Can I Contribute?

I have to learn to sit there and watch a man pay –even when I am sober. I know women who have no problem sitting and smiling and looking pretty while the man takes out his wallet at the end of a date. I can’t do it. Well, in fairness, I can. And I did for the first two dates. But by the third I just feel silly. I used to feel especially okay with it if I wasn’t particularly interested. I think this is probably the opposite of most women. But if I have any remote interest I feel it is my responsibility to contribute at some point. Like I don’t expect to be spoiled. Or like he needs to know that I am educated and able to pay my own way. And willing. I do not make blind offers. I never go out with a man with less than $40 in my wallet. It doesn’t feel right. So today, on my third date lunch with the Beach Boy –who by the way does NOT have blue eyes- even though I didn’t really WANT to but I felt the NEED to, I offered. He begrudgingly accepted –clarifying that it would not come back to haunt him (ie: “he actually let me pay”) and I have $20 less in my wallet. But I think now I’ll be able to go at least another date without paying. Although if the plan Saturday night ends up to be video games at his place (yes, I am really really trying with this one) then there won’t be any paying. There will be my bringing wine and candy and his having beer and a plasma tv and a bed. Which brings me to my next point. When approaching the last chance to create a suitable comfort level, and attempt at any chemistry and/or connection: When in doubt, make out. I’ll let you know how it goes. My guess is to date #6 –which is pretty high up there in my record table. At that point I think it might be caput. But we’ll see. I’m still trying. This guy seems like he should have merit somewhere below the lackluster conversational skills. …To be continued…
In other news, checkout NYC in 10 years.

Winter's On The Wing

Memorial Day has come and gone, and what a spring it is shaping up to be! Highlights from the weekend include dinner with the girls, pilates, the new X-Men movie, a BBQ at my friend’s AMAZING apartment (I really love visiting that place), and a picnic in the park.

The pharmacy, which is supposed to be open 24/7/365, has been playing tricks on me and so I am now 2 days without my pill. All is not lost, but I am sure I can count on some serious nausea this week once I start catching up. Yuck. Better to focus on the visit I received from an “old friend,” a German musician who looks like Antonio Banderas. He stopped by after the barbeque and I am proud to announce that after 4 years of popping in and out of my life, and 4 years of various levels of intimacy, we finally sealed the deal. THAT’S RIGHT!! I don’t care if the whole internet can read this, I had sex. And good for me! (and it was). And since then, although things were likely leading to this point anyway, I am a walking pheromone. I feel like Alan Shore, who said a couple weeks ago “It’s spring. I’m in heat.” Today, in particular, everything I look at, hear, and touch is turning me on. (not EVERYTHING. Not my computer, etc.) I feel like at 12-year-old-boy. I can not believe that this is what it’s like for men all the time. Pathetic. Kind of fun. But no way to be permanently. Also contributing to my state of being is the very fun dream I had about Andy Samberg last night. We saw a man at our picnic on the other side of the Great Hill playing Frisbee with his shirt off that from 500 feet away looked just like him. I guess he stayed on the brain. Yum. And then there is the “Beach Boy,” with whom I have a third date tomorrow at lunch. He is a very nice boy. Somehow I missed noticing that he has blue eyes. I’ll have to pay attention to that tomorrow. They are usually my favorite thing to notice about a boy. Blue eyes and broad shoulders and long strong backs. ...Well, be sure to enjoy the sun…

Much Ado About Something To Wear

As it turns out, scientists believe attaining invisibility is possible.

Other than that, this week I’ve been searching for inspiration for Phaedra since she is designing and making me a dress for my brother’s wedding. Here are my three favorites (remove the diagonal top ruffle on the second sample):

Go Mikey Go!

Ladies and Gentlemen:
I am Mike Piazza. Not actually. But last night at the corporate softball game I played catcher and also achieved my first ever base hit! This was only my second game and in the first one I didn’t strike out, but I didn’t make it to base. This game I made it to second base and then was there when one guy batted a fly-ball that was caught and then another guy fouled out. Well, I don’t really remember what those two outs were because my heart was racing and I was just looking to see if I needed to run or not. And reveling in the literal “whole new ballgame” that it is when you are on a base and ready to run. The other highlight of my game was when the shortstop whipped the ball to home, where I was unsuspectingly called upon to try and catch it so I could tag the other team’s runner. I, of course, have no experience ever catching a ball and tried to do so with my ungloved right hand. The hand I do everything with. It’s anti-instinctual to catch with your non-dominant hand. I know the dominant hand is naked so you can throw with it, but still. Tricky business. I’ll do better next time. …Afterwards most of the team went for beers -thanks Pres/CEO and VP of Sales! I am totally in with those guys. They are all very proud of me. …Oh, in case your wondering. We lost 12-5. Whatever. We rock like a hurricane.

Suomi Ikuisesti !!

That means Finland Forever! But before I start my story I should share that I just had the most delightful evening last night. I took myself to delicioius dinner at Penelope and then went to see The Drowsy Chaperone. Everyone in the world should run out and see that show. It was charming and delightful and I loved every second of it.

But on to the juicier stuff. Yael and I went to grab a drink after I got back uptown. We decided to try out a new place, one on Broadway and closer to her apartment. This bar is conveniently near a youth hostel. We didn’t really think about that though. We just wanted a casual place to buy cheap stoli-vanil-with-diet-cokes and talk about Alias. But we found ourselves next to 8 of the members of the Stadia Motorsport Formula Engineering team. They had just completed an international competition in Detroit, MI and they came in 5th Place! (Onneaxiholikon! -congratulations!)

At first they were not interested in talking. I tried to start conversation by asking if they were from Denmark. I asked this because I had on a previous occasion spent a very long evening with my friend Sara and two Danish boys we met. And during the course of that night I learned to proclaim SKOL! when raising your glass. So I thought maybe I could communicate with these gentlemen. But they were not from Denmark, and they were not interested in communicating. (and in case you are wondering, they do not say SKOL! In Finland, they say KIPIS!) But a short while later one of them asked us something. I have no recollection what it was, and then we all started talking. I have to say, I really enjoy meeting people from other countries. Especially Europeans. I just love learning about other cultures and sociological norms. For example, Finnish people don’t make small talk. Ever. And if they would, it would not be with strangers. Also, they drink a lot. And they have a big festival in the summer when the sun never goes down called Juhannus. And every day has a bunch of names attached to it so many people have a “name day” in addition to their birthday. And they have small celebrations (or maybe just a cake) on their “name days.’ Mine is August 11 this year. Maybe I’ll have a party!

Finnish people are proud of their young country (independent only since 1917) and do not like being associated with Sweden or Russia (both tried to rule them for too long) or any other Scandinavian areas. Helsinki, the capital and largest city only has 550,000 people or so, and the whole country only has 5 million. That’s a smaller population than all of New York City! They have small mountains up north in the lappland and so many lakes all through the country that there is a huge “cottage culture.” Kind of like the Hamptons. Everyone has a cottage house by the sea. Summer is an even bigger deal there than in New York where we have all kinds of events. They are so far north that they have very long winters with precious little sunlight, so they really get into it when the sun is around. …They all have a mandatory year of military service which they can complete at any time before 28. But most of them get it done right after high school. …I’m sure there’s more that Iearned, but that’s probably enough for now. Keep your eyes open for Finnish rock band HiM.

Let's meet the man who’s going to give Joe Lieberman a run for his money

I’ll take a rest from all the Broadway talk. Although it is the season. I go through two phases a year where I’ll see a handful of shows in a row and then take a break for 6 months or so.

And I could get into my intense disappointment with JJ Abrams and the ALIAS series finale.

But instead I’ll try to add a little substance with politics. Light politics. I’m not really that well read, but I try to keep abreast of the issues that are are significant to me. And I got an email today from my old friend Howard Dean telling me about this new kid from Connecticut called Ned Lamont who’s going places. This race is bittersweet for me, as there was a time when Joe Lieberman represented an important hope for us Jews. My aunt and uncle used to live in CT and go to synagogue with the senator. They were always huge supporters of his. And a good friend of mine worked as his press secretary during the Clinton Impeachment hearings. Good old Joe was outspoken and moral. He managed to observe Shabbat and be a senator. Things were exciting for a while. But by the time he was a VP candidate on Al Gore’s Presidential ticket, things weren’t looking so good. It is entirely possible that his political agenda didn’t change that much, but I remember having mixed feelings about this centrist man who wanted to censor Hollywood. Then he started supporting G.W. Bush and all his wars. And now I am indifferent towards the man. So let’s here what his new competitor Ned Lamont has to say (from his website):

Why am I running?
I am running for the US Senate because we deserve a Senator who will stand up for Connecticut and stand up for our progressive democratic values. Rather than spending hundreds of millions of dollars a day in Iraq, it is time for America to refocus on issues back home: fixing our healthcare system, upgrading our schools, and rebuilding our aging infrastructure. We will start winning in Iraq as the Iraqis take control of their own destiny, just as America has to start investing again in our own future.
I would have led the opposition to Judge Samuel Alito’s nomination to the Supreme Court, which may soon be considering the South Dakota law which outlaws a woman’s right to choose even in the case of rape and incest. I will push for energy conservation and efficiency standards as the best means to energy independence and a cleaner environment.
In other words, I am running to be your Democratic Senator.

ThreePenny Opera and Bare Breasts

For you non-theater people, here is something for you to enjoy. Once again, there is too much hooplah over boobs.

As for the rest of you, as promised, here is my review of ThreePenny Opera:

First, the show has a complicated history. The show originally premiered in Germany in 1928, based on John Gay’s famous Beggar’s Opera of 1728. The story has always been a seedy, noir, anti-bourgeois satire. This production has stayed true to the plot and simply updated the script with a fresh and biting translation by Wallace Shawn. His contribution is, in my opinion, the best part of the show. While overall I would call it a well-done production, I felt there were many near-misses. Most importantly was the casting. (Jim Carnahan, what happened?? You always do such an incredible job!) Lately Broadway producers have been in need of casting well known recording artists and television and/or film actors to ensure maximum ticket sales. I have never been a fan of this tactic, but from time to time am suckered into watching a certain production out of a voyeuristic curiosity. The cast is a talented bunch, but no match for Kurt Weill’s challenging musical score. Nellie McKay, in particular, should stick to songwriting. Not only did she fail to move the material forward with her performance, she brought it backward to her weak vocal level. Listening to her speak-sing the complicated and exciting music took much away from my experience. Ana Gasteyer, on the other hand, has a very powerful voice -and one that I rather enjoy listening to. However I did not feel that she was appropriately cast in this role either. She would belt out an impressive array of notes, yet it wasn’t the right technique for the songs she was singing or the moment she was creating. As for Alan Cumming, whom I wrote of previously as an expected shoe-in for a Tony nod, he could not bring the same commanding presence to this role that he did as Emcee in Cabaret. Once again, I have to insist he was not vocally strong enough. Incidentally, Jim Dale was a pleasant surprise and very deserving of his nomination. I also was delighted to watch Brian Charles Rooney as Lucy Brown. But the production overall had a large disconnect. Director Scott Elliot has no musical directing credits in his bio, and I think hiring him for this job was the first of many errors on the Roundabout’s part. As I mentioned earlier, the show is not a simple one musically, and I would expand that statement to say it is a wholly complicated piece. There are numerous acts, hidden political agendas in the script, and countless fourth-wall breaches. To have someone at the helm who is unaccustomed to storytelling with musical interludes is unacceptable for such a delicate circumstance. Furthermore, production values were incongruous, with costumes from contrasting eras and similar confusion among the sets and props. I am all for utilizing anachronistic tools to easily send a point across to an audience, but this production went in so many directions it was unclear what the message actually was. One was forced to concentrate so as not to miss anything, but likely did regardless. Also, somehow even with my extra focus I found the timing dragged. I have no doubt that the production directors are top notch. But without proper unification the efforts were overshadowed. There was no uniformity in the characterizations either. Some actors used a New York dialect and some high Brittish, some were Scottish and some were cockney. Sure, it is possible that these characters were in the same geographic location with a different upbringing. Yet with all the other discontinuities, the mismatched dialects added to a general sense of chaos. I could go on about this production all day, but I’ll end by reiterating that I do not feel this was a bad show. I wouldn’t ask for my money back or even tell people not to go. But with top names in the cast, Isaac Mizrahi doing costumes, similarly successful set and lighting designers, and a backing from the Roundabout Theater, it could have been –perhaps it SHOULD have been- an incredible theatrical experience. Better luck next time.

postscript: incidentally, I found a review with similar opinions but much better grammar here

Give My Regards to Broadway

5/19/06 Give My Regards to Broadway
TONY AWARD NOMINATIONS ARE OUT!!!!

In all the birthday excitement (and my secret quarrel with Playbill) I totally forgot to check. For a complete listing of nominees, click here.

I am surprised to see that The Drowsy Chaperone was the leader with 13 nominations. They have not generated particularly huge buzz in the Theatre Community as of yet. They did well in L.A. and have a somewhat curious plot, but it has been in various stages of production since 1998 and most of the creative team are people no one has heard of. Of course now, I’m sure, publicity will go through the roof. And I’m going to have to run and see it before June 11.

Now, while I think Sutton Foster is tremendously talented, and both Patti LuPone and Chita Rivera are legends, I really feel the need to push for LaChanze to win the Lead Actress award. She has one of the most powerful, beautiful, incredible voices I have ever heard. And she gives everything she has when she performs. Once on This Island is one of my favorite cast recordings, and I was able to see her perform in the Los Angeles tryout of Ragtime before Audra McDonald took over the role of Sarah and went with the show to Broadway (and won a Tony for it, as that woman has the Midas Touch). I didn’t actually see The Color Purple, but I know what this woman is capable of. And since I am not actually a TONY voter, I should be allowed to say these things without having seen all the shows. It is a dangerous road to ho though, because I remember how excited I was when I saw Jane Krakowski win for her performance in the NINE revival. After all, I did think she was fantastic as hot secretary Elaine Vassel on Ally McBeal. But when I finally saw the show I realized I would have preferred Mary Stuart Masterson to take it home. …Another surprise from the nominations this year is the missing nod for Alan Cumming in ThreePenny Opera. I know there was some stiff competition this year in that category, but he totally blew the world to pieces as the MC in Cabaret at Studio 54. I can't imagine this performance is any less stellar. Anyway, I’m seeing ThreePenny this weekend. I’ll try to post a few thoughts on Monday.

Three Shows to see this season:

1) Sweeny Todd -Michael Cerveris and Patti LuPone doing classic Sondheim.

2) Grey Gardens -(off broadway) The thing is, anything Playwrights Horizons puts up is worth seeing. Of course, half of them end up on Broadway anyway.

3) The Drowsy Chaperone- Leading Nominee with the most Tony AND Drama Desk nominations. I clearly have had a very distracting spring so far. I haven’t been keeping up on my news! Otherwise it might not have been such a surprise. –although in my defense, the show opened May 1. That’s not a significant amount of time to generate real strong buzz.

CRAP, read below first! (I know how to fix it, but this way is funnier)

…I can’t figure out how to post a picture in the middle of a posting so I had to start anew. Anyway, that should be enough to keep you satisfied for today.

3 things I am grateful for today:

1) Adina’s co-worker gave us the Grey’s Anatomy tape and now I can see the final 45 minutes.

2) the sun has been shining all morning (even if it is going to go away again tonight)

3) I can show up at work at 9am instead of 8:30 and walk in with my departmental VP.



....incidentally, I just figured out how to post pictures in the middle of text. too late now! but helpful for future...

Feelin' Hot Hot Hot

It’s official, I am hot again. I had put on a few pounds and am still working to drop them, but I’ve gotten back to a level where strangers notice me. And I am not talking about the sleezy middle aged and/or lower class men on the sidewalk. I am talking about Mr. tall hot guy in the elevator who works on the 8th floor. He held the door for me walking into our office building and then was somewhat smooth about checking me out during our elevator ride. When it was time for me to exit on the 5th floor he took notice so I smiled and said “have a good day.” This is not the first time I have seen him in or near the elevators. Next time I’m going to have to say hello. …maybe. But if I see him again today I should invite him to happy hour. A bunch of people from work do this somewhat regularly. I’ve not yet been to one with this crowd. Today we celebrate my birthday and the birthday of two other guys. Excellent. More free drinks.

…last night I spoke to my brother and future-sister-in-law after my pilates class. They were drunk from some half price wine deal at whatever restaurant they went to in DC. I like talking to my brother when he’s drunk. He’s pretty funny. AND more importantly, he thinks I am hilarious! One good tidbit I got is that he thinks my friend Karen is hot. Aside from the fact that Karen IS hot, this is a fact, it’s not surprising since he has always had a thing for Katie Holmes. See the resemblance:

Cranky Panky

I was very cranky this morning but managed to get out of it as the day has progressed. I’m going to take this moment to appreciate that I have the ability to get out of a mood like that. And that I made use of that skill. Most of us can and do, but still… On to the juicy details:

Monday night to finish the festivities a bunch of us went to Vintage New York’s WineBar. It was fun. I’d go again. Especially on “Girl’s Night Out” when they give you your second drink free. Then yesterday I spent the day at the Westin Times Square for a work event. It was a lovely and well-run event. I learned a fair amount. I was also so bored most of the time that I actually tore my cuticles off of my nails. By the time it came around I couldn’t even be bothered to stay for the cocktail hour. Plus my allergies had been driving me crazy the last two days so I went home and made soup and got under the covers. I watched TV for 6.5 straight hours last night. Pathetic. It’s no wonder that my apartment looks like a Katrina victim. I make a few efforts here and there, but for the last month I just haven’t had it in me to really take care of things. I will get there. One of these days I’ll host a Shabbat dinner again and then I’ll have to clean up.

Alright, short entry today. I’ll leave you with 3 things I need to accomplish today:

1) Get my ass to Pilates. I haven’t been since Saturday but have been eating loads of delicious birthday crap.

2) Free Birthday Scoop from Baskin Robbins. My coupon expires on 5/20.

3) Finish writing Thank You Notes. I have generous people in my life and enjoy sending sappy cards on cute stationary. I already finished half of them.

Happy Birthday to Me.

So I here I am at 11 am on my 29th birthday. So far I’ve gotten a handful of e-cards, one phone call, and a different handful of regular emails saying “happy birthday” I’m feeling generally loved and appreciated, and preparing to dive into my typical work boredom. People are still talking about the Party Saturday night. I usually gather my closest friends together and force them to share a Village Karaoke room with me and then hog the mic. This year I decided to have a big blowout party and I enlisted said friends to invite everyone they know. We went to Kings Head Tavern, an excellent location with a great back room and cheap drinks. Turnout was certainly nothing to balk at, but I of course had slightly higher expectations. Ah well, such is life. Present at the party (among the masses) were “famous” bloggers from Jewschool and Jewlicious and 3 men whom I had previously seen naked. One was kind enough to kiss me for 10 minutes or so towards the end of the night –very much to my enjoyment- but really for the purpose of getting rid of my hiccups. It did the trick. For future reference, I recommend that solution above all others.

…Where did this blog come from? I’m glad you asked. I recently found myself reading Helen Gurley Brown’s Sex and the Single Girl after it was recommended to me with overwhelming gusto by a good friend. This book was written in 1962. You can imagine some of the things she has to say. All things considered, it sends a positive message. I just don’t like people telling me what to do. As I approach 30, I think it’s time for me to come to terms with this fact. And as I sat there, reading her suggestions on how to save money and find a man to share your life with but still be happy without one, I realized that I could certainly write that book. Especially as I enter into the juicy year of Saturn Return in the era post Sex & the City. After all, everyone is writing a book these days. Why should I be any different? I’m clever and charming. That should be good enough. …So I spoke to my successful writer friend Dave Itzkoff and asked him what I needed to do. He was amused at best. Most authors/editors I know are possessive about their field. I appreciate that given the fact that I never think anyone is a good enough singer (except myself of course, and not even her so much lately). But he did offer me some advice.

“It will be difficult for anyone to want to publish you if you do not have any solid writing experience… you might want to make a weblog.”

He said some other things which I think are crap, but it’s probably not a bad idea to get this thing going. I tend to come up with grand schemes (that I never follow up on) when I am otherwise uninspired in my life. This may just be another one of those. Or perhaps, this is indeed the beginning of a new era.

3 Things to be proud of today:

1) 3 of my friends called me last night after Grey’s Anatomy to discuss. None of them watched before I introduced them to it.

2) I must really be growing up because I recently purchased a white button down shirt -something I always hated. I thought it was boring and uncomfortable. Now I am wearing it happily. Mine has cute puffy shoulders.

3) I just finalized my new personal budget. No more overspending!