Burning the midnight oil

Busy Busy

2007-01-27T11:27:00.000-08:00

Well all is well with us. Not a whole lot to report. Meg's store is doing great, she's really turned it around and made it profitable. I've survived the christmas rush at RadioShack. My sales have been great. So much so that I've been promoted to Assistant Manager. I've begun management training classes to prepare me to run my own store. There are seen of us in the class and one of us will be the next store manager appointed to our own store. I'll be finished with training near mid march. Other than that it's business as usual. I'll try to post a bit more regularly.

As promised...

2006-12-02T19:15:00.000-08:00

As of today I have officially begun a new career. I have accepted a position as a full time sales associate at Radio Shack. And yes it is every bit as glamourous as it sounds. But wait folks there's more. Now since I have completely trashed my previous ambitions for the future I needed a new long term plan. So here it is friends and neighbors. Meg and I are exploring the possibility of opening a "Jamba Juice" style fruit smoothie place. What's that you say? You think it sounds random? Well allow me to explain how this vision came into our lives. When Meg was working in Mountain Home idaho she used to get a cup of coffee from a place called Moxie Java every once in a while. Well one day she was feeling like a coffee before work in Brigham City, much to her dismay she discovered that not only does Brigham not have a Moxie Java- it doesn't have a coffee shop at all. So we thought , "I wonder what it would take to open a Moxie Java in Brigham City utah." We checked it out and it turns out that Moxie Java in fact has very low franchise fees. All seemed to be shaping up nicely, until we realized that we would need to make a pretty permanent home in Brigham City. Neither of us ever saw ourselves settling down there. So no big deal lets just figure out where we want to be. Well Meg's recent stay in idaho allowed us to get to know the area and we both really liked it. It's growing but not too big. So we decided we want to end up settling down in Mountain Home idaho. With that decided our next question is will another Moxie Java do well in Mountain Home? The answer is... well... no. There is already 3 Moxie Javas in the citya and it really doesn't need another one. So we were at a bit of a loss. Well what was it about a coffee shop that interested us in the first place? Basically it seemed like it was pretty realistic. There isn't a massive amount of overhead like there would be with a restaurant. It could be part of a strip mall and didn't need a big building. So we thought about other kinds of businesses that share those same qualities, yet are in need in Mountain Home. We came up with a Fruit Smoothie place. The first idea was to see if Jamba Juice offers franchise opportunities similar to Moxie Java. The don't where Moxie Java was eager to expand and offered low franchise fees, Jama Juice was expensive and very reserved in it's dealings. So we decided to look into starting our own. We would lack name recognition- but hey there's no franchise fees. I like the name Blenderz. I like it so much that I have designed a little logo for it. Even if we keep the name the logo will probably change, but I'll show it to you anyway.

We're also open to suggestions for names so don't be shy. Ok well that's about it for now. I'll try to keep up on my blog a bit better. Thanks to everybody who has been so supportive of my new decisions.

Where to begin...?

2006-11-29T08:33:00.000-08:00

Well it's been a long time since I've posted a significant blog. I'll just start this off by saying that I have decided not to go into education. I am done with the theatre portion of my classes and have been taking mostly education courses. This is where I began to have a problem. I am finding that I don't want to be a teacher. When I made the decision to go into education I was just graduating high school and wanted nothing more than anything to be an actor. Well even then I knew that I couldn't maintain a stable life and support a family acting. So I decided to be a drama teacher. Well I'm now 24 years old and in the last 7 years I feel that I may have grown out of the need to be involved with theatre. It's a great hobby and though my high school drama experience could be picked out as the single most influential event in my life- I need to find something else. Theatre has defined who I am for a long time and it will always be important to me. I used to want to teach students the major lessons in acting that helped shape me into who I have become, but I have come to realize that it's not my place to teach them. I think I'll be happy teaching my own kids the life lessons that theatre has taught me. In the mean time I need to figure out what to do with my life. I have done lots of different things as far as jobs, but nothing that would make a great career. There are lots of things I want to do but again they all seem more like hobbies. Which leaves me wondering if a job can be more than a daily grind that you tolerate for 30 or 40 plus years until you can (hopefully) retire. I'm sure I'll find something that I can tolerate, even enjoy some days. But I have to get going - more to come soon - I promise.

2006-09-29T06:50:00.000-07:00

Letting go

2006-09-10T17:06:00.000-07:00

Letting Go

Once there lived a village of creatures
along the bottom of a great crystal river.
The current of the river swept silently over them all -
young and old, rich and poor, good and evil,
the current going its own way, knowing only its own crystal self.

Each creature in its own manner clung tightly
to the twigs and rocks of the river bottom,
for clinging was their way of life,
and resisting the current what each had learned from birth.

But one creature said at last, 'I am tired of clinging.
Though I cannot see it with my eyes,
I trust that the current knows where it is going.
I shall let go, and let it take me where it will.
Clinging, I shall die of boredom.'

The other creatures laughed and said,
'Fool! Let go, and that current you worship will throw you
tumbled and smashed by the current across the rocks,
and you will die quicker than boredom!'

But the one heeded them not, and taking a breath did let go,
and at once was tumbled and smashed by the current across the rocks

Yet in time, as the creature refused to cling again,
the current lifted him free from the bottom,
and he was bruised and hurt no more.

And the creatures downstream, to whom he was a stranger, cried,
'See a miracle! A creature like ourselves, yet he flies!
See the Messiah, come to save us all!'

And the one carried in the current said, 'I am no more Messiah than you.
The river delights to lift us free, if only we dare let go.
Our true work is this voyage, this adventure.'

But they cried the more, 'Saviour!' all the while clinging
to the rocks, and when they looked again he was gone,
and they were left alone making legends of a Saviour.

I Got The (slow salesman) Blues

2006-05-17T03:16:00.000-07:00

Monday night I had an interview with my manager, who is also one of my very best friends in the world. I told him my goals for the summer and we decided that I needed to do at least 3 jobs a day for the rest of the summer for me to meet my goals. Well yesterday I got a grand total of one. Yep that's right I did one install all day. That's all most of us did, we were all only given one job for the day. Why? Because that's all there was to do that day. The salesmen are still learning too and aren't getting a whole lot of sales. Today I'll have 2 jobs but they are later in the day, so I won't be concidered for any same day jobs. I know it'll pick up and I'll be really busy soon but right now I need to be pushed it's the only way I'm going to get faster at doing these jobs.

Right now it's 5:30am and I can't sleep. The sun is starting to come up out the window. I can hear lots of birds chirping and traffic outside. Nathan (my roommate) is asleep. I think I'll go have a couple frozen waffels.

Up and at'em

2006-05-15T05:02:00.000-07:00

Well I have arrived in Plymouth MN. alive and well. This morning I may have gotten up too early this morning. My other room mates have all slept a good 30 minutes more than me. We are to meet at the shed at 7:30am to get our assigned jobs for the day. I know I'll be doing 3 jobs and they are all spread out so it should be pretty easy. I am a little worried about finding my way around. I'll let you know how it goes. I did forget one thing in utah that I will need to replace here shortly- a belt. I'll keep you posted on that. Well I need to get going my roommate is getting up.

2006-04-30T07:03:00.000-07:00

You are a
Social Liberal
(75% permissive)

and an...
Economic Liberal
(36% permissive)

You are best described as a:

Democrat

Link: The Politics Test on Ok Cupid
Also: The OkCupid Dating Persona Test

Ok Nikki now it's your turn

Click Me!

2006-04-27T19:52:00.000-07:00

Thanks Kevin

Think different- Way Different!

2006-04-07T08:16:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I heard about a move by apple that blew me away.
Since apple relished their new line of Macs that have intell processors people have been talking about trying to get windows to boot on the intell Mac. Well someone did it and now a lot of people have expressed interest in trying it. Well Apple came out with a piece of software called Boot Camp that walks you through the installation of Windows XP on your mac. I think apple wanted to save a bunch of people from messing up thier systems trying to do this install on their own. This will let people who like the Mac hardware still run Windows (though God only knows why.)

Click on the title to be linked to the MACast webcast to listen to the report.

Wow if you haven't heard about this yet...

2006-04-01T15:16:00.000-08:00

Click the title (wow if you haven't...) to see a video of this amazing dog. She only has two legs and walks around like a person. it's way cool and totaly un-natural. I wish I could find some better pictures- but this one is pretty good.

Check out the video by clicking the title or going to this link:
http://www.faiththedog.net/video.asp

Movie of my life

2006-03-29T09:21:00.000-08:00

Nice- even if not exactly a perfect match.

The Movie Of Your Life Is An Indie Flick

You do things your own way - and it's made for colorful times.
Your life hasn't turned out how anyone expected, thank goodness!

Your best movie matches: Clerks, Garden State, Napoleon Dynamite

If Your Life Was a Movie, What Genre Would It Be?

Clerks!

Yes I knew I was kermit!

2006-03-23T18:19:00.000-08:00

You Are Kermit

Hi, ho! Lovable and friendly, you get along well with everyone you know.
You're a big thinker, and sometimes you over think life's problems.
Don't worry - everyone know's it's not easy being green.
Just remember, time's fun when you're having flies!

The Muppet Personality Test

Burned out

2006-03-20T09:25:00.000-08:00

Well this last week during spring break I went to Grand Junction Colorado to install satellite dishes. It's a training program to get both salesmen and install techs ready for the demanding workload durring the summer. I was very confident when I got there and probably a little too much so. The first few jobs I did took way too long. I was struggling to get 2 jobs done a day. Others were getting 3 or 4 some got 5 or 6. I started to get really discouraged when measuring myslef against the others. Most of the people getting more done than me were veteran techs with at least 300 or more installs more than me under their belt. All in all I think I did well. I made about 1100 dollars, so it's still more than I would have made working at wingers. I will only get faster and better at this. The summer will be more productive than it would have been if I had not gotten this training now.

Unhappy Landings (don't worry the only thing that was injured was my pride.)

2006-03-07T12:00:00.000-08:00

So I have finished my training with Dish Network. I observed 6 installs before heading out on my own. I had one job that was really simple that took me like 3 hours when it should have taken 2. Then I was sent to do another job, but they canceled on me. So I was given a job yesterday that I should have had no trouble with. I headed strait there after I got done teaching my class at 5pm. I arrived about 5:20, and was happy to get the inside stuff done by like 5:35. I headed up to the roof to mount the dish and then began my problems. First of all it was raining. It was also getting dark. I wasn't too worried about the rain or the dark. The roof was covered with wooden shingels- and were slippery. I was wearing my good shoes and felt pretty good walking around the roof. The bigger problem was mounting the mast to the wooden shingels. They didn't lie flat and so my mast wasn't level I thought I could compensate and it would be ok, but it proved to be a bigger problem than I thought. After trying to get a signal for about 3 hours and only getting a 67 on the 119 and nothing on the 110 I went back up to move the mast. I figured the time had come to admit that I couldn't get a good signal until made the mast level. So I took the Dish off of the mast and set it on the roof in front of me. I moved the mast, got it level and reached to put my drill down to grab the dish. When I put my drill down the dish slid a few inches down the roof and I froze. I moved slowely toward the dish to grab it but it started sliding and before I knew it I was scooting down the roof on my butt after the dish trying to catch it before it fell off. I myself started sliding and just as I saw the dish fall off the roof I was stopped by the rain gutter, if it haden't been for that I would have wound up on the pavement next to the dish. The customer was (rightly) conserned that the equipment had been damaged in the fall and wished to re-schedual for Saturday morning. I gathered my things and left feeling like a failure. I should have been able to do it. It's not like I don't know what I was doing wrong. I needed to get the mast level and point the dish better. I have to get someone to switch shifts with me for saturday because wingers has me scheduled for that morning.

Until then...

Long overdue update

2006-02-14T22:13:00.000-08:00

I know it's been almost a month since my last posting but to tell the truth, I don't have much to report. I've done 6 training installs with Dish Network and I'm looking forward to the check for that. I am inching closer everyday to the preformance of my classes out at north cache. I am seriously considering getting a new car- well SUV. Pathfinder specificly.

That's it. I won't give the specs, but I'll say we are interested enough to take it and drive it for a day so it's in the driveway right now. I'm gonna take it around tomorrow and see how I like it. I'll fill y'all in when that time comes.

Until then...

Parking issues

2006-01-23T09:23:00.000-08:00

I hate the parking game here at USU. People think that they can sit ideling in the middle of an aisle of parking spaces making it impossible for anyone to get around them. They do this because they are jerks. These people think that because they are steaking out the area- then any space to open up should be theirs. However, I think that if I come across a car backing out of a spot then I can take it if I am able. Ok I'll admit it I snaked a parking spot. But I don't feel bad about it. The black Jetta sure feels bad about it. Anyway I hope I don't get keyed.

2 best things about theatre...

2006-01-20T09:28:00.000-08:00

They say the two best things about the theatre is that the show must open and that the show must close. I wish in this case it was just a little longer between the two events. Tonight we open "Lonestar" a one act I've been rehearsing for a number of weeks, and tomorrow night we close it. I'm excited and a little nervous. I am also looking forward to seeing "Unwrap you candy" another one act performing after us both nights.

On a differant note I bought my ladder today. I have been looking for one since I signed on to install dish this summer. I wanted a ladder that would get me at least 17 feet high for most roofs, but I was hoping for one that had an even longer reach. The trick is fitting it in the back of my little Nissan Pickup. I decided I had to get a telescoping ladder like a little giant but I didn't want to pay $400 for it. So I got a knock of Werner brand one that reaches 22ft and was only $200. I hope I will get to use it soon. The snow really needs to go away, but that in time will happen.

Chains, chains- shackles and chains

2006-01-19T14:09:00.000-08:00

Logan got HIT with snow yesterday. It took me almost 20 minutes to get to campus sliding all over the road. After I saw a few fender benders and was lucky enough to not be in any of them. I decided to put the chains on my tires. Just as I got them on the clouds parted, the snow stopped, and the roads got cleared. I got lots of odd looks from people as I drove by with the chains on. I left them on thinking we'd get dumped on while I was at wingers, but no. I finally broke down and removed them this morning. So I'm sorry to anybody in Logan we're probably gonna get dumped on again. That's about all for now.

I know it's time for an update

2006-01-19T10:48:00.000-08:00

I just don't have the time- give me an hour.

Summer plans (Made in January)

2006-01-08T13:03:00.000-08:00

Well I have decided to go away again this summer. No not away to camp again though I was asked to return to Takajo and had to turn them down. While the experience of being a camp counselor was rewarding it was not lucrative at all. I don't think I lost any money but I didn't make much for that many hours of hard work. The entire time I was away in Maine, Todd an old buddy of mine (and best man at my wedding,) had also traveled away for the summer and installing Dish network satellite systems. He however came back to Utah $20,000 richer. After working for 100 days he had made more than I make in a year. He asked me to go out next summer with him, but I said no. This summer was supposed to be my first summer with my wife, however the more I thought about it the more I realized how much we could use $20,000. We could pay off the Xterra, the credit card, and still have some left to invest, or put in savings. The point is that I am going, and I my goal is not to make $20,000, but $30,000 and I can do it. When Todd went out his first month he made 60 installs, in his second it was close to 140. That's because before he left he had done only 1 install and pretty much had to learn on the job. I will be training for a couple months before I even leave Logan. Todd did 312 installs. I plan to do at least 350- maybe 400 if I do 400 I should make $36,000. I know it sounds too good to be true and if I was hearing about it on someones blog I would wish them luck and hope they don't get screwed, but I've seen it work. It's a pay per job system you have to work your ass off to make the good money. I'm talking 80 hours a week, all day every day. It's dirty, hard, frustrating work, crawling around in peoples attics and under houses not to mention of course rooftops. And it doesn't pay if you go home early. You have to stick it out.

Here are the specifics.

- I leave a few days after spring semester gets out here at Utah State.
- I travel (on my own dime) out to wherever I'm working. (possibly Denver, CO.)
- I have to buy all my own tools (but they supply a tool kit at a good price)
- My housing is arranged and rent is taken out of my check $400 a month
-However $400 is paid back to you for every 100 installs.
- I have to use my own vehicle.
- I'll be paid as an independent contractor and therefore no taxes will be taken out.
- However I plan to keep all my receipts, and track all of my mileage to deduct from taxes.
- I have to be apart from my wife for 4 months.
- I get paid twice a month not in one lump sum like Takajo.
- We need more people. If we want to go to Denver Todd has to get another 7 or 8 people to sign on.
- If we are in Denver Meg and Amy (Todds wife) will be able to fly out to see us for next to nothing.)

For more information leave me a comment and I'll try to answer any questions you may have or let you talk to someone who can.

Art imitates life

2006-01-01T19:20:00.000-08:00

Am I the only one for whom this hits oddly close to home.

update

2005-12-28T13:24:00.000-08:00

Meg durring the filming of Tomb Raider 3.

Makes a good Desktop background

2005-12-26T17:00:00.000-08:00

Thanks Frank

2005-12-20T19:16:00.000-08:00

Wanna hear something funny?

2005-12-17T08:16:00.000-08:00

So first- a little exposition. We have 2 cats Mischief and iCat. Mischiefs favorite toy is this little rag mouse tied to a string. It started about 10 feet long but because it got tangled and knotted, it's been cut down to about 3 feet now. So Mischief carried it into the living room and lost interest. iCat then grabbed it and brought it up on the couch. Went back to watching T.V. and reading blogs. The next time I look at iCat he has the mouse dangling out of his mouth, so I figure he was holding it by the tail and wants to play tug a war. Well I pull on it and he's not biting on anything he had swallowed the string right up to the mouse. So I keep pulling end up with the whole 3 feet coming out covered with slime. Neither of us was very happy with the way that turned out.

This looks fun

2005-12-12T07:50:00.000-08:00

Click on the title "This looks fun" for a Vid. WMV format.

Here's a video of some guys flying a couple radio controled airplanes in an indoor gym. I'd like to get into something like that. Maybe building model planes. It's a bit cheaper.

By the way they are flying a North American F-86 sabre and a soviet Mig15 these two planes are both designed from the same German data uncovered in WW2 and were very closely matched. Both aircraft were excelent fighters but I think the North American was prettier.

Boning up

2005-12-12T05:07:00.000-08:00

Good morning early risers. It's just after 6am here in the great state of Utah and today is officially the fist day of finals week. Yes ladies and gentlemen it's a bitter sweet feeling to know that I only have 2 days left of class- be that for better or worse. I am nose deep in aviation this morning. The picture you see here is of a Boeing 707 one of the first jetliners to appear in the American skies. The 707 started it's life as the 367-80 or "Dash 80" as Boeing called it. With no military contract and no comertial airlines deals Boeing paid for the plane out of pocket to the tune of $16 million. The prototype was featured in an air show right away and caught the eye of the army which picked up a contract for what it called the KC-135 Jet tanker. Boeing was also given a contract to build the comertial version, the pictured 707-120. Douglas Aircraft not to be out done entered the marked one year later with the DC-8. Purportedly larger and faster, (than the 707) the DC-8 out sold the 707 out of the gate. Boeing however countered with a slightly larger version- the 707-320 with new engines that made it faster than the DC-8. Convair also tried to get in on the jetliner market with the 880 a medium sized jet that cruised at Mach .87 making it faster than both the 707 and DC-8. The 880 was however a late comer in the market and most airlines had already spent their budgets for new aircraft. While the other companies (Boeing, Douglas) spent quite a lot of money in developing the jetliners they still made a large profit while Convair had an estimated loss of $425 million. So while the 707 wasn't the very first jetliner it won the battle for industry dominance. So there is your daily dose of aviation history. I also really enjoyed learning about the creation of the Northrup Grumman B-2 Stealth Bomber.

But that's another post.

Aren't there enough Christmas songs?

2005-12-07T07:23:00.000-08:00

There have been times when I've been mistaken for a scrooge with little or no "Christmas spirit." The truth is that I love Christmas. I like Christmas dinners, Christmas trees, Christmas lights, and Christmas music. That's right I said it I like Christmas music. Maybe it's because it's about hope, and childish wonder, and being all bundled up and snuggling with a loved one near an open fire, but it's probably because we only hear most of the songs for a few months out of the year so they don't get old as fast. There is, however, one song that is often played during the winter holidays that puts me into a fit of anger and produces a string of profanity that would make a sailor blush. "Rain drops on roses and wishers on kittens..." the song "Favorite things" from the musical The Sound of Music. People this is not a Christmas song. This is a show tune, and it's being taken completely out of context. First of all The Sound of Music has nothing to do with Christmas and Maria who sings the song in the show is not talking about getting her "favorite things" from a big fat guy in a fuzzy red suit. The children in the Vontrap family are frightened by a loud thunderstorm and to make them feel better Maria, (their live in nanny/aspiring nun) sings them a song about things that make people feel good. Nowhere is there any mention of magical snow people leading a parade threw town or a miniature slave race maufacturing toys for a rushed delivery made by an overweight man who rides in a sleigh pulled by flying mammals- sorry magical flying mammals. This is the point where people usually tell me to be quiet and insist that I hate Christmas music sending me out of the room with my tail between my legs to a chorus of bah-humbugs. I am here to set the record strait once and for all that I do in fact love Christmas music. Sleigh ride, winter wonderland, grandma got run over by a reindeer, hell even feliece navidad, but I don't care what you say the song Favorite things isn't a Christmas song. And I for one will not rest until the world is made aware of this grievous error. And... well I guess this is on the internet and that's kind of world wide, so... I guess I did what I set out to do. Well yeah that's about it.

So tune in next time for more adventures.
Same Blog time Same Blog channel.
Until then this is Ryanhall signing off.

I passed

2005-12-07T07:21:00.000-08:00

I passed my writing exam. They don't tell you what your score was, but I guess it was good enough. Today I have another meeting with my advisor to decide what classes I have to take next semester.

Writing exam

2005-12-01T16:36:00.000-08:00

Well it's done for better or worse I've taken the writing exam. I had to write an essay about the positive or negative effects of grade inflation. That basically means that now days an A is easier to get than it used to be and C's are seen as more as an F. It's timed and I took too long writing it I didn't get a chace to proof read it. I don't know how long it takes to get the results but I did manage to email a copy of my paper to myself. So for all of you out there who want are just dyeing to point out my mistakes here it is:

Ryan Junius Hall
A…837
Prompt 7

Many parents make a deal with their children when report card time comes. They agree to pay them a certain amount of money for each A, a lesser amount for each B, a C grade usually warrants little if any money and a D or F usually requires that the children pay back money to the parents. For many years that system would have worked fine, but in recent times an A grade has become much easier to attain. The result isn’t only a generation of children with some extra money burning a hole in their collective pockets, but a generation that has been done a great wrong by awarding high grades too easily. This essay will show how the inflation of grades causes students to advance too quickly, never letting them fully understand the subject matter, negatively effects their grade point averages and chances of attending colleges and universities, and has become a very difficult situation to resolve.
When I teacher creates a lesson plan to cover certain curriculum they always assume every student will understand a progress at the same rate. There is always more information to cover than time in which to cover it. By grading too generously a teacher runs the risk of advancing a student to a level for which they may not be ready. This has been seen in many cases where an illiterate student can pass from class to class and even out into the workforce without anybody suspecting that they are unable to read, at which point it is unlikely that they will ever learn. Teachers want in their hearts to give every student a gold star and let them know that they are smart and be encouraging, so it’s only natural for teachers to want to inflate grades to make their students feel better. Sadly few know how much it is really hurting them.
One way that inflating grades hurts students is in their grade point average. I know that it seems counterintuitive for higher grades to have a negative effect on a grade point average. It is in fact the grade point average that has a negative effect. When a student is looking at attending a college or university they submit an application that among other things lists their grade point average. They will be evaluated and compared with other students based on this one number. When a grade point average has been inflated it gives those students an advantage over others who may have worked just has hard or harder at schoolwork. The situation can become dangerous when schools with high numbers of students being rejected by colleges try to give their students an edge give higher grades to help them get into colleges, therefore raising the magnitude of the damage.
The damage caused by grade inflation has risen to the point where it is going to be very difficult to reverse. The problem is that if teachers are really going to help their students they need to grade them fairly, however the effect of that can be just as damaging. When one student is receiving fair grades and others are still receiving inflated grades they will be at a severe disadvantage when universities compare those students against one another. Again we see a teacher only trying to help a child by grading them fairly. Should teachers have to choose the lesser of two evils?
No teacher should have to choose between giving a fair grade or an inflated one. The problem with grade inflation is that it seems to be a positive thing to do for a student, when it is in fact harmful. A child may not be ready to move on but is advanced anyway leaving him further and further behind with every year. Even more harmful than advancing a child prematurely is inflating a grade point average to help a student be accepted into a university. This requires that other teachers and schools do the same thing until the situation is beyond reversal. The fact is that not just more but all teachers need to be fair. If they really care about making their student lives better they should show it with tough love. Only then can we hope to reverse the damage done by grade inflation.

That's it hope you enjoyed it.
I'll let 'yall know if I passed.

Loose ends

2005-11-29T15:19:00.000-08:00

This week I've been running around trying to get everything in order to enter the college of eduaction and start my "level 1" classes. Before that can happen I have to:
1: take a speech and hearing test.
2: take a writing exam.
3: submit to a criminal background check, and fingerprinting.
4: Print off my trasnscript.
I've arranged to take the writing exam as well as the speech and hearing test thursday after work. The background check costs 70 bucks so I have to wait for a few days to take care of that. As for the transcript, that's simple. There's another problem the level one classes consist of either a Theatre or history meathods class and a clincal that consists of 30 hours in a classroom. Only there isn't a theare meathods taught this spring so it would have to be history and you have to do the clinical at the same time you take the meathods class- here's the kicker- the history meathods class is taught from 4-7pm and that's durring my class. So I can't do that. Which means that I have to take 2 meathods classes next semester which can be done but is very hard, however it's that or put off entering the program until fall semester. So I'm wating to hear from my theatre advisor about arranging a theatre clinical this spring...
Well that's what I'm working on.
Oh yeah and a couple papers.

Walking in a winter wonderland

2005-11-28T07:40:00.000-08:00

Last night after an entire day of pretty much sitting around the house, Meg and I went for a walk. Those of you who live in Logan know that it snowed the night before. There wasn't much snow on the ground but there was enough to remind you that it is indeed winter. It was nice to get out and walk, we went a good 2 or 3 miles we need to drive it and see. I've been trying to find some Christmas music the last couple days. Some of the readers of this blog will understand what I mean when I say that to me there is a particular "sound" of Christmas. In my house, growing up there was always the same music on around Christmas. I was lucky enough to find a handful of those songs using certain internet resources that may or may not be on the up and up- if you know what I mean. There are however a number of songs that I'll probably never find, but that's ok I'll find lots of others that I will find lots of others that I like too. So it's back to school today and here I am in my marriage and family relations class, today is a lecture on divorce and separation- it's also a reminder to me that it's time to crack the books. Well that's just about it for now. Click on the title "Walking in a winter wonderland" for a fun Christmas surprise.

Angry Flesh

2005-11-23T12:22:00.000-08:00

Well I went into the oral surgeons office and sure enough I had dry socket and my jaw bone was exposed causing LOTS of pain. However he packed the hole with some hard cotton covered in a clove tasting chemical. At first it hurt quite a lot. I've been trying to keep food out of the hole for a week, and here he is shoving cotton down it, but after a few minutes it was great it was like I didn't even have a hole in my head surrounded by angry flesh. The rest of the day was fine but tuesday morning the cotton fell out, and I thought that it would start hurting again but the pain didn't come back. I went in this moring just to make sure everything is healing well and the Doc says eveything is fine. On a differant note- Thanksgiving is tomorrow and Meg and I are heading to Malad for dinner with her family. So look forward to a post about that.

Oh that reminds me I need to head out and pick up a bottle of wine for tomorrow.
Until then.

Let me think of something clever

2005-11-21T08:20:00.000-08:00

So as I was riding my frost covered bike to class I relaized that I would soon be walking everywhere on campus soon. It takes me about 15 mins to walk (in the snow) from my truck to Old Main, on a bike it takes about 4 needless to say, I am not looking forward to the comming snow. But enough about that. I think I have dry socket. It's a very common complication from wisdome tooth extraction, here's what WebMd has to say about it

Dry socket. Dry socket is a common complication that occurs when either a blood clot has failed to form in the extracted tooth socket or else the blood clot that did form has been dislodged. Without clot formation, healing will be delayed. When it happens, dry socket typically occurs 3 or 4 days following the extraction and is accompanied by pain (ranging from "dull" to moderate to severe) and a foul mouth odor. Your dentist or oral surgeon will treat the dry socket by placing a medicated dressing in the socket. Dressing will need to be removed and replaced every 24 hours until symptoms subside.

-and to add insult to injury (punny) the pain killers they prescribed me (Vicaprofen- at 25 bucks for 14 pills) don't even work, 3 ibuprofen work better. I think I can see my jawbone at the back of the hole. They didn't schedule me a follow up so I'm going to call them today. Well more to come on that I'm about to start history of aviation class- today is a discusion of "aviation in an era of terrorism" or at least that's what the syllabus says.

All's well that ends... we won't go there.

2005-11-15T17:42:00.000-08:00

So there I was about to undergo surgery with only minor anithetic, when the doctor says, "Would you like some laughing gas?" To which I responded, "Oh no I can't afford the extra money to be put out." Then he tells me that it's no charge and just makes you a little less anxious for the shots. So I said "Sure." Let me tell you by the time he gave me the shots I was high as a flipping kite. I was left alone in the room while this stuff was taking effect and when it did I began talking to myself out loud. Things a persons says when they're drunk like, "Oh man I really shouldn't drive," or using the thing over my nose as a darth vader mask and doing a really great impression. But then it started to get scary I was worried that I would pass out. I started to see big black dots and my hearing went real quiet just as he came in to begin the procedure. I asked him in a voice that sounded like it was in slow motion, "Should I be feeling like I'm gonna pass out?" He said he'd turn the gas down and it got lots better. I was impressed by how fast he was done. Everything went well and I drove home- (that was fun.) The effects of the gas wore off before too long, the novicane on the other hand took for ever but when it did. -OUCH #?!%$#"($) that's right it hurt. The pills they gave me at 25 bucks for 14 of them are supposed to be really good but I was so nausious that I didn't really appreciate it before I threw it up. I didn't take anything for the pain all day (which included work at wingers and a dress rehearsal of the play my class is to perform thursday) until I got home around 6 and took just 2 ibuprofen and it feels much better. For now I'm gonna head upstairs and watch a bit of the TV with Meg.

Under the knife

2005-11-14T08:10:00.000-08:00

The time has come the walrus said to talk of many things,
Like wisdom teeth that must come out,
Of chicken breasts and wings.

Ladies and Gentleman, boys and girls, children of all ages- today I become slightly less wise. Yes at 11am (just under 2 hours from now) I will undertake heroic (routine) surgery, and will remain conscious (but numb) throughout the entire operation. I would just like to let the important people in my life know that I Iove them. So important people... I love you. If anything should happen to me. Legally everything goes to my lovely wife Meg, however I feel that it is important to instruct that the stereo that belonged to my late father be given to my sister Nichelle. As for any other property Meg is free to do as she wishes. I only ask that she sue the ever loving pants off of the oral surgeon and make the malpractice insurance that makes a 45 minute procedure cost 300 dollars worth it. I Ryan Junius Hall do write this blog myself being of sound mind and body, (well a little soggy around the midsection) on this fourteenth day of November in the year of our lord two thousand and five. With liberty and justice for all. God bless us every one. Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night. And they all lived happily ever after. Amen. Play ball!

So mad...

2005-11-07T10:59:00.000-08:00

I was going to write a posting about how expensive dentists are, in fact I did write one, but it didn't show up on my blog. Now I'm going to write about how annoying it is when you take an hour writing a post and then some cyber glitch comes along and messes it up. That's an hour of my life I'm never going to get back. (ok so it was more like 20 minutes, and I was instant messaging at the same time) So that's my post- I'm due to get my wisdom teeth out next week so look forward to that update. Until then I'm going to take full advantage of my wisdom whilst I still have it.

Halloween pics

2005-11-01T18:06:00.000-08:00

Plan C

2005-10-31T06:40:00.000-08:00

It seems like poor Halloween always gets moved to whenever it's appropriate for the majority of the population. If it's supposed to be on a Sunday, kids are out asking for candy on Saturday night. I wish they could just celebrate the holiday on the right night. Ok so my rant was to shift blame from myself to well anybody else. See we missed the Howl, because I didn't know it was on a Saturday night I just assumed that it would be on Halloween. So that's not gonna happen, but we did put a lot of effort into our costumes and we're gonna go somewhere. Going to Salt lake may not happen but we'll figure it out.

Ok, now because it is Halloween I can finely reveal our costumes. I am going to be TRON

and Meg is gonna be Josie from Josie and the pussy cats.

More pics to come of us.

Plan B

2005-10-27T06:46:00.000-07:00

The Halloween party we wanted to go to was sold out, so this is plan B.

It's a Halloween party put on by Utah State University, so no masks, no wepons, no alchohol, etc...
Click on the title of the post "Plan B" to learn more about it.

Ok Nikki this is what I'm hoping to do for Halloween.

2005-10-24T08:55:00.001-07:00

nothing much to report

2005-10-23T18:14:00.000-07:00

I don't have much to say but I do have a halloween update. Meg and I went shopping the other day for costumes. We are going as 2 movie characters from differant movies. That's all the hints for now I want to suprise you with pictures when the time comes, but this will be the most creative costume I've ever made.

Found...

2005-10-19T12:51:00.000-07:00

So I found my cell phone. I feel better.

Lost not found... yet

2005-10-19T11:32:00.000-07:00

I can't find my cell phone.

Results

2005-10-18T20:14:00.000-07:00

Thanks Frank I bow to your superior intellect.

Click on the title to see what Frank got.

Lryics

2005-10-17T07:55:00.001-07:00

I've had a song stuck in my head the last couple days. Mainly 'cause it's catchy as hell. I've been toying with the idea of doing a lesson in class about disecting lyrics of songs and figuring out what the singer is really trying to say. I want to use this song becuase it's stuck in my head but it's probably not apropreate. But my blog audiance is a little more mature (at least some of you. J/K) So here it is. All the chorus parts have been removed except for the last one, and punctuation has been added.

" Am I more than you bargained for yet? I've been dying to tell you, anything you want to hear. Cause that's just who I am this week. Lie in the grass, next to the mausoleum. I'm just a notch in your bedpost. But you're just a line in a song. Drop a heart, break a name. We're always sleeping in, and sleeping for the wrong team.
Is this more than you bargained for yet? Oh don't mind me I'm watching you two from the closet. Wishing to be the friction in your jeans. Isn't it messed up how I'm just dying to be him? I'm just a notch in your bedpost, But you're just a line in a song. Drop a heart, break a name. We're always sleeping in, and sleeping for the wrong team.
We're going down, down in an earlier round, and Sugar, we're going down swinging. I'll be your number one with a bullet. A loaded gun complex- cock it and pull it."

Night at the Opera

2005-10-15T15:07:00.000-07:00

I had the opportunity to go see Romeo and Juliet (the opera) the other night with my drama class (that I teach). Meg came too as well as 2 other adults, but the other 15 were students. It was really very fun and we all had a great time. Not much to report about it, it was pretty good but I didn't love it. I'd rather see musical theatre than opera anyday- just a differant style. The best part is that I was being paid for it- 10 hours on the clock. Yesterday we bought a "Cat Cave" for the kitties. They seem to like it- for the price they should. That's about it, halloween comming up, not sure what we're doing yet.

My sister still owes me a birthday present.

2005-10-12T10:17:00.000-07:00

Anniversary

2005-10-04T19:58:00.000-07:00

Today is the third anniversary of my Fathers death, and while I've of course been thinking of him all day long. I have also been thinking of my Mom. Even before my Fathers death I always wanted to make him proud, to be like him, to be kind of man he was.

However in the years since my Dads passing I have become more aware of how truly wonderful my Mother is. She's the one who always knew how to make it work. She tried to always let us know she loved us, even during a fight. Her wisdom comes in sort phrases. "If you fight over it you'll lose it." "Can't means won't and won't means never will." and "Psssst- means I love you (no matter how it sounds.)" Her strength when things seem so dark is inspirational, and not just to me but other members of the family who witness it. I know she will read this, but that's not why I'm writing it, and I know I should be writing about Dad, but I wanted to share how special my Mother is to me and how fortunate I am to have her in my life. I want to work hard and be the kind of man my Father would be proud of, but I also want to make my Mother proud, because I am so proud of her. She had the strength to pick herself up in her darkest hour and change her life for the better, regardless of what others may have thought at the time. So Mom I guess what I'm trying to say is "Muchas Gracias a Mamasita."

It's raining it's pouring

2005-10-03T08:30:00.000-07:00

That's about it.

Couple Close Calls (your daily alliteration)

2005-09-28T10:35:00.000-07:00

So I hit a deer the other night. Meg and I were coming home from Tremonton and 2 deer ran out in front of me, I couldn't have avoided it. As it was I only did "minimal" damage to the truck, hitting it on the drivers side rather than square on so it didn't come up and over the hood. I had to do some wiring to get the head light to work because the impact severed the wires on the connecter, but it's done and working fine. I should actually be able to get it to pass inspection this week (the turn signal is in the bumper and works fine.) Both Meg and I are fine not even any neck pain. I'm in the process of ordering a new fender and grill I should be able to bend the bumper back. (more alliteration.)

Another close call was that our land lord stopped by this afternoon to change the filters in the furnace, so I had to scramble everything that said we have a cat and hide it in the computer room upstairs. She came and left without so much as a concerned look or sniff.

Happy Birthday to me

2005-09-22T18:10:00.000-07:00

Well it's my birthday today. I am 23 and it's been a great day. I went to work at wingers and then headed up to North Cache for my class. Today was a game day, we were in the middle of a game of party quirks when the weight training class challenged us to a game of Kick Ball. We got our asses handed to us but it was really fun. My class were really good sports and tried hard even though we were bound to lose. I just ate a steak as big as my head and I still have German Chocolate cake to eat. Yummy.

more pics

2005-09-20T09:00:00.000-07:00

Paperwork

2005-09-20T08:50:00.000-07:00

This morning I had to go to the cache conty school district office and get fingerprinted and sign a paper that said that they could do a background check on me. It was really quick I was in and out in like 20 minutes. They have a lot of people to do today so I went early. Well today I teach my class again, we'll try to get a basic story-line drafted. This lets me go into teaching the elements of a story. Rising action, climax, resolution, etc. That should take up a couple hours.

Treading Water

2005-09-19T08:28:00.000-07:00

For now I'm ok, I'm bearly keeping afloat in my sea of homework. I am having a better time at wingers. It's still not much money but I did get a raise. My class (that I teach) is going really well. We are writing a musical using Pop songs. We decided to make it about a servent or group of servents in a castle that witness fairy tales happening, like one day a miller brings his daughter in because she can spin straw into gold and the servents witness her interaction with Rumplestiltskin. I'm thinking "can't buy me love" might be a nice choice for that one. Well class is about to start. Thanks for the pics Nikki, it's almost like being there. How about an update Mom? J/K

Swampped- cont.

2005-09-16T09:30:00.000-07:00

So I just had to take a test on the book that I haven't read. It was only worth 10 points but it's still gonna hurt. I also need to write a paper for my Marrage and family relations class about a couple that I observed growing up, and comment on good communication techniques and bad ones and how I would try to use those techniques in my marrage. For me it's my parents but for others it's step parents or uncles or whatever. That too is due at the end of the month. I have to get to work.

Swampped

2005-09-16T08:31:00.000-07:00

I have really loaded myself up this semester. I have to read a book called the Bishops Boys about the life of Orvile and Wilbur Wright. A book called Peoples of a spacious land about english colonies in the Maine area. On top of that I have to do reading of a couple chapters in my history of aviation class and my early american history class. I should but don't read in my marrage-family realations class. Add to that about an hour working on math problems and a paper/presentation on a math topic. Probably probablility in blackjack. gotta go class is starting.

New day

2005-09-14T08:30:00.000-07:00

Well it's a brighter day and the world looks nice. It's a bit cold for my tast about 38, I am sitting in my History of aviation and aeronautics class a little early because I rode my bike from my last class which is kind of across campus. Anyway I should talk about teaching my first class yesterday. First I should mention that my class lasts for 3 hours. That's a long time to have a drama class with nothing yet to rehearse. Well we did the normal names and interests thing were we get to know eachother and talked a bit about the class. Then played a drama game called freeze for about an hour. more to come class is starting.

2005-09-12T08:32:00.000-07:00

Well most of the other blogs that I read don't use them to update people about their day to day activities but to communicate what they are thinking and feeling at certain times. Today I am aware that I'm geting older. Not that I'm getting old, but I have been aware for a while that I'm not the scrawny bean pole that I was in my youth. I am getting a little bit of a gut and despite my efforts (wich are minimal it's true) it is probably here to stay. Who knows maybe not. I am not yet losing my hair, though if your mothers father is an indication it may yet happen. I feel good though, and I have lots of energy when I need it. I guess I should let y'all know it's raining and that may influance my choice of bloggery. Well I have to get to class. Later

Update

2005-09-07T07:53:00.000-07:00

We now know 2 things for sure.
1 iCat is deaf.
2 Both cats are boys not girls.
So aboutiCat being deaf. He shows all the signs and is a textbook example of a deaf kitten. A few days ago I foud that iCat also had ear mites. (Thanks to the internet) We picked up some drops to get rid of them and treated him last night. He was not a happy kitty. Poor iCat is also having some trouble cleaning himself. I've been working on showing him with a damp rag and I think it will get better soon. Mischief is fine very loving and loves to play.

Good news and bad news

2005-09-03T08:27:00.000-07:00

First the bad news... I've just found out that my kitten iCat may be and probably is deaf. It's not that uncommon for blue eyed white cats. It's not that bad, I just can't call her to come to me. They are usualy very loving and love to be around people and other cats, but it can be very bad to let them outside alone. She will always be on a leash outside. This explains her loud shrill calling, which by the way is the good news I'm proud to sat that we have gotten past. She is so quiet now, she never makes any noise. Her sister is starting to be loud now and then, but even when she is loud she's not anywhere near as loud as iCat was. For More info on deafness in cats click on the title of this post. "Good news..." More to come.

More Pics

2005-09-03T08:19:00.000-07:00

Isn't it nice to have a camera phone

New round of classes

2005-09-02T07:24:00.000-07:00

Well it's a new semester and a new set of classes. First off I only have class monday, wednsday and friday. Tuesday and Thursday I work days at wingers. My first class is at 8:30am, it's Marrage and family relations, next is history of aviation, and then Bis. 1400 which is a computer class that helps me finish my computer literacy tests to graduate. Then I go to lunch and then to Math 1030, and then to my specail studies in early american history class that is really intense. After that I have to rush over to North Cache 8-9 grade center to teach my drama class. This tri-mester I'm only teaching one class "Broadway Review" on Tuesday and Thursday, but next tri, I'll start my acting class. Not sure what I'm going to calll it, but it'll be fun. Meg is adjusting to not having any classes. Her schedule at Lowes has been 6am to 4:30pm and now it's shifting to 7am to 6pm, so that will be differant. The kittens are both doing well and exploring more and more of the house. More to come.

Good news

2005-08-30T13:12:00.000-07:00

Well I'm proud to say that both kittens are now eating and using the litterbox. iCat is definately the leader. She is much more daring and always pushing the limits. She is also the loudest by far of the two. She meows all the time I hope we can deal with that before long, but for now most everything is great.

Pics

2005-08-29T19:07:00.000-07:00

Little by little

2005-08-29T14:48:00.000-07:00

Well Mishchief ate about a tablespoon of soft food today. iCat is eating the hard food too now, and she used the litterbox for the first time. Mischief will get it soon I hope.

Brave new world

2005-08-28T21:12:00.000-07:00

Mischief is having a little trouble adjusting. She hasn't eaten any of the kitten food. iCat seems to love it and is much more active. It's been only a few hours so we'll keep an eye out. I'm sure she's just getting used to the place.

Ha! I told you cats can fetch

2005-08-28T21:10:00.000-07:00

I will teach my cat to fetch, I have been told that it can't be done but I found a website that explains how it can.

How to Teach your Cat To Fetch

The number one rule in teaching a cat anything is, don't try to teach it. This will always result in disappointment. Try to encourage your cat. Play on your cat's natural playfulness and encourage it with fuss and treats and soft expressions of 'Good widdul kittypuff!'.

Don't go to any expense. Invariably, your cat will be so much more interested in a passing leaf than the Super-Sparkled Jingle-Studded Fetch Ball you spent 25 minutes choosing at the pet shop. For the sake of feline fetch, a scrunched-up ball of white envelope, wrapping paper or newspaper will suffice.

It is also worth noting that playing fetch works less well if you're using a catnip-scented/filled ball - many cats will be far more interested in getting high on the catnip than they will be in getting it back to you.

Get the cat interested in the paper. Choose a moment when it seems to have nothing better to do than stare at a shoe or clean its undercarriage on your favourite cushion. Rustle the paper, whip it around in circles. Get your cat's attention, then...

Throw the paper! This part is self-working and entertaining for both parties; just sit back and grin at your cat's inability to grip kitchen floor tiles.

If your cat is interested, it will proceed to bat the ball of paper around playfully. If it's not interested, it'll probably go back to perfecting its shoe-staring technique.

You have hopefully achieved the most crucial step in the whole construct of feline fetch - getting the animal interested. After this, it's downhill all the way home.

Let the cat have its way with the ball for a while, then retrieve it and encourage the cat to follow you back to your original position by rustling the paper, making squeaky noises and saying 'C'mere pudpudpudpudpud!'.

If all else fails, you may like to try tempting your cat back with the offer of some treats. However, it is worth noting that training cats is a little different from training dogs. With dogs it is something like this: trick-treat-trick-treat-trick-treat... but cats will become bored much more quickly.

Once the cat has returned, fuss it, tickle it kindly behind the ears, then repeat from step three.

It may take some time, but after a while - probably when you stop trying - the cat will gleefully return to you with the ball of paper in its mouth and stare at you expectantly. You may find it takes a few days of short practice sessions for both of you to perfect the technique but, once achieved, never again will you be able to throw away a cheap envelope in the company of friends.

Experimentation suggests that a cat will be happy with any size of scrunched-up ball, so long as it isn't bigger than the cat, and not shaped like a bulldog.

Newest addition to the family

2005-08-28T17:45:00.000-07:00

Well today we went to Malad to visit our Grandparents and came home with 2 adorable kittens. One is Grey with white markings and blue eyes, the other is all white also with blue eyes. The grey ones name is Mischief and the white one is iCat (because she matches my iPod and iBook. I'll post pictures soon.

Working

2005-08-26T15:46:00.000-07:00

Well I know it's time to write a new post becuase both my mom and my sister have updated their blogs since my last posting. Not to mention I have news. I not am now working 2 jobs. I am proud to report that I have been hired to teach the Drama classes at the North Cache 8th and 9th grade center in Richmond. It's an after school program. I am required to teach one class tuesday and thurdsay 2:30-5:30 called Broadway Review which is basicly a musical theatre class. And I can create a new class to be taught on Monday and Wednesday, I'm planning on doing a more serious acting class- not sure what to call it. I also took a job cooking at Wingers here in town. To make a little more money, but all I can say is that after my "trainging" period my pay had better go up. I won't say exactly what I'm making now but let's just say I haven't cooked for this little money since I was 16. In fact I was making more then, I was making this amnount as a dishwasher at 15. Well we'll see. Meg and I are going camping tonight up logan canyon with another couple friends of ours. I'm excited we just bought a new tent. Stay tuned for the next episode. Oh and I got a haircut a massive haircut.

One year together

2005-08-22T07:34:00.000-07:00

Yesterday Meg and I celebrated our one year anniversary. We went to Lagoon and ran into a bunch of our friends, so that made it even better. Too bad the lines were so long. It was maddness. Well today I have a job interview this morning, and we still have to watch Sin City. I'm looking forward to it, Frank has told me lots of good things about it. Sorry no pictures this time, didn't take any at Lagoon. Well wish me luck I'm off to my interview.

More family stuff

2005-08-16T06:55:00.000-07:00

Newborn Dustin
Originally uploaded by Mr_wrong.

I realized that it wasn't fair that I post a picture of on of my nephews and not the other. I forgot to bring my camera to meet my brother in law and his family so I only have his hospital pictutre but here it is. This is Gordon Dustin Zito. I hope to have many more pictures of him to post.

Home sweet home

2005-08-15T07:22:00.000-07:00

Devanplane
Originally uploaded by Mr_wrong.

Well my plane was late leaving Houston, and I didn't get into SLC until midnight then it's a 2 hour drive to Logan. I was eager to get some sleep after being in airports all day. It was so nice to see Meg. Her hair is a little longer now and I like it. Mine however I need to get cut. The weekend was spent catching up with some friends and family. I swung by Franks on Saturday and it was good to see him. You look good buddy, I love ya. Then we (Meg and I) met my brother in law and saw my new baby nephew Gordon Dustin Zito. We had a nice dinner and went to bed early. Sunday we traveled to Ogden and met up with my sister Nikki and her family. We headed up to the Aerospace museum just off Hill Air Force Base. We hung out for a bit and headed back up to Logan were we met up with my Aunt Vicki and Uncle Tom who took us out to lunch. It's been a nice welcome home. I have missed everybody so much. Today Meg had to go back to work and I need to find a job. I will check in at the Logan House again to see if there's an opening but I doubt it. I'll also follow some leads on an after school drama program that's starting up. I don't want to say too much for fear of jinxing it. So with that said I'll leave you and start my day.

Last post from Takajo

2005-08-12T02:24:00.000-07:00

Aerial View
Originally uploaded by Mr_wrong.

The horn blew at 4:30am and I took a shower then said my goodbyes to the first wave of campers leaving this morning. I packed the last of my things and put on the clothes that I had set aside for my trip home. As of right now I am all packed up. I am ready to jump on a bus and then onto the plane. But that won't be until much later. I have to take a bus from camp at 7:30am to Boston Logan Airport and then assist a kid onto his plane at 1:10pm before boarding my plane at 4:30pm. From there I head to houston Texas where I get to enjoy the lovely Bush Airport for about 3 hours before my fight to SLC, where my beautiful wife will be waiting to take me home. But before all that can happen... I need to eat my breakfast.

Camp is comming to an end

2005-08-10T13:13:00.000-07:00

takajo-sunset
Originally uploaded by Mr_wrong.

This is a picture of the sunset here at Takajo. I am very tired and ready for camp to be over. I have been cleaning the theatre for the last few days. Tonight I am in a counsilor relay race and my job is to do a "dizzy Izzy" swim, it involves spinning around a baseball bad 5 times and then swimming a short ways and back to tag the next person and so on. The final leg is the pie eating, I'm glad I'm not that guy. Tomorrow is a big clean up day and packing for all camper and counsilors. I'll post a few more before I leave.

First goodbyes

2005-08-09T01:55:00.000-07:00

Well it's 5:00am and one of my campers just left for home. I had to make sure he got all of his bags packed last night and wake up and help load them and get him some breakfast. So that's what I did. Now he is on the road and I am here typing. It was the first of many goodbyes and I find myself asking will he remember me? Did I make an impact? I guess it's not really a matter of either remembering or not- it's "Was I a possitive influance for the 2 months that I knew him"? And yes I was, so that leads me to note that wheather any of these kids remember me is not really important. But that seems rather negative. I can't expect to be these kids biggest influance in their lives all I can do is be a good one and hope that they look back on this time and remember the fun that we had. As for me- my eperiance this summer has been both up and down, but in the end I am glad that I didn't miss out on it. It's a truly unique experiance unlike anything I have ever done. I have learned so much from living and working and playing with these kids, and for the record I'll remember them.

Never fear Brooklyn is here

2005-08-07T19:44:00.000-07:00

Brooklyn2
Originally uploaded by Mr_wrong.

The show was a huge success the campers loved it and the cast was walking on air. There were of course a few hangups and lines dropped, but overall those were few and far between. We strike tomorrow morning right after breakfast. The picture is of Spot with some of his brooklyn newsies click on the picture and check out more pics of the cast. Enjoy.

Opening day

2005-08-07T07:14:00.000-07:00

Newsies set bright
Originally uploaded by Mr_wrong.

Well it's here. It's finaly opening day. They say that the two best things about the theatre is that the show has to open and the show has to close. For us that is absolutly true- it just so happens that they both happen in the same day. This is a picture of the newsies set. I'll try to get some of the actors on it today. I took this last night as I was setting my light cues. Believe it or not there are 500 newspapers on stage. We just got all the kids in costume and now we are waiting for the orchestra to practice songs. I need to go over the light cues with the camper helping me in the booth. Well breaks over. Later

Crunch time

2005-08-05T19:59:00.000-07:00

newsies
Originally uploaded by Mr_wrong.

It's late friday night, and Saturday is going to be so packed with camp stuff that the cast won't be in for rehearsal until 7pm and then it's only until 8. It will however be our first full orchestra rehearsal. The kids are psyched. They love the show and they call eachother by there character names at their other activities like Baseball and Lacross. I hope we have enough costumes to go around we only have 4 "Newsies" hats, so it'll look a little bare. I have been on the phone with the Portland Press Hearold arranging for a pick up of newspapers. They have been so generous as to donate around 500 or more if we want. I need to pick them up tomorrow. I spent 2 hours last night hanging and focusing lights and patching dimmers by my self. I still need to make the sling shots for the brooklyn newsies. My previous woodworking projects for the show include a small wooden sword for Les and of course crutchy's crutch. I'll try to post a couple pictures of the set and kids in costumes. That's all for now.

The fourth K

2005-07-31T12:46:00.000-07:00

The fourth K
Originally uploaded by Mr_wrong.

I finshed my book today. I bought it because I wanted a book to read on my long flight but I didn't really get around to reading it until I got to camp. At first I wanted a mob story kinda book so I was looking at the Godfather books but I decided to get this one. It was more of a "24" plot than that of the sopranos, I love both so I took a shot. I really liked it it got really good in end and had a bit of twist. That's all.

Another day

2005-07-31T12:40:00.000-07:00

Waterfront
Originally uploaded by Mr_wrong.

Not much to report today. I am getting ever closer to going home. I am working on getting Newsies recorded, I hope they do a better job than they did on west side story which was only partialy recorded. This is a picture of the new dinning hall taken from the waterfront here at camp. I will post more later.

Happy Birthday

2005-07-30T15:01:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday
Originally uploaded by Mr_wrong.

Happy birthday baby. I know you probably won't check this until tonight or tomorrow but I hope you have a wonderful day. I promise 22 is not that old.

(Everyone give her a hard time.)

Love you honey.

painting more bricks

2005-07-30T14:46:00.000-07:00

window1
Originally uploaded by Mr_wrong.

Well we spent a good couple hours building a giant platform on the stage yesterday. It was great fun. The next step is to paint some more bricks on a couple flats to look like side by side brick buildings. And actors will be able to cross between them like an alleyway for exits and entrances. More pictures of my set to come.

Movie night

2005-07-27T05:47:00.000-07:00

wedding crashers
Originally uploaded by Mr_wrong.

Last night I used my night off to go see Wedding Crashers with some guys from camp. It was really funny. I have to say that it wasn't a great film but a well suited movie for a night out with the guys. I did find myself missing my wife. Because there is of course a moral to the story that true love is greater than all the one night stands in the world. I can't wait to be home with my lovely wife. I miss you so much Meg. There is a line in the movie that I really like, and while it may be violating some kind of copywrite law here it is:

True love is your souls recognition of it's counterpoint in another.

Sappy but nice. It made me miss my soul-mate and my best friend. But today is my day off and I might be able to convince one of the sailing guys to show me the ropes as it were. Sorry bad pun. But I'll try to relax for sure.

Jets

2005-07-26T14:39:00.000-07:00

Jets
Originally uploaded by Mr_wrong.

Ok so here they are, long awaited pics of West Side Story. It happened against all odds the show happened. If you click on the picture you can see more pictures of the show. Not much to report about newsies we are still learning songs. The set will be even better than west side story. Enjoy.

Have a nice day

2005-07-25T05:34:00.000-07:00

Have a nice day
Originally uploaded by Mr_wrong.

I hope today is as nice a day as yesterday was. I woke up and went to breakfast and the lake was so pretty, and the weather was warm with no humidity. I just had a wonderful day. I'm about to go to breakfast and directly after that all the campers in my bunk and the entire senior camp for that matter are leaving for a week on a trip. I am staying here to Assistant direct the junior show Newsies. Ok time for breakfast.

Day off

2005-07-18T08:21:00.000-07:00

Ryan's pics 023
Originally uploaded by Mr_wrong.

So I finaly got a day off. Most of my cast is gone playing sports at other camps today so it was a good idea to get away. I spent the morning taking pictures of my set I'll get more uploaded. If you click on the picture it should bring you to a page where you can see all my pictures. Have fun.

Another day...

2005-07-17T18:55:00.000-07:00

So another day has come to an end. We got a lot done today with the show. We still have lots to do however. I hope we will be ready for thursday. Tomorrow I'm losing close to my entire cast to intercamp competition. I'm taking the day off pretty much wether they like it or not. I need to relax even though tomorrow is going to be the auditions for Newsies. I'll take an hour and auditon kids, then back to relaxing. Ok I'm gonna try to get on a phone to call my lovely wife.

Kids of Katahdin

2005-07-16T19:05:00.000-07:00

Kids of Katahdin
Originally uploaded by Mr_wrong.

Well this is the first picture of my bunk. I hope everybody likes it.

I have had a better day today. We had a few good hours of rehearsal today and I have the minus track CD in. The problem is that it's very differant from what we've been using. So I have some homework tonight. I need to listen to the music and write down the time when the singers come in so that I can cue them. I'm putting them on my iPod right now. I get to sleep later in the morning. Ok so it's only one hour but it's something to look forward to. But for now I'll say goodnight.

Close call

2005-07-15T14:06:00.000-07:00

Well I am impressed with how much the kids have learned in the few days that they have had the scripts. But the show is scheduled for this sunday the seventeenth, and we are not anywhere near ready. Kids don't know the lines, don't know the songs, and to top it all off the music people came to me and said that they won't have the music ready and that we had to order a kareokee CD of the show. (which would have made me mad but I'd be happy to have anything so CD it is.) We had a meeting with the camp director who decided to push the show back to Thursday the 21st. This is a double edge sword because though it buys us more time, it prolongs my anxiety about the show. I'd rather just get it over with. So in short I feel like I'm failing at the whole dramatics part of this job. The only part of the job that I can feel like a sucsess, is my relationship with the kids in my bunk. We have been growing closer and having a good time. Until this morning. I had a run in with one of my campers who mis understood a comment I made and thouht that I was insulting him. He got very upset and charged me to get past me, he hit me and fell to the ground. I walked him over to the infermery and then over to breakfast all the time him cursing me and saying he hates me. I then had a rehearsal and was told that the 3 guys in my bunk had quit the show and didn't want anything to do with me. I went back to my bunk to find that the campers had put my bed in the rafters. I then started to pack. I was ready to go home to my loving wife. Away from my failiers and people who don't want me around. But in the end my bunk talked me out of it. I have been under an ungodly amount of stress and I just couldn't take it anymore. We made up and we're all good but for a while I was on my way home to the woman who loves me. Anyway I have more work to do. Check back for more updates.

Ten days until we open and still no script!

2005-07-06T15:54:00.000-07:00

West Side Story
Originally uploaded by Mr_wrong.

Yep we open on July 17th and as of right now we have no script. It should arive tomorrow and we'll begin photocopying it like mad. Same with the score. We spent 200 bucks on paint today for the set. If we can make it happen we'll have a chain-link fence up center that can actually be climed on up and over. Lots of grafitti and whatnot. I have to admit I'm really missing my wife right now. I'm comming down with a cold and my muscles are so sore. I could use a nice back rub. I really miss haveing that person to calm me down when I get upset or cheer me up when I'm down. I don't have that here. It makes me appreciate how lucky I am to have such a great woman. Love you babe. When I get a set I'll try to get some pictures of my production posted. Until then later.

2005-06-27T09:22:00.000-07:00

NewTakBanner
Originally uploaded by Mr_wrong.

I had my first drama class today. We played an imaginary ball game dealing with visualization and wieght. All three of the kids were really with it. I'll have another class this afternoon, and a rehearsal for the counselor show tonight. I need to do laundry tonight for sure. So it looks like it'll be a trip into town. Fun for me.

Finally I can leave the seat up

2005-06-24T10:34:00.000-07:00

Seat up
Originally uploaded by Mr_wrong.

Well the kids arrive today. Chaos will be right on their heels. By dinner time I should have all my campers in the bunk. Until they come I am just hanging out waiting for busses to pull in. I actualy got permision to buy some new lenses and lamps (bulbs) to fix some fresnels (pronounced fer-nels) in the playhouse. But today I found 6 lenses and 1 lamp, now I just need 5 more lamps, and we will have doubled our lighting capacity. The shows have been desided and I am happy to report that that Newsies is in along with West Side Story. More to come on that later.

K Quad

2005-06-19T17:52:00.000-07:00

K Quad
Originally uploaded by Mr_wrong.

Well it's been a few days and we are almost ready for the kids to arrive. I need to take my driving test tomorrow so that I drive one of the camp vans. My Co-counselor in Drama is totaly behind the idea of doing Newsies which is nice. We now need to decide on a second show. We are looking at Charlie and the Chocholate factory. We need a few more lighting instraments but I don't think they want to spend much money. I'll see what I can do to fix the ones we have but that won't be cheap either. I passed my swimming test today. I had to swim 4 lenghths of a pool and tred water for 2 minutes not too hard. We have the night off tonight but lots of hard work tomorrow. We need to get lots of stuff cleaned up and our senior baseball field needs to be fixed up a little it's going to take the entire staff. Until next time...

view from the bunk

2005-06-16T16:20:00.000-07:00

11
Originally uploaded by Mr_wrong.

Today all I did was clean out my bunk and get it ready for the kids to come. That was enough though it took 3 hours of sweeping to get all the dirt out. It's about 40 degrees and it's humid so it feels even colder. Well that's about all so far.

Studio

2005-06-06T08:26:00.000-07:00

Studio
Originally uploaded by Mr_wrong.

As I have mentioned before I'm leaving for a few weeks here pretty soon. So my wife was kinda down the other day and we talked about getting a digital piano becuase she used to play really well but that was when she was like 12, so we talked about it but decided that it was too expencive right now. We priced mid range Yahmaha Clavinovas wich was the only thing in town that she really liked. Well not wanting to spend $1500 bucks we let it go. Well we were on a little road trip to see some family when we stopped in another music store and foud a nice price on a Casio Priva keyboard. Now unlike the Clavinova this keyboard needed a stand, it was meant to be more portable. So we bought it and brought it home and yesterday jammed a lot, and downloaded some midi software. We look forward to recording something together, her on the piano and me on the harmonica. Anyway we're realy excited and I wanted to share that with y'all.

2 Weeks notice

2005-06-03T06:37:00.000-07:00

all three harps
Originally uploaded by Mr_wrong.

Well I told my boss at Logan house that I was leaving on the 15th. He wasn't happy but he was ok. I've only got about 10 or so days until I leave. Oh I bought 2 new harmonicas. Another Suzuki called an "Easy Rider" and a Hohner called a 'Blues Harp." Neither one of them sound as good as my overdrive but I like them.

Bob

2005-06-01T05:54:00.000-07:00

bob,
originally uploaded by Mr_wrong.

I was visiting my wifes grandparents in Idaho yesterday and we decided to go out to dinner. They love this great little mexican place there. Well we sat down and it was obvious that our waiter Bob was old friends (pardon the pun) with my grandparents. He took our orders and disapeared to get our drinks. About an hour later our food was ready, and even though a couple of the orders were wrong, it was worth the wait. Durring our meal I noticed that Bob had pulled out a harmonica and was playing some spanish song. I walked over and we started talking about harmonicas and differant technique. He was playing a Hohner Echo Harp as seen in the picture. He told me that he usualy just made stuff up to play but he learned one spanish song for his hispanic wife that took him a year as he doesn't read music or tab, only by ear. Most of our conversation was centered on the echo harp because I'd never seen one in real life only pictures. It was the key of C on one side and G on the other with two rows of like 20 holes on each. His technique was pretty good. A lot of toung work. He said I should come in again and he'll have his new chromatic, which is a total mystery to him. He said he started playing because the echo harp looked "really neat." And it did it was very shiny. All in all I was impressed by this self taught harpist, and I wish I could have jammed with him a bit more but it wasn't the time or the place. Oh well maybe next time.

overdrive

2005-05-31T07:10:00.000-07:00

overdrive,
originally uploaded by Mr_wrong.

This is my new harmonica. It was expencive.