Life Gets In The Way

When I started this Substack it was my intention to post something new every week. You’ve probably noticed how that has worked out - a grand total of four posts in almost 5 months. It was also my intention to confine this Substack to media reviews, but the fact is that on my previous blogs it was always the more personal posts that seemed to gain the most traction. So this will be one of those.

How much of my personal mishegoss do you want to hear about? I moved almost two months ago - the first time I’ve done a move on my own in maybe 30 years (well, I hired packers and movers but no wife, no domestic helper, just me). But there was a reason why the move was needed.

My first place in Austin was in a gorgeous upscale walkable area called The Domain. My rent was $1800 a month for 925 square feet, including central heat and air, a balcony, covered parking, full kitchen, 3 gyms, 3 pools, etc.

Now I’ve moved 10 minutes away. A 2-bedroom garden apartment with a covered patio, central air and heat, full kitchen, open parking, and only 1 gym and 1 pool (poor poor pitiful me) - but the rent is $200 less a month.

(Oh, and in case you’re curious, I didn’t see Warren Zevon at the Capitol in Passaic in 1980, but I saw him on the same tour, most likely the same week, at the Palladium in NYC. It was a freaking wonderful show. Wish I could have seen him more than once. Wish he was still with us.)

(My photos.)

More to the point, I’m 15 months into my current job. I’m working from home, putting in a 12-hour day on average (not straight through though). I’m mostly loving it. It is without question the best job I’ve had since I left Warner Bros. in 2009. A few months ago they told me that I was considered “mission critical.” “Okay I said, show me some love - convert me to an employee or give me a raise.” It took awhile but they basically did both. I can’t begin to tell you how grateful I am that at my age I am still able to work on bleeding edge IT stuff and be viewed as a strong contributor. I’m not just taking up space, I’m getting things done on a daily basis. But it also means I’m working flat out most days and when some down time comes around, my head is not in a place to write.

Early tomorrow morning I’ll be heading to Beijing. It’s a business trip and I’ll be there for 12 days. I’m especially looking forward to it because I think the last time I was there was 16 years ago. (I spent far more time in Shanghai and Shenzhen than I ever did in Beijing, but I have great memories from there as well.)

After that, I’m heading to Manila for three weeks. I wanted to go to Hong Kong but She Who Must Be Obeyed (aka my wife) said that I haven’t been back to my house in a year and a half and last year I did Hong Kong and so the decision is out of my hands. And by the way, I haven’t seen my wife since last Christmas. (Well, I see her 5 times a day in video calls, but not in person, so, you know ….)

So, 2024. I can’t promise I’ll post more frequently. I’ll try. But no promises. Because I’m wicked and I’m lazy