So, it’s late May.

I’m in Pennsylvania for work, doing another 4 weekends before this production is over. Then about 6 weeks off, a couple months in Florida, another 6 -ish weeks off and end the year back in Ft. Myers ( if the contract that everyone tells me that “of course I’ll be offered” comes through.) I’m relatively confident but, man, the entertainment business…

….in the early 1990s, when I was a starving actor in L.A., I was at an audition for “Jesus Christ Superstar” for Theater under the Stars in Houston. The role of Ciaphas. At Debbie Reynolds studios in North Hollywood. And yes, Debbie showed up from time to time. There was a parking spot reserved for her. I heard that someone once parked there and Debbie showed up. I also heard that it wasn’t pretty. At all. But yeah, so I’ve been called back for Ciaphas. I go into the room, face the table of the people in judgment, and sing the piece Ciaphas sings. If you know, you know. If you don’t, it doesn’t really matter, relax. After I sing, the guy who turns out to be the director gives me a few notes and asks me to sing it again.

I sing it again. He gives me a little more feedback and asks for it again.

I sing it a 3rd time.

The director jumps to his feet, pounds the table and says “You’re the Man!!!”

………

……. I never heard from them again.

That’s the business I’m in….but I digress…

In spite of that little piece of history, I’m relatively confident that things will work out “Christmas Carol”-wise. And that will basically fill out my dance card for 2024. Unless a long shot comes in Sept. – October, but basically I’m good for the year either way. A cool little piece of predictability that I really could have used when I depended on this stuff to pay my bills, but why look back in anger, huh?

So, the end of May. More or less the beginning of the summer season. Schools are out, or soon will be . People’s thoughts turn to vacations, beaches, cookouts (or barbecues if you a west coast-er) Ballgames, bikinis and coolers of beer.

You get the idea.

So, what are my ambitions for this summer season? We always have resolutions ready on January 1, ready to make changes and promises to meet the New Year, whether we follow through with them or not. Why not take a look at the summer season as an impetus for improvement?

Alright, let’s take a swing at this.

1st off, and most obvious & predictable, I’ve had to do some work on me. Because my current project has me appearing 98% naked in front of a couple hundred paying customers per show, in mid-March I made some significant changes in my diet & activity (read: exercise). I’ve actually stuck to it, and have seen the changes I wanted to see, for the most part. Now, when the motivation of public nudity goes away, I’d like to keep some of the new habits I’ve acquired over the last 2 1/2 months. Not as strictly as it’s been. I’d like to resume some kind of relationship with fried food, bakery goods & alcohol, but maybe not the head over heels affair it’s gotten to at times in the past.

I hate the term moderation, but….

2nd up. I moved back to Cincinnati in early 2022. After 35 years in L.A., people are constantly asking me ” how do you like being back in Ohio?”. My answer is that I’m not really sure. I travel for work, then when I get a break I go ahead and book travel almost before I can even unpack and do laundry. Now I can’t promise that I won’t travel this summer (it’s too late to make that promise anyway. And none of your beeswax, nosey..) but not all of my breaks from work are booked up, and maybe it would be a good idea to settle in a little more and get to know what regular life back in the town of my youth would be like.

Also, and kinda related to the above. I’d like to make myself a little more available to friends & relations.

I’m independent. Now, when I say that on, like a 1st date, though I haven’t experienced one of those in a minute, that statement is usually followed by the woman involved responding “Oh, so am I”. Outwardly, I say “Oh, good”, or something like that.

Inwardly, I laugh “BWAAHAAHAAA!!!. Sorta like that.

Because, usually, they and I don’t mean the same thing.

Sometimes, they are flat out lying. They think that saying that will facilitate the chance of a relationship, at which time they will, through a combination of charm, sexual favors and alchemy, “change me”. Historically, this doesn’t turn out well. At all.

Sometimes, they actually do have a certain level of independence. It’s just that they don’t realize that my need for time to myself, and occasional self rule, is on a whole different level than theirs. These also eventually end, but usually without the fireworks and histrionics.

And yes, I know who has the issue here. I’m very clear on that.

Moi.

Probably why I’m not really active on the “looking for a plus 1” front these days.

Wow. Went down a rabbit hole on that one, didn’t I…. ( digression #2)

But to get back to the goal involved. Maybe try to be a better friend, relative, etc. Try to be the one who reaches out more often. Try to be more accessible, more responsive.

I’m not promising Alan Alda / Dr. Phil here. But just try to improve.

You know. Day by *#@ing day.

So. that’s my story for today. Just trying to put up some short term goals. Ways to make me a better…me. What’s my message? Well, if you wanted to take a look in the mirror yourself?

Hey, it couldn’t hurt.

Talk Later,

Bob