My love burns like a fire, your love burns like a cigarette...

So it seems it has been far too long since I updated this little blog. Since last time we were here, I have moved to a new, significantly colder, city to pursue a theatrical design career. Thus far it is slow, but I am hopeful. As of yet, I have been able to make enough money to eat and pay my rent so I cannot complain. I even occasionally have money left over to purchase things I do not need, like parts for my bike :)

Also I would like to say that I really enjoy public transportation. The subway, has single-handedly increased the amount I read by approximately 100%. The subway is not quite as exciting as a well setup bike, but its close.

Apart from that there is not much to update. I am learning what a winter is like, and I am hoping to return to Ithaca this summer, for more Hangar fun. We shall see.

Merry Christmas.

Well I spent all me tin on the lassies drinking gin...

Okay so I sorta gave up the internet except for work yesterday and you can see how well that's going. I am currently sitting in College Town Bagels in downtown Ithaca working slowly but steadily on my sound design for an upcoming show. It set in Ireland in the early 1900s so that explains the title. I have been doing a little method sound design which is the same as usual, but with the addition of Jameson, Guinness, and possible poteen later in the week. (don't worry Nana, never too much)

As most of you know I am without my little truck this summer and so I have had to make use of my bike Babe (blue and at least 30+ pounds) and today we went to the farmers market to pick up some groceries for the week. While fresh produce at the farmers market is not cheap in the least I dont care. Its better quality and if I spend serious cash on food I feel obligated to eat it before it can go bad.

So to help all those other poor kids who want to eat well I have a few recipes I am going to start putting up...

First off:

Sauteed Collards with Onions and Garlic
*(Please note I cook like my mother and grandmothers so every measurement is probably a good guess.)

Wash a bunch (read a heaping pan full) of collards, removing the stems and tearing the leaves into pieces.

chop 1/2 - 1 clove of garlic

chop 1/4-1/2 red onion

open a beer and start to drink it

pour a little olive oil in a skillet on medium hi to hi heat
cook the onions until they are translucent
add garlic and saute until garlic is brownish and start to smell (<1 minute)
throw in greens and cook until tender 5-10 minutes. dont't feel bad about heaping them in the pan they wilt down pretty nicely (may need to pull heat back a little)
you can cover the pan so the greens wont dry out
if you dont have a cover for your pan throw in some of the beer you are drinking if things get a little too dry (any beer will do as collards are pretty strong

if you have a lemon handy throw a little lemon juice in there if you are feeling adventurous. (I havent actually tried this one, but hey it sounds good)

On a final note I have been finding some real good music recently.
Ben Sollee (kentucky based classically trained pop soul country upright bass player)
Ezra Furman and the Harpoons (folk - think modern bob dylan and woody guthrie with some avett brothers sensibilities thrown in for good measure)
Sam Cooke (classic Soul / R &B)
Old School BB King (he's got the blues and he named his guitar Lucille. c'mon people)

If you ever need to listen to good music you dont have or want to explore new music go to a coffee shop, opens iTunes and see if anyone has their iTunes library open. Wireless routers are wonderful things...)

peace

Had it been another day I might have looked the other way...

Good morning,

There is news, there is news.
I just finalized a job the other day. For the month of September I shall be in Virginia Beach working for the Virginia Stage Company as their FOH sound Board Op. While not in DC its still a job and a good one at that, and hopefully I can use this to get the next job.

Apart from that things are going well in Ithaca, NY. I spent yesterday in a five hour tech followed by some quality time at the Ithaca festival, a yearly music/craft/art extravaganza. Today, I am going in to work for a bit before the company picnic/ HUGE game of Capture the flag :)

yeah that's how it goes...

But of all these friends and lovers...

So its been 2 months to the day that I posted last. I have been going close to non stop. Along the way I designed lights for 2 shows, changed jobs, picked a city to live in next (Washington D.C.), had my new (to me) digital camera stolen, had my transmission spring a leak in Starke, FL., become a semi serious bicycle commuter for obvious reasons, have my truck fixed after I had left it 1000 miles behind, arrived in Ithaca, NY sans truck via rental car, settled in, opened the first of 22 shows this summer season, and cooked broccoli and squash for tonight dinner, and had a talk with an old friend.

This is my first day off since I have been in Ithaca, and it was wonderfully restful. I have been feeling under the weather for a day or so the rest was needed. I did however go to the thrift store, the ice cream shop, and the grocery store.

It was in the grocery store that I had a thought. It came to me as I was frantically, as my ride had already checked out, searching for the earl grey loose tea. At least for the moment combination of earl grey and dark chocolate brings to mind very specific people, places, and time frames. It is not just such odd food combinations as these, but I think I, at the very least, do they same thing with music. Specific bands and songs are mentally connected in time, and I know that these connections can change. Some songs are irreversibly tied to definite people and places. Some songs, however, can take on different personal subjects as circumstances change. That Avett Brothers song about leaving your love might take on a different meaning if you leave more than one lover (as a hypothetical example only, of course).

This rambling is simple a product of choices made in the past 2 years that have taken my life on an interesting path. Its exciting, its frightening, its contentment and restlessness all rolled into one.

P.S. - I have said it before, and I will probably say it again, but go do yourself a favor and pick up the complete works of Blind Willie Johnson. If you like music, especially the blues, then you should know this man.

Don't want to be a painter 'cause everyone comes to look...

So as mentioned before I am test driving a new (to me) camera before buying. What do we think?


Fun with focus

pretty flower

the sky and palm trees

my hovel

purple flower

oppps

I want to ride my Bicycle

Old and busted

Trek 800 19.5 in frame
"custom" paint job



My sexy new baby:

Surly LHT Complete 56cm frame
Crank Brother 50/50 Pedals
Brooks B17 Leather Saddle
SKS 40mm fenders
Tubus Logo Rear Rack
Wald Metal Rear folding baskets
used 120mm no rise stem
Bell seat bag
TopPeak frame pump
Cat Eye front light
cheap rear red blinky

Here I go again...

So its official, I will not be attending FSU in the fall, which is not surprising considering my portfolio to date. Nonetheless, I have two upcoming lighting designs to work and play with. The second, an intern production of The Shape of Things, will really give me a chance to play and explore. We are going to bring the audience onstage thus creating a hundred seat thrust stage space instead of our typical proscenium stage.

Now with no hard and fast plans for the fall, I am in the process of deciding what comes next. I could probably stay around FL and perhaps get a more designs under my belt, but that would mean my third year here. Part of me wants to pick a direction and just go for it somewhere else. These are the questions that need answers eventually.

It seems good to think and be in a position to do what I want, the only thing I need to decide is what exactly I want to do and where I want to do it.

However as promised here are pictures from the new (to me) camera. Enjoy

Random shot

What my room looks like after a week of tech at the theatre

The times, they are a changin..

So long time no post. I have learned something about myself recently, I hobby hop. Things hold my interest for a while then they are eventually replaced by something else. The most recent addiction is biking. I am now the proud owner of a new, blue Surly Long Haul Trucker. I opted for the complete bike option, and am slowly fitting her out with racks and panniers, a new stem and saddle, etc etc. Pictures to follow

In other news grad school remains ominously silent. No news at this point in the process is bad news, so it looks like I am going to have to figure out what I am doing come early September. yet, Ithaca will be as close to a vacation as I get. It is beautiful country and a relatively normal work schedule. Not to mention there is a cycling club up there :)

I will start in earnest on getting the lighting design together for Visiting Mr. Green on Monday. I am excited to get the chance to do a show down here. I will post pics after we open next month. I got a new to me camera to test drive from one of the designers. Its an old school digital camera (writes images to CD) but it looks promising. we shall see.

peace

but I can tell by watching you that there's no chance of pushing through

This has been a busy week. We open the biggest show of perhaps our history on Friday. I will have 1 and 1/2 days to iron all the kinks out of the wireless microphones, and having everything sounding as pristine as possible while also continuing the M.E. duties. Also I have to op this show, apparently wireless mics dont mix themselves.

Still no word from grad school.

Thus far 2008 has been a banner year, in that nothing much has happened. I have no plans past the summer if grad school falls through, and I have 3 years worth of plans if it happens.

I have several offers of couches in various cities all over this country, if I find myself in August without work. Seeing as I am totally unattached they seem more appealing all the time. I have been in a rambling mood of late.

This is however a month of holidays. mardi gras has passed leaving us in lent, and I for one have decided to give something up for th first time since ever. I think it ridiculous that anyone would give something they enjoy up for any other reason than a personal lesson in self discipline, but such things are worthwhile at times, perhaps?

Also this thursday is St. Valentine's day, and though I have never had a valentine, excepting of course my 8th grade girlfriend of a whole 3 months, it is perhaps one of my favorite holidays. It is an excuse for a party and a time for all the lovers out there to act out.

And finally St. Patrick's day will be upon us soon. Need I say more?

Have you ever thought about what protects our hearts...

It has long been noted that humans enjoy patterns, be they patterns of behavior or patterns of events, numerals, or even visual artifacts. This can be either good or bad. Without it we would not have the beautiful symmetry of greco-roman architecture, or literary thematic symmetry. On the other hand, people often allow their lives to fall into ruts (road worn patterns) and lose touch through repetition.

To avoid such, I applied to grad school, and, for once, pro actively followed up. setting up my own interview and what not. It happened yesterday and I can report that it went as well as it possibly could. I also was able to see my dear and newly married friend Sam. After a good interview at school and a fantastic meal with Sam and his wife, I drove back this morning.

Who knows if I shall get in, but at this point there is little I can do about it.

Tomorrow I must catch up all some of the work I missed and then I have to drive 3 hours to see my first concert in a year. Its been far to long. Perhaps I shall post about that little road trip after it happens.

Everybody's working for the weekend...

So people stop me on the street and ask me, "What do you do with your life?" (this is a total fabrication, but I needed a lead in)

So after driving close to 14 hours down back roads the day after Christmas I arrive back in sunny FL, ready (though perhaps unwilling) to start work the next day. Here are the results. This ladies and gentlemen, is my first semi official lighting design. It was just a small 1 - 1/2 man show, with a modded plot from the show we closed before Christmas since I had 1.5 days with ~5 hours of tech with actors to make lights and sound work.

This all to say...










In other news it's now 2008, and I have resolutions for the first time I can remember. Usually, at least from what I understand, resolutions fail miserably. People get all excited about a new year and make promises to themselves they don't keep. Thanks a lot human nature, we all appreciate it...

Oh well we shall see shall we not.