NYC is a drug (+ Jersey Girl, the movie)

27 06 2008

I spontaneously decided to come home for the weekend. I haven’t been back since mid-May, which is a long time considering I’m an only child and home is so close. NYC was getting to be too stressful – as it usually does after a while – and I needed a short break (no threat of withdrawal) to detox in New Jersey.

+Update:

Since I’m in NJ, there is little else to do but watch TV. Or, rather, I have plenty of other productive things I should be doing, but since I have no TV to watch in NYC, this is my only opportunity to do so. Ironically, Jersey Girl is on right now (yes, as in the movie starring Ben Affleck and Liv Tyler that came out circa Bennifer, v. 1). And yes, I’m still watching the movie despite the fact that I’ve seen it before and that the acting isn’t all too great. Plotline = Ollie Trinke (Ben Affleck), a Jersey-born media publicist who used to work in NYC, raises his daughter after his wife (J.Lo!) dies at childbirth. They live with the grandfather in Jersey (good old “Pop” is actually played by the late George Carlin), though Ollie struggles between pursuing his old life in NYC and staying in NJ. Not that I’m in the same situation at all, but it’s interesting to see different perspectives on the NJ-NYC relationship.





George Carlin, R.I.P.

23 06 2008

George Carlin has died of heart failure at the age of 71. My main memory of him is his role as “Mr. Conductor,” the magical, miniature-sized conductor, in one of my favorite childhood shows – Shining Time Station (think Thomas the Tank Engine and characters dancing in a jukebox). Yes, I know he’s remembered most for his great political and taboo stand-up. (Not to compare the two comedians/actors, but I experienced similar shock when I found out that Bob Saget, wholesome “Danny Tanner” from Full House, had a knack for dirty standup.) But Carlin’s passing, like that of “Mr. Rogers,” helps me appreciate and be grateful for the role he played in my childhood. I was originally going to post about my childhood-reminiscent experiences from today, but as this is timely news and I haven’t yet had time to write everything, it feels more appropriate to dedicate this post to George Carlin.

George Carlin

( George Carlin, 1937-2008 )

More information can be found here and here.