The other day, I went to lunch with my family. We are trying to make going to lunch as a family an every Friday thing. I really like it. Breaks up the workday and gives me something to look forward to. And it’s fun.
On the way back to work, we somehow got on the subject of a store selling drinks made from tiger urine. That morphed into drinks made from Tiger Woods’ urine. Don’t ask me how we got there.
“What flavor did you get?”
“I got gonorrhea. Yum.”
My 3-year-old then asked, “What?”
Knowing he had no idea of what we were talking about, I replied ,”Gonorrhea.”
“Oh, I get it,” he said and started to laugh.
June 20th, 2010 in
Family | tags:
My Kids |
2 Comments
Our youngest is 3-years-old and he is obsessed with cars. He loves them. They are pretty much the only toys he plays with. He loves Lightning McQueen from Pixar’s Cars. He runs around the coffee table making engine sounds. He told me today as I walked in the door that when he grows up, he is going to have a race car. Get the point?
So, Sunday we had the bright idea to let Bubba watch some NASCAR on TV. (Yes, his nick name is even Bubba. I don’t know how that happened, but if that doesn’t scream future race car driver…) We figured he would like to see how fast the cars were going and hear the roar of all the engines. We turned it over just as the race was about to start.
As soon as the green flag was waved, Bubba was transfixed. He stood in front of the screen and stared. Then he would jump up and down and yell, “Go! Go! Go!” Every time it cut to commercials, he would say, “I want to watch the cars. Turn the cars back on.” He watched the first 25-30 minutes without losing interest. Quite a feat for a 3-year-old. Even after that first stint, he was in and out of the room, playing with cars and watching the race.
When all was said and done, I ended up watching my first NASCAR race from beginning to end. The only other race I had ever watched even a part of was the Daytona 500 in 2001. I was flipping channels and stopped on the race just in time to see the crash that killed Dale Earnhardt.
None of our other kids have ever been so interested in anything at that age as Bubba is to cars. It is fun to watch.
April 27th, 2010 in
Family | tags:
My Kids,
NASCAR |
1 Comment
I am half way through the run of Fiddler on the Roof. One month in and one month to go. It has already been a wonderful, rewarding experience. My director told me to enjoy and love every moment of being Tevye and that is what I have been trying to do. Tevye is, of course, one of the great iconic characters in theater. I feel very privileged to be able to play him.
One of the interesting things about performing at Hale Centre Theatre is meeting the audience after the show. I have done 18 shows at HCT over the past 16 years. The theatre has had a long standing tradition that the cast greets the audience after the evening shows (usually not after a matinee because of quick turnover time to the next show, if you’re wondering) and during the past 16 years I have heard all sorts of comments.
During Fiddler, I have been asked several times if I am a local. Like maybe HCT brought me in special or something. I don’t know if that is what they mean but I choose to take it as a compliment. When I played Tevye in high school, the school received several phone calls with people complaining that the school should not have brought in college student to play the part. It should have gone to a high school student. I was a junior. Those calls actually got the principal to pay attention to the theater program rather than football, if only for 5 minutes.
One night, a frail old woman came up to me to tell me how much she enjoyed the show. She was 90 years old. She said while it was hard for her to get out and go places anymore, I was worth her trip to the theatre that night. I felt honored.
Several have commented how this is the best show they have seen at HTC. Some have told me that I am best Tevye they have ever seen, that this venue is too small for me and I should be on Broadway. Again, honored. Some have simply taken my hand, unable to speak and eyes filled with tears. It is humbling to be part of something that effects people in that way. I don’t know what to say to these wonderful comments other than thank you.
I say thanks a lot after each performance. Thanks to the audience, thanks to my fellow actors, thanks to the crew, thanks to God for blessing me with this opportunity.
Even thanks to the people who pat my belly or touch my beard. Being Tevye has been like being a pregnant woman. People always feel like they can touch a pregnant woman’s stomach. Folks after the show are the same. Some touch my stomach, asking it it is real. Unfortunately, it is. Others touch my beard. Unfortunately, that is real also. It is getting rather bushy and I can’t wait to shave it off.
But the beard and all the rest is worth it. Receiving all the great comments is fun. Who doesn’t like their ego stroked? But this experience is more than that. Tevye is an incredible character to play. Fiddler on the Roof is a great musical with a wonderful story and message. To be connected to it is amazing. As much as the audience has enjoyed it, I have enjoyed it more. Before I walk on stage each night I smile to myself and remember the words of my director.
Love every minute of it.
I am.
March 16th, 2010 in
Random Rants |
3 Comments
Today was a good Thanksgiving. Spent the day at my sister’s house with the family enjoying a wonderful dinner and each other. Now I am sitting at home, with no work looming in the morning. I am watching the Jazz spank the Bulls (at least they are at the beginning of the 3rd quarter) and I am trying to think of what I am thankful for.
There is a lot of course, when I stop to think about it. I am thankful for my wonderful wife. I am thankful for four beautiful, funny kids. I am thankful for my parents, for my siblings and the love and joy that always fills my heart when I get to spend time with them. I am thankful for a job I enjoy and for the friend that led me to it. I am thankful for my recently completed degree. I am thankful for the many opportunities that I have had to spend time on stage. I was able to be in four productions this year (one of which opens on Saturday), and I was also able to perform with an improv troupe that I highly respect throughout the year.
I hope Thanksgiving was as good to you this year as it was to me. I hope you all can find something to be thankful for. Now if next year I can add being grateful that the Cubs won the World Series, then that would be the best. Just sending that out to the universe. Let’s see what happens.
Just sitting in rehearsal, contemplating the sorry state of this here blog. Been really busy, but there are a few things to talk about.
First. Ah, the NBA is back, baby. I love the NBA and I love the Utah Jazz. So what will this season bring? More disappointing road losses from the Jazz, as exhibited on their road opener in Denver. Granted, Denver should be tough this year, but the 4th quarter collapse by the Jazz just brought back all the memories of Utah’s poor road performances from last year.
The return of the NBA also means the return the dillhole in Cleveland and his stupid powder throwing antics. I hate that the first highlight of the NBA season on Sports Center was King LeDouche throwing that crap in the air. Is this professional wrestling? No. Of course, it is heartwarming to watch the Cavs start their season with 2 losses. Let’s see more of that, Bron Bron.
Second. Was driving down the street a couple of days ago and there is a woman pushing her kid down the street, not in a stroller, but in a stolen shopping cart. I guess you’re a redneck if…
Third. Being in two shows at once is hard. Fun? Sure. Extra money? Needed. But I miss my family.