To Write?

Today is one of those gorgeous New York days. Sixty two degrees, with a brisk wind that keeps it exciting, and with a sense of anticipation in the air. Part of that is the approach of Halloween, and the succession of holidays to follow, and part of it is just the sheer unquestionable beauty of this area.

Today's a day to head out to the Strand Bookstore and pick up a used copy of a writing manual that I hope will give me some ideas for a story to write during Nanowrimo (that's National Novel Writing Month for those who are uninitiated). In spite of my unfinished mystery novel from last year with twenty paltry but crucial pages left to complete, I am considering diving back in.  Maybe it will be easier if it's not a genre that requires such tight structure and a surprise ending where it seems like surprises are impossible, as everything has already been done.  And yet, with three days to launch I still don't have a solid idea to write.  While the idea of diving in and typing away Jack Kerouac style has its appeal, I can't imagine the efforts from that will be worth the dedication it will take. Part of my brain is saying that the trying is enough.

I really would like to take a leap in and balls to the wall plunk something out, really stick to my word count, and finish the challenge. So what if the result is no good?  That's not we're supposed to be thinking about at this early stage any way, if I recall. For now, I'm committed to walking around in the city, maybe see if there are any decent podcasts that are out there to assist with this project, and to picking up the aforementioned book.  Later today I'll continue with journalling ideas, bouncing them around in my head, and tonight I'll ask the universe to help me with my decision.

Answers tomorrow.

Magic Moments

In my past couple of years in New York I've gotten to stand next to, and even chat with some pretty lovely artists and entertainers. It always makes me shy and somewhat giddy which, for a six foot 2 inch guy is kind of ridiculous, but nonetheless true.

I have a small part in my friend Leslie Carrara Rudolph's cabaret What Just Happened?...

This might be me on the left, with a guest of the show, Lolly Lardpop, and Leslie Carrara Rudolph

and because of it I've gotten to meet Chita Rivera (the sensation of hearing that iconic voice up close in my ear is etched in my memory banks), as well as a couple of other really terrific people.



Meeting Luis from Sesame Street was akin to meeting Santa Claus in person. Leslie had to ask him for the photo, because I was too nervous to bother him.  There's just a very special relationship that people have with him, because he helped to guide us (albeit remotely) and tell us about how the world works, and with such a gentle and understanding demeanor. I can't imagine how many people must reach out to him every day, and he handled my nerves with aplomb.  And getting the opportunity to chat with sound man Fred Newman? Forget about it.  I had his ZOUNDS! record and book when I was a kid (yes, I said record. In fact it was this thin floppy little record that came with the book. I must have spent hours trying to do a dog bark like his without the best results) and I'd seen him on multiple television shows as a kid.  When he took over as the effects guy for Prairie Home Companion it was an obvious match made in Heaven. Both of these men just overflowed with generosity, and it was really heartwarming and encouraging to see. Fred talked about his years growing up and the influence that the story tellers in Georgia had on his life, leading him into sound effects and to New York where he became friends with Andy Warhol and Jim Henson. I felt really lucky t have been in the right place at the right time.

Most of all though, I'm grateful for my friendship with Leslie Carrara Rudolph herself, her unique magic, her massive amounts of support, open hearted nature, and her whimsy. One of my best pals i this world, and it's been a blessing to have had her as a companion on this journey and to be her friend on hers. And who else could truly appreciate the magic of finding Clam Strips for $1?

New York Comic Con 2017!!!

This weekend is New York Comic Con, and while I was only able to get a ticket for the first day, Thursday, which is considered by most to be a warm-up to the main event, I feel like I have gotten more than my fill.  My friend Leslie and I headed out at 10:30AM and The Javitz Center was pretty empty looking.  So far so good.  Leslie had said that Thursday was the least attended day, and that the panels were mostly being held in the NYC Library, so it should be pretty manageable. Luckily, I was not really interested in Panels, except for the panel that afternoon for LORE, the upcoming Amazon Prime show based on the eery historical podcast of the same name. The lines for these panels are notoriously long, and the real reason I had been excited about the Convention was for Artist's Alley, the area where all the comic book artists have their booths, take on commissions, and sell very reasonably priced prints of their work.

First pic of the day! (With Izma and Kuzco)

I was their scoping out a possible artist to commission for a drawing of Cathy, to use for further promotion. I already had one in mind, but wasn't certain if he would be available, and so I wanted to take a look at the other options.  I did see a couple that I was interested (one in particular did work that was reminiscent of the later season I Love Lucy title segments) but none was a perfect match to the character and her period. I did get to meet and see the work of some terrific artists like Jay Fosgitt (creator of Bodi Troll) and the brilliant artist of paper cut confections, Charles Thurston. This part of the con did not disappoint, and was truthfully enough for me.  Still...

My friend Leslie!

It was only about noon at this point, and leaving so early felt like a let-down, so we headed up to the INTENSELY crowded show room. There was a Funko booth, but good luck getting in to purchase anything.  They'd apparently had a lottery weeks prior to get a chance at getting in line, and there weren't any spots available anymore. So outside of paying someone in line to purchase something for you, good luck. And I had already spent my minimal budget, so... no huge loss. We wandered the show room for a while, looking at aisles and aisles of "stuff". Products, t-shirts, posters, toys... but relatively few comics. This all would have been fine, except for the fact that I am a gregarious and outgoing person who loves being around people, and yet...being around them does not energize me, and afterwards I quickly need some alone time. I am not sure if this is because I really AM an extroverted introvert, or if that is just an example of me being like the rest of America, desperately seeking a label for myself at the same time I claim to be beyond them. Anyway, there were people everywhere, apparently this was the turnout that had usually only been seen on Saturday, and while it was festive, it was also a bit draining.

We headed downstairs for some food, and were met by a temporary structure designed to look like a house from the 1800's.  It was a promotional event for the new Amazon Prime Show, LORE, based on a pre-existing podcast  (Quick sidebar- I've not mentioned it before, but it is a really atmospheric, creepy audio podcast of historically supernatural stories which have through time morphed into legend, for example, the sighting of a snake bodied-horse headed sea serpent, or a doll that seemed to move around the house of its own volition and seemed to be terrorizing the little boy who owned him).  What seemed like it would be a quick peek turned into a two hour wait, and while it was fun to enter the rooms and meet actors portraying people from the stories that would be featured in the upcoming show, it did feel like the emphasis was on promotion, and not on acquainting people with the show. Too be fair, the convention going public is the kind to be more interested in an immersive experience of the show rather than the historically accurate photos and relics I was hoping for, and I'm sure the panel went into a lot more detail about the content of the future show.

Each room had talked briefly about one of the stories to be focused on in the show, and had a photo-op.  Feeling a little bit like a living "sandwich board", I nonetheless dutifully show the photos to you.

The actors were pretty great, and admittedly, the upcoming premier on October 13th is very much in the forefront of my mind. The third room of the house looked very promising, as the episode about lycanthropy was the what had lured me into listening to the podcast in the first place.

Now, I have to say... the group I was with?  Really lovely people, but what with Leslie gripping my arm in terror and me being six foot tall and standing in the front, I was the guinea pig of each room, which is what had me being the first one to sit down for a portrait in the final room and giving this extremely unsuitable expression...

After leaving the Museum of Lore, we headed back to Artist's Alley so Leslie could say a quick goodbye to a couple of the artists she is friends with, and then we headed to Juniors for a much deserved meal.  

I have to say, as much as I enjoyed the experience, I'm definitely more suited to the smaller, cozier Flame Con from a month prior.  They were my people!!

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