Last year was the first year I can remember not having anywhere to watch the Big Game or anybody to watch it with. I was really bummed. Fortunately, it was such a great game that it didn't seem to matter. I had a good feeling about the Giants going in, and lo and behold they pulled it off in dramatic fashion!
This year, I actually have two parties I can go to, and I plan on splitting time between my coworkers' party and my church party. Sort of makes up for last year.
As for the game...my heart with with the Cardinals--I really like Warner and James, and guys like Fitzgerald and Hightower are really growing on me, and I like their up-tempo style of play.
That said, the old mantra of "defense wins championships" really seems to hold true in the NFL, so I have to begrudgingly go with Pittsburgh. Hoping I'm wrong, but then if the Steelers do win their second championship in (I think) 4 years (?), I'll be fine with that. They're not a team I ever particularly root against, and I cheered for them last time they were in the Super Bowl, so I'll sleep just fine no matter who wins.
As usual, I just hope we get a great game. (Though my gut tells me this one may not be close...)
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Friday, January 30, 2009
Day Nineteen: If we're gonna make it through this, things are gonna have to change
I hate these evenings when I wait until the very last thing to write something here. Today was a long day (though not as long as it would have been if we had had a 9:30 a.m. show as well as the 11:30 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. shows) and my mind and body are pretty much done. This troubles whatever part of me it is that wants to write, however, whether it be blog posts or stories or plays or emails, because that part of me is currently active and kicking. It wants for me to write about my blogger name (wannabewordslinger) and things that I've learned about myself as an artist over the past year. (Yes, I'm actually to the point where I consider myself an artist, or at least a form of an artist. That's a battle I've been fighting within myself for about eight years, and that'd probably make a good post one day, too)
Thing is, I've sat here and tried to write that entry. Twice, actually. And each time it starts out all right, but by about the third or fourth paragraph I've tangented and I can't for the life of me figure out how to get back to my point.
It's the kind of thing I know I could handle if my brain were firing on all cylinders, but it's just not.
So I'm going to make an effort to start writing earlier in the day when possible (which, admittedly, was not today anyway. But still).
Also, making an effort to get back into Bible study more regularly. My plan is to start in the prophets. Love me some O.T. prophets. Do me a favor and check in on my progress from time to time to make sure I stick with this.
Finally, check out this web site. It'll look awfully familiar if you hung out with me much my junior year of college.
Thing is, I've sat here and tried to write that entry. Twice, actually. And each time it starts out all right, but by about the third or fourth paragraph I've tangented and I can't for the life of me figure out how to get back to my point.
It's the kind of thing I know I could handle if my brain were firing on all cylinders, but it's just not.
So I'm going to make an effort to start writing earlier in the day when possible (which, admittedly, was not today anyway. But still).
Also, making an effort to get back into Bible study more regularly. My plan is to start in the prophets. Love me some O.T. prophets. Do me a favor and check in on my progress from time to time to make sure I stick with this.
Finally, check out this web site. It'll look awfully familiar if you hung out with me much my junior year of college.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Day Eighteen: "We want 10!"
All right, sports fans. I really dunno what to make of this clip, so somebody tell me:
"We want 10!"
Ouch.
Part of me thinks that that is just not right. Part of me is glad the fans found something to cheer for. Then, of course, there's the fact that it's just kinda funny in that somewhat-painful way.
What do you think?
"We want 10!"
Ouch.
Part of me thinks that that is just not right. Part of me is glad the fans found something to cheer for. Then, of course, there's the fact that it's just kinda funny in that somewhat-painful way.
What do you think?
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Day Seventeen: This week in the funny books...
Ah, what to say, what to say...
I would have updated during my lunch break today, but I spent my lunch break going to Bedrock City Comics to catch up on the books I've missed the last couple of weeks, and that ended up taking a bit longer than I thought it would. Then, I had about a week and a half of touring office work to get caught up on (and I'm still not quite there, but I'm confident that by 5:00 tomorrow I'll be back on track).
I went ahead and bought Amazing Spider-Man #583 (or, as most people would know it, the Barack Obama issue). I know I made this big deal two weeks ago about how lame it was that people flocked to this book while meanwhile just a few rows over Batman was (not really) dying, but I've been picking up ASM pretty regularly for the last month or so, and the President is really only in a special story in the lat five pages, and I know that some day this particular book is going to be a collector's item (as opposed to most of the comics I've bought, which most people will never care about), so I picked it up. (Side note: $1.00 more expensive than normal books. Lame.)
Overall, it's kind of a nice issue. I mean, nothing really happens. It's mostly about the relationship between Peter Parker and his friend Betty Brant, and it's a pretty sweet story in all of that. But really, almost no Spidey appearances at all until the "Spidey Meets the President" story at the end. (Which was exceedingly lame; whether you like President Obama or not, this is a really pathetic story, though it's got some nice one-liners and is fine for what it is: a tribute to a man who is a life-long Spider-Man fan and well wishes for the future of the country) All in all, the book seemed like one of those "And now for something completely different" moments in the current story arc.
Other BCC highlights for the week include the new New Avengers book, in which (spoilers!) Luke Cage and Jessica Jones get their baby back from the Skrull who kidnapped her and Luke bashes Bullseye and Venom with a crowbar and breaks his word to join up with Osborn. All in all, one of the biggest cliff-hangers at the end of Secret Invasion is wrapped up with very little pomp and ceremony two NA issues later. A bit confusing, but a good story nevertheless. (end spoilers)
Meanwhile, Avengers: The Initiative continues to be one of the coolest books out there. Very glad I stumbled upon this one during SI.
In other news, The Thing is engaged to a kindergarten teacher, which is good, but Dr. Doom's genocidal mentors are coming to our dimension while the Fantastic Four go to Scotland on vacation, which is bad. Don't worry, though. I'm sure everything will be smooth sailing again before 2010.
I'd like to see a storyline in a couple of years where the super heroes battle the Mayan gods to keep the world from ending in the year 2012.
No, I'm kidding. That would actually be lame.
I would have updated during my lunch break today, but I spent my lunch break going to Bedrock City Comics to catch up on the books I've missed the last couple of weeks, and that ended up taking a bit longer than I thought it would. Then, I had about a week and a half of touring office work to get caught up on (and I'm still not quite there, but I'm confident that by 5:00 tomorrow I'll be back on track).
I went ahead and bought Amazing Spider-Man #583 (or, as most people would know it, the Barack Obama issue). I know I made this big deal two weeks ago about how lame it was that people flocked to this book while meanwhile just a few rows over Batman was (not really) dying, but I've been picking up ASM pretty regularly for the last month or so, and the President is really only in a special story in the lat five pages, and I know that some day this particular book is going to be a collector's item (as opposed to most of the comics I've bought, which most people will never care about), so I picked it up. (Side note: $1.00 more expensive than normal books. Lame.)
Overall, it's kind of a nice issue. I mean, nothing really happens. It's mostly about the relationship between Peter Parker and his friend Betty Brant, and it's a pretty sweet story in all of that. But really, almost no Spidey appearances at all until the "Spidey Meets the President" story at the end. (Which was exceedingly lame; whether you like President Obama or not, this is a really pathetic story, though it's got some nice one-liners and is fine for what it is: a tribute to a man who is a life-long Spider-Man fan and well wishes for the future of the country) All in all, the book seemed like one of those "And now for something completely different" moments in the current story arc.
Other BCC highlights for the week include the new New Avengers book, in which (spoilers!) Luke Cage and Jessica Jones get their baby back from the Skrull who kidnapped her and Luke bashes Bullseye and Venom with a crowbar and breaks his word to join up with Osborn. All in all, one of the biggest cliff-hangers at the end of Secret Invasion is wrapped up with very little pomp and ceremony two NA issues later. A bit confusing, but a good story nevertheless. (end spoilers)
Meanwhile, Avengers: The Initiative continues to be one of the coolest books out there. Very glad I stumbled upon this one during SI.
In other news, The Thing is engaged to a kindergarten teacher, which is good, but Dr. Doom's genocidal mentors are coming to our dimension while the Fantastic Four go to Scotland on vacation, which is bad. Don't worry, though. I'm sure everything will be smooth sailing again before 2010.
I'd like to see a storyline in a couple of years where the super heroes battle the Mayan gods to keep the world from ending in the year 2012.
No, I'm kidding. That would actually be lame.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Day Sixteen: You know who you are. (And now, so does everyone else)
All righty.
It's late (again), so I won't let this get too long (post-post edit: this ends up being not true at all), but tonight was the preview performance (in my mind, the opening) for The Hero Squad vs. The Princess Snatchers. THSvTPS is the first children's play I've ever written (aside from the 10-minute Big Liar, Little Liar, of course) and it's been--as my wife so aptly put it--a dream come true to have the chance to direct its professional debut with such talented actors, staff, and designers who shared a true passion for the piece. I realize that there is a very good chance I'll never get everything stacked in my favor as well as I have for this show, and I am very grateful.
I thought about using today's post to deliver a blow-by-blow recounting of the night's performance and post-show discussion and meet-and-greet, but then I decided this post--and my time--would be better spent recognizing and thanking as many people as I can who've given this show life from its very earliest origin five and a half years ago to where we are today.
Also, I'll cross-post this to Facebook, where some of these people might actually read it ;-)
I'll do the best I can in pseudo-chronological order:
Ms. B--I know I've told you this before, but before working on Robin Hood with you I'd never given TYA a second thought. My, how the times have changed, aye?
Dan H.--Big Liar, Little Liar was actually one of the coolest projects I've ever been involved with. In twenty minutes, I wrote the script. The next day you cast it and rehearsed it, the class made their own costumes, and the next day the show went up for one time and one time only. Watching actors say the words I'd written, even as a bit of a joke, and an entire school full of children respond, was one of the best feelings of my young life that year. Fast-forward a few years, and who's staging the first ever production of Princess Snatchers? Oh, that's right, it's Great Bend High School. I owe you a ton. (And you'll never read this, because you're impossible to get a hold of!!)
Sonia--Remember the two hours we spent building a prosthetic beard before Fall Break? Who'd have thought our conversation about a powerless superheroine with bubbles would end up here?
Travis--Your uncanny impression of an iron lung actually got the Hero Squad started. Also, thanks for always being the Hero Squad's biggest fan.
Josh--The fact you had 3 D's in your last name may have birthed a character, but the Wizard magazines you left around the apartment sparked a fascination in comic books the created a Hero Squad universe.
Susan--By being the polar opposite of an impulsive hockey-loving teenage tomboy, you somehow became the perfect model for one. Go figure that one out.
Lindy--Before I worked with you, the Squad always had a missing piece.
Rex--Ah, Rex, your influence on my choice to pursue playwrighting as more than a hobby is far greater than I'm sure you realize. I've always valued your opinion greatly, so when you sent back the first draft of my first script with such high praise, I started to believe I might really have something there. Not only are you always going to be Nikolai in my mind, the fact that I ever took this thing past a rough draft is probably more your fault than anyone else's.
Holly--You've always encouraged me to write, even when all I was writing was crap.
Sherri--You're the one who's always on my case about what I'm writing lately. Without that, I'd probably have dropped about half the projects I've ended up finishing.
The cast of the GBHS production. 'Nuff said.
Dave--I have absolutely no credentials whatsoever to say I want to write stories, and you'd have had every right to roll your eyes at me when I'd talk about ideas I've had, but you never have. You're probably the first person to make me feel like a writer.
Collin--Thanks for being the Hero Squad's second biggest fan (behind only Travis ;-) and always encouraging me to explore these characters further. And, of course, for nagging Andra 'till she finally read a script, cuz that turned out pretty good for me, too.
Andra--Wow. You took a HUGE risk on me when you staged this project. I'm so glad I got to come see it, because it was awesome. I never heard how it all turned out for you, but I hope your risk was justified.
The cast of the OKCU production--Rachel, Adam, Dan S., Shae, William, Mindy, and people I'm not Facebook friends with. Your show rocked, and your feedback was encouraging to a degree you wouldn't believe.
Jen--You were one of my biggest supporters @ the Players before this script was even seriously in consideration. Thanks for every good vibe you've sent my way over the past year-plus about this show. And you're awesome in it.
Kevin--Ultimately, this was your call, and again, you took a risk for me. Don't think I don't appreciate it.
Everyone at the Players who've supported this in some fashion or another--cast, crew, designers, costumers, randomly encouraging people--I'm very sorry, I can't name you all here. If I haven't already told you in person how much I appreciate what you've done, then I just suck.
And finally, of course, the big ones.
My wife--You're beautiful, I love you, and I love that you are more proud for me about this than I am. Hopefully some day we'll find a way for this writing thing to help pay the bills (and not just keep me up late). You never seemed to mind my late nights at the computer or my hours-long writing sessions. You've always supported me in this way back before we knew anything would ever come of it and back before I knew why it was important to me. You deserve any praise that I do.
And of course, of course, of course, all glory and honor be unto the Lord God, who created creation and creativity, who gave me stories and an innate need to tell them, who led me from the path that I was following--cynicism, self-indulgence, pessimism, probably depression and lifelessness--into a life that is full of joy, creativity, family, and perspective. I love You, and I hope that I don't ever write a story or a show that You don't get a kick out of.
Thanks to all, and now goodnight.
It's late (again), so I won't let this get too long (post-post edit: this ends up being not true at all), but tonight was the preview performance (in my mind, the opening) for The Hero Squad vs. The Princess Snatchers. THSvTPS is the first children's play I've ever written (aside from the 10-minute Big Liar, Little Liar, of course) and it's been--as my wife so aptly put it--a dream come true to have the chance to direct its professional debut with such talented actors, staff, and designers who shared a true passion for the piece. I realize that there is a very good chance I'll never get everything stacked in my favor as well as I have for this show, and I am very grateful.
I thought about using today's post to deliver a blow-by-blow recounting of the night's performance and post-show discussion and meet-and-greet, but then I decided this post--and my time--would be better spent recognizing and thanking as many people as I can who've given this show life from its very earliest origin five and a half years ago to where we are today.
Also, I'll cross-post this to Facebook, where some of these people might actually read it ;-)
I'll do the best I can in pseudo-chronological order:
Ms. B--I know I've told you this before, but before working on Robin Hood with you I'd never given TYA a second thought. My, how the times have changed, aye?
Dan H.--Big Liar, Little Liar was actually one of the coolest projects I've ever been involved with. In twenty minutes, I wrote the script. The next day you cast it and rehearsed it, the class made their own costumes, and the next day the show went up for one time and one time only. Watching actors say the words I'd written, even as a bit of a joke, and an entire school full of children respond, was one of the best feelings of my young life that year. Fast-forward a few years, and who's staging the first ever production of Princess Snatchers? Oh, that's right, it's Great Bend High School. I owe you a ton. (And you'll never read this, because you're impossible to get a hold of!!)
Sonia--Remember the two hours we spent building a prosthetic beard before Fall Break? Who'd have thought our conversation about a powerless superheroine with bubbles would end up here?
Travis--Your uncanny impression of an iron lung actually got the Hero Squad started. Also, thanks for always being the Hero Squad's biggest fan.
Josh--The fact you had 3 D's in your last name may have birthed a character, but the Wizard magazines you left around the apartment sparked a fascination in comic books the created a Hero Squad universe.
Susan--By being the polar opposite of an impulsive hockey-loving teenage tomboy, you somehow became the perfect model for one. Go figure that one out.
Lindy--Before I worked with you, the Squad always had a missing piece.
Rex--Ah, Rex, your influence on my choice to pursue playwrighting as more than a hobby is far greater than I'm sure you realize. I've always valued your opinion greatly, so when you sent back the first draft of my first script with such high praise, I started to believe I might really have something there. Not only are you always going to be Nikolai in my mind, the fact that I ever took this thing past a rough draft is probably more your fault than anyone else's.
Holly--You've always encouraged me to write, even when all I was writing was crap.
Sherri--You're the one who's always on my case about what I'm writing lately. Without that, I'd probably have dropped about half the projects I've ended up finishing.
The cast of the GBHS production. 'Nuff said.
Dave--I have absolutely no credentials whatsoever to say I want to write stories, and you'd have had every right to roll your eyes at me when I'd talk about ideas I've had, but you never have. You're probably the first person to make me feel like a writer.
Collin--Thanks for being the Hero Squad's second biggest fan (behind only Travis ;-) and always encouraging me to explore these characters further. And, of course, for nagging Andra 'till she finally read a script, cuz that turned out pretty good for me, too.
Andra--Wow. You took a HUGE risk on me when you staged this project. I'm so glad I got to come see it, because it was awesome. I never heard how it all turned out for you, but I hope your risk was justified.
The cast of the OKCU production--Rachel, Adam, Dan S., Shae, William, Mindy, and people I'm not Facebook friends with. Your show rocked, and your feedback was encouraging to a degree you wouldn't believe.
Jen--You were one of my biggest supporters @ the Players before this script was even seriously in consideration. Thanks for every good vibe you've sent my way over the past year-plus about this show. And you're awesome in it.
Kevin--Ultimately, this was your call, and again, you took a risk for me. Don't think I don't appreciate it.
Everyone at the Players who've supported this in some fashion or another--cast, crew, designers, costumers, randomly encouraging people--I'm very sorry, I can't name you all here. If I haven't already told you in person how much I appreciate what you've done, then I just suck.
And finally, of course, the big ones.
My wife--You're beautiful, I love you, and I love that you are more proud for me about this than I am. Hopefully some day we'll find a way for this writing thing to help pay the bills (and not just keep me up late). You never seemed to mind my late nights at the computer or my hours-long writing sessions. You've always supported me in this way back before we knew anything would ever come of it and back before I knew why it was important to me. You deserve any praise that I do.
And of course, of course, of course, all glory and honor be unto the Lord God, who created creation and creativity, who gave me stories and an innate need to tell them, who led me from the path that I was following--cynicism, self-indulgence, pessimism, probably depression and lifelessness--into a life that is full of joy, creativity, family, and perspective. I love You, and I hope that I don't ever write a story or a show that You don't get a kick out of.
Thanks to all, and now goodnight.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Day Fifteen: I could really use a robot
If I had a housekeeping robot, I could be in bed now. (Well, no I couldn't, because I have to write my blog for the day first, but then I could go to bed)
Really. That's about all I have to say.
My show opens tomorrow. (Technically Wednesday, but to me, an audience is an audience)
You should come. Especially if you're in it.
And bring me a robot. A Rosie or a Chip or a Robby or a Stutterin' Bill (but no Andy's, say thankya). I'll even settle for an animatronic pirate from Disneyland if it'll load the dishwasher for me. Because I'd very much like to go to bed.
Goodnite, blog!
Really. That's about all I have to say.
My show opens tomorrow. (Technically Wednesday, but to me, an audience is an audience)
You should come. Especially if you're in it.
And bring me a robot. A Rosie or a Chip or a Robby or a Stutterin' Bill (but no Andy's, say thankya). I'll even settle for an animatronic pirate from Disneyland if it'll load the dishwasher for me. Because I'd very much like to go to bed.
Goodnite, blog!
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Day Fourteen: Less Talk, More Play!
While I'm sure I could type away for a healthy period of time about something that most likely won't interest you, instead I'll share this little gem with you today:
http://www.addictinggames.com/bubblespinner.html
It's kept me from several hours of sleep (over a span of a couple weeks; nothing too serious) and far too much reading and writing over the past month.
Enjoy!
http://www.addictinggames.com/bubblespinner.html
It's kept me from several hours of sleep (over a span of a couple weeks; nothing too serious) and far too much reading and writing over the past month.
Enjoy!
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