impromptu

It turns out I’m only good at planning impromptu events. Who knew? (Other than everyone else except for me. Yeah, yeah.) Chad suggested, last night, as he was walking out the door to rehearsal, that we host a New Year’s party, since we don’t want to venture out of Marin and we have a few friends in the north bay who might feel the same way. I quickly invited Lunesse and Atomicboy, John (who had just fixed my computer) and his fiancÈe Maureen, Alice, Sarah, Chris and Clay, and the rest of the D&D crew. Snacks and wine are on hand, and yet I have only a vague idea of who’s showing up around eight. But hey, Marinites need parties too, and my bathroom really needed a good scrubbing. Here’s hoping wherever you may be, you greet...

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Posted on 31 Dec 2001 | Comments Off

at the end

I wish I could sum up this year. It’s been more than a year, in my life’s skewed timeline. So much has happened. I began co-writing a screenplay with a dear friend I knew only online. I was happily surprised by a party of wonderful people on my birthday. I visited my mom in Chicago, and my digital camera was stolen. I found my current workplace, which is never boring and happily so. My dad and stepmom visited and we went to Monterey for the first time. I survived several near-death experiences, in D&D terms . I visited the desert for the first time. We moved into a house. I met my writing partner in person, after knowing him for years online. September 11th happened, and I still have no words for that. I got a new digital camera. ...

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Posted on 30 Dec 2001 | Comments Off

in my opinion

I’ve got mail. In the mail I’ve got, several people are asking me about two things: one, why I didn’t ‘blog the giant squid story that broke recently, and two, why I have been mysteriously silent about “The Fellowship of the Ring”. For a few days, I didn’t know why. These are two bits of breaking news in my world, and surely if it’s important to me I’d mention it here. Or somewhere. Anywhere. But I haven’t, and I’ve been thinking about why I haven’t, and here goes my theory. I am extremely protective of my opinions. This is not equivalent to “I get defensive about things I like” although that is related. No, this is something deeper, something less tangible than defending my...

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Posted on 29 Dec 2001 | Comments Off

vacation

Now I wish I hadn’t signed up for the HoliDailies thing, although I’ve mostly enjoyed it. These days, Chad and I are spending a lot of wonderful time together, and there isn’t much to report here. I definitely needed this time off work, at home. It’s hard to write compellingly about contentment. Instead, go see The Realm of Lorin, which is the stuff for Chad’s DnD3e campaign we’ve posted on the Web. We’ve been working on it together this week, and I think it’s fleshing out nicely. Whew, two minutes to midnight and I managed it!

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Posted on 27 Dec 2001 | Comments Off

the great parental conspiracy

—–Original Message—– From: Halsted’s Dad Sent: Tuesday, December 25, 2001 1:43 PM To: Halsted Cc: Chad Subject: a true christmas one-act pageant here is the scene–it’s shortly before Xmas and an almost 11 yr old girl has been informed by a blabbermouthed playmate that Santa really does not exist. while getting ready for bed she confronts her father with the awful possibility. he asks her if she wants the truth. with great trepidation she reluctantly nods her head. he tells her that santa is really just her parents. she proceeds to stomp around the room fulminating against the GREAT PARENTAL CONSPIRACY rhetorically asking why “don’t parents just tell kids this in the first place!” What used to be...

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Posted on 25 Dec 2001 | Comments Off

centerpeace on earth

I drove Logo all the way to Castro Valley last night. It was in turns frustrating (other drivers suck) and invigorating (going fast rules). Chad and I went to a party, and I took some pictures, but my party pictures are never as good as other people’s. I think it has to do with having a photographer’s eye, or rather, with not having one. On the phone tonight with my dad and stepmom, I realized just how isolated I feel this Christmas. Twice in two days I have been spoken to in Spanish by men from Algeria. I didn’t even know they spoke Spanish in Algeria. I had forgotten how to say, “I’m sorry, I have not spoken Spanish in a very long time.” Pennsylvania could be right next to Algeria, for as far away as it feels right now....

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Posted on 23 Dec 2001 | Comments Off

resolve

This is my early New Year’s resolution, as it came to me over coffee with my new friend Alice: Visit more often with your short-distance friends, and be more available to your long-distance ones. I think I am regaining lost self-confidence in my ability to be a great friend. Where did I lose that, anyway? Ah yes, I remember now, because this ties in tightly with how hard it is for me to separate others’ opinions of me and my own. By the way, long-distance friends: send me an ICQ message soon. I’m using ICQ for Mac now, and it works, so I need to add you to my contact list again!

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Posted on 22 Dec 2001 | Comments Off

giving

Well, not all of my Christmas shopping is done, but at least the parentals have been taken care of. I haven’t even finished my Christmas cards, so I’m going to work on a few of those before I fall asleep. If it hadn’t been for my present to Chad this year, I’d be somewhat un-merry. Since he’s already found out what it is, I’ll spill: an eight-week course in stage combat for theatre and film. I think I’m more excited about this than he is, although to be fair he’s pretty psyched. As we were walking around the mall tonight, I realized that I hate shopping but I love giving gifts. May this be my reminder to myself for Christmas 2002: make your own presents, dammit!

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Posted on 20 Dec 2001 | Comments Off

realm

I bought a mug from the Celestial Realm Coffeehouse in Birmingham, Alabama. At work, it disappeared from the communal kitchen for weeks, once. It’s just a mug, and I was heartbroken. First of all, the Celestial Realm Coffeehouse no longer exists. I bought the mug from the owner who, while scrutinizing me over the tops of her pink-rimmed bifocals, asked if I wanted to buy the entire coffeehouse. She said she’d make me a great deal on the place, furniture included, freezer and coffee bar too, only several grand. I wanted to, and yet I could not imagine another anchor to Birmingham, not when I was so miserable there without a coffeehouse. Secondly, so many of the precious few good times happened for me in the ‘Realm, the most important ones...

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Posted on 18 Dec 2001 | Comments Off

anticipation

I love anticipation. Impatient as hell, that’s me, but still … the Christmas season still holds real magic for me, because I get to wriggle in anticipation for almost an entire month. It’s not so much about what presents I get, although I do love getting presents. No, it’s much more about what I find for other people, and the satisfaction of getting one person something she or he really wanted. This year, the car has been my Christmas gift. I’ve dragged out this “name that echo” contest because the car itself is an utterly practical gift, despite the fact that I really like it. No magic here; I picked it out myself, and have to take good care of it for the next four years. Its name has been the surprise, and...

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Posted on 17 Dec 2001 | Comments Off