tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60579296928759909762024-03-05T03:07:51.843-05:00That Neil GuyWriter. Actor. Ukulele Evangelist.That Neil Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282313787969964446noreply@blogger.comBlogger318125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6057929692875990976.post-51099214919227152332016-11-25T13:51:00.000-05:002016-11-26T10:17:42.109-05:00Bing Crosby - White Christmas
30 Days of my favorite Christmas Music.
Day 1.
Bing defines the style with this album. If I had to choose
only one Christmas record to play each year, this would likely be it.
Side one is serious, with the original, definitive version
of White Christmas.
Side two is fun, kicked off by the Andrews Sisters joining
in for a swingin' Jingle Bells and capped off by my personal That Neil Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282313787969964446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6057929692875990976.post-38227350283803467872014-05-07T17:11:00.001-04:002014-05-07T17:11:14.392-04:00An App to Make You HappierI've now been using the Happier app for a year.
In honor of that anniversary, here's an article I wrote about the app featuring some local users.
Amy Oliver wanted to follow her therapist’s advice.
“She wanted me to start keeping a gratitude journal,” recalls
Oliver, a 44 year old who lives in Clinton. “And I was constantly forgetting.”
Then she remembered an app called Happier that That Neil Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282313787969964446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6057929692875990976.post-89377275794409892162013-10-01T16:52:00.000-04:002013-10-01T16:52:02.013-04:00Holy DonutsI wrote a song about donuts. And played it on my ukulele. And made a (lame) video for it.
That Neil Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282313787969964446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6057929692875990976.post-7374323609522244652013-06-18T15:31:00.000-04:002013-09-29T09:30:31.160-04:00HappierA couple of months ago, I discovered an app called Happier.
The concept is to share three things a day, three small moments that bring you happiness. I find it to be very helpful in downplaying the negative and stressful parts of day to day life.
As one of Happier's founders recently wrote on their blog, "While chasing some unachievable state of the BIG HAPPY I had
ignored so many of the That Neil Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282313787969964446noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6057929692875990976.post-45748079310910791432013-06-12T08:52:00.001-04:002013-06-12T13:32:43.557-04:00Ukulele GoldsmithSo I've been busy trying to accomplish the most natural thing in the world - play Jerry Goldsmith songs on ukulele.
First up, the theme from the TV show Man From UNCLE. Who knew there were any lyrics at all?
Next, the Love Theme from Logan's Run - As We Follow the Sun.
Brings tears to my eyes.
And speaking of tears, you will certainly experience a lump in your throat while listening to myThat Neil Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282313787969964446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6057929692875990976.post-51599514930121466662013-01-02T16:58:00.003-05:002013-01-02T16:58:37.547-05:00Happy St. Asimov's Day!Today is Isaac Asimov's birthday.
To celebrate, here is a photo of me with some - only some - of my Asimov books.
Yes, I am a nerd.
Meanwhile, I would also like to remind you of my short story, In Memory Yet Green (also the title of the first volume of Asimov's autobiography). The story appears in the anthology My First Time, which is now on sale for only $2.51.
I will now celebrate the That Neil Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282313787969964446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6057929692875990976.post-34553514328600868772012-10-14T20:21:00.000-04:002012-10-14T20:21:10.280-04:00Autumn
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That Neil Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282313787969964446noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6057929692875990976.post-27060908458185073772012-09-21T07:12:00.002-04:002012-09-21T07:13:37.960-04:00My New Book - "Growing Greenville for 50 Years"I wrote a book.
It's called "Growing Greenville for 50 Years: A Celebration of Greenville Technical College 1962-2012."
Produced for the college's 50th anniversary, the book was released last night at a celebratory gala. I am co-author, having written many of the chapters and helped arrange the overall flow.
It was a fun project to work on and I'm proud of the result - it's a great looking That Neil Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282313787969964446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6057929692875990976.post-48491974638808533372012-06-05T20:43:00.005-04:002012-06-06T10:29:20.082-04:00King of the GeeksMay 25. Geek Pride Day.
Trolling about the internets, as I am wont to do, I came across a notice from Think Geek. A contest.
Here was their preface:
It's not like we need an excuse to wear our Geek Pride on our sleeves, but May 25th is especially auspicious because it's also:
Towel Day, the day two weeks after Douglas Adams passed in 2001, when hoopy froods keep their towel handy;
The That Neil Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282313787969964446noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6057929692875990976.post-42574157904652836142012-05-17T17:25:00.002-04:002012-05-17T17:25:19.182-04:00Star Trek: The Motion PictureThere's going to be a 3 CD deluxe edition of what is probably my all-time favorite film score, Jerry Goldsmith's masterpiece, Star Trek: The Motion Picture.
Here's an article I wrote about it: http://www.examiner.com/article/lalaland-records-to-release-expanded-star-trek-the-motion-picture-soundtrack
And here is a video I did in honor of it. It's a recording of the regrettable lyrics for That Neil Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282313787969964446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6057929692875990976.post-52374370600079235662012-05-08T19:04:00.005-04:002012-05-08T19:08:25.642-04:00Connections
I ducked into the empty donut shop.
“Two double chocolates,” I said, slipping off my wet coat. “And two coffees. Black.”
From behind the counter, she smiled.
“Two?” she asked. “Who’s the second one for?”
I slid onto my favorite stool.
“You.”
I saw this challenge to create a 42 word short story about the meaning of life, and this is what I came up with. Oh, and, byThat Neil Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282313787969964446noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6057929692875990976.post-62004588231015051302012-04-24T13:48:00.000-04:002012-04-24T13:57:56.781-04:00Love Theme from This Week in ScienceOne of the first podcasts I discovered, many years ago now, was This Week in Science. Originating from UC Davis, the radio show/podcast features Dr. Kiki and Justin Jackson delivering science news and opinion in a fun, freewheeling, conversational style. I always enjoyed listening to it and hearing the latest news of World Robot Domination
and mind-controlling toxoplasma gondii and Justin's That Neil Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282313787969964446noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6057929692875990976.post-77120373257729768782012-04-06T10:10:00.000-04:002012-04-06T10:10:09.201-04:00My new coatSo, um, I got a new coat.
It's totally the wrong season to be purchasing an overcoat, but I couldn't wait.
And I love it.
In fact, I wrote an article about my new coat.
Is it winter yet?That Neil Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282313787969964446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6057929692875990976.post-90489932943006148772012-04-04T10:51:00.000-04:002012-04-04T10:52:25.024-04:00The President is evidently part-Vulcan
Fascinating.That Neil Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282313787969964446noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6057929692875990976.post-66233190395420643272012-03-01T19:40:00.000-05:002012-03-08T14:23:05.719-05:00A Song For YouI wrote a song. About donuts.
Here's our first mix.
That's me on vocals and ukulele. My brother mixed it all together and added stuff.That Neil Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282313787969964446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6057929692875990976.post-48616230086928976012012-02-15T10:39:00.002-05:002012-02-15T10:39:47.587-05:00Jerry GoldsmithHere's a an article I posted recently.
A birthday tribute to Jerry Goldsmith.
Please enjoy.That Neil Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282313787969964446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6057929692875990976.post-36551990900555684972012-01-30T09:22:00.000-05:002012-01-30T09:22:01.767-05:00Life is a CabaretHere's my review of a terrific new production of Cabaret.
That Neil Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282313787969964446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6057929692875990976.post-86637022288393257172011-12-30T17:23:00.000-05:002011-12-30T18:10:15.018-05:00Dr Zaius in Mark Twain TonightJohn Hodgman issued a challenge. He wanted to see video footage of actor Maurice Evans as Dr. Zaius as Mark Twain.
So this morning I, um, "located" this:
Earlier, I had "found" this photo.
To coin a phrase, That Is All.That Neil Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282313787969964446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6057929692875990976.post-4892413937616344172011-12-05T15:26:00.001-05:002011-12-05T15:30:50.189-05:00Mele Kalikimaka!Perhaps my very favorite Christmas song, performed by me on the ukulele with my daughter providing interpretive dance in the background.
That Neil Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282313787969964446noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6057929692875990976.post-78364056780235771742011-11-28T15:07:00.001-05:002011-11-28T16:17:24.471-05:005 Great Christmas AlbumsSo long, Thanksgiving. Welcome, Christmas!
To honor the season, I'd like to share some of my very favorite Christmas records. Christmas music is inextricably woven into the fabric of the season, and I can get a warm glow just thinking about some of these. So light up your yule log, pour a cup of hot cocoa and crank up your HiFi.
1. White Christmas. Bing Crosby.
To my mind, That Neil Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282313787969964446noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6057929692875990976.post-3201007120834405802011-11-24T00:01:00.000-05:002011-11-28T09:17:53.130-05:00Happy Birthday, Lara!One of the things I've discovered through social media is my twinsie, Lara Zielin. We share the same birthday. We are both writers (she has published two wonderful novels with more on the way). We both love donuts. And there is more, but, really, need there be any more?
This year our birthday falls on Thanksgiving Day. And for a gift, I wrote this song. I hope you enjoy it, Lara. Happy birthday!That Neil Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282313787969964446noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6057929692875990976.post-90176674620929607092011-10-28T13:23:00.001-04:002011-10-28T13:24:00.463-04:00HarvestI was asked to write a cover essay for this week's bulletin at our church. It's Stewardship time with the theme "The Joy of Giving." I really liked what I came up with, so i thought I'd share it here.
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That Neil Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282313787969964446noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6057929692875990976.post-77451578763268509682011-10-23T14:46:00.002-04:002011-10-23T14:48:03.426-04:00Sleepwalking Downstairs for Coffee (Judy's Song)I wrote a song.
Friday morning, I saw this note on Facebook from Judy Clement Wall: "I just made up a song. It's called Sleepwalking Downstairs For Coffee. It only has the one line. And only one note. Sing with me!"
I really liked that line and the image it conjured. So I thought I ought to go ahead and write a song (with more than one note and more than one line, obviously).
Early Friday That Neil Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282313787969964446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6057929692875990976.post-43844495026721366602011-10-13T18:32:00.000-04:002011-10-13T18:33:08.594-04:00My review of Shatner Rules
I wrote a review of William Shatner's new book, Shatner Rules.
Read it here.
That Neil Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282313787969964446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6057929692875990976.post-22734040259205262582011-10-05T09:28:00.000-04:002011-10-05T09:32:28.339-04:00Win Shatner RulesYou can win a copy of William Shatner's new book, Shatner Rules.
Info here: http://www.examiner.com/william-shatner-in-national/shatner-rules-sweepstakes
That Neil Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282313787969964446noreply@blogger.com0