I have a Bacon number!

I think most people are familiar with the '6 degrees of separation' theory. If you're not, look it up.  Related to this is the '6 degrees of Kevin Bacon' theory. Kevin Bacon has figuratively been in a billion movies; the idea is that any actor can be connected to him through 6 or fewer degrees (connections between actors). For example, Emma Watson was in The Perks of Being a Wallflower with Logan Lerman (1), who was in My One and Only with Kevin Bacon (2). The number of connections has come to be known as the 'Bacon number' - Emma Watson's Bacon number is 2. Google has incorporated this feature - just search any actor's name followed by the words 'Bacon number.'

Today I learned that I have a Bacon number! MY BACON NUMBER IS 4!

I played a singing, tap dancing cowboy in my high school's production of Crazy for You. (1)

(I'm the one kneeling in the front; the director is in the navy blue shirt)

The director of my high school drama department (and the play I was in) has been friends with Jim Parsons since they were in high school; they were also roommates at the University of Houston. Both of them were involved with Infernal Bridegroom Productions, a now-defunct theater company based in Houston (home of the country's 2nd-largest theater district). (2)

Jim Parsons and Billy Bob Thornton appeared in School for Scoundrels together... (3)

...and Billy Bob Thornton and Kevin Bacon starred in Jayne Mansfield's Car. (4)

Christmas

I've wanted to write about this for some time... and I finally start during a 3 hour layover in Phoenix!  Here's the thing... I had a terrific Christmas.  I'll give you just a FEW highlights:

1.  a combined young single adult church activity: Yule Ball

2.  reading A Christmas Carol with friends around the Christmas tree and fireplace DVD

3.  the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas concert

(quite possibly the most Christmas-y thing I've ever experienced)

4.  two high school Christmas concerts at the beautiful Cypress Creek Christian Church

5.  being invited to a cowboy church's Christmas musical program

This place is legit - there's a horse arena in front, the chapel is decorated with cow hide and antlers, and the pastor is a former professional calf roper and steer wrestler.  Click to check out their website or sermon videos.

And finally, nothing gets much better than just spending time with friends and family back home.

Presently

i've been waiting for months

waiting for years

waiting for you to change

aw, but there ain't much that's dumber

there ain't much that's dumber

than pinning your hopes on a change in another

and i, yeah, i still need you, but what good's that gonna do? 

needing is one thing and getting, getting's another 

so i've been sitting around 

wasting my time 

wondering what you been doing 

aw, and it ain't real forgiving 

it ain't real forgiving 

sitting here picturing someone else living 

and i, yeah, i still need you, but what good's that gonna do? 

needing is one thing and getting, getting's another 

i've been hoping for months 

hoping for years 

hoping I might forget 

aw, but it don't get much dumber 

it don't get much dumber 

than trying to forget a girl when you love her 

and i, yeah, i still need you, but what good's that gonna do? 

needing is one thing and getting, getting's another

(Needing/Getting by OK Go)

Apathy

As a short in-class exercise, we wrote sensory poems in my writing class.  Everyone had to choose an abstract noun and describe it using the "five senses."

Apathy is a sort of off-white color; nothing too offensive, it goes with pretty much anything.

It smells old.  Not a bad smell, but not pleasant either.

It feels comfortable.  It feels nice enough that one can overlook its negative connotations.

It sounds like a long, hesitant groan.

Apathy has no flavor.