SIGN LANGUAGE GETS ADDED TWIST.Byline: Heather MacDonald Staff Writer VALENCIA - Don Owens carefully rewinds the tape of oldies Oldies is a generic term commonly used to describe a radio format that usually concentrates on Top 40 music from the '50s, '60s and '70s. Oldies are typically from R&B, pop and rock music genres. and hooks the Walkman to his belt. He's ready to go. Within moments, Owens is dancing and grooving on the corner of McBean Parkway and Valencia Boulevard, tossing and twirling Twirling is any of several artforms, hobbies, or sport and recreational activities accomplished by spinning or rotating the twirled object either for exercise, or in a rhythmic, or otherwise artful manner. an oversized o·ver·size n. 1. A size that is larger than usual. 2. An oversize article or object. adj. o·ver·size also o·ver·sized Larger in size than usual or necessary. red-and-white arrow urging passing motorists to tour The Landing, a nearby new home development. ``I used to just stand on the corner, waving the sign back and forth,'' Owens said. ``How boring. Soon I developed my own style, and now I am refining it.'' Santa Clarita's busiest intersections are dotted with sign wavers like Owens - an indication of the red-hot housing market right now and the intense competition for prospective buyers. But none of them can compete with Owens. ``I call it the drunken sign technique,'' Owens said. The name seems appropriate, as Owens staggers staggers /stag·gers/ (stag´erz) a form of vertigo occurring in decompression sickness. staggers incoordination of any kind, including a tendency to fall, and recumbency if harassed. back and forth while tossing the sign, balancing precariously first on one leg, then the other. He even peppers his routine with hiccups Hiccups Definition Hiccups are the result of an involuntary, spasmodic contraction of the diaphragm followed by the closing of the throat. Description , which are unfortunately lost on the motorists speeding by. ``It is so boring,'' Owens said, adding that he started this gig three years ago when he needed to earn some extra money. ``So you have to keep yourself entertained and hopefully drum up some business.'' Owens is the best sign guide that Chatsworth-based Sign Image has, said Nanette Goldman, the company's director of operations. ``He's so visible, you can't help but seeing him,'' Goldman said. ``He gets people into the homes.'' The guides are incredibly important in getting people to tour model homes, Goldman added. ``A huge percentage of our customers are drawn in by him,'' Goldman said, adding that Owens moves around Santa Clarita Santa Clarita, city (1990 pop. 110,642), Los Angeles co., S Calif., suburb 30 mi (48 km) NW of downtown Los Angeles, on the Santa Clara River; inc. 1987. Situated in the Santa Clara valley and nearby canyons, Santa Clarita includes the former towns of Canyon Country, and Simi Valley Simi Valley (sē`mē, sĭm`ē), city (1990 pop. 100,217), Ventura co., SW Calif. in an oil, fruit, and farm region; laid out 1887, inc. 1969. to fill in gaps left by less dazzling sign guides. Owens comes prepared for his 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. shift: the Gatorade bottle is handy, plenty of tapes to accompany him as he trips the light fantastic and a hat to shield him from the sun's rays. ``But I don't think that I'll need that today,'' Owens said, scanning a cloudy sky. ``The wind makes it more difficult to toss the sign, too.'' During the week, Owens makes sure that sitcoms  The perspective and/or examples in this article do not represent a world-wide view. Please [ edit] this page to improve its geographical balance. filmed at Paramount Pictures have full studio audiences. Like everyone else in L.A., he has a book to plug, which he has written under the pseudonym pseudonym (s `dənĭm) [Gr.,=false name], name assumed, particularly by writers, to conceal identity. A writer's pseudonym is also referred to as a nom de plume (pen name). of Vichous Majissian. ``Who Wants to be a Millennium Heir'' is a humorous look at daily life in the 21st century, he said. ``But this is fun,'' Owens said, shouting to be heard as drivers honk in appreciation of his dance act. ``That's why I keep doing it.'' Over the years, many passing drivers have stopped to chat about his act. ``One woman gave me money,'' Owens said, shaking his head in disbelief. ``And this other guy pulled up and gave me a computer. It was so strange! But to be honest, I like stopping traffic.'' CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Human signpost Don Owens flips a sign for a new development Sunday at McBean Parkway and Valencia Boulevard. Shaun Dyer/Special to the Daily News |
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