nyj2: figs & film-making


DISCLAIMER
The following post may suggest a life more glamorous than it actually is, but read on for the entertainment value. ;) No events have been fictionalized.

Hi, all :)

Thought it was time for another update, although unfortunately I can’t report a job. :( I’ve had two interviews now (for office-manager positions), and some leads on Web-page jobs, so we’ll see what happens.

Adventure-wise, sometime last week my roommate and I met our landlords, a middle-aged Greek couple (their daughter and her family have the ground floor). Since we’re on the second floor, we don’t really have access to the cement courtyard behind the house, but they invited us to avail ourselves of the fresh figs and peaches out there! I’ve been amazed that people grow such things out here, but there are several peach trees on our streets — and now I can pick the fruit (of one tree, anyway) with impunity. :) So for however long the season is, I can make fresh peach cobbler as often as I like. (Hint to those within driving distance: the excitement of your visit just might be incentive for one of these baking occasions.) Nickoleta was especially excited about the figs. I’m not used to eating them fresh, but the one she gave me was pretty good.

Last week I also went for my first run in the area, and was pleased to work out a nice route. If I take residential streets, it’s about a mile from here to the East River, and then I can run a mile or so south with a big park on my left and Manhattan on my right. Since I ran near sunset, the view was really nice — not at all a bad replacement for my old course along the Tempe town lake. :) Don’t worry, I know better than to run late at night/in the dark/etc.

Now if you were all film people, I could make a funny, clever transition from “going for my run” to something about “doing the runs” — which I think is a term for returning stuff used on set. But only my (new) friend Kenn would get that, and I’m not even sure I get the term well enough myself to use it properly. But, I did have a role in my first movie Sunday. No, it’s nothing big, and I’m quite unlikely to be famous, but the movie does feature the likes of Janeane Garofalo and Giancarlo Esposito — in scenes other than the one I was featured in. If you watch the movie (an indie flick called Solos), I’m a featured extra in this scene set in a small Irish pub called The Keltic Lounge, which is in the East Village near Houston Street (here they say, “Howstun,” instead of “Hewston.”) I sit at the front corner of a table with people, behind where a female actor comes in to ask about her wallet. and, my friend Kenn and I walk out of the bar and react to a fight outside.

The whole thing took most of Sunday night to film, and was a total kick. The assistant director Mitchell (or “AD,” as they refer to them) knew me by name (on account of this much-praised purple paisley dress I wore), and at one point reprimanded me for gesturing too big as I pantomimed telling my group a story. :) :) So shocking, no? If only he knew that’s usually about how overdramatic I am! The other extras at our table thought it was hilarious, and it didn’t hurt my very short-lived vibe with this kid Hod (rhymes with “toad”), who sat across from me and was an extra in this week’s episode of Sex and the City.

...And that’s all the latest with me! Sorry this update isn’t as eloquent as I’ve tried to be previously; sometimes the creative juices flow rather unevenly (imagine the pulp in fresh-squeezed grapefruit juice ;)). Just as a brief conclusion, in general I’d say I’m doing well. I went to my friend’s church on Sunday, and have a long list of others to visit.

Socializing after a church meeting in Chinatown.

Later this month I’m attending a Michael Card concert, and probably going to an event with Ravi Zacharias as well. Making friends is slow work, but I’ve had no dearth of social opportunities, and already met some very cool people. Encouragingly enough, sometimes the resulting conversations have been very good. And — surprise, surprise — sex and religion, my favorite two topics, have even featured prominently. ;)

Sometimes I get a little down about the unemployment gig, but usually hope’s back in the game by the next day or so. I’m not entirely sure why I’m here yet, or what paths my course will take, but there is consistent proof of God’s goodness, and reasons to rejoice.

posted @ 06:55 PM on Tue - August 20, 2002 remark! Email |  as quoted:
before I said ...  but more recently: 

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