The 3-D Imax of My Mind...

NEW SITE!!!

2010-08-31T23:29:00.003-04:00

Change your bookmarks and links!

It's taken me a good 24 hours, but I've converted my Blogspot over to Wordpress. (Some call it the Dark Side, I call it Better!) The site is up and running and it looks beautiful. Check it out.

I'll still keep this blog around, because all of the entries that contained videos were not able to be transferred. So, in case I refer to them in future bloggies, I can re-direct you back to this one.

It's been a great ride, Blogspot. I love you.

http://jonodavis.com

or

http://jonodavis1.wordpress.com

Much love,
Jono

AWA Cosplay 2010

2010-08-30T15:41:00.009-04:00

A few months ago, Zack asked if I would go to Anime Weekend Atlanta with him. He always supports me and his theatre pals by seeing our shows and going to our events, so I'm truly excited to be by his side for something he's very passionate about. Over the summer, he lent me an anime series called Neon Genesis Evangelion. It was my first anime. (Sure, I've seen an episode or two of Pokemon or Dragon Ball Z, but not an entire series of something.) I really enjoyed it. Actually, I enjoyed it so much that I watched the entire series twice. One particular episode, I watched about eight times.

Part of this convention is dressing up and meeting and greeting in costume (cosplay). He said that I might want to consider being Shinji Ikari, the main character from Evangelion. I didn't really need to consider it, I loved the character. So I ordered the cosplay when he was in town and it just came in today. Zack's going to be Kaworu Nagisa, another great character from the same series.

Shinji and Kaworu

Shinji's plugsuit

The tightest bodysuit I have EVER worn.

The back. Also, my butt. ;)

Ta-da!

Serious Shinji!

Yup. Diet pills will be a necessity for the convention.

Very painful for my boy-parts. :(

I'll definitely mess up my hair (or perhaps just wear that slightly longer wig that I own...) but I'm SUPER stoked about this convention. Aside from theatre, I think this will be my first convention ever. I'm looking forward to meeting a lot of new people, enjoying this new environment, and (most importantly) supporting and spending time with one of my absolute best friends. It's time to let out my inner-geek, ya know?

Much love,
Jono

The Last 7 Days...

2010-08-29T23:59:00.003-04:00

Last week was just bonkers. It started out really crappy and eventually led to one of the best weekends of my life. I can't describe the sensational euphoria I'm feeling right now. I'm possibly the happiest I've been in a long time. It's virtually impossible to get through a conversation with me, without me randomly squealing with joy.

Monday: Let's start here, I begin my weeks on Monday's. Remember that house Elise and I were moving into? "The Clue Mansion?" Well, two days before, Elise got a phone call from the "Realtor". Evidently, the Realtor-lady dropped the ball and procrastinated all summer on fixing the house. When she finally got around to it (last week), the contractors came out and found structural issues and a busted pipe. (Had she done this at the beginning of the summer, this could have been repaired in time.) She royally messed up.

Elise and I put in our 60-day notice at our apartment complex two months ago. We were slated to move out this Tuesday. Everything was in boxes and off the walls. The Realtor-lady said she didn't know when we could move in. Maybe a month? Maybe half a year? She apologized and ditched us. So, in a matter of 24-hours, we decided to stick it out at our current apartment. The complex was VERY nice to let us stay another six months in our current apartment. (Thank God!) I love this apartment, so I'm not unhappy that I'm still living here. I was just so damn disappointed that this next year was supposed to be the year that I save money.

Monday evening, I went to audition at the Legacy Theatre. My audition was all over the place. Frankly, it wasn't my best. But I have no one to blame, other than myself. It was a last minute decision to go, so I wasn't very prepared. (Planned to go on Tuesday, decided to go on Monday). And given the day/weekend I had had, maybe I wasn't in the most enthusiastic of moods. But I saw friends there and that cheered me up. I just wanted that day to end.

Wednesday: I finally got some information about the shows I'm doing at Fabrefaction. Being that one starts in a month and a half, we need to get rolling, yeah? But any new piece of info I get, the more excited I am to get my hands wet in theatre again!

Thursday: I was one of the winners at karaoke. I knew the contest was going on, but Elise and I were there to sing. We actually didn't want to participate in the contest. (Usually I'm very competitive and gung-ho about these things, but any more anxiety this week and I probably would have crumbled.) But it's a six-week contest. In the end, the winners from each week come back and go head-to-head to win...$250. It's not much, but seriously...every little bit helps!

Friday: Went to see Caleb's show at Onstage Atlanta with Emily and Mac. It's called Shopping and F*cking. Ahhh...British humor, you're always a treat. After that, the four of us went to a little bar and caught up on life. My week had progressively been getting better, so I was having a lot of fun. Caleb was great in the show. And Emily and Mac are two of my favorite people ever!

I went to Daniel's house, shortly after. It was great seeing and catching up with him too. It's been a while since we've hung out. Some of his other friends were there, as well. We drink beer. Watch a little Twinklight. Talk about theatre. Typical guy stuff. It's about 1:00am and we decide to go swimming in the pool that's in the middle of their apartment complex. And by swimming, I mean skinny-dipping. Oh yes.

I get home around 3:30am and I'm still having a great night. I didn't want it to end. I called a good friend of mine, someone I knew who would still be up. He came over to drink and catch up. By 4:00am, we were wasted. It was awesome. We stayed up til 7. Awesome!!!

Saturday: Once my friend left, I had to meet my parents to pick up furniture. I inherited a double-sized bed, a dresser, a sofa, and a dining room table from my grandparents. As exhausted as I was, I would get random bursts of energy when I thought of the many ways I could re-arrange my new bedroom. The new stuff is in and it looks great! I'm so excited for everyone to visit and see the change.

That evening, I received an email from the artistic director at the Legacy Theatre. I was called back for Chip Tolentino in their production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (on of my dream shows). I'm SUPER STOKED. It surprised the hell out of me because I thought I had such a poopoo audition. I really wasn't expecting to hear from them at all (part of the Monday's disappoint). I promised myself that I would audition for all of the productions of Spelling Bee I could find this year. Hopefully, this one could be the one... :)

---

Reading this, it doesn't sound any different than any other week. I don't know what it was; the constant surprises each day had in store, the love that was always with me from my best friends, or the feeling that I might have connected with someone on a whole new level. Hopefully, I'll write another entry soon and go deeper in these feelings while I'm still dreaming about them. They've been with me for the last 24 hours and I feel fantastic!

Much love,
Jono

Weekly Video Diary

2010-08-17T04:00:00.000-04:00

While I'm going to continue with my regular written entries, every Tuesday, I'm going to mix it up and throw in a video blog. These aren't your typical vlogs, though. They will be brief interviews and quirky conversations with loved ones; moments captured during days where we had nothing else to do. These people are the family and friends that I try to surround myself with at all times, they make this world a better place. Spread the love, world! If we were to spend an absolutely boring afternoon together, this is the stuff we would probably talk about...

Much love,
Jonathan

JONOLOGY

2010-08-04T23:27:00.003-04:00

FOODOLOGY

1. What is your salad dressing of choice?

Caesar. I should really try other dressings.

2. What is your favorite sit-down restaurant?
Olive Garden.

3. What food could you eat every day for two weeks and not get sick of?
Steak. Steak = God. Yes. I would eat God.

4. What are your pizza toppings of choice?
Pepperoni or just cheese.

5.What do you like to put on your toast?
Just butter. Are you seeing a pattern here? I'm the plainest of all plain picky eaters!

6. Any vegetables you don't like?
I'll tell you the veggies I DO like...potatoes, string beans, broccoli, lettuce, ketchup, onions, and Red Robin's pickle relish. I don't like any other vegetable.

7. Do you eat seafood?
Heck yeah!

TECHNOLOGY

1. How many televisions are in your house?
Three.

2. What color cell phone do you have?
Black and silver. I need a new one though. 2-year plans suck. I think I get a new one in October!!!

3. How long would it take you to look up who invented the Rubber Band?
A few seconds. I'd Wikipedia that shit. The information would probably be incorrect, but who cares? Why would ANYONE care to know that?!!!

4. Have any idea how many megahertz your computer has?
I don't know. And I can't Wikipedia the answer to this question either. So...the world will never know.

BIOLOGY

1. Are you right-handed or left-handed?
Right-handed...a.k.a. Normal. (Heehee j/k)

*I think that is the first time in years I have used "j/k". Wow.

2. Have you ever had anything removed from your body?
Wisdom teeth, my happy trail, a third arm...ya know...

3. What is the last heavy item you lifted?
I helped Elise organize her school classroom today. There was a bag of concrete that was (I swear) 75 pounds. Could have been more...maybe less. It was heavy and I don't have any muscles, so it was a challenge.

4. Have you ever been knocked unconscious?
I don't think so.

BULLCRAPOLOGY

1. If it were possible, would you want to know the day you were going to die?
Yes. As much as I try to live each day as if it were my last, I could REALLY go out in a blaze of glory if I knew when I was going to die!

2. If you could change your name, what would you change it to?
Ching-Chong Wing-Wong.

3. Would you drink an entire bottle of hot sauce for $1000?
Yes. I'm always desperate for money. :(

DUMBOLOGY

1. How many pairs of flip flops do you own?
Three or four.

2. Last time you had a run-in with the cops?
The last time I was in an accident. So...five or six years ago? (Knock on wood!)

3. Last person you talked to?
Elise, my roommate. I judged her for watching Ghost Hunters. She judged me for watching it too. It's humorously and painfully addictive.

4. Last person you hugged?
Zack.

FAVORITOLOGY

1. Season?
Winter. Scarves and coats, yes please!

2. Holiday?
Christmas! Ho ho ho!!!

3. Day of the week?
Every day's the same when you're an unemployed actor. Wah wahhh!

4. Month?
November and December are fun, but I hold a special place in my heart for February.

CURRENTOLOGY

1. Missing someone?
Yes. Lots of people.

2. Mood?
I'm very happy right now.

3. What are you listening to?
The television.

4. Watching?
Neon Genesis Evangelion, an anime Zack let me borrow.

RANDOMOLOGY

1. First place you went this morning?
The bank. Yay money!!!

2. What's the last movie you saw?
I watched Sweeney Todd last night. I'm going back on my musical kick. This could be a dangerous thing...

3. Do you smile often?
I think I do. Although, I was daydreaming the other day and my friend caught me smiling at nothing. I think she thought I was creepy, but I really was very happy.

OTHER-OLOGY

1. Do you always answer your phone?
Most of the time. If not, I try my best to return calls.

2. It's four in the morning and you get a text message, who is it?
It's facebook mobile alerting me that someone just updated their status. Luckily, I silence my phone every night, so I do not awaken if a text is received. :)

3. If you could change your eye color what would it be?
Blue. Black hair + blue eyes = weakness.

4. Do you prefer cold or hot?
Cold. I hate being hot. HATE IT.

5. What’s your favorite gossip magazine?
US Weekly. I hate celebrity gossip so much that I love it.

6. Have you ever had a pet fish?
Yes.

8. What's on your wish list for your birthday?
I only have one.

9. Can you do push ups?
Yes. Two, to be specific.

10. Can you do a chin up?
Maybe...I really want a chin up bar to put in my door frame, though.

11. Does the future make you more nervous or excited?
I'm so excited about the future.

12. Do you have any saved texts?
Only in the last 2 month have I started saving texts. I'm currently at seven. Even though they're just text messages, they mean a lot to me.

13. Ever been in a car wreck?
Two. Two cars totaled. Two elderly drivers. Ugh.

14. Do you have an accent?
No. Although, I'd love to have a European accent. Any will do.

15. What is the last song to make you cry?
"The End" (the final suite in the last episode of LOST) by Michael Giacchino. I'm so embarrassed.

16. Plans tonight?
I'll finish watching this anime episode, then probably go to bed.

17. Have you ever felt like you hit rock bottom.
Yes. Twice. It was the worst ever. But luckily I had friends to pull me back up. :)

18. Name 3 things you bought yesterday.
Cupcake mix, a frozen pizza, and spaghetti sauce.

19. Have you ever been given roses?
Yes.

20. Current worry?
I only have one thing on my mind right now, but I know it'll go away after I get a good night's sleep.

21. Current hate right now?
No hatred from me! :)

22. Met someone who changed your life?
Absolutely.

23. How will you bring in the New Year?
The same way we spend every New Year. Drunk as fuuuuuck!

24. What song represents you?
The theme from Charlie's Angels.

25. Name three people who might complete this?
No one. I stole this from facebook. And who really does surveys anymore?

26. Would you go back in time if you were given the chance?
Yes.

27. Have you ever dated someone longer than a year?
No. Commitment scares me.

28. Do you have any tattoos/piercings?
I had my ear pierced a few years ago, but I outgrew that phase in about a month. But I JUST got my second tattoo with Zack and India. Woo!

29. Butt, Boobs, or Brains?
Butt. I don't go for boobs and brains don't really matter to me. I, myself, am dumb as a rock.

30. Does anyone love you?
I hope so! :)

31. Ever had someone sing to you?
Yes.

32. When did you last cry?
It's been a while. Asians don't have souls, remember?

33. Do you like to cuddle?
Yes, but I also get REALLY hot in my sleep (hence why I like sleeping in the cold), so there's the predicament...

34. Have you held hands with anyone today?
Not today.

35. What kind of music did you listen to in elementary school?
Classical music. I was THAT kid.

36. Are most of the friends in your life new or old?
Both.

37. Do you like pulpy orange juice?
NO! Pulpy OJ is in the same category as crunchy peanut butter. Both are made by the Devil!!!

Much love,
Jono

Love & Gratipoop

2010-07-26T23:59:00.007-04:00

Since leaving college and the city of Columbus, I've tried to balance my professional life and my college life equally. There are those who graduate and never move on and there are those who graduate and never look back. I love and respect my friends too much to just turn them into casual acquaintances. But, at the same time, there are those that choose to lurk around the CSU Theatre Department five years after they've graduated. Luckily, I am not close friends with any of those kinds of people. They are known as "creepers" in my book.

I feel like I've done a good job in the last year and a half with this balance. I try to make it down every other month for a show, a reunion, etc. It helps being on a tight budget because gas is definitely a factor. However, this summer, I've been there A LOT. (Well, by a lot, I mean once in June, twice in July.) Actually, it's not really Columbus, there have just been MANY opportunities to see a lot of friends in the last two months. The more I see my friends, the more I miss them. The more I miss them, the more I want to stay in close contact with them. The more I stay in contact with them, the more my happiness is dependent on them. This happened to me in college and it was very dangerous.

I usually get into these moods when I have a lot of time on my hands. I become paranoid and needy. This has been a GREAT summer, lots of job opportunities and plenty of career-based thrills. But on the days where I don't work, boredom hits me hardcore. I'm borderline miserable. I guess like anybody else, I spend a lot of time surfing the web, texting, trying to find something to occupy my time. These are the days that I CANNOT get my friends out of my head. IT DRIVES ME INSANE. If I had these feelings on days where I'm working, it would totally be a distraction (as much as I hate to label my friends as distractions, which they aren't.)

This summer, I became closer to my already close friends. It's great. I have even branched out and expanded my friendships with some people I wasn't friends with in college. The only problem is: they're in Columbus, I'm not. This is tricky because I want to stay attached and bask in this summer lovin', but without getting caught up in a clingy mess. (See: "creeper") I predict that the end of the summer will end a lot of this paranoia. Once I get working on another theatre gig, I'll have something to occupy my time (and my mind) for the majority of the day.

I trust my friends and my friendships with my friends, so I'm not worried that the new academic year will cease our bonds. I think I'm worried that my hippie-like happiness will fade, due to lack of contact. I've been truly spoiled this summer. There's a new openness with those I love; it's kind of weird, kind of cool. It's like a heightened sense of love. I like feeling this way. My friendships have NEVER been defined as clearly as they are now.

I sound high.

I think it all boils down to time management. I have always been/will always be the type of person that needs to be doing something ALL THE TIME. Or else, I will write paradoxical blog entries like this one. My mind is a mess.

"And I need you to know I am both happy and sad at the same time, and I'm still trying to figure out how that could be." -This quote from The Perks of Being a Wallflower captures my life PERFECTLY, right now!

Much love,
Jono

Our New Home

2010-07-21T20:29:00.016-04:00

Elise and I are moving. She got a really great opportunity to move into a historic house and live as an Artist in Residence. It just so happens that there is a second bedroom and the county was like, "You have a roommate who is an artist, as well? Oh, bring him along!" So, we'll be moving out of our apartment during the month of August and we'll officially have a new home in September. I call it the "Clue Mansion".

Oh! Artist in Residence = no rent. Just utilities. Zing!

There is a water well. My life's dream of being a country bumpkin is about to come true!

A mini-garden!

A doghouse for Gus. I'll make him stay outside in the rain!

A fence for the horses?

By the way, Jacob's cabin is located in our backyard.

Nature trail #1

Nature trail #2

We have a field to frolic in...

The side of the house.

We were told that the extended porch is for live bands.

The front of the house.

A meditation stump.

The house came with a bird feeder!!!

This bush is thorny!

The are the kind of light fixtures you can expect to find around the house.

Obligatory artsy photo.

We have one cool stump in our backyard!

The back entrance to the kitchen.

The hallway.

What will be our dining room.

Downstairs Room #1. (Note: Every room in this house has a fireplace.)

We have a legit secret passage in our house. This is a hidden staircase that leads to a closet on the second floor.

Every room downstairs has a mini-Harry Potter closet.

The library.

This is that secret passage...

Bathroom #1

Bathroom #1.

Downstairs Room #2.

Hallway.

This is the ceiling for Downstairs Room #3.

Going up the stairs to the second floor.

This will be my bedroom. Apparently there is still an antique bed there. I won't be using it because that's gross.

The fireplace in my room.

Elise's room.

Bathroom #2 looks like it comes from a suite at a fancy hotel.

Our classy tub.

We have a computer nook...in our bathroom. Why?!!!

The ballroom.

Bathroom #3.

The kitchen. All appliances included.

The laundry room. Score!

Apparently, when we live here, we will own the majority of Locust Grove.

We found this in a closet. We'll probably sell them.

The glass for the windows is historic blown glass. If we break a window, it's REALLY expensive to replace.

Chimney twins!

And last, but not least, we have a pomegranate tree by our house! So adorable!!!

We really lucked out with this one. Everyone is welcome to drop by, I think we're working on a HUGE housewarming gathering. The BEST part about this house: NO NEIGHBORS! It's just us.

Much love,
Jono

Weekly Video Diary

2010-07-17T04:00:00.000-04:00

Much love,
Jonathan

July Update

2010-07-11T01:54:00.006-04:00

This summer needs to slow down for a few minutes. It's already mid-July?!

I wanted to make another 4th of July blog, like last year, but my mind's been filled with way too much anxiety to write a nostalgic entry. But happy belated birthday to you, blog. You're wonderful. (He's two years old, friends.)

Tonight's brief entry will be the cliff-notes version of what's going on in my life. Hopefully, I'll find some time in the coming days to fully dig into these happenings.

Currently, I'm sitting on a VERY comfy bed at Georgia College & State University. I picked up another gig, but it has nothing to do with theatre. I'm working 2 full days of registration at Encore! Music Camps. (It's a family business; a week-long camp for middle school band students.) It sounds dorky, but this is it's 22nd year in existence. It's totally the shiz. Hey, it pays, what else can I say?

Georgia Ensemble Theatre & Conservatory begins on Monday. I'm so excited about returning to this company. I've definitely made a family from these friends. If anyone EVER gets an opportunity to work with them, take it; you won't regret it! Although, the boss's kid is in my class this week, I'm kind of nervous.

Last month, Elise and I taught at Arts Clayton. It was a great experience for both of us. There are PLENTY of stories to be told about these two weeks. And those stories can be summed up with one word: Mary.

Zack comes home this week(!!!) Week 1 and Week 2 flew by because of weddings, funerals, friends in town, etc. But this last week has been arduous. I miss him so much and I know everyone else does too, so I'm happy he'll be back home. (But, at the same time, I hope he's enjoying his last few days in England! So jealous!)

Speaking of funerals, my grandfather passed away two weeks ago. Now THAT was a long week. I foresee an entry about this soon. It wasn't just a gloomy week, it was a nightmare seeing him suffer so much on his way out. But the family is coping and my mom is in good spirits. A BIG thanks goes to everyone who called, texted, visited this week. I seriously have the best friends EVER!

Andrew came to stay for a few days. This always makes me happy. This time, he brought season one of 24. I had never seen an episode of this show, but I'm LOVING it! A lot of my good, trustworthy friends had differing opinions on the series, so I was nervous about not liking it. But so far, so good. I'll definitely finish out the season. Seasons 2-8 though...we'll see...

Cow Appreciation Day was ridiculous. Last year, our record was seven stops on our Chick-Fil-A tour. This year, we made it to TEN. Ten combo meals are sitting in our fridge waiting to be eaten. Well, actually make that about six combos. We gorged ourselves when we got home.

Just now, I briefly fell asleep at my computer. It's 2:30am.

This blog is a proud supporter of Team Creamy!

I'm probably going to keep adding stuff to this list, until I write a new entry. Keep your eyes peeled...

Much love,
Jono

Just Perks

2010-06-17T17:38:00.003-04:00

I remember going to sleep last night, and I realized something. Something that I think is important. I realized that throughout the course of the evening, I wasn't happy about Craig and Sam breaking up. Not at all. I never once thought that it would mean Sam might start liking me. All I cared about was the fact that Sam got really hurt. And I guess I realized at that moment that I really did love her. Because there was nothing to gain, and that didn't matter.

I just need to know that someone out there listens and understands and doesn't try to sleep with people even if they could have. I need to know that these people exist.

So, this is my life. And I want you to know that I am both happy and sad and I'm still trying to figure out how that could be.

We accept the love we think we deserve.

And in that moment, I swear we were infinite.

I am very interested and fascinated by how everyone loves each other, but no one really likes each other.

Sam and Patrick looked at me. And I looked at them. And I think they knew. Not anything specific really. They just knew. And I think that's all you can ever ask from a friend.

“It's great that you can listen and be a shoulder to someone, but what about when someone doesn't need a shoulder? What if they need the arms or something like that? You can't just sit there and put everybody's lives ahead of yours and think that counts as love. You just can't. You have to do things.”

If somebody likes me, I want them to like the real me, not what they think I am. And I don't want them to carry it around inside. I want them to show me, so I can feel it, too. I want them to be able to do whatever they want around me.

It’s like he would take a photograph of Sam, and the photograph would be beautiful. And he would think that the reason the photograph was beautiful was because of how he took it. If I took it, I would know that the only reason it’s beautiful is because of Sam.

It almost feels like of the three things involved: Mary Elizabeth, me, and the great things, only the first one matters to Mary Elizabeth. I don't understand that. I would give someone a record so they could love the record, not so they would also know that I gave it to them.

These are some of my favorite quotes from Stephen Chbosky's The Perks of Being a Wallflower. There are many more memorable and popular ones, but these are the quotes that I feel like I really connect with. These are the lines of dialogue, that once read, I was like, "Holy moley! My thoughts EXACTLY!!!"

I really love this book. It's one of the reasons why I have this blog. One of my first entries was about Perks, as I first read it about two years ago. It's one of those stories that inspires you to write. Maybe it's because each chapter is in the form of a letter/diary entry. And the way the main character openly talks about his life makes me feel more confident and comfortable to talk freely about mine. Whether someone, anyone, or no one reads the entries I write, this book reminds me that I'm writing for me and no one else. If you can grab onto something and connect with me, rock on.

Reading this book a second time was even more insightful. Instead of reading it for face value and grasping the big picture, I was able to really study the characterization, the nuances of each sentence. Amazing. What was taken from it was a whole new slew of memorable quotes. If you Google The Perks of Being a Wallflower quotes, you'll see the same ones over and over. But, as mentioned above, I found new excerpts that I can connect with on so many more levels. If you've read this book, I suggest you revisit it and read it again. You'll peel back the onion and find something new!

If you haven't read it, READ IT!

Much love,
Jono

LOST: The End

2010-06-12T00:42:00.001-04:00

It's been a few weeks since the series finale aired and I wanted to share my thoughts of the ultimate episode. I was going to blog about my initial reaction, but I figured that it probably would have been very muddled and all over the place. My mind was EVERYWHERE, the days following the finale.

I remember back in season three when they announced an end date. It was so exciting because this was one of the only shows in the history of television that wasn't going conclude via cancellation. But, at the time, I thought, "Wow. So, they'll end after season 6. That's like three years from now! We have time!" Season 4 (the freighter season) was kick-ass. Season 5 (the time-traveling season) was fun. But I never thought the day would actually arrive. I hate to sound so melodramatic. But if you know me, then you know that if LOST were an actual human being, then I would have shacked up with it years ago.

That said, the day did come and we threw a pretty damn fine send-off. Everyone was asked to wear black (funeral attire). There was an over-abundance of food and desserts. Elise brought down her giant, flat-screen, plasma television. And for five and a half hours, we were glued to the screen. For non-LOST watchers, there was a 2 hour recap of the series, the 2 1/2 hour series finale, and a 1 hour wrap-up with Jimmy Kimmel. ABC dedicated no less than 5 1/2 hours to LOST. Really...what other show was ever given that grand of a time slot?

Anyway, my series finale review...
If you haven't seen the episode, or caught up, please don't spoil yourself and read the rest of this blog. Just sayin'...you'll be pissed, if you do.

Beautiful. It was absolutely beautiful. This is coming from an honest fan that will admit that every episode of LOST was not perfect. In fact, there are a handful of episodes that I truly hate. (See previous post) But every minute of the finale was a bittersweet iconic image.

For weeks, I had read interviews with the writers stating that the episode would be conclusive, but there could also be threads left to the imagination. Therefore, I had resigned myself to the fact that there would be no shocking ending, no final stinger that would leave a viewer completely mind-fucked. Boy, was I wrong. While the ending wasn't heart attack-inducing, it was a surprise that made the audience think. Remember at the end of season 3? We had been watching an entire episode and, only at the end, we realized that it was a flash-forward and not a flashback? Well, they did it again! But this time, we've been watching an ENTIRE SEASON of this flash-sideways timeline, only to realize that it was "an afterlife" or sorts. WHAT THE HELL?! Suddenly, all of the small idiosyncrasies of the season made perfect sense. It answered the big question of: How does it all come together?

The island side of the story provided us with some mythological answers. It was very Indiana Jones-esque. Personally, I loved it. But I'll admit that I completely understand if someone hated this fantasy element of the show. Many of the articles and reviews on the finale criticized the literal "cork" in the light pool, but come on...there's been a smoke monster since the first episode. It's not like LOST has ever been a 100% realistic ride.

I'm not going to go into a full recap of the episode because, if you watched it, you know what happened. Some of my favorite moments were actually in the sideways-world. All of the "memory flashes" were FANTASTIC: Sun and Jin, Juliet and Sawyer, Claire and Charlie, Kate and Claire's poohnanny...

It was great seeing familiar faces again: Boone, Charlotte, Faraday, Penny, Juliet. Even Shannon came back for Sayid. I know a lot of folks weren't thrilled that Sayid's fate was with Shannon, but I thought it made sense given that Sayid said that he could never deserve Nadia.

I also enjoyed the questions left unanswered. There are MANY hanging threads the show left to the imagination. But honestly, if you think about it, you COULD answer MOST of the questions through logical reasoning.

Even though LOST is over, I'm really excited about the DVDs coming out, the LOST Encyclopedia release, and a few other bits and bobbles. I feel like I've handled the withdrawal well. For about a week after the finale aired, I was still talking about it and theorizing with friends. But, now that it's a few weeks later, I am actually going through days where I don't even think about the show. Is this what it feels like to actually have a life? Whoa!

So, now, what's to occupy this void in my soul? Dexter? Glee? Nothing will ever be as epic, mythological, or serialized as LOST. I have LOVED the discussions, theories, and feelings I've shared with friends and other fans. Maybe it's a good thing that the show left some things to the imagination, now we can continue our discussions FOREVER!

...AND EVER!

...AND EVER!!!

MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Before: Our feelings prior to the finale!

After: Our feelings following the finale!

Much love,
Jono

Everything!

2010-05-14T21:40:00.003-04:00

My blog has fell by the wayside. Well, so has Buzzkill Cinema, Quotent Quotables, my HaikuOfTheDay tweets on my twitter page, and a handful of other responsibilities. It has been one hell of a month. I've been traveling a lot, working a lot, and opening myself up to new opportunities. I guess the good thing about having all these sites to manage is that it gives me something to do, when ever I'm not working. Unfortunately, the summer is gearing up and my schedule is keeping me away from home on a more frequent basis. Everything is so exciting. Though, the time I do have off, I would rather be doing something else than just sitting on the couch. There is always something to do, you just have to find the motivation to do it!

Well, it started in mid-April. My boss at Georgia Ensemble Theatre & Conservatory called and informed me of the camps I'll be teaching at this summer. It's kind of old news, I knew I'd be teaching something there again. GET is my home and, no matter where I'm at in my career, I will ALWAYS go back if they offer the opportunity. (Last summer, I had no other option for summer work and they reached out took a chance on me. It turned out to be one of the best gigs EVER and it opened so many doors and connections to the Atlanta theatre-scene. I will forever be in debt to that company.)

Then, I got the call to be the theatre instructor at a company called Arts Clayton. Elise, my roommate, will be the art instructor. This will be a super fun gig. I'm very excited about teaching at this camp because I'll actually be directing a small show. With these two gigs and a handful of weddings and birthdays, my summer is officially booked. Mission: accomplished. With the exception of some weekends, every day of June and July is packed. Luckily, the paychecks are very reasonable, so I can actually go on temporary leave from my retail job. Sweet!!!

It was about this time last week that I received the email from another company. I interviewed for a stage managing position at Fabrefaction Theatre Company. It's a brand new company in Atlanta, with a new state-of-the-art theatre complex. It's absolutely BEAUTIFUL. I'll go into specifics about the company in a later blog, but the interview I had went very well. It took about two weeks to get confirmation, but I was offered a four-show opportunity contract. I took it. I'll begin in October 2010 and the final show will conclude around late-March 2011. Half a year of stability? Hells yeah! I'll be working on Frosty the Snowman: The Musical, Widows, The Mousetrap, and a world premiere production. One of these will go on tour, as well.

It's been an overwhelming month to get this load of information. I am so thankful and honored to be working with these companies and I cannot wait to get the ball rolling. Another perk is that this year's schedule still has a few holes in it. There's plenty of room for other gigs (acting, teaching, stage managing, etc.). I want to try and branch out and work with as many people as possible. My ultimate dream is to work alongside friends again. I would KILL to be in a show with the Summer McCuskers, the Lena Thomas', the CSU alumni of the world. It's going to happen!

In case you didn't know, I withdrew from Actors' Equity Association about a month and a half ago. It was one of the most terrifying and difficult decisions I have ever made. But, as you can see, it was for the best. Now I can totally audition and open myself up to the companies that could not afford to hire union actors. The last four paragraphs might not be big news to most actors, but once I withdrew from Equity, the opportunities multiplied by a thousand. This is what is overwhelming to me. It was the smartest career-decision I have made, as of late; once I left, I almost immediately got work. I only wish I had made this decision sooner.

This could seriously go on and on. The situation is bit more political and justified than just "I left". So, I'll stop now and save it for another day. I'm just incredibly grateful for the opportunities that have been given to me, both as a union and non-union actor. It's been a long wait for this moment, but it was worth every bead of sweat. I just wanted to check-in and let you know what I've been up to. I've been kind of hush-hush about these gigs until I got confirmations that they're officially a go. And they are. So, here I go...

Much love,
Jono

April Answers

2010-04-27T01:35:00.001-04:00

The 13 Days of April Answers

Time for Spring cleaning, in all sorts of ways. For the next 13 days, I will share some of my unknown and quirky habits. It's time to get these facts into the open. Living is much more fun, if you are open to the random tidbits that potentially make you bat-shit crazy.

------------------------------------

1.) April 16- I like to do the majority of my Facebook commenting and status-liking at night time. That way, my actions don't clutter up everyone's news-feeds when they're awake. Also, that way, most people won't see how much of a Facebook stalker I really am.2.) April 17- Do you sing in the shower? I do. But do you act out scenes from LOST in the shower? I do that, too. Favorites include: Any scene with Juliet, when Bernard talks to Jin about karma, or any scene that requires rain. I have a one-sided conversation with myself, as a LOST character. Does this make me crazy?

3.) April 18- I have an obsession with costumes and costume parties. If you give me an excuse to dress up, I will. And I will go all out with costumes, makeup, hair, etc. Which brings me to the next post. The origins of my costumed capers...

4.) April 19- When I was in middle school, Batman & Robin came out in theaters. I saw it many times with my friends because we thought it was the coolest film since Kazaam. Well, whenever we hung out, I would suggest that we reenact scenes from the movie. With Clay Lewis and Brad Greer as my witnesses, I swear to you that I would be Poison Ivy and they would be Batman and Robin. (I even had the red wig.) The bizarre part is that we wouldn't reenact the fight scenes or the action-heavy moments. No, no. We did the "acting" stuff, i.e. Poison Ivy is all sexy and Batman and Robin are clawing at each other for Ivy's attention. I believe this was the root of my obsession for costumes. I've always convinced myself that I was just tapping into my theatrical roots, but no...I think I liked myself with flowing red hair and kleenex boobs. Boy, did I have a &%#^ed up childhood.

5.) April 20- Until today, I thought the morning-after pill and birth control were the same thing.

6.) April 21- Do you talk to yourself? Sure, most of us recite things to ourselves for retention or when something might surprise us. But do you actually have conversations with yourself? ...I do.

7.) April 22- Remember that nice lady who died in the third season of Dexter? Her dying wish was to find the greatest slice of key lime pie in Miami. Well, just like that old coot, I am making a similar goal in life. With my roommate as my witness, I am attempting to find the greatest slice of cheesecake in Atlanta. I'm not gonna lie...I've taste-tested A LOT of cheesecake, in the past few weeks. Oddly enough, Kroger has my vote, thus far.

8.) April 23- I've never been interested in having children, but sometimes I pretend my stuffed animals are kids. I put a plate beside them so they can eat. Sometimes I let them sit at the window so they can watch the birds fly by. Just the other day, Elise found Hello Kitty sitting on the sofa, as my furry friend was watching cartoons. I am not joking.

9.) April 24- Do you ever give in to curiosity and research facts from your favorite movie? Or do you "internet stalk" a really hot celebrity, so you know everything about them? Well, I get in these bizarre moods where I Google autopsy photos and dead bodies. Today was one of those days...

10.) April 25- I don't know how it came up or how it happened, but I got into a lengthy discussion with my best friend, the other day. I was curious as to whether or not God was Jewish or a Christian. Yup, this can be classified under "Things You Should Never Admit".

11.) April 26 - I get really hungry around midnight. Instead of getting crackers or something small, I cook spaghetti or grill steak. Aim high, my friends. Let your midnight snack be a 3-course meal!

12.) April 27- I've significantly lowered my already low tolerance for soft drinks. It's pretty rare that I sip on a soda pop, even though our fridge is full of them. However, tonight, I had my first Coke (the last one was around December, I think). If you saw me tonight, you would have assumed I snorted something. It was a wild evening!

13.) April 28- Kittens and puppies. I want them to stay cute forever. Once they grow to be bigger than your fist, then it's time for them to go the way of Old Yeller. I feel the same way about children.

Rhymes with "Kitten"

2010-04-08T23:28:00.003-04:00

Dare I say...
Maybe it's the right time and the right place?

Maybe the stars have aligned and this is some cosmic opportunity?

Or maybe the dust is starting to clear, at this point in my life, and I am able to find comfort and solace through our friendship.

Once in every blue moon, this happens to me. Seriously, even my closest friends and family know it's a rare thing. It's bizarre.

...I think I'm smitten. :)

"I'm worthy of everything wonderful! You are loved!"

Much love,
Jono

Buzzkill

2010-03-10T17:36:00.002-05:00

My newest investment: Buzzkill Cinema

Check it out. It's going to be ridiculous.

Much love,
Jono

We Pray to the Lord Almighty, Jacob

2010-03-06T01:50:00.000-05:00

Well, we've moved into the new apartment. Everything is in place, posters are on the walls, and my extra soft mattresses came in. DirectTV dropped by today to set up our cable, while AT&T left a box at our door telling us to "set it up yourselves." Every March bill has been paid. I have about $10 left in my bank account, but at least that's that until April 1.

It's been a very long week. And by long, I mean it's been a very productive week, which has made the week fly by. I can't believe Elise and I have already been here for a full seven days. Both of our schedules are wacky, as usual, so we rarely see each other for more than a few minutes each day. Without internet or television for a full week, I'm not going to lie...it's been challenging to try to find activities around the house that do not pertain to technology. Believe me, the house is spotless. The most obsessive-compulsive person would find it hard to straighten out anything else. (Thank God for Starbucks and their free wi-fi!)

There's so much more to catch you up on, but I'll leave you with photos from our LOST shrine. It's beautiful, epic, and very sad. You really want to know what we did in our spare time this week? See below.
For more in-depth pictures of the apartment, check my facebook album!

We made a wallpaper collage from photos, posters, and props.

We pray to the Island every Tuesday night.

Elise drinks the blood of Jacob and eats the body of Christian in our Tuesday communion.

Much love,

Jono

Will I?

2010-02-21T20:49:00.004-05:00

Today is my friend's birthday. Well, according to facebook, I have five friends having a birthday today. But of those five, the one I have known the longest is Cortne Blake. Unfortunately, she passed away on May 20, 2005.

I went to Columbus State University with Cortne. We met in English class, our freshmen year. I was a music major, my first year of college, but lived on main campus. I didn't really know too many people, so the friends I made in core classes were pretty much all I had. Sad, yeah? But Cortne was a sweetheart. My affinity for her grew when she began making appearances at the Sports Page for karaoke.

Cortne was one popular chick. I often had lunch or dinner with her and the friends she introduced me to, always in the university cafeteria. She definitely had a lot going for her because of her addicting personality. She was also on her way to success, as she was a Psych major with an emphasis in education and an Early Childhood Development minor. (Really, how many freshmen do you know who are that specific in what they want to do?)

What breaks my heart is this popular girl's friend count on facebook has dwindled to 22. The last time anyone wrote on her wall was in 2006. I realize it's the thought that counts; Cortne's friends will (hopefully) never forget who this beautiful soul was, regardless of silly ole' facebook. But, on the flipside, I would hope those who delete their friends from social networking sites (because they've passed away) don't do it because someone has left their life. It's understandable if that's how some choose to deal with grief, but there's a part of me that wants to still remain attached to all of my friends. I still want to browse through their pictures, see what they were interested in, wish them a happy birthday, etc. I'm also a sentimental sap. I still can't bear to take Rearcous and Kelley's numbers out of my cell phone.

Anywho, I love you all and I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend. I was just going down the list on facebook, wishing folks a happy birthday, and I landed on Cortne's page. Something about it really boiled my bubbles. I hate to think that such a beautiful friend could be forgotten so quickly and easily, even though that's probably not that case at all.

And now for something that's not depressing...
And what could possibly be most flattering photo of Brittain (I love you!)

Much love,
Jono

Lost What May

2010-02-18T02:01:00.004-05:00

In commemoration of LOST's final, awesome season, I've adapted a song. This is Grammy-worthy work, my friends. It took hours to adapt and I'm very proud of the result. Feel free to sing along...

LOST WHAT MAY
Sung to the tune of "Come What May" from Moulin Rouge!

Never knew LOST could feel like this
Like I've never seen LOST before
Want to vanish inside LOST
Everyday I love LOST more and more

Listen to LOST, can you hear it sings
Telling me to give LOST everything
LOST may change winter to spring
But I love LOST until the end of time

LOST what may*
LOST what may*
I will love LOST until my dying day

Suddenly LOST seems such a perfect place
Suddenly LOST moves with such a perfect grace
Suddenly LOST doesn't seem such a waste
It all revolves around LOST

And LOST's no mountain too high, no river too wide
Sing out this song and LOST'll be there by your side
Storm clouds may LOST and stars may LOST*
But I love LOST until the end of time

LOST what may*
LOST what may *
I will love LOST until my dying day
Oh LOST what may*
LOST what may *
I will love LOST

Suddenly LOST seems such a perfect place...

LOST what may*
LOST what may *

I will love LOST until my dying day

*This lyric doesn't make any sense. Sorry.

Much lost,
Jono Davis

Cabbage Town Shoot

2010-02-14T20:53:00.005-05:00

Allison was accepted to the Creative Circus photography team. She'll begin later in the Spring, but in the meantime, she's expanding her portfolio and resume. We had a photo shoot during one of my recent visits to Cabbage Town.

This particular collection seems to be a mix of grunge and obscurity. There's a message. Try to figure it out. :)

Much love,
Jono

Poker Face

2010-02-12T00:18:00.018-05:00

This is what went down after a free vodka-cran...or four...

*audio only*

Much Love,
Jono

Tipsy Punkins

2010-02-08T14:54:00.007-05:00

Tipsy off wine and waiting to go to Cabbage Town, Allison and I made a mixed tape via video form. Her favorite expression of the evening was "peaches patches" and "punkin snatches"; I don't know why. But I completely forgot that I recorded our music session, until today. Check out the video. It won't make any sense.

This is our relationship captured on film. Oh Lord...

Much love,
Jono

Secrets of LOST

2010-02-06T01:12:00.003-05:00

The premiere was amazing. I'm not going to write any sort of review about it, because I have the next 17 weeks to gush about it. Needless to say, LOST is back and so is my passion (and guilty pleasure) for serialized television. I love to hate it and hate to love it, in so many different ways.

Following the premiere, the writers and producers were on Jimmy Kimmel Live! and they were lightly giving teasers for the upcoming and final season. Mixed in with these interviews were Jimmy's "Secrets of LOST" viral videos. I've posted the videos from last year, below. Most are REALLY funny, so check them out.

*However, do not watch these if you have not caught up with the series. The secrets, themselves, aren't spoilery. It's the expository recap Jimmy sometimes does (before the clip) that gives away everything about the previous episode.

I'll try to post the new ones, as they air, from this season. Last week's "Secrets from LOST" was HI-LAR-IOUS! If you watched the premiere, I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did. I absolutely cannot wait for next week's episode.

SECRET #1 - Michael Emerson (Henry/Ben)

SECRET #2 - Daniel Dae Kim (Jin)

SECRET #3 - Michael Emerson (Henry/Ben)

SECRET #4 - Daniel Dae Kim (Jin) & Michael Emerson (Henry/Ben)

SECRET #5 - Evangeline Lilly (Kate)

SECRET #6 - Daniel Dae Kim (Jin)

SECRET #7 - Michael Emerson (Henry/Ben)

SECRET #8 - Jorge Garcia (Hurley)

SECRET #9 - Michael Emerson (Henry/Ben)

SECRET #10 - J.J. Abrams, Carlton Cuse, & Damon Lindelof

SECRET #11 - J.J. Abrams, Carlton Cuse, & Damon Lindelof

SECRET #12 - Jorge Garcia (Hurley)

Much love,
Jono

Office Grizzle

2010-01-30T14:07:00.004-05:00

My sister's website had its grand unveiling, yesterday: OFFICE GRIZZLE
Once it begins circulating, I can imagine this site will be the next fmylife or textsfromlastnight. Currently, it's a bunch of stories and galleries brought to you by the editors.

The basic premise is that it will be a place where office workers can share their work-related nightmares, stories, and pictures. Do you sit behind a desk all day? Do you get chewed out by your boss for the most ridiculous and unnecessary bullshit? Does your boss hate confrontations, so they email you instead? Well, forward these emails and faxes to the site and they'll post it (personal information will be omitted, of course). It's kind of like Cake Wrecks, but strictly for the office.

The other purpose of the site is to provide "unconventional" news, respectively. Tired of hearing only about the war? Or politics? Or Tiger Woods? Well, some of the articles already published include: "Why LOST Might Just Be The Best Thing Ever", "The Truth About Orgasms", and "Why You Need An Office Boo". Also, don't forget about their famous section about staplers.

If you have some time to waste, check it out. It's numbers are growing fast, already. Last night, my sister met Caldwell and offered him a position as a staff writer for the site. So, look out, Kitten Withuwip will soon be contributing even more humor via articles, stories, and pictures. The site is currently making t-shirts, stickers, and other merchandise. Caldwell said that he would put the stickers EVERYWHERE in New York, as part of the site's marketing strategy. How exciting!

The site's mission statement:

Just remember, there is power in numbers. So if you think that farting as you walk by your neighbor’s cubicle so they can share in your enchilada lunch special is funny, there is probably someone else out there who thinks the same thing. And there are millions of us out there. Let us unite!

Much love,

Jono

All That Jazz

2010-01-28T17:00:00.006-05:00

I got a wonderful surprise on Monday. New York's newest, most popular comedian came to Atlanta for a visit...Christopher D. Caldwell a.k.a. Ms. Kitten Withuwip! Caldwell is one of my dear friends who left Georgia and made it big in the Big Apple. He's performed at many huge comedy clubs and even hosts a karaoke contest on Wednesdays in the city!

The last time I saw Chris was exactly one year ago when I took a trip to New York. Obviously, I don't make it to NY very often, and equally, he doesn't make it back to Georgia very much either. But I'm super proud of him and if you don't know him, then just know that he's the funniest person you could ever meet.

Check out Kitten's website: http://prettykittyonline.com

Anyway, given this rare opportunity, of course I would bring my camera to document ANYTHING Caldwell said, sang, or farted. So check out the video below. I'm not gonna lie, it's dirty. Really perverted. But if this is your type of humor, or could be your type of humor for the next five minutes, then watch and laugh away. If this type of humor is not up your alley, then this video might be more appropriate, especially for those that do not have a 13 year old mentality like me.

"All That Jizz" - Caldwell
Warning: Mature content

Much love,
Jono

"Saving All My Love"

2010-01-27T00:11:00.004-05:00

Charity's back in town. This is what went down at Benchwarmers tonight...

*audio only*

Much love,
Jono

Are You Sure?

2010-01-18T22:06:00.003-05:00

Listen carefully. This is deep, yo.

Much love,
Jono

8 Bangs

2010-01-15T01:55:00.003-05:00

I'm just going to put this out there.
What if this was the opener to season six of LOST...

Click on the picture to zoom in, to get the full effect.

Much love,
Jono

Sorting Priorities

2010-01-12T15:58:00.007-05:00

Is it sad that I care about these guys more than I care about some of my extended friends and family (and sometimes even myself)?

Much love,
Jono

Random Video Diary

2010-01-08T23:51:00.009-05:00

Haha! Yeah, remember these?

While I'm going to continue with my regular written entries, I'm going to mix it up and throw in a video blog. These aren't your typical vlogs, though. They will be brief interviews and quirky conversations with loved ones; moments captured during days where we had nothing else to do. These people are the family and friends that I try to surround myself with at all times, they make this world a better place. Spread the love, world! If we were to spend an absolutely boring afternoon together, this is the stuff we would probably talk about...

-If you missed the post about the actual concert, you can find it here. It's filled with videos, photos, and loveee. And there's a lengthy video montage of the concert under My Videos on my Facebook account. Check it out. You'll want to give hourly hugs!

-I recently found a stash of these that I never posted. So they'll eventually be up; instead of every week, it's going to once every blue moon. Good memories, though. :)

-Also, if you haven't voted in my January poll, you can do so in the toolbar on the right.

Much love,
Jonathan

Early Morning Bits & Bobbles

2010-01-05T02:04:00.000-05:00

It's 2AM.

A few things are on my mind:

1. I'm watching Casino Royale. Daniel Craig is the latest contender to father my children.

2. After procrastinating for months, I have finally bought http:www.jonodavis.com

2.5. Unfortunately, I don't know how to build a website. I guess the jokes on me! Beh heh! (For now, you'll be forwarded back to this blog.)

3. Jason Mraz's guest appearance on Sesame Street. It has rejuvenated my love for this artist. Truly my favorite musician.

4. I don't know if it's the new year, but I DEFINITELY feel a change in...well, everything. I have never felt such a drastic difference, in previous new years. Nothing has boiled my bubbles, nor have I allowed anything to. I feel amazing and I hope everyone feels it too!

4.5. If anything has taken a stab at me, it's been the love bug. :)

5. I saw Invictus with Chris Dills today. Decent movie. Our discussion on time travel was much more interesting, though.

6. Kimberly Belflower. I miss this chick.

7. I saw NINE with my parents. It was my second time seeing it, but I really wanted them to check it out, especially since they loved Chicago. My dad enjoyed it, my mom fell asleep (which she denies, but I totally caught her), and I enjoyed it much more the second time around. Go see it!

8. I still have yet to buy the GLEE: Road to Sectionals DVD set. But am I the only one that feels like this is a waste of money? Don't get me wrong, I REALLY want to get it, but I will also want to buy the entire season on DVD...which will be out in like half a year.

8.9. This brings up another question: GLEE. Their mid-season finale was almost a month ago. The DVD set to the first half of the season came out within weeks of its airing, right? So why do we have to wait SEVEN FREAKIN MONTHS for the LOST DVD sets?!!!

9. I just realized that I didn't make any New Year's resolutions. I'm okay with this because maybe this is the key to 2010's success. If I don't make any sort of long-term goals, I have nothing weighing my conscience down if I choose to make an unconventional decision in my head.

10. The following conversation:
Mom: Jonathan, your Aunt Mildred died today.
Jono: Who?
Mom: Aunt Mildred.
Jono: ...WHO? I don't know who that is.
Mom: She gave you her car last year.
Jono: OHHHH!
[awkward silence]
Jono: BYEEEE Mildred!
Mom: .....................

"They're GRRRREAT!" McGruff says that, right?

Much love,
Jono

Happy Year!

2010-01-02T19:46:00.000-05:00

I was facebook stalking Jana yesterday and she wrote this in her facebook status replies: "I heard that how you spend your New Year's Day is how you will spend the rest of the year."

Whether there's any truth behind this superstition or not, thinking about it certainly gave me something to do on the ride home from Columbus. And it was about 11:55PM last night, January 1, that I let out a sigh of relief that my New Years Day didn't go down in flames. In fact, it was pretty glorious. So if there's any truth to that statement above, then bring it on 2010! My day consisted of a lot of traveling (could be a good thing), being around truly wonderful people (definitely a good thing), but also saying temporary goodbyes (not such a good thing).

I was also reflecting on this past year. But I seemed to have categorized myself into the "2009 sucked donkey nuts" group. To be honest, in retrospect, it hasn't been THAT bad. It's still been bad, though. It's been a year of extremes for me. Some of the best things in my life have occurred this year, and some of the worst things in my life have occurred. This led me to Jana's comment again. If it were true, what in God's name did I do on 1/1/2009 that royally skewered my karma?!

...And I couldn't remember what I did on New Year's Day last year. Weird. I remember what I did on 1/1/2008, but not last year. I even looked back on my blog and I seemed to have skipped from New Years Eve to January 2. Damnit! I moved home and that's all that I remember. I mean, my 1/2/2009 entry does give a general insight on how I was feeling, but not what I was doing. So this year, here is my brief list of what I did on New Year's Day.

New Year's Day 2010:
10:00am- Wake up (in Columbus)
10:30am- Breakfast at Dunkin' Donuts
11:00am- Lounge around with Lena, Mikey, & Kristen
2:00pm- Leave Columbus, go to Woodbury with Mikey
4:30pm- Arrive home in Atlanta
6:00pm- Pick up Samantha at the airport
8:00pm- Arrive back in Columbus, dinner with Emily & Sam
10:00pm- Leave Columbus (again)
12midnight- Arrive home in Atlanta (again)

As you can tell, it was a lot of driving. But most of the time, I was being accompanied by a friend or two; there's nothing better than roadtrips with loved ones. As previously stated, if New Year's Day foreshadows what the entire year will bring, then can I expect lots of travelling and friendly rendezvous? That would be peachy.

I have a great job, two very exciting gigs lined up for the next five months, and I hope to be getting an apartment soon with one of my best friends. 2010 is already starting out on a good note. And knowing that my friends are doing well, with great jobs/grades/upcoming plans, just makes me even happier. I hope everyone has had a WONDERFUL holiday season. 2010 will rock for all of us! :)

By the way, New Year's Eve ROCKED!

Much love,
Jono

NINE

2009-12-29T19:15:00.001-05:00

NINE was good. So good that I just might be Penelope Cruz's Carla for Halloween next year.

Much love,
Jono

Ho ho ho?

2009-12-09T17:33:00.001-05:00

Thanks to Casey for this link!

Check this out: Sketchy Santas!

This will be your new favorite site, right up there with Cake Wrecks, Awkward Family Photos, and People of Wal-Mart.

Here are some examples of what this site has to offer:

Is is me or does this Santa look kinda...dead?

Who would EVER want their picture taken with this Santa?!!!

If you do not see what is wrong with this picture, click on it for a closer view.

Much love,
Jono

Bit of Inspiration

2009-12-04T22:47:00.000-05:00

Check this out: ESPN did this story on Jake Olson. I won't say anything about it. Just watch the video. It will inspire you to no end.

Much love,
Jono

Boing!

2009-12-02T16:08:00.001-05:00

I'd like to bring your attention to the greatest find in the year 2009:

I heard a rumor of such items, but I didn't know they were so close to being on the shelves!

May I present...

LOST BOBBLEHEADS!!!

These are the only four they've released (or soon to be released), but you can purchase and pre-order them here!

Oh, and LOST Legos! AHHHH!

Much love,
Jono

The AIDS Initiative

2009-12-01T11:53:00.000-05:00

Today is World AIDS Day.

Check this out: Until There's a Cure
This foundation supports HIV/AIDS awareness. They sell an assortment of really beautiful bracelets and the profits go towards AIDS research. I bought two of these bracelets a few years ago and I still wear them today, they hold up very nicely.

Check this out: Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS Website or Store
BC/EFA has been around for years. Most Broadway shows conclude their performances, this time of the year, to take up donations and auction off cool items for this organization. If you go to this website, you can check out their current auctions or buy really awesome Broadway merchandise only sold through the website.

Check this out: ONE.org- Global Gift from President Obama
I'm passing this link along from my friend India. It's a request to ask Obama to support the Global Fund by including a budget request to congress, to support the fight for AIDS, tuberculosis, and Malaria. All you have to do is sign your name, enter your email address and zip code. It's that simple!
Much love,
Jono

The LOST Phenomenon

2009-11-30T12:04:00.000-05:00

Well, here it is. Out of sheer boredom and absolutely nothing else to write about, I'm going to write an entry entirely about LOST. Actually...I lied. There are plenty of things to write about; November has been a very anxiety-filled month. But I'm going to save those stories for another day because I'm back on another LOST binge and I'm super pumped about the final season starting in nearly 2 months.

After season 5 concluded in May, I took a break from the show for a few months. I re-watched all five seasons in August and now I'm re-watching all five seasons again. Why? Well, no reason, really. The season 5 DVD set comes out in a week and a half and I would like to be able to watch those DVDs on my television, as opposed to ABC.com.

Here are some observations I've been making, throughout the years, on where I stand with the show:

My top 10 favorite episodes:

*This is excluding the Pilot and Season Finales because it's a given that they're amazing.

1. "Deus Ex Machina" -S1,E19 - Odd choice for number one, but I will always remember that this episode made me fall in love with John Locke. He is the best damn character on the show. I'm a sucker for tragic story lines and his is, by far, the worst. (This was the episode where Cooper stole his kidney.) The ending was AWESOME with Boone dying and Locke pounding on the hatch door. The music swelling, the light comes on...OH MY GOD!!!

2. "One of Us" -S3,E16 - When Juliet was introduced in the season 3 premiere, I knew she'd be my favorite female character. Bad guys rock, but bad girls rock even more. Although she turned out to be good, "One of Us" was in the middle of the season when Juliet kept flip-flopping back and forth between good and bad. (This was the episode where she joined the castaways and saved Claire's life.) It also delivered one of the best flashbacks to an episode EVER: her sister's pregnancy and her rivalry with Ben.

3. "The Shape of Things to Come" -S4,E9 - Oh God, this was Michael Emerson's Emmy worthy episode. So good, from beginning to end. Ben had already established himself as a badass, but at this point, his character was still mysterious because he had only one centric episode, thus far in the series. (See next episode on this list) But this was the episode where Alex was killed and he unleashed the smoke monster in New Otherton. His flash-forward showed us where he ended up after he turned the wheel at the Orchid Station. His confrontation with Widmore at the end of the hour was the icing on the cake.

4. "The Man Behind the Curtain" -S3,E20 - Ben's very first flashback episode. I think everyone remembers this one. The first look at the Dharma Initiative in action, "Jacob"'s first appearance, and Locke getting shot by Ben. When he fired that gun and Locke fell in the pit, I will never forget how shocked and pissed I was. At this point in the series, Locke's importance wasn't as defined, so I didn't know if he was truly being "killed off". I called all my LOST friends bitching about how amazingly shitty that ending was.

5. "The 23rd Psalm" -S2,E10 - Oh, Eko, why were you on this show for only a season and 5 episodes? I really like to imagine where he would have ended up, if the actor had stuck around on the show for a bit longer. He was the most compelling character introduced in season 2. This episode answered many questions concerning season 1's drug plane, through Eko's backstory. It also showed us the smoke monster (in the full) for the first time. His other two flashbacks weren't as juicy as this one was, but this episode solidified him as the show's resident badass mother fucker.

Runner-Ups:
6. "The Life and Death of Jeremy Bentham" -S5,E7 - Locke's tragic life gets even worse.

7. "The Constant" -S4,E5 - Desmond contacts Penny. Simply amazeballs.

8. "Solitary" -S1,E9 - Rousseau's first appearance and Sayid's very first badass flashback.

9. "This Place Is Death" -S5,E5 - Charlotte dies, Locke leaves the island, Rousseau's story is FINALLY told.

10. "Ji Yeon" -S4,E7 - Saddest ending to a LOST episode EVER!

My top 5 least favorite episodes:
1. "Stranger in a Strange Land" -S3,E9 - The episode where Jack got his tattoos. Did anyone really care? Nothing really happened on the island except Jack befriending Juliet. Also, nine episodes into season 3, this was Jack's second centric episode of the season. Why not give other characters like Sayid, or Claire, or Charlie, or Sawyer, or Ben, or Hurley some more spotlight? By the end of season three, Jack will have had 3 episodes to himself. Ew.

2. "Fire + Water" -S2,E12 - This was when Charlie went mental and stole Claire's baby. Locke punched the shit out of him and Charlie burned down the camp. Just bizarre. Even in the darkest of LOST episodes, there's a little bit of light and humor. This was just gloomy and depressing.

3. "The Long Con" -S2,E13 - What's sad is that this episode followed "Fire + Water". I was never really partial to Sawyer's episodes because they each show...the same thing. Who's he conning this time? But the island story was really dark too, when he stole the guns from the group. Although, these two episodes followed a string of really great episodes; it was destined to drop to lower standards at some point.

4. "Outlaws" -S1,E16 - Remember when Sawyer spent an episode tracking a boar? And when he and Kate played "Never have I ever..."? And when Locke told them the story about his little sister? Yeah... zzzzzzz...

5. "Further Instructions" -S3,E3 - As previously stated, Locke's episodes have ALWAYS been my favorite. HOWEVER...this one was just weird. It was the one where he lived at that hippie ranch and made a sweat lodge. On the island, he fought a polar bear to save Eko. Didn't make any sense AT ALL...

My favorite seasons of LOST in order:
1. Season 1 - Re-watching the first season is weird. The show's pacing has picked up SO MUCH, it makes the first two or three seasons go slow as hell! But if you go back and watch season one with a clean slate, it's a very perfect season. The writers certainly knew what they were doing. There are so many layers to this season, and ironically, a lot of answers are given as well. This was before the show became convoluted in its storytelling by introducing 100 questions in each episode.

2. Season 4 - The shortest season of LOST because of the Writer's Strike, but in many ways, it made for a tightly-wound season. Off topic, one of the reasons why I LOVE the show Dexter is because each season is 12 episodes long. They don't have time to waste on "filler episodes", they just cut right to the answers, while giving mysteries and awesome cliffhangers. LOST's fourth season was short and sweet, but so much happened that you can't just skip over it. This was also when they were permitted an ending date for the show. So, with an ending in sight, they could cut to the chase with better writing and storytelling. The freighter folk were awesome too.

3. Season 2 - Many folks would disagree because I have read a lot of opinions that season 2 was "boring, slow, etc." Certainly, if you look back at it...yeah, not much happened on the island. They finally get into the hatch...and they push a button ALL season long. But this was following a perfect freshmen season and the show was starting to dig into the mythology and history of the island. I think was made this season so great wasn't what happened ON the island, but what happened in everyone's flashbacks. The characters were still fresh and, of course, Michael Emerson made his debut as Henry Gale. Every season introduced new characters to the principal cast (season 2- the tail section survivors, season 3- the Others, season 4- the freighter folk, season 5- DHARMA). In my opinion, the tail section folk were the most well-rounded group of new cast members of any season.

4. Season 5 - I go back and forth between this season and season 3 as my least and next to least favorite seasons. There was something about season 5 that was inconsistent with its storytelling. You can read my mid-season rant on it, here. Don't get me wrong, I LOVED LOST this year; it answered so many questions and it certainly prepped season 6 to be awesome as hell. It's a personal choice, but I just wasn't a big fan of the DHARMA timeline, it was kind of slow. The time traveling was amazing and the finale was definitely one of my favorites.

5. Season 3 - I feel like Juliet, Ben, and Desmond saved this season from being a drag. This was the season when the writers were persuading ABC to set an ending date for the show, otherwise LOST would go on forever becoming more and more monotonous with it's mythology. I REALLY enjoyed season 3 when it was airing, but the question "What does this have to do with anything?" comes up A LOT when re-watching it. It certainly wasn't bad or even fair because the quality of the worst LOST episode is probably the best episode for many other television shows. But remember when Jack got his tattoos? Remember "Expose'" with Nikki and Paulo? Remember when Claire made it her mission of try to rescue everyone by capturing a bird? Yeah, not LOST's finest when they were stalling for an ending date.

Agree? Disagree? What are your opinions and your top favorites? Honestly, mine change every day so this will be completely different, a year from now. Damn. I LOVE THIS FUCKING SHOW!!!

Much love,
Jono

Titanic

2009-11-24T14:24:00.000-05:00

Searching for dead babies on Google is tough. I'm trying to find a picture of that frozen baby from Titanic.

I found this, though. HA!

Much love,
Jono

Away We Go

2009-11-06T05:40:00.000-05:00

October. Thank you for being a good month to me. Many great things happened in October. I feel like a lot of my bitterness and anger went away. I'm very happy right now, mainly because the source of all my troubles is gone.

I hope everyone else has had a great month as well. Believe it or not, I've found out a lot about myself within the past few months. Positive or disheartening, I know exactly what and who to focus my time, love, and energy on. It's time to get down to business. I'm focused, driven, and completely over a lot of shit.

More bloggies to come. I haven't forgotten about you, virtual diary.

Much love,
Jono

Finding Neverland

2009-10-19T16:13:00.001-04:00

I want to run outside and scream at the top of my lungs!

I want to release all of my energy to the winds. I'm not mad. Actually, I'm far from mad. I'm pretty happy. For the past two months, I've wanted to just go through a fairly typical week of work. The past few weeks have been better or, dare I say, normal. But with birthdays, shows, and traveling, there hasn't been much time to focus on the jobs at hand.

So I'm coordinating my schedule, last night, and realize that there aren't any shows go see, far away friends I've promised to visit, or conventions, conferences, or auditions lined up for the next 7 days. This is awesome. Can't get used to it, though.

Welcome to Life, Jonathan. Ha! :)

Much love,
Jono

Rafflelicious!

2009-10-14T15:09:00.000-04:00

Tomorrow night, I will be celebrating Day 4 of my week-long birthday extravaganza. We will be partying it up at the Sports Page in Columbus, GA. Since I will be seeing MANY friends before, during, and after this event, I thought it would be fun to hand out party favors and raffle off some goodies, brought to you by Bath & Body Works.

As announced earlier, the first 15 people I bump into will receive a sample bottle of the newest fragrance- Twilight Woods (see below). Well, I'm tweaking this giveaway to make it more fair. The first 16 people to be AT the Sports Page will be the lucky recipients of this handy dandy little lotion. Party begins at 9:30pm.

Twilight Woods - Body Lotion
Our Signature Body Lotion takes ultra-pampering to the next level. Now fortified with Aloe Vera,Grape Seed Extract and vitamins C and E, it glides on easily and evenly to condition and hydrate skin. This non-greasy, sheer formula absorbs quickly to leave skin soft, smooth,and beautifully fragrant.

Key fragrance notes: Juicy Berry, Soft Mimosa, Apricot Nectar, Warm Woods
Indulge your senses with our exclusive Twilight Woods, a hypnotic fragrance inspired by a romantic walk in enchanted woods.

There will also be a raffle going on, throughout the evening. All attendees will receive a piece of paper with a number on it as they enter. If your number is drawn, you could win the following items. Colors/items are exact.

Rubber Duck - Silver
She's one lucky duck and our favorite bathtime friend.

Back Brush - Red
This skin-silkening body brush will help you achieve a new level of clean. Soft bristles work up a rich lather while they scrub away dirt, impurities and complexion-dulling dead skin cells.

Convenient strap for holding or drying
Pairs perfectly with your favorite Bath & Body Works Shower Gel
15" x 2 3/4" x 1/2"

Lounge Shea Socks - Green with Snowflake
These super-soft, ultra-pampering socks are made twice as thick for extra warmth. Contains enough shea butter to last up to 25 washes.

One size fits most with non-skid bottom
Machine wash cold, gentle cycle; use only non-chlorine bleach when needed; tumble dry low; do not iron or dry-clean
Ultra-hydrating shea butter should last up to 25 washings
83% nylon, 14% polyester and 3% spandex

Lounge Shea Socks - Multi Stripe
These super-soft, ultra-pampering socks are made twice as thick for extra warmth. Contains enough shea butter to last up to 25 washes.

One size fits most with non-skid bottom
Machine wash cold, gentle cycle; use only non-chlorine bleach when needed; tumble dry low; do not iron or dry-clean
Ultra-hydrating shea butter should last up to 25 washings
83% nylon, 14% polyester and 3% spandex

Gel Eye Mask - Blue
A cool way to chill out tired eyes in a fun, festive holiday look. The look is blue gel with metallic snowflakes.

I hope you all can make it. If you need the address, see below. I cannot wait to see everyone and I'm stoked beyond belief. LOVE LOVE LOVE!

Sports Page - Restaurant & Spirits
5736 Veterans Pkwy
Columbus, GA 31904
(706) 641-9966

Much love,
Jono

Layer Cake, Pt. 2

2009-10-13T13:47:00.000-04:00

I thought I'd follow up my last entry with another cake blog.

Yep, this was my cake. Poor Nana. She got the shaft on cakes this year.

Much love,
Jono

Layer Cake

2009-10-04T12:04:00.001-04:00

Yesterday was my grandmother's 94th birthday. My mom had set up a family reunion/birthday celebration at the house and at 5pm we cut the cake. For once, I was actually looking forward to this reunion. Through all of the bullshit from the past two months, I knew my family wouldn't pull out any insults or emotional baggage in front of other family members. It was a drama-free day. My sister and my cousins (who are our age) were coming over. We hid ourselves from the adults and drank whiskey in my bedroom.

But for the first time in two months, I actually felt really bad for my mom because of the cake situation. She was so upset by Kroger's cake fuck-up. This really belongs on cakewrecks.com. And it didn't help the situation that my sister and I were in hysterics over this sad, little cake.

Here's the story: My mom went to Kroger with a simple design, a little picture to use as an example, and instructions on what to write on the cake. Easy, right? Well, it just so happens that they lost the picture and the instructions and thought, "I lost it, but I think I remember what it's supposed to look like."

Keep in mind that this cake was for a 94 year old, Southern belle. The epitome of prim and proper.

Here is the example my mom gave them.
WHITE CAKE. FLOWERS ON THE EDGES.
'HAPPY 94th BIRTHDAY' written in the middle

This was my grandmother's cake.

This was the back of the cake. I wish I could say that this error was from the top of the container...

My mom was so pissed and sad. Allison put a pumpkin beside it to make it look a little more festive.
And I put an apple beside the pumpkin, so it could have a friend.

Then my cousins took an Olan Mills photo with the pumpkin.

And Allison thought she heard the pumpkin say something.

Happy birthday, Nana!

Much love,
Jono

Cloverfield

2009-09-25T23:25:00.000-04:00

FYI...this is the most ridiculous blog entry in the history of blog entries...

FarmVille.
It's become an obsession.
It's become a lifestyle.
It's become a religion.
It's what I wake up to.
It's what I go to sleep to.
It's now officially what I blog about.

1.) Thank you FarmVille for reuniting me with old friends. I never speak to several people on Facebook. However, because of you, I am now pleasantly exchanging free gifts with old colleagues and friends. The best news is when I get the notification that an old buddy has shooed away some crows or plucked some weeds from my farm!

2.) Thank you FarmVille for giving me a purpose in life. When life gets you into a bit of a lull, it's nice to sometimes feel needed. Whether by friends, family, or pets, everyone occasionally needs a sense purpose so they can set new goals for themselves. Thus, I get to my point: MY FARM NEEDS ME!

3.) Thank you FarmVille for giving me pets that don't make messes. I'm a lazy guy. I love puppies and kitties. I hate taking care of them, though. However, on FarmVille, all you have to do it scroll your mouse over the cow or the horse and click "Collect _____". AND, with an unlimited amount of farm animals, I can have as many pets as I want. I have over ten ducks, bitches!

4.) Thank you FarmVille for being a learning experience. I just found out today that goats give milk.

5.) Thank you FarmVille for giving us ideas for Halloween costumes. Jana and I are dressing up like our FarmVille characters. We went to Target yesterday to try and find little farm animals to give to the trick or treaters. We also checked out the mini fruits and veggies in the produce section. The ideas are endless and genius!

6.) Thank you FarmVille for expanding my musical tastes. I found the sound file for the jingle that plays over the game. I made it a ringtone.

7.) Thank you FarmVille for allowing me to feel the sensation of being rich. It's a wonderful feeling, having $30,000. Unfortunately, I don't have that much money in real life. In fact, it makes me very depressed that I don't even have that much in the bank. My FarmVille character is worth more than me!!!

8.) Thank you FarmVille for making me a well-rounded person. I'm very tempted to add "Experienced in agriculture" to all of my resumes and applications.

9.) Thank you FarmVille for allowing all roads to lead back to you. Example: I've been harvesting for four hours straight. My eyes are getting blurry and I'm starting to get a headache from staring at the computer screen. I am still in complete control over my actions, so I exit FarmVille without a hitch. However, I'm still on Facebook and I see that Jose has just won a blue ribbon for collecting friends. "Get a bonus from Jose"? Hells yeah! I click on the link and, low and behold, I return to the scene. This time I get a few hundred coins from Jose's bonus AND some of my crops are ready. I NEVER LEAVE FARMVILLE!

TIME OUT! I see a cat, a dog, and baby goats, pigs, sheep, and ducks in this picture. Ummm...suddenly I feel cheated in my FarmVille experience.

Much love,
Jono

The Butterfly Effect

2009-09-21T20:54:00.000-04:00

WHAT IF: Butterflies and moths never existed. Caterpillars turned into hot dogs. Stress wouldn't even exist in my life.

Much love,
Jono

The Hours

2009-08-27T11:24:00.000-04:00

I'm in a rut. That dead time has finally kicked in and I'm starting to feel unmotivated and unhappy. I think it's because, within the past eight months, I've either had EVERYTHING to do or NOTHING to do. (The typical life of an actor!) I'm still very thankful for having the opportunities to expand my resources, but this dead time is killing me.

Yesterday, I took the initiative and did something I should have done months ago. I began applying for other jobs. Silly that I've waited this long, right? I'm actually very excited; I need something to do, and money for food is kind of a necessity. My hope was that a great gig would open up and I would avoid having to find work outside of theatre. But unfortunately, my hope is going from optimism to realism. My connections and resources just aren't very vast at this point. Because of that, I would like to think that I still have a good head on my shoulders; I shouldn't be whining about being unemployed for a few weeks. That's just pathetic. But as much as I would like to blame boredom on hope, it just comes down to my own laziness.

On the other hand, this Friday I will go to my umteenth audition. For the past several auditions, I've been fortunate (or lucky) enough have had some great callbacks, as well. I have received some rejection emails, which I'm completely okay with, and some letters stating: "We're still sorting things through. We'll let you know something soon." It's been an interesting journey, thus far. But it's always a comfort to have friends who are going through the same journey with you. I've become good friends with several strangers just because I see them at EVERY audition that I go to. It's become so surreal. You read about actors going through dry spells, and the millions of artists that are going after the same job that you want. It's crazy to take a step back and see how pretentious a mind really is, when you're unemployed. This journey has been very enlightening and humbling, yet educational and gratifying.

But here's the kicker: I have a great job coming up that will last through November. SETC is coming up and I'll be in North Carolina for a week. I'm still surrounded by great friends, and the adventures we have together are very close to perfection. August has absolutely flown by. And persistence is the only true path to success. I'm definitely one of the millions of artists out there that is struggling until the next opportunity knocks. I feel burnt out, but I shouldn't be at this age and at this stage in the game. However, I think I'm going to take a break from blogging for ____ days. I haven't had anything to write about for the past few weeks. I think I just need time to recharge and clear up my negative psyche.

But I love all of my friends. I love my family. I am still thankful for my employers and previous employers believing in me. That assurance definitely goes a long way...

Much love,
Jono

Weekly Video Diary

2009-08-25T04:00:00.001-04:00

Much love,
Jonathan

The Misadventures...

2009-08-19T22:11:00.000-04:00

Tune in. It's going to be the bee's knees!

Much love,
Jonathan

Weekly Video Diary

2009-08-18T04:00:00.000-04:00

Much loveJonathan

Rat Race

2009-08-13T04:00:00.000-04:00

Summer and I are going back and forth on Facebook by posting ridiculous things our walls. This is something that wouldn't translate well because you can't really see it up close on Facebook. It's not really funny. It's just clever. I wish Monopoly would create something like this...but then again, I'm glad they haven't because it just makes me too damn depressed.

Click to enlarge.Ain't it the truth!

Much love,
Jonathan

Weekly Video Diary

2009-08-11T04:00:00.000-04:00

Much love,
Jonathan

Face/Off

2009-08-06T09:57:00.000-04:00

I recently promised some friends that I would post my old yearbook photos. I think I've moved on from being embarrassed by them, to just laughing at my own teenage awkwardness. Who isn't ashamed of at least one picture taken of them in high school? Maybe in ten years or so, I'll have the balls to post my middle school pictures...

Here is my freshmen yearbook photo/student ID. At the time, I thought shaving my head was a good look for me, I didn't realize I had a forehead the size of a golf course. In fact, I didn't know that particular day was "School Photo Day", hence why I am wearing just an undershirt. Seriously, who does that?!

In my opinion, I think my sophomore yearbook photo was one of the pictures I had an easier time showing people. I guess we're all allowed one, aren't we? Well, this was before my body went all 'fun house mirror' on me... [see next photo]

This is the number one photo I am most proud of; those blonde highlights, that thick baby fat. I'm going to ask you to click on this picture so you can see it up close. I just don't understand why I wasn't voted "Best Looking" in the superlative section of the yearbook.

So, after my junior year, I vowed to have a better photo for the yearbook and my student ID. Except this time, I overshot my objective and tried a little too hard...

Check out that natural smile!

And, finally, my senior picture. You know when the photographer asks all of the girls to sit in one direction and face the opposite direction? Well, he asked me to do that. Why? I don't know. But this is what was in the yearbook. Way to go, Lifetouch! Way to absolutely capture the essence of my four years of high school awkwardness.

Much love,
Jonathan

Weekly Video Diary

2009-08-04T04:00:00.000-04:00

Much love,
Jonathan

Music of the Heart

2009-07-30T04:56:00.000-04:00

On Tuesday, India and I went to see Jason Mraz, Plain White T's, Bushwalla, and G-Love & Special Sauce at Starfest in Atlanta. As expected, it turned out to be an uplifting experience full of music, friends, and dancing. The tour's called "The Gratitude Cafe Tour", based on Cafe Gratitude out in California. The concert was more of an interactive festival; board games, Cafe Gratitude personnel, hula-hoops, it was definitely a party by the end of the night.

We got to the arena and our tickets said Row C. Cool, right? Third row isn't too shabby. But, as we were trying to find out seats, an usher told us "I don't know why, but Rows A & B don't exist. So technically you're on the front row." We proceed to jump up and down like maniacal fans.

Bushwalla was the host for the evening. Sporting his Blend Apparel t-shirt, he got the crowd going by following the theme of the tour and asking questions and giving directions like "What inspires you on days like today?" or "Turn to the person you came with and give them a hug. Now turn to a complete stranger and give them a hug!"

Bushwalla

Plain White T's was up first. Sure, they are cheesy at times, but they completely melted my heart. It must have been the simple acoustic set-up they had, rather than a spectacular light and mega-band show. They were amazing and a wonderful surprise. They're coming back this fall, I might have to catch them again.

Plain White T's - "1, 2, 3, 4"

We took a break from the music to check out the Cafe Gratitude tent. We met a lot of inspiring people who have made it their careers to tour with Jason and promote love and gratitude. One friend we met was Alysse Fischer. She shared some great knowledge and insight with us. She, then, asked us to be in their Cafe Gratitude/Jason Mraz video. After we filmed it, we took pictures together then split.

In the middle of Jason's show, he brings her on stage. He says that she's one of his friends and she's currently on tour with them. She proceeds to sing "Lucky" with Jason Mraz. And she's just cute as a peach! We met back up with her after the show for some afterthoughts and well-wishings. We're her biggest fans now.

Alysse Fischer

When we were meeting Alysse, we opted to skip out on G-Love. He was a little too much for us, but still entertaining, nonetheless. This was when we bumped into everybody that has ever lived. Seriously, everybody's brother's mother was here!

G-Love & Special Sauce

Finally, Jason Mraz and crew loaded the stage and provided everyone with three and a half hours of music filled with joy, love, and inspiration. More pictures and a video montage can be found on my facebook, but we left the concert on a high that is still with me today.

Jason Mraz and his band

As you can tell in the pictures, there is a break between where we were sitting, and the standing pit below the stage. In the middle of the show, Jason and his band left the stage and showed back up in the walkway behind the standing pit, which was right in front of where we were sitting. India and I jumped up and ran down (like 5 feet) to where he was now performing. And there he was, for the much of the remainder of the show. The mother of all surprises!

The zoom feature on my camera wasn't required this time...

...and then there was celebrity hula-hooping!

-Pick Your Artist: Jason Mraz
-Are you male or female? Mr. Curiosity
-Describe Yourself: A Beautiful Mess
-How do you feel: Lucky
-Describe where you currently live: On Love, In Sadness
-If you could go anywhere, where would you go: Galaxy
-Your favorite form of transportation: Plane
-Your best friend is: Not So Usual
-What is life to you: Life Is Wonderful
-Your fear: The Boy's Gone
-What is the best advice you have to give: Live High
-How I would like to die: Sleeping To Dream
-My Motto: Make It Mine

Much love,
Jonathan

Weekly Video Diary

2009-07-28T04:00:00.000-04:00

Much love,
Jonathan

(500) Days of Summer

2009-07-25T14:27:00.000-04:00

This has been one crazy summer. Whereas last summer was an eventful ride (yet somewhat claustrophobic), I feel like this one has been an even greater slide into the refreshing waters of delight. Although I can't shake off the feeling that this seems to be a summer of transition. I'm not going to lie, I'm not going to label the past three months as "The Best Summer of My Life" because it certainly hasn't been. It's been a period of lengthy patience, hard work, and rewarding payoffs; as all summers should be, it's been a typical one.

I cannot thank my employers and colleagues enough for the opportunities that have been given to me, and I shall forever be grateful for the hesitant chances that they were willing to take. But the summer has been very worthwhile because of the many faces I've met and kept in touch with and, dammit, the convenience and juncture to express my craft.

Perhaps next summer will be the best summer of my life. But, for now, it's been pretty damn sunny.

Some of the opportunities this summer has brought:

Reacquainting myself with old friends...

...while strengthening the friendships that are already strong...

...and introducing myself to new ones.
Never having a dull moment...

...even on days off.
Mixing the arts...

...educating the arts...

...and creating, what I like to call, Drunken Art.Portrait drawn by Elise Dotson.

Expanding my resources...

...while continuing to find others.

Some of the things I'm looking forward to:
-Jason Mraz & Plain White T's concert with India (Monday)
-Catching up on regional shows: Legacy's HSM2, ChattShakes' Rocky Horror, SDP's Pippin (Next week)
-More Georgia Ensemble Theatre (Fall)
-Where the Wild Things Are (October 16)
-Nine (November 25)
-LOST: Season 6- The Final Season (February 2010)
-Alice in Wonderland (March 5, 2010)
-Auditions (every week for the rest of my life)

Much love,
Jonathan

Weekly Video Diary

2009-07-21T04:00:00.000-04:00

Much love,Jonathan

Revenge of the Nerds

2009-07-16T16:40:00.000-04:00

I've been to two movie premieres in the past two weeks. First, Bruno. And two days ago, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. I dressed up in costume for the latter, but I didn't dare walk around Atlantic Station in Bruno's skin-tight jumpsuit. Both movies were very enjoyable. I realized a few weeks ago that I've seen an awful lot of movies this summer. It's pretty exciting because I usually never go to the cinemas throughout the year, unless a movie is coming out that I'm just dying to see. (But way to go, Hollywood. You might have taken a break last summer, but I'm glad to see you've come back with full force in 2009.) And surprisingly, there are still movies that are coming out where I'll be willing to fork out some time and bucks for further entertainment.

Here is a collection of some of the premieres I've been to in the past few years. As you can see, some of the movies date all the way back to 2002. So, playing dress up in public (when not on stage) isn't exactly a new concept to me or my friends. I have yet to get into costume and go to a theatre only to end up feeling humiliated. Perhaps the huge turnouts to the movies chosen are key because we usually aren't the only ones in costume. Opening nights help, as well. I probably wouldn't dress up like Harry Potter and go to see the new movie after it's been out for a month and a half.

Some people think it's silly. And, to be honest, it is. It's very balsy, ridiculous, and dorky. But it's also about expressing a passion, having fun, and supporting art and entertainment with your friends. If anyone judges anyone for dressing up at a movie, then they should seriously find a sense of humor. Maybe for New Moon, I'll dress like Harry Potter...

X2: X-Men United

I dressed as Nightcrawler, Gayle (my drama teacher at the time) was Rogue, Monica as Storm, and Stephen as Cyclops.

Chicago: The Musical

For further explanation as to why we dressed up as these characters, see this entry.

The Matrix Reloaded

Cool idea. Shitty movie.

The Dark Knight

Lena and I didn't really dress up as Batman. I think we were going as Batman fans.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

India as a Hogwarts student, I'm Edward Cullen from Twilight (?), and Summer is a very flamboyant Dumbledore.

Much love,
Jonathan

Weekly Video Diary

2009-07-14T04:00:00.000-04:00

Much love,
Jonathan

The Day the Earth Stood Still

2009-07-12T04:00:00.001-04:00

Opening another camp today. This time I'll be joined by two great friends, Katie Truett and Elise Dotson. I think everyone can agree that any work (when you're freelance) is good; but when you're working with friends, it's just so much better. What a great day to be with someone close. I wish I could be with friends in Columbus, but I'm also glad that I have separated myself enough from the memories that could make my heart break on days like today. This time last year, I wrote a pretty extensive entry about my feelings and past times with Kelley, but this year I'll just stick to pictures and videos that make me smile. My heart goes out to Mr. Wilson, his family, and everyone within the theatre department and Columbus State community. I hope everyone is doing well. I love you, all.

Much love,
Jonathan

Weekly Video Diary

2009-07-07T04:00:00.000-04:00

And speaking of absolutely boring afternoons, I finally gave in and made myself a Twitter account. I'm still trying to figure out how everything works, but I would like to have these Tweets up and running by tomorrow or Wednesday. Let's be Twitter/Tweet/Twat friends!

Much love,
Jonathan

Born on the Fourth of July

2009-07-04T21:56:00.000-04:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BLOG!!!

Thank you for being an outlet for me to vent, share, laugh, cry, and love. My very first entry was exactly one year ago, today. Reading through some of my previous posts, I'm happy to have noticed that so much has changed over the last year. For better or worse, it's been a year full of surprises, twists and turns, and good and bad decisions. If someone had told me, last July fourth, where or who I'd be in a year, I would have laughed it off. But this time next year, I can only hope that I'll be feeling the exact same way as I am today. I never want my life to stop evolving. I will continue to say yes to anything that is offered to me. If it turns out to be a mistake, then so be it. Let those mistakes be my guide, something can be learned from any experience. But I will be thankful for those experiences, nonetheless. And hopefully, with thanks, I shouldn't regret any decision or action that is made on my behalf. I am still a student to my craft and I want to continue to learn and challenge myself until there is nothing left of me. With friends, family, patience, love, and space to grow, succeed, and even fail, I am going to board this ship and let it carry me through another 180 days worth of adventures...

Much love,
Jonathan

Death at a Funeral

2009-07-01T15:36:00.000-04:00

Me oh my!

This has been one hell of a year when it comes to tragedy. I dread the day where I become so numb by the cause that the effect will be beyond the point of feeling any more sorrow. The more I hear about friends dying or relatives being stricken with life-threatening illnesses, the more I seem to lose sight of where my emotions fall into any of this. I do my absolute best to let things flow, and not hold back or control how I feel about any particular situation. Is that selfishness? Or have I become so desensitized by life that these events are slowly losing their emotional pull?

Obviously, this is what life is all about. There are others who are in worse situations than we are. People have nightmares about this shit. I am very fortunate that tragedy can only go so far, in this safe environment that I live in. Poverty, the war, everyday fighters...everyone goes through this, some people handle these situations better than others, blah blah blah. I feel like I'm stuck in the mindset of a teenager who is very ignorant and carefree. So few things get to me, but every day, I feel as if the phrase "I don't care" becomes less selfish and more selfless.

My mother came home today with some news that has the potential of being tragic and she seemed a little shocked when I didn't even flinch when she told me. (I'll save the news for another day because, frankly, there's nothing to worry about today.) But my first response was not of shock or grief, it was actually, "Are you kidding me?! This is getting ridiculous!"

I've always taken death and funerals relatively well. I'm not one to sob uncontrollably in those types of settings. Just give me a few hours where I can let everything out. Then from that point on, I'll make it my responsibility to make sure everyone else is okay.

If you're wondering where any of this is coming from, I just had a movie marathon this weekend. Here's a list of the films I watched, one right after the other: Revolutionary Road, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Valkyrie, The Reader, and The Family Stone. I was very tempted to go see My Sister's Keeper in the theaters, but I think that would have been the final straw before I went into a maddening depression. When my mom came home and filled me in on the family gossip, I thought it was a tad ironic that this news should come right after I finished a string of melodramatic films.

I'm not looking for sympathy because, as previously stated, nothing horrendous has happened. It's just been a bizarre week. Lots to ponder...

Our puppy named Herpes.

On an unrelated note, I'm am so happy that it's July. June was a fabulous month. Many great things happened in the month of June, but was that not the LONGEST MONTH IN THE HISTORY OF EVER?!!!

Much love,
Jonathan

100 Truths, Pt. 2

2009-06-29T20:00:00.000-04:00

51. Last time you got a portrait taken by a photographer?

If headshots count, then a few months ago.

52. Do you think musicals are cheesy?
Within theatre, sometimes. But in relation to pop culture and if they're adapted to film, then absolutely.

"What You Own" on stage - acceptable.

"What You Own" on film - unacceptable.

53. Is Christmas stressful?
Only if I procrastinate on buying gifts until Christmas Eve. (Which is usually every year.)

54. Have you ever done something you told yourself you wouldn't do?
Yes. I'm such a hypocrite. But sometimes it turns out to be a good decision, in the end.

55. Favorite type of fruit pie?
I prefer chocolate pie.

56. Occupations you wanted to be when you were a kid?
Actor, marine biologist, arts manager, or spy. You know, typical childhood dreams...

57. Do you believe in ghosts?
I really don't know.

58. Ever have a deja-vu feeling?
Yes. I had a full day, about three weeks ago, where nearly everything I did or saw gave me that deja-vu feeling. It was annoying as hell, but I haven't had that feeling since.

59. Take a vitamin daily?
No. I need to. I have a drawer full of vitamins.

60. Wear slippers?
Not really. I have a pair, but I hardly ever wear them.

61. Wear a bath robe?
Yes.

62. Do you need to know everything about someone's past?
Absolutely not.

63. Have you ever had a true one night stand?
Yes.

64. Wal-Mart, Target or Kmart?
Target.

65. Nike or Adidas?
I wore both in high school and I haven't worn them since.

66. Cheetos Or Fritos?
Fritos, I guess. I don't really eat either.

67. Peanuts or Sunflower seeds?
Peanuts! Mmmmmm...

68. What is the last thing you listened to?
Graham Colton

69. Ever take dance lessons?
I have. I would like to again. I think they have a cool program in the same facility as Actor's Express.

70. Is there a profession you picture your future spouse doing?
I hope that it would be in the arts industry, but I hold no limitations to fate.

71. Do you ever talk to yourself?
All the time. In fact, I would venture to guess that I talk to myself more than I talk to anyone else, in an average day.

72. Ever won a spelling bee?
No. The only time I had the opportunity to be in a spelling bee was in elementary school. I didn't make it past round 1.

73. Have you ever cried because you were so happy?
Yes.

74. Who was the last person to text you?
Samantha.

75. Would you rather be a fish or a bird?
Bird.

76. Regularly burn incense?
I did when I lived in my apartment.

77. Ever been in love?
Probably not.

78. Have you ever been in an ambulance?
No.

79. What was the last concert you saw?
I went with India to the Jason Mraz/Dave Matthews Band concert in Nashville about a month and a half ago. In July, we're going to the Jason Mraz/Plain White T's concert in Atlanta. Woo!

Photo courtesy of India.

80. Hot tea or cold tea?
Hot tea is the shiz.

81. Tea or coffee?
Tea.

82. Sugar or snickerdoodles?
...What?

83. Can you swim well?
I can. Swimming is my favorite sport because it's the only one I do well, besides walking.

84. Can you hold your breath without holding your nose?
Yes.

85. Are you patient?
I'm both extremes. I can be either really patient or incredibly anxious.

This...

...or that!

86. DJ or band, at a wedding?
Both. Hire the band for the formal reception and toasts, but the DJ will crank it up when the dancing begins.

87. Ever won a contest?
Yes.

88. Ever have plastic surgery?
No.

89. Which are better black or green olives?
Neither. Ew.

90. Can you knit or crochet?
No. But my fifth grader teacher taught the class how to cross-stitch.

91. Best room for a fireplace?
Living room and master bedroom.

92. Do you want to get married?
I used to say no, but now I'd say yes. Eventually.

93. Is anyone mad at you?
Maybe. I don't care.

94. Do you want to move?
I'm not in any rush, but one day...

95. Do you cry and throw a fit until you get your own way?
I usually just brush it off and bitch about it when I get in my car.

96. Do you like colored pencils, crayons, or markers better?
Markers!

97. Do you want kids?
Once again, I say no now. Perhaps, one day I'll change my mind...

98. Whats your favorite color?
Blue or green.

99. Do you miss anyone right now?
Lots of people.

100. Is it better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all?
I love love and I'm glad to have felt it.

Much love,
Jonathan

100 Truths, Pt. 1

2009-06-28T22:48:00.000-04:00

1. Do you sleep with your closet doors open or closed?

Closed. No superstitions, I'm just OCD.

2. Do you keep grudges, or can you let them go easily?
I'd like to say that I don't hold grudges because wouldn't that make life somewhat extraordinary? But I guess it would depend on the situation. It takes A LOT for me to stay mad at someone. Mistakes happen, but when they happen three or four times following, then I'm like, "Really?!!!"

3. Do you sleep with your sheets tucked in or out?
Out. It's summertime. It's too hot to feel that constricted.

4. In a social setting, are you more of the talker or the listener?
Both. I'm usually a talker, but I love to listen.

5. Do you like to use post-it notes?
I have phases with post-its. My desk drawer is full of them. I'll use them every once in a blue moon, but when I do, I go to town with them.

6. Did you ever go to camp as a kid?
Yes. Band camps and theatre camps are the shiz!

7. Would you rather be attacked by a big bear or a swarm of a bees?
Bees. Bee stings are like pimples. I'd like to point out that this site claims that bears can grow to be 10 feet tall. Yeah...hell, no. Get me the fuck away from that!

8. Do you have freckles?
Nope. I think freckles are cute, though.

9. Do you always smile for pictures?
I try to.

10. When shopping at the grocery store, do you return your cart?
Yes. I absolutely HATE it when people just leave their cart in the middle of the parking lot.

11. Have you ever lied to get out of a date?
I don't think so.

12. How often do you read books?
Rarely. I'm an extremely picky reader.

13. Do you think more about the past, present, or future?
Haha. If I'm employed, I think about the present; I live day-by-day. But if I don't have a job, then I think about nothing but the future.

14. Do you ever dance even if there's no music playing?
Absolutely.

15. Do you chew your pens and pencils?
No. I did when I was in elementary school, though.

16. Do you have an "ex box" with pictures and letters from past?
No.

17. What size is your bed?
Twin, I believe. (Although, at my old apartment, I had a king-size bed. It. Was. Glorious!)

18. What do you buy at the movies?
I usually don't get popcorn and concessions unless I'm completely famished.

19. Hugs or kisses?
Both. Mostly hugs.

20. Do you still watch cartoons?
Yes. Some of the BEST shows on television are cartoons. Family Guy, American Dad, South Park, and Arthur the Aardvark...

21. What is your favorite flower?
Roses, I guess. Maybe not. I don't really have a favorite flower. They're all pretty.

22. Do you drink whole or skim milk?
Neither. It's been a few years since I've had milk.

23. What do you drink with dinner?
Some sort of juice, water, lemonade, or tea.

24. What do you dip a chicken nugget in?
Zax Sauce.

25. What is your favorite food?
Italian food. I love spaghetti, pizza, and lasagna!!!

26. What movies could you watch over and over and still love?
I have several favorite movies, but Moulin Rouge is the only one I can think of that I can watch on repeated viewings.

27. Last person you kissed/kissed you?
Jana. We were playing that "Are you really going to kiss?" game and, well, we really did.

28. Were you ever a boy/girl scout?
Yes. It didn't last long.

29. Would you ever strip or pose nude in a magazine?
Never say never, but probably not.

30. When was the last time you wrote a letter to someone on paper?
Last week.

31. Can you change the oil on a car?
I can. I need to do it again in about 3,000 more miles too.

32. Ever gotten a speeding ticket?
No. Them po-po ain't never gonna get me!

33. Ran out of gas?
Only once, in high school.

34. Favorite kind of sandwich?
A Reuben from Jason's Deli or a Red Robin cheeseburger.

35. Best thing to eat for breakfast?
Breakfast isn't my candy, babe.

36. What is your usual bedtime?
Anywhere between 11pm-4am. Whenever the Tylenol PM kicks in, ya know...

37. Who did you spend at least two hours with today?
My puppy.

38. When you were a kid, what did you dress up as for Halloween?
See this entry.

39. Do you make your bed daily?
Every single day, even if no one ever sees it.

40. How many languages can you speak?
I took German for two years and French for a semester. But I got nothing.

41. Do you have any magazine subscriptions?
No. I wish I still had my Entertainment Weekly subscription, though. I LOVE that magazine.

42. Which are better: Legos or Lincoln Logs?
Legos. Once you build your first log cabin with Lincoln Logs, you're pretty much satisfied for the rest of your life.

43. Are you stubborn?
Only about objectives. I'm pretty flexible with ideals and beliefs.

44. Do you prefer to call or text?
Neither. I hate cell phones. But I prefer calling people, even though I text more.

45. Ever watch soap operas?
No. I think I'd prefer reality shows to soap operas. And I HATE reality shows. Heh.

46. Afraid of heights?
Not really.

47. Sing in the car?
All the damn time.

48. When did you last get in an arguement?
It's been a while, but I'm sure I wrote about it on this blog.

49. Dance in the car?
Yep. I jam in the Cam.

50. Ever used a gun?
I've fired a BB gun and a paintball gun. Do those really count as guns, though?

Part II coming soon...

Much love,
Jonathan

Happy 100th Post!

2009-06-26T22:09:00.000-04:00

1. I finished my job at Georgia Ensemble Theatre today. The showcase was glorious. I was so proud of the students and my fellow staff members.

2. In this entry, I predicted that I would eventually get some sleep and possibly a martini. Tonight, I intend on sleeping for 10+ hours. And when the staff went out to eat, after our day was through, what was the first drink I ordered? A Grape Fusion Martini.

3. I'm hopping to another camp and company in July. Here we go again!

4. I'm back at my parents' house and they're off on another vacation. The entire house in MINE!!! MWAHAHAHAHA!

5. This was my 100th post, so I gave my blog a makeover. Next Saturday, July 4, is the one year anniversary of the Genesis of this blog! Woo! I think another martini is in order!

Much love,
Jonathan

Reckoning

2009-06-25T22:23:00.000-04:00

What's up:

This has been a long ass day. Another good day, but I definitely feel as if I've been hit by a mack truck. First off, Rachel Holmes. Good Lord, has there ever been a kinder human being?! Having breakfast and catching up with one of the most talented, young singers in the nation was definitely the highlight of my morning. (Anyone who knows Rachel can vouch for me. She's the next Kristin Chenoweth!)

From our Spelling Bee days...

What's on the horizon:
More of these goofballs...

Check this out:
Another work in progress, here is the middle school group with "You Can't Stop the Beat" from Hairspray. This was taken earlier in the week, so I'm going to try and record the final product tomorrow in hopes that it will be much cleaner and louder. (Try and find the nod to the original choreography.) Also, poor Brian is the only boy in this group. But as you can tell, he definitely holds his own. He's the best.

Love,
Jonathan

The Journey

2009-06-24T19:44:00.000-04:00

What's up:
I teach three classes a day. Each class is a different level- elementary, middle, and high school. Unbeknownst the students, each level was taught a different degree of musical theatre.

Elementary- Song & Blocking/Light Choreography
Middle- Song & Dance
High- Dance

All three styles are pertinent to the musical theatre world. But all of the students were taught "Seasons of Love" from RENT, and just like the five billion other kids that were ever taught this song, it was staged in a very choral arrangement. Along with a handful of other songs and dances, everyone also had brief seminars in the history of musical theatre. We shuffled through the past six decades and the musicals that fell into them. What were they about? Who wrote them? When were they written? I'm telling ya, these kids were getting some hardcore lectures every day and never complained.

The middle school kids + interns.

The high school peeps.

What's AWESOME about these two photos is that I had my camera ready and at the very end of their songs, I yelled, "FREEZE!" This is how they ended up. No adjusting for the photo or anything. PERFECTION!

What's on the horizon:
Sleep. Possibly a martini.

Check this out:

This is what the elementary kids will be presenting to their parents. I'm posting this because they are just so gosh darn cute. (The ones on the right are older interns, therefore they are not 3rd graders that are freakishly 6-feet tall.) I love them all.

Love,
Jonathan

Survival Guide

2009-06-22T19:57:00.000-04:00

What's up:

After this post, I'm only three entries away from my 100th post. I think this blog is in need of a makeover. My last entry also featured the last of my episode titles from LOST, so now I'm reaching into the LOST clip show episodes. You know...those episodes that aren't really episodes, they're just recaps of what we've already seen? Perhaps if you take a closer look, you might catch something you missed the first time around...

Everyone, I'd like for you to meet my sister, Allison.

Well, no. It's not Allison. It's me...BUT I HAVE A GOOD EXPLANATION. When I was in high school, I had to participate in "Hell Week" to be inducted into Thespian Society. There was a Musical Day and all of the guys had to dress like girls and all of the girls had to dress like...girls. (Bitches!) Anyway, Chicago had just come out in theaters and I was selected to be Velma Kelly.

Here's another picture of me showing off my body in a size 3 dress. I shit you not, Courtney Godwin (beside me, as Roxie Hart) loaned me her dress and it fit perfectly. It was kind of sick.

What's on the horizon:
I have no clue.

Check this out:
Laser Portraits! Remember those 90's elementary school photos we took with those "cool" lasers in the background. Well, here is a hilarious site dedicated entirely to portraits with lasers. If you go to the site now, Jason Mraz has just submitted his 6th grade laser photo to the site. (He's added it to his blog, as well.)

Love,
Jonathan

The Incident

2009-06-21T15:32:00.000-04:00

What's up:
Almost exactly a month ago, I had an interview with my (soon-to-be) boss at Georgia Ensemble Theatre. The interview was for a teaching position at their summer theatre camps. It was rough. It was probably the worst employment interview I've ever had. Following the interview, I told my friends about it how awkward it was, I even wrote a brief blog about it, and now I'm finally following up on what exactly happened.

The following is a reenactment of a portion of the interview. It also features Summer McCusker as my employer. Enjoy the awkwardness...

Obviously, following an interview like that, I really didn't want to work there. Not because of the job or my employer (who is a VERY nice guy, by the way), but because I was mortified after that interview. However, a week later, I got the call asking to be the musical theatre teacher leading me to think, "What the fuck?!"

With that mindset, I wanted to make it my goal to blow by boss out of the water. I didn't want him to regret hiring that batty kid he met in the interview. I had a month to prepare, this time. As previously mentioned in past entries, I observed at the Springer Academy, retaught myself to loosely play the piano, and I just got my shit together.

What's on the horizon:
As it turns out, this is one of the best experiences I've ever had and it's not even over. The past few entries have glossed over the positive energy I've felt, this last week. I'm having a blast and keeping my fingers crossed that this week will be just as lovely as last week.

Check this out:
My sister's boyfriend, Eric, became even cooler on Friday night. That evening, I went drinking with the two of them in L5P and here's where the conversation became mind-blowing...

Eric: What shows did you see when you were in New York last time?
Jonathan: Ummm... Shrek the Musical, Pal Joey, The Little Mermaid...
Eric: Oh! The Little Mermaid at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre.
Jonathan: Yeah, ummm...what other shows have been there...?
Eric: Beauty and the Beast, The Sound of Music...
Jonathan: ...wait! That's awesome! How do you know all that?
Eric: Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne were like my great-great grandparents.
Jonathan: Are you kidding me?!!!
Eric: Well...either great-great grandparents or great-great-great grandparents...
Jonathan: Are you fucking kidding me?!!!
Allison: Yeah. Duh, Jonathan. You didn't know Eric's last name is Lunt?!
Jonathan: No! OH MY GOD! That's AWESOME!

Is that not the shiz or what?!!! BAHHHHH! That's so cool!

Love,
Jonathan

ps. Happy Father's Day, Mr. Dad!

Follow the Leader

2009-06-19T07:58:00.000-04:00

What's up:
Yesterday could not have been a better day. Infinite love & gratitude, indeed. Georgia Ensemble Theatre was great, the Alliance Theatre EPA went very well (or so I thought), and all of the kitties and puppies I'm taking care of definitely behaved themselves. It felt good to be back in downtown Atlanta. I'm sure I was just glowing by 5:30pm when everything was over. The only thing I had to worry about was getting home and getting some sleep.

Might I add, traffic was even minimal in Atlanta. This NEVER happens! It was one of those special days where I caught every green light and I was able to drive 80 M.P.H. all the way to Roswell. The most stressful part of the day was not the audition itself, but actually getting to the audition. I had only an hour to get to the Alliance from GET. And if anyone who has ever driven on 400 or I-75/85 South at 4:00pm, it is almost an impossible feat to get to your destination on time. But by breaking a few traffic laws (driving in the HOV lane, swerving in & out at top speeds, etc.), I made it to the Woodruff with 15 minutes to spare. I do not recommend driving recklessly, though. I'm fairly certain I would have been issued five or six tickets if I had been spotted by the po po!

After the events of the afternoon, I began to finally make those Infinite Love & Gratitude phone calls. I wasn't able to make it to a lot of people, but I did manage to leave messages and chat with far away friends. I loved ILG Day, I'll do my best to maintain ILG today. (I just can't afford flowers and doughnuts to give to random people every day.)

What's on the horizon:
Finishing up my first week at Georgia Ensemble Theatre. I have told a lot of people that this has been such a wonderful surprise. I was very open about how nervous and reserved I was in taking this job because I don't, nor would I ever, consider myself an educator. I did not go to school to be a teacher and the only time in my life when I wanted to be a teacher was a long time ago. But I'm having such a great time. No, I would not want to do this for a living but I'm having a blast teaching these small camps and such. It actually REALLY bums me out when we don't finish our dance/music/history lesson in each class because the kids are really understanding and enjoying the time spent on musical theatre. It's such a broad and vast subject, we'll never run out of material. Woo hoo! And if we don't finish our daily goal, we'll at least have something to look forward to the next day.

BAAHHHHH! I'll just say it- I LOVE MY JOB!!!

Check this out:

Jorge Garcia's blogspot! You know Hurley from LOST? Well, he has his own blog and it's the bee's knees. He never talks about the show, but he writes about his travels during for the show's premieres, screenings, etc. He's one quirky guy. He'll write entire entries about cheeseburgers, statues, and flowers.

Exercising with Pup-Pup has now become a daily routine. =)

Love,
Jonathan

The Variable

2009-06-17T11:49:00.000-04:00

What's up:

Tomorrow is Infinite Love & Gratitude Day! I plan to celebrate this day more than I would celebrate Easter, or Thanksgiving. Weird. It's such a great, yet simple, concept. It a day to love each other, love yourself, and give thanks to that love with something more than just a casual acknowledgment. Why don't we treat every day like this? If you read the list of 50 examples of what you can do for another person, it seems that all of them have something to do with giving. None of the examples are too time-consuming or expensive, some are even as simple as just smiling.

Tomorrow is a full day of action. I'll be waking up and going for a jog with my puppy. Then I intend on buying a bouquet of flowers for my co-workers at GET. There will, obviously, be a note explaining ILG Day and the meaning behind the madness, otherwise I'll probably get slapped with a harassment lawsuit. After teaching a few classes, I finally have that EPA audition with the Alliance Theatre. From then on, it's anybody's guess. I'll probably continue to spread the love and appreciation...

I am completely wiped out, but it's that productive feeling of being wiped out. I feel the most fit I've been in months. I've been on a simple exercise regime for the past few days. Wake up from 6-7. Jog a mile or two with pup. Go to work. Come home and take a dip in the pool. Sleep. (Oh! I eat somewhere in there, as well.) I guess the only downside to this plan is that I go to bed around 11 now.

What's on the horizon:
A good jog, a good day of inspiring children, a good audition, and a good night's sleep; one can only hope...

(If you haven't joined the ILG Facebook event, you can do so here!)

Check this out:
xkcd.com! This site is a collection of political/scholarly cartoons. Some of the prints are funny, some are just sweet. Here are a few examples:

I hope your day, tomorrow, is full of love and gratitude. Share your love with others. Then, make every day like tomorrow...

Love,
Jonathan

Some Like It Hoth

2009-06-15T20:21:00.000-04:00

What's up:

Today was an awesome, awesome, awesome day. Man, I wish I was a songwriter so I could write a song about today. I would go to a recording studio, record my "Awesome Day" song, have my voice be digitized like Britney Spears, and I'd probably skip all the way home.

But really...what a wonderful day. It was the first day of the summer camp session at Georgia Ensemble Theatre. I'm not going to go into my day because, frankly, who cares. I would like to give a big middle finger to my horoscope for today, though. Is it just me or is anyone else a hypocrite when it comes to astrology? If I see that my horoscope has some truth in it or if it's very optimistic, then I'll believe it. However, if it's a really unfortunate fortune, then horoscopes are most definitely crap! Today's horoscope gave me one of those "WTF?" moments, but I was happy to see that maybe the gods (or Chinese fortune cookie-makers) got it wrong.

I am teaching brilliant young actors and actresses, though. Awesome blossom!

What's on the horizon:
Let's hope that tomorrow is a repeat of today. I hope everyone has a good day, a good week, and a good night's sleep.

Check this out:

Georgia Ensemble Theatre! Might as well plug the company. It's an awesome facility and some great people work there. They are teaming up with Theatrical Outfit to present Cotton Patch Gospel this September.

I keep my life on a heavy rotation
Requesting that it's lifting you
Up, up, up and away...

Love,
Jonathan

Dead Is Dead

2009-06-14T02:00:00.000-04:00

What's up:

Growing up, my sister and I never really got along. (Go back and read #16) It was your typical brother-sister relationship times 12. We fought constantly and sometimes we would tear the entire house to shreds because we would throw stuff at each other. It was pretty bad. You can imagine how nightmarish it got when we were teenagers. To this day, we can't seem to put our fingers on the actual reason why never got along. Perhaps it was the restlessness of being at home because we are both very big dreamers.

When Allison went off to college, it was about the same. We just never spoke to each other. As in the case with anyone who wants to get away, I think she needed her freedom. Then when I went off to college, we began communicating again. But the kicker to our closer bond was actually LOST. As sad as it is, it was a common bond between the two of us. Once she started watching it, we called each other every week to discuss the previous episode. During the summer, or whenever it wasn't airing, we would still call each other to talk about our LOST withdrawals. Eventually, we found even more common interests and we talk to each other all the time now.

We've started inviting each other to various events and parties. She lives over in the Little 5 Points area, so seeing her is another reason to hang out in L5P. It's an awesome feeling now. I love her friends and apparently her friends see me as a "male version of Allison". Creepy? Summer met Allison a few weeks ago. And even though Allison's not my biological sister, Summer joked that we actually are related because we act so much alike. The more I'm around her, the more I see these similarities. We're very goofy, free-spirited people.

A couple of odd things about this picture:
Allison kind of looks like a boy. (That was my robe and hat)
We seem to be getting along.
I'm wearing a baseball jersey.
When I first looked at this photo, I thought we were holding a basketball and immediately thought, "Okay. This is definitely not us! Who are these athletic Asian kids?!"

What's on the horizon:
This Thursday (July 18) is Infinite Love & Gratitude Day. Dr. Darren Weissman said, "The most courageous way to move through life is by choosing to find the good in every instant." Join the event and celebrate what every day should be like, from here on out. If you would like some further research, go here and read a list of 50 things you could do to make this world a happier place. "Be the change you wish to see." - Mahatma Ghandi

Check this out:
I saw this AXE commercial on television and thought it was the creepiest thing I had ever seen. I think that mascot from Burger King has some competition for freakiest character in the commercial industry. Like, this is disturbing. Watch at your own risk. *shudders*

Love,
Jonathan

Whatever Happened, Happened

2009-06-13T00:27:00.001-04:00

What's up:

Other than playing with my Hello Kitty friend, my other favorite past time was definitely playing dress-up. Just like any other normal kid, I spent my entire childhood in fantasy land. However, just like any other confused kid, I dressed up in the wrong clothes. Oops!

This is a picture from when I was obsessed with The Wizard of Oz. (Go back and read #19) No joke, I would dress up like each of the characters (mainly the Wicked Witch) and stand at the end of my driveway and wave to cars as they drove by. I'm sure half of the people in those cars were like, "Awww. Look at the cute, little Asian boy." The others were like, "I hope his parents know he's probably going to be gay."

One Christmas, my parents wanted my sister and I to dress up like shepherds. I refused because, frankly, who gives a shit about shepherds?! I made my shepherd costume into a makeshift Cowardly Lion outfit.

In pre-school, I convinced my class that The Wizard of Oz was the greatest film ever made. So I persuaded a classmate to make her birthday party an Oz-themed costume party. She's probably looking back at her photos thinking, "Why the hell did I do that? I hate that movie!!!" I was the scarecrow.

I assume this next picture is from Halloween. But I hate to think THAT was my Halloween costume. I'm supposed to be the Tin Man. See that poof of cotton poking out from the top of the parking cone that's supposed to be the Tin Man's hat? Well, I always did that because it reminded me of that part in the movie where the Tin Man stops and poofs of smoke come from the hole in the top of his hat.

Well, I tried.

And last, but not least, how could I not go through my childhood without dressing up like a flying monkey?!

What's on the horizon:
I shall continue on with my nostalgic blogs...

Check this out:
Awkward Family Photos! This site was recommended by Ms. Kimberly Belflower. I sat and laughed my ass off for a good 15 minutes. Check it out and judge these people with me! Perhaps I should send in mine...

Love,
Jonathan

The 3-D Imax of My Mind...

NEW SITE!!!

AWA Cosplay 2010

The Last 7 Days...

*Weekly Video Diary*

JONOLOGY

Love & Gratipoop

"And I need you to know I am both happy and sad at the same time, and I'm still trying to figure out how that could be." -This quote from The Perks of Being a Wallflower captures my life PERFECTLY, right now!

Our New Home

*Weekly Video Diary*

July Update

Just Perks

LOST: The End

Everything!

April Answers

Rhymes with "Kitten"

Buzzkill

We Pray to the Lord Almighty, Jacob

Will I?

Lost What May

Cabbage Town Shoot

Poker Face

Tipsy Punkins

Secrets of LOST

Office Grizzle

All That Jazz

"Saving All My Love"

Are You Sure?

8 Bangs

Sorting Priorities

*Random Video Diary*

Early Morning Bits & Bobbles

Happy Year!

NINE

Ho ho ho?

Bit of Inspiration

Boing!

The AIDS Initiative

The LOST Phenomenon

Titanic

Away We Go

Finding Neverland

Rafflelicious!

Layer Cake, Pt. 2

Layer Cake

Cloverfield

The Butterfly Effect

The Hours

*Weekly Video Diary*

The Misadventures...

*Weekly Video Diary*

Rat Race

*Weekly Video Diary*

Face/Off

*Weekly Video Diary*

Music of the Heart

*Weekly Video Diary*

(500) Days of Summer

*Weekly Video Diary*

Revenge of the Nerds

*Weekly Video Diary*

The Day the Earth Stood Still

*Weekly Video Diary*

Born on the Fourth of July

Death at a Funeral

100 Truths, Pt. 2

100 Truths, Pt. 1

Happy 100th Post!

Reckoning

The Journey

Survival Guide

The Incident

Follow the Leader

The Variable

Some Like It Hoth

Dead Is Dead

Whatever Happened, Happened

Weekly Video Diary

Weekly Video Diary

Random Video Diary

Weekly Video Diary

Weekly Video Diary

Weekly Video Diary

Weekly Video Diary

Weekly Video Diary

Weekly Video Diary

Weekly Video Diary

Weekly Video Diary