Tabishland

I can't bear to put anything after Tim's comment to Nell's post. That has to be a record post. So I'm re-addressing the question here. What do the kids have today that we didn't have?

I was thinking about technology and "the old days" before things like e-mail, blogs and the internet existed. My kids are always asking me, "What was it like when you were growing up, Mom?" and "What do we have today that you didn't have?"

Besides the obvious answers--Nintendo, computers, cell phones--I thought it might be fun to put our heads together and come up with "Things We Didn't Have Growing Up". Help me out.

The Greatest TV Show Ever

My favorite tv show of all time- my favorite thing about this show is that billions of dollars in satelite technology was spent beaming sock puppets across the globe - and the sock puppets get bleeped and laugh through the scenes.

If you look to the left, above Dave, you'll notice TABISHLAND now has an RSS feed. If you know what an RSS feed is you'll probably be excited. If you don't know what it is, you'll be able to get updates whenever there is something new on this blog. There is some information if you click the chicklet and go to the FeedBurner site. Or ask your kids how to set it up. I'll probably regret doing this, won't I?

I will provide hotel info, etc as we get closer to the date. Of course, I can put some people up- but I only have a townhouse (as is the Maryland way) and so space may be a bit limited.

My company is performing As You Like It as a part of the international Shakespeare in Washington Festival. We get to play with the big kids as the other participants include the Royal Shakespeare Company, DC's Shakespeare Theatre Company, The Kirov Ballet and Opera, Arena Stage, The Folger Library, The National Symphony and other big shots (more info at http://www.shakespeareinwashington.org/) we really feel like the small fish in a really big pond, but sometimes that's fun too. I saw our name on a giant 40' x 40' banner at the Kennedy Center last night. It was a very exciting moment.

We perform outdoors at the PFI Historic Park- a beautiful site in Ellicott City, MD- an historic town about 45 minutes north of DC and 15 minutes west of Baltimore. We're a family friendly environment. The gates open at 6:30 for an 8:00 show time, but I know a guy so I can get us in earlier. We could even do 5:00 or so if you folks want. Picnicking on the site is encouraged and fun. We can organize that later.

I would be truly honored to have you come see As You Like It.

We are walking distance from Main Street Ellicott City, a restored 19th century mill town with lots of restaurants and anique shops - see the plaque on the building where Dave and Irene joined my family for dinner while the 2006 Super Bowl was being played (yeah, the Steeler one).

We're located in a wonderful site for touristing- so if you want to make a weekend of it- there are plenty of museums (of course)- the newly renovated National Portrait Gallery is terrific. You might want to check out the new WWII Memorial The Orioles will not be in town, but the Frederick Keys will be and they play Minor league ball just down the road (with a mini-amusement park in right field) and it's a lot of fun - if you're trying to convince someone to come who hates Shakespeare. Of course the National Aquarium and the Inner Harbor are always a treat- ask Nell about the American Visionary Art Museum- it's a real find. And, of course, PLENTY OF FISHING!!!!

Lastly, let me just remind everyone- it's not too far away- just 4 hours from Indiana, 5 from Pittsburgh, 2 hours from Philadelphia, 3.56 from New York City, 2 hours from Morgantown and only about 6 from Raleigh/Durham. Sorry, it is quite a drive from Illinois, Michigan and Florida (but well worth it) I think this years' goal should be to get Mr. Salerno's skinny ass up from Orlandoworld. (I always think one should set one's goals very high).

While we're on a roll, and on a less serious note (if that's possible with us), here are two questions my son asks now and then:

1) If you could be an animal, which one would you be (and why?)

2) Which superhero would you be?

Is there an archive of the verbiage that has appeared after "Community of friends and students of Dave Tabish" at the top of the blog? Hope so.

An article I read today had the following paragraph:

"I was in my early 40s when I started to work on my master's degree, and someone said to me ‘But you’re going to be 46 years old when you’re finished,’" Susan recalls. "My reply was that I would be 46 years old whether I earned a degree or not. The knowledge and growth from going back to school have made me a more valuable asset to my firm and my family.""

So here is my question: if you could learn something new, either by formally going back to school or just taking a class or lessons in something, what would it be? And what's stopping you from doing it?

Meet Julian Beever, who does the most amazing 3D sidewalk chalk drawings you've ever seen. Click on the tiny thumbs to see larger images. It is well worth your time to see them all.

Tony vs. Paul. Part Matrix, part Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla, part Fight Club, part Gumby, part Tetsuo: The Iron Man. I could watch this all day and I probably will.

TABISH THINKS!!!

Wanted people to know that Ian's June 2 date probably works for Irene and me. Would depend on how life shapes up closer to date. Would be great to see Ian's show and really fun to see many of you again. Do think about that date as suggested by Ian or another in early June. This note seems awfully informational for this crowd but......!!!!!!

Nothing I've done so far this weekend has even come close to Ian's fun in Nashville. However, I did uncover something to add to Wickipedia's IASD list of famous graduates.

Friday night I went to the Grand Old Opry and saw Little Jimmie Dickens (84 years young ladies and gentlemen!)

I DARE anyone to try and top that for a MLK Birthday weekend highlight!

It's a rainy, dreary Sunday morning here in New Jersey, but apparently not as dreary as Finland. A fellow chorister sent this to me.

Does anyone remember whether the places we waited in were actually green?

WHO would have thought that this teeny babe (wait....WHO is that babe?) would one day grow up to be the McWeinery we all know and love today?
From his Junior High years, when he claimed to have been a mere stage hand, gazing at the IAJHS acting elite, when in fact he was guest starring on Star Trek, more Spocky than Spock himself!










To high school. Tim Weiner, star of stage, so important that he even got to scold the help. (I'm sorry, Nell. I'll make this up to you. I swear I will.)



Finally, adulthood: surgeon, dog-saver, friend...occasionally acting in skits for retiring teachers...blog star...getting his picture taken with beautiful women (shut up) who are wearing t-shirts about him, which were bought by a mutual friend we're now mad at (hey...it IS high school).

Tim: Happy Birthday! We're lucky to have you.

An amend for the previous post, which was a cheap play at humor to the groundlings.

Julianne brings up an interesting phenomonon. Exactly what kind of fishing are we thinking about for the TabishTostidaMeineke Bowl 2007?

I realize this is a family channel. So my apologies to Kim, Nell's kids and the Geico cavemen.

What could be more fun than matching up Ketchup packets with Trivial Pursuit questions? Those whacky folks at Heinz have done it again!

They say Mr. Ron Jenkins was seen near my school last Friday and Saturday, appearing as a high school director in an all-state theater festival held at the famed "Prairie Acropolis," a.k.a. Krannert Center for the Performing Arts.

They say his group performed "The Complete Works of William Shakespeare" to a crowd of 1000. Jenkins claimed that, owing to the fact that they had only three actors, it was "abridged" and billed a "comedy," even though I seem to recall that Shakespeare did some sad shows like that one Gallanar did about that old guy where a bunch of people get killed.

I, unfortunately, was not eyewitness to any of this, as the Jenkins paparazzi entourage was unbelievable, but there is one thing I feel it is my solemn duty to report to the blog: There were hundreds of high-school drama kids milling around the area on those days, and they appeared to be having lots of FUN.

Tomorrow at 11am Whitney Houston's audio equipment, band gear and costumes are going up for auction in NJ. Kim, if Glass Planet needs a B3 with leslie cabinets or a clear acrylic concert grand piano or a church pew (??????), this would be the time to snap them up at bargin prices. I was thinking you'd look pretty hot in this beaded cat suit and I think there are enough hats for the entire band to have one each.

You can thank me when you get that first Grammy. And let this be a lesson to anyone who thinks acting like a psycho won't come back to haunt you.

From the input posted on the blog- and looking at our schedule, I'm going to suggest a couple of dates for Tabishfeststockpalooza II. Mostly, I'm trying to find a date before June 23 when we're doing As You Like It (the show I'm directing) and not Henry V (which I'm not directing).

The best date of all seems to be Saturday, June 2- I figure that way people can come up/down on Saturday and still make it home on Sunday evening. (plus it's the second night of the run- and the first weekend we usually don't sell many tickets- enabling me to paper the house with my old friends. And you thought the days of my using you for my personal gain were over!)

A Backup would be Sunday, June 10. We do the Sunday shows at 5:00 and they're billed as family performances- so if people want to bring kids, etc... it's a real fun family atmosphere. My concern would be people getting home in time for work Monday morning.

I offer two other dates which will probably be less good: Friday, (I don't imagine Friday nights would be the best) or Saturday, June 23 which is our doubleheader- we're doing both shows Henry V at 4:00 and then As You Like It at 8:00. It's a big party and we will sell out so there will be tons of people, but it might be a little late in the season for Dave & Irene.

Also- a reminder- we perform outdoors and weather forces us to cancel about 15% of our shows- so you might all miss out on the show- but I figure then we can all go somewhere and chat and have fun and visit and that might even be more fun.

Input? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?

From the synopsis of "Coal Run" on Tawni O'dell's website, she describes a secondary character thusly:
"the town's no-nonsense pediatrician who brandishes vaccinations on the doorsteps of neglectful parents like a Wild West sheriff"

Following the lead of this blog, my sister's and I are trying to link Frank with his former patients. Send them to the website in the link, if you know anybody that he took care of.

And, yes, the fat-assed baby is me.

Thanks.

The newest language required in a university syllabus:

"RECORDING AND TAPING CLASS
No student may record, photograph or film any classroom activity without the express written consent of the the Instructor. If there is a learning situation which requires a student to make recordings or films of class, he/she should contact the Office of Disability Resources to request the appropriate accomodation. These recordings and films are for personal use only and may not be further copied, distributed, published or used for any other purpose than that which is outlined in the accomodation request."

I have nothing shorter than a 5 page syllabus. One class I team teach has a 9 page syllabus (not written by me). If students spent as much time studying and working as they do looking for loopholes and lawyering grades, we'd live in a world of geniuses.

I'm talking about the Beyonce movie, not the musical. If you saw it, how did you like it; does it compare with the musical? Of course it's not showing in Indiana yet, it isn't even in Greensburg. I'm interested in seeing it, IF it's as good as 'they' say. So let me know.

Best wishes to all you folks for a prosperous New Year; luck in all your endeavors and all that happy stuff.