New York, I Miss You

Because I do.
I miss NY and I have only vacated there
But I miss The Great City
I miss the steam rising from the streets on a muggy August night
Being surrounded by giants on all sides
and mostly the snow that seems to remember to fall at just the right time

I wasn't bred for sunny days... I much prefer the rainy, sticky nights, thank you.

"Here Lies Jeremy Camp" Glendale Centre Theatre Review

So the lawyer is a liar. Surprise, surprise right? Well yes and no.

The show is based on the fact that Jeremy Troy, played by Daniel Roebuck, is a comedic convincing liar. So much so that he has fooled everyone he knows including his ivy-league educated boss, Sven Ivorsen (Mario DiGregorio), into believing he obtained law degree with the falsified diploma and graduation picture to prove it. When and old college friend, Charlie Bickle (Kelly Flynn), comes to town and by chance finds out about the faked degree, Jeremy Troy, in true lawyerly fashion, devises a plan to cover up the truth.

“Here Lies Jeremy Troy” finds the funny. The actor’s all had strong comedic timing, and I honestly enjoyed the slapstick-natured comedy. Though some moments were a bit far-fetched for my likes (i.e., Jeremy fainting multiple times), solid acting balanced the overdramatic faux pas. One buoyant actor floated above the rest, JJ Rodgers as Tina Winslow. For the few moments that this two and a half hour show moved slowly, JJ peppered up scenes with spunk and vibrancy.

The 1960’s era suits were exquisitely created, hats and headbands off to Costumer Angela Wood for JJ’s canary yellow vintage ensemble. As for the set, the structure of the theatre does not permit set changes but the authentic 60’s living room setting worked. That said, thumbs up for theatre structure. It is as cozy as grandma’s living room, with the stage in the center and seats surrounding all 360 degrees of it, every seat in the theatre is equally good. One drawback that took me out of the show is the doors that were part of the set opened very narrowly, and therefore created an uncomfortable exit for the actors to the staged bedroom or bathroom. The short opening along with the obvious empty wood the audience saw behind the bedroom or bathroom door every time an actor came and left drew me out of the show. But then JJ’s effervescence would pull me right back in to the scene.

One of my favorite things about the Glendale Centre Theatre was that there was no need to sneak sweets and coffee into the theatre by means of an oversized purse, food is allowed inside. But if you do choose to visit this theatre in the future (and I highly recommend you do) please do not be the guy who is unwrapping his candy bar all through the first act. Or at least don’t sit behind me while you do.

“Here Lies Jeremy Camp” plays Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 pm, and Saturday and Sunday matinees at 3 pm from April 9 to May 16. Tickets are $21-23 Tickets are available at (818) 244-5042. All performances are at Glendale Centre Theatre located at 324 N. Orange Street, Glendale, CA 91203

I am offically a "real" writer

Okay so I am exceedingly thrilled about being paid to blog. Really. I feel like there is a little bouncy ball inside of me that is going haywire every time I think about it. It has always been my dream to get money in return for written words, and now I am! I have prayed about this for such a long time, and God has so graciously given me the wonderful opportunity. Thank you Lord.

I feel like Jo from Little Women, you know when she got her first article published? And she couldn't believe it because she thought she kinda sucked and only those who liked her liked her writing. Yeah, that's the feeling.

Anywho, I will be scribbling about garage and vintage sales in the greater LA area, which is super-duper cool. I know it ain't glamorous but it definitely reflects me as a person and I am happy to write about anything as long as I can do so honestly.

Now the whole term "paid" is a wee bit hazy. You see, I am "paid" only when my site gets hits. So Please click here 1,000 times a day. Okay, ready...start hitting now. I am not kidding people! I don't want to live on Ramon noodles anymore! Hit the button and nobody gets hurt.

Leave the gun, take the canoli.

No pare-sigue, sigue!

Richard Rodgers theater, where the best show on B'way is lighting up the City.

It was so flipping cold that night!The set

Okay so this soundtrack has been on continual repeat on my ipod since we left NY. The moment Usnavi (Puerto Rican for US Navy) started making cafe con leche "light and sweet", I was hooked. The raw, HILARIOUS story of Latinos from Queens and their daily grind captured my ghetto soul. In The Heights really made me proud to count myself Cuban. From the "Carnival de Barrio" to "Alabanza" I was in awe. This show has recently been getting some wicked good press (well maybe winning the Tony for Best New Musical helped...un pocito). It is not one of those flashy Broadway shows with lots of glitz and little character. Its a story with a real human connection that you can relate to through the easily loved characters with honest tragedies and triumphs. A must for a theater-lover, a moving, life-changing experience for any Latino.

And for the financially challenged (like myself), if you enter the Broadway lottery 2-3 hours before the show, you can get front row tickets for $26.50 each. But you gotta bring cash and be there when your name is called. You can enter your name once for 1 or 2 tickets depending on the amount you need. The lottery is held in front of the theatre usually about 2 and 1/2 hours before showtime. Actually, most Broadway shows are participating in the lottery now. Click here for a link that has more info.

Break a leg! or a nose! or...whatever:) And to Lin Manuel Miranda no pare-sigue, sigue!

I wanna live In The Heights, can we move there PLEASE?

You know that warm and fuzzy feeling that usually accompanies the phrase, "There is no place like home"? Especially after stepping off a 3 hour bus ride, 1 hour taxi, 3 hour plane-wait time and a 6 hour plane ride, you would think I would want to pull out some red snazzy slippers and go see my good friend OZ right? Well it must've been Alphaba's influence because the last place I wanted to be when I got off the plane at Bob Hope Airport is in LA. I wanted to defy gravity and take the next 6 hour flight back to NY.

Don't get me wrong there are plenty of things that I like about LA, the mountains, my cousins, new found friends, overpriced thrift stores, Yummy Cupcakes, the revolutionary spirit that still lingers from the 60's, but I miss the snarky east coast. Incredibly badly. And being in NY and Jersey for a couple of days only made it worse.

Anywho, it was a great trip. My home girls Yasmin and Bridget met us there and we had a blast seeing penguins, winning the Broadway Lottery (WICKED and In The Heights), walking in Prospect Park and having frozen hot chocolate at Serendipity 3. My favorite part was seeing my grandpa, who looked so healthy and happy. That part definitely gave me the warm fuzzies. I miss him so much too:(

But there is hope in yonder distance! Our original reason for jetting to NY was for a Director's Guild Fellowship Program entrance exam. If we make it past this round we have to go again for a in person interview. Which would mean seeing grandpa again! yea! SO, If you could send a prayer up to God for us that would be most helpful:) All we want is His will, it's in His will that our joy lies!

xoxo!

4 Years and Counting

Today marks another year that I have put up with Josh leaving tiny papers all over the house and forgetting half the things I tell him. It also marks another year that he has cleaned when I am too tired to move and talked to me about random things when he would really rather be watching TV.

That said, my life has been so much better because of him. His consideration and kindness for others has taught me to try to be a better more understanding person. "Try" is the operative word. But with my stank and his sweet we truly balance each other out. I am so blessed to be married to my best friend.

I love you Joshua Ray Pineda:)

My first broken bone!!!

My weekend started with our entire place flooding before we had a friend coming over for dinner. The rain didn't stop all night and therefore we were greeted with a swimming pool in our living room. Wonderful.

I thought Saturday would get better as Libby woke me up by licking my face good morning but then the handyman came at the ungodly hour of9:00AM without a phone call. Great. Now I had to wake up, get dressed, and be all polite when I really wanted to go back to bedy-bye and sleep until 12. Didn't happen.

Since I was already awake I decided to walk Libby. Usually this walking results in happy thoughts, wagging tales and all the good extras. This particular Saturday it resulted in a broken pinky finger. I was barely holding onto the leash since the Lib-ster walks pretty well and has become really friendly with other dogs in the neighborhood. I had the leash wrapped around my ring and pinky fingers, and was walking along happily when another dog came by and everything went in slow motion. First, the other dog (a bigger Lab) lunged at Libby and started barking, pulling his owner hard. Then Libby got gangster and defended his own by barking louder. The other dog didn't stop and Libby wasn't about to either so in an effort to prove his Alpha-ness, Libby proceeded to pull me halfway down the street, breaking my finger in the process.

I went to Urgent Care where the awesome Dr. Sean McLaughlin, made me totally realxed and even let me take a picture of my broken finger! If you look way at the top you can see where it is diagonally split. My first broken bone is because of my crazy, crazy dog. But I couldn't love Libby more:)