On the drive home last week, I got completely caught up in an NPR story about two six year olds who are transgender. I couldn't pull myself out of the car, I was so riveted. If you have 23 minutes to spare in your life, I really think you should give this a listen. It's very compelling stuff.
As I've said, I'm a big fan of Terkel and Morris. Mainly because I think the way to improve life on this planet is to learn from each other. Learn how we are the same, learn how we are different - embrace them both. We are so variant and diverse...and yet so very similar. I'm a big believer in letting people tell their stories...be it on a stage or the radio or in a book or in a song. The more you expand your bubble (lest I repeat myself) the more you learn about yourself. The more you learn about yourself, the more (I hope) you're open to others. While I abhor the collective mind of the Borg, I delight in the individual. The key is remembering that within every part of the Borg lies that individual...who is worthy of being heard. It's a lesson I continue to learn.
Tomorrow, there will be 10 folks expressing themselves (with the assistance of a few other folks) at the Peter Jones Gallery. You're welcome to come listen.
So, I'm thinking that I might start a third blog. Wait. WHAT? I'm still not sure why I have two blogs. I was going to give myself a month to choose and pick a winner, but I'm still sitting on the fence. I like vox a lot. Being completely useless with programming and html, it makes blogging pretty easy. But, I have more compadres (who regularly blog) on blogger - so I'm a bit more social on that site.
I know I have to shit or get off the pot on that score. I keep thinking that I should make one about my personal musings and stories and crap...and one about my more arty stuff. Eh. But that sounds pretentious and fatheaded. Bah.
But, the third one, I really do need, as I think I want to create a blog to capture the experience of creating this documentary we're embarking on. Things are coming together quickly, and in a "planets are aligning" most amazing kind of way. I can't help but want to pour my excitement somewhere to keep track of it all. This is something I have a bit of experience with - but it's also something I haven't really done in a long time, so I'm feeling a bit like a novice as well.
I'll probably start one up this weekend. Keep your eyes peeled.
I think I've previously mentioned some of my friends and myself get together on Wednesday to partake in the nerd party that is Quizzo. Well, the National Finals are coming up in June and our team, Double Secret Probation, decided to represent the great city of Chicago in beautiful, Atlantic City, NJ!
We're renting an RV and driving there... Everytime I say that in my head, I have to pause. But we are, 6 of us are loading up an RV and driving overnight to AC and then spending the next afternoon playing Quizzo for a few short hours. I suppose we've got a good as chance as any to win it all, but I think we're all mainly geeked out at the idea of going all the way to Atlantic City just to play trivia.
Anyway, I've decided to make a little documentary out of it - with the help (fingers crossed) of my friend Geo. There's just something wildly hysterical about a group of 30-40 somethings hauling ass to Jersey just to play in some silly competition. I've already started putting together a script (documentary's have scripts, shocking, I know) for the narration and for the types of interviews I'd like to do - along with a shot list. I'm even considering contacting a friend about maybe writing a little original "traveling" music for it...uh...if he's up for it and has time before he heads off to record an album in Nashville this summer.
I'M SO GEEKED OUT ABOUT THIS. I'm not sure if a lot of folks know, but in my other life, long ago and far away, I was a film major. I became a bit disallusioned and overwhelmed by some family/financial stuff and I walked away from all of that. This was waaaaaaaaaaaaay before the digital/video revolution. When I think about picking up a camera and editing these days, I feel like a complete luddite, so I've really been avoiding it for a long time.
Recently, I've been doing a lot of thinking about what I want to do with the rest of my life...and while I'm facinated by the youtube generation, I'm less interested in that and more interested in moving in the direction of two of my greatest influences - Errol Morris and Studs Terkel. Suddenly, this opportunity lands in my lap and seems to be a combination platter of the two.
I think this project might be the first step in moving in that direction. Get my feet wet on this and see where it leads. As I mentioned to Geo, I don't want to make a "home movie" - but a true documentary. Something short, but crafted well enough to possibly enter in a few festivals. (I'm hoping that doesn't scare him off. Erp.)
I LOVE MY THEATER COMPANY very much and I'm very excited about our upcoming events and productions and my role in each of them (in front of and behind the scenes) - - - but, I really feel like this idea, more than anything, has put a fire back in my creative belly.
That fire's been nothing but tepid embers for much too long. Working Title: Nerd Party...is about to crack it open.
Our team has a munchie drawer - and it's full of mostly healthy snackerage. Pretzels, 100 cal packs of various cookie/cracker combos, Goldfish and the like. I don't partake too often of the snack bin, but these little goobers are puzzling me. They are tasty, fat free, about 40 calories a serving. Freeze-dried Fuji Apples.
They taste really good - not processed, but they are so light, they melt in your mouth and it's a little like eating apple flavored air (in a puffed form.) The thing that blows my mind is that the package reads that: Each bag (.35 oz) contains 1 and 1/2 Fuji Apples. So I'm eating nearly 2 apples, but there is no weight to what I'm consuming, so it makes my brain itch a bit.
Fuji Apple Crisps. They are quite tasty and unlike a lot of snack foods, don't taste processed or preservative heavy - but they don't stick to your ribs or leave any type of satified feeling in your tummy, the way a bag of pretzels might.
Ravin just celebrated (sorta) a birthday. I failed in my attempts to find the perfect picture of a puppy in a party hat (at least the way I pictured it in my head), but I did come across this vid, which is close enough to the mark to make it worthwhile to dedicate to him.
Many happy returns, my friend.
While there are many skateboarding canines out there...there is only one that kicks it Tony Hawk style.
You had no doubt, it was a Jack Russell Terrier, did you? Man! Olive's asleep under the covers. I should wake her up and find out why her lazy ass isn't making me some dime! I've been carrying her for 9 years...that bitch.
Happy Belated, Ravin!
Saturday night we celebrated the birthdays of three excellent ladies, by embracing our estrogen and heading out to see the Windy City Rollers - Chicago's premiere all-female flat track roller derby. Pete put together this short clip - and while it's great...if hardly scratches the surface of the energy this event puts out. This isn't WWF. Sure, they have skater names like BETH AMPHETAMINE, EVA DEAD and MALICE IN CHAINS. But, these ladies are the real deal. At least 2 ladies had to leave the game (to go get x-rays and or stiches), many got bruised up and a bit bloodied.
I only wish Pete had caught the moment when VARLA VENDETTA - a freaking dynamo jammer - got taken out and spun/sprawled onto the floor only to turn around and give her opponent a completely, in-the-moment hand gesture. It's kinda why I ponied up the $15 in the first place.
If you're not sure what you just saw, this vid describes the rules of the game better than I ever could.
If you want a closer look, check this out.
I took Austin to see these women roll back in 2004/2005...we walked in not knowing any more about roller derby than what I saw as a kid, watching Raquel Welsh in Kansas City Bomber. By the time we left, we had been screaming our heads off for our now selected favorite teams! If you have a flat track association near you - they are scattered across the country - I highly reccommend checking them out. I can't believe it took me so long to go back.
And for the record, Maggie had the best Roller Derby Name. MAG NUMB. I'm still working on mine.
As much as this might have been a "bit", it transcended the joke and really is just a lovely version of the anthem. Is it too much to hope Obama might have them sing this at his inauguration?
Or....at the World Series?
This Canadian gent has decided to video himself dancing (to a different song) every day for a year. While his dance moves are...er...somewhat limited, I adore his whole-hearted commitment and the fact that he has the good sense to change locations up along with his song styles to keep it interesting. Back in November he hit the half way mark and made a compliation vid.
Shine on, you crazy diamond.
For those reading the comments, I had written "Obviously Gloria Estefan was correct. The rhythm is gonna get cha." in the first draft of this post. Posted it, then about 10 seconds later, thought the better of it and decided to nix such an obvious and overused bit. I then noticed the comment posted (jaysus was that fast!) so I figured I should make mention so folks aren't overly confused. Thanks for the comments! Keep 'em coming...since they keep me honest!
I started another blog. Mostly because I was double dog-dared into it.
Not to make you guys check two places for my the refuse of my cranium, but I'm going to try the new spot out for a month (while posting here as well) to see if I like one outlet better than another. After that, we'll see. I put a poll up on the other site so you can add your .02 to the situation.
As Bartles and James used to say, "Thanks for your support."
As much as I don't like camping or anything that doesn't involve a bed and indoor plumbing, I do enjoy fishing. It's one of those things we did a lot as kids, but I can count on one hand with fingers to spare how many times I've been fishing in the past decade...or two. Deep Sea Fishing is something that I've yet to experience, but is on the short list of things I gotta do before I'm unable to pull the fish into the boat unassisted.
This is a picture of my friend Karla on her hubby's week-long company retreat in Cabo San Lucas. I'm obviously working in the wrong industry.
I'm also green with envy. She tells me that they pulled in seven of these babies out of the blue. They had them for dinner that night.
Hope they left some in there for me.
Someday, rebar....someday.
