32 days... How Much is that Doggy in the Window...

Ok, so anyone who knows me at all, knows I LOVE doggies! But because of my usual schedule and where I live, it's not really a feasible thing. Doesn't stop me from checking out different shelters and what cute canines they have up for adoption.

This is Bean. She is an 8 year Shih Tzu who's deaf and was up for adoption at Animal Haven Shelter. She gave me serious pause for thought! But she was adopted by the end of the day Saturday. Yay for Bean!

Animal Haven is a fantastic shelter located on Centre Street at Broome. From their website: "Animal Haven is a nonprofit organization that finds homes for abandoned cats and dogs throughout the Tri-State area, and provides behavior intervention when needed to improve chances of adoption. Founded in 1967, we operate a limited admission shelter/adoption center in Manhattan and mobile adoption van. " They also have a volunteer program that requires just 2 hours a week! Once the show is open and I'm into a routine, I'm going to fill out the volunteer application which can be found here: Volunteer Page. Who's with me?!

Another great organization is The North Shore Animal League. Here is a description from their website: "North Shore Animal League America, headquartered in Port Washington, NY, is the largest no-kill animal rescue and adoption organization in the world. Since 1944, The Animal League's mission has been saving the lives of pets through adoption, rescue, spay/neuter and advocacy initiatives. Every year, the Animal League reaches across the country to rescue, nurture and adopt approximately 20,000 pets into happy and loving homes. To date, the Animal League has placed close to 1 million puppies, kittens, cats and dogs into carefully screened homes."

33 days... Have I Become a 'Jersey Girl'??

No, I haven't become a 'Jersey Girl'. Just been spending some time out in that little neighboring state! I went out to Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn, New Jersey to see my friend Rashidra in Hairspray.

Paper Mill Playhouse stage

little stream in back of the theatre

Saturday morning, I got my butt down to Penn Station, bought a ticket for NJ Transit to Millburn, and even had enough time to run to Dunkin' Donuts on 33rd and 7th for a coffee to take with me.

After a relatively quick train ride out to Millburn - just one stop past the super popular with Broadway people who've got kids Maplewood - so pretty out there! Gorgeous little town center, extremely easy to navigate and walk to the theatre. The theatre itself is so cute, such a quaint setting.

The show was a lot of fun, high energy, well performed. The audience absolutely loved it. Overheard in the audience: "This show is intense! I mean, physically intense!" Yes, ma'am, it is. That's why Rashidra's been using her inhaler! And also some kudos to my friend: "Those Dynamites are fantastic!" Yes, sir, they were a major highlight of the show.

I had a little dinner after the show with my absolutely pooped friend. But it was wonderful to see her, and to see her perform something other than Hair as well. Rashidra, you rock! Then I hopped on the train back to the city, with the bridge and tunnel crowd headed in for a night of debauchery! All in all, another wonderful Jersey experience.

34 days... A Special Tribute to My Gay Friends

I'm terrible with following the news, it's just so upsetting, but in this day and age it's next to impossible to live in media seclusion, certainly in New York City. I just have to say something about the heartbreaking stories that have come out about the teen suicides who were bullied because of their sexual orientation. If you haven't yet seen the video of Ellen DeGeneres, please watch it and please share it with others. She is absolutely right. An Important Message from Ellen DeGeneres

Inspired by Dan Savage's It Gets Better Project my friend Kevin Yee, who's out with the 2nd National tour of Wicked, made this video:

So I couldn't get the video to load for some reason, after 3 tries... here's a link instead:

It Gets Better: Wicked Cast Members

I want to take the opportunity to say to all my gay friends: Thank you for being here today. I know some of your stories from growing-up, but there's nothing like walking in someone else's shoes. I can't imagine my life without each of you and how you have touched my life. I am so lucky and so proud to call you friend. I love you guys!!!

35 days... Or something. Whatever. Can't sleep...

It's almost 3am and I couldn't really sleep last night either, got about 4 or 5 hours before waking up bout 7am. Which I don't do. I don't do morning and I definitely don't do morning wide awake without a shower and coffee. Weirdness.

I wonder what time I'll wake up tomorrow, er, today. I actually have just too much energy right now to sleep. Ok, here's the bizarreness going on inside me right now: I want to go outside and yell til I'm hoarse. I want to run on a beach until I can't breath and have a stitch in my side. I want to dance down the midtown city sidewalk. I don't care that I'd look like a crazy person. Maybe because I am.

I don't really know what this is or where it's come from. It's a little disconserting, like I'd imagine euphoria would feel. So free, but such a high you're bound to come down hard. I have no reason to feel euphoric really. No illegal substances imbided, or legal even for that matter. Nothing incredible has happened.

Just... I don't know. I have great, amazing friends. I'm starting a job next week. I love my apartment. Life actually isn't so bad. I'm not perfect, I've got inumerable flaws, but somehow.. Right now, in this second, I am happy. I am just... Me. And I'm happy about it.

Eh, just a little crazy 3am logorrhea.

Side note: new obssession is the movie "He's just not that into you". Why do I feel I could've been a major contributor to the script?? Well, the movie also has a killer soundtrack!! Corinne Bailey Rae, Maroon 5, The Black Crowes, The Ting Tings, Lily Allen and some 80s throwbacks, The Cure, the Human League, Talking Heads... And Scarlett Johansson singing Jeff Buckley's "Last Goodbye". I frickin LOVE that song. Enough to sing it at the top of my lungs while tooling around Ireland in my tiny little rental car. Ah, memories.

36 days... A Life in the Theatre

So, I don't often get to go see theatre since my schedule is usually the same as most shows, but my friend Janet who works at Mary Poppins was offered tickets to today's matinee of A Life in the Theatre and she asked me to go, and since I haven't started work yet, I could go!

It was absolutely fantastic!! I had no idea it was a Mamet play. It really surprised me considering how sentimental and fun it is. It's just Patrick Stewart and T.R. Knight, both of whom are incredible. A quick 90 minutes of a fastforwarded snapshot of, literally, a life in the theatre.

It just absolutely nails it on the head. Both hysterical and poignant in it's accuracy. Amazing. I can't say enough good things about it! I was laughing outloud and, embarassingly, even snorted a few times. I'm not sure if non-theatre people would enjoy it as thoroughly, but I would absolutely see it again!

My friend Moira is dressing Patrick Stewart and the sheer number of costume changes, and they're FULL changes, not just switch out a hat type changes has got to be like a marathon! As she puts it, from the top of the show 'til the end it's like being in a free fall, no stopping it. MAJOR applause to all the crew who are busting their butts backstage (and onstage too), I wish you could actually see all the changes and everything, then you'd get a true glimpse at backstage life instead of interpreted snapshots.

Now, if we could just get Mamet to call us 'dresser' instead of 'the woman', or hey!, how about using a proper name?! Consider that, ok, Davy?

So, if you can, go see A Life in the Theatre at the Schoenfeld Theatre on West 45th Street until January 2nd!!!

37 days and a Cinnamony Mistake

Ok, so I'm not really sure how this came up, but I am apparently a girl who can't say no to a dare. Sounds like a great start to a really bad story, right?

Well, did you know it is impossible to swallow a whole tablespoon of cinnamon in one shot? It is. I had the cinnamon coming out of my nose to prove it. Not good. Somehow I was sort of challenged to try this, and I thought 'Really? How hard could it be?'

Went to the grocery store, bought the cinnamon, measured it into a tablespoon, even over-poured and evened it off with a knife - just to be precise - and after a few moments of thought wondering just how to swallow the whopping tablespoon of cinnamon, just went for it.

First few seconds, thought ok, not so bad. Until it started to get stuck. Eyes watering, trying to swallow. Not good, and it just went downhill from there! Cinnamon is not tasty going down by itself, and it's way worse coming back up. And even more revolting coming out of your nose.

So, lesson learned: don't try to eat a tablespoon of cinnamon. No matter how easy it sounds.

38 days... Pancakes and Puccini

As excited as I am to start work, having been unemployed for 3 months is much too long for me, I might be just the littlest bit sad I will miss Sundays such as this one. It's a cloudy Sunday, not too warm but not too cold either, just right actually with the windows open and a hint of breeze ruffling the curtains.

I felt like making pancakes for breakfast, and luckily had some pancake mix in the cupboard. So I had a leisurely late breakfast of pancakes and coffee. Someone in my building across the courtyard was listening to an opera program on the radio, Italian arias.

So for about an hour I enjoyed my pancakes with a little Puccini. He played Pavarotti singing Nessun Dorma from 'Turandot'. It was spectacular. It also happens to be one of my favorite arias. It's just so incredibly moving, the way it builds and the resolve of strength in his voice. I used to get chills hearing it sung live the season we did it at Santa Fe Opera, and I still get a little shiver listening to it now.

I'd forgotten how much I like some opera. It also made me think of friends I worked with in Santa Fe that I've somewhat lost touch with. So thank you neighbor for playing that radio program loud enough I could hear it wafting across the courtyard and making me reminisce about summers gone by. I'm having lunch this week with my old roommate and good friend from Santa Fe Opera, Chelsea.

Speaking of which... I've missed birthdays recently. Sooo, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! Ginny, Clarion, Gina, Chelsea and all you Virgos and Libras!!!