Mind. Terrible thing. Waste. Yadda Yadda.

On a courtesy bus to go to just above the Bronx to film a TV show.

The production assistant is checking to make sure who's on the bus so far.  Apologizes in advance if he messes up any names. Which he does. Many times. Gets to my name.

"Jeff Snerry?"
"Do you mean Jeff Siperly?"
He then looks at list again and says "Jeff Spierly."
"It's Jeff Siperly and I'm here."
"I told you I was going to mess up names. Sorry about that. Mom told me to go to college. I should have listened." and laughs.

Um, reading (and sounding out letters)

was taught in elementary school.

I'm the waiter - at 22 seconds

This played on ESPN First Take June 13, 2012

My first commercial gig!! And I got paid! And I got some serious face time!!


Having a "feeling-really-good-about-me" day. Only because of having many recent years feeling anti-me. Lost the old Jeff. It feels like I'm finally getting my stuff together. This acting thing might actually work out for me. 


Fingers crossed.


PS - To get a better understanding of above here is what the commercial is spoofing.

Toot Toot, Beep Beep, RIP

Just woke up from a much-needed nap to another RIP - Miss Donna Summer. Waaaahh!!


1) Saw her 2 summers ago performing here in Brooklyn. In spite of the trashy, are-you-really-fighting-in-public-while-Donna-Summer-is-singing public (of course this what happens when concerts are free) she put on a great show. Voice was in fine form. While I had most of her greatest hits already on mp3s already, immediately bought up 4 of her songs from Crayons on iTunes upon arriving home.

2) 7th grade. I was in a church youth group. We were on an outing in December to I forget where (I'm thinking it was a street in Pennsylvania (?) with elaborate Christmas decorations) but it was raining so we went to a mall instead. Everybody else is buying clothing, jewelry from Claire's and who knows what else. Me, I had to feed my addiction of music. Everyone's showing their purchases to the youth group leader. As usual, quiet me is last. I first pull out a little wooden plaque describing what the attributes of a Taurus is. Oops. Apparently a Non-Denominational Christian isn't to be believe in astrology. Um, okay. So, what else dod I have in my bag? Ahhhh.. Donna Summer's Bad Girls album. The one with DS as a hooker on the front and assorted other hookers on the front and back. Ooh, did I get chastised on that bus. Non-Denominational Christians really don't approve of this. And I should tell my parents when I get home of what I did and then destroy the record.


Whether I just didn't understand or the fact I really have never cared for authority telling me how to live my life I went home and played the hell out of that album. Excuse me, double album! Hot stuff, indeed! Oh, and I told my parents as well and my mom, being a lover of good music played the hell out of that album as well. 


That's all. Just 2 great memories of a great singer. I shall dim all the lights but there will be no more tears.

You will be missed. 

In the Shallow Pool with: The Bob Newhart Show

• Another show I watched pretty much faithfully as a child, which I now question why. Didn't find it as funny this go-around.

• Bob Newhart's acting was subpar. Or maybe I just found his character unlikeable after all these years.

• Why in the hell was Emily (Suzanne Pleshette) married to Bob? He always had this superiority complex. Also came across as having a permanent stick up his ass.

• Love the theme song. One of my top 10 faves.

• Would have been a very happy camper living in both apartments but preferred the one they occupied the first 5 seasons.

• Didn't care for most of their furniture, except for their bookshelves and wall units.

• Jerry (the dentist) was a weak character and got probably the worst lines of the show.

• Howard Borden (next door neighbor) on the other hand, was a really funny character. Well played by Bill Daily. Knew how to play dumb/aloof perfectly. I aspire to be like him.

• When I was young I had a thing for Suzanne Pleshette/Emily. Loved her voice. Now? I realize it was a serious smoker's voice going on which is soooo not attractive or sexy. An almost Eillen Heckart quality to it. IMDB'd to see how she died. Surprise, surprise: Respiratory failure as a result of lung cancer. Ugh. Still loved the character of Emily, though.

That's all I have... on to the last season of The Mary Tyler Moore Show

In the Shallow Pool with: Anna Karenina

• This book was 819 pages. Could have been 600, if that.

• Never have I read a book that made me so angry. So I guess it was a good book.

• I pretty much hated everyone.

• This story would have been a lot different if Zoloft was readily available back then.

• I have reached my capacity of hearing the word “magnanimous/magnanimity” in my lifetime.

• The book's called Anna Karenina. Not Levin. Get rid of Part 8. Or cut it down by 20 pages.

• I couldn't wait for Anna to die. Was let down that other characters didn't die as well.

• It seemed like the majority of characters were always blushing. Even the men. I'd say that was gay but that's not PC. Oh screw it, it was gay.

• The characters were always pitying each other. That shit got old really fast.

• Don't tell me in the introduction that Anna's going to kill herself. Not everyone knows the story.

• I can't wait to see a film version of this. Will be interesting to hear the dialogue spoken without the venom I was reading it with. Although I really don't see Keira Knightly as Anna. Too damn skinny.

• I felt no compassion for Anna at any point in the book. Woman, YOU had the affair. Yeah, Vronsky pursued you but you could have said No! Of course people are going to look down at you.

• Reading about rich people (high society folk) makes me sick.

• I'm glad I wasn't around during this time. Really glad I wasn't a woman during this time.

• I hate that I identified with Anna in some ways. That kind of disturbs me.

That's all I have... now on to Madame Bovary.

This should stop me from dying

Doing this in place of writing anything. Just thought it was interesting.

Current TV recently broadcast over 5 weeks the top 50 Documentaries To See Before You Die. I wish they spent more time on each documentary but I guess that's how list shows go anyway. Never enough.

The top 50 are as follows:

50. Spellbound (2002)
 - loved it, but then again I love spelling. Geek.

49. Truth or Dare (1991)
 - love her music, can't stand her as a person

48. The Kid Stays in the Picture (2002)


47. One Day in September (1999)


46. Little Dieter Needs to Fly (1998)


45. The Decline of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years (1988)
 - up in the air about seeing this. Already have seen Rock of Love on VH1

44. Burma VJ (2008)


43. When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts (2006)


42. Catfish (2010)
 - this I loved! Went in thinking it was going to be a horror film! NIce surprise!

41. The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters (2007)
 - the main character is/was an ass

40. When We Were Kings (1996)
 - hate boxing

39. Biggie & Tupac (2002)
 - hate thug rap anyway

38. March of the Penguins (2005)
 - so freakin' cute, sad, awe-inspiring

37. Inside Job (2010)


36. Taxi to the Dark Side (2007)


35. Paragraph 175 (2000)
 - sad

34. Brother’s Keeper (1992)


33. Tongues Untied (1989)


32. Dogtown and Z-Boys (2001)


31. Jesus Camp (2006)
 - scary mind-control

30. Fahrenheit 9/11 (2004)
 - MIchael Moore can do no wrong in my book

29. Man on Wire (2008)
 - even with my fear of heights

28. Gasland (2010)


27. Tarnation (2003)
 - freak

26. Murderball (2005)


25. Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room (2005)


24. Paradise Lost: The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills (1996)


23. The Eyes of Tammy Faye (2000)
 - love me some Tammy Faye

22. Shut Up & Sing (2006)
 - eh, I read enough through the whole debacle

21. Exit Through the Gift Shop (2010)
 - the guys sounds like an ass from the trailer

20. Capturing the Friedmans (2003)
 - loved it! Creepy but love character pieces like this.

19. Touching the Void (2003)


18. Food, Inc. (2008)
 - and still I'm a carnivore

17. Street Fight (2005)


16. Bus 174 (2002)


15. Crumb (1994)


14. Dark Days (2000)


13. The Fog of War (2003)


12. Bowling for Columbine (2002) - another Michael Moore masterpiece

11. Paris Is Burning (1991)
 - have seen it a few times

10. Grizzly Man (2005) - guy's a freak

9. Trouble the Water (2008)


8. An Inconvenient Truth (2006)
 - mentally drained after seeing this a few weeks ago

7. The Celluloid Closet (1995)
 - surprised I haven't seen this yet

6. The War Room (1993)


5. Supersize Me (2004)
 - love me some Morgan Spurlock. And love me some McDonalds

4. Waltz With Bashir (2008)


3. Roger & Me (1989)
 - Seriously, it's Michael Moore

2. The Thin Blue Line (1988)


1. Hoop Dreams (1994) - yet I hate basketball

Key:

Want to see Don't want to see Have seen

Traditional: Aluminum / Modern: Diamond Jewelry / Me: Bacon

May 2001

I was at my old job on hold with Verizon. That's what one does as office manager. Get problems solved. Listening to some screechy muzak. Decided I'll go on to Planetout.com and peruse the new ads. I come across this photo (image to the left is not the actual picture but damn near close) of the CUTEST – hell, maybe even the HANDSOMEST – guy I've seen in a long time. That smile I'd kill for. Those beautiful big brown eyes. He's moving here (to DC) straight outta college. Crap, that means he's young. Like, really young. Oh well, I'll still be nice and write him to say hello. I'm good like that.

I tell him first and foremost I am in NO WAY hitting on him... way too old. But if he needs any help getting acclimated to DC I've lived here a while so could show him around. Not sure if he knows anyone here but just putting it out there. Again, I'm NOT hitting on him. But yeah, you are a really, really good looking guy. Send. Good lord I'm a freak.

I get a response. I don't remember it exactly BUT it was positive for we spoke on the phone for a couple of weeks. Loved talking to him but that could have just been the getting-to know-you-getting-to know-all-about-you newness. Nope, I really liked talking to him. Simmer down, Jeff. Made plans to meet soon when he'd come down from New Jersey to go apartment hunting. Cool. I'll be here. “Indifference”

The day came to meet and I was a mess. Why? We were just meeting to say hello. No more, no less. Set up a time to meet. Okay, I'll there. Oops, I wasn't there. I'm coming, I'm coming. Oh wait, I haven't even left the house yet. Nerves were getting the best of me. I'm looking at the clock on my wall. I should have been in Dupont 5 minutes yet here I am still at home, in Capitol Hill. Get yourself together, Jeff.. he's just a guy. I leave.

Walk down the street towards the coffee internet place and there he is. My god.. he's really attractive. Apologize profusely. Internally thinking, dude, you should have just left. I'm a freak. Not wrapped too tight. Instead he just smiles (THAT SMILE!!!!) and says all is forgiven. Maybe he sees the fear and trepidation radiating off of me. Oh well. Since this isn't a date we head into JRs to hang and drink and talk. I thought I was gonna talk. What is it about this guy that's making me all discombobulated. Very rarely have a hard time talking to guys. I'm sucking at the small talk but dammit I will not bring up the weather. Whew.. Faygele Feud's going on which means more viewing, less chit-chat. Again, whew! I am enjoying myself though.

So, it's time to head home. Work in the morning. Umm.. not sure what you're plans are but you could stay at my place. I'm pretty sure he immediately says yes. Free lodging for the night, of course he does. Next challenge: he drives so I have to get him from JRs to Capitol Hill with my extensive knowledge of directions. I'm being facetious. I get lost coming in and out of buildings. I could go into a building for a second, come out and forget which way from whence I came. Dork. Oh well, we'll be jolly good friends. Not like this was a date anyway. Just some older guy helping out when he can. I'm certain this will be the last I see of him anyway. Not really coming across as well-adjusted. Referring to me of course. I mean I think I'm cute and all but hell, I sometimes get tired of hanging around my dimwitted self. Well, someone was looking out for me because we managed to get to my place in a relatively short time. And I haven't been thrown out of the car.

For not hardly talking earlier in the evening I'm making up for lost time between getting out of the car and getting to the door. I'm pretty sure I manage to reveal absolutely little thing wrong with the apartment. Seriously, Jeff, shut the hell up. The apartment was clean and it really wasn't in bad shape. In my head I think I lived in Jed Clampett's old place.

Well, we hang out.. watch some TV. Yeah, the madness of TV watching started early. I'm comfortable and all I know is I want to kiss this guy. So I do it. It's reciprocated. Veddy nice. Veddy nice. Making out goes on for some time. Now it's late and I really do have to get to bed. Work comes early. So we go to bed. To sleep. Well, some more kissing first. Zzzzzzz. Snore.

I wake up and decide to run down 2-3 blocks away and get some doughnuts at the 7-11 for this guy I just met. Again, I'm good like that. Leave them on the nightstand and leave a note telling him he can stay there today as long as he needs to. I almost write thanking him for not killing me. But I wise up. I almost write thanking him for not robbing me while I'm at work. But I wise up. Don't want to put any ideas in his head. Plus, I look around – what in the hell is there to steal? My 1,700 music cassettes? I'm off to work.

I'm guessing that was a date after all. Our third date? Home Depot. I need some stuff to take care of the kitchen. I don't drive. He did. Would he be so kind? I'm sure I didn't say it like that but damn near close.

He's done his apartment-hunting and heads back to New Jersey. I'm thinking, I really really really like this guy. And I really want to get to know everything about him. And I want to start sharing experiences with him. Soooooo... I break it off with the other 2 guys I was seeing at the time. They weren't serious bf material – both less than a month. I knew this once I met Dan. Not saying Dan was “the one” (yet) but I knew they weren't.

A week or so later I broke it to him. I let him know I was very much into him and had no desire to see anyone else. Wouldn't ask that of him but just putting it out there that that's where I stood. He felt the same. Woo hoo!!!

And THAT was 10 years ago today. Wow. I won't deny we've had our ups and downs – maybe even broke up 2-3 times at the beginning. He had his issues, of course, but I'm a true nutcase. He also loves to make me aware, from time to time, that he “gave me his 20's.” Of which I'll forever be grateful. But unlike anyone I've ever known I love this guy so much. Truly my best friend. I'm enjoying growing old(er) with him. I could go on and on but don't wanna get too sappy. We hate sappy. Just keep in mind that the day NY gays are allowed to get married I want to go there with you, Dan. You know our wedding would kick non-conventional ass. :)

Happy 10^th Mister Calamari!!! xoxoxo