48 Hour Film - done

I was lucky to be a contributor and support member on a 48 Hour Film crew again this year. I am very thankful to the Bontrager brothers for including me on their team. Our project screens on Friday, June 17 at the Plaza Theater.

full

I was thinking how nice it would be to grill out on the weekend this summer at el Rancho and I realize that probably will not happen because there is no place to grill or entertain here now. The house and the back porch and shed are completely full of vintage toys, antiques in need of repair, and other projects and doodads John has moved here from Alabama or recently purchased. There is no space to do anything here and I doubt that will change any time soon.

Lately, he's been going a bit crazy buying things on top of things that he plans to sell, repair, etc. This includes things to put in my office - some things I was planning to buy eventually for myself and some things I did not ask for or think I needed because I have other things already - which is throwing my life in disarray at the moment as well. I have been trying to wrap my head around reconfiguring my office for new furniture while having absolutely no idea were we will put what I have already. I am feeling a bit overwhelmed tonight and a bit paranoid about his recent spending. My old clunky computer desk that I had from my condo and the large glass table that he got me to buy at IKEA just a couple of years ago are now going to be replaced buy an industrial cart and two smaller metal tables/desks that he bought at CB2. The plan is to put the desks together for an L shaped work space that will suit the room better. The office furniture and tools he bought for me are designed to set me up as a freelance business of some sort.

We'll see how things work out in a month or two.

hot Sunday

I have spent most of the weekend trying to avoid heat and sun. At least I avoided the sun. Mostly.
Friday evening at dusk, I made a few photos of a local parking lot carnival on Buford Highway. I especially liked the cotton candy booth name "Sugar Shack". A few families braved the heat to bring their children to ride the Farris Wheel, Merry-Go-Round, and other flying, whirling rides.

Saturday, MonsterMustDie was in Alabama visiting his mother and treasure hunting. I got an unexpected call from Sandy, who was in my neighborhood for a morning yoga and potluck social for her equestrian group. She phoned on her way there, late, while I was entrenched in sorting the photos from Friday - not soon enough for me to tear myself away from the computer in time for the yoga class that was ten minutes away but I did make it up to socialize with everyone at the post-yoga potluck lunch. I got to hear a lot about their plans to ride in a side-saddle group for the Independence Day parade in Marietta (period costumes in July 4th heat. Yikes!) and see a lot of cellphone photos of horses (the modern day equivalent of wallet photos). Rather than an unfurling flap of 2x3 pictures of children or grandchildren from wallets, everyone was sharing photos of their horses, dogs, and cats. After the horsey group event was over, Sandy and I spent the rest of the day hanging out together - first at Rancho de WereMonster. Then we had an intermission for showers, post office boxes, etc. and I joined her at the Grassy Knoll for shopping, hanging out with furry beasts, dinner from Delia's, and TV watching until I realized what time it was and went home. I could not count on them to kick me out that day.

Sunday was a meeting and brainstorming session for the upcoming 48 Hour Film contest next week. Over a home made taco dinner, we discussed the various loose story lines and screen plays and necessary props, locations, and people for each one. We need to scramble this week to have as many resources lined up as possible starting on Friday. Where and how does one secure a location for a battle scene without causing trouble? Who do we know with specific skills, who would have time and be willing to join in on the projects? What is the best way to quickly assemble unusual objects? Always a fun, insane challenge.

Busy (at last)

The last two weeks have been blissfully busy. I went on a trip to Tulsa, to visit with Spike, Namek and Nate while making photos and talking about the new project Spike is working on with his son-in-law David. It was great to see everyone. Tulsa is a smaller city, it seems, with a much more depressed economy than Atlanta but it was very nice at the house everyone had converged at for the weekend. There was the dog vs skunk incident, in which everyone lost, on my last night there. The four dogs were roaming unleashed in the field at the end of the afternoon walk, when they saw a skunk and took off after it before anyone could stop them. Casualties were inevitable. One deceased skunk. One seriously injured dog that had to be taken to a veterinary clinic. The three other large dogs to bath twice. One sleepless night. Once I was home again, I could not wait to wash skunky laundry.

Sunday was a day of extruded meat products and heat. We went to Tunes From The Tombs at Oakland Cemetery to see friends play and lunch was Pallookaville corn dogs. We also had the pleasure of seeing Kurt, who was there from Athens, GA for the festival. Good music but punishingly hot. There were tents over the musicians but not place to hide from the sun for those attending except for a few trees. Sunday was one of the hottest days this far into summer, so I got a bit over-heated and dehydrated there. We chilled out with Sandy and the furry creatures at The Grassy Knoll for a couple of hours. On our way home, based on Chaz and Sandra's recommendation, we picked up dinner to go at Delia's Chicken Sausage stand. What we had was good, but they neglected to include any of their cheese sauce with the potato wedges (with cheese sauce included) that we ordered. This was a sadness because the beer-cheese sauce was one of the reasons we wanted to try Delia's food.

Once home this week, I got a great freelance gig for the week in midtown at a place I love. Wish me luck. They kept me on board all week. I go back on Tuesday. I had to check in at the revenant job only one night last week for a few hours. This new job is desperately needed and tremendously appreciated. Now, I just have to learn their corporate procedures and culture.

anticipation

One day til I depart to the southwest. It is still unusually cool this week so I thought it might be a bit of shock in much warmer temperatures in Tulsa but the weather there looks about the same as Atlanta for the weekend temperatures. I am also trying to figure out how little I can bring with me to make the trip as easy as possible. No tripod. No lights. Just a few clothes and my camera is all I am planning to bring so that everything can fit in a carry-on bag. I need a better shoulder bag too. My purse is small - not very useful for a trip. Kisa_Bastet is taking me to the airport on Thursday morning.

I am spending the morning following up possible work leads and trying to establish new connections. I am also trying to remember to drink more water and hoping that I do not have a UTI while I am away from home. I have started having hot flashes and night sweats that wake me up, lying in wet sheets so I have to lie on top of covers until I start freezing from the sweat evaporating. Then I go back under the sheets until I wake up sweating again. I am getting better at just sleeping through it but last night I kept waking up worrying about work and money. I have no unemployment benefits and no health insurance and an emptying bank account. I still have rent and bills to pay.

I am hopeful that this trip will do me a world of good just to be busy. My hands seem tied here and I feel like a caged beast in an empty cell. This is mostly a symptom of the lack of activity.

visitations

I am finally considering what to pack for my brief trip to Tulsa this week to visit Spike and Namek and Nate. We'll be talking about Spike and his son-in-law's latest project and how I might be involved in it, from photography to website design, to just giving my opinion. I'm a bit anxious about how useful I will be but I am also looking forward to visiting old friends. This will also be my first visit to Tulsa, so I can add that city to the list of places I've been to in the United States afterwards.

I made the mistake of telling my mother about the visit beforehand. The first thing that sprang to her mind and out of her lips was that I will be in tornado country. I will guess that chances are quite small that I will be there in the path of a tornado while I'm there but I know my mother will be worried about that during my entire visit.

And this is a photo of Spike from his visit to Atlanta last March.

Thor!

MonsterMustDie and I went with FunLisa to see Thor last night. I will not say Thor was the best movie ever made but it was good. Parts were quite predictable, but the art direction was very good and, visually, it went very deep into me. I dreamed of settings like those in the movie all night.

There is no work tomorrow, so I plan to sleep late and do website tweeking and reworking in the afternoon.

Meanwhile, it is hot tonight, I am sweating, and my vodka tonic is broken.

UPDATE:

My mother phoned to 1. postpone our already-belated Mother's Day + Monster Birthday dinner til next week (which means I'll miss Tunes From The Tombs at Oakland - though MonsterMustDie will be there Saturday to represent) and 2. let me know my barely-employed cousin with three children and an unemployed junkie husband were evicted from their house today.

And then, MonsterMustDie fixed my drink.

outdoors encroaching fantasies

Last night, I dreamed I worked at a busy company with Anthony Bourdain as my department head. My pal Joy also worked there in another division. It was early spring but had snowed recently and some shipments were coming into us with snow on them.

People in my office were talking about camping and asking me if I liked camping. I told them I did not have much experience with it and, though I enjoyed the outdoors in concept or for a few hours, that I probably would not like it for extended periods of time.

cleaning up the mess

The tree service came yesterday and broke down the fallen tree in the back yard. They came back today and took the rest of the logs out and ground out the stump in the back yard today.

Next: repairing the fence, though I do not know when someone will be here for that.

guest appearances in dreams

Last nights subconscious featured Ian Hunter and Ray Dafrico.

objects of fantasy

Last night, I had consumer dreams that included me having a iMac with a gigantic cinema screen and sound system that was remote controlled from anywhere in the house - like my bed when I'd wake up. I dreamed of fun things like living in a house very much like where I'm at but much bettter, newer, shinier with a larger bathroom that was all white tile and chrome and mirrors. I dreamed of cool graphic t-shirts and perfect-fitting clothes, including an tailored looking dark silver sharkskin woman's suit with a hooded black-silk lined overcoat. I also dreamed of seeing an odd covertible van on the street that folded open at top to reveal wood shelves to display a mobile ceramics shop... like that was something common to see on a city street.

Hot Sunday

Started the day by going to the plant sale at Oakhurst Community Garden in Decatur, where I bought a couple of heirloom tomato plants and some herbs. They had all kinds of plants on sale, including a lot of really pretty succulents and native trees and shrubs.

Went out in the afternoon to East Atlanta to visit Chaz and Sandra and meet the new member of their household, a MainCoon mix named "Manny" (Man-Coon). Manny is a large male cat who loves humans of all kinds but is still adjusting to life with dogs. Things seem to be progressing in a positive directions with all creatures there but his movement in the house is still restricted to the upstairs (dog-free zone) without supervision, lest he attack the dogs. He's playful and entertaining but very sensitive to sounds and quick movements. The longer he's there, the less jumpy he will be, I'm quite sure. I have never seen a cat enjoy a toy mouse as much without a human to constantly move it around. Actually, he's quite gentle. He was okay with me (a stranger) picking him up and sitting him in my lap.

Sandra and I also went into downtown EAV to check out the pet store cat (hidden from customer dogs) and have some delicious King Of Pops from Urban Cannibals. By the time we went after 4pm, the cafe tables in front were shaded by the building and we had a nice breeze to keep things very pleasant outside while we chatted and enjoyed our popsicles.

Last night, the back porch grill was cleaned and used for the first time this year. I had a few turkey sausages to cook and some fresh vegetables from the local Kroger - bell peppers, Vidalia onion, gigantic portabello mushroom caps, corn. We invited a couple of neighbors over, who brought a tray of fresh bacon burger patties to grill and had an enormous feast. For the corn, I did the traditional soaking in salty water for half an hours (in the cooler, which is my only container big enough) before grilling them. The mushroom caps were rinsed and brushed with olive oil and cooked gill-side up with grated goat cheese from Whole Foods on top. The peppers and onions were just cut in chunks and tossed with olive oil, salt, and pepper before grilling them in the metal basket.

For reasons I can not explain, while I was chopping the onions the fumes went straight to my eyes and sinuses and gave me an immediate headache that lasted the rest of the night. It was not the usual burning eyes thing. It was like an eye-ache that spread to my entire head. I got through dinner but, after our guests left and the dishwasher was loaded and running, I took an Exedrin PM and went to bed.

after an energized night

Last nights thunder storms were mostly a lot of strong winds and not so much rain. The lights went out at Rancho de WereMonster a bit before 11pm and from the back porch, I saw a tree fall across the back yard, just outside the fence. I had a front row seat to the event. I waited for a while to see if the power would come back before going off to bed.

Upon inspecting the yard this morning, there is very little storm damage - just lots of pine cones, sweetgum balls, and twigs everywhere. The back corner of the fence was taken out by the roots of the tree that fell. The rest of the tree is resting against the remaining back fence. I suspect that the lot behind the house is county property and that the county will choose to do nothing but let the tree eventually take down the rest of the fence over time.

The power (and our phones and internet access) was still out this morning after MonsterMustDie left for work. I took a bath with the remaining hot water in the house and went to a neighborhood cafe to check email and have my morning caffeine. This afternoon, there was a crew cutting a large ditch across our street from one neighbor's yard and through another. I am wondering if power will be restored when I get home today.

desperately needing a change

I feel like I need to increase my skills both to make myself more attractive to employers and to raise my own self esteem, which is insufferably low now. I am not talking about a complete change of career but more enhancements to my existing experience and skills.

Last Thursday, I met with someone at Creative Circus and got nothing but a very expensive quote on single classes and lab fees and, since they are on break, no one knowledgeable about the classes I'm interested in to speak to. They kept trying to sell me completely useless and basic foundation classes.

Today, I spent most of the late morning and early afternoon making calls and sending resumes by fax or email.

Tomorrow's plan is to talk to an actual human at SCAD about some interactive communications classes - accredited courses that I might be able to apply in the future to a new bachelors degree. They have a degree program at SCAD and there was some mention of how a lot of my old college courses from many years back might still be applicable to a new degree. Mostly, I want to take classes that I need here and now without spending all my remaining savings.

I mentioned the discussions on classes to the housemate, who predictably told me I did not need to take any courses that did not immediately make money for me. This translates to me as his having a very negative attitude about me taking any classes. He seems to think I can do anything I want to without any more preparation than a software manual.

Did I mention that I learn best by doing and that reading puts me to sleep and manuals can not be read like novels from cover to cover?

It makes me feel both angry and defeated at every discussion. I hate not working a regular job and I miss my (much less expensive) tiny midtown condo more every day now.