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Richard Norway

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  1. Richard Norway

    Posted

    You guys are TERRIBLE. You know why? You've put a lot of good ideas in my head. And now thinking about them, I'm now thinking about acting in them.A "food fight" as Cole suggested has merit. I would want to involve the kids again, but many of them have graduated this week and won't be back. But. this could be a cooking contest for youth from HS to college or anyone else..say 15 to 25 y/o. We'd have to have categories like deserts, main entrees salads, etc. I know the Operations Manager of Best Buy and he would be happy to give us $100 gift cards as prizes. Forget the royalties Cole, you gave me this challenge because you want to torment me, because you know it's something that I would love to do. LOLI'm not sure when this will happen, sometime in the Fall, but the possibility intrigues me.One reservation though. We're in New Mexico, and the culture is such that cooking is a female/wife thing, By addressing youth, I can help change that stereotype.Now. I've got to have qualified Judges. I was thinking about the heads of the culinary arts departments of New Mexico State University and local restaurant owners. Here again, you've all have gotten me thinking about our future. Maybe, just maybe, we can get the Food Network interested in us to do a show on us.I'm only speculating.Richard

  2. Richard Norway

    Posted

    Dinner Theater? Actually, I have one of those scripted "Throw a Murder Mystery Party" things in a box. I would personally love to do one, but haven't found the right time yet.I asked Katy Taylor, our director, what would be the next performance that we do. She looked quixotically at me, and I said, "How about Who's Of Virginia Wolf ...but only if I get to play Richard Burton." We laughed at that a lot, but...I sparked in her an interest. It's not a kids performance.Now, I'm getting back to Cole's comment. A cooking setup? Now that's something that they would like. A lot of kids, gay or straight, have left the stereo molds that we grew up with, and the major chefs in the world today are straight. This is a great idea, and has me thinking.Richard

  3. Richard Norway

    Posted

    Thank you all for your warm wishes, James, I'm no saint: I drink with the best of them. And Bruin, I don't see myself as any kind of hero. All I do is follow what I believe in. I believe in kids as the future of our country and want the best for all of us, so I promote their future happiness. Some of our kids are troubled. They haven't had the best life, I guess that's why I'm a foster parent, I'm just an average guy who wants to leave this world knowing that I was here and made a difference.Cole, love you and you're not that far away.Richard

  4. Richard Norway

    Posted

    I know I took more time to calm down, than you wanted me to, but, okay guys and gals, here's what happened.Doing this play was one of the most exhilarating experiences that I have had in years. As you all know, I chose a high school to help put this play on. The reason was that young people today don't know who Harvey Milk was. I wanted this be not just an educational experience for the audience, but the cast as well. We had 9 high school students from Alma d'arte, 1 Alma graduate and 2 New Mexico State University students as our cast. Only 2 cast members had seen the movie Milk with Sean Penn and didn't know who Harvey Milk was. For one rehearsal, I took the entire cast to the Center and screened the movie Milk. They came away amazed. One cast member, a female (the only gay person in the cast) was almost in tears. They hadn't realized what Harvey had done and were aghast when they found out that he was assassinated. Through the first rehearsals, they had started to identify with the characters that they were playing.I had originally pictured this as a reading where each actor was allowed to have a script in front of him/her but wanted a better production. Katy, the director, came up to me and asked if they could do it from memorization. I cautioned her on the short time that we had to rehearse, but she said that she could do it. I smiled because that's exactly what I wanted, So...she pushed and pushed, and guess what? They did it!I was an unknown to the young cast that we were working with, but as time went on, I couldn't walk into rehearsals without half a dozen of the kids stop and say, "Hi Richard." When I walk through the school doing post production stuff (gathering borrowed props, paying the director (yes she did it for free, but she did such a great job, I had to acknowledge her), etc,) the kids would come up to me and hug me for the experience that I provided to them. I loved those kids for who they are and for the dedication that they put into their work. This is truly our future! Of course you all have read my previous posts and know that I was a total wreck. I wanted this to be a great performance, but I also didn't want to lose any money. Well, the first came true and the second didn't. Tech was on Saturday, the day before the performance. "Tech" is where they marry the correct lighting and sound to each moment. It was all scripted and programmed for each moment. I worried that the amount of time they had to put in on this was too late as the performance was the next day. Again, Katy Taylor came through. She made it last until she was satisfied. She kept asking me if I thought the lighting on each actor was correct or that the sound was too loud or too soft. She's obviously a politician as she also knew that this was my first production.We had minimal props on stage, just a few painted wooden boxes of varying sizes. The actors used them to stand on top of to deliver monologues for focus. At one point in the second act a young man with long brown hair got on top of one of the boxes with a bullhorn (just like Harvey did) and gave a compassionate speech). Christ, I was in the back of the theater watching and I cried!We shook up the audience last Sunday and I didn't think they'll forget what they witnessed for a long time. This play was intense at the right times and followed with mellow stuff. But it always heated up again and MADE PEOPLE THINK.A family was created with this experience. The kids became very close to one another and bonded as a family does. Email addresses were exchanged as well as cell number amongst them.It amazed me how much the cast identified with Harvey Milk. Harvey Milk was an out gay man in a time when it was not popular to be. 11 of the 12 cast members are straight and they embraced Harvey and his beliefs. I truly believe that I have made a difference in 12 lives who will be speaking to others.I had bought white polo shirts for each cast member and the director with the Dear Harvey loge silk screened on the front and had asked them to wear them at the meet and greet the case reception following the performance. They all did, and I was out there watching. Members of the audience came up to me. congratulating me on what I had done saying what a wonderful group of young people I had pulled together. Hell, I didn't do it, Katy did. One girl was probably only 4'7", but she could project. She also had no problem with her being so short. She just was and believed in herself! Gawd, I'm so impressed with these young people. They taught me as much as I taught them.We had about 160 people attend the performance and the theater director was thrilled. He said that we would loose a small portion of the usual audience because it was a gay themed play, but was still thrilled about the turnout. I had ordered appetizers for 75 and they were all gone by the time the last person left. The theater is in a downtown area that had gone through urban renewal in the 60's and closed off the street in front of the theater. It was devastation to the business in the area. Two years ago the city realized this and opened up the street and renovated the area. The theater was built in 1926, but closed due to a fire in the 80's. It was put on the national registry of historic buildups and renovated. It opened agai9n 3 years ago to it's grandeur. What a venue! The Dona Arts Council (Dona Ana is the county we live in) bought the theater and did the work.Let me tell you about the performance. These kids did something absolutely amazing. I watched from the rear of the theater for most of the performance and I was entrenched in their ability to perform. It was a little bit shaky for the first 10 minutes, but after that, they got into it. No rehearsal ever came across like what they did in front of an audience. I saw deep passion like I had never seen before. I think at rehearsal they held back but still believing in Hervey's message. Now it was truth time and they let it come out.At the meet and greet reception following the performance, most of the people talking the the cast were school friends, which I expected. But some of the older people approached me with their comments, And they were all very encouraging. Of co9urse, I wore a suit, so everyone could identify me. No One wears a suit in Las Cruces unless you're an attorney. LOLActually, I wore a suit because I was to introduce this play on stage. I asked the lighting guy to focus an me when I did. The sound guy gave me a mic that he said he would turn on the moment I came on stage. I waited until the cast was on the stage wing ready to enter before I came out. (no pun intended I walked onto the stage the the front and made sure that I was illuminated. I introduced the play and asked them to turn off their cell phones, But I also said, "I mean it, do it now." while pointing toward the audience, I got a good laugh. I walked off light for a moment and returned, face showing no emotion. I looked up and paused. I said, "My name is Harvey Milk ans I'm here to recruit you." while pointing at them and then walked off the stage. I got a round of applause as I think they knew the line, but back in the tech booth, Katy said, "I hope you didn't give the play away. I said that that is a famous line. She said that the audience doesn't know that...yet. Oops.I asked Katy about a cast party, but she said that they hadn't arranged one yet. So, being the party loving guy that I am ,sai8d that we'll have one at my house. Before the rehearsal and tech session on Saturday, I gave them all a map to my house.Every kid showed up, One had told me that he and his girlfriend were vegan. I really tried to accommodate them with organic dishes, but I had ordered a 5' Italian sub too. OMG, over half of the cast didn't eat meat. Oh well.This cast has bonded. No one wanted to leave and we played serenades for over two hours. They finally left around 10:40 pm. What was it like? It was one of the most fulfilling experiences on my life.. i saw young people become engaged. I saw enlightenment in their eyes oF knowledge gqained. I saw caring in their voices and their eyes.I think I am better off than they are as I gained a view of the world that is to come and it makes me proud to have known our future.

  5. Richard Norway

    Posted

    I'm burned right now. The cast left the cast party that I hosted at my house about 20 minutes ago. I'm going to veg for a few hours and then I'll tell you all how it went. As a preview, I'll say that the day was one of the best days of my life. Now where did I put my scotch? I had to put it away as we had a lot of kids here tonight.Richard

  6. Richard Norway

    Posted

    Thanks Cole. I know you'd enjoy it.Bruim, they won't let me video the performance, but I'll get pics and post them.Katy, my director, has these kids moving all over the stage. It's an avarnt gard production. You all would love it.One rehearsal tomorrow left and then dress rehearsal and tech run through at the theater on Saturday.Of course, I'm a wreck. Will they be ready? Will we fill the theater? Will the public be accepting of a play that deals with homosexuality...in an open way.? What will the papers say? Will the playwright be pleased? Oh God...I just know that I haven't ordered enough appetizers for the reception. We're going to run out. Then again, no one will stay and we're going to have to eat the food for days to come, if they don't go bad. Like I said, I'm a wreck.This is the first time that I've produced a play, and you know what? I LOVE it!Richard

  7. DesDownunder

    Posted

    Des, I truly feel the agony of what you're going through. I lost 40% of my income last June and have had to make a lot of painful adjustments. But you seem to know what is important in life..you always have. Bruin is right; you'll get through this. It's only a matter of sticking it out, doing what you have to do (and I know you will) and keeping that positive frame of mind that endears you to us.

  8. Richard Norway

    Posted

    OMG. What unwarranted praise you give. It's not that I don't appreciate it, but it's that you've got me all wrong. I'm really a self centered egotist. I'm harsh to kids that do things that I think are not in their best interests. But the point is that it's what I think is in their best interests, not what they think. I'm a witch when I make him take the glasses (6) and bowls (3) out from being in his room for 2 weeks to put in the dishwasher because I made him and b/f drink out of small juice glasses tonight because there weren't enough clean regular large milk glasses for dinner. I'm a judgmental troll when he tells me that the teachers aren't giving him the grades that he deserves when I think that the boyfriend is taking his time away from his schoolwork.Mean me. i love it too. More than that I believe that when you have kids, you take on the responsibility of making them as well prepared as is possible for them to be be productive, happy and responsible adults as you can. That''s your responsibility for bearing that child.Yeah, I want him to be a writer, but he can do whatever he wants to do.opps, I slipped from slamming you all onto my soapbox.

  9. Richard Norway

    Posted

    Bruin,No, Nathaniel's father is not going to be a danger for either me or Nathaniel. The truth is that he really doesn't want Nathaniel. At the meeting that we had with Child Protective Services, he lied through his teeth. Nathaniel's therapist later told me that she couldn't believe what went on in that meeting. The facilitator is a closeted lesbian and seemed to have sympathy with Nathaniel's father. The format was such that each person had a chance to speak and not be interrupted by anyone else. Nathaniel was the last to speak. Nathaniel doesn't express his emotions well verbally, but what he did was finally speak his mind. He turned toward the wall so that he wasn't speaking directly to anyone and said that he would not go back to live with his dad. He couldn't stop his tears and someone got up and handed him a box of tissues. I looked at his father and I couldn't see any emotion on his face as his son was so badly hurting. Then I told myself that Nathaniel needs to know that he's alright and loved so I put my hand on his shoulder to reassure him. Nathaniel, and everyone else in that room then knew who really loved him.Nathaniel is 17 and will be 18 in a few months so all of this wrangling over guardianship will be mute then.His mother lives in Albuquerque (a three hour drive away from Las Cruces) and Nathaniel had no way of getting there. But more than that, she's not able to take care of him either financially or emotionally.Nathaniel has a boyfriend who's 20 and he and I have talked a lot about Nathaniel. He's told me what a change he's seen in Nathaniel, his feeling loved for the first time in his life. His boyfriend (also named David) is so happy that Nathaniel is with my David and I.My biggest problem....My David and I are part of an organizing committee for the Red Ribbon Bash. It's a gala event to raise money for people with HIV and AIDs for medications, living assistance, etc. We expect 300+ people there tonight. I'm in charge of check-in/check-out which involves collecting all of the money from the silent auction. I have 20 volunteers that I'm overseeing and Nathaniel and his boyfriend are a part of that. My biggest problem is getting Nathaniel to wear a tie. LOL

  10. captainrick

    Posted

    Hey Captain Rick, This is Captain Richard. Yeah, I had a big boat once that I could practice my Navy navigation and boat handling on. But that's not the point.I think you've followed the same path that I have. I was married, have a wonderful daughter, but had to come out. My wife and I talked about it and decided that the best way for us to life a fulfilling life was to separate to give each of us the opportunity to be who we are. She and I remained friends, in fact I was invited to her wedding and her and her husband and me and my partner have had numerous times together.What you're doing with your community is so wonderful. My partner, David, and I are about to open the first GLBTQ Community Center in New Mexico. It's a lot of work, but passion seems to make it so tolerable.I too came out late in life, but we're moving on. There are so many of us older folks that are waiting for that opportunity.Bruin said it so succinctly. "May your power never wane. My very best wishes for your new life."That goes doubly from me.Richard

  14. Camy

    Posted

    Thanks Camy. Actually, for me, it's turning out to be a good year...so far. I've just retired, and am looking at my full calander which i can now finally get to some sort of realization. I wish everyone the same joy in the coming year that I'm finally realizing.What a wonderful life!Happy New Year to everyone, not just my friends here.

  15. EleCivil

    Posted

    Hey Civil (You're not a Civil Engineering major are you?),Don't knock Michigan too much, although it does have it's faults (and pasties are NOT one of them)...just like Ohio. I think you'll enjoy your tour in rural America. I've lived in both major cities (I've never been so happy to get out of Detroit, but San Francisco is cool.) and backwater small towns and they both have a lot to offer. And don't believe Camy. Just keep your eyes on Put In Bay on Lake Erie for British frigates trying to relive history and then sigh and shake your head at the futility of Sir Gorden. Hehe.Richard

  16. DesDownunder

    Posted

    As I was reading this phrase from Des' blog entry...'Yet if we want to touch on the human element of life's experiences, if we want to conceal within our story an expose of injustice, or aberrations of commonly held untruths, let alone describe the possibilities of human goodness'...my mind went to the question of how readers perceive gay fiction as realistic or unrealistic. While writing my first novel, I perceived the reader as an idiot, one who had no clue of how life is for a gay man or women. As such, I felt that I had to hit the reader over the head to make him take notice. About 2/3's through the story, I had one of my loving and good characters murdered in an act of hate violence and then proceeded to describe the aftermath of that incident through the protagonist's anguish and eventual recovery.I guess I felt that I had to do that, to make the reader look up and take notice.This maybe off thread, but that's what went through my mind in reading Des' blog entry.

  17. Jason Rimbaud

    Posted

    WOW! All of the comments here exprss my thoughts, but I need to say them myself.I've only been with these forums for a brief few months, and during that time, I thought I had gotten to know you a little. I always liked what you had said, even if it was just ranting about this or that, and that made me like you. It told me that you're honest.Most of the time our inner strength will not show itself until we're forced to see what we're made of by having to make a 'real' choice. I won't say that you surprised me by what you had to do, but it solidified in my mind what a wonderful, caring person you are who can use his inner strength to do what is right.You have not only my love, but my respect.You're a good man, Jason

  19. DesDownunder

    Posted

    I too look at what Des said as quite insightful. But Obama has one flaw...he doesn't have the experience that may be needed to get things done. I laud and actually envy his ideals, but Jimmy Carter too was a good man and his naivety about how things worked with our government caused his presidency to be ineffectual. President Clinton tried to get our military to accept gays into our military service but was only able to get 'Don't ask, Don't tell.' I truly hope that that will change.Barack is also quite intelligent and has shown that he can pull the right people into his fold to advise him.I'm very hopeful for my future as an American, but more than that, I'm also hopeful for the rest of the world. It's not egotistical when I say the what we do has a great impact around the world. George Bush has destroyed what we as a people can stand for and has corrupted what we are seen as around the world.I really do see great change coming out of our government for once in the past 8 years.Des, peace in the world will not be caused by President Obama, Peace can only be approached, maybe closely, by each one of us throughout the world demanding it. But the influence that a major figure in world politics pushing his ideals in that direction will cause quantum leaps. We may never get there, but I'll never give up hope and knowing that whatever we do, small attempts will be heard.I really think that the world is heading toward inclusion. We have always done that throughout history with some bumps in the road. And yes, our big one took place early on in the 20th century, and we've paid for that.I truly believe that President Obama is at the top of a cliff, looking out over a vast canyon with the bottom covered with jagged boulders. One small slip and he'll end up in oblivion. But, I also believe that he has it within himself to make that jump, to be one with his destiny and to then be in control of his fate and soar with the eagles.

  21. EleCivil

    Posted

    What a kick in the pants! I started my second book two weeks ago (Ben Blue's editing my first, and we all know how swamped he is right now) and am up to 2,800 words...just getting started. This is a great way to get me going. Thanks Ele for letting me know that this exists.I've got my story pretty much figured out, but it's so full of holes it looks like my boat's going to sink. I think I'll take the first couple of days to pin down my story and then increase my daily word count as we get closer to Nov 30.

  22. captainrick

    Posted

    Wow is all I can say too. Wibby's right, that was a brave post.David and I have been in a monogamous relationship for 10 years, and we were tested before we did anything. But now I'm thinking that it'll probably be a good idea to have another routine test. It's amazing that for all the thinking and introspection that we as writers do, how complacent we can all become.

  24. DesDownunder

    Posted

    My day has been so boring that I almost...almost...wished I'd had a telemarketer call. That post was right out of an old Bob Newhart telephone comedy act. I'm still laughing trying to type...not easy!Thanks Des. You've made my day. I think I'm going to turn of the computer and go creat a wonderful dinner for David. I'll make him laugh too tonight (today!).Richard

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