Tag... I'm it.

Ok... Happi you win, my turn.

Five things I was doing 10 years ago.

1. I had just moved back home from living in Decatur for 3 years right out of Millikin.

2. Rehearsing a musical called "Kismet"

3. Meeting my beautiful wife in above mentioned musical.

4. Living with my good buddy Carl, who helped me out with a place to live when I couldn't afford much.

5. I was starting to make my mark on the St. Louis region as a working musician.

5 Snacks I enjoy

1. Popcorn
2. Doritoes
3. Fritos and French Onion Dip
4. My sons Fruit Snacks
5. Grapes

5 songs that I know all the lyrics to.

1. To Each His Dulcinea (the current song I am working on for "Man of La Mancha")
2. Piano Man
3. Come Sail Away (Love Styx)
4. Many Wiggles songs
5. Can't Take My Eyes Off of You (From my new favorite Broadway Musical "Jerse Boys")

5 things I would do if I were a Millionaire

1. Give some to my Mom and my brothers.
2. Give some to the school where I teach.
3. Start a Production company to produce musicals.
4. Buy a new house.
5. RETIRE, except for my Production co.

5 Bad Habits

1. Playing with my toes
2. Beer
3. Always being too early
4. Being a perfectionist when it comes to music
5. Forgetting to lock the front door.

5 things I would never wear again

1. Parachute Pants
2. Michael Jackson jacket and glove
3. Members Only Jacket (I might wear this one again)
4. Cardigan Sweaters
5. Fat pants

5 things I like to do

1. Spend time with my family.
2. Go to a movie
3. Play golf
4. Go out on dates with my wife.
5. Beer

5 Favorite Toys

1. He-Man and Skeletor Castle
2. Legos
3. Hotwheels
4. Transformers
5. Sit and Spin (Threw up on this several times as a kid)

This was fun, thanks Hap.

Birthday "Fun"?

Tomorrow is my beautiful wife's 30th birthday. We had a surprise party for her last Sunday and boy was she surprised. I was finding it very difficult trying to hide something from wife especially when there is three year motor mouth hanging around. I love that my son enjoy's talking so much, but he definatley can't keep a secret. Everything went off without a hitch at the party. We were going over to her parent under the assumption that we were having dinner with her parent and her grandfather who's birthday was Saturday. It was a perfect cover because that is something we would have done no matter what. When we got there and she saw everyone there (about 30 friends and family) she was so surprised. I love my wife and I am glad that I got to do something special for her. Christopher was also surprised by the way. We also found out that Christopher will be having a new baby cousin. Jen's brother Rick and his wife are expecting their first baby. We are very happy for them as well. By the way the pictur above is of Jennifer and Christopher plus two of her friends from high school that we don't get to see very often, Erin and Michelle. (Michelle is the one seated with her kids).

Also the show that I am playing right now has gotten some great reviews. Click here and you can see the one from a local radio station KDHX. Or you can see the one that was in the St. Louis Post Dispatch.

Anyway.... We are off to see "Shrek the Third" so I will tell you how Christopher liked it on my next blog.

A Couple of Pictures

Christopher and Mommy at Mawmaw and Pawpaw's, and Christopher taking a picture of Daddy.

School's Out for the Summer!

Today was mine and Christopher's last day of school before summer break. We are both very excited. Not only do the two of us get to spend more time together, but it the swimming season as Christopher would say. We think that we are going to try to get him some lessons this summer.

My summer is just about as packed as the school year is. Starting next week, I am playing in the band for a production of "Urinetown." This a musical that is still playing in New York and is hysterical. You can also check out some of the people who will playing in our production here, although some of the language is adult.

I am also playing the role of the Padre in our local community theatre's production of "Man of La Mancha." So there is definatley no rest for the weary. The concert band that I play in is also playing a concert on the 4th of July. This is always my favorite thing to do in the summer. Thousands of people listening and then the fireworks start up right afterward. Last year we had to leave because Christopher was extremely frightened of the "Boom, Boom's."

Jennifer will be having a milestone birthday this year. She will probably hate having me say this, but now we can welcome her into the "30 something's."

Have a great holiday weekend everyone and I will be blogging more often now that I have more time.

Marc, Jen and Christopher.

I guess It's my turn....

Happi, tagged me to reveal seven little known facts about myself. Let's see...

1. My new favorite beverage is Coke Zero. (And for those extra special days, with cherry)

2. I LOVE the TV show "Heroes." I never miss it, and if I do, I watch it online.

3. Within the last 3 years I have lost about 40 pounds, put back on 10 and then lost 5 gain. My goal is another 15.

4. Piggybacking on Happi's comment about organization, I love and need to be organized. Even though sometimes you wouldn't know it by looking at my office at school.

5. I love watching my son sing songs from the musical "Jersey Boys." That is the story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. Songs like "Sherry" and "Big Girls Don't Cry" and his favorite "Walk Like a Man."

6. We have had Christopher home now from Guatemala for alittle over three years and time just flies by. I can't wait till he is doing HIS piano recital.

7. This is a little know dark secret of mine.... I really like... Barry Manilow.

One more....

8. Jennifer and I have been married for 7 1/2 years and we met during a show called "Kismet." We have had many trials in our life, but I wouldn't want to go through them with anyone else. I love you honey and Happy Mother's Day.

Thanks for tagging me Hap.

Marc

It's Over

OK.... I am back to the blogosphere now after my show at school is finished. We had our final matinee performace today. Over all the kids did a great job. I am very proud of them and the work they put into it. I had some really great parents helping coordinate costumes and props and many other things that I just couldn't deal with. After a long week last week of rehearsing every night a leaving the school at about 10:30 every night, the kids were really dragging. We had a small house for our final dress on Thursday and then a pack gym for the opening night. The opening night performance was awesome! The kids fed off the energy of the audience and it was great. We came back for Saturday night's show and I gave them the whole don't let down your gaurd speech for the second perfomance. You know the whole don't relax your concentration or your focus. And what happened..... just what I told them not to do. So... we had some slight laps in memory and concentration, which made the show not go as well as the night before, but it was still good. And mind you, the audience really didn't know the difference, but the kids and I did. Now let's get to today.... I call this the show from H.E. Double Hockey sticks. First, Annie's mic went out right before the show so, the first two songs, "Maybe" and "Tomorrow" we didn't hear. Then my sound guys got it fixed and it was OK. Then, during the "Love" song from Warbucks to "Annie," Sandy (the dog) wanders out onto the stage and the audience got a laugh and ruined the whole emotion of the song. Next, someone decides to turn on the the stage lights during Annie's final reprise of "Maybe." Again a very emotional part is messed up. All in All we made it through and I am very proud of my students for the work and the professionalism they showed. The perfectionist in me gets very annoyed when something messes up my show. The kids gave me a really cool directors chair and a $50 gift certificate to a local restaurant, do I have great students or what. The seniors got all emotional because it was their last show. I just hope I made it memorable in a good way for them. My Daddy Warbucks said that this was a very low stress show for him compared to what they have done in the past. I guess I can take that as a compliment. Anyway.... on to my next project which happens the first weekend in May. No rest for the wicked I guess.

Blessings

Easter Break

Things have been very hectic around our lives recently. Since we are on our Easter break starting today, I finally have time to breathe and reflect. We are getting down to the wire on my production at school. We have two weeks left until we open and it is getting very scary. I have faith that we will be ready and have wonderful show, but there is just so much to do between now and then. The kids have been doing fairly well. They just need to get memorized. Most of the work that need to be done is technical. Painting sets, setting light, getting costumes etc. This has been the stuff that I take for granted when putting on a show in community theatre because there is always someone else doing it. Now that it is all me, I never will take it for granted again. Not to mention preparing for spring concerts with my choirs and bands and putting together the music for our Hawthorne Players fund raise show. Lord, give me strength!

Jennifer has been great through all of this. My long hours at school means that she has to make special arrangements for Christopher and try to run the house without her husband for a while. I Love You!

Christopher is doing well in preschool and getting more talkative everyday. He talks almost constantly from the time he gets up in the morning to when he goes to bed at night, which by the way, most of the time is still in our bed. He has been loving getting outsie during our weather, not so much today with it being 30 degrees right now. I have big Daddy/Christopher plans for the summer. Like taking him to a Cardinals game, teaching him to catch a baseball. All the stuff that makes being a Daddy fun.

This is the time for Easter when Jesus rose from the dead. We like to remind ourselves of Christ's passion by watching Mel Gibson's movie "Passion" or "Jesus Christ Superstar. Doing something to remind us of His suffering for us.
If you get a chance, visit my friend Happi's blog to read some very good insight's to Christ's Passion.