BeMused

As I mentioned, this past weekend I went camping with a great group of people. One of the people along was a very good friend of mine named Ann (who I have a secret crush on but don’t tell her that ;-). So, this IM that follows was a bit surreal. It wasn’t the Ann I know, but fun nonetheless. Enjoy!

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Starting to feel recovered from my weekend finally. Thought I’d take the time to write about it.

When we left, like I’d stated in the last entry, the forecast called for rain. About 20 miles outside of where we were to turn off the interstate, it started to rain in earnest. We made it to the campsite with no problems (that was one worry; the campsite is accessible by 4-wheel drive only, and we were concerned the road might have been impassible), and set up our tents in record time. Thankfully Sam and Rachael were there early and had set up a huge tarp we were able to take shelter under. Because of the rain coming off the tarp, we had quite the quagmire on the edges, but were relatively dry underneath. There was a ton of mud though:

But we prevailed and didn’t let the mud stop us from having a fantastic time. Naturally there was a bunch of alcohol consumed, lots of laughing as people fell in the mud, and even some good food. I’d marinated a few steaks before the trip and they turned out quite tasty. Last year, there was a stripper pole. This year, there was a whole stage built just for the stripper pole. Naturally I had to get up there and shake my booty. It’s just one of those things. Unfortunately, there’s some pictures. No, I won’t be sharing those. You don’t want me to, trust me on this one.

Saturday the weather relented and we had a gorgeous day. A bit cool, but absolutely beautiful. Sam brought out his arsenal, and we went shooting. He’d brought along a Beretta 9mm rifle and pistol, a P90 semi-automatic with a 50-round clip, a Bushmaster, and some others I’m sure I’ve forgotten. My favorite has to be the Beretta rifle. With the scope he has on that, you just can’t miss with it. I probably hit the target 19 out of every 20 times with that one. The pistols are fun to shoot as well. For someone who grew up in a anti-gun household (my mom hates them), I sure had a good time shooting them. I’d like to own my own gun, but I don’t see that happening anytime soon.

That night saw more laughter, more drinking, more watching Biscuit head dive into the mud (That’s what they call him; Biscuit. Not sure where the name comes from, but it’s strangely fitting). Biscuit was doing the rounds with a bottle of Fighting Cock 103% proof whiskey, making everyone take a swig, and then shout out “Cock-a-doodle-do!”. He was coming around the circle of chairs and managed to trip (not hard considering his quite inebriated state) and took out three of the empty chairs, and almost dumping Kelly on the ground as well. Laying there, face down in the mud, one leg in Kelly’s lap, I heard him say “What the hell just happened?” Krysta and I were laughing our butts off as we helped him out of his tangle of chairs and back to his feet. Didn’t slow him down though; he just passed the bottle to me and said “drink up fucker!”

Yeah, it was a great trip. Can’t WAIT for the fall camp out! Huge thanks to Matt and Lori for allowing us to camp (it’s their land we camp on), and allowing us all to cut loose. You guys rock!

Just some random bits of thoughts running through my head and life:

• I’m supposed to go camping this weekend. I’ve talked about this particular camping trip before. I really hope it doesn’t rain, but the weather forecast isn’t promising
• I was nominated for an award here at work. They call it the Elite Award and give it to one person a quarter. Considering I’ve been here only ten weeks, I think that’s a good sign.
• Over heard at the bar, a lady talking to a guy: “Yes, she was my first lover, but I’m with you now, and I wear your collar” - I so wanted to turn around and stare.
• My buddy Doug has started flying lessons and is keeping a rather comprehensive journal about it. Very good reading, if you enjoy reading about that kind of stuff, which I do. Though it tends to make me jealous
• Looks like my iPod was stolen. Last place I remember having it was here on my desk at work. If it was, and if I did leave it, it has walked away. Sadness.
• I have been working on a new design. I have three mockups, with different colors and layouts. I just can’t decide on one I like. Maybe I’ll put it to a vote. It’d be nice to have my own design up, rather than a prepackaged one.
• Stupid Surf Control software here at work will let me work on muse.harleyroads.com but blocks www.harleyroads.com. Go figure.
• I finally bought the full license for Expression Engine, hence the desire to work on www.harleyroads.com in my downtime here at work.
• I want to sign up for Nathan’s creative writing class again - between work and work and play practice, I’m not sure I’ll have time…
• I need a time machine.
• I so hope it doesn’t rain this weekend.

No wonder I never sleep. Too much crap running through my head. Look at all that!

*yawn* *stretch* *cree-e-e-eak*

erg.

This past weekend Sarah and I made our annual trip to Camp Tockwogh, which is situated on the eastern shore of the Chesapeake Bay. It’s run by the YMCA and more-or-less signals the end of another year of Indian Guides (I know the link says “Adventure Guides”, but I disagree with the Y’s position that they needed to be “politically correct”. We did nothing but honor the Native American way of life). We left Thursday night and arrived around 11pm. We had caravaned with 3 other dads and their kids, and spent all day Friday with pretty much the whole camp to ourselves. We did the normal stuff over the course of the weekend; archery, rock wall climbing, fishing, etc. I managed to get into separate games of touch football, basketball, and a three hour beach volleyball match. I learned a couple of vital things and was pondering about them on the drive home Sunday:

1. If I’m going to be abusing my body in such a manner, I need to get in shape and do it more often. My legs were killing me Sunday. Didn’t help that I had play practice and had to dance and sing for four hours Sunday afternoon (more on that in a bit)
2. If I’m not going to get myself in shape, I need to look into getting some replacement limbs for when I do play like an 8 year old.
3. It’s possible to brush your teeth without using your arms. Yes, I was that sore.

Joking aside, I had a great time, and the aches and pains that come with playing hard for a few days (not to mention sleeping in a bunk on a mat that wasn’t much more comfortable than a tissue would be) are worth it. Sarah and I got to spend some time together and while she was asleep, I got to hang out with other dads.

We had to get back early on Sunday because we had to be at play practice by 1. I think I mentioned that Cody was in his school’s production of Peter Pan - he played a pirate. The lady who put on the show is doing State Fair this June, and had an open casting call for people of all ages. Sarah really liked Cody’s play, and decided she wanted to go audition. Cody thought it would be fun as well, so Gail and I decided it might be a fun family-type thing to do.

To familiarize ourselves with the show, we rented the 1945 version of State Fair and watched it. Afterwards, Cody decided being a pirate was much cooler than dosey-do-ing around a stage and opted for Tech Crew. So that left Sarah, Gail and myself to audition. I figured I would just take a background part, mingle around, be part of the fair crowd. Sarah and Gail would be doing the same.

At least, that’s what I figured.

Because of lack of people, I now have three different parts; I’m to be Uncle Sam, who walks out on stilts(!!) at the beginning of the Fair to welcome everyone; I’m playing the part of the hoopla barker (which a very young Harry Morgan plays the part of in the movie); I’m also playing a part of the quartet. Yes, a quartet. Meaning, I’m singing.

Me! Singing! In front of people! Without the comfort of my shower!!

It was a total fluke how I ended up in quartet. During one of the main numbers, our director point to a group of four guys (which I was a part of by happenstance) and said “you guys just stand in for the quartet for now”. So we did. And during the song, I just sang. Well, the lady that’s helping our director was standing right in front, heard me, told the director I could sing (ack!) and now I’m “second tenor”, singing in two different songs. We’re going to be doing quartet bits in the main number, and then by ourselves during a separate bit.

Terrifying.

But, truth to tell, I am having an absolute ball with this. I might be freaked out about the singing in the quartet part, but when I’m with the rest of the cast, dancing around, I’m singing my fool head off. As no one has said I need to quiet down, I’m going to assume that at least I’m singing on key. This is just so different from things I’ve been doing recently in terms of hobbies and entertainment. I was in the marching band throughout high-school and college (band fag!), and I enjoyed the performances that we did, so I guess I’m just rediscovering that feeling of performing for other people. But acting? And singing? And - God help us - dancing?

It’s quite amusing when I think about it. And naturally, you’re all invited to come watch me make a complete and utter fool of myself. I’m going to be having a ball doing it.

Some of the lovely code I get to play with:

The ‘xx.xxx.xxx.xx’ is the IP for the domain in question. Basically whoever coded this page created a frame 100% the width of the browser and loaded itself into that page. It’s damn near a Catch-22.

Disclaimer: I had nothing to do with the coding, nor the design of this particular website. I am not posting the url here, because lord knows it might come back to bite me in the ass.