Birthdays in the Pandemic

On my birthday this year, Seattle Public Schools announced it would close for at least 2 weeks which eventually became the entire rest of the school year because of the pandemic. So---not the best gift I've ever received. (party horn)

But many other birthdays would come to be celebrated in the midst of the pandemic quarantine where everyone was housebound and nothing was as it once was....

An idea sprung to life when Ken found a stop-motion app, installed it on his phone and started making short videos with creative direction from the kids. With our humble team of four, we started to see what we could accomplish and I eventually purchased an inexpensive green screen drape, piping and stand up lights. What could we make? How about something short, fun and celebratory.... 

Creating birthday videos has been an educational and inspiring endeavor. It can be intense when everyone has an idea of what they want or is not completely on board with what is going on. Ken is a great idea guy, visualizing what might be novel or fun. I am the pragmatic producer-type who tries to figure out how to accomplish what Ken is proposing. But if it does go off the rails, Ken ends up being the guy who has to clean it up in post so I do try to keep things in the realm of attainable and give proper advice about lighting and camera angles upfront. 

To this point, everything except Annabelle's video was shot with cell phone cameras. But I am eager to fire up my GoPro next time. I still remember some of my WSU video production training and hear the echo of my friend Ian in my head when setting lights. 

The kids are charming, no cost actors and creative consultants who I hope enjoy this process as much as their parents. It's quite fun to make something new and creative that hopefully brings a smile to people's faces. Even if it's cheesy as heck. 

For Fancy (stop-motion + green screen)

For Max (stop-motion LEGO)

For Annabelle (basic editing with Premiere Pro)

 

 

For Sarah (green screen and significant Premiere Pro wrangling)

For Kristin (um...magic)

For Austin (Dancing!)

Gaga Las Vegas

I first saw Lady Gaga (with Sarah) back in January of 2013 when she was touring the Born This Way Ball to support the album of the same name. But soon after her stop in the PNW, she cancelled the remainder of her tour because of an injury that required surgery. Even then, when I assume she was in great pain due to her-not-yet-announced fibromyalgia diagnosis and experiencing extreme angst about her condition, yet she delivered a high-energy, athletic show.

Flash forward six years. In February, I'd heard that Lady Gaga was going to add more 2019 shows to her Las Vegas Residency later in the year. I hadn't been to Vegas since well before my babies were born--over 10 years. So I thought, why not? Ken said he was up for it and we kept it easy. I think he especially enjoyed the low 70's highs.

Views that will do

Why we're here

Lavender chandeliers

But soon after we landed I realized things had changed. The difference between doing Vegas at 45 now is that I personally wear way too much clothing to fit in and the contact high from all the legal cannabis enjoyed by fellow revelers makes drinking almost unnecessary. A perfect Vegas vacation now includes taking a long hot bath alone in a jetted tub while also being able to watch cable television uninterrupted. So that's something. We also ate fancy food that the kids would hate and took Lyfts everywhere. One driver even smashed my fingers as he closed the window without realizing I was holding on to the door frame. Luckily Ken had a cup of ice water that I commandeered. No tip for that driver.

Lobby of the Aria Hotel where we stayed

Downtown (Old Town) Las Vegas does not disappoint!

Come for the $5 craps tables, stay for the street chaos and 

nearly-naked goatman. #vivalasvegas

Nearly-naked Goat Man

Saturday morning we ventured out to the Neon Museum where signs from bygone Las Vegas continue to live in infamy. Currently they are featuring art installations, "Lost Vegas" by 

Tim Burton, interspersed among the permanent collection also. 

(We're told it's amazing at night!) 

Finally, drinks, bites and silly photos at the 

Waldorf Astoria SkyBar before the show.

The Main Event: ENIGMA by Lady Gaga

While she might not be everyone's taste, LG is incredibly talented and driven. She performed with a sinus infection and fever, she later informed us, and yet you could not tell. Her shows are high-energy and the singing is very muscular so she has to give 100% to pull it all off and she did. But I hope she got to go home and drink tea and rest. I love that she played some of my favorite dance songs from her early work and some less popular tracks like 'Aura' and 'Government Hooker'. She also presents interesting staging like being suspended from the rafters on wires high above the audience while descending down to the stage playing a keyboard guitar for 'Let's Dance.' It's all a spectacle to behold and she promotes self-love & acceptance above all. 
Let that freak flag fly!

Here's a snip from her encore of "Shallow"

But alas after losing net $60 at the craps tables and continually drifting through cigarette smoke-smelling casinos and restaurants, with no amount of lotion or water to make you feel properly moisturized, it was time to go home. Thanks Gaga & Vegas--see you in another 10 years.

A gorgeous view on our flight home: dormant & formerly active volcanos, just waiting for their moment

Mt. St. Helens & Mt. Adams

Mt. Rainier

Many thanks to Dad and Ann for watching the kids for the weekend and keeping them so busy! 💗

The Mueller Report and the Crisis of Fairness

Is the Mueller report 'TL;DR' for you (too long; didn't read)? 

Are you wondering what's really in it without any bias/spin? Check out this 6 minute summary from the neutral and authoritative PBS Newshour folks. They did a week-long series of explainers but this is the last day sum up.

Click here: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/what-came-out-of-the-mueller-report-heres-what-you-need-to-know-in-6-minutes

Why is this important? When you think about what 'group' you belong to from a neighborhood/school community to a citizen of a country, how much do you care about the integrity and the rules of that group? Does it matter that some people can sidestep rules and still win while others toil and sacrifice yet still lose? Fairness is a fundamental concept that even my kids understand and fight about if there are perceived imbalances. So as Americans, is accountability and integrity still important to us? This report exposes actions that directly challenge our laws (rules) and concept of fairness. It is daring us to do something about it. So the question is: is fairness important to you? And if it is, what are you going to do about it?

Again, at least inform yourself and know what's in the report.

Click here: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/what-came-out-of-the-mueller-report-heres-what-you-need-to-know-in-6-minutes

Remembering Uncle Ernie

Sadly, another memorial post...

With a heavy heart, I am writing in remembrance of our dear Uncle Ernie Spadafore who left this realm yesterday, May 1st at the age of 92. 

Ernie & his late wife June

Uncle Ernie with my mom on her 3rd or 4th birthday

He was a great-granduncle to our kids and one of the namesakes for Calvin's middle name (the other being Ken's late father). Having no children or grandchildren of his own, we were tickled that we could honor him when we named our boy, Calvin Ernest. It meant a lot to me too that Cal has his own memories of one of the wonderful men he is (middle) named for.

Calvin's 1st Birthday, 2013
Photo by Grandma Cindy

Ernie was a younger brother of my Italian grandmother, Irene, and he was a dependable companion/caregiver to many people throughout his life, especially to his mother, Agnes; his wife, June (who suffered an aneurysm and convalesced in a facility until her death decades later) and to other friends who needed help in their elder years.

Ernie with members of our family. Sitting next to his sister, my great aunt Rose.
Top row: my mom, and great aunts from the other side of the family, Bev & Mary. Date: Early 2000's

Celebrating his 89th birthday at Mom & Cindy's place with the Italian side of the family, 2016

He was a World War II veteran, decorated with the Purple Heart for injuries sustained during fighting at the Battle of the Bulge in Germany. He was an accountant by profession but loved to play poker & black jack down in Reno and Vegas--he also seemed to do well at it. 
In fact, he loved going to the casino so much, that less than a week ago, the hospice team made special arrangements to get him to the Ilani Casino in Ridgefield. They had to sort out oxygen tanks, drip morphine and transport him via Uber but he got to enjoy his favorite activity one last time. 

It was easy to see he adored the children and loved their energy because he lit up around them--you can see it in all the photos. 

Christmas Eve 2017

Elmer's Breakfast with Cousin Marge & Uncle Ernie,
November 2018

Sidney, Annabelle & Calvin with Uncle at Thanksgiving, 2018

The kids even got to see him recently a few weeks ago when they were staying down in Portland with my Mom & Cindy. I am so glad for that!

Last visit with Uncle, April 2019

We will miss him and his sweet smile. With a calm presence, he was a quiet, dependable fixture at family gatherings. I am grateful that he and Ken shared a connection too. I remember often finding the two of them huddled after holiday dinners, heads bent together, thoroughly engrossed in war stories or life adventures that we never even knew he'd had. May we all have so many stories to tell.

Our love is with you always. RIP.