To Be The Man, You Have To Beat The Man

Top 10 Christmas Songs (Religious)

2008-12-02T09:42:00.004-06:00

Right on the heels of the Christmas movies is gonna be the top 10 Christmas Songs. If you know me then you know that I go absolutely bonkers over Christmas music. I love it. I've already been listening to it nonstop since Thursday. I will not get tired of it at all. Most people I know get tired of me constantly pumping it in their ears but TOO BAD!!!!

Christmas music is cool because there is only like 5 songs but a million different versions of those 5 songs. So they all kinda have their own flavor to them. Making a Top Ten list of this caliber isn't easy. There are so many songs that's it's impossible to really pick 10 that are "the best." Plus like any other list it's purely subjective. So these 10 songs are the songs that make me really excited when they come on. The artists that I have included singing these songs are the versions that I think are the best. If you love another version, then so be it. Truth is, there isn't a bad Christmas song.

After much consideration, I've decided to split the list. I'm going to do 2 Top Ten lists. One will be religious and the other will be secular. Reason being that you can't really put them together because they have two completely different purposes and meanings. I actually much prefer the religious music because of those reasons and because it reminds me of being younger and being an active youth in my church. We used to always go Christmas Caroling when I was 13, 14, 15 years old and we had so much fun. Then we would all work together for our annual Christmas Cantata
that we would perform the Sunday before Christmas. Those were great times and ones that I miss very dearly. I wish I could still be a part of something like that.

10: Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

9: God Rest You Merry Gentlemen

8: O Little Town of Bethlehem

7: Away in a Manger

6: Silent Night

5: O Come All Ye Faithful

4: The First Noel

3: What Child Is This

2: Mary Did You Know

1: O Holy Night

As you can tell, O Holy Night is the granddaddy of all Christmas Songs to me. You don't get any better in my opinion. And Josh Groban's version is my all time favorite. Actually, Josh Groban anything is gonna be my favorite. (if you couldn't tell that already) Between he and Celine Dion, they could sing anything. And I believe they have two of the best Christmas Albums out there. So be a wise man and seek out their product. (Pun intended)

P.S. I realize that "Mary Did You Know" may not be a true Christmas song, but I always feel that it is. It talks about Jesus being a baby and well, that's Christmas enough for me! It's still one of the most powerful songs I've ever heard.

Top 10 Christmas Movies!!

2008-11-30T19:44:00.004-06:00

Matt suggested that someone do a top 10 Christmas Movies list and it didn't take me very long to compile my favorites. I just went through my head (and movie collection) and looked for the ones that I hold near and dear to me and the ones that I insist on watching each year. This list may very well not be the same as your list and that's ok. This isn't a best list. Just 10 Christmas movies that I can't live without.

Also, I'm not really putting them in any order so this won't be a true "Top 10" list. Although my mostest favorties will probably be in the top 5. (And the number 1 WILL be my number 1 b/c it always will be)

Before I get to the list I wanna clarify a few things. This will be a list of "movies" only. Christmas movies at that. Even though movies like Die Hard and Gremlins have a Christmas feel to them, I don't consider them "Christmas" movies. But they are both great movies and you should watch them anyways this month. I also am not including TV stuff like Muppet Family Christmas(one of my very favorites), Rudolph, Frosty, Charlie Brown Christmas, How The Grinch Stole Christmas, etc. Once again, those are all classics and certainly should not be missed.

10: White Christmas

9: Elf

8: A Christmas Story

7: The Grinch

6: Christmas Vacation

5: Love Actually

CAN I JUST SAY WOW ON THAT ONE?!!!

4: Ernest Saves Christmas

3: Muppet Christmas Carol

2: It's A Wonderful Life

This movie needs a little commentary from me. You will never find a better actor than Jimmy Stewart. He is the best of the best. Best that there's ever been. He is so natural and easy going. He was Tom Hanks before there was a Tom Hanks. And this movie will move you if you let it. It's perfect.

1: Home Alone

Home Alone is and always will be my favorite Christmas movie. Probably b/c it came out when I was 10 and it was fun and funny and magical and all that stuff back then. But now that I'm older I appreciate for different reasons. It has a great story and shows that family truly is wonderful and you don't know what you've got til it's gone. The clip above is one of my favorite parts because of the music involved and the religious aspect. After all, that IS the reason for christmas.

Hey Kids! You wouldn't happen to have a cup of warm water would ya?

2008-11-18T22:01:00.003-06:00

So it's Tuesday night and I'm laying in bed in New York with the laptop on my chest. When I first left I had intended on posting stuff every night so everyone would know what's going on up here. Well, that kinda got screwed up from the get go so it never happened. Plus, I'm not nearly the writer that Mark is(I seemed to have misplaced my lexicon) and I can't make videos like Matt. But I will attempt to take you on a journey of my experiences in print right now and video later. I have taken a few videos but I can't upload til I get back home. Which will be in two days. Man, the time up here has flown by.

First of all, it has been a blast up here. Everyone that I have met has been wonderful. Quick debriefer (and no I don't mean getting your pants pulled down. I know how your mind works Mark!) -- the company I work for MMS supplies a computer software for doctor's offices to do their medical billing and scheduling and such. There is a corporation up here named ABS that uses our software. One of their clients is CWPW, which is a group of various doctors offices about an hour or so north of NYC. CWPW just had another doctor's office, The Kania Group, join their umbrella and that's where we come in. Their entire office needed conversion of one system to the next and training on said program. That's where I come in. I got to become quick friends with a bunch of sassy New York women real quick. The job has been lots of fun but it has taken up so much time that I really haven't gotten a chance to do much else. I'm staying at Stephen's house, Philip's brother and he lives about an hour away from The Kania Group. He has a big 3 story house with lots of space so sleeping arrangements haven't been an issue. I actually have had my own room with my own bathroom.

The area up here is so beautiful! I had no idea that New York is so hilly and mountainous. And there's trees everywhere!! It really has such a wonderful, unorthodox style to the landscaping that I contastly have my peepers peeled to the window b/c I never know what I'll see next. Every house is at least two stories. I guess this is b/c there isn't a flat piece of land ANYWHERE. Can't build out, gotta build up! And there's no pattern to anything. Houses here, houses there....every road twists and turns. Up and down. It really is quite amazing. I tried to take some shots but I don't know if they turned out good. We will see when I get back.

Tomorrow I'm gonna post the good stuff. I'll give an account of what's happened everyday since I left. I wanted to get the general details out of the way first. See you then!!

Quickie

2008-10-16T08:35:00.003-05:00

Just a random quickie here. I sit in front of a computer from 8-5 everyday and then rehearse for two hours every night. Because of this, I don't blog as much b/c I don't want to get on my computer when I go home. So I'm at work right now and I thought I would say hey. I am going to write a blog about my top 5 shows that I've ever been in soon. Maybe even this afternoon.

On a separate note, I played debate bingo last night. I didn't win but there was a winning combination. I guess I just missed it. And I remembered why I hate politics. Too much lying and arguements. I mean, I wanna see somebody get up there and say nice things about the other party and not talk to me like I'm stupid. The charade is up people.

Mikey's New Idea ---FFF!!!!

2008-09-26T15:30:00.008-05:00

Hey guys I had an idea for Friday posts. It's called FFF. Don't you think it's a great idea? It just rolls off the tongue. I'm actually kinda surprised that someone else hasn't thought of this already.

Just to be fair, someone probably has thought of it or possibly even used it before but I've never seen of such so I'm just gonna announce that I am starting something new. So if anyone asks you about FFF, just say "Oh yeah, Mikey made that up. He's so funny and original." I'm sure they will agree with you.

So now I give you FFF - - Fancy Feline Friday!

I like to call this fancy little darling The Meowna Lisa. Isn't she gorgeous?

Here we show the subtlties of guerrilla warfare. Bad luck for the enemy!

You don't have to be Chinese to know that this precious furball cooks up a delicious smile.

Here's a treat! A FFF on FFF! This wonder may be a Fake Fancy Feline but there's nothing untrue about the sexiness of that curled tailed. Yessssssssssss.......

Sometimes a little role play is all that is needed to spice things up. Japanese Friday night anyone?

The Last Weekend

2008-09-25T08:29:00.003-05:00

Today is Thursday which means it's the last weekend of The Fantasticks. If you haven't seen it, ahem...Matt...ahem...Megan, then you really would be doing yourself a favor. This is truely one of the most magical shows I've ever been apart of. I never get tired of it and the funny parts are always funny to me and the touching parts are just as organic and natural as they were when I first saw it. I can see now why it ran so long in New York.

Things that I'm gonna do today. (Just so you will know)
Get my car inspected
Refill my meds
Become Henry
Try not to take a nap when I get home

See ya!

I'm at work

2008-09-24T15:54:00.002-05:00

I'm at work right now. I'm about to leave. I wanted to post something b/c it's been over 2 months. I'm such a loser. I drank a food club strawberry soda today, ate a pepperoni lean pocket (2 minutes), ate some ramen noodles, ate some birthday cake and ice cream and drank some Ozarka bottled water.

The Gifts We Are Sometimes Too Blind To See

2008-07-21T02:01:00.001-05:00

The setting: My room
The time: 11:15 p.m.
The t.v. station: ESPN
The program: The 2008 ESPY Awards
The story:

I love sports. Especially football. Everyday I read and watch something pertaining to football, most importantly my New Orleans Saints. So needless to say my television is never far away from ESPN. Every year they have the ESPY awards which is basically the best of sports from the previous year. Normally I don't watch them b/c award shows have become so dull lately and alot of the winners are either undeserving or too shallow to root for. But as I turn them on this evening, I notice that Justin Timberlake is the presenter. So, immediately, I am hooked. I love JT. To me, he is a wonderful entertainer. Sings well, dances well, very funny, very polished, just an all around grade A talent. As the show starts he has me rolling. He is roasting sports stars and having a good time. A few awards are presented and I start to notice something different. Something amazing. This award show is fantastic. The production value behind this ceremony is honestly like no other I have ever seen. The skits they perform, the nominee presentations, the fast paced action is really quite astonishing. Then comes the big Timberlake song and dance. I watched it 5 times in a row. Didn't even continue with the awards....just rewound it over and over again. As a performer I just eat this stuff up. Seeing things, watching things that I want to do. That I wish I could do. The dreamer in me starts to wake up.

But then, everything changed. My selfish, I wanna be on that stage thoughts went away. I saw something that I promise you I will never forget. You see, sports isn't just big men sweating and beating up other people. It's a passion. It's a desire to be number 1. It's a journey to push yourself to places that you didn't know you could go. And for that reason alone, I love sports. The team atmosphere. The daily grind of sacrificing yourself for something bigger. The opportunity to show that the strongest muscle will always be your heart.

Moment #1 A special award for perseverance. The recipient: Kevin Everett
Mr. Everett was a member of the Buffalo Bills. Last September he tackled an
open field runner on a special teams play and immediately hit the ground. You
could see his body twitch but nothing else. He was paralyzed. His neck was
broken and his spine damaged so much that even after an emergency 4 hour
surgery, his doctors said he wouldn't walk again. After his story was told at
the ESPY's and his named was called guess who walked onstage to accept his
award........Kevin Everett. Now I knew all about this story and knew that he
could walk again but to see it in that context was awesome. I love the human
spirit and watching people overcome obstacles that have been place in front of
them.

Moment #2 The big one. I will never forget this as long I live and this story
just fills me up with hope and love and desire and passion. And it makes me
think on so many levels. The ESPY award for Best Moment in Sports. And you
could make a case for all of these: a major league pitcher beating CANCER and
then coming back to pitch a no hitter. WHAT? No way.... Danica Patrick
winning her first race. Amazing. And the story of 3 softball players who
remind us what not only sports, but life in general is all about. I am going
post this video and I want you to watch it before you read any further. It's
about 6 minutes long but truly worth it.

After watching that my mind and heart are honestly at ease. It makes me think so many things. First of all, these girls won the ESPY. But they didn't do what they did for any awards. Heck, they probably didn't even know they were being filmed. In the world today where every sport is being scrutinized and players are doing whatever they can to get ahead, this was such an amazing story! But to me, it goes far beyond sports. It's about life. We should all be like these girls. If one of us falls down, we should pick each other up. I can't help but think about the theatre and how there are so many politics and so many brats and divas and personal affairs and so forth. SO WHAT?!! When are we gonna band together and support one another for something that is bigger than us?

I really wish I was better as conveying the emotion that I am feeling right now. It's not coming out like I wanted it to but I still feel it's strength flowing through me. The clip was during a sporting event and I've compared it to the theatre but there is one other thing that it reminds me of. I can't help but feel that whenever we fall down that God and Jesus are there to pick us and show us the way "home." Even if we are playing for the wrong team at the time. They don't care. And I wanna be like that. Unselfish. Giving. Caring. Helpful. Humble. Christlike. Those girls said they carried her around the bases because she hit the home run and she deserved it. And they ended up losing the game!!! And that's the message that my heart holds onto. It's not if you win or lose, it's how you play the game.

Mikey's Favorties: Comedies

2008-07-09T09:42:00.005-05:00

One thing that I have always been a sucker for is top ten lists. Well, really, I like top five, top twenty, basically any kind of list where people give their opinions on different things. It lets me know how my tastes stack up to others across the world and they're just fun. So I catch myself all the time saying things like "That's one of my top ten this, that's one of my top ten that." So I decided I would start listing my top tens. I'm going to start with movie genres. Today I will start with comedies. I am a sucker for all types of comedies; silly ones, romantic ones, dry humor, etc. Plus who doesn't like to laugh?

10) American Pie <1999>
9) Revenge of the Nerds <1983>
8) Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery <1997>
7) Team America: World Police <2004>
6) Blazing Saddles <1974>
5) Dumb and Dumber <1994>
4) Borat <2006>
3) South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut <1999>
2) Big <1988>
1) Ace Ventura: Pet Detective <1994>

Honorable Mention: Meet the Parents, The Jerk, Beverly Hills Cop, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Jackass

To My Friends

2008-06-28T04:11:00.002-05:00

I am going to take 10 people and say one thing I like about them.

1) Laura Michelle -- I like how you make noises when you sleep.
2) Mark -- I like how every time you tackle a new role, you TOTALLY immerse yourself
into it and it's reMARKably different each time.
3) Tony -- I like how remind me of Chandler Bing.
4) Kim -- I like how we have the same taste in most things. (I hate Buffy!!)
5) Cathy -- I like how you laugh.
6) Matt -- I like how you've read every Star Wars book known to man.
7) Stephanie -- I like how you walk around like you're 10 feet tall; even though you're
only 3'11.
8) Michael Wilkes -- I like how you look in a dress.
9) Megan -- I like how you always read my blog.
10) My mom -- I like how you raised me.

It's Late

2008-06-17T01:31:00.005-05:00

It's late and I wanted to type some things but I really am too tired to try and have any real thoughts here so I think I'll just say a few things. I want to write another deep blog like my last one but that won't be tonight.

I watched The Bucket List tonight. I liked it alot. It centers around death and that's something I think about alot so it just kinda fit. Great actors, great director.

I'm impressed with Tiger Woods. I'm no golf fanatic but I do love sports and I love people who are dominant in their respective sport. Enough cannot be said about this man but one thing I will say is that golf would have remained an old man's sport and passed our generation by if there were no Tiger. Mark my words.

Male Gymnasts packages. What's up with dat?

Speaking of gymnasts, I really can't wait until the Olympics this year. I'm ready to see what happens. But this year I'm gonna have to do some research on what channel will be airing what sport at what time. You see, I've always loved the Olympics and I've watched it my entire life. The summer and winter variety. But in the olden days, it was on one channel and only on at night. So whatever event they wanted to show you, that's what you got. But now, it's gonna be on like 6 channels all day long. Man, my DVR is gonna hate me!

I want to see In The Heights. It's a new musical on Broadway that just won the Tony award last night for best musical. It seemed pretty good.

I think I'm gonna buy a jump rope.

I like staying up late b/c it's my quiet alone time that usually recharges my batteries. But I also like getting up somewhat early and doing something with my day so I feel more specialer. It's a new word. I just made it up. Anyway, somethings gotta give on these two fronts.

I'm still sore from playing Volleyball last Thursday. Does that mean I'm getting old and decrepit or that I'm just a bad-ass on the V-ball court? Still working on that answer.......but leaning towards the latter.

I just remembered that I've got to do my bio tomorrow for the dinner theatre. Woe is me.

I'm sleepy now. Goodnight.

I Think I'm Going Crazy!!!

2008-05-29T12:56:00.002-05:00

It's no secret that I'm a media whore. For some time now I have been a slave to many forms of entertainment. So much so that a lot of times it doesn't feel like I'm being entertained. It actually feels like work....or a chore. My mind is a very strange place to be sometimes. I have actually worried more about what movie to watch tonight or what game I should play than I have my finances or something that actually has substance to it. I've been like that for years! It was at an all time high when I worked at Blockbuster years ago and I could rent anything I wanted for free. Talk about making your head spin. It got to the point where I structured my day around watching this movie at this time and this one here and so on. It's not as bad these days but it certainly does still have an effect on me. If any of you have seen The Cable Guy then you will understand why this is troubling me. There are times when I actually feel like Jim Carrey's character!

Technology is a wonderful thing. But like all things it must be taken in moderation. Sometimes I feel like I'm trapped in this endless fight for my soul with all my possessions. To quote a very deep line from Fight Club, "The things you own end up owning you." In my life, this is very, very true. But it doesn't make itself clear at all times. Just like anything else that the Devil is involved in, he makes it appear so pleasing. So innocent. He will do anything to destroy your mind and your body. For many people it's drugs or alcohol or whatever vice he knows you have. But for someone like me he knows that I will succumb to the power of entertainment. I like to be entertained. But I like to take part in these things when I have a clear mind and can truly enjoy them. And a lot times I can. Going to the movies with friends, watching my football show every night, etc. But whenever it's 2:00 in the morning and you really want to go to sleep so you can wake up before noon the next day and you just have to watch Trading Places b/c it's funny and you haven't seen it in ten years......well.....just like any other addiction, Satan is right there laughing.

It's a double edged sword b/c so much of my inspiration comes from movies and tv. I feel really good whenever I watch something touching or poignant. It makes me wanna do things with my life that I never knew I could do. I get plenty of ideas for future projects and just alot of acting tips and things to try. But I always fall short of making something like that happen. It's not to say that I don't do things ya know. I love the theatre and try to be involved in everything I can, no matter if it's onstage or behind, big role/small role; I don't care. I makes me feel warm inside. I've been trying to get outside more so far this year. I think its working. Long story short, I'm trying desperately to break these chains around me and try to find inspiration elsewhere. And it's out there. Laura Michelle inspires me everyday to be a stronger man. Hell, just to be a man. B/c I want to be able to take care of her for a long time and there are things that are gonna have to happen first....like getting a job!!! And Mark is a HUGE inspiration. He is a social chameleon and seems to blend in everywhere. Plus the fact that he's always positive and God fearing. And then there's God. He's the most inspiring of all. If there's one person to kick that devil on my shoulder in the butt, it's Him. I love thee.

So this is what I'm gonna do. I'm having a media strike for the next week. I will still watch my football show b/c that's more news related and probably watch movies with Laura Michelle b/c that's different. (It's something we do together) But no more xbox in the middle of the day. No more flipping just to feel comfortable. More outside, more talking to my mom, more job hunting, more theatre, more God, LESS SATAN!

More Haikus!!!

2008-05-20T22:16:00.002-05:00

I'm Back!!!!

2008-05-16T14:00:00.002-05:00

I Love Monkeys!!!!

2008-04-02T01:00:00.003-05:00

Monkeys are so cool. They are crazy cool and very entertaining. So I figured I would post a few of my favorite monkey videos.

WATCH HOW THIS MONKEY NOT ONLY RIDES BUT IS SAVVY ENOUGH TO CHECK FOR TRAFFIC!!!!

THIS ONE IS KINDA GROSS BUT HEY, IT'S A MONKEY!

NOW WATCH A COWBOY MONKEY RIDE A DOG AND GIVE PEOPLE TACOS!

THIS MONKEY SMOKES!!!!

AND FINALLY I GIVE YOU....."TRUNK MONKEY"

P.S. There is another monkey video which happens to be my favorite and I laugh so hard everytime I watch it but it's VERY VERY vulgar and I didn't want to post it. If you wanna see it then go to YouTube and type in "funny monkey sex."

Just In Case You Missed It......Part Deux

2008-04-02T00:33:00.004-05:00

Mark posted something that not everyone has seen so I decided that I would do the same. This ALWAYS makes me laugh. Enjoy!

Keep Your Friends Close

2008-03-31T11:57:00.003-05:00

Always make sure your door is locked. Even if you are at home.

Horton Hears a Who Outtakes

2008-03-16T04:01:00.004-05:00

I went to go see Horton Hears A Who on Friday night and I really wanted to tell you guys about it. I tried to do it multiple times but I guess that the powers that be want you to go see it for yourself. I've never had such opposition in my life!

P.S. It will look better if you turn up the brightness on your monitor just a smidge!

Things I do for fun.

2008-03-11T14:07:00.008-05:00

I filmed this last night with the intention of putting it up then but for some reason Blogspot wouldn't allow me to sign in. So I had to wait til today. Not a big deal really. I haven't felt real funny or original lately so I haven't done any crazy blogs. So this is what I've been doing. Enjoy.

Movie Reviews!!!!

2008-03-06T14:21:00.003-06:00

Silence is Golden

2008-03-05T20:19:00.003-06:00

I guess it's not ok for me to post a long wordy blog anymore. Especially without a video. So Mark and Matt....this one's for you.

EDIT: IF YOU TURN UP THE VOLUME REAL LOUD, YOU CAN HEAR ME LISTENING TO HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL.

Changing of the Guard

2008-03-05T13:40:00.004-06:00

I am a big football fan and I was shocked just like most everyone else yesterday when Brett Favre announced his retirement. He is not only my favorite quarterback to ever play the game but also my favorite football player of all time. His passion and grit and sheer love of the game cannot be matched by anyone else. I've always loved watching him get uber excited whenever he throws a touchdown of any kind. He just looks like a kid out there playing in the backyard. But I also really admire how he will stand up to anyone, anytime on the football field. If one of his teammates were to mess up, he would get in their face. And to me, he's probably the only quarterback to ever get as much respect from the defense as he did. Time after time I saw him get in the face of D-Linemen, Safeties, whatever. He was as tough as they came and everybody on that field respected him. But the NFL will change now that he's gone. Actually, it's already started to change but his departure will put the finishing touches on old-school, smash mouth, play b/c you love the game football. He's the last of the old breed of players.....tough, rugged, durable, emotional, passionate, unselfish, inventive, creative, humble. He has always been team first and in a league full of ME, ME, ME.....he will be missed. Goodbye #4.

As for me, today I feel great! Not good, Mark, but GREAT. And I attribute it to sleep. I love sleep. Everybody in this world is different and some people can go with little to no sleep. I can't. I feel so much better and alive when I get 8-9 hours of good sleep. And I have gotten that for the past two nights and it is already paying dividends on my mind. I've had to sacrifice something very dear to me to be able to do this but my alertness and attentiveness will pay that back ten fold. My life is quite similar to two other blogs I've read this morning, Steph's and Michael's b/c we are doing the same thing. Two shows, lots of rehearsing, and lot's on the mind. We really haven't gotten into full swing yet but hold onto your butts. I swear I have sang more in the last 3 or 4 days than I ever have in my life. It's much more tiring than I thought it would be. It's a blessing to have the opportunities that I have and I will NOT squander them. It's fun and challenging and quite scary at some points but it feels like it's exactly where I need to be. And I love that feeling.

Of course I have to give a shout out to my Laura Michelle. She provides me with much strength to knock down my walls built of fear and show me that I can do things that I never thought possible. Like singing. On stage. In front of people. I think that's the key to happiness in this life. Finding someone that you can confide in, someone to go home to. Because I know that no matter how stressed I get, she's always there to give me a hug. I could not ask for more. It kinda puts everything into perspective as if to say, "Hey, I can succeed today or fail. I can be tired and worn out. I can have a crappy day and YOU will still be there waiting for me when it's all over." There really is nothing like that feeling. It's breathtaking. You should try it sometime.

I think this blog is getting long so I won't really delve into other things on my mind. Maybe later. They have to do with things like getting a job, telling Cathy how much I love her hugs, talking about my parents and my dog Cameron, who I miss immensely. Different everyday things ya know. But for now, just remember.....um...wait....I forgot............

Hey Yo.....I Get No Respect

2008-03-04T09:45:00.003-06:00

I actually have a few things I wanna talk about; life and such, but I will do that a little later. Right now, I just want you to see what learned in rehearsal last night. I learned how to do impressions!

The Award Winning Mikey

2008-03-01T23:08:00.003-06:00

I'm so happy I won an award tonight. I would like to thank God, my parents and all the little people. My life wouldn't be the same without them. Most of all Markio Andretti. I learn so much from him. Everyday he teaches me something new even if he doesn't realize it. Today I learned to broaden my horizons. Thanks Mark!!!

Ain't Technology Grand?

2008-03-01T11:04:00.002-06:00

Chipmunk vs. The Spitting Rat Face

2008-02-29T23:50:00.003-06:00

Ok Kim. You want to fight? I guess I'll have to defend myself from the poisonous venom of your spitting rat face!

Ignorance is Bliss

2008-02-29T09:42:00.002-06:00

Some people just don't get it. Tsk Tsk.

Sax and Bass

2008-02-29T06:40:00.004-06:00

Ok. So I am up at 6:00 in the morning. And yes, I have slept. Actually, I woke up at 5. Not really by my own doings b/c I love to sleep. But when you really care about someone like I do, you will make those sacrifices to help them sleep easier. So here I am, watching Good Morning Ark-LA-Miss, waiting to see Laura Michelle in HD! Haha. She's promoting High School Musical this morning on tv and has been doing promo spots all week. She is very dedicated to helping that show sell well. Truth be told, she's dedicated to any show she's involved in and her knowledge and professionability about theatre astounds me. She blew the socks off of everyone at call backs last night. But she's done that to me so many times that I think I need to go buy some more socks b/c I'm running out. Anyways, enough about the lady. Oh wait, one more thing.....this morning I was involved in the first ever triple entendre of my life. It was quite exhilarating and I'm sure probably won't happen many more times in my life. Maybe I'll explain it later sometime.

So, what did I do yesterday and how did I feel about it. Hmmmm.....well, I worked on my songs for Sugar call backs a lot yesterday. I think that it helped alot. I'm not a strong singer by any means but I felt good when I got there because I had a feel for the rhythms and the flow of the songs. The rhythm is gonna get you. The rhythm is gonna get you. It's always fun to just play around and joke with good friends. I loved seeing Tony in action again. He is gloriously talented and a pleasure to be around. His experience really shows. And I swear, you could give Mark a microphone and he would make anyone laugh. This guy is a laugh factory. I mean, there has got to be a whole bunch of poorly paid underage Mexican kids in his body just working overtime to pump out those laughs. Everybody there should have learned something from him last night; don't be afraid to take risks. Make up voices, smile, trust your instincts. This stuff is fun!!! Wilkes was very funny as well with his pelvic thrusts and girly eyes. Seeing him in a dress would please any crowd I'm sure. Except maybe right wing conservatives. Anyways, it was alot of fun and there were many funny people and good times to be had. I enjoyed everybody, even the peeps I didn't know.

Streetcar starts back up tonight so everyone who hasn't seen it needs to come. I mean, if you're reading my blog then you are associated with the theatre someway and should come support me....um....support the theatre. Yeah, that's what I meant. And I've this dang dinner theatre looming over my head. I've GOT to start working on those lines. I want to be comfortable with it sooner than later. I'm not worried about it yet but I know me. That little jerk called fear is just peaking around the corner just waiting to pounce. But you know what's cool? If I get into Sugar then for a week or two, I will be in 3 shows at once! That's a first for even me. But don't tell me about it or even mention it. Matter of fact, I am forgetting I even said that. No pressure. Just have fun and enjoy it!

I have got to get a job. I'm going to need money soon. I like money.

Today I'm going to work on Reality Bites Back some, call my mom and see what's cracka-lackin in Strop City, probably play some Mega Man X3 on the SNES(yes, I started playing that again) and hopefully find a blank check lying around in the middle of the road. Oh yeah, and I will definitely be keeping tabs on the NFL today b/c free agency started at midnight last night. I will be tracking all the Saints moves, as well as those other 31 posers....I mean, teams. The Saints have already picked up Jonathon Vilma from the J-E-T-S Jets, Jets, Jets. I hope he can bring a spark to our linebacking corps. We need it.

Mikey at the Movies

2008-02-27T16:23:00.002-06:00

Starting in the next few days I will review movies that I've seen. Some may be old, some may be new. I really don't have a formula for this; it's just something that a few friends wanted me to do and I actually thought it would be cool. But I found out today I have competition. I want to be like this guy. I want to be this guy. He is the best movie critic I have ever seen. Enjoy.

What was I thinking?!?

2008-02-27T10:45:00.003-06:00

So, this morning I have been tooling around with some movie making applications for my computer. I have a Sony Handycam that I don't use quite as often as I should so I figured I'd start doing some things with it. Of course, the easy little shots here and there are very novice doings so I wanted to spruce it up a bit and actually make and edit some shorts. (Shorts as in short movies, not the opposite of pants) But it has been giving me fits b/c the app doesn't want to recognize the camcorder. And I need it to do that in order to copy the files over onto the PC. So anyways, I've given up for right now b/c I've got to get ready for lunch but I want to leave you with something. As I was playing around, I needed to film something so I could try and copy it over. Well, what came out of me was something so creepy and unwatchable that it just has to be seen by all. My buddy Mark is always telling me to write movie reviews b/c I love movies and I constantly talk about them. Well, anyways.....you'll see.

I Am Awake Now

2008-02-26T10:39:00.002-06:00

Ok, so I am now awake for the day. I need to go eat some cereal, Special K w/red berries to be precise, and then I need to shower. Well, I want to shower. Let's face it....I don't really NEED to. I naturally carry with me the scent of confidence and panache. But for some reason the lady friend likes the smell of soap. Go figure. So then I've got to go to the theatre and get my packet for call backs on Thursday. I did get called back for some things. I think they got be confused with Michael Wilkes though. He's the show-stopper. He's the Desire. Oh yeah.....other things I've got to do today. Charge my cell phone, talk to Bob, eat lunch, watch Attack of the Show from last night, play a little XBOX360, talk to Laura, text Laura, go see Laura, hug Laura, laugh at Laura, and just generally fall in love with her more. It's a daily thing. Don't worry about it.

I Have Returned!!!!

2008-02-26T04:08:00.002-06:00

Oh yes. I have returned. My first try at this was over 2 years ago and it was a complete failure. As you can tell by reading my previous posts, I was a moron. You'll be glad to know that I'm still a moron, but with an iddle biddle more wisdom. I don't know yet what I will be doing with this blog but I'm tired of being out of the loop dang it!!!! My star needs to shine too people! Ok, I'm going to bed so's I can dream about being 50 Cent some more.

A Few of My Random Thoughts

2005-11-30T15:26:00.000-06:00

I believe it to be smart to take a dump at work. 1) You get to get paid for crapping. 2) You save a lot of money on toilet paper.

I think it is cool to work with a guy who looks like Ryan Seacrest.

Why are old people mean? Is it b/c they know they're going to die soon?

There needs to be more high speed car chases in Northeast Louisiana.

Most people believe that the 2 most powerful words in poker is "All In!" They're not. "Fuck It" is way more spectacular

Fat kids in between the ages of 8 and 12 are not cool; even though they try their damndest to be.

Do all Asian people know karate?

I respect people who have lewd pictures on their cell phones?

Is it ok to turn down something that is free? (Besides an ass whoopin')

I like to define ass gas as two separate entities: 1) Fizzle - the gas goes through the turd so it packs a big smell but not a big noise. 2) Fart - the gas goes around the turd so it comes out the butt like gangbusters but doesn't really stink.

I don't think the rebel flag is racist. But I think the NAACP is.

The Scoop on Poop

2005-11-26T16:00:00.000-06:00

What is poop made of? About 3/4 of your average turd is made of water. Of course, this value is highly variable - the water content of diarrhea is much higher, and the amount of water in poop that has been retained (voluntarily or otherwise) is lower. Water is absorbed out of fecal material as it passes through the intestine, so the longer a turd resides inside before emerging, the drier it will be. Of the remaining portion of the turd, about 1/3 is composed of dead bacteria. These microcorpses come from the intestinal garden of microorganisms that assist us in the digestion of our food. Another 1/3 of the turd mass is made of stuff that we find indigestible, like cellulose, for instance. This indigestible material is called "fiber," and is useful in getting the turd to move along through the intestine, perhaps because it provides traction. The remaining portion of the turd is a mixture of fats such as cholesterol, inorganic salts like phosphates, live bacteria, dead cells and mucus from the lining of the intestine, and protein.
Why does poop stink? Poop stinks as a result of the products of bacterial action. Bacteria produce smelly, sulfur- or nitrogen-rich organic compounds such as indole, skatole, and mercaptans, and the inorganic gas hydrogen sulfide. These are the same compounds that give farts their odor.
Why is poop brown? The color comes mainly from bilirubin, a pigment that arises from the breakdown of red blood cells in the liver and bone marrow. The actual metabolic pathway of bilirubin and its byproducts in the body is very complicated, so we will simply say that a lot of it ends up in the intestine, where it is further modified by bacterial action. But the color itself comes from iron. Iron in hemoglobin in red blood cells gives blood its red color, and iron in the waste product bilirubin gives rise to its brown color.
What other colors of poop are possible? Poop is mostly shades of brown or yellow, but other colors can arise under certain circumstances. For example, someone with a bleeding ulcer might have tarry black poop from the presence of partially digested blood. Bleeding in the intestine, from an anal fissure or split, for example, can stain the poop red. Bloody poop can also be a sign of colon cancer, so you should get it checked out by a doctor if you see blood in your stool. Some illnesses in babies gives them green or even blue-green poop. But another source of blue poop in children is more innocent: it can come from eating a concentrated source of blue food coloring such as ice cream. Intense red food coloring can produce bright red poop. Sometimes brightly colored foods pass through the gut almost unchanged, and the turd may be speckled with bright red fragments such as pimentos, or bright yellow kernels of corn. Poop can also be stained red if you eat beets, according to Ellen. One can experience white poop after consuming a barium milkshake for the purposes of getting an x-ray of the upper gastrointestinal tract.
What is the cause of yellow poop? According to Michael F., one cause of this is Gilbert's Syndrome. "I have a benign condition known as Gilbert's Syndrome. It affects quite a few people, males mostly, in their teens+. It is a deficiency in the liver where red blood cells are broken down. I was informed when this was diagnosed that the broken down blood cells is what gives poop a lot of its color. People with Gilbert's Syndrome don't process as many blood cells - or not as fast - and their poop tends to be pale brown or yellow from the lower quantity of discarded red blood cell matter. This is especially true if there is less matter in your intestines (i.e., on a diet - as I have noticed) to remove the excess blood cells. Very frightening until you determine what is causing it. Gilbert's is a totally benign thing that doesn't harm anyone, although when a person is sick they can turn yellowish as if jaundiced, but it is not jaundice." Another cause of yellow poop is a giardia infection. Giardia are tiny Protozoan parasites that can invade the intestines and result in severe yellow diarrhea. It is a dangerous and contagious affliction that doctors are obligated to report to the Center for Disease Control.
What is the cause of green poop?
I have consulted with a doctor, a physiologist and a microbiologist on this question, and the following summarizes their answers: Healthy people can have green poop if they eat a diet rich in leafy green vegetables, or if they consume large quantities of food coloring (in ice cream, cake frosting etc.). Green poop can also be caused by excess iron in the diet, from dietary supplements, for example. If the body does not absorb all the iron consumed, the iron may stain the poop green, the color of iron (II) salts. Ordinarily, the green color may be masked by the normal brown poop color, but if digestion is thrown off by illness so that bilirubin is less concentrated in the intestine, the green color may become apparent. This can happen when a person is afflicted with diarrhea. Green poop in sick babies may come from iron in baby formula not being properly absorbed, or by green pigments in bile salts (again, green from iron).
Why is bird poop white?
Unlike mammals, birds don't urinate. Their kidneys extract nitrogenous wastes from the bloodstream, but instead of excreting it as urea dissolved in urine as we do, they excrete it in the form of uric acid. Uric acid has a very low solubility in water, so it emerges as a white paste. This material, as well as the output of the intestines, emerges from the bird's cloaca. The cloaca is a multi-purpose hole for birds: their wastes come out of it, they have sex by putting their cloacas together, and females lay eggs out of it.
Why do dogs (and other animals) eat poop? Many animals eat poop on a regular basis. These include rabbits, rodents, gorillas, many insects such as dung beetles and flies, and yes, dogs. (Keep that in mind the next time a dog wants to lick you!) Herbivores such as rabbits and rodents eat their own poop because their diet of plants is hard to digest efficiently, and they have to make two passes at it to get everything out of the meal. This is equivalent to a cow chewing its cud, only cows are able to re-eat their food without having to poop it out first. Another reason why animals eat poop is that poop contains vitamins produced by their intestinal bacteria. The animal is unable to absorb the vitamins through the intestinal wall, but can get at them by eating the poop. Another reason that animals such as dogs and flies eat poop is that poop contains a certain amount of protein. Dogs are particularly fond of cat poop because cat poop is high in protein. I had a friend with a dog and a cat, and he never had to clean the kitty litter. The dog took care of it.
Are there people who eat poop? Yes, we all have, at one point or another. One of the main ways that diseases and parasites spread is through the consumption of food and water contaminated with feces. This happens because people don't wash their hands carefully after pooping or changing a diaper or scratching their butt. It can also happen through careless disposal of diapers. Our microbiologist here on Guam says that one dirty diaper in Tumon Bay can send the bacteria count through the ceiling. But of course, what you want to know is, are there people who eat poop on purpose? Again, the answer is yes. In rare instances, people with severe developmental and psychological disorders practice pica, the consumption of non-food items, including coprophagy, the ingestion of feces. The behavior may also be observed among very young toddlers. Coprophagy is also listed as an unusual sexual practice in the encyclopedia of that name. Some people who practice sexual coprophagy say that only a lover's poop is good to eat; all other poop (including their own) makes them gag. I have personally known only one person who ate poop on purpose, and she only did it once, when she was about four years old. She says she was curious about what it tasted like. When asked what poop does taste like, she replies, "About like you'd expect." By the way, for all of you who are wondering, the author of this page does NOT eat poop.
Can you get sick from eating poop? Yes, you can definitely get sick from eating poop, even in minute quantities! Although urine emerges sterile from the body (unless the person has an infection), poop emerges loaded with bacteria and sometimes other life forms. Many diseases, including food poisoning, cholera and typhus, are spread by fecal contamination. Many parasites, such as the notorious tapeworm, can be spread through deliberate or accidental ingestion of poop. There are some parasites, such as pinworms, who depend on people eating their own poop to keep the population up. Pinworms are small nematodes that live in the colon. The females emerge from the anus at night to lay their eggs. Their activity makes the anal area itch. The person scratches the itch (often doing so in his sleep), procuring a small amount of fecal matter and eggs under his fingernails, and then puts his fingers in his mouth. Once the eggs are consumed, the person is infected with a new generation of pinworms. I have read that almost everyone has pinworms. Luckily, pinworms don't do much harm. You only notice them if you have a lot of pinworms! If you want to find out if you do indeed have them, get someone to gently touch around your anal area with Scotch tape while you are sleeping. The worms will stick to the tape and you'll be able to see them.
What causes diarrhea? Diarrhea is caused by irritation in the intestines, resulting in the bowel passing its contents too fast for the water to be absorbed. There can be several causes, including infection by bacteria or viruses, irritation caused by unfamiliar foods, food allergies, chronic illnesses such as inflammatory bowel disease, lactose intolerance, medications, and nervousness. If it's a persistant problem, don't mess around - see a doctor.
Do most people wipe their left-over poop standing up or while sitting on the pot, and are there gender differences?
This isn't really scientific, but I did a quick survey, and everyone asked (including both males and females) said that they wipe sitting down. (Marko wrote to ask, "Am I the only person who wipes standing up? Surely not...") There was even a reason provided: that sitting down spreads the cheeks apart and makes access easier. This survey was done on Guam, and Guam is technically part of the United States, and most people here probably use American toilet habits. However, if you travel a bit, you will discover that people deal with left-over poop in different ways in other parts of the world. In Europe, for example, that water fountain in the bathroom isn't for drinking. It's a bidet for hosing off after using the toilet. In Southeast Asia, you don't sit on the toilet at all. The toilet is a low, porcelain-lined trench, and the user squats over it. Next to the toilet is a bin of water. You scoop water out of the bin with your left hand and use that to cleanse yourself. You aren't supposed to use your left hand for any other purpose.
How come when you eat corn, no matter how much you chew it, you poop it out in whole kernals? Corn poop is one of the greatest mysteries in life. I grew up pondering the same question. This is what I think is happening: When we chew corn, the outer coating slips off the inner kernal. This outer yellow coating is almost entirely cellulose, and is indigestible. It passes through the gut untouched, and emerges looking like a whole kernal, although it is mostly just the outer skin. The inside of the kernal is starchy and digestible, and that is the part that we succeed in chewing up.
Is there any way to prevent corn from getting in your poop?
I know of only one way - don't eat corn!
How does poop stay together, like in links?
In humans, soft poop is really one long, mostly continuous sausage before it comes out. It gets its "link" look because we tend to pinch off lengths of it with the anal sphincter as the poop emerges. If a person pinches hard enough, the poop separates into several turd units. If the person doesn't pinch that hard, the turds may stay connected. If you can remain sufficiently relaxed, you can produce an awesomely long poop that will coil up inside the toilet.
Why does some poop float?
Floaters are turds that have an unusually high gas content. Sometimes the gases produced by bacteria in our gut don't have a chance to collect into a large fart bubble, but remain dispersed in the feces. The poop then comes out foamy, and has a lower density than water. Poop with a high fat content will also float.
What causes the burning sensation sometimes associated with poop? This is generally caused by a recent meal of hot peppers or related spices. The oils associated with these foods remain intact and active all the way through one's gastrointestinal system. These oils can also generate hot farts.
Why does some poop hurt when it comes out? Turds can get very large and dry if a person is constipated, causing painful stretching of the anal opening. Pooping can also hurt if the person has hemorrhoids. Hemorrhoids are engorged veins in the anal area. A doctor once described them to me as "varicose veins of the anus," which suggests that the valves in the veins that are supposed to keep the blood flowing in the right direction have gotten messed up. Pooping can also be painful if the person suffers from an anal fissure, a tear in the tissue of the rectum.
Why does poop sometimes fizzle like Alka Seltzer when it hits the water?
Fizzling can happen if the poop is supercharged with bubbles of fart gas. After discharge from the body, the poop is in a lower pressure environment and it degasses.
Does eating meat make your poop smell worse? Yes, meat protein is rich in sulfides, resulting in smellier farts and poop. This is the reason that the poop of carnivores such as dogs, cats and snakes smells worse than the poop of herbivores such as cows and horses.
Is it possible to vomit poop? It is not possible unless the person is suffering from some extremely rare condition or disorder. I had a roommate once whose summer job was to administer barium enemas to patients in a hospital. She told me that one patient vomited the enema.
Is it possible for a man to have poop come out of his penis, or for a woman to poop out of her vaginal opening?
Not normally; fortunately the plumbing of the genitalia is entirely separate from the plumbing of the digestive system! However, there are certain pathological situations that can cause the pipes to get connected together wrong. Cancer can do it, as can surgical diversions of the human tubing. Such fistulas, as they are called, can cause feces to come out of the urinary system, or urine to come out of the anus.

Can you blow up a toilet by throwing a cigarette into it after pooping? This sounds like urban legend to me. It would take a heck of a lot of hydrogen to explode a toilet in this manner, and intestinal gases just don't have that much. Also, any flame would just flare up briefly. With an open toilet, you couldn't get up enough pressure to pop the pot!
What is the origin of the word "poop"? According to Eric Partridge in his excellent book of word origins (Origins: A Short Etymological Dictionary of Modern English), "poop" comes from the Middle English word poupen or popen, and it originally meant "fart." The word was based on the sound of a fart. According to Robert Chapman, author of American Slang, "poop" came into use with its current meaning around 1900.
How come people say "I'm gonna go take a dump"? when in reality they are leaving a dump? Yes, that is one of the English language's more peculiar expressions. My hypothesis is that the experience of pooping is so pleasant that although we are leaving a dump, we are gaining pleasure and satisfaction. Perhaps it developed as an analog to "taking a break," during which time one also "takes a dump." And here is the real explanation from an anonymous linguistics professor: "I can tell you that the reason we say 'take a shit/dump' is for the same reason we 'take' a vacation...in this situation, the nouns poop/dump or shit are used to describe an activity occuring over a time, not the actual physical object itself. One is 'taking' the time to leave a shit in a bowl. actually the use of the word dump really reflects how much we subconsciously understand this action, as one's ass is dumping the ass apples into the bowl. the word has simply been changed to a noun to denote the time spent during evactuation of the bowels."
What are other words for poop?There are lots of them! Proceed to the word lists.
What great poetry has been composed about poop? Prople have been busy composing wonderful rhymes about poop! Click here to see poop rhymes, poop riddles, and wise poop sayings.

I wish my job closed at 3 on Saturday

2005-11-19T18:05:00.000-06:00

I wish my job closed at 3 on Saturday

Wrath of Dalton vs. Wrath of Rambo

2005-11-18T17:23:00.000-06:00

I was asked the question "Would I rather face the wrath of Dalton or the wrath of Rambo?" today and I think I've got my answer now. I would rather face the wrath of Dalton for many reasons. First of all, his first name is James. If his name was simply Dalton, he would be much more of a formidible foe. Second of all, I think that in the midst of him kicking my ass he would have to stop and do some dance moves and fix his mullet. I am aware that his mullet wouldn't be too messed up b/c Swayze always had that thing tight and in place but I'm sure at some point he would have to at least play with it. I know what you're thinking...."Doesn't Rambo have a mullet too?" Well, yes, but at least Rambo had the smarts to tame that wild beast with a headband. One of the only good things going for Dalton(in this argument anyways) is that he carries his own medical records with him where ever he goes. Impressive. But besides that, there really is no contest. I mean, c'mon, Rambo's name is Rambo. Rambo..... that's a badass name. Plus how many dudes has Rambo taken out. A whole sherriff's office, then half of vietnam, THEN pretty much all of Afganistan. Including tanks and helicoptors. I'm under the impression that if George Bush sent Rambo to the Middle East, this whole war would be over 3 years ago. I really can't say the same for James Dalton.

Popping the Blog Cherry

2005-11-17T17:21:00.000-06:00

There comes a point in every man's life when he has to bite the bullet and start a blog. I really only started this so I could post comments on my friends' blog but then I decided I could maybe get some of these random thoughts out of my head through this medium. So here goes nothing. Why does dog shit turn white in the sun? If I shit in the sun will it turn white? Why does the world revolve around sex and money when Capri Suns and Fruit Roll Up are sometimes just as good? Why did Dalton from Road House have to have a first name? Why are some english words cool (i.e. moist, succulent, scrimmage, brewery) while others absolutely suck (i.e. paint, vacuum, chlorine, giant)? Do dogs really see in black and white? How did someone figure that out? Why can't I run faster? Why do nipples get hard when it's cold? How come items that are festive to a season or holiday so much fun to buy and consume? Why do people think it's cool to laugh at there own jokes? Can you really light a fart on fire? I think I should try one day. Why do some ethnic groups like bass? Why aren't velcro shoes in style anymore? They were very practical. Is fish a meat? Why do I not own an arcade game by now? I should.