Summer Photos, Had Me a Blast

Some random pictures I took with my iPhone this summer:

Subway Ad defaced

Sweet Bird of Youth by Hirschfeld

Original Playbill of Judy Garland's Two-A-Day at the Palace. I would've stolen it if it weren't enclosed in glass.

My insane grandparents who live in that wonderland I discuss at an earlier date.

A clear depiction of where I grew up. Anyone from my area will recognize all these sites immediately.

The squishy toilet seat I bought when I moved into the apartment.

wtf?

wtf? x2

Anita Morris being flexible.

Yes, she had short hair. I know.

"I can't believe I'm this good looking."

All she ever needed was the music and the hairspray. Really, Donna really?

The keeper of death, bringing George Abbott to his final resting place. Actually it's Carol Channing helping George Abbott read the 1994 draft of Damn Yankees.

I'd assume this is from the Mame era.

I Love the Way the Cougars Look in This

Once again, I love this comic.

Things To Be Happy About

Things I am happy for:

• Watching Golden Girls with my roommate who has never seen the series before.
• Getting a package from a friend through blogging. One of my four readers. Beckett on film and Joan Didion. What more could a boy want?
• Re-watching Cowboy Bebop and remembering happiness and times when you didn't lie awake at night. I'm working with the insomnia.
• Seeing Burlesque Shows in Coney Island and knowing that not only are you seeing a forgotten art form and a celebration of the unorthodox body, you are in a place that holds a little bit of Americana, soon to be torn down.
• Knowing you have a voice over in a small independent film and that voice over is: "Cum in my ass." This is my legacy.
  

This quote: In brief, people with self-respect exhibit a certain toughness, a kind of moral verve; they display what was once called character, a quality which, although approved in the abstract, sometimes loses ground to other, more instantly negotiable virtues.

And this quote: They are willing to invest something of themselves; they may not play at all, but when they do play, they know the odds.

Oh, and this one too: As it happens, there is a sound physiological reason, something to do with oxygen, for doing exactly that, but the psychological effect alone is incalculable: it is difficult in the extreme to continue fancying oneself Cathy in Wuthering Heights with one's head in a Food Fair bag.

In short, I am really thankful for Joan Didion. It's amazing how we've lived such separate lives in different times, but I read her books and feel like she's writing letters to me. This is how to dealt with this when it happened to me. Here is how you can deal with it. Don't worry, I know because I've been there.

I know that it's preemptive to say that life is on an good level. It's very early, since we are just beginning another phase of life. Moving onto adulthood and figuring it out. I know it's all for the best, I've yet to really feel regret.

What's nice is in writing this all out, I've completely forgotten what I was going to write that made me angry.

Burlesque in Coney Island

Last night around 9 at night I went all the way out to Coney Island. It's wonderful to live in Brooklyn. To see such diversity everywhere. The homeless people riding with me on the subway were so different. A trio of insanity: one slept, one screamed and one remained calm.

I arrived to Coney Island and attended:



Amazing. The World Famous *Bob*, she's a a genius and so wonderful to listen to (that is her legal name):
Then there was my close friend, Violet Temper:

A highlight of my night was watching Iggy and Glenn Marla perform their numbers. Iggy sang two songs. Pirate Jenny and a French number that translates to I Don't Love You. I couldn't find a picture of Iggy. Glenn Marla performed this amazing sequence to I'm the Greatest Star from Funny Girl.


As Bob said last night. This is the reason you people move to NYC, to see crazy shit. Thanks for the reminder Bob.

The Spinster's Life...

Sitting at home and being thrifty is an amazing way to re-watch old series you loved. Also, to remember what a complete nerd you we(a)re...

Two Things: Second

Since I can't have a dog. I have been given an automaton named Sparklz. Actually he's a wind-up toy, but I love him still. I like to wind him up and then dance around him. Or tell him not to follow me to school. He always get so sad.

Two Things: First

I'm going to share two things that have come into my life since moving to Sunset Park, Brooklyn. First is my apartment:

View from my window. Most would hate it, I love the constant dark feeling. Like it's always Sunset or evening.

My family tree. Raul Julia & Zoe Cadwell are my grandparents. Polly Bergen's my mother. Anita Morris is my aunt. And the Lunts are my great grandparents.

Bedroom 1

Bedroom 2

Bed

Closet

Bathroom

Good view from living room.

Kitchen

Living room. That's the trunk Judy Garland was born in.

The End of Summer

The summer has ended again, which has come and gone without my really knowing it. It's been different and entertaining. To realizing who I am. Standing in so much darkness. How long and short it's all been.

There was a moment in fire island. Followed by several BBQs with beloved friends. Hold onto those moments. Then there were the darker nights, that aren't necessarily memorable. The constant cold that's followed you through it. The false meetings and quick goodbyes. I'll remember the happier times.

You'll continue on another year. College. The place people never want to leave. I'll be melodramatic, but I want to get out so badly. This year will be about me. About who I am. How can I be happy. How can I become more than I expect.

Ribbons down my back.

Really, Judy?

I wonder if anyone questioned black face performances? If Judy was a product of the studio, I wonder if she ever felt wrong doing this? It was the 1930s, so there was some racial sympathy by this time. It also amazes me how many people don't know this about her. I always wondered why Swanee is perhaps more celebrated than Over the Rainbow, I think it's because she got her start in Minstrel long before she ever went over the rainbow.

With School Returning...

So does the Insomnia. Buckle your seats belts, it's gonna be a bumpy night.