Thanksgiving Break

Wow, I couldn't come up with a witty title . . . what the hell is wrong with me?

But hello Internet, good evening to you my electronic friend and salutations. It has been a bit of time, let's see what my life has been like . . .

Just got back from Thanksgiving break, which was super fun. I got home Wednesday night after helping close the Quad (I was on window duty . . . let it mean whatever you want it to mean), and I spent Wednesday night saying hey to the family again, grandparents were down so it was really nice to see Bema and Popa, and then after storming through comics with a speed olympic athlete's find impressive, I went over to Olsen's to see my good buddy and his family. I didn't have too much time with him, but it was good seeing him and knowing that he is happy and healthy.

Thanksgiving itself was nice and quiet, a chance to sit down with family and enjoy a meal with the formality and joviality that we sometimes don't have time for anymore. Dad didn't make a goof of himself during grace this year, which is sad because it's always hilarious to watch, but what are you going to do?

Friday I reunited with the Gang for a bit of time, realized the odd girl at Panera still knows who I am, not to jump in front of Barnes and Nobles, girls in elf hats dig me, went to Giuseppe's, saw a bunch of friends there which was awesome, then felt uncomfortable, then left to go to Ben Karlin's and learned Brendan is usually right about when I will have a good time or not. I won't say it to him personally, but he can read it here.

Saturday was more time with Giuseppe (My Boy! Bombs? They are yours my friend!), went to the insanity of the mall, made sure I still had a job at Brookstone and said hey to them, then grabbed Jesse, hit the comic shop, got my self-esteem ripped to shreds and my balls busted, then went home and wrote up a storm. So yeah, Fallen Draft Two is all finished =]

I then raced through the rest of the comics I had to read. Yeah, I know, Dad's fault I live this way. He got me addicted to something affordable . . . at least crack is expensive haha.

But it was a great time being home, and soon I'll be back. I'm back at Albany for some fun and excitement! Oh! Shakespeare Abridged got approved! Fun times huzzah!

Alright I'm off to go help Dave and do my Macbizzle project! Later!

All's Well That Ends Well

I did not get cast for the other spring semester show.

This makes me sad and pissed and a little bitter.

Welcome to the world of the actor.

But, who am I to say what the other director was looking for? Hell, there were only four male roles it turns out, and well, I just didn't fit in for it. But I do have friends in it, who were cast and I wish them all the best in it and hearty, sincere congratulations.

I would have loved to have been a part of either production, hell, I'll take Tree #3 for godsake.

But, I suppose I just have to think of this as a positive thing. I'm way too busy as it is and I'm only going to get busier. Plus, it's not as though I'm entirely uninvolved in the Theatre Department. They're putting on one of my shows for goodness sake, and I'm part of the Season Selection Committee, so that's all still good.

This is just going to the be the first year I have not acted in a school production, at least in the Spring Semester. It's a strange feeling, but it also gives me hope.

Hope, that now, Matt and I can pull off doing Shakespeare Abridged! Huzzah! To the Drawing Board!

RIP

Also, I just wanted to make a quick post about my Auntie Linda, who passed away today, two years ago. Two years flies fast, too fast it seems at times. I can still remember sitting in the comic shop, a stack of comics in front of me, just staring aimless into them, processing the news. 

And it sucks.

It is always going to suck.

But I will not spend this post complaining on that which life has dealt my family and I. All I will say, is I miss her. A lot. I miss her kooky laugh, and her stubborn manner and her caring heart. I miss her yelling at Dad over whether or not we could jump on couches, or her acting like a kid because she felt like it. I miss her infectious energy, her smile, her ginormous tank of a truck and her liberal rules when it came to what exactly we could and could not do in her house. 

What I miss most however, is the time we will not have together. How she won't hear my crazy college stories, or how I'm failing or succeeding with the ladies; how she won't make fun of Dad getting older, or Bren losing his hair (I don't think he is, but try telling him that), or Mike going to Germany. How my writing is going and my acting, and all things of that nature. 

But I figure, wherever she is right now, she'd be proud, of who I am, and who I am becoming. 

And I'm going to keep trying to do that for her. 

Much love Auntie Linda, we miss you.

No Business Like Show Business, Like No Business I Know!

I know, I did it again Internet, I took some time off for my real life and forgot to update you. I apologize, but I will not be sorry for living my life! Ha, anywho, been real busy with life and especially theatre has seemed to consume the brunt of my days, these past few weeks being a haze of monologue learning, and scenes being rehearsed and being written and oh, it's been a lot. Let's see if I can go through and tell you what's been going on.

But first let me say I am feeling a lot better then before; had a bit of a nasty cold/flu/bronchitis thing the past week but am about 97.5% better then I was. So, almost there.

But the thing to say is, Fallen had its first reading this past Wednesday, with the cast, the director, and whoever else wanted to come, sitting down to read the first draft. God, it was nerve-wracking. It was insanely exciting and cool, don't get me wrong. But man, after they finish reading it, you go through the notes you have, and then ask them questions, and they tell you things they noticed, or things you need to work on, or things that could be better, or you could add, subtract, multiply, divide, and so on and so forth, until you feel like an idiot or your head is about to explode.

Which, don't get me wrong, is what the process is all about; writing is not a beast you slay once and then the tale is over, only rarely is that truth. The first draft is a mad flurry of brush strokes onto a canvas, furiously finding the color and shapes needed to help make your baby. Editing however, especially with a deadline, is finding that you're floating on the ocean with a boat riddled with holes; it is the rapid filling of those holes, with whatever works and whatever can help keep the boat afloat. If it doesn't work, it's going to sink and you have to hurry to fill it with something that will. 

But don't let this description fool you. It is a hurried, frenetic amazing experience and I look forward to seeing what I can do to make this boat not only stay afloat, but stay golden.

Also, I had auditions and callbacks for the Spring shows here at UAlbany. I got a callback for one of the shows, 10 for 2010, a show of ten scenes from ten great plays in UAlbany Theatre's 100 year history. I did not get one for the Crucible, which I am disappointed about, but what are you going to do? I mean, I was upset, of course, but hell, I may just not be the guy they were looking for. I guess since I had worked with Chad, the director, last year, I may have been given a shot or something, but you know what, it's okay. He's a great guy and we worked well together but that doesn't mean he owes me something. He's got to do what he has to do to make this the best show possible for him, and if I'm not right for a part, it's nothing against me, it's just out of my control. And I'm okay with that.

Because it's show business and that's the way things roll . . .

But here's hoping I get cast for 10 for 2010 and you'll know if I am soon!

Also, expect a couple of book reviews up here soon, I know I've been slacking haha.