SECOND GUESS = SECOND CHANCE?

I just found this fortune-cookie sounding description while browsing. It fit me, so here 'tis:

You are expressive, original, and independent. Your talents lie in your artistic abilities: creative writing, drama, crafts, music, or art. You would make an excellent: Actor - Art Teacher - Book Editor - Clothes Designer - Comedian - Composer - Dancer - DJ - Graphic Designer - Illustrator - Musician - Sculptor. The worst career options for your are conventional careers, like bank teller or secretary.

Here comes one of my odd rants, so if you get depressed easily, stop reading. Come back later when I'm back to writing about how much I love ice cream, puppies and my new pair of argyle socks.

Should I seek career counseling, now that I've turned thirty? Teaching is great and all, but it seemed more cool when I was an idealistic twenty-something. I felt I could afford to be totally altruistic. Who needs just financial compensation when you have a job that's an emotionally satisfying outlet for your talents? (And didn't I think God wanted me to be a teacher?) Now that I am seriously dreaming about a wife and kids, buying a home and saving for retirement, I'm second guessing my career choice. (Does he still want me to be a teacher? Do I want to be one?)

Some extra expenses this month are the catalyst for this line of thinking. I had to go to the Dr. unexpectedly. She wanted to refer me to a specialist for some tests that I knew might cost thousands of dollars. Not having health insurance seems like the stupidest decision I've ever made. (Thankfully the symptoms went away. Yippee for answered prayer.) And then the repair quote for the car came in at $1900. Hearing that price ringing in my ears, I seriously started wondering why I've chosen a career that forces that small amount of money to be such a big deal!

I think the only way I could continue teaching would be to supplement my income with other jobs, but I don't want to work myself into an early grave, either. Maybe I could work another job, and then go back to teaching in 25 or 30 years, after I retired. God, what am I supposed to do? I have to make a choice. Any advice?

THE USUAL

For the last three nights, I've been to IHOP with friends after the show. Too much of a good thing?

The first night it was just me and Ryan. Then it was Josh & Rachel, Chris & Wendy, Ryan and me. Then it was Terry, Jo, Ryan & me. If I go again tonight, I'm just going to greet the waitress and say, "The usual. Thanks."

Three nights...if I go again, I've got to order something new. I always fall into a rut when it comes to restaurants. At OCharleys, I get the fried chicken salad. At McAllisters Deli, it's the chicken salad on a croissant. At Ruby Tuesdays, the salad bar and half a club. At Sonic, it's the BLT. And at IHOP, I order the chocolate chip pancakes.

I'm becoming like my friend Judy. In college, I went to Outback with a group of friends about once a month. Judy would always get the Alice Springs Chicken. And everyone would laugh every time she ordered it. Judy took the joke pretty well. She knew what she liked, and it wasn't steak.

I guess my deal is that I really don't like restaurant food. So, when I finally find something on the menu that I like, I stick with it. But, three nights in a row is a little much, so what would you suggest that I order?

BEHIND THE SCENES

After thinking about Opening Night for a few hours, I realized that it really was two shows (or one show viewed by two radically different groups of people):

What the audience saw: consistent characters, well-timed jokes, tight dance routines.

What the actors saw: broken character, missed punch lines, missed steps.

If there were two shows, then which one was reality?

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?