We Break the Night…
So, because of my position at work, I will be working 11pm-8am until Christmas Eve.
Oh God.
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Friday, September 19, 2008
Hometown Glory
I`ve been walking in the same way as I did
Missing out the cracks in the pavement
And tutting my heel and strutting my feet
"Is there anything I can do for you dear? Is there anyone I can call?"
"No and thank you, please Madam. I ain`t lost, just wandering"
Round my hometown
Memories are fresh
Round my hometown
Ooh the people I`ve met
Are the wonders of my world
Are the wonders of my world
Are the wonders of this world
Are the wonders of my world
I like it in the city when the air is so thick and opaque
I love to see everybody in short skirts, shorts and shades
I like it in the city when two worlds collide
You get the people and the government
Everybody taking different sides
Shows that we ain`t gonna stand shit
Shows that we are united
Shows that we ain`t gonna take it
Shows that we ain`t gonna stand shit
Shows that we are united
Round my hometown
Memories are fresh
Round my hometown
Ooh the people I`ve met
Are the wonders of my world (4x)
Sunday, January 06, 2008
A New Year's meme
Thanks to Cooper at Cooper's Corridor for this meme. I have been waiting for a while to do this, and now with a little quiet and red wine, I present:
Were you named after somebody?
Yes. I was actually named after my father's father. Dan Wesley Meredith.
When was the last time you cried?
Today. at approximately 3:45 pm when Marcus called me to let me know that Baby Lane and Jen were all okay. Tears of relief and joy. Also tears of joy to learn that Baby Lane was a BOY!Do you like your handwriting?
I like my handwriting. Others love it. When I am writing really fast and carelessly, that is when I get the most compliments. I wish that I had that wonderful print that architects have on blueprints.What is your favourite lunch meat?
Ham on wheat with whole grain dijon mustard. And maybe a little swiss cheese thrown in for good measure.
Do you have kids?
No. I live vicariously through my friends.
No. I live vicariously through my friends.
If you were another person, would you be friends with you?
I would probably think that I was too absentminded. And as infrequently as I telephone my friends...I would have cussed me out long ago....
I would probably think that I was too absentminded. And as infrequently as I telephone my friends...I would have cussed me out long ago....
Do you still have your tonsils?
Yes. They are in there somewhere. I guess.
Yes. They are in there somewhere. I guess.
Would you bungee jump?
Yes. I would probably love it. I am not scared of heights, but when I look down, it does make the back of my legs feel funny.
Yes. I would probably love it. I am not scared of heights, but when I look down, it does make the back of my legs feel funny.
What is your favourite cereal?
I don't really eat cereal. But I sometimes like Oatmeal Raisin Crisp. It looks like Puppy Chow. I also eat something Honey and Oat-ey when Justen gets it. Maybe it is the one with clusters...
I don't really eat cereal. But I sometimes like Oatmeal Raisin Crisp. It looks like Puppy Chow. I also eat something Honey and Oat-ey when Justen gets it. Maybe it is the one with clusters...
Do you untie your shoes when you take them off?
Rarely.
Rarely.
Do you think you are strong?
Emotionally I feel weak. Physically I feel strong. All though I "feel" emotionally weak, I have been through more than any one person should ever go through, and come out okay. So sometimes I feel like I am the strongest person that I know. But in a very sensitive way. Does that make sense?
Emotionally I feel weak. Physically I feel strong. All though I "feel" emotionally weak, I have been through more than any one person should ever go through, and come out okay. So sometimes I feel like I am the strongest person that I know. But in a very sensitive way. Does that make sense?
What is your favourite ice cream?
Mint chocolate chip. Also I once had a gelato that tasted like a cannoli and it was amazing.
Mint chocolate chip. Also I once had a gelato that tasted like a cannoli and it was amazing.
What is the first thing you notice about people?
Their eyes, and whether they make eye contact when they talk to you. I second that answer, Cooper.
Their eyes, and whether they make eye contact when they talk to you. I second that answer, Cooper.
Red or pink?
Red. Red is the color of passion. Fire. The South.
What is the least favourite physical thing about yourself?
I am about 6'2". but my legs are only about 28" long. Isn't that weird?
I am about 6'2". but my legs are only about 28" long. Isn't that weird?
Who do you miss the most?
Granny J. She passed away in May, and I still can't talk about it.
Granny J. She passed away in May, and I still can't talk about it.
What colour pants and shoes are you wearing?
I am not wearing pants or shoes. I am inside. Who wears shoes in their house? I am wearing the robe that Justen gave me.
I am not wearing pants or shoes. I am inside. Who wears shoes in their house? I am wearing the robe that Justen gave me.
What was the last thing you ate?
McDonalds. Cheeseburger and Fries. God, I am embarrassed.
McDonalds. Cheeseburger and Fries. God, I am embarrassed.
What are you listening to right now?
I am listening to the silence of the apartment at 2 am. Even though I live in NYC, this neighborhood: Astoria, is so quiet sometimes that it is scary.
I am listening to the silence of the apartment at 2 am. Even though I live in NYC, this neighborhood: Astoria, is so quiet sometimes that it is scary.
Favourite smells?
Coffee. Sandalwood. Lavender. Ylang Ylang. Sage. The smell of skin.
Coffee. Sandalwood. Lavender. Ylang Ylang. Sage. The smell of skin.
Favourite sport to watch?
Gymnastics, Diving, SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE, and Alabama Football.
Gymnastics, Diving, SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE, and Alabama Football.
Hair colour?
Light brown. Someone told me today that my hair was "ash blonde". I asked if they were high.
Light brown. Someone told me today that my hair was "ash blonde". I asked if they were high.
Eye colour?
Blue. But more on the grey side of blue. Most times. Sometimes I can be a little Greenish. I have always wanted brown eyes.
Blue. But more on the grey side of blue. Most times. Sometimes I can be a little Greenish. I have always wanted brown eyes.
Favourite Food?
Fresh Tomatoes. Sweet Potatoes. and Bacon.
Fresh Tomatoes. Sweet Potatoes. and Bacon.
What colour shirt are you wearing?
I’m not. (me either, Cooper. See above)
I’m not. (me either, Cooper. See above)
Winter or summer?
Winter. I feel like I am an energyless melting puddle in summer unless I am in or near water. I am one of those weird creatures who actually loves snow and cold. Snow-shrouded forest and silvery moonlit mountains …the crackling of a wood fire …the utter peace and purity and loveliness of winter. (this answer was Cooper's. It was so beautiful I left it) I love Winter too!!! Everyone looks so much cuter with a little bit of "winter" on them. I wish I had a place to have a fire. One day.......
Winter. I feel like I am an energyless melting puddle in summer unless I am in or near water. I am one of those weird creatures who actually loves snow and cold. Snow-shrouded forest and silvery moonlit mountains …the crackling of a wood fire …the utter peace and purity and loveliness of winter. (this answer was Cooper's. It was so beautiful I left it) I love Winter too!!! Everyone looks so much cuter with a little bit of "winter" on them. I wish I had a place to have a fire. One day.......
Favourite dessert?
I love red velvet cake. pound cake. chocolate. pumpkin cheesecake....all of these things I can make home made. mmmmmm. Also, my sweet potato casserole is pretty much dessert too.
I love red velvet cake. pound cake. chocolate. pumpkin cheesecake....all of these things I can make home made. mmmmmm. Also, my sweet potato casserole is pretty much dessert too.
Hugs or kisses?
Kisses are where it is at. I love boyfriend kisses and puppy kisses too. Also, I love when people greet each other with cheek kisses. I love kisses!
Kisses are where it is at. I love boyfriend kisses and puppy kisses too. Also, I love when people greet each other with cheek kisses. I love kisses!
What book are you reading now?
Sadly, my attention span does not allow me to read books. I did re-read my friend Scott Heim's Mysterious Skin. wow.
Sadly, my attention span does not allow me to read books. I did re-read my friend Scott Heim's Mysterious Skin. wow.
What is on your mouse pad?
I haven't a mouse pad.
I haven't a mouse pad.
What did you watch on TV last night?
Project Runway. (It was on the TiVo)
Project Runway. (It was on the TiVo)
Favourite Sound?
Laughter. Quiet. I love it when it is so quiet that it is deafening. I also love to hear water. I am a Pisces. So there is always water in my life somewhere. I also love to hear the flicker of a candle. The most comforting sounds I hear daily are the breath of Naomi and Justen when they are sleeping. (Naomi is our dog)
Laughter. Quiet. I love it when it is so quiet that it is deafening. I also love to hear water. I am a Pisces. So there is always water in my life somewhere. I also love to hear the flicker of a candle. The most comforting sounds I hear daily are the breath of Naomi and Justen when they are sleeping. (Naomi is our dog)
Do you have a special talent?
Yes. A select few know what said talent is.
Yes. A select few know what said talent is.
Where were you born?
Montgomery, Alabama.
If you for any reason want to also do this meme, comment and let me know!!
Happy New Year!
Daniel
Montgomery, Alabama.
If you for any reason want to also do this meme, comment and let me know!!
Happy New Year!
Daniel
Friday, November 30, 2007
WORLD AIDS DAY
There are an estimated 38 million people in the world today living with AIDS. We have stood by and watched this monster become one of the largest epidemics of our generation. I challenge everyone to wear a red ribbon tomorrow. Make a donation to an AIDS charity. Work at a soup kitchen....do something. If you do not have time to physically do something, take a moment and reflect quietly on the over 25 million dead and 38 million infected.
I will be at work tomorrow, on World AIDS day. As a makeup artist for MAC, I am proud to be working tomorrow. I will be speaking to every one of my customers about the AIDS virus and what they can do to help. At MAC, every day is World AIDS Day. The MAC AIDS Fund was created to give back to the community every single day in a major way. MAC has raised over 100 million dollars. This money is given to groups to support men, women, and children living with HIV and AIDS. Every day of the year, MAC sells VIVA GLAM lipsticks and lipglasses. 100% of the retail price paid for this item goes to the MAC AIDS fund. Ever wonder what ONE LIPSTICK can buy? Think on this:
One $14 tube of Viva Glam lipstick will provide health insurance for a child orphaned by AIDS in China for NINE MONTHS.
One $14 tube of Viva Glam lipstick will provide food for an entire support group meeting.
One $14 tube of Viva Glam will buy 1000 condoms in India.
One $14 tube of Viva Glam lipstick can fund fourteen Aids test in Hayti
One $14 tube of Viva Glam lipstick will buy two weeks of groceries for an HIV positive person in the US.
One $14 tube of Viva Glam lipstick will buy one month of food, shelter, medical aid and schooling to a child orphaned by AIDS in Africa.
One $14 tube of Viva Glam lipstick will buy one dose of anti-retroviral drugs to four mothers and their babies to reduce the risk of HIV/AIDS transmission from mother to child in Africa.
One $14 tube of Viva Glam lipstick will buy five days of housing for a family of three in the USA.
One $14 tube of Viva Glam lipstick will buy four HIV tests enabling people to learn their status.
Ever thought you couldn't make a difference. Now you can.
Thursday, November 01, 2007
John Allan's
Here is a story I wrote a while back for a magazine. It never ran, so I thought I would share it with you people. It is about John Allan's, a salon here in the city.
____
When you walk in to the door of any John Allan’s Club, you are immediately greeted, seated, and fitted with a black “smoking jacket” type garment with John Allan’s logo on the breast. Looking around the room you see a dozen or so overstuffed brown leather tuck-and-roll chairs filled with well-dressed gentlemen socializing, sipping beer, listening to the cool jazz constantly streaming from the sound system, or waiting for their turn at the classic-style red velvet pool table in the corner. A few men are seated at the bar, sipping from their private liquor reserves (which are stored on the premises with your name on them for your personal use only); and others are tucked away in the cigar room smoking and watching sports or news on television. You could be at any high class gentlemen’s club in the city. The only difference is that John Allan’s is not a private club; it is one of
In the good-ole days, a men’s salon was called a “barber shop”. You wait your turn in a Barbisol-soaked environment to have the barber give you a shave and a haircut and fill you in on the town’s business. That’s a little too Mayberry for New York City, but John Allan’s does fulfill that primal male need for comfort, socialization, class and grooming with four locations in Manhattan.
Most men interested in “grooming” would have to swallow their pride and go to a salon which specializes in women’s needs: hair color, acrylic nails, bikini waxing, and celebrity gossip magazines. John Allan’s is an oasis of testosterone for the male who needs a little extra care. The most popular package, the “Full Service” is a reasonable $65 and includes a scalp massage with shampoo, a heated towel for the face, a manicure, a haircut, a shoe-shine, and all the draft beer you care to drink. Adorning the magazine racks are copies of Forbes, BusinessWeek, Vanity Fair, The New Yorker, and Golf Magazine. The clientele are a mixture of young professionals and older gentlemen.
My stylist, Danny, is from
After finishing the haircut I was treated to a shoe shine that rivaled Granddaddy’s. I was then free to socialize, drink, play pool, smoke a cigar, or merely hang out and read magazines. After buying a few products, I went to the register to pay and was able to tip individually my stylists in small envelopes. My coat and bag were returned to me and I exited John Allan’s back into the hustle and bustle of
Saturday, August 25, 2007
A Survey
MY STORY.
Hi, my name is: Daniel Noland Meredith
but you can call me: Daniel
Never in my life have I: Done something that I regret.
The one person who can drive me nuts is: our current president.
My high school is/was: Lighthouse Christian Academy
When I’m nervous: My tummy hurts.
The last song I listened to was: According to my ITunes--"Easy Silence" by the Dixie Chicks. Such a great song.
If I were to get married right now it would be to: Unfortunately, this administration does not recognize my love.
My hair is: still in bed head mode.
When I was 4: I thought that my Granny J was the best thing in the world. I still do.
Last Christmas: Justen and I spent the holiday alone together here in the apartment with Naomi. It was the closest thing to perfect I have ever experienced.
I should be: eating.
When I look down I see: crotch.
The happiest recent event was: me and Justen holding Naomi and singing happy birthday to her.
If I were a character on ‘Friends’ i'd be: canceled, but still in syndication.
By this time next year: I'll probably still be sitting here doing this. Hopefully I will be a union actor then.
My current gripe is: i hate it when it is hot.
I have a hard time understanding: cellphones and fax machines. It weirds me out that there are conversations flying around all the time.
If I won an award, the first person I would tell would be: Justen.
I want to buy: a new mattress.
I plan to visit next: the New York Library for the Performing Arts
If you spent the night at my house: I would have to pull out the air mattress. And you would have to share it with Naomi.
The world could do without: Conservatives.
Most recent thing I’ve bought myself: A mattress topper.
Most recent thing someone else bought me: food.
My middle name is: Noland. It is my grandmother's maiden name.
In the morning I: hate waking up.
Last night I was: working.
There’s this guy I know who: is a movie star.
If I was an animal I’d be a: dog. But I would want to be a dog in my home. Not just anywhere. Otherwise, I would be a manatee.
A better name for me would be: I think that Daniel does just fine.
Tomorrow I am: working. again.
Tonight I am: working.
My birthday is: March 16. Pisces.
THANKS JEN NELSON LANE FOR THE SURVEY!!!
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
How Come ....
...when I get into the audition room, the piano is out of tune, the accompanist is playing like she is in a room the size of the Met rather than the shoe box we are actually in, and I accidentally grabbed the resumes that have one of my roles misspelled?
All I am trying to do is get a leg up. Sometimes it feels like someone else has a bigger leg up, and it is hiked up and peeing on me. Just thoughts on the audition that I blew yesterday.....
First of all, I have been wanting to audition for this company for a while. I'm not going to say what it is, because it would embarrass me. The company is Equity, so yesterday I went in expecting to wait. I got there right on time, and no one else did. I asked if they would see non-AEA, they said sure--and just to hang out for a bit. Thirty seconds later, they came back and said that they were ready for me.
The piano sounded like one of those symphonies that I used to beat out on Granny J's pots and pans. I asked her to give me a B before I started. She did, and I looked at her and said, "Really?" I thought maybe I was just anxious, and that the B really was that low. As soon as she started playing I realized that the piano was all over the place. I transposed on the fly dropping down 2 keys to more closely follow what I was hearing. Now my up-tempo song to show off my range sounded like something I could sing after a pack of cigarettes.
They asked me to sing another up tempo. I looked in my bag, and all I had were 2 ballads. One was from an operetta. The other up-tempo must still be in the printer. UGGGG. So, I sang. Then read the side. Secretly inside I was wishing they would just say "Thanks" and put me out of this misery. Could they possibly be considering me? Or are they just torturing me because the rain has kept everyone else away. There they were enjoying their coffee and doughnuts. There I was melting. All scored by "Accompanist's Pots and Pans in the relative key of E flat". They asked me about a credit on my resume. Then asked me why I misspelled the name of the role. I explained that I had grabbed the resumes from the junk pile. You know---the pile that you are supposed to glue new resumes over what is there....
When I got back home, I climbed in the bed, and told Justen that we should just pretend that I never got up this morning.
Welcome to a Day In The Life of Daniel Meredith. You think you know, but you have no idea.
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Too Old
I got typed out of audition today for being too old.
Don't know how I feel about that. Typing makes me so crazy sometimes. With all that training on how to appear old, young, etc...why can't they let me at least try to wow them with my talent?
That is why I feel like this man today.
I can't
Yes. That was Clay Aiken singing "SexyBack"
I have no words. Remember, he still insists that he is heterosexual.
Monday, August 13, 2007
Monday, August 06, 2007
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Only in New York
She told Jen and Marcus that you could only get these in Florida.
I found some at the CVS on Broadway on Astoria.
So I ate them.
Saturday, June 23, 2007
Sunday, May 27, 2007
Thrown Back In
Fingers shaking, insides vibrating
I boarded the plane.
Back to the city.
"Just water, please"
"I mean Ginger Ale"
"No, just water."
Tears in my eyes.
"Are you okay?" 11-B said.
"Yes, It's just hard"
"To fly?"
Then I told her.
Then
she
hugged
me
"I have grand children too"
And I realized that the hardest part of flying
is leaving the ground.
And that the hardest part of leaving
Is Being Left Behind.
Friday, May 25, 2007
In Memory
I have been reclusive for the past few weeks, and I thought that it was about time that I spoke about what is going on in my life. Anyone who knows me well, knows that my family is a huge part of my life, and certain members of said family have played a strong part in making me who I am today. One of those family members is my maternal grandmother, Granny J.
I have got hundreds of stories about Granny J, from saving my life many times (literally) to falling asleep in fried rice. Granny and I had a very special relationship. Born a little less than 70 years ago, Granny J was a true Southern Woman. She brought herself up from nothing (literally--she lived in a boxcar for a while) to become a force to be reckoned with.
On May 1, Granny thought that she was developing pneumonia, so she went into the hospital. While there, the doctors thought that she may have had a heart attack. Later she went on to have a heart cath and repair of an aortic aneurysm. All the time I was here in NYC waiting to be able to speak to her after she got out of the intensive care unit. Finally, I was able to speak to her.
On the morning of May 11th, I received a phone call that Granny J had a major stroke while in the unit, and it had affected her left side. I was told to come on home. (I had just spoken to Granny on Thursday, and she couldnt wait to get home--She was sitting up, eating, and getting ready to go to rehab from her surgery). Apparently Friday evening she threw a huge clot.
When I got home Saturday afternoon, it didnt look good. She was unable to speak, swallow, move or do anything. She was responsive, but uncomfortable. Being a trauma nurse for her life, Granny had wishes that she receive no artificial nutrition or any life support whatsoever. Basically, for the next week, the only thing she had in her body was morphine. Hospice came in to help prepare the family for the upcoming death, and they were great. I had dealt with them when my other grandmother passed, and knew how wonderful they are.
From May 11th until May 30th, I kept a silent vigil beside Granny's hospital bed. Holding her hand and watching her die. I vascillated between anger and utter peace. There is something very beautiful about letting someone leaving this world with the dignity that they displayed while in this world.
Eventually, Granny J passed away. We told her that we would "see her in the mornin'" and to "go rest high on that mountain"...things we have always said.
Granny J was a very proud and private woman. Her wishes were that she
would have no viewing, and no funeral. She said "if people didn't come see me when I was alive, I sure as hell don't want them looking at me when I am dead". With a reluctant chuckle, we all agreed that we would keep those wishes. At some point in the near future, Granny J and Granddaddy J's cremains will be scattered into the Gulf of Mexico off of Gulf Shores--their oasis.I still have great difficulty speaking about this out loud. I have great difficulty socializing. I rarely answer my phone, and reluctantly return emails. Please understand.
Saturday, May 12, 2007
Saturday, May 05, 2007
Daniel on TELEVISION
If you tune into HGTV tomorrow at 3:30 Eastern, you will see Justen and I on FREE STYLE.
It also will be re-airing on the 14th.
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
My First Flame
As a blogger, I pretty much know that no matter what I say or post on here, I have agreed that it be available to everyone in the world. As you also may not know, my most read blog on here is one I posted a while back called Diarrhea Donut Shop. This post (which you may also visit too) is the one that brings most of my visitors. For whatever reason, people search for "diarrhea" or "watery bowels" and my blog comes up. Anyways, regarding a photo I have posted there I received my first flame. The language is quite bad, so I will post it after the jump... you ass hole, stupid, how dare you put that picture of an epidemic child to illustrate such vanal and careless comentary. who the hell do you think you are? i wish you die from a diarrea, like a lot of people in the world who dont leisurely walk!!Anonymous said...
I have a few things to say to this. FIRST, I wish that people that comment or judge me please use capital letters to begin their sentences. Secondly, I think that the last sentence is a death threat. Thirdly, if you are ballsy enough to call me an "ass hole" please also be "vanal" enough to leave your name or email address. What the hell does "vanal" mean?
Now, I pose to you, my other two readers...should I leave this comment up, or delete it?
UPDATE: "vanal" is indeed not a word. Also, judging from the commenter's spelling of diarrhea (diarrhea), this person speaks Spanish. (This is the Spanish word for watery bowels.) Please see other translations HERE. (I, too, have misspelled the word.) The correct English Spelling of the word is....Diarrhea. The British spell it diarrhoea. Please see article here.
Friday, April 20, 2007
Fainting Goat
My mom had a fainting goat. She used to try so hard to get it to faint, and it never did. I think she got a dud.
She said that they used to bang pots and pans together in front of the goat. nothing. Wonder what that goat thought? Probably, "Why the hell is this crazy ass woman banging pots and pans in my face and hollering?"
Just a thought. Oh, click the hyperlink. There's an International Fainting Goat Association.
Thursday, April 05, 2007
Do you know Dolphins?
I think I am going to start regularly exploring different animals on the blog. Here is the first: The Dolphin. The head contains the melon, a round organ used for echolocation. In many species, the jaws are elongated, forming a distinct beak; for some species like the Bottlenose, there is a curved mouth which looks like a fixed smile. Teeth can be very numerous (up to two hundred and fifty) in several species. The dolphin brain is large and has a highly structured cortex, which often is referred to in discussions about their advanced intelligence. Unlike most mammals, dolphins do not have hair, but they are born with a few hairs around the tip of their rostrum which they lose after some time, in some cases even before they are born. The only exception to this is the Boto river dolphin, which does have some small hairs on the rostrum. SENSES INTELLIGENCE & SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR The year 2007 has been declared as (International) Year of the Dolphin by the United Nations and United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). THREAT How Can You Help?
Despite popular belief, the dolphin and the porpoise are different animals. There are almost forty different species of dolphin. They range in size from 4 feet (Maui Dolphin) to 30 feet (the Orca). The dolphin lives in every sea in the world, but they prefer the shallower waters of the Continental Shelves. Dolphins are carnivores: their diet consists mostly of squid and fish. Dolphins evolved about ten million years ago, during the Miocene.
ANATOMY
Modern dolphin skeletons have two small, rod-shaped pelvic bones thought to be vestigial hind legs.
Dolphins have a streamlined fusiform body, adapted for fast swimming. The basic colouration patterns are shades of grey with a light underside and a distinct dark cape on the back. It is often combined with lines and patches of different hue and contrast.
Most dolphins have acute eyesight, both in and out of the water, and their sense of hearing is superior to that of humans. However, dolphins lack an olfactory nerve and lobes and thus are believed to have no sense of smell, but they can taste and do show preferences for certain kinds of fish.
Dolphins are social, living in pods (also called "schools") of up to a dozen individuals. The individuals communicate using a variety of clicks, whistles and other vocalizations. It is thought that dolphins have their own language. Members of a pod may even have a language that is just their own, as well as a universal language. Dolphins can establish strong b
Every October, in Japan, dolphins are herded together an massacred for food and also collected to be sold to water parks and zoos. Below, I have a documentary from PBS featuring Hardy Jones, a photographer who went to Japan to do a documentary on dolphins. What he found there shocked him. It will shock you too.
Many people are not comfortable with groups like PETA and their guerrila-like tactics and agendas. There is a group called Blue Voice (which was founded by Ted Danson) to help save Dolphins and Whales. Their website is a tome of information on what you can do to help. Every little bit does help. In addition to spreading the word, open your mouth! Blog about this, tell your friends! Never, I repeat NEVER patronize places like Sea World that profit from exploiting these creatures. Volunteer. Pray. Light a Candle. Just do Something. Start by watching this documentary.
Too Much Beyonce
I have always wondered what would happen if someone had too much Beyonce. Most days, I feel like I have already had too much Beyonce. Take a look at the clip after the jump, and let me know what you think. Is this person a victim of too much Beyonce??
He's good, huh?
Many thanks to Frank at OMG Blog for giving this tiny blog a shout out.
Mold Removal
In New York City, mold in your home is a problem. This problem also exists outside of the city as well, but due to the age of our buildings and other horrible things, toxic mold is a huge issue here.
Now, unless, like Justen and myself, you have had your ceiling fall in revealing all sorts of black mold colonies, you may not be able to tell the condition of your inner walls without doing much damage. I have recently learned that many mold detection services are using specially trained dogs (like the one above--named Hunter) to detect mold in your home. Basically, to understand why dogs are so good at this, you need to learn a little about mold.
Mold is a product of excessive moisture. Most moisture problems go unnoticed and unchecked for many years not because people don't care, but because most of the detrimental aspects of the damage are usually invisible. The way that homes are constructed now makes mold detection practically impossible. It is possible to sample the air in your house and get a spore count, but you have no idea where the mold is coming from--just that it is there. Now we have all seen mold at least once. Chances are, you grew it in science class, have some growing in your shower now, or maybe even have some fruit or bread with a little growing on it.
Penicillin is a mold. Its healing properties have saved millions of people from death. Our bodies are full of bacterium that help us live. But not all molds are as friendly. As molds thrive, they produce three things: spores, gasses and toxins. The spores are mostly confined to an area, and inside of a wall, it is hard for them to escape--unless there is a hole or crack. The big problem is the gasses released by the molds. The gasses mold produces are detected by the human nose as a "musty smell". Unlike spores, gasses can easily penetrate walls and build-up indoors creating discomfort and causing health complaints such as headaches, nausea, dizziness and fatigue. While this seems like a terrible thing, these gasses are the key to the solution.
The dog's nose is hundreds of times more sensitive than ours. New Jersey Mold Removal is a company that uses specially trained dogs to "sniff out" these gasses. These dogs are led through your space, and sniff around, and alert the handler to the presence of toxic molds. Their noses easily pick up on the nuances of the smells of the different molds. This method is much less intrusive than what happened to us. It is also another way that companion animals are being used to help humanity. Dogs love to "work", it is their nature. Nothing makes them feel more alive than the hunt. This toxic mold hunting is a perfect job for these dogs.
So next time that your pooch is sniffing around, just think what might be behind those walls.
This post was sponsored by New Jersey Mold Company. I support them because of their use of companion animals in such a beneficial way.
Saturday, March 31, 2007
Wet Nose Therapy
Sometimes our pets seem to have a sixth sense about them. Anyone who knows Justen and I also knows Naomi. (The photo above is not her--that is mom's dog) She greets everyone in the house with joy, love, and hundreds of kisses.
Lately, since I have been unemployed and home more often than before, Naomi has been at my side the whole time. She sits with us on the sofa, keeps us warm in the bed at night, snuggles when we are sad, and all she asks in return is love. A good belly rub every now and again and sometimes a little fun outside. Nothing out of the ordinary.
Naomi lives completely in the moment. She has no regrets, no guilt, no nothing. If she is happy, she is 100% happy. If she is scared, her entire body quivers with fear. If she is tired, she immediately drops into sleep.
Naomi has job too, around the house. She barks at intruders. (and neighbors, and puppies, and just about anyone who comes in the building). She makes sure that if we drop any food on the floor that it is quickly eaten. She makes sure that we are always able to rub her belly if we want to. These are her simple jobs. She also listens when we talk to her, and never talks back. When I am on the sofa watching tv, she makes sure that she is nearby to cuddle. Unless she would rather be in the bed.
Through it all, our pets give so much more than they receive. We kiss them, feed them, walk them, etc. and ask for nothing in return. I know that not everyone is a pet person, but I think that everyone can empathize with the feeling of a being of unconditional love.
In China, dogs are bred for their fur. When they reach a marketable size, the handlers will bang their heads on a rock then skin them alive, tossing the skinless carcasses away to rot in the sun. This fur makes its way in to many of our clothes.
Here in the USA, the land of the free and home of the brave, our animals that are unwanted are disposed of, or used for experimentation. Our government requires that all of our drugs be tested on animals before being approved for human use. REQUIRES. (Even though there are models that more closely simulate the human body). We are a long way off from changing this, and it is a long, slow process. I am constantly writing letters.
Something that is in everyone's hands to change is cosmetic and household product testing. The lipstick that you are wearing may have been forced into a rabbit's eye before you could purchase it. Your hairspray may have been sprayed repeatedly into dog's eyes to determine how much would blind them. The lotion that you put on your skin was probably force fed to dogs to see how much it would take to make them ill. Why? Why not. The animals can not speak out for themselves. It is cheaper for the companies to purchase unwanted animals than to purchase human skin simulation. How can you stop this? Educate yourself. Purchase products that are not tested on animals. Be careful. Many companies do not test on animals, but get their products from people who do.
Write letters. Write to Procter and Gamble on behalf of the Naomi's of the world. Write a letter to pet-friendly companies thanking them--on behalf of the Naomi's of the world. It doesn't cost a thing. You can email them. go to PETA for help. The Naomi's of the world thank you. In their own way.
Know what---even if you never wrote a letter, even if you only use cruelly-produced products, Naomi will still greet you with a kiss. Thats just how animals are.
Friday, March 30, 2007
Ghost in This House
I have been working more on videos. Here is a quickie I shot today. Would love to know what you all think about it. Basically, I was practicing using opacity and layers. Plus I love this song, and have felt this way many times.
** Note. If you have looked at this, look again. I tweaked it.
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Fear Called Living
Living in New York City, you are almost constantly bombarded by independent musicians just trying to get a break. You see them everywhere. On the street, in the subway, in the parks. Most of the bands are good. Many are very good, yet their sound really is not that much different than what is out there now. It's those rare artists who break away from the mainstream who are able to break out of obscurity. "Fear Called Living" just may be one of those bands.
Unsigned.com bills itself as, "the new voice for independent Artists looking for the chance to be discovered". They boast that over 2000 independent Artists have already signed on. The website is unique in that it allows listeners to interact directly with the artists, thereby building a "grass roots" listenership.
Anyone who knows me knows that I am not a hip-hop fan. Do not let the use of that term to describe this music steer you away. This entire genre of music is out there, and is not being played outside of big cities. All you have to do is ask. If you like a band that is getting no radio play, call the station and ask for it. Keep calling. Get everyone you know to call. That's what happened to John Mayer.
In the meantime, check out Fear Called Living and the entire trip hop genre at unsigned.com. While you are there, you can look around at some of their other genres...but trip hop is definitely something you may have never heard before. And I guarantee you will like it.
View the page here: Trip-Hop Bands
This post sponsored by UnSigned.
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Burger King starts the trend
If you know me, you know that I am a compassionate meat eater. I was at one point a vegan, but very unhealthy. I have always stood firm on animal rights, and it is a passion of mine to speak out for those who have no voice to speak for themselves. That being said, it is with great pleasure that I point out:
Burger King set to make "historic advance" in animal welfare: "...the world's second-largest hamburger chain, said Tuesday that it would begin buying eggs and pork from suppliers that did not confine their animals in cages and crates. The company said that it would also favor suppliers of chickens that use gas, or "controlled-atmospheric stunning," rather than electric shocks, to knock birds unconscious before slaughter. It is considered a more humane method, though only a few slaughterhouses use it."
For more information, please visit PETA at: http://www.goveg.com/corp_murderk-victory.asp
And please, go out and have some BK fries or something.
The image posted above shows how mass-market chickens are treated in captivity. They have their beaks chopped off to prevent them from killing each other after being confined to crates makes them insane. Eat free-range, or don't eat it at all.
Monday, March 26, 2007
This Weekend
Spring has sprung here in NYC. As of the end of last week, you couldn't really tell. The ground was covered in snow and we were still all wearing our puffy coats. Alas, the equinox has noxed, and we are now beginning the "light" half of the year.
Speaking of the light half of the year, Daylight Savings Time really kicked my ass this year. I don't really know why. All of a sudden, the clocks sprang forward, and left me behind in the dust. I have slowly recouperated in the recent weeks, but it. was. a. bitch.
My friend from my previous life, Ashley, came in to town this weekend. He was here for a blogging convention. He is working in Marketing at PayPerPost, and was here for a BlogHer convention. Ashley and I were friends through a girl that I dated over 10 years ago. We eventually became roommates and had some great times. He has lived in Orlando for a while. 
Due to just plain life, distance, and my phone anxiety, we have been spotty about keeping in touch. This weekend was the first time that I had seen him in about 7 years.
Anyways, Friday night we decided to go out and get drunk. We started our night at VYNL, which is one of my favorite places in Hell's Kitchen. After eating a little dinner there and of course having a couple of their amazing martinis, we decided to start our night. That's me standing outside VYNL.
When we were leaving VYNL, we ran into Kacy, mine and Justen's roommate, and his friend Brad. We decided to all meet up at Phoenix in Alphabet City. (Justen was on the way). The Phoenix is a really cool place to start your night. It has the feeling of a pub and is quite laid back. The music is not loud. It's very much a hang-out place. There is a pool table there. The movie that I was just in, Skull and Bones used it as a location. We took a seat in the side room (which looks like a dungeon) and waited for Justen. We drank a couple of more beers while there, and Justen came and joined us. Every time I go to Phoenix, I see a celebrity. Well, I use the term celebrity loosely. I see someone who is on TV. Last time I was there I saw the guy who plays the forensic investigator on Law and Order SVU, and this time, we saw Jay McCarroll, who was the winner of Season 1 of Project Runway. He has finally released his ready-to-wear collection and was there at Phoenix with a small entourage. He was wasted. When we were outside about to leave, he came barrelling out the door slurring his words. Either that or he may have been completely sober and speaking in tongues. I'm just sayin'.
We left the Phoenix and decided to cab across town to Mr. Black. This hipster haunt on Friday nights sports waiters wearing only aprons. The cover charge was $10, but we thought it may be fun. On the way there, we saw Kacy stumbling down the roadside, so we did what any friend would do. We rolled down the cab window and heckled him. Priceless.
The line at Mr. Black was around the block, and we didn't feel like waiting, so we walked into the West Village to Pieces, which is a little dive bar. Its right there across from the gay pride statues. We stayed there about 1 beer's length and were deciding to call it a night.
As we were walking down the street to get to the train, I saw Marie's Crisis, and knew we had to stop in. Marie's Crisis is a little bar in a basement that is a piano bar. You can go there and get a drink from the bartender and sit at the piano and sing along with god only knows who. Last time I was there, Dawn Weiner from Welcome to the Dollhouse was there. She was apparently having a sapphic convention there, and was getting a lot of attention. We arrived late, and there were no notables there. We all decided to do a Lemon Drop shot. I did mine, but Justen and Ashley didnt like theirs, so I did theirs too. That was my mistake. I was fine until I drank 3 shots of cheap vodka.
We got in a cab headed back to Astoria. We took the Williamsburg Bridge, which was bumper to bumper at 4am, then came here and crashed. I managed to get the airbed blown up for Ash, allthough I don't remember.
The next morning I awoke at 3pm in a black haze.
Justen went to dance class. God. 31 sucks.
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
wii
Ok, I did it. Since last year, I have been secretly lusting after the Nintendo wii. (which is still, btw, impossible to buy in stores). Yesterday, afterreceiving birthday money from my parents, I went and stood on line outside the Nintendo world store in midtown from 6:45am until opening--i was first in line--and got the Nintendo wii.
Why may you ask? Well as a young man, I used to stay up nights with friends playing my first-generation Nintendo trying to beat the games. Many of you have been there with me--Super Mario Brothers, Duck Hunt, and most importantly THE LEGEND OF ZELDA.
When Legend of Zelda came out on the NES, I played it and played it. My nights were filled with the quest to rescue this princess. Later versions of Zelda also transfixed me. I was particularly into The Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time. This was for the Nintendo 64.
After seeing the advertisements for the wii, i thought that this would be the game system for me. I owned a PlayStation 2 for many years, and eventually sold it because I never played it. I had beaten "Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Chaos Bleeds" and lost interest in the system completely. The games for the PS2 were just not for me. Most were war simulations and battle type games and frankly I never liked them. I started seeing the "trailers" for the new Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess and my interest was picqued again. I researched the wii to determine if it would be a one-hit-wonder with me. I don't think so. Here are the reasons:
DOES ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ONE OF THESE THINGS? IF YOU HAVE A wii, my number is: 6047 9712 3060 1158
Happy Day to everyone.
Sunday, March 18, 2007
King of the World
I would like to start this off by saying that I am so excited to be in my thirties. If your twenties are representative for the quest to find yourself, then the thirties are definitely a time to chill inside said self. All of the pressure that I used to feel to "assimilate" or "be" or "do" is no longer there. I am just as happy on the sofa watching TV as I am at the movies. It's just that chill. Go out to eat, order takeout, cook...these are the questions that plague me daily...now I just go with the flow. If I want pizza, I eat pizza. If I want to fry chicken, I fry chicken. If I want to make brownies, I make brownies. And don't care.
The feeling of "laissez le bon temps rouler" or "laissez-faire" has spilled over into my professional life. Thats not such a good thing. If I go to an audition, I go. If I don't, I don't. I no longer have that little cheerleader Daniel in the back of my head saying "DO IT" "GO THERE", etc. And honestly, I don't miss that twit at all.
That being said, I realize that at some point, I do have to "shit or get off the pot" so to speak. But now I don't feel terribly motivated. And that's okay. I feel like as an actor I am in a weird transitional period between playing the roles that I have played thus far and the roles that I am yet to play. I think I am just gonna coast for a while. And pay my student loans.
So as I wake up today, closer to 40 then I am to 20, I wonder what will this decade hold. I am only one year into it, and I love it. So far. The past few years of my life have been the best ever:
- meeting Justen
- getting Naomi
- backpacking across Europe
- Moving to New York
- working as an actor
Thursday, February 22, 2007
Its been a while, but here goes
Golly, it has been a little while since I last blogged. So much has happened...lets see where to start...
First, the audition I went on was for Periwinkle National Theatre's tour of HALFWAY THERE.
That being said, getting that job has opened a door for me. Actually it kicked me in the ass a little. So, I quit my PR job. I think that I need to focus hard-core on working in the business here, and with my cushy job, I cant do that. I am only going on safe auditions, and I need to get out there more. And make money. So thats that.
Tim and Derek came over President's day weekend, and I made some good 'ole gumbo for everyone. Beau (their puppy) stayed with us while they went to the theatre, and Naomi had a field day. I haven't seen her play like that in years. It was so refreshing. Beau is welcome in our house ANY day.
Later that night, Justen, Tim, Derek and I went to a local bar called Albatross. I have nothing else to say about this bar. Its there. 'nuff said.
LOST is actually getting better. Thank God. Maybe it wont get canceled now. We will see.
Are Jim and Pam ever gonna get together on the Office? I wonder. Cause probably if they did, there wouldnt be any reason to watch. Except that I love that show. I love it bad.
We saw Pan's Labyrinth recently. I will write a separate review of it at some point, but the gist is, go see it. Its beautiful. Its also a bit bloody, but it is good. If you are expecting Narnia, its not like that at all. More like Titus. or if Titus and Narnia had a child, it would be Pan's Labyrinth. Oh, and the child would have to be Spanish.
I have been working hard on my ancestry. Nothing crazy new to report except that Gore Vidal is actually a very close relative to me. 3rd or 4th cousin. Kinda cool, since I like him.
OK. time to go back to work.
Monday, February 12, 2007
Mimin' Hurts, 'yall
So on Saturday, which was also the day of Jen Nelson Lane's big blowout birthday party, I went to an audition for a character in a TYA show. The character is basically the personification of bad. He tempts the characters back into a life of drugs, booze, or whatever. ANYWAYS, the part is masked, and a mime.
Ok, so it has been a while since I have mimed. Maybe since my last mime at grad school (i remember all of us doing a scene where we were all in a gym. Then another scene where we were attacked by our bathroom necessities---mine was shaving cream.) where was I...OH yeah. pain.
I did a little of the choreography from the show as well as some leans and other basic mime stuff on Saturday. No problem. I was actually quite good. Problem is...it is monday now, and I still cant walk right. I used muscles that havent been used in years. There are parts of my quad which are used in mimin' that arent used in anything I have done since 2003.
I put a heat patch on today, and had to take it off cause I was sweating my ass off. And it felt like the skin on my thigh was gone. all of it.
Anyways, I have a callback for this part on Wednesday. Please pray for my little used muscles.
and my burned up thigh.
Friday, February 09, 2007
Spring Awakening
Last night, Justen and I went to see Spring Awakening with Brent (who was in town for the week). It has been a while since we had seen a show for several reasons--nothing really piqued our interest, and we just never went to get tickets. I am so glad that we decided to go see this show. Duncan Sheik (of the 90's Barely Breathing) and others have adapted Frank Wedekind's 1891 play "Spring Awakening" to this year's Broadway smash. The play centers around a group of teens who are dealing with their burgeoning sexuality juxtaposed with the adult world which is withholding information from them in the name of protecting their innocence.
The cast is an ensemble of fresh-faced young actors (average age here is probably 19) who take on this material with voracity. What RENT was to me years ago is what I feel this will be to young people seeing this today. The music is angst ridden: at times melodic, at times raucous. The stand-out of the cast is definitely John Gallagher, Jr. in his role as Moritz. From the moment he takes the stage in the first number, you can see he has a fully developed character that only comes more to life throughout his subsequent scenes. Also noteworthy is Lea Michelle, playing the female lead role Wendla. Her angelic voice echoes throughout the theatre as pure as a ringing bell from her first scene to the last. Jonathan Groff, who plays the male lead Melchior, comes off a little flat against the colorful supporting characters.
The choreography, done by Bill T. Jones, is at times beautiful and at other times odd. I found the phrase of movement repeated throughout the show to be quite interesting, yet I could decipher no real reason or meaning for it. There were points in the show when I felt that the movement expressed the pent up sexuality of the characters, and other times when it seemed that the characters were simply playing with themselves. or mentally challenged.
The set design and lighting design were brilliantly executed. It is obvious that these two designers worked very closely together to achieve a certain aesthetic. The show is played on a simple acting space with audience on three sides and the band behind. The characters intermingle with the audience, some vocalists are seated as members of the audience the entire time. This Brechtian presentation forces actors to become observers thereby almost making the "audience" another character in the play. I would even go so far as to say that at times, the set and lighting were just as interesting as the characters on stage.
New York Times, New York Post, and USA Today have all called this the best musical of the year. I would have to agree. (But I have not seen any of the others). The raw energy of this show leaps from the stage early in the show (BITCH OF LIVING) and stays strong. Due to plot points being resolved in the second act, the mood is much softer and the energy is a little low. I'd love another big number early in ACT 2, but honestly couldn't imagine where it would go.
Overall, I think that Spring Awakening is the show to beat at this year's Tony's. I hope that this show stays around for a while. It is so refreshing to see something on Broadway that is truly original. Like it or lump it, Spring Awakening is a force to be reckoned with.
Enjoy the clips:
Thursday, February 08, 2007
Anna Nicole Smith
I have learned that Anna Nicole has passed away. Get ready for the media maelstrom to commence. Its so strange that this one event can trump all of our PR efforts.
uggh.
OK, now that the news has broken....
I can not believe that I knew about it moments after it happened. MOMENTS. Calls poured in from all over bumping our client.
Now we just have to take this and use it to our client's advantage.
Anna Nicole Smith was just slapped with a class action lawsuit yesterday due to her TrimSpa campaign. It's a shame when someone's celebrity is related to their drug use, family trauma, and string of lawsuits. This was inevitable.
Now, the question I ask you....how come i know within minutes of Anna Nicole's death? Wonder how much better this world would be if every soldier that died in Iraq got the same media attention---we knew all about their life, their children, their families.
When we were at the Anne Frank house in Amsterdam, I noticed the following quote:
"One single Anne Frank moves us more than the countless others who suffered just as she did, but whose faces have remained in the shadows. Perhaps it is better that way: if we were capable of taking in all the suffering of all those people, we would not be able to live." Primo Levi
Wonder how different we would be if we DID know?
ADDENDUM:
This is from THINKPROGRESS. I have to admit that I am quite embarrassed.
References to Anna Nicole and Iraq on Cable Networks After 3PM ET:
NETWORK ANNA NICOLE IRAQ CNN 141 27 FOX NEWS 112 33 MSNBC 170 24
Time Of Segments Devoted to Anna Nicole and Iraq on Broadcast Networks:
NETWORK ANNA NICOLE IRAQ NBC 3:13 0:14 CBS 2:00 2:17 ABC 2:21 2:58
Transcript:
LARRY KING: The death of Anna Nicole Smith — it’s the number one story around the world tonight.
BILL O’REILLY: Hi, I’m Bill O’Reilly. Thank you for watching us tonight. The talking points memo will be in our second segment this evening. It concerns how the left sees Americans killed in Iraq. But first, 39-year old Anna Nicole Smith dead in Florida.
JOE SCARBOROUGH: For better or for worse, would you call Anna Nicole Smith an American icon of the early 21st Century?
ANDERSON COOPER: Jennifer, you met Anna Nicole back in the early-90s through Playboy. You saw her at the Playboy mansion. What was she like back then?
GUEST: Back then…I remember coming home from college and everyone was talking about this really hot woman and um…
RITA COSBY: Although it’s interesting — we talked to a friend earlier today and he was saying she was dumb like a fox.
GUEST: Exactly.
ANDERSON COOPER: ‘Cause a lot of women become Playboy Playmates, but they don’t end up with long careers — certainly not in the spotlight.
MSNBC GUEST: But you know everytime we saw Anna Nicole, the reason people are watching is to see what she said or what she was trying to say through some of her slurred words.
GRETA VAN SUSTERN: Anna Nicole did not live anonymously in the Bahamas. People there knew she was living there.
RITA COSBY: So what was the charismatic blonde like behind the lens, and why was she so intriguing to so many people?
LARRY KING: Larry, this story will have a lot of legs, won’t it?
GUEST: Oh absolutely.
JOE SCARBOROUGH: David, why the obsession with Anna Nicole Smith? Why have the cable shows and even the broadcast news shows — and certainly the morning shows tomorrow — why have they all focused in on this story? And why are they going to be providing a lot more time to Anna Nicole Smith than the war in Iraq and the possible coming war with Iran?
GUEST: Well, you know, America has fallen in love with Anna Nicole Smith.
JACK CAFFERTY: Is Anna Nicole Smith still dead, Wolf?
WOLF BLITZER: Yes, We’re going to be updating our viewers shortly on –
CAFFERTY: Can’t wait for that.
BLITZER: — the mysterious circumstance surrounding that. Jack, thank you.
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