The Newsroom

I've been a fan of Aaron Sorkin's work since Sports Night. That's 1998 for those of you keeping track. It started with Sport Night, became forever solidified with The West Wing, and continued through Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip (a show widely regarded as lackluster, but at least somewhat better than that). And let us not forget A Few Good Men, The American President, and other movies he wrote the screenplays for like Charlie Wilson's War, Moneyball, and The Social Network (for which he won the Academy Award). So, when I heard of his new show, The Newswoom, I was ready for Sorkin to be back on TV. But this isn't TV. Its HBO.

I watched the series premiere Sunday night despite being exhausted from Saturday night, and when you've watched enough Sorkin you start to notice patterns. The Newsroom, like other Sorkin shows, gets things rolling early with a character ranting something in public that he shouldn't which puts his job in jeopardy or gets him fired (i.e. Dan Rydell in Sports Night, Josh Lyman in The West Wing, Wes Mendell in Studio 60); former flames being brought together to work with each other (Josh & Mandy in The West Wing, Matt & Harriet in Studio 60); the workplace romance (Natalie & Jeremy in Sports Night, Sam & Mallory in The West Wing, and Danny & Jordan in Studio 60). Some of these ideas have a tendency to recur, but they always go in different directions.

Like other Aaron Sorkin shows, The Newsroom idealizes and romanticizes the new business. So much so that after watching it I thought, "Damn, why aren't I doing that with my life? It looks awesome!" Idealizing and romanticizing is what Sorkin does best. But the thing that I believe makes this show unique is that the series begins in 2010 and is going to cover real news stories that have occurred between then and now. I read an article a few days ago that scoffed at this, pointing out that it's unbelievable to portray the characters in this newsroom as the only ones in the business who get things right, foresee unforeseeable consequences, and are righteous. I say get over yourself, this is fiction. This is news idealized and romanticized. If you want reality, watch a damn documentary.

As I write this, I'm scanning through other reviews online and they're mixed. Words like "self-righteous," "passionate," and "grandiloquent." Are they right? I don't know. According to them the upcoming episodes of the show are just terrible and full of banality, and that the show does a disservice to actual reporters who worked on these stories in real life. Unfortunately, I can't speak to that, but I for sure enjoyed the first one. We'll see how next week turns out.

2,946 Miles And Back

Here are some thoughts on my recent cross-country trip from Poughkeepsie, NY, to Henderson, NV, via Tucson, AZ.

Luigi's Pizza, Akron, OH - In planning our trip, I tried to find local places where we could eat along the way. Chain restaurants can be great, but I can have Chili's any time. So, on our way to Indianapolis we stopped at Luigi's Pizza. I did some Googling and found this place, which was described as an Akron "institution." Since 1948, mind you. And it was OK. The inside has pictures of famous bowlers on the walls (as Akron used to host a lot of pro bowling events), and it looked like a family-own place with history. But I wasn't that impressed with the pizza, though my dad liked it more. First off, it was $13+ for a (large) 12-inch pie. Here in NY I'm used to 16+ inches for $10-13, depending on toppings. And to be honest, it reminded me of the pizza they used to serve on campus at Geneseo. It wasn't bad, but not my first choice.

Pappy's Smokehouse, St. Louis, MO - Probably the highlight of the trip. I found this place online as well, and it had great reviews. We arrived around lunchtime on Monday and the line was insane - it started as a U in the outer hallway, and then when you got permission you went into the main restaurant where a second line made a big L around the counter. The inside was covered with all sorts of things on the walls, and there was blues music playing. Awesome. And we weren't the only ones who had the idea to come here: behind us we met some people in town from Wisconsin for a conference. They had asked where to go for the best BBQ and were sent to Pappy's.

I decided to have the pulled pork and beef brisket with potato salad and vinegar slaw. My dad had the ribs with slaw and sweet potato fries. And wow. This food was amazing. If it's not in the best BBQ I've ever had, it's in a tie for first. The sauces were also dynamite. There were three of them, all served on the side (because they've got nothing to hide) - regular, sweet, and hot. I mixed and matched. My dad was blown away as well. I don't know when I'll get back, but at least they have a website where you can order the sauces.

Garcia's, Albuquerque, NM - We had a 16-hour day of driving on Tuesday, so we needed something quick and easy. Garcia's was just a fast, tasty (New) Mexican take-out chain not far off the interstate, and the food was good, though admittedly it was a little challenging to eat in the truck while moving. What I was most surprised at was how dense that section of Albuquerque is. Everything was so close together for a city built in the desert, and when we pulled into the little drive-thru parking lot of Garcia's we didn't know if we were going to fit. But we did.

On a side note, New Mexico is huge and beautiful, and I saw maybe the most amazing sunset I've ever seen while driving through it. But after a while, you just want to get where you're going.

Las Vegas, NV - This was my 4th time in Vegas and my shortest visit. I was only there for about a day and a half, and part of that time was spent unloading the truck and bringing some furniture to a 2nd-floor apartment. Gee, wasn't that fun? In my free time, I had Mexican at Baja Miguel's in the South Point, a burger at the Burger Brasserie in Paris, and Chinese at the Coronado Cafe in the South Point. Gambling-wise, I won $40 on a Wheel Of Fortune slot at the Tropicana, broke even on roulette at the M, and lost $40 on blackjack at the South Point. As always, if you don't lose, you win!

We still had the 16-foot Penske truck the first night in Vegas, so we were taking it up and down the strip. It was a trip trying to get it valet parked at the Cosmopolitan resort (no luck), and also at the Tropicana. Aaand my dad hit the valet with the side-view mirror as he pulled away. Classic. The guy laughed.

But to be honest, I was so wiped from the drive and the cold I had developed after St. Louis that I wasn't really into doing Vegas too much. The trip home with a cold was no grand prize, either. Vegas to Memphis, Memphis to LaGuardia, LaGuardia to Grand Central, Grand Central to Poughkeepsie, all with packets of tissues at the ready. It's hard to hit on cute girls in that condition.

And I can't wait to go back.

To Buffalo And Back: Part 2

The last 5 days have been a bit on the hectic side. For the past two months I've been organizing an appreciation/retirement dinner for my three high school music teachers; one of them is retiring so we decided to celebrate the 15 years that they've worked together. The dinner was Friday night, so I was running around Thursday and Friday making sure everything was ready for it, then attending it. It came off really well, and I'm happy that a good number of people came out to honor and give thanks to these three teachers who have meant so much to a lot of people. We ate dinner, jammed on some music, and enjoyed cake. (And to top it off, I got to watch Johan Santana complete the first no-hitter in New York Mets' history at the bar in the club!)

On Saturday, In The Pocket played a wedding at Shadow Lawn in High Falls, NY - cool place (a converted barn), good music, great food (New World Home Cooking), and a very appreciative crowd. We only wish we could've played more for them. See, when we play a bar or outdoor show, we're used to playing 2-3 hours. But at a wedding there is so much going on that we're lucky if we play an hour and a half.

On Sunday, I got up before 6AM on about four and a half hours of sleep, loaded into a car with my parents and drove almost 6 hours to go to my grandfather's 90th birthday party in Lockport, NY (outside Buffalo). Like I said last week, I've driven the NYS Thruway so many times that I can do it almost with my eyes closed. My dad was driving this time, but at one point I opened my eyes and immediately knew that we were in Herkimer - no road sign necessary. And the party was mostly a success despite the massive rain that was falling at times. But that's why my uncles got a tent, of course. The party was at 2PM, and up until then all I had eaten was a banana, so I started to house the chips, pretzels, veggies, and dips, along with the Labatt Blue Light. Then the real food arrived; BBQ chicken, ribs, mac & cheese, baked beans (no thanks), salad, and cornbread from Chiavetta's. Then cake. Exhausted, we spent the night at my uncle's, then drive home yesterday.

At this point I've eaten cake the past 4 days. I need a run.

To Buffalo & Back: Part 1

I've made the trip to and from Western New York so many times that I could do it in my sleep. I don't, but I could. And I've got it down to a science. 5 1/2 hours from Poughkeepsie to Buffalo. No stops. 31+ miles per gallon. Never been pulled over. I deserve some kind of award.

I was up in Buffalo this past Memorial Day weekend to be at the wedding of a friend from college. This friend - we'll call her "Amy" - was one of my classmates and my main study partner for all my music theory classes at Geneseo. We would get ready for tests and do homework together, and then she would always do just slightly better on the tests than me. How could I miss this?

I drove up Saturday and stayed at my aunt and uncle's house in East Amherst. I was immediately given a Labatt Blue Light and put to work helping to assemble a backyard gazebo canopy thing. Yes, I am handy, but I didn't really do too much. Then we joined another one of my uncles for dinner in Lockport (my third uncle in that area - all my mother's brothers - was in Baton Rouge for a bowling tournament). I had the veal parm and it was really good. After dinner, I made my way to a BBQ where about 8 or 9 Geneseo people were gathering. Some of these people I hadn't seen in probably 6 years. I brought Yuengling to celebrate the occasion, and I had a good time hanging out, catching up, and listening to the fireworks going off in the neighborhood.

Sunday was the wedding. I looked awesome, and I met my pseudo-date outside the church. She, too, looked good, and she had run a half marathon that morning. Crazy, I know. The pastor was a lot of fun and enjoyed enthusiastically using the word "awesome." Fittingly, there was a lot of laughter during the ceremony.

After not being able to find Bar Louie to hang with everyone prior to the cocktail hour, I checked into my room and we made our way to the reception at the Millennium Hotel Buffalo. The cocktail hour had a game: correctly identify the four cheeses and you will get the wedding's signature drink, the Blue Lagoon. Ooooo. I did, then gave my drink to someone else. Too much sugar. I began drinking Jim Beam on the rocks...and I didn't stop all night. Yup. The reception was a blast. Good food, good drinks, good DJ, good dancing, good picture-taking touchscreen. I can't wait to see those pictures.

How good a time did I have at the wedding? Well, my room was 827, and the after-party was in 828. On my way upstairs I was apparently chanting, "828! 828! 828!" Nice. Well, I never made it to 828, and I think we'll just leave it at that. And yesterday morning was rough, too. Everyone at breakfast pretty much looked and felt the same. Waters for everyone! After that I picked up my pseudo-date and we drove back to Poughkeepsie, where I dropped her at the train station to head back to Astoria. Overall it was a good weekend, and smooth trips both ways. I'll do it again next weekend, but slightly different. More on that later.

Lucky

About two years ago, I was accepted to and began attending the Songwriters Hall of Fame Writers Workshop down in New York City. It was an 8-week workshop that met once a week. I remember walking into that room the first day and not knowing who anyone was or what I was getting myself into. Eight weeks later I finished one of the best experiences I've had since embarking on this crazy thing called a "career" as a singer/songwriter, and I made some great friends that I still keep in touch with today.

One of those friends is Jason Kingston. Jason lives in Florida and would fly up every week for the workshop, always wearing his red Mickey Mouse shirt; his traveling shirt. Over the course of the workshop, JK and I got to know each other a little, and it became obvious not only how talented a person he is, but how wonderful a person he is. We've tried to keep in touch since the workshop, and while we haven't quite worked out the kinks and gotten to write together, we have performed together.

A little less than a year ago, Jason was awarded the Songwriters Hall of Fame Abe Olman Award, and he asked me to accompany him for the performance of his song, "Lucky." Of course I said yes, and I was touched at how much he loved my piano arrangement of his song. We practiced the tune at soundcheck, gave a great performance, and after that had some mediocre food at a nearby restaurant. So, overall it was a good night.

But there's a hitch to the story. Not long before JK was given his award, he was in NYC when he suffered what's called an abdominal aortic aneurysm, or triple-A. I learned about them in 2005 when I was studying to be a New York State EMT, and they are the real deal. Luckily, he survived, but lost the function of his kidneys, has been having to deal with dialysis treatments ever since, and is in need of a kidney transplant. He has good days and bad days, and to be honest I haven't talked to him in many months because he's been dealing with the situation.

Last night at the Bitter End on Bleecker St., the New York Songwriters Collective - a group that JK was instrumental in launching - held a "member benefit" showcase with all proceeds going to JK. Thankfully, JK has health insurance, but there are a good amount of expenses that need to come out of his pocket for the transplant. When I learned about this event and what it was for, I knew that I had to be there. And I knew that I had to perform the song that JK and I once performed together - "Lucky." After the showcase I had some people that I knew - and some that I didn't - tell me that my performance was beautiful and one of the highlights of the evening. I'll take that. But I didn't write the song. JK wrote it. I can't wait to hear what he writes next.

Mother's Day Stuff

So Mother's Day was Sunday. I have three mothers in my immediate family: my mom, my sister, and my sister-in-law. I don't know if I'm just noticing this now or if this is a new thing, but Mother's Day cards are expensive. Wow. I felt like I needed to move a small fortune just to pay for three of them. Anyway, we did a BBQ at my parents' house, my dad made his famous German potato salad, and I got to play with my nieces and nephews.

Before the BBQ, I had an outdoor rehearsal with In The Pocket at Schlathaus Park in Wappingers Falls to test out some new sound equipment that we got (*cough*wirelessmicrophone*cough*). We've got a number of outdoor shows coming up in June, July, and August, and we needed to see if our equipment could handle the setting or if additional equipment and a sound engineer would be needed. Thankfully, we were very pleased with the results that we got on our own, so that's going to save us a decent amount of money. I guarantee you a good time if you come see us.

After the BBQ, I went to the second-run theater and saw American Reunion with some friends. Hey, I enjoyed the first three and I enjoyed this one, but man, did I feel old. The characters, the 90s soundtrack - it got me feelings pretty nostalgic at times. I remember when the first movie came out and it was so controversial. I was in high school. I, myself, have a reunion next month. I'm not going to say what year (you can probably guess), and I'm not going to it, but still. The fact that its happening at all messes with your head. I will try to forget that fact starting...now.

Perspective

It's interesting to be able to look at yourself and where you have been in the past with a bit of objectivity and perspective. What you've been through, how you handled it, what's different about yourself, and what you want to change. Its an ability (for lack of a better word) that seems to come more easily with maturity, and its not something that can only be done around January 1st of any given year.

I've had a couple of conversations recently on this subject - about others and about myself - and the key to the conversations always seems to be the word I mentioned above: perspective. We all go through tough times, but those times can be magnified through a lack of perspective, which Merriam-Webster defines as "the capacity to view things in their true relations or relative importance." Quite honestly, one of the best things about having a few years behind you is being able to recognize what shit is important, what shit isn't, what shit will be important, and what shit won't matter at all. The younger you are, the less likely you are able to see these things for what they are. And that's not a dig - it's just a fact. Not three years ago I barely had any real grasp on who I was, what I was doing, or where I was going. I would say that I wanted to achieve things, but how seriously was I really working to reach those goals? How much responsibility was I taking for my life and my decisions? How much am I taking now? I'm proud to say that I have a slightly better grasp of these things today. Slightly.

On Saturday night, I had a conversation with Seth (studio PIC) over some Sam Adams Summer Ale and he introduced me to the "Oh Shit Phase." What is the "Oh Shit Phase?" It is the phase where your life falls off the cliff, everything starts to spin out of control, and you have to learn to bridge that gap between being a child and being an adult. Its a concept that he learned about from his college psychology professor, but I had never heard it before. And so after he explained it to me, I thought about it and was able to pinpoint fairly precisely when my life entered the "Oh Shit Phase" and when I came out of it. He was able to do the same. We then talked about defense and survival mechanisms that we used to make it through, and how if you look you can begin to notice who is in the "Oh Shit Phase," who is past it, and who hasn't gotten to it yet. And the best part is, none of this conversation could have happened without perspective. It's rare to meet a 22-year-old who can say something like, "Yeah, I know that two years ago my ego got pretty big, but it was really just an overreaction to a rough patch in my life." I know when I was 22 I never would've said that. I know that even a year ago I probably never would've said that, even though I was past my "Oh Shit Phase" at that point.

Perspective is a tricky thing. You want to have it and people tell you to have it, but the funny thing is you can't have it until you're ready to have it. Often times this is after you need it. I bet if you think about it for a minute, you can look at your life with some perspective and pinpoint your "Oh Shit Phase." If you can't, that means you haven't gone through it yet. Good luck.