Over and out

More applicable than I could have guessed, the last entry truly earned its name. To err is human it is said, but what's the relief in being human? This will be a final posting for a while.

Over and out.

Choice and Responsibility and the Moment

That's a long title for a pure stream of conscience post. At the conclusion of the way too long title, The Humpty Dance came up on iTunes shuffle. That song takes me back to 2 different times in my life. Playing softball as a newcomer on a sober league and my buddy Herman from Ft. Collins. He would actually hop out of the car to do the Humpty Dance when it would come on the radio.

A phrase was crossing my mind today that kept me in a stupid state of contemplation. The phrase is, "make your choices or they will make you." I probably have that wrong, but it made me think I do need to start pushing forward. I have droled on and on about not liking LA. I have drained time venting about art here. The list goes on and on. The point here is that I need to start writing in ink (and not just on my arm). I have a pretty good idea where I want the next few years to take me and what I would like them to be about. Now it's time to get a little more on the move with it.

I have to mention this though. LA and PA'ing here does have some cool ass moments. I finished a nightmare job yesterday. I did however get the opportunity to do something few "artists" get to do.
I caught a touchdown pass at the Colliseum. Some of the PA's said screw it and went down to the field after wrap and played a quick pick-up game. How fucking cool is that. Within 10 days I walked the field Olympians competed and the boards at the Forum. All that and I now have 2 whole fucking months as a non-smoker!

Guess I am getting some of the goals done!

The Winner is...

The winner is...

Well no one won to be honest. Colleen smartly theorized it was a dumb contest in that everyone would just nominate their own town. A true enough idea yet of the 4 I originally thought about (Seattle, Chicago, Denver, and New York), I had San Francisco, Minneapolis, and Austin suggested. Yes Austin, Texas. Not everyone seems to use the leave comment button here. Also, if you have not been there take my word for it when I say it is a great town!

So what to do, what to do? Things continue to progress here for me. I was welcomed into the fold of 2 company's that do casting director worksops, Act Now Studios and Actor's Co-op Group. One is very cool and kinda hidden the other one is in the valley and seemed to send me an identical message on Friday to the tune of, "don't know how we got your info but we'd like to talk to you." That was the day after I came in and talked to them. Is it real or is it Memorex?

There is also the whole SAG card question too. I am eligible now and that was one hell of an accomplishment! I am still pretty friggin' psyched about that. I am happy to buy that card and not do any more free or non-union work. I know it CAN pay, but I am mor einterested in stage work. That brings me back to the whole, why am I in this town?


I just finished this job over the last few days. LA isn't all bad. I know, that is a different tone for me. But I can not bag on all of it because that is just bullshit to do. I enjoy the evenings at times here. Like last night, racing back to Hollywood from Santa Monica with the film and having fast moving freeways and no sides on the Jeep. Ah, good times.

None the less. The wandering bug is on. Tiffany and I talk often about departing the city of angels. It's exciting to imagine just booking it. Guess though that's the dream of staying on here too... booking it.

(ps- Seven weeks and counting)

Hmm...

Chicago, Seattle, New York, Denver...

When...

I am still throwing ideas around in my mind about departure from LALA land and the reasons. Artistic and carreer goals... everything is sorta blending in my mind. In some ways I feel like George Jetson and am ready to get off the dog walker. Yet on the other hand, I am not even remotely beaten down by this town. I am amused as always here. The truly serious types I find here make me giggle a little to hear them talk. I understand a seriousness necessary, but they aren't even talking about being better actors. Mostly it's about being better shmoozes (imortant here, don't get me wrong). Eh...


I had an audition on Monday for a workshop group and got to do a scene with a partner in front of the group. I was given the role of a Tom Cruise wuss. It was so fun. I truly delivered it like I was on stage and that was my only note... to bring it back a little. All I could think was how I would rather find the place where that was right. A stage.

Stay tuned campers and be sure to vote for your favorite town! Winners will receive a souvenir t-shirt (even if it's Albuquerque)!

Tug of War

So here I am in Los Angeles still. Nothing new there. However, I am faced with a delema right now. A short time ago I allowed myself to finally, verbally admit I do not like it here still. Again, nothing new there. What is currently challenging me is that it would seem my next step in pursuing acting work here feels a bit more like a comitment.
I am entertaining some acting workshop groups that seem quite fond of talking about how long it could take. This I know. What is tough is hearing that if I want to try this route, I will be less able to just leave LA; at least not without wasting some invested money and effort. I still feel that despite a handful of truly great people here, the best thing about CA is the road going East. Just felt like a little venting. I do realize I am redundantly voicing some things here.

The record is matched...

As of this afternoon, I officially matched the longest effort at quitting smoking thus far. That's 6 months kids!

No clever pix this time, just me and a hot dog. You figure which is which. Go Rockies!

Gemini in Vegas!

I am still just reeling from the last 4 days or so. Last years birthday was a bittersweet day of realities. I was actually not looking forward much to this years. Tiff was all too patient with my indesicion on what to do. The day itself came with little on my book as to what was going to be done, as my last post indicated. However the evening took off when Tiff got home and our good friends Scott and Jodi let me know they were available.

I found a Mexican place on City Search and chose it. Ernie's in Studio City turned out to be fantastic. Scott suggested going to see Pirates afterwards at Universal, to which we agreed to. Unfortunately, they were unable to stay the whole movie. I will be honest though, just getting to see some good friends on Sat was worth it, however long we got to hang out. Thank you for the movie!

Sunday,Tiff worked and I went to my meeting and hung out with some friends at a Founders Day BBQ. Very cool. I came home and opted to run the hill rather than hit the gym (a choice I am procrastinating right now). When Tiff got off at 6, we hit the road to Vegas.
She didn't tell me till we got very close that we would be staying at Treasure Island! So friggin' cool. We checked in and I have to give a quick account of our check in experience. We were told that they only had Smoking Rooms available (HA!) to which Tiffany responded with a plea if there was anything else available, "he just quit smoking 5 weeks ago, please." I was pretty moved by the sudden urgency. Our sympathetic check-in woman not only found us a room, but upon hearing it was my birthday upgraded us to a view of the strip and sent a bottle of Champagne to the room. Happy Birthday... Tiffany! :)

The room was gorgeous! I loved the view so much. What blew my mind was turning around and seeing Tiff smiling holding another gift. She had saved one as a suprise, tickets to tomorrow night's performance of Stomp Out Loud! Wow! That is one of my favortie shows! We ate an outstanding and overdue meal and made our way down to The Sahara for some Blackjack. Uh, dessert distance being an ellusive thing, we walked way too far. I got a little time on the table before she was finished. Up $6, I sprung for a Deuce (bus) pass for the both of us. Truly one of the best parts of Vegas! We made our way back to the hotel and crashed hard.

We hit the pool the next morning after way too little sleep. Why do hotels have such early check-outs and lousey pool hours? Seriously? We were determined to get down there and did. Such fun. We cleaned up and checked out, but left the car based at TI while we wandered. The shops around the old Aladin, now Planet Hollywood, have been a favorite haunt of ours. The remodel to the old Casino was pretty nice too. I was impressed with the new look, although it was amusing that Planet Hollywood chose to actually look a little more like Hollywood. The decor reminded me of many places in my neighborhood here. Apparently dark wood and decco are the style in Tinsletown.

We managed to book a room at Four Queens for dirt cheap before our show. That bemused me some as well. Apparently the customer on the internet is worth a hell of a lot more than the one at the counter. As the rates well much higher when we walked to a counter. Our room at the Four Queens we booked on the internet using the business center next to the check-in desk at the MGM Grand. Seems flawed to me, but hell if you have a laptop...

The show was amazing too. I saw it in New York in there modest theatre. This was a Vegas theatre build for them with all the options. It was incredible! This is the sort of show that stokes my creative fires and keeps me going. I truly needed that. We slowly matriculated our way back to old Vegas and cheecked into the Four Queens. It was nice enough, but we quickly chose to wander across the street to the Golden Nugget. At Tiff's enouraging, I snuggled up to a $5 Blackjack table. After an hour or so, I dropped a $5 chip as a tip and cashed out my $65 in chips, having started with $40. That felt good. Not just to come out ahead, but to have had the chance to play for a while. Double-downs, splits, and natural blackjacks... it was great!

We milled a while the next day, enjoying the shoppes at Caesars.
I even got some birthday cake there, Cheesecake birthdaycake to be precise. DELICIOUS!! We had to walk a bit more after that before hitting the road home weary and happy. Yet another accomplishment as a nonsmoker under the belt too. I am starting to suspect this shot at being a nonsmoker may be fairly serious. Heh. It was an incredible trip and I am so thrilled.
Thank you to everyone for the birthday wishes. Much thanks to Tiff though for wanting so much for my birthday in Hollywood to still mean something. It really did. Thank you, thank you, thank you!




Yes, Tiff is in a Broncos jersey! I know Ohio... first the Drive and now this.

hey kid remember

Ah... me big birthday! 32. That sounds old to some and young to others (although the latter probably hasn't figured out how to get to this blog). I am personally pretty friggin' happy about 32. It's one of those ages that just sounds right, ya know? I am excited to see what the year has in store. Anything seems possible after this last one. For better or worse the dust was kicked off for certain. Tiff and I came out West and have been learning ever since. In that regard, we have been most fortunate. I am lovin' the CD by the by... hardcore indeed!


I also wanted to announce the fifth week of non-smoking is officially in the books. I do have to say, I've been fighting a real steady craving as of late though. I just miss it sometimes. Then again, it's nice to be free. I am even developing a modest sense of pride in not being a drinker, doper, or smoker. Odd, but it's making me smile.

So, dear friends in the Windy City, the Twin Cities, the Big Apple, the Mile High City, the Lone Star State, and everywhere in between that have accompanied me to film after film on this the 9th day of June.... that have gone to the Dixie Kitchen and Orange time and time again... that more than anything have let me know I am loved, I raise my cup of coffee to ya!

Seriously though, thank you and much love!
(and maybe a birthday kick)

Colorado blue and Tattoo'd

My trip to Colorado was obviously one I will forever remember! Heh.



I did my best get around Denver on my own via foot and RTD (the local public transpo, affectionately standing for Reason To Drive). I have to take a moment to point out a flaw I just discovered though in the RTD's new light rail service. Apparently they charge based on how far you take it or how many zones you cross. If you want to take it say from Lone Tree (near Parker) to downtown, like my friend Scott does, you will be paying a mighty $135 for a month. Just to sum that up a bit, if want to avoid driving and poluting/congesting to roads the most, you pay the most. Think that's fucked? Here's the website: http://www.rtd-denver.com/FaresAndPasses/index.html

It was great seeing my family again too. Little Baby Vicious is getting cuter and cuter every time I come home. I have already decided to buy Adam a shotgun for when she starts dating. Not like my 6' 4", blackbelt carrying, little brother needs anything to more intimdating though. Anycase, I was able to borrow Mom's PT CRuiser a bit and got to all the favorite haunts. I hit St. Marks on 18th, Paris on the Platt, and generally boogied all over downtown. It cracks me up to see the fancy new ped. bridge the put in where the 17th street viaduct was. Theey are even adding a ped. bridge over I-25 there. They just tore out that whole thing. Sure this one is pretty and fits what they are now going for around there. After all, Paris doesn't have a bookstore anymore, it has a wine shop. Plus the old railroad museum (voted by Westword to best location for a horror film several years running) is now a flagship REI and Starbucks. The old neighborhoods are changing, but it ain't all that bad. A few years in Chicago adjusted some of my sentiment.

Before departing downtown, I stopped at Coors Field to see if they still offered "Rock Pile Tickets." For those unfamiliar, these were tickets that were only available 4hrs before the game and used to be just $2. Inflation being what it is, I was still tickled to hear they were but $4. Not that the Colorado Rockies sell out nowadays, but getting to see a live baseball game in a park like that, the city and mountains being your backdrop, for under five bucks... that is AWSOME! Just a word of caution though to the recently quit smoking types with quicker tempers... the visitor fans have no fear nor respect when your home team has set up shop in last place for years. I bit through a tooth pick entirely when some St. Loius fans got truly belligerent behind me. Guess the look I gave them worked as they stopped being ridiculous and left halfway through the 9th. I am all for moxy and cheering the visitor, but there is etiquiet man! Course, I am most recently from Chicago where a visitor was lone, brave, and QUIET. Heh. It was great to get to the ball park with my Dad and Adam. That was very cool!


After a fun meal with the family on Thur night, I took the Cruiser up to Ft. Collins. My friend Julie has set up an appointment with her friend and tattoo artist Ishmael.
I had a collection of ideas and design elements, mostly just had a raging desire to get inked. Ishmael was great and very easy to talk with. We hashed out a design after a couple goes that I was very excited to get. Inspired in Chicago, I love this piece.
He did a great job with it. I also loved getting tattoo'd in Old Town in the front windows with a couple good friends there. Missed you there though Tink! Did some dancing after with my fresh tattoo saran-wrap bandage to cellebrate Herman's birthday. Emily and I and even caught a late meal at IHOP (aka my study hall in college). Hell, it was even fun doing a 3am run down I-25 again!

Now I am back in LA though. It is so good to see my Urban Pixie. I was even thrilled to get back to our apartment. This is home right now, pained as I am to say that. It has all the stuff though and there is a feeling where your bed is. For as much as I hate the city outside my door, this is a great oasis. Plus, I feel very motivated to spend more time with the great people I know here.

So here I draw this novel to a close. By the by... 4 fucking weeks now without a Camel Light. That includes a trip home, getting tattoo'd, and seeing all the places I learned to smoke in. The run continues!