Are you ready for some more "Sunday Conversation"?

This video needs some serious setup...so let me get started.

If you've been following this blog for awhile, you may have heard me talk about Laura and Amanda. Laura and Amanda are the pretend names that Abby and I use when we "play" office (or anything else that requires a little fun injection). This started a long time ago when I used to do more web development work at home. I could do my work while making Abby feel like she's part of the deal...a win-win in my book. And I can pretend and ham it up with the best of them (I know, hard to believe...you'll just have to take my word for it).

A few fun facts about Amanda & Laura.

• I am Amanda, named after the cut-throat Ad Executive from Melrose Place.
  
• Abby is Laura, named after Laura Ingalls Wilder (bonnet and all). Quite a contrast, eh?
  
• Mike is Nelson, the president of whatever organization we are working for at the time. He's not always in the picture, but he does manage to get involved every so often and approve some paperwork.
  
• Abby can become Laura in a New York minute...her entire countenance changes and you better get on board quickly or get left in the dust.
  
• Abby will usually sketch out an entire scenario prior to putting Laura "on"....inevitably, it starts with the phrase, "Pretend that..."
  
• Sometimes Abby will put Laura on pause and rewrite the entire scenario on the fly. Once I agree, she goes right back to Laura - not missing a beat. It makes my head spin if I'm not caffeinated.
  
• Abby must always wear her black church shoes when she is playing Laura
  
• I love playing with my daughter in this way...it's a lot of fun. I'm hoping that there will be no damaging effects that creep up later in life as a result of all our acting out.

Ok, so here is the real setup for the video. I asked Abby...ahem...I mean, Laura...if she wouldn't mind discussing a bit about what we're doing over at the bank these days. As usual, she's up for it. I had no idea what to expect, but I knew that I would get some good footage. We set up the filming in front of her dry-erase board in case there would be any illustrations. As you can see, she has a little dry erase marker addiction...we're working through it.

Now this video is a little over 3 minutes which may seem a little long. I promise you, every second will be worth it. And please don't say anything about my messy craft room...it will hurt my feelings.

So without further rambling, here is the latest installment of "Sunday Conversation":


Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing

Because I know you can't get enough of the Extreme Gesticulation action...and because Monday is my day off...and because I don't feel all that well so it's easy to sit and work on my computer...I'm posting another edition of Sunday Convo. You're beyond thrilled, I can see it!

This episode has a dedication attached. In honor of Uncle Anthony (Chemistry Prof), Abby discusses some recent Science Ex-perry-ments.

ENJOY...and watch out for the green explosion.





Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing

Some of you have been around me long enough to know that I've always dreamed of having my own video production company (this is different from the hair salon fantasy I was talking about previously). In an effort to try and live out that dream, I just started tagging all my videos as "Green Chair Productions". Like, I'm just a video production company and you need to accept that, ok? Someday I'll go into the whole back story of the Green Chair...but for now, just roll with me.

One of my favorite video subjects is, of course, Abby.

I haven't busted out the ol' video cam in awhile and I've recently been inspired by my friend Julie over at Lost Luggage who has been going CRAZY with her video cam these days. [On a completely unrelated note: for those of you who are into "mixed media art" you WANT to - strike that - NEED to check out her new online class called, "Layer Love". For more details, please check out the promo video.]

So today I sat down with the video camera (sorry, the video camera does NOT have a cool name like "The Reb") and just interviewed Abby about various things. I will be taking this raw footage and using it to create a series of videos entitled, "Sunday Conversation with Abigail Amaro" (hopefully Roy Firestone doesn't come after me for copyright infringement).

A few items of note:

1. Please excuse the hairdo - we are in a bang transition period. Pray for me.

2. Green Chair Productions has given this clip a rating of "EG" (for EXTREME GESTICULATION). For those of you who have a propensity for motion sickness, you MAY want to consider taking some drugs prior to watching this clip. You know, Great Grandpa Jim always says, "If you tie her hands behind her back, I bet she wouldn't be able to talk".

I present to you Episode One of SCwAA.

ENJOY!


Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing

Greeting from Middle Tennessee where we are currently boasting a clear, calm evening with a temp of 20.5 °F. My question is, if you spit on the ground will it freeze? I'll find out and report back to you on that.

I won't bore you with trivial Club Amaro health details - I'll give you the readers digest version lest you confuse this site with the CDC or something. I'll just say that I'm going on day 9 of my sore throat/cough and now Mike is losing his voice. Abby seems to be fine. Don't email me and tell me to go to the doctor. I know this. I didn't just come in off the mid-watch you know.

Now to the really important stuff...the material that Grandparents can't get enough of. Videos from tonight's Christmas performance! The 5 & 6 year olds performed 2 songs before the big Christmas play at church. Yes, hold onto your seats folks 'cuz I've got 7 minutes and 39 seconds of pure, unadulterated kindergarten/1st grade performance goodness.

NOTE: For safety purposes, I've split the performance into two parts. You would be well advised to take some time in between viewings to let your senses rest. After viewing video one, look at something ugly or mediocre to neutralize the feelings of preciousness and talent that will no doubt wash over you as you view the performance. After you have recovered from the first viewing, go ahead and start the 2nd one...if you feel that it could be too much, try resting your mouse cursor over the video pause feature to be ready to stop the video in case that overwhelming feeling comes over you. Don't say I didn't warn you. If you are disgusted with this paragraph, pretend that I didn't write it.

Please note: Feedburner subscribers may not be able to see the following 2 embedded videos...please visit The Adventures of Club Amaro for access.

Ok - here's video #1...


Here's video #2:


Abby had a blast performing...I on the other hand now have a cramp in my left arm muscle from trying to hold the video camera still for 10 minutes straight (which by the way, I did not do so good at). Yes, the tripod would have been handy. Yes, I thought about bringing it. I then had a vision of me and my t-pod trying to jockey for position in the sanctuary along with all the other camera crazy moms. No thanks.

After the performance, the star and her entourage were treated to a fab-u-louso dinner at Nick-n-Jim's courtesy of Lopes who was a guest at Club Amaro for the weekend. Lopes flew in Saturday morning and then took Mike to the Titan's game Sunday. We will bid him farewell early Monday morning. A side note: Lopes had the opportunity to see Carrie Underwood and chose instead to see Abby's performance. In this single act of sacrifice, he has positioned himself to be knighted and highly favored by the Queen herself (the Queen of of Club Amaro, that is). Nice job, Lopes.

I hope you enjoy the videos and weren't too put off by my crazy exaggerated commentary.

Mmmmmmmwaaaahhhh!
k

Tonight we took Grandaddy to Millers Grocery for dinner and dancing. Well, of the 4 of us, there was only once who was cuttin' any rugs. Just for you, cuz I love ya...I put a little video together that features some of that fantastic five year old footwork. ENJOY!


Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing - Photo Books

The bluegrass trio playing at Miller's tonight was called "The Howling Brothers". We really enjoyed them. For more information, check them out at their website.

Those of you viewing from email or by feed, you will most likely need to go here and view the video directly from the site.

SECRET MESSAGE: Bash Flenark