Apartments? I Don't Think So...

First off, I'm not going to go into my own living situation as small and kind-of rediculous as it is, hopefully I will start making some money to move to a bigger and nicer place soon. That being said, I just want to say that when browsing through Craigslist New York in the apartments section, putting the maximum at $1000 doesn't bring up too many good options in my mind. I know I'm picky and have had the conversation with many people about being a bit of a Manhattan snob and I should move out of Manhattan into Brooklyn or Astoria or the like, but I like living in the city (although i do have other places I do like and would consider). All I am saying is that to move to a new apartment and stay central in the city (I'm mostly talking about the Villages, Upper West and East Side, and Downtown-ish), unless I'm making a fairly good amount of money it won't be happening for a little while. Bummer. Oh well, guess I'll just go into my "bedroom" and sleep it off.

Flip-Flops and the Bahamas

Here on my blog I stive to talk about very important ideas, stories, events, etc., so to keep with that I will talk a bit about my new flip-flops. Is this even newsworthy you might ask? I say it is, and since I am the one writing, this is what you will read about for the time being.

I will however keep this short. They are a pair from J.Crew and have a blue and white stripe on the strap. Let us just say that walking around New York City in flip-flops can be a bit dangerous if you are lazy, especially when it rains, as some of the sidewalks and metal grates become extremely slick. Also, contrary to popular belief, there is a fair amount of grime and dirt that gets on the feet, so a good washing is usually requred on a flip-flop day wandering the city. Lasly, I wear out these inexpensive flip-flops very quickly. I think that will do on this topic.

I will now spend a couple of sentences saying that these new flip-flops go very well with my summer looks. I have two pairs of Bahama shorts that belonged to my father. One is white and one is blue with a white strip on the sides. In true Bahama fashion they are quite short and in the style you might have seen in lets say the 1970's. I dig them none-the-less. I think I have pretty nice legs and don'g mind showing them off (maybe if you're lucky I'll take a picture of me in my Bahamas attire...maybe). On the other hand, they make me fit in with the Chelsea crowd in the summer, if you catch my drift. This is their one downfall, for they do not shall we say attract the ladies. This is maybe all in my head, because if I was at the beach, there should be no problem, or if I was actually in the Bahamas the same applies. I dress a bit in the prep style with an influence of upscale fashion and surf/beach culture, and some influence from the Northwest (although the fashion there is pretty laid back and almost non-existant except for fleeces). Not sure where this is going, or why anyone would be interested, but here you go anyways.

Lastly, I would like to share a goal I have in my life. Since I own the bahama shorts (and look good in them, thank you), I would like to take a picture with either a girlfriend or eventually fiance/wife (although the girlfriend thing could mean that this picture could be taken sooner rather than years from now) in the Bahamas standing on the beach. You might ask why, and here is your answer. In one of my parents photo albums, there's a picture of my father in these shorts (and a polo shirt I wish he still had...not for him to wear though) with my mother on I think a cruise to the Carribean, and I would like to reproduce this picture in my own life. I just think it's a cool idea. That, and I would love to be in the Bahamas right now, and this picture will look awesome while I'm young and in-shape with my very hot girlfriend (pending).

A New Musical?

Maybe it's just me and my strange ideas, and I know it wouldn't go over well or probably be successful, but don't you think Bambi should be a Broadway musical? In case you didn't already know, Bambi is one of my favorite movies of all time, almost tied with Lady and the Tramp. Back to what I was saying. Much in the same way Disney made the Lion King, Bambi could be a very beautiful thing to watch. That is until his mother gets killed, but I think some cool special effects and a long and drawn-out scene with smoke and strobe lights could help that. It would be both gruesome and beautiful at the same time.

Maybe instead of a musical it should be a wicked dance piece. So many possibilities. I'll come back with a more thought-out plan for this musical or dance piece, right now it's all a bit fuzzy. The only other musical/dance ideas I have right at this moment (also am a bit tired from biking this morning, the gym this afternoon, the sun, and a rehearsal, which all affects my thoughts at the moment) are maybe something to do with the Terminator. Ooh, I have it, since there is a Bambi, a Bambi II, not it's Bambi III: Bambi's Revenge on the Terminator. It will be the strangest battle of the century.

Yeah, so super random I know, but that is what you get tonight. My though process is a bit impaired by nothing more than physical exersion. I don't think the Propel Fitness Water did it's trick besides a short burst of hydration in a bottle that it took far too long to figure out how to open. It had one of those patches under the cap that you have to remove to get to the water. Beyond my intellect, clearly.

Quick shout out and love sent to the gods of the clear traffic on the way home tonights, beautiful dancing and much fun at rehearsal, the sun, my sister having fun at her prom and looking very beautiful (alas I have only seen a camera-phone picture, so it is partly an assumption, but I bet she looked pretty), and to this banana I will be eating momentarily.

Happy End of Memorial Day! Hope it was filled with sun, fun, memorializing, parade watching/marching, and just altogether good times.

A Friendly Surprise

An unexpected surprise came upon me last night. What is it you might ask? Well, after rehearsal I got a call from my friend Pablo who was in the city without a place to stay. He and his two cousins, I might add. I also might add that the very same day they drove to Manhattan from Toronto. For clarification purposes, Toronto is in Canada. So let us summarize so far my surprise as of last evening. My Canadian friend and his two Canadian cousins asked me for a place to stay.

Well, being the nice guy I am, of course I offered them a place to crash. Now, four people staying in my humble apartment is so far the record (as I still am working on getting the entire Sports Illlustrated Swimsuit Models to stay and party at my place...unsuccessful as of yet). Anyways, the spur-of-the-moment trip by my friends was because of a 60-inch television they were purchasing in Coney Island, Brooklyn. Yes, it was cheaper to drive down and buy it here than in Canada. Weird, huh! Canadian's are just strange, although we love them, eh.

I wish them a safe trip home tonight, and until next time. Oh, and as you can see in the pictures, the company I keep are also fairly childish. We are who we are based on the company we keep (I think that's in the Bible or one of Buddah's books or something). Anyone who would share my desire to check out FAO Swartz and the Apple Store in the same trip is cool in my book. I'm a sucker for teddy bears and electronics (although I do favor slightly the teddy bears and stuffed animals...if you've ever seen my apartment you'd understand - link to a small portion of my animals). Oh, and I also suggest (although a bit expensive) the Mudslide drink at TGIFridays. Quite the tasty treat to cool you off in this humid weirdness of a city.

Post-Rehearsal Recovery

It's okay, I already know I'm an idiot.

This is a picture of:
a) A modeling shot from my Diet Coke ad.
b) An extremely sexy and handsome man.
c) Me being an idiot.
d) How I choose to relax after a rehearsal.

If you chose b, c, and d, then you would be correct. I was in fact enjoying my return fromrehearsal in New Canaan by having a nice cold diet coke. By the way, just for the record, I nailed it at the rehearsal today (as if I am capable of anything less). Apparently I am amazingly skilled at playing an ass. By ass, of course, I mean donkey...come on, I'm a pretty nice decent guy...which is the opposite of an ass.

On that note, I somehow have gotten myself type-casted up in Connecticut, which I don't mind, but none-the-less I think maybe says something about myself. I started by playing the Master in Con Amore, in which I wore this purple old-school suit and seduced the a girl. Once they added the purple top hat, though, in my eyes it turned to more of a creepy dude seducing his chick. I tried my best to mix cute with the inherent creepiness, but not sure it worked. Next of course was a couple of Ballcrackers (or in laymen terms, the Nutcracker) where I play a giant rat, a sleezy (although suave) Spanish dude, and a gigantic women (Mother Ginger). On a side note, my young girls I dance with as Mother Ginger have renamed me as the "mommy." My one saving grace was a Frank Sinatra number where I played a debonair dude in a tux dancing with a beautiful ballet-chick in a very nicely choreographed duet. I say saving grace because currently I am playing a donkey. Although I will admit it is by far one of my most fun roles so far. Hmm...not sure what this all means.

However, I digress from what I started talking about. Oh, explaining the answer to what the picture is. Let us just leave it with I am of course a sexy and handsome dude, but I think probably what you are most likely thinking is that I am just an idiot. I of course will not deny this. I have no real long-term future plans to grow up or mature.

And the Results Are...

So, between errands, laundry, and all the other things I had going on today, I took a tiny bit of time to take a quiz in Men's Fitness Magazine. First off, I would like to answer your first question which is why I bought the magazine in the first place. I'm not really sure how to respond exept that it called out to me in the news shop the other day. Why don't we leave it at that. Secondly, I'm sure you are also wondering why I even took the time to take the quiz. All I can say is I wanted to find out "...how I really measure up in the only eyes that matter - hers."

The test, "the Ultimate Guy Q Quiz," consisted of a series of series of activities to check off and add up the total number to find your score. To quote the directions:

"Read the items below and check off only the things you can perform consistently or that you feel secure in your knowledge of. For Example, you may have given a great toast at a wedding back in '93, but in general, if you consider yourself a horrible public speaker, you should not check off 'good at toasting.' When you finish the quiz, tally your score to get your overall Guy Q ranking, and discover whether you're a girlie-man, a man's man, or something in between."

For further clarification, these aren't like your skills in bed or anything like that, they are more like things that would make a girl feel safe and secure with you (i.e. being able to install a ceiling fan, catching a baseball in a mitt, map reading, good at grilling, the ability to hail a cab during rush hour, the ability to order a drink for you girl within five minutes at a busy bar, etc.).

My results: 45 out of 65. I'm in the 31-50 grouping, meaning...

"OK, you pass muster - barely. Apparently, you do have two testicles, and they may have even descended. But you've got a long way to go before you can get with the type of girl you'd most like to be bedding."

I personally lost it with such skills as being able to wrap a present properly (I'm not great at it, but at least okay), make layups and sink free throws most of the time (basketball is just not my sport), and kill vermin on demand (apparently they include spiders, bugs, and mice, and they also meant without flinching or squealing).

I'm still secure with my own manhood and feel I'm not too girly or whatever, but the magazine has spoken. I just hope that any girl who reads this posting will not feel that I am not a man. On that note, how are there so many extremely attractive girls walking around central Manhattan and SoHo? It is unreal! And, I ask you...why are they so scared and hesitant to come up and talk to me...since I know that they have this deep desire to. Girls are funny, though.

For Your Consideration

Many of the trade papers for film and television are dedicating pages and pages of "ads" showing the public who is being considered for an Emmy. Now, I've flipped through all of them and realized there was one important actor they left out. So, I will take the time to list it here on behalf of the Emmy Nomination Committee*.

For your Emmy consideration**: Andrew Claus, lead actor in a drama.***

*Probably not the actual name of the committee, but I'm too lazy to look it up.
**Not affiliated at all with the people who actually select who is nominated for an Emmy.
***It's true he has actually not starred recently**** in a television drama, but that shouldn't stop anyone from acknowledging his amazing acting skills and extremely handsome looks.
****By recently, we mean ever.

So, I urge you to vote for this man. He may be a write-in, and we as of yet haven't found out if that's even a possibility. Most likely it is not allowed, so it is kindly asked that you think of Andrew during the actual ceremony and maybe even toast to his fictitious win. Thank you kindly.

Laws of...what...Love...er...Spring?

Studies have shown (if you ask me for them give me a few days to make them up...I mean copy them for you) that the way one reacts to love follows the same rules as constructed by the Laws of Molecular Thermodynamics. While I only have a slight grasp of these laws and theories, and I have not been in love thus far in mylife, I will use only one example I can think of to disprove the connection between love and Thermodynamics. For those of you following this so far, I will not be using anything I learned in my English classes (i.e. a solid thesis, three supporting arguments each with facts to back them up, acknowledgment of the opposite views, and a conclusion drawing it all together and asking further thought-provoking questions), for this I will simply use one simple example. Follow me if you can.

We have person A (we will simply call him Andrew) who is madly in love with person B (we will simply call her Keira Knightley for this example) and she is also madly in love with him. Now, person B (Keira Knightley) is also madly in love with person C (we will call him Bob) who is also madly in love with her. Now, Thermodynamics loosely says that since Andrew and Keira Knightley are in love and Keira Knightley is also in love with Bob (although once she's had a taste of what Andrew has to offer I don't think she'd be needing Bob anymore), then Andrew would also be in love with Bob. Now, as you can clrearly see here there is a fault, since I know Andrew very well and know for a fact that Bob is ficticious, I conclude that they are not in love nor ever could be. So, I believe I have just now disproved the Laws of Thermodynamics. Simple, huh.

Now get out and enjoy the weather and find love since the weather is nice and spring is the time for love. I can also prove rather quickly right now that spring is the time for love based solely on my favorite movie, Bambi. Don't you remember when spring came around after all the death and the fire? All the animals were hooking up and birds chirping and everybody was happy, including Bambi. There! Proved. Spring is the time for love.

Spring Thoughts

You know spring is officially here when the weather gets warm, people are wearing less clothing, and I get my bike tuned and out of storage ready to rock and roll. I will personally give spring my official welcome in my sexiest red spandex bike shorts. That seems to be the onle proper way.

On a side note, the girls in Soho and 6th Avenue (around 19th Street) are looking so very, very hot. Less and tighter clothing is being worn and everybody is feeling the whole "Spring = Love" thing.

I'm going to put a quick shameless plug for the few television shows I do in fact watch. 24 was awesome and next season should be great, and House asks more questions than answers but should also rock next season. Lastly, who will be the next American Idol? Although I rarely watch an entire episode, my vote is going to Taylor. Good luck dude!

Finally, due to extreme heat in my apartment last night, I broke out the Bahama shorts (more on this another time) that were my fathers. Mix that with mocassin-boot-thingys and a tight shirts I was wearing and you've got me fitting in with the Chelsea crowd. Hmm...maybe that won't be worn in public and I'll stick to my trendy yet very cool preppy/surfer look.

Congratulations to Myself

I have already congratulated my brother, and now it is time for myself. Today was one of my most productive days in the last 4 to 6 months. I have been in a slump you might say, with a dose of lack of motivation and general confusion in life. However, these past few days I have been to the gym a bit more, auditioned for Paul Taylor, and had rehearsal up in New Canaan. Pretty decent start but not quite there. Which brings me to today.

I had a very big interview and audition this morning and afternoon. The first was a general interview with a casting director from Guiding Light. Do I look like the soap opera type? I have been practicing in a mirror lately my soap looks, and think I have a shot. Moving on. The second was an interview/general audition for ABC Primetime. Both were very fun and I think they liked me. Then, to top it all off, I took a ballet class at Steps! Wait a minute, did he say class? Yes I did. I finally made it into ballet after way too long, and I won't lie to you, it was a bit of a struggle. I mean, I am beautiful and amazing at most things, but I ask to not be judged whilst in ballet class. Judge me in performance all you want, but class is my time to look frustrated and sweaty, then change clothes and walk out returning to my usual self as the sexy beast I am. I digress as usual.

So, to summarize: I'm feeling pretty good about where things are headed, career-wise and other. I'm getting in shape, trying to build career momentum, going to nail the ballet thing if it kills me...and it just might...life is starting to look up. Now if only my apartment was big enough for my summer party ideas...hmm.

Bro Grows Up

It seems like only yesterday Kevin was running around in his diapers saying he made an "oopsy." Now he's a college graduate, and honestly I don't really remember much about him running around in diapers...thank goodness. He just graduated from Pacific Lutheran University with some sort of computer degree, I want to say it's Computer Science, but I could be wrong. Either way, he will probably be making more money than I will until I become famous.

I would like to take this chance to give him a few words of inspiration.

They are simply:

Live life to the fullest and don't suck. Go for your dreams and by all means do not shame the family...that's our sister's job. Make money so you can support me until I become famous. Fortune will then turn in your favour when I help support you and maybe, if you're lucky, invite you to my fabulous celebrity bikini parties. Lastly, be true to who you are, unless who you are isn't cool. But I do have faith in you because I know you don't suck and are indeed a pretty coo guyl. Not quite as cool as your better looking, more talented and intelligent older brother, but that is just how things are. And for goodness sake get a haircut regularly, it keeps mom relaxed.

That being said, I send my deepest love and admiration to him and wish him the very best. Congratulations bro!

Anti-Samson Effect

Most people know about the story of Samson from the Bible. You know, the one where the Philistine leaders arrested him and cut his hair, the secret of his strength. Well, I got my haircut today at the Chelsea Barbers, which by the way is a great place. Pricier than Supercuts, less than a salon, and they'll use real razors to touch up the neck area or if you wanted you could get a full shave. Although I've never done the whole real razor thing because it's a bit scary, especially if you've seen Sweeney Todd, but it was pretty sweet. And the wrap your head in a hot cloth at the end for a couple of seconds to clean you up and invigorate you. But I digress from comparing myself to the Bible. I feel like I have a renewed spirit. I am going to embark on a new direction in my life. Eat better, work out more, actually go to ballet and yoga, find some monologues, get a job, you know, the works. So with the loss of my hair I hope to find strength unlike my friend Samson, and I would like my outcome to be a bit better, and not death as his was.

The Da Vinci Contraversy

Can you believe all the hype and contraversy over The Da Vinci Code? I haven't read it, but in my oponion, get over it people. It's a movie based on a work of fiction that can be found in Barnes and Nobles. This isn't taken like straight out of the Bible or anything. I get quite annoyed reading or seeing on the news so much coverage on things that aren't so important in the long run. Portions (I say portions because I don't believe the Pope has made any comments) of the Catholic Church have made comments regarding the movie and book as well.

"Archbishop Angelo Amato, the number two official in the Vatican doctrinal office...suggested that Catholics around the world should launch organized protests against the "The Da Vinci Code" film just as some had done in 1988 to protest against Martin Scorsese's "The Last Temptation of Christ."
(article entitled "Boycott Da Vinci Code film": top Vatican official by Philip Pullella)

Is this movie going to fundamentally change the way you look at the world? Will it make you re-think your religious beliefs? Maybe, but I doubt it. I think there have been other movies through the years that should cause more of an uproar, such as most recently The Passion of The Christ.

This to me just doesn't seem to be a big deal, although I am just now getting into the book, so maybe I'll change my mind later. Lay off the media coverage that seems silly and not really founded in too much. Like I said, this is just my opinion, and I am going to both read the book and see the movie and will then give you more informed thoughts.

Primetime Summer Vacation

No, not from school...although I do wish I had a full-on summer break! It's that time of year for the primetime shows we love to put on their last episodes before the summer break with new seasons (for some) in the fall. Not that I get the chance to watch television often, but I do have a few favorite shows that I do on occasion try to watch.

Smallville had it's last episode of the season last week. Not going to go into details, but as a boy who likes superhero's, it's a fun show to watch. It is definately taking on a darker side as it moves into next season with the world all in trouble and everything. I believe Clark needs to step up and break out of the square box thingy and save the world. On a side note, I have decided that Erica Durance is unbelievably hot and should go out with me.

24's season finale is next week. One of the greatest shows I know. Annoying that I miss tons of the episodes, but I do love Kiefer Sutherland's work. Don't miss it.

House is my one other favorite show to watch. I don't usually get into the whole doctor dramas, but this show keeps my interest. Something about the characters makes you want to stay with it, and Hugh Laurie is such a great actor. Keep a watch for that one as well. I think watching people solve seemingly unsolvable illnesses that is just plain cool. (I know, similar in the fact to all the C.S.I.'s, etc. about solving seeminly unsolvable crimes, but I just don't get hooked on those shows as much, although I have nothing against them. There is only so much time in one's week to watch television.)

Those are my three picks. The rest I have tried to watch maybe an episode at least to see what is being shown and which actors are doing what shows, etc. Mostly it's about learning and keeping up with the entertainment industry. Anyhow, summer break for primetime television is upon us...now if only this annoying rain would leave so I can take my shirt off and go play outside.

Post-Surgery Slippers

They survived...just barely. They are not quite the same as they were. As you cans see by the picture, they lost a bunch of what makes them durable and much of the essence of the slipper is gone...but they are still here.

I tried my best to do the intricate cutting and fixing, although truth be told I am not a licensed slipper doctor. That being said, they are currently on my feet and in a recovery and therapy mode. They have to get used to being work without a sole and inner filling. Even so, some of my finer work I must say.

So, do not worry, my feet will still be slipped while I walk around my apartment and such. I say again, my feet will not be naked. The world can be at ease and go on with their life now.

State of the Slipper

The left slip of my set of slippers has been steadily in decline this past year. True I have had them for many years now, and they have done their duty, but retirement I fear is upon us. Throughout the latter part of college, whilst living in a fraternity mind you, they have survived. Through crazy midnight runs to Taco Bell, they have survived. Transplanted to New York City to be used in what some would say is more like a closet, thus limiting their abuse, they did not survive.

I am sorry dear slippers, but drastic measures must now be taken. No more will you drag on the ground. I have only my deepest love and gratitude towards you. You may still get one last wash, for your odor holdability, while amazing, is not generally wanted, for foot sweat you do bring out. I appologize now for sending you to surgery curtesy of yours truly, Dr. Lampboy. Good luck.

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day!

The picture is my mom and my sister at Snoqualmie Falls. That was a nice day. It's tough being across the country from my family, but that is just how life is right now. It's love from a distance. So, make sure you tell your mother how much you love her and that you appreciate all she has ever done for you.

Love you so very much mom!

Reasoning

I feel there is a little explanation needed about why I've decided to make this site. Basically, I wanted an outlet to be able to show people a little more about who I really am other than what they otherwise might see. I keep holding on to this idea that I'm shy, which I used to be, but a lot has changed for me these last few years. I don't really care as much about the impression other people have about me (unless it is a really cute girl, then I'm a bit more...subdued at first, although not much). I figure that I am who I am and if people don't like it then that's their problem.

I also love to write, which my friends who get emails from me have learned. Even though I skipped out on much of my English classes in college, I did enjoy them. I even ended up writing and performing a 45 minute one-person show in my senior year. My writing syle is much like my humor, which in time you'll figure it out (fairly dry and sarcastic I've been told). I don't edit much of what I say, it's very much whatever comes into my head most of the time.

I am, however, selective about what I write about. You will learn a bunch about me, but I do have my limits. I have to be pretty carefull what I write about concerning my career. Dance, film, television, theatre, and modeling all are the areas I am either actually working in or actively persuing, but I can't always write details about certain projects, and I won't ever discuss negative feelings or things that happen on projects or with people I'm working with, it's just plain not nice and always comes to bite you in the ass since word inevitably gets around. But other than that it's fair game and I hope to have fun with it!

So, enjoy my blog and the rest of my site. I made it myself, which was harder than you might think for someone involved on a daily basis with the artistic side of the brain (although I did graduate from a very academically tough liberal arts college, so I must have some smarts, right?). I've put pictures from my life, my photoblog which is in it's early stages, my resume, and for anyone who is interested in seeing what I'm doing, I've put a page with my events and performances. I always love feedback and thoughts and hopefully will have some people reading this in the future. Have fun with it!

Peace out,
Lampboy

Mission: Complete

I decided to go and see Mission: Impossible III, despite the negatives in the press and people's prejudices against Tom Cruise. I enjoyed Mission: Impossible and Mission: Impossible II, and with a geat director and cast I figured they couldn't go too wrong. And the didn't. Full of great action sequences and high energy, it did the job. Philip Seymour Hoffman was I thought outstanding! I love his work anyways. The rest of the cast was also very good.

I know there is a lot of criticism concerning Tom Cruise and how M:I III did at the box office, and I don't really feel like going into it. I tried my best for the last 6 months or so to not read anything about Tom's strange antics. Who really cares. I say just leave them alone and don't worry about things. So much of the celebrity news is fabricated anyways. I always hope that as my career progresses, I get to have a small taste of "celebrity" when I get the chance to be involved with a high-profile project. I use the quotes around celebrity because if how the media treats these people is so superficial and as far from the truth as they seem to be, then I really don't. I'm not persuing film and acting and what not for the fame anyways, just for clarification.

America is just too obsessed with celebrity, I'll leave it on that and rant another day. I'll end with saying that unless you really have something against Tom Cruise or don't like action flicks, you should check out M:I III, it's worth seeing on a big screen!

Latest Dating Advice

One of my friends gave me this advice about my dating life. Short and to the point, he said "date an older chick." That was it. Aparently that will solve everything and I will lead a happy and fulfilled life.

I'm being a bit sarcastic, and his advice was well meant, mostly because truth be told I've actually never dated anyone older than myself. And to clarify, for purposes of this conversation, I use the term "dated" in the sense of having at least a second date with the girl, not like it would generally be thought of as "going steady" or "having a relationship."

If I was to really work out what is holding back my dating life, clearly a therapist would probably have lots to say (that's what they do I think...not to mean that I have lots of problems, because I don't feel that I do), but I think it may have something to do with the fact that I'm fairly lazy in how I go about dating and am hopelessly attracted to beautiful girls who for some reason or another I can't date or they won't go out with me. Awesome, huh.

So, where does that leave me? Do I take my friend's advice to date older chicks or do I keep my low-key attitude and just go with the flow? I'll probably end up sticking with the chilled-out approach because that's who I am even though it is a bit slow right now you might say, but I would like to thank my friend for his insightful thoughts.

Party Ideas

I think this summer I shall host a party at my apartment. How you ask? Very good question my friend. My only answer is that the stay at my apartment will be rather short and will then move the party on to another location such as a nearby bar (east, not west of my apartment). There will be tickets with a 15 minute time slot for apartment viewing and a drink with me inside the actual apartment living space, as only 3 can fit "comfortably" inside. Logistics aside, I have a few ideas for themes I thought I would put out there.

The List:
Lingerie Party
Hats Only Party
Getting Ready for a Shower Party
Adam and Eve Party (or Garden of Eden Party)
Topless Pillow-Fight Party
Bikini and Thong Party
Bikini Briefs Party

As you can see the guest list will, shall I say, ere on the side of less dudes and more of the young, hot, female model and/or dancer types. Any suggestions are appreciated, this was just the start of my list. Guest list is still being put together. By that of course I mean I just make a mental note every time I see or meet someone who embodies the true hotness I look for in a girl. Cheers!

New York Prices

I think everyone in the entire world, whether or not you've been to New York or not, know that the prices are more expensive than much of the rest of the states. Although, I will say that Seattle, my home town, has also gotten pretty darn close in the downtown area. Drinks are more expensive, the restaurants are pricey, and I won't even go into rent or parking.

I want to briefly write about the prices at the little grocery marts around Manhattan. I have no big issues with the Whole Foods or other "grocery stores," but it's the ones all over the place that sell the basics (beer, milk, toilet paper, muffins, candy, yogurts, etc.) that seem to arbitrarily set their prices. I can't figure it out. Is there really a two dollar difference between 5th Avenue and 6th Avenue? How can a box of Cheerios cost me $7.00? And how can the same medium-sized bottle of water cost anywhere between $1.50 (seldom found) and $3.00?

When bringing a handful of food items to the counter, the cashier simply puts them into a bag and starts ringing up numbers until the total is always more than you would like and/or expect. It's too bad that these small grocery shops and the simplest and closest to my apartment. It's a bit of a trek to go to Whole Foods or the like and carry heavy bags across the avenues, and I certainly am not going to pay extra for delivery.

Call me cheap if you will, but I wish I could just figure it out and not have the sneaking suspician that I may not be getting the best deal I could. Although in fairness, I'm around the shops in my area enough where they know my face and are friendly, and that sets me a little more at ease. Ahh, the things we do to live in Manhattan.

Officially a Sweaty Spring

It is officially the start of the spring season when my room becomes a sauna. Being on the fourth and top floor of my building, once the temperature reaches around 80 degrees and it is warm and sunny for multiple days in a row, the roof acts as a heat insulator. I now sit here in nothing but my white bahama shorts sweating (pretty picture I know) whilst typing on the computer with the window and door wide open trying to get any little bit of a breeze to wasp through my room. Ahh the joys of living in an unbelievably small apartment/room in the middle of Manhattan. And it's not even the heat of the summer yet! Tommorow, along with finally getting off my ass and into the gym and to dance rehearsal, it is time to get the fan and air conditioner out so that I no longer am sitting here sweating like a roasting pig over an open flame at a Hawaiian luau in the middle of summer.

Where Are the Good Blogs?

I won't say that anything I write is outstandingly special or something anyone else in the world is even interested in reading, but I think given time, people will eventually come to understand and appreciate my thoughts, humors and writing. Anyways, I like to spend a couple of minutes at my computer before bed to look at other people's blogs. I enjoy reading interesting thoughts and stories. However, I have been very unlucky so far and not found much to my liking. I am not saying anything bad about what other people write for the world to see, it's mostly I think that I am not drawn to them for one reason or another. Whether it's their writing syle, their opinions, or the subject matter, so far no luck.

That's fine and all, but I would like to find some blogs that interest me. When I do, I'll be sure and include them in my own blogging to let people know what I think is good. I will say that so far, my favorite blog to read is Wil Wheaton's. I watched him in Star Trek: TNG when I was younger (not that he would want to be associated with that now). I really enjoy what he has to say.

Back to the 80's

Worked some background on a film called We Own the Night today. Joaquin Phoenix was actually briefly there for one of the shots. Long day, set in 1988, which means costumes from the 80's. I'm a bit young to have really understood fully the fashion from the 80's, but you can check out my costume from the picture above to see what I would have looked like if I went out to a club dressed a bit in the styling of Miami Vice. Quite tiring, but good fun in the end. The director was pretty cool, trying to give us motivation during the dance scene. As he put it, the club we were dancing at was the "hottest f**king club on earth, and we want to f**k everyone in there." Dude rocks. That's the type of motivation I like to hear. Keep it simple. Another day's work checked off.

Bacardi

All yesterday I was doing some background on a Bacardicommercial. Although I sometimes am not too excited to do background work, this wasn't too bad. In fact, for the most part it was a lot of fun. Of course there is the inevitable waiting around in holding and shooting way longer into the wee hours of the night than you'd like, but that just comes with the territory.

I won't go into the details of the plot, etc. of the commercial since that's not really my place, but let me just say that it involved a bar/club scene in which two guys dressed in gigantic salmon costumes came into the picture. That's all I'll say. Quite the odd setting, but cool.

I must say that this was one of the nicest crews and directors I have met so far working background. They all were very friendly and let us know what was up the entire time. The 1st Assistant Director even took the time to learn each of our names during the shoot (there were only like 30 people or so, not like 100). And the strange and usually extremely odd people that I keep seeing doing extra work were not there at all! Everyone was cool and a lot of fun to hang out with. The female attractiveness level was also quite high as well, with a few models in the mix.

I can only say that this was definately my favorite job for background work, which I still hope to not do too much of, especially being non-SAG, as I want definately to get to bigger and better roles. But until then, being on set and learning is one of the best things I can do for myself.

Things to Check Out

These are a couple of things you should check out, because I say they're pretty cool:

The Internet Movie Database - a huge movie and production site.

TV.com - show listings, entertainment news, etc.

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club - information about the dog I desperately want.

IGN.com - video games, gear, movies, music.

Google Earth - coolest map program ever.

Just thought you'd be interested.