Laughing it up

Once again, I must say it's been too long since I've made a post.  As usual, so much has happened!  Such is life!  My classes are still challenging and fun.  They end the first week of June.

I just performed last night in a NYC comedy club.  It was the real deal and felt terrific.  I haven't performed too much in NYC because of my schedule, but my goal is to perform at least every 3rd day in May.  East Coast comedy and West Coast comedy differs and I admit I've been nervous that my style wouldn't fit in here.  It's gone okay when I've performed at open mics out here.  I couldn't have been happier that my set went so well last night.  I performed a clean set of comedy.  For some of you that have seen me, I used to perform some dirty jokes.  Not anymore!  It was a NY club like you see in the movies.  A club in the basement with tables for 2 and candlelight.  It was a show where people had to pay admission and had a 2 drink minimum.  That's always a true test for comedy.  If they pay to go, they want to laugh and enjoy themselves.  Free shows are great too, but sometimes there's a lot of drunks, distractions, etc.  I've been invited to perform in this show for the rest of the month if I want.  Yay!

I have a performance at the end of the month with my Voice and Speech class.  We've each been assigned a portion of an Edgar Allen Poe story to recite / perform from memory in Classical American speech.  It's so cool to hear my Classical voice.  My instruction is fantastic and is often called to movies sets and has a lot of private lessons for actors. 

We have a 'drunk project' to perform in my movement class.  We've been working on relaxing techniques that loosen us up and create a drunk feeling with out even drinking.  It's ridiculous, because I feel drunk every class and haven't had anything to drink!!  We each have a character and work in a law firm and will be at a cocktail party.

I had an allergic reaction Hitch style last week!  I was in my apartment and started sneezing and my eyes got itchy.  It started to feel like seasonal allergies, but then my face started to get swollen and my right eye started to close up.  I called the Dr down the street and asked if I could come in.  They stayed open for me.  The Dr gave me prednisone and called an ambulance and I ended up in ER. It was rough not being able to call one of my family members or friends with a car to help me out.  I ended up having a reaction to shellfish an I didn't even eat any.  I've known for years that I'm allergic to shellfish, so I stay away from it.  I didn't know I was this allergic!  The restaurant I live above cooks shellfish.  Before my reaction, I felt like I was being gassed from the scent of food from the restaurant.  I also had washed the dishes and later found out that my roommate's daughter had eaten shrimp the night before.  I washed a plate that the shrimp had touched and didn't even realize it because there wasn't any shrimp to be seen.  By the way, Botox has nothing on the puff you get from allergic reactions!

 

I ran into one of the neighbors in my hallway a few days ago.  He was a really cute guy in his boxers and was trying to talk to me.  I kept thinking this is a cute guy, why is he in his boxers, somethings not right.  The last time I had a thought like that was when a cute guy was dressed in all black and looked 'scrubby' to me.  I thought he was so cute and could clean up and dress better.   A few minutes later he robbed me.  Ha, ha.  Anyway, it was awkward with the cute boxer short guy because I realized he was the same guy that was drugged up last month that my roommate and I had to call the cops on.  He kept massaging and scratching our door and was being weird to the apartment below us.  He also stole our fire extinguisher.  Neighbors!

 

A few weeks ago I was stuck on a broken subway train without lights or air for an hour! Excellent place to people watch and see their true colors come out. The guy next to me was on something and his girl decided to take their PDA to the next level, he eventually spazzed out and ran to the next train. The jock standing next to me kept banging on the door while flexing his biceps, a beautiful girl kept posing a...nd complaining, gorgeous lesbian couple started making out, the guy flirting with me seemed like a good catch until he picked a fight with a young kid over his loud video game, got to dance a little bit with a really fun girls basketball team, an older lady was desperately trying to find light to read her bible, a hippie was on the floor meditating and I was just enjoying another day in NYC!

 

I went to the Museum of Modern Art recently thanks to a ticket my friend Darci gave me.  She visited with my other friends Janel, Kelly and their friend.  We had a nice time hanging out. 

 

Well great to catch up a bit with you!  I promise I will write soon! xoxo

                                                                                              The stairway at the library near me.  I've 

                                                                                               only seen these in movies.

I used to love these Bronco II cars and thought the 

                 guys driving them were hot!

                                                      NYC has a Beauty Bar too!

                                           My favorite Van Gogh painting "Starry Night"  I saw
                                           this in person at the Museum of Mondern Art.  All
                                           the replicas I've seen of it do it no justice!

                                                    A postman painting, made me think of Mom!

                                                                  At the MoMA 

                                               In front of a Monet painting.

                                               Couldn't resist taking a picture in front of the
                                                largest bed in the world!  Just waking up!

                                           I wonder if positive thought will stop this bullet.

                                          Or maybe my hand?  Superman watch out, I have
                                          moves too!

                                                               Outside area at MoMA

                                                    At MoMA with the Virgin Mary, Jesus
                                                    and friends.

                                            Kelly, Jamie, Janel, Darci and me during their visit.

 

It's March?!?!?

Whoa, I've been here for 5 1/2 months!  So much has happened and so much is on it's way.  I'm looking forward to my spring break next week.  I'm going home to Vegas!  I can't wait to see my family and friends.  I'm like a druggie and they are my drugs.  I need my Vegas fix.  I can hardly sit still thinking about it!

I started at the new store and I'm actually enjoying it.  For those of you that know, my job is really stressful.  It's still stressful, but I'm enjoying the people that I'm working with.  My boss is fantastic.  She's like a drill sargeant and I'm getting such a kick out of her.  She tried yelling at me too and it just didn't work so well, because I responded very rationally with a smile.  She says that I calm her down.  I think she's great because she genuinely wants her employees to advance and I've already seen it happen.

My classes have been fantastic.  I'm still making progress and still have a long ways to go.  We listen to a lot of mucic in my incredible movement class.  I'll have to figure out a way to link some of the beautiful music.  Some of the artists I've been listening to are Sigur Ros, Robert Glasper, Goldie and Gretchen Parlato.  I've been writing a lot for a parady project with some students from my acting class.  The exercises in class require a lot of creative prep work.  I love the creativity.  I'm still working on being more open.  I'm a very open person, but I don't lose my shit a lot.  I want to work on losing my shit.  So, watch out!  There will be a Rosanne Shit Storm!:)

I moved to Jersey City last month!!  It's only a 5 minute train ride on the Path to the World Trade Center.  I'm actually saving time when I'm going to work and class.  It's just a little tougher getting home when I'm out really late.  The train stop is only a few minutes away.  The area is really cute and reminds me of a beach town.  It has a lot of similarities to Portland and was really quiet when I moved in.  However, it's a little louder and much busier now because my new neighbor down the block is Snooki!  She moved in a few weeks ago and is one block away.  There is a much larger police presence here now, so that's a plus.

My roommate is a stand up comedian and that's great for me!  She's always tyring to get me to go to shows, perform and network.  I can't wait to have more time to be consisent with that.  The building I live in is really old and it's a walkup.  So, carrying heavy things up the stairs is rough.  Oh, and we have mice!!  I haven't seen any lately.  My Mom is so sweet and sent me a device that sends out annoying sounds that only pests can hear.  My fingers are crossed that it works.  I was in bed and heard something in the floor heater one night and looked down.  I saw a mouse arm reaching for a piece of wrapped dark chocolate from Valentines Day that I accidently dropped on the ground.  I only saw it's arm and it freaked me out.  I only had to laugh at the ridiculousness of it and that the mouse was just tyring to be healthy and get it's antioxidants.  I should have drank some wine with my guest.

It's late and I'm being silly.  I need to get ready for tomorrow.  I work early and then have a rehearsal.  Here are some pics:

 Near my new place.

 My apartment is above the black canopy.  The laundromat is next door.

 NYC traffic signals can't make up their minds.

 Near the World Trade Center and 5 minutes from my apartment.

 The escalators exiting the Path Train Station near the World Train Center.

 Down the street from my apartment.  This cafe has unlimited Mimosas and Bloody Mary Sundays!

 The Path Train is in the dome on the right side.  This is a few minutes from my apartment.

 My roommate's dog Yoshi.

 On 7th Avenue.  NYC:  You're not Vegas, stop trying!

 This Target made me feel so at home!!  It's a 5 minute walk and one train stop away from my place.

 First real grocery store I've been to since moving!  It's near the Target.

 Cafe Lalo from the movie "You Got Mail."  I had delicious pumpkin soup and coffee there.  It's near my PO Box.

 Cafe Lalo

What a cute way to promote happy hour!!  I might apply there! 

Christmas in a Christmas City

Hello 2012!  I worked Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day, but it kept me busy and it was so beautiful to be in the city on those days!  I've been off from classes since for 2 weeks and it's been so nice to have real days off where I don't have to do anything!

New York City was absolutely stunning for the holidays!  It seemed like every street was decorated for Christmas.  We had a really warm December for NYC standards.  It only started to get uncomfortable yesterday.  It was 13 degrees when I walked to work!  That sounds like the beginning of a story I will tell my kids someday.  When I was younger, I had to walk to work in 13 degree weather and I only had my super cute long coat and a thermos of hot chocolate spiked with whiskey to keep me warm....:)  My gloves haven't kept my hands to warm, so I bought heavy duty mittens.  I think they're skiing mittens and I probably look ridiculous, but my hands are the right amount of toasty.

Thank you to all of my friends and family for the gifts and Christmas cards.  I put all of my cards up on my dresser and they really made me feel special.  I was homesick for the holidays, but it was good for me to be around my co-workers, roommates and it this gorgeous city.  I always have a Christmas party with my friends.  I can't believe you guys didn't have a Christmas party this year!!  You broke the tradition!  We will have to fix that and have a Christmas in March party when I visit.

I probably mentioned that I'm progressing in my classes and feeling really great about it.  I've also gotten out in the comedy scene a little bit more and I'm starting to make contacts.  I feel like I'm going in the right direction. 

I recently found out that the location of the store I work at is closing because our lease wasn't renewed.  I'm lucky that I'm not getting laid off.  I'm getting transferred to our store in Union Square off of 14th street.  For 2 weeks before I found out, I had looked for another place to live to save some rent $$.  I found a place and had put a deposit down, but this new place would have been too difficult to travel to and from my new work location.  I'm lucky that the landlord agreed to not cash my deposit!  I've since found another place and I'm so excited about it!  It's close to transportation, about 15 minutes from work, 20 minutes from school and right above the cutest gay bar!  The area is adorable and my roommate will be another stand up comedian.  I feel safe in the area and I will be saving a lot on rent!  This will put me in a good place to consider working less hours where I'm and give me the time to get out there and start making more $$ from comedy and acting.  I'll be moving at the end of this month.  Not the first of the month like Bone Thugs and Harmony.  I love that song, "Wake up, wake up, it's the first of the month!" 

There were so many tourists here for the holidays.  Las Vegas is better set up for tourists because there are lots of places right next to each other for them to go inside to and check out.  There are lots of places to check out here, but the streets are so full and congested with people while they're on their way to attractions.  I worked until 10:15 PM on New Year's Eve and met some friends at a bar called Cognac after I got off.  It was only 4 blocks from work and should have taken 10 minutes or less to get to.  However, it took me an hour and a half because there were so many people outside and so many street were blocked off.  I made it and had a great time.  It was a pretty cool experience to be in the middle of it all for NYE!  Some people had waited since 6 AM to have a good spot in Times Square for NYE!  I was about 10 blocks from all of the action, but it extended to where we were.

I forgot to mention that the new location for my work is right next to a Whole Foods and down the street from a Trader Joe's that sells wine!  Yes, I can start getting my 2 Buck Chuck again!  Score!  I went there last week and there was a line outside to get into the wine shop at Trader Joe's!  It was set up like a club!  New Yorkers love their Whole Food and Trader Joe's.  I'm posting more pics because the lines are ridiculous.

I miss all of you and wish you the best in 2012 and always.

xoxo

These pics aren't the clearest, but I still want to share kindergarten style.:)

In line outside at the Trader Joe's Wine Shop.  (Like it's a club!)

I made it inside Trader Joe's Wine Shop, picked my wine and got in a line to pay!

No, there wasn't any water for me to sample.

It took me an hour and a half to get through crowds and blocked streets to get to my friends on New Year's Eve.

With a crowd on a blocked street New Year's Eve.  Trying to get to my friends at a bar called Cognac.

10 blocks from Times Square on New Year's Eve.  A little after midnight.

 The building where I'm moving. The 1st floor is bar that seems like a lot of fun.


 A street near my new place.

 The cute area where I'm moving.

In line at Whole Foods to pay.  There were 8 crazy lines for people.  Each line has a color and when your at the front of the line, a number flashes on a tv screen with your color so you know it's your turn to go the register.