Outsider’s Insights

Life is a seesaw. After several bad news concerning my “career”, now it’s time for the bright side.
My old youth theatre group company (”My” means I played in several of their plays) is going on tour for one week in June with an award-winning play and they needed a replacement for one actor. They asked me and I willingly agreed (very little money, but loads of fun and experience).
Back on the stage. Yippeeeeeeee.

Just returned from a karaoke-bar. It started nice, but then a group of drunken young men entered the location. They had a “Junggesellenabschied” (bachelor’s farewell evening), which is a tradition I dislike a lot.
Goal no. 1: getting drunk!
Goal no. 2: behave loudly and talk to ALL women in a rather - well - straightforward way!
Goal no. 3: Assimilate everybody else!
So they were pissed, when we did not want to drink their schnapps. And they bawled stupid german songs, even when other songs were just performed.
End of story: we left early and went home.

That were good news today. I was asked to move from the beginners’ training to the “General Training”. Jesus, many new moves, but very nice. And exhausting. I did both sessions in a row - three hours of Aikido training. Time to eat, sit and eat. And sit and eat, of course.

Talked to my second business partner: We agreed to launch a new theatre-project on our own, since partner No. 3 (H.) is no longer an option. (see Business Surprise )
In June, rehearsals should start, now we are looking for a director and sources of funding.
Exciting!!!

I applied as a narrator for audio books. One of my two big goals right now. My voice trial was in Mid-March. And I had to wait and wait.
Last week the phone call came: “You got a minute?” Ooops. Wrong tone of the voice. “Eh, yes, of course.” Knees becoming weak, mood dropping.
So, in principle, everything’s alright, but… BUT. I have to get rid of my “regional accent”, as the audio books are delivered nation-wide - til Mid-June. Four weeks to go, and I feel under stress.
I think I can do it - yes, tiger, be optimistic. I know. But still… I already went through one big voice change this year - but then again, you learn and live.

Strange world, strange people. Someone I worked with for almost two years (let’s call im H.) lost touch with reality: He wanted to do everything, wanted to be perfect, handle many projects simultaneously, accept every offer and never say “Sorry, too much right now”. Last year we decided to build up a theatre group with another friend. And now it’s becoming clear, H. is very unreliable. I mean, it was clear he was unreliable concerning rehearsals and transfer the money on time. But in general, things worked out in the end. Somehow. Most of the time. Until last week: the hour of truth made it clear that he had build up a tower of lies. Better say a labyrinth, because he lost himself. He couldn’t admit when things did not work out, lied and lied and lied. And all the time he tried to hide it and fix the damage. Which produced more lies and in the end, the tower tumbled.
The two big summer projects - which were financially important to me - are cancelled, two minor ones are unclear.
So the partnership is shrinking to nothingness.
The good points:
I can move on to better projects.
I did not invest money.
I had got parts in two plays through him during this time. And especially in the last one, I learned h*ll of a lot.
The bad point:
We could have made great stuff together. Which at least for now and the near future is not possible.

You get a bouquet of flowers. Might seem old-fashioned, but I like it. But the joy is accompanied by a big laughter, when you hear, the gift is made by someone who has been on a wedding the day before. And suddenly you think: Hey, that bouquet does have the right size for a table-decoration. Or even a bride’s bouquet…

You get a present. Wow, nice one. Then you see the price tag. Well, alright, not important. But THEN you realize the price is still in DM (Deutsch-Mark), which is a currency, well, let’s just say a bit out of use nowadays…
It’s at this moment, when you realize that your present came from the “Last-Minute-Old-Stuff-To-Give-Away-Trunk” in some remote closet or dusty attic.

That was the title of my friend’s vernissage. In his ad-email he mentioned three websites where you could get more information. Hm. Those were a disappoinment - little information, but check yourself.
http://www.milenas.de/gleis22.htm
http://www.bloodyproductions.de
http://www.bloodycartoon.de
The evening itself was very successful. We started early on Saturday at 6 p.m. because the room would be used for a party at 22 p.m. So I didn’t expect many visitors, but we had about 100. And I guess they liked the show including:
- a nice concert by Bloddy Cartoon
- a foto-session with “The Tiger”
- art and interview by Milena S.
- all assisted by the Robotic Assistant Dr. P. (which was me).
I had strange golden sunglasses with side-protection (jeck knows them), a white coat, silver hair and skin and latex gloves. And I always spoke with a Robot-Voice.
I thought I looked quite funny, though others were scared. But I take that as a success. It’s especially funny, when you offer snacks on a silver plate, “Please make your choice! If you want a cookie, say one, if you want a sweet, say two …” etc., and people almost run away. Or they get confused by the numbers and forget what they want. Anyway, a strenuous but funny evening…
Drawings by Milena S. can be found under www.milenas.de .

Time to catch up, so here follow the latest news and olds: