My Wonderful, Very Non Thelma and Louise Road Trip...

...to Santa Cruz Shakespeare

First there is something special to me about the road trip. I just love it, you jump in and start to drive and see changing landscapes so quickly. A gift of the bay area. You miss that in a plane, it can be so cocoon like. Well it makes one return to sanity quickly. So I did that, I hopped into my car and ventured down to Santa Cruz for the festival and the city. It is a mere 1.5 hour drive for me, but you feel in a different world. The festival is part of the UC campus there. Runs late July to labor day weekend generally. This year I saw the full program over the weekend, Romeo and Juliet, Burn This, Alls Well That Ends Well, and Bach at Leipzig

First I have to talk venues. They have two, the Festival Glen outdoor theater where this year the Shakespeare is held. And the indoor main stage where the other two are. I am partial to the Glen even though outdoors provides the challenge of well..the outdoors. You can get some sun but it generally disappears by at least intermission. I have yet to be there at night, but I am sure the lighting is dramatic.

(not a picture of actual Glen but redwoods that could very well BE surrounding it...)





First lovely surprise, was how much I adored the Romeo and Juliet. I admit it was the play I was least interested in seeing as I have so many times and it's not even a favorite play of mine. But director Kim Rubenstein has this way of surprising me. She did it last year with Much Ado (love the play but damn...seen it more than I care to think...) and now again with R and J. The star crossed folks, lusciously played by Charles Pasternak and Caitlin Fitzgerald make up not only immensely passionate lovers, but actually likable too. You can see why out of the choice of the others, they would find happiness only in each others arms. Also the clever staging and use of music, (who knew Juliet could sing and her singing might also attract her beau) was inspired. The show was sexy and beautiful and when they died you did feel the loss. Finally I had that reaction. Well done.

That was my first play then I ventured off to dinner at local cafe where I splurged and got champagne while sitting outside and watching the world go by (well the world in Santa Cruz which is a mix of the fringe and the not so fringe...) The hung out at Santa Cruz Famous Book Store

Evening show was Burn This. ... Post on that shortly....

Santa Cruz Shakes

Quick post, I have much more to say on this and will shortly.....



But I went to a fantastic weekend with Shakespeare Santa Cruz. First of all, with gas prices etc these smaller less ambitious weekend trips just rock. And with limited funds you can do it also, I stayed at the motel 6 in campbell, which is only a 15 minute drive from theater. Then I drove into Los Gatos for breakfast which was delightful before heading into Santa Cruz. I saw all 4 plays, Romeo and Juliet, Alls Well, Bach at Leipzig, and Burn This. Also enjoyed the community of Santa Cruz. Will post more about all this....

Throwing Caution to the Wind

You know you are middle aged when:

Being "out there" involves having french fries, getting the dessert and walking into a book store and just buying a book, FULL price mind you!!! Yes i did all that. I went to Bolinas on Tuesday, which is a curious town. They are not terribly inviting, they even took down their sign off the main road telling you where to turn. Deborah knew this or we would never have found it! There is only ONE cafe, now mind it it rocks. It was one of the best lunches i have ever had. And yes we got the fries and the local baked pie. But there is an air of mystery in the place, like "please leave". We also picked up some organic veggies from a local stand where it's on the honor system. You put the money in a slot and weigh it yourself. We then went to Point Reyes cause it would be nice to feel welcomed! I did pick up the book, I saw it and I bought it. I don't think I have done that in years. I generally do amazon market place...stuff like that. It's call The Gift, it's about being an artist basically. About how gifts are to be passed along, not kept close to sleeve. And there is stuff about Whitman too. Whitman is one my favs cause you can hear the joy in his writing. Lately I have become weary of the whole amateur theater world, too much thinking and joylessness. I mean I am so tired of the word submissions for instance, submission process. Did they pick mine, whose did they pick? I know it's reality but I am tired of it ok? Also the talk of "readers" "who are the readers? have they changed readers? " My only readers are from now on, myself, God and some random friends. And if an audience is part of that along the way...so be it. (ok, maybe I am not that cool really ...but you see my point..)

Today is a big day too. I am going to a party tonight where my best friend from high school, whom I have not seen in 30 years is going to be there. We haven't even been in touch, got in touch on facebook of all things. I am very emotional right now, she is bringing her son and
it will be lovely to catch up.

Oh and speaking of writing for fun, I wrote a take off of "Brush up your Shakespeare" but about Chekhov so I will post that too...

Wowee-Wall-E

Roge ROBOTS! Roge Robots!

I saw Wall-E today. I LOVED it. I can't say enough. I was literally startled. It is more than a movie, it's a meditation on consumerism and human disconnect. It really got to me. He's a wonderful heroic character. And it's a beautiful movie, really a lovely touching, thing. Anyways, it's like 2025 and we have ruined our planet, and the only thing left is this robot called Wall-E
and his friend a cockroach (what else...?) . Anyways, he meets up with a visitor, a outer space robot, they fall in love and then they proceed, along with the one lone GREEN plant, to inject the Universe with a spirit of adventure again, and the will to make earth green and wonderful again. It's so.... welll SOOOO....

Funny thing too, RIGHT before I saw it, I just happened to pick up several plants at Rite Aid for planting and some potting soil... Just a coincidence...? One wonders....

Stopping the World...

According to Joseph Campbell, ( I believe....my memory for facts can suck...I tend to get big picture...) in all the heroes journeys, the hero starts out by pulling inward, then ventures out into the world, gets all dirtied up, then pulls inward again...then takes what wisdom he or she has gleaned and shares it with the world... Or some such. Well I finally got my time off which was sort of like this carrot and stick for me (BIG carrot) to keep me going. So to start out, I am pulling in. Yesterday I only ventured out to get some cat food and wine (so your basic food groups) and then just read, thought, slept and the like. Soon I will venture out again. I am working the box office at Calshakes again tonight. Last weekend of Ideal Husband, great show don't get me wrong. But I am ready for it to end. It's sort of like the blockbuster version of theater. It's selling like hot cakes, and people come out who aren't that into theater, and it's big and costumed. And as they say "Wilde is the most living of the dead playwrights" So it's overwhelming. I want to get back to meat and potatoes theater like Vanya and even Twelfth Night. Bring me your tired, your huddled theater geeks...

in other news... I did finish up my summer job which feels great and have time off. I got offered the summer job next summer already which felt great. I earned that. My only set plans are a trip to Santa Cruz to see the festival with a bloggers pass and stay over and enjoy the area.

So so far with summer heroes journey I have learned (wait and to point out, hero means "who is having the journey" I am not implying in any way shape or form that I am heroic...far from it)
1. Don't try to be special. Everyone is having a hard time these days. Just do your best and be good to others.

2. Do your best job for you, and for others. Operate by your own inner moral compass.

3. Enjoy the summer, the long days etc.

Anyways, off i go....ta ta...

Bringing it all Back

So I started writing plays in 02. It was something that I found inspiring to do. Since then it has brought me many friends and wonderful memories and some painful ones too. In other words, it was a lot like regular life. Anyways, today I formatted and fixed up an old play I wrote back then to submit to a short play reading series. It felt odd to bring out this dusty "old" piece, that I wrote all of 6 years ago. But it also felt good. I reminded me of the initial joy I had in it all. How it started out as fun. It still is but as with anything some of the innocence has gone.

On another note, or not another note: Calshakes is gearing up for Uncle Vanya. And someone blogged today that they were skeptical about this play, and were wondering how one could "Breath life into it" which made me think "but Vanya IS life, so maybe it's YOU who needs it to breath life to you" I dunno. But I love Vanya, and I want you all to love it too. Why do I love it? For one thing, anything that takes a bunch of people bitching and complaining and turns it into an art form...well i am there. Second, it's much more an "everyman" story than it seems most people think. The regrets and the illusions shattered (which can be good too...but let's face it, at first it sucks...) The sort of day to day suffering that goes on that I think we push under the carpet. Doesn't mean life sucks at all but it means we just push things under the carpet.
Also ultimately, it is about people who have to continue on, to work no matter what. The last words, "we will work". So true.

So anyways, I actually had a good Non Vanya type day. Even though I did work and toil for others.

I'm a theater producer damnit!

Hey I am very excited. Things are rolling along with the geek themed variety show I am coordinating. True I don't have to pay for a space and all the other things a REAL producer does.
But I am going to have to lead this thing to victory. Anyways, what it is is a night of sketch comedy and music, performed by computer science students and faculty. We picked the date, Sept 26th. and it will be held in 306 Soda here on campus. Soda is main CS dept building. I am writing sketches, along with at least one other person. Several are performing. It's all geek themed, all kinds of geeks. I am going to have a theater geek in there. I wrote some lyrics that I am hoping this one musical guy can put music too also. It's all very fun. Yippee, plus I just need a theater project, you know like how Dracula needs blood. Yes, it's almost that unwholesome.

Carol Marshall's Day Off

Ahhh finally had a day off yesterday. No I didn't make a major museum, a baseball game, lunch at fancy dinner, all while alluding the principal of my school...but I had a great day none the less. I went to Muir Beach. Originally I planned on going to Mt Tam, but I went with beach since it was so bloody hot. I also went to a great thrift shop called "Family Store" in Mill Valley where I really got some great things. Later I ventured out to Whole Foods and was reminded why I don't shop there much. It was very expensive. Over priced in my book. Although I did treat myself to a few things.

Now...back to the grind. I did attend the "meet and greet" for Vanya at Calshakes. Director Timothy Near had many great comments. I can't wait to see it.

The Importance of Doing Oscar Wilde Right

Last night I saw a really wonderful production of Ideal Husband at Calshakes
Now true i am a company man so why listen to me? Well first I will be honest, the play itself
has some problems, an all over the place ending scene, too many Wilde Witticsms shoved in your face etc. But that said, it was performed, staged and done so well you forgive all that and it works somehow. So I was very entertained last night. Nice way to kick off a long weekend for me. I am taking Monday off and Tues morning too. Monday I am going to Mt Tam and doing some exploring. Tues morning I am going to meet and greet for next play at Calshakes Uncle Vanya, meet and greet is first rehearsal where the director makes her opening remarks etc.

That's all for now folks...

Hi all, well finally got a full free weekend. I really hadn't done decent chores, laundry and the like since Pericles opened and I worked the show every weekend. But it has now gone off to theater memory and I can relax a bit, of course the actors and everyone else can relax MORE but this post is about ME damnit! So I cleaned, did laundry, ate normally..this rocks.

Anyways, I am enjoying the simple things, a nap with my cat, a lovely tuna salad I made with chopped nectarines. I am reminded of a story that my Mom told me once. When she was young she and her cousin and some others went out for a ride and the car broke down. Everyone was very angry and annoyed but her cousin...he sat quietly. When my Mom asked him why he said "Well I spent 2 years in a Japanese prison camp...this seems FINE to me" So it's all relative.
I am not complaining, and really taking it all in.

Tonight I am taking my dear friend Nena to see Full Monty at Masquers Theater in my town square here for her birthday. We will have wine and some gelato first. I am getting the GOOD gelato too, from downtown Berkeley. I am really into giving people a good time instead of more "stuff" for gifts.

Speaking of "stuff" I did need some things but happy to say I found it ALL at the local goodwill. So no NEW stuff came into my home. I needed to toss some chipped plates and I found some replacements there. I needed ice cream bowls for tonight and I found two lovely ones, 99 cents each. I also need some t-shirts for summer, and I got some great ones for a buck. So see I can be practical AND cheap! That works for me!

He makes me want to be a better man.
Carlin may rest in peace, but the rest of us shouldn't.

I have been really touched by our loss of George Carlin. Someone you just thought would always be there to remind us how silly our lifestyles are, how inane many of our goals are, and how empty our horizons can be. That is unless we chuck it all like on some level you felt he did. He said on Charlie Rose that once he stopped caring about outcome he was set on a path. Attachment to outcome, one of our primary empty goals in our culture. Where Europeans are burnt out after world wars on their soil over religion or other Zeitgeists, the Americans still cling to it. I still chuckle when I think of his rant about our houses being a "places for our stuff" etc. In fact that coupled with an episode of "Northern Exposure" where Dr Joel is told the "richest man is the one who has the least" is then forced to get rid of things. Which he rebels against (being Dr Joel) but eventually relaxed into and was better for, inspired me to get rid of many things in my latest move. There was little that survived, seriously. And I rarely shop anymore. Unless I need to replace something and I mostly go to Thrift stores.

Carlin has also said his passion is with the little screwed over guy. I love the thought of him getting kicked out Las Vegas (only reason Vegas would kick out ANYONE is if you did something smart....) He didn't hide disdain for the hypocrites. Where others fell for the persona of Reagan he knew what criminals they all were, what smoke and mirrors it was (many don't realize that it was rare to hear that back then...)

Anyways, well I am now inspired to express my own voice more. Be honest, be clear. That's all we can do.

So George you rest in peace, I certainly won't anymore.....I really miss you and was so looking forward to your honoring at the Kennedy center for the Twain award.

Yay, I am going to Shakespeare Santa Cruz in August as part of a blogger outreach program.
I am very excited and will post about it as that's the idea. They are doing Burn This which is a favorite play of mine and also it's Marco Barricelli's first season as AD. Always been a fan so this is great.

Why We Fight

This is my first day off in a bit. I have been working constantly. I did my regular job then Friday and Saturday I did Front of House at Calshakes and then Box Office in the evening. What is this you ask? If you don't know for the summer months I do front of house at the theater. Front of House is anything from running their little store to coordinating entry way, to just captaining the house. You deal with ticket issues etc, anything that comes up. Things to make customers happy. Saturday for instance was very hot so we had a patron keel over. I did first aide etc. This year I added Box office cause..>I am insane, (don't tell anyone) It's easier in some ways but harder in others. Why do I do this all? Well I do love theater as you know and I love to support it. I also get reciprocal walkin privileges at other theaters, can attend at different times. And although we have our ups and downs, the staff does bond over the years. The house manager and I have worked together for 9 seasons. Also the meager funds I do earn go toward extra curricular activities such as vacation.

It's also just fun most of the time. I mean you really give people a good time, you enjoy the evenings and if the show is good, you get the see the show regularly. I recall a moment in 02 during the production of The Seagull, I was watching when a very touching moment occurred and I saw the scene and the hills in background and I felt very privileged to be there even though I was working. I still remember that moment clearly.

I also find ways to amuse myself. For instance as many of you know I wrote a short play about
the rehearsing of a play which I mostly gleaned from stories I heard up there, seriously all second hand stuff. Another is things like there is a certain actor who is notoriously gay up there and when working box office I note that any man that even HINTS of being gay walks up, I assume it's a friend of this said actor and I am mostly correct. This is what happens when you work box office cause you get so busy you just make these quick assumptions and find more and more your instincts are honed. So I wrote some song lyrics about this said phenom. I call it "(submit actors name here: That's a whole lotta gay") Actors name rhymes with gay by the way. I put the lyrics to "YMCA" and sing it in my head all night for fun. See, I am insane!

Anyways, it's all good.

I don't really have any deep thoughts to put here today. Just wanted to post and catch up. Well week 3 of summer job at Soda hall on Campus. I have adjust to the new lifestyle. I don't see students very often. Although today I will, we are doing another new student orientation.
But getting into the groove finally. Yesterday Lydia and i took a walk to see the Tree protesters over next to the coliseum.

This is a shot of the crowd, that woman had a mega phone chanting. I mean yes, true, some of these people just fell asleep circa 1968, but still gotta love them...Ruling by judge was University has yet to prove that area is earthquake safe. Duh, that's the same issue they always have with that area. Fault runs right down Coliseum. If they went this far with this and didn't get that settled they deserve to lose this battle. And of course it HAD to be there are putting elite Football training program there. I admit, maybe it's a chick thing, but I can't stand football. So they will knock down those lovely trees so some kids can learn to slam each other like mud pies. And on steroids no less.

On other news, geek theater night is moved to Fall at urging of many. So it makes sense, will get more involved. So hope everyone can come!

Weekend will be Pericles Fri/Sat working and Sunday free though, not sure what i am going to do. Solstice is Sat. too. I love the longest day of the year, I always celebrate it somehow.

Summer is Not So Malcontent

The summer is shaping up after all. Don't know the lesson in all of this, but maybe it's just shut and do what you can do and things might turn around...dunno.. But summer job is going well, today I will be assisting with a summer orientation for new CS students. I love doing these, the eager young lads and lassies (mostly lads...no one can fully figure out why yet) come and we help get them on path. Going to Cal is a big culture shock for many. We aim to warn a bit about that without turning anyone off. Just make sure they know some pitfalls.

Also it's nice to work around women again in the main office here. My regular job is centered mostly around 20 year old males, and then summer it's mostly with 30 plus females. So it's nice to have the change. Don't get me wrong, I miss the boys but end of summer, but everyone needs balance. I am sharing my office this summer with Lydia who is very delightful and we have had many interesting discussions and yesterday took a lively walk through Berkeley neighborhoods.

Already gearing up for Calshakes production of Uncle Vanya too. I confess it's my favorite play.
Found out the translation they are using, which looks interesting, it's by Emily Mann who apparently uses more modern language. I just ordered it, being the true theater geek I am.
More on this later no doubt.

"What a piece of work is man (or woman) ...How in Victory... sometimes a let down, but how in Defeat often like a god"

Why is it that we fear failure so much and yet often once it hits, it hurts less than trying to push it off? And how we fear the shame but so often we get the power when we let it happen? I was thinking of Hillary whom I admit was annoying the hell out of me...until she let it go. Admitted defeat. Now i like her again, I admire her. Even though it was "expected". Somehow seeing someone do it gives one pride. Like the kid who shakes the hand of the other kid who bitterly defeated him in the spelling bee. THAT kid you want to see again. Or like Richard II one of my fav plays, the guy is an idiot gets all he deserved. And yet in my favorite scene when he is in jail and having to grasp his plight and his lonliness, crap I just cry. I feel for the guy.

Anyways, so onward.

I am working constantly I feel. I signed on to do box office at the Bruns on Saturdays. I may regret this but shall see. And still doing Front of house for Fridays. This is just for this show, have to rethink it all for next.

Overly cautiousness....bad economies.... will it ever end?

Hello world. Where have I been? I have been in throws of dealing with various aspects of life. All facets seem to be converging upon me.

First the economic. As typical American, the failing economy doesn't full hit you until it fully hits YOU. Meaning I came as close to a lay off as I have ever been. I work a different summer job on campus and apparently it almost didn't happen this year. I wasn't prepared for said news when it arrived. Luckily it has worked out. But the University is having budget cuts. Well noting that food crisis world wide it's hard to feel too sorry for ones self. And gas prices too. But one wonders if Warren Buffet is indeed correct and we are worse off economically than we even know. Could the pain bring growth? such as it was after gas crisis in 70s that we started investing more in compact cars. I don't know but now I feel the pain.

Second the Spiritual: The above mentioned potential economic down turn brought me to a roller coaster of sorts spiritually. But I am working on that using the usual outlets Also working calshakes and their production of Pericles has been uplifting. The arts serve many purposes (and porpoises) so they can be there to remind us that life is more than THAT.

Third the Creative: I am working on my little geek themed show more and more. Goal is a script by July 4th, but more likely it will be partially formed by then.

Fourth the Existential. I had an existential jolt the other day. So now I have a head ache, a tooth ache and a heart ache. All at once. I am once again reminded I have little control over much of anything. But maybe it's for the best, as Marge Simpson sagely said "one person can change the world, but they probably shouldn't" So maybe my world is as it should be.

A Whole New World

Don't worry I am not going to launch into a Disney song. But it really is, and not one that came in with a bang, but through a slow evolution, too slow for some but hopefully not too late for everyone.

What do I speak of? As Vince noted in this post another red district went blue in a special election. This is very bad news for republicans. And why is this happening? Of course a change of guard is in order with certain low opinion ratings but also the old strategies aren't working. The repubs tried to tie the dem candidate to Rev Wright to no avail. But why is this not working? One big reason, the so called "Greatest Generation" is dying. a new generation is coming of age. An even newer "new one". One that is more influenced by Chris Rock than even Bob Dylan.

Please don't allow us to forget how great the greatest generation was. What they did for us and the whole damn world. But if you were black, or gay or a woman, or a Hispanic...they weren't so great. In other words the ol' southern strategy, tie a dem to blacks or other "others" and you win....isn't working. Richard Nixon is rolling around in his grave.

So it's like all the work is paying off, Martin's dream is coming into view.

Hats off to
Rosa,
To the guy who got a billy club in his face
To the woman who got a picket sign shoved into her stomach
To the man who didn't walk away from his best friend who just came out
To the kid who had lunch with the black kid even though every one laughed at him (or worse)
To that girl who walked alone into school at Little Rock
To the woman who got the silent treatment after getting her first promotion
To the everyone who stands up, often alone and does the right thing .....

Hey...it's bloody paying off mate!!

Stop the world I want to get off...

Hey I think I just did.

What a week-finally I can sit and contemplate it all. After a whirl wind of life and insanity. Heat and rekey'd doors, Good byes, parties and Office Space gifts.

To explain the latter-some of the boys at work gave me a "box of flair" and a red stapler. I have attached photo, if you haven't seen Office Space you really should. I was very touched by said gifts. If you haven't seen the movie you don't understand. But rent it. So Monday was a good day, our of semester ending party with boys on staff and then that evening to calshakes inside scoop-an audience enrichment meeting about their first play Pericles. I always consider the first "Scoop" the official beginning of summer. I know all the other pagans say Memorial weekend but I know better...the boobs!

But it was downhill from there. I had much to do at work to ready for our final on Thurs. Of course having put too much off today before. But still confident I can get it all in. I arrive at work Wed. and my key doesn't work. What is this? No worries I think , I just walk over to UC police station to find out. Turns out the building was rekey'd as part of some security program
to avoid Virginia Tech type of things. I would find out later my dept was told but the person who was told was new and didn't know who else to tell. Sigh...So it take another hour for someone to get me into my office. But this is short lived as they won't issue a key (long story) So I have to run around campus dealing with all this as the heat is building. Thurs involved more of this when it was well into the 100s. By Friday I am gone...brain fried with all the chaos. And it's a huge grading day. By noon I think "Why did this University give me a job, what a joke, I am incompetent and clueless" But later...I managed to calm down, become sane and then I thought "Wow this University is lucky to have me, I am so resourceful and got through all of this" It's funny how quickly we can switch up.

Ended the day by going to see a truly Wonderful production of Curse of the Starving Class at ACT. I really really loved it. I have always loved that play. And they did it great. Even the small touches. A special favorite play of mine about family just dealing with ghosts and the changing American landscape. I haven't seen it for many years. I went through my Sam Shepard phase in the 80s...don't all young girls? I mean after they got off their "David Cassidy" thing they start quoting from Tooth of Crime? I don't think there was anything wrong with me. ;-)

Ok ta ta, til next time...

That moment..ah that sweet moment.

We have all sat through overly long, blow hard productions of plays that we think will never end.
The night is getting longer, our patience is growing thin and our butts seem to be making permanent crevices in the seats. The last cocktail is no longer buzzing...we are angry, we feel used. We are burnt out ready to bellow "Damn the arts" This is how the election has felt for me lately. I couldn't take it anymore, was disillusioned, bitter-clinging to yogurt pops and wine.... But then there is that moment, when a lighting cue comes up, when you realize it CAN'T go on forever, even if it seems to. That things are winding down...well that is what last nights results are. I reluctantly logged on to my computer after yoga last night, fearing a disappointment, that NC would fall for fake "gas tax" pandering promises... I was thinking "I will disown these people if they can't figure THAT one out," But no, my fellow Americans are fellow Americans. And they didn't fall for it. And like that final lighting cue in that overly long, bad production... I read Vince's email simply titled Obama, and it said " Dude, it's over. Obama is the nominee. Thank gods." Sigh. I said. Now I avoid pundits like plaque, cause they ARE plaque but I did have to watch Charlie Rose panel on it all and not one didn't agree.

It's over.

The Whew heard around the world

Well yesterday was a big deadline at work. I sit here amongst the aftermath, there are several papers strewn about. I am exhausted. It was a deadline for students to turn in some work.
As people tend to do, the students wait until last minute to turn things in so it's chaos. But now we can relax a bit. But really it takes all you have to get through these things, like tax season for accountants or opening night for theater people.

On a more exciting note, my friend Al is up for a non speaking role in Calshakes Uncle Vanya. This is very exciting. He also could end up understudying. Well it's very exciting cause he really has a great chance, he has the perfect look. Is available and reliable. And Robert gave him a recommendation. So cross your fingers for Al for this Monday at 5:30 when he will audition with Timothy Near at Heinz ave Calshakes offices. Break a leg my friend...

How weird was THAT?

So yesterday I had the surreal-estate experience. My sis and I spent the day in Walnut Creek and decided to go to the old "hood, where we grew up. And drove by childhood home and what do we see before us? Is that a sign on the door and a real estate sign out front? Yep our childhood home was in...foreclosure. It felt like a scene from a Russian Novel, the American suburban version of Dr Zhivago. The door was also open so we wandered in. I never thought I would see the interior of that house again. It was odd to see ones childhood bedroom and your parents master bedroom. Most of the house had been redone, but they did keep the vanity in the bathroom and a few other things. I was tempted to take some photos but it felt wrong somehow. But to see plants my Mother had planted 40 years ago still there, the trees, some light fixtures. It was all very strange. I was a bit emotional even. But it also didn't look like a home i was familiar with, you really do move on literally and figuratively.

Pride and Pleasure

Last night i saw my friend Al in a play called Redwood Curtain done by San Leandro players..
Redwood Curtain is a play by Lanford Wilson about a Vietnam Orphan, trying to find out who her American GI father is, working off scant information. She has been lied to her entire life so she isn't exactly straight with the truth herself. It was written during the post war Rambo period (great joke on that) when the war was being trivialized. It is one thing to enjoy the aesthetics of a play but to feel really PROUD of a production is another. This was both. Al was wonderful as at first your basic angry vet hiding in the woods in the safely damp "Redwood Curtain" Later he becomes more nuanced as a troubled man with secrets he thought were better kept that way, (Al played it interestingly, that the man and the man whose secret he kept were once...closer than it might appear...ah nice touch Mr B.) Anyways, great show I keep really being moved by these small house productions.

Other than that enjoyed the loving down time lately. You know if I were born during the Whitman years I would have written poems glorifying loafing WAY before he did! Ah this is great. Yesterday I took a long walk around my neighborhood. One more day of complete insanity at work (Monday is big deadline for students) but can deal with that.

Blogg-ability, Blog-able, meaning worthy of blogging.

I am in process of a project that is truly blog-able. I am sure that is a new term somewhere... But if not I will coin it. Anyways, this actually quite interesting. I am in process of working out the use of a campus facility for a theater project. It was a bright or just "why not try" idea I had months ago. I will back track.

A few months ago some of the young tutors here and I were telling our usual bend of geek jokes and I got to thinking, hmmm this could make a fun show. Skits, jokes. Musical comedy bits came to mind even. Some of the boys were enthusiastic when I mentioned it them. For some reason I just got this bee about it, just keep proceeding as if it WILL happen, even if it doesn't...keep on trucking. So then I thought what of a venue? Being a college employee I figured maybe the theater dept here. so I wrote to them thinking I would probably get lost in a big mash of emails but delightfully I got a response quickly about who to write to. So I wrote to the right folks, once again thinking little response but once again they wrote back quickly. Apparently is it possible being that is be during summer when the said facilities aren't used. I came out to see the space thinking it would be a rehearsal hall but it's an actual theater! My heart leaped! It really did! So we parted saying we would get in touch about dates later. I proceeded to write several song lyrics. And have some skit ideas. So latest is I wrote to dept again, found some dates. Spoke to primary collaborator, who approved the dates. Theater dept is good with dates, it looks like Aug 2 and 3. Which is good timing. So it really looks like this is happening. A night dedicated to Geekiness, to Focus, to Love. I don't want to cling to "geek cliches, going to stick more with the focus. But it will be unique, I mean we are talking about a skit called Esperanto Password!

So this is my birthday.

At my age, I think mostly of my parents at this time. Jim and Gloria, two Kennedy era liberals. Solid well educated, "elitist" Democrats. I know I shouldn't bring up politics now but I can't help but think of it when I think of my parents. My Mom for instance was this staunch follower of Adlai Stevenson back in 50s. A man who was considered too "Egg head" to be President. My Dad was a solid labor guy, got his masters in labor relations at Cal. Went on to be Director of Industrial relations for county of Alameda.

So 47 years ago my Mom got admitted to Kaiser walnut creek. And low and behold.

ALSO On this day in history:

1940 - "Pennsylvania 6-5000", the classic Glenn Miller signature song, was recorded on Bluebird Records.

1967 - Muhammad Ali, the former Cassius Clay, refused induction into the U.S. Army.

Also know on or around April 28th 1961 the first american "advisors" went into Vietnam. Today there are several Hilton Hotels.

of play runs and horizons

Well yesterday as I mentioned was critics day at fringe. So far so good when I meet with my actresses, we had a loose fun run through as always... get our props set up, I note no one seems nervous, but while i mentioned the critics day weeks ago, I chose to not bring it up again.... Then our intrepid artistic director Annette Lust does her curtain speech blurting out "there are four critics in the audience" well you could feel the tension rise, one actress walks over to the bathroom. But after a tentative start they did great, Annette then also proceeded to drop a bottle smashing it to bits DURING the show. But my gals didn't flinch. I was so proud of them!

So it sort of feels over now. We have one more show on Sat. but i have friends coming for my birthday and will be more focused on that. In fact my actresses are joining us and I dont' even care if they get sloshed...well maybe I care a little. But overall we can have more fun on Sat.

To Be Judged...and Judge

Well today my play will go before critics, now not biggees but still there is something about being judged that gets to our inner core. Maybe it's back to survival cause being judged poorly in some ways might push out of the "circle" in prehistoric days (or even current historic days) Or in the jungle being looked at by all eyes means you might be dinner. But what, me worry? Actually I don't too much cause I really feel fine about what we have done...and damn GOOD about what we have done. My actresses have their parts, the script is a fine/good short funny script that also makes you think a little bit (just a little...don't want to push things ;-) ) Anyways, after today's' matinees, I only have one more show left which is more about being my birthday celebration.
Have a group of friends coming to party.
So here's to more theater. Hey myself and my other fringers deserve a nod, we all took short amateur script, cast them, led it through tech and all, and made a show. And we all did well.
It's actually quite remarkable. And we all work full time etc too.

God I love Yoga!

What is yoga?--->
Yoga is a term used for a number of Hindu disciplines designed to aid the soul's merging with Hinduism's highest god, generally involving moral restraints, meditation, dietary restrictions, and the awakening of physical energy centers through specific postures and exercises.

All I know for sure is that I feel a hell of a lot better after I do it. I got into a new class over in Contra Costa adult ed. It's great, I had really missed my Alameda class after I moved.
But found this one, I feel so liberated. I slept better. Our teacher was talking about eating foods that provide balance and interestingly I didn't feel like eating meat much after. Anyways, one can't ignore the difference after doing yoga.

The Boss endorsed Obama which is kind of neat. I don't know what difference it makes. But who knows.

Gosh I have been posting a lot. But I am feeling melancholy as the passage of time never ceases to amaze me. Some of the boys who started working at my center 3 years ago are graduating. Were 18 year old wet behind the ears kids, now 21 year old wet behind the ears kids. One is venturing off to Stanford for grad school. The other is going to Redmund to work for the evil empire. Sigh I will just miss them. David and the singing and the online humor. Ben the various angst with life and girls. They are good guys, as are most of the tutors here. So they will ride off, to become facebook friends who you send little notes to, not people I see every day anymore...

And so it goes....

Well we are having this unseasonable warm weather. It's sort of dominating everything. Last night I was up until 3am, with screen door only, and it was STILL warm. Well it took a front seat at the theater too. Friday night was very warm and well our opening was a bit rocky. My actresses looked visibly startled that there were patrons RIGHT in front of them and to both sides (it's an incredibly intimate theater) , and lots of lines were dropped. Some jokes weren't set up, but we had re blocked things after dress rehearsals feedback and I was more worried about that, and THAT went great so I was happy none the less. Well but today it went VERY well, they were great, got their lines, seemed comfortable, used the stage well, and the audience dug it. I got a ton of "Great jobs" and some "This one worked" from people who knew it hadn't before, which I truly appreciated. Sigh, you have no idea what a relief that is. I say as a playwright I feel like my kid is in the spring pageant. You get nervous in a weird way. So that was fun. Now on to next weekend and then last show is 26th and my birthday celebration.

I also did my taxes online this year, which was so damned easy I don't know why I didn't before.

My play opens tonight, my play opens tonight...

True on a make shift stage in the middle of a college campus but still...I was just remembering the genesis of this play...(she says as image goes blurrywith woman scratching her chin...) All plays have a story of their coming about,just like every relationship does. This one was born of pragmatism. I wanted a two woman play, that could be easily directed. No I was not running through fog and got some divine inspiration. Although that has happened. My first play, I heard a pompous comment by a computer science professor that really annoyed me, and to get even...I wrote a play using that comment that I hoped played up how pompous this guy was. I sent it to
a group called playground, the produced it. My first play was produced, this does not happen in real life, and believe me I have had plays rejected since. But my first was produced and I got 200 bucks to boot. I also was mentioned in e-picks on sfgate, something like "top notch scripts included Carol Marshall's..." Since then I have had inspirations at times, or just an idea that sticks in my craw. So back to the present play. I was at work (where I do most of my writing, my job has very busy...and very un-busy times, so during slow times I often write...) and I was chatting with the kids at work and said "I want to write a two woman short play and so what should I call it, something like Lesbian Rhapsody"...? laughs arose, and they loved the title. So I thought hmm...no matter what I am calling it Lesbian Rhapsody, even if it has nothing to do with Lesbians. Then I got to thinking what if two women are tired of the husbands and want to "make themselves Lesbians" which of course can't quite work out. So this is what I did. And then I posted it on my blog and Celeste wrote to me and said "Hey this happened to my Dad's girlfriend" I also took it to a group called Playcafe and had it read and they loved it. Thus I thought ok, it works. So I submitted it to Marin with intentions of directing it myself. My first directing job. Thus I am about to open it. I wrote it pretty quickly too, I tend to write rather quickly. With Marin you know you can make changes so I don't worry as much. So here I am.

So now to a small degree I have done it all in theater. Even acting, I went on stage last Spring for an event called "Bust out Comedy" where you perform your own work. I did a skit I wrote. Everyone kept saying being on stage would give me this high and it didn't. I kept waiting (hey that's a good title for a play "waiting for the high") And I figure if you don't love it, don't do it, cause there are tons of people who want to be on stage. I have now directed, which was ok but not drawn to again. Tech I enjoyed. I also did costumes once that I found fun. But let's face it, I only really love the writing part. And I love the process of getting an idea and then starting to write the dialogue out. There is a difference between being a writer and being a playwright. I have oft said it's like the difference between date and escort. Play writing isn't about truth as much as finding truth through stories, and discovering and connecting with audience through our differences and our common bonds (yeah something like that...) Play writing is a more manipulative thing.

Anyways, on to opening, nervous abound!!!

Catching up:

I should update. Well have been busy. On Sat. I went to see Bruce Springsteen concert. Last Tues my sister writes to me to invite me to the concert for my birthday, well she's a good person but she actually wasn't that generous intentionally. Some long story about buying tickets months ago and putting them aside... But whatever I got to see BRUUUUCEE. It was great. I love his new stuff, I just ordered his new CD which contains wonderfully passionate song "The Last to Die" taken from John Kerry's line "Who will be the last to die for a mistake". He also did "Born to Run" which is my fav oldie and sort of my motto song ;-) You know, Tramps like us...

Then we had dress rehearsals on Sunday. Walked into chaos, first show setting up, lights being set up. Tech guys smiling at me. I need to give them another cue. We go on second, so tension during the first show knowing we go on. And then...few laughs. Ut oh. We got a problem I can tell. Some laughs but it's tense, too tense for a comedy. Well I of course stick around for the feedback this panel gives after. It's a mixed bag, they like the play, great dialogue they say. But the performances are too 'timid". it didn't work they say. They didn't feel the actresses were good friends. So we go back to drawing board. and re blocked it. Turns out there is more pathos in my play than I knew. Why is there always pathos in my plays? So we went more for that.
And well...it felt better after a rehearsal and work through. So crossing my fingers for Fridays opening. I am sure even Mike Nichols has to rework things after dress.

So that's me, I also saw a very good and engaging production of Government Inspector at ACT.
I love the line in it where someone says they knew someone was the Government Inspector cause they "didn't leave and didn't pay" Very funny.

More on my play. This is our production photo I got yesterday. Why do all my plays have booze as a key element...discuss amongst yourselves... Anyways, so we did a rocky run through at first but by third it was smooth and funny and fun.

Tech rehearsals were my fav part. I have figured out cause I am a geek. And that's...ok. I really liked running the tech cues. I was GOOD at that. I mean being clear and giving the tech boys instructions. So we have lights down, an intro song then run the play until they need music for dancing... then finale music. Yeah!

We have dress rehearsals on Sunday. Which hopefully will go ok. And then open on the 11th.
I am excited more than nervous.

I have been reading James Carpenters blog and its inspiring me to be a little more in depth with mine. You know less "I had the sour dough instead of the sweet today". Kind of stuff but that said I will start with the anecdotes:

I had a wonderful spring break and sorry to see it go. But enough to keep me propelled to April to not mourn too much. I went to Pt Reyes on Tues and reminded of how beautiful it is over there, I recently got nailed (by an Eastern European) appropriately for stating, or rather whining "It's hard to live in the bay area" cause yeah rents are high but we have so much here. And yeah I can't jet off to places but I can drive like a half hour either direction and see the most wonderful stuff. I also went to Half Moon bay where yes...I had the sour dough and not the sweet. Yesterday was about sharing a birthday celebration for my dear friend Deborah, had her over for wine and chocolate and then saw a very smooth well done Tartuffe by Masquers, my beloved theater company across the street.

Now on to more depth: Week 3 of directing my own play for Marin. I am finding directing my own play more daunting than I thought, it's sort of like having to slow dance with yourself. You may have the will but not the distance. I am finding it odd to say the least. Now I always pride myself on being less egomaniac than many of my fellow playwrights in that I am open to changes, in fact I love them, and would never in a million years consider giving actors notes behind the directors back as I hear of. I back off willingly. But at the same time, it's your baby and at times your ability to remain objective "Oh he's so CUTE" when he really looks like Winston Churchill kick in. But overall it's really going well. We did a run through on Tues that was a disaster but then later did it in front of a couple of other actors from other shows, and what i love about theater was, one might think oh the actors will be nervous with audience but they got a ton better. You could feel the energy in the room rise. It's cause that's why they do it, not to mess around with it alone but to have it SEEN. So that run was the best and the most fun. Getting actors off book opens up a whole new world "wow, that's right we need to work on timing" and crap like that.

My actresses have better ideas than I do most of the time. Which I have to suck up and say ...yeah that's a better idea. I could get bent out, but I want the show to look good. I mean it's not epic, it's a short funny play with some physical comedy. One challenge is there is a kiss and it's between two women (yes i wrote that, I also wrote one grabs the other's ass...) which is nervously approached. I think I defused some nerves by congratulating for taking this on. A friend recently directed a play where two women kiss and one actress actually turned down the part cause of this. So I told my two they have guts. They do. Actually we sort of fudge the kiss, but the ass does get grabbed. So come to see it if you want to know how ;-)

One challenge too directing or putting on small shows like this is you have actors who have a ton going on in their lives, and they aren't paid by you. So you have to keep all this in mind. it's an art in and of it's self. I just roll with it.

We have tech rehearsals on Sunday, so that means bringing a script to the tech folks and showing them when to play music. I had a CD made of the cuts I need, I of course had to choose Beatles music which you can't just get Mp3's made of, I had to have a CD made from a CD.
I have three cuts, opening music, music for middle dancing scene and then closing music.

So in conclusion, I might be into trying to direct another play but not my own. Although I say this now, who knows what may come up later.

And so this is Spring Break:

So I am off this week. My plans for today were basically to have no plans. Just enjoy the fact I don't have to rush off to be at work. Ah so lovely the simple things.

Other things though, I am going to explore Mt Tam later. I also am going to work on my music revue thing and get into producer mode with it. Meaning getting organized about what we want to do in it. Getting an outline of show. We are planning on several things at this point: Songs and music in general, some long skits and then some very short "bits" humorous exchanges. I am also thinking of adding some audience participation things. Once I get the outline we can move from there, see if we want to invite others to join us, look for submissions.

I also have rehearsals for my marin show on Tues. And then I need to get CD of Beatles music to Friend Evan so he can burn me a CD for the show too. Silly me picked Beatles music that you can't download anywhere, so I couldn't do the simple thing of sending mp3's to Al and have him burn it. Ah well I have the vision of Beatles music so must work for my art.

More later, will blog about my week.

Wistful Thinking

Last night I saw Carrie Fishers "Wishful Drinking" one woman show about her life. One very funny line was she said she told her younger friends "One day you will be in a pool hall somewhere, you will look up at the TV and see me as Leia...with two dates under neath and you will say "yep that's what she said would happen" Well obviously being in Star Wars set her up for one kind of life. Also talked of her various relationships, and ultimately...her fight with mental illness. The latter part I found the most poignant, because (never sure how much you should say in a blog ...but whatever..what am I clinging to...) my Dad was diagnosed Bio-polar and manic depressive. So I saw it up close and have worried it could show up in me someday. Although I am nothing like my Dad, he looked and also acted like Montgomery Clift the actor. Yes tall, dark, very handsome, very ill. Very withdrawn, literally couldn't laugh out loud. Ok, so you see we are very different. But anyways, I found the show more moving than I thought. yes it was self indulgent, but in a good way.

Also I should have blogged about Obama's speech on race and the 5 year anniversary of the war but I think I have had blinders on due to things. I just sent Mr Obama another donation cause win or lose that speech rocked and took balls. I was very proud.

Spring Break Mode: The Ahhh Heard Around the World

Well sliding into spring break. I have today and tomorrow to get through but it's already starting up. Easy to park this am etc. We all need it, busy year. Presently I don't have major plans except for weekends but want to keep it that way. I have some ideas, like a leisure day in Half Moon Bay and other thoughts. Also I need to work on my musical revue thing. I have several lyrics and need to finish more of those. And then the dreaded music part, but heck with Sondheim they talk most of it, I can do that too.

Recap of latest events: Had a blast partying in Mission last Friday for our dear friend Evan's b-day. Was reminded of my suburbanism many times (can't these outdoor places have those space heaters...sheesh...) But thoroughly enjoyed it and neat people. Had rehearsal number two for my Marin play on Tues. It went well and I feel confident now it will go swimmingly. We have the blocking down, and I picked the music which was bugging me. I have a dancing sequence and I needed the right music and it fell into my lap. I also have the curtain call music which is perfect.
The actors just need to get their lines but they will. I mean after last spring fiasco that way I was nervous but I trust these guys.

Tonight I am going to see Carrie Fisher's one woman show at Berkeley rep.

Til later....

Under the weather:

What is the origin of that term? Were we ever OVER the weather? Does it mean you aren't well thus the weather could kick your ass? That is what I am thinking. Well after a quite lovely weekend enjoying wine country and the sun, I am now not tops. I have been around sick people so I know it can add up. But oy, not good now. Hanging in, as I have work and things to do. But last night with my Fringe actors, went great. They had many good ideas and are already learning their lines (! a NON silent scream in delight at THAT) . And will be hilarious I am sure. Not much else to report about that, and if you see the show want to keep it a surprise.

Road trip!

View from my window today as I drove over the delta (With a little help from a draw bridge) Anyways, i went to Lodi CA today for some fun and adventure. I had both. One often does not think of Lodi as a hot spot for fun and excitement but being the "road trip idea" junky I had been recently turned on to it by a show about Road trips, Huel Howser's Road Trips that is on pbs. And I felt a need to go to somewhere I had never been, a "call of the wild" (ok a nerdy suburban version...but still..) one could say cause after today I am in "play mode" as in theater play.


First stopped at the Japanese Gardens there at the downtown park-->
Mickey Glick park, a local who donated this lovely park to the community. It includes a quite impressive Japanese Garden.







Then on to a plant wareshouse, just randomly saw a sign from the street about plants on sale and end up wandering around looking at the massive amounts of plants, I love plants. I could look at them for hourse. I got some cool new ones.



Then later did hit one winery, not to taste, but just to get some local wine. Don't get me wrong I am a lush and i know it, I just didn't taste cause I wasn't in the mood. (will make up for that later no doubt)



Now back to reality and work and day to day life. But it was fun!

Tripping (literally) down memory lane

The other day I was in Walnut Creek and I happened upon the Bonanza Street Books store there. It's a wonderful Indie store. In the 90's when I was getting in to my 30s I was having an awakening of sorts, was starting to read and be more interested in things. And this led me to join the Bonanza book club and do other events there. Well when I was in there again after all this time I learned of course as a sign of the times..., the store is closing, going out of business like most indie stores. And I can't be hypocrite-I use Amazon and the other culprits that probably caused this closure. But it's sad to see a neighborhood spot have to go, I suspect it was long coming. I bought one last book from them, and I wanted to make it special something I would never buy anywhere else, well it' s a book about the friendship between Emerson and Thoreau sigh... I started reading it and I feel like I am at Walden, walking with them, I didn't know for instance that Emerson was quite a bit older than Henry. And they really did take long walks. Well all life is about change so things do have to do that. So I wave a fond goodbye to the Book store where I spent many hours and bought many books.

On more memory lane, I was just thinking about this recipe my Mom used to make for a marinaded ham, it was marinaded with wine and spices and was quite lovely and different. I have been missing my Mom's company of late so I decided to do the recipe. The ham is in the marinade as I write. So I will be having dinner with Mom again. What will we talk about? ...

My last weekend of freedom

This is officially my last day of freedom until after April. We start rehearsals on my Fringe play on Tues. And then it's like a Disneyland ride until it closes. I will be strapped in for a wild ride. You may ask, how can a 15 minute play take that much time? Well it does. How does it? I dunno but it does. Juggling schedules, rehearsal times, dealing with tech stuff, and getting the props (I gotta spray paint a box to look like a TV from the side...) Sweating the first time you are before an audience panel. Things like that, but then it all comes together you and it's the most fun ever.
We run Fridays 4/11, 18 Sat. 4/19, 26 and Sun 4/13 at Dominican college in San rafael.

BUT that said, I do want to enjoy the freedom I will dearly miss. So I am going to take a road trip this weekend, debating between half moon bay and Lodi's wine country. Lodi gets a bad wrap since the Creedance song (and those pesky terrorists hang outs) but it's actually a neat place with a wonderful wine country history. Here is a link about it

The other day I was watching this pbs special about Brain health, a lecture given by Daniel Amen
I was at first a bit skeptical cause I thought it was a typical self help kind of thing (sure change your thoughts, change your life... try doing that on a crowded subway etc...) But what he was saying was all of life is connected to your brain, you well being, your ability to succeed. Your relationships even. He mentions a couple who were on verge of divorce, wife says at one point her husband "wasn't the man she married" and it turns out she was right. He had started working in a chemical plant that was literally changing his brain. So they guy changed jobs and things did indeed get better. Dr Amen made several points about brain health that were basic and common sense, ie some food are truly "brain food" such as fish oils, walnuts, berries etc. Also that we truly do need to keep an active brain, we must learn new things and take chances. And the thinking positive things is key. I learned that awhile ago, while sure I get down and think negative things but I just push them aside now, that thinking is for cowards. Now the booze is my vice. He is really down on wine even, says this "a glass a day" stuff is bunk. But...oh damn Dr Amen, i love wine! Ok so I could have less..I know I know...

Non shopping

Hey Tammy posted about her resolution to not buy new things. New in general, used is fine. Sans of course hygiene products and underwear I am sure. I have been doing this too, although not as officially. But I have been frequenting thrift stores, ie the Childrens hospital one on College in Oakland, the Goodwill on University, and the one in Walnut Creek and the Church Mouse in Sonoma are great ones. I have purchased used there: Coffee mugs, liquer glasses, cloth napkins, baking pans, among other things. I am also attempting to purchase some patio chairs used, but that is trickier cause you need to transport them. I also let down my pride and took some stuff from Deborah she was getting rid of, a couple of plates, a jacket etc. It's more fun really once you start doing this, plus I am really trying to save money too so I can take a vacation this summer.

On nation front, today is another super tuesday. We need this to be over with, the dems race. It's not healthy. We need to focus on McCain now. All this needling each other can't be good.
And a Barck supporter yes one can say he is in slightly better mode, but it's only slight. My small prediction: She wins Ohio, he wins Texas and things get messy.

The latest:

Sammy got a new collar! don't you think orange is his color?

And...I have a space! I found out the rules and basically if they offer you a space...it's not going to charged. And so I got offered a space so that means yes, I can use that space. geez, and I thought politics were tricky. Sorry if I am not making sense it's just this is confusing. But I think I have it clear. So now I just need to get the show together, don't confuse me with facts! I am just happy to know I can use the space. For now. But it's a real theater...I am so happy! And so far I have one other person signed on, and maybe another. I have two songs written (well lyrics but if worst comes to worse I can use "Sung to the melody of..." but let's see) We have a couple of skit ideas. See the theme is "Love letter to Geek-dom" so all kinds of geeks. I have a theater geek, a computer geek. All kinds. So it looks like one night in summer, not sure which night will be best plus i gotta see when it's best for the powers that be...

What else? Well this bloody weather is just NOT bloody bad. I love this. Yesterday I took a walk around other parts of Point Richmond, absolutely gorgeous, best views in bay area in my opinion. You can see Golden Gate, Mt Tam, and bay bridge. I really like living here. Next step, buying patio furniture so I can have people over and we can hang on porch.

Of course it MUST involve money..doesn't everything?

Ok so further adventures in my musical revue/comedy sketch show. As prior messages as eluded to, I am aiming for summer to put on this sketch comedy/musical revue. Myself and some of the kids at work. Today I looked at a small theater on Cal campus that I perhaps can use, as an employee and students are involved. So I get to see the space and ..my mouth is hanging open. I was expecting folding chairs and small with no tech. But it's a real live theater. Seats, and a small back stage. I am drooling I am so happy. We can even put up a marquee of sorts. And I had my script about what to ask the theater dept person who so graciously was showing me around. But I could't bring myself to ask the big question, I mean Oliver Twist has more guts than me "sir can I have more" but I really needed to ask "what will it cost?" I mean there must at least be an AV charge. But I didn't want to spoil things by bringing up dirty stinking money. And also I don't want that to stop me cause if we don't do it there, we can somewhere else. But I should have asked (ok to my defense she was super busy they are opening a show tonight...I didn't want to hold her up) Anyways, so it ...looks like>...we can use the theater and if money does have to change hands it won't be much. Or maybe it just doesn't involve money and I should learn to *believe* not everything does...nah...everything does, there has to be some fee. I will get it straight next week (let them open their show for gosh sakes) and I will post here. But for now I am letting myself soak on how GREAT the theater is. We could really have a blast and a great show.

More importantly anyways, i gotta finish writing my portion. We came up with the idea of "Esperanto Password" as a skit. And I finished two song lyrics.

Looks like it's over

I swore off the debates because they aren't debates. They are free air time to showcase yourself.
But I caught a tad of the debates, Hillary really seems over. I almost can't believe it myself. I jumped on the Barack band wagon before it was a bandwagon (hey I was one of the FIRST lemmings, take THAT Ralph Nader...) Apparently she is in disbelief. I mean not long ago she told Matt Lauer it would be hers after Feb 5th. What happened? It was hard to get fired up over her. And people needed to get fired up, if Barack hadn't come around, we would have tried to invent him. But he did come around and I think people while analyzing his charisma (Nader apparently hates him for that...) should really look at the electorate. We are a bunch of depressed sods. War, economy, tax breaks that favor anyone but us.
And the democratic party needs to be more than something that pushes back an ascending right wing. Now is the time to remake the democratic party. Thank you Bill and Hillary for pushing that right tide, but now we can surf on our own I think. Or at least TRY! Yes we can!!

On a lighter note, I am writing a song for my musical revue thing called "Dear Barack Obama" . Basically this guy is saying I think you are great Barack, you have my vote but sometimes I miss Michael Dukakis cause compared to him I looked COOL, compared to you I look like ...well a dork. We have a "cool" candidate. Even Bill wasn't cool, remember he was a Bubba. Barack is cool. Of course this means nothing. But seeing it's a blog post I reserve the right to say nothing....

"So, let's put on a show!"

Been off the blogging train. So what have I been up to? Ok so at work one day some of the boys and I were telling some bad geek jokes. And I got to thinking, this could be FUNNY. yes, truly funny in how it's NOT funny at times. So then one thing led to another and I started writing this musical and sketch comedy thing. Yes even songs, which I have never done before which makes it more fun and challenging. I will post more about it later. I also have sights on a venue, going to find out about that Friday.

Second I have attended a little theater: I saw Angel Street at Masquers in Point Richmond (right across the street from my home...) Which I thought was quite good, the play was made into the movie Gaslight. A psychological mystery, with domineering husband messing with vulnerable wife's head.

What else, tuning out the election for a bit. I am on overload.

Ah 3 day weekend

I am now basking in the knowledge that Sunday night will not be "Sunday night" but rather lead into a day off. the 3 day weekend, a gift to the working class. As I have said, maybe we are the hampster on the wheel but give us enough holidays we are having so much fun we don't care!
"After the third glass of Chardonnay, pushing this wheel ain't so bad"

Well starting some new projects. I am now writing a musical, as I have said, this could be loads of fun....or highly embarressing. But either way, it's a stretch. It's more of the Avenue Q type than the Rogers and Hammerstein. More lyrics than music but I am seeing if I can get help turning music in my head into music on a page.

Anyways, more about that as it goes along. My Marin play starts rehearsals in March. So a slight hiatus.

Today off for High Tea in Benicia, a real girlie day of fun!

Super Duper

I just enjoy the political process. Yes it's a mess and yes the media has too much power but heck, I enjoy it. Might go back to childhood, I had one of those classic 1960s, WWII vet Dad's who rarely said much, except he would talk about politics. In fact when my parents separated when i was a teen ager he gave me several books on politics to read "Read this and then we will talk about it" it was his way of connecting. Anyways, so enjoyed Super Tuesday last night. So my guy, Mr O, didn't take California as I hoped, but he got the Show Me state which is amazing. Huckabee did a lot better than they thought. I actually get a kick out of him, I get sour faces from some friends when i say this but I do. He is a real natural and gifted campaigner.

Good God!

So Deborah and I go to Costco, thinking, naively that it would somehow be less crowded cause of Super Bowl. Boy were we wrong. It was insane, impossible to park. Huge lines. After we left I literally felt I had survived something. I DID get some awesome sushi though and a HUGE bottle of shampoo (she says chuckling to herself).... I don't think i will have to buy shampoo until 2012. Anyways, my conclusion: Costco is great for families, but for the rest of us nah. I mean you just end up buying in bulk things you don't need (although I do love that sushi...) So I don't think I will seek a membership.

Trader Joes later wasn't much better, again HUGE lines of people thinking they would miss crowds and shop on Super Bowl Sunday. As one woman put it "I gotta move out of Berkeley, they don't watch football"

I also saw the movie "I'm not there" about Bob Dylan. Which I surprisingly enjoyed. Funny my friend Nena I think liked it less than she thought she would, I liked it more. I knew, unlike Nena that it was going to be very abstract, multiple people playing the parts. But I found that, as I laughed when I said it "When I stopped trying to figure out what was going on, I really enjoyed it" Cate Blanchett was really the most like Dylan I thought.

Well back to the grind tomorrow. I am glad to hear there won't be more rain...

Progress, at least one hopes so

Ok so I got over my irrational hatred of Bill Clinton. Like he cares, but who cares what he thinks? I'm the only one that matters in this relationship.

Stage one of my directing debut. I wrote the wrong name for one of my actresses on a contact sheet. Well I switched hers with a character name, so at least it's more of an artist thing. But felt bad about that. But we set up our first run through for Feb 9, rehearsals will start on March 8. First dress April 6.

Goals for me, distance myself from my own script so I can be objective. Support my actors (even little things like water and snacks at rehearsals) Have a good time. We are there to have a good time damnit!

Anyways, well today not thinking too much but instead exploring COSTCO, Deborah is taking me over. I haven't been to one in 15 years.

Anyone who has read my latest posts or even just talked to me knows I haven't been in the best of spirits. But things are looking up. I cast my play for one thing, i am back in Marin Fringe in Spring. I got two wonderful actresses to perform in my play. I am directing it, my directorial debut which is exciting and daunting. So more on that as it goes for sure.

Not the best of times

It's hitting me this year isn't shaping up real well. I am agonizing presently over a letter I think I need to write to the Clinton camp. See Bill has amped up his attacks on Obama to such a degree it's sick and as Tom Dachele says, cynical. You can read about about it here
when it was discussed on Lehrer Hour. And not liking Bill Clinton is killing me. So I am thinking if i write to them, I can get it out in a better way. I will post here.

A Great Light Has Gone Out

I think Daniel Day Lewis put it well when he said "I didn't know him, but I was wow'd by his work and feel strongly I would have liked him as a man"

Very sad week with the passing of Heath Ledger. I know this is about him and not Ennis Del Mar, but I do have to tell of seeing Brokeback and what Heath did.
I went to see the movie when it first came out, I have been an Ang Lee fan since Ice Storm and just in general. So I went and it was a great movie, yes, but I have seen many great movies. It was 3 hours later when I found myself sobbing in the frozen foods section at Trader Joes when I knew I had experienced something truly special. I was so moved I had to return to see it a few more times in theater. Heath Ledger not only created a character he embodied that character. It went far below the surface. What I found truly astonishing was
he also became a middle aged man, with all the regrets and resignations. Ennis forever lives with me. True it was a great script and short story but we all know that can fall flat with lesser hands. I had looked forwarded to seeing more of Ledger's work. Seeing him age and mature.
Grow from troubled youth to wise elder as many luckier do.

Last day of freedom:

Well last day until School starts tomorrow. And it's raining...but I gotta get out. Watching the cat bat around things on the floor is well...not as great as it was in the old days.

But it was a great break (I did work since last semester but it's different) Highlights: Christmas Day-seeing Charlie Wilson's war then to my pad for Brussel sprouts and champagne. Day after Christmas high tea at Deborah's and then exploring Point Pinole. Day long marathon of Slings and Arrows and Vodka on New Years Day.

Well it's not a funeral but it's a day of mourning none the less.

On a high note, just finished watching "Slings and Arrow's" on DVD. the Canadian show about a troubled Shakespeare Festival (are there any other kinds?) Fav moment was the highly intellectual director yelling "I have feelings' while allowing his actors to remove the restrictive Harlequin costumes they have on. Very funny.

Ok life, I go forth for the millionth time...and all that crap.

Change-in all shapes and forms
Danny Hoch's one man show at rep shows it all

I remember learning that Greenwich Village in NY was once this hot bed of creativity. Artists from all over came for the cheap rents and inspiring lifestyle. Word got out, and soon the rich art majors from NYU were moving in, rents went up. And the artists left. And of course we know about Haight Ashbury, which has a brief summer of love before it got drenched. Well in Danny Hoch's one man show "Taking Over" he delves into the gentrification of Brooklyn. Not in a preachy way, but rather showing some very real characters dealing with the changes. Cities do start to fall apart and whether the government should or could repair them, is for another post but in the mean time what tends to happen is they either die or newer groups move in. Inevitable but what is lost? I think what Hock does in his show that is most remarkable is you don't think as much about it as you feel for it. Which is a bigger leap of faith. The hilarious young woman who has just returned from Guatemala where she purchased shirts to sell on the streets cause her parents cut her allowance from 5K a month to 1K after she dropped out of NYU. Or the guy trying to give guidance to his fellow taxi drivers, disgusted but then again thrilled that the college boys are drunk and need rides, what a pay off.

In the end what can we do? Change is what happens. Generations die, cities age. New money replaces old. And maybe all we can take from it all is a good laugh. Danny gave us that.

Theater theater and more theater

I saw the wonderful one man show "Taking Over" last night at Berkeley rep. I will post more about it later tonight, as I barely have time to log in today. I went as part of a "blogger night" where they invited people who have blogged about rep to see it and then write about it. I am about to leave to see my friend Gerry's production of Same Time Next Year in San Francisco

Back to the J-O-B and other fascinating bits of information:

Well easing back to being on the job. And also following the primaries. Of course it's hilarious how the NH didn't go as pundits thought. But can one blame them, I mean if you had all that air time to fill what better than with hot air? Geez, I mean I figured it out, Jon Stewart's entire career can be
attributed to cable news. he just puts on a clip and makes a face...and then it's funny. They all but handed him a career. I watched a bit of cable for first time in ages and boy what a mess, see good in theory, 24 hour news but then you need to just fill time. So they pull anything out of anywhere. The pizza man who delivered to Hillary campaign and saw her briefly pacing in nerves. Or the spittoon guy who cleaned Mike Huckabee's one morning (sorry cheap shot)

Oh I submitted plays again. Two, one to Ohio and one to Pennsylvania. I don't know I wanted to think my plays were in another part of the country. I am also finishing up another to submit to a group in CA.

Oh and I made up a little blogspot for my friends who are putting on a production of Same Time Next Year in the city.
Same Time
If anyone wants to come, I will be there on the 18th.

I always find it somewhat depressing right after the holidays. For instance I just walked by a perfectly fine Christmas tree that was discarded like trash "oh you just aren't IN anymore" How cold is that? But life moves on i know. But I miss the holidays already. Back to reality, although I can ease into that a bit. School starts on the 22nd, I have much to do but its a step at a time until then.