Chick-a-go

If it's mid-August then it must be time for my yearly trip to Chicago. This is an eagerly anticipated trip to visit three of my childhood friends -- Karen, Jamie and Rosie. The tradition started three years ago for Rosie's wedding. We had such an awesome time, we decided to make it a yearly thing.

Last Friday started promising. The skies were clear and sunny when I arrived at Newark airport. I checked in, got my seat assignment, no problems. The gate agent gets on the loudspeaker at 1:25pm, which I'm assuming is to start boarding. I gather my things together. But instead of proceeding, he tells a packed gate area the flight has been cancelled. An estimated gazillion people rush the desk to get on the next flight or the flight after that. I'm somewhere in the middle of the pack. I call American Airlines who are of no help. I call my Dad who gives me the name of his travel agent. With her help, I am able to secure a place on the next flight. A couple hours pass and those once sunny and clear skies have now turned omnious. The packed plane boards on time but it has now started to rain. It's another hour before we take off.

Karen and her boyfriend, Ryan meet me at O'Hare. Seeing as my food consumption had consisted of 2 donuts and a pretzel for the day, I was a bit hungry. We met up with our friend Tania, who although we don't look or sound alike, are the exact same person ("You like obscure character actor William Devane??? Me too!!!") We ate at this excellent steak place called Wildfire. Great food, company and atmosphere. I was spent by the time Karen and I got back, and knew Saturday was going to be a packed day, so we called it an early night.

Saturday was awesome. Although it felt more like mid-October than mid-August. Karen, Ryan and I took the train into Chicago and met up with Jamie and Rosie to take a boat architecture tour. It was cool, but the rain held off, and the tour guide was really interesting. From there we ate at the sister restaurant to the Cheesecake Factory called Grand Lux. Very good. We then went to the Art Institute of Chicago. I saw Grant Wood's "American Gothic" which was a true highlight for me. From there we hung out at Rose and Jack's apartment to recharge the batteries. Dinner was at a mexican place. Karen, Ryan and I headed back to the suburbs, where Karen and I spared in Yatzhee and Monopoly.

It was Jamie and Rosie's turn to travel and they came to the suburbs. I had my very first Chicago deep dish pizza, which was par excellent. A tour of Frank Lloyd Wright houses and pedicures followed. The late afternoon led us to a Starbuck's to loiter and talk, which honestly was my favorite part of the trip. Before I knew it, I was back at O'Hare. The flight was delayed a half hour, which was almost on-time compared to what I endured on the way in. Got home around 1am. A whirlwind of a trip, but those are always the best kind.







And once home, I had to deal with the annoyance of getting a refund for the flight that was cancelled. I first call the online company I booked my ticket with. They direct me to American, since they cancelled the flight. American directs me to United since my return flight was with them. I call United and the customer service person says I have to go back to Newark airport to "un-check" myself from the return flight. I tell her no and that's stupid since I already took the flight. This is when I start to lose my cool. After venting my frustration, she puts me on hold and then gives me the number for the United Refund office. Why show just couldn't of done that on the onset, I don't know. Two hours later, I got my refund, but it was customer service runarounds like that that remind me why I like to drive instead of fly.

Quote of the Day:
"Health food makes me sick." -Calvin Trillin

Friar's Club

Wednesday was one of those roller coaster days that was downhill for the most part, then came alive at the end.

I awoke at 5am to the loudest rain pounding outside my window. There had to of been hail mixed in because I had never heard anything like it before. My room was lighting up by streaks of lighting and the only sound drowning the rain were the claps of thunder. An hour and 20 minutes goes by and not fully falling back asleep, my alarm is barely audible. I turn on the TV, and the first words uttered that morning were by veteran traffic reporter Joe Nolan saying, "In my 28 years of traffic reporting, I have never seen traffic this bad". Weatherman Bill Evans followed up adding, "If you don't have to go outside, don't".

As much as I wanted to heed the warnings of the weather and traffic team, I was forced to get up and get ready for the day. I had to go out to Long Island for a B-Roll shoot and meet my co-worker Jon at Penn Station. And since I had the tripod, I had no choice but to brave the elements.

So out the door I go with my backpack, tripod, umbrella and dress & shoes for the evening. The rain had stopped, but the humidity was unbearable. Two steps out the door and I was already drenched in sweat. I waded through my flooded street and onto the PATH. This was going to be a long day.

At 7:15am I am at the PATH station and about to go through the turnstiles when I hear the announcement that the PATH to 33rd Street is closed in both direction because of signal failure. The World Trade Center PATH was still running, so I figured I'd take that and then the ACE to Penn Station, still optimistic this day wouldn't be a complete disaster. I have no problems getting to WTC and all is well. I get to the ACE and am informed both directions are closed because of flooding. "Of course they are", I think.

So back up to street level in the humidity with my backpack, tripod, umbrella and dress & shoes. No cabs are anywhere. I star trekking north hoping for some merciful taxi to find me. 15 blocks later, one did and I breezed my way uptown finally reaching Penn Station. I meet up with Jon and only being slightly late, caught the next LIRR train. It took the entire hour ride for me to regain my composure.

The B-Roll shoot was fine. The hospital we went to were incredible and extremely generous. I wish all hospital were as accommodating as them.

5pm and we get back in the LIRR back into the city. I have to be in midtown by 7:30pm and the clock is ticking. As we approach the city, there is an announcement of 5 additional stops because of a home Mets game. This only added to my panic of not getting to my event on time. The train pulls into Penn Station a little after 6pm. Jon hands me the monitor and I head to the taxi line. There are 12 people in front of me and I need to get to the office, drop everything off, change and eat with less than an hour and a half. The taxi guy asked if anyone was going downtown. I popped up my hand and cut the line. Steamrolling into the office, I drop everything, eat all I can in about 2 minutes, throw on the dress and head back out the door. I have a half hour.

I find a cab not too far from the office. The drive crosstown was fine and for the first time that day, felt some relief. And then we turned onto Park Avenue with an endless sea of red tailights. There is nothing I can do except watch the minutes tick on the taxi clock. We're at a red light on E. 46th & Park with under ten minutes to go, and know I can walk faster than this cab. Get out and walk the next nine blocks. A couple of minutes, I reach my destination: the Friar's Club.

The Friar's Club is a historic New York landmark. It is meetingplace for anyone who is anyone in the world of comedy. They are the ones who do all those roasts. Cheryl, with her Writer's Guild connections, saw an event there, and asked if I wanted to go. Just being at the Friar's Club was exciting enough, but the event was the icing on the cake: performers and writers of Letterman, Conan, SNL and the Daily Show doing stand-up.

Cheryl and I go in and I can feel the history just standing in the lobby. We go to the bar and after the bartender looking pathetically at me after ordering a Shirley Temple, we look around. Jason Sudekis of SNL and 30 Rock is standing next to Cheryl. We see Rob Riggle and John Oliver from the Daily Show walk in. This is going to be an awesome event.

The Friar's tend to skew older, but seeing as this was a joint Friar/WGA event, I expected to see a younger crowd. Cheryl and I were two of the more younger ones there, and we were seated right up front in the Frank Sinatra Dining Room. The show was fantastic. Representing Letterman were Eddie Brill and some other writer. Conan: Mike McCann, Brian Kiley. SNL: Jason Sudekis and writer Colin Joost (hilarious). Daily Show: Jason Oliver, Rob Riggle and writer J.R. Halverstrom. Jason Oliver totally stole the show and Cheryl and I heart him.

The Friar's Club is what I envision New York to be. I hope to go to more events there sooner than later.

Finally I get home and fall asleep as soon as my head hits the pillow.

Quote of the Day:
"If we are to learn to improve the quality of the decisions we make, we need to accept the mysterious nature of our snap judgments." -Malcolm Gladwell

Programming Alert: Cash Cab - After Dark

Beginning on Wednesday August 8th at 10pm on the Discovery Channel, is a new version of "Cash Cab", called "Cash Cab - After Dark". It's just like regular "Cash Cab", but more focused on nightlife, drinking, drugs, tattoos, and the like. I was a question writer for the show.

Yes, it's very strange that I, of all people, contributed to this format. But it was really fun and a learned a lot. For example, people will pierce anything.

And for all you "Mystery Diagnosis" fans, you will want to DVR tomorrow's show on TLC at 10 (while watching "Cash Cab - After Dark"). There is a segment about flesh-eating bacteria. In some scenes, I play said flesh-eating bacteria patient. Call me modest, but it's truly an Oscar-worthy performance.

Happy Watching!!

Quote of the Day:
"Here is the test to find whether your mission on Earth is finished: If you're alive, it isn't." -Richard David Bach

Programming Alert: Grand Slam

Programming note!! Beginning tonight and airing every Saturday and Sunday this August at 7pm (repeats at 10pm) is band-new spankin' show on Game Show Network called GRAND SLAM. This show pits 16 of the top game show contestants of all-time against one another in an ultimate trivia showdown. I am very proud to have been a researcher for the show.

So watch...you may learn something.

Quote of the Day:
"No mind is much employed upon the present; Recollection and anticipation fill up almost all our moments." -Dr. Samuel Johnson