The week has been ... strange.
On Monday the moving van came in. The arctic vortex and a flash blizzard caused my stuff to arrive a week later than expected. So in the mean time I had become very acquainted with sleeping on hard wood floors.
Scratch that.
I started sleeping on an air mattress which progressively deflated to the hard wood floor.
But alas my week of torture has come to an end. And one couch, a futon and twenty boxes later. I finally feel at home.
But that's where I come to the point of this post.
Forced change.
Living on my own has forced me to form habits I never typically would do on my own. I'm
I've learned to clean aggressively an apartment where plates are left out. I've found myself adjusting furniture in a way that provides more function than pleasure.
I've developed a budget and sought out what needs to be sacrificed and what is needed.
I love my roommates to death and sometimes I wonder if different personalities will lead to inflict
I'm sure it will but I always hope that the contrasts don't lead to problems.
My girlfriend is now here and she has caused me to become very protective and considerate off her.
I feel like I have more responsibility now and notepad of being stressed im proud. I just want to maintain stability.
I find myself not needing to stay out late or go to parties and that's okay with me,
Sunday, January 19, 2014
Friday, January 10, 2014
One Week
Okay, lets touch base…
It's been roughly a week since I stepped onto the streets of New York City. Last we left, i was on a train bound for the big apple.
what you didn't know was that no less than a half an hour after ri wrote that entry i stepped into a knee deep puddle whilst trying to hail a cab. surly I am praying that this is not a sign of things to come.
so after my ill fated experience, I was finally able to hail a cab. I tossed my bags into the trunk and told the drive to take me to Brooklyn.
As we road down through the streets i gazed up at the high rise buildings, and the the shops, and even the people. this was my home now. this is the place where if you can make it, then you can make it anywhere. i was a new yorker.
I arrived at my apartment about a half an hour later. my best friend Matt was waiting for me and immediately this felt like the coolest thing in the world. i got situated and immediately went out with matt to the nearest Deli. Only in New York for about two hours and i was already feasting upon the Cities fine Deli cooked meals.
Later that night Ryan showed up and the three of us sat down together in our living room. Matt is a student at the Lee Strasburg acting school while Ryan is waiting tables, in between taking classes at the Upright Citizens Brigade.
Ive known Ryan for the past five years. his mother was my professor during my time at Cumberland County College in New Jersey, and through the course of those years combined with the great family like atmosphere the theatre department offered we became good friends.
I met Matt Serra there as well. three years ago we met in one of the many acting classes and through out the many classes and plays we performed in, he became one of my best friends. Always pushing the other to do better, he became the cosset thing to a brother I've ever had.
it' be best for me to talk about those years of my life. My time at Cumberland County college was some of there best years of my life. I had some of the highest highs and the lowest lows but i always grew from the experience. Ryan's mother, Deb became like a second mother to me and to all the students who had the privilege of being in the theatre program. we were a big family in those days. it was the kind of place where you could just walk into debs office and talk about anything most of the students there inkling myself and Matt only went to the office to see Deb and discuss theatre. it was a wonderful experience. but like all good things it had to come to an end.
in our final semester before we moved here. we performed the best musical i have ever had the privilege of performing in; Les Miserables. With an intricate set, an out standing sound system, 90 lights and a grand orchestra. The College's production of Les Mis proved t be the best show we had ever done possibly the best sow in south Jersey.and to top it all off it was directed by Deb herself. Deb who had been in the first national tour of Les Mis and the broadway production of it, had bestowed upon us that wonderful production. and when we left we had all grown closer from it.
Now me Matt and ryan are in our little Brooklyn apartment. the radiators choose to work when they feel like it, the doors don't exactly fit the frames and i have yt to receive my bed. but it;s home and I'm grateful for that.
It's been roughly a week since I stepped onto the streets of New York City. Last we left, i was on a train bound for the big apple.
what you didn't know was that no less than a half an hour after ri wrote that entry i stepped into a knee deep puddle whilst trying to hail a cab. surly I am praying that this is not a sign of things to come.
so after my ill fated experience, I was finally able to hail a cab. I tossed my bags into the trunk and told the drive to take me to Brooklyn.
As we road down through the streets i gazed up at the high rise buildings, and the the shops, and even the people. this was my home now. this is the place where if you can make it, then you can make it anywhere. i was a new yorker.
I arrived at my apartment about a half an hour later. my best friend Matt was waiting for me and immediately this felt like the coolest thing in the world. i got situated and immediately went out with matt to the nearest Deli. Only in New York for about two hours and i was already feasting upon the Cities fine Deli cooked meals.
Later that night Ryan showed up and the three of us sat down together in our living room. Matt is a student at the Lee Strasburg acting school while Ryan is waiting tables, in between taking classes at the Upright Citizens Brigade.
Ive known Ryan for the past five years. his mother was my professor during my time at Cumberland County College in New Jersey, and through the course of those years combined with the great family like atmosphere the theatre department offered we became good friends.
I met Matt Serra there as well. three years ago we met in one of the many acting classes and through out the many classes and plays we performed in, he became one of my best friends. Always pushing the other to do better, he became the cosset thing to a brother I've ever had.
it' be best for me to talk about those years of my life. My time at Cumberland County college was some of there best years of my life. I had some of the highest highs and the lowest lows but i always grew from the experience. Ryan's mother, Deb became like a second mother to me and to all the students who had the privilege of being in the theatre program. we were a big family in those days. it was the kind of place where you could just walk into debs office and talk about anything most of the students there inkling myself and Matt only went to the office to see Deb and discuss theatre. it was a wonderful experience. but like all good things it had to come to an end.
in our final semester before we moved here. we performed the best musical i have ever had the privilege of performing in; Les Miserables. With an intricate set, an out standing sound system, 90 lights and a grand orchestra. The College's production of Les Mis proved t be the best show we had ever done possibly the best sow in south Jersey.and to top it all off it was directed by Deb herself. Deb who had been in the first national tour of Les Mis and the broadway production of it, had bestowed upon us that wonderful production. and when we left we had all grown closer from it.
Now me Matt and ryan are in our little Brooklyn apartment. the radiators choose to work when they feel like it, the doors don't exactly fit the frames and i have yt to receive my bed. but it;s home and I'm grateful for that.
Sunday, January 5, 2014
It begins ....
So here I am; sitting on the 3:03 to New York. I have my lap top a back pack full of cloths and one duffle bag with a blanket , a pillow, and an umbrella tied to it.
I had meant to post a picture of the poster to the first Hobbit movie because I felt that best exemplified my feelings on this whole matter.
The image itself is of Bilbo Baggins with his back to us as he walks out his front door in a big scary and yet beautiful world. That's what this feels like. It feels like I'm beginning my Journey my "There and Back Again"
I already have crazy thoughts in my head that are distracting my from the sentimentality. Of the moment.
One is that I have no idea how to hail a can, and I really don't want to take the subway with all my luggage.
The other is that right before I jumped on the train, my father told me that everything that has lead up to now, I earned. My father hasn't been one to verbally express sentiment but non the less I find myself tearing up as I wave goodbye to New Jersey.this is where it begins, this is where I try to find my place in this world I used to believe I had no place in.
And without further delay, I will quote a line from my favorite musical and simply say.
"Will you join in our Crusade?
I had meant to post a picture of the poster to the first Hobbit movie because I felt that best exemplified my feelings on this whole matter.
The image itself is of Bilbo Baggins with his back to us as he walks out his front door in a big scary and yet beautiful world. That's what this feels like. It feels like I'm beginning my Journey my "There and Back Again"
I already have crazy thoughts in my head that are distracting my from the sentimentality. Of the moment.
One is that I have no idea how to hail a can, and I really don't want to take the subway with all my luggage.
The other is that right before I jumped on the train, my father told me that everything that has lead up to now, I earned. My father hasn't been one to verbally express sentiment but non the less I find myself tearing up as I wave goodbye to New Jersey.this is where it begins, this is where I try to find my place in this world I used to believe I had no place in.
And without further delay, I will quote a line from my favorite musical and simply say.
"Will you join in our Crusade?
Friday, January 3, 2014
Prologue, part 3: technical difficulties
Sooo do to the fact that Mother Nature was really pissed off this weekend, I will now be in Jersey until Sunday. The reasons are A. We are in a state of emergency and B. The moving can didn't show up. So my friends this little adventure has been postponed briefly for a day.
Meanwhile I seized the opportunity to spend this day with my father, preparing my old room into a studio for my father 's metal detecting based radio show.
Most kids have their rooms turned into offices or debs... Mine was turned into a radio station.
It's interesting spending these last few days with him. Having grown up in a divorced family it felt like him and me were against the world together . Always a team we had to face many heart aches and triumphs together. Although we tended to butt heads a lot being such strong personalities. The man is truly my best friend. And I was grateful to spend the day with him .
The radio show was quite successful by the way.
If anyone is interested in metal detecting or American history I suggest checking them out
They're called Detect America look them up on Facebook or 1000mones.com
I'm cutting tonight's post short.
Peace
Meanwhile I seized the opportunity to spend this day with my father, preparing my old room into a studio for my father 's metal detecting based radio show.
Most kids have their rooms turned into offices or debs... Mine was turned into a radio station.
It's interesting spending these last few days with him. Having grown up in a divorced family it felt like him and me were against the world together . Always a team we had to face many heart aches and triumphs together. Although we tended to butt heads a lot being such strong personalities. The man is truly my best friend. And I was grateful to spend the day with him .
The radio show was quite successful by the way.
If anyone is interested in metal detecting or American history I suggest checking them out
They're called Detect America look them up on Facebook or 1000mones.com
I'm cutting tonight's post short.
Peace
Thursday, January 2, 2014
Prologue, Part 2.
I took a look around my neighborhood today.
I never felt more at home than I did tonight. The street was empty and a heavy snowfall blanketed . In the summer my cousins would play hide and seek here. The summer days were ours here in this little corner of Jersey. We'd hold onto youth for dear life and never let go.
This street was ours.
This was our neighborhood.
This was my family's neighborhood.
Across the street from me lived my aunt and next to me was my other aunt . Two houses down lived my uncle and around the corner was my other uncle. Up the street would live my cousins. But next to me . On the other dude of my house lived my grandparents .
They were the lynchpin that held this neighborhood together the very thing that kept my family strong. I love them all dearly.
But as time always seems to do, they passed on. the street is a little quieter now. But this time of year is still lively. Christmas Eve is the night that is like a winter block party. Family members moving from house to house and back again. Party to party. My grandfather taking the grand kids together and reading them 'twas the night before Christmas and then going off to midnight mass only to return to do it all over again.
Yes... My family ruled this neighborhood.
I don't want to go. As the hour draws nearer I don't want to go.
Not that I can't go, I have acknowledged that I must go in order to find my place in the world.
But I don't want to leave this wonderful neighborhood. Anyone who knows the works of Joseph Campbell would call this my " refusal to the call ". This isn't so much a refusal as it is a reluctant a a fear of the call.
But if I could stay I would. If I could have the career I want her I would stay in a heart beat. But there is nothing here for me. Not anymore. I have to go. Because my grandfather would want me to go. He'd want me to take that chance. To seize the opportunities placed before and become something more.
And so I sit on the front step of my home looking out into a snowy night and I realize this is it. This is where I exit and enter into another scene.
Life is after all very much one big play and act 1 has ended for me. And the second act has begun.
I will come back one day. When all is said and done I will return to this little corner of the world. I will buy my grandfathers old home and I will spend the rest of my life with my family. Watching my children play hide and seek, and reading 'twas the night before Christmas on Christmas Eve.
But that's a third act story. For now let's get the second act started.
Wednesday, January 1, 2014
Prologue, part 1
This is how it begins...
With me lying in my bed; face glued to my lap top in a room filled with packed card board boxes.
IT's 2:41 in the morning. on January 1st, 2014. i have returned home from a new years party with a hand full of friends from college and now have no one to say goodbye to. just my cat and this not so well insulated "guest house" I've been living in.Frankly I'm freezing my ass off right now. The little space heater I've been using for the last year is NOW dying. So I'm writing this too you in a cocoon of blankets.
I'm writing this because in three days I will be moving to New York City, to start a career in film and television production. I started this blog because i thought it would help me cope with the big move and the idea of being set out into the world for the first time. I don't honestly expect many to people to follow this thing. If yo do Im grateful. This blog will mostly be a documentation of my life and experiences in the city for the first time. I'm sure as time goes on my entries wont be as droll as this one is. but I hope you will stick with me.
I suppose I should give you a little introduction. My name is Mike. I was born in 1989, within the city limits of a little New Jersey town called Vineland. Our chief export is produce, the word "moron" was coined here, and our founder was the first man to ever plead insanity for murder. I myself am proud to live in this town at least my little section of town which you will hear a lot about as time goes on; this town is where my family and friends are and that's what makes this move even harder.
I'm a graduate of theater, communication, and RTF ( Radio, Television, & Film) my roommates consist of two of my very best friends and my girlfriend all of which you will also get to know as time goes on.
This is where the count down begins for me I hope you all enjoy this and find something interesting in what I'm about to do in the next year. I suppose the only thing left to do is publish this thing and get started.
I suppose I should give you a little introduction. My name is Mike. I was born in 1989, within the city limits of a little New Jersey town called Vineland. Our chief export is produce, the word "moron" was coined here, and our founder was the first man to ever plead insanity for murder. I myself am proud to live in this town at least my little section of town which you will hear a lot about as time goes on; this town is where my family and friends are and that's what makes this move even harder.
I'm a graduate of theater, communication, and RTF ( Radio, Television, & Film) my roommates consist of two of my very best friends and my girlfriend all of which you will also get to know as time goes on.
This is where the count down begins for me I hope you all enjoy this and find something interesting in what I'm about to do in the next year. I suppose the only thing left to do is publish this thing and get started.
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