During the last two weeks the available internet service has been either non-existent or maddeningly frustrating. Last week in Mobile and Lake Charles there was really no Internet to speak of and this week the wireless connection in the room has been weak at best...and I haven't had the desire to lug the computer down to the lobby...although I have found that the best signal in my room is in the bathroom...like I need any more reasons to spend time in there!
When I did take my computer down to the lobby, I was frustrated with the lack of service. Many sites like Google simply would not load...also had problems receiving or sending any messages with attachments.
I should be catching up on the events since Baton Rouge shortly including the trip to New Orleans and what I won and lost at the casino in Lake Charles.
I also have set up an audition for the next season as a live performer (so far Professor Art in our show is the only current male live character in production) sometime when we're in Beaumont, TX which is the first half of the split week...the week after next. Like y'all thought I'd be able to work on a show without trying to be *in* the show! I'll let you know how that turns out. Think good thoughts. And what's the worst thing that could happen...I'll come back next season as wardrobe again.
Saturday, March 26, 2005
Christos Voskrese
That is the way that we say "Christ is Risen!" in Slovak in the Byzantine Faith.
I have truly missed this weekend's church services and festivities...unfortunately in El Paso I can't find a Byzantine Church...but our faith is in how we carry and present ourselves and look at and react to the world around us.
Although I miss everyone back home...it singing the songs during the Good Friday and Ressurection services that I miss the most...I hope that Uncle Bill didn't mind me singing his solo a couple of times during the past few days.
I hope that everyone has a Blessed and Happy Easter!
I have truly missed this weekend's church services and festivities...unfortunately in El Paso I can't find a Byzantine Church...but our faith is in how we carry and present ourselves and look at and react to the world around us.
Although I miss everyone back home...it singing the songs during the Good Friday and Ressurection services that I miss the most...I hope that Uncle Bill didn't mind me singing his solo a couple of times during the past few days.
I hope that everyone has a Blessed and Happy Easter!
Thursday, March 10, 2005
Casey's Family and Miss Saigon
After arriving at the hotel we had about an hour and a half to settle in before we met up to drive to the house where Casey (who plays Purple Honker) grew up. His family lives near Lafayette (about an hour away from Baton Rouge).
When we got to Casey's house his family and friends were there waiting. Although it was raining on and off we had a great time...his family made both a Seafood gumbo and a Chicken and Sausage gumbo, which were 100% authentic Creole...and were excellent! I also had for the first time a potato salad where the potatoes were mashed before everything was added and mixed up...it was especially yummy. The reason why it's made that way is to eat with and temper the gumbo...you take a little spoonful of the potato salad and then dip the spoon into the gumbo....HOOBOY! Them's is good eatin'!
It was great talking with Casey's parents and family who were wonderful and talked in that Creole way...they done did. Their dog and two horses were pretty neat...but kind of messy from being out in the rain.
Around 6:30 or so, Dawn, Joey, Andy, Chris, Casey and myself left to meet up with Mike and Christa to go see Miss Saigon which was playing in Lafayette for 2 nights...one of the guys in the ensemble (Gary) was formerly a muppet. It was my first time seeing Miss Saigon...and I found it to be very enjoyable. After the show the group of us went to Chili's with Gary and had a great time closing the restaurant. Unfortunately, I was drafted into driving one of our cars back to Baton Rouge...so at Midnight, while Mike, Christa and Andy slept...I got to drive back. My eyes were not happy with me.
When we got to Casey's house his family and friends were there waiting. Although it was raining on and off we had a great time...his family made both a Seafood gumbo and a Chicken and Sausage gumbo, which were 100% authentic Creole...and were excellent! I also had for the first time a potato salad where the potatoes were mashed before everything was added and mixed up...it was especially yummy. The reason why it's made that way is to eat with and temper the gumbo...you take a little spoonful of the potato salad and then dip the spoon into the gumbo....HOOBOY! Them's is good eatin'!
It was great talking with Casey's parents and family who were wonderful and talked in that Creole way...they done did. Their dog and two horses were pretty neat...but kind of messy from being out in the rain.
Around 6:30 or so, Dawn, Joey, Andy, Chris, Casey and myself left to meet up with Mike and Christa to go see Miss Saigon which was playing in Lafayette for 2 nights...one of the guys in the ensemble (Gary) was formerly a muppet. It was my first time seeing Miss Saigon...and I found it to be very enjoyable. After the show the group of us went to Chili's with Gary and had a great time closing the restaurant. Unfortunately, I was drafted into driving one of our cars back to Baton Rouge...so at Midnight, while Mike, Christa and Andy slept...I got to drive back. My eyes were not happy with me.
Overnighter
Sounds exciting...but it's not.
We had our last (my first and only) overnighter for this tour...a 12 hours bus ride from Oklahoma City to Baton Rouge.
After doing our last two shows on Sunday and loading the show out...we got back to the hotel around 10:30...which gave me time to take a shower and get packed and have my bags at the bus by 12:15 so that we could leave at 1am. The bus ride wasn't that bad, but it was hard to get comfortable with my having hurt my back on Wednesday during the load-in...I would have done better had I slept on the floor.
We made a convenience store stop on our way out of Oklahoma City...imagine the shocked gas station/convenience stroe attendant who had a bus pull up and have 20 to 30 people clad in PJ's and the like stumble into the store around 1am buying sodas and snacks. We also made a breakfast stop around 9am or so and got to the hotel around 1pm.
Hello Baton Rouge (yawn!)
We had our last (my first and only) overnighter for this tour...a 12 hours bus ride from Oklahoma City to Baton Rouge.
After doing our last two shows on Sunday and loading the show out...we got back to the hotel around 10:30...which gave me time to take a shower and get packed and have my bags at the bus by 12:15 so that we could leave at 1am. The bus ride wasn't that bad, but it was hard to get comfortable with my having hurt my back on Wednesday during the load-in...I would have done better had I slept on the floor.
We made a convenience store stop on our way out of Oklahoma City...imagine the shocked gas station/convenience stroe attendant who had a bus pull up and have 20 to 30 people clad in PJ's and the like stumble into the store around 1am buying sodas and snacks. We also made a breakfast stop around 9am or so and got to the hotel around 1pm.
Hello Baton Rouge (yawn!)
Sunday, March 06, 2005
Visiting Mr. Green
Went to see a show last night called "Visiting Mr. Green" at the Carpenter Square Theater...gotta love a two show Saturday (here's to getting out of work at 4PM on a Saturday!).
Carpenter Square Theater is a community theater in it's 21st Season in Oklahoma City...and if this show is any indication of their usual performance quality...they do good work! The venue was interesting...arena style seating on four sides...maybe 400 to 500 seats with the acting area on the floor...somwhere around a 20'x40' acting space.
Visiting Mr. Green is a two person show about the older Jewish generation's religious beliefs conflicts with the 21st Century world and reality. A younger man (Ross) has to do weekly Community Service visitations with Mr. Green who he almost hit with his car when Mr. Green walked out into traffic. The first act deals with the development of the two characters and their new forced relationship, along the way Ross is accepted by Mr. Green as we find out that he is also Jewish and ends with the relevation that Ross is a "fagaela". Act two deals with the initial rejection from Mr. Green which mirrors Ross' family's reaction and most of accepted society's as well. We also find out that Mr. Green has a daughter who has married a "goyim" (my apologies for any Yiddish mispellings) and is considered dead by Mr. Green. The second act brings about the acceptance from Mr. Green that Ross has yet to receive from his parents along with the eventual reconciliation between Mr. Green and his daughter (who we never see) with her knock on the door to end the play.
All in all a very good and moving show...both actors were entrancing...especially finding out that the man playing Mr. Green had recently suffered from a stroke this past December. If this performance is any indication of the usualy production quailty at Carpenter Square Theater...I would suggest treating yourself to a show there if you are in the Oklahoma City area.
Did I mention they had a bar the was open before the performance and during intermission...and that you could bring your beverage (and snack) into the theater?
All I had was a glass of wine before the show and at intermission...but it was a nice touch.
Gotta run down for some breakfast...
Carpenter Square Theater is a community theater in it's 21st Season in Oklahoma City...and if this show is any indication of their usual performance quality...they do good work! The venue was interesting...arena style seating on four sides...maybe 400 to 500 seats with the acting area on the floor...somwhere around a 20'x40' acting space.
Visiting Mr. Green is a two person show about the older Jewish generation's religious beliefs conflicts with the 21st Century world and reality. A younger man (Ross) has to do weekly Community Service visitations with Mr. Green who he almost hit with his car when Mr. Green walked out into traffic. The first act deals with the development of the two characters and their new forced relationship, along the way Ross is accepted by Mr. Green as we find out that he is also Jewish and ends with the relevation that Ross is a "fagaela". Act two deals with the initial rejection from Mr. Green which mirrors Ross' family's reaction and most of accepted society's as well. We also find out that Mr. Green has a daughter who has married a "goyim" (my apologies for any Yiddish mispellings) and is considered dead by Mr. Green. The second act brings about the acceptance from Mr. Green that Ross has yet to receive from his parents along with the eventual reconciliation between Mr. Green and his daughter (who we never see) with her knock on the door to end the play.
All in all a very good and moving show...both actors were entrancing...especially finding out that the man playing Mr. Green had recently suffered from a stroke this past December. If this performance is any indication of the usualy production quailty at Carpenter Square Theater...I would suggest treating yourself to a show there if you are in the Oklahoma City area.
Did I mention they had a bar the was open before the performance and during intermission...and that you could bring your beverage (and snack) into the theater?
All I had was a glass of wine before the show and at intermission...but it was a nice touch.
Gotta run down for some breakfast...
Friday, March 04, 2005
March sure is coming in like a lion.
Although the weather in Oklahoma City has been a bit cooler than it was in Texas...the nights have been pleasant and the weather is wonderful...definately better than the massive snowstorm that has ravaged Ohio and the rest of the NorthEast.
I'm speaking about my body...the aforementioned root canal, and then during the load-in yesterday I pulled my back. So yesterday was spent mostly walking around bent over and shuffling like I was in my seventies...today has gone much better other than having a moment of my back locking up while I was on my knees shortly before my most intensive quick change in the show.
I do hope that the month goes out like a lamb...please...
I'm speaking about my body...the aforementioned root canal, and then during the load-in yesterday I pulled my back. So yesterday was spent mostly walking around bent over and shuffling like I was in my seventies...today has gone much better other than having a moment of my back locking up while I was on my knees shortly before my most intensive quick change in the show.
I do hope that the month goes out like a lamb...please...
Wednesday, March 02, 2005
Surprise...you need a root canal!
A few weeks back I had chipped off a part of one of my teeth...and a couple of days after that the filling that was in there fell out. I knew that I would have to get it taken care of eventually. Well eventually became now as I started feeling some twinges of pain in the tooth...I was able to find a dentist in downtown Oklahoma City...within walking distance from the hotel and made an appointment for 9:30 this morning.
My dental insurance won't kick in until June...so the price of a filling ranging between $80-$150 was acceptable although not entirely welcome. Imagine my utter glee upon getting in the chair and having an x-ray taken and finding out that the decay went all the way to the root and that I had three choices: Root Canal, Extraction or just try and luck it out and maybe the tooth will behave itself until June.
Knowing how my teeth like to behave...or more correctly, NOT to behave...I opted for the root canal. The cost was in line with previous root canals (unfortunately I have experience in this area) except this time I got to pay the full amount. Luckily I had started out with and have been able to maintain a bit of a reserve in my bank account.
The root canal in itself went quite quick and easy. I would highly reccommend Dr. Jason Dukes for all of your dentistry needs while in Oklahoma City (228 Robert S. Kerr Ave - Suite #130 / 405-232-8743) they were very efficient and nice and were able to see not only to my last minute appointment request...but able to handle my root canal needs without any hassles whatsoever. Everything was taken care of within an hour...kind of like on Family Ties (or was that a half hour?)
When it came time to pay...I found out that my Check Card had expired at the end of February...so I couldn't use the account that I knew I had enough money in to cover the bill. After contemplating using a Credit Card to pay I thought that I may have had enough in my business account to cover the cost, and used that card instead. On my way back to the hotel, I checked in with home to see if my new Check Card had come...and low and behold it was there. The only problem is that they don't send it with big bold letters saying "Here's your new Checking and/or Credit Card!!!"...for obvious reasons...so therefore it wasn't forwarded to me with my pertinent mail and magazines. So...as long as the winter storm that is gripping Cleveland abates a bit, I should be able to have that overnighted to me and it'll be business as usual.
When I got back to the hotel I had a sinking suspiscion that I didn't have enough in the business account to cover the cost of the root canal. I went online and was able to confirm my worst fears. However, I had enough foresight to bring my check book out with me on tour. So I preceeded to walk back to the dentist's office and had them void out the charge on the business account card and paid for it with a check...using the money that I had planned on using but just going about it in a different manner than I had planned.
And all this before noon...
I wonder what the rest of the day has in store...maybe I should just go back to bed and enjoy my last day off this week.
My dental insurance won't kick in until June...so the price of a filling ranging between $80-$150 was acceptable although not entirely welcome. Imagine my utter glee upon getting in the chair and having an x-ray taken and finding out that the decay went all the way to the root and that I had three choices: Root Canal, Extraction or just try and luck it out and maybe the tooth will behave itself until June.
Knowing how my teeth like to behave...or more correctly, NOT to behave...I opted for the root canal. The cost was in line with previous root canals (unfortunately I have experience in this area) except this time I got to pay the full amount. Luckily I had started out with and have been able to maintain a bit of a reserve in my bank account.
The root canal in itself went quite quick and easy. I would highly reccommend Dr. Jason Dukes for all of your dentistry needs while in Oklahoma City (228 Robert S. Kerr Ave - Suite #130 / 405-232-8743) they were very efficient and nice and were able to see not only to my last minute appointment request...but able to handle my root canal needs without any hassles whatsoever. Everything was taken care of within an hour...kind of like on Family Ties (or was that a half hour?)
When it came time to pay...I found out that my Check Card had expired at the end of February...so I couldn't use the account that I knew I had enough money in to cover the bill. After contemplating using a Credit Card to pay I thought that I may have had enough in my business account to cover the cost, and used that card instead. On my way back to the hotel, I checked in with home to see if my new Check Card had come...and low and behold it was there. The only problem is that they don't send it with big bold letters saying "Here's your new Checking and/or Credit Card!!!"...for obvious reasons...so therefore it wasn't forwarded to me with my pertinent mail and magazines. So...as long as the winter storm that is gripping Cleveland abates a bit, I should be able to have that overnighted to me and it'll be business as usual.
When I got back to the hotel I had a sinking suspiscion that I didn't have enough in the business account to cover the cost of the root canal. I went online and was able to confirm my worst fears. However, I had enough foresight to bring my check book out with me on tour. So I preceeded to walk back to the dentist's office and had them void out the charge on the business account card and paid for it with a check...using the money that I had planned on using but just going about it in a different manner than I had planned.
And all this before noon...
I wonder what the rest of the day has in store...maybe I should just go back to bed and enjoy my last day off this week.
Tuesday, March 01, 2005
If you haven't noticed...
...I've figured out how to add some pictures into my blog.
Maybe I'll start a new Photo Blog...and go from the beginning.
Let me know if you'd rather that I put them in with this blog or start another one.
They say that a picture is worth 1,000 words...
Lemmeno.
Maybe I'll start a new Photo Blog...and go from the beginning.
Let me know if you'd rather that I put them in with this blog or start another one.
They say that a picture is worth 1,000 words...
Lemmeno.
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