My Photography is all over NYC!

I had the privilege of attending graduate school with some pretty tallented people. One of whom is Afton Williamson. She made her Broadway debut a few months after we graduated in August Wilson's play Joe Turner's Come and Gone. Now she's featured in the new cast of David Mamet's Race. I learned of her latest gig when I saw this commercial on TV the other night:


Cool right? They flashed her face across the screen and I thought "Oh my God! That's Afton! I'd recognize those eyes anywhere." Then I thought "Wait a minute. Not only do I recognize her face but I think I know that photograph. Did I take that picture? Is that one of the headshots I took of her back in school??" So I dragged out my external hard drive, searched thru my files and sure enough I found it! You see, I'd offered to take free headshots for all my classmates before we left Alabama. It was sort of an graduation present and several of them took me up on the offer. So now one of my photographs is plastered on subway posters, displayed in front of a Broadway theatre, being aired on TV all over the NYC area and is on the website for a Broadway show! I'm so proud!! :)

I'm hoping to do some more headshot photography this summer while I'm in NYC. If you anyone who needs new photos please feel free to pass on my information. My rates are vary reasonable starting at just $50 (!) and I'm more than happy to create a custom package to suit the client's needs. You can see a small gallery of my work over at my smugmug page here: http://themikejonesphotos.smugmug.com

Only in Florida

Only in Florida (otherwise known as God's waiting room) can you fine 2 dicarded empty tubes of Bengay on the sidewalk. If only I'd snagged a picture of that. Instead look at this: These are everywhere I look down here. It's begining to look a lot like Christmas ALREADY!!





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Location:Independent Dr,Jacksonville,United States

Hello muddah, hello faddah...

Here I am at.. Camp Granada

HELLO FROM JACKSONVILLE FLORIDA!  Today was the first day of Camp Broadway and my dogs are BARKIN'! It was a crazy day and I learned a lot.  I feel much better prepared for tomorrow and beyond. :)

Working for Camp Broadway and temping at the Fresh Air Fund a few months back has given me food for thought.  Why did I never go to camp when I was a kid?  I never went swimming in a lake full of other campers or  slept in a log cabin full of bunk beds.  Why not?  Ultimately I think it's because 1) I didn't really want to go to camp. I was too shy.  2) We lived in rual Tennessee and we would go "camping" as a family and 3) we didn't go to church so there were not "youth group" organized camping ventures or Christian camps in my life.  If there was ever a camp I did want to go to it was Space Camp!  Of course, I still want to go to Space Camp.  I wonder if there's a program for adults?  Hmm.

In any case, I'm totally in camp now.  It's not Space Camp.  It's not wilderness camp (although I could go swimming in the hotel pool).  I'm totally immersed in theater camp it's pretty amazing.  Watching the kids discover their own talents and have fun singing and dancing is a lot of fun!  Don't get me wrong- it's not a stress free work environment but it is certainly a rewarding one.  

Great weekend!

I had a great weekend! It all started Friday night with a delicious dinner with friends at Yum Yum too. Mmm. Then Saturday we got up and drove into upstate New York to visit Diane. It was beautiful! I learned that a horizon line with the Catskill Mountains looks shockingly like the Smoky Mountains. I felt like I as back home. :) We knew that the Woodstock site is somewhere up there too so we set out to find it. We did! It was VERY cool! There was a museum and everything. :) We ended the day back at Diane's roasting marshmallows over a camp fire. What a wonderful day! Thankfully we didn't see any coyotes. Sunday was much less dramatic-- filled with Puppy Kindergarten & mall shopping. :)

Talky Blog

themikejones's webcam video April 09, 2010, 07:51 PM

Shameless Self Promotion

My first NYC show is closing this weekend!  Make sure you all come check out The Crucible at The Gallery Players before it's too late. :)

Details @ http://galleryplayers.com/plays/crucible

Back To The Ole Blog

I posted a Facebook status yesterday asking my friends if I should start blogging again.  So far the response seems pretty positive.  I've enjoyed blogging in the past and I think I should keep up with it more.  So- I sat down at my computer and opened ScribeFire (the program I use to blog) and I found a blog entry that I'd typed back in January.  I'm not sure why I never posted it.  It's not terrible- just a little random.  Here it is:

                                                                                   
Written in Early January:

"I Love These Spoons"

I'm back in Cincinnati Ohio after 3 months of working out of town.  I'm happy to be back here-- though the apartment seems empty without Tim (who's visiting family and friends in Massachusetts.)  We spent some time at my parents house in Tennessee last week.  I was there for a total of one week- just the right amount of time for me to get cabin fever and want to be in my own apartment again.  It's weird sleeping in your childhood bedroom on an air mattress.  

A few minutes ago I was unpacking some groceries left over from tour and I saw that Mom had packed some homemade chili in with them.  The sight of it made me smile.  I popped it into the microwave to heat it up.  It took me a second to remember which drawer in which to find a spoon but as soon as I picked it up the tactile memory was perfect.  I love these spoons.  They have a great weight to them.  Nice and solid but not too heavy.  These are our spoons.  :) I like being home. 

Of course "home" is relative.  Soon Tim and I are moving to THE city.  I can't wait to call New York my new home!  More on that soon. :)


                                                                                   


"More on that soon"??  Not exactly, right?  I'm not sure why I abandoned my blog.  I guess I got caught up in the move-- which was EPIC by the way.  And then I've spent the last couple of months getting acclimated in our new home.  New York City is amazing.  It's kind of everything at once.  It can be absolutely inspiring to walk thru the theatre district and see how much is happening here.  I love that I can go see shows like The Adamms Family in previews and see something that none of my friends have had the chance to yet-- a new Broadway musical that hasn't even opened yet!  At the same time it can be frustrating as it's a difficult theatre community to really break into.  I'm doing my best, however.  I'm working Off-Off Broadway right now on a production of The Crucible.  It's going quiet well actually.  And I'm sending out my resume constantly for the next gig. 

The other thing about New York City that I love is the food!  It seems like everything I eat here is AMAZING!  From the cheap diners & corner delis to the kitchy burger joints and authentic ethnic places it's all DELICIOUS.  And it's all available at any time-- and for delivery.  Thank god I'm poor-- otherwise I'd be gaining a lot of weight here.

I guess that's all I have to say for now.  I need to go call half hour. 

Update

This blog entry is LONG overdue.  I think the video below sums it all up-- but I just wanted to make sure I shared all my great news with you.   Next month I'm flying to South Carolina to go into rehearsal with the world famous Radio City Rockettes.  I'll be working on the Nashville leg of the National tour of the Radio City Christmas Spectacular!  I'm even more excited because the show plays in the Grand Ole Opry House for over a month.  When I was a kid growing up in Tennessee, I dreamed of being on the Opry stage!  Now I'll be working behind it. :)

And even BIGGER news-- after the Christmas show closes, Tim and I are planning on moving to New York City!  I can't wait to base myself in the theatre capital of the world. 

Talky Blog!

OOT

I'm leavin on a jet plane!  I head to Boston in the morning for Tim's birthday (HAPPY BIRTHDAY HONEY!) and then on to Disney World Friday! YAY!!

So look for photos on facebook and twitter but no blogs (I won't have my computer with me--- shocking I know!).

Peace!

Quiz (why not)

1. What time did you get up this morning?
11am.  I need to start getting up early to train myself for Disney though!

2. How do you like your steak?
Medium-Well

3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema?
Star Trek!

4. What is your favorite TV show?
Oh... that's a hard question.  Star Trek? Family Guy? Something geeky for sure.

5. If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be?
With Tim.

6. What did you have for breakfast?
boiled eggs & toast

7. What is your favorite cuisine?
Italian or Southern American

8. What foods do you dislike?
I only like fish, onions, peppers in moderation

9. Favorite Place to Eat?
I always enjoy Applebees.  Does that make me generic?

10. Favorite dressing?
Ranch (Wow- I AM generic)

11.What kind of vehicle do you drive?
2002 Ford Focus ZX5

12. What are your favorite clothes?
Shorts, Star Trek T-shirt, Croc Flip Flops

13. Where would you visit if you had the chance?
London

14. Cup 1/2 empty or 1/2 full?
1/2 full

15. Where would you want to retire?
Retire?  I'm afraid I don't understand.

16. Favorite time of day?
Morning, when the day is full of possibilities (and by morning I mean noon-ish)

17. Where were you born?
Maryville, TN

18. What is your favorite sport to watch?
Men's swimming or beach volley ball --haha

19. Who do you think will not tag you back?
I don't know

20. Person you expect to tag you back first?
It doesn't really matter

21. Who are you most curious about their responses to this?
As these questions are riveting, I'm just so curious about anyone...

22. Bird watcher?
Haha. Not really.

23. Are you a morning person or a night person?
Night.

24. Do you have any pets?
Ophelia, a long haired Tortoise Shell Cat

25. Any new and exciting news you'd like to share?
I'm going to Boston & Disney World with Tim soon!! :)

26. What did you want to be when you were little?
A Teacher. I used to sit my stuffed animals down like students and turn my bedroom into a classroom.

27. What is your best childhood memory?
Riding my bike in the yard with my nifty Mikey Mouse wallet ID in my pocket and pretending I was him. 

28. Are you a cat or dog person?
Both

29. Are you married?
Not yet

30. Always wear your seat belt?
Yes

31. Been in a car accident?
Yes

32. Any pet peeves?
Parents who don't control their children in public

33. Favorite Pizza Toppings?
Pepperoni or ham & pineapple

34. Favorite Flower?
I'm not really sure.

35. Favorite ice cream?
Hmm... It's hard to choose. Death by Chocolate?

36. Favorite fast food restaurant?
Arby's or Wendy's

37. How many times did you fail your driver's test?
None

38. From whom did you get your last email?
Tim

39. Which store would you choose to max out your credit card?
Apple

40. Do anything spontaneous lately?
This quiz...

41. Like your job?
I love being a Stage Manager.

42. favorite veggie?
Corn

43. What was your favorite vacation?
Florida with my family as a kid.

44. Last person you went out to dinner with?
Andrea

45. What are you listening to right now?
The kids upstairs jumping and thumping and making the walls rattle

46. What is your favorite color?
Purple or Red

47. How many tattoos do you have?
0

48. How many are you tagging for this quiz?
0

49. Coffee Drinker?
  Occasionally

50. Ever sing Karaoke?
Occasionally.

Cropping it down to size

With all this technology (google docs, iphone notes, word, excel) that I use to keep my life in order, sometimes I get overwhelmed.  In times like these I take out my the little pocket notebook from my bag, grab a pen and start making lists.  Once this begins I have to keep this little notebook with me at all times (even in the bathroom as you can see above).

I'm not sure why I'm blogging about this.  I guess I just wanted to talk about how when life is getting crazy and stressful a nice bullet point list can make it all seem very manageable. 

I'm entering into a transitional period over the next few weeks.  My summer job at the Opera is ending soon but I'm still in the THICK of it now.  I don't want to delve into the details here, but I'll say this of being a Super Captain: I learned a lot about myself and about human nature.  I'm also going into prep for our season the Ensemble Theatre and looking forward to getting back behind a prompt book.  But enough about work.

Next week I fly to Boston for Tim's birthday!  I'm VERY excited about this trip.  There are birthday celebrations planed, fun touristy things to do in Salem MA (yay witch history!) and I finally get to spend some time with Tim. It's been way to long.  I'm only in Boston for a couple of days and then Tim and I fly to Orlando Florida for our Disney vacation!!!  WAAAHOO!!  I'm SO EXCITED!   A real vacation with someone I love!  It's like a dream still-- I don't really believe that it's happening on some level.   I'm sure it'll sink in when I'm on the plane-- or maybe when I'm on the monorail with Tim and see the Magic Kingdom come into view for the first time-- or maybe when we meet Mickey Mouse-- or maybe when I buy my Mouseketeer Ears with "Mike" stitched on the back!!  EEEEEE!!

Then, when Tim and I get back from Disney we're going to Andrea and Scott's fabulous wedding and THEN we have our big move into the new apartment.  Well- Tim has his BIG move from Massachusetts but I'm only move 5 blocks from my current apartment.  I can't wait to post pictures of the new place once we get it all decorated and settled.  We're also planning a house warming party! :)

So-- if I can just get thru the stress of these next  few days (Carmen tech/dress, my own to do list like packing etc, prep for 33 Variations) then I get to see Tim and have a nice vacation. And THEN we get to start our living together life together in a new apartment!  :)

Life is good.

Trek Links

I read two fascinating Star Trek articles this morning. 

The first asks the question "Is Star Trek a Religion?"  This is a fascinating question (Spock joke intended).  The minister at the Unitarian Church back in Knoxville Tennessee lectured on this topic a while back.  In some ways it certainly fills the bill.  There's a believe system, a "text", and an idolized founder in Gene Rodenberry.  I'm not sure where I stand on this question. I mean-- I don't worship Gene Rodenberry or anything but would I judge someone who does harshly? It's like that episode of The Family Guy where Peter starts the Church of the Fonz. In the end we have to find faith where we can, right? I'm also reading a book Star Trek and Philosphy: The Wrath of Kant which also looks at Star Trek through scholarly eyes. Perhaps Star Trek isn't so much of a religion as it is a philosophy.  In any case, the book is worth a read-- but I warn you that it gets a little heavy.  If you're already having a "my head hurts from stress at work" kind of day, it might not be the best escape plan. 

The 2nd article I read this morning made me think of Tim. :)  You can find it over at The User's Guide to the Universe Blog and it's titled Star Trek: Fun with Time Travel.  It mainly focuses on the new JJ Abrams film and how his time travel plot fits in with accepted theories of time travel.  The idea is that the universe can branch off into different realities caused by time travel.  So when you back in the past and change things- you create a parallel universe where those changes have happened-- but your universe is unchanged.  This is different from the Back to the Future theory (or as I call it, the "Tim Approved Theory") of time travel where you can change the present by going into the past.  I can't say I agree with the blogger. He doesn't even really delve into the Back to the Future model deeming it unscientific. Pretentious much?

Aurora

I've settled on a name for my car! Meet...

Aurora

Her name has many origins. Aurora is the Latin word for dawn and the name of the goddess of dawn in Roman mythology. This is perfect! I feel like I'm the dawn of a new day in my life right now. My car is a small part of that. Aurora is also the name of the Princess in Disney's Sleeping Beauty-- one of my favorite Disney Animated Classics! As if that wasn't geeky enough there is also a starship named Aurora in a classic episode of Star Trek.

Peace!

**UPDATE**

I should add a note about Jane, my 1994 Ford Escort. I got Jane in 1999. We were together for an entire decade! She was a great car but sadly, her transmission went out... TWICE and I just don't have the money to keep her up and running. But Jane will make a difference in someone else's life soon. I'm donating her to the National Kidney Foundation! Thank you, Jane! You'll be missed. :)

Horoscope!

Wow- check out my horoscope for today.

Finally, your travel plans are set! Now the fun part begins: Shopping!
If you're asked to make a donation, buy something whose proceeds will go to a nonprofit organization, or contribute your time to a worthy cause, you'll be only too happy to do it now, and you really should. You'll be happy with what you've done and who you've helped, and you'll feel good about it for days to come. Just be sure someone who sees a soft heart -- and a bank account -- does not take advantage of you.

The crazy thing is that our plans for Disney are solidfied and and coming up soon. I'm also shopping for a car and am thinking of donating my old one to the Kidney Foundation (or another charity). Amazing right?

Talky Blog w/Tim!

Talky Blog! Mike's Star Trek Birthday

Uhura is judging me for not blogging.

It's May!

GUENEVERE:
Tra la! It's May!
The lusty month of May!
That lovely month when ev'ryone goes
Blissfully astray.
Tra la! It's here!
That shocking time of year
When tons of wicked little thoughts
Merrily appear!
It's May! It's May!
That gorgeous holiday
When ev'ry maiden prays that her lad
Will be a cad!
It's mad! It's gay!
A libelous display!
Those dreary vows that ev'ryone takes,
Ev'ryone breaks.
Ev'ryone makes divine mistakes
The lusty month of May!

Whence this fragrance wafting through the air?
What sweet feelings does its scent transmute?
Whence this perfume floating ev'rywhere?
Don't you know it's that dear forbidden fruit!
Tra la la la la! That dear forbidden fruit!
Tra la la la la!

GUENEVERE & CHORUS:
Tra la la la la [etc.]

GUENEVERE:
Tra la! It's May!
The lusty month of May!
That darling month when ev'ryone throws
Self-control away.
It's time to do
A wretched thing or two,
And try to make each precious day
One you'll always rue!
It's May! It's May!
The month of "yes you may,"
The time for ev'ry frivolous whim,
Proper or "im."
It's wild! It's gay!
A blot in ev'ry way.
The birds and bees with all of their vast
Amorous past
Gaze at the human race aghast,
The lusty month of May.

CHORUS:
Tra la! It's May!
The lusty month of May!
That lovely month when ev'ryone goes
Blissfully astray.
Tra la! It's here!
That shocking time of year
When tons of wicked little thoughts
Merrily appear.
It's May! It's May!
The month of great dismay.

GUENEVERE:
When all the world is brimming with fun,
Wholesome or "un."

GUENEVERE & CHORUS:
It's mad! It's gay!
A libelous display!
Those dreary vows that ev'ryone takes,
Ev'ryone breaks.
Ev'ryone makes divine mistakes
The lusty month of May!

Talky Blog with Tim!