The Brannon Report

Today has been my first day off since Monday. It was a decievingly beautiful day but WAY too cold to venture outside for any peroid of time. The wind was brutal. These pictures are from a slightly warmer weekend when I went out to Astoria Park. It's midnight and Sarah and I are cooking. I made up a lentil recipe but ended up eating half the pot. She is making potato salad for a potluck.
Next week Liz is going home to Atmore, AL until her July wedding. Which is pretty tragic for me since she has been one of my best friends here. My friend Lisa, from Florida, scored some free tickets to see "Company" (by Sondheim) on Broadway. Liz and I went and actually had descent seats on the very last row of the orchestra section. The show was very good. Like Sweeny Todd, the actors doubled as the orchestra. Each playing several (often unrelated) instruments. The music was incredible though I don't think much of the story line. It's about a 35 year old guy who is feeling pressured by his friends to get married. The best numbers were "You Could Drive a Person Crazy" (in which the three girls did a routine with alto saxs) , "Not Getting Married" (hilarious tounge twisting song by a reluctant bride), and "Being Alive" (the signature number that closes out the show).
Liz is auditioning for grad schools this weekend. She did a preview of her audition peices for friends at the Ripley Greir Studios. I ran into Cara Reichel in the lobby. Apparently Prospect has an office on the third floor. Watching Liz's monologues actually did make me want to do some myself. So hopefully that's a good sign. My friend Jessica is here and auditioning. I'm hoping to get a waitressing job in Times Square. Either Hard Rock, Planet Hollywood, or John's Pizza. After I take advantage of my health insurance. Hours are starting to pick up at H&M but the bottom line is I work too much and don't make enough money.
I'm hoping to get a little time off in a week and go visit my friend Julie who is doing a show in Chicago.

Maybe I should post or something.

He looks cute. But he is constantly breaking and entering into my room in the middle of the night to poke at me until I get up and feed him. Or, more likely, fake him out by starting to move towards the door and then slamming it in his face. But that only buys me twenty minutes (maybe thirty if I lock up) before he's back and trying to sit on my head.

The remnants of Christmas are everywhere in New York. I've probably smelled more cedar/fir in the last couple of days while everyone's Christmas trees are on the curb than I did in all of the days preceding Christmas. My family didn't have a single live tree this year (unless you count the one Dad is growing outside). We made up for it by having at least 3 fake ones... a phenomenon I never saw coming. Everyone has been talking about how unseasonably warm it was on Saturday. Global warming is scary... I mean it felt like spring... and ok, that was kind of nice. But the winter weather is back, mostly. I got drenched walking home from the N last night after I watching a movie with my friends in Ditmars. I mean, couldn't have been more wet if I had been standing in the shower for 10 minutes.
I have been going to the super-nice gym with my friend, Brandi, on a 3 day guest pass. The Rock (actual name of gym) has a rock climbing wall, a boxing ring, and two gigantic fake palm trees. It was fun. But today I'm back to the neon lights. And glad of it. Two months of The Rock cost about the same as a year at my gym. Three months and you can tag on the swimming pool. Brandi and Jenny just started rehearsals of show that will go up in February. Julie (of Shake, Rattle, and Roll fame) is rehearsing a show in Chicago that I am going to try to see at the beginning of February. I am thinking of taking some time off to audition in February and March.
H&M is same ole. But they've cut hours due to the SLOW after Christmas season. Which is unfortunate for my bank account. As of January 1st I am finally insured! First time in a year and a half. But I don't know how long it will last. Long enough for a dentist and doctor visits. I'm thinking of going back to waitressing as soon as slow season is over. OR becoming a flight attendant. My friend Jessica Miesel from Shorter JUST moved to Astoria (Ditmars area). I met her friend (Shorter alum) Bob the other night at Doyles who is a flight attendant for Jet Blue and LOVES it. Except I want to work for Virgin because they are international and have the cute outfits. Mmm Hmm.
P.S. The following celebrities have been spotted at my store: Rebecca Romijn, Jerry O'Connell, Anne Hathaway, and Mila Kunis. AND I HAVE SEEN NONE OF THEM. I am not pleased. Not pleased at all.