Friday, August 21, 2009

Things are stirring up on the New Colony blog----check it out. Worth reading in general. Check it out:

http://www.thenewcolony.org/wordpress/

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Good things

Recommendations:

See: Theatre Seven's "Lies and Liars"
Read: Philip Roth's "The Counterlife"
Rent (eventually): "District 9" (not necessarily good enough to go see in theatres...but wonderful accents!)
Eat: Jerry's Sandwiches in Wicker Park on Division

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Wall Carvings

I occasionally have trouble with old photographs.

Trouble is the wrong word. Difficulty processing? Mistaken expectations? Like many people, I find it hard to look at an old photograph and remember that the people in it lived-felt-breathed in exactly the same way that I do.

Then, other times, I get the all-important paradigm shift, where I can do nothing but read and imagine lives for each person I see. Complex stories, emotions, wants and needs for each still image. Refreshing, worrisome.

The long and short of it? Insomnia is a predatory thing, and catches up with us at unexpected times. 3:28, I should be back in bed, but sleep is a bit hard to come by these days.

Sunday, August 9, 2009

Chicago Life

I'm not a big proponent of money. I live frugally, spend thriftily, and like to think I give generously.

But man alive- life is so much easier when you are making enough to live comfortably.

If working for the Museum (versus certain other lines of work) has taught me anything, it might be this. Also, it's much better to love your job than not...but we'll get to that later. Or possible not.

These days, I'm able to shop for food without worry or guilt, see theatre regularly, and contribute to worthy causes. I can buy a friend dinner and not note in the back of my head that I won't be able to buy peanut butter for the next two weeks. All in all, not bad.

Since this is turning out to be a work update---both jobs are going swimmingly. Harry Potter at the MSI is exactly as hillarious and fun as it sounds, and I've been offered a staff position (!!!) at collaboraction---I'm the new "Marketing Coordinator"---which is very exciting. A nice situation, because I really believe in the art they do---if you haven't checked them out, follow these links:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yw9n18CZ7JI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzverWrSXsQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cS_9fHfwbvo


Had the first rehearsal for my next theatre piece---staged reading a friend based on interviews with a man named Jacob who survived the holocaust, and the diary of his sister Sarah. Amazing, I feel very lucky to have the chance to work on it and see it grow. We'll be doing two nights of readings at the end of August--24th and 25th, with StrangeLoop theatre---www.strangelooptheatre.org. Come check it out!

That's what I've got for now. More later? Possibly less self-indulgent navel-gazing...but not likely.