I'm back from New York City, darklings, and I return bearing gifts --- In the form of much wordage and many a photograph! >w<;

As for updates ... Well, there aren't any. >_>; Really, though, who cares about updates when there's such a marvellous blog segment just ahead ...? Absolutely no one, that's who! With that done and dusted like the latest Sunnydale vamp, allow us to immediately move onto that aforementioned marvellousity!

My trip to New York City to see Green Day's American Idiot Broadway Musical began the evening of 8 November, when my Dad and I were to to leave the house around 11:00 PM and begin the three hour drive to Niagara Falls, New York. From there, we were to board a train which would take us the rest of the way to New York City, arriving the next day, on 9 November, around lunchtime. The musical was to take place on the evening of 9 November.

Naturally, I started getting ready for the three hour drive to the Falls at 7:00 PM, 'cause, as I've mentioned in the past, I take at least three hours to get ready for all 'big' events in my life --- Even if I set out exactly what I'm going to wear and plan exactly how I'm going to do my hair and makeup the day before. And I always do. e_e;

This used to annoy and baffle every member of my household, but as the years go by, and the length of time it takes me to get ready continues to stay the same, they're finally learning to deal with it ... And you should, too, as Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day would equally advise you.

After my Dad and I drove to the Falls and crossed the border into America, we promptly got lost. Twice. Smack dab in what appeared to be two of the sketchiest places in all of America --- Unless, of course, every city in America has entire darkened streets filled with nothing but silently rotting abandoned houses and severely cracked pavement trying to pass itself off as roads and sidewalks. I'm guessing --- And hoping --- Not, so I'll just stick to my, 'I have horrible luck in these kinda situations' excuse. o_O;

Although ofter we found the train station, it was pretty much the same level of sketchiness, so it's possible we were simply in a general 'bad area'. Thankfully, we didn't have to hang around too long, though, as we were able to board our train shortly after arriving.

Speaking of the train, I had never been on one before my trip to New York City --- Not even once! My first impression was that it was pretty Goddamn cool ... But my second impression was that it fucking sucked, at least when it came to sleeping. We only rode in the most basic of classes, so the only sleeping accommodations the train provided was seats that reclined slightly. Very slightly. As in approximately a quarter of an inch.

And because I simply can't sleep sitting in that upright of a position, I was forced to take up two seats myself and curl up on my side. Thank shit I had brought along my sleeping earplugs I use at home and had the idea to drape a fleece pajama top I packed over my head, or I wouldn't have gotten any sleep!

As it was, I only got about three or four hours of sleep on the obnoxiously loud and brightly lit train ... Somehow, though, when I fully woke up after those hours had passed, I didn't feel too bad at all!

To my surprise, the next few hours passed quite quickly, and before I knew it, we were slowing down and pulling up to our stop in New York City's Penn Station! *o*; From there, we went directly to a machine selling subway passes and each purchased a single day pass to get around the city with greater ease. ((Although in the end, it probably would've been easier just to walk everywhere ... The subways in New York City are seriously motherfuckin' confusing, man!))

The subway rides we had were also the first I had ever had, as my own city's too small to house such a grand way of transporting the public, and as I've always walked everywhere when visiting larger cities such as Toronto.

My first impression of New York's subway system was that it was ... Well ... Rather disgustingly dirty. I figured this was normal, though, until my Dad told me that Toronto's subway is always spotless! My second impression of the subway, this time about the car itself, was that it's way harder to stand upright and keep your balance than they make out on TV. And my third impression? 'Holy fuck, are we there already?!' Those things blasted under twelve blocks in, like, five seconds! I was in awe.

That was nothing, though, compared to the level of awe I felt when we finally got aboveground: 'Cause the city? Now that was exactly how it's portrayed on TV. Buildings so tall you have to bend over backwards to see the tops, so many, ((Very fashionably dressed and attractive,)) People that you're constantly bumping into one another, more taxi cabs speeding around than any other type of vehicle, vendors at every corner selling giant pretzels and hotdogs and hot nuts and other delicious yet unhealthy foods, newspaper stands selling every newspaper and magazine and chocolate bar and Statue Of Liberty figurines known to man, and lights --- So many lights! Lights of every shade, size, colour, and brightness, glowing and strobing and flashing and shining, all day and night.

I literally could've easily spent a week or more simply wandering around the city doing nothing but looking. There was so much delicious dizziness to take in I was constantly on the verge of tears due to the disbelief and happiness I felt at actually being in New York City --- And smack dab in the middle of the Times Square and Broadway area, no less!

I can honestly say that visiting New York City was never on my list of places I wanted to visit in the world. The only reason I was even remotely interested in it was because of the American Idiot musical. Other than that, I never felt all that attracted to it --- Hell, I had Toronto, the biggest city in Canada, so why would I need to bother with anything else? What I didn't realise what that comparing New York City to Toronto is like comparing a gecko to an alligator. They're both reptiles, and they're both pretty damn cool, but that's where the similarities end.

Not that I love Toronto any less now, don't get me wrong --- But it's no New York, baby. It's not even close. Feel free to click the thumbnails below to visit a gallery full of photographs I took of the city during my visit, and you might just get what I'm saying. ^_~

As for the hotel we stayed at during our visit, it was the Intercontinental located in Times Square, on West 44th Street and just off Broadway. And, besides being the most luxurious hotel I've ever stayed it, the best part about it is that it was a mere two hundred and forty feet away from the entrance to Saint James theatre --- Which, of course, is where the American Idiot musical was to take place that night! I, surprisingly, only took two and a half hours to get ready as opposed to my normal three or more, so we were entering Saint James and taking our seats in the front and centre row of the mezzanine with a full half hour to spare before the show began.

That half hour was, quite perhaps, the longest half hour I had ever waited in my life. I was ridiculously eager for it to begin, and spent the half hour fidgeting all around in my tiny theatre seat, ((Let's just say that while the Saint James is no doubt a seriously beautiful building, it isn't known for arm, leg, or breathing space,)) Trying to ignore a wedgie that had been bothering my ass the instant I sat down, due to the super tight skinny jeans I was wearing.

Finally, ((Approximately three minutes after we sat down,)) I gave up and went to find a bathroom to dewedgie myself in private --- And to pee for the nine thousandth time that day to make sure I didn't have to go during the ninety minute show. With my bladder one hundred and ten percent empty and my ass wedgie free, I made my way back to my seat and waited, trying to stay motionless so that the wedgie wouldn't suddenly reform. Luckily for my ass, the show started not long after I returned to my seat --- And the instant it started, I was rendered motionless without even thinking about it.

I remained that way, motionless, ramrod straight, and wide eyed, right up until the show ended. At that point I jettisoned to my feet, screaming and clapping my hands together as loud and as fast as I could manage while simultaneously wiping tears from my face, tears that had pricked my eyes and then began to stream instant the curtain had rose ninety minutes before. Even now, as I merely think about on the show and how insanely stellar it was, I'm blinking back tears and sniffling away!

Now, for those of you who aren't familiar very much/at all with Green Day, they have an album named American Idiot that came out in 2005. That album is no ordinary collection of songs ... Rather, it's what Green Day has dubbed a punk rock opera. Each of the tracks on the album, when played in chronological order, tell a story.

That story focuses on a teenager named Jesus Of Suburbia, who's unhappy with just about everything in his life, and who travels to the nearest big city in hopes of finding something better. Along the way he encounters many different characters, including a beautifully rebellious yet peaceable girl named Whatsername, and a beautifully rebellious yet destructive force named Saint Jimmy, who may or may not be anything more than a figment of Jesus' imagination. At the end of the album, and, consequently, the story, Jesus returns right back to where he began ... Leaving an almost open ended conclusion to the tale.

The musical version of American Idiot follows this same plot --- With some differences, of course. For example, more character development takes place, ((Jesus Of Suburbia's actual name is Johnny, and Jesus is merely a one time nickname,)) More characters are introduced, ((Johnny has two best friends named Will and Tunny who share the spotlight with him the majority of the time,)) And, of course, there's lots more theatrical embellishment! If you'd like to learn more, or if you're thinking about purchasing tickets to go and see the show yourself, then simply click here to check out the official American Idiot site!

I, quite obviously, am absolutely enthralled with the musical as a whole. Indeed, it's quite a different version of the story I've been listening to since 2005, but it's similar enough that I can still connect with it on a personal level. Which is why, upon leaving our seats, buying several bits of lovely American Idiot merch, ((Among other things which I'll list later on, I purchased an oversized, highly glossy photo book full of gorgeous shots from the musical,)) And exiting the Saint James back onto the street, we didn't simply head back to the Intercontinental straight away, and instead waited just outside the doors with a medium sized group of other fans to see which musical stars would walk out the door.

My favourite characters in the show were Saint Jimmy and Whatsername, in that order, but I didn't expect to even catch a glimpse of either of them, considering they were part of the main cast, and I had heard online before the trip that the main cast members were the hardest to meet. So imagine my surprise, when, facing the theatre's main entrance and craning my neck to see who was going to come out next, my Dad, from behind me, chuckled. 'Ah, there goes Saint Jimmy,' He said, in a rather casual tone.

'What?!' I said, whipping around to face him. 'W-where?!'

'Oh, he just came out the theatre's door down the street, and he's crossing the street right now.' Dad motioned to the opposite side of the street. It took me a moment to spot him, but when I did, I just stood there and stared, unwilling to run across the street and bother him when he was so obviously trying to make a sneaky smooth getaway.

He continued on his way until almost the end of the block, and then crossed back over onto the same side of the street the theatre was on, a safe ways away. Or so he thought. The next thing I saw was a group of approximately ten girls swarming him for pictures and autographs, and at that, I snapped. 'That's it, I'm gonna go see Jimmy!' I shouted over my shoulder as I literally ran down the block toward him, several other girls close on my heels, all of them giggling in an annoying faux fashion.

I stood back and waited respectfully until all of the other girls, ((And a few guys,)) Got their autographs and pictures before me, and then I approached Saint Jimmy --- AKA Tony Vincent --- And silently held out the oversized photo book I had purchased moments ago, suddenly overcome by a wave of nervousness and intimidation. I needn't have felt either, though, because in real life, Saint Jimmy's a lot more approachable.

'Alright, let's see,' he said, helping me hold the book up and waving a skinny blue marker around. 'This pen isn't permanent, so I'm not sure if ... Does anyone have ...?'

A girl who had just gotten her autograph from him before me spoke up eagerly. 'I have a pen!' she squealed, running over and handing one to him.

'That might work!' He said in a cheerfully doubtful sort of way, but attempted to sign the shiny book's cover, anyway. All it seemed to do was make a bit of an indent in the surface of the book, but before anyone had to do or say anything else, a supporting cast member --- Ben Thompson --- Walked by and silently handed him a Sharpie with a bit of a grin on his face.

'Thank you, Ben!' Tony called after him. 'You saved my life, I owe you one.' He continued, all whilst signing his name with a flourish on the front of my book.

I finally found my voice and decided to use it, although I spoke in not much more than a whisper. 'Thank you so much, Tony ... And that was an amazing performance tonight.'

'Thank you very much!' Tony smiled at me, and I just about melted from the sincere look in his rather gorgeous eyes, while I stuttered something along the lines of 'You're welcome.'

He smiled and started to walk away, then paused, handing me Ben's Sharpie. 'Here, you can have this, sweetheart.'

'Oh, wow, thank you!' I gasped, staring first at the Sharpie, then back at Tony's face, and then back at the Sharpie again, likely with a stupidly adoring look on my own face. He smiled and turned back down the street, while I gazed at the Sharpie for a while longer as if I had just been handed me a handful of precious gems. You may admire the Sharpie in a similar fashion after clicking the thumbnail below. Remember, it may look like an ordinary Sharpie, but it's not an ordinary Sharpie. It's a Sharpie Saint Jimmy gave me whilst simultaneously adorning me with a pet name. Hence why I now display it on my shelf along with my Pokémon figurines and My Little Pony collection. *_*

Shaking myself out of my reverie and carefully slipping the Sharpie into my purse and keeping a firm grip on my freshly signed photo book, I ran back to the crowd --- Just in time to see Whatsername, AKA Rebecca Naomi Jones --- Moving from fan to fan, signing autographs and posing for pictures as she went along. I gasped out an 'Oh my God!' and squeezed back to the front of the crowd, ready to hand her my photo book the moment I made eye contact with her.

Which happened, fleetingly, but another girl who had been to my right suddenly slipped in front of me and asked Rebecca for a photo. Rebecca responded with a cheerful 'Sure!', and the girl moved next to her, while at the same time holding out her digital camera to me and asking rather hesitantly, 'Would you ... Snap the shot for me ...?'

'Sure!' I echoed Rebecca's earlier agreeability, carefully taking the camera and snapping a shot --- Which, both funnily and thankfully, my Dad got several pictures of, as you can see by clicking the thumbnails below! They're a little blurry, but who gives a fuck, right?

After I took the photo for the girl and handed her back her camera, Rebecca turned her attention to me, and I just about died, she was so beautiful. This time, I found my voice straight away, and told her that the show was absolutely fantastic, as was her performance.

'Thank you so much!' She said, smiling at me in response. After a moment's pause, she suddenly widened her already especially large eyes. 'And I love your outfit, by the way!'

'Oh!' I said stupidly, holding my arms out and staring down at what I was wearing as if I had never seen it before. As if I hadn't literally and seriously had daydreams for weeks before the show imagining meeting cast members and having them compliment my outfit. 'Y-you like it ...? Well, thank you so much!'

'You're welcome!' Rebecca responded cheerfully yet seriously, staring at me and my outfit for a moment longer in, what I was beginning to understand, an intense fashion that was synonymic with all Broadway actors.

It's my personal conclusion that because Broadway actors are so very intimate onstage, they eventually go on to emit that same sort of intimacy offstage without even knowing it, as well, because both Rebecca and Tony had looked at me the same way they looked at their fellow costars. It was a little unsettling, especially for me, as I'm a bit of a weirdo and don't normally usually look people directly in the eye for long periods of time unless I know them very well ... But at the same time, it was awesome as fuck.

The next star to walk out was another supporting cast member named Leslie McDonel, which, strangely enough, was another one of my favourites from the show. She walked up to me, and before I could even say a word, took my photo book in my hand and pointed at a badge on my sweater with the other, exclaiming happily, 'Oh, I like that!'

The badge she was pointing to? The red and white one which read, 'Hello, my name is: Whatsername', of course! ((Which you can see a close up of yourself by checking out mallorymaloney.com's last Updates/Blog entry.)) What's more, my Dad even managed to get a shot of the exact moment she pointed to my badge! I just about shat myself. Twice. Once when she complimented my badge, and another when I found out Dad had managed to get the moment on camera.

And even more fucking stellar, when Leslie finished complimenting my attire and signing my photo book, she moved over to where Rebecca and a few other stars were standing away from the crowd a bit, and I heard her say, 'Did you see her outfit?' in an admiring tone while motioning in my direction. Rebecca was in the middle of telling a story to the others, but she stopped and uttered a chipper, 'Yes, I did!' before immediately continuing on with her story.

If all that wasn't amazing enough, I also got an autograph with another supporting cast member named Brian Charles Johnson, who, coincidentally, was yet another one of my favourites. I congratulated him on a show well done, as well, and while he seemed in a bit more of a hurry than the others, he was just as sweetly sincere in his thanks.

And last, but definitely not least, I got an autograph from yet another lead cast member: Tunny AKA Van Hughes! Now, admittedly, Van Hughes is not normally the actor who portrays Tunny, but as I'm sure a lot of you know, in the theatre and Broadway world, leads always have understudies, and Van Hughes was one of them.

And since I was feeling more at ease with the cast members by that point, as Van signed my photo book as everyone else had done, I ended up telling him we had come all the way from Canada to see the show, and that I loved his version of Tunny, as I had seen YouTube videos of Stark Sands, the actor who normally plays Tunny, do his thing, and that I liked Van's just as much, and that the show had been amazing, and ...

Well, admittedly, I babbled on for quite a bit, as Van was giving me that intensely sincere Broadway look again, and I sort of fell in love with him because of the look, just as I had with all the rest --- And even more so when he seemed to be the most touched and the most grateful for my compliments, and thanked me more times than everyone else put together. My Dad, bless his soul, once again got a bunch of blurry albeit priceless shots of our conversation.

After Van, the stream of actors exiting the Saint James finally slowed to a stop, and the crowd soon cleared away, leaving the theatre walls and its perma posters advertising the musical clear and wide open for picture ops! My favourite photo can be see by clicking the thumbnail below, and the rest can be found on my Photographs page.

And yes, I lied about there being no updates this time around on purpose, bwahaha! I couldn't do the same thing I did in the last Updates/Blog entry, and admit there was an update but not specify what it was --- You'd all catch on that way, sillies! ^_~

Of course, I also took a few shots of my Dad, who wore the same thing he wore to the Green Day concert in August --- A replica of one of Billie Joe's recent and recurring outfits, which you can view by clicking the thumbnail below. And just for the lolfactor, also included below is a second photo of Dad, which depicts him attempting to fuse himself into a perma poster of Tunny, Johnny, and Will. As you'll see after viewing the photo, his attempt was futile.

And there's a few more photos I'd like to share with you all --- Materialistic photos of all the loot I collected and bought in New York City! First up, a photo of the items from the Saint James, which include the photo book signed by all five of the cast members I met; A charity Christmas album called Broadway's Carols For A Cure, which features the American Idiot cast singing a special version of Do You Hear What I Hear? which uses the same acoustic guitar chords as Green Day's Wake Me Up When September Ends; A fitted tee shirt with a large American Idiot logo and an all over star pattern, of which I've admired for months in the online American Idiot merch shop; A keychain which reads 'I ((Heart Grenade)) GD', in a clever spoof of the 'I ((Heart)) NY' phrase you see plastered on every touristy item for sale in New York City; And lastly, the playbill and various papers and pamphlets I saved from the show.

Secondly, a photo of all the items I bought before we left the day after the musical, on 10 November! The Kuromi messenger bag and the piratey Hello Kitty keyfob were purchased from the Sanrio Luxe store on West 42nd Street, ((Of which there's a storefront photo of in the gallery I linked you all to earlier,)) And the Hana Chu magazine, the Pink Latte tote bag, ((Which came packaged with the magazine for free,)) The pack of Mamegoma loose stickers, and the San X cellphone strap, ((Which I'm likely going to use as a keychain or a necklace, instead,)) were purchased from a Japanese bookstore called Kinokuniya, located on 6th Avenue.

And that just about wraps up this week's Updates/Blog entry! Many apologies for the fact that it was posted one day later than I originally said it would be --- I had trouble getting into my writing groove for most of the day, and then, when I finally did fall into groove, it was the middle of the evening, and I didn't finish this more than four thousand word entry 'til now. Now being around 3:00 AM on 18 November. x_X;

I'm sure no one minded, though ... Or even noticed, for that matter. It wouldn't be a surprise whatsoever if that were the case, as the last time I've returned any comments was, I believe, around the beginning of August, due to how little time I've spent on mallorymaloney.com since then. Obviously, this is absolutely atrocious, and I plan to once again start returning comments every Thursday, just as I used to --- And, of course, I'm planning to post new Updates/Blog entries every Wednesday!

Until next week, my fellow friends of the night, much love --- To you and to New York! ♥