HAPPY 2009!!!!

Let's all say goodbye to 2008 and welcome in 2009!!!

I wish everyone a optomistic, safe and hopefully a more prosperous year!!!

Chinese New Year 2009 will be on February 7th---The Year of the Rat. Chinese New Year means alot to Beng and I (As well as to most Asians)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOiN5TQhP2Q

Beng and I were married on Chinese New Year---The Year of the Cock! Hehehehehe...We plan to vacation in the Philippines in 2012 when our 19th Anniversary will happen again on Chinese New Year....The Year of the Cock 01/23/2012!

Merry Christmas, MITTENS!

Originally going to "Petsmart" to get our 8 month old kitten, "Harmony" a Christmas gift, we ended up getting a new 11 week old gray mixed tabby from "Last Chance" Rescue Shelter for her instead (And some toys). We figured we could make 2 kittens happy for Christmas. The new kitten's name is "Mittens" due to having 7 toes on one paw and 6 toes on the other which gives an illusion of a thumb on each paw and looking like he's wearing mittens. (Cat's usually have 5 toes on each paw) In the beginning, Harmony was territorial and needed to convey to Mittens who was the boss of the house. After establishing who was boss, they played and played and played....

MICKEY ROURKE?

Last night, I was watching David Letterman's "Late Night" which advertised Mickey Rourke promoting his movie, "The Wrestler"


Wide mouthed and eyes bugged, I could not believe after a decade of not working as an actor. This is what I saw....
I just kept thinking,"Okay this is the same rebel actor that was the sex symbal of the 80's in movies such as "91/2 Weeks" w/ Kim Basinger and"Angel Heart" w/ Lisa Bonet?????
Honestly, Mickey Rourke looked like, spoke like and walked like an old whiskey drinking blues singer down on his luck. What the heck happened?

ARIA CURAMENG featured in the WASHINGTON POST

My Daughter, ARIA CURAMENG is featured in today's (12/19/2008) Washington Post, Weekend section, Page 6 for being one of the 12 finaist of the Washington Post Gift Wrap Desig Contest. From the link, go to page 2 to view her with the other finalist and page 7 to view her entry.
ttp://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/gallery/2008/12/18/GA2008121802787.html

I MISS ME A CHRISTMAS REVUE

Even though I am presently in Hans Bachman's adaptation of "A Christmas Carol", Nothing can get me into the mood for the Holidays more than the Christmas Revue that we used to perform at the West End Dinner Theatre written by Joey Wallen and directed and choreograhed by Mark Minnick. That show always was so special.

I miss the "Brigadoon" set of hills, valleys and a bridge being painted snow white for the season, having Jim Lawson as our "Santa Costume Change" as he quizzed the audience on naming all of Santa's reindeers....And Nixon not being one of them! (Couldn't serve comedy any better than that)
Anita's as Ms. Higginbottom and her sexy rendition of "Santa Baby"( Not to mention the close call of "Jack Frost roasting on an open fire"). Bob Kelly, Jim Lawson and myself as the 3 "Wise Guys" and Carla Dela Torre as the Virgin Mary, (Huh?) Darren McDonald singing as a child about getting "a dog" for Christmas and Lori Letner really bringing one of Mark Minnick's dogs out. Jeffrey Shankle being paired up to sing with every girl in the revue (especially in "The Greatest Gift of All") and the many different snow machines that Antonio Bullock dealt with from year to year for our White Christmas Finale.
And of course, how could you not miss the West End Dinner Theatre's production of "Babes in Toyland" year after year directed by Joey Wallen. Oh...What a wonderful season those were!

UPSIDEDOWN CHRISTMAS TREES???

I went to a friend's house and we were discussing Skinny Christmas Trees because we both own one. I liked Skinny Christmas Trees when I first saw them in department stores. They are space savers for people (As myself) with small homes and they display your ornaments with very little space in between. (I personally love an ornament crowded Christmas Tree)

Though for the past 3 Christmases, I have opt for a 4 foot tree on a pedestal to make room for Aria's larger gifts "under the tree".

Then my friends asked me if what I think of the upside-down Christmas Tree. I was in shock when they mentioned it. I have never seen one of these so-called upside-down Christmas trees. So when I got home, I "Googled" these Upside-down Christmas Trees to check it out.

One article that I read states that the use of this tree displays ornaments more like a chandelier instead of the ornaments getting lost in the the branches in the traditional way.

What do you think? Does anyone think this is pretty? I don't get it.

LUV EM CROCS!

Right before my first hip replacement, I discovered the comfort of CROCS footwear. I never really liked them before because they were an ugly shoe. Ya know, the wide shoe w/ the holes, BUT extremely comfortable that is made of lightweight and slip-resistant foam. But then...that all changed when CROCS made so many different stylish designs.

My first investment was the "All Terrains" design

And for my wife and daughter, "The Prima" design

The newest designs that I am hoping to get for Christmas is the "Venture" design

And the "Santa Cruz" design

For the ladies, there is the "Cleo" design and the "Ginger Heel"

There are so many more winter and summer stylish designs all extremely comfortable made with the. Check them out http://www.crocs.com/

Once you tried them on, it's hard to go back to another type of shoe.

Introducing: DRAMA BAYLAN

Here's a picture of DRAMA BAYLAN during the staged play reading of "Rolling with the R's". I am really looking forward in doing more with them.