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Resurfacing in Oly...

Why is it the only time I blog is when I'm visiting the inlaws? Must be the water.

So it's been a while. Almost four months since the last time I posted. Much water under the bridge...and many things much as they were before.

Still no gig at his point. I've had three interviews over the past four months and none of them panned out. Pity...I would have been a good fit at least a couple of them. I blame recent layoffs and an employers market. That perhaps....and my desire to shake things up by going a different path. But more on that later....

Greer is almost done with kindergarten. He's enjoyed his teacher and friends, and even got to see his mom perform opera in front of the whole school. He's also becoming a jock of sorts. He loves basketball and soccer, and thrives on competition - or at least the illusion. Reading is starting to take off - as is math. It's amazing and beautiful to watch...your child becoming their own person.

Been film programming like mad the last few weeks. Booked at least four documentaries into the Portland Underground fest in June. All worthy of wide distribution, but still gaining attention. "Fast Break", the 1977 Trailblazer documentary I've been promoting is coming back to the CST for my birthday on the 29th. I'm very excited to be building an event in late June for art car maven Harrod Blank - on the heels of his award-winning documentary "Automorphosis". Also looking forward to the Portland premiere (via PUFF) of "The Shark Is Still Working", the long-awaited JAWS documentary I helped work on recently. Sometime this year, my acting debut will surface with "This Is Now", a new film from David Waingarten. Distribution via the web. Very interested to see the final cut.

All in all...a bunch of stuff to stew on.

Greermonster is six!

I can scare believe it. Six years.....already.

Still remember standing there (barely) when he was born. Absolutely stunning and beautiful and terrifying and real. My son. Now he's big enough to knock me over.

Today I tried to do everything he liked.

Got him some new shoes - which he picked out. Skateboarding shoes with a little style. For his birthday lunch, he bravely tried some new food - some variations on sushi - including a tray of fried coconut shrimp and orange slices....birthday complements from the chef.

I got a wild hair and decided to stop by a sporting goods store in Northeast. Greer had been asking for real soccer ball, so that wish was fulfilled...along with a Pee-Wee football, just for fun.

No birthday exodus would be complete without a stop at the Avalon. "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs" was playing, and I knew Mr. Greer would be up for another blitz against the evil Imperial Empire - via the Star Wars video game near by.

After we had blown away the last Death Star (and the lot of our nickels), we headed home to receive a gourmet dinner of Shrimp and Sausage Jambalya, courtesy of a good friend (Verna Dice). Before the feast, Greer opened a small cache of birthday presents - including his first remote control car. While we dined, the Trailblazers took it to the Sixers - while Greer bounded about the basement, rooting for the home squad.

Not bad for a birthday at home with the family...

Back in Oly for Christmas...

Been a long time...

As I have mentioned earlier, Facebook has consumed my blog.

No shame in that, other than the withering of my writing skills...and the fear that somehow all my FB entries will be deleted or used against me. Facebook is a great tool for keeping track of people, but it's like crack...something you compusively update and fiddle with.

Anyway...enough of my excuses.

So the holidays have slowed me down enough to help spur a legitamate writing attempt. Much has happened since my last post...

* My friend with the problem hasn't changed yet - and as a result has lost his family. He still sees them...they just have moved on and live someplace new. No divorce...yet. I have stepped back somewhat...knowing that he has to make the decision for himself. Unfortunately, there is more here than just his addiction.

* Got laid off in July....which was a minor surprise. I guess I was the canary in the coal mine. My department was hammered with layoffs not long after my departure.

* Spent the last five months exploring my options - and hoping for something that I could feel satisfied working towards.

* Did my best to enjoy every moment I could away from work. This included multiple camping connections with my folks, another visit to the blueberry fields, a couple hikes at the Ridgefield Refuge, lots of father/son time with Greer, a momentary brush with fame while working as an extra on 'Leverage', some film programming success at the Clinton, salmon fishing with my brother and Dad....and the list goes on.

So yeah...it's been busy, despite being out of work and seeking purpose.

Floating through the 4th

Another year...another 4th of July in Olympia.

As with past years, we did our best to escape early - fleeing the PDX area on Wednesday evening. Most of the packing had been done the night previous and (for once) it felt like we were actually going to extricate with a minimum of pain and suffering. Greer had his drawing pad, toys, water and snacks. The cats were fed and looked after. The plants were watered.

Amazingly, we managed to get out by 5pm and haul north.

You can tell you're missing out on summer, when you're astonished to arrive at your destination at 8pm - with plenty of daylight to spare. This holiday weekend was our first legitimate vacation since Alex wrapped up "A Little Night Music". To say that I was looking forward to it was an understatement.

Even though we're back in town, I'm still wondering when I'll get my vacation...