Picture an empty stage. You feel the hushed excitement of a packed auditorium when the house lights signal for silence. As lights go down, your hand vanishes before you face.

Suddenly, a spotlight finds two people on stage amidst the darkness. They stand together silently. You breath in the suspense. Your veins fill with anticipation. The couple on stage stands motionless in a sensuous aesthetic frame. A passionate moment in time, frozen for your eyes alone. All around you is blackness, innate voyeuristic cravings seep to the surface of your consciousness.

Moments later the music starts, and the two performers expertly execute a series of intricate dance movements that defy the laws of this world. Their artistic dance electrifies the atmosphere. and prepares the audiences for…

the rest of the evening is filled with artists of all varieties, dancing, singing, playing, and roller-skating. By the end of the performances your head is spinning in a cloud amazement. Throughout the night talented individuals and ensembles have left you utterly speechless.

At the precise moment, when you think you can handle no more, out from behind the curtain come four people, who begin throwing free t-shirts into the audience. You find the strength to stand and cheer at the top of your lungs! One of the four t-shirt tossers notices you and swings a t-shirt up in your direction!

But before you can grab it, the tall lanky nerd-guy in front of you stands up and snags it out of the air. You immediately feel the need to retaliate with violence, but nerd-guy kneels down onto one knee and hands his t-shirt – excuse me – your t-shirt to an small nerd-girl. Nerd-girl unfolds the t-shirt, and discovers that within the folds of the shirt Nerd-guy concealed a diamond ring. She slowly nods and begins to cry as Nerd-guy takes the diamond ring and places it on her left ring finger. Nerd-guy stands and there is a nerd-embrace as the happy couple celebrates their new nerd-relationship.

You silently vow to find nerd-guy later and carry out the necessary retaliation.

YOU: I can’t take it anymore! What is this event you describe to me?
ME: Obviously you didn’t go to Spotlight 2008 this weekend.
YOU: No, I missed it!
ME: I’m not sure that can be forgiven. What possibly could have been better?
YOU: Well, you see I was -
ME: That was a rhetorical question.
YOU: oh, right. But I was saying that I was alphabetizing –
ME: Would you like me to define rhetorical question for you? Or may I continue?
YOU: No thank you, I know –
ME: That was also rhetorical.
YOU: oh, right sorry.

What part did your favorite blogger play in all this shenanigans? Do you remember the passionate couple at the beginning?

YOU: Yes, of course I do, they were great!
ME: Again, rhetorical.

I was one of them, the passionate woman. My dance partner and I emceed the whole glorious event. And let me tell you, it was glorious.

Spotlight 2008: Behind the lights: In the green room:
For your viewing pleasure, here are some backstage photos of the artists prepping before their performances.

ME: So you missed Spotlight 2008?
YOU: yes, I already told you I was alphabetizing my –
ME: Okay...you’re right, that one wasn’t rhetorical, but I wasn’t talking to you. I was asking the people out there in internetland. (points at computer)
YOU: oh, do they ever answer you?
ME: well,…no.
YOU: Then why do you ask them?
pause
ME: Please, just go away.
YOU: fine. (exits)
pause
ME: So you missed Spotlight 2008?
YOU: (from off stage) they’ll never answer you..!
ME: (whispering) So you missed Spotlight 2008?

Well shame on you, but you’re in luck… You should immediately enlighten yourself with the Spotlight 2008 dvd.

i have a copy, you may borrow it.

okay listen up (which is stupid because you are reading, but just for this next part imagine listening to me speaking in your head. okay, it's not that scary.) with this blog, begins a new tradition called “reflections-of-greatness: people i’ve influenced”

i was debating between that and calling it “the people-who-should-be-famous part” but i think what’s important here is not the person i’m honoring, but the role i’ve played in their greatness, so i went with the former.

now, the idea is to feature a new and amazing person with each blog and share some interesting tidbit about them, and more importantly, how it pertains to me. of course i will rename each subject because
1. while they may be “amazing” people, it doesn’t mean they’re perfect. some things need revising.
and 2. i guess, for precautionary measures, or something like that

so, without further ado, i present my very good friend:
“the disney distractor”

oftentimes, this inspiring young lady can be found sitting on the couch in my room, playing disney clips off youtube, while i diligently work at my computer.

that is all.
mads