I'm taking a mini-vacation next week...Monday-Tuesday (yes, VERY mini). I'm hopping a Greyhound Bus very early Monday morning and spending a night up at Mohegan Sun. Never been there, so it'll be a nice escape. I just need a day or two away before things get busy again. It's cheap and I'm excited!

The cleaning process has begun in my apartment. My vacuum has decided to crap out on me, I don't know why. It spits out dust and leaves dirty tracks on my carpet. It could be the plaster that's inside the machine, so perhaps a cleaning? Isn't it a bit ironic to have to clean a vacuum? I took down the curtains in the living room, hung them out the window, and beat them like a Sicilian Nonna beats her carpets. Swiffer dusters brushed the tops of all the moldings (there are many-it's a pre-war apartment). I swept, since my vacuum has gone on strike. No matter how much I clean, I still find little pockets of plaster dust somewhere and it's driving me insane.

I've moved my television across the room, but I'm having some difficulty extending the cable line. I cannot disconnect it from the splicer the cable company installed and I can't find a female to female coax adaptor I need to connect the new extension to the existing cable. Radio Shack sold me something that I thought would work, but it doesn't (big shock). For now, the tv is catty cornered by the window and the cables are messy all over the floor.

AND...because of all the dust and god-knows-what that's been in the air with all the construction going on, my seasonal respiratory infection seems to be kicking up again. All I need is a slight little catalyst to set it off, and it usually is spurned by pollen or animals. This time, it's plaster. Bah.

I have an interview tomorrow with a woman I spoke to on the phone the other day. Charlotte (at the Rep) gave her my info and recommended me as a candidate for her assistant. It's with MCC Theatre and it's a show called "Fifty Words" starring Elizabeth Marvel and directed by Austin Pendleton. It's a job that pays peanuts, but with a group of people and a PSM who can get me good connections. It's a tough place to be, but I really think the positives outweigh the negatives. I know she is interviewing two other people, but she said she was enjoying talking to me on the phone and wants to meet me. Hopefully I can get this show. I have a really good feeling about it.

Other work related news: a friend of mine is SM for "The Tempest" at Classic Stage Company and needs a sub for next weekend. They're only in their first week or rehearsals, so I'll be running them for her and taking blocking (ick). Lord knows I know "The Tempest" well after living with it on the road for six months!
That same friend may also hook me up with the monthly "Shaw Projects" that are put on as readings at the Players Club. Itty bits and pieces are better than nothing!

Quotes from "The Golden Girls" as only Sophia Petrillo could:

"Why do blessings wear disguises? If I were a blessing, I'd run around naked."

"If this sauce were a person, I'd get naked and make love to it."


Rose : "Here you are, Sophia. The perfect after-dinner treat, a nice dish of Jell-O."
Sophia : "I hate Jell-O. If God wanted peaches suspended in midair, He would have filled them with helium."

Dorothy : "You see what this holiday has become? You see? Everybody thinks the best way to show someone you care is by going into debt. I mean, where is the love? Where's the sharing? Where is the - the true spirit of Christmas?"
Sophia : "Neiman-Marcus, Ladies Apparel, third floor."

Rest in peace, Estelle.

Trapped, yet again, in my bedroom. At least this time I've found an accessible wireless signal to get online. By 1pm, the plaster guy hadn't shown up, so I went out into the hallways and stairwells to find him. I did. I also found my building manager, who hastened the busy man to get into my apartment. I don't understand why they only have one guy doing it, considering that my apartment alone had 16 holes and there are a lot of apartments in this building, all of which need the work done. Regardless, he is here, and currently working on the kitchen. He already patched up the holes in the living room. Instead of re plastering, he's used sheet rock, which makes total sense to me. Before the building manager left, I scheduled in a time for the spacklers to come and she wrote it down in front of me for 9am Monday morning. I can go after her if they don't show. Once the spackle dries, it will be sanded and painted by the super. I have a feeling that I'll do the painting myself, otherwise I may wind up waiting all summer. Good thing I still have a half gallon of my red kitchen paint. The living room will go white, which is what it is now anyhow.

What a mess. And my lungs are pissed off at me for inhaling plaster dust.

I just want my apartment back, is that too much to ask?

I've been confined to my bedroom all morning without internet, television, and at some point, power. The electricians are were my unit today, banging holes in the walls and continuing the building's new wiring system into my place. I had no idea they were coming until yesterday, however, and I'm somewhat peeved with my building management for not telling me it was today. I knew they were in the building, as we were all told that they would be doing the two and three bedroom apartments first, before moving on to the smaller ones. The notice we received said that we would be called a few days in advance to let us know when they would be getting to each other apartment. Needless to say, I ran into the electricians yesterday as soon as I left my apartment to run errands. They needed to get in and take a look, so I went back up and granted admittance. They said they would be back tomorrow (now today). I spent last night putting things away and covering everything. I'm currently less than pleased with the situation, as it now renders my apartment unlivable. Everything in the kitchen is either in a cabinet, in the fridge, or covered. In the living room, it's a scene like I was moving out. Pictures and curtains are down and everything is bundled up together and covered in plastic. I did most of the covering myself, but they still came in with their previously used, plaster dust covered plastic sheets and covered everything anyhow. The result? DUST EVERYWHERE, and they hadn't even started poking holes yet!

I should have tried to get my wireless internet up and running, but I think the router is dead anyhow. My hardwire cable doesn't reach into my bedroom, so no internet today. Tell me why, in my hour (day) of need, there isn't ONE connection in the neighborhood that isn't password protected?!

So I had my laptop (albeit no internet) to blog offline, write, and whatever. I also had three books to read that I just got off reserve at the library. All are about flight attendants, mainly for research of the "me" character in the book I'm trying to write, who is a flight attendant. Also, to see if I am still interested in a career change, which I think I've decided I'm not. I'm a stage manager, and I'm not willing to leave my city for some airline, dammit!

They just left, and actually did a decent clean up job, complete with a wet mopping of the entire place (which is more than I usually do!). There are holes in the kitchen & living room ceilings and walls with the shiny new conduit running through them. A new box for an outlet now exists in my living room and in the kitchen. Neither actually HAS an outlet installed yet, and I've been told it will be about two weeks until that happens. The power in the building is still on the old system for a while, so there's actually no need for them as of now. The new breaker box they installed in the kitchen doesn't even have breakers in it yet. The plaster crew will be in later today OR tomorrow to cover the holes. I assume that the painters will be in next week to sand the dry plaster and paint over the mess. Then I'm left with the painting I will have to make the kitchen Tuscon Red again. I'll be living in a mess for two weeks, it seems. I can't move most of the furniture back until the plastering is done, and will have to move it again once the painters come in. Ugh. To top it all off, they are now working in the apartment above mine. All the banging and poking of holes is causing little bits of plaster to fall from the holes in my ceilings and onto my floor. All this work...the power better NEVER go out in this building again!

.1. Where is your cell phone? …………..On my coffee table
..2. Your significant other?…………….haven't found him yet
..3. Your hair? ……………………….Curly and frizzy, thank you NYC humidity!
..4. Your mother? ……………………….classic
..5. Your father?……………………….strong

..6. Your favorite thing?……………….living alone in Manhttan
..7. Your dream last night?………………can't remember
..8. Your favorite drink? ………………coffee
..9. Your dream/goal?……………………Broadway....
..10. The room you’re in?………………my living room

..11. Your ex?………………………….which one, ha ha!
..12. Your fear?…………………………I'm a hypochondriac, pick one!
..13. Where do you want to be in 6 years?…at my desk, in my living room, admiring my bank account.
..14. Where were you last night?………….in my apartment.
..15. What you’re not?……………………frugal.

..16. Muffins?…………………………yummy, yes please!
..17. One of your wish list items?…………healthy body
..18. Where you grew up?…………………Long Island
..19. The last thing you did?……………brushed my teeth
..20. What are you wearing?………………tank top, sleep shorts, and flip flops.

..21. Your TV?………………………….FIFTEEN years old!
..22. Your pets?…………………………none...sniff :(
..23. Your computer? ……………………happy
..24. Your life?…………………………good.
..25. Your mood?…………………………bored and antsy

..26. Missing someone?……………………yes.
..27. Your car?…………………………what car?
..28. Something you’re not wearing?………my new shoes.
..29. Favorite Store?……………………DSW or Bed Bath & Beyond
..30. Your summer?………………………so far so good.

..31. Love someone?………………………always
..32. Your favorite color?………………..red
..33. Last time you laughed……………….when I saw a new commercial for Tampax.
..34. Last time you cried?……………….can't really remember
..35. Who will repost this?………………everyone in the world (or perhaps none, I dunno).

They're here.

I love them.

I may never take them off.
Except to shower, and go to the gym. That would be weird.

I know I sound shallow, but when it comes to shoes, there's not better way to be!

right foot...

...and the left.

I may finally have a job interview lined up. Something Off-B'way "A" contract (same as Irish Rep) with the Redshift Theatre in NYC. Nothing fancy, but something. I'm waiting to hear from the SM as to when he can see me.

Today I participated in a test panel for Pantene Hair Products. I went with my friend, Pam, who had been registered for the test panel company for years. She got the call and was asked to bring a friend. It was 45 minutes sitting and talking about our feelings/opinions on different sales ads for a new Pantene Hair Care Line. It was easy, it was fun, and they send you on your way with a check for $75!

After months of shoe-stalking, I succeeded in acquiring a pair of the season's hottest shoe. I don't always buy designer shoes, and I don't necessarily care about the latest trends. However, I saw these shoes and I NEEDED to have them. I didn't realize how popular they were until I tried to find a pair. Upon their release in April, they've been impossible to find. I've tried them on in different colors, but cannot find the heavily desired taupe pair. I tried every day on every online website I could find that sold them, but they've been out of stock forever. Last week I finally stumbled on a pair at shoes.com. Previously, they didn't have any of them, but suddenly, at the time I popped on their website, a pair appeared. Either they found a pair in a stockroom or someone returned them, but there they were in a size 8.5. I immediately bought them, relishing in my luck, and discovered that they were the very last pair in my size. Now, they're only available in a 5.5.

I know this bores you all, but I love my shoes. I missed the UPS delivery today, and I'm praying that he doesn't come tomorrow during the three hours I won't be home. I called and requested a different time slot, so hopefully it will work out. I also gave permission for the package to be delivered to the super. I need these shoes like, yesterday!

I'm a sucker for disaster movies. The 70's classics like "The Poseidon Adventure, "Earthquake," and "The Towering Inferno" are my all time favorites. However, the badly made, melodramatic, TV movies are terrible and I can't stop watching them if they're on TV. "10.5" is one of the worst, about a massive earthquake that destroys Southern California, rendering L.A. into an island. I turned on USA Network today and saw that "10.5 Apocalypse" had just started. As if the original wasn't bad enough, they made a sequel.

I'll be watching it all day.

It was a good Fourth of July weekend. I spent it out on the Island with the family, where it was significantly cooler than the city. I got to spend a lot of time with my sister and my nephew, as well as my parents and my brother. It was nice to be home to visit, as always.

My foot is healed, and I finally went back to the gym after a week away. I think I could possibly be starting to enjoy it, to be honest. I love that elliptical trainer, I really do! It's also amusing to be working out and be able to watch the Circle Line boat float by with a boat-load of tourists checking out places in NYC that they never knew existed. Somewhere, someone on that boat has a picture of me working on the elliptical through the window of the gym!

It's comfortable in my apartment today. I'm not incredibly hot, and I'm not sweating. It's nice to be able to walk around without sweating to death.

For all you loyal readers, here is a bonus photo of yours truly and my nephew. My finger gesture is me telling him to push the button on the camera. Which he did!

I don't like it much when LJ goes "unavailable" due to "emergency maintenance." It's like when ConEd is drilling in the street at 3am due to an "emergency repair." Bah. Now I can't remember what I wanted to post.

Yesterday was a gym day, as I've been going every other day. I got my spot on the elliptical, with the view of the water. I kept wondering if that Broadway Bridge (a vertical lift) ever goes up to allow boats to pass underneath. How cool would that be to watch? Today I discovered that the bridge went up this morning to allow a barge to pass underneath. Apparently it was up between 10:30am and 11:30am, so there was no traffic or subway past 215th street in Manhattan for that time. Cool that the bridge worked, but not cool that traffic was a total nightmare!

A new cafe has opened up in Inwood, the Indian Road Cafe & Market. I found it through a local website, and it looks like a nice little spot. The downside for me, however, is that it isn't near my apartment. It's way ip on 218th street by the water. Too far to go for a simple cup of coffee, but definitely worth the trek to check it out.

I rolled my foot today while carrying trash down the stairs. I landed on the step with my right foot on its side. Luckily it isn't swollen, and the Advil keeps the pain away, but I certainly won't be working out on it today or tomorrow. I did some hand weights today, so I didn't feel completely stagnant.

I've still got flight attendant on the brain. I really am interested in GETTING MORE INFORMATION about it. I fear that what I'm really drawn to is the exotic fantasy of it all, completely ignoring the fact that the job deals with tough passengers and possibility of crashing and rough flights. Then there's the whole thing with having to move to wherever you are scheduled to base out of. I'm wondering if I should get in touch with my (second) cousin, Vicky. She has been a flight attendant with American for 25+ years. I'm sure she'd be open to chatting with me about the process and helping me discover if it's something I truly want to pursue.

The "me" character in the book I've been scribbling around with is a flight attendant. Perhaps the research I've been doing for that character is what's setting this all off. Who knows?

I want to go somewhere, but I can't get it to work out. My AA miles won't get me free flights where I want to go when I want to go there, and the only cruises I want to take involve flying somewhere. There goes that idea. I'm not about to charge an entire vacation on a credit card knowing I can't immediately pay it off. I'm just SO EFFIN BORED! The gym has been good for killing time, and I've been able to spend more time on the elliptical before getting bored with it. I even got to see back-to-back cargo locomotives pass by on the Metro-North tracks yesterday. However, the foot will not let me gym it, at least for a couple of days. Bah.

I would really love it if someone could explain my ongoing (and growing) obsession with being a flight attendant.

Anyone, anyone??

From the elliptical machine on the second floor at my gym I can see the following:

The waters of Spuyten Duyvil, which is where the Harlem River and the Hudson meet on the North tip of Manhattan. It separates the island of Manhattan from the Marble Hill and the Bronx. It is actually the re-routed Harlem river, replacing the once named Siyten Duyvil Creek that ran further north around 230th Street in the Bronx. The rerouting resulted in the area known as Marble Hill to be legally part of Manhattan, while geographically being a part of the Bronx. The occasional recreational boat or kayak can be seen.

Broadway Bridge crosses the water on the right. It is a vertical lift bridge that opened in 1962. It carries cars, buses, pedestrians, and the 1 Train, which runs above ground in these parts.

Far off in the distance, a purpley shadow almost nine miles South, is midtown Manhattan. The Empire State Building a hazy suggestion in the distance.

Metro North trains coming and going from Grand Central Station on the Hudson River Line.

Trees everywhere, in every direction. Inwood Hill Park, Isham Park, Fort Tryon Park, and other parks in the Bronx.

It's quite a lovely view for a gym. It gives me something to look at while I sweat away (provided, of course, that I get a space near the window). If I miss out on this window, I can get a lovely view of Target & Marshall's while still seeing some of the water and the trains. Not too shabby.

I stole this linkrom skitty. I saw it on her journal and absolutely had to put it on mine for fear that some of you wouldn't see it. Has anyone ever played "Jenga?"






I'm skeptical.

Yet intrigued.

You know you're really into a TV show when the situation on the show makes you anxious and worried for certain parties involved.

I really LOVE Deadliest Catch.

Abby and I went to the Mermaid Parade at Coney Island yesterday. We got there quite early, so we had about an hour and a half to kill before the 2pm parade kick off. We walked on the boardwalk, which was surprisingly uncrowded and very relaxing. There were a lot of people on the beach, and it almost felt like we had left the city completely.

I was amazed by the Cyclone. Having only been to Coney Island once, when I was very young, I don't remember it. I had this image of a massive, wooden coaster, towering over all of Astroland Park. I was wrong. The Cyclone is quite small, actually, and literally sits right along Surf Avenue, the main drag on the Island. I didn't get to ride it, but I plan to return and give it a try at a later date. Instead, Abby and I rode the Wonder Wheel. We got to ride one of the swinging cars, #1, which rolls on a track as the wheel rotates. We didn't expect the swing we got, it really moved! The view from the wheel was beautiful--a complete, unblocked view of the beach and pier.

The parade itself was insane. The population grew by about 100% by 2pm. We (smartly) opted to stand on the subway station side of the street, so we could escape ahead of the thousands of people in attendance. We were shoulder to shoulder with so many other people, in the sun, while antique cars and mermaids passed us by. We were having a great time until a man in a wheelchair came by and ruined it for everyone. Half-way through the parade he starts pushing himself forward toward the barrier, rolling over peoples sandal-clad toes. I told him I was sorry, but there was absolutely no where for us to move, as we were already three people deep in the crowd. Still, he continued to push his way forward, being very arrogant about it all, saying that his wheelchair didn't have nerves so he couldn't feel him running over feet. I asked him to please stop rolling over my toes and he told me that it was "too bad" and that he couldn't see. Abby suggested that perhaps he should have arrived earlier to get a space by the barrier, and he didn't like that idea. I then told him that just because he was in a wheelchair he didn't have an excuse to push people around and injure them by rolling over their feet. That shut him up and we ignored him the rest of the day. What an ass.

There were mermaids who were very well thought out and very beautiful, there were men in drag as mermaids, men as mer-men, children in costumes, and a lot of costumes that had absolutely NO relation to being a mermaid at all. Naked body-painted women who only wore black g-strings, pirates, and sailors. There was a woman behind us in the crowd who was dressed head to toe as a mermaid. She wasn't, should we say, skinny, and was wearing a skimpy halter topped, body hugging, spandex costume that revealed EVERYTHING. She was loving the attention from people though, taking photos with many tourists. The most amusing part of her costume, however, was the nicotine patch she wore on her arm. I wasn't even aware that mermaids could smoke under water!

Before the parade actually started, Abby and I were sitting on a small patch of grass, eating our fruit salad, when I got a text message from Elis. He wasn't feeling well and wanted to know if I could cover his show at the Irish Rep that evening. So after the parade, I went to work at the Rep. I got home around 11:30pm and was exhausted from all the sun. Today, I'm still wiped out.

Wonder Wheel

The Mermaid Parade Banner

More pictures from the day can be seen at my facebook page:

Coney Island Photos

I've started writing again. It was never a thought in my mind after writing "Gennielullaby." I never considered that a book, per se, but more of a journal that I printed out and let other people read. I spent the afternoon with my Aunt and Uncle on Tuesday, getting a haircut and eating good Italian at Aquista in Fresh Meadows. My aunt drove me to the subway and told me that I should write another book. The things that happen to me, in my building and my hood, are just things that happen to me, but are stories to everyone else. Why shouldn't I write a book? Short stories, perhaps? She kept telling me that my knack for writing was evident, and I should use my boredom and experiences to create something everyone could enjoy. I wasn't sure what to say about it. Could I write a book? Perhaps. I never thought about writing for the masses, or even making any money out of it. I wasn't sold on the idea, but kept it in the back of my mind.

I started writing on Tuesday night, and it started becoming a bit mundane. Blah, blah, blah, the story of a suburban girl moving into an apartment in NYC. Loud neighbors, gas leaks, bugs, etc. I had already written enough about my fictional self and was getting bored with it. I started outlining ideas based on people in my building and my hood. I realized that there are a lot of interesting characters I could investigate.

Last night I wrote eight pages about a man who lives in my building whom I know nothing about. I gave him a name, a history, a family, and created quite a little short story. The first time I read it from start to finish I almost wanted to cry. I put it away for now. I'll come back to it later. Now I'll get started on someone else.

I finally got the kitchen painted today. This only reinforced the fact that I am an incredibly messy painter. It does, however, look quite fantastic. In fact, it looks better than I expected. Only thing left to do is paint the one full wall (that the table is on, opposite the wall with the window) in the black chalkboard paint.

The pictures don't do either room justice, as the colors don't photograph too well. The bathroom "Northern Pear Tree" is actually a bit more sagey than in the picture, and the kitchen "tuscon red" is much less orange than the photos reveal.

Towel bar wall with a bit of the shower curtain.

From the doorway looking toward the window.

Behind the stove with the white tile.

I spent the afternoon on Long Island, celebrating Father's Day with my family. Some grilling, some chat, and some presents for dad. My sibs and I got him some really nice chairs for his new patio, but I especially liked the outdoor fireplace we got for him. It'll make his patio even nicer to sit in than it already is. Despite that it was Father's Day, naturally it was my nephew who got all the attention. 18 months old and absolutely perfect.

Absolutely the most beautiful baby in the world!

Tossing a ball out of the pool and into the mud!

Northern Pear Tree.

That's the color of my bathroom at the current hour. I took the Aura paint sample I LOVED to Home Depot to use their color match system. The computer matched my swatch to something not remotely the same. I looked around at the Behr & Glidden samples and finally stumbled upon the "FreshAire" paint. It's a VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) free paint. According to their website, VOC compounds give paint it's nasty smell and aren't very nice for the environment. Because this paint doesn't have these nasty VOC components, the paint hardly even smells like paint usually does. It covers very nicely and comes in a recyclable plastic can printed with soy ink, so I'm sold! The color isn't exactly as sagey as I wanted, but it's nice against the white subway tile. Too bad they don't cover a comparable color for my kitchen.

I started around 5:30pm and just finished with the 2nd coat. I discovered tonight that I am a very messy painter. Mind you, there are no drops on the floor or fixtures, but I'm covered in it! I also discovered that a claw footed tub is virtually impossible for someone who is 5'3" to reach above, even on a ladder, to a 9 and a half foot ceiling. There are some smudges on the white ceiling in places, but after consideration, I don't mind them that much. There is no way to get the ladder over or in the tub to reach the ceiling to fix it anyhow, so I'll learn to live with it! Now I realize I need a shower curtain that isn't blue and yellow with duckies on it. I'm gonna go all clear.

Although now there is a report that vinyl shower curtains are toxic.

The kitchen is next. I may start it tomorrow, but I won't be able to finish it. The humidity is going up tomorrow, so the first coat will need more time to dry before I go with the second. I may start tomorrow and finish on Monday when I return from the Island.

Now I'm anxiously waiting for the paint to set (dry to touch) so I can shower off the massive amount of sweat and paint on my body. I am gross.

I always knew that there were many theatre industry men and women in my particular Weight Watchers meeting. They are mainly wardrobe women and company managers. Today, however, one of the regulars, "R" a company manager, brought a friend with her. Knowing I am a stage manager, "R" introduced me to her friend, "B", who is the PSM on "Avenue Q." I instantly recognized her name, having spent all of yesterday printing out resumes and cover letters to B'Way PSMs, her included. After making introductions, I told her that I would send her a resume and she said it would be great to get it and have a face to make the connection.
Small world, isn't it?

I went to Home Depot and got my bathroom paint, a different color but very close. I also got all the assorted tools to get the job done and a LADDER. I can finally replace the light bulbs on my 10' ceilings. Home Depot is now bringing me my ladder, paint, and accessories for a flat fee of $21. I love home delivery!

After Home Depot, I stopped at the Benjamin Moore in Chelsea and picked up the red paint for my kitchen.

As soon as Home Depot delivers my stuff, I can start painting. Of course, that will be anytime between now and 8:30pm. That's quite a window!