A Detour to the Second City

Normally, when I would write a post like this, it would start with a warning in big, bold letters in a different font - In the interests of full disclosure, a complimentary ticket was provided for this post. However, the tickets came at the right time for me emotionally - my mother has been in and out of the hospital for the past few months, and my sense of humor was sorely out of whack. (But not so much that, when one coworker asked for another coworker's headband, I asked if he was planning to wear red leather and sing "Working for the Weekend"). But I've only been to Second City once before, years ago - dating a woman on a regular basis (my first "real" girlfriend), not going anywhere, but howling with laughter at News for Dogs with its generation-defining cry of "snacky wacky time" However, the current review, America - All Better!, was a complete and absolute blast. Obviously, it's taking aim at the slightly over-the-top hopes in the wake of the Obama presidency...but it contains some real comedic gems. And oh, is it funny....two couples at various relationship stages have a discussion. Mayor Daley impresses the Olympic committee. Students in a public speaking class face their fears. Two WWE wrestlers And my personal highlight - a wedding DJ makes some...well, unusual choices for an impending event. To say any more would be spoiling a wall-to-wall entertaining show. Although the entire cast is simply brilliant, major kudos need to go to Lauren Ash. No, it's not necessarily her resume or her ability to handle herself onstage...it's just that, well, I imagine with our combined intelligence, wit, and looks, we could create a race of genetic superbeings destined to rule the planet. So Lauren, please, call me. Seriously. But anyway, enough of my yakkin' - in recent months, it has felt like I've been going through the motions in many aspects of my life. So much so that I've felt like my blogging has become cookie-cutter, with a lack of personality to it. Thanks to Second City for the reminder that sometimes, it's best to just work without a net...and that improv is more than just a theatrical tool.

C2E2 Doctor Who Panel Update

I'm Reading At Volumes on October 11th

First, a quick summary: things have been busy on the writing/Mom front, and I'm hoping to write some catch-up posts in the interim.

However, I am proud to announce my first-ever reading at Volumes Cafe on October 11th.

Here's the info via graphic:

And there's a Facebook event page as well. 

I Know Cool People: Raks Geek/Uptown Underground Closing

Thread. With Uptown Underground's closure, many performers - including members of @RaksGeek - will be adversely affected. On the advice of one friend/performer, I'm boosting their hiring info. (ATTN: @Mcoorlim) /1 https://t.co/E23ZygDYA8

— Gordon D Tweets (@gordondym) September 12, 2018

(Originally posted via my Facebook Author Page. Some edits made for clarity)

Right now, I'm feeling a definite loss. (And this is gonna be a *long* post)

Earlier today, Uptown Underground - a theater located on the north side of the city - announced that it was closing. Permanently. And I'll be honest, it hurts.

Part of it is my love of vintage theaters. Part of it is that I worked in Uptown when I was a research assistant for Harvard University. But a large part of it is that two of my friends, as well as various performers, are being affected.

I was introduced to Raks Geek via - we were both on the board of Chicago Nerd Social Club. She had encouraged everyone to attend a show, but somehow, I managed to be too busy. In fact, the only other contact I had with Raks Geek were scattershot, high-school-corridor-type conversations with Michi's friend Dawn.

But my first exposure to Raks came at a C2E2 afterparty - Dawn did a really cool fan dance in a TARDIS dress, Michi spin fluorescent spheres (the theater's fire code prohibited pyrotechnics), and Kamrah (another performer in the troupe) was a bandaged SILENT HILL nurse.

(It was good...but creeped the hell out of me. Not criticizing, because I respect the artist).
But in time, the Uptown Underground became a great way for me to connect with my fellow geeks...but also enabled me a bit of nostalgia. Feeling like I was the rough-and-tumble dude once again venturing into depths of Chicago to explore hidden treasures. It provided some sense of escape, community, and belonging. I was fortunate enough to attend Raks Inferno last week and celebrate Dawn's birthday - yes, she invited me. And I was honored to accept. There were no hidden warnings, no vibe that suggested that this would happen...but it did, and the loss is difficult to process.

For many performers, especially those from marginalized communities, the loss is even harder. It was sudden, abrupt, and seemingly forced. (No, I don't have the details, and I don't care - I only care about the people who are affected by this closure).

My point: I'm asking those of you who read this blog to help by spreading the word. I'm embedding a Twitter thread with booking/hiring information. It's the kindest, most compassionate act I can take - after all, artists and creatives deserve to do the work they enjoy and be compensated for it.

Consider this as a sad reminder that sometimes, a venue is more than a venue - it's a home for a community. And no one ever gets over losing a home.

My Plans for August 2nd

Check out the details about this Raks Inferno fundraising event which features one of my fellow C2E2 panelists.

Chicago Doctor Who Meetup Has a New Website!

Now Chicago Doctor Who Meetup is much easier to find - just visit http://www.chicagodoctorwhomeetup.com!

(And it's a work in progress, but even still...it's worth checking out!)

The Blog THIS, Pal! Spring Roadshow

I know, I've been delinquent in blogging - new freelance client and other writing has taken precedence...

But that doesn't mean that I'm going to be shy and antisocial. So in that spirit, here's a listing of the various outings where you can encounter me...

April 3rd, 6:30 pm - Doctor Who: Earthshock screening at LaCatrina Cafe

April 4th, 6:00 pm - Spark Chicago/Freelancer's Union Meeting on Negotiation, Serendipity Labs

April 6th, 11:15 - She's the Doctor Now Panel at C2E2, Room S403 

April 6th, 5:15 pm - Doctor Who Fan Meetup at C2E2, Room S502

April 8th - Windy City Pulp & Paper, "Sword & Sorcery in New Pulp" Panel, 12:00 pm

April 10th - Low Res Coworking Day (Part of Work at Home Coworking Meetup...yes, I also organize a coworking meetup, why do you ask?)

April 11th - Platform Coworking Meetup, Work at Home Coworking

April 14th - Doctor Who: The Girl In the Fireplace/Deep Breath screening, Omega Station

April 18th - Doctor Who: The Time Warrior screening at Third Coast Comics

April 21st - All Things BBC! Happy Hour, Red Lion Pub

April 28th - Two panels at A Celebration of Slashers at DePaul University

May 2nd - Spark Chicago Meeting, Serendipity Lab (Details TBD)

May 4th - Free Range Office Coworking Day (part of Work at Home Coworking Meetup)

May 5th, 11:00 am - The Timey Wimey Guide to Doctor Who panel at Oak Lawn Public Library 4th Annual Fan Fest: Worlds of Wonder

Emotions Are Tricky, Aren't They?

It's been over six months since the move, and quite honestly...feeling OK with the status quo feels like a pipe dream. Granted, living in the dumpster fire/train wreck mashup that we call "the Trump Presidency" can be challenging...but for me, everything has felt like bad fan fiction. I've been trying my best to keep relatively sane in the midst of everything.  Especially since the past few months have meant dealing with some tricky emotions...and backing away from certain commitments

One of those commitments was the Chicago TARDIS charity auction. Yes, it went well this year (raising over $1,781 for Northern Illinois Food Bank), so I'm not feeling a sense of failure or that my performance was "less than" expected. However, I did have to wonder if maybe it was time for me to let go and allow someone else to take reins. After all, I'm a firm believer that it's always better to leave a position and wonder what might have happened if I had stayed rather than stay and be unhappy.

Job-wise...I have freelance work. I'm also trying to get freelance and full-time work, but given the relative ease with which potential employers "pass" on hiring me...unfortunately, too many employers feel it ok to lie about contacting references (yes, that happened) or simply pass without explanation. (And yes, I'm still plugging away). Worse are colleagues and "friends" who either tell you that 1) you're not working hard enough on the "hustle" or 2) worse, you're simply not "earning your keep".

Or as I like to call them, "Trump supporters".

But one pleasing - and yet tricky - part of dealing with emotions is dealing with friends. I've always tended to isolate myself (or enter "Johnny Cash" mode), but I've welcomed the opportunity to grow closer, to put myself out there. But it comes at some cost...without going into details (out of respect for the other person involved), I am dealing with a potentially delicate situation with a particular friend.

Do I want to discuss this situation with this person? Yes, I do.

Is that necessarily a smart, well-informed strategy? No, it's not.

But I'm handling things as effectively as possible...and yes, that's much of the reason why this blog has been relatively inactive. (In the next few weeks, I am planning to develop an editorial calendar for my blogs - at the very least, I can schedule my creative and fiction writing into one central resource). But right now, my focus has been split in different directions...

...and emotionally, I need to focus. Which means letting go of some things and working hard towards others.

I Know Cool People: ARTISTS AGAINST HATE Puerto Rico Benefit Compilation

Back in January, Artists Against Hate (organized by friend/fellow Whovian Dawn Xiana Moon) held an Inauguration Day protest performance.

I'm glad to say that Dawn and Artists Against Hate have assembled United After The Storm to benefit Hurricane Maria relief efforts in Puerto Rico.

There is also an October 27th fundraiser at Uncommon Ground in Edgewater.

For more details, check out Chicago Now's One Cause At A Time.

Twitter Thread Re:Caregiving

Things are quiet...relatively speaking. But while I'm enjoying the quiet by catching up on freelance work (and seeking new work), here's a little Twitter thread about caregiving.

Because I don't want to write a whole blog post about it. Enjoy!

And now, a subject close to home - #caregiving for an adult parent. Background -
https://t.co/agDJrBwP3L https://t.co/h9Brrv3vZs /1

— Gordon D (@gordondym) July 31, 2017

Upcoming Personal/Podcast Appearance - Doctor Who Meetup @ Third Coast

Heads up - if you're in Chicago and want to hang out with me - and participate in the recording of a Doctor Who podcast - and watch a classic episode, I hope you have the time this Wednesday.

As part of the Chicago Doctor Who Meetup, I'll be hosting a screening of the classic series episode Survival. Afterward, I'll be recording an episode of the Who 37 podcast with pal JB, where we'll be discussing this episode in the context of The Eaters of Light, which was also written by the author of Survival, Rona Munro.

It's part of our usual series of screenings at Third Coast Comics, which happen every third Wednesday at 7:00 pm. It's a short walk from the Loyola Red Line station, and it's also a great way to meet fellow fans.

Plus, if you're one of the five readers of this blog who happen to live in Chicago....would definitely love to meet you. All I ask is that you please RSVP either via Meetup or Eventbrite....and hope to see you there!

(If you can't make it but want to help out, you can either chip in or become a monthly Patreon sponsor of the Chicago Doctor Who Meetup).

Happenings Ten Years' Time Ago

Ten years ago, I packed up, rented a truck, and moved 300 miles from St. Louis to Chicago. It wasn't an easy decision - leaving everyone I cared about behind and moving to help care for Mom - but it was one of the few decisions I never regretted because it had to be done.

In the past month, I've packed up, rented a truck, and am moving my things into storage. I'm also going to move (temporarily) into my mom's apartment while she's ill.

It's a long story, but the highlights are that Mom's been fighting an infection, and has been in and out of the hospital. She's currently in rehab getting physical therapy (and in the middle of everything, we had to transfer her - at her request - because the first rehab place messed up her treatment. Plus, they haggled over a walker).

Why am I posting this now? Because first, I've been away from the keyboard, and am only now settling into a regular writing routine. With some great projects coming up....I need to get back into the writing life.

Plus, I'm looking for more freelance work (you can check out my services here and my LinkedIn profile here), so getting back into regular blogging will not only help me retain those habits...but also keep my search engine results nice and healthy.

And so the next two days, I promise you some Doctor Who series 10 reviews. Just because.

Otherworld Theatre's A PRINCESS OF MARS - Review

(Special thanks to Otherworld Theater for providing a complimentary ticket for review purposes).

Right now, many people feel the need to escape, to lose themselves in another world. With an impending move and maternal health issues, I was desperately needing to mainline some straightforward pulp thrills.....

....and Otherworld Theatre's production of A Princess of Mars fits the bill precisely. With creative staging, atmospheric lighting, and a smart script, this is one theatrical production you don't want to miss.

Adapted by Nick Izzo and Tiffany Kean Schaefer from the pulp-era Edgar Rice Burroughs novel,  Otherworld Theatre's A Princess Of Mars deftly manages to balance many plot threads, integrating some of the best aspects of the novel while integrating some more contemporary concerns. This is a play that has it all: action, romance, and a smart message that lifts the material. Think of it as the exact opposite of John Carter, choosing to emphasize character and circumstance over special effects.

(And let's be clear - I liked John Carter).

With minimal staging and a high level of atmospherics and costuming, A Princess of Mars manages to drive home several themes: the need for a personal mission, the drawback of being a "chosen one", and the need to act towards the greater good.

It's also incredibly fun, with very well-staged fight scenes. (And a bit of a trigger warning: even though I knew that most of the action was being blocked, it still felt real at times. This isn't a complaint - it's a compliment. Because this is being done by an all-volunteer troupe, and that's definitely worth kudos).

Plus, the cast really makes this a great experience. Elliott Sowards' John Carter isn't the traditional action-hero of many of my contemporaries, but a man truly out of step and thrust into a very unusual world. (And I'm late to the John Carter bandwagon, only having read A Princess of Mars five years ago). Mary-Kate Arnold crafts a very real Dejah Thoris driven by scientific curiosity and a deep passion for her home world.  With a large cast (including Bennett Decker Bottero, Elizabeth MacDougald, Tim Larson, Michael Bullaro, Nathan R. Miller, Julia Rigby and Shaun Hayden) that has some members playing multiple roles, Otherworld Theatre's A Princess of Mars really hits home in many ways, and is a great example of small, local theater done right.

With a greater emphasis on pulp-era literature and characters being developed for the big screen, it's really pleasurable to see smaller, more intimate takes on the material. One of the joys of Otherworld Theatre's A Princess of Mars is how it takes an early 20th century work and gives it a contemporary immediacy.

Simply put, go see Otherworld Theatre's A Princess of Mars. It's being run for a limited time, and you'll fall in love with this production.

Where I'll Be Friday Morning: WBEZ Morning Shift Talking STAR TREK

If you're up and about tomorrow morning (that's Friday, July 8th), be sure to tune into WBEZ's Morning Shift (91.5 on the FM Dial) around 9 am to catch a segment where Jess White will be discussing Star Trek with me and fellow Chicago Nerd Social Club pal Michi Trota.

For those not in the Chicago area, no worries - it will be streaming and downloadable same day.

Thanks! And now, back to more blogging goodness.

Where I'll Be At This Time Next Week

What I'm Writing When I'm Not Blogging

Now that I've made the transition to "published writer" (and I have the Amazon Author's page to prove it), you're probably all wondering, "Hey, Gordon, what else are you writing?"

Well, truth be told much of my current time is spent working on freelance work. (And don't worry - another monthly blogaround's coming soon). One of the advantages of being a pulp writer is that I get to write some cool stories that are entertaining. That I want to write, instead of feeling the desperate need to avoid writing.

I'm going to be vague - after all, I really shouldn't spoil stories that will earn me money (think "extra large coffee at Dunkin Donuts" level royalties), but they're great opportunities.

First is a four-issue comic series for an up-and-coming comics publisher. It's indie, but they sent me a really cool premise....and I'm in the midst of breaking it down and preparing the proposal. (They were even cool enough to extend the deadline for me). It's a great fit to what I've been doing....and it's just a matter of deciding whether to go in a two-gun-adventurer direction, or more of a gentleman thief-direction.

The other is a short story for a really cool anthology with a great premise. It's a slight change of pace - it's more of a noir/heist piece than anything. However, I'm also drawing on my love of local history (especially local Chicago history). It's due to be published in the summer, and I'm really excited.

So what can you do? You know that link above? Click it. Order one of my books, read it, and review it on your blog, Amazon.com, etc. Because writing's no good if nobody reads it. And I love to be read.

Your Doctor Who To-Do Event List

You know, in my second life as organizer for the Chicago Doctor Who Meetup group, I can honestly say...I have some really great things in the hopper.

And yes, that does include planning the Chicago TARDIS charity auction, thank you very much.

Heading into the week of the premiere....there's some really cool things happening, and you're all invited.

On Wednesday, September 19th, we're holding our usual event at Third Coast Comics, conveniently located near the Granville Red Line station. For more details, please check out the evite on Meetup.

In addition, we're holding a trial event - watching the Series 9 in glorious High Definition at the Red Lion Pub in Lincoln Park. (Trust me, it will get a little wibbly-wobbly later on in this post). We're asking people who wish to attend to RSVP via Eventbrite....and you're more than welcome to do the same if you're interested.

And if you're looking to talk about the episode on September 22nd, join us at the Red Lion Pub in Lincoln Square (which is not the same Red Lion in Lincoln Park). Interested or wish to RSVP? Details via Meetup.

Thanks, and more blog posts are forthcoming!

Away From The Keyboard: I'm An Election Judge

Today, I'll be serving as election judge in the Chicago Mayoral election, so I won't be posting anything today. (It's against the rules, you know).
But if you want insight into the experience, please feel free to check out both:

• My post for Chicago Now's One Cause At a Time on my initial experience as election judge; and
• My follow up post clearing up some misconceptions about serving as judge.

Most of today will be spent catching up on reading, and most of my work will occur once the polls close. So please feel free to hang out here, check out my personal and business sites (join the business page on Facebook!), and please - don't break the Internet while I'm gone....

Eight Years Ago This Month....

Sunset over 64th & Pulaski

...things leading up to the move were a blur: so much so that I don't recall what happened in what order.

With my impending move from St. Louis back to Chicago, I had left an extremely dysfunctional work environment. (One thing I don't miss about that time - daily cluster headaches). Packing, saying goodbye to friends, setting up the details of the move - all of these blurred into one continual experience. The one thing I do remember was the actual day of the move: my huge, loft-like apartment empty (only the "warp chamber"/support beam standing), Dax upset that her litter was moved (and that the carrier was out), and waitng for the movers - and my aunt - to contact me with next steps.

Remembering the day of the move feels more like a hallucinatory dream that an actual experience: heading down to Lambert Airport to pick up the van - then my aunt - for the one-way drive back to Chicago. Then meeting with the movers who emptied my apartment (and my storage locker in the basement) who would meet me a few days later. Packing the van, putting Dax in her carrier, and then heading down I-55 towards Chicago.

The drive itself was relatively uneventful - my aunt had offered to switch off, but I don't remember if we did or not. I do recall that, in listening to a Monkees CD (my aunt was a huge fan), Dax - who had been silent during the day - had begun crying up a storm during the first drum break of this song - ironically, just as we left Missouri proper:


After six hours, we arrived at Mom's house - at the time, she lived in a large three bedroom apartment - the same one she and Dad had rented years ago. It had only been eight months since Dad's passing - there was still a sense of emptiness about the place, a lingering discomfort mostly due to its size. (Thankfully, Mom moved into a smaller one bedroom in a different neighborhood - one like the more pleasant neighborhoods in south St. Louis - two and a half years ago). Within moments she joined us in the van and we headed for my new apartment.

Ironically, it was only meant to be "temporary" - it was a rear two-bedroom unit behind a storefront on Pulaski. (Two shops - a dog groomer and an insurance agent - shared the front. The dog groomer is still there; the other storefront is a small travel agency). It was dark, hidden, but had some of the unique charms of my unit in Eugene, Oregon of all places - it felt more like a small house than an apartment. Granted, the view could be better (windows opened up to a small garage, and then an alley), but there was a nice, almost peaceful quality to the residence. It would take some time to adjust (especially for Dax - it wasn't as large as the St. Louis apartment, and was more cramped due to lack of storage space.

That initial year-and-a-half was full of challenges - finding a job within a near-depression, lack of state funding meant very little in the nonprofit space....but through determination and hard work (especially starting with Net Tuesday, where I found my "tribe", as it were), I managed to squeeze out some temporary jobs, followed by being hired (through assertive networking) as a freelance agency analyst.

Since then, life has been pretty interesting....rebuilding something of a social/dating life (something I did far more frequently than in St. Louis), Dax's passing two years ago, various career changes, and eventually the decision to form my own consultancy. (In between, keeping my civic engagement high, moving from Net Tuesday to both nerdy board member and unofficial Doctor Who social chair). My life right now is full of promise...

....and something which, even at the time, I couldn't say about the move. In many ways, Chicago's internal conversations parallel those of St. Louis' - the ever present "why can't we be a great city again?" conversation lingers. But unlike St. Louis, Chicago seems to be more willing to look inside and deal with much tougher issues. In all honesty, part of me wished I could help my St. Louis friends during the Ferguson crisis, but now I'm feeling as if my transition is somehow complete: I've been more involved in local matters, have my own collection of friends, and feel a bit settled in my 'transition' apartment.

And to think it only took me eight years....

Vote Or Die, Chicago Style

Tomorrow, across the city of Chicago, elections will be held for both the Mayoral primary as well as several City Council seats. In that spirit, I would like to offer the following advice for those who may be on the fence about candidates, or even - worse - cynical about the outcome:

Get Up, Bundle Up, Get Out, and Vote

First, if you haven't already engaged in early voting....today's your last and only day to make a difference. In Chicago, politics like much like sports in that it's easy to have an opinion without actually participating yourself. I am fortunate in that a friend of mine - Maureen Sullivan - is running for Alderman of the 11th Ward (part of which includes where I grew up. If you're tired of the same old malarkey in Chicago politics, you owe it to yourself to get out and vote.

Some of you may argue But if I'm force to choose between the lesser of two evils, I'm still choosing evil, let's be blunt: that's a cop-out. We live in a democratic republic, founded on the idea that having a choice is paramount in how a nation is governed. Besides, if you post politically-charged bluster on Facebook, you can actually step away from the keyboard, get out of your apartment, head to your polling place, and vote. It's not a perfect system, but it sure as heck beats the alternative.

...and by "kids" I mean "any adult
of voting age"

Yet there's another, more insidious form of election day cynicism that only happens in our fair city, and it's articulated in the attitude we all know who's gonna win anyway, so I may as well vote for that candidate.

My response: that attitude is cynical....and lazy. Electing a candidate is not like placing a bet on a race horse; there's no win/place/show. However, making a choice against a candidate - by voting for a challenger - is just as (if not more) important. This attitude is the mirror image of the "lesser of two evils" argument...and it's just as wrong.

We've seen quite a bit happen in Chicago over the last few years - a real move towards denying communities their power and their voice. We've seen a city move from enthusiasm over an Olympic bid that would "improve the community"....to apathy and a reluctance to actually get their hands dirty doing it.

Tomorrow may not be a "big" election, but it's important. So important, in fact, that I'm spending the entire day working as an election judge.

Get out. Vote. Then you can complain.