The Comfy Corner

In this season of juice cleanses, 20 day yoga challenges and ginger/cayenne/lemon juice shots, I thought it would be apropos to go against the grain and start a 16 Bourbon challenge. A challenge where I try 16 different bourbons in 20 days. Kind of the opposite of a cleanse, I know, but it fits right in line with one of my biggest goals right now: to become a more of a man. I've been thinking a lot recently about what makes a man a man. And I've decided that somewhere amongst my glasses of pinot grigio and vanilla bean scented candles, I have lost touch with my manhood. So in an effort to reclaim my manhood for good, I have compiled a comprehensive list of what I have decided makes a man a man. Feel free to print this out and hand it to your boyfriend or your pocket gay or whoever.

1) A man has a favorite Bourbon (or he'll just order something on tap if he's new to the bar)
2) A man doesn't drink sauvignon blanc
3) A man always carries some cash
4) A man is good with children
5) A man has a sense of style
6) A man fixes things
7) A man is good at his job (and doesn't complain)
8) A man owns up to his mistakes
9) A man is not afraid of his sexuality and is not apologetic about his sexual desires
10) A man does the dishes but doesn't point out that he did them
11) A man gets the door without thinking
12) A man has a tool set and knows how to use it
13) A man gives up his seat on the subway to moms, children, and old people
14) A man listens and carefully crafts his opinions
15) A man loves to be alone
16) A man takes control and takes care of things
17) A man doesn't hide under the covers, he gets out of bed and checks out the situation with a baseball bat or something
18) A man has a good sense of direction
19) A man is not a know it all, he keeps his mouth shut on topics he is not knowledgable about
20) A man maintains an air of mystery about him. He watches, he observes, you never quite know what a man is thinking.

There ya go. This is what I'm working on. So if you see me skipping down the street and giggling like Spongebob, please stop me and remind me that I'm trying to collect man points. Okay? Thanks. Stay comfy y'all.

In this time of giving thanks and recognizing what we are grateful for, I thought it might be nice to give NYC a little pat on the back and thank it for all that it does for me on a daily basis. It's a big apple, and I've taken many bites of that apple, and though it has left me with a constant, mild case of diarrhea, I'm still grateful to be living here. So here's lookin' at you New York! Here's what I'm thankful for:

1) The ease with which I am able to do my laundry. I only need to block off a day to do it! #LoadsOfTimeLoadsOfLaundry #ThanksYouThankYou

2) Getting my packages has never been simpler! Sometimes, I actually receive the package! #PutThatThankYouInACardAndSendIt

3) The overwhelming presence of late night trains. Getting home drunk from the clubs? Easy! It's a simple Blip-blop-2-hours-later-Im-there! #SoSoSoBlessed

4) The decreasing rent. Thanks for keep an eye on our wallets, NYC! I owe ya a $9 Budweiser #WinkyFaceTongueOutGrateful #TakingThatThanksToTheBanks

5) Parking is a breeze. And no one works harder for this city than the meter maids! #ThoroughAndSoThankfulForIT

6) Icy winds that actually are powerful enough to blow tears out of my eyes and cold enough for those tears to freeze on my cheeks #FrozenTearsIsMyNewAutobiography #WinkWinkNudgeNudgeMotherNature

7) The high number of Baby Bjorn strollers in TriBeCa. Whew! I was worried I might have to look at those trashy Graco's the rest of my life. Thanks for keeping our babies bougie NYC! #GratefulForBougieBabies

8) The phrase, "This train is being held at this station by the dispatcher. We should be moving shortly." Which is always followed by #SeventeenLipSmacks #ThankfulForNYCAttitude

9) Every party that is ever thrown in Brooklyn. Wow, Brooklyn is fun! And getting there has never been easier! Just a quick A>F>Construction-on-the-L>G and I'm there! #ThatWasEasy #BlessedButNotObsessed

10) Mariachi bands on the trains #SpeechlesslyThankful

Stay comfy y'all and have #Blessed #Thankful #Grateful #PraiseHimForHeHasGivenUsARoofOverOurHeads kind of weekend!

I recently have been spending a great deal of time in Tribeca. For those of you who aren't familiar, it is a small neighborhood in NYC. It stands for "Triangle Below Canal" and it is literally a little triangular neighborhood just below Canal street where the rich, artist folks live. A paradox, right? Rich and artist? I honestly have no idea where any of their money comes from, but the residents of Tribeca (including Beyonce, okay? Excuse me.) are some of the most fascinating people I've ever met. Just imagine every character in the TV Show, "Girls." Here are a few of my favorite overheards:

1) "If I told you that I was actually a huge celebrity in Sweden could I get a discount?" - Rich girl whose daddy probably cut her off

2) "What if I told you I was pregnant? Do you have a pregnant discount?" - Same rich girl
"I hope you're not pregnant, because you've had 5 mimosas." - Me

3) "I haven't been in anything for a long enough time now that someone actually stopped me on the street and asked me to take a picture of THEM!" - Renee Zellweger

4) Said nonchalantly "Oh yeah, I almost forgot, your grandpa gave you five hundred dollars for your birthday." Pulls out a white envelope of cash. "Do you want it now or should I hold on to it?"

The son, equally non-chalantly, "Yeah, just hold onto it."

5) "We can drop by the candy shoppe right after the Balloon Saloon, honey." - A mom

6) "No, absolutely not, you cannot get the berries. You can have a cone of ice cream but no berries." -Questionable Tribeca Parenting?

7) "I have so many tiny hats, it's ridiculous." -Asian woman

What makes your life beautiful? It is a question that comes back to me in my toughest moments. And I think it is an important question for everyone to ask themselves every now and again. Because even though we are surrounded by beauty, it is one of those things that we get used to and take for granted. And we can't take beauty for granted, cause beauty will be PISSED! So here's a list of my personal favorite beautiful things:

1) Family and Friends - Top of the list, duh. Even though I often forget to return their calls and only call my dad when I'm really sick or need money and on Father's Day (don't forget!!!), I love my family!  And I have the best friends in the world, no arguments please.

2) Morning Coffee and Morning Talk Shows - I am a firm believer in starting your day off relaxed and stress free. It's why I always try to get to work early and have coffee. Because whatever you start your day with, you are gonna carry with you throughout your whole day. And I love Rachel Ray, I don't care what y'all think, haters gonna hate.

3) So You Think You Can Dance - The best reality show on TV, surpassing The Biggest Loser by just a tiny bit.

4) Underwear - Happiness should be built from the inside out and I am happier in really fun underwear. I just am. I know they are fun, nobody else needs to know, it's my little secret. Nathan's Secret. OOH! Trademark.

5) The Beach - For the second week in a row, my beach plans have been ruined by the rain. I'm FURIOUS! Because I LOVE the beach. I grew up in the mountains and the beach is such a foreign, exotic thing to me. I could stare at the ocean for literally hours and I have. The beach at night? Excuse me. Magical.

6) New York City - NYC and I have grand plans for this summer. It's the #summerofchang and I am gonna milk this city for everything it has. Free movies, rooftop excursions, every park, every exhibit, restaurants, bars, clubs, I'm there.

7) Trader Joe's - Not the process of shopping there because that makes my life anything but beautiful. In fact, it is probably one of my greatest sources of stress. But once those groceries are in my apartment, all is at peace in the world.

8) Babies and Marriage - I lump these two things together because they give me similar warm feelings in my uterus-stomach. I love everything about them, babies in the subway, babies at the restaurant, babies in the park, marriage anywhere, Say Yes to the Dress, David Tuterra's My Fair Wedding. It gives me life.

9) My Roomate - She gives me tough love. She tells me what I need to hear even when I don't wanna hear it. And it helps a lot. And she is also just an incredible, incredible friend. And FUNNY! Cast her! www.vanessmoyen.com

10) My Sodastream - I LOVE soda water. I drink like fifteen glasses a day. Once Sodastream entered my life, everything changed for the better and for good.

So take a moment, think about the beautiful things in your life and your comfy corner will be just a little comfier. Guaranteed. Stay comfy y'all!

I'm standing at a precipice. The realization that it's time to start being an adult is settling on me. I'm not totally there. I'm not about to do something crazy like get married or buy throw pillows or anything, but if the bridge to adulthood were an actual bridge, then I'd say that I just found the bridge on a map and I'm headed that direction. And I'm not afraid to admit it, I know where I'm going. I'm likely to make a few pits stops along the way because once you cross the bridge to adulthood there is no turning back and I wanna make sure I've experienced everything I can on this side of the bridge before I cross it. But, here are some of the things I've recently decided are important foot stones on the drunken, regret-laden, sometimes-I-black-out-and-sing-Taylor-Swift path to adulthood.

1) Be a Good Host - This pertains to both parties and having guests over for the night. At parties, have some alcohol available ahead of time (no mid party liquor store runs) and have some food and non-alcoholic options (not everyone wants to get drunk). When having guests over for the night, have blankets and pillows ready, offer them a drink, some food, coffee in the morning, and a clean towel. A good host has more to offer than just a couch.

2) Don't Drink Tequila, Ever - As an almost-adult I've decided that there are certain alcohols I should and shouldn't drink. Tequila, for me, is a no-no. Find your no-no's and your go-go's! I have my go-to drink, a vodka soda, that not only helps me avoid scream-singing "I Can Go the Distance," but it also helps me keep my manly figure.

3) Get Home Before Two - "I have work in the morning..." is now, I have officially decided, a perfectly acceptable excuse to exit or avoid any potentially non-adult situation. I am an almost-adult and I need to show up to work in the morning well rested and without a hangover (or God-forbid still being a little drunk).

4) Bring a Bottle of Wine to a Party - In my transition from newborn baby to adult (I feel as though I've skipped all stages in between those two), I've decided it is now unacceptable to show up to a party empty handed. Adults bring something for the host, be it wine or Oreos. Something.

5) Remember to Close Your Tab - Adults don't get so drunk that they forget where they are or that they have to pay for things. Adults pay for things. Don't steal. Children steal. Adults have children, they don't act like children. I'm not ready for children. I may never be an adult... Moving on...

6) Wear Nice Clothes - I've reached a point in my life where I not only feel the need to start acting like a grown up, but I also feel the need to start looking like one. Shaving and showering happen on a regular basis now and I own more button ups and sweaters than ever before! I recently bought a pair of chinos. Times are changing.

7) Read the News - In college, I felt, for some reason, that it was okay to say things like, "No I don't know about what's happening in Israel because I'm in college!" That is no longer okay. Adults know what's going on in the world and can offer their piece of the opinion pie in any adult conversation.

8) Save Receipts - An adult is prepared for an audit. I'm not that kind of adult yet. And I don't foresee myself making enough money any time soon to need to be that adult. But I have started saving receipts!

9) Spend Money on Things - I've reached the point in my life where I am starting to realize that there are no more semesters. There is no "next chapter" plainly in view. My future right now is giant shards of amorphous confusion that I have about sixty or so years to piece together into something I won't call regret. So... I should start investing in furniture that will last for a length of time.

10) Buy Groceries - I'm cooking more of my meals than I ever have in the past. Adults cook. And adults know how to find the sales. Adults save leftovers and remember they are in the fridge.

I'm becoming an adult. It's scary to admit, I know, but I'm ready to embrace it. I'm packing my "emergency bag for the rest of time." The lonesomeness, the burden, the struggle, of adulthood is at my doorstep and I'm going to answer the door with confidence.

Stay comfy y'all

I'm not too good at the whole New Year's resolutions thing, but gosh-darn-it I sure try every year! Last year, I managed to not accomplish ANY of my New Year's irressolutions. Yes, it is "ir-" because last year was a very uncertain year. I mean, let's be real, I'm a pretty productive person day in and day out so while I may fail at accomplishing long term goals, I make my daily goals my bitch. Wake up, check. Eat breakfast, check. Watch Rachel Ray, check. Nap, check. Boom boom boom. Knocking things off my to-do list like Santa. But I've decided to go all out this year and try all of the New Year's resolution tricks in hopes that one of them will stick. So here we go.

My word for the year is "growth." Growth in every sense of the word. I mean, not EVERY sense of the word. I'm not clearing the shelves of Extenze or anything (or am I?). No, I want to gain some weight; growth. I want to finish classes at UCB; growth. I want the decisions I make this year to all come from a place of growth. Are you helping me to grow physically or emotionally? If not, then you can GET OUT!

My catch-phrase for the year is "ripped and rich 2013." Well, let's be real, rich in the literal sense is not going to happen foralongtimepossiblyever#regret. But that's fine, because I want to strive for wealth in every other facet of my life (cue groans from my father). I want to be rich in social interactions this year. Rich in love. Rich in friendship. And ripped is exactly what it is. I want to be ripped. I'm at the gym always.

My slogan for the year is the Boy Scout slogan: do a good turn daily. It's a fool-proof plan. Do something nice for somebody else every single day. For instance, yesterday I was humming while I was waiting for the train. To everyone who heard me, you're welcome. ;)

My mantra for the year is "only hot people sweat." This is something that is literally written on the mirror of my gym and I've taken it to heart. What it means, to me, is that I can't be afraid of the work it takes to get what I want. Too long have I gazed out yonder window stoically yearning and dreaming sans execution. This year I am not going to shy away from the journey. Results are achieved through hard work. So I'm gonna sweat it out this year, y'all. If I'm not sweating when you see me, ask me why. And I'd better have a good reason, else I'll have to have a long talk with me.

So, hopefully one of these things will stick this year. If not, then this time next year I'll get my cat man license, purchase 19 cats, a home in Queens and wait it out (death, that is). Stay comfy y'all!

I'm currently getting paid to sort people into their Hogwarts houses. That's right folks, I work for the sorting hat now. Dreams do come true. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Of course, it is the sorting hat the does the sorting, it definitely isn't the key fob that I'm holding in my other hand with buttons that correspond to the respective houses. Oh no no no, it's all done through magic! Anywho, I've been doing this job for several weeks now and I have compiled a whole list of things that I say to people when they tell me what their favorite Hogwarts house is. BTW... I'm still... sorting things out (BAM!) so my apologies if some of this seems... old hat (BAM!! BAM!!).

Gryffindor - When someone says they are a Gryffindor, I usually genuinely agree with them, because if you are brave enough to volunteer to go up on stage with an absurdly energetic, 6'1", twenty somethin', Hogwarts "alum"wearing a rob, then let's be honest, you are probably a Gryffindor. But then there are the people who get up and say, "Oh, uh, I dunno, what is it called again mom? Gryffindor?" OR they say "I wanna be in Harry Potter house" Or I once had a kid say, "I wanna be in Dumbledore." That's just gross. And annoying. Those are the people who haven't read the books. And those are the people that I put in Hufflepuff.

Hufflepuff - When someone comes up, sits on the stool, looks at me and sincerely admits that they are probably a Hufflepuff, I have so much respect for them. It takes a great deal of self-confidence and self-examination to admit to Hufflepuff-dom. And if someone can admit to being a Hufflepuff, then I give them Hufflepuff and applaud their loyalty and trustworthiness. And I usually say something along the lines of, "You must know yourself very well. And you must be a true Potter fan." But, let's be real, I also use Hufflepuff as a punishment for people that are annoying me, because it makes everyone angrier than if I put them in Slytherin. Because Hufflepuff isn't known for much - except for, expert brooder, Cedric Diggory.

Ravenclaw - I am a Ravenclaw through and through. So when someone wants to be a Ravenclaw, I get excited and usually tell them that I am also a Ravenclaw, that I'm actually Cho Chang's brother, that I'm from China, and that I'll see them around the common room. I am such a creepy weirdo, why do people trust me with their kids?! Most of the time, though, I think people get a kick out of it. Or they are probably just confused and creeped out because I don't look Asian at all. Speaking of, I have to admit, ashamedly, that I always put Asians in Ravenclaw, even if they request a different house. It's just where we belong, y'all, so get used to it!

Slytherin - When someone says their favorite house is Slytherin, I usually respond, "Ah, you could do great things in Slytherin." But what I'm thinking is, "Ah, you must be a Republican." And I thought I was the only one who drew a connection between Slytherins and right-winged politics until today when an older man sat on the stool, said he wanted to be Slytherin, I said my usual, "You could do great things in Slytherin" and he responded, "Or I could become a politician." I laughed out loud. Way to go, sir. You are smartest Slytherin I've ever sorted. After I sort a Slytherin, I always say, "Slytherins always seem to know which house they belong to, don't they?" I think there is enough masked judgement in that phrase, yeah?

So, no matter which house you love, I will respect you, even if you're a Hufflepuff, especially if you're Robert Pattinson. Stay comfy y'all.

1) You are trying to be so quiet going down the stairs at night, and then you miss a step and do a T-Rex stomp shaking the entire house.

2) You begrudgingly go out even though you are stupid tired. You tell yourself you won't drink and you'll head home around midnight. You wake up the next morning in a stranger's bed with no pants, a massive hangover, and no memory of the previous night.

3) You tell yourself you need to stop eating sweets and sugars, then your boyfriend bakes a giant cupcake.

4) You leave an hour early to guarantee that you'll be there on time, then there is a "police investigation" on the train and you're an hour late.

5) You tell yourself you're an independent woman of the modern age, then you're married with children.

6) You don't ask for directions because you have an iPhone, then you remember that your iPhone changed to Apple maps and you're doomed.

7) You tell your friend how horrible you are at baking and then you accidentally make the most delicious scones.

8) When you are working at your job you repeat in your head "this sucks, I hate this, I have to quit" but when you go home you think "meh, it's not THAT bad."

9) You can't find your monthly metro card you just bought so you buy a new one, call MTA, cancel the old one, get the money refunded, and then you find the old one in your bag.

10) You set your alarm every morning to go to the gym, and then the months go by and you forget where your gym is even located.

So I often wonder what Harry's life would have been like post Hogwarts if he hadn't had to defeat Voldemort and destroy the horcruxes. Like, what if Voldemort had died the day he killed his parents and that was that? What if he graduated an aimless college grad like the rest of us? I imagine he would be going through what I'm currently going through. He considered grad school for like .2 seconds and decided against it. He then wandered from job to job trying to figure out what direction he actually wanted to take his life in. He interned at the Ministry of Magic for a summer (he hated it but he learned a ton), then he moved to London for a bit to experience city life (felt lonely and ADD), then he decided to travel the world for a bit (met a bunch of awesome sorcerers but missed that sense of home), and then he decided to visit Hogwarts again and ended up spending the next summer pouring butter beers for peeps at The Three Broomsticks and complaining about poor tips. These are essentially the lifestyles I've experienced over the past year and can't decide which I prefer...

1) The intern - I started my internship the day after graduation arriving slightly hung over with emotional remnants of the previous night still visible in my slightly bloodshot eyes. Just like Harry's internship at the Ministry, I learned a ton, made some amazing friends, but I also worked my ass off and finished the summer battered, broken, and in need of about a month of missed sleep.

2) City Boy - I spent the next few months a slave to New York City. As is the case with most new, young New Yorkers I experienced 3 months of crazy ADD. So many things to do, so many places to go and not a single idea of where to start or where to focus my energies. I spent too much money, had some horrible jobs, some awesome jobs, saw a lot of amazing theatre, took a lot of classes, but somehow managed to feel like I was going nowhere and the city was flying past me as I scrambled to pick out something useful from the rush. In the end, I picked out a tour.

3) Tour - Tour, for me, was kinda like an internship on the road. I learned a lot, I made some awesome friends, saw a lot of awesome places, but I finished a battered and broken boy. What I loved about this lifestyle: I didn't have to wash my towels, make my bed, or clean my room. What I hated: having no sense of home. I learned that I am a homebody. I like to have my bed, my keyboard, a kitchen.

4) Retirement - This is my current lifestyle. There is a direct ratio between how hard I'm working and how many blogs I publish each month. And I am currently twiddling my thumbs doing a show once or twice a week (the life of being in one show at a rep company). This is a welcome change to my previous lifestyle, but I am still missing that sense of home.

So what lifestyle do I prefer most thus far? I've learned more in the last year about myself and my craft than I probably did in four years of college. But I must say that the lifestyle I prefer most is my senior year of college lifestyle. I was living with an amazing room mate. I had amazing friends that I saw regularly. I was comfortable in the city I lived in (even though I wasn't the biggest fan of that particular city). And I had a sense of momentum to my life. It was headed in a clear direction with a clear goal at the end (graduation). So I think what I need to do is recreate those circumstances as best as I can. Move back in with Vanessa, set clear goals for myself, have a weekly thing to look forward to, and focus my energies on a couple clear things instead of throwing a wide net at the entire city of New York. Stay comfy y'all.

"Okay, when we hang up I'm gonna text you to let you know when I'm on Skype. And if Skype is being finicky, I'll call you and we can talk on the phone while we're Skyping. And I'll send you an email later tonight about that thing we were talking about. And I sent you a card. It is in the mail. Love you!" Ever had a conversion like this with your long distance significant other? I have. Keeping a long distance relationship breathing is not an easy task and one would think that with so many ways of communicating nowadays long distance would be über easy, right? Wrong. I think it actually makes it harder. So I give myself some simple guidelines.

1) Skype - Skype is a wonderful, amazing thing. And it is keeping long distance relationships alive all over the country! But if it is used every single day (or multiple times a day) it can start to feel obligatory and can lose its power. And it is such a cocktease because you can see the person, but when you reach out to touch them you touch a plastic screen. It's depressing!!! Virtual love, yuck. So I think Skype should be used only when you really need to see your boo's face. So save it for those über-lonely nights. It's also so finicky that it can get annoying always being like, "What did you say? You froze." 

2) Texts - Texting is best used for those little, sweet nothings. There is nothing better than getting a "<3" in the middle of the day for no reason. This is true for family and friends too. I love getting a "miss you" or a "just had coffee ice cream and thought of you" text. What it shouldn't be used for is lengthy descriptions of how your day is going. I hate texting paragraphs.

3) Phone - The phone is probably my go-to. I like hearing my boo's voice, ya know? It comforts me. Especially, before I go to bed so that I get a "good night." Best way to end a day. But, like Skype, it should never become an obligatory thing. I hate those awkward phone convos when nothing really exciting happened since the last time you talked (yesterday) but you have to stay on the phone because you agreed to talk on the phone on a regularly scheduled basis. It ends up being, "So... how is the weather there?" And I cringe when I hear people say things like, "Sarah's boyfriend has called her like four times today and my boyfriend has only texted me once." So limit it to when you actually have something to talk about.

4) Email - I kinda love emails. But, that isn't really news to those who know me. I obviously like writing. And I like being able to edit things and make them say exactly what I want them to say. I think emails are good when you have a conflict to resolve. Because you can take time and think about how you really feel and put it into words. That is difficult to do on the phone.

5) Missive - There is nothing better nowadays than getting mail that isn't a bill or junk mail. Getting a funny/loving card from a significant other is probably one of my favorite things. Letters and cards take time and effort and when your boo is putting in effort for you, that feels good.

So, whether your boo is right beside you, miles away, or if you're still searching for a boo, stay comfy y'all.

Tour de Seuss has thus far taken me deep into and all over the most exciting part of the country - the midwest. It's a part of the country that I decided long ago I would never return to. But alas, here I am once again. This time, however, I'm checking my hotel sheets for bedbugs. So, as I sit here in my Effingham, IL hotel room nibbling on my fried chicken, I begin to think about all of the midwestern stereotypes and how very true they are. Here are 7. Warning: I'm about to get very "New York" on you.

1) Things are cheap - we Yelped a restaurant in Dayton, OH called "Cold Beer and Cheeseburgers" aka "exactly what Nathan always wants" and it said that it was 3 money signs. In NY, three money signs means "actors not welcome." Apparently, in the midwest three money signs means 7 dollar burgers. Not joking.

2) People are nice - When I need to change lanes quickly in the midwest, I legit roll down my window and ask the person beside me if I can cut in front of them. They always smile and wave me right in. "So midwest."

3) Highways are boring - I look at the lonely houses in the middle of these HUGE fields and all I can think is, "If they wanted to go to their neighbor's house, they'd have to pack an overnight bag."

4) Fast food is the norm - We went to Taco Bell last night and there were like 12 people in line ahead of us. They were having a birthday party. Or that's what it looked like. People don't mess around with fast food here.

5) Hotels are for prostitutes - My tour mate, Peter, used the hotel lobby computer to print something and all of the pictures in the documents folder were of prostitutes. Really classy. This is why I avoid the bedspreads.

6) People dress poorly - Sweatpants and Uggs. Apparently, that is apropos for all occasions. You can always tell if someone's from a city if they are wearing normal pants and shoes. I mean, I feel absurd wearing a scarf around here.

7) The gays are in Chicago - Everyone's straight in the midwest. If I felt the need to fit in, I'd throw on an Ed Hardy shirt and some baggier jeans. The only place I felt normal was in Chicago. Where there's an H&M with men's clothing, there are gays.

My friend Laura recently joined the peace corps. Before she left for her two year expedition she mentioned to me that she would not have running water in her African village. I checked in with her the other day on the water situation and she said that in the winter she catches rain water and in the summer she hires a village child to fetch the water for her. Both, she says, are "really lazy ways of obtaining water." So now, as I draw my nightly bath (with a simple flick of my wrist), throw in my bath bomb, and light my vanilla-scented tea lights, I begin to think about the things I often complain about - out loud. My #firstworldproblems. Here are a few.

1) "Siri never understands me! Now I have to manually check the weather forecast!"

2) "Why do we even have top sheets? No one really needs them, they just end up at the foot of the bed."

3) "My DVR is so finicky. It randomly decides what it wants to record."

4) "We ordered that pizza like 45 minutes ago. I'm gonna rip them apart on Yelp."

5) "Netflix is being so slow today, what is wrong?"

6) "Our water is too hot! And if you move the nob like a millimeter it goes immediately to icy cold."

7) "Ugh, I can't find my Starbucks gift cards!"

8) "The fresh linen scent is too harsh for me. I much prefer apple spice and delight." Sidenote: I threw away the can of fresh linen. It wasn't empty.

9) "Is it just me or is our Keurig brewing really weak coffee?"

10) "Ugh, I hate when steak is served with a sweet demi-glace. I much prefer it savory."

Moral of the story? We should all probably enjoy our comfy corners a little more and complain a little less. After all, you could be in an African village with no running water - like Laura. Stay comfy ya'll!

In a world that is ever changing, in an economy that is dangerously unstable, in a career that is incredibly unpredictable, and having just graduated from theatre school and moved to a big, new city, I've resolved that making real resolutions this year is resolutely irresolute. That's why, I'm calling my resolutions this year my New Year's "Irresolutions" because they are fraught with uncertainty. So here are the things that I officially resolve to be uncertain about actually accomplishing. This way I can't possibly disappoint myself!

1) Take a bubble bath three nights a week (every night, bonus points)
2) Cook all of my meals from the Barefoot Contessa cookbook
3) Stop drinking (so much)
4) Give up coffee (on Wednesdays)
5) Make my Broadway debut (is this possible in conjunction with 3 and 4? Only time will tell)
6) Meet Tina Fey and convince her to use the catch phrase "You've got options, girl!" on 30 Rock
7) Sing a duet with Michael Buble, and then go back to his place
8) Open an IRA
9) Floss daily
10) Write a musical
11) Give up Starbucks
12) Gain 10 pounds (of muscle)
13) Lose 5 pounds (of emotional baggage)
14) Join a barbershop quartet
15) Film an Amica commercial
16) Ride in a helicopter
17) Go to a gay wedding
18) Touch Beyonce (if 17 and 18 can be accomplished simultaneously, bonus points)
19) Use Google Earth, a map, and some strategic longitudinal coordinates and graph paper to pinpoint the exact location of Ina Garten's home in the Hamptons. Have a picnic in her yard.
20) FIND THE COMFIEST CORNER IN THE WORRRLLLDDD!!!!!

Have the comfiest year folks! Stay healthy! Live long and prosper! NEVER GIVE UP! NEVER SURRENDER!

I've been doing some extra work recently for the TV shows that film in New York and after shooting only a few episodes of a few different shows I have quickly been able to establish some stock characters that always pop up amongst the extras. They totally legitimize the making of a TV show about extras called, "Extras."Here are some of the most notable characters I've come across thus far...

1) The Creepy Old Man - there is always an old man that is awkwardly hitting on all the young ladies. There was in fact a man on the set of "Gossip Girl" that said, as the girls were walking by, "I wish you ladies were all walking into my apartment." I'm so glad I'm a dude.

2) The Overact-er - This is the girl that stands beside you in the group scene and is gesticulating and making facial expressions that are so big they definitely won't be missed by the camera. This is also the girl that causes the director to come to the extras and say "stop opening your mouth so wide."

3) The Woman with the Obnoxious Laugh - there seems to always be one woman who makes her presence known to everyone in the holding room with her hideously obnoxious laugh. We hate this woman.

4) The Girl Who Almost Got SAG - this is the non-union girl who talks about absolutely nothing except how many waivers she has and how she is going to become SAG. This girl we hate also. This is also the girl that gets pushed into the deep back because she's too tall. HA!

5) The Guys Who Only Counts the Hours - this actually a group of people. These are the union people who do absolutely nothing except talk about how much overtime they're gonna get, what meal penalties they are getting, when golden hour is happening, blah blah blah. Did you really start doing film and TV for the money? Then, I'm sorry, but you're doing it for the wrong reasons.

6) The Guy Who "Won't put up with this shit" - this is the guy who goes and gets a piece of cake from the catering table before we're allowed to. He is also the one who refuses to stand where he is supposed to or is always complaining about not having bottled water on set.

7) The Couple - Last, but not least, there are the people who do extra work to find romance. I actually don't mind these people. It's a game I like to play while I'm sitting around doing nothing. Where are the budding romances going to pop up first? My set crush usually ends up being a crew member with tattoos and pretty arms (Don't worry, Kevin. I only look. And I still only have eyes for you. :)) <--- I hate that.

1. Jersey Bloods
2. The Light in the Pumpkin
3. God I-put-a Spell on you
4. Wicked SCARY!
5. Mary Potions
6. Chicagoblins
7. Sister Axe
8. How to Not Bleed in Business Without Really Crying
9. Priscilla, Queen of the DAMNED
10. Mamma Monster
11. Billy Skelliton
12. Gross (Grease?)
13. On a Fear Day You Can Flee or SEVER
14. Million Dollar Horrortet
15. Avenue Boo!
16. Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
17. The Book of Murder
18. Horror Horse
19. Anything Decompose
20. King Fear

I was reading a book the other day entitled, "How to Be a Gentleman" and I learned a lot of really useful tips about etiquette including, "When you get up to leave a dinner table for the restroom, always fold your napkin and leave it sitting in your chair. If the waiter moves your napkin to the table while you are gone, he is in the wrong, not you." This is one of those little things that I'm pretty sure will stick with me for the rest of my life for no real apparent reason. Here are some others from my past.

1) Always dry your hair first when you exit the shower (Fatherly advice from long ago)

2) Taking a shower is equivalent to two hours of sleep (Men's Health)

3) To clean your house is to clean your soul (Japanese wisdom from Yurie)

3) Never be the one to make a ripple in the pond (Japanese wisdom from Mary Roach)

4) To be an expert at anything, you must put in 10,000 hours of practice (My "wife" Vanessa)

5) Never leave the house without a positive mental attitude (Personal philosophy)

6) K. I. S. S. (Keep it simple stupid, Odyssey of the Mind philosophy)

7) It is more difficult for bacteria to grow in an unmade bed than a made one (HGTV perhaps? reason to not make my bed)

8) If you roll your clothes you can fit more in your suitcase (Boy Scout handbook)

9) NEVER WEAR WHITE SOCKS WITH BLACK SHOES (My pregnant sister)

10) Always match your tie to your socks (My classy boyfriend who is ALWAYS a gentleman)

1) I only buy magazines with shirtless men on the cover - I read something about magazine editors putting shirtless men on covers to sell more copies and I thought, "That's silly, who is that easily swayed?" But then I realized, I am. Whoopsies.

2) I hate when people dance and sing to themselves on the subway... but I do it too - I was watching this guy just jamming to his iPod on the subway and I thought, "How silly, sir! No one else can hear the music you are listening to!" But then I caught myself doing the same thing a day later. Sometimes you just gotta dance.

3) I hate the phrase, "We're a really crazy bunch here" - When people say this about their work environment I metaphorically roll my eyes because crazy groups of people don't talk about how crazy and cool they are... they're just crazy and cool without talking about it. If you have to talk about it, chances are, you're a pretty normal bunch. Not to mention, I don't like the word, "bunch."

4) To me, acting is living, but to others, acting is just facial expressions - I realized that when people don't know a lot about theatre or acting and they are trying to compliment your performance they'll say things like, "You have a really expressive face" or "You make the best expressions."

5) No matter what city you're in, small Asian women will push you to the ground before letting you get on the subway before them - these small Asian women are a crazy bunch (and they don't talk about it).

Someone gave me a magnet with this image on it two years ago and I never thought much about it. I thought it was clever and kept it on the fridge but my friend Anthony looked at it recently and commented on how perfect it is for me on so many levels.

I think we've all had those moments where we make a new friend (or a new boyfriend/girlfriend) and the time comes when you must attempt to integrate this new friend into your old circle of friends. It's kind of a dreadful place to be. Awkward hugs/handshakes, so nice to meet you's, heard so much about you's, etc. etc. ad nauseum (First time I've used that phrase, ad nauseum! Hope I used it correctly!). Well, I don't know about you, but every time I have to introduce a new friend I get really anxious inside hoping and praying that they won't be Mr/Mrs. Bottom-of-the-bitter-barrel and scare away my friends. You know the type. The kind of person that just kind of looks bored and stares off into the distance when they meet new people. And inside you're like, "Come on! At least PRETEND to be excited to meet these people! This is important!" And they are all like, "Why should I pretend to be something I'm not?" And you're like, "Because that's just what you have to do sometimes to make a good first impression!" After all, who doesn't want all of their friends to get along, right? So if you happen to be this friend follow these simple rules:

1) Smile! A smile goes a long way.

2) Talk! Silence makes people uncomfortable. And I know it is difficult for some people to jump on board the empty conversation train, but it is a valuable skill!

3) Listen! Don't zone out and act like you'd rather be anywhere else in the world.

4) Laugh! A sense of humor is a valued quality in a new friend, so at least give a chuckle if something is funny.

5) Be slightly conservative... meaning don't lead with your strong personality traits. You need to feel out these new friends before you go all out. For instance, if you have a knack for dirty jokes. Maybe wait until they know your name and where you are from before you whip out the big guns.

Just a few comfy tips for meeting new people. Slash a bitching rant on how not to act if I introduce you to my friends. :)

Stay comfy ya'll!

Ya know when you leave a place after living there for a long time and you think to yourself, "Good riddance! I couldn't be happier to get away from this hell hole!" but then you go back several months later and realize that you sort of missed it? Well, this DID NOT happen to me on my most recent trip to Boston.