Miscellaneous Meandering: Snowman Walking in the Air

And finally, the Grande Finale...

Miscellaneous Meandering: The Snowman again

Oh no...still wrong?! Let's try again...
All I can say is thank goodness we don't live in England...other than that, I'm speechless.

The Snowman has also been made into a stage show. It was first produced by Birmingham Repertory Company in 1993, with music and lyrics by Howard Blake, scenario by Blake, with Bill Alexander and choreography by Robert North. Since 1997 Sadler's Wells has presented it every year as the Christmas Show at the Peacock Theatre. As in the book and the film, there are no words, apart from the lyrics of the song "Walking in the Air". The story is told through images and movement. Special effects include the Snowman and boy flying high over the stage (with assistance of wires and harnesses) and ‘snow’ falling in part of the auditorium.

The production has had several revisions – the most extensive happening in 2000, when major changes were made to the second act, introducing new characters: The Ice Princess and Jack Frost.
Back Stage Pass:

Miscellaneous Meandering – The Real Snowman

Oh my, that wasn’t the right clip at all. Here is the clip, just as we remember it… sing along with me.

Miscellaneous Meandering: The Snowman

While away in Germany, I would suffer the occasional bout of home-sickness (especially around Christmas). One of the things I fondly remembered about Christmas at home was the first time “The Snowman” was aired on Christmas eve. Originally a children’s book, it was turned into a short animated film. I thought it was wonderfully magical. Here is the clip - just as we all remember it...

Part 10: Schloss Philippsruhe (September 1990)

Schloss Phillipsruhe near Hanau, Germany

On the day we visited, there was a big festival on the grounds of the schloss. Since everyone was out at the fest, hardly anyone was inside. This allowed me the perfect opportunity to learn practical momentum skills. I learned if you run fast in your pressed wool slippers, you can slide really far on slick inlaid floors. I must have slid 15-20 feet at speeds up to 95mph. Very good exercise to strengthen tower climbing muscles. As time went by this became my primary warm up excercise (whenever there was a suitable floor nearby).

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Most people are afraid to go 95mph in their slippers. Admit it I am FEARLESS.

Miscellaneous Meandering: Autobahn Flab

When I was in Germany much time was spent jetting around on the autobahn, including frequent stops to eat yummy German food like pomme frittes. I quickly learned that while the car was getting quite a workout, I was not. To combat “Autobahn Flab”, I came up with an exercise program that sparked the exercise video craze staring these two Euro-studs. The videos were sold all across Germany and eventually spread as far as Russia. Here is the Belgium edition (English lang.) of the project that helped me earn my first million. All of the proceeds were donated to the worthy cause of creating a nature preserve for obese swans.

Some of you may have seen this video before; however, I find new exercise tips can be gleaned each time it is viewed. Don’t forget…multi-tasking takes concentration! So, if this is a problem area for you, please practice this routine while stationary- in say a parking lot or your driveway. I recommend a public parking lot since your form tends to be better when you know others are watching.
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Most people are afraid of Euro-studs . Admit it I am FEARLESS.

Part 9: Kitzingen (August 1990) (continued)

Kitzingen Tower:
I took the picture on the left outside of the tower...you can see the top leaning better in this shot. The shot on the right was taken at dusk. Notice the tricky diagonal positioning? - ooooh, ahhh.

Feeding 'pomme frites' to a young swan in Kitzingen.

In reality 'Dracula's Grave' was probably just the highly decorate grave of a very rich person or persons. Especially likely since Vlad the Impaler was from Romania not Kitzingen. Not sure what was wrong with the family or the sculptor they hired to adorn the grave with skulls sporting batwings, and a colorful scuplted ceiling of naked women and children amidst skeletons. It was quite elaborate.... elaborately warped perhaps...but elaborate none the less.

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Most people are scared of feeding swans by hand. Admit it, I am FEARLESS.

Part 8: Kitzingen (August 1990)

August 18, 1990:
“Glen was stationed here for awhile. Saw the leaning tower of Kitzingen which really leans. There was a Fasching museum inside. It was not possible to touch the golden ball.”

The Kitzingen tower was built between 1469 and 1496 as a watch tower of the outer city walls. The pointed roof of the tower leans noticeably to one side. Legend has it that during it's construction, there was a shortage of water and a surplus of wine. The masons used the wine instead of water to set the mortar and the wooden beams were not properly set. Another local legend is that the golden ball atop the crooked tower contains the heart of Vlad Dracu of Romania. If you follow the path of the crooked tower, the golden ball leans directly toward a grave in the Old Kitzingen Cemetery that is referred to as the Grave of Dracula.

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Most people are afraid of Fasching towers and Dracula. Admit it I am FEARLESS.

Miscellaneous Meandering: Throw me a Bone! (or A Bag of Apples)

In Germany, they like scary things. After all they have Frankenstein's Castle and they have lots of haunted houses at the various festivals. Halloween would seem a good fit...

Sept 1990: Haunted House in Frankfurt

I made this little cartoon for them. Despite my efforts, they didn't "get it" and never really caught on to the whole Halloween scene.

The German Apple growers even asked me to help them with a little ditty to sell apples in October. They had heard that Apples were a big part of the American Halloween and they were rather hoping the holiday would successfully transplant to their country....it didn't. Here is the jingle they chose.

Miscellaneous Meandering - Fright Night

As you know I took some pictures during the recent Black & White Fright Night party using a special ectoplasmic camera. Looks like the T & B clan have got some real problems...

Too view at your own pace use use the

controlls at the bottom of the photo.

Part 7: Wurzburg (continued)

The Residenz was truly an amazing place full of intricate details...too amazing for just one log entry. It was also the backdrop for our first brush with fame. In the first photo below, you will notice a film crew and the blonde Mr. Rick Steves.

New Mexico Man (in disguise) recognized CameraMan, Steves' side kick, and managed to catch his attention by using his "puffing up" ability. CameraMan snapped his head towards us and said "Cool shirt graphic man" (you will see the cool shirt in a photo below). This comment was overheard by Steves and this led to more chatting and conversation with Rick Steves. Brilliant plan! New Mexico Man is my BSK4EVR!!
[Best Side Kick Forever].

If you see the episode where he tours the Residenz - well, we were there with him. He left the out the footage of us for our protection as he "realized we were meant for greatness and didn't want to give us away too soon". Great guy that Steves!

Note: You can click the pictures to 'gianourma-size' them.

Part 6: August 1990

Decided more training was needed. My first remedial training session out and about amongst the locals took place on the grand staircase of the Wurzburg Residenz. Accompanying me was my trusty side-kick New Mexico Man; he was also my photographer. As side kicks tend to stick close, he rarely was far enough from said side to get a good shot of my climbs.
Historical Excerpt: The staircase of the Würzburg Residenz's vault spans an area of 18x30 meters, without being pillared; a masterpiece of construction with a maximum height of 23 meters. Court architect Balthasar Neumann had to fight concerns, concerning the dangers of such an enormous Vault. The vault is adorned with a fresco by Venetian painter Giovanni Battista Tiepolo.

August 18, 1990:
“The chapel was closed for a wedding. We went in a side door and climbed up a 2 story metal spiral staircase to the balcony of the Wurzburg Residenz Chapel. There was an open door and a man motioned us in. We lucked out.”

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Most people are scared of New Mexico Man and narrow spiral staircases. Admit it, I am FEARLESS.

Miscellaneous Meandering: New Office Chairs

When I was in Germany, one of my hobbies was conducting ergonomical research. As a result my boss bought new inovative ergonomic office chairs for all of us. Soon all of Europe followed our lead. We made a spoof video...very cutting edge at the time. I'm the one in the white long-sleeved shirt leaning way back. I prefer watching it without the sound; but you can decide which way you like it better.

Part 5: August 1990

“Schloss Johannisburg - No, I don’t believe it!” you say? Well, it is true … I am The "Furchtlose Schloss-Aufsatz-Bergsteiger-Frau” and I was really there. If you don’t believe me, here is my proof:

August 12, 1990

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Most people are afraid of ending up with the Rechnung. Admit it I am FEARLESS.

Part 4: August 1990

My first Castle Tower Climb was one of the corner towers of Schloss Johannisburg. I only climbed one because as you can tell from the photo, if you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all.

August 8, 1990:
“After exploring the open square castle and climbing one of the corner towers, we walked the grounds and found a small pool that looked like it might have been for bathing. We also saw some vines growing kiwis. I had never seen such a thing.”

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Most people are afraid of kiwis. Admit it I am FEARLESS.

Part 3: July 1990

Training continued in Germany frequently climbing the 32 flights of stairs to our 16th floor apartment (old elevators). Where I would hang over the balcony to launch flying origami and drop snap-n-pops on unsuspecting Americans.

July 1990:

"I took this picture of Glen carrying his duffle-bag while hanging over the balcony of our 16th floor apartment in Bischoffsheim. Our car is in the top row 3rd from the right.” Our car was a green Audi. That might mean something in the U.S.A. But in Germany Audi’s aren’t a big deal. They are as common there as Fords or Chevys are in our country."

Introduction, Part 2

Yes, I am the Fearless Castle Tower Climber Woman…but I didn’t start off climbing towers. Tower Climbing requires well-toned muscles and you need to build up to it. First I walked up a long switchback flight of stairs attached to the rocky face of Glenwood Canyon. For good measure, I climbed to the top of Hanging Lake Falls as well.

Then I climbed out onto a narrow jutting finger of a cliff at Wolf Creek Pass in Colorado. My “tower climber” training continued in El Paso where I climbed Waco Tanks. My photographer did not appreciate this pose one bit.

Introduction, part 1:

During my travels far and wide I became known throughout the land. In Germany, they called me the “Furchtolose Schloss-Aufsatz-Bersteiger-Frau” (Fearless Castle Tower Climber Woman).
I traveled and climbed in many places:

Hanau, Braubach, Frankfurt , Gross Auheim , Wachenbuchen , Flensburg , Arhus , Rudesheim , Kassel , Eberstadt , Konigsee , Steinau , Veitschofsheim , Schonburg , Wurzburg , Bingin Am Rheine , Butzbach , Kitzingen , Aschaffenburg , Dittlebach , Rothenberg ODT , Florsheim , Geltendorf , Nurnberg , Kempten , Darmstadt , Schwangau , Grundau, Jessenwang , Neuschwanstein , Munchen , Heidelberg , Salzburg , Moorenweis , Ronneburg , Rumpenheim , St Bartholoma , Annweiler , Vaduz , Volendam , Selingenstadt , Wolfgang , Munzenburg , Strasburg , Wolfersheim , Wiesbaden , Bruchenbrucken , Mainz , Friedberg , Luzern , Bad Homburg , Babenhausen , Karben , Dieburg , Niederdor felden , Lichtenstein , Cochem , Budesheim , Eltz , Dornigheim , Hungen , Berstadt , Giessen , Wilhelmsbad , Illesheim , BruchKobel , Neuremberg , Bischofsheim , Kleinostheim , Erlensee , Maintal , Santkt Goarshausen , Amsterdam , Paris , Etc. , Etc. , Etc.