The Odd Couple. Really Odd.

We went to see The Odd Couple on Broadway last night. First of all, I never take for granted the fact that I live within walking distance of the theater district and people travel from all over the world to come see broadway shows. Secondly, when spending about $200 for the evening, I expect it to be worthwhile; breaking down to about $50 an hour for a 2 hour show. Thirdly, knowing that Matthew Broderick and Nathan Lane, starring in the show, sold out the entire run ($21 million in ticket sales!), I figured it was a good chance that I would walk away loving the show.

We had amazing seats (I'm the dork that was online at 10AM when the tickets went on sale) and were in the 3rd row. However, because of the close angle, we couldn't see past a table that was on stage or some action going on that was on top of the table. That aside, it was like having the actors in your own living room we were so close! It was fun to see Brad Garrett (cop from "Everybody Loves Raymond") and Lane and Broderick got a warm welcome upon their entrance. That was the highlight of the show. Matthew Broderick has the challenge of playing this stiff, anal-retentive character, but I literally heard him slipping in and out (from line to line) of this whiny voice he had created for the character. He was really stiff, as he should be, but so stiff that it was as if you could see the gears in his head turning... "Ok now I move to this side of the stage and put my glass down." It was a really awkward performance, funny only at times, and there was no 'pizzazz' between Oscar (Lane) and Felix (Broderick). When they were supposed to get under each's skin, I didn't buy it. Nathan Lane was hysterical at times, good at playing a guy who was a slob, but I almost felt there was over-delivery of his lines to compensate for the under-performance of Broderick.

I think part of the problem is the play itself really relies on perfect chemistry between the leads, but something was missing. I walked away dissapointed that we shelled out so much money for the tickets (we could've sold them on eBay for close to $400 a piece!), and woke up this morning thinking my favorite part was the huge Kit Kat (we're talking 8 bars!) we shared at intermission.

Hurricane Wilma

Naples, FL is my hometown (lived there until I was 14 and my Dad still lives there). My Dad's apartment is about 100 yards away from the Gulf Of Mexico. He's up here for now but has no idea if there's been any damage to his apartment... many of his windows have no hurricane shutters. My in-laws had a window shatter and soak their living room and have a leak in their kitchen ceiling. I can't help but think, "It sucks that they have damage, but they have their lives and aren't homeless." Not to belittle the suffering anyone goes through a hurricane, but what about these people who are still in shelters from Katrina?

Today was the first day I really felt I would prefer the NYC winters over the FL summers and FL hurricanes. We'll see how long that feeling lasts when it's slushy and grey here for weeks at a time.

Straight Men Can Go To Spas

There have been an influx of articles in the past year about 'metrosexuals' - men who enjoy pampering themselves, are into their looks, clothes, and in my mind - are essentially taking care of themselves the way many gay men do without actually being gay. However, I've discovered a mutation of this - the kind of man that isn't a metrosexual. He scoffs at dressing trendy and still dresses laid-back, watches sports every weekend, burps, and is a 'man-man'. I took this kind of man to a spa yesterday for a massage; a good friend of mine who also happens to be a sportswriter for a living, and realized how few spas cater towards this type of man.

We went to a 'budget' spa (if it can be called that for a $78 hour massage) that felt very sterile. The walls were thin enough that he could hear me laughing in the next room when Zamfir's version of "Proud to Be An American" was playing. There were no men's and women's changing rooms - only one room with 20 lockers and shower curtains between a wall for us to change in. Seeing him come out in a robe and the same slippers I was wearing was worth the trip. I think I could make a lot of money having a spa that truly catered to men and women: instead of frilly white robes, tea and Cosmo Magazine, there would be Coors Light, the latest Sports Illustrated and grey, dense robes would be available for the guys.

I hope men around the world read this blog, unite, and say 'enough you sissy metrosexuals - we deserve our own kind of pampering, god dammit.' However, I hope this falls short of the "happy ending" that all too many men secretly wish for with their 'massage'.

At least it was a damn good massage.

Prediction: bye bye, singing group

Another member of my a cappella group quit last night. I've had many people talk to me saying they hope I don't quit, but the reality is I've made the decision, am sticking to it - but in my heart I want what's best for the group and between now and when I leave. Out of 10 old members (sadly, we just took 3 new ones in the fall), I know every last one of us has considered, some more strongly than others, to leave the group. What makes me more upset is that I've put so much time and effort into the group, probably more than anyone else, and yet I feel totally responsible for the demise of us. Fucking sucks, but no one seems to understand that when I wanted things to head in another direction, the direction we are currently in seems to be what's tearing us apart in the first place. I'm stuck in the middle of "I need to let go of control" and "people need to step up to the plate to help" but the reality is, I'm not sure how easy it is to make either one happen seeing as people don't have 5 seconds to copy music and 'volunteer to help'. The irony is, at the start of the downfall, this was when we recorded our CD. We had a meeting at one member's apartment about who would mix the CD. I said I did not want to do it or be involved and wanted others to step up and get involved so it could be a group effort. I was quickly told, "No - as the director you need to mix." I NEED to. How quickly everyone forgot that I didn't want to do it in the first place. That really pisses me off as I write this.

Can you say "drama"?

I just hope when I leave they're all not saying "Wow we're so much better off without her". At least I still have my friends I've made in the group and they're still going to be my friends.

I also hope for the readers of my blog they aren't bored to tears by this entry, since the dynamics of an a cappella group affect about 0.0000000004% of the population.

Blech

I have an away message on my AOL IM list that says "Blech" and it's a perfect way to describe today. It's pouring rain (Note: I grew up in FL, home to torrential downpours and can't tell you the last time I saw this) so it makes today even more 'blech'. There is a ton of tension in my a cappella group and I've been told by almost everyone that I have caused it. I tried bringing something up that directly affected one person, even told her blatantly in an e-mail that I would be bringing it up, and the roof basically caved in on me. She said we weren't going to discuss it and I wasn't about to print out the e-mail where I said we were. I was accused of all of these things which weren't true but wanted to stick to the topic at hand, so I wasn't prepared to say 'that's not true let me show you the e-mail that proves otherwise'. So guess who is the bad guy now?

I used to believe in the adage that you get out of something what you put into it. So why is it that in a group of 13 people, when I put in the most effort, I am the one that has to leave to make things work? You know that feeling when you throw-up a little in your mouth (I love that image)? Imagine feeling that way. A lot.

In Her Shoes

Saw this movie yesterday with my good friend Sara - it was so cute but man, what a slow start! It took about 25 minutes before the movie got going. The funny thing is, my Dad saw the movie and said I should take my husband b/c it's not a chick flick. Um, Dad? Are you living under a rock? That movie could not be a bigger chick flick unless it had some music by David Foster (see: tons of cheesy 80s flicks music).

The irony of it is that I'm in the midst of a 3 day quasi-fight with my sister over something trivial, not as serious as what they're fighting about in the movie. We're fighting over lamps my Dad gave to us, and that I took one lamp before she got to see both. Go figure. Lame!

Bye bye, crappy neighborhood

It's almost official; official enough that I can announce it to my quasi-readers of the blog... we are moving. For those who don't live in NYC, it's hard to explain the varying neighborhoods in the city that change from block to block, and even harder to explain the craziness that is Manhattan real estate. What I can honestly say is, for the last 4 years, my husband and I have lived in one of the most awful neighborhoods out there. Let me rescind that comment, somewhat - it's not awful as in "gunshots and unsafe" but awful as in we have to walk 10 minutes to get to the nearest grocery store, bank or anything remotely civilized. Ooh wait - we do have a giant Fed Ex distribution center near us, we have a condo going up across the street, and the 1/2 block piece of land next to us is contaminated so that's under construction to clean it as well (think Erin Brockovich). We're on the river which in most cities would be wonderful, but for us it means a perpetual wind tunnel and highway traffic.

So, goodbye Falun Gong protestors that sit outside our building every day and try to shove pamphlets at us, goodbye 15 minute commute just to get to the nearest subway, goodbye delivery people that don't know where I live when I tell them the cross street is the highway, goodbye nasty construction workers who sadly fill the stereotype of "hoots and hollerers"... but there are some things I will miss: our amazing gym, quiet sidewalks at any time of day, easy access to the highway when we do actually escape the city. Yeah, that's about all I'll miss.

I can't believe I will actually be able to sing "We're movin' on up - to the east side" since we actually are. No moving date yet but I was too excited to contain myself.

10 things that make me happy right now.

In no particular order. I thought this list was necessary because I'm getting too bogged down by the news lately. Feel free to add your own in the comments.

1) Having the same goofy sense of humor as my husband
2) Thinking of something funny &, when merely thinking about it - I can crack up loud. Home alone.
3) Dogs. All shapes and sizes. Particularly mine.
4) Singing.
5) Fat babies.
6) Eating a great meal and not feeling sick or having a stomach ache afterwards (ok that one is a little depressing)
7) Turning the air off in my apartment.
8) Writing (most of the time).
9) Using coupons at the grocery store.
10) Helping friends or total strangers.