Parenthood

I guess all children grow up. 

Kittens too.

No matter how much we want our children to remain innocent and loving, they change.

Sooner or later, they grow up and question us.

                          *     *     *

It's been that way with Sir Knavely and me.

Life is hard as a single parent.

Trying to provide the best life possible for my child.

Even a feline one.

But after a week of Sir Knavely's sulking, I'd had enough.

I couldn't work.  I couldn't sleep. 

I couldn't even relax.

Every time I'd go online, there'd be another blog entry.

Unauthorized.

                          *     *     *

His blog entries made me shake my head.

He's a very idealistic cat.

The things he wants to talk about. 

Romantic love. 

Species Identity. 

Statehood. 

The United Cats of America?  Like hell!

I had to work to find all of his entries. 

Tricky little devil, he is. 

But eventually, I deleted all of them.

His light-hearted, waggish view of life might be offensive to some.

Besides, I'm sure they prefer my highly literate, reflective style of blogging.

                          *     *     *

Somewhere along the way, I snapped a picture of Sir Knavely working at MY computer.

So bright.  So gifted.

                          *     *     *

I've agreed. 

Sir Knavely will get his own blog site.

Providing he stays off MY blog site.

Okay.  An email account too.  SirKnavely@aol.com

Satisfied, Sir Knavely?

                          *     *     *

Sir Knavely's begun to read Daily Variety.  Now he wants to break into the Business.

He has dreams of becoming a screenwriter.  A big director.

I don't think he has a chance in the world.

But I hate to discourage my son.  He has potential.  One should never say, "You're just a cat." 

You just never know who might be the next Spielberg.  It might be he.

So I drop the occasional hint about who to contact.

I know a guy who knows a guy.

                          *     *     *

Lately, he's been researching.

Should he look for an Agent? 

Or does he need a Literary Manager?

                          *     *     *

Breaking into the business in Los Angeles is difficult. 

Your fuel comes from the confidence that you can succeed. 

You have to believe.  Strongly, because no one else will.

It's got to come from you.

                          *     *     *

Having a daily physical workout is critical.

You need to be in shape to be taken seriously.

And exercise gives you endorphins.  Keeps you in a positive frame of mind.

Helps you beat back the blackness.

                          *     *     *

Yesterday afternoon, I saw a friend perform in Shakespeare's The Tempest. 

"Bring your script," he told me the day before.

My friend did a good job in his role.  A very drunk Stephano.

                          *     *     *

Afterwards, I met the director:  Lewis Stout. 

And I had my script for A Tale of Two Cities.

Lewis took one look at the script.  Then he looked at me.

"Want to direct it?" he asked. 

"Sure," I said.

"Doing anything this summer?"

"Not yet."

                          *     *     *

Turns out Stout made his money by directing Baywatch.

Now he's President of the Santa Monica Theatre Guild.

I liked him instantly.

He's looking for directors who can bring in young people. 

Hello.  I teach 'em.

                          *     *     *

Latest update on The French Inquisitor:  the first 3/5 has been cut to 90 pages. 

From 233 pages.

                         *    *     *  

On Monday, May 16, my work goes to Steven, my co-writer. 

And he'll send me the last 2/5 of the treatment.

And my writing process will begin again.

I wouldn't complain if it went more quickly.