Underground Old Woman Hatred

The other morning I was standing on the subway platform waiting for the train, which took FOREVER. Like that kid from The Sandlot, you know, "for-ev-er." Anyway, there was a little old lady with a pen in her hand in front of a Chase billboard. She looked around to make sure noone was watching, which, of course, I was. Anyway, she drew a large swastika on the person in the ad. Then, she drew two smaller ones near the bottom of the sign.

What? Not the image of graffiti artists that I had in mind, but, to each her own I guess. Either way, what was I supposed to do? Stop her? Nah, she might have been wielding a sharp kitchen knife under that floral-print blouse.

Toe Skin

I am not going to discuss this past weekend except to say I think it was probably a good time.

It's been a very crazy busy time, but I was able to spend a few minutes out with some friends last night. Because I have no clean clothes left (thank goodness I have the afternoon off today to get it done, along with some shopping for items for my new bedroom!), I wore flipflops since my socks are all dirty. But it started to aggrivate the skin on the underside of my big toe on my left foot. What is the deal? Now, today, wearing my last pair of clean socks and a dirty shirt, I sit with a bothersome flap of skin on my toe.

Also, I watched this season's GREY'S premiere online last night. Since I don't have a TV, I am relegated to watching after the fact a few days later. (Hurry, TV, hurry!) Anyway, I was sort of not excited about it... but then there was George and Izzy. I love them. They're fantastic. I'm so happy. I can't wait until Thursday... well, Friday or Saturday when I watch it online.

The Good the Bad... and well, i'm not ugly

There's some days that being in a big city is fun. Like today. The new mega-expensive musical, YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN is loading in currently. So, I walked by the loading dock this morning and saw lots of sets, costumes, etc. Woohoo, said I. Then, I had to let Bill Pullman into the building, and Judy Ivey came by to drop off some stuff, and Dallas Roberts walked out for a smoke break. Ah!

On the other hand, there's some things that aren't fun. Like this guy I work with. He just answered the phone "Yep, yep?" Are you serious? "Yep, yep." Oh for crying out loud. We all think he's going to kill himself, or someone near him. Which basically means I need to watch out for number one, or else I might be running around with my head cut off. Of course, the weirdo leaves this weekend to go back home to "figure some things out." Yeah, we've heard that one before. Go get a pickup and a dog and drive around or something, that usually seems to work, Bucko.

Two Happy Endings

Julie and the Beatles
ACROSS THE UNIVERSE has its moments, but in all, I guess I just didn't like it. Don't get me wrong, FRIDA is one of my favorites, but this one just doesn't have that same spark. Of course, it would have been better after a few magical brownies ("reefer madness, reefer madness!")... Some very touching scenes, neat colors and spectacle, but overall rather blah.

I Was Going to Go Anyway
...even if I didn't get a free pass. ENCHANTED, first of all, is narrated by none other than that glorious voice of voices, Ms Disney herself, Julie Andrews. Also a venerable who's who of Broadway (including Tonya Pinkins in a hysterical scene or two), this new flick from the Mouse is ... well, enchanting. Amy Adams is beautiful and does a brilliant job. I guess I just had a big smile on the whole time - sure, it's for the kids, but hey, I'm still a kid.

His name was Rico...

It had been an early morning. I arrived early to the airport, and actually was seated on an earlier flight than I was scheduled for. We landed at JFK and sat on the tarmac for about thirty minutes before we could deplane. But, eventually we did, and I airtran'd it to the subway and got to my new apartment around noon.

By mid-afternoon, it was time to go. A new (we worked together this summer) friend of mine had been offered four tickets to the taping of Barry Manilow's new PBS special, which will also be put out on DVD late this year (I believe). So, we followed the rules and wore dark colors, didn't bring any coats, no bags, no cameras, not even our cell phones... it was like living in the 90s again. Wowza.

But, for all the stinginess we had to endure, heck, we were treated well. As VIPs, we had access to the preshow open bar (2 or 3 gin and tonics for this guy), an escorted bathroom trip, and then fourth row center seats inside the soundstage at Brooklyn's Steiner Studios where it was being taped. For three hours or more, we sat around and waited, clapped a hell of a lot (often just because a guy in a headset told us to), stood up for Barry a lot, watched him forget some lyrics and have to go back and reshoot, sing COPACABANA and MANDY twice... in all it was pretty cool. Of course, were we actual fanilows, it would have been way cooler. I mean, between us, we probably recognized four songs (and that included the STATE FARM insurance jingle).

But worth it it was. Following the taping (where I saw two friends who had been hired to dance and cheer for Barry), we VIPs flashed our invites to the redcarpet after party on a rooftop at the Studios. More gin and tonics were drunk, steak and sushi offered (hell, I even ate some sort of duck roll because it was free!) and really rich desserts carried around on trays by other actors who were just making a buck as cater-waiters.

I wish I had been allowed a camera or something because I would insert here a picture looking at New York across the water in the night sky. It was great fun and very exciting. So, don't forget to watch Barry Manilow: Songs of the Seventies on PBS or get it on DVD. You'll probably get a glimpse of some crazy guy sorta clapping in the fourth row...

NEXT: Ms Lion King herself and the new Beatles' flick

Autumn of Awareness, and Action

I've failed you as a friend and a confidant, but, if you'll have me, I'd gladly take you back. My "summer in the hills" has come to a close, my retreat to the homeland is nearing its end, and the return to life in the big city all but a reality at this point. I am making it an autumn of awareness, these next few months: aware of my struggling pocketbook, distant friend contact, lack of continuing education, failure to reach my new year's resolution... all of these things make it seem like I need to become aware, and then act.

So, I begin today, this ninth afternoon of the ninth month of the year. I vow to blog more faithfully. And (hopefully) interestingly.

I look forward to coming into your lives more often, beginning ... soon.

Back in Business and Ain't it Grand

Well, I actually am alive, contrary to popular belief. I don't want you to get teary-eyed or anything, but I'm glad you're here. I got my stats-report in the email last week and see that there are a couple of you (I don't know who you are, I just know you're there) who continue to check the site to see if I've said anything. And I know I've been a disappointment.

But now, about six weeks since my last post, I am simply here to say that this Friday at midnight, I will be joining the oodles of underage wizards and pick up my reserved copy of HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS. And no, I won't give anything away here until I feel enough time has passed that anyone who's anyone will have already read it already. But, needless to say, I'm glad that I have some extra time this weekend to read -- I only have a Saturday evening and a Sunday matinee performance to prohibit my continuous reading of what may be the most anticipated novel of all time.