Been A While

Folks, friends, to whomever reads this damn thing... things are going well. I'm working, I'm writing and I'm even dating. (If I didn't need a trip to the dentist, life would be just about squarely terrific.)

Two most significant updates: Work and Writing. I've been working in a production office for six weeks, now. It hardly seems possible that it's been that long, but things are going well and I will presently be going on salary. Woot. There's plenty of room to grow in the company, so as always please do pray.

Secondly (and I confess, more excitingly), the writing... My suspense thriller, Say a Prayer for Emily Hall, has gotten excellent response from everyone who's read it. (This includes complete strangers who have no reason to shield my eggshell-delicate ego.) If all goes well, the show will have a staged reading-- and possibly more-- with a theatre company in Los Angeles. At the same time, I'm hosting a staged reading of my own set for the 26th; and a director has expressed interest in submitting the script to a theatre company of solid reputation. These and other developments take time; but I'm fine with that.

Once the suspense thriller is finally put to bed (and possibly given a new title), I have my next project lined up: A children's story idea that would be pure fun to craft. Still, one project at a time. That's the only way to get anything done.

In preparation for yet another writing endeavor, I've given a great deal of consideration about God; lately. I've taken time to consider precisely what I know or think I understand about God, and finding it to be quite small. I *feel* small. I'd be delighted to discuss religious philosophy at length with anyone who's interested. It's too heavy for a blog. At least this one.

I hope you're doing well. Ciao for now.

"My Year"

Hah. Did you see that thing I did there, where I foolishly made the presumption that this was going to be 'my year'? I don't wish to discount the possibility that it very well might end that way, but the beginning of this orbit about the sun has been less than encouraging.

Let's recap: No steady employment. No money coming in. No dating. I'm shocked, shocked by this turn of events that has been the status quo for more than a month, now.

To combat it, I have been applying like a mad man for administrative jobs up, down, left and right across the internet-- the fruits of which were two lukewarm interviews at temp agencies that had no work available. It's said that the act of an insane man is to try the same thing over and over again and expect different results. Time to try something new.

Work isn't available right now. Not in a cubicle. I get that. This could be a blessing in disguise. I was never satisfied in the work place (aka the place of work); it was always a means of filling coffers long enough to make it to the next audition, the next rehearsal, the next play or recording. I spent ten months in a cubicle last year; during which I had a handful of promising auditions. Less than 5. Maybe that time could have been better spent. I don't know. I'm scarcely an objective witness.

I took my friends up on an offer and sold tickets in Times Square. Tickets to what? Stand-up comedy. Scoff all you like (I should know, I was scoffing), but the fact is it put money in my pocket that was not there before and would not have gotten there otherwise. Not the cubicle route. That river has run dry.

This new venture is but one of several I hope to tackle in the coming days, weeks and months. I've officially begun a side business (with as yet no capital or advertising, give me a break it's midnight); Casey Cooks For You. I got the idea from an issue of Time Out New York. Over the next few days, when I have time, I'll be handing out fliers promoting my services as a chef for hire. You never know. This could be something. I lose nothing by trying.

Speaking of trying, I've corralled my nerve and begun putting together material for stand-up of my own. I'm witty, I'm dry and articulate. If I can get a chuckle or two out of some unsuspecting audience, hooray for me.

Something's gotta work. I'm not leaving town. Not any time soon. Not by a long shot.

Progress, As It Is

Well. A month and change into the new year, and I've been unemployed for two weeks straight. I have an interview tomorrow, and I have been writing... the comic is coming along. I'm trying something new with the thriller; a new format. I'm not sold on it yet.

Trying to sort out my next step would be a lot simpler if I were more sure of things. Not a lot of money, slim prospects. There's a lot not to be certain of. I've been making new friends through theatre slam events.

In any case, tomorrow's another day. Job interview, a dozen or more new job apps as events permit. We'll see.

We'll see.

My Year

Well now. It seems the Powers That Be are corroborating in my favor. I'd say something snarky like "finally" or "at last" but any American under the age of 30 has no right to be throwing around words like that without sounding like a complete jackass.

Still. It's enjoyable, this sensation of progress being made.

The comic book took a kidney punch late last week; and now mending is being done. More to follow on that soon.

For fear of jinxing my chances with prospect #2, I'm remaining sagely tight-lipped. (But if you drop me a line, I'll let you know the details on a one-on-one basis.)

#3? I'm in the running for a job at NBC. Admin, Clerical stuff, but it'd be my foot in the door. At NBC. They like my resume', they've checked my personal references, and called today to double-check my business references as well. They must want me somewhat for the job; if they're still investigating after ProveIt! tests and interviews and so on.

I really, really need a job. Steady work would be wonderful. Better-paying work and benefits while working in television could be spectacular. I just need to make it happen. If they make the call... I'm gonna be there.

Please, please keep me in your prayers. A lot of irons have been in the fire for a lot of months and now it's 2009.

It's gonna be my year.

Bad News Follows The Good

This new job opportunity isn't as easy to get into as I first hoped. It's requiring a few hoops to jump through (not the least of which is a copy of my birth certificate) because I'm going to need New York ID to get started. I don't have it on hand, which means waiting. Waiting and not getting paid.

I need to ask them some questions about what I can do in the meantime; because otherwise I am completely out of ideas. I could really, really use some good news. Not prospects, not a light at the end of a tunnel, something *now*. I know patience has never been my virtue but this is getting obscene.

I've been praying for help; in addition to chasing down this job opportunity; which *can* be lucrative once it starts... it's just the waiting that's going to get me. Nobody made this bed but me; I know that. Doesn't make things the slightest bit easier.

More to follow.

Go Figure

I have no idea what the differences are, but today has gone significantly better than yesterday. As far as work is concerned, at any rate.

Yesterday, I could barely keep my eyes open, downing cup after cup of coffee, and part of me was practically begging 5:30 to arrive.

Today, I've had the same amount of sleep as yesterday, but am doing worlds better. I'm doing the exact same type of work but am not minding it nearly as much. I don't get it.

I'm not complaining, but I don't get it.

Go figure.

*Yawn!*

It has been a long week. The novelty of going to the same office every day has not worn off-- too bad tomorrow's the last day of the job. Oh well... I am still hopeful about the magazine editor job. It would be terrific to have regular writing work; despite the commute.

I helped a friend last night record the material for his first commercial VO demo. It's going to be good. I like doing this stuff, not to mention getting paid for it. It all runs along a notion I once pondered about people enjoying the activities they're good at. I mean, come on, are there folks out there that get a kick out of sucking at things? "Time to go shoot some hoops. I am terrible at this! Shazam!!"

In other news; I've started talking with a particular girl on eHarmony. We seem to have a lot in common-- like looking forward to the "If Today Is Your Birthday" horoscopes. Just a quirky little thing but nice to know in any case. The fact that she takes a very nice picture only enhances things. *cough*

Okay. Enough out of me. For now. Sweet dreams, folks.

That Seemed To Go Well

The phone interview went fine; the woman I spoke with is going to contact me next week about the possibility of setting up an in-house interview. I was nervous on the phone, I'll admit, but I didn't scare her off.

I'm already over-thinking this. It would be a fun job, but the commute will be a bear. Still. Healthcare, 401k, travel to all the big comic and toy conventions... a dork's dream come true, right? Working in that kind of environment could only sharpen my writing...

Is this what I want? Granted, any position that'd put my writing skills to use would be a welcome one. And I'd have a genuinely 'cool' job. Huh. Go figure.

I'm still in the running here, folks. I'm going for it.

Wish Me Luck

Folks, I have (potential) good news. Tomorrow I have a job interview by phone, for an editing position with a mazine for which I've been doing freelance work, for the past few years. I really want this job.

I've had concerns that the office's location (Congers) would be a problem; but since the interview is being conducted by phone it leads me to believe in the possibility of working from home. Who knows-- I could be so lucky!

Anyway: Please keep your fingers crossed, and I will keep you apprised of any new information. WOOT.

The Week Is Looking Up

*Yawn!* Goodness. Last night was a late one, but for entirely good reasons. Since I started this temp job, piece after piece of All Fall Down has clicked soundly into place. Scribbling notes on my lunch break, jotting down ideas between assignments; it's good to have the creative part of the brain going on all cylinders. It's been a while since that's been the case.

Last night, I was in the zone. I'd planned a scene for the start of issue seven (of twelve), and my fingers had barely touched the keys when I realized the same scene would be dramatically stronger at the start of issue six.

This led to issue six getting an overhaul; trimming a scene that can wait until later; as well as sharpening up a formerly-okay-but-now-quite-good exchange between my heroine and her best friend.

I don't know how it is for other writers; but that moment of clarity where the rest of the room disappears and it's just you and your hands and the keyboard and the screen... last night was the first time I've been able to develop material that wasn't just plodding along, one page after another. This stuff was practically pounding on the inside of my head to get out and onto a page where it could do some good. And it will, boy howdy.

I'm looking forward to what my friend Bill has to say about the new issue six. He's a fair and honest editor, and he 'gets' this stuff implicitly. I think he's gonna be pleased.

I have to attribute this new surge in productivity to finding a (temporary) day job. Having a set schedule, having my time sliced neatly up into compartments between work and home and whatever else has redefined my week. The last month, scrambling around looking for work; I hardly got any writing of substance done. And even when I did, it didn't flow anything like what came out last night.

I'm still looking for permanent work; but this will do fine for now. I'm not saying everything is fine and dandy; but at least my creative juices aren't going to waste. So there's that.

Ciao for now, folks.

Life Getting In The Way of Life; Where Life = Work

Damn it.

The search for work continues, leading to a temp job Tuesday, Thursday & Friday of the week, with a job interview Wednesday on which it is difficult to comment. I'll get to that in a minute.

Tomorrow, I have a voiceover audition that I'm greatly looking forward to. It could be for repeat business, doing the sort of narration that's very Casey-appropriate. It's also at 12:45 and impossible to reschedule. I don't want to reschedule it, even if I could.

The burr in my shorts is over the temp job I have scheduled from noon to eight; and my necessarily late arrival is throwing it into question. I don't know what else I'm supposed to do.

I'm not missing this audition. If I have the opportunity to find some work in my field, then I'm going after it. I moved to New York for office work to accommodate my theatrical and voiceover careers, not the other way 'round.

This item is the umpteenth on my list of stressors at the moment. Single. Broke. Seeking work...

Speaking of work: The interview on Wednesday is for a charity organization; my job would be on the streets, seeking to enlist donors/givers/whatever the term is. Street work. I feel conflicted about this. I'm hesitant, but honestly? At this point I don't have the luxury to be picky! If the best job I can get is as a walking pop-up ad, so be it. I've submitted dozens of job applications in the last several days via Craigslist, and the grand total of responses has been one: The charity gig.

It's frustrating. Immensely so. The whole thing. On top of the returning health issue, necessary-and-unwelcome alterations to my work-out routine and the ongoing internal debate of whether or not I can make it to Maryland for Christmas.

Balls.

I need to vent. I need to unload some stress, hopefully at the gym. I need to get these things straightened out immediately if not sooner. I feel angry, frustrated and generally ticked that things have gotten to this point. Ain't life grand.