My blog and I are talking about breaking up.
It's ugly.
I don't pay it enough attention.
It accuses me of looking at other blogs while I should be posting new, quirky, transcendent musings on life.
I guess I don't know what I want.
My friends tell me different things.
"Stick in there."
"The honeymoon always ends."
"Do what you feel, man."
I'm off to take a walk and think about this.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Monday, December 22, 2008
Friends keep you humble
Sometimes your friends do things and you think to yourself:
This is why I have this person in my life. They are like me but possibly even more awesome.
Below is a portion of an email exchange between me and Mr. Kell that cracks me up.
Unexpectedly, I received an award from the UWM Alumni Association last spring and this is Brett's take on how this news was reported in the media.
Anton to receive award, remove shirt, thank Jesus, cry
In an unexpected announcement last week, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee named one of its 2000 Theater alumni, Clay Anton, as the recipient of the Greatest Alum of Like the Past Decade or This Year or Some Other Indeterminate Time Period.
Anton, clearly shocked at the display of recognition for his four years as a misunderstood creative genius within the theater department, wept openly upon receiving a call from the University’s alumni office notifying him that he had been selected.
“I just… I don’t know what to say,” he said, sobbing uncontrollably. “When I was just a boy, I dreamed of someday being important in some way, and now… I am!”
The award will be given to Anton in a lavish ceremony atop a volcano. 50 of his closest friends and family members are expected to attend, as well as celebrities such as singer/actor/poet/spirit guide Henry Rollins, musician and director Rob Zombie, former Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre, Indianapolis Colts coach Tony Dungy, heiress Paris Hilton, actor Daniel Day-Lewis, the entire cast of ABC’s LOST, comedian David Dannenberg and local writer Brett Kell, a close friend of Anton’s.
“I think Clay deserves this award more than anybody on earth,” Kell said. “It couldn’t happen to a better guy. He’s one of Milwaukee’s true artists, and his work with kids means a lot to him.”
Also lauding Anton for the achievement were executives at Miller Brewing, which announced today that it will not seek a neutral third city for the combined headquarters of MillerCoors, but will house its offices and operations in the sunny kitchen of Anton’s Bay View condominium.
This is why I have this person in my life. They are like me but possibly even more awesome.
Below is a portion of an email exchange between me and Mr. Kell that cracks me up.
Unexpectedly, I received an award from the UWM Alumni Association last spring and this is Brett's take on how this news was reported in the media.
Anton to receive award, remove shirt, thank Jesus, cry
In an unexpected announcement last week, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee named one of its 2000 Theater alumni, Clay Anton, as the recipient of the Greatest Alum of Like the Past Decade or This Year or Some Other Indeterminate Time Period.
Anton, clearly shocked at the display of recognition for his four years as a misunderstood creative genius within the theater department, wept openly upon receiving a call from the University’s alumni office notifying him that he had been selected.
“I just… I don’t know what to say,” he said, sobbing uncontrollably. “When I was just a boy, I dreamed of someday being important in some way, and now… I am!”
The award will be given to Anton in a lavish ceremony atop a volcano. 50 of his closest friends and family members are expected to attend, as well as celebrities such as singer/actor/poet/spirit guide Henry Rollins, musician and director Rob Zombie, former Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre, Indianapolis Colts coach Tony Dungy, heiress Paris Hilton, actor Daniel Day-Lewis, the entire cast of ABC’s LOST, comedian David Dannenberg and local writer Brett Kell, a close friend of Anton’s.
“I think Clay deserves this award more than anybody on earth,” Kell said. “It couldn’t happen to a better guy. He’s one of Milwaukee’s true artists, and his work with kids means a lot to him.”
Also lauding Anton for the achievement were executives at Miller Brewing, which announced today that it will not seek a neutral third city for the combined headquarters of MillerCoors, but will house its offices and operations in the sunny kitchen of Anton’s Bay View condominium.
Friday, November 28, 2008
Thankfully, it all makes sense
Thanksgiving is the best holiday.
No presents. No unattainable expectations. No fruitcake.
A holiday mandate to count our many blessings, Thanksgiving gives me pause and makes me think about how good I have it.
I am thankful for, in no particular order...
1. RadioHead
2. Near perfect health
3. An imperfect and wonderful family
4. Solid friendships
5. Mashed potatoes and stuffing
6. Gravy to add to number 5
7. 2001 Volkswagen Jetta that requires no more payments
8. Sense of humor, rudimentary at times, but ever present
9. 3 near death misses
10. An ability to reflect on aforementioned near death misses
11. An Education
12. The ability to further my Education
13. 31 years on this planet
14. My friend Jason's affinity for death metal
15. A pretty young lady with a smile that stops me cold
16. Coffee
17. Cream
18. Miller products
19. Trees
20. My knucklehead Nephews
21. Barack Obama's Campaign for Change
22. Obstacles
23. Taking 22 personally and never giving up easily
24. Mistakes
25. I sold my condo in one of the worst economic and housing downturns in the last 25 years
26. I sold it by myself
27. My former realtor calling and asking how much I sold it for
28. Me not returning this call
29. Luck
30. Fall in Wisconsin
31. Rock n Roll
32. Harley Davidson
33. Salon.com
34. An all loving God
35. Mach 3 Razors
36. Emergen C
37. People who do the right thing
38. Direct Deposit
39. An ipod that plugs into my car stereo
40. Ed Norton
41. Paul Newman
42. Sean Penn
43. Liberty
44. The Constitution
45. Dreams/Fantasies that have come true
46. Dreams/Fantasies that have not and will never come true
47. Sushi
48. Hemingway
49. E.E. Cummings
50. New pair of shoes, brown leather
51. My co-worker Liz telling me, "Those are nice shoes, man. Those are shoes a Brotha would wear."
52. Madison, WI
53. Photographs
54. Stone Fireplaces
55. Artichoke and Cream Cheese Pizza at Pizza Man
56. Hank III
57. Dissent
58. Justice
59. Martin Luther King Jr.
60. Health Insurance
61. Musicians
62. A woman who wears heels, boots, stockings or any combination of all three
63. Cleavage
64. Sex
65. The ability to focus...
66. Lists that allow my mind to wonder...
67. Right, being thankful
66. Warm socks
67. People who say please and thank you
68. People who lead by example
69. People who get up when they get the shit kicked out of them
70. People who are kind to waitstaff and attendants
71. Financial Security-however fleeting
73. Counting
74. Being fine with imperfection
75. Sunday hot ham and rolls
76. Jack White/Meg White
77. Jack White lyrics such as, "Truth doesn't make a noise."
78. Live Music
79. Live Theater
80. Reconnecting with people via Facebook
81. Lake Park Lutheran Church
82. Pastor David
83. My brother Don's ability to help others
84. My sister Tracey's laugh
85. Children who want to learn
86. The Green Bay Packers
87. Fighting against mediocrity
88. My friend Brett's exemplary wing man mastery
89. Being born in America
90. History and the understanding that we must learn from it
91. Ken Burns films
92. Split Pea Soup
93. Warm place to sleep at night, currently it's my sister's cat's bedroom
94. The understanding nature of house cats
95. Sarcasm
96. Hope, yes idealism
97. Words
98. Risks
99. Loyalty
100. My Dad cooly instructing a waitress to take his roast beef sandwhich back to the cook and tell him, "Throw it out!". He was polite and cordial to the waitress, incidentally.
No presents. No unattainable expectations. No fruitcake.
A holiday mandate to count our many blessings, Thanksgiving gives me pause and makes me think about how good I have it.
I am thankful for, in no particular order...
1. RadioHead
2. Near perfect health
3. An imperfect and wonderful family
4. Solid friendships
5. Mashed potatoes and stuffing
6. Gravy to add to number 5
7. 2001 Volkswagen Jetta that requires no more payments
8. Sense of humor, rudimentary at times, but ever present
9. 3 near death misses
10. An ability to reflect on aforementioned near death misses
11. An Education
12. The ability to further my Education
13. 31 years on this planet
14. My friend Jason's affinity for death metal
15. A pretty young lady with a smile that stops me cold
16. Coffee
17. Cream
18. Miller products
19. Trees
20. My knucklehead Nephews
21. Barack Obama's Campaign for Change
22. Obstacles
23. Taking 22 personally and never giving up easily
24. Mistakes
25. I sold my condo in one of the worst economic and housing downturns in the last 25 years
26. I sold it by myself
27. My former realtor calling and asking how much I sold it for
28. Me not returning this call
29. Luck
30. Fall in Wisconsin
31. Rock n Roll
32. Harley Davidson
33. Salon.com
34. An all loving God
35. Mach 3 Razors
36. Emergen C
37. People who do the right thing
38. Direct Deposit
39. An ipod that plugs into my car stereo
40. Ed Norton
41. Paul Newman
42. Sean Penn
43. Liberty
44. The Constitution
45. Dreams/Fantasies that have come true
46. Dreams/Fantasies that have not and will never come true
47. Sushi
48. Hemingway
49. E.E. Cummings
50. New pair of shoes, brown leather
51. My co-worker Liz telling me, "Those are nice shoes, man. Those are shoes a Brotha would wear."
52. Madison, WI
53. Photographs
54. Stone Fireplaces
55. Artichoke and Cream Cheese Pizza at Pizza Man
56. Hank III
57. Dissent
58. Justice
59. Martin Luther King Jr.
60. Health Insurance
61. Musicians
62. A woman who wears heels, boots, stockings or any combination of all three
63. Cleavage
64. Sex
65. The ability to focus...
66. Lists that allow my mind to wonder...
67. Right, being thankful
66. Warm socks
67. People who say please and thank you
68. People who lead by example
69. People who get up when they get the shit kicked out of them
70. People who are kind to waitstaff and attendants
71. Financial Security-however fleeting
73. Counting
74. Being fine with imperfection
75. Sunday hot ham and rolls
76. Jack White/Meg White
77. Jack White lyrics such as, "Truth doesn't make a noise."
78. Live Music
79. Live Theater
80. Reconnecting with people via Facebook
81. Lake Park Lutheran Church
82. Pastor David
83. My brother Don's ability to help others
84. My sister Tracey's laugh
85. Children who want to learn
86. The Green Bay Packers
87. Fighting against mediocrity
88. My friend Brett's exemplary wing man mastery
89. Being born in America
90. History and the understanding that we must learn from it
91. Ken Burns films
92. Split Pea Soup
93. Warm place to sleep at night, currently it's my sister's cat's bedroom
94. The understanding nature of house cats
95. Sarcasm
96. Hope, yes idealism
97. Words
98. Risks
99. Loyalty
100. My Dad cooly instructing a waitress to take his roast beef sandwhich back to the cook and tell him, "Throw it out!". He was polite and cordial to the waitress, incidentally.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
hope with a lowercase "H"
FRail
and soaring ( sort of) strong
Me.YOu.Her.him.
They.WE.
U.S. THEm, EyE
Un
Mistake
able
ly
Human.
Each Day.
Every tyme
and soaring ( sort of) strong
Me.YOu.Her.him.
They.WE.
U.S. THEm, EyE
Un
Mistake
able
ly
Human.
Each Day.
Every tyme
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Economical Pt.2
Like an out of the way diner that serves the best and most authentic Hungarian goulash, my blog is sometimes frequented by brilliant, in the know, people.
From time to time, they post witty and or snarky comments worthy of blog post real estate.
Here are few responses to my Hemingway challenge:
*Confession discovered in George W. Bush's tomb.
*Campaign worker: prison.
Funny and pointedly political, fellas. Thanks.
I am sort of fascinated by telling the truth with the least amount of ammunition.
I recall an exercise in acting class that addressed this challenge. It involved four chairs in the shape of a square. Each individual in a chair would face someone in the square and say one of the following statements:
1. He's gone.
2. I love you.
3 I hate you.
4. I'm not sure.
The design of the activity was to encourage a story created in one's mind in order to color these generic lines. Give the dialogue life and allow the words to be full. It was incredible to see how the dialogue changed when the actor had a clear story and intent to build on.
I think great artists have this ability to craft something nuanced from something entirely simple.
My attempts:
Obama wins big, mavericky.
He said, "I'm proud of you son".
Her free hand clutched the bedspread, repeatedly and enthusiastically while she gazed out the window and onto the empty drive.
The wail bounced off the concrete wall of the police station, asserting definitive finality.
From the moment I saw her, she redeemed every small deed I committed or conceived.
From time to time, they post witty and or snarky comments worthy of blog post real estate.
Here are few responses to my Hemingway challenge:
*Confession discovered in George W. Bush's tomb.
*Campaign worker: prison.
Funny and pointedly political, fellas. Thanks.
I am sort of fascinated by telling the truth with the least amount of ammunition.
I recall an exercise in acting class that addressed this challenge. It involved four chairs in the shape of a square. Each individual in a chair would face someone in the square and say one of the following statements:
1. He's gone.
2. I love you.
3 I hate you.
4. I'm not sure.
The design of the activity was to encourage a story created in one's mind in order to color these generic lines. Give the dialogue life and allow the words to be full. It was incredible to see how the dialogue changed when the actor had a clear story and intent to build on.
I think great artists have this ability to craft something nuanced from something entirely simple.
My attempts:
Obama wins big, mavericky.
He said, "I'm proud of you son".
Her free hand clutched the bedspread, repeatedly and enthusiastically while she gazed out the window and onto the empty drive.
The wail bounced off the concrete wall of the police station, asserting definitive finality.
From the moment I saw her, she redeemed every small deed I committed or conceived.
Friday, October 10, 2008
Economical storytelling
Ernest Hemingway perfected the short story.
Reportedly, he played an interesting game with fellow writers and intellectuals over drinks in assorted smokey dens of debauchery.
The game:
Tell a complete story with the least amount of words.
His most economical story reads below.
For sale: baby shoes, never worn.
As many of you are writers and intellectuals that spend time in smokey dens of debauchery (Brett), I challenge you to match dear Ernest.
I'll think on this a bit and post my attempts as well.
Reportedly, he played an interesting game with fellow writers and intellectuals over drinks in assorted smokey dens of debauchery.
The game:
Tell a complete story with the least amount of words.
His most economical story reads below.
For sale: baby shoes, never worn.
As many of you are writers and intellectuals that spend time in smokey dens of debauchery (Brett), I challenge you to match dear Ernest.
I'll think on this a bit and post my attempts as well.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
UPDATE-Live from the Campaign
31 years old today
Average Americans fill our office
Mothers and daughters
Veterans recovering
Union workers
Students looking for a chance to succeed
Watching two men discuss the great possibilities and challenges facing us all
no matter who wins
experience gained
friendships forged in the crucible of partisan politics
Today I received a steady stream of well wishes
I realized, I am, indeed, not alone in all of this
To the future...
Average Americans fill our office
Mothers and daughters
Veterans recovering
Union workers
Students looking for a chance to succeed
Watching two men discuss the great possibilities and challenges facing us all
no matter who wins
experience gained
friendships forged in the crucible of partisan politics
Today I received a steady stream of well wishes
I realized, I am, indeed, not alone in all of this
To the future...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
