ANYC: 12.03





Things I enjoyed during 2003:

Website:
epitonic.com
Blog: Christian Finnegan
Photos: Slower.net
Idea: Justin Timberlake video
Blog Title: Tangled up in Blog
Post: signs
Story Tellers: Robin & Doug Johnson

Month: August
Holiday: 4th of July
Trip: Vegas
Party: K Rock’s b-day party
Morning: Thanksgiving morning
Afternoon: Hiking in Whales
Night: Playing cards at the Heidelberg
Lunch: Basil Chicken sandwich from Europa Café
Snack: Brown Cinnamon Pop Tarts
Deli: Pranzo Deli on 50th
Drinks: Odan 14 Scotch

Movie: Big Lebowski
Cinematographer: Harry Savides (elephant & gerry)
Boys on Film: Robert De Niro in Raging Bull
Girls on Film: Marcia in Mystic River
Dreamboat: Jude Law
Sellout: Maggie G.
TV: Six feet under
MTV: Newlywed’s
Comedy: Tinkle

Singer: Jim James
Band: Led Zeppelin
Composer: Rachmaninoff
Albums: Queens of the Stone Age – Songs for the Deaf
Song: Breathe – Pink Floyd
Lyrics: "I'm gonna fight em' off. A seven nation army couldn't hold me back."
Soundtrack: Morvern Caller

Store: Cancer Care Thrift Shop
Clothes: Aqua cashmere sweater
Brand: J.Crew
Drug: Ambien
Money: Radiohead concert refund
Ad Campaign: Volkswagen
Book: Shopgirl
Magazine: Vanity Fair
Word: blog



Ah the wonders of a Manhattan apartment. This man was trapped in his for two days under a pile of books and magazines!!


I woke up to this story on NPR:
The 27th of December was supposedly the one year anniversary of the first cloned human being. Her name (shocker) is Eve. Her scientist parents belong to a religion called Raelian. In said religion, members are encouraged by aliens, to clone human beings. Well, in said religion, members are basically encouraged by aliens in life. They say that the name of God (Elohim) means not God, but “those who came from the sky”. So anyway. After making this announcement last year - that they had successfully cloned the first human being – the group of scientists/alien freaks are opting for silence. They will not tell the progress or whereabouts of Eve. Check out this funk.

I just want to know who cloned themself? I mean really.


Last night I watched Elephant, by Gus Van Sant. After the finish of the movie about five people ran out of the theatre, and the other 15 of us just sat there in silence. I couldn't consider going out on the street. I had to sit and stare. get mad. get sad. I wanted someone to say something - but at the same time, didn't want anyone to ruin that golden silent moment.
This movie is a must see for all of you who were at one time in high school. Please see this in the theatres before it leaves. Gus deserves the ticket sale. This was the most moving picture I have watched all year.
Finally.
That is why I went - in hopes of finally seeing a movie that would leave me breathless.
It worked.
If you are totally clueless as to when/where Elephant is playing - I will personally look up the information for you, and send you directions to the theatre closest to you. Just email me your zip code, or something like that.

Go just knowing you should see it. I don't suggest looking up spoilers.



Oops! Someone take this sign down!! THERE MUST BE A MISTAKE!!

My homeland is being attacked. By loggers.
Pres. Bush has decided to change yet another sensible rule set up by the Clinton administration. This time it involves the trees in the Tongass National Forest.

Unfortunately I saw this too late.

Here is a map of OUR NATION'S LARGEST NATIONAL FOREST:


Here is a guy who walked around Alaska in 1975, for National Geographic:




The current "thing that is following me around" would be The Ghost of Judy Garland Past. I am not in the Christmas spirit, and am not really seeking anything of the sort. This year I am in the Judy Garland spirit. I was at my least favorite thrift store on 3rd and 83rd street. The man behind the counter is this very fluffy, snotty guy. We never really talk to each other – but I needed his assistance. Playing in the background was Judy. I have never really been interested in Judy. But the song playing was from a Judy concert in Paris, and it made me feel like Christmas. So after asking him for the Vaurnet’s, I then asked if the Judy was for sale. Both him and the fag hag next to him start choppy laughing, asking me if I am insane.
“Not really.” I replied.
“Well anyway, this album is not for sale.” kackle kackle.
“Yes. I am okay with that. Do you think I could look at the cover?”
So I examine the cover and resolve that other than the Big Lebowski CD that I had received two days earlier – I wanted nothing more than this rare Judy CD.
The cover picture, and the stories that the fag hag bragged - about Judy showing up two hours late, drunk, combined with the pill popping stories that Doug always tells about Judy openly raiding medicine cabinets at parties, and no one saying a word – jump starteded my admiration.
On Saturday I purchased the Judy Garland 1961 Carnegie Hall concert. The album has nothing more than clicked with the feeling I am feeling this December. My favorite track is the Gershwin number – ‘Do It Again’.

+++++
"Do It Again" lyrics: (i know, its annoying that I post lyrics- so just scroll through it - but the lyrics have a message. so eat it.)

You really shouldn’t have done it
You hadn’t any right
I really shouldn’t have let you
Kiss me.
And although it was wrong
I never went strong.
So as long as you’ve begun it
And you know you shouldn’t have done it.

Oh.
Do it again.
I my cry no. no. no. no. no. no.
But do it again.
My lips just ache
To have you take the kiss
That’s waiting for you
You know if you do
You won’t regret it
Come and get it.

Oh.
No one is near
I may cry oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh
But no one can hear.
Mamma may scold me
Cuz’ she told me
It was naughty but then

Please,
Do it again.
Yes do it again. And again and again and again and again and again
Turn out the light.
And hold me close
In your arms
All through the night.
I know tomorrow morning
You will say
Goodbye and Amen.

But until then...
Please do it again.
+++++

Whew. Geez. Heavy! So, this morning I woke up to the radio, as always, and who were they doing a clip on?? Judy Garland's signature number “Over The Rainbow”, as part of the NPR series called “No Place Like Home”. Did you know that they weren't even going to include the number in the movie? shame. Its all about being homesick. Just to annoy the crap out of you, I am going to put the lyrics in for Over the Rainbow too.
Click on this link to see the full effect.

+++++
Somewhere over the Rainbow lyrics:

Somewhere over the rainbow
Way up high
There's a land that I heard of
Once in a lullaby

Somewhere over the rainbow
Skies are blue
And the dreams that you dare to dream
Really do come true

Some day I'll wish upon a star
And wake up where the clouds are far behind me
Where troubles melt like lemondrops
Away above the chimney tops
That's where you'll find me

Somewhere over the rainbow
Bluebirds fly
Birds fly over the rainbow
Why then, oh why can't I?
Some day I'll wish upon a star
And wake up where the clouds are far behind me
Where troubles melt like lemondrops
Away above the chimney tops
That's where you'll find me

Somewhere over the rainbow
Bluebirds fly
Birds fly over the rainbow
Why then, oh why can't I?

If happy little bluebirds fly
Beyond the rainbow
Why, oh why can't I?
++++

What better than a pill popping, drunk, 30 years dead, singing to you in your warm fuzzy Manhattan apartment? Theres no place like home.




So I have a new fan. His name is Mr. Mike Lawson. He types: “If I rock your world the way you rock mine, you can link to me”. So I will do just that. His site is fine with me. He posted something about watching the 100 greatest movies of all time. Lets all try to do this in the new year. He bolded the ones that he has seen, so I too, will bold the one’s I have watched. Cool. Wicked. Peace.

100 Greatest Movies of All Time by the American Film Institute:

1. CITIZEN KANE (1941)
2. CASABLANCA (1942)
3. THE GODFATHER (1972)
4. GONE WITH THE WIND (1939)
5. LAWRENCE OF ARABIA (1962)
6. THE WIZARD OF OZ (1939)
7. THE GRADUATE (1967)
8. ON THE WATERFRONT (1954)
9. SCHINDLER'S LIST (1993)
10. SINGIN' IN THE RAIN (1952)
11. IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE (1946)
12. SUNSET BOULEVARD (1950)
13. THE BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAI (1957)
14. SOME LIKE IT HOT (1959)
15. STAR WARS (1977)
16. ALL ABOUT EVE (1950)
17. THE AFRICAN QUEEN (1951)
18. PSYCHO (1960)
19. CHINATOWN (1974)
20. ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST (1975)
21. THE GRAPES OF WRATH (1940)
22. 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY (1968)
23. THE MALTESE FALCON (1941)
24. RAGING BULL (1980)
25. E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL (1982)
26. DR. STRANGELOVE (1964)
27. BONNIE AND CLYDE (1967)
28. APOCALYPSE NOW (1979)
29. MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON (1939)
30. THE TREASURE OF THE SIERRA MADRE (1948)
31. ANNIE HALL (1977)
32. THE GODFATHER PART II (1974)
33. HIGH NOON (1952)
34. TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD (1962)
35. IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT (1934)
36. MIDNIGHT COWBOY (1969)
37. THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES (1946)
38. DOUBLE INDEMNITY (1944)
39. DOCTOR ZHIVAGO (1965)
40. NORTH BY NORTHWEST (1959)
41. WEST SIDE STORY (1961)
42. REAR WINDOW (1954)
43. KING KONG (1933)
44. THE BIRTH OF A NATION (1915)
45. A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE (1951)
46. A CLOCKWORK ORANGE (1971)
47. TAXI DRIVER (1976)
48. JAWS (1975)
49. SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS (1937)
50. BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID (1969)
51. THE PHILADELPHIA STORY (1940)
52. FROM HERE TO ETERNITY (1953)
53. AMADEUS (1984)
54. ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT (1930)
55. THE SOUND OF MUSIC (1965)
56. M*A*S*H (1970)
57. THE THIRD MAN (1949)
58. FANTASIA (1940)
59. REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE (1955)
60. RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK (1981)
61. VERTIGO (1958)
62. TOOTSIE (1982)
63. STAGECOACH (1939)
64. CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND (1977)
65. THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS (1991)
66. NETWORK (1976)
67. THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE (1962)
68. AN AMERICAN IN PARIS (1951)
69. SHANE (1953)
70. THE FRENCH CONNECTION (1971)
71. FORREST GUMP (1994)
72. BEN-HUR (1959)
73. WUTHERING HEIGHTS (1939)
74. THE GOLD RUSH (1925)
75. DANCES WITH WOLVES (1990)
76. CITY LIGHTS (1931)
77. AMERICAN GRAFFITI (1973)
78. ROCKY (1976)
79. THE DEER HUNTER (1978)
80. THE WILD BUNCH (1969)
81. MODERN TIMES (1936)
82. GIANT (1956)
83. PLATOON (1986)
84. FARGO (1996)
85. DUCK SOUP (1933)
86. MUTINY ON THE BOUNTY (1935)
87. FRANKENSTEIN (1931)
88. EASY RIDER (1969)
89. PATTON (1970)
90. THE JAZZ SINGER (1927)
91. MY FAIR LADY (1964)
92. A PLACE IN THE SUN (1951)
93. THE APARTMENT (1960)
94. GOODFELLAS (1990)
95. PULP FICTION (1994)
96. THE SEARCHERS (1956)
97. BRINGING UP BABY (1938)
98. UNFORGIVEN (1992)
99. GUESS WHO'S COMING TO DINNER (1967)
100. YANKEE DOODLE DANDY (1942)






My new favorite Jew Andrew Goldberg (aka The Hebrew Hammer). Word on the street is that Andrew aint even got a Jewish mom. How dope is that?



Today I went to my first movie premiere. Forget that it was with Robin, or that it was Peter Pan. I am still cooler than you are. As far as movie stars are concerned it was mostly a family affair. Tony Soprano, I mean James Gandolfino was there with his family. Eddie Murphy was there with his family. Kelly Ripa was there with her farm. And Michael Musto was there with his Musto.
So the movie was cool to see for free, and before anyone else. The theatre smelled like nutmeg. There are no previews at a premiere, and there are people that stand up and talk to you before and after the event. The movie itself was a little dark. All the children ages 3-6 got scared at Captain Hook. I got a little scared when they showed the captains arm without the hook attachment. It looked like a ham bone. The little kid actress that played Wendy was cute. I took a good 30 minute nap. But that's what I tend to do when movies are basically predictable, and I am wearing a cozy cashmere sweater.
The after party was held at The Pierre. Tony Soprano was chilling on the floor playing with his kids who were playing with balloons. Kelly Ripa didn't go. Eddie Murphy had way cooler things to do. And Michael Musto got cotton candy, and then left the party. Robin and I decorated cookies, ate really yummy ice cream, got cotton candy, and drank about 3 bottles of coke.
Before we left Robin had to leave her mark on the place by disobeying my orders of "please do not play volleyball with the big pink balloon - people are still eating" by punching the balloon up so high that it popped on the chandelier, leaving all of the rubber balloon dangling from the crystals. After that happened, I thought it would be a good idea to leave.
The End.



The message of the movie Love Actually, made feel really bad for having an Amazon.com wishlist.




This month, the project Story Corps is operating a cool glowing sound booth inside the Grand Central Terminal Concourse. The sound booth is there to encourage regular Joe Shmoes to record stories about NYC past – or just about the past in general. So, being all about historical and cool, I would like to encourage everyone to take part in the project.

Alls you need to do is gather up your best story tellers, ten dollars, and head to the sound booth at GCT immediately. Simply go to the website, arrange a time to record, drag your elder (or just plain wiser comrade) friend to GCT, ask them questions about the past, have a good laugh, and call it a day. Please please please check this out. We all know a great story teller, or maybe you fancy yourself a campfire God. Who knows. Be a part of NYC history. If anything to see the cool glowing sound booth.


Last night I watched Part 1 of Angels in America. The Rabbi's opening sermon will make you cry. The Jewish boyfriend will make you think. The Mormon couple will make you want to scream. All this, during the first half hour.


There is a slide show going on this December called God Bless Americana: The Holiday Retro Slideshow. The show is basically a collection of old photographs of families celebrating the holidays. It caught my eye because one of the images (pictured below) is named “Ed Wood Christmas”.

Ed Wood is currently the “thing” that is following me around. You know when you read about something – and then the next day out of the blue, that something appears in an article, and then the next next day you see a poster for that something? That is called the "following-thing conspiracy". Of course the "following-thing conspiracy" excludes obvious media presence (like commercials, times square etc.). The “ following-thing” has to be something random, and unknown - something new to your brain. My Dad was the first one to bring the conspiracy to my attention - so whenever the “following-thing conspiracy” happens to me, I think of my Dad.* So anyway, Ed Wood is following me around. They say he was the worst director in the history of filmmaking. I plan on watching his films over Christmas break.

In the meantime, check out Charles Phoenix's slide show. It is playing in both LA and NYC.

"Ed Wood Does Christmas," from Charles Phoenix's multimedia presentation, "God Bless Americana: The Retro Holiday Slide Show."

*Since this month is My Family Kicks Your Families Ass Month – I had to drop the Dad comment.

Put some chocolate on that. Indulge me.



Shout out to all those who have contemplated writing the note...





Today two different people have used the word "solipsistic" in my presence. Funny thing is; they both live in Yorkville. Should I be concerned??



From Tough to Stupid. Murder Inc. has decided to clean up their act. They are now called the Inc.



For some reason the movie Down With Love had me rolling on the floor last night. There are some hysterical lines in the movie that make up for the casting of Renee Zellwegger. Her plastic face smile looks so painful and akward, that it makes me cringe. Anyway, other than her face, the movie was 100% enjoyable.

I also rented Lola by Fassbinder, but I fell asleep - it was all the reading of those captions... And I was tired. It seemed okay - typical Euro drama though.



Apparently there is a fire in the basement of my office building right now. A boring mopey coworker just said (read in monotone-i-am-boring-and-mope-around tone) "for real. there is a fire in the basement."

Please somebody say something fast. I don't want these monotone words, and lame laugh to be stuck in my head, last thing before I bite the dust on my terribly eventful, 26 years of adventure, boredom, discovery, and gluttony. God. Speak to me now.

Back to reality. I might have to stop typing and get outta here. So I guess there is a fire, and if we don't get out - oh wait - there was an announcement.

Everything is cool in the building. Elevators are back up and running.

Office that I work with: the problem with our emergency service guy is that YOU CAN'T UNDERSTAND HIM. He has a very strong accent, that is difficult to decipher amongst all the static background reverb.

So basically if I do bite it in this building I am going out hearing mopey/boring person translating everything static/strong accent person says. Tonight I will prepare an emergency "music to go out to" CD and store that and a CD player in my desk.

I wonder what music would be on that CD!?!? Oh gee, yet another hot topic to discuss over drinks at a bar!!

I am going to live. Close call. Mom - in the event where there is a body to deal with, please have it shipped back to my homeland. I do not want to stay here. No offense with here, I just know that this is not where I want to end up rotting. Too many things are rotting here. I do not want to be one of them. Also, there is nothing to really retrieve here, I mean, I still sleep on a cot. Well, I guess you can have all my clothes. Joshua and Geo can fight over my CD collection and stereo. The Toole family can have their furniture back - (Laurie gets the telly-she paid for half). James can have the food in the icebox. Mona can have all of my jewelry (she gave it all to me in the first place.) As for my journals? 1987-1990 goes to Derek Ruckel, 1990-1994 - goes to Aaron McCubbins & Sascha Peterson, 1995-1998 goes to Daniel Thompson, 1998-2000 goes to Pete O'Connell, and in 2000 I decided to cease keeping a journal because me whining about boys was getting a little redundant...

I think I just wrote a makeshift/pseudo - Will. ? I meant everything I typed.

I wish real Wills were like high school Wills. Like, I would like to will someone my laugh, and my team spirit, and my ability to swim the 100 free in 1 minute 45 seconds. But that has all changed now. I guess my newfound abilities are making observations, reading bedtime stories to robin, cooking turkeys and hens, knitting extra long rectangles, and rummaging through thrift/antique stores....

I wonder what is more dangerous. Flying across the Atlantic once a month, or working in a Manhattan skyscraper Monday through Friday??



These conversations might not seem like much, but for some reason I get a lot of feedback on them - typically from people that live away from their parents. So I post these conversations for those of us who live far away from extremely CANDID families... sigh. Also - a side note - I get really homesick around the holidays so, this site might turn into the "my family kicks your families ass" blog for the month of December. But it's true. My family kicks ass. Once my mom kicked me in the ass. I probably deserved it though...

My family reads my website. Sometimes I will get messages telling me to “delete immediately – you are making me look like a fool.” (those would be from my mother.) or whatever – the WHOLE family is up on the gig. (hi family.) I figure its cool, because I am out living in this far away place, and they are all living in Alaska or Oregon being healthy and wise. Also - as much as they say they hate my cussing, i know they secretly love the stories. Plus - I am a bad emailer when it comes to family. Its just one of those things.
So whatever.
Yesterday I call my mom. She was sitting in the hospital with my Papa who is sick. Present in the room was my Grandma, Geoffrey, Geoffrey’s best friend Mike, and my Mom.
I called to scold her on buying tickets to go watch my other brother swim in Seattle. (He is swimming in the US Open this weekend, and both my parents are flying out to see him – Hence, I got a little jealous.) Anyway – whatever, our conversation ends.
I hang up.
About 4 seconds later they call back:
Your Grandmother wants to know if you have seen Pay It Forward?
Yes.
Well, that is what
the story on your website is about - the man on the bus, right?
Well yeah Mom, but it was more a comment on how typically American he was being – like automatically associating a random act with Hollywood. I found it funny to have just gotten off the plane, and be slammed in the face, first thing with something terribly American. It was funny to me.
(Mom to the room) She saw the movie, but she finds it funny, and thinks that guy was being too American.
(Mom to me) Your grandmother says you think too much.
What?
She said “That’s Anise for you, always analyzing everything.”
I thought it was just being perceptive.
No Anise, we all know you, and you over analyze. You can’t just say thank you to a man that paid your bus fare, you have to laugh and over analyze.
I did say thank you. I laughed to myself. He did not know how I felt. Its called thinking.
No its called over analyzing.
Okay.


According to TMobile, here is the official list of text messaging acronyms. Everyone study up. I will be sending text message Pop Quizzes.

Emoticons
:) = Happy face for humor, laughter, friendliness, sarcasm
:D = Super happy/toothy smile, broad smile, etc.
:( = Sad face for sadness, anger, upset
;) = Wink
:/ = Wry face:P = Tongue out for just kidding
((hug)) = a hug
= grin
ALL CAPS = yelling

Phrases
AFO = Adult fan of...
AIM = AOL™ Instant Messenger™
ASAP = As soon as possible
ATM = At the moment
AYT = Are you there?
B = Bye
BBFN = Bye bye for now
BBL = (I will) be back later
BYO = Bring your own
CU = See you
DDG = Drop dead gorgeous
EA = E-mail alert
EOD = End of day
ETA = Estimated time of arrival
Flame(s) = Negative or derogatory e-mail or chatting
FYI = For your information
GTG = Got to go
ICQ = 1) I seek you 2) ICQ Instant Messaging service
IGU = I give up
IMO = In my opinion
IRT = In regards to
JAM = Just a minute
JIT = Just in time
JJ = Just joking
JK = Just kidding
LMHO = Laughing my head off
LOL = Laughing out loud
Lurk = To hang out in the background/viewing
L8R = LaterNA = Not acceptable/applicable
NOS = New old stock
OIC = Oh, I see
POV = Point of view
PS = Post script
QR = Quick response
ROTFLOL = Rolling on the floor laughing out loud
SMS = Short message service (an e-mail or other message)
SPAM = unwanted e-mail or chat content
SRO = Standing room only
SUP = What's up?
TOM = Tomorrow
TNX or TKS = Thanks
TTYL = Talk to you later
U2 = You, too
UR = You are
VSTR = VoiceStream
WYSIWYG = What you see is what you get

Abbreviations for words
1 = one, won, want
2 = To, too
4 = For
8 = ate
Y = Why
M = Am
N = An, and
M8 = Mate, boy or girl friend
NE = Any
R = Are
U = You
O = Oh
K = OK
L8R = Later
4VR = Forever
YER = Your, you're
B4 = Before
CUZ = Because

Examples of text-speak
i12cu = I want to see you.
cu l8r k? = See you later, ok?
10s ne1? = Tennis anyone?