November 2008 Archives

It's winter time in Chicago

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Well, we are back home in Chicago and today is Chicago's first real snow. We have had some small falls but today its supposed to snow all day... This morning I took Meili for a long walk and by the end of it she was certainly done with being outside (poor kid)

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Not long ago we went to Lego Land and had a blast! Amanda and I think $18 is a little bit steep for a ticket to see a bunch of Lego built exhibits other than that it was pretty cool.

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Thanksgiving Ohio style

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Hello from Oak Harbor Ohio! Amanda and I got in at 3am last night. Nothing like a five hour drive to make us cranky (or at least me) Meili was in rare form at the end of the night and I was two steps away from letting her walk the rest of the way to Amanda's parents.

This morning we got up and made our way to Amanda's grandmothers house where we ate until we were ready to burst and then had pie. YAY!!!

tgiving.jpgHere is the aftermath (Along with Emily and her husband Mike wondering what the heck I am doing with my laptop cam) We head back to Chicago Friday night since we both have to work this weekend. Hope everyone has had a great holiday!

Happy Turkey Day!!!

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Hope everyone has safe travels these next several days. We're off to Ohio for my first family holiday in 5 years, and Alan's first Widmer-Radsick holiday everywhere. We're getting ready for food, food, more food, games, food, cards, and more food.

Found Heroes

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My goodness did I fall for this show HARD! I have been meaning to watch it for some time (since I know the two Asian stars in it) but I always felt I would not know what was happening since I had missed so much. Then when I flew to Fresno I watched the first two episodes on my iPod. No wonder everyone was hook on this! First it has more to do about the people and their lives than the powers, costumes etc. And second the actors are all very good. I dont feel that anything is over played (I do find it annoying that the people who are not attractive are the ones that get killed.) Kind of like when the Star Trek crew beams down to a planet and there is a guy you have never seen before is with them in a red jump suit you know he's dead. They should just call him Mr. Dead-ee-deaderson.

So I just finished season one (23 episodes) in a week and am going to kill season two (11 episodes thanks to the writers strike) so I can catch up to the current season. YAY ADDICTION!

In other news it is the coldest day so far to day with a high of 31 degrees and a wind chill of 11 degrees. In response our apartments have cranked up the heat so that our home is a brisk 95 degrees. At least the dog seems happy...

Amanda is working nights all this week (hence why I have been watching so much TV) and it seems like it will be a quite weekend. Next week we drive to Ohio for the holiday. We will be leaving late Wednesday and back on Friday sometime. Hope everyone has a great Turkey Day!

Ode to sushi

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Alan and I went to our All-You-Can-Eat Sushi Sunday restaurant last night on Ashland. After we each had miso, I had seaweed salad, and Alan had edamame...we split 11 rolls. It's been a long time since I've been so full and yet so happy. I also discovered recently that some raw fish doesn't bother me as long as it is mixed in a roll. We ate twice as much food and spent 1/2 of what we paid at the last sushi place we went to. Best dinner ever.

I have a show tonight!

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I have my first show in the Skybox since playing with Twisty back in January. This time my new friends Harz and Mike invited me to guest with their longform improv show called 4 for Chicago. Here is the info -

Friday, November 14th
Midnight

Tickets are $10; $8 for students; $5 TC students

4 for Chicago Improv presents an evening of uniquely styled improv. Special guests each week...come on down and join us for late night fun in the Skybox!

Link >>


For some reason all my shows seem to be at midnight. I guess you have to start somewhere right?



Fresno trip part 2

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I wanted to express how awesome I thought The Producers really was, most likely one of the best shows I have ever seen in my almost 18 years of performing and watching shows at Good Company Players. The combination of Darren and Peter was perfect and my good friend John as Franz was the cherry on the cake. Almost as long as I have known John he has been quoting this show and specifically this part that he played, so seeing him nail it was great. When we saw it in London it was a good show and fun but seeing people you know get on stage and rock the house feels even better. Peter and Darren have become quite the comic pair and Darren is one of the best make vocalist I have ever seen. Not to forget memorable performances from Steve Suza and Scott Hancock. This show should have an extended run.The next show I saw wasThe Rocky Horror Picture Show at Artist Repertory Theater. Again I was really blown away. I'm personally not a big fan of the space they have its more like a barn than a theater but since my pal Jeff White has come on board the place has become more like a theater (I hope they get how luck they are in this respect.) As for the show I have honestly only seen parts of the movie and never seen it live. So when they were selling the "Show Kits" with noise makers and popcorn to throw I was like "Here we go.. I can already tell I am going to be annoyed." Well once the full rock band took the stage that feeling went away. You put a live rock band in a musical and I am sold. This one had Nate Butler on base being every bit of the rockstar.The show was great,rock2.jpg I was warned that Eric Day was channeling me for his part as Rif Raff and I have to say... He looked like his version of me.. It was pretty awsome. Jeff played Brad and was the oppisit of his normal cool self as an awkward and stiff looser. The show reall hinges on the guy who plays Dr. Frank N. Furter and they got a real winner in the lead. I dont know his name but he was really good. (good enough that I took a picture with him)
rocky1.jpgAll in all show wise it was a winning weekend. Visiting my Mom was great and she was still in a state of shock that I was there up until I left. But thats what sons are for... Keeping moms on thier toes. Also seeing people I only see on MySpace or Facebook was nice. Chris Swindle came into town and Amy came out for drinks. Not to forget a great meal at Mr. Sushi with Will and Carrie. A great weekend was had by all. I wish Amanda could have come with me also, the crew missed her and Bryan and Sarah a lot. Maybe next year.. Now we speed toward the holidays and Amanda and I will be in Ohio for both T-Day and Xmas so some possible driving in the snow is predicted.. Yay! Oh well, part of living in the midwest right? Also this weekend I have my first show since moving here in Donny's Skybox at Second City with a group called "4 for Chicago" its a midnight show on Friday (I guess thats not an un-common thing out here! Good luck getting people to show up for one in LA) So if your around come up and see me do some improv. Oh, one last picture for Amanda.
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My trip to Fresno!

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My fiance is AWESOME! (As if there was any doubt.) In September I was feeling pretty homesick and was sad becuase I was going to miss John Masier in "The Producers".. So Amanda found some cheap tickets for me to come out!

Well, being the devious little Badger that I am I wanted to surprise my Mom and John.

I called both of them from the Obama Rally (One becuase it was cool and two to establish that I was in Chicago and not going to be able to see shows etc.) then got up the next morning at 4am and jumped a plane to Fresno. my first stop was my mom's place. Of course my plan to call her and tell her I was walking the dog in Chicago then knock on her door fell apart as soon as I got there! She was not at home and her cell phone was off, so I decided to head over to Pep Boys and get a new key cut (Jeff loaned me a car but the key is jacked up) when I got to Pep Boys what do I see but my mom's car in one of the bays! So I walk in and sure enough there she is at the counter. I walk up right behind her and say "So.. Whats wrond with the Ford?" she just jumped out of her skin! YAY!

So then I crashed hard (I had only about 2 house of sleep after all) and after 11 hours of sleep I worked from my moms place and then went to see John's show. I made a card that had my tattoo in the middle and said

"I flew 2146 miles just to see your show. So try and keep the SUCK-AGE to a minimum OK? Thanks!"

I'm an ass... The show was AWESOME! John plays the Nazi "Franz" and just nails it. Pete and Darren as Balystock and Bloom where a perfect team and Suza as the director was a great treat!

Tonight I am going to see Rocky Horror. Jeff and Eric are both in it and then drinks! If you are in Fresno then come out I imagine we will be at Stones...


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