Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Monday, May 18, 2009
Monday May 18, 2009 (morning entry)
This entry is really more of a non-ticketed entry. This morning on the LIRR I forgot my wallet which also contained my train ticket, cash, debit card and credit card. When the conductor came by to collect my ticket I had to tell him that I had forgotten my wallet and couldn't pay my fare. Rather than write me a ticket and grant me a fine he simply told me to "keep looking" then never came back again. Lucky me that I was able to skate away from a fine- what a nice conductor! Maybe it was my puppy-dog eyes and the sincerity in my voice. I got off at Jamaica and used the lone credit card I had in my other wallet to purchase the rest of my fare into NYC.
There is a greeting card I keep by my desk that reads: "I can stay calm in a crisis because I am often the cause." No statement is more true for me. While I don't think not having a train ticket is a "whoops I dropped a candle and now the rug is on fire" type of crisis but at 7am it can feel like it.
There is a greeting card I keep by my desk that reads: "I can stay calm in a crisis because I am often the cause." No statement is more true for me. While I don't think not having a train ticket is a "whoops I dropped a candle and now the rug is on fire" type of crisis but at 7am it can feel like it.
Saturday May 16, 2009
Tonight's ticket stub was from the crime drama State of Play featuring Rachel McAdams, Russell Crowe and Ben Affleck. I attended this movie with Dan at a theater I had never been to before in Farmingdale. There are two Farmingdale theaters and went to the wrong one first (doh!) and had to turn around. That coupled with long ticket and snack lines caused us to miss the previews (our favorite part of going to the movies) along with an undetermined (but likely only 2 minutes) part of the movie.
I was entertained and on the edge of my seat for the entire movie. A politically-fueled murder of a senator's aide being investigated by a D.C. journalist with a connection to the senator whose was having an affair with the victim. I enjoy Russell Crowe and Rachel McAdams and they did not disappoint this time either and provided a good student-teacher dynamic. Russell as the grizzled vet journalist using old-school reporting methods to build his story including sweet-talking hospital morgue workers and police officers alike, with McAdams as the young internet-saavy blogger who was trained in more classical, and ethically pure, reporting methods. Throw in a struggling newspaper under pressure from a new corporate owner and you have immense pressure to uncover the murderer before the cops do.
I could uncover much more to the story but I don't want to give any more away. I will add a stellar, albeit short-lived, performance by a club-hopping Jason Bateman (I love that guy- why did he disappear for like 10 years) stole the show and kept the intensity up towards the end of the movie.
I recommend giving State of Play a viewing- if not in theaters (all of the summer blockbusters have hit the ground) then definitely add to your Netflix queue upon release date.
I was entertained and on the edge of my seat for the entire movie. A politically-fueled murder of a senator's aide being investigated by a D.C. journalist with a connection to the senator whose was having an affair with the victim. I enjoy Russell Crowe and Rachel McAdams and they did not disappoint this time either and provided a good student-teacher dynamic. Russell as the grizzled vet journalist using old-school reporting methods to build his story including sweet-talking hospital morgue workers and police officers alike, with McAdams as the young internet-saavy blogger who was trained in more classical, and ethically pure, reporting methods. Throw in a struggling newspaper under pressure from a new corporate owner and you have immense pressure to uncover the murderer before the cops do.
I could uncover much more to the story but I don't want to give any more away. I will add a stellar, albeit short-lived, performance by a club-hopping Jason Bateman (I love that guy- why did he disappear for like 10 years) stole the show and kept the intensity up towards the end of the movie.
I recommend giving State of Play a viewing- if not in theaters (all of the summer blockbusters have hit the ground) then definitely add to your Netflix queue upon release date.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Thursday May 7th
Sum 41 at the Crazy Donkey. I remember when I first heard of Sum 41. I was leaving a New Found Glory concert at Axis night club in Boston when I was handed a VHS tape of a music video Sum 41 made. I can't remember the song now, but I don't think it was Fat Lip. It may have been from their first album...anyway. Going to see them reminded me of my good friend and college roommate Lauren who I went to see the NFG show with. I think that was around the time she dropped gum in her boyfriend, Kris', armpit hair and had to cut it out. I still remember that as one of the funniest things I saw. That and the day Kris and his friend has opposite arms sunburned from a road trip to Maryland where the each had one arm out opposing windows.
Okay...enough reminiscing and onto the actual show. I attended this concert (which did not have a ticket stub- we were on the will call list) with my boyfriend Dan, his roommate Bill, friends Katie, Sam and Tom. We arrived in time to hear the opening band whose music I liked but I wasn't a fan of the lead singers voice. In between sets there was a plethora of AC/DC songs which kept everyone pumped up. We stood by the bar with all of the parents who were there chaperoning their teenage children. One of whom was wearing a notable t-shirt: "Talk shit. Get hit." Classy.
Sum 41 was better than I had remembered from that video in college and I found myself dancing to every song, including the 'Master of Puppets' cover they did. A cover that our friend Bill, a true metal fan, deeply enjoyed. That is the surprising thing about Sum 41, they weren't as pop-punk as I'd remembered, they had a bit of a harder, pure rock vibe which I really liked. The lead singer was as short as the tabloids say he is and Avril was not in tow. He said 'fuck' a lot which surprised me, but it got the crowd riled up. I need to get Dan to give me a copy of the mix he made for Bill...
This show, in this venue, made me nostalgic for the days when I went to a lot of pop-punk shows in similar venues and it got me excited to see more. I love seeing Dan dance, especially at shows like this. I kept looking back at him with a huge smile on my face. Dan and Crazy Donkey= super fun times. I love it and can't wait for the next show!
Okay...enough reminiscing and onto the actual show. I attended this concert (which did not have a ticket stub- we were on the will call list) with my boyfriend Dan, his roommate Bill, friends Katie, Sam and Tom. We arrived in time to hear the opening band whose music I liked but I wasn't a fan of the lead singers voice. In between sets there was a plethora of AC/DC songs which kept everyone pumped up. We stood by the bar with all of the parents who were there chaperoning their teenage children. One of whom was wearing a notable t-shirt: "Talk shit. Get hit." Classy.
Sum 41 was better than I had remembered from that video in college and I found myself dancing to every song, including the 'Master of Puppets' cover they did. A cover that our friend Bill, a true metal fan, deeply enjoyed. That is the surprising thing about Sum 41, they weren't as pop-punk as I'd remembered, they had a bit of a harder, pure rock vibe which I really liked. The lead singer was as short as the tabloids say he is and Avril was not in tow. He said 'fuck' a lot which surprised me, but it got the crowd riled up. I need to get Dan to give me a copy of the mix he made for Bill...
This show, in this venue, made me nostalgic for the days when I went to a lot of pop-punk shows in similar venues and it got me excited to see more. I love seeing Dan dance, especially at shows like this. I kept looking back at him with a huge smile on my face. Dan and Crazy Donkey= super fun times. I love it and can't wait for the next show!
Sunday May 3rd
This night I went to the Bowery Ballroom with my roommate Meagan and two friends who were visiting from out of town, Megan and Katie, to see Vetiver. I love the Bowery, not only as a venue but also due to its proximity to my apartment.
The show was good but I left early so I could get ready for my first Monday in the office of my new job. It started out slow and sleepy but then the band moved into faster songs.
I'd like to just pop into the Bowery on a night I am not doing anything and there is a band playing. It is a close and cheap place to check out new music.
The show was good but I left early so I could get ready for my first Monday in the office of my new job. It started out slow and sleepy but then the band moved into faster songs.
I'd like to just pop into the Bowery on a night I am not doing anything and there is a band playing. It is a close and cheap place to check out new music.
Monday, May 11, 2009
Monday April 27th and Wednesday April 29th
I started my new job on Monday April 27th which began at around 4:45am when I woke up to get ready to catch my flight to Denver where I would spend my first three days meeting my new team. I had to fly out of Laguardia since there are no direct United flights from JFK. I am more of a JFK fan because of its accessibility via public transportation. My flight out was delayed over an hour, which I didn't mind too much as I managed to catch some much needed zzz's. I am not a morning person.
The trip was good and I enjoyed meeting my new team members. A highlight was lunch the first day when we ate at the Spicy Pickle- a chain sandwich shop. They specialize in spicy pickles and they were delicious! I look forward to return trips and more pickles!! I was impressed with the hotel I stayed in- the Residence Inn by Marriott. The room was enormous and had a full-size kitchen with living area. Clearly it is designed for long-term travelers and if I was there longer than two nights I would have made sure to take advantage of the kitchen, although there is almost no need to since they serve hot breakfast every morning. I am a sucker for free breakfasts at hotels. It reminds me of my road trip with my dad where everywhere we stayed (except Chicago) had a free breakfast. What a great way to start a day on the road.
Okay...back to my Denver trip. The flight home was also delayed but I got to read the entire Hemisphere's magazine (my favorite airline mag in general although Southwest gets bonus points for having a lot of games) and successfully completed two sudoku's. When I arrived back into NYC I was able to quickly catch a cab and found myself home in no time! That night I was able to catch up with my friend who was in town and then began a fun weekend with girlfriends.
I am a United airlines fan (I guess having the mileage credit card helps) but it was more beneficial in San Francisco. I may have to switch airlines and thus credit cards, but not before I rake up all the miles I can! Free trips here I come!
The trip was good and I enjoyed meeting my new team members. A highlight was lunch the first day when we ate at the Spicy Pickle- a chain sandwich shop. They specialize in spicy pickles and they were delicious! I look forward to return trips and more pickles!! I was impressed with the hotel I stayed in- the Residence Inn by Marriott. The room was enormous and had a full-size kitchen with living area. Clearly it is designed for long-term travelers and if I was there longer than two nights I would have made sure to take advantage of the kitchen, although there is almost no need to since they serve hot breakfast every morning. I am a sucker for free breakfasts at hotels. It reminds me of my road trip with my dad where everywhere we stayed (except Chicago) had a free breakfast. What a great way to start a day on the road.
Okay...back to my Denver trip. The flight home was also delayed but I got to read the entire Hemisphere's magazine (my favorite airline mag in general although Southwest gets bonus points for having a lot of games) and successfully completed two sudoku's. When I arrived back into NYC I was able to quickly catch a cab and found myself home in no time! That night I was able to catch up with my friend who was in town and then began a fun weekend with girlfriends.
I am a United airlines fan (I guess having the mileage credit card helps) but it was more beneficial in San Francisco. I may have to switch airlines and thus credit cards, but not before I rake up all the miles I can! Free trips here I come!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)