BACK THAT UP

My Blazer won't move into reverse! It worked perfectly last night at rehearsal and again at the IHOP afterward. But now it won't back up! Can you believe that? Terry reminded me that I should be thankful that I made it home safely. Now the question is, will I have time to get the thing repaired before I need to drive to tonight's performance? What's the weirdest thing your vehicle's ever done?

RACING THE CLOCK

Algernon and I are going running at 6 a.m. tomorrow morning. I have been running at night. But no more. When I met Algernon, I knew he would be the catalyst for changing my exercise routine. Even before he happily told me that he liked to run, I just knew it would happen. And now it has. I've put it off for as long as possible. But it's coming tomorrow morning. At least it will get me up in time to eat breakfast...AND I'm sure I'll be starving after running 5 miles. I wonder how different it will be. I've known all along that I needed to switch from evening to before-breakfast running. It just took a friend to push me in the right direction. I'll have to thank Algernon by being on time in the morning, and by keeping a good attitude. What difficult change would you have the courage to make if you had a buddy to help you in the right direction?

DING DONG THE UNIFORM IS DEAD

Wicked, dirty, bad work uniform! Shame! Shame on you for supressing my ability to express myself creatively and metaphorically through my fashion choices. But now you are gone, so HA HA HA. In case you didn't recognize it, that was the last laugh. I just took it for a spin around the block. Good bye, work uniform. I will not miss you. Will you miss me?

DENNIS

Hurricane Dennis is headed north. Looks like I may be headed the same direction. The lines at the gas station were so long, and the prices jumped up. The grocery store wasn't too bad. Rick and Erinne came over for dinner tonight. We grilled out. Seems funny that we grilled for fun tonight, but if the power is lost, everyone will be grilling out of necessity. I went ahead and bought water and pop tarts and peanut butter and a loaf of bread, even though I will probably go to Purvis or Birmingham if the storm targets Gulfport.

The mood changes in town when a storm is coming. Everyone goes to the same places - grocery stores and gas stations, and everyone says the same two things, either, "Be safe." or "Are you ready for this storm?" It's kind of nice, in a strange way. Know what I mean?

AYE AYE CAPTAIN

We'll I've been given an additional part in the musical. Now I'm the ship's purser. I'm happy about the part, not so much because of the role itself (although the character should be a lark). I'm happy about getting to rehearse with the rest of the cast. Being in the chorus is fun, but now I'm able to enjoy the dual experiences of rehearsing with the chorus and rehearsing with the title characters (without the responsibility of a major role). I couldn't be happier.

The character is the straight man for lots of the musical's gags. He wears big round glasses and carries a clipboard. Throughout the play, he darts in and out of the different doors on stage, like a cuckoo clock birdie. In one scene, he calls the passengers to dinner by sounding a gong. And he even gets to trumpet, "All ashore that's going ashore." I've always wanted to say that. Haven't you?

THE YEARBOOK IS HERE!

The yearbook turned out great, if I do say so myself. It should help sell more yearbooks next year (and more yearbook ads). Can't wait to see what the kids will come up with next year. I'll be glad to hand the job off to them.

I talked to Mr. Dunning today about publishing a regional full-color literary magazine. He thinks he can print them for around $10 an issue. Sounds like a decent cost for subscriptions. I think we might even be able to sell them at $11 or $12 an issue. I guess the next step is to start looking for submissions...rather than subscriptions. I think we'll start with only one or two issues this first year. Maybe it could end up being a national publication.

Boy, am I a dreamer, but it's possible, right? What do you think of the idea?

4TH IN NEW ORLEANS

I can't stop thinking about how much fun the trip to NO was on the 4th.

The Aquarium was so relaxing. I could have stared at those sea horses forever!

Later that night, I found a spot on a hill overlooking the water. I was leaning against this old tree watching the riverboat roll by. Across the walk, a brass band played patriotic songs. Families on lawn chairs and on blankets enjoyed the night air and pulled back toddlers eager to dance to the music. The evening ended appropriately with a fireworks display, but what a show...dual shows from twin barges.

I've found my new favorite place to spend the fourth!

What did you do for the holiday?

WORDS THAT RHYME WITH FLOWER

Here are some words that rhyme with "flower."

devour, dour, hour, our, power, scour, sour, tower

Now you can write that poem you've been meaning to compose. When you do, be sure to copy it as a comment.

Later, Tater!

CRASH

Note to self: If you slug down 9 glasses of Red Diamond, you WILL NOT be able to fall asleep until 3 a.m. and you WILL sleep for 12 hours straight! Where did my Saturday go?

THE YEARBOOK IS COMING! THE YEARBOOK IS COMING!

I got a call from Mr. Dunning today with exciting news. Can you guess what it is? Hint: read the title of this entry. I can't believe that it took me a year to finish the yearbook. That was the toughest job with the most setbacks that I ever successfully completed. I can hardly wait to see the finished product - all 80 hardbound full-color pages of it (with the cool cut-out logo on the front cover). Oh, beautiful yearbook, I'll probably sing a song about how happy you make me, while I do the "I'm glad you're done" dance around the classroom~!

You are the yearbook,
the brand-new yearbook
You make me happy
And I must say
Now that you're finished
I'll have more free time AND
I can finally hit the hay!

...thank you, Rhyme Zone

Think my song is bad? Write a better one and leave it for me in the comment box!

SHISH + KA = BOBS

Tomorrow night we're grilling shish-ka-bobs for a dozen people here at the apartment. I can't wait! Algernon and his family should be there. I am so happy they moved into the complex. It's nice to have new friends. Thanks, God!

Note to self: pick up paper plates and cups, ice, pearl onions and extra skewers before the party.

Feel free to use the comments box to make your own shopping list.

THEATRICAL RUN

Nothing has ever motivated me to stay in shape like being in this musical. Dancing on stage next to 18 year old guys twice a week definitely puts my gut into a new perspective. So, it was an easy decision when I hit the treadmill for five miles after work today. Cardio? Check. Now if I can just get into gear when it comes to strength training...Any ideas?

STENNIS' MENACE

Terry and I drove over to Stennis Space Center to make plans for a fall field trip there. While we were there, Terry made notes in his handy dandy notepad, and I knocked down displays and dropped valuable artifacts. It was like they switched our personalities at the Welcome Center. Terry said he felt strangely validated to see me in that state. My response? I took away his notebook and started taking notes. He followed suit by trying to convince me to leave the main exhibit hall and sneak upstairs. It was good to have things back to normal.

Have you ever switched brains with somebody?

MY DANCIN' FEET

Wow! Where were the hidden cameras? I had my first night of dance rehearsals last night and came home too tired to write about it. The choreographer went so fast and covered so much that all I could do was just stand staring with my jaw dropped in awe. I felt like I was being set up on some practical joke reality show. The guy next to me had dance classes, so he was no help. I'm guessing they'll either give me remedial lessons, or (to my relief) take me out of the dance numbers (or at least stick me in the back). I know I can do it, though...but WOW does it look impossible.
On the flip side, the musical rehearsals are going much better now that the musical director made me a CD of the baritone parts. Listening along with the CD while I fumble through the sheet music is helping me to learn how to read notes again. I'm amazed with how much I have forgotten in 12 years. I'm thinking about taking voice lessons and dance lessons, especially if I plan to audition for any future musicals.
I have two choices: sit on the couch getting fatter while watching videos of myself on stage OR get on stage again even though it's difficult and intimidating (and maybe a little crazy?)
Let's just hope this isn't like the one time I tried to skate as an adult...I don't want to literally "break a leg." What's something you were once good at that you haven't done in a long time? What's stopping you?

A THANKFUL HEART IS A HAPPY HEART

Josh and Rachel rock! We went to America's Thrift Store tonight to look for things to sell on eBay. We didn't find what we were looking for; I was anything but disappointed. It was fun hanging out with them and baby Abby. I guess that's what life's about. Who cares about the junk? Isn't that right, Madame Blue Berry?

VIVA LA NETFLIX

Goodbye Blockbuster Movie Pass; Hello Netflix! I'm not buying another DVD -ever! Why bother? Now I can rent any movie ever made AND not have to wait in line for it, or worse, wait forever until somebody finally returns it to Blockbuster (which has zero selection anyway).

I just wish iTunes had better selection. I browsed it again last night and longed for decent Christian songs to download. They had Petra and other 80's big hair bands in their top 20 Christian Hit List, for goodness sakes! Is this the best that iTunes has to offer?

HOUSE RULES

Kristen came over tonight to see the new apartment and visit with me, Terry & JoEllen. We ate chocolate chip cookies and played UNO and Probe.
Playing UNO for the first time with people can be a drag because you have the standard argument over whose rules to follow. Do you have to keep drawing cards until you can play? Can you stack draw two cards?
The deck we used was an ancient boxed set circa '80, so it had a printed copy of the rules (along with a cool offer for an UNO t-shirt Tutti would have loved). Of course, Terry insisted that we strictly follow the printed rules (translate to "have no fun"). I think since it was my deck, we should have played by the rules I grew up playing. What do you think?

PASSION OF THE MOMENT: JAVA SHAKES

Often I get swept away in a passion of the moment. This week's is culinary: the new Nestle Ice Java Chocolate Mocha. Mixed in the blender with vanilla ice cream and a dash of milk, it makes a milkshake that makes me say, "Yum!" It's better than the coffee milkshakes I get at Cinemark. There's some free advertising for Nestle, but it was so good I wanted to share it with you! Enjoy!