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SirLaitier
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Name: Mike
Birthday: 9/23/1984
Gender: Male
Interests: Acting, music, movies, video games
Expertise: Acting and video games. I just like the other two.
Occupation: Student
Message: message me
AIM:  JediLink23
Member Since:
12/15/2004
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| And it begins...again. While doing a Google search for "'mike link' dubuque" last night, I found this old Xanga. Wow. It really is a peek into an entirely different time for me, as well as my friends who all had one (you know who you are). It was a time where I was still pretty wide-eyed, looking forward to heading back to school, moving in to Mary Fran. It was filled with overused phrases (mostly inside jokes or altered quotes from movies and songs), but there were also a lot of good memories, in both the entries and the comments. I smiled a lot as I read the old entries. What instantly became clear as I read (aside from the fact that I was bored at work a lot) was that this was a journal, yes, but it always had an audience in mind. In fact, that's one of the reasons I shut the thing down- I didn't think anyone was reading anymore, and therefore, it wasn't worth it. Looking back, it feels a little odd. I suppose that is the nature of keeping a public journal. Here is the real question, though...do we all write journals (of any kind) in the secret hope that someone else will read them someday? Or are they truly for the writer, to reflect on their past memories and/or styles? When I took Essay Writing from Angela Salas at Clarke, we kept a journal...I think we had to write three journals a week, with 300 words each, but this was mostly to keep ourselves sharp, I believe. Even then, I wrote with the knowledge that Dr. Salas would be reading it eventually. The last time I kept a journal that I actually hadn't planned on anyone seeing was in high school. True to the adolescent male I was, it was usually all about girls. Before that, I believe I had a small journal that my mom had bought for me through the school book order. It had a sailboat on the cover, and the only entry I remember was something about having a boring day, until one of my uncles came over and then it was an FFH (Funny Fun House). I distinctly remember that acronym, for some reason. I don't know. I guess, as a performer kinda guy, I can't help but want to write something that will amuse or inform another person, so I think I am one of those people who wants their journal found and read. Which means... ...in an effort in futility, I am back into the blogosphere. Honestly, I don't really know if people will read this at all. I already know that it won't be the same as it was once, with my friends and I commenting on each others blogs all the time. But, I'll have something to look back on, at least...as well as something to do when it's slow at work (like right now). Maybe it will inspire others to fire up their blogs again, I don't really know (probably not). Either way, I'm back, baby.
Take care of yourselves.
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| Well folks, I do believe this is it for my Xanga. A few reasons for its demise:
1. I think I may be the only one who reads it anymore.
2. School starts up soon.
3. It's my last day of work, and I won't need a time filler anymore.
Let's jump into number three for a short while.
I believe that this is the last day I will work at McGraw-Hill, for a very long time. That is, unless I completely botch MWTA's (knock on wood!) and don't get theatre work anywhere. But I'm pretty sure that won't happen. It's been sorta, dare I say, fun- at times. However, the intern personnel has almost dwindled down to nil here at the end of break, and so has the fun factor.
Getting back to the original topic, just because I'm going to stop updating for a while doesn't mean I'm going to shut this site down, or anything. That way people can still look at it if they want to. Check out old entries. Whatever. There's a very slight possibility that I would use this to update people about my life during the summer (a la DPintheUK), but we'll see. I'll also still use this account to comment it up on anyone else's Xanga.
Anyway, without a lot of fanfare or anything...for what could be my final entry for a while, today I offer you a recap of my winter break- the highs and lows of this winter season.
Highs:
Seeing high school friends - This has been a huge highlight of the break. I don't think I've seen so many old friends over any sort of break ever. Reuniting with people I hadn't seen in a long time like Danny, Powers, Sully, or Salve seriously brought me a lot of enjoyment these past few weeks. Hanging out with casual friends and actually getting closer with them as well has been incredibly great. So yeah. Way to go Wahlert, for graduating a bunch of cool people.
Seeing family - This was pretty good- it was certainly great to hang out with Joe and Jess, and it was good seeing Renee at Christmas...however, an extreme lack of visiting Dusters really hit this category hard. Still pretty fun times though...good enough to put it into the "Highs" category, certainly.
Christmas - Still holds the same magic for me as it did when I was a youngun. Getting a camcorder doesn't hurt either.
Games and stuff - Break The Safe, P & A...that night rocked. Seriously.
New Year's Eve - Wow. As I've stated before...best New Year's Eve ever. The only thing that could have made it better is if EVERYONE had been at JMs that night.
The Secret Garden - I've rarely enjoyed working on a show so much. I don't really know what it is...probably the cast. Cool working with Daniel and Sarah again...as well as folk like Erin, who I haven't been in anything with since Evita. And then there are people I've NEVER worked with. Good times. The musical in general is pretty sweet too...maybe it has something to do with that.
Lows:
Not being able to come home right after finals - They say you can never go home again, but I didn't know that having a small house fire is what they were referring to.
Work - aside from the two vacation days we got here, I haven't really had too many chances to actually be on break. This is especially evident now, as I wake up at 6:25 AM and am not done with my day until at least 9 PM or so. Very reminiscent of the summer, actually. Good thing I have rehearsal to look forward to at the end of the day. And it's almost freaking over, anyway.
I'm happy to say that those are the only lows- and as you can see, the highs have them beat. I've been very very happy with this winter break...I'd definitely place it in the top ten. Not that that list exists, but if it did...
Anyway. I'm gonna get out of here. Hope you've enjoyed this look into my life for the last year or so.
...if you remember anything from this year of Xangaing, let it be this:
Take care of yourselves. | | |
| Wow! When I had seen you last, dear Xangaers, I hadn't even begun rehearsal for The Secret Garden yet. A few days later and we've already run through the whole show. Crazy.
Speaking of The Secret Garden, I'm just going to go ahead and say that I love rehearsing for this show. The cast is a good time, and work on the show seems to be going pretty smoothly. Initially, the chorus was a bit shaky and unsure of itself, but with each rehearsal, everyone seems to be finding their voice, so to speak. There's not really too much else to say, I'm just really enjoying myself. Funny thing to do during rehearsal: replace several of the lyrics for the show with the word "cake."
This past weekend has been highly enjoyable...one of the best in recent memory. The discovery of an online drinking game, the mildly-inappropriately named "Beer Slut," was one of the bigger parts as I played the game with various friends several times. It was also filled with enjoying time with people from Wahlert before they headed back to school...as well as seeing people I haven't seen in a loooong time (Molly).
Some other events of the weekend:
I purchased the game Super Mario Strikers. A fast-paced, madcap CA-RAZY soccer game. I enjoy it a lot. Colin and I had some epic battles just yesterday...but he came away victorious, winning three games out of five in a heart-pounding final fifth match.
Yesterday, my curiosity got the best of me, and I tried Spam for the first time. What I discovered was a rather tasty, albeit quite salty meat product. I don't know that it is exactly something I would really search for in my dining pursuits, but it was a good experience on the whole.
Saw the movie Crash last night and enjoyed it immensely. Great ensemble cast.
And now we're at Monday. I hate Mondays.
Last week of work began today, and I couldn't be happier. My current routine of "staying up too late, getting up at 6:25 AM and working until 3:30, having rehearsal from 4-9:30" is taking it's toll on me. She said goodbye too many times before.
Annnyway...
Now that most old high school friends have returned to their respective institutions of education, I find myself highly excited for the Clarke crew to return. Good times await us this semester, folks...I just know it. But until then-
Take care of yourselves. | | |
| It's been a little while, and if you actually read this, I apologize for the lack of updates.
-BUT-
No comments makes me think I'm just writing this for no reason. So if you do in fact read my entries, comment it up...so I don't feel like I'm just typing for an empty audience. I mean...that entry about Break the Safe...that actually took me a small chunk of time, and it got barely any lovin'.
"But Mike, you're at work, don't you want to waste as much time as possible?"
Well, I-
...yeah, you're right.
*sigh*
ANYWAY, the last few days have been a whirlwind of activity. Place your trays and seats in the upright position, fasten your seat belt, and prepare for takeoff.
December 31, 2005: Best New Years Eve(r)
A good amount of old high school buddies showed up and we lit up the town of Menominee. Great friends, pizza, card games, karaoke, and memories. Oh, and beer. As always, JM's provided a wonderful time for all who entered its doors that evening.
One of the highlights of the evening: taking a shot with JM himself.
A very blurry and poorly lit montage of scenes from the evening is available.
January 1, 2006: Mostly Sleep
As we all groggily awoke the next morning, we were treated to a delicious breakfast by Mrs. JM. Luckily for Danny, he was NOT too hungover to partake this time. ADA had to take his girlfriend back to Madison rather early that morning, so we all headed out sometime before 10 AM.
After a drive that seemed like it was 8 hours long, I zonked out in my room until about 2 PM. Not a whole lot else happened. A good day for recovery.
January 2, 2006: Worst Officiated Game In College Football History
As a result of all the extra sleep I got the day before, I was able to wake up at about 8:30. I finished packing to head back to Clarke and then got ready to head to Sully's for a day of college football and delicious chip dip.
If you watched the Iowa game, you know what sort of travesty occured in Florida. I don't even want to talk about it...
A very entertaining air hockey tournament followed, which was all documented on my camcorder. In the end it was Will who took the big prize. This came at a cost to Notre Dame, as Will used up all the luck of the Irish during the tournament. As a result, the Fighting Irish lost to Ohio State that day.
Moved back to Clarke following all the bowl craziness. I kept thinking about my parents at home, and for the first time ever, I actually sort of missed home and considered going back. Sounded like they wanted me to stay longer...but such is the life of a busy college student, I guess.
January 3, 2006: Pretty Worthless
Work was LONG. It was also Jim's last day. Luckily, we ordered some personal pizzas from Happy Joe's, which quickly became the highlight of the day. I got spaghetti, of course. Mmmmm.
After basically doing nothing the rest of the day (except play Prince of Persia, I guess), I headed over to Brandon Hagen's for a bit for Bobby Schramm's going away party. Saw some people that I haven't seen for a while, and I had a pretty good time, even if I wasn't there for very long. The guests were an interesting mixture of Clarke people and Wahlert people. This is what it's like when worlds collide.
This was basically the only moment of the day that wasn't pretty worthless. Some other little highlights: talking to Annie and Bridget on the phone, and the Taco Bell run with Val.
January 4, 2006: Who KNOWS?
I certainly don't. Obviously, work is on the schedule. If I had to venture a guess, I'd say the afternoon will involve: sleeping (maybe), Prince of Persia (certainly), memorizing both Secret Garden stuff and Midsummer stuff (really should, but might not in the end), and hanging out with friends again (hopefully).
January 5, 2506: 2000-2008 A.D. Dubbed "Reign Of Stupidity" By US Historians
Hmm. A politically charged Xanga? I don't really know if that's my style.
January 5, 2506: Flying Cars And Moving Sidewalks, FINALLY.
That's better.
What else...
Tomorrow is the first rehearsal for The Secret Garden, and it's a music review. I have two out of three songs that I sing with other people, and I haven't sang either of the songs with them. Should be interesting. I wonder if I have to be totally memorized for that. I think I could wing it.
Anyway. I better get back to work. I'm actually doing quite a bit of it today. Someone should give me a cookie.
Take care of yourselves. | | |
| Yesterday was a good day.
Right as I got into my car to leave work yesterday, ADA called me basically saying that no matter what, we were going to do something. That was a nice way to start the afternoon.
After that, I stopped by the Pancratz residence to catch up with the one and only D. Piddy. It was great to catch up with him again, and hear about his adventures in the UK and such. After about an hour and a half, I left so he would be free to hang out with his family.
What followed was a lot of wasting time in Dubuque, very similar to the routine I used to have while waiting for Peter Pan rehearsal. I ate at KFC and ordered their boneless wings with spicy buffalo sauce. It was pretty good, I think...but the sauce was far more spicy than I imagined it would be. And they just douse the wings with this stuff. It was a delicious struggle, and I definitely had to get a few refills on pop or I would have probably died. After recovering from my meal, I drove around Dubuque, hitting up Target, Video Games Etc. (begrudgingly...they didn't have what I was looking for anyway, so luckily I did not have to offer them my business), Best Buy, Kennedy Mall, and Toys R' Us. I found some pretty sweet deals on stuff I had been looking for, so I was pleased with my time wasting.
Then I went to Mika's, where eventually ADA, Salve (Psalve, Pslave, Slave, Slave Masta...who I hadn't seen in over a year, AT LEAST), and Jak showed up. And we played THIS game:
This game is awesome. Lemme run it by you.
You are one of these four "agents":
...and your object is to BREAK the SAFE!
You move around this board...
...avoiding the guard and his pesky dog (who put you in jail if they see/smell you)...
...by rolling these dice (be careful, because you move the guard and his dog, too!).
By using these tools, you find the 4 keys (amongst other things), which allow you to BREAK THE SAFE!
The whole thing is timed, so you can play a 30 minute game, a 22 minute game, or a 15 minute game. And here's the clincher- you work TOGETHER to win (a la Hoopla). It's a race against time! And it's totally exciting.
In all reality, this game is probably for little kids, but wow, did we have a blast with it.
Best moment of the evening, hands down: breaking the safe with 2 seconds left.
The rest of the night was filled with countless hands of P & A (Presidents and A-Holes), which were also incredibly enjoyable.
Yeah, a good day. Tonight's got quite an act to follow.
Take care of yourselves. | | |
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