Category Archives: Personal Blog

Entries from my personal journal

Personal Blog

Tinkerbell’s TinkerHut of Lurve

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Whew! It’s been a busy few days, hence the lack of updates, but oh well, we’ll catch up!

First off, visitors. Dave Clark visited me on Thursday, which was totally awesome. My parents have been in town all weekend. They’re going to see Assassins tonight, then leave tomorrow morning. It’s been fun–we got to go to an air show, to Six Flags, to the Berkshire Museum to see the William Morris exhibit AGAIN! Plus, I’ve been eating quite well since their visit.

Peter Pan, though it nearly killed the lot of us, went up and is good. Keller and I, however, are caught in the middle of a tricky situation. The name of the game show is: Who Get’s Tink’s House!

The situation: Tinkerbell’s house, which looks totally awesome, has been in the eye of several wanters, but who is its rightful owner>

The contestants:

Noel–the props artisan. She built the thing. It took her forever, and she put soooo much work into constructing it. She thought it would be good to have, you know, for her portfolio, and even though she took lots of process pictures, she called dibs. She had to leave to go to school, but was going to pay us to ship it to her.

Tim–the designer. He designed Tink’s House for Noel to build. Nevermind the fact that the measurements he gave were off and his scale was wrong, it’s his concept. He saw it while Noel was building it, and said “Ohh! It’s so pretty! I want that when the show is over.”

Kate–the executive director of the company. She wants to buy it, and her word is pretty much the final one on any situation in the theater.

What to do what to do! I hope Keller and I don’t get caught in the middle too badly.

In other news, I miss Louisville, just look what kinds of shoddy things happen to local booksellers when I’m not around!

Personal Blog

Good and Bad.

I was watching a friend look at my webpage today, which is somewhat of a bizarre sensation, and she was going through my “By Others,” section. I realized how much I miss my online communities, and a wave of longing for consistent internet hit me again.

I miss the DT community quite a bit, I’m going to be so out of the loop on the message boards when I get back from the summer. I’d already been so busy at the end of last year that a visit to DTMirc was a once-in-a-blue-moon-sign-of-the-apocalypse sort of thing, but I still miss everybody, and I miss the art forums and seeing how everyone is improving. Graaaaah, I’m such an internet junkie!

Yesterday was somewhat of a bittersweet experience. On the fun side, Assassins opened and was a fine performance. It was funny, and quite dark and intense in places, which I was not expecting. Everyone laughed at the scene with the dead dog that I worked so hard to make, and I beamed all proud-like (I would show pictures, but it’s somewhat grotesque). Anyway, the show was great and things were looking up for the evening.

On the un-fun side, back at the housing complex, after the show and before the opening night party, we found Jill’s (the housing complex’s cook) cat, Linus. He had been hit by a car. Losing a pet is tragic, but losing one in such a way is incredibly wrenching. There was a group of us gathered around to comfort him. His back was broken and he was crying, as were the rest of us. Someone had gone for Jill, and she came to get him, but there are no nearby vets that are open 24 hours for emergencies. I bawled all night, out of sympathy for Jill, as she’d already lost a cat earlier in the summer, and for Linus. He was dead before the morning.

The day was drearier because of it, and was just the start. People are starting to leave for the summer, the stresses of getting Peter Pan open press harder on all the shops, people being called home because of mysterious family emergencies…it’s all a bit much to happen in one day.

At any rate, I am not overly saddened. Things will start looking back up again, I’m quite certain.

Personal Blog

Berkshire Safari

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Hooray! My journal entries are back and safe and sound. You know, living in New England for the summer has been quite an experience. I have discovered many new things and spotted many new creatures, and fortunately I’ve had my digital camera handy.

Sooo, today I thought I’d take you on a safari of sorts, and show you the many creatures I have encountered on my stay.

Wildlife of the Berkshires…

Games and Game Development, Personal Blog

This and That

So the usual crew braved the elements Monday night, traveling through frightening thunderstorms to go to the usual American Chopper night hangout. We were all excited about the newest episode of American Chopper (Mikey was gonna build a bike! What’s not to love). However, we found out that when they say “On next week’s episode…” at the end of the show, they really mean “the next time we show a new episode…” Alas, reruns. To add insult to injury, next Monday they’re having a Monster House marathon. What’s up with that??? Nobody watches Monster House!! Yeesh.

Dynasty Warriors 4 is quite possibly the most fun I’ve ever had playing a video game (it’s nearing Halo as my favorite multiplayer game! Eeek!). I highly recommend it.

Yesterday, Matt (my boss) and I had to drive to Connecticut to return some prop furniture we’d borrowed from another theater. It was a nice little trip. Being in New England for the summer has made me realize a few things about my own home region that I would have never noticed before. Granted, the existence of full service gas stations was a new thing for me when I got up here, but we’ve found a few other things. To go on this trip, we had to take the shop truck, which is a clunky old thing with no AC and only a tape deck. We thought it would be amusing to get some tapes to play on the way. Now, I am from Kentucky, and Matt is from Georgia, and so we were always used to the fact that when you go into a gas station, there’s always a rack of really obscure music tapes up near the counter, with such favorites as “Ultra 70’s Funk,” “Cowboy Songs,” and “The Best of the 80’s” type music. Apparently, though, this commodity (or oddity) does not exist in New England, as we were unable to find any gas stations that sold tapes! How sad! Perhaps it is a southern thing? At any rate, we had found a Primus tape in the Prop Shop, so that kept us entertained for the ride.

No more days off for 3 weekends, it’s going to be hard core! I think I’ll survive nicely, though. If I am lucky, I may be able to work in another internet update before the summer runs out! I miss my computer.

Games and Game Development, Personal Blog

Sloooow afternoon

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Sittin all alone in the props shop. Well, not entirely alone, Keller (our props carpenter) is working away in the back. We were going to go pick up some donations today, but one of us had to stay behind in case Keller needed any help, guess who drew the short straw. Oh well.

Since Tommy is opening tonight, we’re kind of slow, so there’s not much to do right now. Things will pick up soon enough, though. We’ll have to crank out a lot for Assassins and Peter Pan, but for right now, we’re not busy (hence the journal update on the agonizingly slow 14.4 K modem x_x).

I made the luckiest phone call ever the other day. I was giving Brendan a call to say “hello,” and I just happened to catch him out shopping with Ken, Evan, and Dave Clark (plus, they were at Great Escape, where Adam Watson works). I got to talk to all of them, it was great! Super bonus phone call. I miss all of them, and I can’t wait to see them when I get home. At least I’ll get to see Dave, who is coming up to see Assassins.

This Sunday we have our last day off until all shows are open. After that, we’ll have 3 changeover weekends in a row, then everyone starts leaving. I’ll be here till the 31st, though, so after Peter Pan opens, I’ll have 2 weeks where NOTHING happens. Keller and I will probably spend a few days cleaning the props shop (we’ll be the only props crew left), then it’s like 2 weeks of pseudo-vacation. Pseudo in that many of the friends I’ve made here will be gone, and that I don’t have a car, so sight-seeing may be tricky. Perhaps something can be arranged, though. My parents will be coming up, and my dad seemed interested in going to Six Flags. I’d definitely be up for that again.

So, kinda slow at the moment, but later should be fun. Carleton bought Dynasty Warriors 4, which he says to be an awesome game, so we will have a little PS2 fest sometime.

Personal Blog

DOOM!

Reason why Carleton is awesome #1: He let me use his computer to update my website.

About that Mardi Gras party, it was awesome! I was so excited to see how everyone would decorate those cheap, cheap, CHEAP masks we gave them 2 days before the party. I was quite impressed with everyone’s creativity. Go and see! Isn’t everybody pretty?

https://www.wertle.com/photos.html

Reason why Carleton is awesome #2: He has all Invader Zim episodes on his computer and has me watch them regularly.

This is important, because I totally missed out on the Invader Zim phenomenon. It ran when I was at school, and thus not watching tv, and then ended by the time I was home for the summer. Apparently, having not seen more than 2 episodes was not acceptable, so I’m getting to watch them all. The results are rather predictable–I think it’s hilarious, and I love Gir. That is all.

Personal Blog

O.o

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Carleton is awesome because he lets me use his computer to check my email! Hooray!! I’m hovered in the ‘lectrician’s office while the Stillborn Lover preview goes on above us. It has been a mostly good tech week (in spite of pesky actor notes). All went well, except for some general confusion about me having to screw a table to the floor. I will demonstrate. *ahem*

Matt (props boss): Go screw that table to the floor
Me: Okay.

*walks over to aforementioned table with screw gun to notice the ‘lectricians moving it for space for a ladder*

Me: Oh! The ‘lectricians must need to be here to focus and such.

*walks away*

Scenic Designer: Hey, go screw that table to the floor
Me: Um…I think the ‘lectricians need that space.
Scenic Designer to Lighting Designer: Do you guys need this space?
Lighting Designer: Um, no…
Scenic Designer: Okay, go screw it down then

*walks over to move table back, angry ‘lectricians say “No”, walks back to prop shop*

Matt: Go screw that table into the floor.
Me: Um, the ‘lectricians need the space.
Matt: Go wait for them to finish.

*walks back to main stage*

Me to ‘lectricians: Um, when can I screw down this table?
Carleton: GO AWAY OR I WILL TAKE THAT SCREW GUN AND ATTACH THOSE HINGES TO YOUR EYES!! RAAAAAAAAAAARRR! (fire ensues)

*note, he didn’t really say that, it was implied, I think.

*runs back to props shop in terror*

So, after much confusion, they decided that they really didn’t want that table screwed down anyway. Yeesh! Confusion is okay, though, I suppose. All is well otherwise. We are having a Mardi Gras theme party after the show opening tomorrow, and I’m all excited because I get to make a mask. There really are a shortage of costumey, mask-ish holidays in the world. Anyway, I don’t want to hog the puter too much, so I am off!

Personal Blog

Strike

Whew! We’re almost finished with our first big Main Stage strike. We have all the props cleared out, and we’re waiting for the big truck of scenery to get back to see if the carps need help unloading it. Two tech weekends in a row, no days off for awhile.

The good news is, I got to go see that William Morris exhibit at the Berkshire Museum. It was AWESOME. I almost peed myself. There was other contemporary glass there too, so I was all running around with Adam (Master ‘lectrician) and Carleton (Assistant Master ‘lectrician) and rambling my head off. It was great.

Truck is back, gotta go unload, see ya!

Personal Blog

FUN!

My family has always been a super-planning one. We always get our tickets to amusement parks in advance, and I’ve never been to one on a weekend. You know, that sort of thing. So on Saturday when it was spontaneously decided that we would go to Six Flags on Sunday, I felt like it was some grave sin that we would plan it last minute.

I got over that quickly enough, and we had an AWESOME time at the park. It’s been much too long since I’ve ridden a roller coaster, and I must say the Superman ride is by far the most awesome coaster I’ve ever been on (although, due to the high speeds of the ride, I would salivate uncontrollably, and end up drooling all over myself. A small price to pay for good fun). It was also nice, because until now, I’ve only been to two amusement parks over and over again. Riding unfamiliar coasters was quite refreshing. It was a good way to spend our last day off for the next two weeks

I would write more, but tonight is American Chopper night, and I have to get back to the laundromat to pick up my freshly cleaned clothes. In the meantime, you guys should all go say hello to D Flo (), and read his journal. I’m sure it will be totally awesome.

(as a side note, thanks to everyone who’s been sending me letters! I love getting mail, and you should be expecting letters from me on the way!)

Games and Game Development, Personal Blog

Update

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Whew! Been awhile since an update, but it’s been awhile since I could snag a ride to the library. Many things have happened! I will divide them up by “good” or “bad” on a case by case basis.

Bad: It’s quite hot, and humid too. The sort of weather where you drink water every half an hour and never have to pee.
Good: At least it’s stopped raining!

Bad: I had to use the router last week, which is the scariest power tool ever (on the up side, my favorite power tool–the compound sliding miter saw–is doing quite nicely and has yet to cut off my hand).
Good: I got to dull the blade of a machete by beating it against a rock.

Bad: You know how I was gonna wait until the end of the summer to buy myself a PS2? You know, as a reward? WELL, due to the unspeakable PEER PRESSURE of a certain, left-shoulder-perching, demon winged friend (I won’t mention any names (*cough*Carlton*cough*), I went out and bought one, and RUINED my goal.
Good: I have a PS2 now.

Bad: While buying said PS2, I also purchased Ghost Recon, and though I am 21 years old, I got CARDED for buying a Rated R game.
Good: I’m sure it’ll do me good when I’m 40.

Bad: I’m terrible at volleyball.
Good: Nate the Carp taught me how to throw a hammer! Now I will return to school and amaze all my ultimate frisbee friends! …or something.

Overall, things are good, plenty of work, plenty of play.

By the way, does anyone have a spare LJ code laying about? D Flo wants to start a journal, so he’ll have a place to rant, and so I won’t have to advertise his music for him (he can do it himself!). Hope everyone is well!