another (busy) Saturday

October 4, 2008 – 9:51 pm

Today was busy… unfortunately, I still didn’t get the time to practice anything.  I did, however, run a 5k in 22:38 or was it 22:35… ah, well, I can’t remember.  Unfortunately it wasn’t fast enough to place in my age bracket, and that’s my current fastest time ever!  argh!

After the race, we stopped by the house and cleaned up.  And an hour later were back on the road to Ellijay, GA.  We try to go once a year in October to pick up apples.  We didn’t go last year because of a late frost and  drought which killed off most of the crop.  Anyway, we picked up just over 2.5 bushels of apples and visions of apple pies, apple sauce, apple crisp and apple butter dance through my head!  Yummy!

We stopped on the way home and had a bit of bbq.  When I arrived home I checked in on a project with work and found that we needed to take care of a few things.  I was a bit frustrated because it took almost two hours on the telephone.  AGGGGGGH.

By the time we ate supper, played and put the kids to bed the day was done.  No dance practice and certainly no monologue… I think I need to use my drive for monologue practice next time.  I really need to get this nailed soon! It’s FRUSTRATING!

Anyway, now it’s off to get some rest so that I can help produce tomorrow’s service at Revolution.  We’re starting a cool new series for the ladies!  Check it out.

By Chris | Posted in Uncategorized | Comments (0)

rubber meets the road

September 30, 2008 – 9:44 pm

So far the most difficult thing for me has been finding time in my schedule to practice my dance steps and theater monologue.  In my mind I need to be doing 4-5 hours a week in order to succeed… but I’ve been struggling to get 2 hours a week for dance… and half an hour to an hour for my theater.   I also general run three mornings a week, so that burns up time in the morning.  Add in time for my wife and kids and there you have it!  One busy schedule! :-) 

Anyway, that’s my current struggle.  I’m working to get into a schedule or groove that is realistic and help meet my goals at the same time.  This week I also have a cold or maybe allergies, so that’s draining any energy that I do have… I think it should wrap up by early next week, so I’m hoping to be more on my game then!

Btw, for the interested, I’m taking my theater class at the Town Lake Arts Center. It’s a non-profit which operates within a budget.  Imagine that!  I’m a huge fan of operating within a budget!  My dance classes are at Dancentre South.

That’s it for now!  Live life to the fullest!

 

By Chris | Posted in Uncategorized | Comments (0)

dance Class!

September 24, 2008 – 9:56 pm

I’m freaking stoked right now… I’m just back from dance class and am energized.  Today was a long day and I left home this evening just wiped.  However, once I entered the dance class building, I began to feel more awake and by the time we were a few minutes in I was pumped.

I’m three weeks in a still feel a bit awkward… I’m the only male in a class of women ranging in age from teens to fifty somethings… (just guessing).  I’m slowly catching on but have nowhere near mastered any of the steps or sets.  The class is great fun, great exercise and an instructor who is talented and patient. (thankfully!)  Most if not all of the ladies have some prior experience dancing and are very encouraging and supportive.  I truly enjoy being in class with them and hope to get to know each of them a bit better.

I left the class fully invigorated and energized.  Excited and ready to practice tomorrow morning.  Tonight so much fun and I look forward to repeat it next wee!

Peace

By Chris | Posted in Uncategorized | Comments (0)

tHis yEAR

September 23, 2008 – 8:31 pm

If you’ve read my previous posts, then you know that for quite some time I have had yearnings to be in the performing arts with interests in music, dance and possibly theatre.  tHis yEAR things came together through a couple of disparate events.  Blog articles about success that I was writing, an announcement on the radio about AMTC tryouts, dance movies and other miscellaneous random thoughts.  Each thing in it’s own way challenged me to think about going for it.  So this is my deal.  

Throughout the summer I thought about it and began to make plans.  Several weeks ago I began to put the plan into action.  I’ve joined a hip-hop dance class as well as a theater class aimed at reducing stage fright and beginning to develop theatrical skills.  Finally, I also plan to get back into vocal classes early next year. 

It’s a lot to tackle all at once.  It’s scary and occasionally terrifying.  I’m not going to quit my current industry just yet.  My goal is to develop any skills and God-given talents that I have and work toward building enough income from those that I can quit and do it full time.  It may take me several years or I may quit next year… One way or the other it’s going to be quite a ride… One that I’m looking forward too! 

How about you?  What is your dream?  Are you ready to quit dreaming and begin planning how to achieve that dream?  I hope so… I don’t want to get to the end of my life with regret and have trouble believing that you would want to.

Go for it.  Don’t wait for someone to find you.  Make something of yourself.  Work hard.  You can do it! 

By Chris | Posted in Intro | Comments (0)

the Backstory

September 17, 2008 – 9:51 pm

So, before I get into what I’m getting into right now I thought a short bit of back story would be in order.  My music training started around age 10-11 with piano lessons.  As a boy, practicing piano when I would have rather been outside… well, as you can imagine was miserable… However, as I moved into the angsty teen years I began to realize that I could express a great deal of emotion through music.  Through the way I played the songs when they were played… This was the beginning of some type of awakening.

  My next exposure was one year of choir in high school.  At the time it didn’t have a huge impact, however, it planted the seeds.  In college, I developed several friendships with people who kept asking me to try out for the choir… finally, after much prompting I took the plunge… and much to my delight enjoyed it so much that I also tried out for and was accepted into the swing choir, joined a men’s barbershop octet, and took vocal lessons.  I truly loved singing and performing… it was nerve wracking but the feeling was incredible.  I felt so alive.  

During college I also continued my piano lessons and joined the college jazz band.  Upon graduation I had completed a music minor in addition to two majors and a business minor…  and my music inclinations almost came to a screeching halt.  

All because of fear, insecurity and money.  

What happened?  My primary degrees were in Computer Science and Information Systems.  I had several thoughts in mind as I prepared to graduate, however, it essentially boiled down to this:  I love to try music BUT I’m not good enough to achieve what I want in music and definitely not good enough to support a family.  I like computers, hence the degrees, and decided to continue forward with that profession. 

Somewhere along the way I just about let all musical aspirations die… I contacted a barbershop organization and visited with them a couple of times… but I decided it wasn’t worth the travel and time commitment.   Something I don’t necessarily regret but do think I should have given it a go.  I didn’t have a piano and I occasionally led music at a small church… but that was it… my heart frequently ached as I heard songs that went into my soul and drew me out… I wanted to be the performer… I wanted to pour my self into expression in music… but my desire and want wasn’t strong enough to motivate me… and so, I did nothing… 

I worked my career, I got married and a few years ago began a family… all the while still wondering, if I could pull it off… if I could develop the skills to build a career in the performing arts… 

 

By Chris | Posted in Intro | Comments (0)