New Year's day our big plan is to take in a Japanese lunch with a special Koto Harp, Shishimai Lion dance, and Taiko Drum performance that we do every year in Costa Mesa.
The Lion chases away the bad spirits and makes way for prosperity in the New Year.

Everyone keeps asking me about the film project seems there is quite a bit of excitement about Das Puppets already so I should let you in the know as I don't want you to get the idea that I am lazy or anything.
I did not say anything earlier to anyone in cast or crew because I thought you may not desire to work with a cripple! :D
My health has always been tenuous at best and has been most of my life I lost my spleen at age 7 and later had surgery to remove my left lung at age 12 where I caught some nasty infection in the hospital. I was in intensive care for weeks and nearly died from this I was diagnosed with AIDS not HIV but was given a month to live at age 12 all the same. I kinda wished I had listened to my doctors and gave up because I was sick and miserable off and on for the next two decades paid many more visits to the hospital and it seems like I caught every flu, cold, and old man disease that was going around. I am doing pretty good now days but I do tire easily and after pushing myself so hard on the Das Puppets project for many months in 2008 I needed the entire month of December off to rest up since my weak ass body does not filter blood well or process oxygen like a healthy person. That said I am beginning to feel like myself again and will go back to work filming the few remaining scenes in January and then when all the footage is in-the-can as they say I can embark on editing the film and recording the music. No one I know films and edits at the same time just FYI. Oh yeah do Not feel sorry for me I am a very lucky bastard and I know it. Hey I just spent the best part of 2008 working with some of the most talented and creative people in all of Southern California, and New Jersey! We all had a lot of fun together too, Good Times!

I hope you all have a happy New Year's celebration, a successful 2009, and good luck with that big Hollywood audition!

Cheers and Hugs,

Fred Wilder 2008