"...faith like an empty hand..."

I’ve been listening to Angela McCluskey and Charlotte Martin almost exclusively, while driving in my car. Of course, you get to a point where you need to mix things up a little bit, so I decided to change to something a little less “modern.” And I decided to stick in my Les Miserables 10th Anniversary Soundtrack.

I didn’t used to be much of a cultured person. My parents were not into musical or theater so it was high school before I went to my first musical. Sure, as a kid I saw a couple community plays – some at the Children’s Museum with extended family and some at the Playhouse with school; even saw The Nutcracker, but wasn’t the same thing as being immersed in those things. And I don’t hold that against my parents. Musicals, theater, etc… is not for everyone. Not quite sure it is for me. But in high school a friend, Megan Conway, invited me to see Jesus Christ Superstar at the Orpheum. I had heard the music a couple times before, and of course was familiar with the basic storyline. It was good. The leads from the motion picture were the actual leads for the live performance. I have to say, Jesus was rather disappointing. It didn’t leave me with major impact. Later on I saw Carmen for French Club, but that wasn’t really my think. I remember the line from Pretty Woman about some people being opera people and others not. I’m not sure I am an opera person, but… there are always exceptions.

In college some friends were raving about Rent. I was a bit more conservative, value-wise, back then so I wasn’t too keen on the bisexuality and the like in the show, but somewhere along the line I listened to the music and was hooked. I was taking a drawing class to met some general ed requirement and soon found myself sketching to Phantom of the Opera. I have as yet to see that show, and so want to. I was doing some searching online today, and discovered that it’ll be showing in NYC the weekends I’ll be in the area, so hopefully I’ll be going to see a production of Phantom (something way better than the movie due out this holiday season).

My senior year I found myself getting people together to go see Rent in the Twin Cities. It was a blast! Getting all dressed up w/ a group of friends, including my girlfriend, and making an evening of it was magical. And the musical did not disappoint. It was kind of sad being in the absolute last row of the theater, but it was not a bad seat. And we got to see the entire stage, which is a little crucial to some scenes in Act One and less so in Act Two! Of course there is always a tinge of sadness when I think about the show because a week later my girlfriend broke up w/ me. That same time of year, I was hanging with a college prof. I was TAing for him for the year. Mostly I would sit in his office and we would talk. And I remember he kept playing this Les Mis CD in the background. And I got hooked. I remember Dr Fritz even preached in daily chapel on Les Mis. Don’t remember a whole lot more but that was memorable enough, eh?

I started listening to that CD this week as a change of pace, and remembered why I love this musical and why I am dying to see it in person. It was in DC 2 years ago, and I was talking w/ my girlfriend of that time about going to see it. But she had seen the show 3 other times, including once in London. And we were making plans to go see La Boheme in NYC. So we didn’t go. La Boheme was amazing. And as some people know, Rent is an adaptation of La Boheme. If you have seen Moulin Rouge, you would have loved La Boheme because it was directed by the same guy; and he used the huge L’amour sign on stage. The colors, the dancing, and even the music itself, was so entrancing. I don’t think I would call myself and opera person but I loved the performance! While in NYC I looked at buying a ticket for a matinee of Les Mis. It was $100! I should have done it because it left Broadway shortly thereafter.

Like Rent (which I saw again recently, here in Omaha and where again I sat in the last row of the theater) La Boheme is tinged w/ sadness as my girlfriend broke up w/ me shortly thereafter (a month later rather than a week later). As I was getting ready to remove Les Mis from my CD player I happened upon an ad in the OWH: one week showing of Les Mis in Sioux City, IA! Not sure how I feel about it being in Sewer City, but its not in NYC (it is in London, but doesn’t look like I’ll be getting there anytime soon). Now that I know about the show 2 months in advance maybe I can get some people to go!

Today I also discovered the Orpheum is doing a production of Aaron Copland’s The Tender Land opera. The only opera he ever composed. And being a big Copland fan I’m pretty pysched. I am hoping to go Sunday! Maybe I can even find some people to go w/ me. I remember in college seeing a production of one of the songs from The Tender Land, and falling in love w/ the music. So I think it would be great to go! I tried calling Molly, knowing she is a music fan, and considered applying for the Omaha Orchestra (sorry Molly, I can’t remember if you did or not but I do remember you thought about the Lincoln one but opted not to). But she never called me back. :) Maybe she is waiting until I called Brian w/ the tape of Scrubs from Tue night. It was good btw.

You know, it is a little sad that I’ve spent all this time recollecting about days gone by, but not much about today. Of course, not much to tell about today. Work was okay. I kept discussing w/ my boss the merits of letting me use my own laptop at work, and getting access to the network (not that he could do anything about it, but it annoys me that a million dollar business can’t do more to equip their employees). Rain sucked! And the presses were running late, so it made for a longish day, where mostly I wanted to fall asleep.

It really is weird having the parents back. The definite upside is food. I am getting good meals each day, and ones where I don’t have to pay for them, which is really good considering I’m a little short of coin now that I’ve paid my bills. I still own some money on my credit card, but I paid my college student loan, lease, etc… and I’ve paid off the remaining balance for my Best Buy card so all that is left is this lovely laptop, which will come in handy in Dec when I’m flying to and from Houston, via Denver (2 hr layover both ways).

I think I can get a free 128MB MP3 player. I wonder if it is worth it.

Played volleyball last night. Not the greatest evening in the world. First of all, I wasn’t feeling well at all. When I got there we discovered our 3rd guy, 6th player hadn’t shown. We’ve been having problems w/ Josh lately. He works for FedEx and this time of year is pretty busy for him, we all know. Last week he was looking for someone to replace him for the whole season (9 weeks long). We found someone to play for him last wk, but this wk he was supposed to be here. He didn’t show! So we were playing one person down and man could we have used his help. Josh is a decent player. He is a bit of a ball hog at times, but it is nice to have him around because he does get to the ball. He can be a bit abrasive. I’ve been hoping we would ask him not to play anymore but Laurie and Jen are big fans of him. And I can see it, when he is there. But this is not the first time he’s done this and it’s gotten worse lately.

My only consolation about last night was we at least lost to a really good team. They were bump-set-hitting it each time. We haven’t gotten to that point yet. And when we (mostly Brian) would hit it, they were right there to dig it up again. That was also frustrating because I was so on w/ my serves all night. Normally I would have had a few more ace serves than I did. During one of the first plays of the game I belly-flopped on the sand, which is not fun and something I haven’t done in years. Of course it didn’t help that my stomach was sore already. 6 plays later I was feeling better. I was so frustrated I left right after the game, came home and showered. The shower was very refreshing. I feel like my play hasn’t been great lately. I’ve noticed I’ve been backing off a little more. I keep worrying I’ll run into someone, and I noticed that some of the girls get frustrated when they don’t touch the ball enough. Maybe I’m wrong. I still do my thing – dig the ball out from the sand. I’m a back row player.

I think I’ve written more than enough for now. ER is on. I just finished watching West Wing a while ago. I love that show. At least next Wed there will be a new ep on, unlike Smallville and Lost which won’t be on at all. Darn the holidays! Especially Turkey day! :) I guess I will just have to take the advice of Jars of Clay and have a little faith.