Well, I had a pretty damn good weekend.  Then again, winning always is fun.  This weekend I went to Huntsville for our UIL Regional competition, where I competed in Computer Applications (yes, I’m a nerd) and One Act.  We drove up Friday and stayed at the Holiday Inn, which was amazing.  We had so much fun, it was crazy.  Then, on Saturday the fun started.  I got up at 7:30 to go compete in Computer Applications, which sucked but at least I didn’t have to wake up at 6:00 like John and Sam.  I felt pretty good coming out of the competition and headed over to eat some lunch.  Buffets really are amazing.  After that I went back to the hotel to get some clothes and my suit and went over to Huntsville High School for the main event…One Act play.  It was really the only thing I cared about going in, Computer Applications meant nothing compared to it.  However, before we performed Mrs. Moran came over to our room to tell me and Ryan the good news…we had won!  I got first and he got second.  Anyway, we felt our performance went well; even though it ran 36:56, it felt like we were pushing 39:00.  Regardless, the awards ceremony started off nicely, with us winning Best Tech.  This was soon followed by four other awards.  John got Best Actor, Sam and Jordan got All Star Cast and Daniel Bevan (or is it Bevau) became the first Freshman in recent years to get a medal at a Regional OAP competition (Honorable Mention All Star Cast).  Once Jordan got his award I was feeling really good about the show, and when they announced Anne Frank as the Alternate we all huddled together.  Thankfully, for our nerves, the first advancing play was us.  I swear, there must have been at least a minute of cheer after the announcement.  We were all so incredibly excited.  After four long years, Pod gets to strut her stuff at the State meet once again.  Not only that, but Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead will be forever honored on the board outside the Drama room, hopefully with State Champions 2004.  Anyway, Friendswood ended up winning UIL Regionals by over 130 points, I believe.  Kiss that, Foster.

While we were waiting for the critiques to start, a woman from Montgomery (the other advancing play) came up at licked our plaque.  It was the most disturbing thing…had we not all been in complete shock there would’ve been hell.  We just couldn’t believe how little class their entire school had.  No one was dressed up, they didn’t take notes during the critique, and the lead actor was a complete prick.  I’m sorry, but if a judge tells you your performance needed something, whether it been a certain action, tone or doing a jig, you agree with her and be courteous.  What a punk.  Anyway, we’ll be on the lookout for the licking lady at State and be there to guard our trophy after the awards.  After Montgomery, the judge critiqued us…or rather spent 10 minutes complimenting us.  It was phenomenal.  The lady, who had loved the show since it first came out said that our cutting was so good that for the first time she thinks she finally understood the play.  She also said it was “the best performance I have seen in a long time”.  Coming from a woman who is considered the Grandmother of Texas Theatre, that’s a pretty damn good compliment.  By the end of the critique it was pretty obvious that we were the best show there.  Too bad we couldn’t get her at state.

So all in all the weekend was pretty amazing.  I can’t wait until we get to go up to Austin in two weeks…however, it is going to be insanely busy until we do.  I don’t know how often I’ll be able to update (I know I already hardly update), but I’ll try to put up some pictures soon.

Wow, all three people that read this site are probably wondering why I haven’t updated in over a week.  I’ve been insanely busy!!!  Firstly, Davide came down to visit me which was awesome.  I just wish he could’ve stayed longer and that I didn’t have to go to school while he was here.  At least we had a four day weekend….and what a weekend it was.  It all started Thursday night with our One Act play advancing to Regionals!  I’m sure Davide thought we were all crazy but it was so sweet winning again.  Huntsville here we come!  By the way, I heard that Bay City (Reigning State Champs) and their set (with enough crap to choke a T-Rex) got bunny smashed!  Anyway, after One Act we all went out to IHOP to celebrate and that was loads of fun.

Then on Friday, Melissa, Davide and I went to lunch in Houston with my uncle and then to a really cool art museum.  After that we met up with Leahanne and went around Houston for a few hours.  That night we picked up Kistie, Kelli and Eryn and went to Kemah.  Had we gone to a baseball game and raced home before my parents got back from work, it would’ve totally been Ferris Bueller’s Day Off!  Still, it was an awesome night…and the weekend only got better.

Saturday we woke up bright and early to go to the beach with Eryn’s family and that was great.  I got really badly sunburned, but who cares.  We got to bury Davide in the sand and go swimming in muddy water.  That night we hung out with Katie, watched part of SNL and then went to surprise Kelli at midnight.  You see, Sunday was NOT ONLY the day that Jesus rose from the dead, but also the day Kelli turned 18.  Granted, JC kinda stole the spotlight but it was fun nonetheless.  We bought her a cake and temporary car (until she gets a real one) and got to genuinely surprise her.

During the day on Sunday, however, Leahanne, Davide and I set out for San Antonio.  Though the weather flat our sucked, we managed to get there in two and a half hours.  It probably wasn’t safe to drive 90 all the way there, but oh well…nothing bad happened…this time.  San Antonio was awesome, once we got a hotel room and the weather cleared up.  We got to visit the Riverwalk and even watched the Sopranos at our surprisingly nice hotel.  On Monday Davide went to look at Trinity University and Leahanne and I walked around San Antonio.  Everything went great and I got the greatest toy ever made!  It is a Batman that hangs from the ceiling and when you turn it on, will fly around in a circle!  Frankly, if you don’t find this cool then you suck because it rocks!

Anyway, it was an awesome weekend.  Hopefully I’ll post pictures soon in my Pictures section.  Oh, and for those of you who don’t know, I’m dating a girl named Eryn Pendley.  Belgians, just ask Davide about her if you want to know something…he got to meet her while he was here.  Ok, I should probably head over to Senior Directed Scenes auditions now…

Davide is coming tomorrow!  That’s so awesome…I’ve missed the hell out of that kid, it’s gonna be great to see him again.  After One Act is done and my life is not hectic, it should be amazing.  Four day weekend, best friend and a car.  I’m gonna have a lot of fun, that’s for damn sure.  He’s staying until the 14th, so that gives me plenty of time to show him around Houston and San Antonio.  Ok, well I’m gonna go eat now….

Back, and I got a package!  Patricia Ramsey is an amazing friend!  She sent me pictures and my favorite candy from Belgium!  So amazing, I can’t express it in words.  Also, I got my driver’s license today and the picture is terrible.  It makes me look overweight and my hair is getting ready to annex my face.

So this weekend was pretty good…if nothing else, because I was still on cloud nine from the OAP victory.  However, I did get angry on Saturday at the Odyssey of the Mind State tournament.  I woke up at 6:45 to get ready to drive for forty-five minutes to the competition.  Matt Rickard and I were supposed to judge Spontaneous which we were glad to do, even though we were out until like 12:30 celebrating the night before.  However, when we got to the tournament we were treated like shit.  First the Spontaneous problem captain had me as a time keeper for one problem.  Then she took me off of it and put me as a judge UNDER Trey German, a kid who has been doing OM for two years less than me!  Even this was ok, because at least I was judging.  However, THEN she took us out of that because she had enough adult judges and made us her bitches.  We kept the judges’ room stocked with drinks and patrolled the halls.  I was SO pissed off.  My last tournament to help out, and a kid who has less experience and another year to help out gets the royal treatment while I get to take out trash.  I was so embarrassed!  Had I known this would happen, I never would’ve spent time coming down.  That’s what you have the kids who help for service hours do…not kids like me and Rick who have been to world twice!  Ahh!  So if I do happen to come down and help out next year, there is no way I will ever do Spontaneous again.  I originally wanted to judge Classics… anyway, so that is definitely what I will be doing next time.

Also, when we went to Wal-Mart to run an errand for the Spontaneous head, there was a lady who was stopped in the middle of one lane so that we couldn’t get by.  She was waiting for a spot…only, the lady whose spot it was had JUST pulled up to her car and had a cart absolutely full of groceries to unload first.  Soon we were boxed in, and forced to wait for ten minutes while this crazy bitch in front of us waited for her crappy parking spot, that wasn’t even that close to the entrance.  I was so frustrated!  This woman would not freaking move!  Anyway, it certainly did nothing for my road rage, and the woman definitely got the bird.  I should’ve just run her over in the Navigator…it would’ve crushed her crappy car in two.  Ahh, that will have to wait for my dreams.

I have always been in awe of Friendswood Theatre. I grew up watching John Ramsey, Andrew Love, Chris Blessitt and all the other actors that helped build the program into what it is today (with more than a little help from one Kathy Powdrell). Those plays made me start acting, honestly, and it was always my goal to act in one of Pod’s famous One Act plays. Well, tonight we competed in the District competition and kicked so much ass I can’t even begin to describe it. Screw not sounding arrogant…we were so awesome it amazed me. The energy was flowing and I’ve never seen Sam better. The fact that he did not get Best Actor pissed me off beyond reason. I envy that kid so much and he was amazing…the kid who won Best Actor didn’t even impress me. He couldn’t keep still and his delivery wasn’t that great. However!! The judge pretty much told us that he only gave it to him because he couldn’t choose between John and Sam and the other kid’s play wasn’t advancing so he wanted to give them something. Whatever…he still should’ve given it to Sam. Don’t get me wrong though, John was at his best tonight as well. Additionally, it angered me that Jordan did not receive an award, because he was far better than me. At least Pod let him keep the All-Star Cast medal for the Tragedians. All in all, this was a great night and I can’t wait for Area next week.

I owe so much to Pod for taking a chance in casting me without seeing me ever act. I’m sorry for those who dislike her, but I love that woman so much for letting me be a part of OAP. That is all…