Thursday, December 10, 2009

Regrouping

Now that the show is over, I'm getting adjusted to normal life. I have a commission I need to finish and should start on that.

Will be in two different films this weekend, so, I guess that means I am accomplishing my goals. Next I need to find some money. The creditors are just around the corner, I can feel them lurking.

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Show was a Smashing Success!

It worked! Even with the snow people came to the opening night. Having done a not so good job at marketing I was surprised. Turns out that some of my friends had invited their friends and the place was filled.

The Swing Easy Trio did a superb job and we are making plans for more events! Thanks to Lane Berk who relentlessly wrangled contact information from the crowd I will be able to inform those interested of the next show.

The hostel itself is interested in my donating a piece of art as a permenant fixture, I'll have to think about that.

I mentioned that my desire was to have the show go to Paris. Two different people offered contacts they had living there in the arts who they thought could help. Fun.

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Preparing for Art Show

Doing the last minute things that will make this show happen. Got a van to take the things over tomorrow evening. I'll stack them their and hang them the next day probably.

Looks like I'll have a projector running some of Carl's Basement videos as part of the installation. Happy about that.

Went to the Baltimore Choral Arts Society Christmas performance at the Basilica tonight. Good time. Was in the front row. Part of the program included the conductor turning and leading the audience in some Christmas songs. Elsbeth heard me sing and afterward told me she knows Tom Hall, the conductor, and that I should go for an audition. I'll consider looking into it but I don't know if it would interfere with the theatre or the film shoots. I'll have to think about it.

Fresh News

Got a good post from an old friend in the performing arts in NY. He saw "Carl's Basement" videos and showed his director friend. This guy liked them and now we are getting connected. He's making some film up in that State and can't hurt to be aligned.

Just launched twitter but no time to learn that one yet. Show's coming up and I'm nearly late on everything. This Sat. is the event!

The judge crashed her car last night and I need to bring her to a rental place now.

Sunday, November 29, 2009

OK, IT'S LATE.

So, I think I'll try to start thinking about going to bed. But first I have to make a film. I'm preparing for an exhibit so I thought the process might be of interest to you guys. Hence, I want to say good by and get filming so I can then sleep and get the goods to Alan so he can upload them.

Ciao!

Over the Hump

Was reading some of my past posts and realized I am over the hump. Those days were rough, trying to figure out what I was doing with my life, where I was living, above ground or below, in a building or in a tent, in a corridor or on the porch... blah, blah. Now I find myself waking up in a nice bed, turning on the coffee machine and eating a cheese danish as a ritual.

I have an art show in one week, Dec.5th here in Baltimore and I'm finishing up with that. I'm excited. Seems to have come together more systematically this time arround. Better planning.

Got my actors reel together and sent those out to the agents. One one them told me how I could make it better so I redid it and need to resend them. Excited about that. Hoping for a call about a Civil War film that I am supposed to audition for in Dec. Growing my beard for that.

Hamlet came and went. Got both good and bad reviews. Had a blast being the Grave Digger. I wonder if you can see it on line? Spotlighter's Theatre may have uploaded it. Now I'm learning the music for Man of La Mancha which Vagabond's is putting on in Jan. FUN!

Thanks for being patient while I regrouped. You guys come back and I'll do my best to keep you fed!

Saturday, November 28, 2009

Carl's Still Alive

An electronic post uploaded last night indicates that the missing Carl of Let's Watch Carl has reappeared in cyber. Evidence that his basement lifestyle, though it may have kept him down for a while, was not capable of extinguishing his determination to survive.

A new website is reported in the making including links to twitter, "Carl's Basement "youTube videos, MySpace, Facebook and more. Goings on in his life from song writting and vocal performances, local theatre, movies, art shows even camel training are all uploaded for you viewing pleasure.

Lurk around in basements if you will Carl, but we will find you!!!

Friday, November 27, 2009

Wow, I'm back. Been away far, far to long. Thanks to the help of one of my mates I'm back in the saddle again.

My last post mentioned the play just ending. That had to be Side Man. Side Man finished and Hamlet came and went, now I'm in Man of La Mancha and very excited about it. Nice to be back!

Monday, April 13, 2009

The play

The play is over and it went well. Two different critics gave good reviews, at least for me which helps. Looks like I'll be auditioning for a role in Hamlet that will be playing here at another local theater this summer.

Friends of mine are working on my going forward in the theater and I will be headed to NYC for some stuff soon.

I'm working on getting out of the basement which my friends says is "Not a basement. It is an industrial closet". Certainly plumbing and other perks would help this space to be a bit more attractive, but anyway, I'm trying to take the steps to get out of it.

Saturday, April 11, 2009

Life

Guys. I've moved most my stuff to facebook. But, trying to keep this one alive too. Have had a bit of a hard time with getting into cyber recently.

The play is going well. Some friends are hooking me up in NYC so I'm hopeful about that.

Saturday, February 21, 2009

New Life

Ok, I've decided, I'm changing my life. Fed. 7th I gave myself one month to have some MAJOR changes. What are they, you ask? I'm not sure, but I am NOT going to continue living this way. Does it mean move out of the basement? I don't know. Does it mean quit my jobs and find something else? I don't know, but SOMETHING is going to change.

The sun is out and that seems to be helping. I walked out of one of my jobs when someone was going spastic, this was because of my new decision. Took a few days off and went to the library, got a card, and started using the comps to job search.

I'll be creating a resume, or several. You need a different resume depending on which job you are trying to get.

Each day I am looking for some new signs, indications of what might be around the corner.

Time for diary

I know I've been away a bit. Now it's time for updates, but I can't just yet. I am hoping to use this blog as a kind of diary. Stay with me. Meanwhile, "Carl's Basement" on youTube has the recent videos.

Thursday, February 19, 2009

"Carl's Basement" youtube

I'm sending some of my viewers to "Carl's Basement" on youTube because it seems easier to work with, so far. If you want to see my new stuff, go there. I will be back here though, soon.

Saturday, January 24, 2009

Question

Does anyone know if using youTube for videos brings more exposure?

Saturday, January 17, 2009

Striped cat next to coral and unopened jam

Wise, small, plastic dog from China

Seeking wisdom from those containing it has been a constant practice of the ancients as evidenced through history. Are we any different today?

Sam on the move

Here's a quickie of Sam moving about.

Post Kayak


I had the good fortune of being offered a kayak on my last day. So I got up at 6:00 and scurried out to the gulf to spend three or more hours doing what I like. At one point a fin appears about 10 feet away from me. All the images from Jaws flew back into my mind without any invitation as I reduced the amount of white water I was creating with the ores. Then, as I watched for the resurfacing, it became clear that my neighbor was in fact a dolphin. I followed him as long as I could, visually, then concluded that he was gone. It made my day.

Samuel Cushing


Here's the ol' boy having a seat.

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Samuel's face


Here's one I snapped of Sam from my bed.

Others around the farm


There were several of these guys around but they all got precious little attention from me because all my energy was focused on the goal at hand.

Sleeping Mate


This little one found his way to my bed the last few nights in the barn. He wasn't as agreeable as the boys up in Maryland but I still enjoyed having him around. I was told he was a pizza eating cat so the rats which I kept hearing rustling around may not have cared he was there, but I enjoyed his company.

Boys on the couch


Here are the boys on Warren's couch. I wonder if he even remembers I am storing it for him?

Being dragged around by a camel

After several very short training sessions involving taking Samuel from his paddock to the work area, he seemed to have had enough. Instead of standing in front of the gate and waiting for me to open it, he turned and ran down the corridor to the closed fence which was the entrance to the barn yard. Here is a video of the marks left in the sand.

Sleeping arrangements


Here is the bed I created in the barn so I could spend the nights with Samuel. Hay bails are underneath the sheet. Observing his behavior throughout the night helped me learn about him in a context where he would otherwise be alone.

Homosapiens and Happenstance

In the human experience it is practically impossible to gauge when good fortune will strike. Let's try to be positive and expect that at any moment the best will come to us.

Farm Work

Plan on making great sacrifices in your personal life if you intend to raise mammals. These animals need your love and support and need to be kept on a strict rhythm in order to get the maximum millage from them. When implementing a clear routine remember to keep feeding time as near to the exact moment each day as is humanly possible.

Law breaking crackers.

If society does not come to grips with the responsibility it holds in the training arena of other species, soon there will be an overthrowing of law and order as we know it.

Animal Crossing


When training is not done thoroughly enough, mammalia can go awry. For this very reason one spends the utmost time preparing for interaction with other species to arrive at the optimum result. I plead with you never to settle for quick results, or this what you observe in the video could end up being repeated for to many times.

Saturday, January 10, 2009

Palm Harbor training Samuel

Haultering him up. Believe me, if a camel does not want you to do this, "it ain't happenin!" Luckily, Sam allowed it and associated it with fun activity, at least 'change'. Very curious these creatures are.

Bringing the boy back after some training.

I thought this one showed a bit of the intensity in my body language that was always the state of affairs while with him.
The whole thing was a rush. One needs to constantly be aware and on one's toes next to such a beast.
Each night I searched the Internet for answers to questions I discovered during the day. I found out that only recently a local trainer suffocated when a bull knocked her down and sat on her. She had a lot of experience but even with that, when something this size becomes aggressive all the parameters change.

Proof I'm not in my basement lying about camels

Leading Samuel to the work paddock. This was the easy part, a straight line ten feet long, until he discovered the path to our left was more interesting and room enough for him to run.
The bed I made on top of hay bails in order to spend the nights with him as well.


The fan is actually back in the center of his stall, not as it appears here.

This task was more than I'd bargained for. Terribly interesting creatures, not simple to train. Daunting I'd say. Just got started and needed to return home.

Friday, January 9, 2009

Camels

Camels are not as small or easy to work with as you might think.