The Rest of the Story

Now that it is Friday afternoon, I have more time to spend on my blog. As promised, I will fill you in a little more on the status of "Stephanie and Michael." I think Stephanie did an excellent job of summing up the current situation. I'll just add my feelings and opinions.

Let me start off by saying that over the past six or seven months, my respect, admiration, and love have grown for a friend. As Stephanie wrote, she and I have been friends since we both auditioned for "Footloose." I knew I would love hanging out with her on that very first day of auditions. You can't help but have a smile on your face in her presence. I would be lying though if I told you that my interest in her had always remained on a "friend" level. I mean, come on. I would have been a fool not to be interested, but I honestly never thought anything would happen.

Our friendship has slowly grown and that makes it even more special to me. When I think about the last minute road trip to watch LSU play in New Orleans, the amazing night of the Masquerade Ball, the afternoon in Stephanie's backyard raking leaves and the days and nights at the theatre, I realize I have a big smile on my face and my heart is beating a little faster. Those are all experiences that I will never forget. They are also experiences that I want to continue for a long time.

That brings us to the present. Over the past few weeks, Stephanie and I have grown so much closer. Everyday, I wake up wanting to talk to her and she is the last person I want to talk to before I go to bed... and my days and nights usually begin and end just that way. When I received a callback for "Sugar" and when I was offered my new job, she was the first person I called. If a day goes by that I am not able to see her, I miss her. With all of that said, it's probably odd to hear that we are not dating. We are choosing to take things slow and remain friends. Is there a possibility of more happening? Definitely. We both acknowledge that. But like we asked ourselves... Why do we want to rush something that could last the rest of our lives?

I know she has expressed something similar to what I am about to say... The feelings I have for Stephanie are ones that I have never felt for anyone else. Even my family and friends know things are different this time, just by the way I talk about her and our relationship. If we take the next step, I will be the luckiest man in the world. I could soon start spending the rest of my life with my best friend. Who doesn't hope for that? Each night, I go to bed praying that God will strengthen our relationship and lead us down the path He wants us to take. In the meantime, I am enjoying a great friendship... a friendship I hope lasts a lifetime.

Stay Tuned

I'll start off by saying I don't think I've ever gone through a couple of weeks like I have just experienced. So many things have changed for me. I didn't know how things would turn out and there are still some questions... but things are looking great! I don't have time to write a lot right now because I have to shower and head to the theatre for "High School Musical." If you have read Stephanie's blog today, you will know why I am a happy and lucky guy. If you haven't read her blog and you're wondering what is going on between us... go read her blog. We both know who the writer in our relationship would be. I can't measure up to her in that regard. :) I will post more this afternoon. The time I have right now wouldn't do our current situation justice if I attempted to write about it. So more is coming. This morning, just know that Stephanie means the world to me and I hope to give her as much as she has given me. Thank you, Steph.

New Career?

Well, it looks like after tomorrow I may be starting a new career. I received a phone call today and was offered a job as an Account Executive at KTVE NBC10/KARD FOX14. It's a good offer with a number of perks. I told them I would think and pray about it and give them an answer tomorrow. I have a meeting with them tomorrow at 10:30am. Please pray for me and this decision and for other things going on in my life. God works in very mysterious ways. Thank you.

Start of Something New

Wow! The last few days have been busy and things don't show any signs of slowing down anytime soon. This seems like a great time to reflect. I have "Seinfeld" on TV, sunshine coming through my window and a great person on my mind. More about that later.

The preview for the YoungTroupe's "High School Musical" was held last night. I could not have been prouder of a group of kids. They all stepped up to the plate and performed their hearts out. They have also put on two school shows since last night's preview. I may have been the Assistant Director on this show, but all I really did was yell, "Be Quiet!" a few times, paint and watched a great show being put together. It's awesome to see a show like this start from scratch to become what it did last night. I've witnessed all of the hard work these kids have put into the show and I'm glad they are enjoyng the final result.

In other theatre news, we are in rehearsals for the Mystery Dinner Theatre show, "Reality Bites Back." The part I am playing is a lot different than I am used to here lately. I get to be a jerk, make people hate me and get into arguments with other cast members. I love it. Ha! I must have a "chip" on my shoulder. I also auditioned for "Sugar: Some Like it Hot" Sunday night. I'll be honest. I did okay... not as good as I wanted to though. I did get a callback for Thursday night. A key to being successful in life is knowing your strengths and weaknesses and not being blindsided by certain things. I know there are people who auditioned with better singing and dancing skills. So, if I don't get a part I want, I'm cool with that because I gave it my best shot. I'm really happy that friends and 'buddies' got in the show. Now, I know I will have fun.

Finally, I'm having the time of my life getting to know someone very special. I've been sitting here trying to come up with words to describe what is going on, but I'm at a loss. Everyone knows how much I love to talk and be the center of attention, so maybe my silence here will speak volumes................

Forget About Your Worries and Your Strife

I have a little free time right now, so I thought I would do a little blogging. Apparently I didn't blog enough over the weekend, and I heard all about it. So, I guess I need to make up for that.

(Sits down to ponder...)

You know, there are so many things in our lives that we let get to us. Some of those things are very important, some are not. We (including myself) should look at the grand scope of things. The next time something bad or devastating happens, I'm going to try to take a step back and see how big of an issue it is in the big picture. Maybe it's bad at the moment, but is it really going to ruin my life? Usually the answer is no. I know all of this is easier said than done... but it's worth a try. Just remember... baby steps.

In the meantime, listen to some words of wisdom from my pal, Baloo.

Like a Glove

Is it possible to feel so comfortable and yet so nervous all at the same time? That's what I've been asking myself recently. I cannot recall ever feeling these two emotions at the same time about the same situation. Lately, things have felt SO right. We have all played out in our heads those future events in our our lives and how we want them to unfold. It's a rare treat when they do happen that way... and it's actually happening to me right now. Over the past week or so, nothing has seemed forced or contrived. This may be the best way to describe it: It's a dance two people have learned, practiced and worked on for so many years with different partners. Then, when the time is right and the spotlight is on them, these two individuals come together and glide across the dance floor like they were meant to be here with each other at this moment in time... and it's like it was planned out like this all along. They fit each other like a glove. And for anyone who has ever seen me dance, you know there must be some divine intervention for me to dance well with anyone. :)

The situation also makes me nervous. This is real. This is my life I see unfolding before me. Will we look back on the decisions we make and say they were all worth it? Did we take too big of a risk or did we play it too safe? I'll be honest with you. When I see how big the reward could be, I am ready to take that risk. I'm ready to shoot for the moon. That doesn't mean I'm not scared to death doing it. And don't think I am relying on just my good judgement and intellect (ha!) to decide what course to take. As evidence, I may have to buy new clothes soon. I've probably worn out a couple of pair of jeans this week alone, on my knees praying about what to do. The good Lord above has His plan and knows what's best for me. Until things unfold though, I am enjoying one of the best times of my life... and it's not because of anything I've done. It's all because of a friend, who will always be my friend.

Marriage, Movies and Coca-Cola

I'm back in my chair at the YoungTroupe writing today's blog. I just finished painting some more of the set for "High School Musical." We're almost done. It's been another good day in Michael "Wayne's World." Stephanie and I had the privilege of having lunch with The Licious' (Angilicious and Markilicious Addison.) We met at PieWorks... great food. Besides my parents, if there is one other couple I would want to model my marriage after, it is theirs. Mark may not want to hear this, but I see myself being a lot like him at that point in my life... and if I can find a woman to put up with me like Angie puts up with him, then I'll be a blessed man. Even Mark admits that Angie puts up him. Seeing them together just really gives me something to look forward to whenever that time comes for me.
The rest of my evening and weekend should be great. I have "High School Musical" rehearsals this evening. Then I'm going to the movies with a great person. We always have fun together. More rehearsals tomorrow and Sunday. I'm hanging out with some other friends tomorrow night... friends I haven't seen in a while. Auditions for "Sugar: Some Like It Hot" are Sunday night. We'll see how that goes. Keep your fingers crossed for me. There is a role I really want, but if I don't get it, I'll still have fun. It's all about enjoying myself and hanging out with great people.

(I included the picture of my Coca-Cola bottle because I wanted to include a picture somewhere in this blog and because Coca-Cola is my fuel. It keeps me running day in and day out. I should be compensated by Coca-Cola for this commercial.)

Season 2?

I'm not at my usual desk or in my usual chair at home as I write today's blog. I'm in the box office at the YoungTroupe of Strauss. I've spent a good bit of the last two days at the YoungTroupe painting the set for "High School Musical." It's still a work in progress. As most of you know, I am the Assistant Director of the show... and I'm loving every minute of it. I really enjoy these kids or "young actors." They have really stepped up to the plate and will put on a great show. I've had numerous parents ask me if I am getting paid to do this. I say, "Nope, I'm doing this strictly as a volunteer." They can't believe it. I do it because I enjoy it. I appreciate this theatre and the chances it gives to so many people, including myself. By the way, the preview for "High School Musical" is Tuesday, February 26th at 6:00pm and then public shows are the first three Saturdays in March.


My day has been going well. Besides spending my day at the theatre, Stephanie and I went to lunch. It was raining, so I picked her up and we went to McDonalds. And since it was raining, we decided just to go through the drive-thru and eat in the car. As we were sitting in the drive-thru line, I noticed the license plate on the car in front of us. It read "Season 2." So, we were sitting there watching "Season 2." I didn't know I missed "Season 1." No one told me it had already aired. I didn't even know what "show" I missed. The picture was taken through my windshield, while it was raining. I just thought it was too funny.

I hope everyone is having a great day and staying dry. I'll talk to you soon.

Weekends In The Park

I've noticed something lately. When asked, I'm sure we can all come up with a list of things we want out of life. I have that list and can rattle it off anytime I am asked. What I have realized though is that you don't realize HOW MUCH you want certain things until you actually see them or see other people enjoying what you want as well.

For the past two weekends, I have had some time to kill before I had to be at the theatre or during breaks from rehearsals. Each time, the day has been beautiful. So I have driven over to Forsythe Park. I just love the scene. As you drive down Forsythe, you see friends enjoying the day playing a round of golf or playing a friendly game of tennis. As I made my way into the park, I saw a dad having lunch with his two little girls at a picnic table. Not far away, a mom was helping her three kids out of the van. As soon as they were free, they ran straight for the playground.

Next, I decided to check out the scene by the river. I drove over the levee and soon found more of the same. A couple of families had driven over into the grass. The dads and sons were tossing a football around, while the girls were sitting down and talking about clothes and nails, I'm sure. A little further down, a young couple had brought their dog and were laying down on a blanket while taking in the sunshine.

Here it is plain and simple... I want all of the above in some form. This is where it may get a little sappy for some of you. I can't wait to meet the love of my life and bring our dog(s) to the park, just to hang out and spend quality time together. My idea of perfection is only the two of us surrounded by sunshine and a light breeze with laughter and conversation in the air. I look forward to a Saturday afternoon of catch with my boys or a lunch date with my little princesses at a picnic table.

I can't wait to be a family man. I want to share the love that was passed down from my parents. If there ever was an instance where I wanted to be like them, this is it. They have shown me what love, commitment and family is all about. In the meantime, I will share that love and commitment with my great friends. So when are we going to the park? Ha!

Art Thou or Art Thou Not (A Garth Brooks Fan)

Well, it's Monday afternoon and it has been a good day to this point. I had a good morning and then went to lunch with Stephanie, The Lagniappe... but I feel it is my duty to inform everyone out there about a discovery I made today. It seems someone we all know and love is not the person we thought she was. You see, yesterday I posted a blog about how big of a Garth fan I am. It was a bold move. I risked the possibility of teasing and name-calling from my peers just to express myself. If you read the comments from that blog, you will see that the majority of the ridicule came from one Stephanie Jo Clark. After reading her comments, I expected to see her walk on water and turn water into wine. She definitely made herself out to be head and shoulders above me. (In reality, we all know she needs a few more heads and shoulders just to reach my head and shoulders.) That is beside the point. In her comments, she described my interest as a "man crush" and made people believe I have a Garth blow-up doll. That is erroneous... erroneous on all counts. This is where it gets interesting.

As I mentioned above, Stephanie and I went to lunch today. As the good friend I am, I picked her up at work. I even walked inside her place of employment to get her. Bear in mind, I did this even after she made the derogatory comments about me. I am that good of a guy. We went and had lunch. It was a great time of conversation and jokes, like only she and I can have. On the way back to her office, Stephanie decided she wanted to listen to my Garth Brooks "Ultimate Hits" CD. The disc began with track #14, "Long Neck Bottle." Oh no, that song was not good enough for Miss Clark. She instead went immediately to track #1, "Ain't Goin' Down (Till the Sun Comes Up.)" If you've had the privilege of hearing this song, you know how fast it goes... And being a non-Garth Brooks fan, you would think the listener would a.) not know the words to this song and b.) not be able to keep up with the up-tempo lyrics. Wrong on both!!! Stephanie Jo Clark sang right along... keeping up with me, a life-long Garth fan and even Mr. Brooks himself. It was like she was singing for her life. She very well could have been a back-up singer on this track.
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I just felt obligated to let you all in on this episode. So the next time you see or hear Stephanie Jo Clark make jokes about my love of Garth Brooks' music, you will see her hypocrisy for what it is. She is a closeted Garth Brooks fan! I scream it from the mountaintops.

I am including a link to the above mentioned song, "Ain't Goin' Down (Till the Sun Comes Up.)" Tell me if a non-Garth Brooks fan could keep up.

http://myspacetv.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=7361796

FYI- Watch the entire video to see the MOG (Magic of Garth). Ha!

Where Did the G in G-Wayne Come From?

Cathy Burgess made a good point about reading people's blogs to find out more about them. Sure, we know our friends... but we really discover who they are through their writings. For anyone who has just started to get to know me, you have to know about one of my big interests.

Laura Michelle laughed when I told her about the new poster I framed and put up at home. You can see the poster to the right. She also got a good laugh from my new Garth Brooks World Tour ballcap. Most people do get a good chuckle when they realize I'm a big Garth fan. I've been a fan of Garth's music going back to about 1990. Yeah, yeah... You can say what you want. There's a reason why he's the biggest selling solo recording artist in music history, selling more than 128 million albums. He's second only to The Beatles. He's an awesome entertainer. I've had the privilege of seeing him in concert three times. If you've been to a Garth concert, you know what I am talking about.






He's more than just a "Country" singer. If you listen to the lyrics of his songs or take a closer look at some of his music videos, I guarantee you will find something that hits close to home. They say that music is the soundtrack of our lives. If that is the case, there have been a lot of Garth songs playing in the background over the past 17 years.

I'm a fan of other music genres, as well. I love pop, classic rock, jazz, showtunes and much more. As long as the lyrics and/or rhythm speak to me, I'm a fan and I'll fall in love.


To give you just a taste of what I am talking about, I'll leave you with a few examples of Garth. Do me a favor and check them out. Thanks!

http://myspacetv.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=1816954

http://myspacetv.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=1801889

http://myspacetv.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=1184254

A Wealthy Man

Over the past 6 months or so, I have become a very wealthy man. Money has nothing to do with it and neither do possessions. I have made new friends that have become some of the closest that I will ever know.

One of the coolest facts is that we are so alike and yet so different all at the same time. I met all but one of them first through the Strauss Theatre... and it wasn't until we spent more time together at Strauss that I really understood the value of that one other friend. We all enjoy the theatre and being on stage. Yes, that does mean we all love attention. So you can imagine how loud and crazy it gets when we are all together.


I'll attempt to describe some of these friendships even though they are really beyond words. I may as well call one of them The Doctor because laughter really is the best medicine. No matter how low your day has sunk, he's there with just the right amount of humor to help you float back up to the top. He may be THE funniest person I know, if not he's competing for the top spot. And while he is hilarious, I can also have the most serious conversations with him. He's great at advice and because of that, it's like I have befriended a southern-fried Ghandi. I am a lucky man.

My friendship with another one of these people goes far beyond any kind of "relationship." We have been friends from the beginning and will be until the end. I believe there is a high level of mutual respect between the two of us and it makes us both want to be the best at what we do. Don't get me wrong. She and I love being together, but there are plenty of times when I am sure she wants to kill me and vice versa. We know each other's triumphs and struggles and will be there for each other during many more. The two words that keep coming to mind are love and respect.

It is hard to find the words to describe my next friendship. She and I have become very close and that means the world to me. I am in awe of her intellect and craziness, all at the same time. One minute we can talk about our favorite books or politics and the next minute go shopping for toys at Toys-R-Us. We have been there for each other through some tough times, and that's what a true friendship is all about. She'll be brutally honest with me and I love that. She's someone that I have so much in common with and yet again, not so much. That keeps our relationship interesting.

I know the words I have used do not do these people justice. You can't understand the value of their friendship until you have been in my shoes. There are other new friends that I didn't mention, only because this blog would go on and on. They all mean the world to me and have changed me for the better. I'll end this blog with a fitting and important quote:

"Be courteous to all, but intimate with few, and let those few be well tried before you give them your confidence." - George Washington

Celebrate the Day

Well, it is here. Today is Valentine's Day. While today has been just another day for me this year and in recent years, I don't knock it. If you have a special someone to celebrate Valentine's Day with, more power to you. True love can be a difficult thing to find. Keeping it new and making sure the love continues to grow can be even more difficult. Couples need all the help they can get and any excuse to celebrate love. So I say, bring on Valentine's Day. Do I have plans for Valentine's Day? Maybe. :) Who knows? I do know that I am not in a relationship. I am content with that. I either haven't met the right person at the right moment in time, or the right moment hasn't arrived for me and the person I may already know. Love is a mysterious thing. I just let it work its magic and I stay out of the way. If I get hit by the love bug, I'm sure you all will know it. So, whether you are in a relationship or not, here's to you and Valentine's Day. *Raising my glass... of Coca-Cola*

Where Am I and Who Am I?

Man! I saw the change coming, but I didn't realize how fast it was heading straight for me. It's like when you see a train coming down the tracks. You don't realize just how fast it's moving until it actually gets to you. If it seems like I am being vague, it's on purpose. I'm comfortable communicating my emotions right now, just not the facts of the moment. You would think it would be the other way around.

It may sound cliche, but recent events have caused me to take a step back and look at my place in the world. People say that all the time, but it is so true. That's why I ask, "Where am I and who am I?" A person can spend so much time and effort on something and it becomes a part of them. Hell, it may even define them. You are often advised to diversify your stocks and recently, I hope I've been diversifying myself. I am trying to diversify my time and invest it in different things. Recent events may have forced the issue even more.

Family and friends ask how I am doing. I am doing okay. For me, it's all about faith. Everything happens for a reason. God has a plan for me. I put my faith in the good Lord and He will guide me. I also could not be doing as well as I am without the help of family and some very close friends. To you, I say thank you! You know who you are and I love you for everything you do. One measure of a man's life is how many friends he has and/or the quality of those friends. By that measure, I am doing pretty darn well.

My Wish List

Sundays are often a day for me to slow down and take a deep breath. I am so busy during the rest of the week that I usually don't think, I just do. Friends and family ask me all the time why I stay so busy and do so many things. Honestly, I do it to keep my mind busy. If I have down time, my mind just speeds up and I think and think and think. That is where I was a few Sundays ago, so I thought and thought and thought.

I talk a lot about how blessed I am and how I have so many things. I do feel blessed, but I can also admit that I am not completely happy. So that causes me to ask myself, "What would make me truly happy?" I have decided to make a list of things I want. Why not? At Christmas, we're told to make a wish list. The same for our birthday. I can't expect to get what I want unless I make it known.

Professionally

1. School - This is a no-brainer. I need to finish my degree and I will start working on that in the near-future. Thankfully, I have friends and family pushing me to get this done. I can't let a handful of classes get in the way of my future.

Personally

1. Family - I have just about everything I can ask for in my family. The challenge is for me to become a better son, brother, grandson, etc. I would do anything for my family but I don't always make that evident.

2. Friends- I have been lucky to have a great group of friends over the years. Since high school though, my closest friends have moved away. So that has made it dificult to keep close relationships. I have been able to tell these individuals anything and everything. They know everything about me (the good and the not so good) and they still choose to be my best friends. They will always be just that... my best friends. What I need to do now is find people nearer to me that I can equally trust to be my close friends. Thankfully, I have started doing that. Right now, there are certain individuals who really "know" me and choose to trust me with their joys, pains, hopes, etc. I truly value these friends and hope I never do anything to make them think I don't.

3. Relationships- I guess I should say A relationship or THE relationship. This could also go along with the "friends" category above. I won't beat around the bush... I am looking for my lifelong best friend. I want to find the one who gets me inside and out.... That person I can talk to and listen to for hours and never get tired of the conversation. She has to be someone who enjoys the big kid side of me and the serious side. I'm also looking for my partner. I have big dreams and aspirations. I know I was put here for a reason. When I leave this earth, I want to leave it a better place than when I got here. I believe in service to the community and to each other. I am a firm believer in public service. That special person should be someone who makes me want to be a better person and pushes me to do everything I am capable of doing. At the same time, I want to be her partner... and push her to be the best that she can be. It's not always about what I want or she wants... it's about what we want. It won't always be easy but it calls for commitment. Commitment to each other and to our relationship. I also want a family. I come from a great family and I want my kids to have the same. Sure, we fight and have our differences... but at the end of the day, we are still a family.

So there you have it. My wish list. I hear people always say that maybe you shouldn't be too open in these blogs. Why not? It's who I am and what I want for my life. Now, let's just hope I get everything I want. :)