Airing My Dirty Laundry

Tupac Fer Sher!

I just got back from Duane Reade.  It didn't go well.

You see, this weekend, I was supposed to go to my 25 Year High School Reunion (yes, 25 years!), but because my show ran long (and I knew I would be cutting it close when I bought the ticket), I missed my train home.  The next train wouldn't get me there until the reunion was already 2/3 over, so I decided to bag it altogether.

Instead, I continued my cleaning craze!  My apartment, for as old and worn as it is, now looks like the show unit of the building!  Every room in the house has been scrubbed to within an inch of its life and all of the drawers and cubby holes and storage boxes/rubber maid tubs have been searched through and organized/cleaned out.  Out went two tall kitchen garbage bags full of shredded paper.  Out went my very first computer, which has been gathering dust since the dark ages.  Out went gobs and gobs of recyclables. And gobs and gobs of trash.

I did find a cassette tape I bought last March that was still in the wrapper in the bag with the receipt.  I remember buying it thinking it was a cassette tape and I wanted to record my choir rehearsal so I could work on the music on my own.  When I got to the rehearsal, however, I noticed it was a tape for a video camera and not a cassette tape!  Well, I went home and stuck it in my desk and forgot about it.

Until yesterday.  I don't have a video camera, so I knew I couldn't use it, so I decided to take it back to the Duane Reade where I bought it and get my $8.00 back (clue #1).  I traipsed across the street to the corner of 6th Avenue and 57th Street and entered the store.  One register was empty and, proud of myself for still having the receipt and for taking the initiative to return it and not just waste the money, I ambled, head held high, to the open cashier and said, "I'd like to return this, please.  It's not what I needed."

No problem.

Until she scanned it and it came up "NO PRICE." (Clue #2)  She said,

"This is coming up 'NO PRICE'" and I said,

"Well I can see that, but you have the receipt right in front of you."

She said,

"it's coming up 'NO PRICE'" and turns the monitor so that I can see it (it's one of those cash registers that has a display on both sides, so I could see exactly what she had seen, but she felt the need to turn it so that I could see her side.)

I said,

"Yes, it's coming up the same way on my side, but you have the receipt right in front of you."

"But it's coming up 'NO PRICE,'" she said.

"Uh, yeah, you've already said that.  But I have the receipt, which I've given to you, which clearly shows how much I paid for it.  In cash."

Finally, after two more "It's coming up 'NO PRICE'" answers from the clerk (it may be the only English she knows), the manager intervened.  Now this had not been in any way a heated discussion between the clerk and I, but we both, I think, were beginning to get a little frustrated.

I say to the manager, "All I want to do is return this and get my money back.  It's coming up 'NO PRICE' but I have a receipt."  It seemed quite simple to me!

The manager picked up my receipt and, after a moment, said,

"Sir, this was a two-pack purchase."

PAUSE.

"Never mind" and I left the store.

Okay, so I looked at the receipt yesterday and REMEMBER having two of these cassettes and wondered "Why is there only one reflected on this receipt?  I guess they only charged me for one the first time!  Score!!!!"

Not so much.

I remember now going to choir rehearsal the night I purchased these tapes, unwrapping one of them and realizing my mistake.  The seven months since that night had dimmed my memory, it seems.

Oh, the Drama! (Or, Why I've Been Missing In Action)

My show opens tonight.  Our lead actress has to have her appendix out on Thursday, so she's dropped out!  We've replaced her, but our replacement's first rehearsal was Sunday!  Dress rehearsal was last night and our new addition was very funny, but very lost at times!  I'm nervous!  I have to admit, I'm so disappointed, because the actress who was playing the role is hysterical!  However, her replacement is also very, very funny (in fact, hysterical in her own right)!  I'm just a little nervous about her line memorization. . . .

I'm cat sitting for my friend, Jason.  I've sitted for his cat before, but this time the cat (her name is "Mama Love") is living in my apartment, as opposed to me just dropping in at his apartment to make sure she's fed and watered.  She's one of the most docile, attentive cats I've ever seen.  She's so sweet and I'm afraid I won't want to give her back when Jason returns.  I'm slightly allergic to cats, but have had no problem with Mama Love.  I figured that my apartment would probably be big enough for there to be little problem.  She sleeps at my feet every night and when the alarm goes off in the morning, she immediately jumps up and starts licking my face and/or grooming me.  I've actually been on time to work since she's been my roommate!

I've been coordinating several things for this theatre company.  One is getting company members to work the box office.  I'm trying to be good dentist, though, and not hurt them too much as I'm pulling their teeth.  I'm also getting the industry packets together and so far, I've got five people's head shots and resumes and of a cast of 45!  Of course, there are three series to this festival and the other two don't open until Wednesday and Thursday, so there's still time.

I've cleaned the STY I've been living in!  Now, when I'm found dead in my apartment, the headline won't read "Man Dies in Squalor!"  Whew!  I went all out, too.  I dusted all the furniture, books on the bookshelves (many, many books), pictures on the walls, the ceiling fan, and replaced any missing light bulbs.  it took the entire weekend, but it's done and it looks fabulous!  I still have to do my own bedroom, but that can wait until next week some time.  The rest of the place looks awesome, though.

Today's horoscope (I read Taurus, Aquarius, and Virgo, since I'm a Taurus with Aquarius rising, my moon is in Virgo):

TAURUS

Tuesday, October 16, 2007  (Tomorrow)

Your timing is impeccable and trusting your hunches puts you in the right place at the right time. Your location is critical today, but what is more important than travel is having the common sense to let someone tell you how perfect you are. AQUARIUS Tuesday, October 16, 2007  (Tomorrow) Artistic inspiration comes out of nowhere today. You will have a sixth sense about what pleases people and what they do not need to know about. Secrets are safe, unless you can use the sharing of them to your advantage. VIRGO Tuesday, October 16, 2007  (Tomorrow) Romance is in the air; a flirtation or two could be the signal that love is around the corner. You can count on looking quite good to the exact people you hope to attract. Soulmate energy is weak, passionate attraction is intense. NOT A BAD HOROSCOPE FOR AN OPENING NIGHT, HUH??

The Best Talent EVER!!!

My new hero!  It's not just the talent, it's the outfit and the hair, too!  I've been searching online to find out when and in which state this girl competed, but haven't had any luck yet.  The video was posted to YouTube at the end of July of this year, but that really doesn't confirm its age!

Love your hair!  Hope win!  (Big thanks to Southern Boy for posting this!)

Island Music

The screeching breaks of the 1 Train bruise my ears as it enters 110th Street Cathedral Station.  It's official.  I'm back from the serenity of Cabin Mountain, Tucker County, WV.  While it's nice to see full sets of teeth, I didn't really miss the hustle bustle of the morning commute.

Who am I kidding?  I haven't seen a full set of teeth during the morning commute ever.  Who smiles that early?  Certainly nobody on the Upper West Side, that's for sure!  The station was very crowded when I entered this morning, which is never a good sign -- especially since there was a train departing the station as I entered.  That train appeared to be packed.  Luckily, I was able to get onto the next train that came in, so the morning commute wasn't too bad.  I even got a seat as a 2 express train was entering 96th Street the same time the 1 train I was riding entered.

The great thing about being back is that the weather seemed to follow me back!  This morning was beautiful, my favorite type of fall weather.  Hurray for cooler days!

The drive back was almost two hours longer than expected, as we ran into terrible traffic in Pennsylvania where construction had east-bound Interstate 78 traffic down to one lane!  We sat at a dead stop for nearly an hour!  I returned to island at 8 PM last night and was home, after returning the rental car and settling up for everything, by 8:30 PM. 

I'm really tired today!  Can you get jet lag from a seven-and-a-half-hour car trip within the same time zone??

Good Sleeping Weather!

When I was growing up, any time it was cold and a blanket needed to be added to your bed, my mama called it "good sleeping weather."  Every night here on Cabin Mountain in Tucker County, West Virginia has featured "good sleeping weather."  A cool breeze blowing on the mountain and a slight chill in the inside of the house in the evenings have been the constants.

Last night was "good sleeping weather."  But I didn't really sleep well.  It took me a while to get to sleep.  Once I fell asleep, I slept well, but still awoke earlier than usual.  I was up and making coffee by 8:45 AM, a good 45 minutes earlier than my previous earliest morning.

You see, I love roughing it out in the wilderness -- especially when roughing it in a luxury home built about ten years ago that includes three bedrooms with a full bathroom attached to each.  There are actually four bedrooms, but one doesn't have it's own bath.  It's like the maid's quarters if they had a maid.  No frills.  The rooms include very comfortable, expensive mattresses. (I'm sleeping in a Queen.  Shut up.)  Fluffy towels hang in each bathroom with fluffy bath rugs on the floor.  In fact, the house is huge and modern, which makes the sudden appearance of mice a bit surprising.

Last night, as I retired to my queen, I saw something out of the corner of my eye.  I was probably just seeing things, I thought.  And then, a mouse clearly darted from under the bed to under the dresser and then along the wall to the bedroom door.  But he couldn't get out.  I had closed the door and the space under the door was too small for the critter to maneuver.  He paced from one end of the door and back.  And then he peered at me peering at him.  Then he ran directly into the bathroom, which is opposite the door out of the room.  Then he darted back to the bedroom door and paced back and forth as if to say, "I know this is the way I came in, damn it!"  He stared at me again, as if to say, "Did you hear me??  This is the way I came in and I want out!!"  Then he darted back into the bathroom.  This is when I got up from the bed and opened the bedroom door.  The little critter darted out of the bathroom and out of the bedroom door.  I shut the door and thought, "Whew!  Maybe I won't dream he's crawling up the side of the bed now, since I actually saw him leave the room."

Then I pulled back the covers of the luxury queen and a small cricket jumped out and onto the wall!  Great.  Just what I need.  Crickets are harmless and I won't kill them, but I don't want to sleep with them either.  I knocked him to the floor and lay down to finish the book I've been reading this week.  It's a book about the history of the area.  I only had a few pages left.

But my skin was crawling now.  And I kept hearing mice foot prints and knocking on the door.  Yes, West Virginia mice knock.  Apparently.

Mountain Mama

I'm a morning person.  I'm that guy that most of you hate.  I wake up early even on vacation.  And I'm cheerful, perky, and happy to be alive to face another day!  Of course, early for me on vacation has been 10:30 AM while Tony, my friend whose house we're visiting for the week (well, his parents' house while his dad is in Mexico), sleeps until 2 or 3 PM.  Last night, because I didn't take a nap yesterday, I went to bed at midnight.  I read a little before dozing off, but not much. 

So this morning I arose at 9:30 AM after lying awake and reading a bit of the history of the area, put on a pot of coffee (I'm on cup three now) and went out on the deck to feel and breathe the cool, fresh mountain air!  John Denver was right.  It is "almost heaven."

I'm trying to decide how I'll work out today.  Yesterday morning, I hiked up to the summit of the mountain.  We're really high on Cabin Mountain, so the hike to the summit is literally about 20 minutes, if that.  However, it's 20 minutes of a fairly steep, uphill climb.  So, it's definitely a work out and I was doing it just for that, so I pushed myself hard.  From the summit, you can turn 360 degrees and take in the beauty down in the valley (valley so lo ow. . .).  It's stunning. 

I may do that again this morning, but it's a little overcast and I'm not sure I'll get the view I had yesterday.  It is a good workout, though.

I am such a city boy!  I was scared the whole way up to the summit yesterday that I was going to stumble onto a black bear who would see my fat ass as a juicy snack.  And the high altitude had me so winded, I'd have probably had to just accept that fate!  Thankfully, that didn't happen, but it is going through my mind as I try to decide whether to do it again this morning.  I've yet to see a bear (and I've been here three or four times now), but there are pictures here of bears and their cubs in the yard and even on the deck in back of the house.  I don't want to be sitting out there when the next one arrives, or the world will truly be my bathroom. . . .

Ah Wilderness!

I'm on vacay!

On a mountain in West Virginia!  Roughing it.

In a four-bedroom luxury home on the side of the mountain with a HUGE flat-screen TV and deer at the salt lick, which I appreciatively spy through the large plate glass window.

The view of the Canaan Valley (here it's pronounced Can ANE like "inane") from the windows is spectacular.  It's very cool up here, too.  Perhaps when I return I can post pictures.

I don't really miss Manhattan, but I'm sure I'll be happy to get back.  I start rehearsals for my next show, I believe, on Tuesday next week, but the schedule hasn't been set yet.  The director is on his honeymoon and doesn't return to the city until Monday.

I'll be back Sunday night!

With a new attitude!

Thank God for the (Almost) Year In Between!

Last Tuesday was fupafighter's birthday!  We had a nice dinner, just the nine of us, at Carne at 105th & B'way.  Cutie Diego was at the bar, but with nine people, the bar is out.  I got there earlier than the others, so I was able to have a drink at the bar and gaze at him for a bit.  Then the birthday bitch and others arrived.  Drinks were had.  Fun was had.  Food was had.  The big wooden table in the center of the restaurant was had.  Finally.  Twatpuncher and I both gave the same Ellen birthday card to fupafighter, who is a huge Ellen D. fan.  She's more like Ellen and not like Rosie!  We started at 7:30 (I at 7:00) and went until 11 PM, because it was a "school night."

Fupafighter's real birthday celebration was at Back Room Bar on Saturday night.  It started at 10 PM.  I stopped here on my way to the lower east side to pick up the Red Velvet birthday cupcakes.  Three dozen.  They were yummy.  I had three.  Too many.  Drinks (lots) were had.  Fun was had.  Cupcakes were had.  Breakfast was had.  Taxi was had.  Got home at 5:30 AM.  Slept on the sofa. 

Sunday recovery and laundry.  Headache was had.  Alleve was had.  Headache no longer was had.  Clean clothes were had.

Another year (almost) before fupafighter birthday celbratory week.  Whew!

Advice on the REUNION?

Okay, folks, I'm stewing about something and I need your advice!  My high school reunion is coming up in October of this year.  I won't bother to tell you which one, except to say that I've already bought a ticket for this one.  I've never been to any of my high school reunions so far and I'm still not sure I'm going to this one or want to go to this one.  (Yes, there have been more than one!)  High school, while I was popular to an extent, doesn't bring back too many fond memories and the happy ones are about people who were younger than me and who I won't be seeing at this reunion!

Here's what I'm stewing about:  our reunion organizer send out a "monthly newsletter" in which she gives the latest update on reunion news, deaths of classmates, etc.  No problem, right?  HOWEVER, she also has to put her own little spin on things and her politics are politics I STRONGLY disagree with.  In fact, every time I read her "newsletter" I get really angry and want to rebut, but decide against it. 

Well, I got another "newsletter" today and I really, really want to respond.  Aside from how poorly written these things are, please give me your advice on how to respond to this Bible-thumping, ultra-consertative idiot!  I respect her religious beliefs and her right to be a Republican, but for the most part, she's EVERYTHING I dislike about Republican politics. 

The below tidbits are taken from "newsletters" over the past year:

SOAP BOX

GOD BLESS

AMERICA

AND

MARYLAND

! WE NEED ALL THE HELP WE CAN GET NOW THAT THE DEMOCRATS ARE BACK IN POWER FOR AT LEAST TWO YEARS!   Yes I was depressed after the elections but I listened to a talk that Kenneth Copeland gave the Friday night I was at the KCM Victory Campaign, so now instead of cussing at that woman (Nancy Pelosi) on tv and the rest of her cohorts, I simply pray for them and this country, that God's will be on their lives (it's a whole lot more fun than cussing at them, and it works a lot better!)

REPUBLICANS HAVE NO RIGHTS       

Ok I have yet to learn my lesson (see letters to the editor). My mom lives on the corner of Wellham And Vista in Ferndale, my house sits behind her's, well we allow the Republicans to put the BIG election signs in the yard, because we sit right before the voting area and it is good coverage. Well when Bush ran for re-election we had the sign in the yard. We were always putting it back up because people would knock it down, well finally one night the sign was stolen, never to be found. Well this election year we had signs galore up, we had only one problem until after the election. Thanksgiving night someone put a threatening note in my elderly, widowed mother's mail box (which is a federal offense!) The note in BIG black marker letters said "IT'S OVER. YOUR GUYS LOST. TAKE THE SIGNS DOWN NOW!" I have the note still.  It took a real BIG person to harass an old woman!! My husband took the signs down the other day, not because of the note but for the safety of my mom. If it was up to me the signs would have stayed there until the state forced me to take them down.  But I would like to meet this person and see if he would like people to treat his mother the way he treated mine! And p.s. wait for the next election. I wonder how many signs will fit in BOTH yards!!!!!!

TROOP BASHING (the new liberal sport)

As most of you probably know by now that I bleed red, white, and blue and know how much I love my country and how strong my opinions are whether you like them or not. Well the article written by Bill Arlin for the

washington

Post website is getting banged around in the news(Feb), at least the news I watch (FOX). Well I have been doing some looking of my own, well to be short, sweet and to the point, this guy is an ASS. But to be articulate and civil about it I will go a little further. I do not agree with what he says and won't go into how much of a treasonous coward he is, but I do agree with something he said at the end of his blog. "

America

needs to ponder what it is we really owe those in uniform." Yes I agree that americans (ALL) need to stop and really ponder what you owe our troops, all of our troops! So I pondered and here is my tic list: I speak and read english not German or Japanese or Arabic, I am not under the Queen's rule, I have rights equal to men, I vote FREELY vote, I live in a country not a colony, I have an education, I can write things like this newsletter and not have to worry about the gov't grabbing me at night (just you guys lol), I can worship freely (of course being Indian I truly didn't have this freedom until 1978 when The American Indian Religious Freedom Act was passed),I can gather with my classmates without getting a permit from the gov't. So those are only a few of my ponderings, I would like to know what you owe our troops, remember they have giving up everything for you whether you are grateful or a coward, I mean not. My dad did 4 tours of

Nam

, I spent a lot of time as a young child around military people, I formed my opinions by talking to these vets, they were my muse, and they took the time to talk to me and listen and explain, I also am a lifetime member of the V.F.W. Aux. Home post #160. These were the people who made me PROUD to be an American.

EVERYONE AND HIS DOG IS RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT

While I was finishing up a study on the Gospel of Luke yet another person (18 last count)was throwing his hat into the 2 years of hades called the Presidential election. Well it happened to be Edwards. Well wouldn't you know that a bleeding heart liberal would announce his run in of all places

New Orleans

! While he was making the announcement I was reading the following in my study book: "Jesus said that worldly leaders like to exercise power over people while at the same time boasting that they are caring for the intrests of the common man. In contrast, godly leaders are to truly serve. Their actions prove the purity of their motives. Today we see political leaders who claim to keep the needs of the poor highest on their agendas. But for true service to the homeless and the victims of abuse and tragedy, look to the men and women who give of themselves without ever asking for titles,huge salaries and benefit packages, or even recognition. In God's sight faithful service in a humble place is the mark of true greatness." I am applying this test to all who are running and see who deserves my vote. We need to realize that the government is not our source or our problem solver, it is God ALONE! God is our provider not Uncle Sam. So when we say the government has failed the poor or the abused, shouldn't we point some fingers at ourselves for our failure to reach out and help those in need? Because God provides each one of us with the ways and means to help those less fortunate then ourselves! P.S. are we in an ice age or are we in global warning (someone get Gore on the line).

FOR YOUR INFORMATION

I just want to let everyone know that I do not have anything against people who are registered democrat, a lot of people I know are registered, my mom is still a democrat (until she changes her affiliation, and her paperwork is in the mail) I do not like the Democratic Party stand on things dealing with anything, so it is nothing personal. I am a lifetime member of the VFW Ladies Aux, I have been raised around military people,I was raised to respect my flag and country in more ways then some due to my heritage of being Native American and it is a strong heritage (http://www.taskforceomegainc.org/a020.htm this site has some family history the man shown is my mom's cousin who was the first Navajo/spanish american to graduate from the Air Force Academy), I was taught to respect our troops because it is their blood that guarantees my freedom and that of my child's. I feel that the best way to keep this country free and safe is to have a government that will protect itself and stand tall to all threats, that there is nothing wrong with religion and that I truly understand that religion does have a place in the government and that marriage is between a man and a woman and I feel that is sacred, I feel that if we treated everybody like Christians should, and not only as Christians should, but as all people should treat others with respect and decency this would not be a problem. I do not want to shove religion down anyone's throat that is not what we are called to do, we are to treat others with the same love and respect in which Jesus treated others. We are to show the love of Jesus and that light draws people out of the darkness into the light, like moths to a flame. Remember God calls us all to Love our neighbors!

Highlights of an Artistic Weekend Drunk

It wasn't supposed to be this way.  It all started out so innocently with the Crazy Cuban and I seeing the French film, Moliere, together.

See this film!  It's wonderful!  And it boasts the performance of Fabrice Luchini as Monsieur Jordain, one of the finest performances I have ever seen!!  I realized after and perhaps even during the film that I was (or had) witnessed the performance that I wanted to give!  It was that inspirational!  It's very "Shakespeare in Love"  only in French.

As I left the theatre, I received a voice mail from Twatpuncher that she, fupafighter, Clementine, and others would be meeting for drinks at 10 at the Parlour.  I invited the Crazy Cuban, but she had a longish New Jersey Transit train trip ahead of her to reach her home in the 'burbs.  So I set off on foot to trek the 20+ blocks to meet them.  On my way, I was contemplating what I had just seen and then, out of the blue, it happened.

I burst into tears!  Now, I don't mean that I fell into uncontrollable, heaving, keening sobs.  No, I just was overcome with emotion over what I had just seen and tears began falling down my face.  I wiped as they fell.  I didn't bring attention to myself at all.  I was just so inspired and moved by Mr. Luchini that I realized that is the performance I want to give:  funny, but heartbreaking at the same time!

At the Parlour, I proceeded to "catch up" even though the others were probably still on their first drink.  I had a blast, though, and apparently became a bit repetitive and perhaps overzealous in my proclamations of Twatpuncher's beauty.  Even so, I meant every word of it!  The whole night was a blast and I happily remember nearly all of it!  This is a real relief as I was approached by a little Irish lass in the bar who proclaimed how fun we had all been the last time we were there.  I had and have no recollection of meeting her at all!  I remember walking there with our group and I remember leaving there with Twatpuncher, but nothing in between!  Scary, huh?

On Saturday, I awoke with a bit of a queasy stomach, so I lay on the sofa all day long and watched television.  I did that until I had to jump in the shower and meet the Money Man at 89th & Riverside where we saw the Hudson Warehouse's outdoor production of "the Scottish play."  It was a short 1 hour and 40 minute production!  Gotta love the cutting of Shakespeare!

After the show, Money Man and I set off on foot to City Grill for dinner and drinks.  I love the espresso martinis at City Grill!  And their food is really good, too!  It's worth a trip for their Hawaiian Chicken Salad, or their Spinach Artichoke Dip, or their Mexican Chicken Salad (which I had this time).  Money Man and I talked about his terrorist father who was detained on his way to Kenya and India for sticking an alarm clock in his shoe in his carry on luggage.  He's now on a "watch list."  My favorite part of that story is when the airport security told him not to do that again, but couldn't discuss what it was he had done!  Then we discussed the white-trashiness of some of my family.  I've decided I have to blog about some of those things, as they're too off the wall for anybody to make up and yet unbelievable (but all true). I was home relatively early, though, so no duplication of the previous night's inebriation!

Yesterday found me once again lying around on the sofa and watching movies.  First I watched "The History Boys" and that was okay, but I was a sobbing mess through most of the rest of the day, because I was watching "Billy Elliot" and that movie simply reduces me to sobs.  And I'm a serious glutton, as I rewind to watch scenes again!!

Then I went to the gym with Money Man to take my favorite total body conditioning class.  Anybody in the NYC vicinity who is a member of New York Sports Club should take this class at 5 PM on Sundays at 7th Avenue & 10th Street.  It's taught by a guy named Arnold who will KICK YOUR ASS!  I was plum tuckered after ten minutes and my legs are nearly useless today.  I have to heave myself up out of my chair to move at all!  I usually stay for the step class directly afterwards, but yesterday I couldn't.

I was offered a free ticket to last night's performance of Deuce with Angela Lansbury and Marian Seldes.  I wasn't going to pass up that opportunity!  So, I hopped in the shower at the gym and then high-tailed it to the Music Box Theatre.  Well, it's certainly not my favorite play, but these two ladies are absolutely charming and have impeccable timing!  They were definitely worth seeing, even though I really disliked every one else in the show.  I didn't get the structure.  I didn't get the casting (other than the aforementioned stars).  I didn't get the point.  But I did get a thrill!