Rollercoaster Ride

There’s actually only one (international) celebrity that I crossed paths with that actually asked "How are you? What’s new with you?" And he actually listened to my updates. Later, he wrote me a note which said "Congrats on your success!" That was different.

Compare that to when I was at a movie premiere and for one reason or another, ended up alone wth a "B" Hollywood actor. Because up until that night I didn’t know who he was, nor have I seen any of the shows he was in, I actually didn’t have anything to say. Nor did he because he didn’t seem to care about a ‘nobody.’ Talk about dead air. It’s so rare during those moments with ‘celebrities’ to actually have a dialogue, especially if you (’the fan’), don’t start with "Oh my God,you did great, I loved your performance!"  Because there are times when you’re either clueless or don’t have that sentiment.

Still compare that to mentioning an event to a couple other ‘celebrities.’ Don’t expect a "How was it?" or "Good luck with it!" Instead, they would say, "There’s no way I could have made it!" or "Sorry, I’m out of town." That’s okay.

The thing is, these people hardly redeem themselves. You have experiences with them from years ago, and still you give them a chance. Maybe they’re in better moods this time. But if nothing is redeeming, and the questionable traits are repeating, then to some people (who unfortunately can’t know them better), it becomes who they are. 

Unfortunately for these ‘big’ people, it only takes a moment to make an impression, and that impression carries on with individuals. And because there are 500 seats in a theater, they will probably only meet the persons in the audience once in their lives. And because you’re famous, they’ll remember. You’ll want them to have good memories of you, won’t you? Your charm and demeanor shouldn’t end with your ‘performance’ then. Because the ‘performance’ that counts is the one you carry offstage.

That’s why I love Julie Danao, Adam Jacobs, Ali Ewoldt, Liz Casasola and Victor Lirio. Everybody just raves about them. They just know what to say and when to say it, because they speak from the heart. So sweet, warm, generous and kind. There’s something about attaining success when you’re older because you worked for it then gladly share it. There’s also something to say about keeping humble, and interested in other people, despite the acclaim and attention.

In Europe, especially in Germany, we bring our own fabricbags to groceries to save on plastic. If you want plastic, you pay for it.

In America, we use two plastic bags per bunch of groceries. And use up about ten per trip.

I wish Mayor Bloomberg and President Bush would (1) follow Germany’s example, and in following with the banning of drinking outside and smoking inside, (2)ban plastic bags too. Less plastic, less trash. We’ll just have keep fabric bags handy. That shouldn’t be so ‘inconvenient.’

"Hey Carissa. Can I bring my girlfriend to your party? She’s also a celebrity. "

Then he goes on to name his girlfriend that I’ve never heard of, nor have many of the folks I’ve asked.

I have no problem with an extra guest, but the problems I had with this question are:

(1) It presumes that he is a celebrity. While he may be more famous than his girlfriend, I just find it  a little off that he considers himself a ‘celebrity.’ I think the term he should have used is ‘actor,’ because that’s his profession. Celebrity isn’t, because there is a celebrity chef, celebrity writer, celebrity tennis player…Acting doesn’t make you an actor. Being an actor doesn’t make you a celebrity.

(2) I think the word is something people use to pertain to other people, not yourself. It’s like hearing or reading people describe themselves as good-looking, sexy and attractive. That’s for others to say about you, not for you to say about yourself. And if you really are, then you don’t even have to say it to convince other people.

(3) You can bring whoever you want to a party, and don’t need to describe them. Yet had he said ‘She’s also a baseball fan,’ or she’s also a doctor’ or something unassuming like that, I wouldn’t have been as thrown off.

Looking back, it may not have been a big deal. But it definitely made an impression.

When a good friend and I talked about what she wanted in a guy after it (the one) was elusive for quite some time, she said,"I just want a male version of you."

I found it strange at first. But later on learned to take it as a compliment, a rather great compliment. And think that perhaps there are some guys who don’t have to wish for a woman version of me. They like me just fine, just as I am.

As I was walking home from work on 42nd St last Monday, I realized that my Ipod shuffle (that my sister gave for my bday 2 years ago) had the slow  voice of a little girl even if the songs were supposed to be fast and male. I finally had a reason to retire it, and took a deotur to the fabulous Appl Store on Fifth Ave/57th Street.

So I got myself a fuschia Ipod Nano that matches my Moto very well. The ‘cashiers’ there are so cool because they are walking cash registers. If you are purchasing by credit card, you can just buy from these tehcno-geeky guys and they’ll email you the receipt. No lines!

So I go home with a new ipod. Though I was set to enjoy the songs, it’s the ‘Brick’ game that got me addicted. This, coming from someone who looked down on guys who spend so much time playing video games and living their virtual lives instead of their real lives.

I honestly couldn’t wait to get some idle time to play with catching the ball. I didn’t want the bus to move. I didn’t want the train to reach my destination. I don’t even see who I’m walking past, who I’m sitting with and or standing next to. I just looked down at the ball and the brick the whole time.  A hour of washing clothes didn’t seem long enough to be the champ of the game. In the past four days, it was just me and my Ipod.

The worst part of it is it being a holiday today, I slept til 1pm (went to bed at 4am), had brunch, watched a video and played with my Ipod for hours. It was so hard to put it down, it took the battery to die for me to stop. This is such a different day from others. I always ask myself what I’ve done with my precious day. I don’t want to say I looked doown at balls and bricks. Anyway, I had a record high score of 243. I’m over it. (I hope.) It’s bad enough not to hear the sounds of NY City. It’s worse not to see its sights too just because we’re looking down. I always said that to continue being amazed by the city, just look up. 

So now I miss my low-class shuffle. it might have kept my ears occuppied. But at least I’m looking straight ahead. Ipods are bad enough in terms of taking your ears away from the city and your fellow men. Portable video games take your eyes away too.

I shared this funny story with Gloria last Sunday, and she in turn told me about going to a vacation in Greece with her friend. She didn’t realize, it was going to be her, her friend, and her friends’ Blackberry at the beach and everywhere else. The friend always just looking down to her screen. I hope not get a Blackberry. I don’t want to stare at my email my whole waking life.