Yes! (not the band)

More people need to say yes. To the strange, to the unknown, to the scare, and the alien. Say yes to the radio, a different pizza at CPK, Natalie Dee (above, brilliant), and everything in between. Here's how I tried to be more yes oriented in the past week. It's not easy. Sometimes you just need things to start. Not endings from past projects; not momentum to keep new irons in the fire turning and burning the night through. Just the simple fate of someone giving you the “yes” to start the next step in your life…

…Sara needs to move down here. The Memphis cast members even thought she was stunning when the saw her yesterday. Yeah, I was flying high with a beautiful girl on my arm at the theater. Sara and I both have agreed that it is just too hard to do this routine of visiting for a few days, having a knock-down-drag-out blast of a good time, and then have to split ways in a mere seventy-two hours. This is no big news flash, but Sara knows the ball is in her court and that I’m game. She is, too, I think—now she’s just waiting for a “yes” from an employer and that’s a hard thing to sit still on. And yet, I’m finding it more and more difficult to sit on the fact that I have a truly wonderful person that I’m dedicated and committed to not by my side. Right now, I live in my apartment, but honestly, I wish it was ours already…

…Meghan leaves this week, which sucks big time. I didn’t really know what to think of Meghan when I first welcomed her to La Jolla a short four months ago. Now, she’s leaving for all the right reasons. No one gives her the time of day at the office for no good reason. People can’t remember her name or even realize that she works for the Playhouse. Her friend count is pretty low. The van she drove out here is now scrap metal and she was evicted from a dirty Pacific Beach apartment with a homeless guy living outside of her window. You’d head back to Georgia too. But through these tumultuous few months Meghan and I have shared the bond not of co-workers, but of people who share a private hell that no one else except the two of us understand. Drinking alone in the hot bar will not be as fun, I can assure you of that. But she just needed to say “yes” to herself. Yes to getting out of a bad job. Yes to wanting to live a life of happiness rather than trying to live up to the idea of a happy life. Yes to going home and embracing the people you love rather than try to make strangers love you. Meghan, I raise this one to you…

…Memphis closed tonight. I wasn’t working and I don’t know if that was intentional. Were these actors my best friends in the world? No, and I would not expect them to think the same of me—at best, we are colleagues of the same employer. This is not to say, however, that I will not miss a few of the folks. James, I was grateful that no matter what happened you kept your cool. Your smile and personal character has been an oasis during this entire run. Best of luck with the agent. Melvin, I love you and your girl, Nicky. You are a talented man with some skills. Keep up the good work because I think good things are just around the bend. And Montego—you are the most professional and courteous actor I’ve ever worked with. Oh, and did I mention you, along with these gentlemen, are master of your craft. You are destined for the sky and I look forward to seeing you perform again. Glad I said “yes” to this job and “yes” to leaving New York in this instance and “yes” to all the extra van runs with each and every one of you. Memphis in New York, just you watch…

…and moving a couch is sometimes the best way to kick start your engine. Or, should I say it’s the best way to re-kick start your engine. Justin called me up, asking if I could bring my truck out to East County with Sam and a few other people. Turns out he needed us to help him move a couch he recently bought into his mom’s second floor. We basically hoisted it on to the top of my truck, angled it vertical, and pushed it up on the balcony that Justin had removed one of the guard rails on. This was good for two reasons:

1. I got to act like a man with other men doing manly things

2. It took my mind off the girl I love leaving early in the evening

The rest of the time we just popped beers, wine bottles, and witty comments about the state of all things under the sun. Justin’s friend Annie took us over to her awesome bungalow in North Park/Hillcrest area. More wine, more beers, more talk. This is just another great argument for saying “yes” to more things. Moving cross country, dating roommates of people you know, and asking for a piece of apple pie from a tough guy in a kilt and skull-n-cross t-shit on Independence Day.

Fuck D.A.R.E. and just say “yes.”