The Season of Giving

It’s Christmas time! And also the season of giving. Today we’re talking about organizations that we support. In fact, today is Giving Tuesday!

Every Ability Plays Project is important to Will, because it was started by his friend, Tonya. EAPP provides playground equipment for children with disabilities. They have installed several pieces of equipment in Albuquerque parks. Check out their website and donate!

Brittania’s friend Abe is an ambassador for Special Olympics. He created a fitness challenge and even attended the Olympic Games! Head over to sonm.org to show them some love.

And finally, a big shout out to our own organization, Arts Connections! We have been around since July of 2020, providing connections and fun virtual activities during the pandemic and beyond! Visit our website, artsconnections.org to donate. 

Will’s Book Nook: Dickens Confidential Scribblings

Dickens Confidential, an audiobook compilation from BBC Radio, takes the “ what if” approach to Dickens’ backstory as a newspaper man. He incorporated some of the real life stories he came across as a journalist into his fiction. In this series, a fictionalized Dickens writes about various happenings in victorian London. In one episode he works on a story about child labor, as he does in his novels, and uncovers conflict and intrigue. It was disturbing to hear some of the conditions some of these children experienced, but it did make for a very dramatic storyline. Dickens himself grew up working in a workhouse, and he didn’t want other children experiencing the same things he went through. That’s just one example, but if you love historical fiction, especially featuring real people, I highly recommend you give this series a listen.

Top Ten: Mark’s Favorite Harry Potter Characters

1.  Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe).
2.  Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint).
3.  Hermione Granger (Emma Watson).
4.  Professor Dumbledore (Richard Harris; Michael Gambon).
5.  Professor Snape (Alan Rickman).
6.  Professor McGonagall (Maggie Smith).
7.  Professor Trelawney (Emma Thompson).
8.  Draco Malfoy (Tom Felton).
9.  Ginny Weasley (Bonnie Wright).
10.  Rubeus Hagrid (Robbie Coltrane).

Crystal's Bow Blog: Hot Pink!

 

Look how happy Crystal is in hot pink!

Will's Book Nook: Dr Finlay: Adventures of a Black Bag Scribblings, Part II

As promised, here are my favorite Dr Finlay episodes from the audiobook I have been re-listening to. So here they are in no particular order:

• "The Golden Fishbone":  This episode introduces one of my favorite character, who I didn't mention last week. Mr McKeller is only interested in making money. He is so shifty that they play it for comedy. Dr Finlay saves him from choking on a fishbone, and he gives him a stock tip in return.
  
• "The Miracle of Lestrange": In this episode the two doctors have to prevent a "miracle worker" from taking away their clients. They come up with a fake disease that Lestrange can't cure, and they work as a team for the first time.
• "The Day Before the Wedding": Dr Finlay marries Peggy, a nurse in the same Glasgow hospital. He goes out drinking the night before has a nightmare about the wedding. Everything that can go wrong, does, which is pretty funny. Especially when his suit turns out to be too small. Luckily everything goes well the next day.
  

 

What We're Thankful For

 

In times like these it's important to reflect on what we're thankful for. With the ongoing global pandemic and other serious topics in the news right now, we are still grateful for many things, but especially family.

Joseph is very thankful for his family, particularly with the recent passing of his mother. He is especially close with his three siblings and their children and is looking forward to spending the holiday surround by the people he loves.

Mark is also very grateful for his mother and sister. Mark and his mother have lived together in Albuquerque for 28 years. They enjoy a nice, quiet Thanksgiving every year, with Mark's favorite dish, roast chicken.

Crystal is thankful not just for relatives, but all the people she considers family, like her caregiver, Candice. It's impost to appreciate all the meaningful relationships in our lives.

Will's family is important to him as well. This year he's thinking a lot about his extended family, as his uncle and aunt are moving to Colorado. He is thankful for all the times they were there for him, and he is grateful that they will still have Facetime, but it will take some getting used to to celebrate Thanksgiving without them.

Top Ten: Mark's Favorite Epic Films

 

1.  Titanic (1997).
2.  Gandhi (1982).
3.  Once Upon a Time in America (1984).
4.  Once Upon a Time in the West (1968).
5.  Lawrence of Arabia (1962).
6.  Spartacus (1960).
7.  Amadeus (1984).
8.  Apocalypse Now (1979); Apocalypse Now Redux (2001).
9.  Ben-Hur (1925, 1959).
10.  The Ten Commandments (1923, 1956)

Our Early Music Favorites

Mark's Top Ten this week got us thinking about our early music influences. So we tried to think what our first albums or favorite artists were. 

Will discovered Shania Twain's album, Come On Over, which got him into country music.

 

Norah Jones's Come Away With Me was an early favorite of Mark's. Her voice is heavenly.

Joseph has always loved The Eagles Greatest Hits. His favorite song is Hotel California.

Lynette is a long time Michael Jackson fan. She loves the album Thriller.

Margaret's biggest early music influence was Raffi. The first album she remembers listening to on repeat was Singable Songs for the Very Young. But she had to rewind the cassette tape every time!

What albums do you remember from your youth?

Top Ten: Mark's Favorite First MTV Music Videos

1.  "Video Killed the Radio Star" by the Buggles

2.  "You Better Run" by Pat Benatar.

3.  "You Better You Bet" by The Who.

4.  "Brass in Pocket " by the Pretenders.

5.  "When Things Go Wrong" by Robin Lane and the Chartbusters.

6.  "Hold on Loosely " by .38 Special.

7.  "Keep on Loving You" by REO Speedwagon.

8. "In the Air Tonight" by Phil Collins.

9.  "Stop Draggin' My Heart Around " by Stevie Nicks and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.

10.  "Just Between You and Me" by April Wine.

 

Will's Book Nook: Dr Finlay: Adventures of a Black Bag Scribblings, part I

 

I have been re-listening to an audiobook compilation of a radio show called Dr Finlay: Adventures of a Black Bag by AJ Cronin. In fact, it was one of the first audiobooks I ever purchased. I loved it so much, that I decided to listen to it again. Here are my top three favorite characters:

1. Dr Finlay: He is a bit prickly, but he knows his profession well. He has a sense of humor, but it's sarcastic and he only uses it on occasion. The further you get on in the series, the more he opens up to the people of Levenford, where he has just arrived at the beginning of the series. It's fun to see his character develop and finally make some friends, including Dr Cameron, who he works with.

2. Dr Cameron: He balances out Dr Finlay, though they do have some epic disagreements. He is older, wiser and kinder. He is willing to teach young Dr Finlay the ropes, but he keeps making fun of how inexperienced he is. I do feel sorry for their housekeeper during their quarrels.

3. Janet MacPherson: Speaking of the housekeeper, Janet helps the doctors when they disagree. She gives her input about the patients, who she knows well. She's a hard worker and she's very proper. She has a "let's get down to business" personality.

The stories have been adapted for television, but I haven't watched it yet. I stumbled upon it by accident, but I'm glad I did. Next week I will post about my favorite episodes.

Will's Book Nook: Good Omens Scribblings

 

It is the 10th anniversary of the release of Neil Gaiman & Terry Prachett's Good Omens, so a special audiobook edition is being released today featuring cast interviews and an introduction by the author. I read it quite awhile ago, and I remember enjoying a lot. It was one of the first Neil Gaiman book I ever read. Like his other work, it is weird and funny, but mostly just weird. I have come to appreciate his sense of humor and fun characters. The book is about an angel and a demon trying to prevent the apocalypse. I'm looking forward to hearing from some of the supporting cast members, who I'm not as familiar with, as I am with David Tennant and Michael Sheen.

Crystal's Bow Blog: Pink & White

 

Crystal's Bow Blog: Spooky Bows

 

Dia de los Muertos & Other Mystical Events

 

The Marigold Parade: Albuquerque also often celebrates car culture, due to its location along Route 66.

Many of us here at Arts Connections live in the Albuquerque area. We don't just celebrate Halloween, we also celebrate Dia de los Muertos, aka Day of the Dead. That may sound like the title of a horror movie, but it's actually not scary at all! It is a day to honor our ancestors with offerings, food and celebration. The South Valley holds the Marigold Parade, which has been put on hold the past two years due to Covid, but this year they have a an exhibit at the Gutierrez Hubbell House History & Cultural Center through November 13. According to their Facebook page, "the exhibit brings together over a dozen artists, community members, local organizations, and schools to remember our dead and share in mourning and celebration of our community and loved ones through the creation of altars, a central part of the celebration of Day of the Dead." Earlier in October the annual Day of the Tread cycling race took place, featuring riders in fun costumes. In nearby Santa Fe, the yearly burning of Zozobra features a giant figure who is set on fire every year to burn away our troubles. In this region, the fall is a general time to celebrate all things mystical. 

Exhibit up until November 13.

Day of the Tread

Zozobra

Top Ten: Mark's Favorite West Wing Episodes (2021 Edition)

 

1.  "Tomorrow " (May14, 2006).

2.  "Election Day: Parts 1 & 2" (April 2&9, 2006)

3.  "2162 Votes" (April 6, 2005).

4.  "Inauguration: Part 1 & Over There" (February 5 & 12, 2003).

5.  "20 Hours in America: Parts 1 & 2" (September 25, 2002).

6.  "Two Cathedrals" (May 16, 2001).

7.  "In the Shadow of Two Gunmen: Parts 1 & 2" (October 4, 2000).

8.  "What Kind of Day Has it Been" (May 17, 2000).

9.  "20 Hours in L.A." (February 23, 2000).

10.  "Post Hoc, Ergo Propter Hoc"  (September 29, 1999).