stuff/nonsense

[Lauren Snyder]

MERRY MERRY HAPPY HAPPY

XMAS is less than a day away, but I've already received my favourite gift this year ...

http://www.metmuseum.org/store/images/Z.jw.I4186.R.jpg

Doesn't Chris Butler have the best taste? Merry Christmas, and happy six months of dating, sweetheart! :love:

******

I hope that everyone has a wonderful last few days of December, doing whatever makes them happy, and that you are all even happier, healthier, and more successful in 2003.

Kick entertainment industry ass, people! :up:

 

[Lauren Snyder]

GETTING RID, MOVING OUT

Today I threw out most of my audio and video cassettes. Finally, the CD/DVD revolution has taken almost complete hold of my being!

The LPs stay on the shelf, though. Nothing sounds like scratchy classic rock. Save that pristine sound quality for some other suckah!

Speaking of sound quality, CECIL DREEME has started to do some practice recordings, and we are awesome. This is the creative project that I've been waiting to do all of my life. It's strange that it took me so long to get to this, when I've been taken with music and singing for as long as I can remember.

Speaking of memories, I also threw away so much other old stuff in my room, and there's still more to go. I'm slimming down my store of personal possessions in anticipation of the sublet move. Although I'm only bringing necessities (clothes, toiletries, books and CDs) to the 'Hawk, it's occurred to me that all of my items are an anchor, grounding me to my current living situation and to the past. Time to break free and enjoy a life of fewer material goods.

Besides, there will be no room for my stuff when I am a rock star. Rock stars do not keep their Girl Scout uniforms!

 

[Lauren Snyder]

TOTAL NERD-LOVER

Tonight I watched "Revenge of the Nerds" on television. Again.

I've seen this movie more than any other, and always on Comedy Central. What can I say? I'm hooked on the nerds vs. jocks drama, the innocent sex, the climactic eighties cheese band they form to win the talent show, and, of course, the thought that Louis Skolnick could ever score a hot babe like Betty Childs.

I think nerd boys are completely adorable, probably because I'm such a nerd girl myself. I've dated several, and find them way more interesting and fun to be with than non-nerd boys. Plus, my passion for cheesy horror movies, sci-fi, comic books, video games, RPGs (once upon a time), Monty Python, etc., is so wasted on so-termed "cool" guys.

My ex-boyfriend of several months ago, Chris Williams, was actually popular in high school, and had no interest in those afore-mentioned things. I can't believe I dated one of "those"!

On the other hand, Chris Butler, though not a nerd boy, has the amazing ability to be both 70s funk cool and have nerd interests, thus making him The Perfect Man for me.

Anyway, nerd boys rule, and should not be discriminated against, whether they look like Robert Carradine (ugh) or Anthony Edwards (meow!). That's the message of the series, but it is best received in the first film. See the second one if you must (and are a fan of Courtney Thorne-Smith), but for Pete's sake, DON'T SEE THE LAST TWO MOVIES. Even I never watched them more than one and a half times.

 

[Lauren Snyder]

SPASMS AND SKETCHINESS

This morning I had a back spasm that has haunted the rest of my day. Why am I getting old person pain at 25?



The JUICE! will be loose for an encore performance on the FLiPSiDE stage on March 1st, and it feels like a good thing. It's been a month since I've done improv on a regular basis, and recharging my extemporaneous batteries after seven years of constant use/abuse feels nice.

I've been focusing on band-singing and sketch-performing/directing/producing. The former has been laid-back good fun but with a feeling of immense personal responsibility for taking care of myself. The latter has been intense work/money good fun but with a feeling of getting things accomplished. This show will be awesome, yo. :up:

Anyway, got a sucky back but a good world. My boyfriend, friends, job, living situation and social life are nothing if not sugary sweet.

Plus, I lost two pounds since yesterday! Weight Watchers rules.

 

[Lauren Snyder]

WAITING ON A (BOY)FRIEND

I am a sucker for the whole Valentine's Day hoopla, and I feel lucky to be able to have someone to share it with so I'm not just passing out kiddie Valentines to people and weeping into my red wine.

Not saying that that's what single people do, but that's what I'd be doing if I was single.

Okay, I probably wouldn't be doing that. I'd probably pass out the Valentines, then I'd get trashed at the UCB V-Day Benefit and maybe make out with a cute improviser boy.

Instead, today I passed out Valentines, received beautiful pink roses at work, got a blowout to go with my fab H&M holiday wear, and am checking the IRC as I wait for Chris to get back so we can go out to dinner and go to the theatre hootenanny.

So, no making out with random guys tonight ... well, I may buy a kiss from someone at the kissing booth, but THAT'S IT.

 

[Lauren Snyder]

"I TRUDGED THROUGH SNOW FOR YOU, AND IT WASN'T WORTH IT."

The subject line represents the G-rated version of my feelings towards coming into work today.

But on to good news and happy things!

*St. Val's was very, very wonderful -- the best ever, in fact. The UCB Benefit was a low-key good time, but odd in that I'm seeing more and more new faces and less and less old ones. I guess that's how it goes ...

*My band's bassist, Artie, is spending mad money on recording equipment. Too bad his nice work went punished last night, as his day job's at an airport and he went in last night.

But anyway, yes, I have never been more creatively fulfilled than I have been in these last two months, growing into the role of singer/songwriter. Can't wait for the March 12th gig!

*Perfect boyfriend/best friend Chris Butler has asked me to move in with him, and I've accepted. I'll be a New York resident as of April 1st. This is no April Fool's joke, my friends! It's the serious culmination of two long-held dreams ... to live in New York, and to be with the man that I love. :love:

 

[Lauren Snyder]

ODDS AND SODS

*Only a few more days until I move in with my boyfriend. Will he get tired of seeing me all the time? I hope not.

*I really want to be a part of this year's Del Close Marathon. Last year was a blast.

*If I bought a punching bag, I would be totally fit and a lot less stressed. Why do they cost $100? Why???

*Should I pay my credit card bills, or should I go to Las Vegas?

*I'm too tired to be social these days.

*Hugging cats is a rare and wonderful treat.

*The Sketch Show experience was intense, but ultimately rewarding, as all artistic experiences should be.

*My band should play out more.

*I'll be 26 in forty days -- just enough time to have a great biblical flood. (I don't know what that means.)

*Why is almost everyone in Stomping Ground single? They're all such adorable and funny people!

*I am incredibly lucky to have the life that I'm living now, and I don't appreciate it enough.

 

[Lauren Snyder]

LIVIN' IS (AND AIN'T) EASY

My driver's license is now from New York. My bills all go to a New York address. My paycheck is smaller thanks to city taxes. I'm never at Port Authority anymore. Time to own the fact that I am a New Yorker.

My dream for the past several years was to move into Manhattan. Now that I've finally realised that dream, with the bonus that I'm living with my best friend who happens also to be my boyfriend, my life should be pretty perfect, right?

And for once, it is, in a sense. I'm actually enjoying the point in life that I'm at, rather than obsessing over a past or future point, wishing I was there. Of course, I am still thinking about the future, and the ol' biological clock has produced a new yearning inside of me that I've dubbed "the baby urge," but I'm content to be where I am.

The downside of this, I see now, is that when you are having a good time with life, it's easy to forget all of the things that you want to accomplish. In a sense, it's my misery that allows me to get things done. So while this weekend was a great lazy mix of hanging out in Chinatown, watching television and DVDs, cleaning the apartment and eating takeout, part of me feels that I've failed at doing anything career-constructive.

I don't write anymore. I don't practice for my band enough. And the amount of creative things I take in is inversely proportional to my creative output, leaving me at zero for the last few days.

It sounds ridiculous to "schedule" artistic time, but maybe that's what I should start doing?

 

[Lauren Snyder]

LOTTO MADNESS!

The following is a true story ...

Early this morning, I had a dream that my mother bought a lottery ticket for my two brothers that ended up winning them $35 million, and I was upset that she didn't include me in that ticket, because I could use the money.

Then on the walk to work, I passed by two scratched-off lotto tickets on the ground. What an interesting coincidence, I thought.

Later that day, as I was killing time before seeing "Word of Mouth", I wandered into a greeting card store, thinking that I'd buy a Mother's Day card while I was there, and saw that they sold scratch-off tickets there. I remembered the dream and the tickets on the ground, and thought, What the hell? Working the whole "connectedness" thing, I bought a $5 Mother's Day scratch-off ticket, which I played minutes later at Starbucks. I didn't win.

Still, there was a nagging feeling inside me that my lottery day wasn't over. I rationalised that since I saw two scratch-off tickets on the ground, I should buy another one. So I bought another $5 Mother's Day ticket (and a $5 MegaMillions Quick Pick -- what a gambler I was!), and scratched off the second ticket while at dinner. I won $10! After dinner, I went to a different store and traded in my ticket for yet another Mother's Day ticket, and I told the guy at the counter to pick a second one.

At "Word of Mouth" -- which was an awesome, awesome show, BTW -- Ali talked about the importance of paying attentions to omens. I smiled and thought about the $10 I had won because of the dream/tickets on the street.

Well, the omen paid off a little better than that ... the other two cards won me $50 each. (The MegaMillions did nothing.) So, an initial lottery investment of $15 turned into $110 over the course of the day.

Now, that isn't "quit my job" or "pay off my student loans" money, but it is "being able to pay a little bit more towards bills" money, and that's not too bad. :up:

******ADDENDUM******

I was dumped by my band earlier this week. Maybe I'll deal with that in a later journal entry. For now, I'm looking into working on another musical project, and enjoying LIRR-less Sundays.

 

[Lauren Snyder]

GOOD LUCK VORTEX/RANDOMS

I had a theory in college that I was at the center of a Good Luck Vortex ... everyone around me had good luck, from close friends and boyfriends to general acquaintances. Even I enjoyed a modicum of good luck.

Now I feel that it's turned into more of a Great Career Hurricane ... many people around me are having great careers, and I, as the eye of the storm, am left untouched.

Witness ...

*my ex-roommate is on "Trading Spaces"
*a girl that I cast in a movie I made is on "Last Comic Standing" -- and was picked to live in the Las Vegas house! (Carmen Lynch)
*Curtis and John's new "Man Show"gig
*Katty B.'s awesome "Cheers" commercial
*Natasha's fabulous television writing gigs
*a friend of mine at T. Schreiber Studio's going into the ensemble of "Hairspray" this fall

... and on and on and on. This isn't self-pity, and I don't wish for some catastrophe resulting in the indulgence in some schadenfreude -- and it's not even close friends. And it probably has something to do with the fact that I know so many performers that statistically, it would stand to reason that at least some of them would enjoy success.

And maybe I don't know where I'm going with this, and I just want to show off my friends' achievements.

**********

Of course, I did just win a Time Out New York contest and will receive a bunch of musicals on DVD, so at least the Good Luck thing is still going strong.

**********

It's sad that all of these people are leaving town.

 

[Lauren Snyder]

I Love Those Old-school Times

It was nice to be part of the Dunford send-off last Thursday. My strategy of drinking Coke instead of cider paid off, as I was able to stay alert enough to enjoy myself for a few hours, even after a long day of work. There are some really nice, funny people around NYC improv right now, and it's very cool to be in their company.

Plus, Jeff took my photo for the Mug Shot Journal. It was worth going to MacManus just for that! (Yeah, me and my closet IRC nerdiness.)

*********

To anybody who has not yet made it to Variety Underground: You're totally lame. Sean and Tony are the most good-natured, well-matched comedy show hosts I've ever seen. There is free pizza. SHOCKWAVE (the human beatbox) is completely amazing. Drinks are pretty cheap. The acts are good. The crowd is so warm and open to seeing a show. Seriously, just go.

*********

To anybody who has not yet made it to Jonathan Maximus Rockenstern/X Plus One: You are also totally lame, especially if you haven't seen VU either. This double-bill is consistently great, and features people who are not only very talented but genuinely appreciative of their audience. Seriously, go to this one, too.

*********

I started Daniel Dratch's Comedy Writing class last Saturday, and was relieved that I managed to get a small laugh from my monologue joke, and then a big laugh from my explanation of the joke. When you're in a class with tough critics like Curtis, John and Berrebbi, you don't want to be just another unfunny girl. :love:

 

[Lauren Snyder]

Minor Addictions

Mine is not an addictive personality per se, but I go through addiction phases on a small scale.

Of course, for years it was doing plays. Plays were replaced by improv. Nirvana and Pearl Jam were "it" in 10th grade until they were replaced by classic rock, then opera, and then the Strokes. Right now it's Eleni Mandel.

A few months ago I wouldn't let a week go by without eating scallion pancakes, which morphed into Mocha Malt Frappucinos, and has since been replaced by Tasti D-Lite.

In my early days on the IRC, I was helplessly, hopelessly hooked. Friendster has now become a bit of an internet addiction, though it's currently being challenged by a new take on an old addiction, that being going onto Yahoo! UK Chat and passing myself off as British. It's even better now that there's voice chat, which allows me to listen to crazy Londoners cussing their blessed English heads off. I haven't built up the courage actually to speak; it's way easier to throw in Brit expressions and spellings as I type.

And speaking of things British, my love of Britcoms has only increased since I first discovered them 12 years ago. Currently I love "The Office" and new episodes of "The League of Gentlemen." On a similar UK note, "What Not to Wear" on BBCA combines my addictions to Britons and makeover shows.

Boyfriend Chris got me on taking taxis everywhere, and that's been a tough one to shake.

I had rekindled my love affair with/addiction to the gym last week until I sprained my ankle. Next week I should be able to start that up again.

Hopefully, my addiction to the Weight Watchers way of eating will start up again ... especially after all of the Mocha Malt Frappucinos I've consumed.

And improv? Rather than get it out of my system, the DCM has only put it back into my system. There are some addictions, I've found, that aren't so bad to have.

 

[Lauren Snyder]

Final Days

My working environment has been tumultuous lately, with lots of crazy changes. I never realised how much I appreciate stability in a job.

And yet I want to be a comedy writer, a career full of instability and change?

I guess the money and prestige would make up for it.

**************

Looking forward to the top-secret 4P that will apparently have three teachers but only two students (Matt Pack and I).

**************

The Fringe show opens this weekend ... amazing that it'll all be over in a few short weeks. Before performances like these, I'm not nervous about light cues or lines or any of the normal stuff, but about people actually coming. So many promises are made and so many people propositioned before you get attendance. Ah well, their loss, right?

**************

Whatever is insane in my life, it's nice to go home to a family ... one amazing boyfriend, one beautiful fish, and one rambunctious kitten. Eventually there will be normal components of children and a marriage, but my pseudo-family is more than enough for now.

 

[Lauren Snyder]

Missing Out

Wrote an AMAZING journal yesterday, but my log-in expired and it was lost to the ages. Y'all missed out.

Okay, maybe it wasn't THAT amazing.

Speaking of amazing, I went to see Little Shop of Horrors during its Broadway previews today. Featured in the "girl group" was none other than Miss Carla J. Hargrove, whom I met at Penn State, and with whom I did my best Penn State work/role in Once on This Island. That show was so special, and we were such good pals at the time that I felt sure that she would recognise me. So, after the show, I waited along with the pre-teens swooning over Hunter "Urinetown" Foster and Kerry "Hairspray" Butler (no relation to my boyfriend of the same name) to see Carla.

When I shouted out her name, a look of recognition crossed her face, and I was glad to have waited around to see her. I told her how great she was (which was the truth), and she told me about the director of the show we did together, who'd just spent a year in Africa thanks to a Fullbright scholarship. I clasped her hand and congratulated her, and we parted ways.

It's nice when someone who is genuine, super-talented and kind "makes it." Yay for her, and yay for Penn State. :up:

*******

Still, I can't wait until it's my turn. I'm tired of missing out on all that star stuff.

 

[Lauren Snyder]

Moving

Things I hate about my recent move:

*48 hours after our move, we still do not have power.

(Related observation: Not having power is cute and romantic for about 12 hours, tops.)

*Boxes are everywhere.

(Note to self: Next time I move, I should code each box according to which room it goes into. So, all of the LR [Living Room] boxes will be moved into the right place, etc. That would be a neat trick.)

*No power = no refrigerator = always eating takeout.

(I'm guessing that the weight gain from takeout will be lessened by the extra flight of stairs up to the new place.)

Things I love about my recent move:

*Bedroom windows overlooking Third Avenue.

(Third Ave's very happening in the Murray Hill area.)

*Moving one block from your old digs = not changing your laundromat, your bodega, etc.

(When it comes to where I buy my groceries, I am a creature of habit.)

*Tasti D-Lite's across the street!

(Obvious.)

 

[Lauren Snyder]

Recent Events

We have a kitten for a week. His name is Dirk. He is all black and the craziest kitten I've met since my Lil' Chipz.

Chris seems to be smitten, though Chipzzy's really, really pissed at us. They are currently in separate rooms.

Will this situation last???

**********

Family Guy's "When You Wish Upon a Weinstein" = funniest episode ever!

**********

I'm so glad that there are three more Instant Cinema shows in my future. It's the most fun show I've ever worked on.

 

[Lauren Snyder]

Getting Through

In order to get through awkward, yucky times (long days at work, relationship dry spells, bringing groceries home that are way too heavy), I like to focus on the fact that at some point in the future, I will not have to deal with that specific issue anymore.

These are the things I'm looking forward to right now:

*quitting my job
*Thanksgiving
*seeing my cats later on today
*holiday presents
*having two weeks off at the end of the year
*completing my spec script
*starting my novel
*getting engaged
*the weekend
*the last two Instant Cinema shows
*snow
*buying presents
*starting my part-time job at Borders to buy said presents
*another New Year's Eve in New York
*December 12-14 (during which I have four holiday parties!)
*wedding/marriage/babies

It's all about dwelling on the good things.

 

[Lauren Snyder]

Got home about 1/2 hour ago from my new second job ... working part-time at Borders Kips Bay for the holiday season, and possibly beyond.

Two jobs -- now I feel like a real New Yorker.

 

[Lauren Snyder]

Work Hi-jinks

I almost yelled at what I thought was a completely insane woman today. At the end of a way too long interaction with her wherein she belittled me for not understanding her illogical requests and blaming me for a gift card holder that was ripped, I noticed her shirt ... Special Olympics.

This was a fairly well-functioning, but all the same mildly retarded, woman.

Listen, if a simple transaction involving the purchase of a $15 gift card for your nephew's birthday cannot happen without drama, perhaps someone else should be making your purchases.

*sigh* Working two jobs is making me tired and mean.

 

[Lauren Snyder]

Peace and Loneliness in New York

My building's so quiet today ... not like it's usually very noisy, but somehow it's especially quiet.

Maybe everyone's left Murray Hill for the day?

Today I made Thanksgiving dinner for my mom and two brothers, and it went very well. The only way it would've been better was if my Dad and my boyfriend could've been here. (My Dad is in MD with my grandmother, and my boyfriend is with his family.)

My boyfriend and I are at a point where we're very serious but not yet at the "spending the holidays together" stage. I crave that stage; holidays without him are empty. And though I know that there aren't many more solo holidays left, and that I should focus on the fact that "at some point in the future, we will spend every holiday together" (*see three entries ago), it still makes this one sad.

It's 1:30am ... my two kittens are sleeping at the foot of my bed ... I'm sitting in front of a computer with a stomach full of food, an overactive mind, and an acute sense of longing for my sweetheart.