Little Instructions

Back in the day, when I was a wee lad, I used those little tear-away-by-the-day calendars. I was also quite a pack-rat. Which is why I recently found two consecutive years of these tear-away days in my closet.

One such year was a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Calendar year.... I'm glad I saved those. The following year I was given a Life's Little Instruction Calendar (Volume XI in case you're wondering), and I'm even more pleased that I saved these. Here are gems of instructions. Take 'em or leave 'em.

On Relationships
Really go out of your way to see to it that anyone invited to your home has a wonderful time --- Ask friends who they'd choose to play themselves if a movie were made of their life --- Write a personal note in every book you give --- Remember, even the most sincere apology can't erase harsh words said in haste or anger --- Take a walk in the woods with someone you love when it's snowing --- Unless you're at the beach, remove your sunglasses when talking to someone --- When conversing with others, remember you expose not just what you know, but who you are --- Contentment is found in relationships, not in places or accomplishments

On Yourself
Write twenty poems and have them bound in leather --- Buy an expensive bottle of wine and compare it with a cheap one; you might be surprised by which you like best --- Never underestimate your abilities. You are capable of things undreamed of --- What qualities do you most like in your friends? Acquire them. Practice them. Make them your own. --- Keep your mind curious, your heart pure, and your enthusiasm twelve inches taller than you are --- Your potential is determined by your dreams; your value is determined by your actions --- Wave at couples sitting on front porches --- Your mind is the muscle that most needs exercising --- Carry authority and confidence in your posture and voice --- Maintain a touch of mystery

On Growing Old
On your birthday, try something you'd do if your age were your shoe size --- Compliment all women with beautiful gray hair --- Don't die muttering "if only..." --- Leave precious memories alone and undisturbed; trying to relive them often results in disappointment --- Go back to the house where you grew up and ask the owner if you could just look around.

On Random Betterness
Support your local diner --- Winning is simple, take just one more step when all the others have quit --- Don't waste time trying to reason with a dog --- Don't hurry past beauty --- Be different. Be fair. Be first --- Carry authority and confidence in your posture and voice --- Don't attend every argument you're invited to --- Life is hard; don't get soft --- Be willing to attend to the small details that make the difference between "done" and "well done" --- To discover good, reliable people, undertake a difficult task with a group --- Don't weaken the power of future compliments by telling someone (especially children) he or she is doing a good job when they're not --- Be the reason someone smiles today

Currently Carrying the Most Meaning for Shawn (yes I enjoy referring to myself in the third person)
Having a good idea is like holding a quart of ice cream on a hot summer day; you've got to do something with it right away or all is lost --- The happiest you'll ever be is when you're working hard for something you really care about --- For somethings to make sense, you have to live a long time --- Learn to accept praise without suggesting you don't deserve it

A Musical Review: Altar Boyz

Since first arriving in New York, I’ve heard raving reviews about this off-Broadway show called Altar Boyz. This post is another such raving review.

But first a definition is in order, off-Broadway. I myself had a vague understanding of the word, but as I have learned, it has a concrete, simple definition. An off-Broadway show is a one in which the theatre holds less than 500 people. That’s it. Doesn’t mean the quality of the actors, sound, lights set, or any aspect of the show is anything less than fantastic. Because these shows are often in small venues, it requires the show to do a little less with sets and such, but the show itself can be just as entertaining as those flashy big staged shows.

Off-Broadway does, however, mean more risks can be taken. More risqué subject matter can be addressed. More absurd plots can be explored. Such as a group of four Catholic school boys, and a Jewish one, forming a Christian boy band, creating a show that is a completely mockery of Catholicism, Christian Rock musicians, and boy-bands. This is Altar Boys. In my humble opinion, it’s absolute genius.

As an audience member at Altar Boys, you are actually an audience member at the boy band’s final performance of their cross-country tour. Their goal is to spread the good word of God through their hip thrusting gyrations and tight vocal harmonies. At certain points throughout the show, they use their “Soul Searcher 5000” to scan the audience and see just how many souls they’ve converted.

They nail every hilarious boy band member persona: the ever-diligent leader, the obvious yet closeted gay, the Spanish conquistador of women, the recovering muscular alcoholic, and of course, the Jew. Each has a quite a back-story which is uniquely woven into the show.

With just a very talented four piece band on stage and the five vocalist/dancer, this show makes the off-Broadway community proud.

Old McDonald Wrote Some Music

It was my first day in Playland park. I was sporting a gondolier's hat, a red and white, vertically striped vest, black shorts, and white shoes. My job was to entertain. Walk up to people sitting on a park bench and play them a song. This was my job, six times a day for fifteen maybe twenty minutes at a time. This was my job.

By the end of day one it was already a tiresome burden. I had done five of my "strolls" and had one more to do. "I should just skip it," I thought, "who'd know?" But it was my first day. I'll just get it over with.

Across from the carousel of fast horses, right next to the cotton candy stand, was a man holding his daughter. Simple enough, walk up to them, play You are my Sunshine or some other crap and be done.

"Hey guys! Having fun in the park today?!? Care to hear a song?" I said as I forced out a smile.

"We'd love to sing a song!" replied the man, "How about Old McDonald?"

We began singing and to my surprise the man started throwing in some harmonies. Most amusement park patron don't do that. Once we got through a verse and a chorus I began to dish out the usual park employee over-excited mindless chatter.

"Nice harmonies you threw in there!"

"Well, I'm a musician, a composer actually."

With that phrase the entertainer-patron facade was broken, and I really began talking to this guy. Turns out he's a freelance composer in the area, is just beginning a huge project for NBC, and is in need of an apprentice. We exchanged contact info and two nights later I was in the car, listening to his CD he gave me, and getting lost on my way to his place in Yonkers.

I had no clue what to expect. Being mugged, raped, find out the guy murders Dalmatian puppies, or sells coke and only writes music on acid flashbacks... all were possibilities. Then again, finding a professional grade studio in some guy's basement and a stellar musician who writes great stuff and is quite successful was a possibility as well.

What I found was Jacob.

We've been working together ever since that first meeting. Three, four, sometimes five nights a week we meet and work on scoring this NBC pilot. Just last night we met with the director of the project on which we are nearing completion. He seems pleased. I've even had the opportunity to write some of the music myself, instead of just taking a back seat ride. I may even get some on-air credit for it. We'll see.

Blessings in disguise are interesting. Especially when you have to peal off many layers of the mask. And even then, the blessing staring back at you may be in the form of a short-haired Jewish guy from Port Chester. Scary.

A Musical Review: 9 to 5

A rainy Saturday is a blessing when you are in the amusement park entertainment business. We had one such glorious day on Saturday June 20th, and time away from the park cannot be wasted when you work six days a week. That’s why a group of us took the train into the city to see 9 to 5.

The show is written by Dolly Parton, which made me skeptical. I’m not the biggest country fan. However, I would barely classify this show’s music as country. It was musical theatre with a country flare and a huge flame of hilariousness.

Main character Violet Newstead, played by Allison Janney (may remember her from Juno, Harispray, American Beauty etc.), brings out her fair share of dry, sarcastic humor throughout the show. While Janney’s singing voice isn’t quite Broadway quality, it fits her part, monotone and strong. Perfect for the persona of a widowed woman in a man’s business world. Her acting, on the other hand, makses up for any shortcomings she may have.

The other main supporting actresses, Stephanie J. Block and Megan Hilty, were both part of the original Broadway cast of Wicked, and their unmatched acting and singing shown brightly. Hilty plays the seemingly bimbo-like secretary. As the show develops, so does her character, displaying a misunderstood office beauty. Block plays character Judy Bernly, a timid woman entering the business world after being left by her husband.

All three meet up and inadvertently take the CEO of their company hostage, resulting in no-so-cliché comedy, and a better work environment for everyone.

For a show that takes place mostly in what would seem to be a dull office setting, the sets were anything but mundane. Plus, the intense amount of dance and tight choreographed movement on stage is the same caliber as any other dance intensive show like West Side Story or Footloose.

Today was all around a surprising day. Didn’t expect to have off work, and didn’t expect to be so highly enjoying Dolly Parton’s country twang turned Broadway musical.

Intoxicating Jazz

I've come to truly enjoy Fridays at Playland. Not because it's the end of the week,(sadly, I still have two days till my day off). But because I get a chance to chill on the boardwalk along the Long Island Sound, enjoy the sun set with a bottle of wine, watch some fireworks, and listen to the elderly men of the Milt Gerver Big Band play the live jazz that I long to hear.  

Back in Stevens Point, WI, some of my favorite Friday nights we spent listening to the River Cities Jazz Band  as they entertained a mixed crowd of older folks, some 40 year-olds, and a hand full of college-aged jazz enthusiasts. The crowd on Playland's boardwalk, however, has mostly blue hairs and wrinkly skin. But you'd never be able to tell that by the movement on the dance floor. They are all shake'n like it was their first sock-hop. I figured this out not only by seeing, but experiencing it as well. 

A couple Fridays ago, my roommate Pip and I were listening to the fantastic band when a couple of ladies next to us were getting ready to leave. "Leaving so soon?" we enquired. "Well, we have no one to dance with!" they replied. If that wasn't an invitation to dance, I don't know what is. We took these young-at-heart ladies for a slow dance. I danced with Betty. The song was just about over. I could see some tears swelling up her eyes before she said, "We lost our dance partners a few years ago."  I almost melted as we finished our dance in silence because I didn't know what to say.

After that dance, our lovely ladies left. But I was quite pleased we had that dance. Put things in perspective.

A few of us cast members stayed till the night's end. As the band played their closer "New York, New York," our dance captain showed up the entire crowd with her high kicks and Rockette  style moves. The vocalist and band leader came up to her after the show and exclaimed, "You're going to Hollywood baby, no doubt about it," in his classic Brooklyn accent.

Indeed, I've come to love these Fridays. A night to take in life. 

What does America Run On?

I had no idea that America ran on Dunkin' until I started this journey out east. I was under the impression that all Dunkin' Donuts closed down long ago because a tobacco outlet now stands where the only one existed in Green Bay, WI. Apparently, Dunkin' fuels America everywhere else. However, they do not fuel me.

Carvel, on the other hand, took me on a wild ice cream ride that I've never been on before. Perhaps these do exist in the mid-west but I never had the pleasure until last night. The creamiest, richest soft-serve known to man.

Atlantic City

Just because I have this new found sense of my life out here doesn't mean I'm lucky. I learned that the hard way in Atlantic City today. Suffice it to say that I'll need a couple days of work to make up my losses.

Money well spent on a good time though. Lots of craps, beers, Hooters, and magic. If I were ever going to go to Atlantic City, I'm glad I went with the company I had: a juggler and a magician.

My magician roommate, Jason, got us tickets to the magic show Carnival of Wonders, staring the dynamic team of Kalin the master illusionist and Jinger his lovely assistant. Not only fantastic performers, but incredibly nice people who were more than happy to hang out with us young entertainers and share a tip or two.

A great first trip to Atlantic City, but will it be my last?

A Shot in the Arm

I love those early morning moments: half conscious, half in a dream, hitting the snooze button too many times just to get a measly extra few minutes, debating whether or not getting up is a good idea. Love it.

Except when you roll over onto a hornet that made its way up your short sleeve shirt and ensures that you hop you ass out of bed. That little yellow and black butted bitch is now dead, but it certainly left its mark. Right where you get a shot. I haven't felt pain like that since I got vaccinated for Thailand and I received three shots in the same arm. I guess I forgot what a sting feels like.

The last time I had one I was a rather wee lad. I was playing freeze tag with my cousins. Unfortunately, I just so happen to get froze right under a hornets nest. Rules are rules and I ain't no cheater. So there I stood, getting stung.

But besides the childhood nostalgia brought back from this early morning wake up call, I feel it served another purpose, it gave me a bit of a jolt. The entire day was filled with new things, productivity, and I was happy.

The past few weeks have been... well trying. A "quarter-life crisis" as my roommate magician told me. I really just haven't been myself lately. Which is probably why I haven't been writing much here. When things are going well, I'm doing interesting things, and I'm happy, then I have no qualms about posting all those happy-go-lucky thoughts and moments. But when things are going not so well, then I share nothing. Because heaven forbid I let the world know about my crappy life moments.

Then it occured to me...who cares? I started this blog to write about my life. The shitty moments are just as much a part of my life as the trips to The Lourve and Tenerife. Those of you reading can then look this blog and take pride in knowing that you're happier than I. Or you may read my bitching and think, "this kid has nothing to complain about." Which, when we get down to brass tacks or whatever cliche term you wanna use, I truly can't.

Not to say that the past month has been an absolute hell. There have been some grand times as well. But over the month of August, I'm going to be catching up on both the good, the bad, and the ugly times of July. And I'll keep the younger audience in mind and try not to use so much foul language. This was just me venting.

I'm Still Alive

No doubt you've all been wondering, "When is Shawn going to post again? I can't take it anymore!"

I'm sure it's been keeping you up at night, "Was it something I said? Why would Shawn do this to me?"

Well alas, I'm going to use a line that is just as valid now as it has been the other times I've used it:

"It's me, not you."

This is very applicable. Let's face it, I've been slacking on the blogging. But for good reasons which I'll elaborate on over the coming weeks. We have almost a whole month to catch up on! What fun!

And don't worry, I'll never leave you like that again...

Slow Rye Life

Now that I'm here in Rye and performing at Playland on a regular basis, things have really slowed down. For the most part, my summer travels are over, so I'll post on here when things get interesting. 

Don't hold your breath. 

About NYC

6/15/2009

Upon awaking in Brooklyn at a friend's place, I set out to galavant around the city. Highlights include: the Mac Store, Central park, Toys 'R' Us, Trump Tower, and ending with the opening night HBO Summer Film Festival in Bryant Park. The night's feature: The Sting staring Robert Redford. 

So yea, I said I would blog everyday... I didn't say each one would be good. 

Lounge'n and Shoot'n

6/14/2009

Thanks to the Times Square Alliance, I was able to take a good portion of my day and spend it sitting on Broadway and Seventh, watching, listening, thinking, and basking in this jungle called New York City. 

The remainder of my day was spent watching my friend Allison rock in a pool tournament. Read all about it at nycgrind.com.

Watch the Gap? Please

6/13/2009

In my 24 hours of being here, there are a few things I can take or leave. 

• First off, on the train platforms there are warnings that say Watch the Gap, a poor pathetic, bastardized American version of London's classic Mind the Gap. Come on, NY, I expected better. 
• Second, I've discovered that this is my landlady:

You Have Reached Your Destination

6/12/2009

Mandy has said that to me many times throughout the past two weeks. Mandy is the GPS I've been using to get around the eastern half of the United States. Well, 'Mandy' is the female voice I chose to listen to. She was American, which is sad. One can download an expansion pack for a TomTom and get a British female voice, much more alluring. But I digress.

I'm here! I have arrived in Rye, NY. I spent most of today getting to know the town. It's got a great old school main street, lots of shops, and passersby. Around the corner from the main street is one of the performers houses. Down the street from there is the train to NYC, round trip ticket for around $20. Not bad.

I already got to know the shop owner at the local wine shop, Bruno. He sold me a nice Reisling while we chatted about the city and whether or not there were any good bars in Rye. He told me of a few places nearby. I figured I'd get to know them later that night.

After visiting the library for the internet and jamming in a park for a while, I decided to make my way to Playland amusement park to see where I'd be spending my summer. There I met with the cast manager Bret and briefly met others, as they were in the middle of rehearsal. The park is like a carnival that came to town, settled in one spot, and grew from there. It's got the same rides that a traveling carnival would, but also has a big roller coaster, screw-you-over carnival games, and of coarse, entertainment. Once I have conquered all the rides, I'll let you know if it's worth coming to.

While the rest of the cast rehearsed, I went to The Pub. Literally, a pub called The Pub. I was told by Bruno that is was a chill place. It was chill. Mostly because everyone in there was over 50. No matter. I still made a friend. Vinny was chatting, rather loudly, with his friend about good music, concerts they've been to etc. I piped in and before I knew it we were exchanging bang recommendations. Right now I'm looking at a coaster which he wrote the names of three artists: Peter White, The Amazing Blondel, and Dando Shaft. He ranted and raved about these three, guaranteeing I would not be disappointed..... truth be told, I'm a little disappointed. They all sound stereotypically like music someone over 50 would be into (no offense to those reading this who are). I told him I'd have a listen and see him next Friday at The Pub.

Once the cast was done with rehearsal, I met them all one town over at Buffalo Wild Wings. This is the area where the young'ns go. Apparently, I have a lot of hockey fans in my cast because every one of them had to lock into the Stanley Cup. I have to admit, it was fun watching Pittsburgh wail on Detroit, and seeing the Yankees win over the Mets on an outfield error was also quite exciting. Over a few beers, I got to properly meet the cast. Everyone seems eager and excited for the summer ahead.

Final Stats:

Total Miles Driven: 1,921

Total Stops for Gas: 8

Total Amount Spent on Gas: $245.75

Foggy Horses

6/11/2009

I was thinking of spending another day/night in Philly, but really there wasn't much keeping me there. Plus, by this point in my journey I was ready to settle in Rye, NY, my final destination. However, after hitting the road out of Philly, I got a call from my company director informing me that the house I am to be moving into is not ready due to some renovations. So I extended my tour a bit.

As I drove up the Jersey shore I picked a point on the GPS and went to it, figuring I'd stop when I saw something interesting. That did take long. Within an hour of driving I came across Monmouth Park horse racing track. I've watched the Kentucky Derby on TV and such, but I've never been to a live horse race. Lucky me, I got there in time to see the last four races, three on the dirt and one on the turf.

It was a unique day for racing because as you can see, it was a touch foggy. For the majority of last race, the announcer just said, "and I can't see anything, last I saw 'Fast Forward' had the lead." Because of the mysty dampness, the dirt was good and thick and clung to the jockeys. It was these little nuances that entertained me the most.

Like when a horse decided he just wasn't going to leave the stables. The caretaker tugged and pulled, but he just planted his hooves. Every once in a while he would buck up on his rear legs and everyone around would clear the way. The race was drawing nearer. The owner and jockey were discussing scratching. Then out of nowhere the horse decided he was in the mood for racing after all. He ended up taking second.

After the races, I continued my drive north on Ocean Avenue. I pulled off to walk over the sand dunes but saw nothing but a few feet of the Atlantic Ocean and a whole lot of fog.

I continued north and reached Sandy Hook National Park. I'm sure this place is gorgeous on a bright sunny day. However, I did not have such luck. Further into the park though, things got more interesting.

In the early 1890's this National Park was (and still is) a homeland security base. Some of the old turrets and mortars are no longer in use and are open to visitors. Well, they are sort of open. The cool parts are gated off. But that did stop me. There was no one else in the park, so I figured a little gate hoping wouldn't hurt. I went where this sign said I shouldn't. Opps, but worth it.