Brunching Philosophical

I think that brunch is my favorite shift of the week. I get to make lots of really strong breakfast drinks, serve the most delicious looking food on the planet, and talk with a lot of really interesting people- not to mention the whole crazy tips part. Today at brunch I chatted with a fellow runner. She is training for a marathon and takes “classes” with a running store around the corner from Bistro Nora. They aren't really classes, I guess, but it is a big group of people that all gets together and does big runs together and people notice if you aren't there- which she says keeps her motivated. And Bistro Nora's brunch keeps her protein-ated. And full. Also among the brunchers today were a group of seriously hungover adults- and when I say adults, I mean people older than the typical hangover crowd- who ordered bloody marys and the greasiest meals on the menu. They were really funny and really nice, despite the fact that they had obviously had a rough night- and an even rougher morning. And then there was a reservation for lunch for twelve. They were some kind of travel group, and Danny, the owner, had worked out a fixed menu for them. I was a little worried that this was going to be a stressful situation for me. However, this group of twelve had traveled all the way from France, and out of the twelve of them, only one spoke a word of english. He kept count of who wanted what, I used tally marks, and the kitchen brought everything out. (As Danny says) Piece of cake! As far as french goes, I can understand it pretty well, but I am no good at making my own sentences and speaking. However, I could hear everybody talking about how delicious their food was and how sweet their waitress was as well[o:)]. I'm feeling like today was a pretty good day.

In spite of the fast pace and really wonderful customers, today was super long. And I got to thinking about the future, and what sort of job I'd like to have once it's time for babies. I told Ben that I was liking the idea of being a “stay at home mom” more and more. His response? “I think you'd get really bored.”

I thought about it. And I think he's right. Once my kids were in school, I would be desperate for things to do all day. We came up with a list of things I might entertain myself with....

-get REALLY into Soap Operas

-run a SUPER DUPER marathon

-alphabetize Chandler's funny lines throughout the Friends series

-bake every pastry possible for every single neighbor, even the grouches

-plant a humongous garden

-take in zillions of stray animals (which Ben alleges that he will “put his foot down” about, but I don't think he will be able to resist their sweet faces once I get them in the house....)

-knit and/or crochet matching hats, mittens, sweaters, scarves, and socks for my entire extended family and all close friends. And acquaintances.

I'm sure there are more. Anyone have any suggestions?

Enjoy the rest of the weekend!!!

I Happen To Like New York

I've always known that Manhattan is all of my favorite things in the world, smushed together and dumped on an island between the Hudson and the East River. But it wasn't until I moved here that I realized the degree to which this place has my very favorite things pegged- not just the big obvious things like Broadway Shows, a huge dance scene, and- yeah- Krispy Kreme Donuts- but the little things. Tiny things. Minutiae. New York- I LOVE YOU!

For starters, there's Central Park. Now, I know that this one seems pretty big and obvious, but I have been able to approach the park in a way that I never have before- like a runner. My sister, cousin, and I will be running THIS RACE in February- which, yes, we picked almost entirely because of it's location and our ability to plan a vacation around it, but even so, we have to train in order to finish the damn thing and still be able to have said vacation without hiring people to push us around in wheelchairs. Long(er) story short- I have been running! I'm nowhere near 13.1 miles yet, but I found out last weekend that I CAN run 5 and ½!! For me, that is huge. There are trails everywhere- through the woods, around bodies of water, and there's even a road that is closed to vehicles for the majority of the day so that people can walk, run, bike, or rollerblade across the park. I've been trying to make a new route for myself every day and take trails or turns that I haven't before, and I always end up in a wild new place- sometimes I even find myself thinking, 'Well, CRAP, this is really really far away from 97th street...'. It's awesome to have so much to look at while running- the museums, the playgrounds, statues and sculptures, the puppeteers on Sunday mornings, the entrance to the zoo...which actually brings me to my next point...

People watching in New York is the best I have seen anywhere. This is due, in part, to the sheer volume of people per capita- there are people everywhere- talking on cell phones, crossing the street, chatting with their friends, shopping, laughing, crying, eating- all the time. I'm a huge fan of any cell-phone conversation that I am within earshot of, mostly because you WOULD NOT believe the types of things that people will talk about on cell phones- from what they did or did not do in Stephanie's bed last night to the fight they are having with their father to- jeesh- all kids of other stuff, it never fails to keep me interested for the duration of my walk near them. I also love watching children in the city- the pudgy toddlers who are trying to keep up with the foot traffic on Lexington Avenue sidewalks, children riding their scooters and shouting to their nannies about how close they are to their school, and, my personal favorite, children having tantrums. In the number one position to date is a little girl that Ben and I observed recently as we walked home from one of the Upper East Side Goodwill locations (I know what you're thinking, and it is actually SHOCKING how disappointing their stuff is- every single time we go!). This little girl was crying and screaming that her mother was wrong as they walked down the sidewalk, but the best part was, she was screaming and arguing IN FRENCH. “La maison n'est pas la!” (“the house is not there!”) she kept insisting, and while I'm sure it would have been stressful if it were my child, I couldn't help but chuckle as we passed them. I'm not sure if they were on their way to the alleged house that would not be there, or maybe if it was brought up from a previous disagreement in her obviously tired state. But it was funny and endearing. Poor little thing. I hope she got a nap soon. She really needed it.

waitress/waitress

My friend Joe lives in LA, and has been coming into some great success with television work. Just recently, he did background work for “New Girl.” Look for him in the premiere if you know him! And if you don't, he's an indie-awesome looking guy with chuck taylors and a great pair of glasses. Look for him!

Anyway, Joe tweeted something the other day- I imagine while he was on set (!!)- that I really liked. “I'll put it this way:” he wrote, “I've never been anywhere I've wanted to arm-wrestle less than right here.” It was fun to imagine Joe on a real television set, living the dream, surrounded by many a douchey- looking actor/model with a too-tight t-shirt and scary arm muscles. And after a recent experience at a Mount Sinai “mixer,” I can honestly say that I understand the sentiment. In a big way.

I wasn't so much worried about the arm-wrestling thing. I usually hope to escape most places without having to arm-wrestle. But when Ben and I were mingling with soon-to-be med students (and munching on these really delicious coconut chicken-nugget things), I realized that I had never been anywhere I wanted to discuss my college major and current occupation less. I could feel my whole upper body turn red when I would tell someone that no, I am not in the program, I am actually a waitress. I had never felt like less of a success- with anything. I was surrounded by people going into one of the top medical schools in the country, and suddenly felt like my brain must be broken.

Afterwards, I had to take some time to remind myself that I am NOT “just a waitress.” I have a great many strokes to go with the whole waitress thing- waitress/dancer, waitress/writer, waitress/seamstress, waitress/actress, waitress/half marathon trainee, waitress/craft guru... I have a great many projects that being a waitress allows me to embrace in my down time, and I like my hobbies! I'm LIVING THE DREAM!

And that even if I was JUST a waitress, I'm sort of glad to be. I am very pleased with my new job- good money, flexible hours, everybody is SO nice, and the food is unbelievably good. All of it! The more I think about it, the more I realize how fortunate I am that everything has come together in this way, because being a waitress is exactly what I want to be right now.

Arm-wrestling, on the other hand, will continue to be something I avoid at all costs.

little girl, BIG CITY!!

I've never really been clear on what it takes to be able to call yourself a “New Yorker.” I know that in Maine, you're only ever REALLY considered a Mainer if you were born there, your parents were born there, and you feel comfortable using downeast jargon (“yeah bub,” “wicked,” “cold enough for yeh?”) in everyday life. I imagine that there is some sort of similar code for the city of New York, so for the time being, I will refrain from calling myself a New Yorker. Instead, I will simply say that I live in New York now. I LIVE IN NEW YORK NOW!!

Ben and I are now the proud tenants of a sixth-floor, one bedroom apartment on the upper east side. The whole thing was pretty simple, actually. We just had to open a joint bank account, provide proof of prior cohabitation, sign over power of attorney to each other and, oh yeah, schlep over to city hall and become domestic partners (shockingly easy, with the exception of the clerk making awkward jokes about when the proposal would happen...) And now, POOF!! We're officially recognized by the school as a “couple.” Awesome!

As I'm sure you are all dying to know, Babs is getting along quite swimmingly in the new place. She was stress-shedding a lot when we first brought her up here, but I think she's come into her own. She's chasing her toy mice and meowing at her food bowl and putting herself in inconvenient places. All is well.

I'll admit that I was a having a bit of anxiety about finding a job/things to do with myself while Ben is examining cadavers and studying embryology (his very first class- uplifting, I know). I spend a full eight hours earlier this week applying for jobs- mostly administrative, but a few serving- and, POOF! I may have one already...?! It seems almost too good to be true, but tonight I have my first training shift at a tiny bistro on 2nd Avenue. The co-owners, two very sweet brothers, seemed satisfied with my previous casino experience and winning smile, and, since I “seemed pretty easy going,” they offered me a job about 5 minutes into my “interview.” They also seem perfectly chill with the fact that I will be using this job to finance my walk-on role on All My Children. Or my best-seller. Whichever comes first.

Dare to dream, Mandy.

controversial. ish.

okay. It was originally my plan to put my blog on hiatus until Ben and I reached new York and unpacked our bags and had a moment to freak out about how awesome life is. In all likelihood, that is exactly what will happen after this post. I do fully intend to, as Hayley says, "blog the SHIT out of New York" once I get there. But something that happened in this past week's visit to Maine filled me with the urge to write. Sammy, Ange and I experienced something that I can honestly say was like nothing I've ever seen. That something was 'Magic Mike.' And that something was some kind of awful.

Now, if you have me pegged for one of those people who had their mind made up before they even entered the theater, then you have it all wrong. I WANTED to like this movie. My friends have loved it, I've really wanted to see it- I was deeply disappointed when my first attempt to view was thwarted by exhaustion and an upset stomach. I mean, come on. It's MALE STRIPPERS. GORGEOUS GUYS TAKING THEIR CLOTHES OFF AND DRY HUMPING WHATEVER IS AVAILABLE. What is not to like here? The answer: any conceivable effort toward a storyline.

The first few minutes of the movie were not so bad Mike, the brooding, experienced stripper, takes "the Kid" under his wing and introduces him to the glamorous world of exotic dancing. The guys all get on stage and shake it for the ladies, everybody's having a good time. And that's where it ends. We are then introduced to the Kid's older sister- a frumpy, monotonous, rather masculine looking woman that Mike mysteriously finds attractive, the dark side of stripping- or as I like to call it, "drugs are bad, ya'll", and Mike's dream of selling furniture instead of dancing for cash. By now, I am feeling so bad and grossed out for these guys that I really can't enjoy their subsequent stripping scenes. I'm worried that the Kid is going to get himself of Mike into trouble, and I can't watch them prance around in various states of undress without being reminded of this fact. The shit hits the fan, total chaos ensues- drug dealers want their money, the frumpy sister is angry and yelling, Mike doesn't know what to do, and Matthew Mcconaughey, perhaps the only part of the movie that I enjoyed from start to finish- is moving his boys from Tampa to Miami. Apparently there are even more horny housewives there. THEN Mike goes over to the grouchy sister's house and explains that he isn't leaving. They make some weird joke about breakfast- a theme that they have tried to pull through the entire movie but I can honestly say that I didn't understand at any point- and then they make out. THE END.

Roll credits. Lights up. We're all blinking at the screen in disbelief that THAT is how it ended. Then come the comments- "Oh my GOD, that was TERRIBLE!" "I can't believe it got so many good reviews!" "Well....I kind of liked the first ten minutes." We were all hard-pressed to come up with a movie worse than what we had just seen. Even the REALLY bad ones (DareDevil, Be Cool, Something Borrowed) seemed to be more enticing options. It was a disappointment, for suer. And I'm still a little stressed about how so many elements of the story were left...erm...dangling. What happened to the Kid and his drug problem? Did he ever realize that he was being a total shithead? how'd everyone fare in Miami? What about Mike's trashed apartment and draine bank account? What about the custom furniture that he was going to sell? Why they hell couldn't he just get a credit card and stop carrying piles of cash around? Believe it or not, the list goes on (and on...) but you get the idea.

For those of you that haven't seen it, my advice is this: Wait until it's on Netflix, and then fast forward through any part where he guys are fully clothed. Trust me, you'll be in for a much more pleasurable viewing.

Obligatory Status Update- OR- Catching Up Over Coffee. Only Without The Coffee.

Forgive me, oh blogosphere, for I have sinned. It has been a million zillion years since I have last written. I cannot begin to explain the number of times that the task of blogging has crossed my "to-do" list, only to be overshadowed by something more important. But have no fear, that phase of my blog is over. On to newer, better, and (most importantly) MORE FREQUENT posts! Whew. I think I just felt everybody's collective sigh of relief. Well, you're welcome. I know you've missed me.


I want to start with a couple of links to blogs that I like to read when I'm not here. The first is an organization blog called my color coded life, and is actually written by the Education Director at the theatre where I work. There's some really helpful advice in there that is presented in a non-intimidating way. In short, even I can read it and not feel overwhelmed by how messy my apartment might be. So yeah, read her blog, follow it on twitter, go nuts! My favorites are her helpful humpday hints.


The next two are 25 in my 25th, [a blog written by a friend of mine from college. All of her posts are witty, hilarious, and REAL. I'm always excited when I see that she has a new post.] And White Beyonce, [written by another friend of mine from college. Quirky and funny in a totally different- but equally wonderful- way.] Reading these blogs makes me miss my friends, but also sort of makes me feel like maybe they aren't that far away. Thank goodness for the internet- otherwise I might really feel alone.


The last blog that I read is written by a woman named Jenny, or The Bloggess. She's spunky, outrageously funny, and is never ever afraid to say what she thinks. She also has a shop full of excellent crap that everybody needs, writes articles for a parenting blog, AND some really screwed-up sex columns. I would recommend her to anybody that needs a quirked eyebrow, a laugh, or simply a breath of fresh- if not slightly bizarre- air.

Tonight, I am going to take a page out of Jenny's book, and write an installment of SHIt I DID WHEN I WASN'T HERE (only I'll change the name. Nobody likes a copycat). It'll be great- sort of like we haven't seen each other in a while and are meeting up at bagel central to discuss life over bagel-wiches and raspberry-lime rickies (which I assume they've started slinging by now). So, without further ado...


CRAP THAT I'VE DONE WHILE I'VE BEEN GONE....(see what I did there...?)


AT RISING STARS...The Hunger Games has quickly consumed nearly the entire 3rd and 4th grade classes, prompting kids to ask me questions like "So, Amanda, what does a snapped neck look like?" and "Come on, who do you REALLY think deserved to win the games?" It's funny, because until this all started happening, I really hadn't given much though to how very ADULT this book's young adult content is. I would never EVER give this book to a CHILD of 9 or 10, unless I was ready to discuss dystopian society, the shadow archetype, the crowd mentality and how messed up THAT can be, and those creepy things called hormones. Ick.


AT THE THEATRE...Robin Hood is up and running, and has safely settled itself with the other hits that have graced the stage this season. I've booked busses, written lesson plans, and helped organize Girl Scout Day, which was this past Saturday. 100+ girl scouts, troop leaders, and moms came out to catch a matinee of the show and take part in drama school activities, get a special backstage tour, eat a soft pretzel and drink a capri sun. My favorite question of the whole day: "Um, why did the boy and the girl kiss? Did they know each other outside of the theatre?" mig just become my favorite question ever.


PROJECTS THAT I'VE BEEN WORKING ON....I've crocheted about 100 hats and scarves, and am gearing up to launch a project with them that I am really excited about, but more on that when I get more details ironed out. Ben and I also managed to clean out our closets today, and now have significantly less crap than before. What's scary is how much crap is still left. Bring on the Spring Cleaning!!


SELF INDULGENCE (AND SUCCESS)...I went to an acting class at The Actor's Center, a really awesome place on the other side of the Penn's Landing overpass. The class went really, really well and I was asked to audit another class (one geared more toward camera work) this Wednesday! If all goes according to plan I will spend the next six weeks taking notes and working hard and making sure I present myself as best I can with my headshot and resume. I'm very excited. And I feel so motivated! Even thinking about it makes me really happy! I also have two auditions at the end of May- one for Dog Sees God at the WAG theatre, and the other for Cymbeline with Philly Shakespeare Theatre! I am already slightly obsessing about the outfits I will wear the the monologues I will do and every possible detail. But it's good. It's really good!


CRAP BEN'S DONE...Ben has been accepted to Mount Sanai's medical school in New York City!! He's been given a decent financial aid package AND...we qualify for couples housing!! [All we had to do was open a joint bank account, provide proof of prior cohabitation, give each other power of attorney, and, oh yeah, obtain a domestic partnership once we move to Manhattan...sort of like being married without actually being married]. So, Ben will be moving at some point in August, and I will follow in September. With any luck, we will have a one bedroom apartment with room for a futon, so any and all visitors are WELCOME! Oh, and for those of you that are curious, Babs will be making the move with us. She is allowed to join us in the couples housing apartments as long as she does not grow to be more than 25 pounds and proves to not be part doberman (or any other scary- or not so scary- dog breed). So, everything med school has been pretty awesome. And that's- pretty awesome.


AND there you have it, everything that has been going on since I last wrote. Like I said, I want to make a sincere effort to be more consistant. Here's hoping.


I HOPE EVERYONE HAD A GOOD MONDAY!!!

...and just what IS a jackass?

I'll admit it. I seriously considered devoting an entire blog post to my disappointment with the new "Hunger Games" movie. It failed to meet my expectations in several different areas and I was upset that the movie was not identical to the book- a sentiment that I usually have in these scenarios. HOWEVER, after sleeping on it and considering the whole thing today, I have decided that I would not be totally opposed to seeing the movie again, and perhaps this time NOT being quite as rabid about the lack of adherence to the book. So for now, I will leave my shredding of "The Hunger Games" for a later date. Though don't be surprised if it shows up in the near future.

I've been thinking a lot lately- dangerous, I know. I've been thinking about what I should be doing with my life (as per usual), and how I could better prepare myself to get places. Luckily, THIS time, instead of staying up all night watching snippets of embarrassing tween movies (see: March 12, 2012), I've put my anxiety and energy to good use. This time, I spent an afternoon creating a list- a massive to do list of things I want to accomplish in my future- all filed away in a binder that is color-coded, separated by tabs, and organized in a helpful and non-intimidating way. Believe it or not, this giant list has come in quite handy, and makes me feel motivated to star work on some projects (emails, scheduling, crafts, etc), while simultaneously helping me find a way to finish things (i.e. my NOVEL(s) that all sit, unfinished, on my computer's desktop). It's amazing what back-to-school supplies and a little coffee can make you feel capable of. Five-year plan? CHECK! And just like that, I'm winning.

In addition to huge life decisions, I have also been thinking about equally important things- for example, one of the messages presented by Walt Disney's Pinnochio. I haven't seen this movie in quite some time, but it was very popular when my sister and I were young- it was one of the few Disney movies that Dad didn't mind watching with us, so I think it got more than it's fair share of play. But a recent trip to Disney World (a GLORIOUS four days in Orlando with my mother, sister, and grandmother this month), got me thinking about Pleasure Island. Wasn't that whole thing kind of weird? One minute they were playing pool, smoking cigars, getting drunk, and being pretty lame, and then they all turned into donkeys and had to work in salt mines? Pretty screwy. And then it hit me. That whole thing- the donkey thing, is still ludicrous, but suddenly it started to make a little bit of sense. The boys were turned into donkeys- because they were acting like JACKASSES. A-HA! And it only took me 15+ years to figure that out! The more I thought about it, the more I thought that I might have heard Jiminy Cricket say something about making a jackass of yourself- though that seemed awfully crass for a Disney movie. And then I found THIS. Some of the comments for this video assert that by ignoring education and figures of authority, you will turn yourself into a jackass no matter what, while others think that this part is hilarious. Still others encourage viewers to "forget about the saw movies"- that this is one of the most depraved and terrifying things they have ever seen. I think I'm on board with opinions one and three. I don't know how I watched this when I was younger without a slew of nightmares. And I also can't help but think-- you know, Jiminy DOES have a point. Can you imagine a world where wasting your life in bars and being a complete ignoramous would mean you would end up a donkey in the circus or the salt mines? Business on Main Street in Manayunk would CERTAINLY be down. Not to mention the rate of enrollment of any college, anywhere. Regardless, I really like that whole "don't be a jackass" message. When you get right down to it, that possessed toy and talking cricket make an awful lot of sense, don't they?