Scary, but not in a good, Hallowe'en way.

Warning: Off-track entry today.

This morning, I waS awakened by my housemate calling my cell phone, asking me to please come downstairs and leT her in. She had been unable to get into the house upon getting back late last night, shE had no keys.

She had no keys because she'd left them at them at the club with all her other things. She didn't remember leaVing the club. She didn't remember much, except the guy who was for some reason driving her home screaming at her, and the neighbors (whom we'd never met until this point) noticing shE was having trouble and taking her in.

When I went to open the door for her, I didn't recognize her. She was wearing a blue hooDie over her tinkerbell costume, and the hood was up. Her forehead was so swolled on the right side and her face so red from crying that ... well, it took a moment for me to recognize her. Once I did, it was clEar she'd been badly beaten.

Our other housemate and I convinced this poor girl to let us take her to the emergenCy room, and we spent most of the day there with her. She hadn't been sexually assaulted, FYI. That was a major concern, but perhaps that's why she was hurt so badly. She didn't remember liKely because of a date-rape drug, but as those leave your system so quickly no traces were found so many hours later.

Later conversations with the neighbors brought to light that they'd first noticed the problem when they lookEd out and saw the guy grab her head and smash it into his car door. The guy saw the neighbors then and took off in his white truck. When they
saw she couldn't get in to the house (bedrooms upstairs, no cell phone to wake anyone) they helped her out.

Thing is, the guy in question here - he's "a friend of [her friend's] friends" and we now know his name. We know he's a 40-something married guy who hangs out at this college-age meat-market club on a regular basis. She's not pRessing charges at this point, against the advice of the trauma physicians and everyone else. That may change.

We hate him.

It's The Most Wonderful Time...Of The Year...

Because Hallowe'en falls on a Sunday this year, last night and tonight have become the celebratory evening for many unable to appropriately mark the occasion due to a work night.

Last night I broke my own rule and donned my Superman tights for a party - usually I find such costumes outside the spirit of the holiday. It's not "Costume Day." There is a meaning behind the holiday, and I think it is just as important and relevant as any other. Dress as something scary to scare the bad juju away, basically, though of course it goes deeper than that. Princesses, baked potatoes, and Austin Powers do not fit that bill. Last night, though, it's what I had. I'll do something else tonight, if I go out, and the same tomorrow... probably Ash again, a repeat of my 2000 costume.

I LOVE HALLOWE'EN. Dig it.

Groovy. Let me know what you're all doing for the big night, or nights. Send pictures.

How am I not myself?

Music Appreciation

Go to this link and read one of the best commentaries on the current popular music culture I've read in some time.

http://www.danielamos.com/articles/amas.html

Photo Page Online

Check the links to the right of this post for the newly revised photo page. Setting up the page this way will enable me to update it much more regularly and eliminates pesky formatting issues. Check it out.

Site redux

The Site is getting a gradual makeover... look around over the next week or two, things will be different.

CD information

I've had a number of e-mails asking about CDs. There are a few remaining from the limited quantity I had at the concert. However, due to a bit of paperwork I'm still waiting on, I'm not ready to offer them "for sale" in a wide open way yet on the site. When I do, they'll likely go for about $12.50 including postage. If you want one early we might be able to work something out. Just e-mail me (even if you have already) and let me know.

Positive Energy

Thanks to the many wonderful people who attended the concert last night. It went very well, it was an amazingly positive and energizing experience. Many people bought CDsand absolutely everyone I met there was fantastic.

I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

Thanks especially to one of the best accompanists I've ever worked with - this is the second concert I've done with him , eight years later - Mr. Steve Rue. Check out his new website, www.anytracks.com

Concert tomorrow night!

Just a quick reminder, my concert is tomorrow night, details in one of the posts below. CDs will be available after the concert.

More Powerful Than a Locomotive

I woke this morning to the news that Christopher Reeve has died. The man who embodied Superman on screen and later in his own life is now free of the limitations imposed by his body since the accident that paralyzed him almost ten years ago.

I was inspired by Mr. Reeve as a child when he was the man in the cape, but more so as an adult when he so passionately fought for research that could help others with injuries such as his own. Strides were made becuse of him that might have otherwise taken decades. I hope the work will continue in his absence, in his memory. Rest in peace, Chris. 1952-2004.

Don Aid

The concert is Tuesday at 7:30, and a bunch of songs have been chosen and a brilliant accompanist has been hired. As to the where and other concert info, here's some cut-and-pasted from an e-mail I just got:

430 Eunice in El Dorado. By the way, we are Trinity United Methodist Church. There seemed to be some question on your website. There is also Trinity Episcopal in El Dorado. To get to us: From Wichita on Hwy 254 cross over the turnpike and come on in to town. Several blocks in you'll see Subway and a booth selling Mountain Mudd Coffee. Turn left there....that is Eunice Street. Three blocks more and you'll see us on your right. Phone 316/321-4235.


So, there you have it. MUSIC MAN is going well, improving nightly even. EMPEROR'S NEW CLOTHES (the kid's show) is rathe rinteresting in that we don't do it more than twice a week so it's almost constantly a surprise. Another of both tomorrow.

By the way, sorry again if I spooked the anonymous commenter with my ill-informed insistence that we had no show on the 13th.

Why has't SHAUN OF THE DEAD played anywhere around here?

They Don't Keep Me Informed.

Erk... Okay, I'd told you to check the dates, turns out I hadn't yet been told that there were workshops on both the 12th and the 13th. Oops. So there you go.

Anon E. Moose

ANNOUNCEMENT: I've been asked to do a concert on Tuesday, October 12, in El Dorado, KS. I don't have any idea what I'll be doing yet and am still looking to hire a competent accompanist. Very hard to find. So, it'll be a Trinity something-or-other church, which I'm told is a largeish place, and if you're interested e-mail me or trinity@powwwer.net with questions. IN OTHER NEWS... Anonymous person, might you be Scott Dispensa? Maybe not. I'm responding this way because unless I'm wrong I don't HAVE a show on October 13th. Check with the theatre, but that's a Wednesday - no show. Still, I'm trying to figure it out. This marks the first post made on the new laptop, which doesn't like my blogger interface and is not allowing me to hit "enter" to begin a new paragraph. Hmph. Later.

I'm a What? I'm a What?

MUSIC MAN rolls on, and we started our third week last night to a small (but friendly) house.

This morning, we open our kids' show, THE EMPEROR'S NEW CLOTHES, which is simple and fun. No big deal, just a larf for everyone involved, and some extra money.

Someone commented anonymously on my last post and I'd love to know who it was - do I know you?

I sepnt too much money the other day. First of all, My new laptop is now in my hands.... well, not RIGHT now, because I haven't had time to do anything much with it (like putting AOL on it) but I do have it and will be enjoying the magic it do very soon. Also, I now have a moshi pillow, and now wish I had an entire bed covered with moshi. If Osama had a moshi pillow he might not be so tense.

So, it's damned early (in actor world) and its time for a run of the kids show before they open the house. Bah.

Later!