2007...Dust in the Wind

This is the email I just sent out to almost everyone in my address book; and then after that; is my annual update letter. Won't be going out this year. I've accepted that fact and moved on.

Email: "Hey all.

Sorry for the mass email. Due to my usual procrastination; as well as lack of funds (last year I sent 120+ cards...too much for the piggy bank this year), I am sending an email w/ my annual post-Christmas update attached. If you know of anyone that I may have missed, feel free to forward this on. Best to you all! Have a productive and super-duper New Year!

Also, I will be posting my letter on MySpace if you have access to that...as well as to my personal blog which can be found at www.klugula.com.

BTW, I am attaching a postcard/artwork for my film "French Toast"...just for fun and to give you a glimpse of what I've been working on for the past year!"

Annual Holiday/Post-Holiday Letter: "2007: The Year That Was…
…a big year of changes.

The job I started in 2006 came to an abrupt end when I was laid off via text message. While this was certainly a solid, clear and concise message, I think it could have been handled with a bit more class. But, hey, that’s just me. It had become a quagmire of chaotic, unorganized messes. A great chunk of the responsibility for the company’s lack of production was laid at my feet…but how could it not be? It was after all, a job in the real estate world, and my background of theatre, collections and retail should clearly have prepped me for such tasks. Let’s just say that I wasn’t trained properly, had become quite miserable and I say with all honesty…GOOD RIDDANCE. I am currently working in a seasonal position for Restoration Hardware. I’m THRILLED to be back in retail. It seems quite clear that if I must have a day job, this is where I belong. I’m good at it and thus far, I’m having a wonderfully good time. I hope that when the season reaches its conclusion, I will be asked to stay on permanently.

Elwood also left his position at Trout & Associates after over 9 years in their employ. With similar verve, he also delivers a hearty, “GOOD RIDDANCE” to the folks there. Poor management (for both our previous jobs) does not make for happy workers…clearly.

Following the wonderful experience both in front of and behind the camera on House of Black Wings (an indie feature I was a part of in 2006), I was inspired to conceive, write and direct my first film. It’s a short entitled French Toast. I’m currently in post-production, and hope to have a completed product in the next couple of weeks. It’s a zombie film (big surprise); following the exploits of a young girl (Margot) who is attempting to deal with her recently undead family members. She becomes trapped inside her bedroom, with no means of escape, no water and no food. All the while, her family stands beyond her door; trying to coax her from the room so that they may; again bring her into the family fold. If you want more details, you’ll have to wait to see the finished product. No spoilers here… It’s been an amazing journey, and a career I feel inclined to pursue.

In other creative news, I’ve begun work on my second feature-length screenplay…another zombie film. The wacky news just doesn’t cease, huh?

The big shockers of the year?

Recently, Elwood’s grandmother of 93 passed away. Elwood had been very close to her in his youth. I had met her only twice (“sit down, please”), but she told Elwood that she loved me. She had been ill for some time, so this release was a relief; if not a happy one. I know that both Elwood and his mother had managed to make their peace with her inevitable death. Elwood said he is very similar to his grandmother, so he knows she will carry on. So, was she as feisty as Elwood is? Apparently so.

My dad passed away this summer. Elwood and I had returned to SD for the first time in 5 years. For heaven’s sake, it had been so long, I hadn’t even met my second niece! We had an amazing time getting to “re-know” my family, and I was over-joyed to spend so much quality time with my dear nieces. While there was some guilt over my lack of time in their lives thus far, my heart was filled to the brim with love for them…to last me a long time; just in case I don’t get back to my beautiful Black Hills any time soon. Well, our week vacation was extended to 3 weeks; since Fred died a day before we were to depart. I feel lucky to have spent time with him those last few days, and feel certain he had waited for my return…how else can you explain it? I don’t come home for 5 years, get to spend quality time with my dad and then am already in SD when he dies? He certainly made it convenient, huh? I can’t begin to express my appreciation for what he gave me in my life. I stood up at the prayer service, the night before his funeral, and told all my gathered family and friends; that I always knew how much Fred loved me, and that he was very proud of me. He never said much (he had always been a man of few words), but this message of love and pride was always very clear in his eyes. I still think of him every day. Our last words to one another were, “I love you”. That’s no small feat, considering we rarely exchanged those words in the almost 25 years I knew him. Sadly, his 25th anniversary with my mom would have been last month…December 2007. I miss him already.

Currently (and I know Elwood hates when I use this term), we are in a limbo state. A move is in our near future; and we are looking at CA as well as AZ. There are job opportunities floating about, and our home has already been placed on the market. It appears as though 2007 had a lot of change, but 2008 is shaping up to be just as life-altering.

My best to you and yours this post-holiday season. I like to think that the events of the past year have given me a more “carpe-diem” (seize the day) kind of attitude, but honestly, I can’t be certain they have. Am I as lazy and complacent as I always have been? I’d like to think I live each day more fully, knowing how things can change in an instance, but I just don’t know. I hope I can learn to do that; and I hope all of you can too.

Love,

Michael and Elwood
(your friendly neighborhood gays)"