On the 11th Day of Christmas...

My Universe gave to me...

A Port in a Storm

I don't know how it works for you but it's very important for me to create an atmosphere that is familiar, consistent, safe and comfortable. I've never been one of those people that can write in a cubicle, a coffee shop or a park. I can blog, I can email, I can IM, etc. anywhere. But to go where I need to go within myself to give birth to my characters and the stories they inhabit...I need peace and reasonably assured privacy.

My friends, the Many's have afforded me such a place. Their very own home. They have been astoundingly loving and giving to me and understanding of me. They offered me a port in my storm. I am allowed to come and go without announcement. No questions asked. If I'm having a dark day they leave me be til I'm ready to be human again.

The room I write in was once their oldest son's...now a dvd library of sorts. It sits at the very front of the house and also has a door to their laundry room. I don't either shut the door when I'm there because somehow the room is removed enough from the hustle bustle of the rest of the house while still allowing me to hear the comforting sounds of life around me. Except when it sounds like there are tennis shoes in the dryer. There's a big overstuffed chair and ottoman by the window where I set up shop. Their two dogs - Huskies named Lexi and Tasha, are my muses. They greet me with wild joy every single time they see me and eventually settle in on the floor at my feet, to keep me company. It's a truly beautiful thing. When I'm there, I can feel all the promise of what's possible, tangibly once more.


It's no small gesture to open one's home to someone...no matter how much you care for them...I don't think I could do it. But the Many's are extraordinary people. And I am very lucky to benefit from their kindness. I hope to be able to thank them properly some day but I know they're not keeping tabs.

On the 10th Day of Christmas...

My Universe gave to me...

HULU!!!

I know so many people who feel the same way! As we've all reviewed our budgets and nixed everything but the bare essentials, many of us tried to save cable until the bitter end. Because, at least to me, TV is a bare essential...and there was Hulu to step into the breach.

Hulu, I thank you from the bottom of my heart...I've heard that you want to start charging...and I get that...you are providing an invaluable service by making it possible to survive without cable...I may never go back except for those HBO/Showtime shows that aren't available...but please, please don't start charging until we can all afford it! I had to suspend my beloved Netflix account this year and I miss it.

And BTW, what the hell is up with TNT, Lifetime and CBS? Seriously, you couldn't just allow your content to be viewed on Hulu? Your servers are too weak to sustain the stream and makes viewing very un-user friendly. Therefore, I am not watching your shows. Boo.

But Hulu? I love ya! You've been a lifesaver.

On the 9th Day of Christmas...

My Universe gave to me...

James Franco on General Hospital!

Again, in dark times, it's often just the seemingly silliest things that get me through.

I enjoyed getting caught up in the hype of James Franco...one of my favorite actors...seeking out a role on a show that I have watched since Luke & Laura days. I was insanely excited...not only for myself but for the actors on the show. What a great energy boost for them. These actors put out some great performances under the gun and on the fly...there is little to no rehearsal and rarely more than one take...I can tell you from first hand experience that there are no six figure movie stars who can deliver under those circumstances...

It was such fun to watch Kirsten Storms' Maxie get seduced by "Franco." And the twinkle in Anthony Geary's eyes when he and the movie star spray painted on the 'art'...priceless.

And by the way...Not enough has been said about the return of Jonathan Jackson, to the role he originated. I watched his Lucky Spencer grow up. He is a mezmerizing actor who has brought back a lot of the layering and shading of that character. Greg Vaughns Lucky was solid and had a strong "hero" vibe...you never know with Jackson's version...

So, the orignial giddiness of James Franco's presence has worn off because I enjoy watching this cast no matter who guests with them...but like I said, sometimes it's the silliest things that get me through to the next better moment...so Bravo to Franco and to GH for contributing to my bridge over troubled waters this year.


Still can't wait to see how the storyline plays out!

On the 8th Day of Christmas...

My Universe gave to me...

The Generosity of Friends

2009 has been a Witch's tit of a year..To many...Some of those many are my friends. Friends who have been having a tough go of it this year as well...but these friends have been incredibly good to me...

One friend was keeping me supplied with weed for months....MONTHS, for free...Others treated me to things that are usually on the casualty list when you've been unemployed for a looooong time...a nice meal out, a few drinks at the local pub, a movie complete with popcorn and soda. There is something so humanizing about these social mores...they make one feel infinitely better about ones self. The generosity of these friends has overwhelmed me at times...also overwhelming has been the deafening silence or the breakneck backpedaling of other 'friends'. But, I've been working on letting that be about them and not me. Who knows what fears our circumstances trigger in others. Who knows - indeed - what burdens and hardships others are facing and trying to keep under wraps.

But, I am so touched by the generosity I have been shown this year and I look forward to being able to supply the same for someone when I can.

I love you all. You know who you are.

On the 7th Day of Christmas...

My Universe gave to me...











My MacBook Pro

Originally purchased in 2008, this baby is my lifeline. It allows me...nay commands me to continue to be creative, no matter my circumstances.

It's a complete studio in a sleek brushed silver package. It's been along on all of my travels. Has ituned in Cannes, digitized in San Francisco, wifi'd for free in the middle of Central Park at midnite. It goes to bed with me, it's been to the head with me...It's my single most valuable and meaningful possession. I love my Mac!

On the 6th Day of Christmas...

My Universe gave to me...

Katt Williams!

I couldn't possibly say enough about how much I love and appreciate this man. I'm not even going to bother posting any youtube clips because there are too many to choose from. He is brilliant. He is genius. He is funnier than shit while observing the way of the world and bringing those observations back home to roost with his audience...


He is a potent antidote for whatever ails me...and I need a BIG dose of him today. When you see this level of brilliance it's difficult to not believe that there's something bigger than us as individuals out there...


I LOVE YOU KATT!!!! I GOT YOUR BACK!!

On the 5th Day of Christmas...

My Universe gave to me...

FACEBOOK

Never really got into Friendster. I have a MySpace page but can't remember how to access it and haven't been on it in years. I joined Facebook at the urging of a hipster friend who said it was a "must." Especially if I was doing comedy. And my hipster friend, who's name rhymes with Schmoo was correct!

What's been awesome about it is being able to stay connected with people who are no longer in my immediate orbit but who used to delight me in one way or another. Even the worst days could be made a tiny bit better by seeing their always witty, interesting, funny posts. It's also very gratifying when other people "get" me and respond in kind. When I was in my deepest, darkest depression, this summer - literally going nowhere, seeing no one - I could and often would go to Facebook. It's always there, no matter the time of day or night. During that time, I even got really sucked into Mafia Wars - it kind of became my "job" over the summer. I got great satisfaction watching my fake bank account grow to over a billion. At least I had money stashed in the virtual world!

What's been fascinating from an anthropological viewpoint is that, even though keeping in touch with someone on Facebook is literally a click away...some people are apparently "too busy" to even maintain that level of civility. I love posters who take the time to declare "I'm so busy I don't know what to do!" but obviously have time to post that. Howeve,r do not have time to respond to me. That was bothering me a lot for a while. But a few months ago, I just decided "Fuck it!" and defriended a bunch of people. Not in a retribury way. My goal was to reduce stress in my life wherever possible and easy to do so. Stressing about a long time friend who's just too cool for school to interact with me? No more. Deleted. Funny thing is, once that happened some of these people contacted me "I haven't seen your Facebook status in a while. Are you ok?" And I'm not mad at them. I get that everyone has their own stuff going on. But, don't get your stuff on my stuff. Everybody's happy. No one gets hurt.

Aother really cool by-product of putting myself out there on a social networking site has been that it really has exposed me to people who didn't know me before but "friended" me because they enjoy what I put up. Three of those people came to my show in September. That was really cool. Thanks Facebook!