1 post from 2009
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The realization that I hadn't blogged publicly in a while is almost
annoying. It's not hat I haven't had the urge to, but between work
being hectic and the fact that every time I read my last blog so I
could continue I wound up thinking about Mika then I couldn't remember
what I was going to write about in the first place. So, here it is
January 1st 2009 and I haven't written publicly in over five months.
There is so much that has gone on. So get ready, because this is
probably gonna be another epic Brad Blog. Maybe I'll put in subheadings
so you can decide what of it you want to read. Yeah, that's an idea.
The Little Ones
September was a rough month for all of us here in the house. Mogwai and Mogley couldn't seem to comprehend where Mika had gone and unfortunately neither one of us speak feline so we didn't have the vocabulary to allow them to comprehend what actually happened. It was obvious Mogley was searching the house and calling her with every sound he could muster. Meanwhile our clowter was a cat short. Sebastian went missing for about two weeks. We knew something happened when she didn't show up on our kitchen windwo sill to self pet her self on the screen and talk gossip with Mogley.
She finally showed up on the deck with her family one morning. There was a problem though, she had no equilibrium. Here was this amazing graceful cat that could just a couple weeks prior bound and run not to mention climb the tree on the side of the house as easy as I could walk, now she could not keep her back end standing. It was very sad and frustrating for her and us. What could we do, we grabbed her and allowed our vet to figure it out. Seven-hundred dollars, two nights at the vet, two weeks of isolation and oral medication later, we decided to see if she wold be compatible with our family. No such luck. She just didn't like Mogwai. All he wanted to do was play and for some reason she almost didn't know how to play. He scared her so much a few times she lost all control of her bowels. Yech, what a mess. She seemed only happy when I would carry her around or was put next to me on the couch or the bed, otherwise she would find a spot, usually under something, and she wouldn't move for hours.
After a month of this, I decided that she was not happy here with us. One day while her family was eating on the porch I put her outside and left the door open for her. She had a choice, come back in or return to her life outside. She waited there for about half an hour when she finally realized that the choice was hers. She then bounded off the deck and didn't return even to eat for about a week. Only difference is now she still knows we will spend time petting her if she wants.
I didn't realize how much I missed having a girl around. I know, I know some of you are thinking what is the differnce? Well, after having boys and girls, there is a big difference. Can I explain it? Not really, it's an aura that surrounds a female. It's lighter and brighter then a males. The males are more playful and seem to be a little more independednt. Not to mention, they are more into wrestling and pouncing then my girls were.
I don't think it was 20 minutes after Sebastien left that Kim said that if I wanted a girl then we should look for one. I took that as permission and immediately used my favorite tool, the internet and 3 weeks letter Mikali had entered our lives and our family.
Mikali (Mi-Kah-lee) has been a ray of bright light into our lives. No
kitten or cat can ever take the place of Mali or Mika, just different,
and she is very different. Mogwai had taken the role of Alpha since
Mali had left us even though Mogely was older, but when Mikali entered
the home, she took control immediately even at 10 weeks. After a
period of adjustment now they all play and lay together like they were
born from the same litter. I almost do not need TV anymore because
they are all the entertainment I need.
As I have written before I was hired by JP Morgan in January 2008 as a consultant to head up a huge program that contained over a thousand projects to move clients from older system platforms to upgraded and more secure operating platforms. In late October with everything gong on in the market and all the mayhem about the bailouts and insecurity, JP Morgan cut the rates of every hired consultant by 15%. It's business, it happens especially in this market. Not that it wouldn't affect me, It would, HUGE! I talked to my boss and told him I couldn't really afford to take that kind of hit. He basically said we had two options, one; he could try and ask for an exception to the policy, or two; there was paperwork already in the works to offer me employment on his team permanently. It was easier to expedite my employment, so after a little red tape and memos of my expertise and experience being forwarded up the chain to one level below the CEO, I am now an employee of JP Morgan with a title of Vice President of Core Technologies Client Service in Treasury Services & Securities. Cool huh?
Of course it came with better insurance and a lot more responsibility. I thought this is going to be great, I was spending 55-60 hours a week at work and because I took a rate cut at the begininng of the project so by working the extra hours I made up the difference. If I took a day off, I just didn't get paid. Now it doesn't matter. I get the same amount whether I work 40 or 60 hours. I thought awesome I don't have to work all those hours anymore. Yeah, it didn't matter I am still working those hours if not more. The only thing I can say is I do really enjoy my job and I really enjoy working with my team.
Shows
I have been involved in two shows recently. In August and September it was the return of Gypsy with Gross Indecensy: The Three Trials of Oscar Wilde. I did the graphics for it and some assistant directing. The show turned out really well considering there was a very consolidated rehearsal schedule and some inexperience. Gypsy performed at the Ritz Ybor and has since become the resident company. I hope to be involved with the upcoming shows in front and behind the curtain.
I also performed in Damn Yankees at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center as well as two weeks on tour. It was a great experience with some wonderful frends new and old. Like Whorehouse in the begining of the year we went up and downt eh east coast of florida to many acitve retirement homes. Unfortuately the contract with the theratre stated the time limit had to remain under 2 hours including intermission. Cuts were made on the fly which made it even more fun and challanging.
I was able to see a few shows as well. My parents came in town for Christmas and I took them to see Defending the Cavemen at TBPAC. This was a one-man show about defending the actions of men withint relationships. It played on Broadway for about 3 years and has been touring the coutnry for a while. All I can say is that for 90 minutes I laughed my ass off. Even my Mother who has a very strict laugh clause within her biology came out with cramps in her cheeks. I highly reccoment it if you see it around.
The next day for their birthdays we went to Ruth Eckerd Hall to see Avenue Q. There is no hiding the fact, I love this show. It is one of my favorite new comedies. I usually describe it as Sesame Street for Adults. I saw this both on Broadway with the original cast and a touring show that came through TBPAC. Both shows I laughed as if I saw for the first time. While the Ruth Eckerd show was good and it even had cast members from the last time I saw it, it was not the same. Which really disappointed me, not just because my parents where there, but it took something away from it. No one was off key or missed lines, or anything it was just the pacing was a lot slower and it took from the energy of it. My Mom laughed but I really expected that if she laughed as hard as she did for Defending the Caveman I really expected her to really go crazy for Avenue Q, but she didn't. When she and my Dad asked me how it compared I explained how I felt. They said they really enjoyed it, but when I played them the soundtrack they understood immediately. Of course being their son has been involved with theatre for over 25 years and they themselves have season tickets to theatres in Chicago they are somwhat educated.
Last night, we went and attended the national tour of Spring Awakening at TBPAC. All I could say was this show was GENIUS!!! The way the simplistic set was lit from so many different angles with so many different colors using neon bars and very little special affects. The cast was amazing and the transitions were seamless. The best part was the story was revelent, the songs were different and it was completely deconstructed. The cast wore body mics for the dialougue and then pulled out hand held mics for the songs. This did two things, one; each mic was engineered for thier design and two; it made the transisiton from diaglogue to music so the reality of the story stayed in tact. The numbers were obviously dreams and thoughts. All I can say is GO SEE IT!! It was amazing.
With all of the shows I have seen outside of Broadway I think I have come to the conclusion that the only way to see a touring show is to catch the first tour. It seems to become routine after that and the casts turnover to quick for them to become cohesive. Just my opinion, take it or leave it.
Family
Speaking of my Dad, I have mentioned in past episodes that he had cancer a year or so ago. A rare type that left him with muscle and lymph nodes missing from his right leg. Except for the adema he was dong great, until September. It turns out the radiation had soften the bone in his hip and he ended up breaking it. The only corse of action was a replacement. Well, he got through it and again except for the adema, he is back on the golf course again. Actually when they came down for Christmas we played at Northdale and had a great time. He still beat me and I have two good legs. Crap!!!
That's all I can think of at the moment. I am not sure everyone wants to read all of this, but it was good to get it off my mind and on the site.
Happy New Year!! May 2009 bring you love, health peace, and success!!
-Brad
"There is no day but today. Forget regret this life is yours to miss" - Jonathon Larson