So...last night I didn't go to sleep till 7:30 A.M. after having done laundry, eaten a banana split at 5 A.M. and taken a morning walk through the East Village -- all with David and Samantha Bowser, my next-door neighbor. It was quite fun. I slept from 7:30 to 3:30. By then, the sun was about ready to go down because of daylight savings. What a weird day it's been. I really want to go to bed sort of early and get back into a relatively normal schedule.
Homework, oh how I dislike it. It's a busy week this week. I really hope I get to hang out with that Len guy that I met in the park next weekend. I want to find out what he's all about.
Sunday, October 30, 2005
Saturday, October 29, 2005
Eternal Glory is not ours
We came in second for Floor Wars. It's disappointing, but we still did really well. We won all three of the events held tonight, and we came in second by 25 points. I'm told that the reason we lost is because of poker. Blah. Tonight, we won:
1) Floor Decorating Contest - with our amazing display of 1,000 bats, a dead R.A., the "bat cave," and the painting of Jack Skellington from Nightmare Before Christmas.
2) Penny Wars - Yay! It all goes to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS!
3) Costume Contest - Josh dressed up all in brown, and the floor stuffed him and presented him on a Thanksgiving platter. I can't even believe he was able to stay still for as long as he did.
Overall, we're an amazing floor. I guess I feel bad most for John, this being his senior year. Eternal Glory was most important to him.
1) Floor Decorating Contest - with our amazing display of 1,000 bats, a dead R.A., the "bat cave," and the painting of Jack Skellington from Nightmare Before Christmas.
2) Penny Wars - Yay! It all goes to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS!
3) Costume Contest - Josh dressed up all in brown, and the floor stuffed him and presented him on a Thanksgiving platter. I can't even believe he was able to stay still for as long as he did.
Overall, we're an amazing floor. I guess I feel bad most for John, this being his senior year. Eternal Glory was most important to him.
Stina and "Sweeney"
Well, yesterday and today were both really neat days full of fun New York stuff.
The night before last, I stayed up really late watching Desperate Housewives on DVD and helping a little with the floor decoration part of the Hayden Floor Wars competition; our floor cut out 1,000 bats to decorate the hallway, and Emma drew a really great drawing of Jack from The Nightmare Before Christmas for our bulletin board. On each door, the residents' names and causes of death are posted -- it's great!
Anyway, yesterday, I woke up around 12:30 and went out to meet Christina at the Metropolitan Museum of Art at 2. It was so very nice to see her again! I miss being around the people that I'm so immensely comfortable with that I can be totally myself. We walked around the museum for a few hours, checking out mostly American art and furniture and European paintings. I had to look at a Vermeer for my Writing the Essay class and write a short paragraph about it -- that's the main reason we went specifically to the Met. Anyway, it was fun to go back to the museum again. It's always fun.
Afterwards, we went to the Village and ate Chinese at Suzie's -- my fortune was "Happiness is often a rebound from hard work," which perfectly describes how this weekend complemented this past week of class. After dinner, we walked around the Village some more. I hadn't realized just how many streets I didn't know until last night. I need to take a few more random walks around the neighborhood so I get more of a bearing on where I'm going. We stopped at this really amazing bakery for cookies. They had a very long case filled with baked goods that made me remember the bakery I used to go to as a kid. It smelled so delicious!
On the way to my dorm, we stopped at the Tea Spot, which is a little place right down the street from me on MacDougal that has gourmet teas. I had Strawberries and Creme, which was quite good. They always make their tea excrutiatingly hot -- I had to refrigerate it for some time before it was drinkable. Christina wanted to see what all the Desperate Housewives fuss was about, so we watched the pilot episode. She seemed to sort of enjoy it, but it doesn't really seem like her cup of tea. Anyway, by the time the episode was over, it was time for her to go home, so I walked her back to the W 4th subway stop. It was such a nice, relaxing day!
Today, I went to see Sweeney Todd for the second time on Broadway. So, the first time I saw it, I was sort of on the fence. I didn't really buy into the concept of the show (actors play all of the music, highly conceptualized sets and costumes, very different staging concepts). This time, when I wasn't quite so worried about catching every little detail of the show, I definitely appreciated it a lot more. I realized a lot more things about the symbolism of the staging that hadn't sunken in before. I won't go into all of the different things I noticed, but I definitely enjoyed it a lot better. Also, Michael Cerveris as Sweeney seems a lot more comfortable. At the stage door, he said how his voice seemed to be able to hit the lower notes better as he continued to sing the score, and I noticed that that was definitely true. He did a lot better with the lower songs, like "My Friends," than he had seemed to last time. Also, they fixed the false ending that I noticed last time I went. After the final sequence and before "The Ballad of Sweeney Todd," they didn't leave as long of an applause break as they did last time. They ploughed right along into "The Ballad...," and, though the first few lyrics of the song were cut off by applause, it seemed much more natural than having a moment or two of darkness and applause before finishing up the show. It originally made people think the show was totally over. Personally, I think they should simply cut the final reprise of "The Ballad..." and end the show after Tobias is put into a straight jacket (oh my, people who haven't seen this show...a.k.a. most people who read this...will be so confused).
Hah! One other thing: I think Michael Cerveris as Sweeney broke a chair when he threw it onstage during the performance. I thought that was interesting.
I waited at the stage door this time -- last time, it was raining -- and I got Michael Cerveris's signature, as well as Donna Lynne Champlin (Pirelli), Manoel Felciano (Tobias Ragg) who graduated from NYU last year, Alexander Gemignani (Beadle Bamford), and Lauren Molina (Johanna). They were all extremely friendly.
I was also happy to note that the show was sold out and there was a huge line to get into the theatre.
Oh, I also ran into this girl who I talked to at Lennon and at the Broadway Flea Market! She was sitting a few rows ahead of me. She and her friend Jen were really nice at Lennon. I also ran into a girl from my QR class in Times Square; she had just gone to see Wicked.
After the show, I walked back downtown to my dorm, but I stopped at H&M on the way back. I bought a really pretty, warm scarf and a hooded sweatshirt jacket. I really shouldn't have spent any money, but I figured that, since both items were winter clothing, I had justification for my purchasing them. Anyway, at the end of next week, I should get my paycheck, but, until them, I'm pretty close to broke -- it's class, the dining hall, and pre-purchased tickets for me until then.
Tonight, we find out if the 12th Floor won Floor Wars at 9. Wish us luck! I'm feeling relatively good about it. The winner is revealed at a costume ball, and I'm being John Lennon. It's a pretty simple, bad costume, but it was also cheap.
Tomorrow is homework day. I think I was supposed to go to a klezmer benefit for Fyvush Finkel that Susan Watts, my drum teacher's daughter, is playing at, but, since she never called me back with information and I have basically no dressy clothes, I'm thinking I'll just not go to that.
The night before last, I stayed up really late watching Desperate Housewives on DVD and helping a little with the floor decoration part of the Hayden Floor Wars competition; our floor cut out 1,000 bats to decorate the hallway, and Emma drew a really great drawing of Jack from The Nightmare Before Christmas for our bulletin board. On each door, the residents' names and causes of death are posted -- it's great!
Anyway, yesterday, I woke up around 12:30 and went out to meet Christina at the Metropolitan Museum of Art at 2. It was so very nice to see her again! I miss being around the people that I'm so immensely comfortable with that I can be totally myself. We walked around the museum for a few hours, checking out mostly American art and furniture and European paintings. I had to look at a Vermeer for my Writing the Essay class and write a short paragraph about it -- that's the main reason we went specifically to the Met. Anyway, it was fun to go back to the museum again. It's always fun.
Afterwards, we went to the Village and ate Chinese at Suzie's -- my fortune was "Happiness is often a rebound from hard work," which perfectly describes how this weekend complemented this past week of class. After dinner, we walked around the Village some more. I hadn't realized just how many streets I didn't know until last night. I need to take a few more random walks around the neighborhood so I get more of a bearing on where I'm going. We stopped at this really amazing bakery for cookies. They had a very long case filled with baked goods that made me remember the bakery I used to go to as a kid. It smelled so delicious!
On the way to my dorm, we stopped at the Tea Spot, which is a little place right down the street from me on MacDougal that has gourmet teas. I had Strawberries and Creme, which was quite good. They always make their tea excrutiatingly hot -- I had to refrigerate it for some time before it was drinkable. Christina wanted to see what all the Desperate Housewives fuss was about, so we watched the pilot episode. She seemed to sort of enjoy it, but it doesn't really seem like her cup of tea. Anyway, by the time the episode was over, it was time for her to go home, so I walked her back to the W 4th subway stop. It was such a nice, relaxing day!
Today, I went to see Sweeney Todd for the second time on Broadway. So, the first time I saw it, I was sort of on the fence. I didn't really buy into the concept of the show (actors play all of the music, highly conceptualized sets and costumes, very different staging concepts). This time, when I wasn't quite so worried about catching every little detail of the show, I definitely appreciated it a lot more. I realized a lot more things about the symbolism of the staging that hadn't sunken in before. I won't go into all of the different things I noticed, but I definitely enjoyed it a lot better. Also, Michael Cerveris as Sweeney seems a lot more comfortable. At the stage door, he said how his voice seemed to be able to hit the lower notes better as he continued to sing the score, and I noticed that that was definitely true. He did a lot better with the lower songs, like "My Friends," than he had seemed to last time. Also, they fixed the false ending that I noticed last time I went. After the final sequence and before "The Ballad of Sweeney Todd," they didn't leave as long of an applause break as they did last time. They ploughed right along into "The Ballad...," and, though the first few lyrics of the song were cut off by applause, it seemed much more natural than having a moment or two of darkness and applause before finishing up the show. It originally made people think the show was totally over. Personally, I think they should simply cut the final reprise of "The Ballad..." and end the show after Tobias is put into a straight jacket (oh my, people who haven't seen this show...a.k.a. most people who read this...will be so confused).
Hah! One other thing: I think Michael Cerveris as Sweeney broke a chair when he threw it onstage during the performance. I thought that was interesting.
I waited at the stage door this time -- last time, it was raining -- and I got Michael Cerveris's signature, as well as Donna Lynne Champlin (Pirelli), Manoel Felciano (Tobias Ragg) who graduated from NYU last year, Alexander Gemignani (Beadle Bamford), and Lauren Molina (Johanna). They were all extremely friendly.
I was also happy to note that the show was sold out and there was a huge line to get into the theatre.
Oh, I also ran into this girl who I talked to at Lennon and at the Broadway Flea Market! She was sitting a few rows ahead of me. She and her friend Jen were really nice at Lennon. I also ran into a girl from my QR class in Times Square; she had just gone to see Wicked.
After the show, I walked back downtown to my dorm, but I stopped at H&M on the way back. I bought a really pretty, warm scarf and a hooded sweatshirt jacket. I really shouldn't have spent any money, but I figured that, since both items were winter clothing, I had justification for my purchasing them. Anyway, at the end of next week, I should get my paycheck, but, until them, I'm pretty close to broke -- it's class, the dining hall, and pre-purchased tickets for me until then.
Tonight, we find out if the 12th Floor won Floor Wars at 9. Wish us luck! I'm feeling relatively good about it. The winner is revealed at a costume ball, and I'm being John Lennon. It's a pretty simple, bad costume, but it was also cheap.
Tomorrow is homework day. I think I was supposed to go to a klezmer benefit for Fyvush Finkel that Susan Watts, my drum teacher's daughter, is playing at, but, since she never called me back with information and I have basically no dressy clothes, I'm thinking I'll just not go to that.
Wednesday, October 26, 2005
Class, midterm, training, Swoopes
Well, I had German at 11, which was business as usual. My teacher said today that she will continue to teach us even if a grad student strike actually ends up happening, because she values the fact that we pay so much for school. I think that's really great of her, considering that that means a great deal of compromise on her part.
I had my Great Poems midterm today. It was slightly more challenging than I thought it would be, but it was also certainly not impossible. We had a substitute today named Mark Bibbins, who is an award-winning gay poet. He seemed really neat and down to earth, but he also seemed very knowledgeable about poetry. Apparently, he works aside my professor, David Lehman, at the New School graduate program.
Writing the Essay was fine today besides for the fact that I sort of forgot to do my reading for today. It was slightly painful to attempt to gain a grasp on the work in the few minutes when we weren't discussing it. And, of course, just when we get to the essay all about homosexuality, that's the week that I forget to read. It seemed to be a good essay. My homework for that class is insane; it's all over the place. We also have to visit the Met again for another assignment. Ugh. Does he not realize we have busy schedules? It's just lucky I can probably find a day to do this.
Today was my third day of training for the NYU Phonathon. It seems like a pretty stressful job, but I think I have a relatively good handle on the tasks at hand. Of course, Mike, my boss, said that the majority of calls made don't actually even involve speaking with anyone, so that sort of comforts me. I hope I actually receive a pledge within a reasonable amount of time.
So, tonight I found out on the New York Times website that Sheryl Swoopes of the WNBA came out of the closet as being gay. Yay! Now, the other side of the story is that she's in a relationship with a woman who was her coach for a long time. Geez...why do people always come out of the closet in coincidence with some sort of scandal? Just like Jim McGreevey. Ah, well. I'm still happy she came out. She's the first African-American professional basketball player to do so.
I had my Great Poems midterm today. It was slightly more challenging than I thought it would be, but it was also certainly not impossible. We had a substitute today named Mark Bibbins, who is an award-winning gay poet. He seemed really neat and down to earth, but he also seemed very knowledgeable about poetry. Apparently, he works aside my professor, David Lehman, at the New School graduate program.
Writing the Essay was fine today besides for the fact that I sort of forgot to do my reading for today. It was slightly painful to attempt to gain a grasp on the work in the few minutes when we weren't discussing it. And, of course, just when we get to the essay all about homosexuality, that's the week that I forget to read. It seemed to be a good essay. My homework for that class is insane; it's all over the place. We also have to visit the Met again for another assignment. Ugh. Does he not realize we have busy schedules? It's just lucky I can probably find a day to do this.
Today was my third day of training for the NYU Phonathon. It seems like a pretty stressful job, but I think I have a relatively good handle on the tasks at hand. Of course, Mike, my boss, said that the majority of calls made don't actually even involve speaking with anyone, so that sort of comforts me. I hope I actually receive a pledge within a reasonable amount of time.
So, tonight I found out on the New York Times website that Sheryl Swoopes of the WNBA came out of the closet as being gay. Yay! Now, the other side of the story is that she's in a relationship with a woman who was her coach for a long time. Geez...why do people always come out of the closet in coincidence with some sort of scandal? Just like Jim McGreevey. Ah, well. I'm still happy she came out. She's the first African-American professional basketball player to do so.
Monday, October 24, 2005
Training, upcoming stuff
Well, today was all right. I woke up around 12:30 and had my first class at 3:30, Writing the Essay. It was a slightly better class today than usual, because we were asked to come up with less random crap off the top of our heads than usual. After class, I had only a little bit of time at Hayden before I had to go to my training session for the NYU Phonathon. I had a quick dinner of stuffed shells and buttered noodles before walking to 7 E. 12th St. for training.
Overall, training wasn't bad. The company I technically work for is called RuffaloCODY. It's a group that sets up fundraising efforts at various universities. So my job is to call alumni asking for money and to hold friendly conversations with them. It seems relatively tricky considering my conversation skills are subpar, but perhaps I'll gain some skill in that department along the way.
I have a sort of a get-together lined up this weekend with Len, who I mentioned before (I met him at 2 AM in Washington Square Park with his friend). I think we're getting food, which is always a nice thing to get.
Want to know my plans for the near future? It's mind-boggling!
Tuesday: 2 classes, Phonathon training, studying for Great Poems midterm
Wednesday: 3 classes including Great Poems midterm, Phonathon training
Thursday: Phonathon first day of real work
Friday: Free...Len? Buying Halloween costume?
Saturday: Sweeney Todd at 2PM
Sunday: Seeing Susan Watts at the Kimmel Center (my drum teacher's daughter)
Monday: Halloween
Tuesday: Rufus Wainwright in Concert
Okay...can I say how much I love the "Caroline, or Change" Original Broadway Cast Album? Um, I don't know if I can express it accurately in words. The beauty of Tony Kushner and Jeanine Tesori's musical is just astounding. It has such a beautiful language that captures its characters so well. The recitative and songs perfectly serve their characters. It feels so natural and easy. Sigh.
Overall, training wasn't bad. The company I technically work for is called RuffaloCODY. It's a group that sets up fundraising efforts at various universities. So my job is to call alumni asking for money and to hold friendly conversations with them. It seems relatively tricky considering my conversation skills are subpar, but perhaps I'll gain some skill in that department along the way.
I have a sort of a get-together lined up this weekend with Len, who I mentioned before (I met him at 2 AM in Washington Square Park with his friend). I think we're getting food, which is always a nice thing to get.
Want to know my plans for the near future? It's mind-boggling!
Tuesday: 2 classes, Phonathon training, studying for Great Poems midterm
Wednesday: 3 classes including Great Poems midterm, Phonathon training
Thursday: Phonathon first day of real work
Friday: Free...Len? Buying Halloween costume?
Saturday: Sweeney Todd at 2PM
Sunday: Seeing Susan Watts at the Kimmel Center (my drum teacher's daughter)
Monday: Halloween
Tuesday: Rufus Wainwright in Concert
Okay...can I say how much I love the "Caroline, or Change" Original Broadway Cast Album? Um, I don't know if I can express it accurately in words. The beauty of Tony Kushner and Jeanine Tesori's musical is just astounding. It has such a beautiful language that captures its characters so well. The recitative and songs perfectly serve their characters. It feels so natural and easy. Sigh.
Sunday, October 23, 2005
Home again, "The Piano Lesson," the bitter smell of exhaust
So I went home again this weekend. I was home just two weekends ago, so it seemed a bit premature to be returning, but the purpose of this visit was to take my driver's test (again). So, it ended up being pretty close to pointless since I failed once again. The last time, I failed because I didn't know all of my signals, and this time I failed because I couldn't parallel park (which I passed last time). I can do it when I practice, but the pressure got to me, and the guy that I had this time seemed to count the three back-ins and pull-outs that you get differently than the first guy I had. Anyway, it wasn't technically pointless, since I did spend time with my parents and all.
We went to see Junebug on Saturday night, which stars the lady who played Miss Honey in Matilda, who was really amazing. The movie was really good. It was about the clash between Northern and Southern values that the woman experiences when she travels down South with her new husband to convince an artist to sign with her art firm and to visit her husband's family. It was well-acted and very subtly directed. I usually like independent films a lot more than the mainstream fare.
On the train on the way home, I read The Piano Lesson by August Wilson. Being that I had gone to the theatre dedication in his honor last weekend, I really thought it was only appropriate that I read something by him. I went to Strand Bookstore on Friday before I left for home and bought the two plays that he won the Pulitzer Prize for (Fences in 1987 and The Piano Lesson in 1990). They were both 50% off, which was very nice. I got them for much cheaper than the NYU bookstore carries them for. Anyway, the play was really quite astounding. It concerns a black family that is fighting over a piano and its place in their family. Boy Willie wants to sell the piano to buy land from a white man down South whose family used to own his family, but Berniece clings to the sentimental value of the piano (her relatives carved and claimed the piano from the white family). The whole play concerns the struggle between these two, and it is really quite well-written. I certainly recommend it to others.
Now, I'm back in NYC after another nightmare train ride. Ugh...sticky floors and a crazy young girl who kept singing along with her iPod. Psssh.
Yay, next week includes Halloween.
We went to see Junebug on Saturday night, which stars the lady who played Miss Honey in Matilda, who was really amazing. The movie was really good. It was about the clash between Northern and Southern values that the woman experiences when she travels down South with her new husband to convince an artist to sign with her art firm and to visit her husband's family. It was well-acted and very subtly directed. I usually like independent films a lot more than the mainstream fare.
On the train on the way home, I read The Piano Lesson by August Wilson. Being that I had gone to the theatre dedication in his honor last weekend, I really thought it was only appropriate that I read something by him. I went to Strand Bookstore on Friday before I left for home and bought the two plays that he won the Pulitzer Prize for (Fences in 1987 and The Piano Lesson in 1990). They were both 50% off, which was very nice. I got them for much cheaper than the NYU bookstore carries them for. Anyway, the play was really quite astounding. It concerns a black family that is fighting over a piano and its place in their family. Boy Willie wants to sell the piano to buy land from a white man down South whose family used to own his family, but Berniece clings to the sentimental value of the piano (her relatives carved and claimed the piano from the white family). The whole play concerns the struggle between these two, and it is really quite well-written. I certainly recommend it to others.
Now, I'm back in NYC after another nightmare train ride. Ugh...sticky floors and a crazy young girl who kept singing along with her iPod. Psssh.
Yay, next week includes Halloween.
Friday, October 21, 2005
Midterm, new teacher, going home...again
Well, today was a pretty tiring day, but I'm not really sure why.
I got up around 10 to go to my German class. My first teacher, Antje Pfannkuchen, had to leave us to have her baby next month, so we have a new teacher who's pretty nice. She's funnier than Antje and seems to be very open to helping us learn; both of them are pretty nice. German seems like a friendly department.
Between classes, I looked over my QR things for my midterm. I must admit, though the class is insanely easy, I had a bit of trouble with some of the last problems on the homework, but Christina helped me at the beginning of class, which made it easier to grasp. The midterm ended up not being bad at all. I had expected it to be slightly worse.
After this, I dropped off my QR homework and my Writing the Essay portfolio (my teacher forgot to make a photocopy of it before returning it).
On my walk home, I passed the set for a new NBC drama ,"The Black Donnellys," on MacDougal Street, which was kind of neat.
After going online for a short time in the dorm, I fell asleep for about a half hour and then went to dinner with Ally, which was fun as always.
The rest of my evening was filled with laundry. And David, Sutton, and Elisabeth in my room.
Tomorrow afternoon, I'm going home for the second time. I'm slightly less excited this time, particularly since I have to practice for and take my driving test. If I pass the test, the weekend will have been a success; however, if I fail, I will feel miserable, being as it's the main reason I'm going home, and I probably won't have another chance to attempt the test before my permit expires.
On Saturday night, I think I'm going to go out with Ally, Dave, and Steve, as Steve and Ally are coming home this weekend as well. It will be just like the old times in the Spring when, having nothing much else to do, we'd pass the time in a restaurant making sex jokes and acting generally insanely. I can't wait.
I have to devise my Halloween costume soon.
I got up around 10 to go to my German class. My first teacher, Antje Pfannkuchen, had to leave us to have her baby next month, so we have a new teacher who's pretty nice. She's funnier than Antje and seems to be very open to helping us learn; both of them are pretty nice. German seems like a friendly department.
Between classes, I looked over my QR things for my midterm. I must admit, though the class is insanely easy, I had a bit of trouble with some of the last problems on the homework, but Christina helped me at the beginning of class, which made it easier to grasp. The midterm ended up not being bad at all. I had expected it to be slightly worse.
After this, I dropped off my QR homework and my Writing the Essay portfolio (my teacher forgot to make a photocopy of it before returning it).
On my walk home, I passed the set for a new NBC drama ,"The Black Donnellys," on MacDougal Street, which was kind of neat.
After going online for a short time in the dorm, I fell asleep for about a half hour and then went to dinner with Ally, which was fun as always.
The rest of my evening was filled with laundry. And David, Sutton, and Elisabeth in my room.
Tomorrow afternoon, I'm going home for the second time. I'm slightly less excited this time, particularly since I have to practice for and take my driving test. If I pass the test, the weekend will have been a success; however, if I fail, I will feel miserable, being as it's the main reason I'm going home, and I probably won't have another chance to attempt the test before my permit expires.
On Saturday night, I think I'm going to go out with Ally, Dave, and Steve, as Steve and Ally are coming home this weekend as well. It will be just like the old times in the Spring when, having nothing much else to do, we'd pass the time in a restaurant making sex jokes and acting generally insanely. I can't wait.
I have to devise my Halloween costume soon.
Wednesday, October 19, 2005
Midterm! Job!
Well, today I had a midterm in German, and it wasn't too bad. I feel pretty confident that I got at least a B on it. Today was the last day that my teacher will be with, because she's having her baby in November and is taking time off to prepare and all. It's a shame, because she was really nice, but I'm told that her replacement is also really nice and fun.
My Great Poems class was pretty fun. I found out that my professor is publishing yet another book at the end of this month, which is pretty cool. He's a funny guy, and I like that class quite a bit.
Writing the Essay...what can I say? That is the most boggling class ever. I got an A- on my first essay though, so I'm pretty happy about that. I put quite a bit of effort into that sucker.
Anyway, when I got back from my classes (Wednesday is such a busy, busy day!), I got an email about the Phonathon job that I applied for way back when. Apparently, there were ten spots open, so I called the guy who runs it (Mike Brucek) to inquire about the position, and I start training next Monday through Wednesday. Yay! I'm quite exciting that I'll be making some money now. It's something I definitely need to be doing.
Anyway, besides for that I watched some Superstar with Molly Shannon and ate dinner and fooled around on the computer. Now it's about time to do my QR homework and prepare for that midterm tomorrow.
My Great Poems class was pretty fun. I found out that my professor is publishing yet another book at the end of this month, which is pretty cool. He's a funny guy, and I like that class quite a bit.
Writing the Essay...what can I say? That is the most boggling class ever. I got an A- on my first essay though, so I'm pretty happy about that. I put quite a bit of effort into that sucker.
Anyway, when I got back from my classes (Wednesday is such a busy, busy day!), I got an email about the Phonathon job that I applied for way back when. Apparently, there were ten spots open, so I called the guy who runs it (Mike Brucek) to inquire about the position, and I start training next Monday through Wednesday. Yay! I'm quite exciting that I'll be making some money now. It's something I definitely need to be doing.
Anyway, besides for that I watched some Superstar with Molly Shannon and ate dinner and fooled around on the computer. Now it's about time to do my QR homework and prepare for that midterm tomorrow.
Tuesday, October 18, 2005
Yesterday and today
Yesterday was a pretty nice day. That morning, I went to bed at 5, so I woke up in the early afternoon and had a late lunch. I went to my one class of the day and did some homework for today. Then, I went with Emma from my floor to a free screening of Shopgirl with Steve Martin, Claire Danes, and Jason Schwartzman. It was a very, very odd movie about a woman who has an affair with an older man after dating a guy who's not so good at romance and how these two different types of love compare in the end. The voiceovers were terrible, and a lot of the movie was sort of odd, but there were also good parts. All of the parts with Jason Schwartzman were really good. I don't think I'd recommend someone see it for the full New York City price of $10.75, but maybe if you can get a discount it's worth it. I'd wait to rent it on DVD if I had to pay to see it.
Okay, so have I said yet how much I'm in love with this bottled iced tea called Teany? It's bottled by the restaurant that Moby started a little bit furher downtown. So far I've had green tea with ginseng and white tea with pomegranate, but I've picked up a few more varieties to try. I really want to go try out the restaurant. Apparently, it's a vegan/vegetarian restaurant that makes those types of food appealing. The menu sounded good to me even though I'm neither vegetarian nor vegan.
Today, I got up bright and early around 8:45 and went to my 9:30 QR lab and my 11 o'clock German II class, both of which were fine. Then, I got a lot of my Writing the Essay homework done. I have a lecture at 3:30 to go to as well. That makes tonight's homework much more bearable. I only have to do my poetry homework, which is slightly lighter than usual, studying for my German midterm tomorrow, and the final few pieces of my Writing the Essay homework. I'm hoping to go to bed relatively early again tonight so I can get up early and be productive. Perhaps I ought to go for morning walks or something. Maybe that would help me be more productive and energized overall. I really need to change my sleep habits. I realized today that it was the first day in five that I've gotten up before noon. That's pretty pathetic.
Okay, so have I said yet how much I'm in love with this bottled iced tea called Teany? It's bottled by the restaurant that Moby started a little bit furher downtown. So far I've had green tea with ginseng and white tea with pomegranate, but I've picked up a few more varieties to try. I really want to go try out the restaurant. Apparently, it's a vegan/vegetarian restaurant that makes those types of food appealing. The menu sounded good to me even though I'm neither vegetarian nor vegan.
Today, I got up bright and early around 8:45 and went to my 9:30 QR lab and my 11 o'clock German II class, both of which were fine. Then, I got a lot of my Writing the Essay homework done. I have a lecture at 3:30 to go to as well. That makes tonight's homework much more bearable. I only have to do my poetry homework, which is slightly lighter than usual, studying for my German midterm tomorrow, and the final few pieces of my Writing the Essay homework. I'm hoping to go to bed relatively early again tonight so I can get up early and be productive. Perhaps I ought to go for morning walks or something. Maybe that would help me be more productive and energized overall. I really need to change my sleep habits. I realized today that it was the first day in five that I've gotten up before noon. That's pretty pathetic.
Sunday, October 16, 2005
Making the Great White Way a little less white
So, today was a lazy day for the most part. I woke up around two, ate around three, tried to do work but napped until late in the afternoon. Then I went to dinner at Upstein.
After this, however, I went out to take a walk. I decided to go to midtown and attend the August Wilson Theatre dedication and re-naming. The theatre used to be called the Virginia, and I saw The Little Shop of Horrors there last year. It's sort of an odd looking theatre inside, with weird blotchy terra cotta walls, but, still the renaming was significant.
It's the first time a theatre has been named after an African-American.
The evening was really sad, because August Wilson, who was diagnosed with liver cancer slightly earlier this year, died on October 2. He was supposed to have been in attendance if he had lived long enough, and the dedication was used as a way to remember him in a joyful way.
Charles S. Dutton, who directed several of Wilson's plays was on hand to give an excellent dramatic reading from Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, a portion about a preacher who was made to dance by two white men after being left on a train platform while used the "colored" restroom. He had command of the audience and was an excellent speaker.
After this, Lillias White, an amazing singer, sung the song "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom," which is a part of the play (not musical) of the same name. A short excerpt from Seven Guitars was also performed by members of the original cast.
Then, some of August's own words were read in which he spoke of the honor he felt about having the theatre renamed after him:
"This capstone [of my career] will become part of the shroud of memories with which I will blanket myself when I lie down to pleasant dreams." (paraphrased, but pretty accurate)
It was a really nice evening. I'm so glad that the event was opened to the public, because, though I haven't read any of August Wilson's plays, it seems to me as if the message is certainly not to turn people away. The marquee of the theatre was unveiled after the proceedings inside of the theatre; it was a large neon reproduction of Wilson's signature, and it looked really astounding lit up.
The evening really made me want to read some August Wilson plays, but the theatre store that I usually go to was closed, so I'll have to go another day and get one of his plays to read.
I felt like I was a part of something special tonight. The theatre was packed with people full of respect for this man, and it seemed such a fitting and proper tribute to a man who had accomplished so much. He wanted to write a cycle of ten plays set in each decade of the 20th century, and he did it. And, along with this accomplishment, he changed the conventions of African-American theatre.
After this, however, I went out to take a walk. I decided to go to midtown and attend the August Wilson Theatre dedication and re-naming. The theatre used to be called the Virginia, and I saw The Little Shop of Horrors there last year. It's sort of an odd looking theatre inside, with weird blotchy terra cotta walls, but, still the renaming was significant.
It's the first time a theatre has been named after an African-American.
The evening was really sad, because August Wilson, who was diagnosed with liver cancer slightly earlier this year, died on October 2. He was supposed to have been in attendance if he had lived long enough, and the dedication was used as a way to remember him in a joyful way.
Charles S. Dutton, who directed several of Wilson's plays was on hand to give an excellent dramatic reading from Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, a portion about a preacher who was made to dance by two white men after being left on a train platform while used the "colored" restroom. He had command of the audience and was an excellent speaker.
After this, Lillias White, an amazing singer, sung the song "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom," which is a part of the play (not musical) of the same name. A short excerpt from Seven Guitars was also performed by members of the original cast.
Then, some of August's own words were read in which he spoke of the honor he felt about having the theatre renamed after him:
"This capstone [of my career] will become part of the shroud of memories with which I will blanket myself when I lie down to pleasant dreams." (paraphrased, but pretty accurate)
It was a really nice evening. I'm so glad that the event was opened to the public, because, though I haven't read any of August Wilson's plays, it seems to me as if the message is certainly not to turn people away. The marquee of the theatre was unveiled after the proceedings inside of the theatre; it was a large neon reproduction of Wilson's signature, and it looked really astounding lit up.
The evening really made me want to read some August Wilson plays, but the theatre store that I usually go to was closed, so I'll have to go another day and get one of his plays to read.
I felt like I was a part of something special tonight. The theatre was packed with people full of respect for this man, and it seemed such a fitting and proper tribute to a man who had accomplished so much. He wanted to write a cycle of ten plays set in each decade of the 20th century, and he did it. And, along with this accomplishment, he changed the conventions of African-American theatre.
"Crossing Brooklyn Ferry," downtown adventures, and a walk in the park
Well, today I woke up around 12:30 determined to complete my Great Poems assignment of reading Walt Whitman's "Crossing Brooklyn Ferry" and taking the Staten Island Ferry round trip. So, I took the subway and ended up at the World Trade Center, which is a short walk from the ferry, but I had no idea how to get there -- thank goodness for maps. The ferry was very long and boring. It takes about 25 minutes each way, and there was a delay on the way back due to a memorial service involving Mayor Bloomberg. Anyway, when the ride was over, I decided I'd like to walk back, so I walked as far as Canal St., stopped to buy two bootleg DVDs (Corpse Bride and Crash, both of which are of poor quality) and then proceeded to walk in the opposite direction of Washington Square until I was almost back downtown as far as the World Trade Center. After this, I walked back up to Canal St. and took the A/C/E or whatever it is back to West 4th and made it back to my dorm just in time to eat in the Hayden dining hall. Needless to say, it was a tiring day.
I got back to my room around 7:30 or 8 and took a nap until around 11. I woke up and went online to talk to several facebook acquaintances, and one of them, Len Shaffer, asked me to go with him and his friend for a little walk. So, I met him at the fountain in Washington Square Park around 2 AM in the cold, and we chatted and walked and sat and talked for a while. He and his friend seemed very nice. It was really nice to get out and do something social after a day of being on my own for almost the whole day (my Poems teacher recommended we go on the ferry alone).
Anyway, it was a long, tiring, yet ultimately satisfying day. Tomorrow will probaby involve quite a bit of homework, as I'd rather not be stuck with as much work as I usually am on Tuesday.
I got back to my room around 7:30 or 8 and took a nap until around 11. I woke up and went online to talk to several facebook acquaintances, and one of them, Len Shaffer, asked me to go with him and his friend for a little walk. So, I met him at the fountain in Washington Square Park around 2 AM in the cold, and we chatted and walked and sat and talked for a while. He and his friend seemed very nice. It was really nice to get out and do something social after a day of being on my own for almost the whole day (my Poems teacher recommended we go on the ferry alone).
Anyway, it was a long, tiring, yet ultimately satisfying day. Tomorrow will probaby involve quite a bit of homework, as I'd rather not be stuck with as much work as I usually am on Tuesday.
Thursday, October 13, 2005
Weighing in on "Sweeney"
So, I went to see "Sweeney Todd" on Broadway tonight. The show ranks among my very favorites. I've seen it before at St. Joe's University and at the Arden Theatre in Philadelphia. This, however, was a very, very different production. I didn't dislike it, and I didn't love it. I felt a bit overwhelmed in general. The production tried very hard to present a lot of symbolism, and I didn't really feel as if the stylistic choices and directorial choices really presented any clearcut revelations that I could latch onto.
All of the actors in the show also play instruments in the show, and all of the actors are onstage throughout the entire show. Sometimes this translates into some interesting symbolism, as when Johanna and Anthony play string instruments together and when the Beggar Woman plays clarinet along with Johanna during "Green Finch and Linnet Bird." The sets were pretty interesting, but I don't really see how they served the story at all. The same thing goes for the costumes. Rather than wearing period clothes, there were neckties and all sorts of out-of-place things. I just don't think it's necessary to make different costume and set choices purely for the director's amusement, and there was nothing suggesting there was a reason otherwise.
I felt, sitting there, as if the symbolism should have been better defined. I almost wished I had a critical essay in front of me so I could latch on to some of the lofty ideas being presented.
Now on to the acting. Patti LuPone, who was in the concert DVD with George Hearn, was superb. On the DVD, she's pretty one-note, squawking her way through all of the songs and lines, but it was very obvious that she poured her soul into this performance. She acting on many more varied levels than she did on the DVD. I was very impressed. Her singing was top-notch, totally different than I've heard her in the past.
Michael Cerveris, who seemed oddly miscast as Sweeney, made a good effort. His singing was generally superb, but he's a tenor playing a baritone's role. I've heard criticism that there wasn't much chemistry between Sweeney and Mrs. Lovett, but I definitely noticed some chemistry. The rest of the supporting cast was all really amazing, particularly Donna Lynne Champlin as Pirelli and Manoel Feliciano as Tobias.
One weird thing that puzzled me is that Sweeney cradles a miniature white coffin during a lot of the second act, and I had absolutely no idea why. His child isn't dead. What??
Also, as the second act came to a close, there was a very awkward moment after the "final sequence" was over where the audience thought that the show was over when there was actually a remaining song. The audience took a very long time applauding only to have the cast waiting to begin the final reprise of "The Ballad of Sweeney Todd."
Overall, the production made me think a lot about various things about the show. I just find an issue with the fact that most of the things I've been thinking about don't seem to come together in any sort of neat fashion to form a complete thought.
The music sounded really good during the moments when characters were singing solo or in small groups, but I missed the lush sound of a full orchestra and chorus. Even if the production utilizes a small cast, I would have liked for there to have been offstage musicians or singers to enhance the effect. I'm so used to Sweeney having a full chorus and orchestra that such a sparse sound was jarring, which isn't to say that it was necessarily a bad choice to use more limited orchestrations.
So...overall, go see it! Any Sweeney is far better than no Sweeney, but this one is a bit odd. I'm not really even sure yet if odd is good or bad or neither. It was just a very interesting experience. I'm very glad I got to experience it for myself and form my own judgments rather than being limited to reading other people's opinions.
All of the actors in the show also play instruments in the show, and all of the actors are onstage throughout the entire show. Sometimes this translates into some interesting symbolism, as when Johanna and Anthony play string instruments together and when the Beggar Woman plays clarinet along with Johanna during "Green Finch and Linnet Bird." The sets were pretty interesting, but I don't really see how they served the story at all. The same thing goes for the costumes. Rather than wearing period clothes, there were neckties and all sorts of out-of-place things. I just don't think it's necessary to make different costume and set choices purely for the director's amusement, and there was nothing suggesting there was a reason otherwise.
I felt, sitting there, as if the symbolism should have been better defined. I almost wished I had a critical essay in front of me so I could latch on to some of the lofty ideas being presented.
Now on to the acting. Patti LuPone, who was in the concert DVD with George Hearn, was superb. On the DVD, she's pretty one-note, squawking her way through all of the songs and lines, but it was very obvious that she poured her soul into this performance. She acting on many more varied levels than she did on the DVD. I was very impressed. Her singing was top-notch, totally different than I've heard her in the past.
Michael Cerveris, who seemed oddly miscast as Sweeney, made a good effort. His singing was generally superb, but he's a tenor playing a baritone's role. I've heard criticism that there wasn't much chemistry between Sweeney and Mrs. Lovett, but I definitely noticed some chemistry. The rest of the supporting cast was all really amazing, particularly Donna Lynne Champlin as Pirelli and Manoel Feliciano as Tobias.
One weird thing that puzzled me is that Sweeney cradles a miniature white coffin during a lot of the second act, and I had absolutely no idea why. His child isn't dead. What??
Also, as the second act came to a close, there was a very awkward moment after the "final sequence" was over where the audience thought that the show was over when there was actually a remaining song. The audience took a very long time applauding only to have the cast waiting to begin the final reprise of "The Ballad of Sweeney Todd."
Overall, the production made me think a lot about various things about the show. I just find an issue with the fact that most of the things I've been thinking about don't seem to come together in any sort of neat fashion to form a complete thought.
The music sounded really good during the moments when characters were singing solo or in small groups, but I missed the lush sound of a full orchestra and chorus. Even if the production utilizes a small cast, I would have liked for there to have been offstage musicians or singers to enhance the effect. I'm so used to Sweeney having a full chorus and orchestra that such a sparse sound was jarring, which isn't to say that it was necessarily a bad choice to use more limited orchestrations.
So...overall, go see it! Any Sweeney is far better than no Sweeney, but this one is a bit odd. I'm not really even sure yet if odd is good or bad or neither. It was just a very interesting experience. I'm very glad I got to experience it for myself and form my own judgments rather than being limited to reading other people's opinions.
It's raining "Sweeney"
For the first month of school, the weather was so beautiful here in New York City. The weather was so nice that you could wander around leisurely in the afternoon aimlessly, which I like to do. Today, it's raining, and the most interesting thing I could come up with to do was my laundry.
Tonight, however, is Sweeney Todd on Broadway. Okay...have I said yet how excited I am about this freaking show? I couldn't be more excited. Wow...I just absolutely can't wait to behold the awesomeness that is Sweeney. The interesting thing about this production is that it's a very scaled-down production, with every member of the small cast playing an instrument in addition to their singing and acting duties. Apparently there is also a new framing device in the show to add a new concept to the story. I'm really hoping it doesn't just muddle up the story and that it actually adds something to developing the themes of the work.
Oh, I got two free passes for Monday night to see the new Steve Martin movie Shopgirl. Yay! I'm going to take Ally.
Tomorrow, I'm probably going to Queens with Ally so she can buy some weird geeky anime CD. Also during this weekend, I have to either cross the Brooklyn Bridge by foot or take the Staten Island Ferry as part of my Great Poems class. I have to write a poem about it as well. I should also probably be productive and get some of my homework done before the night before class.
I want a boy. Ah, well.
Tonight, however, is Sweeney Todd on Broadway. Okay...have I said yet how excited I am about this freaking show? I couldn't be more excited. Wow...I just absolutely can't wait to behold the awesomeness that is Sweeney. The interesting thing about this production is that it's a very scaled-down production, with every member of the small cast playing an instrument in addition to their singing and acting duties. Apparently there is also a new framing device in the show to add a new concept to the story. I'm really hoping it doesn't just muddle up the story and that it actually adds something to developing the themes of the work.
Oh, I got two free passes for Monday night to see the new Steve Martin movie Shopgirl. Yay! I'm going to take Ally.
Tomorrow, I'm probably going to Queens with Ally so she can buy some weird geeky anime CD. Also during this weekend, I have to either cross the Brooklyn Bridge by foot or take the Staten Island Ferry as part of my Great Poems class. I have to write a poem about it as well. I should also probably be productive and get some of my homework done before the night before class.
I want a boy. Ah, well.
Wednesday, October 12, 2005
Jobs, iPods, and "Sweeney," oh my!
Okay...so, today was so long.
I woke up around 10; the fire drill went off at 10:30. I had class at 11, so I went right to class. This is the second day in a row that there has been a fire drill a half hour before I have class in the morning. Will it end? Let's not make it a three-day streak. It was a long day full of classes from 11 - 4:45. I'm so absolutely dumbfounded as to what is being discussed in Writing the Essay...genocide...different perspectives...handicapped people...wha??!!
I really want a job. So far, I've gotten no reply from TheaterMania.com, where I applied first. I haven't applied anywhere else yet.
In conjunction with really wanting a job, once I get one, I think I really need to treat myself to one of the new video-equipped iPods that will play Desperate Housewives on its screen. Oh my...that has to be the best invention...ever. Considering I probably won't be getting a new iPod in the near future (I mean, after all, my current one is less than a year old, and there are bound to be incredible innovations in iPods before this one breaks), I'll probably buy Desperate Housewives Season 1 on DVD as my first gift to myself when I have a job. And a lot of theatre tickets.
Tomorrow night, I'm going to see Sweeney Todd on Broadway with Patti LuPone and Michael Cerveris. This is probably the most excited I've been for a show in a long, long time. It's my favorite show (well, one of them) with some of my favorite performers and an interesting new concept. I'll weigh in as to how it was tomorrow night when I get back or in the following few days. I'm hoping it's astounding, because I'm going to see it again in another few weeks.
I woke up around 10; the fire drill went off at 10:30. I had class at 11, so I went right to class. This is the second day in a row that there has been a fire drill a half hour before I have class in the morning. Will it end? Let's not make it a three-day streak. It was a long day full of classes from 11 - 4:45. I'm so absolutely dumbfounded as to what is being discussed in Writing the Essay...genocide...different perspectives...handicapped people...wha??!!
I really want a job. So far, I've gotten no reply from TheaterMania.com, where I applied first. I haven't applied anywhere else yet.
In conjunction with really wanting a job, once I get one, I think I really need to treat myself to one of the new video-equipped iPods that will play Desperate Housewives on its screen. Oh my...that has to be the best invention...ever. Considering I probably won't be getting a new iPod in the near future (I mean, after all, my current one is less than a year old, and there are bound to be incredible innovations in iPods before this one breaks), I'll probably buy Desperate Housewives Season 1 on DVD as my first gift to myself when I have a job. And a lot of theatre tickets.
Tomorrow night, I'm going to see Sweeney Todd on Broadway with Patti LuPone and Michael Cerveris. This is probably the most excited I've been for a show in a long, long time. It's my favorite show (well, one of them) with some of my favorite performers and an interesting new concept. I'll weigh in as to how it was tomorrow night when I get back or in the following few days. I'm hoping it's astounding, because I'm going to see it again in another few weeks.
Monday, October 10, 2005
Going Home and Back Again
Well, after the beginning of the subway threats on Thursday, I got a little bit nervous about going home this weekend, but I did it anyway. I took a cab to Penn Station to begin the tortuous four-hour journey to Drexel Hill, which consists of cab or New York subway, New Jersey Transit train to Trenton, Septa train to Philadelphia, el (subway) to 69th St., trolley to Drexel Hill.
Home was very weird. First of all, my living room was very barren; much of my stuff was stored away, and there was a big gaping hole where my couch used to be, as my grandfather and uncle delivered their old couch to us on Saturday, which is a big improvement from the old couch -- it actually has two seats that recline.
We went to Walmart and Perkins on Friday night, and I got a new organizer for my desk, which I crammed in my suitcase to get back to my dorm. On Saturday, the couch was delivered, and then we saw In Her Shoes at Marple movie theatre and ate out at Ms. Marty's. On Sunday, I rented The Wedding Date and Hitch and watched those and Desperate Housewives with my parents. Then, on Monday, I went to this neat burger joint with my dad and then came home. It was a fun trip back, but I'm also glad to be back in New York City. I feel settled in here.
I got an email as soon as I got back that I can see Sweeney Todd and The Light in the Piazza for $10 each, so I think I'm going to take advantage of that offer. Yippee!
I read a lot of Whitman's Leaves of Grass today. It's pretty good, but sort of confusing at times.
Night.
Home was very weird. First of all, my living room was very barren; much of my stuff was stored away, and there was a big gaping hole where my couch used to be, as my grandfather and uncle delivered their old couch to us on Saturday, which is a big improvement from the old couch -- it actually has two seats that recline.
We went to Walmart and Perkins on Friday night, and I got a new organizer for my desk, which I crammed in my suitcase to get back to my dorm. On Saturday, the couch was delivered, and then we saw In Her Shoes at Marple movie theatre and ate out at Ms. Marty's. On Sunday, I rented The Wedding Date and Hitch and watched those and Desperate Housewives with my parents. Then, on Monday, I went to this neat burger joint with my dad and then came home. It was a fun trip back, but I'm also glad to be back in New York City. I feel settled in here.
I got an email as soon as I got back that I can see Sweeney Todd and The Light in the Piazza for $10 each, so I think I'm going to take advantage of that offer. Yippee!
I read a lot of Whitman's Leaves of Grass today. It's pretty good, but sort of confusing at times.
Night.
Friday, October 07, 2005
"Doubt" on Broadway; I'm going home.
So, tonight I saw Doubt by John Patrick Shanley on Broadway. Ally had really wanted to see it, and Dave had read it and liked it, so we were both curious to see how good it would be. Now, we had planned to take the subway and have ample time, but there was a subway scare today, so we wanted to take a cab. Of course, after trying and trying to get a cab, we ultimately failed and ended up walking the whole way. We got there, sweaty and tired, about ten minutes before the show. We were originally going to attempt to get student rush tickets, but they were sold out, so we ended up with tickets in the last row of the balcony, which only had two rows and was a tier up from the mezzanine).
Anyway, the show was absolutely amazing. I went in expecting to like it, being that the play won the Tonys for Best Play, Best Director, Best Actress, and Best Featured Actress (and all of the acting winners were still in the play). The lead actor, Brian F. O'Byrne also won a Tony for Best Actor last year for another play, Frozen. So, I knew there was talent in the show, but not to what extent. Anyway, the play totally blew me away. I didn't realize a Broadway production without music could be so interesting. Cherry Jones, the leading actress, was absolutely amazing. She had a way of bringing such subtle undertones to her character, and when she really exploded, she sent chills down my spine. The show is about a child molestation accusation within the Catholic Church during the 1960s, and I was really glad that the play chose a really interesting way to tell the story without being trite like any old child molestation case ripped from the headlines. It wasn't like a Lifetime movie or anything, thank God. This was my favorite line of Cherry Jones's:
"I will step outside the church if that's what needs to be done, though the door should shut behind me. I will do what needs to be done, Father, if that means I am damned to Hell. Now, you should understand that or you mistake me."
I also have one of my more interesting theatre stories to tell. Anyway, the two guys sitting in front of Ally and I in the theatre kept on talking during the first scene of the play, so I shhed them. So, finally, this girl sitting next to them turned back to me and asked me what was wrong and I made a symbol like "they're talking," so anyway, she explained that the one guy was translating the play for the other one. So I felt sort of torn: do I feel bad for this guy who also wants to understand the play or do I acknowledge the fact that, no matter what the guy's situation, it's rude to talk during the play? Anyway, they stopped translating, and I felt pretty bad. So at the end of the show, Ally offered to pay for the ticket for the guy who didn't get to hear the show, but he wouldn't take the money. I felt really awkard, because I should've been the one to offer to pay if either of us would, but I also didn't totally feel like it was appropriate to have to pay for his seat when I felt he was in the wrong. I feel sort of bad for the guy. He wasn't being all that disruptive, but I was pretty distracted. It's as if you're in a movie and the two people immediately in front of you (and, being so high up, you have to look down through the people to see the play) are whispering. Oy...what a situation.
Anyway, tomorrow, I'm going home. David's boyfriend is coming up, so I'm giving them alone time. Plus, I miss my family, and I get to see our new couch and the new PT Cruiser that they bought and my grandparents. Tomorrow, I'm also beginning my job search process before I leave. It sucks that I'm so afraid to take the subway that I'll have to take a cab. Bleh. I'll survive, I suppose.
Anyway, the show was absolutely amazing. I went in expecting to like it, being that the play won the Tonys for Best Play, Best Director, Best Actress, and Best Featured Actress (and all of the acting winners were still in the play). The lead actor, Brian F. O'Byrne also won a Tony for Best Actor last year for another play, Frozen. So, I knew there was talent in the show, but not to what extent. Anyway, the play totally blew me away. I didn't realize a Broadway production without music could be so interesting. Cherry Jones, the leading actress, was absolutely amazing. She had a way of bringing such subtle undertones to her character, and when she really exploded, she sent chills down my spine. The show is about a child molestation accusation within the Catholic Church during the 1960s, and I was really glad that the play chose a really interesting way to tell the story without being trite like any old child molestation case ripped from the headlines. It wasn't like a Lifetime movie or anything, thank God. This was my favorite line of Cherry Jones's:
"I will step outside the church if that's what needs to be done, though the door should shut behind me. I will do what needs to be done, Father, if that means I am damned to Hell. Now, you should understand that or you mistake me."
I also have one of my more interesting theatre stories to tell. Anyway, the two guys sitting in front of Ally and I in the theatre kept on talking during the first scene of the play, so I shhed them. So, finally, this girl sitting next to them turned back to me and asked me what was wrong and I made a symbol like "they're talking," so anyway, she explained that the one guy was translating the play for the other one. So I felt sort of torn: do I feel bad for this guy who also wants to understand the play or do I acknowledge the fact that, no matter what the guy's situation, it's rude to talk during the play? Anyway, they stopped translating, and I felt pretty bad. So at the end of the show, Ally offered to pay for the ticket for the guy who didn't get to hear the show, but he wouldn't take the money. I felt really awkard, because I should've been the one to offer to pay if either of us would, but I also didn't totally feel like it was appropriate to have to pay for his seat when I felt he was in the wrong. I feel sort of bad for the guy. He wasn't being all that disruptive, but I was pretty distracted. It's as if you're in a movie and the two people immediately in front of you (and, being so high up, you have to look down through the people to see the play) are whispering. Oy...what a situation.
Anyway, tomorrow, I'm going home. David's boyfriend is coming up, so I'm giving them alone time. Plus, I miss my family, and I get to see our new couch and the new PT Cruiser that they bought and my grandparents. Tomorrow, I'm also beginning my job search process before I leave. It sucks that I'm so afraid to take the subway that I'll have to take a cab. Bleh. I'll survive, I suppose.
Thursday, October 06, 2005
Ahh, the relief.
Oh what a relaxing day today was. Well, for the most part. I woke up about an hour before my classes started to study for my German quiz and memorize "So We'll Go No More A-Roving" by Byron for my Great Poems class.
My classes went pretty well. The quiz was pretty difficult, but I suppose I survived it. I didn't get chosen to recite the poem, and I barely said a word in Great Poems. Now, don't get me wrong, I really enjoy that class, but I really don't feel that I'm very good at discussing poems. I'm excited though, because next week we have to read things from Leaves of Grass, by Whitman, and I like that. Today marked the end of the process of writing my essay for Writing the Essay, and it was a relief to turn in the final draft.
After classes were over, I felt almost like I had nothing to do. No homework, no other plans. I met up with Ally after class, as she had apparently been stalking me, and we had a snack. I walked her home and then had dinner with my floor (bacon double cheeseburger...mmm).
After that, I did laundry for a long time and talked online. I walked with David to Space Market and then to Morton Williams. Then I walked him to the bus stop, because he was going to visit a friend at Water Street, which means I get the room to myself tonight.
I'm going home this weekend, and I'm quite excited. I miss my parents, and it will be nice to see the familiar places once again. There will be a new couch and a new family car awaiting me, so things should be exciting.
I think I'm going to look for a job on Friday before I go home. I really need an income so I can continue to indulge myself with Broadway outings. And also so I can save up some money and possibly contribute to my tuition and the payment of my loans. Ah, I'm becoming such an adult.
Anyway, I have two classes tomorrow: German and QR, with a nice break in between. I dread lecture, but I'll probably bring something to keep myself occupied as I wait for some sort of revelatory statement that brings me back into the lesson.
I enjoy the 12th Floor. People are so friendly. We're going to kick ass in Floor Wars. (Y'all some bitches, other floors).
Have I said yet how excited I am to see Sweeney Todd next Thursday? I haven't been this excited for a show since Wicked, and the material of that show is so far inferior to Sweeney that it makes me even more excited. Good grief! I've decided that I absolutely love Michael Cerveris (who plays Sweeney), so I hope he does the role justice. I like him on the Assassins CD and in the Passion concert and on the Tommy CD. I can't wait for the new Sweeney CD (released by Nonesuch, which does such a pretty job with its cast recordings).
Oh my. It's nice that I have some time to be preoccupied with musicals rather than school work.
My classes went pretty well. The quiz was pretty difficult, but I suppose I survived it. I didn't get chosen to recite the poem, and I barely said a word in Great Poems. Now, don't get me wrong, I really enjoy that class, but I really don't feel that I'm very good at discussing poems. I'm excited though, because next week we have to read things from Leaves of Grass, by Whitman, and I like that. Today marked the end of the process of writing my essay for Writing the Essay, and it was a relief to turn in the final draft.
After classes were over, I felt almost like I had nothing to do. No homework, no other plans. I met up with Ally after class, as she had apparently been stalking me, and we had a snack. I walked her home and then had dinner with my floor (bacon double cheeseburger...mmm).
After that, I did laundry for a long time and talked online. I walked with David to Space Market and then to Morton Williams. Then I walked him to the bus stop, because he was going to visit a friend at Water Street, which means I get the room to myself tonight.
I'm going home this weekend, and I'm quite excited. I miss my parents, and it will be nice to see the familiar places once again. There will be a new couch and a new family car awaiting me, so things should be exciting.
I think I'm going to look for a job on Friday before I go home. I really need an income so I can continue to indulge myself with Broadway outings. And also so I can save up some money and possibly contribute to my tuition and the payment of my loans. Ah, I'm becoming such an adult.
Anyway, I have two classes tomorrow: German and QR, with a nice break in between. I dread lecture, but I'll probably bring something to keep myself occupied as I wait for some sort of revelatory statement that brings me back into the lesson.
I enjoy the 12th Floor. People are so friendly. We're going to kick ass in Floor Wars. (Y'all some bitches, other floors).
Have I said yet how excited I am to see Sweeney Todd next Thursday? I haven't been this excited for a show since Wicked, and the material of that show is so far inferior to Sweeney that it makes me even more excited. Good grief! I've decided that I absolutely love Michael Cerveris (who plays Sweeney), so I hope he does the role justice. I like him on the Assassins CD and in the Passion concert and on the Tommy CD. I can't wait for the new Sweeney CD (released by Nonesuch, which does such a pretty job with its cast recordings).
Oh my. It's nice that I have some time to be preoccupied with musicals rather than school work.
Monday, October 03, 2005
A normal day.
Today was such a normal day. I was going to get up really early to try to get tickets for The Pajama Game with Harry Connick, Jr. or The Color Purple. Instead, I got up way too late and saved myself money. From 12 to 3ish, I worked on my essay for Writing the Essay, because a second draft was due. Then, I went to my 3:30 Writing the Essay class. Afterwards, I did my homework for German, ate dinner at Kimmel with Ally (yay! Asian food), and then did my QR homework, which was so easy that I could have completed it in fourth grade. Oh my.
Now, Ruthie is visiting my room. I enjoy having guests.
Tonight is Sweeney Todd's first preview, and, so far the reviews from those who have seen it have been amazing. Supposedly, the direction and acting are incredibly amazing.
Good night.
Now, Ruthie is visiting my room. I enjoy having guests.
Tonight is Sweeney Todd's first preview, and, so far the reviews from those who have seen it have been amazing. Supposedly, the direction and acting are incredibly amazing.
Good night.
Sunday, October 02, 2005
"The Light in the Piazza" and Central Park
Well, today, I journeyed uptown. I had originally set out to visit a museum, but I took the wrong subway and ended up on 5th Avenue and 53rd Street near MoMA. Once I was there, I decided I really wansn't in much of a museum mood. I decided to walk around the theatre district when I happened by Dirty Rotten Scoundrels just a few moments before the lottery was going to be drawn. I stuck my name in, figuring that, if I lucked out, I would buy the ticket, and, if I didn't, so be it. I lost the lottery and then walked around some more until I happened upon Spelling Bee. Now, I had thought this show didn't have performances on Sunday, but there was a lottery bucket out and it was near the drawing time, so I tried that one too and lost. Anyway, by this time my "If I lose, I lose" attitude had worn out, so I went up to Lincoln Center and got a rush ticket to The Light in the Piazza, which, I believe, is artistically my favorite musical on Broadway. I can't help but be swept up by the rich melodies and the warm hues of the costumes and scenery. Plus, Kelli O'Hara and Victoria Clark are amazing as Clara and Margaret Johnson.
After the show, I took a walk through Central Park, as there was still a good deal of daylight. I lingered longer in Strawberry Fields than I did last time. The whole time I walked through the park, I had my John Lennon music on. It's so sad to walk through the area with the "Imagine" mosaic. I love how, every day, there are decorations on the mosaic to celebrate John Lennon. Today, there were rosebuds, sunflowers, and autumnal vegetables (small pumpkin, apples). I also went to the Great Lawn, Turtle Pond, Belvedere Castle, and Bethesda Fountain.
I'm so tired right now. I have to tweak my essay for Writing the Essay, because the second draft of that is due tomorrow. I'm very hungry, so I guess I'll go eat now.
After the show, I took a walk through Central Park, as there was still a good deal of daylight. I lingered longer in Strawberry Fields than I did last time. The whole time I walked through the park, I had my John Lennon music on. It's so sad to walk through the area with the "Imagine" mosaic. I love how, every day, there are decorations on the mosaic to celebrate John Lennon. Today, there were rosebuds, sunflowers, and autumnal vegetables (small pumpkin, apples). I also went to the Great Lawn, Turtle Pond, Belvedere Castle, and Bethesda Fountain.
I'm so tired right now. I have to tweak my essay for Writing the Essay, because the second draft of that is due tomorrow. I'm very hungry, so I guess I'll go eat now.
"Battle of the Floor Cheers"
So, even though I woke up extremely late today, the day did not go to waste! I spent the afternoon watching the people on my floor devise our cheer for Floor Wars. I also went to Halloween Adventure to get the swords for our cheer. That store is pretty amazing. I'm thinking of being Boy George for Halloween, and I should be able to find all that I need there and at the store Love Saves the Day that I found in the East Village.
Anyway, our floor cheer was amazing. Our theme is pirates, so we had a pirate-themed banner with amazing lettering. We played the Pirates of the Caribbean theme as we entered. Then, we had several chants and a sword-fighting scene. It was pretty amazing. We took home first place! Afterwards, we went out to the Washington Square Diner to celebrate, and I had a tea and ordered ice cream that never came, thus saving myself money.
I'm thinking of going to a movie or museum tomorrow for a little excitement, but we'll see at what time I wake up tomorrow morning.
Anyway, our floor cheer was amazing. Our theme is pirates, so we had a pirate-themed banner with amazing lettering. We played the Pirates of the Caribbean theme as we entered. Then, we had several chants and a sword-fighting scene. It was pretty amazing. We took home first place! Afterwards, we went out to the Washington Square Diner to celebrate, and I had a tea and ordered ice cream that never came, thus saving myself money.
I'm thinking of going to a movie or museum tomorrow for a little excitement, but we'll see at what time I wake up tomorrow morning.
Saturday, October 01, 2005
Late Awakening and the Opening Ceremonies
Well, I just woke up at 3:30 PM. That's a record for me. Of course, I went to bed after 4 last night. I'm a silly, silly boy. Well, at least I got a lot of sleep. I feel sort of refreshed.
Tonight is the opening cermony for Floor Wars, a competition between the floors of my dorm building, Hayden. Our floor is the reigning floor, so we have a lot to live up to. Last year, the theme was "The 12th Floor Empire," as in Star Wars. This year, we're going with a pirate theme. It's kind of neat.
Anyway, this is probably mostly the only thing that will happen today in my life, considering I'm such a lazy ass. I should have gotten up much earlier even if I didn't have anything interesting to do.
Tonight is the opening cermony for Floor Wars, a competition between the floors of my dorm building, Hayden. Our floor is the reigning floor, so we have a lot to live up to. Last year, the theme was "The 12th Floor Empire," as in Star Wars. This year, we're going with a pirate theme. It's kind of neat.
Anyway, this is probably mostly the only thing that will happen today in my life, considering I'm such a lazy ass. I should have gotten up much earlier even if I didn't have anything interesting to do.
Welcome
Well, I think that Blogger looks slightly nicer than xangas do, so I think I'll be blogging on this site from now on. You can check out my posts in NYC so far at http://www.xanga.com/SkywiseYero . Basically, most of what I do consists of sitting around, going to class, going to see shows on Broadway and around town, and walking around the city. Maybe sometimes I'll have interesting observations. Other times I may not. We'll just have to see.
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