Been away, just got back...

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In the summer, I had a blast working with a great cast on Macbeth. The show went brilliantly, the audiences loved it and there are many good reasons for us all to look back fondly on the show. Fall was coming but the sun was shining the day I knew we were going to open another theatre. [this is a post that ended up not getting posted until now so its a little old]

Gum Job

One way or another we pay for our teeth. You either pay for them by being consigned to foods that can pass through a straw, by being forced to wear dentures or through the nose when you try to fix em whether retroactively or proactively. 

During my recent UK visit I was actually as shocked as a real American; I guess I am the gone native type now?

Maybe my values are changing?

A few years ago I decided that my own British teeth could no longer be presented in polite society. It has cost a fortune and no little pain to get them partially sorted but there is more to go. There were times I felt guilty at the money but at the same time I also felt there was nothing I could do other than cover up a lifetime of neglect.  In Britain I had a rag bag of treatments from assorted dentists over the years that had left me with mismatched crowns, veneers, filings and ultimately missing teeth.

Though I don't want Brits to be all fake-baked tanned and brilliant white pearlies I cannot understand why even people who can afford it don't fix their chompers.  

Just a few weeks ago I was giving a speech where I made a typically near to the bone joke in front of Americans when I pleaded for them to stop making British dental failures the butt of their jokes, accused them of being racist and then told them to pick on the Chinese instead.  At the back of my mind I guess I was thinking, 'British teeth not as bad as everyone says' in just the same way that I try valiantly to convince people that it doesn't rain that much and that food in Britain has improved immeasurably.  

I only really see people reluctantly agree with the food comments.  They might be right, can't fix the rain but you can spend a little less at the pub and make your gnashers less of a public health hazard.

A Town called Tombstone

I made my way to Britain.   It was an epic journey - here's the description I put on Facebook:

JOURNEY TO JES HOLDEN FUNERAL FROM NYC TO HONOR OAK

My Kuwaiti air stewards/esses were not as friendly as this bunch. Terrifying actually.

The journey was a Mazda epic though. I dropped off car and then straight onto the Subway - of course the E train decided to go Local when they said Express and also stopped in tunnels cause of signal problems. Then the gate was closing so had to be walked through security except that they searched my bag cos of the Pepto which is an essential travel item for me. Anywhoo... made it onto plane. Seat doesn't recline and is old so uncomfortable. A young Kuwaiti-American sits next to me and starts babbling. Tells me he popped some special pills cos he's a nervous traveler. Sleeps and drools all the way through flight [you'da hated it, I wasn't too keen] watching him eat/drop his dinner was like watching a heroin addict play with his food using a one pronged fork. Oh.. yeah the food, shit veggie slush there is NO advantage to getting your food early that just prolongs the agony. THEN jet lagged forgot about London traffic [appalling] sooo journey to South London takes an age. My lift has by now left for the Crematorium.So I dive into a realty place that I used to work at to borrow the restroom dump the case, change like Superman from Clark Kent to Black Tie Gangster then to a London Black Cab.

Honor Oak Crematorium - Palais des Morte

Drops me off at wrong part of the Cemetery and I nearly end up joining a burial party for a S London criminal [you can always tell their funerals] hike to the right Chapel and was on time.... phew. People were really really pleased that I made it. Jes was sent to the flames with a Millwall FC [hardest football team in league/nutso fans] flag on the coffin to the tune of London's Calling. Job done.



Cremated or buried ?

Vultures feed off of the dead in a Sky Burial

Brits [72%] apparently prefer to go into the cleansing fire compared to Americans [40%], Italians [10%]. And of course the Tibetans like Sky Burials, Water Burials, Embalming and have a unique concept of what to do with the corpses considering the ground is often frozen and there are not enough trees but plenty of vultures.





Here's my 'living will' or dying wish for my disposal:  

• All mourners should attend the service which will hopefully be a mixture of Anglican Humanist mumbo jumbo in full costume[it's called Fancy Dress in Britain] - yes that is right, if invited by my surviving family I would like to 'see' all of you in a 'costume' not unlike the American Halloween tradition but a genuine costume from a show would also be very fine.  No black ties or suits unless its full on Men in Black or Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels please. Sexy French Maid, Marilyn Monroe, Justin Bieber, Clown, Pantomime Horse all acceptable. A boring cheap suit or Kentucky Derby/Ascot hat not encouraged at all.
• I request the two following songs be played:
  
  With a surfeit of hubris I would like 'The World Has Changed' by The Fleshtones to be played in its entirety after any eulogies or words from friends and family. This is what I consider to be my first real professional production in which I channeled Joe Meek/George Martin/Lee Scratch Perry/Phil Spector and my other favorite producers.  My second song of choice would be The Trammps 'Disco Inferno' [http://youtu.be/A_sY2rjxq6M] please also check out this Youtube video for approved funeral service dance steps.  This song is to be played as the cardboard coffin descends into the furnace. Mass dancing should ensue..
•  If you come in the full Trammps orange flared cat suits then you may win a prize.

Please do try to clap on the second and fourth beats. Whats'ever it is its gots to be funky.   

Here's the hymn sheet:

(Burn baby burn)
(Burn baby burn)
(Burn baby burn)
(Burn baby burn)
To my surprise, one hundred stories high

People getting loose y'all, getting down on the roof

Folks are screaming, out of control

It was so entertaining when the boogie started to explode

I heard somebody say
(Burn baby burn) disco inferno
(Burn baby burn) burn that mother down
(Burn baby burn) disco inferno
(Burn baby burn) burn that mother down
Satisfaction came in a chain reaction
(Burnin')
I couldn't get enough, so I had to self-destruct
The heat was on, rising to the top
Everybody going strong, and that is when my spark got hot
I heard somebody say
(Burn baby burn) disco inferno

(Burn baby burn) burn that mother down y'all

(Burn baby burn) disco inferno

(Burn baby burn) burn that mother down
 
Up above my head

I hear music in the air

That makes me know

There's a party somewhere
Satisfaction came in a chain reaction

(Burnin')
I couldn't get enough, so I had to self-destruct

The heat was on, rising to the top

Everybody going strong, and that is when my spark got hot

I heard somebody say
(Burn baby burn) disco inferno

(Burn baby burn) burn that mother down

(Burn baby burn) disco inferno

(Burn baby burn) burn that mother down
(Burn baby burn)

(Burn baby burn) burn that mother down

(Burn baby burn) disco inferno

(Burn baby burn) burn that mother down
(Just can't stop) when my spark gets hot

(Just can't stop) when my spark gets hot
(Just can't stop) when my spark gets hot

(Just can't stop) when my spark gets hot

(Just can't stop) when my spark gets hot

When my spark gets hot
(Just can't stop) when my spark gets hot

(Just can't stop) when my spark gets hot

(Just can't stop) when my spark gets hot

(Just can't stop) when my spark gets hot

(Just can't stop) when my spark gets hot

(Just can't stop) when my spark gets hot

(Just can't stop) when my spark gets hot

(Just can't stop) when my spark gets hot

(Just can't stop) when my spark gets hot

(Just can't stop) when my spark gets hot
(Burn baby burn) disco inferno

(Burn baby burn) burn that mother down

(Burn baby burn) disco inferno

(Burn baby burn) burn that mother down

(Burn baby burn)

(Burn baby burn) burn that mother down

(Burn baby burn) disco inferno

Vegetating

Its been a while. A very interesting while for that matter. I looked back on a year that just like 2012 was full of health challenges.

I am happy to say though that the attempt to switch to vegetarianism has been successful.. I will soon celebrate a year of being a vegetarian and I have no regrets apart from the fact that becoming vegan is more difficult than I thought. I generally avoid dairy but still consume some cheese and milk but I absolutely do not want to eat meat, I don't miss it and in fact have become quite militant in my attitude to meat consumption.  It disgusts me.

I am a contented hypocrite I suppose.

Health.   At some point in every one's life there are triggers or events that make us think about our health. 

And our mortality.

A Distal Bicep Tendon Repair

This image is very close to the operation that I was recovering from in January 2012. There's video of me cheerfully supporting Gideon's Sean Williams on NY1 promoting the BFG series of plays wearing a huge sling. I look ok, I suppose. But I had no idea how debilitating and life changing this injury and the subsequent operation would be. I am now disabled - it would be an easy thing for me to walk into my doctors office and get myself categorized as having a disability. Certainly the nerve damage and lack of strengh in my right arm probably means that the option of doing manual labor to pay my way is not on the table.

A Tiny Piece of Extreme Pain

Following the operation I experienced a series of Lemony Snicket type of unfortunate events:  I had internal bleeding from drug complications, then I cracked two ribs being unable to steady myself on some ice thanks to my splint and sling this was followed by the extremely painful and unpleasant kidney stone that nearly made me blackout with pain and sent me to the hospital in the middle of the night.  

2012 - It was not one of my best years.

I will not use the word veggies. I am not 4. I will not use the word veggies. I am not 4.I will not use the word veggies. I am not 4.I will not use the word veggies. I am not 4

So today.... nothing to do with New Years or that malarkey... I am starting my transition to eating a plant based diet... I hesitate to say Vegan because it just seems to produce vitriol from ignorant meat eaters... I mean do I own leather shoes... currently yeah..will I phase em out... probably.

So I want to move away from eating meat and animal products. My love of my two dogs, Muppet and Daisy, and many thoughtful and occasionally shocking articles about animals has led me along with my own experiences to believe that animals do indeed possess emotions and feelings. 

I don't think I could stomach eating cow, pig, duck, lamb etc and I'm super close to feeling that about poultry and fish.  Last night as a kinda almost final hurrah I went out to celebrate New Years Eve with my wife. On the menu was filet mignon, lamb something or other, pork loins etc etc... I was drawn at first to the lamb dish since I only really eat lamb at restaurants never at home. Then without really forcing the issue I realized that I couldn't order it or eat it.

Love You Long Time?

Well its been forever... actually three years but I guess the muse must have struck again because I am posting on me blog. I am actually in Blighty again so if nothing else I guess that coming here sets me off. I am posting an iPhone photo of Westfield in Shepherd's Bush. I get sorta discombobulated here.. its a palace of retail that must be built on Satanic Ley Lines. Conversely I went to Borough Market which is heaven on earth for even a faltering foodie.