Missions Accomplished

I have been working nonstop for the last seven days on a draft of a client manuscript that I finally turned in. What I want is sake and shrimp tempura rolls, but I'll have to settle for a shot of the Brugal in the pint Wood left behind and whatever I can cook up in my kitchen.

The rest of the week I'll be working on the long-awaited pass of my new screenplay. After that it's the treatment for my documentary and the obligatory follow-up ideas that I might be asked for in meetings about the given new script once this strike is over. Please God let me see this script this year. It would make the rocky road I've traveled these past few years all the worth it.

They sent me a replacement for the day yesterday, a lovely Boriqua lady who let me know a few very important things. The first was that I was completely right about trying to 86 the few kids that were behavioral problems (She even agreed to give me a hand in the process). Second, with my kids all together and doing a creative project (Valentine's poems) I learned that I had a few writers and actors in the room and that there were some fun things I could do with those skills. Third, I brought along a copy of Dark, as our field trip for the day to a local library got canceled because of how cold it was. They were dead silent while I read every somewhat edited word from the first chapter. I'm going to start doing readings twice a week. Next up, Parable of the Sower.

And last, I'm actually a little happy that my co-teacher quit. Now I'm pushing for someone who's not afraid of these kids, someone who understands that the way to reach them is not just to "try and make them love you." So I wasn't as wrong and ill-equipped as I thought. I should make it through this week and I have Monday off next week. Moving along. Moving along.

As of next Monday I'll only have three more episodes of the The Wire before it's all over ( I know Millicent is welling up right now). Ifaniyi has been smoking the entire series trying to catch up. Even Negarra is back on Season Four duty. It's crazy that it's all ending, that from here on in, like other favorite shows of mine, it will all be reruns. As it's the only thing I'm watching now I guess I'll be reading books for awhile. Right now I'm finishing up Bangkok Tattoo by John Burdett, the sequel to a dope novel call Bangkok 8 I believe I endorsed some time ago. I really need to go to Thailand. Or I at least need to have some serious Thai food. Either are welcome on any given day of the week.

My Dad used to talk about going to Thailand when he was younger, back when I was still a boy and he was around the age I am now. Ever since I've always pictured us there, as well as in Ghana, and Tokyo and Brazil. The funny thing is that we never made it to any of those places. I don't think traveling is as big of a deal to him anymore. He's one of those guys who lives for routines (A typical Virgo).

A woman I know told me recently that to her "I want it all," a full life experience. At first I thought she meant that I was being greedy. But I was wrong. She was trying to say that I wanted my whole life to be as fulfilling as it could be. Sure 99 percent of people never get that. But a good 85 percent of those folks don't even try.

I'm looking forward to the Friday coming soon where me and the homies do have sake and sushi at cheap prices. I am looking forward to Spring, where ladies in lovely leather boots are eclipsed by shorts skirt and the gleaming of moisturized thighs, the curves of perfect derrieres swingings from left to right beneath waist-length jackets.

I am looking forward to finishing this gig and that call that's never come from my manager where she says that this script is the best thing that I've ever done. But it all comes in due time I guess. Shoutout to Stephani for the lecture.

Someone wrote notes in one of my copies of Dark at my house, someone who knows a hell of a lot about me and home and one of my very first lovers. But I don't know who it is. And that's killing me. Maybe she'll come forward. Maybe she'll show her face as I've mentioned her here. But then again that would be too easy. Out.