My car died yesterday, of massive suckiness. Please take a moment to remember...

MOBY, the Great(?) White Car 1985-2002

Actually, the reports of her demise are greatly exaggerated. I think the alternator is shot on it, and it picked the nighttime- in 10-degree weather, no less- to finally give up the ghost. Luckily my parents are up here from Georgia, and Dad's offered to help me get her running again.

Auditions for Lees-Macrae went well. Speaking with Dr. Speer yesterday, I found out that I am being "Strongly considered" for the shows. They are The Rothschilds, some sort of Rogers & Hammerstein musical review, and The Sound of Music. I really hope I can land the Captain role. *crosses fingers*

I take great comfort in the fact that I am me. LOL

"Not the most formidable fighter of the group, but makes up for it with his intelligence. Braver than he gives himself credit for, Clint is a valuable asset to the team"

Take the Which
Starseed Saga Character Are You Quiz by CyberWarlock
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Things are going well on the job front. I had my training for Storie Street this week, and it went amazingly well. If the money is as good as I think it's gonna be, I may end up giving up Mike's in a couple of months. Unless I get a better job before then, in which case BOTH jobs go out the windie. :)

Meantime, I need to figure out what's going on with my car. I have to jump it off almost every time I go somewhere, and it's driving me nuts. It could be the belts, or the alternator, or a short circuit somewhere, but if I don't get it taken care of soon, I'm gonna lose my mind.

Currently listening to: an MP3 of Pearl Jam's cover of "Sonic Reducer".
Wearing: Black sweatshirt and jeans
Tchotchkie of the moment: my Snoopy Valentine plushie (dressed in a devil costume and holding choccies box)

I finally found another job. Starting Monday, I'll be working at Storie Street Grille in Blowing Rock. It's a day job, so I can still work at Mike's. However, the clientele is a bit more elite than Mike's, so I may make this my primary job if it works out.

However, both jobs may be moot if the ONE I'm hoping for comes through. The Avery County Arts Council has an opening for an executive director, and I am applying for it. No idea on the salary, or hours, but I am willing to go for it as a step to bigger and better things.

Kathy had a performance tonight (Saturday, that is; it's about midnight on Sunday morning as I write this), in a cabaret show called Pieces of She. It was a show composed of pieces written, directed and performed entirely by women (students and alumnae). It was a fundraiser for the local women's shelter, and the attendance was amazing. I had to get in line 1 1/2 hours before the show, and in 35-degree weather, no less. Kathy's mom was gonna come too, but she wimped out.

The acts themselves ranged from the wonderful to the... ermmm... ummm... let's just say it ranged. Kathy was great as Ms. Kitty, of course, but there were several other acts that kept my attention throughout.

After the show tonight, Kathy and I went to BeansTalk, a local coffeehouse, for a couple of lattes. When we got there,we noticed one of the glass doors was broken. When we talked to one of the clerks, we found out the reason why:

This past week there had been a fire at BeansTalk, and when the BFD (Boone Fire Department) came to put it out, they had to pull the door off its hinges (why, I don't know). Well, when they put the door back, they apparently didn't do a good enough job of reinstallation, and so the door came crashing down earlier tonight. *shakes head* Whaddaya gonna do?

On Friday, as I was looking around for a job, I stopped in the local comic book store to fill out an application. The app was the strangest one I've ever filled out, with questions ranging from "How many guns do you own?" to "If asked, would you wear a suit to work?" (my answers: "None" and "Astronaut or clown?") The final requirement on the application was a request to draw "something" on the back. I ended up drawing something that looked like a T. Rex with no body, all head and limbs. I don't expect to get it, but I made my brother Phil jealous when I told him about it.

My lesson for today: Never try to wash TWO cats in one day. It annoys the cats and gets you wet. Oh well, at least they don't have "litter head" smell anymore. LOL

The job search continues apace. I've put in resumes and applications all over Boone and Blowing Rock, and although many places say that they're not hiring because it's the "slow season", some places have shown some interest. For example, the Chetola resort is considering me for a front-of-house manager at their restaurant and bar. The pay starts at $20K, with benefits and trimmings. :) Kathy has also found a few places that have shown interest in her statistics skills.

Valentine's Day was nice, considering I finally had someone to celebrate with. I made Kathy dinner and gave her a Hello Kitty plushie and some bubble bath. I wish I could have given her more, but money is tight right now, as I've alluded to before.

I really wish I could relocate my site somewhere else. I hate popups and not being able to post photos on the blog. Help!!!

I'm trying to find a new job, 'cause the old one ain't cuttin' it, wage-wise. Kathy and I have had a couple of tense arguements about it in the past week, and I am not happy about the situation. She's extremely stressed about money and school, and is trying to find a job as a statistician for when she finishes in May.

Any suggestions, advice or help from the general populance would be greatly appreciated.

Just woke up from a dream a while ago. Lemme see if I can piece it together.

I dreamt that Kathy and I moved into some kind of a communal house (kind of like a house that several of my friends once lived in). Once there, we got to meet some of the residents, and learned that it was a working porn studio, where films and photos were made of the wmen there, doing all kinds of things.

One of the women invited me to her room and began to talk to me. The next thing I knew, she was naked and asking me to take her picture in several different situations, none of which I will mention here. Just then, Kathy walked in and passed by the two of us on her way to dinner. I followed her, trying to plead my case.

I followed her outside, where she disappeared. Suddenly the scenery was much like the home where I grew up in the hills of NC (and the place where, until two months ago, I was living). I was in Quaker garb, and I had a scythe, and I was mowing down weeds with it. Suddenly I looked up, and at the bottom of the driveway an orange bus had pulled up (think "road construction sign" orange). A group of people had gotten off the bus and they were marching in my direction, singing along to prerecorded gospel songs as they walked. It was a cross-section of society, led by a smiling, conservatively-dressed man with gray-to-white hair.

The leader came up to me and asked me if I had taken Jesus into my heart. I just turned around and walked back up the hill to my house. My dad was inside, and he was eating dinner. He asked me what was wrong, and I told him. He said "this is something you'll have to handle yourself." I looked outside, and the orange bus was pulling up the driveway, and the people inside were singing their songs again.

I walked back to the door, and the simple little house had turned back into the porno mill, only the porno women had gone, and my dad was still sitting in the dining room eating dinner. I opened the door and a young African-American stood there smiling at me, surrounded by others of this cult, or whatever it was. He asked my if they could come in.

I said "No! Why are you people following me?"

Another African-American came into the doorway (the first had walked back into the crowd), and smiling widely at me, joked "Because we're just a bunch of n!&&@*s." People behind him laughed.

I just glared at him, and said "No, because you have no respect for your elders."

I then went on a tirade "Don't you realize that I don't give a damn about your color? I don't give a damn about your nation, or your God, or your faith, or anything else about you? I mean why the Hell did you turn this prison into a house? What's the matter with you people??!?"

I found the next to last question a bit odd, as I was directing it at an apparent cult. This is when I woke up. I don't know what it could possibly mean. If anyone has a clue (if anyone still reads this at all), please tell me. Thanks.

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. :)

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?

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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

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*