Norma's Back at Last

Some days, a person just feels complete, you know? For me, it was today. And lately, I guess, in general. I think it's this city. There's something electric about it that I can't escape, and I don't think I really want to. It's so wonderful.

Today, Millie and I went to see the matinee of the Durang/Melnick musical ADRIFT IN MACAO at Primary Stages at 59E59. I saw the production back in its Philly tryout and enjoyed it. I think I enjoyed it a lot more there, even though here my seats were significantly better, and cheaper. Either way, it is still so fun, and Michelle Ragusa is a dynamo: there's no stopping her, and it's so exciting to see such a fabulous performer onstage.

Anyway, my point. I was reading the program, thinking "oh, Alan Campbell is in this." (He's the original Joe from SUNSET BLVD on Broadway.) Literally thirty seconds after I mentioned it to Millie, I turned to see who was walking up the aisle to sit in the pair of empty seats next to me, and it was none other than Glenn Close. GLENN CLOSE. Next to me. Immediately in the seat beside me. Her knee was touching mine.

Some backstory and facts:

1. the first CD I ever purchased was the American premiere recording of SUNSET starring Glenn Close and Alan Campbell. Today, I sat next to her and we both watched his performance.

2. As a kid, I loved the circus. In college, I got to play the lead in BARNUM which starred Glenn Close and Jim Dale. Today, I sat next to her.

3. A few weeks ago, I made banana bread for a Tony winner. Today, I sat next to one.

4. Years ago, I saw Betty Buckley perform a concert from the fourth row. She replaced Glenn Close in SUNSET.

5. Alan Campbell and Lauren Kennedy made their Broadway debuts in SUNSET. Now they're married.

6. Elaine Page was a replacement Norma in SUNSET. Now, she's a replacement Chaperone in London's DROWSY. I saw Page perform SWEENEY with the NYC Opera (in 2003?). I sat next to the original Norma today. I made banana bread for the original Chaperone a couple weeks ago.

7. AND, if I'm not mistaken, I saw STUDIO 60's Sarah Paulson at work yesterday. Those lips are unmistakable.

8. This is too much. New York is grand.

An Open Letter to the Sun

Dear Mr Sunshine:

It has been a long time since we've seen each other, and I just wanted to thank you for shining this afternoon. I spent the morning in an audition studio and when I emerged, like a butterfly from a cocoon, I smiled at your warmth. In fact, I decided not to even cross the street where I should have so that I could spend another few blocks in your rays.

I look forward to seeing you again soon. Maybe we could continue this friendship into next week.

Yours,
Beedow

Failure = Success

It was inevitable, I guess. There's only so much a dog can take, you know? And I guess this was it. A few days shy of three months, and I lost it. My brain stumbled, and actually began to think of other things. But, there's no excuse, I failed again.

Maybe it's for the better. I decided to observe some Lenten obligations beginning yesterday, and I fasted. Let me tell you, I was STARVING. But it felt good knowing that I didn't eat an entire bag of chips before I went to bed like usual. And, I am on day five of my before-bed-better-belly-brigade. So, perhaps I was spending my time thinking about other things and just figured that there was no need to remember (j)OE'S.

Either way, I'm not going to get myself down. I'm excited about my new found freedom, the endless possibilites that await me now that I'm no longer tied to a daily writing routine here at (j)OE'S.

Now, I know some of you will be angry, and think I've failed. But what is failure? To me, it's not completing a project you set out to do ... well, OK, then I guess I have failed. But, perhaps we should measure the success I've encrued while failing. I've gotten back into blogging, and have had something to keep me busy daily. Last night, as I was drifting off to sleep and realized I hadn't posted, I make the conscious decision to let it go. It's fine. Let it go.

From now on, I'll try to post regularly, but am not going to stress about it. Take this as an opportunity for you too to let some stress go, release yourself from the shackles of yesterday and go fly a kite.

(Name the two musicals for extra points ...)

Laundry in the Afternoon

I was just doing some laundry this afternoon. Minding my own business. When I took note of instruction numero uno on the dryer:

1. Check inside of machine for children, pets or other foreign objects.

What?! Check inside the dryer for children? And pets? I think I'd notice immediately when I looked at the dryer, since there's a glass door on it, if a child or an animal were inside, wouldn't I? Wouldn't you?

And what makes the instruction-writer automatically assume that only foreign children and pets are likely to crawl inside a dryer, whose opening is perched approximately four feet off the floor? Why couldn't they be indiginous children or pets?

And who brings their kids or dogs to the laundromat (there's that blasted word again) anyhow? That's what nannies and pounds are for. Call a sitter, latch your adorable drooling pooch to the lamppost and wash your stockings. Don't subject the kids to waiting around in the oven-like room of washers and dryers. They don't want to be there and you don't want them there. Plus, since they're technically not allowed to play inside the dryer, it's no fun for them.

Hmm. Actually, there weren't any signs that said not to allow your children or animals (or other foreign objects) inside the dryer. The sign just said to check for them. Maybe you should check to make sure they're there. Or, because most children actually do play inside of them, you should check in case you've lost yours.

Also, there were no similar signs on the washing machine. So, by the sin of omission, I guess it's technically permitted to not check the washing machine for children, pets or other foreign objects. Which therefore means it is generally accepted to let them stay inside the washing machine throughout the complete cycle.

I don't really think we should do that, though. Because they could drown. Or, they might look like prunes when they come out. Worse, how would we best dry them? We know they're not allowed in the dryer, so we'd have to go back home and get a towel.

That's why I don't have kids.

Or pets.

Or other foreign objects.

President's Day

Or is it Presidents' Day? Or perhaps Presidents Day? Even the New Yorker don't have a clue. Wow.

Anyway, BONE CHILLING today here in the Big Apple. Ridiculous.

I was up and out of the house early today, in order to signup and try to be seen for three different auditions. I was seen for two of them, and one callback! Zinga! Also, what's amazing... is I saw at least seven people I knew today. One in an elevator, others in jam-packed holding rooms, or walking down the street. It is amazing that in a city so dense, a person can always find someone he knows. Wowza.

And now off to see Mr Sorkin's bombing backstage boobtuber.

Origins

I feel like I once wrote a post titled Origins already, but, here goes again... I've been asked by two readers about my namesake, and so I figured today would be as good a time as any to divulge.

In fourth grade, I was taking a test and finished early, so I had some time on my hands. I looked around the room and remember locking into the alphabet displayed across the top width of the chalkboard -- you know, that cursive correct-form alphabet that no one actually still uses once they pass the fourth grade? Anyway, I started combining letters and resulted in:

ZACKMANBEEDOWLOW

It turned into the name of a comic book character I only slightly developed. He looked like this guy to the left. What followed was zilch, however, and I never actually created anything past a name and a face.

However, when my family got the internet during my seventh grade year, America OnLine was the big name in service. Those three telephone numbers, all of which were usually busy, resulted in a person spending up to thirty minutes or so just to actually connect to the 'net. Once on, of course, it took just loads of time to actually complete a task as simple as checking email, or seeing a website. Goodness, it was so long ago and so slow ago. Either way, when we got AOL, I was able to choose a username. I chose Beedow, which, as you may have already surmised, is an abbreviated nickname derived from the aforementioned moniker.

Flash forward to the present time. I use Beedow as a nom de plume and am consistently referred to by this pseudonym on the world wide web.

Office Post 2

B-O-R-I-N-G-!

I have literally exhausted every idea I have on internet surfing today. I read an entire magazine (Nov '06 edition that I finally had an opportunity to read), but can't fathom reading another issue. I've responded to all my outdated emails, and even sent myself five emails. I've watched narcoleptic dogs on youtube and made mental notes of my friends' birthdays on myspace.

I don't know what to do anymore. No one calls here! Ahhhhhhhh!