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Log, Serious Note, That's My Job

Welp…

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Just found out today that my theater job won’t be back until next YEAR (2022) at the earliest…and I’m gonna have to be okay with that.

However, that most likely means that by the time it comes back…I may not be able to do it…since I’ll probably be working full time somewhere that won’t let me take the time off to work on a theater show…

And I’m gonna have to be okay with that.

I’ll keep working on my book series (Book 2 is now available for pre-order btw…I’ve been dropping the ball on promotion because losing my job and still being unable to get scheduled for a vaccine and searching for a new job and realizing that I’ve wasted so much time spiraling deeper and deeper into anxiety and depression…make it VERY difficult to get excited for pretty much everything).

I’ve started randomly streaming on Twitch trying to distract myself from the aforementioned spiral…though I can only handle 2 hours and not every day streaming. (If you’re curious, I play Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate, not well, because I’m obsessed with that game since Monster Hunter World is done with new monsters and Monster Hunter Rise is releasing later this month)

But overall…I’m just trying to hold up the small bit of positivity I can find.

So, here’s a link if you’re interested in pre-ordering my new book (CLICK HERE)…but if you aren’t that’s fine, too. If you want to check out the FIRST book in the series here’s a link to that, too (CLICK HERE).

And if you care/know about Twitch and are tempted to see someone play a game poorly with meh commentary…you can check out my stream HERE. As of right now I stream Monday & Wednesday at 2pm pst and Friday & Saturday at 7pm pst. Since I learned of my job’s fate…I may start streaming more in hopes to maybe make it a viable way to make some side money….just depends on what happens with the work situation.

ANYBUT!!! Sorry for a not interesting/funny post…but I needed to get this out to help me process that even though everything ELSE is going back to normal….my entire career path has been basically blown to smithereens…but again…..it’s mostly my own fault.

BUT I’ll survive. I’ll find a new job and I’ll keep trucking along.

Serious Note

A Serious Note

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Someone I greatly respected passed away over the weekend.

He was a hard worker. He was an inspiration. He was someone who could work with anyone and bring out the best in others. He knew how to bring laughter to stressful days. He was a professional with so much to teach.

When we worked together there was no question he would fight for everyone. When he was crew chief there was no question the crew would be phenomenal. When he was working a show there was no question the show would be phenomenal.

He leaves behind his fantastic family (who I was fortunate to meet many times), his loyal crew, and so many others who knew him, loved him, and will take everything he taught us forever forward through our lives.

As he would say before every single show:

Oh lord. Please don’t let me fuck up. Never give up. Never surrender. And may the force be with you. Have a great show.

I’m sorry, Russ. This is the one time I can’t keep to our crew motto: You go, I go. You went, but I still have work to do here. But I’ll keep your spirit with me through every show and every hard day.

Random Update

Update Feb. 20th 2021

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In regards to my previous post: The smoke was most likely due to a manure fire many, many miles away from where I live…so that’s good.

I’ve been working on my second book in my fantasy series…and hopefully it will be coming out in March…hopefully.

My theater job is still closed (since March of last year so approaching 1 year anniversary of no theater…yay -_-). I’ve been doing a few odd jobs, but if things keep going this way…well, you all know (especially if you’re in the USA).

My anxiety, depression, and surprise paranoia are all getting along with each other…just not with me, but my kitten is keeping me grounded with nightly and morning cuddles.

That’s all for now…cause I can’t think of anything else interesting enough to mention. Just checking in.

Our House

Is that Smoke?

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So, yeah, it’s around 4 am and I have yet to go to sleep…not from lack of trying, I assure you.

Around 3:30 am (really a little bit before that but close enough), as I prepared to finally attempt to fall asleep, my nose was greeted with an interesting scent.

Smoke.

Now…I live in Southern California….you don’t really want to ever smell smoke in the middle of the night…but it isn’t an overwhelming smell…just…there.

I bounced from window to window to see if I could find the source, noticing the smell was definitely coming from outside since our house isn’t exactly airtight. I could smell it stronger when the wind blew outside and through the not airtight windows.

But I couldn’t see the source.

Though, there was a strange light across the street where there usually isn’t a light. So, that was weird. But it turned off about 5ish minutes ago.

Also, no fire trucks or any signs of first responders. Therefor, I can only conclude the smoke I’m smelling is from a fire a good distance away….and I hope it stays that way.

Of course, now I can’t sleep cause the smell is still here and my paranoia is kicking in and I think that’s it for sleeping tonight.

AND in all honesty…..it’s probably just somebody having a bonfire night or something….on a Wednesday evening/very early Thursday morning….sure. It could happen.

Adulting

As of 11:10 pm on January 26th

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Just checking in….

As my day of birth comes to an end…I really, truly, undoubtedly, not surprisingly….forgot how old I was.

Is this a common theme with everyone following their 30th birthday? I actually had to DO THE MATH to remember how old I am now today on this sunny California day…………..

Sorry, had to pause again to do the math AGAIN to remember that I turned 32 years old.

God, I hate math…

Random Pic

Random Pic

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I tested 2021 and it, in fact, brought it on…and now I regret everything. Therefore, to appease the 2021 gods, I present a wholesome picture to cease bringing it on…please.

Here’s a picture of our neighbor’s dog and his new best friend.

What were they looking at? Why, me and my good boy Lele.

They were just jealous they weren’t getting any cuddles.

Please, 2021 gods…cease the bringing it on. I will not mock you again…maybe.

31 Days of Holiday Memories!

That Didn’t Take Long

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Well……….that didn’t take long.

I said I’d attempt to post something every day and managed to last…two days?

High five to ME!

But I guess in order to make this post at least worth reading……

The holiday season can be a time of joy…but for some it can also be a dark time.

This time of year is notorious for raising anxiety and depression amongst many people. This particular year will probably be adding even more to that…cause it was this year.

Check in with friends and family. Even a short message or a simple “Happy Holidays” will suffice.

This year has been a rough and tough and just overall shitty year for everyone. But maybe the last couple of weeks could be the beginning of a more positive year…fingers crossed.

I probably won’t remember to post tomorrow or the next day…but I’ll try my best.

Happy Holidays.

31 Days of Holiday Memories!, Log

Whale of a Birthday

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My birthday is in January…I know, I know. That doesn’t really count as a “Holiday memory”…but I’m going to include this story because it was the end of an era.

When I left Indiana for college in California, my parents retired and moved to Maui, HI. When I could, I would visit for Christmas (the only times I didn’t when I had to work).

Anybut, in 2016, my parents moved back to the mainland. So, for the last time I’d visit before their move, we went whale watching. We’ve done it many times throughout the years, but this was special.

Not only was it the last whale watching we’d probably ever do in Maui, it was the last time I’d probably ever visit the island…it’s expensive to fly out there and stay in a hotel.

I really loved whale watching because even if you didn’t see a lot of whales, you always saw SOMETHING. We didn’t expect anything like what we witnessed.

The boat we were on easily found a whale and we followed it, thinking we’d lose track of it in no time.

Then we got SURROUNDED! I mean there were four or five whales that appeared from outta nowhere. The captain had to shut off the engine (humpbacks are an endangered species and large boats are required to turn their engines off when within a certain distance).

Long story short…I got a selfie with a whale.

My parents like to joke that this was Hawaii giving them a farewell gift.

Before I show video, I should preface with this: I’ve gone whale watching many times in Maui…but this was the first time this EVER happened to us. Even the captain of the boat stopped what he was doing to get some pictures.

Here are videos of how close these buggers got (I apologize for any weird sounds as I adjust my grip on my phone so it doesn’t fall into the ocean):

“What is happening?!” one of the guides on the boat.
This is the whale in my selfie checking out the boat.

Also, apologies if I’ve already posted about this…but it’s still one of the most amazing things I’ve ever experienced.

31 Days of Holiday Memories!, Log

Holiday Time!!

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It’s December and it’s time for some random Holiday-ness.

I’m not 100% sure what to do this year so I thought I’d attempt, keyword attempt, to do something every day until January 1st…I make no promises, but I will do my best.

And to make this something besides an announcement/introduction post…here’s a random fact:

Every year for the past 3 years I helped prepare and fix props for touring productions of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer the Musical.

That’s not the fun fact. The fun fact is that if you’ve ever seen this randomly touring show in the US, I want you to know that means you are one degree of separation from me…creepy, right?

Anybut, needless to say this year the touring shows have been cancelled and therefore I didn’t have the honor of repainting two dozen chairs, two large tables, so many ladders, toys, tools, repairing tinsel jumpropes (yes, really), a number of instruments, or re-wrapping HUNDREDS (okay, not hundreds…but a LOT) of presents.

I’m sad…but also a little relieved. Nothing makes you want to never see another piece of wrapping paper like wrapping over four dozen empty boxes every year before December.

I’m sad for the performers, technicians, and production personnel who look forward to this touring show and hopefully, it will be back next year…hopefully.