Everyday We Face Important Questions

 
     It can be approached as a burden or a new challenge but everyday we need to make decisions based on the important issues that come before us.  As such the one I faced today was this;  if I were a baseball player what would be my walk up music?  After much consideration about what 10 second piece of music encapsulates my being is this:

my walk up to the plate baseball theme music

(skip the ad that probably comes before the video.  Makes its' point within the first 10 seconds...)

And as an unrelated side note, when my kids are having difficulty falling asleep, I just sit in them down and play Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979) and it works like magic.  Oliver out by the last reel and Dexter just walked into the room, and was out in five minutes.

Goodbye Friend

   In the last week SnoBall began moving slowly, too quiet at night.  He hadn't driven Maria out of bed once in the past seven days.  Slowing down and quickly- he walked like an old Western movie star with (four) creaky knees. Last night Dexter brought him over to me and it was evident that he was not well and on my chest he settled for a half hour.  Petting him gently as he rested and took deeper breaths, the little guy took a nap. When he woke up Dexter had a piece of wheat bread, mildly moist with water and Snow ate some (never cold pass up tasty food).  In minutes, he perked up, his eyes opened and he went to investigate in the hallway.   After ten minutes, Dexter made a pillow created from toilet tissue and placed a tired SnoBall softly to rest.  Closing his eyes, he went to sleep.  SnowBall never woke up.  It was a quiet way to go. 

Oliver made this

and also made this, Snow's box

Dexter climbed a tree for a flower

Before the dirt cover

Final resting place, at the base of the bamboo

Dexter's final wishes

That's How We Warp, Part 3

  While Dexter and I were having our fun, Oliver and Maria were on  a trip of their own; taking Amtrak to Sacramento for two nights of hotel fun, swimming and sight seeing.  Oliver, for the first time swam across (and back) in a pool without assistance!

   Friday night we visited with my friends since childhood, the Dickinsons over at Jimmy and Melinda's house. It was great to see them again; Dennis and Bonnie, Courtney, Ellen, Jimmy, Melinda, Danny and it always feels like family.   Mr. D was definitely missed.  Dexter was not feeling great so we took the night easy, parked ourselves at the house and just enjoyed the company.  Earlier in the day I saw a listing that the remaining members of the Monkees were playing together (Mike, Mickey, Peter).  Mike usually doesn't join the others but since Davy died, he signed on for two tours. Was Davy difficult?  Anyway, we saved money and at least one time I wouldn't get lost driving in Vegas. 

      Saturday we stepped away from the convention to visit the Pinball Hall of Fame.  One excellent facet of Vegas is that parking is plentiful and usually free.  At the Pinball HOF,  were many great old pinball machines to visit, play and admire.  Dennis and Daniel got there before us (I might have gotten lost again) but we caught up to Dennis later at the Las Vegas 51's Triple A game.  The 51's are a farm team of the Mets and were playing the Oklahoma City RedHawks (Astros).  We didn't see him (recognize him at least) but on the RedHawks roster is Phillip Humber who just last year threw a perfect game  (there's only been 23 pitched in 135 years of Major League baseball!)  with the Chicago White Sox (and subsequently was so terrible after the game, he no longer is on a major league roster).  $20 got us seats directly behind home plate separated only by a necessary net.  When I went searching for food, Dexter got to see a crushing play at home plate when a runner attempting to score chose to crash into the catcher.....he's Out!

    The 51's have a neat alien logo but their on field mascot is the frightening Jar Jar Binks.  Go figure.  Dennis and I failed in our search for milkshakes but he was kind enough to give his Binks Bank (giveaway) to Oliver.
Dennis wanted me to point out that he's been very successful in getting into fighting shape, although he prefers not to fight.  

   Sunday night was king.  Dexter had been looking forward to seeing Penn and Teller, and thanks to Maria we were sitting in the second row.  These guys are such great showmen and better craftsmen.  They know their stuff, the history of their trade and have something to say.  Part of what they do is carrying on the work of Houdini, the Amazing Randi and that part is to celebrate life but going after mystics and people who take advantage of other people; those that trick others into believing that they have super powers.  Houdini began taking on these mystics, debunking their trickery and exposing them as fakes- fakes who usually preyed on people who had recently lost loved ones and would do anything to "hear" their loved ones speak to them again.  Randi, until his recent health concerns would bring along 2 million dollars to anyone who before him could prove that they had super powers.  Challenged many times, Randi would always uncover the ruse.

   The excitement of being surprised, of not knowing where the illusion was going made for a great ride.  The look of the participants from the audience (never a plant at a Penn and Teller show) was to be enjoyed especially when one is your son.   Dexter was called on stage by the mighty Penn for an lenghty segment.  We noticed that Penn was quietly filling the role of the bass player in the duo performance that served before the show (while the audience was invited to check some of the props on stage) and perhaps at the same time he made a note of Dexter.  The piano player Mike Scott played a killer version of Tizol/Ellington's "Caravan".

     The piece was about our National Security at the airports, it's ineffectiveness in stopping people from bringing in weapons was demonstrated with their very own  Airport scanner.  Dexter was in charge of wanding our magicians as they pulled out various undetected weapons or a beeping metal Bill of Rights card (later given to Dexter).  The concluding part of the bit was when Penn and Teller materialized one of their assistants from within the scanner- in complete view of all of us.

     It was a great show, a greater experience.  Dexter was floating the rest of the night. After the show, Penn and Teller run through the audience to meet everyone as they left the auditorium.  Dexter said he didn't need to see them so we walked over to the closing Trek event; a type of show biz musical review with some of the DS9 cast.  It was winding down with a good sized audience and we watched the last three numbers which were fun/funny/silly.  Walking back I asked Dext if he wanted to see Penn and Teller since the audience had thinned to few, and he said yes.  When we met with Teller for a photo op with Dexter, Teller remarked "oh, the first photos weren't good enough?" ( I had taken a three snaps when Dexter went on stage before security politely informed me not too.)  Then magically, the photo with Teller (a nice capture) faded from my camera (more a technical glitch, I sincerely believe- with 10% allowing for Teller's super abilities).  Dexter and I went over to Penn. He congratulated my son, "Dexter, you did a great job".

     It definitely was the most I ever paid to see a show but next time, with Maria and Oliver we would surely do so again. Penn and Teller, they are kings in our book.
   

 

Monday before we left I placed the $20 on Red (Roulette) for Michael G. as he asked.  The long roll ended up red and I walked away with $40 for Michael.  I can see why gambling can pull you in.  One roll at a table, 3/4 of one drink, and a relaxing weekend in Las Vegas.  Hope your memories will be as good as mine, Dex!

That's How We Warp, Pt.2

   The Rio Suites is an easy hotel to find, with it's multi-colored stealth look but it's best finding an alternate route than driving down Las Vegas Boulevard.  All the Rio rooms are large with extra furnishings and a refrigerator but overall, bland.  Additionally the outfits of the casino women are easily the most horrid that we saw on our trip. 

  The hotel is large and with six elevators going- transport was usually easy and not to crowded.  Four pools but all on the small size.  Two Starbucks, one of the best buffets in town (of course I didn't find the buffet place until our last day) and a Chinese restaurant where we were informed that apparently there is some prohibition to cooking broccoli with tofu, that their listed vegetarian tofu is cooked with meat, and next time-Dad don't forget your tour guide with notes....

   Since we were in Vegas and Dexter has grown so much in the last year I thought that this would be a good opportunity for Dexter to grow up a bit.  I spoke to the hotel's concierge and asked for front row seats at the best nude review that the Rio (a Carnival theme after all) has to offer. Get us as close as possible, I insisted. She got us tickets for the Chippendale's show.  Um, it was pretty good.

  The way to the convention halls are a lengthy walk but the area is very large and spacious- not at all cramped and made for a respite from the gambling side of things.  Also, because of the long walk we could enjoy seeing many people in costumes and if we paid attention, some of the actors of different Star Trek shows.  Hey, there's Sulu and his hubby! Odo! Vic Fontaine! Q! Harry Kim! The Doctor from Voyager! Counselor Troi! Hoshi! Data! Ezri Dax in the gift shop!  My favorite late night meeting was during a search for a snack, wandering back to ride the elevator with James Darren (Vic Fontaine on DS9) carrying an individual pizza box.  This is a guy who knew Sinatra and Annette!  A 17 floor discussion about singing, pizzas and elevators. Invigorating stuff!  Nice to meet you, pally!

    I began to ask friendly questions of the populace when the opportunity presented: waiting in the line at Starbucks, or the photo op tables- where all the pictures were laid out for Trekkors to retrieve or the curious to check out.  A father and his young teenage daughter were enjoying this weekend trip together and she said that she was looking forward to meeting the Jonathan Frakes (Ryker, TNG) and  Brett Spiner (Data).  A man  who lives in Canada said his brothers and sister make this Vegas trip every year to go to the convention and although he doesn't watch the shows- this year he decided to join his siblings and was enjoying himself while bonding with his family.

    A very outgoing young man in his 20's, both in a blue Starfleet outfit and wheelchair, said his highlight (so far) was being in the bar the previous night and hanging out with James Darren (Vic Fontaine, DS9). Darren covered his extensive drink tab and was great company.  Another person discussing the hordes of fans was appreciative of how nice and respectful this crowd was, and is each year.  Other than the couple who, taking shots from a bottle were shouting  "Shatner!" during the Kate Mulgrew/Wiliam Shatner panel, it was a friendly crowd.  I suppose not so friendly if they were angling to be first in line to meet some of the actors but we were fortunately spared of those situations.

   Cutting to the chase:  I enjoyed this event.  I like these folks. They are terribly goofy but sincere in being part of this pop culture mythology.  For different reasons but all under one big tent.  For the actors, it's mostly another pay check but also, it's their participation of something that connects many people- and they are a part of it.  

    Parts of stereotypes have some (if very limiting) truth in them, and there were a noticeable number of fans who asked questions (let alone the type of questions) in the nerdiest reediest of voices.  It's probably a good idea to talk to people between conventions-even just once a month.  I'm just saying.

    Here's a link to a nice article about the record attempt that occurred (we didn't pay much attention to it as it seemed to be time consuming, much more than our efforts- no costumes us and with all those people, hot)  http://www.vice.com/read/i-tried-to-take-part-in-a-star-trek-world-record

   

despite the worm, the young man seems to be having fun

kind of a crazed timeline

Deep Space 9 cast reunion, 20 years later and one civilian

"Just Married!" with the Next Generation Cast. Patrick Stewart doing a play in Berkeley, alas.

Shatner on the rampage. Mulgrew, amused (and very happy to be in "Orange is the New Black" on Netflix)

a whole lot of people watching Mulgrew/Shatner

Vic Fontaine (James Darren)

Jeri Ryan has this kid in a choke hold

Karl Urban of the New Movies (even for the stills, a solar flare)

one guy Oliver wanted us to be in a photo op with, Worf (michael dorn)

Michael Dorn, Morn (gotta hand it to this guy to stay in character) and Terry Farrell

clockwise: Alexander Siddig, Nichelle Nichols, Robert Picardo, Alice Eve

Dorn and Dexter

Dexter, George, Khan

Dexter (I can't take a bad photo), Nana Visitor,  Mr. Happy to Be There

Some notes (proceed here only if you have a genuine interest or your bus is incredibly late):  The Next Generation cast did all four days, mostly sitting in the dealer rooms meeting fans and selling autographed photos. On stage, they definitely were the silliest bunch.  Bret Spiner (Data) does an excellent atrick Stewart impression. Marina Sirtis does a great Jonathan Frakes impression (the walk).

I was especially amused when Spiner described (he co-wrote the script) the movie "Nemesis" was received, "some people really hated it...oh wait a minute. It was you guys" he said grinning looking at his audience.    Gates McFadden (Dr. Crusher) corrected a fan (one guy had a "Is it True" question for nearly every panel) and said after the first year a producer did not like her and took her off the show for the second year. In that year that producer fell out of favor with everyone else and he was subsequently removed, with Gates returning for the rest of the seven year run.  Levar Burton led the audience in singing the Reading Rainbow theme which I suspect happens at most of these gatherings.  In response to a fan's inquiry about dolphins on the ship, Burton did coin a new phrase as how in the future one would express seeking sex as "finding the dolphin".

Karl Urban came onstage and did his lines in perfect exasperated Dr.McCoy before relaxing into his natural New Zealand accent. He also was a first rate story teller detailing an earlier story that Alice Eve let us on in- how Simon Pegg (Scotty) used the first week's shoot at a nuclear facility to punk his cast mates. Casually asking each if they had applied the "neuron cream" to protect against radiation, planting the seed of worry.  As the week progressed, false props of neuron cream related products were in place as were other strategies; the make up lady told Urban she took pills to protect her but they made her feel ill.  Urban began to feel sick and resented the Production for risking his life ("how dare they do this to us!") and got to the point where he applied the cream and continually shook his body to loosen the neurons.

George Takei began his stage time with 15 minutes about the efforts to inform Russia that discrimination against the LGBT community is wrong- also later saying that he understood why Roddenberry did not create an episode about this form of discrimination for Roddenberry had to be responsible to the life of the show. If Star Trek had gotten good ratings or made it to a 4th or 5th year, then perhaps then.  During his photo op session , he welcomed a couple with three signs (of which he held up one) that read, "Oh My. It's A..Boy".

William Shatner is always digging for the meaning of everything as it relates to the individual (usually him) but he does ask good questions and listens well when he is conducting his explorations.  He seemed to want Kate Mulgrew to speak about what she was missing in life- however Mulgrew is very happy doing the Netflix show she is in now (" I just want to act. I have time for everything else").  When she asked Shatner if he was satisfied with the body of acting work in his life, he said "no.".  Shatner is continually working as he does so as a response to his fear of his mortality.  Among other projects, he is working on a documentary of the Next Generation. His most recent Star Trek related project is where he interviews in depth all five of the Star Trek captains (excluding himself- although that could have been interesting).  Yep, and a new record is coming out too. He also will be riding a custom made motorcycle from Chicago to Los Angeles.  Possibly the hardest working 82 year old around today.

A fan told Jeri Ryan that he paid $5K! for one of the Seven Of Nine Body Suits (Voyager) on Ebay but has concerns for written into the tag of the suit is "Geri Ryan".  She was nice to ask if he had the thing with him (she knows her Star Trek fans) and asked to see the suit.  I got the impression that as soon as the series ended Ryan made as much distance as she could between those costumes but here, she seemed amused and fascinated.  Looking at the work of the suit, she recognized it as the work of the seamstress of Voyager (who also worked on her most recent series with Dana Delaney) and told the fan, "I'm pretty sure that this is her work. You can relax now"

Kate Mulgrew later did a panel with Robert Beltran (Voyager) -when both asked if they would do any Star Trek movies said of course but Beltran added, "I'm not sure if they would want me. I once told J.J.Abrams to go F-himself on an audition I did for him".  How he lasted the full run on Voyager is a sweet mystery.

Fans at some point will ask for a funny story, a prank or hijinks on the set.  When this was asked of the Deep Space 9 panel, Nana Visitor (Kira) said, "we didn't have any. we had a serious set".  Terry Farrell (Dax) reported that she was not confident when she began the series-plus her first scene was with Avery Brooks (big presence) and her character was to be a mentor to Brooks' character-Commander Sisko's nickname for Dax was "old man", Farrell was not comfortable and a mess on set.  She explained that Brooks helped her through the day with assurance and patience- setting the tone for everyone else.  As if on cue, the first fan question- from a nervous fan- was addressed to Brooks where he asked Avery about the role of his father as played by the legendary Brock Peters.  However this fan said "Paul Robeson" . Realizing his error the fan (unfortunately fitting a geek description)- on microphone still began to berate himself; "Duh! Stupid! How could make that mistake!!..."  Brooks, who sometimes speaks in a abstract way to get to his point, jumped in and said, "it's alright. it's alright. you're okay. you're okay. don't worry about it. We're all good here".

One DS9 episode had some of the regular cast also undergoing Klingon make up. René Auberjonois (Odo) said they didn't mind but that Colm Meaney (O'Brien) hated, hated the make up. Armin Shimmerman (Quark) who had the most alien make up to wear on a daily basis growled that if it that was not acknowledged, he didn't care sitting next to Dorn "if you were a Klingon or not, i would kick your ass".  Speaking of Klingons, the Next Gen cast noted that Michael Dorn had the most trouble with his lines- sometimes with the simplest of dialogue, they would wait for him to say his line.  And wait... 

The person leading the panels was pretty good at summing up crucial parts/relationships on each show, the essence of each character.  However in trying to bring the selfish character of Quark full circle to caring for his crew and becoming noble- the actor (Shimmerman) playing Quark disagreed saying the Quark was always true to himself; selfish, the most human in that even when doing something that would be interpreted as good, it was for himself. "I would submit that your character ended up noble and caring for his fellow crew".  " I would submit that you are wrong".

Terry Farrell who has been semi-retired but now is ready to act again, showed up all over the place. She walked onto the Bret Spiner, Joanthan Frakes, Marina Sirtis panel by invitation of Sirtis (Sirtis had crashed the Worf/Dax photo op by sneaking into the line. Farrell was very happy at the surprise, and I got the impression that they had not seen each other in years)  .  Sirtis said that when Farrell would visit the set, all the boys would go crazy.  Earlier at her solo appearance, Farrell said her departure at the end of year six could be blamed on producer Rick Berman and that Michael Dorn hit on all the women- (in a nice, not creepy way).  Berman was later acknowledged by others for giving them the opportunity to work, and good work.

Alice Eve addressed two issues; one, the roar of negative feedback about Carol Marcus appearing in underwear (Chris Pine has been in his underwear for two films)- nothing wrong about being fit as these characters should be. She then turned to the next person with a question and said that she had answered this question and you with the next question better have something very different to ask. Another tough one she tackled:  Khan being Caucasian does have a basis in reality as the Sikh religion is one based from a Guru, where one could follow this religion, a belief system not created by a deity.  Eve also expressed her belief that Simon Pegg (Scotty) is a bully.

In response to listening to the DS9 panel, James Darren (who earlier expressed his fondness for his character Vic Fontaine) said that compared to everyone else, his character was kind of shallow.  Later, a fan asked Darren to sing with Avery Brooks. The song "The Best Is Yet To Come", they sang together in one of the last DS9 episodes. With Darren leading they performed a duet, but as he swooned these lyrics- had Darren saying, "hey, my character is getting pretty interesting"

Out of the tree of life I just picked me a plum
You came along and everything's startin' to hum
Still, it's a real good bet, the best is yet to come

Best is yet to come and babe, won't that be fine?
You think you've seen the sun, but you ain't seen it shine

Wait till the warm-up's underway
Wait till our lips have met
And wait till you see that sunshine day
You ain't seen nothin' yet

The best is yet to come and babe, won't it be fine?
Best is yet to come, come the day you're mine

Come the day you're mine
I'm gonna teach you to fly
We've only tasted the wine
We're gonna drain the cup dry

Wait till your charms are right for these arms to surround
You think you've flown before, but baby, you ain't left the ground

Wait till you're locked in my embrace
Wait till I draw you near
Wait till you see that sunshine place
Ain't nothin' like it here

The best is yet to come and babe, won't it be fine?
The best is yet to come, come the day you're mine

Cy Coleman, music  Carolyn Leigh, lyrics 

Well that's enough words on this one, don't you think?  

  
 

That's How We Warp! part 1

  Thursday evening Dexter and I began our great Trek into darkness to Las Vegas.  We were very fortunate to have this opportunity as the underwriters for this blog offered to pay for the entire trip in return for a detailed and awesome report.  Our goal  to unveil the myth behind the largest annual Star Trek convention in the desert sands of Nevada.  What drives these people to go to the Burning Man of geekdom?  What salvation is sought? What answers are found? And simply, why?

   http://www.creationent.com/cal/st_lasvegas.html (the program)

   But first, a fun diversion.  Flying into Vegas on a Friday is the popular and costly thing to do so we calculated on flying in on a Thursday, paying for a room with net savings over $100.  Plus a cool pool at the Nugget with a three story water slide that zips through a shark tank.  The pool itself is not very big as it surrounds the decent sized tank. The occupants are well sized sand tiger sharks (ideal big aquarium occupants; creepy looking but relatively mild mannered, nurse, black tip and reef sharks, groupers, tuna and smaller fish) . Other than the groupers the fish do not appear interested in the people flying through and floating in their habitat.

    The pool is shut down from swimmers about 9pm and not reopening until 10am.  Lifeguards were asking guests and their children not to dip their feet into the water until the pool opened.  Perhaps providing the fish  some respite (the glowing lights are shut off around midnight). At opening time, guests float and gather around the tank, make stupid faces, warble the Jaws theme and line up the stairs to the slide.  It was about a 5-7 minute wait until we reached the front of the line. The lifeguard, with a walky talkie in one hand and an iced tea in the other sits viewing a monitor and told me I could go.  The instructions are to lay back with hands behind your head.  However if you sit up and spread your legs, you slow your descent enabling some viewing time within the tube.  It's a quick mildly odd ride- then suddenly flush into the pool.   For someone like me who usually takes 20 minutes to get into the water, I was mostly thinking, "I don't want to get wet".  Dexter following me, shot through at rocket speeds.

   

       As spectacle, kind of fun. Plus Dext and I were upgraded in our room (we came in late?). Comfy large space with a tv in the bathroom (Dexter approves) and  bowls of candy and beverages.  First night is a good night. Shark week on the telly too (admittedly not very informational television but some good footage).

       Next: The Rio and Star Trek.

Still impressive how large everything is in Las Vegas; everything is a Big Gulp version of anything.