Positive Post Tuesday

Penny Remsen and James McNamara

The first person I recognized today after I left my house was Penny Remsen. She is my lighting design advisor here at UMASS. I met her over the phone...a nice 30 minute long conversation about why I want to travel across the country to study with her, why lighting design for the theatre, why her, why now...Needless to say she a lot of questions...most of which just made me question myself more. And in the end it was exactly what I needed more questions to answer...after all, I wasn't just moving myself...I was moving my wife 18 month old son (oh...did I mention my wife would be 6 months pregnant when we moved and delivering our princess during the first week of gradschool)...Yeah, Penny had every right to ask quesitons.

Anyway, she has met me where I am in my studies. Challenged me to push ahead, advance my knowledge at an advanced rate to catch up to the standards of Graduate school (I haven't had any formal training in Lighting Design until now). Just last week Penny and I discussed the fact that we approach lighting from two completely opposite directions. Hers is more standard, and mine is more well, we haven't figured that out yet. Regardless, I appreciate Penny taking me on knowing full well tha I would be a challenge! She gave me the opportunity to learn when most other graduate programs felt that I would not be able to catch up, push ahead, and become what I need to be to be a great designer.

Thank you Penny for believing in me, challenging me, and trusting me to step up to the plate!

This has been a part of...

Mother-in-Law

Grandma Kiki and Ethan

This is my Mother-in-Law...Since the day I met her, she has always reminded me of the Strawberry Shortcake doll. Sweet with just the right amount of spice to be super nice and just the right amount of fun. A few months after I met her, I wisked her daughter away to Santa Barbara and since then our interactions have been limited to visits on travels, e-mails, and phone calls. And to make things worse within a couple of years we moved to the East Coast and they moved to Hawaii (which I still need to plan that perfect week and opportunity to visit). So, now it is hard to enjoy her genuine honesty and sweet personality on any regular basis.

The thing I appreciate most about my Ma-in-Law is her support and love for her daughter. I have never seen anything but support and help. She calls to check in on Adge every couple of days to talk about life, struggles, kids, and the future plans. In fact, I think Adrienne would call her Friend before she would call her Mother. So, Momma-short-cake thanks for being such a sweet and loving mom and friend. I love you!!!

This has been part of PPT...

New Friends

Adrienne and I met a nice couple a few weeks ago at church. They have children around Ethan's age, so we had something in common immediately. Adrienne and Jess have spent a few hours hanging out since then, and since Adrienne is near her delivery date Jess offered to watch Ethan while we go on a date one more time before the babe arrives. What a wonderful surprise and blessing! We went on our date today, and it was fantastic! (We went and saw Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2...and guys you need to take your lovely ladies to see this flick if they are into that book series).

Anyway, I wanted to say a big thank you to Jess for being such a great friend to us in a time of need, immense changes, and through the weeks and months of getting to know a new city far away from home. She truly is a wonderful person, and we look forward to many more fun times with you guys!!! Thanks again!!!

Check it out....

A Parents Love

Weeeeee!!!!!!

Ethan and I got to walk to the park today so that mommy could have some quiet time to herself. We grabbed all our gear together (diapers, wipes, cheerios, raisins, applesauce, cold water, coffee (for me not Ethan), a book, a hat, a stroller, a binky in case we have some cranky moments, and sun glasses). We stuck it all in our stroller, Ethan got strapped in, and off we went. We chit-chatted about the squirrels, the trees, a few trucks and cars as they zoomed by, mommy, and baby Camille. Ethan talked about poopy diapers, naps, books, and learning how to feed himself....


Pasta is good...but light bulbs are better!

All-in-all a great walk. Then we arrived at the park and Ethan immediately ran down the hill nearly falling over every time he looked back to see if I was still chasing after him. We made it to the bottom of the hill and took possession of the sand box. Sand in our eyes, diaper, shoes, socks, the other kids eyes and hair. It was a lot of fun! More mommy and daddy's arrived...and it was a parade of little tikes and their overprotective and loving parents. Some new to the game, some old to the game, and still some waiting to start playing the game. Any parent that has children deserves a medal for all the love and care that it takes not only to make and grow the baby, but to care for the little one after they are born, through the spit-up, the stinky diapers, the long days, and even longer nights. They teach them, play with them, love them, discipline, and enjoy them through all the good and especially the bad times (or rather not bad but frustrating or difficult times).

So here is to all those parents out there that love their children. Cheers to you...you're the best thing a little tike could ever want or need!

This has been part of

Positive Post Tuesday

This is the most beautiful, amazing, fun person in the world. My wife, Adrienne!!! If you want to know my version of how we met check this out... Right now I want to focus more on those qualities that I see everyday that I never get to mention all at one time, because my wife would think something was up...like I did something bad or wrong and was trying to make up for it by saying a whole bunch of nice things...

Adrienne and I have been married for almost three years, and it feels like we just met! I love joking around with her...the ache in my cheeks from smiling too much. Adrienne's funometer always reads overflowing. I get up early in the morning to play with Ethan while Adrienne rests up from long days and baby growing, but when she does finally get up it is right to the silly looks, funny jokes, and yummy food. Maybe that is all just code for Adrienne is just trying to wake up so everything she does is silly, but I love it and it never seems like she is just waking up.

She stays at home to take care of our little peanut, and lately has been busy growing a beautiful little girl (who by the way is 7 pounds at 33 weeks...we still have 7 weeks to go, and the little pig (the baby not my wife) is already weighing in at a normal birth weight). Adrienne is such a trouper, because she still keeps the house clean (no chemicals because that would be bad), does a vast majority of all the cooking, reads a million times to our son a day, climbs three flights of stairs on a regular basis to drive me around, go to doctor appointments, shopping (which can be hard when you have to lug all that stuff, a toddler, and a 7 pound baby). Way to go honey!!!

I was thinking about it the other day, and I could have at least another 75 years to spend with her. That would be awesome!!! We could be little old wrinkled people together that bicker and fight, then for a laugh we could see whose skin jiggles the most when we shake our bodies, whose ass is saggier, and whose nose is longer. Just thinking that I get to have so much more, better times and worse times than we have had in the last three years makes me the happiest dude in the world! All in all Adrienne is the most wonderful person in the world. I love you honey...!

This was my Positive Post Tuesday...

Positive Post Tuesday

David and Danae Hicks

This is my "little" brother; I only have one younger, and I put "little" in quotes since my three brothers got the tall gene at 5'11, 6'2, and 6'3...and then little ol' me at 5'7. Anyway, we were chatting on the phone last night about living, work, homes, and just what has been going on in our lives the past few weeks. I try to stay in close contact with my family on a 6 week cycle. One sibling each week. It keeps plenty of space between calls for a lot to happen, but not long enough that their whole lives have changed.

David and I grew up pretty close together even though we were three years apart...which is the same age gap between me and my older brother Randy. We slept on the floor together in the trailer for a while, we slept on the floor for about 7 years in the barn, and we finally shared a room together until enough family members had left the nest that we could have our own room in the house. We played sports together, watched tv, built forts, beat each other up...yes, I know how could my little brother that is three years younger beat me up...Well, he has red hair and could twist my mom around his fingers, so no matter how I tried to be nice he could get me angry and then blame the whole thing on me...he might have different versions of the stories...and so do I but this is the version I am telling this time. I remember dropping the baseball team my senior year to go and play golf with him. I did that because he has always been a lot of fun to hang out with, compete with, and for some reason he was able to keep from doing most of the stupid things that all of his older siblings did...I won't name them here, but if you can think of it (within reason) we probably did it.

He is married now to a sweet girl, Danae. He graduated college over a year ago and finished his student teaching...so, now he is a highschool math teacher (yuck), but hey it's his life right. He also is just finishing the process of purchasing his first house at the age of 23...way to go David! I think you may have your .... together better than the rest of us in the family. Maybe we should take a step back and see what you are doing...or maybe that's it...just taking a step back. Love you Dave!

Positive Post Tuesday

I got a call today from an old college buddy. I was playing with my son, so I let him leave a message, but Michael Conrad has been a great friend throughout the past eight years. We met my freshman year, I had known about him for a few months, since I used to drop in on the acting classes and watch them do their crazy thing until somebody saw me watching, then I would sleek away as if I wasn't gawking. Anyway, he is a very devoted to his friends and to keeping life fun and challenging. He has been a strong force in my continuing growth as a theatre artist. He has been a collaborator, teacher, mentor, peer, listener, and so many things that make creating theatre exciting. Michael is a great writer, hilarious performer, and talented theatrical technician (I say technician since he is able to adapt to any position needed in the secret world of backstage work). The girl in the picture is Michael's fiance...or soon to be anyway, Congratulations Michael! I have always enjoyed a cool brew, a smoke, and a simple conversation with Michael. It always seems to be re-energizing to spend time with him. Thanks for all the good times Michael!

Positive Post Tuesday

Another week rolls by, and I have the privilege of posting a positive post about one of the most incredible ladies I have ever met...her name is Lois Magenti.

Lois just turned 84 yesterday...Happy Birthday Lois!!! Lois used to live in Auburn, CA just a mile away from our home. My brother Norman, sister Joy, and I used to do yard work and odd chores for her and her friend Toni. She has amazingly gorgeous white hair and the most beautiful voice you have ever heard. I remember being 10 years old sitting on the ground pulling weeds while Lois cooked breakfast and sang sweet songs out the kitchen window. Gosh I miss those days and Lois too! Her breakfasts always smelled so delicious...she used to bring me out a bite or two with some soda. Honestly, it felt more like playing in the dirt with benefits than it felt like work. I wish I had a picture of her, but I don't think we ever took one. She always used to encourage me to think before I spoke, read continuously, and challenge conversations with sound (good) questions.

Thank you Lois for being such an important part of my childhood and a wonderful memory. Have a happy year!!!

Positive Post Tuesday

Howdy folks...it's Tuesday again...another opportunity to build up those we know. If you have somebody you would like to build up check out this "Positive Post Tuesday", and get involved!

Today, I want to build up one of my closest friends in the theatre world. John Blondell, just so happens to be one of the most gentle people I know. In everything he undertakes, he shows a genuine concern for the development of the process or person. I first met John in a class I had at Westmont...it was an acting class. I hadn't declared a major yet in theatre arts, but I was definitely getting hooked. John taught me how to play, how to have fun, how to explore; he taught me what it means to enjoy what you do for a living...besides who wouldn't enjoy theatre (all we do is play). When I was just starting my Junior year at Westmont, he offered me an internship position as stage manager for the Lit Moon Theatre Company's production of Hamlet. It is through this theatre company, and through John's amazing mentoring, that I became not only the artist I am today, but truly the person I am today. (Of course many people played an integral role in the process of who I am today, but John played a very special role in my life.)

So, thank you John for all that you represent in the theatre, as a Christian, as a person, as an educator...and may God bless you and your family with many more years of academia, traveling the world with your beautiful company, and memories that will serve you long into the future.

--Jonathan