Mystic Pizza Box
A slice of heaven
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Obama Protesting at Harvard in 1991
The late Andrew Breitbart infamously revealed a pornographic photo of Brooklyn Congressman Anthony Weiner on the Opie and Anthony radio show last year (and embroiled Vincent in a controversy after showing him the photo in the studio, which was captured on video and promptly posted online.) Ugh! This time, Mr. Breitbart was about to release this video of President Obama from his college days, as if seeing this speech he made on campus in 1991 would "change the election" results in November 2012. Well, do you see anything controversial here?
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Saturday, March 3, 2012
Skittles for the Rattlestick Gang 1-26-2012
In honor of the opening night of Daniel Talbott's new play "Yosemite" on January 26, 2012, I delivered a box of Skittles to the Rattlestick Playwrights Theater during my lunch break as a gift for the cast and crew. The young ladies at the box office were very sweet and thankful to receive my gift. Last Sunday during my most recent conversation with Kathryn Erbe, she told me that the Rattlestick gang were still enjoying the Skittles, which made me very happy. She also mentioned jokingly that they were considering inventing a cocktail with the Skittles and the tequila from the opening night party. I suggested that they name the new drink after me and we both laughed as Kate said "The Blanca." LOL! Sounds like a tasty margarita Eames would love, doesn't it? ')
Yosemite's last Sunday Matinee 2-26-2012 and Kathryn Erbe's Gift from Antje (havers_barbera)
On previous occasions I had delivered a drawing and a heart handmade by my brother Alberto to Kathryn Erbe and a jumbo box of Skittles for the cast and crew of "Yosemite" directly to the Rattlestick Playwrights Theater. This time, I was entrusted with a special task from my friend and fellow blogger, Antje aka havers_barbera, author of the Lovely Kathryn blog dedicated to our very own Kathryn Erbe, New Englander turned Brooklynite.
A month ago Antje sent me an e-mail asking if I would deliver a letter from her to Kathryn after the Sunday matinee of "Yosemite" on February 26, which was originally the closing date for the play. Of course, I told her, I would be happy to do this. Last week the letter finally arrived from Germany with some special artwork created by Antje for Kathryn. I was looking forward to meeting Kate again and giving her Antje's gift. In the meantime, I had found out that "Yosemite" had been extended for another week (4 additional performances) until March 3. Way to go, Rattlestick!
During last Sunday's final matinee performance of "Yosemite," I noticed that all the actors had injected more energy into their movements and lines onstage, and the fight between Kathryn and Seth was even fiercer than before. Yikes! Seth had collapsed breathlessly in a heap on the pile of soil he had dug up onstage. Kate was crying so hard after the fight scene that I just wanted to go up there and hug her. Awww! I was sitting in the first row, Seat 6 again, the same seat I had during the January 22 matinee. I had tried to make a short video of Kate's speech near the end of the play with my phone, but I couldn't keep it hidden inside my bag and use it at the same time. Plus, the bitchy bleached blond to my right was muttering curses under her breath at one point, which irritated the hell out of me. STFU! Oh well, so much for preserving such a perfect moment for posterity.
Kate and I spoke outside the theater after the matinee and I proudly presented the envelope containing Antje's artwork and message to her. Kate was delighted and surprised to see me again and said "Hi Blanca. You came again?" LOL After she saw the envelope she said "Aww, you guys." and I replied "We love you." I presented Antje's letter first and then the mock magazine cover with Kate's photo and the interview with Alex Eames featuring phtos of Kate from LO:CI and one photo of her as a teenager. Kate was amazed to see this photo in particular and wondered how Antje found it. I told her that I had seen this photo online before and also the photo of Kate on the Rattlestick site, which Antje used for the POLICE magazine cover. She was very impressed with Antje's work and told me that she would write a letter to Antje.
The nicest thing about this conversation was that Kate and I were able to hang out on Waverly Place for a few minutes and just talk. No other fans were present at the time so I had Kate's full attention. We sat down on the bench outside TAIM, a vegetarian reataurant next to the theater so Kate could sign another Yosemite program for Antje, as she had already done for me on January 22. I also asked her to sign the LOCI shirt that Vincent had signed for me last year but the ink from my silver Sharpie didn't show on the fabric. I told her not to worry about it, that I would definitely get some new Sharpies. I mentioned that I had been to the Sam Bisbee concert the previous Friday night and she said "I love his music." Naturally! I thanked her for taking the time to talk to me again and we chatted about the Oscars briefly. We both agreed that Viola Davis is a great actress and would be rooting for her to win for her role in "The Help." Kate also mentioned that director Steven Soderbergh had rewritten a role in a science fiction film he made for Viola, changing the character from male to female. Wonder what ever happened to that film? Kate also expressed some relief that she's wrapping up "Yosemite" next weekend, so she doesn't have to keep having a nervous breakdown onstage every night. :) Whew!
Before Kate and I went our separate ways, Kate said "Say hi to your brother for me." How nice of her to remember Alberto! I told her that he's been busy making shamrocks for St. Patrick's Day and that I would send her some via Rattlestick. I hope Kate will be back onstage soon and on TV. She's a truly gifted actor and a goodhearted person and deserves all the accolades that come her way.
A month ago Antje sent me an e-mail asking if I would deliver a letter from her to Kathryn after the Sunday matinee of "Yosemite" on February 26, which was originally the closing date for the play. Of course, I told her, I would be happy to do this. Last week the letter finally arrived from Germany with some special artwork created by Antje for Kathryn. I was looking forward to meeting Kate again and giving her Antje's gift. In the meantime, I had found out that "Yosemite" had been extended for another week (4 additional performances) until March 3. Way to go, Rattlestick!
During last Sunday's final matinee performance of "Yosemite," I noticed that all the actors had injected more energy into their movements and lines onstage, and the fight between Kathryn and Seth was even fiercer than before. Yikes! Seth had collapsed breathlessly in a heap on the pile of soil he had dug up onstage. Kate was crying so hard after the fight scene that I just wanted to go up there and hug her. Awww! I was sitting in the first row, Seat 6 again, the same seat I had during the January 22 matinee. I had tried to make a short video of Kate's speech near the end of the play with my phone, but I couldn't keep it hidden inside my bag and use it at the same time. Plus, the bitchy bleached blond to my right was muttering curses under her breath at one point, which irritated the hell out of me. STFU! Oh well, so much for preserving such a perfect moment for posterity.
Kate and I spoke outside the theater after the matinee and I proudly presented the envelope containing Antje's artwork and message to her. Kate was delighted and surprised to see me again and said "Hi Blanca. You came again?" LOL After she saw the envelope she said "Aww, you guys." and I replied "We love you." I presented Antje's letter first and then the mock magazine cover with Kate's photo and the interview with Alex Eames featuring phtos of Kate from LO:CI and one photo of her as a teenager. Kate was amazed to see this photo in particular and wondered how Antje found it. I told her that I had seen this photo online before and also the photo of Kate on the Rattlestick site, which Antje used for the POLICE magazine cover. She was very impressed with Antje's work and told me that she would write a letter to Antje.
The nicest thing about this conversation was that Kate and I were able to hang out on Waverly Place for a few minutes and just talk. No other fans were present at the time so I had Kate's full attention. We sat down on the bench outside TAIM, a vegetarian reataurant next to the theater so Kate could sign another Yosemite program for Antje, as she had already done for me on January 22. I also asked her to sign the LOCI shirt that Vincent had signed for me last year but the ink from my silver Sharpie didn't show on the fabric. I told her not to worry about it, that I would definitely get some new Sharpies. I mentioned that I had been to the Sam Bisbee concert the previous Friday night and she said "I love his music." Naturally! I thanked her for taking the time to talk to me again and we chatted about the Oscars briefly. We both agreed that Viola Davis is a great actress and would be rooting for her to win for her role in "The Help." Kate also mentioned that director Steven Soderbergh had rewritten a role in a science fiction film he made for Viola, changing the character from male to female. Wonder what ever happened to that film? Kate also expressed some relief that she's wrapping up "Yosemite" next weekend, so she doesn't have to keep having a nervous breakdown onstage every night. :) Whew!
Before Kate and I went our separate ways, Kate said "Say hi to your brother for me." How nice of her to remember Alberto! I told her that he's been busy making shamrocks for St. Patrick's Day and that I would send her some via Rattlestick. I hope Kate will be back onstage soon and on TV. She's a truly gifted actor and a goodhearted person and deserves all the accolades that come her way.
Friday, March 2, 2012
YAI NETWORK Advocacy for People with Disabilities-Urgent Action Needed!
Urgent Action Needed to Protect Services for People with Disabilities
Find Your Representatives
City http://council.nyc.gov/html/members/members.shtml
State http://capwiz.com/iacny/state/main/?state=NY
Federal http://www.nysacra.org/action-center.html
Events in Albany are moving quickly. Governor Cuomo has presented his Executive budget for Fiscal year 2012-13 and the NY State Assembly and NY State Senate are currently reviewing the proposals as they prepare their own versions of the budget. The Governor’s budget contains many items which will affect over 130,000 New Yorkers with developmental disabilities and programs and services provided by organizations like the YAI Network. Additionally, New York State is seeking to reform the current system of services and funding. It is essential that Families, Self-Advocates, Staff and other stakeholders get involved in Advocacy now to ensure that services do not suffer.
Now is our chance to impact the final budget.
Here’s how to get involved:
Learn
•Read a position paper on the 2012-13 New York State Executive Budget developed by NYSACRA.
•Some key areas that are targeted in the budget are Early Intervention, Adult Services and Special Needs Schools
•Find out information on the 1115 Waiver, a new Federal funding source which New York State is seeking that will radically change the way families and self advocates access services.
Act
•Call both your State Assembly member and your State Senator in their Albany offices today (if you don’t know who your legislators are, or how to reach them, use the links to the right).
•Use these talking points to speak with whoever answers the phone.
•Please remember, you are not calling on behalf of YAI, you are calling on behalf of all New Yorkers with developmental disabilities, their families and the agencies that serve them.
Follow up
•Please email me at maubry@yai.org to let me know that you made the calls, so that we can track our collective impact.
•Sign up to keep updated about current advocacy efforts.
•The coming days will be decisive and your involvement will make a difference. Thank you for your continued support and partnership.
Thursday, March 1, 2012
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