My Strengths!

In order to better "mesh" as a team, my manager proposed that we take a couple of self-tests to understand what we are like and how we can work better together. I performed a self test for work called "StrengthFinder," which is part of a book called "Now ,Discover Your Strengths," by Marcus Buckingham. While the book itself was less than useful, I found the test pretty useful. Here are my top 5 strengths: WOO (Making friends and winning people over) STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION MAXIMIZER (Striving for excellence) FOCUS (Having goals and being focused on getting to the goals) The results don't surprise me. It confirmed what I already knew: I thrive in project management, which uses all of the above strengths! I also love meeting new people and communicating (both in writing and, say, on stage.) The real learning is that I'm in a work group where teammates do not share these strengths (or, sadly, VALUE these strengths.) At the meeting, I was asked to explain my differences and I was mildly mocked for being "focused," for example. Believe me, I'm not a sensitive person, but I left the meeting feeling uncomfortable-the discussion became not about strengths but about values: it was determined that my values were different than the rest of the team. I have done a fair amount of reflecting and these revelations are definitely useful!

Progress: HMS Pinafore

The show is coming along very well! Which is good because Cincinnati Music Theatre's H.M.S. Pinafore opens one week from tomorrow! The set is built and painted and up to last night, we were practicing in the warehouse (in which the set was built.) We have now ran the show 4+ times from beginning to end and things are feeling good, more natural. Still, there is a LOT of things to concentrate on. Along with us reinforcing our lines and songs and dance, we are getting a lot more used to more subtle things like fine tuning timings, making impromptu noise and more dramatic facial expressions and body gestures. It's coming together very nicely. All in all, I think it will be a very pleasurable show. Say, did you buy tickets yet? Click here for ticket info! A cold practice at the warehouse, with our fearless leader/director, Rick Kramer.

Vote!

I did my Civil Duty and went to the polls today! I opted to do early voting in Ohio (technically as an absentee ballot.) The whole thing was very easy, actually. I went to the Hamilton County Board of Elections on Broadway (conveniently located across from the gay bar, "On Broadway.") After being asked about who I was and where I lived (as verified by a kind woman at a computer,) I filled out a general form, as well as an envelope in which the absentee ballot would be placed. I was given 2 very large pieces of paper and an envelope. While I was expecting something more electronic in nature, it never materialized. Damn right I'm mad! I'm so mad at the current administration I could scream! The government asked me personally, "Matt, who do you want to run the nation." I unapologetically gave my feedback to the government, shooting down every Republican on the ballot! Nope. No vote for the grandpa/caribou Barbie ticket. After voting in a huddled group of divided stalls, I walked to the exit and used a glue stick to seal the envelope. I wish I could have taken a picture of the scene. I would say there were 40+ people voting at the same time. The crowd included a small number of older white people and a larger percentage of African Americans of various ages and genders. I was pleased by the interest! I left feeling really good. Where my schedule is so busy, it's now assured that I have voted in such an important election! I felt empowered! And very pro-American!

Sailing in Soon! CMT's HMS Pinafore!

WHAT H.M.S. Pinafore was written in 1878 and is one of three well-known Comic Operas by Gilbert & Sullivan. (The other two famous ones include The Pirates of Penzance and The Mikado.) Pinafore tells the tale of love between members of different social classes as a naval captain's daughter falls in love with a common sailor. The opera also pokes good-natured fun at the British Royal Navy, parliamentary politics and the rise of unqualified people to positions of authority. The show is fun and light, with hilarious moments of slapstick and gentile satire. Like other Gilbert & Sullivan shows, H.M.S. Pinafore concludes with a surprising twist ending. As a sailor in the ensemble, I guess I'm a bit partial to the show: I'm very proud of the direction and the cast of Cincinnati Music Theatre's production and I'm confident you will enjoy it! WHEN H.M.S. Pinafore has a total of 7 performances at the following dates and times: Friday, Nov. 7, 2008 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 8, 2008 8 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 9, 2008 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2008 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 13, 2008 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 14, 2008 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 15, 2008 8 p.m. (The show weighs in at 1 hour, 45 minutes including a 15 minute intermission.) WHERE Jarson-Kaplan Theatre (Seating Capacity: 438) Aronoff Center for the Arts, 650 Walnut Street, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45202 http://www.cincinnatiarts.org/aronoff HOW TO GET TICKETS The tickets are $20.50 for Orchestra or $19.50 for Balcony 1+2. You can order online. Click here. Or, you can order tickets via phone: (513) 621-2787. Hope to see you there (from the stage!)

12 of 12: October 2008

Here’s what 12 of 12 is all about: On the 12th day of each month you take 12 photos showing how you spent your day, post them on your blog, and then link the post back to Chad. I had a late night playing "Rumikub" with the boys and so we slept in a bit. After a quick breakfast, we head to Eatern Cincinnati to meet up with Rico and Manuel to go on their boat: Oh, man, the weather was beautiful! 87 degrees. Not too shabby for October 12! Jason and I: The "Big Mac" bridge: Cruising along: The Cincinnati skyline: Swimming in the Ohio! I can't believe we swam in the Ohio! Diving into the Ohio: Back at home, I found Chase curled up in the box (which shipped my jazz boots.) I had to prepare for my HMS Pinafore rehearsal, so I put on said jazz boots. Jason laughed at me so hard: Choreograph rehearsal. (Honestly, I was in good shape with the dance beforehand, but it was short and sweet:) We made pizza for dinner. Twas delish: We watched a movie: "Gattica" So. Very. Tired.

Palin

"She is very pretty! I would love to see her as a KTUU, Channel 2 anchorwoman. She is charismatic and scripted! I can picture her neither as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, nor Approving Legislation, nor Executing Laws. Wait, perhaps the current anchorwoman, Annie Davis, should run for president!"

Weekly Roundup

JAZZ BOOTS - The men in HMS Pinafore are supposed to all be wearing matching "jazz boots." Why not just wear the jazz boots you have?" I got meself a pair from Discount Dance Supply. While they look real spiffy, and they fit, they are soo uncomfortable. Best I can hope for is to get gel supports to put in them. BRITISH - As HMS Pinafore is a British play (with strong British overtones,) we are expected to have some degree of British in our accent when we sing. I'm quite familiar with the accent, but it's the first I've performed with it. Thankfully, Steve has given some brutally honest feedback. I just hope to not sound like a cross between Monty Python and Borat. AUTUMN - The temps have stayed into the 80s during the day. Still, the nights have been cooler and the quality of the sun and the shadows remind me of Autumn. It's here. Jason and did a lot of walking and did a nice photo shoot on Sunday. More pictures to come soon! NEW PROJECT - I'm enjoying the new project at work. While no work is really "fun," I very much like the new people and it's gratifying to me as things are a bit messed up at the moment. With my past experience, I'm uniquely qualified to step in and make the changes that need to be made. OBAMA for PREZ - While the rhetoric is out of control, I've participated a lot in this election! I'm excited about it and am very exicted that many Americans are getting off their couches and taking the time to learn the positions of the candidates. Having an entertaining baffoon like Palin has made the circus even more of a circus.

4 Year Blogiversary Repost #7: Vondel Park, Amsterdam

It was a hot August, 1994 and I had just finished my summer internship with Siemens. Although my internship paid enough to live by, I didn't have enough money for much more. The cheapest flight back to the Midwest was through Amsterdam. There was a direct Amsterdam -> Chicago route. I won't go into the details of how poor I was. No, I didn't hustle myself. AnyWHO, I ended up in Amsterdam. I had about $20 in what was then "Guilder" and enough to stay at a hostel near Vondel (what I affectionately called "Vögeln"-Park. It's funny in German.) Knowing that I had to stretch my money for a day in Amsterdam, I went to a Supermarket, bought some cheese and some bread, chips and a beer. I walked to the park. It was the end of summer. It was green and I was happy. "Komm, tourijst, saat bej uns. Kom. Dreijnk" (someone help me with the Dutch. I'm slaughtering the poor language!!!) They were asking me to sit and drink with them. Well, I had a beer and a sandwich, so I hung out with them. They were nice people. I made them giggle with my Dutch and we chatted in English about this and that. Who knows, we were all students. We chatted then we talked and gossiped. A woman came by with a cart. She was vending beer. They all bought one. I fell in line and bought one too. Amsterdam is expensive. I spent a lot on this beer and worried about the rest of the money that I had. I considered going back to the hostel to sleep. But there was a nice group of 4-5 students, men and women. We talked about life, Amsterdam, beer, other things. I told them that I was on my way back and we made a toast. We talked for a long while. The cart came back. They bought me a beer. I was flattered. … (snip) The cart came around again. They bought me another beer and asked me how I could be an American without a credit card. I told them that I really had no credit and that I could not buy anything else. I had just enough money for the train to the airport. … (snip) We talked more. The one couple fought a bit. It was after 2:00 am and we were all buzzed. I hugged my new friends. I asked them for their contact information as they were lovely people. Staggering, I told them that although I could not repay them for the wonderful night, I would repay them by sending them something special from Iowa. (There are nice things in Iowa.) I made my way back to the hostel. They really were nice people, I thought. They gave me a small piece of paper with addresses. I was really going to do them right where they had been so kind to me, a total stranger. I slept for a couple of hours before I had to leave for Schiphol. …(snip) When I returned to Iowa, I realized that I had lost the small piece of paper! I looked again over the next couple of weeks. Gone. So, I never "re-paid" these kind people. But, I think I have. I have told dozens of people about the generosity and the impression that was made by a few kind students in Vondel Park.

North to the Future!

You who knows Locations between Dillingham and Bethel! And who knows how to eviscerate a moose carcass! You, who talks carefully, from a well rehearsed script! You, in your sharp glasses and sharp suit! We love your Alyeska accent! "Doggonnit!" Answer the questions! Don't Condescend! Don't use scare tactics for votes! Oh, you pretty little thing! I want to pinch your cheek! Tell us about your darling energy producing state! - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -