Make of Our Hearts One Heart…

So, it’s been a while.  All my good intentions of posting often and doing more have come to naught.  I have continued on in my normal mode, casually watching what I eat, meaning to start an exercise program, and not really doing either.  My biggest frustration in it all is trying to keep up on all of what I “should” be doing.  Have you ever tried to start a new habit?  They say you need to doing something continuously for two weeks for it to be a habit.  It hasn’t helped me to do this.  I tracked my calories daily for well over those two weeks, and then one day got frustrated and haven’t really done it with any consistency since. It just gets to be a bit of a hassle, not to mention depressing that I consistently fall below what the tracker tells me I should be eating to maintain my weight, and I don’t lose a gram.  So either they are off or my tracking is, and I’m not sure which is more demoralizing.

Anyway, Today is a very special day.  It is my 22nd anniversary.  March 3, 1989 I married my sweetheart on a very blustery, frigid day.  It was so bitterly cold outside that day, and we have the pictures to prove it.  Bright red noses, dresses blowing all over; it was COLD!  The weekend before and the weekend after were both wonderfully mild, sunny days.  But that’s the way the world turns.  Although the elements didn’t give us a wonderful day, it was still the start of a wonderful and beautiful journey.  And on that journey I have had my best friend at my side, going along with me through the storms and trials, and through the glorious times that have been the past 22 years.  I cannot say enough about how wonderful my wife is.  She first and foremost has to put up with me, and as any of you who know me can attest, that is not the easiest thing to do.  And in spite of all my short comings, foibles, and petty jealousies, she loves me.  She love me despite the fact that I am fat.  She loves me despite the fact that I am one of the most frustratingly needy egotists alive.  She loves me even though I have some of the most maddening habits and quirks of anyone I know.  She is the love of my life and the sweetest person I know.  She never does a thing out of malice or anger, and she gives more from her heart than anyone would think possible.

Out family is doing well, and progressing in their own ways in such wonderful ways.  I somehow have a feeling that this year is going to usher in some big changes for our family.  I’m not sure how, but I feel that very strongly.  And I am excited and anxious and looking forward to it all.  I am not a person given to anticipating change, but for some reason I have the feeling that the changes coming are going to be good.

Utah Opera has announced the 2011/12 season, and I am stoked!  The four operas this next season are: Fidelio by Beethoven, Rigoletto by Verdi, The Elixir of Love by Donizetti and Of Mice and Men by Floyd.  I am so excited!  All shows have chorus and all are wonderful shows.  Elixir they haven’t done since 1986.  I am so thrilled.  I only hope that I make it into all the shows.

I am also continuing in my hobby as a theater reviewer.  I have done 6 shows so far, and have another 2 coming up this month.  I’ve really having a great time getting to see shows and becoming familiar with other companies.  You can follow all the reviews at the Utah Theater Bloggers website.

Quote of the day:

“A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person. - Mignon McLaughlin”

Life on the Wicked Stage…

So here we are over two weeks since my last post.  Every morning I wake up and think, “Hey, today’s the day I start exercising!  Today’s the day I actually get it into gear.”  It never seems to work, however.  So I’m publically coming clean on my blog.  And if you read this, find some time, some way to ask me, prod me, or push me into actually accomplishing something.  I’m tired of being a huge blob, and want to be the hot thing I used to be.  (Well, hot it probably a huge exaggeration, but what are you gonna do?)

Work is getting better all the time. I finally realized that I need to make some changes in my life to be able to be happy in all aspects.  Work was a big thing.  I had come to be somewhat frustrated, but I’m working past that.  I’ve finally realized that if I’m going to happy again, I have to make it happen. 

I’ve also decided that if I’m going to improve in my writing abilities, I need to write something every day.  I want my reviews to become better, and one way to do this is to write on this every day.  So that is also my goal.  (Feel free to prod me on that, as well.)  I won’t promise to be funny or insightful every single post, but I’ll do my best.  This one, obviously, isn’t any great shakes.

I have a great opportunity coming up this weekend.  I get to review “Spamalot” on Friday and I get to see “Romeo and Juliet” this Saturday.  I’ve seen R&J in rehearsal, and it is fun.  The young man playing Romeo is now my new most hated person.  Have I told you about my most hated person?  No?  Well, let me enlighten you…

You see, being the measure of perfection that I am, from time to time I run across someone who make me want to puke and/or kill them, for one reason or another.  Usually it is someone who is attractive, in good shape, and very talented.  Three things that I hate, because it make me seem so much less than I am, if only in my own eyes.  And I find that as I get older, there seems to be a lot more of these hateful creatures on this planet every year.  This kid is phenomenal!  He is good looking, he does accents wonderfully, he is a great actor, and will steal everyone’s hearts as Romeo.  I hate him!  I’m getting to the point in my life that I am seeing roles go by that I will never have the chance to play in any decent production.  And I’m not the kind, balanced personality that can just be happy that there are people that can do it.  I want it, and it galls me that I will never achieve it.  Not really, but it does grate at times when I decide to let myself feel sorry for myself.  I know that I have many roles ahead of me, and that there will be many that I have not even considered that may come up.  But it’s never the ones that you can see that gall you, it’s the ones that are past.  (Oh, get over it!!!)

So there we are.  Go see Romeo and Juliet and join me in hoping this is only the first of a long line a shows in which to hate this young man.  I’ll post my review of Spamalot when that gets done.

Today’s quote:

“You can pick out actors by the glazed look that comes into their eyes when the conversation wanders away from themselves.”  -- Michael Wilding

I’m Baaaaaaaack!

So a new year has started, and on the 21st day of this new year, I am finally writing my first post of said year.  This year is bound to be better than last year.  I will make sure of that.  I have a new theater company to work with, a new hobby as a theater critic, and my wonderful family.  I have a renewed desire to achieve all that I can and become a better person.  Puppies and butterflies, rainbows and unicorns.  Sorry it was just getting too corny.

I am going to be better this year about all things diet and exercise.  I have a great role model in this right now: my daughter.  She is really working hard and exercising every day.  And she’s getting results. 

The new endeavor as an aspiring critic is taking off.  Here’s a quick link to my reviews: http://tinyurl.com/4drgfzj   Tell me what you think.

This is just a quick post to say I’m back. 

Today’s quote:

"The trouble with eating Italian food is that five or six days later, you’re hungry again"
- George Miller