Theoretically informed memoirist punching midlife in the gut.
I wasn’t sure if I was annoyed by her or impressed by her. When I offered up that I was getting my degree in Astrophysics, as an obviously older student, her immediate response was, “Wow, don’t you have to be smart for that?”
It’s confirmed. I’m annoyed by her.
Read More Astrophysics? Don’t You Have to be Smart for That?“Yeah, I mostly work in LA.” This phrase, said with a false sense of self-importance accompanied by a tinge of complete bullshit, was heard so frequently in every conversation on set that you could make a bumper sticker out of it. On my most recent shoot in San Diego as a San Diego local, every […]
Read More “Yeah, I mostly work in LA.”(Originally written Jan, 2015) I have a two-decade career as a multi-media producer in television and communications that has flatlined, proving to be the stupidest thing I’ve ever done. I’ve traveled the world with my work, met amazing people, had exciting experiences, worked on some super cool stuff. And yet here I stand. A total […]
Read More Shifting Perspective in a Mid-Life Career Crisis(Originally written in June, 2013) I’ve been on that stomach-turning freelance roller coaster in the production industry for nearly two decades. If you are a freelancer, you are all too familiar with the ride. Those highs of steady work fattening your bank account while being surrounded by like-minded war buddies, fully addicted to the rush […]
Read More How to Get Busy Changing Your Freelance Game(Originally written in April, 2012) Hanging out in Paris with Jim is like stomping through a Parisian Smurf village destroying centuries-old mushroom houses with a rolling keg of beer. The French are all running around in their scarves and tight pants, sipping wine and coffee out of pinky cups. They pack themselves like cigarettes next […]
Read More How Gay Paris is with Jim(Originally written April, 2006, and published in San Diego Reader Nov, 2012) As much as we see globalization happening on every continent, I have seen a place as-of-yet unaffected. Hyderabad, India, has yet to be conquered by McDonalds, Wal-Mart or Starbucks. You won’t find much tourism there either. The stereotypical pale color of your Western […]
Read More Reality Check in Hyderabad, India(Originally written in April, 2011, and published in San Diego Reader in June, 2011) This might be hard to believe for the fun-loving Irish lads, but I dare any Irish person out there to out-party the Dutch. Not gonna happen – and I’m not sure you’d want to. In town for work, I coincidentally arrived […]
Read More Amsterdam, Netherlands on Queen’s Day(Originally written in April, 2011) I have a stamp on my hand that says “midlife”. WTF? Is that some sick joke the door guys are playing? The whole time we were at the “club”, I didn’t even notice the ink soaking into my skin, what it was implying or how true it was. Now that […]
Read More Making a Mockery of Adulthood in Wiesbaden, Germany(Originally written in April, 2009) My adoring crew has pointed out in the most non-loving, finger-pointing, laughing out loud way, that my “Madonna voice” is alive and well in London. I have to admit, I noticed it before we got here. While I was working nights to accommodate the 8 hour time difference, and days […]
Read More Mom in London Calling(Originally written in April, 2012) “I no help you. You stand in that line,” says the stern small Asian woman with a dismissive wave of her hand. I glance over at the line she is referring to. The intense tightening in my chest momentarily steals my ability to respond. The lone blond in the chroma-key […]
Read More Down and Out in the Chinese Consulate
Shannon Master 