I keep meaning to post this, but I always seem to forget...but yes, since it's been about 2 weeks since she told me, I think it's fine to make the announcement:
David Johnson and Lisa Johnson are getting married!!! Yay!!!
I'm really, really happy for them both. :-D

So things are still going well...the work is hard, but I'm learning a lot and the people are very nice...this was a good choice for me. But I am hoping that once we get the shows going that the work load will decrease and I can actually do some more stuff...I've got friends in Idaho, Wyoming, and Vancouver...and if I get the chance, I'd like to go to Laramie. I'm also hoping I can work it out and go to Fetish Cares with D1, but with the work I'm doing and the whole SARS thing, it's not looking good. At least I hadn't bought plane tickets yet.

So yeah, I've started taking some pictures...I'm going to put up a new section on my website and start loading stuff for you to see - but it might be a few days...I'm not all about attempting to upload pics on this modem line, so I'm gonna wait until I get stuff uploaded through Steve's cable line...hehe...yay for boy tools, lol. (See Dana, it's not just you, LMAO...and yes, I am that talented to pick up a new one the first night I get here.)

So off to work I go...take care everyone. :-)

So I don't have to retype it, here's the email I sent home with all the latest...

Things are going really well. The apartments we got are a few blocks away from campus, and about 7 blocks down and 7 blocks over to the theatre complex. They're usually used by college students during the year, but the space is donated to the workers for UFO during the summer. There are 4 sets of 4 person apartments in each building, and there are 4 buildings. I'm rooming with two of the electricians, and we have an extra room since one of the props people didn't show. The other girls in my building are pretty much props, scenic crew, costumes, or stage management, and they're all very very nice. Everyone's very friendly, and we're having a lot of fun either hanging out in our living room (we've got the nicest because one of my roommates collected the best furniture for our place since she was the first one here!) or outside on the steps. One of the girls just bought a grill, so we're gonna cook out a lot too. The apartment to the left of us has mostly stage management and vocalist girls, and the one to the right has the tech guys. The last one is for some of the orchestra people when they get here next week. They did a pretty good job of getting us everything we need...they put the basics in each apartment, and then they have a huge storage area next to the props area where they have a lot of random stuff that people can borrow for the summer; so we all went over and got a few decorations, and more cooking stuff...things like that. The grocery store is right down the road, so I was able to go get food when I got in last night.

Pretty much everything is within walking distance, plus several people have cars. Once the orchestra arrives, they'll start providing a shuttle service to and from the apartments.

It's really, really pretty out here...I'm gonna take some pictures tonight before the sun sets and send you some tomorrow. Logan is a little bigger than Salem, and there are a bunch of other small towns litteraly right next door, so it's really more the size of Roanoke all put together. There's a lot of neat stores and places to eat, so we've been having fun and going out and trying new places and looking around after work and on breaks.

The work load is fairly heavy, but I was expecting that...right now we're working 6 days a week from 8 to 10 hours a day, including lunch and dinner breaks. But the crew all seems to be very nice for the most part, so things are going pretty smoothly.

Props is going to be fun, I think. They have a very nice seperate props shop, and props storage is right underneath the shop, so we just go downstairs and put everything we need on the elevator...very easy job. So I did a lot of that today, plus I started working on making some of the swords and shields for Nabucco...they have this really neat machine they made in the scene shop called a vacu-form, were they heat up sheets of plastic, and cover molds and suck all the air out to make plastic props...it's really neat, so I spent the rest of the afternoon making 20 some shields and swords out of melting plastic. Me and Amber, one of my roommates, got creative and we started making copies of theatre tools with the extra plastic, and we're washing them right now, and we're going to melt some chocolate and make chocolate tools and take them in to the shop later on this week. :-)

Internet access is pretty good around here, though a little random...there are cable outlets everywhere, but only ONE phone jack in the entire apartment, which is located very inconveniently behind the bulletin board...so it takes awhile to get online! But the good news is that the connection is much better than the one in Florida. Also, one of the guys next door did buy cable access, and he told me I could come over and plug in whenever...so I'll probably do that once a week or so just to be able to do the big things like work on the websites or send you guys pictures. Rachel, the girl that picked me up at the airport, is one of the administrative assistants, and she's trying to get us temporary access to the computer labs at the university as well.

Here's my information if you need to get in touch with me:
University Pines
485 E. 400 N., 485-4B
Logan, UT, 84321
(435)787-6243
-----------------------------------------------

Cool happening of the day...I'm on Champe's profile. I feel special.
And Nad has crabs.

Song of the Day: New Order - "Blue Monday" (because they play it allll the time around here)

This place is cool.

My roomates kick ass, the scenery is beautiful, and my next door neighbor lets me connect with his cable modem.

Sweet.

Flying was fine...no mishaps, all good. I'd post more, but so much more to do...

Last night in Virginia...I am so ready for this.

I've spent the last hour or so having a lively discussion with Champe...it's good to catch up with people...and I've missed the high-level wit that I spent most of my senior year with, lol!

I SWEAR I'M NOT BECOMING MORMON, PEOPLE!!!

Here's some lyrics I wrote that I thought I'd share before I shut this computer down and head for bed:

"Excuse This Time"
I'm too sick, and I'm too busy
I'm too human, and I've been too selfish
lately, I've had too much on my plate and
I just can't keep up

That's my excuse this time, God
That's the excuse this time.

I'd pride myself on a cursed perfection
a blind division of sight
I'm not perfect, but to demand is truth
and how could I afford to stop?

Here are the standards that we can't meet
but I'll strive to my enivitable defeat
I'll keep my eyes on a prize that won't comfort
and pretend one day I'll value this dirt
Long days lead to sobering nights where find
that my pride and lies all unwind
(That's my excuse this time, God
that's my excuse this time
That's my excuse this time, God
that's the infallible excuse, right on time)
Strive to standards that I can't meet...
I refuse to be pulled down in defeat...
But this envisioned prize gives us no comfort...
(excuse this time...)
dirt, dirt, dirt...

My only comfort is this around my neck
I should pay the price but I don't have the check
All I can say is that I'm forgiven, and so are you
and He'll treat you I lot better than I do

That's my excuse this time, God
that's the excuse this time

~ ~~~~~ ~

"Could"
I resent you because you're too familiar
I look at you and it could have been a mirror
Not that you could have been me
but I could have given up so easily

You had a hard life, isn't that special?
I feel pity, but sneer at you as well
Being abused wasn't your fault
But you let it destroy and take you apart.

And I know these trials all too true
I've spent the last month fighting the same battles with you
I refused to be the failure I was taken for
While you threw your self-esteem through the floor.

I would pay money to see you rise up against me
Prove me wrong and make a place in this society
But until you see yourself as more than the whore
My respect is lost, and wasted you'll be taken for

- ----- -

Anyways, check back here tomorrow...once I get settled in to my apartment I'll post for all to read...I'm sure that I'll have plenty of blog-worthy content after the journey, hehe. So yes, pray for me that I can make it from Concourse F to Concourse C in 40 minutes in Chicago.

Song of the Day: Alanis Morissette - "Unprodigal Daughter"
Unprodigal daughter and I'm heading for the west
Disenchanted daughter and this plane cannot fly fast enough
Unencumbered daughter hit the ground running at last
I'd invite you but I'm busy being unoppressed

You know, people used to tease me about my affinity for Star Trek, but seriously, in watching these re-runs, I realize just how much of a moral impact they did have on my social development (especially considering what I was dealing with at school back then).

"One society's general is another society's terrorist."

"I saw my problems as challenges to overcome, as opposed to obstacles to avoid."

Maybe we'd get world peace if we all watched the entire TNG series.

I actually got a tan today. Yay for the beach.

In any case, we'll be heading home tomorrow. Utah: 3 days and counting.

The song of the day is stolen from Corrie...she hit it right on:
*Song of the Day*
The "I'm an Angry Gumball" Song from those Extra Gum commercials... hehehe- I love that guy...

Scratch what I said about my lightning quota...this morning lightning struck the tree outside my room. I might be sleeping in the car tonight.

So Panama City is like Virginia Beach on steroids...a lot of old hotels and a Wings on every other block. I did find a really cool cedar box, so it's all good. So overall, I got some cool stuff to decorate the apartment back in Blacksburg...Corrie, I can't wait to move in!

Roadside wisdom of the day:
Store in Panama City - "Condom Knowledge"
Another store in Panama City, with this sign - "Help Wanted - teeth and shoes required"

So I should be back in town around 10pm Saturday...Nad & Joe, I might be over...I'll call when I get into town.

Song of the day: Celldweller - "Unlikely"

Today we drove up to Apilachacola and did some shopping, then went to the beach at St. George's. It was pretty fun...I bought a really cool Indain-type candle holder. Tomorrow we're going to Panama City.

Here's a commentary to yesterday's blog entry, courtesy of Dana & Joe:
"Song of the Day - Jimmie's Chicken Shack - "This is not Hell"" - good
song...
"So yeah, at 4am this morning, lightning struck the a/c unit outside my
window. Yeah...a/c, window, bed. That's right...about 3 feet away from my
head. The way I figure it, that qualifies as my lightning quota of my life,
so I should feel free to roam about in storms."- Creepy

"In other news, we drove a very long 3 hours this morning down to Ceder Key
to eat lunch with my dad's old boss. It was pretty fun, and I got to shop a
little bit. Dana, I meant to buy you something, but I just couldn't decide
between the "Don't be crabby, just drink." shot glass or the "Beware of the
attack crab" sign. Sorry."
-It's the thought that counts (Dana)

"So as if I wasn't ready to be out of Virginia last week, I'm d y i n g to
go to Utah. This job better be good...but you know, I can't help but think
that there's something really big out there waiting for me...something
that's gonna completely redirect my life; and I am so ready."
-Don't become mormon (Joe)

BTW, the likelihood of me becoming Mormon is about as likely as alien abduction, though with the way this week is going...
I'm not all that far from Gulf Breeze...

Anyways, if anyone wants anything from Utah, let me know. And feel free to send me email/snail mail whenever. My Utah address is in my profile. Or you can just email me for it. All I can remember anyone asking me for is Ryan wanting a picture of John Denver's memorial. Also, James and Natalie, you better come visit me! :-P I'll get my phone number to you both when I get in town.

So anyways, I'll be around.

Song of the Day - Jimmie's Chicken Shack - "Milk"

Oh, I forgot to start doing this:

Utah: 6 days and counting.

Song of the Day - Jimmie's Chicken Shack - "This is not Hell"

So yeah, at 4am this morning, lightning struck the a/c unit outside my window. Yeah...a/c, window, bed. That's right...about 3 feet away from my head. The way I figure it, that qualifies as my lightning quota of my life, so I should feel free to roam about in storms.

In other news, we drove a very long 3 hours this morning down to Ceder Key to eat lunch with my dad's old boss. It was pretty fun, and I got to shop a little bit. Dana, I meant to buy you something, but I just couldn't decide between the "Don't be crabby, just drink." shot glass or the "Beware of the attack crab" sign. Sorry.

So as if I wasn't ready to be out of Virginia last week, I'm d y i n g to go to Utah. This job better be good...but you know, I can't help but think that there's something really big out there waiting for me...something that's gonna completely redirect my life; and I am so ready.

In any case, back to Star Trek...besides, this connection should die out in a few anyways...

So we drove 750 miles to sit around and watch re-runs of MASH and Star Trek. The only difference is the bad internet. I know I'm spoiled, but still.

Song of the Day: Celldweller - "Last Firstborn"

Tonight should be remembered as attack of the killer horse flys. Here at the beach are the yellow jackets of the horsefly species, and they like me a lot. It was bad.

Song of the day: Luna Halo - "Complacency"

Not only does Earthlink only provide a 28.8 connection around here, but the software completely erased all my preferences...like, all my favorites are gone. Dammit.

Anyways, the beach here, eh, well, sucks. The only thing washing up is enough seaweed to feed China. There is one cool place, and that's the sand bar about a mile up the beach. When the tide is out, you can walk out quite far and look at all the horseshoe crabs, and a bunch of pretty, though occupied, shells. So far those are the only shells I've seen. I also found a star fish this morning, but I let it go.

*yawn* I'm gonna go take a shower and get ready for dinner. We're under a tornado watch, so things may get interesting.

So, finally, after much drama (read above) and time in the car, we have arrived at our beach house in Florida, and I have obtained (very crappy) internet access. So I will be online some this week, but mostly just to do the usual mail/forum/blog thing, and not much else. But in the evenings you probably might be able to catch me for a few.

So here's some roadside/roadtrip wisdom of the day:

7:55AM, Salem, VA - "Hey Mom, they gave you a senior discount on your decaff coffee." (Note for the wise...do not say this a week before your mother's 50th birthday..my week of vacation is definately off to a rocky start.)

1PM, a billboard somewhere in South Carolina - "'Mama's Cooking' - Where everyone is friendy (except Jane)"

3PM - a great big red road sign hung up in the middle of the road - "NO" (WTF?)

5:45PM, somewhere in southern Georgia - "Dad, you can't kick Mom out of the car...didn't you see the sign that said '$1,000 fine for throwing trash out of the car'?" (I was just asking for it, wasn't I?)

7:20PM, church marque outside of Talahassee, FL - "Are you giving Jesus all that He paid for?"

*yawn* Ok, going to bed, or something. I dunno. My internet craving hasn't completely subsided.

Wheee...last full day in VA...I am so ready to be outta here. I'm gonna be out running errands in a little bit, so if any of you guys feel the urge to see me today, IM me before I go, or give the cell a call.

Song of the Day: Plumb - "Sobering"

Well, I've been doing the long needed task of updating my portfolio. I don't know why I have the sudden urge to give it attention at a time where I'm wondering if this is what I'm supposed to be doing. All of this after I spent time researching a possible career change...

Eh, I'm wierd like that.

Song of the Day: Orgy - "Fiction"

Wheee...laundry...where did all these clothes come from, lol? ( I love thrift stores...)

So yeah, call the press, I got up before noon today, and then actually did house work. But I think it's just a passing phase, because this couch is feeling pretty good.

In any case, I got interviews coming from Deficit and Vanity Beach to go up on D1's site...fun times. :-)

Anyways, gonna eat some lunch.

Song of the Day: Madonna "Die Another Day"

Corrie!! You cut your hair!!! ARGH!!! Hehe, I like it a lot, and I would tell you so but we're never online at the same time lately, lol.

So yeah, just being a bum...a sick bum...stupid bronchitis...I've been spending most of my time updating the journalism stuff on D1...that is, when the server is up. *sigh* So Dana, I'm so glad you're going to Canada...I so hope I can go too...and I'm hoping for more monetary-focused things, too, LMAO!

But yeah, good break...I'm looking forward to going to Florida for a week, and even more so to Utah...

Anyways, going back to watching Colin Firth in Pride and Prejudice...this movie just never gets old. :-D

Song of the Day: Korn - "Let's Get This Party Started"

I'm so lazy, lol. But it's fun. Anyways, I'm still in the midst of unpacking...before I have to pack, and pack again. I'm so ready to go out to Utah.
And I got a good email from Grace last night...she wants me and Dana to help out with Fetish Cares in Toronto in June. Providing I can get out of drytech, I should be able to go...it would be so much fun...and, I wonder...will Jay & Lou be there? Hmn...

Song of the Day: Orgy - "Opticon"

Two words = M*A*S*H re-runs

Home for good, finally. I will be in B-burg tomorrow doing all those fun things that need to be done...buying out my meal plan, selling back books, returning stuff to my friends...fun times. I can't believe that in just a few weeks, I'm going to be so far away from all this. I'm so glad it's done.
Been getting some grades back already...I actually pulled this semester off pretty well! Go me.

Anyways, I'm going to watch some TV, now that I'm in the land of big screen TV's, big fluffy couches, and more cable channels. I'm such a bum, and it's great.

Song of the day: Shine Down - "Fly From The Inside"

Ah, fun times...taking a break from my paper due at 7pm tonight...I got 6 pages so far...it should be 7-10, but I still need to write more to make my point. As much as I would rather be doing anything else, at least the good thing about college is that I can justify using Star Trek as the topic of my paper!

Song of the Day: Stevie Nicks - "Trouble in Shangri-La"

Song of the Day: Reality Check - "Take Me Away"

Is it possible that I superimposed my own bitterness on those best fit to help me?

"Hey cool sister in the faith,

Laura, I want to first of all thank you for allowing me to join you and Ryan for lunch today. I also want to thank you for placing so much faith and trust in me to share some of the more painful things of your life over the last year. I know I can't imagine how difficult this last year has been for you.

That brings me to the second reason for this e-mail. I want you to know that my heart is breaking for you. I was amazed at your courage to open up to Ryan and myself as you did, and though I'm sure you didn't share everything that's been going on with you, what I heard was enough to be burdened for you (Galatians 6:2). I know there's probably not much I can do for you, but please let me know if there's anything I can do. Throughout this next week you can rest assured that I'll be praying like a crazy man for you. I would love to help, listen, or do anything you would like me to do, so don't hesitate to e-mail me back. Granted only He can be your comfort and strength (Psalm 73:23-28), but I would love to serve you, get to know you better, or just plain hang out with you if you're ever interested."

I thought I had good reasons to stay away from the BSU, but maybe the actions of a past life don't outwiegh everything else after all.

I am so ready for this semester to be over.