The Wily Snicker

The building is much safer now.”
-my property manager

The somewhat accurate quote above is in fact an opinion stated to one of my roommates by our property manager after a few tenants were recently evicted. We certainly didn’t find out why these people on the first floor were evicted, but I’m on the third floor, so this does not concern me anyway.

What I am concerned with, is that I had a four-day weekend of no hot water. The water log is as follows:

• Thursday, August 7th - No hot water throughout the evening
• Friday, August 8th - No hot water
• Saturday, August 9th - A little hot water in the morning. No hot water throughout the afternoon and evening
• Sunday, August 10th - No water!
• Monday, August 11th - Both hot and cold water mysteriously return and seem to be going strong since

I believe a partial rent refund is in order.

Other things to complain about while my fingers are hot to trot:

1. Classico brand pesto sauce is awful. Stick with something that you have to keep refrigerated from the get-go.
2. I have an overdue book at the NYPL.
3. My cellphone battery needs to be replaced.
4. Every convenience store in my neighborhood only sells Vitamin D milk.

Beware aware of this particular pesto offender:

Even though the New York Web Guy blog name has changed, you may have noticed that not once have I mentioned a lick about website work (or just plain work in general). Well, I am in fact doing web work.

Okay, now that that’s out of the way, I’d like to tell you about a new job I’m creating for myself: piano accompaniment. I’m already beginning to accompany two people this week. Tomorrow, I will meet with a female vocalist currently studying at Julliard. On Friday though, I’ll be doing something entirely different. A female artist is recording a performance art video in which I will be playing Chopin’s Nocturne in C# minor…as a stark naked gentleman stands beside me. To my understanding, he will be outside my safety circle, but I do not know yet exactly what he will be doing.

Yesterday evening, I paid 12 New York City dollars to see The Dark Knight. It was excellent as expected.

I’ve been spreading myself thin over the past couple weeks, but it’s been well worth it.  This past week, I started working on a scene for class, and spent a large chunk of the 4th of July weekend memorizing lines.  The same drill applies for this week.  I also have to finish choreographing a final dance project for Tuesday.  I absolutely love the dance portion of the classes.  Looking back, I realized I should’ve listened to a dancing fool about taking a class when I was in college. If you’re lucky, a bootleg of my dance might be available on the internet.

The filmmaker group I’ve been working with had a meeting this past Wednesday. Several members, including myself, pitched ideas and scripts for television series pilots. After a lengthy voting session, my idea and partial script was chosen. I spent the last four days writing like a madman with three other writers. Earlier tonight, we finished the script. The details are hush hush right now, but rest assured, I’ll let you know when the episode is complete and available for internet viewing!

I went to a roller disco two weekends ago. It was tons of fun. I don’t think I’ve been roller skating since grade school and, unlike grade school, the addition of alcoholic beverages in the picture makes for an interesting time on wheels.

This past Friday I went to my first Mets game and taught two lovely Australian girls the game of baseball. The Mets beat the Rockies 2 - 1. We had a blast!

A few weekends back, I also had deliciously scrumptious lobster at a friend’s place. It had been so long since the last time I ate lobster. It’s more than eating, it’s a full-on activity.

Today, I thought I might post a parade of pictures for your enjoyment.

This beautiful Steinway is in the dance room at the Neighborhood Playhouse. I have the pleasure of playing it every day between classes.

Here’s the 4 train that takes me home every day from class. I’m still thoroughly enjoying public transportation.

Iowa City locals will feel right at home when visiting NYC. This is my Buffalo Wild Wings local chapter, and it’s only twenty minutes away, door-to-door.

I worked on a short film recently and I met the other people involved at a coffee shop in Brooklyn. This sign was posted on the cash register.

I’ve spent the last week dancing, acting, and learning about my body from morning till night.  Last Monday, I embarked on the Neighborhood Playhouse’s summer intensive.  For five more weeks, I’ll be flooded with knowledge about the Sanford Meisner technique, as well as many other tasty morsels of information. After just one week, it’s safe to say that I love working with everyone there. All of the teachers and other students are fantastic and fun people.

Speaking of knowledge floods, I’m very sad to hear about the situation in the city where I once upon a time engaged in scholarly pursuits - Iowa City.

I’ve seen many of the posted pictures. It’s great to see so many people pitching in. GO HAWKS!

My ideal weather conditions are 66 degrees, damp, cool, and slightly misty. I am instead currently experiencing hot, unpleasant weather. This past weekend, I helped my roommates install their respective air conditioners. Needless to say, the apartment is decently cooler. I’m still driving stick-shift with two basic fans though. Installing the AC was not an easy task as unnecessary metal bars stood in my way.

The screws were so rusted through that I was unable to use a screwdriver to unscrew the damaged screw heads. Instead, a little bit of light prying did the trick to remove the screws (which turned out to be completely stripped or worn down). My roommates and I couldn’t make sense of why the rusted metal bars were in place for an apartment three stories up. Spider-man is the only guy with a decent shot of leaping through the window.

I found this guy on the stairs up to my apartment. It seems that the season of Roach War has begun. I have yet to see any breach the hull of my dwelling.

For those who participated in the Mega-Money Guessing Game, the ticket I purchased recently to see Iron Man for the second time cost me $12. I could have purchased an entire pizza of above average quality for that price. Yet, I’m glad I didn’t spend it on the Sex and the City movie. My good friend Nate wins the bonus question because he, as well as I, would pay a fat goose egg to see the Sex and the City movie.

This particular blog post involves your participation!  Earlier yesterday evening, I went to the movies with my roommates (both female) with the intention of seeing the Sex and the City movie.  However, a higher power was smiling down on me that day and the tickets were sold out by the time we got to the theater.  Therefore, we went to go see Iron Man for the second time.  It was completely worth it.  It’s fantastic and I highly recommend seeing it for a first or second time if you haven’t already.

So, here is where the guessing game comes in.  This may not be a big deal to established NYC locals, but this was the most expensive movie ticket I have ever paid for.

How much did I pay to see a movie in Manhattan?

Bonus Question: How much would you pay to see the Sex and the City movie?

Last night, a mouse stopped by our apartment! I was working in my room and I saw him scurry along the floor out of my room and into the living room. I yelled “whoa!” and he took off like Iron Man into the collection of boxes and not-yet-unpacked items strewn about the living room. I informed one of my roommates that there was a security breach.

– skip ahead two hours –

The mouse lived happily ever after.

I’m at a New York Public Library right now. I just signed up for a library card. The library has officially been added to the list of great places to do work. I haven’t been to AND utilized a public library in years. I distinctly remember that long ago, in the days of Gopher, Lynx, and text-only web browsing, a very kind librarian taught me how to use the internet at my library back home. Who knew I would developing for the web today?!

I think there comes a time when you suddenly realize that you are significantly better equipped for the trials and tribulations of life than you thought possible previously.  This realization is certainly different for everyone.  For me, it came in the form of these babies:

I discovered today that I have accrued three different lint rollers of varying sizes. If I am not dressing for successing, then something is wrong.