With little surprise, I announce I'm NOT moving to Texas. Not yet, at least. In my last entry I wrote about my sudden bonky brain-wave idea of moving to Austin, Texas. Well, a little bit of research at work determined that my company had not a single job opening in Austin. They did, however, have an opening in our headquarters in the south, and I decided to apply for it. Of course, applying for a job in our headquarters in the south and actually moving there are two completely different matters. If they show an interest, I suppose I'll have to give it serious consideration, but I very much doubt it's going to happen.

Instead, I suddenly realized I should just move somewhere else in San Francisco. This will not, naturally, resolve my lack of job satisfaction, but it will enable me to have something soft, furry and loving in my life - namely, a dog. In my current apartment, not only does my lease prevent me from having a dog, but there's also a rather dangerous balcony, with only a railing protecting a little puppy from leaping twenty-two stories. I really hadn't thought of moving again, since moving into this apartment two years ago. The location is wonderful, and the view is a never ending source of beauty. And even now, I haven't made my mind up. But if I was going to consider moving, now is the time. For the first time in years, the rental vacancy rate in San Francisco is measurably different than zero, which means that I should be able to get a nicer place, in the neighborhood of my choice, and end up paying less rent. Should. Should. Should. Problem will be finding a place that lets me have a dog. But I'm going to start taking a look this weekend, and see what's up.

Why a dog? Well, I grew up with a dog. Princess Sheba, the beautiful, mischevious companion of my youth, and I've always loved dogs. More than that, though, I think it would do wonders for my mental health. I've had such dismal success with men, maybe it's time I got into an affectionate relationship with a less complex creature.

The work on my next (collaborative) movie is inching along. This Monday, Scott went down to Los Angeles to see a bunch of actors sight-read our script in a class that a friend of his attends. His friend is interested in flying up here to appear as Opal, the older lady who has a small role in our script. Scott videotaped the reading and he, Jim and I watched it on Wednesday. For a bunch of actors, the reading was mostly pretty lousy. Apart from Opal. Scott's friend is 82, but she just leapt off the screen in her role. In fact, we all agreed that we'd expand her role to make more use of her. Apparently, the actress was recently on "Ally Mcbeal", so it's great that she'd be willing to fly up here to be in our little short movie.

The reason the project is moving relatively slowly is that we haven't been successful in pinning down a hair-salon in which to shoot. Jim and Scott have several different places in mind, but so far none have shown adequate enthusiasm. I'm on very good terms with my hairdresser, but unfortunately he works in a tiny little place with only one chair. So calling all Bay Area hair-salon owners! Drop me a line if you love movies!