UGH.

Why do all these people with chronic and persistent mental illness persist in having chronic mental illness? Seriously you guys, feel better soon. Even though you won't see this post.

Let me just say that working in theatre at Fountain House has really made me have to learn how to adapt techniques on the fly and how important it is to plan for people slipping off meds, ending up back in hospitals or homeless, etc. In other news, the recording of several new plays, monologues and songs from people I've been working with is almost done! I will be sending it everywhere and to everyone when it's finished.

No one wants to play Sega with Harrison Ford; Christopher Walken builds a Robot

"Bad Day on the High Sea" is the title of this piece by Brandon Bird, who paints some pretty great things. If you liked Perry Bible Fellowship and can identify Chuck Norris, you'll like these. So you should go here and see them!

(also, RC 40th update coming soon)

This is pretty crazy right here

This is pretty freaky. I see it going clockwise, but I can get it to reverse if I think about it. Bizarre!

Oh man, Teen Wolf!

I love movies. And the more movies I see, the more I appreciate those that really stand out - the ones you keep talking about weeks after you see them, or that you honestly get excited about when you see they're coming on TV.

Just this past week my friend Maria (just back from seeing her family in Italy) and I saw "Cranes are Flying," a remarkably shot film from 1957 which tells the story of a Russian family's involvement in WWII. The director does some pretty impressive things, and his later film, "I am Cuba," has been brought back for circulation by Francis Ford Coppola and Martin Scorscese. I'll be seeing that this coming weekend.

I also saw the new edition of Blade Runner at the Zigfield Theatre at my brother-in-law's suggestion as part of my eldest sister's birthday celebration (what a convoluted sentence). The new version looks great - the flaws from the old version have been touched up along with the music, and the film's plot holds up surprisingly well.

And tonight, Teen Wolf is on AMC! Teen Wolf!

Oct. 31 is coming!

Is there any good night for a curse? Um...let me check my calendar. How's Thursday for you? Anyways, despite whatever nonsense scheduling advice Castlevania II: Simon's Quest might have to offer, Halloween is coming! I can't wait! I woke up today with the song "this is halloween" stuck in my head, and I downloaded and listened to the Mercury Theater's radio production of Bram Stoker's Dracula, which is available here for free. Now I kind of really want to watch that old cartoon version of Sleepy Hollow. Oh, this is my favorite time of year!

Update: Sometimes I do love the internet. Here are the two best parts of that same cartoon telling of the Headless Horseman, the song which tells the legend and the final chase scene, courtesy of Youtube. You can't reason with a headless man.

The Muse of dance has a birthday party

In my life I have met some very amazing people, and every once in a while someone comes along who is so creative and passionate in their art that they become a sort of Muse to those around them. Anne Koivunen, of whom I've spoken before, is one, and Lindsey Sherline has been inspiring me, and all those around her, for years.

And if Monday night was any indication, that list now has to include my salsa teacher. Monday's usual salsa night at Taj became her birthday party, and the night was a series of singers, dance performers, drummers, and others all marking her birthday. It was so much fun, and it was really something to see how so many creative people from different backgrounds came together to celebrate her.

I have to say, as though it weren't apparent already, that through all of the nonsense that's gone on in the past many months, my work with my salsa teacher has been great therapy and has really helped me make it through. Happy Birthday, Talia!