#283. Do the 30 Day Song Challenge - Day 8

Day 8 - A Song That You Know All The Words To

In honor of being out here in Chicago for the wedding of my friend Daniel Strauss -

Spoont. - Everything a Teenybopper Movie Should Be

Back in High School my life was spent going to and playing basement shows and unitarian churches and Fort Reno and the Corner Kick. I can't imagine any other way to spend growing up than everyone I know being in a band and making music together and dancing all the time. It was awesome.

Spoont. was made up of some of my best friends. And regardless from that, I was their biggest fan and they were my favorite of all the local bands. Daniel Strauss, Jacob Mazer, Andy Freedman, and Ali Plotsky made music that I loved. That's pretty awesome when your friends make music you are a fan of by itself. I think Dan and Jacob are incredible songwriters and the chords and lyrics to this song brings me back to another time - but are still meaningful to me now. Spoont. is the band I want go back in time and be a part of.

And Teenybopper (along with Julia) was my favorite.

I can sing every word to Teenybopper, and it's my favorite song title of all time. The title is evocative of wanting our reality in our fantasy. The song is a back on forth of possibility and defeat, optimism and letting go.

And no one ever nailed it better than

I can't make these brain cells go much faster anymore.

I get that.

I will see all four of them this weekend, and you can rest assured I'll be singing this song out the car window on the 11 hour drive back to DC, with guitar chords blaring in my head.

put me to sleep

I do not believe in god.
I do not believe in fate.
I don’t believe in a lot of things.
But I have faith that I will know when I am in love and someone loves me.

Sometimes that is something I believe.

I have someone sometimes who I want all the time.
She’s asleep.

When she wakes up I don’t know if she’ll love me.
Some days she does, and some she doesn’t.
Most she doesn’t know.
It isn’t easy.

When she wakes up I don’t know if she’ll look at me with a soft smile and lit eyes and say ‘hi’, and gently pull me to her while she nestles back to sleep. I don’t know if she’ll look at me, feel nothing, and only kiss me because in the moment, that’s what’s easy.

I don’t know.
So I go to the bathroom and I throw up. I dry heave my anxiety until my mouth is filled with bile and my chest burns. I look at myself in the mirror, deep into my own eyes and say “no one will ever fight for you like this.”

But when I look at her next to me, sleeping in my bed - my god she’s in my bed.
Her hair is askew and she’s breathing lightly, her lip slightly curled and her skin soft like silk - she is so beautiful. More than my words can ever hope to say or convey. She’s so pretty. She’s so peaceful.
And she is here with me.
Even for one moment, one night, one memory – by her choice, again, she is here with me.
I love this woman like nothing I have known.
And in my heart, half the time in her eyes, I think she loves me.
She’s not sure, but I believe.

I do not believe in God.
But I have my faith.

#283. Do the 30 Day Song Challenge - Day 7

Day 7 -A Song That Reminds You Of A Certain Event

Theater is a very ephemeral art form. It exists for a very brief time in the real world, and then only in the hearts and minds of the participants and audience. Film will last, music will last, writing and poetry and some sculpture all have that potential - but a theatrical performance has a much shorter shelf life as an actual thing. The individual pieces may live on - like the script, a costume, etc. And it may be recorded on video. But that doesn't really capture the experience - it's just not the same medium.

And so your body of work becomes a line on the resume, a series of memories, and hopefully the impact you and your work and the work of your colleagues and team mates have made on an audience and each other.

Closer is one of those shows I am glad I remember vividly and have triggers for.

It is my favorite script, my second show as a director at UMD and for The Weekday Players. It took hard work to make happen after a failed Off-Center bid, the arrogance to say we COULD do this show and to take it on ourselves to just do. It was the moment I knew I could be a director and an Artistic Director someday. I worked with people I love to create the best thing I had done to that point. It was FAR from perfect but it was one of the best times of my life. Hands down.

- Building the set with Christian until 3am, drinking in Tawes.

- Andrew Gerritsen becoming one of my best friends.

- Oren Benamor taking his acting skills to another level in one of the first transcendent actor/character relationships I was privileged to be a part of. A fist wrapped in blood, indeed.

- Brittany, Roni, and Amanda and the joy of working with them and growing with them.

- The strip club scene, with one pool of light and a real cigarette smoking - one of the coolest, sparsest visuals I've seen.

This was my first time I was like - "oh, I can do this."

And the sound design. I loved this soundtrack. Josh Grossnickle and I spent hours and hours going over songs. Only late 80s to Mid-90s british bands. There was a consistent sound and it grounded the piece. The Cure, The Smiths, Radiohead. It was the first time I truly worked to create a world in design as well as acting.

The song that stands out most from so many is

Oasis - Live Forever

From the moment the drums start to snap, it will always make me think of our ephemeral production of Closer. The transition just before the bedroom scene between Roni and Amanda. Roni shirtless, Amanda in T-shirt and undies. Their love and vulnerability. The bed. The slap. "I don't love you anymore, goodbye."

What a great scene, what a great show, and a great group of people.

#221. Watch All of AFI's Top 100 Movies of All Time - Rocky

After our attempt at South Street Steaks, Christian and I came back to regroup over an AFI Top 100 film. Rocky felt appropriate for the day. I've always avoided Rocky thinking I sort of 'knew' what the movie would be like.

I was wrong - what a great film.

I can't say that I'm a fan of anything else Sylvester Stallone has done in his career, but this was really wonderful. His performance was top notch, the writing was hysterical and earned all the cheesy moments I thought WERE the film. It was a very different movie than I expected.

Watching this and Raging Bull so close together was really cool. Both are obviously boxing movies, but more than that, they seem to track men starting at the same place who go in the total opposite directions. Both begin as inner city bums hoping to be contenders, on the wrong side of the law but with a lot of promise. Deniro's character in Bull becomes a significantly worse person over the movie, where even watching his rise is really just watching his fall. Rocky grows as a person, illuminating his goodness and realistic expectations. When given a chance - he rises.

And he has the best conversation with a door you're likely to see on film.

I highly recommend watching with Christian as every time Burgess Meredith comes on screen you'll get a wonderful "Wagh! Wagh! Wagh! Come on Rocky, lets get the Batman! Wagh!"

Highly Recommended.
75 to go.

#204. Keep A Food Log Every Day For Six Months - Week 2

This week was actually a step backwards, I think, aside from just keeping the list.

Gotta double down and make some real changes.

Suggestions welcome.

WEEK 2

SUNDAY 8/7

1pm

Ham Sandwich - Ham, Brie, Honey Mustard, Lettuce, Tomato, French Roll

4-30pm

Frozen Watermelon Margarita

Spinach & Artichoke Dip

Baguette

8-15pm

Hamburger - Beef Pattie, Bleu Cheese, Bun

Pickle Spear

MONDAY 8/8

11-30am

Steam Omelette - Eggs, Lox, onion, tomato

1-45pm

Kung Pao Chicken

Fried Rice

Bottled Water

9pm

Cheeseburger - 1/2 lb Beef Pattie, Pepperjack Cheese, Blue Cheese, Roasted Red Peppers

Chips w/ Dill Dip

Rum/Pineapple/Sprite

TUESDAY 8/9

12-15pm

Strawberry Milk

2pm

Cheeseburger - Beef pattie, cheese, bun, bbq sauce

Cheeseburger - "Beef pattie, cheese, half bun, ketchup, mustard

"

Orange Juice

6-15pm

Shrimp Roll - Shrimp, Split Top Roll

Pickle Spear

Root Beer

WEDNESDAY 8/10

12-15pm

Frankfooter - two hot dogs, baguette, melted cheese blend

11pm

Cheeseburger Bite - Cheeseburger Bite, Bun, Ketchup, Mustard

THURSDAY 8/11

11-30pm

Schwarma Wrap - Thin Sliced Marinated Lamb/Beef Combo, Lettuce, Tomato, Onion, Naan Bread

Rice

Water

FRIDAY 8/12

12-30pm

Pesto Chicken Sandwich - Pesto Chicken Breast, Lettuce, Sun Dried Tomato Spread, Multigrain Flatbread

Cup of New England Clam Chowder

Cracked Pepper Potato Chips

6pm

1/2 a Steak

Cinnamon Almonds

2 Small pieces of Baklava

1/2 a chocolate bar

1 Ice Cream Sandwich

Strawberry Ice Pop

Lemon Lime Seltzer

SATURDAY 8/13

12am

Helenic Delight Burger - Beef Patty, feta, mozzarella, Parmesan, mayo, ciabatta

Cole Slaw

12-45pm

1/2 Mis-Steak Cheesesteak - Steak, Bacon, Pepperoni, Three Cheeses, Onions, French Fries, Sub Roll

8pm

Buffalo Chicken Sandwich - Grilled Chicken Breast, Hot Sauce, Bleu Cheese, Roll

Side Cincinatti Chili with Cheese

#88. Get Your Picture on Three Restaurant Walls - Fail

The day started with such promise. The sun was bright, the weather clear, and Jason Schlafstein and Christian Sullivan both had actual days off. On a weekend.

We had a plan. It was easy. We would go get our picture on a final restaurant wall, recover over an AFI Top 100 movie, and then go eat an obscure animal body part. Cross off three from the list in one day, nice and relaxed like.

So we made our way to South Street Steaks in my old stomping grounds of Quince Orchards to do the Cheesesteak Challenge. Two cheesesteaks? No problem.

When we got there, there were no photos on the wall.

That should have been our first warning.

We were assured that they still did the challenge. Not only would we get our picture on the wall, but a $50 gift card. Awesome.

But it wasn't just eat two cheesesteaks.

It was eat two Mis-steaks.

The Mis-Steak is a giant sandwich filled with steak, pepperoni, bacon, onions, three kinds of cheese, and most disgustingly french fries - all on a bun.

The rules were no bathroom breaks, no throwing up, no sharing, plate clean.

45 minutes.

The guy behind the counter laughed in our face basically. Said we didn't know what we were getting into. We asked did anyone else ever finish it? "Some woman," he said. "She didn't want her picture on the wall."

We could be The First on the wall. That's like double points.

We went for it. This wasn't a cheap buy in either.

I won't lie, I was intimidated. This was going to be painful. Christian was all business. We did air punches through the restaurant. We hit up the bathroom. We got ready.

And watched as they created two GIGANTIC piles of the most disgusting looking slop I have ever seen and poured them onto crusty rolls. These things were motherfucking huge. Like triple stuffed subs. The pepperoni and bacon felt under cooked, not crispy at all. A full order of fries chopped up into each pile.

We had made a huge mistake.

This photo doesn't do it justice...

The clock started. We grabbed forks. We were going to do this.

It was then that we learned the previous winner, that woman? Black Widow Sonya - professional eater. Gives Kobayashi a run for his money. We can eat, but we are no pros.

Fifteen minutes in I had barely made a dent. And it was DISGUSTING. The three cheeses in particular. The gamy bacon and 'pepperoni.' Ugh. If it was only beef and provolone I think I could have done it. Honestly.

But this was 5 lbs of utter artery clogging hell. And it didn't even taste good.

Still, Christian would not be deterred. Pride was on the line. We came for a photo.

We powered through.

Eventually Christian literally started getting food drunk. He still had a full sandwich and a roll left. While he was gone I decided to ramp it up. I would not disappoint. I went for a huge bite - and started dry heaving at the smell.

That's when I knew. Discretion was the better part of valor. There was NO WAY I would finish this. Forget whether or not I could (I couldn't) - I SHOULDN'T.

I was still feeling okay. Knowing I wouldn't get my photo, I just stopped. There was no reason to spend the rest of the day feeling disgusting for no reason.

As Sarah Davis says - life is too short to eat food that doesn't taste good.

Sully was mad. He wanted to finish. He tried. He tried so hard. And got one all the way down. HE GOT ONE. But it was just too much. Men were not meant to eat this.

The Black Widow had done it in 15 minutes.

Defeat.

Before we left, Christian went to the bathroom to throw up. He really went the distance on this one.

We both said we were okay, but we felt it. Defeated. Vanquished. Unsuccessful.

As we left, it started to rain. We walked to the car with the water dripping down our faces, the sky overcast.

Okay God, we got the message.

I honestly don't know if I'll ever eat a cheese steak again.

#283. Do the 30 Day Song Challenge - Day 6

Day 6 - A Song That Reminds You Of Somewhere

K's Choice - Not An Addict

This song will always remind me of the Ranch Computer Lab, with TJ singing along ironically.

Great song, tragically amusing context.