LifeSpeed

West Side Story: A Disappointment in 2 Acts

 I am a die hard fan of classic Broadway musicals.  Last year I saw South Pacific at Lincoln Center,  and from the first note played by the orchestra I was transported.  The staging, the casting, the costumes...all in flawless tribute to an American classic.

When I heard West Side Story was coming back to Broadway I ordered tickets immediately.  In fact, to insure the best possible seats I bought premium tickets.  I was in the sixth row on the aisle with an unobstructed view of the stage.  I settled into my seat and realized that Arthur Laurents was sitting right behind me.  In the seat directly behind me.  This man wrote West Side Story in the 1950s.  He is responsible for Gypsy, The Way We Were.   It was a thrill to meet him.   In fact, I had seen a piece on him that ran on CBS Sunday Morning.  He was talking about his career and his passion for this project.  They shot film of him addressing the cast of this production, telling them that this is a story about sex, passion, heat.  For me, this was surely the most anticipated production of the theater season.

The curtain went up and there were Riff and the boys.  That opening number....When you're a jet you're a jet all the way... And with that I turned to my friend and said "Uh oh", which was the last thing we could say until Mr. Laurents got up at intermission.

To be fair, Karen Olivo as Anita was spectacular.  She did Rita Moreno proud.  (Speaking of which, when every talk show appearance for the show is Anita's big number, you know there's a problem.)  And Josefina Scaglione, an Argentine native who landed the role of Maria after she was spotted on a YouTube video, is tremendously talented.  I'll even give props to Matthew Cavenaugh as Tony.  Beyond that, this was like a summer stock production in Provincetown.  To loosely quote a friend, "Tony and Riff reminded me of the two guys from Will and Grace."

Recommendation?  Pass.  Rent the movie.

Uncle Eddie: One of a Kind

A little more than a year ago I wrote here about my Aunt Stella.  Today we laid my Uncle Eddie to rest beside her.  This is where the intellectual and the emotional collide.  He hasn't been well or happy, but we weren't prepared to let him go.  We wanted more time.

He was a wonderful husband and father.  My Dad's twin brother, younger brother to Esther and older brother to Mitzi.  And for all of the family the one thing we agreed on...We loved  him as he loved us...unconditionally.  We were lucky enough to spend summers in the mountains, weekends at resorts and one unforgettable vacation in Florida with him.  There were parties and brunches and dinners and he kept us laughing always.  He was a people magnet and he made friends almost literally by saying hello.  He could draw cartoon characters free hand and delight all of the children for hours on end.  He entered the room smiling and dropped everything when someone needed him.

I could go on for pages, but I really want those of us who were lucky enough to know him to share the joy that was Eddie.

When he was sitting Shiva for Aunt Stella in 2007 my mother, father and I went to visit.  Losing her was very hard on him and he seemed a little lost.  They were together almost 60 years.  He said to us...

"She was always there for me.  When I had cancer, she was there.  When I closed my business she was there.  When I had my first stroke AND my second stroke she was there.  When I had pneumonia she was there.  I'm telling you...that woman was a jinx!"

The delivery was with an absolute straight face.  Deadpan.  We were howling!  Vintage Eddie.

I'm sure over time I'll have more to add, but until then...anyone else want to share?

Go-Bama!

The reign of incompetence ends on January 20, 2009!

Why I'm Voting Obama

I wish I had said this.  I didn't.  But I am going to keep it under my pillow for the next 3-1/2 weeks and carry it with me everywhere.  Heaven help the person who tries to engage me in a political conversation.

Why I'm Voting for Obama, By Michael Tonello

Euphoria & Tragedy in the Bluegrass State

I watched the pre-Derby show on NBC today.  Stories were told of triumphs of the human spirit and of the love of horses.  As the race started I was cheering on Big Brown.  Mostly because he was the oddest combination of favorite (5-2 odds) and underdog (20th pole position).  And because his owner, Rick Dutrow, Jr. had overcome tremendous personal odds to earn his place at Churchill Downs.  And because the jockey, Kent Desormeaux, was on his way to a third win at the Ketucky Derby with his physically challenged son watching for the first time. 
As the race started I realized I had never sat down and actually watched the horses run.  The physical pressure put on the animals is so disturbing.  Pounding, panting and sweating, the jockeys maneuver he horses around a mile of track.  Some find it a beautiful sport...I had to turn away.  With good reason, it turns out.
Big Brown won by 5-1/2 lengths.  A decisive victory.  Eight Belles came in second.  And as she galloped to a stop she broke both front ankles and had to be euthanized on the track.  Where is the sport in that?

Art Defining Life

I've always been a "people pleaser".  Often at my own expense.  But over the past few years I've worked on being accountable to me.  The problem is...when others expect us to behave in a  certain way, and when we fail to deliver on those expectations, people sometimes don't react well. 

Truthfully, it's been a bit of a struggle.  Some people pick up on the subtlety of change in attitude and understand.  The good friends even applaud it.  Others need to be hit over the head.  Still others haven't been all that receptive and have gone buh-bye.

This  is a new sculpture hanging my foyer.  Perhaps actions do speak louder than words, but sometimes being straightforward works too. And not incidentally, it doesn't hurt to remind myself too!

Gadgets and Gizmos and Widgets...Oh my!

I live in a reasonably sized one bedroom apartment.  By New York City standards it's pretty spacious.  But...my bedroom is literally 10 steps from my living room.  My dining table is virtually part of the living room.  And I can see the whole apartment from the pass through in my kitchen.

So why do I have two plasma TVs, Tivo (I was an early enough adopter to have Lifetime Service), a Time Warner DVR, one DVD/VCR combo, one DVD player, two PCs, one Apple Mac Pro, four iPods (of varying shapes and sizes), and a drawer full of mobile phones that are still in perfect good working order (although I use my Blackberry Pearl these days)?

Last night a friend asked for help using her new Blackberry.  I started going through it and she was looking at me like I was speaking Latin.  At that point I realized that technology had become part of my DNA. 

I've accepted it.  I am a geek.  I embrace it and I integrate it into my life on a daily basis.   Not exactly a fit with the shoe museum in my closet, but hey...

I'm currently driving the best car I ever owned.  A 2007 Toyota Prius.  I get in the car, plug in one of my iPods, and connect my phone to the built-in Bluetooth.  I set my destination on the GPS and off I go.  In a car that wraps around my lifestyle and fits like a glove.  While getting 45 miles to the gallon.

And apparently I've become entirely comfortable with sharing every detail of my life.  Online I try to keep up with this blog.  But you have the option to check out Facebook , LinkedIn, Twitter,  Fotolog or YouTube.   I'm there too.

Happiness is...

...having a job that interests and excites you every day.  I am having one of the best experiences of my professional life working with Andy, Scott, Jeremy and the whole team at Lotame.  Scary smart.  Completely focused.  We're changing the game and having big fun doing it. 

Wow...I haven't been able to say that in a long, long time.  Check it out at our web site.

A "New" New York City

I've lived in New York for a long time.  I've worked uptown, midtown and downtown and I explore the city endlessly.  The thing is, I've never embraced the subway.  I've taken the train several times.  Literally, several times since I moved here.  But I never viewed it as a viable option to getting around.  From the first day in my first apartment I was a taxi girl.

Virtually everyone says it's the easiest, most efficient way to get around town.  Intellectually I knew this was true.  And it's not, by the way, that I don't know how the system works.  Nor am I unable to read a map.  It is simply this...the act of going underground and relinquishing all control, even for a short while, terrifies me.  When the train stops between stations I start to look like Albert Brooks in Broadcast News.  (Rent it.  You'll see what I mean.)  But now I am, as they say, between engagements.  Budget cuts are in order and this seemed a good place to start.

I live on the Upper West Side of Manhattan.  There is one subway station on my corner, and another two blocks away.  I mean...seriously...no excuses.  It went well for a day.  Then an empty cab happened along as I was walking to the subway, and I jumped in, and I paid a ridiculous amount of money (relatively speaking) to travel 25 blocks.  (To be specific, $15 plus tip vs. $2 for the subway.)  I had to stop the madness!

I remembered something my friend Jackie told me a while back...That if you want to change  behavior you have to practice the new behavior for 30 consecutive days.  Several false starts later and I am traveling by subway every day! 

The New York Subway system has quite literally redefined my relationship with Manhattan.  Last week I went to a breakfast meeting in Soho.  18 minutes door to door.  Yesterday I had a meeting in midtown.   Traffic was at a standstill but I got to my appointment stress-free.  And when I make plans with friends I 'm far more inclined to travel beyond the boundaries of my neighborhood to meet.  My perspective is different, and my attitude is different, and I really am loving this change!

A Significant Date

Four years.  Four years since I met some of the most remarkable people I've ever known.  Four years since I had to make big decisions fast.  Four years since I found out what family and friendship really means.  365 days to go.