Chronciles of a City Chap: Putting Together The Pieces
It has been quite sometimes since I have officially updated everyone and even more time since I have taken a deliberate reflection on my life. WARNING: This stream of consciousness could quite possibly lack any rhyme or reason.
Last I remember I was in rehearsal for the Holiday Play at CLIMB, "The Elves & The Shoemaker". I was the shoemaker and I had a great time. We had the CUTEST kids come and see the show and since it was an interactive play we had more fun than we could expect. I experienced a revelation after the 1st performance. I realized that we as a people have lost touch with our ability to trust who we are in spirit. I realized this as the kids without fear, reservation or judgment reached out to embrace us. This young boy after the show just walked right over to me, arms expanded, eyes innocent---and he hugged me. Then another boy and then a darling little girl with rosy cheeks. And my heart melted. I found in those few seconds a piece of myself who I had lost in my adult life. I have been getting so caught up in working: working at work, working to survive, working to grow, working to understand, working to relax, working to change, working to stay genuine....and the list is infinite. The point is I want to go back to DOING then REVIEWING.
I am also grateful for the artist growth that I am experiencing here, nevertheless I am left longing for more. I am still finding something new about my character in every performance. I am still amazed by how receptive the students are to us. This is a heavy topic and can be invading, uncomfortable and horrifying. People have asked is the show too much? Or are you Meth'd out? And I simply say: No. If I have caused 1 student to think more critically about the choices he or she makes then I have done my job.
I have also started to wonder what happens next? Where do I go when I am done with CLIMB? What work will I do? Where will I live? What do I want out of my life emotionally? financially? artistically? The only answer I have composed is -- I want the best. Now that I have figured that out....what do I do?! That question was rhetorical in nature but I must become proactive in finding an answer.
As the Holidays keep coming I find myself missing my friends and family. As close as I have gotten to a few people here; that is nothing in comparison to what I have with all of you. I am blessed for having the opportunity to built the relationships that I am builting here but I long for spending some time with people who already know me. I want to talk about nothing but feel so satisfied when we say goodbye. I want us to look at each other and find a way to talk for hours. I need some of that right now. I need to be around the people I love and the folks who love me. I am feeling a bit homesick. Damn you all for loving me so well.
Passionately Yours ~ Keone The Kid
02 December 2007
21 October 2007
Installment Quattro
Chronicles of a City Chap: Making a Difference
I will first start by saying that I cannot remember ever thinking that I am bored here. I do find myself thinking and saying, on occasion, am I going to get a taste of Me Time so I don't hurt anyone. I have not been arrested and I have yet to curse out anybody...so...I reckon I have found, if only for mere minutes, some Me Time.
So what have I been doing? I have just been allowing this experience to continue to wash over me and figuratively cleanse me. We have been to many schools and we have met a LOT of young people. Most of these kids, as you should suspect, are in rural areas where the only people of color they will see will be myself and another actress in my company. I was initially apprehensive about going into these school and truth be told I still am at times. I have no physical fear of these kids but I do get emotional anxiety at times wondering how much experience they have with diversity and how that will affect my classes. As most of us learned in social pysch., alot of prejudices that youth dramatize is learnt behavior. This anxiety that creeps up in me at times [and I must make it clear that these feelings are not constant but a reality nonetheless] is also do the environmental and societal "rules" that I follow, fight or support. Against my initial judgments I have been showered with a wall of support from faculty and students. Just to give you a highlight of the work we have been doing I shall recap a few experiences.
I know I said from my previous blog how I love the 9th graders but WOW did a group of 7th graders just turn my world around. These students were so engaging, provocative and just hungry for knowledge that I could have taught all day....well actually I did. Usually when we work with the older HS students it takes some times to get them to answer questions or to even raise their hands to participate. Much of this is do to the "cool factor"--they think they are too cool to do anything but exist. Now my 7th/8th graders were so involved that I could not contain myself. Their energy gave me energy and we just connected. I had a funny 9th grade girl insist on making me realize that I look 19 years old and that I should tell people that I am 19. I told her that is fine by me. So from now on when people ask you my age you tell me 19!
And just when you think you are NOT getting through to a group of older students I had a Senior stop me after one class and ask me what I thought she should do because her friend wanted to take an illegal drug. I won't go into the conversation because it was lengthy but I did encourage her to speak up/stand up to her friend and to get the necessary help if she did not feel the friend was going to listen. That was the 1st time that a student felt comfortable enough to let me into their lives and to really seek me out. I am starting to understand the power of our work.
We also had the pleasure of performing at a Children's Home. Most of the kids live their because their parents could not take care of them and/or they have a personal history with substance abuse. I know one of the actor's had a student in his class who admitted to having a Cocaine addiction when he was 13--they boy is only 15 years old now. I had a boy in one of my classes admit to me that his aunt and other people in his family were addicted to meth and how they are going to keep doing it and won't stop until they get caught. I mean this boy could not have been more than 13 years old and most of the issues that we present were common to him. He knew people who did meth, he knows what can happen in meth labs and all the consequences of meth abuse. The pain in this boy's voice just broke my heart and all the while he is talking to me I cannot help but feel helpless. It took alot of energy to not break down.
On a bit of a lighter note I have been finding balance with my work, social and professional lives. I am still hanging out with my core group of people and we now are known as "the fam" (as in family). Not only have we been socializing but we also look out for each other and isn't that what friendship is supposed to be about? Since my weeks are getting heavier with travels I have found my place within my company. In all honesty I have found where I want the people in my company's place to be in my life. I went to this amusement park called ValleyScare with 2 other company members and we had a blast! It was just a fun late afternoon/evening of fun and scare. We went through 6 Haunted Houses and we're freaked out by all of them and screamed our asses off for 3 hours. It was great!!! I have also signed on to do a holiday play at CLIMB called "The Elves and The Shoemaker" I am The Shoemaker and this is going to be SO MUCH FUN. We are going perform this play for lil kids and they get to help be elves and assist me in making lots of imaginary shoes for The Queen in the play. Me involving myself in this show will do 2 things: 1st it will give me a break from Meth. And 2nd it gives me an opportunity to work with some other people at CLIMB.
As all can read I am doing great. I do miss my friends and family so don't any of you ever forget that. I do love hearing from all of you as well. So drop me an email, text or vmail and let me know what is up. You know I always respond with intentions of it being sooner than later.
Passionately Yours ~ Keone The Kid
I will first start by saying that I cannot remember ever thinking that I am bored here. I do find myself thinking and saying, on occasion, am I going to get a taste of Me Time so I don't hurt anyone. I have not been arrested and I have yet to curse out anybody...so...I reckon I have found, if only for mere minutes, some Me Time.
So what have I been doing? I have just been allowing this experience to continue to wash over me and figuratively cleanse me. We have been to many schools and we have met a LOT of young people. Most of these kids, as you should suspect, are in rural areas where the only people of color they will see will be myself and another actress in my company. I was initially apprehensive about going into these school and truth be told I still am at times. I have no physical fear of these kids but I do get emotional anxiety at times wondering how much experience they have with diversity and how that will affect my classes. As most of us learned in social pysch., alot of prejudices that youth dramatize is learnt behavior. This anxiety that creeps up in me at times [and I must make it clear that these feelings are not constant but a reality nonetheless] is also do the environmental and societal "rules" that I follow, fight or support. Against my initial judgments I have been showered with a wall of support from faculty and students. Just to give you a highlight of the work we have been doing I shall recap a few experiences.
I know I said from my previous blog how I love the 9th graders but WOW did a group of 7th graders just turn my world around. These students were so engaging, provocative and just hungry for knowledge that I could have taught all day....well actually I did. Usually when we work with the older HS students it takes some times to get them to answer questions or to even raise their hands to participate. Much of this is do to the "cool factor"--they think they are too cool to do anything but exist. Now my 7th/8th graders were so involved that I could not contain myself. Their energy gave me energy and we just connected. I had a funny 9th grade girl insist on making me realize that I look 19 years old and that I should tell people that I am 19. I told her that is fine by me. So from now on when people ask you my age you tell me 19!
And just when you think you are NOT getting through to a group of older students I had a Senior stop me after one class and ask me what I thought she should do because her friend wanted to take an illegal drug. I won't go into the conversation because it was lengthy but I did encourage her to speak up/stand up to her friend and to get the necessary help if she did not feel the friend was going to listen. That was the 1st time that a student felt comfortable enough to let me into their lives and to really seek me out. I am starting to understand the power of our work.
We also had the pleasure of performing at a Children's Home. Most of the kids live their because their parents could not take care of them and/or they have a personal history with substance abuse. I know one of the actor's had a student in his class who admitted to having a Cocaine addiction when he was 13--they boy is only 15 years old now. I had a boy in one of my classes admit to me that his aunt and other people in his family were addicted to meth and how they are going to keep doing it and won't stop until they get caught. I mean this boy could not have been more than 13 years old and most of the issues that we present were common to him. He knew people who did meth, he knows what can happen in meth labs and all the consequences of meth abuse. The pain in this boy's voice just broke my heart and all the while he is talking to me I cannot help but feel helpless. It took alot of energy to not break down.
On a bit of a lighter note I have been finding balance with my work, social and professional lives. I am still hanging out with my core group of people and we now are known as "the fam" (as in family). Not only have we been socializing but we also look out for each other and isn't that what friendship is supposed to be about? Since my weeks are getting heavier with travels I have found my place within my company. In all honesty I have found where I want the people in my company's place to be in my life. I went to this amusement park called ValleyScare with 2 other company members and we had a blast! It was just a fun late afternoon/evening of fun and scare. We went through 6 Haunted Houses and we're freaked out by all of them and screamed our asses off for 3 hours. It was great!!! I have also signed on to do a holiday play at CLIMB called "The Elves and The Shoemaker" I am The Shoemaker and this is going to be SO MUCH FUN. We are going perform this play for lil kids and they get to help be elves and assist me in making lots of imaginary shoes for The Queen in the play. Me involving myself in this show will do 2 things: 1st it will give me a break from Meth. And 2nd it gives me an opportunity to work with some other people at CLIMB.
As all can read I am doing great. I do miss my friends and family so don't any of you ever forget that. I do love hearing from all of you as well. So drop me an email, text or vmail and let me know what is up. You know I always respond with intentions of it being sooner than later.
Passionately Yours ~ Keone The Kid
06 October 2007
Installment Tre
Chronicles of a City Chap: Still Standing
Today marks the completion of 2 of the most intense weeks I have had in a VERY long time. The week of 24 Settembre was my final week of training. We were trained in teaching/facilitating post performance classes. Teach training was the first time that I thought, "this is too much and not enough time." Everyday was filled with paper, schedules, scripts, lesson plans, activities, role-playing, mini-seminar type speeches and the list really does go on. I started to think, "what have I gotten myself into?" I was not questioning my innate abilities, but I was unsure about CLIMB's expectations of us as we only had a few days of training. I went into Teach Training thinking that 28 HRS was obscene for a 40 mins class. After the first day I started to think that we did NOT have enough time. I, being the perfectionist/detail oriented person that I am, started to find flaws in the structure of the class. I realized that I was not the only person who felt this way. We all spent too much time getting documentation about Class Management, Simple Rules, Liability forms, and Demographic/Ethic Forms so, consequently, less time was spent DOING/RUNNING our particular programs. Don't get me wrong, I believe that role-play is a great way to feel comfortable with hypothetical situations, but let's be real--we are Actors. We all don't have a problem speaking in from of people. And I would have benefited more of actually facilitating my actual lesson plan--than listening to "What To Do When...happens" or "How To Handle...situation". I learn through research, observation and finally applying what skills I know. We only got to run our lesson plans 1 time. Of course my lesson plan did not fail, but I did not live up to the expectations that I had for myself. 65% of that is because I could not synthesize all the information that was being thrown at me. Every document that was given to us was seen as something that needed to be incorporated into our classes. The other 35% of my 1st facilitating going array was due to the structure of our training. Many of us voiced our opinions and hopefully some changes will be made for the next season. Luckily, my 1st facilitation was done for my company and not for actual students.
I had to kick my own ass into high gear and just make decisions for myself. I also have an AMAZING company and we all support each other when need be and we figured out how to solve our teaching discrepancies.
I know the reason I was being so hard on myself with my lesson plan is because my subject matter is so important. You can't just 1/2-ass a class on Meth Prevention. We not only have the ability to change a persons life for the better, but if you go in and NOT know what you are talking about---you can give the wrong impression and leave a student worse off than when they came in. I have a big responsibility.....hrmmm...........I must say it again--responsibility. Those of you who have worked with youth or in an educational arena know exactly what I am talking about. So the reality of that responsibility started to set in and I wanted everything to be just right.
I am happy to report that my first class went extremely well and after a week of teaching I have a strong understanding of the lesson plan and now my new challenge is incorporating my skills to be age/grade appropriate. There is definitely a way in communicating with 9th graders that differs from Seniors. There is also a strong distinction in how each grade responds to you-- the person, the material and you the facilitator. I have been having a blast. So far my favorite grades to teach are 9th and 10th graders. Seniors are pretty cool, but the one 11th grade class I had just had too many other priorities. I spent most of my time doing classroom management and that was pretty cool, because respect is not always readily available. But when you give no other alternative--the results are quite remarkable. The 11th graders turned out to be an educational experience for me. There was definitely a few young men in that class who had delt with friends who were involved with Meth. I also had 9th graders speak openly about knowing family members who were suffering from the effects of a meth addiction.
On more of a lighter note my show is going well. This show takes quite a bit out of me physically and emotionally. By the end of the play our characters are so strung out on meth and our moods swing faster than the wind. I am loving performing almost daily. I am so glad that I disciplined myself into learning this show inside out because we have no time to think. Here is what one schedule looks like for me:
I rise no later than 5AM. I shower. I get dressed. Grab my suitcase and head off to CLIMB HQ to load the truck. Get to CLIMB and pack the truck with the valuables (sound machine, 10 stage lights, body mics, speakers and our road box) that we MUST always keep on our person. After we are packed we drive to the program site. Once on site we unload into the performance space and set-up. Set-up usually is completed 2 mins before show time which gives us just enough time to get in our costumes and then LIGHTS UP! After the show we have about 5 mins (and that is generous) to get to our 1st class to teach. Classes are either back-to-back or we have about 10 mins in between them and that is just enough time to walk to the next classroom. As soon as our last class is done we go back to the performance space and load up our set/costumes. We get in the van and drive to the hotel. Once at the hotel we unload the valuables that must go into our rooms with us along with our luggage. Before bed we complete our daily performance logs, discuss the schedule for the next day and we sleep. Wake-up calls are heard no later than 5AM and we do it all over again in a different city.
Everyday is unique unto itself. There is always a new challenge as we change schools. Our load-in time is supposed to be 35mins at most and then have no more than 25mins to set-up and start the show. Well our first day out our load-in was about 45mins or so and we had no time to do mic check and before I knew it I was saying my first line in the play. It almost felt like when you have an old favorite song that you probably have not heard in years, but as soon as the music starts to play you know every lyric without fail. That is what I meant by no time to think. We are in the moment and we let the magic happen.
A few other interesting things happened during the week. Our 2nd hotel stay did not have an elevator and we were on the 2nd floor. Now you may wonder why this would cause a bit of distress. Well, remember the valuables that we must take out of the van with us. Those "valuables" are to come in with us during performance time and stay in our rooms on hotel overnights. Well, the equipment is bulky, heavy and expensive. So we were going to carry it up the stairs which is a 4 person job but luckily the concierge was extremely nice (that Minnesota Nice again) and she let us lock the stuff in the laundry room. Of course we think, worst case scenario, of them wasting water on everything. Our worst fear did not come to fruition.
Another fun thing that happened was one day we got to perform on an actual stage. Usually we are in gyms, auditoriums, or cafeterias. The space was state of the art with new everything. We had plenty of time to load-in, set-up and we even had about 5 mins to actual breath a bit. Funny how when things seems to go TOO perfect some obstacle comes crashing down like a game of tetris gone bad. Just as we took the house lights down and went to bring up the bedroom lights we had blown a fuse. In all the places to blow a fuse; we blow it in a brand new theatre. To top it all off the custodian assured us that their system could handle our 10 lights and sound/projection system and he failed to tell us where the fuse box was located AND just when you think it could not get any more funny---he had split. He was no where on-site (which is against the policy that we set for each programming site) So we had to perform the whole show in house lights with only music to show the change in scenes. The ironic part was that this was our most cohesive show of the week. We really challenged ourselves to stay connected with our characters and the audience because we were exposed the whole time. The Assistant Priniciple actually was quite happy that we had a lighting failure. She got the feeling that the students might not been able to handle the darkness for an hour. So, as always, God works in mysterious ways.
I must conclude here because I am off to finish packing for tonight's trip. I return on Monday night and leave again Tuesday morning, I return Wed night and leave yet again Thurs morning, Ill come back Thurs night, depart Friday morning and finally rest in my bed Friday night. Saturday is a dark day (we also say the Theatre is Black; this means there is no show).
P*S* The shaving of the 'tache and goatee was not as traumatic as I thought. I am actually getting used to it and I have finally decided to let my hair grow. Well....I am going to let it grow as long as I can until I get fired :-P
Passionately Yours ~ Keone The Kid
Today marks the completion of 2 of the most intense weeks I have had in a VERY long time. The week of 24 Settembre was my final week of training. We were trained in teaching/facilitating post performance classes. Teach training was the first time that I thought, "this is too much and not enough time." Everyday was filled with paper, schedules, scripts, lesson plans, activities, role-playing, mini-seminar type speeches and the list really does go on. I started to think, "what have I gotten myself into?" I was not questioning my innate abilities, but I was unsure about CLIMB's expectations of us as we only had a few days of training. I went into Teach Training thinking that 28 HRS was obscene for a 40 mins class. After the first day I started to think that we did NOT have enough time. I, being the perfectionist/detail oriented person that I am, started to find flaws in the structure of the class. I realized that I was not the only person who felt this way. We all spent too much time getting documentation about Class Management, Simple Rules, Liability forms, and Demographic/Ethic Forms so, consequently, less time was spent DOING/RUNNING our particular programs. Don't get me wrong, I believe that role-play is a great way to feel comfortable with hypothetical situations, but let's be real--we are Actors. We all don't have a problem speaking in from of people. And I would have benefited more of actually facilitating my actual lesson plan--than listening to "What To Do When...happens" or "How To Handle...situation". I learn through research, observation and finally applying what skills I know. We only got to run our lesson plans 1 time. Of course my lesson plan did not fail, but I did not live up to the expectations that I had for myself. 65% of that is because I could not synthesize all the information that was being thrown at me. Every document that was given to us was seen as something that needed to be incorporated into our classes. The other 35% of my 1st facilitating going array was due to the structure of our training. Many of us voiced our opinions and hopefully some changes will be made for the next season. Luckily, my 1st facilitation was done for my company and not for actual students.
I had to kick my own ass into high gear and just make decisions for myself. I also have an AMAZING company and we all support each other when need be and we figured out how to solve our teaching discrepancies.
I know the reason I was being so hard on myself with my lesson plan is because my subject matter is so important. You can't just 1/2-ass a class on Meth Prevention. We not only have the ability to change a persons life for the better, but if you go in and NOT know what you are talking about---you can give the wrong impression and leave a student worse off than when they came in. I have a big responsibility.....hrmmm...........I must say it again--responsibility. Those of you who have worked with youth or in an educational arena know exactly what I am talking about. So the reality of that responsibility started to set in and I wanted everything to be just right.
I am happy to report that my first class went extremely well and after a week of teaching I have a strong understanding of the lesson plan and now my new challenge is incorporating my skills to be age/grade appropriate. There is definitely a way in communicating with 9th graders that differs from Seniors. There is also a strong distinction in how each grade responds to you-- the person, the material and you the facilitator. I have been having a blast. So far my favorite grades to teach are 9th and 10th graders. Seniors are pretty cool, but the one 11th grade class I had just had too many other priorities. I spent most of my time doing classroom management and that was pretty cool, because respect is not always readily available. But when you give no other alternative--the results are quite remarkable. The 11th graders turned out to be an educational experience for me. There was definitely a few young men in that class who had delt with friends who were involved with Meth. I also had 9th graders speak openly about knowing family members who were suffering from the effects of a meth addiction.
On more of a lighter note my show is going well. This show takes quite a bit out of me physically and emotionally. By the end of the play our characters are so strung out on meth and our moods swing faster than the wind. I am loving performing almost daily. I am so glad that I disciplined myself into learning this show inside out because we have no time to think. Here is what one schedule looks like for me:
I rise no later than 5AM. I shower. I get dressed. Grab my suitcase and head off to CLIMB HQ to load the truck. Get to CLIMB and pack the truck with the valuables (sound machine, 10 stage lights, body mics, speakers and our road box) that we MUST always keep on our person. After we are packed we drive to the program site. Once on site we unload into the performance space and set-up. Set-up usually is completed 2 mins before show time which gives us just enough time to get in our costumes and then LIGHTS UP! After the show we have about 5 mins (and that is generous) to get to our 1st class to teach. Classes are either back-to-back or we have about 10 mins in between them and that is just enough time to walk to the next classroom. As soon as our last class is done we go back to the performance space and load up our set/costumes. We get in the van and drive to the hotel. Once at the hotel we unload the valuables that must go into our rooms with us along with our luggage. Before bed we complete our daily performance logs, discuss the schedule for the next day and we sleep. Wake-up calls are heard no later than 5AM and we do it all over again in a different city.
Everyday is unique unto itself. There is always a new challenge as we change schools. Our load-in time is supposed to be 35mins at most and then have no more than 25mins to set-up and start the show. Well our first day out our load-in was about 45mins or so and we had no time to do mic check and before I knew it I was saying my first line in the play. It almost felt like when you have an old favorite song that you probably have not heard in years, but as soon as the music starts to play you know every lyric without fail. That is what I meant by no time to think. We are in the moment and we let the magic happen.
A few other interesting things happened during the week. Our 2nd hotel stay did not have an elevator and we were on the 2nd floor. Now you may wonder why this would cause a bit of distress. Well, remember the valuables that we must take out of the van with us. Those "valuables" are to come in with us during performance time and stay in our rooms on hotel overnights. Well, the equipment is bulky, heavy and expensive. So we were going to carry it up the stairs which is a 4 person job but luckily the concierge was extremely nice (that Minnesota Nice again) and she let us lock the stuff in the laundry room. Of course we think, worst case scenario, of them wasting water on everything. Our worst fear did not come to fruition.
Another fun thing that happened was one day we got to perform on an actual stage. Usually we are in gyms, auditoriums, or cafeterias. The space was state of the art with new everything. We had plenty of time to load-in, set-up and we even had about 5 mins to actual breath a bit. Funny how when things seems to go TOO perfect some obstacle comes crashing down like a game of tetris gone bad. Just as we took the house lights down and went to bring up the bedroom lights we had blown a fuse. In all the places to blow a fuse; we blow it in a brand new theatre. To top it all off the custodian assured us that their system could handle our 10 lights and sound/projection system and he failed to tell us where the fuse box was located AND just when you think it could not get any more funny---he had split. He was no where on-site (which is against the policy that we set for each programming site) So we had to perform the whole show in house lights with only music to show the change in scenes. The ironic part was that this was our most cohesive show of the week. We really challenged ourselves to stay connected with our characters and the audience because we were exposed the whole time. The Assistant Priniciple actually was quite happy that we had a lighting failure. She got the feeling that the students might not been able to handle the darkness for an hour. So, as always, God works in mysterious ways.
I must conclude here because I am off to finish packing for tonight's trip. I return on Monday night and leave again Tuesday morning, I return Wed night and leave yet again Thurs morning, Ill come back Thurs night, depart Friday morning and finally rest in my bed Friday night. Saturday is a dark day (we also say the Theatre is Black; this means there is no show).
P*S* The shaving of the 'tache and goatee was not as traumatic as I thought. I am actually getting used to it and I have finally decided to let my hair grow. Well....I am going to let it grow as long as I can until I get fired :-P
Passionately Yours ~ Keone The Kid
22 September 2007
Installment Due
Chronicles of a City Chap: Speak When Spoken To
I just finished my first full we at CLIMB Theatre and I must say we are WORKING. We play alot but we work hard. This company is committed to bringing the best out of us and I must say that it is causing me to strive to be on my "A" game 110% of the time. I have been experience the pleasant side of what is known at "Minnesota Nice". EVERYONE speaks to you. "Hello". "Good Morning". "How are you?". And your standard non verbal recognitions. It is nice to live in a place where people appreciate your existence. As my New York readers know; New Yorkers don't have time (and usually won't make time) to acknowledge your presence. That act of selfishness is why most people think New Yorkers are rude. They aren't rude (on a whole) just preoccupied. The Minnesotans I have encountered are completely the opposite.
The other day I was walking to the grocery store and the cutest old couple were walking and talking. I could see them walking toward me and I was having a great time observing their interaction. How surprised was I when they stopped to give me a simple "hello." It was startling at first but I found myself smiling even more. Those are the experiences I have been having outside of CLIMB.
Back at the ranch I have been experiencing that sort of love and even more. I also realized that many of you are not quite sure what I am doing here. Now that I have a bit more training I will attempt to briefly give you some insight on the company I work for. Here goes....
CLIMB [Creative Learning Ideas for the Mind and Body] Is a not-for-profit children's theatre company who's mission statement is to inspire youth in K-12 to give back to themselves and their community by teaching them, through dramatic and educational programming, skills on how to be better individuals. A quick roster of the programs we offer reads like: bullying, gender, race & orientation discrimination, responsibility, social awareness and substance abuse. We have a Teaching Company and a Performance Company. Teaching company's focus is on teaching students through classroom discussions and role playing issues, for example, like bullying. Performance company focuses on showing youth how their perceptions of issues that they are uneducated on can cause conflict. The example I will use is my play: Shattered.
Shattered tells the story of a young girl named Kalya who is your average high school teen. She has a best friend, comes from a decent home, has a great boyfriend and is focused on going to college and making something of her life. On her adolescent journey she encounters an awful drug called Meth. The drugs DESTROYS her strength, her morals and her rhyme and reason. The play takes you from her pre-Meth life to her being so caught up in it that you don't know if she dies at the end.
My sub-company of CLIMB is called SilverCo [Silver Company]. We are a team of four and we have been brought together from all over the country to bring these characters and this most important issue to life. Our company is also a special company because we will Perform & Teach while on the road. Everyone else (except 1 other sub-company) Teaches or Performs---we get to do both. As you can guess it is a MUST for our show. It would be irresponsible for us to perform and portray a story like this and not follow them up with, what we call, "break out sessions". Each of us, alone, will lead post-play classes to the students who attended the play and will focus on bringing their experience full circle. I start my Teaching training next week so I am not sure about the material that we will cover.
I won't bore or gross you guys out, yet, about what I have been learning about this drug but it is mind blowing. And if you know me, which you all do, I am not one to make light or exaggerate topics like these. Most of you all know where I stand on drugs (il/legal) and what lines I will allowed to be crossed -- but this one! This one leaves me relentless on my stance against it. IT IS HORRIFIC!
Now you might ask why I came out to MN to do this show. Just google Meth & Minnesota or go to these two websites: http://www.notevenonce.com/ and http://www.justthinktwice.com/. There any many more but these two are insightful. Also you can visit CLIMB's website for some information on everything we do. www.climb.org
So yeah I have come here to educate. Not only these young kids but also myself. I have been having a blast working with everyone. Everyone at CLIMB is so friendly and open. I think we support each other because we are all dealing with the same obstacles and also celebrating the same rewards.
One reward I get is shopping for free. My company went to The Mall of America to buy our costumes. We are portraying teenagers so we need to have pretty trendy clothes. So we went into America's Mall and boy is it huge. Most of the first floor is an amusement park with rides and vendors and I think even shows. It had 2 Starbucks and I felt at home. Ironically, we went to get coffee at Caribou which is--as one of my Co. members say "The truth around here." Caribou to MN is what Starbucks is to NYC. EVERYONE drinks it and EVERYONE loves it. So I got my favorite thing from Starbucks, Grande Soy Chai Latte, at Caribou and it was surprisingly delicious. The next time I go there I will find out what my Caribou signature drink needs to be.
Also during this past week I got Certified to drive a Commercial Vehicle--15 passenger van to be precise. The main driver for our company and myself (2nd driver) went and got physicals and had to take some tests to be able to drive these vans and also a Commercial Truck (think U-haul trucks; the fleet of trucks after the vans). Might sound crazy because we rent those type of trucks to move our belongings but when you add cargo and responsibility for humans while working for a not-for-profit children's theatre co. they make more rules. So now I am certified and that is good for a couple of years.
I finally have 24/7 internet at my house and my roommate moved in on Friday. So things are starting to take shape here in IGH. My mom asked me if I was going crazy not "doing anything" and I responded, "no". I am loving this time, as I mentioned before. I also told one cast member that I am so happy to be spending my days doing this type of work. I don't mind getting up at 630A on a Saturday morning to go into rehearsal for 8 hours. THIS is what I was built to do. I love that I can call this work. I am truly blessed. Now everything is not gumdrops and roses. I did found out that the bus I have gotten accustomed to taking during the week does not stop on my street on Saturdays and Sundays. It just doesn't. Monday thru Friday the bus is a beautiful thing. Saturday and Sunday it mandatory make Demetrius' life interesting day. Yesterday was my first Saturday working and I will be there next Saturday as well. I also know that a few of our travel days are on Sunday. The weather on Saturday was an anomaly. The weather was gorgeous and I walked to and from work. I live about 2.5 miles from work and the neighborhoods are great and I also passed a few runners and fitness buffs as I hoof it. The Midwest weather is on shuffle so who knows what tomorrow or next week will bring.
I actually got a chance to go out with some folks from a different company last night and we had a great time. It was nice being around some younger folks. We all connected on some level and that was cool. I don't know how much I will be going out in the Twin Cities because they have not passed the law to ban smoking in public social places. So yeah....I prefer to come home smelling like I left.
P*S* I am up to my 6th go-green bag!
P*S*S* I have to shave off my moustache and goatee! Next time you see me I'll look like a teenager.
Passionately yours ~
Keone The Kid
15 September 2007
Installement Uno
****Welcome to my blog. Below you will find quite a lengthy update on my first few days in Minnesota. I hope you all are well.****
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Chronicles of a City Chap: The Arrival
12 Sept 2007
As I lie here on my make-shift bed, on the floor, in my new apartment, in a new city, state, time zone and sensibility--I cannot help but feel that I am supposed to be in this place.
How strange, yet familiar, these feelings of freedom, loneliness and expectations. Flashback to 24 hours ago as I sip on a Green Ginger Tea in a Grande Cup with two packets of honey from the Starbucks in the West Village of Manhattan. My eyes look over and occasionally dismiss the revolving door of patrons that enter the establishment. I start to feel my time in NYC could use a much needed period of separation.
So here I am in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota. The state that is known for 10,000 Lakes (I discovered this as I read the license plate of a car in the parking lot of the library). I am here and I am adapting, however I don't know if I am doing a good job of it or not. I find myself wondering if I fit in and feeling more self aware of everything that makes me an individual. I don't have any less confidence, but I am suffering from a bit of discomfort anxiety. No one here looks like me and I have yet to see anyone who reminds me of anyone I love. Isn't it ironic? The same reasons I j'adore NYC are the same reasons I feel a bit isolated here in this rural community.
So far everyone has been very kind. I won't say that people here are nice, but they are polite. You don't recognize the difference? Easy. Politeness comes from home training and nice comes from a desire to want to positively connect with another person. I have met two nice people: The owner of my complex and my chauffeur (can take the boy out of bourgie-ville, but can't take the bourgie-ville....:-P)
The latter experience comes first but not before I tell you about my final hours in New York City.
And it begins....
Rewind to my final day in The Big Apple. I really thought that I had it all together. I mean, I had packed my belongings, booked a flight, trained a new employee, had going away dinners, drinks, phone calls, SMS msgs and late night chats--among a variety of other memorable events. I wake up the morning of Tuesday the 11th and I am feeling productive. I am almost looking forward to spending a my final night in New York on the town. I am at the laundromat washing my two favorite super soft bed sheet sets and duvet cover. I also take this time to reserve a car to come and pick me up from the airport upon arrival. I even have enough time to read my script for the 4th time and I start taking some notes. I find out that my dry cleaning is not going to be ready until after 11AM so I leave to get ready for my day and I decide that picking it up later is no big deal because I am been pretty much on schedule. I head into the city and stop by FMA to say my final goodbyes and I depart for what turned out to be a fun audition as an extra for Sex in the City: The Movie. I am now on my way back home to the BK to pick up where I left off. I grab my dry cleaning and I am certain that I will fit everything in.
Needlesstosay, I was WRONG and I ran out of space. How in the world did that happen?! I really don't know and the only way to deal with it was to not--so I took a nap pretended like all was okay. Now this may sound a bit dramatic (at times deliberately) but I just could not understanding how my bags were starting to overflow. Now I was fed up and I wanted to throw everything away and say "vaffanculo!" After my nap I was still in denial and refused to let this ruin my final night in the city that never sleeps.
I ended up at aforementioned Starbucks and ended the night with a lovely dinner. I went home with a new mind and tackled this (re)-packing dilemma like the pro I am. I got EVERYTHING and a bit more in and it only cost me a few T-shirts and a night of sleep that was interrupted after only 45 minutes of REM by my piercing alarm. I contemplated not showering since I was going to be hauling around 5 tons of clothes, shoes and a Whitney Houston music collection that is not to be rivaled. I am happy to say that the shower not only cleansed my body but gave me a much needed mental break.
My plan was to do my final inspection of luggage, room and apartment 5 times--and then I would be off on my journey. Well the strangest thing happened which took me a bit off course. As I walking into my apartment for the second to last time my heart started racing, my pace slowed and my eyes began to water. Tears started to freely fall from my eyes. I can honestly say I had no control over my emotions. I am still uncertain of what triggered my tears but I do know once the flood gates the stream was mighty strong. I realized it was more beneficial to let myself have this experience instead of fighting it. After my tears I said good-bye and I left.
As time starts to turn more present I find myself on a plane to Minneapolis with a whole row to myself and I am loving it! I place my pillow on the seat next to the window and I toss my feet up toward the aisle and my bottom is comfortably nestled in the dreaded middle seat. I arrive in MN with a few returned text msgs and it felt good to know that the people I left my heart with still knew how to make me feel good. I might be demanding but I am not needy. A gesture, any gesture, of genuine emotion touches my heart. I also got an early call from my car service (chauffeur) and he, whether he knew it or not, made my entrance into Minnesota more than just bearable. Pat and I engaged in a genuine superficial conversation. Superficial meaning that he was not trying to get my life story in 20 minutes. He just had a genuine interest in having a conversation--any conversation with me.
Then I met Ed, Owner/Mgr of The Hills Apartment. He is a nice guy but a bit of a mess. He means well but suffers from saying too much and not doing enough (hence the reason I am spending my first night on the floor and not in a bed). Beyond a few personality quirks he makes living the rural life pleasant. He make the apartment selection process a breeze. He also offered some essential information on the area. He knows what he knows and that is all he knows and he will tell you if he does not know and who to ask if you really need to know! (say that sentence a few times)
After I move my bags in I decide to take a trip to CUB, the local grocery store, and I encountered a pleasant lady. I bought a combination of household products and a few morsels to survive on for the next few days. Well, they had "go-green" reusable bags so I bought some. This lady commented on how she liked mine and had wished she had seen them earlier. I just so had happened to purchase one too many and I was just going to give her my extra. Her and her husband insisted that they pay me the $1 for the bag. I made it clear that it was only a dollar and it was my pleasure to give them a bag. This was definitely one of those times where you don't argue with your elders, because her husband said, (referring to me stated that it was only a dollar) "that does not matter and he did not care." As to not be disrespectful I took the dollar and gave them the bag.
I spent the rest of Day 1 cleaning my apartment and bringing a bit of life to it. I ate a delicious turkey, avocado and provolone wrap and had a glass of vino to welcome myself to my new life. The day has been stressful yet laid back. Strange and exhilarating. I'm lost but I keep shining my light down the road. This is truly the beginning of a new chapter in my life. I better fasten my seat belt because it is going to be a bumpy ride!
Passionately yours ~ Keone The Kid
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Chronicles of a City Chap: Dazed
13 September 2007
Reality check: It's cold here!
Granted there is only a 10 degree difference, but I feel that 10 degrees in my skin. I have been walking around my apartment in socks and sweats. Mother Thomas is going to be sending me a care package sooner than she thinks, because it is chil-lay here! And it does not help that my building is close to a lake and I am getting the backlash.
Today was still a "getting settled" day. I woke up at 7:30A and quickly went back to bed. My body thought it was an hour later and my days usually start at 630A on gym days and on non-gym days I am gone by 8A...so though I knew I needed the extra rest my internal clock thought I was late. This will probably work in my favor because CLIMB has some pretty early hours scheduled for us.
After I rolled out of bed I decided to unpacked. It is so strange having a closet. I went without an official closet for a year and now that I have one I think my room is going to seem even more empty. Oh well I won't complain I am LOVING the space. And did I mention I have a WINDOW. Anyone who visited Chateau Troutman knows that I was quite fond of the benefits of not having a window, but have to one again! It is nice to wake up with the sun and also to be able to see the rain fall or watch the trees bend as the wind blows. Lucky me, I experienced all of that before 1P.
I finished unpacking and finally my bed was delivered. I thought it was time to get out of the house so I got on the bus and I went to CLIMB. The bus came when it said it was going to come and it dropped me off where I wanted to be. It looks like I am going to have to invest in a Transit card. I did have a small scare when I was trying to return home. The stop that I was at was not on my map and the literature I was reading was informing me that a bus was not going to stop there at all. I had to take a moment and breath before I committed to freaking out. I called the info hotline they provided and WOW someone actually came on the line in less than 30 seconds and told me where the bus would stop and what time it was going to be there and just when you did not think it could get better the bus arrived when he said it would--whoa! You would think you would get that sort of service in major cities where the transit system is more complex and destined to cause confusions, but this is the first time I called a public transit hotline and got accurate information without the attitude. They have been added to my mobile address book.
Tomorrow is lease signing day and it looks like I might have found a new gym.
Passionately yours ~ Keone The Kid
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Chronicles of a City Chap: Genuinely Happy
14 September 2007
Today I found myself smiling and "Letting Go & Letting God". I woke up with a since of purpose but I also did not feel trapped by time. Everything in NYC is go go go go go go until you just can't. You live appointment to appointment. From job to job. Bar to Bar. Date to Date. Train stop to Train stop. Here I have limitations but somehow that frees me. I am feeling surprisingly comfortable in my new home. I think I am just enjoying this solace because in a few weeks I will be on the road and my personal time will be shared with three other people. Well let's break the day down in your standard Morning, Noon & Night.
il Mattino:
The morning was spent refocusing on my script and just committing to the words. I have read the play many times and now I am at a point where I want to focus on my character. I have a tendency sometimes to get so involved with the character that I prematurely start to do character work. I just can not help it. I start to speak as these people and my spirit lifts and I take that journey into the soul of the person. It is an experience that I cannot quite put into words. My script work too me into the afternoon and then I realized I needed to get to the library before it closed.
il Pomeriggio:
I, well the technician, finally got my laptop to connect to the internet without me plugging an ethernet cable into my computer. I have also come to realize that my mobile phone refuses to work inside of any building. I was in the library trying to talk to the technician and instead of following his instructions; I heard myself ad nauseam "will you repeat that", "I'm sorry my connection is bad", "oh what sir, no please say that again", "do what...huh....what?" All the while I am scooting around the library in a rolling chair with my laptop in my lap trying to get reception. Not to mention I am in a library so I am trying my best to not be loud---now ya'll know that is a feat for me especially when I am frustrated. In the end we got it to work and I enjoyed normal internet access for about an hour.
The library closed and I went to sign my lease. I am officially a Minnesota leaseholder. I had to sign all sorts of stuff that basically said I agree to only sign the lease if I want live here and acknowledgements that I am not to set the building on fire and such. Also I found out that it is Minnesota law that if I am to move and I don't take my stuff the management company has to hold on to my stuff for 90 days and basically store/protect it. Not that I am going to leave anything but I did see a bike that I want. Could have been a Christmas present but then I realized it is going to be winter and I shall be busing it--so scratch that brilliant idea.
After my lease signing I realized that I needed some envelopes to send mail to you lovely folks who requested mail. Why do I without fail go in to ANY store and get distracted. I went to buy a box of envelopes. I ended up with: envelopes, tape, contact solution (the stuff was 50% off--I could not say no to that), while looking at the solution I found some delicious teas and then I remembered I needed storage containers for lunch next week and finally broke down and got dish towels. So of course I had to buy yet another Re-use Recycle "go-green" bag. I am up to 5 now. Anybody want one? Let's see how many I have before I leave here.
As I was making my way to get my storage containers I got "flirty eyes" from...check this out....some middle aged man. Child! I was like WHERE AM I?! Gay folks are not in IGH [that's Inver Grove Heights for my blonde babies---but I love you though!] So I casually smiled back. It was definitely one of those-- I saw you before you saw me and I finally wanted to smile and let you know that I had been watching you--smiles. Ya'll know what I am talking about. So I had to just take a moment and be tickled, because of course I get my first "hey cowboy" look from some middled-aged country man. I tried to play it off like he was just being friendly and went on with my shopping. I then proceed to look down the aisle where I was standing and I saw a few boys looking for soda. God bless them but they were about as sweet as the carbonated beverages they were about to drink. And instead of being a hater, like many of us are at times in the city, I found myself happy to see them. We as a humanity should appreciate and embrace our similarities. We, including me, spend too much time trying to make ourselves uniquely identifiable that we force ourselves to stand on the sidelines alone and isolated; to then subsequently bitch about why our life is so bad. This however was a moment in which I was did not belittle a difference but appreciated a common thread. A few moments later I found that my "eye winker" was indeed partnered up with who seemed to be a nice man. I have to say I was happy to know he was taken and just being friendly and not a dirty old man.
By this time I was hungry and you know I likes to get my eat on. I also realized that I might not get to the liquor store anytime soon so......why not stop by and get some libation? Upon entering I was greeting by a beer and tequila tasting stand---does it get any better?! I truly went in to get another bottle of red (But as I said before I am easily distracted in stores). I wanted my drinking to be for medicinal purposes, you know after long days of rehearsals for meditation and relaxation. Are you buying any of this? No. Okay so you still know me. The beer was aiight but the Orange flavored Jose Cuevo was quite tasty. If you have not seen it out there and you are a fan of Tequila let me know and Ill grab some bottle for you (they have Lime, Orange, and I forget the last one). I tasted the Jose Orang with Margarita Mix. Let's just say I was tempted to purchase, but my heart was set on wine so I said no. Though it was only $15 for a Litre (I think that's it; whatever size is 3rd up from the smallest). Neway, I chatted it up with the girls giving out the samples. One of thing liked by go-green bag; I guess I can make anything look fashionable :-) She did say, "I love your bag", like it was something out of the tents of Fashion Week. Come to find out she is an actress in Minneapolis and gave me some insight on the area and the theatre circuit. It was nice to finally feel like I could just have a conversation with people. Since I was on a roll with making friends I thought I would ask the cashier to give me a recommendation on a wine and she recommended a White Merlot and a Pinotage from S. Africa. I have not tried it yet but as soon as I do I will report back. I figured if this was going to be my local liquor store I might as well be friendly. So Sharon (the cashier) and I are mad cool now. She told me about how her cousin does some theatre in the area and how the other company she works for does security for CLIMB. Small word. Only thing left to top off this day of being a social butterfly was to EAT.
la Notte:
I was walking home from the Chinese take-out place and I was coming up over the hill and I saw the sun setting just on the other side. The shadows that the crimson colors were casting left me feeling calm and at peace. I keyed into my place and was feeling like I could be happy here. I always knew that I would get so busy with work that "liking" my environment was always an afterthought. I never cared to make that a priority because my priority was outside of my home. I am here to say that knowing that I can be relatively happy or at least at peace at home will only make the work I do outside more poignant.
I've taken up much of your time so Ill give you a break for a while. Let us reunite after my first week of work.
Passionately yours ~ Keone The Kid
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Chronicles of a City Chap: The Arrival
12 Sept 2007
As I lie here on my make-shift bed, on the floor, in my new apartment, in a new city, state, time zone and sensibility--I cannot help but feel that I am supposed to be in this place.
How strange, yet familiar, these feelings of freedom, loneliness and expectations. Flashback to 24 hours ago as I sip on a Green Ginger Tea in a Grande Cup with two packets of honey from the Starbucks in the West Village of Manhattan. My eyes look over and occasionally dismiss the revolving door of patrons that enter the establishment. I start to feel my time in NYC could use a much needed period of separation.
So here I am in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota. The state that is known for 10,000 Lakes (I discovered this as I read the license plate of a car in the parking lot of the library). I am here and I am adapting, however I don't know if I am doing a good job of it or not. I find myself wondering if I fit in and feeling more self aware of everything that makes me an individual. I don't have any less confidence, but I am suffering from a bit of discomfort anxiety. No one here looks like me and I have yet to see anyone who reminds me of anyone I love. Isn't it ironic? The same reasons I j'adore NYC are the same reasons I feel a bit isolated here in this rural community.
So far everyone has been very kind. I won't say that people here are nice, but they are polite. You don't recognize the difference? Easy. Politeness comes from home training and nice comes from a desire to want to positively connect with another person. I have met two nice people: The owner of my complex and my chauffeur (can take the boy out of bourgie-ville, but can't take the bourgie-ville....:-P)
The latter experience comes first but not before I tell you about my final hours in New York City.
And it begins....
Rewind to my final day in The Big Apple. I really thought that I had it all together. I mean, I had packed my belongings, booked a flight, trained a new employee, had going away dinners, drinks, phone calls, SMS msgs and late night chats--among a variety of other memorable events. I wake up the morning of Tuesday the 11th and I am feeling productive. I am almost looking forward to spending a my final night in New York on the town. I am at the laundromat washing my two favorite super soft bed sheet sets and duvet cover. I also take this time to reserve a car to come and pick me up from the airport upon arrival. I even have enough time to read my script for the 4th time and I start taking some notes. I find out that my dry cleaning is not going to be ready until after 11AM so I leave to get ready for my day and I decide that picking it up later is no big deal because I am been pretty much on schedule. I head into the city and stop by FMA to say my final goodbyes and I depart for what turned out to be a fun audition as an extra for Sex in the City: The Movie. I am now on my way back home to the BK to pick up where I left off. I grab my dry cleaning and I am certain that I will fit everything in.
Needlesstosay, I was WRONG and I ran out of space. How in the world did that happen?! I really don't know and the only way to deal with it was to not--so I took a nap pretended like all was okay. Now this may sound a bit dramatic (at times deliberately) but I just could not understanding how my bags were starting to overflow. Now I was fed up and I wanted to throw everything away and say "vaffanculo!" After my nap I was still in denial and refused to let this ruin my final night in the city that never sleeps.
I ended up at aforementioned Starbucks and ended the night with a lovely dinner. I went home with a new mind and tackled this (re)-packing dilemma like the pro I am. I got EVERYTHING and a bit more in and it only cost me a few T-shirts and a night of sleep that was interrupted after only 45 minutes of REM by my piercing alarm. I contemplated not showering since I was going to be hauling around 5 tons of clothes, shoes and a Whitney Houston music collection that is not to be rivaled. I am happy to say that the shower not only cleansed my body but gave me a much needed mental break.
My plan was to do my final inspection of luggage, room and apartment 5 times--and then I would be off on my journey. Well the strangest thing happened which took me a bit off course. As I walking into my apartment for the second to last time my heart started racing, my pace slowed and my eyes began to water. Tears started to freely fall from my eyes. I can honestly say I had no control over my emotions. I am still uncertain of what triggered my tears but I do know once the flood gates the stream was mighty strong. I realized it was more beneficial to let myself have this experience instead of fighting it. After my tears I said good-bye and I left.
As time starts to turn more present I find myself on a plane to Minneapolis with a whole row to myself and I am loving it! I place my pillow on the seat next to the window and I toss my feet up toward the aisle and my bottom is comfortably nestled in the dreaded middle seat. I arrive in MN with a few returned text msgs and it felt good to know that the people I left my heart with still knew how to make me feel good. I might be demanding but I am not needy. A gesture, any gesture, of genuine emotion touches my heart. I also got an early call from my car service (chauffeur) and he, whether he knew it or not, made my entrance into Minnesota more than just bearable. Pat and I engaged in a genuine superficial conversation. Superficial meaning that he was not trying to get my life story in 20 minutes. He just had a genuine interest in having a conversation--any conversation with me.
Then I met Ed, Owner/Mgr of The Hills Apartment. He is a nice guy but a bit of a mess. He means well but suffers from saying too much and not doing enough (hence the reason I am spending my first night on the floor and not in a bed). Beyond a few personality quirks he makes living the rural life pleasant. He make the apartment selection process a breeze. He also offered some essential information on the area. He knows what he knows and that is all he knows and he will tell you if he does not know and who to ask if you really need to know! (say that sentence a few times)
After I move my bags in I decide to take a trip to CUB, the local grocery store, and I encountered a pleasant lady. I bought a combination of household products and a few morsels to survive on for the next few days. Well, they had "go-green" reusable bags so I bought some. This lady commented on how she liked mine and had wished she had seen them earlier. I just so had happened to purchase one too many and I was just going to give her my extra. Her and her husband insisted that they pay me the $1 for the bag. I made it clear that it was only a dollar and it was my pleasure to give them a bag. This was definitely one of those times where you don't argue with your elders, because her husband said, (referring to me stated that it was only a dollar) "that does not matter and he did not care." As to not be disrespectful I took the dollar and gave them the bag.
I spent the rest of Day 1 cleaning my apartment and bringing a bit of life to it. I ate a delicious turkey, avocado and provolone wrap and had a glass of vino to welcome myself to my new life. The day has been stressful yet laid back. Strange and exhilarating. I'm lost but I keep shining my light down the road. This is truly the beginning of a new chapter in my life. I better fasten my seat belt because it is going to be a bumpy ride!
Passionately yours ~ Keone The Kid
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Chronicles of a City Chap: Dazed
13 September 2007
Reality check: It's cold here!
Granted there is only a 10 degree difference, but I feel that 10 degrees in my skin. I have been walking around my apartment in socks and sweats. Mother Thomas is going to be sending me a care package sooner than she thinks, because it is chil-lay here! And it does not help that my building is close to a lake and I am getting the backlash.
Today was still a "getting settled" day. I woke up at 7:30A and quickly went back to bed. My body thought it was an hour later and my days usually start at 630A on gym days and on non-gym days I am gone by 8A...so though I knew I needed the extra rest my internal clock thought I was late. This will probably work in my favor because CLIMB has some pretty early hours scheduled for us.
After I rolled out of bed I decided to unpacked. It is so strange having a closet. I went without an official closet for a year and now that I have one I think my room is going to seem even more empty. Oh well I won't complain I am LOVING the space. And did I mention I have a WINDOW. Anyone who visited Chateau Troutman knows that I was quite fond of the benefits of not having a window, but have to one again! It is nice to wake up with the sun and also to be able to see the rain fall or watch the trees bend as the wind blows. Lucky me, I experienced all of that before 1P.
I finished unpacking and finally my bed was delivered. I thought it was time to get out of the house so I got on the bus and I went to CLIMB. The bus came when it said it was going to come and it dropped me off where I wanted to be. It looks like I am going to have to invest in a Transit card. I did have a small scare when I was trying to return home. The stop that I was at was not on my map and the literature I was reading was informing me that a bus was not going to stop there at all. I had to take a moment and breath before I committed to freaking out. I called the info hotline they provided and WOW someone actually came on the line in less than 30 seconds and told me where the bus would stop and what time it was going to be there and just when you did not think it could get better the bus arrived when he said it would--whoa! You would think you would get that sort of service in major cities where the transit system is more complex and destined to cause confusions, but this is the first time I called a public transit hotline and got accurate information without the attitude. They have been added to my mobile address book.
Tomorrow is lease signing day and it looks like I might have found a new gym.
Passionately yours ~ Keone The Kid
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Chronicles of a City Chap: Genuinely Happy
14 September 2007
Today I found myself smiling and "Letting Go & Letting God". I woke up with a since of purpose but I also did not feel trapped by time. Everything in NYC is go go go go go go until you just can't. You live appointment to appointment. From job to job. Bar to Bar. Date to Date. Train stop to Train stop. Here I have limitations but somehow that frees me. I am feeling surprisingly comfortable in my new home. I think I am just enjoying this solace because in a few weeks I will be on the road and my personal time will be shared with three other people. Well let's break the day down in your standard Morning, Noon & Night.
il Mattino:
The morning was spent refocusing on my script and just committing to the words. I have read the play many times and now I am at a point where I want to focus on my character. I have a tendency sometimes to get so involved with the character that I prematurely start to do character work. I just can not help it. I start to speak as these people and my spirit lifts and I take that journey into the soul of the person. It is an experience that I cannot quite put into words. My script work too me into the afternoon and then I realized I needed to get to the library before it closed.
il Pomeriggio:
I, well the technician, finally got my laptop to connect to the internet without me plugging an ethernet cable into my computer. I have also come to realize that my mobile phone refuses to work inside of any building. I was in the library trying to talk to the technician and instead of following his instructions; I heard myself ad nauseam "will you repeat that", "I'm sorry my connection is bad", "oh what sir, no please say that again", "do what...huh....what?" All the while I am scooting around the library in a rolling chair with my laptop in my lap trying to get reception. Not to mention I am in a library so I am trying my best to not be loud---now ya'll know that is a feat for me especially when I am frustrated. In the end we got it to work and I enjoyed normal internet access for about an hour.
The library closed and I went to sign my lease. I am officially a Minnesota leaseholder. I had to sign all sorts of stuff that basically said I agree to only sign the lease if I want live here and acknowledgements that I am not to set the building on fire and such. Also I found out that it is Minnesota law that if I am to move and I don't take my stuff the management company has to hold on to my stuff for 90 days and basically store/protect it. Not that I am going to leave anything but I did see a bike that I want. Could have been a Christmas present but then I realized it is going to be winter and I shall be busing it--so scratch that brilliant idea.
After my lease signing I realized that I needed some envelopes to send mail to you lovely folks who requested mail. Why do I without fail go in to ANY store and get distracted. I went to buy a box of envelopes. I ended up with: envelopes, tape, contact solution (the stuff was 50% off--I could not say no to that), while looking at the solution I found some delicious teas and then I remembered I needed storage containers for lunch next week and finally broke down and got dish towels. So of course I had to buy yet another Re-use Recycle "go-green" bag. I am up to 5 now. Anybody want one? Let's see how many I have before I leave here.
As I was making my way to get my storage containers I got "flirty eyes" from...check this out....some middle aged man. Child! I was like WHERE AM I?! Gay folks are not in IGH [that's Inver Grove Heights for my blonde babies---but I love you though!] So I casually smiled back. It was definitely one of those-- I saw you before you saw me and I finally wanted to smile and let you know that I had been watching you--smiles. Ya'll know what I am talking about. So I had to just take a moment and be tickled, because of course I get my first "hey cowboy" look from some middled-aged country man. I tried to play it off like he was just being friendly and went on with my shopping. I then proceed to look down the aisle where I was standing and I saw a few boys looking for soda. God bless them but they were about as sweet as the carbonated beverages they were about to drink. And instead of being a hater, like many of us are at times in the city, I found myself happy to see them. We as a humanity should appreciate and embrace our similarities. We, including me, spend too much time trying to make ourselves uniquely identifiable that we force ourselves to stand on the sidelines alone and isolated; to then subsequently bitch about why our life is so bad. This however was a moment in which I was did not belittle a difference but appreciated a common thread. A few moments later I found that my "eye winker" was indeed partnered up with who seemed to be a nice man. I have to say I was happy to know he was taken and just being friendly and not a dirty old man.
By this time I was hungry and you know I likes to get my eat on. I also realized that I might not get to the liquor store anytime soon so......why not stop by and get some libation? Upon entering I was greeting by a beer and tequila tasting stand---does it get any better?! I truly went in to get another bottle of red (But as I said before I am easily distracted in stores). I wanted my drinking to be for medicinal purposes, you know after long days of rehearsals for meditation and relaxation. Are you buying any of this? No. Okay so you still know me. The beer was aiight but the Orange flavored Jose Cuevo was quite tasty. If you have not seen it out there and you are a fan of Tequila let me know and Ill grab some bottle for you (they have Lime, Orange, and I forget the last one). I tasted the Jose Orang with Margarita Mix. Let's just say I was tempted to purchase, but my heart was set on wine so I said no. Though it was only $15 for a Litre (I think that's it; whatever size is 3rd up from the smallest). Neway, I chatted it up with the girls giving out the samples. One of thing liked by go-green bag; I guess I can make anything look fashionable :-) She did say, "I love your bag", like it was something out of the tents of Fashion Week. Come to find out she is an actress in Minneapolis and gave me some insight on the area and the theatre circuit. It was nice to finally feel like I could just have a conversation with people. Since I was on a roll with making friends I thought I would ask the cashier to give me a recommendation on a wine and she recommended a White Merlot and a Pinotage from S. Africa. I have not tried it yet but as soon as I do I will report back. I figured if this was going to be my local liquor store I might as well be friendly. So Sharon (the cashier) and I are mad cool now. She told me about how her cousin does some theatre in the area and how the other company she works for does security for CLIMB. Small word. Only thing left to top off this day of being a social butterfly was to EAT.
la Notte:
I was walking home from the Chinese take-out place and I was coming up over the hill and I saw the sun setting just on the other side. The shadows that the crimson colors were casting left me feeling calm and at peace. I keyed into my place and was feeling like I could be happy here. I always knew that I would get so busy with work that "liking" my environment was always an afterthought. I never cared to make that a priority because my priority was outside of my home. I am here to say that knowing that I can be relatively happy or at least at peace at home will only make the work I do outside more poignant.
I've taken up much of your time so Ill give you a break for a while. Let us reunite after my first week of work.
Passionately yours ~ Keone The Kid
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