mirrored | N

reflect'N

[ncardcreative]

December 18th, 2016 (9): The road out of the Fern Fantasy and Redwood Wonderland was the same we followed in. We passed a man in red flannel chopping wood, and I looked at the clock: "10:32am." Our adventure had just begun, and I wondered how anything could top what we had just experienced. Then we pulled out onto the highway and I remembered: the entire California Coastline was awaiting us. This was Day 1. -- Carolyn arrived at 9 the night before. After some sushi, we hit the sack with alarms set for 4:30. By 5:15, we were on the road for Austin, TX: Carolyn's home, and also that of my parents. It's Xmas vacay time. Or TXmas, as I like to say. : A couple hours of winding through moonlit South Bay hills led us to Santa Cruz, a chill, picturesque NorCal beach town. As the twilight turned to dawn, we stocked our cooler with wholesome eats at a local grocer. : A cafe we had passed on the way into town beckoned us to return, so we backtracked a few blocks to The Buttery Corner. Carolyn and I parked and walked in, exchanging a dozen puns before ordering our breakfasts and some freshly baked goodies for the road. At 8am, we snickered back to the car, appetites fully sated, and continued down California's magical coastline Highway 1. : An hour later, while snaking along the golden, brush-covered sand dunes and rocky cliffs, gaping in awe of the grandeur of the Pacific Ocean expanding endlessly out of the passenger window, a flicker of dark green flashed in my periphery on the driver-side, and with out a second-thought, I glanced to Carolyn, said "hold on" and pulled a U-turn at the next pullout so I could investigate my curiosity. : A half-mile back, I found what had caught my eye: a tunnel of evergreen limbs hugging a dirt path into a narrow valley between hills. I flashed a grin to Carolyn. Without hesitation I steered the car right, down the path, and reduced our speed to a crawl. Almost immediately we were gasping in awe....We had found FernGully. -- #roadtrip #roadtrippers #ontheroadagain #xmasvacay #hwy1 #redwoods #ferngully #magicalforest #mossy #sunbeams #breathein #fence @caroface (at Highway 1)

[ncardcreative]

December 18th, 2016 (8): With each exhale, so the forest inhaled my exhaust; and with the assistance of the sun, retained the carbon, exhaling fresh oxygen so that I could inhale once again. -- Carolyn arrived at 9 the night before. After some sushi, we hit the sack with alarms set for 4:30. By 5:15, we were on the road for Austin, TX: Carolyn's home, and also that of my parents. It's Xmas vacay time. Or TXmas, as I like to say. : A couple hours of winding through moonlit South Bay hills led us to Santa Cruz, a chill, picturesque NorCal beach town. As the twilight turned to dawn, we stocked our cooler with wholesome eats at a local grocer. : A cafe we had passed on the way into town beckoned us to return, so we backtracked a few blocks to The Buttery Corner. Carolyn and I parked and walked in, exchanging a dozen puns before ordering our breakfasts and some freshly baked goodies for the road. At 8am, we snickered back to the car, appetites fully sated, and continued down California's magical coastline Highway 1. : An hour later, while snaking along the golden, brush-covered sand dunes and rocky cliffs, gaping in awe of the grandeur of the Pacific Ocean expanding endlessly out of the passenger window, a flicker of dark green flashed in my periphery on the driver-side, and with out a second-thought, I glanced to Carolyn, said "hold on" and pulled a U-turn at the next pullout so I could investigate my curiosity. : A half-mile back, I found what had caught my eye: a tunnel of evergreen limbs hugging a dirt path into a narrow valley between hills. I flashed a grin to Carolyn. Without hesitation I steered the car right, down the path, and reduced our speed to a crawl. Almost immediately we were gasping in awe....We had found FernGully. -- #roadtrip #roadtrippers #ontheroadagain #xmasvacay #hwy1 #redwoods #ferngully #magicalforest #mossy #sunbeams #breathein #fence @caroface (at Palo Colorado Road.)

[ncardcreative]

December 18th, 2016 (7): Splashes of early morning sunlight, diffused by the chlorophyll canopy, gave the forest an ethereal glow, like an emerald. The myriad of subtle hues that emerged beckoned our eyes deeper into the forest's infinite details. -- Carolyn arrived at 9 the night before. After some sushi, we hit the sack with alarms set for 4:30. By 5:15, we were on the road for Austin, TX: Carolyn's home, and also that of my parents. It's Xmas vacay time. Or TXmas, as I like to say. : A couple hours of winding through moonlit South Bay hills led us to Santa Cruz, a chill, picturesque NorCal beach town. As the twilight turned to dawn, we stocked our cooler with wholesome eats at a local grocer. : A cafe we had passed on the way into town beckoned us to return, so we backtracked a few blocks to The Buttery Corner. Carolyn and I parked and walked in, exchanging a dozen puns before ordering our breakfasts and some freshly baked goodies for the road. At 8am, we snickered back to the car, appetites fully sated, and continued down California's magical coastline Highway 1. : An hour later, while snaking along the golden, brush-covered sand dunes and rocky cliffs, gaping in awe of the grandeur of the Pacific Ocean expanding endlessly out of the passenger window, a flicker of dark green flashed in my periphery on the driver-side, and with out a second-thought, I glanced to Carolyn, said "hold on" and pulled a U-turn at the next pullout so I could investigate my curiosity. : A half-mile back, I found what had caught my eye: a tunnel of evergreen limbs hugging a dirt path into a narrow valley between hills. I flashed a grin to Carolyn. Without hesitation I steered the car right, down the path, and reduced our speed to a crawl. Almost immediately we were gasping in awe....We had found FernGully. -- #roadtrip #roadtrippers #ontheroadagain #xmasvacay #hwy1 #redwoods #ferngully #magicalforest #mossy #sunbeams #breathein #fence @caroface (at Palo Colorado Road.)

[ncardcreative]

December 18th, 2016 (6): As we departed the forest, we approached a local who we had seen jogging down the dirt road earlier in the morning, and seemed to be walking back home, which we presumed was here in the land of enchantment. With suspicious (or was it nervous?) eyes she told us about the "neo-pioneers" who lived on this road of owner-built homes, and the fire that had displaced 52 of them last summer after a couple amateur (and illegal) campers lost control of their fire. -- Carolyn arrived at 9 the night before. After some sushi, we hit the sack with alarms set for 4:30. By 5:15, we were on the road for Austin, TX: Carolyn's home, and also that of my parents. It's Xmas vacay time. Or TXmas, as I like to say. : A couple hours of winding through moonlit South Bay hills led us to Santa Cruz, a chill, picturesque NorCal beach town. As the twilight turned to dawn, we stocked our cooler with wholesome eats at a local grocer. : A cafe we had passed on the way into town beckoned us to return, so we backtracked a few blocks to The Buttery Corner. Carolyn and I parked and walked in, exchanging a dozen puns before ordering our breakfasts and some freshly baked goodies for the road. At 8am, we snickered back to the car, appetites fully sated, and continued down California's magical coastline Highway 1. : An hour later, while snaking along the golden, brush-covered sand dunes and rocky cliffs, gaping in awe of the grandeur of the Pacific Ocean expanding endlessly out of the passenger window, a flicker of dark green flashed in my periphery on the driver-side, and with out a second-thought, I glanced to Carolyn, said "hold on" and pulled a U-turn at the next pullout so I could investigate my curiosity. : A half-mile back, I found what had caught my eye: a tunnel of evergreen limbs hugging a dirt path into a narrow valley between hills. I flashed a grin to Carolyn. Without hesitation I steered the car right, down the path, and reduced our speed to a crawl. Almost immediately we were gasping in awe....We had found FernGully. -- #roadtrip #roadtrippers #ontheroadagain #xmasvacay #hwy1 #redwoods #ferngully #magicalforest #mossy #sunbeams #breathein @caroface (at Palo Colorado Road.)

[ncardcreative]

December 18th, 2016 (5): I am still as speechless about this sight as I was 3 weeks ago when I stepped out of the car with the hazards blinking - my boots hugged by the muddy road, nostrils filled with sea mist and the smell of damp earth - and gently pressed my finger on the shutter button. -- Carolyn arrived at 9 the night before. After some sushi, we hit the sack with alarms set for 4:30. By 5:15, we were on the road for Austin, TX: Carolyn's home, and also that of my parents. It's Xmas vacay time. Or TXmas, as I like to say. : A couple hours of winding through moonlit South Bay hills led us to Santa Cruz, a chill, picturesque NorCal beach town. As the twilight turned to dawn, we stocked our cooler with wholesome eats at a local grocer. : A cafe we had passed on the way into town beckoned us to return, so we backtracked a few blocks to The Buttery Corner. Carolyn and I parked and walked in, exchanging a dozen puns before ordering our breakfasts and some freshly baked goodies for the road. At 8am, we snickered back to the car, appetites fully sated, and continued down California's magical coastline Highway 1. : An hour later, while snaking along the golden, brush-covered sand dunes and rocky cliffs, gaping in awe of the grandeur of the Pacific Ocean expanding endlessly out of the passenger window, a flicker of dark green flashed in my periphery on the driver-side, and with out a second-thought, I glanced to Carolyn, said "hold on" and pulled a U-turn at the next pullout so I could investigate my curiosity. : A half-mile back, I found what had caught my eye: a tunnel of evergreen limbs hugging a dirt path into a narrow valley between hills. I flashed a grin to Carolyn. Without hesitation I steered the car right, down the path, and reduced our speed to a crawl. Almost immediately we were gasping in awe....We had found FernGully. -- #roadtrip #roadtrippers #ontheroadagain #xmasvacay #hwy1 #redwoods #ferngully #magicalforest #mossy #sunbeams #breathein @caroface (at Palo Colorado Road.)

[ncardcreative]

December 18th, 2016 (4): The enchanting forest, lit by master luminary, Helios himself, was a veritable collection of natural artworks, such as this sculpture of a reclining figure dressed in green velvet. Though nothing in this gallery is truly permanent, I had the impression this piece had been here for a while, but rarely appreciated. -- Carolyn arrived at 9 the night before. After some sushi, we hit the sack with alarms set for 4:30. By 5:15, we were on the road for Austin, TX: Carolyn's home, and also that of my parents. It's Xmas vacay time. Or TXmas, as I like to say. : A couple hours of winding through moonlit South Bay hills led us to Santa Cruz, a chill, picturesque NorCal beach town. As the twilight turned to dawn, we stocked our cooler with wholesome eats at a local grocer. : A cafe we had passed on the way into town beckoned us to return, so we backtracked a few blocks to The Buttery Corner. Carolyn and I parked and walked in, exchanging a dozen puns before ordering our breakfasts and some freshly baked goodies for the road. At 8am, we snickered back to the car, appetites fully sated, and continued down California's magical coastline Highway 1. : An hour later, while snaking along the golden, brush-covered sand dunes and rocky cliffs, gaping in awe of the grandeur of the Pacific Ocean expanding endlessly out of the passenger window, a flicker of dark green flashed in my periphery on the driver-side, and with out a second-thought, I glanced to Carolyn, said "hold on" and pulled a U-turn at the next pullout so I could investigate my curiosity. : A half-mile back, I found what had caught my eye: a tunnel of evergreen limbs hugging a dirt path into a narrow valley between hills. I flashed a grin to Carolyn. Without hesitation I steered the car right, down the path, and reduced our speed to a crawl. Almost immediately we were gasping in awe....We had found FernGully. -- #roadtrip #roadtrippers #ontheroadagain #xmasvacay #hwy1 #redwoods #ferngully #magicalforest #mossy #sunbeams #breathein @caroface (at Palo Colorado Road.)

[ncardcreative]

December 18th, 2016 (3): The elements convened - sunlight, babbling brook, sea breeze, and forest soil - and beckoned Carolyn to meditate for a moment on the idea of living amongst this beauty. -- Carolyn arrived at 9 the night before. After some sushi, we hit the sack with alarms set for 4:30. By 5:15, we were on the road for Austin, TX: Carolyn's home, and also that of my parents. It's Xmas vacay time. Or TXmas, as I like to say. : A couple hours of winding through moonlit South Bay hills led us to Santa Cruz, a chill, picturesque NorCal beach town. As the twilight turned to dawn, we stocked our cooler with wholesome eats at a local grocer. : A cafe we had passed on the way into town beckoned us to return, so we backtracked a few blocks to The Buttery Corner. Carolyn and I parked and walked in, exchanging a dozen puns before ordering our breakfasts and some freshly baked goodies for the road. At 8am, we snickered back to the car, appetites fully sated, and continued down California's magical coastline Highway 1. : An hour later, while snaking along the golden, brush-covered sand dunes and rocky cliffs, gaping in awe of the grandeur of the Pacific Ocean expanding endlessly out of the passenger window, a flicker of dark green flashed in my periphery on the driver-side, and with out a second-thought, I glanced to Carolyn, said "hold on" and pulled a U-turn at the next pullout so I could investigate my curiosity. : A minute later, I found what had caught my eye: a tunnel of evergreen limbs hugging a dirt path into a narrow valley between hills. I flashed a grin to Carolyn. Without hesitation I steered the car right, down the path, and reduced our speed to a crawl. Almost immediately we were gasping in awe....We had found FernGully. -- #roadtrip #roadtrippers #ontheroadagain #xmasvacay #hwy1 #redwoods #ferngully #magicalforest #mossy #sunbeams #breathein @caroface (at Palo Colorado Road.)

[ncardcreative]

December 18th, 2016 (2): Carolyn stands amongst clovers and fallen needles, while breathing in the unforgettable scents of Pacific sea breezes flowing through this mossy valley of redwoods -- Carolyn arrived at 9 the night before. After some sushi, we hit the sack with alarms set for 4:30. By 5:15, we were on the road for Austin, TX: Carolyn's home, and also that of my parents. It's Xmas vacay time. Or TXmas, as I like to say. : A couple hours of winding through moonlit South Bay hills led us to Santa Cruz, a chill, picturesque NorCal beach town. As the twilight turned to dawn, we stocked our cooler with wholesome eats at a local grocer. : A cafe we had passed on the way into town beckoned us to return, so we backtracked a few blocks to The Buttery Corner. Carolyn and I parked and walked in, exchanging a dozen puns before ordering our breakfasts and some freshly baked goodies for the road. At 8am, we snickered back to the car, appetites fully sated, and continued down California's magical coastline Highway 1. : An hour later, while snaking along the golden, brush-covered sand dunes and rocky cliffs, gaping in awe of the grandeur of the Pacific Ocean expanding endlessly out of the passenger window, a flicker of dark green flashed in my periphery on the driver-side, and with out a second-thought, I glanced to Carolyn, said "hold on" and pulled a U-turn at the next pullout so I could investigate my curiosity. : A minute later, I found what had caught my eye: a tunnel of evergreen limbs hugging a dirt path into a narrow valley between hills. I flashed a grin to Carolyn. Without hesitation I steered the car right, down the path, and reduced our speed to a crawl. Almost immediately we were gasping in awe....We had found FernGully. -- #roadtrip #roadtrippers #ontheroadagain #xmasvacay #hwy1 #redwoods #ferngully #magicalforest #mossy #sunbeams #breathein @caroface (at Palo Colorado Road.)

[ncardcreative]

December 18th, 2016 (1): My travel companion Carolyn basks in the glorious sunlight and redwood scents of a secret forest community south of Santa Cruz, CA, along HWY 1. Land of the "neo-pioneers" according to a local. -- Carolyn arrived at 9 the night before. After some sushi, we hit the sack with alarms set for 4:30. By 5:15, we were on the road for Austin, TX: Carolyn's home, and also that of my parents. It's Xmas vacay time. Or TXmas, as I like to say. : A couple hours of winding through moonlit South Bay hills led us to Santa Cruz, a chill, picturesque NorCal beach town. As the twilight turned to dawn, we stocked our cooler with wholesome eats at a local grocer. : A cafe we had passed on the way into town beckoned us to return, so we backtracked a few blocks to The Buttery Corner. Carolyn and I parked and walked in, exchanging a dozen puns before ordering our breakfasts and some freshly baked goodies for the road. At 8am, we snickered back to the car, appetites fully sated, and continued down California's magical coastline Highway 1. : An hour later, while snaking along the golden, brush-covered sand dunes and rocky cliffs, gaping in awe of the grandeur of the Pacific Ocean expanding endlessly out of the passenger window, a flicker of dark green flashed in my periphery on the driver-side, and with out a second-thought, I glanced to Carolyn, said "hold on" and pulled a U-turn at the next pullout so I could investigate my curiosity. : A minute later, I found what had caught my eye: a tunnel of evergreen limbs hugging a dirt path into a narrow valley between hills. I flashed a grin to Carolyn. Without hesitation I steered the car right, down the path, and reduced our speed to a crawl. Almost immediately we were gasping in awe....We had found FernGully. -- #roadtrip #roadtrippers #ontheroadagain #xmasvacay #hwy1 #redwoods #ferngully #magicalforest #mossy #sunbeams #breathein @caroface (at California Highway 1)

[ncardcreative]

For Christmas this year, I made these cards (inspired by my friends and colleagues at #midwayville) and had everyone draw one and respond before opening other gifts. Each card had "2016 in 10 minutes or less" on the front and a different inquiry on the back. The responses were all equally surprising and heartwarming, but my father's especially: he drew the "achievement" card, and choked up for a couple minutes before he was able to stutter out his story of surviving unemployment in a new city, landing a job on a phone interview, and just in time to sign for a the house he and my mother wanted. I almost cried listening to him, as he does not regularly display much emotion, and I know he has been under tremendous pressure this year. After a half hour going around and hearing my family share their stories, I knew I had made a great gift. If you are inspired to respond to one of these prompts, please do! 2016 has been a tough one and we all should have an opportunity to reflect before building a better 2017. (at Pflugerville, Texas)

[ncardcreative]

I designed a set and my LD gave it beautiful depth. Voila! CAROUSEL runs one more weekend in El Cerrito. Tickets at ymtcberkeley.org Thanks to director Jennifer for asking the right questions and agreeing to my disagreements, master builder Rene for working on the fly with engineering mastery, paint charge Dawn and saving grace Ellie for all the beautiful paint details, apprentices Kiyona and Tris for bringing their A game, and all the volunteers who put in hours of base coat painting to bring my vision to life. #theatrelife #setdesign #randh #carousel #clambake #geraniumsinthewinder (at El Cerrito High School)

[ncardcreative]

I don't recall drawing this, but it is #serendipitously what I needed at the moment I opened my #sketchbook tonight. Past N looking out for future N. #biglove for #positivehabits #sketchaday

[ncardcreative]

No taps in the ballet room! #tapdance #rehearsal for #broadwaybares2016 benefit #broadwaybaressftechtails Song is #GoogleBus by #Cachebox ...its a real song, really ridiculous, and I really like it. #reallyreally (at ODC)

[ncardcreative]

#nocomment #midwayville (at SoMa StrEat Food Park)

[ncardcreative]

I built a thing! Or, rather, part of a thing. Or, rather rather, volunteers from our season sponsor #americaneagleoutfitters #aeo did my bidding for #communityday and we we built the thing together. The thing is a storage box for platforms, flats, and lumber. Very necessary! Thanks @americaneagleoutfiters! (at YMTC - Youth Musical Theater Company)

[ncardcreative]

“Queenie was a blonde, and her age stood still, and she danced twice a day in vaudeville…”

Nathanael Card of NCardCreative is seeking character voices for a reading of Joseph Moncure March’s vaudeville era epic poem “The Wild Party” (on which both musicals of the same title are based)

Commitments are Sat 6/11 4p-9 and Sat 6/18 4p-7, at 2925 Bolivar Dr, in Berkeley (SE corner of Aquatic Park).

The reading, which will be invite-only and recorded for the intent of finding producers for a fully-staged production, will happen at 5pm on 6/18.

This is unpaid, but a fun time with a magnificent piece of literature.

An excerpt:

“Some love is fire: some love is rust: But the fiercest, cleanest love is lust. And their lust was tremendous. It had the feel Of hammers clanging; and stone; and steel: And torches of the savage, roaring kind That rip through iron and strike men blind: Of long trains crashing through caverns under Grey trembling streets, like angry thunder: Of engines throbbing; and hoarse steam spouting; And feet tramping; and great crowds shouting. A lust so savage, they could have wrenched The flesh from bone, and not have blenched.”

To submit, please send resume plus an audio sample of you reading the above excerpt to [email protected]. Audio can also be texted to 8165363860, as well as questions.

Thank you for your interest!

N

[ncardcreative]

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"What do I do with 3 hours to kill in Seattle?" I says. "Shake Your Money Maker" he says. "Ok" I says. (at Pike Place Market)