New York City

A city you step out into the streets and feel surrounded by people. Well, because you are, but I feel this impulse to run around and hug everyone. People exist. They aren't just mad drivers in LA traffic, they're human and all so so different.

Bars close at 4am, some adjusting there, but makes the weekends seem much longer. Well, I guess they are - adds a good chunk of time to your awake-ness.

It's been raining. It is wonderful. Just like the people - it exists. Weather and change and mother nature exists. I love sun and blue skies, I do, but I also love rain, snow and wind. So what? I want it all.

Maybe I'll get annoyed by it, but for now I welcome the humid mist blurring my glasses and puddles making my feet soggy.

Karen's loft has always been a haven for visiting circus performers and friends. And it doesn't stop now. I'm in the upstairs guest attic room, but people still come and go down below, including Karen. If only the walls could talk.

Hawaii for 1 1/2 days

Missed a few posts about travels this past year...but here I go again...

Arrived in Hawaii on May 2nd from LA after packing up my room (my favorite).

The couple on the plane next to me asked if I was going for business or pleasure. I said business, and couldn't help but smile, for I really meant pleasure, but feel beyond lucky for being able to say the former.

After my usual excruciating plane ride ridden with fear, we landed to a breathtaking view out the left windows. I have never seen a tornado (or in this case a waterspout) in my life and there were two, so so close. For some reason I felt no fear.

Then, I met my boss at the car rental, and due to the green shirt and red hair I was told to look for, climbed into a...strangers...car and took off down a highway in Honolulu. Like what any production job or travel adventure feels like, I picked up where I left off with the last person and we casually chatted as we maneuvered in a horizontal downpour full of lighting and car shaking wind.

Reminded me of my first on location film shoot in college. I'd convinced the Producer I knew what I was doing as a Script Supervisor and was picked up in a car full of guys and took off to some cornfield town to stay in a hotel for a week. You just act natural and carry on.

The rest of my day and a 1/2 in Hawaii was a few meetings and doing some work on the balcony of my hotel looking out to the bluest ocean. Met the rest of the crew and scouted the location we would return to film at in a month. Not a bad start to a job, to say the least.

As I took off from Hawaii, I remembered as a 5 year old - 21 years ago - I flew back from Hawaii & vowed never to fly again. It took me about 10yrs to fly again. I feel like this is one of those markers of growing up. One may be stubborn, but we shouldn't be scared to change our minds, it's worth it!