I Love Losing Things

Every day I lose something.

Usually it's my iPod.  I can't find it before a run or a long drive.  Yesterday it was a rebate coupon for Costco that I took with me to the store a couple weeks back and forgot to use.  Right now, it's the leather notebook/case thing with a legal pad and three of my favorite pens in it.  I can't find it anywhere, and it has the contents of my last three meetings, not to mention notes on a project document in there.

I've torn apart every room, a car, and even the mail slot looking for it.  I can keep looking in the bathroom but there's really no where for it to hide there.  I've done a wee bit of cleaning so the living room takes no time.  The dining area is a mess, and I assume it's hiding there, but I cannot find it and I know it's not in any of the boxes.  My room could be hiding it, but again not that many spots.  I know it came back with me because I remember seeing it somewhere and remembering that I should put it somewhere else, and the water bottle from the last meeting is on my desk.  I left with both, since I picked it up last.

So where, oh where, has my notebook gone...

THE LIST: Stand-Up Comedy

Another feature I'll be adding to the blog (in addition to TGIM and the eventual regular short fiction entries) is THE LIST.  What is THE LIST?  Glad you asked.

THE LIST is a list (pun intended!) of things I'd like to do, see, experience, etc.  Not a before I die thing, just a general checklist of things I'd like to do.  Hopefully putting them in a public setting will encourage a little bit o' poking and prodding to make it happen.  And I'll use the tags to make sure you can keep track of them.

The inaugural THE LIST item is one that's been on my mind for a while.  I've already mentioned it to a few people, but I've been thinking about it a lot lately.  Especially since Troy loaned me Demetri Martin's CD and said, "I imagine that he talks the way you think."

Before this year is done, I'm going to do some stand-up comedy.

I don't have any illusions about how good I'll be (awesome) or where I'll be (Laugh Factory), but I know I want to do it.  I've seen Comedian a couple times, so I know how hard it is to even get ten good minutes together, but I'd like to think that this will be something awesome that I at the very least give a shot to.  I don't see it as a career move, but never say never.

Here's a special bonus for you:

Ah, crap.  I need to add voice-over artist to THE LIST.

The Economy is like VD

I know I already twittered this, but I felt like it deserved some explanation.

Got a call today from a company that I've worked with via Top Cow in the past.  They have some upcoming projects and want me to pitch for one.  It's a project I really like, but I thought I had missed the boat on being a part of it.  If I can turn around a decent story doc, it would appear that I've got the job.

I'm online not five minutes later and see an email from a buddy of mine that works at a major corporate company, or at least one owned by a behemoth.  He's moving on... I IM him and find out that he's yet another victim of the economic crunch.  It's been hitting everywhere this year.  It's getting a lot worse for a lot of people before it (hopefully) gets better.

This recession is economic herpes.  Let's hope someone finds a cure.

Can't Stop, Won't Stop

I've been going a mile a minute since the Cow and I changed our arrangement.  Maybe it's the fact that I finally get to do what I've always wanted to do.  Maybe it's the fact that I need to find some way to pay the rent.  Either way, I've been waking up on the same scheduling and hitting it hard every day.  Some people call unemployment "retirement."  Others call it a "vacation."  While I like the idea vacations and retirement sounds great, that's not what I've been doing.

I've been going on meetings at a clip of about one per business day, for the past week and a half.  I've been working on my own stuff - knocked out my WB backup script, lots of back and forth on the Hawaii pitch and stuff I've got going on with Mr. Hill, and trying to solve the mystery of the upcoming screenplay.  My only beef with this early stage of unemployment (or if I reframe it, freelancing) is that I want to know where the next check is coming from.  But the upside is huge.

I felt this tremendous pressure all the time at Top Cow.  To keep the trains running even remotely close to on time, you're checking in on people all the time.  You're bugging, begging, and bargaining to get things done.  And when it all falls apart, you stop pulling your hair out and realize that all the planning was to prepare you for the inevitable worst case scenario.  But now...  I wake up creatively fulfilled, completely free of stress, and I work on what I want to on my own time.  It's amazingly freeing being this unconstrained.

***

Today was the first day I've even remotely taken it easy or taken advantage of the fact that I have no set time for reporting for duty.  It all started last night, when I nearly closed down the bar...  Took off a while before last call, but not before having three beers, whatever flip cup totals added to that, and two shots...  I used to have a rule, put in place by some missteps at dodgeball, that I didn't do shots on weekdays.  Well, last night the rule got broken because people said, "Hey, I've got something for you," or "Want a beer or a shot?  Or both?"  Got home late after hitting up Big Tomy's for nachos and put on a movie, which I immediately fell asleep on.  It ended at 5am and I told myself, Okay, you can have this one.

I set the phone alarm for 10am and turned off the Neverlate.  And sleep in I did.  Then drove around in the morass that was LA traffic (thanks to this) trying to find a way east for Chinese breakfast.  Gave up and headed west to Bread and Porridge, where we partook of neither bread nor porridge.  Portions are gigantic and delicious, so this place is now on the list of excellent west side breakfast/brunch spots.

I came back and finalized my business cards with the printer.  Because I couldn't get the format to work with the site, I ended up having to pay more for shipping to make sure I get the cards in time for NY...  I was a little bummed about it, but these things kick ass.  I used a card program to create them, and then customized a very simple, stark back.  Even though these are just temp cards until I get a logo and the full site running, I couldn't stand the thought of showing up at NYCC either cardless, or with VistaPrint ads on the back and a shite design on the front.  There are so many unprofessional professionals working in comics, the least I can do is let people know I handle my bidness.  A man is only as good as his brand, and this brand is dressed for success.  As long as success means jeans and a t-shirt.  After all, I'm a creative.

Had a very promising meeting in the afternoon.  Got my wheels spinning after it and I think it's going to lead to some very good (and potentially very big) things going forward.  All of the meetings I've had have been solid, but I think this one has the most long term upside.

Very much looking forward to New York (minus the cold) next week and more meetings up there.  If you're reading this and would like to meet with me at the show, please drop me a line.  I think you can email me through the site.

2009 is looking more and more like The Year of No Suck.

Bidness

Had a very informative meeting earlier today with a former co-worker (from a few years back).  He's got some big things going on, and big things could be huge things in the coming weeks and months.  Very curious to see where he and his company are headed as they're in a great position.

Also realized that I still haven't gotten any business cards for the show next week.  I should probably do that... now.  These will just be temp cards as a friend is helping me design a logo.

But in the meantime, here are some links to awesome business card designs:

Cool cards

Best of June 2008

Awesome Cards

TGIM - Amazing Days

A friend of mine mused on Saturday about the nature of an Amazing Day.  He said it's about remaining present in the moment and appreciating it.  The definition of an amazing day is being able to appreciate every little thing around you.  Do you take it all in or just let it pass you by?

Yesterday I had my own Amazing Day.  I woke up early(-ish), went for a run, and then got out into the world.  I went to Brentwood and walked around.  No agenda, in no hurry for anything, and didn't pull out my phone even once to lose the moment.  I hit the Farmer's Market and the grocery store.  I sampled fruit, hummus (an addiction at this point), and talked to people.  I stopped in an athletic store I happened to pass by.  More than anything I took stock of the world around me.  Brentwood is a gorgeous area I haven't walked through just to walk it in a couple years.  People everywhere, trees, shops...  Almost made me forget the urban sprawl that is Los Angeles.

Later I went home and threw on a movie.  I felt Drugstore Cowboy was a fitting choice.  I guess it's life-affirming, and it's definitely due back to Netflix since I've been holding it a couple weeks.  I cleaned up a bit.  And then I went to a barbecue with friends; great food and some damn fine Skinny Pirates if I do say so myself.

There's nothing I would change about yesterday.  No happier ending.  Remember, I'm not talking about a perfect day (and you know what Palahniuk says about perfection...).  I'm talking about an Amazing Day, and you can have them all the time with a little focus.  Maybe not on a Monday, but here's to giving it a shot.

Lazy Sunday

Knocked out my WB #125 backup script yesterday afternoon, and except for a tentative last page, I'm pretty happy with it. It's gone out to some members of the brain trust for appraisal and so far the marks are good, just need to shore up the final page. Here's hoping Frutti digs it and doesn't give me any notes so's I can get Pee Eh Eye Dee.

Gonna take it easy today as I've worked long, brain taxing creative hours pretty much every day since the layoff. Going for a run and then a leisurely stroll to enjoy the first non-rainy day in a while. I'll probably watch a flick in the afternoon since Football is taking a pause. And I should clean...

Then I have to hang out with Mel again. And other ex-work folk. Uggh.