Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!

Santa is my Ride Home

It had been a while since I dropped a Captain line or two. Truth be told, I was getting a little sick of my one note rants. The song "Should I Stay or Should I Go" is really only fun to sing once or twice in row. My apologies to those that have observed this "obviousness" way before this so-called defender of the obvious.

In any case, here's what I know for right now. Chicago is a great place and one I am appreciating more on this go round. Before I left, I had gotten pretty fond of it here. One of my final requirement to move was to figure out why people like it here so much. I did. One example though that I want to offer occurred the other night. Tiff and I are up in Roger's Park here, a neighborhood far to the North of most of the fun. It also traditionally isn't a great neighborhood, but has been changing in the years since Cory and Rick lived up here. Well, the other night a car horn was being laid upon repeatedly. This was not an alarm, which if you live in the city you should not use anyways; your car is too far away for you to save it and theives can disable them faster than you can find the keys. I went out after a few minutes to see if the situation was bad. When I got out there I was able to catch a Chicago Police woman giving the third degree to a lady for waking up the whole neighborhood. Then she determined she was drunk and a going to try to drive despite being told not to and arrested her. In that span of time 4 more cop cars came by. I felt actually "protected" here. Now in LA we called the cops about 5 times due to disturbances at the gas station behind our apt. and never saw one car. Hell, we usually were on 911 hold for 5 minutes anyways.

It is also nice being able to see snow this year. Christmas lights, snow, and generally festive feelings have made this a more exciting season. Last year I remember having a couple days over 100 degrees after Thanksgiving. I even cranked the AC in one of my production trucks that week before Christmas just to feel a slight chill. I was in shorts and a t-shirt at the time. Sounds like heaven? Try it, I did.

I am heading out now to do a little Christmas shopping. I don't have my Jeep here, so it will be aboard CTA. Yesterday Tiff caught the Christmas train. A woman on it said it was a good portent of things to come. That's how I feel today. I fly back to Colorado the night of the 24th. I do feel good things are coming.

Glazed

It has been truly enjoyable being back in Chicago for winter this year! I don't remember it being like this before actually. There has been this series of storms that deliver rain, then snow, then rain. There is ice on everything! The cars up and down the street look like finished products from a Krispy Kreme line. It is great! I find my 2 bags worth of clothes a little lacking at times though. Plus the little things you forget each year when it warms up, like ware and tare on coat is a little worse when it has been a over a year since you last encountered it. I rarely wore a jacket at all in LA, ergo I forgot the zipper has broken. I think I can MacGuiver it, but I totally forgot about it. Living and thriving in the cold is an art (just check out DuoTeam's last entry), but thriving in the heat is a natural trait for some.

I am eager to perform again soon! I went on a simple look-see today and even that was nice to do. All word from LA I have heard is that it is not good right now. I would be lying to say the Writer's Strike isn't making me a little happy to have this alibi for being away. At the same time, it seems that life is a little better with some upheaval. That is where I live right now. I am adjusting to not having all my stuff. I am getting used to not having my car right now. I go see a show every week, trek through snow to new gyms, and try not to let myself get too cynical.

I am trying to play a lot too. Isn't that what to do when you are playing hooky?

Stream of Conscience

It's a gray day outside, of which I am still far from being tired of. We are preparing to go down to Millennium Park to try ice skating. I have not tried this since I was in college. I don't remember being as concerned about breaking an arm or foot that time. In fact, I think I was just concerned with looking cool, which I did not. I am pondering my next moves like my life is a game of chess. Denver for the Spring? Go back to LA and wait to see what happens. Go to New York and fulfill a long standing desire to try it. After all, LA did not break me. It made me a shade stronger in fact. I would love to do a show soon. I miss that. I have had the benefit of seeing a couple shows out here thus far and it renewed the bug. I also got to watch a couple former Defiant Theatre founders perform and it made me miss that company a lot. Very few other groups are willing to try the sort of spectacles they did. There was such an irrelevance to their approach that it was super fun to be a part of it. The lewd joke with serious thought beneath it. At least sometimes. I admire the groups out here that have something to say and work so well together to say it. In LA, I saw some good groups, but they never seemed to rise above the individuals involved. At any time your lead could have to drop because he/she had a McDonalds commercial to shoot in the dessert. Just some thoughts crossing my mind this afternoon....

Happy birthday Silbor!!

Shooting From the Hip

It has been an awesome month or so. I have been enjoying thoroughly being back in Chicago, despite not actually doing much as far as acting goes. It is nice to be back home, sorta. I have finally summarized my current status as shooting from the hip. I am making plans as I go. With the Writer's strike in full effect, there is little back in LA for me right now. I could go back a PA some, but truth be told I hate doing that. It has taken a year and a half of being a PA to realize a simple truth. being good at something does not necessarily mean I need to keep doing it. If I get a call from my usual crew, I will get out there. Till then I am content to work a simple 7hr day, make some money and continue to try and see where my next step shall be. Currently, there is a loose idea that involves a little more time here in Chicago and in Denver, then taking on New York. That is a loose idea at best though.

This is a season of looking outside ourselves. It has also become clear to me that while it is easily tempting to spend great mental effort on those next steps, it takes me out of the moment. Ironically I understand less about what I should do when that is all I am thinking about.

Lastly, there were a few ideas volleyed about on consumer suggestions for the holiday season. Tiffany hatched the idea of soliciting talented friends to make gifts. Pretty cool idea! I also wanted to postscript the corporate monster post by amending Apple's listing. I was surprised at the Genius Bar when he asked if I had a little time, they could fix it within an hour. They replaced the whole top panel and called me when it was done. Not bad Apple, thank you!

Happy holidays all!

Thoughts on Black Friday

I have been saving this one for the right time. As we enter the "buy everything and don't think about the debt" season, I thought it would be a good time to reflect on some of the corporations I have had some dealings with over the last few months. I am not saying don't buy from them, but just consider where yo are endorsing. If the customer is always right, that is only so long as they are spending money. No fault there. After all, who would think much of their employers if they stopped paying us?

Currently I have a broken phone, a cracked computer, and a pair of sunglasses that have a lens that falls out. These things happen, but not usually within a year of purchase. The kicker is that these products came from such reputable companies as Samsung (Sprint), Apple, and Oakley. So, occassionallythings break. I get that. Here is what happened when I attempted to take care of them.

Sprint:
It took a hour and a half (with no phone) for them to tell me the face was shattered. Hmmm... thank you? I was then informed that the high-end phone I purchased last November (that occasionally freaks out and freezes up) is no longer being made. I am eligible for a replacement of "equal quality." They did not however have one in the store. I would have to wait for one to be sent in. Not a problem, if I had a steady address right now. Apparently they did not have any of these rare Razor phones that everyone is holding. Perfect, a phone store without a phone to give me.

Oakley:
I tried to take them back into the store just a month or so after buying them. They tried tightening them and had the same problem I did, no success. Here's the fun part. Rather than give me an "equal quality" replacement, I had to actually send them in. I needed an "expert" to determine that they were broken and then send me another pair. Again, my nomadic life does not work with their policy of send you the fixed ones. Also again, I find myself in a store that does not have the product on its sign to give me.

Apple:
My fancy, new Mac Book has apparently a common defect. They crack where we right handers rest our palm. I have already heard through the grapevine that they will take my computer and send it away. Sounds about right. My first iPod was a disaster of send it in. Again and again I sent it in, till my warrantee was expired.

American Girl:
I know they were not on the list, but they are my employer right now and they did decide not to pay me recently. My boss, cow-tailed to an ignorant angry customer. This individual called and decided he should not have to pay for the 2 extra people that showed up and sat at his table with him because they were not on the reservation. Despite them being there, me waiting on them, and them being friends and all... he still determined paying for them was not his responsibility. My manager (fearing the loss of the entire sale) said yes sir and refunded him the two meals they were served. That also came out of my pocket and apparently she decided that was a price I should pay as well. I have the cheap bastards name and credit card last 4 digits if anyone would like to have a go at him.

So there it is. a few thoughts on some of the companies I have had business with lately. I thought I was stepping up my quality by shopping with better reputations. However, when the sale was finished, so was their responsibility to me. Today is nicknamed "Black Friday" for its renowned shopping crowds. Your dollars are powerful, but only in your pocket. Once you give them out, you you are no longer important to them. You are not a customer, you are a service number. Chose your places to endorse carefully. There are some great merchants out there that still want you satisfied after you own their product. Ideally you would send more people to them. Tell me your great merchants. Tell each other. Support them.

Happy Black Friday!

Priceless

So, it's been a week now. I have been thoroughly enjoying being back in Chicago. I have long held the theory that there are 2 types of big city people in this country. There are those that yearn for the life of Los Angeles and those that feed on the frenetic energy of New York. My opinions on LA have never been candid, but I am trying to see the benefits out there. What feels good about being back is some of the familiarity of a more "east coast" type of city. Chicago is what would happen if the Big Apple and the Midwest mated. It's a NY with a little less worldliness and you can have a car here. I am certainly not saying there is not culture here, by any means. It is not of the extent that NY has though. I have appreciated that LA does not seem to wish it were something it is not. That has long been a frustrating factor of Chicago living. It is not NY, nor ever will be. It is great in its own accounts. That's what I love about it.

Yet I digress again. I am happy here right now. My choices are being made as they come up. Sadly that leaves me sounding a shade dopey when asked, "So what are your plans?" I am still saying I don't know, but now I don't feel guilty for it. There is a bad strike going on in the film and TV world. For those that don't know, the Writer's union is on strike. The actor's union is pledging its support. Long story short: There is no work in LA for a union actor in LA right now. While I could go back and likely PA still, without the prospect of any auditions, it seems hardly worth it.

Being back here is giving me a chance to breathe a little and decide what my next steps should be. I am here through Christmas for sure. From there I do not know just yet but may be extending my time in Chicago if the work continues. I may stay in Denver some as well and work out there. There is the prospect of trying to line up some work in NY and finally just give it a shot.

I know I have achieved a lot in a little over a year in LA and that town has been better to me than I have given it credit for. However, it is my hand to play. I can leave the table anytime I want. If that were today, I doubt I would regret anything. I am an actor. I went to Hollywood. I had a good time and achieved a lot. The biggest thing I gained was knowledge that I could hold my own there. In the words of the well-known commercials, that alone is "priceless."

Windy City Love

I got in last night just after midnight. I was in an audition for a national commercial less than 12hrs later. So here's my weird universe story. Scotty was over yesterday morning and while he was getting ready to go to breakfast at Lucile's Denver, I looked up my agent in Chicago to send an email letting them know I would be in town for a few weeks. I could not find an email, so I decided I would call later in the day. Less than 2 minutes later, my phone rings from said agent with an audition today. I never told them I was coming. Weird

After my audition downtown I ran a couple errands, refamiliarizing myself some with Chicago sights and sounds. It felt so good to be walking around town. I missed it here a lot. Over the last couple weeks or so I have had to clarify my perspective on Chicago often. It seems those that know me well are fond of reminding me with knowing smiles that I truly did not like the Windy City very much for a long time when I first got here. That is true, I called it the town "I loved to hate."

However, after a few years of doing my best to get out of town on children's theatre tours, I started to warm up to it here. That last 2 years were friggin' fun. After all, I got to work on 6 consecutive shows with only 2 weeks down time in 15 months during one stretch. I have a great agent here that continues to help me even in LA. Plus the people are fantastic too.

Now what makes LA any different from Chicago, based on my timeline? For starters, I enjoy stage work more than film. What LA can offer is exciting and interesting, for sure. I love the constant energy there. Everyone is just one call away from fame and secure rent. That's cool. Artists should be able to earn their pay doing what they love and have sacrificed for. I, however, prefer the connection with people too much to want to leave theatre for long. Now true there is a lot of theatre in LA, some of which you don't even have to pay to play in. It is tougher there to carve away that sort of time there. If you can, you find the higher caliber of people out there for sure. LA is like all huge cities in that it is full of transplants. Hell, a good chunk of my favorite company in Chicago now live there. Guess "nothing is safe" now in LA.

The other, rather inflexible point against LA for me and me alone is that I don't like heat and sun for long. I don't. I prefer storms to get my creative wheels turning. I caught a little flack for coming to Chicago for Nov. and Dec. for this. Last year in LA, we had a couple days in the 100's at the end of Nov. Nothing like getting a Christmas tree in shorts and a tank top, wondering if an off season AC unit would fit in the car too. That's just not for me.

While I can admit, LA and Chicago have very similar starts for me, I don't believe LA will grow on me the same way. This town is closer to a NY vibe and that tempo is the one I enjoy. LA is fun and blessedly unapologetic. I am fascinated by a city so proud of itself and detested by everyone else. I continue to try and bite my tongue and just learn.
For now though, I love being in Chicago again. It's chilly and threatening snow and I could not be happier. I am learning what to like about LA. I miss Chicago and appreciate everything it did for me. Colorado is now and will always be home.

On The Fly

Funny thing when you duck out of the norm, changes become the norm. Ironic. I decided to take off from LA for a bit for work and recuperation. My phone has been constantly ringing with jobs now. I don't miss Production Assistant work at all, but I did get to work with some good people. That's whom I miss. I was asked to stick around Denver through Mon for an audition. I met with an agent here in Denver on Fri and they liked me enough to put me in for a TV show audition today. Again, ironic. Everyday here though is a treat and I continue to wonder how long I still want to wander. Nonetheless, for now I am still home and tomorrow night I get to begin a stretch in Chicago. That will be good too. I am enjoying the nomadic life thus far. With luck today's audition could extend NM to that list. Who knows? What I do know is that I love this chance to see my family and a few close friends here. Till next city...

Arrived

My life in progress seems to have yet again under gone some new developments. Having worked an all night video shoot for a pop diva at The Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood, I picked up my brother on the way out of town Mon morning on just an hour's sleep. Not so good for a 1000 mile road trip. Adam, being a new Dad and all suggested perhaps "extending" our stay in Vegas over night. You know... to rest up.

We had a great time there and our losses were minimal. However, within our first hour there, I experienced two firsts. I stopped at a Washington Mutual on the way to the hotel and promptly found myself at the tail end of a robbery. The thief walked right past me as I was filling out a deposit slip. After speaking briefly to the Las Vegas police, Adam and I proceeded to the Luxor and he decided we should each put a dollar into a dollar slot and pull at the same time; a sort of ritual style entry to Sin city gambling. Ok. I hit 3 blazing 7's on a progressive machine. The jackpot: 2.2 million dollars. That is if you bet max ($3). For my single dollar pull I was awarded the opportunity alone to tell you how I almost won 2.2 million dollars. That's it. So there you go. A robbery and an almost of mega proportions.

After trekking through sweaty dessert, endless Utah, and an oddly wet and snowy Rocky Mountains we arrived at 2am. The true highlight from the road was when it started raining and we had the top down. Adam was less than thrilled to be driving wet mountain highways with no roof and try and find the wipers. Good times. Now I am back in Denver for the 3rd time in a month. I love it and don't feel like this is too much at all. I have an audition here Fri for some possible work and a plane ticket to Chicago the same day. Work here being a potential acting job. Work in Chicago just being good pay. Just when I thought I had it finally all sorted out.

At least I got to hang with Baby Vicious (a.k.a. my niece Sydney) for her first Halloween. She was an Eskimo with a less than cooperative Husky. Me, I was just plain chicken.





Happy Halloween!

Having a John Denver moment...

All bags really are packed and I am ready to go... That's about where the analogy ends though. I have decided to take a break from LA while I am between both jobs and homes. I hit the road Mon morning with Adam (my brother) for Denver. From there I am still deciding, but that will be my jumping off place for further plans. I am looking forward to this. I have felt a tad blah lately, so I am glad to get a chance to recharge. Till next city...

Gettin' exciting now...

Sitting here in the bright morning sunlight in my folks kitchen, all seems well. There is a wealth of good music coming from my speakers and I am enjoying the crisp, cool Colorado air. All seems well. I can not believe how much will be different by this point next week.

I spent the last week or so since Cody took off painting and packing my apartment on Beachwood. I was aiming to be 100% done by the time I flew out here on Wed. realizing I might hit 80%. That I did. I have a sizable stack in my livingroom, ready to go to the storage unit being held for me on Sunset. By "sizable," I of course am referring to the fact that I originally got to LA by Metro. While Tiff used her car too, she took most of that load with her back to Chicago. Most of it. I still inheritted some odd shaped stuff. I now have a bed, not a leaky air matress. Ah progress... nicer stuff, bigger storage units.

I now have 3 major options before me for the 2 months I have to get by till an apartment opens up I want. I have the option to work in Chicago, Denver, or stay in LA hoping work picks up. My major employers have gone on a 2 month vacation as well so my phone has gotten pretty quiet.

I am figguring out the last details here this weekend as to what will make the most sense, but reality is also starting to become more real.
All those little routines are about to get locked up on Sunset also. The little things, like the coffee maker. It's habit. It's going away for a bit. I look forward to this, but it's tough to not get a little nervous putting everything away for a short time.

I have had a bunch of people come forward and extend their time, help, support, and even one or two couches. That is amazing. I am so entirely blown away by that sort of friendship, it means a lot. For now, I am enjoying Colorado. I am still amused to be here at such an odd time. How often have you been packing to move and right at the critical push you wished you could just walk away for a while? Well, by way of Mom's big birthday I got to do just that.

Happy birthday Mom and thank you!

Rockies are World Series Bound

That's it, just excited!

Fresh Coat of Faith

I am fond of airing my grief with the lack of rain in LA and how I find it tough to be inspired to paint out here because of it. Well, the universe has a sense of humor. It rained on Fri and I got to paint... my entire apartment white again. Not exactly what I had in mind. Next time I'll be a tad more specific. Plus, our ceiling leaks badly and wrecked some valuable stuff. It's not like Tiff and I have not told the management company. We've told them all 3 times it rained in the last 15 months. Grrr.The deadline to leave the Hollywood bungalow is October 26th. I have so little time to get everything done. So far I am staying positive that the direction to go will become more clear but I am reminded of a joke I heard once. It goes like so:

A man of tremendous faith found himself and his home in the path of a great flood. Authorities said it would wipe out everything in its path and evacuations were ordered and the trucks came. The man would not leave. He said simply, "I believe in God, he will save me."

The rain came and flooded the streets up to his house. A rescue boat came down his street and he would not leave. "I believe in God, he will save me."

The waters overtook his house and he retreated to the roof, just above water. A helicopter came, but he would not go. He shouted, "I believe in God, he will save me." He could almost make out the pilot mouthing "idiot" before the roof went.

Lo and behold he next found himself at the pearly gates, soaking wet. He sloshed right up to God and said, " I believed in you and you still let me drown?!" God handed him a towel and said, " I sent you a truck, a boat, and a helicopter. What else did you want?"
Now, I believe in signs and messengers (ie Eskimos). Have I been sent my truck and boat already? I don't know. I am entertaining a couple ideas. Oh, I need to explain something else. I have a line on a good apt. for a great price. It's available Jan though. The price makes it worth the wait. I also am in a bind with my main employers going on vacation for a couple months. Basically I am on my own for 2 months. Denver? Chicago? Couch surfing galore in LA? I don't know. As I said before though... this is a friggin' awsome problem to have! Stay tuned. Oh and by the by, my painting ensemble in the picture above is my new favorite outfit. I will probably be wearing it next time we see each other.

Go Rockies!

Back to business, sorta...

The song had it so correct; it really is "sweet home Chicago."

I truly cannot describe how good it felt to be back there. It felt as if no time had passed. That was until I came across a new skyscraper. It was a great weekend in the Windy City. Just like Denver, I found myself fantasizing about coming back. It just felt good. I decided at the last minute to put out a feeler to see if anyone wanted to get together at Four Moon on Sat night. It was a great turnout. College friends, theatre friends, pirates... It was fucking great!

And we got Tiffany settled as she could be for a bit. Her move back to Chicago has been a subject I have shied away from talking much about. I still don't really feel like delving into its details. It just seemed like it was unavoidable. Let me just say, we are together and trying something different. Each of us are trying to accomplish something right now. It just happens to be in different cities. She seemed much more relaxed instantly in Chicago, but I do have to say she seemed pretty happy in Denver too (ahem). That was when she wasn't running at a mile above sea level. Stupid hill! ;)


Now I am back. My Caveman friend extraordinaire, Cody Lyman, ironically picked me up from the airport and stayed with me a couple days. I worked a White Stripes video the first two days. Finally free, we hit The Griddle for breakfast on Wed and then over to Universal. It was fun just being goofy with a close friend. It helped me not get too melancholy about my changing home.

Due to a raise in the rent I am not keeping my Hollywood apartment. Alone it would have been rough, but that was the final straw. It has yet to be determined where I am going from here just yet, but I have a couple ideas. They mostly involve some travel and get by work for a couple months. Well see.

The Rockies are winning thus far in the first game against Arizona. It's funny; I really got into watching them this year. By June I was hooked on watching the gamecast from ESPN.com. Now it's October and the Rockies are still playing! That has been a nice release; it has nothing to do with acting.



Speaking of which, I am now a CARD CARRYING member of the Screen Actor's Guild!



"You are the party and I am a school night"

From Colorado

Tiff and I have been enjoying all that is Colorado for the last few days. We hit Vegas for a night and had a truly wonderful time. Our room at the Golden Nugget (old Vegas is kinda fun) was upgraded to a suite. I am not kidding when I say it was the nicest room I had ever had. It was a two story, two bath room with floor to ceiling windows. The room had 5 sinks for crying out loud. After a win like that, we pretty much hung out in the room. It was so worth it.


We got to Denver late, late Thur night and have been enjoying my family's hospitality ever since. My niece, Sydney is getting cuter everytime I see her. It's also wierd but Jen and my brother are turning into ninja, pit-crew parents. They deploy baby gear in a blink of an eye when we get anywhere. Plus they are the cool type of parents that keep an eye on their baby. Sydney is usually pretty happy and quiet, but when she does decide to add some yelling to any restaurants atmosphere, they are all over it. I am so proud. They are all three doing so well.

Denver itself has been doing a fairly good job this trip too. Everyone that reads this is aware of my affinity for my home state and interest in long-term returning here.
With my 30 day notice to vacate my Hollywood apt. and a true wandering impulse taking root, the enchanting call of Colorado is stronger this time. I got to see two different friends for coffee this trip who could not be more different and they each felt the same way I am right now. Hell, even Tiffany is talking about how great it could be here. I even found a dog I liked yesterday. I was told it was one of their "lucky Westies" as he was born on 7/7/07. Tell me that wouldn't mess with your head a little if you felt yourself trying to get direction?


Then there was the infamous "Tie Breaker" game at Coors Field I bought tickets to. Watching a near Disney game play out between the Rockies and the Padres with downtown lookin on and the mountains out beyond was pretty magical. Tiff and I got to celebrate with 48,000 of our closest friends. It was amazing. I have never been to a better baseball game.

Today we hit the road for Chicago. I am truly excited to see it again as I have not been back since I left with her June, last year. I entertain ideas of taking a short job there for the holiday season. A chance to get away from LA briefly and also get some spirit rekindling. It would be great to see snow again, or even just a good storm. That would wake the painting muse, to be sure.

In any case, I know I have a lot floating around my head right now, and a lot to do. I am adhering to the when in doubt pause and wait for direction. I am also grateful as hell to have so many places that I enjoy being. I have a slew of options I want to try. For guy like me, that is pretty friggin' awsome.