ASK Musings

No matter where you go, there you are.

Monthly Archive: May 2009

Sunday

10

May 2009

0

COMMENTS

Sunday

10

May 2009

0

COMMENTS

Sunday

10

May 2009

0

COMMENTS

Performance Space 122

Written by , Posted in Adventures, Feminism, Reviews

“Miller wows ’em” – The Village Voice

“Circus AMOK reinventing the circus form, borrowing drag fabulousness from Charles Ludlam’s Theater of the Ridiculous, large scale transformation using whole-body masks from Bread and Puppet Theater, and the outdoor bally and verbal rhythm and repertoire from the sideshow, as well as movement vocabulary from post-modern dance. The troupe balances danger with laughter, slipping its critique between the pies in the face and the surreal, scary, and sometimes gender-bent characters of the charivari.” – Mark Sussman, Disturbing the Peace: 20th Century Radical Street Performance, 2001

In this glittering theatrical extravaganza, the infamous juggling duo, The Liberty Sisters, have been fleeced by an evil ponzi schemer. Sybil and Statua Liberty embark on a mad-cap tour of revenge…but they aren’t the only ones after the greedy crook. Mistaken identities, missed opportunities, star crossed lovers and variety hall numbers all combine to bring East Village high camp back home. It’s tragedy, it’s farce, it’s mystery, it’s mayhem…it’s “Jewels of the Forbidden Skates.”

Starring: Jennifer Miller, Carlton Ward, Ashley Brockington, Rae C. Wright, Sally May, Adrienne Truscott, and Tanya Gagne. Music by Kenny Mellman and Design by Jonathon Berger. With additional text for Bernie Madoff by Deb Margolin. Choreography by Faye Driscoll. Special surprise guest artists each night will include Scott Heron, Jenny Monson, and Jenny Romaine.

Jennifer Miller is the director of the acclaimed NYC political performance troupe Circus Amok, which she founded in 1989. She is widely recognized for her work and is the recipient of awards including the Obie, Bessie, BAX 10, and most recently the Ethyl Eichelberger Award.

Saturday

9

May 2009

0

COMMENTS

Saturday

9

May 2009

0

COMMENTS

Overheard at Starbucks (NSFW)

Written by , Posted in Random

Dude with multiple tattoos, dressed all in black, probably mid-thirties:

 “I wouldn’t kiss her if you paid me.”

 Bleach-blond chick, also dressed all in black:

 “Yeah?”

 Dude:

 “Well, you just told me he ate your p—-”

 Chick:

 “Lower your voice”

 Dude:

 Repeats the comment at the same volume, then gets up and leaves. Chick remains. And is now discussing the cost of a pack of cigarettes with an older couple one table over. Apparently before she moved here from Ohio six months ago, they were $3.50 a pack. She wants to quit, she tells what I believe are strangers, she “has a lot of stress going on right now.”

 Well, of course she does.

Saturday

9

May 2009

0

COMMENTS

Not impressed, Citibank

Written by , Posted in Adventures

Since I’ll be living in London for at least a year, I’ll need to open a bank account there. I believe that a friend of mine was able to open an account in the US in british pounds, although I’m going to have to confirm that with her later this weekend.

I bank with Citibank. While yes, they are having some financial issues right now, I like them because they have branches in NYC and my hometown, and ATMs in Seattle. Plus, they have a big overseas presence. So, silly me, I thought that since they are part of a global network of banks under the Citigroup name, someone, somewhere, might be able to help me figure out how to open a British account and have it be connected to my US account. I’m sure there are some issues – the accounts would have different rules, and be based somewhere else – but it seems quite silly that I would need to have two entirely different banking systems set up to be able to have accounts at what is represented to the public as the same bank

I’ve spoken to many nice Citibank people today (and amazingly haven’t come close to losing my temper), and not a single one even knows where to begin. I live in NYC; I can’t be the first person in the history of Citibank to have this question. 

I also tried HSBC. Fun fact: HSBC phone customer service won’t speak to you unless you are already a customer. So no option to get answers from them, or get transfered to someone who might know, unless I already have an account. Excellent.

Friday

8

May 2009

3

COMMENTS

Wednesday

6

May 2009

1

COMMENTS

Oh Holy Crap

Written by , Posted in Adventures

These are the kind of decisions that I am lucky to have to make, but man, I’m kind of freaking out a little right now.

After I got back from my trip to London this winter, I decided I would apply to graduate school in the UK. I did it as a bit of a fluke, but also becaue I really like the UK, I’ve never lived outside the US, and I’d love to get another Master’s degree.

Well, I got in! To both programs to which I applied.

1. Queen’s University Belfast – Master of Arts in Violence, Terrorism and Security

I found out about this one last week. It’s about 24,000 pounds all together, or about $36,000 (I may be rounding poorly, but that’s a good estimate). It would allow me to really focus on the Northern Ireland issues that interest me so much, and possibly lead me to a more academic career, or one focused on security back in the States.

2. London School of Economics – Master of Science in Philosophy and Public Policy

I found out about this one this morning. Oh man. It’s about 34,000 pounds, or about $50,000. Of which I have . . . not a lot. I don’t think I could really afford it, but at the same time it’s probably a better option for me in terms of career opportunities. I also have really good friends in London.

Ack! I don’t know what to do. I don’t have to decide today, but I do need to decide pretty darn quickly.

Suggestions?

Sunday

3

May 2009

1

COMMENTS

13.1 Miles!

Written by , Posted in Adventures

We left NYC at 5:30 this morning. We got to the location and warmed up. About 6,000 of our closest friends were with us. The course was great, the weather good (cool and misty), and the water stations plentiful.

 I averaged a 9:44 pace, and finished at 2 hours 9 minutes! I beat my goal of 2 hours 10 minutes!

 It was a tough run – pain set in on my left leg at mile 10, but I only stopped to walk once, and I stopped to use ther bathroom.
Good experience. Bring on the May 30 half marathon!