Today struck me as an inspirational day, nothing out of the ordinary happened, I woke up, I tended to my daily routine of getting groceries, and making myself dinner, but three instances had an influence on me today which made it somewhat more unique than had they never happened.
The first instance came when I was reading the news on the Internet about Jon Stewart's reaction to the tragedy in Tuscon Arizona where a crazed gunman killed six people and wounded fourteen including a congresswoman. The article inspired me to look up Stewart's speech myself. What I saw was nine minutes of an articulate intelligent speaker, a man who's job it is to satirize the daily events, humanizing a travesty. Stewart cut through the bullshit mostly seen on news stations where political pundits try to point fingers at who's to blame, you could tell he was speaking from the heart. I've been a loyal follower of Stewart since I first saw his show many years ago, he's the most forthright and honest man on television right now, it's no wonder he has more integrity than actual newsmen because he's allowed tell it as he sees it.
Watching the nine minute video put me in a reflective mood, I wanted to be alone with my thoughts after that, I wanted to digest what I had just seen, I was moved by Stewart's words.
A little while had past, it was now about six o'clock, dinner time, I was in my room, kinda wondering what I would do next, not sure. I started unpacking some stuff since I had just moved into a new place. Something struck me, it was a painting on my wall. I had purchased a calendar of Renoir paintings for the new year, it was the first thing I hung on my wall, but I realized I haven't really looked at it since I bought it. I noticed it past the corner of my eye, it was a painting of a crowd scene at a dance. There are many people in the painting, to me it's capturing a moment in time. I don't know much about Renoir or his paintings, but they struck me this one particular day when I saw the calendar. I liked the paintings for a very personal reason, they simply spoke to me, the faces, the people, what they were doing, how it was all captured, I found real truth in what he was trying to convey.
After viewing the painting for a few moments, I got the urge to watch a film, I went to my vast movie collection, the first thing I had unpacked fully and took out a film I had seen many times before. It was "Manhattan" from Woody Allen, I love the film I think it is probably my favorite Woody Allen film. Watching it this time, I happened to notice certain things I hadn't before, as well as remembering favorite scenes that have always struck me as marvelous. There is of course the scene with Woody and Diane Keaton walking through the planetarium, photographed as if they are in space.
The film ended, and I felt a fullness of life and love and wonder. I was suddenly hungry, I missed dinner time, it was now 8:45pm, I went upstairs, the kitchen was a mess, I took some time and cleaned the kitchen, not watching the clock or anything, I fixed myself a meal, I finished everything by 10:00pm, I now felt the urge to sit down and write about these three experiences I had today. Before I go to bed, I think I'll read a few chapters from a book.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Monday, January 3, 2011
New Years Resolutions
I have to say on a professional level, 2010 was a banner year, I was writing more than ever, I enjoyed my time on Bullskit better than before, I directed the "It's a Wonderful Life" radio play at The Matchbox, which was a tremendous success both professionally and personally, and I started prepping for a short film which is a personal passion of mine.
Right now I'd say I'm in a good place, despite the fact that I have to move yet again from the place I am (I was there for only three months), it's a slight setback. This year I hope for focus on more of the things that make me happy and do things I have yet to do that I haven't done yet. Here's a list of my New Years resolutions.
1. Go to Paris: Well Europe in general, this is the big thing I want to accomplish, I've never been over seas, yes I feel it's expensive, and I personally don't like being broke, since I've been that before. I don't know exactly what I want my plan to be, whether I should backpack there, go on a week long tour, go with someone, go alone, I don't know, but I know I want to experience a different culture than I have been, and right now Paris represents so much for me, it's a place for art, for intellectuals, for pretty much everything that excites me.
2. Write a full Length play.: I've written two small one-act plays, I've been struggling to move forward from that, to move out of my comfort zone sort of speak. I think I'm ready to write a full length play, I have ideas in my head that are developing into something more labyrinth in my mind, I'm sure whatever is in my head will find its place onto the page.
3. Get a place of my own.: It may be the fact that I turned 30 a month ago, or the fact that I'm tired of answering to untrustworthy landlords, but I'd like to find a permanent place for myself, somewhere I can have the space and comfort for all my belongings without feeling I'm in anyone's way. I'm not saying I'll buy a place, but at least find somewhere or be financially dependent to be 100% completely independent.
4. Spend more time with family: This past year hasn't been easy on the family Robinson, we had some tragedy that makes you remember what really is important in life. My family hasn't been that close, but we do come together in times it really counts. Many of my non-immediate family are like strangers to me, but I'd like to change that. Some of my cousins are the same age as me, and they are people I like to get to know more.
5. Finish all the books that I own: I've been a huge collector of books for years now, usually when I come into chapters I buy a new one, but I've made a solemn oath that I will not buy another book until all the ones on my shelf are read.
6. Direct another play: I did have a mini-panic attack after doing "It's a Wonderful Life", sometimes wondering what I was doing, but in the end I was happy and proud with the finished product, and I liked working with my whole creative team, so I wouldn't mind trying my hand in it again, it probably means having to read more plays than I am used to, but I think if I can find something that really interests me, I would love to do it.
So that's about it for now, I hope 2011 is another good year personally as well as professionally, I'll continue doing things that make me happy which includes writing in these two blogs as much as I can, happy New Year to everyone who reads this.
Right now I'd say I'm in a good place, despite the fact that I have to move yet again from the place I am (I was there for only three months), it's a slight setback. This year I hope for focus on more of the things that make me happy and do things I have yet to do that I haven't done yet. Here's a list of my New Years resolutions.
1. Go to Paris: Well Europe in general, this is the big thing I want to accomplish, I've never been over seas, yes I feel it's expensive, and I personally don't like being broke, since I've been that before. I don't know exactly what I want my plan to be, whether I should backpack there, go on a week long tour, go with someone, go alone, I don't know, but I know I want to experience a different culture than I have been, and right now Paris represents so much for me, it's a place for art, for intellectuals, for pretty much everything that excites me.
2. Write a full Length play.: I've written two small one-act plays, I've been struggling to move forward from that, to move out of my comfort zone sort of speak. I think I'm ready to write a full length play, I have ideas in my head that are developing into something more labyrinth in my mind, I'm sure whatever is in my head will find its place onto the page.
3. Get a place of my own.: It may be the fact that I turned 30 a month ago, or the fact that I'm tired of answering to untrustworthy landlords, but I'd like to find a permanent place for myself, somewhere I can have the space and comfort for all my belongings without feeling I'm in anyone's way. I'm not saying I'll buy a place, but at least find somewhere or be financially dependent to be 100% completely independent.
4. Spend more time with family: This past year hasn't been easy on the family Robinson, we had some tragedy that makes you remember what really is important in life. My family hasn't been that close, but we do come together in times it really counts. Many of my non-immediate family are like strangers to me, but I'd like to change that. Some of my cousins are the same age as me, and they are people I like to get to know more.
5. Finish all the books that I own: I've been a huge collector of books for years now, usually when I come into chapters I buy a new one, but I've made a solemn oath that I will not buy another book until all the ones on my shelf are read.
6. Direct another play: I did have a mini-panic attack after doing "It's a Wonderful Life", sometimes wondering what I was doing, but in the end I was happy and proud with the finished product, and I liked working with my whole creative team, so I wouldn't mind trying my hand in it again, it probably means having to read more plays than I am used to, but I think if I can find something that really interests me, I would love to do it.
So that's about it for now, I hope 2011 is another good year personally as well as professionally, I'll continue doing things that make me happy which includes writing in these two blogs as much as I can, happy New Year to everyone who reads this.
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