Sunday, April 29, 2007

burnt bridges




Well, I was never terribly fond of this particular overpass but it burnt down at 3am today... Today traffic was pretty bad, but it was Sunday. Tomorrow it will be like a snow storm in Los Angeles (utter confusion and chaos). CBS reports that "a speeding tanker truck hauling 8,600 gallons of gasoline hit a guardrail, overturned and exploded into flames" The freeway MELTED! It sounds impressive, but check out the following link and it's even more so.



http://cbs5.com/video/?id=22841@kpix.dayport.com

Friday, April 27, 2007

America Tropical

This week I am opening a new opera and it's actually pretty good. It's not a typical opera at all. It lasts about an hour and nobody dies. The show is set in LA in a time warp from 1780 to present, including the Rodney King beatings and circling around a mural that was painted on Olevera street in the '30's by David Siquieros... hard to explain, but really interesting and it has beautiful music. Here are a few shots;




I would actually reccomend seeing this show if you're in the area.
:)

Thursday, April 26, 2007

summer cut

Ok I know this may not be deeply fascinating but people post pointless pictures of their kids all the time so here's a pointless post of my dog.

Dewalt got a hair cut;
Before (w/ Sheba)

After;

Tuesday, April 24, 2007

defenestration

The act of throwing a person or thing out of a window...

I've been doing A LOT of driving latley. Yesterday I drove past my favorite piece of instalation art located on the corner of 6th st and Howard in downtown SF.




Saturday, April 21, 2007

National Poetry Month

everyone in Berkeley fancies themself a poet. A while back I was walking in Golden Gate park with my best friend. There was a college age guy who was obviously trying to sell his poems (for donations). He casually tossed his hay-filled white-boy dreadlocks away from his face and asked "do you like poetry?" and before Shaggy could answer I very firmly answered "No." and continued to walk my confused friend forward. They don't try to sell you poetry on the streets of LA.
Right now I am listening to poets on the radio (West coast live) and because I could write crap like what I'm hearing. I submit the following poem in honor of National bad poetry month.

Oh sad yellow sign
if the heart has a number to break with
it must be four-o-nine.

From the thin black veil of history
there must be a man with soot covered clothes
and oily hands
crying
over the man
in the sharp, grey, wool, tailored, pinstripe, designer, suit
with the gleam of hope and sailboats and saliene solution
in his eyes and the number
four-oh-nine
in his
lint filled, dry cleaned,
pocket
next to the change purse
of
his
soul.

(pause) (pause)
--Thank You.

Thursday, April 19, 2007

Electric Six



So I'm going to a concert on Saturday and my folks asked if it was anybody they would know. Well probably not. But here's one of their videos for all to enjoy. Very tasteful and low key as you can see. Not sure why the phrase "nuclear war" is bleeped out of the video.

Tuesday, April 17, 2007

Hard Living



This is me at 12am. I finished my taxes and the realization was that I am Way too tired and way too busy to be making what I make. This was just one of those days where the world was against me.
You see the scratch across my face, caused by my own thumbnail... the red eyes from having just worked another 14 hour day, the poor complexion, the lack of excercise, the lack of social life... THIS Kids; This is the glamour of show biz.
This is the glory of la vie bohem. Today I tried to do the show's laundry but ran out of money that the cash machine would recognize, so it's all hanging up to dry. I accidentally got dye all over some white pants. I had fittings scheduled for me on top of other appointments that had to be rescheduled, I have my new job (which is paying a pittance) expecting me to be at their beck and call and I'm about ready to quit just so that I can stay at home and work in my garden. They're not even being unreasonable, I'm just tired.
Ah, back to sleep now, to have another Long Day ahead of me.
I need a break! I need a better career. What should I do?

Sunday, April 15, 2007

...and Midsummer is closed

Whew! I am TIRED! Today was of corse a beautiful day outside and we were locked inside a theater... with a nice view;


There was one crisis today; Moth didn't make her call time so the woman pictured here (Sarah-Nichole) filled in for her. Sarah was also Peasblossom in the other cast and our props mistress. Today she sacrificed her fabulous hair-day (new hair cut) and let us stitch her into the Moth costume while hair and make-up smeared her with glitter.


And now for the clean up... oh joy

Friday, April 13, 2007

Midsummer is Open!






Now I can do my taxes, change the oil in my car, finish up my reciepts, invoice the conservatory, pay the rentals, arrange returns and dry cleaning, volunteer at the library, get a massage on Saturday, do a job interview, read a new libretto, meet the designer I'm assisting from New York and take him shopping around the area so that this second show can go into tech on the 20th... and then I'll relax. Right?

Sunday, April 8, 2007

Memo to Self

NEVER EVER do a show that doesn't have a Stage Manager.

NEVER EVER do an Opera that doesn't have a Stage Manager.

Stage Managers make the world go 'round and help keep stupid people from making stupid assumptions.

I love Stage Managers.

Thursday, April 5, 2007

Chocolate art

This Kid is awesome. He's got a foreshortened hand, a grimace and he painted this portrait with a spoon, how freaking cool is that.