Can you identify this international superstar?

here's another shot of him



Any guesses? Anyone? I'll give you a hint. . . it's not Thurston.

Pics du Jour

Video du Jour

Kids Video 11/11/05 Click Here

Ellensburg, Washington

Got to see my kids today!!!!!!!!!!

Picking up Hope, Liam & Max at the Ellensburg Police Sataion (because I am a dangerous guy)



Buster riding shotgun. . . literally



My beautiful daughter Hope Elizebeth Frank



Buster and Dad



Hope showing off her freshly pierced ears and new earings



Liam Price Frank. . . chip off the old block



Buster Thomas Frank



Max William Tynan Frank - turning into a young man



Busta John



I'm a lucky and blessed man! I love my kids!



Liam is one of the happiest children I've ever seen. . . . since he was an infant



Great shot! Love the energy



Dad, Liam and his rock



We ate lunch at Kentucky Fried Chicken. As we were arriving, Dom (Moira's boyfriend) was leaving. You know a town is small when you don't know anyone there, go to a restaurant and see someone you know. I asked the girl behind the counter what fun things there were to do in Ellensburg. . . . she looked at me with a quizzical look and just laughed. An older woman, also working behind the counter mentioned bowling. We went to two different playgrounds, then bowling. We had a great time together!

Camera phone pic someone emailed me

Concierge Run

This afternoon I joined Julie on a Concierge Run. This is where we get picked up at the The Metropolitan Grill (where she works as the Marketing Director) in a stretch limo and go to a few hotels and thank the concierges for referring guests to the Met.



They're always glad to see her. She gives them gift certificates to the Met along with her winning smile. While she fills out the gift certificates I entertain the staff and hand out some promo brochures and business cards. I also get contact information as to who the Catering Managers are and meet briefly with them if possible.

We hit two very nice facilities. The first was the WAC, Washington Athletic Club. The second was the Sorrento Hotel. This is the hotel where Steve and Pam got married a little over a year ago. I enjoyed entertaining in the Penthouse and out on their Terrace. That was a special night. Steve had booked JP Patches as well.



We retired to the Fireside Lounge with Sean from the Hotel where he bought us a couple of drinks. I did some magic with playing cards . We sat by the fire place and enjoyed the atmosphere of this fine Hotel built in 1908.



SEATTLE, Washington -- Positioned regally above the bustle of downtown Seattle, the Sorrento Hotel has been celebrated for more than 90 nears as a historic city landmark. Opened in 1909, the hotel’s timeless beauty and luxury services have earned it the distinction of being the city’s finest luxury hotel. For decades, royalty, politicians, celebrities and the social elite have made the Sorrento Hotel their preferred destination when visiting Seattle.

Drinking and dancing and cops. . . oh my

Last night I took Bibik to the Owl & Thistle to share with him my regular Wednesday Night swing dance scene. He had driven back from Spokane in the afternoon and was ready to party. You got to love a guy who fills up his pockets with tricks, gags and assorted nonsense when getting ready to go out. We had a good time, drinking, dancing and making people smile and laugh.

Emily was there and in rare form. I love watching her dance and I love dancing with her. Her lipstick had broke and she was applying it with her finger. She looked at me and asked if it was on straight. I wanted to press my lips to hers to adjust it just a tad, but instead, simply said, "It looks perfect". I got an evite from her inviting me to her house warming party Saturday Night. I'll be at the Fenix till close to midnight but told her I'd call to see if it's still going on. It starts at 7PM and will involve. . . you guessed it. . . drinking and dancing.

Bibik got in a dance with Katie and surprised me as he knew his way around the dance floor and had some nice moves. I danced a bunch with Julie, Katie and Emily. Overall a very pleasant evening among friends. We didn't stay for the drunk set. We were going to another club when we got pulled over by the police. I couldn't imagine what I had done wrong, we had been in the car less than a few minutes. While Julie & I had our seat belts on, Jeff did not. The officer started by telling us that this was being video and audio recorded. He explained that the reason that he pulled us over was because Jeff was not wearing his seat belt. I explained that he was from Chicago and that I had neglected to tell him about the mandatory seat belt law in Seattle. He asked for Jeff's license. Jeff pulled out his fire wallet and said this sort of thing really burns him up. As he opens the wallet, flames leap from it. He then looked at it with disgust and said I hate it when that happens as he pulled out some burnt cash and a melted credit card. . . . very funny. After running a check on the license he let us go, Jeff got off with a written warning.

Another tune from my brother

This is, in my opinion one of his best compositions. An instrumental entitled The 11th Step (Click Here). 20 years ago my brother attended Berklee College of Music in Boston, Mass. His combination of open tunings and his expressiveness using the double hammer technique on is guitar are in one word. . . beautiful.

It's a shame that he was never able to turn his passion into an income.

I've always believed, "Nothing is more common than unrewarded talent".

Ain't that the truth.

I love my brother

Michael Andrew Frank Audio Clip, Click Here

Chris Richardson took this shot of Mike recently. I haven't seen my brother in years but we speak often on the phone. It's no secret that I am one of my brothers biggest fans. Watching him write songs and play them on the guitar since the age of 8 always inspired me. I love my brother, I respect my brother and hold him in the highest regard. You owe it to your self to click the link above and just take a taste of what he's serving up. . . I dare you.

Jeff Bibik • Comedy Magician

My buddy Jeff Bibik from Chicago flew in today. He rented a car and is driving to Spokane where he'll be doing a college show tomorrow at 11:30AM. He stopped in this afternoon and we hung out for a few hours. I am lucky and blessed for all the friends that I have. Jeff is a nut, a VERY funny guy. He told me that he had put some new video up on his web site, so if I wanted to see him fucking. . . . . . He cracks me up.

We talked about first meeting in Chicago in 1989. I was doing a cross country festival tour with my first wife, Cricket (Buster's mom). We drove into Chicago in my blue Checker Cab to work the Taste of Chicago. Good times.

Jeff is now married with children and lives the daily challenges of the professional entertainer with a wife and kids. We talked about the challenges of all marriage as well as the problems that arise from having to work evenings, weekends and holidays. This is the life we chose and we're all dealing with it as best we can.

We talked about how long we have been in the business and how little we have to show for it. Show biz is tough. There are no rules in this industry that ensure that if you do this, this and this, that a desired outcome will materialze. The real world is a scary place. That's why I've chosen not to be a part of it.

Jeff is coming back tomorrow evening. He'll crash at my place, maybe I'll take him to the Owl and Thistle and introduce him to that swing dancing scene, then he'll fly out Thursday.

I forgive her and pity her - when did she stop being human

November 8, 2005


Dear Mr. Feldman:

I did receive your letter sent via e-mail on Friday 11-04-05. As agreed, Mr. Frank was scheduled to visit with the children in Ellensburg from 12N-6:00PM on Sunday 11-06-05. Mr. Frank telephoned that morning communicating the need to cancel this visit due to the rock slide that closed I-90. I did appreciate his advanced notice regarding this change in plans. However, during this conversation, Mr. Frank further stated that he would re-consider visitation if “I wanted to put up him and Buster on my couch for the evening”. Again, I find it totally unnecessary for Mr. Frank to continue making these types of inappropriate comments and/or remarks during telephone conversations or messages. I know you previously informed Mr. Frank to refrain from this type of conduct by keeping all communications brief and solely about visitation. It appears that Mr. Frank chooses to “do what he pleases”. I would greatly appreciate you discussing this matter (again) with him.

As discussed in our telephone conversations on Wednesday (11-02) and Friday (11-04), I am in agreement with visitations on “alternating” weekends. The letter dated last Friday was Mr. Frank’s first and only commitment to arrange and/or exercise a scheduled visitation since January 2005. The children have prior definite commitments which include numerous upcoming weekends. Due to these facts, and the stability of uninterrupted weekend time, I believe this alternating schedule to be reasonable and in the best interest of the children.

Again, per the Commissioner’s recommendation, Mr. Frank has the opportunity to exercise half-day visitation with the children in Ellensburg during the week. If Mr. Frank wishes to reconsider and exercise this option, please notify me in advance of his requested date(s). This will allow me ample time to verify the children’s schedule and confirm their availability on those dates.

In addition, Mr. Frank did not make any arrangements to exercise his scheduled holiday visitation last year as outlined in the Parenting Plan. Based on this fact, I respectfully request to be notified by 11-18-05 of his intentions regarding these same scheduled holiday dates for this year. This will eliminate the uncertainty experienced last year in planning other activities for the children on these respective dates.

In regards to the exchange of children, it may be necessary to cancel a scheduled visitation due to inclement weather conditions, whether in Ellensburg and/or Seattle. If this situation should occur, I understand Mr. Frank will contact me by telephone. Based on the hectic schedules of three small children who vary in age, I rarely have the need (and/or opportunity) to leave Ellensburg. However, if I ever conduct business away from home on one of Mr. Frank’s scheduled visitation dates, I will contact him by telephone. At that time, we can discuss an alternate public transfer location which would assist him in the transporting of the children.

Again, I appreciate your communication in these matters. Please notify me, as soon as possible, if Mr. Frank intends on exercising visitation on Sunday, November 20th. Thank you for your time in this matter.

Sincerely,

Moira Tynan


My response

Mr. Feldman,

How about if I take them to the weekend activities so that I can see them every Sunday? With the pass closed often through the winter, this will increases the chance that the kids will actually get to spend some time with their father and brother. I would love to be involved with their weekend activities!

She offers up weekday (half day visits). Should I be taking her up on this? I'm not too happy about 4 hours in the car for a 4 hour visit. I've been patiently waiting for over two years for overnight visits. I can wait longer. I would have figured that she would have come to her senses by this point and stop taking her hate and anger out on the kids. Such a shame.

She lies about last year and a holiday visit. She blew off my phone calls for weeks then took the kids to Cincinnati for Christmas. (that was last year or the year before) the fact of the matter I have never stopped asking and she has never stopped denying me valuable time with my kids. I still want to see my kids on Christmas Day if possible.

She denied me on Halloween and on Max's birthday. I just wanted an hour or two on either of those days and she wouldn't agree to that.



Frustrated. . . . but patient


Tom Frank

Busta John in da house!!

I took this shot of Buster with Lee Asher's new 8.something mega pixels camera. I like the warm feel of the shot. I love my boy.

Winter Busking

The rain finally stopped on Sunday. I thought that Buster and I would be crossing the mountains to visit with the kids, but a rock slide that closed both sides of the freeway prevented those plans.

Since seeing the kids was out, I decided to hit the market and do some street performing. Although it wasn't raining and the sun was out, the traffic was light. The temperature was in the high 40's but I gave it my best shot. I've been asked several times not to perform standing on the newspaper box, but I did it anyway. It's the only way I can gather a half way decent crowd given the limited space.

It felt good to bang out a couple of shows. I really felt like my timing was good and that I was connecting with the audience effectively. Performing in the cold has it's own set of challenges. Working with cards and coins with cold hands can suck, but I've got to get used to it again, if I'm going to make a go of it through the winter.

I made a little over $80 in the hour I worked. I would have liked to work longer, but it started raining, so I went home and watched some football.

I tried it again today, but the foot traffic was even lighter. Guess I might actually have to pick up the phone, send out some promo packs and try and book some gigs.

Memories. . . Light the corners of my mind

Somewhere between living in New York City, New Orleans and Boston I spent some time in Atlanta. These clips were from the local magician news in Atlanta (1984, I was 19 years old)

Misty water-colored memories, of the way we were

I was never the smartest guy I knew. . . not by a long shot. Not to say that I was or am stupid, but I've always had a bit of an aloof air that surrounds me. So much so, that when I was a kid, the nick name that my father gave me was ding-a-ling.

The reason that I bring this up at all, was the memory of an experience in 1985 hanging onto the ledge of a building in Manhattan several stories up.

I was living in Boston at the time, sharing a 1 bedroom with my brother in Back Bay where he was attending Berklee College of Music. I, on the other hand was attending the school of hard knocks. I was hanging, not with the wrong crowd. . . but. . . with the wrong guy within an acceptable crowd of street performers in Boston.

The guy's name was Robert Kirk. Just about every week we would drive down to NYC. On the night in question, we were visiting my oldest and dearest magic pal Shawn Greer, who was living at Hayden Hall, a seedy transient hotel on the Upper West Side, between Columbus and Amsterdam near the Museum of Natural History. He told us that the room next to his was empty and that he could open the door to that room for us to crash in.

He did this by climbing out his window, stepping from his window ledge to the next and climbing in that rooms' open window. He unlocked the door from the inside and let us in. As we usually arrived in the wee hours, we were tired and went to bed. During this period of my life, I had a few other passions notably, skate boarding and knife throwing. It wasn't uncommon for us to combine the activities in Central Park at 3AM. Using trees as targets we flew down hills throwing knives and laughing wildly.

I mention the bit about knife throwing because that was usually our morning activity. An hour of knife throwing practice was always a great way to start the day. The next morning was no different. We liked to use a door with a playing card on it for these sessions. THWACK!!! Missed the card by about 3". Try again, standing 10 - 12 feet away; another throwing knife leaves my fingers, revolving end for end imbedding it self into the wooden door closer to the playing card. Again, THWACK!! This went on until we heard an angry knock at the door. We freaked out realizing that we weren't even supposed to be in the room.

I grabbed my shit and was out the window. I had seen how Shawn had held on to the brick column between the windows swinging his leg to the next window ledge to go from room to room. It happened a little different for me. As soon as my weight shifted my right leg onto his ledge, the concrete ledge crumbled. It was like a movie. I looked down and watched the chunks of concrete smash onto the sidewalk 3 stories down. Holy shit!! I focused on grabbing the wall with all the might in my fingers. Somehow I managed to get in his window. I was shaking and realizing how close to death I had come. I wondered where Shawn was as I looked around.

As it turned out, it was Shawn knocking on our door to tell us to stop making so much noise with the knife throwing.

Well. . . . OK. . . . I was STUPID. . . . and probably still am.



This was an original card from that era

Didn't see the kids this Sunday. . . here's why

Rockslide closes I-90 near Snoqualmie in Wash. state

05:29 PM PST on Sunday, November 6, 2005

By JIM KLOCKOW, NWCN Staff



The rockslide 4 miles east of Snoqualmie Pass on Interstate 90 happened Sunday morning, but threatened to close the highway in both directions because more rocks could come down.

HYAK, Wash. – A rockslide forced the complete closure of Interstate 90 over Snoqualmie Pass Sunday. A state transportation official said the westbound lanes could be closed for weeks.

The eastbound lanes were initially closed at North Bend, but the closure was moved to Snoqualmie Summit Sunday afternoon.

Boulders the size of refrigerators rained down on the highway at milepost 58 after 3:15 a.m. Sunday. No one was injured and the rocks themselves would not take long to clear, according to state transportation officials. But the slide apparently exposed a continuing threat that state officials decided they needed to act on.

“There’s a lot of material that looks like it could come down any minute now,” said WSDOT communications manager Mike Westbay.

Westbay said the eastbound lanes would be closed into Monday or longer until officials could set up a rockfall fence. At that point, just one lane would be open.

The westbound lanes will be closed until all the material that state geologists say is poised to fall is brought down by. Westbay said that could take weeks.

"Our goal is to have it open by Thanksgiving weekend," Westbay said.

In the meantime, drivers trying to get over the pass have just a few options, none of them convenient. They can wait out the closure in Cle Elem, head north to Route 20 over Stevens Pass or take State Route 12 over White Pass.

Traction tires were required across Stevens Pass Sunday, but there are no restrictions over White Pass.

To get the job done, the state will seek to enter into an emergency contract, according to WSDOT Assistant Regional Administrator Casey McGill, who said the job may cost about $1 million.



Rocks were the size of refrigerators fell from the side of the mountain.

The closure of the Westbound lanes of the state’s main east-west path through the Cascades is going to hurt, McGill said.

“It’s going to be an ugly situation for travelers in the state of Washington,” he said, “It’s going to have a huge economic impact on the state.”

McGill said the area was not one that had been identiified as being in immediate danger of failing, but was scheduled for attention and stabilization this coming spring.

The closure had an immediate affect at Snoqualmie Pass, where the Pancake House was closed because employees were not able to get to work.

About 28,000 motorists cross the pass on an average weekday, DOT spokeswoman Jaimie Holter said. On Sunday, many people were expected to be returning from Washington State University for the school's Dad's Weekend event.

Sunday’s slide came just two months after a similar slide killed three women in an area not far away.

Grizzly Man

Tonight Buster and I went to see Grizzly Man at the Admiral Theater here in West Seattle. All I knew about it was what I read off the theater web site

"Grizzly activist Timothy Treadwell journeyed to Alaska and spent 13 summers living among grizzly bears, until his passion brought about his demise. After spending many years getting close to the bears and documenting them, Treadwell and his girlfriend are killed and eaten by one of the very animals to whom he had devoted years of study".

I was familiar with the films director Werner Herzog. I told buster about his unique vision and film making / story telling skills in films that I had seen of his such as NOSFERATU & FITZCARRALDO.

This is one of the best films that I've seen in a long time. It had so many of the elements that fascinate me and inspire me as I work on my own story telling projects. Herzog artfully puts together this chilling documentary using Timothy Treadwell's own footage. Footage that took us into the heart and soul of the man. We heard him tell his own story, supplemented with interview footage from his friends, family and even the coroner.

What I loved most about this movie, was that it was real life. . . for this unique man. His bizarre vision and his dedication to his dream was obsessive. His story was rich and full. Possibly manic depressive, he overcame problems with drugs and alcohol and the vision that saved his life. . . killed him. As we got to know the man, we heard from his own mouth. . . that's what he wanted. Ironic? JR would say, "coincidental".

Buster and I give it two thumbs up! Funny, I never even heard of this movie. Now at the cheapies, guess it didn't do well in the 1st run theaters. Documentary's rarely do.