The Secret Garden and Secret Sadness...

So here it is - one weekend down of Secret Garden and 3 performances to go. I will be happy when it's done, there have been some fun times and I got to reconnect with an old theater friend - discussed with some people regarding putting together a fun theatre troupe with little to no stress and tons of fun! Hopefully we'll be producing a show called "Back to the 80s" which seems to be quite a fun show to do, especially with a lot of the cast coming right out of the great decade! Sadly TS left for North Carolina yesterday for 6.5 weeks and the sadness is hitting really hard today...it was almost surreal yesterday dropping him off at the airport, it was almost like I was just dropping him off for work and I'd see him later - and that so isn't the case. It hit when I woke up this morning, well more like the middle of the night bathroom run, being alone and knowing that it wasn't just a few short hours when we'd be together again. Of course I had to come back to work today and keep reminding myself that when I go home only Strauss will be there. Oooo, speaking of Strauss - I haven't blogged in so long that no one knows I am a proud father of one of the cutest, yet craziest, kitties. He is a love and has more of a dog's personality than a cat's...which is sort of annoying usually, but right now it is AWESOME and just the thing I need.

Well - I have to start packing up my office, we're moving office locations AGAIN - so I bid you adieu! More to come.

Tale as old as time

Well...it's been some time since my last entry and I do apologize for those of you that have been checking back and have seen nothing. So, since last time I was hear, the move happened and I'm now living back in the comforts of home. It has been great so far. Lucky for me, I get along quite well with my folks and we're respectful of each other so that's all it really takes. I'm on my way to being debt-free and that is a very good thing for me! Somehow I must learn to live within my means, but how fun is that, I mean really?! Haha!

Oh and with all the changes, I shaved my head!!!! Oh yes I did...well, not quite shaved, but I took the clippers to it and buzzed it down just using the smallest clip, a #1 for those who understand hair clippers. I'm so happy I did - I'm enjoying life without hair products and having to mess with it to make it look messy, but clean messy...ugh, who ever thought of that as a way to do your hair? I am tempted to take a bic to it, but I'm a little afraid I'm going to slice my head...it is something that I could do, no joke!

So, let's see...on to the next show. We had auditions for Disney's Beauty and the Beast. Well, just my luck this is the best thing for me - I mean Disney and theater, my two favorite past times all rolled into one, along with having most of my friends involved with me, I couldn't ask for much more. I am taking on the role of Dancing Chorus for this show, which bummed me out the first couple days, but since I have moved on and am pretty excited -- I get to play a knife, a wolf and a townsperson...no too shabby. Should be a lot of fun - and already seems to be! The cast seems great and we've had a music and a dance rehearsal and I'm feeling real good about what is to come.

Life - other than that - is pretty much the same...can't really complain too much, there's too much that's good that out-weighs the bad. Might as well stick to the positives, right? Oh one little funny story...

So a couple of us were at our friend's boyfriend's apartment not too long ago and we were just fooling around having a kind of crappy day, so just joking to bring up the spirits and MG decides we should play a little "Lip-Sync Fun" so as the CD plays (it is the soundtrack to Disney's On The Record) we each get up and do a little dance and lip-sync to the songs - argumentably the best collection of Disney songs every compiled. Cue up - Let's Go Fly A Kite from the ever-popular Mary Poppins and MG gets up and starts doing her dance and lip-syncing...until she uses the door way to help herself look like she's flying through the air and then as a joke takes her hand and pretends to pull herself back and out of the door way...well it was just too funny but KC missed it so she reinacts it, to a T I might add, except this time she seriously takes herself right out and falls backward into a turtle tank and wall and a whole bunch of things on the floor. It was a sight to see and I thanked her very much that day for making, what was a rough down kinda day, into a great time with friends. It's nice to know you have friends that you can do anything with and no matter what it's a good time. So to all my friends, I love you all and I hope we continue to make one another laugh and cry and love! Because isn't that what it's all about?!

Karabuni...

That's "Welcome" in Swahili...so Welcome to Kilimanjaro Safaris...

Ahh, back in the days of driving safari tours at Disney's Animal Kingdom 40 hours a week! I just wish they could pay more!

So I have been bad at keeping up with the blog recently, I apologize. So much has been going on, 4th of July, the show closing and now the move that happens this weekend! Crazy! The 4th of July was great, Happy Birthday America! A great friend has now taken on the tradition of the annual 4th of July bash! As always it was an exceptional time. We drank and drank and drank and ate and drank and karaoke-ed and drank. There was a 5 gallon cooler of this wonderful drink make up of, I think, pineapple juice, Midori and Malibu Rum. It was delicious and drinking it all day made for quite an evening! ;-) I hope everyone enjoyed their holiday as well. I can't wait for the next long weekend.

So the show closed after 5 performance, I'm sad, but happy as well. It was definitely the most rewarding experience for theater I have yet to have. The second weekend we performed the crowd was much more aware of the show, I think. They seemed to get the jokes and the subtext that is so important in this show. We closed on a high note and that is always a good thing. I can't wait to see the DVD as I am interested to see what everyone had to sit through. Thanks to all those who did, I know for a lot it wasn't a favorite, but I appreciate the support.

Lastly, the move...well, everything is happening, the packing is almost done and it's just a matter of moving all my shit into storage and taking the few things with me. I think I may have to go back to a twin bed for a little while, hello FisherPrice! It's going to be difficult after being in a Queen for so long...insert joke here...but all will be good. I'm looking forward to a lot of changes in the near future, I hope all goes well. I tried to quit smoking last week, which didn't take-off very well, but it's not going to stop me from trying again. I think with everything going on I just wasn't in the right mindset to do it. So once things calm down a little, I'll get back on the horse and try it again. "Failure doesn't mean you are a failure; It means you have not yet succeeded."

...A Series of Unfortunate Events

So the weekend is over and 2 out of 5 shows have been performed. How do I feel? GREAT! I'd say we're 2 for 2. However not all the audience members felt the same way. We had a small house on Friday night, 265 seats sold out of 556, and not all 265 showed! But they were receptive and very responsive. Thanks to my 7 wives in the audience I felt real good. Saturday we had 312 sold and I'd say most showed, however, at intermission we had a good chunk of people leave and not come back for Act II, too bad for them, a lot of nice things happen in the second Act and it's shorter! They were also a very dead audience, I got some positive feedback from people on both nights which is great, and they both felt like solid performances. Now we break until next Wednesday and go for 3 more next weekend...let's hope things go better.

I had the chance to watch Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events. What a fantastic movie this was. Everything about it was fun, the costumes, the scenery, the story and of course the actors. It was humorous and very entertaining. I suggest it to all of you who haven't seen it yet. I'm excited to see the next installment...

I'm a little miffed with these damn gas prices. What sucks the most is I love to go on random drives during the summer after work so that I can get out there and be outside and enjoy the weather and just take some time to relax. Unfortunately with the outrageous gas prices it's hard to do that without feeling like you're just throwing money out the window...guess I'll have to start just going to a park or something, but there is just something extra nice about the wind blowing through the car and the music pumping and just singing along. But we all have to deal with these prices, so I digress.

"The hands on the clock turn, but don't sing a nocturne just yet..."

#26--for the past 10 years I have had the pleasure of doing live theater with a great company, Theatre at the Mount, tonight marks the beginning of my 26th show with the company. I am very pleased to be a part of this production. I have bitched and moaned about going to some rehearsals and about learning music and what have you, but overall this has been one of my most beloved theater experiences. A Little Night Music, by Stephen Sondheim is probably the most difficult piece of theater I will ever encounter. I have learned many things and found that with a lot of hard work and the help and support of family and friends you can accomplish things you might have thought were out of your league. I would like to shout out to the production staff of this show for taking a chance on me and having faith that I could handle such a role. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the show, it's kind of crazy story...to give you a taste (if you didn't go to the link), my character is a 19 year old perparing to enter the ministry who is struggling with his sexual urges, and falls in love with his step-mother who is 1 year his junior...if you want to know what happens to them, come see the show! :-) Check out the Mount's website, above, if you are interested in getting some tickets to see the show!

"Quick, send in the clowns. Don't bother, they're here."

7-0 and Tired as Hell!

What a game folks, what a game! The Sox took home a nice victory last night and even though I slightly lost my voice, it was a GREAT time! Thanks for the tix! I'm feeling it this morning, well afternoon now, but that's ok, I can make it through this day at work, it's rehearsal tonight that is worrying me, but all should be ok. Get to finally work with the cellist tonight which I'm happy about, just wish I had a full voice...what can you do?

So we had a very eventful night at good ol' Fenway. Along with great ball being played, there was beer-a-flowin' and hot dogs to be eaten some peanuts oh and watching a couple of obnoxious Yankees fans get thrown out of the game! I'm not against Yankees fans, but I'm totally against obnoxious fans, from any team! It's one thing when you're at a Sox v. Yanks game, but gimme a break, if your team isn't playing it's stupid to go to the game of the rival team and start making an ass out of yourself screaming at all the fans around you...when will people have respect?! Nonetheless it was fun to see them get taken out.

Heard a great old song on the radio this morning, well I always hear great old songs because I listen to a classic rock station, but anyhow, Elvin Bishop's "Fooled Around and Fell in Love" excellent tune!

L8

**FLASHBACK**

Funny little story...this one goes out to my sister! - So back in the day my sister was listening to a recording (audio tape, mind you) of Mariah Carey's MTV Unplugged, a great album for all you classic Mariah fans! ;-) and at the end of one of the songs, the crowd cheers and Mariah sends out a polite, yet enthusiastic "Thank You!" and just as that is playing I hear my sister, as if she were really talking to Mariah, yell back "You're Welcome!" I got one of the biggest laughs out of that. Anyhow, today I'm driving in the car and they were playing the live version of Peter Frampton's "Show Me The Way" and at the end he says the much anticipated "Thank You!" and doesn't one of the guys on the radio, quietly in the background yell out "You're Welcome!" Oh I got to laughing in the car, thanks Sis...I shall never forget!

Boston Red Sox v. Cincinati Reds
I'll be there tonight! Pretty excited to be seeing my first game of the season! Not only do I get to bring KC for a fun night, but AC and EC will also be attending the game. It sucks knowing that I'm going tonight only because I still have to make it through this day...however, Tuesdays are pretty much my favorite day of the work week. It's usually quite busy and not too much sitting around time, which will be nice. A little Tuesday Night Diamond Action never hurt anyone, but boy tomorrow is going to suck - it's all worth it though.

So I posted this without remembering the third reason why I needed to write today. Another "Flashback" happened to me this morning. My good friend from childhood AM, who now resides in Chicago sent me a link today to a couple pictures she had posted online. When I was in the 4th grade I made my first real theatrical debut in a great Christmas musical entitled "Psalty's Christmas Calamity" I had my first solo and it was in a song I got to sing with my sister and mother. It was quite an experience, and here I am 19 years later still up on that stage, sans mom and sis. Thanks AM for the e-mail, it really made me look a little lighter on things today.

L8