Childhood Entertainment

Morning! Would you believe how time flies - it's already almost time for cooler temperatures and extra layers and backyard grilling - in temperatures we can actually bear!

I was thinking about what to write this morning, as I have not kept my promise to myself of keeping a daily writing habit. As I was browsing through Facebook, Frank posted on my wall a picture of a childhood toy with the caption, "Remember what we did for fun before the internet?"
Ah, yes, I remember the Waterfuls. There were several different games, and I distinctly remember breaking them. The water always smelled foul, and the damned things were useless with no water in them! But more than those Waterfuls, I remember a similar item that was filled with colored oil and water, the perfect distraction when there was nothing to do at grandma's house.

There were some where you could control the size of the oil droplets, I think, and I remember spending hours marveling at these devices.

Pre-internet toys, also known as pre-ADD toys, were designed to keep us busy. For me, personally, I was the kid who "always had his nose in a book." CS Lewis' Chronicles Of Narnia; Mary Stewart's Merlin Trilogy; Garfield, MAD, DC and Marvel Comics (and, um, those Archie comics, too); Ann McCaffrey's Dragonriders of Pern books; and I can't forget the Piers Anthony Xanth books - oh, I'm sure there were many many more books than I could name here! I don't know how many kids these days read actual books, what with e-readers and tablets and the internet and video games and all the other distractions that come with the modern ADD-era. But my childhood was filled with dragons and magicians and superheroes and villains!

One of my favorite toys (that wasn't a book) was the Radio Shack 150-In-One Electronic Project Kit.

Ooops, almost out of time... But I have to mention the biggest, bestest toy I ever got: The Big Wheel! It was a birthday gift, and it was a Big Surprise - I don't know how my parents managed to hide it from me, or get it in the house, even - but I remember them hiding it in the kitchen back by the scary water heater, and that was an awesome present! I rode that thing all the time!

Am I a Geek?

Am I a geek because David Tennant and Seven of Nine make my Top 10 Laminated "List?" Am I a geek because my most common companions are a netbook and an iPhone? Am I a geek because the "SyFy channel" seems misspelled to me?

If I were a real geek, I'd be down at DragonCon. As it is, I'm just furious with myself for not going.
If I were a real geek, I'd own a copy of "Forbidden Tales of Robot Lust," instead of sneaking it out of my dad's sock drawer and reading it with my own sock ready.
If I were a real geek I'd know Seven of Nine's real name without looking it up and that Spock had a real name (Zachary Quinto) and not "that guy from Heroes."

Alas! Sometimes I fear I am a fake geek. I have no inhibition when it comes to being naked, I am bored with the selection at the Shack, and horror of horrors, I took a picture of myself with Justin Bieber's cutout once in a Wal-Mart.

Okay, maybe that last bit doesn't necessarily disqualify me.

In my defense, I do own every Harry Potter book, including a very special edition of "The Tales of Beedle the Bard," which includes a set of special edition prints, a purple velvet bag and a very special box that makes it look like a hardbound library book - well-worn, yet lovingly handled...

I like (and own) The World of Warcraft, Destroy All Humans, and once I beat every level of Super Mario Bros.

I grew up believing in Narnia, had a childhood crush on Anthony Michael Hall circa Weird Science, and believing there was something wrong with how I looked as an altar boy because that freakin' priest never touched me once!

All seriousness aside, though, I truly feel I missed the boat somewhere, some days. There are no I.T. Certificates on my wall, no technical college certifications bragging about my continuing education, and the most technical book on my shelf is the Sixth Edition of Stage Management by Lawrence Stern. Oh wait, what's this on my bookshelf? A three-ring binder whose spine says "Computer Sciences Corporation?" What's this? Open it up, and it's... um... a heavily annotated script from Little Shop of Horrors....

(sigh)

My geekdom is safe... and good thing, too, because Christopher Gorham and I have a hot date tonight and he's gonna make me Popular!

Amateur? Me?

Wikipedia says "Foodies" are "amateurs who simply love food for consumption, study, preparation, and news" (as opposed to those called "gourmets" who "are epicures of refined taste"). Amateur? Really? Who could possibly be an amateur about food? Haven't we all been eating food all of our lives, and doesn't that make us all sort of experts?
As food is essential to survival, then many people find themselves "surviving" on food. Those who are budget conscious find ingenious ways to "step-up" their food a notch - like my friends Charlie Duncan and Sydney Mitchell, who contribute to a wonderful blog called Thrifty Foodies ~ A Blog for Gourmet on a Budget.... It's definitely worth reading, and trying, their ideas!

Charlie and Sydney both live in different areas of New York state, but both used to live here, in South Carolina. Some of the most gifted people around - Charlie a singer, actor and entertainer, and Sydney... well, actually, she's also a singer, actress and entertainer...
I keep hoping they become famous, so I can say, I knew those people, I used to party and hang out with them!

My Creative Friends

I am always amazed at the creativity of my friends, so I thought I'd take a moment and blog about all the ways in which they enhance life, art, and the world:

• Thrifty Foodies is a blog that shows budget conscious Foodies how to still cook Gourmet-style! My friends Charlie Duncan and Sydney Mitchell (both of whom used to live here in South Carolina and now live in New York state) are contributors!
  
• Rags To Dishes - another great Foodie site for the budget-conscious, courtesy of my friend Katherine.
  
• Notes From A Nerdling - strange encounters on the planet Odd. A fellow thespian takes a stab with hilariously odd humor
  
• New Mom In New York - Pregnancy in New York - with a twist.

The Great Cocktail Shakeup

It started in a little corner of Cedar Terrace Shopping Center as a "business where people needed your product whether times were good, or whether times were bad." In South Carolina, liquor can only be sold in a separate store front, and only liquor can be sold in that storefront. So, you can't buy liquor in the grocery store, or in a convenience store, or in a gas station, or in the church vestibule.
So Frank and I decided it would be a good business for us to try - I was working full time as Store Team Leader (General Manager) in Landmark Square at JoAnn Fabrics and Crafts, and Frank would work full time at launching our business, Frank Richards Beverage, in Cedar Terrace.
Our target clientele was the neighborhood of Cedar Terrace - we weren't trying to compete with places like Green's and Total Wine. Initially, we didn't offer beer or wine, because, of course, that would have required a separate store front.

Several good things came out of that little corner store. One major one was Buddy, a cat that wandered in the store one day, and never left. One of the most charming alley cats you've ever met, and hungry for attention... and just plain hungry. Well, to say he never left is not quite accurate - after making sure he had a clean bill of health, we took him home, and he has made it his own.
Another good thing was the support and help we received from our friends - in helping us run the store, and in buying from us instead of that other place, even though they were no doubt cheaper.
Our plan worked, our neighborhood customers found us, and gave it an honest effort. We did well enough, and we were able to take vacations like normal people, come and go as we pleased, and we didn't have to answer to any "corporate types." It was OUR business!
We, of course, gave back to our community by offering special pricing to GLBT organizations such as the Aids Benefit Foundation of South Carolina and the SCGLBG, and donating what we could afford to their fundraising events. We also helped build the Garden of Grace UCC on Atlas Rd, an Open-And-Affirming church that is a spiritual home to many GLBT folks. We still volunteered at the local community theatres too (community theatre and art in general always struggle for support!), such as Town Theatre and Workshop Theatre.
We always were on the lookout for ways to expand and grow, and when a space opened up in the front building, closest to the road, with more visibility and two front doors, we decided to take it.

Our Frank Richards Beverage Universe was born. Being able to divide the space and utilize the two front doors meant we had the equivalent of two storefronts - and now could offer beer and wine and other convenience items. A group of our theatre friends helped us move, literally overnight! We had fun, and managed to be ready for business by our next business day.

I left JoAnn's at the end of 2009 and made Frank Richards Beverage my full time focus.
We installed refrigeration, and our friend Andrew helped create a fun atmosphere with creative logos, decor and signage. We were able to offer wine tastings, and bar essentials, and we were getting more traffic into the store due to our increased visibility from the road.

The liquor business can be very enjoyable. I got to sample new products before they ever hit the shelves, I made a variety of new friends, and was able to hone my website skills, too! I launched Frank's idea for a website, The Cocktail Shaker - a website that featured drink recipes, tips, ideas and fun.
There were several factors that led to our decision to sell the business after more than four years - the loss of our major anchor in Cedar Terrace (Fred's), the overall economy, and a need for more income than the shop was generating.

Owning our own business was a lot of fun, but also a lot of work! We appreciated the support we received from our friends and customers, as well as from other businesses which referred customers to us, such as the Winestyles in the Shoppes at Woodhill.
What better way to conclude this practice-writing than with a drink recipe? How about something from The Cocktail Shaker? (Click on the image below for an easier to read version)

I Know What You Are Thinking...

"Richard didn't blog today."

Well, thanks for keeping me on my toes.

And yes, Lou, I did see my cameo. Did you see yours?

But I DID blog today: Check it out! http://techyech.blogspot.com/

Out of time, though, but not out of smiles!

I was, by no means, perfect as a child. I was geeky, nerdy, bookish and kind of a loner. I knew lots of other kids, but I can't say that I got attached to many of them. They may or may not have become attached to me, but I could not honestly say. I can say that no BFF-type life-long friends that I am aware of came out of my K-12 years. I can remember getting into plenty of trouble, and treating some other kids badly, and

I'm pretty sure, as a teenager, I never quite fit in with my age group. I usually found myself hanging around with the adults - or in many cases, people generally older than myself. I took on responsibilities early in life, working in the cafeteria, assisting in the school library, assisting in the career and counseling center, and even as an assistant in the school's main office. In my classes, I took on responsibilities, too - editor, photographer, teacher's aide... school newspaper, magazine and color guard...

But, I consider myself to have been a fairly well-behaved child, overall.

When I'm around kids, there are those who would say I turn into a kid. I laugh and jump and play and have fun... I have been seen bouncing in the bouncy house and climbing the monkey bars and all kinds of fun stuff.

I find photographing children now to be both a challenge, and also, a challenge. I haven't a lot of experience at it, and I find their parents to be of little help, lots of times. Temper tantrums and crankiness try my patience. But I have also found that some of the best shots come out of those situations. Children are, most times, more real, more realistic - and their emotions shine through. It's refreshing, compared to many adults I have tried to photograph who need cajoling and convincing...
As I wonder where the heck I was going with this blog entry in the first place, I am formulating ideas on how to develop this blog into something people might actually want to read. Since it is my hope to incorporate photos that I have taken into the blog, perhaps it will make the blog more interesting too. This blog is meant to help me get back into the habit of writing, so I haven't really taken any certain direction in it - no theme yet, no style, no structure, no creative elements - at this rate, I'm never going to amass a large group of followers... but I sure am enjoying going through old photos I have taken and wondering why I'm not taking more pictures... - I'll finish up my disjointed ramblings with a couple more pictures, including one with an adorable doggy:

I feel lucky.

Retail is a challenging place to work. Wearing a smile is not always easy. I know what you are thinking... You're thinking that this entry is going to be about how hard my job is and how much of a whiner I am... "WOE is me," right?
But that's not what I am talking about. This entry is about people that make me smile. Of people who help me remember to smile. Of people who make smiling for a living fun. Of which there are many in my life. I feel lucky.

Why do I bring up retail, then? Why, to accentuate the reasons why people who make me smile are appreciated. Customers are not always nice. Sales-focused bosses are definitively not always nice. The work is sometimes dirty and labor intensive. But people who make me smile can make the difference!
You take those smiles where you can!

What's wrong with a smile at the workplace? The place a person works - the place where a person spends 40 or more hours a week - the place where their stress lives and breathes?

In my own case, I have lots of other smile sources. At home, I have my Frank. Buddy. Maddie.

All great reasons to smile.

Sometimes I just need to be reminded of that.

(More smiles to come, I'm just out of time - must head off to work!)

Part of the Family

(The first picture I offer is from Harvey, at Town Theatre, taken by ME!)
Theatre is just one of those things that really completes my life. It doesn't matter what I'm doing - backstage, photos, Stage Manager, props, strike, or just hanging out - there's never a dull moment. I enjoy being around creative people - and Columbia is BLESSED (a word I don't use lightly, like every other South Carolinian I know).
One thing I love about theatre is the mix - I mean, we have a couple of REPUBLICANS! And a few lawyers. And some architects. Some waiters and waitresses. Nerdy financial guys. Old people. Young people. Children. Artists. Business Owners. Managers. Healthcare. The list goes on and on.
But when we are in that production, we are family. We see each other naked, or in various stages of undress, in moments of extreme emotion, and in moments of embarrassment. We see each other drunk, and sober. We meet the parents. We meet the kids. We eat, we drink, we sometimes see each other more than our real, actual, biological family.
And then, when the show ends, we might not see each other for several months, or even years. But when we get back into a show, or see each other "on the street," it's like no time has passed. Instant. Just like that.
Oh, sometimes we hang out in venues other than the theatre. Theatre people actually welcome you into their homes, let you crash if you need it, and don't judge if you misbehave. Theatre people show up at your place of work and make your day with a kind word or a favorite memory or story to tell.
And, if you are having a bad day, theatre people know how to cheer you up.
If YOU are not involved in theatre, you should try it! There are lots of great ways to get involved - Usher a show, work backstage, sew costumes, build sets, tear down sets, help out in the box office, be onstage (audition!), and so much more!

My blog is an effort to regain the writing habit, so if you thought this sucked, keep it to yourself. If you loved it, tell me! :)

I always find that I am jealous of people who blog daily, or at least faithfully. Take, for example, my friend Lou, author of Notes From a Nerdling, one of my favorite blogs. She’s funny, yes, but she looks past the humdrum of daily life and finds the humor in it. Or another friend, Alvin, author of Anti-Gay Lies and Liars, whose specific goal is almost a cause… ferret out lies in the media about the glbt community.

And then there’s me. Yep, the very same guy who, in high school, always thought he’d be a writer in life. In fact, everyone else thought it too. And why not? I wrote for the local newspaper (the special high school page feature in the Desert Trail), I was on the yearbook staff, wrote for the school’s newspaper (The Roadrunner), and both contributed to and edited the school’s literary magazine, Wit’s End.

What happened? Life, you say? My survival skills kicked in when I graduated high school, you say? Indeed.

Today finds my creative juices somewhat stymied. Oh, there are little, incidental reminders that I can write: a box full of old clippings from newspaper articles, letters to the editor(s), and creative projects I worked on; a few awards from writing contests I entered; a handful of writing credits and contributions that do not a résumé make…

Oh, and the reminder that came from an unexpected source the other day, a young lady I work with, with whom I play a word game called Wordfeud on our cell phones, commented to me that “No one could beat me on Wordfeud, because my vocabulary was off-the-chain.” Nice compliment, that.

It is true, I love word games. Wheel of Fortune, Literati, Scrabble, Lexulous, Wordfeud, you name it, if I’m not playing it, you’d better invite me.

My creative outlet right now has been photography. I took a job with Olympus cameras representing their cameras to major retailers such as Best Buy, HHGregg, Walmart and others - got sent on a photo-field trip to St. Louis, got to own and play with the Olympus PEN EPL-1 for free for almost a whole year…

I dabbled in publicity photos for Town Theatre, for shows like West Side Story and Little Shop of Horrors, and also took pride in taking show photos for the cast and crew that included them on-stage and off…

I have a Nikon N65 and a Nikon D50 in my personal arsenal, with some really awesome lenses and other accessories that I love to play with - along with a Flip video, an HP CB350, and a cheap Mustek camcorder…


But all of this does not mean I have an appreciable portfolio, a substantial photo résumé - or even a job where I actually get to take pictures - artistic, boring or otherwise.

I do have a photo gallery on my website: Rifrak.com. You should go there. Tell me what you think.

But the whole point is: why am I not writing? Why am I jealous of others who manage to do so faithfully?

So, once again, I hereby vow: I will make a greater effort to assemble my memoirs. Hone my skills with the written word. Yep, you guessed it, I’mma gonna start a blog.

The plan, see, is to combine my meager photography skills with my under-developed writing skills and come up with something that is of interest to one person: ME. Alone time to be creative, be stupid, be silly, be crazy… or just be writing.

So, if you’d care to join me, then you must do your part: be a nag. “Hey Richard, did you write something today?” or “Hey Richard, your blog is lame… you need more practice…”

It takes 21 attempts to create a habit… let me see, 1 down, 20 to go… I think I’ll need some encouragement… That’s where YOU come in:

Perhaps some subject material? Let me take your picture? Let me write your memoir? Hire me for a photo or writing job?