New York (Day 71-72) "Back In The Saddle"

Nothing too terribly interesting happened Sunday, just keeping Lindsey company in an empty bar so I'll skip to the somewhat interesting bits.

Yesterday I felt a lot more like my old self than I have in a while. I was busy all day, I haven't been motivated enough to stay as busy as I have been in the past and it felt nice being forced to get out.

I went to the call back for the Jekyl and Hyde club. Really it was more like an orientation disguised as a call back. I was educated as to the history of all the animatronics puppets land there voices. I was shown how to operate them and was tested on it a bit. It was really interesting. Working there is kind of like being part performer part conductor, I felt like the Wizard Of Oz behind his curtain in that control booth.

I discovered I am not nearly as good at voices as I used to be but I think I'm just out of practice. The director gave me a disc of all the characters voices so I could work on it and scheduled me for one last call back on Friday.

When I left I was starving and decided to use my last 4 dollars of food money (till today) on my Brooklyn Bagel. I was on 56th st and the Bagel shop is on 25th but I hadn't walked around the city in a while and kind of wanted to earn my food, so I walked the 31 blocks for my bagel.

I don't know if it was because I kind of like overcast, or if it was the christmas lights that were scattered around different stores or if it was just that I hadn't walked around the city much since I had gotten back but everything I looked at seemed intensely beautiful for some reason.

Walking down 6th street the way the buildings looked, the steam coming out of vent shafts on construction sites, the way the streets looked in the overcast light, how everything is built, like God had a conversation with man about how both our creations could compliment each other in just the right way, it was all gorgeous. half way to the bagel place I just remembered that I'm meant to be here...this is where I belong.

My bagel was blissful as usual and it was about time for me to be getting to my friends Amanda and Lauren's production. They where in a variety show called "Barely Dressed" and it was pretty fantastic if I do say so myself. It is also the first show (not counting comedy shows) I've seen in New York.

While I was sitting there before it all started I just thought, this is just here...this small theatre and dozens like it are just here...housing talent...show casing the arts, giving me something better than the movies...and it is all just here like nothing is special about it.

On a Monday night in Belvidere I would be doing, probably nothing. But in New York...well you get the point. After the show it was off to the Nightmare cast party. I missed open bar because of the show but several people found it necessary, so after about 4 margaritas and a beer I was having myself a grand time.

Loud singing, booze, dollar pizza and dear dear friends...it was one of the best nights I've had since I have been back, and I really owe it entirely to the Nightmare crew. The director of Nightmare, John, got me the audition at Jekyl, Amanda and Lauren invited me to this show and the rest of the night was with the entire cast and crew. So once again, thank all of you, I don't know what I'm going to do without that haunted house.

Wed I start selling comedy tickets again and I'm looking for more work right now. I don't know what's going to happen at the end of the month, if anyone needs a roommate let me know, but I do know I will figure it out.

Tonight I'm getting up for open mic night and enjoying the company of a couple friends who are the reason for me coming here, Lindsey and Jessica, I needed this week, I really did.

I love you all

KH-