I would never waste your time (and mine) relaying EVERY little idiosyncratic movement, gesture or mannerism of my EVERY waking thought. But this past Saturday I rode bikes with my buddy Dwight to Hoehn’s bakery on Conklin Street. We got there before 9:00 and the donuts were still hot. MAN-O-MAN, talk about some kinda wonderful. So me and Dwight ate like kings, and watched the parade of Donut Fans come and go.

And what a day it was. Bright sun. Biking around with all those early morning exercise “fiends”. You know, the women runners with that strain on their face. The guys with too much belly which they accentuate with lycra and fluorescent kicks. But, as you can see, we clearly OWNED the moment. Hey, life is good, is it not? That’s Dwight above.

This is me… 

The ride back uptown was just as grand. I highly recommend hot Donuts with any bike ride, most especially in the winter. OK-OK, so we rode in the fall—-we got a jump. 

So the other day I’m twiddling my thumbs hoping the sky don’t fall on me…when out the blue I get an e-mail from the Manhattan Theatre Works. It’s a generic e-mail for folks who’ve submitted plays. It says they have selected their finalists and semi-finalists. But I don’t see Alonzo’s name anywhere, so I’m not excited. And they say you need to check their Facebook page to see who’s been selected. So I go to the page, and I watch their Video, and I’m just about to click off the Video (cause I don’t see Alonzo’s name anywhere, so I’m not excited), but lo and behold around the 1:12 mark —- here comes Alonzo’s name. So now, I’m excited. 

This was last year in Vermont. I loved the colors behind me, and frankly thought my shorts added to the overall “vividness” of the moment. So as my 2013 summer moves along there’s not much to report on the playwriting front. My door is, most assuredly not being beaten down. And this is cause for pause. I’m still writing “B-Side Man,” which is a delight and challenge. Layers have been added, and a certain calm reflection now dots specific portions of the script. But, as I mentioned to Nicole the other day…….(ain’t she a beauty)

I feel that a certain FATE has eluded me. Yes, that’s absolutely right. There’s no getting around it. That’s what I feel. Who knows what opportunity a new wind will blow my way. But by all accounts, I’ve done the legwork for it’s arrival. A few folks have asked “when’s your next play?” Hey, I wish I knew. Nicole and I have successfully mounted several productions under our Mumbo Jumbo Productions “company” (which is Nicole and Alonzo, folks), and that’s been fabulous. But we didn’t have the money or breaks to move forward. I love seeing my work. It’s a joy to behold. Nicole “saved” ZULU FITS when it was produced under the auspices (and “auspices” is putting it loosely) by the Baltimore Playwrights Festival. And Nicole has provided the impetus for “B-Side Man.” The more we talk the more we’ve both come to appreciate our collaboration and devotion to putting out something mind-blowing and original. However, “mind-blowing and original” aren’t always wanted commodities by the theatre-producing arms of the American Theatre Gods. I’m sure this has been echoed by many an artist on many an occasion. Well, such is life. So I don’t have any chuckles, smirks or good humor to pass along. When you’ve spent virtually your entire adult life writing plays well it’s not always peaches n’ cream in terms of what you hope to get back in return. There’s no small supply of arsenic and bitterness. Well, such is life.

I acknowledge who it was that put me into this position (Alonzo! Star of Life of Alonzo, dats who!), and you go about your days doing the things you need for mental survival. Riding a bike. Maybe baking some cookies. Reading. Watching the movies I love. “Pal-ing” around my lil sweet-ums (Nicole! Star of Wiffee Stuck Wid Alonzo, dats who) and things like that. I have say that one of the best days I can remember was reflecting on all this when I was in Maine a while back. It was a crisp day, but warm enough for a long walk. So I took one around the island of Vinalhaven, home of our dear Aunt Betsy. I walked and walked and when I stopped I took in this view and felt smaller than small. I’d been having the same thoughts on that day, too. But when I stopped and took a few deep breaths —- no, nothing magical happened. I just took it all in. The remorse or regret over not winning bigger grants, or getting bigger recognition, or having all these fantastic plays sitting around gathering dust didn’t seem all that real. Not in comparison to a sight like this…..

The brilliance of the sun. The stillness of the water and all that untamed forest that leads out to sea. How can depression hold up in the face of all that splendor? Trust me, it can. But I don’t make it a habit.

I did this ride AGAIN, and loved it more than ever. As you can see by the picture, we were around the water —- alot, as it so happened —- and it was a breath-taking day. My little Bike Friday came through like a champ. Can’t say THE SAME for Alonzo as I got THEE WORST CRAMP I’VE EVER HAD IN MY ENTIRE LIFE. It took me down, that’s for sure. But the weekend was wonderful. Nicole and I had some good barbeque after the ride, and the next day some Dairy Queen (if you haven’t been exposed to the pleasure of a “Peanut Buster Parfait,” you haven’t lived, my friend. It was a lovely time all the way around. I can’t say enough about riding my bike on a gorgeous day. The benefits are what made me who I am, right this minute. Health-Wise, Mental-Health Wise, all the way Wise. I raised more money for MS this year than ever, so life, as they say, is good.

Well they don’t mention ALONZO in this Video, but Denise O’Neal is getting some nice recognition for her first-ever Festival. Here’s a local show that gives you a clip from one of the plays written by Carlton and Barbara Mollette. They were writing way back when I was at the Univ. of Iowa. Big Ups to them. Well, for that matter Big Ups to me since I’m still in the game, too. Who’d be done thunk it. The clip stops around the 14 minute mark. They continue talking about other dramatic happenings in Houston, but I have no driving, personal affinity to watch any of that.

Hey There! Sup! It’s been a minute since I was here. Not since the MLA Conference in Boston awhile back. But summer heat has officially code-red’d itself in Baltimore and now I’m rockin n’ rollin. “Cultural Diversity Ate My Lunch” will be performed in Houston (3rd production in Houston, 4th in Texas) as part of the “Fade To Black” African-American Play Festival. (look all the way at the bottom to see the plays) I’m pretty thrilled. Even though it’s a 10 minute play (the Festival will have 9 plays performed each evening, Nicole and I were going to try and make it out there. But, it’s not in the cards.

I’ve been in conversation with Denise O’Neal, Director and Creator of the Festival, and she’s pretty psyched about “Cultural Diversity” (she’s Directing that too) and the Festival, too. We laughed on the phone about there being 3 (count ’em 3 plays) plays about Martin Luther King. Well that’s alright. Dr. King deserves all the pub he can get.

“Cultural Diversity” will now have been performed by “Barhoppers” in Charlottesville, VA., The IDA Festival in New York and now Houston. Yet it’s so politically incorrect, it’s too funny for words—-so sez Ye Hunble Playwright. It’s gone from being a monologue to being a 2-character piece, with a Bartender chiming in to the college Professor’s passionate ranting and most spirited raving. After not looking at it for awhile, when I go back to it—-I’m in stitches right off the bat. It wouldn’t surprise me if there was an even bigger market for the play somewhere down the line.

I was asked to teach several sessions for “Effective Science Communicactions” last month. So I spoke about blogging, communications and social media—-from a Welch perspective, of course. The students seemed interested in my anecdotes and the overall involvement of the library in mounting a social media component. You know I’m having fun when my hands are folded and I’m looking calm. Sure I’ve got lots to say—but relax, I got time. The students seemed happy that I wasn’t speaking about SCIENCE. I’m sure they hear more than their share about that. Diedre Ribbens, who I met on the bike trail, asked if I would come speak. Hey, how could I turn down somebody I met on the bike trail. It’ when I’m teaching that I fully realize how much what I do as a “Communications Specialist” has become implanted into the everyday world of the Welch Medical Library. I hope that doesn’t sound too “hefty,” but it’s true regardless.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next time around I’ll have to give you my “OCTAVIUS IN LOS ANGELES” updates.

No, I’m not taking in a RedSox game. And no I’m not taking in a Celtics/Knicks playoff game.

Alonzo was chosen to be a Blogger at the 2013 MLA Conference in Boston. What’s the MLA? Medical Library Association. That’s right. I’m Blogging with my librarian brethren. What could be better? I’ll be up there showing all the solidarity I can muster. There will be a lot of Welch Informationists (co-workers) there, but they have—for the most part—-done this before.They haven’t had the Communications Specialist be there. How did I get there? I applied to the MLA and VOILA! Must be my MADBLOGGINGSKILLZZZZ, of course. Will let you know how it all goes. I’m excited, even though the topics are not things I would run up Boston to hear about under normal circumstances. But, it’s professional uplift and all that, so away I go. Will keep you abreast of my adventures and miscellaneous STUFF.

It’s getting near that time of year. The MS Ride on the eastern shore. I’ve done this ride 3-4 times before, and always have a barrel of fun. This year I may be going solo, but that’s fine. It’s usually a lovely day (knock on wood), and the sights and sounds of nature along the eastern shore surround you. I enjoy all the well-thought out and well-planned aspects of the ride, the MS Folks make it sooooooo easy to enjoy the day. And when it’s over, there’s nothing better than having a cold one somewhere in town. This year we’re in Easton and I’m sure new adventures (and terrain) await. Plan to do 68 miles, and sweat to my heart’s content.

ABOVE is me on a ride from home (NW B-More) out to Hunt Valley. Gorgeous day equaled by hilly terrain. But my Bike Friday (that I’ve now had for 9 yrs and 10,000+ miles—on my CURRENT Odometer) is a champ and never lets me down. Plus, it’s way cuter than me. Everyone is always surprised by the little bike.

 

I’ve added a host of stuff that I’ve accumulated over the years. Little goodies of recognition like this one from Houston. The Ensemble Theatre of Houston did “He-Man Ball” exactly 10 years earlier, and the cast from that producition turned out for the 2004 show. I was quite humbled. I love this picture, it jumps off the page and I woke up in a downtown Houston hotel room to see a WHOLE PAGE about the play. I rode my rented bike to the theatre to show whoever was there the review. Man-Oh-Man, what a day. I called Da Wiffee Nicole and told her and almost cried about it. That’s how sweet it was.