Tea with McNair

• begining...anything

MONDAY. First day of the...nah!

Why do we do that: draw little boxes around ourselves? "The end of an era." The first day of the week. The first year of a new century.

(Many got that one wrong in 1999 because we are hypnotised by numbers ending in zero, even though we've been counting from 1 to 10 since the first grade. If the century started with the year 2000, why have we waited until the end of 2010 to discuss the "best of the decade" in movies, books, music... So the decade was eleven years long from 2000 through 2010?)

[ Y2K cartton, above, by Jeff MacNelly, creator of comic strip "Shoe." ]

So, as I was saying, today is Monday. For many: the first day of the work week. Projects to start. But many projects to continue or complete—begun so many Mondays ago. Each step along the way is a begining in its own way.

I began writing my new play (I,WITNESS) last July. Auditions commenced in September. Soon after we had our first read-through of the entire script (other than my own solo performances at home, alone, out loud—all thirty chracters.) Even so, last Saturday evening at 8:00 PM was my first meeting with Jesus and seven of the tweleve the disciples. (See photos, left) The director, Sanne McCarthy (like "Donna" with an "S") asked me to direct one particular scene, "Because I think you have a real feel for how this should work." We had a good begining to what I think will be an important scene—among many—to tell the human side of this familiar story.

And today I must take several more steps in the process of prepping three books for publishing (two of my former titles are being republished under a new label and one brand new book.) Each step in publishing is like a begining.

Today I begin to draw new cartoons and illustrations to add to one of the old titles. (Both books will have some new content.) But today I begin creating the new parts. That it is a Monday means nothing here. I have been pulling together sketches, ideas, and pieces not included in the first book—all are in the running for the new edition. I may even discover that there's enough material for a separate book containing all the new material. That would be another begining of new book.

All this to suggest we can beging at any time, day, week, year—even if it doesn't end in a zero.

I try to put an item on my daily TO DO list that I will accomplish first. At the end of the day I can look to that one task as a fruitful accomplishment. It may be as simple as an important phone call. (In fact I have suscha call to make this day.) If I reach the intended party, that's best. More likely I will leave a voice mail, get a call back and we will get our business accomplished later today or tomoorw. But it begins with one call.

That call and the new art for my books are not the only projects for this week. One will be started when one is finished—mid day, mid week, of at 4:17...as I begin sipping my extra-hot latte (two Sweet-n-Lows). Now and then I take a break from all the tea.

Start something. Finish something. Keep an important project going. It's just Monday...another day to create. Make it great (challenging to the best parts of you and rewarding for your soul.)

Time to put something in the world that wasn't here...last Monday.

 •     •     •     •     •

[ TICKETS now on sale for I,WITNESS,my new play premiering 7-10 April in Denver. Details and web link in post below "box office now open."]

• box office now open

I,WITNESS website (for my new play) is now live and online. The press release with a description of this World Premiere production is on the University Headlines page, HERE. Feel free to use the full press release or exerpts for your blog, company intranet, church bulletin/website, etc.

The I,WITNESS web page for the play has promotional materials (downloadable flyers, posters in 2 sizes), ticket reservations*, and a promotional video (below) of Jerry B. Jenkins and me discussing the origins of this project. It was the novel The Jesus Chrionicles: Matthew's Story that was the eaerly inspriation for this project. Jerry and long-time collaborator Tim LaHaye created four novels of the lives of the gospel writers after their hugely successful, best selling Left Behind series. Here's the promo video.

You can download the video to your blog or organization's website by clicking on the video (which takes you to the YouTube site) and copy the code in the "Embed" box below the video and paste it on tyour blog or other websites.

Seating for I,WITNESS is "open seating" (no reserved seats), but do reserve your tickets in advance for one of the SIX performances. Plan to arrive at the Colorado Christian University campus (Lakewwod, CO...Denver suburb) thirty minutes before curtain to get parking and good seats. All performances will be in the University Event Center (the large white building at the back of the casmpus). Follow the signs.

Tickets - PR materials - video, etc. HERE. See you there April 7-10, 2011.

• so long, farewell, adios, old friend

Earlier today (Monday, 24 Jan 2011) there was an announcement at the Performing Arts complex in Heaven, "Ladies and Gentleman, Please welcome to our stage the indefatigable Mr. Bob Lockman!"  And the crowd roared.

My friend Bob was a co-worker in Lambs Players Street Theatre and member of the original troop ...of SAK Theatre, 1977, Minn. Ren. Festival. His long, courageous, bout with cancer ended today—Mon. 24 Jan. 2011—in Minneapolis. He is survived by his gracious and talented wife, Linda, and two grown "kids."

Rest now, dear friend. Our creator welcomes you with open, loving arms...and a good giggle for all the joy you carry with you. 

Photo, ABOVE, Bob more recently in his Civil War uniform.

LEFT, McNair, Bob Lockman, and a young kid at Minnesota Renaissance Festival during our stint with Lamb's Players Street Theatre. Those were the days!

RIGHT, Bob & Mrs. Bob (Linda) in London.

Click photos to enlarge.

 

• the king's speech coach

My mother was a speech therapist. She worked with young, school-age children, who arrived for their first day of Kindergarten with a lisp, stutter, clef palate, or "baby talk." ("Lazy speech" my mom called it because their parents never cared about them forming their words in an intelligible manner.) Forget "correct  pronunciation"—whatever that is—they just mumbled and babbled. She wanted "clear speech." She recorded every student, first day, just talking. Then more tapes to demonstrate progress. She spoke at educators conferences to assist elementary school teachers in recognizing problem speech and even how they could work with any number of speech "impediments." She often played the audio tape of a kid..."reading Mary Had a Little Lamb"...and though you knew the words, you could barely make out one or two—at most. Then she brought the child to the front and had them recite a longer and far more challenging piece—live. Often people swore that it could not possibly be the same child as was on the tape recording. (This was pre-video tape, so they had to trust her and the word of the child.)

The transformation was stunning.

With a mom like that, my brother and I were never aloud to speak lazily. She did it all in a very up beat, positive, affirming way.

With this background, I went to see the highly praised film The Kings Speech. It is the story of the son of the United Kingdom's King George V, who became King George VI—and the father of the current QUenn Elizabeth II.

It is history and it is riveting human relationships. The King (of the film's title) is the always engaging Collin Firth (at right with the terrifying microphone). His wife is portrayed by Helena Bonham Carter, who always surprises, but is uncharacteristically "grown up roll", but with plenty of human idosyncracies. And, as The King's Speech speech coach is  Geoffrey Rush (in bow tie, below) who I can not recall ever being anything less than riveting on film. 

This is an amazing film.

I laughed, out loud (fffffffrequently.) It is very funny, without ever being jokey. There are more than a few moments for tears (always of joy and exhilaration.)

Technically the camera work is a key part of the story telling (isolating the future king in the frame just as, I suppose, any stutterer must feel along in the world.) The designers created environments, costuming, and natural lighting effects that make nearly every frame a rich oil painting.

Here's the trailer—incase you don't have wifi under the highway over pass where you live.

 The script, a "former" stutterer himself, was written by David Seidler, had no misplaced words. A grand story, told on an intimate scale, it could have been a play, I thought.  Then, after the film, sitting here in my friend's restaurant—Il Postino—I discovered on the net that Mr. Seidler had first written it as a stage play and one of the potential producers said it needs to be a film.
(Watch for a stage version soon. "I'll bet you a shilling.")

The King's Speech is one of the best films I have seen in years. It is by far the best film in the last three or more years. Inception, stunning, hypnotic; Tangled, joyous; Toy Story 3, wonder-filled; Sherlock Holmes, delightfully quirky and original; Social Network, my favorite of 2010...until two hours ago.

I have not yet seen the latest Narnia installment, or True Grit, and a few others I suspect I will like. For now, and for quite some time I believe, The King's Speech is great storytelling, great film making (script, acting, directing.)

Do see it on a big screen near you. You may find me there, again.

• remembering tanzania 2009

 

Found my photos from Tanzania trip in Feb/Mar 2009. Fifty sponsors of Compassion children spent ten days and met "their kids" (that they sponsored.) There were three staff from the USA HQ (here in Colorado Springs) and several of the remarkable Compassion Tanzania country office staff. I'll be posting several of those photos (with anecdotes) next month.

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Above, entering the stunning Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Area. Breathtaking. (Click photo to expand, drag to desktop, PRINT a poster for your outpost. And may the pith be with you.)

• chesterton, a man of ideas.

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"Ideas are dangerous, but the (person) to whom they are least dangerous is the (person) of ideas. He is acquainted with ideas, and moves among them like a lion tamer.

"Ideas are dangerous. But the ( person) to whom they are most dangerous is the (person) of no ideas.   The (person) of no ideas will find the first idea to fly to his head like wine to the teetotaler."

            ~ G.K. Chesterton

{ See previous post, below,  for more on G.K. Chesterton }

They won't fire you for having good ideas, but they might for having great ideas. More likely they can't fire you either way: it would be too expensive to replace you. So have great ideas. "What's a great idea, McNair?"

I am so glad you asked. A great idea is a wild idea. And...before you ask...a wild idea is an idea that no one understands completely, at first. A wild idea is an idea you are not sure how to impliment, it is a difficult—even impossible—idea. It will cetainly be expensive. Most of the expense will be in the time and effort necessary to figure it out, explain it to management* and execute it.

(*Management - in this instance - is not your boss or your boss's boss. When it comes to the implimentation of great ideas "management" is "the money." That is to say, the person who can say, "Yes" and "greenlight" great ideas. The management you need to "sell" (convince, enroll in your vision) is the one whose signature—on the precise line on the correct form—can allow you to DO WILD.

Time to step away from the computer, ignore emails for an hour or three, grab a cup of hot tea, take a walk to that empty table over by the window that NO ONE ever uses. (Or at the little cafe down the street—mid afternoon when it's emptiest.) Start doodling, to get that idea out of your head. Time to start tame the lion. Don't do it today. Do it RIGHT NOW. GO!

• mr. chesterton & his kin

   

"In short, I had always believed that the world involved magic; now I thought perhaps it involved a magican... I had always felt life first as a story: and if there is a story there is a story teller."

~ G.K. Chesterton

    from his book Orthodoxy, p. 143

Why Chesterton, today? I am working on my keynote address for the Writing for the Soul conference next month (Feb. '11, in Denver.) The theme this year is humor. Besides the host, Jerry B. Jenkins, other keynoters will be Liz Curtis Higgs (laugh-out-loud witty), Ken Davis (author, humorist, comedian), Brandilyn Collins (always large-than-life), and Dr. Dennis Hensley (an hilarious smarty.) I always learn lots from "Doc" while he entertains me.

Besides the witty and acerbic Mr. Chesterton I am re-reading Elton Trueblood's wonderful The Humor of Christ. Trueblood was a Quaker theologian, professor and pastor. His book is the best (thorough) and most thoughtful study of Christ's use of various styles of humor in his teaching, rhetoric and storytelling.

There's another big, fat, hard cover tome on the table here: SURPRISED BY LAUGHTER, The Comic World of C.S. Lewis, by university professor (and certified goofball) Terry Lindvall, PhD. It's cover is the best photo of any author, ever! Lewis in slacks, shoes, necktie, sweater vest and bathrobe. (Photo, right.)

My keynote title (Fri. noon) is "What's So Funny About God?" I have a few thougths of my own, but quoting these fellows adds so much color, depth, and authority. Not everyone is open to the idea that God, Bible stories, and Jesus are funny, but they are. I know there are any number of writers who, in their private life are witty, but afraid to use their humor in writing targeted to a faith-based audience.

There are other gems I've mined from the works of Madeleine L'Engle, Earl Palmer, and the theologian William H. Cosby, Jr. 

Hope to see you there. I think CD's may be available later on the CWG (ChristianWritersGuild.com) web spot. (I'll post a link after the coference for any media available.)  Writing for the Soul is February 10 – 13, 2011, at the Grand Hyatt Denver, Colorado. I suspect there's still room for you to sign up. See you there.

• txt-ing codes for aging boomers

With more and more baby boomers crashing into their retirement years they have more and more time to play with more and more of today's tech toys. There's learning curveto all  laptops, smarty phones, VTR's, and iPads (not an aid for incontinence). No surprise, then, that there is an increasing need for "senior text codes."

Here, provided as a public service to my "fellow" boomers (as we text our way into our sunset years), is the current list "seasoned citizen" abreviations to speed life along.

ATD: At The Doctor's
BFF: Best Friend Fainted
BTW: Bring The Wheelchair
BYOT: Bring Your Own Teeth
CBM: Covered By Medicare
CUATSC: See You At The Senior Center
DWI: Driving While Incontinent
FWB: Friend With Beta Blockers
FWIW: Forgot Where I Was
FYI: Found Your Insulin
GGPBL: Gotta Go, Pacemaker Battery Low!
GHA: Got Heartburn Again
IMHO: Is My Hearing-Aid On?
LMDO: Laughing My Dentures Out
LOL: Living On Lipitor
LWO: Lawrence Welk's On
NCBO:Not Covered by Obama-Care OMMR: On My Massage Recliner
ROTFLAICGU: Rolling On The Floor Laughing And I Can't Get Up
SGP: Sorry, Gotta Poop
TTYL: Talk To You Louder
WAITT: Who Am I Talking To?
WAMP: Where Are My Prunes?
WWNO: Walker Wheels Need Oil

YNGWIJD: You'll Never Guess What I Just Did

Textipedia: if you are a Boomer (born between 1946 -1964) and have developed your own txt-ing short cuts for seniors, please post them in the comments below. (Play nice!)

• thorns & typos: theatre poster, part duex

The poster is finished (and fixed) for my new play, I,WITNESS ("The story of Jesus from hillside sermon to empty tomb...as told by his friend, Levi").

The previous post, below, had an early draft—with now-legendary typos. They are fixed, as is the location of all performances: Colorado Christian University has a wonderful facility—a few blocks form Main Campus—where many of their concerts, musical recitals, and theatrical productions are perfomed. I,WITNESS will NOT be presented there.

All performances of I,WITNESS (with a cast of over 30) will be presented in the CCU Event Center on the Main Campus.

I have replaced the poster image in the previous post below (and at LEFT) with the NEW, final, fixed, poster. In full size this image fills a lagal sheet (8.5"x 11"). See the instructions for downloading and printing posters. CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE.

We'd be delighted for you to print posters for your workplace, school, church, hunting lodge, golf club, local coffee-bucks bulletin board—especially anyone who lives in one Colorado's Front Range communities.

Yo can also use the image as an email attachment to send to frends in "this" area—Denver, Colorado Springs, Booulder, et al.

I will look forward to seeing many of you there. (I will be "at" all performances.)

To get a printable "legal size" poster (8.5"x11") click on image below. It will open in another window. Drag that image (.jpg) on to your desktop, open, and PRINT.

* Coming, next post: anatomy of a poster. The story of the process—mental, artistic, and institutional—for creating a poster.  There's more to it than you might imagine in creating the "right look" for a play about God on earth.

[ See also the previous post with links to my THREE posts on the process of creating my new play— I,WITNESS. ]

• I,WITNESS: the poster! (my new play)

By now you should be aware that I spent a large protion of last Summer writing a new play, I,WITNESS ("The story of Jesus from hillside sermon to empty tomb...as told by his friend, Levi"). It is based on the novel: The Jesus Chronicles: Matthew's Story by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins. (They created four novels, one for each of the lives of the Gospel auhtors.) You can read my three posts, from last Autumn, about creating the play here:

•my new play is done (sorta)

•re-write (only works if you start)

•diligence

And here, below, is the poster for the play (typos fixed.) I created the logotype ("I,WITNESS") and the crown of thorns theme piece concept and layout. The University Communications team (Lisa Zeller and "Danielle the Designer") did the final color, texturing (papyrus background), and pre-prees work. 

If you live in Colorado, Wyoming, or just need a Spring getaway to the Rockies, I hope you will come and see this big World Premiere production (cast of 30+) at one of the six proformances in early April (7-10 April 2011). Performances will be at Colorado Christian University Event Center,  the weekend prior to Palm Sunday weekend. I will be at every perfomance. Grab me (afterwards) and say, "Hi."

To get a printable "legal size" poster (8.5"x11") click on image below. It will open in another window. Drag that image (.jpg) on to your desktop, open, PRINT.

Perfomance Dates & Times:

Thursday, 7 April • 7:30 pm

Friday, 8 April • *10:30 am & 7:30 pm

Saturday, 9 April • *2:30 & 7:30 pm

Sunday, 10 April • *2:30 pm

* There will be a post-perfomance Q&A (at all three matinees) with the director, Jerry Jenkins, me, and some of the cast. Bring a friend.

Tickets: (303) 963-3333  |  www.ccu.edu/IWitness (goes up 28 Jan)

(Tickets are not yet on sale—I will alert* you as soon as they are "Open for business.")

* Here on the "TEA blog, as well as on Facebook, and Twitter (@mcnairwilson.)