Neuroses

I tend to be a mess. I read too much into things. I get worked up. I worry. I get distraught. This morning I went to the doctor. I recently had to go on medication for high blood pressure - mostly genetic with a side of too much caffeine, and maybe too many beers and not enough exercise. When I found out, I suddenly felt old. But I have gotten used to eating better, drinking decaf, and finding to do other things in a city in which everyone feels the need to get together at bars.

That being said, I had a check up because I needed a refill of my medicine. Of course when I get there I get a little panicked. What if I get bad news? Will she be upset with me if I get worse? (Kit, I share your pain!) After taking the first arm, my doctor says "Well that's weird, it seems that it has gotten worse." waaar-waaaaarrrr. Then we proceed to chat for a minute or two, and we take it on the other arm. That arm is 10 points lower. Then she listens to my heart. And asks to take the other arm again. This time it is 12 points lower.

So I am also apparently afraid of the doctor's office! And to combat that, I have to buy a blood pressure measurer thingy, take my blood pressure three times before the 26th, and call her to let her know what it is.

Apparently I share this nervousness with a few people, including my mother, so I don't feel so ashamed.

Now if you will excuse me, I need to go and worry about 5 other things, and get enough sleep, and go jogging tomorrow and work and such.

Don't Even Get Me Started

It has been a while since I have done a video post.

One of my favorite SNL moments:

Cycles

Why is it that we tend to not be able to break cycles? I once had a conversation with a friend about such a phenomenon. I may have written about bitterly, which I doubt. I would look it up, but I feel a bit too lazy at the moment. It seems that I find myself having the same problem over and over and over. Stupid.

Why is it that we tend to not be able to break cycles? I once had a conversation with a friend about such a phenomenon. I may have written about bitterly, which I doubt. I would look it up, but I feel a bit too lazy at the moment. It seems that I find myself having the same problem over and over and over. Stupid.

Why is it that we tend to not be able to break cycles? I once had a conversation with a friend about such a phenomenon. I may have written about bitterly, which I doubt. I would look it up, but I feel a bit too lazy at the moment. It seems that I find myself having the same problem over and over and over. Stupid.

Facebook

Tonight I made yet another addict. Literally spent hours making a profile and adding pictures. Horrible. I am HORRIBLE!

Do I Have to go to Work Tomorrow?

I was supposed to post this on Sunday, but I wanted to include the picture at the end and I could not find the wire to transfer the image:

Today was such a nice day, it makes me want to take off of work for the rest of the holiday season. This morning I went to the gym, talked to some family, and then we bought a Christmas Treeeee! Did you like how I sang that? Kristen and Anthony and I walked around Astoria, and knew the second we saw our tree that it was ours.

Then we got pizza, and Rachel came over and we decorated it while watching National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (I randomly haven't seen it in years!) and Emmett Otter's Jugband Christmas.

If you get a chance go out and buy a copy of the latter and then watch the outtakes. Those Jim Henson peeps are hilarious! Also, you get to hear Frank Oz play the mother before they dubbed his voice over with a woman's. It's a mix of Julia Child and Miss Piggy.

Happy Holidays!

A Pleasant Surprise

Today I didn't eat for most of the day. It was quite sad. I got up too late and then I had a breakfast bar and milk for breakfast. Before I knew it, we had our weekly staff meeting and then I was whisked off to another office for another meeting. For two hours. It was now 4 pm. And all I had to eat was a Kashi fruit bar and milk... At 4:30 I finally ate Lenny's very delicious Grilled Chicken Teriyaki Wrap (why did I just capitalize all of these?) and a side tortellini salad. Mmmmmm...

Cut to 7:30.

My phone rings. It is Kristen. It's Thursday, which means that she will want to grab a bite to eat and then we will have a TV night. Good times. The conversation goes like this:

"Would you like to grab a bite to eat?"

"Sure. I ate lunch at 4:30. I will go with you, but I won't eat much."

"What about Uno's?"

So I went. Every so often we like to have a night where we feel like we are in the suburbs.

My problem with Uno's is the calorie count. No, I am not completely strict about that, but I am trying to take off a few pounds and make some better lifestyle changes. Most of their options are over 1,000. (BTW I am supposed to have around 2,000 per day.)

What I didn't expect was the tasty salad. Everything I love was in it: Grilled shrimp, red onion, feta, romaine, balsamic dressing, and nachos.

Yes I said nachos.

I totally missed that when I read it on the menu. I may have asked for it to be taken out, but I am glad because that shit was DELICIOUS!

I am still beside myself.

P.S. What is up with Grey's Anatomy? The only thing that I can say is that Izzie must be dying because she is having regular sex with a ghost, and if there is any neat wrap up to that I will lose my mind.

P.P.S. How awesome was 30 Rock? It was very timely for me as I just missed my own high school reunion.

P.P.P.S. Thanks to all of you who responded to last night's survey. I am keeping it!

An Ever So Important Question.

 

Everything is Better as a Musical

See more Jack Black videos at Funny or Die

Getting My Act Together...

So after three weeks of eating poorly, not working out, and working too much and drinking, I am back on track. Yesterday my body conveniently woke up at 6:30 and I went to the gym early and ran on the treadmill. Being that I am 95, I started to tense up later in the day, especially in my left leg and hip. Before bed, I did a little yoga and stretched all of that out. I had to be at a board meeting at 8:30 am and boy was I sleepy! And continued to be all day. On my way home, I thought to myself, "Self, you are getting home at 6pm today, do a little bit of the Fit Pack DVD.
It's a very low budget DVD which makes me laugh a little, and in thirty minutes you get a full body low impact workout. Being 95, I am nervous about lifting weights or doing anything more challenging. And I have to keep that blood pressure down!

Now here I am, at almost 11:30, and I am wired. I am going to try some yoga to clam my mind, and hopefully I can start tomorrow fully refreshed.

Was there any point to this? I am not sure. I think I just wanted to write about being 95 and not being able to sleep.

Sleep well,
D

Fun Fact of the Day

Today I learned that the Lincoln Memorial and the still-standing Union Square Savings Bank, now home to the Daryl Roth Theater in Union Square, were both designed by the same man, Henry Bacon.

I learned this from Sarah Vowell. And this book.

I loved it. I can always tell when I really love a book because no matter what the ending is, I tear up a little when it's over and I have to put it away.

Oh Sarah, we are so not done. I have all of your writing to read.

The rest of you: Read her NOW!

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is a bit amazing in my apartment. The past two years it goes like this: The week before, Kristen and I start to stress. Ornaments and food need to be purchased. The apartment needs to be cleaned. Shall we wear costumes? It should be low-key and low-stress. Then we bicker with no words. This year the kitchen sink clogged, and still hasn't been fixed (oh those amazing Queens landlords and their friends that do things like plumber every third Thursday of the month but only during leap years.) Rachel comes over the night before. I make some pie crust. I go to roll it. I hate it. I start again. We drink wine. Pies get done at 1 AM. We get into bed and get up too late the next day. And a few people come. Not many. Its quiet, just like we like it. And calm. And then we just sit around all day long. Maybe go for a walk. Hit up a bar for a drink. It all goes by too quickly, and we forgot to get a picture of the food.

I was a bit bitter this year to learn that I made a huge mistake with the turkey. The recipe said turn the turkey. So I turned it around. It should have said FLIP the turkey! FLIP Martha Stewart! FLIP! I was wondering why the bottom just didn't cook. Oh well. I made a nice stock out of it.

Here's the pic I did get of it:


I hope everyone had as wonderful of a holiday as I did!

Finally Awake

One of the things I hate that people say is "Oh I am so busy, I just didn't have any time to do anything." Or my all time favorite "What HAVEn't I been doing?"

Yeah that second one really irritates me. A lot.

Anywho, I think the former irritates me because I tend to find myself overbooked in life. It just so happens that if I am doing something like THIS, then work gets really busy, and I am feeling all all-concentration-all-the-time. And what do I end up telling people? "Oh I am REALLY busy." It just sounds so dirty to me. And self-congratulatory.

That's what life had been like for me. And then I took five days off for Thanksgiving. And now that I feel all rested, now I want to write this thing again.

Funny.

And tonight I am going to write THREE posts. This is one of them. I am writing it first because it may be buried in the others, and this is the least important. Let's be honest. This is not really going anywhere.

And scene.

Sad Day

I really love acting. And this was a fun group of people to do it with.

Yes We Can

I got my wish. I cried tears of joy. Afraid that I would not make it home in time, I stopped in a bar in Union Square around ten o'clock. It seemed that within no time, the bar was going nuts. I stayed and waited for President Obama to speak. This country has waited over 200 years for that speech. I was not really surprised at how amazing it was. However, I was surprised at what happened as I went to get on the train after it: Hundreds of people were pouring into Union Square, screaming at the top of their lungs with joy. As people came into the area, they began screaming too. I just stayed and watched for at least 15 minutes. I have not seen anything like that. I can only hope that I should see that more...

Family

Tonight I spent an hour talking on the phone to my mom. It's been so long since we have chatted. Then I spent about 5 minutes looking at the same 4 photos of my niece's first Halloween pictures. She really could not be any cuter. It was a perfect evening.

I can't wait to go home for the Holidays!

I Happened to Be 6 Years Old When I Saw It

My love for Tina Fey knows no bounds. I loved her ever since she stepped onto Weekend Update. This election process has been so long in coming, but she makes it so entertaining. If you get a chance, go to hulu.com and watch all of 30 Rock from top to bottom. It really pays off. The following is a clip from her interview with Conan O'Brien and it just puts me in a great mood, especially the last minute and a half or so:



I do believe in these trying times, that laughter is the best medicine.

I Just Want To Know Why!

Almost six years ago, when I moved to New York, I shared an apartment with three lovely ladies. At least once a month, the movie Steel Magnolias would be playing in the living room. One or many roommates would be tear-strewn in front of the television, hoping that Shelby would open her eyes. I included myself in these viewings, because there was something so freeing about watching this movie and bawling your eyes out. In two hours you could go through every feeling imaginable and move on. New York is hard. Well, life can be hard. Sometimes you just need to purge all of those negative feelings.

Sadly, we have moved into different apartments, and the copy of Steel Magnolias is long gone, most likely in Pittsburgh, or maybe still in the first apartment, being viewed by the guys from University of Florida that took the apartment after us, (at least that is how I like to imagine it...)

It's only Tuesday, but this has not really been the best week for me: Fears abound about the economy; Neo-Nazis are trying to kill people; a poor child was found murdered. Not to mention my recent breakdown of self-confidence. (Now before you think "Awwwwwwwwwwwwww..." and pity me, remember that we have all had these thoughts, and these feelings will pass like Shelby. Oh. Too soon.)

Tonight I was very lucky to notice a link to a live speech being given by Michelle Obama in Colorado Springs. For thirty minutes or so I was glued. She was magnificent and eloquent, and discussed what we could all rise up and do together. Within moments, my eyes welled up. The tears that I have been holding back for probably weeks just strolled out. It was so nice to hear someone speak about the great that can be had, about bringing out what is in all of us. Suddenly I wasn't feeling inadequate or ugly. I felt proud and excited. I feel like we are on the cusp of greatness.

And now I am putting it out there into the universe: Next Tuesday, I will be able to cry again. This time it will be tears of joy.

Another Fast Weekend

I cannot believe it is already 12:30. Tonight was spent uploading Facebook photos and kind of watching SNL. It was actually pretty funny this week!

I still need a vacation.

I'm also five (and 90,) so I really enjoyed this:

So gay.

Well it's an election year. You know what that means: Time to bash the gays. The following are two short videos that made me very happy today. Watch:




Speaking of Anne Heche:

Oopsies

This gave me a good chuckle:



"You're racist. I mean I disagree with you. I mean.. ummm..."

And look at how BORED Cindy looks.

A Literary Shout-out

As the week comes again, I am going to curl up tonight and finish a book that I have been reading. It's kind of a special book to me because it happens to be written by the first published author I actually know. Ellen and I worked for the same company when I first got to the city. Soon after, we became joint receptionists. Real good times. I am in the process of finishing her second novel, Everything Nice. While it's not my typical reading fare, I cannot help but get sucked into her stories and clever writing. If you are looking for an enjoyable read, please check her out here.

Have a happy Monday!
D

The Diamond In The Rough

Why is it that days off seem to go by so quickly?

After working a pretty intense couple of weeks, I took two days off in a row! I start rehearsals next week for a show, so it will be a while before that happens again.

Tonight, I am posting the reasons why I still watch SNL. Sure, some episodes go by where nothing terribly funny happens. And other times, you get this:



And this:



And last but not least:

Pepperidge Farm remembers...

 

Was I really ever this young?

I am a Broadway Boobie

I never cease to be amazed by my friends. Two years ago, my dear friend Kara asked me to walk with her in the Race for the Cure. It was such a great time, and it was very low-key(well, I guess low-key is the wrong term seeing that there are thousands of people there!). There were three of us total, and it was more of a way to go and honor her mother, who has passed from breast cancer.

This year she put together a team. Through hard work and perseverance, Team Broadway Boobies has raised almost $10,000!!!!!!

The day was very inspiring, and will stay with me forever. Right before we started the "race" TV's Judge Judy said, "One day we will just have to come and put some art on these streets. We won't have to race for a cure, because we will beat breast cancer." Seeing all of those people there, I know that this will be a reality. We will find a cure.

If you haven't done so, please donate ten or twenty dollars. Or even five. It all adds up: http://www.komennyc.org/site/TR/Race/race2008-wide?px=1667169&pg=personal&fr_id=1150.

And for your viewing pleasure!:

Excuse the Cryptic Blog...

Tonight, Team Broadway Boobies made over 2,000 dollars. It was one of those very satisfying evenings in which you see so much good happen.

Any type of cancer research is held near and dear to my heart, and if you would like to help out even a little please go here (yes you can see that I have personally raised $0.)

And here lies the cryptic message:

You asked me the question and hit the head on the nail. The answer is 'wiser.' I think that Pandora's Box has been open and there is so much and so little for me to answer to that question now. Thanks, R!.

For those who have no idea what I am speaking about, watch this:





Still one of my favorites...

Hanging Out

Today is one of my favorite types of day: It's raining and I am just hanging out at home. I cleaned out my manpurse while watching TV. I caught up on The Daily Show, The Soup, What Not To Wear, multiple Food Network Shows, and watched an Eddie Izzard DVD. Tomorrow I have to work all day at a street fair for work, so I really like doing nothing.

The following is one of my favorite clips of what I watched today:

Confession #2

My name is Dennis, and I am a TV junkie. I know, some of you are saying "tisk-tisk," but really TV has been such a huge part of shaping me. TV is just not The Hills and Denise Richards Colon It's Complicated. There's The Food Network, which has attributed to an extra skill that I have fostered. There's shows like So You Think You Can Dance and Project Runway that propels very talented people to greater heights than they would have without the spotlight that they have received from these platforms. (Speaking of platforms, I ran to the TV last night, not only because I could not wait to see the greatness that was going to unfold, but also because our 17 year-old high school intern reminded me time and time again that I needed to. How wonderful to see someone so young be so excited by politics!)

So think what you must about my problem, but I just spent the night laughing with Joel McHale, wanting to yell at the TV with and at Bill Maher, and I have a full morning with the food network coming up. W00t fall TV!

No Way. No How. No McCain.

Hillary hit a home run tonight.
That's all I have to say.

A Confession

Hello my name is Dennis and I have a fear of doctors.

Not really a fear of doctors, but a fear of being yelled at by them because I haven't been to one in years. I tried once about two years ago when I had a cold, and it went really badly, and even though I changed my primary care physician years ago I still haven't gone.

I think it stems back to a time long ago when I went to that glorious of all Catholic rituals: Confession.

I was nine and it was the Christmas season. I grew up in a very old-school church in McKeesport, PA. The church is very marble-y and cold in my memories of it. I remember being told things like "I don't help Sunday school kids, I only help everyday school kids," from a nun who misunderstood some of the teachings of Jesus.

It was very important that we take confession before the holiday, and I was especially horrified because it had been about 5 months since I had last stepped foot into the room. The room was not a room per se, but a closet with enough room to kneel down and a tiny little light behind a tiny little vent with probably no purpose at all because it was almost at floor level.

Being so scared I blanked on my Act of Contrition and had to start over. It felt like an eternity and when it was all over I was scolded for waiting five months to come to confession. I had so much to confess you see, as I had committed murder and adultery in that time, oh wait, actually it was being mean to my brother and looking at "dirty pictures."

My oversensitive soul crumbled at being such an offensive boy and I wanted to cry the whole way home, and then some more. And then even more.

Every time I visit home, I vaguely want to go visit that church that I stopped going to in high school for a church with a lighted confessional and a much more loving atmosphere. It still has quite an effect on me: Even now, I worry that my long absence will get me into trouble.

Today I stood up to the demons of my past and decided to make an appointment with the new doctor's office. I am afraid that I will hear something like "If you came sooner we would not have to remove your head. You are a disgrace."

I at least will keep my head until next Tuesday.

For T

I did not get to say goodbye to a dear friend who just went on tour for a year.

This is for him.

I guess this is goodbye, old pal,
You've been a perfect friend.
I hate to have to part, old pal,
Some day I'll buy you back.
I'll see you soon again.
I hope that when I do,
It won't be on a plate.

(Into the Woods, Stephen Sondheim.)

I'm Back!

I am sorry I have abandoned this thing. So much has happened over the past couple of weeks, and I wanted so much to tell stories, but alas, it was all too much and I could not get it out.

I have taken a side job of booking tickets for a theatre festival. It basically goes like this: People put in a request with a certain man and then he forwards those requests to me.

In 3 weeks, I have booked over 1,400 requests. That's a lot! Considering the 40 hours I spend on my other job, that did not leave a lot of room for thinking.

This marks the last week of the festival.

After work, I logged into my ticketing email and I saw a beautiful thing: 8 new messages. Total: 16 reservations.

I finished so much earlier than usual. I went grocery shopping (the first time in weeks!) Unfortunately I was so hungry that I was not in the mood for anything. (Waar waar.)

I came home, watched a little bit of Empire Records(I love that movie!)while cleaning out my computer.

Now I sit in my room in the silence. And I can think again.

It's so nice.

D

I Want a Golden Pony

The other night I had one of those nights that was pretty much perfect, though for a few moments I thought it would be a horrible time.

Last week, a very dear friend of mine emailed me an invitation to go to a screening with her. Naturally I would go regardless of what the film was as I enjoy her company. I glanced quickly at the synopsis; it was harmless enough. Not that exciting, but still fun nonetheless.


We get to the theater, and having a conversation, and at some point she says "...it's Woody Allen..."

Cue needle scratching across a record.

I am not a fan of Woody Allen films. In fact, at one point in my life, my roommates were watching a Woody Allen movie and I had to leave my apartment because the sound of it just drove me nuts.

But it's too late to leave now.

We sit.

In my head I go back and forth.

"This is going to be the longest 90 minutes of my life..."

"Well, In eighth grade, I caught Everything You Need To Know About Sex... and that was enjoyable."

"Yes, but there were adults dressed as sperm in that movie."

The lights went down. The movie starts.

Within five minutes, I thought "I LOVE this!"

The film is Vicky Cristina Barcelona

Go see it! It releases on August 15th. I never knew infidelity could be so entertaining.

Afterward we went to Chipotle. Now I know that I am on the quest to lose 300 pounds, but my friend had free burrito coupons. And she convinced me by saying "It's free so it's like eating nothing."

Then I went back home and played on my Nintendo DS.

Good times.

Go see [title of show].

And enjoy my favorite Geico commercial, brought to you by Hulu.com:

[week]

This has been an insane week, and I have not been writing because there has been no time.

Right now I lay in bed, exhausted, but very very happy.

The best part of my week had to be going to my first Broadway Opening for something near and dear to my heart. [title of show] opened on Thursday, and the evening was amazing. The pictures that I would have you see are here.

And these are clothes I will never be able to afford:


Tomorrow I may have to stay home all day and get myself together...

Color Me Susan

It's the day of the show y'all!

Today, work is going to seem like it is going on forever.

After that.

[title of show]

opening.

Broadway.

Is This Thing On?

Since I have turned 85 this year, I have started to love new things:

Pineapple
Strawberries
Long walks around Astoria after sundown.

My roommate and I have taken to walking at night because it settles us down for the day and it's supposed to aid in digestion! It has become my favorite part of the day: there's no stress, and the breeze is nice, as is the company.

This evening I was a little distracted. Earlier, I was spending time watching clips of 30 Rock on Hulu.com, and all I could think of was this:




This show is so good, even stupid Sherri Shepherd can't ruin it.

The Day Off.

Sundays were never my favorite. I always dreaded another week of school, or work, or band camp. What? Don't act like you didn't...

I think I have figured out my way away from those Sunday Night Blues.

Well, I should say it worked for me tonight. The past few weeks have been full of nonstop movement between birthdays, and baptisms, and drinks, and one act festivals, and drinks, and Broadway Shows. And house guests. And Jersey. And drinks.

Today was my day! Well so was Friday, but that didn't count.

Today I dedicated myself to cleaning my room. Going through financials to be shredded I realized (AGAIN!) that I am not as good with money as I should be and that I need some restraint. It was frustrating, but I got a plan together and I am moving on.

Then I went jogging.

And came home and made a turkey burger.

And then I called my dad, and was pointless because I crashed minutes into the conversation and couldn't offer anything up.

Then a nice bath in epsom salts.

I am now sitting here feeling all dried out and relaxed.

And I welcome another week of crazy.

Now eat these and enjoy them.

Is this thing on?

Today I had a life lesson bring meaning to a school lesson of my freshman year:

I was at work today and it occurred to me that I needed to use the restroom. This is nothing new. I try to keep hydrated as much as possible throughout the day and that is what happens when one drinks as much water as I tend to. The whole process becomes so mindless because it becomes so repetitive. I walked briskly down the stairs to the restrooms, most likely humming a song a daydreaming about being in my own Broadway musical. It probably went something like this:

(Picture you are in my head hearing me sing. Orchestra is swelling. Audiences are tearing.)

But alone is aloooooooone, not a-liiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii (BAM!)

That bam we hear, and the slight pain that accompanies it, is me walking into the bathroom door. Today it didn't open because the humidity made the door swell just enough that you had to break the seal.

My freshman acting teacher told our class that he never goes the same way to work, especially if he is acting in a show. He never really elaborated and I had assumed that it was just a superstition thing. But it all came together when I hit the heavy metal door.

Always stay in the moment. Don't be like the crunchy people that walk around Whole Foods in a daze, completely unaware of their surroundings.

We'll Rock Hard With Only Four Chairs

During lunch with a dear friend today, I mentioned that people need to break the cycle. One should not continue a Sisyphean lifestyle.

I now declare that I myself will follow that rule from this moment forward.

Other declarations:

Go see [title of show].
I will wear shorts tomorrow because it is too effing hot.
Tomorrow I will find the cord to my camera so I can upload pictures.

Good meeting everyone.

Good Friends and Good Franks

This weekend rocked.

It all started with the best of 4th of Julys. I woke up at 7:30 in the morning so that I could go watch the Coney Island Hot Dog Eating Competition. I didn't have enough breakfast, so I ate two amazing Nathan's Hot Dogs when we got to Coney Island. It makes me gag a little thinking about it, but it helped curb my hunger at the time. 2 quality dogs with onions and mustard goes a long way. The winner of the contest ate 64 hotdogs in about 12 minutes. I have no idea how one could do that.

After all was said and done, we went to the beach for a while and then rode the Cyclone. It is an amazing amazing ride. It's 8 dollars and well worth every penny. You should save up to go to the chiropractor afterwards, though.

This was followed by the movie Hancock. I was not a fan.

Then fireworks on TV.

It was a fantastic day because I was with great company. I have been very blessed with two families: my family of Hruskas who are all over the country, and the family of many names who live in New York. As I sit and write this I cannot help but feel all the love that radiates through my life. It makes me feel like the luckiest guy in the world.

The other reason this weekend rocked comes via my dayjob. Let's go back about two years:

I was a box office manager. The original intent on said job was to pay off some debt and get some insurance. Then I would save up a bunch of money and go and be an actor.

I fell of that track very easily after being generally discouraged and becoming very insecure. It was at that point that a little show called [title of show] came into my life and rocked my world. It taught me to kill my vampires, and to just create.

I watched the show about 18 times when it played, and now it's back at the Lyceum Theater on Broadway. And the show has grown this cult following. The first preview was about 20 minutes longer than normal because every other line stopped the show. It is a must see. This company deserves all the love that is coming their way.

Okay guys it's too late. I fear I may have stopped making sense at about the sentence "This weekend rocked."

I am not going back to proof. Forgive me. It's so unprofessional of me.

This is my new favorite picture:

Procrastination

I am SO guilty of it. Tonight I had full intentions of cleaning my room. Full intentions, I swear.

I got home; went jogging; came home; made dinner.

And then it went all awry.

Ghost Hunters was on.

It was a marathon. I didn't watch it all!

Then there may have been some Real World, and yes, while I am a little ashamed for watching it makes me feel better about myself. Never have I reached the mess that these people are.

Next was So You Think You Can Dance. It's very reminiscent of my college days. This is one of my favorite dances from this season:



Watch it, R!

I am not using full names :)

I am sleepy.

Goodnight,
D

I Just Flew In, And Boy Are My Arms Tired!

I just got back to New York last night.

The weekend was great. I got to see my family, and most importantly, my beautiful niece, who was a thousand times cuter than I ever could have imagined. I was nervous at first. Babies scare me as I have never really been around them. And a baby beat me up once. Did it? What just happened there?

Anywho, it's weird getting back into my schedule, and I am dreadfully tired this evening. I made it back to the park, so I am back on track to losing 380 lbs.

I got a journal today, to write down random thoughts in my head, and I also had a bacon cheeseburger with BBQ sauce for lunch. It really was the gift that kept on giving, especially during my jog. Never again! Well until 3 weeks from now when I think "Wow, I could go for a cheeseburger. With bacon. And BBQ sauce.

Now I must sleep. Enjoy this clip from The Golden Girls:


You know you like it.

D

Flashback

After a wonderful experience working on a cabaret, I have been feeling the musical theatre bug again. I recently went back and pulled out my Tommy original cast recording CD. That show is a GLORIOUS hot box of crazy. I love it! What a great cast. I was going to include a YouTube clip, however, there aren't any good clips online.

This puts you in luck, my dear reader. Attached is the best mess ever to grace the movie musical: Tommy The Musical: The Movie

Watch this clip the whole way through. It's so worth it. Never have I been so confused by baked beans, TVs and body pillows.

A Head Full of Thought

I am having trouble writing an entry tonight. I am going to use a method of the Artist's Way where I write what I think even if it is writing "I don't know what to write."

This evening I saw a play. I am not going to delve into it as it is in an early workshop phase. It left me with a lot of feelings. So much so that I am a bit clouded right now.

It's been a long time since something has made me think that much.

Oh Adam, you devil you.

Embarrassing Story #372

After work I headed to my new favorite place Astoria Park to have a jog. It has easily become so due to the cool breeze coming off the water, the rubber track that makes you feel like you can run forever, and the variety of people from all ages, races, and walks of life all hanging out. It seriously makes my night being here.
Afterward, I thought to my self "Self, I should go get some groceries." (No that joke will never get old to me. Suck it.) It dawned on me that since I will have to get meat, I should go to the C-Town, otherwise risk of food borne illness. You know who you are Fair Trade ;) (I am not going to sued by a company because of my fear of food diseases.)
Anywho, I go to the store, grab everything I need that I don't already have to make spaghetti with chicken meatballs plus some yogurt, granola, ice cream... well.. let's just say it was a lot of food. I get to the cash register, place all of it on the conveyor belt, wonder what the problem is in front of me (people were taking a long time,) go for my wallet, and find nothing there.

Never one to hide what I am feeling, I turn bright red.

"Um, excuse me. Miss?" She looks at me with discontent as she is not finished with the participating customer. "Yes?"

"Um, I just put all of this food on your counter? And I realize that I don't have my wallet on me? I tend to say everything as a question in uncomfortable situations. "Could I please run and go get my wallet?"

I think that happens a lot as it did not phase these teenage girls whose approval I am strangely seeking.

And so I ran more than I intended; back to my apartment which is a good five minute walk away, back to my room, and then back to the store. I paid for my food and thanked the young ladies about 30 times.

It was all worth it in the end. The chicken meatballs were delicious.

Sleep well,
D

Not Enough Time...

I am totally late today, but with good reason.

Tonight I said goodbye to a friend that is moving back to the Burgh of Pitts. She had a blowout party to see her off on the rooftop of a Manhattan hotel. Since clearly I am a pauper, I milked an Amstel light for an hour and then headed back to Queens.

This weekend makes me long for a day that is at least 38 hours not only because the time has flown by so quickly, but also people come and go so quickly here. It makes me realize how much I need to make the most of everything.

After the party, my roommate and I went to grab a bite to eat at Omonia cafe. Every time we go there, I remember that the wait staff most likely will leave us at our table after our food has come for around 40 minutes. I usually get antsy, as I did tonight, until my roommate turned to me and said, "We constantly feel the need to rush and for what? Wouldn't we just go and sit around at home?"

And suddenly I relaxed. And we people watched. Broadway was hopping around midnight on a Sunday, strangely enough.

Suddenly I saw a girl I knew.

I audibly gasped.

She turned.

And there in front of me was the Starbucks barista. Now there are 3 Starbucks, maybe even more, within a 5 minute walk from work. I am not even a huge fan of Starbucks. However, the Starbucks at 15th Street and 3rd Avenue is a shining beacon of light staffed with the most pleasant people. It has been dubbed with the name East because it is the easternmost Starbucks and it just ranks so much higher than the rest.

She said hello and waved. And starstruck, much like Lindsay Lohan in Mean Girls , I waved with a huge grin and a loud "Hiiiiiiiii!!!!"

It dawned on me that I looked like a huge dork.

Now I will have to see her tomorrow.

Sleep well,
D

I Love These Guys!

I don't need to say anything on this one.

Friday To-Do Lists

So I already failed because i got home too late last night, but whatever. Suck it! I will do two (2) posts today. Maybe :)

So one thing that we are asked to do at work is give a to-do list for the coming week. This is more for our own benefit because then you have everything you need to do in a list and then you can just check it off and see your progress. Being the rebel that I am, I have not been very good at doing this task. In fact, this Friday was the first time that I have done it in a year or longer. I know, I should be fired.

It dawned on me during this exercise that there is a lot in life that I forget to do because I don't take 5 seconds to write things down in one place. Later I forget to do what I wanted to do. In an effort to live a more fulfilled life, I am going to carry around a small pad and pen and write down the random thoughts that I have. They will then appear here on Fridays. Here we go:

TO DO:

1) Take a picture for my blog. (While I have taken the picture you see before you, I have an idea for what would complete my homage.)
2) Research Ghost Hunters (That show is crazy! I am addicted. Is it real?)
3) Clean my room (this will appear weekly.)
4) Buy an ipod case for my new ipod.
5) Renew my EW subscription. (It's over and I am lost without it.)
6) Jog 3-5x for the week. (Astoria Park. I love it!)
7) Yoga 3-5x for the week
8) Be a better Human Being (Stolen from a dear friend of mine.)
9) Be a better friend/family member (Stolen from my roommate.)
10) Go to a feather/champagne inspired birthday party. (She LOVES feathers!)
11) Clean my room.
12) Clean out my GMail inbox.
13) Think a lot that I have $20,000 a la The Secret.
14) Try Fish Eye wine. See if it really stays good for 3 months.
15) Make some of Ellie Krieger's healthy yet delicious recipes.
16) Read the book Good Omens.
17) Clean my room.
and most importantly...
18) Fly to Chicago and spend time with my new niece and family!


Namaste.

Uh oh

I think I have contracted a bug.

A bug to blog.

The virus is going around my workplace, and I fear that it can't be stopped. What are we going to do?

If only someone would have told me...

The symptoms:

An uncontrollable urge to write something everyday, or close to it. Said writing can be lyrics, and h-witty anecdote, or even a touching moment.

I turned 85 two weeks ago, which makes me very susceptible to this disease.

Will I beat it? Or will it control me forever?

Will I lose the 380 pounds I intend to lose before the close of summer?

Will people think this blog is too wierd?

Will I convince the girl in my office that So You Think You Can Dance is not really all that bad.

Will I lose my dignity?

Will someone care?

I plan to answer all these questions at some point.

Stay tuned.