Ok, so I don't have much to report:
On Monday I had the first rehearsal and read through of the script for "FROGWOMAN" with the writer and the rest of the cast. It went VERY well, and the Director is very excited for the project. I've decided to try to build some 50's horror/sci-fi style props for him including a Jacob's Ladder-powered "Electro-Shock Therapy" device. If I can find an inexpensive high voltage transformer from something like an oil-fired furnace or a neon beer sign I'll be set... but we're trying to do alot with limited funds so I dunno....
Speaking of funds, we're getting alot done there. I may of found another car for us on a SMOKING deal on a 1992 Toyota Corolla sedan for only $800!!!! The only downside (not that it's much of one) is that this smoking deal is in the form of a 5 speed manual transmission, and Delores cannot drive one yet. I am sure it won't take much for her to get comfy with it since it's a Toyota Corolla and they're pretty forgiving for new drivers and easy to drive. Besides, a mechanically perfect 1992 Corolla with 160k miles, cold A/C, no accidents, and perfect paint for $800 can't be passed up! But, we shall see on Friday if it's truly worth it. I honestly think it's the best buy right now especially with how insane the prices on used cars are (since most migrant Mexicans are ONLY buying used cars and avoiding dealerships in fear of being outed and deported under the new immigration laws), and the guy is willing to wait till Friday to sell it when we get paid!
**Not actual image of the car, but it looks EXACTLY like this down to the paint, and the car we're buying IS in that good of shape from everything I've seen and heard, and the A/C is said to be ice cold, which is a MUST here and makes the car that much more of a steal!**
My sister also may be able to help us with the SECOND form of transportation we need (Yep, on top of everything, we need TWO autos since mass transit in this city blows more than an ASU sorority freshman... I can say that: I went to ASU and was promptly turned down by those types of girls even while I was in a Frat. Once a geek always a geek...I guess they can smell that or something on a guy...). She said she'd have to check with her job since she works in a high-risk cash environment that requires her credit to be outstanding, but she's interested in co-signing with me on a loan for a new bike!!
The old 2 stroke Genuine Scooter Company "Stella" 150's (Think a modern, custom version of vintage Vespa PX150's) are on clearance since they just released 4 stroke versions, and before the economic crash I sold my old Stella to pay for a move to a new town to take a "dream" job that turned into a nightmare. This for many years was "my" bike, and everyone who knows me remembers meeting me with this bike. It almost became part of my identity. Being without a bike for well over a year now has made me feel less than myself, and it's rather upsetting. It's hard to describe to anyone who doesn't ride. It's sort of like being a musician and not allowed to have a Guitar, or being a Chef and always stuck on a strict diet. It's, in a word... unnatural.
But, if we're not able to do the Stella, there's always a "commuter" cruiser bike such as a Suzuki GZ250. It's no vintage steel scooter, but it'll commute very well, be durable and about the same price, and it's a bike both me and my sister can ride. It's faster than the Stella (75mph top speed instead of the Stella's 55mph top) And, it'll get me on two wheels so I'm happy either way! *IF* she can do this, it would be a HUGE help to us to have two autos!!
Otherwise, I have to deal with my asshole brother and buy his used 2001 Yamaha Vino 50cc (A scooter of smaller size that frankly would be a bit too small to commute to Phoenix and back for rehearsals and shows, since it only does 40 to 45 mph tops) for 800, and he's pestering us to buy it now.
I am NOT going to be rushed by that dick, especially if I have a chance to lock down a good deal on a car for my girl (even though she's paying for it, I want to contribute a little with the mechanical knowledge I have so she's not screwed)
My Court fine for my ticket is due on the 17th. At this point I'm beyond the time needed for traffic school. This also means that unless I apply RIGHT on Monday for the cab gig, I won't be able to drive a taxi ever for 5 years after the ticket is due :| The problem is that I don't know if we'll have enough cash for the ticket AND the car. I think we can do it, but it may be tight. I just feel bad since Delores is working her ass off and it seems we spend it faster than it's coming in. Don't get me wrong: We're not squandering money at all! It's just that we've dealt without for so long that it takes alot of effort to re-buy the things we've lost and to catch up ...AND we moved into a place that's twice as big as our old one and that eats up costs as well.
Hmmm... other than that? Not much. My girl has had some family issues, but they're being idiots and she's better than they are anyways
. We got one of her best friends a cell phone and put it on our plan since her home phone was scheduled to be turned off due to non-payment last Monday, and since we NEVER use the rollover minutes we have, we figured that it was worth the extra 10/month to keep her connected. This also meant I could take advantage of opening a new line to get me a slightly better phone to replace the iPhone I had to sell when I lost my job and had to also move into the new place. Got me a Samsung Solstice touchscreen "featurephone", and frankly... I like it better than the iPhone: No bullshit iTunes, better camera, don't have to pay 3 times the price for a data plan just for the "apple tax" for being on a trendy phone (I only pay $10/month for unlimited data on the Samsung, while AT&T chrages $30/month for the same data), I can move pics and music via SD card, bluetooth or email... something the iPhone cannot do, and the battery on this lasts for over 3 days while my iPhone barely lasted 12 hours! And it was free
Delores 's friend didn't want a fancy phone since she insisted it would just be a pain to use, so I decided to give her my old Samsung A177 (which was a nice full keyboard QWERTY phone and only a little over 2 months old itself) and I took advantage of the new phone. Everybody wins!
Well, that's it right now from the Valley of the Sun (stroke). Still looking for that elusive "day job" if anyone knows anyone hiring a stage manager and theatrical designer who is willing to do anything at this point.
How are you?
On Monday I had the first rehearsal and read through of the script for "FROGWOMAN" with the writer and the rest of the cast. It went VERY well, and the Director is very excited for the project. I've decided to try to build some 50's horror/sci-fi style props for him including a Jacob's Ladder-powered "Electro-Shock Therapy" device. If I can find an inexpensive high voltage transformer from something like an oil-fired furnace or a neon beer sign I'll be set... but we're trying to do alot with limited funds so I dunno....
Speaking of funds, we're getting alot done there. I may of found another car for us on a SMOKING deal on a 1992 Toyota Corolla sedan for only $800!!!! The only downside (not that it's much of one) is that this smoking deal is in the form of a 5 speed manual transmission, and Delores cannot drive one yet. I am sure it won't take much for her to get comfy with it since it's a Toyota Corolla and they're pretty forgiving for new drivers and easy to drive. Besides, a mechanically perfect 1992 Corolla with 160k miles, cold A/C, no accidents, and perfect paint for $800 can't be passed up! But, we shall see on Friday if it's truly worth it. I honestly think it's the best buy right now especially with how insane the prices on used cars are (since most migrant Mexicans are ONLY buying used cars and avoiding dealerships in fear of being outed and deported under the new immigration laws), and the guy is willing to wait till Friday to sell it when we get paid!
**Not actual image of the car, but it looks EXACTLY like this down to the paint, and the car we're buying IS in that good of shape from everything I've seen and heard, and the A/C is said to be ice cold, which is a MUST here and makes the car that much more of a steal!**
My sister also may be able to help us with the SECOND form of transportation we need (Yep, on top of everything, we need TWO autos since mass transit in this city blows more than an ASU sorority freshman... I can say that: I went to ASU and was promptly turned down by those types of girls even while I was in a Frat. Once a geek always a geek...I guess they can smell that or something on a guy...). She said she'd have to check with her job since she works in a high-risk cash environment that requires her credit to be outstanding, but she's interested in co-signing with me on a loan for a new bike!!
The old 2 stroke Genuine Scooter Company "Stella" 150's (Think a modern, custom version of vintage Vespa PX150's) are on clearance since they just released 4 stroke versions, and before the economic crash I sold my old Stella to pay for a move to a new town to take a "dream" job that turned into a nightmare. This for many years was "my" bike, and everyone who knows me remembers meeting me with this bike. It almost became part of my identity. Being without a bike for well over a year now has made me feel less than myself, and it's rather upsetting. It's hard to describe to anyone who doesn't ride. It's sort of like being a musician and not allowed to have a Guitar, or being a Chef and always stuck on a strict diet. It's, in a word... unnatural.
But, if we're not able to do the Stella, there's always a "commuter" cruiser bike such as a Suzuki GZ250. It's no vintage steel scooter, but it'll commute very well, be durable and about the same price, and it's a bike both me and my sister can ride. It's faster than the Stella (75mph top speed instead of the Stella's 55mph top) And, it'll get me on two wheels so I'm happy either way! *IF* she can do this, it would be a HUGE help to us to have two autos!!
Otherwise, I have to deal with my asshole brother and buy his used 2001 Yamaha Vino 50cc (A scooter of smaller size that frankly would be a bit too small to commute to Phoenix and back for rehearsals and shows, since it only does 40 to 45 mph tops) for 800, and he's pestering us to buy it now.
I am NOT going to be rushed by that dick, especially if I have a chance to lock down a good deal on a car for my girl (even though she's paying for it, I want to contribute a little with the mechanical knowledge I have so she's not screwed)
My Court fine for my ticket is due on the 17th. At this point I'm beyond the time needed for traffic school. This also means that unless I apply RIGHT on Monday for the cab gig, I won't be able to drive a taxi ever for 5 years after the ticket is due :| The problem is that I don't know if we'll have enough cash for the ticket AND the car. I think we can do it, but it may be tight. I just feel bad since Delores is working her ass off and it seems we spend it faster than it's coming in. Don't get me wrong: We're not squandering money at all! It's just that we've dealt without for so long that it takes alot of effort to re-buy the things we've lost and to catch up ...AND we moved into a place that's twice as big as our old one and that eats up costs as well.
Hmmm... other than that? Not much. My girl has had some family issues, but they're being idiots and she's better than they are anyways
. We got one of her best friends a cell phone and put it on our plan since her home phone was scheduled to be turned off due to non-payment last Monday, and since we NEVER use the rollover minutes we have, we figured that it was worth the extra 10/month to keep her connected. This also meant I could take advantage of opening a new line to get me a slightly better phone to replace the iPhone I had to sell when I lost my job and had to also move into the new place. Got me a Samsung Solstice touchscreen "featurephone", and frankly... I like it better than the iPhone: No bullshit iTunes, better camera, don't have to pay 3 times the price for a data plan just for the "apple tax" for being on a trendy phone (I only pay $10/month for unlimited data on the Samsung, while AT&T chrages $30/month for the same data), I can move pics and music via SD card, bluetooth or email... something the iPhone cannot do, and the battery on this lasts for over 3 days while my iPhone barely lasted 12 hours! And it was free Delores 's friend didn't want a fancy phone since she insisted it would just be a pain to use, so I decided to give her my old Samsung A177 (which was a nice full keyboard QWERTY phone and only a little over 2 months old itself) and I took advantage of the new phone. Everybody wins!
Well, that's it right now from the Valley of the Sun (stroke). Still looking for that elusive "day job" if anyone knows anyone hiring a stage manager and theatrical designer who is willing to do anything at this point.
How are you?
How are you ?