November ReNEWal.

Lots of New.

I moved into a new apartment.  The address is 839 N Sacramento Blvd, Apt 2A, Chicago, IL 60622.  My fantastic new roommates are Ryan and Chris, both Christ-followers.  Also, both drummers, both night owls, both sources of uncontrollable laughter.  Please pray for a dynamic, strong community.

One night after moving into this new apartment, ROSS was stolen!  My baby, my girl, my bike.  Gone, into the clutches of some greedy theft.  Pray for him/her.  Pray for justice.  But, in this, God showed himself.  His character was displayed in the generosity of a handful of my California friends, that pooled money together and sent me money enough to buy a new bike.  I am so grateful for their kindness and Divine provision, through them.


I am currently job hunting.  I have been working for the catering company on nights and weekends, but now realize I need a consistent day job.  In order to do this whole-heartedly, I have sadly, and painfully put ALL of my acting pursuits on hold.  No auditions, no researching MFA programs, no memorizing monologues, no networking - not until I have secured some financial security, that will allow me to flourish in the acting world.  Please pray for provision and trust as I search and wait, as it is easy to get discouraged.

Tonight is my acting showcase!  I've been taking an 8-week acting class at ActOne Studios, where I have learned a lot about the acting craft, sharpened my skills and was supremely affirmed in my ability to be an actor.  After this, I will be stepping away from the theatre world to find a job.  My performance tonight is my offering of worship, for these last 8-weeks, and really, for these last 4 months that I've been in Chicago.  It feels strange that the Lord is asking me to sacrifice it all on the presipice of my offering, but I trust in the God that sends angels to deliver rams in bushes, and Kings on crosses.


A quick note about the fall: It is beautiful.  My new apartment is right next to a huge park, so there are lots of leafy trees to show off just what cold mid-western weather can do.

Adventure is always close at hand: In just over a week, on November 15th, I will be climbing all 103 flights of stairs in the Willis Tower (formerly the Sears Tower), which is the tallest building in North America. It is a fundraiser/charity event for the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago. If you would like to contribute, even $5 or $10, please follow this link. I committed to raising $100, so please spread the word to your rich uncles who might be interested in supporting this cause.

Finally, I love you all.  Thanks for your support and prayers.  I love getting post-cards, phone calls, letters, text messages, homing pigeons.  So, please, don't stop reaching out to me.  I need the support and help.  Transition is hard, but it's good.  This is the space between the logs.

Boggle night at the new apartment.

les.

Overdue, Chicaguuu.

whoa!  it's been weeks since a Chicago post took up residence on the lesinchicago blog.  in my defense, i was not in Chicago for the first two weeks of September, and you can't post blogs about being in Chicago, when you are in Colorado or California.  it just ain't right.

So, I created two, single-use blogs where you can hear about my traveling adventures: http://lesincoloradoinseptember2009.blogspot.com & http://lesinfullerton,whichyoumightthinkisredundant,sinceilivedtherefor24years,butthistimeiwasjustvisiting,whichisastrangeexpereince.  ps. if the links don't work, it's because the web-addresses are completely forged.  i did not create new blogs for my two-week vacation from Chicago.

if you want to hear about those two trips, send me an email (les.rorick@biola.edu), give me a phone call, text, fb message and i'll share with you.  if you want to see pictures from those two trips, check out my facebook page.  if we aren't facebook friends, who are you and why are you reading my blog?

meanwhile, back in chicago...

once i landed at Midway Airport (of which, i am a huge fan, especially compared to the mammoth O'Hare Airport), i dragged my checked luggage to the elevated train stop, because public transit in Chicago is awesome and doesn't require you to ask your roommates to pick you up from the airport at 2 in the morning.  i then stood at the elevated train stop for about 15 minutes before i realized that the train stopped running at 1 and won't start up again until 4 AM, because CTA is not as awesome from 1 - 4 in the morning.

I briefly considered waiting it out, snuggling up with my bags for a little nap, but came to my senses and hauled my heavy, awkward-shaped belongings up the stairs, over the tracks, and on to the closest bus stop (the owl bus-route runs through the night).  leaving the airport, i saw a sign that had a few options for passenger drop-off.  i waited a little while next to that road, to see if anyone would take me up on the offer to "kiss 'n' ride."  no takers; i got on the bus.  a few hours later, i was in my chicago bed.  strange.

after resting from the whirl-wind wedding weekend tour, i jumped back on the trail and continued my journey and exploration of this ever-strange city.  strange and beautiful, to quote aqualung.

i spent some time with chicago friends, cory, brandon & ali.  we ate tasty burgers from a joint called "choppers" and then made homemade shakes with ice cream, milk, and a blender (why did no one tell me shake-making was so simple?).  later, cory and i went on a photo-walk, where i realized just how much i love pattern and color.

for more inspiring urban photography, see my friend, jantzen's blog.

work:  i've served (blue plate catering) some really cool events since being back.  my favorites are: 1) a designer premier at nordstroms (we literally walked around the store and offered shoppers wine and artichoke dip), 2) a massive gospel church gathering in the Field Museum, and 3) an intimate 25 person wedding on the top of a 44 story building, overlooking the lake, city skyline, and navy pier fireworks show.

(© Michael Ochs Archives/Corbis)

play:  there is show headed to broadway, called Million Dollar Quartet, which depicts the night that Jerry Lee Lewis ("Great Balls of Fire"), Carl Perkins (original writer of "Blue Suede Shoes"), Elvis Presley (um...duh) and Johnny Cash met for an impromptu jam session at Sun Records in 1956.  i got to watch this show last week.  It basically sent me into shock with it's brilliance, execution and volume.  The show is a brilliantly-scripted tribute concert, performed by truly inspirational artists-actors.  i loved it.

work-play?:  i'm in chicago to pursue theatre.  for now, i want to act in some plays, then get an MFA in Acting or Directing (possibly in Chicago), then teach, act, direct, love people, appreciate beauty, and make disciples until the kingdom comes or i go looking for it on the other side of death.  so, in order to be in a play, one has to audition.  and audition, i did.  i sat nervously in a room, yesterday, trying to remember a monologue i once performed in a play, and dying for the process to be over.  thankfully, it didn't take long.

once inside the audition room, with the auditors staring at me, i completely forgot everything, including the name of the play, and utterly botched my audition.  however, this did not leave me too bothered.  i acknowledged the obvious: my heart was not in it.  i really wanted to get my "First Chicago Audition" out of the way, so i tried out for a show i'm not really excited about...and, as mentioned earlier, failed miserably.  of course, i don't know that.  i could be called back for a second audition, in which case, i would probably run the other direction, because the people offering me a call back would have to be insane.  and if i worked with them, that would just be too many insane people in the same room.

and so, i'm gathering my sanity, gathering true desire to be in a play (which will serve as motivation to actually TRY to get a role) and then gathering Chicago credits, so i can expand my influence as a Christ-following artist and teacher.

if my cataloguing of chicago experiences starts to wane like it did these last few weeks, give me a call, text or email, and i'll dish one up for you and possibly the general public, on this here blog.

thank for reading.  i love you guys.  except the creep-o who isn't even my facebook friend.

ps. it would be an injustice if i did not show off the cuteness of my nieces:

august takes form

Lincoln + Douglas Debates

    Illinois is the "Land of Lincoln."  We are very proud that this great US President was raised and served in Illinois before taking office in the Executive Branch.  Anyway, before doing so, he debated with a fellow named Douglas.  At the Harold Washington Library (a great big, beautiful library in the middle of downtown), two actors re-created a portion of the debates and then improvised a Q&A session, entertaining questions like, "Mr. Lincoln, what was your wife Mary's favorite color?" or "Mr. Douglas, what would you have done differently if you were elected President?"  I was amazed at the factual knowledge that these two impersonators inter-wove into their responses.  When I took a picture with them, they kept giving me a hard time about pictures taking too long to take and develop.  I, with the help of Canon, showed them!

Audacity

    Raul's brother, Thomas, is the drummer for a loud band called Audacity.  They are on their second tour, which included a stop in Chicago.  In addition to hosting five guys in our living room floor for a few days, we all went to their show to support them.  Like I said, it was loud.

Sparkling Clean Apartment

    If there is anything I love, it is spotlessness.  One morning, I decided to deep clean the bathroom.  The morning somehow became the afternoon and after five hours of the most thorough cleaning of my life, the bathroom sparkled.  I was proud.  And I smelled like bleach.  But I was proud, nonetheless.

Let August Ring

Act I, Scene 1

Saturday

• went to Oak Park (quaint suburban town) with Raul.  Ate at a trippy Italian, Creole, Jamaican restaurant.  I ate an oyster.  That was a first.  It was weird.

• Dream of Gerontius (a symphony about a man's experience of death and purgatory) with Alisa & Lisa.
  

Sunday:

• Raul’s Birthday - lots of candles. lots of pizza.  lots of love.

Monday:

• Aquarium - I saw dolphins, balooga whales, and lots of fish.  My favorite part of the day was sending pictures of the sea creatures to my niece, for her enjoyment.
  

Tuesday:

• Worked with Kelly - Tuesday & Thursday, I got temporary work with Legal Helpers (where Raul and Kelly work).  Highlights include, 1) holding $2,000 cash, 2) meeting a woman who was trying to secretly file bankruptcy on her husband's debt, just before she divorced him, and 3) reading two books, drinking Iced Tea and listening to Enya, because that was the hardest part of my day.

More Bike Love

I just found out that my bike is pronounced Röss, like "Rose," not "Ross." So, she is a she.

Still very much in love.

July's Dynamic Finish, Act II

Scene 1: Wednesday

• listened to an incredible, free, Piano concert @ the Chicago Cultural Center , aka my favorite building in Chicago so far.  The pianist was extremely talented.  The music was classical and beautiful.
• went to our Wednesday night ritual, Man Night.  With a familiar "growth group" flare, us guys, usually Mogan and Chris (see picture), Raul and myself, sit down with some Mexican food and share a fraction of our present lives and struggles, followed by prayer.

Scene 2: Thursday

• Dave, an associate pastor of Missio Dei, offered to buy me some coffee and swap stories.  We went to a hip cafe called Ipsento.  (Tour Life guys, this is the place.  It's ready for you to come visit.)  In talking with Dave, my appreciation for this local church has grown.
• I visited the closest theatre to my apartment: The Chopin.  It has been owned by a Polish immigrant named Zygmundt, for 30 years.  He was delightful and gave me a tour of the entire building.  I will be looking for shows to audition for at the Chopin.
• At night, I traveled to Northwestern University (a prospective school, by the way) to watch my first musical in Chicago, Girls v. Boys.  It was so very, very good.

Scene 3: Friday

• Helped Rob, the photographer from Jantzen's wedding and my ride home, move to a new apartment.  First, Haha.  This story must begin with laughter, because it certainly didn't end that way.  Thursday night, Rob and I were texting salutations when I offered to help him with the move the following morning.  He was shocked, since we had only met a week earlier, but grateful for the help.  Friday morning, I showed up at Moody with a book and waited for Rob to return with the U-haul he went to pick up.  Minutes later, Rob returned.  No u-haul.  He said he visited two u-haul stores and both were completely empty.  Gosh, what happened to U-haul?  This recession must have hit them hard.  Um, no, we came to find out.  The last day of the calendar month hit them hard.  Everyone in the city was moving.  For the next 2 hours, we called EVERY, no kidding, EVERY truck rental place in Chicago: Penske, Budget, Ryder, Home Depot, and all remaining U-hauls. The response: No trucks.  Who would have thought that so many Chicagoans relocated on the last day of July?  Not us.  So, after our initial defeat, we decided to grab some food, to recharge and reorganize the battle plan.  At Lalo's Mexican Restaurant (supremely tasty Mexican food buffet for only $7), we decided that Rob would start taking smaller car loads, as I waited at Home Depot for a truck to be returned...which, was a long shot, but our only option, since Rob had to be out by midnight.  I cozied down with a book in front of the rental booth.  Rob left.  Out of pure pathos, I'm sure, the man behind the counter got on the phone and started calling all of the Chicago Home Depots, asking, "Hey man, do you got any trucks?"  After each call, I would glance up with a obligatory, "thanks for asking...again" nod.  Until..."hey, brotha, I got you a truck."  "Yeah?"  "Yeah, but you gotta go get it.  It's down town.  They'll hold it for 15 minutes."  "Thanks."  I was out the door and on the phone, calling Rob to come pick me up, so we can get on the freeway and claim our coveted flatbed.  Smoke shooting from his tires, Rob slowed down just long enough for me to get the door open and one foot in, then, woosh, up the street to the freeway entrance, a quick left, zero to sixty up the on-ramp and then---gridlock.  Welcome to Chicago.  We kissed bumpers and brake-lights all the way to our exit, but somehow got there in time.  They gave us the keys and we parked our flatbed in the Moody parking lot.  But the story does not end there.  The laughter had only just begun.  We enter the apartment building to find that the freight elevator is closed for servicing.  "NOOOO!"  we cry up to the fourth floor, as we size up the 2 sofas, 2 mattresses, and a bed frame, against the narrow stairwell.  It doesn't matter.  There's no other choice.  After lots of sweat and unthinkably weak forearms, we fill the U-haul with load #1.  Satisfied with our accomplishment, the laughter returned, accompanied by total unbelievability at the amount of obstacles we faced.  I guess the we ended with laughter after all.  Rob, it was a delight to adventure with you again.  
• Then, I went Swinging.  Although my arms were dead, I still had some leg power, which took me to Grant Park, where the Chicago SummerDance Festival was well underway.  Live music and lots of Swing Dancing filled my heart with utter joy as the sun set behind the gorgeous Chicago buildings.  I did have lots of fun, although, I truly missed dancing with the familiar friends from Fullerton.  I'll be seeing you all at Memories on September 14th.
  

Postlude Video:



Curtain.

Thank you for watching.

July's Dynamic Finish, Act I

What an adventurous week.  Here's the scene break-down:

Scene 1: Sunday

• bought bike (in case you didn't figure that out from the "I Found Her" video) & helmet 
• went to church (Missio Dei - Wicker Park), which I am thoroughly appreciating
• asked God (ie. prayed) for provision in theatre pursuits...see Monday for results!

Scene 2: Monday

• got headshots taken (ie. pictures of myself to give to casting directors). Pictures forthcoming... 
• went to a panel discussion of "Directors on Directing lecture.  I met inspiring directors and got some good advice and a few contacts.

Scene 3: Tuesday

• bought plane ticket to visit Fullerton, CA !!!  Mark your calendar: September 8-14.
• Watched a final "farewell" symphony with Justin Botz.  This old Biola acquaintance, new friend of mine has been such breath of fresh air.  We spend many hours exploring Chicago and talking about "finding ourselves and finding God."  Now, he's heading back to California to follow God's leading.  I'm going to miss you, man.
• enjoyed "Family Dinner" (a Tuesday ritual) at our friend, Lisa's house. Mac & Cheese.
  

I love Chicago.

End of Act I.


INTERMISSION.