A Couple Of Colourful Ads

Alright, I have to share with you the video files that Ron S. sent me today. Evidently, these have been around for a while. I can't believe I hadn't come across them yet.

I had forgotten that I had posed for those ads.

As I Go Travelling Down Life's Highway

On my way in to work the other day, I decided to take a detour past my alma mater, T. C. Williams High School. If the name of the school sounds familiar to you, it's the school that the movie "Remember The Titans" is based on.

T.C. is the only high school in Alexandria, VA, and as a result, has a huge student population of almost 2000 (and it's only 10th through 12th grade). So the city decided that the school needed to be expanded. But, instead of just expanding the school, they decided to build a new one next to the old one, which would be torn down. Well, after years of construction, the new school finally opens this fall.

Much like the demolition of the ol' West End Dinner Theatre, I decided that I had to get a couple of pictures of the building before it was demolished. Unlike the West End though, I didn't sneak into the building.

This is what the school looked like before it closed.

This is what it looked like the other day. You can see that they've dug up all the grounds around the school. At this point, if you wanted to get into the school, you would have to climb up to it. Talk about higher education (I stole that joke from Larry B.).

The new school incorporates a "green building" design (check out this WRC news story about the school).

It features many modern building techniques including:

-A 450,000 gallon underground cistern that will collect rainwater from the building's roof and store it for use in toilet flushing, air-conditioning, and irrigation.
-A permanent measurement and verification system that will track water and energy usage. Data collected will be made available to students at the central "dash board" located in the student commons.
-A garden roof that will clean roof run-off before draining to the storm sewer system. This will also provide a living laboratory for students.

It's all very exciting, although it's very sad to see my old school go. So many good and bad memories.

I Can't Live Without. . .

You know, inspired by Jim's list of "10 things he loves" and Mark's list of "ten things that annoy him", I decided to do a list of my own. My list is. . .

Ten things I can't live without:

10) Dixie Bones BBQ (the meat just falls off the ribs there)

9) My "Center Stage" DVD (the best movie ever, next to "Crimson Tide" that is)

8) Air Conditioning (I love Anita's house because she keeps it on full blast)

7) Big Dogs Sportswear (I gots to have my Big Dog Tees)

6) The Follow Spot Blogger Network (the network of blogs inspired by The Follow Spot)

5) My Laptop (gotta have something to watch DVDs on at work)

4) Pop Secret Homestyle Microwave Popcorn (it really is the best microwave popcorn)

3) Sirius Satellite Radio (worth the $13)

2) Digital Video Recorder (some have TiVo, I have the Comcast version)

1) Cable TV (best invention next to television itself)

Back To High School. . . 2

So, I watched the World Premier of "High School Musical 2". I thought it was really good. I thought the first "High School Musical" was just okay, but oddly enough for some reason I was really looking forward to the second one.

I think the script was much better and more interesting, and I think the plot had a little more depth. . . actually I don't know, it probably was just about the same as the first movie, but for some reason I liked this one better.

I think my favorite song was "I Don't Dance" which involved a great baseball game dance number. There was also a great dance sequence involving basketballs in "What Time Is It". * *SPOILER* * And I love the fact that Ryan finally stands up to Sharpay.

I only had two problems with the movie. The first problem I had was with the studio sound of all the songs. This is a problem I have with many movie musicals (although not all), the obvious switch between the dialogue audio and the studio audio.

The other problem I had was with Vanessa Hudgens as Gabriella. I didn't think she was bad, but I kinda felt like she was just there to look cute and innocent. . . and blank. She kinda reminded me of Linda Ronstadt in "Pirates Of Penzance". Lovely voice, cute, but just. . . well. . . there.

BTW evidently "High School Musical 2" set the record for the most-watched basic cable program ever with an audience of 17.2 million, which doubled the viewership of the original. Among children 6 to 11 and youngsters 9 to 14, two out of three children watching TV were tuned in. Among girl viewers age 6 to 11, it was four out of five. I'm not quite sure where I fit into those numbers. . .

"Shakin' At The Toby Inn"

So, the other day, after a two hour drive back from Harrisonburg, where I helped my sister move back to college for her sophomore year, I headed out for the hour and a half rush hour drive up to Baltimore to see a little Grease at Toby's. Haven dwellers, let me tell you, it was worth it. If you didn't get a chance to see this show, you missed a treat. Oh, and Mark says you are rude if you didn't see it.

First of all let me say, what really stuck out about the show was how well it was cast. I was impressed with everyone.

I also thought the updates to the show worked. I asked Mark if he had a "gospel consultant" for the "Beauty School Dropout" number, because it rocked the heavens with a new soulful arrangement. And "Your The One That I Want" was a fun change from the usual "All Shook Up" (although I'm a big fan of "All Shook Up").

Stand outs for me included Jamie Eaker as Patty, Jesse Palmer as Frenchy, Tamarin Ythier . . . I mean Lawler as Jan, and Darren McDonnell as Vince (thanks for the shout out). And of course Tina kicked but on ". . .Worse Things. . ."

Thanks to Mark and the whole cast for a very entertaining evening.

EE I EE I OH

Here are some pics of the rest of the animals I'm tending to this week.

This is an African Grey parrot who likes to get you by lowering it's head like it wants to be petted, then bites you when you get in close.











This is the Green Amazon that I mentioned has gotten crabbier as he's gotten older. As you can see in the picture, I can't reach into the cage without bribing him with a peanut. And even then, I have to use tongs.











No biting from the dog, thankfully. In the second pic, we are playing a game I call "Nice To Meet You". When I am coming up the stairs, she stands at the top and holds out one of her front paws. I shake it, as if shaking hands. Then she puts it down and raises the other one.












And finally, the ducks. I tried to get a picture with all of them in the wading pool, but every time I'd come outside, they would all get out except one.

Ol' McBruDog Had A Farm

So, I'm away from home, house sitting this week for my friend Tom and his family's eleven pets. That's right, eleven! Count them: a dog, a rabbit, a guinea pig, 2 parrots, and 6 ducks. They're all pretty easy to handle, although this morning I had to chase the ducks around the yard to get them into their pen, and one of the parrots has gotten crabbier as he's gotten older. Here are a few pics. More to come later in the week.

Meal Or No Meal

Hey I got the one million dollars on "Meal Or No Meal" today!

Post Of The Week

I found what I think is an interesting tale on "The Assimilated Negro". Check it out.

You Can't Stop The Beat

I finally saw "Hairspray" today. I loved it! My face was hurting after the movie from smiling so much. I even shed a tear during the "I Know Where I've Been" number (actually it was two tears). I'll probably end up going to see it again, which I rarely do.

If you haven't seen it yet, GO! Oh, and do like I do and go on a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday morning to an AMC theater. It's only $5.