Focusing is Hard, as I Demonstrate in this Blog Post.

So, I'm going to write about a bunch of unrelated things. Random observances. Flashes into our life up here. Stuff you didn't realize you needed to know, but are so glad to find out about. I hope.

So, it's still freaking cold up here, and when I look at the weather app on my iPhone, I want to cry. It shows snowflakes and rainfall for Friday and Saturday, and that makes me want to curl up in a ball, like this dog.

The sun is shining, so when I look out the window, I am filled with the promise of warmth and happiness, but when I walk outside, the wind bitch slaps me in the face, and reminds me who is really in charge.

Lots of movies and TV shows (and pilots) are shooting around right now. "30 Rock" shot their last episode of the season the other day near our apartment- be on the lookout for Kenneth and Tracy in Central Park-and tomorrow, our street will be filled with trucks and trailers for "How to Make it in America," an HBO series.

We have a few additions to the "Famous People in our 'Hood" file. Rob Corddry (Hot Tub Time Machine, Anchorman) was shopping at the Banana Republic, Dan Lauria (B'way's "Lombardi," the dad from Wonder Years) was at a bar we like, and CZJ is out in full force walking her dog these days. Hank and I are inching closer to our shared goal of being doggie friends with Figaro. You'll know when it happens.

Yesterday we closed our short run of "Tech Support," a new play by Debra Whitfield. There's talk of adding some dates, but with all of our schedules, it may be tough. Next up for me is "Future Anxiety" at The Flea Theater, directed by Jim Simpson. Previews begin April 15th, and we run through May 26th.

Mom came to visit (and see "Tech Support") last week, and we had a great time. She got to meet our dear friend and Aussie, Tim Hall, and we did a little shopping, walking, and dining. Hank was especially happy to have someone to cuddle with on the air mattress.

I found a pair of jeans I like so much, I'm going to get a second pair. They're Banana Republic skinny (!) jeans in dark blue. In case you were wondering what I'm wearing these days.

We are really excited to go to Austin, TX next week (NEXT WEEK?!?!) to see "Paradise Key" at Hyde Park Theater. This is one of Dean's plays, winner of the Trustus Theatre Playwright's Festival last season, and sure to be fantastic in this Southwest premiere. Dean's been working on his Untitled Treasure Play, and had a reading recently with The Bats at The Flea Theater.

Dean is obsessed with Petite Lap Giraffes. That's all I can say.

I'm repulsed by molecular gastronomy. It's all over the morning talk shows these days. Just make me a grilled cheese sandwich. Don't freeze it, don't liquefy it. Just grill it. Strangely, I have been on a bit of a juice kick lately. Actually, it's only when I walk past the juice place on 72nd. No other times. But I get the green juice with the kale and other green things in it, and feel really healthy for the 10 minutes it takes to drink it. And then I eat that grilled cheese I mentioned before.

OK, I gotta run. I got bidness to do, yo. Gotta get my fax on. More to come. Get ready to hear all about The Salvage Company taking our zombie thriller, "H. apocalyptus" to the Piccolo Spoleto Festival!

Later Taters.

Happy Saint Patrick's Day!

I don't think there's a better place in the world to be Irish today than New York City.

The 250th New York City Saint Patrick's Day Parade is happening right now. Right this second on the other side of Central Park. 250 years. A quarter of a millennium. And this isn't like the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, or even the Ferris Bueller Parade. Floats, cars, balloons, and such are not allowed, and the parade consists of about 150,000 people marching- including military groups, bands, dancers, police officers and firemen...you name it. As long as it walks, it's here.

The parade is televised, and the commentators are actually Irish. It makes me wish I were prepping for a production of a Brian Friel play, the dialects are so good. Parade Day kicks off with mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral, and (SC friends, brace yourselves) the highlights from this morning's mass were replayed as part of the parade coverage. Mass makes the news here, people.

There are several bands full of bagpipe players, which confuses me, because I thought that was a Scottish instrument. I also thought that the Scottish and Irish hated each other, so I'm surprised there hasn't been more brawling. I mean, I'm attacking everyone I see in a kilt, but I'm just on one block of W. 75th, and it's hard to know how the rest of my Irish friends are faring across the city. What? Oh. OHHHHHH. My bad. I was just informed that "Ireland and Scotland have a very close cultural relationship as both countries are of gaelic descent. In fact the Scots are an Irish tribe who settled in what is now Scotland from the 4th century onwards." Huh. Either way, bagpipes make me cry.

There are so many police officers and firemen in the parade, I hope there isn't a city-wide emergency. Is there a joke in there somewhere? It feels like it.

It's a beautiful day for a parade- we're getting up to the mid-60's (SC friends, please don't rub it in.) And it's a fantastic day for Irish advertisers! I've seen so many "visit Ireland" spots and so many Guiness spots, I find myself wanting to ride bikes along the winding roads of rural Ireland with a beer in my hand. In plastic, of course. Glass would be irresponsible.

Time to dash. I've left some soda bread baking in the oven, and my bangers and mash are almost ready. Yeah, I'm kidding. Happy Saint Patrick's Day, everyone! Especially to my Uncle Tommy. This always strikes me as HIS day. :)

Hank has a Girlfriend

It's true. Hank has found true love in the Big City.

Her name is Fenny, and she lives upstairs with her people, Sean and Carol. Hank LOVES Sean and Carol more than anyone else in the world (aside from us, of course.) When we pass them on the street, Hank loses his mind. He jumps and scampers and howls and whines, and makes the tourists look at us askance. This may be because A) they are cool people, or B) when Hank visits them, they give MUCH better treats than we do.

Today we had one of those encounters, but this one was preceded by something kind of interesting. As we were walking up our block to Central Park West, Hank got really interested in a smell on the pavement. Not that this is out of the ordinary, but it wasn't food this time- it was a little puddle of dog pee. He sniffed around it, near it, and almost IN it, before I finally dragged him away- Hank with a little yelp, and me with a quick glance around to see who thought I kicked my dog.

So, we're walking along CPW when we see Sean and Fenny. It was like one of those slo-mo shots of lovers running towards each other on the beach. Only these were dogs. And there was traffic. Their ears were flapping in the breeze, the air was thick with excitement. Leashes were tangling, pedestrians were tripping, and two dogs in love leapt from bench to bench in a furry love dance.

Once those crazy kids calmed down, I realized Sean and Fenny were on their way back home, and had only gone out a few minutes earlier for a quick walk. I told Sean that we'd just rounded the corner from our street, and that Hank had to be dragged away from all the smells, including a puddle of pee. Sean said, "Fenny just peed over there by the side entrance to the Kenilworth, and she never goes there.

Yep. Seems Hank has quite a nose on him. He's not crazy, he's a dog in love. And like Dean said, "That's the mark of true love when you know each others' pee."

Food for thought.

A Quickie

Dearest Fans,

Thank you for your kind words and your continued encouragement regarding my blog. I will, very soon, post something that will make you laugh, cry, and wish you were right here with me- taking the dog out...again, emptying the litter boxes, or waiting in line at Trader Joe's.

The truth is, I'm really busy right now. I've just finished a moderately-sold out run of "Little Red Riding Hood," and will miss playing the Granny very, VERY much. I tried to steal the overalls and wire-rim glasses, but they caught me on my way out. Also, I'm rehearsing for a brand new show called, "Tech Support," which has me jetting through TIME, much like HG Wells. Or Christopher Reeve in "Somewhere in Time." I'm the LEAD, thank you very much, and it's really time consuming to bend the space/time continuum like that. I have to stay really hydrated, too.

Finally, and really excitingly, I start rehearsals tomorrow for "Future Anxiety" at The Flea Theatre. (Yes, I am rehearsing two shows AT THE SAME TIME. That's how hard I work.) This show is directed by Mr. Jim Simpson, who is married to a famous ALIEN fighter, Working Girl, and 8' tall Avatar. In fact...don't be jealous....I'm going to their home for a party right now, so I need to run. For real.

So, more to come, I promise. Until then, stay classy.

Monica