mateobard

So, I'm in Nashville now, after having finished up 4 shows in Maryland and a lovely dinner with a couple of White Scarves that happened to be in the area. Tonight I go hang with my father, step mom, and possibly my Brother, his wife, and their kids. Should be fun.

I'm out of cash until Sunday, though. That's actually kind of a night mare, but one of my own making. Sigh. Anyway, after tonght, we leave for Oaklahoma City for two days. (No shows, just get to chill for a day). Then it's on to New Mexico. From there it's Kansas, and after that it's the first leg of being in Wisconsin. I won't be in Madison this time around, but we will be in Hartford and Muskego.

Attn Madison folks - I will be in Madison on October the 22nd, probably arriving around 9pm. I hope to meet up with you guys someplace. I will have more details as to where I am staying, etc, as I get closer to the date.

So, if you don't already know, as of Wednesday I will begin a national Tour playing Shere Khan in an adaptation of the Jungle Book. It's being produced by the Magik Children's Theater in San Antonio and was directed by the gent that wrote it. It's a fun, creative show, and I am really looking forward to the run.

I am not looking forward to being away from home, but that's what you get when you want to get paid to act, sometimes.

I *will* be blowing through madison, but I don't know exactly when. there are stops in MN, as well. If you are interested, you can go to www.junglebooktour.blogspot.com to keep tabs on the progress.

There is a professional tour of Beauty and the Beast currently, and they refused to part with the rights to the show, despite them not coming anywhere near San Antonio on their tour. So, no beast for me this year. Hopefully when the tour is over, they will produce the show. They had already begun set construction and props, etc. Very sad.

Ah well.

We went to the 30th Anniversary celebration this weekend. It was pretty fun, but freaking hot outside. Bleh. Ugh. Hot.

lessons learned -

1) A window AC unit, properly placed, can keep your tent both dry and cool

2) Placement is key. Water drainage can be bad.

3) There are many, many baronies in Texas.

4) Pasta/chicken/veggie salad is The Win when it comes to hot weather event food.

Hope WW was good. We missed you this weekend.

I hate having no good choices.

So, here are the travel choices -

1) Sarah and I drive up for the wedding. 4 days on the road, wear and tear to the car, approximately 600 dollars total cost including gas, hotel, food, and extras. Includes three days or so with family in Kenosha.

2) Sarah and I fly up. More expensive, less hassle on the road, no risk to car. No real chance to visit family.

3) I fly up on my own, Sarah stays home. Significantly less expensive, but no Sarah at wedding, and no visit to family.

The production of As You Like it screwed me out of a chunk of my paycheck (gogo handshake business. Time to go via contract only).

The most rational choice is also the worst choice, which is that just I fly up. Sarah, my family, and many of you are disappointed to not see Sarah, but it costs significantly less. The least rational choice is both of us fly, and the in between but expensive choice (and potentially dissasterous choice should something go funky with the car) is that we drive up.

Not a single good choice in the field. Bleh.

-Mateo

who is just whining.

Well, mostly bad news. Sarah and I will not be able to attend WW.

My mother is leaving for Florida the weekend of Zig's wedding, so in order to see family on our trip we need to come up early. This makes the already somewhat too long wait between wedding and WW even longer, and out of our reach money wise.

We love you all, and are sorry we cannot attend. We will see as many of you as possible at the wedding, will remain in Madison that Sunday, and will leave for Texas on Monday.

What's the good news? Well, we get to see folks at the wedding! Yay! 

After many books, I don't know that I can tolerate yet another "Richard Rahl simultaneously channels both Ayn Rand and Dick Cheney" novel about how eeeeeeeevil anything that isn't neo-conservative mostly libertarian happens to be.

Mr. Goodkind - pacifism requires more courage than fighting. Yes, it does. I dare you to stare down a tank and die for what you believe in without the comfort of an RPG or some other phallic symbol bravely held in hand. Or better yet, light yourself on fire in protest of government oppression.

Or here's a funny idea - have the balls to march with an oppressed, previously enslaved minority over and over, repeatedly facing clubs and dogs, hoses and shotguns, all the while teaching the power of nonviolence. Have the balls to do that before you chastize those who would seek nonviolent solutions to violent enemies. Your sword, as of these last several books, is very shy on Truth.

By the way - torture is always wrong, Mr. Goodkind, even when the heroes do it. In fact, when your hero Richard lovingly encouraged Nicci to torture that prisoner to death, he did something objectively, certainly, and quantifiably evil. Would it be morally right for Richard to rape a femal prisoner of the Order to death, in punishment for what he believes to be evil about their ideology? Is that how crazy you became in this series.

If someone has read the last two books, and can tell me if the story comes back to the foreground past the bullshit proslytizing about modern neo-conservatism, let me know. I don't think I want to spend money on another book where a once noble character devolves into beheading unarmed women and tortureing wounded prisoners to death.

Littlepasht and I are back, safe and sound, from our whirlwind return to Northshield. We were actually safe and snug at home at about 1pm, but decided to shower and pass out. It was a good decision.

I regret the lack of good byes, but with C and J hurting and all of us starving, we decided to slip out of court before the tag end in order to get out ahead of what would likely be a long session of hugs and tears. So, to all of you - love ya, be well, and see you at WW. :)

The look on Bredei's face when she saw that I had come was well worth the price of the plane ticket, and getting to participate in such a clean, pretty tournament was really great. I was also pleased to be able to see R and E step down, and S and A step up. Good times.

The end is all for you, Otis.

So, today was the final performance of Measure for Measure at St. Phillips College here in San Antonio. I played Angelo, the hypocritical villain. It's probably the most complex part I've ever played, and I am very proud of the work I did on the role. The director, who worked professionally in NY for years, had a lot of good things to say about my performance, and that's encouraging.

I couldn't help but get mad at myself for not pushing this sooner. I keep wondering if the last 10 years have given me perspective on life that I lacked when I was young. At 32, starting a career in Theater is pretty unlikely - at least, a professional career in a major venue like New York and California, and frankly, neither myself or Littlepasht want to move to either of those places.

That being said, the more I do this, the more I remember how much this kind of thing is what I am best at. So how do you make a living in theater outside of New York and California? It's a tough question.

I learned a lot on this production about acting from Vincent Hardy (the aforementioned director). I've never really had any college level acting courses, so my toolbox of technique is limited. Less so, now. And lord, do I love doing Shakespeare.

Anyway, another show closed. Not sure what's next.

If you saw me in the back of a police car, what would you think I was there for?

Answer me, then post this in your own journal (or, you know, don’t) to see how many different crimes you get accused of committing.

Right now, before my eyes.

There is an individual who I have known, over the internet, for about 8 years. He claimed with absolutely certainty that this country would never ever elect what he called a "house nigger".

I am so happy that he was so utterly wrong.

He's not a bad guy. He was speaking in terms of this country's race perceptions. He's actually a rather brilliant scholar. But he was, in the end, wrong.

That's all I got.

KING. What's he that wishes so?
My cousin Westmoreland? No, my fair cousin;
If we are mark'd to die, we are enow
To do our country loss; and if to live,
The fewer men, the greater share of honour.
God's will! I pray thee, wish not one man more.
By Jove, I am not covetous for gold,
Nor care I who doth feed upon my cost;
It yearns me not if men my garments wear;
Such outward things dwell not in my desires.
But if it be a sin to covet honour,
I am the most offending soul alive.
No, faith, my coz, wish not a man from England.
God's peace! I would not lose so great an honour
As one man more methinks would share from me
For the best hope I have. O, do not wish one more!
Rather proclaim it, Westmoreland, through my host,
That he which hath no stomach to this fight,
Let him depart; his passport shall be made,
And crowns for convoy put into his purse;
We would not die in that man's company
That fears his fellowship to die with us.
This day is call'd the feast of Crispian.
He that outlives this day, and comes safe home,
Will stand a tip-toe when this day is nam'd,
And rouse him at the name of Crispian.
He that shall live this day, and see old age,
Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbours,
And say 'To-morrow is Saint Crispian.'
Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars,
And say 'These wounds I had on Crispian's day.'
Old men forget; yet all shall be forgot,
But he'll remember, with advantages,
What feats he did that day. Then shall our names,
Familiar in his mouth as household words-
Harry the King, Bedford and Exeter,
Warwick and Talbot, Salisbury and Gloucester-
Be in their flowing cups freshly rememb'red.
This story shall the good man teach his son;
And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by,
From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be remembered-
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition;
And gentlemen in England now-a-bed
Shall think themselves accurs'd they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day.