A Different Drummer

Have I mentioned recently how much I love California? I had a really great day today. I slept in and then I got up and ran some errands. On my way down into the valley I drove past this guy who had set his drum kit up on an outcropping of rock and was just banging away. The whole canyon echoed with it. I guess it’s a good thing that he was at least a pretty good drummer. Well, to each his own. Just another one of the weird fucking assortment of people that I have chosen to live out here on the West Coast with. I found the grocery store and the movie theatre so at least I know I won’t starve and I’m not at a total loss for entertainment up here in no man’s land. I’m going to try and go see the sneak of “Cinderella Man” tomorrow night. I’ve heard great things about it. So anyway, I came back from the store, fixed lunch, got out the laptop and sat out on the back patio for a couple of hours working on the outline for my screenplay that I’m about to start working on. I figured this time around I’d at least try and start with some vague idea of what this script was going to be about before I just launched blindly into it. Well, whaddya know? I discovered that the story actually has a beginning, a middle, and an end, which is something of an accomplishment for me. Usually I know how I want the story to start and how I want it to end, but not a fucking clue on how to get there. Now all I have to do is write the dialogue and set the scenes and then I’ll actually have a rough draft of a script. I should be able to do that in a couple of weeks if I really focus on getting it done. Holy shit! I may actually accomplish something. Will wonders never cease? The working title of the project is, “F*cked” and the nutshell version is that it’s about betrayal, murder, and revenge. You know, all the fun stuff in life :) I even have a pretty good idea of who I’d cast in it given my choice of actors. I can shoot it cheap too. No big special effects, no really expensive settings. Just gimme a mil or two and I could have this thing ready for Sundance next year :) I’m not ambitious at all, am I? There is something about LA, baby. It just makes you want to create something. To get your idea together and do whatever it takes to put it on film. I definitely love that feeling. It’s been a long time since I’ve been this jazzed about something I was working on. Did I mention that I got to sit outside all afternoon and work on it? It’s sunny and about 70 degrees up here in the hills. I need to take some pics and post them on my website so everyone can see my new home. The birds are singing and there’s a nice breeze blowing and it’s just a beautiful SoCal kinda day. I have a German Shepherd lying at my feet and life is good. His name is Casper and he’s a huge fucking dog, but he’s super sweet. There’s something about having a dog around to keep you company that just makes everything seem better. I have a little balcony off of my apartment where I’ll be able to sit and write once I get moved in. I need to get some wind chimes or something to hang up out there too. So things are good here. I still miss everyone back in the ATL, but days like today make things a hell of a lot easier.

"If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away." -- Henry David Thoreau