This is for you. But I'm afraid you're already disappointed- that you were hoping for episode #34-- or at the very least the news that it'd be showing up on September 1st. Sorry. It won't be-- not until October 1st. I'm hoping that letting you know some of what's been going on here might possibly soften the blow.
Here is what, in four categories, has filled June, July and half of August.
HOME
I'm visual...so it's an affront to live with the very visible (if localized) chaos of dust-clogged and wildly overstuffed bookshelves and closets. But I'm also a pack rat. To quote Madonna's immortal lyrics: 'Letting go is not my bag'.
Fortunately, there are no 'before' pictures and I don't want to gloat over the 'after' shots so will just leave this one to your imagination. In the service of spreading the joy, let me say that once started, the job turned into a runaway train. 'Letting go' became a high all its own.
I'll skip as briefly as is humanly possible over my installation of a new router for our internet which took up all of one stiflingly hot and humid evening. It involved following prompts from my guide who instructed me ("Mrs. Annie") over speaker phone in marginal English while I scampered back and forth from the dark and cramped corner under the radiator where the internet enters our apartment to the room where my computer is.
Suffice it to say, I was proud that I neither screamed at him nor ripped the phone from the wall. And, against all odds, the new router works.
I'm not sure the story of my gluey 'cold cucumber/potato soup' (winged without a recipe) merits telling. I'm fairly certain that you're not interested in hearing about a late spring cleaning involving a ladder and an awesome number of wet rags or about the better-late-than-never transfer of all woolen clothes to mothballs in neatly labelled plastic bins.
But the series of stick shift driving lessons for our two license-eligible 20-somethings deserves a mention. These took us into three boroughs and across four states and back, with live-action deer, parallel parking, driving into the blinding setting sun and a lower than average number of popped clutches. It was actually mostly really fun and precious time as our children are about to fly from nest.
WORK
The thousand and one details on the punchlist for the Sundance Institute's online launch of my feature film How To Be Louise (1990) took most of June and part of July. The whole film will most likely go online at the time of the Sundance Festival in January, but in the meantime, in case you haven't seen it already, there's a two minute trailer showcasing the amazing actors, the gorgeous cinematography, a score to die for and views of Williamsburg from a time when people still thought it was only in Virginia:
Please go 'Like' it on facebook if you want to keep up with its news.
In early August, I went to BlogHer: the pre-eminent conference for women bloggers. This year, my first time going, there were over 5000 attendees, President Obama gave the opening keynote via video hookup and I finally met (in 3D) some of the incredible writers and internet friends who have helped to spread the word of The Louise Log.
Alexandra Rosas, an amazingly smart and generous (not to mention hilarious) blogger (who's going to have her story on the next "Best of The Moth" CD) made it possible for me to enter the Grand Ballroom each morning and introduced me to everyone in sight.
Ann Imig, the founder and national director of Listen To Your Mother (a Moth-like series of live readings by local writers) became an instant old friend and took me to see Porgy and Bess on Broadway. Meeting them and a raft of other smart and funny and kind women (and one brave man) was eye-opening, inspiring and completely exhausting.
In spite of no air-conditioning, construction all around and Con Ed's compulsive jackhammering of our street, Christine Cook managed to find a few silent moments to dub Louise's lines for episodes 12,13 and 15.
After an exhaustive search, longtime Louise Log friend Ron Basci put us in touch with the wonderful actor Ahmad Razvi (Man Push Cart, Chop Shop) who did a brilliant job of dubbing lines for Raj.
SPIRITUAL
Supposedly, if you work, work, work without 'refilling the well', the well goes dry. I feel incredibly fortunate to have found some sources of bonafide inspiration over the past few months:
Pan Gu Shengong, a kind of 'exercise' which apparently energizes and heals
Queens Farm, a working farm within the city limits of NYC (!!)
a page-turner memoir by Deborah Santana which made me want to take more risks
an evening at The Moth where Tara Clancy told her story (and won)
Zeega, a set of mind-bogglingly innovative, interactive, storytelling tools
a day at Rockaway beach body surfing
Workflowy, the coolest and most elegant (and free) organizational tool I've ever come across (extra special thanks to Ryan Stansky who told me about it)
the Broadway production of Porgy and Bess with Audra Macdonald and Norm Lewis (thanks to Ann Imig and Holly Rosen Fink) which moved me, MOVED me and lingered in my heart and mind for days
And now we come to the fourth category, which strikes fear in my heart like nothing else in the world:
THE DENTIST
Although I actually love my dentist, I did not take care of my teeth in former times. Now, in spite of compulsive care, they require a good bit more than routine maintenance and so, in the past few weeks, I've spent more than my share of time under the covers with ice packs, whimpering.
THE FUTURE
In September, you'll get notices for the launch of remastered versions of episodes 12, 13 and 15.
On October 1st (drumroll, please) The Louise Log #34 starring Louise, Ava, Monique, the Camera Crew and Victoria Trestrail's wonderful song Steady Now will be in your inbox.
Here's hoping that you enjoy what's left of the summer. I'll be desperately trying to relax and enjoy mine. Thank you for reading! More video soon! And in the fall, some exciting new developments. Please stay tuned and spread the word. Thank you!