Holiday Routine

As I have gotten older, the holidays have become more and more routine and a bit dull. I am not trying to be pessimistic but I am longing for that same excitement that I had as a child. For instance, this weekend is Halloween. It took me forever to come up with a costume this year! Normally, I get all excited to dress up, especially since I am a music theatre major, but this year I was bogged down with school, work, and extracurricular activities to where finding a costume was just not really that important. Plus, I feel that Halloween for adults is a lot different than it is for the young ones. I miss the days of simply going door to door getting candy. And how can I get into the spirit of Halloween when Wal-Mart already has Christmas Cards and decorations set out throughout the store? Holidays are just becoming more and more commercialized. Where is the fun in that? I say, as a nation, we shouldn't focus on whose costume is better or which gift I spent the most on for a loved one...........and learn to find that childhood spirit and joy again. I'm trying.......

Songfest 2009

Tonight concludes Shocktoberfest at WSU with an evening of performances from Greeks and various campus student orginizations. The ceremony starts at 7:00p.m. at the CAC Theatre. Songfest is basically a dance routine with the dancers lip synching to their favorite songs. At the event, Shocker Man and Woman of the Year will also be announced as well as the overall winner of the Shocktoberfest competition. Shockertoberfest is a long running tradition that has been around since WSU had a football team. It was like the school's homecoming. Today, the event has grown to be a huge celebration of school pride, filled with friendly competition. It's almost a preparation for the big WSU Tradition in the spring--Hippodrome. So come one and all out tonight to the CAC Theatre at 7:00 p.m. for free entertainment and chaotic excitement. SEE YOU TONIGHT!

Lights, Camera, ACTION!!

That is the theme for my weekend: Lights, Camera, ACTION!! The reason it is my 'theme' for the weekend is because I will get to attend several events that deal with potential careers in film or performing arts. This weekend marks the start of the TallGrass Film Festival, which is a film festival that showcases upcoming film makers and their work. I have two free vouchers to see one film.....a friend of mine may also have vouchers for me to attend the entire festival, seeing all the films. I am not so sure if I want to see all of them. Also, the cast of the National Broadway Tour of Wicked is in town. And guess what I get to do? Since I am a musical theatre major, I have the wonderful opportunity to sing for the music director and a cast member from Wicked. This opportunity will hopefully be a jump start to launching my own career. I get to sing and dance for them and receive honest feedback of what they thought of my performance. I am undoubtedly very excited. Hope you guys get a chance to get out to the film festival and see Wicked. These are just a few of the great performances that you don't want to miss in Wichita!

Home Stretch

Midterms went pretty well this past week. I am not failing my classes, although somedays, I feel like I am. I am very pleased with the outcome of my grades so far but I don't think I will be making it on the Dean's honor roll list this semester. My classes are just way too difficult and I am studying my tail off. Now we are in the home stretch of ending the semster. I need to buckle down the last couple of months so I can make good grades. Hopefully I will still have the drive, determination and motivation to finish off the semester after Thanksgiving break.

Arts in the Metro

There has been a lot of performing arts performances lately within the city. This week, Wicked rolls into town. This Broadway hit has taken the nation by storm and now is on tour traveling to various cities around the U.S. and this week, Wicked lands in Wichita. When I had my internship in Tulsa this past summer, I had the opportunity to see this show. The same cast that performed it in Tulsa will be in Wichita. I absolutley thought it was the best show I have ever seen on stage. The actors were so committed to telling the story of the two witches of Oz and I thoroughly enjoyed the lavish costumes and sets. It was truly a musical spectacle. Also, Chicago is still playing at the Crown Uptown Dinner Theatre. Chicago, I have heard, is one of the best shows that the Crown has had in years. Then of course, Maroon 5 will rock out Koch Arena on WSU's campus at the end of November. This is just a small taste of what performances will be going on in the Wichita area. There is always first and final friday art crawls for each month and bands that play at restaurants and bars. I mentioned in my last blog that I was at Oeno. The night, there was a jazz band from WSU that was playing smooth, relaxing music. Wichita is a city filled with artists and never ending artistic opportunities. So get out there and support the arts!!

Fall Break is Over........so, when is Thanksgiving Break??

Fall Break comes to an end as another week at school begins. It was really nice to have Thursday and Friday off of school, especially to recover from being sick. Last night, I felt much better and ventured out with my old high school friends to Oeno, the wine bar in OldTown. Don't freak out........I"M LEGAL!!! Anyway, it was awesome seeing them and catching up. My friend is getting married this June and asked me to sing in her wedding. I willingly agreed and cannot wait to sing at her wedding!! It will be my first wedding that I have ever sung at. Now that Fall Break is over, I am counting down the days until Thanksgiving!! I can't wait for family, food, and laughter. In the meantime, I am going to get in shape before CHRISTMAS!! Help me if you can............

Fall Break=Seasonal Illness

Fall Break started yesterday and there is no better way to spend it then being sick in bed. Everyone seems to be getting sick this time of year. The weather here quickly changed to almost winter with the start of October. Meterologists in the area said it has been the coldest October since they have started taking temperature records. It is no wonder that with this sudden seasonal change that people are feeling under the weather from allergies, strep throat, and the newest illness to hit the nation: H1N1 or commonly known as the swine flu. I have strep throat but luckily, I am on antibiotics. I always used to get strep throat as a child and the doctor said if I were to get it one more time, I would have to get my tonsels removed. Many years later, I have strep throat and I am in the workings of scheduling a surgery to get them removed at the age of 21. So please, as the season changes, wash your hands and if you feel the sudden sensation that you are feeling sick or KNOW something is wrong with your health, get to the doctor!! It is important to take care of yourself, a lesson that I constantly need to evaluate in this fast-paced society.

Sharpen your #2 Pencils.....

...........because midterms are here!! This week marks the midterm of the fall semester 2009. So that means it is time for the WSU students to be tested over the material they have covered from the beginning of the semester until now. I have a midterm in everyone of my classes, including dance. One may ask how does one task a dance midterm. Well, we are tested over the body and different movements of ballet and we are also asked to perform or dance such movements. Our midterm consists of both dancing and written examination. I am also really nervous for my midterm in Music Theory. It will be difficult to write out time signatures, scale degrees, and various musicalities. Thankfully, this week means that fall break is just around the corner and begins this Thursday. It will be nice to get a chance to just do nothing and relax..... especially with the swine flu going around. I haven't been feeling to great lately so hopefully I don't have the flu of the PIGGIES>>>>.

ArtAid 2009

This weekend I will have the privelege of attending Art Aid XVI 2009 on Saturday evening. This is a huge auction in which all proceeds benefit Positive Directions, a non-profit organization that helps people in the Wichita area who live with HIV/AIDS. This year's theme is Heroes and Villians. I am so excited to go out and look all spiffed up. It is always fun to dress up and look good every once and awhile. At the benefit, several art pieces, that feature local and regional artists, will be auctioned off. More than 200 pieces have been donated this year, and apparently towards the end of the auction, Planet Hair has put together a runway show that features over 100 models and dancers. There will also be a live band called the Naughy Astronauts and food from Corporate Caterers. I can't wait to go to my first auction, especially one that will benefit a great cause! Hope to see you tomorrow evening at 7pm at the Cotillion for food, fun, art, fashion, and fellowship!!

College

It is interesting what college can do to a person. I have grown and matured so much upon entry into the college, academic world. From expanding my horizons at Wichita State through education and friendships, I am becoming a man that will be able to survive the real world. One aspect that is most important and has greatly affected me is my relationships with my friends and family. In high school, I had many close friends but during my transition to college, I remained close to my closest friends. Sadly, I have started to lose contact with my close friends from high school due to time restraints and making newer friendships with those in college, espeically ones within my major. I wasn't that close to my family in high school. But as I have gotten older, I have grown closer to my family, especially since I have dreams of eventually moving to a bigger city out of the state of Kansas. I truly feel that most of the changes have come from attending college and all the changes have been excellent. I can not wait to see what else is in store for the future through my education at WSU.....

Trick or Treat.....Give me something good to be!!

Hello everyone........So I don't know what I'm going to be for Halloween. My friend and fellow fraternity brother, Dustin Kuhn, wants to do a group costume. Ok. I know what your thinking....group costumes are a mess! First you have to decide what everyone is going to be. THEN, you have to go out and purchase a costume if you don't have one that the 'group' WANTS you to be. Finally, sometimes people change their minds and drop out of the group AFTER you have purchased your costume. And these days, most costumes are non-returnable. We have all been there before and yet constantly do these group costumes over and over again. So maybe I should just dress up on my own this year.....But WHAT though?? Last year I did the superhero thing with Superman. And the year before, Harry Potter. Everyone is going to be Michael Jackson or a superhero or Harry Potter.....or that guy from Twilight...but I want to be something cool, different, and saucy. Tabasco Bottle?? I have no clue....so hit me up for ideas!!

Change of Season...

Happy October everyone! I am so glad that we are in one of my favorite months. October gives me a happy feeling of relaxation and great, cozy weather; the kind in which you just want to snuggle with your favorite pet or bake cookies. I have been starting off October with a bang! Last night, I tried this new form of yoga at a local yoga gym called Siva. They use additional heat through a heated floor. Having a heated floor has many benefits. It is much better for your muscles when doing certain yoga stretches and positions. Today, I feel great!! I notice a huge difference in my stamina, mind clarity, posture, and muscle tone. I recommend anyone to try it but if you haven't done yoga before, it would be wise to do a couple of basic yoga classes. Check out this site for more information: http://www.sivaplay.com/. This evening I am going to see a movie at the Warren Theatres. These theatres are really nice if you plan on coming to WSU. They are truly comforting, relaxing and huge. The movie I will be seeing is called the Invention of Lying. It is set in a world where no one can lie except for one gentleman named Mark Gervais. But he soon discovers that lying has both its benefits and downfalls. I am excited to see it! It will be a great start to my weekend and October!! HAPPY FALL!!