The VCS Office

In lieu of the Writer's Guild strike, all of us here at VCS have been deprived of our favorite American TV show, The Office. This video was the idea of Salil and David, two of my soccer players. They are currently in a video editing class taught by my friend Matt and so this is the first of a series that we will be working on.

All of the "stars" of the episode happen to have a break during the video class block so it enables us to shoot all of the footage. You may not get some of it because it's VCS humor but I think there are enough Office parallels that you should enjoy things.

Christmas

Some more Christmas pictures!

Thad was beating his Dad up with his new sword!

Munchkin Pictures/Video

Here are some Pre-Christmas photos of the boys as well as a video shot by Thad without Mom and Dad knowing.

On the 23rd Mollie took Tom, Karen, and Thad down to the Christmas market at Schonbrunn Palace. I was left with Ian and a grocery list so we bundled up (it was like 25 degrees) and headed over to Merkur in our umbrella stroller. Ian loved it and he just looked so cute that I had to take a picture.
Christmas Eve our friends the Pachecos brought us a Christmas basket full of American goodies. It was an amazing gift that included things we don't usually get to enjoy like Dr. Pepper, Mountain Dew, Rice Crispy Treats and various other things. Before he left I made delivery boy Oscar take a picture with his buddy Thad.

Finally, we came across this video as we were loading Christmas pictures on to the computer. This is Thad's first major film production and it was accomplished all while no adults were present. We aren't sure how he got the camera in the first place much less how he got it to the video setting and actually took footage. However he did it, here is a small glimpse in the world of Thad. He starts off by looking at all of his Christmas presents, then moves to looking at his reflection in the TV, and finishes looking at Ian and telling everyone what he's doing although apparently no one was listening.

My Parents are COMING!!!!!!!!!!

They'll be here in 3 days!!! We are so very excited to share Christmas and Vienna with them. Also, my Dad will spend his 58th birthday here in Austria! That's pretty monumental and I'd say it's about time he made it to Europe :)

Thad can't wait to see Granddaddy & KK..... especially since his chocolate number 18 can be eaten that day! He has this advent calendar which has doors that hold chocolates. One for each day leading up to christmas and my parents come the 18th...which is the magic number and special chocolate we've been waiting for. :)

Also, Thomas finally shaved his head, which we are all thankful for. It will be funny though as it continues to grow out with blond tips!

So, we have been doing something every night this week! It is such fun going to parties, having cookie exchanges, entertaining students, Christmas concerts & of course the famous markets here during the holidays. It is beautiful here this time of year with decor on every window and chandeliers hung along the Graben downtown. We love it!

In all the excitement and fun, it may be awhile before any posting gets done. So, beware and hold out until January if necessary.

Merry Christmas!!!!!!

Blondes Have More Fun

...at least that's what I've been told and so I decided to try it out. What actually happened is that I decided to be a guinea pig for a marketing campaign put on by the Senior Class to help raise money for their Senior trip.

The theme was Coke vs. Pepsi, and Ad technique called "False Dilemma." You create a false competition that drives up sales of both products. Aren't VCS kids smart? Here are a few of their videos advertising the competition.

Myself and our Business manager Jeff became the face of the rival cola products with the loser (most drinks sold) having to bleach their hair. Going into the last day I (Coke) was ahead by something like 20 drinks. The Seniors alerted my Freshmen Geography students about this and they promptly pooled all of their money and purchased enough Pepsi to make me lose. The pictures at the top show the results.

The two guys who made the Coke/Pepsi vids were the ones who dyed my hair. They took lots of footage of the process and so when they compile their documentary I'll be sure to post it.

For those of you who are actually enjoying all of these videos you're in luck. In honor of the Writer's Guild strike in the states, and due to a lack of The Office episodes to watch, our VCS video class has decided to begin filming our own version. It will be called Der Office (the O will have the umlaut, two dots, over it). It should be great fun. Hopefully I'll have it up by Friday or Saturday.