Monday, January 28, 2002

Well, people, Kathy had her recital Friday night, and I have to say she did very well. She did blank once during a song, but she stopped, and came back into the song like a professional. She looked absolutely stunning!

I think that both of us are glad that it's over, though. She and I were both going crazy over the recital and the reception that followed. We decided to cater the thing ourselves and to prepare most of the items on our own. She lost her temper a few times at me, and I'm ashamed to say that I took it kinda personally. However, we talked afterwards, and it's all cool between us.

I got to meet Kathy's father and stepmom this weekend, as did my parents. We all had breakfast at Mountain House Saturday morning, and a good time was had by all. Her parents told me that when we get married, we could honeymoon either at their condo in Florida, or at their place in Lake Tahoe. Of course, we have a while to think about that.

I thought I was on my way to a new job last week, but I was mistaken. A publishing company I had applied to a couple of weeks ago asked me to come in and take a proofreading test. I went in and found out that 80 people were applying for this one position. I did well enough on the test, but Saturday I got a letter saying that they decided to pass on my application.

Kathy is looking for post-grad employment of her own right now. She's found some statistician positions in Winston-Salem and the Research Triangle, with pay ranging from $50-70K. I may end up being a househusband at this rate. :)

Tuesday, January 22, 2002

T-minus four days, and I feel as if I'm going crazy by proxy. Kthy is freaking out over EVRYTHING, from money, to her complexion to schoolwork to the house to weight to cats to... and oh yes, this little thing going on Friday called a RECITAL! Good God almighty, if it weren't for the fact that I love her so much...

We spent a major part of the day getting things together for her recital, as well as getting her car to and from the shop. Turns out that the flat tire she got Sunday was easy (and free) to fix, but her brake job turned into a job.

Set of new brakes... $300
New CV joint... $150
Tire repair... $0

Sleeping in late Saturday with no recital to worry about... PRICELESS (I hope) :)

I have a headache. Talk amongst yourselves...

Yes, ellipses ARE my friend, why do you ask?

Sunday, January 20, 2002

Five days 'til Kathy's recital, and she's as nervous as a kitten. Tonight we went out and bought food for her post-recital reception. $100 worth now sits in our kitchen and we can't touch it until Thursday night. AND we still have a couple of trays and other accoutriments to buy up.

I am definitely of the opinion now that I should get another bookshelf in the next day or so. It's just too, too crowded in here.

Nothing else to report here. Work blablabla, car blablabla, etc., etc., etc. More "exciting" stuff tomorrow.

Thursday, January 17, 2002

Some lyrics. Just because...

My Sacrifice
by Creed

Hello my friend
We meet again
It's been a while
Where should we begin

Feels like forever
Within my heart are memories
A perfect love that you gave to me
Oh I remember

CHORUS:
When you are with me
I'm free
I'm careless
I believe
Above all the others
We'll fly
This brings tears
To my eyes
My sacrifice

We've seen our share of ups and downs
Oh, how quickly life can turn around
In an instant
It feels so good to reunite
Within your self
And within your mind
Let's find peace there

CHORUS

I just want to say hello
Again
I just want to say hello
Again

CHORUS x2

My sacrifice

I just want to say hello
Again
I just want to say hello
Again

My sacrifice

Wednesday, January 16, 2002

The person I was alluding to in my last post (she of the rebuilding bridges in the last paragraph) is Andrea. I've known her for almost 8 years now, and in that time the two of us have had a very intense friendship, to say the least. I'm in the process of writing a letter to her to tell her what's been going on in the 18 months since we last parted company. I don't know if we'll become friends again after that, but I'm a "live and let live" kind of person. You have to work HARD to make me angry at you, and even harder to make me completely break off a friendship with you.

I went to Charter Cable to do my first voiceover today. I'd say it went well; it took only 15 minutes to tape my voice for the spot (for a tire shop, BTW). The guy there told me I could have a future in voiceover work, with a little practice. Who knows? This could be the start of something big. :)

Later on today, I made seafood gumbo for tonight's church pot-luck dinner. Everyone seemed to enjoy it, except the vegetarians. I got to meet a few more of the local Unitarians, and I'm feeling more at home with them. I still consider myself a Baptist, but I'm standing by my honey's choice in churches.

In the past 15 days I have lost 8 pounds on my weight loss goal. I'm currently 218, and I plan to keep going until I'm at least 180. Kathy says she'll miss having the belly to cuddle up to (to keep her warm), but that's a sacrifice we'll have to make. LOL

Tuesday, January 15, 2002

An interesting past few days. First of all, our latest feline acquisition, Lovecat, has been stricken with diarhhea. We're thinking we might have to take her back to the Humane Society if it doesn't clear up soon. Pity, because she's probably the sweetest natured of the three cats.

Last night Kathy and I went to ASU to participate in App Chorale. She's taking the class, and I went as an interested community member. We'll be doing the second and third acts of Handel's Messiah. Of course, the first passage we rehearsed as a group was the "Hallelujah" chorus. It was nice to be in a mass choral setting, as well as having something to do at night besides sling fish and watch TV.

While I was there, I saw a notice for auditions for Oklahoma! on Feb. 2. I'm thinking of auditioning, even though it's "only" community theatre. Of course, it all depends on whether or not I get a day job between now and then.

On a more positive note, I will be going to Charter Cable (the local cable TV pusher in this area) tomorrow, and I will be reading a script for a voiceover. I went last week to talk with the head of production there about a possible editing job, and he said he would keep me in mind for V/O and commercial work. The V/O pays $25 an hour with a one hour minimum. Hopefully this will lead to something more in line with my degree.

Unpacking continues, slowly but surely. I made a big dent in my pile of boxes over the weekend, but I still have a buttload of clothes to bring over somtime soon. The thing is, I still need another bookshelf and my chest of drawers to get it all stored safely.

Finally, I rebuilt a bridge that I had burned a while back last week. Well, actually, I waved at the person on the other side. There is still a way to go before I can become friends with her again, but through the tears of tragedy, it was nice that we were able to at least do SOME bonding over our shared loss. More later.

Friday, January 11, 2002

Yesterday I went to pick up my check from Mike's and see if I could come in to work that night. I had taken the night off just in case I did go to SC. When I got there, though, I received a nasty surprise.

My friend and former co-worker Matt Jenkins died of a heart attack Wednesday night. He was 35. I had worked with Matt for almost a year at the Banner Elk Mike's. It was nice to have a guy my age to talk to, especially with all the younger waitresses buzzing around and gossiping. We could be talking seriously about important world issues one minute, and the next Matt would be hitting on one of the waitresses.

After he left the restaurant, I didn't see him that often, and I lost touch with him. Last month I learned that he had moved in with the head waiter at Mike's, and that he was actually gay. I can't say that I was especially surprised by this. Just last week, Alecia (my hairdresser, Mike's co-worker, and friend of both of us) told me that Matt was coming back to work at Banner Elk. Needless to say, the news of his death hit me a little hard.

Now I've lost two friends in a week's time. I need to go and think for a while.

Wednesday, January 9, 2002

I found out tonight that Kyle Rogers was killed in an auto crash last night (Monday night). He wasn't even 30. I knew Kyle for about 6 years, but hadn't talked to him in over a year.

I first met him when he was dating Crystal. He was kind of wild then, and I wasn't all that crazy about him, truth be told. But as I got to know him, he grew on me, and I considered him my friend. After he and Crystal broke up, I saw him join the theatre department at USCA, and I saw him do some great things as a technician. I wish he had stayed in school and gotten his degree.

We hung out together, drank some beers, played some cards, watched wrestling together. Maybe it wasn't a deep, meaningful friendship, but ultimately he was a fun guy to hang out with. Now he's gone, and I feel like a little more of my youth is gone by the wayside. Kyle, wherever you are, I hope that you've found yourself in a place of great peace and happiness. I'll miss you.

I know that these aren't exactly stirring words of inspiration, but with everything that's going on in my life, the words just aren't flowing like they maybe should. Maybe I'll be a bit more florid tomorrow. For now...

"Good night, sweet prince,
And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest"


Kyle Rogers 1972-2002

Saturday, January 5, 2002

Hey everybody! Been a long time gone, I know, but I finally made it back online. I got my computer moved into the new place yesterday, and I also have a webcam to go with it now. If only I could include it on my Yahoo Profile now. *sigh*

The short version of what's happened since I was gone:

*Possum declawed, doing fine

*Christmas in GA, went over well; SW Ep. 1, Shrek DVDs, webcam, other stuff for me

*ring for Kathy, proposed before my family, everyone wept, on video

*finallly moved in (almost, a few clothes left at the old place)

*business declined a bit, but Mike's still going strong

*looking for new job, nevertheless

*now have THREE cats and a dog to contend with

That's all for now. Hop to chat with you guys soon. Look for me online (you know where *wink*) See ya!

*passes out Tootsie Rolls and Bubble Yum to everybody*