Wins for the Weekend

Some little 'wins' that helped make this weekend a memorable one for me:

• Read the entirety of Warren Ellis and John Cassaday's Planetary graphic novel series this weekend. I first started reading the series in high school and the final issue (#27) came out last fall (it was on an indefinite hiatus for about three years and came out at best sporadically after that).
  
  It had always been one of those books I really loved reading - it captured the imagination and filled you with a spirit of wonder - but it wasn't until this weekend when I put them all together and read them one after another that I realized just how... breathtaking the whole presented image really was. How seemless the story became. If you read one comics series (not including limited runs like Watchmen and The Dark Knight Returns), read Planetary - there really is something for everyone in there!
  
Here's a link to the cover of Planetary #27, the book's final issue. (Marvel at Cassaday's amazing art!)


• I bought a new car on Thursday - a white 2002 Chevy Malibu - and have been driving it around all weekend. Nothing really epic to report, but it's nice to have a reliable vehicle to get from A to B in. (Illinois friends, this means I'm in for possible roadtrips later this summer.)


• I've taken a summer job at Barnes & Noble (where I worked before becoming a teacher at Covenant) in order to get some extra cash. Last night, I was shelving some books in the bargain section and noted that someone had taken all of the copies of Barack Obama's "The Audacity of Hope" and moved them from their designated section to the bargain section.
  
  This ticks me off for two reasons: (1.) You have political feelings. Awesome. So do I. So does everyone. Airing them out in a forum like Barnes & Noble by doing some lame, childish faux-covert ops move is not only juvenile, it's not going to convince anyone of anything except how dumb you are. (2.) When you put things back in the wrong spot, someone else who is not you has to put them back in the right spot. Sometimes, this person is me. I'm not your mom. Clean up your messes, people!
  
  I probably would have continued to be mad, but when I got to the section they were supposed to be in and got down to put them all away, I found they had been replaced with one solitary copy of this book. I mean, how can you stay mad about that?! Short answer: you can't.
  
• On my way home from work last night, I got an odd phone call from a group of my Illinois friends who decided to call me out of the blue and taunt me. It amused me and made me miss all of them a great deal. Which is why I'm contemplating a trip up there sometime between now and August. 'Cause they're good people.
  
• Today is Father's Day and, in addition to me getting my dad a 'Best of ZZ Top' CD, the whole family went out to Smokey Bones for some barbecue! I'm a big fan of barbecue myself and managed to take down their BBQ Chicken - an entire half-chicken covered in their sweet barbecue sauce. It was very delicious and, if I'm honest, I can say I'm still a little full from the ordeal.
  
• After lunch, I headed out to see a production of "Rabbit Hole" at Spotlight Players. I've done a couple of shows at Spotlight now (with another one on the way in August - tell your friends!) and knew a couple of people affiliated with the production. Brent Wooldridge, the director, was in "Sorry, Wrong Number" with me last summer, then directed me in "Dearly Beloved," and was also in "Insane With Power" with me immediately after that. So I know him well enough to be in trouble if I weren't there. My friend Ericka Barker - whom I met after auditions for "Dearly Beloved" - had managed to snag the lead in this show also, so I had to see her too. I had just seen her about a month or two back in "When You Comin' Back, Red Ryder" and thought she did wonderfully in both shows, pulling off a level of emotional intensity in both productions that I was just astounded by! If this weren't the last day of this production, I'd encourage you all to go see it. Sadly, though, you can't.

Now, I'm gonna go home and eat food. Maybe finish watching season two of "Mad Men". We shall see.

What were some of the highlights of your weekend?

Rapid-Fire Rollercoaster

The last several weeks really have been like a blur to me. So much has been going on that has stressed me out, tired me down, and made me want to do anything but update my blog. But, update I shall, true believers! Here, in rapid-fire bullet-point style is my life the last several weeks.

• Migrainy - On the Monday of my spring break (March 30) I got a migraine. Took some Ibuprofen and thought little more about it, despite it not getting better. By Friday, April 10, it was still lingering. I had to leave school early and head to Immediate Care, the ER, and the neurologist. Eventually, I got set up with some meds that made my migraines that much more manageable.
  
• Easter - Acted in my church's Easter presentation - a reenactment of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ. I played Peter and got to explore the bonds of melodrama. I had a lot of fun and it was enjoyable to be onstage again! (Did miss the Good Friday service, though, due to my migraines.)
• Annika - I got a call Easter Sunday that my dear friend Annika Dace had passed away. Many of you have read my tribute to her. If you haven't, scroll down a couple of entries. It says more than I could repeat here. I will say that her service was extraordinary - I've never laughed so hard at a funeral in my life! That was Annika, though. Even in death, she was able to bring smiles to our faces as we reminisced and shared precious memories. She would have loved it!
  
• "Sorry, Wrong Number" - The day after the Easter program, I auditioned for a role in Spotlight Players' summer production of "Sorry, Wrong Number" and got a part (or, more accurately, several parts)! My friend Molly is directing and I'm thrilled to be able to work with her in a professional community theatre environment! I'm playing multiple roles, none of which will really be using my 'real' voice... and I find that a lot of fun. Can't wait 'til we open in June!
• Car woes - After totaling my baby blue Mercedes station wagon, Zarathustra, back in November, I have essentially been without a car for the last five months. Luckily, one of my coworkers lives almost right across the street, making it easy to get picked up for work. After all the waiting, I finally paid my reinstatement fee and bought a car... only to find out that my license was STILL suspended because I needed to submit some paperwork they never told me about! RAR! I called my insurance company and, inside of a week, my license was reinstated and I am now able to drive myself! Talk about things looking up!
• The School/Work Dichotomy - School has been really busy. I've had a lot on my plate, to be sure - writing quizzes & tests, grading, disciplining, dealing with parents, organizing, updating... and through it all wondering if the school will have room in the budget to bring me back next year! I'm trusting in God at this point... because I have no idea what the next year will hold!

That's been my life. While it's not been the craziest ever, at times it's been more than I'd say I'm comfortable with. God has been good, though, and brought me through this far. Summer is a scant three weeks away. I'm working on my reading list and looking forward to improving my class for next year! Here's a pic my mom took of me in my new ride...

...and speaking of which: I'm trying to think of a good name for my new car. It's a 1990 'smoke silver' (which is to say, shiny dark grey) Mercedes-Benz four-door sedan. I'm trying to come up with a name for him. Now, before you make suggestions, consider the following:

• I have a habit of naming my cars after famous fictitious characters. My first car was named Chewbacca (because he howled when the back hatch was opened). My second car was named Zarathustra (after the titular prophet of doom in Nietzsche's Thus Spoke Zarathustra). So, it has to be the name of a fictitious character.
• It needs to be a German name. It is a Mercedes, after all, which is a German car. Zarathustra was a German character, written by a German author.

I'm currently thinking either Caligari (after the title character from the 1920 silent film The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari) or Orlok (the name of the vampire played by Max Shreck in 1922's Nosferatu), but I am open to suggestions. You have any?

Retrospect

Some details concerning the last few weeks, which I've not posted mainly due to busy-ness more than anything else. Finally, I indulge you.

• The fall play was a smashing success! For those new to me or my inane ramblings, I teach freshman Bible at my alma mater, Covenant Christian High School where I also assist with the drama program. Mid-November, I was given the opportunity to direct my first show - I chose John Patrick's "The Curious Savage," one of my perennial favorites. My cast was superb, realizing visions I didn't even know I'd had. Fantastic!My incredibly talented cast! They were absolutely amazing!
  
• Our youth group also had our annual fall retreat the weekend after the play. As always, it was a great time, with great speaking, worship, and fun. Our speaker was Larry Mitchell, a man who I've always found inspirational and challenging. Music was done by my good friend Sean Rose and his band Defining Rose (they're a relatively new band, but very talented - check 'em out!). Unfortunately, I was sick most of the weekend - NOT FUN!
  
  One of the highlights for me was our "Saturday Night Live" where students put together skits and performed them. The highlight of the night was two of the high school girls dressing up like the youth pastor and I and doing fake announcements. Brilliant!The Scotts (Scott & Kelsey) and the Stephens (Bethany a.k.a. 'Danger' and I)
  
• Thanksgiving, as it usually is, was fantastic! I ate far too much (yet not as much as I would be known to eat in years past - guess this diet's working after all) and got too goof off with my wonderful family! Loads of fun!As promised, the (in)famous picture of me demolishing the turkey leg
  
• Black Friday was also my father's birthday. I was up and at the comic book store at 7:00am for my comic book guy's door-buster sale. It was great! I picked up a couple of trade paperbacks I'd been wanting, as well as a Batman statue - all at severe discounts! Who says it doesn't pay to be a nerd sometimes?Batman, guarding my computer (along with 'Iron' Spidey)
• After the escapades of the morning, the family went out for sushi to celebrate Dad's birthday. Dad had never had sushi before, so I suppose it was an experiment of sorts. Dad tried some non-raw sushi and seemed to enjoy it. My mom, on the other hand, had a tuna roll and about gagged. *Sigh* Ah, well...Mmm... sushi... (note the octopus on the tray in the background - tasty!)
• Then, Saturday. I went out with my friend Anita for some more sushi - can't get enough! - and we watched Waiting for Guffman which may very well be one of the best comedies in the history of ever. I went home about 11:30... and managed to total my car on the way home. This was only the beginning of my trauma. Fortunately, I was the only one involved and was not hurt at all (thanks to the beauty of German engineering)... but unfortunately, my insurance had been cancelled earlier in the month due to nonpayment. So, I was basically out a car... and my license is getting suspended for three months (starting whenever the officer on the scene files the paperwork). I figure, if that's the worst of it, then I'm getting off rather light. God is good and continues to bless - I'm a walking testament to that - but let it never be said that some lessons are learned the hard way.