Snow

Contrary to popular belief. There are not 12 words for snow in the Inuit language. But it's fun to pretend.

http://www.putlearningfirst.com/language/research/eskimo.html

http://ontology.buffalo.edu/smith/varia/snow.html

Running into the New Year

This morning I welcomed in the New Year in the healthiest way that I believe I ever have. Healthy mentally, spiritually, and most of all, physically. I slipped and slid my way into 2010 by participating in the New York Road Runners Midnight Run.

Imagine a New Year's Eve like most peoples. Get together with friends at somebody's place or a bar a few hours before midnight. Have a nice dinner, a glass of wine, some more drinks. Get good and liquored up before the ball drop. Like an intoxicated choir, you count down the final ten seconds in unison.... 3-2-1 Happy New Year!! You cheer, grab the person next to you, kiss them, and shout some syllables that resemble the lyrics to Auld Lang Syne. This is not unlike a New Year's Eve of my past.

Compared to my New Year's Eve last night. Similar in some fashions. Went to a friend's place for nice dinner. Had a glass of wine with that dinner, and only that one glass of wine. Then continued to drink water. Hung out until about 11:00. Then got on the warmest running clothes we had and made our way to the 72nd Street entrance of Central Park. A crowd of a few thousand all in high spirits and tight running pants were there, ready to stomp in the new year by putting four miles under their legs. We corralled ourselves behind the start line, counted down as every other New Years Eve party does, and once we got down to 1, fireworks lit the sky and we began our run. Along the route drunks and sobers alike lined the road to slap hands with the runners as we all wished each other a great 2010. At the two mile water station they even had some sparkling apple cider to help runners traditionally welcome in the new year.

Afterward, we hung out in Central Park for a bit and joined in the party that was pumping there, a DJ and all the normal post run stations of water, fruits and bagels. That party didn't last long for us, as we were wet and beginning to get cold, so we hopped over to the nearest pub for a celebratory beer, and I mean a celebratory beer. In general, a pretty sober New Years in terms of alcohol, but absolutely intoxicating in terms of jovial spirits and proper beginnings.

If yesterday and today were any indication of how this new year is going to turn out, then be ready for a Shawn Connelly explosion. 2010 has arrived. I'm going to enjoy every second of it and it's going to love every second of me.

Touching the Hand of God

Today I "shook" two hands that many would only dream of touching. I almost wet myself when I touched one, the other was nifty, but meh, didn't excite me.

A month ago I booked tickets for the Dr. Oz show, intending to go with my mother. Her flight, however, left the day before the show taping so I was left with two seats in the audience at 30 Rockefeller Center to see this glorified television doctor talk about health fads... at least I thought he was over-glorified. My mom loves this guy, but I never saw the appeal. Then I went to his show taping and was forced to watch an entire episode. He's actually quite an informative cat. On this particular episode, he talked about internet weight loss scams, asthmatic peoples, and self-defense, among other things. Seeing the magic behind the show (aka the amount of times he screws up and says "let's run it again") is interesting to witness. Later that day, however, I saw a true master practicing his craft.

Thanks to an incredibly generous friend, I was able to obtain a ticket to see a live taping of The Colbert Report. A dream. Seeing this show live was an utter dream. The taping began at 7:00pm. I got in line at 4:00. I wanted to be as close to Stephen as possible. I wanted to smell him (yes, my passion for Stephen is on the creepy side). If you ever watch the show, you'd be surprised how small the studio actually is, unlike Dr. Oz's ample space. Whenever Stephen runs from his desk to the interview table (by the fireplace) he over-exaggerates the run to make it seem father away than it is. It's actually like five steps.

Enough about the studio. Let's talk about how I was giddy as a school girl with a new My Little Pony. I almost cried when Stephen walked onto the set. Before the show, he always does a meet and greet with the audience. The fantastic part about this is he does it out of character. The narcissistic, cocky character that is Stephen Colbert gets set aside for a short moment and we get a view of the real Stephen.

The taping itself was a site to see. As is mentioned to the audience multiple times before we even enter the studio, Stephen is an improv actor. He did, after all, begin in sketch comedy. Therefore, to properly fuel Stephen, the audience is encouraged to laugh, hoot, holler, and enjoy themselves. Which is why you can hear me give an audible 'whoot' after Stephen mentions Boy Scouting around 3 minutes 23 seconds into the episode.

Once the cameras start rolling, Stephen just flows and never skips a beat. He takes about a 10 minute pause wherever a commercial break lies in the show. At that point, his director, producer, and make-up artist come to the desk and I assume brief each other on the following segment. Besides these little pauses, this comedic genius seems practically flawless. Even when his guests match him in whit. Such as tonight, Brother Guy Consolmagno, who talked about the Catholic church encouraging exploration of extraterrestrial life, and Sherman Alexie, a native American author who is fighting to keep books in print.

After the taping, Stephen sincerely thanked the audience for being a part of the show. I like to think that thank you was directed specifically at me. I proved it by diving over four chairs as he left the room to give him a high five. I'm never washing that hand again.

No Longer the Tourist

Once you've played tour guide in a new city, you no longer feel like the tourist. You feel grounded. You feel a bit more like your actually there. I had such an opportunity with my mother's visit to NYC around Thanksgiving.

From our first night, we hit the city hard. Which I was happy about. With all the work lately, I have not had the opportunity to try many new things around the city. So I was more than pleased to galavant around Chinatown and Little Italy on our first night. All the Italian restaurants had just put up their Christmas displays for the season. Quite a site. We shared a delectable Italian seafood dish at Trattoria Canta Napoli on Mullbery. I also ate my weight in bread. I always overdose on the oil and balsamic vinegar.

After the meal, ma had to do some shopping of the unsavory sort. Although I feared for my life, we did, in fact survive.

We then journeyed uptown to see the night-turned-day monstrosity that is Times Square. Besides just taking it all in, we met some fantastic characters. One of them even tried to take advantage of my mother. We also had to use a public bathroom. Which would have been a problem were it not for the Charmin NYC Restrooms where we couldn't help but to "Enjoy the Go."

The next day was more getting around the city, seeing what there is to see. We started at my favorite grocer here in the city, the Union Square Green Market. The weather is getting cooler and a few of the farms have packed up shop for the season, but I can still find everything I need at this wonderful one-stop green shop.

We also just so happen to catch the opening day of the Union Square holiday market as well. Local retailers, human and dog alike, set up shop for the month of December to make Holiday shopping all that more convenient and not to mention fun! Oh and it was here that I had my first Waffle and Dinges treat, drenched in Nutella, an unhealthy but savory morsel.

The rest of our day consisted of visiting Rockefeller Center, St. Patrick's Cathedral, and then heading up to 76th street and Central Park West to watch the Balloons get blown up for the Macy's Parade the following day. That was quite a site. Seeing Kermit the Frog bent over in front of the Energizer Bunny. However, that was a great pre-show to our next destination, the musical Avenue Q. Parental discretion is advised.

The following day was a highlight of my mother's visit. The Macy's

Thanksgiving Day Parade. We woke up quite early, but it paid off as we got a solid spot standing right outside of Carnegie Hall to watch the floats and Balloons as they turned down 7th Avenue. My parade highlight reel would include Spiderman and some other rock'n balloon, Yo Gabba Gabba having their own float, the Roots (with Jimmy Fallon, who I could take or leave), and finally Cindy Lauper in a pretty pink castle.

The remainder of my mother's days in NYC were sprinkled with some work schedules that I couldn't ignore. However, we did take the Staten Island Ferry to see the Statue of Liberty, saw the play Our Town, and took a trip upstate to see the theme-park where I was employed this summer. Overall, I was a successful tour guide if I do say so myself. But whether I was that great or not, just lovely to spend some time with me mum.

Back at Penny's

A week ago I had an incredible experience on this Penny's stage. I simply couldn't sit by and let that performance be a one time thing. So I made my way back to Under St. Mark's Theatre for the open mic themed "Why Art?" Truly a unique theme for an open mic and there were plenty of unique answers. Here's my last minute excuse for an answer. But it made for a nifty little performance...

(video to come soon)

In the meantime, check out some of the Penny's message boards:

169 Bar

After my first performance in New York City, at Penny's Open Mic, I was ready to have my actual first gig, a jazz set at the 169 Bar. It's been a while since I've sat down with a group of musicians with whom I have never played, said alright here's the key and tempo, and then away we go. It was nerve-wracking. Especially because these were some fantastic musicians. Band leader and pianist Isamu McGregor plays some mean keys, while keeping the tight drummer and ridiculous chic bass player grooving in the right direction. All three were very chill, welcoming people.

My set with them was only three songs long. But that's all I needed to get my feet wet in NYC's jazz open mic world. We did the standard Honeysuckle Rose, a Kurt Elling chart called In the Winelight, and finished up with Michael Bublé's version of How Sweet it Is. A fitting ending cause it was pretty sweet to look out into the audience and see some good friends of mine, new and old alike, supporting me. Thanks guys and gals.

A Penny's Worth of Music

There are two audio tracks here.

(1) Acoustic Open Mic - New York, New York

(2) Penny's Open Mic Podcast

Be sure to check out both. (Excuse the low quality on the podcast, had to make it fit on the site)

Thanks to Penny and all the open mic performers.

Almost Famous

Today was full of brief encounters with fame. It all started at my place of employment, which is where most of my days have been beginning or ending lately. In all honesty, can't really complain about that. Especially on a day like today.

In the shift briefing, our main topic of discussion was the craziness that was to begin that evening. At 7pm, actors Jason Schwartzman and Meryl Streep joined with director Wes Anderson to plug their new film The Fantastic Mr. Fox (apparently children's books made movies are all the rage now, and they all happen to be my favorite children's books). Customers started lining up at 3pm to catch a glimpse of these super stars, watch a few exclusive clips of the film, and do a little Q&A as well. The questions were interesting as most were directed at Wes, and rightfully so. The man is an innovator, and this film is testament to that. Much of his discussion was about working with animation for the first time, specifically stop motion puppets. Meryl and Jason had there share of talk time as well. Meryl chatting in her cheery adorable-even-for-a-60-year-old kind of way (even when she stopped the interview to politely ask the photographers to stop their annoying picture clicking) and Jason was just like the characters he plays, quite and subdued, yet witty.

Playing security guard for that event made the shift go by all the quicker, and before I knew it, I was sitting in the days end meeting. All the employees gathered on the store's glass steps to talk out the day. In our ten minute meeting, three separate tourists walked by our large glass doors to shoot a couple shots of us stunning computer specialists huddled together in our new red holiday shirts.

I guess I can't blame them really. It seems it's harder to run across an employee from our store than it is a Harvard Graduate....statistically speaking.

As if running into three Hollywood icons and getting paparazzi'd wasn't enough, I had more cameras in my face after work. A friend invited me to a video shoot for a band that he promotes. The band is actually part of a "reality" show that will air on the CW this spring. So upon walking into the bar I had to sign a waiver, and succumb to the bright lights and cameras that swarmed the bar. The band only played three songs, one of them twice just so they could get all the right shots. Meanwhile, the "reality" of it all was that the most attractive women in the bar were escorted to the front in order to have a pleasant backdrop for the shows characters in the audience, who were quite attractive in their own right and actually really friendly people too.

Yes, I got a taste of Hollywood today but I'm glad it wasn't a full serving.

When You Say Wisconsin....

Sometimes I just can't help but to miss that state between Minnesota and Lake Michigan. Such as this past Sunday. I had a fabulous Halloween Saturday night, but Sunday just about topped it with my first visit to Kettle of Fish, a cosy little bar with all the comforts of home.

When entering the bar, my friends and I quickly came to the realization that we probably weren't going to get a place to sit. However, upon venturing to the back of the bar we discovered the game watching den that was reminiscent of every basement in Wisconsin: couches lining the room, a fireplace, Packer gear hanging from wall to wall, a television that faced each corner of the room, and most everyone in the bar was enjoying a tasty Leinenkugel's Amber, the premier Wisconsin beer on tap.

For a good idea of what that Sunday entailed, smell the cheese.

As much fun as it is to enjoy the Packer game and return to my roots, there are other times I look back at Wisco and for as proud as I am to say I'm from there, I can still only say, wow...

Night of the Living Dead

Tonight's the night. You still have some time incase you haven't been preparing for the Zombie Attack like I have. After all, I do live next to a cemetery. For a few quick ideas from some young bright minds, see the following video:

However for a more professional, well informed approach, you still have time to read The Zombie Survival Guide by Max Brooks. He breaks down the zombie attack to the "z" (get it, like to the "t"?). I'll spare you a lot of details but give you his basic 10 Lessons for Surviving a Zombie Attack:

Organize before they rise!

They feel no fear, why should you?

Use your head: cut off theirs.

Blades don't need reloading.

Ideal protection = tight clothes, short hair.

Get up the staircase, then destroy it.

Get of the car, get onto the bike.

Keep moving, keep low, keep quiet, keep alert!

No place is safe, only safer.

The zombie may be gone, but the threat lives on.

I Helped a Pigeon

Why did I do such a thing? Those things are flying rats. Disease ridden filth soaring above your head. I normally don't thrive on the misery of animals, but while traveling Europe my friends and I had a kitty going to pay the first person who attempted to kick a pigeon and actually made contact. Don't know who actually won that money, but I gave who ever it was a run for their money. Long story short, I hate those birds. Yet, I helped one survive.

I was on the subway platform, the J line, Myrtle-Wyckoff stop to be exact. This stop is above ground, straddling the road along the way. I was staring out over Manhattan when this bird got a bit too close to me. I heard him before I saw him. He was shaking his head vigorously. Good, I thought, this little p.o.s is having a seizure, one less rat in the sky.

Upon further investigation, however, I saw what the bird was trying to do. He was attempting to break apart a large piece of bagel that he couldn't quite get down his little gullet. He would shake, set the piece down, pick at it a bit, then grab hold again, and shake again with all his might. This continued for some time. One of his intense shakes sent his remanence of bagel my way. He took a couple steps toward me. I shifted my weight, and he took this as a sign of aggression and subsequently backed off.

I felt sorry for the guy. He was only trying to get by like everyone else in this over-crowded city. So I stomped on the bagel bite, grinding it into the ground, breaking it into pieces. I then took a few steps away from it, letting the bird know it was ok to advance toward the food. As he nibbled, he glanced up at me and did one of those cute animal head tilts (any dog owner knows what I'm taking about) as if to say thank you or perhaps, why the hell did you do that. I'm not quite sure, I don't speak pigeon.

As I thought about that bird on the remainder of my subway ride, I found myself comparing his life and my own. I'm like him in a lot of ways. Sometimes I need help from strangers just to get by. Sometimes I flap around with the rest of the flock not exactly knowing where to go. Sometimes my neck and eyes dart from side to side to ensure there is not any danger... mostly when I run. But lately that hasn't been a problem since I've been running in a cemetery.

Oh yea, to take this post in a completely different direction, I have been living in a new apartment for the month of October (which is right next too a cemetery). And I'll be here till next October. That's right, I walked the plank. This is no longer a little experiment to see if the city suits me. I'm here... well for a year at least. But I'm going to give it my all in this year. See what I can make of myself here. Hopefully, I'm like the pigeon in some ways, finding opportunity where least expected, but I also hope that I'm not like him as well. I hope to keep my feathers relatively clean and not have to get my food after it's been stomped on by a stranger.

Our Precious Town: A Play Review

Scroll down the page, and you'll see a post in which I relayed a story to you. Yes relayed, not copied. It's a story about living in the present, not taking for granted the life we live everyday, not letting this gift we've been given slip away before it's too late. So too is the message of Thornton Wilder's Pulitzer Prize winning drama Our Town.

Not-so-ironically, I was given tickets to this show by the same man who shared the story Precious Present with me. I had seen the play before, back in high school, but at the time I thought the show was boring and drawn out. After all, I was young and the acting in the show was... well, high school. So before I went to see the show this evening, I read the play.

In reading the story, I got the gist. The first two acts are pretty basic: a simple town, with simple people, living simple lives that include the usual dramas that accompany most people's lives. A narrator, or stage manager as he is referred to by Wilder, guides the reader through the story: the first act introducing the town and the people in it, followed by the second act's journey of love. The third act is the bombshell. The reader doesn't see it coming. It's not really a plot twist or something like that, it's more of a revelation. A heart-wrenching revelation.

I don't want to give it away, but give it a read. Better yet, see the play.

Best play I have ever seen. Period. Even though there was a period at the end of that sentence, I feel it necessary to once again write the word Period for emphasis. If given the opportunity, see the play at the Borrow Street Theatre in New York City. If you're really lucky, you'll see it with the incredible cast I saw it with. Just for my own purposes, I'll list the prominent characters here... incase I lose my playbill.

Stage Manager...................................................Jason Butler Harner

Mrs. Gibbs..........................................................................Lori Myers

Mrs. Webb.........................................................................Kati Brazda

Doc Gibbs.................................................................. Armand Schultz

Joe Crowell, Jr. .........................................................Jason Yachanin

Howie Newsome............................................................Adam Hinkle

George Gibbs.......................................................James McMenamin

Rebecca Gibbs................................................................Jacey Powers

Emily Webb..................................................................Jennifer Grace

Simon Stimson..............................................................Jeremy Beiler

Mr. Webb.............................................................................Ken Marks

The show has minimal scenery, a couple tables at best. The show takes place in the early 1900s, yet no period costuming is used. A lot of the show is placed on the imagination of the audience, but the acting allows it to be so. This play is not about scenery or razzle-dazzle. It's about people, it's about life... and how we need to live in it while we are living it.

Not Much of a Challenge

I designed a little game for your time-wasting pleasure. Copy and paste the following code into the game to play my designed level. 23de53c21141ed1b5824341a91674c00

"I hate to disturb your ride but..."

No doubt if you've been on an NYC subway ride, you have heard one of these suspiciously similar speeches by a supposedly unfortunate soul. Goes something like this:

"Good evening ladies and gentlemen. I hate to interrupt your ride this evening but I'll just take a moment of your time. I am a (vet, homeless person, etc.) trying to get by living on the streets. I don't drink, do drugs, or steal. I am simply asking for your help with any spare change or extra dollars you may have on your person. Have a good night and God Bless."

As soon as the train is in motion the speech starts. More often than not, their sob stories aren't that obtrusive, lasting a minute tops. Majority of the time, I'll listen, staring at my book or iPod acting like I am immersed in whatever I am doing. But I'm listening. Afterward the individual will walk around with a hat or bag, hold it out in front of each person in the car, and 95% of the people won't give anything, including me.

Giving money to panhandlers and beggars is always a touchy subject. I've gotten in heated debates with friends over the topic. The one, more selfish, view being, "It's my money, they've made their mistakes, they are just going to buy more booze, drugs with it." The other mentality being, "these people haven't had the opportunities I've had, I don't know what it's like to have those hardships, help your fellow man." Tough decision really. But I think I've made up my mind.

I don't do it. Especially when they all these subway stories sound like the same cookie cutter speech. Like there is a meeting somewhere they all attend to learn the best ways to manipulate people into giving them money.

However tonight on my way home I heard a speech on the train that had me digging to my bag's bottom to find some change. I couldn't even see the man during his speech as my chair was facing the other direction. But there was an urgency in his voice, a true-sounding cry for help. He said he had been kicked out of his home by his family for being HIV positive. Now he was on the train trying to get money for him and his dog. Maybe it was the dog part that got to me, but I wanted to give him some change. If not for his situation, for the gifted acting and delivery of his speech. In my opinion, worth twenty-five cents.

For more on the topic, check some articles:

NY Times

Tripcrazed.com

Legality

Working at a Fruit Company

Today I started working at this fruit company.

I'm the one in the middle.... except with male parts, and I'm not as good at arithmetic.