Stream of Conscientiousness

No more antagonism

2005-09-29T08:44:00.000-05:00

That last post was entirely too over-the-top (thank you for the comment all the same, Christian). So I figure, lighter fare from now on. Unless someone riles me again. Whoo boy.

Anyway, my selfish intentions were actually to post links to the reviews for my show, and once I take some time to figure it out, I'll even post a picture of the show up here. It's quite good.

Here are some reviews:

Jeff Recommended (the Chicago Tony’s)

Hedy Weiss, Chicago Sun-Times:

"To get straight to the point: Circle Theatre’s revival of Design for Living…is sensational on every level."

Kerry Reid, Chicago Tribune:

“Coward's dizzying repartee and discursive discussions of art, commerce, science, love, marriage (and the many reasons to avoid it) bubble and pop like a firecracker in a bowl of champagne punch.”

Fabrizio O. Almeida, New City Chicago, Tip of the Week:

“From the elegant setting to the sparkling and dapper costumes to the persnickety mannerisms, every physical aspect contributes to the production's polished veneer.”

Tom Williams, Chicagocritic.com:

“The comedic timing and chemistry between Lund and Schoeny was smooth and real. These two were terrific…”

Ed Vincent, Oak Park Journal:

“The production is a fine tribute to the pen of Noel Coward and does break most of 10 Commandments, sans murder.”

Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and River Forest:

“He presents us with a glossy production that’s neither a mummified museum piece nor a dumbed-down sitcom. [Director Jim] Schneider recreates the era of double intermissions and double entendre with spirit and panache.”

Scott C. Morgan, Windy City Times:

“Circle Theatre’s Design for Living is filled with plenty of skillful fun and full of food for thought.”

Jenn Goddu, Chicago Reader:

“The show bristles with energy, and Jim Schneider's staging ends up coming together smartly…”

Hope everyone is well, come to our house for Thanksgiving dinner on Nov. 19th! (I have a show that night, so I'll be MIA from 6 pm - 10 pm) But otherwise, it's the best party of the year (except for maybe Brent and John's upcoming post-Thanksgiving bash).

Oh Dear Oh Dear I've Fallen Off

2005-08-27T10:43:00.000-05:00

There's a part of me that believes that no one will actually see this entry, as I have made little headway in post anything to this said blog in the longest of times. I've been pretty damn busy, and my propensity for witty reparte, or even monologuing, has been exceedingly diminished. But here I am, and here you are if you are in fact reading, so I'll make several observations that have come my way in the past two months:

1. I Am Getting Older: My knees have started to go out. I'm 23. I'm considering the purchase of arch supports, and shopped for them covertly while waiting for my friends to arrive so we could see the Aristocrats last weekend. This whole aging thing I fully expected to hit when I got into my thirties. Has my life been so wanton and carefree that I merit a slow physical deterioration. Oh pooh. Pass me the ibuprofen. It's gonna be a wild ride.

2. Don't Argue with a Drunken Mob: Just don't. Take my advice on this. Flippin wankers.

3. Cleansing a la "1984" and "Brave NewWorld" (or "The Giver" what have you): An edict went out last week that, get this, we good citizens must be on the lookout at public transit stations, because terrorists may be posing as homeless men in order to gain information on our transit systems. Report to your local authority whenever you see a homeless person, or someone who could be, on the CTA. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? Somehow I find this a little more asinine than the duct tape. Thank you, Tom Ridge.

4. Confidence Is Easy to Come By: I was sucking at rehearsal this past week. SUCKING. And then I realized how little it mattered, and that I knew I could pull off this role, and do it well, and so I went to rehearsal Wednesday and did just that. Come see the show. Warning: I have to show my bum. So now you really have to come see the show.

5. eBay Users = CRAZY: I was going after this book I wanted to give to my sister for her wedding next week, something of sentimental value for both of us that's out of print. I found it on eBay for 3 dollars, which equals about the retail price of the book. Somehow, with seconds left in the auction, I found myself in a bidding war where my final bid was $29, and yet I still got beat out by a bid of $30 because of lagging refresh times. Not to mention the fact that some woman who had outbid me earlier in the week had a bunch of baby items she had bought for her new baby in her eBay listings, right alongside the WEDDING BAND that she bought on eBay as well. I'd love to hear the story behind that.

That's all for now, hopefully everyone is well, much love.

Oh, and my song of the week: Sugababes "Push the Button." Ridiculous and indulgent poppy fun.

News of my demise has been greatly exaggerated

2005-06-22T12:42:00.000-05:00

I joked with my friend John this past weekend that perhaps I should make this a monthly installment blog. But that's totally lame. Let's move on, enough about me.

For those of you who haven't experienced the phenomenon of "Ca-brewing," you are sadly deficient in life experience. Of course, much like cornhole, this is probably a closely held Cincinnati tradition, Ca-brewing consists of getting a large group of friends together, renting canoes at a canoe livery on some river, and leisurely floating down said river with a cooler full of beer (or what have you) in the middle of a nice afternoon. You will get drunker than any sailor, and prepare the shock an amazement that alcohol CAN actually impare your ability to operate a canoe. I have the bruises to prove it. But, as I said, this isn't about me.

I went down to Cincinnati last weekend and did exactly what I described above, and happily got to see my family for a bit, as I won't be heading down there again until my sister's wedding in August.

I'm at work right now, and am bored from looking at this computer screen. Perhaps that's why I don't update as often: when it's your job to stare at a computer screen all day, guess what the very last thing in the world is that you want to do when you get home? No, not that. What kind of guy do you think I am?!

But I am alive, though I'm listless. Or antsy. One or the other.

Oh, and I was cast in a show I'm actually getting paid for. Ain't that rich?

I'll update again soon.

Fashionista Shmashonista

2005-05-15T20:59:00.000-05:00

Simple question: have any of you been seeing this color an awful lot lately? Now, Paul, as you are in Sri Lanka being an amazing person and helping people that need it (besides ramping up for the introduction of your all new Sri Lankan Diet once you return), I don't expect you to have been washed over by the sea of fashion that each spring brings, but apparently Calvin Klein, Donna Karan, and Mugatu have all gotten together again to choose the new fashion of the season. Asinine, I tell you. Asinine. I think I've used that word in my blog before. Let's move on.

Yes, apparently there is a convalcade of fashionistas each year (so the rumor goes) that get together and decide upon the colors of the season, so they can all capitalize together on everyone suddenly needing to change their clothes in order to have the latest styles, and therefore keeping the fashion industry alive. I was actually impressed with the color of my friend Natalie's lime jacket when I first saw it. But then I saw another. And another. Now I can't walk down the street without seeing a sea of lime, mostly paired with the pink leftovers of last year. Why do I pay attention to these things? I don't know, an over-active iris perhaps. Regardless, I will now and forever be in blue jeans and a white t-shirt. There's a certain cartoon character nature to my appearance that I like to continue.

Now, for something completely different, I was cast in a new show yesterday. Pretty crazy, but nice, as I was going a little crazy with this new-fangled thing called "free time." The night after Birds closed I was a little lost for something to do. Then the same thing happened the next night. By Wednesday I was near panic at the idea that there were ten thousand things I should be doing but suddenly my creativity had left me. The nature of being busy somehow keeps me busy doing a lot of things. The second my schedule frees up... well, it's just scary.

Last week, however, I got a lot done, I skipped a concert on Monday and cleaned at home instead, saw a movie on Tuesday, went to a play on Wednesday and Thursday, audition on Friday, and then another play last night. Unbelievable how anyone could ever be content just sitting at home and watching TV. Except for the fact that that's mostly what I did today. Well, that, and Tiger Woods 2005. New favorite game. Oh yeah. Oh yeah.

At some point during high school, senior year I think, I went and played a full 18 holes with my friends John, Kendall, and perhaps (not sure) Kate Amburgy. Whatever happened to her, don't ask me. After that experience, I somehow learned to enjoy watching golf on television. Don't worry, I don't think pro bowling is very close behind.

Besides, pro-bowling isn't fashionable, and I'm all about fashion. See, everything comes full circle. Thanks for urging me to update guys, I like to think that my seamless ramblings are a little insight into the things I'm doing. But really, if I ever start to tell you about my teeth-brushing schedule, a la The Daily Calme, just shoot me.

Media Baiting

2005-04-13T09:54:00.000-05:00

First off, blogger.com, whoo boy, this website likes to chap my brisket. Today marks the second time I have written an enormously long message only to have it deleted when I tried to post. I know nothing is perfect, but come on, those were moments of genius lost! And you wonder why I don't update more often. Nothing like that to crush a guy's spirits. I shall attempt to recreate.

I typically check www.cnn.com throughout the day to get my news. It's moderately informative, with a few main stories grouped with a few "fun" blurbs to keep the People magazine readers sufficiently entertained.

Recently, however, I've been seeing a header called "Breaking News" on the top of the website emblazoned in red, always ending with an ominous tone of "Details soon." What I'm struck by is the complete disregard for the reader's intelligence, expecting us to be cowed by the promise of exciting news to come. News that ultimately ends up not really delivering for the shock that it attempts to drum up.

Now the first time I wrote this it came off in my mind as very cynical, because I brought up the idea of Iraq. But the point of this thought is simply that the most illuminating blurb I've recently read on the media was on the side of a Starbuck's cup, something to the effect that "there is no liberal media, there is no conservative media, there are only reporters seeking for the most sensational presentation in order to captivate their audience." Media tends to play more towards shock than real information, it's a business just like anything else and it's quite disappointing to find that we're being played with.

Anyway, it's because of this that I can understand why Bush says he doesn't pay attention to the news. Not to say that isn't a really stupid statement, if anything he should be the one reading news from multiple media outlets. What I understand is simply that Bush is likely one of the most cynical people in the nation, despite his efforts to infuse optimism and fun into his administration.

I prepared my taxes yesterday. Because they were a little more complicated than usual this year, I took them to H&R Block. In case you haven't been warned before, don't go to H&R Block. I'm paying a lot this year, but a quarter of my charges are from H&R Block. Oy. Not to mention feeling like I insulted my own intelligence by not getting my own taxes together.

But the sum total of my life right now: I have a good job, I'm in a play, I have upcoming auditions, this nice girl named taloo keeps calling me, my apartment rocks, and summer is upon us. The sun is shining. If this isn't nice, what is?

What it's come to

2005-04-06T15:29:00.000-05:00

I am actually at work right now and without a scrap of work to do. This is, in fact, what I have resorted to in oder to look busy while I'm waiting for work to get delivered to me. And yet it's super sunny outside. Or rather, it was. Thunderstorms on the horizon. Exciting stuff.

I can't remember the last time I made a fort during a rainstorm, that must have been years ago. Ok, it was last week. But seriously, during summers in Wisconsin there was nothing better than building a fort up in the our creaky musty attic and playing the Milton Bradley game "Pathfinder" (which apparently no one has ever heard of) until dinner time. Or else the rain would stop and we'd go look for worms in the humongous puddles in our front yard. Somehow the muddy memories of my childhood always seem to slip away. I tend to forget I was one tough cookie.

The first bee sting I ever got was out in front of that house. I thought it was a fly. Quite the pest. So I smacked it on the side of my neck. Now that was a feeling of surprise if I've ever had one.

Maybe I'll go buy a Chantico from Starbucks. And take a road trip to Rio. Now that's an idea.

I am belated

2005-04-01T02:29:00.000-06:00

Oh boy it is way too late and I am just coming back from the opening night of my show and I haven't even checked to see if Neil left me a nasty comment becuase I promised him I'd update and I didn't.

I can't even begin to express what's running through my mind as so much happens in a month. People take everythinng way too seriously. I think that could summarize the month of any rational human being. Maybe the irrational ones too.

I am in love. Life is delicious. She is wonderful. Her family is wonderful. And full of geniuses.

I need to go to bed before I get too sentimental.

I love chocolate milk. Peace.

Days Off

2005-02-23T00:38:00.000-06:00

Amazing. Simply amazing. I tend to be a little busy. In fact, we all are. Did you know that the average American gets by on six hours of sleep these days? It's true. It's a little something called efficiency. Or just plain crazy.

Anyway, I don't carry a planner. Which some might call inefficient. So sue me. Regardless, it is what it is, and I'm constantly left with the feeling that I had something planned for that date and time. I just don't know what. Regardless, my time is always filled somehow, whether it be dinner plans or drinking plans or work or play (theatrical and athletic) or just plain SOMETHING. My time is structured, to the point where if I don't have something going on I'm afraid I've lost my axis, that I, in fact, will spin right off the planet because I've stood still for too long.

Case in point: I started this blog on Sunday evening. Well, the first paragraph at any rate. Now it's Tuesday. Lovely boom bubbly. I don't know what came up, sleep, maybe, but something, and then something else, and well that's all well and good and boring so let's move on.

Hunter S. Thompson died. Now that was something.

The reason I titled this blog "Days Off" was because Sunday was the first day in quite. some. time. that I did absolutely nothing. Nothing ambitious, no forward thinking or selfless acts, nothing to make me feel like I in fact had a place in this world to feel in and I damn well should fill it. No. I slept. Until 12:30. Then I got up and made pizza for lunch and, what?, played a video game. That's right. A really deliciously old one. Final Fantasy II. Oh yes, if you hadn't been sure of it until now, I am, in fact, a humongous dork. (awed silence) Thank you for your surprise.

The rest of the day was spent watching movies, coming back to video games, eating more and watching more. I didn't leave the house except to go to Blockbuster and Michuacan Dos (begrudgingly: I still love you El Palmar). But days like this aren't taken, or rather, some people take them but don't appreciate them for what they are. This isn't "decompress time." No no, this is active slacking off. Why? Don't ask silly questions.

I had big plans for hyperlinking on this blog, but they are gone, it's late, and I just want to publish as I haven't published in so long. So I'll leave you with this.

I know. Brilliant.

Oy with the lateness and the singing

2005-01-28T02:30:00.000-06:00

So I grabbed a cab home tonight, resplendent in my exhaustion as I realize that my awful awful, once-a-year-nasty-sore-throat is about to hit. Might as well, it is the beginning of February almost, it's about time. Of course this sore throat didn't help my karaoke singing tonight at The Hidden Cove. I rocked it out on Looking Glass "Brandy," heated things up with Blood, Sweat, and Tears "And When I Die" (complete with a dance breakdown), but petered out on Otis Redding's "Try a Little Tenderness" as I tried to recreate the Duckman's amazing dance from Pretty in Pink. Smoking is bad, kids. And it will only make a sore throat more sore. John, how the hell did you ever quit? Well, I feel a quitting time coming on. Especially since my birth chart last night said that if I, in fact, am a smoker, I should quit. Don't you think it says that to everybody? Or do the stars, in fact, encourage some people to move towards the option of an iron lung?

Anyway, I was all set for bed, when I decided to check the ever expanding library of blogs I've come to read. And while I was METICULOUSLY reading a certain "acquaintance's" blog (oh yes, you heard me, acquaintance), I was called to arms to defend my honor. Now I'm all hot and bothered, in a literary sense. Someday, technology will simply spawn an easy and affordable way for our notepads (read "PDA's of the future") to instantly post to our blogs. That way all those "in the moment" thoughts we have throughout the day can be collected in one place, and for that matter, a place where everyone can read them and see how brilliant they are. I'm telling you, copyrights for blogs are just around the corner, mark my words, dagnabit.

My "acquaintance" is in fact quite brilliant, by the way. But I'm boycotting a hyperlink to her (ah! a clue!) blog for this posting, because apparently, according to her, this blog is dead, which, also apparently, makes this blog the messiah of blogs, as it is in fact quite alive and well.

Non sequitir. I was expounding earlier today on my own self-consciousness within my workplace. I had planned to run errands during lunch today, and was very excited to get out of the office, to the point where I ended up telling people where I was going, and excitedly asking if they needed anything, whereas truly, I was just hoping to tell them I was leaving the office, and how that made me infintesimally happy. Then, after receiving one queer look, I found I was acting like quite the dolt.

But it's ok, "when did self-consciousness become a bad thing?," I began to realize. So long as it doesn't get in front of the truth of who you are, you might as well feel awkward about the things you are doing. I'm sure Van Gogh felt a little awkward when he was halfway done with his left ear. And he was a genius.

So anyway, I'm self-conscious and that's that. Proud of it in fact. Yowza.

To end this adventurous evening, I'm going to steal a topic of many blogs, but in my own , streamlined fashion. Here's a list of ten songs played at random from my iTunes playlist of 3500 songs. With no descriptions. Please be kind.

10. The 5 6 7 8's - Woo Hoo
9. Bic Runga - Sway
8. Ludacris - I Wanna Lick You
7. Shadows of Knight - Gloria
6. The Saw Doctors - I Useta Love Her
5. The Arthur Murray Orchestras - The Speak Up Mambo
4. Beastie Boys - 3 MC's And 1 DJ
3. Beastie Boys - Get It Together
2. Ja Rule - Put It on Me
1. Streets - Let's Push Things Forward

Very interesting, to me in fact. No Magnetic Fields. No Beatles. Not even any Sublime. But some solid hits all the same, methinks. Speaking of methinks, methinks it is time for bed. Whoo boy. You're a beautiful audience, thank you very much.

P.S. Of course, the next two songs to play were Sublime "40 oz. to Freedom" and Belle and Sebastian's "Get Me Away from Here I'm Dying." Good things come to those who wait. Or to those named Taloo.

On no, it's Thursday again

2005-01-20T23:09:00.000-06:00

So I'm home from the show and what happens the minute I walk in the door, ready for a night of, well, sleep? My roommate calls and says, "Hey man, we haven't gotten a drink in awhile. Come on out, it'll be fun." And here I sit weighing my options.

Now I won't propound on this point too far. Another roommate already gave this subject a far better handling in one of his editor's notes, September, I think. Check it out at the hippest online magazine on hiatus: www.606mag.com. Yeah, that's right, I live with that guy. Freakin sweet, I know.

So anyway, here's the real question: Do I want to go out and spend the money on an ATM, as there are no ATM's near here that are, in fact, LaSalle Bank ATM's? Yes, I'm that cheap. I don't mind the cost of the beer. It's the ATM that gets me. Now, if the ATM somehow gave me an amazing sense of euphoria, even for an instant, like whippets, I would totally not care. But all it gives me is money. My money. And it takes more of my money away. It's not providing a service. It's providing a toilet through which I can idiotically flush my hard earned cash away. I guess I can thank god I'm not a coke addict.

But i've digressed, and now because of my fun with hyperlinking, I'm only that much later getting to the bar. Alright. Time to shit or get off the pot. Okay, that one was just for fun. I'm out!

well here we are

2005-01-17T23:12:00.000-06:00

Many a time I have found myself typing www.blogger.com into my navigation bar, and quickly scrolling away. So what's different about tonight? There's a ferocious game of SSX3 being played in the next room, and I have Shakespeare homework to work on. Creating a blog takes a lot less concentration than scoring Shakespeare in order to learn the Folio method of acting. It also takes a considerable amount less energy than any number of things: making a grilled cheese, cleaning the bathroom, setting my alarm, hell, getting off the couch to put myself to bed. These things require energy. Here I'm just spilling out onto the page. Your welcome.

Well, SSX3 just ended, meaning that I will now be hearing a rousing battle on the fussball table. Basement living is fun. I'm prone to caves. In fact, I've entertained wild fantasies about moving to the Amazon, stringing together some pants made out of grass and hooting and hollering at any "tourists" that the river is damned and that they best turn back. I'd probably just end up catching up on my reading. Cause man, I'm behind.

It's funny how the number of things to read once you graduate doesn't decrease, it increases. Because now you have the freedom to read what you want, and lo and behold that isn't always Vanity Fair. Who the hell does read Vanity Fair? You do? Well good for you.

But seriously, the Amazon. There's a reason they named a website after it: it's got everything! Pirahna, trees, bikini-clad women carrying spears, seriously, anything you could want in this world, sitting right in front of you in the Amazon. Except for Wonka bars. Everyone expects Wonka bars. Sheesh.

I was watching Willy Wonka tonight in fact. Why are they remaking it? Asinine, I tell you. But then again... no, wait, it is asinine. My brain just crash landed into the word "asinine" and refused to move further. Luckily the runway crews cleared up the mess and we're moving right along again.

Oh dear, is it that obvious I'm tired? I believe it must be, so I'll go and conclude this session of Peegie's Weegies. Except that Peegie Weegie is me, and don't you forget it. I'll regale you with stories soon. But don't hold your breath, I'm a busy man. A busy man on his way to the Amazon.