Exit, Pursued By A Dragon: My Video Directorial Debut, Take One

/ Ally Bean

Keeping in mind that I’m stuck at home now because of a Winter Storm Warning [or maybe it’s a Level One Snow Emergency at this point], I give you the following…

Some days you slay the dragon, other days you befriend it.

I’m nothing if not good at entertaining myself with goofy little projects. Blame it on my curiosity and a creative spirit and a lonely only childhood that taught me to make my own fun. Thus as an adult, who just happens to write a personal blog, I’ve no shame when it comes to trying new things here– and making obscure references*.

This is especially true when there’s a potential source of flapdoodle and twaddle sitting in our family room while waiting to be discovered.

Hence I give you the following 18 second silent video of our Christmas Dragon** who never got packed away at the end of the season this year. Instead he’s been lounging on an outdoor swivel dining chair that is, for reasons too complicated to go into, currently residing in the corner of the family room.

Clearly the dragon looks good sitting on the chair: you might say he’s a natural. In fact, in a moment of pure genius complete kookiness I realized I could make my first [and only?] action video, thereby showcasing my directorial skills and testing the waters to see whether Christmas Dragon could be a regular*** on this blog.

In other words, tell me if you think he has star potential.

* The title of this post is alluding to William Shakespeare’s famous stage direction in The Winter’s Tale.

** I’m sad to say that our Christmas Dragon has no official stage name. Polite suggestions welcome, but he is not magical so don’t even go there.

*** Years ago I occasionally featured a star critter named Fuzzy the Squirrel [here and here and here] who, may he RIP, annoyed & entertained in equal measure.

168 thoughts on “Exit, Pursued By A Dragon: My Video Directorial Debut, Take One”

    • Marian, thank you! I believe if I can’t fly my freak flag here on this blog, then what’s the point? That is especially true when there’s a dragon in the next room and I’m snowed in.

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  7. He’s too cute to be a psycho! Your title reminds me of an old cartoon character named Snagglepuss, who always bugged out of a troubling scene with the remark, “Exit, stage left!”

    I look forward to the sequel!

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  14. Google Pluto the talking dog. Think talking dragon. That’s a challenge for your next video! Good luck with the snow. I am mildly amused that you have a level 1 snow warning but I did get that the infrastructure and the traffic and the houses aren’t constructed for something like that. I love snow. Go outside and make a snow dragon! Google that as well. We have a couple of 6′ high and 20′ long ones this year in the city near my home.

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    • bernieLynne, now that you mention it I remember Pluto, sort of. Will do as you suggest so that I can make an even better dragon video next time. And maybe a snow dragon today!

      Yes, we live in a region where 1″ of snow can send people into a tizzy. Z-D and I grew up farther north so it doesn’t phase us. That being said, not all communities clear their roads so driving can be more treacherous than you might expect.

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  16. Although he is red and green, I do not feel that he has a Christmas vibe. You could have him out year-round. The suspense I felt as I waited for him to do something or even speak!!… but then I saw your note that it is a “silent” video. You can go in so many different directions from here. I hope he will always be kind and sweet…

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    • Ellen D, you know Zen-Den, my husband, said the exact same thing as you wrote. He doesn’t feel that Drags, as Z-D calls him, has a Christmas vibe.

      This is my first cell phone video attempt at doing something that involves a *stage hand* while shooting the scene. Despite what some commenters have said, I think this dragon is kind and sweet, too. I rather like his inability to sit up on his own.

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  17. He looks like a ‘Pete’ to me. Not a ‘Peter’, though. He’s very cute and seems to be the friendly type, who would help a person change a tire if that were needed and if only his arms were not quite so short.

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    • J, Pete is a good name possibility. Thank you. Made me laugh about his short arms. He doesn’t sit up on his own either, which is probably why he was on sale for $10 when I bought him at Costco years ago.

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    • Kari, I’m going with HE because that’s how we’ve always thought of him. When I bought him at Costco there were girl dragons who were pink + purple– and there were boy dragons who were red + green. As for making him some clothes, if by that you mean finding some used kids clothes at Goodwill– sure, I could do that.

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  23. “we all need more Christmas” 24/7 so don’t let his holiday orientation bias his use as an actor!
    🙂
    Oh and “I see the strings! I see the strings!” As a kid I was always the one to try to find the ‘invisible’ strings on how special affects were done back in the day – so, sorry, couldn’t hold back!
    Really fun and now you can say nameless dragon made a grand entrance – what next?

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  24. After shoveling the way out of the last ten inches of snow, I was delighted to discover your directorial debut and your charming dragon. While I’m not sure this is his name, I do know he wouldn’t mind be recognized as Grando, which is, of course, an excellent descriptive as well as an anagram of dragon. And lucky you, having a fire-breathing dragon can come in handy during snow emergencies.

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    • Deborah, oh your name for him is brilliant. I shall let him know about it and see if he likes it. He, of course, will have the final say about his stage name. I know that many dragons are fire-breathing but so far this guy hasn’t shown the inclination to do so. Will advise you of any changes in that department should they arise.

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  25. Oh your dragon is simply GORGEOUS! My apologies for shouting 😉

    I think he shows every likelihood of become a great star. Could you find him a small pair of glasses, perhaps even pince nez? Then he’d fit right in with the spectacled vibe…

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    • Deb, yours is a great idea. Yes, yes– he needs spectacles. Considering I made this video in a moment of whimsy, I didn’t contemplate how he could be dressed. Now the ideas are coming to me. Thanks.

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    • Deb, ha! Good one. I tell you the camera loves that dragon, so there could be lots of close-ups in his future. I like your name for him. It could work, should I continue producing little videos in which he stars.

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    • Susan, yours are nice touches to his look and charm. Should I make another video I’ll be sure to try to add them. Of course the big question is: will I ever make another video? This one was brought to you by the muse of spontaneity. 🤔

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  30. The silent turning-eeeeh. It was scary! I’m no good with names–Big Red? I have friends who have mascots and put them in various places for cute photos, but he’s kind of large for that. Sorry, Big Red!

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    • Margaret, Big Red is big and red, so there’s a logic to your name idea. He’s not all that easy to position because he tips over easily so thinking he may stay around the house. He’s more than a mascot!

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  33. I watched a video of someone’s goats running through the barn in slow motion this morning on FB and I could NOT stop laughing, so I am joining you in admitting to having a serious case of the sillies. So funny watching Mr. Fire Breath spin slowly to greet all of us.

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    • Ernie, nicely said: “a serious case of the sillies.” That is how I feel today, maybe this whole week. I created this video on the spur of the moment and I gotta say that it was fun. However where I go with this remains to be seen. I like goats. I’d laugh, too.

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  34. The video star who shall remain nameless. Perhaps Covid has been around too long? Or perhaps it is bringing out the creativity that has been lying fallow.

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    • Carol, combine pandemic fatigue with mid-winter storm and this is what you get! Not sure if/how I’ll proceed with video star who shall remain nameless, but he does seem to have a lot of fans already.

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  35. He is very cute and should be named Chris, of course, short for Christmas.
    I agree that occasionally outside furniture does need to make a statement inside, but never take inside furniture outside…that is a totally different (garage sale) look.

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    • Suz, ah ha! You understand how that chair came to be in the family room. Furniture goes where it is needed inside this house. Chris is a great name for the dragon. I like it.

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    • Barbara, I take your note. The director is only as good as her *stage hand* and mine was less interested in hiding the strings than he was in watching a movie on the TV screen that was behind me. 🤨

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    • Janet, Christmas Dragon is out because Z-D feels the same way as you. He thinks Christmas Dragon isn’t seasonal, more like timeless. I’m not sure when I’ll get back to this video project but when I do you know I’ll post it here. I have no shame.

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  38. First and foremost, lady, you are bored. I know this because I’m doing hand sewing which I hate, and as an only child as well I recognize boredom.:-) However, I like your dragon and applaud your directorial skills. I do think he should stay in the house in his chair right by the window. Why not? The mailman or a local child will have a smile just like we all did. I’m sure someone will come up with a very cool name, but he could also just be ‘Red.’ Have a good day. 🙂

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  39. Oh lord. Now have you met the blogger “Evil Squirrel?” He has a cast of dozens which populate his blog posts every day and which even featured in some cartoon strips (drawn by E.S.). They’ve also been in what he called “Shelf Critter Theater’ productions…. you and he have much in common and perhaps much to speak of. There is an upcoming ‘contest’ E.S. hosts each year called “The Contest of Whatever” or C.O.W. for short. I won in 2019 by some strange turn of events. (still amazes me). I suspect your dragon could make a true debut in something like that….. a shortish blog piece of your own devising. “Dragon’ strikes me as a short and appropriate name for Mr. Dragon, but I’m sure whatever you choose will be perfect! ❤

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    • Melanie I know evilsquirrel13 well. Back in the day he was Fuzzy the Squirrel’s biggest fan. I’ve entered his C.O.W. twice, once in 2015 and then again in 2019 when you won.

      I like the idea of using our Christmas Dragon in his latest contest, but I have zero ideas right now about what my storyline might be. Still, you have put a thought into my head. Thanks for mentioning this to me.

      Liked by 1 person

    • Robin Andrea, welcome. I appreciate you stopping by to comment. I’m not always as silly as I am today, but the longer I write this blog the more I feel like letting my inner goofball out. Not sure what that says about me.

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  44. I think he definitely has star potential, although might I suggest not direct closeups of his nose? 🙂 And talk about someone pulling strings to get what they want! BTW, I love flapdoodle and twaddle, at least the words. 🙂

    janet

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    • Nicki, thank you and thank you. Before this I’d never tried to do a video of an inanimate object moving, so now I can check that off the list. It remains to be seen if there’ll be a sequel!

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    • Limp Cabbage and Soggy Chips, yes, yes. By all means use the words flapdoodle and twaddle, add them to your daily lexicon. You know you’re right, Christmas Dragon does look like he could break out in a rousing rendition of the alphabet song. Who knows, he might just do that. 🤔

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    • Markus + Micah, this fellow got put with the Christmas decorations because of his coloring, but this year we thought we’d let him join in family life all year round. Now he is on the cusp of being a star!

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  52. Christmas Dragon is no Fuzzy the Squirrel (But then again, who could possibly fill his big shoes… or whatever squirrels wear on their feet), but he’s certainly a good looking fellow who’d certainly accentuate a few blog posts. I am all for inanimate objects starring on blogs…

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    • evilsquirrel13, somehow I thought you might like Christmas Dragon. Of course whether he becomes a feature really has less to do with him and more to do with the director. We’ll see how this all develops.

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  54. THANK you for the huge smile this morning. Mine. On my face. Not your dragon’s, who seems a bit befuddled. But that’s not a good name. I mean, Befuddle the Dragon isn’t even alliterative. Danny Boy. He could be Danny the Dragon who is rolling his eyes (I caught that, did you?) as you moved him in his chair. After all, he HAD been enjoying the view. ;l-0

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  60. Ally – I’m glad to see you’re not dragon, er, draggin’ your wagon when it comes to creativity. Yes, please let more women win Oscars for their collective directorial debuts. I’ll nominate you.

    Of course I had to read about the escapades of Fuzzy the Squirrel and I am adding my two cents’ worth to those posts as comments are closed. I had to have AT&T back two weeks ago as the ‘hood squirrels chewed the telephone wires again. I don’t have any squirrels at/near my house anymore, so they are evidently from the next block. But it’s the third or fourth time for a service call and I was proactive this time and called while the phone line was staticky, not dead.

    Also, a friend of mine lives in Raleigh, NC. She liked cherry tomatoes. The squirrels liked them too. She decided if she grew them in pots, rather than a garden, they might not come up onto the deck and chow down. She also had a poodle at the time. Brilliant move, or so she thought. Squirrels would still hunker down and feast away. The nursery said “paint each cherry tomato with Tabasco sauce – that’s gonna stop them in their tracks.” Do you know how painstaking that would be just for cherry tomatoes? She did it – it still didn’t stop them, so she gave up altogether and buys them at the grocery store now.

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    • Linda, nice word play: draggin’ your wagon. Made me smile, it did.

      Our phone lines are buried here so I’ve not had any squirrels do them in, but what a bother for you. As cute as squirrels can be, they are not respectful of stuff that is not theirs.

      I read that you should sprinkle red pepper on the soil around tomatoes and that it would keep the squirrels in line. I tried it and it did work for a little while. It was easy enough to do, unlike the Tabasco sauce idea, but in the end I gave up on growing any little tomatoes for us– and now, like your friend, I buy them at the grocery store.

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      • Glad to give you a smile Ally. Yes, my furry friends are better in the Park environment. They just fixed the lines almost a year to the day and the static would have led to a dead phone so I was proactive. You’re lucky they bury the wires. Many years ago my boss had a fax machine with a dedicated line at his home. AT&T was always coming out to repair the line as the line would go dead due to squirrels chewing on them. He doesn’t even use a fax machine now – just PDFs/scans now, but it was a pain. It’s not worth the bother with the yard critters and a veggie garden. My boss had about $900.00 damage to wires in his car which were chewed by squirrels just last Summer. They make everyone’s property their business.

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