time is close the waiting closer to done

This is not only in reference to several upcoming projects... but also to several personal aspects of my life. Like for instance...

MY NEXT PLAY...
which I think is ready to be written. Yeah, this is the one about the terrorist chef. Ideas have floated enough in my rabid mind and fermented enough to commit it to paper. Should be a fun little ditty that involves real food. Now all I have to do is block out a chunk of time to plunge into my bliss. But that will have to occur right after a few...

VIDEO PROJECTS...
that I have to complete for some clients. There is one I need to finish editing by tomorrow and another that will be reedited soon... but there are others in the works. In fact, I begin shooting one tonight that involves hot belly dancers and fire. Sure, hate me if you must. There are also some personal projects that I also want to shoot and cut. I'm actually thinking of getting into vlogging... perhaps as a weekend post... what do you think? Oh yeah, actually there have been a few other projects I have to cut sooner than soon. Like for instance, some of the footage from...

FRIDAY NIGHT...
that will go into another promotional video for Suicide Lounge. BTW... Friday was a blast. (see slideshow below.) It was something I had been needing for a while. Being holed up for as long as I have been due to circumstances and obligations at the homestead has somewhat curbed my social life... so this change was a good one. I think everyone at the gig had a pretty good time... and so did I. Plus, a good time was had without the need to get blotto and be crass in order to have it. There was actually sparkling conversation, easy laughter, great live music and the random sarong wearer. That along with the fresh fruit, sangria and devil's brew proved to be quite refreshing. Thanks to all of those who added your shine to the festivities.

Anyway, the point is time ain't stranding still and neither can I. If something is working... forge ahead. If something isn't... try to fix it... and if it still isn't after that... at least I know I made the attempt and effort and move on. Hubris will only shrink and limit one's world... and there are too many wonders out there to take in with the sliver of time we are granted in this life.

Have a great week!

Perhaps more in the AM.

A couple of old features may return.

I've been meaning to bring back Picture Daze for a while now. First it's a great excuse to scan in those old slowly disintegrating photographs into digital format. Plus it also gives me an opportunity to record and share some stories. So, look out for that... probably tomorrow or Monday depending on when I can get the scanner to get working again. I'm thinking that perhaps this will occur at least every other week.

I was also reading last year's "Untitled 5-3-1" project (you may remember it as the Mina story) and am considering doing another one some time over the Summer. That story developed over 11 parts and was fun to do... plus it turned out OK. (Actually, it wouldn't be a bad movie.) If you missed it the first time out... HERE is the link to the first installment. I have yet to edit it but it's not too bad as is.

That's it for now. I've been working hard to make this a lazy day.

EDIT: Sunday, 10 AM
Slept in a little so I think I'll get some lunch ready before anything else is planned.

this that and the other

AT THE HOMESTEAD
The last three days has been a flurry of activity over at the homestead. I may have mentioned about 3 weeks ago how some good and wonderful folk have volunteered their time and effort to help with things around here so that it's more livable for Mum. Well, on the 4th the next work day began at 8 in the AM. The mission was to get the swamp cooler running again and the bathroom floor redone.

The swamp was accomplished by 10 the next day... but the bathroom will probably only be accomplished sometime Tuesday. These wonderful folk have (at the end of each day) put in a temporary floor and re-hooked the toilet so that Mum could use the facilities at night. It's all good and needed to be done as the water damage on the floor was more extensive than any of us would have guessed (leaky sink was the major culprit).

However, all this activity has thrown the schedule off and quite disorientated Mum. Not having the bathroom available while work was being done has also confused her quite a bit. I found her this morning standing in the kitchen in a stupor not knowing where to go. Also the flurry of activity has contributed a little to her ongoing obsession about the phantom "new house". It will take a little time, effort and reassurance to get her back into a routine and to get her locked back in to "homestead mode". No fault on any end... the work had to be done... and the upcoming efforts to get her back to feeling comfortable again will be as well. Plus she'll soon be able to go in a nicer and safer bathroom.

THE BLAZING HEAT AND BAD AIR
Oof, it's been bad. This current wave (which mercifully is ending soon) has really done a job with congestion issues all around. Adding to this is all the fireworks over the holidays that has only added even more to make the air in the bowl we live in heavier. Once again, no fault or finger pointing... heck, celebrations still have to take place, don't they? I took one of the stellar folk who was helping with the work being done out to dinner last night at a local Vietnamese noodle place. Just the ride there and back with the windows down did me in. Plans I had to go out and join some friends at a local watering hole last night literally went out the window. Here is hoping a small system comes in to blow all of this schmutz so that we can all breathe again more easily.

Hmm... I'm wondering if everyone around here would put in clean bags or filters into their vacuum cleaners and collectively turn them on outside in their yards... if that would help clean out the air a bit.

Perhaps more later...

UPDATE:
She began reclaiming today by insisting on sweeping.

On another front... I don't care if they are cubs... this monkey has balls... and the ninja sound effects are fun too!


Monkey And The Tiger - Click here for the most popular videos

mind meanderings on this and that

It seems as if I always have to start it... get it going... then they will jump on board... maybe.
To be honest... I'm getting a little tired of this. It's not one project... this is the case in several things I have my hot little hands on at the moment. "Oh yeah... we support you... 100 percent behind it." So, then I send out emails requesting assistance in certain aspects... crickets chirp. Discussions lead to decisions that affect these projects... yet I (who technically am spearheading these projects) am not informed of these decisions. Some aspects of these projects affect a few other folk... but... crickets chirp loud.

Yes, I am passionate about what I do. I also have very well thought out ideas and methods of achieving goals in the short and long term. I am very emphatic about expressing them too. However, I am also open to other ideas. Even if I am still not convinced that those ideas are as good as mine... I will capitulate to the majority. But, dammit... let me know what the final decision is. Lately, all I've been getting is the cricket chorus.

I very rarely voice my opinions unless I get all sides of the story (especially on the big stuff)... and even then it is iffy.

More often than not... this is not a luxury that has been afforded to me. Look, I am used to the slings and arrows of criticism in a lot of what I do. Heck, I imagine other toddlers when I was born had issues with my thumb sucking techniques. I take it as part and parcel of my lot in life. Sure, I do have views and opinions and I do express them... and more often than not only after weighing in what the other side has to offer. And in the immortal words of a certain very wise Mr. Gump... "That's all I have to say about that."

My other lot in life is facilitating opportunities for others.

These incidents have happened of late and made me smile wider than the man in the moon inside. It is really astounding to watch something creatively gel. And to watch the sparkle of greater possibility glinting in the eyes when it happens. It's a quiet rush that has no equal. OK, perhaps as equally rewarding is being present for the entire process that eventually ignites that moment. This one balances off the first two.

OH, and if you live in the Toronto area...

The Fringe is coming up. I highly recommend you catching the shows of THIS & THIS performer friends of mine... and pass the word, won't cha?

So much for now... perhaps more later.

a royalty payment came in today...

... though I'm not planning on retiring on it. It's been a while since I've received one from a production for one of my plays that (other than writing it) I have no hand in producing. It's nice. I really need to see how I can keep this trend going.

Speaking of trends...
I totally geeked out yesterday with the whole Britain's Got Talent thing (see post below) by constantly refreshing an update page whilst the broadcast was going on across the pond. It was actually kinda fun getting caught up in the frenzy of that. Even found a YouTube user (myredroom) who posted videos within 10 minutes of the end of the show. I'm usually (or at least been in the last few years) more of a trend monger than a follower... so this was a refreshing and fun change to be partr of the crowd. As I stated in an earlier post I don't usually watch these kind of shows but Paul's story was so universally compelling that it was worth the ride. Besides, I am such a sucker for the deserving underdog story.

And speaking of geekiness...
The power unit for the new computer arrived today. Installed it along with a new video card and have it up and running. Just need to install the video editing software in the morning... a couple of minor tweaks and it will be ready for use. This I'm really looking forward to.

Another thing I'm looking forward to...
Is having a midnight snack of the meatball curry I cooked today. It's a lighter curry which I also plan to devour in the morning with some toast.

And speaking of balls...
Ms. Joy had a hairy experience that she blogged about. Of course she faulted me for getting juice all over her... but she is the one who squeezed the damed things.

BTW... the pic above is the base of one of the lamposts in my neighborhood. Bet the guy whose name appears on it wishes he was getting royalties for his stuff.

bits n pieces of this n that

On Frogway
Had a great lengthy Skype call with Mike last night on how things were progressing. Apparently, it is going really well. Some pretty big names in the theatre circles in Malaysia are now attached to the project which has already created a hefty growing buzz about the show. There are some more revisions to the script that have been suggested that I am presently mulling over.
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On Selling The Rights To My Shows
There is interest with one at the moment though details have not been worked out yet. Hoping this can happen soon so that I can finally pay some bills and eat. If you are interested in owning exclusive rights to one of my shows email me at lecram@daplaysdathing.com . One Acts are priced at $2500 and Full Lengths at $5000.
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On My Next Creative Project
Not quite sure what it is yet. I do want to create something new for Rogue 08 that is a complete departure from what I fielded this year. To that end I'm mulling several options. Nothing has really grabbed me and shook me around yet... though it usually attacks when one is not really looking.
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Perhaps more bits and pieces later... or this and that
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EDIT: 9:32 PM

Solitaite Visits
Solitaire just left. She came by to drop off some equipment and hung out for a bit to chat. It's been a while since we have done that and was a welcomed change for me. We ended up watching Scotland PA... which I think she liked quite a bit... being a fan of the Bard and all. lol.

I don't get too many folk visiting these days as I used to. There are lots of factors governing this. They have their own lives, with the shifts in my life, my place is no longer the "hub" (random barbecues, etc...) and I guess it is generally felt that I may not be "useful" any longer. No matter. I knew the streak would end sometime. Though I think I'm just going through yet another re-invention of me. Happens every 5 years or so. It'll be interesting to see what emerges from the ashes.
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New Show Opens
My friends over at Theatre Ventoux opened their new show this weekend. If you are in the area of the Big NO... go see it. I think you'll be in for an entertaining evening. They are running for 2 more weekends. They even received an encouraging review from the local paper.
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FINI
That's good for now... don't you think?

i've been a myspace ho...

... of late "friending" all sorts of folk for Jungle Webs (yeah, Jungle Webs has a MySpace page as well. If you have one... go ahead and friend it.) "Networking" is not something I had cared to do not that long ago. But thats the name of the game if you want to push a product... be it a new play or web solution products. I've been actively "friending" anywhere between 120 to 160 myspacers a day and getting about 50 to 70 "adds" from each session... not a bad average.

The cleanup that was planned for yesterday didn't happen... so today will have to be the make up for it. If I can get the office and the yard into shape today... at least that would be something.

Putting THIS LINK on here just because I feel like having a whale on my desktop. Reminds me of a show Kamotion and I caught once at the SF Fringe where (as part to the show... an absurdist musical about the food chain) a whale actually appeared on stage as part of the final scene.

Who knows... there may be more later in the day... or not.

EDIT: BTW... just wrote a new article which is posted HERE.

bits and pieces of this and that

• I've been making more banners this weekend for Jungle Webs and they will be featured here as I create even more. GO HERE (please) if you want one for your own blog or site (pretty please) and help send business to help feed the starving playwright (pretty, pretty please). (If you know of other public sites that you can post them to... go ahead!)
  
• I made the perfect onion omelet this morning. MMM... it is good... especially followed by a good cup of freshly brewed coffee.
  
• Went out last night to catch an encore performance of "Bullet Point". (Good show, Jag... a little more tweaking and direction and you're ready to take it on the road.) This means I will have to get my butt in gear to crank up the Rogue Year Round component. Hmm... perhaps I'll send out emails today.
• I am currently sitting around in my sarong.... and fully intend to stay in it all day.
• I received a CD yesterday from a friend (and personal archivist) of a recording from the original production of FROGWAY. Mp3ed them and sent them off to my friend (and composer) Mike. Listening to it proved to be an interesting time warp experience. The songs are really good... and considering that I was 21 at the time... I actually wrote some decent lyrics. If I have the balls... I may actually post selections here in the coming days.
• I did this about a year ago and tried it again today. It is one of the few quizzes that I like. Really, I'm not that into knowing which Charlie's Angels I am most like... at least not this week.
• If I get a wild hair... there may be an edit to this post later.
• Cheers!
  

Read Lecram's Personal Dna Report

EDIT: Just finished an article on the TAO OF B.I.T.S. on the Jungle Webs blog.