Okay, it's 12:08 AM Saturday night/Sunday morning. Now or never. So it's now.
THE AFC
AFC West
San Diego Chargers 13-3
Kansas City Chiefs 5-11
Oakland Raiders 4-12
Denver Broncos 3-13
This is a tough division to pick--not at the top, because San Diego is infinitely superior to the other teams, but at the bottom because Denver, Oakland and Kansas City are all so bad, that any of them could beat the other, and perhaps no one else. Pencil in the Chargers now for the #1 seed in the AFC Playoffs, as New England still has questions on defense and Brady is bound to show some rust sooner or later...isn't he? The rest? Well, they all have new coaches so I wouldn't expect a rash of firings for these dismal records...THIS year.
AFC North
Pittsburgh 11-5
Baltimore 10-6
Cleveland 8-8
Cincinnati 4-12
The only real surprise here is picking the Browns to be a .500 team. No hope this year for the Bengals, sadly.
AFC East
New England Patriots 12-4
New York Jets 7-9
Miami Dolphins 6-10
Buffalo Bills 4-12
I think the Pats are back in a big, bad way. They will own this division. The Jets have a rookie quarterback, and yes Ryan and Flacco had great years but that's the exception not the rule. Miami had a little magic last year, but not enough for round two especially with Brady back. Buffalo: T.O. won't destroy the team, but this team is just not going anywhere.
AFC South
Indianapolis Colts 11-5
Tennessee Titans 10-6
Houston Texans 8-8
Jacksonville Jaguars 4-12
Reports of the demise of the Colts are premature. The Titans could use a little big play help. Sorry Houston, but it's not this year either. I sadly think it's the end of Jack Del Rio in Jacksonville, which is a shame as he is yet another coach I really respect. But there's not enough talent in J'ville to get it done, and sometimes the coach takes the fall, deserved or not.
Playoff predictions: another time, perhaps.
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Imagine that, no time to write...
Okay, so I just got really busy and haven't had the time to do my AFC predictions, but I will BY SUNDAY, so just so it's all on level ground I have this to say:
Tonight's game: Pittsburgh over Tennessee by 8 at least.
Okay, so I don't have to be Karnak to call that one. But you never know.
Tonight's game: Pittsburgh over Tennessee by 8 at least.
Okay, so I don't have to be Karnak to call that one. But you never know.
Friday, September 4, 2009
My Next Career
A brief detour from the usual "This is my life as an actor" musings...
I have often said that the one career that could lead me to abandon the actor's life is the sportscaster. I spend most of my days at home glued to ESPN and it's offspring, listening to analysis of the same stories by a myriad of talking heads, and I love it. I've never really pursued this "mini-dream," because frankly the big dream is still to be on the stage, and the reality of breaking into the sports world seems to be as daunting as the acting world. But, to satisfy my whims, here is my preview of the upcoming NFL season in two parts. First up:
THE NFC!!
NFC East
Philadelphia Eagles 11-5
New York Giants 10-6
Washington Redskins 7-9
Dallas Cowboys 7-9
The Eagles are the class of this division, providing the Michael Vick experiment doesn't destroy the team, which honestly I don't expect that will happen. I actually think the Vick signing will turn out to be essentially meaningless, unless McNabb goes down, which is certainly possible. The Giants will be good but who exactly will Eli Manning throw to? Plaxico Burress hid a lot of flaws in his game, and they essentially have a team of 2nd, 3rd and 4th receivers, with no real number one. Still, the schedule is favorable and the defense and running game reliable. As for the Cowboys and Redskins, they fall short, unable to deal with the far more physical Eagles and Giants. Wade Phillips may be in trouble again, and Jim Zorn will survive but probably not Jason Campbell. Shame really, I like that guy.
NFC South
Carolina Panthers 11-5
New Orleans Saints 10-6
Atlanta Falcons 9-7
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2-14
All right, full disclaimer: I am a die hard Carolina fan. So I admit two things, that I'm biased and that I don't know if the Panthers are that good. But I'm looking at the schedule, and assuming Jake Delhomme is right again, and I see ten to eleven wins. Yes, I know Carolina has never posted back-to-back winning seasons. That changes this year. New Orleans is right there with them, the defense there couldn't stop me and my two daughters but the offense is the best. Everyone is really high on Atlanta this year but I think they will be good, not great. The Gonzalez trade doesn't translate into as many scores as they hope, and if anything happens to Michael Turner, forget it. Tampa will be awful, but hey, all teams have years like this. New coach, not many veterans, NO OFFENSE, it won't be pretty.
NFC North
Chicago Bears 12-4
Green Bay Packers 11-5
Minnesota Vikings 7-9
Detroit Lions 4-12
This was a tough division to pick. I think Cutler puts the Bears over the top, with the Packers close behind. The Vikings...sigh...I just don't like the signing of Brett Favre. I think he disrupts what they had going, and of course he's better than Tavaris Jackson, Sage Rosenfels and John David Booty--but I lived through the New York Jets debacle, and I just see it coming again. Trying too hard, the 25 year old heart getting the 40 year old body in trouble. This will be disappointing for Viking fans this year--all signs point North, but it will never get in gear. Bold prediction: Favre will be forced to miss his first start ever this season. Okay, maybe not that bold cause the dude is 40, but hey, it hasn't happened yet. The Lions slowly learn how to win again. Slowly.
NFC West
Arizona Cardinals 10-6
San Francisco 49ers 6-10
Seattle Seahawks 5-11
St. Louis Rams 3-13
There isn't much love for the Cardinals this year, and history would support that, as most Super Bowl losers fail to make the playoffs in the following year. The Cards buck that trend and win the division easily. The Niners take a small step back, with still no real QB at the helm and minimal defense. I could be wrong about Seattle, but I don't trust Matt Hasselbeck's back any more than I do his sister-in-law (if you don't know, look it up). The Rams are going to be hopeless for a while, reminiscent of the 90's teams.
Next entry: The AFC!!
I have often said that the one career that could lead me to abandon the actor's life is the sportscaster. I spend most of my days at home glued to ESPN and it's offspring, listening to analysis of the same stories by a myriad of talking heads, and I love it. I've never really pursued this "mini-dream," because frankly the big dream is still to be on the stage, and the reality of breaking into the sports world seems to be as daunting as the acting world. But, to satisfy my whims, here is my preview of the upcoming NFL season in two parts. First up:
THE NFC!!
NFC East
Philadelphia Eagles 11-5
New York Giants 10-6
Washington Redskins 7-9
Dallas Cowboys 7-9
The Eagles are the class of this division, providing the Michael Vick experiment doesn't destroy the team, which honestly I don't expect that will happen. I actually think the Vick signing will turn out to be essentially meaningless, unless McNabb goes down, which is certainly possible. The Giants will be good but who exactly will Eli Manning throw to? Plaxico Burress hid a lot of flaws in his game, and they essentially have a team of 2nd, 3rd and 4th receivers, with no real number one. Still, the schedule is favorable and the defense and running game reliable. As for the Cowboys and Redskins, they fall short, unable to deal with the far more physical Eagles and Giants. Wade Phillips may be in trouble again, and Jim Zorn will survive but probably not Jason Campbell. Shame really, I like that guy.
NFC South
Carolina Panthers 11-5
New Orleans Saints 10-6
Atlanta Falcons 9-7
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2-14
All right, full disclaimer: I am a die hard Carolina fan. So I admit two things, that I'm biased and that I don't know if the Panthers are that good. But I'm looking at the schedule, and assuming Jake Delhomme is right again, and I see ten to eleven wins. Yes, I know Carolina has never posted back-to-back winning seasons. That changes this year. New Orleans is right there with them, the defense there couldn't stop me and my two daughters but the offense is the best. Everyone is really high on Atlanta this year but I think they will be good, not great. The Gonzalez trade doesn't translate into as many scores as they hope, and if anything happens to Michael Turner, forget it. Tampa will be awful, but hey, all teams have years like this. New coach, not many veterans, NO OFFENSE, it won't be pretty.
NFC North
Chicago Bears 12-4
Green Bay Packers 11-5
Minnesota Vikings 7-9
Detroit Lions 4-12
This was a tough division to pick. I think Cutler puts the Bears over the top, with the Packers close behind. The Vikings...sigh...I just don't like the signing of Brett Favre. I think he disrupts what they had going, and of course he's better than Tavaris Jackson, Sage Rosenfels and John David Booty--but I lived through the New York Jets debacle, and I just see it coming again. Trying too hard, the 25 year old heart getting the 40 year old body in trouble. This will be disappointing for Viking fans this year--all signs point North, but it will never get in gear. Bold prediction: Favre will be forced to miss his first start ever this season. Okay, maybe not that bold cause the dude is 40, but hey, it hasn't happened yet. The Lions slowly learn how to win again. Slowly.
NFC West
Arizona Cardinals 10-6
San Francisco 49ers 6-10
Seattle Seahawks 5-11
St. Louis Rams 3-13
There isn't much love for the Cardinals this year, and history would support that, as most Super Bowl losers fail to make the playoffs in the following year. The Cards buck that trend and win the division easily. The Niners take a small step back, with still no real QB at the helm and minimal defense. I could be wrong about Seattle, but I don't trust Matt Hasselbeck's back any more than I do his sister-in-law (if you don't know, look it up). The Rams are going to be hopeless for a while, reminiscent of the 90's teams.
Next entry: The AFC!!
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
The trouble with blogs...
is that they mock you when you haven't written for a while.
Actually, there's more to it than that. And I haven't lacked for inspiration lately either, there's just one problem: I'm not sure I can write what I really think.
You know, I started this blog with the idea that by simply writing, I'd become a better writer. It was sort of a "If you build it, they will come" plan. I've called myself a writer for a while now, but a writer of what exactly? I still kick around a few plays and teleplays in my head that rarely reach the keyboard. Once upon a time I was a poet, but the verse is pretty quiet now. So all that's really left is the blog--the blog blog blogitty blog. And I've got a small problem.
You see, I hate the anonymity of the online community. Message boards, chatrooms, masked bloggers--written and signed by some moronic screen name like "Idolchatter9" or "iLOVEbroadway." It's so easy to hide behind these names and hurl darts at whatever board you happen to be angry with this week. Admittedly there are some who attach their names, websites and personal blogs to every post they create, and I applaud their ability to stand behind what they say. For me...well, if I put in "print" some of the things I truly felt, in this world of networking and "schmoozing," I might have a pretty short career. Being in show business requires more than a thick skin, so I've long learned to avoid these traps. Frankly there's nothing worse than searching online for reviews of a show you happen to be in, only to find that it and you have been shredded by some anonymous voices in the dark. I suppose the anonymity provides protection, and maybe if enough voices shout out in protest then change can be brought. At least I hope that's the motive, otherwise, well, that's just mean.
I wrote recently to some college friends of mine that a certain former political figure might, much like the Boogeyman, disappear if we stopped believing they exist (no names are necessary, but if you must know the name rhymes with Barah Balin). The theory might apply here too, that if the people who were so upset by some of these posters simply stopped reading them, then you'd save yourself a lot of pain and aggravation. But sometimes the opinions stray into blatant falsehood, even lies. Other posters in these communities can usually spot this behavior and call it out--it appears some have an axe to grind, and some are self (or company, show, etc.) promoting under false pretense. What if you though, or someone/something you love are the target of fabrication? What do you do--ignore it, or meet it head on? I had a good conversation with one of the stars in Full Monty at Paper Mill about this--in their case, their MOTHER was searching for reviews and photos and stumbled across a thread that completely ripped her child apart--career and lifestyle choices. As if anyone's personal life was anyone else's business. Anyway, the actor and I talked about it and their basic premise was just not to look--you'll never change someone else's mind, and you just give validation to their chosen waste of time (and I'm sorry, but any comment made about the way someone else comports themselves in their own lives IS a waste of time). For me though, I get stuck. Occasionally I have such a need to put people in their place that I think my blood pressure hits the ceiling. But really, why bother I guess.
So that's where I am--wanting to write, but always being just a little too careful. There are a few essays in my head that will find their way online soon--including one very painful lesson I learned back in May. Until then, I remain...
Your Obedient,
Rob Richardson
Actually, there's more to it than that. And I haven't lacked for inspiration lately either, there's just one problem: I'm not sure I can write what I really think.
You know, I started this blog with the idea that by simply writing, I'd become a better writer. It was sort of a "If you build it, they will come" plan. I've called myself a writer for a while now, but a writer of what exactly? I still kick around a few plays and teleplays in my head that rarely reach the keyboard. Once upon a time I was a poet, but the verse is pretty quiet now. So all that's really left is the blog--the blog blog blogitty blog. And I've got a small problem.
You see, I hate the anonymity of the online community. Message boards, chatrooms, masked bloggers--written and signed by some moronic screen name like "Idolchatter9" or "iLOVEbroadway." It's so easy to hide behind these names and hurl darts at whatever board you happen to be angry with this week. Admittedly there are some who attach their names, websites and personal blogs to every post they create, and I applaud their ability to stand behind what they say. For me...well, if I put in "print" some of the things I truly felt, in this world of networking and "schmoozing," I might have a pretty short career. Being in show business requires more than a thick skin, so I've long learned to avoid these traps. Frankly there's nothing worse than searching online for reviews of a show you happen to be in, only to find that it and you have been shredded by some anonymous voices in the dark. I suppose the anonymity provides protection, and maybe if enough voices shout out in protest then change can be brought. At least I hope that's the motive, otherwise, well, that's just mean.
I wrote recently to some college friends of mine that a certain former political figure might, much like the Boogeyman, disappear if we stopped believing they exist (no names are necessary, but if you must know the name rhymes with Barah Balin). The theory might apply here too, that if the people who were so upset by some of these posters simply stopped reading them, then you'd save yourself a lot of pain and aggravation. But sometimes the opinions stray into blatant falsehood, even lies. Other posters in these communities can usually spot this behavior and call it out--it appears some have an axe to grind, and some are self (or company, show, etc.) promoting under false pretense. What if you though, or someone/something you love are the target of fabrication? What do you do--ignore it, or meet it head on? I had a good conversation with one of the stars in Full Monty at Paper Mill about this--in their case, their MOTHER was searching for reviews and photos and stumbled across a thread that completely ripped her child apart--career and lifestyle choices. As if anyone's personal life was anyone else's business. Anyway, the actor and I talked about it and their basic premise was just not to look--you'll never change someone else's mind, and you just give validation to their chosen waste of time (and I'm sorry, but any comment made about the way someone else comports themselves in their own lives IS a waste of time). For me though, I get stuck. Occasionally I have such a need to put people in their place that I think my blood pressure hits the ceiling. But really, why bother I guess.
So that's where I am--wanting to write, but always being just a little too careful. There are a few essays in my head that will find their way online soon--including one very painful lesson I learned back in May. Until then, I remain...
Your Obedient,
Rob Richardson
Monday, May 11, 2009
Looking in the Mirror
Cough, cough...wow...dusty in here...
Well, that should satisfy the opening quip requirement. Yes, once again it's been more than a few weeks since my last post. What can I say, much like many other things in life, there are always excuses but no valid reasons. Lately my time has been absorbed with the kids, fatigue, a little work, some prep for real work, and the requisite video games. Sigh...still a kid.
So let's wrap up the story about my fast food love/addiction. You'll remember (maybe) that I gave up sugar (in the form of candy, baked goods, ice cream etc) and fast food for Lent--the sugar frankly was way easier. I don't recall wavering on the sugar portion of the deal. As far as the fast food goes, well, I didn't do as well. I went to McDonald's once about mid-way through, for the usual reason of being just absolutely crunched for time. Then, at the very end, it all went to hell. My wife took the kids to Oklahoma for Easter, so from Thursday to Sunday IT WAS ON. Yeah--in one day there was McDonald's, Quizno's and KFC. Wow.
Interestingly however my love for fast food has definitely waned--I've gone to a few places, but with much less frequency. And I've really cut down on diet soda. Just lost my taste for it. So all told, a success, just not as huge as I'd hoped for. And once again I find myself with asking the question that haunts me every day, "What if this were the year?" Maybe the real question is just "What if this were the DAY?"
I'm really tired of being a 200 pound weakling. Not really weak per se, but just not happy with where my body has settled. Thin, but not really. Athletic, but barely. You know those food journals that dieticians and personal trainers tell you to keep so you can get a good look at what you really are doing to yourself? Mine reads like a Stephen King novel. Well, maybe that's an exaggeration. More like a Nick Hornby novel--the hero of the story is always a guy who should be able to get it together, but it takes 400 pages for it to happen.
Tomorrow is Monday June 29th. Will that be the day?
Well, that should satisfy the opening quip requirement. Yes, once again it's been more than a few weeks since my last post. What can I say, much like many other things in life, there are always excuses but no valid reasons. Lately my time has been absorbed with the kids, fatigue, a little work, some prep for real work, and the requisite video games. Sigh...still a kid.
So let's wrap up the story about my fast food love/addiction. You'll remember (maybe) that I gave up sugar (in the form of candy, baked goods, ice cream etc) and fast food for Lent--the sugar frankly was way easier. I don't recall wavering on the sugar portion of the deal. As far as the fast food goes, well, I didn't do as well. I went to McDonald's once about mid-way through, for the usual reason of being just absolutely crunched for time. Then, at the very end, it all went to hell. My wife took the kids to Oklahoma for Easter, so from Thursday to Sunday IT WAS ON. Yeah--in one day there was McDonald's, Quizno's and KFC. Wow.
Interestingly however my love for fast food has definitely waned--I've gone to a few places, but with much less frequency. And I've really cut down on diet soda. Just lost my taste for it. So all told, a success, just not as huge as I'd hoped for. And once again I find myself with asking the question that haunts me every day, "What if this were the year?" Maybe the real question is just "What if this were the DAY?"
I'm really tired of being a 200 pound weakling. Not really weak per se, but just not happy with where my body has settled. Thin, but not really. Athletic, but barely. You know those food journals that dieticians and personal trainers tell you to keep so you can get a good look at what you really are doing to yourself? Mine reads like a Stephen King novel. Well, maybe that's an exaggeration. More like a Nick Hornby novel--the hero of the story is always a guy who should be able to get it together, but it takes 400 pages for it to happen.
Tomorrow is Monday June 29th. Will that be the day?
Thursday, February 5, 2009
The Evil Clown and His Golden Tractor Beams
Before we begin, a quick note:
Have you noticed that all of my blog entries begin with a one-sentence paragraph? And that most of them end that way too? That's how I roll here on "The View."
Wait, what do you mean I can't use that?
Today's blog-o-rama is about my infatuation and indeed near-addiction with food that is essentially garbage. My breakfast came from McDonald's this morning, as did my lunch yesterday...and I think I ate there earlier in the week as well. I take my oldest daughter to Dunkin' Donuts once a week. I've been to Wendy's in the last 4 days. In short...I eat a lot of fast food. And I can't for the life of me find a reason why.
If you don't know me (and frankly why anyone who doesn't know me would torture themselves by reading what I think about anything is beyond me), I'm about 6'4 and weigh about 210 pounds. I look like a perfectly average tall guy, not muscular, not fat, just...average. I am the "C Student" of health and fitness, and for a guy who spent a lot of money once to become a certified personal trainer, and actually spent time learning how the body stays healthy and grows stronger, that sort of blows. I have all the necessary knowledge, just none of the desire. Well, I have some desire. I go to the gym. I eat with my family and most meals not only come from home, I prepare the majority of them. But, I manage to make my way into the drive-thrus of any and nearly all fast food joints. And this post exists to help me find out why.
First I thought about the taste. Which frankly, isn't much to write home about in most cases. Now I'll admit from my high horse that I actually do like the flavor of a lot of fast food, particularly when it's just prepared, but really--how often is that?! Most of the time, the taste is either completely unexciting or even disappointing. So I'm pretty sure I'm not doing it for the taste.
Then I went a little deeper. Since I spend most Tuesday nights glued to "The Biggest Loser" on NBC (usually with a bowl of ice cream, screaming, "Run Fatty Run" at the television while tears run down my face), I thought maybe it's emotional. The sense memory of food is powerful--for me, this junky, non-nutritious addiction takes me back to my childhood. Every Sunday (almost) my Mom and I would drive half an hour to spend the day with my grandparents, and on the way home Mom would hit whatever drive thru I wanted, mostly because she wanted one night a week that she didn't have to cook. (Surprisingly, I now realize that I haven't mentioned my Mom at all on this blog. I'll save her for her own entry, God knows she deserves it. It's been almost 12 years since she died.) Anyway, fast food takes me to this simpler time, particularly when I'm behind the wheel. But while that's all very sentimental, I don't think that's what is going on either.
Which brings me to what I believe is the ultimate culprit: the convenience. It's everywhere, and it's cheap. Much cheaper than heading into a deli in NYC for a turkey sandwich. I've always complained (and I know I'm not alone) about the expense of eating healthy, I mean, this junky food is half the cost of something real. But lately, I'm starting to feel my age, and it's high time to get a handle on the things you can control.
I mean honestly, a lot of these places (if not all) offer healthier choices, and I'll admit I have no interest in 90% of them. That said, is it really that hard to eat healthy? It seems to be the easiest thing in the world to do. Watch my lips: "I'll have the garden salad. Or the grilled chicken sandwich. Or a baked potato with salsa. Hold the cheese. Hold the mayo. No, the small size will be fine."
How freakin' hard is that?!
Easiest thing in the world to do. Humans are incredible creatures. We have freedom and thought. You just have to say the words.
Well, I'm saying them. My wife and I for the last several years have typically given up something for Lent. No, we're not Catholic, we just like to push ourselves once in a while and regain some small sense of control over the ever-increasing pace of our lives. This year it's sugar that's getting the boot, though we've done this one before. And I'm throwing in the fast food towel as well, for the next 40 days, none shall pass. So be sure to check back in and see how we're doing.
Footnote: This post took me two weeks to write. I haven't been to a fast food place since the day I started this one, except to still take my daughter to Dunkin' Donuts. But I just stick to coffee.
This is the place where I usually end on a witty quip.
...
Have you noticed that all of my blog entries begin with a one-sentence paragraph? And that most of them end that way too? That's how I roll here on "The View."
Wait, what do you mean I can't use that?
Today's blog-o-rama is about my infatuation and indeed near-addiction with food that is essentially garbage. My breakfast came from McDonald's this morning, as did my lunch yesterday...and I think I ate there earlier in the week as well. I take my oldest daughter to Dunkin' Donuts once a week. I've been to Wendy's in the last 4 days. In short...I eat a lot of fast food. And I can't for the life of me find a reason why.
If you don't know me (and frankly why anyone who doesn't know me would torture themselves by reading what I think about anything is beyond me), I'm about 6'4 and weigh about 210 pounds. I look like a perfectly average tall guy, not muscular, not fat, just...average. I am the "C Student" of health and fitness, and for a guy who spent a lot of money once to become a certified personal trainer, and actually spent time learning how the body stays healthy and grows stronger, that sort of blows. I have all the necessary knowledge, just none of the desire. Well, I have some desire. I go to the gym. I eat with my family and most meals not only come from home, I prepare the majority of them. But, I manage to make my way into the drive-thrus of any and nearly all fast food joints. And this post exists to help me find out why.
First I thought about the taste. Which frankly, isn't much to write home about in most cases. Now I'll admit from my high horse that I actually do like the flavor of a lot of fast food, particularly when it's just prepared, but really--how often is that?! Most of the time, the taste is either completely unexciting or even disappointing. So I'm pretty sure I'm not doing it for the taste.
Then I went a little deeper. Since I spend most Tuesday nights glued to "The Biggest Loser" on NBC (usually with a bowl of ice cream, screaming, "Run Fatty Run" at the television while tears run down my face), I thought maybe it's emotional. The sense memory of food is powerful--for me, this junky, non-nutritious addiction takes me back to my childhood. Every Sunday (almost) my Mom and I would drive half an hour to spend the day with my grandparents, and on the way home Mom would hit whatever drive thru I wanted, mostly because she wanted one night a week that she didn't have to cook. (Surprisingly, I now realize that I haven't mentioned my Mom at all on this blog. I'll save her for her own entry, God knows she deserves it. It's been almost 12 years since she died.) Anyway, fast food takes me to this simpler time, particularly when I'm behind the wheel. But while that's all very sentimental, I don't think that's what is going on either.
Which brings me to what I believe is the ultimate culprit: the convenience. It's everywhere, and it's cheap. Much cheaper than heading into a deli in NYC for a turkey sandwich. I've always complained (and I know I'm not alone) about the expense of eating healthy, I mean, this junky food is half the cost of something real. But lately, I'm starting to feel my age, and it's high time to get a handle on the things you can control.
I mean honestly, a lot of these places (if not all) offer healthier choices, and I'll admit I have no interest in 90% of them. That said, is it really that hard to eat healthy? It seems to be the easiest thing in the world to do. Watch my lips: "I'll have the garden salad. Or the grilled chicken sandwich. Or a baked potato with salsa. Hold the cheese. Hold the mayo. No, the small size will be fine."
How freakin' hard is that?!
Easiest thing in the world to do. Humans are incredible creatures. We have freedom and thought. You just have to say the words.
Well, I'm saying them. My wife and I for the last several years have typically given up something for Lent. No, we're not Catholic, we just like to push ourselves once in a while and regain some small sense of control over the ever-increasing pace of our lives. This year it's sugar that's getting the boot, though we've done this one before. And I'm throwing in the fast food towel as well, for the next 40 days, none shall pass. So be sure to check back in and see how we're doing.
Footnote: This post took me two weeks to write. I haven't been to a fast food place since the day I started this one, except to still take my daughter to Dunkin' Donuts. But I just stick to coffee.
This is the place where I usually end on a witty quip.
...
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Is that a light, at the end of this tunnel?
Hellooo, Clevelaaaannndddd...
I seem to be emerging from this week long fog of sickness--any of you who may have found me on Facebook saw my most recent status update, which bemoans the fact that though I had a flu shot in November, I've had some kind of random upper respiratory infection twice in the last 4 months. And this one--hoo-boy--really just kicked my ass. In all honesty I haven't been this sick in ten years, and I'm actually on antibiotics for the first time in at least that long. I owe my lack of health to my oldest daughter whom I affectionately refer to as "My little petri dish," she brings home various diseases from her daycare to share with the family. Quite considerate of her, really. First Mommy got it, then Daddy got it (the worst) and finally Daddy gave it to little Sydney. If you've never heard a 3 month old with a bad cold, count yourself lucky, it's the most pathetic thing ever. But all the family is on the mend, and it looks like even some of the dry creative cloud is lifting.
For the last 2 weeks I've been down in the dumps about how little is happening in my acting career (I know, poor me, just finished a Broadway show in November). But as I mentioned in my last post, this economic crunch has hit the theatre industry as well, and though Broadway posts a similar loss this time every year, it's the regional theatre circuit that's eating it right now. This week saw the loss of another well-respected regional house, the Mill Mountain Theatre in Virginia. Add that to the American Musical Theatre of San Jose, the Carousel Dinner Theatre in Akron, Ohio, and the potential loss of North Shore Music Theatre in Massachusetts and things are starting to look a little bleak. In fact, the last show I was called back for (Titanic at Westchester Broadway Dinner Theatre) has been cancelled and replaced with Funny Girl. Oh well. No job in that show for me, I think. With all of that going on, there's no doubt that many of us are a little blue.
But on the horizon things may be getting a little brighter. I put out some feelers to a few contacts and managed to turn up a teaching job in Philadelphia at St. Joseph's University (thank you Renee!), another potential gig teaching at Montclair State University (got to get on that this weekend), and I've been asked to play a role in a new play here in Bloomfield at the New Playwright's Festival. Okay, so none of that is long term (yet) or leads me back to Broadway (yet) but you've got to do something, and it might as well be something that you love.
See, that's what I think drives people finally out of this business. Not the theatre work itself, ideally that's when you should be the happiest. It's the downtime, the times when you're perhaps forced into survival work that many find soul-sucking. I've done it all too--waiting tables, cater-waitering, temping, heck, I was a personal trainer for a short while. And if that kind of stuff doesn't bother you, then you are one of the lucky ones. For me, I realized that I had to find something absolutely connected to my long-term goals or I just would lose my mind. At long last I'm starting to be able to actually find that work. I'm sure the fact that now I've been in a Broadway show, that helps with the credibility issue I felt I had. Hard to teach a class on auditioning for Broadway when you yourself have never actually been there.
So though the audition future is still a little on the bleak side, which is another mountain to climb, at least now the time in between isn't so blah. I read an interesting quote this week, which was simply, "The man who is waiting for something to happen should roll up his sleeves."
This is me, rolling.
I seem to be emerging from this week long fog of sickness--any of you who may have found me on Facebook saw my most recent status update, which bemoans the fact that though I had a flu shot in November, I've had some kind of random upper respiratory infection twice in the last 4 months. And this one--hoo-boy--really just kicked my ass. In all honesty I haven't been this sick in ten years, and I'm actually on antibiotics for the first time in at least that long. I owe my lack of health to my oldest daughter whom I affectionately refer to as "My little petri dish," she brings home various diseases from her daycare to share with the family. Quite considerate of her, really. First Mommy got it, then Daddy got it (the worst) and finally Daddy gave it to little Sydney. If you've never heard a 3 month old with a bad cold, count yourself lucky, it's the most pathetic thing ever. But all the family is on the mend, and it looks like even some of the dry creative cloud is lifting.
For the last 2 weeks I've been down in the dumps about how little is happening in my acting career (I know, poor me, just finished a Broadway show in November). But as I mentioned in my last post, this economic crunch has hit the theatre industry as well, and though Broadway posts a similar loss this time every year, it's the regional theatre circuit that's eating it right now. This week saw the loss of another well-respected regional house, the Mill Mountain Theatre in Virginia. Add that to the American Musical Theatre of San Jose, the Carousel Dinner Theatre in Akron, Ohio, and the potential loss of North Shore Music Theatre in Massachusetts and things are starting to look a little bleak. In fact, the last show I was called back for (Titanic at Westchester Broadway Dinner Theatre) has been cancelled and replaced with Funny Girl. Oh well. No job in that show for me, I think. With all of that going on, there's no doubt that many of us are a little blue.
But on the horizon things may be getting a little brighter. I put out some feelers to a few contacts and managed to turn up a teaching job in Philadelphia at St. Joseph's University (thank you Renee!), another potential gig teaching at Montclair State University (got to get on that this weekend), and I've been asked to play a role in a new play here in Bloomfield at the New Playwright's Festival. Okay, so none of that is long term (yet) or leads me back to Broadway (yet) but you've got to do something, and it might as well be something that you love.
See, that's what I think drives people finally out of this business. Not the theatre work itself, ideally that's when you should be the happiest. It's the downtime, the times when you're perhaps forced into survival work that many find soul-sucking. I've done it all too--waiting tables, cater-waitering, temping, heck, I was a personal trainer for a short while. And if that kind of stuff doesn't bother you, then you are one of the lucky ones. For me, I realized that I had to find something absolutely connected to my long-term goals or I just would lose my mind. At long last I'm starting to be able to actually find that work. I'm sure the fact that now I've been in a Broadway show, that helps with the credibility issue I felt I had. Hard to teach a class on auditioning for Broadway when you yourself have never actually been there.
So though the audition future is still a little on the bleak side, which is another mountain to climb, at least now the time in between isn't so blah. I read an interesting quote this week, which was simply, "The man who is waiting for something to happen should roll up his sleeves."
This is me, rolling.
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