I'm back! And I have photographic proof of my travels... Enjoy!
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Monday, June 16, 2008
Back to the Bike....... or Not.
Holy Crap. I rode Mikey's new bike today for the first time, and it was awesome. Maybe it's just that it's so lightweight, but I felt like it was so much easier than riding my old Target bike. I can't wait for him to go to St. Louis this week so that I can take it out for a spin.
I admire his gung ho bike-riding routine. I don't think that I could do it. Then again, he has to take up to 4 forms of transit in one day, and my ass just rides the subway and walks, so I guess it's a different set of circumstances.
Besides, I can be more of a priss than him. I don't think I could deal with the elements and risk showing up to work looking less than fabulous.
I've noticed that there's a palpable difference in the amount of respect I get from a company based on my initial attire. That's why I always try to look extra-sharp at first rehearsals. I've certainly noticed that it's a bit harder to command a room in shorts and a T-shirt than it is in a jacket and my nicer jeans.
Bullshit? Give it a try. Granted, if you don't, like me, have the opportunity to work with entirely new groups of people all of the time, you probably will get more responses of the "What are you all dressed up for?" vibe, but I'm a fan.
My friend, Josh, went through a period when he started a new position recently. He said that he wanted to find what worked for someone at his level, so that he was neither over- nor under-dressed, and so that he was dressed in attire that suited his role. He wanted to dress "like management, not like an engineer."
So cultivating a specific look can also be a good thing. I've been rocking the T-shirt/ tie thing for a while now, although I've found it's harder to pull it off when I do it less frequently. Going for a distinctive signature look is certainly good branding, but it only works when you're consistent. I need to work on that.
I think it might be time hit the thrift stores. Anyone want to join me?
I admire his gung ho bike-riding routine. I don't think that I could do it. Then again, he has to take up to 4 forms of transit in one day, and my ass just rides the subway and walks, so I guess it's a different set of circumstances.
Besides, I can be more of a priss than him. I don't think I could deal with the elements and risk showing up to work looking less than fabulous.
I've noticed that there's a palpable difference in the amount of respect I get from a company based on my initial attire. That's why I always try to look extra-sharp at first rehearsals. I've certainly noticed that it's a bit harder to command a room in shorts and a T-shirt than it is in a jacket and my nicer jeans.
Bullshit? Give it a try. Granted, if you don't, like me, have the opportunity to work with entirely new groups of people all of the time, you probably will get more responses of the "What are you all dressed up for?" vibe, but I'm a fan.
My friend, Josh, went through a period when he started a new position recently. He said that he wanted to find what worked for someone at his level, so that he was neither over- nor under-dressed, and so that he was dressed in attire that suited his role. He wanted to dress "like management, not like an engineer."
So cultivating a specific look can also be a good thing. I've been rocking the T-shirt/ tie thing for a while now, although I've found it's harder to pull it off when I do it less frequently. Going for a distinctive signature look is certainly good branding, but it only works when you're consistent. I need to work on that.
I think it might be time hit the thrift stores. Anyone want to join me?
Sunday, June 15, 2008
What's up with Nate??
Hmmmmmmm....... I'm not sure where to start. Here's a brief recap of things that have been going on with me.
It's been 7 months since the wedding, and my lazy ass has still not finished the thank-you cards. I PROMISE-- they're coming!!
I'm working on 4 shows right now-- NOVEMBER, a new play by David Mamet (my first Broadway show). The blog for the show is pretty amusing, so it's worth checking out (you can get to it in the Links section). It was an AMAZING feeling to get to call on Broadway. TRULY AWESOME.
I just finished up the Lincoln Center Directors Lab, where I had the incredible opportunity to stage manage with directors from all over the world. Now THIS was an excellent experience. It was like camp, but with adult theatre professionals. It rocked! I made a bunch of new friends whom I love and respect.
I'm also the resident SM for a monthly reading series called Project Shaw (which is pretty cool/ political). Our next reading in June 23rd, with Tyne Daly, then there's one in July with Megan Mullally. It's every George Bernard Shaw play ever written (projectshaw.com).
I just did a reading for a new musical called Boynton Beach Club by the woman who wrote/ directed Desperately Seeking Susan. There were some great actors in the reading (Donna McKechnie, Karen Ziemba, Susie Bigelow, Sammi Meckes, so many others), but the experience was less than stellar.
Tuesday, I came in to ASM the Spring Gall for Jennifer Muller/ The Works, a dance company I work for off and on. It was the premiere of a dance piece I was working on with them during its conception last summer. It was hugely personally enriching after the commercial soul-suck that was BBC.
I'm pretty excited to have a couple of weeks off to relax (and maybe get to those Thank You cards) before starting The First Breeze of Summer, a revival of a Negro Ensemble Company show at the Signature Theatre with my friend, Winnie (and a handful of folks from the Lab). I celebrated some of this new found freedom on Friday the 13th with a picnic in the park and an (unfortunately disappointing) viewing of The Happening. I'm looking forward to another game-y good time with friends (and maybe this time, we'll actually get to play some sort of Tag).
I'll try to blog more.
Live, from New York,
it's
Nate.
It's been 7 months since the wedding, and my lazy ass has still not finished the thank-you cards. I PROMISE-- they're coming!!
I'm working on 4 shows right now-- NOVEMBER, a new play by David Mamet (my first Broadway show). The blog for the show is pretty amusing, so it's worth checking out (you can get to it in the Links section). It was an AMAZING feeling to get to call on Broadway. TRULY AWESOME.
I just finished up the Lincoln Center Directors Lab, where I had the incredible opportunity to stage manage with directors from all over the world. Now THIS was an excellent experience. It was like camp, but with adult theatre professionals. It rocked! I made a bunch of new friends whom I love and respect.
I'm also the resident SM for a monthly reading series called Project Shaw (which is pretty cool/ political). Our next reading in June 23rd, with Tyne Daly, then there's one in July with Megan Mullally. It's every George Bernard Shaw play ever written (projectshaw.com).
I just did a reading for a new musical called Boynton Beach Club by the woman who wrote/ directed Desperately Seeking Susan. There were some great actors in the reading (Donna McKechnie, Karen Ziemba, Susie Bigelow, Sammi Meckes, so many others), but the experience was less than stellar.
Tuesday, I came in to ASM the Spring Gall for Jennifer Muller/ The Works, a dance company I work for off and on. It was the premiere of a dance piece I was working on with them during its conception last summer. It was hugely personally enriching after the commercial soul-suck that was BBC.
I'm pretty excited to have a couple of weeks off to relax (and maybe get to those Thank You cards) before starting The First Breeze of Summer, a revival of a Negro Ensemble Company show at the Signature Theatre with my friend, Winnie (and a handful of folks from the Lab). I celebrated some of this new found freedom on Friday the 13th with a picnic in the park and an (unfortunately disappointing) viewing of The Happening. I'm looking forward to another game-y good time with friends (and maybe this time, we'll actually get to play some sort of Tag).
I'll try to blog more.
Live, from New York,
it's
Nate.
Thursday, June 12, 2008
I conquered the bridge!
I made the first attempt today with the bike, and I survived! Wooooo!
I was a little anxious about it, but it actually went really well. The view of the Hudson River and the Manhattan skyline is frickin' AMAZING while you're biking along the scenic bike path on the southern edge of the bridge! The only truly terrifying part was getting down the giant hill that is River Road to my office. It's basically one lane each way, and very narrow until you get close to my office, AND at a steep incline, AND the road's not in the best condition. There was one moment where I hit a particulary hard bump and the handlebars shifted (need to be more careful about locking those tighter) when I thought I was going to go over the front, but I managed to stay on. Hmm...may need to look into buying a helmet, dorky as they may be.
At any rate, I arrived at work only a little bit sweaty (luckily I've stashed a stick of Old Spice High Endurance in my desk), and totally exhilarated! It was admittedly kind of a pain in the ass making the subway transfer while carrying the 20 lb bike, and also carrying it to the ferry this afternoon - I think I'm getting more of an upper-body workout than lower, surprisingly, from carrying the damn thing - but it was totally worth it for that ride. I think I may have to work my way up to the reverse commute, though - I'm am in no shape to go back up that ginormous hill just yet!
One day down, let's see if I can do it again tomorrow morning!
I was a little anxious about it, but it actually went really well. The view of the Hudson River and the Manhattan skyline is frickin' AMAZING while you're biking along the scenic bike path on the southern edge of the bridge! The only truly terrifying part was getting down the giant hill that is River Road to my office. It's basically one lane each way, and very narrow until you get close to my office, AND at a steep incline, AND the road's not in the best condition. There was one moment where I hit a particulary hard bump and the handlebars shifted (need to be more careful about locking those tighter) when I thought I was going to go over the front, but I managed to stay on. Hmm...may need to look into buying a helmet, dorky as they may be.
At any rate, I arrived at work only a little bit sweaty (luckily I've stashed a stick of Old Spice High Endurance in my desk), and totally exhilarated! It was admittedly kind of a pain in the ass making the subway transfer while carrying the 20 lb bike, and also carrying it to the ferry this afternoon - I think I'm getting more of an upper-body workout than lower, surprisingly, from carrying the damn thing - but it was totally worth it for that ride. I think I may have to work my way up to the reverse commute, though - I'm am in no shape to go back up that ginormous hill just yet!
One day down, let's see if I can do it again tomorrow morning!
Monday, June 9, 2008
My own personal Green mission
Well, I've conquered recycling, given up my car in favor of daily mass-transit trekking, moved to the greenest city in the country, got a job at a 
socially responsible company...basically, I would make Al Gore proud. What the hell is left? How can I possible get any greener without biking to work everyday like a big, crunchy-granola-eating hippie?
socially responsible company...basically, I would make Al Gore proud. What the hell is left? How can I possible get any greener without biking to work everyday like a big, crunchy-granola-eating hippie?Well, uh...by doing just that... A couple weeks ago I was waiting for the ferry home from work in New Jersey (again, a terrible state - I highly recommend not going there ever) when I saw a gentleman getting off the ferry with one of these (pictured, right). Not all that impressive when it was folded up, but he stepped off to the side, and within about 15 seconds, he's unfolded the pile of wheels and gears into a nice little bike. It got me thinking about how much I spend on taking that damn ferry everyday, and how the only other option is the horrible, horrible bus that never shows up and sits in traffic forever, and how my company is about to move to a new office where there is no ferry and the bus only runs once an hour, and how both the current office and the new office are only a couple miles from the perfectly flat bike-friendly George Washington bridge, and how easy it would be to bike across if only I could get my clunky old bike uptown on the subway during rush hour traffic, and, well...you can see where I'm going here. I bought the damn bike.
It was kind of a no-brainer, really. It's a cute bike, it costs slightly less than two months worth of tickets for the ferry and the bus to work, and I'm a giant fatass...all signs point to me buying a bike. I of course live too far away to bike from Queens to New Jersey everyday, but therein lies the beauty of the folding bike - I can fold it up and take it on the subway with me to the point where I have to transfer to some kind of NJ transit that is not covered by my NYC metrocard, and then just bike across the bridge. Thus, I launched my new green mission: to
stop giving hundreds of dollars each month to the state of New Jersey and end up with a little more green in my pocket, and (hopefully) a few pounds lighter.
stop giving hundreds of dollars each month to the state of New Jersey and end up with a little more green in my pocket, and (hopefully) a few pounds lighter.So, we'll see how this goes. The bike arrived yesterday (it's adorable, and everyone at work was incredibly jealous), just in time for 100 degree weather in NYC. Woo hoo! Needless to say, I haven't braved the bridge just yet. Actually, I brought it home today, and just the strain of carrying it down the subway stairs had me literally dripping wet. I'd like to think that that had more to do with the unseasonable warmth than me being so horribly out of shape, but...I know better. Clearly, I will not be able to go from zero to biking back and forth to work in one day, but this is all the more reason why I need to do this, it'll just take a little ramping up to get there. I'm going to try doing the bridge later this week (if I can convince myself to do it), so if I live to tell the tale, I'll have more to say...stay tuned!
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