It's Time To Go Dancing... With The Stars
With the next season coming up of Dancing with the Stars, excitement is in the air. That air, unfortunately, is not the air that I breathe... but there's excitement. Why comment on it then? Call it professional courtesy. Or say that I want to mock the 'stars'... it doesn't matter. The point is that I'm going to climb this mountain, because it's there.
In the past two 'seasons,' a former NFL great (Jerry Rice and Emmitt Smith respectively) have had great showings... with Smith even winning the competition (over Saved By The Bell great, complete Latin hotty/hunk and a personal, Irishman, Hall of Fame actor Mario Lopez. Mmm... Albert Clifford). But this season, there is no NFL great. As a matter of fact, the closest I have to a sports hero I recognize is former Phi-Slamma-Jammer Clyde "the Glide" Drexler. I don't actually think that I can root for Drexler to win... I never really liked Portland or Houston and never rooted for him while he was playing. So he's out.
Who does that leave, I'm sure you're all wondering ('all' meaning the three people who still frequent this site after the months of inactivity)? In the world of sports (the only world that matters), all they have left is Apollo Anton Ohno, the oddly attractive speed skater, whose thighs are large enough to feed entire starving nations. I'm not sure speed-skating is actually a sport (in the same sect of pseudo-sports with NASCAR, all things equestrian, and--frankly--track. Haven't we evolved past "who's faster?" Didn't we ask that question in grade school? I'm a sports snob... sue me.), so he's out. Also representing sports is Laila Ali, the ass-kicking boxing daughter of Muhammad Ali. However, I don't know that I can, in good conscience, root for a woman who could kill me. She's out.
Now who does that leave? Actually, not much. There is a rogue gallery of people who will make you say "Using the word 'Stars' is stretching it," such as: Billy Ray Cyrus, of one-hit-Achy-Breaky fame; 'Hey that 90210 guy' Ian Ziering; 'The goatee one... but not they gay one' from N'Sync, Joey Fatone; 'You've got to be kidding me with' Leeza Gibbons; 'Isn't that, like, the same person twice?' with Supermodel Paulina Porizkova and former Miss USA Shandi Finnessey; and, finally, 'Wasn't she married to that punk-ass-bitch Paul McCartney? Yeah... right, she's the one with only one leg' Heather Mills. How can I root for any of these 'Stars'?
After mocking almost everyone in the competition what are we left with? Cliff Clavin the disgruntled Postal worker, and the voice of many of Pixar's hilarious supporting-characters: the incomparable John Ratzenberger. He, in all honesty, probably doesn't stand a chance against the more athletic people in the competition. But I can still show my passive support for him the same way I do all other elections in this country: by sitting idly by and hoping that other people vote for him. Go get 'em, John!
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Thursday, March 15, 2007
Time To Go Dancing!
As everyone who follows sports knows, this past Sunday was Selection Sunday for the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament--affectionately known as The Big Dance--which begins today! Every year, tens of thousands of people fill out brackets at home or at the office filling it out on everything from actual basketball knowledge to mascots to uniform colors. Usually, college basketball knowledge gets you no further in the brackets than picking based on which teams would get a higher score in Scrabble. The college basketball 3-Point line is the great equalizer. Any team in the country can have one or two guys who can light it up from that line... and that can propel teams you've never heard of into the elite eight. Additionally, more-so than any other sport--college or pro--one player can control a college basketball game... literally willing his team to victory. So, because of all that, brackets are as unpredictable as the winds *looks to the skies*.
Now I'm not necessarily going to give you my brackets here, but I am going to talk a little about who got lucky and who got the shaft (which may literally be the same thing... even though they sound different). Ignoring who got in and who's out... I'm going to focus on the Seeding and the placement of teams in the bracket. I've heard from a few 'experts' that seeding doesn't matter because you're going to have to play good teams eventually... the following is me telling them that they're full of it.
The MidWest: I personally think this is the toughest region in the tournament full of teams that could possibly make waves in other regions. Florida, Wisconsin, Oregon, and Notre Dame could all make the Elite Eight if they were in other regions... but they won't, since they're all in the same bracket.
Who got lucky? Maryland. As a 4 seed, Maryland has the easiest draw into the Sweet 16... playing Davidson and then the winner of Butler/Old Dominion. Granted, I don't think Maryland will get it to the Sweet 16, but this is the easiest draw in this tough region.
Who got the shaft? Notre Dame. After an above average year in the talented Big East, ND gets a 6 seed against one of the best schools you've never heard of, Winthrop. I wouldn't be surprised to see ND get bounced in the first round, even though they have the kind of talent that could lead them to the Elite Eight.
First Round Game I Want To See: 6 Notre Dame/11 Winthrop. Winthrop will stick around and, even though I'll be rooting for ND, I always love seeing Mid-Majors compete and go deep into the tourney.
The West: Kansas gets the number 1 seed, even though I have yet to be impressed by them. The West has some interesting match-ups, and even though there are really no 'sexy' picks in the West, there are a ton of college basketball giants in this bracket (Kansas, UCLA, Duke, Kentucky, Indiana, and I'll even though Illinois in there for no reason). Let's check it out.
Who got lucky? Southern Illinois. Granted they've played well all year, but the number 4 seed might be pushing it. Besides, their draw--Holy Cross than Virginia Tech/Illinois winner--should not be very much of a challenge for, supposedly, on of the 16 best teams in the nation (being a 4 seed, the lowest they could be in the eyes of the selection committee is 16th).
Who got the shaft? Duke. Duke hasn't been very 'Dukey' this season... but a 6 seed allows Duke to be the underdog (which makes them dangerous). Even though the seeding is low, I think it might be a blessing for the Dukies. Unfortunately, Pitt probably awaits Duke if they can even beat Virginia Commonwealth (which is a big IF, since VCU is an experience mid-major that might be posed to make some waves in this tourney).
First Round Game I Want To See: 7 Indiana/10 Gonzaga. Both of these teams have had tournament success recently, so I look forward to seeing which team can use experience to get the upper-hand.
The East: I think this region will almost definitely not have the one-seed making it to the Final Four. Number 2 Georgetown (who could be a 1) and number 4 Texas would both not be a surprise to me if they ended up in the Final Four instead of North Carolina. As a matter of fact, I would probably give UNC, Georgetown, and Texas the same odds to be in the Final Four.
Who got lucky? Washington State. Playing Oral Roberts, then the Vanderbilt/George Washington winner should not be much of a problem for Washington State (who should not be a 3 seed, by the way). Could they make it to the Sweet 16 without much trouble... or could they get bounced by Oral Roberts just so I can make "oral" jokes for weeks? We'll find out soon enough.
Who got the shaft? Texas. Are you trying to tell me that Texas isn't better than Wash St.? Seriously? Texas should be the 3 seed in this region. I see Texas and UNC in the Sweet 16 and I see that as one of the best games of the tourney (As such, if one of the other teams messes up that potential match-up, I'll be pissed!).
First Round Game I Want To See: 8 Marquette/9 Michigan State. Izzo and his former assistant square off in what should actually, bias aside, be a very good game.
The South: In my opinion, this is the weakest of all regions, full of teams that don't impress me. Most of the top seeds--2 seed Memphis, 4 seed Virginia, 5 seed Tennessee--I wouldn't have going very far in any other region.
Who got lucky? Ohio State. Ohio State could very well breeze though this weak-ass region. I think Central Connecticut State, the BYU/Xavier winner, and the Tennessee/Long Beach/Virginia/Albany winner will pretty much offer OSU no challenge. That pretty much puts Ohio State in the Elite Eight without blinking. That's what I call a good draw.
Who got the shaft? Louisville. Yes Louisville is effectively playing at home (in Lexington, KY), but playing Stanford's literal Twin Towers and then (probably) Texas A&M is a horrible draw for the perennial power. I think Louisville will be lucky to make it to the Sweet 16, even playing in-state.
First Round Game I Want To See: 6 Louisville/11 Stanford. I want to see how the Kentucky crowd reacts to Louisville. Will they cheer for the 'home' team... or will they root for whoever ISN'T Louisville (in this case, Stanford)?
Final Four? I'm not telling mine. But I will say that I have no higher than a 3-seed in my Final Four (a 1, two 2s, and a 3). Maybe I'm not imaginative, or maybe I think the top of the basketball seeds are that good, but I don't see a 'no-name' surprising anyone a year after George Mason's run. NO ONE will be over-looked this year.
And I can't wait. There is some very good basketball to be seen this year. Let the games begin!
As everyone who follows sports knows, this past Sunday was Selection Sunday for the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament--affectionately known as The Big Dance--which begins today! Every year, tens of thousands of people fill out brackets at home or at the office filling it out on everything from actual basketball knowledge to mascots to uniform colors. Usually, college basketball knowledge gets you no further in the brackets than picking based on which teams would get a higher score in Scrabble. The college basketball 3-Point line is the great equalizer. Any team in the country can have one or two guys who can light it up from that line... and that can propel teams you've never heard of into the elite eight. Additionally, more-so than any other sport--college or pro--one player can control a college basketball game... literally willing his team to victory. So, because of all that, brackets are as unpredictable as the winds *looks to the skies*.
Now I'm not necessarily going to give you my brackets here, but I am going to talk a little about who got lucky and who got the shaft (which may literally be the same thing... even though they sound different). Ignoring who got in and who's out... I'm going to focus on the Seeding and the placement of teams in the bracket. I've heard from a few 'experts' that seeding doesn't matter because you're going to have to play good teams eventually... the following is me telling them that they're full of it.
The MidWest: I personally think this is the toughest region in the tournament full of teams that could possibly make waves in other regions. Florida, Wisconsin, Oregon, and Notre Dame could all make the Elite Eight if they were in other regions... but they won't, since they're all in the same bracket.
Who got lucky? Maryland. As a 4 seed, Maryland has the easiest draw into the Sweet 16... playing Davidson and then the winner of Butler/Old Dominion. Granted, I don't think Maryland will get it to the Sweet 16, but this is the easiest draw in this tough region.
Who got the shaft? Notre Dame. After an above average year in the talented Big East, ND gets a 6 seed against one of the best schools you've never heard of, Winthrop. I wouldn't be surprised to see ND get bounced in the first round, even though they have the kind of talent that could lead them to the Elite Eight.
First Round Game I Want To See: 6 Notre Dame/11 Winthrop. Winthrop will stick around and, even though I'll be rooting for ND, I always love seeing Mid-Majors compete and go deep into the tourney.
The West: Kansas gets the number 1 seed, even though I have yet to be impressed by them. The West has some interesting match-ups, and even though there are really no 'sexy' picks in the West, there are a ton of college basketball giants in this bracket (Kansas, UCLA, Duke, Kentucky, Indiana, and I'll even though Illinois in there for no reason). Let's check it out.
Who got lucky? Southern Illinois. Granted they've played well all year, but the number 4 seed might be pushing it. Besides, their draw--Holy Cross than Virginia Tech/Illinois winner--should not be very much of a challenge for, supposedly, on of the 16 best teams in the nation (being a 4 seed, the lowest they could be in the eyes of the selection committee is 16th).
Who got the shaft? Duke. Duke hasn't been very 'Dukey' this season... but a 6 seed allows Duke to be the underdog (which makes them dangerous). Even though the seeding is low, I think it might be a blessing for the Dukies. Unfortunately, Pitt probably awaits Duke if they can even beat Virginia Commonwealth (which is a big IF, since VCU is an experience mid-major that might be posed to make some waves in this tourney).
First Round Game I Want To See: 7 Indiana/10 Gonzaga. Both of these teams have had tournament success recently, so I look forward to seeing which team can use experience to get the upper-hand.
The East: I think this region will almost definitely not have the one-seed making it to the Final Four. Number 2 Georgetown (who could be a 1) and number 4 Texas would both not be a surprise to me if they ended up in the Final Four instead of North Carolina. As a matter of fact, I would probably give UNC, Georgetown, and Texas the same odds to be in the Final Four.
Who got lucky? Washington State. Playing Oral Roberts, then the Vanderbilt/George Washington winner should not be much of a problem for Washington State (who should not be a 3 seed, by the way). Could they make it to the Sweet 16 without much trouble... or could they get bounced by Oral Roberts just so I can make "oral" jokes for weeks? We'll find out soon enough.
Who got the shaft? Texas. Are you trying to tell me that Texas isn't better than Wash St.? Seriously? Texas should be the 3 seed in this region. I see Texas and UNC in the Sweet 16 and I see that as one of the best games of the tourney (As such, if one of the other teams messes up that potential match-up, I'll be pissed!).
First Round Game I Want To See: 8 Marquette/9 Michigan State. Izzo and his former assistant square off in what should actually, bias aside, be a very good game.
The South: In my opinion, this is the weakest of all regions, full of teams that don't impress me. Most of the top seeds--2 seed Memphis, 4 seed Virginia, 5 seed Tennessee--I wouldn't have going very far in any other region.
Who got lucky? Ohio State. Ohio State could very well breeze though this weak-ass region. I think Central Connecticut State, the BYU/Xavier winner, and the Tennessee/Long Beach/Virginia/Albany winner will pretty much offer OSU no challenge. That pretty much puts Ohio State in the Elite Eight without blinking. That's what I call a good draw.
Who got the shaft? Louisville. Yes Louisville is effectively playing at home (in Lexington, KY), but playing Stanford's literal Twin Towers and then (probably) Texas A&M is a horrible draw for the perennial power. I think Louisville will be lucky to make it to the Sweet 16, even playing in-state.
First Round Game I Want To See: 6 Louisville/11 Stanford. I want to see how the Kentucky crowd reacts to Louisville. Will they cheer for the 'home' team... or will they root for whoever ISN'T Louisville (in this case, Stanford)?
Final Four? I'm not telling mine. But I will say that I have no higher than a 3-seed in my Final Four (a 1, two 2s, and a 3). Maybe I'm not imaginative, or maybe I think the top of the basketball seeds are that good, but I don't see a 'no-name' surprising anyone a year after George Mason's run. NO ONE will be over-looked this year.
And I can't wait. There is some very good basketball to be seen this year. Let the games begin!
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Boost Mobile's New GPS System Eliminates Need For Talking
Chicago, IL -- Telephone company Boost Mobile's new product, titled 'Loopt', has added global positioning capabilities for their mobile users. Subscribers to Loopt are able to find the locations of their Boost Mobile friends displayed on a map allowing users to instantly find out where their friends are located. However, the Loopt technology has led to diminished use of the company's other big marketing tool: the Chirp.
This reporter talked with Boost's Assistant to the Vice President in Charge of Public Relations, Heather Dukes, about the new technology. "With the emergence of the technology behind Boost Loopt, we've seen a sharp decrease in the use of our 'Chirps.'" I then asked Ms. Dukes why there was such a decrease, she responded, "I don't know. Hey, are you looking for a peppy, people-person? Can I give you my resume?"
This reporter than decided to head right to the source. I asked Boost Mobile and Loopt subscriber Erik Jackson about his mobile usage. "Ever since I got Loopt, I know where my people at all the time. Since then, it don't make sense to ask em where they at... cause I already know." So they stopped talking, all together.
"So they stopped talking."
Weird. Regardless, perhaps the newest technology from Boost has actually cursed the mobile provider. Can too much technology be a bad thing? Only time, and Boost Loopt, will tell.
-CrazyJohn writes for Irishmen and currently resides in Chicago-
Chicago, IL -- Telephone company Boost Mobile's new product, titled 'Loopt', has added global positioning capabilities for their mobile users. Subscribers to Loopt are able to find the locations of their Boost Mobile friends displayed on a map allowing users to instantly find out where their friends are located. However, the Loopt technology has led to diminished use of the company's other big marketing tool: the Chirp.
This reporter talked with Boost's Assistant to the Vice President in Charge of Public Relations, Heather Dukes, about the new technology. "With the emergence of the technology behind Boost Loopt, we've seen a sharp decrease in the use of our 'Chirps.'" I then asked Ms. Dukes why there was such a decrease, she responded, "I don't know. Hey, are you looking for a peppy, people-person? Can I give you my resume?"
This reporter than decided to head right to the source. I asked Boost Mobile and Loopt subscriber Erik Jackson about his mobile usage. "Ever since I got Loopt, I know where my people at all the time. Since then, it don't make sense to ask em where they at... cause I already know." So they stopped talking, all together.
"So they stopped talking."
Weird. Regardless, perhaps the newest technology from Boost has actually cursed the mobile provider. Can too much technology be a bad thing? Only time, and Boost Loopt, will tell.
-CrazyJohn writes for Irishmen and currently resides in Chicago-
Sunday, March 11, 2007
Happy 3-11!
As everyone knows, March 11th is 311 day. The 'Purpose' of today is to 'Thank Your Lucky Stars' that 'Life's Not A Race.' Don't feel 'Down' today, even if your future 'Seems Uncertain,' today is a day that there's no need to 'Reconsider Everything' because today you should look 'Beyond The Gray Sky' and realize that you've been 'Strong All Along.' So 'Don't Stay Home,' today grab 'Six' 'Strangers' and head to a 'Frolic Room' or a 'Speak Easy' to celebrate with some 'Salsa' and 'Whiskey and Wine' or 'Champagne'... and 'You Wouldn't Believe' what kind of celebration can be had with the good ol' 'Homebrew' 'Flowing.' I know this might be 'Random,' but get 'Uncalm' today because 'Paradise' 'Feels So Good' and on 3-11 'There's Always An Excuse' to have 'No Control' and get 'All Mixed Up.' You know you've done 3-11 day best if tomorrow you have to ask 'What Was I Thinking'? Everyone enjoy today because it's is going to be 'Sweet.'
Get going! The party started at '8:16 AM' while you were 'Still Dreaming' and the party's 'Waiting.'
As everyone knows, March 11th is 311 day. The 'Purpose' of today is to 'Thank Your Lucky Stars' that 'Life's Not A Race.' Don't feel 'Down' today, even if your future 'Seems Uncertain,' today is a day that there's no need to 'Reconsider Everything' because today you should look 'Beyond The Gray Sky' and realize that you've been 'Strong All Along.' So 'Don't Stay Home,' today grab 'Six' 'Strangers' and head to a 'Frolic Room' or a 'Speak Easy' to celebrate with some 'Salsa' and 'Whiskey and Wine' or 'Champagne'... and 'You Wouldn't Believe' what kind of celebration can be had with the good ol' 'Homebrew' 'Flowing.' I know this might be 'Random,' but get 'Uncalm' today because 'Paradise' 'Feels So Good' and on 3-11 'There's Always An Excuse' to have 'No Control' and get 'All Mixed Up.' You know you've done 3-11 day best if tomorrow you have to ask 'What Was I Thinking'? Everyone enjoy today because it's is going to be 'Sweet.'
Get going! The party started at '8:16 AM' while you were 'Still Dreaming' and the party's 'Waiting.'
Friday, March 09, 2007
The Riches
Have you seen this??! Apparently, comedian and executive-transvestite Eddie Izzard has decided to settle down and do a crappy (no offense Eddie) sitcom on FX called The Riches. The premise of the show is that Eddie Izzard and Minnie Driver (no shit, Minnie Driver) are parents of a family of travelling con-artists. One day, they accidentally drive a couple--Doug and Cherien Rich--off the road to their death (can't wait to see how that happens by accident). Izzard's character than decides that his family should take over the life of the Riches. The comedy then keeps rolling as the con-artist family must live as normal, law-abiding folk... a hilarious example of the ol' fish-out-of-water scenario (example: see "Back to the Future").
I am opposed to the premise as being not only something that doesn't seem believable in the slightest ("Honey, how come our neighbors look different and now have three kids ages 17, 16, and 10-ish?? Oh well... that's those crazy Riches!"), but the premise doesn't seem to allow for a very long run of the show. Any time you have a family of nomads who decides to finally settle down, their natural instinct will be to leave... making the whole series a lesson in keeping this family tied down to this location. One of the things I learned from improv is that the hardest thing to keep an audience interested in is a character that wants to leave... if you want to leave, just leave and we'll finish the scene without you!
Regardless, I am going to give this show a shot because Eddie Izzard is amazingly awesome. The show is Monday nights at 10/9 Central, and it's on FX... that's apparently a channel on cable somewhere. Check your local listings!
Have you seen this??! Apparently, comedian and executive-transvestite Eddie Izzard has decided to settle down and do a crappy (no offense Eddie) sitcom on FX called The Riches. The premise of the show is that Eddie Izzard and Minnie Driver (no shit, Minnie Driver) are parents of a family of travelling con-artists. One day, they accidentally drive a couple--Doug and Cherien Rich--off the road to their death (can't wait to see how that happens by accident). Izzard's character than decides that his family should take over the life of the Riches. The comedy then keeps rolling as the con-artist family must live as normal, law-abiding folk... a hilarious example of the ol' fish-out-of-water scenario (example: see "Back to the Future").
I am opposed to the premise as being not only something that doesn't seem believable in the slightest ("Honey, how come our neighbors look different and now have three kids ages 17, 16, and 10-ish?? Oh well... that's those crazy Riches!"), but the premise doesn't seem to allow for a very long run of the show. Any time you have a family of nomads who decides to finally settle down, their natural instinct will be to leave... making the whole series a lesson in keeping this family tied down to this location. One of the things I learned from improv is that the hardest thing to keep an audience interested in is a character that wants to leave... if you want to leave, just leave and we'll finish the scene without you!
Regardless, I am going to give this show a shot because Eddie Izzard is amazingly awesome. The show is Monday nights at 10/9 Central, and it's on FX... that's apparently a channel on cable somewhere. Check your local listings!
Thursday, March 08, 2007
My Team Sucks
As the NFL's Free Agent season heats up, I find that my beloved Pack are conspicuous in their absence. How absent have the Packers been? Absent enough to lose their entire starting backfield (Ahman Green to the Texans; William Henderson cut on Wednesday) without making any waves of their own in Free Agency.
Granted, historically the Packers have been built through the draft and trades... but I thought this would have been a good year to pull in free agents (saying "Favre's last year... we're pulling out all the stops to win it all"). Unfortunately, today's NFL player doesn't really want to be in Green Bay (not a lot to do there)... so the area doesn't get a lot of pull in the free agent market. I thought, naively, that the players could get pulled in by the thought of playing one final season with one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time. I certainly thought Favre would be the reason we'd get a little interest from some Wide Receivers and Running Backs (if not other positions)... but I've heard nothing. And as each day passes, more and more FAs go to other teams (how much money does Denver have available?!) and the Pack are still doing nothing.
So thank you, Green Bay, for not adding any undue or crazy excitement or hopes to the 2007-08 season. I look forward to another mediocre campaign... not good enough for the play-offs, and not bad enough for a good draft position. Great work, team!
As the NFL's Free Agent season heats up, I find that my beloved Pack are conspicuous in their absence. How absent have the Packers been? Absent enough to lose their entire starting backfield (Ahman Green to the Texans; William Henderson cut on Wednesday) without making any waves of their own in Free Agency.
Ahman Green enjoys Free Agency
and a Houston Rockets game.
If this had been a picture of him in Green Bay,
these women would be holding beers
and wearing camo.
Granted, historically the Packers have been built through the draft and trades... but I thought this would have been a good year to pull in free agents (saying "Favre's last year... we're pulling out all the stops to win it all"). Unfortunately, today's NFL player doesn't really want to be in Green Bay (not a lot to do there)... so the area doesn't get a lot of pull in the free agent market. I thought, naively, that the players could get pulled in by the thought of playing one final season with one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time. I certainly thought Favre would be the reason we'd get a little interest from some Wide Receivers and Running Backs (if not other positions)... but I've heard nothing. And as each day passes, more and more FAs go to other teams (how much money does Denver have available?!) and the Pack are still doing nothing.
So thank you, Green Bay, for not adding any undue or crazy excitement or hopes to the 2007-08 season. I look forward to another mediocre campaign... not good enough for the play-offs, and not bad enough for a good draft position. Great work, team!
Monday, March 05, 2007
I. Hate. Soup.
I don't feel well. I started feeling sick during a very long audition/trip to Naperville day on Sunday. I hate not feeling well (who doesn't?... Eeyore?). I know what I'm supposed to do to make myself feel better: soup, juice, and sleep. The only problems with this plan being the high cost of juice, my negative feelings towards sleep (waste of time!), and my hatred for soup. Chicken soup tastes like watered-down chicken pot pie (which I love), so it tastes like a watered-down version of something I like (like Guinness Lite or watered-down urine). I think my dislike of soup is actually mostly the thickness of liquid, as I enjoy a nice chicken corn chowder or the occasional split-pea soup. I guess instead of hating soup, what I actually hate is broth. But that doesn't make a good blog post title.
What ends up happening almost every time I get sick, because I don't follow the above three-step plan, is that I stay sick. For quite a long time. I also like to lick my hands and place them on people: in their ears; up their nose; or poking the corner of their eye... you know that place people tell you not to rub or else you could get sick? That's the place. That's besides the point... I just thought you should know in case you see me. Watch your ears, eyes, and nose.
However, this illness has been a little different than most. Most of the time, I have a set sickness schedule (like most people do). But this time, I have to added bonus of feeling painfully nauseous every time I eat. While this is probably good for me and my 'playing weight,' um, ouch. It hurts. I'm hoping to be better by this weekend... as the Spring Forward will steal an hour of my much deserved sleep.
I don't feel well. I started feeling sick during a very long audition/trip to Naperville day on Sunday. I hate not feeling well (who doesn't?... Eeyore?). I know what I'm supposed to do to make myself feel better: soup, juice, and sleep. The only problems with this plan being the high cost of juice, my negative feelings towards sleep (waste of time!), and my hatred for soup. Chicken soup tastes like watered-down chicken pot pie (which I love), so it tastes like a watered-down version of something I like (like Guinness Lite or watered-down urine). I think my dislike of soup is actually mostly the thickness of liquid, as I enjoy a nice chicken corn chowder or the occasional split-pea soup. I guess instead of hating soup, what I actually hate is broth. But that doesn't make a good blog post title.
What ends up happening almost every time I get sick, because I don't follow the above three-step plan, is that I stay sick. For quite a long time. I also like to lick my hands and place them on people: in their ears; up their nose; or poking the corner of their eye... you know that place people tell you not to rub or else you could get sick? That's the place. That's besides the point... I just thought you should know in case you see me. Watch your ears, eyes, and nose.
However, this illness has been a little different than most. Most of the time, I have a set sickness schedule (like most people do). But this time, I have to added bonus of feeling painfully nauseous every time I eat. While this is probably good for me and my 'playing weight,' um, ouch. It hurts. I'm hoping to be better by this weekend... as the Spring Forward will steal an hour of my much deserved sleep.
Friday, March 02, 2007
Perpetual First Day of School
In a way, we can learn a lot about ourselves by remembering our first day of school. This day is important because whatever our feelings are on that day, they keep coming up throughout our lives: first day of college, moving to a new city, first day at a new job, etc. And how we handle that day may very well dictate how we deal with all these other days.
Case in point, I've been cast in a show going up at the Chicago Theatre Building at the end of April. This week (Monday) was the first day of the rehearsal process. Granted, on the way to that rehearsal I had other things on my mind (Where am I going? How am I going to get there in time? Why won't this bus go f--king faster??!) plus I had to practically jog, haphazardly, on snow and ice for two city blocks to make it there on time (I was there at 6:58 for a 7 o'clock start time).
So that day doesn't really illustrate my point very well. However, I knew the first night was going to be filled with contracts and a read-through of the script. If there's one thing I've ALWAYS been good at, it's reading a script out loud. As such, I wasn't really worried the first night. It was the second night, Tuesday, that I started having all my thoughts and fears and reservations about my performance and me personally. And it didn't take long before I realized that they're basically the same questions I had when I was younger:
What if the other kids don't like me?
What if it's too hard? And I'm not smart enough?
Can I still get out of it? How?
What if I don't belong?
What if everyone knows everyone else and I'm the only one who doesn't know anybody? (Which was quasi-true because the two people I knew weren't there Tuesday... and everyone else is an ensemble member)
But, fortunately for me, most of those questions are answered the way you would hope. The group is steadily coming together (important since we're all supposed to be good friends in the show), and I'm slowly proving to myself and others that I not only belong, but can far exceed even my own expectations (maybe).
I just found it so odd to be 26 and asking myself "What if the other kids don't like me?" as if I was 5 or 6 again. I didn't ask it exactly like that, but the main question I asked myself basically breaks down into that--as it's simplest form. It is my sincere hope that some day I'll be in a place where I can answer that question with an answer somewhere in between "Of course they will" and "It doesn't matter if they do or not." That would be a healthy, positive place. Lord knows I can use more of those.
In a way, we can learn a lot about ourselves by remembering our first day of school. This day is important because whatever our feelings are on that day, they keep coming up throughout our lives: first day of college, moving to a new city, first day at a new job, etc. And how we handle that day may very well dictate how we deal with all these other days.
Case in point, I've been cast in a show going up at the Chicago Theatre Building at the end of April. This week (Monday) was the first day of the rehearsal process. Granted, on the way to that rehearsal I had other things on my mind (Where am I going? How am I going to get there in time? Why won't this bus go f--king faster??!) plus I had to practically jog, haphazardly, on snow and ice for two city blocks to make it there on time (I was there at 6:58 for a 7 o'clock start time).
So that day doesn't really illustrate my point very well. However, I knew the first night was going to be filled with contracts and a read-through of the script. If there's one thing I've ALWAYS been good at, it's reading a script out loud. As such, I wasn't really worried the first night. It was the second night, Tuesday, that I started having all my thoughts and fears and reservations about my performance and me personally. And it didn't take long before I realized that they're basically the same questions I had when I was younger:
What if the other kids don't like me?
What if it's too hard? And I'm not smart enough?
Can I still get out of it? How?
What if I don't belong?
What if everyone knows everyone else and I'm the only one who doesn't know anybody? (Which was quasi-true because the two people I knew weren't there Tuesday... and everyone else is an ensemble member)
But, fortunately for me, most of those questions are answered the way you would hope. The group is steadily coming together (important since we're all supposed to be good friends in the show), and I'm slowly proving to myself and others that I not only belong, but can far exceed even my own expectations (maybe).
I just found it so odd to be 26 and asking myself "What if the other kids don't like me?" as if I was 5 or 6 again. I didn't ask it exactly like that, but the main question I asked myself basically breaks down into that--as it's simplest form. It is my sincere hope that some day I'll be in a place where I can answer that question with an answer somewhere in between "Of course they will" and "It doesn't matter if they do or not." That would be a healthy, positive place. Lord knows I can use more of those.
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