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!
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Monday, August 25, 2008
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.
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.)
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.)
Monday, August 18, 2008
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 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
Friday, July 25, 2008
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:
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:
Sunday, July 20, 2008
[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...
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...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)