I've got gas

prices rising

Quote du Jour

" We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give."

- Winston Churchill

Pics from Pollywood, CA

Don't see to many of these, a rare example of the "Corkscrew Palm"



Polly worked last week on a feature film. Here is a pic of what they call a Process Trailer. A flatbed trailer that tows a car around to make it look like it driving while the camera is on the actors inside the car.

Sex Life Live

Got say that Dane Ballard presents an interesting show which airs on channel 77 Friday nights at 12:30AM. Sex and the Magician was part performance part interview. Joe performed the Orange, Lime & Egg trick with the little parrot finale. Vaclav performed a mental effect and the bunny trick. I gave the audience a choice of high brow, or low brow. They all opted opted for below the belt and I delivered a rapid succession of magical effects and a beating of jokes both funny and not funny. It kind of took me back to my comedy club days, where in your show you could say whatever the fuck you wanted. I like to think it went over, guess the footage will be the real proof. I'm not sure that I want to share this performance with anyone.


Joseph Rayome on set


Here I am fucking with some buttons on a switcher in the booth


Shot from the booth

The interview segment was fun. Again I thrived on being as inappropriate as I could could be, I thought there was a good balance of personalities and different takes on the subject. We explored the angle of meeting woman with magic, when did that start, how did it work. The guys were polite in their responses. I on the other hand said, well I don't want to brag, but I scored a fair amount of pussy back in my day". Lets face it chicks dig tricks. The hand is quicker than the thigh. . . ah. . I mean eye.

Thurston

Only Artists Live This Way

Hengst Studio • Click Here



Was on a cable tv show called Sex Life Live • CLICK HERE taped at this interesting location last night. Crazy place, giant artists studio with a performing space as well. Under the freeway. . . go figure, with a water view of Lake Union.



Jeff Hengst oil paintings in progress



I'll post more on how the shoot went later. It's a sex, talk show with an edge, no censorship what soever. The topic was Sex & The Magician. Fun stuff with Vaclav, Joesph Rayome and myself as The Magicians. Dane Ballard hosting his 5th year of this weekly broadcast. Good for him! It was a blast, we each performed a short set then all sat on the couches and chatted. I believe in a week, you will be able to download the show as a podcast. I'll post the url when I know it.



Inside

Heading Downtown

In my "In Box"

Since deciding to relocate, I have taken some heavy hits from some friends and family including Buster's mother. She was dogging me, telling me that Buster really likes his school and why can't I wait a few years to move.

I explained to her that I had growing concerns about the quality of education that he was receiving there. By design, they leave parents out of the loop in an attempt to get the kids to take ownership of their on educational path, it's a sink or swim concept that sounds great but might be a tad unrealistic.

Here is an email I got today from another parent on the "Parent Email List"

I'm a parent of a second year NOVA student. I would like to see the competency based model applied across the board, to faculty & administration as well as students, and some demonstrable outcomes described, assessed, and evaluated, for the system as a whole. If I had understood what the NOVA process was like, I would have advocated for a different school for my student.

I am searching for a place to have my voice heard regarding my concerns, and so far have been met with lots of silence...I'm beginning to wonder if dissent isn't well regarded in the NOVA culture. There is alot about NOVA which needs examination and maturing, in my experience. What my child is "getting" is that her school is flaky & frustrating (her words). What I am "getting" as a parent is that there is no discernible culture of accountability & responsibility, and little support for parents. As a mom of an alum put it, 'I've had to accept that my NOVA student is undereducated'. How sad.

I find the school not only "free", but highly unsupportive of students who, as first-year and some second year, do not have the skills or maturity to negotiate the no-structure environment. It seems patently unfair for them, and a set-up for failure, as a sink-or-swim situation. This has been entirely different than a so-called democratic school. I do not find NOVA to be democratically run...in a democracy, there are supportive institutions which allow for informed participation. The confusion and lack of consistency and accountability at NOVA undermines the goal democratic participation, I believe.

In my family, the consequence has been that we, her parents, have had to be the ones who provided structure & responsibility. . . at a time when teens prefer to look outside the family for their models, and high school teachers have been, in the best situations, role models to be counted upon. That has not been the case at NOVA. Thank goodness our student has two incredible mentors, who have been working with us daily throughout the years, so we could get some support. I had hoped for support from NOVA, and have not found it.

I would have appreciated a transition year or two for my student, rather than a toss-her-into the fray. She would have had more successes on which to build her confidence & concrete skills, and consequently a better experience in school. I've heard from other parents privately that they concur, but don't feel comfortable saying so out loud. What will it take to legitimize dissenting views about NOVA in an effort to examine & perhaps improve this school?

Though I don't count on a response from anyone, I hope for one.

Thanks...

Rebecca

My Hollywood Girlfriend

For the last 5 years, my girl Polly has worked on the hit TV show Scrubs. She does hair. Last month they had their wrap up party in Vegas. Here are a few pics she took.



Here she is in the limo on the way to the party



Here's a couple of the cast members and the real star in my life.



At the moment Polly is working on a feature film with Billy Bob Thorton. Long days on set are her life. She is exploring lots of exciting options from more TV work to Feature Film Work. I'm looking forward to gettting down there and starting a new life with her.

Pic du Jour

Full Size • Click Here

Video Clip du Jour • Criss Bliss Juggler

I saw this cat perform on one of the shows at the World Magic Seminar. Can't say that I ever seen another juggler that does what he does. He's got his own thing going on. Very cool.

Meat and potatoes

Overcast and chilly today I blew off the market. Had a half way decent weekend between the market and the Fenix and decided to catch up on my Netfilx viewing.

Since we were out of food I decided to take the bus to the grocery story and get some stuff for dinner. I had been thinking about ordering my groceries on line and having them delivered, but it was talking so long to put it together I thought I'd just pick up what I needed for dinner as well as a few staples.

The menu this evening consisted of another bachelor home cooked meal. We had meat loaf (with the Lipton onion soup mix recipe), mashed potatoes and carrots. All turned out great and put smiles on our faces. Buster said he didn't have a good day at school today, but didn't want to go into it.

Interesting Interaction

I see lots of people I know, or have met, when I work the market. Sunday was no exception. I was setting up to work when Nigel the drug evaluator came up to me. He asked me how things were going and I told him about moving. He gave an approving look and strangely said that this was about the best thing I could do. It was a nice discussion and left me feeling very good about my recent decisions.

I have done everything I can, to try and fight to see my kids more. Moira has spent over fifty thousand dollars in her three year war of hate. Now I am done. I am moving on with life and I feel great.

I hope to have a relationship with my kids someday, but I'm done banging my head against the wall. Life isn't a foot race. . . . it's a marathon. I have nothing in my heart but love at this point, and for the first time in years I'm at peace.

Buster's Sunday chore list

Dancing is FUN!

Partner dancing is making a huge come back these days, just in time to save society.

The Vinyl Avengers

Here is some footage that I shot at the Fremont Festival last summer. I'm looking forward to going dancing Wednesday Night. I missed the bus last week and decided to stay home. Need to get out there and cut a rug.

Busker pic du Jour

Warning - Acrobats!

Pike Place Market

Calamari in a white wine sauce

During Polly's last visit we dined at La Rustica, a quaint little restaurant walking distance from my house where we had a delicious calamari appetizer made in a charming white wine sauce.

Riding the bus lately has made shopping for groceries a mere thought as I've had my street performing stuff with me every time I've been on the bus. So today at the market I decided to shop for dinner down there. I was really surprised at the reception I got at each store I shopped at. At the wine store the guy did exceptional job of reccomending at bottle of wine for the calamari and then gave me a nice discount. I wasn't quite sure why he did that, but who looks a gift horse in the mouth.



I entered the french bakery and stood in line waiting. A young man behind the counter said that he had seen my show a few times and really like the coin falling up. I asked him if he had ever seen the coin in the croissant illusion. He looked puzzled and said no. He was putting a tray of fresh croissants in the case as we chatted. I asked him to hand me a croissant off the tray. He handed me a warm, golden brown flakey croissant, I reached for it with an open hand and proceeded to rip it open and reveal a beat up old silver dollar inside the roll. He freaked, then asked me what I wanted. I needed a baguette, which he gave me on the house along with the severed croissant.



Same thing at the vegetable stand and the City Fish. Nice discounts and the adoration of the vendors in Pike Place Market. I was touched. I rarely think that someone might recognize me from day to day, but I guess the Fedora with a playing card in the band, my buskers pouch, doctors bag, table top and tray jack might be a give a way. Not to mention I'm the guy standing up on the newspaper box making an ass out of myself day after day. OK, I guess I'm hard to miss. But in my obliviousness it's not something I think about.

Being a magician, a street performer at Pike Place Market in Seattle has been a rewarding experience. As part of a community of people at the market who come there every day, to sell their wares; over the last 3 years, they have made me feel like a part of their dysfunctional family. I will miss working there.



My girlfriend fancies herself a bit of a gourmet cook. And while plugged into my ear with a hands free device, she walked me through the the entire preparation of this tasty dinner for me and my boy. We crushed garlic, chopped fresh parsley (which by the way she feels is highly under rated) , and sliced a lemon. Garlic sauteed first, red pepper flakes and salt added. I think you get the idea. When it was ready we signed off and she told me she expected a full report in a half an hour.

I called her after dinner and told her that Buster & I enjoyed our dinner very much.



A very serious moment as I smell the fragrance of the wine sauce as it drifts up from the table. I had high expectations for the meal.



It turned out great. . . no left overs.

Sylvester The Jester

Thrills, Spills, Magic, Mayhem, and Misty Lee!

Hey there friends,

Sylvester the Jester is at it again! Teaming up with the beautiful and talented Illusionist, Misty Lee as together they bring magic, mayhem and who knows what else to the stage of the Colony Theater in Burbank California!

The show will run through Memorial Day Weeked! May 26th and 27th at 8pm. and at 29th at 2pm. Tickets are 15 dollars and are available at ticketalternative.com or call 877-725-8849