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!