A Project for My Niece ...

Hi everybody! Flat Stanley here. I went on the most excellent adventure with Amber’s Aunt Deb. She is going to college in Whitewater and she took me to a dance concert. It was really neat. There were lots of dancers. The concert was almost two hours long and we saw eight different dance pieces. When we got home, Aunt Deb had to write a paper for class on the costumes and lighting. Below you can see me with a group of dancers who were dressed in clothes from the 1980’s. This was our favorite because they banged on the garbage cans and stomped their feet a lot. It was a blast!

It looks like Spring is right around the corner!

Today has been a great day weather-wise! When I left CA (Center for the Arts), the sun was shining and it was plenty warm -- 50 degrees! Woo-Hoo! I came home and opened the windows -- fresh air is great! It supposed to rain later this evening and tomorrow, but who cares -- it's getting warmer!

The other day I noticed that a Northwoods DJ has made the move to Milwaukee area. About a month ago, I started listening to a new radio station that was just getting started - 102.9 The Hog - out of Milwaukee... just good classic rock - 70's, 80's and 90's. It reminded me a lot of "Rock Like a Pig" Thursdays on Z104 out of Merrill. Well, lo and behold, earlier this week I heard Nick Summers, the DJ for Rock Like a Pig, on the air in Milwaukee. It was nice to hear a familiar voice.

This week I've been working in lighting again. The next show is a 'dance concert' - which means lots of overhead lights... Today there was a lot of standing around because of some troubleshooting needed to happen ... it's tough to monitor what 10 people are doing when hanging and plugging in lights. Of course, some things were plugged or marked in the wrong circuits. Oh well, it's part of the learning process.

Sunday Night Update

Not much really happened this week... I saw the college production of "Pirates of Penzance" on Thursday night. It was a big hit, selling out each of the four performances - good money maker. Tomorrow it will be the topic of discussion in one of my classes and could write a review for extra credit -- 'could' is the operative word. I'm thinking I'm doing well enough in class to skip it. :^D This week and next I have to work 10 hours in lighting. We will be hanging and focusing lights for a dance recital that happens in a couple of weeks.

I'm excited that this week I have five days off from the bowling alley ... in a row! Now to make good use of the time...

Is Spring here yet?

Blah! I want warm weather and SUN!!

Not much new has been happening... just finished up a round of exams in three of my classes - 98%, 98.83% and unknown. Hopefully, I'll find out the results of the last one on Friday. My life has been revolving around classes and work -- I guess it's paying off. I'm hoping I'm able to relax and have some fun over Spring Break ... keep your fingers crossed that I don't have to work too much.

Testing

For some reason the ability to leave comments has disappeared.... just a test post to see if it's back.

This one makes me laugh....

A monkey is sitting in a tree smoking a joint, when a lizard walks past, looks up, and says to the monkey "Hey, what're you doing?" The monkey replies, "Smokin' a joint, come up and have some." So the lizard climbs up the tree, sits next to the monkey, and they smoke a few joints. After a while the lizard says his mouth is 'dry' and he's going to the river to get a drink. The lizard climbs down the tree and staggers over to the river to get a drink of water, but he is so stoned, he leans over too far and falls into the river. A crocodile sees this, swims over to the lizard and helps him to the side. Then he asks the lizard, "What's the matter with you?" The lizard explains to the crocodile that he was sitting up in a tree with a monkey smoking pot, got too stoned and then fell into the river while taking a drink. The crocodile says he has to check this out, and wanders off into the jungle. He finds the tree where the monkey is sitting finishing up a joint. The crocodile yells up to the monkey and says "Hey!" The monkey looks down and says, "Dude! How much water did you drink?!" LOL

(p.s. I have to Bob S. credit for this joke as I originally heard it from him first. This evening though it came back to me via the Sammy Hagar Mailing List- otherwise, I wouldn't have remembered the details.)

Update....

1. Zicam works. At least I think it does. I had only two really crappy cold days, and then started feeling pretty good. Hint: Don't get the rapidmelts .... After one day of using them, I went back to Wal-Mart and bought the nasal gel ..... 1000% better!!!

2. The acne treatment was too strong for my face and after two weeks of use, my cheeks were literally burned. I guess bleaching my wash cloth was a bad sign. Now my cheeks have finally healed, and I've started to use a one-step acne treatment that seems to be working just fine.

3. And for all of those people who I asked what 'MDF' stood for in regards to construction ... medium denisty fibreboard. (Sandra ... can you please pass this info on to Mitch? Thanks - :^D )

Feeling like a guinea pig

Yesterday morning when I woke up I didn't feel right. Nothing hurt, just didn't have much energy. I contributed it to the weekend. But when I woke this morning, I could tell that I'm starting to get sick - got that "extra sensitive" nose, my eyes feel funky, and just a little something in my throat - not quite a tickle, but feeling like I have to clear my throat a lot. I'm fortunate to tell a couple of days out that I'm going to be sick. Nice, eh? Anyways, I decided I'd beef up the Vitamin C and trek to Wal-Mart to buy some ZICAM. I've been seeing the ads on TV but haven't known anyone that has used it. I decided to buy the 'rapidmelt' version instead of the nasal spray or the nasal swabs. YUK! Mistake. Cherry flavored- my butt! There is only a hint of cherry flavor and it reminds me of alum .... really puckers (drys out) the mouth. And you can't eat or drink anything for 15 minutes after! I've taken three doses so far today ... every three hours per instructions. Next time - nasal spray! That is if this stuff really works. I'll be the guinea pig and see if it "actually shortens the cold" as their advertising claims ... although who really knows how long a cold lasts????

Good Thing or Bad Thing???

So, tonight the bowling alley finally had their "holiday celebration." Before I left the apartment, I looked in my wallet, grabbed some $$$$, and decided I better bring an ID. HaHa I was the first to arrive at the bar, even though I left 10 minutes late. Anyways ... I ordered my drink and then ... finally everyone else arrived. As they ordered their drinks, they were carded, an exercise that I was able to "avoid." (We all know what a "hassle" it is to be carded.) Anyways, as the night progressed most everyone needed to call it an early night for some reason or another. I ended up traveling to other bars with a co-worker. It wasn't until our third stop farther on down the road that as I was finally carded. LOL I loved the response I heard, as I whooped and hollered, "Congratulations, you have to be the oldest person that I've ever carded." Is this a compliment????? I cajoled the bouncer and told him that since I was the oldest person that he's carded he definitely should buy me a drink. LOL Unfortunately, most of the younger "gentlemen" in this town are 'low in funds.' Oh well.... the night wasn't a total loss... I managed to show some skills on the billiards tables and tried to instruct one of the youngsters on the appropriate way to jump a ball.... what a waste of time.... Anyways.... time to call it a night!

Back to school tomorrow...

Classes for Spring Semester:

• Organizational Behavior - Some management class -- could be interesting
• Contemporary Drama - Theatre 1950 to Present - Yeah!
• Intro to Technical Theatre - Lighting, Costumes, Sound, and Set Design (includes 40 hrs in the shops)
• Non-Profit Arts Management
• Production Practicum - Publicity Assistant (120 hrs - Focus: Children's Theatre Tour for Fall of 2006 & Ticket Services Employee Manual)

I'm actually looking forward to getting back to "normal." Deadlines and stress seem to be such a part of my life that I become real lazy if they are absent. I didn't get many of my projects crossed off my list over semester break, but they will still be there when I have some spare time during the next months. I did manage to finally read Harry Potter #4 - all 700+ pages - and watch a few movies.

Riddle me this....

These two things should not be used by a person at the same time in their life....

reading glasses AND acne medication

I can I understand the reading glasses since I'm getting older, but I've never in my life have ever had acne! The occasional zit, but never acne! WTH... I've been patiently waiting for the outbreak to go away by itself, but after two months now, I'm convinced that it needs some help. I'm not a stranger to the face care section of Wal-Mart, pondering which eye cream will help those beginning crows feet, but there I was yesterday, trying to figure out what miraculous treatment will fix the bumps on my chin. Luckily, I had a flashback to a conversation I had with my niece this past summer and remembered what she told me she bought and actually worked. There must be some wicked stuff in this acne treatment since it's bleaching my washcloth! LOL I guess time will tell...

Nine days left of break....

Time is flying by.....

I just got home from house managing at the box theatre at the college. The show was completely student driven: written by a student, directed by a student, lights, sets, costumes, everything was dome by students. They have been invited to compete at the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival this coming weekend. Two shows are being held to raise money for the trip. Luckily our region - Region III - is in northern Illinois so it's not terribly far. I've decided there is one drawback to the House Manager job... not being able to see the show. :^( Since I'm working the show again tomorrow I won't be able to see it. The audience comments were good, so I'm hoping they do well on Saturday.

YIPPEE!!!!

Five days off from the bowling alley and, boy, do I need it! I was driving myself crazy – CRABBY! I couldn’t even stand myself. LOL I’m feeling much better now that I’m home.

Semester Grades are Posted....

5 A’s - Yeah!

End of the Fall Semester!

I finished my last "exam" yesterday. It was for make-up class - the assignment was to "show your stuff." Several of the students did some really cool abstract or fantasy make-up. For me, I stuck with what I know ... older. LOL I did make up for a 45-55 year old female aristocrat. It was successful, so what the heck. Grades for all my classes will officially be posted by next Friday. I'm expecting A's in 4 of 5 classes - I'm just not quite sure about one of them. The waiting game ...

Today I'm off to do lots of last minute Christmas shopping! I'm hoping that most people are at work this afternoon and it won't be terribly crazy. HA Wish me luck ...

Gotta Love Calvin and His Snowmen...

hee hee hee ... (click on comic strip to get a better view)

The Countdown....

Half-way through finals…. Whew! I had two group project presentations today so I can check those off my list. Two final exams – Friday and Monday, and then Final Make-up on Tuesday and I’m done!

We are finally getting some snow here. I guess it’s our second or third snow fall – as of yesterday there was only about five inches. When I woke up this morning and turned on the news, I saw that many schools were closed in the area, from Madison to Milwaukee. When I looked outside, I expected to see 10-12 inches of the white stuff, but there was only about 4-5 inches. I chuckled to myself. If Rhinelander closed every time there was 4-5 inches of snow, the school year wouldn’t end until the 4th of July. LOL

And here she is....

Thanks to technology and Jay & Christine's friend, Shelly, Auntie Deb has a picture within 24 hours.... one advantage to the cell phone/camera/internet option!

It's a Girl!

Welcome Clarissa Betty Wilberding!

December 3rd, 2005 - 2:28pm

5lbs., 6.5 oz

19 inches

Parents: Jay and Christine

Brothers: Connar and Matthew

Cool Aunt: ME!

Let It Snow!

It’s snowing here… and it’s really added to the Holiday feeling. That and I just got home from working at the Holiday Gala at the college. It’s the annual fundraising event for music scholarships. Between the silent auction, donations, and the actual proceeds from tickets, it seems we exceeded last year’s total by $1,500. Yippee! One thing I’m learning is that so much of my future career can, and probably will, depend on fundraising and grant writing. Blah! The good news is that there are some theatres that are non-profit AND do not depend on these efforts – but I have a feeling they are in the minority. It's a good thing for me to keep in mind when I’m pounding the pavement in a few years.

Tomorrow’s agenda includes: reading A Streetcar Named Desire, designing and practicing makeup for an 80 year old woman, rewriting a ticket services training manual, practicing my French lines, developing marketing strategies for my “pretend” presenting season, doing housework featuring laundry and dishes, watching the Packers, and then, finishing up with hanging Christmas decorations. Hmmm…. I think it’s going to be a full day… Oh, yeh, I really should do a winter/summer clothing exchange … capris are not doing me any good now! LOL