Big Sur, Julia Pfeiffer Beach trail from r.g.munoz on Vimeo.

finally edited! enjoy….

Cool song a highly creative video. Watching is encouraged.

Lucas & Xissy talk about November 4th from xtimu on Vimeo.

We didn’t know who would win, but we were hoping. We have a lot of work ahead of us. THANK YOU to everyone who worked so hard to make this happen!

• TV: So far, Sunday Ticket + 42″ HD x NFL = hot damn! I recognize that this indulgence in watching football could be seen as, I dunno, juvenile. However, the fact is that I love the NFL. To be able to choose fromt the full schedule of games, pick the ones I most want to watch, and record and watch them on a big fat crispy screen in Dolby surround …. I mean, wow! Not cheap, of course. But not a moment of doubt or regret (so far, at least!)
• Best new color guy: Brian Billick. He did the Saints game, which was the early game that I watched. Dude has chops. As a head coach, he was always one of the best, in terms of quips and cleverity, for post-game interviews. As a broadcaster, he brings the deep insight into stratgey and psychology that only a head coach is likely to have, and offers the kind insightful comments that you never get from all the John Madden wannabes that have dominated the second-tier broadcast booth teams for the past decade. Also, he seems to have decent chemistry with play-by-play guy Dick Stockton.
• Logo overload: Between the league logo neck shield, Gene Upshaw patch, American flag decals, special event memorial patches (Colts’ stadium opening), athletic apparel branding, helmet manufacturer, and acual team logo, the players’ uniforms have become almost unbearable to look at. Jesus H. Christ, what is next? TV screens on the side of the helmets?
• Trend alert: crazy eyeblack. Last week I noticed that lots of college players are wearing the band-aid-like eye-black patches with professionally printed text on them. Sure, no problem. This week, I saw at least five NFL players with eyeblack grease that looked more like war paint. It looks mean, I guess.
• Loose ends:
  - Play of the day: Reggie Bush’s 4th-quarter score, starting with a great catch, followed by some darting cuts, finished off by a wicked dive into the end zone. Dude has skills.
  - Matt Forte, rookie running back for Chicago, looked phenomenal against Indy. Too bad I didn’t start him on my fantasy team.
  - Lucas Oil Stadium: Wow. Why are all the good football stadiums other states? Also, cool first name.
  - Hyundai Genesis commercials: Yawn. Third rate Lexus riffing.
  - Other commercials: Skipped ‘em all! DVRs rule.

Oh yeah, I have a TV now. Did I mention that?

A few days ago inspired by my friend Regina, I decided that we would make Play Dough. DIY. Interactive experience. So I opened a new tab and googled (yes, it’s a verb now) ‘play dough recipes homemade’. I explored about the first 50 hits or so and noticed a common theme and then copied this wonderful recipe into my Jill Bliss journal and went on my way.

This morning after waking early to drop the German car off at the dealer to get its aged complaints repaired, Lucas and I ventured out. Our adventures found us at Von’s (no hofooz, bons!) and we collected the ingredients for our concoction.

Once home we pulled out the mixing bowls and measuring spoons. I set Lucas up on the same stool he stood on the other day and got to work. I managed and assisted, but Lucas did most of the work even mixing the mess up in a bowl in the sink. I stepped in when the directions called for heating (or ‘fire’ as mon cheri calls it). We cooked it on low until we could see parts of it ‘firming up’ and then I pulled it from the fire. We let it cool for a while them I put some flour on the butcher block, spread it out and plopped the whole mixture on to counter.

Boy was it sticky! Lucas was like ‘o, man, this is gross’. He refused to touch it. So I started kneading it and told him ‘hey, dude, I need more flour. Help me.” He would sticke the measuring cup into the flour bag and pour me a little flour (less than a teaspoon at a time) here and there as I kneaded and molded the dough. Slowly but surely it took shape. It got less sticky and more ‘Play-Doh’-like — the way I remember it.

Once the dough congealed, we played and played. We used cookie cutters to cut out shapes, put it in his dishes and pots, pretending to make bread &tc. Until the crankies crept up on us. Time for nap!

I got onto the computra and read my boglines. Someone somewhere mentioned the movie ‘The Secret‘. Later checking my e-mail on my generically handled gmail account, there was another reference to ‘The Secret‘ in one of the newsletters I subscribe to.

My interest was piqued. I started watching and felt this instant connection to the themes being explored there. It reminded me of ‘What the Bleep Do We Know’, but is more direct.

More later.