checkin' in

Not much going on here these days. Plugging away at doing the show. I'm trying to figure out what my next move is going to be. I've got an "availability check" for one job right now, and an audition for a theater I used to work at, so that's promising. But taking both of those jobs means that I would only spend two of the next EIGHT months in New York, and I've been really looking forward to having my own place to live, getting it all set up, etc. It will probably come down to money. Doesn't it always?

I'm thinking seriously about starting a sports blog. There are a lot of things in the sports world that I want to comment on, but I don't want to change the nature of F&G. And...I also don't want to feel obligated to write something every day. I like my lifestyle with as few committments as possible. Maybe that makes me lazy; I prefer to use the term "uncomplicated".

Off to balance my checkbook (am I the only person who does that anymore?) and buy some contact lenses online.

A Sad Thanksgiving

We're in a glum mood this Thanksgiving at F&G, because this is the first time I haven't been able to be with my family. Thanksgiving is the big holiday for us, too - generally the only time my branch of the extended family gets together.

To add insult to injury, it's also my dad's birthday.

I'll make the most of my day. One of my best friends from Sleepy Hamlet is a Cowtown native, and Suri and I are headed over there for their traditional Thanksgiving brunch. And I've also been invited to accompany the owners of the Guest House to their celebration. And I'm very grateful.

But it won't be the same.

The one bright spot, I suppose, is that I realize how truly thankful I am for my family, and the role that they play in my life. I'm also thankful for a lot of things, including:

- the ability to make a living in my chosen profession

- my fantastic friends

- The Steelers - even though they're 4-6, they did win it all last year

- the Democrats taking over Congress and hopefully starting to turn this big cruise ship of a country slowly in the right direction

...and, last but not least...

- all of you.

Thanks for sharing advice and opinions, and for your own stories on your blogs, and for the random e-mails, and for sticking up for me. It's nice to have a place to share your desires and feelings and thoughts, and it's even nicer when someone reads and appreciates them.

Happy Thanksgiving!

it's official...

As of early January, I will once again become a resident of Brooklyn.

Permanently.

I'm very excited...I'm actually going to have a home...

More details forthcoming.

Jr. Miss

Ended the fling with her, or whatever it was - which wasn't much.

She's very strange. She's a total tease - all over me in public, but set up very specific boundaries in private. (Put it this way - it was exciting if she would kiss me for more than 20 seconds straight.)

And she was always inviting herself to go wherever I was going. I would say, "I think I'm gonna grab a quick bite to eat," and she'd say, "Well, I'm off in a few minutes..." Always. Didn't matter where I was going, or who was going to be there.

She was jealous of Suri, who's simply one of my best friends, and would always be very possessive of me.

She constantly needed attention - if we were in a group, and I wouldn't do what she wanted (kiss her, hold her hand, buy her a drink), she would throw herself on the nearest guy to make me jealous (which didn't work).

And she pathologically refused to pay for anything. I mean, I totally expect to pay the first three or four times. But all the time? Once, when I mentioned that I was broke and couldn't afford to get her anything, she ordered an expensive glass of wine and then left and stuck me with the bill.

I think that she's lonely. She only has a couple of close friends, and whenever she would call me she would go on and on about her life.

The main issue was that she seemed to be taking this much more seriously than I intended. I was pretty straightforward throughout the whole thing - told her that I wasn't going to be in Cowtown past the end of the year, told her that I was still dealing with the after-effects of the X and that i didn't want anything serious or complicated. Maybe I have poor communication skills.

I don't think I've ever been this relieved to break things off with someone. I feel elated, and strangely guilty, because I'm pretty sure I hurt her feelings. She was a fun girl - we did have a good time together, when we weren't talking about the state of our "relationship". But it just wasn't working. And why should I knock myself out, when it's not going anywhere?

Wow. Just...wow.

Read this post from The Assimilated Negro, a blog that I check in on from time to time. This is about a Halloween party at Trinity College, where TAN was a student back in the day. Someone decided to dress up as...well, I'll let you check out the pictures for yourself.

I was dumbfounded. I'm not a violent guy, but, personally, if I had run into this dude, I would have punched the motherfucker dead in the face.

too young (or too old)

A couple of days off. I needed the break desperately - not so much physically as mentally. It's been really nice to not have anywhere to be.

Girl drama continues. Jr. Miss is...well...complicated. I thnk she's a little bit spoiled, and she's used to guys mooning all over her. That's kinda not my style.

But the main issue is that she's pretty immature. I didn't think so at first, but as we hang out more and more I realize that I need someone who has a bit more direction. I mean, this isn't serious or anything, but if I am going to hang out with someone, I want it to be a person who is more on my level, you know what I mean? That sounds kind of conceited, and I don't want to make it sound like I think I'm better than her or anything. There's just a certain focus that you have at, say, 30, that isn't there at 20. At least, it wasn't for me.

I'm not a betting man, but if this continues beyond the weekend, I would be really surprised...

voting is good

Crazy week. Have had a lot of things to say, but very little time to put any of it up here.

One thing that I did want to mention is that I was very encouraged at the number of young people I talked to who voted on Tuesday. Citizens of Cowtown were receiving little "I VOTED TODAY" stickers, and many of my under-thirty friends talked about who they had voted for. Equally encouraging was the fact that a lot of those young voters also did some research, going to places like vote411.org to find out info and make informed choices.

Maybe my friends and I are just getting older (and therefore a bit more aware and responsible), or maybe younger people in this country are starting to wake up. There are some polls out there that are suggesting that it may be the latter.

Off to see Borat - must find out what the fuss is about. The previews do look pretty good...

smooth

Health and beauty tip:

Don't shave your head when you are in a rush. It makes a big mess, and it doesn't feel good. On the plus side, things do feel smooth back there.

Just had pictures taken for the paper - the photographer was very cute, and very nice, and she may have been making eyes at me. Of course, I'm never good with that kind of thing. Maybe the PR person will slide me her e-mail address. Or phone number. Ladies, would you welcome a call from a bald-headed man you just did some work with?

Off to prep for the show.

more grossness

Yesterday, while I was at rehearsal, I was standing and stretching out, you know, hands to the ceiling sort of thing. The t-shirt I was wearing wasn't very long, so you could see some of my stomach.

Horny Older Lady came up behind me and pulled my shirt up, exposing most of my upper body.

I was not amused.

in case you were wondering...

...yes, I did go on two dates with two different ladies in the same evening. (It's ok if you don't approve...'cause it's already done. But thanks for sharing.)

The first was a lady we'll call Bella Italia. 'Cause she's European.

The second was a lass who shall be known as Jr. Miss. I haven't figured out yet exactly why she's called that - Suri and I were talking in code the other day and that was the name we came up with.

Both went well, I guess. No, I didn't double dip - or single dip for that matter. More explanations later, when I get some sleep.

Good weekend to all.

and another one!

Conversation with the horny older lady in my show (there have been several disturbing conversations, but this is the latest - and maybe the grossest):

HORNY OLDER LADY: Oh, you shaved your head for the show!

ME: Yeah, Suri and I cut it last night.

HORNY OLDER LADY: Can I touch it?

ME: Um, sure...it's kind of sandpapery, 'cause I haven't gone over it with a razor yet...

(HORNY OLDER LADY grabs at my crotch. I quickly swing my hips away, to avoid contact.)

HORNY OLDER LADY: HA HA HA!

ME: (running to corner, sits in fetal position, rocking back and forth) Bad touching, bad touching, bad touching...


OK, I made that last line up. But the attempted crotch grab - yep, that actually happened.