On the Stage

Here I go with some imaging from blogger. This is a shot from "One Short Day" from Wicked on Broadway and on Saturday morning Veronica and I are venturing down to Chicago to see Wicked, the sit-down production, on Sunday matinee. We're going to try to go to the Shedd Aquarium and the Art Institute of Chicago Saturday when we get there and then try to win tickets to Wicked that Saturday night, but for sure we are going on Sunday!!!! :-D We are going to stay in a fancy hotel that night and have a good time just us two. We've never been away with just us two our whole relationship, so this is a first! An extremely mini honeymoon.

Ana Gasteyer is playing Elphaba (a.k.a. the wicked witch of the west) and it's gonna ROCK! I'll try to sneak some pictures or something ;-) Hopefully we'll see them at the stage door too so we'll get some pictures then.

WEEEEEEEE :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D

I'm excited.... ;-)

Well, the move was huge and long and hot and rainy! We signed papers in the morning, then from about 10-3 we painted and cleaned. From about 3-11pm we moved moved moved. Moved from my parents garage to my house (stored a couch and a stove), from my parents house to my house (got their old bedroom set), from my apartment to my house twice. It was pretty awesome to see everyone out helping and having a good time and getting the work done. Feels good to have such friends and just seeing people there for you. Kind of funny, I moved the couch from a house to my parent garage on Friday with a friend, Saturday we moved a friend from his apartment to house and then Sunday I moved more of that couch from Friday THEN I moved myself on Monday. I moved a lot. I was constantly carrying something heavy!

Boy did we pick a day to move too! Freaggin' close to 100 degree heat index. The sweat was just rolling off me and everyone else. All us guys had our shirts off, that's a good thing about being a guy, we can do that. Now sure, you girls can do that too, no problem with me, just other people sometimes frown on it...though I just don't know why! Well then, besides the heat, then when we got to my apartment to move the big stuff, the majority of the boxes and the furniture, it starts pouring and gusting winds.

We ended up having one of the guys from my quartet had a huge covered moving truck that he used for his business, looks just like a big u-haul but was all white, so we used that for the furniture and just loaded it up and it was awesome.

Since we finally got everything in the house at 11 pm and Kaia's room was still drying and our room was all cattywhompus, furniture this way and that and the bed not even made, we had no idea where our bathroom stuff is or towels and all our clothes from washing were still at my parents house, we just crashed there Monday night. Too jumbled to stay at our house, and too hot. We gotta get an air conditioner in our room and fans in Kaia's (because Kaia's one window has a screen that can't be removed (stupid) so we can't put an air conditioner in there. But our rooms are right by each other in the smaller upstairs, so our air will travel to Kaia room too.

Literally boxes upon boxes stacked all over the house and a stove in the middle of the kitchen while the old one was still hooked up and nothing looks right, but we're staying there from last night on out and we'll just work through the boxes and the furniture as we can in the months to come!

An update on what we got done last night will be following! Right now we don't have Internet or cable TV at our house so no updating from home, unless I go over to my parents.

I'm positive had I had any inkling to be a baton twirler, which we don't even have at our school and which is also NEVER done by a man, I would have been excellent at it.

I have, for as long as I can remember, twirled and thrown and fliped EVERYTHING that I have in my hands. Breakable, expensive? Doesn't matter, I still want to flip it in the air and see which way I'll catch it or see how many times I can flip it before I catch it.

I do it without even thinking. Constantly doing it with pens and water bottles, since I have those in my hands the most. Oh, remote controls are very good to do this with.

And I'm good at it, rarely drop and always catch on the flat side of whatever it is or catch it with the right timing as it is entering my hand.

I don't know what it is, you just start discovering weird things you do.

Man, all this new house stuff is a lot more stressful than I thought it would be. I don't stress out very much at all, I really don't, but I'm just to the point that my head wants to explode and I don't want to figure this shit out anymore.

On a bright note, the closing costs for the house after grants and credits and stuff...wow, not bad at all...I mean...WOW. That made my day right there.

Internet and Basic Cable TV are TOO expensive!

We pay $22.95/mth. right now for Mediacom 128k Internet. We have modem and router and we're constantly online, it's nice, it's not that expensive. Wish it was faster, but I'm not complaining too loud. We only pay that, I guess, because we have basic cable package that our apartment pays for (well, it's included in the rent if you know what I mean) and so now that I"m buying a house I have to pay for cable tv by myself. That alone is $45. The 128k Internet we have right now is going to be $32.95 because we wouldn't have the discount for having cable with them. If we get basic cable and the 128k Interent together with Mediacom it is $70-75 a month!

OUCH, did someone just grab my balls and yank?! I can't afford that. Not on the piss-poor salary I get here. Now...if I could get a job in AMES or STORY CITY then I'd be saving $150/month in gas and then, it might be do-able...but nooooooooooooooo it's just not happening for me.

Is there another option than Mediacom? I don't think there is. There is for Internet, but I don't want to have to use an ISP, I want to use my own browser, not dumb MSN's broweser or any other shit. I want to be online constantly, I don't want to dial-up.

There are lots of options for Internet, but for Cable TV, isn't it just pretty much Mediacom or...Mediacom?? Does anyone know?

Yes...Yes...Yes...I know that having cable tv and Internet are luxury items, but it's hard to live without them when you've had them your whole life. I know I have to give up some things (Internet/TV) to have some other things I may want (a house). I just want to bitch though, so please, no be responsible" "suck it up" "get a life" comments. I know all the possible things that could be said about this post, I don't think I should have to be accountable for myself on a blog, it's suppose to be a place where I can go to bitch! :-)

So, last night I invited my friend over to beat up a couch with me. Hey...I know what you're thinking, but the he had it coming.

This couch was my parents couch, then they got a new one and gave the old one to me and Veronica. My dad and I brought it over to the good 'ol apartment way last year some time and tried to get it into the sliding glass door...no dice. Not even close. This is a huge couch by the way. So then we tried to get it in the side door to the apartment building. After about 10 minutes we finally got it fanagled through the door and hallway and to our front door. Then became the task of getting it in the front door. After another good 10-15 minutes it's finally in the front door. We had to twist, turn, pull, push, hide, shove, we had to practically re-invent the wheel to get this fucker in.

After it's in our front door then we had to get it around a corner down a hallway and into the living room. Believe me, NOT EASY. After trying to re-invent the wheel again the couch is safely in the living room.

We decided then and there that the only way this couch was coming out of this apartment was in pieces.

That brings me to last night. With my friend Chris, a circular saw, a hammer, and 2 box cutters this couch was about to have a bad night.

Cutting out someo fabric around the sides I freed 3 crayons, 2 markers, 1 McDonald's toy, 5 pretties (hair thingies), a keychain, and some legos...much to Kaia's delight.

We then needed a way to get the arms of the couch off. Cutting into some more fabric along the top and back we found a free piece of wood we believed would be the achielles tendon of this here couch. Finding there are no huge staples or wires in the way I crank up the circular saw.

It took me a good 5 minutes to believe I could actually do this and nothing tramatic would happen. I have never used a circular saw, I have SEEN it used, but only on TV shows where they are cutting flat boards on a table. I"m cutting a board on a couch. Asking Kaia to turn around and cover her eyes (better safe than sorry) I set the saw down on the couch and go to town. Now, this piece isn't very big so it only took about 15 seconds to cut and I did and it did and all was well.

After that we started beating it with a hammer and kick it going away from the couch so as to dislodge the piece from the rest of it's body. Cutting more crucial fabrics we finally beat down the couch enough and got that piece off. Nice big piece of the couch looking none to good from the beating with a hammer, cutting of fabric, and kicking until dislodged. We chuck the piece out the sliding glass door (which is open!) and head to the other side.

Repeating the same process yielded much the same results. We came into contact with different problems, met them head on, and with a little brute force we came out the victor on that end as well. That piece was in more than one piece because of different circumstances, a lot of the batting from the squishy part was on my floor, so we picked all that up and chucked it out the door.

We then, for good measure, jumped, beat, pulled and cut the whole back piece off as well.

All that was left was taking the pieces to the dumpster and the couch was indeed out of my apartment.

It really wasn't all that hard, may sound like it, but much easier, more refreshing and more fun than trying to take it out all in one piece.

Scheduled checkout time for apartment
Called to get gas turned on
Called to get elec./water/sewer/landfill turned on
Called and got new phone # and service
Called and got garbage service
Canceled old gas service
Canceled old elec./water service
Canceled old phone service
Decided on homeowner's insurance and new car insurance (State Farm)
Canceled old car insurance
Scheduled time to sign papers and get keys on Monday

Packing like crazy (still have what feels like a lot left)
Bought paint for Kaia's room (pink, purple, white)
Bought cleaning supplies for apartment and new house and got other new house essentials

Still debating if to get and where to get cable tv
Still debating on Internet service with same people we now have phone with
STILL waiting on damn house loan (how frustrating)
Still need to schedule walk-through on Sunday
Still need to change some addresses with businesses and people and what not

I had quite the weekend and then day today, I wish I had time to type it all out for yall. It'd be a good read :-)

I guess it's nothing TOO exciting, but entertaining enough.

I just don't have the time right now though...sorry, lol

Don't get me STARTED!!!!!!!!!!

currently 3:15pm -- wife and child home today ALL day, no work, no school...amount of packing done = 0

Autopsy: Schiavo Was Blind, Had Irreversible Brain Damage

There...now it's settled. It shows Michael did NOT abuse her. She was NOT going to recover EVER. She WAS in a persistent vegetative state and was also blind, so all that "she was smiling and moving when her parents were there or they put a baloon over her" talk is wrong.

They think her collapse had something to do with all the caffeine she consumed...I didn't know it could be that damaging. Especially tea, which they said was what she mainly drank. Apparently a lot of it though.

I'm glad this is all settled now. Am I right? Is it all settled now? I'm sure there will probably be more of something to come in this case.

Man, I'm so just not wanting to be here today. It's such an off day and everything is making me frustrated and tired and...just let me leave.

Why is it so important to go get smashed drunk drunk drunk on your birthday? Why is that cool? And why do you have to be in a bar at midnight? With your friends who want to get you so drunk you can't remember who they are?

I guess I would think if you're the kind of person who does all of the above listed things then I really don't understand why all that has to be done? Most people I encounter that are SUPER EXCITED to go get trashed and drunk and hungover to beat hell the next day are the ones that have been drinking for years and years and years illegally anyway. Where's the excitement then? I guess I understand being excited to finally do it legally, but it just doesn't seem that way.

Take sex for example. By the time it was wedding night for Veronica and I we had been having sex befoe then so the wedding night was nothing special for that specific instance. It was special that we were married, etc. but not for the sex part. We almost didn't even do it on wedding night we were so tired.

Now...had we been virgins, then I would have been ALL over that. But, like the first night we decided to have sex, which was the de-virginizing of us both, now THAT was a special night.

I got a bit off topic there, but why does the 21st birthday have to be celebrated by getting trashed? I guess I just don't get drinking to begin with. Especially drinking to excess. Especially for minors.

Oh well, I had a million things I was going to write about when I found time to blog, but then someone here is celebrating her 21st and she was all "yeah, midnight at the bar baby!" and I just have never understood...

I say goosebumps.

But my friend last night said "chill bumps" and I had never heard that before.

I have also heard goose pimples...that's not right either.

I've heard a couple more, but I don't remember what they were, I'm drawing a blank.

But how do you say it?

By the way...the correct way to say it is "goosebumps" ;-)

Just not yet though.

I have about 60% of the show tracked out, just need to finish it and then decide what I want yall to hear! :-)

I'm sure I'll just put it up as a yousendit file and yall can do download it and listen away.

I'm nervous for you to hear it...is that normal?

Keep in mind...it is from a MD recording AND it's not near the same as hearing it live.

Cheers!

Why can't any damn company seem to perfect the copy machine?! Either make one that doesn't friggin' jam or get your shit out of our office. You sell us your product then waste so much of your time coming to fix your damn faulty product. GGGGRRRRR FACE >:-(

Man...I'm missing it like crazy and it's only been a day. I miss the people SO much and I miss the singing SO much.

It's hard to explain unless you were actually there, some who have done theatre before can come close to understanding what I mean, but every situation is unique.

Just such a great group of people. Such nice, friendly, warm, loving, caring, talented people. I have been in 6 JSTT musicals now. I've really had a blast in every one of them, truly have. This one though...by far my favorite experience.

We gelled as a cast and we put together a damn fine show. I got three of them on audio, now I just need to find my cord that goes from MD player to computer and I can rip it into tracks.

I miss these people, man. We are planning a get together in a couple weeks to play some sand volleyball again (we did on Friday night for our cast party and it was a blast!).

This Tuesday I am rehearsing with the quartet again because we are singing this Friday for some Ice Cream Sociable thingie, so that will be great.

At the end of the month we're moving into our house and some of my new musical friends want to come help us...so that will rock!

I miss the show, The Music Man will never be the same for me again. I keep singing the songs in my head and getting sad because I'll never get to hear them again like I did for 2 months straight with that cast. Except for the DVD, but that wont be the same.

I know this feeling might wear off and I'll go back to normal again...but meeting new people and realizing how great people are and how new friends can make you feel so great and bonding as a cast to put together such a fine show with such fine talent and voices...the feeling is amazing.

I can't wait for next year...Sondheim's INTO THE WOODS baby...it'll be a blast and some from this year, I hope, will be there next year.

Really...even though my wife is directing next year, if other people audition and are better suited for the 6 roles I want to play in that show, then I wont get cast. We may be husband and wife, but we're professionals and she wouldn't cast me if I wasn't the best that auditioned and I know that. I just know that I can do those roles and rock the hell out of them and so I feel confident that I can land one of those roles.

My role in The Music Man marks the 24th time on stage for me, how many characters I've played in those 24 shows? Too many to try and count right now!

MUSIC MAN...I will miss you.

Just a small taste of our quartet there. The Ames Tribune ran an article on The Music Man and used a picture of our quartet! :-)

I'll post more pictures later and try to find a way to post some sounds when I get them all ready.

Something to Ponder

WOULDN'T IT BE GREAT TO TURN ON THE TV AND HEAR ANY U.S PRESIDENT, DEMOCRAT OR REPUBLICAN GIVE THE FOLLOWING SPEECH?

My Fellow Americans: As you all know, the defeat of Iraq regime has been completed. Since congress does not want to spend any more money on this war, our mission in Iraq is complete.

This morning I gave the order for a complete removal of all American forces from Iraq. This action will be complete within 30 days. It is now to begin the reckoning.

Before me, I have two lists. One list contains the names of countries which have stood by our side during the Iraq conflict. This list is short.

The United Kingdom, Spain, Bulgaria, Australia, and Poland are some of the countries listed there.

The other list contains everyone not on the first list. Most of the world's nations are on that list. My press secretary will be distributing copies of both lists later this evening.

Let me start by saying that effective immediately, foreign aid to those nations on List 2 ceases immediately and indefinitely. The money saved during the first year alone will pretty much pay for the costs of the Iraqi war. The American people are no longer going to pour money into third world Hell-holes and watch those government leaders grow fat on corruption.

Need help with a famine? Wrestling with an epidemic? Call France

In the future, together with Congress, I will work to redirect this money toward solving the vexing social problems we still have at home.

On that note, a word to terrorist organizations. Screw with us and we will hunt you down and eliminate you and all your friends from the face of the earth. Thirsting for a gutsy country to terrorize? Try France, or maybe China.

To Israel and the Palestinian Authority. Yo, boys. Work out a peace deal now. Just note that Camp David is closed. Maybe all of you can go to Russia for negotiations. They have some great palaces there. Big tables, too. I am ordering the immediate severing of diplomatic relations with France, Germany, and Russia. Thanks for all your help, comrades. We are retiring from NATO as well. Bon chance, mes amis.

I have instructed the Mayor of New York City to begin towing the many UN diplomatic vehicles located in Manhattan with more than two unpaid parking tickets to sites where those vehicles will be stripped, shredded and crushed. I don't care about whatever treaty pertains to this. You creeps have tens of thousands of unpaid tickets. Pay those tickets tomorrow or watch your precious Benzes, Beamers, and limos be turned over to some of the finest chop shops in the world. I love New York .

A special note to our neighbors. Canada is on List 2. Since we are likely to be seeing a lot more of each other, you folks might want to try not pissing us off for a change.

Mexico is also on List 2. President Fox and his entire corrupt government really need an attitude adjustment. I will have a couple extra tank and infantry divisions sitting around. Guess where I am going to put em? Yep, border security. So start doing something with your oil.

Oh, by the way, the United States is abrogating the NAFTA treaty - starting now.

We are tired of the one-way highway.

It is time for America to focus on its own welfare and its own citizens. Some will accuse us of isolationism. I answer them by saying, "darn tootin."

Nearly a century of trying to help folks live a decent life around the world has only earned us the undying enmity of just about everyone on the planet. It is time to eliminate hunger in America. It is time to eliminate homelessness in America. It is time to eliminate World Cup Soccer from America. To the nations on List 1, a final thought.

Thanks guys. We owe you and we won't forget.

To the nations on List 2, a final thought. Drop dead.

God bless America..

Thank you and good night.



If you can read this, thank a teacher. If you are reading it in English, thank a soldier.

You scored as Obi Wan Kenobi. Obi Wan Kenobi 64% Anakin Skywalker 61% Chewbacca 61% Yoda 58% Mace Windu 58% R2-D2 56% C-3PO 53% Darth Vader 31% 28% Which Revenge of the Sith Character are you? created with QuizFarm.com

It somehow got messed up and I lost the rest of the coding from here out, but all the bad guys were at the bottom and I am Kenobi.

I admit it, I wanted to be Yoda :-( But I was 3 % less of him, so Kenobi I am.