The Seven Things Survey - Part I

A while back, Lisa filled out her "Seven Things" survey. I'm still thinking about some things...but here are the sections I have already completed. Let's just call this "Part I". Enjoy...

Seven things in your room
1. CDs
2. DVDs
3. books
4. computer
5. desk
6. mini replica of a tiffany stained-glass window
7. television

Seven things you plan to do before you die
1. visit Europe
2. visit All 50 States
3. write a play that gets produced
4. write a full-length screenplay
5. learn basic conversational American sign language
6. learn to harmonize
7. finish a mosaic picture I started two years ago

Seven favorite movies
1. Newsies
2. Singin' In The Rain
3. Memento
4. Lilo & Stitch
5. Wuthering Heights (Olivier)
6. Casablanca
7. Calamity Jane

Seven things you say the most
(pretty boring...I know)
1. cool deal
2. okie doke
3. okay
4. sure
5. ah well
6. like
7. no prob

Seven celebrity crushes
(the last two aren't current)
1. Christian Bale (c'mon...he starred in Newsies)
2. Douglas Sills
3. Brian Stokes Mitchell
4. Josh Groban
5. Orlando Bloom
6. Brad Pitt (pre-Jolie fiasco)
7. Christian Slater (back in jr. high/high school)

Feel free to link/post your own "Seven Things" in the comment section!

Go Pears!

I had lunch with a few friends last Thursday, October 20, and during the course of the conversation, we got onto the topic of the California Republic. Somehow, then mention of pears was involved in the conversation. To clarify, one friend sent me the link to a an urban legends page on snopes.com. As it turns out, the bear was not suppose to be on the California flag. Instead, it should have looked something like this:I think it's kinda cute. Perhaps we should petition to have the flag changed to what it was originally intended to be. =P

Support Deaf West Theatre

Back in January, I had the pleasure of watching Deaf West Theatre's production of Big River. They produced a show that contained both deaf and hearing actors, doubling some character parts to much success. As a result, the show was more visually stunning than its original production and gave me a greater appreciation of my ability to hear and the beauty of American Sign Language.

I had the most memorable & enjoyable theatre-going experience than I had in quite a while...comparable to when I went to a musical for the first time and when I saw my first Broadway show. When I got home, I immediately logged on to the web, and looked for the next Deaf West Theatre production I could watch.

Nine months later, that opportunity came. Tonight, I saw a play commissioned by Deaf West Theatre, entitled Open Window. It was about a young man who had been locked in the basement by his father for 12 years, and two women's attempt to introduce him into the world. Although the play was heavy on scientific terms, it proved to be a moving piece that I hope will be produced by more theatres in the near future.

If you live in Southern California, I encourage you to make the trek to the Pasadena Playhouse, to watch this wonderful piece of theatre. If you can't make it in person, you can always contribute to their effort through their website. Theatre needs to be made accessible to all...and Deaf West Theatre is essential to make this goal possible.

Close Call

Wow...I mean...wow. What a weird way to end a game. After Notre Dame fans started rushing the field, thinking they had won...officials put 7 seconds back up on the clock, since the ball had been knocked out of bounds. This was when Trojan quarterback, Matt Leinart, pushed and rolled his way into the end zone for the winning touchdown.

Congratulations, team...you'll pulled it off, while managing to give your fans massive coronaries. Oh...and special thanks go to the Irish football players who hit Matt hard enough to knock that ball out of bounds...you gave us another chance to beat you.

FIGHT ON TROJANS! BEAT THE HUSKIES!

Another One Bites The Dust

According to Playbill Online, Kate Reinders, who currently plays Glinda in the Chicago sit-down run of Wicked, broke a small bone in her foot during a recent performance. Hmmm...now where have I heard that before? Oh yeah...

"Reinders is the latest Wicked actress to suffer an onstage mishap. Kristin Chenoweth, who originated the role of Glinda, suffered a neck injury during the show's out-of-town tryout in San Francisco and wore a neck brace during part of her Broadway run. Tony Award winner Idina Menzel, who created the role of Elphaba, broke a rib during her final weekend of performances on Broadway. And, Stephanie J. Block, who plays Elphaba in the musical's national tour, suffered a back and neck injury during the tour's rehearsal period that caused her to miss several Toronto performances and the show's recent San Francisco engagement."
(full text can be found here)

So...in the event that you get cast as the lead in a production of Wicked...make sure you have health insurance!

Fair Warning To Washington & Arizona...ASU Fans Are Mean

A couple weeks ago, I had the great pleasure of traveling to Tempe, AZ, to watch the USC Trojans beat the Arizona State Sun Devils on their home field. I will refrain from talking about the blistering weather, lack of water at the concession stands, and how we had to come back to win in the second half. My focus today is on the ASU fans.

I have now had time to recoup from that weekend, so my rant will be a little tamer. All I can say is that, in general, ASU fans are just plain rude. It would take some convincing to get me back to that stadium anytime soon. Not only did they appear to be sore losers, but they were sore winners as well.

Now, it's one thing to trash talk about the opposing team...but it's quite another to vandalize. The first act of uncouthness was during the 3rd quarter. It took a bit longer than the Trojan fans expected...but our team finally took the lead during that period of time. Shortly after we scored the touchdown that put us ahead...people from the student section started throwing bottles onto the field. Pretty soon, it was raining bottles. It got so bad that an announcement was made that if it didn't stop...the ASU Sun Devils would obtain a penalty. Even after the announcement, a few bottles still trickled down. C'mon guys...this is your field! Have you no pride...or any respect for your football team? Ha...I guess not.

However bad the bottle throwing was...what happened in the 4th quarter was more personal in nature. About 10 minutes into it...ASU scored again...to put them ahead (momentarily). At this point, an ASU fan at the top of the section next to us took it upon himself to celebrate. He did this by flicking some red punch concoction into our section. In an instant, we were covered with drops of red, gooey liquid. We all immediately looked up at the offender, while his friend kept swearing he didn't do anything. At this point we were all markedly upset, stained from head to toe. And what did the ASU fans next to us do...instead of sympathizing and leaving us alone...they yelled for all of us to suck it up.

So, in addition to another WIN, we also ended up with speckled clothing. You can see what happened to our hats in this picture. Imagine an entire section of this...and not just hats, but shirts, shorts, shoes...everything. My friend's dad had a white button-down shirt on...he just had to throw it out when he got home.

So...thanks Arizona State fans...you sure made this a memorable experience. And, a note to Washington and Arizona fans...don't wear your favorite apparel to the game...and don't expect any civility to come from the ASU end. Besides, they may be meaner now that they lost their last two home games...

The Not-So-Amazing Race

If you watch The Amazing Race, but haven't seen last night's episode (October 11, 2005)...I won't reveal which team was ousted...but be warned that this may be a spoiler of sorts.

I'm trying to give The Amazing Race: Family Edition a chance, since I like the "series" in general. Let's forget the fact that it doesn't seem like these people will ever leave the U.S. I've realized by now that this is an uber-dumbed-down version of the show. But, last night's elimination really irritated me. How can they call this thing a race, if the rankings were fixed after a certain point?

Let's recap a little. While the teams were in Charleston, South Carolina, they had to finish one of two tasks and then race to the Visitor's Center to sign up for one of two buses to a "mystery location". Each bus carried 4 of the remaining teams. After riding for 8 hours, they were dropped off at their final location before the pit stop.

If you were in bus #1, you definitely made it to the next round...no problem. If you were in bus #2, your survival was based on how quickly your luggage was loaded off the bus and how fast you read the clue. Then you had to run to grab a number to wait in line for the next task, which was to sit in a human centrifuge. After each team was done, they had to go check e-mail, and then run to the pit stop. Waiting in line for the centrifuge just spaced the teams out more and made it impossible to catch up before the pit stop.

It would have been more of a race if they just made them run to the pit stop from the bus. They could have had them drive to the centrifuge...or put the pit stop in another location. I would have even been okay with it if this had been a non-elimination leg. But no...they just capped an 8-hour bus ride with a tell-tale task. Lame...

A friend of mine has already stated he would sit this season out. If I were wise, I would do the same. But alas...I guess I'm a glutton for punishment...