Last Minute Details

We are down to the wire now, with only 48 hours left till we have an audience in front of us.  It's really a challenge to get a show like this up and running.  I mean, we had 53 days from the first day we worked on it, to the opening of the show.  And we had only 33 days of rehearsals.  So we're talking 66 hours of rehearsal time.  That really isn't much.

The other thing is that it's really hard to get things done when we have so few people to do all the running around.  I'm thinking we need to assemble a larger team for future shows so we have some people to run and pick some things up like hair spray or swords.  Even if it's something like we pay over the phone and then have someone come pick it up for us.  We need something.  I'm thinking an intern?  We shall see.

So, 48 hours to go, things are starting to come together, and I think we'll have a good show for everyone to see!  If not, well let's see what you can do in 66 hours!  :D

Unlimited Time

I love to travel.  There is rarely a time you'd ever talk to me where I haven't been doing some kind of travel planning.  It could be the day after I've come home from somewhere and I've either already have an idea in my head, or I had one before I even left and was already working on it as the next trip.  It's not to say I don't enjoy my time where I'm at, in fact while on a trip I'm not sitting around thinking about my next one, but rather enjoying all that I can where I am.  But the fact is, I love to travel and if I had unlimited funds and time, I would probably be gone for quite some time.

So, where would I go if I did in fact have unlimited time and funds.  The easy answer is everywhere.  If I had unlimited funds I would be gone for ages just going to see all the things that I'd want to see, and I'd go back and forth all over to be at places at different times for example I'd want to see spring in many places such as the cherry blossoms in Japan, but also spring in other places like Europe.  However I may also like seeing those places in winter covered in snow.

So, where would I go?  How about a list?  How about a list that goes from local to more distant locations?  Alright! We have a plan!

US/North America
Arcadia National park in Maine
FDR's house across the border in Nova Scotia (I think it's NS, not sure)
Smokey Mountains National Park
Savannah Georgia
The Florida Keys
The Missions of Texas
The Grand Canyon
San Diego/Los Angles (Hollywood, Observatory, Reagan Library)
Death Valley
Yosemite National Park
The Redwoods and Giant Sequoia Park
San Francisco
Seattle
Vancouver
Alaska Cruise
Glacier National  Park
Yellow Stone National Park
A scenic train of Canada
Bermuda
Hawaii

South America
Rio De Janeiro
Machu Pichu
The stone heads of Easter Island

Africa
Egypt (pyramids, valley of the kings, Nile cruise, Abu Simbel)
Serengeti National Park
Morocco
Victoria Falls?

Asia
Israel (Jerusalem, dead sea, Yad Vashem)
Petra, Jordan
Istanbul
The terracotta army in Xian
The Great Wall in Beijing
Hong Kong
The Taj Mahal
Japan (Mt. Fuji, Tokyo, Hiroshima, train through the countryside, Himiji, Kyoto)
Mt. Everest (not to climb, but to look at it with my own eye holes)



Australia and New Zealand
The Great Barrier Reef
Sydney
Ayers Rock
Australia and New Zealand in general


Europe
Scotland (Edinburgh, highlands, the Fringe festival, Loch Ness)
Ireland in general
Bath, Stratford-upon-Avon,  Warwick and Windsor castles, white cliffs of Dover, Cantebury
Transatlantic cruise from South Hampton
Mont Saint Michel
Monte Carlo
Berlin
Amsterdam
Nuremberg
Vienna and Salzburg
Switzerland
Milan and Florence
Pompeii
the Amalfi Coast
Athens, Santorinia, Crete, Greece in general
Warsaw and Krakow, and Auschwitz
Moscow and Saint Petersburg (Palaces, St. Basils, Moscow subway, World War II Memorial)
All of Italy
Spain (Madrid, Barcelona, El Escorial)

So, that's just the short list that's in my head.  I've surely got more specific points of interest.  But if I had all the money and time in the world, this would be my starting off point.  Though I guess if I had all the money, then I'd have all the time, because people with money don't have to worry about time.

Anyhow, happy Monday.

It Begins

Production week one has now begun!

Yes, we open on Thursday... THURSDAY!

After driving home this morning from Virginia, we headed straight into work for Caesar.  Full rehearsal, working scenes, determining what work needs to get done, giving notes.  I felt good about today's rehearsal, but worried that we'll get everything done in time.  There is still a ton to do, and not as much time as I'd like to do it.  But, this is the culmination of seven weeks.  So, it's been very short, but one way or another this show is going up on Thursday!

Capitol Trip

Well today we headed into DC to have a look around.  We started off the day with a trip to the zoo.  Now, I love the zoo, but it was hot as balls out today!  Seriously!  After leaving I went to the 7/11 across the street and downed a 33oz water.  SO HOT!  But, we got to see a lot of activity!  We happened past the gorilla enclosure just as they were letting them go outside, so they all came running out and headed to these places that had food so they could eat.  Though, there was one bad moment when the breeze kicked up and it smelled like what I assumed as stink-ass-gorilla, but turns out it as the guy next to me.  GROSS!  Another down side was that major construction was going on and I didn't get to see some of my favorites like the tigers and seals.  But overall it wasn't bad.

As we were heading back to the subway we also had a fun run-in with a homeless lady that told me as I passed her that I was, "A dumb motherfucker!"  Probably one of the funniest moments of the trip, at least it was after we got past her, because it's rude to laugh in the presences of a cranky homeless lady that just called you a dumb motherfucker.

After that we headed over to the Air and Space museum.  It was good times!  We got a close up look at some of the drones you read so much about in the news, toured a preview of a new exhibit that's being built about manned spaceflight in the present, and got to see some moon rocks.  Also, totally mistook this guy standing at the moon rocks as a guy.  You see, when he started talking to some kid, it turns out that he wasn't a he after all, but rather a she.  After that we headed over to the Archives and saw the Constitution, Bill of Rights, and the Declaration of Independence, which was great as usual, though it's disappointing that they are so faded, in fact it seems in some places the writing is not visible at all.  We ended the day with a walk past the White House and then the World War II memorial, which leads me to an open letter...

An Open Letter To Tourists:

Dear Tourists,

I know it's hot, because it's DC, but you're at a memorial for those who served, and died for their country in the second world war.  The pool is not for wading in.  I know that's hard to understand because there are only signs every five feet telling you not to wade in the pool and to respect the memorial, but seriously, get out of the pool.

Sincerly,
Jason

After making it to the memorial we looked down at Lincoln and in the words of Eli, unanimously thought, "Is it dinner time?  Dinner?  Yeah, it's dinner time."  So, instead of doing the monument circuit, we left DC, and had some delicious food at The Cheesecake Factory.  After that we took a drive through DC to see all the monuments lit up.

All in all it was a great one day trip and I think just what I needed to recharge and get through the production over the next two weeks.  Also got to watch a bit of Olympics today, so WOO!

Old Friends

Tonight I got to have dinner with Allen.  I don't really recall the last time we've seen each other, and I know it's been over 3 years but less than 7 years.  That's quite a window, but it was good to get to sit around and have dinner.  The talk was all a bit of non-sense.  Some catching up on what's going on, and some silly talk about our surroundings and whatnot. 

It's been about 15 years and 1 week since I moved away from Virginia, and I've been thinking back on those years a lot lately.  I'm not sure why, but being back home is nice.  Just being able to drive down the road, and see that really nothing has changed except maybe a the trees are a little bit taller. Sure there have been some major changes in the city, and even some on the main road, but once you head back down our old road, it's as if time stopped.  I'm transported right back there to that time, and it feels nice but at the same time sad.  Nice because it's familiar, and there are many happy memories of my time there, but sad because the way things have happened, and people have diverged.  I could never dream of a time when we're all sitting around a fire again reminiscing about the good old days.  It's like the loss of something that will never be there again, like the death of a loved one.  So while it makes me smile to remember, it leaves a sadness.

But, tonight was fun, and dinner was enjoyable.  I hope to do it again soon.

The Olympics!

Tomorrow is the opening ceremonies of the Olympics!  Now, I have to say, for someone that really doesn't like watching sports, I do love the Olympics!  I'm not sure what it is, perhaps that it happens only every 4 years, or it's something where everyone is cheering on their own country, and thus brings people together because you want your people to win those gold medals.  Perhaps it's a time when the entire world can come together and compete without too much of the politics of the time creeping into it. 

Regardless of the reason, I love the Olympics and I really would love to sit back and just watch tons of stuff.  Sadly, I think I'll see very little of this years games.  Tomorrow we decided to take a quick weekend trip, and I'll be traveling during the opening ceremonies, and over Saturday and Sunday as well.  Then once we're back we're going into production week, so that will eat up all evenings from now until August 11th.  Sad.

Well, we'll see if I can catch a few things, hard to say.

Independently Wealthy

I was once asked what I would do if I was independently wealthy.  If I didn't have to work what would I spend my time doing?  Well, it didn't take me long to think about that one, because I would still teach.  I don't think this was the answer that was expected, as if teaching was something I wanted to do because the money was so great.  Hardly.

But I have to think a little more about that, because what if I had, like, $1,000,000,000.  What would I do?

The answer is that I'd still teach, but perhaps it would be also that I'd start a school.  I think teaching is wonderful, and would like to teach, but I wonder with all these tests, and all the focus on AYP and other nonsense if we're not losing the point of what teaching is, and why we do it.  The goal is to educate the next generation, to turn them into thinking and feeling beings that can use logic, problem solving, and reason to live their lives.  Being able to think through things, to realize their part in the world and how they can live in that environment.

There's such a focus these days on job placement, and yes that is important, but at the same time it's also important to be exposed to other things.  If we take merely the job focused route education is reduced to a utilitarian endeavor, and that hardly is good for a civilization and a society.  Students should be exposed to art, physical activity, music, theatre, literature, science, economics, current events, politics, mathematics, communications, cooking, working with tools, foreign languages and cultures, and a whole other subjects as well. 

It seems today with the focus on test scores, and the shrinking budgets, we're seeing less and less of these types of activities and schools being stripped down to the bare bone minimums of math, science, English, and social studies.  Sure you've got some other things in there, but it's not what it should be, and it's not as rich as students deserve.

So, perhaps I would still teach, but perhaps I would work to open a school that meets those needs.  I'd prefer it to happen in the public school sector, but it seems that is pratically impossible in the climate of today's educational framework.  Or perhaps it's just the schools in my area that are unable to change.  It's hard to say.

Random Writing Tuesday

Not sure what to write about today, so I decided to hit the random writing question and I got "Describe your very first job."

I'm going to go with two different jobs for this one, because there was my "first job" and then there was my first job.

My "first job" was working for my uncle.  He owned his own company that took the old card catalogs from libraries and digitized them into the fancy-shmancy computer look up systems that you see in practically every library today.  The job I had was that there were labels that had to be matched up to ever single card in the catalog, so I was given a giant box of cards and had to match up the appropriate label to them.  I think I was paid like $0.05 per label, so the more that I did the more I made.  It really wasn't hard, but it was time consuming.  I think I was about 13, maybe 14 when I was doing this.  I did a lot of cards, and saved up enough money to buy a new bike, since I only had a road bike, and the dirt roads around my house wouldn't work well with that.  So, once I had saved up somewhere around $130 I went down to the local K-Mart and I bought a huffy mountain bike.  I actually sold it just a few years ago, and it made me a bit sad to part with it.  But it had a bent wheel and wasn't working so well.  But that was my "first job".  I don't necessarily count it because I wasn't on payroll, so it was just to make a little cash.

My actual first job was working at a shop called Ben Franklin.  I got this job my sophomore year in high school, and it was pretty convenient because it was within walking distance of my school.  The store was a arts and craft supply store, pretty much like a smaller version of Michael's.  I worked as a cashier there, which was a bit boring because cashiers had to stay in their little cubicle at the front of the store, and quite often it would be very quiet in the evenings.  I remember we did get crazy at new shipments of Beanie Babies, since I worked there during the height of the Beanie Baby craze.  I also remember that I ended up spending a lot on Little Caesar's Italian Cheese Bread because it was right next door and that would be my lunch on weekend days. 

Working there wasn't bad and I kind of got to know a few people outside of school which was interesting.  I remember one of the girls I worked with was a Senior and she once saw me walking to work and gave me a ride.  She also was appalled at this 13 year old girl who came in with a shirt that made some 69 reference.  I had no idea what that meant, so Shannon had to explain it to me.  I also ended up working with my 7th grade lab partner from when we had to dissect worms and frogs.  I really didn't like her and she didn't like me in 7th grade, so I'd avoided her ever since.  However, apparently she forgot who I was, and we got along pretty well.  Anyhow, I had this job for all of my sophomore year, and I saved up a lot of money from working and decided to take me, my family, and a few friends to see The Phantom of the Opera at the Kennedy Center.  Well, some things happened and turns out I ended up taking Me, my gran and sisters, and then some friends/some of my sister's friends to see Phantom.  It was a lot of fun, and it was my first real professional show (not counting seeing Christmas Carol at the Ford Theatre as a field trip earlier that year, because it was really not like a production such as Phantom).

So, that's my first jobs, and really except for my Junior year I've had jobs ever since.  First at Mr. Bulkey then the movie theatre, and SOK, Ford, SOK, CompUSA, Brookstone, Discovery, Tectura, Borders, Saline, Domino's, Saline, UM.  Doesn't seem like that long of a list.

10 Days

We are now 10 days out from Julius Caesar, and it's going pretty well.  We had a work day over the weekend and built the few things that we really needed to get done.  We aren't 100% complete, but we're getting close.  We're still having some line trouble that I didn't anticipate.   Last year we had 30 rehearsals for Much Ado, this year we're looking at a 10% increase in rehearsals but we're a bit behind.  I may give some of that to the fact that we double cast some parts, however, lines are on your own time, so I think there's more to it than this.  Not sure why, but we've still got 10 days left.

10 days...

Random Writing Week: Day 7

Today's prompt: #96 You get home and check your messages,  you get to the third message and freeze.

Possible endings:
You literally freeze.  The atmosphere suddenly disappears and you literally freeze.

You freeze because you notice someone is standing behind you, and the following people could possible be standing behind you

• Your arch-enemy
• Santa
• Zombie Johnny Carson
• Norbert
• Buddy Jesus
• An alien
• George Lucas apologizing for Indiana Jones IV
• J.K. Rowling
• The ghosts of Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and George Washington
• You realize that the entire side of the house is missing
• You suddenly see a vortex in the kitchen behind you

Other possibilities:

• Magic has frozen you
• The third message is telling you that you won $1 Billion and you die of a heart attack
• Alien paralysis beam
• Terrible news
• The dog ran away to Costa Rica to spend his retirement on the beach
• The cat ran away to Costa Rica to overthrow the government and install herself as a dictator
• The Cheesecake Factory is closing
• Cheese has been outlawed
• The message tells you Twilight has become required reading

So there are all my possible endings to that story.  I mean obviously there could be more, but I'm stopping there.

I hope you enjoyed  this Random Writing week.  I thought it'd be a nice change of pace.  Perhaps I'll do it again.

Random Writing Week: Day 6

Today's prompt: #57 Use the following words in a story: plastic bottle, hockey puck, dirty handkerchief, crumpled note, unhinged door.

The plastic bottle sat crying on the floor.

WHY!  WHY! WHY!

That DIRTY handkerchief.

The bottle thought they had something special.  Why would the hockey puck leave,  especially for a DIRTY handkerchief!  It just didn't make sense.  The crumpled note lay on the floor where the bottle dropped it.  The bottles mind was like an unhinged door, and there was only one course of action.  Only one way to forget and move on.  To start a new life, and new life with new possibilities.

The bottle walked to the edge of the counter and looked down.  "If the puck didn't want to be with me," the bottle thought, "then I will just have to start new.  A fresh start.  A new life."

The bottle took out a picture of the hockey puck and glanced at it.  This had been a long time coming, and it was time to move on to his next life. 

And throwing the picture aside, the bottle leaped off the counter, and with the sound of empty bottles clattering together, landed safely in the recycle bin.

~fin~

Random Writing Week: Day 5

Today's Prompt: #210 What are the top 12 things you would buy with your last $20.

Wait, wait, wait.

Does this mean, the top 20 things that I would buy with $20, as if I could choose any of these items, or is it I have $20 to spend, what are the 12 thinks I'd spend them on?  And furthermore, is this the last $20 I'll ever have, because surely then I'd have to spend it all on food, or poison to end my future suffering from starvation.

Ok, let's refine this to I have $20, what could I spend it on?

1. A movie.  I love movies, and it's like $10 for a ticket, then you have to get snacks, so easily $20 spent.

2. A meal at the Cheesecake Factory.  I friggin' love that place! I wish I was eating there now.

3. Doughnuts from Dom's Bakery.  OMG SO GOOD!  I could have all the doughnuts with $20!

4. Entrance into a National Park.  Conveniently places like Arcadia, Yosemite, etc. have gate fees of $20.

5. Another painting from the art vendors in Italy or France.  They aren't fancy, but they're nice little souvenirs, and they look nice on the wall, and at least there's a story there [like how the guy in Paris was grumpy and didn't like it if we took the painting we wanted to buy out of his binder clip rather than letting him do it.

6.  Tickets to a local play at say The Network, or perhaps a group sale if I'm lucky.

7. Lunch at Gratzi.  Garlic Cream and shrimp pasta.  WANT. IT. NOW.

8.  Dinner at Bennihana.

9. 2 pounds of chocolate covered gummy bears.

10. 40 full color copies of my face squished up against the glass.

11.  1 full set of the twilight books, and a box of matches.

12. 2,000 rides on the horse at Meijer.

Ok, I've decided this sucks.  Because I basically ran out of things that cost like $20 or less. A lot of that ended up being food.  Really $20 isn't the best price point.  There's not a lot out there of any interest that I would spend $20 on.  Oh well.  Happy Day 5 of Random Writing Week.

Random Writing Week: Day 4

Today's Prompt: #341 Write from the point of view of a wedding bouquet.

They say it's the greatest honor for a flower to become a bouquet.  Well, we had been chosen, and not for some lower honor like a prom, or a first date.  No, we were the top, we were going to become a wedding bouquet.  They grouped us, arranged us.  WE WERE BEAUTIFUL.  We were so happy as she walked with us through the most beautiful park.  They took pictures of us, took us everywhere.

But how could she do this to us?  HOW!

We all looked at each other in fear when we heard the "DJ" say something about a toss.  She picked us up and walked to the dance floor!

WHAT'S HAPPENING!?

We are flying through the air, and then falling.  Falling.  Falling.  Then a hand firmly grabs us.  But then another.  And another! 

They're pulling.  PULLING!  If they don't stop soon they may pull us apart.  They don't stop.  PULLING.PULLING.PULLING!

I see my neighbors breaking away from me.  GOD WHY!  YOU'RE DESTROYING US!

Then we're falling again.  We land on the floor and we see feet.  No! Don't step here!  YOU CAN SAVE US!

It was the last thing most of them saw.

why.

why.

why.

we...

were....

so....

[gasps]

Random Writing Week: Day 3

Today's prompt: #13 Write about a weird day in your workplace.

I think the weirdest day I would have to say was back when I worked at the good old Store of Knowledge.  Near the end of my time there we got to see quite a few characters because we were closing down due to bankruptcy.  Well, one day we had this woman come in asking to return something.  Well unfortunately we couldn't take returns, but I decided to try and bend the rules for her and exchange it for the same item, and damage out the broken thing.   But, we didn't have anymore of the item, so I told her there was nothing I could do. 

Well instead of acting normally, and thanking me for trying to accommodate her, she instead decided to go full crazy-psycho and threw a huge fit. Mind you, we're talking about some $30 toy that was on 50% clearance.  So as she took her industrial sized, off-road ready stroller and whipped it around to leave the store, she reached into our impulse bins, grabbed a handful of noisy rainmaker sticks, and threw them into the air.  Then as she passed each endcap she pushed everything off the shelves, and continued on.

I stood speechless as she left with her feeling of apparently victory.  She sure showed us.

Weird day at work... lemmetellyou.

Random Writing Week: Day 2

Today's Prompt: #121 Write a story that starts, "She touched the little box in her pocket and smiled."

She touched the little box in her pocket and smiled.  The night was dark and cold, and small clouds rose from her mouth as she stopped to catch her breath against a large old tree.  This would be her last trip into the forest, and she knew it was unlikely she would ever see this place again.  But soon she would be safe at last.  She readjusted the strap to the bag she was carrying, shifting the weight from one side to the other.

A cold wind rustled the dried leaves on the path ahead, and the full moon emerged from behind a cloud.  The light washed over the landscape and she could see the old stone pillars peaking above the trees below.  It had been far too long, it was only supposed to be a few days but over a year had past since she last set food in these woods.  The key had been hard to obtain, and then there was the matter of--

The sound of movement broke the silence of the still forest, and it felt as if her heart had stopped.  She stood, feet planted to the ground paralyzed with fear.  If she ran she could probably make it, but it was far too early.  She held her breath and starred fixed toward the source of the noise.  A deer moved from behind a tree, and she watched it for what seemed like hours.  She felt a wave of anxiety wash over her.  Was it just this deer, or was something else out there?  Something or perhaps someone following her?

She moved off the path onto the carpet of pine needles that blanked the forest floor and silently moved toward the stone pillars in the clearing at the bottom of the hill.  Stealing the seventh key had been dangerous, and he had been looking for her ever since, but she had laid low the past ten months, disguised and careful to avoid any of his spies.

She crouched behind a tree at the edge of the clearing, and watched the path for any signs of movement.  A figure emerged from the trees cautiously moving down the path.  That's impossible, how could he have followed her here, she had been so careful.  She watched him as he made his as he made his way toward the stone pillars.

It probably didn't matter now.  She was here, and soon she would cross the gateway and be free from the reach of the King.  Slowly she crossed the clearing and rounded one of the massive stone pillar that encircled the ancient arched gateway.  She watched as he gazed at it.

"Older than the oldest kingdom, and more powerful than any magic even the King could conjure."  He jumped, startled by her unexpected appearance.

"I didn't think anyone would notice, and yet, her you are," she said with slight smirk.  A great dopey smile spread across his face, and he walked toward her. 

However something behind him caught her eye.  Just for a moment there seemed to be a shadow in the clearing behind him, and just as quickly it seemed to disappear as the moon slid behind a cloud.  A cold breeze blew through the pillars and all the hairs on her neck stood up.  Something was wrong, she could feel it, then suddenly her eyes grew wide with fear, and she knew. "He's coming,"  she said quickly pushing him toward the archway.

His great smiling face was replaced with and expression of terror and shock as he stumbled toward the arch. She already explained some things to him, but not everything, and there was so much that he didn't know.  She pulled out the little box and glanced at it.  It was still too early.

She saw them emerging from the forest path, and knew they had little time.  He was right in front of the arch, and his large fearful eyes were looking into hers.  "Quick, through the arch!"   He starred over her shoulder at them as more of they flooded the clearing.  She reached under her cloak and  shoved a book in his hands. "Please," she begged, "I'll be right behind you!"  Nodding he stepped through the arch and vanished.

She glanced back at the little silver box.  Almost time, if she could just delay another few seconds.  She saw him riding out from the forest and could feel his fiery eyes fixed on her.  He knew what would happen if she crossed the threshold with the box, but he also knew she had to do it precisely at the right moment.  She felt something rush past her, and there was an explosion behind her followed by the sound of cracking stone.  One of the great pillars shattered and and fell to the ground with a crash.

He was almost on her when a brilliant blue light radiated from the tiny box in her hand.  Just at that moment she felt something strike her, and she fell backwards through the ancient stone gateway.  Just before she passed through the threshold she could hear him screaming with rage, and the sound of a great explosion, and then silence.  She landed on her back in a quite meadow, and the small box bounced from her hand and as she looked up at moonless sky shimmering with thousands of twinkling stars.


She turned her head and saw a small path wrapping around a pond, and on that path a little old man starred at her in amazement.  He seemed paralyzed, then slowly made his way over to her.  She reached down and opened the bag.   The old man looked down dumbfounded as he watched her pull a baby from the bag.  She gazed up at him and studied his face, before breaking into a small smile, that he returned.  

She handed him the baby, and quietly whispered "I told you I'd be right behind you. " His eyes filled with tears, and they cascaded down his tired and wrinkled face. She reached up and put her hand on his cheek, and looked deep into his eyes.  "You must protect her," then she motioned toward the little box in the grass.  He nodded knowingly, and she slowly closed her eyes and was still.  A warm light filled the darkness causing him to shield his eyes.  When it dimmed, she was gone and in her place a bed of flowers blanketed the earth.

In the distance he heard the rumbling of the early morning traffic, and saw joggers speed past paying no attention to him.  Slowly he stood up, grabbing the little silver box, and placing it in his pocket.  Slowly he walked, tears streaming down his face as the predawn sky turned from a pale gray to light pink and orange.  After all these years he had given up hope, and now this is how it would end.  He peered down at the baby, and silently made his way down the path.



****
So, yeah.  That was just what came as I just started writing, it's not very interesting, good, or anything, but I'm not a writer and only did this because it was the prompt and you must honor the sanctity of the prompt.  :D  But, it was kind of fun.  Perhaps I'll come back to this some day and expand the story and refine it a bit.  You know, give them some name.  I actually had some working names I came up for them.  The evil "he" is Orion I think, "she" was "Pleione" and the baby girl was "Aster".  Not sure what the guys name was.

Anyhow, hope you enjoyed.

Random Writing Week

I often have trouble coming up with ideas of what to write about.  Frankly, my daily life isn't that interesting.  Sure there's always someone moving in/out of my house, there's always a play being produced, a trip planned, etc.  But on a daily basis it's actually pretty boring.  Work/Dinner/Rehearsal/Bed  That's my general day.  So to help me for the next week I'm going to try using prompts.  I've found a website with writing prompts, and using random.org I will select a prompt for each day.

Today's prompt: #21 Write a letter to your 10 year old self

Dear 10 Year Old Jason,

Hey, how 'bout them 90s, am I right?  Oh wait,  you're like just starting them.  So, here's the thing, the first half of this decade is really going to blow.  I mean seriously, the music is terrible, whoever though teal was a good idea on everything is TOTALLY wrong, hammer pants?? and middle school is going to suck.  So what do you need to know?

Well first, you're going to move.  Not just once, but twice.  And I'm not just talking about down the street, I'm talking hundreds of miles.  But the first move is really going to be for the better.  It's hard to see that at the time because you're leaving everything you know and going somewhere where you will know no one and be different.  But, once you make it through the first year, things will start to get better.  Also, someone is going to be nice to you, don't freeze up and just talk to them and things will probably go much better.

Also, when you're registering for classes on the first day, they're going to tell you that you have to take a foreign language.  You're going to want to take French, but your mom is going to tell you to take Spanish.  TAKE FRENCH!  Seriously.  She's going to say "oh Spanish is going to be so much more useful. You know what, you're not going to use it, but someday you're going to go to France, and French will be so much more useful.  Also as a side note, after 9th grade just drop band and take Latin.  You're going to love it.  Also, join a club.

Just when you're feeling good, you're going to move again.  It's going to suck, but you've got to go with it.  So just do the move, be angry about it, but join Drama.  You're going to meet some fun people, do a lot of fun stuff, and it will change things big time.  Finally as the decade is closing down, don't let people dissuade you from what you want to do.  You're going to be meeting with a counselor about what classes to take, and ignore anything anyone told you and just do what you want to do.  If you go against it, it's going to take you longer, and more costly.  Trust your instincts and you'll be on the right path. 

So yeah, that's it.  Oh, and one last thing, Harry Potter.  That is all.

Sincerely,
Your future self

Movie Review

Today I bring you another movie review.  Today we decided to head out and see Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter.  Now I must say that my original thought when I saw the trailer for this movie was "DEAR GOD THE END OF CIVILIZATION AND HUMANITY IS AT HAND IF THIS IS THE SORT OF MOVIE THAT WE'VE COME TO!"  I mean, the premise is just absurd, you see there are Vampire , and they are building a little empire in the southern parts of the United States.  They are also responsible for the death of Abraham Lincoln's mother, and he wants REVENGE!  So he learns to hunt vampires, but also goes into politics, falls in love, and becomes president.  Well next thing you know it's the Civil War and guess who's helping out the South?  You guessed it, Vampires.

How can t his movie possibly be good?  Well, I have to say I was entertained.  It's a typical summer action movie, only it's really an absurd premise.  Though, I must say it gets bonus points for being somewhat original.  I mean, it's not a sequel, or a remake of an old movie (I think/hope).  So, really it is what it is in terms of a movie.  It's action, it's absurd, there were parts where I laughed out loud (and I don't think I was supposed to), but it was entertaining, so I guess it's a rating of "I must see this insanity" or "It's hot out and there's nothing else to see".  I didn't feel cheated by paying to see it, but don't go looking for some Oscar worthy movie.

The Last Free Saturday

Today was the last free Saturday I will have until August 25th.  I just realized this when I looked at the calendar and realized that rehearsals, performances, and weddings will be in the cards for the next 5 weeks! 

We're coming down to the final leg of our summer show.  We open in less than three weeks!  It feels like it's been breezing by much quicker than it did last year!  The problem is we still need two actors, and that's a problem.  May have to just reassign some people to take over the parts.  Though we still need a girl.

Curses.

Things Are Looking Up

Feeling a bit better today.  Still crappy, but better.  Things also seem to be improving, which is good news.

Hey, today is Friday the 13th!  Those seem to sneak up on us!  That is the third Friday the 13th we've had so far this year!  That seems like a lot!  Though, it's also the last one of the year.  I wonder what the most you can have in a given year is.  I'm sure I could Google it, but I don't think I care that much.

Under The Weather

Feeling pretty terrible today.  I think things have taken their toll on me.  Rest perhaps will help.  Feeling poopie.

7/11

It's free Slurpee day.  It's also my grandpa's birthday, and my old friend Nella.

What else can be said about today?

Pensive

Today I have been thinking a lot, as I have much to think of.  I can't even express what I'm thinking because I've become distracted by thinking.  I think we're quickly moving through the stages.  Yesterday I couldn't believe the absurdity.  In fact, it was so absurd I found it amusing.  Today, it's starting to become anger.  However, I'm also mixing bargaining/depression/and acceptance.  At different times I'm at different stages.

All I can say is that this is not how I wanted things to end, however now that they are here, a major change is going to have to take place.  What that change will look like I have no idea. 

Are You Kidding Me?

I generally give people the benefit of the doubt.  I give people chance after chance.  I keep trying despite being tired, or more appropriately exhausted.  I ignore the barriers and keep on fighting.  But I'm afraid things have gone too far now.  The barriers can no longer be ignored.  The two-faced deception is out in the open.  The last chance has passed.

As many of you know earlier this year BS rained down.  I suspected that the deceit was not fully exposed, but decided for the good of all to let it go and continue working.  Well, today it has become clear that plotting and betrayal have in fact continued on and can no longer be denied. 

What does this mean?  It means that I'm prepared to walk away and end my work.  I will no longer fight the good fight, because it turns out it wasn't good after all.  It is clear that personal ambition, pride, vanity, and jealousy have been burning and can not be overcome. 

I am sad that it has come to this.  I've worked tirelessly for six years to try and improve things for everyone, but alas, a sad, pathetic, little man has decided his bruised ego is more important than anything else.  We shall see how this all unfolds, however, this I feel will turn out to be a huge mistake for those instigating the hostility. 

May they regret their choices, and may stagnation, deterioration, and misfortune be the result.

Simon

Well, tonight we had the "fun" of taking Simon to the emergency vet.  And I am convinced he may in fact live forever.  After waiting for 2.5 hours we were told he had a bacterial infection, but other than that was doing perfectly fine and sent along home with some meds.  That dog...

An Open Letter To Weeds

Dear Weeds,

WTF.

Seriously guys, perhaps you were unaware, but it hasn't really rained in about a month.  Surely you don't have the water required to grow four feet tall.  That's just not a good strategy.  It's like spending beyond your means.  You're putting your life on the credit card!  WHAT IS UP WITH THAT!

I mean, take a look at all the grass around you.  It's not growing like that.  No, instead it's conserving and turning brown and having a bit of a nap and just laying there on the ground.  I really think you should take after grass.  I mean, it's probably better in the end, because you'd have a longer life.  I mean, what you're doing now is just making you a target.  You see, unlike your friend grass, you've shown that you're out of control and now I'm going to have to take measures to stop this nonsense.  So now, I have to get the mower out.

You only brought this on yourself.

Sincerely,
Jason

Happy Weekend!

The weekend is finally here.  But you know, I think that we should get more than just the 4th of July off!  It's THE national holiday.  How about we get one day off for each 100 years that the US has been a thing.  So given we are now in the 3rd century of US existence, clearly we should have received 3 days off!  I really think that's quite reasonable.  I mean, sure in another 700  years we'd get 2 weeks off, but by then, surely we'll have no problems with giving people the proper amounts of vacation time.

All in favor?

The Day After Becky Became A Statistic

Yesterday we headed over to our friend's house to celebrate our national birthday!  It was a great time, we had some delicious food, including a selection of tasty cheeses, grilled foods (I had a lovely turkey burger), and of course some watermelon.  It was also HOT AS BALLS!  [sidebar, hey guys and girls who think it's a good idea to go for a run at like 3 in the afternoon on a day where it's 103 degrees outside, YOU ARE STUPID AND WILL DIE OF HEAT STROKE!  That is all.]

Well, of course once it got dark out we headed outside to enjoy some EXPLOSIONS!  I have to say that our friends live in a much more active firework subdivision than we do.  I mean, everywhere you looked there were fireworks going off, and the people right across the street had a LOT of fireworks so it was a bit of a double dip explosionfest.  Though, they didn't seem to be very good at their explosion management.  One of their mortars apparently was placed in the tube upside down because it EXPLODED right on the ground and totally destroyed the tube.

Well, you're probably wondering what my title has to do with anything, and well Becky got burned by a firework!  You see one of the fireworks was not facing the prescribed direction of UP, and instead when it went off shot little colored flares right at us hitting Becky right in the leg.  So yes, she is now part of that statistic of people who are injured due to fireworks.  Though, it wasn't really bad, she didn't melt or anything and as of today not a mark on her.  BUT STILL SHE IS A STATISTIC!  Other than that, and enjoyable 4th!

Happy Independence Day!

And for your history enjoyment, I present a scene from the HBO's John Adams:

And then just for fun, some Drunk History:

'Merica.

Tomorrow is the 4th of July.  I love the 4th, it's all cook outs, and fire works, and stuff.  It also makes me want to go visit historic places.  I had a great time when we went to Minuteman Park, and Boston, and John Adams' house.  But alas, my vacation time is very limited, and I'm trying to save up for a full week off.  Additionally, with rehearsals going on, I can't take any time off before the show is over, which takes me to mid-August, then there's Meghan's wedding, and then after that a huge work event, so it's looking like no significant time off until Labor Day weekend.  That's not happy.

Poo Sticks.

Monday Morning Report

Ok, It's not the morning, but it's Monday.  Back off, why do you insist on criticizing my titles?!  Ok, it's Monday so here is my report:

1. I still love The Newsroom.  Critics are really beating up on it, but I still think it's great, so I don't know what they're problem is.  Perhaps it's because they work for media outlets, and this show is bashing them so they feel the need to bash back.  I mean, I know when Santa is a bitch to me, I need to pop him right in the face, right? 

2. My lawn could be ignited by a casual glance.  Seriously, I think the heat of Ronan's poo could cause a chain reaction igniting the entire lawn.  I haven't seen anything this dead since the audience at that free comedy show we went and saw.  [sidebar, it was out side and this guy told a joke so bad we literally heard crickets].

3. This week is the 4th of July!  One of my favorite holidays.  It's right up there with Thanksgiving, and Election day.  Wait, what?  Election Day isn't a holiday?  Have they ever thought of making it one?  Might get more voters if it was a holiday...

4. I started a new book!  I decided to read Fahrenheit 451.  I haven't read it before, and I haven't really read much of anything this year.  I read The Fault in our Stars, and then I suppose I can count The Importance of  Being Earnest, and Julius Caesar.  But I'm still under my 12 novel goal for the year.  But hey, it's only July, so there is plenty of time.  I'm already half through Fahrenheit, so it shouldn't take long to catch up to my goal.

Movie Review, The Sequel

Well, as if one movie wasn't enough, we somehow found ourselves downtown Ann Arbor last night with a number of friends, and decided that we'd go see Safety Not Guaranteed.  Now I had only heard about this movie on like Wednesday, and was like "Wow this looks fun, when is it  playing?" only to find out that it was a limited release, which usually only means it's going to be in the major cities.  Being stupid I didn't even think to check the Michigan Theatre.  Well, turns out that they had it!  So we decided to pop in and give it a try.

The movie is based on this ad that was placed in a paper that basically said "I want someone to go back in time with me, for real this is no joke.  Bring your own weapon, you'll get paid when we get back, and I can't guarantee your safety."  The story is that a magazine decides to write an article on the guy that posts this ad, and so they go out and try to become his +1 to go back in time with him. The main writer has no luck, so he sends in his intern to give it a try, and she is more successful at becoming trusted. 

My though as I was watching this movie is, "how are they going to end this?"  That is always a thought when you have a subject like this.  Are they going to go full sci-fi and make it that he has a time machine or are they going to go all real world and you realize the guy is a total nut and probably could use some meds or something. I won't tell you what happens, but I will say that I really enjoyed the movie.  It was pretty funny, but not in the "OMG THIS IS THE FUNNIEST THING IN THE WORLDLOLOLOLOL!" sort of way.  It was a nice movie.  I liked the characters, I thought they were engaging and you wanted them to succeed and be happy and whatnot.  So I'm going to say, if you have this playing near you, get out there and see it!  If you don't have this playing near you, rent it, put it on your Netflix queue, or whatever.  Highly recommended.