Minny's still cold

After spending the past 10 days in the greater Northwest in 40-50 degree weather, I returned to a frozen minneapolis. Oh-it's warmer than it has been, but 15 degrees is still cold!

It was a successful tour of duty out there. The shows all went really well, but we didn't get the turnout that we ultimately wanted. I posted last time that the theatre had a weird vibe to it . . . that vibe never really left. We're planning on returning to the area in September, but I believe that they've found a different theatre. I think that's a good idea. Everette is populated by boeing employees and the Navy. Not to take anything away from the place, but we didn't get the reception there that we were hoping for. I can tell you this-everyone who came to the show had a great time!

Like I said earlier, Jim Weiner and Issac Lamb were at one of the shows. It's easy to get off into your own world with this show, and it was nice to get some feedback from a couple of guys who are as familiar with the show as I am. Not out-and-out "Notes", but rather just some feedback. It helped me shore up my performance a bit.

I didn't do too much for the remainder of my trip. Made it back down to Seattle for a day and caught a late lunch with Spider. That was pretty cool. Sometimes, I tend to forget these people, or blend these folks together. I couldn't remember if he was an old Skating guy, or from law school, or what. So, I got caught up on a bit of family history. It was a pretty cool experience, plus-he said he might be able to make it out for Elly's wedding. Something about a trip to Colorado Springs around the same time.


Elly's wedding. Wow. Each day brings us closer and closer. I'm going to have to start making plans pretty soon! Let me know what I need to do.

So, I'm back in Minny now, and I'm taking today to get back in the swing of things. Take care of some of the "business" that piled up. Then, I've got to decide what I'm going to do for the next several months. I applied to a combined audition for summer stock theatres in NYC, and I should hear weather or not I've got an audition spot within the next week. That would be great . . . I've got enough miles on a couple of airlines to get a free or cheap flight, so it could be a fairly inexpensive trip. Regardless, I might have to look into getting some sort of job soon. Or maybe there's another commercial right around the corner?


Love you guys!

Contact

Yes yes, I'm still alive. First off, I'm sorry for being AWOL for so long. It's a long story, but suffice to say I'm back! I don't have time to read all the new posts right now (have to be at work in 20 mins), but I'll give you guys an update on my affairs real quick. I had a work meeting this morning at 9am. It was cooler than I expected it to be, and I told my manager that I was interested in serving eventually. Her reaction led me to believe that she saw the potential in me, so hopefully I took my first step towards becoming a waiter! The show on thursday was awesome. We had a good turnout, rocked the house, and got paid (albeit only $15-20 apiece). I'm starting to feel like a real musician with all this action lately. My classes are very cool, I'm excited about school for the first time in a while. I've been talking to my music business professor after almost every class and absorbing his insight. I gave him the mixtape and our demo and he loves both of them and is more than willing to offer guidance to me as far as booking shows, etc. I'm going to be booking our summer shows ASAP, and I'll keep you guys posted on that.
Dad, I believe I'm doing a show in durango on your birthday!! Well, it's either going to be the 9th or the 10th, I'm still waiting to hear from the promoter. Do wack rhymes count as birthday presents? Other than that, I have A show on March 2nd AND 3rd, both well-promoted gigs at reputable venues. Hmmm......what else? Oh yeah, Skep is moving out here in mere WEEKS!! I'm very excited and very nervous. That reminds me, I need to talk to you (mom & dad) about something.....Can I borrow the Tahoe for the weekend of march 24th-25th? I am planning on driving down to vegas and helping skep move his stuff up here. He doesn't have much stuff at all, and would rather not pay exorbitant rates for a moving truck. So.........we'll discuss that. Anyways, there is much more going on, but I have to go! That's okay though, the most important thing is that the eagle has landed, the cows have come home, and teddy ruxpin has returned to blog again. Love you guys!

WHEW!

Okay, so I've been absent for a while. There's a good reason for that. Only one. My Grad School Application.

I kinda thought that after I finished it and submitted it, I'd get on here and have a lot to say. Well, I don't. But I'll talk anyway.

So, for my grad school application, there were three things I had to do which were really work-intensive. 1, my portfolio. 2, my statement of purpose (essay). 3, my description of plans (essay). The portfolio was fun to put together. I took pictures/had my friend Shad take pictures of my artwork, got 8x10 prints of them at Target, and glued them to 8.5x11 black construction paper w/ a little title/medium/dimensions placard underneath, and put them into the portfolio sheaths. I also edited and printed out an old story of mine as an example of creative writing, and an essay I did last semester for an example of analytical writing. It ended up being 18 pages long, where it was supposed to be 6-12. I hope they don't look down on going over the limit 0o

Anyway, I finished it for good the day before it was due...in Denver. So, I borrowed Shad's car after I finished my workout, around 1:30, and 1. went home, printed out the final copies of the story/essay, checked over the portfolio to make sure it looked good. Wrote a $50 check for application fee. Wrote down the mailing address at CU Denver. 2. Went to the grocery store for mailers (and some groceries). In the parking lot I spent a good 5 minutes struggling to make the key turn in the ignition (the car is sometimes finicky like that). Finally got it started. 3. Went back home for all the things I forgot. 4. Went to the post office and got express postage for my package. I included my statement of purpose, check, portfolio, and a self-addressed envelope. I got the express postage just fine, but I accidentally printed out postage to Denver instead of to Boulder for my return envelope. No big deal, the lady told me to cut off the bar code and write in my own address on the postage itself. Problem solved (I hope). Then I mailed it. Yay! It got in on time. 5. Went back and picked up Shad from work. By this time it's dumping snow and the roads are ice rinks. Drive home, Shad stays for a little bit and then goes home.

So, that was my portfolio. The actual application (with accompanying essay) was due the next day (today), and I'd hardly started writing the second essay...but I was so relieved at having mailed my portfolio that I couldn't focus on it. I wrote it out this morning, typed it up, got it looked over by my former composition professor, Branden and Carlie, and then submitted it. GRAD SCHOOL APP DONE!!!! *victory music*

Then tonight I wrote a paper about The First Part of King Henry IV (1H4) by Shakespeare. Whee, fun. Well, it's out of the way.

I'm in negotiations with Ben Martinez and Stephanie Williams (two DIFFERENT photographers) about possibly getting a more acceptable price. Ben considers himself a web designer (though I tell ya, he'd never get hired at, say, Brainstorm) so he won't be taking me up on my offer to work his website for a discount, but I pitched the same proposal to Stephanie Williams, saying things like "please let me know if you're at all interested in this" and "I'd be delighted if we could work something out"...I think I was pretty low-pressure.

No bad reaction whatsoever to beginning the full dose of Rebif. Yay!

Oh yeah, and also, a couple of weeks ago Noah called and said he was gonna come up and hang out with me, do homework, get me to look at his hard drive, etc. That was a Tuesday. Then he said he'd probably do it the following Thursday. That was the last I heard of him... I bet he's alive, right?

Anyway...yeah. Not much more to say. Didn't work out today because of the essay, but back in tomorrow. Love yas! <3

Happy Valentine's Day

As I was looking through pictures this morning, I got a little emotional. Happy Valentine's Day. Pictured at the bottom, of course, is monkey. Love you guys!

Washington

It's gorgeous here. I've been out in this area a couple of times before, but I think I have a new perspective on it after touring Europe a bit. I had forgotten how cosmopolitan Seattle it. . . but I'm getting ahead of myself a bit. Let me start over.

Hello Family-

I've been thinking about you guys a lot recently, and hope everyone is doing great. I got into Seattle and subsequently drove the 40 minutes up to Everett on Friday. Helped with the load-in Friday afternoon, and then delivered Hay-makers Friday Night. The theatre here is another old, old place (circa 1902), and it feels like a cave. It's got a strange vibe though . . . tough to explain. As we were doing the light hang, I was surprised by Jim Wiener (basically our new boss). He came in for the show, and I was excited to have someone from the company to be there. I had the opportunity to get into his ear a bit that night, and while it was great, it's also a tiny bit discouraging . . . more of the same. The show is selling really well, but the thick part of the schedule doesn't begin until the fall. Until we're working full-time, health coverage is not an option. Patience. Patience.

On Saturday, Issac Lamb-one of my mentor cavemen who's based in Portland-drove up to shoot some b-roll footage for commercials. Pretty impressive. Issac is 26, and he just lost over 100lbs in just under a year. It was like seeing a different person. I love the opportunity to have other cavemen see my show, and I was lucky enough to have both Issac and Jim there on Saturday night. Felt a bit like a company. The show went great, and by the way, we taped it to have future b-roll material for me as well.

I've been a bit sniffly for the past couple of days. I don't have a full-blown cold, but a little sick, I think. That has hindered some of my grandiose plans, but not all of them. I've managed to get to the local YMCA every day, which is about the hottest spot here in everett. Yesterday was a big day. I took a tour of the Boeing plant (the only place in North America where you can see jets being built) and the "Future of Flight" Museum. It was cooler than I expected. Turns out the Boeing plant here in Everett is the largest Building in the world (by volume), and it sure felt that way. It's impressive to see these jets go together, but a bit nerve-wracking at the same time. . . it takes about 5 months (currently) to assemble a 777 jet aircraft, but I'd almost rather it took a full year . . . you know, to wrap it in Kevlar and whatnot. Most of the museum and the tour was dedicated to talking about the upcoming 787 model jet which will apparently be revolutionizing flight. It's pretty cool . . . more passenger room, lightweight composite materials for lower-cost flights, more efficient fuel consumption. Keep your eyes peeled for the "Dreamliner". Wow. What a nerd.

After the tour, I bopped back down into the city for a few hours. Hit pikes place market and the Wharf a bit. It was great. Beautiful weather (t-shirt?), and tons of people out for some good people-watchery. I mostly just hoofed around gawking. I of course made my 2nd or 3rd pilgrimage to the first ever Starbucks, and watched the dudes throwing fish around, and had a delicious bowl of clam chowder. Then it was back up here to Everett for an evening workout. Word.

So, today I had planned on taking a long drive and exploring Olympic National Park, but to tell you the truth, I didn't feel up to it. I woke up a bit late and my nose is still running. . . so I think I'm going to go spend some time at the gym and then do some laundry and maybe catch a movie. I'm having a difficult time with this decision . . . feel like I should take in as much of this area as I can while I can, but whatever. I guess I'll get over it.

Hope you guys are great, and I look forward to hearing from you!

Presenting the Bad News Brooms!

Team #2, In all our glory.

I'm in Everett now, and it's pretty interesting. I'll have more to report soon. Love you guys!

Presenting the Grim Sweepers!

Here we are, in all our glory . . . the Grim Sweepers. We had our final game of the regular season on Tuesday night, where we recorded our first actual loss. Sad. Book ends-We started the season with a forfeit loss (you need 8 to play, and at gametime we only had 6), but we went on in that game to score 7 goals while allowing none. Incidently, I scored our first goal of the season in that game, and our last goal of the season in our final game. My only 2 goals this winter.

It was a hard-fought battle last night, and the bad guys scored the go-ahead goal in the final 5 minutes to seal the deal with a 3-2 score. It was pretty weird . . . the sweepers were pretty used to dominating, so to lose was strange. I think that in 10 games, we'd probably end up 5-5 with that team.

From here, the Grim Sweepers look for tournament victories in a 20-team brackett starting next week, and I wish them luck as I head in the direction of Puget Sound. It's great to work and all, but I'd love to play in this tournament. Oh well.

I've got one final game tomorrow night with the Bad News Brooms . . . picture to come shortly. It's been a fun season full of mostly high points, and (so far) no serious ice-related injuries. Hope you all are well. Love.