Ira is Ill

I learned on Sunday April 4th that my good friend, Ira Gershin, is very ill, and might well pass away by the middle of May. I hope to go to Las Vegas to see him soon, but there are a variety of obstacles that will likely delay or complicate that trip. So, until matters clarify, I will start looking for pictures and other information chronicling our 34 years of friendship.

Ira Gershin, at Metro Pizza in Las Vegas, NV, about May 21, 2011.

In 1978, in the company of friends Jeff Anderson and Ira Gershin, I tried to reproduce my 1975 Grand Canyon trip with David Baltz, but we met powerful obstacles. The temperature was much hotter than on the 1975 trip, and we lost valuable time trying to puzzle out a descent after we lost the trail. We ran out of water on the burning south-facing cliff faces. So, we retreated and opted instead to travel to Zion National Park, in southwestern Utah.

Ira Gershin, early June, 1978.

Just as we had run out of water at the Grand Canyon, we began to run out of money in Zion. We decided to go to Las Vegas, in order to get closer to 'civilization'.

In Las Vegas, we decided to phone home for money if necessary, but decided to first try self-reliance. We pooled what money we had left and gave it to Ira to try his luck at the blackjack table. Ira was successful! He more-than-doubled our money!

The previous day we had to brush ants off of cheese blocks in order to eat anything at all, but now we were in the lap of luxury. We saw Bill Cosby perform his comedy act (I think it was at the old MGM Grand, before the big fire, and now called Bally's), and we ate our fill at the buffet lunch, before returning to Albuquerque.

Daniel Gershin's Bar Mitzvah Celebration, October 25, 2008, following the Orthodox Bar Mitzvah Service At Chabad Of Summerlin, earlier in the day. Left: Mazeltov to Daniel Gershin! On the left is his Uncle, Sam, and on the right is his Father, Ira.

Beth Gershin's Bat Mitzvah About January 22, 2006.  Beth's friends help her light the last of the candles in the candle-lighting ceremony.

Time for a conga line! Pleasant and fun celebration with the extended Gershin clan at the Santa Fe Casino in Las Vegas. Two DJs/MCs led lots of party games, including Coke/Pepsi races across the dance floor, the Limbo, a Conga Line, and numerous other diversions.

Marci and Ira at daughter Rachel's Bat Mitzvah, January 17, 2004.

Gasp! The Orchid is Blooming!

Well, this is concerning. I usually traumatize most orchids I get with my patented overwatering and underwatering regimen. All their flowers fall off early, and stay off. Except this one....

Demons Took The Baby

Not dingoes, like last time.

VASTNESS: A Socially-Distant Film for a Global Pandemic

White Sands National Park. Abiquiú Lake. Valles Caldera National Preserve. These are the locations that National Dance Institute of New Mexico chose for its film, “Vastness, A Socially Distanced Dance Film for a Global Pandemic.”

 

The Biden Boom Is Nigh

It's going to be nuts:

NEW YORK (Reuters) -Taco Bell wants to hire at least 5,000 employees in one day, it said on Tuesday, and is adding benefits for some general managers to sweeten the pot as restaurants struggle to hire enough workers to keep up with a surge in sales amid a broader U.S. economic recovery.

..."Total nightmare" is the way FAT Brands Inc CEO Andy Wiederhorn describes the staffing situation for franchisees of his company's restaurants, which include Johnny Rockets and Fatburger.

"The most recent stimulus check and unemployment benefits have been a catalyst for people to stay at home" instead of looking for work, he said. U.S. job openings in the accommodation and food service industry increased by 104,000 to reach 761,000 on the last day of February from the prior month, according to federal data on Tuesday.

Though fast-food companies and some other restaurant chains did well through the coronavirus pandemic as their customers turned to drive-thru, carry-out and delivery, they are seeing greater sales now that the weather is warmer, many limits on dining room capacities are lifted, and people with stimulus checks are eating out. 

A measure of U.S. services industry activity surged to a record high on Monday amid robust growth in new orders, the latest indication of a roaring economy boosted by increased vaccinations.

First Moderna Vaccination - April 6, 2021

Gabe sent this. This is exactly right. Hilarious!

   

By May 18th, my Multipass will be fully-functional:

 

Rachel Hoover's Submissions To RTAA For The Properly Masked Singer

Over the last eight weeks, I assisted Rachel put together her video submissions to Roseville Theatre Arts Academy (RTAA) for their second annual singing contest, The Properly Masked Singer (TPMS). Rachel originally dubbed herself Diva McSchmiva, and then Narcissa, but was eventually dubbed The Party Animal, because of her conical party hat. Rachel placed fourth in the contest. 

It was a fun experience filming Rachel Rycerz as she competed. Every week, a new song; a new scenario! She did great! 

Here is a compilation video of her competition songs. Fun songs and acting!

   

 The various components of the compilation are here:

   

Easter 2021

RIP, Jacquelyn Anderson

Damn it, it's the same photo again. Two people in this photo dying in the last two weeks. I hope the trend doesn't continue. (Image via Katherine Thomas):

The Endless Flight (2020)

Link to map

Last updated: April 4, 2021


Link to Top-Level Menu
Link to Top-Level Map





Notes on Individual Scenes
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Burning Aircraft

Landing Aircraft

ABQ Access Road B, about 2598 Clark Carr Rd. SE

Office, at Eclipse or Cutter

House/ Room 106 Office/  Girl friend waits outside/ Soccer Field

House/ Waiting for Ride/ School/ Office/ Bedrooms /Press Scrum / Office

Community Center?/ House 9522/ Flashback/ 2nd floor apartment - girl in parking lot/ 

View of Roadrunner train/ Tunnel/ Hangar/ Flying/ #41 (Unity Medical Clinic?) / Office/ House

Fireworks over downtown ABQ/Sitting outside painting/ House/ Outside/ School interior/ Driving

Various houses and bedrooms

View of Sandias from West Mesa, SW of downtown

Houses/ Clinic - House/ parking lot/ Big tank/ Houses

Sunport runways at night

North side of Cutter/ Just inside Cutter/ Sitting on a wall/ Lockers

...

Clinic/ View of a hospital - Rust?/ Leaving front door/ Neighborhood/ Stairs - reverse image - parking lot

...

Lobby door/ Clark Carr and Access Rd. B intersection

...

Flying

Credits - Mr. Henderson - Jackamoe Buzzell

Special thanks given to: Cutter Airport/ Del Sol Aviation/ Greace Outreach Center - 2900 Southern Blvd. in Rio Rancho/ Legacy Christian Academy - 7201 Central Ave. NW/ Unity Medical Clinic - 421 St. Michael's Dr., Santa Fe.