Highlights!

Okay, lets play a game of chicken! [Love Team Chicken.]

Three of us enter hallway with two three foot straws sticking out of a handle of Jack. People in hallway: 'So you guys are techies then, yeah?'

Who uses Tri-Boards these days?

What's the deal with Anton Chekhov? I swear, if I see one more Uncle Vanya...

'We've got an old porter in a Pony Express shack. What've you got?' 'We've got a reincarnated baby. Beat that.'

...We'll be doing a scene from Richard III. We're twelve.

Panthers! Chicken salad panthers. What the panthers. Drunken panthers. Panther skanks. Pass out panthers. Leprachaun panthers. And more. The moment on Saturday when I'd realised I'd texted about everyone I know at least one statement with the word 'panthers' somewhere in it.

38B: The whole Jack Daniels family.

'Babies are just fuck trophies.'

'Housekeeping; Do you want us to clean up these bottles?' 'No, those are trophies!'

'So how was working load out drunk? What did you do?' 'Flew shit in.'

Don't Go There Girlfriend! Reprise.

Sliding into Home Base.

'...I puked all black.' 'Did you eat a panther?!'

'You're like the hot cousin I kinda want to bang.'

Head meets chair. Butt hits sidewalk. Forehead whacks walkway. Hand smacks face. And other injuries! [not all mine.]

All the World's a Grave: Commentary's the best part.

Juliet gets smacked. J: 'Girrrrrl...'

Dancing girls make an entrance. R: 'Who are these bitches?'

Macbeth enters for witch scene. J: 'Valmart!'

Ending; girl says to clean up the bodies. R: 'Did they say they're going to eat the bodies?'

Bonding with friends and strangers over the lyrics and dance moves to 'Mechanical Hound.'

Seeing people I haven't seen since high school, and realising that I've completely erased those memories from my brain, and that I'm quite content to have it be that way. [Although seeing those people again was indeed quite superb.]

Helping to carry an award-winning life-sized dead deer across a campus, through a hotel, past my director as I'm saying 'Maybe we could fit it in a service elevator?' [You are automatically popular when you're friends with 'the deer kid']

Team Dukakis riding again [in New Hampshire this time. Whatevs].

Knowing he should be there, but looking around at the friends we shared, all of us together, remembering, and realising he is there.

Hahaha [more cats].

Add this to the reasons I'd love to at least visit Oregon.

Also, the American College Theatre Festival is almost just as awesome as ever. I have rehearsal a lot of hours out of the day. Durham, NH is incredibly boring. New Hampshire's lack of sales tax is convenient for alcohol. There is a Bagelry comparable to Bristol Bagel Works. But I miss the ease and laid-backness of last year. And am incredibly nervous about the big interview tomorrow. 'Bout it.

art.

Why did nobody tell me that Art Clokey passed away?

This just in, at least in my world: Art Clokey, the ingenius artist who created the beloved Gumby and Davey & Goliath, died at age eighty-eight on the eighth of January, leaving behind quite the legacy. Read the NY Times article for more info and less me being sentimental.

'Gumby' was one of my very favourite shows as a child. I have awful long-term memory and I recall all the Gumby shows extremely well - Along with the Pokey toy I would spend hours bending and, I'm sure, having grand adventures with. So anyway, that says something for Mr Clokey. He's probably the reason I'm a lover of modern art - His first short film 'Gumbasia' which really kicked off his Gumby world, and is embedded below, looks like something I'd find playing on the television in some corner of the Tate Modern. Surrealism, ahoy. Love it.

So anyway, it's extremely sad, but he had a long and very prosperous life. Rest in Peace, Art Clokey, you shall be remembered!

you who philosophise.

Today I actually discovered Mason Jennings - No, like, unburied him from beneath the depths of my gullibility. I watched I'M NOT THERE for the first time in a little while [that being relative since I first saw it when it came out at the end of 2007...I guess it wasn't that long ago, and I've watched it various times since then]. I did finally check out the soundtrack on the iTunes today and noticed that "Hattie Carroll" and "The Times They Are a-Changin" were performed by some guy - Some guy named Mason Jennings. I liked the name Mason and listened, but mostly was briefly disoriented because I'd truly always believed that that was Christian Bale singing.

Here's Mason Jennings doing one of his songs. It's called "Fighter Girl" and I really really dig it:

Now here's Christian Bale performing "Hattie Carroll" except actually lip syncing because it's really a Mason Jennings recording:

I'm Not There - Christian Bale Is Bob Dylan | Movies & TV | SPIKE.com

I guess I was just surprised coming from a past of being a humongous NEWSIES fan and knowing the attraction to Christian Bale's lusciously-lispy "Santa Fe" et cetera. But really, the point is, I'M NOT THERE remains one of my very favourite films - From the concept to the writing to the production value to the brilliant acting to the fact it introduced me to my beloved Ben Whishaw to the fact we all miss Heath Ledger to the fact Bob Dylan is Bob Dylan and I'm glad about that.

some favourite smells.

fresh earl grey tea.

the home depot.

muddy leaves.

lexol leather conditioner.

and my car when it came out of its emissions test today. like the boy thought my car stank so he sprayed 'fresh from the garage' in it. needless to say, i passed the test.

frymeow.

This is the one [adult swim] bump that makes me laugh. So much. Every time. Like...without fail.

Cats in costumes are ten times funnier when they have significant kitty chubs, and when they're dressed as Adult Swim show characters. But especially if they're wearing a moustache.

raging, raging, raging.

Shin splints feel like a nail being hammered upwards inside your shinbone each time you step. Exactly like that.

I'd forgotten to mention that I spent Saturday in New York City - A luxury I don't get to indulge in as much as I used to. I went with my mum, and it was lovely. Took a very long stroll around Central Park, which I've surprisingly never done. I know, weird.

We didn't eat all day and I was suffering from lack of food, dehydration, pain in my right hip flexor and my shins, and total lack of food. Starbucks at Columbus Circle has been my saviour two trips to NYC in a row.

I then convinced my mum that the subway is not so bad, was terribly excited to discover I still had almost $5 leftover on my MetroCard, and we took the subway down to Union Square - More my section of the city. Got to go to the Strand, my favourite bookstore in the world, for the first time in almost two years [whaat]. An attractive young man let me use a ladder myself [add to reasons I love Strand] since all the books I wanted were at the top shelves. I got the book of poetry by my professor, Michael Gizzi - It's called New Depths of Deadpan and thus far, I love it. I can completely hear his voice in every piece, which is one of the most important things I aim for in my writing, and he probably taught me that, so, Cool. I also picked up my third Stephen Fry novel: Making History. Not far in yet, but I am excited about it, but mostly, I cannot wait to read the next one on my list, Moab is My Washpot, which is Stephen Fry's autobiography, and I feel like, after reading excerpts, it's pretty much my life story on many levels - This is probably why I've been holding off on reading it.

Anyway, Making History was only $7. I got two books for $14. This is why I really, really love The Strand. I also got a new tea-mug and a bag. Neat! I had a stale bagel on the ride back and it truly hit the spot. Sometimes, a stale bagel is just about the only way to hit that spot.

Since then, I've pretty much been absorbed in finishing up my materials for ACTF, and when I'm not doing that, I'm drinking tea and letting the kitten lie in my lap and reading in leggings and oversized tee-shirts and not wearing makeup. This, I think, is the best way to savour my last week of winter break off from uni everr.

One last thing: I found this today via the Urban Outfitters Blog [probably my favourite galaxy of the interwebs]. It's a giggle-inducing animation to promote the London Marathon in April [sponsored by Virgin, the guys who make my UK mobile work!] made by Andy Rementer, who delightfully reminds me of Andy J Miller, who I've mentioned before, but um, even more happy? If that's possible. So anyway, I like the banana.

Virgin Marathon Runners from Andy Rementer on Vimeo.

fiddy splinters, reprised.

Today, I went to the woods and collected branches. I chopped them up with an axe for firewood. I feel I've finally really lived up to my roots.

All ego dropped when a chunk of branch got chopped and veered upwards, giving my nose a good whack. It's tough to feel such exuberance with frozen corn on your face.

kings, queens, and only sorta-lame vampires.

This should be the only time I ever speak of vampires, ever.

Currently viewing: Bram Stoker's 'Dracula.' Finally! I think it's probably not as good of a production as it could be [production? Can you use that with film? I need a review.] Casting? Keanu Reeves, really? Did they cast him just in case they needed Harker to jump up and knock out twenty Dracula-Brides in one fell swoop? Maybe. Not much like the Dracula I worked on back in October - Granted that was ballet and it didn't have Anthony Hopkins, Gary Oldman [always the best at being the crazy-creepo and making it somehow appealing], or a cameo from Tom Waites. The only way ballet Dracula really could have been better is if there was a cameo from Tom Waites.

Anywho, last night, I went to see 'Young Victoria.' It was closing night at the Madison Art Cinema [always an experience in itself - An independent cinema for the trendier of the wealthy elderly of Madison. I like independent cinemas because a) they tend to have better films, b) it's more laid back, c) not supporting conglomerates, d) they have pastries.] The film was just as beautiful as I imagined it would be. I adore Rupert Friend. I adore British History [I can see the film being a tad confusing if you aren't familiar with the history of the royal families]. I smiled quite a bit whenever I recognised a location or 'got' some sort of British inside joke. Har har har, Madisonites, you're not in on the joke!

Most importantly, Victoria & Albert have been one of my favourite love stories for some time - In fact, over the past couple years, it has probably moved to number one. They were so in love from the beginning to the end - They were the perfect team, ruling with each other rather than one over the other. A love story where a strong, passionate, independent young princess falls in love with a strong, passionate, indepdendent prince, and he falls in love with her, and despite pressures all about them, they are never parted, and together, become great. Perfect, is it not? Oh, how I have always wished for a love like that.

Silly aside, other things: Jim Broadbent of both 'Hot Fuzz' and 'Narnia' was in it! This pleased me. He was a delightful drunk king. Another great period piece to add to the recent collections. It was an overall enjoyable film without slow parts. A great homage to Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. It made me feel really good inside, and inspired - What more could you want? But [yup, you guessed it], garsh did it make me miss England.

Har har.

For your viewing pleasure.

new pr.

New Project Runway season began tonight, much to my excitement. There is a boy from Providence and a recent RISD grad.

Viva la Rhody!

more oregon genius.

Really digging this song, and I've been wanting to start a band just like this. I mean, they have claves.

what-a-day

...and it's not even half past noon.

Most exciting thing that has happened...probably at least this week: So I'm reading my favourite blogger, Molly Young, this morning. I was reading past entries to see if she mentioned any exciting places in NYC that I've never been to. Well, what I came across was this entry on 23 September:

Poetry Reading

David Noriega and I read Michael Gizzi’s New Depths of Deadpan, for thePoetry Foundation.

Hehe.

Read: "Michael Gizzi." Why is this poet exciting to me? Well, only because he was my very first college professor and academic advisor and was the first to really teach me to:

-Write poetry

-Appreciate Bob Dylan

-Not write about Love if it's going to be cliché or obvious

-Indulge in my natural wordplay

And he was definitely the first college professor to appreciate my creative writing talent. He is, by far, one of my favourite professors I've ever had. He was kind of my John Keating, with a lot less dramatic music and events. He's since stopped teaching at my university - I do not know why, but a lot of us were heartbroken when we found out he wouldn't be around for our last term. I knew he'd obviously written books - This is a must for professors - But not that he was famous enough that his poetry collection would somehow reach the hands of trendy young writer Molly Young. I felt a pride that I assume he would feel if he found one of his students had been published. Or something like it.

One can see how this find was thrilling for me.

The other find of the day is slightly less mind-blowing: 'Red Dwarf' is now in the American iTunes store. Every season. This is wild, especially since I completed my mission of watching every single season on YouTube somewhere around April '09. I discovered this when I was checking to see if a new favourite of mine, 'The Inbetweeners' was on there. Something about it [probably the awkward young male characters] reminds me of 'The Big Bang Theory.' [It's not on iTunes.]

biggest losers.

The cat, no longer a kitten, really, since he singed a good amount of the fur off his tail last night, provides me with both frustration [knocking my harmonica off the table, chewing on everything in sight] and a whole bunch of entertainment: He ponders - Do I push the pom pom ball, or do I mutilate the drying rack? It's great to see him full-out ponder. I wonder if observing a cat this closely and giving him so many human traits is a reason behind why I'm struggling a lil bit to strongly develop my main character.

Today, while I silently moped off overwhelming amounts of Novocaine, I finally watched this year's Doctor Who Christmas special - A big one - It was David Tennant's final episode, and therefore, quite emotional. It was a nice way to send him off, brief as it was, especially the way they hooked Jack up with Alonso, and threw us back to Rose in 2005. I think that was nice. John Simm's scruff was rather sexy. Matt Smith is adorable and I can't wait to see what, if anything different, he does with the character.

I now have a terrible fear of root canals, choking, hydrogenated fats, and never seeing my body how the world actually sees it [see: photos of myself at seventeen where, at the time, I thought I was humongous. Look back now and I see that I was probably underweight.] Yipes.

novocain't.

The 'Fresh Pineapple' shower gel I just found in the deep depths of the linen closet and used this evening throws me back to this past summer, quite.

It smells like waking up, being way tired from being up way late on Skype, struggling to get the shower to work properly, panicking about being late to the theatre on account of the District line being in typical slow motion...And it smells like Bliss!

Time to eat Flipz and go to bed. Date with Novocaine tomorrow. Not looking forward to it. Nope. Not one bit. Planning ways to find something to accomplish while my mouth is preoccupied with other things. There are so many other things I'd rather my mouth be doing, though! Alas.

remember kltcw?

I received my second lesson in cooking rosemary chicken tonight. Hopefully, after this, I'll remember how to do it, and not fail this time. I can't wait to be home and have a chance to attempt it!

electricity.

I bought the film version of 'Billy Elliot' the other day. I just watched it with my mum.

It was really weird without any singing, very little dancing, really, and, well, with The Clash.

But mostly, the last scene brought tears to my eyes...Because I miss London so much, not because it was so touching or anything like that. Just...really miss London.

Don't want to do Theatre things. I don't feel like writing about my stage management approach or researching past productions of Miss Julie. I really don't care right now.

This is such a whiney episode, but I just want to write, and to be in England.

Ugh, Silly.

i took this photo over a year ago,

this theatre was in the movie,

there y'go.

and i'm floating in a most peculiar way?

I like creatures. Creatures that aren't lame. And a good game of checkers.

Looking forward to Spring.

bread.

On Wednesday, I went up to Concord to visit my friend Viv. The next day, I went down to Bristoltown to visit my friend Chad. There were many adventures, and much enjoyment was had.

These are the things I wish to write about, but really, I'm just too frustrated because all I've eaten today is baby carrots, all I want to eat is toast but the loaf of bread I bought the other day has inexplicably disappeared, and I really really want to drop off my roll of film to be developed but it's snowing.

At some point, when I'm in a better mood, I'll write exciting words. Till then.

1324-200

I got a package today! Urban Outfitters, no doubt. I got lots of clothes, but those will surely show up later. What matters now is the above, non-clothing stuff.

-Harmonica: Did not come from Urban Outfitters. My mum got me that for Christmas, but I finally brought myself to open and play it today. It took about ten minutes for me to teach it to myself. Turns out, my sister's cat loves the harmonica. Now, to learn every song Bob Dylan's ever done. Go Self Go.

-Aviators: Finally, a pair that fits! Even my first pair was slightly big, and rather scratched, and missing one of the nose-guards. Then the pair I got at TopShop this summer somehow fit in the store, and I got them back to America and they were too big for a grown man, never mind my tiny head that can barely wear hats. I've been wearing my friend's [he left them in our apartment a while back], but you can't quite see through them. These are great. Okay. Ready for Spring now.

-Indie Rock Colouring Book: Okay. This. Is just. Awesome. Basically, the Yellow Bird Project is one of my new favourite things. It is an organisation based out of Canada where bands and musicians [some of my favourites, in fact] join together, create designs for t-shirts et cetera, and each choose their own charity for the proceeds to go to. The colouring book is an exciting new addition - Add to the awesome of YBP the bright 'n colourful illustrations of creative Londoner Andy J. Miller. He's pretty rad, and I'm in love with this book. I barely want to touch it with crayons. It's pretty witty, too, if you're familiar with the bands, for example: Find all the birds in Devendra Banhart's beard [surprised they didn't use this for Sam Beam], find which narrow chute leads to the young pilgrim for the Shins, colour the Clap Your Hands Say Yeah carnival, draw hair on the members of Rilo Kiley, dress up a wolf for Wolf Parade, colour the whimsy of Andrew Bird's whistling, the magic of the Iron & Wine guitar, the fun fun fun for Noah & the Whale and the playground for MGMT, and more more more! Long point being, it's wonderful!

-Most importantly, the HOLGA! I finally joined the wonderful world of Lomography. It's a style of photography, which was apparently a big fad through the 90s, but it's still going strong today. There is little planning how your photo will come out - Typically, the photos are high contrast, have a little black vignetty thing goin' on, and often get really cool unplanned effects that could never be matched with any digital camera. I'm in love with my Holga, have already shot over half a roll, and am pumped to see how, or if, they came out. They're usually black. I bought a white one. And a flash, so hopefully that will help them actually come out.

Blog Entry Part 2:

Favourite Interwebs Découvertes de la Semaine:

1. Harmonica Guy taught me how to hold my harmonica, sort of, but even if I didn't own a harmonica, or give two fat squirrels about harmonicas, he would still entertain me, so much, with the overall personality, and hardwood walls, behind these videos. If I wasn't convinced he was serious, I'd think it was some new dry-humoured-Office-style TV show on the horizon.

2. Lomography International. I couldn't stay away from this find: My newfound love, lomographic photography, has a society, and this website, where I can oogle the likes of what my exposures could become! It's high contrast deliciosity.

3. Liebemarlene Vintage. I don't Twitter, whatsoever, or really understand it for that matter [srsly, I feel like a proper old guy when I do go there], but for funsies, I scoped Alexa Chung's Twitter page to see what was up with her, and she mentioned this gal. She's a hit in my book, and officially favourited. She sells gorgeous vintage clothes on eBay, which I'm constantly tempted to buy, and constantly has gorgeous photos she or her sassy-camerariffic-bf took. And often discusses Tennessee and Georgia and other places I'd love to see. Basically, a smorgasbord of fashion and fun.

4. This trailer for Amadeus. I've never seen this movie. I simply want to because of Tom Hulce's soul-tickling laugh. The surprising thing about it is that it's from the mid-80s. It simply doesn't look like an 80s film. Then I realised that Frank Murray Abraham plays Salieri and the last thing I saw the bloke in was 'Thirteen Ghosts,' which he was rather older in, so. Okay. But also, add to that discovery this hilarious find. It's just...oh man...Those 'in 5 seconds' and 'in 30 seconds' things are often really, really hilarious. When they're on, they're on.

5. Magic Molly. I've actually been devouring her blog on a pretty-much-daily basis for the past months and months, but haven't mentioned it til now, and thought it was fair time to do so. She's pretty much my favourite blogger currently in the sphere. I'm jealous of a lot of her life, including the fact that I found her because she also blogs for the Urban Outfitters Blog, which I also frequent rather daily.

Most importantly, I'm nomadding again tomorrow : Two day January road trip begins! The Holga is joining me. It will probably sit in the front passenger seat like a loyal dog.

Stupidity is brief and artless, while intelligence wriggles and hides itself.

I have so many things to do - Three major projects - And less than a month to accomplish them all. I feel like, in my free time from working, since I logically can't do that twenty-four hours a day without completely burning out, instead of spending that time eating or thinking of how badly I want a bookshelf or cleaning the daily dust off my guitar, I should pick up something that I enjoy, or once enjoyed, but that has a slight hint of torture to it.

Like trying to sketch the woods out back covered in snow.

Or like reading great Russian literature.

2010: It Is, My Fourth Decade, It Is.

The books have nothing to say, Montag - The books have nothing to say!

Watching the 1966 'Fahrenheit 451' while doing laundry and acting as my own dramaturg, and the film is making me think of so many things simultaneously: First of all, Fahrenheit 451 always sparks the deepest despair inside me [no, really, it makes me weep...That's what happens when you were born both a writer and a human] which is probably fantastic as I'm getting more research done on Strindberg, and I've also been working on my novel quite a bit, and I'm in that sort of mood. It is one of the greatest pieces ever written as it is such an homage to the written word, and I think the world needs to remember that sometimes. But also, it makes me think of ACTF last year, working the load-in/load-out for the musical version, and those thoughts make me smile.

Also, one day, one day soon, I'm going to style my hair like a 1960s sex magnet - Just once. But only if I can get a guy to dress as Montag - You know, wear tight black clothing, and then run his hand through fire while he has a really profound look on his face. And for once, it'll make sense when I call somebody 'Guy.'

This is my first entry of 2010.