Rob's Ramblings

 

 

If you have ever been involved in theater, you know what tech week means. It means a full week of intense rehearsals, late nights, and practically no life. My days will begin by waking up early to go to school, followed by my shift at B & G club, then on to the theater, and then home by approximately 10:00 or 10:30.  However, tech week also means 4 (hopefully) awesome performances, happy audiences, and lifelong memories with a cast of people who become like family. I would really appreciate your prayers this week. Tech week officially begins at 1:00 pm tomorrow, and will end the following Sunday evening.

 

Thanksgiving was a real blessing. It all started on Wednesday with the open house at my house. The hours were from 2-6, but we had people at our house all evening long, up until 10:30! It was a great day, and I so enjoyed having people come and visit, eat, and laugh. I really love hosting, and especially at the holiday season. My visitors enjoyed my Christmas décor, and seemed to enjoy the goodies as well. 

 

On Thursday, we went to visit family in Wichita, and had a great time. The food was off the chain!!  It's been a few years since I had the opportunity to spend time with these cousins, and we were glad to be there. On Friday, we went to visit some family in Salina, and had a good time there as well. On the down side, I was feeling really run-down and unwell, and spent a few hours sleeping it off. By the time I woke up, everybody was leaving, so that was a bummer. However, Christmas is coming soon, so hopefully I'll be back to 100% by then, and we can have more time to enjoy ourselves. My blood sugar levels spiked a little high, and that may have been what contributed to my feeling sick. However, I've gotten myself back on track, and am feeling better already.

 

I have much to do today, including getting groceries for next week, as I will not have time to do that over the next week. As much as I am thrilled to be a part of this play, I'm not looking forward to the late nights. I'm typically a 9:30-in-bed person. Again, your prayers are deeply appreciated. Pray for endurance, strength, and patience. I thank you for those prayers. I also thank you for taking the time from your day to read my sometimes-drab blog posts. Maybe I should be grateful that my life is uneventful....?  God bless you!! 

 

  

Rob's Ramblings

I am officially on Thanksgiving break as of last Friday. There are 2 days of inservice for certified personnel today and tomorrow, but since I am a para, I am not required to attend. Today and tomorrow are good days for collecting the last of my supplies for my Wednesday baking day. I believe I have everything I need, but I will be double-checking today to make sure it is all there, and there are a lot of ingredients that I need, considering all of the things that I am making. There is nothing worse than getting halfway through the mixing process and realizing that the needed ingredient is not there. Ugh! Been there. I live a few blocks from a Dillon's store, but still...not wanting to have to make that mad dash. I am starting the chocolate-covered cherries, peanut butter balls, and peanut clusters tomorrow, as they are the most time-consuming project. I'll prepare the remaining dishes on Wednesday.

I'd like to offer my open house one last time. On Wednesday, the day before Thanksgiving, I'm opening my home to people that would like to come by and sample the goodies I am making. The time is from 2-6. Originally, the time was from 2-5, but I am tacking an extra hour on the end to accommodate those who do not get off of work until 5. There have been several who requested this, and I am happy to help. I live at 721 East Avenue A in Hutch. Please feel free to come on out. Visitors will also be able to see my entryway room, which is all set up for Christmas. You'll get to see my Christmas trees, Santa collection, Nativity scenes, and my ever-growing Christmas village. I've never decorated like this before, so I'm excited for you to see it. I love Christmas, don't judge :-) 

I'm going to keep this post short, because I have much to do today, and I don't believe I'll have the chance to post again until after Thanksgiving. I'd like to take a second and ask that you consider stopping to write down (and count) your blessings. I have taken the time to do so. I am thankful for my family, home, church, friends, Tijuana, job, my church and school kiddos, car, and the list goes on and on. We never realize how fortunate we are until we stop to appreciate all that we DO have.  

I wish you a blessed Thanksgiving, full of fun and family. Thanks for reading, and God bless!

  

Rob's Ramblings

Let me begin by saying "Brrrr!" It totally snapped last Monday night, and it hasn't let up since. We actually received out first measurable snow last night. We had a dusting yesterday, but I actually had to shovel it this afternoon. I picked up a few bags of salt the other day, and I was glad I had it on hand to spread over the area I had shoveled.

Play rehearsals have become more intense as we draw closer to our December 4 opening curtain date. I was blessed with another part to play, that of a bad guy. It's one of Ralphie's fantasies where he saves the day. Everything has to be choreographed to the letter, or the scene won't work. I also have some dance moves to perform as well. Just for the record, I am NOT a dancer. I guess I don't have the mentality for it. I'm sure I look like a clumsy baboon on stage, but I'm having a fun time with it! I am now pretty comfortable with my Santa role, as I've had multiple times to rehearse it, and I have it down pretty good. My Santa role is that of an inebriated Santa, unlike the Santa portrayed in the movie. There is still much to work on, but it's coming together. I'm excited to see what we will look like at final dress. Pray and cross your fingers!

I have almost all that I need for my day of baking on the 26th of this month, the day before Thanksgiving. The only things that I have left is the flour, and items that spoil quickly, such as buttermilk, etc.  I like my flour to be bought fresh. I don't like it to sit out too long. I also use bread flour for all of my baking. It's just so much better. My open house is still on from 2pm until 5pm on the 26th. I'll have things out to eat, plus maybe some eggnog and hot chocolate. I am only announcing this on my blog, so if you read the blog, you'll know about it. Those that skip over it will miss it. It pays to read Rob's Ramblings!  :-)

 

Visitors to the open house will get to see my festively decorated front room. I will have my Christmas trees displayed, as well as my famous Christmas village. My village has grown into more of a metropolis! I have had to add an extra table this year to hold everything. I scored a few small buildings this past Fall at a garage sale. Last year's village was at the breaking point, so I will be glad to add some more acreage to the city limits. I will start bringing stuff downstairs and setting it up this Saturday after the downtown Christmas parade. The parade really gets me into the Christmas spirit. To those who say I'm putting it up too early, I don't care. :-)  Christmas is my favorite time of the year, and I like it to last as long as I can. So there! :-) I sure hope I have plenty of visitors and their families coming by. I love company.

 

I'm going to close out now. Play practice takes so much of my time, I'm using my spare evening to get stuff done. I plan to turn in early and get plenty of rest. After the play is over, I will be able to take full advantage and fully enjoy the Christmas season. God bless you, and thanks so much for reading!!

 



Rob's Ramblings: An invitation

I'll get to the invitation in a sec.

I haven't posted since my birthday, so I think it's high time I make myself know, and to let you all know that I'm alive and well, for the most part. Most of my time has been consumed with "A Christmas Story: The Musical," a show that I'll be a part of during the first weekend of December. I play the obnoxious Santa Claus at Higbee's. I have been working on my singing and speaking parts extensively. However, this evening, when I got onto stage to run my part, I totally blanked out. I'm not sure why, maybe it was doing this on stage for the first time. I know that I could not hear the lines of the other actors, so I know that's why I missed some cues. All in all, there is a lot of work to be done here. On a positive note, it's coming along, and it's going to be a great show! Are you coming? I'll be posting info on my Facebook page occasionally, so check that out.

I've also been struggling with a severe cough the past week. I can't seem to shake it. Although I think it is subsiding, it keeps me up at night, which can make for a pretty grumpy Rob in the morning. Despite medicine, medicine, and more medicine, the cough will not let go, and it's driving me totally out of my mind. Could I ask you to pray about that? It's also impeding my progress in the play.

It's coming down to crunch time as far as Thanksgiving is concerned. The day before Thanksgiving, I bake up a storm in the kitchen. On the menu are peanut butter balls, chocolate covered cherries, peppernuts, ooey gooey chocolate butter cake, black bottom (cappuccino-style) cupcakes, magic cookie bars, and peanut clusters. It's going to be a busy morning and afternoon, but I love it! Here's where that invitation comes in: On Wednesday, the day before Thanksgiving, I'll be having an open house from 2-5 for people to come by and sample the fare. I'll have the entire front room decorated for Christmas. My trees will be set up, as will my Christmas village. I love to entertain guests, so this is my personal invitation for you to visit my home at 721 East Avenue A and get some sweet treats. Please come by! :-)

I took some cough medicine a while ago, and it's starting to kick my tail, so I'm going to close out for now. Sorry it's such a short posting, but I hope you enjoyed the update! God bless!