"I Miss the Mountains" from NEXT TO NORMAL

I'm so bad about not updating this blog but now I feel more motivation to update it. I only updated it once in 2010 which is so sad but now I can't dwell on the past and must look toward the future.

This week has been a crazy week of natural occurrences for the city of New York City. On Tues 8/23, during lunch time, as I was eating a very good cheeseburger and fries from the local deli, there was an earthquake in VA that was felt all the way in NYC. People in the office felt it and things in the office were seen shaking a bit. I started reading people's status on Facebook and they were talking about feeling a tremor in the city. I walked out into the front of the office and they were saying they felt it but they were very blase about it. It's not everyday that you have an earthquake in your city so it was a pretty big deal. We did not evacuate or get any special instructions but the tourists downstairs must not have felt it because they were going on about their business. People were posting about being evacuated out of their buildings, of course that's one of the things you're NOT supposed to do in the event of an earthquake. It was a rather strange occurrence and I did not feel it so it was a little weird. So NYC had a strong reaction to a nearby earthquake which had not been felt like in years. That was on Tuesday and it blew up on social media sites for that day but it would not be the only time a natural occurrence would take place in the city this week.

For a few months now we had a weekend planned where we were going to Rhode Island to volleyball friend Andy's parents house to celebrate his 30th birthday. I was driving a minivan with Trisha, Mary, Dee, and Rich and leaving on Friday afternoon to make the trek up to RI and we would meet up with 9 other people to do the celebrating. But what we didn't see coming on Tuesday that would impact our weekend was a hurricane which was heading right for NYC. So we went back and forth on whether we should go to RI but after some talk and watching the weather reports we ventured up to RI for a night and return back to the city the next morning before the hurricane arrived.

So we left during rush hour which was not a very good idea but it was just what time we got out of work. Anyway it took about two hours just to get out off the island of Manhattan and once we did that we flew up up the highways all the way to the country space of RI where Andy's parents lived. So all totaled it took us 6 1/2 hours to get there but we also stopped to eat at Cracker Barrel and did some hurricane suppies shopping at Wal-mart. We seriously went to the backwoods of RI where they make movies like "Blair Witch Project" because it is so freakin' dark out there. Dee said she would rather be in the rough neighborhoods of the city than be stuck in these woods. We finally made it to Andy's parents' house in pitch black cool weather and had a fun time as we celebrated Andy's birthday with cake at midnight. Welcome to the 30s Andy! As we sat around and chatted, it was a scene very reminiscent of a family gathering for a birthday where the family huddles around to do the cooking, a few sit around and chat, and others play some game on the side, and all of that was happening right there with this little group in RI which I call my NY family, aka my volleyball cousins. As if I needed more cousins, but they are my family here in the city. We don't get together as much but we're all bonded by volleyball and if I'm in trouble I know I can count on them to be there for me.

They continued playing games into the night but I was having a lot of trouble with my knee, it was hurting quite a bit so I turned in early. We headed back the next morning with little sleep so that we could all get back into the city before the rains started to come in before the hurricane hit our area later that evening.

After going through the hurricane, at least in my area, it was not a lot of damage, just a lot of rain and heavy winds. It could have been a lot worse but it wasn't so now we're just trying to get back to a regular normal schedule. But looking at the pictures from the small time we were together, it is hard to believe that we've all been together for 5 years now. It has been a lot of fun times, tears, and a lot of karaoke in those five years and I hope for a lot more to come and I know there will be because they'll always be in my life.

"Listen" (DREAMGIRLS)

So I seriously am a slacker because I went the whole year of 2009 and updated once. And even when I did it, it was not about volleyball. My year was still filled with a lot of volleyball. I did more work as a referee for NY Urban which still thrills me. I still kept my days of open play filled with the craziness of it, getting to see friends while playing is always a plus. I didn't do league play which was a little odd but it was okay. I saw a lot of people while I worked and went to watch friends play when I had the chance. I just wanted to put up the first note of the new year and will be doing a lot of exploring the world of volleyball through my eyes and the eyes of friends.

"Timeless To Me" (HAIRSPRAY)

This first post of the 2009 year is dedicated to something before I played volleyball--HAIRSPRAY. Here are my thoughts on its closing.
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Today the realization sets in and like times in the past when a closing performance has happened--a sense of absence gnaws at me. Much like the days before approaching the final performance of Heather Headley in AIDA or the final curtains of FOOTLOOSE, KAT AND THE KINGS, THE CIVIL WAR (Alley Theatre production), or my all-time favorite, MISS SAIGON, I got a little sad at the thought of its absence from the theatre. It's that feeling of loss that propelled me to listen to recordings (legal and bootleg), watch taped TV appearances, and go catch the show just a few more times. Those moments were filled with memories and an ache in my heart grew. Memories of my first viewing and subsequent viewings, meeting cast members, or just connecting with the show's message, music, or lyrics--all those factors reflected my love for the LIVE theatrical experience and it became special to me.

Yesterday it was HAIRSPRAY, and I had to say goodbye after six and a half years. I was there for the first public preview sitting on the front row, and during that time I knew I was experiencing something special, a bonafide HIT. It was a show of layered messages with infectious moves and music. I would return for another 42 times and take others to experience the show, of course, any reason to see it again. I've had the honor of meeting and working with many cast members, stage managers, house personnel, and creative team over the last six years, and a number of times I've told them of the show's great ability to put a smile on my face but sometimes I felt that never seemed enough, it was much more to me. The show had a world of colorful characters converging in the depths of a racially-charged Baltimore in the 1960s, but it was the character of Tracy Turnblad that resonated in me greatly. The finale in that show, "You Can't Stop The Beat," was infectious, and no matter what kind of mood you were in, you were going to leave that theatre with an exhilirating feeling. I sometimes went to the show just to get a pick-me-up, and it put me in a better mood and a better place.

Anyway, I'm happy to have had the experience. So yesterday, I did my ritual prayer before the show and got ready for a wild ride that I knew would be fun but the excitement of the audience was so intense it took it to a higher level, and that was just during the opening notes. Next, cheers greeted each character entrance, racuous applause after each song, funny ad-libs thrown in for good measure, and dances that took you to another time. For me, there were tears at moments and several standing ovations after a few songs, but it ended the way it always has for me--with a smile!

Pics of the day and two short video clips are posted on my Flickr page:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/room317/sets/72157612126582121/

Better photo shots of the curtain call by one of the theare news website is here:
http://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Photo_Coverage_HAIRSPRAY_Goodbye_To_Baltimore_20090105

Sincerely,
Keith

"White Christmas" (WHITE CHRISTMAS)

As I walked out of my apartment building at 5:30 in the morning, I had just finished an all-nighter. It has become a tradition before each time I return home to Texas for a visit. It's just me cleaning up my room, going through things and reminiscing, disposing of excess, deciding what to keep and what to donate, and eventually packing for my trip. This particular morning was no different. My pace was hurried but I got out of my apartment at my scheduled time. Although the airline website said that my flight was on schedule, I kind of expected an upcoming delay because the day before the city had a major snowstorm and it crippled the airports. But I when I walked out of my building, there was a peace in the air with a beautiful setting. No sleet, rain or snow was falling. No cars, traffic, or pedestrians. Just a white covered neighborhood--my neighborhood in majestic white with a quiet serenity--for me, it represented one of the most beautiful moments in the city. I had been racing the past several weeks with my schedule, but in that one moment, I stopped, took a breath, thanked the Lord for the moment and the wintry wonderful landscape, and then continued wiht my large suitcase and carry-ons to the subway.

"Aquarius" (HAIR)

Okay, I need to make a post during this month of August. So I'm going to go with some recent talks. Well, after a week and a half in Texas for a wedding and just some dead time at home, I got back to NY following a six-hour delay at the airport. Not a fun thing to go through but the characters sitting around me at the airport really made it bearable. So once I got back to NY, I went to work and did not have anything scheduled after work so I just took easy getting back into things here in the city. By Wednesday, I was ready to start doing things and enjoyed a night at the theatre. That is something that will just always be a part of me--theatre. Then last night I went with a few friends to a new gym that they had went to for the first time last week. It's a facility for the police athletic league in Harlem, reconstructed in an old armory. It had an amazingly high ceiling and a lot of tennis courts. It was a simple open gym held a couple of nights a week. I'm not sure how my friend found out about it but I went to get some practice in and touch a volleyball because I hadn't in about three weeks. Of course, I couldn't pass and serve but after a few more tries, it felt good to be back on the court. But my heavy weight is not letting get up that high because I don't want to do too much damage to my knee already. My days of jumping an inch or so may be numbered. I was glad to touch the ball again and return to open play at Brandeis tonight. It has been three weeks. I'm also ready to see all the people there. The scene there is really a social one and you can play at other places but this one really has a good social atmosphere. Let's see how I feel tomorrow after my body reacts to playing tonight, muscles will probably hurt if I really try tonight.

"Malaguena" (BLAST!)

SERIOUSLY!!??!!

I looked up and almost two months have gone by since I last posted. Well, mainly because I haven't played a lot of volleyball. I've maybe played 4 times in the last 8 weeks. I'm not on any league teams and haven't been able to play at open nights at Brandeis because I was home for a little break to see cousins graduate and our annual pow-wow plus the holiday and other stuff. So my physical ability on the court even though it was slow to begin with is probably hindered even greater now. But I'm still getting assignments to ref so that's been great. I just feel so comfortable with it now, before I would be so nervous about certain divisions but now I'm just happy with any divisions. I may have calls questioned but my whistle rules and I verify after the match the rule I called, research it to be sure, and make mental note of it. It's all about refreshing yourself with rules in this officiating game.

I've tried to play a little tennis but that hasn't been a very successful goal. I know people who play but I just wish I could do it more after work. I'm finally getting back into hip-hop class tonight. Let's see how my body handles it. I'm totally excited to get back to class but I'm not sure if my body is. I'm not getting any kind of physical activity and I'm so afraid of what will happen if I don't do something soon. A report on that to come.

"I Did Something Wrong....Once" (CRY-BABY)

Well, this post will be mostly a non-volleyball entry because I only had one occurrence this last week. I went to Friday Brandeis and it was a really good time, and I did not have any referee assignments last week so pretty slow in my volleyball world.

I spent most of last week, resting, which is such a rare thing for me. I usually have things lined up almost every night and sometimes spontaneous things will happen if I don't have something planned like taking in a show with last-minute comps. Anyway, I actually went home after work which sort of surprised my roommate. I'm so rarely in my apartment except to sleep that she was taken aback that I was arriving home so early, it was actually light outside. I used the nights to go through clothes and do a late spring clean-up with my clothes, what doesn't still fit, needs to go, I'm not kidding myself that I'll get back into them. And when I was in Kansas, I had pictures developed at Wal-Mart that I had taken since January, pretty much I keep the one-hour people busy when I place an order but they always do really good work. So with all those pics, I filled up 6 photo albums of various numbers (two 200s, one 100, two 80s, one 64). I alway say that I love being in pictures but also love taking pictures and especially enjoy looking and working with pictures. I'm always on the lookout for a different photo album. I just feel that pictures are the portal to a soul, revealing and distinguishing. I also caught up on a lot of shows on my DVR--Little People, Big World; Lost; Desperate Housewives; Grey's Anatomy's; Ugly Betty; Extreme Makeover: Home Edition; several Oprahs; Brothers & Sisters; Law & Order SVU; Aliens in America. I think I'm caught up which is great since it's all about season finales now!

I also caught the last musical I needed to see that was nominated for Best Musical Tony Award. They had just announced nominations on Tuesday but the one musical I thought would make it didn't and the one that surprised people I was to see on Thursday. CRY-BABY was an okay night but it definitely had some great moments in the show but lacked charisma. I still have my favorite and I'm sticking with that.

I also got to celebrate birthdays for two volleyball-related people, Julie and Susana. We had dim sum in Brooklyn which took two and a half hours to get to for me, damn trains. That was for Julie. For Susana, we celebrated with a small dinner at Mara's Homemade which is a really good Cajun place on the Lower East Side. Certain dishes were a hit, and others were just okay but I would definitely recommend this place.

Then yesterday, we had a reading benefit which had a full orchestra and guest appearances by theatre folks. It was a big success in ticket sales but the actual box office was a nightmare. I was selling our last remaining tickets and we had two staff members doing will call but the set up at this theatre was a logistic nightmare. We had a lot of disgruntled people in the line because they had to come into one part of the building to get their ticket and then go back outside to into the house for the show. It was a small space so the boiling pressure was rupturing a lot. But once we got everyone inside, things went well with the show. Then I had to take tickets for the after-party which was pretty low key and I didn't have to be my usual persona, "Nazi Door Guy."

It was a pretty tame weekend. I started this morning way too early, and went to sleep way too late, but I wanted to get to the office to try for Tina Turner tickets on Ticketmaster. I finally got a pair for her stop out at the Nassau Coliseum in December. This will be my third time to see her and she is so awesome in concert. But I hate the fees that Ticketmaster charges, such a rip-off. I had planned to go to dance class tonight but my leg is really bothering me and my headaches are back again (note: made an eye doctor appointment today for next week to get my prescription updated which I think is the reason for my headaches, it's been more than two years since I had them checked). So I just want to relax again tonight, been doing that more and more lately. But I also looked at my calendar and realized tonight is the only night I have free before I leave for Texas for a small break next week. Also found out today that the complete series of that 80s TV show "Square Pegs" will be out on DVD tomorrow, which I'm totally picking up.