Time is the fire in which we burn.

Isn't it crazy how time flies by? I'm constantly reminded of this. Rachel is one of those reminders. I knew her back when we were both students at the Children's Theatre performing in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (yes, I was in the witch's army. No, we didn't win. Yes, I wore a 17" horn on my head.). It's been about 5 years since then, and it blows my mind. We went out for an hour and some change and, man, that time flew by. I wonder if it goes south for the winter.

Maybe posting this as the first picture isn't fair, but I love it so much. It makes me laugh out loud. I love catching the brief moments between poses.

Windows are one of my favorite things.

* * *

I am the most tired. On a completely unrelated note, I've been stage managing a (mostly) middle school show for the past month-- The Love of Three Oranges-- and this was our performance weekend. It was an outdoor show with beautiful weather.

Working with kids is fun, but tiring. And it's so flattering when kids actually like you, when they think you're cool. I could care less if my peers think I'm cool, but when an awesome kid thinks so, I save those for rainy days.

I have inside jokes with 11 year olds.

I also love those moments when a kid gives you a peek into their future selves. Like, most of the time they're kids. Yelling. Making dumb jokes. Constantly repeating the same line from some YouTube video. And age is a big deal. But there will be these tiny moments when we become friends. Where I don't see them as a kid, and they don't see me as an adult. Those moments where I think, yeah, I'd be friends with you.

Working with kids is also different. It's so interesting because they aren't settled into who they will be one day. So, with a show like this, who knows when or if I'll ever see these kids again. But I really am interested in how they will turn out. It's so interesting to develop friendships with people, and then just release them. It's kind of sad, isn't it?

These are the Adventures of--

(dun da da dum!)

Ramblin' Man and His Sidekick, Scramblin' Boy!

This is Ramblin' Man.

This is Scramblin' Boy.

They do everything together. Fight crime, go swimming, play Giants and Dwarves...

One day they were enjoying the summer breeze...

And each others' company in the park.

"I really like flowers," said Scramblin' Boy. "They remind me of home. And cotton candy."

"Of course," responded Ramblin' Man, "Since your home is made of cotton candy."

"I always get so worried when it rains..."

Then there was a change in the wind. It carried the faintest scent of cheese.

"I remember that smell..." whispered Scramblin' Boy.

Gasp! "Look behind you, Ramblin' Man!"

It was the evil, the sinister, and the generally not that nice-- Professor Chaos!

"Bwahahahahahahahaaaaa!"

"Yes! It is I!" Shouted the Professor.

"What? Are you scared?"

"You should be!"

"Never!" Posed Ramblin' Man. "Give us your worst!"

So the fight ensued.

The Professor fired a shot using his ray gun that looks surprisingly similar to an umbrella.

Our heros dodged it!

They fired back.

Professor Chaos deflects is off his umbrel--er, shield-- and it bounces back towards our heros...

But wait! Scramblin' Boy has been shot!

Oh no, Ramblin' Man didn't see it--

He goes chasing after the villian. "Turn around!" You'll scream.

"Your friend has been shot!" You'll yell.

But he can't hear you...

He's already run too far...

"I wonder..."

ponders Scramblin' Boy.

"I wonder if heaven will be like cotton candy..."

His body grew weak...

His eyes grew tired...

As the sun began to set...

"Professor Chaos got away," muttered Ramblin' Man.

But... where is Scramblin' Boy? Wasn't he right behind me?

"Scramblin' Boy!" He searched.

What's this? Scramblin' Boy is gone! His must've gotten hit by Professor Chaos' evaporation ray!

"Noooo...!"

"Whhhhhhhy...!"

"How could I have left him!"

Racked with guilt, he became a man full of vengeance.

He swore that his friends death would not be in vain.

He shed a single tear, "Sweets to the sweet..."

But guilt weighed so heavy on him he fell into a great depression.

He nearly forgot that he was to meet the Professor behind the gym, next to the rose bushes.

"I'll be there," he slurred, "This is for that beauniniful boy... Scramblin' Boy..."

So he went.

Professor Chaos was already there, waiting for him.

"Hello, Professor Chaos. Scared?"

-glug glug glug-

"You should be!"

In the blink of an eye, our superhero was on the ground...

crying.

"I'm so evil!" Shouted the Professor.

What was that noise? There was a rustling in the eves. Out of the rose bushes emerged...!

A puppy?

He's going to shoot the dog? Man. That guy is evil.

Just as he was about to do his worst...

It's our very own Scramblin' Boy!

Ramblin' Man was full of so many mixed emotions. "You're alive?"

"You're alive!"

Professor Chaos couldn't believe his eyes.

"I thought I killed you!"

"You thought wrong," posed Scramblin' Boy.

The villain charged the sidekick.

Poised and ready, Scramblin' Boy threw his most dangerous and historically iconic symbol of comedy to the ground.

The weapons flew into the air.

And fell into the hands of it's rightful owner.

Dun da da dum! Our hero has been restored!

But not without the help of his friend.

And they lived happily ever...

Wait! Where is Professor Chaos?

When they turned, they found a note which read, "I'll be back."

Until we meet again in...

The Adventures of Ramblin' Man and His Sidekick Friend, Scamblin' Boy!

* * *

These are my friends Jordan, Jesse, and Chris. They're awesome, as you can see. It's nice to know a group of guys who are willing to wear underwear outside of their pants-- which is the #1 criteria for being a superhero.

Oh, man. I'm so excited about this post. It was just fun. I hope you enjoy it even half as much as I do.