the world will be watching....

last weekend, i went back in time and became a tween. i know, i'm like 14 years past reasonable and plausible tween years, but get over it. the night started as so: around 10PM. i stopped at a bodega and procured the following: vanilla coca cola (i'm a dr pepper drinker, through and through, for the end of time, i should be buried with a pack. but once in a while, i crave a vanilla coke. it's not cheating. and, i never see it in nyc, so it's like a mini vacation for my mouth. but i always come home to my precious DP.), pockey, and harbo gummy bears. as a tween, i must stay on a strict tween diet. as a tween, one would assume a parental unit would take me to the theatre - instead, i have the MTA, and took the subway. i guess i can't always follow the tween life. and finally, i arrived at the theatre where i found my seat along all the other fans, ready to watch, grimace, and cheer as 24 tributes participated in the 74th annual hunger games.

mary kindly printed me her ticket (thanks! slash, i owe you a movie) and i waited with giddy anticipation for the BEST MOVIE OF OUR TIME. that's a little far, but the build-up for this thing has been tremendously well timed AND well thought out. if you don't believe me, take a look at this NYTimes article which is very interesting and discusses the marketing/advertising campaign for the movie. seriously, they did an amazing job and really intensified the whole thing for me - complete with a long roll-out, tease, campaign, etc. overall, the marketing reminded me of 'jaws', which is famous for not showing the shark for about 45 minutes into the movie. it's about the anticipation, and some people forget that. a lot of people forget that. but considering the source material, which is about strategy, while also playing to your people without giving too much away at first, the marketing team did an impeccable job of keeping everyone hungry (pun, not really intended) for more.

anyway, i attended the movie with valerie and brittany, who also joined me in being a tween. we talked about boys, we ate the snacks and gave dirty looks to the girls behind us. clearly, we were on the more popular end of the spectrum. and finally, the lights dimmed. the screen flickered and we were subjected to some of my most favorite things of a movie: the trailers.

long story short, the most important trailer we enjoyed was: TITANIC 3D. i mean, they really know their target demographic. well done, paramount. well done.

so, the movie. it. was. amazing. i loved it. i don't want to give too much away, since many might not have seen it (are you guys not on 'the hunger games' train? because, we've boarded and i'm sorry you can't come play with us at the capitol.). i have a few issues with the film, most notably the camera work, but i understand they were trying to put us in the moment, in katniss's shoes. they obviously had to change some things for flow and pace, and i accepted that.

the most interesting thing to note was the violence. the novel touched on the violence and described it in graphic detail, especially for a YA novel. a couple of reviews i've read stated how they felt the violence was too nice, that it was depicted in a way where a viewer wouldn't leave with a feeling of disgust or remorse; essentially saying the violence was weak for the viewer. i disagree. i found it humiliating, and gross and it bothered me. i'm not a complete girl for violence, and understand the need for it in a story. but the director and his team did an excellent job in showing the violence on screen without making it gratuitous. i mean, they did this for a couple of reasons: one, being the rating by the MPAA. the second (my opinion) is: how much violence is really necessary to tell a compelling and intriguing story for the masses? for those who have read the books, we understand there is violence in the book and will be in the movie. but we don't need to have a complete and exact translation of bloodshed from page to screen. further, these are children. these are school children who, in the context of the film, don't all want to be there (clearly, there are a few who relish in the games...). i'm sorry, but i don't need to have a lingering shot of a harpoon sticking through someone. i'm old enough to imagine the pain and gore that is associated with such a thing and the overall takeaway from the harpoon isn't that she died, but rather the sadness that comes from such an ending to a person.

gary ross and team did an excellent job in taking the most important aspects of the story, dialing it back a tad, and also changing the topic to not just violence, but to "how does violence affect the person committing/witnessing/watching the action."

at the same time, it's interesting to see a film tackle the aspects of violence as sport, while we currently live in an era where we try to fight violence being shown in the media. now, that's a thesis topic.

anyway, go see the movie. and may the odds be ever in your favor.

late mid-twenties crisis?

yes, it's true. i've been a 27 year-old boy/man/adult for 4 full days and i am already having a crisis. case in point, i've started throwing out all of my clothes. literally. i have 3 (small) bags filled with clothes. why? i know people throw out or donate their clothes all the time. but i love clothes. i love my clothes. but, now that i am 27, i want to start acting more like an adult. i say that all the time. but, i think once i start on my outward appearance, i will then start acting like a real adult.

essentially, i've been wanting to start having work outfits. mary can attest that i have a very lax wardrobe at the office, and while i love that, and relish in the days that i can wear a hoodie to the office, i also know that i need to start being more mature. so, i thought: why not have work outfits! novel idea, dear brian. i actually think that will be more beneficial to me as well, and i have even started looking at things not as "awwww, cute. must. have. now." but rather "well, can i wear this to work and does it fit into my professional wardrobe." maturity!

the feeling on that above paragraph is i have a lot of clothes. a lot of great clothes. i can talk about clothes for days. i love fashion. i find it so interesting. and sometimes, i don't have enough of it. but, digressing, i want to start minimizing my weekend clothes and focusing on my adult week clothes. besides, let's face it - when i am doing anything on the weekends, i'm in comfy lounge clothes until it's time to go out. and then, when i do go out, i'm in a v-neck and jeans or shorts. but i guess, i'm so scared to try being more adult because ... well, i don't know why. i don't mind dressing professional. but it has to be the RIGHT type of professional. it's a trying on, and tailoring situation.

i'm also worried i am falling behind in a lot of work things. everything seems to be coming at all directions, and while i love it and love learning, i can't help but wonder if i am not being allowed to learn more. what i mean, is i don't want to feel like just hands to the people i work with. i want to participate in more, and it's frustrating when you are not needed, but needed at the same time. it's just a literal cluster fuck. but, i still love what i do, and am excited for all the new things, regardless of my personal issues with things. that's not hindering me in the long run. it's just a mild hurdle. (mildly vague paragraph)

on a side note, nicki minaj's "super bass" is highly addictive. and i mean that. i've listened to it on repeat for a while. followed by jack's mannequin. so i mean, my musical taste is highly varied.

hurricane irene also came to party for my birthday. she was fun, and provided a great backdrop to a great birthday weekend. i'm glad she decided to calm down a little, and not steal all my thunder.

i'm also really sick, and can't seem to get better. i even had a nose bleed today at work and not just one, but both nostrils decided to erupt blood out of my nose. TMI? it was mildly traumatic. and because i am sick, i haven't been able to go to the gym and that's just getting ridiculous. must go soon.

i don't have anything to add to my crisis. but crap, i'm in my late twenties. let's remember though: botox is no longer a joke, but a possibility.

a reflection. yikes.

earlier this week, i was able to take in a show that just began previews "the normal heart" which is, in an easy and simple way to explain, a play about the beginning of the AIDS epidemic. it's much more than that, a political play about the frustration so many gay people had in the early stages of HIV/AIDS and those who tried to take a stand, and others who wanted to fight with grace.

it moved me. really. and not because i am gay. but it did a few things for me.

1) i have no idea who i am. and i say this because i don't know my history as a gay person. do i want to know? maybe. but i've always been the person to never let my homosexuality define who i am. honestly, i feel that me being gay is the least interesting thing about me. and i feel that i have been successful in that endeavor since i decided to come out. i have so many other qualities that make me who i am. with that, i've never demanded people respect me, and i've never yelled at anyone because my rights are not equal or attacked them for the same reason. i'm a lover, not a fighter! but in seriousness, MLK and Ghandi did this (i think. you see, i'm not very good at things like history and geography and things that require concentration) - you have to fight with rational thinking and calmness. if rome wasn't built in a day, equal rights won't happen with vicious words or swinging of fists.

so when i say i don't know who i am, i've never had to fight like people before me had to fight. i wonder if they will write about that in the history books - like women's rights or the civil rights movement. what will ours be called? the rainbow riots? the fairy war? oh, i could go on and on. but it would be an interesting read.

2) it made me realize how lucky i am. i am lucky to have a group of friends and family who completely love and trust me and accept me for who i am. no questions. i don't know if that is because we have come so far, or because we all found each other, but i am so fortunate to not worry about having a brother say to me "you aren't my equal" or parents who would rather assume i am "unwell." but as i type that, my parents probably assume i've already joined a cult and wear only black and do poetry slams on thursdays. which is a lie, since i do them on wednesdays.

story: i remember coming out to my roommate freshman year, like the day we moved in with each other - mind you, we also went to the same high school - and he is pretty conservative and he honestly didn't care. it didn't change who i was, and it didn't change the time we had. overall, it was one of the most rewarding experiences i could have had at such a young and impressionable age. so thanks college for showing me no one cares that i am gay. and thanks for putting me in the most annoyingly positioned dorm on the entire planet.

3) i belong to a group of people that are creators, artists, friends, brothers, sisters, thinkers and believers. these people have lived lives that we still talk about today - whole books have been devoted to these people - and they have changed how we do things, how we live and how we look forward. we are a group of many who have risen and have loved the world, even when we were not loved.

i say this because we can all do great things. and i say this because this above group can be said about anyone - it isn't based on sexuality.

side note, how ridiculous would it be to preface anything with "gay" or "straight" before it. ie: "this is my straight taxi cab driver." or "have you met my gay chef who makes the best cornbread in the world?" or, "this is my lesbian softball coach." ok, not the last one. there sexuality has nothing to do with how they actually perform their profession. but it does provide some individuals with a window of opportunity at 3am after a good poetry slam when they have a little background (background can come up organically in conversation, like "do you like girls or guys?")

so soak that in. soaking it in? good. now, throw some glitter in the air like you just don't care and get ready for a good time.

peace, love, and springtime,
bri bri

oh, julie.

i figured i will write my blog like i feel right now - a little add.

i saw 'spider-man: turn off the dark' (version 1.0) on wednesday with my good friend leigh. if you want my review, please ask her because we share the same opinion on many things. and my review will be exactly like her review. it's almost like we share mindssssssssssssssssss.

my goal to start waking up early has not been a vital success. rather, i've been sleeping later and later. and therefore, going to bed later and later. this is a terrible, no good, very bad cycle of regression to my freshman year of college. and one that needs to stop. i say this, while i sit in my bed writing at 10pm on a sunday. here is hoping my early night will be an early morning. searz (as in, seriously). i need to get bikini body ready. and yes, i know i don't wear bikini's, but i do wear swim trunks and the gays can be harsh judgers.

oh, i saw an opera too this week! boy, so much culture, i should pinch myself. this time, i saw the opera, 'tosca' with laura, and we enjoyed a wonderful time. our seats were the bomb dot com. seriously. we sat in the orchestra, and were in row 'g' which is about 7 rows from the front. i actually had to count that on my fingers while singing the alphabet - thanks teachers! now, for those of you who know me, i love theatres. i have a huge affection for old theatres, including old movie houses, and for me to go to these fancy schmancy ones is just a plain joy for me. i find the architecture to be divine and so well crafted, and i often wish movie theatres were still treated with such care. instead of the whole cookie cutter idea we have going on now.

and as we finish up the weekend, i need to realize a couple things. one, i need to be more aware of how i say things and how it will possibly be perceived. honestly, and this is from a male perspective, i don't think we fully think things through. and me, i'm one to say things and just say them. i'm not a malicious person, and the things i say, while sound cruel or harsh or sassy or something that might be negative, are not actually meant to hurt. and yes, even though words hurt, i should be more aware of things and what i say. i guess, i have the mentality of just free thought, no filter. which is good and bad.

two, i need to go into yoga knowing full well my body will be mistreated and i will soak my shirt in sweat.

charming, i know.

xoxo. let's have happy days and happy weeks as we welcome the spring weather.

happy new year!

scene: the prepster apartment, saturday morning/afternoon, winter
issue: the cable is down

yes, it's true. the cable, the gorgeous cable that beams through from the heavens into our television, is down. not working. access has been denied. life, as we know it, will continue. but so far, on this cold, winter day, it looks bleak. and being mildly ill (still?!?!? it's been like a week, at least) all i want to do is curl up, like a big cute fluffy dog, and lay on the sofa watching all the trashy television i can, knowing full well my brain cells are escaping at an alarming rate.

the tv screen is dark. so, i do what people in the old times did. i got on my phone and called people. followed by a short reading of the new york times, and some blog reading. not too shabby. but i will try not to make a habit of this. it's hard.

the good ladies at "a tale of two cities" did a little end of the year quiz. and to help me through my plague of no television, i have decided to do it.

______ was so not worth stressing over.
All I could listen to this year was ________.
Next year I promise to________.
The best thing I ate in 2010 was ________.
The night of the Lost series finale I was ________.
_______will be the new cupcake flavor in 2011.
I'm proud that I ________ this year.
Remember when Kanye ________?

My answers:

that one guy was so not worth stressing over.
All I could listen to this year was the glee cast album.
Next year I promise to have more confidence in the things i do.
The best thing I ate in 2010 was the appetizer and dessert at nougatin (the main course, not so much).
The night of the Lost series finale I was on the UWS, with good friends.
cupcakes without icing will be the new cupcake flavor in 2011.
I'm proud that I didn't change who i am because of where i work this year.
Remember when Kanye 's tweets were turned into songs by josh groban?

so it's the new year. and i hope it is delightful. i have my resolutions - the same ones i will break soon, don't worry. but i hope i can make a change. i'm like, getting older. i wish you all a great new year, and can't wait to see what is in store.

ps, if our cable isn't fixed soon, i might go ballistic and actually go outside.

a lounging saturday day.

as a budding socialite, wait. let me rephrase.

i have a minor goal in life to become a socialite. and to be featured on page six or as a blind item. my goals are lofty, and quite aspirational. and ones that will one day become true. i hope. i pray. i wish and hope.

so, let's resume.

as a budding socialite, i have been featured not once, but twice! on mary and annie's blog. You can read about annie and i's exploits in Los Angeles, and then you can enjoy the recap of recaps by my roommate mary for the preptser pumpkin palooza. And possibly enjoy the best picture ever. I will let you decide what that picture is.

i am watching one of the worst movies of the year, "i love you, beth cooper" and i am about to request this move be removed from hbo. so it's taking over my attention right now, this movie. and terribleness of it. i don't suggest you watch it. and if you must, have some alcohol.

and, today, i had a haircut. it was at this really great place called "salon 13" and it is on 13th and b. in texas and oklahoma, haircuts are about 30 bucks for a dude - at a salon. and that is what i was used to paying. but in nyc, the price for a haircut is about double that. and that's on the cheap end. luckily, i get a discount at bumble and bumble thanks to work, but the place can still be expensive, and the overall experience is rather overwhelming. b&b will have one person wash your hair, then another to cut it, and sometimes a new person to dry it. it's just overly complicated.

so, i have also wanted to try something new with my hair, since it's curly. and can be rather fro-ish. so, the lady who cut my hair, alx, was amazing. and she cuts hair for 'the killers' and we all know that is one of my favorite bands. so she already had points. plus! she gave me a beer to drink while she went to town. so really, the experience was way above what i was expecting, and cheaper.

that has been my day today.

boomer sooner.

welcome to cloudy la, mr. wright.

this blog will be hard to write about, because i don't want to name names or get into some details. not that i am ashamed of anything (i'm not) so i will write this blog using codes.

working for my awesome company, i get to do many fun things. i get to eat a lot of food in our awesome cafeteria, and i get to work in one of the prettiest buildings in the city.

i also get to work on an awesome project, which means i was able to take my first business trip to los angeles, california. which, was not sunny at all. and i didn't see the hollywood sign the entire time. true story.

the trip was wonderful, and i was able to visit my friend annie, who lives in los angeles and gets to see the hollywood sign all the time, and isn't sad when she can't because she lives there. and it's always there. she took me on some tours of places to eat, be seen and we shopped just a tad. on rodeo drive of course! the best part though, was being able to unwind in her perfect apartment and veg out watching gossip girl, season one, for about 7 hours. we had some scones, from bricks and scones of course, and lounged like there was no tomorrow.

we also ate in-n-out. which doesn't need an explanation or detailed description, but only, YUM! i would eat that daily. and then get fat and then be unhappy. vicious circle really.

overall, my trip to la, however cloudy, was wonderful. i accomplished what i needed to do for work, and while i had the most stressful two days of my life - i don't do well with stress because i'm sometimes a drama queen and i'm gay - it was perfect. it helped me grow in my position, so i know what to expect. and i'm prepared for a lot of things now. and when someone asks me about a stressful situation and how it was handled, i have the perfect story. and it goes like this:

"i went on a business trip, working on the ... "

you know you love me.

xoxo

let's go to the movies.

just yesterday i had the best idea eh-eh-eh-v-er for a blog post. and just yesterday, i forgot said blog post. such is life. and yet, here i am, trying to reclaim said blog post.

a weekly tradition has been enacted here at the prepster apartment. sunday funday brunch and movies. i say tradition because when the weather begins to cool, and we can't really enjoy the outdoor weather because it's the same temperature of the north pole, we're going to need to do something indoors. and that my friends, is the worst sentence and thought process ever. basically, it's only been two weeks. and those two weeks have been practice. we've been watching a shameful (note: i'm not really ashamed) amount of disney films. not like, homeward bound disney. i mean, disney classic animated films.

oddly, for someone such as myself who loves film, i've seen very few of the classic ones. but the renaissance disney films, i can recite by heart. anyway, i know what you are thinking: what do you wear?!

we wear pajamas. duh.

and i also know what you are thinking now: what do you eat?!

simple really. brunch food. this past week we - ok. i should said who we is. we is myself. and jill. soon, more people will come forth in our sunday funday extravaganza, but that is a case by case basis. and also, when they decide to come over. we act exclusive, but we love everyone. we're like glee! so anyway, we made stuffed raisin bread french toast. and then watched three disney films. once we've exhausted our disney vault, we will move onto a new genre. john hughes. musicals. movies that make you cringe at the very mention (any movie hillary duff has ever starred in (OH I JUST REMEMBERED MY POST IDEA - it's about movie stars (using that term lightly) and what they do after they hit their peak!); any movie based off an SNL skit; cuba gooding jr.) - the ideas are endless! but brunch will always be in our stomachs. plus, i love brunch food. and entertaining. don't you?

it's time for me to go to bed, and i hope you are all thinking about brunch now. cheerio.

over the hill

i am now officially over the hill. at least, in my 20s. which ain't no thaaaaang.

now that that is out of my system...

i had a great birthday full of wonderful friends and laughter. mary decorated my door and it was pure love. and she managed to find the coolest glassware around. i also treated myself with my birthday money to a few fancy purchases of the burberry kind. if you know me, you know i love burberry. j'adore burberry more specifically. so i feel pretty, oh so pretty. i am hoping to enact a burberry night where mary and i drink to our prepsterness and lounge in our burberry attire. the ladies who lunch have a few new members and a possible alcohol problem.

work is getting busy. busier. so i need to work on "my organizational skills" which is a direct quote from my boss. and i mean, i understand i am not super organized at all times, but i have my own way of doing things and it makes sense to me. it just annoys me that he assumes i am going to rethink my entire way of business skills because he wants things done a certain way. in all my life, it's a two way street. so i find it annoying because i find myself unproductive, constantly stepping around things, wondering if i should do that or not do that. i think it also stems from the fact my boss needs constant attention. and even today, i was talking to someone and he pulls me into his office only to ask what the person wanted. it was bizarre. bizarre i tell you. biiiiiizzzzzzaaaaaaare.

on a completely different note, i have noticed my midsection is starting to resemble a bagel. which stems from me eating A LOT of bagels. so i am going on a little diet (very little, like i won't always have the last bite) and starting to run again (run, like 1 mile at a time. let's not get fancy.) i would think with the stress of my job and the stress of being awesome at all times would make me lose weight like that, but no. it takes work. and if it is because i just became a man of a certain age, my body and i are going to have some words.

i am going to watch the little mermaid with the rooms. honest.

birthday weekend!

happy august people. and happy birthday week to me. as you may or, most likely, not know, my birthday is this week. and it is my golden birthday since i will be turning the same age as my birthdate. my mom said she should get an award for birthing me, and i said she should. but after me of course.

i am quite excited about this birthday. i don't know why really. sean, my best friend, came with his now wife for our birthday last year, as we have the same birthday. he is one year older however. but it was great to see him. nostalgic thinking right now. all together now, awwww. but this year, i will be with friends, at a job i love, and will top it off in rhode island to see my close friends who are my extended family. again, all together now, awwww. and...happy birthday!

to kick off my birthday, mary and i hosted a little housewarming party to great fanfare. the apartment is much larger than i thought to hold people, and i think will be a great place to have parties. i hope mary agrees.

by the way, this is a little bothersome. you see, i wanted to go to a gay club called "splash" here in new york city. and i was bringing all of my friends for the event. however, we were turned away at the door for reasons that are summed to me as this: too many girls, not enough dudes. which i find quite hypocritical for a world who wants to be accepting, but then has all these clauses on what is allowed and not allowed. it's rude. and we were treated rudely. we met all the dress code criteria, if there was one. and trust me, my friends are pretty. much prettier than the people waiting to get in line. honestly, i want an explanation. so clearly, the only way to get one is to blog about it. ugh.

but that won't stop me from having a monumental birthday with people i love.

also, mary has decorated our apartment in the most amazing fashion. vintage and 60s flow through the living room and i love it. you. will. die. it's just awesome. i love our space. come visit. anytime.

happy birthday to everyone else.

today is friday.

it's officially the middle of summer. maybe not officially, but i have deemed it as such because it is the middle of july.

to note: it's japan day in our cafeteria. but we won't eat there today. we being the minions of my company. no no, we will be heading to goodburger for a joyous friday meal. my goal is to eat a huge cow and have it soak up any lingering toxins from the debauchery of last night. which would be thursday night. for those who need help keeping up with dates and such (read: me).

i had a friend from home (the great state of texas) come in for a visit. but not to visit me personally, for an NYU immersion thing. so, we went to a gallery opening in chelsea. not so much an opening, but the premiere of the new collection. it was interesting, and there were a few pieces i enjoyed but not sure if i would purchase them. plus, they were photographs. and as a former photographer, i am intrigued by the ability for people to charge upwards of 15,000 bucks for a photograph. photography just interests me in the whole process.

for instance, it is such a manipulative artform. you are able to edit things by cropping and what not. i need to form my thought more clearly, but i hope you are able to see where i am going. and some things are just happy accidents. i don't know. i love some photographs and they really speak to me, but it's one of those things that i am wary of because it can be so molded. but i guess the other argument is all art can be manipulated as such. i should read more about this. and then present my findings in a better form.

and how interesting to have a huge series of pictures and then you just pick one. i want to know why they picked that particular one. the context. the reason. but you don't get that sometimes. i like to be informed. that's why i like smart people who are smart in an area (sean for tech, mary and co. for art, val for food) because they can inform me with these things.

we also went to nobu, an asian restaurant that is celeb worthy most of the time. i will say i didn't care for it. so when the mighty chef himself freaks out, i will say i have had better sushi at whole foods. there. i said it. block me.

my stomach is growling. must. eat.

i don't really feel like writing a huge narrative of my weekend, but i will give you bullet points.

the fourth was this past weekend, and i must say, it was the best weekend i have had in terms of fireworks, friends, food and drinks.

my mom comes in about 6 days, and i can't wait to let her see me be an adult.

i moved into my first real adult apartment last week. my joy should be felt and heard for months to come.

that is all for now.

no title. sorry.

the weather lately in nyc has been putting me in a sour mood. while i love rain, and highly enjoy splashing in puddles with rain boots on my little (metaphorically speaking) feet, i can only handle so much rain for so long. what can i say, i love the sun.

anyway, this past weekend was wonderful. it was relaxing to just hang out. you know what i mean? we had no set agenda except to eat BBQ. which brings me to the main part of this whole post! the big apple BBQ. i'm from texas. i love meat. and BBQ. and i love it in large quantities. so when i smell charcoal and mesquite wood burning, my heart speeds up to the speed of light in this huge excitement explosion.

so we went and ate. and decided to go eat some froyo (frozen yogurt) and walked around SOHO.

i felt like a real new yorker this past weekend.

oh, and i inexplicably woke up before 8 AM on sunday, so i was able to accomplish many things - running around the park,buying milk, and even hitting up st. patty's for mass. the things that happen in the early morning.

one year baby.

today is friday. which means it's the weekend. which means, i am excited.

this past weekend was memorial day. hopefully, everyone out there knew that and was able to celebrate in grand style. i myself made it to a couple of BBQ's and was quite in love with the smell of all things lighter fluid. it reminded me of texas.

one BBQ was in brooklyn. i left the island. and it scared me. also, i looked like i just arrived off my yacht, and had finished a conversation about harvard. naturally, i didn't fit in. it was humorous.

this weekend, one of my close friends and i will celebrate our one year anniversary of moving to the city that never sleeps! it's a big deal. and even though we haven't lived here for a full year (i went to chicago, she went home after our respective internships) we both came back and that is what matters.

so we are going to be all touristy. and cute. and if you see us squealing like 17 year old girls, well, don't be surprised.

culture.

living in new york, i am afforded many opportunities to be cultured. and i am beginning to take up the city's offer now that the weather is beginning to not suck and i actually have the funds to do things involving money.

last weekend, my wonderful and future roommate, emily, invited me to see a musical which just opened up on broadway: 'next to normal'. it blew my mind. honestly, you can't really go wrong with any show on broadway because it is a guaranteed good time. plus, i'm gay so anything that involves choreography, music and flashing lights makes me giddy with excitement.

the music is phenomenal. the actors were all believable. and it helped not knowing what i was getting myself into because there are a few twists and turns along the way. which work. ask emily - i gasped when things were revealed. and while i didn't cry - the straight/frat guy in me is able to maintain some composure - i was THISCLOSE to crying.

so, go see the show. you will love it too. and invite me.

last night, i went to see 'valentino: the last emporeror'. this too was amazing. now, if you don't live in new york, or attend major film festivals, i doubt this will come to a theatre near you. but if it does, go see it.

it's not a 'devil wears prada' type of movie. it's a documentary. and it's wonderful. i love clothes, and fashion and it was breathtaking to see how he worked, and how his team of seamstresses worked as well. everything is by hand! i was so shocked. and it made me appreciate clothing, and the art of designing so much more.

plus, he's a cute old man. even if he does look a little crispy for my taste.



so there is a quick wrap-up of my week in culture.

here's to you.

for the past five months, i have been searching for a job. for those past months, i have been emailing my resume out, interviewing with those big and small, rejected by way of the silent treatment. yesterday, someone finally said yes.

life is tough right now. but it's always tough. so for someone to take a chance on me, i am utterly all smiles. and i haven't been smiles lately. i have been a ball full of worry. and stress. but now, i can relax and breath. i love my industry. i love my place in it right now. i can't wait to grow.

i have tried for so long to find a position where i know i will excel. and i found one. and those months of searching have lead to me have this unimaginable hunger as an advertiser. i have had some falls along the way. but i have had some amazing shots at greatness. and i am proud of every single one because i have done them, and i have grown and been taught some very important lessons.

so here's to you, people in the big offices of the big agencies who never return emails and phone calls. here's to you, people who say i need to be hungry for it all, who say i am entitled. here's to you, people who say my book isn't exciting, and to those who say "maybe next time".

but also, here's to you, friends who said to never give up. family who prayed. people who said keep going. those who wished for the best and those who said i have talent.

the people who turned me away gave me the drive and ambition. the people closest to me gave me the determination to keep going.