The Fiddler of Bedlam
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fithelere's LiveJournal:
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| Monday, April 21st, 2008 | | 12:04 pm |
I have the best luck with student-teacher ratios!
When I signed up to start my hypnosis training last fall, it turned out that I had only one classmate. I remember thinking to myself, "Two-to-one, what a great student-teacher ratio!"
When my classmate dropped out after one week of training, I was sad to see him go, as he was a very talented student, but I cheered myself up by thinking, "One-to-one, that's an even better student-teacher ratio!"
Well, I thought it couldn't get much better than that, but it did.
I just spent the last four days at a regional hypnosis conference--but as Fate would have it, I was the only student who showed up.
Now, the guest-of-honor, the world-famous Shelley Stockwell, PhD, expert hypnotist with decades of experience, author of a dozen books on hypnosis, and founding president of the International Hypnosis Federation, could have said, "This is rotten! Only one person showed up to see me!" Instead, she said, "This is going to be exactly what each of us needs."
So, for the last four days, I've essentially been in class with Kathy Moore (my instructor), Dr. Stockwell (one of the world's top hypnotists), and Donna Tully (Dr. Stockwell's personal assistant, and an expert hypnotherapist herself). One-to-three student-teacher ratio! I win!
So there I was, a brand-new hypnotist whose just completed his certification hours, getting individual coaching from three amazing teachers . . . getting weight loss hypnosis from the person who wrote the book. (Literally--I have a copy of it.)
I am one lucky son-of-a-gun! It was like grad school but better. My brain is still reeling from all the things I learned, and it may take me a week to write it all down. | | Thursday, April 10th, 2008 | | 11:04 am |
Adventures in Canada The Bedlam Bards are now officially international performers, as this last weekend we played in Toronto, Ontario, in an operation that has come to be known as "Bards Without Borders." ( Read more... ) | | Monday, March 31st, 2008 | | 12:19 am |
| | Tuesday, March 4th, 2008 | | 12:30 am |
Charity Auction Reaches a Triumphant End This is too bizarre for me to even explain. You just have to see it for yourself: http://tinyurl.com/26qxtsIn other news, I had a lot of fun at NTIF, even if I wasn't playing there officially. Got to see lots of long lost friends, in addition to hearing Tullamore, Ed Miller (and company), Battlefield Band, and Altan. Wow. | | Monday, February 25th, 2008 | | 9:58 am |
More Fun with Hypnosis So on Saturday, I got to do my first group hypnosis presentation. ( Read more... ) | | 9:57 am |
Ni-Howdy, Browncoats, Would you like to have Cedric from the Bedlam Bards perform at your local Can't Stop the Serenity screening? Well, here's how: In order to raise both funds and awareness for Equality Now, I am auctioning myself on eBay. Well, technically, I'm auctioning a performance at the Can't Stop the Serenity screening of your choice. Even better, the profits from the auction go to the CSTS screening of your choice, so it's a double whammy, but in a good way! But wait, that's not all! You also get steak knives. Steak knives? To heck with the gorram steak knives, you get something a lot shinier than that. A number of Browncoat artisans and celebrities have come forward to donate these prizes which the auction winner GETS TO KEEP: -Autographed Poster* {from Quantum Mechanix} -Autographed Bedlam Bards CDs -Autographed Done The Impossible DVD and Soundtrack CD {from Brian Wiser} -Autographed Browncoat Cruise Souvenir Book {from Brian Wiser} -Independent Flag {from Firefly Cargo Bay} -Jayne Hat {from Ma Cobb's Hat Shoppe www.geocities.com/fadingendlessly} -Mal's Holster and Ammo Belt** {from www.browncoatfashions.com} -Plus a built-up Mal Pistol***, Jayne Pistol, grenade, PAL Communicator and a Zoe 'Mare's Leg' Winchester {from Wilco models} *Poster autographed by: Fillion, Tudyk, Minear, Fairman, Edmonson, Woodward, Sonny Rhodes, Nectar Rose, Adam Levermore-Rich (who did the art for the poster), and the Bedlam Bards. A similar poster fetched over $150 at auction **Holster and Ammo Belt - The "standard" gun belt size will fit people with hips in the range of 40 to 50 inches. The winner should specify their actual hip measurement if they need a gun belt larger or smaller in size. The holster and gun belt come with an ammo pouch suitable for carrying an extra set of clips, a cell phone, or an iPod. It's like the one Mal wore in Serenity. This item typically sells for $160 + S&H *** The Wilco Models replica of Mal's Pistol fits in the Browncoat Fashions holster. Wow, if I weren't ineligible, I'd be bidding just to win that stuff! So here's the info on the auction: Item number: 120225274158 http://cgi.ebay.com/Cedric-of-the-Bedlam-Bards-Your-CSTS-Screening_W0QQitemZ120225274158QQihZ002QQcategoryZ45208QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItemThis listing lasts only 10 days, so bid early and bid often! I'll see you at your screening, Cedric www.BedlamBards.com P.S. Please feel free to spread the word and post this message everywhere you can. Let the whole gorram 'verse know what we Browncoats are doing! | | Thursday, February 21st, 2008 | | 12:22 pm |
Observations on my Hypnosis Work Since I started studying hypnosis, I've been so busy doing hypnosis for other people that I really haven't had much chance to do it for myself. But two weeks ago, I scripted and then recorded a session for myself, which I have used consistently, at least five days a week, since then. The session focuses on eating smaller portions of food by encouraging me to be very calm while eating, to savor my food, and feel full and satisfied with small to normal portions, rather than the huge amounts I used to eat. The recording even includes seeing myself ordering a meal in a restaurant and asking for a to-go box at the same time; half the meal is to go in the box. Sooo, my results? ( Read more... ) | | Sunday, January 27th, 2008 | | 3:12 pm |
A Little Hypnosis Bragging
About two weeks ago, my hypnosis teacher called me to see if I wanted to practice my pain management--she'd been contacted by a nurse who was in so much pain from a work injury that she could no longer work, and therefore had no money to pay for a hypnosis session.
When I talked to the nurse, I learned that she'd been on prescription pain killers, including methadone, for some time. Since her injury several years ago, she'd spent over $30000 on medical pain management alone. Some people even accused her of being a junkie, but I could tell she really wanted to be off her pills and well enough to work a full shift. She was a little dubious about hypnosis, though she admitted she'd seen the placebo effect at work in the hospital. Ultimately, she was desperate enough to try anything.
Just to get to my teacher's hypnosis office, she'd had to take the last of the pain pills she could scrape together. Even so, she rated her pain at a 6 out of 10 before we started, and that was on medication.
When we were done with the session, she rated her pain at a 1 out of 10. One out of ten! She commented that her pain pills really should have worn off by the time we were done, so normally she would have been curled up in agony at that point.
Okay, maybe it's wrong to brag, but I'm really thrilled to have had a success like that, especially since it involved helping someone who really needed it. | | 11:48 am |
Ground Hog Day Bedlam Bards Show
Well, we've decided to come out of hibernation for a brief performance in Austin this coming Saturday.
The 2008 12th Street/East End International Heritage Festival will take place from 10am to 4pm Saturday, February 2 at Greater Mount Zion Baptist Church, 1801 Pennsylvania Ave., Austin, featuring music, vendors, food, fun & games, entertainment, and community awards.
Please note that if we see our shadows during that gig, there will be another six weeks of winter. :-)
See you there! | | Tuesday, December 25th, 2007 | | 8:42 am |
No Good Deed Goes Unpunished
So last year, when our entire neighborhood was caught up in the throes of the Armadillo Christmas Bazaar, I decided to throw a holiday party for Joyce and invite some of our friends over. The turkey I made for it (using Alton Brown's recipe) was such a big hit that this year, when my friends decided to throw a neighborhood party on Christmas day, they asked me to bring the turkey.
Of course, last night, Joyce had the Christmas Eve shift at the 'dillo. She gets this shift because we have no children and therefore, one presumes, no desire to be at home on Christmas Eve. So after packing up the stock and getting out of there at about midnight, we stopped for food at the Waffle Ho (only place open, pretty much), and drove the hour plus it takes to get to our home in the forest. Then I had to turn the turkey and add the secret ingredients to the brine. Add to that some heated discussions Joyce and I were having, and it was pretty frakking late by the time I got to bed.
And the alarm went off way too early so that I could start cooking that monster bird that it'll take to feed the whole neighborhood. So here I am, sitting at my computer before the crack of nine on Christmas, reflecting on the fact that I didn't get most of my gift-shopping done, thanking chance that booth tear-down at the Armadillo has been moved to the 26th--it used to always be on Christmas--and wondering where the hell my coffee is. | | Tuesday, December 11th, 2007 | | 4:55 pm |
Browncoat Cruise and Mutant Enemy Strike Day Well, I posted briefly right before the Browncoat Cruise, so I'll try to pick up the story from there. First, the Cruise . . . ( Read more... )And then there was dinner with Greg Edmonson . . . ( Read more... )And finally, the strike! ( Read more... )So, the next afternoon we rolled into the Goathead Salloon for a charity concert with the Whiskey Bards, a kick-ass acapella group, and the Bedouin Tribe, who put on one of the best bellydance shows I've ever seen. There are MP3s of the concert at http://hosted.filefront.com/manosdvd/ (Thanks, Dave!) And two days later, we finally made it back to Pine Valley Estates. We had some great adventures in our three weeks on the road, but we're glad to finally be home. | | Friday, November 30th, 2007 | | 9:08 pm |
in posh San Diego
Well, it involved some long driving, but we've made it to San Diego and are ensconced at the snazzy Marriott. After getting our instruments checked with customs, we ran into all kinds of cool people we haven't seen in days, weeks, or months. And check this out--the Cruise badges are dog-tags, actual dog-tags identifying us as members of the "Balls and Barnacles Brigade." (We waited in line to get our badges, and then Brian told us that we didn't have to because we're VIPs. Lord, it's hard to get that idea through my head. I just don't feel important. Would you believe that tomorrow we get to board early, along with Ron Glass and other Big Damn Heroes? It's gorram crazy.) | | Thursday, November 29th, 2007 | | 6:28 pm |
36 hours* to the cruise!
*Or something like that. Figure is an estimate. Exact boarding times may vary.
So I'm currently in Phoenix, at the home of a very generous Browncoat who is allowing us to stay with him. Tomorrow morning, we drive to San Diego, go straight to the customs office so that we won't have to pay import taxes to get our instruments and gear back off the boat when we return, and then to the hotel for a shiny pre-cruise Shindig. And Saturday . . . we set sail.
It's been an exciting trip so far. We visited my mom in Colorado for Thanksgiving and gave an SRO performance the next day at the Hazlerig Music House. We had a great crowd despite the snow.
Then it was down to Albuquerque for a Shindig concert at the home of Chuck and Mary Girven, who are some of the most dedicated Browncoats I've ever met. They'll be with us on the Cruise. (While I was at their house, I got a call from Sonny Rhodes. If you don't know who that is, watch the Firefly opening credits again. Turns out he's from Smithville, right down the road from where I live.)
Yesterday, we made an early start so that we could get to Phoenix in time to hear Paul from Allanah perform at a coffeehouse. He put on a great show.
Today, we'e just been unpacking, repacking, filling out forms, affixing luggage tags, sorting stock, and so on. It's gonna be nice to finally get on that Big Damn Boat! | | Friday, November 23rd, 2007 | | 1:11 pm |
Upcoming gigs in Albuquerque and Phoenix
In case you've been hankering for some Bardic Goodness, your favorite bards from Bedlam will be playing a shindig in Albuquerque next Tuesday (11/27) at the home of Mary Girven.
Then after the Browncoat Cruise, we'll be stopping of in Mesa, Arizona, at the Goatshead Salloon for a Battle of the Bards with the infamous Whiskey Bards. The Bedouin Tribe Belly Dancers will also be appearing. For more info go to www.arizonabrowncoats.com.
Admission for either event is a donation of $10, and each event will include a charity raffle with lots of shiny prizes!
In other news, I'm in Colorado at the moment and there is snow on the ground! Ack! | | Thursday, November 1st, 2007 | | 1:17 pm |
One More Wavecard Update The people at Universal we want to contact to ask for a Serenity sequel are: Marc Shmuger, Co-Chairman David Lande, Co-Chairman Donna Langley, President of Production So, if you wish to add an attention: line to any Wavecards you haven't sent off yet, the entire address is: Universal Pictures 100 Universal City Plaza Universal City, CA 91608 Attn: Marc Shmuger, Co-Chairman David Lande, Co-Chairman Donna Langley, President of Production Just a reminder, the Blue Sun Travel Wavecards are on sale at a discount from QMx: http://www.quantummechanix.com/Blue%20Sun%20Travel%20Wavecards.htmlKeep those cards flowing! | | Sunday, October 21st, 2007 | | 2:07 am |
Oklahoma Shindig--Reserve your tickets now!
Oklahoma Grand Shindig II
Sunday, November 18th, 2 to 6 pm
Black Boare Pub at the Castle of Muskogee (www.okcastle.com)
Tickets: $10 at the door, but please RSVP to Cedric (fithelere AT aol DOT com)
What's Happening: The shiniest gathering Oklahoma Browncoats all year! Performances by the Bedlam Bards, trivia contest, costume contest, sexy strawberry-eating contest, fun, frivolity, a charity raffle, and all around shindiggery! Part of the proceeds will support a local charity, so come prepared for generosity! Hors d'oevres will be provided, and the pub will be serving beer and soda. (No outside drinks please.)
Last year's was amazing, but this year's will be even better!
Reserve your spot now! | | Friday, October 19th, 2007 | | 5:51 pm |
Update: Wave Cards on Sale! This just in: Up till now, the wave-card campaign has been strictly fan-generated, but Andy over at QMx has just announced that the wave-cards are going on sale. Think of this as getting several cards for free! Andy writes: "We are so thrilled that the Browncoat community has decided to use our humble cards as the vessel of this critical message, we've decided to reduce the price of the Wavecards by $5 a set until the campaign is complete, so as to make it just a little bit more affordable for folks who want to use these to do good works. You can go right now, this minute, to our listing on Amazon. The price should also change on our website by tomorrow morning. Thanks again. And let's see if we can make that sequel happen!" For those of you wondering what to write on your cards to Universal, Companion Kate (who cooked up this idea in the first place) suggests this article. It's about how to write to a TV network, but I think some of these ideas apply: http://heywriterboy.blogspot.com/2007/07/emily-posts-guide-to-save-our-show.htmlUltimately, be polite, be kind, and be articulate. And remember, the sequel is worth fighting for. | | Thursday, October 18th, 2007 | | 5:38 pm |
Wave Card for a Serenity Sequel Please spread the word: Ni-howdy, Browncoats, We live in exciting times. I'm sure you know that Joss Whedon hinted that Universal would be taking a close look at Serenity Collector's Edition sales, and that Alan Tudyk recently let it slip that there are rumblings about a sequel at Universal. Now is the time to let our voices be heard. That's why I'm writing to you to endorse the wavecard writing campaign recently proposed over on The Signal forum: http://fireflydvd.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=3794Basically, the idea is quite simple. Quantum Mechanix sells packs of really shiny 'Verse-themed postcards. If you haven't seen 'em, check 'em out. They're pretty and funny: http://www.quantummechanix.com/Blue%20Sun%20Travel%20Wavecards.htmlSo the plan is to order sets of these cards, write a note asking (politely) for Serenity sequel on each one, and send them to Universal at this address: Universal Pictures 100 Universal City Plaza Universal City, CA 91608 Attn: Donna Langley and Attn: Jon Gordon (BTW, there's some uncertainty on The Signal forum about the attn names, so if anyone has more up to date info, please don't keep it to yourself. In any case, we know it's the right address, and the postcards are sure to get someone's attention.) Why is this letter writing campaign different from those of the past? First off, timing. We know Universal is on the verge of greenlighting the Big Damn Sequel. Second off, Universal Licensed Products. In the film industry, money talks, so by sending these wavecards, which are official licensed products, we're putting money in Universal's pocket and underscoring the potential for lots more profit. Third, this time, we're all behind it. Only you can make sure that we do the impossible—again. When all the Browncoats stand united, there's not a power in the 'Verse that can stop us. Let's make it happen, folks, Cedric www.BedlamBards.com | | Thursday, October 4th, 2007 | | 11:53 am |
A Hedgehog Peed on My Bed This Morning
Do I really have to say anything after a title like that?
I suppose I do. Ozzie, the hedgehog Joyce adopted a month or so back, finally decided today that he is used to us, so Joyce brought him over to the bedroom so that he could run around. He was quite keen on burrowing under the blankets, and he spent a lot of time sniffing the area where I sleep. He slobbered a bit on the sheets, and then he decided to pee. I guess he feels comfortable with us now.
All told, I don't really mind--it's hardly anything. And it's nice to see him getting out and about. | | Monday, October 1st, 2007 | | 2:27 pm |
Austinites, Mark Your Calendars
Hawke and I will be performing at Geekstravaganza on October 21st. For more info, check out www.geekstravaganza.com
In other news, April pointed me toward this site with bunches of pics from FenCon: www.onthedriftphotography.com
Interesting URL, huh?
Oh, and I'll be posting at more length later, but the Browncoat Ball rocked! And Austin won the bid for 2008, so we're really looking forward to that! |
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