Drew's View

A World Full of Music

2011-02-12T14:54:00.002-06:00

I am setting in a fairly nice, upscale casual type of restaurant waiting for my to go order when from the table in front of me comes a little beat box drum machine sound.

"boom chick a boom chick a boom"

I look up and see that it belongs to the cell phone of, shall we say, a lady of "a certain age".

She looks at her phone, decides not to answer it and puts it down. What she does not do is hit "ignore" or silence her phone in any way, instead, she lets the ring tone play out.

"boom chick a boom chick a boom"

It's a really long ring tone...

"boom chick a boom chick a boom"

A minute or so later, her phone rings again.

"boom chick a boom chick a boom"

She doesn't even look at this call.

"boom chick a boom chick a boom"

Did I mention it is a long ring tone?

"boom chick a boom chick a boom"

The phone rings a third time...

"boom chick a boom chick a boom"

but low and behold, this person gains access and she answers. No more ring tone.

Do the fancier touch screen phones NOT come with a silence or ignore button? You might want to check it out.

The Advantage of the Balcony

2009-07-11T16:39:00.002-05:00

My box office is currently selling tickets for a neighbor club venue that has a floor level and a balcony. When asked about the difference in price, my response is all tickets are $25.00.

Real Question
"What's the advantage of sitting in the balcony?"

Answer in my head
"Well, from the balcony, you can through things, like bar straws and peanuts, down on the people sitting on the floor while they are unable to reach you from the floor for retaliatory fire."

I really do have something to say!

2008-11-03T11:34:00.002-06:00

Below is a response I felt compelled to write after reading the e-mail thread BCCed to me by a friend. I never talk about abortion much. As I say below it is personal. I just hope I didn't come off as stupid as Mrs. Scott. And I say Mrs. Scott as I am sure Ms. would be insulting.

Dear Mrs. Scott,
If I had a vote in a pregnancy that I was involved with, I would want the pregnancy to come to term. Even though that is my CHOICE, ultimately I know I do not have a final say in the matter.

What I would really hate is to live in a country where any woman's only CHOICE is to find a back water hut well stocked with coat hangers. I really must take issue with your statement, which is misleading at best.

First, you quote the Old Testament, not Jesus. I didn't know your kind of "Christian" read the Old Testament.

"Do we really want a country where our minor daughters can be taken across state lines and abortions performed without us knowing??" Um, the legislation YOU propose would promote this. If not state lines, than international borders. The FOCA would help prevent it.

"Do we really want abortion procedures legal again where a full term baby is [delivered] and their brains sucked out?" Um, none of the decisions defending a woman's right of choice about her reproductive decisions allow for this kind of activity if it is even true. This is clearly a scare tactic and inflammatory. If you had any knowledge about pro-choice decisions like Roe v. Wade, you would know that these decisions balance a woman's choice against the viability of the fetus. Brain sucking is science fiction.

Do you even know what FOCA is about? Maybe you should read that for yourself. Let me help you by pointing you to the Library of Congress.

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c108:S.2020:

I have never really discussed my views regarding abortion with my friends. What my CHOICES would be are personal. Not having created life yet myself, I like to think it starts at conception, but that is what I CHOOSE to believe, and that belief is based not only a bit on my Christian faith, but simply on how I FEEL about it, warm and fuzzy as that may be.

I also believe that neither the Government, nor you nor anyone else have any business in controlling how I feel about this. If you get pregnant in any matter, whether it be youthful ignorance, a misfire on birth control, or a violent rape, how you deal with that pregnancy should be between you, your family and your belief in how the world works. Creationist, Darwinist, it doesn't matter.

That is what Sarah Palin's daughter did after all without government interference.

God bless you too Mrs. Scott,

Andrew

The point of living and of being an optimist, is to be foolish enough to believe the best is yet to come.
- Peter Ustinov

----- Original Message ----
From: Karen
To: Denise Scott
Sent: Monday, November 3, 2008 10:36:41 AM
Subject: please do not send me any additional emails of this sort

Please remove me from your email list. I am not interested in this type of reactionary twaddle.

May God bless you. You clearly need the help.

Karen

----- Original Message ----
From: Denise Scott
To: Spencer Scott
Sent: Monday, November 3, 2008 7:47:52 AM
Subject:

“I call heaven and earth today to witness against you: I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. Choose life that you and your descendants may live.” (Deut. 30:19)

Dear Friends and Family,

I am sending this note to each of you because I care about you and our country. I don't ordinarily do this but I believe these are extraordinary times. For many reasons, the most significant election in our lifetime is tomorrow. We are called as Christians to love one another and to protect life. Early Christians knew and embraced this responsibility. That is why they rescued orphaned children (many who were left to die because they weren't "normal") and helped the widows and poor. Remember Jesus taught us to help the "least of our brothers." Who is more helpless than an unborn baby, a special needs person, or an elderly person in a nursing home? This election provides us with an opportunity to help the least of our brothers and sistersmn. John McCain and Sarah Palin offer us an alternative to the culture of death we find ourselves in this country. John McCain has a 100% favorable pro-life voting record on abortion and Sarah Palin lives her pro-life values every single day. If Barack Obama is elected he said the first thing he would do is sign the Freedom of Choice Act. This act will remove all restrictions from abortion - parental consent, partial birth, etc. Do we really want a country where our minor daughters can be taken across state lines and abortions performed without us knowing?? Do we really want abortion procedures legal again where a full term baby is delievered and their brains sucked out? What kind of person would do this or would support this? What kind of person would vote 4 times to allow a baby to be put in a corner and die that is born alive from an abortion. Think about it, do you really want this person in charge of your HEALTH CARE when you are older??

For my friends that are considering voting for Obama, do you want your children and grandchildren to live in a "culture of death" where the state decides whose life is worthy of protecting? When the state has control of the health care system that will eventually be what happens. You can see it now in countries that have state-sponsored health care systems. Cancer patients, the elderly, and children with special needs, are all targets in these societies, simply because they cost the state too much money.

For my pro-life friends, don't be discouraged, this election is not over and the outcome depends on all of us getting out the vote. Go early to the polls and be prepared to wait as the lines will be long. Help others get there if you can. While in the voting booth choose the candidates that promote a culture of life, not a culture of death.

Thank you for reading my note. Please consider emailing your friends with a word of encouragement. Most of all, please pray for the wisdom of our electorate and that God's will be done.

God Bless,
Denise Scott

The Good and the Bad.

2008-09-17T20:41:00.002-05:00

The good news is I have a home and power and all the true necessities.

Bad news is Center Point says that Houston is looking past Monday for major power restorations.

If Chelsea Market is with out power more than this weekend, the YT is toast!

Quibble, this would mean no cable for me for a while. Maybe I will start really reading again...

Now, the burbs and rural areas should be mostly up by Friday. I guess there are fewer trees out there. ARGH!!!!!

Watching Ike

2008-09-12T17:59:00.002-05:00

When I was a child, I remember the adults talking about watching Watergate on TV. I wondered to myself, what is this show Watergate about? Now, of course, I know it was in reference to watching the news coverage of the Watergate scandal.

Today, I find myself "Watching Hurricane Ike" and wonder how many small children out there think the grown ups are watching some new fall TV series while waiting for the big scary storm to blow through. Are these children watching the coverage as well and know it is "news"? I didn't watch any Watergate coverage. I suppose I was in bed before the later news came on.

When did the news come on in the early 70s anyway?

Off to watch more Ike!

Poachers Will Be Shot On Sight!

2008-08-08T11:17:00.004-05:00

It is pre-production week for our first show of the season. The Stage Manager is already working and we are 4 days from starting rehearsals.

Another production manager from another theater calls my SM and offers him a job that starts 2.5 weeks into my production. She steals my SM from me with a higher paying contract.

Foul!

Now I know, with Equity rules, I know we are supposed to let people go for more remunerative employ. I am not upset with my SM. I can't blame him for wanting to take the other job with gas and school loans and all else these days.

But the PM from Theater X? I DO blame her! She knowingly enticed the SM away days before rehearsal. I don't care how desperate she was for a good SM, she had to know that she was creating a desperate situation for me! Now I am scrambling for an SM to take over the show during technical rehearsals.

Red Card! You are outta here!

Summer Movie Frenzy

2008-08-05T17:21:00.005-05:00

In response to Chris Wheeler's Comment: I am sorry you didn't find it as uplifting as I did. I will agree on this point, if Brosnon releases an album, I will definitely NOT be in line for it. He was definitely the weakest, though he did fair better on "I Do, I Do". Dancing Queen was a highlight, but I am also a fan of Honey, Honey.

Regarding the other films you mentioned, I agree, over all, Iron Man and Dark Knight rule. I might even say, for me, that Iron Man wins the summer in the end, even if DK box office is going to be the bench mark for summers to come.

I am looking forward to the new Mummy. I hope it measures up. I am a fan of Brendan Frazer (some even say I look like him (I wish!)). I saw Journey to the Center of the Earth which was fine, and a fun ride, but not a must see.

And I just saw the X-Files. Thought it was great. And I think it is good for the fan and the newbie. If you are a fan, you know all about Mulder and Scully and their relationship, but there is enough in the film that you understand what is going on between them if you haven't seen the show. The main plot is completely contained in the movie though, so if you don't care about their drama, that was still an interesting story to follow. I thought anyway.

But then I am easy.

Chris, is your wife available for lunch? I think we would have a blast!

It's too Darn Hot!

2008-08-03T18:01:00.004-05:00

I think Cole Porter said it best. Summer in Houston, namely August and the coming September are to darn HOT!

Wow, it has been all summer and I haven't said a peep. I just can't seem to quite get the hang of this.

Here are some highlights.

Mamma Mia: LOVED IT! I already have seen it twice and will likely again if I get feeling low before it leaves theaters. It is just plain fun. If you read the reviews, forget them! The critics just don't understand a good time when they see it. The music is faboo, you have a good time, and yes, it sometimes borders on the ridiculous, but who cares? With a super trooper cast headed by Meryl Streep and Pierce Brosnon, honey honey, you just can't help but have a good time.

Summer Olympics: I always look forward to the Olympics. The best thing they ever did was stagger Winter and Summer. Swimming and Gymnastics. Paul Hamm has a broken hand? Talk about a nail biter! And Phelps set to get a million dollar bonus? Good gracious!

Still, I have to ask, is it just me, or does the Olympic Stadium look like it was attacked by a roll of duct tape?

So should I read the Twilight series? I haven't heard so much hubub on a book since Harry Potter!

Summer was rough financially speaking. Price of gas and all, but some progress was made.

Total Debt: $13,645

Another Bench Mark!

2008-06-08T22:09:00.002-05:00

After May's bill payment, on June payment, and playing Tweedle Dee for an hour, I broke $14,000!!!!

Yippie!

No details, sorry. Time is short. But I have done the math.

Total Debt: $13,755

Too Bad, So Sad...

2008-06-08T15:45:00.003-05:00

Sometimes I hate being the cold and cruel box office manager.

At my theater, we are currently having a highly successful, sold out run of Present Laughter. Today was no exception. When curtain time arrives, we sell the empty seats to people desperate to get in on stand by and I sold every seat. (Thank you very much!)

After the show starts, 10 minutes after curtain time, a couple arrives in from the suburbs. Because I had sold all the empty seats to stand bys, I had nothing for them at intermission and certainly not for late seating.

Our usual option is to reschedule for a later show. We have a two week extended run, but unfortunately they were going to be out of town then. So, as a final gesture of goodwill without breaking the rules, I offered them a certificate to come back next season. Mr. Late Comer took it because he "had no other choice" but was going to "remember this the next time they got a letter asking for money!"

Ugh! That just makes me feel so mean. But we have limited late seating and no refunds. They knew that, even if they didn't pay attention to the warning when they bought the tickets.

All in all though, Mr. & Mrs. Late Comer are still beat out by the early ticket buyer, when unable to buy a ticket outside of business hours (I was in a meeting! What could I do?), told me that "the Alley [Theatre] is always open!" and walked out the door.

Signed Mr. McScrooge Box Office Manager

Are You Talking to Me?

2008-06-04T20:22:00.002-05:00

When I work front of house for the MainStage, people think I am Joel Sandel.

When I answer the phone at the box office, people think I am David Wald.

When I do children's theater, people think I am Kregg Dailey.

It is no wonder I am having an identity crisis!

Starry Friends

2008-06-01T22:48:00.009-05:00

One great thing about Facebook is I have been able to catch up with a few old friends from High School. One of those friends is Bobby Getchell.

Bobby is now more widely known as "Robert Getchell - Tenor". Good ole Bobby, who sang some in High School, ended up studying voice in college, then in Europe and is now pretty big stuff. At least he seems big in the classical world.

It just floors me! I had no idea that someone I knew from back then had taken such an artistic road and had professional success.

As much as I am happy to say, "GO BOBBY!", it puts my recent gig as Tweedle Dee at a Bat Mitzvah in a sad perspective. I want to perform for the crown heads of Europe, not 13 year olds!!

At least Tweedle Dee got me $200 for an hour's work. Expect to see half that go to the big D this week!

Hey Drewster? What Time Is It?

2008-05-25T21:40:00.003-05:00

I have three watches, all of which have dead batteries. One, the swacth, has a broken wrist band.

So, today, I took a friends advice about getting the batteries done at a watch kiosk in the Galleria, and went.

I haven't been to the Galleria in a very long time. I remember the place as a kid. Because it had two movie theaters back then, we would go all the time. You see, in the 1970s in Houston, it was actually cool enough to make the trek on foot.

So, we would go all the time for movies. The Galleria was only two sections then. One set of 2 (or was it 4?) screens were in Galleria one on the ice rink level and the other set was in Galleria two. Very often when traveling between the two when you realized that it was the other theater that had the film, you would cut through the Magic Pan restaurant.

Today, there are four Gallerias, no Magic Pan and no movie theaters. My first stop was at the Swatch store in Galleria 4 where they did not have the watch band in stock, nor could they order it. (I have now done that on-line). I then moved on to the watch kiosk in the bridge between 1 and 2.

On my way I stopped at Urban Outfitters. Beware the trendy urban stores that open in the Galleria. Translation = They are now to pricey for you.

Waiting for the watches I walked around a bit and thought about the stores there. The Disney store used to have clothes for everyone that sold the Disney brand. Now it is only kid stuff, not so much clothes and more targeted to current projects than over all Disney. Ironically, I was wearing a Donald Duck T-shirt which was one of the last things I ordered from the Disney catalog before they started dropping men's stuff.

Ambercrombie & Fitch, which started out as basically high end prep stuff is now just Amercrombie and is aimed at the young and beautiful. The Gap has moved from 1 to 2. I don't even go in. They don't make clothes for my kind. My kind being larger than a 32 inch waist.

And of course, the place was packed with the young and the beautiful. And I wonder, how do we get a fraction of these people to the theater?

And yes, I have three working watches, one waiting on a new band. I now know what time it is without pulling out my cell phone...

My Mother the Dweeb

2008-05-24T17:11:00.003-05:00

I got a phone call from my mother today. She thought, with the new Indiana Jones movie out this weekend, she should see the first three, having never seen them.

So, I am mailing my copy of the DVDs to Williamstown so she can watch them and then the family up there can have an outing to see the new fourth installment.

Speaking of which, I saw the fourth installment today. I enjoyed it quite immensely. I had couple of quibbles with the ending (NO SPOILERS HERE. Commentors feel free and be warned.), but the over all concept of the movie's mythology was fine.

Look out for nods to the Young Indiana Jones series, an homage to Star Wars and very funny ground hogs.

City Sinners.

2008-05-22T09:39:00.005-05:00

Boo Entertainment Weekly! Boo!

I got my EW this week and it of course is featuring Sex and the City.

But it is a double issue, which means no EW next week.

And its double content covers SATC exclusively!

Now, I have seen a couple episodes of this show, and it was amusing, but it didn't catch me as a viewer and I am very, mostly, likely NOT going to see the film.

The last double issue we had covered the entire summer movie season. It took me 2.5 workouts to read it. Good job.

This one? One work out, because what it really is, is a regular issue of EW with a large editorial section on one film. Letters, photos, article, article, births and deaths etc., flip, flip, flip, flip, flip, flip, flip, Caspian review, done! Um, all those flip flip flips should have been next week's mag!

Maybe we will get lucky and the double issue will truly be special and a new issue will still come out. Otherwise, that Precor is going to be so hard next week when I only have one day of distracting, mindless reading to help move the 40 minutes along.

And a shout out to Troy! One of the few who reads my drivil!

Play Piper! Play!

2008-05-22T09:30:00.002-05:00

It has been so long since I did this, but I have been making payments.

Payment Sent (2/15) = $221.44
Attributed to interest = $57.79
Attributed to montly budgeted expenses = 103.65
Attributed to Credit Card Debt = $60

Total Debt: $14,360

Bacon and Chocolate

2008-04-27T15:28:00.002-05:00

Who would have thought to combine bacon and chocolate? Well, apparently Vosges did.

I received a Mo's Bacon Bar for my birthday and have been slowly eating it, bit by bit.

It's milk chocolate with pieces of bacon in it! It is a totally bizarre taste, and yet, is sweetly satisfying. It is hard to explain, but I can tell you, it is not a disaster of an idea.

Not in the slightest.

The Piper is Being Paid

2008-04-20T12:38:00.006-05:00

Dear Readers,

I am sorry that I have not been keeping you up to date since my birthday. I have been very lazy and catching up on Battlestar Galactica. I am all caught up, but also paying the debt!

Efforts made include a couple of party gigs ($200), remainder of March Payments ($50) and April Payments ($141).

I am no longer posting my goal. I don't think it is realistic anymore. I think if I break $12,000 this year, we will be doing good. An interest rate just went up, which will slow me down a bit by either paying it, or switching to a new rate. Switching will garner a fee, but if it can be a locked in rate, I will defintely take it.

Total Debt: $14420

Happy Easter!

2008-03-23T15:42:00.003-05:00

So, despite last night's festivities at the Karaoke bar, I managed to get up and go to church today.

Being Easter Sunday it was full, and I had to take a seat in the back. The rector giving the sermon doesn't seem to use the mic when she is facing the congregation. Good for her! Mics are over used these days, but it can cause some interesting affects.

As my ears are not the greatest, and as I was sitting in the back, I could have sworn she said, during the sermon, that after rising from the dead, Jesus greeted his disciples at baseball!

It only took moment for my brain to fully translate that it was his disciples and faithful, but during that moment I had time to think, "What! They were playing baseball? What is she talking .... Oh! Faithful." I felt like I was reliving The Life of Brian and the Sermon on the Mount. "BLessed are the cheese makers?"

Of course, with 12 disciples, Jesus did have more than enough to field a team. I wonder what they would have called themselves....

The Beginning of the End?

2008-03-21T22:28:00.001-05:00

I saw my friend Luisa today at the theater. I confessed that next week is my 40th birthday.

She said, "Ah! Welcome to middle age!"

We are no longer speaking...

;)

Tueasday Was a Sad Day In RPG Land

2008-03-07T23:42:00.003-06:00

Dungeons & Dragons co-creator dies at 69
06:05 PM CST on Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Associated Press

MILWAUKEE -- Gary Gygax, who co-created the fantasy game Dungeons & Dragons and helped start the role-playing phenomenon, died Tuesday morning at his home in Lake Geneva. He was 69.

He had been suffering from health problems for several years, including an abdominal aneurysm, said his wife, Gail Gygax.

Gygax and Dave Arneson developed Dungeons & Dragons in 1974 using medieval characters and mythical creatures. The game known for its oddly shaped dice became a hit, particularly among teenage boys, and eventually was turned into video games, books and movies. Gygax always enjoyed hearing from the game's legion of devoted fans, many of whom would stop by the family's home in Lake Geneva, about 55 miles southwest of Milwaukee, his wife said. Despite his declining health, he hosted weekly games of Dungeons & Dragons as recently as January, she said.

"It really meant a lot to him to hear from people from over the years about how he helped them become a doctor, a lawyer, a policeman, what he gave them," Gail Gygax said. "He really enjoyed that."

Dungeons & Dragons players create fictional characters and carry out their adventures with the help of complicated rules. The quintessential geek pastime, it spawned a wealth of copycat games and later inspired a whole genre of computer games that's still growing in popularity.

Born Ernest Gary Gygax, he grew up in Chicago and moved to Lake Geneva at the age of 8. Gygax's father, a Swiss immigrant who played violin in the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, read fantasy books to his only son and hooked him on the genre, Gail Gygax said.

Gygax dropped out of high school but took anthropology classes at the University of Chicago for a while, she said. He was working as an insurance underwriter in the 1960s, when he began playing war-themed board games.

But Gygax wanted to create a game that involved more fantasy. To free up time to work on that, he left the insurance business and became a shoe repairman, she said.

Gygax also was a prolific writer and wrote dozens of fantasy books, including the Greyhawk series of adventure novels.

Funeral arrangements are pending. Besides his wife, Gygax is survived by six children.

Other links:
Gary Gygax invented a fantasy game for real-life friends
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/ent/stories/DN-dungeons_0309gl.State.Bulldog.1dfed5e.html

Comic Strip Tribute
http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0536.html

And I Thank You

2008-03-03T21:55:00.003-06:00

We had some Amazon.com shopping last month, AND an Amazon.com payment from all the holiday shopping.

Monarch of the Glen is a BBC series that ran 7 seasons before ending. I have been catching it on Netflix, but the complete collection is now available in one set. This is just a fantastic series! First off, it is set in Scotland. The scenery alone is worth the price of admission. The cast is charming and the story lines are great too. You should check it out.

I personally thank the shoppers that bought the following items:
-- Charmed - The Complete Second Season
-- Basement Bhangra

I also got a payment of $15.14. I will send $15 to the CCs!

Total Debt: $14811
2008 goal Attained: $689 (of $5,500)

Time To Pay the Piper

2008-03-03T21:40:00.002-06:00

It's that time again.

Minimum Payment = $224
Payment Sent (2/15) = $262.28
Attributed to interest = $58.63
Attributed to montly budgeted expenses = 103.65
Attributed to Credit Card Debt = $100

Total Debt: $14826
2008 goal Attained: $674 (of $5,500)

Time To Pay the Piper: Breaking $15,000!

2008-02-23T13:16:00.005-06:00

Well, it has been too long since I posted. This is supposed to be my view, and you get nothing. Well, at least today you get debt pay off!

Minimum Payment = $15
Payment Sent (2/15) = $59.36
Attributed to interest = $9.36
Attributed to Credit Card Debt = $50

Now, last week, when my voice lesson got taken by the lovely Doris Davis, I absorbed the money because my budget is going to hell this month. Ms. Davis needed the time again this week (she is recording a CD), so I will call this week's lesson money Found Money.

Attributed to Credit Card Debt = $35

Total Debt: $14926
2008 goal Attained: $574 (of $5,500)

And ...

2008-02-11T08:05:00.000-06:00

To top it all off, I discover this morning that I ruined one of my new sweaters this weekend.

I was so happy to find a sweater I really liked at Ross at the beginning of the season. Slate blue, half zipper, turtle neck.

I always washed it gentle cycle and laid it out to dry. Well, this weekend, when I laid it out, I hadn't washed the acne medicine of my hands enough and as the sweater dried, bleach spots started to show.

And why a nearly 40 year old man still has acne problems is beyond me. Sometimes I wonder if I get a zit everytime someone says they thought I was 25-30. I suppose you have to take the bad with the good.

Where Is the Restart Button?

2008-02-10T18:01:00.001-06:00

How do you start a day over? This day has been just no fun.

First, I should tell you that with the way Christmas works for the adults in my family, everyone basically gets one gift from a chosen family member. Since I am single and without children, I thus get one gift. So, I always save up and get myself something fun. This year I decided on a Wii. I didn't come on to this decision until just after Christmas, and obviously, there were no Wii's to be found. But I thought, I am a patient man and surly there will be some around in a couple of weeks.

Well, more than a month later, ToysRUs finally has Wiis. I get up today, go over a bit early and see a really short line. Cool, thinks I. After all, it isn't the holidays, so there probably isn't the same kind of rush.

Survey says, X!

The short line was what was left of the bigger line as they started letting people in 3 at a time about 40 minutes earlier. The woman ahead of me said they were told there were six left after the last 3 went in, and she was #7, making me #8. Someone from the last 3 was after a Nintendo DS Cobalt blue, which meant 7 Wiis left. I was still #8 and left out of luck. And #7 had just gotten there, so if I didn't do one thing that delayed my arrival, I would have been #7. I knew I should have skipped breakfast. Most important meal indeed!

All area ToysRUses sold out within minutes and no other stores have any stock yet. I already used an Amazon certificate to get Guitar Hero, and still, after more than a month, I can't play it!

Then the end of the day comes. I go out, double check on when and if more Wiis are coming, and go to the grocery store. I get to check out and discover my wallet is left at home. ARGH!

That's it. I am done with this day.

February is Not Kind

2008-02-10T11:29:00.000-06:00

Boy, I was being really positive and hopefull in January. I set an ambitious goal, and even made some great strides in achiving it.

Then came February. Things may not have been all so rosy after holidays as I thought and the balloon payment premature. Money is super tight right now. Crazy so.

First of all, I switched phone providers. That will cost me an extra $200 bucks right there this month. I had about $200 in my Amex Savings that I was hoping would go to the CCs, but it is now going to my bank account to get me through to payday on Friday.

And, I am basically paying for cell phone service twice this month on budget. And that budget just when up $10! We shall see if Sprint, who screwed up my account a few months ago, doesn't also ask for more money as they might think I had an "early termination." They better not is all I am saying!

Also, it looks like any "found money" will also go to off set the new phone service. I have no lesson this week, but unlike last month, it will not go to the CCs. I also have some rolled change that might have to be sucked into the void known as Chase Checking. I may make that $11 payment for no other reason than to get below the $15,000 mark though. Just to keep hope alive.

On the up side, Verizon is a much better service for me. I can text certain coworkers, whom I text a lot, for free, and talk to them for free. As is true with any Verizon customer. And, most importantly, Verizon seems to be the only service with a tower aimed at my apartment. Sprint was bad, and according to my I-Phone buddies, AT&T isn't so hot either.

Total Debt: $15,011
2008 goal Attained: $489 (of $5,500)

Attention Amazon Shoppers!

2008-02-04T21:59:00.000-06:00

So, the 4th quarter of 2007 ended with my commissions totaling only $7.96. You need at least $10 in commissions for them to pay you, otherwise it rolls over. Most of that was earned in December, so I will thank the holiday shoppers who bought the following items:

-- The Black Swan
-- The Rough Magic
-- A Chorus Line (1975 OBC)
-- Broadway: The Great Original Cast Recordings
-- The Best of Broadway
-- Ultimate Broadway

It is very likely that at least $3 will be earned in the first quarter of 2008 and I will have something to add toward my debt goals!

Total Debt: $15,011
2008 goal Attained: $489 (of $5,500)

Staying Well

2008-02-02T10:45:00.000-06:00

As I said in an earlier post, I wanted this year to be the best physically as well as financially. To that end, I have been trying to get in a regular routine at the gym. Granted, this week I blew it off 4 times, but I did go today.

I noticed something new today. Down by the treadmills and elliptical machines, they had a dispenser for hand sanitizer. And it was an automatic dispenser! You didn't even have to touch it!

Now, I am not a big fan of hand sanitizer. I think it is over used to our determent, but with all the sweaty hands that touch the equipment at the gym, including hands that are, getting, or have been sick in this time of cold and flu, this is certainly a great place for it. It is certainly easier to do than tracking down the spray bottle and wipe down your machine.

Milestone Coming!

2008-02-02T07:40:00.000-06:00

In doing yesterday's Pipe Post, I noticed, I am only $31 away from breaking $15,000!

And, last night, I realized, I had $20 in found money to send, so that will make it $11. WOW!

I had a few receipts on my desk at work that I needed reimbursement for. I finally cleaned up my desk and took care of those. Now, it was penny ante stuff, so it only amounted to about $20 in cash, but I can use that money to pay for entertainment stuff this weekend and send the $20 that is in my bank account that would have been used for entertainment stuff, and send it to a CC.

Total Debt: $15,011
2008 goal Attained: $489 (of $5,500)

Time To Pay the Piper

2008-02-01T17:56:00.000-06:00

Welcome February! Another bill is due. I only have two, but this is the bigger bear. January was a little lean, so I can only pay around the minimum payment, but it will still be progress! I am setting up an on-line payment now, so even though it won't be paid for two weeks, I want to report it as I act on it, if you don't mind.

Minimum Payment = $227
Payment Sent (2/15) = $227.90
Attributed to interest = $59.25
Attributed to montly budgeted expenses = 103.65
Attributed to Credit Card Debt = $65

Total Debt: $15,031
2008 goal Attained: $469 (of $5,500)

Lots of Strutting and Fretting

2008-01-27T18:48:00.000-06:00

I just read on Playbill.com that Slings & Arrows: The Complete Collection has been released (or will be 2/5).

Slings & Arrows is a Canadian comedy series that takes you behind the scenes of a big, non-profit, Shakespearean Festival. It is some of the funniest television I have ever seen. I already have the three seasons on DVD in separate offerings, but to hear that there is new material taking you behind the scenes of the show is enough to put this collection on the top of my wish list.

In each season, the New Burbage Festival produces a different Shakespearean work. Season 1 is Hamlet with a Keanau Reeves type American star being flown in for tickets sales. Season 2 is the Scottish Play with a lead who thinks he knows better than the director and Season 3 is King Lear with an aging actor taking his last chance at the role.

The show has all the great archetypes. The loony director, the diva leading lady, the air head ingenue, the actor hating stage manager and the managing director who desperate tries to balance Art with the cost of producing Art.

Season 1 is the best, but each season has great moments, not only in the theater, but in life as well. I mean, who can't relate to an IRS audit, the draw of the "bigger and better" and the daily struggles of love, life and loss.

Total Debt: $15,096
2008 goal Attained: $404 (of $5,500)

... And I Thank You

2008-01-26T09:13:00.000-06:00

When people start their Amazon.com shopping here, I do not receive any personal information. I don't know who is shopping, but I do know what you bought! So I will thank you by item. These items were shipped in the last 7 days (including previous thank yous this week)

I would like to thank the Amazon shopper(s) who bought the following items:
-- Art & Fear
-- Portraits from Life in 29 Steps
-- The Artist's Complete Guide to Figure Drawing: A Contemporary Perspective on the Classical Tradition
-- Charmed - The Complete First Season
-- Cinderella (Two-Disc Special Edition)

Total Debt: $15,096
2008 goal Attained: $404 (of $5,500)

The Big Bad Ugly

2008-01-24T17:07:00.000-06:00

J.J. Abrams is a great story teller. I saw Cloverfield today and it was a really fun movie. Something big, bad and ugly attacks Manhattan. They don't know where it came from. Some hole in the earth, some crevice in the ocean, or outer space, but it is rampaging through the city, and it is tough.

The gimmick of the film if very Blair Witch. Young man happens to be shooting on a hand held camera when the thing attacks, and documents the events as they unfold about him and his friends. So, if "amateur, hand held" camera work makes you nauseous, you should avoid this film.

But, if you like J.J. Abrams and monster flicks, this one is pretty good. One nice thing about this film is it doesn't load you down with the science. Granted, I like hearing about the origin of things, but that was only a small part of me during this roller coaster of a film. Being regular folk at a going away party, you don't see the inside of the lab where the government accidentally creates the beast, or the supernatural ritual that brings meanies from other dimensions, or see some horrible leviathan rise from the chemically poisoned deep. Very much in the tradition of Godzilla, monster arrives from out of nowhere and is a bitch to kill. And as the movie progressed, it was committed to the crescendo in tempo, which meant not stopping to explain all things along the way. Again, that small part of me wanted to know why as much as the characters in the film when questions went unanswered, but like them, I will have to come up with my own theories.

I initially got a bad report of this film, and the older gentleman three seats down from me said it was the worst thing he ever saw, but I had a good time. It had some natural humor (considering its naturalistic film technique) and was scary due to good old fashioned story telling and mystery. Not to say some things didn't occasionally jump out at you, but it wasn't all about those tactics.

I won't give the ending away, but I have to say that the ending does seem to follow a trend I have noticed in the genre that it shares with The Mist. When I thought about it, I realized it wasn't so new. Fright films of the 1960s took a similar approach. Speaking of The Mist, that was a film where the government was experimenting with access to other dimensions. Why do they never discover warm and fuzzy dimensions? Access another dimension and it is always something horrific on the other side. Where is the Care Bear dimension? Or the Beatrix Potter dimension? That's what I want to know!

I have long been a fan of J.J. Abrams. I saw all four seasons of Felicity. I loved the show and cast and was impressed that a show about 4 years in college ended with graduation instead of trying to stretch it out with "Felicity in Med School" or "Felicity in the City". And of course there is Alias and Lost.
Lost returns next week! I wonder how many episodes were in the can before the writers' strike...

Total Debt: $15,096
2008 goal Attained: $404 (of $5,500)

Time To Pay the Piper

2008-01-23T16:01:00.000-06:00

Well, by the looks of it, I made some great progress this month. But even still, payments still come with due dates and it is time to send money to Bank of America.

Minimum Payment = $49
Payment Sent (1/25) = $60.65
Attributed to interest = $10.65
Attributed to Credit Card Debt = $50

Total Debt: $15,096
2008 goal Attained: $404 (of $5,500)

Happy MLK Day

2008-01-21T22:38:00.001-06:00

Today we recognized Martin Luther King, Jr. by honoring his birthday. Many institutions were closed, including the University building where I have my voice lesson.

Because I had no voice lesson today, I didn't need to pay for it. This is a little bit of found money I will send to MasterCard!

Attributed to Credit Card Debt = $35

Total Debt: $15,146
2008 goal Attained: $354 (of $5,500)

I would also like to thank the Amazon shopper(s) who bought the following items:
-- Art & Fear
-- Portraits from Life in 29 Steps
-- The Artist's Complete Guide to Figure Drawing: A Contemporary Perspective on the Classical Tradition

Winter Came to Visit

2008-01-21T08:11:00.000-06:00

Winter made a stop in Houston this weekend. It was really cold. Sure, not Massachusetts cold, but chilly none the less. What I really needed was a hat!

Lucky for me the Queen of Florida sent me a really cool hat for Christmas, so I kept my noggin warm with that for the day.

Thank you, your majesty!

Total Debt: $15,181
2008 goal Attained: $319 (of $5,500)

With a Little Bit of Luck

2008-01-19T18:31:00.000-06:00

Back in December, I had a loverly little gig singing cockney Christmas Carols for the holiday party being hosted by the landlord of a big downtown building for its tenants.

Somebody had the brilliant idea to make the theme "My Fair Lady". Not Dickens or "A Christmas Carol", not even "White Christmas" or "Love Actually", but Shaw's ever perennial holiday favorite, "My Fair Lady".

The lobby of the building was sparsely decorated into two opposing vignettes. The Ascot race and Kensington Garden. Various characters were hired to entertain the troops. Wandering the party were Henry Higgins and Col. Pickering. At the Ascot were "Ascot" Eliza, Mrs. Higgins and Freddy Ensford Hill. In the Garden were "Cockney" Eliza, Alfred Dolittle, and his friend Jamey (me).

I spent two hours singing raucous versions of carols in a ridiculous cockney accent and working the crowd. ("Penny for a pint!" "Happy Christmas, Gov'na!") We had a little fun with some people who elected to dress up themselves. One group of young ladies were all dressed up as Eliza. There was an "Ascot" Eliza, a "leaving Higgins" Eliza, and a "Ball" Eliza. I shamelessly pointed them out repeatedly as the "Three Elizas". Kind of like the three Marys, but not.

I made $300 for that gig. The rest of December was crazy busy. I had my regular job which included performing in the children's show The BFG (Big Friendly Giant), performing in the MainStage show Mr. Pim Passes By 4 days a week and assistant directing Caroline, or Change (a sort of free internship, prove yourself kind of gig) just about every other day left.

With all this craziness, that meant a lot of eating on the run. Add the holidays to that, and December can get expensive and quickly. So, I have held that $300 in abeyance to make sure I can survive through January. AS it turns out, my earnings for Pim managed to get me through, so now the Cockney Carol money can be attributed to my debt reduction plan. Woo hoo!

Attributed to Credit Card Debt = $300

Total Debt: $15,181
2008 goal Attained: $319 (of $5,500)

Paying for Myself

2008-01-19T09:29:00.000-06:00

Because I am not sure if people go back to read the comments responding to there comments, I wanted to post this little exchange. Plus, I made so many typos, it was kind of embarrassing.

In UNDER THE TUSCAN SUN, Chris said...
Drew:
Your crediting yourself $19 toward paying off your credit card debt because you saw two movies for free seems disingenuous at best. The way to pay off your cards is to send checks to the credit card company. Then, when they send you a new statement, you can consider the difference between the old balance and the new to be true debt reduction.

I said...
Chris,
I think you misunderstand. I SENT $19 (added to this month's payment which is already included in the initial goal, fyi).

Since I saw the film for free, I sent the money I would have paid to see it to the CC company. Because it is going to be up for a lot of Oscars, I would have most likely spent the money anyway. Since I saw it for free, I "paid myself" for the film. Likewise, UTTS was a DVD I would have eventually bought for myself. I simply paid for it twice. Once to Amazon for a gift and once again to "myself" as the gift was no longer needed.

My monthly budget for paying these bills will never be enough. I will have to chip away at it whenever I can. Fortunately, with on-line bill pay, I can do this weekly!

Total Debt: $15,481
2008 goal Attained: $19 (of $5,500)

Under The Tuscan Sun

2008-01-15T18:33:00.000-06:00

Under the Tuscan Sun (Widescreen Edition) was released a few years back, and I re-watched it just this weekend. It is one of the most charming movies released in recent times.

Diane Lane is just perfect in this film, and the Tuscan country side is nothing to sneeze at. It is breathtaking. Italy is the true star of this film.

UTTS is a wonderful feel good movie. Something that is bound to cheer you up when you are feeling down, and long for a European vacation. One may not be able to *69 Italy, but when can we go?

The copy I have is a recent purchase. I originally bought it as a Secret Santa gift for a friend, but since she already had it, I kept it for myself. Since the gift was already bought and paid for, I will buy it from myself and attribute the $10 towards my goal for the year. For lack of a better term, I am going to call this "found money." Money I will send to my credit cards that isn't budgeted or earned through work.

I also saw There Will Be Blood for free this week. That would normally cost $9.00. I will pay myself for that as well.

Total Debt: $15,481
Goal Attained: $19

Credit Cards Are Bad!

2008-01-08T21:37:00.000-06:00

Karyn said it best when she created her web site, CREDIT CARDS ARE BAD.

2008 will be my 40th year in this world. I want to make it the best year ever. I want to be in the best shape of my life, both physically and financially. One way I hope to achieve this is share my work against my credit card debt to everyone.

I have $15,500.00 in credit card debt. I know, I know, how the hell did that happen!? Well, more than half of it was due to Tropical Strom Allison in 2001. The rest grad school and even mispending when I had a higher paying job.

As a working artist whose "day job" is also in non-profit arts, most headway I make on this total gets eaten up by something or other. Today, I am setting a goal for 2008. Pay $5,500.00 off by 12/31/08. And I will share my progress here.

YOU CAN HELP
Do you shop Amazon.com? If so, you can help me by starting your shopping here. Just come to my blog and click on the Amazon.com link of your choice to start your shopping. Every cent I make in commissions will go towards the bottom line, and I will report all my earingings here. Just click below...

Total Debt: $15,500
Goal Attained: $0.00

Small Minds Still Live!

2007-12-19T15:32:00.000-06:00

I manage the general e-mail box for the theater and we recieved the following e-mail about our current production. I have also included the internal "response" a co-worker wrote. Names have been deleted to protect the small minded!

SUBJECT: Mr. Pim Passes By
B****,

Congratulations on producing this funny comedy! It is a refreshing change
from some of the previous productions involving crude and vulgar language,
profanity, homosexuality and blasphemy. These are downers and we like
uppers. We go to the theater to have fun and get our spirits lifted, not to
get depressed.

Mr. Pim only had 3 "damns" and one crude word and since Milne wrote it in
1919, these words may have been added since then to make it more modern.

We hope the rest of the season productions are just as good.

Merry Xmas and Happy New Year!

L**** and B*****
---------------
Dear L**** and B*****,

Thank you for your positive sentiments. You will be pleased to know that
our 2008-2009 season consists entirely of time-honored classics from writers
such as Euripedes (The Bacchae), Shakespeare (Titus Andronicus), the theatre
of the Restoration ('Tis Pity She's a Whore), and Oscar Wilde (Salome).
There are probably not three "damns" in the entire season, so it will not
fail to lift your spirits!

We are highly aware of some audience members' sensitivities, and to honor
those concerns we are planning to take further steps to assist those patrons
in controlling their exposure to the offensive. Each audience member will
be provided with a headset and buzzer as well as a small rectangular black
card. The buzzer can be pressed or the card held up (vertically or
horizontally) when you deem it necessary to censor the language or spectacle
for yourself.

Hoping every season from now on is an "upper" for you, etc.

P.S. However, if you do not wish to see any homosexuals at the theater you
should probably just stay home.
-----------------

By the by, my character is responsible for one of those "damns". I doubt that it was added later.

The Gift

2007-11-27T22:57:00.001-06:00

A local station is nonstop Christmas music for the season. This particular song (I believe sung by Alison Krauss) has been coming up. It just makes me cry. I can't even sing along...

The Gift
A poor orphan girl named Maria
Was walking to market one day
She stopped for to rest by the roadside
Where a bird with a broken wing lay
A few moments passed till she saw it
For its feathers were covered with sand
But soon clean and wrapped it was travelling
In the warmth of Maria's small hand

She happily gave her last peso
On a cage made of rushes and twine
She fed it loose corn from the market
And watched it grow stronger with time

Now the Christmas Eve service was coming
And the church shone with tinsel and light
And all of the townfolks brought presents
To lay by the manger that night
There were diamonds and incense
And perfumes
In packages fit for a king
But for one ragged bird in a small cage
Maria had nothing to bring

She waited till just before midnight
So no one would see her go in
And crying she knelt by the manger
For her gift was unworthy of Him

Then a voice spoke to her through the darkness
Maria, what brings you to me
If the bird in the cage is your offering
Open the door and let me see
Though she trembled, she did as He asked her
And out of the cage the bird flew
Soaring up into the rafters
On a wing that had healed good as new

Just then the midnight bells rang out
And the little bird started to sing
A song that no words could recapture
Whose beauty was fit for a king

Now Maria felt blessed just to listen
To that cascade of notes sweet and long
As her offering was lifted to heaven
By the very first nightingale's song

Mr. Pim Passes By

2007-11-18T11:46:00.000-06:00

Who knew it would take to nearly 40 to dashing?

MST's amusing Mr. Pim shows audiences another side of Winnie-the-Pooh creator A.A. Milne
By EVERETT EVANS
Houston Chronicle

Winnie-the-Playwright?

Yes, Christopher Robin, A.A. Milne wrote more than just those beloved stories about Winnie-the-Pooh, Eeyore, Piglet and the rest.

In fact, the children's tales and poems Milne created in the 1920s to amuse his son (the real-life Christopher Robin) were but a small part of his overall output, which included more than 25 plays and 17 books, both novels and non-fiction.

For much of his life, Milne (1882-1956) rather resented the fact that the silly old bear had eclipsed all his other work in the public eye.

So Milne would no doubt relish Main Street Theater's engaging revival of his 1920 comedy of manners Mr. Pim Passes By, his most successful and best-known play. Playgoers who appreciate gentle humor, quaint charm and amusingly drawn characters will enjoy it, too.

The simple plot unfolds at the country estate of bossy judge George Marden and his patient wife, Olivia. Living with them is George's sweetly impertinent niece, and ward, Dinah, eager to marry her dashing artist boyfriend, Brian Strange. George, naturally disapproves of their union, while Olivia encourages it.

Into the staid household comes Carraway Pim, a meek and forgetful little man with a letter of introduction. When he casually mentions meeting one Mr. Telworthy on the boat from Australia, he throws the Mardens into a tizzy. For Telworthy was Olivia's first husband, long thought dead. And if he is alive, they have committed bigamy and their marriage is nullified.

This pleasant trifle boasts some solid laughs amid its droll conversations, as when George decries Brian's modern painting with its ``triangular clouds and square sheep.'' Things get a bit thick with George's fretting over what the law and the church will say about the breach of propriety. But the play is never out of sorts for long. It peaks in the scene of wily Olivia using the confusion to get the better of George, extracting his consent both to Dinah's marriage and the new drapes he detests. In a play of this sort, the wife always gets the better of the husband.

Director Steve Garfinkel, MST's go-to guy for period charmers, achieves crispness and the requisite light touch. With a play this slight, push too hard for laughs and it collapses. Garfinkel and his team seem to understand, easy does it.

Carolyn Johnson exerts sly style and worldliness as the quietly knowing Olivia. Rutherford Cravens blusters and fumes as irascible George. But when he fears he may lose his "old girl,'' Cravens conveys genuine tenderness.

Morgan McCarthy makes an ideal ingenue as Dinah, a delightfully pert minx aglow with dewy freshness and a touch of mischief. Andrew Ruthven's solid Brian nicely balances her vivacity; he's ardent with her, but tongue-tied pleading his case to her guardian.
As Mr. Pim, Fritz Dickmann wanders in and out absent-mindedly, vague and primly fussy, unaware of the havoc he's unleashed. Melinda deKay is stern and sour-faced as the inevitable disapproving aunt, while Lyndsay Sweeney scutters about obligingly as the housemaid.

Boris Kaplun has designed an attractive English parlor with its cozy nooks, and Sarajane Milligan has costumed its people handsomely.

With Mr Pim, MST lets Houston playgoers experience what Milne's writing was like outside the nursery. Given that J.M. Barrie has suffered a similar fate, with an even more significant playwriting career overshadowed by his children's classic (Peter Pan), how long before one of Barrie's neglected plays pops up at MST? Anyone for Dear Brutus or What Every Woman Knows?

everett.evans@chron.com

Mr. Pim Passes By
When: 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, 8 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays, 3 p.m. Sundays, through Dec. 23. No performance Thanksgiving Day. On Nov. 29, Thursday show at 8 p.m.
Where: Main Street Theater, 2540 Times
Tickets:$20-$35; 713-524-6706.

Reviews are in for "Sylvia"!

2007-10-24T14:12:00.000-05:00

Okay, just one, but not bad for my first full Houston outing as a director!

Sylvia, A Masked Ball
Despite some leg humping, A. R. Gurney's fable gets best in show
By D.L. Groover
Published: October 25, 2007

That old showbiz axiom — work with dogs, risk being upstaged — receives a refreshing swat across the snout in A.R. Gurney's romantic fable Sylvia, now running at Town Center Theatre. In this ultra-smart marital comedy, the title character is a dog, played to canine perfection by the spirited Alison Luff.

In Gurney's warm and softly funny play, Sylvia romps with puppy abandon, yapping when annoyed, barking obscenities at nearby felines, humping a leg or two and indiscriminately peeing on the carpet. She is pure love, and her new master, unemployed Greg (John Chandler), who found her wandering lost in the park, is instantly smitten, falling hard under her doggie charm. But Greg's power wife Kate (Bonnie Hewett) is not amused. She's savvy enough to notice who's getting more loving between her and the dog. "Saliva," Kate calls the intruder with disparagement, has got to go. They circle each other warily, both on all fours by the end of Act I, each determined to be top dog.

Gurney's sly treatment of marriage, commitment and New York life gently mocks the universal, age-old battle of the sexes. The playwright's arsenal of tricks is as clever and adorable as Lassie's. Tipping the scales in this domestic triad are three subsidiary characters played by the same actor (Aaron Stryk on opening weekend; Ben Warner for the remaining performances). Buddy Tom is Greg's male chauvinist enabler who swears by self-help guru-type books like Your Pooch and Your Partner. Phyllis is Kate's Upper East Side yenta friend, who thinks a goldfish makes the safest companion for a distracted husband. Then there's Leslie of the indeterminate gender, the couple's marriage counselor who's sorely in need of her own therapist. Each has his or her own comic take on what it really means to a healthy relationship when one of the partners brings a different kind of love back home.

Under director [Drewster's] smooth pacing, Gurney's cozy, hip play gleams with professional polish. The cast is an utter delight. Luff, of course, makes a sexy bitch; lovesick Chandler is as forlorn as a beagle; Hewett fights for her dignity with bulldog tenacity; and Stryk's versatility is truly best in show. A resounding pat on the head to Town Center — good dog!

http://entertainment.houstonpress.com/2007-10-25/culture/top-dog/

Drowning in the Depths

2007-09-28T17:01:00.000-05:00

You know you are really down in the dumps when you are so dreppressed you can't decide which confort food will make you feel better.

Pizza?
Fried chicken?
Coffee ice cream?

In the end, pizza wins because they bring it to you...

The Pan Is Back!

2007-09-09T22:06:00.001-05:00

Remember all those many months ago when Peter Pan Peanut Butter was found to contain harmful bacteria and all the jars, whether it was part of the recalled lot or not, were pulled from the shelves? I do. I had one of those jars and had been eating from it. Fortunately, I did not get ill, but it was with a heavy heart that I threw that jar of peanut butter away and bought a jar of Jiff from the shelves with the big empty spaces where Peter Pan used to be.

The company promised to hunt down the problem (leaky water pipes in the factory) and start new production in July. Well my friends that promise has come to bear on the shelves of Kroger in Houston, Texas.

Today I saw Peter Pan Peanut Butter on the shelves. Crunchy and creamy. Only small jars, but I didn’t care. I bought two, brought them home and opened one immediately. Taking a knife from the draw, I scooped some out and ate it straight from the jar.

Can I tell you it was a little bit of heaven in my mouth? Jiff was okay, but nothing can compare to the richness and flavor on Peter Pan.

Zip-a-dee-do-dah!

When can you tell them that Beth dies?

2007-07-26T08:20:00.000-05:00

At long last, the last Harry Potter book has been released. In anticipation of finishing the series, a small group of friends have been e-mailing each other when they finished, indicating that it was okay to talk about it.

In that thread, entitled "finished yet?", there was some general teasing of grandly false reveals, but when people announced they were finished, private threads were started to discuss.

Today, I got an e-mail in the original thread from a friend announcing that they are going to read the books now that ALL were published and to remove him from the discussion. First, I found this funny since he wasn't part of any real discussion, but then it made me think of a question I have often asked. Is it ever allowed to say to someone, "Tough, we are talking about it and yes, Beth dies?"

(For non-fans of FRIENDS, I refer to when Rachel revealed to Joey that Beth dies in LITTLE WOMEN.)

When books or movies or TV finales come out, very often you have to watch what you say because people around you haven't read or seen it yet. And of course, if you haven't finished HP7 by today, or saw last night's TV show finale or last weekend's big movie, you do your best not to reveal anything.

But what about last year's big shocking item? Is it ever safe to say, um sorry, Beth dies, the ship sinks, or who is Kaiser Souse?

I say yes. There is a statute of limitations on keeping surprises secret. What that is, I don't know. A few months maybe? A year? I just did SIDE SHOW, and the actor playing Terry mentioned that he had never seen SEVEN and someone else said he was shocked that so many people didn't understand what was in the box at the end (revealing said object), and Terry was all, "You ruined it!" The movie came out years ago. Unless you say, "I have never seen SEVEN and don't say anything, I am renting it this week!", you run the risk of someone saying, "That was a great movie. I can't believe that _____ was in the box at the end!"

What I can say to my future HP reading friend, even if you start reading now, you will probably reach this limit before you get to book 7. Just warning you.

So, the next time you tell me, "I have never read Little Women.", don't be surprised if I tell you how much I love that book and cry every time Beth dies unless you instantly tell me to keep my trap shut! And for those of you keeping track, sorry, there is a box at the end of SEVEN and someone IS Kaiser Souse.

Band of Brothers still gets me

2007-05-26T17:44:00.000-05:00

With summer reruns upon us, I have been burning through my netflix dvds pretty fast. So, to fill time inbetween deliveries, I have turned to my own, neglected library.

I saw Band of Brothers when it was first broadcast in 2001. It just floored me. I received the dvds for Christmas one year, but never watched them. So, I thought, this would be a good time.

I dropped in disc one today. No time to watch, but I thought I would watch the opening credits to get it "set up" for viewing later. I forgot how truly beautiful the music was. I mean, I thought it was great, but I was practically in tears by the end of the credits. And this was just emotional memory of the show. I couldn't really remember specific scenes or performances other than my favorite one revolved around the medic.

If I had to name one program as the best television event ever, BOB would win hands down. I wouldn't have to think about it. It was even better than From the Earth to the Moon.

If you haven't seen it, I urge you to run, not walk, to your nearest store or on-line queue and see this epic work.

That's all.

The World will pardon my blush...

2007-05-16T22:08:00.000-05:00

You ever have a crush on someone you can't shake? I do now. Man, what a pain in the neck!

I have had a crush on a certain someone for a while now. They are not interested in the slightest, at least as far as I can tell, and that's fine. So, it is just up to me to get over it, right?

And just when you think you are over it, something draws you back. That certain thing about that person that makes your mind melt, your heart flip and your hand reach out and grab hold for all it's worth.

Of course you resist the urge to grab hold, thus avoiding a lot of awkward silence and avoided glances, but the rest you can't avoid. So there you are, wandering towards Crush City again knowing full well that nothing good will be waiting there.

So, back you are trying to get over it again. This time steeling yourself against a pair of perfect shoulders attached to a beautiful back that you just want to ... well, you know.

Am I the next Laird?

2007-04-27T21:45:00.000-05:00

One of the benefits of joining Netflix is that I get to see many a BBC series that normal cable does not afford.

One recommended to me by that particular Internet engine was "Monarch of the Glen". It is a capable drama with some wit and loads of fantastic Scottish countryside.

A special feature of the first season disk is a piece a travel show did on the area where the show is filmed. Various locations were shot with interviews of cast members. Once interview starts with an establishing shot of some ruins. They sort of looked familiar, but hey, one ruin looks like the rest, no. In the interview they refer to the ruins as barracks. What a minute, I think, barracks? The only barracks I know are the barracks that bear my surname. So I rewind and look again. By golly if that isn't what they are.

The barracks are not named, but I do some quick research on the other areas, like Loch Insh and Kingussie, and sure enough, "Monarch of the Glen" is filmed in the area that was once lorded over by my forefathers! No wonder I like the show so much!

I want to go to Scotland!

Where is the laugh track?

2007-04-15T15:54:00.000-05:00

The afternoon was planned out so nicely. After working in the box office dealing with closing day crowds, I came home, ordered pizza and sat down to handle my taxes.

Mine aren't that difficult this year. Turbo Tax makes it a breeze!

Well, that is until you find out that Turbo Tax no longer supports Windows ME. I can't load the software on my computer. I can load it on my lap top, but that is at work. I will just run back there and ... no, I have pizza coming. I will have to wait on that!

Fine, I have a judging report to do for the Tommy Tune High School Musical awards to do. I will just pull that out. Its late for various reasons, so if I can just get it out of the way...

Wait, these aren't the forms for the school I did from the other judges. I judged with Lynne, yes, but not this school. Uh oh.

So now I can't do my taxes because my computer has been abandoned by Microsoft. I can't do my judging letter because I got the wrong forms, and I have pizza coming that was supposed to be my reward and to sustain me as I do it all.

Ai yi yi!

Retail Revenge

2007-03-29T20:07:00.000-05:00

Just over two weeks ago I bought some new swim trunks and a pair of shorts from Target for my Puerto Rican Vacation.

10 days later, just after my return from PR, I was in Target and saw that the items were on sale.

5 days after that, I returned with my receipts for a price reduction.

Denied!

Reason number 1, the sale was over. I kind of get that. It was Sunday and the sale ended the day before, on Saturday. I just didn't move fast enough.

Reason number 2, something to do with the receipt, the sale and 14 days. I don't know if the receipt was 15 days old and not eligible for a price break, or if they meant the sale had to be within 14 days of the purchase (um, which it was) or what, but denial none the less.

Regardless, the fact that I was denied really annoyed me. I mean, why not give me the reduction? The items were still returnable after all. The receipt didn't expire for that until June.

To satisfy my annoyance, I took the items back today for a full refund citing ill fit as the reason. This was kind of true for the swim trunks, and if I really commit to losing 20lbs., may soon be the case for the shorts (though the smaller size did compete with bone structure as well as fleshy parts). I think the price break would have been like $10. The refund was $35 plus tax. How about that for a price reduction?

I work in customer service. I know there are rules to follow. Heck, I create some of the rules, but if you can cut the customer a break without sweating it, you do. That creates good will.

As for the shorts? I will just wait for them to go on sale again...

Como se llama?

2007-03-17T07:19:00.000-05:00

So, I am on vacation in sunny Puerto Rico and on Blogger everything is in Spanish. Not my posts. I am not typing in English and magically watching my words show up in Spanish, but all the headings and titles and such are in Spanish.

Having lived most of my life and spent more than half my education in Texas, I have studied Spanish a little. So I can see that "nueva entrada" means new entry and "Anonimo dijo" means Anonymous Says. (Note that the first O in Anonimo should have an accent)

The odd thing is, the magic of computers knows that I am in a mostly Spanish speaking country, but it must remember that my blog was created in the USA. My blog page is almost entirely in English. Just the blue bar at the top contains foriegn words. The rest of the Blogger created items are English. Posting dates, monthly archives etc.

!Muy extraño!

What's more, there isn't an option to change to English that I can find. It is an American territory. There are some only English speaking people living here. They should have that option, don't you think?

I will now publicar instead of guardar como borrador. I think I will achieve the correct result...

I have succumbed to the future of video!

2007-03-11T00:58:00.000-06:00

I became a member of Netflicks this past week. I had been avoiding it very well so far. I didn't have much need for it as I watched so much TV I always had something taped.

Yet, this near spring, as my schedule started to ease up, I found huge chunks of time when I was all caught up on shows and could either do chores or watch Clean Sweep on TLC. Well, Clean Sweep is fun, but after a while you do feel like you should be practicing what they teach, so I need something else to watch in this down time.

So, I joined Netflicks. What for? TV series! There are a few I have missed for one reason or another (pay cable, irregular airings) and so I am starting with those. Want to see a schedule that will give you whiplash?

Season 1: Queer As Folk
Battlestar Galactica Mini (seen but refresher for...)
Season 1: Battlestar Galactica
Season 1: MI5 (also seen, but damn good, short and prep for later seasons!)

I am at the cheapest unlimited level. 1 at a time. With a Houston warehouse, the turn around is amazing. I signed up over the weekend. Disc one showed up Tuesday. Watched the whole thing, dropped it in the mail Wednesday. Watched Lost and Survior in the mean time, and the second disc arrived Friday. Not too shabby!

Down shifting in the Fast Lane

2007-02-28T08:17:00.000-06:00

Life is finally beginning to slow down. Thank all that is great and good in the world!

I closed The Diary of Anne Frank last week. The show is one of the most depressing stories ever told, and it really happened. Doing it 2 to 3 times a day, 5 or 6 days a week can really get to you. I am exhausted, grumpy and easily annoyed.

But now it is over. Side Show goes up this weekend. It is a concert presentation of the show as a fundraiser and a kind of backers audition for a full production this summer. After the concert, vacation in sunny Puerto Rico!

Side Show will most likely be my last major project for a while. I am tired. I am really tired of auditioning! And it doesn't help that you audition and audition, putting in some really good ones, and then, without being considered for a larger role, producers go trolling for the people who didn't audition to play principal parts. And I am really beginning to resent listening to director friends talk about all the people they want for principals and features in their next project but you are not one of them.

I think I am going to be leaving the musical stage for a while. I want to be more than performing right now. I want something that I can really sink my teeth into. Doing ensemble for something like Side Show is fun (great music, great cast) and I am performing, which is always a high, but I don't feel like I am doing any work. Not like a I got to do in Anne Frank and especially in An Empty Plate at the Cafe du Grand Beouf.

So, if they come looking for me, great. I will consider any opportunity offered, but there are plenty of choristers out there. I need interesting, growth potential work or I need rest.

What the hell, I will blog!

2007-02-22T22:10:00.000-06:00

Dear Reader,
So it seems I can never get the hang of this blog thing. It has been almost a month since I tried to say anything. I suppose I put to much importance on what I want to say.

Part of the problem is I think I want to say something deep and purposeful, but then I think, do I want everyone who might be reading this blog to know that? There are some I would love to know that, but others it might be too much. This is because people who read this KNOW who writes this. And for that matter, does anyone really care? Well, yes, people do care, but should I bore the rest of you with the deep renderings of my twisted, dissappointed, confused soul?

In the mean time I just upgraded to the new blogger. I had been resisting. But why? It is not like I used the old one to any degree to make me hang on to it.

On an unrelated note, Burger King keeps playing a commercial on the radio that is making me nuts. A man with a hidden mike goes to Arkansas and asks if he can get a "Mustard Whopper". Not a Whopper with mustard that the young lady is more than happy to make him, but a Mustard Whopper like they make in Texas. Since you can get a Mustard Whopper in Texas and not Arkansas, Texas is somehow better. What the hell? BK is the have it your way place. If you want mustard on your whopper, you should just be able to ask for it. You shouldn't expect that they will have a special whopper with mustard on it?

I wonder what they would do if I went into a Texas BK and ordered a Mustard Whopper with no Mustard. You mean you want a regular whopper sir? No, I want a Mustard Whopper, I just want to have it my way!

Where did I go?

2007-01-28T09:22:00.000-06:00

So, dear reader, you probably wonder where the hell did I go! My little pic has been missing for an unknown length of time. It is due to my joining the high speed DSL highway.

My icon was saved on a server that was connected to my dial up account. I only use that server for the icon. I didn't even realize the impact it would have.

So I uploaded the icon to another server I have access to, but still, I remained a little red x! What was up with that?

It finally occurs to me today that I only needed to republish my blog! Gee, maybe if I poseted more, I would have noticed and fixed it sooner!

On the related note on catching up on my on-line reading, I found out some distressing news about the Queen of Florida. A tragic event brought about a dark time for the kingdom, but from what I hear, all is going well toward brighter days, and her highness is showing a face to her subjects that even Queen Elizabeth would be proud of. God save the Queen!

Catching up!

2006-12-23T10:42:00.000-06:00

It is two days before Christmas. The day is only just getting started!

This week I got the yearly ornaments out to the neices and nephews. Sure, they will be late, but they are out.

I got packages off to the parents. Because it included a box my mother sent me to route to her (I guess the cookware people wouldn't ship to Puerto Rico), it cost $50 normal, so I paid the extra $20 to get it there by Wednesday. My step-father's books will be two days late, but they are out!

Today I clean out the car so I can go to storage and get the Christmas stuff. Primary goal is to get tree up and lit. If some ornaments make it today, great. Tomorrow will be all about the tree with a break to see family for a birthday.

So, if all goes well, there will be Christmas. And then I start planning on next year. One needs to get back into the habit of timeliness!

What has happened to Christmas?

2006-12-20T11:35:00.000-06:00

I have almost totally lost track of Christmas. It is horrible.

I used to have my tree up by the end of Thanksgiving Weekend, a party, gifts and ornaments bought for various family members wrapped and sent. There was a time when extended family got cookies!

This year, it is the 20th. Still no tree. Last year it went up Christmas Eve and day. This year may be the same. I host Secret Santa, so it has to go up!

No general party in years!

By chance, some gifts and ornaments have gone out in time, but many others have not. I guess I will add a note saying to save for next year. One sister-in-law might leave the tree up for a while, but the another takes it down on the 26th. At least I will see one set of Nieces/Nephews on Christmas Day, so THEY won't be late.

Everything else is just not ready. It's awful! Various relatives still talk about and miss my cookies, but I haven't been able to even think about trying in many years. I just can't get myself organized. It is just ridiculous!

Maybe I should just start planning next Christmas now ...

I’VE DONE 84 OF THE 145 THINGS THAT MIGHT SURPRISE YOU

2006-11-30T15:12:00.000-06:00

This was a list of the “dumbest” things, but a lot of the things weren’t dumb, so I changed the title! Some of them aren't that surprising, but it was better than dumb.

People might be surprised if they knew you . . .

(x) Smoked A Cigarette
( ) Smoked A Cigar
(x) Tried Weed
(x) Kissed A Member Of The Same Sex
(x) Drank Alcohol

So Far:4

(x) Are / Been In Love
(x) Shoplifted
( ) Been Fired
(x) Been In A Fist Fight

So Far: 7

( ) Snuck Out Of A Parent's House
(x) Had Feelings For Someone Who Didn't Have Them Back
( ) Been Arrested
(x) Made out With A Stranger
(x) Gone Out On A Blind Date

SO FAR: 10

( ) Had A Crush On An Older Person
(x) Skipped School
( ) Slept With A Co-worker
(x) Seen Someone / Something Die

SO FAR: 12

(x) Had A Crush On One Of Your Friends
(x) Been To Paris
(x) Been To Spain
(x) Been On A Plane
( ) Thrown Up From Drinking

SO FAR: 16

(x) Eaten Sushi
(x) Been Snowboarding/Skiing
( ) Met Someone BECAUSE Of Myspace

SO FAR: 18

( ) Been In An Abusive Relationship
(x) Taken Pain Killers
(x)"Liked" Someone Who You Cant Have
(x) Laid On Your Back And Watched Cloud Shapes Go By
(x) Made A Snow Angel

SO FAR: 22

(x) Drank Tea
(x) Flown A Kite
(x) Built A Sand Castle
(x) Gone Puddle Jumping
(x) Played Dress Up

SO FAR: 27

(x) Jumped Into A Pile Of Leaves
(x) Gone Sledding
(x) Cheated While Playing A Game
(x) Been Lonely
(x) Fallen Asleep At Work / School

SO FAR: 32

(x) Used A Fake / Someone Else's ID
(x) Watched The Sun Set
( ) Felt An Earthquake
( ) Killed A Snake

SO FAR: 34

(x) Been Tickled
( ) Been Robbed / Vandalized
( ) Robbed Someone
(x) Been Misunderstood
( ) Pet A Deer

SO FAR: 36

(x) Won A Contest
( ) Been Suspended From School
(x) Had Detention
(x) Been In A Car / Motorcycle Accident

SO FAR: 39

(x) Had / Have Braces
( ) eaten a whole gallon of ice cream in one night
(x) had deja vu
(x) danced in the moonlight

SO FAR: 42

(x) Hated The Way You Looked
( ) Pole Danced
(x) Questioned Your Heart
( ) Been Obsessed With Post-It Note

SO FAR: 44

(x) Squished Barefoot Through The Mud
(x) Been Lost
( ) Been To The Opposite Side Of The World
(x) Swam In The Ocean / Gulf
(x) Felt Like You Were Dying

SO FAR: 48

(x) Cried Yourself To Sleep
(x) Played Cops And Robbers
( ) Recently Colored With Crayons / Colored Pencils / Markers
(x) Sang Karaoke
( ) Paid For A Meal With Only Coins

SO FAR: 51

(x) Done Something You Told Yourself You Wouldn't
(x) Made Prank Phone Calls
(x) Laughed Until Some Kind Of Beverage Came Out Of Your Nose
( ) Set a friend's eyebrows on fire
( ) Kissed In The Rain

SO FAR: 54

(x) Written A Letter To Santa Claus
( ) Been Kissed Under A Mistletoe
(x) Watched The Sun Set With Someone You Care / Cared About
(x) Blown Bubbles
(x) Made A Bonfire On The Beach

SO FAR: 58

(x) Crashed A Party
( ) Have Traveled More Than 5 Days With A Car Full Of People
(x) Gone Roller-skating / Roller-blading
(x) Had A Wish Come True
( ) Had your leg humped by a dog

SO FAR: 61

( ) Worn Pearls
( ) Jumped Off A Bridge
( ) Swam With Dolphins/sharks

SO FAR: 61

(x) Got Your Tongue Stuck To A Pole / Freezer/ice Cube
( ) Kissed A Fish
(x) Worn The Opposite Sex's Clothes
(x) Sat On A Roof Top

So FAR: 64

(x) Screamed At The Top Of Your Lungs
( ) Done A One-Handed Cartwheel
( ) Talked On The Phone For More Than 6 Hours
(x) Stayed Up All Night

SO FAR: 66

( ) Picked And Ate An Apple Right Off The Tree
(x) Climbed A Tree
(x) Had / Been In A Tree House
( ) Scared To Watch Scary Movies Alone

SO FAR: 68

(x) Believe In Ghosts
( ) Have / Had More Then 30 Pairs Of Shoes
(x) Gone Streaking
( ) Gone to Jail / or just Visited

SO FAR: 70

(x) Played Chicken
(x) Been Pushed Into A Pool/Lake With All Your Clothes On
(x) Broken A Bone

SO FAR: 73

( ) Caught A Fish Then Ate It
( ) Made A Porno Video
(x) Caught A Butterfly
(x) Laughed So Hard You Cried
( ) Cried So Hard You Laughed..

SO FAR: 75

(x) Cheated On A Test
(x) Forgotten Someone's Name
( ) Slept Naked
( ) French Braided Someone’s Hair
( ) Been Kicked Out Of Your House

SO FAR: 77

(x) Rode A Roller Coaster
(x) Went Scuba-Diving / Snorkeling
( ) Black-Mailed Someone
( ) Been Black Mailed

SO FAR: 79

(x) Been Used
(x) Fell Going Up The Stairs
( ) Licked A Cat
(x) Bitten Someone
(x) Licked Someone

So Far: 83

( ) Had a loaded gun pointed at you soft, bb, paint
( ) Flattened someone’s tires
(x) Rode in a car until the gas light came on
( ) Drove into a pole/street sign
( ) Cut somebody’s brakes

So Far: 84

Repost Your Results Like This...
I’VE DONE # OF THE 145 THINGS THAT MIGHT SURPRISE YOU

A Nightmare with Frog and Toad

2006-11-24T10:09:00.000-06:00

I had the craziest nightmare last night about a job I am doing now.

I sub in once a week as Frog in A Year with Frog and Toad. In the dream I am ready to do the show. We do the opening number, everything goes fine. At the end of the number I rush off for my first costume change. I struggle with the tie a bit when I realize I have left two numbers early and the next number is about to start.

I can't get my tie back on, as I sing the first few bars from off stage. I get myself basically pulled back together, sans tie, and get on stage before the number complete falls apart.

The show continues and I do come to the costume change. I rush off and start stripping when I notice that I forgot to lay out my quick changes! I rush back to the dressing room and start stripping. I wear a body suit in the show, and it is impossible to get off. I hear over the monitor that the orchestra is vamping, which is odd since it is a CD, and Toad is vamping. Then I realize that the body suit never comes off and I am going to have to get it on again, and the show is left in a holding pattern and I can't seem to move fast enough and I wake up!

It doesn't seem to matter that the first costume change is actually under dressed, or should have been.

I go on once a week, we had a week off due to the holiday and my neice will be coming to see me on my first day back. Granted she will see the third of three shows that day, so any cobweb should be shaken out. Still, in general, I don't want there to be any cobweb problems.

All of a sudden it is high anxiety!

Yeah for the Garden State!

2006-10-25T18:00:00.000-05:00

"New Jersey's highest court opened the door Wednesday to making the state the second in the nation to allow gay marriage, ruling that lawmakers must offer homosexuals either marriage or something like it, such as civil unions."

I have to agree with the majority in this case as well. I know the dissenters wanted more, but this is the problem I have always seen. Gay couples rally that they want marriage, but the term "marriage" is too wrapped up in the religious institution. That marriage has both legal and religious connotations has always been the problem, even though people could get legally married with out any religious involvement.

I have always believed that if activists asked for a legal institution that was the same as the one afforded marriage, but that was called something else, far less people would object.

I know, they will say gays have the right to be called married, but no one can stop you from saying it that way. But, no court in the world should be asked to make a religious institution perform or recognize a marriage.

Just as religion shouldn't govern how we make our laws, government is not supposed to govern religion. As long as a gay couple can be afforded the same LEGAL rights as a hetero couple, this is a victory. It doesn't matter if it is called a civil union or a marriage. A rose by any other name ...

Ashes to Ashes ...

2006-10-22T13:36:00.000-05:00

'What will your obituary say?' at QuizGalaxy.com

What's on my Ipod?

2006-10-18T12:14:00.000-05:00

Very often you see people posting "What they are listening to now?" or "What's on your Ipod now?"

I filled up my Ipod Shuffle completely this week for the first time, so I thought I would share what was on it. Not every title. Ack! That would be ridiculous. Maybe someday in a streaming paragraph when I am THAT bored.

I give a listing by genre. Since Soundtrack is so varied, I did a subdivision of that by Title. Plus occasional commentary.

Alternative – 9
Alternative & Punk – 11
Classical – 2
Country – 1
Disney – 2
Experimental Jazz – 2 (both The Hundredth Monkey. Indie Indy band of a friend with no label and thus no Itunes Genre. Went with their MySpace genre)
Holiday – 1 (Diana Krall's Jingle Bells!)
Inspirational – 4
Pop – 10
Rock – 9
Soundtrack – 72
   You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown – 2
   Will Roger’s Follies – 1
   Wicked – 10
   West Side Story – 1 (by Little Richard no less)
   Urinetown – 2
   Tick tick Boom – 12
   The Producers – 1
   The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee – 3
   Spamalot – 2
   Rent – 9
   Ragtime – 2
   Moulin Rouge – 4
   Little Women – 4
   Hairspray – 1
   Do Black Patent Leather Shoes Really Reflect Up?– 1
   Dirty Rotten Scoundrels – 2
   Bernstein’s New York – 2
   Avenue Q – 12
   Animaniacs – 1
Vocal – 10
World – 1 (The Orange & The Green)

Stupid or Smart?

2006-10-17T11:19:00.000-05:00

When I was in college, studying to be an actor, they required you to take a class in another discipline your sophomore year. I took stage management. I enjoyed it and I thought having another skill might make me more employable.

My Junior year I took lighting design and technology as an elective. Also enjoyable. Another diverse skill.

Years later, after making my break into the Houston theater scene with "Assassins", I picked up some Stage Management jobs as a way to introduce myself to various theaters. My fondest memory of that time was having an actor, who had been in "Assassins", see me working on a show as the SM and saying to me, "What a wonderful direction for you to go in!" Ah, memories!

Now, from my current vantage point, I wonder if that wasn't all a big mistake. Some people might agree. When they find out you are good at a non-acting skill that few people are good at, they begin to rely on you for the non-acting skill instead of the acting.

I have worked hard for people to see me as a diverse artist, capable of doing many things to be a working artist, but I am not performing as much as I would like. I am not getting the kind of work that I want.

So, I fear lighting and other general techie stuff will have to go on sabbatical. Sorry you two! Hope you don't get too rusty sitting there in the closet!

My friend Carol, the ancient yuletide troll, is making the big move to NYC at a time that many people would say is late in one's career. This is a very brave and scary thing.

Though I love NYC, and living there would definitely be an adventure, I am also devoted to the idea that one should be able to live in the provinces and survive as an artist. I have role models to follow and fellows who agree. But demands of jobs taken for my technical skill have gotten too much in the way.

Times they are a changing. I am a changing. It is time to not be afraid any more.

It could also mean I am a crappy actor, a second rate singer, and should be happy to be pushing the GO button on the light board in a cramped, stuffy booth. But enough of self pity...

I can get into this result!

2006-10-16T12:10:00.000-05:00

Your results:
You are Spider-Man

Spider-Man		90%
Catwoman		85%
The Flash		80%
Superman		75%
Green Lantern		70%
Iron Man		70%
Robin		65%
Batman		40%
Hulk		40%
Supergirl		35%
Wonder Woman		35%

You are intelligent, witty,
a bit geeky and have great
power and responsibility.

Click here to take the Superhero Personality Quiz

Yahoooooooo!

2006-10-10T14:25:00.000-05:00

So, a month ago I started using the Yahoo calendar feature in my Yahoo mail on-line and it is kind of actually working. Since I have access to it any time I am at any computer, I can but appointments on there anytime I get referenced to them via e-mail.

Of course, if I need my calendar handy for anything, I have to print the month or two, but I think I can get used to that idea.

What I like best are the reminders you get via e-mail. I get two remainders (24 and 6 hours) for each appointment and a daily e-mail listing all appointments that day. Now I have no excuse to forget what is coming.

Now that my schedule is organized, I wonder if I can get the rest of it sorted out ....

An Ego booster!

2006-09-16T10:58:00.000-05:00

My friend Radio Man is doing a short film. The director wanted to do a little rehearsal, but one of the actors is coming but of California for the shoot, and thus, isn't available before hand. RM asked me if I would come out with him and be his reading partner for rehearsal.

Sure, why not.

We were a little early by mistake, and waited while we watched a couple of scenes worked on their feet with a little pre-blocking.

Then another actor came in to play a transient for a couple of scenes. I was playing Jack, a middle aged, worn our number cruncher giving a stranger a lift from a local diner. RM was the stranger, I will call Hal since I can't remember his real name. Jack and Hal exit the gas station to find the bum peeing on Jack's car.

The actor playing the bum was, how shall I put it, committed. He was ready to pull down his pants, "pee" with a saline bottle, and even vomit on cue. I reminded him that I was only a stand in. Please don't vomit on me.

So, as we finished up that scene, and RM thought it was a table session and not memorized on anything, we moved on to that. This helped keep the bum actor from dropping trou, but it was all anyone could do to prevent a vomiting demonstration.

Finally, bum was done and we moved on to the Jack/Hal scenes.

After working through those, two other actors came in for their work, but they could not find a Jack to fill in, so I agreed to stay and work with them for a bit too.

When we were done the director asked if I would be interested in doing the film should something happen to the Cal. actor. That's not likely to happen, I am sure, and since RM and I work together on a schedule that has been prepared to allow him the time to do the movie, I don't know that I could do it, but it was real fun to get a request like that just out of the blue!

And his impression came back to me through other mutual channels. I have spent all these years trying to impress stage directors. Maybe I oughta be in pictures!

It just feels nice to get positive reinforcement when least expected.

IT

2006-09-14T22:08:00.000-05:00

When you are a performer, one of the biggest variables is the "It Factor." Do you have IT? That is the question.

I often wonder if I have it and would like to think I do. When I perform, if I have the opportunity to greet the audience afterwards, I usually get good feedback on my performance. Many times the size of my role does not limit the audience from complimenting me on my work. When they see me, they clearly see it.

On the flip side, when I audition, getting a job often seems like a struggle. Some directors, including one or two whom I consider close personal friends, don't seem to see it. Some shows I am cast in with out hesitation. Clearly they saw it. Others, I can't seem to break in. They don't see it.

So I must have it, just not everyone can see it. That someone in the audience sees it keeps me pounding away at a career on the boards. Of course, if the director doesn't see it, it doesn't put money in the bank.

And now I have an audition at a theatre I haven't tried for in a couple of years. I three person musical that will very likely have a highly competitive list. They show is cute, I think I have the notes, I think I have the skills, I know I will have the audience and I think I have it. I just hope it isn't left at home that day ...

Yet Another Survey

2006-09-13T08:02:00.000-05:00

Does any of this surprise you?

W H O . W A S . T H E . L A S T . P E R S O N . T H A T?
1. You hung out with? Debs
2. Rode in a car with? Debs
3. Went to the movies with? Karen
4. You went to the mall with? I shop alone
6. You talked on the phone to? Debs
7. Made you laugh? Dave

W O U L D . Y O U . R A T H E R?
1. Pierce your nose or tongue? Nose
2. Be serious or be funny? Funny
3. Drink whole or skim milk? Skim
4. Die in a fire or drown? Eek! Fire? Hopefully the smoke will knock me out.
5. Spend time with your parents or enemies? Parents

A N S W E R . T R U T H F U L L Y.
1. Do you like anyone? Yes

D O . Y O U . P R E F E R.
1. Sun or moon? Moon
2. Winter or Fall? Fall, especially if there are leaves to turn. Pretty!
3. left or right? Left
4. 10 acquaintances or two best friends? 2 best friends
5. Sunny or rainy? Sunny
6. Vanilla ice cream or chocolate ice cream? Coffee!

A B O U T . Y O U.
1. What time is it? 8:03am
1. First Name? Andrew
3. What do you want to do? Get out of debt!
4. Where do you wanna live? NYC
5. How many kids do you want? Maybe
6. You want to get married? Eventually, in a manner
8. Are you double jointed? No
10. Can you cross your eyes? Yes
11. Do you make your bed daily? No

R A N D O M.
1. Which shoe goes on first? Left
2. Ever thrown a shoe at someone? No
3. Do you twirl your spaghetti or cut it? Twirl
2. Have you ever eaten Spam? No!
3. Favorite ice cream? Coffee (see inadequate choices above!)
4. How many kinds of cereal are in your cabinet? Zero
5. Do you cook? Sometimes
6. Current mood? Tired and blue.

IN . THE. LAST. 48 HOURS. HAVE. YOU.
1. Bought something? No
2. Sang? Yes
3. Been hugged? Yes
4. Felt stupid? Yes
5. Missed someone? Yes
6. Danced Crazy? Yes
7. Gotten your hair cut? No
8. Cried? Not really, but close
9. mad? No
10. been kissed? No (see crying above)

. S T U F F .
1. Have you ever been searched by the cops? Yes
2. Would you rather sleep with someone else, or alone? With someone
3. Do you believe in ghosts? Yes

I am Lost!

2006-09-10T01:37:00.000-05:00

Take the quiz:
Which LOST character are you?

Charlie
You are Charlie You are an ex-rocker trying to kick a drug habit. While on the island you have met a very nice girl Claire.

Quizzes by myYearbook.com -- the World's Biggest Yearbook!

In the summary, it showed I scored a 3 on Charlie. Kind of hoping for Jack, but only scored a 1. I suppose all guys want to be Jack ...

No more goody goody two shoes ...

2006-09-02T12:50:00.000-05:00

Things have just been crazy this week. Work all day, work all night. Thursday was especially bad.

Things were crazy in the office. The phone was ringing off the hook with all kinds of "difficult" customers. Some were rude, others just has difficult orders to fill, and it just kept coming.

So this started me kind of down when I got to rehearsal, and it was a long, gotta get through it, exhausting night.

During the show, I bum a cigarette off another character. This cigarette happened to come home with me. One unexpected thought I had all evening was I wanted to smoke that thing. I got home, got out the ashtray I save for my mother, and I smoked that thing.

I got smoke in my eyes and a scratchy, wooly, burning feeling at the back of my throat, but I smoked it, right down to the filter. No apparent physical affects, so I am still not sure why people do it on a daily basis. Only a strange sense of accomplishment. I have no idea what I accomplished, but there you have it.

Keeping up with the Joneses

2006-09-01T09:48:00.000-05:00

One thing I can not seem to get the hang of is keeping a calendar. I can keep up with a date book for about a week until I start leaving it at home or work or the car.

I tried using Outlook on my lap top since half my appts. are work related, but even then I wasn't doing well to go straight to it.

Now, after some praises from Radio Man, I am giving Yahoo! Calendar a try. I moved to that instead of reaffirming Outlook because Outlook is only available on my lap top, while Yahoo! is available on any computer. As long as I can get to a computer, I can check my schedule and I can print it out if I need to bring a hard copy to a meeting. Well, at least at work. I don't have a printer at home. Haven't in years, but I don't need one really now, since I go to work first things most days and can always print something there.

It has been working pretty well. My default reminders are 1 day and 6 hours before, and I get an e-mail about that. Any day with a schedule also gets an e-mail sent outlining the day. Of course, today, I deleted a reminder/itinerary without looking at it. I knew what it was for, but still that will be a bad habit to get into. That will be like leaving it in the car or on the desk. Assuming I "know" my schedule is what gets me in trouble.

... now wait a G** damned minute!

2006-09-01T08:13:00.000-05:00

I realized after going to bed last night that I made a mistake. I was accused of being as bad of a whiner as the people I was railing against in my last blog.

I responded by basically agreeing, and blaming it on 5 years of saved up whining. But having reconsidered, I have to strongly disagree.

I was ranting. I was raving. I was being ridiculously unfair to a situation where I only knew just a few of the facts. I was NOT whining. Whiners sit around and complain with no plan to move forward otherwise. I had private complaints about my situation, but I never stopped planning how I was going to get to the next day. For 1 month I slept on a couch which doesn't come with a power bill. Compassion paid my power bill for 2 months. Rent covered my power bill for 3 months. After 6 months, I was paying my own bills again. FEMA never paid for my power bill.

As for compassion? I had compassion. A year ago, a whole population went through a hell that was unimaginable until it was witnessed. They needed help. They needed support.

I am still sorry about how their lives were dramatically changed, but in a year, you need to be responsible for your electricity. Since when is electricity an unalienable right?

I call them sniveling, leaching, cry babies

2006-08-26T13:18:00.000-05:00

[we interrupt this program to bring you the following very biased and bitter rant]

This morning on the local news they repeated a piece on the Katrina evacuees who were having their electricity shut off. You see, FEMA was only paying for electricity for a year and that year is up. The relocated resident is now responsible for paying the deposit to the electric company and transferring responsibility of payment to themselves.

So the news shows us heart-breaking interviews with put upon Katrina victims. What a travesty this is. Why won't the government help them? Why are they being so cruel? My fish in my tank won't live if the filters don't work!

You have a f***ing fish tank?!

Well, all I have to say to that is boo f****ing hoo! It has been a year. You can't find a job to pay for your deposit and bill in a year? Why do you have a fish tank? Shouldn't you be saving your pennies to pay for the electricity deposit?

You might say, but their homes are gone, their lives up turned, have mercy. I say, where was the mercy of the government when my life was washed away in 2001? Why didn't I get to live on the government's dime for a year?

My home was destroyed by Tropical Storm Allison. But since I am a single, male, renter, there was nothing anyone wanted to do for me. Homeowners got money. Families got money. Guys like me got crap.

I got what FEMA called two months rent for my area. It wasn't even close, and even if it was, I was supposed to be back on my feet in two months, not twelve. These people have been on assistance for a f***ing year.

The State gave me $1000 to replace the $6000 in damages I had. Yeah, that really covered it.

Insurance gave me nothing because renter's insurance didn't cover it. Floods are only covered by flood insurance. That was a hard lesson learned.

I spent most of June sleeping on a neighbor's couch. My FEMA rent money went to off set rent for a friend that let me apartment/pet sit for her while she was in LA for July and August. FEMA didn't even cover one month. Ouisie's Mom is a saint! I was back on the couch in September until I acquired a garage apartment to carry me through December, when my home was finally ready to move back in.

Keep in mind, this whole time, 6 months, while I was basically living out of my suitcase, I kept my job. I worked hard, but living out of your suitcase, a couch here, a hotel there, and an apartment there, is not cheap. Recovery wasn't cheap either.

And there is nothing you can tell me that will convince me that you could not get a job in 12 months. What that tells me is either A) you didn't want a job and felt you deserved to live off of my tax money or B) you could have gotten a job, but you were picky about it.

Guess what people, it is desperate times. If the job you get is flipping burgers, then flip the damn burgers. My meager debt load that was incurring while in graduate school (did I mention I was working AND keeping up with an MFA program those 6 months?) doubled after Allison. I may have to quit my job soon, the job I love that is in my field, in order to get a higher paying job I hate so I can get out of this debt. I don't see any FEMA people helping me take care of that.

I am sorry, but if a deadline was looming, you should have been saving for the deposit months ago. You should have found the crappy job that would keep your bills paid and THEN you should have gotten a fish tank. After all, flipping burgers is a mindless job, giving you plenty of time to think how you can get the job you want.

[biased, bitter rant over. we now return you to your regularly scheduled program]

And maybe a view?

2006-08-25T16:41:00.000-05:00

As many of you know (well, there are three, four of you?) I tend to watch an inordinate amount of TV. Not as much as our noble QOTD, but more than my fair share. This week Fox started rolling out its Fall shows. Most notably "Vanished."

I really liked this show. The thing I like most, I think, is that whether it is season long or not, the story arc is long. Not like CSIs (also favorites) where there is a different story every week with the characters we love, but the story plays out over many episodes. The mystery of this woman's "disappearance" is going to take a while to solve.

The cast, so far, is very appealing. Ming Na is the only one whose work I know (from ER, Joy Luck Club and Mulan), and she is a definite plus. The leading FBI agent, Gale Howard, is very watchable, and his back story gives him a great brooding depth.

John Allen Nelson, as Senator Collins, is also very watchable. He is one of those B ring actors that work all the time in one shot roles, so you will certainly recognize him. He was faboo as the duped Presidential Aide in 24. He gets a very different role here as the duped husband. Wait ... maybe not so different.

Finally, there is Rebecca Gayheart. I almost forgot about her. She is always fun to watch. She is one of those rare few who work like a B ring actor, but seems more like an A ring star.

A ring? B ring? Maybe I should explain my code. A ring actors are the ones that one usually thinks of as a STAR. If not a big time star, they are the star of show after show. Keiffer Sutherland is A ring. Michael J. Fox is A ring. Actors whose names you know.

B ring are the actors with just as much skill and talent as the A ring, but for whatever reason, are the ones you only know on sight and you rarely know their name. They work all the time as guest shots on various shows, show up in supporting roles in films. Always make an impression, but since they are never the star, you almost never remember who they are unless you mean to. Basically, they are the people who you see early on in L&O, who you know are guilty for no other reason than you recognize them. Sure enough, after a brief interview in act 1, they show up again in act 3 as the focus. I would name names, but, well, you get my point.

Anyway, if your life has room and you are looking for a good mystery drama, Vanished just might be for you!

Wonder Twin Powers Activate!

2006-08-25T16:06:00.000-05:00

People take a lot of quizzes on My Space!

You Are Wolverine

Small but fierce, you're a great fighter.
Watch out! You are often you're own greatest enemy.

Powers: Adamantium claws, keen senses, the ability to heal quickly

Which of the X-Men Are You?

And I said Cyclops was the sexiest. Hmm....

Tale as old as time ...

2006-08-24T15:31:00.000-05:00

You scored as The Beast. Your alter ego is The Beast! But that is only a name... you are kind hearted and sweet, people just misunderstand you.

The Beast

88%

Peter Pan

81%

Ariel

75%

Goofy

69%

Sleeping Beauty

63%

Donald Duck

63%

Cinderella

56%

Snow White

56%

Cruella De Ville

50%

Pinocchio

31%

Which Disney Character is your Alter Ego?
created with QuizFarm.com

My Space!

2006-08-23T13:07:00.000-05:00

So, in an effort to be hip and cool, and try to figure out how a theatrical organization can utilize certain internet tools, I have joined My Space.

Click here to check it out!

I have been checking out other theaters My Space pages, and yet to find out how they are using them to an advantage. The Water Tower Theater seems to have a good blog going. I love the before and after/rehearsal and performance shots.

Otherwise, life is moving forward. That is about as positive as I can be these days. My moods are shifting rapidly as I settle into this new stage. In all deference to 3B2B, who I raz about referring to age on his blog, I am feeling like too much of life has slipped by me. Gary may have over used the word, but there are days when I feel down right pathetic. Those are the blusiest days of all. If it wasn't for TLC and Bravo, I might not even get out of bed those days.

Who am I?

2006-08-04T10:06:00.000-05:00

This has come to me in an e-mail a couple of times, and I thought it would make a good MEME.

Four Things about me - Things you may or may not have known about me in no particular order.

A) Four jobs I have had in my life:
1. Supernumerary, New York City Opera Co.
2. Waiter
3 Docent, French Legation Museum
4. Actor/Singer (as each and both)

B) Four movies I would watch over and over (and do!):
1. Horatio Hornblower
2. Rent
3. White Christmas
4. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

C) Four places I have lived (in order):
1. Houston, TX
2. Williamstown, MA
3. Austin, TX
4. Houston, TX

D) Four TV shows I love to watch:
1. The Amazing Race
2. Lost
3. 24
4. Project Runway

E) Four places I have been on vacation:
1. New York, NY
2. Los Angeles. CA
3. Spain, Costa del Sol to Madrid
4. Bloomington, IN

F) Websites I visit daily:
1. Playbill.com
2. Lemming's Progress
3. Chase Bank
4. Google Personal Home Page for Quote of the Day

G) Four of my favorite foods:
1. Fried Chicken
2. Coffee Ice Cream
3. French Fries
4. Sweet and Sour Chicken with Steamed Rice

H) Four places I would rather be right now:
1. London, England
2. New York, NY
3. Scotland
4. Wherever there may be friends and/or family in attendance

The Ghost in the Machine will kill us all!

2006-07-30T11:34:00.000-05:00

With the dawn of the debit/Visa card, I have become one of those people who never carry cash unless I know I am going to need it. I actually developed the habit in college when it was easier to pass by the homeless on the Drag when I could honestly say I had no money on me. The result was I rarely had money when I needed it and visited the ATM all the time. Sometimes fees yes, sometimes no, sometimes extra because it wasn't your bank, ah the headache!

But with the new age, you don't need it. Target takes Visa/debit. Korger takes it. Taco Bell takes it. Starbuck's takes it. What more does one need in life?

Well, this weekend in the hamlet (where I work), the phone lines are mysteriously down. No phones means no credit card machines. So, when I went to my favorite deli to get lunch, which was this day's first meal, no cash, no deal! AH!

Fortunately I had a check handy, and I was saved from a fate of starvation and dehydration or worse.

I suppose, since terrorists can't apply for Mastercard or Visa (surely their credit scores are too low) they don't know how we have come to rely on it. Don't bomb our centers of business, or symbols of freedom or capatilism. Just cut our stupid phones lines. America would probably just shut down.

Throw in the cables lines and most of us would probably wish for a good bomb attack!

The Runway at its best!

2006-07-27T08:30:00.000-05:00

I am not ashamed to admit it. I am totally addicted to Project Runway. The fashion, the challenges, the personalities! I love it all.

I watch it every week, and then if it is on again during a channel surf, I will watch it again. I can't help it.

Last night was a particularly good one. I can't believe Bradley actually survived it all. I am glad he did, but what a dodge. He was hopelessly lost up until the last second, threw something on the model in an act of desperation and ended up in the top three.

And it was his birthday. Happy Birthday to Bradley!

Take a Pill!

2006-07-21T18:48:00.000-05:00

So, the biggest news item of the week? Pres. Bush said the S word and embarrassed the country.

Are you kidding me? He says sh*t in a private moment and it's embarrassing? It's news?

Don't get me wrong, I am not a fan, but so what? He is a person, and though he was miked, he thought he was not miked. And that aside, he wasn't being broadcast at the time, just recorded.

I kind of agree with whatever late night pundit pointed it out. How he was chomping on that roll was more embarrassing than what he said.

Geesh!

Yes, because in America, we're perfect!

2006-07-12T07:40:00.000-05:00

So I am listening to my regular morning show, the Today show, and Matt Lauer is in St. Petersburg, Russia. In a piece on the city, he asked two separate men (neither actually Russian!) what the Russian people thought about their country becoming "less" democratic. Did they have a problem with it? The answers where pretty much the same. As long as civil and personal liberties were not affected, they didn't have a problem with it.

Why? Why!? Why does everyone have to follow our model exactly? The narrow views of Americans can just get to me. It may surprise some of you that we do not have a perfect government! Why would anyone else model theirs after ours exactly? I wouldn't.

A similar thing happened on my favorite reality program, The Amazing Race. The teams were traveling through a very lush and beautiful part of Ethiopia that also didn't have many modern luxuries. A very naive model wondered how the people could live like that! Um ... flushing toilets and running hot and cold are not givens world wide just because you can't live with out it. As a matter of fact, most of the world lived with out those very things quite nicely. Yes, these people lived in huts with dirt floors, but is how they live! Just because you find it too rustic, doesn't mean they are in misery.

Not that I would want to give up hot and cold running water, but it isn't exactly the gold standard.

God bless Russia! May its government find a better way then ours!

Quote of the Day

2006-07-07T21:54:00.000-05:00

"No man remains quite what he was when he recognizes himself." - Thomas Mann

Say it ain't so Jo!

2006-07-07T21:09:00.000-05:00

I just got off of a much needed long conversation with the Queen Mother, may God keep her safe, and she suggested that a good blogger blog at least once a week. And since it has been two week's since my last confession, I thought maybe I should say something.

So, I have a busted washer. It has been weeks and weeks. Because of my show schedule, it has been tough getting Sears in to look at it, but earlier last week, I got the man in.

He listened to it and said that to start it was $475, and it could be more once he got in there and worked on it, being that it was a very cheap appliance with about a life of 5 years, and low and behold, it was 5 years old.

To complete the estimate, he needed wireless access, which he wasn't picking up in the apartment. While he was waiting for me to get some shoes on to go out and find a signal, he looked at my bookcase and said, "So, did you hear that she might actually kill Harry Potter in the last book?"

beat ... beat ...

"Um, yeah. I saw that interview this morning. She actually made no allusions as to who it might be, only that two major characters would die."

"I don't really think she would kill Harry Potter off, you think?"

beat .. beat ...

"Um, I would hope not, but you never know."

"Yeah, she said she wrote the last chapter first. Very interesting."

Inside Voice: "Am I really having this conversation with the repair man?"

"Me too. Can't wait for that last book."

And out we went. See? How can anyone say Harry Potter is a bad thing. Even grown men who, through stereotype, probably haven't read a book since their last day in school are captivated by this wizard and the world Jo Rowling has created. Maybe this guy is an anomaly of his class and is a prolific reader, but it still is pretty amazing that a bohemian like me and a maintenance repair man like him can talk about something like Harry Potter.

In the mean time, the new washer came, I am doing laundry at home (and not work) and the buzzer on the dryer almost made me wet myself. I forgot it could make that kind of noise!

Hello world!

2006-06-22T13:50:00.000-05:00

So, I just got advertised on a friendly blog and I feel like I should have something to say today.

My good friend Radio Man is evil. E-V-I-L! Thanks to him, I have re-entered the world of fantasy role play computers games. I have gotten totally re-obsessed. What's more, the game only works on my lap top (no DVD drive in tower) which means when I crash in the late afternoon, it is way to easy to escape into the world of Neverwinter Nights.

Evil! EVIL!

And what's more, the game can be played over the internet with other people so Radio Man and I, and sometimes player Ghetto Guy, can play together.

You will also notice I like to make up names for friends. Radio Man and Ghetto Guy are new. Ghetto Gy might not stick though...

Fix It Your Own Damn Self

2006-06-17T19:01:00.000-05:00

Why do I have to fix everyone else's problems? I got problems of my own you know.

I don't care if the room is too cold, I don't care if you don't like your seats, I don't care that someone took off with your bobby pins.

Who is going to fix my problems? That is what I want to know!

My life is turning topsy turvy! Screw your damn bobby pins!

The Days of Wine and Roses

2006-06-11T13:20:00.000-05:00

Okay, so the summer isn't going to suck so much after all. It is still going to be a weird and strange season, but at least I don't want to "end it all" by quitting the world and living under a bridge or running off to live on an island.

My current production opened this week. It opened come hell or high water, and we had a little bit of both. But the audience enjoyed it and we are waiting on the critics.

I was even given particular praise from certain unexpected individuals, so that helped in putting aside the bitter taste of a miserable life that was the last couple of weeks.

Three more weeks to go and then I will try and enjoy July as much as possible. I have a cousin getting married in far off regions that I should probably go see. The Queen of Florida and the Queen Mother live in a kingdom near by, so I could also take a visit there and update them on my life. I could call, but there are some significant updates. We shall see ...

I Was Right

2006-05-31T22:47:00.000-05:00

Have you ever done something you thought you were good at? Something that you have done for like 30 years? Something that you thought you did pretty well? And then someone comes along and tells you that you aren't doing so well and they might ask you to stop.

Ever have that happen?

Yeah, well, it sucks when it does. It really, really, REALLY sucks.

This summer is going to really suck ... Excuse me while I go roll up into a ball and wail for a bit.

Those Long Dog Days ...

2006-05-31T12:15:00.000-05:00

The summer of 2006 is not going to be fun. I can just tell. It is going to be long and trying and stressful.

Why?

There is just too much trouble a brewing in too many lives that touch mine. First, of course, there is my own personal journey that just jumped tracks. And I am not talking train tracks or race tracks. I am talking roller-coaster tracks. Life was on the little kiddy coaster and now it is on the super duper loop coaster.

My friend Lemming is having diss. woes. My friend Brain is having his own crisis. The Queen of the Dweebs is a bit adrift and Carol, the Ancient Yuletide Troll, had her own smack upside the head recently.

Sometimes it is just too much. If only I could think about it all at Tara. Everyone needs a Tara, don't you think? Where the hell is my Tara?!

Those long long days ...

2006-05-18T16:33:00.000-05:00

I am bored. I am bored and tired. I am bored and tired and going a little crazy.

That is the day I am having. Which only leaves you to wonder a bit. Am I really doing what I should be? Yes, though I wish there was more performing and less admin. Still, the idea of building an audience for my core theater is kind of exciting. We have 100 seats. We do 18 performances a run. Surely there are 1800 people out there for each show! Even 1440 would be nice. I mean, Houston is a huge city. Where are those 1440?

Lemming questioned about what she was doing with the rest of her life. I sometimes wonder what I have been doing with my life so far. Why I made the detours I did away from a life in the arts. Why I didn't make or understand other personal decisions earlier, like 6 or 10 years ago.

I don't know if there is an answer to any of that. Most times I see where the roads in life have brought me, think about the friends and family that surround me and then think what would probably not be there had I done things differently at any given time. When you see those things of value gone and it is hard to imagine what value may or may not replace it, it kind of makes you think it all just works out. Maybe not for the best, as they say, but it all just works out.

If a Tree Falls in the Woods ...

2006-05-10T13:33:00.000-05:00

If a blogger blogs, but no one reads it, are they a blogger?

I don't think anyone reads my blog anymore. Not surprising really. I joined the blogsphere last year some time, and posted for a while, but found the things I wanted to blog about would be fleeting when I was at a computer, even if they were witty and abundant while, say, stuck in traffic.

At that time, I know I had a few readers. The Queen Mother for one, and Lemming would comment every so often.

Then I fell of the tracks.

I came back to the blogsphere just after my birthday. I had an odd need to be a part of the whole thing. I also had a big epiphany about my life, and needed some kind of outlet to talk about it. Which I did in metaphor, but pretty obvious, blatant metaphors.

I added my blog to sig lines in e-mail and started posting on other blogs to help announce my return, but have received no comments here. Not on the blog and not directly. No Lemming. No Queen Mother or Queen of the Dweebs. No Carol, the Yuletide Troll. Though Carol and QOTD probably didn't read before.

I suppose some of those folks are reading, know what I am talking about and are waiting for me to say something before they do themselves. So if they are, I hope they realize it is a big something to say out loud and are patient with me.

It may seem silly that it is so hard to say. Some will tell me it was painfully obvious, which makes me feel much like a fool, but there you have it and there it is.

Who are we really?

2006-05-03T15:58:00.000-05:00

So, I was working with The Brain yesterday, as in Pinky and the Brain (I am Pinky), and he said to me, "Do you ever wake up and wonder who the hell you thought you were and who the hell are you now that you aren't who you thought you were."

"Why yes Brain, I have done that. Not too long ago, but no one believes me when I say I am Celopatra, Queen of the Nile."

Well, I didn't quite say that, but I did say that this has happened to me and none to recently. I really did think I knew who I was, who I was gonna be, and who I was expected to be.

Then 10 years ago I meet someone who didn't believe I was who I said, thought and expected to be. Of course they were wrong and I was right, and the mental tail spin of confusion they created was poppy cock.

But then, one day earlier this year, as the vortex of confusion and doubt was restarted by the presence of a new person in my life, I made myself face the reality that I am not exactly who I said, thought or expected to be.

Now I just have to get used to who I am ...

You Made Your Bed, Now Sleep In It

2006-04-18T22:28:00.000-05:00

I have recently gotten into the habit of making my bed every morning. Not only when I change the sheets. Not half way when I need a good place to fold laundry. Every day.

The thing is, the room looks so much nicer when you come home and look into the room with a made bed. Some people will tell you, "Why make it, you are only going to mess it up later!", but don't listen. Your mother was right. Make your bed. Somehow life seems better.

Of course it means taking that extra bit of time in the A.M. as you are rushing out the door for work. I have found taking that moment to stop and make the bed is a bit zen. Your one moment to take a breath and not be running like an idiot gathering your day together.

So make your bed each morning and enjoy how your home looks when you come back from the long day. It's worth it!

Speak, BarlowGirl, Speak

2006-04-15T12:07:00.000-05:00

'Cause I'm about to let go
And live what I believe
I can't do a thing now
But trust that You'll catch me
When I let go
When I let go

The Flowers the Bloom in the Spring, Tra la!

2006-04-10T11:59:00.000-05:00

I have taken a few days mostly off to do some spring-cleaning. It is slow going but the results have been very satisfactory.

I started with the closet. I didn’t “clean out” the closet per se, but did get rid of the trash, organize the areas that could be better stored and got most of my Christmas stuff together and out to storage. There is still one mini trip where that is concerned.

Next has been the bedroom; all those areas that have not been dusted, places behind things that haven’t seen a vacuum in a few years, and the like. When an area is done, it looks so clean and proper. You would think that would be incentive to keep that way. Maybe this time …

The one thing I am glad to finally accomplish is level the two beside bookcases. In my apartment, anything against the wall slopes one way or the other because of the thick carpet pad. I was especially eager to attend to this project as I got a new lamp for the bedside that was tall and slim. This accentuated the backwards slope. I felt like a lived in the Joker’s lair!

I solved the problem with my hall bookcases by placing furniture sliders under the front legs. This made it almost perfectly level!

So this weekend I got new sliders, this time for the back corners of the bookcases. Again, near perfect fix

So, the rest of today, before I have appointments, will be for the front part of the bedroom, hall and maybe into the living room. If not, the living room tomorrow before I go back to work!

Hey Buddy, Can You Spare a Dime...

2006-04-09T21:46:00.000-05:00

For those of you who do not work in theatrical customer service, you don't know what you are missing!

What is it with subscribers? I just had one track me down this weekend. He always asks for me as if I am the only one who can help him. Any of the people who work for me can handle exchanges and do so with successful regularity. But no, he has to have me, and if one isn't paying attention, he usually gets me.

Of course, I know what he wants. He wants me to exchange his tickets without having to pay the requisite upgrade. I am not going to that. We need the money, and he subscribed at the lowest level and wants to switch to the highest level for free.

What, are you high?

Moo with Me...

2006-04-07T11:35:00.000-05:00

So, I am spending the day working on some personal home projects. To pass the time I have thrown in the DVD player RENT.

I am at the part when Maureen is doing her protest. The moment in the film is what it is, but the memory of the play is what makes this part of the movie kind of thrilling. At the end of the protest, Maureen asks the audience to, “Moo with me!” After some encouragement, they do and shortly after the protest is broken up by the cops.

As silly as it seems, this was one of the great moments in the play. On screen, the audience is the main characters and a bunch of extras. But in the theater, the audience is THE audience. Even on tour in Houston, where I saw the show, it doesn’t take long for Maureen to get one person to moo, then another and so on until the whole theater is playfully mooing. I am sure even some of those older, stodgier Broadway Series subscribers were mutedly mooing under their breath.

So now, when I see the scene in the movie, I get a little thrill because I remember the experience in the theater. A moment that was truly theatrical. A moment when performer and spectator worked as one and everyone was part of the experience, not just witnesses.

RENT, the movie, has its high and low points, yet it still is able to remind me why theater is so important and why it can’t just be a sideline or a hobby. It is truly a part of who I am.