Are You Ready Yet?

My roommate showed me this video awhile ago and it makes me unbelievably happy to watch it. Today of all days, right before the weekend and at the end of a long week, I think I'm ready:

I leave you humming the song above. It has a surprising way of getting stuck in your head.

And In Other News...

Irene was a tropical storm when it hit New York. That's it. I told everyone not to worry about it, but did they listen? Nope. Not that I blame them. It's easy to get caught up in an impending natural disaster that might hit New York. Nothing ever happens here, so people need to overreact when something finally does.

I refused to take this threat serious enough to even take the air conditioner out of my window. How was I supposed to sleep in a stuffy room? I'd rather my air conditioner be ripped out of the window than sleep the whole night without it.

Even though I knew this whole thing was going to blow over (pun intended) without completely destroying Manhattan, my roommates and I prepared a bit on Saturday:

1. We filled up one bathtub with water (for flushing purposes).
2. We filled up all of our water bottles with water (filtered at Ian's insistence).
3. We took the window fans out of the living room windows (making the living room too stuffy for my liking).
4. Ian bought fixings for chocolate chip cookies (which he made before the "hurricane" began, YAY).
5. Kate and I went to Grestides to get groceries and yet bought nothing non-perishable accept a few ingredients for my pasta bake (which I cooked up later, voiding their non-perishable status).
6. I invited my sister over to watch movies and eat my pasta bake.
7. Kate and I made an emergency run back to Gristedes to buy chocolate bars for the S'mores we decided we NEEDED to make.
8. We found whatever flashlights and candles we had and brought them in to the living room (meager findings, believe me).
9. We all overate all day. "If it's the end of the world, I'm going to go out like a glutton." So, says I.
10. Stayed up late watching movies and then finally went to bed.

I woke up Sunday morning at 9:15 and realized that I had completely missed Irene. She came and went with barely a whisper to rouse me from my slumber. I got up and made french toast for everyone (including my sister who had stayed the night) using the power that hadn't gone out, drinking the water that hadn't stopped, and enjoying the absence of the sound of the M-4 Buses that stop in front of our apartment. It was wonderful. I stayed the whole day inside watching episodes of Battlestar Galactica and movies that have been neglected for far too long, all the while saying that the storm was what was keeping me from venturing out into the world. I didn't leave my apartment all day. Glorious, truly glorious.

I hope everyone who reads my blog had as easy a time weathering the storm (pun intended again) as I did.

I leave you humming "Stormy Weather."

Freedom, at last!

I finally did it. I got a haircut.

It's the best thing that's happened to me since...well, I don't know when. It's above my shoulders and layered and it's everything I wanted it to be.

I'd like to spread the word about the salon that I went to. It's called Sam & Chris Hair Salon and it's on Broadway between 78th and 79th Sts. I can't even begin to tell you what a wonderful experience I had there. Everyone was super nice and friendly. The salon is tiny (only 3 chairs) but what they lack in space, they make up for in talent and personality.

Also, I'm telling you this because normally in the city you can't get a hair package deal less than $50. Especially if you have long hair and want to go short. At this place you can! I was shampooed, conditioned, expertly cut and then meticulously styled all for $57. Remember, that I was going from really long to short, I mean, he cut off 7 inches. I know that it less if you're just going in for a couple of inches cut off.

I think they stay open due to word of mouth, because they don't even have a website. If you're in this city and want an affordable haircut, you need to call them and make an appointment. Look, I'll even give you their number: (212) 873-6868.

I have never been more happy to have my hair short again!

I leave you humming Barry Manilow's "Looks Like We Made It."

Out of the mouths of babes...

Thank you, HL, for introducing me to this video. This is the best speech I've heard since President Whitmore's speech in Independence Day. I thought this also might be able to help you through any hard times!


I leave you humming "Eye of the Tiger."

"Music has charms to soothe the savage breast"

Someone told me today: "If life is a highway (and I hate to use that metaphor) then music is the gas that keeps us going."

It really resonated within me. This idea of music being the be all, end all, is something so intriguing to me. I told him that my roommates have a lot to do with what's shaped my musical preferences lately. I have three roommates with very unique musical preferences, but somehow we all have common musical interests. Don't ask me how, but they know what kind of music will appeal to me and when.

I also notice that music that didn't appeal to me at one time, now does. I received two CDs when I graduated high school from a close friend. The group that she was so sure that I would love was Hem. Total folksy sound that I was completely unprepared to love at age 18. I think I only listened to it once, before I forgot all about it. I found it on my MP3 player last year and accidentally listened to it. Now at 25, not only does the style fit me, the lyrics mean more to me now than they ever could. I truly believe that music can heal all sorts of pain and ailments. Why else was it created, if not to help us through tough times or deep rooted emotional issues?

So, I ask you to look into yourselves and find that music that will guide you through those times of uncertainty and strife. For some reason, I sense most of my friends are dealing with some really hard things right now and I can't do much to help.

If life is a highway (and now I hate to use that metaphor), then I am only too happy to believe that music will fuel us on to the next resting spot. Or perhaps it is the road signs to help guide us there.

I leave you humming "Half Acre" by Hem.

New Daily Read

Now, when you're checking my blog everyday, you should also be checking something else. Add http://damnyouautocorrect.com/ to your list of websites to check. The premise:

People who have been suckered into buying the IPhone have to deal with something called Auto Correct. It's exactly how it sounds. If you accidentally hit the wrong letters while typing (it's a touchscreen, remember) the phone with automatically correct the word in the way that it thinks is correct. People submit their Auto Correct mishaps on the site and you get to laugh at how terrible they are.


Example 1



Example 2

 

Example 3


There you have it, just 3 examples of why I love this website. Thank you, He Who Laughs, for introducing me to this wonderful site.

I leave you humming "Everyone Makes Mistakes" from Seasame Street.

"There is no bathroom!!"

We've all heard about Arnold Schwarzenegger's love child and now know that's the real reason his wife left him. I hate to say it, but isn't this just what famous people and politicians do?

It isn't a surprise to me. Is it still disappointing? Of course. I love the Arnold. I pretty much love every movie he's ever been in and love every line he's said in every movie he's ever been in.

So, Mr. Schwarzenegger, here's a small list of your movie quotes that might come in handy right now:

1. "Hasta la vista, baby." – Terminator 2

2. "Consider this a divorce." – Total Recall

3. "I'm not into politics. I'm into survival." – The Running Man

4. "This hero stuff has its limits." – Last Action Hero

5. "Oh, you think you're bad, huh? You're a f**king choir boy compared to me! A CHOIR BOY!" – End of Days

6. "My body. MY choice!" – Junior

7. “Get to the choppa!!” – Predator

8. “I lied” – Terminator 3

(Ok, so I guess the Predator quote doesn't make a lot of sense, but it's really one of my favorite lines.)
 
I leave you humming Bowling for Soup's "A-Hole."

Feeling a little "Lost?" Me too.

I saw that one of my Facebook friends posted yesterday about the last episode of Lost and it got me thinking. I still have unanswered questions!!

For those of you who haven't seen the show and want to do not continue on.

***SPOILER ALERT***

1. Who in the hell built that giant statue? So, the first time we see it, it's just the foot to the ankle. But, we also see it whole in flashbacks and time jumps. We never find out who built it or why. It doesn't make a lot of sense to me.

2. Why does everyone heal on the island except for Ben? So, Locke wakes up and he magically can walk again. That sweet lady, Rose, doesn't have cancer anymore. But, Ben develops cancer on the island. Weird, right? Maybe it has something to do with Jacob?

3. Who is the Mother? By Mother, I mean the woman that raised Jacob and the Man in Black. So, she killed their Mom and raised one to be good and one to be evil, but who is she? As a character she relays a lot of the information to Jacob and the viewers Why should we take anything she says at face value? We end the show never knowing where she came from or why she knew what she did. I do have to say that it was awesome that Allison Janney was on the show.

4. What was that pregnancy thing? Ok, so women on the island had complications and couldn't give birth on the island. Do we know why? Nope. This question goes unanswered. They go to such lengths to fix this problem (bringing in Juliet) and yet the show concludes and the viewers still don't know what caused it.

5. What's Walt's deal? So he was "special" and everyone wanted him. He was kidnapped, rescued by his Dad, then shipped back to the real world. But, we never understood what his significance was. One episode he gets mad because his parents aren't paying attention to him and then a bird dies. So, again, what's Walt's deal?

6. Why did Aaron have to be raised by Claire? We were told that "something terrible" would happen if Claire didn't raise her baby after it was born. However, Kate raised Aaron when they escaped the island. So.....what was the "terrible" thing? Honestly, Kate should continue to raise Aaron because Claire at the end of the series was totally effed up in the head.

7. WHO WAS SHOOTING AT THEM??!! This is a question I ask myself at least once a week. There was an episode during the time jumping season where Sawyer and friends get in a long boat and start rowing around the island. All of a sudden, someone starts shooting at them from behind. Things look bad for our folks but then, thankfully, there's another time jump and they're saved. WHO WAS SHOOTING AT THEM??!!

These questions will never be answered. Garr...I do miss watching that show though.

I leave you humming Coldplay's "Lost."

Reflection On a Dream of Fallen Heroes

Of course with everything that happened in the past two days, my mind can't remain still. It's been two full days and nights of reflections.

It probably doesn't help that I'm also reading James Brady's Hero of the Pacific: The Life of Marine Legend John Basilone. Mr. Brady has a very pedestrian style of writing. He makes it easy for even the most unschooled in the arts of military and combat to understand just how amazing Basilone's feats were. My Dad sent this book to me because we watched the HBO series The Pacific together and I was amazed and baffled by this Marine that I had never even heard of before. This Medal of Honor laureate who was rewarded for his brave actions on Guadalcanal.

My mind is all over the place with this book and current events. It immediately goes to "how can anyone do what these guys have to do?" I don't understand it and never will. I don't think I can be as brave as Basilone or these unnamed men that took out bin Laden had to be. I don't believe I have what it takes to defy the odds and come out on the other side unscathed. It's hard enough for me to cross the street while avoiding being hit by cars (in my defense, it is New York City).

These are men that go against everything their animal instincts are telling them. They rush into oncoming bullets, and who knows what else, to get the job done. And boy, do they get the job done. If you look close enough through history there have been so many more people in the armed forces that have done extraordinary things in the name and protection of this country. Many of those were killed because of that duty. Basilone, who had been taken out of the war and sent home to sell war bonds, was killed after requesting to return to the fight on Iwo Jima. That's right, he requested to go back. This man was going back because he was a professional solider and fighting is what he did.

I ask you, have you ever heard of this man?

Yet, I can't stop thinking about what a person has to go through to be able to do what they do. I'm up at night thinking about it. Then when I finally do fall asleep, I have weird dreams.

I leave you humming The Theme to Band of Brothers. Now, I know that this is the "other" show about WWII on HBO, but if this theme doesn't give you cold chills, you're heartless. (Ok, fine. Maybe not everyone feels this strongly about the piece, but I do.)

Humdrum Life

This is what I see from my desk:

Some days I wake up and remember that I live in New York. Today is one of those days. If only the sun were out...my sisters think I'm a vampire. Maybe I proved them wrong with my humble request for sunshine?

Maybe not.

I leave you humming "New York, New York."

Ummm...can we skip this week from now on?

I started thinking about how many negative anniversaries happen this week and into next. Let's make a list (one that hopefully, my sister KB will appreciate).


-April 12, 1861: Fort Sumter fired upon which begins the American Civil War

-April 12, 1945: President Franklin D. Roosevelt dies

-April 13, 1970: Apollo 13 oxygen tank explodes

-April 14, 1912: RMS Titanic hits an iceberg

-April 14, 1865: President Abraham Lincoln is shot

-April 15, 1912: "Unsinkable” RMS Titanic sinks

-April 15, 1865: President Abraham Lincoln dies

-April 16, 2007: Massacre at Virginia Tech leaves 32 dead

-April 17, 1790: Benjamin Franklin dies

-April 18, 1906: The Great San Francisco Earthquake

-April 19, 1861: The first blood of the American Civil War is shed when a secessionist mob in Baltimore attacks Massachusetts troops bound for Washington, D.C.

-April 19, 1995: Truck bomb explodes in Oklahoma City

-April 20, 1999: A massacre at Columbine High School

-April 20, 2010: Gulf Oil Disaster begins and will not end until September 17, 2010

This is all horrible!! It just proves that April is probably the worst month ever. You know what else? I hate how much it's rained this month. At least in winter we have snow and not rain. Garr...

But, to make you feel a little better, here is one of the ONLY positive events that happened this week in History:

-April 17, 1970: Apollo 13 safely returns to the Earth

I leave you humming "Abraham, Martin and John" by Dion.

This blog post was brought to you by This Day in History.

September 14th, 2017

The above date is something I just figured out. It's the date that I'll finally pay off my student loan. These are the circumstances that will make or break that date:

Make the date:
1. If I continue to pay the same amount every month.
2. If my interest rate doesn't go up.
3. If I don't lose my job.
4. If I don't have children.

Break the date:
1. If I can't continue to pay the same amount every month.
2. If my interest rate goes up.
3. If I lose my job.
4. If I have children.
5. If I win the lottery. (In this case I'll pay it all off early.)
6. If the Zombie Apocalypse occurs. (In this case you should consider all student loans paid in full.)
7. If I marry a rich man who wants to pay off my student loan because he loves me.
8. If I die before I'm 31.

As you can see I have a lot of hope of  paying off my student loan on time.....

I don't know if doing the math on this one made or broke my spirit. Why do we have to pay for education? It doesn't make a lot of sense to me. Think about it, especially in college I did all the work. Most of my teachers didn't care so I taught myself. Not only did I have to pay for that education, I didn't get paid for teaching myself. Education should be free in this country! Why isn't that the "change" that every president talks about giving us? Garr...

I'm just in a bad mood because I had a fight with the printer this morning. Stupid thing. I wanted to kick it but it's the company's and not mine. I won anyway, I never doubted that I would. It's just annoying doing battle with an inanimate object that won't win.

I leave you humming David Bowie's "Changes."

I'm sure you're all wondering...

if I'm tired of the winter yet. The answer: No way.

I'm still wearing my awesome winter coat, my awesome winter sweaters and my awesome winter boots (I could really go on forever, but I won't bore you).

New York City just seems cleaner in the wintertime. Walking down the bare streets, breathing in the crisp cold air, it's something that can be so comforting, like a Diet Pepsi.

Mother Nature, I dare you to bring on your worst. I know the saying, "in like a lamb, out like a lion." Well, you came in like the sheepist lamb I've ever seen, so where's the lion? It that the best you've got? My sweet, 85 year old Grandpa is more of a lion than this winter.

I leave you humming "Hit Me With Your Best Shot."

Why I Love YouTube:

Reason 1: Dedicated to my roommies.



Reason 2: What led us to the video above.



I leave you humming whichever song you like better. I know...it's hard to pick.

Time Flies...

when you're extremely busy.

Because it's a new year and I'm going to be writing in my blog more here's what happened and what you might have missed in 2010:

1. The Earthquake in Haiti
2. AVATAR. The 3D movie, the IMAX 3D movie, the re-released IMAX 3D with additional footage, the DVD release and the Special Edition DVD with additional footage. My soul mate.
3. 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver where we saw many US triumphs and failures.
4. The President of Poland was among 96 people who perished in an airplane crash in Russia
5. The volcanic eruption of  Eyjafjallajökull disrupted airplane traffic and the opening of the show performing at the theater I used to work at. Imagine what we had to tell patrons; "Hi Mr. (Insert Name). This is (Insert Name) from the (Inset Name) Theater. Unfortunately, due to the volcanic eruption in Iceland we've had to cancel your scheduled performance."
6. THE OIL SPILL, which did not hinder the schedule at the New Victory, but took several months to plug up.
7. I went to Six Flags!!!!!
8. I started my new job. I'm loving it and doing it well. No more angry patrons yelling at me for something I have no control over.
9. In August, the World Health Organization declared that the H1N1 influenza pandemic was over.
10. I received my first ever bout of food poisoning, and 5 months later, I still can't eat Indian food.
11. Thirty-three miners in Chile were trapped 700 meters underground in a mining accident. After 69 days, they were all brought back to the surface alive.
12. My show Way to Heaven started back up again....and we're...still...doing it.....
13. My sister, Loo, moved to the Big Apple.
14. On November 23rd (Happy Birthday to me) North Korea shelled Yeonpyeong Island, prompting a military response by South Korea.
15. In celebration of the day of my birth, I went to a karaoke place and karaoked in front of people for the first time. (I'm no longer deathly afraid of it.)
16. No Zombie Apocalypse occurred.....this year.

I leave you humming "The Best is Yet to Come."

I know, I know....Don't get me Started

So here I am, once again. Coming to you live from New York City. It's been quite a while and I hope you've missed me. I know I've missed all of you. So much has happened since I last wrote. Let's do this quickly.

1. I interviewed for, accepted and started a new position. I am now an assistant to an Executive Vice President and a Vice President. One of the best things I've ever done for myself. My mental health is a thousand times better!

2. My show "Way to Heaven" is coming back at the Spanish Repertory Theater in October. We've already started rehearsals on it and it's going to be amazing. You don't have to come see it, because it's a little more expensive than last time.

3. I went home to visit my family and go to a reunion. I had a ton of fun and it was so nice and relaxing to get out of this city.

4. I got food poisoning for the first time in my life. I spent 12 hours lying on my bathroom floor and vomiting every 15 minutes. Thank you Elyse for waking up and sitting with me at 4 AM. After throwing up so violently for so long I threw something off in my inner ear and then vertigo set in. Thus 3 days off from work because of a place call the Copper Chimney on 28th Street between Park and Lexington Avenues. Please avoid this place at all cost. I won't be able to eat Indian for months.

5. I finally bought the DVD of Hello, Dolly!

So now you know of a few things that have happened to me.

I leave you humming "Put on Your Sunday Clothes" (From Hello, Dolly!)

An Interesting Take On It....

This little girl is totally awesome and super cute.



I love the way she says Obi-Wan's name. I just want her to come over to my apartment and give me a synopsis of every movie I own. She's such a smart and talented little one, I hope she's always this enthusiastic about Star Wars.

I leave you humming "Main Title" from Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope.

Talk about a "Great Adventure"

I went to Six Flags over New Jersey this week and it was a-mazing. I haven't been to a theme park since I was in high school. I've missed roller coasters, that's for sure.

IPJ invited me to go with him and another friend, so we bought a couple of bus tickets and headed on out to Great Adventure. We ended up staying there the entire day. It was a lot of fun being on a roller coaster again. I forgot how much I love the feeling of near death. I will admit, the first ride we went on scared the crap out of me. I screamed the whole ride. It wasn't even normal screaming it was me screaming things like "Oh my God!!!" and "I'm gonna die!!!!" But I'm still posting so clearly I didn't die.

Our favorite ride of the day was NITRO. It was pretty awesome and we rode it four times. Two of those times we rode in the front. The video that follows is the front car perspective of that ride:



I want to go again and I'm thinking my roller coaster addiction might have resumed. I'm also thinking that anyone who would willing subject themselves to a possible death by roller coaster is just crazy. I'd have to count myself in the bunch though.

Go to Six Flags (or if you're in Ohio, go to Cedar Point, because it beats Six Flags' coolness).

I leave you humming Patsy Cline's "Crazy."

Nice try World, but I see what you're trying to do.

I just read an article online about a product that came out awhile ago, but one that I had not seen until now.

These are called Sticky Sandals (also called Topless Sandals). There is nothing to hold them on but they're adhesive. You just stick them to your feet and supposedly they stay on. That has to be a disgusting feeling, to stick your shoes to your feet. I guess you don't have to worry about them losing their stick. Supposedly you can wash them with soap and water and they become sticky again.

What kind of material becomes sticky again after washing it with soap and water??!! It's unnatural, I tell you!

Also, one of their ad lines is; "No Tan Lines - No Blisters - No Gooey Glue - Leaving No Residue - Re-Useable!" No Gooey Glue??!! Come on, who's using any kind of glue to keep their shoes on? No one, and if they are, they're stupid. Check out the Tony Danza Show talking about Sticky Sandals:

I leave you humming "Stuck in the Middle (With You)."

I scream, you scream....blah, blah, blah

I had an interesting ice cream weekend.

On Saturday Beau, IPJ and I went to a place called Emack and Bolio's. It's an ice cream shop on Amsterdam Avenue between 78th & 79th. Not a bad location and cute, clean and small. It was a pretty warm day to begin with as we walked there from the 96th St. Subway stop. It was really windy and we held onto each other as we walked. This place serves ice cream made at the beginning of the week, so it tastes really fresh. I had a scoop of Vanilla Speck and one of Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough. It was nice to sit there eating ice cream and talking with my roommates. The only thing wrong was that Elyse couldn't be there. (Note: You might want to go on a warm day so you can eat your ice cream outside; there are only 3 chairs available inside at the window.)

Then yesterday I got that hankering to have ice cream again. My insatiable sweet tooth was nagging at me and I needed something to ease it. It called for ice cream. I decided to go to the grocery store and buy some. As I walked there I decided I would get some other things to....that....I needed. I get there and grab a basket. I walk through and randomly put items in the basket that I thought I should probably have, all the while muttering to myself as I go. "Yeah, I think I'll want to make an omelet sometime this week." In go the eggs and bacon. "I should probably have something other than water to drink at some point this week." In goes the apple juice. All this is because I don't want the only thing in my basket to be the ice cream my sweet tooth so craves.

I turn the corner to the frozen food aisle...and all of the freezers are off. That's right. At some point this weekend all of the freezers broke. The managers didn't clean them out, so beyond the "Do Not Open These Doors Under Any Circumstances. Thanks, The Management" signs the room temperature ice cream was laughing at me. I slowly made my way to the check-out counter and I'm forced to buy the items in my basket so it's not a wasted trip. Woe is me.

I leave you humming "Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen."