Category: Mini Coopers

A Year in MINIons- MINIon #1903

Posted on December 17, 2015 by Bruce

1903I was raised by a frustrated pilot… My dad always wanted to fly, but due to bad eyesight, he was never able to pursue his passion. We went to air shows, he subscribed to Aviation Week & Space Technology, He retired from working at a defense contractor (shhh… it’s a secret) while working on a… you guessed it, plane.

My first few years of teaching I really tried to get parental approval, just like many people of my generation who were not constantly told they were wonderful, and get participation trophies. I worked at a school and ran the Young Astronauts Club, took yearly trips to the Space and Rocket Center, was named a NASA distinguished Educator (through NEWEST, a long defunct program). I even helped guide my school into a curricular focus on Aerospace. Did it help? Not really.

Recently I finally had the opportunity to visit one of those landmark sites when it comes to aviation, Kill Devil Hill. I was amazed at what Orville and Wilbur put up with that December. We were there just after Christmas. While I still don’t like to fly… I can be in awe of the accomplishment.

A Year in MINIons- MINIon #0192

Posted on December 16, 2015 by Bruce

0192When you ask Siri “How many days until Christmas, you get “one week and one day” When you ask how many hours until Christmas, you get “one week and one day” I did then did the math…  which translates to- I really need to get my act together if I’m going to ship anything to my relatives.  Sue’s family is easy, a few years ago we all decided we were old enough to not give gifts.  Instead we all gather someplace and spend time with each other.  No pressure, no stress, no anxiety, just some time together.

A Year in MINIons- MINIon #9999

Posted on December 15, 2015 by Bruce

9999Now with only days to go before winter break, classrooms are an exciting place to be. You see kids have certain things that make them excited: toys, candy & cookies, staying up late, and for a few not going to school. So winter break as it is now called combines a number of these into one massive reason to forget how civilized people act. Sadly, school is where a lot of this energy is expelled.  While at the same time many teachers are now trying to convey that last bit of knowledge before everyone leaves and the standardized tests loom closer on the horizon. The school staff is left trying to survive as the kids get wound tighter and tighter and tighter… basically my day job this week is like herding cats.

A Year in MINIons- MINIon #1875

Posted on December 13, 2015 by Bruce

1875Mmmm… Gingerbread, a taste and smell of the season. Whether it be gingerbread houses, pepparkakor, hermits (my grandfather’s recipe), or whatever gingerbread seems to sneak its way into the stressful holidays. It’s there and for many it’s one of the things that make this time of year special.

Stress relief tip: line up a bunch of gingerbread folk, one by one, bite off just their heads. Once your done that to all of them, eat what’s left. I think it’s something in gingerbread that helps. Strangely , it doesn’t seem to work if you just eat them, you have to follow the direction exactly. Go figure!

A Year in MINIons- MINIon #K1,P1

Posted on December 12, 2015 by Bruce

k1p1While recently the “ugly Christmas sweater” has become a “thing.” To the point where companies are making fake ugly sweaters by screen printing on sweatshirts… Really? This attitude shows once again the commercialism of the holiday and the loss of the true meaning of the ugly Christmas sweater. People have forgotten the most important part of the ugly Christmas sweater, isn’t that you found it at a second hand store and knew that it would bag you first prize at the office holiday party. It isn’t that you really wanted a fake batman patterned sweater so you could hang out with the “cool kids.” The true meaning of the ugly Christmas sweater is that someone out there thought of YOU when they saw it and felt so strongly that they purchased it. Worse yet, Aunt Bernice knit the sweater for you thinking (once again) that you would LIKE it. The sweater reflects more on how people see you, than the taste of the gift giver.  Something to think about.

Oh and going out and buying an ugly sweater just says you don’t have someone who loves you so much that they would see something hideous and think of you. 🙂

A Year in MINIons- MINIon #1951

Posted on December 10, 2015 by Bruce

1951It’s about this time people start watching those classic Christmas specials and movies to get into the spirit of the season. I know “recently” there have been a few that end up with a few fart jokes and pratfalls. Then again sometimes all that makes it a Christmas film is that the story takes place over Christmas. One of my favorites is just that kind of film. It was released in the spring of 1951 (according to that repository of all knowledge Wikipedia) It’s actually a remake of 1934 film by the same name. I don’t think I’ve ever seen the original, but “The Lemon Drop Kid” is a classic. I know it sounds about as Christmassy as “Die Hard.” It’s based on Damon Runyon short story, so it has 1930’s gangsters. More importantly this is the film to introduced the song “Silver Bells” to the list of holiday music. Which is a great bit of holiday trivia to remember.  If you have a chance to see it sometime, I really do recommend you check it out.

A Year in MINIons- MINIon # 1957

Posted on December 8, 2015 by Bruce

1957One of my heroes has been Theodor Geisel, aka Dr. Seuss. Almost everything he wrote has been something that has influenced me. I find my drawing style has been influenced by Seuss, that and Robert Marble. As I look at my drawings I seem to see the influences, you may not. Somehow I remember reading Happy Birthday to You many times when growing up. I recall The Lorax making me rather anxious because of the ending, that wasn’t an ending… something I still don’t like very much.  The story of Grinch… well, that’s an interesting thing, since I don’t recall which I experienced first- the book, or TV Special.  Image my surprise when I found out that another hero of mine, Chuck Jones, worked on this.  Many thanks to my in-laws for getting me Chuck Amuck– Chuck Jones Autobiography for Christmas years, and years ago.  I use many things from that book when teaching drawing- aka cartooning.

As for Robert Marble, my parents were a big fan of this artist and bought a bunch… a lot, more than a lot. They bought enough of his stuff to have him drop by our house and arrange a very large wall of his artwork.  As a kid, I had a few pieces in my bedroom- one was “How to Give a Elephant a Nose Job.” Robert Marble did a number of drawings of Rube Goldberg like devices with animals-  “How to Stripe a Zebra” along with a bunch a rather amusing pieces with cartoon animals.  When something sits on your bedroom wall for years,  (“How to Give an Elephant an Nose Job”) it kinda influences you as an artist…  I’ve been lucky enough to now have a couple of originals from my parents- they actually hang in my classroom.

Seuss, Jones, & Marble… I wonder what my life would be like if my parents had Albrecht Dürer, or Van Gogh on my walls.  You’re a mean one… Mr. Grinch.