SAG, Sweet Tarts, and the Apocalypse

If 2012 is the last year for humanity, then it truly sucks I'm going to be deprived of a future my good fortunes are setting me up for.

I've been out here 22 months at this point. Not the richest college graduate, but nowhere close to packing up. For 22 months, I've struggled and soared. The first 37 days of this year have been complete soaring at this point. It's answered prayer, and it's also scary as hell in terms of when it trends downhill again.

One facet of my good fortune was becoming SAG-eligible. For 22 months I've sought to get eligible to get into the prestiguous film performer's union. I've emailed casting directors, communicated with fellow SAG actors, sweet talked production assistants, and just hustled. Nothing doing.

Then, two Saturdays ago, I got Taft Hartleyed into the Screens Actors Guild at a little movie shoot and voila. Now that step is complete. I'm actually working background on a major motion picture starring some big names this week. On the SAG side. Yes! This is good. I won't completely join SAG yet. But I plan to join AFTRA very soon. Now you're asking what AFTRA is... That, reader friend, is another story.

Universal Studios decided it was time for me to have health benefits, so that should be a relief to my dad. I credit Universal Studios for keeping me in the game. I won't be there forever, but if I hadn't been there at all, I wouldn't be getting into this position.

Finances are increasingly managable, health is above average, I'm reading and writing more, work is plentiful, the weather's great, family is coming to visit, ...

And this year has brought along my special friend I'll call Sweet Tarts here (girlfriend being too normal a term for someone so extraordinary, but that's what she is too). Sweet Tarts is one of those people who comes along and reminds you of all the good friends you've had at this point and contains every last one of their better qualities. Most importantly, and selfishly, Sweet Tarts has given me this second wind, a gentle nudge deeper into my aspirations. Sweet Tarts is a muse, of sorts.

I gave myself ten years. I'll be 34 when I take a look at my life out here. Nearly two years in, I'm not in dreamland but I'm setting myself up for it. I hope you find good fortune too. For this dude, 2012 is about new beginnings at this point and not a silly, fairy-tale apocalypse. Good stuff.

Oh! And I haven't even mentioned my favorite sports team winning it all.