Summer Bummer Fragments

Well, as soon as you realize it, the summer is on the way out.

Here are some random family updates:

C is getting ready to move out and attend Texas State. It's so close to home, I will likely meet her for lunch on a few Fridays. It's just a short trip up the road....but no doubt about it, this is a big deal. Of course, I am proud and excited for her.  The last two years have been a good transition for us; some weeks we barely see her....But I would be lying if I said I'm not sad. I have to admit there's no going back and that she's growing up. 

Speaking of growing up, E is about to enter her senior year. K and E visited SFA a couple of weeks ago, and we may visit at least one more university this fall. We got a car for her this summer, but it's a long story, and honestly, it's already a stress......(yikes, I know). She's also "dating" a guy. I say "dating" because she would say she is only talking to him....but they are going on dates. Weird generational definitions going on here.... There is sooo much at stake for E this year: choices to make, possible scholarships, going for All-State Choir, auditioning for plays and musicals on and off campus. I am hoping, praying, and wishing on a star for an amazing senior year for her.  

H is about to be a HS freshman. He will be playing football, and also, there seems to be a lot at stake for him as well. New school, new coaches, and a new set of people and friends. He is joining choir again after a two-year absence. This could go either way, and I hope it goes well... it could be a game-changer for him. He's grown taller than his sisters now, and he loves it. He's a good kid, but I look forward to "middle school" moments becoming less frequent. 

K is headed back to her school; this will be her third year as co-director. Given budget cuts and the destruction of Texas public schools (Thanks, Texas Republicans!!) we are thankful she has a job. That said, we don't know how sure we are she will be back in 2027-2028.  Luckily, she is at a big school that feeds into her district's most popular school, and they run an amazing program.  Still, one more year would be great.....given the extra expenses of auto insurance and all the costs....I am not sure what we would do without her being full-time. We just can't worry about that right now or our heads would explode.  

We took a family cruise back in June. It was the first time I had been on a cruise since our honeymoon back in 2003. I was a little hesitant; I am not a huge cruise person....but it was great! We literally didn't have to plan much at all, and we both admitted it was great because we actually came back feeling rested, which doesn't always happen on vacation. 

YouTube Creator Rant/Fragements:

I haven't gotten into it here on the blog, but my little YouTube channel has taken a nose dive of late. It's basically comic book shorts. I review or comment on a particular comic book for one minute.  I try to lean into the silly nature of comic books, but I review everything, not just "it's so bad it's good" comics. It's really "old school YouTube" in short form.  It's been a roller coaster; I was consistently getting 1,000-1,500 and sometimes 2,000 views per short. Sure, these were small; my kids were laughing at my numbers, but it felt good to me.  Now I am lucky to break 600 views per video.  

My original goal was 100 subscribers, which I achieved early last fall. My goal for 2026 was to get to 250 by the end of this year (which I am on track for). The logic was building subscribers and a community rather than views. Still, when you try different methods (I posted every day for 32 days back in April) and see numbers dip, it's not a great feeling. 

I have 208 subscribers, so maybe....I am just not that good at it? Or the algorithm doesn't like me?  Or old people that like weird comic books don't watch YT Shorts?   I think I need to get to a full two years, just for pride's sake...that would take me to March 2027.  It's still fun making the videos, and it's given me an excuse to buy weird comics....but my patience is wearing a little thin. 

Anyway, if you like weird old comic books, give it a try! 

Other Fragmented Updates:

It hasn't been all that hot this summer. Wow, what a relief. It's been hot the last two weeks, but I think we hit over 100 once so far. I'll take it; when it's just 100 degrees all the time, it just zaps your will to do anything other than stay at home. 

My Study Abroad program for 2027 to Spain was approved, but now, with looming budget cuts, including summer pay cuts (Thanks, Texas Republicans!) and the possibility that K might not have a job, it now threatens whether I will be able to do it.  I might pick up another class at another university....we'll see. 

So, a new Weezer album is coming out, and every song so far that has come out is, well, pretty terrible. So, what else is new? lol 

The Spurs Finals run was both the best and worst of sports fandom: it was unexpected, full of shocking and memorable moments, heroic deeds, and then, heartbreaking disappointment. I was in the process of writing a HUGE blog about the Spurs during the run and had to rewrite some of it. I'll finish it up the week before classes start; it's a great blog idea, but it involved a ton of research. 

I was cast in another play this summer, at a different local theater. It's a well-known play. I have quite a funny role, but I also get to stretch my acting chops and cry at the end of the show. It's a new and rather small theater, but the production and cast are top-notch. The set is incredible....but we have a total of 14 performances (including the preview night). We start up our second week of shows this Thursday. 

It's been a great experience and very different from the theater I usually act in. I'm also exhausted already with this particular story and role. As stated above, while my role brings some humor, it's a heavy storyline with tragedy at the end.  I bring it every time, though. 

I felt good to make an audition that wasn't at my usual place. I wanted to see if I could hang elsewhere, and the answer so far has been, hell yeah I can. It feels good to work in a talented cast of people that (for the most part) did not know me. I have received compliments from the cast as well, and I really appreciate that.. 

I enjoy the collaborative nature of acting but....being in a show eats your life. I'm ready to get back into my own life. 

Anyway, the fall has already started...which means I am very busy. Gotta go....but take some time and enjoy the sunset today. Take a deep breath. If you're reading this, it means you are alive. Enjoy it. 

Neglectful Fragments

I've been a bit neglectful on the blog. I would apologize, but there's no one to apologize to. I came down from a busy summer to (surprise) a busy fall.

I've started a few blog posts but never finished them. Some abandoned ideas that might come back: Ranking Spurs Championships, Ranking my favorite Nirvana songs, discussing the insanity of cartoon teeth (this is the one most likely to be written). 

I'm in another community play but this time it will be my last one for awhile. It's "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest". I play Dr. Spivey. It opens this weekend and we have four shows. It's been great because it's not too big of a role as far as lines. Plays tend to eat your life, even in smaller roles, they take up time for rehearsal (weekends!), head space, thought space and your mind is always thinking "don't forget your lines!".  I have a lot of acting with my face on stage when I'm not speaking, so that's been an interesting challenge, it's also been nice to work on a drama instead of a musical or comedy.

We've been getting our house ready to move, it's kinda awful, but we're confident showing the house well can net us an additional 10K. It's a seller's market down here, so even though it's fall...hopefully it can sell quickly.

Being a father will be the hardest and best thing I ever do but damn, it's tough.

We went to the beach a few weeks back...and...even though I hate beaches, it wasn't too bad. It was cloudy on the day we went too and that made me happy.

I often get random ideas to blog about but my motivation isn't what it used to be with the move and the play. Then, there's YouTube and I've been playing my SNES mini lately too.

Maybe one day it will return....or not. Even still, I have pretty much decided this blog is part of my life, for my life. (Distant cheers). It's just something I will turn to from time to time, a little scrapbook for my life.  In the meantime, bake some cookies to make your house smell good and take a walk outside to feel the fall.

Wizard of Oz Fragments

I was in a local production of "The Wizard of Oz" this summer....here are the fragments.

My youngest daughter was in a production of "Annie" this past winter and she loved it. When she heard the same church theater group would be doing "The Wizard of Oz", she was determined to audition for a part again.  In fact, my other two kids got excited by the whole idea as well and decided to audition for "munchkins". 

I think I was sitting at the table goofing around with them, giving my "wizard" voice when they told me they wanted me to audition...in fact, they told me they wouldn't audition without me. I feigned a little that I wasn't interested, but it was mainly for self-protection.  I figured the director had someone else in mind, or there were politics involved.  That said, the kids were persistent in their begging, Besides, I figured it would be fun just to try out and make some memories with the kids.

At the audition they called up everyone, no matter the part and asked for us to the sing a little of the "Jolly Old Land of Oz" as a big a group. No problem. So far, I am acing this thing as I can read a little bit of music and can sing okay. Then, to my the horror, they asked for us to dance. I told them I was only trying out for  the role of Oz, but they insisted that they wanted to see what everyone could do.

There I was, the only grown man on stage, surrounded largely by girls under the age of 14, a couple of boys and a few older ladies. The director wanted to see if we could learn a quick dance routine on the spot and to put it into practice. To put it mildly,  I was terrible. So terrible that I just had to laugh while I was up there. They asked us to improvise our ending move and I ended up falling over, which got a few laughs. At least they could see I had a good attitude about the whole thing.

In the weeks prior to the audition, I had practiced a few lines at home given the availability of scripts online.  I focused my attention on the "award scene" in the aftermath of when Oz has been discovered and delivers awards and mini-monologues to Scarecrow, Tin Man and Lion awards.




Frank Morgan's performance is inspired and just about, well, perfect. He is playful, wise and has a twinkle in his eye.  To step into such a beloved role and performance was intimidating.

It was obvious this was a perfect audition scene and when I practiced at home I used my  "Map Maker voice"....which requires a little explanation. As I have covered here, I am a storyteller for the kids and one my main characters for my stories is the Map Maker. Coincidentally he is also an old wizard and he has a strange accent that I created from somewhere in my strange head.  It's a almost English/North Eastern American thing and I am not quite sure where I picked it up from, but it's definitely fits the character. It's given with an older affect and honestly, people like the voice. In fact, I would guess most of the specific compliments given to me were about my voice for the character. 

While other actors auditioned for various parts, the director told me the "medals scene" would be the scene I would audition with, so I got a bit of practice in as well.  Finally, it was my turn and frankly,  I nailed it. I could tell I was doing well....but it just felt good and the director looked happy. I tried it with my regular voice a second time but that didn't work out too well. It seemed like the Map Maker and Oz were meant to be. As I stepped off the stage the director told me I would be one of the Oz's for sure....the productions are so popular, they double-cast all the lead roles.

So, that was that and I had been cast as a "lead" of a real stage production.

Of course, I've had a little experience on the stage from time to time, but nothing too fancy.  The last significant stage production I had been in was a mini-Christmas production for Christmas Eve service at church a few years ago. However, almost all my lines were pre-recorded, as the audience was supposed to hear my thoughts. There was practically no pressure, except to not trip on my own two feet.

My previous other roles included some church stuff in high school and my roles in "The Music Man" my senior year. I was one of the traveling salesmen (actually had the first line of the whole play), a towns-person and sang the town songs and was a dancer to the "Shipoopi" with my future wife! I can't believe I had to Google "Shipoopi" to figure out how to spell it. I will eventually blog about this experience but suffice to say I was very nervous for the first scene and after that I could just have fun and blend in with the rest of the cast. 

The kiddo's were also cast, E & H were munchkins and C was a Poppy flower and a Oz-ian citizen. It was a family affair!

While it was "only a church production" this church really offers some impressive stuff. The directors have worked in NYC and have actually done professional work.

I mean, check out my crazy head that was projected when I was Oz. Technology never fails to amaze me. This looked surprisingly professional. 

They had a total of eight shows, which meant all the leads would have four shows each.

So while I was a "lead" by strict definition, I had strange role. Two of my six scenes were pre-recorded and five of the six scenes are in the second act of the play. So while I was required to be at many Act I rehearsals, I had little to do but sit around and fret about my scene in Act I. Even when I got around to it, we would do it "one and done" style, as the director seemed to have supreme confidence in me. Besides, they had all sorts of stuff to get to for Dorthy and the others like singing and dancing, etc.

I didn't mind it all the downtime though, it was interesting to watch the show come together. Still, I was bit of an outsider. Almost all of our leads were in their 20's and in college, while I am an old man. Two exceptions were the other Oz (in his 50's) and one of the witches (in her mid- 40's). Mirroring my participation with the stage, I barely got to know them until we started rehearsing, while most of them had worked together at least a few times.

After the first few weeks of rehearsals on Act I, we finally dived into Act II. This was a welcome change but also, things started to move pretty fast. I was given one full day of  warning to record my big Oz head scenes. I didn't think it was a big deal as I knew my lines "OK" and I figured I was have multiple takes. No problem.

The next evening came and I went down early to have my face painted and record my scenes. If I am being honest, (and hey no one reads this blog anyway, so why not?)....it was pretty cool. On a technical side, I hated it. I don't like anything near my eyes but on practical side, it felt like I was in show business.

The best selfies are with make-up on.

The problem with only having a day's notice is that my memorization of the script was not that good. Especially when everyone is just staring at you and especially when you have a huge light directed into your face and you're not supposed to look anywhere but straight ahead. It was weird and I am obviously making excuses here....but I felt like I was choking. It was the first time I really started to doubt myself in the production.  If I was grading myself, I would give my performance a B but this is because the "producer" of the digital effect could combine my takes. I felt pretty bad about the whole thing but the director was fine and everyone was supportive and kind-hearted about the whole thing.

 After weeks of rehearsals, we were finally ready to open the show.  I was nervous, more nervous than I had originally expected. I was on the side-stage listening to Dorthy sing "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" and realizing...this was it and there was no turning back. My first performance was so-so, but as someone later said, I got better each performance and it really felt that way. I mean, I could get technical - my first scene the third night was the best while my last scenes on the fourth night was the best ya know, no one but me could even sense a difference.

A few photos from my scene as Professor Marvel in Act I. Act I was in gray or "black and white" to mirror the film. It was a cool idea.

My favorite part of the whole endeavor was adding something different each night. One night, it was a mistake, but both "Dorthy" and I found our way back as we both knew the script. Dorthy was great -  talented, professional in demeanor and had a great attitude.  She also seemed like a great person off stage too. Being that the majority of my lines come with Dorthy, it was fortunate that we had a little chemistry.

In my first scene, Dorthy has run away from home when she meets Professor Marvel. Once Marvel figures out what's going on, he tries to "con" her back home. This is such fun character type to play - the con man with a heart of gold. Anyway, one night I decided to add a bit to the performance and asked Dorthy as she's attempting to get in "tune with infinity" if she's ever done this before, because she's a "natural". My fellow actor didn't bat an eye...and I was pleased when we got a few laughs.

After Act I, I would get to hang out "back stage" - an adjacent fellowship hall next door. It was fun to hang out with my kids and check on them as needed. The kids did so well, the little one's aced the dance moves and the older one sang great. the show was a great for their confidence. I could see growth in all their performances. In particular, given the research that shows adolescent girls lose confidence from 10-13, it was nice to be a part of something that can help build confidence and character.

Act II is where the Wizard's role is actually meaty, although, again, two of my scenes were pre-recorded. I would still waltz in the back of the room, just in case there were technical problems and I would then voice the Wizard from the back. Nothing happened, but it was still fun to walk in wearing a cape.  It's a little known fact that if you're walking wearing a cape it increases your confidence by 90%. My costume was a little silly but it did get me into character.

I loved the "awards" scene out of all my scenes.  I would practice my monologues driving to work, in the shower or really during any part of my day I was alone. I rarely slipped up, as I knew it so well. Right before I would go out on this scene I wasn't nervous but actually excited.  It felt like the character and I would zen into one being at this point during the show.

Immediately after the awards scene is the farewell in the hot air balloon. Look, it is local theater. We had it set up on wheels and I would "float" away back stage. It wasn't all that bad. After I flew away, I had to rush backstage to a different area, get back into my Professor Marvel costume quickly to be ready to be back in Kansas. That was by far, the most nerve wracking part of the role. Also, changing in front of people isn't a big deal when you are properly motivated to do it quickly and get your mic back on.

During my speech in the balloon, I would look at the cast, specifically looking for my three kids.  Usually, I could find one or two and this would make me happy. 

After my fourth performance, it was all over. All the hours to learn a very specific skill - the lines, the motions, etc. were now essentially - useless. All these specific people in specific roles, whom accomplished a goal as a team would never be brought back together again.  It already feels poignant and this was only six months ago!

Another thing I loved from this experience was the challenge of it all. I haven't really had a "real" role ever, not like this....and here I am, 41, and trying something new. It felt like I was stretching a muscle that hadn't been used in a long, long time and it felt good. I am grateful for the experience. After all, isn't that what life's about - trying something new and having fun with those you love the most?

Slip Slidin' Fragments

Another spring semester is in the books. Here's a bunch of fragments on stuff.


Earlier this semester I noticed how many people back into parking spaces. I am officially perplexed by this behavior, especially when someone is directly in back of you, and it holds up traffic. Is it really that important to get out that quickly? I dunno, maybe there is less of a chance of running over someone, but I am doubtful that's going through anyone's mind. Just pull in and get out of my way.

So I went to the the Breeders concert last month, and by a confluence of events (co-workers invited me and I was feeling FOMO) I ended up at an Everclear/Local H/Marcy's Playground concert. Did it reek of desperation? Maybe a little. At the Breeders there was a sense of coolness and there were actually young people there. This....not so much. At once I felt old and young at same time. Like there are people 3-5 years older than me but looked 10 years older than me. I had the same feeling at my 6th grader's band swim party, most of the parents looked like what adults looked like when I was kid. I felt awkward although I'll get there soon enough .

Anyway, back to the concert. Each band brought something to the stage and Marcy's Playground surprisingly did not suck...so there's that. Also, Art sounded like he might die on stage. I was put off with his emphasis on later releases (Songs from an American Movie or whatever) but whatever, I am sure he is bored of "Heartspark Dollar sign" (I was sad that wasn't played).  So, after years of not going to a concert, I will be going to three concerts in the last three months (Weezer/Pixies is at the end of next month). How about that? 

Free Comic Book Day came and went and and the kids and I have an annual tradition of going. It's so fun and it's our little holiday. First, donuts in the morning, followed by getting in line at our local shop (which allows one copy of as many of the comics as you like), followed by the used book store (that usually has at least one free comic), followed by Cane's and the pet store. I love it (and so does K, as it gives her a break and quiet house for the whole morning and a chunk of the afternoon).

It's hot in SA already. I hate the summer, it makes me want to curse for no good reason.  It's too damn hot this early. Oddly enough this spring had been extremely mild until now.

So, the kids and I will be in a local church production of The Wizard of Oz. Look, it's kinda a big deal (okay, I am kidding but kinda not  as they put on a good show). E was in Annie in the winter, and, I gotta say the production and talent was pretty impressive. I had been fooling around with the kids, doing a the Wizard's voice, which led to them pleading with me to audition for the Wizard. So, I relented and well...what can I say? I was pretty good and they cast me as the Wizard (and of course Professor Marvel). We start rehearsing next Saturday and performances start in late July.

I am so sick of Slime. Slime videos, making slime, the kids playing with slime, talking about slime, taking out the slime during dinner, sneaking slime back to their rooms, more YOUTUBE slime videos. SLIME SLIME SLIME. SLIME. I hate it. Also, SLIME.

Thinking of some art projects I can take on this summer but not sure if I want to concentrate on painting or writing. Also, there's our "Study Stateside" project to work on as well that has already eaten many hours of my life....so, we'll see. Well, and Oz will be eating my free time as well. So, maybe not so much.The tortured life of an artist at heart.

Hey, I gotta go, so stop reading about Trump and worrying and start acting. Also, don't forget to water the grass, it's hot out there.