Wednesday, June 30, 2021

NEW ENGLAND BLOG June 30th, 2021 - Flying to Providence, Rhode Island

 


06/30/21- Finally, after a 2020 year of craziness we are able to travel.  Our son just turned 21 and we flew out four days ago from New York to Las Vegas to celebrate.  Since we booked a few months in advance we were able to upgrade our seats to First Class using our miles and couldn’t have been happier with the meal service, drinks, lay-flat seats and speedy accommodations through security for that six hour flight.

Fast forward to this morning.  Our four days in Vegas were fun and yet very hot (as much as 110 degrees), but we’re now ready to start our New England portion of our trip as our flight is set to leave at 11:55am.

Grabbed an UBER and our flight left on-time despite a passenger being kicked off the plane for not wanting to wear her mask.  That’s a fine that would’ve been better suited to playing the tables in Vegas.

Connecting flight through Detroit brings us to Providence, Rhode Island around 11pm where we’ll be for the first night.  Tomorrow will mark our first official day on this East Coast swing and can’t wait to get started.

Tuesday, April 25, 2017

My novel "October"

Things are picking up for me on my book.  I finished my first novel last year in November called "October"  It took me parts of four years to write.  I say parts because I only wrote the book in the month of October.  Hence, the title.  It goes beyond that, however, as the story itself takes place in that month.

Since finishing it, I have felt accomplished, happy, confident and eager to start a sequel which I did in February.  Called "October Sun" it takes place four years later where the first one left off and so far I am about a third of the way through.  Nine chapters so far and 22k words (102 pages).  Originally I felt these would be two separate book with the second being a stand alone.  But now I am considering combining them into one larger novel calling the first "Session 1" and the second part "Session 2"

A ton of options I have and I am quite happy with my progress since starting in 2013.  Regardless, the tough road is still ahead as am editor and publisher would be my next steps.

At this point, I am unsure how far I can take this.  All I know is I have a bit of an understanding of what I can do and hope that I can do something with it.  Should be an interesting road ahead.

Saturday, April 22, 2017

The Scary Truth of Myself

With every year that passes, I feel my intellect also growing.  Of course this may not be anything new to some as people are suppose to learn from their experiences.  But that is not what I am necessarily talking about.  No, when I say growing I actually mean my untapped potential.

The more I begin to understand what drives me, the more separated I feel from everyone else.  I really do not strive to feel this way, it is just so hard to go back once you know.  Okay, now I am sure I have lost some of you (or most of you), but that is just my point.

I use to thrive on blending in with people.  I could dumb down my senses to get along with anyone at any time.  Of course I have always been withdrawn to some degree and have preferred to be on my own many times, but I just figured it was because I just needed to work on my personality more.  So, over the years I fought with myself to be more extroverted.  My sense of humor grew out of that as I tried to have people see the wit inside me.  I came to realize that I also really loved the challenge of this, so much so that I started to forget WHY I was doing this in the first place.

No longer was I showing off to fit in, but suddenly I was doing it to show how different I actually was compared to everyone else.  Out of that notion grew to where I am at today; a person who has found my potential to write and create beautiful things.  Yet, out of that creativity I have found myself to be more and more of a recluse.

Why do I have this strange need to constantly distance myself from the rest of the population?  Could this be my way of creating something unique at all times, not wanting to follow in someone else's footsteps?  Perhaps.  That very well could have a lot to do with this, but it can't be the only reason.

I think I am beginning to see what I can do when I simply block out the world around me.  I start to crave that inspiration within so much that I have abandoned my social life all together.  Of course, I haven't completely set sail from my friends, but I haven't minded being apart from them more often either.

It's true that the higher intellect a person has, the more they observe what is around them.  I find myself constantly aware of my surrounding, who's in it, what is going on and how to prepare myself for almost every outcome I may face.  Before, I thought this was a sort of fear of not being ready and caught off guard, which actually is most of what I feel.  More so I have learned that the more I prepare myself, the smoother my emotions can be overall, allowing me to judge situations quickly and at a steady pace.

I can do wonderful things because I allow myself to think things through without throwing too much emotion into the equation.  This is something I have learned that very little people can actually do. I use to judge these people for whatever reason I saw fit, but now, in some ways, I envy them for being able to turn a blind eye when I can't.

My mind is in constant motion.  I have written full length books, screenplays, taught myself how to draw, photograph, repair things in need as well as manage my finances.  I even have much larger aspirations that if I really put my mind to it I know I will achieve in the not too distant future.  But there is one rare quality that I do possess that keeps me from going full tilt crazy.  The one thing that can truly keep me grounded at all times.  My family.

Whether it's a good thing or not for me, I know they come first in my life.  Somehow, I have been able to steady myself to focus on them and not be so selfish with my time.  But the time will soon come when both of my children are out on their own and I will have nothing to hold me back on what I want to accomplish.  Now don't get that statement wrong.  I do not think my children are the reason that I haven't accomplished more and I surely never regret anything about them. 

Truth be told they keep my sane by helping me provide stability.  I want nothing more than to pass along my knowledge onto them and have them creatively take that where ever it may lead.  Hopefully they will feel they are successful at life just as I feel right now.  All I am saying is, once they leave I will no longer have any excuses to give myself on why I am not pursuing passions that lay hidden inside of me.

I will never find someone in this lifetime that will ever get me to the same degree as I need them to.  My wife is the closest thing I will ever have, but that is only because she has learned my behavior over the years where she knows my tendencies.  And for that I am forever in love with her.  But in regards to a confident who I can bounce ideas off of, that won't happen.  Not because I feel I am above everyone else, but because I won't allow myself that chance.

I can't fake a relationship with someone.  If I don't like a person then I simply stay away.  And due to my over analytical nature, I always find differences in others that I feel I can't be around.  The main fault is when I feel ignored or disrespected.  Once that happens, I walk away from that individual and if they don't come up to me to explain (whether they know what they did or not) then I emotionally detach myself from that person.  I just chose not to be a part of something that I don't get the same respect from.

For instance, if I offer up my time to spend with someone and I feel disregarded then I stop offering.  I give people chances, but once that is broken then I am no longer engaged to hang out with that person.  And why should I.  If it is obvious to me that they wish not to hang out with me then what is putting myself in their face going to do?  Perhaps a less intellectual person can go through the motions and just enjoy another person's company regardless of how they feel, but I can't. 

My wife won me over because she sought ME out.  And after over twenty years she still puts in the time to try and understand who I am.  There has never been another person who has offered that same satisfaction to my voided heart and most likely there never will be. 

I admit, I enjoy hanging out with others in groups.  Going on trips to Vegas and overseas, watching the Superbowl, enjoying a birthday party here and there.  But sometimes I wish I had those one on one conversations that I see so many others having with each other.  I want to feel special too, like I am someone people WANT to hang out with.  I want for others to seek me out whether for advise or simply for my company because I make them feel better.  Yet time and time again, I find myself passed over on this notion for reasons I can only think have to do with my personality.

Perhaps people can read my standoffish nature.  Or they feel intimidated by me in some way that they themselves do not want to feel stupid around me.  I know my dry sense of humor gets excessive at times, but that is only because I am comfortable at that moment.  Maybe others don't see it that way.

Either case, I know I am doomed to carry this burden.  There is no way for me to fake who I am to be someone I'm not.  I would never be happy with myself in that respect.  Bottom line: I am happy with what I have accomplished in life, but sorely not content with it.  I crave more!  I will always crave more just as I always strive to be better.  And for that, I will be cynical and demanding of myself as well as hold others to my standards.  Even if it means that I will never know what a best friend is outside of my family.

Friday, February 19, 2016

Poem of My Life

I live in a dark world with sunshine all around me. I am both sensitive and an assassin. People don't understand me and yet I can get along with anyone. My life is all or nothing and I am just fine with that. Love me and hate me at the same time it doesn't matter as my mind is a temple of strength while my heart is made of glass.

Tuesday, January 20, 2015

I Have Friends... Who Knew!

As I moved around from school to school a lot I learned to not make very many friends.  It was the only way I found effective with not being attached when it was time to leave.  That shell was finally broken when I met my wife and soon after had 2 great kids.  Suddenly the doors opened up and for once I actually felt the need to lean on others for a good time. 

That confidence grew into a means of wanting to be an actor and within 18 months found myself in Los Angeles.  Instantly I was meeting new people in acting class and on set and realized a portion of what I have been missing my entire life.  But as the years bore on and people slowly started to break away (either by moving out of town or losing touch) I started to feel my outer shell building again. Unbeknown to many I really am a sensitive person (even though I know I can hide it so well), so to escape the feeling of wanting I turned back towards my family as my crutch.  Soon after I found going on trips instantly opened my mind to new horizons and began exploring the world like I was Kane in Kung Fu. 

It wasn't until last year on New Years when reality hit once again.  Somehow, someway, through no fault of my own, I stumbled upon a group of people that for the first time in my life I felt included.  And over this past year I have been able to enjoy get-to-gethers, birthdays, dinners, vacation trips, and sometimes just sitting around doing nothing special.  Still, I took this all in with a grain of salt KNOWING the ball was going to drop at any moment and I must be prepared to move on. 

Interesting enough, there were some times when I felt that coming on- but strangely I found myself back into the fold and I realized... this is what having friends really is about.  It's not about being perfect for them or them likewise to me, it's not about me proving myself that I belong all the time, and it's not about spending every fun moment together.  It's simply about feeling like I matter to others in a way that I've never felt before. 

Now, I'm still new to all of this and sure I will say things at times that could be inappropriate to the setting by making a joke about something, or perhaps some of these people will eventually get tired of who I am (if they haven't already).  The point is, I am starting to refuse the notion of living my life without having others around me that I can enjoy it with.

Perhaps others might think I'm being too sensitive on this subject or thinking it out way too much.... but this truly is uncharted waters and that's a big deal for me.

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

No Regrets

I had my close calls in acting that could have propelled me into a different direction, but for one reason or another it was not meant to be.  I've auditioned for staring roles on tv shows, speaking lines in film, numerous national spot commercials and even was up for a contract regular role on a soap opera.  If any one of those would have came to pass my life right now may have been different.

Many times I look back at those auditions and situations and wondered "what if".  But as time goes on I have come to realize that it simply wasn't my time for that so why have regrets.  This goes for the rest of my life as well.  There were times growing up when I wish I had done some things differently to avoid embarrassment or some sort, but what if I did.  My life now could have been worse off or much different than it is now and for what?

For instance: back in high school I am reminded of a time when I was in class and my shirt was stolen right from under my desk.  I mentioned this out loud and nobody fessed up about anything.  The teacher did what he could but it was obvious this was going no where fast.  Looking back on that I know how I could have handled it and most likely got my shirt back in the process, but at what expense.  What if the person who took it got pissed off and decided to teach me a lesson one day?  I've always been able to take care of myself, but if you don't see it coming or run into a person who just doesn't give a sh*t....well, you just never know.

So as much as I would have liked to have made different choices at times I realize that each one of them I made has led me up to who and where I am today.

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Being A Professional Temp

For years I have joked that I am a professional temp.  When asked what that means I've replied with, "Someone who can turn a 3 week job into a 3 month job".  All while not being noticed.

The key is to do just enough to keep your job but not so much as to work yourself OUT of the job.  Bosses really only care about one thing- getting the job done.  They don't care how long it really takes or how much the company is spending on a temp to get it done... only that it is being taken off of their plate and the temp seems to be doing their job well.  I came to realize this early on and it has paid off in longer term employment.  Not only that but I have been recalled for that same company several times.

So anyone out there looking to do the temping game to supplement their self employment "real job"... do yourself a favor and stay under the radar.  The one thing bosses hate more than anything is to be shown up or proven wrong.  Do your job at a steady pace, show that you can work independently and you will have a job for quite some time.