Stay Alive

I love horror films but rarely go see them anymore because they are never any good. The days of Freddy, Jason and Michael are gone. And even when they return to the screen it's not so great. Tonight I saw "Stay Alive". I went into it with low expectations and I think for that reason I was pleasently entertained. I giggled and chortled at the movie the whole way through but all and all it wasn't that bad. kind of a take off of the whole "Ring" concept but never the less it was a decent idea and of course it cleverly left it open for a "Stay Alive-2". But I dont know if I liked it enough to say i will indulge in that.....

Anyone seen "Final Destination 3"??? Ha!

Below is a synopsis is you are interested:
After the mysterious brutal death of an old friend, a group of teenagers find themselves in possession of 'Stay Alive,' a next generation horror survival videogame based on the spine-chilling true story of a 17th century noblewoman known as The Blood Countess. The gamers don't know anything about the game other than they're not supposed to have it and they're dying to play it. Not able to resist temptation, the group begins to play the grisly game and soon a chilling connection is made –- they are each being murdered one-by-one in the same method as the character they played in the game. As the line between the game world and the real world disappears, the group must find a way to defeat the vicious and merciless Blood Countess, all the while trying to 'STAY ALIVE.

Easton, PA

I would like to announce the engagement of Dustin Harder and Dawn Difranco....Just kidding. But seriously, wouldn't make a great engagement picture? Dawn and I were very excited about this picture because we have a habit of taking pictures where either one or both of us looks a little "downsy" or like we forgot a picture was taken so here it is....The first good picture of Dustin and Dawn.

I am playing in Syracuse, NY this week but my roomie Doc and I went to visit our friend Dawn in Easton, PA the last couple days as she was there with her show "Clifford the Big Red Dog Live!". She is the company manager and manages a bunch of Canadians on this U.S. tour and she is fabulous at it! We also got to see our friend Chris Harper and he didn't fall asleep on us, some of you will understand that.

We got there Monday and went to dinner at Don Pablo's where we had a maragrita and then realized it was to late to buy any wine in PA. So what did we do?? We crossed the border and went to New Jersey...we had nothing else to do. We got back to the hotel, each had a glass of wine and went to bed.

The next day we had plans to go check out the crayola factory but we skipped out on it. Instead we had lunch at the Red Robin and this place is ridiculous. I walk in to the statue of liberty holding a torch with no lie....a cheeseburger as the flame. I have never been to this restaurant, what the hell is wrong with our country when any corporate whatever can just crap on the lady liberty like that? ridiculous. And...america is fat and this place allows endless refills on fries. I had a delicious tuna sandwich with french onion soup. To be fare, the sandwich was delicious but this restaurant is disgusting.

Then we went and saw "V for Vendetta". Dawn and I like to go to movies and get a big popcorn, no butter, and diet cokes. So we took a picture of us with our goodies. As you can tell by the picture-I'm the actor. The movie was pretty good. I'm sure those of you that see it will either love it or hate it. I wanna see it again. I think I might really like it but I'm not positive yet. Natalie Portman was awesome and the violence was awesome as well and I never say that about violence but they way it was filmed was great. See...I think I REALLY liked it, I shall watch it again.

Next Chris and Dawn shop for "Clifford the Big Red Dog".

Then dinner at "Carrabba's". I had been here twice before and loved it both times. We all had an extremely tasty glass of sangria and I myself had the Rigatoni Martino...penne pasta, mushrooms, chicken, scallions and sundried tomatoes in a creamy tomato sauce....sssssooooo good.

Then we went back to the hotel and I met some of thee cast and crew of "clifford". They we're all deliciously canadian and sweet and willing to tell me all aboot themselves and weren't sourry for a thing. We had some wine and some laughs and I got an invasive hug from Steph the "mess" canadia. "Mess" being used in a good way here. She was very sweet but has this strange hug thing she does which is intended to freak out any unsuspecting stranger but it has a sexual approach and Dawn should have known better to send this girl to me with this...I turned it on her pronto and had her screaming and running from me. I'm just good like that.

I had to leave Dawn this morning. I'm still sad. But I have to say, I love driving in PA on a sunny day. I have maybe 5 or 6 times in my life (driven through PA) and each time it makes me smile. So I got to see Dawn who I adore and on both the drive there and the way back to Syracuse it was gorgeous out AND Doc let me play DJ with his iPod. Loves it!

Have you ever eaten at a Red Robin? What do you think?

Rocky Horror Picture Show Audience Participation

People of all sorts have been attending The Rocky Horror Picture Show Audience Participation (RHPS) for years. The film was first released in 1975 and flopped. Then went on later to play as an experiment at Midnight at the Waverly Theatre in Greenwich Village in 1977. The film grew more popular through the midnight showings every saturday. to warm the crowd up the owner of the theatre used to play the album before the film. At some point a couple crazy kids got up before the show and started lip-synching and doing the moves from the movie along with the soundtrack. During the showing of the film certain things started to be shouted out at the characters in the movie and were repeated week after week. This created the RHPS Audience Participation. Later came the addition of props as well. And eventually an entire cast would take the stage and act out the movie step by step as it was happening in front of you. So your film going experience just became a live audience participation experience. This still happens to this day all across the country.

I finally went to my first RHPS audience participation and it blew. I have been scared to go for years because people throw shit and yell things and it just gets crazy. But i finally went and it was so lacking the actual spirit of it all. Nobody dressed up like the characters. Nobody brought props. They were supposed to sell prop bags but they didn't. The volume of the movie was extremly low. The cast wasn't as dedicated as I felt the should have been to executing the moves of the great Tim Curry and fellow cast mates. All and all a major dissapointment. I'm now on a mission to find a good one before my tour is over. Anyone know where a good one is?

Have you ever gone to RHPS audience participation?

Deleware

Deleware...seriously? I dont care if I offend anyone but why does this state exist? I dont like it here one bit.And it's SO small, just like Maryland. Why didnt they just make Maryland and Deleware part of the Virginias or Pennsylvania or something? All the roads are highways and all the highways are roads....it's one confusing mess. And the people are strange. There is this rite aid sort of CVSish store called Happy Harry's and the people are just weird. I tried to get a picture o f this one particularly strange lady but she moved to fast and as I was about to take the picture I suddenly felt guilty...hm. i dont like Deleware. One the up side!!! There is NO sales tax on anything, thats brilliant.

What's an up side about where you are?

Susan Tedeschi-Hope and Desire

Below I will post an actuall editorial review but first I will give my 2 cents. I love Susna Tedeschi, was introduced to her by my good friend Tara Bomba long time ago. I dont keep up on her but Paul copied this one, her latest , for me. I love it. My fav's are track 4)tired of my tears 7)sweet forgivness and 8) security....but I've only listened to it a few times-This could change! Pick this Cd up for some GOOD music and an amazing voice!

What CD is in yall's heads these days?

The sweet, husky mix of sugar and sandpaper in two-time Grammy nominee Susan Tedeschi's voice breathes sultry life into the art of classic soul singing on Hope and Desire, her fourth album. It's somewhat disappointing that she's chosen to defer her own songwriting in favor of classics and obscurities by Ray Charles ("Tired of My Tears"), Dylan ("Lord Protect My Child"), the Rolling Stones ("You Got the Silver"), and others. She's also left her guitar at home, assigning the exceptional playing to Clapton sideman Doyle Bramhall, Jr., and her husband, the Allman Brothers' Derek Trucks. But it's thrilling how Tedeschi applies her gospel-trained vocalizing to these 12 numbers, all tales of hope and desire, delivered at an unhurried pace so the delicate filigrees of her phrasing make them resonate with absolute emotional conviction. By the time the album closes with the gut-bucket blues "The Dangerzone," Teseschi's easily made the case for her third Grammy nod. --Ted Drozdowski

Health valley Heart Wise

This week we have kitchens at the hotel. Basic stuff...big fridge, stove top, microwave etc. I decided I was gonna give a go at eating healthy this week. It's wednesday and despite my rampage through my luggage last night to find that one last packet of easy mac at 2:00 in the morning....I'm doing okay. I have a green pepper, onion and mushroom omelette in the morning, turkey sandwich for lunch, chicken salad for dinner and sometimes for a snack I have a nice little bowl of cereal. I know thats not really a snack but trust me...with the decent way I am eating this is a snack! It's "healthy" cereal...It's called Healthy Valley Heart Wise and it's supposed to be all good for you and stuff but....do you ever fiund yourself shoveling your cereal in your mouth because you can tell that it is getting soggy and soggier by the second? Soggy cereal to me is nasty and while this Heart Wise is both delicious and healthy....it gets soggy when I just get the milk out of the fridge. Yuk!

My favorite cereal is cinnamon toast crunch.

What is everyone's favorite cereal?

Congratulations!

Congratulations to my cousins Jenny and Jason Barnstable!!!

This morning they gave birth to

Benjamin Ralph Barnstable

8lb 8oz...20 & 3/4 inches in length yo!

There once was a blank from nantucket....

I was once obsessed with a show and if i haven't tried to get you to watch it at one time or another I must not like you...or had the apropriate time to show it to you. I'm still obsessed and all but it only had three seasons and I have worn my DVD's out man. I'm telling you! The main character is Jerri Blank played by the amazingly funny Amy Sedaris...also David's sister yo....I seriously would love to have lunch with that family. Anyway, the movie has been slated for release for over a year and keeps getting pushed and pushed and pushed back. I'm scared! I want this movie to happen real real bad. Once again...a copied synopsis follows:

The cult-favorite television series which offered a fun-house version of '70s "after-school specials" returns in this big-screen prequel to the show Strangers With Candy. Middle-aged ex-prostitute, former drug addict and all-around lowlife Jerri Blank (Amy Sedaris) emerges from prison at the age of 46 ready to start her life over again. Jerri arrives at her parents' home to discover that her father Guy (Dan Hedaya) divorced Jerri's mom and remarried before slipping into a coma. Jerri's stepmom Sara (Deborah Rush) decides to let her stay with the family in the hope her presence might bring Guy around, though she doesn't seem very fond of her new "daughter." Jerri decides to complete the education she abandoned years ago by enrolling at Flatpoint High School, where Principal Blackman (Greg Hollimon) has bigger fish to fry than a middle-aged sex offender as a student. It seems Flatpoint's science scores have been dreadful, and only a first-place entry in the county science fair will maintain the school's accreditation. Science fair guru Roger Beekman (Matthew Broderick) is brought in with hopes of creating a winning project, but science teacher Mr. Noblet (Stephen Colbert) objects to using outside talent and starts a separate team of his own, bringing in Jerri to give her something to do. As it happens, Noblet's team comes up with a potential prize-winner with their Soup Can Superconductor, while Beekman foolishly accepts the help of art teacher Mr. Jellineck (Paul Dinello) and ends up with a dance routine instead of a science presentation. Determined to win out over Noblet's team, Beekman tries to get his hand on the plans for Noblet's project by convincing handsome Brason (Chris Pratt) to charm them away from weak-willed Jerri. Strangers With Candy also features cameo appearances from Philip Seymour Hoffman, Allison Janney, Ian Holm, and Kristen Johnston.

Dirty Love

So a few weeks ago my friend Brian and I rented a movie when I was home in Michigan. The movie is "Dirty Love" and while I dont completly love it, it has now been purchased and thrives in my collection. The first thing I love is how Jenny McCarthy is so freaking beautiful and she will laugh at herself and make fun of herself and do disqusting things-It makes it even more fun! Then there is Carmen Elektra in this movie thinking she is all black and shit...I love it! Then the other girl...her name is Kam something, I think she was the girl in the movie "Trick" that says "What the hell is a whifenpoof"? She is just fun because she is dumn. Is it a must see?? NO. Is it a bored and I want something to make me laugh some...yes. People always ask me to summarize and stuff and I'm just bad at it so I copied this below from a website. Enjoy.

A sexy woman discovers just how hard it can be to find a worthwhile man in this outrageous romantic comedy. Rebecca (Jenny McCarthy) is a beautiful blonde who thinks she has it made with her hunky boyfriend, Richard (Victor Webster); however, when she comes home early one day and finds him in bed with another woman, she realizes that isn't quite the case. Devastated, Rebecca takes the advice of her friends Carrie (Kam Heskin), a half-bright actress, and Michelle (Carmen Electra), a racially confused beautician, and throws herself back into the dating game to prove to Richard that she can do better. However, there's a problem -- Rebecca is a bit of a klutz, she keeps ending up with men who are either crazy or strange, and each date she goes on ends in disaster. Does Rebecca have any chance at either finding new love or winning Richard back? And is it possible her pal John (Eddie Kaye Thomas) might be interested in being more than just friends? Dirty Love was written by leading lady Jenny McCarthy and directed by John Asher, McCarthy's husband. ~ Mark Deming.

Indianapolis, IN and St. Patty's day...

So I took a little visit to see my favorite person on the face of the planet Mon, Tue, and Wed last week in Michigan. I returned to Indiana on Wednesday evening and I met Doc at the hotel where we proceeded to the airpoprt to return our rental vehicles. The cheapest thing to take us back to the hotel ended up being a limo. I know that everyone out there thinks with my lavish muppet filled lifestyle that "Of course Dustin's been in a limo before"...not so true. Have it be known, after that ride, I dont really care for them at all. Thats me in the limo, sitting with my double chin.
Thursday night came and my roomie Doc and I went out for a bite to eat and beer after the show. Well, we got to talking and just hanging out, getting to know our bartender Tracy and ordering another beer....and another....and another....a shot....another beer....shit we have shows tomorrow ...shots on Tracy.....another beer...another shot. And here we are on our walk home.
So after that night I was feeling a little down and feeling like I might not make it out on Friday night for St. Patty's day (one of my fav Holidays). Well, my friend Emily wasnt sure she wanted to go out either so after the second show she got some wine and I got some beer. We chilled in the room for a bit but it was St. Patty's day and we weren't feeling complete without our green beer...so we were off. Here is a pic from left to right of Markus, Dave, Erika and Emily...I loved that bar! Tracy was there once again to take care of me. She gets a little bitchy after she's had a few though.
Oh and I had to post this next pic! So...my digital camera is crap and I will be the first to admit it, you just never know what you gonna get. This picture is of me and emily totally flashed out and white as ghost...but if you look behind us, check out that drunk lady! I wonder how many pictures strangers have of me on their camera like this...OY! I'll call her....Judy...yes, so here is a picture of me, Emily and Judy...Judy likes the sauce.
And then I have this one that I was gonna erase but i like really strange pictures and the thing i like about this one is it is this blank floor with feet around it. Lame and wierd, I know...but can you see what I see? I think its a neat picture. Anyway-The blank in the middle sums up my saturday and sunday evenings....BLANK. In bed by 10:00 Saturday and enjoyed Sunday night T.V. went to bed and started the journey Monday to Newark, DE....and here I am.

Has anyone out there ever been to Deleware?

New Kids On The Block

I dont know what posessed me to do this post.

Um....I thought there were only 4 of these guys. Anyway...what is everyone's thoughts on them?

Have any of them done that surreal life show yet? they should....and they will.

Deodorant

Deodorant. A note to my co workers....WEAR DEODORANT. You know who you are.

Any of your co-workers stanking it up?

Pink - I'm not Dead

Compared to her pop peers, Pink's no "Stupid Girl" — so why does her new hit feel like a comeback? Why did she languish in limbo with her last album, Try This, and what's pulled her out of pop purgatory? If it were just a matter of a failed punky experiment or bad single choices before, Pink's hit the jackpot with "Stupid Girls," the first single from I'm Not Dead, due April 4. Her spoofs of singers and starlets make us laugh, so we're buying.

But what's Pink really selling now?

Sunday night T.V.

Remember in the begining of the season somebody would always blog about these shows on Monday? I thought I would do that today. I dont have much to say though. I love the shows still and I thought last nights episodes were great.

My favorite part about Desperate Houewives was the crazy nurse that was taking care of Susan! I loved her! At first i kinda wanted to punch her but then she made me giggle. And what happened to the gardner? having his mom pop up last night made me think....where is he? Also...Bree is a crazy bitch. Loves it.

Grey's....oh poor Izzy. I have to say the patient she is falling for wins my heart over too. He is a swell fellow and Alex is an asshole. And who brings a baby to work? Seriously. Also, I adore Addison and Derek (McDreamy) I think they are perfect for eachother and I hope they work it out! Thats all I got.

Paultoes

There are no words to express how beautiful I think this guy is.

Isn't he f**king adorable??

Business in the front, party in the back...

My long hair experiment has come to an end.

What does everyone like better? long or short hair? Go ahead...critic and be honest.

Long hair pic taken in January.

Short hair pic taken yesterday.

What do ya'll think?

yesterday...all my tourbles seem so far away.....

my day started out yesterday at 3:15a.m. I had to get up and get pretty and then get to the venue to be on the news 24 times in 4 hours between 5:00a.m. and 9:00a.m. NO I will not miss these early morning publicity calls. I was also on one hour of sleep because I had things on my mind and just couldnt sleep! Gr! THEN I had to do my first arena show in about a month and a half as we have been playing theatre's. The show started and it finished, I made it through without to many mistakes buut it ended and I dont remember ever doing it. Then on my break I couldnt nap because I needed to run a bunch of errands in between. I went to bed at 11:00 last night. It is 8:30 a.m. right....I feel rested.

Have a good day everyone.

PasQualey

This PasQualey.

He is my Balentine Bear Puppet that I bought for myself.

He likes corn flakes and pretty ladies.

Do you love him?

Joseph Paul Bertucci

This is Joe. I just wanted to write a small post today because it has been over a year since he passed away and this man meant the world to me. Joe was like a father to me. What gay male doesn't wanna have a gay dad right? He officiated my wedding ceremony, we went on a road trip around the country together, he directed me in several plays , and we worked together as co creaters on a few productions. Beyond all that he is one of the best friend's I have ever EVER had. I love this man with all my heart and miss him TERRIBLY. I also wanted to do this post because I LOVE this picture of him and wanted to post it on here as soon as I could. It was taken in 197somethin' or other. he looks amazing! I hope everyone has someone in there life that helps shoulder the load sometimes and answer some of life's questions for you sometime. I've needed him so many times in the last year. But we learn as time goes by that it's good to need people and it's human to need people but to truly get the most out of that you need to be there for yourself first. Since Joe has died I see pieces of him in people I meet from time to time...thats comforting. He was a kind soul with a HUGE heart and would do anything for you. But if you pissed him off that hot blooded italian temper would come out. But I cherished even the temper. Miss you Joe.

Philadelphia Story...

So I have a story. I'll call it MY Philadelphia story. Obviously I'm in Philadelphia , PA. Got here yesterday. My friend Erika who is on tour actually goes to school here and is off the year to tour. She is staying at her apartment downtown. Well, my friend Joice and I wanted to go visit her today and check out downtown Philly. We were told the train was a block away...wronger...It was like 4 or 5 city blocks away (at tinicum and bartram actually)which is fine and all but it was cold and blahblah blah. We get to the train and its not like a subway train but a TRAIN like all amtrackish and shit. And as usual the maps for the public transport are all confusing, but we figured the South Eastern Pennsylvania Transit authority (SEPTA) out. However, there was nowhere to buy tickets so Joice just gets on and the train that is halfway full of people and she is like "Is this the train to PHILLY???" (mind you we are IN Philly). The lady taking the ticket money was like "YES" then Joice is like "Well where to we pay for a ticket??" and the lady was like "On the train". Meanwhile I was cowering behind her. So then we endured a 15 minute train ride into the city which wasn't bad at all except that we couldn't stop laughing (I swear I almost peed) and everyone on the train was staring at us....For good reason of course.

Then we get off at the 30th St stop like Erika said and then Erika said "get to 29th St." so we went the wrong way and went to 31st so we turned around and all of a sudden we were on 23rd...What the eff??? Eventually we got to Erika and we joined her and Cyndi for a rather rushed lunch.

Cyndi had a doctors appointment. We met with our friend Chereese and chilled for a bit at a starbucks. So Me, Erika, Chereese and even Joice were obsessed with this guy sitting by us. So much in fact that I pretended to take a picture of them when I was really taking one of him. We all sat at the table and wrote things about this guy in Joice's journal while staring at him. Then as we got up to leave and we were still admiring him he got on his cell phone and had the voice a fourth grade girl.....bummer.

Erika departed for dance class and Cyndi departed for a nap.

Then it was time to shop. Joice got a fabulous bag at Urban Outfitters and I got some sunglasses, a hat, and a wonderful bag at H & M (we all know that place F**king rocks). Then we went and had some delicious eats at the Santa Fe burrito place. SO GOOD.

We went to Erika's to watch American Idol-I only watched some as I had an important phone call to deal with. I blew up the toilet in Erika's house mates bathroom. The toilet wouldn't flush....in fixing I stained my fingers blue. I just wanna clarify that I fixed it through the BACK of the toilet not by actually sticking my hand IN the toilet bowl. Okay?

Then Joice and I started the journey back to the hotel. Once again an adventure. We didn't think we needed tickets cuz we just paid cash before on the train but there was a ticket machine so we got some but it took us like 10 minutes to figure out the machine and then it wouldn't take our money so we had to exchange it for coin dollars and then after all this trouble it pumped out a tiny little teensy weensy ticket and THEN as we were on the train we found out we could have paid cash on there.

Despite these sorely events the day was awesome. Philly is a great city and gave me a wonderful vibe the minute I stepped off the train. I didn't get to see much but I did get to walk around. Atmosphere was great and it appears to be full of great food, entertainment and whatever else you are looking for...My kinda place. AND the public transportation system really has it going on. The best part about today was getting hang with Joice a little more. We haven't been the best of friends on tour but we have always liked eachother, despite our "lets fight" relationship. today was nice for us I think because it brought us closer together because of many circumstances. We had some good talks and an AWESOME time. I know I did...I hope she did as well. Joice plays the Red Palette in the show and can kick her head like nobody I've ever met. Not only that, I have been doing this show for a year and a half....I'm bored...she makes the show fun for me. thank you Joice, on many levels.

Anyone been to Philly? What do you think?

Also, I neglected to mention that Joice almost got hit by a bus, truck or car at least 1o times probably.

Kate Foreman

This is my friend Kate. I adore her. She lives in Seattle with her awesome wife Jo and there 3 dogs Ruby, Kayak and Timber (I think I got all those names right). I love them all! I stayed with them a couple days when my tour passed through Portland last year and they were just awesome to me! Kate and I have known eachother since we did "Oliver!' together at the Midland Music Society in Midland , MI and I was dating...eh...what's her name ? Erin Brooke's...yeah that girl. All gums and chiclet teeth-god love her. She was the second to last girlfriend I had so it must have been like 1995 or 1996. Anyway, Kate and I could just sit and cook and drink good beer and wine all day and be content. Unfortunatly we never get to but if we were in close proximity I think we would be partners in crime. I miss her. AND LOVE HER MUCH! There was a time a couple years back when my schedule allowed me to talk to her online all day when she was at work and i was just putsing around my apartment. I miss that. She always has such good advice and really helped me through some hard times. She even sent me a $50 check to buy a new winter coat once when I first moved to Chicago because she knew I was broke and she knew it was cold.Talk about a great friend huh? I think she is awesome. So everyone, this is Kate....kate, this is everyone.

check her out at www.kates-slate.blogspot.com

The Academy Awards

so just like last year we had the option to fill out our oscar predictions and throw $5 in a pool with everyone that wanted to participate on tour and the winner gets the money. Well, last year I came in second and I had all my own predictions so I was happy with myself but there was no second place prize. the winner last year took like $70 back to there hotel room with them. So I was against playing this year until they announced there would be a second place prize. And then I thought about my friends Amanda and Charlie who are like oober into the Oscars....so I went to there blog's and just put all there info together and vuala! I had MY Oscar predictions. There were a few I wish I hadn't went with either one of them on but all and all I did great. So great that I took first place!! But the pool this year was only like $30. Dont get me wrong, I'm still totally excited. I woke up this morning with $5 until pay day and then I got to load luggage this morning ($1 a bag) AND it was announced that I had the winning predictions!! So my $5 went to $61 between the hours of 6:00 and 7:00a.m. Good start to the day huh??? Thank you Amanda and Charlie for helping me out so I could afford groceries this week! And keep up the good work!!! I got 17 out of 24 right.