“Look what a little Catholic rebellion will lead to… Paul would kiss me and I would think: Oh! I’ve got my very own Jew!” -from Company

I’m writing this from my old MacBook Pro that Harold now uses.

On Sunday we saw “A Little Night Music” in Evanston at Light Opera Works. Like the last Light Opera Works show we saw, this one was also fantastic. If you haven’t seen “A Little Night Music” and like clever, funny, sophisticated, and musically complex shows, I think you’ll like it.

I stayed home from work Yesterday, which I rarely do. I had (and continue to have) such a terrible sinus headache, that I can barely stand the thought of moving. I spent most of the day on the couch. Yesterday morning I was still able to sleep so I slept until about 10, then woke up and watched movies all day. He’s Just Not That Into You, then The Breakup and then switched to a couple of Sondheim musicals while slicing up the new design for this website. (Hopefully you’ll like it, I do)

I upgraded to the newest version of WordPress and got about halfway done converting the Photoshop file into HTML & CSS before stopping to quickly set up the backup disks on our new Airport Extreme to function as drives for Time Machine. I couldn’t get this to work so I decided I would run the firmware update on the router. This opened up ‘Software Update’ which kept locking up around 20% into checking for software… not downloading it… just checking for it. I noticed earlier in the day that any new files I created were not coming up as searchable in Spotlight…. I decided a restart was definitely in order, maybe it would fix all of these little issues. It didn’t. I restarted and my computer got stuck on the gray apple with the spinning spokes screen. About 20 minutes later I shut it down, cleared the PRAM, and as of yet have not been able to get it boot back into OS X.

Harold ran the firmware update on the router which then had to restart itself. He didn’t realize that I was watching something on Netflix on TiVo. Having lots its connection during internet play, TiVo locked up. Upon restart, the audio track for the movie I was watching loaded about 1 second before whatever was happening on screen. It was about then that I lost it.

I decided I must leave the house. I needed to go see the pretty lights of downtown, take in a little bit of night air, and get out of the house and away from all the non-functioning electronics. While out, I stopped by the Bad Times Burger King for a diet Coke. Naturally, they gave me regular and I had to go back through the line to exchange it. We returned home and I checked one more time to make sure my computer still wouldn’t start up, took some pills as instructed by Harold, and the moment my headache went away was finally able to go to sleep around midnight.

The medicine must have worn off around 2pm, b/c that’s when I woke up. The busy noises of Irving Park (we live on a pretty major road) which usually are my comforting friends who help me sleep, are now my enemies. Its no matter though, with my two hours of sleep I’m now wide awake.

I would work on my website some more, but I can’t get to the files. How I wish I had thrown them on a network drive. I decided to put on Stephen Sondheim’s ‘Company’ on Netflix on TiVo (which Harold was able to fix) and try some more things on my computer

I’m pretty sure the hard disk on my new computer may have failed. In addition to not booting to the hard disk, my brand new 17″ MacBook Pro also will not boot to the TechTool Deluxe CD. I was finally able to get it to boot to the Mac OS X Leopard install disc. It ran through normal setup procedures (you know, it checked the CD and everything) and when it finally tried to install the operating system to the hard disk…. I got this fantastic “Install Failed’ screen. I’ve been through this before on my old PowerBook G4. Basically these are the same events that happened when its hard drive failed.

I’m pretty sure I’ve lost all of the work I did on my website yesterday, which totally sucks. I noticed that if I hold T while starting up, it will boot into transfer mode, so I thought perhaps it might be worth a shot to see if I can pull the files off of it that way, however I don’t have a FireWire 800 cable, and the new MacBook Pro does not have a FireWire 600 cable. My guess is that it doesn’tmatter though, if the Hard Disk really has failed, I’m sure it wouldn’t actually work.

On the plus side, after trying for about 10 seconds on this computer, I was able to get it to see the network drives for Time Machine Backup. Yay! The other positive here is that I haven’t had the computer for very long. The only files I don’t have on this computer are a few Musicals I downloaded since I got that comptuer and those website files. Who knows, maybe I’ll hit an odd spur of luck and actually be able to get them!

Additionally, on Friday the blower motor for my cars A/C stopped working. I found out it I didn’t have to drive to Mid-Missouri and that it could be fixed here in Chicago so I made an appointment. It promptly started working again, and has not stopped since. I figured they probably couldn’t fix it if they couldn’t see how it was broken, so hopefully if this issue decides to manifest again, it will happen sometime during the next 6,000 miles… because after than my warranty runs out and then it would be expensive to fix.

Well, that’s all for now. Wish me luck!

Brett Patrick Casey )

I spent this afternoon doing some “technical” style drawings for a project. I’ve several more to go, but they’re turning out kind of cool.

Brett Patrick Casey )

Today was day 7 of Phase 1 of the South Beach diet. Today, This morning, I noticed that it was easier to tighten my belt. Still haven’t cheated, not even once. Nate and his boyfriend Kevin were visiting this weekend, yesterday was a whirlwind of fun activities and fantastic restaurants and food. Today as well.

Let me start with yesterday. To begin, transit was a nightmare: I took the blue line downtown to meet them. (The bus from my place to the blue line was HOT as hell and by the time I got off after only 6 blocks I was feeling it.) As soon as I got to the top of the stairs, I heard the train coming behind me so I ran to catch it. We get to Belmont and the operator announced that the train would only be travelling as far as Western (which for those of you who don’t live in Chicago is 6 stops before where I needed to get off the train-Washington) We boarded a shuttle bus and drove down Milwaukee and after what seemed like an hour were finally deposited at Clark/Lake. From there, I just walked to my destination… The Art Institute.

I saw Nate, Kevin and their friend Joli, (Kevin and Joli turned out to be fun as hell btw–we love them) as in Millennium Park as I was walking past. We walked over to The Art Institute. Saturday was The Art Institute’s much anticipated opening day for “The Modern Wing.” We entered the front of the building and proceeded up the stairs where we were met by a black gospel choir (with 1 white lady) who was bringin’ the museum house down! It was loud and rockin! We loved it! We was praisin’ Jesus up to the Art Institue. Before their performance was over, my friend Lucy showed up.. we ran into each other out front… literally, and rejoined the group for the rest of the performance. The new wing is gorgeous of course and features a “Floating Staircase” we didn’t see much art since it was so crowded– upon exiting we learned that yearly membership is only $80 and includes unlimited entrance for two adults and any quantity of children.

Here’s where the food starts: Nate, Kevin and Joli decided to head to Atwood Cafe to eat calamari.  (Um… Graham cracker crusted calamari) I decided I’d better not and so Lucy and I went to Argo for green tea and a walk around Daley plaza, and the rest of the theater district. We went to Nordstrom Rack for a while and met the group after they were done eating. Lucy left and the rest of us headed to Garrett where they ate the caramel cheese mix popcorn (YUM) but I was good, and refrained. After that it was time for the Sears Tower Skydeck which by the way is closed because of a remodel and construction (of the new ledge which will be two inches of glass that hang off of the 103rd floor that if you’d like, you can walk out onto over the city… can’t WAIT for that!) so we saw the city from the 99th floor.

We walked around for a while longer, and cabbed it to Wakimono in lakeview… which btw is a Sushi place I’ve been wanting to try for over a year. Again I was good and didn’t eat sushi. I had edamame, and “Artisan Tofu in sesame and Chili oil” which was pretty spicy and REALLY REALLY REALLY good. We went to a fun candy store that has EVERY type of candy you’rve ever heard of… but I didn’t even sample. THEN we flew over to Bobtail… home of my favorite iced cream in Chicago… which is a Homemade Merlot with dark chocolate chips. Yet again, I was good and I sat ice cream out.

Today we went to Bistro 110 for brunch which is a semi-fancy French Quater kind of restaurant right off of the Magnificent Mile. This time Harold, Kevin’s friend Shila–who is also really fun, and Joli’s husband joined us. We all had delicious breakfasts. Many had crepes but had a fritatta which also turned out to be very good. (Luckily, the chef was kind enough to make it without mushrooms for me.) The service was quite nice, and they had a live new orleans style Jazz band. It wasn’t terribly expensive either… two breakfasts + coffee and soda: $50 w/ tip! Following that, we visited the Hershey botique across the street. Again… no indulgences.

After that, Shila departed and we went on a floating tour of the city. We boarded on the river, went through the locks and out to the lake where we saw the city from afar (but not very far) We headed back in toward through the locks and toured the south fork of the river but not very far shouth… down to about Jackson street. The views were beautiful and aside from the fact that it was a tad cold and I opted NOT to bring a jacket, the entire 90 minute ride was fantastic. I even learned quite a few pieces of Chicago trivia. Why Streeterville is called Streeterville, for example. Unfortunately I forgot we planned to go on the boat ride today and also forgot a camera.

We said our goodbyes, and Harold and I had dinner at Roti again. All in all, a fantastic weekend… and I stayed on my diet… only 7 more days until phase 2!

Stay good kids,
Brett Patrick Casey )

When I was a relatively small child I had, from time to time, the occasion to visit some of the older homes and apartments around Jefferson City. Often, these occurances were to help friends that my dad collected while working at the Christian bookstore move into a new apartment. Sometimes downtrodden people, at least as I remember them. Growing up as I did, in a home that was small but new when we moved into it, I thought anyone who lived in a home older than 20 years was poor. Not that we had any fortune of significance, but poor as far as I knew it. The detail and craftsmanship of these homes fascinated me. Why should that kind of craftsmanship and architectural beauty be reserved only for people of limited means?

I knew that at some point in my life, I just had to live in a home like this. As I grew a little older my interest in design, particularly that of interior spaces, became a stronger and more prevalent influence in my life. I found that the spaces I was most drawn to were modern ones created inside the preserved shells of older homes. At some point it became clear that monetary wealth had nothing to do whether people chose to live in an older home or not.

The history of architecture and its inhabitants began a thirst in me that in spite of my research, touring, and current living situation remains unquenched even today.

I watched a movie tonight that took place in the late ’50s and early ’60s. The setting was a little bit older town and so most of the architectual details in the homes were those common right around the turn of the century. My current apartment here in Chicago was built in 1901. Recently, I had the opportunity to tour the (currently) vacant apartment upstairs. Because of unruly tennants, our place has had more cosmetic updates than the place upstairs. Both places retain many of the original details and much of the building’s charm.

These details jump out at me with some frequency, but even more often they are lost in the day to day business of life. Right after watching this movie tonight though, they hit me with new and intensified importance and familiarity.

The crowns on the windows doors, the 10 inch baseboards, the paneled archway and the coffered ceilings. They’re all filled with the stories of the past hundred and eight years. During World War 1, this apartment was here… people lived in it, perhaps one if their children fought. On December 7, 1941 its inhabitants likely sat in this living room, or the kitchen and listened to the radio reports. World War 2, the Kennedy Assassanation, the Challenger explosion, all of them were recieved and considered by people living in this apartment. The people living here, these events affected them, their decisions their tastes, and therefore their contributions to the current character and state of this structure. What were their lives like?

Why was the double-hinged door dividing the front and back of the apartment removed? The holes from its hinges remain. Did it break? What events led to its removal? Was there a fight between a husband and wife in which the door broke?  I wonder what happened here. I wonder what happened all over this city.

Brett Patrick Casey )

For a person who never seems to have anything to do, I’m so busy lately. I haven’t posted any new work in quite a while, and I feel like I really can’t debut new designs for the network on my blog, but here’s a tiny sneek peek of a storyboard for a video loop I’ve been working on this week.

Soon to be seen on screens in food courts in malls all across the country? You know, after revisions and stuff… I dunno… we’ll see.

Brett Patrick Casey )

There is someone as Comcast whose job it is to search Twitter posts with the word “Comcast” in them, and respond to people. Yesterday, someone asked me “What is wrong” when I posted “I hate Comcast.” For the moment I find this a little creepy (because they really didn’t do anything wrong, I was just whining about the fact that I scheduled them at the same time as something else, and their appointment window is so long. I know that’s pretty standard for any cable company though. So now I have to feel a little guilty about that. However, if there had been a real problem that I wasn’t receiving help with over the phone, I suppose the Twitter lady would be quite a nice thing. So in general, I remain on the fence on the twitter-crawling.

Off to do interviews, Harold is going to wait around for Comcast.
Brett Patrick Casey )

What a busy week I had last week. Its Monday and I’m only now getting around to blogging about it. Don’t you love how I say that like I update with some semblance of regularity? Right.

Anyway. Last Tuesday Harold and I drove down to Hannibal for the funeral of a friend. My friend Jason, who was the musical director of our Cabaret show, died on January, 28th. He was such a fun person, and he did so many cool things. He was so much to so many people. A co-writer, a friend, a director, a teacher, a partner… suffice to say I won’t be the only one missing him. It was nice to see everyone else, though the circumstances were really unfortunate. I wish I would have been able to spend more time with them. I miss those kids! If any of you are readers: Come up to Chicago and be fat with me!

We are on the search at work for a new designer. I reviewed about 300 portfolios and about 20 resumes. Unless their portfolio is pretty good, I don’t even look at the resume. I’m bringing two people in for interviews on Wednesday. I hope one of them works out. I think they probably will. They had great portfolios. I’m excited to meet them, and at the prospect of adding one to our team.

I decided I might try to benefit from the unfortunate demise of Circuit City, and decided I would keep an eye on their HD TiVos and purchase one when the price got low enough. (I know I could get an HD DVR from Comast for cheaper but… fuck Comcast/Medicomm/EveryOtherCableCompany and their shitty ass version of DVR… I want, love, and NEED TiVo. It’s just the way it is. Its like the Apple of the DVR world. Its just better. Seriously.) Anyway, they have refurb TiVo’s HDs on the TiVo website shipped for free, for a total of 199.00. Regular price (online, or at Best Buy is 299.00) I don’t buy refurb stuff, I also don’t buy things online so much to Harold’s annoyance, that was out.

Over the past couple weeks I’ve been driving to the Circuit City on Elston and checking them out. (I have bought a couple of things after milling around the store, and had my taste in movies insulted by a clerk. I hadn’t seen “40 Days and 40 Nights” in years…. and after watching it, decided he was right to be insulting. Anyway…) This week the TiVo HD’s dropped down to 239.00. I decided to get serious about buying one. I drove from one store to another trying to find one IN a box. (They only had the floor models (I found out later that they sent all of the boxed ones back.) I was thinking of purchasing the floor model anyway until they didn’t have the original warranty card (they told me I could do it online) nor anything else that was supposed to come with it. Finally I decided the gods of shopping did NOT feel the need for me to have a TiVo HD at this time. An hour later, Harold receives an e-mail that Sears is having a sale–he checks the website and they have them (New, in the store, and in boxes) for 199.00! There is a sears about 12 blocks (1.5 miles) down the street from us, so we hopped in the car and drove over. We purchased our TiVo, and decided that since we were there, and if we spent $300 or more, we had a year to pay it off with no interest… we would also purchase a 22″ flat panel (Which I later saw (while looking for a swivel mount for our new TV) at Circuit City for $100 dollars more (even with the 30% off) than we paid for it full price at Sears.) for the bedroom and to stick our old TiVo on it. The best parts: 1. TiVo has to be connected to the internet. The NEW TiVo has an eithernet cable, and will live right next to the router, so we don’t have to purchase another wireless TiVo access thing. ($40 saved) Because its TiVo, and not Comcast, the two TiVos are able to talk to each over our home network, and we can watch programs recorded on one, in the other room. Additionally, we can use the instant Netflix thing to watch movies on it. TiVo is Genius. I love it. I’m SO excited about THAT.

Also, Tomorrow (Feb 10) is Harold’s and my 1 year anniversary (from our first date) !!!

Brett Patrick Casey )

Even though it (on VERY seldom occasion) requires me to work on a Sunday, can I just tell you how much I absolutely love my job?

I was fortunate enough to spend a bunch of time with a professional photographer yesterday during an on-location shoot for work.

Achieving Impossible focus. This makes me happy.

Brett Patrick Casey )

I’ve now been living in Chicago for a little over a year.

A conversation I had today sort of made me realize how drastically my life has changed in the last year. This wasn’t actually a realization that I came to on my own, the person I was having the conversation with said this to me. He’s right.

My life has changed a lot. He also said that something seems like it is wrong with me, and that I don’t have a good attitude living here. Something is wrong with me: I’ve gained a whole bunch of weight back and I feel like shit about it ALL the time… but I’m doing something about it. I wouldn’t say that any general attitude about me comes as a direct result of surroundings.

Sure, living in the city has its challeneges. Depending on what time you’re travelling, and how far you are going, it can take an hour and a half to get there. For some reason, Illinois drivers are crazy morons. (As Ryan always said) Like seriously, it snows here a lot… but people in Missouri can handle it so much better. I’m not sure if its the snow combined with the much increased number of cars on the roads or what… but the people can’t handle it. Same when it rains. They can’t do it. It’s like bad. Parking can suck too… my car is currently parked two and a half blocks away. Normally it actually isn’t that bad, but right now is bar time… and I live right above two pretty popular bars. (The Secret Polish one, and The Filapino Karaoke One) which makes parking much worse about this time, especially on the weekends.

I’ve grown a lot as a designer, and (if I ever find time) would like to re-do my site and portfolio to get some new stuff out there for the people to look at.

Harold is VERY great. In every aspect. At almost everything. Sometimes it makes me ill. Though he is constantly doing everything in his power to make me feel the contrary; I sometimes feel like this stupid little person that he has to put up with. I don’t feel like he should have to deal with it. With me. That’s my own shit, and not his, and I know it. I’ve decided to look up some therapists to sort of explore that a bit.

I feel like I’ve come a long way from working at the Pizza Hut in Jefferson City, right? Why can’t I be proud of those accomplishments? Why (in my head) is nothing I do ever good enough to feel proud about? Every accomplishment always feels like a stepping stone to something else–not something to be celebrated–something to be embarrassed about having to go through. Like, I should have understood it sooner, learned it faster, adapted more quickly, whatever.

Another thing that is very different about being here is that I have no celebrity factor. I don’t mean that the way it sounds… In Missouri, I was very out and about, and a lot of people (in my community) knew who I was and sort of the things I did. The bar community, and the more organized LGBT community overlap so much there… it was sort of a natural thing. I’m not sure how much they overlap here. Not that I go out to bars and make myself known there either, quite the opposite actually. Harold and I have gone to bars toghether exactly seven times in the year we’ve been together. Four of those, he has left early because he was tired or not feeling well. I need to find another way to be social. I used to be good at bars. I’m not good at them anymore, and I don’t want to be in them as often or as much. Even though here they are so much bigger and nicer, they are still really losing their appeal.

Harold and I host dinner parties, and brunches and (on occasion go to them.) If we go to a party, it usually has something to do with church. For example, a couple of weeks ago we attended a wine an cheese tasting that one of his friends at church gave him tickets for. It was fabulous, it was hosted by another couple from church. They opened up their gorgous (not to mention giant) home in Hyde Park for this fourty person event. (Part of the church fundraising auction… Harold donated a big southern brunch, which we’ll actually be having tomorrow afternoon!)

I like this time in my life, and I enjoy doing these things. The only trouble–and also the reason I need to figure out other ways to be social–is that all of these wonderful people are Harold’s friends. Everyone is always really nice to me, and very welcoming, but its not like I could really call any of them if I wanted someone to go catch a movie with or something. Unforunately, Harold has to work a lot. We all know I’m not the biggest fan of sitting around by myself–though I’ve gotten better at that too.

I feel like nothing I do has worth, and I want so badly for it to. By the end of the year, 150+ million people will have seen my motion and print designs in locations around the country. That’s cool, right? Something to be excited about? I am. But it doesn’t seem good enough. I feel like the work could be better. I’m always pushing for it to be. I feel its getting closer. I’m excited about that. I’m really excited to see what we can do the better we work together, and the more we figure timetables and other things out. Its a good thing. I’ve got to teach myself some AfterEffects though. I just need to.

Its been a pretty shitty week. I lost a friend (in MO) this week. One of the directors of the theater group I was in the last few months I lived there. We’ve actually kept in touch this year. Because I’m here, I feel guilty for not being able to really be there for the other people in our little group. I’m thinking about them, and his partner constantly. I really really wish it hadn’t happeend. Its so shitty. It still doesn’t feel entirely real. We hung out and sang showtunes over Thanksgiving.

Well, I guess I should go to bed. I have to get up early to clean for the decadent southern brunch tomorrow.

Brett Patrick Casey

Eeek!

Anyone who knows me well, knows why this particular photo horrifies me. The work though, is very nice. I espcially like this series. “Departure” Series is here: http://www.daniel-everett.com/

Brett Patrick Casey )