Canceled

I like “cancelled” better than “canceled” but apparently, the latter is the preferred spelling in the U.S.

I have a lot of work that needs to be done at the office.  This doesn’t mean that I stay motivated for all 8 hours of my workday, but it does mean that I can’t skip out of work at 4pm or even 5pm.  (My office has flex schedule where you can leave as early as 3:30pm as long as you work 40 hours.)  Earliest open mics start around 4pm, but I haven’t made it to those in a while.  Today, I was trying to make it to the 7pm open mic at Tagine Dining Gallery (same location as before, different mic with different host).  I had to rush out of my office, rush to make the train, and then speed walk from Penn Station to 40th St. & 9th Ave., where Tagine is located.  Speed walking takes me about 15 minutes, but I was still 5 minutes late.  After all this, what do I find?  Speed dating.  Open mic had been canceled.  Deflated.  Man, trip into New York for nothing.  I couldn’t remember any open mics in Manhattan starting around that time, so I just went home.

I have to go home one weekday per week to spend time with my wife (other four days, she works late).  This means I am free to do my comedy the other four nights.  However, I haven’t done comedy all four nights yet – usually I decide to run errands, or meet up with friends.  I was going for that perfect four-night week this week, but now I’ll have to settle for a three-night week after tomorrow night, which is another issue at the moment…

Forecast calls for heavy snow beginning tomorrow night.  I’d usually go home, but I have already been booked into an open mic that takes place on first Friday of each month.  This is my first time at this mic, and I’d rather not cancel.  I guess I’ll play it by ear tomorrow, and cancel if I have to.

New York Diet

As I mentioned, I have a spare tire that I’d like to get rid of.  However, I do not have that much time due to my comedy career and my studies.  A couple of weeks ago, I decided on a diet plan, which I just named, New York Diet.  It’s simple, really.  I’d eat in the late afternoon or early evening at the office.  Then I go to New York to do my open mics.  I may have a beer if there is a minimum drink requirement, but I would not get any food.  And when I get home, go to sleep immediately, without eating.

Well, today, I was at Tagine Dining Gallery for their open mic.  On my walk over to Port Authority to take the bus home, I found a pizza shop that was charging $1 per slice.  In New York!  Tax included!  I couldn’t pass it up, and as I was enjoying a pretty good pizza, I noticed that nothing on their menu costs over $2, including arroz con pollo and pasta.  I also had a serving of rice and beans for another $1.  This place will throw a wrench into my plan, because part of my motivation for doing this is to save money – open mic career can easily cost over $10 per day, which would be $100 ~ $150 per month at my current frequency.  But if I can eat so cheap… I just may eat more.