Saturday, July 23, 2005
High Summer
It's interesting that we've stumbled very much into a late August, high summer air flow pattern in the American Southwest, after having been stuck in spring for so long: it took one month to make the transition, whereas it usually takes three. The big, westward-drifting mesoscale convective complexes just south of the border, like we see today (in part because of Emily) are something we usually see in late August. The zone where eastward air flow meets westward air flow, and which today lies in southern Arizona, is the effective boundary of the tropics: not the standard geographic definition, but the effective climatic definition. Welcome to the tropics!
Also interesting - lots of clouds in the lower deserts, but no clouds up on the Colorado Plateau. The Flagstaff temperature sounding shows a strong inversion, suppressing cloud formation there, but Tucson doesn't have the same inversion, so - clouds away!
Today's weather should be similar to yesterday's. Big flux of moisture from the south, with the potential of the same split between north and south, with Phoenix left into the lurch until late.
The remnant of Emily will slowly drift west, halt, then slowly drift NE, and eventually make landfall, as a weak disturbance crossing the California coast around Santa Barbara next Friday. Eventually, what once was a hurricane will cloud up Sacramento!
It's interesting that we've stumbled very much into a late August, high summer air flow pattern in the American Southwest, after having been stuck in spring for so long: it took one month to make the transition, whereas it usually takes three. The big, westward-drifting mesoscale convective complexes just south of the border, like we see today (in part because of Emily) are something we usually see in late August. The zone where eastward air flow meets westward air flow, and which today lies in southern Arizona, is the effective boundary of the tropics: not the standard geographic definition, but the effective climatic definition. Welcome to the tropics!
Also interesting - lots of clouds in the lower deserts, but no clouds up on the Colorado Plateau. The Flagstaff temperature sounding shows a strong inversion, suppressing cloud formation there, but Tucson doesn't have the same inversion, so - clouds away!
Today's weather should be similar to yesterday's. Big flux of moisture from the south, with the potential of the same split between north and south, with Phoenix left into the lurch until late.
The remnant of Emily will slowly drift west, halt, then slowly drift NE, and eventually make landfall, as a weak disturbance crossing the California coast around Santa Barbara next Friday. Eventually, what once was a hurricane will cloud up Sacramento!
Friday, July 22, 2005
Relief!
Doug writes:
Watching the radar and IR images has been instructive. Nothing could get going until the dry patch along the Gila/Salt River valleys got filled. It was as if the two cogs of the spinning wheels, Colorado Plateau (high) and Sierra Madre (low) couldn't engage.
Once the sun went down, a lot of the thunderstorms up on the Rim and the Colorado Plateau collapsed, and the cool, discarded moisture began flowing off the Rim into the Salt River Valley. At the same time, remnant Emily circulation was persistently pushing moisture into the Salt and Gila River Valleys from the south. So, finally, the cogs began to engage!
Also interesting is that the storm that hit you tonight is at cloud/moisture discontinuity line of some sort: almost like a miniature "dryline", with drier air to the north. These storms seem to initiate best at these drylines. Also interesting is that the storm didn't come directly from the peaks of the Superstitions, but rather the southern flank of the mountains: the dryline was more important than the mountain!
Still, it's an amazingly complex flow of air. At the AZ-NM border, the air is flowing north. A few miles away, to the west, the air is flowing south. Amazing! Whirls and curls everywhere!
It's not clear what will happen later tonight. Your storm may be self-regenerating to some extent, so repeated showers may occur. Plus, even though down south, the air flow is from the north, for hours now, the Sierra Madre mesoscale convective complex has been steadily but relentlessly propagating north. It may attempt to engulf you from the south in the early morning hours! Or not.... It's hard to say...
Yay! I'm happy! I hope the cats can cope!
Doug writes:
It happened.Deborah writes:
AHHHHHHHHHHH--we left for 2 hours to go to class and when we get off the freeway all of Ahwatukee is floating in water. Rivers flow down the street as we speak. Ah well, it rained at home, it smells marvelous and YOU WERE RIGHT!!Yay! I've been worried! I feel almost as much relief as if it had rained here!
Watching the radar and IR images has been instructive. Nothing could get going until the dry patch along the Gila/Salt River valleys got filled. It was as if the two cogs of the spinning wheels, Colorado Plateau (high) and Sierra Madre (low) couldn't engage.
Once the sun went down, a lot of the thunderstorms up on the Rim and the Colorado Plateau collapsed, and the cool, discarded moisture began flowing off the Rim into the Salt River Valley. At the same time, remnant Emily circulation was persistently pushing moisture into the Salt and Gila River Valleys from the south. So, finally, the cogs began to engage!
Also interesting is that the storm that hit you tonight is at cloud/moisture discontinuity line of some sort: almost like a miniature "dryline", with drier air to the north. These storms seem to initiate best at these drylines. Also interesting is that the storm didn't come directly from the peaks of the Superstitions, but rather the southern flank of the mountains: the dryline was more important than the mountain!
Still, it's an amazingly complex flow of air. At the AZ-NM border, the air is flowing north. A few miles away, to the west, the air is flowing south. Amazing! Whirls and curls everywhere!
It's not clear what will happen later tonight. Your storm may be self-regenerating to some extent, so repeated showers may occur. Plus, even though down south, the air flow is from the north, for hours now, the Sierra Madre mesoscale convective complex has been steadily but relentlessly propagating north. It may attempt to engulf you from the south in the early morning hours! Or not.... It's hard to say...
Yay! I'm happy! I hope the cats can cope!
Unstable
Juan Cole has a good article in Salon today regarding how well Iran has done from the U.S. invasion of Iraq, and how poorly we've done.
That doesn't bother me half as much, though, as the July 22nd article in the American Conservative mentioned by Billmon:
Link
Juan Cole has a good article in Salon today regarding how well Iran has done from the U.S. invasion of Iraq, and how poorly we've done.
That doesn't bother me half as much, though, as the July 22nd article in the American Conservative mentioned by Billmon:
The Pentagon, acting under instructions from Vice President Dick Cheney's office, has tasked the United States Strategic Command (STRATCOM) with drawing up a contingency plan to be employed in response to another 9/11-type terrorist attack on the United States. The plan includes a large-scale air assault on Iran employing both conventional and tactical nuclear weapons.So, we are apparently going to attack Iran with nukes, even unprovoked, maybe even if we have to stage an event to make it happen. And there would be a counterattack on us, wouldn't there be? Nice legacy from letting Bush invade Iraq!
Link
Dry Well
Here are where the lightning strikes are. Here's an IR animation loop....
Frustrating..... The whirling cogs have their own ideas: storms to the south head south, storms to the north head north, leaving Phoenix in-between. The zone of no precipitation roughly follows the Gila River (low ground, which unfortunately includes Phoenix). That by itself isn't a disqualification, but it also roughly coincides with the dry patch - so.....
Keep optimistic! If it doesn't happen in the next few hours, then quite soon - like tomorrow!
Aaarrgghh!!!! Well, I suppose it could be worse....
From gianthead, at B3ta.
Link
Here are where the lightning strikes are. Here's an IR animation loop....
Frustrating..... The whirling cogs have their own ideas: storms to the south head south, storms to the north head north, leaving Phoenix in-between. The zone of no precipitation roughly follows the Gila River (low ground, which unfortunately includes Phoenix). That by itself isn't a disqualification, but it also roughly coincides with the dry patch - so.....
Keep optimistic! If it doesn't happen in the next few hours, then quite soon - like tomorrow!
Aaarrgghh!!!! Well, I suppose it could be worse....
From gianthead, at B3ta.
Link
Belly Fat
Say it ain't so (says the man with belly fat)! Experiments with rats and the couch potato diet are disturbing:
An improved diet, by toxie at B3ta...
Link
Say it ain't so (says the man with belly fat)! Experiments with rats and the couch potato diet are disturbing:
But one group of rats lived more stressful lives, spending short periods of time during the day in a confined space. Stress hormone levels were higher in the confined rats, and the stressed rats started to eat less healthy chow and gulp down more sugar water.
But what happened next was surprising. As the stressed-out rats started to accumulate more belly fat, their stress hormones went back down. The higher the belly fat, the lower the animal's stress hormones. That suggests that gaining belly fat may be the body's coping mechanism for turning off the stress response. In addition, the theory is that stress hormones may somehow turn on the brain's reward center, and the result is that during times of stress, certain foods actually taste better, making you eat more of them.
An improved diet, by toxie at B3ta...
Link
Slow Start Today in Phoenix
Deborah is optimistic:
But there are still a number of hours left in the day. We'll see what comes....
Deborah is optimistic:
Huge line of clouds to south, like a tidal wave.Befuddled by the dewpoint issue, I took a look at the water vapor satellite loops the Weather Service provides, and that clarified things a little. Between the old moisture moving out, and the new moisture moving in, there was a band of drier air sandwiched in-between. So, for much of the day, the dew point has been kind of low in Phoenix, and partly for that reason, and maybe partly because of the broken cloud cover, which ironically suppresses convection, things have been slow firing up in the Phoenix area. Some places are already fired up: the northern Sierra Madre, the Flagstaff area, and there's something of a "dry line" all along the Nevada-Utah border and down the Colorado River Valley, which is sparking storms (particularly around Las Vegas). But Phoenix? A bit slow off the mark.
But there are still a number of hours left in the day. We'll see what comes....
Emily's Moisture Arrives in Phoenix
Deborah writes:
I'm a bit befuddled why the Phoenix dewpoint isn't rising, though. Instead, it seems to be dropping. It's like a patch of dry air is lingering along the surface of the Valley of the Sun. Maybe the dewpoint will start going up shortly, but if it doesn't rise by much, there's a risk of a dust storm later today, as maturing thunderstorms get going (downbursts get caused when the raindrops in a downdraft evaporate into drier air - like a swamp cooler, the drier the air into which the downbursts sink, the more effective the cooling, and the more powerful the downburst gets, in a runaway, violent process).
It's interesting looking at this morning's Chihuahua sounding: the air is holding so much moisture there, they couldn't get a downburst even if they tried. Tucson is drier, though, so, like Phoenix, they may get a dust storm too. Friday should be the day most at risk of downbursts, before the moisture fully infiltrates everywhere.
Right now, there is a set of thunderstorms along the Yucatan east coast, which will drift NW over time, and should give a real punch to AZ rainfall by the middle of next week.
Deborah writes:
a weird wind has begun--clouds are all over the s/e--wind picking up now.......Yay! Emily moisture is arriving!
I'm a bit befuddled why the Phoenix dewpoint isn't rising, though. Instead, it seems to be dropping. It's like a patch of dry air is lingering along the surface of the Valley of the Sun. Maybe the dewpoint will start going up shortly, but if it doesn't rise by much, there's a risk of a dust storm later today, as maturing thunderstorms get going (downbursts get caused when the raindrops in a downdraft evaporate into drier air - like a swamp cooler, the drier the air into which the downbursts sink, the more effective the cooling, and the more powerful the downburst gets, in a runaway, violent process).
It's interesting looking at this morning's Chihuahua sounding: the air is holding so much moisture there, they couldn't get a downburst even if they tried. Tucson is drier, though, so, like Phoenix, they may get a dust storm too. Friday should be the day most at risk of downbursts, before the moisture fully infiltrates everywhere.
Right now, there is a set of thunderstorms along the Yucatan east coast, which will drift NW over time, and should give a real punch to AZ rainfall by the middle of next week.
Phoenix In Sight
Emily moisture front is now just reaching Phoenix. Emily-related clouds should now just begin to poke up past the Superstitions. The Phoenix dewpoint is still dropping...the moisture hasn't reached the surface yet. Now, I just hope the clouds don't SUPPRESS rain cloud development - something that made the 1987 monsoon such a bummer.
Here's the latest National Weather Service Weather Roundup forecast....
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION, NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PHOENIX AZ, 315 AM MST FRI JUL 22 2005
SOUTHWEST AND SOUTH-CENTRAL ARIZONA...AND SOUTHEAST CALIFORNIA FORECAST DISCUSSION
.SYNOPSIS...
THE CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL INCREASE TONIGHT THROUGH THE WEEKEND AS TROPICAL MOISTURE FROM THE SOUTHEAST INCREASES. STRONG GUSTY WINDS ARE EXPECTED WITH SOME STORMS ALONG WITH DESERT DUST STORMS. THE POSSIBILITY OF HEAVY RAIN WILL INCREASE ESPECIALLY TONIGHT AND THIS WEEKEND AS ABUNDANT TROPICAL MOISTURE ASSOCIATED WITH THE REMAINS OF FORMER HURRICANE EMILY MOVES INTO ARIZONA AND SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. LOWER TEMPERATURES AND HIGHER HUMIDITY ARE ALSO ANTICIPATED OVER THE WEEKEND.
.DISCUSSION...
UPPER HIGH PRESSURE WILL REMAIN CENTERED OVER CO / CENTRAL PLAINS AREAS INTO THE WEEKEND KEEPING A E-SE FLOW ACROSS OUR REGION. THIS FLOW WILL TAP INTO LOW LEVEL TROPICAL MOISTURE FROM THE REMAINS OF EMILY MOVING ACROSS MEXICO...AND BEGIN TO BRING IT INTO AND ACROSS SOUTHERN AZ / SE CA FRI NIGHT THROUGH THE WEEKEND. MODELS STILL SHOW GOOD INVERTED TROF EXTENDING NORTH FROM THE REMAINS OF EMILY WHICH WILL ENTER AND MOVE W ACROSS SOUTHERN AZ/SE CA ALSO ON FRI NIGHT AND THROUGH WEEKEND AS THE REMAINS OF EMILY MOVES ACROSS CENTRAL BAJA SAT. AN AREA OF DIVERGENCE ALOFT IS AND WILL CONTINUE TO EXIST OVER SOUTH CENTRAL AND SW AZ INTO THE WEEKEND. THIS WILL ALL RESULT IN AN INCREASING CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS OVER OUR REGION. THUNDERSTORMS FRI WILL GIVE STRONG GUSTY WINDS AS FORECAST SOUNDINGS SHOW GOOD INVERTED V. THE INVERTED V BECOMES A LITTLE LESS THROUGH THE WEEKEND AS THE LOW LEVEL MOISTURE INCREASES. AND BY FRI NIGHT OVER SW AZ SE CA AND BY SAT OVER SOUTH CENTRAL AZ P WATER VALUES REACH 2 INCHES... WITH SW AZ SE CA REACHING 2.2 INCHES AS MUCH OF THE LOW LEVEL MOISTURE THRUST SHIFTS TO THAT AREA. THIS WILL RESULT IN SOME THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL FRI THRU THE WEEKEND OUR REGION. THIS INCREASE IN MOISTURE WILL ALSO CAUSE TEMPS TO LOWER OVER THE WEEKEND. BY SUN THE INVERTED TROF IS MOVING W OFF THE COAST. BUT THE AIRMASS OVER OUR REGION WILL REMAIN MOIST SO WITH AFTERNOON HEATING...MAINLY AFTERNOON /EVENING THUNDERSTORMS WILL STILL DEVELOP...ALTHOUGH THEIR CHANCES WILL BE REDUCED ESPECIALLY OVER SE CA AND SW AZ. P-WATER VALUES ALSO GRADUALLY DECREASES THE FIRST PART OF NEXT WEEK SO BY TUES/WED THEY ARE DOWN TO AROUND 1.5 INCHES. ALSO...A HIGH PRESSURE CENTER WILL LOCATE ITSELF DURING THE FIRST PART OF NEXT WEEK OVER SOUTHERN NV / NORTHERN AZ. THIS WILL BRING A NE FLOW TO OUR REGION WHICH WILL HELP STEER THUNDERSTORMS FROM THE RIM TOWARD THE SOUTH CENTRAL AZ DESERT AREAS INCLUDING THE PHX AREA.
.AVIATION...
DISCUSSION FOR 12Z TAFS. SUFFICIENT MOISTURE AND INSTABILITY OVER THE AREA WILL LEAD TO A CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS AGAIN THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. THE CHANCE OF A THUNDERSTORM OVER KPHX/KIWA IS ABOUT 40 PERCENT WITH BLOWING DUST AND SHARPLY REDUCED VISIBILITY MORE LIKELY. THUNDERSTORM CHANCES AT KYUM... KBLH...AND KIPL WILL BE ABOUT 10 TO 20 PERCENT. AVIATION DISCUSSION NOT UPDATED FOR AMENDED TAFS.
.PSR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AZ...NONE. CA...NONE.
DKS/MAF
Link
Emily moisture front is now just reaching Phoenix. Emily-related clouds should now just begin to poke up past the Superstitions. The Phoenix dewpoint is still dropping...the moisture hasn't reached the surface yet. Now, I just hope the clouds don't SUPPRESS rain cloud development - something that made the 1987 monsoon such a bummer.
Here's the latest National Weather Service Weather Roundup forecast....
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION, NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PHOENIX AZ, 315 AM MST FRI JUL 22 2005
SOUTHWEST AND SOUTH-CENTRAL ARIZONA...AND SOUTHEAST CALIFORNIA FORECAST DISCUSSION
.SYNOPSIS...
THE CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL INCREASE TONIGHT THROUGH THE WEEKEND AS TROPICAL MOISTURE FROM THE SOUTHEAST INCREASES. STRONG GUSTY WINDS ARE EXPECTED WITH SOME STORMS ALONG WITH DESERT DUST STORMS. THE POSSIBILITY OF HEAVY RAIN WILL INCREASE ESPECIALLY TONIGHT AND THIS WEEKEND AS ABUNDANT TROPICAL MOISTURE ASSOCIATED WITH THE REMAINS OF FORMER HURRICANE EMILY MOVES INTO ARIZONA AND SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. LOWER TEMPERATURES AND HIGHER HUMIDITY ARE ALSO ANTICIPATED OVER THE WEEKEND.
.DISCUSSION...
UPPER HIGH PRESSURE WILL REMAIN CENTERED OVER CO / CENTRAL PLAINS AREAS INTO THE WEEKEND KEEPING A E-SE FLOW ACROSS OUR REGION. THIS FLOW WILL TAP INTO LOW LEVEL TROPICAL MOISTURE FROM THE REMAINS OF EMILY MOVING ACROSS MEXICO...AND BEGIN TO BRING IT INTO AND ACROSS SOUTHERN AZ / SE CA FRI NIGHT THROUGH THE WEEKEND. MODELS STILL SHOW GOOD INVERTED TROF EXTENDING NORTH FROM THE REMAINS OF EMILY WHICH WILL ENTER AND MOVE W ACROSS SOUTHERN AZ/SE CA ALSO ON FRI NIGHT AND THROUGH WEEKEND AS THE REMAINS OF EMILY MOVES ACROSS CENTRAL BAJA SAT. AN AREA OF DIVERGENCE ALOFT IS AND WILL CONTINUE TO EXIST OVER SOUTH CENTRAL AND SW AZ INTO THE WEEKEND. THIS WILL ALL RESULT IN AN INCREASING CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS OVER OUR REGION. THUNDERSTORMS FRI WILL GIVE STRONG GUSTY WINDS AS FORECAST SOUNDINGS SHOW GOOD INVERTED V. THE INVERTED V BECOMES A LITTLE LESS THROUGH THE WEEKEND AS THE LOW LEVEL MOISTURE INCREASES. AND BY FRI NIGHT OVER SW AZ SE CA AND BY SAT OVER SOUTH CENTRAL AZ P WATER VALUES REACH 2 INCHES... WITH SW AZ SE CA REACHING 2.2 INCHES AS MUCH OF THE LOW LEVEL MOISTURE THRUST SHIFTS TO THAT AREA. THIS WILL RESULT IN SOME THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL FRI THRU THE WEEKEND OUR REGION. THIS INCREASE IN MOISTURE WILL ALSO CAUSE TEMPS TO LOWER OVER THE WEEKEND. BY SUN THE INVERTED TROF IS MOVING W OFF THE COAST. BUT THE AIRMASS OVER OUR REGION WILL REMAIN MOIST SO WITH AFTERNOON HEATING...MAINLY AFTERNOON /EVENING THUNDERSTORMS WILL STILL DEVELOP...ALTHOUGH THEIR CHANCES WILL BE REDUCED ESPECIALLY OVER SE CA AND SW AZ. P-WATER VALUES ALSO GRADUALLY DECREASES THE FIRST PART OF NEXT WEEK SO BY TUES/WED THEY ARE DOWN TO AROUND 1.5 INCHES. ALSO...A HIGH PRESSURE CENTER WILL LOCATE ITSELF DURING THE FIRST PART OF NEXT WEEK OVER SOUTHERN NV / NORTHERN AZ. THIS WILL BRING A NE FLOW TO OUR REGION WHICH WILL HELP STEER THUNDERSTORMS FROM THE RIM TOWARD THE SOUTH CENTRAL AZ DESERT AREAS INCLUDING THE PHX AREA.
.AVIATION...
DISCUSSION FOR 12Z TAFS. SUFFICIENT MOISTURE AND INSTABILITY OVER THE AREA WILL LEAD TO A CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS AGAIN THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. THE CHANCE OF A THUNDERSTORM OVER KPHX/KIWA IS ABOUT 40 PERCENT WITH BLOWING DUST AND SHARPLY REDUCED VISIBILITY MORE LIKELY. THUNDERSTORM CHANCES AT KYUM... KBLH...AND KIPL WILL BE ABOUT 10 TO 20 PERCENT. AVIATION DISCUSSION NOT UPDATED FOR AMENDED TAFS.
.PSR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AZ...NONE. CA...NONE.
DKS/MAF
Link
Thursday, July 21, 2005
Figure-Eight
NOGAPS is finally registering the coming influx of moisture into Arizona and the Great Basin. I was getting scared! Thought I had lost my touch!
Emily's center of circulation, such as it is, is now in extreme south Chihuahua state. The storm has crashed headlong into the Sierra Madre and there's just a remnant of circulation remaining.
Tonight is disappointing, however. Right now, Emily is sucking moisture OUT of southern Arizona - northerly flow in advance of the storm.
But tomorrow! The cogs will work right for once: a Figure-8 air flow to get moisture from central Mexico into the Great Basin tomorrow!
NOGAPS is finally registering the coming influx of moisture into Arizona and the Great Basin. I was getting scared! Thought I had lost my touch!
Emily's center of circulation, such as it is, is now in extreme south Chihuahua state. The storm has crashed headlong into the Sierra Madre and there's just a remnant of circulation remaining.
Tonight is disappointing, however. Right now, Emily is sucking moisture OUT of southern Arizona - northerly flow in advance of the storm.
But tomorrow! The cogs will work right for once: a Figure-8 air flow to get moisture from central Mexico into the Great Basin tomorrow!
Rainy Sonoran Desert This Weekend
Lorenz's butterflys are flapping in unison, trying to get the moisture from Tropical Depression Emily up into AZ. Currently, the center of circulation is about 50 miles NW of Torreon, in Durango state. The entire east side of the Sierra Madre, north to the border, is filling up with Emily moisture, and it's now beginning to spill westwards over the mountain range towards the Pacific. The front of low-level moisture is just beginning to arrive in El Paso, TX: the moisture front hasn't quite arrived at Douglas, AZ yet.
Most of the computer models are not showing the possibility of lots of moisture coming northwards: only NOGAPS shows a significant diversion of moisture northwards, and not much even there. Nevertheless, the only question is how much comes north, not whether it comes north. There is a trough over the U.S. west coast, which will help direct moisture northward into the Great Basin, and Arizona.
These computer models don't handle these southern storms very well. I'm not terribly impressed.
Even if very little moisture comes north, the weekend will rock in Arizona, weatherwise!
Lorenz's butterflys are flapping in unison, trying to get the moisture from Tropical Depression Emily up into AZ. Currently, the center of circulation is about 50 miles NW of Torreon, in Durango state. The entire east side of the Sierra Madre, north to the border, is filling up with Emily moisture, and it's now beginning to spill westwards over the mountain range towards the Pacific. The front of low-level moisture is just beginning to arrive in El Paso, TX: the moisture front hasn't quite arrived at Douglas, AZ yet.
Most of the computer models are not showing the possibility of lots of moisture coming northwards: only NOGAPS shows a significant diversion of moisture northwards, and not much even there. Nevertheless, the only question is how much comes north, not whether it comes north. There is a trough over the U.S. west coast, which will help direct moisture northward into the Great Basin, and Arizona.
These computer models don't handle these southern storms very well. I'm not terribly impressed.
Even if very little moisture comes north, the weekend will rock in Arizona, weatherwise!
Wednesday, July 20, 2005
Director's Workshop
Arthur asked me to help him out as a lump of clay in the director's workshop he's taking at DMTC. Thus, last night, I found myself (playing Nathan) working with Maria Ramirez (playing Adelaide) in a scene from "Guys and Dolls," and also playing Cliff, opposite Clare Lawrence playing Sally Bowles, in a scene from "Cabaret."
I was a little more familiar with the "Guys and Dolls" scene, and it relied on comedy, so it seemed easier to do. The scene from "Cabaret" was more difficult, being less-familiar, dramatic in nature, and called me to slap Clare in the face (which we may, or may not do - probably not - during the show on Saturday.
It's strange to slap pleasant people in the face, just because, and know it's not personal. Kind of creepy, actually. That's acting!
Anyway, here's the announcement:
Arthur asked me to help him out as a lump of clay in the director's workshop he's taking at DMTC. Thus, last night, I found myself (playing Nathan) working with Maria Ramirez (playing Adelaide) in a scene from "Guys and Dolls," and also playing Cliff, opposite Clare Lawrence playing Sally Bowles, in a scene from "Cabaret."
I was a little more familiar with the "Guys and Dolls" scene, and it relied on comedy, so it seemed easier to do. The scene from "Cabaret" was more difficult, being less-familiar, dramatic in nature, and called me to slap Clare in the face (which we may, or may not do - probably not - during the show on Saturday.
It's strange to slap pleasant people in the face, just because, and know it's not personal. Kind of creepy, actually. That's acting!
Anyway, here's the announcement:
A Free Evening of Theater-Saturday July 23, 2005 - The Davis Musical Theatre Company presents a free evening of scenes and monologues from the Acting for Adults Workshop. The actors featured will be: Ryan Adame, Dannette Vassar, Steve Isaacson, Monique McKisson, Rebekah Sheppard, Jemimah Knight, Marcy Gribin, Sherry Greenstreet, and Karyl Ketchum. Also the directing workshop will be featured with scenes directed by Ryan Adame, Arthur Vassar, and Dannette Vassar. The evening is a free event at 215 Madson Place #E, Davis CA (the DMTC Rehearsal Space) and begins at 7:30pm on Saturday July 23, 2005. There is limited seating so please come early.
Davis Musical Theatre Company
215 Madson Place #E (Rehearsal)
616 2nd Street (Varsity-performances)
Davis, CA 95616
Just A Bit Touchy Today, Aren't We?
Oklahoma landlord goes ballistic over a letter to the editor of a newspaper:
Link
Oklahoma landlord goes ballistic over a letter to the editor of a newspaper:
The letter from the dead woman had said local vandalism is done by prominent citizens and referred to spray-painted graffiti on a rental home owned by Westbrook, although it did not name him. The letter did say the spray-painting was done by the owner.
Westbrook was trying to evict the victim's sister from the building.
When the shooting occurred, there were about 50 people inside the diner.
Link
Tuesday, July 19, 2005
Alluring Arizona
I'm wondering whether the typical SW "heat low" over the deserts is so well-established that it might actually lure Hurricane Emily's moisture up the Rio Grande Valley towards Arizona, confounding all predictions.
(Banish these thoughts! It's wishful thinking! Meteorologists need to stick to facts!)
Nevertheless, the northward progression of moisture is already well-established in the mountains of SW Mexico. The SW heat low is a real thing, although meteorologists usually discount it for guiding most synoptic systems. But remember, hurricanes are small enough that they respond to mesoscale events as well. And the hurricane is heading for a landfall a little closer (northward) than they were forecasting this morning. The forecasters expect the storm to start moving more to the west soon, but with Arizona as a lure, I don't see why it should....
(Banish these thoughts! It's wishful thinking! Meteorologists need to stick to facts!)
I'm wondering whether the typical SW "heat low" over the deserts is so well-established that it might actually lure Hurricane Emily's moisture up the Rio Grande Valley towards Arizona, confounding all predictions.
(Banish these thoughts! It's wishful thinking! Meteorologists need to stick to facts!)
Nevertheless, the northward progression of moisture is already well-established in the mountains of SW Mexico. The SW heat low is a real thing, although meteorologists usually discount it for guiding most synoptic systems. But remember, hurricanes are small enough that they respond to mesoscale events as well. And the hurricane is heading for a landfall a little closer (northward) than they were forecasting this morning. The forecasters expect the storm to start moving more to the west soon, but with Arizona as a lure, I don't see why it should....
(Banish these thoughts! It's wishful thinking! Meteorologists need to stick to facts!)
Southwest Stealth
Interesting forecast for the weekend in the American Southwest: thunderstorms, but NOT fueled by Emily moisture. Emily moisture is forecast to drift westwards across Mexico, just south of the border, affecting no one north of the border, silent and stealthy, like a black cat padding westwards on a moonless night as dark as India ink.
It could be the models are not sophisticated enough to catch all the details of air movement: there ARE ways to funnel some of that moisture north, padding feet or not. There is a low-level jet that develops on the western slopes of the Sierra Madre at nighttime that CAN move some of that moisture north.
But perhaps it's just a detail. Thunderstorms, whether fueled by Emily or not, would be welcome this weekend throughout the overheated region, and they are forecast to occur regardless.
Interesting forecast for the weekend in the American Southwest: thunderstorms, but NOT fueled by Emily moisture. Emily moisture is forecast to drift westwards across Mexico, just south of the border, affecting no one north of the border, silent and stealthy, like a black cat padding westwards on a moonless night as dark as India ink.
It could be the models are not sophisticated enough to catch all the details of air movement: there ARE ways to funnel some of that moisture north, padding feet or not. There is a low-level jet that develops on the western slopes of the Sierra Madre at nighttime that CAN move some of that moisture north.
But perhaps it's just a detail. Thunderstorms, whether fueled by Emily or not, would be welcome this weekend throughout the overheated region, and they are forecast to occur regardless.
La La La
I ordered this stuff from the UK so long ago, I almost forgot about it (some of the stuff was backordered). It's a box of Kylie things: DVDs, CDs (including "Ultimate Kylie"), her ghostwritten autobiography ("La La La," which should be interesting, since it's full of arresting pictures), and the piece de resistance, Kylie wristbands, with which I can repel bullets while flying all around Yolo County in my crystal airplane.
Link
I ordered this stuff from the UK so long ago, I almost forgot about it (some of the stuff was backordered). It's a box of Kylie things: DVDs, CDs (including "Ultimate Kylie"), her ghostwritten autobiography ("La La La," which should be interesting, since it's full of arresting pictures), and the piece de resistance, Kylie wristbands, with which I can repel bullets while flying all around Yolo County in my crystal airplane.
Link
Monday, July 18, 2005
Tancredo the Terrible
Now, why did Colorado's Tom Tancredo think he needed to address the question of what to do if Islamoterrorists dropped a few nukes in the U.S. - with a radio talk show host? Such a response would be pure vengeance - ineffective vengeance too, since ordinary Muslims worldwide would crawl through glass to attack us after such an act of vengeance, and the terrorists wouldn't even be there anyway. Don't real Christians talk about turning the other cheek??? And why is Tancredo considering a Presidential race in 2008 anyway?
Link
Now, why did Colorado's Tom Tancredo think he needed to address the question of what to do if Islamoterrorists dropped a few nukes in the U.S. - with a radio talk show host? Such a response would be pure vengeance - ineffective vengeance too, since ordinary Muslims worldwide would crawl through glass to attack us after such an act of vengeance, and the terrorists wouldn't even be there anyway. Don't real Christians talk about turning the other cheek??? And why is Tancredo considering a Presidential race in 2008 anyway?
“Well, what if you said something like — if this happens in the United States, and we determine that it is the result of extremist, fundamentalist Muslims, you know, you could take out their holy sites,” Tancredo answered.
“You’re talking about bombing Mecca,” Campbell said.
“Yeah,” Tancredo responded.
Link
Haboobs of Our Discontent (in Phoenix)
Deborah in Phoenix writes of Sunday's weather:
My childhood rock collection was once upended by one of these storms, near Albuquerque, around 1966. In 1988, when I told my freshman meteorology class at University of Arizona my poignant childhood anguish, several students were thoughtful enough to commisserate with my pain (no doubt because they thought it might help their grade).
I remember one of these nasty storms in Phoenix around August 1, 1988. It was a cruel, taunting storm, because the monsoon was late in starting that year, and there was no soothing rain afterwards.
Here is a story I've submitted to B3ta, the British juvenile humor web site, in answer to their 'Question of the Week': "Tell us your weddings stories," regarding a 1982 Phoenix haboob I experienced at the Arizona Biltmore Resort (it's not a terribly interesting story by their standards, though, so no prize this week):
National Weather Service, Phoenix says the record high minimum of 93 degrees was tied at Phoenix on July 17th (reached before in 2003), and tied on July 16th (91 degrees, also in 2003). I always found high minimums this high are difficult to endure. Todays maximum temperature of 116 degrees exceeds the previous record for the date (114 degrees), set in 1936.
Hurricane Emily's moisture will be entering central Mexico shortly. By Friday, there should be ample moisture, derived from the storm and available throughout the SW, for actual (can you believe it?) RAIN. Plus lots more haboobs too. It should be interesting to see what the weekend is like.
Link
Deborah in Phoenix writes of Sunday's weather:
We got hit with something fierce last night, wall of dust, high winds--the yard is a mess with all kinds of leaf trash!!--and some ominous clouds. But if anyone got rain we did not. But that was some weird wind--almost tornado like.Interesting! Here's what the National Weather Service, Phoenix logged for July 17th: 41 mph winds, with 51 mph gusts:
WIND (MPH)These kind of storms (called 'haboobs' in Arabic) are typically downbursts from thunderstorms, and can travel for miles from the storms that generate them. I remember once watching several of these walls of dust, each travelling in a different direction on the surrounding flat lands, from the top of southeast Arizona's Mt. Graham.
HIGHEST WIND SPEED 41
HIGHEST WIND DIRECTION NW (310)
HIGHEST GUST SPEED 51
HIGHEST GUST DIRECTION NW (310)
AVERAGE WIND SPEED 11.4
My childhood rock collection was once upended by one of these storms, near Albuquerque, around 1966. In 1988, when I told my freshman meteorology class at University of Arizona my poignant childhood anguish, several students were thoughtful enough to commisserate with my pain (no doubt because they thought it might help their grade).
I remember one of these nasty storms in Phoenix around August 1, 1988. It was a cruel, taunting storm, because the monsoon was late in starting that year, and there was no soothing rain afterwards.
Here is a story I've submitted to B3ta, the British juvenile humor web site, in answer to their 'Question of the Week': "Tell us your weddings stories," regarding a 1982 Phoenix haboob I experienced at the Arizona Biltmore Resort (it's not a terribly interesting story by their standards, though, so no prize this week):
The Arabs Call These Dust Storms 'Haboobs'And I guess it's HOT now in Phoenix too! It's sure hot here, but it's lots worse in Phoenix, I'm sure. People are dying in Phoenix, travellers are miserable at McCarran Airport in Las Vegas (power failure there), and Death Valley is truly dangerous.
June weddings in the desert heat of Phoenix, Arizona are a menace. We were able to escape the 116 F (47 C) heat inside the fancy resort, but the service was interrupted by dozens of squealing intruders when an approaching dust storm thrashed several simultaneous outdoor weddings, ruining hair and kicking grit into people's eyes, teeth, and any number of wedding cakes. Made a hella big joint reception afterwards, though!
National Weather Service, Phoenix says the record high minimum of 93 degrees was tied at Phoenix on July 17th (reached before in 2003), and tied on July 16th (91 degrees, also in 2003). I always found high minimums this high are difficult to endure. Todays maximum temperature of 116 degrees exceeds the previous record for the date (114 degrees), set in 1936.
Hurricane Emily's moisture will be entering central Mexico shortly. By Friday, there should be ample moisture, derived from the storm and available throughout the SW, for actual (can you believe it?) RAIN. Plus lots more haboobs too. It should be interesting to see what the weekend is like.
Link
"Nunsense" at the Woodland Opera House
On Sunday, Pam said "I've got to leave ballet class on-time, because I've got a show of mine to attend." Then, I remembered, she was choreographing "Nunsense" at the Woodland Opera House (WOH). I decided to see what they are doing at WOH these hot summer days: nothing like singing and dancing in nuns' habits, under stage lights, on a blistering hot afternoon! I was a few minutes late to the show, on account of the necessary post-ballet shower, and so missed the opening number.
There was a lot of stage experience on display on the Woodland stage. Robin Hushbeck, who generally performs at Runaway Stage, was excellent as Sister Robert Anne, particularly in her solo number 'I Just Want to be a Star.' Beth Monet Nilsen, a frequent Woodland player, played Sister Mary Hubert with calm assurance. Nancy Agee was superb as Reverend Mother Sister Mary Regina. Nancy has a classic Scandanavian appearance, and for that reason sometimes leaves a completely misleading stoic first impression on strangers. It's always wonderful when her sunny sense of humor comes beaming through (which it did on Sunday, despite her worries that she might have been overly distracted). Naomi Berg, who has often played piano for DMTC Young Performers' Theater (YPT) productions, played piano as Sister Mary Achi (with Brother 'Shawn Paul II' on percussion).
Kelly Daniells really shines as Sister Mary Amnesia. Like Pam says, Kelly just gets better and better as she performs and gains experience. Having started at DMTC in Davis, she's about 19 or 20 now. She often performs with Runaway Stage, and attends California State University at Sacramento, after having attended University of the Pacific in Stockton). Her stage manner is very bright and engaged: forward-leaning in a target-rich environment, as a military person might say. She dances superbly well: at one point, in tap shoes, she successfully did a series of chaine turns, under Naomi's driving tempo, culminating downstage left (it's hard to terminate any series of turns downstage, where there are few visual clues in the gaping void, and particularly when the pace is fast). A triple threat!
It was a pleasure seeing Jinn Schroeder (Sister Mary Leo) again. I first met Jinn in the mid-to-late 90's, at Sally Forment's Woodland Dance Academy, when she was roughly nine to eleven years old. At that time, Jinn spotted what she thought was a lot of wasted motion among the five-to-seven-year-old girls in Sally's school, and she did what she could to rectify that unenviable state. In her early teens, though, Jinn began to focus on horses. Indeed, this summer, she has to balance her WOH rehearsal schedule with various equine duties in Petaluma. She dances well, despite suffering from a toe injury inflicted by one of her large friends.
In a few weeks, Jinn will leave home to attend the University of North Carolina. After obtaining her degree, she plans to attend Oregon State to obtain her DVM. At UNC, she will minor in equitational writing (I'm guessing that's writing about horses) and theatrical choreography (Lipizzaner Stallions anyone?) Jinn will major in large animal science and - what was it? business management? Teaching management skills to large horses? Momentum investing for hoofed animals? Accounting for ponies? Something like that - I can't quite recall.... Jinn Schroeder has a wonderful future ahead!
A very charming, fun-filled show, with an experienced cast! Go see it!
The Woodland Opera House (WOH). The facility has been revitalized at least twice: in 1895, after the big fire, and again in the 1980's. The ghost of a deceased fireman is rumored to still sometimes affect day-to-day operations there - leaving faucets on, and the like.
This photo is intriguing: the regular pattern of the bricks creates an interesting moire pattern in the JPEG. Maybe if I stare at it hard enough, it'll be like looking for Jesus in a tortilla: the image of the fireman's ghost will magically appear!
The set for "Nunsense" (which is dressed as a "Grease" set, and is loaded with much comedic material for the nuns to work with).
I must apologize for this picture, taken from the back of the balcony: the set is actually quite lush, as all WOH sets typically are. In the first act, someone seated near the first row was taking flash photos of the action, a big no-no in a live performance. At intermission, WOH's Chris Taloff tasked every WOH Guild usher to keep a strict watch for cameras in the audience.
While Chris lay down the law, I went to the balcony, and accidentally used a flash to take this photo. Embarrassed, I took a second flashless photo with the digital camera and scurried downstairs, but I must have shaken while taking it, because it came out all blurry. Then, to add to my embarrassment, Pam asked me to remove the screw from her AutoLock Keychain bob, so she could replace the battery: I lost the screw and yet we were still unable to open the bob (I've never dealt well with tools or technology).
In any event, forced to choose between a crappy photo and a blurry photo, I chose to present the crappy photo here.
OK, it's not a fireman...here's what I REALLY see in the WOH wall!
Link
On Sunday, Pam said "I've got to leave ballet class on-time, because I've got a show of mine to attend." Then, I remembered, she was choreographing "Nunsense" at the Woodland Opera House (WOH). I decided to see what they are doing at WOH these hot summer days: nothing like singing and dancing in nuns' habits, under stage lights, on a blistering hot afternoon! I was a few minutes late to the show, on account of the necessary post-ballet shower, and so missed the opening number.
There was a lot of stage experience on display on the Woodland stage. Robin Hushbeck, who generally performs at Runaway Stage, was excellent as Sister Robert Anne, particularly in her solo number 'I Just Want to be a Star.' Beth Monet Nilsen, a frequent Woodland player, played Sister Mary Hubert with calm assurance. Nancy Agee was superb as Reverend Mother Sister Mary Regina. Nancy has a classic Scandanavian appearance, and for that reason sometimes leaves a completely misleading stoic first impression on strangers. It's always wonderful when her sunny sense of humor comes beaming through (which it did on Sunday, despite her worries that she might have been overly distracted). Naomi Berg, who has often played piano for DMTC Young Performers' Theater (YPT) productions, played piano as Sister Mary Achi (with Brother 'Shawn Paul II' on percussion).
Kelly Daniells really shines as Sister Mary Amnesia. Like Pam says, Kelly just gets better and better as she performs and gains experience. Having started at DMTC in Davis, she's about 19 or 20 now. She often performs with Runaway Stage, and attends California State University at Sacramento, after having attended University of the Pacific in Stockton). Her stage manner is very bright and engaged: forward-leaning in a target-rich environment, as a military person might say. She dances superbly well: at one point, in tap shoes, she successfully did a series of chaine turns, under Naomi's driving tempo, culminating downstage left (it's hard to terminate any series of turns downstage, where there are few visual clues in the gaping void, and particularly when the pace is fast). A triple threat!
It was a pleasure seeing Jinn Schroeder (Sister Mary Leo) again. I first met Jinn in the mid-to-late 90's, at Sally Forment's Woodland Dance Academy, when she was roughly nine to eleven years old. At that time, Jinn spotted what she thought was a lot of wasted motion among the five-to-seven-year-old girls in Sally's school, and she did what she could to rectify that unenviable state. In her early teens, though, Jinn began to focus on horses. Indeed, this summer, she has to balance her WOH rehearsal schedule with various equine duties in Petaluma. She dances well, despite suffering from a toe injury inflicted by one of her large friends.
In a few weeks, Jinn will leave home to attend the University of North Carolina. After obtaining her degree, she plans to attend Oregon State to obtain her DVM. At UNC, she will minor in equitational writing (I'm guessing that's writing about horses) and theatrical choreography (Lipizzaner Stallions anyone?) Jinn will major in large animal science and - what was it? business management? Teaching management skills to large horses? Momentum investing for hoofed animals? Accounting for ponies? Something like that - I can't quite recall.... Jinn Schroeder has a wonderful future ahead!
A very charming, fun-filled show, with an experienced cast! Go see it!
The Woodland Opera House (WOH). The facility has been revitalized at least twice: in 1895, after the big fire, and again in the 1980's. The ghost of a deceased fireman is rumored to still sometimes affect day-to-day operations there - leaving faucets on, and the like.
This photo is intriguing: the regular pattern of the bricks creates an interesting moire pattern in the JPEG. Maybe if I stare at it hard enough, it'll be like looking for Jesus in a tortilla: the image of the fireman's ghost will magically appear!
The set for "Nunsense" (which is dressed as a "Grease" set, and is loaded with much comedic material for the nuns to work with).
I must apologize for this picture, taken from the back of the balcony: the set is actually quite lush, as all WOH sets typically are. In the first act, someone seated near the first row was taking flash photos of the action, a big no-no in a live performance. At intermission, WOH's Chris Taloff tasked every WOH Guild usher to keep a strict watch for cameras in the audience.
While Chris lay down the law, I went to the balcony, and accidentally used a flash to take this photo. Embarrassed, I took a second flashless photo with the digital camera and scurried downstairs, but I must have shaken while taking it, because it came out all blurry. Then, to add to my embarrassment, Pam asked me to remove the screw from her AutoLock Keychain bob, so she could replace the battery: I lost the screw and yet we were still unable to open the bob (I've never dealt well with tools or technology).
In any event, forced to choose between a crappy photo and a blurry photo, I chose to present the crappy photo here.
OK, it's not a fireman...here's what I REALLY see in the WOH wall!
Link
"The King and I" - Final Bows
On Sunday afternoon, the final show of DMTC's "The King and I" was presented at downtown Davis' Varsity Theater.
The strike was expected to be long and arduous. The City of Davis is preparing to perform an inventory of the Varsity Theater this week, in anticipation of turning management of the Theater over to Mishka's Coffee House. As a result, every single object in the Theater owned by DMTC had to be removed - every light, every gel, even the refrigerator.
DMTC is virtually an all-volunteer company (only the piano player can expect to be paid). Nevertheless, the last several shows, DMTC has followed a new policy of picking the tab for a big communal meal after all work is finished. I think it's a good policy, since it keeps a few die-hard workers from being unfairly burdened by volunteers who leave prematurely (a particular problem with small casts or difficult strikes), and secures a large amount of goodwill, but it has a downside in that certain other hard-working subsets of the DMTC family find they can't participate, because of scheduling difficulties, if nothing else.
Because "The King and I" was a large family show, many kids as well as adults took the offer of a big communal meal. Roughly 50 of us took the post-strike repast, crammed into the loft at Woodstock's Pizza in downtown Davis.
Oh yes, the cinnamon pizza was pretty good!
DMTC Co-Producer Steve Isaacson takes a bow with the cast after the last show. There were a lot of new cast members in "The King and I," so there are quite a few I (sadly) don't recognize or don't know, but in this photo, I do recognize Maya Rothman, Maria Ramirez, Katy Fast, Juan Ramos, Steve Isaacson, Ryan Adame, Marguerite Morris, and Jennifer Bonomo.
A last, loving post-show look at Juan Ramos' set artistry and handiwork.
On Sunday afternoon, the final show of DMTC's "The King and I" was presented at downtown Davis' Varsity Theater.
The strike was expected to be long and arduous. The City of Davis is preparing to perform an inventory of the Varsity Theater this week, in anticipation of turning management of the Theater over to Mishka's Coffee House. As a result, every single object in the Theater owned by DMTC had to be removed - every light, every gel, even the refrigerator.
DMTC is virtually an all-volunteer company (only the piano player can expect to be paid). Nevertheless, the last several shows, DMTC has followed a new policy of picking the tab for a big communal meal after all work is finished. I think it's a good policy, since it keeps a few die-hard workers from being unfairly burdened by volunteers who leave prematurely (a particular problem with small casts or difficult strikes), and secures a large amount of goodwill, but it has a downside in that certain other hard-working subsets of the DMTC family find they can't participate, because of scheduling difficulties, if nothing else.
Because "The King and I" was a large family show, many kids as well as adults took the offer of a big communal meal. Roughly 50 of us took the post-strike repast, crammed into the loft at Woodstock's Pizza in downtown Davis.
Oh yes, the cinnamon pizza was pretty good!
DMTC Co-Producer Steve Isaacson takes a bow with the cast after the last show. There were a lot of new cast members in "The King and I," so there are quite a few I (sadly) don't recognize or don't know, but in this photo, I do recognize Maya Rothman, Maria Ramirez, Katy Fast, Juan Ramos, Steve Isaacson, Ryan Adame, Marguerite Morris, and Jennifer Bonomo.
A last, loving post-show look at Juan Ramos' set artistry and handiwork.
New Theater
Sunday evening, per standard practice, we delivered many of the various materials we had just struck from the Varsity Theater stage, which we used in DMTC's production of "The King and I," to unused floor space storage at DMTC's New Theater (under construction). It's always a special treat to tour the job site.
Construction on the New Theater has started again at a modest pace, following the arrival of a new business loan from River City Bank earlier this month. Construction had been at a halt since November 1, 2004, after we exhausted previously-collected funds. This start-and-stop construction schedule is the unfortunate consequence of having to raise funds and build at the same time, which in turn resulted from the City of Davis' abrupt change in direction regarding Varsity Theater management in April, 2002.
New Theater construction is expected to accelerate when new money arrives in August, or early September. Meanwhile, DMTC is securing bridge funding to keep construction crews busy regardless, so when more money arrives, the race to completion will start from as close to the finish line as possible, and with as little disruption to the 2005-06 season of shows as we can manage.
The new construction so far seems to revolve mostly around the orchestra pit. A lot of new concrete was evident around the pit.
The proscenium arch, as seen from the back of the hall. Seating risers are in the pallets in the foreground: the orchestra pit lies behind the pallets.
Display boards loom above the New Theater lobby.
Sunday evening, per standard practice, we delivered many of the various materials we had just struck from the Varsity Theater stage, which we used in DMTC's production of "The King and I," to unused floor space storage at DMTC's New Theater (under construction). It's always a special treat to tour the job site.
Construction on the New Theater has started again at a modest pace, following the arrival of a new business loan from River City Bank earlier this month. Construction had been at a halt since November 1, 2004, after we exhausted previously-collected funds. This start-and-stop construction schedule is the unfortunate consequence of having to raise funds and build at the same time, which in turn resulted from the City of Davis' abrupt change in direction regarding Varsity Theater management in April, 2002.
New Theater construction is expected to accelerate when new money arrives in August, or early September. Meanwhile, DMTC is securing bridge funding to keep construction crews busy regardless, so when more money arrives, the race to completion will start from as close to the finish line as possible, and with as little disruption to the 2005-06 season of shows as we can manage.
The new construction so far seems to revolve mostly around the orchestra pit. A lot of new concrete was evident around the pit.
The proscenium arch, as seen from the back of the hall. Seating risers are in the pallets in the foreground: the orchestra pit lies behind the pallets.
Display boards loom above the New Theater lobby.
Sunday, July 17, 2005
Friday Night in Davis
Big Harry Potter shindig right next to Baskin Robbins: big blowup movie screen, to show "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban," magic show, hot dogs (but my camera malfunctioned). "The King and I" at the Varsity Theater, of course. The Carpenters were there, Mike Jones, Ron Cisneros, plus many others.
I remember in 2001, during 'Peter Pan,' when Danielle first described the world of Harry Potter. And it just gets bigger all time (too bad I barely read novels anymore)!
Link
Big Harry Potter shindig right next to Baskin Robbins: big blowup movie screen, to show "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban," magic show, hot dogs (but my camera malfunctioned). "The King and I" at the Varsity Theater, of course. The Carpenters were there, Mike Jones, Ron Cisneros, plus many others.
I remember in 2001, during 'Peter Pan,' when Danielle first described the world of Harry Potter. And it just gets bigger all time (too bad I barely read novels anymore)!
Link
