August 5, 2009

Dear Blogary,

I feel like we haven’t talked forever. And forever is WAY too long. I’ve had an amazing month, full of so much cool stuff!

First of all, there’s this super cute girl who I like a whole lot. Like a whole, whole, whole lot. Her name is Lauren. We’ve spent as much time as possible with each other the last month, and I hope we get to spend a lot of time together over the next month. And the next one. And the next one… I like her for lots of reasons. Here are a few:

• She’s hot. Even my 6 year old nephew agrees.
• She’s really smart, even though she says she’s not and pretends she’s not sometimes.
• She’s talented. She can dance real good, and she can sing real good, too.
• She brings me Dr. Pepper some mornings when I’m tired.
• She’s getting over her severe dislike of scary movies in order to watch them with me.
• She’s good at hugging and stuff…
• She’s into religion and stuff.
• She’s getting into Friends with me.
• She comes to church with me sometimes and then she wastes her Sunday afternoon/evening with me, when I’m sure she has better things to do.
• She’s never once tried to control my car stereo.

That’s enough for now. I don’t want to make you jealous, Blogary.

I also have a show running right now. It’s called Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and it’s playing at the SCERA Shell. Here are some reviews/write-ups:

http://www.heraldextra.com/entertainment/article_93ec55c7-7c60-5d51-b792-39bf91ea8f95.html

http://universe.byu.edu/node/1211

http://media.www.uvureview.com/media/storage/paper982/news/2009/08/03/Culture/Welcome.To.Fabulous.Egypt-3753762.shtml

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705320918/Joseph-good-but-he-needs-a-better-technicolor-coat.html

I’m getting ready to start another show called Little Shop of Horrors at the Hale Theater in Orem. Auditions are next week. I’m excited!

I’ve been teaching youth theatre workshops to kids and teenagers this summer, and it’s fun. When else can I find excuses to have kids perform scenes from Night of the Living Dead and Cash on Delivery, and songs from The Happiest Millionaire and Der Glockner von Notre Dame?

My favorite part of summer workshops so far was taking the acting class on a field trip to Macey’s. They had to spend 15-20 minutes shopping in character. It was really fun to see kids trying to stay in character in a public setting. The best part was the girl who was playing a shy character. She looked like she was going to die every time somebody tried to talk to her. When she was making a purchase at the end, the checker looked horrified as Lauren and I were giggling at “Annelle.” She made a valiant effort to pull “Annelle” out of her shell, but it didn’t work. The class did an awesome job!

I’m not really having any luck finding a job, but I’m not too upset. If I have a year off of teaching, I’ll live. I’ll just have to fill it with tons and tons of recording and show work.

I’ve been teaching Gospel Doctrine in Church, and it’s kind of fun. I try to do something different every time I teach, and so far, it seems to be keeping people on their toes and focused. It’s kinda fun.

My friend, Amber, took new headshots of me, and I like some of them a great deal.

Right now, this very second, there is the most insane thunder outside the window! I’m going to go see if it’s raining…

I can’t tell if it’s raining or not. I’ll check again when I’m done talking to you, Blogary.

I went to an AMAZING concert a few weeks ago. It was the Fray, with Meese and Jack’s Mannequin opening.

Holy crap! Lightning just struck RIGHT BY MY HOUSE!!! Also, it’s definitely raining now. I can hear it.

Back to the concert. I still am not a fan of Meese. I hope the Fray can find a new opening act the next time they come. Jack’s Mannequin was pretty good, and of course, the Fray was AMAZING. It was general admission, and we had really good spots. We didn’t really fight with anyone, but a family near us did. Teri and I took their side, and I kind of laid smackdown when a bratty teenage girl almost trampled a poor tween.

I went to the new Harry Potter at midnight with Teri, etc. We wore matching shirts that said “Show me your patronus.” They were AWESOME. We got lots of compliments. The next day, I wanted to die. I didn’t get to bed until almost 5, and then I had to be up by 8. I decided I’m too old for midnight movies. And yet, I’m taking Lauren’s brothers to G.I. Joe this week. Ugh. At least I can sleep in Friday.

I think that’s about it for now, Blogary. Now you’re caught up. I’m going to let you get on with your life now, and I’ll get on with me. We’ll talk again soon, hopefully.

Love,
Jeremy

Things You Should Know About Me

I wrote most of this blog a couple weeks ago. Then I added stuff about a week ago. Then Windows Live Writer wouldn’t post it when I tried, and I forgot. Then I panicked and thought nobody cared because of the next paragraph. Just so you know. :) It better post this time.

I’m contemplating making my blog password protected. In fact, I’m pretty darn sure I will. It’s just a matter of time. If you want to keep being able to read it, you should probably comment on this blog with your e-mail address so I can invite you to it when I switch over. (Maybe this is a ploy to get comments. You may never know…) Or you could just e-mail me (j.showgren@gmail.com, but with no period after the j).

From here on out, some things could very well be lies. Heads up. I’m sick and cranky, and that just might make me dishonest. If you can correctly identify which ones are lies, than you win the prize of an Air-Head candy the next time I see you.

I know a lot about music. I don’t do lyrics, though. I can listen to a song 30 times in a row and remember no more than a handful of words and no real phrases.

I’m actually a pop culture freak (as the rest of this blog will attest). You don’t want to play me in any pop culture trivia games. You also don’t want to argue with me over stupid pop culture tidbits.

One time, I bought a plastic snowman face that’s supposed to fit over a porch light. I bought it because I thought it looked like something a serial killer would wear in a BAD horror b-movie, and when I tried it on in the store to scare Kimber, I couldn’t stop laughing. I’ve never done anything with it. It’s sitting in my bedroom, collecting dust.

The tip of my nose is uneven. I would use the word “lopsided” if it didn’t make me sound like a circus freak.

I hate all of the stupid quizzes people keep taking on Facebook. It kind of makes me want to throw things. I’ve “hidden” so many quizzes, but they keep multiplying like wet Gremlins.

I sincerely believe that everything in life can be related to Friends or Saved By the Bell. Or both. I can probably kick your trash at Friends Scene-It, unless your name is Lindsay. And I could probably kick your trash in a Saved By the Bell version, unless your name is Matt.

I’m starting to go blonde, about 1/2 inch around my face only. It looks like I’ve bleached it. It’s perfectly symmetrical, and it goes all the way to the roots. It’s a little weird. (Since last week, I have cut my hair, and it’s not quite as weird-looking now.)

Until the new movie came out, I seriously contemplated getting the rights to revive Friday the 13th. As a stage musical. You would have come to see it, and you would have loved it. I may still do it someday, in which case, you should probably remember that since I’m publishing my idea here, if you steal it, I’ll sue the pants off you.

I hate summer colds worse than probably anything in the world. It’s just not right, and fairly oxymoronic. (Cold is still here.)

I once danced with Fred Astaire. Ginger had a summer cold, so I filled her spot.

I sometimes download “a capellas” which are meant for DJ’s to use in mixing, and then I create my own accompaniments for them. Then I can say things like, “Oh, yeah. I worked with Kelly Clarkson on this arrangement” or “OneRepublic was SO easy to work with” or “Eminem was surprisingly eloquent and didn’t swear AT ALL around me. I found that to be very respectful.”

I could go to Disneyland several times a year and never get sick of it. Every time I go, I try to do something I’ve never done before or see something I’ve never seen. This last time, I rode on the Golden Zephyr at California Adventure for the first time ever.

I have major butterflies in my stomach right now, and it’s all due to a certain girl.

I’ve heard the song “Don’t Stop Believin’” in some form at least 50 times in the past two weeks.

The voices of the following singers make me uncomfortable: Katy Perry, Natalie Merchant, Tracy Chapman.

Even though I don’t like her voice, I love Katy Perry’s song “I Kissed a Girl.”

Despite stinking at lyrics, I know most of the words to the song “Friends and Lovers” – for which I fully blame my sister, Lori.

I’m tired and going to bed.

Haaaaave You Met Jeremy?

In case you haven't, don't worry. He's just like this:



At least when it comes to talking to women. Only without the luck at the end there.

Oh, and just like Jeff, he's eternally stuck in the "friend zone".

C'est la vie.

These Days

I was thinking the other day about how all I ever blog about anymore is student teaching. This could lead one to get the impression that I don't have a life outside of student teaching. That impression would be correct.

I have done a LITTLE bit outside of student teaching in the last month and a half. Let's see how much I can remember:

I went on a trip to St. George and Las Vegas with my family in January. My brother-in-law, Mike, and my nephew, Braden, were running in the St. George half-marathon, so we went to support them. Then we went down to Sin City for a couple days. Everybody seemed to get along pretty well, and I bought some cool new hats (my family seems to think that the best part of vacation is shopping), and lots of new "teacher" clothes. I'm getting a sweater vest collection that would cause Chandler Bing to be jealous.

I had a birthday (in St. George, actually). I feel really old. I got some great presents, though. And my sister's family broke into our hotel room (okay, so maybe they got a key from the front desk, no questions asked - CREEPY) and decorated it all out in birthday balloons and streamers.

Chess came and went, and it was incredible. We got a LOT of positive feedback, and some nasty feedback as well. I can't remember being more proud of a show, and I went as much as I could. I'm having major withdrawals now. Dave Tinney told me to call my sponsor and get them to help me through it, and recommended repeating "Chess is not stronger than I am." It's hard, though! I loved that show.

I've been playing the acting role of a lifetime. Not really, but it's kind of fun. In December, part of my stake presidency approached me and asked me to help with ward conferences this year. They're going around to each ward and giving a presentation on Alma 30 to each group of young men/women. They wanted someone to act as Korihor and someone to act as Alma to reenact the classic battle of words. It's kind of creepy when a member of your stake presidency tells you that you'd "make a good Korihor." Being the slave of duty that I am, I agreed to do it. I helped them with the concept (they originally wanted period costumes, among other weird ideas) and I helped pick the Alma. I've been going to the different wards, and it goes something like this:

• Member of stake presidency starts talking about Church-related things
• I start laughing in the back of the room
• People start getting uncomfortable, unsure of who I am
• SP member asks if I have a problem
• I say I do, stand up, and take the floor from him
• I totally attack the Church and many beliefs of the Church, comparing Korihor's arguments to modern-day issues
  
• Kids are caught off-guard, but gradually catch on
• Some of the adults FLIP and are about ready to leap out of their chairs and give me a piece of their collective mind
• Alma argues with me
• I demand a sign that God exists
• SP member steps up and saves me before it gets TOO heated

Fun, eh? Apparently, I'm not doing to bad. Some of the people have really freaked out. One girl said that I "scared the crap out of" her. One lady had to hold down her friend, because the friend freaked out and was ready to claw my eyes out. Playing an anti-Christ is fun! (Mostly.)

I've also been doing a lot of relaxing lately. By the time I've taught school 5 days in a row, with piano lessons or youth theatre afterward every day, I'm spent. My Saturdays are full of working and teaching piano, too. Fridays and Saturdays I've been too exhausted to even leave the house very much. This is good, though. I'm getting to bed earlier than usual some nights, and I'm catching up on my Blu-Ray collection.

Another "relaxing" thing I've started doing is watching Lost from the beginning. It's been 3 years since I've seen the first 2 seasons, and now that it's giving out answers and recalling previous information all the time, I thought it was a good idea. So, I introduced my sister, Emily, my niece, Kaylee, and my nephews Braden and Jason to the show. They're hooked already. We're going a weekly Lost night, and if people don't keep up due to silly things like Academy Awards, they have to catch up on their own time with the Internet. I forgot how amazing Lost was right from the get-go. However, it's a little frustrating to patiently wait for certain storylines and characters to come into the picture. Not gonna lie- I miss my Juliet.

I'm now harboring not one, but TWO internet crushes. Ugh. It's a disgusting double-standard. I'm totally opposed to meeting people over the Internet and hooking up with them in reality, but if you've met a girl in person, it's TOTALLY okay to secretly pine after her by reading her blog and/or Facebook page. It's also okay to have conversations with her online on a regular basis. Just not if you don't know her in person. Judge me all you want, but at least I know these two girls aren't really hairy, middle-aged men who have a thing for artsy, nerdy guys in their 20s. Now if I could just find time (without cutting into my relaxing or Lost time) to actually ask them out in person... *sigh* It will happen, though. The next time I see one, I'm totally going for it.

That's about it. I guess I really haven't been doing THAT much other than student teaching. At least teaching hasn't TOTALLY consumed my life yet, though.

Oh, one more thing - this blog post's namesake. This Thursday, Teri and I are going to Rascal Flatts. Some people have questioned if Teri is dragging me there. However, it's time for me to come clean. I freaking love Rascal Flatts. In fact, I'M dragging Teri there. Our seats aren't the best, but I don't care. I haven't been to a good concert in a while (Hello, Fray! Time to stop touring Australasia and get your butts back here), and concerts are always best when you're surrounded by drunk cowboys.

Things I've Learned This Semester

Another semester has come and gone, and therefore, it's time for another installment!

• People can be not only the normal age of college students but can be MY age and still act like they're in junior high. Starting rumors among a department in a university? SERIOUSLY?! Grow up.
• As much as I hate my education department and some of the stupid classes and awful teachers I've had to endure, I feel like I've learned how to teach better than some of the professors in the theatre department. I have one in particular who has the WORST classroom management skills I've ever seen. If he were to set foot in a high school or junior high, he'd be slaughtered.
• Disneyland can be fun with Matt and Melinda after all! You just have to pick and choose who else comes. Lindsay was a good choice.
• There are always going to be people who think they're better, smarter, and more talented than you. Chances are, if they feel this way, it's because they're terribly insecure, and if you give them some rope, they'll hang themselves.
• Apparently, my lesson plans DON'T suck. Even though one teacher keeps slamming them and giving them horrible grades (and gives Laura great grades for essentially the same plans), my other education professors are giving them good grades.
• If I ever find myself describing a show as "brilliant" or "theatrical" it will surely be cancelled. Goodbye, Pushing Daisies.
• Not only am I getting back to being confident in my acting, I'm actually enjoying it again. I took not one, but TWO acting classes this semester that were not required. I loved both of them. I also wanted to be in a show badly enough that I made my life more stressful by doing A Christmas Carol. And I've loved all of the feedback I've gotten.
• It is totally impossible for a female to ever like me as more than just a friend. Unless, of course, she is crazy bojangles. CRAZY. BO. JANGLES.
• If you put off even thinking about Christmas presents until after finals, your brain will be fried and you'll have a hard time figuring out gift ideas.
• Having an arch-nemesis is fun. Especially when they think they're the superhero and you're the villain.
• I'm never going to be able to play Rock Band as much as I want to, unless I somehow find a way to get paid to play it.
• Diet Dr. Pepper really DOES taste like regular Dr. Pepper!
• A flawless profile, a perfect body, the right clothes and a great car can get you far in America, almost to the top. But it can't get you everything.

Things I Learned This Semester

• Don't EVER be working on three shows simultaneously. It's way too much stress.
• That said, it's fully possible to work on three shows simultaneously and have them turn out really well. I was blown away by how good Dinner for Four, The Wizard of Oz, and especially Smokey Joe's Cafe were. I had expected it for the first two, but I didn't expect SJC to be nearly as good as it was.
• Speaking of SJC, it's possible for divas to just be misunderstood, stressed people. "Rosie" pulled me aside, and with tears in her eyes, she apologized. I accepted and promised that she could be on my friend waiting list. As soon as a spot opens up, she'll be back to normal friend status. :) (I told her that to lighten her up, as I was afraid she was going to totally cry.)
• Writers' Strikes are not the worst thing in the world. In fact, they allow you to not spend so much time catching up on TV shows every night before bed.
• Some people are never going to be happy, and to compensate, they try to make other people around them miserable. If you befriend them (which you definitely should do, because they NEED that), don't get too close and don't trust them with any information. Especially if they are very two-faced to their other friends and you've witnessed it firsthand.
• If you have a gut feeling that you shouldn't do a show, and you really don't want to, DON'T DO IT. Especially when other people in your department are actively trying to sabotage it because they're bitter and angry that they're not involved. If your heart is not in a show, don't do it. Let the whiny problem-causers take over.
• If you don't date when you have the time for it, you'll regret it. When you have somebody you want to date, you'll be way too busy to find time to do it.
• It IS possible for a normal, non-freakish, non-ugly, non-deceptive active LDS girl to have a crush on me.
• I'm NOT the world's worst actor.
• I may never get over the need to prove myself to people who have messed up my confidence in the past.
• Evil sisters-in-law may not be around for ever. Treasure each moment with them while they last. hehehe.
• Disneyland is the best place ever for white trash breakdowns.
• Even if you've been teaching kids for 10 years, you do NOT know how to teach kids. Also, even if you're close to getting a degree in theatre, you don't know as much about how to teach theatre as a science teacher does.
• There is a major teacher shortage in this state (and country, for that matter) and yet the Education Department insists on trying to scare off as many students as possible.
• True friends will still be friends even if you have a stretch of many weeks when you have no time to even call.
• Extra special friends will still insist on keeping up with you when you're incredibly busy and will make the effort to call or text as much as they can to make sure you're okay. Or, they'll come to all of the shows that are keeping you busy just so they can see you for a few minutes.
• I'm tired of waiting around for The Fray to release a new album. I mean, come on! They had enough good material for at least half an album when they played Usana last July. What's the hold up?
• No matter what happens, I will always love Kelly Clarkson and feel confident that one day I'll marry her.
• Even if you have a new harddrive- DON'T TRUST IT. Back up everything.
• Some people who work as "techies" for theatre are doing it because they're too brainless to work fast food, and people take pity on them and give them jobs. Even if you're yelling "GO!" in their ear, they can't figure out that they need to push "Play" on a CD player.
• If you get too comfortable in your Church calling(s), or if you vocalize the fact that you wouldn't mind being released because of the stress, you'll end up with a more stressful calling and you'll sense that God is up there laughing and saying "Take that!"

Counting My Blessings

Okay. There was a third option I left out at the end of the last entry. Keep watching Extras and instead of doing homework, try to think of positive things in my life. If I don't, I really will end up turning emo and cutting myself.

#1) Extras: Season Two for $12.99 - David Bowie just wrote a song about Andy being a fat, useless idiot. I love it. Ha! Maggie just chipped in on insults for Andy. Poor guy.

#2) Enchanted on Blu-Ray

#3) Smokey Joe's Cafe is going REALLY well.

#4) I have an AWESOME concept for my SAST show.

#5) Even though I hate the department as a whole right now, there are some GREAT people in my theatre department. There are fellow students who will do things like my scene for directing class and will let themselves go and do whatever I ask them to do. There are teachers who will let me vent and will spend their spring break watching Arrested Development because I told them to. There are other professors who tell me my work is good, even though I know it sucks.

#6) I have an amazing friend who lets me call her whenever I can find a free minute and will just let me vent until that free minute is up. She never tells me to shut up, she never puts me aside, she never judges me, and she never asks for anything in return. I feel really bad that our friendship is so off-balance, but someday, she's going to need to vent again, and I'll listen to her. Thanks, Teri!

#7) I've wanted to ask a certain girl out for THREE YEARS and have been too chicken $!%# to do it. Turns out, there was interest on her side, too -- or at least she's making me think there was. We're hopefully going to be able to sync up schedules soon...

#8) Despite the normal, stupid, little problems, I really do have a good family. For the first time, ALL of the endowed members of my family were able to go to the temple together last weekend to see Traven get sealed to his family. We also got to go to court to make his adoption legal on Friday. I have amazing nieces and nephews. Even the ones who come from the mother I don't get along with. When I was freaking out about my computer tonight, Zach said "It's going to be okay, Jeremy." He's probably used to seeing much worse freakouts, the poor kid. But it almost made me cry. (I did NOT swear in front of him, fyi.)

Tired Traven at Disneyland

#9) I really like the callings I have in Church right now.

#10) I got to take part in an awesome fireside last night.

#11) I'm going to have three new honorary nieces/nephews this year. I'd call them goshchildren, but I'm going to start letting my friends assign their own goshparents instead of just barging in and declaring myself goshfather. I'll make them the offers, but they can feel free to refuse. I am a little stressed that Rhys is going to be born during hell week for Wizard of Oz, though, and I won't be able to see him much. I'm hoping Heather can keep him in for a couple extra weeks, even though she'll curse my name for saying that...

#12) I'm glad I have good music in my life. Lately, I've been addicted to Maroon 5's B-Sides Collection as well as OneRepublic's album. And of course, my remix of "Apologize" makes me giggle every time I hear it.

#13) One month from now, I will only be stressing about one show. Two and a half months from now, I won't be stressing about ANY shows.

Okay. 13 is a good number, right? :)

I really better do my homework now. Thanks for listening.