This Day Has To Get Better

6:10am - Alarm goes off. Strangely, I'm awake enough to turn it off and get up and not hit the snooze button. Usually, I'm snoozing from 5:30 until 6:30am.
6:45am - Showered, dressed and out the door.
6:57am - Flat tire on I-465 Loop.
6:58am - Get out jack and necessary tools. My spare tire is underneath my truck bed and I have to lower it with a special tool.
6:59:30am - Remember about the 1st time I changed a flat on my truck and how it took me over an hour to get the spare tire down. Of course, that was at 4am in the morning and I was completely hammered then.
7:01am - Got the spare down
7:02am - Jack the car up.
7:03am - Remembered the easiest technique to getting the lug nuts off. Loosen them while the tire is down on the ground, then jack the car up. Use the nut-thingy (I'm blanking on the tool's name, it's the crowbar thingy with the nut-thingy on one end) on the lug nut and spin the tire instead of turning the tool. Let the tire do the work.
7:03:30am - Lower the car.
7:04am - Attempt to loosen the first lug nut. Not even budging. I think, "Righty Tighty - Lefty Loosey" and confirm I'm pushing the right way.
7:08am - No lug nut even budges.
7:08:15am - Curse.
7:15am - Position the tool-thingy on a lug nut and step on tool. Massive gerth allows for successful loosening of lug nuts.
7:17am - Lug nugs off.
7:20am - Flat tire off and in truck bed.
7:21am - Spare tire on.
7:22am - Lug nuts tightened.
7:24am - All tools back in car.
7:24:30am - Start to pull away and hear chain clanging noise.
7:24:45am - Realize I need to raise the chain that holds the spare tire up.
7:25am - Raising the chain.
7:26am - Realize I'm a dirty, sweaty mess as I pull off.
7:30am - Stop at McDonalds to clean up.
7:31am - McDonald's soap sucks and the faucet is automatic.
7:37am - Give up cleaning hands. They were as clean as they could get.
7:39am - Stop at gas station to give extra air to space
7:39:30am - Notice Out of Order Sign on Air Machine
7:41am - Ask store clerk if they know of another air machine nearby since there's isn't worked. They said it was and they'd turn it on if I took the Out of Order sign off.
7:43am - Hey! It does work. Oh, the connecting piece broke off when I touched it.
7:43:30am - Fuck it! Plow through.
7:46am - Tire inflated.
7:47am - Decide to stop at the Target behind gas station for a change of clothes.
7:48am - Target opens at 8am.
7:49am - Call home to tell Wife about flat.
7:58am - Call work to say I'll be late.
8:00:02am - Enter Target.
8:10am - Procure 2 undershirts, a new polo shirt and pair of jeans.
8:11am - Check out and head to bathroom to clean up.
8:12am - Enter stall and change into new clothes.
8:20am - Exit stall and wash up. Target's bathrooms at least had manual faucets.
8:22am - Leave Target and head to work.
8:30am - Arrive at work where there's not a lot to do.

So that was my morning so far. I've got stuff to install on our Avids. At least the day ends with seeing "High School Musical" on stage with some good friends. That should wash away my morning... until I get the bill for a new tire...

Show's Over

Well, the show is over and I guess I should finally deliver a picture without facial hair. This one is from probably the best scene in the show. The song is "The Creation of Man" where Percy (the guy in the tiger outfit) teaches us how to act like fops. His lyric here is, "Be the King of the Beasts in Pastels" and I just said "Meow" like a little kitty. Big Laugh. You not only get no facial hair pic, but as an added bonus, you get pink chiffon, too. Aren't you thrilled?

Today, I'm suffering from the usual post-show crash. I don't feel like I properly said goodbye to the people in this show. We hugged and shook hands and exchanged "see you laters." But, it didn't feel like it was over and we'd not be hanging out next weekend. This cast was probably the best cast I have ever worked with on a gets-along-no-divas level, not to mention talented to boot. Everyone was so friendly, so nice and we all got along so well. That was refreshing. If I didn't give a proper good-bye it's because I don't think there's really been an ending moment for any of those relationships that were created. I've come to grips that "show friendships" happen. Meaning, wonderful relationships are made during the rehearsal process that don't last once the show is over. This is due to all the actors doing other shows, not because the emotional links were fake. And, the truly real relationships will stick. I look forward to the next time I can work with anyone from this show again.

I haven't been talking alot about my Christan journey. That's becuase I haven't really been focused on it for a while. At least with the show being over, I can hopefully reestablish a daily prayer and Bible reading routine. I have noticed that I'm not feeling... at home... with the church I attend. The people I am most close to from there are for various reasons leaving it. Most of the reasons have nothing to do with the church itself, but life... as in it's hard to attend a church in Indiana when you live in California. But, this social loss is hard on me. I don't identify well with the twenty-somethings that are in the congregation. Nobody's fault. We're just at different places in our lives. And, I think I am seeking more friendships that are nearer to my own life's experience. I'm thinking about church-hopping, but then I kinda feel like I'm not giving some new relationships a chance. Plus, if I church-hop, who's to say that I'll be able to establish some frienships there? I don't know, so I guess this is a good point to ask God for a little guidance.

Opened

I guess I should say something about the show since it's opened. Friday and Saturday night's shows were about 1000x better than the previous preview night and 2 rehearsals before that. Those three rehearsals were not good shows. Most everything was in place. There wasn't dropped lines really. There was just no energy. I think we had reached a point that the show was audience-ready but because we didn't have an audience or its energy, we didn't have any energy either.

But, the opening night, the show was pretty damn good. The second night was even better. We got a lot of needed energy from the audience. And not just energy but laughs. You never know what an audience will laugh at. It wasn't perfect - we need to improve the scene changes - but we still had two very good shows. If I find a review, I'll post it.

And you know what I like about this show, I mean, besides the show itself. Not a single diva. Not a single bad vibe from anyone. Everyone has been a complete joy to work with. And, it's casts like this that I get the most enjoyment out of. Just friendly and talented people and I can't say enough about that. I can't wait for the next opportunity to work with any of these people again (which I am hoping that will happen with "Children of Eden" next fall).

All Gone

What? You didn't think you'd get to see my clean shaven face for free, did you? No, you gotta get a ticket - $12 bucks ain't so bad. Not only do you get ML's naked face, but you'll see 6 very straight men explore their *ahem* feminine side, 5 hotty French tarts, 4-part harmonies, 3 people entangled in lies, love and deception, 2 beheadings by guillotine live on stage, and a melodramatic, but happy ending.

Tonight is opening. Here's the link for ticket info. and another link for directions to the Belfry. There is road construction, so you might want to plan to leave a little earlier than normal to avoid any traffic snafus.

Again, there's a bajillion options for entertainment in the Indianapolis area over the next three weekends, and only a million or so of those options are theatre-related. Thank you to anyone who chooses any theatre-entertainment option for your support of the arts. And a special thank you who choose to come out to see this show. Your entertainment dollars could go to a variety of other options, but your patronage is greatly appreciated. I hope you enjoy the hard work that went into putting this grandiose show on this small stage.

Please, if you do come to the show, stick around the lobby for a while and introduce yourself. It'll take me maybe 10 minutes to get out of costume and I would love to meet, hear and speak to you.