New Place

Punam helped me move today and I got everything set up tonight. She was such a trooper and I couldn't have done it without her. I'm so grateful to have her in my life. The move was relatively simple once I had everything set up. Everything was packed the night before and I had reserved a van for today. I don't have that much stuff so we did it relatively quickly. I don't get having a lot of stuff. It's always been easy for me to throw things away. The things I hold on to are books and movies. My parents were pack rats growing up so I think I trend the other way. I need to get a table and some chairs though.

My new place is a little south of The Annoyance. Farther north than I would have liked but the place is great and it's all mine. It has a balcony. It feels good to have a place that is only mine. I have a more defined ownership over it. All the responsibility is mine, that feels good because I know I'm in control. I'm handling everything and there is no outside influence.

Bottom line, I'm really happy.

Old Place

I lived on Diversey and Racine for two years. I had been living in Rockford for two years when I moved back to Chicago. I moved in with Devin my girlfriend at the time. She moved out three months later but I stayed. It was a great location and I loved my room. More importantly I loved the location: halfway between work and iO. I'm moving tomorrow. It feels weird. I've never lived in the same place as long since the home I grew up in. There are a lot of memories with my old place. Some good and some bad. It's good to move on though. Moving sucks as everyone knows but sometimes it's good to refresh your life. Start anew. Roll the numbers back to zero. It helps you move forward.

Good luck, Good bye. You helped me return to Chicago and for that I will be forever grateful.

Hello 28

Yesterday was a great birthday. I spent the morning with Punam before I went to see my therapist. I had a great appointment then had lunch with Ryan and Laura. Laura made a special trip up to meet us which was super fun and which I very much appreciated. We went to Ryan and I's special place 'Oasis Cafe' which is in the back of a jewelry store. Laura brought some dove chocolates for us which was the perfect end to a great lunch.

I got back home, did some packing, and handled some stressful albeit interesting improv stuff. Punam came over in the afternoon and I forced her to go see 'Rock of Ages' which was really fun. Stupid but fun(review to come). Punam had the SNL audition yesterday which I would have gone to but low-and-behold she had set up a pick up show for me with some of my best friends.

Vince, Drennen, James, Timmy and I did a short set at the Playground to celebrate my bday. At the end of the show everyone sang happy birthday to me. It was wonderful. The set was fun not great, but just being there with my friends and performing with them was the best birthday present I've ever received. After, we went to Pick Me Up to have dinner where Joey and Punam joined us. Punam had a great audition. Overall it was one of the best birthdays I've ever had.

You don't need a party to have a great birthday, even though sometimes you might feel that way. It's the small things, the people you're with, the things you do, the gifts you may receive, which make a great birthday. To quote Katie fictitiously quoting me:

"Birthdays? They're not that special. Everyone has a fucking birthday."

Goodbye 27

It's my birthday. Last year today I went to work, had 1941 rehearsal, and then Alex took me out to dinner and Chocolate cake with James and Jillian. Since then a lot has happened.

Some thoughts on 27. It was my golden birthday last year. It didn't make it significantly more special than any other birthday. I always have a nice birthday, do what I want to do, have fun and see a couple special people. I think people put a lot of pressure on having a 'great' birthday. That usually hinges on some kind of party. Parties are great don't get me wrong. Surprise parties even better. I think everyone probably want someone to throw a surprise party for them. But that doesn't make a birthday. Your birthday doesn't have to be an amazing day. It should be a good day. Don't expect it to be amazing or you'll just be disappointed. 27 had it's ups and downs for me.

Highlights:
Meeting Punam.
Getting on Deep Schwa.
Visiting Matt in Richmond and doing a two-man.
Punam coming to Christmas with me.
Helping start my first podcast 'Groh Show with Danny Groh'.
Trading my car in for my motorcycle.
Going to see 'Another Earth' with Punam.
Doing two improv festivals with Craig.
Going to the Gene Wolfe awards ceremony and meeting Neil Gaiman.
Movie night with Drennen and James.
Salute Jive's run at iO.
Having dinner and great conversation with my sister at Uncommon Ground.
Coaching my harold team Echo.
Wednesday lunches with Ryan.
The 'Facebook War' with Conner.
Writing and performing in HouseCo's sketch show at Second City.
More specifically I was very proud of my two sketches: Puppets and Drill Sargent.
All the hugs I gave and received.

Lowlights:
Court appearances.
A bike accident.
Seeing Marta and my parents so seldom.
All the stupid arguments.
Those days I couldn't get out of bed.
All the late night phone calls.
Any strained or broken friendships.
My Second City generals audition: Uninspired.
Any Popeye's visits.

Overall 27 was a great year. I learned a lot. I'm looking forward to what 28 will bring. A lot of my peers have recently talked about getting old or feeling old which shocks the hell out of me.

I'm not old yet. I'm hungry for 28.

Graffiti 65

There was a ton of traffic when I left work yesterday so I had to take an alternate route. I passed some classic tagged up train cars by the Morton Salt building.

I don't know if I really get tagging. I guess it's kind of nice to look at but it really doesn't say anything. I use to do it when I was young. But now I want to say something, I think graffiti should say something. Convey some kind of message. Regardless these look nice. 

I get wanting to be known. I get saying "I have been here". But now I think it's not enough, maybe it was in the 80's. Now I want you to inspire me. I want you to intrigue me. I want my curiosity to be peaked. Before you do graffiti you should think...

How do I draw you in?

Panang Curry: Panang

Tisher and I went for dinner tonight after work to Panang down the street. The Panang was thin, barely tasted of anything, no spice, no peanut flavor. There was a crazy amount of actual curry sauce, little chicken, and maybe one sliver of a red pepper which you can see above. That was the only one. It was a huge disappointment. The crab rangoon was good but as Tisher put it, how can you mess that up? Tisher and I caught up, talked about work, improv, and our love lives. Despite the uninspiring curry, it was a lovely dinner. Would I go again?

Only with Tisher.

10 Year HS Reunion

(Me and Adam, he's in the other half of the picture with me but he's making a bad face)

I have been in Rockford for a couple days, the culmination of which was last night. My 10 year high school reunion. I was very confident and excited about it until the day of. I was running late so couldn't carpool with Adam and Beanpole. On the way there I got a huge wave of anxiety. I was really scared, I can't explain why. As I've said before I think I have agoraphobia so I think that has something to do with it. Thankfully we arrived at the same time and could walk in together. If they had got there before me I was going to make them walk out in order to walk back in again with me. It was weird, fun, and incredibly stimulating. Right when we walked in we got separated, a couple different people approaching us and diverting our attention. The first woman who talked to me was the only person the whole night I forgot her name. Thankfully we all had name tags. She asked how I was, I asked how she was, she said "So this is how you turned out." She seemed to mean it positively but I felt like that was a weird statement. There was a lot of tension and weirdness. And spatially it was tough. You didn't want to get trapped into a conversation for too long.

After that I was separated from Adam and Beanpole but didn't mind. After the first 20 minutes the anxiety wore off. I talked to everyone I wanted to talk to. The group of guy friends I use to hang with, I realized, I'm not mad at anymore. We had somewhat of a falling out in college. I wasn't that interested but it was good to talk to them. Some people I talked to, it was hard, we have nothing in common, we had nothing to talk about, but I still care about them. Those guys and girls I told them I use their names in improv shows which I do.

My best friend in middle school Joey I found out lives in the Chi and one of my other good friends from high school does also. There was no weirdness with them we picked up where we left off. People kept asking "Who are you really excited to see? Who are you really looking forward to?" Which I couldn't really answer until I saw these women.

Julie, Erica, and Jamie. I was really excited to see them. They were the coolest back in the day and some of my good friends. When I talked to them they were the most normal. There was no weirdness. It felt like we were on the same team again. They were fun and interesting. I use to randomly drop in at their places to visit them on the weekends and they did the same with me. It was a fun visiting thing which may be lost now cause of cell phones. Last night I learned some friends, not all but some

Are always friends.

Fun With Eli and Ethan

(photo to come)

Yesterday Adam and his fiance Kristen had Beanpole and I over for dinner. Their kids Eli(almost 2) and Ethan(5, Adam's adopted son) were the main attraction. It's so great to see Adam with his kids. He lights up, he's such a great dad.

(Adam and Beanpole are two of my best friends, we met in high school)

Adam didn't go away to college, he stayed in Rockford to help his folks and never left. I think years ago it use to bother him. It doesn't anymore. When I see him with Eli and Ethan he is so proud, so happy, so content. It makes me want to have a kid. He has a number of games that he has developed with his kids.

Ethan: New Hat! New Hat!
Adam: What kind of hat do you want to be?
Ethan: A Bears army helmet!
Adam: (laughs) Ok.
(Ethan climbs on his head)
Adam: Hmmmm, I love my new hat. Keeps my head warm. What are these(puts Ethan's hands over his eyes) sleep helpers? Wow!
(Ethan makes a noise)
Adam: Hold on what? Is this a kid? Is this place selling kids!?!?! I want to talk to a manager!

(later Adam was laying on the floor, Ethan crawled inside his shirt)
Adam: Oh(stroking Ethan through his shirt) isn't this wonderful? I'm going to have a baby!
Me: You're glowing!
Adam: This is the most wonderful experience of my life! I have something growing inside of me! (Ethan pops out giggling) Oh! A five year old boy, fully clothed. How beautiful!
Me:(laughing)Whats that one called?
Adam: Baby Spot.

Eli was another treasure altogether. I don't think I have met a kid who was more happy, who cried so seldom. He's talking, walking, and climbing great. And I know people say kids are cute but this guy was the cutest kid I have ever seen. We got to play with some toys, I got to lock him in the arm trap, put him on my shoulders and at the end of the night we caught fireflies.

It couldn't have been a better more exhausting evening. I haven't been so tired before ten o'clock ever.

Kids are hard.

'Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter' A Review

I went home yesterday for a Rockford visit. Adam, Beanpole and I last night went to see the midnight showing of 'Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter'. All of us were expecting this to be similar to 'Snakes On A Plane' in it's absurdity. It was not. This movie took itself way too seriously. Some of the implications of the plot lines were insulting. The acting was uninspired. The love story was forced. The action was great but there wasn't much of it. Overall it was an incredible disappointment but it certainly was a spectacle.

Don't See It.

A Parable About Fear

There once was a boy who lived in a theme park.
He was afraid of roller coasters.
Deathly afraid.
He thought he would fly out.
He thought he would hit his head.
He thought the harness would break.
He thought he would get puked on or hit by another rider.
He thought he might lose his shoes or the change from his pocket.
The speed and the steel scared him.
The largeness and the power scared him.
He was content with funnel cakes and tea cups and log flumes.
He spent years of his life avoiding the biggest things in the theme park.
Until his fifteenth birthday.
He had a summer birthday and there were lots of tourists in the summer.
On the day of his birth the boy went to see the jugglers.
And the costumed actors.
And the magicians.
And went to eat his favorite thing. Nachos.
Standing in the nacho line he felt a tap on his shoulder.
He turned around "Hello" said a dark haired girl.
"Um, hi." He said lost in her deep dark brown eyes.
"You're getting nachos this early?" she said
"Um, ye-ye-yeah"
"You shouldn't eat before you ride roller coasters."
"I don't...actually."
"Never?"
"No."
"Want to try?"
Lost in her eyes and her hair and her beautiful smile he said "Today...maybe."
She grinned. She clutched his hand and ran to the nearest coaster.
The Guillotine.
Waiting in line his heart pounded.
He sweat profusely.
The girl noticing this said nothing simply smiled and squeezed his hand.
They were finally sat and harnesses in the roller coaster.
The ride started on a climb as they all do.
The boy's panic grew to a fever pitch.
At the top of the first climb the boy thought about death.
About dying.
About ending his own life to forgo what would come next.
But those thoughts were fleeting.
And seconds after the car took the plunge...
The boys smile was big.
Joy and Thrill filled his heart.

The Showcase

Punam did 'The Showcase' last night which is the show where people bring their 5 minutes for Charna to watch from which she'll pick people to audition for the SNL audition which is a week from today. Before Punam did it she showed me her stuff and it was really great. She asked me for some feedback and I told her to just streamline it. Which I think is the note for most sketches or solo pieces. What is it? How can you make it simpler? Her characters are fun and very unique to her and she has a very unique voice to begin with. I was so excited and proud of her. Because she got the call. We spent today together and she got the tap from Charna. She's doing the SNL Showcase next week.

I'm so happy for her and I have 100% confidence that she will do great. I was talking with my dad about it and he asked me if she had a shot.

Dad: So, does she have a shot?
Me: Umm. I mean it's all a matter of what they're looking for.
Dad: What do you mean?
Me: Well you know back in the day it was a little more organic, more biting. It seems to me now it's mostly formulaic. It's all types, game shows, talk shows, impressions. It's lost some of it's edge.
Dad: No kidding. I remember back in the day when Rockefeller died in the arms of his mistress, at the beginning of the show they called it 'The Megan Marshak Show' and had a little picture of her.
Me: (back on track) Point being, yes she has a shot, a good one. It depends on what they're looking for. She's unique and her characters are fun and engaging and could be serialized which is important for them. She has one with a catch phrase(imitating Punam with accompanying finger gestures)

"I'm trying to get crazy, but not dat crazy!"

Echo Again

Last night Echo had their first great show. Our previous shows have been good, each one progressively better than the one before, but I hadn't seen that spark of inspiration or sense of fun or magic that I saw last night.

It's nice to get validation. As a coach I don't get a lot of feedback. If the shows are good than that tells me I'm doing good. There is also a discrepancy for new teams between their shows and rehearsals for the first couple months. There's no pressure in rehearsals, I'm the only one there to judge, and for the most part I think there's not a lot of obligation to make me laugh. In front of a packed house that's a different story. They feel pressure to perform and to get laughs because they aren't necessarily totally solidified as a group. Personalities haven't gelled, people don't necessarily know each other that well, there may be an element of panic.

Last night we closed which may have had something to do with it. Watching the first group alleviated some pressure, maybe, I don't know. Before the show I gave everyone on the Team a personal goal, something I wanted to see from them as opposed to a general piece note. I also tried to be as brief as possible. That may have had something to do with it. Improv is so ethereal it's hard to tell. Maybe they were just due.

Regardless they had a great show and I am very proud of them. It excites me for the future.

Runnin' Coin

After the Kzoo show I asked Beanpole to make some posters for Craig and I's two man show Runnin' Coin. I described the Kzoo show in as much detail as I could but the most memorable thing was a scene where I was flying Craig as a rich guy around in a plane.

Next time we have a show we'll have a show poster ready to go. Hopefully that'll be soon.

Women In Capes

Craig, Brett, and I from the Schwa show tonight. Our goal was to mirror.

'Prometheus' A Review

'Prometheus' is a film about a space expedition that's trying to find out the origin of human creation. The movie starts with a humanoid looking creature drinking something, dissolving down to DNA into a waterfall. The DNA starts to reform and the movie begins. Implication being this was the origin of life on Earth, at least I took it that way.

Prometheus is the ship taking 17 crew members to a moon, that according to ancient cave paintings, is where this humanoid person came from. The movie raises some interesting question which it can't really answer. This may bother some people but how can they answer where we came from, who actually knows?

The stand out performance was by Michael Fassbender who plays an android. The rest of the cast does well but most of them have so little screen time to have any character development. The film isn't an action movie is a space thriller. Going into it expecting lots of explosions and monsters will leave you disappointed. Going into it expecting to be engaged and stimulated will yield better results.

See It.

Buds

Hope is a flower yet to bloom,
yet to open,
yet to swoon.

That first moment the pedals open to the sun.
That sigh.
That relief.
That is where I draw my strength.
Where I'd like to live.
Join me in potential.

Groh Show With Danny Groh #11

We're Back! After a long hiatus we're back and still cooking. Joy and surprises await your listening pleasure.

'Moonrise Kingdom' A Review

'Moonrise Kingdom' is a coming of age film. The main characters are 12 or 13 and we follow their dysfunction as it springs into an adventure. The performances from the adolescents are amazing. Incredibly surprising and deep. It captures that one moment you felt growing up when you first discovered love and sexuality. For me this is Wes Anderson's best movie since 'Rushmore'. He has his voice back and he's using it to tell a simple story. All the characters are engaging, all the characters illicit an emotional response. We know everyone in the cast and we identify with them. And at the heart it's a love story. Regardless of all the quirkiness the story is about love, so were hooked from frame one.

Don't Miss It.

Graffiti 64

I think this is a dog looking at a cell phone. Man's best friend vs. man's most co-dependent object. Which means more? I think this is someones signature. I saw another piece of graffiti with this image in the lower right hand corner.

I don't know what the image is suppose to convey. Curiosity certainly. The dog is curious. As much as I feel ambivalent and slightly negative towards pets, given a choice, if I had to give up cell phones or dogs, I'd choose cell phones in a heartbeat. Although I don't give either much credence.

"To his dog, every man is Napoleon; hence the constant popularity of dogs." -Aldous Huxley

"You have to take into account it was the cell phone that became what the modern-day concept of a phone call is, and this is a devise that's attached to your hip 24/7. Before that there was 'leave a message' and before that there was 'hopefully you're home'." -Giovanni Ribisi

"Don't accept your dog's admiration as conclusive evidence that you are wonderful." -Ann Landers

"Cell phone dependency is now called compulsive communication. More and more people can feel their cell phones vibrating- even when their mobile devices are not around. This 'fauxcellarm' phenomenon is also called 'ringxiety'." -AP

Cell phones haunt. Turn them off.

Schwa Again

Jeannie and I from the first scene of the first beat of the Schwa show last night. I think it was Jeannie's first show with Schwa. I had lots of fun. I started the scene thinking I was a girl but Jeannie made me 'Ricardo' which I loved. You can hear Blair saying 'Ricardo?' cause she knew I was trying to be a girl. 

A Fable About Hope

There once was a Caterpillar who lived in a forest.

He went to Caterpillar school.

He did Caterpillar things.

He had Caterpillar parents.

And he lived a Caterpillar life.

He was unhappy.

His parents did not understand him.

"Join the other Caterpillars" they would say.

But he could not, he did not feel like he belonged.

Restlessly he would slowly shuffle along the tree that was his home along his many legs.

Endlessly. In his free time.

Walking along his tree, to other trees, until he was tired and then he would return home.

One day, while on a walk, the Caterpillar met a Raven.

"Hello little thing, should I eat you up?" asked the Raven.

"Do what you will, I care not." replied the Caterpillar.

"Oh-Ho-Ho! A Caterpillar with vision, that is rare."

"I have only blurry vision sir but no desire for witty words. Eat or fly."

"A direct Caterpillar. I have not met a direct caterpillar in ages. Would you like advice Caterpillar, advise to lift you from your malaise?"

"Yes Raven."

"Climb high. Walk far out on to a branch. And change. You will know."

"Why do you say these things?"

"I want a challenge young one. A hunt."

And the Raven flew away.

The Caterpillar climbed a tall tree and scooted out onto a branch.

And waited.

Feelings built up in him.

The difference he always felt coated him, encased him, and eventually he hung.

Tight.

In a warm blanket.

Time passed.

And one day he sprang forth a lovely moth.

Cool and silent.

Black and white.

He felt alive and right.

But he was wary.

He thanked the Raven.

But he would not be eaten.

He vanished.

Into the forgiving night.

A Strange Offer

Tonight Punam and I did 'The Stand' at Second City. On my way there I found this note on my motorcycle which had been sitting for a couple days while I was riding my bike.

"Call me if you want to sell Tom(?) 872-XXX-XXXX Anytime."

I love my motorcycle, love it. It's a 1983 Suzuki 550cc. The model doesn't have a name so that let's you know how relatively average it is. It's great for getting around a town but not good for much else. What I love about it is I know it. It's mine. We've been through some stuff. I may have talked about it before but motorcycles are like horses. They respond to your touch, you ask for something they give it to you, you ask for too much they let you know. It's a very sensitive machine. That may sound weird but I think anyone who rides motorcycles feels similarly.

It shocked me that someone would make an offer like this. Now when I'm thinking about it, it offends me. My motorcycle is a part of me, it's mine, it something that defines me. It is something I love and represents a past time I love. I might sell my motorcycle at some point but not now and certainly not by being propositioned by a note card. I'm not a pimp, I won't whore out my motorcycle just because someone took an interest.

People say riding motorcycles is dangerous, it is. But there is a thrill to danger. There is also a certain amount of safety involved when someone knows what they are doing. I've only given three people rides on the Suzuki: Drennen, Punam, and Julia. I think they enjoyed it and I think it was something special, it was for me anyway. When I give people rides it makes me feel like I'm sharing something very much myself with them, something very personal. And to be so caviler about trying to buy that off of somebody makes me mad.

When I ride my motorcycle and the sun is shining and the wind is warm and blowing, it feels like the closest thing to flying.

I won't sell that.

Get Close

I've mentioned before I like to sit close during movies. Preferably first or second row. For me it gives me more of a feeling that I'm experiencing a movie, I'm a part of it, I'm not reserved from it. It makes me feel like I'm in it, I can't get away from it, I'm somewhere else. And for me that's what I want when I go to the movies: escape.

With thrillers especially I like to sit close. For me it increases the risk. It feels dangerous. There is no comfortable space between me and the surprises and terrors that await.

I went to a movie recently and sat in the second row. The movie was relatively full so people had to sit close. There was a couple behind me that was on the first or second date.

Guy: Ahhhh, this close?
Girl: It's an experience.
(I think 'she knows!')
Guy: I don't know...(looks around) any where else open?
Girl: Relax. Trust me.
Guy: I'm not going to be able to see everything...uhhh.
Girl: ...I'm going to get Sour Patch Kids, you want anything?
Guy: I'll go with you-
Girl: No, it's ok. (walks away)

I wanted to tell the guy sitting close is great. You're nervous, I know, but once it gets going you'll have a whole new perspective. You have no protection, you're not reserved. It got me thinking about my life right now.

I think I sit close during movies because maybe sometimes I don't sit so close with my life. Sometimes I'm reserved. I pull myself back. I hide behind books and movies and wit and insult. I cut off contact or keep it to a minimum. I enjoy being alone but sometimes I think I use that to protect myself. If there's something or someone I don't want to deal with I bury my nose in a book(I carry one everywhere) or go to movies by myself or avoid or deflect, I escape.

Sitting there judging this guys complaints I realized I do that, not in the movie theater but in life. In life sometimes I sit too far back. I need to pull up a chair, get as close as I can, and enjoy. The good and the bad.

I urge you to do the same.

'Snow White And The Huntsman' A Review

This movie is pretty much what you'd expect if you watched the preview. I feel like I've written that a lot lately which speaks to the marketing techniques used for movies now. They'll do anything to get you in the theater even if it means giving away the whole movie.

The movie is a slightly darker take on the classic fairy tale. There's no surprises, the performances are for the most part bland and uninspiring, you care about no characters. The title character Snow White has virtually no character development. This movie would more accurately be titled 'The Huntsman featuring Snow White." It's almost like the editors of the movie new that Chris Hemsworth would be a bigger star then Kristen Stewart at this point so focused on him more.

The effects are great and some of the magical stuff is fun. The movie, the idea has potential. There's a scene where I almost had hope for the movie. The movie starts with Snow White as a kid when the Evil Queen takes over the kingdom and locks her up. We flash forward to her grown up with Snow White locked in a cell. The shot pans in on the window in the cell door and we see the back of Kristen Stewart's head. I really wanted to her to be doing pull ups like Linda Hamilton in T2, you know a bad ass Snow White whose used her imprisonment to get buff. No such luck. She's still mousy.

Charlize Theron was chewing the scenery. The only people who seemed to take their roles seriously were the parade of great British actors who played the 7 dwarfs via CGI. I was entertained but definitely thought to myself "what am I watching?"

Don't See It.

Drennen And Joey's Sick Adventure #9

by Del Jackson

Chapter 9: Halloween Drennen Dream, or Trick-or-Treat, Ringo!

                “JFK’s ghost is a mean and vengeful ghost—”

            “JFK’s ghost is no joke—”

            “He spoiled my lunch. Swear to God. Haunts our bungalow and spoiled my lunch—“

            “We don’t live in a bungalow, ma’am—”

            “JFK haunts our bungalow,” Joey said.

            What a pair, these two. They were shouting over each other, hoping to get a word in edge-wise—over each other—to argue the same point, eventually pointing their fingers accusingly. Wheeler dealers on high, racketeers of old, swindlers.

            As if this poor old lady in her pumpkin vest disagreed, or as if she understood thing #1 about what they were saying, or trying to say.

            “I see,” she said. “And what are you two supposed to be? The Beatles?”

            Joey’s face lit up like the porch jack-o-lantern; it was showtime. He was over the moon with himself, his costume, his dream.

            “You read the Bible, Mrs. Crabapple?”

            “Why yes, actually.”

            “Well there’s this passage I got memorized, sorta fits the occasion. Ezekiel 25:17?”

* * * 

            They were making out like bandits; Jules and Vincent never did it better. Candy up the ying-yang, a regular raid on neo-Lincoln Square, Halloween 2015. And how old were they again?

            Approaching the end of the cul-de-sac now, Drennen took pause, pensive. Whether it was the taste of his Almond Joy, or the evil foreboding of the mansion ahead, something was just not right. He tucked his hair behind his ears, adjusted his suit and skinny tie. Drennen Quinn, dressed to kill.

            “That’s Crazy Old Man Kimball’s mansion,” Joey said.

            “Did you ever listen to The Whitey Album by Ciccone Youth? It was a Sonic Youth side project,” Drennen said.

            “Let’s get into character,” Joey said. He was on; he would not be off tonight. Erwin Rommel, Joey’s bombastic cat and sometime dance partner, followed closely behind.

            Crazy Old Man Kimball’s gate creaked open—dilapidated, spooky, all funky juju—and they made their way inside. Must have triggered a sensor somewhere along the way: “Monster Mash” (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8pVbZRdNoSc) sounded sonorous on stealthy surround sound speakers; strobe lights; a spume of smoke sputtered out into the crisp October air of All Hallows Eve. And there on the porch rail, could it be? It most certainly was, yes, a Jackie O’ Lantern.

          “Cute,” said Drennen.

            A bowl full of candy with a sign: “Just Take One.”

            “Sorry kids, Papa’s gotta eat!” Joey said, pouring the candy into his bag.

            A rebel yell and a shotgun blast the door through. Crazy Old Man Kimball, bearded, deranged, wearing a Chris Bosh jersey, on a rocking chair and visible now through the freshly gaping destruction of the mansion door.

            Joey Romaine was killed instantly. Dead gone dead, never had a chance... is this the promised end? But he got something he always wanted—he was a cartoon ghost with cartoon wings now; and what more was Joey Romaine in life other than the Great Gazoo, anyway?

            But irony is not without a sense of fate. No sooner than Joey had begun to realize his lifelong dream of a cartoon ghost afterlife, another ghost approached, bad vibes galore.

            “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask how I’m going to ghost machismo rape you, Joey Romaine!”

            Somewhere, Drennen Quinn, he danced. Erwin Rommel did, too. And the Groovie Goolies sing:

♪♪

They did the mash
They did the monster mash
The monster mash
It was a graveyard smash
They did the mash
It caught on in a flash
They did the mash
They did the monster mash

♪♪

A Poem About The Moon

by Julia

I am huge.
And bright
And pretty
And people seem to like me

I am not cheese
Some people say I'm made of cheese
but I know they don't mean it
So it's okay
Let them talk

Some people wish on me
But I'm not a star
Some people want to colonize me
But I'm too far
Who's the woman in Tootsie?
Oh yeah
Terri Garr

You're welcome for tides
And also sorry for them.
You're welcome for night time illumination
And also, sorry for stealing your light, Sun.
You're welcome for gravity stuff
That I don't understand.

I'm the moon.
I'm working on liking myself.
There's not a man in me.
That's just a rumor. And a mean one.

Escape

I want to fly.
I dream of skydiving. Of letting loose. Or giving up control.
I want to be up there.
To feel the clouds. To feel the danger, the Risk.
Blue and white and all shades between blue and white.
I love them all and have been studying them for very long.
I want to jump.
I want to fly.
It will make me free.
I look up and I desire to be there, the clouds.
That is where I belong.
Not grounded.
The clouds reflect myself.
I'm always changing.
I see me.
Reflected.
I want to embrace myself.
Hello sky.
Take me with you.
Take me up.
I am weightless.
And maybe Gone.

Nostalgia

Punam and I went to go see JP last night. The Landmark is doing a series of midnight shows of cult classics and 90's favorites. There were a lot of improvisers there. It was a great experience. Before the movie started Julia shouted "Hold on to your butts!"

The most notable thing for me was that, at this point, there is no suspense. The steps of the T-Rex warrant no surprise. Everyone in the theater was loving it, they were laughing, and predicting lines. We all enjoyed it but the magic of the original screening was gone. I knew what was going to happen and because of that 3/4 of Jurassic Park was anti-climatic.

The other thought I had was about that scene where Tim gets electrocuted. At the time, 1993, hurting a kid was unheard of. Hurting him and then giving him mouth-to-mouth was cutting-edge. I still appreciate the bravery of that scene. I wish Sam Neil would have gotten more work.

The theater was packed with 25-32 year olds. We were all chasing something that we haven't felt since this movie came out. Some feeling. I didn't find it but I found comfort in watching the movie again on the big screen.

You can't recapture youth,
                                                                                                               but you can mourn it.

Do Your Part

The Rick show tonight wasn't great. It wasn't good, it was just ok. There are probably many reasons why that is. There were all ten of us which there never are. The show was fun but lacked rhythm. There was no subtlety, no finesse. And that's ok I think. We're not a team to play with ten. I would aledge no team is meant to play with ten. Ten is a bad number, a sad number, an inflated number. A number that is meant to be deminished.

I love everyone on Rick I always want to play with all of them but it's a lot. The Cabaret is a small stage and things can be missed if there's too many people crowding the stage trying to create. I'm proud of our opening and some of our scenes. But I think with a large group, all scenes will devolve into group scenes, which are great, but they can only sustain you for so long. Great shows are group pieces puntucated by grounded two person scenes, we didn't achieve that tonight.

That's ok. Be aware, that's my thing. We have to be aware of our potential and our abilities. We always strive for the perfect show, a seamless show, but that's not always possible. And when the time comes we have a wonky show, which Rick did tonight, that has got to be ok, we can't harp on it.

The reasons are obvious. Too many chefs, one small kitchen. I feel like this was successful. I love to play animals.