Thursday September 29th, 2011

UWTL after another day, another bunch o' dollars lost. I am of course referring to the stock market and my own personal piggy bank. You see, although there is a lot of free stuff one can do in NYC, being unemployed in NYC can get expensive. I am starting to feel this for sure half way through my extended stay.

Today was a good day. Productivity coulda been better but I did get a lot in for waking up after noon and not really getting started til two. Nice workout, followed by a classic Italian double feature. The highlight was definitely Fellini's super short feature, THE TEMPTATION OF DR. ANTONIO. A movie i'd never even heard of from one of my hands down favorite filmmakers? Couldn't miss this on it's last day of exhibition at NY's Film Forum.

Mamma Mia

Ah, what do you know, the reason i'd never heard of it is because it was part of a tetraptych titled BOCCACCIO '70 along with other less than hour long films from De Sica, Monicelli and Visconti, all massive legends of Italian cinema. The film, starring Anita Ekberg, had to be an easy enough follow up to LA DOLCE VITA, his previous classic that also costarred the voluptuous star galavanting through Rome at night. Fellini had some fixations alright, i'll leave it at that. Such an amazing, colorful, funny, whimsical filmmaker. If you have no idea who the F i'm talking about, I highly recommend you remedy that. It's hard to believe nowadays, but once upon a time Italy had one of the most interesting and fruitful film industries the world over.

Alright, I have a shot of getting to sleep at least an hour earlier than the last few nights. Gotta wake up bright and early-ish to try and nab Louis CK tix at 10AM.

Goodnight and have a pleasant today.

Wednesday September 28th, 2011

OK, maybe unemployment doesn't suit me much. Another night turns into damn near another morning on the NYC stretch of my fall travels. UWTL for the who knows what consecutive night.

Tonight was a good night, following a day where the most productive thing I did after working out was watching 3-4 episodes of Louie.

Ate some delicious Chinese food, saw some great comedic storytelling, had a few drinks and then hours of nada. Some conversations had, some emails sent and exchanged.

Night night.

Monday September 26th, Tuesday September 27th 2011

UWTL looking out at the Big Apple. The CNN building says it's 2:57 and who am I to argue? Central Park is dark and cars still flow up and down the avenue.

I'd like to say I'm UWTL cause I've been out on the town and such, but no, it's just me and my avoidable Insomnia. Save for dinner with a friend, it's mainly been a night of lonely-ish open mics. Lonely ish being that there were plenty of people there, some old friends, some acquaintances. But despite being surrounded by like-minded others most of the night, there's still an emptiness there brought on by some form of awkwardness or social anxiety.

As far as why I'm up now pass the Matchbox 20 hour (3am), I think I just came to the realization that having any intention to do work after 1 in the morning with no deadline is a foolish and absurd endeavor. Self imposed deadlines? Eh, I guess that could work but it's not the same.

Anyways, today is now yesterday. Another day filled with small victories as well as small failures and other niceties in between. Tomorrow or literally today will bring similar opportunities.

It's cold in here and Ima go to sleep now. G'night.

Saturday September 24th, 2011

Good Sat night in NYC.

Still don't feel like I need to live here anymore, but good to catch up with old friends as always.

Would have more to say, but i'm dozing as a I write here.

Hopefully more to report in the coming days. Hope your saturday was somethin else.

Night.

Tuesday September 20th, Wednesday September 21st 2011

UWTL in NYC. No real excuse for tonight, last night was out late telling jokes. NY is good, not quite the same as it was when I lived here, but enjoying the return.

Think i'll enjoy it more when i'm no longer sleeping couch to couch, and have my own spot for a stretch. Productivity has been solid thus far. Some creative inspiration but I am aware that I really can't escape my work habits and procrastinatory skills by temporary relocation. Think this weeks long stretch in NYC will definitely have some value, but also looking forward to the upcoming Eurotrip.

Couple days in Boston starting tomorrow. Maybe a little more standup but def some good hanging.

I have a headache, otherwise maybe i'd be better times right now.

Goodnight.

Thursday September 15th, 2011

UWTL in LA for the last time in awhile. Tomorrow (or sadly since it's past 3:30 AM, today) I will embark on a journey of indeterminate length (but most likely a month or two). First a return to NYC for a nice stretch, then a European adventure.

Ya see, sometimes you just gotta get away for awhile. I understand that I'm pretty warped, thinking that 10 solid months of work begets a few month excursion. But if not now when? This is definitely the time.

Prepare for much more interesting posts as I begin my months long quest of brain reconfiguration and the nourishment of knowledge.

Goodnight morning and have a pleasant todaytomorrow.

Saturday September 10th, 2011

UWTL. That's all I really have to say.

Friday September 9th, 2011

UWTL talking about Langer's! This was what I ate for lunch today:

Crazy to think that after living in LA for over two decades, I had yet to find my way to this treasure trove of a delicatessen near Macarthur park. Finally, I righted my decades long wrong by eating this beast of a sandwich, which I can honestly say is one of the finest I've ever tasted, and boy have I had a sandwich or two in my day. On some level though, I thank the high heavens I didn't discover this place at an earlier age, cause with my eating habits, I'd be twenty pounds and heart attacks richer in life if I had.

I wasn't particularly adventurous in my selection (save for the banana peppers I requested on the side), ordering the most well known and popular sandy on the menu. The #19. Hot Pastrami, accompanied by cole slaw, swiss cheese and Russian dressing. Sandwiched between two thick slices of double baked rye bread.

I feel like that explanation in and of itself, would sell the sandwich even without the graphic, but i've included the website image above to further whet your appetite (I took a few awesome photos myself, but sadly they were too large for this posting).

Next time you find yourself near or around downtown LA between 8am and 4pm, and you have any degree of hankering for something meaty and cheesy and vegetable-y and mayonnaise-y and bread-y, you need to get your butt to Langer's (I just learned that mayonnaise has two N's! Show's you how often I've partaken over the years).

Sweet Rye Bread wishes and Pastrami dreams to you.

Wednesday September 7th, 2011

UWTL again and really didn't want to be. I mean, as I begin this, it's only 1:15 so Insomnia can't be blamed. Know it's just typical me, hoping for a a 12/12:30 shut eye, yet not even coming close. Got home at a decent hour for funemployment, finished my breaking bad catch up session at 12:20. Was gonna check the email and crash immediately but NOOOOO, had to get roped into correspondence, and general late night thinking and curiosities.

About to embark on a two month plus east coast/ europe swing so I'm sure this is only the beginning of a long and fruitful series of UWTL escapades. Here's to hoping I'll have more interesting things to say and report during that time.

Night.

Sunday September 4th, 2011

UWTLabor day weekend. Got a lot in today surprisingly. Started with the ole Fantasy Football draft, which for many Sundays in my life, would have been productive enough. I'm not really as up on my sports as I used to be, but then again, who is? Think I cobbled together a pretty solid team, but until things get going next week, it remains to be seen.

The afternoon was a bit slower/ blurrier. Some snippets of Two and a Half Men were watched, newspapers were thumbed through, naps were had, additional time was wasted.

Then in the post dinner window, things started picking up again in the productivity department. Don't really have any tangible product to show for it but I did get a lot of reading and watching in that will surely be a boon to productivity in the coming days. Finally managed to watch the first episode of the BBC's SHERLOCK, which i've had for more than a month thanks to my boss generously lending me the Blu Ray. It was really really great, and I look forward to watching the second two eps tomorrow as I should probably return it tuesday considering how long i've had it and the fact that friday was my last official day on the job.

Afterwards, despite the fatigue and desire to sleep, managed to finish reading an old script that i'm diving back into (and to which SHERLOCK provided some nice research/ inspiration for my unofficial detective main character who has a bit of a connection to the Sherlock of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's days).

A nice dose of awake Tea, which seams to have hit it's stride effect-wise, in the last hour, kept me going to read the first comic books I've read in a long time (How impressed you must be ladies...). Starting to get my head around adapting on spec, my favorite/ gateway comic from my younger days. Not sure if anyone else would care to see this show quite as much as I would, but at the very least it'll be a fun exercise and hopefully strong sample that delves into gritty detective work/ acrobatic/ crime fighting fun. I read the first half of an after the fact origin arc, that traffics in the fantastic and otherworldly much more so than the character has generally been portrayed.

But enough about me being a huge dork and accepting watching TV and reading comics as a small creative victory on a holiday Sunday night. Looking forward to the actual holiday tomorrow, though in my current unemployed state, ev'ry day is a holiday!

What're your plans for the big day? Hope you have a great one, I know I might. And on that note, time to say goodnight, or good morning, whatever you'd prefer. For me it's the former.

Saturday September 3rd, 2011

UWTL kinda sorta. Fell asleep in my chair about an hour ago. I am tired. So many tacos tonight!

No no, I didn't just go on a taco bell munching spree. Went to a tasting thing tonight that involved many many schmancy Mexican restaurants in and around LA. After the dust settled and the almost 2 hours of eating came to a close, I found myself feeling more than satisfied. I was tired then and I'm no less tired now.

Gonna go to bed now, night.

Thursday September 1st/ Friday September 2nd, 2011

UWTL talking bout unemployment. Today I rejoined the millions of Americans who remain jobless. This gig ended, another will surely arise, but the question is when? There are many shades to that question as it really all depends on how badly I want to get back to work soon.

I could certainly be content not having a job, in the classical sense, for the rest of the year and beyond. There are things i'd like to focus on, that are certainly more difficult to do when gamefully employed. The last time I found myself in this situation, I felt similarly and even thought i'd have at least a month or so to myself, to regain steam on old projects and get started on new ones. But after just two weeks I found myself with a job, seemingly out of nowhere but truthfully the result of months of networking and pestering and general follow through.

This time the plan is a little different as I have every intention of hitting the road for a couple months if possible. Planning to have an extended creative retreat in the city I left behind over a year ago, NY, NY. After that (possibly before as well) planning to get in either some national or international travel in the form of a cross country road trip or a month or so stay in Europe. Wherever I am, whatever I'm doing, I plan to be highly productive. These are not aimless vacations but opportunities for a break from the norm, changes of scenery if you will. Get out in the world, get a little inspired, check email very infrequently, reprogram and write, write, write. Certainly wouldn't mind some good times with good friends sprinkled in there, but that's definitely not the main idea.

Sure there will be plenty of nights UWTL either around the country or world, and hopefully i'll have much more interesting things to say than my usual self obsessed dreck.

That's it for now. Goodnight and have a pleasant tomorrow.