Monday
07.12.06
08:54 PM

So, right off the bat, I have to say that this whole blog-thing you've set up is totally gay.  Now I know that being gay and all I really shouldn't use “gay” in such a derogatory way but what can I say....writing blogs is so damn GAY I can't even discuss it.  But this was your idea and you're supposedly straight which makes the whole thing somewhat disturbing actually: that straight-old-you could come up with such a gay-old-idea for keeping in touch over the course of the summer.  But I guess there's no accounting for sexuality or something. 

And I know I agreed to do this when we talked and everything but still, I just have to let you know my true thoughts on this matter before going any further with this gay exercise in futility.  I just don't see why simple e-mail would not suffice.  I mean people have been using that since the beginning of time (or the beginning of the InternetÑsame difference) as a decent mode of effective, semi-instant communication.  So I don't know why you're so set on this Xanga.com, blog-o-sphere thing.  And why, good God, did you have to go and title the thing “Tale of Two Summers”?  I mean, you make it sound like some friggin' Judy Blume novel!

Now I know your whole rationale for this is that e-mails are disposable and deletable and you want to have a record of our big summer apart so that when we're 30 we can look back on it and be like, man, what a couple of losers we were back in the teenage-day.  But believe me, I will not be longing to look back and see what a pair of idiots we were for saving an online record of our every little thought and meaningless activity, especially when, on my end at least, there is really not gonna be much to report.  Except, of course, my farting.  Wait a sec—I feel one coming...[FART].  Ah, much better.

Regardless—here is my first entry.  Are you happy yet?  I'm not.  It's Monday night and it's been a crummy first day of you not being here in crappy old Wheaton, Maryland.  If there is any place more boring on earth to spend a sweltering summer by my goddamn self I can't think of one.  And you know what?  If I could think of a place that was more stultifying, I might even go there just for a change of scenery because after almost 16 years, the sheer deadliness of our little 'burb is really starting to bug me out.  Then, on top of that, toss into the mix the fact that I had my first day back at good ol' Einstein H.S. for Day One of “Driving Instruction and Road Safety Training” (formerly known as “Drivers Ed”, see 20th Century) and I am clearly about ready to lose it. 

I said it to you yesterday in your driveway and I will say it again; you are the luckiest damn dog to go hang out at University of Maryland for the balance of the summer and learn your craft as an actor/singer/waiter.  I only wish I had some ounce of talent to join you but, as we all know, my only talent worth mentioning (i.e. farting) is, uh, not worth mentioning.  BADUMP-CHIK! Thank you ladies and gentlemen...I'm here all summer.  That's right...ALL SUMMER!  OK—enough bitching.  I can already see you shaking your head at my misanthropic missivery.  (Wait—have I just coined a phrase!?)  Still being stuck here all alone for the next six weeks is a major drag, especially given the fact that you're not really that far away even, just a few miles around the old Beltway.  You know I still don't see why I can't just come visit for an afternoon or hang out with you after dinner or something.  What is up with UMD's severe anti-guest policy?  They act like I'm gonna contaminate the whole batch of you with my lack-of-talent and cause an uncontrollable outbreak of averageness or something.  But I digress...

So I guess I'll get to the business at hand which is “keeping in touch”.  Christ—now I lost my train of thought.  This is why the occasional phone call would be easier!!!  They must have a few pay phones there?  Oh right—you said something about how I'm uncommunicative on the phone.  Well, you know, this was news to me.  I think I'm always pretty forthcoming and chatty on the phone, whether discussing what asshole called me a faggot in the hall that day or giving a recap of the latest heartbreak on The O.C..  So I'm not sure what you meant by uncommunicative and—wait a second.  I get it.  NOW you're gonna say “well, why didn't you ask me when we were talking—THAT'S being uncommunicative.”  So this was some sort of trap, eh?  Well—all I can say is, dude, that heart-to-heart in the driveway was creeping me out.  You actors are so damn emotional sometimes.  What is up with that?!

Alright, I keep getting distracted here because it takes so much longer to write some passing thought than to just say it.  And since I can't just talk to you, I'm trying to make this bloody blog work as a one-sided conversation as opposed to some old-fashioned “journal.”  But I will now try to be coherent and cohesive and give you a running account of [insert drum roll here]...

MY FIRST DAY OF SUMMER WITHOUT CHUCK

Our story begins way too bright and much too early with Valerie rousing me at 7:30 for the usual breakfast bonanza of eggs/bacon/bagels/juice/fruitcup/coffee.  Fortunately, I managed to decline everything except the juice and, despite my lack of cooperation, she was kind enough to drop me at Einstein on her way to work.  It was so weird to be back there in the summer...the place is so damn empty, walking down the halls and actually hearing the sound of your own feet and not the usual stampede of thousands.  And guess what?  No.  No.  Sorry, not that either.  I wasn't harassed once!  The one and only plus of the day. 

Our driving class was located just off the main corridor, 115-B.  Where we had English last year, 'member?  As for the class itself, there are about 20 people enrolled in hell with me, most of whom I don't know because they were kids from the year ahead of us (me being the sage of our class due to my August b-day) and/or they are from other County schools.  One person I did know which you will find hi-lar-i-ous is Joey Kelly, from back in da day @ Randolph Elementary?  I hadn't seen him since graduation but he still looked the same—that is, retarded.  Just taller and bigger and, thus, more retarded.  Even though he goes to Prep now, Joey is still the same old cheap-ass he was in 8^th grade, evidenced by his sponging on the free County-sponsored driving class.

Anyway, Joey was wondering what you're up to so I told him and he made fun of the whole summer-theatre-camp-thingÑwhat a shocker, right?  I mean, did Joey ever have a positive reaction to anyone's good news...ever?  Fortunately, I was able to avoid sitting next to Joey by deftly pretending I knew someone else in the class even though I didn't know a bloody soul.  Pretty good acting for an amateur.  (Hey—any last minute openings in your improv class?)  So I snagged a seat in the back row next to this hot blonde chick named Brett.  Have you ever heard of a girl named Brett?  Neither had I but she is definitely 100% girl.  I know I'm not supposed to notice these things now that I'm officially a guy-lover but DAMN—this girl has got it going on, being majorly stacked and sporting the cutest face I've ever seen.  You know what?  You might even like her except for the fact that she seems like a wicked bad seed.  Which, or course, is why I gravitated to her immediately.  (Heh-heh...)

Our driving instructor?  Uhhhh, not so cute.  It's this hulking goon who also does time as an assistant coach for the football team...Mr. Tlucek.  (Remember him? From your ill-fated year on JV?)  OMG—this guy is such a tool!  The first thing he says to us in this deeply serious “I-Am-God” voice was this little gem;  “Listen up people, driving is not a right.  It's a privilege.”  What the hell!  I mean, I know it's not on the Bill of Rights or anything but a “privilege”?  I thought it was my right when I turn age 16 in, oh, 28 days, to get my drivers license and finally have the right to get the F out of Wheaton at 70mph without looking back.  But I guess I was mistook.  At least according to Coach Tlucek.

Anyway, after he drops this line on us with all the seriousness of Moses on the Mount, me and Brett turn to each other, our eyes rolling way up into the back of our heads and start cracking up.  That's when I knew we would click.  She is a trip!  Later, during our break, she said she couldn't give a crap whether driving is a right, a privilege, or a door prize.  She's only taking the class to humor her rents and doesnÕt even want to get a license when she's done.  Her attitude is like--“why should I learn how to drive when boys are gonna take me where I want to go anyway.”  I was of half-a-mind to be like, hells yeah...me too!  Until, that is, I realized the pool of eligible Einstein homos to shuttle me around the DC metro area is slightly smaller than the one Brett's working with.  (Who'm I kidding—it's like nonexistent!)  Actually, I even told her this line and she busted out laughing.  Check it out—she didn't seem to mind the whole gay thing at all which was refreshing for a change, right?  Go Brett! Yeaaaaa!  [Insert queerleaders doing a cheer]

So on that rare, 'campy note' I will end my first entry.  I hope all this useless information about my so-called life today in Wheaton (a.k.a. the Black Hole of Suburbia) has truly enlightened you and brought us closer than ever.  (Yeah, right.)  Thusly, I will sign off, as always your friend, confidante, and troubled soul...Hal. 

PS—have you gotten laid yet at “college”?

Tuesday
07.13.06
09:05 AM

Dear Whiny in Wheaton,   
Well.  In the one day that I have been gone from your life you have lost none of your knack for being a raving lunatic.  Thank God I set this blog up so at least you'll have an outlet for your half-baked rants while I'm gone.  Otherwise you'd probably be standing outside of 7-11 saying these things out loud.  To people.  Normal people.  Which means, of course, you'd be in jail by now.  And surely Wheaton would be a safer place.  (ha)

I'm writing you from the fancy McKibbin Library computer center on my half-hour of free time before our first workshop of the day.  It's too bad we can't IM or something but I'm assuming there are no computers in driving class, where you're currently trapped.  Despite all your protests, I think you've taken to the blog pretty decently.  Since we won't exactly be around to share the details of our summer adventures directly, I still wanna at least know them all indirectly.  Which is why I thought the blog would be a cool way to keep in touch, longer than e-mails and yes something that we can look back on. 

Why you may ask?  Well ignoring dark Prince Hal's typically grim predictions, I think this summer is gonna be great!  For BOTH of us.  You're gonna get your drivers license which is like a passport to freedom, despite what Tlucek may say.  (Voice of God—that's so true!)  And I'm gonna get to live like a real bachelor and meet lots of hot chicks from all over the state who have no idea what an ass I am.  Hopefully, their ignorance will get me laid.  Eventually.  And no, it hasn't happened yet.  Yet.  Implying it will.  Soon.  And don't roll your eyes at me like that!  :)

Despite my lack of sexual action so far, there is still tons to report.  So much that I don't know where to start.  I've been here only two days and it feels like a month; all these new faces and places.  I guess I'll start with my swinging bachelor pad.  I'm on the third floor of St. Ann's Hall, an old red brick dorm, sharing a decent sized room with this guy from Baltimore who is also named Charles.  However, unlike me, he does not go by Chuck.  Not even Charlie.  Get this—he demands to be known as “Chaz”.  I was like, whaaaaatttt?!  But he was insistent about it.  Said it was his stage name.  Chaz.  Oooo-kay.

Now, as you may have guessed from the nickname and the attitude, Chaz is a lover of men.  (Gays at theatre camp--shocking, right?)  Not that we had a big discussion about this or anything.  Nothing like your coming out chat back in January, that's for sure.  No—I found this out because in the first ten minutes of our conversation Chaz mentioned two of his ex-boyfriends and alluded to two others.  I was like dude, how many ex's do you have?  He said five total but he doesnÕt talk about the fifth guy, getting all dramatic about it saying he is the Òone whose name cannot be utteredÓ.  I was like, what...the ex-boyfriend formerly known as Prince?

Chaz is a serious character.  Get this—last night he starting getting into this whole project to “revamp” our dorm room.  No joke!  Chaz was flipping through an Ikea catalog till all hours and, as I type, he is sitting at a terminal next to me ordering stuff online for delivery.  He said he wants to make our place feel, and I quote, “more like a cute artist's studio than a cramped dorm room”.  Oh yeah—we're not actors or singers.  Chaz insists that we are artists.  (?!?!)  So as you may have guessed, Chaz is slightly insane.  But his madness is fortunately more on the positive/productive side.  Unlike some people I know who will remain anonymous. J

Hey--you know what?!  I just had a brainstorm.  Maybe Chaz would be a good balance for your darker brand of insanity.  You guys would be a pretty interesting couple.  And I could make it happen.  Hey—look at me”I'm the gay matchmaker!  LOL  As for me and Chaz “living together”, you don't have to worry about him hitting on me or anything like that.  Chaz was pretty straight about this.  (ha)  He said that I wasn't his type.  Thanks—I guess.  Not that I wanted to hit it with Chaz or anything or even be admired by him.  It's just that lately it seems like I am no one's type, gay or straight or slightly crooked or anything.  Even here at UMD.  Seriously. 

You see, there are an outrageous number of hot SummerArts honeys who have caught my eye.  So many.  But so far, no one seems to be catching back, you know?  I thought I'd be getting something going on instantly since a) we're all away from home and b) we're all looking for summer lovin'.  But nothing. 

Chaz tried to calm me down on the chick thing, saying in his deep resonant baritone (sidebar--this guy can sing!) “we are here to learn how to be artists, not hunt down sexual game.”  LOL  He really is serious about this artist thing.  It's funny because I never really thought of myself as an artist.  And though The Chaz had a point, I do sorta wanna get laid too.  I mean, I am away at college!  (kinda)  Even if it is only about 10 miles from Wheaton, I might as well be on another planet.  I mean, dude—I have a dorm room!  With no parents telling me what to do or where I'm going or when they'll be back or anything!!! 

Well, that's not 100 percent true.  There is a Resident Assistant, or RA, who is technically in charge.  But he's a junior at UMD and is very cool, saying we can do what we want as long as the lights are out and doors shut by 1 AM.  1AM?!  My parents would flip...actually they did cause I told them when I called home last night from the payphone at the Student Union.  Get this—Bob and Helen were complaining that I sounded tired already because I wasn't getting enough rest.  They are such worriers.  Which is to say they are such parents.

Anyway, I've gotta wrap this up as we have to get to our voice class and it's on the other side of campus.  (UMD is so massive—the size of 20 Einsteins!)  Later today, the faculty is gonna meet with us to talk about the show that we're gonna be putting together over the course of the next six weeks.  (If it's Fiddler, then I definitely have to play matchmaker for you and Chaz—it'll be a sign!  LOL)  Seriously, though, I can't wait to find out what we're gonna be doing...and, of course, if I can play the lead.  Yeah, I know...I always play the lead at Einstein so you're probably wondering why I'm even questioning it.  But this is the big leagues, bro. Everyone here played the leads at their own schools!  So scoring a big role here would actually mean something because everyone is so talented. 

OK—I'm gonna stop being such a “drama fag” now and sign off. But one last thing.  Your last entry was a little, how can I put this...bitter?  And I know you're bummed about being left to your own devices this summer.  But please do me one favor; don't be such a dark cloud in the middle of July.  You can actually be a nice guy when you're not being such a self-inflicted mope.  And maybe you'll even meet some interesting guys in your class (other than that dumbass Joey, of course). 

Alright--good luck with driving and try not to hit anything.  Remember, this is real life not GTA: VICE CITY.   C

 

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