The Rest of the Story; Mark's Workshop; Kelso; Dreamer's 10th Anniversary

chapelgateangel28
5 days ago
5 min read

Kelso Butcher posted a picture of himself at Mark DeAlessandro's Action Acting/Stunt Workshop today. He said, "What a good group of people that have become my family now a year later. GODS PLAN." This was last January 2025 the day after the 10th Anniversary of Dinner with Dreamers, founded by Kyle Saylors (and his brother Kenny).

Kelso's picture is posted below, and in it are Mark (in red) and Kelso (in the American flag) and Kyle (behind Kelso) plus everyone else but especially them. I borrowed it from Kelso. I did this because I had just written a short-story, today, ABOUT why Lai and I weren't there at Mark's workshop. So, I thought I'd write the story...

Where was I? Lai and I had flown from Austin, Texas to Nashville, Tennessee the previous day. We had then taken a taxi ($300.) that same night to take us from the Gaylord Opryland Hotel to the 10th Anniversary Dinner with Dreamers at the Johnny Cash Hideaway Farm an hour west. We had gone in long enough to say hi to Mark and Kyle and hug a few other favorite friends. We'd had our picture taken with an Oscar from the feature film, "Rainman," and explored and experienced the very special event, with 700 Dreamers. We would have met Kelso if I had gone to Mark's Action/Acting workshop the next day.

Almost as soon as Lai and I arrived at the Johnny Cash Hideaway Farm, the site of the Dreamer's Dinner, we went to find Mark. He was already expecting us. I have several stories I've written about this same experience. We found Mark who had then proudly introduced Laileigh to anyone within smiling distance. We'd taken pictures outside with Kyle (the founder; his event) and inside the big barn/stage/place where Johnny's famous black Cadillac is, and with John (Mark's stunt buddy whom Lai met in Oklahoma when I took her to one of Mark's Action Acting/Stunt workshops).

Mark had taken Lai (with me following, lol) into the actual Johnny Cash house there on his farm and again, proudly, "This is my spiritual Goddaugher, Laileigh," smiles and hugs and next person of a million, "This is my spiritual Goddaughter, Laileigh." I'd taken plenty of pictures of it all. Mark had then walked us outside to the parking lot, to our meter ticking cab, had opened the door and put Lai in (I followed, lol.) He made sure he got a good look at the taxi driver, big smile, big hello, big, "This is my Spiritual Goddaughter, Laileigh, now you take GOOD care of them, they are precious." He was making sure that taxi driver KNEW he'd seen his face, gotten his name, and put his brand on us to prevent anything from going wrong. He does that. He's beyond beyond excellent in everything he does.

The taxi had driven us the hour back to the Gaylord. I'd filmed the gorgeous video of Lai spinning in the hotel lobby in her beautiful black dress, and we'd gone back to our gorgeous room with a balcony overlooking the interior gardens.

This picture of Mark's Action/Acting Stunt Workshop the next day was on Kelso's page just now (my isn't he handsome, that's nothing, go read his page and figure him out, oh wow) and I borrowed it. That's because my story of this weekend and my photos were on the top of my own page right now. This is "the rest of the story."

Mark: "Angel, are you coming to my workshop tomorrow?" Well, there was an ice storm for one thing and I'd already paid $300. for a taxi the night before, and I was watching closely to see if I'd be able to take Lai to Chapelgate, an hour the OTHER direction; no, the ice storm stopped us.

Angel: "Not this time, we'll catch you back home." Well, Lai and I wound up friends with Kelso anyway, regardless (read my story; Angel: "Mark, why do I (emphasis "I") have to network, YOU do it. If there's anyone YOU meet that I want to know, I'll tell you. I just want to stay in our gorgeous hotel room ($600. per night for 4 nights, can you blame me) and READ my books." So now, in spite of not even going... we have Kelso as our friend, lol. xo Amazing weekend.

Written January 7, 2025 at 10:12 pm

Story I had posted the same day...

"Networking or Books"

Angel (to Mark): “Why do I - emphasis on “I” - have to go to the dinner to network? YOU do it. You know I hate people. You LOVE people. YOU network. There’s going to be 700 people there. Every single one of them is going to want to meet YOU. Just go do what you do. YOU meet them. Then if I decide I like any of them I’ll just TELL you. Anyway, Kyle put my Bio on the main page. If anyone decides they like ME they can send me a friend request. I may not even GO. I may just STAY at the fancy hotel all 3 days and read my books.”

Mark: “Angel, do you know what so-and-so said to me, yesterday? He said, “I LOVE Angel.” HE said that. I told him you were worried about the ice storm and he said you could stay with his wife and him. It’s all arranged. See. NETWORKING.”

Angel: “That was really, really nice of him. Thank you. I really was worried about the ice storm. It’s a good thing I already added a day to my hotel room. I changed the flight. Don’t leave Nashville without checking on me. Where are you going next, anyway? Atlanta? SEE. YOU network for BOTH of us. Anyone YOU meet you bring to me anyway. I can just read my books and write. That’s what I love to do.”

Mark: “Are you coming to my workshop?”

Angel: “Not this time. I just want to stay at the hotel. I don’t need to see you here. I’ll see you when we get back home, in Dallas, or Austin or somewhere. I found a Gaylord in Dallas. I think I’ll take the Amtrak train next time. Oh. You have a friend right now that I love. I want to meet So-and-so. Not for anything personal. I just would like to know him. He’s so cool, raising the red heifers for Israel. THAT’s one of your friends I DO want to meet. Oh, and the lady ambassador to China. I REALLY like her. You already introduced me to her on the cruise. I like HER. So YOU go network for both of us. I’ll TELL you when I want to meet someone. I’m going to stay in the hotel and read my books. I brought 5. I just want to read my books …and be able to say I went.”

…I write windows.

Written January 9, 2025 at 3:17 pm