BenSpark Family Adventures

  Photo-A-Day 2.0 #02240 It is funny because it could mean Frankenstein as in The People vs. Frankenstein, the play I am performing in or it could mean my buddy Frank from college. Well, it means both. My friend Frank came over to see the opening night showing of the People Vs. Frankenstein and I was very surprised. I noticed that he posted on Facebook that we was attending right before we started. He hung out after the show and we chatted for a long time. It has been very long since last I saw Frank. Each time we do get together we end up spending tons of time talking. The show went very well and the writer of the play was very pleased. Two more shows this weekend.

  Photo-A-Day 2.0 #02239 It was finally warm enough outside for me to take a walk around the neighborhood. Well, I actually walk much further beyond the neighborhood. I was walking by my grandparents’ old house today and noticed that a very large tree that had been in the yard forever had been cut down. This was a huge tree and the trunk and stump are enormous around. I shot this image and sent it to my mom. resting up today since it has been non stop theater all week for the show. Tomorrow is our opening night and I found out that the writer of the play was going to be there with a film crew to see the show and shoot a documentary. So cool.

  Photo-A-Day 2.0 #02238 At dinner Eva made a point to tell me that I should be nice to the crew at the theater. What she tends to forget is that I was part of the crew all through High School and did every part I could to help every show I was in. Tonight was no exception. There was a bit to clean up and I pitched right in. I made sure to snap a quick photo and send it over to Eva.

  Photo-A-Day 2.0 #02237 Tonight was the preview show for the Masons. The theater where we rehearse is in the basement of the Mason building across from the Library. I think that the show went very very well tonight. As I was leaving one of the people in the audience thanked me and said that they really enjoyed the show. This is Tech week so most everything I post is going to be about the play. We have another dress rehearsal tomottor and then a day off of rehearsing Thursday and Friday is opening night. I think we are in good shape, though.

  Photo-A-Day 2.0 #02236 Got into bed tonight and realized that I had not taken a photo. For some reason I was a bit too tired to even bother to take a photo. We had our first dress rehearsal tonight and it went very well. Things are shaping up to make this a stand out performance.

  Photo-A-Day 2.0 #02235 Today was the last Sunday rehearsal before we started dress rehearsals and our opening night is this coming Friday. I can’t wait to see the whole show to go off. It is shaping up to be a great performance. We had a great rehearsal today and I am excited to be a part of this cast.

  Photo-A-Day 2.0 #02234 I was on Tik Tok the other day and saw these pins and so I decided to buy a bunch of them. Mostly for myself but also to give to other people I may come in contact with who also see themselves as a safe person for the LGBTQIA+ community. God knows that the world is unkind to those who are different and struggling. My facebook memories brought up this quote from one of my friends who is a comedian and who does a podcast. It is also appropriate for this sentiment.

  Photo-A-Day 2.0 #02233 I continued building the Cyberpunk Apartment from FUNWHOLE today. I completed bag 2 and that meant building the Chicken store. Think, fried chicken shop. In the story of the product the chicken store is run by a character who is also a doctor who does bio augments. It is all pretty interesting and since this is a Chinese company some of the translations are humorous. For one thing they describe the apartment as backwards and I am pretty sure that they mean retro. But we shall see when it is all completed.

  Photo-A-Day 2.0 #02232 The company FUNWHOLE approached me and asked if I would like to create some content around their Cyberpunk Apartment playset. I was excited to do so and agreed. I’ll be producing some video content of the final build in the next week or so. Andy gave me a hand building the first set of bags which also included wiring for lights. I have worked with FUNWHOLE before and they have certainly improved when it comes to hiding the wires for all the lighting. They have these special bricks that allow you to run the wires without them getting pinched by any other bricks. I was very impressed by that. Andy and I had a nice time building together.

  Photo-A-Day 2.0 #02231 Allison has been working on a gift for one of the teachers. She made a crochet Cactus Cat for her. This woman has 4 Himalayan cats and is very into cats. Allison found this pattern to create the cat. I think it came out great, it is very cute. Well done.

  Photo-A-Day 2.0 #02230 Eva had her friend Ollie over for the day so Allison and Andy took down the Christmas tree while I was out at the Mall walking. When I got home I put the tree in the basement and then helped Allison put together her new Cricut Station. This will house all of her Cricut materials so that she can keep them all organized and easy to reach when she has a new project to work on. Right now, Allison is helping the school out by printing out signatures of the students for 3 blankets that are being auctioned at the auction this year.

  Photo-A-Day 2.0 #02229 I went like gangbusters when I first got the 3D printer and after taking the whole thing apart and putting it back together I slowed down. I had big plans for projects but they have also petered out with time. I have a box of unpainted items in my office and things I will need to reprint now that I have some more knowledge of how to print them stronger. Some other things will need to be painted. I have the Thundercats symbol almost finished, I just have to get some detail on it.

  Photo-A-Day 2.0 #02228 It snowed overnight but by the time I was done with work the snow had stopped and it was raining. So, Andy and I went out and shoveled the couple inches of snow off our driveway and off of our neighbor’s driveway. When we were done we were quite soaked.

  Photo-A-Day 2.0 #02227 Allison got me a bag of the Cupid themed M&M’s for Valentine’s Day. I do enjoy them very much and they were a tasty snack to have during my work time overnights.

  Photo-A-Day 2.0 #02226 The newest Marvel movie came out today, Captain America: Brave New World. In this movie Anthony Mackie plays Sam Wilson and he is the new Captain America after Steve Rogers gave him the shield. There was a Marvel TV show called The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. In that we see Sam becoming Captain America. They did a really good job of it, too. Now, this is the first time that there has been a Black Captain America and this is the first time that Mackie has helmed a Marvel movie as the main character. I enjoyed this movie very much. There was a good blend of action and character development throughout. We even had some good cameos in the film. I’m looking forward to seeing a Sam Wilson Captain America in more movies.

  Photo-A-Day 2.0 #02225 Allison made some chocolate chip cookies recently and they turned out very flat. She followed the standard recipe but we’ve been hearing that butter has more water in it now and because of that cookies have not been turning out as expected. We may have to try a different butter in the future but well will see. The cookies tasted very good, though.

  Photo-A-Day 2.0 #02224 I’ve been playing this silly little game called Gold and Goblins. I play it daily and some of it is a set it and forget it way of playing. The game is fun and I have been enjoying it. Sort of a mindless little thing.

  Photo-A-Day 2.0 #02223 This will be my view of the courtroom for The People Vs. Frankenstein. I’m part of the jury and may even become the one Juror who has a speaking role. We’re not sure about that yet, though. There was someone else cast in that role but they have not been to rehearsals because of sickness. We’re not sure if they will return or not. Just a couple more weeks till showtime.

  Photo-A-Day 2.0 #02222 This Christmas I picked up a set of LEGO Poinsettias for decoration in the house. They were fun to build and we can display them year after year.

  Photo-A-Day 2.0 #02221 I had afternoon rehearsal today for The People Vs. Frankenstein. The play is going to be a really good one and I am excited to be a part of it. I may even get a line to speak. We’ll see.

  Photo-A-Day 2.0 #02220 Weekends are tough because I don’t get out and do much because I’m sleeping between work shifts. So I don’t always get out to take a photo. So, tonight I was getting close to midnight and took a photo of some of my Transformers. These three are Generation 1 characters and toys. These were some that I played with so often as a kid. Mirage, Sideswipe and Sunstreaker.

  Photo-A-Day 2.0 #02219 I picked up a special coloring book and some pencils and markers for a project that I have been considering starting. I have been considering making some coloring videos. I think that people may enjoy something relaxing like that.

  Photo-A-Day 2.0 #02218 Andy is making good use of the new stove. They have been making some pretty amazing omelets. Too bad eggs are insane in price now. We’ll have to ask Andy to limit to two egg omelets instead of 3 egg ones for a while. Andy also made some cheese toast. I’m not sure how they do it but it looks really good.

  Photo-A-Day 2.0 #02217 The kids got me an Optimus Prime Blokees set for Christmas. I have been walking at the mall and at FYE they had buy one get one 50% off for action figures. They had another Optimus Prime set and a Bumblebee set so I picked them up. I’m excited to build them soon. Maybe I’ll make a video about it.

  Photo-A-Day 2.0 #02216 I’ve been making videos for Tik Tok lately. Trying to get some engagement with people on the app. So far it is been not that well received but I am still trying to come up with my particular style. I’ve been seeing a lot of people from other countries going about their days and the content is interesting. I’m working on being more interesting, I guess. But I’ll keep trying.

  Photo-A-Day 2.0 #02215 I found a new author on Tik Tok named S. L. Rowland. I while back I bought one of his books, Path to Villainy. I enjoyed it and then looked at his other books. I picked up Cursed Cocktails and Sword and Thistle. These books came signed and also came with bookmarks, stickers and postcards. It was a nice addition to the books. I am looking forward to reading them both. If I like those then he has another set of books I may pick up.

  Photo-A-Day 2.0 #02214 Today was the last performance of Hadestown. Eva worked so hard on this performance. She was the costume lead for the production and did an amazing job. The performance was excellent. One of the best shows I have ever seen at Feehan. We went to the play and were joined by cousin Amanda. We also picked up a bunch of the Hadestown cookies.

  Photo-A-Day 2.0 #02213 Not. There is no reason to be in this almost entirely empty building. I was here early, too because I needed to get a walk in. I’ve been real good about getting 10,000 steps a day and with the way the weather has been and how cold it has been I’ve walked inside. Mostly I walk at the mall but on the weekends I get out and walk around a 98% empty building. Another reason that we should not be here. It makes no sense to keep the building open for less than 10 people.