Dale Miller

I stayed late yesterday evening at UALR to watch a production of Samuel Beckett’s “Endgame”. I appreciated the quality of the play, but I’m not entirely sure I can say I enjoyed it. That’s partially because I didn’t really understand it. I knew absolutely nothing about it going in, so experienced it with a fresh outlook. This morning I did a bit of reading and still can’t say I understand it, but at least I seem to be on par with a large number of people. That makes me feel better.

As a person who actually reads the programs, I have something I need to go research (or at least ask questions). The program contained the sentence “The photographing, sound or video recording of any performance of the possession of any device for such recording inside the theatre without written permission of the management is prohibited by law.” While there are some portions of copyright legislation which could apply to video or audio recordings of plays, it would be difficult to apply them to photographs. And I’m curious as to a law which would prohibit possession of recording devices. I’m reasonably certain a majority of the audience possessed such devices in the form of cell phones with cameras, voice recorders, etc.

I also found the latecomers policy mildly amusing: “The curtain goes up on time at this theatre. …” This is an arena theatre with no curtain, and the play started ten minutes late.

To continue my week of strangeness, Tuesday evening I had a very enjoyable dinner with a beautiful woman, Wednesday evening I went to see a movie (Coraline in 3D), and today I was again feeling bad enough to miss both work and choir rehearsal.

It will be interesting to see how the rest of the week turns out.

There was a roller-skating party sponsored by one of the LBL teams on Saturday night. Unusually enough for me, I attended. It started at 11:30 P.M — long past my bedtime. I napped during the day and was awake and coherent until around 3:00 a.m., when I simply couldn’t keep going. I actually had a good time, and didn’t come away from the party feeling depressed, also unusual for me.

I’m afraid I paid the price yesterday and today, though. I’ve been feeling lousy — headache, body ache, and yes, a bit of depression. I didn’t go to work today, and even missed class, which is something I try very hard not to do.

The other odd thing I did today was have alcohol. I had purchased the makings of an Albino Vampire several weeks ago, after reading about it in “Dancing With Werewolves”. I was planning on trying it out at a party, but decided to see how it tasted. It’s not bad. I shall probably have more, but not while home alone. That would be a bad habit to form.

In any case, I’m somewhat better this evening and will almost certainly be back at work tomorrow.

What have you done?

(x) Gone on a blind date
(x) Skipped school
( ) Watched someone die
(x) Been to Canada
(x) Been to Mexico
(x) Been to Florida
(x) Jumped off a cliff
( ) Bungee jump
( ) parasailed
(x) Been to Hawaii
(x) Been on a plane
(x) Flown a plane
( ) Been on a helicopter
(x) Been lost
(x) Gone to Washington, DC
(x) Swam in the ocean
(x) Cried yourself to sleep
(x) Played cops and robbers
(x) Recently colored with crayons
(x) Sang Karaoke
(x) Paid for a meal with coins only
(x) Been to the top of the St. Louis Arch
( ) been to NewYork City at Xmas time
(x) Done something you told yourself you wouldn’t
(x) Made prank phone calls
(x)Been down Bourbon Street in New Orleans
(x) Laughed until some kind of beverage came out of your nose & elsewhere
(x) Caught a snowflake on your tongue
(x) Danced in the rain
(x) Written a letter to Santa Claus
( ) Been kissed under the mistletoe
(x) Watched the sunrise with someone
(x) Blown bubbles
(x) Gone ice-skating
(x) Gone to the movies
(x) Been deep sea fishing
(x) Driven across the United States
( ) Been in a hot air balloon
( ) Been sky diving
( ) Gone snowmobiling
( ) Lived in more than one country
(x) Lay down outside at night and admired the stars
(x) Seen a falling star and made a wish
(x) Enjoyed the beauty of Old Faithful Geyser
( ) Been on a cruise
(x) Traveled by train
( ) Traveled by motorcycle
(x) Been horse back riding
(x) Ridden on a San Francisco CABLE CAR
(x) Been to Disney World
(x) Been in a rain forest
(x) Seen whales in the ocean
( ) Been to Niagara Falls
( ) Ridden on an elephant
( ) Swam with dolphins
( ) Been to the Olympics
( ) Walked on the Great Wall of China
(x) Saw and heard a glacier crack
(x) Been water-skiing
( ) Been snow-skiing
( ) Been to Westminster Abbey
( ) Been to the Louvre
( ) Swam in the Mediterranean
( ) Seen the Great Barrier Reef
(x) Been scuba diving
( ) Been to a Major League Baseball game
( ) Been to a National Football League game
(x) Been skinny-dipping
(x) Laughed so hard you cry
( ) Followed a map for treasure
( ) Driven a dune buggy

Mainly as an exercise in using the Blackboard system, my modern dance instructor assigned an introductory paper. We were supposed to tell a bit of our history, our dance experience and something unique about ourselves. I decided to have a bit of fun with it, and here’s the result:

That which is Dale
Many years ago, in a town named after a small stone, a boy named Dale was born. Dale was, not to mince words, a nerd. While Dale was in high school, he made his one appearance on stage as a dancer — waltzing in the background during a scene in a production of “Calamity Jane”. Dale went on through life, occasionally doing sound or lighting for church productions, but only rarely setting foot on the stage. Dale earned his fifteen minutes of fame in his regular life, simply by dressing funny. This led to a badly-written feature in the “National Enquirer”, filled with misquotes and half truths. On the basis of that feature, Dale was booked on the then-famous talk show “Sally”, and the mostly-obscure talk show “The Other Half”. He also made appearances in “Jane” magazine, and a local author’s book “Sex in the South”. Due to his television appearances, Dale has a Bacon Number of 3 (not supported by documentation since IMDB doesn’t list talk-show guests). Dale works at a metropolitan university and therefore can take classes at a vastly reduced rate. He takes advantage of that fact whenever possible. In 2005, knowing nothing about it, but figuring it might be a good way to meet women, Dale signed up for Jazz Dance 1. Dale didn’t get any dates, but discovered that dancing was great fun. He went on to take Ballet 1 (twice), Modern 1, Tap 1, and Theatre dance. He’s still not very good at dancing, but still enjoys it. He’s presently taking Modern 1 again, and hopes to improve his skills and just have fun with it.

For the second time in two weeks I’ve been jolted awake in the early morning hours because I think I hear someone in the room saying my name. The first time it was a woman’s voice and this morning it was a man’s. In neither case, fortunately, was there anyone here, but it’s a very strange feeling.

Since I’ve been tagged (on facebook) by two people to complete this latest meme, here goes.

25 RANDOM THINGS
Rules: Once you’ve been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the

end, choose at least 25 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you.

If I tagged you, it’s because I want to know more about you. (To do this, go to “notes” under tabs on your profile page, paste these

instructions in the body of the note, type your 25 random things, tag 25 people (in the right hand corner of the app) then click

publish.

1. I’m presently enrolled in a modern dance class.

2. I have lived all my life in Arkansas.

3. I have no problem speaking in front of a room full of people, but get very nervous when talking to one new person (especially if she’s cute).

4. My refrigerator is mostly covered in magnets.

5. I have a large collection of Trivial Pursuit sets.

6. I own over 3000 paperback books which I have read, and a few dozen more that I haven’t yet.

7. I have a BS in Computer Science with a minor in Music.

8. My toaster, mixer, and waffle iron are each older than I am.

9. I own a rifle, but haven’t fired it in at least 30 years.

10. I am a pack-rat, but I’m trying to cut down.

11. I hold a private pilot license.

12. I can correctly use the words its, it’s, your, you’re, lose and loose.

13. I’m lonely.

14. My favorite dessert is chocolate icebox pie.

15. I have three cats living with me.

16. I have appeared on national television.

17. I rarely wear clothing when I am at home.

18. I cannot stand cigarette smoke in any amount.

19. I have eaten too many Tim-Tams in the past month.

20. I have played kickball while dressed as a Catholic schoolgirl (among many other odd outfits).

21. There is an above-ground swimming pool in my backyard.

22. I really, really don’t like spiders.

23. I’m scared to ask women out on dates.

24. The first computer I built involved a soldering iron and an X-acto knife to rewire the circuit boards for alternate ROM chips.

25. My house needs new carpet.