We Break the Night…
So, because of my position at work, I will be working 11pm-8am until Christmas Eve.
Oh God.
----from the fetal position
So, because of my position at work, I will be working 11pm-8am until Christmas Eve.
Oh God.
Posted by
Daniel
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10:07 PM
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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)
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Daniel
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1:57 AM
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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:
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Daniel
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1:37 AM
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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.
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Daniel
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2:42 PM
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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
Posted by
Daniel
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11:47 AM
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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!!!
Posted by
Daniel
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12:19 PM
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...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.
Posted by
Daniel
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11:18 AM
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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.
Posted by
Daniel
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12:22 PM
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Yes. That was Clay Aiken singing "SexyBack"
I have no words. Remember, he still insists that he is heterosexual.
Posted by
Daniel
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12:21 PM
1 comments
Posted by
Daniel
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11:18 AM
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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.
Posted by
Daniel
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11:14 AM
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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.
Posted by
Daniel
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1:42 PM
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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.
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.
Posted by
Daniel
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2:06 PM
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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.
Posted by
Daniel
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12:09 AM
1 comments
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.
Posted by
Daniel
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11:28 PM
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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.
Posted by
Daniel
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8:46 AM
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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?I am extremely passionate about animal welfare. I have supported animal rights for years. There is a part of me who really wants to be a marine biologist and conservationist who spends his days saving sea turtles and manatees and other creatures. Perhaps one of the most beautiful and interesting of all the sea creatures is the dolphin.
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 bonds between each other. This leads to them staying with injured or ill individuals for support. In May 2005, researchers in Australia discovered a cultural aspect of dolphin behaviour: Some dolphins (Tursiops aduncus) teach their children to use tools. The dolphins break sponges off and cover their snouts with them thus protecting their snouts while foraging. (see photo at right) They are also willing to occasionally approach humans and playfully interact with them in the water. Dolphins have also been known to protect swimmers from sharks by swimming circles around them.
Dolphins often leap above the water surface, sometimes performing acrobatic figures (e.g. the spinner dolphin). Dolphins are used in animal-assisted therapy, particularly for children and adults with Down syndrome and autism.
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.
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Daniel
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7:44 PM
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