The Numbers For 2015

For the third year in a row I went 365 days without a drink.

I went on 3 vacations. To LA(to visit Alex), Denver(to visit Beanpole), and The Badlands(with Nicole on the motorcycle).

I was laid off for the 1st time and spent 2 months unemployed.

I started 1 new job.

I did 54 shows with Deep Schwa.

I did 47 shows with Sight Unseen.

The Night Shift had 2 shows and retired.

I conceived and co-wrote 2 plays. Contention and My Two Sons which had 12 and 11 performances respectively.

I released 6 episodes of my podcast Hindsight Hour which constituted the first season.

I wrote 62 poems, 10 essays, and did 15 readings.

I applied to 4 graduate schools for poetry.

I saw 76 movies in the theater.

I read 33 books, my favorite of which was The Fifth Head of Cerberus by Gene Wolfe

I went to 2 author readings.

I went to 0 concerts.

I went to 1 opera.

I went to 0 funerals.

I went to 1 wedding.

Nicole and I celebrated our 2nd anniversary. Some days were tough, some were easy, we loved each other every day.

Trudging Through Slush

Not quite rain
not quite sleet
wind burnt face
cold wet feet.

Every step
another puddle
sucking sludge
what a struggle.

The mild winter
played me false
now I'm stuck
in this cruel squall.

Home soon
I dare to hope
until then
I frown and mope.

'Chi-Raq' A Review

Chi-Raq is a musical dramedy from writer/director Spike Lee based on the Greek classic Lysistrata. The film opens on a series of statistics explaining the origin of the Chicago nickname Chi-Raq given because the number of murders in the city out numbered the casualties in the Iraq War. We're then taken to a concert by rapper and Spartan gang leader Chi-raq(Nick Cannon) where a shooting takes place with rival gang the Trojans. Later in the evening while Chi-raq and his girlfriend Lysistrata(Teyonah Parris) are in bed the Trojan's set fire to the house. In a retaliatory drive-by a young girl is killed in the cross fire. This causes Lysistrata to gather the women of the neighborhood together and institute a sex strike until the violence is stopped.

The film's dialogue is mostly in verse which the cast mostly owns and brings life to. There is a pleasantly surprising amount of, unadvertised, star power with big names in main roles as well as a long series of cameos from great actors. Parris as the lead has the most work to do and does so with a grace and depth on which the film hinges, she handles the periodically clunky dialogue with confidence, her empathy and determination give the character a captivating power. Cannon as the titular character gives an unexpectedly decent performance easily the highlight of his varied career. Samuel L. Jackson as the perpetually amused narrator adds a much needed sense of play with some of the few comic moments that actually work. Although in a supporting role as a local pastor John Cusack's politically charged funeral sermon is easily the best scene in the film.

The tone of the film is kind of all over the place, the satire and the blue-balls humor rarely work, but even so the drama, the story, the message is clear and powerful. Chi-Raq is Lee's best film in years, the most charged and galvanizing, more akin to Bamboozled and Do The Right Thing than any of his recent work. But there is an element of optimism in the film that is new. The film lays out the brutal realities of gun violence in Chicago(and the country), the political and social challenges facing minorities and the poor, and offers some solutions, some specific some general. Ultimately the message of the film is inclusion and love, of community, of the promise of potential. It's about kindness and care and consideration.

Imperfect but potent, inspiring and playful, a call to action.

See It.

'The Hateful Eight' A Review

The Hateful Eight is a western from writer/director Quentin Taratino. Wyoming, sometime in the 1870's, a stage coach roles across a mountainous snow covered landscape. Major Marquis Warren(Samuel L. Jackson) sits atop three corpses he is taking in for bounty in the middle of the road. The stage coach stops and Warren convinces John Ruth(Kurt Russell), who has wanted murderer Daisy Domergue(Jennifer Jason Leigh) in custody, to give him a ride. They also pick up the son of a former confederate officer Chris Mannix(Walton Goggins) as they make their way through an intense blizzard. The weather forces the coach to stop and hold up in the only place around Minnie's Haberdashery.

Although the film is based around an ensemble as we get deeper into the run time it becomes evident Jackson's Maj Warren is the lead. Jackson gives a complicated electric performance, balancing humor, cruelty, and honor. The most meaty role Jackson's had in years and he proves age has only complimented his already considerable talent. Tim Roth as Oswaldo Mobray is the other stand out playing his mysterious Englishmen with a frenetic relish that is magnetic. The entire cast gives great performances, fully formed, mysterious, and engaging with the sole exception of Channing Tatum who seems a bit out of his league.

The 70mm film offers gorgeous sweeping panoramics contrasted with lush vivid interiors. Depth and focus are utilized to compelling effect, the immaculate shot composition is almost balletic especially apparent in moments of confrontation. The orchestral score serves to heighten the already cohesive and inclusive world. These production elements serve to amplify the theatricality of the film creating a complete movie-going experience, one not only narratively satisfying and entertaining but a unique cinematic event.

Sharp evocative film making technique, gleefully rich performances, a dark gripping frontier tale.

See It.

Newman

Every year Matt comes back to Chicago for Christmas with his in-laws. Almost every year he takes a day to come down and visit with me and play with Schwa. We met in level 1 at iO back in '07 and have been friends and collaborators ever since.

Matt moved to Richmond in '09 to open his own improv theater: Coalition Theater. I've been out there to visit about once a year since he moved. When we get together we catch up about friends and family but mostly talk a lot of improv shop.

The show tonight was great, Matt's played with Schwa about half-a-dozen times or so at this point and whenever he plays he fits in seamlessly. We had a sold out house, the show was high energy and a lot of fun. We all had a great time. It's really satisfying to get to share that with Matt, despite our divergent paths both personal and creative, despite the distance, our friendship remains strong and continues to evolve. For that I'm very grateful.

Nicole's Bday

Today was Nicole's birthday. Usually she's with her family in Florida because of its proximity to Christmas, this was the first time in a number of years she was in Chicago for it. We had a great day. She opened her presents, we went out for dinner at our favorite Italian place, had cake and ice cream, and watched Magic Mike XXL.

It reminded me how important it is to take action, however small, to show how much the special people in your life mean to you. A birthday cake, a thoughtful note, a bouquet of flowers whatever. Words are great but sometimes doing a little something extra makes all the difference.

Nicole means the world to me, it meant a lot to be able to spend her birthday with her. To do a couple things to make her feel special, a partial expression of the ocean of feelings I have for her.

Xmas 2015

This year Nicole came back to Rockford with me to celebrate Christmas. It was great to be together during the holiday, our first since we've been dating. There was also some exciting family news which made the weekend extra special and celebratory.

In years past my extended family would get together for pizza fondue(a long standing tradition) on Christmas Eve and then do our own thing on Christmas Day. In recent years this has kind of changed due to kids, marriages, and scheduling. This Eve our evening was relatively intimate with Mom and Dad, Marta and Nick, Nicole and myself, and our cousin Adam. We had a nice low key celebration. I made the pizza fondue and although it was a bit too cheesy it was still a nice meal. We exchanged presents and every seemed happy.

Today my aunts, cousins, and grandma came over and we had a casual dinner and just hung around and chatted. Nothing spectacular but as time goes on it becomes more clear the important thing is simply spending time together, catching up and enjoying each others company. There's a history with family, something unshakable and solid, a love that transcends time and distance.

All in all a great holiday with a wonderful family.