Well, technically it’s the only podcast I listen to. I mean, I’ve heard podcasts before, but never came across one which compelled me to listen to each and every episode. So what’s the podcast that I find so compelling. Well, it’s a theatre one naturally. But I should say a thoroughly entertaining one.

Off and On: A New York Theatre podcast produced and hosted by New York based actor Bernardo Cubria. Recently I came across Bernardo’s Twitter profile and saw the link to his podcast series. I clicked on the link because…curiosity. Each episode was an interview with a theatre artist. And, as I recognized some of the names I decided to start listening to the podcasts.

Well…I’m hooked. I even started using my earbuds (and if you know me, you know I don’t like using them for music because WebMD totally convinced me they lead to hearing loss. p.s. I listen at the lowest level possible) so I could listen to podcasts on my smartphone as I take my daily bus downtown to work.

Bernardo is gregarious and a good interviewer–letting his interviewees talk often at length on a variety of subjects. The stories are personal, yet will resonate as each artist explains how they found their way to theatre and how they got to where they currently are in their career.

So go have a listen.

-M

Good news, everybody! I’m writing again. Or actually, doing rewrites. After almost 2 months of various levels of back pain I am working on rewrites. Yesterday I rewrote the opening scene to Wolf At The Door. I’ve decided to focus on finishing that second draft for the next quarterly AlterLab meeting.

I also need to do a quick rewrites of Heart Shaped Nebula because my Chicago director will start rehearsals in July. Yowzers, there is a lot to do. And while my back is improving I will admit I did rewrites while lying down this weekend. Not easy. Not easy at all.

But necessary.

More soon,
M

This morning on Twitter the New Play Map put out this tweet:

How to embed a #NewPlay Map Badge on your own website for directing people to your artist, play or org’s profile pic.twitter.com/DLya8mziHb

And here’s the picture that accompanied that tweet:

As I’ve said recently, I only disappear on the blog when traveling. That is, unless my back is acting up. And lo and behold for a second month in a row my back has been giving me grief, making me miss work and be overall useless when it comes to sitting down for long periods of time.

When it was as its worst (last Saturday) and I was unable to turn over without a sharp pain shooting through me, I was frustrated–naturally. Bad days like that scare me. I’m 36. I don’t want to be barely walking around like como un viejito.

Good news is, the back is getting better. Slowly. And it wasn’t as bad as say last month’s bout of back pain. And my acupuncturist and I are working to improve my situation. That is to say we think we’ve pinpointed what’s going on and are taking preventative measures.

Now I’ve been dealing with my back for a while. Since I was in high school. No wait, Jr. High. That was the initial injury. Then after college I threw my back out. Then a few years ago I strained it again.

So half a life time and multiple bouts of injury and pain. Nerve pain, muscle pain, sometimes just one, sometimes both together.

How bad is it? Well, on the really bad days it’s terrible. Otherwise it’s just annoying. But that annoying might be excruciating for someone else. I have no idea. I feel like my idea of lower back pain and my pain threshold have moved quite a bit off the normal person’s experience. Like right now, I’m uncomfortable. I’d rather be lying down. But I’m sitting and typing. Partly because I have to. Would someone else sit through this though?

The first time I threw out my back I could barely walk. Though I did manage to drive myself to the doctor and walk into and out of his office. That’s when I learned how many Motrin you can safely take. Speaking of which, I haven’t taken any pain medication in days, now that I think of it. I kinda of forget about pain meds, unless the pain is truly bad.

Like I said. I think my concept of pain is a bit different from people who’ve never had to quickly put their back against a wall when they feel a sneeze coming on. Why do I do that? Because of the pain that happens when I don’t. That kind of pain I do dread.

But back to writing.

I’m behind. Obviously. And I may have to devise a way to write while lying down otherwise nothing will get done. But do not fear. It will get done. I mean, if Frida Kahlo can live with her decades of pain and still paint, then I can find a way to write.

I will say this, lately the pain has me thinking. Thinking about my future. Lying on the floor of my office I came to a decision, one I’ll discuss here. But later. Later when the pain has subsided.

Soon. Hopefully soon.

-M