Meeting a Legend

Surprise!  Yep, I (Darren) am back again with another installment of what I like to call a, “ I should have written this for the blog ages ago, but didn’t” post.  Anyway...though I have recently taken up a new makeup position, this post is regarding events about 2 months ago when I was still working at Weta Workshop.

For those who have never heard of Dick Smith, he is basically the “Godfather of TV/Movie makeup” and a living legend in the business. Luckily, I had the great pleasure of not only meeting Dick when he came to visit us at the Workshop, but actually working with him off and on for the two weeks he was with us.

During the time I had with him, we talked about everything from the best way to remove bubbles from molds, to health and nutrition, even politics.  Dick (as he prefers to be called, no Mr. Smith thank you) is a brilliant man and though even he admits that his mind isn’t as sharp as it used to be, has so very much to teach (even outside of the makeup field).  One day I found myself sitting with him and my writing/project partner Bill Hunt, having lunch and talking about such random topics as the dangers of politics vs. religion and the hazards of soymilk and fluoride.  The wealth of knowledge that this man brings to the table (figuratively and literally) is awe-inspiring and I was truly humbled to be in his presence if only for a few short weeks.

I now email Dick off and on, with questions or comments or just general inquires about his health and family. The fact that I can happily call Dick a friend is a testament to how far I have come both professionally and personally. He has seen my work, critiqued it, and after many conversations has thanked me for my insight and knowledge. This experience has been, and will continue to be, an amazing addition to my life.

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Rest In Peace STAN and thank you...

A Prehistoric Visitor

So, after my walk home today, I (Darren) am about to put the key into the door to the front of our flat, and what should I see… a Weta! “Big Weta in My Back Yard!" (random Dead Milkmen reference sung here).

Yep, we had a visitor from New Zealands’ past stop by for a visit. I was told some time ago that this is very good luck and fortune for your home and family, so… guess we shall see.

In any case, I asked permission to take a few pictures and thanked him after (stop rolling your eyes - you would, or at least should, do this too) and then ran upstairs to share them with Dawn!

For those of you who have never seen these beautiful creatures, they are rare in areas like ours, so this is a very special treat; not to mention that they are very cool-looking, fierce little buggers.

If ever there was a question about New Zealand being one of the last truly untouched places on earth, these creatures that have stayed the same with little evolutionary change for millions of years (190 million to be exact!) are the living proof. Enjoy the pics and click the (weta) link above for more details. They are so amazing I am actually planning on getting a tattoo of one!

New Music

Full confession: I own all of Alanis Morissette's albums. Well, not the pop-music ones from her days in Canada, but everything since Jagged Little Pill (which coincidentally came out the same year of a very bad breakup). I was angry, she was angry - it was beautiful.

Since then, I've bought each CD as it was released, immediately bonding with her at each new stage of her life. When she released Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie(1998), I too was moving on with my life and examining parts of my past. To this day, every time I hear 'Unsent', I think of the same five boys I thought of the first time I heard it; and many of the lyrics of 'Sympathetic Character' brought up memories I had been avoiding.

The next new album wasn't released until 2002 (Under Rug Swept). The album covered a wide range of topics - love with an emotionally unavailable man, as struggling relationship...and hope. At the time, the songs 'Narcissus' and 'So Unsexy' were especially poignant for me. I tended to shout '21 Things..' every time I listened to it, as if the perfect man would just materialize!

So Called Chaos was next in 2004. She was finally happy, and so was I! Yet, I didn't like this album. I was much happier with the re-release of Jagged Little Pill as an acoustic album in 2005. It was difficult to believe 10 years had gone by since all that anger, and it was good to look back on the songs in a new, softer light. I felt wiser from the struggles of those years.

I didn't even hear about her latest album, Flavors of Entanglement, until just a couple days before it was released. Of course, I immediately ordered it on Amazon (didn't even think that it would be in the stores here, but I think it is!), and sent a copy to my good friend Kim, who has critiqued each album with me since we met in 2001.

I love it.

And sad to say, I think it's because she just went through another bad break-up. (She was engaged to a douchebag actor, but never made it to the altar.)

She's not angry this time...she's heart-wrenchingly sad. In the second track, 'Underneath', she says "Look at us being cruel kids with both our hearts blocked.."; in 'Not as We', she laments starting over again "as I/And not as we"; and in 'Orchid', she sums up her relationships with 'I've just not been trusted with altars".

What would a break-up be without self doubt? Such as in the song 'Tapes': '"I am someone easy to leave"/"Even easier to forget"/a voice, if inaccurate', even going so far as to eschewing relationships in 'Moratorium'.

There is a tiny bit of hope in the CD, though, in the songs 'Giggling Again for No Reason', and 'In Praise of the Vulnerable Man'. And there's many references to the strong female friendships she has; in 'Limbo No More', she sings "I sit with filled frames/And my books and my dogs at my feet/My friends by my side/My past in a heap". The last song on the bonus album is titled 'On the Tequila', and is quite humorous! Apparently, she has quite the tolerance built up...

The first track, 'Citizen of the Planet' is quite political and seems a bit out of place, but since all the songs I like are folded into my "Favs" playlist on my ipod, it doesn't really matter to me.

The sound of the album is more dance-ish, and reminds me a bit of Madonna's Ray of Light, which is a good thing.  I like the new sound, even if it means she is sad again.  Luckily this time,  my life does not mirror hers.

Duck Time

As many of you know, we don't have a car, so my commute has involved a lot of walking and occasional use of the bus system.  My walk used to take me through the city - which is ok, I rather like Wellington - but there quite a few stoplights and way too many smokers who spend more time holding their cancer sticks while walking than standing out of the way.  

With the new job came a new commute path along the beautiful Wellington harbor.  The walking path is huge and full of walkers, runners, cyclists and the random skateboarder.  The best part of my commute - by far - is the time I spend saying hello to all the ducks that hang out in areas near the harbor.  I always make sure to allow for my 'duck time', and I'm certain it is why I'm in such a good mood on the days I walk in.

Now that Darren works just a block from my office, we walk in together.  The first part of our commute takes us through Waitangi Park, which has dedicated wetlands.  On the warmer mornings (which are becoming very rare now!), there are heaps of ducks swimming around between the tall grassy areas.  Yesterday there was just the lone duck - 

Just to be sure, we checked each section...

...until we found a group of duckies right before the bridge linking the park with the harbor path.  These guys swam super fast to come say hello to us!  Sadly, I forgot to bring bread.

As we cross the bridge, we look out on the little beach area - there are always ducks sleeping or preening each morning...

...and seagulls.

We continue our walk along the harbor - even though it's winter, the mornings have been quite beautiful.

Finally, we check the area behind Te Papa for any last duckies...

...before continuing on our way to work.

Is there any part of your morning commute that makes your day better?