happy new year!

Having a delicious dinner at Melissa's house. Hope that everyone has a safe and healthy New Year.

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an explanation

If you scroll down the screen to December 20, you will notice a post entitled: in '09, i'm going to usher the following things into my life. An explanation is in order.

I have a friend who, every year, has a Solstice Party. There are several rituals involved in this party, but my favorite one is when people write down a list of things that they want to bring into their lives the following year. I guess it's sort of like a more abstract version of a New Year's resolution. You are not supposed to look at the list until the Solstice Party the following year, when you read the list and are mortified that you forgot all about learning to ice skate - or are pleasantly surprised that you did land an agent like you thought.

Anyway, I've been going to this party for years, and I always assumed that I had posted my goals for the year, but this is the first time that I've put them up on the blog. The list is here, and hopefully this will inspire you to make your own list. Enjoy.

headshot madness

via e-mail, giving Trouble advice about her headshot outfits

I say stick with the magenta/fuschia/pinky red color.

i really enjoyed this game

via text message with Snapple, who has a rooting interest in the Philadelphia Eagles

ME: The eagles are awesome.

SNAPPLE: what happened?

ME: They are BLOWING out the cowboys 44-3!

SNAPPLE: yay playoffs!

ME: Exactly. At minnesota next week.

i feel like warmed-over death

Just a suggestion - if you're going to have multiple drinks - like, say, more than five - you might want to try eating something before your beverage consumption. Otherwise you could end up feeling like me.

Ugh.

a new york meme

Name: The Rover

Job: Actor

Age: 31 (sigh)

Neighborhood: Big ups to Brooklyn!

Who's your favorite New Yorker, living or dead, real or fictional?
This is a great question.

Unfortunately, I don't have an answer.


What's the best meal you've eaten in New York?
Generally, the last one. I did have a fantastic dinner with Maxine a couple of weeks ago at Blue Water Grill in Union Square, so I'll go with that.


In one sentence, what do you actually do all day in your job?
In between surfing the internet, texting friends, watching TV, talking on the phone, I tell stories - or look for new stories to tell.


Would you still live here on a $35,000 salary?
That would be a raise for me, so yes.


What's the last thing you saw on Broadway?
The Little Mermaid. I know someone in the show. It was pretty good, actually.


What's your drink?
It changes, depending on the time of year. In the summer, I prefer a hefeweizen. Winter demands Irish Whiskey or Scotch. If I'm "watching my figure", I'll go with the vodka tonic. And if I need dessert, I'm not above ordering a Kahula or an Amarula. But, generally speaking, I'm a beer guy.


How often do you prepare your own meals?
When my life isn't too chaotic, I'd say 90% of the time. When I'm in tech, or hopping from place to place, it's more like 40%. I prefer to cook for myself.


What's your favorite medication?
The prescription-strength Pepcid that keeps my acid reflux at bay.


What's hanging above your sofa?
Nothing. Which reminds me, do you want to buy my sofa? It's too big to fit into my studio...


How much is too much to spend on a haircut?
$20. But I'm kinda cheap.


When's bedtime?
Ideally? 1 am. Usually? 2:30.


Which do you prefer, the old Times Square or the new Times Square?
I guess new, but there really are no winners with this question.


Do you give money to panhandlers?
No. I subscribe to a bastardized version of the viewpoint discrimination theory: either I give to everybody, or nobody. I'm poor, so right now it's nobody.


What do you think of Donald Trump?
He uses too much gold in his buildings. Otherwise, I think he's hilarious.


What do you hate most about living in New York?
The price tag.


Who is your mortal enemy?
I don't know that I have one right now.


When's the last time you drove a car?
Yesterday.


Who should be the next president?
The guy we elected. YES WE CAN!


Times, Post, or Daily News?
Times. Not even close. Although I do enjoy seeing the front and back pages of the tabloids every day.


Where do you go to be alone?
These days? The bathroom.


What makes someone a New Yorker?
A healthy disdain for tourists. That, and being able to give a person multiple routes to get to the same place.

christmas dinner

This is the third of three meals we've made from scratch today. I'm not in shape to eat this much!



Here's hoping that you and yours have a very Merry Christmas!

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i thought she was serious for a minute

via text - Maxine is home for the holidays visiting her mom

ME: How was shopping?

MAXINE: Well, i'm done so i'm happy!

ME: What did you buy me? ;-)

MAXINE: Hah! Cowboy boots!

ME: Great! I needed brown shoes...

MAXINE: Oops, well, i hope you like crocodile.

not enough time!

I'm having one of those frustrating days where it just seems like I don't have enough time to get anything done. You know what I mean?

I promised my roommate that I'd go help her out at 3:30. When I made that commitment, I realized that I wouldn't have enough time to go to the gym and shower.

To kill the gap, I made a couple of phone calls I needed to make and took care of some paperwork. I figured that I would have enough time to knock out a couple of episodes of my addiction du jour (the HBO miniseries "John Adams"). But, alas, now it's almost 2:30. I can't even get that done.

This vacation has not been very relaxing.

fam comes first

via e-mail to one of my co-workers at my side gig

Could you check with [the guys] and see if they want to pick up my shift on Sunday December 28? Trying to squeeze out a bit more family time before I take off again. Let me know...thanks much...

post-game texting

text message sequence between my father and I after the Steelers' loss to the Titans

ME: Boo.

SANDWICH: Yes but now they do not play Baltimore in their first playoff game

ME: [My brother] says, "Yes. Now they can play them in the AFC Championship Game."

SANDWICH: Probably

in '09, i'm going to usher the following things into my life:

- committing to my relationship (and/or committing to moving on from it, if necessary)

- continuing my climb out of debt

- work hard, work proud, no matter where
(acting, auditioning, gym, love, temping, fun)

- remember your friends - keep the bonds strong

- keep your word

- be the best person you can be

- do what's best for you, no matter how hard

- you can always be compassionate, though

- these (last) 2 things do not have to be mutually exclusive

- honor

- help Barack! the work is not yet done...

- own your career - The Rover's best agent is The Rover

- a continuously flattening stomach

- no regrets

- great sex. not good. GREAT.

- love, be generous

- make your new apartment your home

- family

- God - love, trust, believe, do not be afraid

slyde (an itunes meme)

A meme I got from a friend on Facebook; thought I'd do something that requires little effort. I don't know what it is about snow, but it makes me want to do absolutely nothing...

1. Put your music player on shuffle.
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS!
4. Tag 12 friends who might enjoy doing the game as well as the person you got the game from. (I'm not tagging people, but feel free to do this.)


IF SOMEONE SAYS "IS THIS OKAY" YOU SAY?
Can U Handle It? (Usher)

WHAT WOULD BEST DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONALITY?
Blow It Out (Features)

WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL?
Jam (A Tribe Called Quest - what does that even mean?)

HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY?
Otherside of the Game (Erykah Badu - the actual music definitely fits my mood today)

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE'S PURPOSE?
Each Hour Each Second Each Minute Each Day: Of My Life (Maxwell - wtf?)

WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO?
The Best of Both Worlds (R. Kelly & Jay-Z - I can get behind this one)

WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?
This Ain't Sex (Usher - ouch)

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN?
Steve Berman (skit) (Eminem - this is stupid - let's try this again:)

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN?
Living For The City (Stevie Wonder - much better...and quite accurate)

WHAT IS 2 + 2?
In Our Time (Nancy Sinatra - she's basically saying we have better things to do)

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND?
Oh (Dave Matthews)

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
That Time (Regina Spektor - ok, I can go with this one)

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?
Guide For I And I (Thievery Corporation)

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
When The Music Stops (Eminem - um, ok)

WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
Wade In The Water (Eva Cassidy)

WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?
Suicidal Thoughts (Notorious B.I.G. - let's hope not!)

WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING?
Stormy Love (Rick James - that would certainly be an interesting, depressing wedding)

WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?
Jaspora (Wyclef Jean - not if I have anything to say about it)

WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST?
Do You Know What Time It Is? (Kool Moe Dee)

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET?
Time Stops (Explosions in the Sky)

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?
Always On The Run (Lenny Kravitz - that's probably what THEY think of ME)

WHAT'S THE WORST THING THAT COULD HAPPEN?
Piggy Bank (50 Cent)

HOW WILL YOU DIE?
Stir It Up (Bob Marley & The Wailers)

WHAT IS THE ONE THING YOU REGRET?
Pay No Mind (Snoozer) (Beck)

WHAT MAKES YOU LAUGH?
Gotta Get My Roll On (Montell Jordan)

WHAT MAKES YOU CRY?
Lost And Found (Will Smith - I do hate losing things)

WILL YOU EVER GET MARRIED?
Missy's Finale (Missy Elliot - again, this is no kind of answer...let's try again)

WILL YOU EVER GET MARRIED?
My Lover's Gone (Dido - well, that's an answer that will depress my girlfriend, but at least it's an answer)

DOES ANYONE LIKE YOU?
Every Time You Go Away (Brian McKnight)

IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME, WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE?
Lady (Regina Spektor - no comment)

WHAT HURTS RIGHT NOW?
Satyam Shivam Sundaram (Thievery Corporation)

WHAT WILL YOU REPOST THIS AS?
Slyde (Bilal)


What did I learn from this? I have WAY too many songs on my computer. And this isn't very accurate. But I did get to listen to some cool tunes...

next year's top movies?

Pajiba always has some interesting articles, and today they've got their stab at the top movies of 2009. Can we agree to meet back here in a year and check their answers?

The thing that excites me most on that list? A film adaptation of The Time Traveler's Wife - such a kick-ass book. I'll be seeing that on opening weekend.

dinner plans

Is it appropriate to have Trader Joe's Spinach and Artichoke Dip as your dinner? Discuss.

a quick post behind enemy lines

At Maxine's house - while she knows that this blog exists, she still doesn't have the address. Not sure if I'm ever going to clue her in on that one.

A good night tonight - hung out with a kick ass friend - we gorged ourselves on Thai food and Belgian beer. Excellent combo, although I can't say that I feel the greatest now. Hopefully a couple of tall glasses of water fixes that...

i'm trying to eat better

...but it's hard when they're buying you dinner at work.



This is what's left. Notice that my willpower is no where to be found.

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inside joke

Saw this in a Manhattan bookstore and had to send it to my castmates. We use this phrase all the time.

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football comes first

via e-mail - turning down a party invite because i can't miss a big Steelers game - pathetic, right?

How goes it, man? Hope that life is treating you well. It doesn't look like I'm going to be able to make the party tomorrow - I have to do something at my brother's [house], and I don't think I can get back before 9:30 or so. Thanks much for the invite, though - hopefully we can catch up at some point and grab a drink or something...

xmas in the city

So nice to be home!!

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i am freezing

For some reason, the heat isn't working too well in my apartment.

I'm ready to move! Hurry up, building people!

did you see this story?

Allegedly...a girl from Cleveland was on a class trip and lost her virginity. She got really excited and decided to text her friend. She accidentally sent it to her father.



Story is here. As someone who recently got a touchscreen phone, it's way too easy to send a text to the wrong person. So...the story isn't impossible.

The best part about this? The creativity on the web. Someone decided to create some other "embarrassing" texts - hilarity ensues.

getting on my nerves

I'm on vacation this month. Because I am on vacation, all I really want to do is sit around and do nothing - you know, catch up on TV, read some books and magazines, see some friends, and (most importantly) not spend too much money.

Unfortunately, the people putting together my new apartment building are taking their sweet time, so I'm forced to house-hop for the month. StefStar is trotting all over the globe in December, and is being kind enough to let me stay in my old room. I guess it is technically still my room, since my stuff is in boxes all over the place and my name is still on the lease, but I did a pretty complete mental divorce when I left for Bluff City in October. Still, it's a place to stay out of trouble, so that's where I spend my downtime.

I've had it up to here, however, with my current roommate.

I said, half-jokingly, to a friend the other day, "I have no problems with someone who wants to lay around the apartment all day - as long as that person is me." And that's pretty much the issue. He monopolizes the living room. He frequently turns on the TV (which is always tuned to ESPN) and walks away from it. He constantly talks to you when you are watching TV.

He's not as bad as this roommate, thank God.

I know that the real issue is that I need to live in my own place and have my own space, and I'm super frustrated that I've been waiting for six months to move into this place. I logically know this. And yet I'm still enraged when he watches SportsCenter and surfs the internet at the same time, and I'm secretly thrilled when I enter the apartment and he's not home.

Does this make me a bad person?

you want me to fly when?

via text message - my castmate and i found out that the theater wants us to get on a plane at 9:30am on New Year's Day

CASTMATE: 9 in the mornin fo real

ME: Um, no. I can't leave any earlier than 1. It just won't happen.

CASTMATE: Hehehe

ME: Did you talk to her yet? I'm about to call her back...

CASTMATE: Yes

ME: You agreed? Ouch...

CASTMATE: I'm leaving early from JFK

ME: Boo...

CASTMATE: LGA had two stop but you can go out of Newark

(five hours later)

ME: I'm on the same damn flight.

CASTMATE: Yay for me boo for you

ME: Yeah. I'll sleep

CASTMATE: I'll wake you up when we get there

ME: And for the layover too, please.

CASTMATE: I thought we were flying direct which is why we were taking that early one

ME: No. We have to take a separate flight...

Needless to say, we're not happy.

they leave me speechless sometimes

via text message to my father, after the Steelers scored 17 points in seven minutes to come from behind to beat the Cowboys

Wow.

see this play!

I highly recommend it.

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lazy

That's me.

Too lazy to work out.

Too lazy to buy food.

Too lazy to upload my blog posts to the internet.

I think that I'll be over this in a couple of days. I think.

like coffee? you'll love this

via e-mail to Maxine - she is a coffee enthusiast

This is about coffee. I think that you will, at the very least, appreciate it, and you may in fact love it.

http://niemann.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/12/02/coffee/?em

Bon appetit.

trying to lock down this place

via e-mail, to the lady who's in charge of getting me this apartment

Just making sure that you got my income breakdown. Let me know if it's ok, or if I need to make any changes. Thanks.

trying to get my friend an agent

via e-mail with my friend Suri, formerly of Cowtown - trying to get her the hook up

Keep some time on the 10th open for my guy. Not definite yet. I'll keep you posted...

home again!

The view from my cab, on the BQE.

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