I walk the line
I'm getting hooded today, in the non white supremacist sense, but the higher education way. Despite finishing up the journalism master's program at NYU back in December, I officially graduate and walk today. So I'm taking a half day off from work and participating in the ceremony with my classmates and family present.

For a master's degree apparently you get hooded with a special master's hood. My robes are purple like NYU's colors, which I'm inordinately delighted by. My past robes were white for high school and black for my undergraduate degree at Wheaton College. The robes cost $62 just to rent them for a day, do you believe it? I don't even get to keep them for that price, talk about a rip off. The ceremonial robe business is worse than the funeral biz for raking in money.

Anyway, I wasn't really excited about going through the process of graduating since it's been a few months since I had to do any work for my degree although it thankfully seems longer. But now as the date gets closer I'm getting excited. For all the students graduating from New York University's Graduate School Of Arts and Sciences (that includes the J-School) convocation is being held at Lincoln Center. It coincides with the nutty David Blaine's last day in the water bubble right next door. I see the appeal of the stunt of holding his breath but why did he have to be in the water for 7 days? We are human beings we aren't meant to be in the water for that long, we're not aquatic. Crazy!

I was looking at my notebook that I used for several of my night classes and I have two things written on the inside of my class notebook for motivation one is from my horoscope the other is from my professor, can you guess which is which? lol:

"Also, think back a few years ago to the dreams and plans you made, and give yourself a pat on the back for coming so far so quickly."

"Better NEVER than late."

My Tribeca Review: Poseidon

Tribeca Closing Night-- Poseidon
For the Tribeca Film Festival's last day, it concluded with the premiere of the upcoming thriller and remake by Wolfgang Petersen (Troy, Neverending Story) Poseidon starring Kurt Russell, Richard Dreyfuss, Josh Lucas & many more.

This was by far the largest media turn out I've seen yet during the festival, the red carpet line was extended and nearly doubled in size. By the time the actors got to me I was warned I could only ask one question and unfortunately all Kurt Russell could do was smile and say "Hi" to me and keep going. The big shocker among the media was that Goldie Hawn wasn't there with him, maybe recent trouble in paradise rumors are true? Hope not. I did get to briefly interview the other attending stars besides Kurt though and take some more red carpet clips (see below).

First to arrive was actor Andre Braugher of Thief, Glory and City of Angels who carried himself with such sophistication, as he does on screen as well. In the film he plays the unfortunate Captain of the luxury liner. I had asked him if it was hard making a film with so many special effects. He responded that the special effects aren't the hard part. "The hardest part is the emotional content, the emotional despair that the character have to go through," he said adding with a nod that "But I think we pulled it off."

Then came 19-year-old Emmy Rossum from Phantom of the Opera, wearing an elegant red Ralph Lauren dress and a sweet smile. I had asked her if before accepting the role in the film if she had ever seen the original 1972 film The Poseidon Adventure, which the new Poseidon is based on. She admitted that she had never seen it and still hasn't, but that Poseidon "is not a remake but more of a rein-visioning" (Pretty solid PR messaging there!). I also talked to her about being from NY and how she was happy to be at the festival and got it all on film... even when her costar Josh Lucus came by and goosed her.

Next to make it way down the line to me was Mia Maestro, who I was most looking forward to seeing since she stars on Alias. She looked beautiful in a black Audrey Hepburn like dress. While speaking with her I said she is no stranger to doing action scenes due to Alias but I asked her if it was hard pretending to be on a flipped over cruise ship. She replied in the affirmative saying it was a completely different action, fun but challenging. I then dropped the film and moved to what I was most interested in--Alias. Although it's not as great as it was two years ago, the series finale is coming up and I asked if she had any information she could share about the shows end. She laughed and said "I can't!" She did throw me a bone by saying "A lot of the old characters are back." I didn't let it go by saying I just saw you wake up in the last week's episode and she said, "I'm dead, yeah but I'll be dead but present." Hmmm, I now have visions of Yoda and Obi Wan like appearings happening on Alias.

Maistro's costar Victor Garber was there as well, but quickly walked by since he's not really in the film. I did find it funny that he also appeared in a sinking ship film as well--Titanic. Joan Allen (super skinny) and Hayden Panettiere (who I liked in the Lifetime Christmas film If You Believe) also were guests at the premiere.

I briefly spoke with the director Wolfgang Petersen too, who said how he was very glad to have his film at the festival for closing night and how he previously spoke with DeNiro years ago about having Troy premiere there too, but it didn't work out.

Sadly all good things must come to and end and like the film festival so does my red carpet coverage. I'll be posting my review of Posedion, which opens on May 12, on Film School Rejects' site shortly, since I was able to get into the auditorium after the press line broke up this time.



For two more videos that I took including a shot of Kurt Russell and an Interview with Mia click here. Enjoy!

PS: Earlier that morning I did the Revelon 5K for Women's Cancer's with my office. I jogged 3.1 miles in 40 minutes, which is pretty good for me. My friend K did it in 36 mins.

One man's garbage ...
is another New Yorker's find.

After dinner with a guy friend from high school that I hadn't seen in two years, although he claims it's been four--it hasn't. Anyway, while walking him back to the PATH train to Jersey City, we passed a mini NordicTrack stepper out on the side of the curb with the garbage. It's in good condition and about the only size of exercise equipment that I could possibly hold in my bitchin besides my thighmaster (yes, I own one).

Well after lugging it back to my apartment I realized it's much heavier and bigger than I first thought, especially after putting it in my place and cleaning it up. It's also harder to use than I expected; I was fatigued after 10 minutes.

I'm debating whether or not I should keep it though. I'll hold on to it for another week or so and see. I just wish I had a place to store it. But it's the second thing I've found from the street and brought back to my apartment, not including men--just kidding. Last year I found my red chair just outside my apartment and it has been a great addition to my place ever since.

Win a trip to Amsterdam
When Tara Met Blog is now one one of the blog sponsors of a contest for a complete trip to Amsterdam brought to you by the off-Broadway play Red Light Winter. Why Amsterdam? It's where the first half of the play takes place. To enter the free contest just plug in your details here. Good luck and let me know if you win... or need a guest to take ;) For a review of the play check out my previous post below.


You Can't Tell a Man by His Nails:
It's a bad state of things when you get hit on while at the nail salon getting a mani/pedi. No, I wasn't getting picked up by another female, but from the guy drying his nails in the dryer next to me. First gyms became meat markets now nail salons? hmm I can tell you which I'd prefer at least. I'm not saying guys can't get a manicure just don't try to flirt while doing so please.

This is my ...
During the last week alone this has been a topic of conversation among several of my friends, coworkers, etc. What topic? Couples that do not or are afraid to say that they are boyfriend and girlfriend in public, I know several couples that are like this actually, so the below example is definitely not an isolated case.

A guy friend of mine has been seeing this girl for over a year now, well coming up on a year at least. They are exclusive, go out on couple themed holidays and for special events. Yet, he always refers to her as his 'friend' and that's it. When introducing her to people he'll say 'this is my friend Chelsea.' Once he mentioned to me that he and a friend went on vacation the other week, leaving me wondering if he went with a buddy and left Chelsea behind for a guy weekend or if he went with her, but no, turns out she was the friend and they went together. Maybe he doesn't consider her a girlfriend? I don't see how he cannot though. I think parents have been introduced at this point even. Keep in mind he calls me his friend too and we don't sleep together, so how can you distinguish one friend from another when it's all so vague?

My friend (a real one, I'm not inferring anything here ;) was just saying that she could understand if they were just starting to see each other, or if it had only been a few months that they would chose the safe option of saying 'this is my friend..." She thinks the reason for his vagueness is that he does not want people to know that they are intimate and wants to play the field a bit and appear single. Yet, she and the guy she's seeing have not had the talk yet and she'd personally rather not call him her boyfriend.

Do you think it's simpler, more modern or safer to say 'friend' and leave it at that? Maybe he or even her are not comfortable with the bf/gf terms in general? I don't know, but it sometimes brings up more questions for them then it would if they simply admitted that they are an item in the first place.

*sigh* look at all the red tape relationships go through, crazy! And I'm not saying there has to be labels in a relationship to be considered one, I just think the above cases are funny since they have caused speculation and not just by me. I think in most situations though it's like a catch-22, neither seems to want to be the first to call the other person their girlfriend or boyfriend. I know I wouldn't want to be the first to, so I can't really talk. Sorry for the circular post, just thinking and typing, thinking and typing.

Tribeca Review: Al Franken: Godspoke (2006)