down in front!

9 02 2008

Hurray Peter! Yesterday, he received his award for Special Achievement from the principal of his school. There was a small ceremony in which a handful of students received this award. All recipients were hand-picked by their teachers.

Peter was the youngest to participate. Mom & Dad hid from view as Peter was brought into the auditorium - seeing us would have thrown him into further confusion as to why he was being pulled from his classroom to attend the ceremony. He sat with the other recipients, quietly & maturely.

CosmoAt the start of the ceremony, the school mascot entered the arena - Cosmo the Crocodile. Island Creek Elementary is filled with crocodile images and likenesses. Even little Peter is used to seeing them everywhere, but Cosmo entered the room, walking, smiling, green, and 6 feet tall! As he entered, one could hear the sounds of a preschooler becoming slightly unsettled.

Wisely, Peter’s turn came very early in the program. Each student was to receive a certificate from the principal, shake hands with her, walk over to Cosmo, shake the reptile’s hand, turn to the camera for a photo op, and be reseated. Peter carefully took his certificate from Dr. Owner and the vice principal, the fuzzy beast maintained a safe distance from the whimpering lad, and he returned to his seat.

I, on the other hand, had my own battle to fight in the audience. I borrowed my brother’s video camera to record Peter’s academic milestone. I emerged quietly & stealthfully from my hidden position in the crowd, sat myself on the floor in front of the audience - so no one could obstruct the camera’s line-of-sight. Peter’s shining moment was all of maybe 10 seconds, and I wasn’t going to miss it.

No one, however, told the man who apparently thought Peter was cute… so cute that he wanted to get him on videotape. As Peter was receiving his certificate, and was now facing the crowd (still upset about Cosmo), this guy jumps down in front of me, completely blocking me (and the camera) from seeing Peter’s proud moment in the spotlight. Now, while figuring out a foreign videocam, I had to get up and move to see the action!

Anyway, here it is - captured on videotape. Don’t blink - it’s over in a hearbeat!

You’ve done amazing work this year, Peter Mankin.
We Love You!




distinguished

1 02 2008

The mailman brought us a surprise today -
a letter from Peter’s school principal.
Our son will be receiving an award for “Independent Skills”.

Peter’s Award Letter

Way to go, Peter.
We’re beyond proud of you and your accomplishments.




roasting goldfish

10 01 2008

pepperidge farms goldfishWith unseasonably high temperatures in the 70s yesterday, I roasted a pound of coffee yesterday out on my deck. I was accompanied by my usual assistant-roastmaster Peter. His list of expected duties is small;

  1. don’t touch anything… it’s all very hot
  2. enjoy your Pepperidge Farm Goldfish

Really, there is never any need to lecture about rule #1. If there are Goldfish in hand, there will be nothing else touched. PERIOD.

roasting coffee on the deck




¿cómo el infierno él sabía eso?

31 12 2007

doraOut driving with the family today - running some errands. Approachingtraffic light a busy intersection, the traffic light changes from green to amber - and then finally to red. I slowed the car down and stopped at the intersection. As this is happening, Peter calls out VerdeAmarilloRojo.” When the light finally turns green again, and I’ve picked my jaw off of the car’s floor, I am told that it’s Verde again, and that I should proceed.

¡Mierda Santa!




famous oboists sell stuff!

30 12 2007

Fellow oboist Cooper Wright was shocked to find legendary oboist Alex Klein (formerly of the Chicago Symphony) featured in a Geico television commercial. His appearance had nothing to do with his musical notoriety, and does not mention his vocation at all.

This isn’t a new thing for oboists to do, apparently. Check out this magazine ad that was sent to me by the late oboist Engelbert Brenner’s grandson. WOW!

Engelbert Brenner featured in a Chrysler marine ad




two sure signs that winter has arrived at the mankin house…

28 12 2007
footy jammies
footy jammies
and
gingerbread houses
gingerbread house



peter REALLY knows his alphabet, apparently

19 12 2007

Who knew?




frozen memories; the worst musical job - ever!

12 12 2007

Dave Inauguration ConcertThe heating up of the political season is bringing back memories of a musical experience I will never forget. It was January of 1993. Bill Clinton had just been elected as President, and a huge concert-event was being put together to welcome the new commander-in-chief Clintons & Goresto Washington. A full symphony orchestra was assembled using wind and string players from all the branches of the military. Quincy Jones produced the extravaganza. Ray Charles performed with us, Kenny G., Dianna Ross, Oprah Winfrey, Bob Dylan, Whoopie Goldberg, Kathleen Battle, - oh, and Michael Jackson was the special surprise guest - who simply didn’t have to rehearse, and who’s limo was stuck in traffic, so it held up the whole show until his weirdness could make it to the stage. There they were - Bubba & Jacko together - both soon to have sexual abuse charges aimed at them.

Rehearsal areal shotThe most unforgettable part of this event was not who it was for, or who performed, but where and when; It was January… and it was outdoors - on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. The temperatures never rose into the 30s, and the wind next to the Potomac River whirled around us constantly. Rehearsals ran for several days prior to the actual concert - all day long. I held in my gloved hand a $5,000 Loree English horn. Thank goodness, it belonged to my Uncle Sam. There were no provisions for heating afforded us. We simply sat, huddled together until it was time to try to play the next number. Tens of Millions of Americans proudly watched the event on HBO from the warmth of their living room sofas.

Without a doubt - the worst musical job I have ever played!




waffling over military secrets

9 12 2007

round waffle ironPeter surprised everyone last week by eating waffles in school. In order to keep things moving forward, I made a batch of home-made waffles for breakfast this morning. My waffle iron makes round waffles, but Peter’s teacher told us that he fed himself waffle sticks. I gave him the choice of waffle shapes.

 

The Pentagon“Peter, would you like round waffles, rectangle waffles or triangle waffles?”

 

“Pentagon waffles” he proudly replied.

 

Yeah, he’s talking now.




friday=pizza@school… even for peter!

30 11 2007

Today’s eating adventure has been brought to you by the letter P.

pineapple pizza