UTEP Men and Women In 2012 Thanksgiving Tournaments

Great to see the UTEP women basketball team off to a great 4-0 start this year but sad to see the injuries to Jenzel Nash and senior center Kristine Vitola.  The Lady Miners will be playing in the Junkanoo Jam in the Bahamas this Thanksgiving and should be able to make some noise in their bracket if they can work together to help offset those big injuries.  The Miners will play Texas Southern on Thanksgiving Day at 2pm and then face Pac-12 power Arizona at 5pm on Friday.  Texas Southern is 1-2 on the year and Arizona is 4-0.

UTEP Women Playing In Bahamas

The UTEP men travel to Orlando, Florida this week to play in the Old Spice Classic.  The men will face Oklahoma on Thanksgiving day at 5pm then will meet the winner of Gonzaga and Clemson the following day.  The tournament should be a great chance for the young Miners to pick up some great experience and hopefully come away with a few quality wins that could come in handy come tournament selection time. I have really been impressed with the play of the young Miner Chris Washburn.  This kid can flat out play. There is no doubt in my mind that  Tim Floyd will get these guys clicking and ready for Conference USA play in January.

Tourney Link

UTEP vs Tulane in Key Game For Both Football Programs

Taking Jess and the kids to Sun Bowl stadium thus evening to watch the Miners battle the Green Wave in a big Conference USA game for both teams.  Tulane was just plain awful the first part of the season but has played much better of late.  We all are aware of Utep' s struggles on offense this season and are wondering if tonight the offense will finally match the effort of their defense.  I think Mike Price is a good man and has done great things for the university but agree with most El Pasoans that this should most definitely be his last year. Eager to see who starts at Qb for the Miners this week and how many fans will show up hoping for a victory instead of a heartache.  CoOn a side note, I am really curious to see if fans will spend about $8.50 for a beer and if they will refrain from littering the field with their expensive brew if Miner offense starts to stink up the joint.  Should be an exciting evening and hopefully a sweet Homecoming for Mike Price and his Miners.

Monday Morning Video

Hope this video adds a little joy to your Monday.  These prison guys have a future on "So You Think You Can Dance", when they make parole.

Watch "CPDRC Inmates Gangnam Style (2012)" on YouTube

UTEP Women's Basketball 2012-2013 Season

The season for the UTEP Women's basketball team is right around the corner and expectations are once again sky high for this year.  The women are looking to continue their dominance in Conference USA and hope to ride the leadership of Jr. Kayla Thornton. The Miners are ranked second in the CUSA preaseason poll behind a tough Tulane team. 

Our family tries to attend as many women's games during the season.  Ticket prices are incredibly cheap and the action on the court is second to none. 

Good luck to Coach Adams and her team this season.  Go Miners!

Walking Dead Season Premiere

 

Have a tough decision to make between watching the Texans beat the Packers or catching the season premiere of what is one of the best shows on the planet.  I have become a huge Walking Dead fan and have looked forward to the season premiere more than Miner fans have looked forward to basketball season.  Hope the season doesn't dissapoint  and the Zombie action is fast and furious.  Just to show that watching this show isn't pointless check out the leadership lessons you can learn from surviving a zombie apocalypse.

Are you a Walking Dead Fan?  Any predictions on how the series will play out?  Who will be the first to become a zombie happy meal?  Love to hear your opinions.

YISD Fall Fine Arts Festival

Jazzy had a great time performing at the YISD Fine Arts Festival yesterday afternoon.  Several students from YISD elementary schools participated in the first annual festival.  Ysleta deserves a big round of applause for organizing  the event and for showcasing the talent of their students. 

Chalk the Block 2012-2013

 

Great event this weekend that just seems to be getting bigger and better every single year.  Tons of talented artists and a great family atmosphere.

   Check out their site for more info.
 Chalk The Block website

Summer Theatre in El Paso

Looking at the theatre calender in El Paso for the month of July you will find tons of shows to satisfy any theatre appetite.

Jess and I had the pleasure of watching Avenue Q last month on the Campus of El Paso Community College at Transmountain.  The show had us laughing from start to finish and we left the theatre that evening impressed with the nice facility and talented actors and technicians that call it their home.  Director Keith Townsend has done a fine job in resurrecting this top notch theatre program.
 
Digging around I found a few other shows that we are hoping to catch this month.  Hope this info is helpful to you in your search for a great night of theatre entertainment.

Spring Awakening at EPCC

Spring Awakening” —July 26-29. Winner of 8 Tony Awards including the awards for Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical, Best Original Score. With a ravishing rock score by Duncan Sheik, this brave new musical restores the mystery and thrill to the shattering transformation that stirs in each soul, sometime around age 13. Directed by Keith Townsend.
Transmountain Campus Forum Theatre on Hwy 54 (Diana exit). Showtimes are 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday. Proceeds benefit EPCC Performance Studies student scholarships. Admission: $15 ($10 non-EPCC students/military; $7 EPCC students/staff and seniors). Tickets may be reserved at the Forum Box Office at 831-5056.
No one under age 7 admitted.

Metropolis at UTEP

"Metropolis" -- The UTEP Dinner Theatre will stage the musical version of the landmark sci-fi silent film through July 22. Showtimes are 7 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays, and 2:30 p.m. Sundays (no meal). Full-price tickets range from $24 to $40, depending on the day. Discounts are available for children, students, and UTEP faculty, staff and Alumni Association members. 747-6060, academics.utep.edu/udt

‘42nd Street’ — The El Paso Independent School District’s Fine Arts Department presents its 27th annual musical production at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, July 25-28, at Coronado High School’s Ross Capshaw Theatre, 100 Champions Place. Based on the novel by Bradford Ropes, this swinging musical features music by Harry Warren, lyrics by Al Dubin and book by Michael Stewart and Mark Bramble. Tickets: $5 ($3 students, seniors and military). Information: 760-8520.




Ruddigore

‘Ruddigore’ — The Gilbert and Sullivan Company of El Paso celebrates its 43rd season with the supernatural comic opera (aka “The Witch’s Curse”) at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, July 27-28, Chamizal National Memorial, 800 S. San Marcial. Tickets: $12 ($10 students, seniors and military). Information: 591-6210 or GandSelpaso.org. Sir Despard Murgatroyd is a man under pressure. He has inherited a witch’s curse forcing him to commit a crime a day or die in agony. So it’s a huge relief when shy Robin Oakapple is revealed as his long-lost elder brother – true inheritor of the curse.
day.






‘Alice in Wonderland’ – El Paso Playhouse, 2501 Montana, hosts their stage version of the Lewis Carroll classis June 29-July 21. Showtimes are 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. Directed by Stephanie Ortega. Tickets: $10 ($8 seniors, $7 military/students with ID; $5 students under 18). Information: 532-1317,elpasoplayhouse.com.

Alice at the El Paso Playhouse

El Paso Upcoming Running Events

Decided it was time I started to hit the pavement and run as far as my old legs could take me.  My first 5K will be next Saturday at Ascarate park.  I don't think I am 100% ready but don't want my lack of training to be an excuse for never getting started. 
Here is a list of  a few of the races  being held in El Paso in the next few weeks:

EPWU Run For Mission 5k
7/21/12
Ascarate Park
$1.00 parking fee per car
Race starts at 7:30 am
Fees:  $25 after July 14
Packet pickup at Up and Running, 3233 N. Mesa from 11am-6 pm
http://www.epwu.org/run
Information:
Marisela Barcenas 915.594.5517

Child Crisis Center of El Paso Trot for Tots 5K CHALLENGE 5K Walk and Competitive Run Location -Planet Fitness-5700 N. Mesa 8:00 A.M. Saturday, July 28,2012

ANCLA 5k Run and Fun
1 mile fun walk/5k competitive run
Saturday, August 4, 2012
7:30 AM
Album Park
To register for these events or for more info check out raceadventuresunlimited.com/

Would love to hear any suggestions for what I should add to my running music tracks that will keep me motivated on my runs.  Hope to see you put there next Saturday.  I'll be the one lying on the stretcher at the finish line. 

Be Brave and take your kids to see this film.

This afternoon Stevo, Jazzy, and I decided to beat the El Paso heat by catching a movie in a nice air-conditioned theatre.

Stevo and I had our hearts set on watching the new Spiderman movie but Jazzy wanted to catch something a little less boring and was happy when we missed the starting time for our movie.  We decided to buy tickets to Brave and came out of the theatre pleasantly surprised.

Brave is a great movie with a strong message about family, love, destiny, and inner strength. Jazzy teared up towards the end of the movie and let out a big sigh of relief when the heroine, Merida, saved her mother from the curse she herself had placed on her. 

I am really glad we missed Spiderman and caught this film instead. The short film La Luna that was shown before Brave was also a nice little treat. I strongly recommend this film for all dads and their daughters (and sons for that matter). We all give Brave two big thumbs up. Would like to know if you have any must see family movies this summer. Please feel free to leave a comment below. Thanks for reading.

Watch "Brave Trailer" on YouTube

Watch "Pixar's La Luna Movie Clip "Shooting Star" Official 2012 [HD]" on YouTube

Alice opens this weekend at the El Paso Playhouse

What do you get when you throw a tea party where some of the guests include a mad hatter, an angry Queen, a hyper hare and a charming girl named Alice?  You get a great show for the entire family at the El Paso Playhouse. 

Alice opens this weekend and will run thru July 21.  The talented  young cast and crew have been working hard during rehearsals to bring the world of wonderland to life.  I am proud to say that my son was fortunate to land a part in this production and will be playing the part of Tweedledee. It is great too see many new faces on stage  helping to kick off a new season.

It has been amazing to watch how the El Paso community has come together to help director Stephanie Ortega's vision come to life.  The cast and crew along with parent volunteers worked tirelessly to create  wonderland. Ms. Ortega has done a wonderful job in handling all the details and issues involved in putting on a quality theatrical production. 

If you want to spend an entertaining  evening with your family I strongly encourage you to come out to the El Paso Playhouse to catch Alice.  You are sure to have a magical evening.

Alice
El Paso Playhouse
2501 Montana
Tickets are $1O for adults
$7 for students
Showtimes are 8 pm Fri. and Sat.  and 2 pm on Sunday
Call   915 532-1317 for more

Lady Ranger Basketball Camp

Our Lady Ranger Basketball Team will be hosting a basketball camp this week for girls 8 years old thru 8th grade.

The camp will begin at 9:00 am and will end at 11:30.  Cost for the three day camp is $15 dollars.  All campers will receive a camp shirt. If any child cannot pay for the camp they will not be turned away.  We want to be able to provide a quality camp experience for any child who wants to learn the game of basketball.

If you have any questions you can contact me at 915 667-3855 or at ssolis3@yisd.net.