Poster Design for PFLAG-Olympia benefit concerts.

#wds2013

Traditions Fair Trade Store

Olympia, Washington

Two shows.

Saturday, January 25th.

Manhattan Photo of the Day: The Grove at Lincoln Center.

The grove at Lincoln Center. Photo credit: Steve Schalchlin

This is a totally unretouched photo I took yesterday at Lincoln Center. As many times as I've been there, I never noticed this little grove of trees. When I looked through the lens and saw how the sun was washing out the edges, it just mesmerized me.

Health Update: The Exercise (surprise) Is Causing Miracles.

I've been exercising, each day, more and more. Yesterday, I did a very long run (for me), almost two miles. Then, later, went back and did another two miles. For real runners, this isn't much. But for me, it's a lot.

The strange thing is that I didn't need insulin for either lunch or dinner. My metabolism was at such a high level, it disposed of the sugars all by itself, I guess. And it didn't hurt that I am eating low carb meals, while supplementing with extra whey protein.

My blood tests reflected all this good news, too. The virus is still undetectable in my blood. My t-cell count is up over 500 (which is way below normal, but great for me).

Also, my A1c dipped below 6.0 to 5.9, which was great cause for celebration at Dr. Tony's.

So, the training continues under Cat Steinbeck's watchful eye.

One WTC Pic of the Day: Foggy Day With Red Doors of the Fire House Below.

One WTC Photo of the Day.

Early morning pinks and blues reflect off the facets of One WTC. Aug. 26, 2013.

Bonus Close-up!

Photos of Steve (and Portland Gay Men's Chorus) on Stage at World Domination Summit

Photo credit: Chris Guillebeau.

"I guess I won't depend on somebody's friend."

"We should all be connected to each other."

I do not know what I was saying here. Are there tears in my eyes?

Big head.

"Time to come out! Lazarus come out!
Into the light. Into the light of day."

"You don't need an explanation when you care."

"The day I stopped having diarrhea was the greatest day of my life."

"You can only lift the darkness when you care."

Faces at 2013 World Domination Summit.

#WDS2013

Faces I saw in Portland this past weekend. (Click to enlarge).

Anything Is Possible

Jamming with Nicholas.

Nicholas Perry, violinist.

In prepping for my next assault in the recording studio, I came across this young man over at Mark Janas' house. They were playing some ridiculously complex piece of classical music and I just sat there kind of stunned. When it was over, we got to talk and I found out Nicholas is new in town, and that he's not just a classical musician, but is also a very soulful improviser. So, I invited him over to see if we could click on any of the songs. There was one I had in mind, especially, a song about an addict, called "The Craving."

And how do you not love that smile?

Nicholas Perry's smile.

Lori Tan Chinn poses with Playbill.

Anyone who is a fan of great comedic movie scenes knows the "YOU EAT COOKIE!" scene from the movie "Mickey Blue Eyes" starring Hugh Grant. The uncredited actress in that scene is the great Broadway performer Lori Tan Chinn. Jim and I met her at the Polish Tea Room for lunch where he gave her a pre-Broadway Playbill of the musical "Lovely Ladies, Kind Gentlemen."

She told me the story behind the scene:

Actually, I read somewhere on some Comedy Hall of Fame, the scene made the list of memorable performances. Hugh Grant and producer went on every talk show with that clip - it was the only contained comic portion of the film that showed something funny. They never mentioned my name, although Conan O'Brian, Jay Leno, and some other hosts suggested he & I do a "buddy movie" together. And to think, they never wanted me in the first place - they were looking for a very old Chinese lady, but after I thought I had lost the role, discovered that mine was the performance to beat. The producers never even called to tell me I had the role. I just got a call asking if I would be available to shoot on a day that was rained out on a previously planned shoot day. They gave me scale and no billing. Unfortunately, you can't take that to the bank....

One WTC and Firehouse.

One WTC and Hook & Ladder 21, Engine 34.

Now, I've discovered that the sun hits the firehouse, in June, right about 6:50 AM. 

PHOTOS: WTC Sunrise New York. June 13, 2013

This morning, just before sunrise, I looked out and saw that the sky was overcast. Which means blue and blue and black. Then I noticed that the glass buildings were radiating a pink color, as if lit from below.

As the sun rose, it made the whole sky lighter. This is about 5:30:

Look how the curve of the WTC picks up the pink all the way to the top. It's kind of breathtaking in person because the pink is radiant, not flat as in the photo.