..... Can't sleep.

Can't sleep, clown will eat me.... Can't sleep, clown will eat me..............

(sigh, oh simpsons.)

So If you've been keeping up with my blog - I haven't been getting much sleep. Which has been causing me to feel very sick.

I don't know why out of all the nights I can't sleep now. I really REALLY want to. It's just all these thoughts and emotions and ideas and Emoticon's keep jumping through my mind like an endless cup of coffee, caffeinating me into an endless awake like state.

It's bothering me. (as I sneeze on my mothers lap top)

There's not much running through my mind now as I try to write other than "God I have a 5 hour shift tomorrow before I am to be social at a New Years Party..... Damn"

Yet when I try to sleep, thoughts of all sorts come rushing through my head. Dreams that I am having of simply thinking them in hopes they may put me to sleep are becoming wishes as if a whole bunch of sleep dust will rush over my body and zap me into a deep hibernation. Yet sadly the thought of me sitting beside Johnny Depp at the Oscars is not quite putting me to sleep. And the saddest thing is I only Won Best Supporting Actor in my dream/thought. Not even lead!!

I suppose if I were to think of anything to put me to sleep - it'd be either a song or.......... oh no..... I guess I have to now..........

-Mission 11- a bedtime story

Once upon a time, there was......................... Scratch that........................

In a dark and gloomy town, where all whom lived were at rest - there was one. A small and insignificant mouse named Pickford Jack.

Pickford Jack had dreams of laughter and of love. He would wish upon every star on every night before bed - and as he would lay - his dreams would take him away to such places where Pickford Jack would not want to come back from.... This was a happy place.

Now the town that Pickford Jack lived in was fine to say the least - but nothing like the one he would dream of.

In this Dream - Pickford Jack was not only just a hero among his friends and family - but he was like a star whom people would pay thousands just to see him. And in this dream Pickford Jack did not stray into his celebrity status as a mean person - but rather as someone who tried to do good for the land to which he loved so much.

Pickford Jack loved going to this place.

But in his real town - Pickford Jack had many things. Things to which he was more than grateful for. He had friends - a family - means of entertainment..... But there was something missing. Something that he had once had, but was now gone. Almost like dream. But not one to which Pickford Jack would love. This missing thing had come and gone faster than any night - and more abrupt than any surprise.

Pickford Jack grew sad. It wasn't like he really needed this thing. It was merely that he had had something to which he had loved and cared for so deeply - and now it was lost. He had lost it.

Now Pickford Jack was a happy sort. No one would know he was unhappy - not even the closest of people. In fact, even Pickford Jack would forget and go about his daily routines and not remember this thing to which caused him such angst. It was only on the deepest of nights - when all else seemed at peace - where nothing seemed right in Pickford Jacks head - where this thought would creep back into his head.

"No", Pickford Jack would think. Brush it off and go to a warmer place. I don't need this - I don't want this. All it will do is bring me back to a place where I don't feel like being.......

I think Pickford Jack needs a vacation...... Go see the world.... Find his own way about life. Stop dreaming and begin doing.

Jason Mraz said in his most recent blog

" If you have the dream of traveling, I suggest packing your bags and having them with you when the clock strikes 12. Really show the universe that your intention is more than a thought. It is an action! "

I know it's a corny/odd reference. But I like the romance of living life in a way like no other. To really push yourself to love life regardless of your love lost, trials and tribulations. Really show the universe who you long to be and how you want to live. It's really just a beginning of getting a move on "you".

I believe that to truly get passed something - to live through it - you must express it in your own way - in a way where you are not trapped.

My New Years Resolution.................. Is Live.

Aint no Mountain High!

I have been looking for an excuse to dig through my dvd collection (to which I have named "The Plethora of Love"), to take out "Titanic" for a long time now. I have had quite the couple of days of non sleep and all work/play - so today - being zonked out of my mind. Have sat with my computer. A warm cup of java with some Kate and Leo............. It's on!

-Mission 10- Operation Holidays!

Over the last week my life has been bombarded with schedules and time consuming activities that have left me with close to no sleep for 3 days now.... It all started with a little form called "Liquid"...... Now as Liquid is as Liquid does, I have been very fortunate to be having my fair share of luxurious liquids such as various beers that have been aged from barrel to barrel - some scotch that has been aged over the past 12 years, come coa coa that warms me every time - and one of my favorites of this holiday - A single cup of Java which beans were grown in Hawaii and collected from my Aunt at it's actual plantation - in Hawaii.

But as I live through my 5th Christmas eve alone, as tradition goes, I would sit and write and drink until it was time to lay and rest until the big gift giving extravaganza!

Christmas Eve was great because I really just become myself with some good 'ol liquid courage of many kinds and throw all caution to the wind and express myself in both writing and song as the night goes on and the holiday Christmas specials come on the tele. My favorite is of corse the Tradition "White Christmas" with Danny Kay and Bing Crosby - and most recently the holiday special of "A Colbert Christmas".

Christmas came like any other. Awoken by a banging at my door to the sound of my brother yelling out "We're opening presents!!"

SO I'm up and having my usual holly jolly Christmas - when suddenly - hehehe. MY favorite present of all comes handed to me as if I was being handed a new outlook on life - a new life on its own - a new me.

Now I have never been really good with a guitar. Which is my fault entirely. I have just never had the patience or the time to learn. I have been a drummer since I can't even remember when. A half decent one at that. Tell me to play jazz, punk or rock and roll and you shall have yourself a show.. No heavy metal crap though haha. I appreciate the complex guitar playing in that type of music, but I have never been a fan of the double kick in a constant slam and "THAT" is called talented?

Any way. Ever since I saw some stock footage of Jason Mraz at a radio station playing his version of "Fly me to the Moon", I have wanted a tenor Ukulele more than ever. Although Jason's was custom made for him with Nicaraguan rose wood (which cool enough I have been to Nicaragua :) ) Mine was something of much beauty, regardless of the custom made anything - I love her. I've named her "Tabitha" much like everything else I hold dear enough to name. And I have been playing her non stop.

Thus far - only know 4 chords - I have been playing "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" - "Let It Be" and my absolute favorite, "I'm Yours"...... It has been a world of fun and just sitting around rockin this Uke makes me feel like a rock star. It's been wild.

BOXING DAY............. Yikes... Awaking to non other than my brothers playing with what ever toys they were given for Christmas - I was down to business. And when I say business I mean showering and getting down to my retail job for 10 hours of hard labor and thousands among thousands of customers trying to buy soo many items of clothing to which they think there is a sale attached. But alas - no. There were no sales - yet still thousands of people spending their money the day after Christmas.

But me being a positive sport as I am - enjoyed myself a tad. :) . The first 6 hours were alright. Well - no. They were something of unmaintainable rage that even the smallest of ticks would have made me burst out something fierce. I was "stationed" in the Fitting room. Which was relaxing in comparison to being at the cash. In fact I was very thankful seeing how I had a nice cool fan blowing at me constantly.

Then the last 4 hours - which were undoubtedly amazing. I got to stay in the back and just bring out knew clothes when ever we were running low on the table - or - when ever someone was in need of a different size... Not to mention the tres attractive associate of mine I had been working with all day I got to meet first hand...... twas a good day :D............. Oh wait.. no it wasn't, BLOODY PARKING TICKET!.........

Now I'm not sure how it is where everyone else lives - but for me - it snows. And boxing day was a snowy one in the morning for when I parked my car behind another car in the parking lot of the mall. But alas, as the snow melts - my car appears to be half over the line and in the way of what the police are calling "a fire escape route" .... BULLDINKY! no way in hell was I there.. But $250 later, I'm screwed.

But as I arrived home to see off relatives whom I missed another family Christmas dinner with leave, the calm cool of the night brought on 1 thing. Me and my Uke. :)

The magic was great and I could merely sit and jam until the morning.

Sleepy as I was this would be the first of many nights awake and not sleeping. The 2nd would be the night after my uke night - I was still at this point jamming - yet a few old familiar voices came calling and asked if I'd like to go out on the town dancing. I could hardly resist. So I was out on the town and ready for some dancing.... The great part was how warm it was. I was walking around with no coat and merely a light dress shirt on over top. And it felt great..

And of course - remembering Christmas eve - some Liquid courage was on my side and dancing was all I was capable of doing haha.

I was inside and livin it up. It wasn't the most exciting - but fun non the less. By 1:40 it was almost closing time - and seeing how I had missed the last train - I was ready for the late bus. And perhaps one more dance?

But seeing how I had gone alone with friends who were all occupied - I merely walked up to a couple of ladies and me - being happy off of happy juice, simply said "Would either of you two ladies care to dance?" - or at least, I'd assume thats what I said. Too much courage in a bottle can add to a whole lot of gibberish.

But their response was simply "Well sorry, but........ Only if you don't mind dancing with both of us." .......... HA!

A song and a bit later I had gotten the attention of one of my friends - he and I exchanged nod's and I introduced him. He took one and I continued dancing with the other.... Within SECONDS flat - that man friend of mine was goin to town on that girls face - haha. All I could do was laugh. But laughing was easy while I danced.

So the bar was closed and I being a gentlemen thanked the fine lady for the dance and was on my way out. My good buddy :D joined me later tired from snogging with a phone number and a smile.

But this was not the end of our adventure for the night. My friend being the stud as he is couldn't help but sing out loud in the middle of the street. I being on a bottle of courage joined in - as well as our other friends. This didn't stop.

We were on the bus heading home and still singing out loud. People on the bus could do nothing but laugh and join in. After a few requests in songs - a little bit of Disney hits - some Oasis and classics like some Ella Fitzgerald - We were belting along with everyone else on the bus. Now this was amazing. For me at least. I have always been afraid to sing in public. In a show I find it rather easy to just get up and go along in a song. But when it comes to singing around complete strangers in such a way that you know they will be looking at you judgmentally. I was REAL happy. I was over coming something I had watched Jason Mraz do on youtube in Europe soo many times. Twas a gooood night.

(If anyone can find a youtube clip of it please inform me... There were many people filming us:D)

Home by 4 - up by 10. Pretty sweet haha. I had a rehearsal for Guy's and Dolls on Sunday (which has been going Great - thanks for asking) - Sooo no sleep for me.

And If I didn't have a birthday party with a lot of GREAT people after word I would have definitely gone straight to bed. But I had one. And I went to it. And Oddly enough somethere though I had an Irish Accent. Same with some people who I work with. Apparently I'm Irish. Newfy yes... But Irish? C'mon!!! But other than one stupid reminder that there is a lame rumor about me going around that I apparently have an STD - it was a great night....

And although I did go to sleep looking for some relaxation - I was up and out to work.... Dead.. The whole shift.. I was SOOOOO dead. There was nothing I wanted more than to sleep and be rid of life. A cold was stirring and I needed some relief. And after that shift I was. Had dinner with some great camp friends then a movie (Valkyrie)

And now. Sitting in my room. As I watch the finale few moments of Titanic - the little old lady walking with the heart of the Ocean - The warm coa coa long from gone. And the Sun.... set.....

I do nothing but think back to the last couple of days and think what a joyous adventure that was. What a happy holiday.

Whats in store for the future? New Years Eve - and perhaps a little Liquid Courage ....... :D

To, the man.

Dear Santa.......

If you get this.... And when I say get this I mean Read my blog...

Can you bless all those in need?

Now when I say that I mean everyone...... The problem with the world is that we see people who live in poverty, and we pity them. This to me, is our fault. They live with as much joy and happiness as we do, except in a different way. I spent a couple weeks in Nicaragua as you may know. (seeing how you know everything I seem to do...... Which still disturbs me) And talking to someone there who had learned English, he spoke of being really happy. And saying that the people there do not know of the joys we have in this world, such as Computers, Black berries, Television and Britany Spears. But they have other joys. And although we may look upon them and see poverty, the Jonas Brothers of the world may look upon someone like me and see poverty.

I si wiah to give them as much of the gifts and love that I can. But as the season continues, I think about the world. My friends, and their needs and hopes in this world. To quote the most famous of Elephants - "A persons a person, no matter how small" - and I was thinking that although we all feel we have to try our hardest to help those in need in other countries, why don't we rock it like Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz and simply look in our own back yard?

So if you may Santa, while you drop off the newest of new to everyone in their toasting homes this Christmas year, could you toss a sandwhich or two, and perhaps some toasting warm woolen sox from Giant Tiger to some of those in need sitting upon the Streets. And maybe even a happy day of solitude to those woman in need of some comfort after fleeing their homes with their children from an abusive marriage.

There are much more in mind Santa. But as I sit here enjoying my Christmas Eve alone with my computer as I have for years now, I'd like to think of those who need to be though of.

And perhaps a pony for me :)......... And when I say Pony, I mean a happy day of thanksgiving and gratitude on Christmas day.

Thank you, and Merry couple of days, Santa......... And when I say Santa......... I mean God.......

Amen.

ps..... Also, could you make an Oreo Cookie with another cookie in the center? Would greatly appreciate it !!!

Belly of a Tree

Whats in your wallet?

Ummm, I got some gift cards, receipts, old school pictures, Drivers license, some purple stuff... & Sunny D! ALRIGHT!!!!


So honestly, tell me...... What is it with this holiday that make people think that a mall is a "fun" place to be @ THREE days before Christmas? Honestly, it's the honest ones you have to watch out for.... Fricken LAZY!

Yes yes I understand that you sometimes really don't know what to get someone until that moment when you re-inact one of those "best Buy" commercials when you go " I'm looking for one of those "" OH MY GOSHH MA ROSH!! I TOTALLY LOVE IT"" type of gifts"..... Then the sales clerk looks at you weird and simply says, "私はそれを得ない。" ..........

Dang people wearing shirts that MATCH the exact color of the workers uniform!... C'mon people, I don't care if you just finished at a soccer game... DO NOT walk into a foot locker until you put on a different shirt!

Okay the fun part is the shopping. Now when I say that, I mean the shopping for me. It's one of those moments when you know you have to give something back but you end up pulling a Simpson, and go "one for you, one for me."

"So pJ, what did you get your family, "well I got a (write name of presents here........) and then a jacket new white dress shirt and cd/dvd of Jason Mraz for me!"

sniff................................. I swear I got them nice stuff.............cough...... How about dem isotopes huh? ...... They're crazy!

I'm going to quote a man that I do quite frequently, and I want you to take it in what ever way comes to you first.... Please.

"Step into the light, and see how Awesome you can be."

-J.mraz

-Mission 9- Gift 'o matic-- HYDRO matic! - Why it could be Grease Lightning!.... cough I mean Christmas!.....lightning.......

Now, this year has been a surreal one with the Holidays. I haven't quite figured it out fully. I have the tip of the ice burg all figured out, yes love and laughter along with Holiday tidings and X-mas lights have made my nights something to look forward to over the last few nights. But my attitude and the way I have been taking in life the last little while has been something of question to myself.

For example....... (haha as if I'd ever leave you with such an unfulfilled paragraph ;) )
I was put on (what I like to call) "Flirt Duty", at work. Now flirt duty is pretty much where you are placed at the front of the store welcoming each customer and informing them about our deals and getting them interested in buying. Now in this prestigious job I get the opportunity to say hi to many people. Many kinds of people and their many kinds of emotions bouncing off their face and smacking my own. But as I am supposed to be forceful in my approach, I get down to bidness and inform them about my daily news @ good 'ol American Eagle.
And now there was this one person..... Yes female.... cough totally non of your business but oh well.. seeing how you asked...... Any way...

I asked her ever so simply "Do you know about our deals?" WAAAPOOOOOOSH! The smack...... .. no no hahaha She didn't smack me in the face. Only her emotion and her eyes were just locked on me as if she were fishing for my own. And boom.. Such a serendipitous moment where I had become physically nervous talking to her and saying something as simple as "Buy one and get the 2nd 50% off!".... She just stared and in the kind of humor I would have responded with "No I have not heard! Tell me about it!"....... Wowzers.... Caught me off gaurd she did!!!
But this singular moment in my 6 hour shift of hell on earth, reflected how I have been feeling about life right now. Caught off guard. With a little less eyes and smack talkin emotions but all in the same - taken aback.

I have stepped out into a spotlight this holiday season in search of not only someone I have yet to be in my life, but also the perfect gift for that someone of thought. In past years I have merely chosen one of three gifts laying on my mothers bed for one of my brothers. The other two would be either given to them as a special surprise or as a typical "from Santa" gifts. Cough I mean....... Santa asked if he could give them....... ummm..... AHHHH!

But this year... I don't know... This year is that year where I have tried to strike or occur to with a sudden feeling of wonder or astonishment, as through unexpectedness with my present selections for my family hahaha. And so far so good. I have a few possible let downs. But thats the thrill of giving, hoping that it brings a smirk to the face of the receiver and not one of those eye brow twitches where they thing "now if I dig deeper in the box will I find a gift receipt?"

But all in all the only draw back to this complete odd set of arrangements this holiday year. I will be spending my first year since I was the age of 14 as a single male..... Odd. Even the highschool romances kind of held me straight and true through the season.... But perhaps this could be why I am so joyful(and triumphant :D ) this year. No shotty wench to spoil my fun in the snow!... COugh ... I mean... No flower breathing love muffin to coil our love in the coo of this holiday....day.....

But no matetr what dodgy circumstance I have had in the past that may or may not have dragged this feeling out to the year of '08, I'm thankful it did...... What else would I have written about tonight???

George Clooney !?!!


-Step into the light, and see how Awesome you can be.

-p.J..... Merry couple of days!

Tune She Hum's

It isn't much of a word. Or a thing. But rather, she is a feeling. This "she" as in...... well...... girl..... Not so much a girl, but....... What else. To some she could be the sound of a good song, the sizzle of some warm bacon made for you befor you are off to work, or perhaps the steam of a hot coa-coa late at night snuggled up next to a fire. But for me..... She is the Holidays. Nothing more in my mind or heart could I think of a familiar feeling to bring me back into the Christmas Holidays then the thought of a woman cuddled up watching a fun flick with me....... You know what I'm saying?

I apologise if I come across right now as a hopeless romantic. Not my intention really.... Unless you are of the female gender and begun thinking honest thoughts of "oh pJ!!" then by all means continue and we can discuss my obsession with chick flicks over a cup of java on a later date...... But What I am truley getting at is Christmas. I lost it down the line. No you can not truly lose the day/holiday as we have all learned over the Who's of Whoville kickin ass one Christmas showing the Grinch how foolish he really is..... (not that being Green didn't show him already...... No no, I don't have anything against green people. I think they are odd, but I would help them if they were ever on a boat..... They may be sea sick)

Each year I enjoy Christmas Eve.... Odd, due to the depressing fact that I spend the night of Christmas eve......... alone..

Don't go "aww" or anything. Because really it is my New Years and Thanksgiving all tied up into one. This one night as the family is off at Church and other holiday shindigs, I reflect my year and practice gratitude and thanksgiving in my life as I sit there in a candle lit house with Bing serenading me as I toast to my life and write what I would call my "Christmas Abyss"...... I just merely zone out and write anything from a song, to a film idea and even the corny-est of poetry that would even embarress a duck...... Those guys have no shame I swear.....

Here's what I do though.... In this the holy holiday of Christ day -

I walk ... In the blistery blustery blizzard that is Toronto. And I look at lights. I just stare and tear up to myself as I dream of anything.

I hum into a sing into a two step into a ........... I just really sing.... But the feeling that Christmas gives me in my chest really pushes when I'm just singing to myself.

Right now Christmas is snowing up something fierce outside and she has never looked so gorgious....

Sure as I get woken up at 6 tomorrow morning to merely brush off my mothers car as she gets ready to go to work and I back to bed, I will curse her spitefull treatchery of hate that haunts my home (the snow that is....hehe)...... But that milky white dust will do nothing but smile back and just wait for me to smile back...

Gracefully as I stomp off to bed I wont think of how awesome this town is with it's snow. When you think about it, how many parts of this world does not even have snow? As I'm here living up a white christmas there are some people dusting off their shoes from all the sand getting caught in between their laces.

Ever see someone experience their first snow fall?

Not like a baby - the first snow fall to a baby is like Tiger woods winning another tournament... There's going to be a lot more firsts in their near future - this one doesn't matter.

But what I'm saying is the first snow fall for someone who has just moved to your city... It's a beautiful thing. I got to see someone who moved from the West Indies have their first experience with snow.... Arms stretched and singing to the sky. Dancing around as if no one else was around. They were in their own little Disney World of Dreams. Life had never been so sweet.

Feel it? She's giving me that feeling just to remember that moment. Christmas is a loving touch of EVERYTHING in our dreams. It's the giving, the loving, and the gratitude.

Lets not spend this Christmas closed off thinking what mommy and daddy are giving you or perhaps if Landon is going to ask you to the New Years box social down town for the countdown.

Lets take a page from Bing's book - not the child beating of course haha - but more one of the best words he was ever able to sing.

"When my Bankroll is getting small, I think of when I had none at all, And I fall asleep, Counting my Blessings"

-Mission 8- Gratitude, Holiday Style

Count em - point 1 you.

-pJ

Make'n me Santa

"Who said that every wish should be heard and answered?"

That's right people I said it!  I quoted one of the most influential people in this history.  They had a point you know, sitting there just thinking out loud.  Never once thinking to themselves wh

o would listen or what would come of it.  But they said it and BOOM.  Here I am quoting them.  Mr.Kermit the Frog I tip mine hat to your leap-fulness.  (But seeing as I am clearly here to change the world, it can hardly become a philosophy of mine to follow).

That's right people,  Come one Come all!.......  Actually just come one.... Or at least one at a time.  I'm not a machine......hmmmmm... Wait no that'd never work.  I don't have the technology..... But any way.

-Mission 7-  Make'n me Santa.

Once every young hormonal child reaches the age and the slight intellectual capability they get to go to a magical/tear creating hell called High School.  Now among all the "But you said you LOVED me!!!" "Why are you eating your lunches in the washroom?"  "What does Pikachu say?" And my absolute favourite - "What does the wall mean, the jokes in my hand?" - there are the friendships.  

Now I have had quite the amazing amount of friendships within my high school days, but now as I think back to those fading drunken memories I remember the horrible HORRIBLE times of the year when we all were forced to take what little money we had hoped to spend on a new shirt that says "I do all my own stunts" on it, or the possible phone card to allow an extra 35 minutes on our cell phones for that late night "so what were you dreaming about?" phone call, you have to spend it on gifts for these people.

"I" in the world that is now, am a huge believer in giving, thanksgiving and gratitude.  But back in the day I would have killed myself if I had to walk into the Body Shop one more time for that 3rd birthday this month or joint Christmas basket.  Or try to ask the really cute music retail worker if she could quite possibly point out the most recent cd by what's his face with the tightly chizzled abs.  

sighhh I was just embarrassed.................................... Where were my tightly chizzled abs?

By the end of high school I had come close to giving up and all together not buying Christmas presents for my ridiculous amounts of friends.  (thats right people, no abs but a billion friends.  eat dem apples MR. Attractive Efron who could date anyone he wanted to, even guys and still make more friends than me and have more money......cough......  So there..)

I came up with this method along side my partner in crime Mr.Pipher - Impersonal gifts that make everyone laugh from the cheapness..

The gift of comedy should always be high on everyone's grown up christmas wish list.

Now as most people over the age of 29 know, family portraits are brilliant to shove into a tacky Costco bulk christmas card and send out to everyone.  But being clever little pickles as we were/are/then I say something else - We decided to mix it up a bit and make a few copies of us to give out to people.

Now these photos are circulating the world now and it would be a great deal of effort for me to track them all down, so lets all plug in our imagination boxes, down a quick drink (I suggest something with milk for this particular occasion.....  Because Im silky smoooth ;) ) And lets imagine shall we.

The first was reading a story to the children by a warm fire before bed....... cough..  We were in sweater vests - Jordan played the role of the sleepy children and I sat in a big comfy chair reading him Calvin and Hobbes to an empty fire place in the middle of the afternoon.

The 2nd was us singing carols to all the people in our small german village........sniff...... Still sporting the sweater vests Jordan was singing off while playing and geetar and I was rockin a tambourine and we were jammin in his living room to no one.

The third was the classic buddy buddy shot of two good pals standing next to a fully decorated Christmas tree.......... No silly attempts with this photo...... We just looked to gorgeous to mess with it is all.

Photos are one thing - Cards and a small signature is what made it whole.  But the following year as we could do nothing more than dread the thought of creating something sooo expected.  This year we would recruit our dear friend named so by the joy in his h

eart "Pogo", we began production on our Christmas Album.

This album had classic tributes to such christmas hits such as "All I want for Christmas" - "Mean one Mr. Grinch" - ""Baby It's Cold Outside" and "We Three Kings" changed to "We Pirate Kings".  And also a few surprises such as "A Whole New World" a Freestyle rap as the opener and one of the hit songs from Scrubs musical episode "Guy Love".

I'm not going to lie, but on a brisk Christmas summer afternoon I enjo

y listening to these hits.  Although our vocals may sound a tad silly during most points of the album - It's the thought of AMAZING that counts :).

Now to continue this Christmas tradition we have to come up with som

ething just as good, because frankly, I have never been one to re-gift a toaster to 35 people.  

What - a - do this year?  Perhaps a series of buttons that spell out the location to a hidden present that only one person gets?  A gerbil with our names shaved into it's back?  A few movie sequences of us dancing in different parts of the world to a hit song by Jason Mraz? (perhaps "Make it Mine" ?? :) ) Or how about a show that allows us to end off with a big musical number to which we throw a plethora of flowers into the crowd as they scream for more but through all the agony of perfection in our voices we some how find ourselves stopping ever

ything in mid sente.............................................................................................

Un-Ceremonious day of Bogus.

Do you know what it's like to take a bus for an obscene amount of time without a musical device. I'm sure you may know. I'm sure that you have spent a fall/autumn night in the countryside on a Grey hound bus missioning it back towards your homestead where you will be swarmed with a loving family and a half butchered chicken awaiting you to devour it........ BUT YOU HAVE NO IPOD!!!!
Sure the ending result seems to be heaven - but how much do you think you are going to enjoy that chicken when you spend hours and hours pressed up towards a window as the man beside you is a sleep on your shoulder crushing you to the point of you beginning to write your Will after being the first to die a la pancake technique.

okay yah yah I'm sure you would love it a lot more after going through such hell, BUTTTTTT, wouldn't it be better if that large man was in fact a very attractive person feeding you grapes and massaging your back as you listen to some killer tunes and ignore them completely as not to have any obligations at the end of your trip so you can just get straight home to your CHICKEN!!??

GOSH!! Is that too much to ask for?

Life is a lot more dragged out when you do not have some sort of musical device to help zen you out on a long mission.

Especially when those mission is filled with the most heinous of events.

-Mission 6- Un-Ceremonious Parking Ticket

Here's my plan. I am going to get up at about 6:30 in the morning and take the bus over to an old High School teacher/now friends house where I have promised to babysit his son. After a few hours I need to bus it with him to school and then off to go pay this $30 parking ticket. And I suppose to make myself happier I shall indulge in some pointless spending and get myself a new sweater. This should only take me about 2 hours maximum depending on the speed of the buses and the line up to pay this parking ticket.

So I get up at 6:30 - I rush to put on my clothes and get to a Tim Horton's to get some sweeet sweeet nectar (Extra Large Double Double - Double Cup'd). Waiting for the bus isn't so bad, it came after a while and I made it to my old teachers place on time. Sure enough his young son Evan had a big night I hear so he should be sleeping for most of the time I am there. Thats cool - I'll just sit here and watch some television...... ELLEN?!!!! Sweeeet. I sit and I watch some Ellen, and as I sit and await for Evan to wake up I learn a bit more about Miley Cyrus in this interview then I actually really cared to know.

Honestly - I really tried to get into that fab - Not Jonas fab - But just appreciating what Miley Cyrus is doing. But watching her I was just getting more and more annoyed with her. She is really just a kid just barely pushing 16 and she is giggling all over the place.... SIghhhhhh okay - As I remembered a few blog entries ago I should just go "good on them - Don't knock someone else's happiness".....I'm sure she's a sweet girl in real life..... I'm sure. -So I continued watching.

10 o clock hit and I started to get anxious for Evan to wake up because he needed to eat and leave by about 11:10. Now for those of you who have ever needed to get a 6 year old up...... It's not an easy task.... Lucky for me the previous night happened to be Toronto's first Snow Fall of the season... Evaaaaaaaaan wake up....... nothing...... EVVVVAAAANNN Wake uuuuuuuuup *poke poke poke*..........nothing......... Evan get up....... *shakes*........ Evan ....... (begin poking him in the face).... EEEEEVVVAAAAAAAANNNNNNNNNN....there's snow on the ground.... "SNOW!?"....... and he's up.

I get him to school and await for his daddy to come drop off a snack for him to eat on break. As I wait I feel REEEAAALLLYYY creepy. I'm standing there wearing a fairly long all black P-Coat and a gangsta blue hat........... I am standing amongst a ton of children....... Teacher's were watching me like a hawk!.... But I just simply played with Evan and tried desperatly to ignore the 3 little girls trying to choreograph a dance to a Hilary Duff song to which they didn't have a cd but only their own voices to play the song and they only knew a single line from the Chorus...

(Now as a musical theater student I felt like stepping in and showing them a thing or two.... but seeing how they were merely 7 years old I decided to cut those talentless swines a break)

Finally his poppa comes and he goes into class and I am off to the Police Ticketing Station..... 3 buses later I am waiting in line... These buses were hell. I was bored standing with no music and it was sooo cold out. But I had to pay this ticket within 5 days before I was to receive a conviction letter.
I am waiting in the Ticket place humming to myself for about 20 minutes and watching the woman who is legally the hight of a dwarf sneak up on someone she knew and scare them...... I laughed. She was good at making soft steps ..teehee.

I get up and act cute to the officer and she asks me to pay - I have a debit card and 25 bucks on me. Clearly I am 5 dollers too short to pay in cash so I say debit.......... *Spending Limited* .......

"WHAT?!!!!"

My Debit card can not limit my spending!? My mother has been trying for years! What secret does this card hold that she has yet to find?

I apologize to the officer and say I will be back shortly to pay it. I call my bank - put on the old angry voice - "HEY! This is the third time my card has been frozen since August! What the hell!?" (I wasn't lying) *Sorry sir it says here you used your card last Sunday at a location to which has been tagged as stealing pin's* (damn that Swiss Chalet! They didn't even garnish my friends Shirley Temple..... I don't care how many people were at my table, a Shirley Temple comes with a Sword skewering a maraschino cherry - and the possible Orange wedge)

So I listen to my options and really there is only one. I have 2 hours to get to a CIBC bank and change my pin. I ask where the closest one is....... 2 buses later I am there changing my pin. I am not happy. I call them and they watch as I change it. They say *Great, your account should be back up within the next 4 hours*......................................."come again?".......... *4 hours sir*...... "NO sir.... I need to pay a parking ticket today and the place closes in 2 hours. This card better be working by the time I get back there" - *umm sorry sir. But what I can suggest is you wait around the bank and in about 5 or 10 minutes check the status and see if it begins to work* "Fine........ I'll wait" - *Is there anything else I can help you with sir?* - "Nope that about does it" - *Well you have a nice day sir* - (in a chipper voice) "You tooOOOooo" {hangs up}

Now what to do, what-a-do. I walk into a Mr Sub and just order a 6 inch Veggie Delight on Italian - I take is easy today and only put on lettuce cucumbers and a TON of green Olives..... As I sit there still infuriated with time and the fact that I have already been on 7 different buses today... the radio goes silent in the Mr Sub..... "daa doo doo" ... "I'm Your's" By Jason Mraz comes on.... I look up to the sky "Okay world, you got lucky!" I sit and I jive to some Mraz as I wait for my account to hopefully get reactivated. Sure enough it did and I was back on the bus headed towards the Police Ticket Station.

I walk in to pay and there is a similar line there then what was there before. Same wait..... Less Little people... I pay the ticket and begin waiting for the next bus. I sit in the cold waiting a long time just humming to myself some mraz just so I do not flip again..... I see a bus passing going in the opposite direction, on it says that it is headed towards the Scarborough Town Center..... "I want to go there!" - I thought - But just as fast as I saw that bus I watched it drive past me onward towards my new sweater..... Disgruntled and cold I decide to switch sides of the street and wait for this bus (seeing how the last one would make me have to take another bus plus a 5 minute walk to the Mall) - Quickly enough a 2nd bus comes - before even a first one on the opposite side- and I am off to the Scarborough Town Center. I get there and in a fast enough pase I head towards the American Eagle (work) to buy myself a sweater (with a workers discount :) ) - I am quickly joined by a midget dressed as a nun.... ahaha no no I wish... I am snuck up on by a friend named Matt - Most famous for "The Matt Bernard Show" Online now and of course APTN's "The Link"(haha). We make plans for later on the eve and I get back on track to my sweater.

I am in and out within seconds (thats what she said). I have my sweater and I head home. ahhhhh sweeet relief, my bed, my pillow, my Jason Mraz DvD of his Concert in New York.... Life is good.

I get a phone call from Matt -the ringtone is the theme from the Office- We make plans to go to our buddy Shawn's house to play some wicked Super Nintendo.. I'm driving this time. No more buses....... Todays count .... 11 buses..... Sigh no fun.........


............................................................................................................... So sure enough my mom is at church with the car.... ON A THURSDAY NIGHT?!?!? .......... So back on the the bus..... I meet up with Matt (1 Bus) ....... We get to a station (2nd bus) and we transfer buses to get to Shawns (3 Buses). After a few hours of Super Nintendo and a few outdoor Hot Tub games we call the Snowball Games (run out of the tub roll in the snow as others throw snowballs at you from inside the tub as you try to get back in) - I head home ... 1 bus to the station.... 1 subway stop to my station.... and then another bus to get home.......... Total count 16 buses and 1 subway Transfer....

Somebody get me a car...........

Scatter plots and Chilli beans.

I get in these moods where I become so over annoyed with my surroundings that I need to close myself away. But the problem with that is that I am never satisfied with trying to woe myself back into a state of calm and just surrender to my surroundings....... Instead I feel like making a few of those dead baby jokes come true....... cough... well, errrr aaaaa, come too a theater near you... cough ahem... not... come true......

Any way.....


cheers to those days where you just can't seem to get back into that heavenly state of bliss.

("Some days you just can't get rid of a bomb!")

Consuming Love Affair.

What more is there to do on a cool simmered hours of the early morning then to get up and dance? C'mon honestly. What else are you doing? Stand up? Is there anyone around!? THOUGHT SO!

I find myself day to day coming down with change in how I feel about things and how I think. It could be the "getting older" excuse you hear about from when you are young. But perhaps I just... Maybe it could be because of those pickles........... Or how about.................. shut up...

Alright I'm feeling older now and what better than the present to really look upon the world and go....... "hmmmmm now what do I think about you?"

Two things come to mind (back on topic again)..... Simply "Why would I knock this guy's happiness?" - Sitting on the bus I find myself "people watching". No I'm not checking out everything that comes on to the bus.... That would be just creepy..... And exhausting.... But I rather found myself being a real jerk in my mind going "What is wrong with that guy? He looks like he's 21 and he's wearing a poke'mon shirt playing video games?!!" - Thats just awful. And after a while that turned to just - "Alright, pretty fly guy."

The second being "What do I have to lose?". I get scared, much like all of you. I find myself in perfect scenarios to just bust out into something. Song, dance, freestyle skatting or even just humming a tune or making a joke. WHAT WOULD I HAVE TO LOSE? I'm not a shy guy. I may find there to be nothing to say sometimes so I will take those moments to fall into my very odd thoughts. But never awkwardly.... Thats up to the other person staring at me while I'm tilting my head day dreaming of what ever it is. (Floating head doctor?)

-Mission 5- Reevaluating pJ the skat-ing contortionist of the Alps.

-Here's the deal. I'm becoming more serious with how I seem to present myself. Sure I am the same silly guy you may have known to ska scream in highschool - But there's things I just want t do and things that i just do without care. These things are becoming how I live my life. And my life as a whole has been consumed from what I am doing to who I am.

I diet. Not going to lie. Now when I think of diet I think of just how people eat. Thats all it really means. People seem to have an odd idea of what it means. Think it means "Trying to lose weight". Nope you're wrong.... Go home now.... Now what it really means is "How you eat." I know a guy on the Junk food diet. HE wouldn't call it that but I honestly don't see him eating anything else. Now the diet I eat is more on the healthier side... It isn't to lose weight in any means, but rather to feel healthier, more energy, and for the taste and good feeling of knowing you're not a pig.

I have also altered - partially- how I dress. Now it isn't a big change and although it helps it's not because I have recently been working in a retail store. But I have been going under the wise words of a wacky comedian who goes by the theory of "Goin out? Wear a tie!". Funny guy. Who says you can't look nice? I have begun to find the more fancier side of clothing. Not suit jacket guy - but rather - I look presentable and more like an adult rather than I just robbed a bank so I could buy the new hit shoes. C'mon - Shoes? (going to sound feminine here for a second so I advise anyone under the age of 18 to skip down and anyone homophobic (californiaCOUGH) to do so as well) - But shoes are soo over rated. THEY ARE SHOES! Woman have a reason to want to match it up with their outfits. I know a guy with 15 different pairs of basket ball shoes. If he scruffs them up, then he'll go buy a new pair. I wear the same rotting pair of Converse everyday. If I want to go out on the town I bust out thee old shines (dress shoes). Thats all a man needs. I walk into a store and shiver at the sight of all the shoes and their raunchy moist girth prices. (best three words to make you hate shoes). But then again who am I to go bantering on about clothing - I wear an old torn up rag as a headband. I think I look very rock and roll wearing it :) - of course I do show a very close resemblance to a pirate.

The other thing is not so much making me feel older but still a change in me. The music. I honestly would drop life to become a singer at this moment. Music consumes me for some reason. I love it. I have gone through quite the musical changes in my life. It has broadened my love and allowed me to open up to being able to take certain kinds of music. When I was younger I was brought Up with the soft beach tunes of The Beach Boys. As I got older I was destined to think the only other band out there was the Backstreet Boys. (Can you tell what genre I grew up in?) From that odd faze (After rockin out to some Hanson and Spice Girls) I learned about this hippitty hoppety thing called Rap. This was brought on by my grade 6 teacher who was a part of a Rap group called "The Rezza Dons". Going from calling your teacher "Mr.Rezza" too "Vito Cattilac" changed my whole perspective on things. Slowly transitioning from Tupac I found myself loving the sillier side to life, Outkast. From Outkast came Prozzac. Their silly lyrics hooked me on to a harder side of music - "real bands are the thing" I thought. I got into Rock. Experimenting through Slipknot, System of a Down, and then later landing on Nirvana, I hit rock harder than that time I got mad at the television and my brother at the same time and learned how to brake my remote using my brothers head..... :) good times. Rockin down the clock I skipped over to Relient K - A band that has lighter lyrics that made me happy and not think of whether the devil would make his eggs poached or sunny side up.
To the day I jive my time to the funky tunes of Jason Mraz. But he comes as a package. Oh yes. He rocks out with some REAL groovy people. The change of my Ipod helps really show my life..... Remember back to my highschool news paper the title of this ending is entitled "The soundtrack to my life"

(Check these people out. Honestly)

Jason Mraz - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTiKhRdPOIU&feature=related

Amos Lee - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50Qo62s8QNg
(This guy is just awesome.)

Ingrid Michaelson - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FmlDWR1QGuk&feature=related
(One of her softer sad sounding ones. But her voice is really shown off here)

Dawn Mitschele - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2aSepL_u5Y&feature=related
(this one also features a funky cat named Bushwalla! haha he rocks with Jason too)

Joshua Radin - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06D_EFNGmOQ
(This would be one of his softer songs. But its a REAL goodie)

Martin Sexton - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxPAi2eBWlQ&feature=related
(this guy is truly the raddest singer ever! hahaha real pump song!)


These singers are just the last little obsessions I've had. They moved in comfortably with my Ratpack and Beatles albums

:)

It's a Christmas Feeling.

It's been one of those revelations where I can look at myself and go, "HA! Life doesn't suck!"

I don't know what it is really. There is money in my pocket, a cool job that I wanted when I was a preteen, a lead in a musical. Things just can't get any better right now. Sure there could be the odd things to add to these moments. But I would be afraid to over "happy" myself... I am alright with even greater things coming up later. I don't want to use up all my happy right now and find myself in the slumps when it has all dried and gone.

It's a Christmas feeling is what it is Gov'na!
You wake up in the morning from some sibling going ballistic that there are a plethora of free goodies waiting for them to open in a few short moments - and after socking him once or twice in the gut you find yourself in a state of awe. :) You have NOTHING to worry about on this day. There is only lovin feelings and cool sense of life and real family aspects goin on here. I don't know how you celebrate Christmas but I always seem to be the one to want to sleep until who knows when - wake up - get my gifts - then sleep. Im a big fan of this sleep thing on Christmas day. I find if I really do be good and not go off and do something stupid, Christmas will surely come to me.

And thats the beez-kneez of my life right now. I did my work. Put in some great good 'ol effort and just waited. I hardly stressed about things. I only found myself in awkward situations where I was broke as hell twice. And things just sort of moved into place... I achieved this. I worked my way to having that feeling where (thank you Bob Marley) "Every little thing is gonna be alright". ( I was listening to the Jason Mraz cover - not gonna lie)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTiKhRdPOIU

This is a great part of my life. I'm just chilling. I like it like this. Sure I have not much planned for my future. But y'know, right now I just don't need to know where I'm headed. It's that Christmas feeling. Your not thinking about the day after Christmas - You're thinking of the how and the now.

The thing thats the best about this is that there is no bad feelings going along with this. This is where today and Christmas differ. I am just sitting and enjoying god's green earth and the last of the nice weather. I am certainly not having chronic flash backs to when I was three and I found all my wrapped Christmas gifts two weeks before the big day and all my mom could say as an excuse was, "Santa thought you were really bad this year so he had to drop your gifts off early.... Do better next year pJ."

sighhhhh I hate Christmas hahaha

On a side note. I found this video Blog this woman does on youtube. Her name is Brigitte Dale. check her out. She is one silly gal!

Let's see what comes of it

There are times in everyones life when they get overcome and overwhelmed with such extravagant days that everything just piles up on them and leaves them in a moment where they just want to ............. sleep.

I embrace these moments. It's my intoxication. What moments! What amazing times to grasp and use how dumb you can really sound but assuming you sound like a deep intellectually inclined romantic all because of the fact that your brain shuts down and all those "BIG" words you thought you have forgotten step in when words like "why", "c'mon" and "Wiggety wack" take your own advice and go to sleep.

I am however a (eh) deep intellectually inclined romantic....... So it doesn't count with me :)

-Mission 4- create something?


These truly are the best moments to come up with things that could ultimately be life changing. Honestly, there isn't an honest way of living your dishonest life if you don't try to create in vulnerable times. Catch me wiggety? cough.. any way....

The coo coo of the wind is getting colder. Not much a'do but dress warmly. Opening my eyes, my mind, my contentiousness to all the horribly suburb surroundings. The suburbia of this life is getting to be one to smile at and move. A Smile by. Safer then a drive-by, sponsored by Mcdonalds. Have you ever tried to "feel" music? People often question the man who walks from destination to destination so he can enjoy one last breathe of intoxicated smoke before he goes on with his life. But it's like a monk is to his meditation. - It's in that moment where they feel that small intoxication that gives them their addiction to life. Happiness should never be questioned. Hell, happiness shouldn't be feared. Why wake up in the morning and fear to be happy? Fear to be yourself? What's the reason for the terrified singer who cannot walk through the streets and sing untamed while the world passes her by? Why fear what you love? What is there to lose but yourself?.............

haha. I like being tired. "Being deep". Brings people to the person who can really view what they want in life. Usually what one comes to the conclusion is, is that they need sleep. But I young sir am a stubborn sleeper. I shall sleep when I am good and emotional!!!! And never before! Oh ho No!

My favorite song ("Mock me if you hate it.... Then make a platinum record and I'll listen to you") is "I'm Your's" by Jason Mraz.
I've gotten to the point with this song where if I listen to it, Live or studio recorded - I rest easy. Now I don't mean sleep wise. I mean if I am stressed, it is my releaser. It takes a long time to find a song like that. A Pump up song and Peace keeping song. It does wonders on me no doubt, but as long as I can sit and reeeeeaaalllyyy take it in.
I love concerts. Don't get me wrong. I have been to a fair share of concerts. 2 of which have been Jason Mraz concerts. And as liberating and exciting it is to just be in a concert singing your head off in front of millions of people of whom you cannot on the street, out of that show I need to hear the song. I honestly will turn it off if it is a recording from a concert. It's the crowd singing a long. I like it in the concert, but out - I don't know. I wont lie. I was and still secretly am a huge girlish fan of Jason Mraz but it's all about the music. It's a bothersome thing to be an artist and not have your art seen heard or felt because you have become a sort of symbol. There is no more art. There is only you. And I will not be the first to say it but you are hardly an artist. I can never have control over things like that. Nor can anyone else. It's all up to the artist.

The Beatles quite touring. This is long before their breakup. Their music wasn't being heard. They had gotten soo bloody big that they were doing shows in stadiums. Now you think "Oh thats not bad". But yeah, it is. Imagine a professional baseball diamond. They are in the middle of it on a stage and the closest you are is behind the dugout with a ton of people screaming at "the attractiveness" of the singer....... And in the Beatles case it got to the point where people worshiped them. People went to the shows to scream and pretend they were married to a big nosed drummer named Ringo - and of course the Beatles called the world on it......... The world clearly didn't enjoy it very much. "We're bigger than Jesus." - not to insult the American's of that era - but c'mon get over yourselves... You were the people thinking The Beatles were more popular than Jesus - and because of which, they were. In any case and in any bizarro world they still would not be - but it almost sickened the Beatles.

And as we all sit in our warm cozy little suburban homes and think "How can you make someone sick of being famous?"

It's exactly that - You turn an artist into a symbol of anything but art...... My dearest wishes and props go up to Jason Mraz - that hit single of yours is going to cost you big................... perhaps :)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Well I suppose I didn't create anything - But myself being un-wanting of rest feel more fulfilled in my life.... I think I may walk to my interview tomorrow...... Singing as loud as I want.

Face To Face 2 Face too Face

It has been many moons now since I took up the joy and entertainment of Musical Theater. And over the years I have been in more then my fair share of Musicals/performances. This isn't due to an automatic talent I was born with (I wish). I've been working really hard at crafting what I feel to be a fulfilling talent to the art. I was QUITE the lucky little honky with this adventure because of High School. I went to an Art's school which had an amazing Musical Theater program in it. (hence this story). At first I was just a child auditioning for my life to just get somewhere that I thought would be REALLY cool. And sure enough Cool wanted me too.

(excluding the variety shows I have been apart of)

As a grade 9 student I was fortunate, (and when I say fortunate I mean it was happening to all the Grade 9 musical theater students) to be in the Chorus of our schools production of "Godspell". This being my first take at theater acting, the thought never crossed my mind that when someone on stage improv's a line into the show and is really funny, YOU DO NOT LAUGH WITH THE AUDIENCE! But there I was enjoying myself as if I were some sort of idiot who just walked off the street and said "oOoOH look at the pretty lights!"
(just two kittens having a night on the town)

Now time flew by. Hair grew longer, girls seemed to be the only thing I thought worth wild to get up in the morning for, and of course the ever hating pubescent years of my life were beginning to REALLY kick my ass.
But this year in our production - the faculty decided to do something to really show off our vocal ranges. To really push into becoming performers. To really do a show to which the writers have been dead for soooo many decades that no one can claim royalties over. This year was "The Pirates of Penzance". Now this year was a test. It was all about focus. When that dashing Pirate King stood up and sang - if our eyes were not locked solid on to him then it was off the plank with us in that scene. I do admit we began to see the wrath of the teachers due to stress levels and all the leads losing their voices, I think I was scared sober. Scared sober due to the vodka hidden within my flask while we "pretended" to drink during the song "Pour oh Pour". Although it was not quite Pirate Sherry I was indulging in on stage, I would still consider myself trying out the method acting tactic.

(There is no picture here - this being because I was going through a "hair" stage. During the show my hair was bleached bright blonde (yechh) and befor the performance I had long brown dreadlocks.)
Now grade 11 hit me as hard as my girlfriend(s) could. They were tough dolls those ones. But luckily by this year I had begun to better understand this whole "acting" thing. Responsibility and professionalism was something I was all too familiar with in this years production. "Urinetown". It in my mind was and is a classic. The show is soo funny if you can get anyone that can hold themselves on stage and deliver a line to the fullest - then you have yourself this show. Our production was unique in the sense we took non singers and made them singers. In some of the cases we made them fake it. God did they fake it well. (I did not yet have my next girlfriend by the beginning of this production so don't get smart with me pervert!)


Alright now. I'm starting to get a little serious.... Enough joking.......... believe me? HA!...... Good acting right? pshh Yah I know!

Any way. It was time for me to start acting grown up. It's my last year of highschool and I really do enjoy this thing called Muse-ee-cull thhee-a-tor. So before I could even think of the next production I had two people giving me ideas left, right and center. The center was because this one guy (Mike) kneed me in the crotch once and stuffed snow down the back of my shirt..... A little over reaction for a small silent but deadly left behind in his car as he dropped me off at a friends house.... But he did however get me my first outside gig to which I will never forget about......

The night was HOT and I was out on the town with the idea of making it big. It's Tony night people - the biggest night for musical theater performers everywhere!....... no.... no I wasn't at the Tony's. Or even in the same country. BUT! I was invited to perform at a Tony party in Toronto during commercial times of the Tony's.
I was to perform "Purpose" the uplifting and cleanest song written within the musical Avenue Q. Of course as I went to perform this I must have forgotten to tell my brain not to be a complete ass and forget all the lyrics as I am standing up in front of dozens of people, some of which thought I was the cutest thing alive, and all of the ladies thinking I'm total crap.
This was my first bomb shell when it came to performing. Good thing I didn't invite any of my friends to come watch.... Oh wait.... I did. Good 'ol Matt and Kaleb... They didn't mind too much seeing how Kaleb was trying to flirt with the ladies behind us, and Matt completely ruining it by turning around to them constantly just to tell them to Shut many many things up with themselves.

But mind off of this night I had some more productions to think about. My right hand man-J-ordan D. Pipher got me an audition for a production of Seussical the Musical. (get it - seussical rymes with musical.... like how Dr.Seuss made up words to rhyme with real words too..... get it?...... Nothing? no? Okay.)

Soon would I find out that this is a production run by the camp to which I work at every summer. So meeting new people and seeing familiar faces made the audition process a lot more easier to go through..... And sure enough.... I did alright... I made some jokes, took some names. Left a song. I auditioned with "Any Dream Will Do" from the Musical- Joseph and the Technicolor Dream Coat... I got the role of the Mayor of Whoville.. His name being...... Mr.Mayor.. (Jordan being the Cat in the Hat hahaha)

Myself and Jordan were serious this year with singing so we took up a Vocal coach named Carol Hasek. Genius woman! I have never been more comfortable singing around someone than her. Even when I first met her. Something about her house I think?.....Or maybe that soup she gave me before I sang....hmm...what was in that?..... Any way. It was a great time.

As I worked hard on Seussical the next school production came up. It was Grease.... Who'd have thought that a high school would ever put that show on? Original right?... wop wop.....'

But it turned out really great. Jordan got to understudy Danny Zuko - he even got to perform him- and although I didn't get an initial part myself, I did get a solo in the show and be one of the initial/main T-birds. I sang "Those Magic Changes."
I learned two things with this show. One was that no part is really ever a small part. Although I was only able to have the spotlight for all of 3 minutes, I got to contribute to probably one of the funniest scenes in the show. And the second thing is how to save yourself vocally. Not going to lie - but at the time I could NOT hit one of those high notes. Trust me it was more than a stretch. And my good 'ol director really knew how to scare a person into performing their all. And all she had to do was to say 8 simple words as she crossed your path in the hall. "If you can't hit the note, you're out!"
...........................................................I hit the note :)..................................kinda......

Now it was Seussical. One genius of a musical. I did so well it's true-sicle. And not a person around did boo-sicle.

Mr.Mayor was a very fun role to play. I got to be funny and sing and be on stage with a hilarious cast. Even a couple of my musical theater teachers drove out to see it. Pretty sweet-icle... okay I'll stop... cough.........icle.....
The summer past and I was now on my own in the world. Working the odd City job as a film/photography teacher, and eventually becoming a Waiter at Jackastors........yippiiiee..:(....

But then GOOD 'ol Jordan gave me a ring a ling ling - and poof auditions for another musical came ABRUPT!........ (don't know why I used that word..... thought it would be funny :) )

This year we would audition for "Oliver! the musical". Now although there was nothing more I wanted then to perform in this show - stupid work was what needed to take priority. And as the pain swelled up my eyes to the point where I could see through time. I auditioned any way.... Now there are not many parts for a 19 year old who looks like a 17 year old in Oliver. It's either a little orphan boy or an old fat man...... I was niether... So luckily they found me a small speaking role of DR.Grimwig, the doctor who inspects oliver after he has been taken to the old rich mans house. I changed this prim and proper dumb doctor to drunken pirate. (easily compared to Capt.Jack Sparrow). Finally by the time this show started I had freed myself of all obligations. Work and ladies. One freed me without my consent hahaa but thats another blog story. I gave it my all and enjoyed every minute of it........


And thus brings me to my story..... HA!

Here you are wasting your night away reading and thinking this is the story! FOOOOLED YOU.... Man is that ever a smack in the face!........... WAIT!!!! don't turn off my blog... Keep reading!!! I'll keep the next part short I swear....... hehe suckerr...

It's like the book "PI"... You read half the book and its about sloths and religion... no story. Then FINALLY half way through the book you get into the story. And I have only ever heard good things about the 2nd half of that book. So you're in luck....... hehe suckkerrrr......

It's been another year - and thus begins another round of........dum Dum DUMMM!!!! Auditions.

Now I'm in a pickle.... Do I audition for the musical that has the killer lead part that I love (Bobby Strong - urinetown... Although I have already done the show)
Or do I audition for the show that has several realyl good parts and is being done with my Camp friends in it again. (Guys and Dolls.)

Now I would choose both if I could but Auditions were the same weekend and the shows are 2 weeks a part... So I need to choose...... What to choose what to choooooooossseeeee......

-Mission 3- Luck be a Lady


So here I go. Off to another whirl wind adventure with Jordan. This show should be a goood'n seeing how we are both aiming for 2 opposite roles from each other. I want Nathan Detroit or one of Benny and Nicely Nicely. And he wants Sky Masteson or one of Benny or Nicely Nicely.... Either way we kinda have a small hope we can team up in this production and play opposite to each other.....

So the auditions are nearing and I figure, hey it's classically done by such great club singers like Sinatra... So why not bust out a song like he would sing. So I search through what I think to be good music and find the song "Somewhere Beyond The Sea" sung by Bobby Darin. PERFECT!

One day I was listening to Jason Mraz.... hahaha one day?!........ Anyway... One day I was stalking the guy and he sang a SICK version of "At Last" by Norah Jones, and I think - Oh man! This song is soo sweet I could totally flaunt my vocals with this one! Screw Beyond the pee, I want "At Last"! PERFECT.....

Now myself and Jordan get lost in Youtube boredom. This is where you watch thousands of Youtube videos in one night because you get stuck watching something amazing when you don't want to do work.... And POOF - I stumble on footage from this past years Tony's....tony's grrrr..... And while I watch imagining I'm that singer on the stage crying because they just one for best leading lady - I stumble upon the production of "Xanadu" the musical. Not that old 80's crap with Olivia Newton John, but rather the new remake on Broadway Tony nominated production... and DAMN can that man SING! "Don't Walk Away"....... It's sooo amazing.... why are his shorts soo high?..... Why are his legs soo shiny? Why aren't mine?!!! wait back to the voice..... I must do this song!...... And lucky for me with only a week left before auditions I have no more time to flip flop back and forth through songs..... So I have chosen.... "Don't Walk Away" from the Musical production of "Xanadu".

Auditions come and I meet up with Jordan and our great friend Chaplin (charlie) - and we get to the audition. Seeing how the previous year for Oliver there was no dance segment to the auditions I decided it clearly must be the same.... So I wear dress pants and converse with holes all through them...... There was dancing.... But sure enough other than one note I rocked the song as much as I could have hoped for and got me a call back!

The call back comes and I am there to try for Nathan Detroit and Benny Southstreet. I get called in after a while and read lines and sing a duet with the really funny director Kate. I'm feeling comfortable at this point because I know everyone in the room. Even the nonstopping little girl in the seat watching me. (annie - she was jojo in Seussical the music...cough... And also Oliver Twist in Oliver!)

I did alright I think. I had trouble reading the liens on the paper but I think I did swell... Not too too long later I get called back in with Jordan. hehehehe.... He is to sing Nicely Nicely's part and I, Benny Southstreet.... We read lines.... We make up lines... he reads lines... I make up lines... Director wants the REAL lines............ We both read lines.....

Next week is our first rehearsal.
Tag team action with Jordan (Nicely Nicely Johnson) and I (Benny Southstreet).

-this is going to be a fun show hahaha

No you're a tart !!

It's about that time of year again. Where I can take you off into the wilderness, whisper sweet nothings mainly to do with dvd special features and the occasional smoothy mix. And as we whisper together and indulge on such sweets as strawberry poptarts, I think to myself, what more do I need? I have a world of incredible beauty surrounding me, conversation to entertain me as I watch your face go from interested to bored, strawberry poptarts (which is a must) and you, my eccentric little stuffed dinosaur with a red and white scarf wrapped around your long neck........ Gosh I need to find myself a girl..................

But this new season change does bring up a few things to mind. Why on earth is the weather showing signs of snow when it isn't quite yet November? Why do I need to be wearing my winter jacket? And why are my legs shaved?!

................Oh right. Hallow's Eve.

-Mission Halloween -

Halloween is almost upon us people. What do youuuuu do for this such occasion? Now I'm not saying that I shave my legs at this time each year, it's all for my costume. Yeah thats right, I still wear a costume on Halloween. But honestly who doesn't? You can be any age and still bust out some sort of scary slutty bizarre or just plain crappy costume. This year I, not being any certain character, have decided to be an athlete.

Now this athlete I have decided to name Jack, just because. Now Jack competes in Triathlons. He is a very muscular built man who can outrun outswim outwitt and outplay any competitor anywhere. He also has the sexiest legs for a male in Canada. Honestly, I think in years to come all men will be shaving their legs. But until then..... YOU TELL NO ONE WHAT I'VE DONE!!! cough anyway.....
I think that for the actual Halloween night I may switch it up a little. Put on a Superman shirt and a suit over top of that muscle. Not origional, but I don't think I care too much when the weather is going to be undoubtedly FREEZING!

But things to look forword to other than a Halloween night of Dancing it up crispy is "The Office". Saw a short clip of it and am REALLY excited for their episode. It's entitled "Employee Transfer". Air's October 30th - so watch it.