Stand Up

Night of the Specials

   Last Friday I volunteered to draw caricatures for an event called "Night to Shine" which was sponsored by the Tim Tebow Foundation. It is an event that honors people with "special needs." From the moment I set up my sketch pad at 6pm to the final cleanup at 10pm, I was doing one sketch after the other --- nonstop! I drew 38 full bodied portraits. Whew!

   I asked each subject how they wanted to be portrayed in the drawing. Quite a few wanted to be baseball players. Others wanted to be super heroes. Among the women, the most popular was to be a princess. Subconsciously, were they sharing their inner aspirations? Hmmm ...

    You should have seen the joy in their faces to be treated like kings and queens. What was sad though was some of the volunteers had their sketches done as well --- depriving the "challenged ones" a chance to have my artwork capture their moment of glory. I wanted to speak my mind but I didn't know what to say --- "excuse me but only handicaps are allowed in the line" --- that wouldn't have sounded right, would it?

   Some normal people just behave in their normal selfish ways. I guess there will always be takers (even among the volunteers) instead of givers. Let's be good this weekend. TGIF!

Wisdom from Tom of Pasadena and Naomi of N Hollywood, CA

Stand Up
Sent in by Tom of Pasadena, CA

"No, ma'am, but I hate to see you standing there all by yourself!"

Positive Thought
Sent in by the Arcadia Accountant, CA

Doctor: "I've got very bad news - you've got cancer and Alzheimer's."

Patient: "Woo hooo! Well, at least I don't have cancer!"

Videos of the week:

Pass the Salt
Contributor: Tom of Pasadena, CA

A familar scene at the dinner table but Dad has a way of making a point.

Smart or Stoopid?
Contributor: Tom of Pasadena, CA

Take this short timed IQ test. See how you compare with everyone else. I got 3 wrongs. I guess I'm stooooopid. Only 8 seconds for each question. No cheating!

Gene Kelly on Skates
Contributor: Janet of Whittier, CA

I never saw this scene before. I used to think Fred Astaire was the more accomplished dancer but this video shows Gene Kelly was far more creative (at least in my book). At the end he even tap dances with those skates. How impressive is that?

Theory of Relativity Explained by High School Student
Contributor: Charlie of New Jersey

I recommend this video to anyone trying to grasp Einstein's theory. This kid even won a scholarship for his efforts. He deserves it.

Star and Stripes Guitar
Contributor: Rey of Simi Valley, CA

Impressive rendition of a patriotic American march. Amazing finger plucking. He makes it look easy.

China: Biggest Mall in the World
Contributor: Tom of Pasadena, CA

Visiting the mall this weekend? Notice how there are less and less people going to the malls here in America? Yet in China and other Asian countries, people are still flock there in record numbers. This building is the largest single structure mall in the world. You can go hiking without realizing it. TGIF People!