Happy 13th Birthday to My Boy

There you are in the back in 2009

I'm hijacking your blog for the night. Yup, it's me: Mom. It is late and I still have a cake to make for you, but I really want to write this. You are turning 13 tomorrow and in truth, I'm stunned. How did we get here? So quickly from zero to 13, and so many days, and times, and events, and memories in between. The efforts I see you making, the times that you sit and mull over the questions life presents you with... you're so clever and smart. I'm blown away by the things you say sometimes. I'm blown away by you sometimes! And impressed. So impressed. 

Cups and Balls Magic Trick

When I was four years old, my uncle showed me a basic coin vanish (vanish, pull coin out of ear etc) and after that I stayed in my room for about a month trying to make a coin disappear. (Unfortunately my mother was a tester for my trick while she was trying to make dinner.) After that I just kind of expanded from there. I bought some books, some little plastic kits and worked my way up.

So today I decided to show you my version of one of the most difficult sleight-of-hand tricks: the Cups and Balls.

The trick tends to work like this: the magician places a ball on an empty cup, he then vanishes the ball only to have it come back under the cup. Another way the trick is performed (my personal favorite) is that the ball is placed on an empty cup, and then smashed through with another cup. This is repeated several times, and then the magician does a big finish by producing a big object or all the balls in one cup or something like that. Another version is called the Chop Cup which is basically the same routine with one cup and one ball. 

Here is my version of the Cups and Balls.

Please leave me a comment and let me know what you think.

until next time Maestro

How not to treat a knife wound

(note: if you are not a blood person or if you are eating I don't suggest reading this)

I experienced first-hand last weekend a pretty (or not so pretty) severe knife wound. First let me explain: I was at a special boy scout camp (very secretive, so I can't tell you about it) I was supposed to whittle a necklace, and my brand new knife slipped on a notch in the wood
taking a large bit of meat with it. Now, I have a very high pain tolerance, so it didn't hurt quite as badly as it sounds. But I went to a medic none-the-less, who looked at it, realized he was out of antibiotics, so gauze it was. Now, just saying, if you don't have ointment, don't put gauze in a hole in someone's finger, 'cause then you have to pull it back off.

Anyway, about 6 hours later, the medic came back, ripped it off, and repeated the process. Same when I got home, but we put neosporin on it, and it is fine. Then we found out that cayenne pepper has healing properties. Now just a warning before you try that, cayenne pepper hurts, as in my-finger-is-on-fire kinda hurts! But it does stop bleeding, and it heals faster. Really though, what I'm trying to say is: don't cut your finger whittling, and if you do, have neosporin and cayenne pepper, and put it on the gauze or a cotton ball.



Yep, that's it. See ya next time.
Maestro

The art of Parkour

Parkour is a french word it literally means " To get from here to there." So to do Parkour is to use a series of movements to get over an obstacle in a more efficient way than just walking around.(i.e:running up walls.) Parkour is not a sport as some people think, because there is no specific way to do Parkour and everyone has his own way. This makes Parkour an art,the art of Parkour.I was introduced to Parkour by my uncle. But if you who are reading this are interested go to YouTube and type in Parkour or David belle.

Short blog anyway when I get another idea I'll post.

Maestro

The three types of businessmen: the final post

The third, and final type of businessman is the type that genuinely tries to help you, but they get fired. Not the idiot manager from the last post. If one still has a job and you run into one occasionally an experience will go like this.


Mom: Hi, I'm looking for the washing machines.

Clerk: Aisle 16 - I recommend the whirlpool brand. They're reliable; I have one myself.

Mom: Ok, thanks.

Clerk: No problem.

At this point you go to find the washers, so you don't know this part.

Sound System: Clerk One to manager's office. Clerk One to manager's office. Thank you.

Clerk: You wanted to see me?

Manager: Yes, there have been rumors of theft in the office; someone said you stole some paper clips.

Meanwhile, in the background, there is the night time clerk stealing everything.

Clerk: I have not stolen anything.

Manager: Yes, well, if a suggestion tells me someone stole something, then I must take action.
So I'm afraid that I have to fire you. Goodbye.

And it all ends like that: the whole world seems to spin around the employee, and suddenly a year has gone by, and they're still unemployed. Meanwhile, the world is surrounded by idiots who have made it to the top because of a rumor and stupidity. 

See you guys next time with whatever my next post is

Maestro.

The three types of businessmen part 2

The second type of businessmen is the type that's so busy trying for manager they don't even know you're there really. An experience with this type will end up like this:


Mom: Hello, I need-

Clerk: Hi, do you like it here? Notice how clean the floors are?
I cleaned them.

Mom: Yes, but I need-

Clerk: To see me as manager? Yes, that would be nice wouldn't it.
You know we have this handy suggestion box here. You should write it down. Thank you so
much  

Mom: You know what-

Clerk: Get whatcha need? Yes? Ok, good. You come on back  sometime.

And once again, you come away with nothing. Meanwhile, this idiot gets promoted to manager, and is now in charge of the store. Great.

Anyway, I'll come back later with the third part to The Three Types of Businessman.

See ya!


Anyway I'll come back later with the final part to The three types of businessmen see ya  Maestro.

The three types of businessmen

While going to stores with my mom I have noticed three types of businessmen. The first is in this blog post: "I don't really care, I only pretend to so I don't get fired" type.

My mom has had a couple experiences with them, they usually go something like this:

Mom:   Hi. I was in your hardware store yesterday, and bought a hammer from you. You said there was a warranty on it; I want a refund, because the first five minutes in use it broke.

Salesman:   Well, I mean, for a replacement it's thirty dollars plus tax.

Mom:   It had a warranty that covers breaking during use.

Salesman:   Well, your warranty has probably expired.

Mom:   Didn't you hear me? I bought it yesterday! The warranty is still good for another year.

Salesman:   You know what ma'am, I can't help you I'm sorry.  

Mom:   Then I can't use your services. I'm sorry I won't be coming back.

Salesman:   Alrighty ma'am, have a good one; hope to see you again sometime.

It's like they never heard a word you said at all!

anyway I will be back with the second type soon see you guys later 

Maestro