1999.10/10 KimCam and Other Projects

EXCERPTED FROM MESSAGES TO CHARLENE BALDRIDGE

} Well, I thought you were gone forever! Whew! It was my week for meeting nice
} men in restaurants and coffee shops. I met an artist from North Carolina at
} Starbucks the other day. Wrote an article about him. It was extra special in
} that we talked about homelessness of the soul. And then I talked with others
} and the flow was there, the ideas had cohesion, as if coming from universal
} consciousness. This sometimes happens and it's always invigorating.

Have you read "The Celestine Prophecies"?  It has an interesting take on the
phenomena you're describing, i.e. a coherent universal message presented in
our chance encounters.

} Writing this week has been frantic. Lots of deadlines, because I, too, am
} leaving town nest week, but only for a week. Los Angeles and Ashland, Ore.

How'd the trip go?

} I'm dealing with a new editor just learning the ropes of his job, so it's been
} trying. I'm used to just doing the job, and this guy is a micro-manager type.
} Good feedback though, and he's now given me free "reign" on what I want to
} write (tee-hee). So now I'm queen of the world. Nothing like reigning.

Almost a religious experience, like sain-ing in the reign...  ;-)

} It was an exciting week for clippings. Thursday, Investor's Business Daily
} published my profile of actor Karl Malden. I also received copies of some
} pieces I did for magazines, so am planning  a field day at the copy shop. Now,
} if I just had time to get some queries into the mail. I'm so busy doing the
} writing I don't have time to look for more assignments.
} Yesterday, I met with Lama Surya Das, who's on a book tour. When he was
} promoting his first book, "Awakening the Buddha Within," I interviewed him for
} the news-service road rage piece that ran all over the country . It was a
} soulful meeting, and I came away feeling that I need to let go a bit, stop,
} perhaps, trying to be queen of the world, which reminds me of our conversation
} at Sammy's. It's nice you can take time out to travel. Hope you will keep a
} journal and if you're not taking a laptop, will contact me when you get back.

Alas, I have discovered a serious flaw with my diary transcription mechanism,
namely that it records less the more I do (because I'm too busy doing
things!).  Lots of things have been happening recently, almost a total change
of life direction and personal incarnation coupled with a geographic and
career shift...  and very little of it has been captured.  

So I've been thinking about hiring someone part time to chronologue my
life... or maybe get a webcam mounted to some glasses.  ;-)

} We can coffee or do some music or theater. I'm always looking for someone to
} drag along.

I'd love to!  The only teeny difficulty is that I moved to the San Francisco
area a month or so ago, and probably won't get back to SD anytime soon.  If
you are up in the SF / San Jose area, look me up...

} Anyway, that's what's going on here. Getting ready to brave the freeway north
} in order to see "Arcadia" at North Coast Repertory. 
} My daughter arrives tomorrow for a day of theater-going. Sunday it's more
} writing. Sunday evening, more theater. 

Ah... the crosses we have to bear.  8^>  I just saw "Chess" the other day at
the San Jose Children's Musical Theatre.  It was pretty good!  Most of the
performers were teenage children, but they gave an impressive showing
nonetheless.  The lead performers were older (19-21) and one of them (Katie
Cole) was spectacular!  She has a bright future ahead of her... 

I've also been taken with the notion of writing a musical version of the
Odyssey.  Homer's epic is my favorite book of all time, and I think that I
understand enough of the dynamics to give it a powerful lyrical
representation.  Alas, I'd need somebody else with musical talent to complete
the picture.  

Do you know whether a musical has already been written?  I've seen some plays
but no musicals.  Any suggestions on how to proceed?

} How are you crossing the country. What is the series?

of cross country trips!  I've dubbed the journey XTC9 (Xross The Country IX).

} Be well.
} Charlene

Walk in righteousness
The newly ordained Rector Lumbard



Subject: Campos Concordia

} Yes, I do believe this, but I have not read "The Celestine Prophecies." How
} many times do we realize that we had an identical conversation with someone
} troubled by the same issue just the day before, or even that morning? It's as
} if the Divine were handing down subliminal edict to examine areas of our life.

Hmmm... perhaps we need not invoke the Divine, it could be a subconscious
perceptive filter.  We are barraged by so much information even within a
single day that something screens it for us, sifting the relevant from the
irrelevant.  It could be that we subconsciously 'pick up' on the things that
are important to us, out of the vast cacophony of stuff to be picked up upon.

Of course, that's also a very prosaic explanation.  "Divine guidance" is a
lot sexier.  ;-)

} Laura, my daughter, and I had a wonderful time, and of course made some new
} friends. We spent the last day of our time in Ashland sitting under a huge
} tree in the B&B's back yard, talking with a young man named Brad. It was a
} near-religious experience.

What happened?  Flocks of birds flying at appropriate moments? Shafts of
light striking faces?  Or is Brad Moses reincarnate?  8^)

} Stories lately have been on L. Frank Baum, who wrote the Oz books. Now I'm
} researching Shaw and Moliere and tightening my own performance piece for "one
} woman of a certain age."

? Vat is los?  Are you trying your hand as a playwright?

} For Copley News I've written recent stories on apples, automobile leasing, and
} stereo shopping for your car, actually upgrading your sound.
} And for the OC Perf Arts folks, Lily Tomlin and Julio Iglesias. Now working on
} Thomas Hampson.
[...]
} Well, do it somehow.

Hah!  Double Hah-Hah!  That's the best advice I've received in quite awhile.
I shall indeed endeavor to "do it somehow".  8^)

} This sounds a little like your mind. Or one of those plays that actually
} involve someone sleeping and the audience just sits there.

I'd like to think that my life is exciting enough that the daily
distillation, at least, would hold people's attention.  It frequently does so
for me.  Maybe it could be like an EdTV...  ;-)

Moreover, there are some events that are best relayed visually.  For example,
a couple weeks ago I was visiting my friend Myfanwy and one of her roommates
came in with a translucent light green shirt with a plaid-like pattern on it.
He wanted some advice on what type of retro outfit that it would go with.  So
I told him to wear light corduroy slacks (maybe tan or beige), shark skin
belt with gold belt buckle, dark socks and light loafers.  He said he was
trying to emulate the 60's bachelor.

So while I was drying off in the shower at the 24Hr fitness the next morning
I saw an elderly gentleman.  He stood still for a moment beside me, and I 
realized that I had inadvertently blocked his exit from the shower area.  I
moved aside, he passed by, and I didn't think much of it.

As I was leaving I decided to get a drink from the fountain in the gym area.
Again I sensed a presence hovering nearby, waiting to get some water.  I
looked up and it was the same man, dressed in: a light green wax-weave
short-sleeve shirt, tan bell-bottomed slacks, a rattlesnake belt with a gold 
buckle, and argyle socks with white loafers.  [No corduroys or shark skin,
but hey, it *was* quintessential retro.]

I was stunned.  Blinked twice.  Then I started ROTFLMAO. 

Okay, okay, okay.  More accurately I BOIDBLed (Burst Out Into Deep Belly 
Laughs).  The man took it quite genially, smiling at me while I had my fit.
I then introduced myself, complimented his fashion sense, and explained what
was so funny.  He was Raymond Dennehy, retired Navy, confirmed bachelor, and
a classic 60's rapscallion to boot.

We joshed for a bit as we walked outside.  At the end of our conversation he
got into a jet black Corvette with luscious curves, music wafting out the
window.  He raised one finger to his temple, flicked it out at the same time 
that he winked, and then did a stately squeal out of the lot.  

8^)

Capturing things like *that* would make the whole shebang worthwhile...

} I have a friend who's just moved there to take up some teaching positions.
} Very bright. My daughter's best friend from college, Erik.

Would you like to setup an e-introduction?  I'm always up for meeting new
people, especially ones that come well recommended.  

} I've never seen this musical, which was a complete flop when it finally hit
} the stage after being only a recording for a long time.

The production was actually pretty nifty.  The theatre was not very well to
do, so they tried some innovative stuff.  In particular, the bulk of their
"stage craft" involved translucent screens backlit by projectors, allowing
not only a wide variety of scenery but also its quick change.  They also had
triangular columns each with a different textured face, and they established
several different "feels" with them, from walls to entryways, etc.  All in
all, well designed and well executed. 

} To find out if there's been a musical, I'd suggest contacting American Musical
} Theater. Can't remember where it is. I have a friend who would know if any
} similar thing has ever hit Broadway. Will ask him next time I see him.
} Besides, what difference does it make if it's already been done. Do you know
} how many "Phantom" musicals, ice-skating shows, etc. there are? Will yours be

Well, first off, if someone else has done one, then I want to see it!  ;-)
The difference is, if their version captures the essence of the Odyssey then
there is less reason for me to create one, save for the personal satisfaction
that it would bring me.  My goal is just as much the sharing of the work
with others as my own creative urge.  The latter I can fulfill in many other
ways. 

} a rock musical or?

Right now I have little conception of the music, though what little I can
hear is more symphonic than rock.  I was very impressed by Hedwig and the
Angry Inch, though, a rock musical that is playing off-Broadway in NY.
However, they not only had a contemporary setting to their story but also had
two rock musicians as characters!  Which, of course, was the perfect
dovetailing with the rock aspect of the music.  

A techno musical?  A capella musical?  Hmmm...