aLOUD

Unlike CHICAGO, the story is not a cinch, and carries the weight of a losse biography plus recent histories - civil rights, music, and Motown. It felt like it belonged more on the stage to better tether the richness of the lyrics’ frequent double-entendres. (I wonder what Nelson George will/woud say about this piece’s Broadway debut in relation to U.S. black music history.)

Great performances - acting and singing. Great treat with Loretta Devine late movie - there is just something about including her in work that is a delight, I find. Anika must be quite a fierce powerhouse live. Beyonce did a marvelous job being fragile from the beginning to someone gelled at the end. She did better than I’d allowed, and definitely can continue a film career WITH smart role choices, and great direction. Condon made me wonder if he knew enough black history to really make this a smooth blend of hints, and hits of the different periods we covered. Some of the cuts (or reel changes?!) were sloppy, and disappointing based on how strong Chicago delivered. All in all-

oh, right, Jennifer! - even better voice than I remembered; she does a great, and personal, take on the Classis. I think the next song about NEED is where she really delivers. Her One Night Only was great too. (Dubbing was not very strong throughout the movie, again I was disappointed, yet tried to ignore it.)

I think this is a great film slice of black history (USA) and a strong achievement in black film. Part of me wanted the level and meticulousness CHICAGO received. Alas, that was a different scenario.

I would be curious to see an incredible stage version of this, ironically.

Oh, and there was definitely some overhype - or lots of cutting - of Eddie Murphy’s performance. He was fine, great even, yet the role’s screen time was smaller than I’d imagined, and perhaps too nuanced. Jamie did a nice trajectory to, well, Hell LOL. Finally, the footage and editing didn’t dance so wonderfully here and there. That seems perhaps intentional as this is a diff texture than, say, Chicago.

*I’m so not eager to see FIGHTING TEMPTATIONS now, or at least at this moment.

What’s a Tyler Perry comedy-musical look like? Hmmmm

Glad I waited, and saw it today, and continue to dream for myself, and others

Less of his self-mystique, more sharing of him real time (r/t)

Being delibrately more dressed, beautiful in my attire. Sexy even.

Keeping routine (work/chores) as dynamic and fresh, not rote and stale.

Feeling more comfortable acknowledging my attractions while out and about.

Let’s keep a running little of indie music purchases (?on Mac4’s desktop).

I would like to call it on the 2006 disc favorites, and share them. Under/Giants seems like a viable candidate.

I felt like I needed to be aware of my currently intended ‘07 vacation plans.

Flashed on lots of vegan appetizers and a winter cocktail party here in the apartment. People are dressy, I think it’s a just cuz dealio. I would ask people to bring a friend, not stuff. This seems like an ecletic group, if perhaps intentionally broad, or simply mixed.

Thinking Atlas Cafe for Kev, D and Joya sit down and eat.

Continuing to think about how to bake & cook plus share with groups (not expecting the goodness of veg*n). As well, more friends, colleagues for meals at the apartment.

Yes, I am feeling, and seeing ['07 astrology datebook], my exit.

The title Star Turns is not obvious enough, I feel, to do a fictionalized comedy-expose on them.

*I’m still feeling like laptop sooner than later. At the same time, I feel no other major purchases until I clear a short-term debt item or two. Plus, it’s not a huge necessity, if perhaps a convenience. As well, part of me wonders about selling mac4 for a souped-up laptop, so I’m not doing some big syncing dance all the time. Plus, the mobility is seemingly more key and cool.

I see Vegas and Mpls potentially being a combined trip using NWA miles. Not seeing where on the calendar though! This really makes Vegas even more affordable (car, eats, show(s), ?shopping).

I want to do some contract positions for so many weeks, or months, with breaks in between. I may need to find a fabulous perm gig, so I can best plan and use my time, resources, etc. etc. The planning is SO much easier. The key is for some sort of cycle where it’s refreshed/renewed.

This week, I see CostCo, T.Joe’s, passport, and driver’s license. May need H&M, Rafik. Oh, definitely the bag store on Broadway & 11th.

Daytimes, I see reading all articles awaiting. I see post-Christmas shifting media to home. Under the bed seems wise spatially.

+When am I ordered padded envelopes?

+When am I reposting the appropriate resell books to AMZN - they need to earn me $1.00 minimum, so what’s the least unit cost?

Travel is very unclear for most of 2007. That seems like a fun, and good, thing though. I do see Denver for Jean Grey’s graduation. Flirting with DJing a Spring Fling party while there, or maybe a BBQ/lounge feel.

New playlist, tt: Fall Back
Buttons/PCD; My Love/Justin. +fill out later

I want better money, workplace, facilities (e.g. kitchen, ‘cubes’), work/load, location (for eats, men, serendipity), cool technology. I’m looking at working with budgets in addition to timelines. I’m ambivalent about being the account person. I’m excited about being the project manager, and very comfortable to do more trafficking.

More about enjoyment than benefits; I’m fine to settle up with IRA or such later to reduce my tax bill; I’m very OK to move off medical and dental insurance for a minute, especially if I am paying for part of it. (Would mean establishing a relationship with an acupuncturist I really like, eating and exercising great, plus funding ‘07 quarterly dental appointments wisely.)

I feel like any more buys need to happen with the cash I have right NOW! LOL

I see putting up my resume, and digital portfolio, on SOME of the 12 sites this week. Taking/making those calls.  I see lots of offers, and work. Perm needs to be compelling AND very on-point. I’m interested, I’m NOT pressed. * I’m OK to do PPT/Word Specialist work, excited even. However, this is off target from Producing Media/Creative/Events so it’s a lesser piece.

This week: settle up on personal ADMIN items (listed above plus Quicken catchup, auxxxions, mag clippings)

Next week: personal photos, History binder, finish up reading archive

Week btw C’mas and NYE: Packup and transport, discreetly, items home

Week after that: exit, glow, write & send thank yous

I may be feeling gooey with the Cancer Moon. This morning I had a dream around answering my team lead when I would go. We were in a circle of people - she not quite opposite me, and sitting in front of a sunny window. [Hmmm, the circle could be my chart LOL.] She was offering/saying four months; I was saying a month, maybe two. She was not in agreement, though uncharacteristically not emphatic. Was Jupiter and/or Neptune speaking here?

Also, another dream - I think one or two before this one where I woke up answering one month to team lead - was something around receiving $5,000 - felt like a gift with a purpose, not this spring dawghouse bonus, not some loan or such. Could be a signing bonus. Definitely in writing this it felt like a surprise from “somewhere else” - more out of the dark, than the blue. [Dark could be a casino, fyi.]

OK, so back to the first dream… IF I’m there for another four months, I need to work it so I’ve no short-term debt once I leave. In fact, maybe I stay until that’s ALL GONE. Somewhat tricky, or simply ultra-precise stepping, with the need to refresh my portions of the apartment some AND clearly the wardrobe. And that all says to me last night’s pondering a small 3rd income (part-time job, maybe 10 hrs/wk) is on point. I had/have concerns about how that usurp another two weeknight evenings. Or is this work I could sometimes do at the daygig? AND is this all syncing - cuz really where’s my creative writing to market, share and sell?

Crisp shower thought last night: I see myself storytelling with music, songs even, as characters emotionally explore, express and evolve. (Nothing new here, just more a statement as I shake down the tree.)

I want more change, and Oomph, in my clothing closet. Today I feel like I need more good underwear and sox - well, good as in color variety and fun/happy factor.

I write original scenes better than stories. Am I going to become great at plot? And before answering that, does this mean I’m better at anthology, sketch and variety show formats?

While theater is so plentiful in NYC, I feel the need for bigger stakes - and that seems to mean audience-reach, technology involved, and that ol’ reflex to go for recorded over live. Or at least in how it’s shared with majority of an audience, e.g. SNL or most sitcoms.

Leaving sooner is now a necessity. Bigger fry jobs await, and even beckon.

I stayed to the large, and close-by, Eaton Shopping Centre. Curious mix of classes, some ethnicities and definitely visitors rom afar.

MEXX: Found men’s selection sharper, if no more compelling. Shirts = Lots of lavender, purple and some cranberry.

FC(UK): Liked the selection way more than London (off Oxford Circus), more energy and hipness here ; nothing I needed though

H&M: Women’s stuff quite hip (whether its their Trends or not); men’s included more ’street’ looks (downtown NYC if you will). Liked the fitted coat in men’s; was not a need, and felt a tad stiffer than I’d prefer.

GAP: the messy floor signage layout issue Pam and I tripped upon in NYC Herald Square Gap is definitely from Stores, as same thing occured for me, and several other guests. Liked some of the khakis, though price was nothing to jump up and down about.

SEARS: um, how come Kenneth Cole’s Reaction line is in here?! And it’s not looking out of place or style-wise, perhaps pricewise though. Sears = hip (in Canada)? Noted Mexx label (part of Liz Clairborne) has items in here too - different than the store.

BANANA REPUBLIC: Bored me overall, low energy. I noted 2,3 pullovers in great colors (including, my language here, tangerine sorbet) that USA won’t likely ever see.

TimeOutNY reveals in their What’s up with that column:

Question: What’s with Houston Street being pronounced "HOW-ston" instead of "HYU-ston" like the city in Texas?

Answer: When Houston Street was named in 1788, future Lone Star State governor Sam Houston was barely old enough to ask Pa if he could borrow the buggy. Now an eight-lane thoroughfare, the road was originally christened Houstoun Street, after Continental Congress delegate William Houstoun, by his son’in’law city planner (and major suck-up) Nicholas Bayard. The spelling was corrupter, but th eoriginal pronunciation remains - mainly because it’s the easiest way to root out recent arrivals.

Author Karen Russell (St. Lucy’s Home For Girls Raised by Wolves) confirms "Writing often doe sfeel like taking dictation from another planet, or a chorus of voices."

Brian de Palma shares with EW on his 1973 filme, Sisters, "I made a conscious attempt to learn how to tell stories with images, and Hitchcock is the master of that."

Nancy Sinatra offers in October ‘06 OUT:
Somebody called the ’70s the ‘me decade,’ but for me it was a time of change - the move from our 20s to 30s is huge anyway, that period when you look at your life and say, ‘What the fuck am I doing?’ I’m not doing anything important, I’m not getting anywhere, I’m not contributing to society in any shape or form’

Going forward,I’m

+Leaving new gay rags (hx, metrosource, next, blade and gay city news), Village Voice and l magazine issues outside the apartment. i’m welcomed to read them, yet keep them out of the immediate mix - and they are online anyhoo. perhaps a media dietary measure, you might say. the exception is providing immediate available copyfor appropriate visitors; new york spirit is OK to bring home because of its content, and is a quick read.

+Migrating fully from conventional tv viewing as Project Runway Season 3 finishes (two more to go! )
as roommate is buying a new flat screen, I will continue downloading from itunes, torrents, etc. to view such on my new mac, or wait it on dvds.

I am still surprised I’m blasé about The Amazing Race. Then again, I sorta felt that we might be done once they went wacky with the family season. Oh well, great while it lasted - and DVDs are likely to come.

+Reading new RSS blogs once! daily and non-RSS weekly

+Checking email accounts less often

+Spending my time consuming more quality/rich media & art. Imagine more DVDs per month will be screened (two a week would be great, based on netflix pricing - and that’s 100+ titles annually). Foresee increase in writing, composing, chart and astrological reading plus cooking, seeing arts beyond the apartment, and dating.

If I was waiting for a movement, or such, to be a part of, I believe it’s begun and is less “arts” and more vegie + media/marketing, especially talking to my new D.C. vegie pal.

The Dawghouse subtracts more than adds to my energies. +Handle your business here, mister!

Definitely is time to date.