Working at home 16 hours a week is actually pretty good.

           Cast party tonight went great.  We had a great time and were able to honor those who thought they were able to hide behind the scenes.  OK, maybe they weren't hiding so much as serving where they were most able.  Either way, they finally received the recognition they deserved.  We couldn't have done it without them.  As Trey said, you don't realize just how many people beyond the actors are required to pull off a successful show.  We actors sometimes forget that or find a way to overlook them in our arrogance.  It is humbling to realize just how much work those behind the scenes put into the show.  Thanks again.
          Now that I've gone all sentimental, I think it is time for me to move on to something that bugged me a bit.  Today on the way to work there was an news story about stay at home dads.  It would have been a half way decent piece if they hadn't ended it with statistics designed to make men look lazy and useless.  The quote was that men on the average are doing a mere 16 hours of house work a week at home.  They then went on to say that these stay at home dads finally understood what a stay at home mom did.  Let's straighten something out here.  I understand exactly what goes into a mothers day and it is busy.  I have seen it and understand it.  But if you want to throw out numbers here you go.  Add to that 16 hours, 40 hours of work to make sure you can afford to stay at home.  Add an average of 10 hours commuting to that work.  Now add an average of 7 hours doing work not associated to house work.  By the way there are 164 hours in a week.  The average stay at home mom spends 40 hours a week sleeping.  Add another 10 hours a week watching their chosen TV show.  Add another 10 hours a week updating their face book and another 10 hours socializing at play dates.  The point isn't to make women fell bad, or men to feel more arrogant (heaven knows we don't need that), the point is to acknowledge that sometimes spouting random numbers generates more dissent and hurt than otherwise. 
             The fact is that with men doing an average of 16 hours a week of house work, we are actually keeping up with our partners and helping out quite a lot.  The idea that when we are apart our partner is doing nothing is ludicrous.  That is what these stats would have you believe.  That if your husband isn't at home doing house work, he is playing; or that if your wife is a stay at home mom, as soon as you leave the house, she sits down in front of the TV and does nothing.  I try to follow a basic rule (note I didn't say I always succeed, I am not perfect), as long as my wife is working , so am I.  The exception is when I work back shift, then I get to sleep for the first few hours of the day and help the rest before I go to work.
           That's my 2 cents.  Thanks for reading and, as always, have a nice day.

Christmas foods: Or how to gain 10 pounds and enjoy every minute of it.

           It's a new week and time for the weekend update.  To begin, I guess I have to start with the final days of the show.  They went great.  My sons and wife enjoyed it and in all it was a great time.  The final cast party is tonight and I am looking forward to it.  In all, it was a great time and I thoroughly enjoyed it. 
           That actually covered the weekend.  Between the show, sleep and church I really didn't have time for much else.  I did get to make my first batch of divinity today and it turned out awesome.  I look forward to enjoying more of it at the wrap party tonight. 
           Now for the fun stuff.  Since I didn't get any comments or suggestions for themes for this week, I think I will go themeless.  Themes get in the way of free thinking and free flowing thoughts anyway.  Today i think I want to talk about Christmas foods.  When I think of Christmas foods, the first thing that comes to mind is the vast array of candies.  Divinity is the first that comes to mind.  I love it, but I only make it at Christmas time.  Same thing with fudge.  Why?  Why do I limit myself to these treats once a year?  I guess mainly because I tend to gain so much weight when I eat them.  Then there is the question of Christmas dinner.  The variety of what is acceptable for Christmas dinner is as varied as, well, the candies available.  Some believe ham is the only way to go, while others tend toward a repeat of Thanksgiving with turkey.  Still others end up with a Hodge podge of meals that would blow your mind.  I lean toward the whatever is in the stocking and around the house, but I follow my wife's wishes and make a meal for supper.  We've been sticking with ham the past few years, so that is probably where we'll go this year.
            So what is your favorite Christmas food?  What about dinner, do you go ham, turkey, or the more traditional goose?  Or is there something else that you just can't do without on Christmas?  Either way you look at it, Christmas is yet another holiday, that is, at least partially, defined by its food.
            Have a great day and thanks for reading.

A little of this and a little of that.

           Amazing how time flies sometimes.  I managed to finish a few things I was doing and suddenly it was 3am.  That's when I realized I hadn't done anything with my blog.  Oops.  So here goes.  First off, we did another show tonight and it went really well.  Once again, we had a sold out house and a great audience.  The entire cast was energized and lifted by them.  We are getting this down and there are getting to be fewer mistakes and we are getting things together.  In all it went well.  Looking forward to tomorrow night's (I guess it is actually tonight).
          I have been having an interesting week at work.  not a lot going on, but what is going on is, critical and keeping us here.  Unfortunately, this means there will probably be overtime, which means I may end up working again this weekend.  I certainly hope not, but you never know.  We are getting closer to the stand down which is good and I am looking forward to it.
         Since next week will be my last week before I take a couple weeks off for Christmas and New Years, I plan on doing a theme next week.  I would like it to me something related to Christmas and the Christmas season, I just don't know what.  Thus, I give it to you.  If you have an idea, please, post it in the comments.  I redid my permissions so you aren't required to have an account to post (I just moderate the comments to prevent stuff I don't want my kids to read from getting on here).  Or you could give it to me in person if you happen to run into me.  Thanks in advance for any suggestions. 
           I really don't have much else to say.  I just want to thank you as always for reading.  Have a great day.

Tired, unwired, and whatever, It doesn't have to rhyme.

           Today, I found out the show is sold out.  Not just a couple shows, every single one.  Not a seat left.  Absolutely amazing.  I am really looking forward to it.  5 shows left.  I couldn't be more thrilled.
           Now that I have covered the news, I will continue with my regular post (not that there is anything regular about my posts).  I am yawning and tired for some reason.  I got a decent amount of sleep today, so I have no idea why I just want to curl up and go to sleep.  The problem is, I have to stick around and go to duty section muster then quarters.  At least I have a lot of stuff to keep me busy.  I just wish I could figure out a better way to stay awake. 
           I just looked at the calendar and realized that I have 17 days until Christmas and I haven't bought a single present.  What is wrong with me.  I used to have my Christmas presents bought, wrapped, and hidden by this time.  I guess, over the years, I have just gone shopping later and later.  Next thing you know I will be shopping December 26 and celebrating Christmas on New Years.  At least I finished the Christmas letter.  Now I just need to figure out how many people to send it to.
           Since it looks like I am starting to cover a dozen random topics to no good end, I think I will just call it a night on this post.  Have a great day and thank you for reading.

More overtime and I am still tired.

            Yet another great show!  And, yes, I am at work...again.  So much to do and so little time to do it.  maybe I can get some other things done.  Then again, maybe I will just surf the web until I figure out what I am getting my wife for Christmas.  Who knows, maybe I'll just take a nap.  The sad thing is, I probably could and no one would care.  I am so tired right now that I can't keep a single thought going long enough to write it down.  How I typed this much I'll never know.  Hopefully, I am more coherent tomorrow and I can actually complete a decent blog entry.  The other side is that when I get tired I tend to ramble on things and I end up saying things I probably shouldn't and might regret later.  With that in mind I will end this for tonight.  Thank you for reading and have a great day.

Bonus post: Overtime and more.

           Bonus post!  Gotta love having to work overtime.  I understand the idea that as a member of the military I am to follow orders, but when you are directed to do something that ruins whatever plans you might have had while on shore duty, common sense would say some compensation is in order.  While it may be true that I don't typically average a 40 hour work week on shore duty, that doesn't change the fact that my weekend is essentially ruined.  Instead of enjoying time with my family and going to church tomorrow, I will be sleeping.  Instead of sharing the bed with my wife this weekend, I get to share my feelings with you.  Not that I don't enjoy sharing my feelings with you, it is just that I prefer my wife and my bed to being at work.  Oh, well, guess I am just stuck with it.  Besides, I am just complaining really.  The fact is, the job really isn't that demanding and my bosses do allow me to take time off when I ask for it.  They just want to nix the idea that we are entitled to it and I understand that.  Once you let people think they are entitled to something, they stop asking for it and just start taking it.
            Wow, I really went off, didn't I?  Subject change!  The play tonight went awesomely.  I think we nailed what we missed and discovered new ways to improve.  I'll get the notes tomorrow, but in all reality, I am happy with how things are going.  We actually sold out for the second night.  I also found out that we have one show with only 2 seats left and another with only 1 (both are next Saturday).  Overall, we only have around 100 tickets left and 5 shows left to go.  I almost think we should add another weekend.  Then again, maybe not.  I am exhausted.  Between doing the show and then immediately working all night, I am not getting much sleep.  It doesn't help that I naturally wake up when sunlight hits me.  Thus, once I get enough sleep to make sure I don't pass out standing up, my body wakes me up.  This means I am sleeping about 4 to 5 hours a day while on graves.  Thankfully, god is giving me the strength. 
               Enough of a downer.  If you haven't got your tickets to the show and you are in the area, better hurry up.  thank you for reading and have a great day.

Opening night: Full house and an awesome performance

           Great show tonight.  Lots of energy and a full house.  It would have been the perfect night.  Then I came to work and found out I have overtime this weekend.  So, now instead of going home after Saturday and Sunday's performances, I get to go to work.  Such is life and it just keeps going.  It could be worse I suppose, I could work with people who aren't willing to let me show up a little bit late.  At least I still get to do the show. 
           Well, I really don't have much else for tonight, just hope that I can get through these next couple of weekends without to much trouble.  We shall see.  I really need to arrange some help for the guys I do the table with so he isn't stuck doing it by himself every night.  I feel so bad about it.  Oh well.
          Just want to give a shout out to my fellow cast members, make up and costume personnel, backstage help, and orchestra members.  Great show with 6 more to make it even more awesome.  Look forward to it.
         Well, time for me to end this as I see I am starting to repeat myself.  As always, thank you for reading and have a great day.