dog on side #2green, blue highlights
Friday, March 12, 2010
Thursday, March 11, 2010
As it Contracts, It Expands...My Life: I Am Happy!
...
That title was verbatim my first FB post in a couple of weeks.
It's true. It's getting smaller in many ways and that's okay.
Tonight I sat outside for a couple of hours, by the Carnaval Tree and worked. Had so much fun getting down and dirty in it...(Ponzi, not the yard or anything--it was dark, but the strands of lights were on!) )But the yard looks nice from yesterday's labors.)
Benjamin, though 11, acted like a puppy, chewing a stick, lying in the cool mud/leaves/grass, digging in the mud, smiling. He'd come up for a nuzzle every now and then.
Fernando popped in and out of our night. Earlier, he had curled up in my lap and purred louder than a vibrating bed at Holiday Inn.
Sr and Betty are coming in tomorrow. Steven's workshop is this weekend. I helped with dramaturgy on it. It'll be more stunning weather. My headcold is over. Everything in blooming. The yard looks nice. (Tweak the house tomorrow am.)
My health is good. I'm not ever going to need a transplant--I've decided that. Diet, etc. is doing the job. I've eaten red cabbage and napa cabbage and carrots and such, a million different ways for over a week. And it was good each time! (Soup, steamed, stir-fry with white wine, stir-fry with balsamic vinegar, stir-fry with cheese, etc.) The first round there was a portabella cap. There were onions. I have used everything up; ready for a weekend of regular food. But hey, it's good to love the taste of things that kill cancer and are so good for me!
I have an abundance of things. Many to get rid of. Yesterday that was an annoyance; today, it's a luxury.
My car is exactly 12 years old, this week. It's running fabulously. (knock on wood) It will go over 75,000 miles when I head up to Sherman in a couple of weeks for my grandmother's 80th bday. So, mileage-wise, I'd say I'm doing okay--what is that? About 500 miles per month?
I live where I can bike a lot of places--and walk to others. Need to run to the store? Hey, it's one block away. Ditto, the convenience store and the bakery and the cheese shop and the gelato shop/jazz bar, and all those restaurants. I live close to a Central Market, where when I weigh the organic red cabbage and it comes out to more than $4, I can ask the guy to cut it in half--and then have a great thing to eat off for a week for about $2.
My family is nearby. Friends who are family. Good friends. Theatre people who are friends. School folks. Thirty years worth of acquaintances. People smile at me. I guess I haven't pissed everybody off yet.
My parents are healthy and not that far away. They have a wonderful cabin, which they share so much with me. I can get lost in Woodlake, a quiet, private lake--any time I can get up there.
I live in a liberal city. A place where people care about things that matter. A place that's pretty much live-and-let-live. It's increasingly and increasingly an oasis in a weirder than shit state, but hey, I still wear my boots and have a few Texas things around. (What am I 5th generation? Maybe 6th? I don't know.)
I could go on and on, but I've droned on too long. I'm not being smug. Everytime, I've felt smug about something--or rather, more like, how lucky I am, something bad happened soon thereafter. There's always a downside. And if I cross over into that certain layer of feeling special, God has a way of cutting me down to...hey, you're blessed, but you've got to suffer a bit, like everyone else.
Thus, I realize I have a lot of problems. I realize there are a lot of things I could improve. I realize there are plenty of negatives in my life. It has contracted and contracted again. There are many things I've cut. There will be more. That's okay.
But tonight, the stars are beautiful. The air is crisp and full of spring. Perfumey air from blooms here and there. Folks outside everywhere. The energy of SXSW descending upon the city--half the country it seems sometimes. It's all good. Tonight it's all okay.
Thanks for being a part of my life!
Cheers!
Love,
,m
That title was verbatim my first FB post in a couple of weeks.
It's true. It's getting smaller in many ways and that's okay.
Tonight I sat outside for a couple of hours, by the Carnaval Tree and worked. Had so much fun getting down and dirty in it...(Ponzi, not the yard or anything--it was dark, but the strands of lights were on!) )But the yard looks nice from yesterday's labors.)
Benjamin, though 11, acted like a puppy, chewing a stick, lying in the cool mud/leaves/grass, digging in the mud, smiling. He'd come up for a nuzzle every now and then.
Fernando popped in and out of our night. Earlier, he had curled up in my lap and purred louder than a vibrating bed at Holiday Inn.
Sr and Betty are coming in tomorrow. Steven's workshop is this weekend. I helped with dramaturgy on it. It'll be more stunning weather. My headcold is over. Everything in blooming. The yard looks nice. (Tweak the house tomorrow am.)
My health is good. I'm not ever going to need a transplant--I've decided that. Diet, etc. is doing the job. I've eaten red cabbage and napa cabbage and carrots and such, a million different ways for over a week. And it was good each time! (Soup, steamed, stir-fry with white wine, stir-fry with balsamic vinegar, stir-fry with cheese, etc.) The first round there was a portabella cap. There were onions. I have used everything up; ready for a weekend of regular food. But hey, it's good to love the taste of things that kill cancer and are so good for me!
I have an abundance of things. Many to get rid of. Yesterday that was an annoyance; today, it's a luxury.
My car is exactly 12 years old, this week. It's running fabulously. (knock on wood) It will go over 75,000 miles when I head up to Sherman in a couple of weeks for my grandmother's 80th bday. So, mileage-wise, I'd say I'm doing okay--what is that? About 500 miles per month?
I live where I can bike a lot of places--and walk to others. Need to run to the store? Hey, it's one block away. Ditto, the convenience store and the bakery and the cheese shop and the gelato shop/jazz bar, and all those restaurants. I live close to a Central Market, where when I weigh the organic red cabbage and it comes out to more than $4, I can ask the guy to cut it in half--and then have a great thing to eat off for a week for about $2.
My family is nearby. Friends who are family. Good friends. Theatre people who are friends. School folks. Thirty years worth of acquaintances. People smile at me. I guess I haven't pissed everybody off yet.
My parents are healthy and not that far away. They have a wonderful cabin, which they share so much with me. I can get lost in Woodlake, a quiet, private lake--any time I can get up there.
I live in a liberal city. A place where people care about things that matter. A place that's pretty much live-and-let-live. It's increasingly and increasingly an oasis in a weirder than shit state, but hey, I still wear my boots and have a few Texas things around. (What am I 5th generation? Maybe 6th? I don't know.)
I could go on and on, but I've droned on too long. I'm not being smug. Everytime, I've felt smug about something--or rather, more like, how lucky I am, something bad happened soon thereafter. There's always a downside. And if I cross over into that certain layer of feeling special, God has a way of cutting me down to...hey, you're blessed, but you've got to suffer a bit, like everyone else.
Thus, I realize I have a lot of problems. I realize there are a lot of things I could improve. I realize there are plenty of negatives in my life. It has contracted and contracted again. There are many things I've cut. There will be more. That's okay.
But tonight, the stars are beautiful. The air is crisp and full of spring. Perfumey air from blooms here and there. Folks outside everywhere. The energy of SXSW descending upon the city--half the country it seems sometimes. It's all good. Tonight it's all okay.
Thanks for being a part of my life!
Cheers!
Love,
,m
Betty Rice
...
Sending love and big hugs to Kirk and family, friends, neighbors today. His mother, Betty Rice, died earlier this week and the funeral is today in Baytown.
Betty was one of those people with a big laugh, a warm (but tinged with a little mischieviousness) sense of humor and personality.
Lots of love and prayers,
Michael
Sending love and big hugs to Kirk and family, friends, neighbors today. His mother, Betty Rice, died earlier this week and the funeral is today in Baytown.
Betty was one of those people with a big laugh, a warm (but tinged with a little mischieviousness) sense of humor and personality.
Lots of love and prayers,
Michael
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Headcolds are like Hangovers...
~
...you either succumb to them and they get worse or you gut it up and keep going, and you get better.
Unfortunately the latter usually helps spread colds...so, yesterday, I decided to get out of my falling-asleep at my desk funk and do something--and not infect anybody else. (I'd go try to take a nap and never fall asleep, but come back in to work and be dozing like crazy!)
Sure the house was open and all that, but until I took Benjamin for his walk, I didn't realize just how beautiful of a day it was! The whole town seemed to be playing hooky! There were people everywhere! Walking with dogs, on rollerblades, on skateboards, biking, jogging (shirtless!), walking and chatting, sitting on porches and drinking, reading in a porch swing. Wow! Spring has SPRUNG!
I came home and fed Biggs and then decided it was time I dealt with my freeze-damaged tropicals. Cut away a lot of most of them. Moved them around the yard. I couldn't help but think of that song in the musical The Secret Garden, "Wick"... in which the cousin or yard boy or whatever tells the little girl that the plants in her mother's garden aren't dead, they've got wick. So as he sings, they cut back to the wick and it grows into a beautiful garden. (Several songs later, of course.)
I ran out of daylight. It was so nice and peaceful.
Eugene called right as I came in and wanted to go to Julio's. I declined. He'd just arrived back in town and was afraid he might be catching a cold--from FB a few minutes ago, it appears he was/is/has one. Oh boy. I pray Steven and keep well! (If it were me, I think my adrenaline would keep me well through Sunday and then I would've kept it at bay as long as possible and come down with it, big time--in bed for a week...or, the garden...)
I haven't been very productive on Ponzi. I keep thinking about it and some points have gelled, etc. I got a little work done one day, but it's been somewhat foggy. Last night, I finally just went and sat on the porch with my boys--it was 10ish, still a lot of folks milling about.
Today, felt like shit again in the am, but I could tell it wasn't as bad. I did a few things around the office before heading out into the yard.
Today, I tweaked a lot of things. Cleaned out the front beds. Raked a few places (I never raked this winter--and mostly, that worked just fine.) I mowed again--even edged this time. Pulled some weeds, trimmed the hedges, etc. Just enough to make it feel Spring-ready!
Again, a very nice day. Sat on the porch about 6:00 with a beer and watched the world go by. Came in for a shower and lay down for a bit, but didn't fall asleep. Steamed some veggies for dinner. Took a walk over to Duval about 8:00. Lots of folks outside at Julio's and Mother's and Quack's. Right now, windows open, front door open. (I love screen doors!) Catching up on my Squirrels!
I'll be fine by the weekend!
Cheers!
,m
...you either succumb to them and they get worse or you gut it up and keep going, and you get better.
Unfortunately the latter usually helps spread colds...so, yesterday, I decided to get out of my falling-asleep at my desk funk and do something--and not infect anybody else. (I'd go try to take a nap and never fall asleep, but come back in to work and be dozing like crazy!)
Sure the house was open and all that, but until I took Benjamin for his walk, I didn't realize just how beautiful of a day it was! The whole town seemed to be playing hooky! There were people everywhere! Walking with dogs, on rollerblades, on skateboards, biking, jogging (shirtless!), walking and chatting, sitting on porches and drinking, reading in a porch swing. Wow! Spring has SPRUNG!
I came home and fed Biggs and then decided it was time I dealt with my freeze-damaged tropicals. Cut away a lot of most of them. Moved them around the yard. I couldn't help but think of that song in the musical The Secret Garden, "Wick"... in which the cousin or yard boy or whatever tells the little girl that the plants in her mother's garden aren't dead, they've got wick. So as he sings, they cut back to the wick and it grows into a beautiful garden. (Several songs later, of course.)
I ran out of daylight. It was so nice and peaceful.
Eugene called right as I came in and wanted to go to Julio's. I declined. He'd just arrived back in town and was afraid he might be catching a cold--from FB a few minutes ago, it appears he was/is/has one. Oh boy. I pray Steven and keep well! (If it were me, I think my adrenaline would keep me well through Sunday and then I would've kept it at bay as long as possible and come down with it, big time--in bed for a week...or, the garden...)
I haven't been very productive on Ponzi. I keep thinking about it and some points have gelled, etc. I got a little work done one day, but it's been somewhat foggy. Last night, I finally just went and sat on the porch with my boys--it was 10ish, still a lot of folks milling about.
Today, felt like shit again in the am, but I could tell it wasn't as bad. I did a few things around the office before heading out into the yard.
Today, I tweaked a lot of things. Cleaned out the front beds. Raked a few places (I never raked this winter--and mostly, that worked just fine.) I mowed again--even edged this time. Pulled some weeds, trimmed the hedges, etc. Just enough to make it feel Spring-ready!
Again, a very nice day. Sat on the porch about 6:00 with a beer and watched the world go by. Came in for a shower and lay down for a bit, but didn't fall asleep. Steamed some veggies for dinner. Took a walk over to Duval about 8:00. Lots of folks outside at Julio's and Mother's and Quack's. Right now, windows open, front door open. (I love screen doors!) Catching up on my Squirrels!
I'll be fine by the weekend!
Cheers!
,m
Hmmmm? Wonder if Brick and Dana* Would Mind?
Freewill Astrology Horoscope for Week Beginning 11March 10,
LIBRA:
If you were living in Greece in the fifth century B.C., I'd urge you to bathe in the healing spring at the shrine of Asklepios in Athens. If you were in 19th-century France, I'd recommend that you trek to the sacred shrine at Lourdes -- being sure to crawl the last half-mile on your hands and knees -- and sip from the curative waters there. But since you're a busy 21st-century sophisticate and may have a limited belief in miracles, I'll simply suggest that you visit the most interesting tree you know and spill a bottle of pristine water over your head as you confess your sins and ask the sky for forgiveness and sing songs that purify you to the bone.
(*Brick and Dana bought my old house on B'wood. I know other interesting trees, much more interesting trees--but there's a favorite one I used to just stare at in the backyard...I'd sit on the deck and when the leaves were off, it looked like you could just walk right up it--and it veered off in all these different paths. Or, it might've been the wine.)
If you see me out by a tree somewhere, all wet and singing, keep on going. I'm fine.
Cheers!
,m
LIBRA:
If you were living in Greece in the fifth century B.C., I'd urge you to bathe in the healing spring at the shrine of Asklepios in Athens. If you were in 19th-century France, I'd recommend that you trek to the sacred shrine at Lourdes -- being sure to crawl the last half-mile on your hands and knees -- and sip from the curative waters there. But since you're a busy 21st-century sophisticate and may have a limited belief in miracles, I'll simply suggest that you visit the most interesting tree you know and spill a bottle of pristine water over your head as you confess your sins and ask the sky for forgiveness and sing songs that purify you to the bone.
(*Brick and Dana bought my old house on B'wood. I know other interesting trees, much more interesting trees--but there's a favorite one I used to just stare at in the backyard...I'd sit on the deck and when the leaves were off, it looked like you could just walk right up it--and it veered off in all these different paths. Or, it might've been the wine.)
If you see me out by a tree somewhere, all wet and singing, keep on going. I'm fine.
Cheers!
,m
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Day: Clear, Sunny, 78. Michael: Foggy, Okay, 97.7
...
Wow! Can you believe this day?
Windows open, but tempted to go cut things in the yard. The sun is warm. If you drive by and I'm passed out in the grass, I'm okay. I think. (Hope?)
I'm guessing on my body temp. Haven't had any fever and mine usually runs below 98. So for the symmetry of the title, I included a guess. Shoot me.
Typical headcold: mornings are crap. The day is foggy. It starts clearing up mid-afternoon after a nap or downtime. I even got (a little) work done on Ponzi last night. Today, I've been reading papers, mail, and such.
I'm okay. Not much to report. So avoiding the risk of crossing over into banal...(too late!)...I'll sign off.
,m
Wow! Can you believe this day?
Windows open, but tempted to go cut things in the yard. The sun is warm. If you drive by and I'm passed out in the grass, I'm okay. I think. (Hope?)
I'm guessing on my body temp. Haven't had any fever and mine usually runs below 98. So for the symmetry of the title, I included a guess. Shoot me.
Typical headcold: mornings are crap. The day is foggy. It starts clearing up mid-afternoon after a nap or downtime. I even got (a little) work done on Ponzi last night. Today, I've been reading papers, mail, and such.
I'm okay. Not much to report. So avoiding the risk of crossing over into banal...(too late!)...I'll sign off.
,m
Monday, March 8, 2010
Maybe a Little Progress?
...
Or is it like the hint o' rebound in a double dip recession?
I'm talking about my cold--not the economy, not the Obama presidency, not Ponzi, not nothin'!
...
Really did nothing today but read the papers intently, took a long nap--oh, yeah several loads of laundry, changed the beds...okay, I did something. Walked the boys a few times. Nice chat with Sr & Betty. Did I mention the long nap? Well, I'm shifting into another one, right now.
...
We'll see how I feel tomorrow.
...
Oh, and I haven't seen The Hurt Locker, but I am soooo glad it won over Avatar! I must make it a point to see it. I never even turned the Academies on. Remember when we used to call them the Academies instead of the Oscars?
(And then I read that the first woman ever to win director--for The Hurt Locker--had been married to James Cameron, director of Avatar back in the late 80s or so!)
Oh well, I got all this from Statesman.com don't hold me accountable.
Cheers.
,m
Or is it like the hint o' rebound in a double dip recession?
I'm talking about my cold--not the economy, not the Obama presidency, not Ponzi, not nothin'!
...
Really did nothing today but read the papers intently, took a long nap--oh, yeah several loads of laundry, changed the beds...okay, I did something. Walked the boys a few times. Nice chat with Sr & Betty. Did I mention the long nap? Well, I'm shifting into another one, right now.
...
We'll see how I feel tomorrow.
...
Oh, and I haven't seen The Hurt Locker, but I am soooo glad it won over Avatar! I must make it a point to see it. I never even turned the Academies on. Remember when we used to call them the Academies instead of the Oscars?
(And then I read that the first woman ever to win director--for The Hurt Locker--had been married to James Cameron, director of Avatar back in the late 80s or so!)
Oh well, I got all this from Statesman.com don't hold me accountable.
Cheers.
,m
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Congratulations, Mr. Mitchell, it's a cold!
...
I'm pretty sure today.
Either way, Gov. Edwin Edwards will have a much huskier voice today in the reading!
Will monitor.
After the reading, I'm just going to come home and chill.
and get well.
Oh well, better this weekend than next...¿right?
Have fun today, it's beautiful out!
Cheers!
,m
I'm pretty sure today.
Either way, Gov. Edwin Edwards will have a much huskier voice today in the reading!
Will monitor.
After the reading, I'm just going to come home and chill.
and get well.
Oh well, better this weekend than next...¿right?
Have fun today, it's beautiful out!
Cheers!
,m
Friday, March 5, 2010
And Ponzi Feed Off Little Snippets of..
...
Energy from phone calls and conversations. Today, a chat with Hector. A week or so ago, talking with Jim Arth. Things that later manifest themselves in the play, organically. From day to day chats they bubble up, and I go "duh." Things keep bubbling up the original ideas/themes of this play (Hence, the Ponzi name.) Things that keep it in check.
I need an Algonquin Hotel Bar or Harry's New York Bar. A place to go anytime, for a nightcap, to chat, to hangout with other creative types, who chat amongst themselves--meaning, they don't plan to come, they just do. They don't meet people out. They can just go. Maybe Spiderhouse is the closest thing we have. Even the wonderful arty east 6th east of IH35 places aren't stumble upon places. They're places you'd go with a friend and then run into someone else. They aren't places you'd go 4 nights a week and know you're going to know a lot of people there and talk about your projects and shit.
I don't know. Would I go that much? I doubt it...right now, I can't afford it...
But Austin has so many stupid rules about 51% food sales and fear of neighborhood associations that those places hardly exist. Yikes! Austin is so nice and relaxed and such, but so uptight about neighborhoods and such. People think they deserve total perfection, they can't carry the weight of their neighbors too--like people used to. If there was music in a place, they just listened, put a pillow over their head. Now, they petition city hall, say they weren't notified of the application, create sound ordinances, zoning--Heaven forbid a car parks in front of their house. Jeez!
(It took VinoVino over a year to get it's zoning issues worked out. Whatever.)
The types of places I yearn for can't be downtown. That's too difficult to get to, to park, for every day or regular attendence. Too expensive because of the rents. It is time to change the rules and allow bar bars, haunts and dives that aren't the old grandfathered in places, outside of downtown. It's worked in creating a vibrant downtown...now, expand.
I'm tired of this topic. I'm going to bed.
Carry on.
,m
Energy from phone calls and conversations. Today, a chat with Hector. A week or so ago, talking with Jim Arth. Things that later manifest themselves in the play, organically. From day to day chats they bubble up, and I go "duh." Things keep bubbling up the original ideas/themes of this play (Hence, the Ponzi name.) Things that keep it in check.
I need an Algonquin Hotel Bar or Harry's New York Bar. A place to go anytime, for a nightcap, to chat, to hangout with other creative types, who chat amongst themselves--meaning, they don't plan to come, they just do. They don't meet people out. They can just go. Maybe Spiderhouse is the closest thing we have. Even the wonderful arty east 6th east of IH35 places aren't stumble upon places. They're places you'd go with a friend and then run into someone else. They aren't places you'd go 4 nights a week and know you're going to know a lot of people there and talk about your projects and shit.
I don't know. Would I go that much? I doubt it...right now, I can't afford it...
But Austin has so many stupid rules about 51% food sales and fear of neighborhood associations that those places hardly exist. Yikes! Austin is so nice and relaxed and such, but so uptight about neighborhoods and such. People think they deserve total perfection, they can't carry the weight of their neighbors too--like people used to. If there was music in a place, they just listened, put a pillow over their head. Now, they petition city hall, say they weren't notified of the application, create sound ordinances, zoning--Heaven forbid a car parks in front of their house. Jeez!
(It took VinoVino over a year to get it's zoning issues worked out. Whatever.)
The types of places I yearn for can't be downtown. That's too difficult to get to, to park, for every day or regular attendence. Too expensive because of the rents. It is time to change the rules and allow bar bars, haunts and dives that aren't the old grandfathered in places, outside of downtown. It's worked in creating a vibrant downtown...now, expand.
I'm tired of this topic. I'm going to bed.
Carry on.
,m
Dramaturgy!
...
I've been reading Steven's play a couple of times and asking questions, pointing out things I wonder about, commenting on what is really working for me, and such.
I'm in a reading of "Earnest" by Joe and Andrew Doss (father and son.) We worked on it some and read it in our writer's group late last spring. Joe Doss is an Episcopal Priest and an attorney and he served as counsel on a death sentence case of a black man in Louisiana in the 80s. Martha Lynn went to undergrad with his daughter, and she and Jason are providing dramaturgy for him. It's been great to watch this play take a cool shape. It could use more streamlining, but it's fun to be a part of the reading--and our talkback tonight, about the changes and the play and what we felt, etc.
And, in the midst of all this, things have put me on-fire on Ponzi. Isn't working on others' plays that feeds my creativity? Fires my neurons? Helps my personal dramaturgy, which is a critical tool of a playwright, but can't be all.
There are a few over-laps between Ponzi and Steven's play. Cool. But they'll probably minimize a lot over the progress of both. There are some structure over-laps with "Earnest"... ditto. At first, I find myself thinking. Shit. Now, I've got to change _______. But why? Every play takes from existing work in some manner. Ditto story, etc. I didn't take from these plays, but some of our similarities will certainly be due to things in the current world feeding all our artistic fires.
It's been great! Fun and enlightening and rejuvenating. Something so critical to my own creativity. Something so vital.
And, being in the room with other theatre types. Fabulous! It almost makes you want to spend it all trying to make it...and then if you find yourself in abjunct poverty, at least you're there happily. Almost. A Libra sees both sides of the coin and knows how much joy his animals bring him and how they cost money and how much joy being in a vibrant neighborhood brings, and living in a city with great theatre and energy and such....
And the dilema comes crashing back in.
It will work out. It always does.
Meanwhile, I'm loving this dramaturgical shit.
Cheers!
,m
I've been reading Steven's play a couple of times and asking questions, pointing out things I wonder about, commenting on what is really working for me, and such.
I'm in a reading of "Earnest" by Joe and Andrew Doss (father and son.) We worked on it some and read it in our writer's group late last spring. Joe Doss is an Episcopal Priest and an attorney and he served as counsel on a death sentence case of a black man in Louisiana in the 80s. Martha Lynn went to undergrad with his daughter, and she and Jason are providing dramaturgy for him. It's been great to watch this play take a cool shape. It could use more streamlining, but it's fun to be a part of the reading--and our talkback tonight, about the changes and the play and what we felt, etc.
And, in the midst of all this, things have put me on-fire on Ponzi. Isn't working on others' plays that feeds my creativity? Fires my neurons? Helps my personal dramaturgy, which is a critical tool of a playwright, but can't be all.
There are a few over-laps between Ponzi and Steven's play. Cool. But they'll probably minimize a lot over the progress of both. There are some structure over-laps with "Earnest"... ditto. At first, I find myself thinking. Shit. Now, I've got to change _______. But why? Every play takes from existing work in some manner. Ditto story, etc. I didn't take from these plays, but some of our similarities will certainly be due to things in the current world feeding all our artistic fires.
It's been great! Fun and enlightening and rejuvenating. Something so critical to my own creativity. Something so vital.
And, being in the room with other theatre types. Fabulous! It almost makes you want to spend it all trying to make it...and then if you find yourself in abjunct poverty, at least you're there happily. Almost. A Libra sees both sides of the coin and knows how much joy his animals bring him and how they cost money and how much joy being in a vibrant neighborhood brings, and living in a city with great theatre and energy and such....
And the dilema comes crashing back in.
It will work out. It always does.
Meanwhile, I'm loving this dramaturgical shit.
Cheers!
,m
Allergies? Or, A Cold--One Symptom at a Time?
...
Austin is a bloom. It's that time of year--actually, we're a little later this year...but because of the colder winter, things that have been blooming January for the last decade or so (tulip trees, daffodils, irises, etc.) are just now happening, starting to wane...and the spring entourage is racing in to fill the void! The giant yard of redbud down the street will start blooming in the next few days, trees are budding out--especially the elms that survived the drought. Cedar has waned, is waning, will wane?
And, thus, allergies are waxing!
I've had a persistant drip the last couple of days, which has evolved into a bit of a hack. I know that may be more than you care to know, but my point is...it's still in the realm of either. Do I stay home and avoid people to keep from infecting them? (I can't. I'm reading in a play tomorrow at the Carver Library at 2... we had rehearsals tonight. They just can't find someone else to pop in and take over.) But otherwise, I can.
I hope it's allergies. I hope it passes when the rain comes in a day or two and washes some of this out of the air. (Both Benjamin and Fernando are having big ol' allergies right now.)
Another compounding factor are the winter weeds, which are out of control this year! Really...whole yards of sticky weed aren't that unusual. I've had a lot and I usually just get a little. That grassy looking weed is everywhere--BUT, it's funny how it is where the dogs go. It's in the first few feet in a yard from the sidewalk, it's in a perfect circle around a stop sign pole where all the dogs pee, etc. I had it in the front of my yard, but not so much deeper in. It's obviously spread by the feet of dogs.
Oh well, the joy of dogs are well worth weeds. And, I hate "Dallas Yards" any way. You know the kind: no weeds, thick St. Augustine--obviously heavy on fertilizer and such. It's like too much make up. The natural look is so much less whorish. But I'm thinking those weeds are feeding the allergies. Oh well.
What can one do?
Sneeze?
KissKiss
,m
Austin is a bloom. It's that time of year--actually, we're a little later this year...but because of the colder winter, things that have been blooming January for the last decade or so (tulip trees, daffodils, irises, etc.) are just now happening, starting to wane...and the spring entourage is racing in to fill the void! The giant yard of redbud down the street will start blooming in the next few days, trees are budding out--especially the elms that survived the drought. Cedar has waned, is waning, will wane?
And, thus, allergies are waxing!
I've had a persistant drip the last couple of days, which has evolved into a bit of a hack. I know that may be more than you care to know, but my point is...it's still in the realm of either. Do I stay home and avoid people to keep from infecting them? (I can't. I'm reading in a play tomorrow at the Carver Library at 2... we had rehearsals tonight. They just can't find someone else to pop in and take over.) But otherwise, I can.
I hope it's allergies. I hope it passes when the rain comes in a day or two and washes some of this out of the air. (Both Benjamin and Fernando are having big ol' allergies right now.)
Another compounding factor are the winter weeds, which are out of control this year! Really...whole yards of sticky weed aren't that unusual. I've had a lot and I usually just get a little. That grassy looking weed is everywhere--BUT, it's funny how it is where the dogs go. It's in the first few feet in a yard from the sidewalk, it's in a perfect circle around a stop sign pole where all the dogs pee, etc. I had it in the front of my yard, but not so much deeper in. It's obviously spread by the feet of dogs.
Oh well, the joy of dogs are well worth weeds. And, I hate "Dallas Yards" any way. You know the kind: no weeds, thick St. Augustine--obviously heavy on fertilizer and such. It's like too much make up. The natural look is so much less whorish. But I'm thinking those weeds are feeding the allergies. Oh well.
What can one do?
Sneeze?
KissKiss
,m
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Late Yesterday, Ponzi!
...
Yesterday, Sal was here working on dishwasher. Late afternoon, I printed out Ponzi and put it in a 3-ring binder, which you normally do for a script in workshop, reading or rehearsal... but I've never done with a raw script. It made it MUCH easier to manuever on the eliptical at the gym, where I spent an hour and twenty minutes, loving being lost in my play, not paying attn to the TVs or the other people working out or whatever....
I was laughing at my new work (in a good way.) Putting brackets around sections/lines/phrases to cut. Good work. Came home, tired (in a good way.) (AND, I had been up very late the night before working on other people's work, no nap.) It would've been easy to just chill, but I turned on the overhead light in the office (natural daylight bulbs) and kept on... somewhere in there, something popped and I think I came to a solution (that I'm currently LOVING) to the complicated end of Act 1/Beginning of Act 2 question. So I wrote a first draft of that. I was very psyched when I was through!
Sal is coming back today to finish (if he can find the part--if not, they're gonna have to buy a new one. This is a used one from their warehouse--nice--but doesn't fit the existing water pipe exactly?) Oh the joy of renting. You call, they fix--no$400 leak is suddenly going to be a $4000 rotten beam repair! Ahhhhhh....
The last two nights it's been about or past 3:00am when I got to bed and I've gotten up at the same time--which, I admit, has crept back late since I shifted into full gear on finishing Ponzi last month. (But an ever-aging Benjamin is keeping me honest. In the old days he'd shift to late too. Not anymore, he starts trying to wake me up around 8:00 am so he can eat...)
That's all.
Cheers!
,m
Yesterday, Sal was here working on dishwasher. Late afternoon, I printed out Ponzi and put it in a 3-ring binder, which you normally do for a script in workshop, reading or rehearsal... but I've never done with a raw script. It made it MUCH easier to manuever on the eliptical at the gym, where I spent an hour and twenty minutes, loving being lost in my play, not paying attn to the TVs or the other people working out or whatever....
I was laughing at my new work (in a good way.) Putting brackets around sections/lines/phrases to cut. Good work. Came home, tired (in a good way.) (AND, I had been up very late the night before working on other people's work, no nap.) It would've been easy to just chill, but I turned on the overhead light in the office (natural daylight bulbs) and kept on... somewhere in there, something popped and I think I came to a solution (that I'm currently LOVING) to the complicated end of Act 1/Beginning of Act 2 question. So I wrote a first draft of that. I was very psyched when I was through!
Sal is coming back today to finish (if he can find the part--if not, they're gonna have to buy a new one. This is a used one from their warehouse--nice--but doesn't fit the existing water pipe exactly?) Oh the joy of renting. You call, they fix--no$400 leak is suddenly going to be a $4000 rotten beam repair! Ahhhhhh....
The last two nights it's been about or past 3:00am when I got to bed and I've gotten up at the same time--which, I admit, has crept back late since I shifted into full gear on finishing Ponzi last month. (But an ever-aging Benjamin is keeping me honest. In the old days he'd shift to late too. Not anymore, he starts trying to wake me up around 8:00 am so he can eat...)
That's all.
Cheers!
,m
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Sadly Ironic: University of Texas
...
I find it sadly ironic that UT is spending a lot of money to advertise in both the print and on-line editions of the Austin American-Statesman for its Explore UT, which it bills as "The Biggest Open House in Texas!" The purpose of the event is two-fold: one, to let kids see what UT has to offer so they can consider attending, and two, to invite the community/state in to experience UT through arts, sciences, dance and its many wonderful treasures--and there are many. Yet, at the same time it is cancelling its informal classes, the only venue through which most of the community would participate in most of these.
Non-students can come up to the glass and look, but can't come in.
I find it sadly ironic that UT is spending a lot of money to advertise in both the print and on-line editions of the Austin American-Statesman for its Explore UT, which it bills as "The Biggest Open House in Texas!" The purpose of the event is two-fold: one, to let kids see what UT has to offer so they can consider attending, and two, to invite the community/state in to experience UT through arts, sciences, dance and its many wonderful treasures--and there are many. Yet, at the same time it is cancelling its informal classes, the only venue through which most of the community would participate in most of these.
Non-students can come up to the glass and look, but can't come in.
Howdy, How Are You?
...
Me? I'm fine. Thank you.
It's a Most Lovely day in Austin, Texas. Windows open. Sal in there replacing the dishwasher with a new one. Not much news, per se. Just thought I'd check in so you don't get worried. Don't worry, please.
No real commentary on yesterday's election. I was surprised that Perry could win it w/out a run-off, but hey... there you go. I was hoping it would at least stimulate the economy for 6 more weeks as rich people had to reach into their pockets to spend for TV ads and such. Oh well.
Of course, I hope White pummels him in November. I think it will be difficult, but is possible. Only time will tell. Seems the tea-party energy might be peaking a bit too early. We'll see how that plays out. I think a lot of independents can be swayed to White--given the time and the money to educate them. White did a great job for City of Houston. Perry has already been in way too long. His cronyism of appointees who must respect his wishes, not the institution upon which they were appointed, is getting very old. He is definitely of the Party of No mentality--including No Solutions. He yelps about how good Texas is doing--well, he did very little to create that AND my experience is Texas is always behind the curve on bad times cycles. I hope not.
And I hope people will objectively look at White and his record and the call for a breath of fresh air in the stale air of the governor's mansion--which incidently isn't where Perry is living. He insisted on renting a $9000 a month house in the hills for his family while it's being renovated. Hmmm...that's a conservative for you, Marie Antoinette. Let them eat cake. (There are plenty of VERY nice places in town for 3 or 4,000 a month.)
So that's my take.
I spent most of last night doing dramaturgy for others. Read Steven's latest draft and gave him my comments via email. Printed out and skimmed a new version of a play that I'm going to read several roles in on Saturday. It's a play by an Episcopal Priest who forged a relationship with a death row inmate in Louisana of 1980s. Martha Lynn and Jason have been doing dramaturgy on it. We read it in our writer's group a year ago. It's at 2pm at the Carver Library on Sat, if anyone wants to hear it. I think there are some Death Penalty group talk-backs when it's over. (Be warned: I told Jason if he finds a real actor to read, I'll punt and just listen. So, if you were to come and I'm not reading, don't be shocked. It's not about me.)
Other than that...
trying to get things done, pull together a job search or other ideas (entreprenuerial in nature or hit it out of the park type things...), pull together a life, organize, be happy, trust it's all gonna work out fine.
I am.
Cheers!
,m
Me? I'm fine. Thank you.
It's a Most Lovely day in Austin, Texas. Windows open. Sal in there replacing the dishwasher with a new one. Not much news, per se. Just thought I'd check in so you don't get worried. Don't worry, please.
No real commentary on yesterday's election. I was surprised that Perry could win it w/out a run-off, but hey... there you go. I was hoping it would at least stimulate the economy for 6 more weeks as rich people had to reach into their pockets to spend for TV ads and such. Oh well.
Of course, I hope White pummels him in November. I think it will be difficult, but is possible. Only time will tell. Seems the tea-party energy might be peaking a bit too early. We'll see how that plays out. I think a lot of independents can be swayed to White--given the time and the money to educate them. White did a great job for City of Houston. Perry has already been in way too long. His cronyism of appointees who must respect his wishes, not the institution upon which they were appointed, is getting very old. He is definitely of the Party of No mentality--including No Solutions. He yelps about how good Texas is doing--well, he did very little to create that AND my experience is Texas is always behind the curve on bad times cycles. I hope not.
And I hope people will objectively look at White and his record and the call for a breath of fresh air in the stale air of the governor's mansion--which incidently isn't where Perry is living. He insisted on renting a $9000 a month house in the hills for his family while it's being renovated. Hmmm...that's a conservative for you, Marie Antoinette. Let them eat cake. (There are plenty of VERY nice places in town for 3 or 4,000 a month.)
So that's my take.
I spent most of last night doing dramaturgy for others. Read Steven's latest draft and gave him my comments via email. Printed out and skimmed a new version of a play that I'm going to read several roles in on Saturday. It's a play by an Episcopal Priest who forged a relationship with a death row inmate in Louisana of 1980s. Martha Lynn and Jason have been doing dramaturgy on it. We read it in our writer's group a year ago. It's at 2pm at the Carver Library on Sat, if anyone wants to hear it. I think there are some Death Penalty group talk-backs when it's over. (Be warned: I told Jason if he finds a real actor to read, I'll punt and just listen. So, if you were to come and I'm not reading, don't be shocked. It's not about me.)
Other than that...
trying to get things done, pull together a job search or other ideas (entreprenuerial in nature or hit it out of the park type things...), pull together a life, organize, be happy, trust it's all gonna work out fine.
I am.
Cheers!
,m
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