Insanity

I have decided to update this every three days or so. This will save me time, and also keep me from needing to come up with pointless things to say.

I will give my Sunday 'Weigh-In' at the top of the boring info so that you don't have to dig through bananas and fish to see how much I lost.

On Monday I started the Insanity DVDs. They are supposed to be the most difficult workout DVDs ever (hence the name Insanity). I have only done one, the 'Fit Test', to test how much you improve over the 60 day period. It is probably eight different exercises and you write down how many you were able to do in one minute. You are supposed to go as hard as you can the whole time. That is what insanity is about. For the first time ever, I almost vomited from exercising so hard. I took a huge break before the last two exercises as I tried to prevent myself from doing so. I did finish them (pathetically). I look forward to the next one. I am sure that I can improve.

On the plus side, the guy is likable. Though after a week I may want to kill him, who knows.

Sunday Weigh-In: 273
Another three pounds. Not as good as I had hoped, but not bad.

Saturday:
Food:
Breakfast:
Lima Beans
Plum
Banana

Snack:
Popcorn

Lunch:
Popcorn
Sausages with Mustard

Dinner:
Popcorn with Butter
Dark Chocolate

Exercise:
I walked 45 min at a decent pace and lifted weights


Sunday:
Food:
Breakfast:
Sausages with Mustard

Lunch:
Salad with Bacon Bits, Raisins, and Ranch

Dinner:
Cheese-less Pizza with Pepperoni, Bacon Bits, Garlic, Red Pepper, and Pineapple

Exercise:
I mowed the front yard with the electric and the back with the push. I also walked at a decent pace (until towards the end when my body would do no more) for about 30 - 40 minutes.


Monday:
Food:
Breakfast:
Sausages with Mustard
Banana

Lunch:
At Ryan's
Sausage and Peppers with Sour Cream and Heinz 57 Sauce
Fish with Tartar Sauce
Salad with Eggs, Ham, Raisins, and Ranch

Snack:
Deli Turkey

Dinner:
Fish with Lime Juice
Baked Potato with Yogurt
Steamed Broccoli

Exercise:
I took the Insanity 'Fit Test'. The first video of the Insanity workout DVDs. I also walked for 30 minutes at a slow to decent pace.

Updated

I updated yesterday's post to a much longer version of my auditioning story.

Food:
Breakfast:
Tots with Yogurt and BBQ Sauce

Lunch:
At Ryan's
Fish with Tartar
Salad with Eggs, Ham, Raisins, and Ranch
Pulled Pork with A-1
Melon

Dinner:
Dark Chocolate
Tots with Yogurt, Ranch, and Bacon Bits

Exercise:
I walked for 45 minutes at a decent pace.

It's Official

It's official, I did not get a part in A Winter's Tale with the Prenzie Players.

I have been attending Prenzie's (mostly) Shakespearean plays for the past three and a half years, ever since my wife convinced me to go see A Midsummer Night's Dream. It was phenomenal. They showed me that not only did Shakespeare not suck, but that his plays could be extremely fascinating. In all of the shows that we have seen, the actors have been excellent, and the directing is always at least a little edgy. The performances are very memorable. At home, several of the actors occasionally even come up in our casual conversations, and we have wanted to see performances by other groups simply due to a Prenzie actor being part of the cast.

With my background in drama, a mere 14 years ago in high school, I occasionally thought about auditioning for a part. Fear and a complete lack of any Shakespearean experience kept me from ever trying it ... until this past week. Last season's performances of Much Ado About Nothing, the most comedic performance that I have ever seen, and Trojan Women, the most tragic performance that I have ever seen, were so amazing that I couldn't help but want to be a part of it.

So, I spent the summer reading up on Shakespeare and watching videos such as "John Barton's Playing Shakespeare". I am now amazed at the intricacies and depth of his work. And also amazed at how it was made so bland during high school.

Maybe I would have hated it no matter what at that age.

In addition to learning about Shakespearean acting for a decent chunk of the summer, I also told quite a few people that I was planning on auditioning. I knew that I would be really nervous and want to back out, and doing so took that option off of the table.

The auditions were this past weekend. At the beginning, I was rather intimidated, as almost everyone else there had acted in multiple Prenzie plays. Even the few non-Prenzies had quite a bit of experience performing in various other plays in this area. As someone without even any community theatre experience, I felt a little like someone who decided to skip high school and college ball and go straight to the pros.

Then the auditions began, and they were a blast. I would be assigned a part in a scene with one to three other people, and then we would rehearse it for about five to ten minutes, and head out to perform it. Then I would be assigned another scene with someone else, and perform that one, and so on. And even though I didn't really have a clue what I was doing (and sometimes what I was saying), the other actors were great, and I felt comfortable there. And when acting Shakespeare for the first time, that is probably the best thing that anyone could ask for.

Excitement (and no small amount of stress) raced through me when I opened the e-mail for Monday's call backs. And seeing my name in big texty letters was even more of a rush. That night when I arrived at the theatre, I even felt comfortable enough to try out a few ideas that I came up with on the spot. Regardless of whether they worked (not so much), the fact that I (a devoted introvert) was willing to try 'bold' things with a group of people I didn't really know, says a lot about the environment of the audition.

Unfortunately, as I said above, my auditions ended there. I was not asked to be part of the cast for A Winter's Tale. JC, the director, did send me an e-mail saying I had improved IMMENSELY (emphasis his) from earlier that week, and that he hopes that I come to future auditions. I know that those words could be seen as a courtesy, but I truly believe that he is pulling for me to do well.

Now I think back on things that I did poorly and I wish that I had done better, and I am sure that I will continue to do so for quite a while. I also know that I have a lot of work to do before I am ready to audition for Troilus and Cressida in December. But, I realized one thing just before I went to sleep last night (and I roused my mostly asleep wife to tell her) ...

Even though it didn't turn out exactly how I hoped, I was actually at the theatre performing scenes with these amazing actors. Disguising myself. Duping rubes. Finding a baby in a basket. Agreeing to poison a king.

I was there, and that is really fucking sweet.

Food:
Breakfast:
Meatloaf with Mustard

Snack:
Almonds

Lunch:
Meatloaf with Mustard

Snack:
Doritos
Dark Chocolate

Dinner:
Tots with Yogurt and BWW Sauce
Popcorn

Exercise:
I walked at a slow to decent pace for about 35 minutes.

...

Catchin' up.


Food:
Breakfast:
Seasoned Meat mixed with Curry Rice. I was in a hurry, but it wasn't as bad as it sounds.

Snack:
Plum
Orange

Lunch:
Rice

Snack:
Orange

Snack:
Lots of Bacon Bits

Dinner:
Meatloaf with Mustard
Baked Potato with Yogurt
Cheetos
Dark Chocolate

Exercise:
None

...

Catchin' up.


Food:
Breakfast:
Rice with a Black Bean and Veggie Mix

Snack:
Plums

Lunch:
Chicken Rice and Vegetables with Curry and Honey

Snack:
Chicken Rice and Vegetables with Curry and Honey

Dinner:
Chips with Seasoned Meat, Salsa, and Yogurt

Snack:
Dark Chocolate

Exercise:
I walked 30 min at a slow pace, and then later another 30 min at a slow pace.

Well, That is Probably That

Well, the auditions went poorly I think. I could be wrong, but I think that my journey ends here.

It was pretty alien to me, and that made it tricky and taxing on my poor brain. But, I had a good (although stressful) time and the Prenzies were all very nice and helpful.

I look forward to seeing the play in November, and possibly even trying out for the next show, Troilus and Cressida.

But now, to relax. Ahhhhhhhh.

Food:
Breakfast:
Rice, Chicken and Vegetable Curry with Honey

Lunch:
At Ryan's
Fish with Tartar
Salad with Eggs, Ham, Raisins, and Ranch
Buffalo Wings

Dinner:
Plain Rice

Exercise:
None

Here I wait...

I am sitting here, waiting for an e-mail from the director. It is 11:25pm, on a Sunday, and I must needs go to work tomorrow. But here I wait.

I did not like my performance at he second set of auditions tonight. With the exception of my last piece I felt as though I didn't do as well as I could.

But that doesn't stop me from sitting here, and waiting, for an e-mail from the director that will tell me my fate. Will I be called back and have the chance at a part? Or will I be dashed to the ground a broken man?

I took another walk when I got back, as I knew that it would take him a while to get all of his notes ready and let people know. Alas, I came back and still no word.

So here I wait, desperately hoping against hope that somehow, at some point, he saw something that he liked and wants to see more.

I hope that I find out soon.

Weigh In: 276
Back to decent losing weeks now that I am actually getting off my ass again.

Food:
Breakfast:
Eggs with Bacon Bits

Lunch:
A little Chicken Vegetable Curry with Rice and Honey

Dinner:
A Banana
A bowl of plain Rice.

Exercise:
I walked at a mostly slow pace for about 45 minutes, and tonight I also walked another 40 or so minutes at a mostly slow pace.




Here I wait...

In Between Auditions

As the audition isn't until 6:30pm on Sunday (interrupting my football, have they no decency?), I don't know how the second one went yet.

As I mentioned in my previous post. I am beat and going to sleep.

I guess that this was the short one.

Food:
Breakfast:
Sausages with Mustard

Lunch:
An Apple

Snack:
A Banana

Dinner:
Chips with Seasoned Meat, Re-Fried Beans, Salsa, and Yogurt

Snack:
Dark Chocolate

Exercise:
I walked at a slow to decent pace for about 45 minutes. I also auditioned for almost FOUR FREAKING HOURS!!! (not that the auditioning was very physically intensive, but it was draining, so that has to count for something)

First Audition

I just got back from my first audition on Saturday (this is Friday's post), it was from 1pm to 5pm, and I am completely beat.

I don't have enough energy to say much, I can go through the details later. JC (the director) invited everyone back to audition again tomorrow night (two nights of auditions), and I am going back to learn more.

After it was over, I asked JC what I should work on. He told me three things (um, at least that I remember).

1) I leaned on the script too much. I need to react to what other people are saying and just remember my cue.

2) I need to have purpose, if I am heading somewhere, try to get there. Don't just stand around to be polite to the other actors.

3) I need more range in my scenes. I am just picking a level and staying there. I need to go up and/or down and back.

Well, I guess that I said a decent amount. Wish me leg breaking.

Food:
Breakfast:
Chips with Seasoned Meat, Re-fried Beans, Lettuce, salsa, and Yogurt

Lunch:
Chips with Seasoned Meat, Re-fried Beans, Lettuce, salsa, and Yogurt

Snack:
Almonds

Dinner:
Sausages with Mustard
Popcorn

Exercise:
I walked about 30 minutes at a slow - decent pace.

Glee

I am really enjoying Glee. If you haven't seen it, and you like slightly dark comedies ... or musicals ... you should give it a try. The characters are all a little disturbed, which is a nice change from the 'one relatively sane person living with a bunch of idiots' scenario.

The initial episode was the best (I don't know what it was, since they called the second episode the series premier. The pilot maybe?), but the others have been pretty good and well worth the watch.

I am running behind on the Shakespeare front (though I have done a decent amount of work), and I only have about 28 hours until the auditions.

Food:
Breakfast:
Scrambled Eggs with Bacon Bits

Snack:
Two Oranges

Lunch:
Cheesy Lasagna

Snack:
Almonds
Vanilla Yogurt with Almonds

Dinner:
Chips with Seasoned Meat, Re-fried Beans, Lettuce, salsa, and Yogurt

I can't believe that some people would use that entire seasoning packet in one pound of meat. We get the low sodium one, and it probably lasts us about five pounds. Then again, I mix water in with my juice, so I may be the weird one.

Exercise:
I walked for about 40 minutes at a good, then decent, then slow pace.

The Chestnut Street Inn

Last night we went to a cooking class held by Monica from The Chestnut Street Inn. She made all of that good food that I had yesterday evening.

Unfortunately, we didn't know that it was a full dinner and my wife had something to eat beforehand. I had to mow, so I got there late and she was able to call and warn me. So at least I wasn't full when I got there. That Quinoa Salad was really good, and when Monica puts out a gluten-free cookbook, I am pretty sure that we will be getting it.

As far as practicing Shakespeare, I am reading through all of the male parts and circling and underlining important words. I am also making sure that I understand what I am saying when I read it out loud.

I intend to read through the play as the characters individually if I have time. The audition is on Saturday afternoon.

Food:
Breakfast:
Healthy Chili with Yogurt and Wendy's Chili Sauce

Snack:
Vanilla Yogurt with Almonds

Lunch:
The little remainder of the Healthy Chili with Yogurt and Wendy's Chili Sauce

Snack:
An Orange
Two small bags of chips, sadly.

Dinner:
Lasagna with Cheese in it. It was the last of the lasagnas that my wife made and froze with cheese.

Exercise:
I walked at a decent pace for about 40 minutes.

Duh Nuh tst tst tst tst tst tst

I'm baaaaaaaaaaaaack! Back in the saddle again.

Let's try to forget that the past three weeks were so ridiculously boring that everyone stopped reading, even my wife. Even me. Boy did that suck! Anyway, on with the not sucking! I hope.

Last night I had a wonderful opportunity to go to an audition workshop for The Winter's Tale put on by the Prenzie Players. It was run as the auditions will be run and was a great practice for them (which I desperately need). It consisted of being assigned to couples or groups and having a few minutes to practice a scene. Then we performed the scene. It was a lot of fun, even though I was not nearly as good as anyone else (most of whom I have watched in performances before).

I want to thank Maggie and JC for putting the workshop on, and also for making suggestions for each piece. I feel as though I learned a lot.

My hope now, in this, the final week before the auditions, that I can improve considerably. I know that I won't be as good as many of the actors at the audition. But, if I can improve from bad to decent in only a week, then I might get a part based on potential. So I am going to work my ass off to improve myself this week. Not only physically, but also Shakespearially.

Wish me luck.

Food:
Breakfast:
Healthy Chili with Yogurt and Wendy's Chili Sauce

Snack:
Vanilla Yogurt with Almonds

Lunch:
At Ryan's, last time for a while.
Fish with Tartar
Cantaloupe
A really fatty BBQ Rib that I tried to eat around the fat
Salad with Egg, Ham, Raisins, and Ranch

Snack:
Vanilla Yogurt with Almonds

Dinner:
At a gluten free cooking course which I may talk about later.
Quinoa Salad
Cranberry Scones
Pasta with Tomato Sauce and Chicken with Breading
A tiny bit of Pancakes
A little bit of Flan (very good)

Exercise:
I walked for about 35min at a decent pace with two pound hand weights. I really need to get some heavier weights if I am going to do that. Not as heavy as my 35-pounders though. That probably wouldn't work out so well. I also mowed the front yard with the electric mower, the back with the manual, and did some trim work out front with the weed wacker.

...

Food:
Breakfast:
Two Oranges

Snack:
Vanilla Yogurt with Almonds

Lunch:
At Ryan's (Yes, I have to stop going there so much)
Wings
Fish with Tartar Sauce
Salad with Egg, Ham, Raisins, and Ranch
Sausage with Heinz 57 and Sour Cream

Dinner:
Healthy Chili that my wife made with Yogurt and Wendy's Chili Sauce (my wife does not like things spicy at all, so that is a quick way to add a little spice to mine)

Exercise:
I walked about 1.5 miles at a decent to good pace.

...

Weigh In:
I forgot to weigh-in until after I have already exercised, so I will weigh-in tomorrow.

Food:
Snack:
A Cherry Tomato

Breakfast:
Sausage with Mustard
Meatloaf with Mustard
Popcorn

Snack:
Grapes

Lunch:
Rice Chips with Pepperoni, Pineapple, and Bacon Bits. Kinda pizzaee.

Dinner:
Wendy's Large Chili with Yogurt and Chili Sauce
Doritos
Cheetos
Hot Chocolate (At least I didn't go to the store to buy a bag of dark chocolates. I wanted to.)

Exercise:
I walked two miles at a varied pace. I through in a few stretches of fast (for me) running to keep my body guessing. I am going to get my ass back in gear. I have been lazy for too long.

...

Food:
Snack:
A Cherry Tomato

Breakfast:
Meatloaf with Mustard

Snack:
I'm sure that I had something, I just don't know what.

Lunch:
Turkey
Mashed Potatoes
Salad with Mayo and Vinegar

Dinner:
At a Mexican restaurant:
Tacos with Beef Cheese, Lettuce, and Salsa(forgot to ask for no Cheese)
Chips with Salsa

Exercise:
I walked a mile and a half at a decent pace.

...

Food:
Breakfast:
Banana Bread

Snack:
Yogurt with Almonds

Lunch:
I went to Ryan's.
Sausage with Sour Cream and Heinz 57
Pulled Pork
Salad with Eggs, Ham, Raisins, and Ranch

Dinner:
Meatloaf with Mustard
Baked Potato with Yogurt and Butter

Exercise:
None, sadly.

Someday this blog will get better again. Honest.

...

Food:
Breakfast:
Tots with Yogurt and BWW

Lunch:
I went to Ryan's.
Sausages with Peppers, Sour Cream, and Heinz 57 Sauce
Fish with Tartar Sauce
Salad with Egg, Ham, Raisins, and Ranch (very very good)

Snack:
Cheetos
Dark Chocolate

Dinner:
A pizza/lasagna type casserole (it had cheese, but my wife said that it was healthy)

Exercise:
None

...

Food:
Breakfast:
Chips with Seasoned Meat, Re-fried Beans, Yogurt, Lettuce, and Salsa.

Snack:
Vanilla Yogurt with Almonds

Lunch:
Brats with Mustard

Snack:
Cheetos

Dinner:
Tots with Yogurt and BWW
Dark Chocolate

Exercise:
I walked a half mile at a good speed and a half mile very slowly.

...

Weigh In:
282.5

Food:
Breakfast:
Chips with Seasoned Meat, Re-fried Beans, Yogurt, and Salsa

Lunch:
Tacos with Seasoned Meat, Re-fried Beans, Lettuce, Yogurt, and Salsa

Dinner:
Chicken, Potatoes, and Carrots Crockpotted with some Honey BBQ Sauce
Popcorn

Snack:
Cheetos (that can't be cheating, as there surely can't be any cheese in them)
Dove Dark Chocolate (I just couldn't resist)

Exercise:
I walked 1.5 miles at a slow/decent pace.
I mowed the front yard with the electric mower.

...

Food:
Breakfast:
Eggs

Snack:
TGIF Potatoe Chips

Lunch:
At Ryans:
Steak with A-1
Salad with Ham, Carrots, and Ranch
Bacon
Sausage
Ham

Snack:
White Grape Juice

Dinner:
Chips with Seasoned Meat, Refried Beans, Yogurt, and Salsa

Exercise:
Slow walk with my wife, about 1.5 miles.

...

Food:
Breakfast:
Eggs

Snack:
Beef Jerky

Lunch:
At the Renaissance Fair
1/3 Slab of Ribs
Grapes

Dinner:
Pork with Barbecue Sauce
Carrots
Potatoes

Snack:
Beef Jerky

Walking around a Renaissance fair for five freaking hours (granted with many stops and breaks).

...

We went to a friend's house for the weekend. I won't be able to weigh in until Monday (Not that I will have lost much of anything with how I have been living).

Food:
Breakfast:
Banana Bread

Snack:
Banana Bread

Lunch:
Sausages with Mustard

Dinner:
We stopped at a small, but busy, Mexican restaurant on the way.
Chips and Salsa
Hard Tacos with Chicken, no cheese.

Exercise:
None

...

Food:
Breakfast:
Sausages with Mustard

Snack:
Orange

Lunch:
Went to Ryan's
Sausages with Sour Cream and Heinz 57
Pulled Pork with a little Sour Cream and Heinz 57
Fish with Tartar Sauce
Melon Chunks

Dinner:
Baked Potato with Yogurt and Butter
Cube Steak with Steak Sauce

Exercise:
Two mile walk at a decent pace.

...

Food:
Breakfast:
Leftover Tuna Noodle Casserole
Leftover BWW Wings

Lunch:
Tots with Yogurt and BWW

Snack:
Potato Chips

Dinner:
Shrimp with Brown Rice and Butter
Broccoli with Butter

Exercise:
A mile walk at a slow pace.

...

Food:
Breakfast:
Tots with Yogurt & BWW

Lunch:
Sausage with BBQ
Rib with BBQ
Fish with Tartar

Dinner:
BWW Wings

Exercise:
None.

...

I have been craving sugar so much recently after eating a so much of it. Going to go cold turkey now to try to fix that.

Food:
Breakfast:
Brats with Mustard

Lunch:
Vanilla Yogurt with Almonds

Dinner:
Tuna-Noodle Casserole
Green Beans
Popcorn
Tots with Yogurt & BWW

I ate too much for dinner. Stupid sugar cravings.

Exercise:
None