To say that I now work in a medical library is perfectly delicious irony. I’m just one of those chameleons disguised as an MFA Gypsy, or vice-versa.

The new play may have to wait since I plan to revisit “Smiles From God”. And what’s the noise about that one? Here’s a synopsis:

“Chauncey a Wilmington, Delaware factory thug boss and adamant idolizer of ancient mythology, accuses Rico of stealing almost value-less fluorescent tubing. Questioned by Chauncey and his thug mates, Rico faces his final moment of truth, and flashbacks through his life. We see what kept him anchored to a city that never matched his yearnings for any mental, or physical adventures. Rico had visions of making it out. Never a great artist, he’s held onto an idea that’s continually fascinated him. A evolutionary question of Darwinian proportions. A question Rico re-interprets into a quasi-fantastical spiritual inquiry. As the world was first being formed, as organisms evolved and sought exploration from water to land, Rico asks, “Why did we come out of the Ocean?” Was it based on something un-scientific? Something illogical. An emotional stimulus? A yearning from above? Perhaps it was a calling from God? Rico has never coupled his idea with any decisive action. He remained an artist in name, not deed. Rico never became, as he told so many, that most magical of creatures— “special”.

As Rico reviews the baggage that kept him anchored in Wilmington, his final station is pieced together by mob boss Chauncey, who’s (seemingly) only interest was solving the theft of his fluorescent tubing. However, the sabotage of the one thing that made Rico unique—was conducted by Chauncey himself.

Rico looks back and realizes the mysteries of his last chapter still demand a resolution. A cruel mythology that ultimately arrives full circle.”

So there you have it. A full page synopsis if ever I saw one…..

Welcome to the Life of Alonzo. I’m a playwright who works as a Communications Specialist at the Johns Hopkins Welch Medical Library. Instead of giving you more info and intro, let’s just leapfrog into stuff…….

In Jury Duty today I finished another Graham Greene book, “Gun For Sale”. I love his writing. I could read Greene, Mosley and early Ishmael Reed anyday. When I first read Ishmael—I thought his writing was incredibly creative in how it invented the world of black-american juju as an actual PLACE. An actual THING that could be possessed. It was like this very real historical jive had crashed into our normal little thingamabob world. It made me feel (as a playwright) that all bet’s were off, and I could go anyplace in the known or unknown universe, and not worry about having the anchor of tradition. Later, I found out that many folks had made (still make) this same journey. While Mosley and Greene are detectives their men (by and large) are always soooooo trapped. But emotionally as much as realistically.They can’t just love or “sex-up” the miscellaneous pretty woman who comes along. They have way too much angst and baggage. And when their characters do for it, it’s usually out of pain.

In court today, we were asked to stand when our number was called. I was #125. I heard my number and I rose and said “here”. When #200 was called they rose and asked “do you go by the numbers in order, like, I have 020″. Yes, I thought, she does have a point. Maybe there’s a case for 020 being 200. Then I remembered, this is Baltimore………