So, I work at The Shakespeare Theatre of NJ in the marketing department. It's nothing glamorous, but I enjoy what I do and by and large I like the people I work with. My boss is cool and he allows me the freedom to do some design work and I really enjoy that. We get along well and I think we make a pretty good team. Anyway, that's not what I'm here to talk about.

This past Saturday was our 17th annual fundraising gala event at the Park Avenue Club in Florham Park, NJ. This was my first gala with the theatre so I had nothing with which to compare. Everyone has been busy prepping for this thing, and it finally went off on Saturday. One of my jobs was to help my boss coordinate the photographers during the evening (our own as well as any media that might show up). Since there were notable guests coming, as well as some celebrities performing, we wanted to take advantage of the opportunity. To make a long story short, I guess my whole point that on my insides that night I must say I was a bit star-struck. Like I said, this is my first year with the theatre and in my previous jobs (and locations) I was never really in a position to meet or work with any "celebrities." Some of the people there were Peri Gilpin (Roz on TV's "Frasier"), Tamara Tunie (Dr. Warner on "Law & Order: SUV"), David Conrad (TV's "Ghost Whisperer"), Laila Robins (TV, film, Broadway actress), Robert Cuccioli (Broadway star - "Jeckyll & Hyde"), former NJ governor Tom H. Kean, Sr. (chair of 9-11 Commission, and more. Yes...I'm name-dropping. C'mon, a kid from a small north-Louisiana town isn't used to all this. Give me my moment, ok?

Anyway, after the photo-ops (2 hours of following photographers making sure they weren't intrusive and that they were getting the shots we wanted), I went to work helping with other projects. Later, after some of my work was done, I went down to see the cabaret show put on by some of the afore-mentioned performers. After the event was over, some of us went to a local hotel bar to hang out and have some drinks. Again, it was a bit surreal to be hanging out with some of these actors after the show. Ok, I wasn't chumming with them, but we were sharing the same group space...in itself kind of cool. When I talked to Peri Gilpin I mentioned that I, too, was from Waco and we had a laugh about keeping our Texas twang alive and well (her nanny is from Waco as well...who knew?). After the bar stint (it was 2:00 a.m. and my colleague Duane and I were starving) a few of us heading to a local 24-hour diner to get some food. After we were there for a bit another group from our company comes in and with them is Peri again. We had already ordered and begun eating our food at our table, but when we were done and getting ready to leave we stopped by their table and chatting a bit. It was late and we were tired, so we headed home and left the rest of the crew at the diner.

In closing, while this may sound cheesy...it is. I admit it. What are you gonna do? Maybe it's because I'm so tired that I'm actually writing this crap. Who knows? - am