Genre: Totally and Utterly Musical Inspired
Date: 6.8.06
Description:
I swear I have nothing against Steve Martin. I love him. I think he's funny. I just want more from him, dammit! 'Shopgirl' could have been good had it not been so shallow and emotionless.
I was thinking that perhaps, had it been a musical, there would have been much more feeling.
Hence 'Shopgirl - The Musical!'
I've been wanting to write a musical for a while, but I can never think of anything to write a musical about. I guess that's where the original idea for 'My Mundane Life in Song' came from, but life has gotten even more mundane as of late so I haven't been able to think of any song topics. Actually, this isn't true. I've recorded like 10 songs in the last few months but haven't finished any of them and now they're irrelevant.
I've had a few ideas here and there for full-fledged musicals, but the ideas are never as melodramatic as I'd like the music to be. So this song is ultradramatic, complete with me trying to do all the parts. It's overwrought, emo, dramatic. It's more 'Miss Saigon' than 'Pajama Game.' I'm such a drama queen. 'Shopgirl' itself should have been more of a drama queen.
Let's see. The recording is atrocious. I was too lazy to get out the mic on this one and everything you hear is first-take except for a couple times when I totally messed up the lyrics. It's so weird to me that I continually mess up the lyrics to my own songs, but I guess when you write a song in like one hour and then record it the next you're bound to forget how things go. The singing is totally melodramatic, but I must admit I enjoyed doing it. Recording it reminded me of this Danny Elfman recording I bought for my father that has Danny Elfman singing a demo for the entire score for 'Nightmare Before Christmas' by himself, doing all the characters, being totally nuts. It's a silly thing to do and is therefore awesome. I may have to do more of this.
You can also hear Hell's Kitchen traffic if you listen closely enough.
I doubt you'll make it through the whole thing, but if you don't I'd recommend at least getting through the bridge which starts with "I love Ray..." and ends with "Daddy, daddy..." etc.
Lyrics:
Mirabel:
I am a Shopgirl
I sell gloves by day and at night
I draw with charcoal to work out issues I have with my father
I am quite desperate for any type of affection
But only if the guy wears nice shoes and buys me dresses
Jeremy is very quirky
But we on't be able to take care of me monetarily
Ray:
I am an old man
I have become smitten with the Shopgirl
To whom I'll send a pair of gloves to get her attention
Shopgirl, I like you, but this is going nowhere
Cuz for work I must travel
But if you show your skin I'll pay the loans for your tuition
Let's shack up when I'm in town
Mirabel:
I'm so happy when you're around
I love Ray so I'll throw away my antidepressants
Now I'm a mess
But he will save me
Daddy, daddy, daddy, daddy
Ray:
Here is a letter stating that I cheated on you
Mirabel:
I'm taking my things
I'm going to Vermont to see my family
Ray:
Please come to New York
I'm sorry that I'm such a dickhead
Mirabel:
OK, I'll do it,
I secretly love you so you're forgiven
Ray:
I'm thinking of getting a place in New York City
A three bedroom in case I meet someone and want a family
Oh shit
Mirabel:
I'm taking my things
I'll work in a gallery and I'll have my own show of drawings with the support of Jeremy
Thank you for coming
I want you to have the drawing of me in my bed
Ray:
I'm sorry for everything that I did
Mirabel:
I know, I know, I know
The Chorus:
She didn't like him the way he was
Now he's well dressed so she does
Jeremy:
Yes I may be hair but I have a personality
Unlike the other characters in this movie
Thursday, June 08, 2006
Podcast
Even though I knew it would happen I'm not quite prepared. There are rumblings today, everyone's heard something, it's going down tomorrow, but it sounds like everything might be coming up roses. If nothing goes down I will be disappointed, but if something goes down I think I'll feel like I've been punched in the stomach no matter what it is. I'm not prepared even though I've considered every scenario 14,000 times.
***
I had Ethiopian food last night for the first time and am unsure of how I managed to live beforehand. The restaurant is right below my apartment! Woop!
***
I am trying to learn Italian via Podcast. I've been accused of being "wicked smaht" before, but not so when it comes to learning languages. I am completely incapable of speaking foreign languages. I can understand, but I fear the day when I should actually have to say something beyond "Ciao!" D, of course, has picked up the entirety of the Italian language in two days and keeps trying to talk to me, but I am helpless without my guidebook or Podcast. The Podcasts are awesome, though, because they allow me to speak Italian phrases out loud on the train and scare commuters. It's awesome. Actually, Podcasts are awesome. I've been staying away from them because I thought they were too high-tech, but dear god you can get anything as a Podcast!
***
Lately I have been absentminded. I exercised (!) the other night (!!) and afterwards decided that I should put the Italy cruise on my calendar so as not to make plans for those weeks. I flipped to September and realized, of course of course of course is it possible for me to suck any more?, that I will be on a boat in the Mediterranean the day of RP's wedding. I suck! What is wrong with me? I've been trying to understand the virtues of spontaneity and not planning and not thinking ahead so as to keep options open for wonderful things that might pop up and I've been trying ever-so-hard to adapt and now look what I've done! It would have been different had I made the active decision to miss RP's wedding in favor of the cruise, but this sucks. Hard. I hope she doesn't defriend me. She sent a save-the-date like 6 months ago and I did not save the date. I obsessed about it in the shower, trying to figure out what is wrong with my brain and how this can be happening to me, and realized when I got out that I had only shaved one leg. What is wrong with me!?
***
So yeah, exercise. I started one tape. Yes, a tape, to save money on a gym membership or whatever people do, and I like one of them. It's dance! Woo! It's still dorky enough that I will only do it when there is no risk of D's being at home, but it's acceptable. My body didn't hurt enough the following day, though, so I probably have to do more. I also bought a weight-lifting one but sat through it once and realized I cannot lift weights. Well, I can, but not the way SHE wanted me to. No way. I'll have to find a good beginning tape that doesn't require equipment other than weights. Seriously. Shouldn't they tell you this before you buy the tape?
***
Today I had to explain to D that the goal is not to cheat the diet. The goal is to adhere to the diet as best as possible so as to be a healthy person, and to cheat only when I absolutely cannot survive without five reverse fudge-striped cookies that are calling to me from the topmost shelf. I was ecstatic this morning when the dietician told me that if I had to eat ice cream, then Mr. Softee was "not so bad" since soft ice cream is mostly air and therefore less terrible than hard ice cream. I wanted to hug her.
***
I am not going to class tonight because I want to read about carbohydrates and maybe read some Italian verbs and also some fiction and possibly movie reviews. I want not to waste 3 hours of my life for the 20 minutes during which I will learn something. I've been slacking off on life because I've been being too social and need to just decompress and process what's coming tomorrow before the mayhem of the weekend begins. I think I am not going to the party tomorrow night because VB will be in attendance and I cannot (will not) cope with confrontation and eye rolling. Plus I need to buy a dress (would be so nice to get that over with and not have to wander around the city all weekend) and to finish writing my musical version of "Shopgirl" aka "Creepy Movie" for all ya'll.
***
The weekend will be good. D will be away. Brother will be in town hoping people will buy his book. There will be a movie shoot and I will be there, gawking and photographing and hoping for a glimpse of the superhero. Hopefully I'll have time to read things and record things and buy new foods. I hope to watch a movie at IFC and attend the convention, dine with friends, sleep late on Saturday and even later on Sunday. I think I'll have nothing to worry about this weekend.
***
***
I had Ethiopian food last night for the first time and am unsure of how I managed to live beforehand. The restaurant is right below my apartment! Woop!
***
I am trying to learn Italian via Podcast. I've been accused of being "wicked smaht" before, but not so when it comes to learning languages. I am completely incapable of speaking foreign languages. I can understand, but I fear the day when I should actually have to say something beyond "Ciao!" D, of course, has picked up the entirety of the Italian language in two days and keeps trying to talk to me, but I am helpless without my guidebook or Podcast. The Podcasts are awesome, though, because they allow me to speak Italian phrases out loud on the train and scare commuters. It's awesome. Actually, Podcasts are awesome. I've been staying away from them because I thought they were too high-tech, but dear god you can get anything as a Podcast!
***
Lately I have been absentminded. I exercised (!) the other night (!!) and afterwards decided that I should put the Italy cruise on my calendar so as not to make plans for those weeks. I flipped to September and realized, of course of course of course is it possible for me to suck any more?, that I will be on a boat in the Mediterranean the day of RP's wedding. I suck! What is wrong with me? I've been trying to understand the virtues of spontaneity and not planning and not thinking ahead so as to keep options open for wonderful things that might pop up and I've been trying ever-so-hard to adapt and now look what I've done! It would have been different had I made the active decision to miss RP's wedding in favor of the cruise, but this sucks. Hard. I hope she doesn't defriend me. She sent a save-the-date like 6 months ago and I did not save the date. I obsessed about it in the shower, trying to figure out what is wrong with my brain and how this can be happening to me, and realized when I got out that I had only shaved one leg. What is wrong with me!?
***
So yeah, exercise. I started one tape. Yes, a tape, to save money on a gym membership or whatever people do, and I like one of them. It's dance! Woo! It's still dorky enough that I will only do it when there is no risk of D's being at home, but it's acceptable. My body didn't hurt enough the following day, though, so I probably have to do more. I also bought a weight-lifting one but sat through it once and realized I cannot lift weights. Well, I can, but not the way SHE wanted me to. No way. I'll have to find a good beginning tape that doesn't require equipment other than weights. Seriously. Shouldn't they tell you this before you buy the tape?
***
Today I had to explain to D that the goal is not to cheat the diet. The goal is to adhere to the diet as best as possible so as to be a healthy person, and to cheat only when I absolutely cannot survive without five reverse fudge-striped cookies that are calling to me from the topmost shelf. I was ecstatic this morning when the dietician told me that if I had to eat ice cream, then Mr. Softee was "not so bad" since soft ice cream is mostly air and therefore less terrible than hard ice cream. I wanted to hug her.
***
I am not going to class tonight because I want to read about carbohydrates and maybe read some Italian verbs and also some fiction and possibly movie reviews. I want not to waste 3 hours of my life for the 20 minutes during which I will learn something. I've been slacking off on life because I've been being too social and need to just decompress and process what's coming tomorrow before the mayhem of the weekend begins. I think I am not going to the party tomorrow night because VB will be in attendance and I cannot (will not) cope with confrontation and eye rolling. Plus I need to buy a dress (would be so nice to get that over with and not have to wander around the city all weekend) and to finish writing my musical version of "Shopgirl" aka "Creepy Movie" for all ya'll.
***
The weekend will be good. D will be away. Brother will be in town hoping people will buy his book. There will be a movie shoot and I will be there, gawking and photographing and hoping for a glimpse of the superhero. Hopefully I'll have time to read things and record things and buy new foods. I hope to watch a movie at IFC and attend the convention, dine with friends, sleep late on Saturday and even later on Sunday. I think I'll have nothing to worry about this weekend.
***
Tuesday, June 06, 2006
WC Came to Visit and So I Experienced NYC - Part III
WC wanted to go to dim sum. I didn't want to, because from what I've been told dim sum isn't as awesome an experience for those of us with meatless diets. He finally coerced me into joining him. D and his friends go often, so we were scheduled to just tag along with them.
Except that Brother needed to drop some books off for the MoCCA convention next weekend, and we didn't plan it, so I had to wait for him instead of going to dim sum.
It was nice to see Brother. He made a sandwich and we talked about simple sugars and The Parents, and mused over how bizarre this whole cruise event is.
When he left, I waited on the 1 platform for ages and finally jumped on a train to head downtown to meet D and WC for a ride on the Staten Island Ferry. WC also wanted to go to Liberty Island, but no way. The lines, the tourists, etc. D suggested the Staten Island Ferry because it is free and provides a lovely view of The Statue. I have never been on the Ferry, so I was pretty psyched.
Until, of course, the 1 train started going backwards at 14th Street. I was sitting there listening to my Ipod, ho hum, when all of a sudden the train started going backwards. My instinct was that I was going completely insane. "Is it possible I just didn't realize in what direction the train was going?" I tried looking at other people on the train, and soon sensed global confusion. Some girls motioned to me and said "IS THIS TRAIN GOING UPTOWN!?" "Ummm..." I said. "I think so...."
So yeah. The 1 apparently stops at 14th Street on the weekends. Awesome. I took it back up to 23rd Street and called D. They had just missed the ferry. "When's the next one?" I asked. "In half an hour." I didn't know if I could make it. D suggested taking a cab, so I did and met them in Battery Park like three minutes before the ferry was leaving.
We hauled it to the ferry, only to hear the announcement that the ferry was cancelled.
Bastards!
We gave up and had Mr. Softee's and stared at buildings downtown for a bit. WC saw a store that sells fancy chocolates that he likes but it was closed. I google texted and found another one uptown that was allegedly open. We headed up and WC bought an assortment of allegedly yummy chocolates. Then we looked at Grand Central. We had planned to grab a drink at The Oyster Bar but of course it was closed.
WC, who is a bit of a foodie, wanted to go to Balthazar. It's very very very fancy and very very very good. Attentive and professional waiters, water constantly, amazing food. Actually, probably best meal ever. I had a carmelized onion/goat cheese tart with salad as an appetizer, fennel ravioli with garlic and pesto and pine nuts and tomatoes for dinner, meringue with warm berries for dessert, and a glass of wine. Fabulous experience. I love to have visitors.
Anyway, the culmination of the weekend occurred while dining at Balthazar.
Picture it:
Small table in the corner in the back of the restaurant, awesome because it was quiet. I am sitting against the wall on a booth bench that stretches three tables to me to the right. I'm looking out at the rest of the restaurant. D is sitting next to me on my left, in the corner. WC is sitting at a right angle to me (against the other wall) to D's left. So WC is facing the table across from us, which is empty.
Like ten minutes after we sit down Laura Dern comes in and sits directly across from WC at the table opposite us! So WC was basically staring at Laura Dern for the next two hours. And then we realized that Laura Dern was having dinner with Meg Ryan!!! I was sitting on the booth bench with Meg Ryan!!!!
We tried to play it cool. We tried to talk to each other. We tried not to gawk. But dear god WC was looking right at Laura Dern and I was basically sitting with Meg Ryan.
Every now and then D would mention how he was trying so hard not to look. "This is really difficult for me," I said, "since Laura Dern is in one of my favorite movies of all time... like seriously... she's had such an effect on me... I saw Jurassic Park like 7 times in the theater! How am I supposed to deal with this?" And then "Would it be inappropriate for me to fake an orgasm right now?"
I couldn't eavesdrop. The restaurant was too loud, and it also would have been extremely obvious if I was listening in. They sounded like two girls out for dinner. I think Meg Ryan said "Blah blah blah... and then he said blah blah blah and I couldn't believe it!" and Laura Dern was all shocked and horrified.
Laura Dern is gorgeous. Meg Ryan has had too much plastic surgery. They ate french fries. Awesome.
We left Balthazar, star-struck, and just headed home because, really, what could we have done that night to beat that?
I ate Cheez-It's while we watched the remainder of Shopgirl, which remained creepy but was also superficial and just generally detestable (bad). Yes, I read the novella and it was mostly forgettable, but I didn't feel dirty after reading it as I felt after watching the movie. There wasn't one flattering thing about women in that movie. It was gross. Jason Schwartzmann, however, was magnificent in it, so if you must see it, it won't be a complete waste.
D and I went to bed and WC somehow managed to make it to his 3:00 am shuttle. Bless him.
We had a good time and now I am looking forward to next weekend, when I will be alone at last. I am looking forward to quiet. I think I am going to be alone tonight as well for the first time in about three weeks. I am going to bust out the exer-DVD's and move my ass, and do laundry, and watch the rest of The King and I which I have been trying to watch for like two weeks. The rest of the week is mayhem. I ate lame pizza last night with MF but was buzzed from one glass of wine over conversation about how absolutely splendid therapy is. Tomorrow night will be my first experience with Etiopian food with TE. Thursday is class. And then... the weekend. Only three more days. Woo!
Except that Brother needed to drop some books off for the MoCCA convention next weekend, and we didn't plan it, so I had to wait for him instead of going to dim sum.
It was nice to see Brother. He made a sandwich and we talked about simple sugars and The Parents, and mused over how bizarre this whole cruise event is.
When he left, I waited on the 1 platform for ages and finally jumped on a train to head downtown to meet D and WC for a ride on the Staten Island Ferry. WC also wanted to go to Liberty Island, but no way. The lines, the tourists, etc. D suggested the Staten Island Ferry because it is free and provides a lovely view of The Statue. I have never been on the Ferry, so I was pretty psyched.
Until, of course, the 1 train started going backwards at 14th Street. I was sitting there listening to my Ipod, ho hum, when all of a sudden the train started going backwards. My instinct was that I was going completely insane. "Is it possible I just didn't realize in what direction the train was going?" I tried looking at other people on the train, and soon sensed global confusion. Some girls motioned to me and said "IS THIS TRAIN GOING UPTOWN!?" "Ummm..." I said. "I think so...."
So yeah. The 1 apparently stops at 14th Street on the weekends. Awesome. I took it back up to 23rd Street and called D. They had just missed the ferry. "When's the next one?" I asked. "In half an hour." I didn't know if I could make it. D suggested taking a cab, so I did and met them in Battery Park like three minutes before the ferry was leaving.
We hauled it to the ferry, only to hear the announcement that the ferry was cancelled.
Bastards!
We gave up and had Mr. Softee's and stared at buildings downtown for a bit. WC saw a store that sells fancy chocolates that he likes but it was closed. I google texted and found another one uptown that was allegedly open. We headed up and WC bought an assortment of allegedly yummy chocolates. Then we looked at Grand Central. We had planned to grab a drink at The Oyster Bar but of course it was closed.
WC, who is a bit of a foodie, wanted to go to Balthazar. It's very very very fancy and very very very good. Attentive and professional waiters, water constantly, amazing food. Actually, probably best meal ever. I had a carmelized onion/goat cheese tart with salad as an appetizer, fennel ravioli with garlic and pesto and pine nuts and tomatoes for dinner, meringue with warm berries for dessert, and a glass of wine. Fabulous experience. I love to have visitors.
Anyway, the culmination of the weekend occurred while dining at Balthazar.
Picture it:
Small table in the corner in the back of the restaurant, awesome because it was quiet. I am sitting against the wall on a booth bench that stretches three tables to me to the right. I'm looking out at the rest of the restaurant. D is sitting next to me on my left, in the corner. WC is sitting at a right angle to me (against the other wall) to D's left. So WC is facing the table across from us, which is empty.
Like ten minutes after we sit down Laura Dern comes in and sits directly across from WC at the table opposite us! So WC was basically staring at Laura Dern for the next two hours. And then we realized that Laura Dern was having dinner with Meg Ryan!!! I was sitting on the booth bench with Meg Ryan!!!!
We tried to play it cool. We tried to talk to each other. We tried not to gawk. But dear god WC was looking right at Laura Dern and I was basically sitting with Meg Ryan.
Every now and then D would mention how he was trying so hard not to look. "This is really difficult for me," I said, "since Laura Dern is in one of my favorite movies of all time... like seriously... she's had such an effect on me... I saw Jurassic Park like 7 times in the theater! How am I supposed to deal with this?" And then "Would it be inappropriate for me to fake an orgasm right now?"
I couldn't eavesdrop. The restaurant was too loud, and it also would have been extremely obvious if I was listening in. They sounded like two girls out for dinner. I think Meg Ryan said "Blah blah blah... and then he said blah blah blah and I couldn't believe it!" and Laura Dern was all shocked and horrified.
Laura Dern is gorgeous. Meg Ryan has had too much plastic surgery. They ate french fries. Awesome.
We left Balthazar, star-struck, and just headed home because, really, what could we have done that night to beat that?
I ate Cheez-It's while we watched the remainder of Shopgirl, which remained creepy but was also superficial and just generally detestable (bad). Yes, I read the novella and it was mostly forgettable, but I didn't feel dirty after reading it as I felt after watching the movie. There wasn't one flattering thing about women in that movie. It was gross. Jason Schwartzmann, however, was magnificent in it, so if you must see it, it won't be a complete waste.
D and I went to bed and WC somehow managed to make it to his 3:00 am shuttle. Bless him.
We had a good time and now I am looking forward to next weekend, when I will be alone at last. I am looking forward to quiet. I think I am going to be alone tonight as well for the first time in about three weeks. I am going to bust out the exer-DVD's and move my ass, and do laundry, and watch the rest of The King and I which I have been trying to watch for like two weeks. The rest of the week is mayhem. I ate lame pizza last night with MF but was buzzed from one glass of wine over conversation about how absolutely splendid therapy is. Tomorrow night will be my first experience with Etiopian food with TE. Thursday is class. And then... the weekend. Only three more days. Woo!
WC Came to Visit and So I Experienced NYC - Part II
We woke up on Saturday morning, ready for a full day of being tourists.
Since we left the apartment at a reasonable hour, I hoped that my quest for a breakfast burrito would lead us to Vynl, this cute new place near my apartment that is always mobbed. It was not mobbed (woo!) and they had a breakfast burrito! Bliss. Vynl is mod, funky, and music-themed and has all sorts of musician action figures throughout the restaurant.
So how jealous are all of you that we got to sit at the booth with the New Kids on the Block action figures? I knew you would be!
We then headed up to The Met where we saw armor and weaponry and sculptures (finally!) and not everything but seeing everything is impossible. We walked through Central Park. We stopped, again, due to stamina and had a snack before heading to the Museum of Natural History, but thought better of it and decided to rest our feet back at the apartment and possibly take naps.
I didn't feel good at all. I think I ate something wrong. Or didn't eat enough. Or my sugar was just weird. I totally passed out while WC wandered around Times Square. D woke me up and I still felt bizarre. I tried having a salad, but it didn't really help.
I tried to pick a restaurant for dinner but I had a hard time. I was determined to find tapas, in the East Village, for WC. I tried to make reservations, I looked at 438 menus on menupages.com. We finally decided on a Brazilian place on 1st or A. I can't remember. By the time we were seated it was 10:00. We had lovely conversation while drinking peach sangria. I had spinach/ricotta balls and then an endive salad with goat cheese and cocunut-rum-infused-bananas which tasted so much better than it sounds.
We were exhausted after dinner so headed back to the apartment and began watching Shopgirl, the creepiest movie of all time.
Since we left the apartment at a reasonable hour, I hoped that my quest for a breakfast burrito would lead us to Vynl, this cute new place near my apartment that is always mobbed. It was not mobbed (woo!) and they had a breakfast burrito! Bliss. Vynl is mod, funky, and music-themed and has all sorts of musician action figures throughout the restaurant.
So how jealous are all of you that we got to sit at the booth with the New Kids on the Block action figures? I knew you would be!
We then headed up to The Met where we saw armor and weaponry and sculptures (finally!) and not everything but seeing everything is impossible. We walked through Central Park. We stopped, again, due to stamina and had a snack before heading to the Museum of Natural History, but thought better of it and decided to rest our feet back at the apartment and possibly take naps.
I didn't feel good at all. I think I ate something wrong. Or didn't eat enough. Or my sugar was just weird. I totally passed out while WC wandered around Times Square. D woke me up and I still felt bizarre. I tried having a salad, but it didn't really help.
I tried to pick a restaurant for dinner but I had a hard time. I was determined to find tapas, in the East Village, for WC. I tried to make reservations, I looked at 438 menus on menupages.com. We finally decided on a Brazilian place on 1st or A. I can't remember. By the time we were seated it was 10:00. We had lovely conversation while drinking peach sangria. I had spinach/ricotta balls and then an endive salad with goat cheese and cocunut-rum-infused-bananas which tasted so much better than it sounds.
We were exhausted after dinner so headed back to the apartment and began watching Shopgirl, the creepiest movie of all time.
WC Came to Visit and So I Experienced NYC - Part I
Ah, yes, another visitor! Check!
WC was scheduled to arrive on Friday evening, but his arrival was delayed due to bizarre and unforeseen torrential downpours that started at around 4pm. I'd been trying to convince myself not to worry all day. Yes, weather.com said the weather was to be inclement but it was sunny! D said "There's no way it's going to rain. It's sunny!" "But but but..." I kept saying, but soon relaxed. When the subways started to flood I got nervous.
WC's late arrival wouldn't have been a problem had I not accidentally purchased tickets to a show that ended up being sold out. I was worried and wondering if I would have to find a friend who would be around to give spare keys to, who would have to meet up with WC while I was at the show. Luckily he made it just in time, and he, D and I ran out for some instant Thai food. We left WC behind and headed out to, gasp, New Jersey, to see The Stills and Rogue Wave.
The weather was still ridiculous when we left. Earlier in the day I'd asked D "Do you know how to get to Maxwell's?" "Trust me," he said. I was ever so impressed when he appeared at my desk with ferry and bus schedules! I said "I'd rather not take the ferry if it's pouring... I'm not good on rocky boats." When we left the restaurant, we decided to take a cab, because it was already 10:00 (show was at 10:00) and I didn't want to miss Rogue Wave. We miraculously hailed a van cab (woop!) who agreed to take us to Maxwell's, but had to get out when we realized the set fare was $44! We had him drop us off at Port Authority. D said "Do you have the bus schedule?" I don't know why he thought I would have the bus schedule. He was the one who printed it out and therefore would have had it. "No, why would I?" "I don't know, I thought maybe you brought it." "No, did you not bring it?" Of course not. Luckily he remembered the terminal from which of the 12 million terminals it was departing (bless him), and we were at Maxwell's by 10:20.
Rogue Wave - big disappointment. No lush production, no layers, nothing. Live its generic saccharine pop played by a guy who looks like he should attend Hampshire College. Devastated, I was, as I am a huge fan of the recorded music.
The Stills, however, were amazing. Unfortunately I couldn't completely enjoy the show because they didn't go on until 11:45 or so and I am an old lady who hates standing for more than a couple hours at a time. The Stills are short. They are also amazing musicians. I was very impressed and wish only that the show had started two hours earlier.
A few notes on Maxwell's:
1. Good because it is not in NYC and is therefore not as pretentious. People were normal. People were dancing! People weren't at the show to be seen at the show. People were at the show to enjoy the show.
2. Bad because there is nowhere to seat.
3. Bad bathroom situation - no line formation for the women's room, just standing around hoping you might be next.
4. Drunk people. Wicked drunk. I rarely see such sloppiness in NYC, but perhaps because everyone is just getting started when I'm ready to go home. But it was, how shall I put this, sorority-esque sloppy.
5. Old guy dancing to Rogue Wave. Like a really old guy. Possibly 60 years old. Awesome, until he invaded my personal space with his crazy moves. Then I hated him.
We ended up leaving early due to stamina issues. On our way out, D asked the bouncer "Where does the bus stop?" The bouncer said "Oh, the buses stop at 1:00." It was 1:10. Drat! "We'll take the PATH," D suggested. "OK," I said. "How far away is it?" I asked. "I don't know - like a 20 minute walk." In the rain. Right. "Do you know the schedule?" "No. I think it runs every half hour," said he. "When?" "I don't know." Right. "Can we start walking to the PATH and maybe just maybe possibly I'll pay for it get a cab if we see one?" Agreed.
Many unmarked cabs passed us by. We were soaked.
Many buses passed us by. D was pissed.
We finally got a cab, $44 again, and waited while he got gas for twenty minutes. D raged the entire time against the bouncer, who he blamed for our misfortune. I kept saying "Dude, its our fault. We didn't bring the bus schedule! It's our fault," but no, it was the bouncer's fault.
We got home and poor WC had fallen asleep on the couch. He claimed to not have need for bedding as we'd be home by midnight his time, but he fell asleep anwyay. How much do I suck as a hostess? Tons.
WC was scheduled to arrive on Friday evening, but his arrival was delayed due to bizarre and unforeseen torrential downpours that started at around 4pm. I'd been trying to convince myself not to worry all day. Yes, weather.com said the weather was to be inclement but it was sunny! D said "There's no way it's going to rain. It's sunny!" "But but but..." I kept saying, but soon relaxed. When the subways started to flood I got nervous.
WC's late arrival wouldn't have been a problem had I not accidentally purchased tickets to a show that ended up being sold out. I was worried and wondering if I would have to find a friend who would be around to give spare keys to, who would have to meet up with WC while I was at the show. Luckily he made it just in time, and he, D and I ran out for some instant Thai food. We left WC behind and headed out to, gasp, New Jersey, to see The Stills and Rogue Wave.
The weather was still ridiculous when we left. Earlier in the day I'd asked D "Do you know how to get to Maxwell's?" "Trust me," he said. I was ever so impressed when he appeared at my desk with ferry and bus schedules! I said "I'd rather not take the ferry if it's pouring... I'm not good on rocky boats." When we left the restaurant, we decided to take a cab, because it was already 10:00 (show was at 10:00) and I didn't want to miss Rogue Wave. We miraculously hailed a van cab (woop!) who agreed to take us to Maxwell's, but had to get out when we realized the set fare was $44! We had him drop us off at Port Authority. D said "Do you have the bus schedule?" I don't know why he thought I would have the bus schedule. He was the one who printed it out and therefore would have had it. "No, why would I?" "I don't know, I thought maybe you brought it." "No, did you not bring it?" Of course not. Luckily he remembered the terminal from which of the 12 million terminals it was departing (bless him), and we were at Maxwell's by 10:20.
Rogue Wave - big disappointment. No lush production, no layers, nothing. Live its generic saccharine pop played by a guy who looks like he should attend Hampshire College. Devastated, I was, as I am a huge fan of the recorded music.
The Stills, however, were amazing. Unfortunately I couldn't completely enjoy the show because they didn't go on until 11:45 or so and I am an old lady who hates standing for more than a couple hours at a time. The Stills are short. They are also amazing musicians. I was very impressed and wish only that the show had started two hours earlier.
A few notes on Maxwell's:
1. Good because it is not in NYC and is therefore not as pretentious. People were normal. People were dancing! People weren't at the show to be seen at the show. People were at the show to enjoy the show.
2. Bad because there is nowhere to seat.
3. Bad bathroom situation - no line formation for the women's room, just standing around hoping you might be next.
4. Drunk people. Wicked drunk. I rarely see such sloppiness in NYC, but perhaps because everyone is just getting started when I'm ready to go home. But it was, how shall I put this, sorority-esque sloppy.
5. Old guy dancing to Rogue Wave. Like a really old guy. Possibly 60 years old. Awesome, until he invaded my personal space with his crazy moves. Then I hated him.
We ended up leaving early due to stamina issues. On our way out, D asked the bouncer "Where does the bus stop?" The bouncer said "Oh, the buses stop at 1:00." It was 1:10. Drat! "We'll take the PATH," D suggested. "OK," I said. "How far away is it?" I asked. "I don't know - like a 20 minute walk." In the rain. Right. "Do you know the schedule?" "No. I think it runs every half hour," said he. "When?" "I don't know." Right. "Can we start walking to the PATH and maybe just maybe possibly I'll pay for it get a cab if we see one?" Agreed.
Many unmarked cabs passed us by. We were soaked.
Many buses passed us by. D was pissed.
We finally got a cab, $44 again, and waited while he got gas for twenty minutes. D raged the entire time against the bouncer, who he blamed for our misfortune. I kept saying "Dude, its our fault. We didn't bring the bus schedule! It's our fault," but no, it was the bouncer's fault.
We got home and poor WC had fallen asleep on the couch. He claimed to not have need for bedding as we'd be home by midnight his time, but he fell asleep anwyay. How much do I suck as a hostess? Tons.
Invisibility
I had this weird panic at lunch today.
There's a ChineseBurritoPlace near work where I customarily purchase disgusting but oversized burritos (8 pounds of food, I swear) for $5.05, including a drink. The people who work behind the counter are nuts. Before you even have a chance to look at the menu, they scream "MAYIHELPYOU?!" Seriously. They scream. They're hyper but efficient. They know that people always order the same thing, so there's no sense in waiting.
So I go in this afternoon, and there's four people behind the counter - two screamers, a cook, and a girl who's actually mellow. There is nobody else at the counter except me. I'm staring at all of them and they all looked right through me! And not like they were purposefully ignoring me. It was like I wasn't there!
This went on for about a minute, and I didn't know what to do. They had to have known I was there. They were all standing like 6 inches away from me, and how could they all be completely unattentive at the same time?
And it's not like they were ignoring me on purpose. They just didn't see me!
I didn't want to be all "Umm... excuse me?" They had to know I was there!
Then I thought "What if I've turned invisible?"
I quickly dismissed the idea, but then kept thinking "What if? Seriously, what if you could turn invisible in the same way that you like break out in a rash or something?"
How would you even know if you'd turned invisible in NYC? It's normal to be ignored, to be walked into, to be unnoticed. You wouldn't know if you were invisible!
Yeah.
I think New York is making me crazy.
There's a ChineseBurritoPlace near work where I customarily purchase disgusting but oversized burritos (8 pounds of food, I swear) for $5.05, including a drink. The people who work behind the counter are nuts. Before you even have a chance to look at the menu, they scream "MAYIHELPYOU?!" Seriously. They scream. They're hyper but efficient. They know that people always order the same thing, so there's no sense in waiting.
So I go in this afternoon, and there's four people behind the counter - two screamers, a cook, and a girl who's actually mellow. There is nobody else at the counter except me. I'm staring at all of them and they all looked right through me! And not like they were purposefully ignoring me. It was like I wasn't there!
This went on for about a minute, and I didn't know what to do. They had to have known I was there. They were all standing like 6 inches away from me, and how could they all be completely unattentive at the same time?
And it's not like they were ignoring me on purpose. They just didn't see me!
I didn't want to be all "Umm... excuse me?" They had to know I was there!
Then I thought "What if I've turned invisible?"
I quickly dismissed the idea, but then kept thinking "What if? Seriously, what if you could turn invisible in the same way that you like break out in a rash or something?"
How would you even know if you'd turned invisible in NYC? It's normal to be ignored, to be walked into, to be unnoticed. You wouldn't know if you were invisible!
Yeah.
I think New York is making me crazy.
Jedi Mind Trick
I think I may be a Jedi, because I think it was I who miraculously convinced Father to take the family on a cruise of the Mediterranean.
Yes, folks, The Lar's will be going to Europe in August. Previously we have gone to Quebec (with Father on business), New Hampshire, and Orlando. I had been on a plane a total of three times before college. Father took us on a cruise of the Caribbean in 1999 when his mother gave him his inheritance before he died. I promised myself then that I would never go on another trip with The Parents. He's just gotten a lovely new job after having been laid off yet again and for some reason has revamped his entire philosophy regarding all things monetary (read: cheap) and is taking us on a cruise of Italy!!! Needless to say I have revamped my philosophy regarding trips with parents (read: free trip to Europe? duh).
How very exciting, and how very, very, very bizarre.
Yes, folks, The Lar's will be going to Europe in August. Previously we have gone to Quebec (with Father on business), New Hampshire, and Orlando. I had been on a plane a total of three times before college. Father took us on a cruise of the Caribbean in 1999 when his mother gave him his inheritance before he died. I promised myself then that I would never go on another trip with The Parents. He's just gotten a lovely new job after having been laid off yet again and for some reason has revamped his entire philosophy regarding all things monetary (read: cheap) and is taking us on a cruise of Italy!!! Needless to say I have revamped my philosophy regarding trips with parents (read: free trip to Europe? duh).
How very exciting, and how very, very, very bizarre.
Food Log
I have to keep a food log.
What I really want to do is keep two food logs, one list of what I'm actually eating and one list of what I'd like to be eating.
The actual list is water and salads and scrambled eggs and fruits and vegetables and beans and cheeses and one abberant Mr. Softee ice cream cone because I could not resist. I had a friend in from out of town! I was hosting! I deserved it!
The other list would have things like hash browns, potato knishes, tater tots, mashed potatoes, bread, cookies, some more cookies, and also cookies, cheez-its, ice cream, juice, cocktails, etc.
I recommend the food log for everyone, though. It's actually kind of fun, and you start to feel guilty. The Mr. Softee cone is just staring at me. I hope the nutritionist doesn't give me a hard time, because then I'll have to be like "Dude, do you know how hard it is for me to NOT EAT MR. SOFTEE!?! That bastard drives his truck by my apartment TWICE A NIGHT AND I NEVER BUY ANYTHING FROM HIM BUT DON'T YOU THINK I WANT A SPIDERMAN ON A STICK!?"
What I really want to do is keep two food logs, one list of what I'm actually eating and one list of what I'd like to be eating.
The actual list is water and salads and scrambled eggs and fruits and vegetables and beans and cheeses and one abberant Mr. Softee ice cream cone because I could not resist. I had a friend in from out of town! I was hosting! I deserved it!
The other list would have things like hash browns, potato knishes, tater tots, mashed potatoes, bread, cookies, some more cookies, and also cookies, cheez-its, ice cream, juice, cocktails, etc.
I recommend the food log for everyone, though. It's actually kind of fun, and you start to feel guilty. The Mr. Softee cone is just staring at me. I hope the nutritionist doesn't give me a hard time, because then I'll have to be like "Dude, do you know how hard it is for me to NOT EAT MR. SOFTEE!?! That bastard drives his truck by my apartment TWICE A NIGHT AND I NEVER BUY ANYTHING FROM HIM BUT DON'T YOU THINK I WANT A SPIDERMAN ON A STICK!?"
Monday, June 05, 2006
You See....
... the thing is that I'd much rather be alone than be around people when it is not noticeable to the people that I am there. I'd rather be a hermit than be ignored. I'd rather be self-sufficient than unimportant. Sometimes I don't want to compromise. Sometimes I want to be selfish and do what I want to do. I am better at this than most people, because I paid a lot of money to learn how to be selfish, but it makes me feel like such a jerk. But I think I'd rather feel like a jerk than feel invisible.
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