Fear No Adventure

Bits and pieces are coming together to make a greater whole.

Last time I ended on a note of aggravation with the improv auditioning that I've been going through recently. I actually had two more auditions a couple weeks back and heard back from them both recently, with another audition happening tomorrow that I may or may not attend. Of course I didn't make it into the late-night show, Uncle Mike Ruins Christmas. And it would have been so much fun. But, and I'm sure you saw this coming, I got accepted into Ian Shempp's Shades of Grey. Holy cow, let me repeat that: I got a part. Its not a big part, but theres the old thespian saying, "There are no small parts, only small actors" so I'm gonna knock this thing out of the park. The show is going to get started in January, and we've already begun the rehearsal process. I'm overjoyed to finally have made the next step. I will of course be absent from the quarterly meeting tonight where I would for the first time be able to stand up and say, "Eli Boer, volunteer for years and first time cast member".

I've been playing a lot of games recently. I forgot how much I love games. World of Warcraft is great and all, but I've already got a job. I've been getting a little more competitive with Magic and I started playing Go with Nick a little bit. I've also been doing online versions of both chess and Scrabble with friends. Games are great. I hope I never neglect that part of my personality again.

The job that I have now is working at the Kuan Yin teahouse in Walllingford. Its a low-stress, low-pay job. About the most eventful thing thats happened so far was pouring a pot of boiling water on my hand. That was an unfun evening. Hopefully I'll recover non-painful-gripping ability soon. If you're in the area, feel free to drop by. Its a great little place with cheap, good tea.

I'm considering remounting a play I did a little while ago, I hope it isn't just a pipe dream and it actually happens. Rope deserves a better production than it got last time.

What could possibly be so monumental as to merit a return to this place? Harry Potter.

I vividly remember how I got into Harry Potter. It was summer camp, a quick search tells me it must have been 2000 (the year the 4th book came out) and I was reading over the shoulder of my seat-buddy. I knew about "Harry Potter", but I was a Lord-of-the-Rings-His-Dark-Materials-True-Game kind of kid, and it just didn't seem to jive with me. But one 15 minute bus ride worth of stolen reading and I was hooked. I got the book from my friend and read during our entire field trip. I read it twice in a couple days. I was 12. I went and in quite the literary binge got all four of the then-released books and read them in short order. I was hooked.

Tonight I finished reading the last book in the series. I don't really know how to deal with the ensuing emotions. This always happens when I finish something I'm attached to. My admittance to being "kind of a pussy" when it comes to "reading and stuff" warranted a hug from Mrs. Jaeger (how inappropriate, she knows I'm in love with her). Its just hard for me to say goodbye to anyone, let alone characters whom I've bonded with for so long! I finished reading the book at Jet City, and I'm glad I wasn't at home, because I probably would be in a depressing emotional state if I didn't have friendly people around. There is so much in Harry Potter, such a rich universe. Thats what always draws me in. Thats what Tolkien, Tepper, Jaques and Rowling all do. They pull the reader, and apparently me more than others, into their world. I just need to give it time to settle.

In other news, I've been rejected repeatedly by improv groups. I'm getting a little tired of the line, "It was really close, and you made it to the final cut... but we can't offer you a position this time around..." But theres a time and a place to complain about that. I'm not discouraged, much, and I'll just keep soldiering on. Good will to all men tonight, I'm going to bed.

Dear internet, its been years since we talked! Well, "year" technically, but whose keeping score? Plenty has happened and I'm almost at a loss on which things to fill you in on. The fact that I've been keeping most of my interaction in the real word and out of the Matrix is a good sign, I think.

I just stand at a crossroads and figured it might be a good time to make a note, for posterity's sake. I've been, in my first year out of high school, been having to deal with the unpleasant realities of what a can and cannot do. Apparently, I cannot do chemistry. I have flunked (essentially) three times. I don't know what to make of this. Apparently, however, I can do improv. One of those things that managed to happen in our long silence is that I took and finished and improv class from one of the improvisers I look up to the most, Ian Schempp. That was pretty brute. Oh, that's new slang, I made it up a little while back. Anyway, this lead to sort of the completion of my Jet City immersion, so now I rarely miss a show and am even going out for auditions next Tuesday. That's right, auditions for the troupe itself. And that scares me. I can only think of one other audition I've ever done, and that one wasn't even really an audition. I am bolstered, though, by the nice things that some of the members of the JCI community have said. For instance, Ian saying that I was one of the "fall back guys, who know what they're doing" was amazing. Also, just yesterday, Graham stopped me and told me that any troupe I did end up with "could only benefit". Considering I've held Graham up as an improv prodigy for years I basically blushed, kicked my shoes and said 'Aww, shucks Grah-ham!" It was the nicest thing anyone's said to me in recent memory. And really, at this point, getting cast at Jet City would be a dream come true. I would be thrilled if they even said, "That was good, come talk to us in a year". But, for the time being I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

For some reason, it seems like my idea of being a doctor is sort of falling away. This summer I'm signed up for another class from Ian (performance series, heck yeah!) as well as another tour of 'Nam, er,  YSW. As usual I'll be filling in the villain in our show of King Lear. Edmund the Bastard, here I come. I love those sympathetic villains. The theater thing has just been taking up more and more time. And as I see myself failing to excel in math and science classes, I can only help but think that maybe medicine isn't the path for me.

As far as work has been going the Dahn Mu Do thing came and went. Working there was fine, but they were really looking for someone who wanted to invest in a career and that's just not something I can do. I've been trying to hit the gym and sparring mat when I can, but its just one of those things that seems to slip through the cracks when you're spending 10+ hours a week at a theater. I'm certainly not low on things to fill you in on, social goings-on or romantic trysts but I think I'll leave you with my simple hope: I hope that the future is as bright as it seems like it could turn out to be. Ah, hope.

My Dad and I woke up early today to come out to Port Townsend for Thanksgiving dinner. Stopped on the way to see a little bit of family, and made it to Jean, Alan and Corvus' home by noonish. We didn't really have a sit down dinner. But thats okay, the food was still good, and I've missed my cousin. Not noticing things until they're gone and all that rubbish.

Observing myself I've found that I tend to get rather melancholy around this particular holiday. It doesn't seem to happen with any of the others, I love Christmas for instance, but for some reason I always get a little blue around Thanksgiving, I suppose thats what the holiday is for, to remind me, us, that there really are things worth being thankful for. So, I'll complete the annual ritual:
-I'm thankful for my family.
-I'm thankful for my cousin Corvus, who I appreciate more as we go.
-I'm thankful for my Dad, who tries his hardest to take care of me.
-I'm thankful for my friends, who are my second family.
-I'm thankful for my old friends, who have stuck with me through thick'n'thin.
-I'm thankful for my new friends, who I'm growing more attached to as the days go by.
-I'm thankful for the crazy girls, who will always be a part of my life.
-I'm thankful for the sane girls, who give me stable ground to stand on.
-I'm thankful for my health.
-I'm thankful for the roof over my head, and the food on my plate.

I think that pretty much covers it. I hope no one else has to feel bad tonight, I would be trying to cheer them up. No one should be lonely on a holiday.

I think that keeping my entries in this to about one a month is where it should be. The internet is a terrible place to spend your time.

I spent my time, for the last two days, in a Dahn Mu Do class a the HUB on UW campus from morning to night. I can see how people can think its a cult. It combines two usually exclusive ideas. Martial arts and spirituality. People expect to pay for any sort of physical activity. You pay for martial arts classes, you pay for rock climbing, you pay to go snowboarding. People don't pay to go to church. Thats where people get confused. They think because you pay for DMD that you're paying for a spiritual experience. That, and it has a few activities that are sort of unnerving on the surface, but thats another story. In the past few days it has struck me as very analogous to Unitarianism, that is, in that its a place for young people to get together and be accepted. There is no embarrasment at Dahn centers. And I used to be such a good cynic.

The idea of people coming back from college for Thanksgiving is very exciting for me. I'll get to see Ali! If I can pry her away from the rest of the awaiting masses that is. Oh, I miss her. Speaking of missing people, I just feel that its worth noting that any system that can get me back in contact with certain people is a good one.

Breaking news! Fraternities are not the devil! I know, I know, but stay with me for a second. Back at Halloweenish time Julian told me I should come to a party at the Frat House of Phi Delta Theta. So, I did. The guys are great. I got all their jokes, they got all of mine. Even dorky comic-book ones! They really (I mean it) want me to rush (that is, join the frat). Unfortunatly that is somewhat kabosh'd by the fact that I'm not actually enrolled at the UW right now. I guess I'll just have to wait until I am. My life plan is getting so complicated, and more countries keep getting added to my list of places to hit on my Grand Hajj.

So, I'm in a positive place right now. Thats good. I hope I can make it last.

Oh internet, its been a while hasn't it? Looking back I don't think we've even spoken since the beginning of September. Well, a lot can happen in a month. Small things includer getting a new cellphone, a new video card for my computer (read: being able to play games again) and reading a lot more. Snow Crash, that Dad gave me? Fantastic. One of my favorite books now I think. I've also gotten back into music. I never really got out of music, but I was stagnating. I've been getting my paws on lots of new stuff lately. Legally too, I suppose thats something new as well. Now, let me think of big ones.

I missed the Dahn Mu Do trip to Sedona, Arizona where I could have met the founder of my art because I couldn't get the time off from work. That upset me. So I put in my two weeks notice at work. That was only just recently though, so I've still got a little time left at Fred Meyer's and then I'm gone. Guess where I'll be working after that? AT MY DOJO. Thats right, I get to quit retail to go and work martial arts. I'm pretty stoked about that.

Calder's production of Merchant of Venice has started. Originally I was slated to portray Old Gobbo and the Duke of Venice, but then I pointed out that they both appear in a perticular scene. That might be awkward. So we're gonna figure something out. But the cast isn't too bad, and just from a couple meetings I can tell Calder is going to be a great director. Hopefully everything will work out and I'll be encouraging people to come see it.

I've had a resurgence of JCI. Working retail for between 30 and 40 hours a week kind of put the kabosh on me spending much time there. I've been making time latley. This includes, but is not limited to, creating the winning video of the 2006 Cupcake Video Challenge. Julian and I created a little nugget of awesome, and in return we won a giant foam cupcake, a shirt enscribed with our winning-title, and the ability to get in free to Cupcake for the rest of '06. I'll let you, internet, know when the video is up on YouTube so you can see it. Julian and I are very, very happy that we won.

Oh and, just in passing, I went to go see Bob-muffkin-Dylan last night. Live. That was cool. The guy was obviously having fun on stage. All the songs that I recognized were really different than the studio versions, possibly because Dylan didn't pick up a guitar the whole show, but thats okay. It was still an experience. Amazing to see an icon like that so close.

I think the point of greatest interest to me in the recent months concerning school is that for once, I am actually excited to go back. The banners and advertisments of pencils and backpacks and such don't get me down.

I want to learn.

I've been working pretty steadily. That and the usual social activites are taking up most of my time. Jessica is helping me set a plan in motion to get myself a raise at work. Its not really a plan so much as a check-list of items to make sure that I get done at work. I've topped the efficacy chart for days when none of the prodigae are working. That is, Yusuke or Andrew. Andrew is the new hire who is somehow beating Yusuke in IPM. He's gotta be cheating.

So, when I went to visit my brother we always listened to his music in the car. We were both singing along to the Clash and he says to me, "You know, your mom is a big Clash fan..." and I say "Oh yeah, well you mom is a big Clash fan!" Suffice to say, I'm getting more Clash into my collection of music. There was a time not too long ago, when a certain Clash song was almost verbatim how I was feeling at the time. They literally said what I wanted to. I had the same experience the other day with Train in Vain. They just seem to get me.

I've been playing more console games than usual. I spose that means the PS3 is in my future.

Hopefully I can get a new phone and get all these cell-phone woes behind me pretty soon.

I think that if I had more time I would be reading more. Dad gave me his copy of Snow Crash, and its just been sitting on my desk. Its a classic. And I'm partial to them. I've also been getting more comic books. I missed them. The comic community is pretty neat. Talk to people in the shops, online, etc.

Okay my filthies, Eli out, for now.

...is such sweet sorrow.

Heres to all my friends who are departing for different walkes of life. Ali to tha' 'chusettes, Marrissa to NY, Allison to Minnesota, Claireis, everyone is going somewhere. Good luck to everyone, I promise to keep in touch.

I've been meaning to put up pictures from my trip with Aaron to the Seattle Tattoo Expo. So here they are:


Thats the entrance. It was down at the Seattle Center. I'm taking this picture from basically the fountain. Thats it.


Just as I was going in we caught this guy, he just got a mandrill on his leg. I think its pretty neat.


The crowd at the expo. I think this was during the "worst in show" competition. One guy had a tattoo of a young fellow forcibly fornicating a lamb. Interesting stuff...


Some expo gals with their friend getting inked.


First in a set of chick's with back work. This one is my favorite.


Two of three girls with back tats. I think this is pretty nice, and the girl was super friendly.


My least favorite back tattoo. It probably has some signifigance to her, at least I hope so.


This guy had some really neat tats, but I couldn't get a clean shot since he was getting more work done.


Skinny little asian guy getting a pretty cool heart tattoo. It was pretty impressive in real life.


This is Jason, he was my artist at Deep Roots.

Lord does a job take up your free time. You never really realize that you're taking all that time for granted until its gone. I suppose thats what 'taking it for granted' means, but thats just how it is. I've been working a lot. I'm making enough money, for now.

The best, and worst, thing about the job is the people. I get to work with almost all cool people. I also get to meet some really fun customers. I've been working there for just over a month, and I've already got regulars. Theres this one crazy woman who talks to me (she's really nice) about random stuff. Theres also this cute couple that comes in late at night. Oh, I also had this huge black man come in, and refer to me only as "Big Man". It was something along the lines of:
How're you today?
Good, big man.
(Okay...)Plastic bags okay?
Yeah, thats fine, big man.
Et cetera. He was pretty comedic. Him and his two little kids. I hope he comes back. Oh, but then, there are the customers who are total asses.

So, I found a new martial-arts place. Dahn Mu Do, on the Ave. Its the place to be. I'm really getting into it. Its martial tai-chi. I loves it.

Since I'm getting sleepy, ley me finish off with some pictures.


Thats some swords that Julian got me from San Fran. They're super cool.


Thats not only my bright-ass hand, but the blade to the above katana.


And thats my tattoo that I got.

So, I'm down to my last week here in beautiful Minnesota. So far I have:
-Been to a funeral
-Been to a wedding
-Had lunch with a Suicide Girls model
-Shot off fireworks in an unsafe manner
-Watched a large number of movies, including a high percentage of asian horror movies
-Lost a record amount of money (for me) in poker
-Played physical video games (think Donky Konga and DDR kinda stuff)
-Bonded with my brother like I've always wanted to.

Its been great. I really hope we can squeeze every last drop of fun out of this last week. I still have to do something with Max, and there are a few things Nate and I are still planning to do. He and I are going to go see Pirates (since I got homesick and jelous when all my friends 'back home' got to go at midnight), and theres a bookstore that we're apperently going to stop by so I can pick up the last Sherri Tepper trilogy that I'm missing. I also think it would be pretty lame to come all the way out here and not go to the Mall of America, considering its a stones throw away.

I'm positive I'll look back on this trip happily. Even though I miss all my friends and family in Seattle. I'll see you soon! Just one week and one Canadian music festival away now.

People always talk about 'defining experiences'. This trip is one of those, I can feel it. Staying with my brother is amazing.

To start off, his girlfriend Jenny is great. She's like the older sister I never had. Only, without any inhibition. We've talked about drugs (more on that later), sex, rock and roll, the whole deal. I really hope she and my brother can make it work for a long, long time. My brother. Where to start with that guy. He is absolutly cool. He's lived it. And come out the other side. I look at him and know that it can all turn out okay. But he's still my brother. I've got so few memories of ihm, and yet, we can share a joke with only a glance and a couple words. We can talk about family issues, including what I've always thought about and he's been dying to tell me about my parents, and everything. I absolutly love this.

Its a shame Jess died. Well, not really, just that it had to happen now. I'm glad I'm here to support him, but it does kind of put a damper on my trip. Get to see the kids tomorrow. Er, thats my brother's kids. My niece and nephew.

I told y'all I would have some pictures for ya, so here we go. I figure, the best place to start is where I've been spending my time. I basically boggarted the "den" of the house that Nate, Jenny and Jim (their roomate) live. That means I got the computer, TV, and all the cool toys. Heres some pictures.


Nate's den. Thats the computer. Note the cool-ass things on the mantle above the fireplace. No pansy-trophies for my brother. Only dolls and toys.


Yeah, I been sleeping on a couch. Deal with it. Its comfy as hell. Really. Like, this couch, is worthy of bearing my body each evening. Also, note the delicious corpses of hundreds of "Freezies" (read: Otter Pops). Its on, baby, its on.


TV, surround sound, more badass toys. Not a lot to say really. Its big though. And large.


My brother's DVDs. Damn. I thought that Sarah's house had a lot of movies. He's also got a ton of VHS tapes in the other room, but they didn't get a picture since its cold out there. Or I'm lazy, take your pick.


Thats Psycho Suzi's. Ya know, in case you couldn't read. We had a meal there with some punky-type friends of Nate and Jen's. Apperently the application to wait there includes a personality test to get the right attitude for waitresses. Kinda weird. Though, I did notice a large amount of tats on the ervers.

1500 miles later, I'm in Madison. South Dakota. My GOD is it flat as all-get-out here. My grandpeople's house is just the way that I remember it.

I'm already doing my thing where I affect the accents of people I'm around. I sound like my grandparents. I'll call someone in Seattle after I'm done and get back in touch with my voice. Its simple stuff, "Sarry" vs. "Sohry" and "Cahw" vs. "Coow". Whatever, my notation sucks.

I drove a freaking long way. I don't know, driving cross-country is just a little weird. A lot of time to think to yourself when you're driving in one direction for 4 hours. I've given brain-time to my epic (story), my love life, the people I want to surround myself with in social circles, how I want to house myself in the coming years, and played the last oh... 15 years or so back in my mind once or twice.

My relatives are not, what I would call, good conversationalists. The jokes printed on the Pringles (they print jokes on chips now? Okay...) are about as dense as they get. Not that I dislike them. I love my family a lot, really. I think that my main goal in the next day or so when I'm still with my Grandparents is going to be to bond with my Grandfather some. I don't really know the guy that well. That needs to be fixed.

Tomorrow night I'm going to get supper with a bunch of family (Boer family) that lives here in Madison. Then, we head out to Minneapolis. Big brother, here I come.

I miss my friends dearly. I really do.

I shall take some pictures and put them up for web-viewing on Saturday when I get to my brother's house.

So, today... My last customer started by asking if (since he was my last customer) I was going to the bathroom.
No, I'm going home.
Oh, to take care of the bitches?
...Yeah.

Later, he asked if I took my guns on the plane (Yusuke mentioned I was going on vacation). What a crazy guy.

First shift was a short one, and I really could have taken more. Which is saying something, considering I went to bed at 6am and got up at 9am. Spree.

I'm gonna make some mad bank.
Orders of $$$ Business:
-Pay back Julian ($70 + whatever he brings me on poker night)
-Pay back Aaron ($15)
-Buy a laptop ($1000+-)
-Buy a bike ($?)
-Buy my knife ($164.95)

Thats all that comes to mind.

On January 15th, 1988, a star appeared over Swedish Medical Center. Three wise-lesbians rode many blocks to bring the newborn king-of-kings presents of frankensense, a rattle, and a green plush pteranadon.

Enough of that.

I'm starting this journal (backdated, who cares) to give me a place to leave notes for y'all. Like an internet fridge. Here are some guidlines I want to follow herein:

-Don't overpost.
-Don't rely on LJ to communicate, use phone and e-mail.
-Don't post without reason.
-Make comeplete posts, fill in all the boxes so to speak.

That should be enough for now. I'll add more if I feel like it.

Now, to get to living, and not to being on the internet!