Life is what happens to us...

....while we're busy making other plans. No? Got some great pics of my brother and his family in China....one is posted.

Instead of bemoaning the fact that they are 1/2 a world away, I need to celebrate every picture they send me. Instead of worrying about tomorrow, I really need to pay attention to today--which I spent with various tribe members in a variety of amazing activities. Instead of waiting for my future, I need to continue to make it happen--moment by moment, day-by-day, relationship by relationship--life is good.

PAX!

Mary Jane Teall Awards

So....I just won Best Actor in a Comedy/Drama tonight for my work in "Moon Over Buffalo" this summer and I am genuinely humbled. The ceremony was very cool and it was such a wonderful celebration of live theater in Wichita. I am so honored to be a part of this amazing community of talented people.

Pax!

Mom at Botanica

Every year my mother has a booth of her art at Botanica's Gallery in the Garden. You can actually see her booth here: http://www.botanica.org/

I always look forward to this event (I help her set up and tear down her booth) because I get to see her new work or her works in progress. This year she had two beautiful new pieces that reflect a different tone for her. The first was a study on layered stones that was magnificent, but my favorite was a complex study on leaves that was so understated. I say complex, because when you first glance at it the painting appears very simple, but the more time you spend examining it and being pulled into the study, the more detail appears. It is a very splendid work of art and I am so proud of my mom who painted it!

PAX!

Closing night

I posted a little while back about "opening nights" and how I love the excitement and momentum as we rush towards the first night of a theater project. Tonight we closed "Tuesdays with Morrie" at my church, and while I was disappointed in the small crowds that attended, I am very proud of the show. That I was able to hold my own with Tim Robu meant the world to me! I mean that guy can act--even tonight we were discussing one of our scenes and he hit on some terrific motivation for me that helped me nail it tonight. Anyway, I loved being able to do this show and I hope Tim and I can maybe work on it again in the future.

PAX

Counting down to Paris

I can't believe that I will be in Paris for two weeks in November. My last trip to Europe was amazing, but not taken during a particularly good time in my life. Don't get me wrong--I loved it--just not what happened on my return. Anyway, this trip will be completely different...staying with a dear friend....no plans at all for anything--just going to wing it. Oh...and I started my French class a couple nights ago....FUN!

PAX

How do I say....

.....how grateful I am for my tribe? My family? My friends? My life? I suppose I could start with a simple....thank you. All of you....

What a way to burn....

In spite of copious amounts of sun screen, I have managed to get some sun--but you won't hear me complaining--it feels GREAT! Today we were visited by old friend Gary and new friend Phillip. Old friend Betsy left shortly after lunch (she is trying to get back to Houston before Gustaf hits) and then there are always lots of sunny, funny young people around as Q's daughter Julia has her teenage friends in and out of the house. We are getting ready to grill steaks for our last official meal together as the rest of us will begin our various travels early tomorrow. I do know that I have soaked up enough sun and love to last me to our next gathering.

Peace and love,

My tribe...

This place and my friends are so very good for me....I have spent the entire day in the pool as old and new friends have dropped by...or landed at the airport....or driven up from Houston....it's an odd mix of comings and goings as we all spend time together. Happy in each other's company. If only the ENTIRE tribe were here....but then, where we we put everybody????

Late Friday at the Q Lagoon

We arrived in Dallas about 10:30 tonight only to find a delicious tortilla soup awaiting us. We've been in the pool and getting the late-night lantern tour of the new landscaping. Ahhhhh.....music, Coke Zero, good food and my tribe. I am in heaven....

Pax

Saturday in the Park

Just in from an evening at the park with Dominic and Ronin--Sinda's boy's. My, my, my...what energetic little guys. Dominic went ALL THE WAY TO THE TOP of the rope ladder and his little brother Ronin spent most of the evening sliding down slides. It was a beautiful evening and just right.

PAX

New pics of my nieces on the farm!

Tuesdays with Morrie

I will be performing the role of Mitch in UCC's upcoming production of 'Tuesdays with Morrie". This simple play is touching and timely and I look forward to working on it. Tim Robu will be playing Morrie and I am also composing an original score for the piece. We open Thursday, September 11th and run the next two nights (closing on Saturday, September 13). This is an additional production to augment our usual spring musical--which will be "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" which I will be musical directing. "Joseph" opens Feb. 19, 2009 and runs through Feb. 21. Call the church office at 634-0430 for more information and to make reservations (for "Morrie" only at this time).

The Summer Sampler from Hotel Abandon

My friend Q's new summer sampler of music rocks!!! It might be my favorite (but don't tell the other samplers--they'll be jealous).

PAX

Great News!

I can't say much, but my college had some really great stuff happen to it today concerning its accreditation status. Oh yeah, and my online stuff got accredited too--so I am just a little happy--and smug!

PAX

Entheos

My friend Shanna accuses me of being "too hype-able"--whatever that means. Actually, I know very well what she means. I love hype and I am often swept up in the wave of the moment. She has some validity to her criticism--my "hype-ability" has led to some disastrous trips to the movies for the tribe! But as I thought more about it, I felt I had to really delve into this part of my psyche. I admit readily that I am easy to hype--that I am often on the bandwagon early of new things. But I have concluded that this part of me is actually born from a deep held belief that things can be better. I am not so much hype-able as hopeful. The Greek root of enthusiasm is entheos (inspired, or more literally, possessed by a god) and I like to think that my enthusiasm for the new is simply my soul's response to the possibility--the newness--that what-may-be--held within the kernel of new endeavors. So--yes, I will always be hype-able, but it is tempered with dear friends who help me see the wisdom is caution and yet let me dive in head first--enthusiastically--into all the amazing and bright things life sends my way.

PAX

Ali Jafari and lunch time chat

So--yesterday at the Campus Technology conference I was sitting and eating a quick bite for lunch, when a very animated group joined my table (it was a big conference lunch and Trish had gone ahead while I waited for the line to dwindle--you know how much I LOVE standing on line) anyway, this animated group introduced themselves all around and I soon found myself chatting with Ali Jafari for most of the lunch. Long story short--it turns out that Ali is the man behind ANGEL learning--the new LMS that my college is using. I learned tons about the creation and marketing of this powerful software and even more about Mr. Jafari's latest venture--more on that in another blog!

PAX

Olin College, Needham, MA

Trish Schmidt and I are in Boston attending the Campus Technology convention. Yesterday we we went out to Needham, MA, to spend some time on the campus of Olin College of Engineering. We were fortunate to be able to meet with Rick Miller, president, and Mike Moody, VPAA, and a host of faculty and staff. This small (300 student) private college touts itself as "reinventing engineering education"--and I must agree. Their curriculum is "project" based in theory and mostly in practice (there are a number of faculty who lecture, although they know they must be innovative). President Rick Miller told us the fascinating story of the genesis of this institution and it quickly became clear that because of a very large amount of resources (mostly money) the leadership was able to take the time and care necessary to actually develop it programs and courses from the ground up. There is lots more to report on this school--watch future blogs!

Boston--Big City--Big Heart

I am having a great time in Boston thanks to some very friendly locals who went out of their way to show this Kansan a great time. Beacon Hill, South Boston, the local arts scene, lots of great stuff-- and it was just my first day here. Because the conference is only during working hours (evenings free) I will have more free time than I expected. I want to go to Salem and see where the witch trials occured and then I want to visit Harvard yard. Oh yeah....and I will post about the tech conference too...it doesn't start until tomorrow. Trish (my co-worker) and I were sent up a day early to visit Olin College--which we are about to do here in a few minutes.

PAX

Show Closing and Boston

Tonight we close Moon Over Buffalo and I am a little blue about. Mostly because it has been such a rich and rewarding experience and I love this cast. But there will always be another show, no? We close Moon at about 10 tonight and then I am on a flight to Boston first thing in the AM. Trish (a co-worker) and I are heading to the Campus Technology conference for the week to see what is coming in....well...technology on campus. Should be great! I will try to post from Boston later in the week.

Pax,

Paul

Summer Musing

Here we are...mid-summer--and what have we done with the time? Oh...you know, the usual! I re-open Moon Over Buffalo tonight and am looking forward to seeing that wacky cast again. It looks like my sister and her girls might make it to town to see the show this weekend. Fun!

Pax!

Paul