Sorkinism #3.

Leo: "If we're going to walk into walls, I want us running into them full speed. We're going to lose some of these battles, and we might even lose the White House, but we're not going to be threatened by issues. We're going to bring 'em front and center. We're going to raise the level of public debate in this country, and let that be our legacy."

Saved-up thoughts.

I'm back after a torturous week without a computer. And, naturally, I've had a lot of thoughts during this week. I meant to write them down to share with you. Unfortunately, I did not have any paper. So I'll give you all I can remember, which appears to be 4. Summer makes my brain capacity go down.

1. When I was in NYC this weekend, I saw a couple on the sidewalk with matching scooters. No no, they were not an elderly pair both in need of electronic wheelchairs. They were 20-somethings, who did not appear to be tourists, in Times Square. And the matching scooters were RAZOR SCOOTERS. So basically my point is these were the coolest people ever and I wish I could be their child and ride with them into golden city sunsets.

2. Ender's Game--Huzzah! I finally see why it was an adolescent favorite of so many. IT IS FOR SERIOUSLY GREAT! I enjoyed every second.

3. The reason I was reading Ender's Game was because I needed an emergency book. I had brought another one with me, A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius, expecting that the 400-page hardcover would last me at least the three days I was spending with my dad at the beach. The surprise was on me, though. It was so unbelievably fantastic that I finished it easily in two sittings. This book left me completely rejuvenated and so inspired that I think I've started writing my memoir. Sure, writing one's memoir at 19 may seem unwise to some, but I actually feel like it might make it more interesting to reflect on things that just happened last week. The excitements and regrets will be a lot more exaggerated that way. But back to Dave Eggers--obviously, as a long-time dedicated reader of McSweeneys, I've always been a little in love with the guy, but WOW now I am head-over-heels. Basically, I feel like there is no better proof of an author's greatness than his ability to infiltrate your brain and actually burn his voice onto the way you think. And all week I've been thinking Eggers-style. Granted, my thoughts were pretty similar to his (ie. ODD) before I read the book, but I can't get him out of my head. And that makes him pretty fucking great in my opinion.

4. I got an internship WHAT. After thinking that I totally bombed my interview a few months ago (I casually referred to archiving as, "my jam"), I will be spending my Fridays this year with the Wooster Group! Naturally, I am very, very, very excited. More than that, though, I'm a little bit terrified. I have an extremely strong paranoia that I am now in WAY over my head. But at least I'll get to watch hours of videos with cameos by naked Willem Dafoe!

Sorkinism #2.

President Bartlet: "Do you have a best friend? Is he smarter than you? Do you trust him with your life? That's your chief of staff."

Nothing can be wrong with this creature in the world.

Sorkinism #1.

Toby: "Nobody ever looks like Joe McCarthy. That's how they get in the door in the first place."

"Make it work."

Tim Gunn's voice is like a hot mug of cocoa after a long day of sledding. 

WITH mini-marshmallows. 

I AM SO HAPPY AND THEREFORE A TERRIBLE PERSON BUT I DON'T CARE.

THIS JUST IN FROM WIKIPEDIA ABOUT BRADLEY AND JANE KACZMAREK: 

"On June 19, 2009, the couple announced that they were filing for divorce after 16 years of marriage."

My time has come, World.

Wing of the West.

I may have started re-watching all of West Wing. Again. And all I have to say is:

BRADLEY WHITFORD BRADLEY WHITFORD BRADLEY WHITFORD BRADLEY WHITFORD.

Dear Bradley,

Remember that time I was walking near my apartment last summer and you were sitting at a window table in Pigalle. You were clearly loading up on proteins in between shows of Boeing Boeing and I was trying not to swoon when the most magical of moments occurred-- OUR EYES MET AND THEN THEY LINGERED! That's right, your smiling eyes fell upon my face and then they danced; OH, how they danced. 

!!!!!!!!!

Missed connection. But still fantastic. BAM. 

Just wait until Dule Hill makes his first appearance. Every time I watch the series, my heart is utterly split. Also, whenever I watch West Wing, I have a slight to moderate identity crisis and literally think I want to go to law school and then be a politician.

I guess I just want to play one in a show/movie/series?

Books.

I just finished Arthur Laurents' book, Mainly on Directing. I would thoroughly recommend it to anyone with an interest in directing, musical theatre, great shows, or any combination of these three. While it occasionally turns into an outlet for an old man to deliver snippy side-notes about past collaborators, it's a pretty fascinating look into both the art and business of theatre. And sometimes it takes Arthur Laurents candidly admitting his mistakes for me to remember that we can't expect ourselves to be perfect directors, artists, or people after only 20 years of life. If he's still learning, I'm pretty sure it's okay to admit that I still am, too. Some little gems I made note of and felt like sharing:

"What must come first, what is  basic to acting in a musical, is grounding the performance in emotional reality. That, of course, is basic to acting in a play, to acting in anything; but in a musical, that reality is harder to find and even harder to hold on to, because it is so covered with the language of the musical. The director's first task--and it's worth all the time it may take--is to make sure every one of his actors locates his emotional reality."

On the death of his long-term lover: "We were together for fifty-two years. I'm unable to live through the empty space; I can only survive."

"Why do directors direct? To be in control? To achieve the success they couldn't as actors? To produce theatre that gives the audience an experience only theatre can--moves them, excites and entertains, illuminates, and always makes them want to see more theatre, that's the desired answer."

As always, thank you DailyPuppy.com.

If I were a puppy, I'm pretty sure I would be this puppy.

My thoughts exactly.

Tracy Jordan: "Birds are like little dinosaurs, so what I'll be doing is actually pretty cool...and BRAVE!"

I'm almost all the way through the last season of 30 Rock! Saying goodbye will be tough for sure.

Things that are wrong with me.

Now here is a thing I have noticed. It has been brought to my attention (on more than one occasion, in fact) that I swing my arms an excessive amount when I walk. GODDAMN. Thanks a lot, Mom! When I was first learning to walk, instead of clapping your hands affectionately and recording it in the baby book, you clearly should have said, "No no, Honey, you're doing it wrong" and corrected me. 

The simplest things--always the hardest.  

Near-death and soooo delicious.

Guys--this.just.in. Traumatic experience!

I was downstairs in the kitchen, just preparing myself a bowl of spaghetti with all the fixings (yes, it is in fact 3am but any time is a good time for pasta in my opinion). Of course, I needed to make sure that the noodles were properly dressed with the right amount of parmesan cheese, so I decided to test it out by consuming a single noodle. I went through all the expected paces--I opened my teeth, put it on my tongue, chewed it up, and swallowed. Eating--I do it everyday. Easy right?

BUT NO.

For some reason, the single strand of spaghetti proved too difficult for me. It got stuck in my throat, creating a very painful and unnerving discomfort each time I attempted to swallow. I also could not tell if I was choking. I know people say that you would know for sure if you were choking but really, I could have been swayed either way. But the mere possibility was freaking me out. So, as any smart, strong, independent woman does in a time of crisis, I took a moment to assess the best way of handling the situation. 

The only choice, I swiftly decided, was to quickly and gracefully devour the entire bowl of spaghetti. And I did. Yes, others might have opted for a more typical solution (Heimlich, 911, etc), but I decided that over-eating was more up my alley. And you know what--IT WORKED. The rapid devouring of the remainder of the delicious pasta eventually cleared my airway and the pain dissipated. And I seem fine (I'll update if any serious medical concerns appear over time, OBVZ).

I felt that I needed to promptly blog about my near-death experience because I think it sends a good message to kids everywhere:

Over-eaters CAN live happily ever after.

And by live happily ever after, I mean just live.

And by just live, I mean somehow manage to survive another day. 

THE END.

Continuing the list of words I like.

Ampersand. That's a really great word. It's a wonderful symbol, too. I always want to use it more but I can never figure out how to recreate the damn thing. Every once in a while, I'll manage something that is reminiscent of & (although mine involves dots on either side), but I'd like to get it right. I'd really like to add that symbol to my print repertoire. I guess I've got three weeks until school starts?

And apparently a new project! HUZZAH!

Additionally...

Add to the list--plums. JESUS CHRIST, plums.

Simply Summer.

Summer always makes you appreciate the simple things in life:

1. The unbelievable beauty of a perfect peach, the kind where it is so incredibly ripe that you don't even mind when tiny bits get stuck in your teeth. It's worth it. 

2. 21-minute episodes of Arrested Development. They are like Reese's miniatures--always leave you wanting more, but even one by itself is delicious. 

3. Crafts. Just...crafts. 

4. A sun shower on an afternoon of unbearable humidity.

5. A good indoor fan.

6. Philadelphia consignment shops and the dollhouse-flawlessness of Society Hill houses. 

7. The life of my dog reflects my own attitudes and habits--there is a LOT of lying around on any available surface (if only 3 inches of the couch are available, I will somehow find a way to fit into it). I like getting my belly rubbed. My ears can't help but perk up at the sound of someone walking in the door. Smoked meat?--yes please. And if you put the TV on, I will undoubtedly watch it...or at least look in its general direction.

8. Wawa coffee.

9. The hilarious/brilliant/ridiculous combination of voices in Miyazaki's new movie:

-Cate Blanchett

-Miley Cyrus' younger sister

-Tina Fey

-the Jonas Brothers' younger sibling

-Lily Tomlin

-Liam Neeson

Oh, and of course Cloris Leachman. NATURALLY.

RE: 30 Rock, Season 2

Oh, it is DEFINITELY picking up.

Tracy Jordan to a pigeon on the street: "Stop eating people's old french fries, Pigeon. Have some self-respect. Don't you know you can FLY?"

Netflix Watch Instantly.

Currently watching: The Wackness.

I guess I'm a little confused. Isn't it a pinch early to be making a period piece about '94?

By the Hammer of Thor!

Slowly making my way through the entirety of 30 Rock. Just started season 2 and, I have to be honest, it's not as good as the middle-end of season 1. Someone please tell me it picks up? Although I am hoping to someday record this song:

Werewolf bar mitzvah
Spooky scary
Boys becoming men
Men becoming wolves...

Just some thoughts on my mind this morning.

I really like the word tabulate. 

T-A-B-U-L-A-T-E.

Great/Terrible Night.

Last night, Fate colored my world rose. My good friend from England has been in the city for a few weeks. Excellent. But she has no phone. Not so excellent. Every time we get together, it's an adventure of just showing up somewhere and waiting around for a while and hoping the other person has gotten our facebook messages. Sometimes it works, sometimes is doesn't. But last night it did work, because we met up outside the Al Hirschfeld to play the Hair lottery. It was her last night here and we just really really REALLY wanted to see it so we figured we'd try even though it was essentially impossible. But somehow, Fate knew we were pure of heart and smiled upon us, because my friend won!

I know I'm a little late hopping on the Hair train, especially since I have been absolutely in love with this show since I first listened to it when I was like seven (and then my mom quickly took away my CD when she remembered that there is a song called "Sodomy") but it was worth the wait. GO SEE THIS SHOW. It is sort of hard for me to cry from theatre but this one got me. COMPLETELY. I truly believe this show has the ability to change you, so let it. Also, if anyone can figure out how to get me into this show--suggest away because this is something I just neeeeeeed to be a part of. Besides, I've been perfecting my rendition of "Frank Mills" since elementary school. But literally. 

Some other thoughts I had during the show:

1. Will Swenson touched my hair so essentially Audra McDonald touched me, RIGHT??

2. Then Caissie Levy touched my hair. DOES THIS MEAN THAT I CAN BELT NOW??

3. Fringe--I should wear more of it.

4. The actress who plays Crissy was out. Do you think that if I had come to the theatre with my own print-outs reading, "The role of CRISSY, usually played by ALLISON CASE, will be played by EMILY KAPLAN," they would have been forced to let me perform?

Alas, my tale of last night doesn't end there. As I was walking home, feeling inspired and invigorated and touched, my spirits were quickly crushed. Walking down the hall of my apartment, I began to hear a very loud, high-pitched beeping noise. Interesting. Well my mild interest quickly turned into intense panic as I approached my door and realized that the beeping was coming from MY APARTMENT. As I was scrambling for my keys, I pictured myself opening the door and seeing the place 100% on fire. But when I entered--no flames, no smoke. Hmm. Instead, it was coming from the air conditioner. So while my life was safe for another day, I did have to awkwardly sit on the couch while the super came and removed the broken part. And then this morning, I had to awkwardly sit in bed at 8am when the super came back to replace said part. 

P.S. Did I mention that I was wearing a nightgown? I quickly put on some leggings underneath to try to make it a little less racy. Plus a bra. OBVIOUSLY. 

This story just goes to show you, the next time you are having a terrific night--beware. Because something is about to go frighteningly wrong. Oh, that's just my life because nothing ever works out the way I want it to? Got it, thanks. 

Sometimes things are crazy!

You did it AGAIN, StumpleUpon.

I'm BAAAAAAAACK.

Guys! I'm sorry it's been so long! Work has been absolutely insane the last few weeks. We're talking like, 13+ hour days. But the show I was interning for went up and it was ridiculously hilarious and wonderful. And featured the gassiest cast in the world. But they, as well as the creative team, were all tremendous and I can't remember laughing more than I have in the last three weeks. So now my job is over! It's really tripping me out actually--it feels like I was starting the internship yesterday and now it's just a memory. It was certainly hard work, but incredibly rewarding. You'd think now I'd be exhausted. You'd think I'd want to sleep until noon. But NO. I can't seem to sleep later than 9am. Which has left me with many hours to sit in my apartment and watch marathons of America's Next Top Model (not that I'm complaining). But if you feel like doing fun things, let me know!

Other news:

I SAW MY FLASHER AGAIN. I know, it seems impossible. But there he was, standing across the subway car from me. This time it was the N-R-W instead of the B-D but the rest of the scenario was the same. Same outfit, same open pants hidden behind a jacket. Except this time, instead of being completely exposed, he was wearing a purple banana hammock. I KID YOU NOT. I almost hope I see him again, because I want to inform the authorities instead of just running away. I am going to get you, Mr. Stalker/Banana-Hammock Man. 

Happier news:

My StumbleUpon account knows me oh-so-well. I just got THIS and smiles are now abounding.