Yeah, I came back for this...

This one (which originally was also my announcement of semi-retirement from HNT) is probably my favorite one for the year. I've been back a couple of times since. (BTW...noticed I said "semi-retirement"?) I'm guessing I like it because the picture has more symbolic meaning to my personal direction in life.

I also love the ones I did for the "sepia series" in April with the help from a couple of beautiful lady friends, Talon & Dragonfly.

Cheers! Happy HNT & have a Grand New Year!

BTW... this blog is moving next month... I'll let you know when it happens!

Labels: hnt

OK, on this rare return I'm cheating by re-posting this... but there is a "panty tree" involved... so, I figure it counts.

BTW... if you missed the video from 2 weeks ago... it's HERE... and there just may be a new one posted tomorrow.

Cheers! & Happy HNT!

Growing up Catholic in a Muslim country was really no big deal at all... at least not for me. When I grew up in Malaysia respect and understanding for people of other faiths was a matter of fact. Muslims, Hindus, Taoist, Buddhists, Sikhs and Christians were fervent in their faiths, cultures and traditions and respected each other for theirs.
I have to credit my mother for initiating the Christmas decorations at our home. We were one of 2 Catholic families living on our street. So when the Christmas season came along she would setup the Christmas Tree project among the neighborhood kids. This meant that we were all decorating the tree together. It didn't matter what faith you were.

Over the years this event became quite the neighborhood tradition. Usually on the week of about the 12th of December the house would be filled with neighbor kids all working on the tree. The excitement and anticipation on "tree day" was only surpassed by Christmas Eve.


In my memory there was only 1 traditional tree that ever graced our home. Mum was quite the crafty person so ideas for the Christmas tree was always a little outside of the norm.

In the picture above Mum was inspired by the a Winter scene with leafless branches. So, a branch of a Guava tree was cut, sprayed white and decorated. Looking back I have to admit that there was a certain elegance in it's starkness.

One year we scrapped the idea of a tree altogether and went with a cotton snowman instead. It was cute and all but not a particular favorite of mine. I guess I was ready for a new motif and it came the following year.

When I was 8 or 9 she totally scrapped the idea that the Christmas tree should have anything to do with Winter. She had a point because we did live in the tropics. That year, bamboo was sprayed silver and served up as the central ornament representing Christmas. I have to say that Mum's idea of going "local" had quite the stunning effect. So much so, we repeated the same idea the following year (this time in gold) and the results were breathtaking.

The usual neighborhood "Christmas Tree Crew" had by now dwindled to a stalwart 4 or 5. They included my neighborhood buddies including Tambi, Ganeshen, Balan and yours truly. We would begin at 3 PM and 5 or 6 hours later step back to admire the results. Relatives and friends had by now come to expect to see something different at our home for Christmas... and they usually did. Sometimes a little more different than they were ready for... more on that later.

By the time I was 12 I had taken over "creative control" of the tree decorating duties. One year I decided that 3 "payongs" (paper umbrellas), opened in 3 different stages would make up the tree. Here are a couple of pictures of said tree... one without lights and the other one lit.

At this point I guess I should explain how we celebrated Christmas. Christmas Eve was always my day. When I was younger the neighborhood kids would all come by and each of them received a present from my parents. Nothing fancy... usually a little toy or trinklet of sorts. After all, during Chinese New Year all us kids got "ang pows" (little red packets of money) from the parents of our Chinese friends. So in the big scheme of things us kids always scored "big time" during all the major festivals celebrated in the country.

When I grew older, my "crew" (now about 15-20) came by on the evening of Christmas Eve. By 10 PM we would walk about 5 blocks the local church for Midnight Mass. I went out of religious obligation... my non-Christian friends went to check out the girls. (O.K. I did too but don't tell my Mum.) We would be back home by 1 AM for the Christmas feast prepared by her. The menu always included Eurasian Chicken Pie, Devil Curry, Curry Puffs, Sebak (a sort of Eurasian salad), Pineapple Tarts and Sugee Cake . Then games would be set up at various areas of the house. Once we were tired from playing carrom, monopoly or blackjack we would all stretch out on the floor and fall asleep... usually by 4 or 5 AM.

By 9 or 10 the next morning everybody would get up and straighten out the house. Usually 3 of my crew would stay. The reason for this was simple... Christmas Day was when my parents had their friends and workmates over, so my friends and me became the "waiters" for their do. This practice continued even after my Dad passed away when I was 12.
I posted the picture of the "horn" or "saipan" hat above only because I couldn't find a picture of the Christmas tree I made by stringing 4 of them together one year. That was one of my all time favorites.

This tree made of halved coconut shells on a rattan tree was the second last one I designed back home. By this time we had moved to the new house. Mum had retired from government service and we had to leave the old neighborhood behind.

Yet, Ganeshen and Balan would still come by to help set up the Christmas decorations for Mum even after I left for the US. Mum delighted in their company and the fact that the little tradition she started with the neighborhood kids kept going into their middle age. They continued to visit every year to help decorate until Mum finally moved here to join me 7 years ago. We still hear from them at Christmas. It is this sharing of the season with my friends that I now miss the most... but times and places are different. The memories stay and we move on.

I'll end with this picture of the very last (and most controvertial) Christmas Tree I designed and created in Malaysia before I moved here in 1980. Yes, it is constructed out of panties! This particular tree over the years has become legend and is now part of the lore among friends and family back home.

Our Christmas is celebrated quietly now. I decorate the mantle over the fireplace in the living room... no trees. However, I make sure that the Devil Curry and/or the Eurasian Chicken Pie is still on the table for Christmas dinner. And now, it is I who does the cooking.



For other editions of Picture Daze... look in the sidebar.

Labels: hnt

Franken-HNT... a brief history.
Last year, around this time... and with contributions of body parts from many regular HNTers... this was posted for the very first time. With the generous help of my friend Fingers B on soundtrack and playing the doctor in the pics... we presented this silliness. I think it was deserving of a re-run... so, here. If any of the old crew are still around... recognize anything?


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CLICK PLAY FOR SOUNDTRACK THAT GOES WITH THE PICTURES. It runs for all of 3 minutes.
Click on pics for bigger view.

FRANK
I was created on a whim by my creator, Dr. Frankenwiener, who had lost his sanity one Sunday afternoon in October.

DOCTOR
Ya bad a, ya bad a ya bad …

FRANK
Being an idiot genius he wasn’t well versed in the art of conversation. I made my needs known and he set about creating a remedy for me.

FRANK
I was shown an array of body parts for the creation of my future bride. They were all so beautiful that it was impossible to decide.

DOCTOR
Oooohhh… watch this? What about this? What about this? Woo Woo woop!

SPLAT!

DOCTOR
Woops! Can’t use that one.

FRANK
He worked long and hard. Soon he had the best of the best assembled.

DOCTOR
Oooohh… this is going to be good, you’ll see.

FRANK
However due to a technical glitch the creation filled with life jumped off the table and scurried away.

HEAD 1
Oh, nice rack!

HEAD 2
I’ll say… but where is the head?

DOCTOR
Come back, liebshn! You are not cooked yet! You need eine kopf!

FRANK
I was in despair. We only had a body and no head. How could I be expected to conduct a conversation with a headless body?

DOCTOR
No to worry… big guy... I know where to get ein good kopf for your girlie friend. I’ll just get the head that was once attached to these legs.

FRANK
He soon attached it.

DOCTOR
Here have some vodka… it will help with the healing.

FRANK
And so we were created. We moved out to a condo in San Francisco and would often visit our creator with our friend… scary squirrel man

BRIDE
HOW DEEE!

THE END

(run end credit music)

Labels: hnt

click this flashy logo to find out how DA COUNT works.


the cut and paste code can be found HERE!

I met her in my first year of college. She was then a Biology major and dating one of my friends. The first thing that impressed me about her was her sharp mind that twinkled through her eyes. I have referred to her on more than one occasion as a "walking brain." A couple of years later, after I had returned from a theatre Winter trip to London, we started seeing each other... casually at first and things developed over time. She had by then switched to become an English major. (Our lively discussions on Shakespeare were really something to behold. LOL! ) It was a difficult time in our lives as we were both individually going through the early 20 something angst of lost direction and ideal overload. We helped each other through that... and over the years supported each other through a lot more.

The real kicker is that she married me... twice! Once in a civil ceremony with a group of 10 chained accused not 10 feet away in a rural courthouse. The next time was the big "official" 300 guest wedding that I actually cooked a couple of dishes for. The funny thing is that even though we were legally married... we still had to sneak around for 2 years between weddings because her relatives did not know we were married.

The other reason this was also a big deal for me personally was because I never ever saw me ever getting married... my (warped) reasoning being my handicap. It took me a long time to come to terms with the fact that someone who is smart, intelligent, beautiful (a stunner actually) and a damn fine writer (really, she's better than me) would actually accept and want me for me. All in all we were together for just over 7 years.

Apart from being a great friend... she taught me how to share. (Believe me, this was a major issue with me being an only child.) The break-up of the marriage was devastating... but we started as friends and still remain so... that survived. Yes, I was hurt and angry but even through that difficult period I have never regretted her coming into my life and sharing some of it with me... and for which I count myself extremely fortunate.

So, Da Count for me this week is my ex-wife.

UPDATED: 8:03 AM pst
OTHERS ON DA COUNT SO FAR...
velma
katie
kfarmer
lime
cosima
osbasso

And up next the...


"Badges? Badges? We don't need no stinkin badges!" Yes, those immortal lines come from this movie. Admittedly "The Treasure of the Sierra Madre" is really more of a "guy movie". But it is still a fun watch even today. The basic plot is about 3 down on their luck Americans who go looking for this fabled treasure. What begins as an adventurous partnership eventually fritters away into a situation of suspicion and distrust.

Co-written and directed by John Huston it stars Humphrey Bogart, Walter Huston and Tim Holt . There are wonderful performances to behold in this movie. Just watching Bogart slowly go loco is worth the price of admission. Walter won the Oscar for his performance as did his son John for directing.

Watch this one with a good slug of scotch.

Labels: da count, hnt

Yes, the giggling half-nekkid lunatic garbed only in a sarong banging on the computer keyboard is me today... in my bliss creating something new... a bliss that I have not been privy to in over 5 years.

This post may explain a little. And if you really want to know what has brought on this wonderous insanity... check out the latest installment on the post below with links to the previous 7 parts.

Not that you're really here to read anyway... why bother, huh? It's just for the pictures, right? Right. So... CHEERS & HAPPY HNT!

EDIT! OK... so, you lurkers come by and don't even have the wherewithall to leave a comment? (Hey, I know who comes by. 87 at this writing. And those of you who know me... know that I'm really a mild mannered Clark Kent kinda guy.) Well, you know what? FUCK YOU AND THANK ME FOR IT! (And I mean that in the best way possible... really, wouldn't you rather be fucking right now?) Consider this my FINAL HNT! It's been wonderful and Os, you have created a wonderful way for folks to express ourselves... but I think I'm done. I wish you all well (in fact, the best) and... VIVA HNT! (Yeah... this is what happens when I'm mired in my bliss.... yeah, I may apologize tomorrow... but its not bloody likely. Cheers y'all!)

Labels: hnt

Life sort of intruded today... but there is a good chance I'll be back next week. Have a good one!

Labels: hnt

Just call me "Tuan" from this point on. LOL! Sarongs and piths still rule.... and is catching on too!

For more sarongs and piths... the ladies (who also HNT'd this week) in this shot can be found here and here.

A rascally poser can be found here.

And for a pithless sarong... check on the lovely Keda here.!

It's sweeping the world, I tell ya!

CHEERS AND HAPPY HNT!!!

(thinking of joining my pith revolution? There are some with great prices on this page - and they're real deal too.)

Labels: hnt

My favorite lounge-wear is the sarong - taste I acquired in the land of my birth.

I began wearing them to bed from the age of 7... and continue to do so. There is a certain freedom and comfort to a well worn sarong that's very liberating.

And a woman in a sarong... WOOF... don't get me started... cuz it does, will and always has!

Today the sarong is perfectly accessorized with one of my newly acquired piths - the Wolesley. (thinking of joining my pith revolution? There are some with great prices on this page - and the real deal too.)

CHEERS & HAPPY HNT!

Oh and kowboi is doing a flip-side here.

Go see that Maverick from Montana for more glorious half-nekkidness.

EDIT: Here is the stat for my 40,000th visitor ( wdky, was that you?)... now just 3 more to my 400th post!

Domain Name		(Unknown)
IP Address		81.158.122.# (British Telecommunications)
ISP		British Telecommunications
Location		Continent : Europe Country : United Kingdom (Facts) State/Region : Staffordshire City : Saint Helens Lat/Long : 53.45, -2.7333 (Map)

Labels: hnt

... I haven't replied to recent comments because I'm being "the crazy guy in the back room talking to himself" at the moment. I guess it's a little better than "the crazy guy in the truck talking to himself" which is what I was when I first did this show. Please know that I do appreciate the visits and comments. Regular irregular programing will resume sometime on Friday after the show is done. (And perhaps by then my new piths would have arrived too!)

Cheers!

Labels: hnt

Labels: hnt

I got the garden watered, laundry done, bills made out and mailed, breakfast aquired and even managed to lollygag with the gang at the usual java haunt... all accomplished by 10:05 AM. Yep, just call me Mr. Efficient... just because the cloud cover in the Big No is threatening a higher level of humidity this afternoon... and it's something I'm trying to avoid working in. And as a reward for accomplishing so much in such a short span of time... I just may buy myself some ice-cream and take me out to a movie... not bad for the first day of freedom.

EDIT: Didn't do the ice-cream or movie. Instead a friend came by and whisked me off for Happy Hour... figured it would be a good HNT pic... me and a scotch and soda!

And... you can help my new life chapter by sticking one like this on your website. You can find the code for them HERE!

Labels: hnt

2002 flew by. The Rogue had brought even more awareness to the theater. Until that point most people didn’t know it even existed. We estimated that between 2001 and 2003 about ten thousand audience members came through our doors each year with the various shows that were produced there. And when they came, we made sure they were also made aware of the youth services that the facility provided as a whole - the runaway youth shelter, teen pregnancy services, street outreach, and of course, the charter school.

I was now put on “full time” teaching upstairs which provided me with the financial stability I never had ever before. Because I was never “built” to be a teacher… (at least in a formal situation) I tried harder and achieved some success with the students. The ones who responded well were bestowed with “after school jobs” in the theater. What was once thought as nerdy by these hard-nut, at-risk kids - was now becoming hep. Through their experience with us, the kids were also exposed to alternatives and life outside of their hood. A major eye-opener for many.

The company had a full roster of shows to produce as well the now new Rogue Festival to mount. 6 weeks before the 2003 festival, we were abruptly informed that the powers that be (a 100 million dollar a year non-profit agency) would not allow the event to be held at the theater. Apparently it was something deemed as “not fitting their image” – that was the official word at least. There was a mad scramble to find venues which we eventually found in the Tower District. This however spelt the beginning of the end for the theater as a performance venue.

By mid-2003, I was informed that the theater would cease to be a rental facility anymore and Theatre J’Nerique productions would also not be able to continue producing at the space because of “liability issues.” (Funny how no one mentioned liability when we and a select group of students were up on 20 foot scaffoldings with the various renovations we undertook over the years.) I suggested developing a “rider policy” for insurance for rental purposes as a solution... but it was summarily rejected. This told me that I had fallen out of favor by someone upstairs. (I was told later - strictly hush, hush - that the real reason was the amount of ink the theater and I were getting in the press that miffed someone in the upper eschalons.) Soon after, all rentals and productions ceased... and it has remained fallow ever since.

I stayed teaching in the school the last couple of years only because of the financial stability it afforded me… but without the theater at night it has severely impaired my ability to really educate the students. Plus the “buy in” for both the students and me just isn’t there anymore. For the past 2 years the stage has been only served as a classroom. At night the theater is dark.

We have had a great run. I am thankful for the opportunities that were created there. The students we have touched… and who in turn have touched us now have a frame of reference to what’s outside.

This Friday is graduation and the last of our original theatre kids will walk out into the real world. In a week or two ,I will leave the theater I had one last time and tender my resignation. Perhaps I’m being stupid and selfish… but I think my time here is done. I'm not sure what's ahead... but it'll be an adventure. I leave without regrets knowing I leave the space in much better shape from when I found it.

Thus ends this chapter in my life. Come back on Friday for announcements on what hopefully will be the start of a new one.

Labels: hnt

2000, 2001 and 2002 were banner years at the theater. Theatre J'’Nerique was averaging 4 new shows a year. The All Too Real Players produced 2 - 3 productions per year. A couple of independent theatre companies had formed and was renting the space at affordable rates. The stage was used on the last Thursdays of every month for a poetry jam and Sunday Showcase was in full swing.

Sunday Showcase began as a weekly free movie (our first one was "Casablanca") and later developed into an all-ages music venue. It’s safe to say that many of the up and coming bands in town played shows at the theater over those years.


Movie nights alternated every other week with the band night. So, between managing the theater for rentals where I was the defacto house manager and tech designer, youth theatre workshops... plus producing and directing shows with my theatre company... I was pulling an average of 16 hour days, 7 days a week. Still making a pittance but I didn't mind because the audience was growing and I looked at it as an investment for better days up ahead.




Sometime in 2000, my friend who was teaching in the continuation school upstairs left abruptly and I was called in to sub. So, this added more work to my already packed schedule... but it also brought in more income.

Throughout all of this, stalwarts like Zonthar were part of the company lending their talents on stage. In 2001, SSM was dragged kicking and screaming back onto the stage after a 10 year hiatus. With a pretty solid core in the theatre company the notion of the Rogue Festival began being bandied about. We figured that an event like that could only bring more awareness to the space. In Fall of that year a group of us went up to the SF Fringe just so we could all get on the same page.



In the Spring of 2002, the First Rogue Festival took place. All of this while still developing and producing original works for the stage... such as my adaptation of Christmas Carol - complete with hookers and Christmas Ninjas.

Audiences were picking up, more shows were being produced - finally things webeginninging to happen.

Labels: hnt

Posting early as I have loads to do today. As per Os' instructions... here is my very first HNT ::blush:: that was posted August 4 of last year. Since then, I've posted a few more... quite a few more than the 16 that are posted in my sidebar. Celebatory pictures (part 2) will be posted later in the day. Next week we will return to continue "the theatre I had" HNT series. Happy HNT Anniversary, Os and Everyone!

Let me introduce you to Jimmy. Jimmy is my left hand. Jimmy was a victim of Mr. Polio when I was 4 and a half months old. Actually, half my body was affected but Mr. Polio only left one defect... Jimmy. It was my parents who named him. (The right hand is Audrey.) I have other body parts with names butthatsanotherstorynevermindanyway... I thought Jimmy was the perfect subject for my first Half-Nekkid Thursday.

Over the years Jimmy and I have heard it all: cripple, one-arm bandit, handicap, disabled, etc. I prefer "inconvenienced." It seems a lot more appropriate ... at least for me. Thanks to my upbringing my parents set me on the path of independence from the "git go." For this I thank them.

Most people who meet me hardly notice Jimmy... and when they do they are all beside themselves apologizing for not noticing in the first place. It usually happens when Jimmy takes on a strange pose (like in the picture) and they freak. Then they suddenly look at Audrey and the obvious difference in size and ability between the 2 hands.

Most Popular Question: Can he feel anything?
Answer: You Betcha!

Over the years I have noticed that beautiful women like to hold, fondle and play with Jimmy. Jimmy has been a wonderful asset... and not just with the women. Jimmy has allowed me to explore abilities that I may not have considered if I was completely able-bodied. I sometimes say "If you want to find the easy way to do something... just ask the cripple guy."

Oh... and the second pic will be up later tonight!

UPDATE: Later!

So, we went out for an anniversary drink. The ladies were out and about. Jimmy had one too many (trying to impress the girls as usual)... insisted on jumping up on the table to dance... wearing a lamp-shade... with the lamp still attached! I swear I can't take him anywhere! So, there you have it... Jimmy in party mode.

Happy HNT Anniversary to all!

EDIT:

Girl At Bar: OMG... Is that a cigarette?

Jimmy: I'm just happy to see you!

Labels: hnt

Continued from last week...

So, in October 1998 we began restoring the space back to usability and converting it into a performance space. I had also put out notices that a youth theatre program was being conducted for free. On the day the program was to begin I walked into an empty room. Over the next month I hustled, cajoled - did everything I could to get some students and young people in. I suspect that theatre was not exactly the kind of activity that the average gang-banger was interested in participating in. I had also plunged into the of writing a brand new full length piece - just to announce the opening of our new space.


In February 1999, "The Dead Guy Show" (pictures here are from the second production) premiered... and was the last original play I wrote. Personally I still think that it's the most fully realized piece I've created. Over the next year we produced 3 more shows in the space. In the meantime, with the help of a couple of theatre friends (one of whom was actually teaching in the Continuation School upstairs) the youth theatre program and the formation of the All Too Real Players finally began to take off in October of the same year with a production of "Juvies."”

The clean-up made it workable but not complete. In the Summer of 2000 we were awarded a grant to upgrade the theater. My plan was not just to renovate but also to restore. The space was one of the first synagogues in the city (built in 1918) and the Oak paneling on the original altar had gone through a fair degree of abuse over the years. We also extended the stage another 5 feet making it 20 feet deep and 36 feet wide. This made the dimensions close to the one Shakespeare worked in at the original Globe.

I was still making a pittance (about $500 a month) but a survivable pittance. Besides, I had the coolest theatre space in town. My theatre company was the only independent one dealing almost exclusively in originals. The kids were being trained in tech. I was alive and doing what I was meant to... there was much to be thankful for.


Cheers and Happy HNT... and check out Kien's second video HNT! AND Kowboiandy has posted his first!

Oh, and if you missed my pitch for "Bum Rap" go 2 posts down.LOL!

Labels: hnt

This begins another series. Perhaps not as sexy... but half-nekkid in more personal ways. In the weeks to come you will find out in pictures and text about the theater I had. This first set is of the north window of the theatre from 2 different views.

In 1998, I had a theatre company (Theatre J'Nerique) but no space to produce. Over the previous year I had worked off and on at the Sanctuary, an old synagogue, that housed an at-risk youth program.

I woke up one morning and decided to have a chat with the Big G. I said in a pretty assertive tone,

"Look, I've struggled for years to get my profession going. Yeah, I've had gigs here and there but nothing really solid. Now, I don't wanna waste your time or mine. So, here's the deal... I want a sign if this is truly the path I'm supposed to have in this life. Not a feeling... not an inkling but a solid sign. You have 2 days to let me know."

So, the next day, I went over to the Sanctuary to speak with the program director. I looked at her dead in the eye and said.

"I'm here to talk to you about the theater space which is now being used for storage... "

"I'm glad you came... we''ve been wanting to talk to you about that too."

"O.K., here's the situation... there are too few theatre spaces in town. And my company... "

"Needs a space to perform in. We really like the work you've been doing. So, if it's O.K. with you... you set up a youth theatre program for us during the day your company can use it at night."

"O. K. ... lets talk about rental... " See. I figured I had the bargaining power now to get the space for cheap.

"You guys manage the space. We'll pay you to run the youth theatre program... whatever you rent it to outside groups for... we'll split it 50/50."

"O.K., but my theatre company... "

"Will use it rent free, of course. Just train our kids to tech your shows so that they can get real world experience. We can't pay you right now to do that. We really should pay you for doing that... maybe we'll apply for a grant so, we can. Is that O.K. with you?"

I walked away from the meeting totally bowled over but thanking the Big G for the prompt answer all the way home. I really did not expect the "solid sign" to be a spectacular art deco, red brick, 200 seat theater that was the envy of the theatre crowd in this city. Not only that... but the Big G had set me up in one of his/her old places.

Labels: hnt

And thus ends this series of Shadow & Skin in Sepia. My friend and special guest, Dragonfly was kind enough to help me on this one. I can personally attest that she is as lovely in full living color as she is in sepia.

Because this is the last in this series... there is a bonus pic.


























Cheers and Happy HNT!



















And here is the bonus pic below.




If you want to comment (and are not already at my home page) click here to get back there and click "Spewed" under the post for Haloscan comments.

Labels: hnt