Back at the Edison - yet again

Another Saturday. Another big fat full day of theater. I'm  still working at the Longacre. The show is still good and I continue to enjoy La Cage Aux Folles the more I watch it.

My break was sort of exciting for actor spotting. When I walked into the Edison Cafe, the first person I saw was someone who was originally in 39 Steps, but isn't in the show anymore and wouldn't you know it? I have no idea at all what his name is. I can only describe him as good looking with a rubbery face that he uses to make people laugh really hard.

At another table were sitting two cast members from The Addams Family, Jackie Hoffman, who plays Grandma and Kevin Chamberlain who plays Uncle Fester. Both are tremendous performers and sadly in the case of Kevin Chamberlain - very true. I can't believe how heavy he has gotten. He was never a svelte performer but he has really gotten too big to be considered healthy.  Jackie Hoffman, in my humble opinion, gives the best performance in the Addams Family. Somehow, she manages to get laughs with the most ridiculous bits of dialogue. But then again she's an amazing, amazing perform. She also knows how to contort her face into a million hilarious but never unflattering positions.

She was funny in Hairspray, funnier in Xanadu and now the funniest performer at the Lunt-Fontanne Theater.

You get the idea,

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to pull that many shifts for next week - just one to be exact - so my big work rush seems finished for now. I've been pretty lucky the last few weeks. I plan on going to the various theater chains and applying for work as an usher. The work schedule would be similar but there would be more work simply because there are more usher positions per theater other than stagehand positions.

Carrie Pilby

Congratulations on the re-release of Carrie Pilby as a Harlequin Teen Romance. I am very proud of the author and hope she has much success!!!

A New Play, A New Book

It's Wednesday, early evening, and I am resuming my blogging duties in the lobby of the Edison Hotel. "Good Morning" from Singing in the Rain is playing over the loudspeaker. Now that I'm listening to the song a little more closely, I think it is Judy Garland's version from some movie she was in with Mickey Rooney. There are two adorable old ladies sitting on the couch across from me. They have generic mid-western accents and they are discussing something intimately, but I can't quite make out what they are discussing.

I just had a beautiful lunch next door at the Edison Cafe, cheeseburger with fries to be exact. I used my tip money from last night to pay for it.

This week I am working at La Cage Aux Folles at the Longacre Theater. The show is entertaining but long. So long, in fact, that I was able to read Around The World In 80 Days in its entirety in the time the cast performed two different shows. This is the second book I've read by Jules Verne, the first being Journey to the Center of the Earth. Jules Verne was the best travel writer ever.  I honestly believed that in order to write these books, Verne travelled to Iceland or made a trip around the world in 80 days.  Jon and I went to Iceland because of Verne's writing. I was totally obsessed with seeing Iceland for myself.

Now, you can be rest assured, I would like to take a world tour. I don't think Jon and I will be buying elephants anytime soon but I think a trip around the world is achievable. In the book, the trip cost Phileas Fogg 20,000 pounds. We could definitely do the trip for less. And in a shorter amount of time. We could start in England and make our way through India, China and Japan. But I would want to linger a bit in the South Pacific.

Anyway, the next book I would like to read by Verne is From The Earth to The Moon.

About two weeks ago, I read three other classic works. Frankenstein, The Invisible Man and The Time Machine.

I have a friend who actually had the discipline to read a book a week for at least a year. I'm not sure if she's still doing it, but I find that really admirable. When I read, I read obsessively for a small amount of time and then I don't read again for a while. I have to pace myself, otherwise I'm not able to retain what I've read.

So that's what's up with me with regard to what I'm reading and where I'm working this week.

Other places

So. I've discovered various places where you can latch on to the internet. Right now I'm sitting in the lobby of the Edison Hotel. Whenever I run out of places to go or things to do between shows on Saturdays, I reliably run to the Edison Hotel. It was going smoothly up until 3 seconds ago when an enormous Scottish man sat next to me on my comfy couch. When he sat down, his whole body created a big pull and now I am sitting at a slight angle. Of course, now that there is an open couch his wife and he are absolutely not moving. .  .

so I moved. I guess they prefer to sit across from each other. I can understand that. It is easier to have a conversation that way. Carmen Miranda is playing over the sound system. People are quietly or not so quietly discussing their vacation adventures. The lobby is surrounded by great faux art deco murals.

Another place I discovered you can pick up an internet signal is the lobby of the Sheraton Hotel, by the bar.

The Edison is great for me because it's across the street from In The Heights, which is where I am working today.

Me and My Netbook

I bought myself a netbook in May. The idea behind buying it - motivating myself to write. Did it work? At first it did, but then I started to get distracted by the Internet. In almost every place I take my netbook, I have found a way to connect to the Internet.

But now, at this moment, I am blogging in a public place (that isn't the Internet cafe) for the only the second time since Thursday night.

Still exciting. The idea that I can access the Internet someplace like McDonald's. The only drawback? Other people. There is a Russian family sittting at the table next to me. They are speaking in only Russian and I don't know if you've ever hear Russian. It's just a cool sounding language. If they were speaking anything other than Russian I would probably be annoyed.

I brought the netbook with me on our trip to Turkey in May. Jon and I went to Istanbul and Goreme. And you know, I completely forgot I have a blog. It never once occurred to me write about our trip the entire time we were there. We had a good time there. Istanbul was pretty amazing. I posted some of the pictures to my Facebook page but I really should take the time to post them on Flickr.

I also brought the netbook on our trip to Lake George and Cortland. Perhaps if I had blogged about our trip to the Corning Glass museum, I wouldn't have accidentally erased every single photo from that trip. Has that ever happened to you? After we got home from that trip, we went to the beach where my mother took several extremely unflattering photos. I went to erase them and instead of erasing one at a time, I selected the ERASE ALL option.

I regret losing the photos from the Corning museum. Some of the art was very inspiring and I am determined now to find a glass making class. Surely, in all of New York City, I will be able to find one.

Just Another Day

This entry is being written for the purpose of keeping me true to my word. I don't have much to say. It's been so long I forgot how to report on my life. But I'll tell you this.

Jon and I did the laundry together. I hate doing it so much, that I need him there as a crutch in order to get it done. He's really supportive and I totally appreciate that.

How much do you hate doing laundry?

Also, we did have a bit of bad news on this Friday the 13th. Con Edison taped a disconnection notice to our front door. It wasn't because we are not paying our bills. It's some kind of oversight by our landlord. I contacted our landlord and made her aware of the situation. But that was a little bit stressful. Naturally, we have an opportunity to pay the outstanding bill ourself if we need to. And it is absolutely 100% legal for us to deduct that from our rent.

So either way, we won't lose our lights but still. Ack.

In The Heights

Yes. The Gen X Misanthrope still exists. I've been completely distracted by Facebook. Posting on Facebook takes away the urgency that used to propel to write here. But I have to get out of that habit. I must start posting here again.

I still work my Broadway job. Earlier this year, in the snowiest part of the winter, I worked at a full-time job for a month. It was a decent job except I hated working during the day. I couldn't adjust. Four years of working a mostly night schedule has retrained my brain.

I found it difficult to get anything done. Strangely, I work the same hours in my current job but because it's at night, I'm able to get personal tasks done during the day. But turn that schedule upside down and I don't want to do anything. It's harder to get things done after a day of work as opposed to the other way around.

This week I'm working at In The Heights. There have been several cast changes since I worked here last. The lead is now being played by Corbin Bleu. Apparently, he is very popular because of the High School Musical trilogy. I never heard of him. But if you are a teenager or younger he is hot stuff.

Right now, I am sitting in the lobby of the Richard Rodgers theater and cast is performing "96,000", where the characters sing about what they would do if they won $96,000 in the lottery. It's the best number from Act I.

I just got my schedule for next week. La Cage Aux Folles at the Longacre. If you haven't seen that one yet, you should really make an effort. It's a lot of fun. And Kelsea Grammar is amazing.

Perry Como - SCTV Parody

Jaws of Steel

I went to the dentist on the 11th for my biannual cleaning and checkup. My teeth are sensitive and sometimes cleanings can be painful. This time, I took four generic acetominophens before hand. Add a new hygienist with the magic touch. The cleaning wasn't so bad.

I told her that my jaw has been clicking lately, so she told me to wait and talk to the dentist. The clicking, it turns out, is related to my clenching. I clench my teeth when I sleep.

The dentist informed me that I am the Arnold Schwarzenegger of jaw clenchers because of my pronounced jaw muscles which he pointed out gave me a masculine appearance. He suggested I get a bite protector. And to reduce the size of my jaw, he suggested Botox. For this, I would have to pay $1000 because he would have to use one vile vial.

The insurance will most likely pay for the bite protector. Using that, my muscles will shrink in time.

Can you imagine? Botox?

Has anyone else had a similar experience?

The Bartender Who Likes Reading

Last week, I was working my theater job, reading a book during Act I. A young bartender came up to me and asked me what I was reading. It just so happens that I was reading Hell Is Other Parents. I described it to him briefly and then he told me that he only recently acquired the ability to read a book through to the end. He's been reading non-stop for the last year.

He explained to me that about a year ago he had himself tested for ADD. He was prescribed a medication and for the first time in his life he could enjoy reading.

His inability to read well caused him to drop out of high school. Now in his early 30's he is earning his GED. He has a good friend working with him on math and he's been taking practice tests so he can be ready for the his big exam in April.

I was so interested in speaking with him, I kept asking him questions - about his family; about his life - and he answered every one. Sadly our conversation had to end because Act I was almost finished. He had to set up his bar and I had to stand by my headset console.

Should I or Shouldn't I

Things are happening around me again. For a long time they weren't, hence the incredibly large spaces of times between posts.

The question remains, should I or shouldn't I revive this blog? I wrote about myself for a long time, so long that I got tired of writing about myself.

That feeling hasn't exactly worn off, but I do feel a growing need to share again.

What do you think?

September - Fall Has Fallen

It's been quite a while since I've posted anything. I don't apologize. There's no need. I don't even think I have readers anymore.

In case you still check back here from time to time, I'll provide you with a little update.

The summer was slow for me, regarding work. This allowed me to work a lot in the garden, go bike riding, play with the Wii, hone my cooking skills and get some things into order.

I finally pulled out the clothing that I need to get rid of and found a charity that I like. There is a veteran's organization that collects clothing for soldier families. And they'll pick up the clothes from our curbside. I like any organization that helps out veterans and their families. Unfortunately, I can not donate my toys because they are not properly labeled according to new regulations set up by the government. The same regulations led me to stop selling my dolls altogether, until I can figure out how I can comply with the new regulations.

I've pretty much stopped making my sock monsters. I've got so many now. So much effort and love went into making them I don't have the heart to throw them away or to even give them away. If this sounds like hoarding behavior, then you are correct. I used to hold on to things forever (like my old clothes), but I now know how to get rid of things. Hoarding is a very hard habit to break and easy to fall back into if I don't pay attention.

I discovered a new show about hoarders, called Hoarders. I've only seen one episode but it will easily become a guilty pleasure once I start recording it. Watching the show reminded me how I used to like to hold on to things. But now clutter drives me crazy. I'm always reorganizing our space so it appears less cluttered.

I started a project on Flickr. I'm posting a photograph of myself every day for 365 days, starting with my birthday. Technically, it's supposed to be a self portrait every day. The first one, Jon took and there's another one in there as well. But I'll try my best to adhere to that rule.

Gardening has been very entertaining although not always satisfying. While there is satisfaction in staring at a bed that has just been weeded and the soil has been turned, that satisfaction is easily erased when the weeds grow back. Jalapeno pepper plants are prolific producers. I have to keep giving them away. The same can not be said for my tomato plants which are not producing well at all. Forget the cubanelle peppers. Those hardly came in at all.

My flowers are doing well. And the little rose plant that was near death at the beginning of the summer is now thriving in its new location. I enjoy mowing the lawn with our little non-motorized push mower. And I get a strange satisfaction out of sweeping up leaves.

Our new apartment is a vast improvement over our last one. We get along great with our neighbors. And living near Astoria Park is more lovely that I thought it would be. I was expecting lots of noise from raucous kids but I was wrong.

So. If you still read this blog and actually care about the mundane details of my life, hopefully this update will suffice. Perhaps I'll start posting one post for every picture to match my Flickr project.

Wii Are Consumers

Jon bought us a Wii. We set it up last night at midnight and played with it for an hour. It might be the coolest thing we've ever owned.

After we set it up, Jon suprised me by showing me the Wii Fitness he bought us. We'll set that up today.

With this purchase, I really feel like we are true consumers.

Ripening Tomatoes

The first of my tomatoes is ready. I think it'll be a little tomato salad for lunch today.

True Blood - Season 2

I'm completely hooked on HBO's True Blood. The show follows a mind reading 25 year old (played by Anna Paquin) who lives in a world where vampires are becoming accepted into American life. Vampires have come out of the closet and are trying to find their place in our world. The show is written by Alan Ball and based on a series of books that I haven't read.

Alan Ball really knows how to build, sustain and end stories. He's a good writer. I'm enjoying the show immensely.

I refrain from reviewing the show because people are still watching Season 1 on DVD. And here I am in Season 2 with all this knowlege that can spoil their own trip of discovery.

But if you would like to discuss the show, send an email to genxmisanthrope-at-aol-dot-com.

Off the Radar

Taking down my archives has had the effect of reducing the number of hits I get through search engines. Now that my archives are back up, I expected the that number to go back up to 100 hits a day but it still hasn't.

So. If you want to reduce the number of hits you get for something stupid you write four years ago, disable your archives for a a few weeks or so.

Back on the Diet

Well. It's starting to happen. The weight I lost is finding it's way back to my torso and hips. As of Tuesday of this week, I'm back on my controlled calorie diet. I still look okay but the weight gain is noticeable, to me anyway. I don't think anyone is really paying that close attention the comings and goings of my 10 errant pounds. But I see it.

Regarding my appearance, this past week is also significant because I finally gathered all of my size 18 and size 20 clothing into one large, clear recycling bag. The pile is significant. It's hard to get rid of this clothing. I was a certain size for so long. Even though I've been a smaller size for several months now, it's still hard for me to see myself as other than the bigger person I was. Therefore getting rid of the clothes that identify me as that person if very difficult.

I'm doing it in small steps. The next step is to find a comfortable way to discard my old clothing.

I recently took down all the listings for my sock monsters at my Etsy shop. Temporarily, I might try selling this old clothing through this venue. Some of it is quite nice. When and if that doesn't work, I'll start giving it a way. I'm just not quite ready yet, to throw this clothing into one of those Charity dumpsters.

If I know you and you're a size 18 or 20, and you're interested in looking at the clothes, please contact me. I'd rather give away the clothing to someone I know, than to strangers.

Saturday

I am working two shows today which is another beautiful day. That means, I will not be able to work in the garden.

I did manage to water the flowers and the grass. I only misted the vegetables because I don't want them to get soaked. Too much water is bad. Humidity is good which is what I was counting on in July for nice big tomato plants but we haven't had too much humid weather. Not that I'm complaining.

This weekend, I'm working at Hair. That show that won the Tony for best revival. I think West Side Story was the better revival.

Bongos

So. Jon and I have been living in this much better apartment for several months now. We are very happy with the apartment.

Everything is working out great. For a long time, the building across the street had a noisy garage door that squeeked every time it opened and closed but they fixed it and now it's like there is no garage door. It makes no more noise.

But just this week, a new problem has arisen. There is a neighbor in that same building, who has decided to start playing the bongos.

It's very annoying. Now. The building across the street is a co-op. I can't believe the co-op board approved a friggin' bongo player. I wonder if I can use that to my advantage. There is no way, people in that building will put up with a bongo player much longer.

And who the hell plays the bongos anyway?!?! It's the 21st freakin' century. He should be playing virtual bongos that no one can hear.

Beautiful Weather

Yesterday was a beautiful day. I spent the latter part of the afternoon, working in the garden. What a great way to spend time outdoors.

Here are some pictures I took a few days ago.

My tomato plants are doing okay but I'm getting impatient. They take forever to produce fruit and then it takes more time for that fruit to ripen.


My jalapeno pepper plants on the other hand are thriving. They have blossomed and now are producing many fruits. It shouldn't be too much longer before I'm adding fresh jalapeno peppers to my dishes.


I've also planted sweet basil. I'm not sure how it's doing. It is growing but some of the leaves are turning shades of yellow.


The other pepper plants I put in are the Cubanelle variety. I bought those at the farmer's market in Union Square. They weren't as mature as the jalapeno plants that I bought, so they will take a little longer to produce fruit. But so far they seem to be doing okay.

Gardening is fun. I just got a couple of flower catalogs which are really exciting me right now. Flowers. I actually get to grow my own flowers. Life is good.