New Website Launched!

Hi, kids. Mike Giusti here hijacking the blog while Paul is off to the Magic Castle Swap Meet.

I am happy to be the one to announce that the new Hocus Pocus web site is now up and running with tons of new features for you to enjoy. You can now do things like click on a product image, and its larger image and details (along with video features) will load immediately underneath rather than load in a separate page! All the product links are now fully featured on the left and right-handed columns for those with low resolution monitors, and there's even a Best Sellers feature on the right hand side if you are interested in seeing what products are flying off the shelves! Soon, we'll be adding even more new features to make your virtual shopping experience more enjoyable and easier than ever before!

Also, since there are many products that go up on the site on a daily basis (many of which are not listed on the front of the site), you may wish to choose to sign up for daily updates of ALL the products that are added daily. Simply sign up under the NEW FEATURE section on the right-hand column inside the shop and you'll be all set. And, of course, you can opt out at any time if you wish.

Now, having said that, as with all new software, there may be a few glitches here and there, and nobody knows about them until someone stumbles upon it randomly. So, if this happens to you, please let us know by emailing the situation to support@hocus-pocus.com, and we'll get on the problem immediately.


Shoot Ogawa

I am also happy to inform you that Shoot Ogawa has selected Hocus Pocus to carry his line of products, so for your convenience, I have created a new product category called "Shoot Ogawa" (I know, I know, I'm so smart) so you can find all of the products there. More will be added as the day progresses, so keep refreshing your browsers and remember to sign up for those daily updates. Thank you, Shoot.



Also, Hocus Pocus was able to obtain Real Ghost by Christopher Taylor! Ever since the MindVention 2006, the underground buzz on Real Ghost has been phenomenal! Now, it can be yours! Check it out along with the video clip HERE!



On the home front, I am happy to report that MAGIC Live was a great success last weekend in Campbell, California. I want to thank each and every one of you who took time out of your weekend schedule and joined Ray Lum, Marshal Magoon and myself for what I feel was a tremendously entertaining show for the entire family. Ray was kind enough to send the below photos of the show:


The Medicated Magician makes his appearance

Performing the Lumball Machine


Getting as far away from the spectator as possible as her ring vanishes


Ray swindles the crowd


Performing Cardiographic for an enthusiastic spectator


Ray makes sure a spectator doesn't lose his head


Performing an impossible prediction with a spectator and the audience


Ray closes his show by making it snow


Curtain call


Signing autographs after the show

After the late show and packing up all of Ray's and my props, I did something that wasn't very smart: I drove 3 hours home at 1:30 AM! The next morning (afternoon), I felt like I was run over by a freight train, so I took some time on Sunday to recuperate before traveling north again on Wednesday to perform in Berkeley, California for the Bayer Corporation. After an hour of walkaround magic, it was my turn to take the stage and the crowd gathered and had a great time. At one point, I had a spectator laughing so hard on stage, he was actually crying! At first, I thought I had actually made him cry, but he was just having a lot of fun. Whew! Wish I had a picture of that...

Paul will be back next week to tell you all about the Magic Castle Swap Meet! Until then, have a great weekend!

Mike

1 More Week

I know we talked about the launch of our new website in last week's blog. We anticipated launching it this week, but we needed to clear out a couple of the cobwebs and glitches before it goes live, SO... look forward to the website being launched sometime in the next week. It is very important for us to have everything letter perfect for you in order to make your experience at Hocus Pocus safe, secure and fun! We appreciate all your anticipatory emails, comments and suggestions, and are glad to see that you are just as excited as we are about the next step in the evolution of the Hocus Pocus website.



The Big Fresno Fair

The Big Fresno Fair started up again on Wednesday, and Betty, Max, and I took off early to go see what it had to offer this year. My good friends, Tom Jorgenson and Terry Godfrey both are performing magic this year at the fair, and Tom has three different attractions: a kid's karaoke, Picasso's Place (a kid's arts and crafts area), and his Mr. Wizard Magic Show. Terry is performing walkaround magic on the open air stage and does the best Magic Mouse pitch you will ever see!

After catching their shows and visiting, we went on to the Exhibit Center and then onto Betty's favorite attraction, soft tacos! Next, Max went for some cheesy nachos, and I had bottled water. Yum. Yep, I'm still keeping a close eye on my food intake, especially at places like the fair. After everyone had their fill, we hit the midway, and Max wanted to win a huge "Ball of Money." All I can explain is that it is a large bouncing ball covered in a cloth printed with money on it. Hilarious. Now, you might be asking yourself, "Why would he be wanting this?" The answer: he's still a kid, and he had to have it. So, we went from game to game, trying our best to win this thing. After about $65.00 and several failed attempts Max finally won it! Now, I completely understand that the actual cost of this thing is probably about $5.00, but I guess it was the thrill of winning it that really counted. Max proudly carried this with him for the remainder of the night around the fairgrounds, all the while being stopped by people asking him what it was and where he got it. You just can't put a price on the thrill of winning.

One last stop at the Cinnamon Roll booth (you can smell it for miles) because as everyone knows, you absolutely cannot go to the fair without having one of these delicious cinnamon rolls. Except for me, of course, and man, what a battle it was! My mouth was watering the entire time I watched Betty and Max eat theirs. As if it wasn't enough fun, we're going back tomorrow. Who knows, maybe Max will win another giant "Ball O' Money!"


The Magic Castle Swap Meet

Next Saturday is the Magic Castle Swap Meet, which I will be attending. I'll be leaving Friday to meet up with the gang at Musso & Frank's to have lunch, see the show that evening, and then check out all the wares that the vendors have to offer, because you never know what you're going to find there. Even if you don't find anything, it always great to see old friends at the Castle and visit with them. If you're there, as always, please stop and say hello.

Speaking of Swap Meets, the date for the 2nd Annual Hocus Pocus Swap Meet & Get-Together has been set, so mark your calendars now for Saturday, January 19th and Sunday, January 20th! Performers and lecturers already booked are:


David Regal


Daryl


Shoot Ogawa


Losander


Mark & Nani Wilson

And more to be announced...

Last time, we had almost 300 people in attendance. There were lots of vendors, and a great time was had by all! We'll have some special announcements as the weeks go by, so stay tuned. We guarantee that this next year's affair will be even bigger and better than before! If you are interested in participating as a vendor to sell your used magic or attend, please contact Tony Blanco or myself toll-free at 800-407-4040 or 559-266-5150 or email sales@hocus-pocus.com.

Thanks to everyone who has signed up to be pals on MySpace. You can check out Hocus Pocus' MySpace page here if you haven't already joined:

http://www.myspace.com/hocuspocusmagic

And if you haven't already done so, make sure to check out Mike Giusti's new podcast, Trick Talk, which is rapidly gaining popularity on iTunes by going here:

http://tricktalk.mypodcast.com/

So that about wraps it up for this week. Maybe Mike will grace us with his presence next Friday on the blog. In the meantime, wish Max good luck as he tries his luck trying to win his next treasure at the Fair. I can smell the cinnamon rolls already...

Until next time,

Paul

MySpace or Yours?

Hocus Pocus goes MySpace!



Well, it's finally happened. It was only a matter of time before Hocus Pocus completely embraced 21st Century technology and joined one of the largest online networks on Earth! That's right; Hocus Pocus is now a part of MySpace! Check us out here and add us as your new pal:

http://www.myspace.com/hocuspocusmagic

There, you can check out some very cool features, including a nice slideshow of new pictures of the shop, guests of ours from the Lecture Series, and much more!

Question: How do you produce a porcupine?

Answer: Very carefully.

At least, that's what our friend Greg Carter says. Greg is a professional magician hailing all the way from Tennessee and while traveling through California performing school shows with his Urban Safari Magic Act, he stopped by Hocus Pocus for a visit and to pick up some supplies. Check out the picture of Tony, Greg, and his prickly friend. Yes, that's Tony holding up one of the quills. Ouch.



A Brand New Look

After an entire year, our brand new web site will be ready to launch next week. Some of you may have noticed this past week, that our new website was actually up and functional for a short period of time. We've done this to test and re-test before launching at 100%. I think you'll not only enjoy the new look of the website, but the new features and ease of navigation will make your viewing and shopping experience more pleasurable.

One of the new features I'm extremely excited about is a "New Product Update." This will enable you to have the hottest and newest products that are put on the site daily delivered to you in email format, keeping you abreast of the latest and greatest on a daily basis! When the new site launches, there will be a New Feature option on the right-hand column. Simply enter your email address, and you will receive daily email updates automatically. It will list all the newly added products for that day with direct links to each and every one of them. And if you'd like, you can opt-out at any time. Cool, huh? I thought you'd like that...

When the new site goes live, any of your comments and suggestions are always appreciated. We've put a lot of thought and effort into this new site and worked with some of the coolest programmers and site designers on Earth. However, ultimately, it is your input and suggestions that help us make the web site the best it can be.

Magic Live

In other news, Ray Lum, Mike Giusti, and Marshall Magoon have been working extremely hard over the last three months to bring you one of the best family-friendly shows in California, and you can see them live next Saturday, October 6th! There will be two shows: Matinee show at 3:00 PM and Evening Show at 8:00 PM. Tickets are on sale as we speak, and they are going fast, so don't miss out on this very exciting and entertaining show exclusively in California's beautiful Bay Area!


The Heritage Theatre in beautiful Cambpell, California


Heritage Theatre Marquee

Remember, there is only 1 week left to purchase tickets for Magic Live, Volume 1: Magic Without Camera Tricks Saturday, October 6th. This promises to be one of the best shows of the year! For more information, check out the link:

http://www.ci.campbell.ca.us/heritagetheatre/events.htm



I'm continually overwhelmed by the numbers of those who have downloaded our new podcast, Trick Talk, and Mike is working feverishly to finish the next podcast, hopefully, by this afternoon. The numbers are staggering, and with the help of iTunes, it is growing in popularity on a daily basis! Who would'a thunk it? We've gotten a lot of requests for reviews at tricktalk@hocus-pocus.com and Mike is working with some well-known performers for special interviews. This has become quite the project.

Are Two Heads Really Better Than One?


Bobby Reynolds sitting at my desk with a Pickled Punk

World-famous circus sideshowman, Bobby Reynolds thinks that two heads are better than one. Bobby has performed and traveled with his sideshow all over the world and now resides right here in Fresno, California. We always enjoy his visits as he regales us with his many experiences and stories. He is featured in several major books on the subject, including "Secrets of the Sideshow," by Joe Nickell and "Shocked and Amazed" by James Taylor. I wish we could put his life on film; it would be an interesting story to say the least. He truly has been everywhere and done everything!

As Summer ends and Fall begins, the weather is a little more crisp today with slight winds and breezes carrying the tunes of the Big Fresno Fair, which comes next week. Speaking of Fall, the holidays are now upon us, so it's time to begin thinking about those holiday effects you'd like to add to your repertoire.

So there you have it, another week gone by filled with many happenings here at Hocus Pocus! Have a fantastic weekend, and don't forget to watch for the launch of our new web site next week!

Until next time,

Paul

And The Pod People Came

Trick Talk with Mike Giusti

Wow! I can't tell you how excited we are about the overwhelming response we've received regarding our new feature, the Trick Talk Podcast with Mike Giusti. From what we can see, over 250 people downloaded the podcast in the first day alone! This does not include the stats from iTunes, where you can also sign up and receive automatic updates for free HERE! Mike is also receiving lots of emails and comments along with requests for additional reviews on other product. This is exactly the kind of response we want, and we're excited to continue bringing you more podcasts and reviews soon. There are already 2 podcasts up and running, and you can download them HERE as well. As I'm typing this, Mike is currently reviewing the newest group of products for the 3rd installment to be released shortly. Your comments, suggestions, and questions are always welcome, and you can post them as comments on the Trick Talk home page or email them to Mike at tricktalk@hocus-pocus.com. This is yet another exciting addition to the arsenal of features available to every Hocus Pocus customer.

In other news, I just got an email from our good friend and customer, Hiro Nitta, who performed his act for Stars of Magic 2007 in August. As you can see from the photos, his act is very colorful and was extremely well-received by the audience in attendance. Congratulations, Hiro!


Hiro Nita performing at the Stars of Magic in Tuscon, Arizona


A spectacular finale

Just talked to a jet-lagged Robert Baxt who just returned from England where he performed for the International Stars of Magic Show and lectured along with USA's own Johnny and Pam Thompson. Although Robert is only here for a couple of days before he jets off to Hawaii on Monday, he will be writing and producing a magic show along with Jody Baron. That Robert! He never stays in one place too long before he's off to the next endeavor...


International Stars of Magic Poster


Backstage with the cast and crew of the International Stars of Magic

Speaking of live shows, there are only 2 weeks left to purchase tickets for Mike Giusti, Ray Lum, and Marshall Magoon's Magic Live, Volume 1: Magic Without Camera Tricks Saturday, October 6th. For more information, check out the link:

http://www.ci.campbell.ca.us/heritagetheatre/events.htm



If you have any photos or information of where you are performing as well, let us know; we'd love to showcase you here on the blog. We like hearing from you and receiving your photos.

How would you like to have $1000.00 to use for a shopping spree here at Hocus Pocus? Well, one lucky person is going to get the opportunity. Go to the front page of our web site for updates and special announcements regarding this contest, and start dreaming of how you would spend that $1000.00!

On the home front, this weekend is my mother's 75th birthday. We'll all be going to my sister's house Saturday night to celebrate. For those of you keeping count, YES -- Max is still washing his car every single day. I hope there's still a paint job on it in the coming months. Although, I have to say, he knows how to wash and detail a car; he did a better job than the car wash on Betty's car and my car!

Have yourself a great weekend.

Until next time,

Paul

Pod People

No, I'm not referring to the newest remake of Invasion of the Body Snatchers with Nicole Kidman, I am referring to our newest feature created especially for you! In this day and age of Internet purchasing, it is difficult to make informed decisions about products without actually having them in your hand. That's where Mike Giusti comes in with his brand new podcast, "Trick Talk."

With almost 20 years of performing experience and over 10 years working with us here at Hocus Pocus (Mike is the graphics designer and web master supreme for Hocus Pocus, so almost 100% of these products comes across his desk), Mike has my complete confidence choosing between what is good and what is not so good as he has seen his fair share of gems and bombs (he calls them dogs), and he holds nothing back with his genuine and truthful revelations on this podcast. Many times, I defer to Mike and his honest opinion before we choose which products to represent or not. I value highly his opinion as it is always black and white with him. He has the same "call-it-as-he-sees-it" attitude as I do, so I know his opinion is subjective. Whenever his schedule allows, he will be updating the podcast as frequently as possible (hopefully once every week or so) and telling you all about the products that have caught his eye or those on which he's rolled his eyes. Nothing will be held back, and it's all done in the entertaining, zany fashion for which Mike is known.

We want you to know that with your best interests at heart, the candid opinions expressed on this podcast are our own, and that while you may not always agree with us, hopefully it will help you make an educated decision before spending your hard-earned dollars. At Hocus Pocus, we have your best interests at heart, and we are not beholden to suppliers and creators as some other reviewers may be.

Appearing soon for subscription on iTunes, we want to give you the heads-up on the very first podcast ready for immediate download simply by clicking the image below. Be sure to bookmark that page for regular updates.


Trick Talk

If you have images disabled on your web browser or phone, simply click the below URL:

http://tricktalk.mypodcast.com/

Another bird, another cage. Shades of Blackstone and Blackstone Jr.

I can't tell you how excited I was this week to receive one of Harry Blackstone Jr.'s tuxedo's as worn for the cover of Magic Manuscript:



This is the creme colored tuxedo that Blackstone Jr. wore on his national tour leading into his Broadway show. Special thanks go to my friend, Joe Long, for helping me obtain this very treasured artifact for my personal collection. Currently, I am having two full-length cases constructed for the Blackstone Jr. memorabilia, including an original Vanishing Birdcage that was built by Harry Blackstone Sr.'s brother, Pete. This cage was used by Blackstone Sr. and then later handed down to Blackstone Jr. The other display case will house the Doug Henning costumes and other memorabilia. Hopefully, in the next two weeks, the project will be finished and I'll be able to share pictures with you on the blog.


The original Blackstone Vanishing Birdcage

7 Days & Counting

Exactly 7 days ago, we picked up Max's car, and I'd like to report that every single day since, Max has washed that car with much gusto! Now, mind you, we've only driven it around the block a couple of times since it has come home, but he is still washing it daily. He is in a panic, because he is going to the coast with a friend today and tomorrow, and he's hoping his car will be as spic and span as it is now. He's been conning me to wash his car while he's away, but I don't think that's how I want to spend my weekend...

So if you already aren't, become a pod person today, listen to Mike's Trick Talk Podcast over the weekend and send any review requests, suggestions and ideas to Mike to support@hocus-pocus.com.

Have a great weekend.

Until next time,

Paul

The Party May Be Over...

The party may be over but the celebration continues. Thanks to Mike for taking over the blog last week as I took some time to be with my family. I made it through my 52nd birthday with flying colors, and honestly, it isn't all that bad... It was nice having 5 days off doing just what I wanted to do, how I wanted to do it, when I wanted to do it. When I returned to work on Tuesday, I couldn't believe all the nice emails waiting for me in my inbox wishing me a happy birthday. Thanks to all of you for your birthday wishes via email and cards. It was extremely thoughtful and much appreciated.


FreaKey

No, that's not Mike's nickname; that's the name of one of the hottest items to come out this year. As many of you know, there have been many hitches and delays with this product reaching the market. I'm happy to tell you that our first shipment arrived and left the same day (Wednesday), so those of you who were the first to order FreaKey should be receiving yours shortly, if you haven't already done so. I'm sure you'll all be very pleased with this purchase as it could very well be the perfect walk around item to have with you at all times. The props are natural, not suspicious, the handling is simplistic, and the accompanying instructional/performance DVD is very thorough and of the highest quality. Check it out HERE!


Hobson Egg Bag

Other exciting news: we just received our shipment of the Hobson Egg Bag well ahead of schedule, and it, too, has exceeded our expectations. In addition to a beautifully handmade egg bag by Jeff's Wife, you receive 2 special eggs, a mini-DVD and complete and total access to the special web site that hosts even more features (including a live performance of Jeff performing this hilarious routine on stage). This is a golden opportunity to purchase a seasoned pro's pet effect that has garnered him a reputation as one of the funniest and most creative performers of our day.


TOP SECRET:

Today we anxiously awaited our UPS truck to arrive as we were expecting a special package from Bob Kohler. We are sworn to secrecy and cannot reveal what it is, but I will tell you that this is a project that has been in the works for almost 2 years! I can tell you this: it is a hilarious routine from a well-known magician's act that I guarantee many of you have seen. When the prototype arrived, not only did it FAR exceed our expectations, Mike is still walking around making everyone laugh with it. Hopefully, I've peaked your interest. Stay tuned; we'll make the big announcement sometime in the next 30 days. If you are a stage, parlor or comedy magician, you are definitely going to want to get your hands on this golden egg!

So LOTS of things are happening around here, as you can see. In fact, I just spoke to Robert Baxt who spent all day yesterday at Disney Studios filming a commercial with Ellen DeGeneres for HBO, and he's off flying to England today for a magic performance and lecture appearance. Robert also informed me that he will be working backstage helping Carl Ballantine in this year's "It's Magic" show.

On the home front, yesterday we picked up Max's car after having a new rear window installed. We brought the car home and Max spent at least 2 hours washing it. I took him to Kragen Auto Supply and we purchased new window cranks. Max was out so late that he couldn't see what he was doing anymore; he had to finish the project this morning (where he promptly awoke at 6:00 AM to do so). When I took him to school this morning, he gazed longingly at the car as it disappeared in the distance. Tonight, he'll wash the car again. I hope there's paint left when he's done.

So that about wraps it up for this week. Have a great weekend and enjoy yourselves.

Until next time,

Paul

Happy Labor Day!

While the boss is away, the staff will... work! That's right; the only thing that has changed around here (since Paul took a couple of extra days to be with his family and celebrate his birthday) is the radio station. Everything else is, well, busy as usual with no end in sight, save for the weekend! Happy Birthday, Paul! And relax, would'ja?


MAGIC magazine celebrates 16 years of publication!

Speaking of birthdays, I want to take this brief opportunity to wish Stan Allen and his staff a wonderful birthday as well as they celebrate 16 years at MAGIC magazine! Wow! Can it be? 16 years already? I remember the very first issue that graced the magic store newsstand with David Williamson on the cover like it was yesterday! Anyhow, Happy Anniversary, Stan and staff! Job well done, and here's to many, many more years of a great publication to come!


The beautiful Shaver Lake

And speaking of the weekend (I know, I didn't), Happy Labor Day Weekend to you all. I have been looking forward to spending an extra day with my lovely girlfriend for a long time now, and our plans are to get out of these triple digit temperatures, cancel any gigs, and head to higher ground: Shaver Lake!



Also, make sure to tune in to the Magic Broadcast for my weekly radio show, the Mike on the Mic Show every Tuesday evening at 8:00 PM Pacific time for a fun-filled show, where we will be taking your submissions for your most embarrassing moments. Twice a year, it's time to share all those moments where things didn't go quite so right during your performances, and it's your chance not only to share, but to win some great prizes from the nice folks at Hocus Pocus. And believe, me, they are amazing prizes! There are a few ways to submit your Most Embarrassing Moment:

1. Email it to me at mike@magicalmayhem.com

2. Call it in live on the show on September 11th or 18th at 888-851-1534

First, second, and third place winners will be announced at the end of September 18th's show, and your prizes will be mailed to you absolutely free just for submitting your embarrassing moment. Cool, huh?

Oh, and if you are in the Bay Area on October 6th, stop by and see our show, Magic Live, Volume 1: No Camera Tricks, a show that Ray Lum, Marshall Magoon, and I are putting on at the Heritage Theatre in Campbell, California. Here are the details:


Magic Live, Volume 1: No Camera Tricks

Saturday October 6, 2007

Heritage Theatre
1 W. Campbell Avenue
Campbell, CA 95008

Two shows

Matinee: 3:00pm
Evening: 8:00pm

Tickets:

$25.00 in advance
$35.00 at the door
$15.00 Children under 12
$20.00 Senior

How to Purchase Tickets:

There are five ways to purchase tickets to Heritage Theatre performances: online, at the Box Office, by phone with Visa, MasterCard or Discover, by fax, or by mail. For more information about ticket sales, call (408) 866-2700 Tuesday-Friday between 9:00am and 5:30pm and Saturdays between 9:00am-1:00pm.

To purchase tickets online:

http://www.ci.campbell.ca.us/heritagetheatre/boxoffice.htm

Or at the box office:

Regular Box Office Hours
Tuesday-Friday from 9:00am-5:30pm
Saturdays from 9:00am-1:00pm
1 hour before Showtime

That about wraps it up for this week. I hope you all have a wonderful and well-rested Labor Day Weekend! Tune in next week, same bat time, same bat channel, where Paul makes his triumphant return from his birthday weekend!

Mike

52. UGH!

How can it be? It seemed like only yesterday I was a young man of 20 years of age. Now, in just a few days, I'll be 52 years-old. My collection of glasses grows by the year as bifocals are completely out of the question! Where has the time gone? I know this may sound like complaining to some of you, but I have to be very honest: I've had a hard time with birthdays since I turned 40. The old adage is true: The older you get, the faster time flies by. It really is true. Two weeks seemed like forever as a young kid, now two weeks fly by in what seems like a wink! Every year, it's the same; two weeks before my birthday, the depression sets in. There's no way to stop it; the day is coming, and just like the odometer in your car, that number rolls over, never to be seen again.


Notice the second pair of glasses on my desk? No bifocals for me. No, sir!

Realistically, however, for the first time in a looooong time, I've never felt better. I have a ton more energy than when I was at my heaviest weight, and I'm taking more time to be with my family and myself, which, as you grow older, finally takes the proper perspective. My hair's a little grayer (OK, it's ALL gray), but my wife says it makes me look distinguished. So, all in all, I guess I better get over it and accept the fact that the big day's almost here and buck up and enjoy it.

Speaking of taking more time, I'm going to be taking off early next week on Wednesday and not returning until the following Tuesday to enjoy the Labor Day holiday with my family and friends. I'm really looking forward to this time off, and everybody at the shop is taking bets that I won't be able to do it without showing up at the shop during that time. Joke's on them.

It's like a treasure hunt. Every day here at Hocus Pocus, we find new treasures from our network of suppliers and manufacturers. New items are the lifeblood of this industry, and there's hardly a day that goes by where they don't show up on our web site. Every day, we are striving to work harder to bring these new and exciting products to you to help spawn your creativity and get your juices flowing. I'm very fortunate to have the staff that I have here at Hocus Pocus; they are as dedicated as I am to providing the best customer service possible in an age where the term seems to have been forgotten or ignored. We have professional magicians on-hand to honestly and truthfully answer your questions about products, ideas, and helpful information for your act or routine. We're always interested in your input and your suggestions on how to make Hocus Pocus a better place to suit your needs. After all, without you, we would not exist for as long as we have.

It's hard to believe that Summer is almost over, and Fall and Winter is just around the corner. Pretty soon, we'll be playing Holiday music on the radio and in the shops at the mall. Probably right after Halloween! The reason I bring this up is because, as I said in a runaround way at the beginning of this, it is important to make the most of every day, because, before you know it, you'll wonder where all the time went.

So with all that, I guess I'll begin my breathing exercises in order to blow out all those candles on the cake.

Maybe Mike will be nice enough to take over the blog next week. Then you're all in trouble.

Have a great weekend.

Until next time,

Paul (another year older) Gross

All Moved In

Monday morning, bright and early saw Cole, Max, Betty and me heading to Moraga, California to move Cole back to school. It was quite the caravan; Cole in the U-Haul, Betty and Max in Cole's car, and me in mine. We arrived around noon and checked into our hotel, had a nice lunch, and then got back in the car and headed for San Francisco. The nice thing about Cole's school is that San Francisco is only 20 minutes away, so it's the perfect opportunity for Betty and me to go site seeing. Max wanted to go to Pier 39 to look around, so we made that our first stop. After that, we walked down Fisherman's Wharf where I happened upon an antique museum that featured coin operated machines as far back as the 1930s. Many of these used to be on display at the old Cliffhouse in San Francisco and are now owned by a private collector. And they all work perfectly. Admission is free to the museum and it is quite a sight! Filled with people of all ages, they were entranced while playing with the machines. One of my favorites was, of course, the Wizard Fortune Teller. Take a look:


You are greeted by Laughing Sal as you enter the museum


The Wizard Fortune Teller

After spending some time in the museum, we wandered farther down the Wharf and I should probably tell you that Max has been wanting a Nintendo Wii. I bet him $10.00 we'd find one there in the city, and I won the bet! A few stores down was a gaming store that had stacks of them for sale, and, of course, Max walked out with one. Next to Scoma's for dinner because no trip to San Francisco is complete without a meal there.


The famous San Francisco Scoma's

After dinner, we drove back to the hotel where Betty and I were both ready to do absolutely nothing but relax. Max and Cole, on the other hand, had other ideas as their attempt to hook up the Wii to the hotel's television set was something out of a comedy. Since the appropriate port was not available, all they could do was stew and fantasize until Cole realized his own TV was in the back of the U-Haul. You guessed it; they unpacked his TV, brought it into the hotel and proceeded to live in Wii heaven until the "Wii" hours of the morning. They stayed up so late, they overslept the next day. After packing the TV back into the U-Haul, we drove to St. Mary's and unpacked and got him settled into his new dorm room as the new Resident Assistant.


Max's new nemesis: the Nintendo Wii

Oh, and speaking of moving, my daughter, Renee just moved into her new apartment this week as well, and she absolutely loves it. Coincidentally, our very own Ken lives there as well, so she's in good company with Ken and his wife.

This week, Robert Baxt paid us a visit to put the finishing touches on his newest product that we'll be releasing very soon! It's always great when Robert visits; he and Mike talk Apple Mac products and he and I talk magic products until the day is done. Speaking of Mike, it looks like he has a very full weekend; he has a restaurant gig on Friday evening, a close-up walk-around gig on Saturday, a band gig on Saturday evening, and another restaurant gig on Sunday. If he comes to work riding his bike on Monday, I'll be shocked!

No more moving. No more traveling. Just rest and relaxation for me this weekend.

Until next week,

Paul

Back From The Beach.

A beautiful view of Carmel, California


The famous Cannery Row

Vacation's over and it's back to work for me. It was great to get away last week. We had a great time sitting on the sand, catching some rays, and just relaxing. The warmest it got was a mere 70 degrees, while here in Fresno, it got up to 108 degrees. While in that wonderful weather, we spent Saturday on the Boardwalk in Santa Cruz. We all had a great time, and my favorite was the Arcade. My family had a hard time pulling me away from the Deal/No Deal video game. I was like a kid again: completely out of control. I kept putting in tokens and getting back prize tickets. Finally, we gathered all the tickets (which seemed like thousands) and went to redeem them at the prize counter. All we got were two mini basketballs. Ouch. They probably only cost me around $200.00. LOL. Oh well, it was the fun of the game...


Katy's Place

Sunday, we got up early and drove into Carmel, California, where we enjoyed brunch at Betty's favorite restaurant, Katy's Place. If you ever go to Carmel, you must give Katy's Place a shot. It's small, but the food is phenomenal and plentiful. After everyone had their fill, we strolled down the street and did some shopping (no sign of Clint Eastwood, sorry to say) at the many shops. The first shop, Diggity Dog, a dog boutique, where we couldn't go away without getting something for our two dogs, Buddy and Mugsy. Afterwards, a little clothes shopping, and then we happened upon a really cool secret garden store. I don't know how we've never found this place before on our many trips to Carmel, but there it was, just inviting us in. It was just like a paradise in the middle of the hustle and bustle. While there, I purchased a brand new fountain for my back yard, which I'll be assembling and installing this weekend.

After shopping, we all jumped back into the car and went to Monterey, where more shopping was had by all. We had a nice dinner right on the ocean that evening, and back to the beach house for a good night's rest. We're already talking about our trip next year as the planning has already begun.

Back to School


St. Mary's College

This Monday, we load up the U-Haul and drive my oldest son, Cole, back to college. He has an R.A. position this year, which means he has his own private dorm room. No roommate. He's also excited to have his own kitchen, so he can cook his own meals. We'll be driving back on Tuesday afternoon where my good friend, Robert Baxt, will be arriving in Fresno at about the same time to join us for dinner. He'll be with us Tuesday and Wednesday on his way to the Bay Area for weekend performances. While he's here, we'll also be finalizing the details of his next release through Hocus Pocus, so stay tuned.

Speaking of back to school, Max will be starting his sophomore year of high school the week after. All he's done and talked about this year is his new car, and he's so excited to begin driving and showing it off to his friends and schoolmates. A week ago, he completed his first course in driver's training. To say he's anxious is an understatement.

Just got this note from Cody Fisher regarding a new project he's involved with David Copperfield. Take a look:

Question: What do you get when you cross the focus of an occupational hand therapist with the skills of an accomplished magician?

Answer: “Rehabracadabra!” more commonly know as Magic Therapy!

For the past 7 years Debbie and Cody Fisher have been using magic to create miracles for individuals with disabilities. Cody is a full time magician and his wife Debbie is an occupational therapist and certified hand therapist (CHT). Together they have been using magic as a new therapeutic modality.

Debbie and Cody just returned from Las Vegas where they were asked to be guest speakers at the 25th anniversary convention for David Copperfield’s “Project Magic”. They lectured to magicians and therapist from around the world on the benefits of using magic as a therapeutic treatment technique. Be sure to check out the July issue of Advance Magazine, Debbie and Cody will be the cover story for the special "Hand Therapy Issue". The article will be about Debbie & Cody's work with using magic in the outpatient clinic setting. This concept originated with David Copperfield’s “Project Magic” and Debbie and Cody have taken it to a whole new level! For more information on magic therapy please visit www.DebbieFisher.org.


Cody Fisher, David Copperfield, & Debbie Fisher MS OTR, CHT

Congratulations to Cody and Debbie for doing a wonderful job giving back to the community as they have done for the past 7 years.

So that about catches us up. On a personal note, I want to thank you for keeping us as busy as we've been here at the shop; we like it when we have to run, run, run. Plus, it's good exercise.

Until next time,

Paul