Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Good Work

Posted in by Laughing Soul | Edit
Hi everyone.
I apologize for not posting every night. This week, has been a little hectic. I have had long rehearsals from Monday through tonight. I get out of work at 5 and then I have to drive up to Maryland by 730, which means I don't get time to eat or relax before I have to head out, and by the time I am done I get home around midnight. Its a little rough because I don't have much to talk about because I am so tired and I need to get some sleep. Luckily I got out a little early tonight.

Tonight I just wanted to pose a question.

What is your passion?

Mine is Theater. Acting and putting on plays and performing. I love collaborating with fellow actors and directors, and creating something so profound that it will move people, change the way they think, or make them laugh and forget their troubles. It is an incredible feeling. I have been addicted to performing since I was in 7th grade.

Whats your passion? I am dying to know what drives all of you.

Slainte
Monday, April 20, 2009
Hi Everyone!
I just wanted to post this up real fast so you can share it with everyone you know.

A while back I was involved in an Independant horror film called Ninjas Vs. Zombies. It is getting to the point when we are premiering the DVD’s and we have come up with a new trailer for the film. Here it is, (Caution May not be suitible for all ages)



Would everyone please take a look at it, tell me what you think, and if you think its cool, please post it up on your blogs? Here is a link to the website. It would mean the world to me if you could help me out on this, the more people that see this, the better it could be for us, and I would be eternally grateful for all of your support. It is a really fun movie and I hope you all like it. Please repost it!

Slainte
Sunday, April 19, 2009

My imaginary encounter!

Posted in by Laughing Soul | Edit

Hello everyone!

Again I apologize for not posting last night. This week has made me incredibly forgetful and exhausted. Last night we recorded the podcast and it was such a great episode. I didn’t get home until 12:30 and I was planning on riding my bike into work this morning so I needed to get to sleep at a decent time. So posting was not my huge concern. I did get to ride my bike into work this morning so that is always a good thing.

So when I woke up this morning I had an email from The Lady telling me about this writing prompt. She said it was right up my ally. So I figured Id give it a shot.

Prompt: What was your favorite cartoon character as a child? Imagine you were able to meet your favorite cartoon character. How would you meet? Write a brief or extended dialogue between the two of you…Well here it goes.

My favorite Cartoon character as a child has always and will continue to be Daffy Duck. I love all of the Looney Tunes but by far Daffy has always been my favorite. I never actually owned any stuffed animals or any collectables when I was a kid. Just wasn’t a thing I did. The only things I have right now are all of the collectors edition DVD’s of all the Looney Tunes Shorts and a massive set of Glasses with the Characters on them.

Scene: Interior, My house.

I wake up in the late afternoon on a beautiful sunny Saturday to the sound of the doorbell ringing. At first I tried to ignore it and go back to sleep but after the first ignored rings, the bell started into a symphony of the song Marry Go Round Broken Down. Finally I start to head out of bed to see who the menace is as the ringer only rings faster.

Laughing Soul

Cut it out already! Seriously! I’m on my way!

Getting out of bed and racing towards the door in my dark blue bathrobe, placing my hand on the door and swinging it open hard enough to knock it off its hinges.

Laughing Soul

Can I help you?

Daffy

Good Afternoon sir!

To my surprise, there was a 3 foot black duck standing at my front door holding a briefcase with the word ACME stamped on the side and a smart brown fedora on top of his duckie head.



Daffy

Daffy’s the name and retail’s my game. I was wondering if you would be interested in taking a look at these fine ACME products for your home. If its ACME, it’s a gasser! Put it there pal.

His arm outstretched, I reluctantly reached out to meet his feathery hand and before I knew it the duck Jumped up into my arms and gave me a big smooth on the lips. I was frozen solid as he hopped out of my harms and walked straight into my house and started to have a look around. I unfreeze and turn myself around.

Laughing Soul

Excuse me! Who do you think you are? You can’t just walk into peoples houses and look around. I would really appreciate it if…

Daffy

I see sir that it looks like your kitchen could use some updating. Your dishwasher looks old. Look at these dishes, dirty and disgusting. (tut tut tut) What you need is the ACME handy dandy Dishwashermabob.

He sets down his little briefcase and opens it up and starts to root around the case. He starts to pull things out at random while crashing and clanking sounds emit from the case.

A Rubber Chicken, Anvil, Small Rocket, a pretty blue dress at which he looks up and me immediately puts on a sheepishly innocent grin and hides it behind his back.

Daffy

AH HA! Here it is!

He pulls out a large machine way to big for the case he’s carrying it in, and sets in out on the floor. It’s red and bulky and looks nothing like a machine that could do anything. He starts to grab plates and glasses and show me how the machine works.

Daffy

Here it is my good man. The Dishwashermabob. You place your dishes in here on this side, press this button here and Flippity floppity floop. They come out the other end. TA-DA!

The machine groans and moans and jumps and shivers and no dishes come out the other side. Daffy hits the machine over and over again with his hand. The machine starts smoking and shaking and then it explodes, covering my kitchen and face with black soot.

I run up to Daffy and grab him by the scruff of his neck and bring him eye to eye.

Laughing Soul

You’re some kind of wise guy eh? Ill make you pay for that.

Daffy

Look over there, its Angelina Jolie!

Of course I look and he honks my nose and pulls my robe up over my head and then hops away whooping and hollering bouncing off the walls. He jumps out the door as I watch and jumps all over the neighborhood.

End

That would be the best thing ever. As much as I would have loved to have a deep heartfelt conversation with Daffy, I think I would be disappointed if he didn’t fool me and tease me. In actuality if this ever happened I would probably laugh the whole time.

I hope you enjoyed my little story.

Slainte
Friday, April 17, 2009

Zen for the Day

Posted in by Laughing Soul | Edit
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You will not be punished for your anger;
You will be punished by your anger.

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Zen for the day

Posted in by Laughing Soul | Edit
++++++++++++++++++++++

Before enlightenment; chop wood, carry water.
After enlightenment; chop wood, carry water.

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Trying it again..

Posted in by Laughing Soul | Edit
Hello everyone.
I hope you have all had a wonderful day. Work was a little hectic today so I didnt get a chance to write up my zen for the day. I apologize.

Today I decided that I wanted to try and start running. With the Lady's success at her 10 mile race and how she kept up with it and how she keeps mentioning how much better she feels. I decided I was going to give it the ole college try.
A while ago I gave it a try with a running program called couch to 5k. It was a program that she was using for her first 5k. She did wonderful while I hurt my back half way through the second week I hurt my back and I could not do it anymore. Today I decided I was going to give it another shot, but this go around I plan to take my time and if I need to run at a different rate then I would do so and not move up in the program unless I was ready. Which I think is the best idea.

Now, I will never ever give up riding my bike. It is the best thrill in the world. But to tell you the truth, riding is hard to do when its cold and rainy outside. I dont have a problem if its raining and going for a bike ride. In fact being muddy is part of the best things about going out for a bike ride. but when your trecking down a hill at 15-20 miles an hour it starts to get cold. My idea for running is more of a fact that, I can come home, change and just go outside of my house and run around the neighborhood for 30 minutes. I'm trying to get to a point where I can run and just be more active and therefore in better shape. I will always be more of a rider than a runner. But running is really just another excuse to get out of the house and outside and to get into better shape. Eventually I will try to do a 5k. Just kind of a personal goal. Another personal goal is to try and find a race for MTB, but all of the ones I have tried to find are 100 miles and 50 of it is uphill. I dont get a chance to go out and ride that much. BUT... You never know.

Ill keep all of you up to date with my goings and how my running is going.

I hope everyone enjoys the rest of their evening and has a wonderful day tomorrow.

Slainte
Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Stages

Posted in by Laughing Soul | Edit
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Hello Everyone!
I am sorry that I didn't get a chance to post last night. By the time I got
home from rehearsal and doing my taxes it was 12:30am and the Internet was
out for some reason. So I figured I would just take some time and post what
I was going to post last night this morning.

So how was everyone's Easter? I hope it was a wonderful weekend? OR if you
don't celebrate Easter I hope you are enjoying your Passover, or if you
don't celebrate anything, I hope you had a wonderful weekend!

I had a wonderful weekend. The Lady and I went to Ohio to spend time with
her family and we got back on Sunday around 10 o'clock. I won my very first
Giveaway with is a lot of fun. I posted about it. I will put a link to my
post when I get the chance. But it was a wonderful trip.

Yesterday was a really busy day. When I walked into work, one of the
Attorney's came up and said we have around 300 sale cancellations we have to
go through. Which is great but it's a lot of work for us and its tedious and
time consuming. I am finally getting ready to start on them right now. But
after work I had to go to rehearsal. We were working through Act V last
night which is the very end of the play. I took this picture and thought Id
share it with you...

This is the play space! Neat huh? I've worked here before and it's a really
neat space.

For those of you who don't know about the different stages, there are a lot
to choose from.

You have the traditional most recognizable space called the proscenium. This
is the type of space you will see in really any theater where the audience
faces a stage and there is a separation between the audience and the
performers.

Another type of stage is called the Round. Its where there is a stage in the
middle of a room and there is audience on all sides. It changes the
performance and the feel of it when you will sometimes see a performers
back. In some cases it makes it feel less like a show than a piece of life
being performed.

The next is called a Thrust. A thrust, which is the performance space I am
working in now, is where there stage juts out into the audience and there
are audience members in front and on the sides of you. Depending on how it
is set up it can give you a lot of movement space to work with. The way the
stage I am working with now is there are a total of 60 chairs and they are
literally 1 foot away from the play space. So there are many times where I
will be right next to an audience member and they are right in the thick of
the whole performance. Moving out into the thrust will put you in the middle
of the audience and you can connect and have a different effect. Or you can
move back upstage and distance yourself. You have more depth with a thrust
than any other I feel.

My favorite spaces to work in are what's called a Black Box Theater. Black
Box Theater is really what it sounds like. It is a large Black Box where you
can put on performances. I love them because they are so diverse. You can
take a stage and do whatever you like. Any kind of stage configuration can
be put in them. Whether its Proscenium or Round or even if you just wanted
to have people dispersed throughout the set in strategic places. You can
have bare minimum set or you can have elaborate stages and designs. The
possibilities are endless. The main reason why I like them so much is
because of the intimacy they provide. Instead of having a large separation
between you and the audience, you can see all of their faces, watch all of
their reactions and feel their energy and feed off them a lot better, which
for me helps me perform.

Well. I better get going. Lots to do in so little time.
I hope everyone has a wonderful day!!!

Slainte.

Zen for the Day

Posted in by Laughing Soul | Edit
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

One day, a student asked Taiga, "What is the most difficult part of
painting?"
Taiga answered, "The part of the paper where nothing is painted is the most
difficult."

Monday, April 13, 2009

Zen for the Day

Posted in by Laughing Soul | Edit
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The best leaders of all, the people know not they exist.
They turn to each other and say, We did it ourselves.

Saturday, April 11, 2009

I won my First Giveaway!

Posted in by Laughing Soul | Edit
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Hello everyone.
I hope you all are having a wonderful weekend. I am up here in Ohio spending time with the Lady and her family for Easter. Having a great time! Relaxing, reading and just being here.

I got on here to check up on my blog and all when I had a wonderful comment from Mich.
I won my first GIVEAWAY!!
I never win anyting ever and I entered this wonderful giveaway last week and I won!! I am so excited!
I won an American Crew gift set! Shampoo, Wash and Cologne!
Thank you so much Mich for such a great giveaway!

Everyone Check out her blog!

I hope everyone has a wonderful day and rest of the weekend. I know I will.

Slainte
Friday, April 10, 2009

Zen for the Day

Posted in by Laughing Soul | Edit
Ten thousand flowers in spring the moon in autumn,
a cool breeze in summer, snow in winter.
If your mind isn't clouded by unnecessary things,
this is the best season of your life.
Thursday, April 9, 2009

Zen for the day

Posted in by Laughing Soul | Edit
.................
Smooth Words and fawning looks
Are seldom found with love.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Reasons...

Posted in by Laughing Soul | Edit

Why I love my house. Outside the house next to a roaring fire. Talk
about relaxing.

Zen for the Day

Posted in by Laughing Soul | Edit
If you do not get it from yourself,
Where will you go for it?
Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Rehearsal

Posted in by Laughing Soul | Edit

I love these guys. So much fun! The small girl has to push me around
it's hilarious.
I'm at least 4x her size!

Rehearsal

Posted in by Laughing Soul | Edit

We are working g through act II tonight.
My fellow actors and director working hard figuring out blocking and
relationships. Another one of my favorite things about acting.
The process is one of my favorite things. Especially with people you
have worked with before because you already know how they work and
they have an idea of how you work. With multiple ideas and theories as
long as no one is negative and selfish you can collaborate and create
something amazing!.
Working with new people is great to because you getting know who they
are and what their process is and meanwhile you can absorb and learn
new things and feel inspired by fellow actors.

Zen for the Day

Posted in by Laughing Soul | Edit
I have done my best.
That is about all the philosophy of living that one needs.
Monday, April 6, 2009

I joined a giveaway!!

Posted in by Laughing Soul | Edit
Also guys Check out this great giveaway! Mich Is having a giveaway for guys and girls!!

Check it out here!!

How Do I Handle my Anger?

Posted in by Laughing Soul | Edit
Hello everyone!
How was your weekends? Well i hope it was wonderful!

Tonight I am sitting here trying to figure out what I am going to write about on tonights post. I cant figure it out for the life of me what to write. But then I remember a great site that has helped me get some ideas.

http://oneminutewriter.blogspot.com/

The question? How do I handle my Anger?
I think that will work for me. 60 seconds.....GO!

I usually don't get angry. I do everything in my power to not get angry. I realized a long time ago that being angry was useless and is nothing but a waste of time. When you are angry you cannot get anything fixed or solved just by being angry. So I usually try and step back from whatever situation and I smile. Anger is gone. I laugh. Anger is gone.

(ok 60 seconds are up)
But you know what? No one likes to be angry right? So why be angry? Being angry will ruin yours and everyone else's day. I know a lot of people will not understand this when I say it but, just don't be angry. It really is that simple. It feels better to be happy and to forgive than to be angry at anyone or at any situation. So just don't be angry. Dont get into the situation where you get that way and when you start to feel yourself get to that point of no return then step back and smile. Once you do it, you'll see that it is easy.

I hope everyone has a wonderful day!

Slainte

Zen for the Day

Posted in by Laughing Soul | Edit
To know what we know,
and know what we do not know,
is wisdom.
Sunday, April 5, 2009

Tales from the Crypple- The Dope Chronicles

Posted in by Laughing Soul | Edit
So that lady finished her race and is back here resting her bones. She
did so well you guys. She finished! I'm so proud of her I cannot tell
you how much. I wish I could have gone with her to see her finish!
Were both laying down her feet and legs are sore and my back being
broken.

My back is still hurting pretty bad. The only difference is that I
took percocet and I could care less how much it hurts. Yup! That's
right I usually hve a constant supply of percocet for situations like
this. Most of the time I don't really need it. But there are months
(lately) where I'll need one once a week or when j have flame ups like
this, I'll have to take 4 or so a day just to take the edge off.
What sucks now itls that I was going to tell you a few stories but my
Percatention span isn't very good. I can't remember any of the
stories. I'm usually not loopy when I take anything. My mind wanders a
little bit, Things are a little more funny and I definitely sleep
better but I can still hold conversations and things. I don't know
about writing though . So we'll see what this is like, and I apologize
if this doesn't make any sense.

Ok I can't keep my eyes open I'll talk to y'all later.

Slainte

Tales from the Crypple.

Posted in by Laughing Soul | Edit

So
I have a bad back. 26 years old and I have a bad back. I wish I could
say that it was hurt playing football, or an old army wound from Nam,
but I can't. God just deemed that I have the back of an 80 yo man
who's worked manual labor all his life.
Friday, April 3, 2009

I joined my first giveaway!

Posted in by Laughing Soul | Edit
Hey everyone!
I just entered this really cool giveaway! Check it out.
Her name is Mich and she has a great blog. Shes having a giveaway for guys and girls so check it out at the following link!

http://whoismich.blogspot.com/2009/03/giveaway-giveaway-giveaway.html

My morning Yesterday!

Posted in by Laughing Soul | Edit
Hello Everyone!
I am sorry that I did not post last night. I went to record my Podcast and when I got home it was pretty late and I needed to take care of a few things. I hope you all didn’t mind. But oh boy to I have a story for you.

Yesterday at work, I was looking for some files around the office and when I came back to my desk I had a voicemail from my cell phone. I didn’t recognize the number but when I listened to it, it ended up being an old friend of mine.

“Hey, my mom sent me a text this morning and said there was a fire on your parents street. It was all over the news and I just wanted to make sure everything was alright. Give me a call I hope everything is ok.”

Hmm. That’s weird, well I would have been told if there was a fire I would have been called right away so I’m sure everything’s fine. I thought to myself.
But just to be sure I hopped online and I started to do some research on where the fire was, and what was going on. Here is the heading of the article I found.

“2 Killed in Herndon House Fire”

WOW. That is definitely more serious. As I kept reading it didn’t give any more specifics.
Hmm. Well if they were dead then I would have been called or found and told by now. Again with my inner monologue.
I read on and no more details were revealed. They just said the 12000 block of the street, which is still 30 houses, half of whom I know, the victims were around the age of 50-60 years old.
Ok Well the wouldn’t get in touch with me if they didn’t know who they were.
So at this point I am really starting to worry. So of course I start making phone calls. The First place I call is the house, kind of silly I know but it was my first instinct, and no one was going to be home in the first place. But when I called, the phone didn’t even go to a voicemail. It just rang and rang and rang. Which scared me of course cause now Im thinking, Holy crap the fire burned up the phone!
So I call my moms cell… Nothing.
My dads cell…Nothing
My next idea is to email my dad,

Subject: Hey!
Body

Hey email me back right away


I tried to calm down and just not worry. I waited an hour before I got up and told my boss what was going on and that I needed to make a few phone calls. She said that it was fine and to go do what I needed to do. I finally got the number to my moms school and called the front desk right away.

“Did Mom Guy come into classes this morning?”
“ Yes, I do think shes here.”
“Did you see her, is she absolutely there?”
“Yes she’s here. I saw her are you her son?”
“Yes! Can I speak with her please?”
“Yes of course let me get her”

Holy crap, I never thought I would be so happy to hear her voice. She knew exactly why I was calling, and she heard how frantic I was. My mom and dad are fine, the fire was way down the street in a pipe stem. The house was next to one of my best friends house when I was a kid before he moved away. They had a daughter and son but the son was too old for me to know ( and in a different state) and the daughter was way too young. So I personally didn’t know these people. But bless their hearts for the ordeal that they must be going through.

You know it was a really frightening thing thinking my parents were gone. I didn’t know what to do with myself. When I got out of work yesterday I went to my parents house and saw them. I was so relived that I got to go home and hug them and see them, and talk to them. It just goes to show that anything could happen at any moment and it’s a terrifying thing and that you should be with those people you love while you can.
I hope you all have a wonderful day, and incredible weekend. Do any of you have anything special planned?

The Lady has a race to run on Sunday, so her mom is coming up to visit. I will get to see her Saturday night and Sunday for the race. So this should be a really fun, exciting weekend.
Slainte!

Zen for the Day

Posted in by Laughing Soul | Edit
If you understand, Things are just as they are;
If you don't understand, things are just as they are.
Thursday, April 2, 2009

Zen for the Day

Posted in by Laughing Soul | Edit
Sitting peacefully doing nothing, Spring comes and the grass grows all by
itself.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Reheasal

Posted in by Laughing Soul | Edit

Hello everyone!
I hope all has had a wonderul day. Tonight I am at one of my favorite
places in all the world.
Rehearsal!
This is a picture of my fellow cast inthe middle of a scene!

Zen for the day

Posted in by Laughing Soul | Edit
The most precious gift we can offer others is our presence.
When mindfulness embraces those we love, they will bloom like flowers.