Susane Colasanti - Journal

People sometimes ask me why I pay so much rent to live in a tiny apartment (which is an average size for the West Village but microscopic anywhere else) when I could own a massive five-bedroom house in Kentucky for the same amount. The reasons for this are infinite. It's mostly about the energy. It's also about experiences like last Saturday night, aka The Ultimate New York City Night.

I'm a huge fan of a certain famous person who lives in my neighborhood. Out of respect for his privacy, I can't write his name here. However, I can give you the following hints about his identity:

1. I mentioned I was going to his house on my Twitter.
2. We get together now and then to have lunch.

He just bought a house a few blocks away from my place. You basically have to be him to own an entire brownstone around here. A friend of mine is his interior designer, so I got to visit his house. It's still being worked on, which means I'm allowed to show you a photo or two. This is part of his changing room:



The first floor has an amazing front room with a fireplace (I think there are eight fireplaces in total) and built-in bookshelves around the windows. Built-in bookshelves are a passionate desire of mine. These won't stay white like mine will be one day, but they are still gorgeous:



After the tour, we went to The Waverly Inn. I've always wanted to go there. It's this restaurant that doesn't even have a phone number -reservations are that exclusive. But another friend of mine (who is the boyfriend of my interior designer friend) is a fitness instructor at Equinox around the corner, so he'll saunter over during the day to make reservations. I know, my friends are outstanding! Shout-out to SP for hooking me up. Usually there's some movie star or other at The Waverly Inn. There wasn't anyone famous there Saturday night, though. Just some guy who looked like that guy from that show. But I do have one thing to show you:



See this plate of mac and cheese? It's not just any mac and cheese. This mac and cheese is $95.00. It has shaved white truffles on top. While I think it's outrageous that there can be $95.00 mac and cheese, I cannot deny its deliciousness.

That's the news from the nabe for now. When his house is finished and I get to see it again, I might be able to post a photo or two here. Stay tuned.

Some things I'm loving...

1. My new fluffy bath sheets. They are so fluffy! And huge! I heard Oprah tell this story about promising to buy herself bath sheets once she could afford them. I guess she has an entire bath sheet collection by now. In case you're unfamiliar, bath sheets are like bath towels but bigger. MIne are really soft. I might actually work in a bath sheet one day, just to be decadent. It can be the new Casual Friday attire. I've already asked my boss and she said I could. (Joke, since I'm self-employed).

2. Fresh watermelon juice with crushed ice. When it's hot and humid, I'm all about the crushed ice. Simple drinks are the best. I'm a big water drinker, but In August I tend to get bored with water all the time. Fresh, simple juices are so refreshing. Same with fresh, simple meals. Even though I've been a vegetarian since college, I'm sometimes still surprised at how good pasta with just vine tomatoes, basil, garlic, and olive oil can be.

3. I know I'm like a year late, but how good is season two of Gossip Girl? With a kick! I'm just past the ep where that psycho model torched all of Jenny's dresses. This is bothering me way too much. Those gorgeous dresses - gone! I desperately want Jenny to remake them so I can stop being traumatized. Oh, and her scruffy hair/heavy eyeliner/drugged out look? Not feeling that. At least Dan Humphrey is still cute.

4. Apparently, I look just like Kiefer Sutherland's girlfriend. Everyone knows that Kiefer and I go way back. We're also connected by another degree because we have a friend in common. I saw our mutual friend the other day and he was like, "You're the spitting image of Kiefer's girlfriend. Every time I see her, I think of you." So of course I had to Google her. In this pic, she does look exactly like me:



I swear that could be me! But in all the other pics, it's clear that she's model gorgeous, so my friend is obviously just being kind. Still, though, it was funny how he was all like, "Oh, by the way..." As if this information was too dull to tell me about before. I assumed she'd be super young, but it turns out we're the same age. She's even a writer type. SP was not impressed by this conversation. No worries, boyfriend. Jack Bauer is unavailable. And, um, fictional.

Paul Feig is Twittering! He's a producer, writer, and director for The Office, plus he created Freaks and Geeks. I heart Paul something serious. Freaks and Geeks gets a very special shout-out in Waiting for You and The Office is my natural high. So I pretty much worship him in a godlike way. This news was brought to me by a tweet from Rainn Wilson. I'm Twittering here. I could go on a cranky rant about the injustice of Freaks and Geeks only being on for one season, but I will keep things where the light is and focus on my happy memories. The character I adored the most (although James Franco's is a close second) was Nick Andopolis.



Walking even further down memory lane, I watched Flatliners. I don't know what's scarier: the fact that this movie is twenty years old, or those circa-1990 jeans. How was that twenty years ago?! I forgot what a great cast it has. I remember loving it, but I totally forgot how it's completely awesome. Not one ounce of cheese to be found. And it's always fun to watch Kiefer Sutherland when he's not Jack Bauer, although he's best as Jack.

If you know me, you know that I am a hardcore John Mayer fan. He's always in heavy rotation at my place. Marisa, the main character of Waiting for You, thinks that the answers to all of life's problems can be found in a John Mayer song. In short, he rocks my world. So I was stoked to hear what he's working on now. This is how he's stacking some vocals of a new song, "Half of My Heart," which sounds so amazing I can't stop thinking about it:

Due to overwhelming excitement from, like, the world, I'm finally watching Veronica Mars. I'm almost done with season one and am disturbed that there are only two more seasons left. Can I just say wow? It's so freaking good. I'm not into Veronica's ex, the one who's supposed to be the hottie. I'm liking this Logan boy instead:



I loved the scene where they got caught making out on the couch! Where has Jason Dohring been all my life? He's my type of nerd chic. Not that I'm adding him to my husband list or anything. We've only known each other for less than a season. Oh, maybe we should check in with my #1 husband to make sure there are no jealous feelings:


Oh good, he's still at Shiny Happy Apple World. We're getting together there later for some iPod dancing, like in Take Me There.

Where was I? Oh yeah. Jason, aka Mr. Cutie Cute. Wait. Is that inappropriate? He looks really young on the show. Let's see...back in 2003 we were both in our twenties. Totally legit. Season one is from 2004, though. Still legit. But where is Jason now? I hear he's doing some kind of vampire rah-rah. I have a strict no-vampire policy. Vampires are scary. Even when they're sexyscary, they're still scary. They creep me out worse than that rabbit in Donnie Darko.

Anyway. I've heard that season one is the best of the three, so I hope there are more fun adventures to come.

The following takes place between 10:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. Events occur in real time.

10:23 p.m. Receive call from SP. Upload the coordinates of his location to my PDA. He has a visual on Kiefer Sutherland. Must hurry before Kiefer leaves.

I have been waiting to meet Kiefer to give him a copy of Take Me There with the 24 roof scene marked. And because he rocks my world. Now is my chance.

10:25 p.m. Realize I look hideous. Have been in John Mayer T-shirt and pajama bottoms all day, working.

10:26 p.m. Throw on sweater and jeans. Try to appear presentable. Hair revolts.

10:32 p.m. En route to location. No need to send a chopper.

10:39 p.m. Arrive at location. Checked for weapons and ID at door.

10:41 p.m. CTU conference with SP. I will give Kiefer the book. He will be ready for documentation.

10:43 p.m. Kiefer is outside smoking. Executive decision to wait until he is back within perimeter.

10:48 p.m. Kiefer is a very friendly neighbor. He's also an actual neighbor of mine. Accepts the book. Is awesome.

10:50 p.m.



10:59 p.m. Reflect on brilliance of unplanned reverse color coordination.

Copy that.

Jeremy Piven and I go way back. We're so tight that I just call him Jeremy P. Here we are on Halloween:


I've had love for Jeremy since way back in the day. He was hilarious in Say Anything. I loved him in The Family Man and Serendipity. I always wondered when he'd finally score the golden role and be noticed more. Then came Entourage with Ari Gold. That's called karma.

After his stellar performance in Speed-the-Plow (love David Mamet's dialogue), I showed Jeremy a photo of the two of us taken four years ago after his stellar performance in Fat Pig (love Neil LaBute's twisted world). That was a way different experience, because four years ago it was just me and a few other hard-core fans waiting for Jeremy after the play. This time around involved strategic placement and strong determination to stand out among the throngs of Jeremy P. fans. Jeremy was impressed by the photo. This one girl waiting was all like how Jeremy is her secret boyfriend. I was like, Step back, g. Where were you four years ago?



Raul Esparza and Elisabeth Moss were also excellent. Their best interchange:

"I hope - "
"We all hope. It's what keeps us alive."

Have you heard that Polaroid is the new Brontosaurus?  Polaroid is going to stop making its film and all of those cameras will be obsolete.  You don't have to be a lover of all that is old-school to understand the enormity of this announcement.

My friend Eric Luper eluper recently posted an update on the condition of my Colasanti Tree.  He planted my special tree last summer so I would feel better about turning on the air conditioner when it's mad hot (like, above 90 degrees - temps below that get the fan treatment).  I am happy to report that the Colasanti Tree is thriving!  You rock, Eric.

I'm getting to the end of The O.C. in my Netflix four season marathon, and I have to say that the last season is quite lacking.  I mean, they all end up not in college?  Come on!  Is that really the best those fine writers could rustle up?  It's just hard to accept the demise of this show, what with the totally brill creation of Seth Cohen and all.  I'm going to miss you, Cohen.



Antoine de Saint-Exupery is the author of my all-time fave book, The Little Prince.  One of the most fascinating things about him is that he disappeared into the sky, just like his Little Prince did.  And now, the man who shot him out of the sky during World War II has been identified.  Reason #73,285 why war sucks butt crack.

Holly Black blackholly linked to info about how to fnd a four-leaf clover.  That's hot.

With all the excitement going on around here, I haven't updated you on my Netflix viewing status.  What's going on, you ask?  For starters, I finally scored the #1 ranking on the Dawson's Creek Trivia Challenge.  That's right, friends and neighbors, out of 26,378 players, I am #1.  Well, I was.  For about a day.  And then Chick with Scary Knowledge came back on and knocked me back to #2.  But hey, I was there.  So I printed out that Facebook page for my scrapbook and that was it.  No bells or whistles.  No big honkin prize.  Just another goal I can check off my list. 

I finished watching all seven seasons of Gilmore Girls and absolutely loved it.  The writing is incredible and Lorelai and Rory are the best mother/daughter combo ever.  I was kind of bummed when they dissed Mummenschanz and Garrison Keillor (each twice!) because those are both two of my fave things, but everything else rocked so I had to forgive them.  And I cried at Rory's graduations.  And a whole bunch of other times.  And that tent Luke made in the last ep?  Dude.  Now all I have to do is find most of Lorelai's clothes for my wardrobe and life will be complete.  I so did not want Gilmore Girls to be over.  But nothing gold can stay.

So now I've moved on to the next show on my Netflix queue that I never saw.  I've been hearing from everyone for years that I'd love it and I have to watch it.  My students would come in and just be like, "Mrs. Maguire, this show is totally you."  I'm almost done with the first season and I have to say, I had no idea it was so freaking good.  The best part?  I have two words for you.  Seth Cohen.



Does he not rule?  What an amazing character.  And Adam Brody is totally brill as Seth Cohen.  Apparently, The O.C. was only on for four seasons, which makes me a bit nervous.  Does it start to suck at some point?  I can't imagine how.  I guess this is a good example of living in the moment:  I'll enjoy the good days of The O.C. while they last.  And Chrismukkah.

Your TGIM thought of the day is brought to you by our dirty musical secrets.  Why?  Because when I admit something about how dorky I am, it tends to make other people feel better (i.e. possessing less relative dorkiness).  And if you share something embarrassing with me, then I can have a good laugh on a Monday.  Sweet deal!

So.  Let's get down to our dirty musical secrets.

Mine:  Okay.  Um...I liked New Kids on the Block.  As if that's not mortifying enough, I liked them when I was too old to like them.  I was sixteen and all the other NKOTB fans were like eleven.  But that did not stop me.  I even had their door poster.  And this was my boy:



Yours:  ?

Remember the early days of Grey's Anatomy when Derek kept being dreamy in elevators?  Like this scene from "The First Cut Is the Deepest" in Season 1:

Meredith:  I'm not going out with you.

Derek:  Did I ask you to go out with me?  Do you want to go out with me?

Meredith:  I'm not dating you.  And I'm definitely not sleeping with you again.  You're my boss.

Derek:  I'm your boss's boss.

Meredith:  You're my teacher.  And my teacher's teacher.  And you're my teacher.

Derek:  I'm your sister, I'm your daughter...

Meredith:  You're sexually harassing me.

Derek:  I'm riding an elevator.

Meredith:  Look, I'm drawing a line.  The line is drawn.  There's a big line.

Derek:  So, this line.  Is it imaginary, or do I need to get you a marker?


There's nothing like a good throwback moment.

Your TGIM thought of the day is brought to you by the astounding Meg Cabot megcabot .  Her blog entry totally explains Why Tim Riggins Didn't Ask You Out. 


I knew there was a reason.  Thanks, Meg!

And here's a bit from Gawker's Friday Night Lights and the Stupid People Who Don't Like It.  Nice.

Here are five things.

1.  Everyone knows that it takes me a long time to advance with technology.  it's a flow I appreciate, but don't necessarily go with.  So when my answering machine died suddenly, I went to Best Buy to get a new one.  But wait.  Oh, I'm sorry...did you want a new answering machine?  Gee, that's too bad, because they don't make those anymore.  I mean, they do, but there's only like one and it seems like a  pathetic purchase when everything else is cordless or digital attached to an answering machine.  As I didn't even have a cordless phone (but I did get the special extra-long cord for my vintage phone!), this was a big step.  I went with the digital phone.  And it really does sound clearer than my vintage phone.  I'd just like to know how it holds up in the long-term scheme of things, so if anyone out there has a digital phone, please share your experience.

2.  My current rank in the Facebook Dawson's Creek Trivia Challenge is 6.  Out of 23,595 players.  Must.  Stop.  Playing.  But my thought is this:  As long as I'm getting my work done, I'm allowed to play.  Yeah.  I'll just keep telling myself that.

3.  In response to my recent rant about never running into my people on the streets of NYC, the universe gave me Keri Russell.  I never saw Felicity, but I loved her in Neil LaBute's play Fat Pig with my boy Jeremy Piven.  I was leaving my coffeehouse and she was coming in, being introduced to someone.  She was all, "Hi, I'm Keri," totally sweet and approachable.  Sadly, she's just not one of my people.  Trust me, if it was John Mayer or John Krasinski or Tobey Maguire, this isn't the only place you'd be hearing about how I almost touched his coat or whatever in way too much detail.  I'd totally be renting a billboard about it.  Although I was just in LA, right in this spot, where John is filming his new DVD:



4. I just finished reading Story of a Girl and an advance copy of Sweethearts, both by Sara Zarr (sarazarr).  They're awesome.

5. Being crazy efficient with the holiday shopping this year, I whipped into the Container Store, organization mecca, for a small travel container.  Nothing else.  Here's how weird I am:  I actually felt sad that I didn't have to get any more gift wrapping / bags / bows / tags, since I had the whole place to myself and it would have been some sweet shopping.  But I learned the hard way last year:  Get that silver mylar paper early, because they sell out!

You would think that a person who has never owned a TV would be less interested in watching the Emmy Awards.  But actually, loving The Office, Grey's Anatomy, 24 and The Daily Show the way I do means that this was a big year.  And my good friend and neighbor, Michelle, has a big TV to match.  Hmmm.  You can see detailed info here, but I also have a few things to say.

For example.  What's up with that shot to T. R. Knight when the animation thing (before the host, who was some guy named Ryan something, came on) mentioned the shunned Isaiah Washington?  Hasn't George been through enough?  Especially after not winning tonight (a travesty!).


Anyway.  I was majorly bummed when both The Daily Show and Late Show with David Letterman (which will always be Late Night in my heart) got shot down in a double-whammy effect of what the eff was that?  And not just because when I was a teen I would tape Late Night and watch it the next day after school, recording the Top Ten lists and best lines in my special Late Night notebook.  Dude, I even wore Adidas when everyone else was wearing Keds just because Dave wore them, that's how obsessed I was.


Jeremy Piven absolutely deserved his win (even if it was over Drama).  Ari Gold is totally brill.  And Jeremy is sweet.  When I got my picture taken with him after the Neil LaBute play Fat Pig (before the days of Entourage - my love for Jeremy goes way back), he pressed his cheek right up against my cheek like we were old friends.  He said, "There's love for me in New York."  You got that right.


I'm a big Grey's fan.  So it was hard to accept the fact that they did not win for best drama (of course The Sopranos had to get it, everyone knows this, duh, but it's still hard).  But what was even harder to accept was the personality of Katherine Heigl (thanks for clearing up that pronunciation, by the way)...not exactly shining through.  More like blinding everyone with insensitivity.  Here's a hot tip:  You might want to think before you speak.  Like, when you say, "Even my own mother didn't think I had a chance in hell of winning" when your own mother is sitting right there as your guest, it might come off as...oh, I don't know...insensitive, perhaps?  Especially when your own mother then looks as if she's about to burst into tears as the camera cuts to her while you're rambling on with the rest of your speech.  Oh, and about that speech?  We didn't need to hear that you've been "working [your] ass off for seventeen years."  Sweetie, some people in that room have been working their asses off for seventy years.  Simmer down now.


Kiefer Sutherland:  always a gentleman, looking sharp, 24 theme playing all officially in the background, still not winning for best lead actor in a drama.  My conclusion:  that sucks.  Here's what should have happened with that:


In a fabulous moment of synergy, Steve Carell presented for best variety show and The Daily Show finally won!   Yay!  Jon Stewart is so hot that it didn't even matter when he gave his speech with some lipstick on his lip.  You go, Jon.  Work it!  Own it!


In an even more thrilling moment (if you can believe that), Steve Carell ran onto the stage when Jon Stewart called him up to accept the best lead actor in a comedy award, which he completely deserved.  Way to stick it to the man (the man, in this case, being some lame dude who won and wasn't even there).  In other news of The Office, shout-out to Greg Daniels who won for writing an amazing ep.  And in a most excellent Dwight Schrute style competition, Rainn Wilson battled Kanye West and beat his butt to a pulp.  That's how long I been on ya, nephew!  But when both The Office and Entourage lost in the best comedy smackdown, I had to call it a night.  There's just no excuse for that kind of inappropriate behavior.