****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
