JANUARY BLOG
New Year’s Greetings from the Desert,
Offline And Back Online Again
Hello again! I hope this blog finds you well and ready to take on the New Year. For the past several weeks, I’ve been cyber-stranded due to a failed computer, a time consuming search for a suitable replacement, and the resulting loss of internet connection. Because of problems resulting from a lot of data transfer and adjusting my files to a new system, it was quite a revealing experience being offline for this amount of time. At first, being so addicted to the internet like so many of us have become, I thought I would expire at any moment. Actually, it was a nice vacation to tune out the world for a little bit. I needed to return to a more real than virtual life for a while. Now I’m back with an updated IMac, a better ISP, and renewed energy to communicate. So it’s time to greet the future online once more.
2012 Has Asserted Its Volatile Self
As we transition out of 2011 (thank God), I look forward to letting go of what has proven to be a very challenging year for many of us, myself included. Economically and emotionally, it was not one of my better periods. As I see it, we have entered an age of unprecedented volatility. What was normal is no longer so. What was expected is now unexpectable. What lies ahead is more uncertain than ever.
There’s been wild gyrations in the world economy and stock market, revolutions and repercussions of The Arab Spring in the Middle East, Occupy Wall and other Street movements taking some of the steam and attention away from the Tea Partiers, dramatic upheavals in of the political scene (especially the changing Republican frontrunners and secondary players in their Presidential primary), extreme natural disasters from earthquakes to tsunamis, floods and tornados, Santa Ana windstorms felling Pasadena trees, and other unseasonal weather patterns (see below). It is a time of great change. We seem to be caught in a collision of ever increasing acceleration of life styles in conflict with some of our more traditional sensibilities.
A common phrase in TV commercials today is “That’s so 12 seconds ago.” I’m so glad to be in the slow lane in the desert and out of that kind of rat race, yet still connected to what’s happening. Some days I’m stimulated by all that is occurring in the world, and on others I feel like Nero, wanting to play fiddle while Rome burns. In any case, today’s multiple arenas are anything but boring. Opportunities still await those who seek them. And I’m still seeking.
2012 Has Asserted Its Volatile Self
It’s winter, but who would know it? The first ten days of 2012 have been warm and balmy, more like late spring than January. While it is a refreshing change from a very cold December (our nights out here in the high desert went below freezing for almost half of the month), my first casualties this year are my peach trees, which are starting to bloom two months early. This will certainly mean no peaches this summer. The next freeze in February will see all the blossoms drop off. SIGH! Also, the hot temps have melted the beautiful snow-caps on the mountains to my west. No more wintry white hats for the time being. They will return later I’m sure.
The Palm Springs Area Celebrates Intl Film Festival And Three Upcoming Major Act Music Festivals At The Indio Empire Polo Grounds
January is a booming time for the desert just below me. The International Film Festival is currently bringing in thousands of visitors from around the world. Every weekend through May will see one festival, tournament, celebratory weekend or another out here in this balmy weather. April will find neighboring Indio hosting the return of the huge Coachella Music Festival 4/13-4/22, the Stagecoach Country Music Fest 4/27-4/29 and the Big 4 Heavy Metal Music Festival 4/23.
My First Novel THE EAGLE FLIES ON SATURDAY Has Received Good Feedback From Some Pros But Needs Revision
My first novel, THE EAGLE FLIES ON SATURDAY - The Evolution Of Sam Kravitz, has received good feedback from a variety of pro readers. However, they have suggested that besides telling a good story, I need to show more character development and expression. So I’ve been extensively rewriting it, inserting dialogue for each of the main characters and more insightful and colorful descriptions of their situations and conflicts. This has given the text much more psychological attitude and depth, added more references to historical events, and brought much more of the inherent drama, humor, and personal growth into focus. After going over this new draft, which has expanded the text from 200 to over 320 pages, I am now working with my editor once again to whip it into shape. I like to refer to the book as a smart ass Jewish gay bohemian relation of Forest Gump. My hope is that it follows Gump’s tragi-comic footprints and gets turned into a movie someday.
Undercover Brother Continues To Be A Favorite On Cable TV Stations
This campy black exploitation comedic Universal Pictures feature film continues to be broadcast over and over again on many cable movie networks, making both my collaborator Sarra Jarvis Gallagher and myself more than happy to collect royalties from the repeated showing of our humorous Aretha Franklin styled song, General’s Fried Chicken. Keep that funky music playing.
The airwaves are going to be full in this presidential election year. Also, the many award shows of the entertainment industry are looming. Plenty of stuff is around to keep us occupied. Stay in touch and let me know what’s going on with you. I’ll try to include some highlights in my next blog.
All my best for a creative and lucrative 2012,
David Cat Cohen