I came across a few articles recently regarding ‘Grey Thursday’ which is basically the American Retail Community stretching it’s annual “Black Friday” sales backward into Thanksgiving. This trend started last year, and it is increasing its presence this year.
Personally I find this disgusting.
I can understand the need for some businesses to be open on this national holiday, (some groceries, restaurants,theaters, gas) but by insisting that retailers open their shops on Thanksgiving evening and interrupting the time that was proposed specifically as a FAMILY holiday is just plain wrong. I mean seriously, people don’t travel hundreds of miles to just go shopping at another stinkin’ mall on Thanksgiving! Thanksgiving should be a quiet blessing of a holiday; a time for a nice meal, family visiting, and maybe some football if you like. Now to be fair, I understand that for most Americans, the Christmas season shopping season starts the day after Thanksgiving, and depending on how much of November is left after that 4th Thursday determines the length of the shopping season, and that this season is shorter because Thanksgiving is so late. But to me this does NOT justify rushing out to Buy, buy, buy, RIGHT NOW at the expense of our treasured family time. This trend is expanding and I fear it will become the norm. I truly hope not.
It also begs the question of how much we really NEED. Holiday shopping is a headache for many, mostly because they feel the stress of “I must buy x number presents to show I care”. Believe me America, the best gift you can give anyone in our fast-paced, consumer-inflated country is just your Precious Time. Please don’t shop on Thanksgiving. Don’t be seduced by the sales. Hug your kids, have some pie, watch some football, The stores will still be there the next day.
I came across this funny article today — There is a Netflix Customer Representative who portrays himself as a Starfleet Captain to his customers when solving their problems. “Captain Mike Mears” safely delivers his customers through the wormholes of bad reception. A particular conversation he had with a customer recently was especially Trek-worthy; both Mike and his customer stayed in character through the whole conversation! Best customer rep ever! (Jim Kirk would be proud!)
If I ever need to talk to Netflix, I hope I get this guy! Good to know that the universe is safe from bad reception! Enjoy:
I had a fun time at our local “RoberCon” convention in Binghamton NY yesterday — the first sci-fi convention of its kind at the Roberson Mansion and Planetarium. It was attended by 1000+ fans and it was especially a pleasure for me to see the universe spanning array of costumes people came in. It was like a grand ball for Geekdom, and I’m delighted to say that I pulled off finishing my T’Pau costume in time for the event!
The the hardest part of building my costume was the T’Pau’s complicated hairdo! Seriously, it’s not a hairdo, it’s an Engineering Thesis! The styling took me @ 90 minutes early yesterday morning, as I assembled six different hair pieces into my own for the multi-braid effect. Adding the ears was a little nerve-wracking too, but although it wasn’t too difficult to attach them, I felt sympathy for Mr. Nimoy and anyone who’s had to don those points. Actually, I hardly felt them at all once they were in place,and they worked quite nicely. My favorite part of the costume was the great walking stick, which I made from an $8 wooden chair from the Salvation Army. I reassembled the legs and a spindle from it, and spray painted it black. The filial on top was a door pull from Home Depot, and the big ‘bead’ was a piece of florist foam, carved and painted to look ornamental.
In addition to the costume contest, there were panels discussing costume construction, and a panel that was supposed to discuss Star Trek, but it became more centered The Twilight Zone. There might have been another Trek panel, but I missed it (for the contest) There was also a guest appearance by Annie Serling (Rod’s Daughter), but I didn’t stay that long (my two teen sons were getting hungry and we had been there for nearly 4 hours).
Here’s a gallery of characters from the con. Some of the costumes were really masterful – especially Godzilla! Now don’t be fooled, this may look like a factory manufactured rubber suit, but it was actually was hand crafted and tooled by its wearer! I could see elements of foam rubber and styrofoam in it, and the gentleman who wore it said it took over a year to create in his garage! Wow. Amazingly, he didn’t win 1st place that went to the two young girls who hand crafted their dazzlingly frightening costumes of Weeping Angels (including the masks) from Dr. Who. Other winners were The Iron Patriot, (which was also amazing), Wonder Woman, and a delightfully loony Freakazoid. There were Lots of comic book, and gaming characters represented there too, as well as Steam punk creations and many Dr. Who’s (two wearing a fez).
There were many fan groups as well, with Star Wars well represented. There was only one Star Trek group, U.S.S. Serling, whose ‘Captain’ and ‘First Officer’ I posed with (Lisa Stucky, Doc David Rasey) They liked my costume, and for me personally, it was nice to have someone there recognize my 44-year-old TV character! I admit, I got a lot of odd looks from people, with hardly anyone recognizing me as a Star Trek character. It definitely made me feel old, as a few people thought I was from Lord of the Rings, and no one said “It’s T’Pau!” To be fair, if this was a Star Trek Convention I’d be more recognized, but despite my crafted look, I did feel a bit dated here. At least I passed out a few trekkerscrapbook calling cards to anyone who had an inkling as to what the Original Series was! Maybe we’ll get a few more watchers here. Glad I went.
I’m psyched up for a local Sci-Fi convention coming to town this Sunday. It’s RoberCon, the first Sci-Fi Convention to be held at the historic Roberson Museum in Binghamton NY!
Binghamton NY was the boyhood home of writer/legend Rod Serling, (The Twilight Zone), and our pride grows deeper every year! There’s the annual Rod Serling Film Festival, where local students write and direct their own 5 minute movies, and if you’ve ever seen The Twilight Zone, you will see occasional references to Binghamton, most notably in Walking Distance where the main character longs for the joy of his childhood, riding the merry-go-rounds. The guest speaker at this convention is Annie Serling, daughter of Rod, who will read from her very intimate new memoir,As I Knew Him, My Dad Rod Serling. There will also be fan forums on Dr. Who, Star Wars, Fantasy and, of course Trek, and tutorials on costume building and gaming.There will be @ 20 vendors selling everything a geek could want, however…
My big reason for going is to be in the Costume Contest, competing as, well, lets just say, an iconic character form Star Trek! I suspect my effort will be small potatoes compared to what I’m sure I’ll see there. Devotees of ‘cosplay’ can be precise in every detail! I’ll be passing out business cards for this site too, and I’ll post pictures and the results next week. If any of my readers are local and want to see me make a total fool of myself, come on down!
Here’s all the info about it in this link. Should be fun! I gotta finish my costume!
Last week I was tapped to write a local review for the inaugural Cult Film Festival at The Bundy Museum in Binghamton, NY. (my sister Nancy wasn’t available) Thought you’d get a kick out of it, enjoy! -Therese
Hey Kids, Get a comfy chair, this will be a long post.
At last here is my account of my New York City trip on June 15th, and what a day it was! I arrived at the Greyhound station that Saturday morning at 7:00 to catch the 8:00 a.m. bus. Having settled in the waiting area with 20 minutes to spare, I ran out to my car in the lot to get something when I noticed a meter man checking cars for tickets. Turns out the station had installed a singular ticket machine there (not immediately obvious) which only allowed parking 30 minutes at a time. Long story short, I wasn’t ticketed, but had to quickly park my car a block away in a parking ramp and rush back to catch the bus with only about 5 minutes to spare! You can’t imagine my adrenaline – Gotta get to NY! Well, 3 1/4 hours and 300 miles later, I was there.
I love being in the city; there is nothing like NYC to take one out of themselves, and I really needed to reconnect with the real world after two weeks of mourning my Mom. (Slowly getting better, btw) Got in town with enough time to visit old friends on the West side, get some good city pictures, and them off to Symphony Space to see Vincent. After collecting my ticket (it had sold out) I went around to the side of the theater where the entrance to the Leonard Nimoy Thalia Theater is. (Nice to know that Mr. Nimoy will have his name permanently in lights on Broadway!) A man waiting there asked me with a crisp British accent if I was there to see Vincent. I said yes. We got into a friendly conversation about Trek, Dr. Who, fandom, and Nimoy. His name was Edwin and we were excited to be first and second in line… or so we thought. After @ ten minutes a theater employee came out and told us we were at the wrong door! Edwin figured we’d be shuffled to the end of a long line, but fortunately we had only moved from 1st and 2nd to 10th and 11th, just behind some of Edwin’s friends. When we were finally admitted, we all went straight for the front row, which was literally within spitting distance of the performers. (Seriously, there is only one foot of space between the your feet and the stage!) I sat with a very kind lady named Deana who had seen the show years ago with Mr. Nimoy starring. (Lucky!)
The play, of course was just amazing, leaving me exhilarated and emotionally exhausted, but now the moment was coming that we all were waiting for: Question and Answers! The night before, I had carefully printed out posts from this blog in hopes of giving them to Mr. Nimoy later (This, this, this, this,this and this) and I had a question I wanted to ask about the connection between creativity and sanity. (I just had to be called on! I was in the front row for heaven’s sake!) So we’re all on pins and needles awaiting the moment when he’d walk on. First we were introduced to Laura Kaminsky, artistic director of Symphony Space, Vincent director Paul Stein, and the delightful (and most handsome) actor Jean-Michel Richaud, who had played Theo. Then came Mr. Nimoy; a figure in black and gray, smiling broadly, with hair shaggier than it had ever been in the 1970’s, and the applause erupted two-fold. My heart fluttered a little; damned if I wasn’t 16 again!
The four talked for a bit about the production, and I snapped away when I could, keeping my camera on the discreet (quiet) setting and no flash so as not to blind them up there. I even took a little video, where Nimoy talks about the original and new productions, and if Vincent’s death was abetted by teenage bullies:
I cannot tell you what a delight it was to be sitting only a couple feet away from the stage, and joy in hearing Mr. Nimoy and the crew discuss this production. One moment I didn’t get a picture of, but will never forget was when someone asked if Nimoy would write yet another play, possibly about another artist, to which he said “One’s enough!” On cue, director, Paul Stein chimed in with “Gauguin!” which sent the four into gales of laughter!
Of course, all this time I was hoping I’d be called on, but I suspect that Ms. Kaminsky might have noticed that the backside of the paperwork I held had photos of Mr. Spock on it, and steered clear of this Trekkie. 😦 Truth be told, all the questions asked were very well informed and high-brow, no doubt the questions preferred in this setting. (But I wasn’t going to mention Trek at all!) Anyway, when she asked for the final question, she pointed right at the lady to my right in a red jacket who casually said “Leonard, it’s Bobbie! Richard says ‘Hi’ ” and “Can I get a hug?” (continued after gallery)
Symphony Space in NYC
The poster for Vincent
Note the highlighted sentence in blue!
My pre-ordered ticket
Postcard and Flier for Vincent
Vincent Program Insert (cover)
Vincent Program
The Leonard Nimoy Thalia Theater
The set of Vincent
Curtain Call for Mr. Richaud
The panel — Director Paul Stein, Actor (Theo) Jean-Michel Richaud, Laura Kaminsky , and Leonard Nimoy
A very animated speaker
Very expressive hands
Paul Stein and Jean-Michel Richaud
Preparing to answer
There was a lot of laughter
Jean-Michel answers
Meditation between questions
I turned that photo into this poem
A deft answer
This is my favorite picture of the panel
At VIncent
Making a point
A quizzical look worthy of a certain Vulcan…
That’s the money shot! 😀
Therese and Mr. Richaud
My Autograph from Mr. Richaud, on one of “Vincent’s Letters”
Edwin (2nd from left) and Pals
The Leonard Nimoy Thalia Marquee
(for one more picture scroll down)
And then it was over. Nimoy quickly exited off stage left, and I figured my chance to meet him was passed. I thanked Deana for her wonderful company, but regrettably didn’t get her e-mail, (couldn’t find her on FB either). Then I noticed that Mr. Richaud was greeting people on stage and since I was hoping to meet him too, I went right up and had a lovely chat with him, and got his autograph on one of the “letters” that he threw into the air during the production. I mentioned the play’s healing effect on me, and he gave me condolences on my Mother’s passing. A fine person and actor. 🙂 And since I figured I wouldn’t be seeing Mr. Nimoy, I asked him if he could possibly give the paperwork I had to Mr. Nimoy at that night’s performance. He said he would, although I suspect the papers probably got lost in the shuffle. 😦
However, as I headed out of the theater, a band of fans were waiting outside the stage door in hopes of seeing Mr. Nimoy. I figured I better hang around too, but after 10 minutes I said “He’s not gonna show up is he?” And another fan said “Yes he will, he’s right there.” And she pointed to the cafe window behind me and I could see him in the cafe with several people… soon they all had their pictures taken with him, the lady in the red jacket too!* As they disembarked I ran out to the front of the theater in hopes of saying ‘Hi’ to him, and by gosh, I got my wish (albeit brief) — Now,
What I wish I said to Mr. Nimoy:
“Hello Mr. Nimoy! I loved the show! I’ve always wanted to see Vincent, and it really moved me. It was so beautiful and heartfelt! Jean-Michel was perfect! My name is Therese Bohn, and I wanted to ask you a question, but there wasn’t time. But you’ve been a wonderful inspiration in my life in relation to my own creativity and photography. I’m also so happy to see you today because the last time I saw you, it was 36 years ago, but I forgot my camera, so may I please finally get my picture with you? (I’d like to think he’d say here “Of course!”) Also, I write a silly little blog about Star Trek which features Spock prominently, and I printed a few posts here for you to enjoy. Thanks so much, and Happy Father’s Day! (Insert hug here).
“Well, you better hurry up because I gotta catch my cab!”
And as someone in the crowd attempted to take our picture with my camera, Nimoy kept saying “Hurry up, hurry up!”
And the result was this picture (which I cropped because another fan jumped in on his left):
300 miles and 36 years later, Therese finally gets her picture taken with Nimoy. (That’s a stuffed puppy under his arm from someone else)
Not quite the dream meeting I’d been banking on, but hey, beggars can’t be choosers. Still very thankful for the chance get that picture and it did nicely bookend my last brush with him. Part of me wishes I acted on my initial impulse to go into the café 20 minutes earlier and introduce myself there, but the good little Catholic girl in me said “You don’t interrupt strangers while they’re eating/socializing.” In the end I just hope he didn’t find me another annoying fan girl! The guy I had been in line with at the beginning of the show, Edwin, did get Nimoy’s autograph on the book he brought with him, and Nimoy, ever gracious even in his hurry, gave us all the Vulcan Salute and a smile as he entered his cab. Sorry I didn’t get a picture of that, but I’ll never forget it, bless him.
As I walked, er floated, down the next 10 city blocks, it was the happiest I felt in two weeks, and uncharacteristically, I texted @ ten family and friends with the simple message: Guess who just got her picture taken with LEONARD NIMOY?!
My husband texted back a message that just cracked me up, he wrote: Leonard Neemoy, Leonard Neemoy! Yes, Fangirl 🙂 He was referencing this old Freakazoid Cartoon which he often quotes whenever I say I’m writing post here! 😛
If I ever have the good fortune to meet Mr. Nimoy again, I promise him I’ll keep it as civil and calm as possible! For now, I’m so glad I had this day, and that I could share it with you!
Later, Kids, Therese 🙂
*The Lady in the Red Jacket, is now my friend Bobbie, who was friends with Leonard in 5 years before his passing <3.
Just a quick little memory today of my Dad, Bill, who would have been 95 today :-). Dad passed in 1974 at the age of only 56, he was a loving and hard working Dad to all 8 of us and he adored my Mom, Anna. This occasion is both happy and sad, happy because we love and remember him fondly, sad, of course because my parents are no longer here. But this year, my Mom happily joined him in Heaven for this special occasion, and I know they are together at last.
(btw, Dad liked watching Star Trek with us and thought Lt. Uhura was adorable!)
The clever poster for this production of Leonard Nimoy’s “Vincent”
I ventured to New York City on June 15th to see a limited run of Vincent, the passionate one-man show about the life of Vincent van Gogh,and I am so glad I did!
Vincent takes place a week after van Gogh’s death, his life recalled by his mourning brother, Theo, as he ruffles through a suitcase filled with hundreds of Vincent’s letters.
Written by Leonard Nimoy in the 1970’s, and based on the play Van Gogh by Phillip Stephens, Vincent is an astonishing, fervent piece; a 90 minute, non-stop, bang-bang monologue which left me happy, sad, breathless, and totally satisfied. This production starred Jean-Michel Richaud as Theo, and directed with deft passion by Paul Stein.
A portion of the simple set for “Vincent.” Photo by Therese Bohn 2013
Vincent is presented on a simple set, with a wicker desk and a few chairs, an easel with a frame but no canvas, and a small rear monitor to the side which showcases Vincent’s work throughout. Theo enters meekly, thanking the audience for coming, and asks forgiveness for not being able to speak at his brother’s funeral a week earlier. As Theo goes through the letters he alternates between being himself and his brother, often losing himself in Vincent’s passions. It is a brilliant performance that Mr. Richaud delivers with the full intensity of his heart and soul. As Theo relates his memories, we feel the loss, anger, frustration, and joy of his relationship with Vincent. The brother’s time together churned between love and hate, just as the stars and heavens churn in van Gogh’s Starry Night. But it isn’t all sadness; there are many lighter and funnier moments, some of which made me laugh out loud! And surely despite their hardships, the love between them was undeniable.
Jean-Michel Richaud in Vincent. Photo by Yana Gorskaya
Mr. Richaud was marvelous, and he totally wraps the audience up in Theo’s remembrances. Early in the show, as we’re told of Vincent’s attempts to be a minister, he impersonates Vincent giving a fiery sermon; all completely in French. This not only showcases Richaud’s heritage, but adds even more to the intensity of the moment where Vincent, ever trying to heal and save his flock, nearly brings the house down. It’s a stunning, exciting moment that, in the original production, was done in English. But even non-French speakers can all the more appreciate the urgency in Vincent’s words with Richaud’s perfect delivery.
We learn that Vincent’s attempt to minister is the first in a long line of the artist’s quest to please people, some unorthodox, but always coupled with the need for acceptance. Theo sifts through the letters trying to figure out Why. In a moment of frenzied frustration, Theo cries “Vincent, will you ever learn to love yourself!?” and he hurls all the letters into the air. It is a stunning moment of despair, but Theo eventually finds solace in knowing that his brother found some peace in the last 70 days of his life, creating piece after piece, as if he knew the end was near. Vincent was happiest with outsiders, prostitutes, prisoners, laborers and eventually found a brief haven of peace in an asylum, where the demons of his Epilepsy could be quelled by his need to create art. His goodbye to Vincent is one of the most beautiful farewells I’ve ever seen on a stage.
I would like to see Vincent make it to Broadway, it certainly deserves that chance. There have been regional productions of it, most recently Mr. Richaud’s in Los Angeles. I think anyone who loves art, passion, and life itself should see it; it is a renewing experience. On a personal note, I found myself keenly identifying with Theo in his grief, as at the time it had only been two weeks since my own mother’s passing, and the play proved to be a bit cathartic to me, and just the tonic I needed to help me through this sad time. (Of course, seeing Nimoy in person afterward was a huge boost to my spirits, but I’ll get to that in a separate post).
Some interesting facts I did not know about Vincent van Gogh:
· * Vincent was born “twice” – that is, an older brother, stillborn exactly one year before Vincent’s birth, was also named Vincent. As a child he would be taken to his brother’s grave every Sunday, which surely affected his spiritual beliefs.
· *Vincent suffered from Epilepsy, and his seizures could produce maddening hallucinations and voices in his head – something that very likely have caused him to sever part of his ear, in a desperate hope of silencing the voices.
· * In the last 70 days of his life, Vincent produced an astonishing of art, often two a day, with a grand total of 100 new pieces at his death.
· *His death may not have been suicide, but accidentally prompted by bullies who taunted him as he was painting in a wheat field which led to the gunshot wound in his abdomen. (Nimoy believes this to be the case now)
· * Heartbroken and ailing, Theo died only 6 months after Vincent.
Quotes from Vincent:
· “A Life without love is a sinful condition. I will not live without love. “
·“I paint what I feel, not what I see.”
·“Love, Beauty, and God are all the same thing.”
·“Did you clean the brushes?”
· “Theo, I wish I could die like this.”
Vincent left me with a greater appreciation of the artist and his work, it also reminded me that creativity is not only a great outlet for one’s art, but also a haven for one’s sanity. If Vincent comes to your town – get right to it! It is truly love of life on a grand scale.
I’m still working on my accounts from my visit last Saturday in NYC to see Vincent at the Leonard Nimoy Thalia Theater at Symphony Space, but for now, I was so inspired by seeing Mr. Nimoy I had to write this little poem along with one of many photos I took. Enjoy, and Mr. Nimoy, if you see this, Thanks again! — Therese Bohn June 18, 2013
TrekkerScrapbook 
