here we go again

Tonight is the last night before the new cast officially opens at Pickwick. It's a very promising show--the song selection is fun, and the cast is talented. Of course it'll be a little bit rough at first, but over the next few weeks, it should work itself out into a nice little show.

Tonight also happens to be the last night of every-day-of-the-week rehearsals. So starting next week I can use my evenings to do all those things I've wanted to do for the last 4-5 weeks, like buy groceries, do laundry, wash dishes, and relax a little. Sheesh. Maybe I'll even throw in a little recording for fun.

recording

So recently, I've been spending so much time rehearsing I haven't been able to do much in the way of writing new songs. This is really too bad, because if I could get some more stuff written and finish the songs I've started, I might be able to actually record something with my new mixer and mic. (Also, if you're in the market for anything music industry-related, check out Musician's Friend--they're having a big sale these days, I just got a couple things 75% off!)

I find that most of the songs I write tend to be sappy love songs and they don't really go anywhere or say anything new or exciting. But then I hear some of the songs that have been hits on the radio and realize that sometimes, in fact, probably a majority of the time, the lyrics of the song aren't what people notice and grab onto most. Maybe I just need to lighten up and go with it. :o)

it's not easy being green

So I decided it would be ecologically, financially, and athletically prudent to try riding my bike to work for the summer. Chantelle tells me I'm crazy (I quote, "p.s. you're crazy") and Mom, of course, is worried for my safety, riding on the road with all the big, scary, fast-moving cars.

Well, today is Day 1 for the bike riding experiment. I start out along Euclid, forgetting there is heavy construction from E. 9th all the way to about E. 30th or so. Well, after getting stuck at about 5 red lights in a row on a one-lane-in-each-direction road, I decide I'll cut over to Prospect by making a right turn at E. 18th. Better yet, why don't I just hop onto the sidewalk so I don't have to wait for the light to turn green? It'll be so much fas.....$#*&!

As it turns out, the "hop" onto the sidewalk wasn't as smooth as I had initially thought. I took a little tumble, and have about 6 layers of skin removed from my elbow and the heel of my hand to show for it. Serves me right, though. I tried to cheat the system and got all banged up. Maybe someday I'll learn to play by the rules.

birthday bash

So I did in fact end up making French Onion soup yesterday. I never liked it before. I think I might now. Except for the soggy bread thing. Maybe if I toast it more next time...

This Saturday will be my 25th birthday. This means that several things will be true. First, I'll be able to rent a car at a reasonable price. Now, I understand the reasoning behind this, and true, I've never really had to rent a car, but man, I bet it would have been annoying before if I really did need a rental vehicle. Second, I'll be a "quarter of a century man"--that goes all the way back to Spring 2000 with the Footlighters...I like the way you thinch, Fink! Third, I'll be 5 years older than Chantelle, on paper, anyway--really it's about 4-1/4, but who's counting...it certainly hasn't bothered me at all so far. ;o) Fourth, my car insurance premium will likely go down, which is fine by me. Maybe I'll even be able to afford renter's insurance (which I'm supposed to have anyway...don't tell the leasing company). Fifth, I'll be as old as my dad was when he married my mom. Sheesh. I can't even imagine. Well, that's not entirely true, but let's not put the horse gun before the cart jumper. If you know what I mean.

Let's get to the point. I'm OLD. This is supposed to make me SAD. So, in honor of my coming-of-old-age this Saturday night, I invite you to Pickwick to see one or more of my shows, and then to come over afterwards to my place for a "night cap" as John always says. It'll be a good time!

what to do with all these onions?

So I volunteered to be the "onion guy" for the Biochemistry Department picnic yesterday. Which was oh-so-nice of me because I cut them all the night before. Eight pounds of onions. That's a LOT for a guy who doesn't wear contacts... :o)

Of course, when all was said and done, and I had my fill of burger, hot dog, beer and a pickup soccer game, about half of the original onion stash remained. Thus arose the title of this post.

In the meantime, Axel crashed at my place last night on his way from WI to CT for the summer job. We drank a lot and he left this morning, but not before generously leaving my freezer with a frozen venison steak he brought from home. This all appears pretty random, you might be thinking. It is. But, it will all come together in the end, I promise.


So I thought about cooking the venison today for dinner, but realized I have no idea how to prepare it, besides what Axel told me last night, which remains a little foggy. So I took to my recipe book shelf, and finally ended up just leafing through Mr. Food Cooks Like Mama! and finding a recipe for ONION RINGS! I promptly abandoned the venison idea, as I'll probably be eating the buffet tonight at Pickwick between shows, and set about battering some of these delicious Vidalias.


It's a very easy batter recipe, and in just 2-3 minutes per side in the oil, these former tear jerkers brought tears to my eyes yet again! Good times. I'm thinking about trying French Onion Soup next...

ah, ah, ah, ah, stayin' alive!

Rehearsals are going well for Cabaret Rock, and the best part is I have tonight off! Of course I didn't come to work until 11 (despite my grand plan of being here by 8:30 and being able to leave at a reasonable time with all the work I have to do today), so I'll probably be here until at least 9pm. So it goes.

Chantelle (the girlfriend! in case you didn't know...) started a blog, which is fun to read. All about life in Australia so far. She's only been there 7 days, but it seems like a long time already. We've been getting to talk pretty consistently, both AIM and either on a real phone or by Skype (which is sweet, by the way). She has lots of pictures, too. Eventually I think she might put them on my site, but we're still getting that worked out. I'll keep you posted.

I finally watched the last episode of Season Two of LOST last night with Matt (from work). Holy crap. I love this freakin' show. Like Dennis (also from work) says, it's quite the "water-cooler show" because we talk about it all the time in the lab.

Maybe if I can get done with work quickly enough, I can get to the gym before it closes. Probably not. In that case, I'll just have to go have a beer and watch the Delusional Divas at Hamilton's Ultra Lounge Nightclub (yes, that's really what it's called) next to the Allen Theater downtown. Lisa and Eileen (of Pickwick fame) put on a good show.

That's it for today. Perhaps Telly's posts will inspire me to write more about my boring life. Probably not, though. :o)