At 12:01 as this year broke I predicted that it was the year of "letting go" it certainly been that for me. Certainly there has been much to count along the way... and often the act of letting go was a positive act essential in moving on. I can say the funnest part of that night was sharing it in the company of friends.

It was a year that saw my return as a playwright with a new play (the first new one in 5 years) that was pretty successful at this year's Rogue selling out 3 of the 5 slotted performances. Personally and professionally I was most pleased with the newer direction my writing took... thanks to my muse. Though in this business the material can only be as good as the talent presenting it. Dionysus filled my cup to the brim with this team of talent that was a pure joy to work with. Oh yeah... and I sold the play to boot.

As the month of March passed... just as one friend was leaving I was reconnected with another as chronicled by this post. This reacquainting allowed me to revisit the first musical I ever wrote 27 years ago. Rewriting through the internet proved to actually be a viable means to conduct business. New songs were written... major sections in the script were fixed and all this culminated in a successful run of the show half way across the world.

So professionally those were a couple of big counts. Someone asked me a few days ago if I was going to count the Horizon Award that I was a recipient of. Yes, but more so for those who turned up to share the evening with me and for those I share the award with.

You see, with all the letting go that occurred this year (and there was a lot of it) it was people who counted most. There were dark, doubtful and uncertain times I faced... and often felt quite helpless... but it was the kindness of friends and strangers that pulled me through. I was brought up to be pretty independent so one of the biggest things I had to let go was my prideful reluctance to accept help. And hopefully I accepted it with grace. At times I felt like George Bailey with all the blessings that wonderful folk bestowed upon me... including you who come by my blog. And for that I thank you all... everyone of you. I really could not have done it without you... and in all the ways you have brightened up my life.

So, all in all... it has been a year rich with counts. My hope is yours was too.

... of people I know. (Had to use that one for the rhyme scheme... but it does relate to the post.) I ran into a couple of guys last night who informed me that they were leaving town soon for other pastures. It will be sad to see them go but we all gotta do what we gotta do, right? Still, a part of me yearned for them to stick around for just a little more. Sometimes I think I'm a bit of a Gypsy magnet.

Ever since I can remember this has been a constant in my life. People come into my life, I get to know them quite well and eventually they move on. I have always appreciated and been enriched having known them though... but as a child this social revolving door always crushed me a little inside. As I grew older and the pattern repeated I began to accept it as a constant... a part of life for everyone. But is it? On closer observation this is may not necessarily be true for a better part of the population. I know and know of several people whose lives... at least within a social context remain constant for eons. Sure, there may be a few "ebbs and flows" in their lives but for the most part once a social structure has been established there is very little to change (sometimes over a span of 20 to 30 years) except for the march of time. Really, I have been to gatherings at their homes where I have felt that certain "things don't change a lot here in Mayberry" sort of feeling... a certain and comfort and dependability that is... well, nice. (Looking back... my average is 3-5 years of "somewhat constant".)

Now stalwart friends of mine may take issue with this post especially if they still remain in contact with me at present... but even they have moved on in many ways at least within the social context of life. Yes, we still do get together and enjoy... even relish doing so but it is different (and not as frequent). I am not saying that this is good or bad... just different. Perhaps it's because I do meet a lot of people in the nature of what I do. Plus, my work usually (OK, almost always) dictates a natural intense (and rather quick) intimacy be forged. However, I am at a loss to explain this higher rate of social "turn-around" in my earlier life. Tis a befuddlement... perhaps it is true that I am a Gypsy magnet.

Whatever the case, I have long ago accepted that this is so. I guess sharing some time and experiences with many is better than not sharing time at all. This ebb and flow continues to carve a richness into my life and that is nothing to complain about.

Last night was dedicated to watching network TV. It's not something I usually do. I used to but fell out of the habit several years ago just because my schedule dictated otherwise. Heck, I even subscribed to cable TV once or twice a long time ago. Anyway, I digress.

Over the last few years I will pick out something from the new season and follow it the best I can. Last year it was "Heros"... the year before that it was "Medium"... etc. So, last night between catching up via online and repeat episodes these are the shows I watched and my present verdicts on them.

The Bionic Woman - OK, I'll cop to the fact that I watched this because I had a big schoolboy crush with Lindsay Wagner . I have to say that I sort of like the direction the new one is going in. Though I think it may suffer comparisons to "Alias". The first couple of episodes were not bad in setup and it may be worth watching where it goes from here. VERDICT: An off and on MAYBE... though this may be exclusively via internet reruns.

Journeyman - Once again, I have been intrigued by time travel TV series since the days of Time Tunnel. The first 2 episodes look promising and there is intrigue built in as to why this is happening to this guy (and how he keeps running into his ex-girlfriend in his travels.) VERDICT: I'll give it 3 more episodes to hook me.

Moonlight - A vampire private detective. A fun premise though I was not too impressed with the storylines of the first 2 episodes (the second especially.) I can only hope it does not go into the cheesy direction of "Ghost Whisperer." VERDICT: This may become an off and on guilty pleasure... unless it fizzles out.

Pushing Daisies - A guy has the ability to bring dead people back with a touch. The second touch sends them back to death (unless a minute pasts and then someone else within proximity bites the dust.) The visuals are amazing and it is quirky and a tad surreal... just the way I like it. Here is conflict... he brings the love of his life back and can't touch her. VERDICT: Yes, I think this is the winner of regular watching.

BTW... is anyone keeping count on how many Brit actors (playing Americans) are in the new TV fare this season?

A full night's sleep. No dealing with the hot and cold. No running to the toidy. No waking up and wanting to hit the sack again or at least needing to with a heavy aching head. A full night's sleep... something we all take for granted until it is snatched away for some reason or another. I finally got one last night.

Whatever this was it hit me hard. Oh, I'm still not out of the woods yet (still a wee wobbly on my feet too) but I do spy evidence of the meadow up ahead. I used to be a sickly child. Then from early adulthood till now didn't got sick rarely (I count allergies more of an environmental affliction than illness) but when I do catch a cold or some other thing... it hits hard. I have come to consider it as a reminder of our mortality... a reminder of making the best of what we have... and what we have left.

And why stale cigarettes, Lecram? I saw getting sick as an opportunity to quit smoking. Cigarettes taste the foulest when one is ill. Case and point... there is a pack sitting in front of me that was purchased on Sunday. Only 7 had been smoked... and stale cigarettes are the absolute vilest tasting things in the world. Here's hoping enough of the physical addicting toxins have also been purged from my system.

I think that's a lot to count.

To find out what Da Count is all about click the flashing sign.

I do have to admit that there was a little ego gratification as I walked through the door at the Exit Theater and Richard, the co-producer of the SF Fringe announced (albeit tongue in cheek) "The Rogue is Here! The Rogue is Here".

I have been going up to the Fringe for years... first as an independent producer, then an audience member, then as producer of the Rogue and now back as an audience member. We are now professional friends. I know many of the regular performers and the producers... in a way, it has become my creative home away from home. I still feel like a welcomed guest and there is an easy casualness amongst all of us.

This was Solitaire's first time and I'm pretty sure from the time we hit the ground in the city her high expectations were exceeded. First by the welcoming reception at the Exit then at the performance of "The Sewers" where we had arranged to meet the lovely Mia and her beau Julian. To say that she was shell-shocked by the content, style and level of performance could easily be an understatement. It really was a wonderful show. I have followed the progress of Banana, Bag & Bodice for years and from the creative standpoint... they did not disappoint.

We also met up with my friend Tiffany and her friend Jose who joined us on this first night romp. We gathered at The Chieftan, a pub down the street from The Garage performance space for a drink then migrated to Original Joe's where we were to meet up with APJ and Steve. Once again, the news spread that the Rogues were present and both APJ and Solitaire were bombarded with questions about our festival. All of this groundwork was laid out both by Steve and Mia who (apart from being wonderful hosts) had already spread the news of of our presence and introduced us to performers (who after being given an effusive work over by Solitaire's pitch) bare now seriously considering applying for the Rogue.

We closed down Original Joe's and ran into the cast of The Sewers who invited us to join them for drinks at Frank's... a little dive down the block. There was more chatting and drinking and we finally (admittedly a little drunk) hit the hotel at 2:30 ish in the AM.

I was happy that I had forced and been forced to attend this year.

There'll be a vlog coming soon on more of the

This week... my count is in this song.



If you want to know what Da Count is all about... click the the flashing sign at the top of this post.

no internet for me this weekend

I'm swearing off it, I tell ya! I am taking no laptop and have banned myself from any internet cafes I might trip upon.

Arrangements have been finalized and I AM going up to SF for the Fringe! (Of course, barring any unforeseen circumstances.) OK... truth of the matter is... I am going to see shows up at the Fringe but this trip is more of a break for me. There are telltale signs why I need one.

1. I've been muttering to myself of late. (But Lecram... you do that anyway.)

2. I've been muttering back to my muttering. (crickets chirping)

3. I break out into song while doing the laundry... in time with the spin cycle.

4. The phrase "I don't wanna" has crept into every third sentence I speak.

5. The neighbor's cat has stopped hanging out at my place just to drive my dogs crazy... and I'm convinced that this is a sign of the apocalypse.

So... I'll post on Friday and you won't see me till Monday. So there!