As I write my "memoirs" of my life in show business, I feel as if it is actually over now. If I were already employed by a production company, I'm sure I'd have at least intermittent gigs, because I've been doing it since the eighties and know my stuff really well. Moving to Albuquerque in the depths of the worst economic crash in history was not a good career move unless the move was out of the career. I was the old man in the biz ten years ago. I'm still in Facebook contact with dozens of my coworkers in Massachusetts, and they have been working alternating weeks for a long time.
When I began to volunteer building scenery at Albuquerque Little Theatre, I saw my future in a man named Matthew. He's in his seventies, and volunteers one day a week when he's in town. At this moment he's in Sarasota, Florida being a snowbird. I expect him to return any week now, because it's getting ready to get unbearably hot down there. Anyway, he's a pretty good carpenter, but he's past the point where he could be a professional at it. Maybe it's not my future. Maybe I'm there.
I'm hoping to get started soon on the set for The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas, and I'm hoping Colby has money in his budget to pay me for it. With a week-long trip to Meadville, PA coming up in April and a move to Meadville coming up in June / July, job hunting here has become little more than a habit. I'm spending more psychic energy wondering what life will be like in northwestern Pennsylvania. I'm certainly not considering jobs that specify the use of my reliable vehicle; I skip over jobs requiring certifications, extensive training or union membership; college degrees are out of the question; and salesmanship is just out of my range of abilities. I still scour the advertisements, and even occasionally find something to apply for. But those eighty guys that also apply for everything I apply for are still there, most still much younger, most in much more need than I am. Truth be told, although our resources are dwindling, we do still have resources. I know that many of those eighty guys are in much worse straits than we are.
Meanwhile, I have my blogs to keep my mind busy. I've long wanted to write these stories of my fascinating life, but never had the time. More importantly, Carmen has long wanted me to write them. The fact that nobody else cares about them is an unpleasant truth, but onward I plunge. Life flows on within me and without me.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Thursday, March 18, 2010
NEXT!
Transition time again. I was just next door at "The Business Of Show," writing about the end of the Vero Beach era, cross-fading into the beginning of the St. Cloud era. I was recalling the last show we worked on for the Vero Beach Theatre Guild, and how little I cared about it. We were in motion to move, and this show, Once More With Feeling, was just an obligation to check off the list before we left to begin our new lives together. Since then we've moved into three places in St. Cloud over nine years, one house in Orlando for another nine years, two places in Middlesex County, Massachusetts for four years and now in Albuquerque for nearly a year.
The beginning of this week was momentous. On Monday, the search committees for the three congregations with whom Carmen has been in pre-candidate status lo these many weeks all made their announcements that Carmen was their first choice. So she had to officially accept one and officially turn down two before she would clear me to make it public knowledge. Before she gave me the okay, she posted on Facebook that we are going to Meadville, in western Pennsylvania in April to meet the congregation and almost certainly get voted in as newly called minister and her wife. At last we have a destination.
Anyway, as I was writing about not really caring about the show in '87, I was not really caring about what I was writing. I wonder if it's the "short timer" mode kicking in, or whether I don't believe anybody gives a flying fig about "The Business of Show." As much as I've enjoyed writing it, I've been writing it primarily because my fan club said YES to another Jim Emerson series of ramblings. If nobody is reading it, I'm not writing it. I've got at least another thirteen years, most of it working as a professional set builder, to add to the seven years already posted. I may get fired up over it again, but right at this moment, I'm not that interested.
So I'm happy about Meadville. The salary is good and the cost of living is the lowest of the three. I don't know what the employment picture looks like there, but it can't be a whole lot worse than here. We will be there for a good long while, so maybe I'll have a place to set up a home shop - maybe get that sliding compound mitre saw I've been dreaming of... start designing, building and marketing some games and other wacky stuff.
Meanwhile, I might have some local employment at Albuquerque Little Theatre for as long as it takes to build a two-story set with a balcony and a curved grand staircase for The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas. I'm going down there tomorrow to clean the shop after the Plaza Suite strike, and to ascertain how things are going in the design and budgeting realms of the scene shop. I think I'll be in a good place emotionally for it. It's a short term gig, and I'm a short term guy.
The beginning of this week was momentous. On Monday, the search committees for the three congregations with whom Carmen has been in pre-candidate status lo these many weeks all made their announcements that Carmen was their first choice. So she had to officially accept one and officially turn down two before she would clear me to make it public knowledge. Before she gave me the okay, she posted on Facebook that we are going to Meadville, in western Pennsylvania in April to meet the congregation and almost certainly get voted in as newly called minister and her wife. At last we have a destination.
Anyway, as I was writing about not really caring about the show in '87, I was not really caring about what I was writing. I wonder if it's the "short timer" mode kicking in, or whether I don't believe anybody gives a flying fig about "The Business of Show." As much as I've enjoyed writing it, I've been writing it primarily because my fan club said YES to another Jim Emerson series of ramblings. If nobody is reading it, I'm not writing it. I've got at least another thirteen years, most of it working as a professional set builder, to add to the seven years already posted. I may get fired up over it again, but right at this moment, I'm not that interested.
So I'm happy about Meadville. The salary is good and the cost of living is the lowest of the three. I don't know what the employment picture looks like there, but it can't be a whole lot worse than here. We will be there for a good long while, so maybe I'll have a place to set up a home shop - maybe get that sliding compound mitre saw I've been dreaming of... start designing, building and marketing some games and other wacky stuff.
Meanwhile, I might have some local employment at Albuquerque Little Theatre for as long as it takes to build a two-story set with a balcony and a curved grand staircase for The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas. I'm going down there tomorrow to clean the shop after the Plaza Suite strike, and to ascertain how things are going in the design and budgeting realms of the scene shop. I think I'll be in a good place emotionally for it. It's a short term gig, and I'm a short term guy.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
The Conquering Geezer Returns
I went back to the hearing aid place this morning and got my aids adjusted. They're programmable, and, as a former sound technician (before the band blasted away my hearing) I knew the frequencies I was missing. I asked my hearing professional if she could bump up the upper mid range. She did, and it's a miracle! I can hear again! I'm heeeeeeeeeal-da! From there I went down to the medical supply place to get my three-month-old prescription filled for compression stockings for my deep vein thrombosis.
I went there yesterday, and they told me that they couldn't fill it because the scrip didn't include a diagnosis - they could fax it to the doctor, and maybe I'd be good to go in a couple of days. I looked at the paper, and the issuing entity was the UNM Anti-Coagulation Clinic, written by Ahn, my finger poker. I crossed the street and took the next number 11 west to UNM Hospital. I went to the clinic, gave the scrip to the guy at the desk, and within two minutes it had a diagnosis on it and I was on my way back. I gave it to a different person this time. She looked at my leg and said it was too swollen to measure, could I come back first thing in the morning? Well, first thing in the morning for them is 8:30 - I've been up and doing things for four hours by then. So she told me what to measure, and this morning, after feeding the ravenous beasts, I measured my damn self.
Wonder of wonders, this morning I handed them my prescription with diagnosis included, and my piece of paper with measurements on it, and within five minutes I was trying one on. It was great. It's still on.
Busing back toward home, I found myself at Montgomery and Eubank at 11:00, with fifty five minutes before the next bus to my neck of the desert. It just so happens that there's a Wendy's there, so I stepped inside. Evidently, 11:00 is Geezer Time at Wendy's. There was white hair and no hair scattered throughout the place, and canes and walkers everywhere. So I pulled up my support stocking, adjusted my trifocal glasses, turned up my hearing aids and walked my arthritis legs up to the counter on my orthotic arch supports.
11:00 at Wendy's: the Geezer Lunch. I'll have to remember that.
I went there yesterday, and they told me that they couldn't fill it because the scrip didn't include a diagnosis - they could fax it to the doctor, and maybe I'd be good to go in a couple of days. I looked at the paper, and the issuing entity was the UNM Anti-Coagulation Clinic, written by Ahn, my finger poker. I crossed the street and took the next number 11 west to UNM Hospital. I went to the clinic, gave the scrip to the guy at the desk, and within two minutes it had a diagnosis on it and I was on my way back. I gave it to a different person this time. She looked at my leg and said it was too swollen to measure, could I come back first thing in the morning? Well, first thing in the morning for them is 8:30 - I've been up and doing things for four hours by then. So she told me what to measure, and this morning, after feeding the ravenous beasts, I measured my damn self.
Wonder of wonders, this morning I handed them my prescription with diagnosis included, and my piece of paper with measurements on it, and within five minutes I was trying one on. It was great. It's still on.
Busing back toward home, I found myself at Montgomery and Eubank at 11:00, with fifty five minutes before the next bus to my neck of the desert. It just so happens that there's a Wendy's there, so I stepped inside. Evidently, 11:00 is Geezer Time at Wendy's. There was white hair and no hair scattered throughout the place, and canes and walkers everywhere. So I pulled up my support stocking, adjusted my trifocal glasses, turned up my hearing aids and walked my arthritis legs up to the counter on my orthotic arch supports.
11:00 at Wendy's: the Geezer Lunch. I'll have to remember that.
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Snap, Crackle, Hiss
The Beatles are playing from my Media Player program. I've listened to pretty much everything in my Media Player music library, and until Thursday afternoon, thought that the sound coming from my speakers was clipped off at the upper frequencies. Thursday afternoon, new hearing aids installed, I was delighted to find that those upper frequencies had been magically restored. I did a Steely Dan festival that day.
Everything sounds weird after twenty five years of diminishing hearing is suddenly restored. Things have that top end hiss, that hard-edged crackle that I remember but haven't heard in many years. My shoes on the road, the traffic, the microwave, the cats' meow, the keyboard I'm typing on, my own voice - every sound is a little startling, but I'm getting used to it.
There have been a few times since we moved to Albuquerque that I have wished that our real stereo was unpacked and set up. Thursday through today, during the four hours a day I'm wearing my aids (a break-in period for my ears and brain) I've wondered how much better it will sound with my ears on. I guess I'll find out this summer in our new location.
Everything sounds weird after twenty five years of diminishing hearing is suddenly restored. Things have that top end hiss, that hard-edged crackle that I remember but haven't heard in many years. My shoes on the road, the traffic, the microwave, the cats' meow, the keyboard I'm typing on, my own voice - every sound is a little startling, but I'm getting used to it.
There have been a few times since we moved to Albuquerque that I have wished that our real stereo was unpacked and set up. Thursday through today, during the four hours a day I'm wearing my aids (a break-in period for my ears and brain) I've wondered how much better it will sound with my ears on. I guess I'll find out this summer in our new location.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Book 'Em!
Being a rolling stone and practically moss-free, it has been difficult to keep up with friends I've left behind - until Facebook. I now have Facebook friends I haven't seen in thirty years, twenty years, ten years, five years and one year. They are in Odenton and Baltimore, Maryland; Vero Beach, Orlando, St. Augustine, Jacksonville, and now Deland, Florida; Greater Boston, Warren and Lowell, Massachusetts; and Albuquerque, New Mexico. I even have a friend I've never met in New Jersey, a friend of a friend, who likes my blogs.
This rose to the surface of my consciousness because I recently got to thinking about my best buddy for nine years at F/X Scenery and Display. I looked him up on FB, but he wasn't there. No surprise. Then I got to comparing this situation with my best buddy from Mystic Scenic Studios for three years. A few months ago I friended his wife to stay in touch with him. And Colby Landers of Abq Little Theatre - I am FB friends with his wife. So I looked up Keith's wife, and sure enough found her. We messaged, and I sent her a friend request this morning. They're curious about how my life is going, and what more comprehensive way to tell them than to refer them to these blogs and update them along with everybody else on Facebook.
It's a pain in the ass and they make Scrabble more and more inconvenient every day, but I still love my Facebook. Over 500 million people do.
This rose to the surface of my consciousness because I recently got to thinking about my best buddy for nine years at F/X Scenery and Display. I looked him up on FB, but he wasn't there. No surprise. Then I got to comparing this situation with my best buddy from Mystic Scenic Studios for three years. A few months ago I friended his wife to stay in touch with him. And Colby Landers of Abq Little Theatre - I am FB friends with his wife. So I looked up Keith's wife, and sure enough found her. We messaged, and I sent her a friend request this morning. They're curious about how my life is going, and what more comprehensive way to tell them than to refer them to these blogs and update them along with everybody else on Facebook.
It's a pain in the ass and they make Scrabble more and more inconvenient every day, but I still love my Facebook. Over 500 million people do.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Up And Down, In And Out
Carmen is in Carlsbad this weekend. I have a Gospel of Rand McNally entry entitled "Holes In The West" that includes our second stop on the way to the Grand Canyon. I was disappointed when I saw that in order to go down 600 feet into Carlsbad Caverns, you have to drive up and up and up a 600 foot high hill. Why can't we just walk in at ground level? But that's neither here nor there. And speaking of there, Carmen is there this weekend, putting in a live ministerial appearance, instead of the satellite Carlsbad congregation's usual viewing of a DVD of Christine in Albuquerque.
So Friday I went to the theatre to use the shop tools (that don't cut square in either direction) to mill up the pieces I needed for a small (14" X 20" X 5" tall) platform for use by people shorter than Christine Robinson, senior minister at the First Unitarian Church of Albuquerque. That includes nearly everybody else in the congregation, including Carmen. Of course, when the discussions at the church came around to the need for a functional yet decorative platform, whose name do you think came up as someone who could build such a thing? Let's see... someone who knows how to build functional yet decorative platforms... someone with time on his hands... someone who is married to someone who could greatly benefit from this technology...
The shop was filled with baseboard and crown molding for Plaza Suite, which opened Friday night. As a courtesy, I asked Colby if he needed any help. He put me to work on baseboard, all around the set. It took me about three hours to measure, cut and install it all. That is when I became acutely aware of just how out-of-true the tools in the shop are.
By the time I was done with baseboard and with cutting pieces for the platform, the crown molding was still in my way, and sloppy wet with paint. I took the platform pieces home, grabbing a Dion's Special pizza on the way. MMMMMM good pizza!
Yesterday I began assembly in the garage. Problem: the framing pieces were so out of square that they were unusable. The good news: they were all just a little long. I utilized my square, a board and a top-bearing router, squared everything, and assembled the frame. The beautiful outer sides covering the frame and the crappy edge of the plywood were much closer to the right size, but still not very square. The mitred corners needed a lot of sanding to fit together halfway decent. One piece is an eighth of an inch too long. I have never before wished so hard for a sliding compound mitre saw as I have since yesterday afternoon. It has not yet appeared.
So I guess I'm going back to the theatre to cut this last board. Luckily, Rudy's Bar B Que is directly on the way back!
Two hours later....
I'm back! Good Q! Board fits. Platform done. House vacuumed and mopped. Laundry done. Sheets changed. Carmen comes home late tonight. Life is good.
So Friday I went to the theatre to use the shop tools (that don't cut square in either direction) to mill up the pieces I needed for a small (14" X 20" X 5" tall) platform for use by people shorter than Christine Robinson, senior minister at the First Unitarian Church of Albuquerque. That includes nearly everybody else in the congregation, including Carmen. Of course, when the discussions at the church came around to the need for a functional yet decorative platform, whose name do you think came up as someone who could build such a thing? Let's see... someone who knows how to build functional yet decorative platforms... someone with time on his hands... someone who is married to someone who could greatly benefit from this technology...
The shop was filled with baseboard and crown molding for Plaza Suite, which opened Friday night. As a courtesy, I asked Colby if he needed any help. He put me to work on baseboard, all around the set. It took me about three hours to measure, cut and install it all. That is when I became acutely aware of just how out-of-true the tools in the shop are.
By the time I was done with baseboard and with cutting pieces for the platform, the crown molding was still in my way, and sloppy wet with paint. I took the platform pieces home, grabbing a Dion's Special pizza on the way. MMMMMM good pizza!
Yesterday I began assembly in the garage. Problem: the framing pieces were so out of square that they were unusable. The good news: they were all just a little long. I utilized my square, a board and a top-bearing router, squared everything, and assembled the frame. The beautiful outer sides covering the frame and the crappy edge of the plywood were much closer to the right size, but still not very square. The mitred corners needed a lot of sanding to fit together halfway decent. One piece is an eighth of an inch too long. I have never before wished so hard for a sliding compound mitre saw as I have since yesterday afternoon. It has not yet appeared.
So I guess I'm going back to the theatre to cut this last board. Luckily, Rudy's Bar B Que is directly on the way back!
Two hours later....
I'm back! Good Q! Board fits. Platform done. House vacuumed and mopped. Laundry done. Sheets changed. Carmen comes home late tonight. Life is good.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Weakly
So maybe that's what I ought to do - think of Cat Juggler as a weekly thing? It is uncomfortable to think about how much there was to write about six months ago and how little there is now. But, as Chance says in "Being There", "There will be growth in the spring." Maybe so.
On Tuesday afternoon I set out on an adventure, to find the Erna Fergusson Library on San Mateo and take the test for Census Enumerators. I walked the quarter mile to the bus stop, caught the 3:49 #2 bus to Montgomery, caught the 4:18 #5 and rode it to San Mateo. From there I walked another quarter mile or so. The test was scheduled for 5:45. I arrived at the library at 4:45. I went for a walk, looking for something to eat. I found Mexican food, of course, but I was dressed nicely and didn't want anything sloppy or too spicy. There was greasy fried chicken. I kept walking until I was worried about making it back in time, and gave it up. I would eat after the test. I caught a #140 bus that dropped me off directly in front of the library. I located the room just as Carmen called to ask if I was done yet.
My tester guy was impressed with several things about me: a) I was the first one there; b) I had already filled out my application and I-9 form online; c)I used my passport as my ID; d) I was the best dressed guy in the room, dressed better than he was; e) I scored a 95% on the test. If he thought I was a shoe-in, it was because he hadn't read my application where it asks if I have the use of a vehicle. The truth is I would for some of the time, but not all, and not predictably. It may not make a huge difference, but the information on the website www.2010censusjobs.gov said that exceptions might be made for people who have no vehicle. If this opportunity falls in the recent normal range, there will be plenty of qualified applicants for whom no exceptions will need to be made. I am still hopeful.
After it was over I turned my phone back on and called Carmen. It was after 7:00 and she was dubious about my plan to make it home by bussing and walking. The #2 doesn't run after 6:00 and the best I could manage was to walk home two miles from Wyoming Avenue. She offered to pick me up at Target at Montgomery and Wyoming. I checked the schedule - the next #5 was in 40 minutes. I set out walking. That is how I learned that it takes 45 minutes to walk from San Mateo to Wyoming on Montgomery. It was a tie.
For some reason, yesterday I got all motivated and posted two Rand McNallys. I even started the story of our two weeks and two days with two cats on the road from Massachusetts to Albuquerque. Once I finish that one, I guess my next will be our move from Albuquerque to wherever in July.
BLOGGER by Google offers (for a fee) to turn your blog into a book. Maybe after I write the Abq to Wherever story, I'll check that out. The Gospel of Rand McNally would be fun to have sitting on the coffee table. Cat Juggler - not so much.
On Tuesday afternoon I set out on an adventure, to find the Erna Fergusson Library on San Mateo and take the test for Census Enumerators. I walked the quarter mile to the bus stop, caught the 3:49 #2 bus to Montgomery, caught the 4:18 #5 and rode it to San Mateo. From there I walked another quarter mile or so. The test was scheduled for 5:45. I arrived at the library at 4:45. I went for a walk, looking for something to eat. I found Mexican food, of course, but I was dressed nicely and didn't want anything sloppy or too spicy. There was greasy fried chicken. I kept walking until I was worried about making it back in time, and gave it up. I would eat after the test. I caught a #140 bus that dropped me off directly in front of the library. I located the room just as Carmen called to ask if I was done yet.
My tester guy was impressed with several things about me: a) I was the first one there; b) I had already filled out my application and I-9 form online; c)I used my passport as my ID; d) I was the best dressed guy in the room, dressed better than he was; e) I scored a 95% on the test. If he thought I was a shoe-in, it was because he hadn't read my application where it asks if I have the use of a vehicle. The truth is I would for some of the time, but not all, and not predictably. It may not make a huge difference, but the information on the website www.2010censusjobs.gov said that exceptions might be made for people who have no vehicle. If this opportunity falls in the recent normal range, there will be plenty of qualified applicants for whom no exceptions will need to be made. I am still hopeful.
After it was over I turned my phone back on and called Carmen. It was after 7:00 and she was dubious about my plan to make it home by bussing and walking. The #2 doesn't run after 6:00 and the best I could manage was to walk home two miles from Wyoming Avenue. She offered to pick me up at Target at Montgomery and Wyoming. I checked the schedule - the next #5 was in 40 minutes. I set out walking. That is how I learned that it takes 45 minutes to walk from San Mateo to Wyoming on Montgomery. It was a tie.
For some reason, yesterday I got all motivated and posted two Rand McNallys. I even started the story of our two weeks and two days with two cats on the road from Massachusetts to Albuquerque. Once I finish that one, I guess my next will be our move from Albuquerque to wherever in July.
BLOGGER by Google offers (for a fee) to turn your blog into a book. Maybe after I write the Abq to Wherever story, I'll check that out. The Gospel of Rand McNally would be fun to have sitting on the coffee table. Cat Juggler - not so much.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Aging Well?
Yesterday afternoon I left the theatre at 2:00 so I could be early for my appointment at Sandia Hearing Aid Center to be tested and fitted for ...wait for it... hearing aids! I have resisted this for a long time, but I grew up with a hearing impaired mother and I know the signs of creeping deafness. I also know how and why: routers, drills, circular saws, table saws, grinders, planers, compressors, staple guns, forklift engines... and for seven years I rode motorcycles to work every day. Add this to my Bicentennial Cherry Bomb tinnitus, and there you have a recipe for hearing loss.
I called Tuesday for the appointment due to some persuasion from the other human resident of the household. That night I was watching Sherlock Holmes on PBS and could barely follow the thread of the story, my hearing was so bad. The time had come for sure.
The folks at Sandia assure me that in a week or so, when my new hearing aids are installed, I will be amazed at how clearly everyone around me is speaking. I can't wait - people have been mumbling at me for a long time, the bastards!
I called Tuesday for the appointment due to some persuasion from the other human resident of the household. That night I was watching Sherlock Holmes on PBS and could barely follow the thread of the story, my hearing was so bad. The time had come for sure.
The folks at Sandia assure me that in a week or so, when my new hearing aids are installed, I will be amazed at how clearly everyone around me is speaking. I can't wait - people have been mumbling at me for a long time, the bastards!
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Prognostication
It was purt-near six months ago that I started this thang. I had a lot to say back then - Albuquerque was new to us, I had old cat stories and other stories to tell; I couldn't wait to get to my computer and spend a couple of hours regaling you with my witty and fascinating postings.
Nowadays, I can't think of anything interesting to say. The stuff I would write about, Carmen's search for a congregation to minister to, is top secret stuff. I've been reading packets from congregational search committees and discussing my reactions and observations with Carmen, and now she has already gone to visit one and this weekend she goes to visit another. Three more are lined up for phone interviews. Who? Where? Can't say.
I went to see Colby down at the Albuquerque Little Theatre on Friday. The show after Plaza Suite is "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas," which requires a two-story set and a grand staircase up to the second floor. These things I've done before. I don't know when we'll get started, but I will probably help him get the Plaza Suite set - just a few stock walls, doors, windows etc. - put up so the actors can rehearse with it, then start on Texas.
So what I'm saying is, erratic as my postings have been lately, I believe the future holds even less promise. I'm going to let go of worrying about keeping it current. When the news breaks about where we are going in the summer, I'll give you the whole story, I promise. Of course the move itself will fall under the purview of The Gospel of Rand McNally.
One bit of news: I had my blood tested today and for the second time in a row my anti-coagulant level was in the zone: 2.2 INR. That's a very good thing. I don't test again for three weeks. Woo hoo!
Nowadays, I can't think of anything interesting to say. The stuff I would write about, Carmen's search for a congregation to minister to, is top secret stuff. I've been reading packets from congregational search committees and discussing my reactions and observations with Carmen, and now she has already gone to visit one and this weekend she goes to visit another. Three more are lined up for phone interviews. Who? Where? Can't say.
I went to see Colby down at the Albuquerque Little Theatre on Friday. The show after Plaza Suite is "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas," which requires a two-story set and a grand staircase up to the second floor. These things I've done before. I don't know when we'll get started, but I will probably help him get the Plaza Suite set - just a few stock walls, doors, windows etc. - put up so the actors can rehearse with it, then start on Texas.
So what I'm saying is, erratic as my postings have been lately, I believe the future holds even less promise. I'm going to let go of worrying about keeping it current. When the news breaks about where we are going in the summer, I'll give you the whole story, I promise. Of course the move itself will fall under the purview of The Gospel of Rand McNally.
One bit of news: I had my blood tested today and for the second time in a row my anti-coagulant level was in the zone: 2.2 INR. That's a very good thing. I don't test again for three weeks. Woo hoo!
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Groundhog Shadows
It's a beautiful sunny day here in the mile high desert. It's forty eight degrees at 4:30 and expected to get down in the mid-thirties tonight. After four years in New England, I can easily stand six more weeks of this winter.
Part of the ongoing entertainment here is listening to the dire predictions by the media - massive winter storm approaching - huge amounts of snow - stay off the highways - and when the massive storm has moved on through, the roads are clear in less than an hour without plowing or salt, there is a dusting of snow, and it's all melted and dry by the end of the day. The most snow I've seen has been about three quarters of an inch.
This is what we call tempting fate. Well, come on, Fate, let's see whatcha got! I'm here for one winter, and it's nearly over. I've heard stories about three feet of snow in Albuquerque a few years ago. I've waded through three feet of snow in Massachusetts on numerous occasions, shoveled it out of the driveway, climbed over the plowed-up mountains of it to get to bus stops. You can't scare me with your stinkin' groundhog!
Part of the ongoing entertainment here is listening to the dire predictions by the media - massive winter storm approaching - huge amounts of snow - stay off the highways - and when the massive storm has moved on through, the roads are clear in less than an hour without plowing or salt, there is a dusting of snow, and it's all melted and dry by the end of the day. The most snow I've seen has been about three quarters of an inch.
This is what we call tempting fate. Well, come on, Fate, let's see whatcha got! I'm here for one winter, and it's nearly over. I've heard stories about three feet of snow in Albuquerque a few years ago. I've waded through three feet of snow in Massachusetts on numerous occasions, shoveled it out of the driveway, climbed over the plowed-up mountains of it to get to bus stops. You can't scare me with your stinkin' groundhog!
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Oot And Aboot
I left the house at 6:35 this morning and caught the southbound number two bus to its rendezvous point with the south/ westbound number five. Number five goes directly to the First Unitarian Church of Albuquerque, but I stayed on until The University of New Mexico Hospital, where the Coumadin Clinic is located. I arrived at 7:45 for my 8:15 appointment - not at all unusual for me. My pharmacist, Ahn, called me in at 8:10, poked my finger, and installed the blood on her little hand-held meter. I scored a 3.0, just inside the 2-3 range that's considered good. Good.
It was snowing in earnest when I got back outside and crossed Lomas to the bus stop. I had thought about continuing west to Albuquerquqe Little Theatre to see what was up over there, but since it was snowing heavily, I caught the next eastbound bus. It happened to be a number eleven, which goes very close to Sam's Club on Eubank. There were some things I wanted to get from there. My Super Duper membership gives me a ten dollar discount on Turbo Tax. Only problem: Sam's opens at 10:00. It was a little after 9:00.
The snow had slacked up a little, so I walked five blocks down to Walgreen's on Central Avenue (Historic Route 66) and bought some Sea Salt Blue Diamond almonds for Carmen and some sea-free salted almonds for me so I don't glom down her fancy almonds. Then I mosied on back up the hill to Sam's. It had just opened as I approached the doors. I got my Turbo Tax, some Hebrew National hot dogs, some granny Smith apples (gotta keep them doctors away) and the big jar of Litehouse salad dressing. Isn't that interesting? I got back to Eubank in plenty of time to catch the number two north to my neck of the desert. As I approached home, the snow was in the process of changing to rain, which it still is.
Of course, when I walked in the door, Remus J. Lupin took that to mean it was feeding time. I gotta teach that boy to read clocks.
It was snowing in earnest when I got back outside and crossed Lomas to the bus stop. I had thought about continuing west to Albuquerquqe Little Theatre to see what was up over there, but since it was snowing heavily, I caught the next eastbound bus. It happened to be a number eleven, which goes very close to Sam's Club on Eubank. There were some things I wanted to get from there. My Super Duper membership gives me a ten dollar discount on Turbo Tax. Only problem: Sam's opens at 10:00. It was a little after 9:00.
The snow had slacked up a little, so I walked five blocks down to Walgreen's on Central Avenue (Historic Route 66) and bought some Sea Salt Blue Diamond almonds for Carmen and some sea-free salted almonds for me so I don't glom down her fancy almonds. Then I mosied on back up the hill to Sam's. It had just opened as I approached the doors. I got my Turbo Tax, some Hebrew National hot dogs, some granny Smith apples (gotta keep them doctors away) and the big jar of Litehouse salad dressing. Isn't that interesting? I got back to Eubank in plenty of time to catch the number two north to my neck of the desert. As I approached home, the snow was in the process of changing to rain, which it still is.
Of course, when I walked in the door, Remus J. Lupin took that to mean it was feeding time. I gotta teach that boy to read clocks.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Big Day
First of all, I accessed my unemployment account in Massachusetts and printed an unofficial copy of my 1099 for tax computation purposes. Then I went to the mailbox - there was a check! Woo hoo! Then A&R came and hauled my oxygen equipment (which I haven't used in nearly a month) outta here!
Also in the mail was a copy of my bloodwork from Thursday with a letter from my doctor saying it all looks good. That apple a day thing really seems to work - except for that damnable blood clot business.
The best news: I'm getting ready to walk to the bank and get a haircut on the way back! I haven't left the house since Friday. Cabin fever has set in. See ya!
Also in the mail was a copy of my bloodwork from Thursday with a letter from my doctor saying it all looks good. That apple a day thing really seems to work - except for that damnable blood clot business.
The best news: I'm getting ready to walk to the bank and get a haircut on the way back! I haven't left the house since Friday. Cabin fever has set in. See ya!
Sunday, January 24, 2010
That's A Big Ten Forty, Good Buddy
Wow, spelled double you oh double you. It's getting near time to buy the new Turbo Tax and try to sort out the tax situation for 2009. Let's see... I started out on Workshare, in which Massachusetts paid 8 hours a week and I worked for Mystic 32 hours a week. Then Mystic laid me off completely, and I was on full unemployment for a month. Then I got a gig at American Repertory Theatre, a Harvard University entity, and worked a forty hour week before starting at Aries Custom Works for three months as a contractor. Then I went back to Mystic for three weeks, then packed and moved for a month, including a three-week road trip. So that's six months as a resident of Massachusetts with Federal and State taxes to pay on Unemployment and three months at Aries. Carmen had no income, but she had tuition payments and other expenses.
Then we became residents of New Mexico. Carmen has been receiving a salary for her internship, I have worked two days on two TV shows as a background actor - with taxes paid - plus my "thank you" money from Albuquerque Little Theatre as a contractor. So I have Federal and New Mexico State taxes to file on all of that. I can't wait to get started. I've done Turbo Tax twice before, and I'm confident we can sort this out. Meanwhile, I'm assembling a file of W-2s and 1099s. Good thing I don't have a job.
Then we became residents of New Mexico. Carmen has been receiving a salary for her internship, I have worked two days on two TV shows as a background actor - with taxes paid - plus my "thank you" money from Albuquerque Little Theatre as a contractor. So I have Federal and New Mexico State taxes to file on all of that. I can't wait to get started. I've done Turbo Tax twice before, and I'm confident we can sort this out. Meanwhile, I'm assembling a file of W-2s and 1099s. Good thing I don't have a job.
Friday, January 22, 2010
Apologies
I remember when frequent Cat Juggler postings were routine. Then came White Christmas, and then came a Deep Vein Thrombosis / Pulmonary Embolism, and suddenly I see that my last posting was a week ago. My huge fan base is sorely disappointed, I'm sure, every time y'all swing by Cat Juggler and see that there is nothing new. Well, I guess that pretty much covers it. Nothing new is going on in my life - at least there's nothing I can write about. Carmen's online church dating process is going well, but I can't divulge any details. The old job search continues with very little to report. Every week I get my blood tested - yesterday it was a three point nine INR, which is still high. The cats still crawl into laps whenever one becomes available. In short, life goes on, but nothing to write about.
A lot of my time this past week has been spent on the phone with my dad. He has been writing a novel these past five years. We gave him a computer five years ago, and tried to impress upon him that here in the twenty-first century, publishers want your electronic version of your book because that saves them time retyping your book, and ensures that they won't make any mistakes above and beyond the ones you have already made. Well, he sent his publisher a paper copy, sliced and taped and recopied until it was right, and thought he was done - like it used to be in the sixties. When the publisher informed him that they were ready now to receive his electronic copy, he was flabberghasted. He enlisted my help to make about fifty corrections to the best version he had and send it to them. We're all excited now, after three submissions and two STOP THE PRESSES emails since Sunday, because he says he's done and won't even look at it any more until his copy comes in the mail in six to nine months.
I also have a lengthy Rand McNally nearly finished if you care to click the link to the left. I expect to finish it this afternoon. Other than that, nothing is going on here in Albuquerque.
A lot of my time this past week has been spent on the phone with my dad. He has been writing a novel these past five years. We gave him a computer five years ago, and tried to impress upon him that here in the twenty-first century, publishers want your electronic version of your book because that saves them time retyping your book, and ensures that they won't make any mistakes above and beyond the ones you have already made. Well, he sent his publisher a paper copy, sliced and taped and recopied until it was right, and thought he was done - like it used to be in the sixties. When the publisher informed him that they were ready now to receive his electronic copy, he was flabberghasted. He enlisted my help to make about fifty corrections to the best version he had and send it to them. We're all excited now, after three submissions and two STOP THE PRESSES emails since Sunday, because he says he's done and won't even look at it any more until his copy comes in the mail in six to nine months.
I also have a lengthy Rand McNally nearly finished if you care to click the link to the left. I expect to finish it this afternoon. Other than that, nothing is going on here in Albuquerque.
Friday, January 15, 2010
All Very Hush Hush
About the time I was struck down with the nefarious blood clots, Carmen began clicking. It's computer dating for congregations seeking ministers and ministers seeking congregations. The congregation posts a little information on the UUA site, the minister reads and either clicks or not. If she clicks, the congregation's search committee can read a little info about the minister. If they like what they read, they contact the minister and agree to exchange massive packets of information (it can all be posted online nowadays, saving shipping costs and paper) and if they like what they read, they can agree to a phone interview. Carmen has had several go that far.
Next, the minister is invited to "precandidate" at the congregation's locality, check out the place and the situation, and deliver a sermon at a neutral pulpit for the Committee. If they like what they hear and like what they see, things get even cosier. Then they meet me, and the deal is off!
I wish I could say where things are headed at this time, but, as The Avengers used to say, "It's all very hush hush." It will be months before things are finalized enough to leak the story.
I think I can safely say (and I'll find out soon enough if I can't) that The Ordination is tentatively scheduled for Sunday, June 6th at the Albuquerque church. Y'all come!
Next, the minister is invited to "precandidate" at the congregation's locality, check out the place and the situation, and deliver a sermon at a neutral pulpit for the Committee. If they like what they hear and like what they see, things get even cosier. Then they meet me, and the deal is off!
I wish I could say where things are headed at this time, but, as The Avengers used to say, "It's all very hush hush." It will be months before things are finalized enough to leak the story.
I think I can safely say (and I'll find out soon enough if I can't) that The Ordination is tentatively scheduled for Sunday, June 6th at the Albuquerque church. Y'all come!
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Fifty Freakin' Seven ??!!!!
Nothing says "getting old" like a sudden medical emergency caused by one's own body. Of course, I'm not getting old. I've been old for nearly thirty five years, ever since the spectacular Bicentennial backflip at forty MPH on the cobblestones of Baltimore woke me up to the fact that even if I landed on my head on cobblestones at forty miles per hour, roller skates akimbo, it wasn't going to kill me - just increase my pain. I did get a very cool scar out of it, if that counts for anything.
So now I've had my ass kicked by stupid blood clots. For two weeks I could do almost nothing but lie on my back with my leg propped up, sucking oxygen. For another week walking caused me some diminishing discomfort. Now I feel pretty durn good, but I'm taking anti-coagulants every day for at least six months. Carmen is very hinky about the possibility that I might cut myself and bleed to death. No roller skating on cobblestones!
Every day I still go around the job search merry-go-round, but I haven't seen anything worth applying for since late December. Albuquerque seems to be very hard-hit by what the media call the "downturn" or the "recession." I call it the meltdown. I guess if I were still in Massachusetts I would be in better straits. My friends there seem to be working. Moving to a new and heavily impacted city in the middle of this "thang" was not a good career move for me.
Carmen, on the other hand, is loving her internship, loving her job-search process for the next move, and excited about the future of her ministry. I am an integral part of her ministry, so I am very much involved in all of that as well - and I have lots of time on my hands for whatever she needs me to do: cooking and cleaning, grocery shopping, photographing her church events and creating word and picture documents for her ministerial record, assembling music and burning CDs for her church stuff, reading info from congregations looking to hire ministers and giving my insight into our compatibility with them.
All in all, I'm excited about the future. Even though my employment situation here has been pretty dismal, I've done some cool stuff - background actor on two TV shows, sets for Albuquerque Little Theatre, writing two blogs - I'm looking forward to the next adventure, wherever that takes us. That's what our lives together have long been, a great epic adventure.
So that is the greatest birthday present - the adventure continues! Happy birthday to me.
So now I've had my ass kicked by stupid blood clots. For two weeks I could do almost nothing but lie on my back with my leg propped up, sucking oxygen. For another week walking caused me some diminishing discomfort. Now I feel pretty durn good, but I'm taking anti-coagulants every day for at least six months. Carmen is very hinky about the possibility that I might cut myself and bleed to death. No roller skating on cobblestones!
Every day I still go around the job search merry-go-round, but I haven't seen anything worth applying for since late December. Albuquerque seems to be very hard-hit by what the media call the "downturn" or the "recession." I call it the meltdown. I guess if I were still in Massachusetts I would be in better straits. My friends there seem to be working. Moving to a new and heavily impacted city in the middle of this "thang" was not a good career move for me.
Carmen, on the other hand, is loving her internship, loving her job-search process for the next move, and excited about the future of her ministry. I am an integral part of her ministry, so I am very much involved in all of that as well - and I have lots of time on my hands for whatever she needs me to do: cooking and cleaning, grocery shopping, photographing her church events and creating word and picture documents for her ministerial record, assembling music and burning CDs for her church stuff, reading info from congregations looking to hire ministers and giving my insight into our compatibility with them.
All in all, I'm excited about the future. Even though my employment situation here has been pretty dismal, I've done some cool stuff - background actor on two TV shows, sets for Albuquerque Little Theatre, writing two blogs - I'm looking forward to the next adventure, wherever that takes us. That's what our lives together have long been, a great epic adventure.
So that is the greatest birthday present - the adventure continues! Happy birthday to me.
Friday, January 8, 2010
How 'bout Some Good News?
I finally talked to Colby yesterday. You remember Colby, Technical Director at Albuquerque Little Theatre. The last time we spoke was the day after Thanksgiving, opening night of White Christmas. I went in to collect my check, finished up the last few details of the set, and asked about the next show. He told me then that I should be able to start on it by the end of the next week. He went to visit his mom, and I awaited his call to start on Dial M For Murder.
On December 11th I went in to clean the shop, still a wreck since the strike of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow on Hallowe'en night. Colby wasn't there and nobody knew where he was. My leg was hurting and swelling all day. Thus began my coagulation calamity. In the hospital for five days, on oxygen at home for two weeks, and in pain whenever I was vertical.
So Wednesday, when I walked to the bank on the way to an appointment, turned on my cellular phone, and there was a message from Colby saying he was ready to start on Dial M. I immediately called his cellular phone, got his voice mail, and left him a message updating him on my life since November.
Yesterday I called again and actually spoke to him live. He's had a hectic and stressful month as well. He's got Dial M For Murder well in hand. But the big news: The ALT Program Committee met, and they want to run White Christmas again next year! Good thing the sets I built are still intact. All they have to do is find a place to store them for a year.
I like recycling!
On December 11th I went in to clean the shop, still a wreck since the strike of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow on Hallowe'en night. Colby wasn't there and nobody knew where he was. My leg was hurting and swelling all day. Thus began my coagulation calamity. In the hospital for five days, on oxygen at home for two weeks, and in pain whenever I was vertical.
So Wednesday, when I walked to the bank on the way to an appointment, turned on my cellular phone, and there was a message from Colby saying he was ready to start on Dial M. I immediately called his cellular phone, got his voice mail, and left him a message updating him on my life since November.
Yesterday I called again and actually spoke to him live. He's had a hectic and stressful month as well. He's got Dial M For Murder well in hand. But the big news: The ALT Program Committee met, and they want to run White Christmas again next year! Good thing the sets I built are still intact. All they have to do is find a place to store them for a year.
I like recycling!
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Out Of The Recliner And Onto The Bus
You know, if you're going to have a life-threatening episode that puts you out of action for a month, it's best to do it while you're unemployed, provided your spouse IS employed and has health insurance. Even my mother said that at the end of week one of life totally flat on my back.
Yesterday I took a bold step. I left my oxygen behind and walked to the midday bus stop, 1 1/2 miles away, caught the number 2 to Montgomery Road and the number 5 directly to UNM Hospital for my weekly Coumadin Clinic blood test. It was a more difficult journey than in months past, but I made it in good shape. My leg didn't even hurt. I wasn't out of breath, either. That's good. My blood tested at 3.9 - still too high.
The return trip was easier because after 3:30 the bus takes me to within a quarter mile of home. Even so, I was pretty tired. I slapped on my oxygen and hit the recliner. Kitties came from all over the house when they heard the reclining action, and we had a warm-up love-in until Carmen got home.
Tomorrow I do about the same trip for my Discharge Clinic appointment with Dr. Pierce (not Hawkeye) who will undoubtedly officially take me off of oxygen. I'm debating whether to haul my little tank with me for the appointment. It would make the trip ever so much harder, but I fear a chewing out for presuming to take myself off of it. It would be much harder to lie about it if I don't even have it with me. Hmmm, something to think about for the next twenty-five hours.
Meanwhile, it's around and around the job search wheel again. Things are even more dismal now than they were a month ago - and that's going some!
Yesterday I took a bold step. I left my oxygen behind and walked to the midday bus stop, 1 1/2 miles away, caught the number 2 to Montgomery Road and the number 5 directly to UNM Hospital for my weekly Coumadin Clinic blood test. It was a more difficult journey than in months past, but I made it in good shape. My leg didn't even hurt. I wasn't out of breath, either. That's good. My blood tested at 3.9 - still too high.
The return trip was easier because after 3:30 the bus takes me to within a quarter mile of home. Even so, I was pretty tired. I slapped on my oxygen and hit the recliner. Kitties came from all over the house when they heard the reclining action, and we had a warm-up love-in until Carmen got home.
Tomorrow I do about the same trip for my Discharge Clinic appointment with Dr. Pierce (not Hawkeye) who will undoubtedly officially take me off of oxygen. I'm debating whether to haul my little tank with me for the appointment. It would make the trip ever so much harder, but I fear a chewing out for presuming to take myself off of it. It would be much harder to lie about it if I don't even have it with me. Hmmm, something to think about for the next twenty-five hours.
Meanwhile, it's around and around the job search wheel again. Things are even more dismal now than they were a month ago - and that's going some!
Monday, January 4, 2010
GRRRR!
As one might imagine, extrapolating from the title of this entry, I am just a little bit cheesed off. A week ago I put together my latest resume, my letters of recommendation, a spiffy cover letter, three special Science Museum references and the CD of my portfolio (you can see it at www.slideshare.net/jimemerson ) in a manilla envelope and mailed it with $1.22 postage to a museum here in Albuquerque that advertised for an exhibit guy with science museum experience. Now I realize that most of those 82 guys that apply for all the same jobs I do are still at it. I just think that, after we jumped through all of those hoops, a simple email to all of us that didn't get an interview wouldn't be too much to ask.
I haven't actually counted, but I don't think it would be any exaggeration to say that since we've been here I've applied for 150 jobs. Three of them went to the trouble to let me know that I didn't make the cut. Even the ones I actually interviewed for didn't let me know. Even the spa place that called me and invited me to fill out an application and take a fifteen page pointless test didn't let me know that I was out of the running. WTF??!!
Here's hoping that in 2010 the pendulum begins to swing back the other way, and that wherever we go in June is in better economic shape than Albuquerque. I'm really tired of following those 82 guys around, filling out application after fitness test, and just being dropped in the trash because I'm twice as old as the winning applicant. To put it succinctly, it sucks!
I haven't actually counted, but I don't think it would be any exaggeration to say that since we've been here I've applied for 150 jobs. Three of them went to the trouble to let me know that I didn't make the cut. Even the ones I actually interviewed for didn't let me know. Even the spa place that called me and invited me to fill out an application and take a fifteen page pointless test didn't let me know that I was out of the running. WTF??!!
Here's hoping that in 2010 the pendulum begins to swing back the other way, and that wherever we go in June is in better economic shape than Albuquerque. I'm really tired of following those 82 guys around, filling out application after fitness test, and just being dropped in the trash because I'm twice as old as the winning applicant. To put it succinctly, it sucks!
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