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September 11, 2002
"Patriotism is a little like strength. If you've got it, you don't have to wear it on your sleeve." - William W. Bradley, US Senator (D-NJ)
This is my third attempt at writing this particular entry so sue me if it goes astray (there's a little shout out for the Prince fans.) Things are busy in the world and in my corner of it. There are shows to do, classes to arrange, shows to go see and friends to be with and I guess it's a day like today to remind us of all that. I have a big fat improv/comedy/Chicago entry raring to go, but I kinda don't want to post it right now.
I have so many weird strange feelings concerning this day. I've always been a fervent fan and reader of American history and politics because I'm a firm and fervent believer in the American Dream and the Dream of the American way of life. The United States of America is an experiment to see if people could govern themselves. In my readings of the Revolutionary War and my personal hero, John Adams, I am continuely amazed that the country was not only founded, but survived its first fifty years. I recently read a biography of George Washington (that I distinctly remember loaning out to someone, but I don't remember whom. If it's you, please remind me that you have it-- I don't need it back right now, but I'd like to know where it is, eh?) and his first two terms were tenous at best. It's a miracle, literally, that the United States of America survived those initial days.
I've been reading Noam Chomsky's "9/11." It's a sobering reflection of our past foreign policy errors and misdeeds. Did America deserve to be attacked so suddenly and savagely? Of course not. No people do. But with a broad view of just the past thirty years of our overt and covert operations overseas it's more comprehendable. It's more... understandable why a tribe of warriors would wish to strike back at the United States. Warriors that we helped train and finance for decades.
I believe that the United States of America is the model for an United Earth. I wish I could be around to see that, but I won't. I'm lucky enough to be living right here and now and I'm glad for that. I believe in America. I believe that our founding principles are ones worth fighting and dying for. I love America and it's Dream of Equality for all people. American military adventurism and subterfuge is the root of our current dilemma.
"Hope is the mainspring of patriotism." - David Lloyd George, British Prime Minister, 1919
Last year, I wrote some sad things and I really could not stop crying. I can't watch the television programs that recount personal stories without crying. I've been watching the political roundtables, and the timelines, and the like- I can do that without crying.
I miss New York.
Letterman has Clinton (uh, Bill) on tonight and it's a pretty good interview. Serious and interesting and humorous. Fucking Letterman did it again. Goddamn I love this show.
I'm proud to be an American. I'm an American. When I was a kid, I grew up in an all-white neighborhood. When we would go to Chinatown I would be amazed at all the Chinese people there! I asked my parents what we were. They said Americans. Both my parents were born here, some of my aunts and uncles were not. When I younger and people would learn about my passion of early American history, they sometimes would assume that it was because I, or my parents, were immigrants. It's not. It's a beautiful, on-going story about some people who wanted to control their own destinies and fought for that right.
Alright.
God bless America.
God bless us all.
September 22
This has been a big movie weekend. I watched the American remake of the excellent Japanese horror film "The Ring." The sneak preview was at Webster Place and it was very good. If the original was about an 8, then this one is about a 7 or a 7 1/2. Great atmosphere, intriquing storyline with a mystery and horrific imagery. It surprised me afterwards to discover that is was rated PG-13.. it's really scary and I didn't even notice that it was devoid of gore, blood and sex. Not even nudity. This movie is going to make a mint... and it's a great movie. That was Thursday night.
Friday night I caught the midnight showing of "Psycho" at the Music Box Theater. God bless the Music Box Theater. Their September/October schedule is the best one they're every had- filled with Kurosawa and Hitchcock. "Psycho" is one of my favorite movies and I was excited to see it on the big screen again. Unfortunately the theater was filled with idiots... some random quotes (you can use these if you want, Arnie)
"That's a really good shot." "That's a really weird shot." "That too."
"What? We can still talk.. the movie hasn't started... look.. BLAH!BLAH!BLAH!BLAH!"
"Whoa! I completely forgot that that happened!"
(and during the psychologist's analysis at the end) "Wha-? Huh? Wha-?"
Hilarious. Bah! Philistines!
I hadn't watched "Citizen Kane" since high school so I rented it and loved it. Then I watched it again with Roger Ebert's commentary and then the documentary about it. Now I want to read a book on it. Lovely. Wonderful film.
"Dinner for Six" makes its return this year. I'm very happy about that. It's going to be at ImprovOlympic in November on Thursdays. It's kind of full circle for me and the show. When it was there six years ago, under 25 people came to see it. It was a very good show featuring Mike Ross, Bret Scott, John Mulhern, Jillian Jester, Kate Lee, and Bina Martin. It was a grand experiment with two-person scenework in a romantic comedy setting and I'm eager to begin work on this new incarnation. Plus, it means there'll be a case of cookies in my house. I love the cookies.
The Jam is the bane of existance. I love it but I hate it at the same time. It's the best of improv theory merged with the worst of improv cliches. All short-form games played by predominately drunk a-holes off the street- but there's something to be said about letting literally everyone get on stage and play. Sometimes it worth it to see someone work up the courage to get up on stage and then to see the joy and excitement on their face when they get a laugh. On the other hand, sometimes it's the experienced improvisers that are the hardest to deal with at the Jam. They heckle each other, they don't take games seriously, they get drunk, they interrupt, but then they save a game by volunteering when no one else does, they do something so hilarious that it makes the two hours worth it... Sometimes I hate it, sometimes I love it. Stupid Jam.
"Old age. It's the only disease, Mr. Thompson, that you don't look forward to being cured of." - from Citizen Kane
"He made an awful lot of money. " "
"Well, it's no trick to make a lot of money... if what you want to do is make a lot of money."
Hey, I got a scanner/fax/copier/printer! I love it... it'll pay for itself before the end of this year... I just experimented with scanning...
I wonder what happened to that tie... oh yeah. I wore that tie for about two years straight managing a Blockbuster.. eventually, I wore a hole near the bottom where I would lean against the counter. Ach, Blockbuster...
This is the first Sunday night I've had off in about three months. I'm enjoying it. I probably should have gone out to see some sketch shows that I've been promising to get to, but I just had a bowl of gelato and I'm taking it easy.
Thriller Theater 5 opened last night and it was great fun. Man, that cast is creepy- I've been amazingly lucky in finding people who can expertly act like the casts from Scooby Doo and Happy Days. Simply amazing to watch and hear. Wonderful folks... we had some technical problems in the second act that were no one's fault-- the audio board completely wigged out and just stopped patching the sound out to the house.. it was really weird... Of course, right after the show we had a three hour party and the sound was fine. *sigh*
The critic from the Chicago Reader was there. She came up to me and introduced herself during the intermission and asked me a question regarding a reference in the show. A few minutes later she came up to me again with her husband and asked about the Del wall in the theater. That was weird. Who knows how, if at all, this will reflect in the review, but I do find it intriquing none the less. *hurm*
Hm. They just mentioned "Tony and Tina's Wedding" on "Curb Your Enthusiasm."
I begin rehearsals this week for the all new "Dinner for Six." I'm very excited about that. More info on that soon.
Alright, Civilization III beckons.
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