mlgroff

[mlgroff]

DMV And Mass Weed

DMV And Mass Weed

So, if it has DMV in the title, I bet you can see a cliché story coming about waiting in line for hours.

And you would be partially correct.

I now live in California, and I needed to go and get myself a California drivers license. To speed up the process, California allows you to fill out forms online, and have them waiting for you at the DMV. They also let you sign up for an appointment, this…

[mlgroff]

Job Hunting

I have now been in California for two and a half weeks now, and the job-hunting fear has set in. I have been sending out resumes and applications, and I haven’t got one interview yet. The first week was no big deal, the second week was a little annoying. Now, that we are on week three, and it is a short week with Thanksgiving, which means my search will continue into a fourth week. The fear is…

[mlgroff]

The Beatles (The White Album) Super Deluxe Edition

The Beatles (The White Album) Super Deluxe Edition

I listened to the 50th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition of The White Album yesterday and today. I have been waiting for this to come out for some time, as I am a super Beatles fan. Over all, I am very happy with what they put out in this edition.

My first impression is that the remixing of the original album is great. The music on this mix is much sharper, clearer, and also, they pulled forward…

[mlgroff]

To Do List

After I took the kid to school, this morning, I hit on the idea that I should just make a list of everything that I want to accomplish today, and that way I will see that I got something done.

It’s just a mind trick, but it is an affective one.

Of the 10 things that I had on my list, I only have two left to go, and writing is one of the two, so I am checking that one off as we speak.

Another item…

[mlgroff]

Adjusting

Today was my first day of a little depression. With the huge Camp Fire burning to the north of us, we have been covered in smoke, so we can’t go outside as the air is unbreathable. The wife goes to work, the kid goes to school, and I am at home looking for a job, and trying to write.

It was fun for the first few days.

Today, clearly, I hit a wall.

I felt unmotivated, and couldn’t get going on…

[mlgroff]

Traveling Observations

It took us seven days to drive from New York to California. We pretty much stayed on the interstates, except for a pace in Texas and Arizona. Most of the travel writing I have read has always attested to the glory of seeing America on the two-lane highways.

I guess that could be true.

I did spend a time in my early twenties travelling the back roads of East Texas, to visit friends at the small…

[mlgroff]

Parenting Challenges

Today, with the observance of Veteran’s Day, the kid’s school is closed. The wife, on the other hand, had to go to work. That leaves me with the kid.

Back in New York, those were good days to spend together. Since it would be a “treat” that Dad would be home during the week, we’d watch a little extra TV, but then get ready and walk three blocks over to the park. We’d be there for an hour or more,…

[mlgroff]

Where Did the Day Go

Where Did the Day Go

I do get distracted a little too easily. I have been working on writing today, I think out of six hours, I have only written for about one of those.

One hour was for lunch.

I did read a review on a book of Sylvia Plath’s letters, that took an hour.

So… I can account for three hours.

That would mean I have procrastinated for three hours.

I can admit that I got sucked down a rabbit hole of looking…

[mlgroff]

Morning in America

Woke up this morning to the news that there was another mass shooting.

Remember when the big news was the firing of Jeff Sessions?

And remember when the big news before that was Trump’s weird confrontational press conference?

And Remember when before that the big news was the mid-term elections?

I find living in this country now is like having the attention span of a dog looking for a squirrel…

[mlgroff]

A Lot Has Happened

A Lot Has Happened

So… I have been away for a month, and that wasn’t my intention. I have had several life changing events happen to me and my family, and it has taken a bit of time for me to get adjusted to my new reality.

Not that I am trying to be mysterious, but one of the bigger things that has happened is that a decision was made, and the wife, I and the kid have moved to the west coast, and we are…

[mlgroff]

I Just Got Paid

I Just Got Paid

Today, I got paid for writing. It was only five dollars, but this is the first time that I received any money for something I wrote. I have no idea if the piece will ever see the light of day. Maybe, maybe not. This also was the first time that someone was like, “I will pay you at least something for your writing,” and not “the exposure will help your career.”

Living and working in the arts is…

[mlgroff]

Thoughts All Over the Place

Thoughts All Over the Place

There was a boy in my neighborhood that all the kids knew about because he played with dolls. We had to be about seven or eight years old at the time. It was seemed like such a sin, and such an egregious act for a boy to not want to play with boy things. I remember even being confused why someone would want to do that. Like, why would you choose to play with those things, when there are so many…

[mlgroff]

Buying a House (A Bit of a Ramble)

Buying a House (A Bit of a Ramble)

As I feel we all should do, but I have started in earnest, to question all of the assumptions that I was given growing up, and what I think I need to accomplish as an American adult. Full disclosure, I am a college educated white male who has unquestionably benefited from white privilege in America. For today’s episode, I would like to look into the idea that I need to buy a home in the suburbs.

[mlgroff]

Walking New York

I have been taking walks in the City again. I just seem to be finding myself doing it. Such as, I get done having a drink with a friend, and instead of heading to the subway and going home, I just decide to walk to the next stop. Or walk around the stop and see the neighborhood. Sunday I walked down Columbus Ave, down in the 80’s, just to look at the place.

I have gotten into a rut in this City.…

[mlgroff]

That Judge Thing

The Republicans have made a deal with the devil to get Kavanaugh on the Supreme Court. This is the gross world we live in, but there is just about nothing that could have happened yesterday that would have stopped his approval. The goal has been five conservative votes on the court, and it didn’t matter how it happened, but the Republicans will do anything to get the five votes. And that’s the…

[mlgroff]

Thoughts

I have been so conflicted since I got back from the tour of the puppet show. Most of it has to do with the closing show blues. You get so close to a group of people, seeing them every day, and working with them. It’s like friendship with a very clear purpose or goal; Get the show open. And it was a really great cast. We all got along, and it was a very professional and laid-back group. We had a…

[mlgroff]

Day After the Election

Day After the Election

Well… The primary election thing didn’t really work out the way I thought. Both of the people I supported failed to secure the nomination. I guess it is still democracy in action even when your candidate doesn’t win.

Last night, as we were finishing up rehearsal, which happened to be right after the polls closed, the whole cast and crew gathered around a phone to see the early return results. All…