for your VINformation

I’ve been meaning to post a scan of my new head-shot for months, but my scanner stoped working. Because I got up early the day after Thanksgiving and was rewarded with an inexpensive Lexmark X5410, I figured this should be my first scan…

I had quite the time setting the damn thing up, it didn’t come with a MAC disc and I had to download the software from the website and the first one didin’t take and my connection was spotty and it felt like I was in dial-up again…anyway, as you can, it works just fine.

When I read Wal-mart Worker Trampled to Death, I was shocked! Shocked and disgusted.

I first heard of the tragedy via text - "A Wal-mart worker was trampled to death on Long Island by a stampede of the shoppers! What the hell!?!" - as I was sitting down to lunch with Brian after our early morning Target shopping spree and was doubtful of it’s truth as the sender is prone to exaggeration - almost as much as I am!

But after of day of bargains and lines and nary an angry incident, I cam home to find out it actually happened. The internets being what it is, has been flooded with commentaries of the event and with so much hatred in the words, I actually had to look away from my computer screen as I was getting physically sick from reading. Whomever has contention with Wal-mart or Black people or Black Friday or Unions or even the continued over-commercialization of Christmas have taken this sad event and twisted it for their own means - I won’t link to the articles, I do not want to help give them a voice to spew their bile.

My thoughts and prayers go out to the Wal-Mart worker’s friends and family, I’m sure it won’t be a very Merry Christmas for them.

Meanwhile in Brooklyn:

At 6:30 in the AM on Friday, I was out in the thick of it all. I’d spent the night at Tom 2i’s 2e’s and Brian’s apartment after Thanksgiving dinner and the next day, Brian and I, armed and ready, braved the crowds to get the deals.

Target was opening at 6:00, getting there at 7:00 we thought we’d miss the crazies but ended up waiting in line just to get into the store. It was a quick line though, with other like minded shoppers. I’d go so far as to say, it was pleasant way to start the day - sharing shopping strategies with strangers is vaguely uplifting, almost like a warm-up before the work-out.

 When we made it in the store we headed to the electronic section, CDs & DVDs to buy for cheap; a $40.00 Lexmark printer already in the cart…hours later, most of my Christmas gift shopping done, I remarked to Brian, "Have you noticed how well behaved every one is?"

At the check-out counter, I noted every single register was open and no lane had more then 3 people in it! The employees were incredibly attentive and helpful - they had that place running like a Swiss clock!

In fact, with most of the costumers there for the electronic specials the rest of the store - with the exception of the toy department - didn’t seem any busier than a regular holiday Saturday.

After Target we hit Old Navy, Men’s Warehouse, a few local shops, Webber’s, the Good Will and Salvie’s.

I spent less money than expected - but more then I have - and after organizing everything, am very on-target to be done soon enough to truly enjoy the season.

Next holiday mission - get the cards out!

Tags: Wal-mart, worker killed, holiday shopping NYC

1. Put your iTunes (or iPod or iPhone or iAnything) on shuffle.
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS!

IF SOMEONE SAYS "IS THIS OKAY" YOU SAY?
Let’s Just Get Naked - Joan Osborne - Relish 

WHAT WOULD BEST DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONALITY?
Rooftop - Newsies - Newsies Soundtrack

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?
S.O.S. - Original Broadway Cast - Mamma Mia!

WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO?
The Second Star To The Right - Barbara Cook Disney Album

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?
In Another World - Portrait - Grace Of My Heart Soundtrack

WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?
Exit - Miss Spectacular - The Concept Album Soundtrack

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND?
Things That Make You Go Hmmmm…. - C+C Music Factory Super Hits

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT OFTEN?
Left To My Own Devices - Pet Shop Boys Discography: The Complete Singles Collection

WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A MATE?
My Way Or The Highway - Chuck Cooper And Pamela Isaacs - The Life Soundtrack

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
The Old Gumbie Cat - Andrew Lloyd Webber - Cats Soundtrack

WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
Who Wants To Live Forever - Queen - Classic Queen

WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING?
Fifty Percent - Dorothy Loudon - My Favorite Broadway: The Leading Ladies Soundtrack

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
Everybody Says Don’t - Laurie Beechman - Listen To My Heart

WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?
Roxie - Renée Zellweger - Chicago Soundtrack

WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST?
No Life - Sunday In The Park With George Soundtrack

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET?
The Confrontation - Original Broadway Cast Miss Saigon

WHAT’S THE WORST THING THAT COULD HAPPEN?
We Go Together - John Travolta - Grease Soundtrack

WHAT IS THE ONE THING YOU REGRET?
A Model Of Decorum And Tranquility - Chess Broadway Soundtrack

WHAT MAKES YOU LAUGH?
Smoke Rings - k.d. lang - Drag

WHAT MAKES YOU CRY?
Hurricane - Bette Midler - Thighs And Whispers (Remaster)

WHAT SCARES YOU THE MOST?
Home - Disney Beauty & The Beast Soundtrack

IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME, WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE?
Happy Birthday To You And To You - The Attractions - Side Show Soundtrack

WHAT HURTS RIGHT NOW?
Happy Days Are Here Again - Barbra Streisand - The Concert

Just something to waste time…

UPDATE:

At our Orphan Thanksgiving, I brought, my now famous Roasted Eggplant Soup.

I was asked for the recipe and figured I’d re-post it, with a few updates, as I’ve perfected the recipe.

It’s a perfect warm meal for the cold weather and since it’s virtually fat free, a healthy one at that!

ORIGINAL POST:

In Atlantic City, at one of the wonderful buffets we visited, I had the opportunity to sample an awesome Roasted Eggplant Soup. I figured, hey am OK cook, I bet I could replicate it at home, and I did!

Ingredients:

• One Medium Eggplant
• One Medium Onion
• One Head of Garlic
• Two Packages of Cherry Tomatoes
• EVOO
• Two cans of Veggie Stock
• One large can of Crushed Tomatoes
• Two Cups Water
• Salt and pepper to taste

Optional:

• Replace stewed tomatoes for cherry tomatoes
• Add one package of white mushrooms to roasting pan for a creamier soup
• Add one chopped red bell pepper, two teaspoons of red pepper flakes and tobacco before pureeing, for a soup with a kick!

Preheat oven to 400º - cube onions and eggplant - place in roasting pan with cherry tomatoes. Drizzle with Olive Oil. Roast. When the tomatoes burst, it’s just about done.

On stovetop, in a large pot add Veggie stock, crushed tomatoes, water and a few cloves of garlic, salt and pepper - bring to a rolling boil. Take off flame.

When roasting is complete, add eggplant/onions/tomatoes to pot, return to boil. Remove from flame. When sufficiently cooled, blend mixture in blender or use a hand blender to puree in pot.

Once mixture is pureed, simmer to thicken.

Makes four to six servings.

Delicious und healthy!!

Further proof that the idea of Facebook is really kinda genius: I found this class picture posted by one of my kindergarten classmates. this picture was taken over thirty years ago!

I’m standing, in the very mod gold turtleneck, next to the teacher.

• My health.
  • I’ve had some health issues this year - but, really, doesn’t that just help you feel the good times when they’re there?
• My family and friends.
  • I’m very blessed to have a strong group who support and encourage every one of my crazy whims
• My babies.
  • Molly and Joey prove to me everyday that unconditional love is real…
• My successes & failures.
  • Good times and bum times, I’ve seen them all and my dear, I’m still here!
• My apartment.
  • There is no way I’d be able to continue living the life I live if I didn’t have good ole 1R protecting me from the elements…

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

I wish a safe and happy holiday to all my readers, for whom I am very thankful.

Thanksgiving is in two days.

I have to work. I’ll be selling Broadway tickets all day long at the Marriott Marquis to tourists who have no idea exactly how important the holiday actually is…

I’m not complaining, really, I just really wish I was able to spend the day with my family…

…I realized:

1. My apartment looks much better in the dark…
2. You must dust EVERY week…
3. I make a mean low-fat pasta salad…
4. Cleaning day is a hell of a lot shorter when you keep a tidy apt…
5. Three days before Thanksgiving is too late to send out Thanksgiving cards, I’m gonna do it anyway…
6. Everybody wants something from you…
7. I’m a Scramble addict.
8. Chuck sucks!
9. If I don’t start my Christmas cards, they’ll be late as well.
10. I need to go to the post office…
11. It’s going to be a very lean Christmas - token gifts all, next year will be much better, I promise…
12. My oven bakes like crap - overcooks in in the back/undercooks in the front - how do I ask for a new one?
13. Joining SAG before an eminent strike may not’ve been such a great idea…
14. White cornbread is not as good as yellow cornbread
15. For one person, I generate a massive amount of trash; my carbon footprint must be huge!

Along the lines of visiting Easter Island and swimming in the Amazon River, I was able to check-off another life-long dream as been-there, done-that!

As previously stated, a play I was in was published. Today was the launch party. there were many great scenes from some very great short and full-length plays, and then, there was this…

The afternoon was filmed for a documentary and our scene was very well-received; in fact, all the scenes were well-received, I’d call the capacity event a smashing success.

It was a simply lovely way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

A chill in the city,
colder then a witch’s teat -
in a brass brasserie!

This was written by author Dan Millman, when he was a nineteen year-old college sophomore:

The Paradoxical Commandments

1. People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered. Love them anyway.
2. If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives. Do good anyway.
3. If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies. Succeed anyway.
4. The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow. Do it anyway.
5. Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable. Be honest and frank anyway.
6. The biggest men and women with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men and women with the smallest minds. Think big anyway.
7. People favor underdogs but follow only top dogs. Fight for a few underdogs anyway.
8. What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight. Build anyway.
9. People really need help but may attack you if you do help them. Help people anyway.
10. Give the world the best you have and you’ll get kicked in the teeth. Give the world the best you have anyway.

The Paradoxical Commandments are guidelines for finding personal meaning in the face of adversity. The paradox is this: even when things are tough — even when the world is crazy — we can still find personal meaning and deep happiness. We do that by facing the worst in the world with the best in ourselves. We do that by living a paradoxical life.

A short play I was in, a part of a past EATfest, One of the Great Ones, is being published by United Stages.

The playwright was asked to gather up the original cast to present a reading at the book-launch festivities.

The where and when:

• November 23, from 3 to 5 p.m.
• Barnes and Noble, Lincoln Triangle, 1972 Broadway @ 66th (take the 1 train to 66th)

About United Stages:

United Stages publishes original scripts from today’s Off-Off-Broadway/Indie theater scene. US scripts are a smart resource for theater companies looking to present the vanguard of plays and playwrights. For actors they offer fresh material that casting agents and teachers haven’t seen time and again. Our play catalog celebrates the unfolding of NY theater history from Caffe Cino legends to emerging indie stars.

On a personal note:

I think it’ll be really, REALLY cool if my name is listed on the …with the Original Cast… title page of a published play. Really, really, really cool. It’s been a dream of mine from the time I picked up my play to read - Agatha Christie’s Mousetrap - when I was just a wee, wee drama princess.

I submitted myself for this project:

The Unusuals
Project Type: Film & TV

Description/Note:
SAG Male to portray a Caucasian nude man in 40’s-50’s-Stunt Pay Extra Male Caucasian Talent should have love handles. Must NOT have worked the Unusuals. Will be wearing nudity wardrobe but supposed to look nude. Will be shooting outside. Stunt rate. (emphasis, mine)

I was called mere moments after submitting, moments I tell you!

I return the call. I gave a few details:

• yes I have tatoos.
• yes, if I’m naked, they will be visible…
• yes I have love-handles.
• getting shot in the chest and slamming into a car? not a problem!

I can’t even tell you what went through my head

• my first SAG role is going to be "fat, crazy, naked guy?"
• wait, it’s going to be 30 degrees next week…
• how much is SAG stunt rate?

The casting director seemed OK with the answers I gave to her very personal questions, but I guess, if you’re going to be naked on the big screen, they need to know everything about you and you really can’t lie, your ARE going to show-up on-set naked.

I have a feeling I’m not booking it, the listing was re-posted today.