Ten Months to Home

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Last year, we bought a condo unit to move into.

Everything, and I mean EVERYTHING needed work:  Kitchen,  Bathrooms, Floors,  Ceilings. Walls… All of it!

So, here are some Before and After photos of the changes after TEN Months of anguish and the joy of homeownership.

Enjoy!

Before: (click to enlarge) After: (click to enlarge)

 

All content written and voiced by Joe J Thomas online at: JoeActor.com

 

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All Work And No Play

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All Work And No Play


(a stream of consciousness tale)

During the stage play of “1940’s Radio Hour”, I wrote a stream of consciousness story. One page per night. This… is that story!

But first, the story of the story:

I played Clifton Feddington in the stage show “1940’s Radio Hour”. A really fun slice-of-life show about a radio station in the… wait for it… 1940’s! The great thing about our performance was that we treated the stage like it was the radio studio. We all came in as if we were coming to work for the evening shift. Then stayed the entire show on stage. Even during intermission we were there milling about, waiting for the radio program to go back on the air.

I was the station manager / head honcho. And during the performance I spent a lot of time in my office (on stage) typing up the imaginary script for that evening’s performance. Except instead of typing nonsense, I typed nonsense that turned into a story… of sorts.

Each night, I’d type a full page of the story, then come out of my office and hand it off to someone. By the end, I had a lot of pages.

So!!! Here’s the story. Don’t expect it to make sense. After all, it was stream of consciousness during a live stage performance.

Enjoy!

(first page follows… retyped… full pdf story is below)

“All Work And No Play”
makes
Jack A. Dull
(boy)
It was a dark and stormy night. The wind howled in the trees like
a horse with a bum leg. But you can ‘t get a cup of coffee anymore
in this town- – not at night , not in the winter, not when it’s cold,
not for a nickel, not with my girl you don’t.
But, I haven’t got time for that now. Not with ten guys on my
tail with the combined intelligence of a sack of White Castles.
Let me start a t the beginning…
Well, it was exactly fifteen years ago today. Yeah, I remember it
just like it was yesterday. Come to think of it, that was only ten
years ago. Or maybe seven. But that’s not the point I was trying
to make. Yeah, there was no getting around it. I had strayed so far
from anything resembling a plot that I couldn’t even see the graveyard
from where I was kneeling.
So, there I was, nipple deep in yellow snow with nothing to show for
it but a jerky little alcoholic dog names ted. That’s when I met
Jack A. Dull. I never did find out what the A. stood for, but there
he was, just the same.
“Looks like your cat’s got a nasty fur ball”, he quipped.
All I could think of to say in response to a witty but inane
comment like that was “Peop1e are always saying something
about anything, it’s just too bad that no people will ever
be any closer to the truth than I am to you right now.”
I could tell by the look in his ear that he was expecting a comment
just like the one I ‘d thought of. Too bad that wasn’t the one that
came out of my mouth.
“That’s no way to retort a comment”, she sighed.
“Well, well, if it isn’t little Miss Underwire…”
Tracy Underwire, to be precise. She had a body that was so firm
that it looked like she used a gallon of mousse on each side. But
that wasn’t the reason she showed up tonight. No , that answer was
just a little too pat for me. Butter just wasn’t in the cards for
me. And let me tell you, I was the type of guy who liked a little
butter with my cards once in a while.

(full pdf below)
1940s_All-Work-No-Play

 

All content written and voiced by Joe J Thomas online at: JoeActor.com

 

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Nail Clippers from Tokyo

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Nail Clippers from Tokyo

While traveling in Tokyo, I learned a valuable business lesson from a little store in the hotel… all while buying nail clippers.

This was many years ago when my wife and I were vacationing in Tokyo. While I was thinking back on the trip, I realized that one memory stood out.

One evening in our hotel room, my wife tasked me with going downstairs to buy some nail clippers. Seems we hadn’t brought any in our bags (it was allowed back then).

So, there I was, with only the most basic of Japanese language skills… on my own! After making my way downstairs, I found the tiny little in-hotel store. They had all the essentials that a traveler would need: toothpaste, band-aids, aspirin, etc. I couldn’t seem to find the nail clippers.

I walked up to the counter. An older woman sat patiently behind it. We had a short conversation… without words. Finally! My years of pantomime were useful!

She pointed to where the nail clippers were, and I retrieved a nice pink one for my wife.

When I went up to pay, I expected that the woman would just run my card, give me a receipt, and I’d take the clippers and go.

That is not what happened.

After ringing up the bill and giving me the receipt, she carefully took the packaged clippers and wrapped them – very neatly – in a nice paper. She then put this into a small bag, along with some hand-folded paper origami cranes (my wife later told me they were for luck). Then, she folded over the top of the bag and put a small bit of tape on it.

When she handed it to me, I knew enough to bow slightly and say “domo arigatou gozaimasu” and left the store to go back to my room.

It was a short, simple interaction, yet when I think back, there was a lot of meaning to unpack from it.

Here are a few of the lessons I learned that can apply to many businesses:

  • Be kind
  • Know your job
  • Be Helpful
  • Exceed Expectations
  • Have Good Intentions

In the end, it’s these things that people, and your customers, will remember.

The nail clippers were common.

The woman who sold them to me was special.

 

All content written and voiced by Joe J Thomas online at: JoeActor.com

 

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Hero Justice! (Pendant Seminar)

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Hero Justice!

PENDANT PRODUCTIONS PROUDLY PRESENTS:
Seminar Episode 90: A Time To Seek And A Time To Lose…

When you need help, sometimes it comes from the places you least expect it.
Featuring “Avatar” by Lisa N. Michaud and “Hero Justice” by Joe J. Thomas!

(my story is the second half, but listen to the whole episode 😉 )

Episode Audio:

      Seminar90master

Commentary Audio:

      Seminar90commentary

Transcript available at pendantaudio.com (click here).

Release Date: December 11, 2019 Run Time: 33:09

~~~ Artwork (click each for full size) ~~~

~~~ Backstory ~~~

It all started with a beard…

I had grown a weird goatee and mustache combo (see SightLine’s photo), and decided to have some fun shaving half of each off. Then I photoshopped the laser eyes and a destroyed city. A few months later, I did the Genie photo on a whim. Then I found an old superhero mask (Bellyman), that I used for Brick Red.

So, armed with three odd pictures I did what anyone would do: I made a fake movie poster.

After that, it was just a matter of writing a story to go with it. Yeah, I do everything backwards.

Next up: Pitching the idea to Marvel and DC 😉

(wish me luck…)

~~~ Credits ~~~

Seminar Episode 90: A Time To Seek And A Time To Lose…

Featuring the voice talents of Kathryn Pryde as Alice, Dan Foster as Alex and Thomas, and Aiden Rudd as Zerash.

In “Avatar,” Bare Schacht was Soo, Jake Philips was Smith, Jack Pevyhouse was LeBlanc Dave Morgan was Prakesh, and Jess Herring was Jones. The story was written by Lisa N. Michaud.

In “Hero Justice”, Joel Nisbitt was Senior FBI Agent, Joshua Zedicker was Junior FBI Agent, Cindy Woods was Alice Azure, Russ Gold was Bond-Zero, and Joe J. Thomas was Carl Calderon and the Heroes. The story was written by Joe J. Thomas.

This episode was directed by VC Morrison and assistant-directed by Samantha Reed. The wrapper script and story were written by Kathryn Pryde, and the shorts and wrapper were edited by Jeffrey Bridges.

Music featured in this episode include the following: Hero Justice Theme Song by Joe J. Thomas, additional music and Seminar theme were written by VC Morrison, produced by Pendant Productions.

Seminar co-created by Kathryn Pryde and Jeffrey Bridges
Copyright 2019 Pendant Productions

Pendant Audio: Seminar – Also Available on (clicky-clicky):
Apple Podcasts/iTunes
Spotify
Google Play
Stitcher
Pendant Podcast feed (xml)
Pendant Show Page (Seminar)


Where to find Pendant Audio (more clicky-clicky):
Pendant Audio (main site)
Pendant on Yahoo
Pendant on Twitter
Pendant on Facebook
Pendant on Tumblr
Pendant on YouTube

Thanks for listening!

 

All content written and voiced by Joe J Thomas online at: JoeActor.com

 

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DREAMNASIUM: Antiope in Black

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DREAMNASIUM: Antiope in Black

PENDANT PRODUCTIONS PROUDLY PRESENTS:
Dreamnasium: Pendant Audio Drama
“Dreamnasium” is an anthology show adapting the short stories of Geoffrey Thorne, full of sci-fi, fantasy, mystery and intrigue!.

(listen to parts 1 and 2 below…)

DREAMNASIUM, episode 7 – “Antiope in Black” part 1
Flint has spent her life in the shadows, but she’s about to discover she’s not the only thing lurking in the dark!

      Dreamnasium07Antiope1master

Transcript available at pendantaudio.com (click here).
Release Date: September 9, 2019 Run Time: 17:18

DREAMNASIUM, episode 8 – “Antiope in Black” part 2
Flint learns the truth about her mission and Baba Yaga’s machinations!

      Dreamnasium08Antiope2master

Transcript available at pendantaudio.com (click here).
Release Date: September 16, 2019 Run Time: 14:06


Also Available on (clicky-clicky):
Apple Podcasts/iTunes
Spotify
Google Play
Stitcher
Pendant Podcast feed (xml)
Pendant Show Page (Dreamnasium)

Featuring the voice talents of:
Barbra Dillon as Flint
Jack Calk as Mattock
Channe Nolen as Theta
Pete Milan as Hewdon
Jessie Moore as Brogrym
Joe J. Thomas as Skiff Control
Marte Brengle as Baba Yaga
Philip Weber as Meldrick
and Melissa Autumn Hearne as The Muse

Written by Jeffrey & Susan Bridges, based on the original short story
“Antiope in Black” by Geoffrey Thorne

Dreamnasium theme by Vincent Morrison
All other music by Josh Molen at TheTunePeddler.com

Directed by Paul Brueggemann

Produced by Pendant Productions
Executive Producers Jeffrey & Susan Bridges
This Production is copyright 2019 Geoffrey Thorne and Pendant Productions

Where to find Pendant Audio (more clicky-clicky):
Pendant Audio (main site)
Pendant on Yahoo
Pendant on Twitter
Pendant on Facebook
Pendant on Tumblr
Pendant on YouTube

Thanks for listening!

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DREAMNASIUM: Red/Shift

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DREAMNASIUM: Red/Shift

PENDANT PRODUCTIONS PROUDLY PRESENTS:
Dreamnasium: Red/Shift
“Dreamnasium” is an anthology show adapting the short stories of Geoffrey Thorne, full of sci-fi, fantasy, mystery and intrigue!.

(listen to parts 1 and 2 below…)

DREAMNASIUM, episode 5 – “Red/Shift” part 1
A serial killer is moving through the Aresian night, but someone’s tracking his every move!

      Dreamnasium05RedShift1master

Transcript available at pendantaudio.com (click here).
Release Date: August 19, 2019 Run Time: 25:04

DREAMNASIUM, episode 6 – “Red/Shift” part 2
Red and Amina engage in a battle of wits, as Elzin closes in on her target!

      Dreamnasium06RedShift2master

Transcript available at pendantaudio.com (click here).
Release Date: August 26, 2019 Run Time: 26:22


Also Available on (clicky-clicky):
Apple Podcasts/iTunes
Spotify
Google Play
Stitcher
Pendant Podcast feed (xml)
Pendant Show Page (Dreamnasium)

Featuring the voice talents of:
Channe Nolen as Amina Fisk-Okker
Joe J. Thomas as Red
Kristen Bays as Gio
Pete Milan as Breminsky
Darian Lindle as Cynda
Barbra Dillon as the Computer Voice and the Tube Announcer
Kathryn Pryde as Elzin
Jessie Moore as Ocelano
Jack Calk as the Server
Philip Weber as Liam the Hologram
Marte Brengle as Kwai
Perry Whittle as the Bravo
and Melissa Autumn Hearne as The Muse

Written by Jeffrey & Susan Bridges, based on the original short story
“Red/Shift” by Geoffrey Thorne

Dreamnasium theme by Vincent Morrison
All other music by Josh Molen at TheTunePeddler.com

Directed by Landon Beall (part 1)
Directed by Kathryn Pryde (part 2)

Produced by Pendant Productions
Executive Producers Jeffrey & Susan Bridges
This Production is copyright 2019 Geoffrey Thorne and Pendant Productions

Where to find Pendant Audio (more clicky-clicky):
Pendant Audio (main site)
Pendant on Yahoo
Pendant on Twitter
Pendant on Facebook
Pendant on Tumblr
Pendant on YouTube

Thanks for listening!

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DREAMNASIUM: The Dame Wore a Tesseract

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DREAMNASIUM: The Dame Wore a Tesseract

PENDANT PRODUCTIONS PROUDLY PRESENTS:
Dreamnasium: Pendant Audio Drama
“Dreamnasium” is an anthology show adapting the short stories of Geoffrey Thorne, full of sci-fi, fantasy, mystery and intrigue!.

(listen to parts 1 and 2 below…)

DREAMNASIUM, episode 3 – “The Dame Wore a Tesseract,” part 1
It was a day like any other for private investigator Harris Gray, until the Dame walked in and turned his world upside-down!

      Dreamnasium03Dame1master

Transcript available at pendantaudio.com (click here).
Release Date: July 29, 2019 Run Time: 24:33

DREAMNASIUM, episode 4 – “The Dame Wore a Tesseract,” part 2
Just when Harris Gray thought he had it all figured out, he learns that people aren’t always who they seem to be!

      Dreamnasium04Dame2master

Transcript available at pendantaudio.com (click here).
Release Date: August 5, 2019 Run Time: 18:41


Also Available on (clicky-clicky):
Apple Podcasts/iTunes
Spotify
Google Play
Stitcher
Pendant Podcast feed (xml)
Pendant Show Page (Dreamnasium)

Featuring the voice talents of:
Pete Milan as Harris Gray
Kristen Bays as the Dame
Perry Whittle as Maxie Sparks
Joe J. Thomas as Belanoff
Jack Calk as Cranzetti
Philip Weber as Butch
Jessie Moore as Dyson
Philip Weber as Butch
Darian Lindle as the Operator
Susan Bridges as Maguane
Marte Brengle as the Bartender
Kathryn Pryde as the Computer Voice
and Melissa Autumn Hearne as The Muse

Written by Jeffrey & Susan Bridges, based on the original short story
“The Dame Wore a Tesseract” by Geoffrey Thorne

Dreamnasium theme by Vincent Morrison
All other music by Josh Molen at TheTunePeddler.com

Directed by Dave Morgan

Produced by Pendant Productions
Executive Producers Jeffrey & Susan Bridges
This Production is copyright 2019 Geoffrey Thorne and Pendant Productions

Where to find Pendant Audio (more clicky-clicky):
Pendant Audio (main site)
Pendant on Yahoo
Pendant on Twitter
Pendant on Facebook
Pendant on Tumblr
Pendant on YouTube

Thanks for listening!

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DREAMNASIUM: The Lingering Grief of Twilight

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DREAMNASIUM: The Lingering Grief of Twilight

PENDANT PRODUCTIONS PROUDLY PRESENTS:
Dreamnasium: Pendant Audio Drama
“Dreamnasium” is an anthology show adapting the short stories of Geoffrey Thorne, full of sci-fi, fantasy, mystery and intrigue!.

(listen to parts 1 and 2 below…)

DREAMNASIUM, episode 1 – “The Lingering Grief of Twilight,” part 1
Lady Justice, protector of Earth, rises to meet a new challenge as she struggles with events from her past!

      Dreamnasium01Twilight1master

Transcript available at pendantaudio.com (click here).
Release Date: July 8, 2019 Run Time: 21:12

DREAMNASIUM, episode 2 – “The Lingering Grief of Twilight,” part 2
Lady Justice battles for the fate of earth, as the startling origin of her adversaries is revealed!

      Dreamnasium02Twilight2master

Transcript available at pendantaudio.com (click here).
Release Date: July 15, 2019 Run Time: 18:48


Also Available on (clicky-clicky):
Apple Podcasts/iTunes
Spotify
Google Play
Stitcher
Pendant Podcast feed (xml)
Pendant Show Page (Dreamnasium)

Featuring the voice talents of:
Darian Lindle as Lady Justice
Philip Weber as Captain Farragut
Kathryn Pryde as Chaplain Broek
Perry Whittle as Eos
Channe Nolen as Magistrate Vugin
Barbra Dillon as Eolis
and Melissa Autumn Hearne as The Muse

Written by Jeffrey & Susan Bridges, based on the original short story
“The Lingering Grief of Twilight” by Geoffrey Thorne

Dreamnasium theme by Vincent Morrison
All other music by Josh Molen at TheTunePeddler.com

Directed by Kathryn Pryde

Produced by Pendant Productions
Executive Producers Jeffrey & Susan Bridges
This Production is copyright 2019 Geoffrey Thorne and Pendant Productions

Where to find Pendant Audio (more clicky-clicky):
Pendant Audio (main site)
Pendant on Yahoo
Pendant on Twitter
Pendant on Facebook
Pendant on Tumblr
Pendant on YouTube

Thanks for listening!

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Doctor Who: Big Stompy Robots (part 2)

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Doctor Who: Big Stompy Robots (part 2)

Afternoon Tea Adventures presents a brand new Doctor Who audio drama in 2 parts.
Afternoon Tea Adventures: Big Stompy Robots

(if you missed part one, click here: Big Stompy Robots Part 1)

Listen to part two here:

More Afternoon Tea Adventures available on iTunes (click here)

Or on YouTube:
Afternoon Tea Adventures on YouTube

Doctor Who: Big Stompy Robots – A sci-fi romp.
Every week (or as broadcasting schedules permit) the fictional Xenos Coverage Crew from Star Newz reports the latest in the ongoing battles against an invading force of cruel lizard aggressors. Leading the charge in this low-budget sci-fi production are an amiably dim news anchor and a headstrong field reporter. Neither of them have a hair out of place…

…not even when real Big Stompy Robots come down from the skies, and Star Newz and their studio find themselves in need of desperate help from one of their biggest fans – The Doctor! As reality becomes stranger than fiction, the stakes get raised and soon a whole planet faces imminent destruction!

What shadowy secrets are locked away in a state-of-the-art production office?

What juicy role will star actress Connie London play in the ongoing adventures of The Doctor and Julia?

And at the end of the world, just what use are a tourist map and a smug canary?

Chapter Two: Plan D from Outer Space!
Last we left our heroes, the planet was under attack by a fleet of war-mongering lizards! As a giant robot sentry counts down the remaining hours until the end of the world, the Doctor, Julia, and Connie must devise a plan to save everyone, with a just little dash of cinematographic magic sprinkled in for fun.

CAST
The Doctor … K. Woo
Julia Shahid … Fazia Rizvi
Connie London … Valina Cutler
Brick Thrustjaw … Joe J. Thomas
Stroheimberg … Justin Fife
DAVE… Alan Gordon
Warlord Kruger … Kayla Gill
Newton … Lisa Michaud
Tech … Justin Fife
Extra …. Kyle Borcz
Agamidae Sentry … Vince Stadon

Written by K. Woo & Vince Stadon
Directed by Kyle Borcz
Music by Kevin MacLeod
Doctor Who logo by John Callaghan
Art by K. Woo
Many thanks to freesound.org

Afternoon Tea Adventures‘ Doctor Who series is a free, not-for-profit fan production and is in no way associated with the British Broadcasting Corporation. It was created as a celebration of the series, without intent to supersede or infringe on existing copyrights or intellectual property. Doctor Who, the TARDIS, and other registered sounds and concepts remain property of the BBC.

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Doctor Who: Big Stompy Robots (part 1)

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Doctor Who: Big Stompy Robots (part 1)

Afternoon Tea Adventures presents a brand new Doctor Who audio drama in 2 parts.
Afternoon Tea Adventures: Big Stompy Robots

Listen to part one here:

More Afternoon Tea Adventures available on iTunes (click here)

Or on YouTube:
Afternoon Tea Adventures on YouTube

Doctor Who: Big Stompy Robots – A sci-fi romp.
Every week (or as broadcasting schedules permit) the fictional Xenos Coverage Crew from Star Newz reports the latest in the ongoing battles against an invading force of cruel lizard aggressors. Leading the charge in this low-budget sci-fi production are an amiably dim news anchor and a headstrong field reporter. Neither of them have a hair out of place…

…not even when real Big Stompy Robots come down from the skies, and Star Newz and their studio find themselves in need of desperate help from one of their biggest fans – The Doctor! As reality becomes stranger than fiction, the stakes get raised and soon a whole planet faces imminent destruction!

What shadowy secrets are locked away in a state-of-the-art production office?

What juicy role will star actress Connie London play in the ongoing adventures of The Doctor and Julia?

And at the end of the world, just what use are a tourist map and a smug canary?

Chapter One: Call The Medic!
Lights! Camera! Action! The Doctor and Julia accidentally make a scene, as force-of-nature leading actress Connie London makes her big entrance, and all hell breaks loose…

CAST
The Doctor … K. Woo
Julia Shahid … Fazia Rizvi
Connie London … Valina Cutler
Brick Thrustjaw … Joe J. Thomas
Stroheimberg … Justin Fife
Peter/Marjorie … Lisa Michaud
Agamadae Warrior … Kayla Gill
Trainer …. Kyle Borcz

Written by K. Woo & Vince Stadon
Directed by Kyle Borcz
Music by Kevin MacLeod
Doctor Who logo by John Callaghan
Art by K. Woo
Many thanks to freesound.org

Afternoon Tea Adventures‘ Doctor Who series is a free, not-for-profit fan production and is in no way associated with the British Broadcasting Corporation. It was created as a celebration of the series, without intent to supersede or infringe on existing copyrights or intellectual property. Doctor Who, the TARDIS, and other registered sounds and concepts remain property of the BBC.

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