Costumes

Tis the day!   Halloween 2016.  Time for costumes, makeup and masks.  Love it.

Personally, the Halloween thrill is gone simply because I'm not a kid anymore and my kids are grown.  I've yet to feel the proxy fun that grandkids supply,  I think it's one of the reasons I like acting though.

I usually had a hand if not concept for my costumes as a kid.  One was a cowboy character all in black.  I had a real gun rig but used a six shooter bb gun.  Imagine that now lol!e

Always loved movies/tv.  And more, in that I was interested at an early age in many of the factors which contribute to the whole.  True of most things I have studied.

Of course, besides westerns, war movies etc, I love monster/sci-fi flicks.  I even gave a morning talk about makeup such as Frankenstein and Wolfman.  Btw, morning talks were something we did every day in grade school.  3-5 minutes each rotating round the class, one a day.  We each spoke several times a year.  Try finding that in public school now lol.

It's the fun of being someone else for a while.  It's pretend, though acting is believing and listening.  That merely means suspending disbelief and getting into the given circumstances.  Mind you, as an actor, one might indeed play a monster, even based on real life.  Play the play then let it go.  Noone should let the character take them over as it were.

For most productions, the costume is the icing on the cake.  All else is ready, then the clothes etc create the external illusion.

I remember the fist play I did in grade school.  I was cast a the Indian leader in a Thanksgiving play.  I even had my own fringed buckskin jacket lol.  My first line was 'Yes.  We will come to your feast'.  Let's don't get too picky re historical accuracy lol.

When the show's over, the costumes and makeup come off and we go home.  Well maybe to a bar to unwind first (not in grade school lol). 

Hope the kids had fun and were careful last night.

Soon, at this crucial time, we must see past the performance.  The rubber hits the road and the truth will rise.

Then the serious 'fun' begins.

Dining

It's a pleasure to go out and about these days.  I've spent a lot of time cooped up writing in my 'garret', my bedroom office.  Mind you , not complete isolation, but plenty of time alone mixed with sorties to the store, library etc.  It's nice to just go out and have a drink, meet people and have something to eat.

Downtown Indianapolis has certainly changed over time.  I've found myself there several times lately and walked around.  I could see the physical changes easily.  Old buildings gone, with new replacements, only bespoke the business unfolding.  More people, the city is growing.  That includes an influx of many new dwellers downtown.  All the 'poor' housing is gone from downtown proper, replaced with rather expensive apartments and condos.  I couldn't live there for sure.

There are still some familiar places.  Certainly, the Monument is still ensconced right in the middle.  Other memorials and parks exist.  Even a few restaurants ad bars have survived.

I've eaten at many establishments over the years, locally and travelling.  From 5 star to mom and pop diners.  You'd be surprised how some rate in my book.  Like people, it depemds on content of character, how it's done.

The other evening, I happened to be at a swanky place, attending a meeting.  It was pleasant, candlelight and low toned music.  People seemed to be enjoying the food and ambience.

We all have to eat. There are all kinds of people.  If you can afford certain trimming, go for it.  Just be careful of those who disparage.

I loathe that 'champion' of the people type who poo poos fancy places and by proxy 'rich folk'.  They tend to be hypocrites like collectivists are.  They put down the exclusive yet covet it.  When they rise to power, they keep such things for themselves, while the people still suffer.

Of course there are those who give the privileged (for that is what they are) a bad name.  Either spoiled kids or arrogant puffs who think the world should bow to them, they use and abuse those around them.  Check out my previous post Boss Worm for some specifics.

If you are well off or even fantastically wealthy, you must seek to understand others.  Whether born into wealth or having earned it the hard way, remember others.  Treat them well.

Better look to one's own content of character. 

I know this will fall on deaf ears for some.  There will always be those.  To paraphrase, the arrogant will be with you always -s-.

Appreciate what others do for you.  If they make your life easier, then show gratitude.

That said, our country is supposed to be a land of opportunity.  Let's make sure it is again.

I remember a dinner where it was served by the maid and butler.  One hardly had to do anything but eat.

I recall having Pepsi and gin with a gentleman who befriended a young lady and myself when her car flooded outside his home.

Different circumstances, yet one thing remained.  Content of character.  Hosts who cared.

Worn out broken record term?  Maybe.  But every time true.

Whoever happens upon this, I wish you well in the Light.  If you care about others then you can tend to yourself.

Set your own standards.

Bon appetit.

Boss Worm

We've probably known people who are in a position of authority, bosses, who are abusive.  Or beings who think they lord it over us. 

No one should disparage a good boss, superior officer, etc.  A chain of command is necessary because we are not born knowledgeable.  We have to learn.  From parents to supervisors, we need role models who can point us in a responsible direction.

But those Bertha Better'n Yous, those who betray trust, they are the disease that needs a cure.

I've seen students brow beaten by a power hungry harridan who thought they existed to serve her and her supposed font of 'wisdom'.  When I objected she tried to hold pay I was getting as a consultant and voice actor.  I demanded or I would sue.  Got the pay and I quit. After this, I was blacklisted locally.  Couldn't get a part even in a very amateur production.  They were afraid of her and her hubby, who preyed upon students.

Sound familiar?  I call them B and H lite -s-. 

The similarities are frightening. 

Oh yes.  Her influence locally extended to knowing the director of a temp agency I worked for.  This person blamed me for serial errors at a job, whereas I was the one who corrected them.  She told me someone had to take the blame and they picked me.  Proving this in court would have been costly in more ways than one.  I spread the word of this and other perfidy word of mouth.  Grassroots.

Wanted new headshots.  Found a supposedly reliable photographer.  The pics were horrible.  Looked round at his other work and the pics were fine.  Turns out not only were they neighbors of the harridan and ne'er do well hubs, they were 'friends'.  Birds of a feather.

Managed a small job with a theater.  I never was more abused mentally than during the run.  Stayed because I was damned if I'd let them win/drive me out.  Also I networked successfully.

All this treatment made it easy to leave and seek training/work elsewhere.  I met mentor Bob Wise and friend Pat McGoohan as a result.  There were and are many more.

Thanks to them and family that cared, I'm working at what I want to do in spite of petty evil worms who feed on the flesh of decent honest people.

Funnily enough or maybe naturally, these negative people still hold sway locally.  I'm beyond that of course, but they still practice their bent idea of compliance.

Because of my success and soon to be moreso, I'm a real fly in their ointment.  And I don't seek to thwart them, except with my steady reliable work.  Success is indeed the best revenge -s-.

I loathe bullies and snobs, here there, anywhere.  My advice is stand up to them.

There is always a way round, under, over or through such muck.

Be true to yourself.  Keep your core.  Seek likeminded folks everywhere.

This is true locally, regionally, nationally even internationally and obviously in all of life.

Be the boss of YOU.

Borders

Lotta talk about globalism.  Borderless regions, no longer countries, seem to be the rage.  And at the same time, pitting one group against another.  All part of that NWO twaddle. 

It's simple from the viewpoint of those who would be our masters.  We become nondescript cyphers, told what to do and when.  The petty squabbles resulting from diversity keep the cattle from stampeding.  That was a salient point made in the miniseries Amerika.  The KGB chief said the very same thing more or less.  The States had been divided and partitioned into little pseudo countries and the 'revolts' actually were like letting off steam.  Except, of course, for the actual resistance.

Countering this is nationalism.  Countries with borders and resultant self respect for heritage.  They reach across to cooperate in common cause.  At the crux of this is these united States.  E Pluribus Unum.  Ideally we do this very thing.

In doing so, coming together, we demonstrate the ability to be individuals and maintain individuality.  Otherwise, we are drones, nothings who receive a thrown bone or pat on the head.  It's rather like being a bobble head or a maverick.

Now, something like doctors without borders can be interpreted by Freedom minded or tyranny bent people.  I believe it exemplifies helping people so they can help themselves.  What's in common but not sacrificing what's different, freely given and received.

Do you want self control or mob (manipulated by a few) rule? 

I believe the Founders intended the Republic to be only the start.  This world should become a connected group of sovereign countries, constitutional republics made in the likeness of Freedom in which the States were born. 

It's not forcing 'our' political system on anyone.  It is simply sharing Freedom.

Will it happen?

We need to clean up our borders and within first.