Christmas... A Review

It all began Christmas Eve at 9:30am visiting Grandmother #1. Home by 11:00am then to town to pick up a last minute gift, lunch and then Grandmother #2. Then to Nikki's parent's house where all of her siblings, niece and nephews were in- food and gifts. At about 10:30pm, off to my brother's house where my parents were. More food. More gifts. Nikki and I got back to our house a little before midnight where we had to wrap a couple of gifts. Knowing we were going to have a busy Christmas day, we thought we might have our own Christmas and exchange gifts on Christmas Eve- too tired- we would just wait until the afternoon on Christmas day. Finally in the bed around 1am. This might not sound so bad, but we had promised my family that we would be back at my brother's house at 6:30am so we could have Christmas with them and my parents early. At 5am, neither Nikki nor I could sleep- the excitement of Christmas morning and decided to get up and have our own Christmas first. Nikki is a beast when it comes to wrapping paper. After our brief time of Christmas cheer, we headed on over to my brothers. Much fun and meriment (and a really cool black velvet blazer I got) we made our way over to Nikki's parents for an 8:30am appointment of more paper ripping. We visited with friends, more grandmother time, more food, no naps as we originally thought, and lots of fun. Christmas day should be filled with lots of visits, food and fun. And speaking of fun- my lovely ,wonderful wife bought me a mega flat screen tv. Too great for movie watching, but as several of you know, the room where we have a our tv is small. When you come over for movie night, bring sun glasses. Also, I got a new phone- a blackberry storm- slavate, but don't touch. All in all we have stayed very busy, only got to see two movies out of the million that I have wanted to see over Christmas break, but still there are a few days left this week before the return to the grind on January 2. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

It's Beginning to Look a Like Christmas

Our happy little tree... ok, maybe not so little. From the floor to the top of the angel is around eleven feet- it's a little chopped off, I couldn't fit the whole tree in the photo. When we were picking out decorations, we figured it was going to be the tackiest or the most beautiful tree ever with lime green, hot pink and icy blue- we lean towards the latter and love it.

You can see Nikki in the corner of the picture praying over our gifts hoping they will multiply... just joking, she is working on Christmas cards.
A closer look.

And for years, some little reindeer have set under my Christmas tree. I'm glad Nikki was open to adopting them. Maybe this is what we should do to Jazzy when... nevermind, I'll get fussed at for that comment.

The Herdmans Were the Worst Kids in the History of the World

Christmas Pageant Opening Night

I'm not used to opening a show on Friday, so I keep thinking it is Thursday. My time is done. Now I just show up and watch. That's usually why I like to be in them- the actors on stage get a whole other experience than those backstage. I'm going to miss out. But, I'm at that weird age where I don't fit the teeny-bopper parts and I don't fit the older characters (though I could manage if there weren't people to play the older characters.) I'm having my middle-age actor crisis. It, however, is going to be a great, fun show. Come see! I thinkg I need Burger King now.

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever!

I haven't had much time to write about this show. It is going to be very fun, cute and hopefully will make you cry a bit. Here is the press photo. Hope everyone can make it to a performance on December 5 & 6 at 7:30pm and December 7 at 2:30pm at the Fine Arts Center.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Old Age

Ric has discovered the stress of the theatre can age you very fast.

7 Things I Learned From HSM 3

If you haven't seen HSM 3- swallow your pride and go. Yes, it is just a cheesy as you think it is going to be, but the dance numbers are excellent. Kenny Ortega, who directed and choreographed, does an amazing job of keeping everything moving fast and big.

The 7 Things I Learned:
1. No matter if you do win the basketball championship two years in a row, the thing everyone will remember is the Senior Musicale (no I did not spell this wrong- see the movie and you will understand.

2. Zac Efron has one emotion: I just saw my mom get hit by a bus but I can't do anything about it because I have gas... and he is concentrating more on the gas. Although, I agree he will make a great Ren in the Footloose movie musical.

3. Ashley Tisdale's new nose makes her look older.

4. The blond kid with the funky hats and argyle sweater vests (don't judge) is the only one in the cast that can actually sing. But yet, I still bought the soundtrack. I attribute it to peer presure or the fact my wife begged me for it.

5. No other couple in the world goes through as many break ups and back togethers as Troy and Gabriella. That just doesn't happen in real life... oh wait a minute... ok then, maybe that means that in the next movie they will get married.

6. In this multi diverse cast (white, black, blond, brunette, hispanic, fat, skinny) there are no Asians. Sorry, Troy P. When we do the stage version I guess you will have to pull the curtains.

7. Drama teachers are crazy, self obsessed freaks to the world, but in truth, they are the embodiement of wisdom, intelligence and grace and are essential in the personality development of growing adolesents.

Shakespeare and Rock N' Roll

Wednseday night on the spur of the moment, Nikki and I went over to WCU to see Othello (yes, the Shakesperian tragedy). While on the way, we texted Rachel and she met us there for the show. In times past when I went to see a PLAY not a MUSICAL, the tickets were around $8. I go up to the window and the lady says, "$20". I give her a $20 bill and she says, "No, $20 each." What ?!?! When did this happen?

The show was ok. The guy that played Iago was very good- nice color to his lines as opposed to most of the others that just shouted their lines and beat their chest. Shakespeare- I guess some actors, especially young ones, think that it is better shouted. Oh, well. In otherwords, $40 for three hours of neck veins.

Last night we headed back over the mountain with Effie to see Adam Pascal in concert. We sat on the front row about five feet from him. It was a nice show mostly of his current cd with a few B-Way songs thrown in. No Aida, however. Dissapointment. At the end I waited with the other fans and he autographed my Aida cast album. Fun night.

One Nation, Under God

Christians, the Bible says, are to be a peculiar people. Christians should go against the norm of society and exclude themselves from what most worldy people define as acceptable. I am happy to say I am a Christian. Almost all of the people I voted for yesterday, were not elected.

The day began at 5:45 am. Nikki and I took off and travelled over most of Jackson County several times. These were the areas we were responsible for in her mom's campaign. It was a very interesting animal of an experience I had never seen or participated in. Most people were very friendly and would happily stop to talk with you. Most people were completely uninformed.

We never outright said, "Who are you voting for?" (Unlike the Obama lady who knocked on my door Saturday.) Instead, we would say, "Would you share with me your opinons?" When speaking about the Presidential race, every three out of five people would reply they are voting for McCain or Obama, but yet have no idea why. I respect your opinon if you have facts to back it up. Several people said they were voting for Obama because they wanted change, but yet could not tell what type of change Obama was going to bring. They had no insight on his policies, what he believed in or sometimes even if he had a family. Don't get me wrong, there were some McCain supporters who did the same. Sadly, people had not done their research. Many voters went to the polls to cast their ballot blindly, only making a decision based on what their friends had said, or even worse what the news media had reported. That drives me bonkers!

In the past weeks I have been sharing some of my personal opinons. Some people have enjoyed them, some have disagreed with me. I respect some of you that have enjoyed as well of those that have disagreed- all depending on where you get your opinion- which is what most of these posts have really been about. Form an opinion, claim a conviction, but informed and support your ideas with facts. Real facts- candidate voting history, personal policies reported by that candidate personally, not your friends or the news. That is what is making America become such a land of morons. I respect your opinon- no matter what it is- but only if you support it. Tell me why! Ignorance is not bliss- like a lady the other day who disagreed with my covictions about aboriton issues. She told me she did understand why I would be so up in arms over abortion when a woman naturally "aborts" an egg each month. She wanted to know what the difference was. This lady is pushing sixty and has children of her own. Ignorance. I tried to explain sex-ed 101, but she wouldn't agree with me. Ignorant, uninformed, unsupported opinion that doesn't justify respect.

So as I was saying, Nikki and I began our day at 5:45am and ended it at 12:45am. There were lots of ups, downs, moments you wanted to shed some tears and moments when you couldn't stop laughing- especially at Burger King and the restrooms, but that's a story for another day. All in all, we saw democracy at its best and and times, its worst.

One nation under God? Yesterday, the majority of Americans chose to be just a nation.

HSM 3 Fans

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Get In the Act- Vote!

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Wait I Was Wrong

Even scarier!

Happy Halloween

The scariest costume I've seen all night!

Wickedly Good Birthday

Happy 5th birthday on Broadway Wicked! Nikki and I saw the show yesterday at the Fox. It was my second time, her first. It is a very good show- great spectacle. The first time I concentrade so hard aon watching everything that I think I missed a bit. This time I could watch for things I hadn't seen before. All good shows take at least a couple of viewings, especially with the phenominal technology in the theatre right now. Effie and I, however, can do the same with a role of duct tape, a flashlight and some aluminum foil.

Life Is Not a Choice, It's a Given

I am deeply concerned- more than I was last week when I wrote my first political rant.

Today my students were working in groups and I floated from one to another to check their progress. As I was with one group, I heard another nearby talking about the election. They were discussing certain issues that clearly they had no experience with and were just repeating what they had heard their parents saying. The collective opinion was that it would be best if Obama was elected because it would be easier for girls to get abortions. In their opinion, girls are going to get abortions anyway, so you might as well make it legal and safer. These were girls that were talking!

I don't get why a person can think it is ok to abort a baby they don't want- and that is what it boils down to, no matter the situation, she doesn't want it. It is black and white, no grey area- no matter the situation. You want it or you don't. God gave it to you and He wil take care of the situation. There will be several people that read this (and I was surprised at the number that actually do after my last Obama post) and say, "but what about...". No matter- God will take care of it. Those same people would not permit a mother to kill her three year old when she was tired it him or her- so what is the choice about? Those same people would not allow a mother to kill her two year old when he or she was diagnosed with MS- but yet it is ok while they are in the womb? No difference. Harmful to the mothers health? I dare say many a teenager whose mother is in therapy or hospitlized for mental and physical anguish due to their children's actions would not kill a kid of sixteen. Ok, ok so you want to make a point of medical reasons for abortion. Look at the statistics- out of the millions of abortions performed annually, only one percent is dealing with health realated issues.

Wake up America! You are raising a bunch of easy going, get it your way, lazy, self-satisifying welfare junkies. God have mercy- I can't say that enough. Where are the Christians with values? Where are the Fathers and Mothers who teach their children about life instead of worldly success?

I am shocked at the casual nature of the conversation of people I respect when talking about the issues in this election. People with morals making choices that seem to be absent of any morals what so ever. One of the saddest I've heard was, "We need to take care of this economy. Why do we need to worry about people killing their babies, we won't be able to feed them. They'd be better off."

Woe unto the man who a harms a little child. It would be better to tie a rock around your neck and throw yourself into the depths of the sea. God said that, not me.

Just think, we still have a week before the election. I'm just getting heated up. Needless to say, if you don't like the postings I write (and some have said they don't), exercise you right to choose which you so boldly preach about and don't click on this site.

Want to Hear Something Funny?

The candidate (who shall remain nameless... but did you see the snow this morning?) opposite of Nikki's Mom (see sign above) has claimed in public forums that I have attended, that because of his efforts in obtaining special funding for the drop out program in schools, Nantahala School has a 100% graduation rate. Funny thing is, he doesn't know there is only a dozen that graduate from there each year. Sad part is, neither do the people listening. Vote in one week!!!

Adventures on a Sunday Afternoon

So yesterday Sarah Palin was at the Civic Center in Asheville. Back in the middle of last week, Nikki and I had planed to go and yesterday after church, Nikki, my Mom, Jennifer (Nikki's Mom's election assistant and myself headed over to Asheville. The doors opened at 4:00pm so we left at 1:00pm thinking that would get us enough time. When we got there by 2:15pm, the line was already around the back of the civic center and growing. We wandered to the back of the line which kept growing and growing every minute- at least we were in the sunshine because the wind was rather brisk.

About 45 minutes into our wait, a man came around and said the were going to seat the people with special needs first and anyone that fit into that gourp should make their way to the door. Jennifer was diagnosed with MS several years ago and has to use a cane to walk. He told her to go on and my Mom to go with her to assist. They made their way closer to the door, but not quite. Nikki and I stayed on the street where we started. After about 30 minutes, Jennier called my phone and said they were at a stand still because security was so slow. So we waited, talked to the people around us, enjoyed some really fun politcal buttons and stood. And stood. And stood.

Finally, about 4pm, the line started moving at a snail's pace. We would go maybe ten feet every thirty minutes or so and at 5:30pm, Jennifer called and said she and mom were in and would be saving us a seat in section 219. Good, we have seats, we just need to get to the door.

6pm- line still slow and I have to use the restroom so bad my eyes are floating. I leave Nikki in the line with our new friends and walk down the street a few blocks where I find a bakery that is open. On my way there I had to walk through a throng of Obama supporters yelling and waving their pitiful signs in the air. Bless them- they need some serious prayer... and a shower. I get into the doors of the bakery but before they will give me the key to the restroom I have to buy a cookie. Oh, well. I make it back through the protestors (holding my breath) and find Nikki about twenty feet forward from where we were. Progress!!!

7pm- We are about 100 feet from the entrance to the civic center. Sun is gone, wind is cold and the news vans are to our right blowing fuel fumes all over. Jennifer has been calling every so often to see where we are and sadly each time I tell her about five feet from where we were. Rumor has it the arena is full and people are not going to be let in. I walk up to the enterance and explain to a security guard that we have people inside waiting for us in the handicap group. All they say is we have to wait.

7:15pm- Nikki and I say goodbye to our friends because we know now the palce is full and only a select few are going to be allowed in the Thomas-Wolfe auditorium to watch on closed ciruit TV. I find a VIP entrance and explain to them that we have people waiting. They said there is nothing they can do, but to go to the handicap entrance. We do and no on will let us in. As we are deciding where to go to wait for Mom and Jennifer, because we aren't going to see Sarah now, the man who had collected them earlier goes walking by. I go to him and explain the situation. He was an angel. He said to follow him and act cool. We did. He got us in to the lobby and through security only to come to the glass doors of the main entrance into the arena where policemen were there with a dog. He said the fire marshall had shut the place down and would let no one else in. I explained the situation and said we had seats. He said there is nothing he could do because everyone had been saying that. I called Jennifer and she came to the glass doors. She stood three feet away from us talking on her phone, pointing to security people as they shook their heads no.

At that moment Nikki and I realized we were not getting in. Someone in the lobby said we could go into the Thomas-Wolfe and watch if we liked. We both agreed if we wanted to see her on TV we would have stayed home. Then by some twist, a lady came to the door and told a specific group to make their line single file. They were going to get in!!!!! I grabed Nikki and for a brief moment, we became a part of that group. As we went through the door, Nikki was in such a hurry that she traped my right leg in the turnstile. No matter, I swung the left one up and over jumping to the ground. A security guard told me to take it easy and calm down. If only he knew.

I called Jennifer and told her we were in! She said come to section 219 which was three-fourths of the way around the building. Nikki and I ran like there was no tomorrow. Boy, does Jesus love us. We went through so much and so many people kept telling us no then another would let us a little closer when it looked as if we were at a stand still.

We got to our seats, about 100 feet away from the podium and sat down. We were cold, hungry and shaking from the excitement. We heard Sarah speak, took some pictures and went on our way.

As we left, the protesters had grown to include a group of people dressed a zombies. Not just a group, but hundreds. I prayed for them too, not just that they would come to their senses and take a bath, but if they are going to do special effects make-up, do some research and make it good. Amatures. Saddest looking zombies I had ever seen. But, a reallty fun adventure!

Here we are!

Five hours in line and we finally made it!

Waiting to See Sarah

Kiss it Obama!