finally

i have a new guitar.

no stickers.  i still love my old guitar.

but i have a reeeeaaaaal acoustic guitar now.  all wood.  american...beautiful.

after 20 years of playing.

she's a happy edition to the family.

M

Bleeeding Love!

Goodness this was so much fun to do!

Thousands of babies are born every day BUT...

ONLY ONE OF THEM IS MY NIECE!


Congrats to Denise and Nicholas Indeglio for welcoming Isabella Marie Indeglio into the world at 11:36am on 6/12/08. A baby who will no doubt, be smarter than all of us in about 3-6 months. Kids these days.

I won't post the earliest photos...since, like all just-born-seconds-ago children, she resembles a slimy vegetable of sorts. Let's wait till they clean the tyke up before snapping photos for Pete's Sake...that girl's boyfriend will see this pics some day! Or, girlfriend if she's so inclined... we here at the Indeglio compound practice tolerance for all lifestyles. So long as he or she IS RICHHHHHHHHHH!!!!! MWAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE BEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!

Mosal Tov or "Good God, I'm Old."

Journeying down the path of growing up, there are plenty of unmistakable landmarks along the way. I hit each one with a pretty resounding thud. Let's take a look.

12/13--The first real date with a girl!: My best friend Ron and I had our ladies...the lovely Marie and Jillian. We had gotten Ron's mom to agree to drop us off at Beauty and the Beast at the King of Prussia Queen Theatre. From there...we could only assume lots of lovin, romance and (fingers crossed,) early pubescent horndiggery would ensue.

Unfortunately...Ron's mom decided to stick around like four rows behind us...BUZZKILL. Not to mention about three to four minutes into the movie...Jillian decided to get up...and walk around to sit next to Marie, leaving me colder than a freezer-burned Ice Cream Treat. Apparently--there was plenty she wouldn't do for a Klondike Bar.

16--Getting a licence and a car.: This couldn't fail...I had my permit, was damn ready for that license. It was on!! Plus my dad promised me the shiny white Chevy Lumina in the driveway.

Well, I got the license and the Lumina. Unfortunately the night I got my license I drove my friends to New Jersey to go to Six Flags...but got pulled over for going a bit to speedy by the toll plaza. Oh, sorry officer, I didn't know that I couldn't leave the state of Pennsylvania for 2 months on a Junior License. So I can't drive for the next two months...that's a bummer. Even worse...that morning my mom had left a box of tomatoes in the trunk. And since I didn't use the car for the next two months, those very tomatoes rotted in the that trunk. So when I DID get to drive again...you can only imagine the hell that was the smell of my Chevy Lumina. Man.

18--The Right to Vote.: Al Gore V. George Bush. You do the math.

21--Get into a bar, get drunk.: Man, how could this one go wrong? Well...I'll admit, a few days after my birthday I did have a lovely dinner with friends Jason Blaine and Kalin Rae. But on the actual night... I was alone in New York City--no money, not even enough to pay for a payphone call to my family, let alone a drink. But I wondered into a dive bar on the UWS...and a 'nice' bartender named 'Danny' was nice enough to give me a 'drink' that made my eyeballs bleed. "Happy Birthday, kid." Not only that...but I saw a commercial for Garden State Brickface & Stucco--the company my father used to run before he passed away...a chilling reminder that I was, in fact, alone that night.

25--I can rent a car!!--But I can't afford it or the insurance.

So...there we have it. You can't exactly call my pit stops on the road of life remarkable. But, apparently there was one left for me...

27.5--My first Bar Mitzvah!: I guess I never had Jewish friends growing up...because this past Saturday was my first jam with the Jews. Russell Goetz turned 13 and passed into manhood--not so subtly proving to me that I HAVE NEVER HAD A BIRTHDAY PARTY. Sure, I've had cupcakes and candles. Sure, I even once had streamers and an ice cream cake. But I HAVE NEVER HAD A BIRTHDAY PARTY.

We strolled into the Long Island Yacht club and were slammed face to face with the open bar handing us rum punch and beef steak ordervs until we couldn't carry anymore. The children, we were informed would be back in an hour or so--as they were currently enjoying a chartered cruise around the bay. So we ate...and ate and waited while a 6 piece Reggae band jammed some Bob Marley.

Finally the 'kids' returned all decked out in gowns that would have paid my rent for sure. We were ushered into an even MORE GLAMOROUS ballroom where a 12 piece band accompanied by 6 professional dancers were rocking the house harder that Kid & Play did back in the 90's. This place was jumpin. There were nicely ornamented tables for the adult guests...complete with freshly planted grass (oh yes.) ---and for the 'kids' there was a roped off VIP section with back lit tables in neon light...and a clear and defined sense that we, grownups were not to cross the line into that section.

Video games lined the walls...along with a license plate making station...a wire sculpture artist...and the music...the JAMMING BAND AND THE MUSIC.

There was candle lighting...toasting...speaches...and then dinner.
Oh wait...not dinner yet.

I forgot that the Harlem Globe trotters had to perform.

Yes, you heard me correctly. The Harlem Globe Trotters came out and dunked, dinked and performed for us all, making Russell and honorary member. Then Dinner.

Oh wait...not dinner yet.

I forgot that there was a video presentation.
A presentation which was budgeted equally with Scorsese's latest. It had effects...cameos...and a mockumentary E! true Hollywood story culminating in green-screening Russell INTO AN EPISODE OF AMERICAN IDOL...COMPLETE WITH FULL MUSIC VIDEO. It was...nothing short of amazing.

Then...dinner.
ABSOLUTELY STUNNING. SOOOOOOOooooooo Good. Topped with an individual dessert tray for EACH table.
I gained 36 pounds.

We finally had to leave at 11:45 cause we just couldn't take it. These 13 year olds danced and partied us under the table.
So, we old foggies had to leave the Harlem Globe Trotters, the 6 dancers, the 12 piece band to party until the wee hours--as I asked the valet to usher my 99 Accord with the bumper falling off back to the front.

So there it is... a reminder that I'm old...AND all my birthday parties have sucked. At least I got to ATTEND that party. Too bad Ricky and I got lost on the way home and had to go AROUND Brooklyn...clocking in at an almost 2 hour drive.

At least the car didn't reak of tomatoes.

Plaid Me!

Well...this will be another summer with the Forever Plaid gang. I mean the fictional gang as this is an ALL NEW CAST (well as far as I'm concerned.)

It is very exciting to get to explore this show I care about so much with a new group of guys. Find new moments, build new relationships.

It also is giving me a chance to go down to Tampa because the show is at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center. Which, by all accounts is beeeeeeeeautiful. What a way to spend a summer I say.

I few friends have asked me why I do the same show multiple times...what is it about Plaid?
Well...all I can say is that it is by far the most fun I have ever had on stage...every time I do it. I've been doing this show off and on since 2003--and it is always a blast.

Unlike most shows...there is no 4th wall. The audience is an integral part of the show. So depending on what night...who's there...the size of the venue...the energy of the cast...the show is different...the Plaids develop differently, and it's never stagnant.

I've got to see the show from multiple roles...from playing various characters...to directing...to swinging...to just seeing other people's productions. I love Plaid.

It's treated me well. Employed me when I've been broke--taught me how to be a selfless, team oriented actor--and renewed my faith in the magic of theatre every time I've started to lose it.

If I have my way--I'll be involved with this show in some capacity for the rest of my career.

Of course...this summer will also see the birth of my niece...and I'm super pumped about that too. Hopefully when I get back in August, I'll have some great time with her...then its back to NYC to get the big time stuff happening...I believe I can!

Okay, see ya'll down in Tampa!

M

Dad.

My father passed away 7 years ago today.  7 years.

Man...time just doesn't slow down does it.  It just marches on and on.

Well, here is to a great father...

This summer, little Isabella Indeglio enters the world...and I hope that my brother is a great dad to her; Tina and I great Aunt and Uncle...we have to tell her all the stories of grandpop daddy joe.  He taught us the importance of family.  One of the greatest lessons I ever learned.

I only hope that he's looking down with a smile.  Preferably a smile with his teeth in...

Love ya dad.

Cometh the summer, or "Here is what's left."

Well...that's it folks. My last few cents, and my Metrocard. It's all that's left. Every once and awhile you find yourself busted. I haven't been absolutely broke since I was 21, but here I am on the brink of 28 with NADA. 

I mean...I'll cover my bills...and there is some flow on the way. But as of right this moment on a beautiful Wednesday in May...it's all a wash for me.

It's a badge of honor for us starving actors. We go in spurts...a great gig with good money...to a shell of a human...gasping for financial air, and a touch of humanity---maybe even a job. But we're stronger for it...wiser.

How long do you continue though. How many calls and callbacks for that dream-job until you get it--or decide to walk away?
I don't know the answer.

This summer...my family grows...a niece on the way... I'll miss it because I'll be in Sunny Tampa being a Forever Plaidian again... "but it's what I do..." I argue with myself.

But how long?I want a steady gig.
I want that one job that says--"I've done it...I've reached my dream...now I can rest."

I want it so bad. And I believe it will come. The doors are there and open...time to try and jump through.

So please....cross your fingers with me...believe with me...and I'll believe for all of you.

Peace,
M