The Adventurers of the Lucky Vale II

[Sciread77]

The last challenge ended in the middle of an event for me. The first two days were the hardest, being the initial travel day and the “Load-Build-Rehearse-PerformTwice-Strike-Exit” days. The rest of the week is comparatively minor but still involves a lot more activity than usual and several minor challenges such as contesting a parking ticket and making minor vehicle repairs, in between showing up to all the cast’s auditions and other events to show support, presiding over the midnight curfew, and dealing with the annoying rule that prevents me from being in the same building as my wife. 

 

Moreover, once we get home I have a day of work and laundry then we leave early the next day for our cross-country road trip down Route 66 with the kiddos. That one will involves more planned hikes and whatever I do this week, I need to avoid injury so I’m good for the next event which will be longer and generally more intense. 

 

I’m absolutely not used to being up this late and some of the kids have early auditions. My plan is to nap after this first one this morning similar to yesterday. However, the towel service apparently goes from room to room banging on the door like monsters around 9ish so I had all the guys write whether they need new towels or not on the door. Because really there’s no reason for me to HAVE to kill anyone, and yesterday they fled upon seeing my grumpy countenance. 

 

The whole UNL campus is ours and the kids have been told to report suspicious characters who are loitering in the area. They usually see me wearing glasses and friendly print tees with Star Wars, Disney, Muppets, Harry Potter, etc on them, and most have known me for years.  But I also collect Harley shirts and occasionally dress a bit like a biker.   When I wore one with my contacts a whole group debated reporting a that shady biker guy who looked “really scary” in the lobby lol. That’s what I get for not having coffee before other humans see me. 

 

I’ll post goals in a bit. But as this challenge consists of 3 straight weeks of events, it’ll be a little different than usual. I’ll have event goals and post-event recovery goals. And hopefully, during some of the driving or other down time I’ll continue on with the family mythology stories. 

[Sciread77]

Just found out one of our students had a sudden and tragic death in the family. She’s in shock be decided to stay for the rest of the week. There’s probably no better place for her to be, with the possible exception of home. The cast and crew are loving and supportive. My wife is an absolutely amazing theatre teacher, mentor, and friend. This week has just been example after example of her at her best through the good and the bad, and it’s only Tuesday.  

[Stronkey Kong]

Following for more lucky vale action!

[Snarkyfishguts]

Following! I am so sorry to hear about your student. I’m glad she’s got such a good support system there.

[Sciread77]

I woke up on my back, to the smell of ozone and something heavy and flat on my face. It was a lot quieter than I expected it would be. I ran through a mental checklist: I could breathe, move my fingers and toes, and see. I pressed my palms against the heavy flat thong and slid the door off of me. I sat up and my head spun. I steadied it with both of my left hands, and heard a few voices saying choice things including “incredibly lucky,” “lightning reflexes,” and “controlled magical substances.”  I saw a single, untouched circular area within the store. Jessie and the kids running towards me, fine, and some of Ed’s security handcuffing a rather toasted-looking wizard. 

 

Jessie’s got a strong streak of gypsy (read: faerie) blood in her. The kids have it, too. It provides some pretty absurd luck and practically superhuman abilities. Unfortunately for me, my swollen nose, and all my extra hands, we are in no way related. I’ve got some dwarf further back and mostly I Inherited a thick skull and stubbornness. 

 

 

 

[Sciread77]

It’s been a day. We just got out of 26 Pebbles, a show about the Sandy Hook massacre and the following events. It was very rough on our student, but again my wife made a plan and ensured she had plenty of love and support. It also hits hard as the parent of a six year old. 

 

I’m not gonna lie. I think about possible shootings at every show here. Especially since a lot of our kids are already demographics targeted for violence. 

[Sciread77]

The Shakespeare in Love show was phenomenal. 

 

The Shakespeare was a stud. And hilarious. And could have convinced me he was 27. Everyone’s comedic timing was spot on. The set was beautiful. Those kids had some pipes on them. The costumes were great. It was the best show we’ve seen so far. 

[Sciread77]

Bring It On was a great show altogether. The singing was great, the athletic feats were amazing, and apparently a kid broke her leg and finished performing. BUT. The lights were so bad it ruined the show. Triggered a migraine for me and made it almost impossible to watch or enjoy. They had LED lights dialed all the way up and pointed at the audience and fired them a lot. Unfortunately, this made it hard or impossible to see the performers. It was sad indeed because they were incredible. 

[Sciread77]

TIL This is a real thing and not just the weirdest pronunciation of Nintendo Switch in the world by my son Woody. 

[Ann of Owlshire]

Sometimes life is so eventful and off routine beyond chaotic that “get through this intact and without resorting to the worst of my habits” is enough goal for me. You may aspire to more, but given what you’ve described that’s where I’d be going with this challenge XD

[Sciread77]

5 hours ago, Ann of Vries said:

Sometimes life is so eventful and off routine beyond chaotic that “get through this intact and without resorting to the worst of my habits” is enough goal for me. You may aspire to more, but given what you’ve described that’s where I’d be going with this challenge XD

 

I’ve had a lot of challenges that are basically getting by. Especially after the youngest arrived. At some point, I’ve gotta seize the day and pursue my goals anyway. 

 

These goals will will be substantially less about making progress and more about successfully completing the events, though. I need to:

 

1. Refocus on my perennial goal of sleep. Between Jessie and I, we’ll be driving another 3700 miles in this challenge. The first 500 of which will involve me driving a trailer with our set. 

 

2. Sneaking in the Alfredson Protocol therapy. I want to be able to function and the calves/Achilles are feeling a little shady. 

 

3. Supporting my wife. This is a big thing for her and there are already lots of challenges.

 

4. We’ve got a couple kids auditioning for college programs. I’m here for them too. 

 

5. Have some fun. You don’t get to do with stuff every day. 

 

For goal 5, I played Superhot on Oculus Rift. If you're not familiar, it’s a shooting/fighting game in which time only moves forward when you move. Most of the kids play quite conservatively. They pause a lot and they try to be super efficient. I Matrixed it. I’m super aggressive (which the game actually rewards). Maybe I tripped over a couch and almost jacked a couple of jaws, but I did well lol. Also, there’s a hysterical video old me floating around. 

[Sciread77]

The food is better than the state conference but it’s still way greasier than I’m used to. There’s a dearth of my staples of cruciferous vegetables and pulses. Everything at breakfast had added sugar and now I’m sick and dying. 

 

Probably I’ll be dead for the next few hours. I think I actually died about 20 minutes ago. 

 

I hope I respawn soon. 

[Sciread77]

*respawn* 

[Ann of Owlshire]

5 hours ago, Sciread77 said:

For goal 5, I played Superhot on Oculus Rift. If you're not familiar, it’s a shooting/fighting game in which time only moves forward when you move. Most of the kids play quite conservatively. They pause a lot and they try to be super efficient. I Matrixed it. I’m super aggressive (which the game actually rewards). Maybe I tripped over a couch and almost jacked a couple of jaws, but I did well lol. Also, there’s a hysterical video old me floating around. 

 

I have a video of Mr playing this with the PS VR. (His last project was a VR game so there was a lot of “research” going on.) The sound wasn’t going on the speakers, so he was just going at it in (to me) silence. It was pretty amusing XD

[WolfDreamer]

On 6/26/2019 at 9:12 AM, Sciread77 said:

That’s what I get for not having coffee before other humans see me.

 

This made me LOL.

 

I used to have a straw cowboy hat. I wore it to Dollar General one day, and while walking down one of the aisles I heard the customer at the register ask the cashier, "Is that guy going to be a problem?" She asked him who he was referring to, and he said, "The guy in the hat. He looks suspicious." The cashier already knew me through mutual friends, so she just chuckled and assured him I was harmless. He wasn't having any of it, though, and he said, "I don't know. I'd better stay here just in case." That guy eyeballed me until I grabbed what I needed and stepped up to the counter. I couldn't resist. I tipped my hat to him and gave him a half sneer/half grin. The cashier giggled as she rang me up. I kept grinning at him as I paid for my stuff and walked out, waving to the cashier.

 

4 hours ago, Sciread77 said:

*respawn* 

 

Glad you feel better.

 

What's that video game where you create your own character, and when you die you respawn in random ways?

 

 

[Sciread77]

37 minutes ago, WolfDreamer said:

 

This made me LOL.

 

I used to have a straw cowboy hat. I wore it to Dollar General one day, and while walking down one of the aisles I heard the customer at the register ask the cashier, "Is that guy going to be a problem?" She asked him who he was referring to, and he said, "The guy in the hat. He looks suspicious." The cashier already knew me through mutual friends, so she just chuckled and assured him I was harmless. He wasn't having any of it, though, and he said, "I don't know. I'd better stay here just in case." That guy eyeballed me until I grabbed what I needed and stepped up to the counter. I couldn't resist. I tipped my hat to him and gave him a half sneer/half grin. The cashier giggled as she rang me up. I kept grinning at him as I paid for my stuff and walked out, waving to the cashier.

 

 

That’s hilarious. 

 

37 minutes ago, WolfDreamer said:

Glad you feel better.

 

What's that video game where you create your own character, and when you die you respawn in random ways?

 

 

 

I’m not sure but I’m intrigued. 

 

 

 

We saw Bright Star this afternoon. The set, acting, costumes, singing, dancing, lights, and underlying story were either awesome or intriguing. The structure of the songs and pacing or the writing were tragically off. It was, I’m afraid, pretty boring. The plot basically stopped for the songs and did little to no advancing except during the straight part. The music was bluegrass and would have been nice in the background or for dancing but really didn’t work to tell the story, and it tied together in spite of itself instead of naturally flowing together. I’m disappointed. Especially since the cast and crew were fantastic. 

[Sciread77]

I am sad to report that Noises Off was not good. The set was beautiful but the timing, the acting, it was all off. It felt lifeless and flat. The directors note said this was the 7th time their school performed it and its cycled through every 3-4 years and I’m afraid that’s part of the issue. 

 

It pains me to say this because I’m probably the most supportive audience member here. Jessie said that even if I’m cranky that changes during a show. I don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings. I’m not really a good critic in that way. I’m usually the supportive audience/reader that encourages people to keep trying. But falling flat at this level, it’s a huge disappointment. I can only hope that it’s just an issue on this last show today. 

 

We’re going to a grown-up party shortly. Hopefully that’ll be fun. 

[Sciread77]

Skipped the party, had our own on the couches of the lobby. I got to talk one-on-one with Jessie for the first time since we arrived, which was pretty awesome. I’ve missed her and don’t care for being forced apart in the dorms.  Then we were joined by some recently graduated students and one caught me up on all the crazy crap that family has dealt with in the last year, but ending with a full tuition scholarship to the school of choice.  That was a much better use of our time. 

 

Also talked a lot about Star Wars, Indiana Jones, and Spiderman. 

 

Nailed all 5 goals today. Tomorrow I’ve got to effect a truck repair as well so we can make it home with the set. But I think that’s basically all I have to do since our auditions and shows are over. 

 

 

[Sciread77]

I was convinced to do a Broadway Dance workshop in 15 minutes. This ought to be fun. The students did not have to twist my arm lol. 

[Snarkyfishguts]

1 hour ago, Sciread77 said:

I was convinced to do a Broadway Dance workshop in 15 minutes. This ought to be fun. The students did not have to twist my arm lol. 

I am so excited for you!

[Sciread77]

46 minutes ago, Snarkyfishguts said:

I am so excited for you!

 

Thanks! Video will be posted to YouTube by the teachers of the workshop. A link shall be provided later. 

[Sciread77]

 

 

I’m a little hard to see. I’m the guy in the beard in the back. Wearing a gray Hogwarts shirt. 

[WolfDreamer]

5 hours ago, Sciread77 said:

I was convinced to do a Broadway Dance workshop in 15 minutes. This ought to be fun. The students did not have to twist my arm lol. 

 

I'd jump on that opportunity. I have no dance experience (as in I don't regularly take classes or perform), but I was asked to dance in two recital finales and said yes to both. One was to "You Can't Stop the Beat," and the other was to "Footloose" (while wearing jeans, a t-shirt, and Chucks.  Another year I was asked to dress in a black cloak, walk across the stage, and mouth the words to the Vincent Price part of "Thriller." I was almost Danny Zuko in a performance of "You're the One That I Want," but that one didn't happen.

 

Love the video! I love how they're not all doing the "exact" same thing, but they're all having a blast!

[Sciread77]

41 minutes ago, WolfDreamer said:

 

I'd jump on that opportunity. I have no dance experience (as in I don't regularly take classes or perform), but I was asked to dance in two recital finales and said yes to both. One was to "You Can't Stop the Beat," and the other was to "Footloose" (while wearing jeans, a t-shirt, and Chucks.  Another year I was asked to dress in a black cloak, walk across the stage, and mouth the words to the Vincent Price part of "Thriller." I was almost Danny Zuko in a performance of "You're the One That I Want," but that one didn't happen.

 

Love the video! I love how they're not all doing the "exact" same thing, but they're all having a blast!

 

 

That’s awesome. I’m not exactly a dancer. I’ve taken classes, I really enjoy dancing, and I memorized everything on the Darren’s Dance Grooves dvd. My superpower is an utter lack of shame. My weakness is I’m slow on picking up choreography and it takes a lot of work for me to make my body string all the things together. I learn dance like I learn music, one at a time. 

 

Here’s a photo showing my position in the video. It’s pretty shady but there I am lol. Like I said, slow on the choreography, but no shame. 

[Sciread77]

If you get the chance to see Be More Chill, run away. It’s the worst show I’ve ever seen. It’s also a big middle finger to everything important about theatre. Not in a funny parody sort of was like you usually see (because theatre people can be a funny lot). Just a brutal mockery, up to and including a complaint by a character about having no good female roles, and the play completely objectifies women and treats them like objects and idiots. I will never get that 2 hours and 45 minutes back and my blood is kinda boiling.