STATE OF THE ALLES ADDRESS – 11/8/10

First off, thanks for all of the birthday wishes on Facebook. Corny as it sounds, it was extremely cool to have all of those well wishes come streaming through. All hail the glory of FB. J

This being my 36^th birthday, it's not so much of a milestone (compared to any other year), because really, at this point, all you have are the "5's" to truly celebrate and/or dread. That being said, I figured I could quickly take stock of where things are and make some projections for next year. I can group everything into "thankful" and "hopeful" categories (helps when your birthday is relatively close to Thanksgiving).

THANKFUL

I'm thankful for my beautiful, loving, patient wife Camille. The eight years we have been together (seven as a married couple) have been, collectively, the greatest period in my life. Even through the rough times, I can truly say that I have always been married to my best friend and soul mate.

I'm thankful for my immediate family and in-laws. I appreciate the support and fellowship I get from my brother Kent; sisters Mary, Jaime, and Kim; and brother- and sister-in-laws Don, Carla, Brian, Colette, Brent, and Paula. I'm glad they're all relatively close to us, location wise, so it's easy to stay close with them. I'm thankful my parents Gordy and Yvonne and Camille's parents Bob and Charlotte are all in relatively good health and still of great support to us. I'm thankful to have seven wonderful nieces and nephews – Zach, Cayla, Robert, Sasha, Hailey, Wes, and Katelyn - that are all joys in my life. I'm thankful that Grandma Chris has found new happiness with Mel. I'm thankful for the continued love and support from my "step" family – Deb, Grandpa and Grandma VanDyke, and the rest of the VanDyke family – to be honest, at this point they're all family to me – don't really even think in terms of "step" anymore. All of my aunts, uncles, and other family members – I am truly blessed in this area.

I'm thankful to have a job (especially at a time when many do not) that challenges me. I'm thankful that GRCC and Davenport still allow me to continue to pursue my original love, education, even if it is as a "gun for hire" as an adjunct faculty member.

I'm thankful for the great people I get to work with in theater, whether it's Red Hand for the murder mysteries, Thebes Players for the other drama opportunities, and all of the other talented people I get to work with to keep that part of my life active.

I'm thankful for all of my great friends: the ones close to me here in Michigan and the other ones I still keep in touch with across the country. I'm thankful they continue to allow me to be a part of their lives, in whatever small or large amount.

I'm thankful for my continued relationship with God.

HOPEFUL

I'm hopeful that I can continue to work on reducing my weight and getting in better shape. I really want to finally be in good health and be around for Camille and any other additions to the family.

I'm hopeful that my Grandma Alles continues to recover as quickly as possible from her stroke.

I'm hopeful that Camille and I will finally be able to realize the possibility of having a child of our own. I think we are realistic about our possibilities at this stage in the game, but we remain optimistic that God has a plan for us in this area, as we know that we both have a lot of love and guidance to give.

I'm hopeful that I will continue my development in my current work role(s); and, at the same time, continue to explore other areas for development, both personally and professionally.

I'm hopeful that anyone who is reading this finds positivity and hope in their own lives. We live in troubled times, to be sure. I hope that whatever people have for support, guidance, and faith serves them well this year as well.

I'm hopeful that I didn't forget anybody or anything I should have mentioned in either of these two categories. If so, I'm truly sorry, but at 36 years of age, the memory ain't exactly what it used to be…

385

Today is day 1 of the "Get Back on Track" with the diet. Weight is shown above. I'm going to be using the Weight Watchers plan as my guide, since that's what's worked best for me in the past. Also going to make sure I get to the Y as much as I can this week... working with a new trainer there and need to get back on track in the exercise department as well.

As I don't really feel like paying to attend meetings, but I still realize I need to have some accountability, I'll use Alles in Wonderland as my "weekly weigh in." I'll be recording my weight updates here weekly, and if I miss one, feel free to call me on it, Rabbit Holers (all three of you :) ).

According to an online BMI calculator, 178 would be considered a "healthy" weight for my height, but to start with attainable goals I'm going to use Weight Watchers' 5% and 10% targets, which would be 366 (19 pounds lost) and 346 (39 pounds) respectively. Hopefully I can reach those relatively quickly and then beyond. As I approach age 36 next week, I realize that I can't be at this weight very much longer (not that I should have been at this weight *at all*, but here we are). Need to get healthy so when the apocalypse hits on December 21, 2012, I will be one of the survivors. (Ha ha.)

Anyway, we'll keep you posted. In the meantime, as Stan Lee says, "Excelsior!"

Quick DVD Reviews - 5/3/10

Quick DVD reviews from movies I watched this past weekend.

"It's Complicated" - very funny, mostly due to the actors involved - Alec Baldwin, Meryl Streep, and Steve Martin, so I was sold. :) Typical Nancy Meyers film. GRADE: B

"9" (animated film - not the musical). Visually stunning, so-so story. I think it had some of the problems as "Wall-E" with having the focus on a non-human cast. GRADE: B

"Land of the Lost." Dinosaur dung. Absolutely terrible. Will Ferrell can't do too many more of these (looking at you, "Semi-Pro") or he'll be derailed. Even the usually solid Danny McBride (“Eastbound and Down”) and the lovely Anna Friel (from the late, lamented “Pushing Daisies”) couldn’t save this one. At least the old Sid&Marty Kroft production from the 70's has kitsch value. This has nothing. GRADE: F

A MODERN FABLE

The old dilapidated high-rise apartment building stuck out like an eyesore in the middle of the formerly gleaming city. People would walk past it and shake their heads. They couldn’t believe that people were still living in there, after all those years. “They have no choice,” some would say. “What is the alternative? To die in the streets?”

So, after many years, a decision was made. Something had to be done about the old dilapidated high-rise apartment building. That eyesore couldn’t be the representation of the gleaming city that people would point at, shake their heads, and sadly laugh. Something had to be done.

The city council met in their large chamber. One council member had the idea to just blow the darn thing up and start from scratch. “No, no, no,” the other council members said. “We can’t do that. There are people in that building! Where are they supposed to live while we build a new high-rise apartment building from the ground up?”

A second city council member had the idea to build a brand-new high-rise apartment building on TOP of the old high-rise apartment building. Many on the city council nodded their heads in agreement. “Yes, yes!” they cried. “The people can live in the NEW high-rise apartment building, on the top floors! That will solve the problem!”

A third city council member replied, “But won’t we still have all the problems of the old high-rise apartment building? We can’t afford to pay the rent on what we have right now. How are we going to pay for a new high-rise apartment building on top of the old high-rise apartment building?”

“Be quiet!” the other council members shouted. “You don’t care about the people! They have to live in the squalor of the old high-rise apartment building! They DESERVE to live in the top floors of our NEW high-rise apartment building!”

The third city council member calmly replied again, “Well, I tell you what. We all know what parts of the high-rise apartment building need fixing. Why don’t we work on those parts one at a time, until the high-rise apartment building is restored to its former glory?”

“NO!” the other council members retorted. “That would take too long! Those people NEED a NEW high-rise apartment building NOW! And we’re going to build it on top of the old high-rise apartment building… no matter what it costs… no matter if we can afford it right now or not… and then everything will be fine!”

The council streamed out of the council room, cheering their decision. The third city planner remained behind, shaking his head sadly and remembering a story he once heard about mansions built on sand…

Written and Directed by Brent Alles
Produced by Yvonne Alles

Auditions in March 2011
Rehearsals in March and April 2011
Performances May 5-8, 2011 – Lowell Performing Arts Center, Lowell High School, Lowell, MI

Yes, I know I’m a little early with in this announcement, but I’m excited. :)

More details to come in the months ahead, faithful collaborators.

BGA

Favorite Comic Book Moments of All Time - #1

Florida - the Wrap-Up

OK, so Days 7-11 in a nutshell. :)

Epcot was quite cool... makes one optimistic for the future, only when you realize it's a Disney fantasy, cuz we ain't never gettin' to that Future World. :)

Had fun visiting my grandmother in Winter Haven. Glad we could keep her company for a while and I'm always amused when she and her friends legitimise the stereotypes about Florida senior citizen life. :)

Solid rain on Thursday and Friday... my mom had an absolute time of it in the air. We picked her up in Orlando once she finally arrived 3 hours and 45 minutes after she was supposed to. We gave a ride to her hearing impaired seat mate to Winter Haven... can't make this stuff up, folks.

Our own slight delay and difficulty in Sanford, and we returned safe and sound. As much as I love Florida (for what it is), it always pleases me to return to the state I've called home for 30 years now (5 in Syracuse, you know).