Okay, I've had a very weird 48 hours: a mini series of heighten emotions. On Thursday I found out that I had made it through the first round of cuts for the Page International Screenwriting Competition! Big Hurrah! Page had over 4,000 scripts entered and mine was part of the top 25% that advanced. I'll find out if I made it further next Wednesday.
On Friday morning I met with a very cool illustrator who is going to make ZOMBIE JESUS into a graphic novel. Perfect! I can totally picture that script in drawn panels!
Then, I got a call from my ex-boss to let me know that his bosses won't let him hire me. They like the idea of getting me back, but they have a hiring freeze in effect so "no" to the idea of slipping me in to fill a vacant place. Major disappointment!
I know I can get my unemployment extended, but this not being able to get a job is very weird! However, as I read back over this blog I know what I have to do: send out my scripts to more and more competitions! If the thing I'm getting the most positive feedback for is my writing, then I need to pursue that way more actively.
It has been a very big up and down few hours, but the best part to see is that people are responding to my writing. So, I start at square one for my "job", but I'm moving forward on what I really want as a profession: getting paid for writing!
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Thursday, June 18, 2009
I wish it would rain
We've had clouds for the past few days, not unusual for the Pacific Northwest, except that it hasn't rained. Everyday the clouds gather, some days hanging low and threatening, like today. The clouds are so close, deep gray and swollen, looking like they are going to burst. I'm rooting for a good rain, ground soaking, air cleaning rain. I need that kind of purification.
You see, I spoke to my ex-boss a week ago, and he mentioned that there might be a job opening. He said that he would know in the next couple of weeks, but things looked hopeful. Normal folks would take this to heart and feel cheered. I sit and brood on the information. I don't believe anything till its in writing. Hell, I don't believe I even have a job until I have been working at a place for at least a week. The end results is that I feel paralyzed. My husband sees the hope and says I should enjoy these last two weeks as a vacation. I am trying to do that, but for right now: I feel like the clouds outside.
And like the Wreckless Eric song; I wish it would rain.
You see, I spoke to my ex-boss a week ago, and he mentioned that there might be a job opening. He said that he would know in the next couple of weeks, but things looked hopeful. Normal folks would take this to heart and feel cheered. I sit and brood on the information. I don't believe anything till its in writing. Hell, I don't believe I even have a job until I have been working at a place for at least a week. The end results is that I feel paralyzed. My husband sees the hope and says I should enjoy these last two weeks as a vacation. I am trying to do that, but for right now: I feel like the clouds outside.
And like the Wreckless Eric song; I wish it would rain.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
The Beginning of a Great Adventure
My husband's brother Brian and his wife Maggie came to visit us in Portland. I love hanging out with these two. We made a day of it by going to a truly British Fish and Chip shop (my sister in law Maggie is Scottish and it got her seal of approval) and then watched Brian play rugby. It was a great day, and Maggie called me a week later to say how much fun she had. During our conversation she mentioned how much work she and Brian put in on Maggot Fest. Now, Maggot Fest if a huge semi-pro rugby gathering in Missoula, MT; sponsored by the Missoula's Semi-pro team named The Maggots. This is a big event that brings in teams from all over the US, Canada with The Maggots flying in a team from further away. I've have always wanted to go to this event. When Maggie mentioned how worried she was about this years event, I asked if she would like me to come and help. It just came out of my mouth.
Later that night, I talked to my husband about the possibility of going. We both decided that since I was unemployed, all I would need was gas money, and I had been trapped in the house since my surgery; it would be a good idea for a cheap vacation. I called Maggie and set it up. I was so happy! A change of scenery, a change of my mind set - which was getting pretty grim from searching for work - this was definitely a cure for my blues.
My husband Steve, mentioned to me that the first thing we had to do was update my IPod. Steve is the guy with 15,000 songs, we had to get a computer with a terabyte of memory just to deal with his music collection! So for him, updating an IPod is damn serious business, so I handed over mine.
Steve took it and disappeared into the office. For days. Meanwhile, I packed and got ready for my vacation. The night before I left Steve came out of the office with my IPod and informed me:
"I have made you some comps for your trip. You must listen to "The Road Flows Ahead" as you drive to Missoula. On your way home you must listen to "The Road Too" on your way home. "
Now, I was kind of looking forward to just listening to my little comp of my favorite dance tunes, but since Steve had worked so hard I decided to listen.
The morning of my trip, I stopped at my favorite bakery, got coffee and brioche. I got in the car, plugged in the IPod and started Steve's comp. The first song was by one of my favorite singer Lou Reed, the song was "Beginning of a Great Adventure" this was followed by another of my favorite jazz standards "Someone to Watch Over Me" and from there it kept getting better. It was like Steve had timed out my trip so the perfect music played at the perfect moment. Jazz came on through the most beautiful part of the Gorge. Hard rock while going through the boring vistas of The Dalles, beautiful esoteric music through the hills of Eastern Washington. Jazz, Metal, Classical, experimental all the music I loved filled my cars over the hours of my drive! It was the best soundtrack I could wish for.
Do you remember how you fell in love with John Cusack's character in High Fidelity? How romantic it was when he made comp. tapes; and that idea of a person taking the time to tell you how much they loved you through music. It was on this trip that I discovered that I was married to my own John Cusack. As the music played, I felt Steve's presence with me, felt his love for me in every song choice and I fell in love with my husband again.
Later that night, I talked to my husband about the possibility of going. We both decided that since I was unemployed, all I would need was gas money, and I had been trapped in the house since my surgery; it would be a good idea for a cheap vacation. I called Maggie and set it up. I was so happy! A change of scenery, a change of my mind set - which was getting pretty grim from searching for work - this was definitely a cure for my blues.
My husband Steve, mentioned to me that the first thing we had to do was update my IPod. Steve is the guy with 15,000 songs, we had to get a computer with a terabyte of memory just to deal with his music collection! So for him, updating an IPod is damn serious business, so I handed over mine.
Steve took it and disappeared into the office. For days. Meanwhile, I packed and got ready for my vacation. The night before I left Steve came out of the office with my IPod and informed me:
"I have made you some comps for your trip. You must listen to "The Road Flows Ahead" as you drive to Missoula. On your way home you must listen to "The Road Too" on your way home. "
Now, I was kind of looking forward to just listening to my little comp of my favorite dance tunes, but since Steve had worked so hard I decided to listen.
The morning of my trip, I stopped at my favorite bakery, got coffee and brioche. I got in the car, plugged in the IPod and started Steve's comp. The first song was by one of my favorite singer Lou Reed, the song was "Beginning of a Great Adventure" this was followed by another of my favorite jazz standards "Someone to Watch Over Me" and from there it kept getting better. It was like Steve had timed out my trip so the perfect music played at the perfect moment. Jazz came on through the most beautiful part of the Gorge. Hard rock while going through the boring vistas of The Dalles, beautiful esoteric music through the hills of Eastern Washington. Jazz, Metal, Classical, experimental all the music I loved filled my cars over the hours of my drive! It was the best soundtrack I could wish for.
Do you remember how you fell in love with John Cusack's character in High Fidelity? How romantic it was when he made comp. tapes; and that idea of a person taking the time to tell you how much they loved you through music. It was on this trip that I discovered that I was married to my own John Cusack. As the music played, I felt Steve's presence with me, felt his love for me in every song choice and I fell in love with my husband again.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
In The Shadow of Wallace Stegner
It has been over a month since my last blog and so much has happened. Which is why its been over a month since I've written. I went to Maggot Fest in Missoula, MT and walked away with a bunch of pictures of naked butts and an idea for a screenplay. I came home on Thursday May 7th at 1PM. I was in the hospital the next morning at 10:00AM with my poor husband. He was having the kidney stone attack from hell! One coming out of each kidney! The next two weeks saw him going through 2 surgeries (one a week), a couple of trips BACK to the emergency room due to pain, and many sleepless nights. Finally, the damn things passed!
In the meantime: I had brought back 8 tomatoe plants from eastern Washington that I kept alive in our office, till I could bust out some sod and create a garden space. I'll will tell more on these adventures later. Today is just a moment to get back into the habit of writing.
I just finished reading "All the Little Live Things" by Wallace Stegner. I love this writer. Sometimes his writing is so beautiful I feel I have to read it out of the corner of my eye. Like sneaking quietly up on his words so they don't bound away like deers into a thick wood. His writing inspires me. The shadows of his words are like sitting under a tree on a hot summer day; where the earth is cool and you are protected from the burning rays of the sun. So, I'm taking a moment on this fresh morning, after the first cup of coffee to write and be thankful that the past few weeks are done and to get back into the habit of writing.
In the meantime: I had brought back 8 tomatoe plants from eastern Washington that I kept alive in our office, till I could bust out some sod and create a garden space. I'll will tell more on these adventures later. Today is just a moment to get back into the habit of writing.
I just finished reading "All the Little Live Things" by Wallace Stegner. I love this writer. Sometimes his writing is so beautiful I feel I have to read it out of the corner of my eye. Like sneaking quietly up on his words so they don't bound away like deers into a thick wood. His writing inspires me. The shadows of his words are like sitting under a tree on a hot summer day; where the earth is cool and you are protected from the burning rays of the sun. So, I'm taking a moment on this fresh morning, after the first cup of coffee to write and be thankful that the past few weeks are done and to get back into the habit of writing.
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