I’m Amanda. I’ve got wide eyes, a smart mouth, and a MetroCard. And I’m not afraid to use them.
My dad and I went to see “Altar Boyz” at the Dodger Stages Monday night. This musical will not change your life. It rests on a number of oft-repeated jokes, mainly hinging on the flamboyant homosexuality of the “closeted” boy bander Mark. (The character Mark is, of course, the peppiest, most darling little queen that you ever did see. And maybe the actor is, too). This musical doesn’t even skewer the Christian machine and expose it as an industry as much as I would, but…
I have one of these now. Her name is Gladys.
The scaffolding from the facade of the church on my block has finally been removed. Reverent walls brightened my walk to Broadway this morning. The sidewalks pulsed with life, veins in concrete weaving at storefronts. Somewhere a jackhammer pureed a melting sheet of ice.
Tonight, at 8 pm on February 14th, I don’t have a Valentine.
I was walking to the 125th Street station after work today and had to pass some indolent mechanics on my way. As I passed, one of them said, “Miss, you’ve got some nice legs!”
A few months ago, Gap had an ad campaign for its jeans wherein singers reasoned, “Your favorite song is like your favorite pair of jeans.” Alanis Morissette had a spot, and I don’t remember her favorite song, but I do recall there was this young pianist I’d never seen before who sang the beginning of Todd Rundgren’s “Hello, It’s Me.” I thought he had a beautiful voice, but the commercial never said his name and I never tried to find out who he was.
I got lots of cold weather gear for Christmas, so for the last few mild weeks, I’ve wondered where this big, bad, northeastern winter is. Bring it on - I’ve got L.L. Bean snowboots now, biotch! Everyone around me has chided me and warned, “It’ll come soon, but shhh! Don’t let the gods hear you!” It seems it’s too late now, though.
After meeting Louis Sachar, Bobby and I walked the streets of Morningside Heights, looking for some fun. We found a trashcan ablaze on a street corner. As seen on TV, folks! Bobby demanded I pose. (Notice how I’m gingerly holding my vintage 1970s purse away from the flames).
It’s time to resort to interviewing myself again.
Q: Have you seen any movies lately?
A: I saw Matchpoint last week. It’s received a lot of praise, but I don’t think the movie was that great. It was a classic Greek tragedy, but not meaty enough to really intellectually engage viewers. I didn’t find any of the characters to be very sympathetic or even well-developed, either.
