I'm done.

Well, I quit my job this morning.

It was like a moment right out of Office Space or something. Very empowering.

I walked away from what had become a very unhealthy situation (not just mentally, but physically as well) and am already feeling better about it and my body is reacting as such. To give you an example, I was so stressed out about the workload that I had been given because, essentially, we had a person quit and their duties were temporarily going to be split amongst myself and co-worker (thus doubling our workload) until a third person could be found. The catch? They brought in the third person, but created a whole new position for them and the duties that were split between my co-worker and myself became permanent. Plus anything that this new person didn't want to do was also dumped onto our heads as well. So at the end of the day, you have a three person department where two of the people are individually doing the workload of 3 people.

Confused? So were we.

My point is that the stress I was carrying from that job actually started to manifest itself physically in the forms of a sore throat and getting sick. I am a person that really didn't put a lot of stock in that being stressed out could actually cause you physical harm, but was becoming an example myself whether I could admit it or not. So I took a sick week off of work and got better. Went back to work and....got sick again. Same flu-like symptons as well as a very sore throat. This time I went away on x-mas vacation and felt better. When I went back to work, all of the stuff that I had left to be done in my absence was not even touched so I immediately was under seige to get everything done, which I did, but also notcied that my throat was starting to hurt again. Long story short, my throat got so bad that I couldn't sleep and was up for 48 straight hours in what I can only describe as pain equivilent to having a cheesegrater slide up and down your vocal chords everytime you swallow.

Yes, it was that bad.

I even almost cried Monday night as my doctor prescribed me a local anesthetic (yes, that stuff they use in surgeries) that was supposed to completely numb my thorat and let me sleep. I took some and laid down and it actually worked.....for about 15 minutes. Then the pain just came right back as it had been. It was ridiculous and I was pretty much at my wit's end.

So I sucked it up and on 3 hours of sleep went into work this morning. As soon as I walked in, I knew something was up as I asked to go 'into a meeting'. Having already contemplated giving my two weeks notce about 10 times over the past two months, I knew what this was about and it just became a matter of beating them to the punch.

The funny thing is that I'm home now and reconciled and have already called some temp agencies, updated the ol' resume and am putting the irons back in the fire. I feel pretty good about things though, and everyone who I've talked to has notcied that I seem a lot more cheery and seem happier than I've been in awhile.

What next and how do I pay the bills? Who knows, but I'll worry about it later.

The most interesting thing in all of this? My throat hasn't hurt for going on about two hours or so now.

Hmmm....

Remotes & the holidays

Why I love doing ComedySportz remotes in small towns and why I love having a camera phone:

This was found in a Subway in Centerville, IA, and just too good to pass up.

We are in our busiest time of year for CSz right now, and yours truly is putting more miles on his car than ever. It would be interesting sometime to map out just how many small towns we have been to in the 16 years of our troupes existence. I think the southwestern corner of Iowa is seriously the only place we've yet to venture to in the state of Iowa, but I may even be wrong about that...

Merry Christams, Kwanza, Hannukah, and Festivus to you all, by the way. I hope you were all taken care of by Santa et. al. I had a pretty good haul myself this year with some highlights including the Trivial Pursuit - 80's Edition, a graphic design book I had been eyeing, The Venture Borthers - Season 1 on DVD, and Talledega Nights and Superman Returns on BluRay. Although, I will admit to be insanely jealous of Corey & Monique's new Match Game collection on DVD as it makes me miss not having the Game Show Network more and more.

I also got to go see a really good basketball game early in December featuring the Iowa Hawkeyes VS. University of Northern Iowa, with UNI taking them to the wire and actually pulling out the upset win. It was a great game and it made me kind of resent the fact that I never went to a large university for school. My sister went to Illinois and I visited and went to many games down there as I have in Iowa City too, but back then, it just wasn't appealing to me to be at a large school. Now, looking back, I really wish that I would've gotten a full collegiate expereince and had a university atmosphere to call my own. Ah well, that's what grad school is for, I guess...

On the blog maintenance side, thank you for pointing out to me that I had a couple of dead links over there in the Links section. I have removed the dead ones, but have left a couple up there that are currently inactive, but I think will be live again in the near future. If not, I will eventually take them down as well. And speaking of links, I added a new one for anyone who ever has been a fan of Mystery Science Theater 3000. Mike Nelson, head writer for MST3K, has a new website called RiffTrax where you can download his (and sometimes fellow MST3K'ers) commentary for blockbuster films and then play them on an MP3 player synched up with the DVD. I'm going to give it a try and let you know the verdict soon.

Also I joined the masses and finally set up a Facebook too. Between that and MySpace, I think I'm pretty much covered cyberly for awhile. Click the link to the right to check it out.

We had a great year-end review for the Prenzie Players in The Reader praising our production of A Midsummer Night's Dream and also lauding the start of The Henriad Trilogy by the reviewer touting that Steph's performance as the title role in Richard The Second as the best female theatrical performance he saw all year. Well deserved kudos to her and to the rest of the troupe as well. The Henriad continues in late February with Henry The Fourth and Jeremy Mahr (fellow CSz'er) in the title role. He was very strong in part one and I'm sure that momentum will continue into part two. Personally, I'm extremely intimidated as I have been cast as Hal/Henry V in both this upcoming show and in part three (Henry The Fifth) and it's easily the largest role I've ever had to take on.

Also, if you are in the area, the Prenzie's are having a fundraising gala in the beginning of January. If you can come support our troupe, that would be fantastic (click below for larger image):At the behest of my buddy Jake, I have checked out and am now a full fledged fan of AskANinja.com. If you've never seen it before, I added a link to it and you should really check it out sometime. Also there's a ton of Ask A Ninja stuff over on You Tube, if you are interested.


That's all for now. Have a safe New Years and a great start to 2007!

Yes, Virginia, There Is A New Post

Hey, all. Sorry I haven't posted, blah blah blah. I can never say that enough so I guess I'm just not going to bother with it anymore. However, I would be remissed not to thank my friends for picking up this blog and running with it through the comments on the previous post. It was quite fun reading what I was up to while not posting.

I'm single again. Which is part of the reason, but not an excuse for not posting in so long. Kind of sucks, but life goes on. It's all definately hitting me late so that sucks - pile on top of that the fact that I've got personal reasons that I already hate this time of year anyway and I'm not doing too well right now. But you forge ahead, face reality, and move on.

I haven't delved too much into this relationship on here (by choice) as I did with my previous one (by force) - and I'm not going to now - but suffice it to say, she's an incredible and extremely talented person, we are still good friends, and I hope nothing but success and happiness falls her way.

O.k., then. What else....?

I finally saw Borat and LOVED it. Offensive? Yes. Uncomfortable at parts? Sure. Fall out of my seat laughing? More than once. It was just a great comedy that reflects a side of America that many of us don't really want to acknowledge or choose to not face, but it's more alive than any of us care to admit. Sascha Baron Cohen is already being compared to Lenny Bruce and Andy Kaufman in terms of where his comedy is going - and with the recently announced Bruno movie set to begin filming in 2008 (based on his third outrageous character from Da Ali G Show), there's just more funny to look forward to.

But all is not well in moviedom...

So far, the biggest and most unfortunate let down of all the movies I have seen this year is definately Christopher Guest's For Your Consideration. The now infamous Guest troupe are easily the most talented group to ever tackle the 'mockumentary' style of filmmaking...and yet this film strays from that formula and is shot entirely like a normal film. No one-on-one interviews or anything. Now I am one that totally supports trying something new, and after three pretty successful improvisational films helmed by Guest, I applaud their effort to branch out. Yet something just seems to not fit quite right in here and I left the theater feeling hollow. The characters are all wonderful - and I want to know more about them, but am never afforded that opportunity. I genuinely think if they kept a lot of the same footage, but went back and spliced in interviews and one-on-one sit downs with the characters that this film could still be saved. There are some very funny moments and some emotional ones as well, but this is the first Guest film that I'm just not that enthused about. I hope that their next project together goes back to what 'brought them to the dance,' so to speak.

Proving to everyone that I am certifiably insane, I am one of the very few people in this country (about 300,000 to be exact) that pre-paid and then bought a PlayStation 3 at launch....and....(wait for it)....actually kept the damn thing instead of putting it on eBay. I know - crazy right? God forbid, I actually enjoy the console and use it for it's intended purpose, but I guess I'm just weird that way. On the other hand, I'm enjoying BluRay goodness (Superman Returns on BluRay = awesome, and Talledega Nights came bundled with the system!) and if you consider yourself a fan of videogames, you haven't lived until you've played Resistance: Fall of Man in surround sound. Better than Xbox360's Gears of War? Quite possibly. At any rate, only 299,999 of you out there will know what I'm talking about anyway so I'll shut up about it.

I went to Chicago for Thanksgiving to visit with family and friends and, although it was a bit of family overload, it was a fun time. I've definately now got relatives that will become characters on stage at CSz at some point, so I guess this was also a 'creative work research' trip as well. I wonder if that means I can write that off my taxes...

The Prenzie Players' King Richard The Second staged and ended with much praise and ballyhoo. We got very positive reviews in the papers and the pressure is now officially on as we gear up to deliver parts II & III of The Henriad Trilogy (Richard II, Henry IV, and Henry V). If you did not see Richard II, it's o.k. to still come check out the other shows as they are being treated as indivudual shows, but for those that attend all three, they will get to see a continuous cast and everyone reprising their roles from the previous show - something that has never been done in the U.S., as far as our research goes. If you've never seen a Prenzie show before, you really should as its Shakespeare more accessable than it's ever been before.

Alright, it's finally below freezing here in the crappy Midwest and I've got a jaunt to Galesburg tonight for a show - which is supposed to be getting hit with 10-12 inches of snow. So if this is the last post I ever make due to some unforeseen and horrific accident on the drive down, know that each one of you that are reading this right now I like better than all of my other friends.

So Little Time...

I made it over a month without blogging. I can't believe it - this is so awesome! To my fan base - hey, we did it! This honor is as much mine as it is yours - seriously.

Wow, they're so many people to thank. Let's see, I'd like to thank everyone who made this possible starting with the play that I've been cast in and it's many rehearsals (including you, Sundays!), and Showcase 53 for the many movies that I've seen. Also working a bit stranger hours at work - can't forget about you. Let's see, who am I forgetting....uhm....Oh! The Xbox360 for your many games and DVD's who, without you, I may have actually had free time to do other things.

And I'd like to thank God for all that stuff he does too.

You know - not blogging for a month started as a dream, but through consistent laziness and A.D.D., I was able to get to this level and if I can do it - so can you. LET'S KEEP IT REAL!

Now that that's out of the way, let's begin, shall we?

First off, I broke with a promise that I had made and I caved and finally bought Episodes IV, V, & VI of the Star Wars saga after swearing that I would hold out until they released a big six-pack with all of them. However, they hit me with that whole "limited edition" thing with these DVD's being the only time that the original theatrical cuts would be released. So I caved and bought them. The rumor, of course, is that the six-pack is coming out next year and if IV, V, & VI in that set inculde the original cuts, then I'll trade in mine towards the purchase of it. Otherwise, I feel justified in finally caving to peer pressure and the hype machine and buying them.

The originals look great, in that nostalgic sort of way. The new ones have all of the updates, of course, and apparently even more tinkering was done by LucasArts in this version as well. I don't know about you, but I actually wasn't that weirded out to see Hayden Christansen appear as Annikin at the end of Return of the Jedi as I feared I would be. However, the inexcusable offense is the replacement of the Ewoks celebration song at the end of the film. The Ewoks were already hard to stomach as it was in the series, but there was this modicum of redemption for them in that jovial, and awkwardly disarming music they played at the end which blended into a heavenly chorus. Now, it's this forced (no pun intended) weird party music that just seems out of place. I don't really mind all the other touch-ups because, as I've said before, it's Lucas' series to to with whatever he wants, but that music was unique and fun and it's a mistake to have messed with it.

Granted, I'm sure all of you have your own opinions on the touch-ups, whether you view them as sacreligious or share the opinion that Lucas is now making the film he had originally envisioned, I'd like to hear your thoughts on the matter.

At the talkie pictures, the lady and I saw Little Miss Sunshine and it was so good! If any of you have ever said, "my family is so weird," than this is the film for you. Steve Carell continues to impress and the entire cast is really solid, but Alan Arkin stole the film for me. His on screen time is priceless and it's interesting to think back on the fact that he was one of the originals at The Second City when it started in Chicago. Although it's not technically an independent film, although marketed as one, this is such a good script and so well put together that it's a must see for the year. GO SEE IT!

I also bore witness to the human bumper car extravaganza known as Jackass: Number Two, which had quite a bit to live up to seeing as the first movie was one of my favorite movies the year that it came out. Sometimes, it's just fun to tap into that Dumb & Dumber mentality and just enjoy watching grown men get the crap kicked out them in the most sophomoric way possible. That theory applies here, but I will admit to a 'been there before' feel when watching this film. Although, I will say seeing it in a packed theater is really the only way to witness this carnality as all of those, "Oh my GOD," moments are shared by 50 or so anonymous voices. I think it's worth at least one viewing, but I can't really see justifying going back for seconds.

I actually did something else besides watch movies too, you know. We went to Chicago for my 30th Dave Matthews Band concert, which means that I got to see my 30th show in my 30th year of life. The crazy thing is that there was a guy three rows behind us who turned 32 and was at his 30th show as well. He was attempting to synch up his show total with his birthday llike I had (so I'm not the only DMB nerd out there). We were literally in the 7th row and the show was incredible. George Clinton and the Parliament Funkadelic opened and just set an amazing tone for the rest of the show.

And contrary to my parents belief that upon hitting this personal milestone, that I would "slow down a bit" and not go to that many more DMB concerts, this is only the beginning...

I did some sight-seeing of my old haunt the following day and ventured down to Milennium Park. There were some pretty cool pieces down there including this amazing silver structure which gave off a cool reflection of the skyline. Actually, there really wasn't a "bad" side to it.

Underneath the structure was it's center, which is where pretty much everyone was cramming under as there were no less than four wedding parties there trying to capture moments of their big day. I snuck in and got a quick shot before being ushered away.

The park is a pretty incredible place (with much more to do than I have mentioned here) and if you can get there before one of those trademark Chicago winters hits, I more than recommend it. The Art Museum is close by as is the Magnificant Mile, so the culture and shopping fiends in you can both be satiated.

Also, if you haven't discovered the ranting bliss that is The Ricky Gervais Show over at iTunes, then you really need to do yourself a service and go check it out. It made the Guiness Book of World Records for the most downloaded podcast ever, and you haven't heard anything yet until you discover the world of Karl Pilkington. If you are a fan of either version of The Office, then you really should make these podcasts a part of your expereince. Trust me - you will absosmurfly love it.

Alright, I think I've bored you enough for another month. Take care of yourselves, enjoy life, have good poops and we'll see you back here soon!

"If you ain't first - you're last."

Ah, faceless reader, we meet again. Enough of the pleasantries - a lots happened so sit a spell and let me bore you...

In case you had any doubts, Talladega Nights is awesome. I'm not quite sure if it's in the Anchorman echelon just yet, but it's still a very funny film and Will Ferrell's supporting cast almost surpasses him in terms of great moments on-screen. First off, Gary Cole as Ricky Bobby's father has probably the most quotable lines of anyone, and John C. Reilly should've been in Anchorman because he more than holds his own with everyone else. However, the best has to go to Sascha Baron Cohen as Ricky's French rival. The man is a chameleon and it took me several times to register that this man also portrays Ali G and his newest movie (based on arguably his best character) Borat had a trailer before the film futher hammering home this man's talent (see poster under Talladega Nights). While Cohen's Ali G: Da Movie left a truckload to be desired, I'm hoping his performance here will parlay a new audience to witness his great Borat character in its own film. Oh, and the NASCAR tint of the film didn't really bother me either way. See it and I promise you'll walk away laughing (and stay through the credits).

Thanks to my buddy, Mike, I also got to see Superman Returns in 3D at the IMAX. While not a big fan of the whole "3D" craze, I did enjoy seeing the movie again and the 3D stuff was fun at the beginning, but tended to get a bit comical as these little 3D glasses would flash on-screen everytime you were supposed to put them on and you could hear seats shifting and people murmuring everytime it happened. The story was great and seeing the homages to the first film was fun again. I'm not going to give any more of my thoughts on the film because you can find them in an earlier post if you really want to know.

Yet another film I saw was the critcally slammed Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest. People seem to generally hate this film and, while it did have its short-comings, I say this to you who were so bothered by it: IT'S THE SECOND MOVIE IN A TRILOGY - IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE A BIT DEPRESSING. I guess I'm the only one on the planet that remembers Attack of the Clones as being a bit worse than Revenge of the Sith, and The Two Towers ending with a ton of questions and a cliff-hanger ending. This movie was supposed to introduce all the major players, which it did, set-up the central conflict and side stories, which it did, and leave us with a cliff-hanger ending, which it did. The swordplay and action were fun and I really think the movie got a much harder time than it should've.

Stephanie had a birthday on Friday and we celebrated by venturing down to St. Louis for the weekend to take in the sights. We packed a lot into those two days, including the St. Louis Art Museum and St. Louis Zoo, the Gateway Arch, the City Museum, the Anheuser-Busch Brewery Tour, Union Station, and a tour of the new Busch Stadium - home to the St. Louis Cardinals. Unfortunately, the Cards were in Pittsburgh this weekend, but the upside was that we got access to everything on the tour since the team was away. I've included some cool photos below and have a Kodak Gallery set up so contact me if you want to view the rest.









And I'll leave you with this image from the aquarium, giving everyone a not so subtle hint at the next great film of our generation. Until then..