Airing My Dirty Laundry

The Mama of All Love

I'm babysitting my friend's cat while he's away on business.  He's picking her up in two days when he returns to NYC.  I might have to hide her and say she got away.

I spent all day Saturday cleaning my apartment and this is Mama Love's reaction to a spotless apartment.  As I was resting on the sofa after the whole ordeal, she climbed up onto my lap and promptly went to sleep.

I'm not giving her back!  You can't make me!!

 

We're Back!

I'm still getting "Errors on the Page" notices, but it seems that Typepad is at least going to publish the entries I post now!

Ireland was amazing and I came back with a tan. I got a tan IN IRELAND!  I was told that it rained almost the entire time that I was away.  I got out of NYC just in time, apparently!  The weather in Ireland was unbelievable!  I prefer temperatures in the mid 60s to low 70s and the whole time, the temperature hovered between 65 and 70 with bright sun!  It only rained one night and the rain didn't begin until 11 PM and had cleared up before morning.  I had walked home from the Dragon, the Host Bar, of the festival that night and would have been fairly wet, instead of the soaked nature in which I finally returned home.  In my drunkenness, I decided I had to have a late-night snack (of course) and stopped in, what we in NYC would call a bodega, a corner shop for a sandwich.  Upon purchasing my sandwich, I must have left by the wrong door and ended up walking about a half hour along the wrong street!  I ended up hopping in a taxi, which cost me 5 Euros and took two minutes!

I may post some Ireland photos in another entry, if Typepad allows me to post entries!

Something's Not Right

I've been trying to post for days and nothing is working.  I've deleted the entries I had written and posted, but didn't show up and this is just a test.

Off to the Emerald Isle!

So, I'm packed and leaving for Newark International Airport in an hour or so for my trip to Dublin, Ireland!  I'm going with Emerging Artists Theatre and their premiere at the Dublin International Gay Theatre Festival.  I'm not acting in any of the shows, but since so many of my friends are going, I thought I'd tag along!

I have no definite plans, but I am going to do my best to take some day trips out of the city.  I may even try to get to Belfast, Northern Ireland while I'm there.  It's tough, because I also want to see as much theatre while I'm there as I can, not only at the festival, but some Irish professional theatre, too, like the Abbey Theatre.  I'm going to try to blog while I'm there, but I wouldn't bet on it!

I'll definitely fill you all in on the 20th upon my return!  This is going to cost me so much money that I'll probably not be able to afford anything but blogging when I get back!

We Appreciate You!

I recommend people.  If I really like a doctor, I recommend them to coworkers, friends, and acquaintances.  If I really like a restaurant, bar, etc., I recommend it to others.

I recommended my dentist to several people in my office and to one of my friends.  A few months ago, I received a letter from my dentist's office, which read "Thank you for recommending Blondie McBlonderson to our practice.  To show our appreciation, please enjoy the enclosed Starbucks Gift Card."

I thought that was really very nice, because it was the first time this had ever happened to me!  The card was worth $10 and I got a cup of coffee and when I went in to redeem the remaining gift amount, they allowed me to suck on the leftover grounds from someone else's order.  It's a win-win!

So, recently I recommended my dermatologist to two women I work with.  Last night when I returned home from my show, I found a letter awaiting me in my mailbox from my dermatologist's office.

"Dear Mr. LaunderLust,

Thank you for recommending Nataliya McRussianova to our practice.  Enclosed you will find a token of our appreciation."

"Ooh, another Starbucks card!" I thought.  When I looked at the token of their appreciation, I found a card.  On it?

"Good for $25 off your first Botox injection!"

Thanks, but I really like being expressive.  It's up for grabs.  Anyone?

Trying Not to Burn Bridges

A conundrum.

I have a friend who is late to everything!  EVERYTHING!  He invited a good number of people to get together this weekend and was nearly an hour and a half late to that.  People were there, waiting.  Several left out of frustration; others hung out just long enough for them to get there before they left, as well.  Whenever we have made plans together, I always end up waiting, I would say, at least a half hour before his arrival.  Sometimes, there's an apology.  Always, there's an excuse.  Or excuses.  He has never been on time for anything we've done together.  We've missed shows for which we had tickets.  We've lost reservations at restaurants, etc.

So, today, when he volunteered for something that requires punctuality; in fact, in some ways it relies on punctuality, he was offended when I balked at the idea because of his habitual tardiness.  And he said he was surprised at my hesitation.

Come on!  I apologized in order to avoid any escalation, but I also told him from where it stemmed.  He agreed, but made excuses for each occurrence I cited.  As usual.

Now, the Crazy Cuban would say, and I would definitely agree with her, that this is just something I need to accept when dealing with this person.  But where do I draw the line?  Should I have accepted his offer to take on the task I needed him to and just hope he'd show up with some semblance of punctuality without saying anything about previous experiences?

When we make plans to do things together, which is rare now, because we're both so busy, I always show up late, because I know he will.  And I'm still always there first.  I love his company; we always have a great time together and I have accepted, not without some frustration obviously, that he will not be on time.  But should I risk the reputation of an organization to which I've made a commitment on the basis that he's my friend?

Back in the Saddle Again

I'm back.  A little.  I have to admit that I've lost a little bit of my excitement over having a blog, but I figure it can't hurt to write a little bit, huh?

So, my show's over and it went very well!  I was happy with my work, for the most part.  There were a few performances where I felt slightly off my game, but I'm also my worst critics.  One of those performances was one where nine of my work colleagues came to the show!  They happened to be a part of our quietest audience, which always makes it hard to gage how their receiving the play.  Afterward, however, my colleagues and several friends who came to the show that night (and who I trust to tell me the truth), raved about the play and me.  That's always nice.

Tomorrow, I have six auditions beginning at 10 AM.  Yes, you read that right:  10.  AM.  On a Saturday!  Ugh!  I'm prepared, however, and will try to get home sober at a decent hour tonight and get a good night's rest.  I need to redeem myself since I had an audition at 10 AM last Sunday after closing Suite with Clem and his new cutie boif, CH, and Money Man the night before.  DRUNK!  I made it to the audition on time, but my voice sounded lower and more gravelly than Trace on Celebrity Apprentice!  I still read really well, I thought, but I wasn't entirely on my game.  Tomorrow will be different!

I have to admit, though, that Saturday night with the friends I hadn't really seen in months, because of the show, was an absolute blast.  We started with dinner and drinks (Makers Mark Manhattans on the rocks!) at the Parlour on the Upper West Side and then made our way up to Suite afterward.  Much fun was remembered by all (each of us remembering different pieces of course).

We continued on Sunday after my audition with brunch at Toast, which lasted five hours!  We commandeered a table for the six of us and stayed there through the dinner rush.  At one point, I counted 10 people waiting to be seated.  Poor things were standing there while we were enjoying our drinks.  We tipped very well, though, so the wait staff should have nothing to complain about!

What's up for this weekend?  I actually booked a student film for this weekend (I would be shooting either Saturday or Sunday).  The problem?  I haven't heard one peep out of the film maker since he offered me the role.  I called him a little while ago and left a message.  I guess the shoot is off.  What will I do instead?  I feel like bowling. . . .

Claymont by Kevin Brofsky Opens Off-Broadway Tomorrow

This is an absolutely beautiful, funny, and in many ways, heart-wrenching script!  The cast is terrific!  (If I do say so myself!)  This is among my proudest accomplishments and I'd love for you all to come see it!  Use the discount code "postcard" for $10 off admission!  Go to www.eatheatre.org to purchase tickets before February 15.  (No discounts available after February 15 except for groups of 8+ or 15+.)

Take care of Mother Earth!

Download greenpeace.wmv

Mark Your Calendars!!

I expect you all to attend!  This is the choir with which I sing.  This, I believe, is going to be a great concert, so please make an effort to be there!  We'll do drinks afterwards at The Parlour!  For more information, reservation, tickets, please click here.  Also, you can purchase tickets directly from me, too!  Click on the picture for all of the particulars.  We're singing with Broadway star Barbara Walsh (from Company!)