well, i wouldn't call it exactly that, but i will say that it pays to "get your house in order." i mean that in every sense of the phrase.
let me start of this long-anticipated (at least by the part of my brain that screams for some kind of creative release) entry by saying that i've missed everyone who takes the time to stop in and check on me, dialoguing all the way. i know i owe some people some phone calls and some emails and all that, and i do promise to get around to them, especially now that i've gotten a lot of organizing out of the way.
i spent some valuable time a few weeks ago with my marvelous Management and organized several key areas of my life. it was invaluable. i was so charged that, when i recovered from the mentally and physically exhausting task of mapping out the ideas and opportunities inside this meager noggin of mine, i came home and attacked the piles in the cribbage. for the first time in...hmmm...i'm embarassed to say i don't know when...i'm typing on my desktop as opposed to my laptop. i'm home as opposed to one of the various coffee shops and wi-fi spots i'm known to haunt during the witching hours.
but i did clean up a lot at home. i had help of course (wink, wink). and i'm grateful for it. now i can finish up all the projects that are under the table, on the table, and around the table waiting to get into the table's proximity.
one of the major projects i'm close to completing is a play called "Ordinary Heroes." been working on that joint for almost two years. it had its Genesis as a collaboration between Actor's Bridge Ensemble, a cutting-edge company in Nashville, and Amun Ra Theatre, of which yours truly is Founding Artistic Director (sounds important, but it translates as "broke visionary with cause."). the play chronicles the Civil Rights Movement in Nashville (which was incredibly important to the national movement) from the perspective of everyday folks whose names and faces weren't documented per se. a great team of researchers led by Vali Forrister (ABE), Midori Lockett (ART), Bill Feheeley (ABE) and myself started talking to people and interviewing folks who were around at the time and had insights. the good folks turned it over and it's been churning itself into a script that will have its first reading in Nashville on the 8th of April, and a targeted full production date of February, 2007.
it's gonna be SICK. Twisted. off da chain, folk. multi-media, acting, poetry, original and period music. all dat and a bag of kettle chips--with the grease dripping. keep an eye out; we really want it to fly. send up some good energy for it.
i also have a few major ideas to develop and guess what? i can't say anything yet. i believe in letting the ink dry before letting the words fly, so i will keep you up on on things. i promised an update. i could give you something quick and cheap, but--i don't know if it's just me and my own hermit-tude--i'm starting to feel really connected to you, the reader. so i'm gonna just keep it real, if that's okay with you. ok? sure? cool...
SECOND CHANCING...
a lot of people saw Second Chance. a lot of people didn't. a lot of people wanted to, but by the time they found out, it wasn't showing in their area. good news and bad news. bad-it's moved from some markets. good-it's coming to others soon, specifically Memphis April 14th. so if you live in the Bluff City, PACK THAT JOINT OUT and spread the word starting now. i may even try to drop in for an appearance somewhere if i can make it happen. or if you're in Memphis and you have a couple of connections with church folk, stations, etc. drop a line--ya'll know i listen to the people.
i've had to make some personal decisions that affect business. sometimes you have to make some tough choices in order to grow. the other day i got a call from a producer colleague and friend of mine who i've looked up to for years. he called me to congratulate me on the movie and realizing some dreams. this cat helped me write my first demo song and the music for my first children's play, "The Unforgettable Visit: A Kwanzaa Tale." i told him that i couldn't wait to blow some doors open for us and you know what he said?
"Brother, don't worry about me now. Get your stuff rolling. I'll help you anyway i can, but don't worry about pulling me along."
i was floored until he explained something. he spoke of the wilderness experience of the children of Israel in the Bible. he said that the wilderness experience exists to remind us who we are and that God gives us a surgical kit to cut away everything and everybody we don't need in order to make it to the Promised Land. in other words: those who weren't with you in the wilderness can't go to the Promised land. he then explained that once we know who we are, we get to the Promised Land and God gives us wagon grease. wagon grease. i had to wait for that one.
he said that we get wagon grease to do two things: make the ride go easier, and make all the people who want to ride the wagon for free slip off!! so, in essence, he was saying that if people want you to be successful, they will do whatever they can to help you throught the WILDERNESS times, and if and when you get to the Promised Land, they will offer to help push the wagon instead of just trying to ride it. hmmm...
so, i've been examining a lot of the relationships in my life and categorizing. is this mutually beneficial? yes. keep it. no. gotta go. i'd recommend it.
another growing good colleague recommended Psalms 1:3 to me just today. i read it and was like...whoa. check it out. it's a good piece for all of us.
if i'm not mistaken, The Second Chance hits the DVD market this summer. so keep spreading the buzz, ok?
ENTER-PERSONAL
this gets scary. i'm a Dad. i've got to deal with a young lady coming of age under some unique circumstances. i'm doing all i can to give my heart and soul and be the kind of father that is accessible, loving, and supportive, yet firm. i think we all aspire to that. let me just say one thing and i'm done. Brothamen...there is NO greater honor, joy, and privilege than being a Pops. if you're not one, i'm telling you, look forward to the blessing if it comes; if you are one, keep hanging on in there. our kids--especially our little girls--need the brothas. we focus a lot on the boys, and we should, but i'm telling you, a lot of twisted crap happens when we neglect our daughters. they see skewered images of what relationships are like and they end up with all kind of aversions to them when they come of age. we gotta be there, and we have to stay strong and positive.
even if you have the condition being touted these days as "babymamadrama," don't toss up your hands in frustration and despair and say fo'git it. i know your pain, and you are not alone, but when we back up and take off, it doesn't hurt the mama, it hurts the kiddo. keep it in mind. just a little bit of a soapbox. love some feedback.
TRAVELING MAN
it's getting to be summer and i want to go somewhere and just relax, have some fun. we'll see what happens. this Summer and Fall in particular, i want to see a lot of ya'll around in your places and spaces. your colleges and universities, your churches and organizations. soon, i'll have some appearance stuff up on the site and you can see when i'll be around to hang out with you. or you can bring a brotha in and we can have some good dialogue to figure out some of the things that have been oppressing folks and keeping them from reaching their dreams.
FADING
yeah, i think i hear the spin cycle on the washing machine, so i'm going to call it in after i put that load in the dryer (fascinating blog stuff, huh?). yeah, i wash my clothes (i'm REALLY good at whites! yeah!!!!) and cook and all that stuff--when i get the chance. if i'm ever financially wealthy (i'm one of the richest cats in the world cause i know a whole lot of Elders who teach me all KIND of wise stuff!!), i don't think i could get used to someone else washing my underclothes...and FOLDING them, too???? nah. too wierd.
been running in the mornings, too. i don't know how it is where you are, but it's been nice here in the 'ville as of late. the joints aren't what they used to be, so i'm taking it easy on the pavement, just trying to put in something consistent to jumpstart the metabolism and keep some of this "grownmanweight" off. i did a kickboxing class tonite (the first in a loooong time). let's just say my box got kicked. whew...
so i'm off to watch a little bit of "No Way Out," Sidney Potier's movie debut from waaaaaay back. it's a riveting film. i'm at the spinal tap section and that WIGS ME OUT!! i can handle anything, sickness, death, etc., but something about that scene in the movie messes me up. so i get through it tonite, i can enjoy the rest of the movie, which also has a young, strapping Ossie Davis in it--IF you haven't seen it. p.s. on the previous entry, NO ONE got where that line came from yet!!! i'll give you a HUGE hint. it has something to do with Sidney.
while i'm at the rambling. i spent my food money on a few more classic DVDs that are out now: "Cabin In The Sky," "Stormy Weather," "Hallelujah," and "Nothing But A Man." i've had them on video, but the DVD is the realness. i can play them on my laptop while i'm writing (don't ask, my ability to split attention easily both comforts and scares me and my peeps).
i've ranted; i've raved. i'll quit before i misbehave.;-)
click on the NPR link to the left--i was on two weeks in a row and we had some good discussions. we kicked it with Farai (who is the bomb reporter--i know she's sick of me jocking her) and it was good to hear Ed back on the air; i think he was under the weather for a while. send your energy up for News and Notes as always--it's a really good program.
outlikealight. g'nite
obafemi
just when you thought i'd never update the Blog...i'm here! however...
this is just to let you know that i finally got my new operating system on the home computer, and enough space cleared off the floor to actually get to it in my study! shame on me, i know, but i DO plan on getting back on later tonight and doing a major update for everybody via the blog.
so stop in later on and check it out. you may find some interesting things there--had a lot on my mind, as usual. and i truly thank everyone that has been responding to the blog entries. i love the dialogue. let's keep it going (it seems to work better than the message board anyhow).
so i'm out for now. BTW...if you live in Memphis, i'm told The Second Chance is headed there in the middle of April. if you've got some peeps there, i'm only a few miles down the way, so i wouldn't mind rolling into town for some promo stops.
stop in later on, friends and "look at what the new world has wrought" (hey--first person to tell me where that came from on this entry, i'll put a "How Blak Kin Eye Bee" cd in the mail to TOMORROW. signed.)
peace
