Ying and Yang Cracked

This week I found the real Ying and Yang all around. When things are bad personally? Professionally it seems to always rise above.

Then all of a sudden when you so need for the Ying and Yang to balance itself out? It magically does.

Thursday I was honored to work on Milk (The story of California's first openly gay elected official, Harvey Milk, a San Francisco supervisor who was assassinated along with Mayor George Moscone by San Francisco Supervisor Dan White) For those who are not in the know of this particular story, it was fodder in the late 70's for the more than surreal "Twinkie Defense"

For those who are not in the know now? It stars actor Sean Penn and directed by Goodwill Hunting director Gus Van Sant. It has brought Hollywood to The Castro of San Francisco.

I was called in to play a character named Gweynn. What I thought was just a nicety from the casting agent to have a "name" for pretty much an over-hyped SAG extra was wrong on my behalf. When arriving to set a very nice man asked me "Are you playing Gweynn"

I said yes. He said "Hello. My name is Cleve Jones" I'm standing and talking next to San Francisco Political Activist greatness.

He tells me about Gweynn. One of the first black women who were very active in the causes. She was not gay, but she cared about these causes. "A Warm Smile...but you never really wanted to cross her" he told me. I was also informed, at 5'10 I probably dwarf her by 6 inches.

I find myself lately being in the presence of people very influential in the world of politics. And now I'm here with Mr. Jones and Supervisor Tom Ammiano (who remembers me from a separate Mission incident that one day I will write about) on a set of a movie. Both men incredibly warm. Both men lovely.

I spend eight hours in a basement apartment in the Castro shooting a scene with a few other actors and Mr. Penn (who looks strikingly like Harvey Milk...and he has pretty much nailed how he sounded). If the world has not figured it out already? Even with his "Bad Boy" Personality (which I saw NONE of on set) he should officially be considered America's Better Actors. Watching him work within that character...and the improvising within it? Did my actor heart some good.

The Ying of my Yang personal life. Joyous.

The Yang of my Ying Professional life. I somehow misplace my ID and SAG card and find this out only to head to Sacramento the following day to perform for two days.

My husband and I get a hotel room. Somehow I actually am able to get into the hotel by showing my credit card and SS card with no physical ID.

The rest of the weekend performing and teaching and being in Sacramento. Wonderful

The Ying of the Yang of personal life. Joyous
The Yang of my Ying: I leave my IPOD at the theater only to head to back to get it...then on the Ferry heading back to SF...I think I have lost the cord to my laptop.

I'm on the Ferry coming down from Movie roles and teaching improv gigs and settle into some hard realities. Outside of an upcoming D&C...I now how to deal with the idea that I have no ID, I have to get online and replace my SAG card and now I have to find an exact cord to plug myself into for work.

I look across the water wishing the Yang would Ying out a bit.

Hans and I fall dreamily asleep on the Ferry. We wake up to see us pulling into the city. I grab my computer bag. It turns out that the cord is not lost. It had just fallen out of the bag upon sitting down and slid under the case.

Yang Yinged Out.

We head out on the street of Fisherman's Wharf. Hans is convinced we have to lug our bags across the street as he was convinced we would never hail a cab. I see a cab. I put up my hand. He rides two crowded lanes over and gets us.

I'm Yinging all of a sudden.

The cabbie was a sweet man and we all chatted and joked about. He tells us he lived three doors down 22 years ago and asked if "The Nutty lady" still owned the place. Nope. No more Nutty Lady. I told him I might be the surrogate to her and he says "Maam...you are wearing Clothes in public...."

I get out of the car and Hans opens the gate and lets me in. I notice flowers.com has delivered a package. It is from my friend Jesse and his wife. He is my Corny Betty.

Hans notices a pack of Empty American Spirits. The package was apparently used to weigh down what was inside of the plastic.

Someone had found my ID and SAG card. Put them in a pack of American Spirits, came to the house and threw them inside for me. There was no note. No one to thank.

I look at Hans "Everything has come back" I said.

The gods somewhere said "Okay, we are going to cut you a break here". I think they decided to Ying us a bit while Hans and I dreamily slept riding along The Bay.