In my efforts to understand myself better, I have been doing a lot of thinking lately, and not a lot of DOing. I know, it's unfortunate, and yes, it definitely is nobody's fault but my own. But I'm not going to sit here and blame myself or anything else for my lack of productivity, nor am I going to hem and haw about what I should be doing, so instead I'm just going to try my best and do what I know I am capable of doing.
I've used every excuse in the book, and I've realized I am an amazing liar. But the person I've been lying to the most is myself. If you go back through this blog, you'll see, just as I have, that I've had an excuse for everything that has gone the way I didn't want it to. Or I've just accepted the things I can't control and tried to move in another direction. But all of that is nil, now, it's in the past.
Here's something new: Accountability.
Being accountable for my own faults and successes amounts to more than just admitting it, it means actually owning those things and doing something about them.
Even this, this little piece right here is something, but it's still just talk. Now is the time for accountability, now is the time for taking the things I've learned about myself and applying them to my life.
I know that many of you are probably asking yourselves, "Hey, what's Jeremy been up to?" Well, I wish this was the epic, uplifting post you've all been waiting for, but unfortunately it's not. Instead, it's more of a blanket update of what I've been up to for the past few months. Hope it will suffice.
In April, I lost my job. It was a jolting experience that I don't recommend. I don't want to get into the details of what happened or why, but it happened, and it left me without a sense of purpose or plan. Quickly after this happened, though, I had the pleasure of joining a couple of friends at the Coachella rock n' roll festival in California. It was a mind-bending experience to say the least, and I got to see many of my "bucket list" bands for the first time. This includes Radiohead, At the Drive-In, Jeff Mangum (Neutral Milk Hotel), Black Keys, and more. The festival was a great opportunity to sort of relive those times in my youth where I was carefree and excited about all life had to throw my way. I imagine the experience to be much like leaving Earth for a few days to see what they do on another planet (hint: party).
As soon as I got back to reality, however, things changed. A sense of purposelessness and confusion set in, and I didn't know what to do with myself. I fled Detroit with my tail between my legs and headed back to the beach. I moved back to Wilmington in hopes that I would be able to reset and rediscover the things that would make me happy and feel fulfilled.
Luckily, I had the companionship of two of my very best friends to help me get some direction. Together, we began the process of writing a feature length screenplay in hopes of turning it into an epic and hilarious film the likes of which no one had ever seen. It taught me a lot about the process of screenwriting, and on the off hours, I was able to get a few drinks in me and who doesn't like those? Eventually, the project hit a lull and those two brilliant mates of mine had to return to their real lives, leaving me in the shadow of mine.
So what to do now? I wanted to travel. To take the opportunity of not having responsibility to go see the people in my life that meant the most to me and go places I had never been. So I started planning where and what to do with myself. I took a trip to New York City to see friends I had lost contact with, and even took a detour back to Detroit on the way home to see what was left there for me. I guess I didn't really find what I was looking for because I left in a hurry, and drove back to Wilmington to try and find a job. Any job would do, I thought.
What I realized was this was easier said than done. So I decided to keep traveling. I bought a one-way ticket to Los Angeles, the city where angels fly and dreams go to either die or be fulfilled. And a beautiful city it was. I reconnected with some other friends, and got a chance to see a place I had only read about, only to feel a sense of disappointment and ennui. Not to say that those things are universally true of Los Angeles, it was just the sense that I got when I was there.
While I've never been a faith-driven or spiritual person, I've also had some interest in the way the cosmos drives us, and so I did the closest thing I know to taking a spiritual journey. With the companionship of two of my favorite funny people, I went to Joshua Tree National Park to see what millions of years of nature has built for us. Again, I felt like I was on a different planet, but one much different than the Coachella experience. This was more humbling, strange and mystical. At one point, I got stuck on a rock with no way down, and it freaked me out just to the point where I thought I might have to live the rest of my life up there, baking in the sun like a lizard. Strangely, I was at peace with that, but ultimately used my better judgement and found a way down.
With Joshua Tree and Los Angeles behind me, I took advantage of my Left Coast status and went to San Francisco. There, I was able to see even more of my friends and enjoyed the neo-hippie, uber expensive lifestyle that only Californians can muster. I enjoyed it, but, something about it felt fleeting and overwhelming, despite the beauty and truth at every corner. I knew my vagabonding ways had to come to an end. I was running out of money and patience, and never found was I was looking for.
On the way back to Wilmington, I tried to assess what my travels had taught me, and I think the result was something quite beautiful. It might sound morbid and awful, but what I discovered was that this thing I went in search of didn't exist. I went on a journey trying to find my place in the world, but in reality, that place is wherever I am.
Almost immediately after arriving home in Wilmington, I packed my things and got back in the car. I headed back to Detroit to be with someone with whom I realized I loved very much, despite all the ups and downs we had experienced. So here I am, back in Detroit, my tail out from under me and my eyes wide open.
I have friends here as I have friends everywhere in the world, and I know that the people who are important to me will always be important to me, no matter what. There are things that people can teach you that places cannot, and there are things you can own because you choose them. But most importantly, the thing I hope I can really take away from my experiences is patience. It's a patience you have to discover about yourself, and not a patience for the world. The world is going to keep rotating, and it's not going to wait for you to figure your shit out. All you can do is find your way and keep living your life. So I guess I've learned that there's not some glowing beacon of light out there waiting to be found. Instead, it's inside me, and I've had it all along. Please note: I plan to write more in depth about my experiences, this is just meant to serve as an update so you know I'm not crazy (enough) or dead (yet). Please look for more posts from me about my adventures on this here blog, which I am super stoked to start back.
Have I ever told you that I am the type of person who values experiences over tangible things? Well I am. I have some "things" in my life that are important, but in the case of a fire, I know the handful of them I'd grab on my way out the door. Don't worry, the cat is one of them.
With all that considered, I've been taking advantage of weekend free time to do away with the things in my possession that have become superfluous space-wasters. I've got a few bins and boxes in my closet of things I am "storing." Storing for what purpose, though? I went through those bins and boxes to discover mounds of photos, clothes I hadn't worn in a year but still somehow felt the need to hold on to. Documents from yesteryear, even notebooks from my senior year in high school. Even more college stuff. Financial documents from banks that may be out of business by now.
I had a blast tonight with a fun group of people over at The Pinhook. Wolf Nipple Foofaraw, hosted by Megan Stein, was a conglomerate of area musicians who get together periodically to jam out with acoustic instruments. The intent is to encourage musicians of varying skill levels to play together in order to have fun and play kick ass music. It worked for me. I've been playing guitar for less than a year now, and this was the first time other than playing with Cameron on the front porch that I have played with other people. I felt I could hold my own enough to keep rhythm and play most of the chords, but whether I played well or not, the experience was a lot of fun and a good chance to hang out and play with other musicians.
Everyone was very accepting and friendly, and I have to hand it to the guys whom I followed for keeping it at a pace I could keep up with. We played some country greats, and some classic rock, including Dylan, The Band, and others. The group was about 12 strong, complete with a drummer, a mandolinist, a uker, a violinist, and a dude with a washtub bass. Yes, it was awesome.
After a while, people started to peel off and only a few of us remained. During a particularly decadent hoedown, we were joined by two gentlemen who I can only describe as "digging it." One of them broke out a harmonica and jammed with us for a while, and the other stomped and "freestyled" while we "jamboreed." He insisted on telling me to "pick that sh*t, mutha f*ck*!" and poked me and put his arm around me while I played the mandolin (rather well, considering) and I could basically taste the battery smell of malt-beverage-energy-drink on his breath.
Nonetheless, I had an awesome time jamming with Megan and friends, and it certainly inspired me in a way I haven't felt in a while.
My epic, over dramatic post yesterday made me think about my recent creative endeavors and the amount of time I spend doing them. I also started thinking about creativity in general, and though I have a project I am working on that will launch in the near future, I wanted to use my momentum to write something today, too.
I'm going to do a little experiment I'm calling Blog-ust. Yes, you're reading that pun right, and I'm sure its been used before, but for all intents and purposes, I made it up. For those of you who don't know, I make my living as a blogger. I'm a social media copywriter, to be specific, but I spend a lot of time writing blog posts for my clients. So much, in fact, that I don't often find the time to do exactly what I am doing right now: blogging for myself and for those of you who care enough about my life to read what I have to write. (Not that those of you who DON'T read this don't care about my life, you just don't have time. I understand.)
About 10 years ago, I began my comedy career training with The Other Side in Wilmington, NC. I learned the basics of improv comedy, and I figured out how to use my talents for making others laugh even more to my advantage. The feeling was addicting, and I wanted more. The instant gratification of saying something in front of a room full of people and having the place erupt into laughter was a rush for me.
The Other Side became my entire life. I waited tables to pay the bills and keep my liver pickled, but who wants to be a career waiter? Not me. I wanted to take my comedy career above and beyond what I was getting in Wilmington. That's not to say that I didn't love every minute of being on stage and playing with people whom I adored as friends and equals. I did. I relished in it. I met some of my best friends in the world during that time. But I needed more. I needed to prove to myself that I could "make it."
So I did what anyone did who wanted to "make it" in comedy: I moved to Chicago. At the time, Chicago was comedy Mecca. It's where you went when you wanted to learn. To make a name and a face for yourself. To experience the best shows in the world and hobknob with the best in the biz. To stand on the stage where Del Close once yelled at his classes and made magicians or failures out of them. I enrolled in classes at iO and went to shows all the time. I met people who were extremely kind and talented, and I met a lot of assholes, too. (The week I moved up to Chicago, I went with my roommate to a party where I was asked by this one asshole: So what are you doing here in Chicago? to which I replied Oh, comedy. Improv, you know. and was met with the response: Great. That's exactly what Chicago needs is another fucking improvisor.) Well, that didn't seem to stop me because I kept going. I played with an indie team with my classmates and on a team at The Playground (which is still around, I understand.) Improv was, again, my life. I waited tables and worked temp jobs in offices around Chicago, and I hated everything except for the time I'd get to spend with my friends and on stage or watching shows. So many shows. So many wonderful shows. But. So. Much. Crap.
The shows I saw made me furious because I knew I was better than many of the performers, but I wasn't getting a chance to play on the big stage. So after about a year of that, I did what any frustrated Chicago performer does. I moved away.
I had the opportunity to move back to NC, where I'd have the chance to perform again with a group of people whom I'd known and who I respected. I was welcomed back to NC with a new job, a great girl, and a new chance to show off what I'd learned in my time in the Windy City.
I moved in with a group of guys who were all very amazing players and even more amazing friends, and I had the time of my life. I started doing shows weekly, sometimes multiple nights, and I taught classes and again, surrounded my life with comedy and comedians. I traveled to other cities and brought the house down. I helped produce a festival. I felt respected and appreciated as a teacher and a leader, and it felt very good. Then things started falling apart. My friends started moving away to find whatever it was they were looking for, and I got cocky and bitter. Then the girl I loved moved away and I was heartbroken. I was sad and angry and I noticed I carried that on stage with me. My own performances felt phoned in, and I felt it affected others, too. So I did what I felt I needed to do. Something I hadn't done since I had started comedy. I took a break.
The break lasted about 3 months or so before I felt better, I felt like I needed that outlet in my life because it had always brought me so much joy. I missed it. I missed that instant gratification. So, I tried to come back and pick up where I had left off. Only it wasn't that easy. Because of the management of the theater where I had been performing, I was not welcomed back in the capacity which I had left. I was not allowed to perform or teach, and barely allowed to practice. I figured it would be an opportunity for me to push myself and try harder. See if this was what I wanted. But the harder I worked, and the harder I pushed, the more resistance I was met with. The director resented me, and didn't want me to succeed because he no longer trusted me. So I left that theater. It wasn't worth it to fight so hard to be in a community that had turned its back on me.
I enrolled in a class in Raleigh, and it was nice to get a fresh perspective. But my experience limited me more than it helped me. I understood all of the exercises because I had taught them before. It was like someone trying to tell you how to do a magic trick when its something you've known how to do for years. I couldn't learn any more tricks. Nonetheless, I found some more friends whom I enjoyed playing with, and we started a team. We played a few shows and practiced weekly, and yes, it was lots of fun. But fun wasn't cutting it. I felt like I was just doing it because that's what I do. But it got
easy again.
Around that time I heard news that my old friends from Wilmington were planning a reunion show, and I wouldn't miss it for the world. The show was fun, and it was wonderful to see my friends and perform with them again, but I knew that this was significant. It needed to end where it began.
If there was anything I did learn from comedy, specifically improv (and all in all, yes, I learned quite a bit) its that the end is in the beginning. Things have to come full circle in order to feel complete, and that show was significant in that way. I did do a couple of shows and a couple of practices after that, but for me, the TOS reunion show was the end of my comedy career.
Will I do shows again? Probably. (I'm very good, you see.) Did I make it? I never made much money from it, but I did get a lot of experience and I learned so, so many wonderful things about myself in the process. So in that way, yes, I definitely made it. Did I get famous? Absolutely not. But the thing I loved about it most was meeting the people I met as a result. Some of my best friends are still going at it, and I wish them the best of luck. I know I have some true friends out there who will ALWAYS be my friends, and I probably would have never met them if comedy hadn't been such a huge part of my life.
So thank you friends, teachers, fellow performers, and influences. I appreciate everything you've done for me over the past decade, but it's time for me to hang up my "comedian" hat for a while. Maybe some day, when I'm older and grayer, we'll do this again. Until then...
Tomorrow is my 30th birthday. This week has been nothing but hell for me so far, as I've been laid out in bed with stomach pains most likely brought on by my diverticulosis/itis. The interesting thing, though, is that my doctor says that I might have been misdiagnosed. She seems to think that what I have is more akin to colitis or Crohn's. All I know is that my stomach hurts 90% of the time, and sometimes things get too painful for me to even think. It could be a number of things, but I do know that I have not always been very good to my body. This means I've got to start being better to myself if I want to feel better about myself.
1) Write or be writing a book. - I wrote a crappy first draft of a novel about dragons and shit. It is terrible, but it served as an indication that I can write a full book's worth of stuff. 175 pages of something isn't too shabby.
2) Have at least one screenplay floating around out there. - Not even close. This isn't a huge priority, but is something I'd like to do in my lifetime.
3) Live by myself or with a significant other. (I love my current roommates, but I don't want any by the time I'm 30, no matter how cool they are.) - I lived with a significant other for a year, and then lived by myself for a year after that. The year I spent alone was one of the worst times in my life. Friends are important to me, and it is nice to have roommates. I could live with a sig other again, no problem. I rather enjoyed that, honestly.
4) Be making at least 35-50K a year. - Done. Now if I can learn to save some of that scratch I be making.
5) Live in one place for over a year. - What I think I meant by this is one house, but that hasn't really happened. I'm ok with that, though. I''ve never been the type to remain in a house for too long. Not a big deal.
6) Have traveled to Europe/ Asia/ Azerbijan. - No. But I did go to St. Maarten, Mexico, and soon, Hawaii.
7) Either have/ be working towards/ have decided not to pursue Master's Degree. - I have decided that this is not essential to my life or career.
8) Own a car. Maybe even a NEW car. - Done. I own a brand new car, and it often feels like an albatross around my neck. I would rather not own anything that weighs as heavy as a car.
9) Have been in some sort of commercial/ tv show/ film - I was in Americatown, which is good enough for me. Films and such are fun, but when I wrote this, my goal was to make money from doing it. I've since learned that doing things for money and doing things for love are much different.
10) Continue teaching and performing improv full-time, maybe even get paid to do it. - Improv has taken a big back seat for me. I'm ok with this. I know I am good at it, but it doesn't mean that I have to do it nonstop. There was a time when it stopped being fun, and I don't want that to happen again.
So now what?
Now, I have some new goals. There are a few things I'd like to do before I turn 35, but they are a bit more espteric, I think. Here they are, in no particular order:
1. Eat better.
2. Exercise more.
3. Work hard.
4. Be kind.
5. Do what you love.
I feel these are ongoing goals that I should keep in mind no matter what I do, and the rest will fall into place. I'm looking forward to this next chapter. I really am.
I finally got around to watching "The Room" and Jesus Christ, my world has changed. If you ever have the opportunity to treat yourself to this fine piece of cinema, please do it. Trust me. Here's what I'm talking about.
I told myself I had to stop spending so much time on the computer. Honestly, I thought I could do it. I vowed to shut down at 9pm and not look at the screen for the rest of the night. Last night, I shut the cover and went to bed at 11:30. Splendid. Tonight, I managed to go from 6pm to 8:30 pm before I cracked. I have been here since.
That being said, I did something productive in that time, so I am also proud of myself. I've been writing 2 stories for Name Your Tale every day possible. I slacked a bit this weekend, but my folks were in town so I didn't have much time in front of the keys.
I feel my writing is improving, and I accredit that to writing consistently. I've also been reading more, which feels really good. I picked up a book called And Here's the Kicker, which interviews some of the top humor writers out there. It's very entertaining and insightful, and has some great tips for getting into the industry. There may be hope for me yet.
I also got Patton Oswalt's My Weakness is Strong, which I love a lot. I like that dude, and I like what he's done for talented people I know (aka Ted Hobgood).
Also played music with Meg tonight, and was really satisfied with myself and how I was able to collaborate with music. I swear I don't have a musical bone in my body, but I sometimes really surprise myself.
Lastly, I think it is important to note that starting next Monday, I'll be taking a class over at ComedyWorx. I'm itching for improv. Wish me luck.
I feel like hell, but I've taken enough meds today to kill a horse. Hopefully that horse is the illness brooding inside me. This weekend was a lot of fun. I had a date with a very nice girl, and went to see Heather's band, Mount Moriah, open at the Midtown Dickens show. The place was packed, and I had a bit of anxiety and therefore had to stand outside in the rain for part of it so I wouldn't freak out. It is very strange dealing with this new feeling within large crowds. I never felt that way growing up, and honestly enjoy being around a lot of people. There is just something very uncomfortable when I am wedged in with so many folks. Nonetheless, the show was fun, and Ryan and I noticed how friendly everyone was. It was very atypical of hipsters, but I think the overall mood of the place was very positive. People were just there to have a good time, and not to show off for one another.
Tonight I went to Best Buy to get CF a webcam so we can chat online while she is far away in corn country, and while I was in Best Buy at Southpoint, I looked for Patton's new DVD/CD, My Weakness is Strong. They didn't have it, nor did they carry it. I have to say that that particular Best Buy is a shit show, and doesn't have many redeeming qualities. Boo for you, BB. Boo.
Speaking of establishments that fail to deliver, RS and I ate at Durham's new Cuban Revolution last night and Scott, you were right. Not only was the food just "meh," the service was horrid. Now, I have been a waiter aplenty, so I know if you only have one table, you definitely have time to wait on them. The dude didn't even bring out our appetizer himself. Pathetic. I am going to scour them on Yelp. (Which is too bad because I WANTED it to be good, but I won't be back.)
Lastly, today's weather made me really happy. I don't know if it was a combination of the rain and coolness outside and being in B&N, but I certainly felt the nudges of autumn smiling at me. I can't wait for October to get here. Anyway, the weather in tandem with being in B&N certainly respawned feelings in me that I haven't felt since last year in November for NaNoWriMo. I'm really looking forward to it again. This year, I want to write the book I want to write, and not just "experiemnt" like I did last year. It is still a little ways off, but nonetheless, it is exciting to think about.
First off, I'd like to say that if you get the chance, please treat yourself to seeing Inglourious Basterds in the theater. I think it was Tarantino's best work since Pulp Fiction. The film was calculated, violent, touching, and hilarious. I didn't want it to end.
In other news, it seems that I might have been too presumptuous in my hopes of finding someone with whom I'd like to start a relationship. Long story short, there was definitely something there, but she is recently out of a relationship, and isn't ready for a new one. I feel a little rejected, but deep down, I now it isn't anything I could have controlled. As the French say, though "So it goes." After the conversation we had I got very introspective and I felt pangs I haven't felt in a while, and I was worried for a moment I might slip back into what I went through the past year. But then I wised up and talked about it with the roomies and realized that the situation sucks, but there is not much I can do about it. Nevertheless, I had a great conversation with this girl in the car today, and I maintain that she is one of the most interesting people I have met in a while.
Anyway, I am planning on joining the Y in the very near future, because after I read through this blog the other day, I realize that I have been doing a lot of talking about getting in shape for a long long time, but in reality, I've not done anything. I have pictures to prove it. I am not setting any hard goals yet, because I think that my goals will be accomplished when I see what I want to see. Maybe that is a dangerous way to think, but then, I am one dangerous fella.
So, as I noted in my previous post, I have a few updates since I last blogged. In fact, a lot has changed, but I am only going to recap the more recent events. However, I will say that the past year feels like I was sleepwalking. I don't know that I've ever been so down and out in my life as I was from 08.08 - 06.09. You might know my tendency for being a bit over dramatic at times, but honestly, there was a lot of crap going on that forced me to change. I was resistant at first, but I now realize those changes have ultimately been the best thing for me. Anyway, here are some things that have happened recently:
I officially broke off my involvement with DSI. I wish I could say there are no hard feelings, but honestly, there are. I feel like I might have lost friends as a result of this, but there are a few whom I'd like to maintain a friendship with. This break was quite significant because improv and comedy have been a huge part of my life for the past decade, and now that I am not spending my time doing it, I feel like I have time to do some of the other things I want to. My plan is to work on doing more stand up and comedic writing to fill the void, as my creative process has become more of an individual endeavor. And maybe that comes from not feeling like I can trust others to support me in what I do. One door closes, another opens, yes?
My job is awesome, and is taking up a lot of my time. I found myself checking and responding to emails at the bar last night. That's dedication, friends. Things are busy right now, but that's awesome.
I am now a Durhamite. I moved in with my friend Ryan, whom I've known since college. We lived together before in 2000, and things have changed / not changed. I also have another roommate named Cameron, and he is good people, too. Our place is amazing. Loads of square footage and space, and I've even taken steps to make this place really feel like more of a home than a house. So far, so good. Oh, and the 4th roommate is an old friend, too. His name is Zen / Brandon / Jessica, and he's a cat.
I bought a brand new car. Yes, it was expensive and a quick decision, but it was necessary as the old one was on his way out, and I needed to think fast. Unfortunately, it didn't qualify as a "clunker" though. Meh, oh well.
My folks finally got out of Florida, and they seem to be very happy. My sister got engaged to a guy she really loves, so I am happy for her. It looks like the Griffins have made it through a dark spot over the past year+, but things are looking up, and that makes me happy, too.
Lastly, I've been doing some online dating, and it has been a great experience. I've been out with several girls, some of whom I had good chemistry with, others I didn't, and others still that there was interest, but not worth maintaining. HOWEVER, I did find someone I really like. She is a musician, a writer, and a genius. All that and stunning. I think she might like me, too, which makes it even better. I'll expand more on this in the future.
That's it for now, I suppose. Ryan and I are going to see Inglorious Basterds, which I've heard was great. We'll see. Expect a review soon. Cheers
-JSG
Well, it has been over a year since I "closed" this blog, but I have decided to open it back up to get back in the habit of blogging for myself. I'd like to say that I'll be doing it daily, or even consistently, but I am not going to set myself up for disaster by promising that to myself or you. I'll do it when I can, but honestly, I do plenty of writing on a daily basis, so I don't feel bad about not writing here every day. Plus I have another blog, if you didn't already know, and that will remain in tact, but this one will serve as a personal journal, and that one will serve up plenty of very funny and amazing pictures, videos and the like.
So, a quick recap of the day while I'm at it. Work felt lighter today than usual, and even though it has been busy, I enjoy what I do very much. I like the people I work with, and feel like I am doing good work. It's exhilarating.
Went to Durham Be Easy tonight, and got there just in time to see The Mountain Goats. Wow. Every time I see John Darnielle, I like him even more. His music is great, and I like his rapport and honesty with the audience.
RS and I went to Bull McCabe's downtown, where we ran into HM. It was her gf's b-day, and it was nice to say hi. They left pretty quickly, but understandably, as the bar was sort of wretched.
Met up with CT and his friend at Satisfaction, and I actually drank a Jagerbomb. Possibly one of the reasons I have the energy to write this now. I also armwrestled both CT and his friend. I lost terribly both times. It reminded me of what lousy shape I'm in.
I've got some other news to update, but for now, this is going to have to do. I'm probably going to do some updating to the design of this site, and my other sites too, but I'm not going to rush it.
I watched The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters last night, and it was easily one of the best documentaries I have seen. The world of gaming is much seedier and strange than I had expected. If you get a chance, please check it out. Also, I recently saw a few other fantastic docs at the Full Frame Documentary Festival.
I'll be playing some bitchin' Air Guitar in Troy Sterling's Air Guitar Madness this and next Saturday. You should come and see it and participate, too. Oh man. Pictures from last week can be found here.
I start a new job on Monday. I'm really excited about it, and I'll have the opportunity to write professionally. Not sure in what capacity, but writing nonetheless.
I am the owner of a new (used) car. I forgot that driving can be so much fun. (Mine is black.)
Spring is (basically) here. I played disc golf with a friend recently, and it was exhilarating.
I've been reading and drawing almost every day. Some writing in there, too. It feels good.
I've lost 18 pounds since January and I'm going to the gym 3-4 times a week. That feels great.
I haven't updated in a while, but I won't apologize. I've honestly been pretty busy with work and improv, and some other creative projects that I want to work on. I'm also trying to find a way to let my creative endeavors take on a new form. I'm not sure what that is yet, but I think if I foster enough of my creative abilities, it will show itself.
Recently, I got a bunch of titles from friends over at DSI. Here's a sampling of what i did with some of those titles, and a possible avenue for what I want to do artistically.
Cast of the festival Bat: (counterclockwise) myself, Jane Borden, Zach Ward, Douglas Sarine, Jeff Griggs, Rene Duquesnoy, Kevin Patrick Robbins, Dan Izzo, Mark Sutton, and Joe Bill
