Procrastinating = Backstage

I have met many a celebrity in my day…and get your mind out of the gutter! I’ve never done any “favors” to get myself backstage; just my wit, my charm, and a little procrastination.

I hate to reveal one of my biggest “how to get backstage” secrets but here it is. At a Dane Cook concert in College Park, my friend and I stayed after the show to see if we could get backstage. We had never done this before, but we were willing to try it out, and boy oh boy, we were determined.

The security guards (a.k.a. rent-a-cops) kept telling us to leave the arena and we kept telling them that we were waiting for our friend who worked backstage.

After a few more attempts by the guards and a little procrastination to vacate the premises, the tour manager came out and said that Dane would love to meet the few of us fans who stayed back after the show.

It was awesome! We hung out for a half hour, even though we were only supposed to stay ten minutes (again, procrastination at its best). It was one of the coolest experiences I’ve had. So now you know my secret, try it out and let me know if it works for you.

Italian kids vs. American kids

I received an e-mail from my father, who happens to be a typical Italian man, that was forwarded from my Uncle Nicky and sent to all my cousins and aunts and uncles…okay, you get it; we’re a big, fat, Italian family.

The e-mail was about the way Italians think and live compared with how Americans think and live. I couldn’t help sharing a few points that were so true that it should be rules that my family lives by.

American kids: Always pay retail, and look in the Yellow Pages when they need to have something done. Italian kids: Call their dad or uncle, and ask for another dad's or uncle's phone number to get it done.

American kids: Will greet you with 'Hello' or 'Hi'. Italian kids: Will give you a big hug, a kiss on your cheek, and a pat on your back. American kids: Call your parents Mr. and Mrs. Italian kids: Call your parents Mom and Dad.

American kids: Will leave you behind if that's what the crowd is doing. Italian kids: Will kick the whole crowds' ass that left you behind. American kids: Think that being Italian is cool. Italian kids: Know that being Italian is cool.

I love being Italian and whenever I’m bored or want to procrastinate, I just look at my pictures from Italy, or look up websites that could help me book another trip. And with the economy influencing travel prices, I suggest you do the same.

Getting Down to the Wire

One year ago I was sitting in the same chair at my same desk in my same student apartment saying to myself, "It's one more year of freedom."

Now, I am sitting here in my chair, at my desk, looking at my cap and gown saying, "Where did the time go?" I sound like an older relative after they haven't seen me in a year or so at a family reunion.

My original graduation date was one year ago, almost to the day. However, I chose to take a second major after I found a passion for journalism. With each day that went by, I did work...or what I thought was work, since I've never had a "real" job bacuase my parents always said that school was my job.

But what now? I can't procrastinate anymore, and I can't add another year to my college career. Nope. As my father says, "The real world is gonna be knocking on your door pretty soon." How do I answer it? Where did the time go?

It's almost time to face to music, and the song that will be playing is Pomp and Circumstance.

Last Chance

The Last Holiday starring Queen Latifah was on TBS one evening, which I caught halfway through the movie. After about twenty minutes I turned the channel and made a note to go rent the movie the next day.

Although it was predictable with a happy ending that I won’t give away, but you can probably take a guess as to the outcome, it tells a lesson that my father has taught me all my life: live each day to the fullest because you never know if it could be your last.

It’s a story about a religious woman who has held back in indulging all of life’s pleasures, from food to men to vacationing; basically living life. One day through an accident at work, she is forced to go to the doctor and get a CAT-scan. Yep, prognosis negative.

Apparently, she only has three weeks to live. So what does she do? She packs up and goes on a European vacation and does more in a couple of weeks than she had ever done in the rest of her life. It is a feel good story and I recommend to all. Hopefully you will walk away with more of an appreciation for life.

Arizona Says “No He Can’t”

One of my favorite television shows is The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. I’m not big into politics, and watching the news can get to be a little boring.

The reason why I like the Daily Show is because is gives an account for current events and politics accurately, while spicing it up with some humor.

Take for instance this latest controversy surrounding President Obama and Arizona State refusing to award him with an honorary degree. We could watch one of NBC’s field reporters go to Arizona State and talk with the President and alumni, while throwing in some history of the university and the honorary degree system and its past recipients…but I respond much better to the Daily Show’s take on the matter.

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	M - Th 11p / 10c
Arizona State Snubs Obama
thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Economic Crisis Political Humor

Something I didn’t know about Comedy Central

I love watching comedians, and I happen to have a sick sense of humor. People like Chris Rock, Wanda Sykes, and my personal favorite, Dane Cook all share this sense of humor, among with many others.

Comedy Central often features these comedians multiple times a week, but there is one problem that I have come across for a long time: the censoring of some of these comedic performances sounds like an episode of Jerry Springer.

I can never get the full effect from a comedy act when half of the words are bleeped out. But recently I found out that after 1:00 in the morning, profanity and vulgarity are no longer censored out no matter how cruse it may be.

Even if you don’t stay up this late at night, look up the Comedy Central schedule online, and record your favorite performances to enjoy later.

Stuff White People Like

I heard about the website, stuffwhitepeoplelike.com, and I wanted to see what all the hype was about. Was any of it accurate? Was the list only five items long? Was it just one big joke?

A of all: it is accurate. B of all: the full list at 125 and still growing. C of all: it’s hilarious!

Coffee is number one on the list and I thought to myself: everyone drinks coffee. But then I thought of all the times I have been to Starbucks over the years, and it was like a light bulb went off in my brain. How many non-white people have I seen in Starbucks?

Yoga is also among the list of things white people like…so true. 80’s night along with ugly sweater parties are on the list, which can go hand in hand with the other. Out of all the friends that have had a 80s themed party, how many can you name that aren’t white?

Knowing what’s best for poor people…I think they are called Republicans though. Then again, other than Colin Powell and Condoleezza Rice there aren’t too many black Republicans out there.

But my absolute favorite thing on the list is number 116: white people like black music that black people don’t listen to anymore. “All music genres go through a very similar life cycle: birth, growth, mainstream acceptance, decline, and finally obscurity. With black music, however, the final stage is never reached because white people are work tirelessly to keep it alive.” The reason why this is so funny is because it is so true.

Since it is NHL playoffs season, I suggest that hockey should be added to the list.

Christian

My mother is an avid watcher of the television show, The View. A rerun that she caught showed her the story of two men who bought a lion years ago from Harrod’s department store.

After raising the cub themselves, the lion, named Christian, got too big and the men were forced to send Christian to Africa. After one year, they wanted to see Christian in Africa, and…well, the video has been white hot on YouTube and it tells the story better than I could.



If the story wasn’t enough, they had to put it to Whitney Houston??? If this doesn’t tug a little at your heartstrings then I don’t know what will!

Today's Big Thing

As a Redskins fan living in Baltimore, I have tried to warn people of the dangers of being a Ravens football fan.



My friend told me about this website, Today’s Big Thing, after she was procrastinating for a while. It has cute animals, funny videos, music, technology, sports, entertainment, and, of course, the day’s ultimate “big thing.”

Every day something new is posted, and this is one of my favorites! They may not all be masterpieces, but most of them are downright hilarious.

Loving My Life on the D-List

The first time I saw comedienne, Kathy Griffin was on a little show called Seinfeld. Her loud obnoxious voice turned me off from the get-go. But pretty much any and all BRAVO television shows get a chance with me.

I figured that My Life on the D-List would be a flop, like Griffin’s career at that point because I didn’t find her ranting and bitching about celebrities to be very funny.

After a couple of episodes, I made a discovery: Kathy Griffin’s comedy is not about one-liners or short set-ups with a quick, catchy punch line; she is best at telling stories in her own humorous way. Her life wasn’t particularly exciting, especially not enough to conjure up a reality show, but the way she made her less-than-spectacular lifestyle seem funny is what made her interesting to watch.

Watching her beg for publicity by doing anything, whether it be embarrassing or humiliating, and then raving over her page sixteen tabloid picture as if it were an Emmy made me want to keep tuning in to see if she really could get herself off of the D-List.

It’s like rooting for the lovable underdog and through her show, I have become a fan. Way to go Kathy for getting off the D-List!