Finally open. I have little to do now that we're open. I don't do much in the show, ensemble and some specialty stuff, but nothing of substance that takes any real preparation. Now I'm set to gear up for UPTA and get things set for some projects I'm still waiting to hear on. Remember that thing I mentioned some posts back that I needed all your goodwill for? Keep sending it, still waiting to hear. I've officially done everything I can to make it possible, so it's in God's hands now.

And the casting director's.

Anyway, it's awfully hard to stay motivated sometimes. Thinking "Sure, I COULD go finish my mailings and get in touch with someone to help me with this audition music, but I can do that after this level of BOUNTY HUNTER or WARCRAFT III... Then after a long shower... Then after I take some time on the treadmill... then... oh, it's bedtime...

Which it is. We have a "Special" student matinee tomorrow at 10am. A 10am show, that's against the laws of nature. So, to bed I must.

I have been slapped in the face by perspective.

Not the good kind, where you realize that others have it so much worse than you (which is nearly always true), but the bad kind where you realize you yourself could and should have it much better than you do. Not because you deserve it, but because someone you respect and admire points out that you've... made a miscalculation and could be much further down the path if only you'd have taken the less scenic route.

And for the last few years, my life has been all scenery and little forward motion. Let's be honest.

However, simple knowledge of this is helpful. Knowing people who point these things out is helpful.

And if the two jobs I'm working on securing right now come to fruition, that'd be REALLY helpful.

I've put the funny on hiatus until I open the show, then I'll put the links back.

We preview Friday, we open Saturday. Now that I'm pretty much settled that there are parts of the ensemble which will never be... shall we say, "crisp"... I'm just going out there, doing my stuff, and enjoying the fact that I'm sharing a dressing room with people I enjoy.

This has been a very interesting experience.

David and Amanda, our Frank and Annie, are great performers and people and we're all pretty much on the same page which is nice. Gary Sandy was to play Frank but backed out last minute, but David played Frank, Buffalo Bill, and Pawnee Bill/Wilson in the revival at different points (mostly Frank) so he's probably better anyway. Amanda's just finished touring South Pacific with Robert Goulet, and let me just say there are some stories from that.

Again, seriously, to anyone who reads this, if you can spare even one moment to send some good thoughts in our general direction, we're waiting to hear some potentially great work stuff.

I've forgotten, in all my happy times as a principal or featured performer, that ensemble can be SO much more work.

At least during rehearsals. I haven't had a free rehearsal slot between learning huge numbers, covering Frank and Pawnee Bill/Wilson. Tomorrow I don't have anything but 6:00 til 10:30. That's nice.

Here's the deal, everyone: There's a potentially really amazingly great thing workwise that has come up that could be super nice. Send your good thoughts, good karma, prayers, mantras, whatever. I can't say what it is, don't want to jinx it. Just keep us in your thoughts in that way through the end of the month if you would!

Running ragged here with the odd rehearsal schedule for "Annie Get Your Gun." To facilitate various production schedules, our eight hours don't start until 2pm; which is both good and bad. Mainly, I find it's messing with my sleep schedule. Thus when I had to get up today to go to a fitting at 11:30, it was a BIG DEAL.

Promise more writing later, nothing really to report at the moment... not because there's actually nothing to say, but because I'm TIRED. Off to fittings.

Whee.

I don't like to think of myself as an entirely superstitious person. I don't base my life around avoiding black cats or giving a percentage of my income to some church. However, I seem to fear bad juju in some forms. I am afraid to mention good things I anticipate that aren't 100% for fear of jinxing them. Not just a little fear, but a paranoid conflict between the desire to share positive energy and the idea that, once out there, it could disipate and ... disappear. So, I'm not going to say anything. Ever.

Sunday I head to KC to meet Rachel at the airport, then we'll stay overnight at our recent tourmate Lauren's family's home before flying out to Cape Fear on Monday morning.

Thought for today: Death comes for us all; sometimes it comes on rollerskates.

It was brought to my attention that the photo link on the main site is faulty right now. Here's the link until it's fixed.

Look for an actual site update/overhaul this month.

http://hometown.aol.com/scarybari/photomagraphs.html

By the time I post this, it will be 2003 in the whole of the country. Now I shall spitball the requisite top top ten list for 2002. I have two categories... "MOVIES" and "EVERYTHING"

TOP TEN MOVIES of 2002
1. Road To Perdition
2. Punchdrunk Love
3. LOTR: The Two Towers
4. Gangs of New York
5 . Signs
6. Attack of the Clones - Come on, this HAD to be on my list somewhere. I bleeeeed Star Wars, I was nursed on it.
7. My Big Fat Greek Wedding
8. Catch Me If You Can - AMAZING performance by Mr. Walken in this film, by the way. One scene alone should get him a second Oscar.
9. One Hour Photo
10.Insomnia

FILMS I'VE YET TO TO SEE IN 2002 THAT I'M SURE WILL TAKE OTHERS OFF OF THAT LIST:
Adaptation
Confessions of A Dangerous Mind ... I've been waiting for both of those films for over a year. See them!

WORST TEN MOVIES OF 2002
Why would I go see them? I think we all know that "SCOOBY DOO" likely tops that list. Let's just be realistic.

TOP TEN THINGS THAT WERE PART OF 2002
10.In April, ricotta cheese pizza. It's actually still working it's way through my system, and though I loved it I cannot imagine ever eating it again.
9. The opening night of Star Wars in May - Our tour was in Indianapolis, the line was huge, and we waited for hours playing board games. Good stuff.
8. Karaoke at the Radisson in Rapid City, SD, not two weeks ago. A great couple of nights of last hurrah bonding with a wonderful, talented group of people.
7. Being given a turtle by a park ranger in September. If they stray or are taken more than 800 yards from their home they will likely not survive unless cared for... didn't know that. Be assured that "Boxie" is now alive, loved, and well. You can love a terrapin, you just can't LOVE a terrapin. I just like saying "terrapin."
6. Saying "terrapin." No, not really. Actually I should put spending time with my family on here. God knows I don't get enough of it. But when I do, man have I had enough.
5. Finding I'm on the website listing people's favorite performers in "Chess" from my work as Anatoly in CA in 1996. No, I don't have the link, and to be fair I'm like #36, but damn it, I'm #36!
4. So many phenomenal friends gathered by my unbelievably wonderful betrothed for my birthday in July. SO great.
3. My new laptop bought with the assistance and prodding of my oldest friend in the world, Dustin... we've been "best friends" regardless of time or distance for TWENTY THREE YEARS. I think we're married in some states.
2. The blessing of continuing to be able to work in the profession of my passion.
1. Playing frickin' HAMLET, actually doing pretty damned well, and getting to play opposite some great folks.

No particular order, but number one really takes it despite all the b.s. surrounding the job. That's not part of it.

2002 was actually a pretty bad year, all around. Everyone is officially ordered to make 2003 a great year for themselves and everyone around them, you sorry bastards.