Tuesday, April 5, 2005

Quick Mom Story

Through her job, my mom met Donna Murphy, two time Tony Award Winner for Leading Lady in a Musical and now star of Wonderful Town - she hasn't been in touch with her for a few years, but when Wonderful Town opened, my mom called to wish her well. She wasn't able to speak to Donna (only got her assistant) on the phone, which my mom figured was because she was so busy.

When my mom got tickets to see the show, she made arrangements, with Donna's assistant, to go back to the dressing room after to visit. Fine.

However, since the show was so long, my mom didn't wanna wait and get home after dark so she just left.

I just got a call from my mom. The conversation went like this...

"Do you wanna hear what an impression I leave?"
"Not really."
"Well, you know how I was sposed to see Donna after the show?"
"Umm, yeah, I was there."
"Okay, well, I just got a call from Donna Murphy's assistant. telling me that Donna was worried when I didn't show."
"Umm, okay."
"See how people, even famous and busy people like Donna are concerned about me?"
"----"
"Why are you laughing?"
"No reason."
"Well,stop it."
"-----"
"Okay, tell me, why are you laughing?"
"Donna was so concerned that she told her assistant to call? Are her nails permanently drying?"
"Well, she's just busy. You wanna hear something else?"
"Sure."
"Her assistant left a number for me to call...it was Donna's HOME number."
"Wow."
"Go ahead, make fun. I just assumed it was the assistant's number."
"Her home number?"
"No, you idiot. Her office number."
"----"
"Stop laughing. That's it. I'm hanging up."

Thursday, March 17, 2005

A Night in Atlantic City

Went Saturday morning - Rob picked me and Aussie Rich us up at the ferry in Weeeeeeeehauken (I have to say it like that...same with Seeeeecaucus!) in his brand spankin' new Audi TT. Now, I dont know if any of you know what this car looks like,
but it is for all intents and purposes a two-seater (unless you have a
couple of friends with no legs). David Blaine could do a special with him
trying to get in and out of this thing. After making a meager attempt to
get in the back seat, Aussie says there's no way we can do it, and he's
going home (he did manage to get in but was situated so uncomfortably that
I almost threw up laughing). I volunteered to try after actually having to
help him get out. Using Rob's advice of going in butt first, I managed to
squeeze my way in, and though far from comfy, I took one for team. (Very
selfish of Rob by the way to not think of me when buying his Mid-life
Crisis car.)

ANYWAY, We got down there and checked in to our hotel which should be called The Last
Hotel on The Left (raise your hand if you know the movie). It really is
the last hotel on the left and away from all the action, well, the casino
action at least. While we are there a cop car rides up and when the cops
enter, the desk chick sez, "Hi Randy, room 1606." Now, it's bad enuf that
they had to call the cops for something but as Rob says, its even worse
that she's on a first name basis with them. I half expected to have to
walk around a chalk outline to enter our room (if we were in room 217 or
237, I woulda been outta there - raise your hand part two). The room was
fine and there was no other hotel drama.

We got to the Taj Mahal around 2:30 and immediately sit down at a black
jack table. A couple of observations off the bat. One, the economy must
be killing these casinos as there was no problem getting a $10 table (and
it stayed like that for hours eventually moving to 15 and then 25). Two,
there are no caucasian dealers there. All asian males. Three, A/C does
NOT get a good looking crowd. Not only is it ugly but it's very white
trash. A mullet hunter would have a field day there. We ended up sitting
there till 10:00 (I got up once to hit the restroom). We started drinking
as soon as we sat down (Bloody Mary for me). In fact, we were drinking so much that
the waitress not only kept bringing us more drinks before we asked but she
brought us any drinks that she had gotten for others who musta left the
table (Vodka and Cranberries, Malibu whatchamacallit's, etc) . Hammered quickly, we went into Obnoxious Drunken New Yawker mode (Note to Brian: If ya ever film a movie and need a few extras who will be in credits as "Morons Playing Blackjack #1,2, and 3 you know where to look...esp if it's a skin flick). One dealer was named Soe (who I'm still not sure spoke any English...none of the dealers did...or maybe they did
but didn't wanna encourage us) who had to endure me yelling "Say it aint
So!!" after every poor hand and Aussie singing "Sew...a needle pulling
threeeead". He didn't even seem to appreciate my attempt at small talk,
like when I asked him what he does for a living. We kept bugging the pit
dude to hook us up with some comps since we were playing soe long (i
believe the exact words were, "C'mon Dennis...throw us a free
burga...that's all we're askin' fer!" repeated seven hundred
times...yup...we're pathetic). Though we started off poorly (was down more
than $200 fairly quickly) we rallied and in fact went on a fairly extended
good run where the dealer got very few blackjack's and in fact, busted a
lot when he was sposed to. Whenever the dealer had a "busting hand" (i.e.
3,4,5,6) we were yelling, "TEN!! TEN!!! TEN!!!" and it seems like more
often than not, it worked out (I may write a book on this method). Rob and
I ended up there up about $400 on the day. Aussie was not as fortunate as
he gave up on BJ and moved onto roulette where he lost more (question for
y'all - What's more annoying than someone at your table who HITS on a hard
SEVENTEEN as Aussie did...twice? Answer: Someone who HITS on a hard
SEVENTEEN twice and gets a three and a four - I woulda said, "I too, like
to live dangerously" - movie?). Another funny part of out table (at least
to us) was how due to the fact we were doing well, Rob and I were trying to
chase away any new players by claiming the table sucks or how hot the
dealer was whenever new blood walked by - I recall at least one person not
sitting down and even funnier, noone else appeard to win dough but us and
one Eeeenormous chick sitting there with us. This chick by the way came
down by herself (I think she ate her friends) and since we were rather
drunk and in a good mood, invited her to the dinner buffet
(mmmm...buffet...mmmm) we went to armed with comps.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, ya just can't beat a buffet
(mmmm...buffet...mmmm). Though I really wasn't that hungry (by this time I
was drunk and my voice was bad and my throat was scratchy from laughing and
yelling), I ate my fair share...and a couple other peoples. After the
buffet (mmmm...buffet...mmmmm), my companions wanted to hit a strip club
(personally I was ready to hit the sheets for a few hours and then get up
and play some more as I was kinda nautious). We ditch the chick and head
to a Bikini Club - we thought we were going to a topless place but they
never even took off their tops! Some fairly hot chicks though they looked
about as interested in it as the backup players in those old Robert Palmer
videos looked.

Got up fairly early - checked out - drove back to the Taj - had the
Breakfast Buffet (mmmm...buffet...mmmm) - and hit the tables - Rob and I
played more BJ (both down a little) and then joined Aussie at Roulette
since he was doing well and we thought we'd ruin it. I dont like the wheel
but played a bit cause Rob and Aussie were doing well - I was breaking even
until I remembered the immortal words of Richard Bloom and Wesley
Snipes..."Always bet on Black" so I placed one last fidy dollas on
black...and lost. Aussie made up for his losses from Saturday and Rob
made more money by listening to me (i'm still awaiting my share). He's
never played before and asks what numbers to play...I'm a Piazza man so I
say 31 and then realizing he's a Yankee fan, I tell him to play 22 for that
bleep Clemens. First ball ends up whereever...second 22!...third 22
again!!! Ya just can't beat that. We then went for a stroll on the
boardwalk arm in arm in arm (ok, they refused) We tried the "Make a Basket" game which resulted in one fo the most pathetic exhibitions of free throw shooting (and I use that term loosely) that I've ever seen. I threw up an airball (i was on target though... I WAS!!!) - Rob clanked it against the backboard not touching rim either and Aussie hit the top of the backboard, also hitting the "prizes" above it and it flew right back in his hands....pathetic doesn't describe it.

I saw some great outfits in a window and suggested that to fit in more we
all buy a velvet jumpsuit and a couple of chains to wear to the casino next
time (it's funny when you picture it)

Rob then drove us back to Weeeeehauken where we got the ferry and subwayed
it home, as I had no money for a cab.

Rock On,

Aitch

Monday, December 13, 2004

A phone call from mom

"Thrill Me."
"Hi, what are you doing home?' Mom asked.
"What? It's 11 AM on a Saturday. Where should I be?"
"I dunno, just figured you'd be out already."
"Then why did you call me now?"
"I just figured I'd get the machine and you'd call me back."
"Well, we are going out soon - you just caught me."
"Oh, you're not taking Stewie to the vet again, are you? (Stewie's my dog - he's been ill)
"No, he's much better."
"Well, that's good to hear. I was worried that you got a lemon."
(Annoyed) "He's fiiiiine. We're all going out for a walk."
"Oh, that should be nice. Don't keep him out too long. Don't forget, he was just sick."
"Thanks for reminding me. I had forgotten."
"Look, don't be sarcastic with me. So did you do anything last night?"
"Nope....wasn't in the mood to deal with the rain and wind. Stayed in."
"Bronwen too?"
"Yup...we just ordered in and played with Stewie."
"How's Bronwen?"
"Good...good. So what are you doing today?"
"Well, funny you should ask. I'm at the bank."
"Right now?"
"Yes, I'm sitting with Delores, one of the reps."
"So wait, why are you calling me?"
"I just wanted to invest my 2004 IRA contribution and I was hoping you could go over it with Delores since I dont understand this stuff."
"Is she helping another customer now?"
"No, she's sitting right here."
"So she's sitting there while you ask me about my dog and my evening."
"She doesn't mind."
"I'm sure she's thrilled working on a Saturday to begin with, and listening to us is just adding to her joy."
(Muffled) "My son is worried that I'm wasting your time."
"Mom! Mom!"
"No, Harris - she doesn't mind at all."
"Put her on the phone mom."
"And we've had a long relationship. She would tell me."
"Just put her on the phone."
"Okay, I love you."
"Okay mom...I love you too."
"I'm sorry?"
"Oh, I thought my mom was still on. Hi!"

Rock On,

Aitch

Monday, November 15, 2004

I think I may've set my own record...

Our new Head of IT (Information Technology) started today...exactly one week after the previous one was fired for incompetence.
The CEO walked her around, introducing her to the employees, when they got to my cubicle.
"Harris, this is Jill Sanders*, our new head of IT."
"Hi, nice to meet you, I said, and added, "Good luck."
"I don't need luck," Jill replied dismissively, as they walked away.
Yup, it took two seconds.

Rock On,

Aitch

* Not her real name. Her real name is a Russian name that I can't prounce, much less spell

Friday, October 29, 2004

Sweep the Leg

Walking home on Wednesday, I came upon a homeless dude on 59th and Columbus Circle holding a cardboard sign that read ...

NINJAS KILLED MY FAMILY. NEED MONEY FOR KARATE LESSONS!

Rock On,

Aitch

Thursday, October 28, 2004

i suck

So I got a call from my friend Ed the day of Game 7 between the Yanks and Bosox. "Q" is our friend who resides in Boston.

Ed - Can you believe this series?
Me - I know, it's unreal.
Ed - Q's coming in tonight for the game.
Me - Really? He got tickets?! How?
Ed - He just hammered the phone lines the day they went on sale.
Me - Cool, though to be honest, I think I'd rather watch it at home. What's it gonna be, like 40 degrees?
Ed - I hear ya.
Me - What kind of seats did he get?
Ed - Not very good - somewhere in the upper deck.
Me - Ouch. Especially sittin' up there. Probably about 10 degrees colder. I'd definitely rather see it at home.
Ed - I totally hear ya.
Me - And with the wind chill up there...it's gonna feel like 25.
Ed - Probably will.
Me - Wait, who's he going with?
Ed - Me

Friday, October 15, 2004

God Help Me - The Case of the Chewy Chicken

Quick mom story from her birthday lunch a few weeks ago - the players were me, Bronwen, my bro, his wife, their kid and mom - we go to a Cuban restaurant in Forest Hills - the baby wasn't feeling well so he was cranky and cried the whole time - makes for a special lunch

Anyway, at one point my mom asks Bronwen how she likes her dish (they ordered the same thing) - Bronwen says, "To be honest, the chicken's a little chewy."

My mom, who hadn't complained about it at all, says, "Yes, it is a little chewy isn't it?"

The rest of the meal, every ten minutes or so, she says, "This chicken is so chewy. I can barely eat it."

Towards the end, she catches the waitresses eye - the waitress whom by the way, barely spoke English - and called her over.

"I just want to tell you the chicken is chewy."

The waitress either didn't understand her or just didn't know what to say cause she just stood there.

Finally she said, "Chicken? Chewy?"

My mom continued, "Yes, the chicken is chewy. Just so you know, I come here a lot...and this is the first time the chicken's been chewy." She'd been there twice.

The waitress inquired," Do you want speak manager about chewy chicken?"

My mom continued, "Yes, please." The waitress walked away. My mom turned to me.

"Management should know that their chicken is chewy."

"I said. "Oh definitely, it's your civic duty." I felt the diameter of the hole in the lining of my stomach enlarging.

The manager walked over.

"Hi, I understand your chicken is chewy?"

"My mom replied, "Yes, hi, I just want to tell you that I come here a lot and my son's girlfriend and I both got this chicken dish...and we both think its very chewy. You may want to tell the chef."

"Okay, thank you, I certainly will, and sorry about the chewiness." The manager walked away.

"See how appreciative she was?" My mom said to me. "They want to hear things like this."

They ended up taking one of the chewy chicken dishes off the check, thereby further encouraging her for next time. Little did they know what they'd done. God help me.

Rock On,

Aitch