It has been a rough day today gigging in 100f heat and dealing with smalltown shit, but the last 30 minutes has been pretty good. I just read your blog. You tell stories and paint pictures with words. Also, I liked how the monologues had their own rhythyms. The Dad/Circus one was very beautiful, the football game one took a suprizsng turn but it was the one about Miki and Niki that really got to me. As I read it I kept thinking of this song that tells a similar story, 'Jimmy Boy' by Green On Red. Anyway, thankyou for letting me read that stuff

Nice midlife crisis list. Especially about the Fox News channel broadcast. :)
That quote was actually a discussion I had with a friend a couple of days ago. It was a very funny moment. We got on the subject of midlife crisis' and were trying to figure out why people only think it happens once in your life--when I think it's something that happens everyday. I think i had a mid life crisis at 16- wondering if it was the right time to shave my pits so I could wear a tank top.

oh oh - so you want to read my stuff. I can direct you to my little blog that I haven't posted on for about 2 years or so. It's a bunch of monologues that belong to bigger pieces. There are some typos and such so please be gentle....
I am getting a stomach ache just thinking about someone reading them...
my cousin's nose would just start bleeding if anyone read his writing. Me, I just feel like vomiting....hmmm you might too after reading it....hope not.
http://bilg inblog.blogspot.com/
Quick followup about my "friend" I kind of parted with. He is now on food-stamps! Mind you, he is 34 years old, very apt to work but refuses to look for a job, can't collect unemployment because he was fired, and got back together with his wealthy girlfriend who is taking him to Greece for a week. HOW ABOUT THAT!!! I tell ya......jeez!

My midlife crisis (I call it that just in case I live to be 100) feels like the following:

The Fox News Channel is broadcasting misinformation from my lower intestines and there is nothing I can do about it...

While at the same time taking a reactionary position seems reasonable for the first time in my life...

I have given up wanting people to love me because time has told me this is an unlikely outcome...

Yet I resent the fact that people I meet don't immediately love me...

My ambitions seem more urgent...

The need to sleep 18 hours a day seems more urgent...

I am finally sure of my place in the world...

I am really fucked off at my place in the world...

But hey, everyone is different except for maybe Mormons and cloned sheep. Is there anything of yours anywhere I could read? I would really like to

oh and I agree with all the above with you moderating as well. I love being a minion!

Glad to hear that you got away and got to do some "homespeak". I was born in Brooklyn and grew up in Flushing, Queens (I know very pretty), but I have managed not to have a heavy New YAWK accent. A couple of months ago, I met friends of a friend who were from Flushing and when I started tawkin' to them, my Queens accent came out big time. The Queens button just went off in my head. All in all it was good times.
Good to hear that you are working on publishing something. I am sure you'll get back to the theatre book soon. Stay cool dude!!
Ohva an owt frum ohva heyah!

Glad you had a nice getaway. I just had a few days at South Mission beach, San Diego, visiting my closest friend from England who was over on a family vacawtion with his inlaws. It was great to indulge in 'Londonspeak' for a few days. I didn't even know that existed until I was away from it and didn't haqve it any more. Anyway, it was a real tonic.

Glad you liked the blog and that you are writing. I have decided to shelve the theater book, for the moment at least, and have set myself the deadline of self publishing something by Christmas. I am also recording next month with a view to putting out a cd of originals so either the last third of the year will be mega productive, or it won't. I was planning a couple of blog entries tonight, but ever since I got home from the coast yesterday and hit the hotter than hot weather again, I have just felt achey and sleepy. I will give in to it now and try again tomorrow.

Hey hey!!! What's shakin...other than L.A.? I was away for a week, no computer, TV or phone...well I did have a phone, but the service was pretty nil.
I got a tan, let my hair go back to it's crazy curliness, put Sun-In in my hair, and ate pop-rocks.
My birthday was very low key. I love parties but not really into my own- I think it's denial. My own silliness I guess. When I get around to it, I hope to plan something. We'll see. What's goin on? How are you feeling?
I really like your blog. You inspired me to start writing again and I actually finished something that I had been working on. Thank you!
Well back to work I guess.... cheers B

Did you have a fab, gear and groovy Birthday?

AWESOME! I can't wait to read it! Very cool!

Helloooo! I have a new blog http://john nyluddite.blogspot.com/ if you fancy having a look. Two things up so far with more on the way

That sounds so cool. All of it! I got to study with Wallace Shawn one summer and briefly got to meet Edward Albee. I had so much fun that summer, that's when I knew that I loved to write. Mind you, I was an fashion illustration/ illustration major in school. I totally took a turn somewhere. It's all for the better anyway I guess. I would jam with someone, as long as they didn't mind my awful drumming and singing, oh and singing in jibberish- gosh I love that.
Until next time, my friend. Be well!

I knew of Timberlake Wertenbaker in the 90s, she is an American writer and her material then dealt with aspects of working class life, industrial life in particular, and she was percieved as 'a woman's writer'. The tutor of Sarah's that I knew was the only tutor I didn't like. We had this argument over an Edward Bond play and I found her a hard person to get along with. Trevor Griffiths (the Comedians) was head of our department, and David Hare (The Romans In Britain, etc) was a guest lecturer, so we had mostly great people. Apparently Sarah had a problem with her as well, that was the one thing we ever found out, but no specifics. Ads an odd aside, I joined the degree course late, they let me do it in two years instead of three because of my pro experience, etc, but if I had of been in the first year one of my fellow students would have briefly been Sinead O'Connor, who wanted to study theater and signed up for the degree course but dropped out after three months.

I will submit a play to direct, maybe one of my own, but I don't want to act at this level again. I was never that good or anything, but although I will play guitar with anyone just to keep on going years after I thought I had lost music for ever, amateur theatre here anyway can be so soul destroying. I did think of submitting 'Inherit The Wind' just to upset the religious loonies.

I am not familiar with Timberlake Wertenbaker. I will do some research.
Your tutor say anything about Sarah? Just curious.

Why not give the 9/10 season a shot. If of course they do something you like- or something you find challenging. I am always looking for new (new to me) stuff that I'd like to read. I will def. check out Timberlake.

I saw Cleansed when it opened ast the Royal Court in 1998. At that time, I was still doing my rather late theater studies degree at North London Uni, and one of my tutors had also taught Sarah Kane at Bristol Uni. Knowing this particular lecturer, I can understand the whole University as concentration camp thing in that play.

As for the community theater company, they do try and put on some newer stuff as well as the standards. I played the father in 'Proof' last year for instance, in what I intend to be my last acting role. I might submit something contentious for the 09/10 season. Maybe Frozen, or Bleacher Bums. Theater is in short supply down our way. You get Broadway touring companies in Fresno and Bakersfield, a little experimental stuff in Bakersfield, but otherwise, community theater all the way till you hit L.A or San Francisco.

Do you like Timberlake Wertenbaker?

I do like Sarah Kane. I have her complete plays. I was obsessed with her for a bit. She is quite heartbreaking and complex. Very interesting. A couple of months ago Crave was being done locally here and I wanted to do it so bad, but alas - no audition.
Blasted always messes with my mind.
LaBute's style of conversation is cool.I like the monologue of the girl riding home with her mom from the rehab center. Does your theatre put up a lot of modern stuff? Will you get a chance to do some plays? I'd like to do a play soon.
Hope all is well today and your gigs are great. ttyl

Have you ever seen any of Sarah Kane's plays? I saw her last one before she died. I like Autobahn. I was going to do the part where the guy has cussed at his wife in the market and is trying to talk his way out of it, only to dig himself in deeper and deeper.

Thanx for the support about the test (MRI brain scan). I am being a tad panicky today. I have gigs tomorrow and Saturday, so something to look forward to

Those mormons! LaBute has that affect on them, huh? I actually like Autobahn and I like most of his stuff. My teacher hates his stuff.
I have not really written anything worthwhile lately. I have been trying to rework some pieces just to put them to rest, but I am finding that hard to do. My motivation has been very melancholy. I have a whole sink full of dishes that I am going to force myself to do. I hate doing dishes. I will vacuum, do the laundry, clean the bathtub, all that other stuff, but I despise doing dishes. I would just rather eat out of paper cups and throw it away. I know- not very green. I do love cooking though.
I really hope your tests are ok. I know you'll be fine. Don't let the sterility of the place get to you.
I look forward to your satisfaction mix.
I guess I'll start those dishes--really this time!
You like Moondog? Listening to his stuff lately. He uses alot of sounds in his arrangements. It's nice- There's this one piece called Lullaby where it starts off with a baby crying and then goes into japanese singing with some native american influence and drums , then ends with a japanese lady talking to the baby. It's cool.
Well, it's off to the kitchen for me. Don't worry about Friday.
Cheerz!

All kinds of things are shaking here. Mormons tried to shut down the community theatre here (their move coincided with the opening of Neil LaBute's Autobahn which they hate!) It looks like they might buy the old theatre in town and want to stage musicals etc there. I suspect what they have planned is not what I would call 'community', i.e, theatre for and by the community.

My health is all over the shop right now. I have a test on Friday that is freaking me out but hopefully it will be cool.

I am working on a companion to my disappointment mix, this time the theme is satisfaction.

What's going on with you? Are you writing anything?

What's shakin!

I think I need a vacation from assholes.