Into Poverty I Go (Deeper)

Reality

I will be leaving my 'cushy' full time position with Express LLC. This will happen in two weeks. And by leaving I mean stepping into a part-time position so as to have control of my schedule. And therefore, my destiny. It was pay week this week. Which is usually so exciting. Except that the large majority is already written off to rent. And by large I mean, well, I am afraid to calculate the percentage. It may be above the ninety range. At any rate, I do not need money to be happy, but I would like to eat. And live. I am hoping that at least one of those things will be solved by leaving the retail front. But the point is, that I am already starting to fear the decision I have made. Will I be able to survive out there in the cold? I certainly stand to make more money, but while it is not guaranteed each two weeks to produce a paycheck, I think I may have entered the most impoverished time of my life. Which is exciting in a way. Half because it rather suits me being poor. Half because leaving Express could be wonderful for my mental health. I think I have reached previously unreachable levels of unappreciatedness (apologies for the created word), while employed there. So take rest, dear reader, if ever (read: when) you are unappreciated, know that there has been someone before you that has endured worse (possibly, I wouldn't dare make that claim without knowing the circumstances, of course).

Because of this poverty, I have stopped eating. Which suits me as well.

That may be all I have for now.

Cheers,

G. Alan Busch Jr.

Post Script. Traveling to Brooklyn today over the water (via bridge, the Q train) I was inspired. It may have something to do with listening to A.A. Bondy while in the train. His particular brand of folk just reminds me of the road (do listen to his latest album "When The Devil's Loose", or at the very least, its opening track "The Mightiest of Guns"). If I do not get out there soon I fear I may perish. On the spot.

And Now For The Past

Photographic Journey.

I realize that I have gotten ahead of myself. I posted some information here without really delving into the changes that have occurred of late. The pictures will tell the tale.

First. Christopher B. Hiatt comes to town. He lives on an air mattress for a time. Now he does not.

Second. In hopes of saving space, and lives, Christopher B. Hiatt, Dan Towne Hall, and myself acquire a bed from Sarah E. Ruff. We carry it one and a third miles from her apartment to ours. This takes two trips.

Third. We set up the new bed. We acquire further storage solutions from a local retailer. We rejoice.

This really did happen. It takes a long time to move things in the city. But, the adventure continues. Good luck to everybody out there.

Post Script: February approaches, along with my six month milestone in this location. I could not help but feel the other day, that I belonged here.

Making Our Way Through

Documentary.

Crunch time has arrived at Dean St. Studio (the name I just invented for our apartment). Dan Towne Hall has announced his official departure date as January 31st. It pains me to say that he will be leaving us. But over the next two weeks there will be many distractions. First and foremost we are attempting to finish all the recording we have left so that I might be able to mix the tracks after he leaves, and through the magic of the interwebs, come to an agreement on the mixes, and finally have a worthy copy of these songs that have been on our minds for nearly six months now. It is exciting to me because I think every time I have attempted to record something by myself I never end up seeing the completed product. And I feel (and hope) that we will be proud of the result. I know that I will be excited to share it when it is done.

I will update this post at a later date with a photograph or two of our newly arranged apartment. With the advent of Christopher B. Hiatt moving in, it took a little work (and a free bed courtesy of Sarah E. Ruff) and a little Ikea, but we are excited about the newfound space. For now, as a teaser, let us just say that we comfortably fit three beds into our bedroom. And over the next three weeks we will be hosting various siblings and guests in our living room. It is an interesting time in Brooklyn. And 2010 still looks promising.

Edit: Days later, I get around to locating the internet. And having thought ahead to upload some new photographs, have arrived to add the promised media.

From Top:

One. Look at how perplexed our face is.

Two. Out of focus. I cannot help but like it even though it shows nothing.

Three. New shoe racks. Maybe the best addition.

Four. Living area. Although it has already changed to house more tenants, note the new shelf on the left wall. Now stop looking at it. It is ours.

Five. New bed install. New arrangement. Three mattresses in one room. Beneath photo lies Dan, sort of 'L' shape with the new bed. So he is half underneath our mini-loft. The pillow at the top of photo is the head of the third bed. I don't have to mention the hanging solution that sections off the room. Multi-purpose. Multi-faceted. Multi-mate.

Cheers,

G. Alan Busch Jr.

Post script. I recently decided that I am going to be famous. Maybe this is the year.

Post post script. I love wordplay. I may be addicted. Also this post has given me formatting headaches. It feels like an ice cream headache made of paragraphs.

Post post post script. Christopher B. Hiatt found ourselves at Bryant Park on one of the last days of the free ice skating rink. The line was long, and we were busy, but it was nice to see.

The Great Escape

Documentary

The non-fiction posts continue I am afraid. Though I am happily considering my next fictional post.

This year has brought me new hope somehow. I suppose, that this could have happened at any given time, but it just so happens that it coincided with the turn of the decade.

New Years Eve 2009. Depressing. I think I worked an eleven or twelve hour shift at the store. It was particularly bad because aside from the normal 'house-keeping' tasks that I do since others are incapable (though upon consideration I imagine janitors get paid more) I had to act as a cashier for three hours. At first I was happy for the change of scenery, but quickly realised that I would not be able to leave this little area for some time. And after dealing with people (some rude, some not) for that long it made sorting hangers (yes, seriously) that much more exciting. At this point, I was ready to give up. And almost certainly had resigned myself to the upcoming year of day in and day out retail work.

New Years Day 2010. Tired. Had to be at the store early in the morning. In contrast to the previous day, however, I could not help but to begin to plan my escape. It has been a long time coming, and I have thought many times that it would be easier and safer to continue in the environment I am in (easier and safer financially maybe, not sure that refers to my sanity). Despite the risk, I began plotting and strategizing.

It is hard to go out on a limb for something that you think will make you happier. By no means do I need money to be happy, but I like to be entertained and I like to live. I think that freelancing will offer me the chance to have both of those things. And if I have to be even closer to poverty than I am now in order to be less unhappy with things, than I think I can deal with that consequence.

It has been difficult having to turn down good opportunities in the theatre world while busy at Express. I think once I no longer have to do that I will begin meeting more people that are like-minded. And more than that, people that are involved in other projects that I might be able to be a part of. Anyway that I look at it, if I do not try it soon, I am afraid that I never will.

Here goes.

The Cold Air Pushes Hard On You

Non-Fiction

The title is a reference to a song written by the Great Lake Swimmers. I will go ahead and say it is my recommendation for the day because it is fantastic. The track is titled 'Changing Colours', find it.

First, I feel bad about how this year has started for my blog.

Neglected.

Ignored.

Cold.

But I am rather determined to overcome this start and refresh the content herein. I began to draft a post on the train the other day, and will attempt to follow my notes here, but because of my lack of writing I fear that it will be a disjointed post. But you have to start somewhere.

As with anything New York and winter, I should begin with the cold. It is all-encompassing (though recent small victory, the heat the in apartment has increased from a slightly bearable average of 60 to a relatively comfortable average 68). Despite how cutting the cold and wind can be (and its true, no layers can stop the wind when it gusts anywhere from 30-40 miles per hour), it is inspiring in a way. Something about the cold makes me feel a strong need to have only what I need for survival with me anytime I leave my apartment. This has always been an attractive idea to me, and I am fairly certain that I would be much happier if I only owned what I could fit on my back.

This has made me think how it is so easy in this life to gather things that we do not need yet feel compelled in some way to own or to have nearby. Before my move to the city I felt pretty positive about the push I made to rid myself of items that I either did not use or determined that I did not need. By no means did I rid myself of all my belongings, but I was content with the amount of stuff I had at that point. And already, a mere six months later I feel burdened with the new things I have acquired. I am not sure how it all happens so quickly. But it will be a tendency that I will fight for the rest of my days.

Oh to be on the road with nothing holding me back.

GAB

Post script. CBH's triumphant return to NYC is now realised. I have included a photo as a means of proof (and for all you iphone users the CameraBag app is wonderful). You can find his blog here.

Post post script. Passion Pit with Robin and the above was a success. Odds were they would let us down, but it was with joy that we received their very tidy and sincere performance (at a completely sold out Terminal 5, line of sight was slightly obscured, but here is what I captured).