becky haycox

Month: August 2007

  • Day 31: Today, I improvised

    Day 31: Today, I improvised

    Day 31: Today, I improvised, originally uploaded by hambox.

    Behold the trucker-hatted face of exhaustion, as tonight, we kicked off our annual Labor Day weekend improv frenzy.

    I don’t share a lot about improv theatre here, my bloggie — I am well aware of the hyuk-hyuk, Whose Line Is It Anyway, “I heard LAMPSHADE!” reputation that short-form comedy improv has — the kind of stuff my group, Ventura TheatreSports (VATS), allegedly does.

    But our little town incubates some pretty big talent, and I certainly like to think that we offer a more intelligent level of improv at times, soul-satisfying and close to something resembling art.

    It can be a losing battle, keeping up the self-esteem as a short-former. However, weekends like these can recharge the battery like nothing else. We have people from all over California come and perform, teach, hang out and feel the damn love. And everyone is challenged to take chances, work hard, and get inspired. I’ve already seen some stuff that has knocked my socks off, and done work that makes me proud.

    I made a conscious decision in 2003 to sharpen my creative focus to two main pursuits: quilting and improv. That sounds so dorky, but therein lies the challenge: taking these art forms that can be misunderstood — maligned, perceived as corny — and experiment with and elevate them to something (for lack of a better word) special.

    And speaking of art, today, I complete the “Today, I __” photography project I have going with my friend Ã…sta, a friend and font of inspiration and creativity. Taking a picture every day in August was hard and fun and so soul-satisfying.

    My soul, she is brimming with contentment.

    “TODAY, I ___” project with Ã…sta. One picture a day for August, foto/photo group.

  • the old college try

    Intimidating at first, then the yakking started and did not stop

    I had to listen to it during my commute first (to see how much I came across as an asshole), but I now release to you the news that the first of the two podcasts in which I participated is online. It sounds great! Here are ways to get to it:

    These are stories of great, noble, innovative, and monumental creative visions that, ultimately, met disaster — hence, ye olde college trye.

    Thrill to the only-in-Hollywood saga of Lee Lynch and his attempt to bring the beauty of the Tin Man to the masses! Gasp as the laws of physics go mano a mano with a great performance as imagined by Rodney Ascher! Become hysterical as Becky Haycox tries to deconstruct a fruitcake for the great god art! Shriek in terror as dueling Abe Lincolns and high concepts seek to derail Danny Plotnick‘s grand vision!

  • Day 30: Today, I ironed

    Day 30: Today, I ironed

    Day 30: Today, I ironed, originally uploaded by hambox.
    “TODAY, I ___” project with Ã…sta. One picture a day for August, foto/photo group.

    Very rarely will a garment gain enough status in my wardrobe so that I’ll actually deign to get out the Sunbeam. However, I have learned to love pressing with regards to constructing a quilt. It’s a different, much easier process, and somehow doesn’t seem as pointless as ironing clothes.

    My clothes need to be tough and not needy. Wrinkle prone? Dry clean only? Goodbye.

  • Protected: painful personal post: for my eyes only

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  • Day 29: Today, I tasted chocolate

    Day 29: Today, I tasted chocolate

    Day 29: Today, I tasted chocolate, originally uploaded by hambox.
    “TODAY, I ___” project with Ã…sta. One picture a day for August, foto/photo group.

    Most who know me know my party line regarding chocolate: not crazy about it, particularly when it is uncut — that is, alone without nut nor biscuit nor Snicker. And fruit-choco combo? No, thanks. However, a co-worker, who is a true cho-connoisseur (like, maintains a database of hundreds of dark chocolate brands with ratings* kind of connoisseur) has been schooling me a bit on the world of dark chocolate. A world I find quite compelling.

    At top is a Spanish chocolate. Pretty good — certain key yummy centers of the brain were activated. At right is a big hunk of Malagasy (Madagascar) chocolate. Good, although surprise inflections of fruitiness made me nervous. At bottom left is a wedge of heaven in the shape of chocolate from Honduras. OMG. Tiny angels started doing the twist on my tastebuds, seriously.

    *Coworker has authorized access to her database. Such good reading.

  • Day 28: Today, I remembered my dad

    Day 28: Today, I remembered my dad

    Day 28: Today, I remembered my dad, originally uploaded by hambox.
    “TODAY, I ___” project with Ã…sta. One picture a day for August, foto/photo group.

    My father died a year ago today. That’s dad and me at an Old-Tymey photo booth at Legend City in Arizona. I love that big, fake mustache and that googly-eyed look he was fond of doing.


  • Day 27: Today, I brainstormed

    Day 27: Today, I brainstormed

    Day 27: Today, I brainstormed, originally uploaded by hambox.

    Although the environment in which we work is, in effect, panelled with blackboards (physicists are sort of like that), it’s a rare thing when two savvy web gals get to erase some equations and do some chalkin’ of their own. That’s a chart (albeit a non-ironical and actually useful one) behind us, in pink! In which we actually solved all the problems of the world.

    Pink chalk and Kerri made this a marvelous Monday.

    “TODAY, I ___” project with Ã…sta. One picture a day for August, foto/photo group.

  • Day 26: Today, I ate ice cream with a friend

    Day 26: Today, I ate ice cream with a friend

    Day 26: Today, I ate ice cream with a friend, originally uploaded by hambox.

    Note how friend’s pinky is so delicately extended. Ben and Jerry’s sure is rocking the 70s, Free to Be, You and Me look on their table tops.

    “TODAY, I ___” project with Ã…sta. One picture a day for August, foto/photo group.

  • Day 25: Today, I puppeteered

    Day 25: Today, I puppeteered

    Day 25: Today, I puppeteered, originally uploaded by hambox.

    Yup. I learned to improvise using puppets. And that night, I attended an improv show during which audience members drew characters which were scanned, animated, and cast in on-the-spot, realtime, improvised cartoons.

    And what did you do on 8/25/07?

    “TODAY, I ___” project with Ã…sta. One picture a day for August, foto/photo group