Life as I See It

2:27am: To My KaTonga family...
A very special thanks to all of my KaTonga friends. I have truly enjoyed working with each and every one of you. These past six months have been some of the best months of my life because I have had the opportunity to befriend, interact, grow, and learn from you. I hope that we can continue our relationship in the future. If you ever need anything, you know where to find me. I'm at a little theater called 'Marrakesh' -- just up the sidewalk. I'll always back you up and support you 100%. After all, that's what friends do, right?!

So, I leave you with these things: my request that you always stay true to yourselves first -- no matter who or what you want, that you never deny yourself the opportunity to excel, that you always support your friends and loved ones, that you live your life with no regrets, that you learn from your mistakes (as well as from the mistakes of others), and that you cherish every special moment -- because you never know when that moment will end.

And finally, always remember my ridiculously loud 'yelp' at 'bees!' during Tale to Tell.

All the best. I'll see you soon.


Much love, always --

puppy

11:40pm: I <3 D.A.S.
Me: haha well, when are you on campus¿

David A. Singletary: ok much like our friend the deerskin mini-skirt wearing forest walker Pocahontas....I go where the wind takes me....

Me: so.... following that logic... UT is located somewhere just around the riverbend?
Me: ... nice, though it hardly answers my question.

David A. Singletary: I am not positive but I look once more

Me: beyond the shore?

David A. Singletary: LOL I am not sure....I will probably be there sometime this weekend

Me: somewhere past the sea?

David A. Singletary: LOL somewhere past the sea
David A. Singletary: u r gay

Me: lol i KNOW.

12:00am: midnight update...
CAST: The Good Doctor.

Previously: Orlando with Natale & Carly
Now: Bed
Next: Work @ Busch Gardens
Much Later: Homework Galore


love to all!

puppy

12:37am: Experience of a Lifetime
Double callbacks = COMPLETE!!! What an AWESOME EXPERIENCE!!! I had SUCH a great time!!!

YAY!

Now = sleep
Later = work
Much later = Orlando with Natale & Carly!


Love always!

puppy

11:48pm: mission #2 complete!
Audition #2 is complete.

and I got called back for Audition #1!

Callbax tomorrow.

Very sick now.

Sleep in about 5 minutes.

Goodnight!


Love always,

puppy.

10:17pm: Mission #1: accomplished
After nearly 21 years of wanting to do it, just a few hours ago, I successfully completed my very first acting audition.

10:52pm: Tomorrow... and other stuff.
Okay... quick update before bed for much needed rest!

TOMORROW is the DAY OF THE SHOW, y'all! I am a bit nervous, but more excited than anything else. The way I am looking at it... it's a win-win situation for me. Regardless of what happens, I gain life experience and resumé building schtuff.

For those of you that know what I'm talking about... this is quite a different perspective than what I had before on this issue. (I used to think it was lose-lose for me!) But whatever happens, I'm still me, and I'm going to come out of all of this excitement as a better, more well-rounded person! YAY!

Updates on life in general...

FIRST! Work: Somehow am STILL managing to work 3-4 days a week at Busch Gardens in the wonderful world of KaTonga. Had a hell of a day today... started off SOOOO BAD, but ended up great! It's amazing what a little attitude adjustment and some basic acting skills can do! So, I pull up to the security station and reach into my pocket to hand them my ID, but it WASN'T there! So I was all like, 'what do I do?' and Captain Rent-A-Cop was all... no ID, no entrance. But I'm all like, 'I gotta get to work!'. So he's all, 'Have your manager call me and I'll let you in.' So I call the Stage Manager's desk, and there's (go figure) no answer. So I call the Entertainment office, and ask them to make the call to security. Well apparently there was no one in the office except for the 'Duty Manager' which is a glorified title for 'Receptionist', and they did not have the 'authorization' to call Security to let me in. So the 'Duty Manager' was all, 'you should just drive home and get your ID.' and I was like, 'fine, but please call my Stage Manager and tell him that I'm going to be at least 40 minutes late.'

Mind you, I'm still ON BUSCH GARDENS PROPERTY as I'm making these calls!

So I drive away all hot and bothered, and I decide to suck it up and fork over the $25 fee for a replacement ID so I could get to work. I drive over to the Wardrobe office to get my ID. They process all of the paperwork to give me a new ID with a new access number and everything... then they go to 'print' my ID, and the freakin' ID-maker-thingy doesn't work! So I like collapse onto the counter and tell the Wardrobe attendant that she's gotta help me out cuz I gotta get to work! So she was super super nice and actually WALKED herself (mind you, she was a hunched over 70+-year old!) to the security station, and got me cleared so I could go to work! I was all YAY! AND thinking to myself that I had just avoided a $25 fee... which would have been awesome, since, according to my most recent Bank of America statement... I have 81¢ in my account.

So I finally make it to the theater and go to clock in, and the machine is all 'INVALID ACCESS NUMBER'...

**steams**

EVEN THOUGH THEY CANCELLED MY NEW ID NUMBER, THE SUBSEQUENTLY CANCELLED MY OLD NUMBER TOO!!! So I had to make like 3 more phone calls to get myself 'clocked in' which meant nothing... since I didn't really exist in the computer, and I was most definitely NOT clocked in today. So I'm praying that the 7.75 hours that I worked today will actually show up on my paycheck! lol, in retrospect, it seems kinda weird... like I was in limbo or something. :)


Anywho... enough about my venting... I decided that I was going to have an AWESOME day at work, once I made it there... and I TOTALLY DID!!! I just kinda looked at the stage during one of the numbers and smiled as I thought to myself... 'I really DO like my job!' :)


Next update! SCHOOL! OMG... classes are AMAZING!!! They are soooo going to kick my ass, but that's OK because that's kinda what I want them to do! I want to be really challenged by the material this year. I deliberately signed myself up for classes that are very practical in nature, and will definitely challenge me to 'define my box... and then step out of it' (quote by Marguerite... my acting prof.) I have a Speech class in the morning, followed by Studio Television, then a quick 40 minute break for a bite to eat, followed by Acting, then Survey of World Theatre, and then on Thursdays I also take a night class called Practicum for Broadcast Management... which basically translates to 'The Basics of running a Radio Station.' Which is awesome, because starting next week, you will be able to hear the show entitled 'DRIVE LIVE' from 9:05am-11am every Wednesday, on campus channel 23 AND AM1080, starring ME!!! YAY!! I've got my own radio show! and I'm VERY excited about it. I'm currently working on the format for the show, and I'm not 100% sure yet, but I'm thinking I want to play songs from International Top 40's. Should be soooo cool. Whoopee!

Like I started this update with... TOMORROW IS DAY ONE OF THE SHOW Y'ALL... meaning it's AUDITION TIME! Auditions on Tuesday, Wednesday, amd (maybe) Friday. I am TOTALLY excited, and can't wait to see what's in store!


More updates on school later in greater detail!


Finally... update on PERSONAL life... um... without going into too much detail because it's getting late... things are GREAT! I am going on an 'official date' with my 'significant other' on Saturday the 16th... this may sound geeky but we are going to see the opening of the new exhibit at MOSI entitled 'Demistifying India'... since I am totally a nerd about other cultures, and my SO is waaaay into Indian culture... we are both taking the day off from work, and going! Afterwards... a nice romantic dinner at Bahama Breeze cuz my SO has NEVER BEEN THERE! **gasp**. We are also debating on whether or not we are going to see RENT at the PAC, but I'm thinking that we're probably not going to. Oh well.

Other personal schtuff.... I'm sooo happy that my friends are back at school! I can't wait to hang out with you all if we haven't hung out already! lol.

The fam is planning a tentative visit in three weeks to make use of my free admission priveleges at Adventure Island. Should be fun times! More details will be posted, as I receive them. :)


Holy CRAP this is such a looooong post and there is sooo much more that I could be telling you!!! But that's life in a (very large) nutshell!

Thanks for tuning in!

See ya real soon!


Much love always,

puppy

9:21pm: deep thoughts again
'well, if that is truly the case... then you should be enjoying every last second that you are getting to spend with him... you can always cry later when he's gone... for now... laugh, and make memories.'

My thoughts are with you, Carly! I love you!!!

puppy

11:50pm: Thank you briefly
A very special 'Thank You' to everyone who placed their kind thoughts and prayers into my 'proverbial hand' a few nights ago. Robert has arrived safely back in Tampa. :)

Now... BED!

puppy

2:53am: longest day EVER!!!!
WOW... I am soooo incredibly exhausted!!! This has been the longest day of my life (so it seems). Forgive me if my writing is not the greatest. It is almost 3am, and my day is just now coming to a close. ResLife work from 8am-5:45pm today followed by Scenic work at Busch Gardens from 6:30-11:30. Got home around 12:30 (traffic was backed waaaaay the hell up on 275), socialized a bit with Adam and Quishe (is that how she spells her name?!), and then proceeded to work on MORE ResLife stuff until JUST NOW, as I am preparing for bed.

Work at Busch Gardens was exhausting. A lot of painting outdoors. It was cool cuz I got to paint set pieces for Howl-O-Scream, not just for KaTonga, so it was an interesting change. But it was sooo lonely... working at a theme park when there are no people around is very eerie, and altogether not very pleasant. It was just Faf and me tonight... with our paintbrushes (ugh).

I am still icky-sticky and in my work clothes. So I'm off to a nice hot shower, and then to catch a few hours of sleep before I have to get up for more ResLife work in the morning.

Ugh, I am trying sooooo very hard to keep a positive attitude through all of this, but I can see the shit already starting to pile up!!!! Ahhh! :) Am soooo excited to see all my friends that are coming back to UT in a few short days! I have missed you all so much, and I can't wait to give you all a biggggg hug! :)

Much love to everyone!!! Always yours -

puppy

10:25pm: deep thoughts...
shadow says: (10:23:48 PM)
says its nice to see his family, but he feels very out of place... its been a while since he was last there... things have changed apparently... sez he's uncomfortable... which sux.


Baja says: (10:23:51 PM)
it's great to visit family

Baja says: (10:23:59 PM)
awww

Baja says: (10:24:03 PM)
that's no good

shadow says: (10:24:05 PM)
but i told him to enjoy himself, and to have fun, cuz who knows when he'll be able to go back.

shadow says: (10:24:06 PM)
yeah.

shadow says: (10:24:43 PM)
when you live somewhere, and then move away, and then come back to it, we sometimes forget that time doesn't stand still for us. time doesn't wait for us to come back to the places where we grew up.

--

P.S. Happy Birthday to my little brother, who is now a TeenAGER!!!! Oy, I feel old. :)


11:26pm: Collecting Thoughts and Prayers
Tonight, I am holding out my proverbial hand to collect any kind thoughts and/or prayers that you might want to donate to Robert, who is leaving for a family visit to Puerto Rico this evening/morning at 5am. Pray for a safe trip, a happy time, and a safe return. Thank you all very much!

puppy

12:39am: friggin' long day!
wow, what a long day yesterday has been! :P ResLife training from 8am-4:30, then Busch Gardens work from 5pm-MIDNIGHT! Just got home, gotta crash soon, cuz I have to be up at 7:30 for more ResLife fun! Oy. I'm stressing already! Anywayz, I want to update you on more specific stuff in mah life, but now is clearly not the time! So, all you need to know for now is that I'm busy busy busy (and feeling rather ill too... blah!) !!! Talk to you all soon!

12:37am: Smiles in Smiley
I am moving back to campus TOMORROW! (or rather later today!). I'm nervous, and excited... this is the beginning of what is sure to be a very very interesting year!

10:55pm: update of course!
Soooo - today was my day off and I speant the entire day at Busch Gardens with my Aunt, Uncle, and three awesome little Cousins just playing around. It was really fun! We went to see KaTonga, sat in the front row, and I made silly faces at my friends on stage. :P Then I met these awesome people who were sitting behind us at KaTonga and they told me how much they loved the show and how they wanted to audition for the show and whatnot, so I offered to take them backstage with my family members and they about died! It made me feel good that I could contribute to someone's good day! :) YAY! Anywayz, then we went to UT and I gave my family members the grand tour there and then we went to Chili's... where it POURED and the lightning was UNBELIEVEABLE! And Mary was feeling sick... so it was an awkward ending to an otherwise good (and wasted) day! But I'm glad today happened. Now I'm sitting back in my apartment, which is only going to be my apartment for another TWO DAYS and then I move!!! aaahh!! I really really REALLY need to get to the gym, but I'm exhausted! Hmmmm... well I think I won't be able to sleep cuz I'll feel guilty if I don't go... so anywayz, I'm off!

Tomorrow is my last day of shows for THREE WEEKS as I start ResLife training again **groan**. Oh well... I'll get through it... just gotta keep that smile on my face! :)

Later gators!

10:53pm: a new experience
So... you're all going to think I'm a very strange boy... but today I went somewhere that I have never before been in my life...

... Abercrombie & Fitch.

AND...

... I bought an entire outfit.

Oh, and PS...

...style is expensive.


WOW! :)

Much love to all!

7:30pm: Better than days past
Hello all! I am very excited to say that my day today has thus far been much better than yesterday... and actually, yesterday got better after I posted to the journal. Thanks to David and Travis for their comments and support! What was troubling me yesterday has been essentially resolved (I'm very quick to try to resolve serious issues, as some of you might know!). I am now counting down the days until I move back to campus and am finally rid of this expensive apartment! I move this coming Sunday! Wow... I have some serious packing to do before then!

I don't mean to make it sound like I hated living here this summer... but the rent was way too much, the apartment was more than I needed, Dari HAD to have premium digital cable, internet, AND a land line phone, and Dari likes to keep the thermostat set at a brisk 70-72 degrees which subsequently drives MY half of the energy bill through the roof! lol... it has definitely been a learning experience... which is what our schooling years are all about, I guess.

Anywayz, with moving comes three very long and grueling weeks of ResLife training where I have to put on the performance of a lifetime and act like I actually give a damn about the organization that absolutely treats me like shit. Seriously, my managers and co-workers at Steak 'n Shake treated me better than these people do... but they ARE helping me out immensely financially, so I'm going to try to suck it up for one more year! I just am going to miss Colleen very much, as she was (I felt) my sole supporter in ResLife! :(

In the meantime, it's trying to get all of my stuff together for the upcoming year. This year is going to be completely and totally different from any other year I've had here at UT. I'm excited, but a bit nervous and scared at the same time! I know everything will come out OK in the end... it always does... but until I know what exactly this year is going to bring, it is always a little nerve racking for me!

Anywho... I gotta make a few phone calls before I can head over to the gym. Then getting stuff together for packing/moving... then it's off to bed for me and work in the morning. At least I don't have an on-stage like I did this morning... that means I get to sleep in for an extra hour and a half (which really isn't sleeping in, cuz it simply means that I get up at 7:30 instead of 6:00!)!

Anyway... sorry for the book-of-an-update!

Much love to everyone, always! :)

10:27pm: i messed up...
and now i have to deal with the consequences... again. as much as i have learned in my 21 amazing years of life... i still have so much to learn!

12:56am: shortness
Since everybody feels compelled to write a novel here, I'll keep my update short: Just got in from another kick-ass cast party (yeah!) - and my friend Vince has crashed out on my couch cuz he had a bit too much to drink. Working a half-day tomorrow... only three shows... whoopee! :) After that, who knows. Phone calls to make and such, but no definite plans as of yet!

Much love to all!

8:15pm: two amazing quotes from two amazing people...
Christina: Trust completely in each other. That's the only way everything will work out.
Me: I'm sorry?
Christina: Trust completely in each other. Between you and Robert.
Me: I do trust him. Does he trust me?
Christina: Yes... completely.

--

'Don't let your life's commitments get in the way of you living your life.'
~Robert

2:34am: Birthday Wishes
Today is 26 July and I would like to wish a very happy birthday to my awesome friend Allison, to my friend and former co-HR Bonnie, and to my old high school buddies Autumn, Mary, and Ashley! You guyz better have a great day! :)

Much love to you always!

2:04am: ugh... up late... AGAIN!
This time it was because I was having a marvelous time hanging out with Jen, Ricky, and Melissa. We went to see 'My Super Ex-Girlfriend' which was corny and cheezy, as we expected... so we weren't at all disappointed. LOL. Then we stayed outside the theater, piled into my minivan, and chatted it up for a good two hours! Sooooo... I just got home and realised that I have no clothes to wear to work tomorrow... which means I get to lose another two hours of sleep waiting for my laundry to finish! Blah! Anywayz, I'm off to bed. Work in the morning, then home to Fort Myers on Thursday and Friday. Should be interesting. :)

Much love!

5:43am: a sleepless prayer
I close my eyes
But cannot sleep
For dreams too often
Can't I keep.

And thoughts go swimming
Through my head
I shall not yet
Return to bed.

For my mind races
Since night's cold start
Against my foolish, selfish
Beating heart.

That wishes from my soul
Come true
Of always spending time
With you.

So should I sleep tonight
At all
Please hasten to
My beckoning call.

In dreams you'll find me
I cannot wait
To find you at
Sweet Neverland's gate.

But alas, you've found
In dear sleep's kiss
In your dreams, now
It's I you miss.

And approaching dawn
You turn to wake
Please wait not now
For my own sake.

My love stays with me
Through this night
Which now helps brighten
This morning's light.

So should I ever
Sleep again
In dreams I hope
To find you then.

But if in sleep
Our dreams depart
In separate ways
Against my heart.

Know always that
I will love you
For nothing else
My heart can do.


~~shadow~~
21 July 2006

12:00am: ugh... up late... can't sleep!
Sooooo, I was completely ready to crash after an exhausting and might I add LONG day at work, ,when I suddenly realised that I didn't have any work clothes to go to work tomorrow! So now I'm up... exhausted but unable to sleep... waiting for my darn laundry to finish spinning in the dryer!!!! Ugh!

My call time tomorrow isn't until 1:00, but I sooooo want to go and see Robert at his on-stage tomorrow morning! But I need my sleep! Ugh... I'm really torn. I want to support my friends... but I want to sleep too! :)

It hit me today that I move back to campus two weeks from this coming Sunday! Where on Earth has this summer gone to? In just a couple of weeks, I'll be up to my neck in stress... working two... maybe THREE jobs! LOL... this is certainly going to be an interesting Senior year... I wouldn't have it any other way.

I was talking to Dari this evening... I've concluded that starting with last semester my life's theme has had something to do with facing fears. I shall not say more here, lest I should chicken out... But I plan on facing one of my worst fears this coming year!!! I am sooo excited and nervous at the same time! Yikes!

But I'm totally looking forward to this year, because I'm going to get to do a little bit of everything that I like to do! I've got radio, TV, and acting in my class schedule... tech work at Busch Gardens and very likely at the good ol' David Falk Theater, and time to spare to spend with awesome friends! :)

I am missing my chaotic life, and I'm ready to dive in with a fantastic attitude... I shall conquer all that is thrown at me this year! Because I CAN!

Yeah!

**buzz** -- laundry's done. :)

8:38am: today not off to a good start
OK, so today is definitely not off to a good start. I work up this morning about an hour and a half earlier than I really needed to. Decided I was going to shower, etc. So I step into the bathroom, only to find that Dari's dog used MY BATHROOM FLOOR as his toilet sometime after I went to bed last night! Ewwwww! The stupid dog SHIT not once, not twice, but THREE DIFFERENT TIMES in THREE DIFFERENT PLACES in my bathroom! So now I'm tired, grumpy, AND disgusted. So I clean up the mess, and go outside to throw the turds in the dumpster, since I didn't want them stinking up the apartment. As I approach the dumpster, I am BOMBARDED by a SWARM OF FLIES because apparently the dumpster hadn't been emptied in some time and was full TO THE TOP with garbage. After swatting my way through to the dumpster, I return to my apartment, when I inadvertently run into a GIANT spider web! So now I'm tired, grumpy, disgusted, covered in flies AND spider web stuff!!! Eeeeek!

Amazingly, all this happened in just over 20 minutes' time. I just got out of the shower, and I'm going to try to catch another 45 minutes of sleep if possible. :(

Dari - Your dog is cute, but that does not mean that he is allowed to shit freely. The next time he decides to do so will be the last time forever... think I'm kidding? try me.