A couple weeks ago, I was cast as Oedipus in a modern adaptation of the play with the same name. If you can recall one of those English classes you took, "Oedipus" is the Greek tragedy about the guy who is destined to kill his father and marry his mother. It's the most daunting role I've taken, and of course, the most tragic. In an unintentional way, my life once again tries to imitate my art.

Just before the first read thru, I hopped in my car and turn the key. My car wouldn't start. I hitched a ride with my fiancee and got there only a few minutes late. I took the day off work and got my car towed to the mechanic. It turned out to be a dead battery. I was hoping it wasn't the alternator. Basically, it could have been worse.

A good thing about being in a fall play is that I can learn lines and watch football at the same time. Once the show goes up, I can watch games to distract me before performances.

Of course, this is also a great tragedy, because I root for some real losers. My football teams are going to be disappointing. My alma mater, the University of New Mexico, got pummeled by Texas A & M yesterday 41-6. New coach, new system, so say it with me. Rebuilding. I was born in Kansas, so my NFL team has always been the Chiefs. The Chiefs went 0-4 in the preseason after going 2-14 last year. New coach, new system, so say it with me. Rebuilding.

New Mexico experiences their monsoon season in July and August, but this year, we had the nonsoon. Barely an inch of rain fell during the period when we usually get 3-5 inches. In a land that gets only 10 inches a year, we have been hot and thirsty for most of the summer. Drought is not an immediate tragedy like earthquakes or hurricanes, but let's face it, it destroys just as much in the long run.

Of course, there's still the recession, children abductions, fights over who killed Michael Jackson (other than his own behavior), and health care squabbles. There's always been tragedy, even before Sophocles scribbled down the story about the guy with swollen feet. FYI, Oedipus' father pierced his feet and left him to die, due to the gods warning that his son would someday kill him. A shepherd found him and gave him to another king who named him Oedipus which means swollen foot. Of course, the child would grow up and unknowingly kill his biological father anyway. Don't try to defy the gods. It just makes their prophesies come true.

If I can keep my fall tragedies to the minor and minimum for the next couple of months, I will be satisfied. My art has this funny way of consuming me. I don't remember if being in comedies made life more comical, but you usually just take the part you're given. If you think I'm being paranoid, I'll just say that after the sixth weekend of doing the violent play "Reservoir Dogs" (based on the movie), a little thing called 9-11 occurred. Be careful, be very very careful.

I know it's Labor Day, and everyone is soaking up the last summer holiday. Summer's ending. Tragedy? I know everyone has it a little tougher this year than many others, but no matter how bad our lives get, we can always say one thing:

Well, at least I didn't marry my mother, have kids with her from which all men would turn their eyes and become my father's murderer. Things aren't that bad!

Except for me, of course. That's what I will be preparing for in September and displaying for the community in October.

Tragedy is coming, and I've got lines to learn. Keep your chin up.

Chris Jungle can be a real downer.