Chicago, you're a hell of a town

Chicago, you're a hell of a town.
www.davejennings.net http://dvj4.blogspot.com/

Hey Chicago, why do you do the things you do?

Tuesday marks my 5th month in the Second City.

This town is like an abusive boyfiriend. It smacks you around, but you know there's something good in there. It forgets your birthday, and then it takes you out to a really nice dinner. It draws you in, and doesn't let you leave.

I have been scraping away for five months, I was at the end of it all. I am down to my last dollar. It has been a roller coaster:

September:
Moved to Chicago, great apartment, great friends, no job.
Found two jobs, part time. Working 50 hours a week. Making ends meet.
Got into the Second City Conservatory.

October/November
Auditioned for a few things, did not get anything.
I could not get an "in" anywhere.

December
Worked a lot, covered bills, head above water--- but barely.
Got a partial lay off from the Museum of Science and Industry, and I had to watch some great people get laid off completely. THat sucked a lot.
My catering job dissappeared... I had no shifts from Dec 20th to Jan 20th
The city got cold, not frozen like Minneapolis, but cold.

January
Still cold.
Job searching sucked.
Broke up with my girlfriend, which sucked. I was so stressed about everything in my life.
Budgeting everything.
Can't even get an interview for a job.
Making plans in my head about how to move back to the farm
Get into a great show: Tarantino: The Improvised show (www.tarantinotheshow.wordpress.com)
Got into a student/independant film where I play a villain, which is great... a fun film. Great for a reel.
Obama became president.
Got an internship working for Second City in the Training Center.
Got an interview, got a second interview. Got the job.

As the ticking in my bank account seemed ready to explode, Chicago took me out to dinner, calmed me down, and told me that I was loved.

Fuck you, Chicago, fuck you. Ok, we can work this out.

Looks like I am here for awhile.

Facial Hair

1-9-09 davejennings.net and dvj4.blogspot.com

Hello Folks,

Welcome back again.

After that long novel, I think I shall delve into something thoroughly deep and thought provocative: beards.

I just shaved off my 6th or 7th beard of my life. I am cold, I miss it, and even though numerous people have said I look younger and more handsome without it, I still want it on my face.

This beard was the victim of a beard trimmer mishap. Many beards go this way. Many beards, sideburns, mustaches, and purposeful 5 o’clock shadows have fallen victim to the misplaced guard or the poorly connected trimmer guard.

To have a clean beard can be much more work than fresh and clean skin. The trimming and the maintenance, the balance and the mirror on each cheek are difficult to maintain. It takes talent, and when missed cannot be judged poorly upon--- instead you should congratulate a proper beardsmith on an attempt to do a good job.

In this beard’s demise, he hell victim to the #1 setting on my trimmer, as opposed to the normal #3. With one swipe, a divot was entered into my facial hair that could not be concealed. I spared my mustache for a full evening in the public…. In other words, I had a #1 length beard with a #5 length mustache… if you know what this means you can picture it. If you cannot, then take this description that my roommate gave me, “You look like a douche.”

A Douche perhaps, but a damaged douche that misses his beard.

A day later in preps for a job interview, I am clean shaven for the first time since Halloween, and I miss my warm and fuzzy windbreaker, my mustache with coffee icicles, my cheek warmer, my all purpose back of my hand scratcher, and my solution for activity whenever my hands needed something to play with…. Yes, I miss you.

I hope I get a job that allows me to re-grow my little friend.

That is all....
davejennings.net