing up and becoming cooler.
Halloween was just around the corner and I was eager
to see what the fall would have in store for us. This
weekend was unlike any other we had worked in a long
time. El worked on Friday and Saturday, out of the
house at 6am and coming home at 8:30pm. She would be
dead tired and would fall asleep in front of the TV
after we had dinner. A few hours later I would give
Isa her bottle and put her to bed to repeat the cycle
yet again for Saturday. Come Monday our roles would
reverse.
Tonight I decided to take the family out to
Celebration to dine al fresca and chill outside and
soak some night air. Apparently I picked a good night
- it was Oktoberfest! Live music, tons of revelers,
food cooked outdoors, cotton candy, face painting for
the kids and lastly the "falling of leaves" in the
town square. We ate dinner at the diner outside with
Isa who enjoyed the polka music so much she
screamed/sang along. It was a nice change of scenery
and I think El enjoyed her break from the routine.
Celebration to dine al fresca and chill outside and
soak some night air. Apparently I picked a good night
- it was Oktoberfest! Live music, tons of revelers,
food cooked outdoors, cotton candy, face painting for
the kids and lastly the "falling of leaves" in the
town square. We ate dinner at the diner outside with
Isa who enjoyed the polka music so much she
screamed/sang along. It was a nice change of scenery
and I think El enjoyed her break from the routine.
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