69 more

1. What's one thing that's heavily weighing on your mind?
money and work

2. What's one thing you've learned from a good friendship gone bad?
never put anyone on a pedastool

3. What's one thing you've learned lately from love?
love is open and love communicates deeply and as frequently as possible-love has few expectations.

4. Is there anyone special in your life in general at the moment?
not really

6. Is there anything in your past that you'd like to try again?
no-I wouldn't change anything.

7. Who do you like to spend your nights with?
the girls

8. Are you an emotional person?
oh yes I have been lately.

9. Are you self conscious?
sometimes

10. Do you think of others before yourself?
I used to way too much. There's a balance.

11. What's something that can always make you feel better?
comfort food, and talking to my parents.

12. Last person you had a crush on?
The guy sitting by me on the subway ride last night. :)

13. Where do you see yourself this time next year?
content and at the line completely ready to go.

14. Do you tend to make relationships complicated?
I have in the past.

15. Who do you feel the most comfortable around?
my family and closest friends.

16. Is there something that you're waiting for?
always

17. One thing you're not looking forward to?
several things

18. How do you feel about change?
I'm more stubborn than I thought-but change is good.

19. What are you most looking forward to?
many things

20. What are your plans for your next birthday?
mmmm I would hope a big ass party in the city.

21. Do you even care about your birthday?
not really it's just all going up.

22. Do you think anyone in general out there loves you?
yes

23. When do you think the world will end?
when it's time.

24. What's the most expensive piece of clothing you own?
prolly my suit.

25. What car do you have right now?
I dont' have one! thankfully I don't need one.

26. Do you still talk to the person you last kissed?
haha yeah

27. Have you ever seen your best friend cry?
yes

28. What kind of vitamins did you take as a kid?
flinstones.

30. Did you get any compliments today?
yes at work I did on my speaking voice-which was great since I've been working on it.

31. Are you friends with your neighbors?
no

32. What were you just thinking about?
Rocky and Bowinkle (see number 30)--ONLY one person will understand that if she reads this. :)

33. Name the places you have lived in?
Newark, Zanesville, Bowling Green, Findlay, New York City.

34. When was the last time you drove more than 15 minutes?
two weeks ago

35. Have ever had a crush on your friends brother/sister?
nope

36. When you looked at yourself in the mirror today, what was the first thing you thought?
damn ur hair is getting long--dont give up!

37. When is the next time you will make out with somebody?
?

38. What's a word that rhymes with "LUCK"?
fuck

39. What's your favorite planet?
uranus

40. Who's the 2nd person on your missed calls list?
zen realty.

41. What is your favorite ring tone on your phone?
di provenza from traviata

42. What shirt are you wearing right now?
long sleeve red old navy t.

44. Name the brand of shoes you're currently wearing?
no shoes

45. Bright or dark room?
bright...duane reade is awake late.

46. What do you think about the person who last took this survey?
adorable

47. If you're alone in a room with two beds, which one do you sleep in?
push them together.

48. What were you doing at midnight last night?
sleeping

49. What did your last text message you received on your mobile say?
it was great running into you again-safe ride back on the nw line. xo

50. What just so happens to be the best song in the world?
Count Your Blessings-Irving Berlin...actually most of Berlin's songs are perfect.

51. What's a word or phrase that you say a lot?
"damnit"

52. Who told you he/she loved you last?
My mom.

53. Last furry thing you touched?
my blanket

54. How many drugs have you done in the past 3 days?
just vitamins...

56. Do you have any film that needs to be developed?
digital age now

57. Favorite age you have been so far?
22

58. Hats or beanies?
hats

59. Your worst enemy?
all of the damn greek food vendors on the street in astoria...every day it's like being tempted by satan to get a gyro.

60. What is your current desktop picture?
drunken night in italy

61. What is the last thing you said to someone?
get some sleep

62. Do you love someone?
many people

63. Last song you listened to?
Don Carlos duet

64. If the last person you spoke to on the phone was getting shot at, what would you say?
"I love you and I will be with you the entire time..."

65. Do you do the games in the ads on myspace?
no

66. What are your favorite PJ's?
my sweats

67. What do you do when you pass graveyards?
look


68. Have you ever seen a shooting star?
yeah

69. How old do you think you'll live to be?
until I'm old

69

69 Things You May Not Have Known About Me...

1. What is the last alcoholic beverage you drank?
stella

2. what color are your eyes?
blue

3. Who took this survey before you?
Paul

4. Who was the last person to send you a text message?
Paul

5. Last time you went swimming in a pool?
August

6. Are you happy?
yes

7. Where was the last place you went shopping?
astoria bakery

8. Last time you had poison ivy/oak/sumac?
dont get it

9.Ever gone skinny dipping?
yes

10. Plans for tonight?
on friday? meeting up with Josh at some point and relaxin.

11. Plans for tomorrow?
saturday? opera...

12. Who was your last kiss?
my daily evening kiss with the wife

13. Ever experienced heartbreak?
yes

15. Can you cook?
yes

16. Last person you saw?
em and ro

17. Who was the last person to call you?
Paul

18. What's your sign?
aquarius

19. Where do you spend most of your money?
bills

20. Where does most of your family live?
Pennsylvania

21. Are you an only child or do you have siblings?
one older sister and 2 step sisters

22. Been called a hoe/slut lately?
uhhhh no

23. Ever been called a bitch?
ha yeah

24. Did you ever collect Beanie Babies?
no

25. Do you collect anything?
not at the moment

26. Myspace or Facebook?
ehhh dunno

27. Do you have T-mobile?
verizon

28. Last time you saw your parents?
two weeks ago

29. Ever been to a wedding?
yes

30. Are you missing anyone at the moment?
several

31. Did you take a nap today?
no

32. How many hours of sleep did you get last night?
9

33. Do you support the troops?
totally...not the war but I support the troops.

34. Could you handle being in the military?
prolly not

35. Are you hungry or thirsty?
hungry

36. Favorite fast food restaurant?
wendy's...but i dont eat it anymore

37. Do you ?
I don't understand this

38. Ever had to take a sobriety test?
yes

39. Last time you went to the gym or worked out?
i walk everywhere that's my work out for now

40. Do you have a photo hosting site that you use?
used to

41. Last place you were at?
NYC Opera

42. What is your current wish?
money and my things in my own adorable apartment

43. Where do you wish you were right now?
skiing

44. Do you have any regrets?
no

45. How old are your parents?
in their early and mid fifties

46. Favorite place to be?
In my mom's tv room-it smells of comfort and I just feel the world is perfect in there.

47. Favorite sit down restaurant?
Ad's at home. So far here I adore Vinyl...

48. How is the weather today?
cold but better than it has been.

50. Do you e-mail?
Yep

51. Last letter/piece of mail you received besides junk or a bill?
a card from a very dear friend I love in Ohio.

53. Are you dating someone right now?
no.

54. Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious:
oh julie I love thee

55. Do you drunk dial?
I have on occasion. ;-)

56. Stupidest thing you ever did with your cell phone?
ripped it apart in the middle of the night while sleeping...it was ringing and i was angry so I ripped it apart w/o really knwing what i was doing.

57. Do you like Dane Cook?
ehhh yeah sometimes

58. Last time you were sick?
early sept.

59. Are you lactose intolerant or do you have IBS?
probably

60. Ready for the weekend?
sure

61. What did you do last night?
worked came home and vedged with the girls.

62. Have you ever had braces?
no.

63. What's your favorite type of music?
opera

64. Do you pee in the shower?
no

66. Are you good at water polo?
uhhh no.

67. Do you care about the way you look?
of course

68. Do you smile too much?
no

69. Umbrella...
right now it's "The Color Purple"

Broken eye

Today my dear future roomate Mandy was meeting me on the corner in front of Duane Reade. I noticed she had something on her eye. She got injured at work. And while the people she worked with were sweet about it the people she was waiting on in the restaurant were assholes and complained that they had to wait a long time for their drinks. I don't understand this insensitivity that has become way too common-not just in a big city-but everywhere! Perhaps it's just that I feel I have amazing empathy for other people, maybe it's a downfall, but I believe the problem with people so often is that they're lacking in this. Though the class system in the country isn't really so great of a thing to say anymore--we still have it. I'm beginning to notice it more and more. It's the little things that people do sometimes that makes me stop and smile.
Though I frequently find myself in this unusual rush here in the city to get to where I'm going I generally find that strange appreciation, as frustrated as it may make me, for the older guy or younger couple who is going their own pace regardless of how fast other people are moving around them. I admire this sometimes, and though it can be irritating when I need to actually get somewhere and am panicking when I'm worried I'll be late-it's kind of a nice to see the way people just do their own thing. I've decided to not move at this break neck speed anymore, and rather than rush through the day yesterday to an important interview I decided I would make sure I got to E. 42nd and Park Ave. at least 25 mins. early and if I did that I would treat myself to a stop at Starbucks for an espresso before the interview. Of course I'm directionally challenged and the 25 minutes turned into 10 after getting off a stop too soon. So I treated myself to my fav. diner which is across from Carnegie Hall.
It's also the little things about the city that I love when talking to people who have lived here forever...we seem to get it into our heads that this place is so foreign, so different, so crazy...well yes I admit in so many ways it's all that and much more--but hearing people talk about how they just adored this movie they watched on AMC last night, or how the roses in this shop were so gorgeous, or how they were so happy to hear from their grandparents in Long Island just makes me smile. Realizing again that we are all from the same kind of thread.
A deep conversation happened tonight working the opera about different films and their impact on society...about different actors...and went so far as to the different stagings of a certain opera and how people had perceived it. Some of these conversations came from people who really weren't performers at all-writers, designers, and just ordinary people. What was extraordinary to me was that some people have truly dedicated themselves to the arts in some way. I find this refreshing and it's amazing to feel enriched by something so powerful. I sit in the opera and see business men and ladies who seem to go simply for the spectacle, the show, the drinks, and just the social "elitism" of it all. This is when I sit there alone and realize just how lucky I am and how blessed I feel to be a part of something so extraordinary in life---ART. We are servants of something so great and so much bigger than us. This is amazing to me and I relish in the fact that this feeds me. Even though we can be financially poor, not have all the material things desired, etc...we are the richest people in the world in so many ways. I would choose this life over any other. I'm reminded by God every day to remember this period of my life always, to never forget what I'm going through, how I feel, the pain I feel, the happiness I feel, the joy, the anger, the loneliness, etc, etc. I am reminded by him to never lose this hunger...when my cup is full in so many other ways I am reminded to always look back on this and have it close to my heart. Wherever I may be in ten years this part of my life will always be with me. I listened to Clair de Lune last night as I fell asleep...this may be redundant to some people but this piece still gives me chills and is something new for me each time I hear it. As I fell asleep I was reminded just how powerful music can be...

Small

I don't know if it's me getting older or what...
but I'm realizing each day just how small this world actually is.
Perhaps it's that I'm beginning to gain some sense of routine here...
perhaps seeing some of the same familiar strange faces on 7th as I walk to NYC Opera each evening...the starbucks people now know what I want around Park and 3rd.
Today at a final interview the first words spoken to me by the president of a major business were..."so you went to BG?...I've been there..." Crazy, eh? Just reminds me of how small this place can be...here I am sitting on the 12th floor of this building in the middle of Park and 3rd in east midtown and I meet someone who knows BG. It may not sound like that big of a deal-but to me it's an interesting example of serendipity because as I was sitting waiting for this person I had the strange thought come into my head that someone in this company knew where I came from, and how fun that would be. The laws of attraction baby!
The city in some ways is becoming smaller to me-which is not a bad thing. Believe me it's still crazy and confusing at times but I'm learning. I'm learnning mostly to stay true to yourself...listen to what the inside of you is saying...be open...and always keep your dreams in front of you. It can feel very lonely here at times...but that can also be empowering.
Enough for now...

PJ Night

Today it's rainy and gloomy in the city.
As I sit here in the living room watching people in the gym on the second and third floor of NYC Sports Club I feel eternally guilty for sitting on my ass UNTIL...
I remember that yesterday I walked about 10 minutes each way to and from the subway and apartment about a total of eight times *about 80 minutes worth of aerobics there...not to mention the 8 minute walk I've done almost every day this week from 42nd to way down onto 37th st. AND on top of that...about 5 trips from West 42 to East 40th....and then from West 42 to East 42 on Park Ave about 4 times alone yesterday. So I do believe I deserve this evening of relaxation and rest tonight.
Tomorrw I will go to the opera--yay! And for free which makes it all that much better!
I'm still working at NYC Opera for now...it's a job--definitely not where I'm wanting to end up...but it helps a bit right now. I had three interviews yesterday and have the final one for what could be a great and perfect day job on Tuesday. I will be keeping my fingers crossed on this one.
In the meantime still pluggin away at the city...learning the ropes...trying not to spend too much money...being open...and just starting to get a bit more settled.
I'm still very wide open...
Peace-
Justin

Now I Understand

Now I understand the hurtful nature behind someone not returning phone calls or maintaining correspondance and telling you they will.
Regardless of how busy a schedule is...there's always some time.
Oh well...I suppose "flake" would actually be appropriate.

-J

NYC.

Back in NYC...
fist day shaky for many reasons...
wonderful after.
Starting to fit in.
Working at NYC OPera...
no not as a singer-YET...
I'm an evening bitch. But hey how many people can say they work for NYC Opera?
A couple of great interviews.
Realizing what I'm supposed to do with my life...
what I'm meant to do.
The engery comes to me...
I'm loving it more and more each day.

Sad to not hear some familiar voices as often as before.
Now is the land of new.
More later...
NYC Opera in the morning
evenign of?? ahead?
Sunday in Brooklyn with the girls...
who could ask for anything more?

Spargi d'amaro

All right...so I haven't seen this live yet...hopefully soon once I'm back in the swing of it. BUT from what I've heard Ms. Dessay's performance as Lucia was unbelievable. Of course I haven't heard her sing the entire role-BUT as an admirer of Ms. Dessay I must say she is a phenomenal artist! I have heard her live before and at the MET. You see this tiny little French lady come onstage and the sound is unbelievable that comes out of her! I was equally impressed after hearing her interview with Charlie Rose the other evening. Some things that I thought were interesting and made me love her even more from her interview were the following:
1) She was an actress and her desire was to be an actress before being a singer. I think this is evident in all that she does. She makes very strong choices within any kind of colorature that she does--it MEANS something...and not only that but it sounds damn good.
2) As a French singer she admitted that the French school of singing has a bad reputation and that it was rightly so. Pretty good point...even though I love the French.
3) She referred to a lot the stuff happening in the major companies right now as "broadwayish" and she pretty much said how she detested it. Totally enjoyed this...it raises an interesting point from someone who is a rather progressive type of singer. From my gathering she believes we have tried to put it out there way too much and tried to sink to a lower level by essentially making it more about the choreography, scenery, costumes, etc. Of course there are many wonderful and amazing things that go into opera and that make opera opera....lets face it it's just big. But I think what she was after was a more minimalistic approach...after all isn't that why a lot of people don't really "dig" opera because everything isn't immediately retrievable? We're in such a culture of "gimme gimme gimme" without having to work for anything. Of course it sounds like she thinks we shouldn't give a damn and should do what was intended-kind of have to say that I agree.
4) She was asked who she believed to be the greatest opera actor/singer lived...she gave no hesitation in saying Maria Callas. This could be a debate to go on for years...and she admitted that Callas' voice was not the best...but it was damn good and that she appreciated her for that-Callas was like no one else. Take what you will...we all have different tastes I suppose.
5) When asked about her two vocal surgeries she had no shame in saying that she had them and that other singers shouldn't be embarrassed...she admitted to being way too tired...but she was happy she was able to work so hard and that she does work hard. Pretty optomistic view on something kind of scary.

Anyways...the mad scene can be found all over the place on youtube from the recent MET performance. A lot of people are trashing her performance...take a look (above) and see what you think. Also I have posted (below)a clip from the Charlie Rose interview. PLEASE COMMENT! :)