Junior Year: The Year Time Ceased To Exist

This title isn't meant to be depressing, just realistic.

I have zero time for most anything. Sleeping, reading, eating, jogging, playing, and sometimes that includes blogging.

So you'll have to excuse these past two months of absence. (You don't have to though, I'm just asking nicely.)

But it's been a while, hasn't it? Course it has.

Let me fill you in on life, in the form of rhyme:

Camp Scuffy ended, however bittersweet

To Albany I went, my staff to meet

Training ensued, where we learned and we played

And I stood in front of a tower and danced for eight hours

on magical move-in day!

When my voice returned and my limbs stopped screaming

My residents, all forty of them, I started meeting

Most are great and I love 'em all

Just not when they smoke in their rooms, or party in the halls

But that's alright, nothing to do

Except lay down my authority and trust them to be smart

Cause most have common sense in their heart

Theatre's been popping, it's been my scene

Got three big show's going on, know what I mean?

New show opened last night, to some laughs and applause

Actors did well, family enjoyed, then sat and suffered for two more hours

(I know that didn't rhyme, shush)

Next week I get to play a cokehead

And then in December, I avenge my family

Against the Scottish tyrant, Macbeth

Sketchy Characters, my comedy family on campus

Are as awesome as ever. It's a big year

And awesomeness is in the air.

And that's about it. Family is well, school is awesome, job is well, theatre is well and sketchys are great, writing is getting done (eventually ha), and yeah . . . sorry this is so late. I've never been good at keeping a blog. I'll try to be better. Specifics coming soon on specific things!

Happy 50th blog post, Blog!!

-Marty

Spring In My Step

Well, it's currently 1:30 in the AM.

But I am home, surrounded by comics, dvds, books, magazines, cards, and sleeping family. So that means all is well as far as I am concerned.

I keep forgetting how long it's been since I've had a break from school, like a legitimate break, not just a, "come home for the weekend," thing. So that's nine weeks . . . yeah I know, right?!

It's so amazing to be home, with family, and even Brendan is here. Mike's back off in Germany, guy never even called to say goodbye . . . jerk. It's okay, I hold no malice, I shall instead sabotage and booby-trap his room for when he returns. I am most eager to try out my newest creation, which I call, the "Scorpion Cannon of Most Immeasurable Pain."

I got it off a Snapple cap.

But Spring Break (yay), is here and with it, relaxation. This week will still be busy though. Dad is winging off to London tomorrow, I'm visiting Albertus on Tuesday I think, and then Giuseppe and I are filming/playing tennis/five guysing it Wednesday. Also Blackest Night 8 is out then. My heart sings.

I'm also supposed to go see the AMHS drama tomorrow. I don't quite know how I feel about it. I hear good things, bad things, and excruciatingly terrible things as well. Yet, I have a certain loyalty to my friends and the school. So let us see how things go, review up soon then I guess.

Hmmmm . . . other news . . . hmmm . . . nothing right off the bat. I suppose then, I'll sign off for now, go get some sleep, which in my country, means go and read til the wee hours of the morning.

OH

But here is some good news.

My latest one act, Heroics, is now going to be produced and directed by a theatre company downtown in Albany as part of their Short Play Festival. Kick. Ass.

I'll be signing autographs outside after the blogging. (just kidding)

Gnight! (not kidding)

PS: Happy Spring. Enjoy the weather before it becomes sweltering hot.

Adios Winter Break

Well ladies and gents, it's time again to pack the suitcase and head back to school. Shove all the clothes I own and like into two bags, about a pound of medicinal pills and whatnot, and a good fifty or more books.

Because yes, I have two boxes of books. One is a book box, one is a comic book box, both contain random dvds and the like.

It's getting kind of ridiculous. Ah well . . . such is the life I lead.

But it's been a great break. It has been surprisingly productive, especially since it's me we're talking about here. But it has been. Let's see . . .

-Edited 3 stories and they are currently on their way to publishers :: fingers crossed ::

-Started the third draft of Fallen, first act is done, second on the way

-Started a few new short stories

-Editing a couple of more stories

-Thoughts on new projects and novels

-Creating/editing new magic systems

-And very proud of this, I wrote a new One Act Play called Heroics which I'm pretty happy with, just need to edit it up, and par it down!

-Also, wrote a poem

And that's just writing productivity! I got a couple days of work in, finished Super Mario Bros. Wii (amazing!) and Batman: Arkham Asylum (Awesome!), saw tons of friends, had adventures, some fudged up dreams, had some good bro-chill time, and just had a great time with my family.

God, it's weird all this back and forth. Just reminds me of the huge change I felt when I first started the process. And if you know me, you know I hate change. I deal with it, but for example, I've ordered the same thing at Panera for the past three years, and I can't even change my wallet. (Don't tell my Mom, she'll be pissed).

But it's something I've gotten used to. Strange as it is, it's still nice to be heading back to school. The break is just long enough to enjoy home, and I did, I enjoyed it to its fullest. But now it's time to head back. Back to classes, reslife, theatre, my sketchys, TC, and the general insanity of my life.

I can't wait!

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!

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.