Frozen Tundra

It's sooooo fucking cold! Whyyyy?

On top of it being cold outside, the hotel I work at is FREEZING, as well! The doors keep sliding open and a rush of frigid wind blows in. It just adds to the annoyance that has been this winter. Everything is moving soo slowly.

I can't deal with much more. Living in Astoria has become a major pain in the cold. The 5 minute walk to the subway feels like an eternity. Waiting for the subway to leave the station is in itself another frustrating experience. You never know if it will leave once you get on it or if you'll be stuck sitting on it for a good 15 minutes before it journeys into Manhattan, which is also too far for me right now. It takes me almost an hour to get to work- leaving me with a lot of unhappiness once I reach the igloo that is my desk.


Then, once I get here to this frozen over hell, I am surrounded by egotistical pricks. One particular manager, let's call him Harry, acts as though he is superior to everyone and everything on this planet. His second-in-command is a dimwit who stares off into space and doesn't know right from left. Harry likes to use his cell phone and when you are using yours (for when your boss texts you) he gets upset... Lead by example, perhaps? The thing is, the concierge company I work for does not work for these corporate hotels. Rather, they rent the space so that they can sell tickets, tours, etc. So we really shouldn't need to follow their commands at every moment. Pain in my ass.

(Shout out to James! He's cool.)

Life right now just feels like one long waiting game. I'm waiting for the next audition and the next performance. I just want to be doing something fun and passion-filled. I think that come April I will be abroad in Europe or Australia, and Israel for a few weeks/months. I need to get out and enjoy what surrounds us and what's in nature. I'm just hoping that I have the strength to survive all of this BS in the meanwhile.

Another thing that frustrates me right now are people. It's upsetting to me that not everyone is empathetic and caring. So many people, particularly, in the hotel business, are sly and conniving. They just manipulate and lie... and I don't get it. What makes them that way? I talked to my mom about this recently and she told me that education and family dynamics have a lot to do with it. But I can't help but wonder how some of my friends who have grown up in "broken" homes have turned into stunning beautiful people, while others have turned into the polar opposite. I need to find the good in everyone again. I used to believe that people are generally good in their core, but my opinion is changing. I want to live among happy and positive people. But, I also don't want to be sheltered from the reality that everyone else is living. It's very depressing that so many people live in harsh and horrible conditions. Why can't everyone, as Ellen says, be KIND to one another? Seriously, peeps. Seriously.

It's an easy choice- smile or be a douche. It takes much less energy to smile. Not only are you putting happiness unto others, you're increasing your own endorphins and making you happier by default! Look at that! Amazing.

So, I hate to put out all of that negativity regarding my dislike for a particular Debbie-downer, but I am using Harry as an example. There are billions of him out there.

....

Moving on.

I saw American Idiot last week, co-starring Melissa Etheridge for the week. She was stellar! I loved it! I won the lottery and sat front row(!!) where it blew my mind. The cast is fantastic- so powerful and energetic. They were GIVING every moment...
which leads me to the show I saw the following night where they were not....

Spiderman: Turn off the Dark, aka spiderman: turn the houselights on
I refused to actually pay money towards this show, so I ended up lucky that my friend got me comps. I think it's absolutely embarassing and egotistical for $65 MILLION dollars to be shelled out on a project like this. Do they realiiize how much money that is?! Thousands of teachers in New York are losing their jobs this year- $65 million could have gone to saving their jobs, among additional educational projects. It could have gone anywhere!
I, of course, believe that we should be investing in the arts- hell! I am IN the arts- but who in his/her right mind said "YES! $65 million dollars to make SPIDERMAN, the MUSICAL." I mean, really?? What were you thinking?!
Basically, the Michael Riedel article from the NY Times sums up exactly what i said to anyone willing to listen, and it can be read here: http://theater.nytimes.com/2011/02/08/theater/reviews/spiderman-review.html?scp=1&sq=spiderman&st=cse

In summary, it was disconnected, poorly written, filled with unmemorable music, and tiring to watch. I literally started to doze off in Act Two, when a flying tarantula was singing some bizarre music. The cast- they're talented- I mean they're on the Broad-Way. I just think the show was poorly conceived and didn't let them be their amazing selves.

Well, when it first started I thought it could be okay- it looked really pretty! All of these gorgeous orange silk sheets flying around and people swinging around. But then... oh boy....

I don't really want to write about it anymore, actually. So I'm moving on...


In fact, I think I'm done with this post.

peace, happiness, and kindness.
~Tal

Goodbye until tomorrow...

This weekend was filled with a lot of passion, sadness, and joy.

Friday night was my wonderful friend, Abby, and her fiance's goodbye party. They are moving to the Midwest and I am so excited for them and the adventure and life that they're starting up! BUT, at the same time it is also heartbreaking to see a dear friend of mine leave New York. In New York City we are always saying hello and goodbye. There's no constant here. That's part of the reason I like it, but when you've known someone for over 5 years who you admire so much it's hard to see them go. I've been bugging Abby for weeks now about "leaving me" with, what I hope she is finding, amusing text messages and facebook wall posts.
I've known Abby since I first got to Pace University in 2005. She was one of the cool kids and definitely someone I looked up to. We only became close friends in the latter part of college when she kind of joined my class year- 'cause she booked a tour and left for a while (she's talented like that). Long storyshort, it's been wildly wonderful to have a friend who I feel like I can share so much without abandon. I have always felt like I can speak honestly and openly to Abby because she is so welcoming and forthright. You rarely meet such a genuine person- perhaps one of the reasons why she's going back to where she's from (the people there sound lovely!)

The goodbye party we had for the two of them was an absolute blast. There were only wonderful people there. Seriously. No bullshitting people or fakes... it was just a group of people who deeply care and are generally kind. After a few hours it dwindled down to a few of us who pulled out some musical instruments and ended up having a jam session into the wee hours of the night. It was a really lovely way to say "see you later" and it all ended on a super happy note. Can't wait to see my friend again in the future and so excited for the happy couple!!


.......


The following morning I was supposed to see my super talented friend, Kate, in a Wicked workshop... but couldn't make it. Let's just say, I hate winter.
I'm sure she was incredible, as usual... but I was sad 'cause I haven't seen her in a while and I adore her, her husband, and friends! It was a bummer.

.......

Last night, however, I went out with a few friends in the West Village. I forgot how wild it gets out there. It was incredible fun! Met a bunch of my friend's friends and all that... even acted as a little Yenta and made a match happen between two strangers I didn't even know at the beginning of the night.

Made it home after waiting for the subway for an absurd amount of time, and now guess where I am?
Yup... work. The uje.

I'm seeing two wonderful friends for dinner tonight and can't wait. At least that's something for me to look forward to for the rest of the day.


peace, love, and harmony.
~T

Happy 2011

Quite a bit has happened since mid-December and my last post.

The first major blizzard of this winter happened. It's gotten painfully frigid here. And I'm tired of the commute from Astoria 'cause it's sooo cold. I adore my sweet roommate and the apartment itself. But the cooold! Oy.

I had a wild and fun new years- attended about 5 parties. My friend, James, and his two buddies came into Manhattan and we were all over the place. I got hit in the eye with a snowball by accident, which left me with an eye inflammation for about a week :/

But everything turned wonderful when I reached California for a two-week vacation... and boy, oh boy was it a wonderful vacation! It was wondrous weather, wondrous company, wondrous everything. I spent so many morning and afternoons with my mom wandering around, shopping, going to the beach, strolling around... then cafes and bars with some friends, seeing my friend's new baby (precious!), adventuring in LA, and then to end it all a girls-weekend out in Vegas, followed by pool/jacuzzi/smoothie fun when we got back, the Golden Globes, and Disneyland with my younger brother the next day.
Yes, I realize that was all one wildly outrageous run-on sentence. I just couldn't contain myself! It was sooo much fun!

And since the trip I've been struggling with whether to return to the joys of Los Angeles and California... to make a very long story short, though, I have decided that if I leave now all that I have worked on the past few months since September will sort of have been a waste. Or so I feel. I didn't do anything, really. I kind of just supported myself. Which is great! BUT, I didn't accomplish any great feat or book a great show or a job that I actually want to be doing all the time. So, I made money and then I spent it on living. The end? Not good enough for me... I am developing a stronger network here, and really LOVE the theater world here and am just dying to be a greater part of it. I'm continuing to get to know people in the industry and hopeful that together our talents will conjoin.

I'm planning a trip abroad this Spring if I'm not working where I want to be come April... and I will reassess when I'm off in Ireland in the sunlit green fields. :)

In the meanwhile, I am here working in the hotel business (Shout out to Jamie- one of my hotel front desk followers)... and there are perks. Last night I had free dinner at an unbelievably delicious Italian home-style restaurant right by our hotel. I'm definitely suggesting you all go- Trattoria Del Casa Isaaco. You will be glad you did! I guarantee. Not only is the food soo flavorful and rich (addictive, might I add), but the host of the evening, the owner, runs the whole place like it's house and personally comes up to each of the 10 tables to tell you the specials, get your orders, and even sing to you. You leave with a kiss or hug... I know I'll be back.

Signing off for now. I'm going to read some of my new book, The Kind Diet- thank you and shout out to Michelle, another fab front-desk-y, for the book!

peace, love, kisses, and kindness,
Tal

What else?

I've been a fairly good vegan as of late. I've been making some really exciting dishes at home, and have found some unbelievable places around NYC. And thus, I will be starting a new blog soon entitled The Cheapskate Vegan Cook (link to be provided soon).

I constantly take photos of my food and post them on facebook. It's time that my facebook friends are not forced into seeing everything I make. And, I think the world needs a person to show them a cheap, quick, and easy way to make vegan food. I keep finding all these amazing looking recipes with faar too many ingredients. They'll just cost soo much money to make! So, I'm gonna start writing out a price list of different items I buy and what I do with them for the cheapskate vegan cook, like me! :)

In the meanwhile, work continues. I came in today, on my day off(!), to cover for my boss for 4 hours. And then I have all of these fun things to do with the rest of my day! I'm meeting Erica for lunch at what I'm sure will be a new favorite vegan spot, V-Note, in the UWS. Then, I'm reorganizing a bunch of stuff, working on some music, maybe seeing a movie, and cooking dinner with another friend... tomorrow it's back to the real grind- work from Friday through Sunday :/

And, oh-so-soon I'll be in California on vacation!! Two weeks in warmth and sunlight and a weekend in Vegas with my best friend, Lisa!! I can't even wait!!!

For now I'll continue to peruse websites whilst at work and play some Sudoku.

peace, love, serenity,
Tal

What else?

It's Been a While...

I'm still working as a hotel concierge. It's a job. Easy enough. Can be really dull at times and crazy at others. One thing I am not good at controlling is my cookie-intake. These hotels offer warm cookies throughout the afternoon and evenings, leaving me completely salivating for their sweetness in the later half of the work day.

And, I've been trying to be 100% vegan... clearly unsuccessful with all of the baked goods that I am surrounded by all the time. But, I'm trying- and I figure I'm making a difference even just a little at a time. :)

I went on an audition yesterday for Tom Stoppard's play, The Real Thing. I hadn't been on one in a few weeks! There's been nothing going on! It went really well, even though I had to prepare a standard RP British accent! I didn't suck! They even complimented me and we had a nice little sincere chat post audition.

Oh! My birthday was last week! I'm now a 23 year-old! YIKES! It was a lot of fun- had 17(!) friends meet me for dinner at a fantastic vegan restaurant in the UES. Then partied all night at a fantastic bar/lounge with a live band that did some great covers of everyone from Madonna to Elton John.
And the festivities continued for over a week. Hannukah parties galore, clubs, brunches, and even a dinner two nights ago with knafe, a brilliantly delicious middle eastern dessert!
All in all, really joyous and fun!

Hopefully 23 will be a good year! :)

Oh boy- It really has been far too long since I've blogged.

I honestly can't even re-assess all that has happened in the past two months since being back. Basically, I've been working at one hotel and hated my life. And so I quit last week, and I started a new job today! I'm now a concierge at a few hotels in midtown. It's pretty sweet- I sit and tell people what shows they should see, what restaurants to go to, where the atm's are... yada yada yada...
It's also flexible and a positive work environment. I'm not being spoken down to by managers or can't run a hotel properly (not that I've ever experienced that (sarcasm)).

I've been auditioning as much as possible. Luckily my jobs do allow me some flexibility to do so. I couldn't even tell you, however, what I've auditioned for. I put it all just behind me and hope to book it. Hahaa!
There were two or three that I still recall and am uncertain what kind of happened- basically, who knows why I didn't book it.

I've been dating a little too much, and kind of over it. I don't really care. I'd rather spend time with friends I like more than some of the dates I've been on. And, I've been going out on the town quite a bit, enjoying being a 22-almost-23-year-old.

...
Oh boy! Work has been such a bore today. I'm also super tired and awake on about 5-6 hours of sleep. My eyes are so droopy and I'm so tired... and now hungry! Ah! Only two more hours.