Wednesday, September 09, 2015

How I Spent My Summer Vacation

  • I dressed in black and performed gut-based improv with #BLOODCUP
  • I drove across the country with my brother
    • (California to Arizona to New Mexico to Texas to Arkansas to Tennessee to Kentucky to Ohio)
    • We saw Mad Max in Arkansas
    • We stopped at a lot of comic book stores and bought $1 comics
    • He had to get a comic book box to keep all of his new comics in
    • I stuffed mine in a backpack.
    • We stopped at Graceland and wrote on the wall
  • I went to Origins with the Diplomancers
    • I played a pro-wrestling RPG
    • I played a Jane Austen-style romance RPG
      • I won the rake's hand by making him a frank business proposition, even though my younger sister was truly in love with him
      • But he was a rake! It was partly for her protection
  • I went to Chicago for a few days
    • I talked to Annie in places where I used to go with Annie
  • I rode my bike for Ohio miles
    • Lots of people asked me why I was riding my bike
  • I went running, a lot
    • Lots of people yelled at me/flipped me off/swerved their cars toward me
  • ChainĂ© came to visit
    • We went to green parts of Ohio, we went to Kentucky
    • We went to Gatlinburg
    • We went to Nashville
    • We went dancing so hard in Nashville she lost a plug
    • We made prints at Hatch
    • We drove north again
    • We rode roller coasters
    • We built a partnership on affection, mutual respect, and murder
    • We watched Twin Peaks from start to finish
  •  I got back to work
  • I spied on Ohioans doing improv
  • I read books about travelers
  • I made plans to travel
  • I had Facebook fights
  • Oh, I almost forgot something!
    • That is legitimately true, but it was probably the biggest thing that happened this summer
    • I can't say I was kicked out of any place
    • But I was basically kicked out of a home + refuge 
    • Made to feel ashamed and unworthy and sinful
    • It's -- look, I'm not trying to start a fight here -- but it was bullshit
    • I think it will fundamentally shape my Ohio relationships from now on
    • I think if you build walls and create distance between yourself and others, you are doing it wrong
      • Life, I mean
      • and loving people
      • and loving your family
    • I don't mean to create distance
    • But I'm not really ready to be the one to bridge the gap, you know? 
    • For some reason I thought this was something David Milch said, but it looks like it's something Paul F. Davis said? I don't know who that is:
      • "Go where you are celebrated, not merely tolerated."
  • I will say it again: "Go where you are celebrated, not merely tolerated."
  • I read interviews with Stephen Colbert that were really moving.
    • I watched the first episode of his new show, and it was not moving.
    • He said, "I love the thing that I most wish hadn't happened"
  • I finished/filled up my Hobbit journal
    • I started a new journal, untouched by the west coast or the east
  •  I cleaned out my parents' basement
    • I traded away my Nintendo games
  • I wrote about some comics, but it was frustrating
  • I came to terms with probably not writing that Friday Night Lights/relationship piece
    • I might write it anyway, because holy smokes it will haunt me otherwise
    • I bet it's how Axl felt about Chinese Democracy
    • Just get it out there, you know? 
  • I listened to the new-new Prince record, which is half good
  • I listened to the new Carly Rae Jepsen record, which is all good
  • I listened to a lot of Whiskeytown again! Crap they were a good band
    • I guess they were more of a duo
    • Being in improv groups has taught me about band dynamics
    • Sometimes it's about talented people getting together, but mostly it's about personalities
    • I bet being in the Rolling Stones is depressing
      • Okay, maybe not the Rolling Stones but probably like Van Halen
      • When it's a business arrangement, but it used to be a band
      • Like you used to be friends with those guys, you know?
      • And now there are friends, or ex-friends, not in the band anymore
      • And Michael Anthony lives somewhere these days, and he probably opens the paper once a year and sees that Van Halen is coming to town and he's got to be like, "Huh!" 
      • Or maybe he is touring with Chickenfoot or something. I hope so.
      • Do not stay where you are merely tolerated 
That is some straight-up good advice.