Stream of Consciousness Blogging: Writer's Conflict and Marlee Matlin

Thank you for your patience in sticking with The Jason Show during this unscheduled and unforeseen hiatus.  The truth is, the writers of the Show have sat down at their writing table multiple times and have come to blows over what would be acceptable and not acceptable as to the content material of immediate upcoming episodes.      This has put them at an impasse, which has meant that no writing is getting done.  Which means no production. Which means no episodes.

Fear not, loyal viewers.  All is fine in the Show household.  No crisis.  No conflict.  The source of the controversy among the writers comes, shall we say, outside of the home?

That's not to say that there hasn't been plenty of other topics about which the writers could write.

For example. . .

Switched at Birth continues its production on the same lot as The Jason Show.  I've been very interested in the whole affair.  The other night I watched them film a scene over and over again of some cops pulling up to my neighbor's garage and pulling a gun on a young teenager holding a crow bar, yelling, "Drop your weapon!"  Then a predictable clang as he dropped the crow bar and the bark of the officers saying to the guy, who is deaf, "You got something to say?  Huh?  Get in the car!"

Earlier this same evening, I looked out Diego's bedroom window as I was helping him get ready for bed, and saw this:

These ten kajillion megawatt lights were lighting up the neighborhood to make it seem like day when it was actually night.  As you can imagine.

And...before that, I came home from school to see Marlee Matlin standing in my front yard.



The producers of Switched at Birth really know how to treat the neighborhood right.  Those who allow the use of their front yards and driveways are handsomely paid.  Tokens of appreciation, such as car wash gift cards, are freely given.  One of the coordinators even told us, "Feel free to come on over and we'll show you around, you can meet the stars, and if you see everyone's eating, come on out and have a bite to eat with us."

Don't worry, I'm far too shy to take him up on that offer.

Diego Speaks

"Daddy, when you were a kid did they even have books?"

"Daddy, you have a choice, but you have to pick one.  Which should I be when I grow up, a military guy, or someone on the squat team?"

"Daddy, isn't farting the best thing ever?"

Only from a seven year old boy!

When I Die

Whenever I go to a funeral, I tend to think about the kind of funeral I would want when I die.  I suppose that's normal, right?  It always bothers me when it is obvious that the officiator/priest/reverend of the service never knew the deceased, especially when he says things in reference to the person that seem incongruent with that person's personality.

I think funerals should be consistent the person who is being remembered.  I think everyone who opens his mouth at a service should have known the person in life.  If the person was religious, I think the funeral could certainly be religion oriented.  But if not . . . that's when it feels. . . off.

Giancarlo and I have clarified with each other the kind of service we would each want.

First of all, cremation is a must.  Embalmbing and viewings seem so macabre.  Expensive caskets and cemetery plots are an unnecessary expense.  I'm perfectly happy being scattered somewhere, or even kept in a box on a shelf.

Second, we are not religious people, so a church again seems inconsistent.  I want to have a service in our neighborhood clubhouse.

I want someone that I know and who knows me to officiate, and I use the term "officiate" loosely because I don't want it to be a formal affair.  Maybe "emcee" would be a better word.  I would like a eulogy given, again, by someone who knows me well, and someone who has a good sense of humor.  Then, I'd like an open mic.  I'd like people who knew me to stand up and say things about me, honest things, and not necessarily all shiny and glossy and fake.  I'm not a perfect person and I don't want to be portrayed as such.  

And after all the tears and the laughter, I want upbeat music and a buffet and an open bar, and yes...dancing.  Dancing!

This week, we went to a funeral.  In explaining to work friends about whose funeral I attended, I found myself saying things like, "Well, it's the funeral of my ex-wife's ex-husband's father."   After the funeral at the get-together at the house, Amelia, Rennen, and I joked about ways to make it even more interesting.    We figured Giancarlo must be telling his coworkers things like, "I'm going to the funeral of my same-gender husband's ex-wife's ex-husband's father's funeral."

I know that at the loss of a loved one, one may not feel like joking.  I've also learned that the only way to deal with the overwhelming sorrow is to have moments of equally intense levity.

The Sunday Roast!

The following is an episode of The Jason Show that never aired.  For some reason it got lost  in the editing room, in preparation for a blog segment interview that was submitted to the show a while back by another blogger.

Enjoy!

Taken the day we eloped to West Hollywood.

I just stand around looking like this.

Taken before I got my haircut.

Why do you blog? 

I blog because I love to write.  I blog because it provides a very satisfying creative and emotional outlet.    I blog because I have made so many good friends because of it.  I blog because it is relaxing to me.  I blog because somehow, in my mind, it validates me.  I blog because I have important or funny stories to tell.  

What's the story behind your blog name?

I think, perhaps, in the case of The Jason Show, it is pretty self explanatory.

What is the best thing about being a blogger?

It's a tie between fulfilling my need to write and the satisfying relationships that have come about in my life because of blogging.  I suspected the first one would happen when I started blogging, but I had no idea the latter would happen.

What key advice would you give to a newbie blogger?

Write for yourself!

What is the most significant blog post you've ever read?

Gay Marriage and Christianity:  A View From a Pew written by Cheri at Blog This Mom!

and

That's What Friends Are For written by Faiqa at Native Born

What is the most significant blog post you've ever written?

Recounting my experiences growing up gay and Mormon, my subsequent heterosexual marriage, and the pathway that brought me to where I am now:

Previously on The Jason Show

Which two blogs would you recommend for roasting?

1-Our Simple Lives:  Written by Your Friend, Mark, Our Simple Lives illustrates the lives of an ordinary, international, same-sex couple and their four adopted children in Pennsylvania.  Mark's writing is funny, real, down-to-earth, honest, and full of heart.

2- Just Eat Your Cupcake:  First of all, I love the title of this blog!  Second, Just Eat Your Cupcake's author, Maria, is one of the most talented writers out there.  Maria mostly writes about her relationship with her partner, Bing, and their daughter.  Maria has a talent for taking regular life and turning it into something poignant, meaningful, and at times, humorous.

Pick three things you can't live without.

 laughter, peace of mind, and solitude

If you could live your life again who would you be, and why?

If there is one lesson in life I have learned, it is "be yourself!"

You have been given a wonderful talent from above.  This causes you to make your mark on humanity and be world famous. In which area would prefer: a best selling novelist, a brilliant artist, a gifted musician, a fantastic singer, a charismatic leader, anything you choose, and why? 

I would be a fantastic, down-to-earth-no-drama vocalist who in some way makes a significant impact in helping the less fortunate.  

If you were an ice cream cone, which flavour would you prefer and who would you most want to lick you?

I would be Dreyer's Chocolate Fudge Brownie--thoroughly enjoyable and satisfying, making people happy, if only for a few moments.  

Who would I most want to lick me?  Is this all in one occasion, or separately?  

Do I have to narrow it down to just one?  How about if I narrow it down to ten?

Describe in one sentence your perfect day.

This question made me realize that (in theory) I have a nearly perfect life!  

My perfect day would include a substantial amount of quiet time, music, a funny conversation with Diego;  tv, wine, and "private time" with Giancarlo; the knowledge that my girls are happy that day; blogging, a yummy lunch/dinner, a long walk, and getting a few constructive things done around my house.  

It looks like I'm pretty easy to please.

If you were a fiction writer which one would you be and why?

I would be Anne Tyler.  I adore her way of making even the mundane seem humorous and meaningful.  Her knack for characterization is second to none!

What was your most embarrassing moment?

My most embarrassing moment was when, during my first month of teaching, I flew over the handlebars of my bike, making hamburger out of my knuckles, in front of a bunch of students and their parents after school.  All because I was trying to open a peach Jolly Rancher while I was driving down a slope.

If you awoke to find you had changed gender what would be the first and second things you would do?

First, I would get on that pill that makes me have my period once a year.  After that was out of the way, I would wear fancy flip flops and a short, sleeveless dress to work on a hot day.

Thanks for watching!