The year In Review (2010)

Let's look back at the year 2010 and hit some of the highs and lows of the last 365 eays, shall we?

1) Polar Bear Plunge - This past January I, along with hundreds of other brave souls, jumped into the Chesapeake Bay in the middle of a snow storm! I raised several hundred dollars for the Maryland Special Olympics and froze my butt off! It was amazing: amazingly bad weather, amazingly cold, and amazingly fun!
2) Frozen - I only acted in one theatrical production during the 2010 calendar year and that was Colonial Players of Annapolis' production of 'Frozen' by Bryony Lavery. I played an unsavory sort of character, and the play was very dark and depressing. We opened late due to the severe winter weather but the production was well received and even started some discussion of possible awards. We're still waiting to see if that pans out.
3) Ivymount - In 2009 I left my teaching job at The Ivymount School, in hopes of returning to Chicago. Instead I stayed local and found myself working several low-paying jobs, and wishing for something more fulfilling. I eventually called up Ivymount, started substituting regularly and then was offered a full time contract as an assistant teacher. Many things have changed in my time at the school, and I miss the Expressive Arts teaching position (Music/Drama) but I am happy to be working. I am happy to be back in Special Education and I am happy to see the students everyday.
4) Taxes - We got whored! Recently, I discussed our tax woes with a relative and this relative said to me, "How can you guys owe so much, you don't make anything?" That was exactly our question at the time. Apparently, we both had worked contracted jobs during the previous year and hadn't put aside enough money to cover the taxes owed ob those jobs... completely our fault. Still sucked being told we owed that much money to the IRS when we barely make enough to cover our bills.
5) 35 - In 2010 I turned 35 year old. It wasn't a big deal. I just turned another year older and mourned the passing of my younger years.
6) The Wrong Package - This past July I had another script of mine produced for a theatrical production. 'The Wrong Package' debuted as part of the Colonial Players of Annapolis' One Act Festival. It was directed by a friend of mine, a very talented director, and reader of this blog. Some things worked somethings did not. It's always interesting to see my words come to life on stage. I was happy with the production.
7) Chicago - Also in July, Sara and I took a quick road trip to Chicago for a wedding. We had a great time! We stayed with my brother, Bert, and his wife, Stephanie, who live in our old neighborhood. We got to see some old friends, visit old haunts, and enjoy the city we both miss so much.
8) Minnesota - In August we flew to St. Paul/Minneapolis area to visit the Patsy clan. We were in town for the In-Laws 40th Wedding Anniversary, and my Mother-in-Law's birthday! We visited with family, and friends, sat out by the pool and Sara even took me to the Minnesota State Fair for some fried foods, and fun!
9) Department Change - Whilst in Minnesota I received a phone call from my boss. Long story short: I was asked to move over into a different department at school. I had been working with students with Asperger's Syndrome, and was enjoying my job. I had developed a great relationship with the staff, and students. I was being asked to move into the Post High School department and work as a one to one with an older student who would be working out in the community a lot, and getting ready to graduate in another year. After my employment problems of the past year, I was just happy to have a job I enjoy and so I accepted the change. It's been an interesting change in schedule, methods, and mindset. I still enjoy my job.
10) Car - We bought a car! That's right, we finally gave in and bought a car. For the past year or so it's been a joke with us as to which would fail us first; Sara's car, my car or our computer. Turns out Sara's car was 1st to go. So we traded in her clunker and got a nice used KIA Rio5. (See my December posts.)

So to review, many things happened in 2010. It was an eventful, not always fun, or pleasant year. It wasn't as bad as 2009 but it still could've been better. We're still paying off tax debt, now compounded with car payments, and trying to stretch our paychecks longer than they'll allow. We're still looking for the answers. We're still asking the questions. We're hopeful for 2011.

A Month To Write

I received an email the other day from a theatre company in Illinois that, in the past, I have submitted scripts to for production. They've never produced any of my scripts. They're inviting me to submit again for their upcoming 10 Minute Play Festival! They've come up with a new theme and the deadline is February 1st 2011.

Now to be frank, I have not been inspired lately. I can't remember the last time I actively worked on writing or reviewing any of my incomplete projects. I've had the last week off from my job and didn't use the time to write. (I did receive a rejection email a few weeks back from a literary magazine that was not interested in some of my short fiction. So that was probably the last time I worked on writing, and I submitted them a month or so ago.) I have not been a writer recently.

Last night I got into a discussion with a friend of mine about a screenplay he's developing. I really enjoyed his concept and hearing his ideas. It inspired me!

Here's what I'm suggesting. I am going to submit a 10 Minute script to the aforementioned theatre company by February 1st 2011. I am giving myself a goal and a deadline. I started brainstorming this morning, and developed a brief outline for a short script that falls within the theme. I will use the 1st month of the coming year to write, review, revise, and submit a brand new One Act. I am going to start out the new year with a writing project and get things started on a positive note! I then hope to revisit some of my incomplete projects and get back to writing. I miss the creativity.

Over 1/2 Way Through The Winter Break!

... And it occurs to me that so far I have not been as productive with my free time as perhaps I should've been. It is a vacation, after all, but I am starting to feel like a bum. Perhaps I should review some of my writings - it's been awhile since I've written anything and I still have numerous projects waiting to be completed. I promised I'd straighten the house some when I get the chance... it'll happen eventually. I have spent my time watching a few movies, finishing The Dispossessed, starting Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal, and sitting around on my couch. I have also been working on memorizing lines for my next show which will start rehearsals in January.

Oh, and we bought a car! We finally bit the bullet and traded in Sara's clunker, and purchased a used KIA Rio5. It's a sporty little blue number and so far we really enjoy it. We'll see how we feel once the payments start, but I will no longer worry, every time the phone rings, that Sara is calling me from the side of the road, stranded as her car is engulfed in flames. A little peace of minds is nice.

'Twas The Night Before Christmas...

...And Sara & Tootsie are asleep on the couch, 'A Christmas Story' is on the TV, and I'm online checking the Santa tracker! Happy Holidays Everyone! Merry Xmas!

Did You See The Moon?

Sara and I woke twice last night to sneak peeks at the lunar eclipse. We watched the very beginning of the process and then woke up almost 2 hours later to see it nearing it's conclusion - we'd overslept the alarm to see the eclipse at its totality. It was the first time in nearly 4 centuries that a lunar eclipse coincides with the Winter Solstice. I woke up this morning thinking about all of the cool, little things that happen everyday that we might miss if we're not paying attention. Sometimes we need to just slow down and take a look around us. Thank you, Sara, for suggesting we moongaze last night.

Thankfully My Head Hasn't Exploded... Yet!

We're trying to buy Sara a car! That's right, we've thrown in the towel! Her lemon of a VW Golf is limping along on its last legs, or balding tires, and blown shocks,with its crumbling exhaust coughing along on its way towards a death rattle. Good Riddance!

The VW was our first attempt at buying a used car from someone other than my parents and it wasn't a shining success. A few months after buying the car the alternator went - Adam and I replaced the starter - and then ever since then the car has been a nightmare. It burns oil, leaks oil, shorts, shakes, stutters, and drives Sara crazy. It has lasted several years with us nursing it along, and spending more money on it than we purchased it for originally. It is no longer reliable and with winter approaching we don't want to take a chance of Sara getting stranded on the side of the road or blowing up one morning as she tries the ignition.

So we headed off to Carmax. We checked out several models and makes of affordable cars, test drove two and even looked into financing. Without boring you to death, we liked a car, were approved for financing, and walked away with plans to return later in the week and finalize the transaction. We walked out of the dealership feeling great. Then negative thoughts start to take over! Interest looms over your head! Financial stress compounds! Doubt! Remorse! ARGGGHH!

Keep in mind we're first time car buyers, so what may not seem like a big deal to you has taken over the last day and a half of my life and the repercussions threaten to resound for years to come. (So I'm being melodramatic. Indulge me!) Everyone we talk to has a different opinion, some are supportive to up to a point, and others choose to play devil's advocate meanwhile they're all just creating more questions. We've already gone back and forth several times and it seems like the waffling might continue until the deal is signed.

Whatever we choose will be our decision and I guess we'll have to live with that decision whether it be good or bad. This is what grown ups do, right? They experience new things, learn as they go, overcome obstacles, and eventually understand the world of finances, right? Hopefully, I won't stroke out before we drive the car off the lot!

Some People Suck @ Life!

I listen to a local morning radio show on my commute to work each day, and it's usually good for a few laughs. This morning I tuned in and suddenly saw red! I was livid; as were many other listeners.

A woman called into the show looking for some support! She was recently suspended from her job at a car dealership, and was wanting to hear from the DJ that she had been grievously wronged and had a potential lawsuit on her hands. She was positive that she was was being victimized by her employer. Her offense was that she had been refusing to show certain car models, and not allowing test drives to certain car buyers... the physically disabled ones!

That's right, this 'C You Next Tuesday' was discriminating against physically disabled individuals! She did not see it that way. Her defense was that she'd been selling cars for a long time and knew when a customer was really going to buy a certain car and didn't feel like wasting time by showing cars to disabled people who wouldn't really buy them. She could not believe that the DJ and his morning crew did not see her point of view and was really surprised when listeners started calling into verbally bash her narrow-mindedness! I just shook my head, let the anger melt away, and enjoyed my already stressful morning commute.

'Tis The Season

I have seen numerous theatrical productions, movie versions, and cartoon parodies but up until today I don't think I've ever read the original Dickensian short story: The Christmas Carol. It was a fun, familiar read, and the story brought a smile to my face. Then later this evening Sara and I set up our Christmas tree and I found the pictured ornament: a mini-version of A Christmas Carol. We watched the movie 'Scrooged' as we decorated the tree. I'll sit down and watch the real movie versions, I have two, of it before the holidays are out, and this Wednesday I'll be attending the Colonial Players' production of the show. Now if only I could find some figgy pudding!