About Frikkin Time

So it looks like everything is finally working out...kinda. All that is left for my financial aid worries with school is for my dad and I to actually sign the loan paperwork. He has already been approved..so that is done. My record card is finally fixed so I can get my transfer to Disney Characters...nice. Now I just have to get casting on the phone....not so easy...or nice. I will, barring any unforseen disaster, yeah...I'm talking to you God, be starting school on the 13th of November. I am also taking the stilt walking class in 2 weeks...and then I will be joining the ranks of the stilt walking world. HOORAH! Anyway...I'm gonna go. Blog atcha later.

Eric's Perpetual "huh?"

So I am finding myself more and more frequently confused with life in general. No matter what I try things just don't turn out as planned. I get a good job, it falls short. I meet a fantastic person, they turn out to be not so fantastic. I start a great day, it turns into a week I wish I could forget. I am not depressed...I just think I may expect to much of the people and the world around me. I take to many things at face value. I have to stop doing that. People aren't two dimensional...you'd think as an actor I would know that. lol...apparently not. My life in a nutshell right now is confusing.

I'm just trying to find the place where I fit in the world...and every time I think I've found a niche for myself it slips away and I fall face first into nothing. Culinary Arts school is looking fantastic but everyday it is something new. First my financial aid was a problem...well not just first, but still. Now Valencia is refusing to release my transcripts cause they say I owe them money..which I don't. Maybe I should just wait and not do school until after the land sells and I can be financially stable. I don't know.

Not to mention my love life...gah. I don't know...I think I just want to be with someone so bad that I fall faster than anyone ever should. I find someone..they show interest and so I reciprocate and continue on the "TV/Movie" romance track and before the end of a season they move on. And this could all just be me being paranoid. I found one person that I like right now, but I am noticing patterns already and I don't know how to stop it.

My financial life is...bad. I frequently find myself wanting to crawl into bed and just not get up...ever. Maybe that's why I throw myself head first into relationships, cause if I am there...I'm not here..and I'm not thinking about any of this.

I did do something today that I rarely ever do...cause I know I am a little self-absorbed. The person that I like was having a bad day and I listened and didn't say a word about what was going on with me. That is rare...I frequently get branded as the one-upper..cause when someone says they had a bad day I chime in with what happened to me. I hate that about me...and I try not to..but before I realize I am doing it..I'm done. I think my thought process is that "misery loves company"...so if I tell them that I had a bad day too..maybe they won't feel so bad about theirs. I don't know. It's stupid. I just want to know what to do with my life. Part of me wants to move far away and start over..but that takes money...and initiative...and at the moment I don't think I have either. Anyway...that was my random blog for the evening. Blog later.

A Very Quick Plug

Once Upon A Mattress opens this Wendesday and runs Thursday, Saturday, Sunday, Wednesday, and Thursday...starting at 8:30. I will talk to all of you later. You come to the Epcot Cast Parking lot to get your tickets and go to the show. If you need more details call me and I'll give you what I have. Tickets are 10 dollars. Later everyone.

Funny....Really Funny

So my internet is back up...as I stated in the previous post...however my computer is dead. I got the blue screen of death people. You know the one...the "I'm not even gonna open in safe mode" blue screen...FATAL ERROR! Strongbad would totally know what I was talking about. All else is as it was. I'm single...confused...less broken that before...and getting closer to fuming. So..yeah. I'll blog when I can.

I'm Back...On The Net

Not really a lot to say. Work is going fine, life is fine, the shows going to be amazing. I freaking dance my butt off in this show...it's wierd. K...call me. I'll blog later.

A Little Stronger

The days are almost back to normal. Training for Mission Spacerace. It's a blast. Love this venue...enough that I wouldn't mind being there 5 days a week. School is...coming...kinda. Financial Aid...sucks. Once Upon A Mattress has become my saving grace. Keeps me sane. I haven't talked to Swank since it all went down. I want to...but it's a hard subject to approach. It will be approached eventually...hopefully soon. That paired with the fact that my cell phone has been turned off until Friday...make it very hard to find answers...closure...peace. Whatever. Anyway...off to today's Sollow Saloo. I'll blog when I can.

Empty

The last couple days has been taxing. Work is coming along and rehearsals for "Once Upon A Mattress" at S.T.A.G.E. are going swimmingly. Last night both the musical director and the director at one point, seperately, said that the part of Prince Dauntless was tailored for me. A perfect fit. I think I probably would have blushed if not for the events of the night before. I have been kind of numb since I woke up Tuesday morning. I know things will grow back together and feelings will return to working order eventually. Anger is so easy...and not being able to feel it through this thick cloud of confusion is frustrating...but that too has fallen deep within the folds of the harsh cloud. But I do see a future just beyond the mist. I have a job, I have school, and I have people who love me. Even if at times they do things that I don't understand. I will blog later with more info about Mattress. I know it opens on September 20th and runs some wierd days. That's about it. Please come see it...It's going to be awesome. I mean as they said....the part was tailored for me. :) Later everyone.

Outage

Hello out there. Just a heads up. My internet got turned off last ngiht due to a complete lack of money. It will be back on eventually...Probably a couple of weeks. On a related note I am not going to be around very much cause I am scheduled 60 hours this week and 56 next week. That's gonna stop real soon...cause I am not going to let it continue...and that may lead to me letting my school place me in a job somewhere in the Culinary Arts field. Yeah...that's right...my school. I got accepted yesterday. I will be attending The Orlando Culinary Academy Le Cordon Bleu Culinary Arts Program starting November 13th. Yay for me. Sorry in advance to anyone I may see while I am in the foul mood that I have been in for the last couple days...work is not making me happy. I'm sure it will pass. I'll blog when I can. Goodbye world.

A Great Day

So today was my 24th birthday and it was fantastic. It all started at midnight as I was still awake and striking set for Encore! Spark of Creation which was wonderful. I went to Ale house and had some drinks with my new friends and Swank. Then he came over and spent the night. This morning I got up and left him to sleep while I went to breakfast with my mom, dad, brother and the rest of my mom's side of the family that lives around here...along with Bob and Donna (Close family friends). Then I came home and Swank and I went to Cocoa Beach He gave me a swimsuit, a day at the beach, a Target Gift Card, a book about Pop Psychology for Superheros, and (my favorite of the gifts) a day with him. We played at the beach for a few hours getting some sun and not enough sunscreen in a few places, then headed back home for a shower and dinner at Cheesecake factory with about 20 of my closest friends. It was fantastic. The best birthday I have had to date. Luerne gave me a book of poetry from Billy Collins with the sweetest thing written inside, Billy and Tracy gave me a Target gift card, Alyson gave me a button that says "Hooray 4 Underpants" and I got some really great cards from everyone..not to mention their company which is what I really wanted for my birthday anyway. Truly wonderful. I love you guys. All of you. I'll blog later.

Marching Into Battle

So I am going to work in about an hour to find out if we can resolve this whole thing peacefully...and then tonight..ENCORE! begins. I'm excited. The show looks like it is going to be truly amazing. I hope most of you can make it. Anyway...my blogs are going to get even fewer and farther in between very soon. I will be losing both cable and internet for a while. It was supposed to get turned off yesterday but the guy never showed...so..yeah...whoohoo! Anyway..I'll blog when I can. The forecast is a 2 week blogging dryspell...but then we should be up and running again...unless it happens sooner.

Bullshit

So I'm home. I went into work today at the place that I work that shall remain nameless. If you know me you know where that is. They changed my schedule and no one informed me. I check the internet posting Friday morning and they must have changed it Friday night. I was supposed to be in the last two days aparently. No one called me..they just asked around to see if anyone knew where I was. BULLSHIT! Then I went in today and found out that I am not in today or tomorrow. They had traded Sunday and Monday for Tuesday and Wednesday. So yeah. I talked to my manager and they said that basically they can do whatever they want and there's nothing I can do about it. BULLSHIT! So I will continue to work there and play it safe for a while..but I will be letting Le Cordon Bleu place me if this Entertainment Coordinator thing doesn't work out. Fun times. Sunday marks my 24th year on this planet..and still...I don't know where I belong. I just know where I feel happiest. Maybe this year I'll find that those two things will for once overlap. I'l blog later.

No Place I'd Rather Be

So the last month has been fantastic. As Swank said...I have a lot to be happy about. I find myself smiling almost constantly. I try to decide what my favorite thing is..but I can't pinpoint it. Going to sleep together, cuddling all night, waking up together, cuddling in the morning, laughing together, Watching TV together, going to Brunch together on Sundays, texting all day, having a second place I feel at home. So now that you are all sick of my blog..I'll move on. Innoventions is...thus far..dissapointing...but it will get better. I am officially applying to Le Cordon Bleu at the end of the week hopefully to start somewhere around Novemeber or December. Very excited about that. I am also going in to take some tests and interview for an Entertainment Coordinator position that I interviewed for like 6 months ago at Universal and they just called me last week about it. That could pay off. Anyway...I'm gonna go. Happily Signing Off.

The Future Tastes Wonderful

So a lot has happened since I last blogged. I started training for my new job at Innoventions. It is going well. Swank and I are seeing a lot of eachother and have very little to complain about..and I think it's probably making those around me just a little sick to their stomach..but hey..I'm happy...deal. Now onto the thing most of you know NOTHING about. I toured Le Cordon Bleu Orlando Culinary Acadamy Monday of this week. Talked with a liason and went over their Culinary Arts program and a course of action for myself. I got a recommendation to attend starting as early as October of this year. It is a one year program in which I would earn an A.S. and become a Certified Culinarian. It's very exciting and terrifying. So that's that. There will be lots of practice for people to eat..and as most all of you know...I love to cook for people I love...and I kinda love everyone lately...lol...so yeah. YAY FOOD! I'll blog later.

Practice Makes...Better

So after weeks and weeks of looking for a job I finally found one..and a good one. Benefits, the whole 9. I will be working at Innoventions starting next week. I went to a costume party on Friday night at Jon's. It was fun. I was Spiderman, Swank wore a Toga, Billy was "the worst roommate ever", and Tracy was a pirate wench. We had fun..I was glad I finally got Swank, Billy, and Traccy in the same room. All is well. So..yeah..dinner now. I'll blog later.

36 Hours Of Random Wonders

Ok...well only like an hour and half was really random..but whatever. I had a great couple of days. A BBQ with swimming and Lilo and Stitch, 13 hours of sleep, Brunch with a group of great people and one little girl who loves to touch other people and thier food, "The Devil Wears Prada", a walk around Lake Eola, my first trip to Wine Bar, dinner at Anthony's, Dessert at Gelatone, Family Guy, The Simpson's, The Venture Brothers, 8 hours of sleep and a kiss goodbye. It really was great. So now I am back in reality...but still happy. So anyway....I have Encore tonight, 4th of July tomorrow, and the rest of the week is kinda up in the air. I will be going in for my 2nd interview at Disney for Innoventions presenter sometime at the end of the week. That's all I know..and Friday night is the costume party...that will be fun. I'll blog later.

Now Before You Call Child Services...

That was just for Swank. Anyway...life is good. Spending a lot of time helping out my family at the moment, and job hunting, and with Swank. I'm finding happies incredibly easy to come up with lately. I am going to interview for a job at Florida Hospital as a Bill collector. Not my ideal job..but it will pay the bills and provide me with time to do theater and hang out with whoever I so choose. :) Mom's here to go with me to buy ribs and stuff for the BBQ tomorrow. I'll blog later.

Conflicted

So today I am profoundly conflicted. My day started wonderfully in a bed snuggled up with Swank. Got up, kissed goodbye out in the driveway and went our seperate ways to work. Then there was no work for me at Universal so I came home, still reeling from the conversation and the nights events. Get home and call my mother to say hi. Then she tells me that she let Sam out..on purpose because he was annoying her. Now I don't know how much blog time I have dedicated to Samarai...but he's my cat. I've had him since shortly after Figaro died. My mother just let him out...they are in the worst possible place to do that. High traffic on one side and woods on the other...filled with foxes and other male cats. He's gotten out a couple of times before...for a few days at a time..and when he's come back he's been all cut up from fighting. All I could think is..don't you think I've got enough on my plate right now without this? I mean you know I am strugling with my financial standing right now. Anyway...enough about that....I'm working on it and it will get better. I'll blog later.

Oh What A Night

So I went to John's pool party. It was a lot of fun. Stayed longer than expected, drank more than I should...but I did meet some amazing people...one in particular. It was a strange experience. It was pretty much the first time I have ever gone to a party pretty much knowing no one. But it was fun. Found out that I don't like Tequilla....at all. I only had one shot but that was enough to decide that it will probably be my last. It was also the only pool party I have ever been to where I was wearing a swimsuit but never got in the pool. Then I saw "Over The River And Through The Woods" at Moonlight yesterday. That was an awesome show. Now you may or may not remember that I played the lead role of Nick in that a year ago....it was an awesome role...a horrible experience..but an awesome role. Go back to last May and you'll see what I'm talking about. So I am sitting at the show, sobbing..it was horrible. I was sympathizing with Nick(the actor playing the role), Nick the character, and the Nick that's left inside me from playing the role...it was like he was losing his grandparents all over again. Crying and crying..the lady beside me turned to me just before the end and said "Are you alright?" I just sarted laughing. It was really good though. Sharon N did an amazing job...best I've ever seen her..and Nick and Tonya were amazing as well. The show is just so superbly written...really a breathtaking piece of theater. I have the script if anyone ever wants to read it. Annyway..I have Encore rehearsal tonight....YAY! I'll blog later.

A friend showed this to me and I just had to post it....SO true. Later Guys.

"Costumed Character Etiquette

There is a somewhat unsavoury phenomenon occurring regularly at theme parks and other establishments or venues where costumed characters can be found which many people find bemusing. Upon coming face-to-face with a sports mascot or cartoon character, normally sane human beings suffer some sort of breakdown in their moral and ethical behaviour. They feel the need to poke and touch while spouting demeaning inanities.

This is not to imply empathy for the character's situation is completely lost - studies show three out of five people will immediately find it necessary, upon encountering one of these characters to comment on how hot said costume wearer must be. It can be something as simple as 'It must be hot in there'. It could also be something more complicated such as 'I hope you have air conditioning in there... I had to wear a mascots outfit... The Fighting Doberman back in high school and it was so hot my eyebrows fused together' You get the idea.

As much as the costume wearer may appreciate the empathy, hearing this repetitive garbage every five minutes is, at best, annoying. Don't think you are original or novel, it's all been said before. The performer will feel more appreciated if you smile, offer good wishes, join in the fun, whatever, as long as your behaviour is unthreatening.

Staying in Character

For most performers staying in character is uppermost in his/her mind. They are bemused when someone treats them otherwise. It is also rude. You do not go to a theatrical production of Hamlet to shout at the main character, 'Hey, Hamlet! Isn't your real name Bill?' or 'So, Hammie, do you get paid enough for this?' The costumed character or mascot is there to entertain you just the same as any other performer or entertainer is. And yes, while they are often paid, the reimbursement is always paltry.

Look, Don't Touch

Never, ever, assault a person in costume. Don't even do so playfully. How many strangers do you go up to on the street and punch in the belly? How many celebrities do you walk up to and give a big bear hug then try and knock down? Do you pinch people as you walk around in a mall? Do you allow your children to approach a stranger and start kicking and jabbing at them, or grab at their face, or hang on their arms and legs? Of course you don't. You are all civilised people. For some reason, though, people think they can get away with this sort of behaviour when it comes to a costumed character. It's ridiculous. There is a person inside that costume, the costume is probably not entirely comfortable to begin with and a physical assault can sometimes be amplified, pain-wise, by the costume itself. It's not nice.

The Ground Rules

Be happy and entertained. Don't sympathise - they know their situation.

Treat them as the character they portray. They take the time to portray it for you, respect that.

Do not attack them or be rough with them. That's a real person inside there.

Also, you should remember this important fact. Fully enclosed costumes conceal the wearer. What does this mean? This means that while you have no idea who's in the costume, they know exactly what you look like. They will remember you.

Oh yes, they will remember..."

The Things I CAN Say...

So I think I am going to move when my lease is up here...like...to another state. Get away from everything I know. I mean I love you guys...well most of you...most of the time...but I think I need to get away. That was what Bonnaroo would have been for...a temporary vacation from reality..but that just wasn't in the cards. I frequently find myself under a hypocrytical disapproving gaze....and I don't know how long I can handle it. I hang out with some of you occasionally and cherish every minute of it..wish I could hang out more. I had a great time with Ty, Ryan, Erik, and Amanda yesterday at Universal before rehearsal. Encore rehearsals start tonight...that will be a blast. Meet other people who love music and can sing and have an excuse to hang out with them and not feel bad about using the gas to get there. I know this blog seems wierd..but I am just feeling like a lot of the things that are bothering me could be not bothering me if some people didn't think I was a complete moron. Anyway..I'm hoping my parent's land sells before April of next year cause they said they would fund my move if I wanted. A move to Chicago, New York, or California to see what I have to offer the artistic community. Orlando is great, my family is here, my friends are here, my past is here...I think it's time I try to find myself...and my future. Either way..I think some of you are going to start to see a new Eric...and a confrontation is building. I'll blog later.