Catching Up

What hasn't happened since last we spoke?

Everyone's on strike, which is really throwing a wrench in the gears around here. Pretty soon we won't be seeing any new episodes of Grey's or 30 Rock, or worse, Gossip Girl. I don't think the writers are coming back to work anytime soon. And, the word on the street that the stagehands would come back tomorrow is definitely a false hope. They've cancelled just about everything all week already. That's going to put this strike at at least 17 days or so... not good for business. Good thing I saw those plays before they all went dark... my guess is that a lot of them won't even be returning. IS HE DEAD? has only played two previews (I saw the second) and hasn't really been publicized, so I doubt it's going to get any legs to come back. And the real winner of the season, AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY, had great word of mouth, but is missing its opening night now and who the hell knows. I think if any of the shows will pull out of this okay, it's gonna be that one. FARNSWORTH's Hank Azaria is not going to sit around twiddling his thumbs (like one writer noted last week) waiting for the strikers to come to terms, and it's going to close that show.

Too bad for Broadway. Good for off-Broadway. Keeps me busy at work anyway.

Remember when life sucked? Well, I've been pretending that I'm happy, and things have been working out actually. I've met some interesting people, created laughter, had tea parties and made dinner in costume. After, I danced with tigers, took a rifle class, had lifeguard training and splashed in the puddles I created in my bathroom because the toilet was broken and so I just emptied a bucket of water on the ground. And then just now, I talked in a fun-Godfather-Italian-accent with coworkers.*

I'm coming home for Thanksgiving, spending some time on the couch, and then shipping out to the sunny skies of Florida for a couple of months. Wowza: you're excited I can tell. I look forward to seeing you and/or hearing from you. Write comments, show me the love...

*Some of the above mentioned events have been fabricated.

...Moving On Up

No worries. I am okay. And writing (almost) stream-of-consciousness today:

I realized the last post was crazy and haphazard and made some of you worried or conerned for me and my life. Well, almost immediately after I wrote it, my apartment was burglarized while I was there. I'm not going to rehash the thing, but don't worry - I'm okay. I was pretty shaken up about the whole thing, and ready to just get the hell out of dodge (i.e.: New York City), but I thought that might have been a little rash looking back on it.

I'm better and calmer now. I am also less streessed out and less depressed about life in general. I guess you just have to turn lemons into lemonade, and who doesn't like lemonade? So, I'm making efforts to consciously turn my attitude around and crawl out of that darkest corner of the dark place. No more dark place, instead, I'm actively searching the happy place.

So, I'm working a lot this week, seeing a couple different plays, putting money in the bank, and eating what I want (yep, I broke down forom my no-McDonalds-until-Thanksgiving-binge and had quarter pounder meal yesterday, it was delicious). I'm happier and that's what counts.

I've also just started working on my new project which will keep me busy in my downtime (that's right - I'm gonna write a book!). So, don't fret my pets. Just send me emails and comments so I have something to do during the 50+ hours I'll be at work sitting in front of a computer this week.

Thanks!
Beedow

Oh Brother

So, I'm a lazy ass. I often wonder if all people are like this. Or, would they be if they could be? I mean, I am basically just scraping by. I don't work enough hours to pay the bills, but I always seem constantly busy. I think it's because I sleep most of the time. I'm lazy. And I make up excuses.

Last night was Halloween (or, if you'd prefer Hallowe'en) and what did this guy do? Well, I sold a ticket to a Hollywood celeb (think, The Illusionist, Death to Smoochy) and then took the train home, ran on an elliptical for thirty minutes before chickening out and not doing the rest of my workout. I came home and reheated some chili I made Monday night, tried to watch Curb Your Enthusiasm season one, disc one, but the Netflix disc was cracked. So I went to bed. And slept about ten hours.

Then, today, I should have gone to an audition. But I talked myself out of it because, well, I'm really not right for the role anyway. So I made a sandwich and started to catch up on The Office. It was mid-afternoon by the time I took a shower.

Goodness. This is ridiculous. Tomorrow's going to be similar. I'm going to talk myself out of an audition that I'm not right for, go in for an audition later, only because I have an appointment, and well, probably sit around some more.

I'm just getting by. I'm making up excuses so I don't have to go and see people - why? Why don't I actually just go and see them? I don't have anything better to do with my time. I should see my friends.

I feel like I need some sort of thing, some motivation, to keep going. What is making me tick? What's exciting in life? What is going to make me really excited about getting up and doing something? More importantly, what can I actually DO? If I don't get scheduled at work, then I have all this time off and nothing to do...

I have so much time, I should at least blog every day and I don't even do that. Nor do I have a witty closing to this post.

Insider's Scoop

It's fun to live in New York when good things happen. I was lucky enough last weekend to score passes to two movie screenings. I will divulge a little here; not a lot, but enough to make you wish you were me (if you didn't already).

AMERCIAN GANGSTER
Yeah, this comes out in a week or so, but it was nice to see the foreign press screening of it here in the city. I guess I hadn't been reading up on it, so I had know idea it was about drug trafficking, but, okay. Once I woke up (after the first very slow twenty minutes), I really enjoyed it. Do I recommend? Yes if you want to see a good film in the long line of standard/middle-of-the-road gangster, mafia, shoot 'em ups.

BABY MAMA
This one isn't scheduled for release until April 2008, but I got to sit in and be a test audience for it. It's another comedy from Tina Fey, but it's essentially pretty sappy. I wanted it to be like Wedding Crashers, but it wasn't. I don't know why I wanted that, though, because I should have said, "oh, it'll probably be a morality play like Mean Girls." And it was. But it was a funny morality play nonetheless. With the likes of the UHMAZING Amy Poehler, Steve Martin and Sigourney Weaver, this has some really brilliant moments. I won't spoil my favorite, but remember this: it's when Amy offers to pay Tina for gas money.

Also, I finished the second season of WEEDS at three in the morning. I love it. And what an ending. That's good, because it was sort of getting lazy and sloppy I thought, but they sure pulled out the big guns (pun intended).

While I go spend the rest of my day off catching up on network television (Brothers and Sisters, 30 Rock, The Office and maybe Private Practice), I want to know what have you been watching?

Weekenders.

I am at the end of my first real weekend in so long - two entire days off without other obligations, plans, activities, events, or other things to suck up my time. Instead, I slept in, watched some TV, had a vocal coaching, ate, bought some new music, called people, went out for a lovely (and higher-than-i-really-should-have-paid) dinner where i ordered (gasp!) a glass of wine. And so now, some thoughts:

1. I love Joni Mitchell. Go purchase her new album, SHINE. And then, consider the new Herbie Hancock album, RIVER: THE JONI LETTERS.

2. I still love red wine. Mmm. I haven't had a glass since before summer, but it was so tasty last night, and so perfect with the chicken and spinach dinner special I ordered. O! Perfection.

3. WEEDS is a brilliant show! I have watched all of the first season and am just beginning the second season. Mary Louise Parker is beautiful and lovely, and I found a new favorite song (Cotton) on the soundtrack.

4. THE CAINE MUTINY is a wonderful novel. It's my second Herman Wouk, and so darn good. He's an excellent storyteller, good for me as I haven't had a book I wanted to really read since the end of the HP series. I highly recommend it.

5. I miss my friends and will be happy to see them on Big Wednesday.

Splash.

Last night, I was walking with a friend of mine (we'll call him Tim) through Times Square after a really great (!) masterclass, which I should write about because it was amazing, but then this happened, which took the cake:

EXT. NIGHT. CORNER OF 42ND STREET AND BROADWAY.

Tim: Watch out!
Me: What?

WE HEAR A SPRAYING SOUND, LIKE IF SOMEONE WAS WASHING THE SIDE OF THEIR HOUSE, SPRAYING WATER AT IT FROM A HOSE.

Me: Oh shit.

THE TWO GUYS MOVE TO THE SIDE AS A PUDDLE CONTINUES TO FORM UNDERNEATH THE HORSE WHO IS DRAWING THE HORSE-DRAWN CARRIAGE.

Tim (in a Southern drawl): Well, I can sure tell when a horse is pissing on my boots.
Me (in a Southern drawl): Hey, have ya ever seen a horse piss before?
Tim: Yep. In the middle of Times Square.

Couldn't be Happier...

Oh! It is so wonderful. Mom and Dad drove up (down?) this weekend and brought my stuff. I feel like I'm at home again, now. Instead of being a guest living on an aerobed on the floor (which, remind me, I still have to get my $10 rebate on), I now am the proud owner of a real live boxspring. I have a chair, a rug, a desk, tv, blinds: the works! I want nothing more than to go home, sit down and read, sit on the floor and play marbles, take a nap on my bed, clean the windows again or rearrange my closet. I'm walking on air! This is what people feel like in real life, isn't it? They're really here, really alive - I am happy.

Of course, I've been scheduled off from work Monday and Tuesday, so I'll have a lot of time to sit in my room and think about how much money I'm not making. Although, it's sort of like real life, because this week, for the first time in a very long time, I have a weekend. Which is fantastic. Sure it's during the week, but I have two days off in a row with nothing to do except buy a plant, order some prints online, gossip with the girls, and get my nails done. Woohoo!