Thursday, July 17, 2008
Inbox Surprise
FYI, my new non-sexual completely platonic and not stalkerish girl crush Jasmin Rosemberg emailed me back to thank me for writing an email to her and posting about her book on my blog. Whoo-hoo! She also apologized for taking a while to write back; she'd been in L.A. I know, right? California doesn't have email? Anyway, I didn't expect her to write back at all so that didn't bother me; plus, I know that crazy non-stalker fan is not priority over bicoastal jet-setting. So if you haven't yet, go read her book. Now. I mean it.
The More I Watch The Less I Like
Fred came over again last night to continue our One Tree Hill Drinking Game. How people watch this show sober I'll never understand. I started to like a few more characters, though. However, the only reason I like them more is that they don't get along with Dan, who is the number one worst human being on the face of the planet. How can a character be so unlikeable? By being a douche tool. I wonder if Paul Johansson needs a body guard. I could very well see random acts of violence occuring against him committed by people who can't separate reality from fiction. He plays one believable schmuck.
Chad Michael Murray has a really stupid tattoo. They wrote it into the storyline. Stupid tattoo.
To make matters worse, Moira Kelly isn't in any of the episodes I've been watching. Her character's abroad, meaning Moira Kelly is having a baby. I like the fact that she's not on because I don't want her associated with the show. Still, I know she's coming back and that makes me sad.
I got real drunk. Fred got more than tipsy. I know that we laughed a lot. A whole lot. There was too much insanity going on. A lot apparently happens off screen that the characters reference in conversations and we're like, wtf? The hair is still out of control and man I'm going to need to hit the liquor store soon if we continue Season 1.
I'm still trying to figure out why it's called One Tree Hill. Why not call it Tree Hill since that's where they are located? Fred said something like Moira Kelly gives a speech saying there's only ONE Tree Hill. If that's the case, then that's how we all must now refer to the show. Emphasis on the ONE. So it's ONE Tree Hill.
Chad Michael Murray has a really stupid tattoo. They wrote it into the storyline. Stupid tattoo.
To make matters worse, Moira Kelly isn't in any of the episodes I've been watching. Her character's abroad, meaning Moira Kelly is having a baby. I like the fact that she's not on because I don't want her associated with the show. Still, I know she's coming back and that makes me sad.
I got real drunk. Fred got more than tipsy. I know that we laughed a lot. A whole lot. There was too much insanity going on. A lot apparently happens off screen that the characters reference in conversations and we're like, wtf? The hair is still out of control and man I'm going to need to hit the liquor store soon if we continue Season 1.
I'm still trying to figure out why it's called One Tree Hill. Why not call it Tree Hill since that's where they are located? Fred said something like Moira Kelly gives a speech saying there's only ONE Tree Hill. If that's the case, then that's how we all must now refer to the show. Emphasis on the ONE. So it's ONE Tree Hill.
Last Exit On The Lost Highway
The last show of the Lost Highway tour was at MSG on Tuesday night. The boys will be away for a while, so I had to bid them farewell. My mom and CJLi came along. We all met up at Penn Station, and with my mom under strict orders to behave if she wanted to earn her concert privileges back (because of her complaining when she and my aunt came along with me and CousinKa to The Rock in Jersey last time), we headed up to the Garden.
Up and up and up we went. I got seats in the 400s. That's the farthest I've been from the stage in a long time, but they were the only tickets I could get. CJLi got an usher to bring us to our seats and the woman also held out her hand to help my mom down the steep steps. We were on the top level. We had to go one level down to use the bathrooms because there were no bathrooms on our floor. The floor below us was for just bathrooms. It was all very odd. We had a great view of the stage though; in fact, we were above and a little over from where I'd been the night before so the view was far but good.
We were on an end. Four women about our age came in and sat down in front of us. They didn't move the whole concert. They texted and asked each other for the time. They could have popped in a Bon Jovi concert DVD and saved a lot of money by sitting on their living room couch. The show was sold out. People more excited to be there could have had those seats. Most of our section stood up for only the Slippery When Wet songs. Jeez. You're at a concert people. Dance! Scream! Have fun!
Jesus sat next to CJLi. My mom leaned over and was like, Here comes Christ, and sure enough, this guy with a Jesus beard came through with a girl and another couple. The guys left a few times to get beer. They were really tall and very good looking, especially if you're into the Christ look.
First we sat through All American-Rejects. The lead singer was wearing what looked like gray leggings but they could have been really skinny jeans. My mom said that he didn't leave much room for the boys. Then CJLi was like, does this band sing that Move Along song? I wasn't sure because they sound exactly like Panic At The Disco and OAR. So I was like, we could probably request it since there's like no one here. Then they finally played Move Along so she was right.
Then at about 8:30, the lights went down and Bon Jovi hit the stage to a deafening roar. Oh, yeah, baby, this was gonna be good.
Set List:
Glad All Over: A Beatles song, I think. It was an odd song to open with but they were smiling and rockin and it was good.
Lost Highway: Hey hey! The crowd was up except for a lot of our section.
Born To Be My Baby: Even our section got up. We were screaming our heads off and dancing. It was so hot. I couldn't feel any A/C and I was dripping.
You Give Love A Bad Name: More screaming and dancing. Everyone pumping their hands up and down.
Summertime: A lot of our section sat down but I didn't. I explained to my mom that this song is from the most recent album that she still hasn't heard.
Raise Your Hands: I looked at CJLi, screamed Holy shit!, and started jumping around like a mad woman. Then I asked my mom if she remembered this song from the last concert, and she said yes.
I Love This Town: On screens behind the band, NY team logos came up and people cheered.
I'll Sleep When I'm Dead: Just as great as the night before.
Livin' In Sin: When I was younger and this song came out, my mom didn't let me and my brother watch this video. I reminded her of that and she said she didn't remember at all. Sure, mom.
Whole Lot Of Leavin: This is such a good song and I still don't care that he sings it in a different key live.
In These Arms: The whole place erupted when they started this.
Any Other Day: Another one from the newest album.
We Got It Goin On: They went right into this from the last one and the crown erupted again.
It's My Life: Even more screaming, everyone worked themselves into a frenzy of jumping. This little girl a few levels down was dancing behind her section. It was awesome.
Keep The Faith: There was some commentary but I couldn't understand any of it because everyone was screaming still.
I'll Be There For You: Richie on vocals again and again he dedicated it to everyone for being there for him.
Y0u Want To Make A Memory: Again, JBJ popped up on the side on a small platform. This time, right behind him were the players from the Philly arena football team.
Blood On Blood: No way! My favorite song from New Jersey!
Some Day I'll Be Saturday Night: Me and CJLi looked at each other with huge smiles and danced our asses off.
Have A Nice Day: All the screens lit up with that red box smiley face smirk and the crowd went nuts.
Who Says You Can't Go Home: Our section sat down again. Losers.
Bad Medicine with Shout: This was friggin great. They ended the last song and then after the cheers they started again with "It's all right" a few times and then he screamed Is there a doctor in the house???? And then went into Bad Medicine and segued into Shout and then back into Bad Medicine and everyone was dancing and jumping.
ENCORE--The lights were out and we were cheering, waiting for them to come back on stage. Right before the lights came back up, we heard Dave Bryan hit the keys and...
Runaway: Crazy doesn't even describe it.
Wanted: Richie and JBJ wrote this song in Richie's mom's basement--fun fact!
Livin On A Prayer: They started it slow and acapella. Then they stopped and the entire place sang the chorus. We cheered for ourselves and then they played. Amazing amazing amazing.
I liked sitting way up high because I could feel the energy rising up. Every time a faster song or one of the older ones came on, the entire place leapt to its collective feet. Then arms were flailing in the air in rhythm with Tico's beat. Then lights twirled around. Sweat poured down. The floor vibrated. It was one big hot sweaty loud mess and I loved every minute of it.
I lost my voice for a while. The sign of a concert that's simply damn good.
My Turn To Write About Frank O'Hara
Last week, I read several posts on different blogs about Frank O'Hara. I've read his poems here and there, so I decided to dive into one of his collections. Frank O'Hara was a brilliant creator; he loved to play with words as well as tell stories with a stream of consciousness twist on poetry. Some of his stuff is straight forward and lovely. Some of his stuff reminded me of some of Kenneth Koch's stuff, which is to say I believe that the two of them occasionally partook in the narcotic arts, or sometimes they were simply totally out of their respective gords. In any case, it was good stuff, inspiring, and made me want to write again.
Carver, Thankfully Good
I've had What We Talk About When We Talk About Love on my reading list since I was in my MFA program. We read a story about a young woman who was in a car accident who went home and her dad gave her lots of alcohol. Then this book came up. I wrote it down. I've been to the library several hundred times since my MFA program. The book has always been listed as available, yet it's never been on the shelves. No, I never asked because, well, I'm sure you know why I didn't ask about it. I try to have as little interaction with those people as possible. This past time I went, I figured why not look at the shelf for C because it was on the first floor right there. Then there it was. The book appeared on the shelf for the first time in years.
Carver writes the type of stories that would make a lot of people say, "that's it?" or "where's the rest of the story?" Usually, I don't like those stories. However, these got to me. In a good way. Some made me shiver. Some made me go, yup I get it. Only two or three were kinda boring and took me some time to get through. Overall, though, I now know why Carver's so popular in freshman lit. Instead of reading Cathedral, professors should choose something from this collection.
(Obviously, not the best picture, but I really like this cover, which is not the cover on the version I read because my library sucks).
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
BJ Does MSG
Bon Jovi is wrapping up their world tour right here in New York. Thankfully, not at The Rock, where we saw them months ago to kick off their tour, because The Rock was closed down for a while because of fire codes. Hooray for MSG. Safety first.
The concert was the most interesting I've been to. CousinKa and I met up at Penn and walked over to the Garden. Some dude behind me was on his cell phone and pushing up the stairs. I was like, buddy back it down! He ignored me and kept pushing. Then he pushed past and EWWW, he was all sweaty. He made it over to CousinKa's side and she was like, ewwww very sweaty!
We walked up to security and the guy was like, Bon Jovi over there. Apparently, Ricky Gervais was at the theater and there was a line especially for him. That would have been helpful when we walked in. We scooted over a few lines and finally got in. We saw on the door a sign about the concert so I stopped to read it. Apparently, by being there, we were giving consent to be filmed. I have no problem with that but they probably should've stated that when people bought tickets. But who cares about that. WHOO-HOOOOO We're gonna be on a Bon Jovi DVD!!!!
We were in the 200s and the section near us was near a bar. That was cool. We hopped over to the bathroom first where the woman inside kept shouting out NEXT!!!! Then stopped at the bar. Before we went inside, three women were standing around in the entry to the arena. One was jumping up and down, literally, about being excited. Then she fell over on the floor. CousinKa and I looked at each other and ran away, laughing really loudly. She got a beer and we stood in the doorway because I was incredibly over-heated in that place. Then I noticed my thumb ring was gone. Somewhere between the bathroom and the bar. Sigh. It was over 10 or even 12 years old so it's time for a new one, I guess, even though out of the three ring set I have, it was the one I would least want to lose. We stood and talked (had to catch up since we hadn't seen each other in forever) while All American Rejects played inside. We weren't interested in seeing them. They sounded good, though.
Then we found our seats. Row B. Seats 9 and 10. There was a girl already sitting on the end and we were right next to her. They were awesome seats. Then more people showed up to sit on the other side of me. Two Asian couples. The girl on the end? Asian, too. CousinKa and I thought the same thing at once--if she wants to sit with her friends....No, I'm not saying all Asians know each other but it was an odd coincidence and seriously, the first thing we both thought of was that. Apparently, they didn't know each other.
It was a scene from the beginning. The girl was a little awkward and, as CousinKa mentioned later on, a bit stinky. The guys behind us got progressively idiotic and one hit Ka in the head twice. The guy next to me stood with his hands on his hips and his elbows stretched out, totally invading my space and, since he was tall, being a danger to my eye health. One section over was a muscular bald dude swaying, singing, and playing air guitar. The other guy next to me, part of the foursome, was playing air guitar in his seat, but not really plucking at the strings. It was a very lazy air guitar. The coolest thing was during the slower songs, a lot of people sat down and Ka spotted some guy signing the lyrics. We don't know who he was signing to, but he had music and lyrics in front of him with a spotlight and everything.
The boys in the band came on at 8:45. The playlist (complete with commentary):
Lost Highway: there was no fooling around with the band members coming in one by one onto a set made to look like a restaurant. The stage was a stage. The band was the band. The lights went out, the spotlights came on, and they blasted it loud.
Born To Be My Baby: Right into it. No warning. The crowd goes wild.
You Give Love A Bad Name: I was surprised that they followed one old one with another so soon.
Captain Crash and The Beauty Queen From Mars: Not a radio hit but they play it every concert now and they have choreography!
Runaway: No countdown by years or flash to the past. They ran right into it and the crowd goes wild again.
Sleep When I'm Dead with Twist and Shout: That was cool. In the middle of the song, he wanted to wake us up more so we did twist and shout and then they ended the song.
Blaze of Glory: Richie on slide guitar. The screens in the back a Western landscape. Chills.
Whole Lot Of Leavin: This is their new single and my favorite song off Lost Highway and he sings it in a different key than it is on the album but it's awesome.
Always: Ballad city.
Any Other Day: That picked up the crowd again.
We Got It Goin On: I haven't heard this song in a while and it was awesome awesome awesome.
It's My Life: The crowd was crazy.
Faith: JBJ told stories about being in MSG 25 years ago and opening for ZZ Top and how he got arrested for selling stuff on the street so he could afford a ticket to a concert and how he saw Bruce play.
I'll Be There For You with Richie on vocals: Richie once again thanked everyone for being there for him. Maybe he should keep going to meetings because his fans being there for him didn't stop him from driving drunk. The guy behind us gave him the finger. The song was amazing though.
Make A Memory: JBJ changed shirts and moved to the side to sing in the crowd.
Bed of Roses: JBJ sang on the side and then moved to the main stage again and flashed a smile that made me melt. CousinKa's words: He's so fucking hot.
Dry County: There's a particular subset of Bon Jovi fans who love this song and I think they are all from the same county that very well may be dry. I have yet too understand this phenomenon. All I know is that Dry County is a very long song, quite possibly the only Bon Jovi song I don't particularly care for mostly because of its length.
Have A Nice Day: A nice way to rile us up after 18 minutes of dry county-ness.
Who Says You Can't Go Home: We were all dancing and singing and JBJ did his whole "it's all right" at the end for about five minutes.
Bad Medicine with Shout: A great remix.
~Encore~
Hallelujah: That song from Shreck. It's a beautiful song. JBJ changed his shirt and really showed off his vocal talent. That man can sing.
Wanted: Complete with echoing guitars simultaneously raised up to the heavens
Livin' On A Prayer: Awesome. Brought the house down. Awesome.
And I'm going again tonight.
The concert was the most interesting I've been to. CousinKa and I met up at Penn and walked over to the Garden. Some dude behind me was on his cell phone and pushing up the stairs. I was like, buddy back it down! He ignored me and kept pushing. Then he pushed past and EWWW, he was all sweaty. He made it over to CousinKa's side and she was like, ewwww very sweaty!
We walked up to security and the guy was like, Bon Jovi over there. Apparently, Ricky Gervais was at the theater and there was a line especially for him. That would have been helpful when we walked in. We scooted over a few lines and finally got in. We saw on the door a sign about the concert so I stopped to read it. Apparently, by being there, we were giving consent to be filmed. I have no problem with that but they probably should've stated that when people bought tickets. But who cares about that. WHOO-HOOOOO We're gonna be on a Bon Jovi DVD!!!!
We were in the 200s and the section near us was near a bar. That was cool. We hopped over to the bathroom first where the woman inside kept shouting out NEXT!!!! Then stopped at the bar. Before we went inside, three women were standing around in the entry to the arena. One was jumping up and down, literally, about being excited. Then she fell over on the floor. CousinKa and I looked at each other and ran away, laughing really loudly. She got a beer and we stood in the doorway because I was incredibly over-heated in that place. Then I noticed my thumb ring was gone. Somewhere between the bathroom and the bar. Sigh. It was over 10 or even 12 years old so it's time for a new one, I guess, even though out of the three ring set I have, it was the one I would least want to lose. We stood and talked (had to catch up since we hadn't seen each other in forever) while All American Rejects played inside. We weren't interested in seeing them. They sounded good, though.
Then we found our seats. Row B. Seats 9 and 10. There was a girl already sitting on the end and we were right next to her. They were awesome seats. Then more people showed up to sit on the other side of me. Two Asian couples. The girl on the end? Asian, too. CousinKa and I thought the same thing at once--if she wants to sit with her friends....No, I'm not saying all Asians know each other but it was an odd coincidence and seriously, the first thing we both thought of was that. Apparently, they didn't know each other.
It was a scene from the beginning. The girl was a little awkward and, as CousinKa mentioned later on, a bit stinky. The guys behind us got progressively idiotic and one hit Ka in the head twice. The guy next to me stood with his hands on his hips and his elbows stretched out, totally invading my space and, since he was tall, being a danger to my eye health. One section over was a muscular bald dude swaying, singing, and playing air guitar. The other guy next to me, part of the foursome, was playing air guitar in his seat, but not really plucking at the strings. It was a very lazy air guitar. The coolest thing was during the slower songs, a lot of people sat down and Ka spotted some guy signing the lyrics. We don't know who he was signing to, but he had music and lyrics in front of him with a spotlight and everything.
The boys in the band came on at 8:45. The playlist (complete with commentary):
Lost Highway: there was no fooling around with the band members coming in one by one onto a set made to look like a restaurant. The stage was a stage. The band was the band. The lights went out, the spotlights came on, and they blasted it loud.
Born To Be My Baby: Right into it. No warning. The crowd goes wild.
You Give Love A Bad Name: I was surprised that they followed one old one with another so soon.
Captain Crash and The Beauty Queen From Mars: Not a radio hit but they play it every concert now and they have choreography!
Runaway: No countdown by years or flash to the past. They ran right into it and the crowd goes wild again.
Sleep When I'm Dead with Twist and Shout: That was cool. In the middle of the song, he wanted to wake us up more so we did twist and shout and then they ended the song.
Blaze of Glory: Richie on slide guitar. The screens in the back a Western landscape. Chills.
Whole Lot Of Leavin: This is their new single and my favorite song off Lost Highway and he sings it in a different key than it is on the album but it's awesome.
Always: Ballad city.
Any Other Day: That picked up the crowd again.
We Got It Goin On: I haven't heard this song in a while and it was awesome awesome awesome.
It's My Life: The crowd was crazy.
Faith: JBJ told stories about being in MSG 25 years ago and opening for ZZ Top and how he got arrested for selling stuff on the street so he could afford a ticket to a concert and how he saw Bruce play.
I'll Be There For You with Richie on vocals: Richie once again thanked everyone for being there for him. Maybe he should keep going to meetings because his fans being there for him didn't stop him from driving drunk. The guy behind us gave him the finger. The song was amazing though.
Make A Memory: JBJ changed shirts and moved to the side to sing in the crowd.
Bed of Roses: JBJ sang on the side and then moved to the main stage again and flashed a smile that made me melt. CousinKa's words: He's so fucking hot.
Dry County: There's a particular subset of Bon Jovi fans who love this song and I think they are all from the same county that very well may be dry. I have yet too understand this phenomenon. All I know is that Dry County is a very long song, quite possibly the only Bon Jovi song I don't particularly care for mostly because of its length.
Have A Nice Day: A nice way to rile us up after 18 minutes of dry county-ness.
Who Says You Can't Go Home: We were all dancing and singing and JBJ did his whole "it's all right" at the end for about five minutes.
Bad Medicine with Shout: A great remix.
~Encore~
Hallelujah: That song from Shreck. It's a beautiful song. JBJ changed his shirt and really showed off his vocal talent. That man can sing.
Wanted: Complete with echoing guitars simultaneously raised up to the heavens
Livin' On A Prayer: Awesome. Brought the house down. Awesome.
And I'm going again tonight.
Monday, July 14, 2008
Great Game
I do not like One Tree Hill. I've never wanted to watch it. In fact, the only show I like on the CW is Gossip Girl (because it's the best show ever made ever). Never watched 7th Heaven, Gilmore Girls, or that Clark Kent as a kid show. So why do I now find myself talking more and more about how Chad Michael Murray's hair makes him look like a baby chick? You know this has Fred written all over it.
See? Check out that hair.
You see, somehow I got roped into watching Supercross. Some how, I got tempted by snark and podcasts. Then there's the drinking game. Yes, Fred made a drinking game. I like the drink. If I have to watch One Tree Hill to get my groove on, watch I will.
Honestly, in the first six episodes, I have come to realize why I never watched this show. It's stupid. The writing is awful. The characters are over-the-top annoying. I like one person on the show--Whitey the basketball coach. Everyone else sucks big time.
I heart Whitey. This picture, however, does not convey what he looks like when he's coaching basketball. I think Barry Corbin did a stint on The Dukes of Hazard or Bonanza or something.
Poor Moira Kelly. What the hell was she thinking? Why did she leave West Wing to play the mother of a boy whose daddy won't recognize him as his own? No no no Moira Kelly. Where's DB Sweeney when you need him?
Moira Kelly--not old enough to be someone's mother.
So now my nights are filled with stupid stupid Luke or Lucass, whichever name they decide to call Chad Michael Murray's character at the moment, basketball slo-motion montages set to emo tunes, fictional parental insanity, and bad bad bad oh so very bad hair.
The hair. Oh God, the hair.
See? Check out that hair.You see, somehow I got roped into watching Supercross. Some how, I got tempted by snark and podcasts. Then there's the drinking game. Yes, Fred made a drinking game. I like the drink. If I have to watch One Tree Hill to get my groove on, watch I will.
Honestly, in the first six episodes, I have come to realize why I never watched this show. It's stupid. The writing is awful. The characters are over-the-top annoying. I like one person on the show--Whitey the basketball coach. Everyone else sucks big time.
I heart Whitey. This picture, however, does not convey what he looks like when he's coaching basketball. I think Barry Corbin did a stint on The Dukes of Hazard or Bonanza or something.Poor Moira Kelly. What the hell was she thinking? Why did she leave West Wing to play the mother of a boy whose daddy won't recognize him as his own? No no no Moira Kelly. Where's DB Sweeney when you need him?
Moira Kelly--not old enough to be someone's mother.
So now my nights are filled with stupid stupid Luke or Lucass, whichever name they decide to call Chad Michael Murray's character at the moment, basketball slo-motion montages set to emo tunes, fictional parental insanity, and bad bad bad oh so very bad hair.
The hair. Oh God, the hair.
Sunday, July 13, 2008
21 Questions, Give Or Take A Few
New two day obsession: 21 Questions with New York Magazine. I've been reading all the interviews every time I log on. I can't get enough because despite the same exact questions (with two or three different along the way), people from all walks of life answer so incredibly differently. Pretty neat. Pretty interesting. So here, instead, I'm pretending that I matter and I'm interviewing myself.
Name: Christina M. Rau
Age: 29
Neighborhood: Valley Stream, Town of Hempstead, Nassau County, Long Island, NY
Occupation: NCC professor and writer
Who's your favorite New Yorker, living or dead, real or fictional?
My dad
What's the best meal you've eaten in New York?
Some kind of Mexican in some sort of authentic Mexican place. Oooh, OR pizza in Penn Station.
In one sentence, what do you actually do all day in your job?
I think, speak, walk, yell, dance, whisper, type, think, photocopy, write, wash off the dust, eat, make tea, sing, point, yawn, field questions, rewrite, and inevitably make an ass of myself.
Where do you get your coffee?
Rarely drink it but I make Trader Joe’s Green Tea almost every day.
Would you still live here on a $35,000 salary?
Yup.
What's the last thing you saw on Broadway?
Curtains.
Do you give money to panhandlers?
No, I never have any accessible money to quickly hand out.
What's your drink?
Lately, kaluha.
How often do you prepare your own meals?
Every day.
What's your favorite medication?
I don’t like drugging myself but I do drink Air Armor during germy student season.
What's hanging above your sofa?
I used to have a Jennifer Scott original on loan until she took it back for a show and then it somehow wound up in her own house, leaving my living room blank.
How much is too much to spend on a haircut?
$30
When's bedtime?
Depends on what time I got up that morning and have to get up the next, but I don’t understand how people have 2 AM as their normal bedtime.
Brunch: pro or con?
I have been to brunch exactly twice and I’d like to go again so Pro.
What's your thread count?
I’m not spending any time counting little threads in my sheets, but I CAN say that I don't like those t-shirt-like sheets.
What's your brand of jeans?
Bitten
Which do you prefer, the old Times Square or the new Times Square?
I love pictures of the Old Times Square but the New Times Square is the only one I truly know—still, I’d rather not hang out too long in Times Square because the crowds are horrendo.
What do you think of Donald Trump?
I like The Donald because I think anyone whose nickname is simply his own name with “The” in front of it is awesome.
Yankees or Mets?
I dont’ watch baseball.
What do you hate most about living in New York?
Walking in winter.
Who is your mortal enemy?
I have lots of nemesises. Or is it nemeses? Depends on what facet of life we’re talking about.
When's the last time you drove a car?
Yesterday.
Who should be the next president?
Nader.
Times, Post, or Daily News?
Sunday Times Magazine for the crossword and The Ethicist.
Where do you go to be alone?
Home.
What makes someone a New Yorker?
Knowing how to navigate a crowded sidewalk in the rain with an open umbrella, and avoiding that block with Bubba Gump Shrimp at all costs.
Your turn.
Name: Christina M. Rau
Age: 29
Neighborhood: Valley Stream, Town of Hempstead, Nassau County, Long Island, NY
Occupation: NCC professor and writer
Who's your favorite New Yorker, living or dead, real or fictional?
My dad
What's the best meal you've eaten in New York?
Some kind of Mexican in some sort of authentic Mexican place. Oooh, OR pizza in Penn Station.
In one sentence, what do you actually do all day in your job?
I think, speak, walk, yell, dance, whisper, type, think, photocopy, write, wash off the dust, eat, make tea, sing, point, yawn, field questions, rewrite, and inevitably make an ass of myself.
Where do you get your coffee?
Rarely drink it but I make Trader Joe’s Green Tea almost every day.
Would you still live here on a $35,000 salary?
Yup.
What's the last thing you saw on Broadway?
Curtains.
Do you give money to panhandlers?
No, I never have any accessible money to quickly hand out.
What's your drink?
Lately, kaluha.
How often do you prepare your own meals?
Every day.
What's your favorite medication?
I don’t like drugging myself but I do drink Air Armor during germy student season.
What's hanging above your sofa?
I used to have a Jennifer Scott original on loan until she took it back for a show and then it somehow wound up in her own house, leaving my living room blank.
How much is too much to spend on a haircut?
$30
When's bedtime?
Depends on what time I got up that morning and have to get up the next, but I don’t understand how people have 2 AM as their normal bedtime.
Brunch: pro or con?
I have been to brunch exactly twice and I’d like to go again so Pro.
What's your thread count?
I’m not spending any time counting little threads in my sheets, but I CAN say that I don't like those t-shirt-like sheets.
What's your brand of jeans?
Bitten
Which do you prefer, the old Times Square or the new Times Square?
I love pictures of the Old Times Square but the New Times Square is the only one I truly know—still, I’d rather not hang out too long in Times Square because the crowds are horrendo.
What do you think of Donald Trump?
I like The Donald because I think anyone whose nickname is simply his own name with “The” in front of it is awesome.
Yankees or Mets?
I dont’ watch baseball.
What do you hate most about living in New York?
Walking in winter.
Who is your mortal enemy?
I have lots of nemesises. Or is it nemeses? Depends on what facet of life we’re talking about.
When's the last time you drove a car?
Yesterday.
Who should be the next president?
Nader.
Times, Post, or Daily News?
Sunday Times Magazine for the crossword and The Ethicist.
Where do you go to be alone?
Home.
What makes someone a New Yorker?
Knowing how to navigate a crowded sidewalk in the rain with an open umbrella, and avoiding that block with Bubba Gump Shrimp at all costs.
Your turn.
Saturday, July 12, 2008
More Hospitality At The Local Library
Since I'd finished those books, I waited until Friday to bring them back in the hopes that my new card would be there and I could take something else out from the shelves. I also wanted it back so I could request some transfers. So I went as soon as they opened and who's at the counter? The "I'll just write down 'teacher'" woman.
I waited for the person in front of me to finish and moved up when she left. The woman behind the counter was doing some paperwork and moving books around. She looked up and stared. Here we go again. I gave her a shit-eating grin and said hi. She said hi and continued what she was doing. Then she looked up at me again.
I slid the books across to her. "I want to return these and also I renewed my card last week so I wanted to see if it was ready yet." Immediately, she responded, "I doubt it--we weren't here Friday or Saturday because of the holiday." My turn to stare at her. I wasn't leaving if she didn't check. After this stare down she said, "But I'll check for you."
She got my name from the computer and then said aloud, "R-A-U?" "Yes, Rau," I said. She went over to the drawers and then back to the computer to see my address. She thumbed through the cards and asked for my first name. I gave it. She came over with a card. A renewed card, not a new one. The same card with a sticker over the expiration date with a new expiration date. This is what was so trying as to not be able to complete in a week's time since they weren't there on Friday and Saturday? Really.
She held my card and asked me what my address was again. Which was insane because when she peeked at my address on the computer, she said it out loud to herself but I could totally hear it. I really think she didn't want to give me my card simply because she didn't want to hand it over. Is it really that necessary to double and triple check who I am? As if someone is going to go out of his or her way to pretend to be me, get my library card, and borrow books without returning them? Is that the new scam going on these days by way of Identity Theft?
Finally, she slid my card across and said nothing. I asked if I had to sign anything. She answered, "You already did." I don't know what that means. Maybe my card is already signed so that's what she meant. I asked because I figured they had a "Picked Up Card" sheet and maybe they would match signatures since there's such a card identity problem. Also, I have a thing about signing things--signing makes stuff official in my mind--but this time I think it was much more about her being psycho than me.
I waited for the person in front of me to finish and moved up when she left. The woman behind the counter was doing some paperwork and moving books around. She looked up and stared. Here we go again. I gave her a shit-eating grin and said hi. She said hi and continued what she was doing. Then she looked up at me again.
I slid the books across to her. "I want to return these and also I renewed my card last week so I wanted to see if it was ready yet." Immediately, she responded, "I doubt it--we weren't here Friday or Saturday because of the holiday." My turn to stare at her. I wasn't leaving if she didn't check. After this stare down she said, "But I'll check for you."
She got my name from the computer and then said aloud, "R-A-U?" "Yes, Rau," I said. She went over to the drawers and then back to the computer to see my address. She thumbed through the cards and asked for my first name. I gave it. She came over with a card. A renewed card, not a new one. The same card with a sticker over the expiration date with a new expiration date. This is what was so trying as to not be able to complete in a week's time since they weren't there on Friday and Saturday? Really.
She held my card and asked me what my address was again. Which was insane because when she peeked at my address on the computer, she said it out loud to herself but I could totally hear it. I really think she didn't want to give me my card simply because she didn't want to hand it over. Is it really that necessary to double and triple check who I am? As if someone is going to go out of his or her way to pretend to be me, get my library card, and borrow books without returning them? Is that the new scam going on these days by way of Identity Theft?
Finally, she slid my card across and said nothing. I asked if I had to sign anything. She answered, "You already did." I don't know what that means. Maybe my card is already signed so that's what she meant. I asked because I figured they had a "Picked Up Card" sheet and maybe they would match signatures since there's such a card identity problem. Also, I have a thing about signing things--signing makes stuff official in my mind--but this time I think it was much more about her being psycho than me.
Friday, July 11, 2008
Kiss of Going Under Strikes Again
A few months ago, Rock & Sling accepted two of my poems. The journal has a shiny cover, is bound all fancily, and sent me galleys to approve. That's like real publishing stuff. Today in the mail, I received two copies. Between the copies was a letter. The letter was to all subscribers and contributors. The letter explained that this would be the last edition of Rock & Sling at this time because of funding. Yes, my poems grace the pages of yet another final run.
Hamptons In Fiction Is Oh So Real
How much did I love love LOVE How The Other Half Hamptons by Jasmin Rosemberg? So much that I finished the 300 page novel in two days AND emailed the author to thank her for writing it. I've had my share of Hampton summer fun. Two summer writing conferences that should have been called Drinking Conference For People Who Write plus some Shecky's swag. This book takes a glance at the inside of living in a share house. In fact, it reminded me of this past July 4th combined with my Hamptons experiences. What made the novel even better for me is that it took place in Southampton, where all my action took place.
The characters are all me. Well, not all of them, but the three main girls--Rachel, Jamie, and Allison--are all facets of my personality pulled apart and exaggerated. The whole time I read it, I was nodding, saying to myself, Yup I know what that's like, and, Oh God Yes! Right On!
I actually let out a little yip of glee when I started reading the epilogue. Sure, I guessed the semi-obvious ending, but also, it made me so happy. Really, truly happy.
It's not too heavy on the brand names and name dropping of celebrity gawker status. Instead, Jasmin Rosemberg uses all that along with the "how the other half" stuff to create a parallel reality. While it's fiction, it sure could happen to you, to me, and anyone we know willing to live it up on the East End of Long Island for a summer.
I heart Jasmin Rosemberg not in that romantic sexual way but in that non-sexual girl crush way. In the way that says I'm not a stalker but man I wish I'd written that book and maybe she could be friends with me, too.
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Alone To A Point
I love being alone. I do I do I do. I don't mean like alone in the world without anyone to talk to. I love my friends. But I like my alonetime. Remember that episode of Sex and the City when Carrie complains about how Aiden is always there when she gets home and he's all "where've you been? what'd you do?" and all she wants to do is make a stack of crackers and eat them one by one? I have those little idiosyncracies that I certainly don't want interrupted.
Yet, I'm finding that I want someone around more often. The summer is long. The days are long. I want to share them. Not all of them, but some of them. The part that doesn't quite seem to work is that Z has taken on this position at work for which he stays at work for at least 48 hours a week. That's a whole extra day of work. That's him not getting out of work until 9, working from the morning straight through, usually not taking lunch. Sometimes he calls when he can, but those conversations are not productive or even conversations.
When a relationship is so young, it's supposed to be passionate. When the summer comes, it's supposed to be fun, full of wonder. While I have such a good time when I'm with him, those times are few and far between.
I don't want to spend every waking moment with him. Not with anyone. I don't understand how those couples who work together do it. They see each other all the time. I can't do that. But I'd like to see my boyfriend more often than not, and right now, I have tons of time, he has none, and time is flying along with the fun.
I think everyone should have summers off. Period.
Yet, I'm finding that I want someone around more often. The summer is long. The days are long. I want to share them. Not all of them, but some of them. The part that doesn't quite seem to work is that Z has taken on this position at work for which he stays at work for at least 48 hours a week. That's a whole extra day of work. That's him not getting out of work until 9, working from the morning straight through, usually not taking lunch. Sometimes he calls when he can, but those conversations are not productive or even conversations.
When a relationship is so young, it's supposed to be passionate. When the summer comes, it's supposed to be fun, full of wonder. While I have such a good time when I'm with him, those times are few and far between.
I don't want to spend every waking moment with him. Not with anyone. I don't understand how those couples who work together do it. They see each other all the time. I can't do that. But I'd like to see my boyfriend more often than not, and right now, I have tons of time, he has none, and time is flying along with the fun.
I think everyone should have summers off. Period.
How To Kill Bright Eyed and Bushy Tailed
I've gotten used to waking up at 6:40 AM, washing up, and heading out to teach a 7:15 AM yoga class at the studio. This morning was a bit rushed because I had to pack breakfast; I started teaching a new class after that at 9 today. Well, that was the plan.
I got to the studio at 7:10, a few minutes later than I usually do, and grabbed my food to put in the fridge, my book that I'd read between classes, my mat, and my purse. I unlocked the first door and threw my body against it. That's how I usually open it. Then I got upstairs and unlocked the second door and, well, nothing. I turned the key and then the knob and it was working fine but the door wasn't opening.
I tried both keys in the other lock, the deadbolt lock that's never locked. Neither key fit. It was locked from the inside and I had no key to open it from the outside. I put my stuff down and called the owner and got his voicemail. I left a message explaining the predicament.
The woman who usually comes entered and I told her what was going on. She sat on the steps and we chatted. I called the owner every five minutes. Finally, the woman left at about 7:45 and the owner called me about 8. The door won't open? No. "I guess I'll come over and unlock it." You think?
He showed up on his Razor scooter (smart! he lives close so why waste gas?) obviously newly awake. He unlocked it and asked if anyone showed. I told him the woman had come but left and said she'd come back for the 9. Which she did. I vacuumed in the downtime and read my book, but I had been jazzed to teach two classes. Seeing that the woman who showed up will not be taking two classes on Thursday mornings leads me to think that I won't be teaching two in a row since neither class had more than one (the same) person.
I got to the studio at 7:10, a few minutes later than I usually do, and grabbed my food to put in the fridge, my book that I'd read between classes, my mat, and my purse. I unlocked the first door and threw my body against it. That's how I usually open it. Then I got upstairs and unlocked the second door and, well, nothing. I turned the key and then the knob and it was working fine but the door wasn't opening.
I tried both keys in the other lock, the deadbolt lock that's never locked. Neither key fit. It was locked from the inside and I had no key to open it from the outside. I put my stuff down and called the owner and got his voicemail. I left a message explaining the predicament.
The woman who usually comes entered and I told her what was going on. She sat on the steps and we chatted. I called the owner every five minutes. Finally, the woman left at about 7:45 and the owner called me about 8. The door won't open? No. "I guess I'll come over and unlock it." You think?
He showed up on his Razor scooter (smart! he lives close so why waste gas?) obviously newly awake. He unlocked it and asked if anyone showed. I told him the woman had come but left and said she'd come back for the 9. Which she did. I vacuumed in the downtime and read my book, but I had been jazzed to teach two classes. Seeing that the woman who showed up will not be taking two classes on Thursday mornings leads me to think that I won't be teaching two in a row since neither class had more than one (the same) person.
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