Nash wanted to know where Brinkley was?

Nash and I went out to meet my cousin’s Erica and Jessica at the bar Social yesterday. Nash was really curious when we first got there, as I had been to the bar several times, but it had been a year or two. I think Nash wanted to know where their dog Brinkley was? Sorry buddy, but you are special and get to go to bars because you are a guide dog. Brinkley is special too, but must be a recovering alcoholic because he doesn’t go to bars. We will have to schedule a play date for them to see each other, but not at a bar. Jess was a little upset because Penn St. lost. It was not a good week for my other cousins at they are also big Penn State fans and alumni, but also Phillies fans. Of course, it was a good week for me, as the Yanks won the series and the Gators won again, but looked terrible doing it. They say its better to win ugly, then to lose pretty, and it got me thinking, I can’t think of one example of one of my teams ever losing pretty. Where the hell did they come up with that expressio?

 

We got a big week ahead as Laugh For Sight 4 is a week from tomorrow, and we still need to promote, promote, and promote so we can sell as many tickets as possible. Everything for Laugh For Sight 4 is pretty much set, the only thing left to do is get people in the doors and get as much media coverage for the benefit that we can, so help spread the word, and pass along our site www.laughforsight.com where people can buy tickets.

I’ve created a monster and get your Laugh For Sight 4 tickets 11/16/09!

Nash sleeps in my bed one night in six month’s, and now he thinks it is his bed. Last night he got into my bed hours before I was going to sleep, it was like he was positioning himself, and saying hey buddy, first come first position. At about 9pm he got into the bed, and spread out all over the bed. He did get out of the bed later, and we played for a little, then went for his late evening walk, but as soon as we got back to the apartment, he darted back into the bed, and I know I am blind, but I could swear he had an evil smirk on his face. I was still up for a bit, and Nash was camped out in my bed. Finally I was ready to go to bed, and as usual, I was afraid to look at the clock, because if I don’t know what time it is, then I am really not up that late. I had to put my comferter back on my bed, and I flung it all over the bed, and over Nash, and he didn’t budge. I decided to sit on the couch, and watch a little more tv, and Nash just camped out underneath the blankie. It was like he was in a cool little fort, or camping out in a tent. Finally, I wanted to get into bed, and I didn’t want Nash to get all fidgety while I was asleep so I got him to come out from underneath the blanket, and he repositioned himself on top of it. He was kind enough to move over when I got into bed, but then he started running all around me, and was standing over me, and I’m like, sorry dude this isn’t going to work. He was then standing on my right, and was standing on the cliff of the bed, and I’m trying to tell him to go to the other side. I even tried picking him up to move him to my left with no luck. Eventually, he understood, and crashed out on top of me a little on my left. I thought when I got a guide dog that I would tell him what to do, but I think even after six month’s we are still trying to determine who the boss is. Even though it is only three in the afternoon, I am thinking about getting into bed, hey, I got to get my spot for tongith before Nash gets his!

Laugh For Sight 4

Alice Stockton-Rossini of 1010 WINS radio will emcee this year’s Laugh For Sight 4, and will be joined by some of the biggest names in comedy; Robert Klein, Colin Quinn, John Oliver of the Daily Show, Rich Vos, Eddie Brill, Bonnie McFarlane, John Morrison, and Brian Fischler and Nash.

New York City’s Pulse 87.7 will be at the benefit and handing out gifts to guests as they arrive!

Free cocktails during the silent auction provided by Diageo, Patron, and the Brooklyn Brewery!

Donors to the silent auction include Comedy Central, the Mandarin Ortiental Hotel, Eli Manning, Hilton Hotels, Circle Cruise, Prada, Patron, Kramer Portraits, Robert Marc, Felix Rey, NJ Devils tickets, Second Stage, Broadway Show “Rock of Ages”, Dramatics NYC, Grannine Cashmere, several items of fine jewlery, and much more!

Proceeds will benefit Guiding Eyes For the Blind and The Scheie Eye Institute at the Univ. of Pennsylvania. Tickets can be purchased at www.laughforsight.com, www.gothamcomedyclub.com, or by calling 212-367-9000.

For more information, please visit www.laughforsight.com, and for questions, corporate tables, donations, or ads, please contact info@laughforsight.com.

The continuing saga of the blind guy who let his guide dog sleep in his bed one night!

First let me say, LETS GO YANKEES! It’s nice to see that the universe is back in alignment now that the Yanks are world champs again.  I wish I could say that Nash has become a die hard Yanks fan like me, but unfortunately, he was snoring away for most of game six. Then in the 8th inning, he decided he wanted to play. Some nerve. I was trying to explain to him what was going on, but I don’t think he got it. I even opened the window as the helicopters went up in the air over my apartment in the 8th inning. One of the problems with living so close to Times Square. When the Yanks did close the game out, I let out a yes, way to go Yanks. Nash was staring at me, so I looked at him and said, we won, we won, and I began hopping for some reason. Nash began hopping to, so I think he realized it was a good thing the Yanks won. I of course, had to watch the entire post game on the Yes netowrk, so I was up pretty late, and Nash went to bed in his bed, so my one night of letting him sleep in my bed a few night’s earlier did not seem to become a regular occurence.

Then there was last night.

I was up late watching tv, Nash was laying in his bed next to my couch. He was asleep and woke up, he shook himself like he normally does. He then normally turns around and readjusts himself in his bed to get more comfortable. This time though, when he got up, he went for a walk around the apartment. A few minutes later, I realized Nash had not come back, Now, I don’t live in a mansion, its a studio apartment, but I couldn’t find Nash, and there are only so many places he can hide. I couldn’t find him, so I said “Nash where are you?” I heard his chains jingle, and from the sound of them, it sounded like he was levitating in the air. Of course not, ends up Nash was laying in my bed! I guess he realized that I would be going to sleep soon, and since I had not invited him to sleep in my bed with me the previous two nights, that he would beat me to the punch. He was lying at the foot of my bed. I do not want him to get into a habit of sleeping in my bed, so I went back to watching tv hoping that he would just be in my bed for a few minutes. Then I was finally ready to go to bed, and sure enough, Nash was still in my bed. I had to put my blankie back on the bed, as it was on the couch with me. With Nash already in the bed this was going to be interesting. I told him to get up, but of course he didn’t, so I threw the comferter over the bed, and Nash just laid there underneath it. He didn’t budge. My bed looked like it had a big lump in it. I straightened the comferter out over my bed, then picked up the bottom, and said, “come on Nash, off” he just looked at me. I put the blankie back down, and went and brushed my teeth, came back, and of course, Nash was still playing hide and seek underneath the blankie. I finally got him to come out, and of course, he immediately jumped back into the bed. I said to myself, ok, lets see what happens when I get into the bed, as Nash was taking up the entire foot of the bed. I got into bed, and Nash was kind enough to move and let me get comfy. He laid up against me, and it was apparent to me, that Nash was not going to be sleeping in his bed. What was strange to me about all of this was for the last two nights, Nash slept in his own bed. All of the sudden last night, he wanted to be in my bed. Amazing that we have been together for six month’s, and he sleeps in my bed one night, and now it looks like he wants to be in my bed every night, or I guess, every few night’s. Will be interesting to see what happens tonight.

The exciting conclusion of the blind guy who let his guide dog sleep in his bed one night!

I was taught that once you let your dog sleep in your bed, there is no going back. So last night, I when I laid down in my bed, I was anxious to see what would happen. Would Nash immediately hop into my bed, and be like move over dude you’re on my side? Or would Nash go to his bed as if the previous night had never happened? I guess somewhere in between was ok. I got into bed, put Seinfeld on, and all of the sudden, I thought we were having an earthquake in NYC. Hey, I lived in L.A., so I am use to tremors, and not the awful movie. I put my hand down next to my bed, and Nash was cuddled up against my bed frame. He was rocking back and forth. Whem, no earthquake in the city. One thing I was happy to leave behind in L.A. It was pretty cute, as it was like Nash was saying, calm on, invite me up to your bed. Unfortunately, I could not appease Nash, as I do not want him to get into the habit of sleeping in my bed with me. After a few minutes, Nash retreated a few feet over to his bed, and settled in, and he too fell asleep to Seinfeld.

Nash is getting fed up with me, as I keep doing radio interviews, and he only does tv! He’s big time. I was on BlogTalk Radio last night promoting Laugh For Sight 4, and today, I met with Alice Stockton-Rossini of 1010 WINS radio to record an interview for the benefit that they will be airing to promote the benefit. She is a sweetheart, and will be hosting the benefit. Amazingly, it has been a long time since I have been heckled on stage, as I think people are a little afraid to heckle a blind comic, especially one with a vicious looking attack dog like Nash. Kidding of course for those of you who haven’t seen any pictures of Nash, he is so cute and friendly, he makes Snoopy look like more of an attack dog than him. Well, as we were recording the interview, some drunk bum walked up behind us, and pretty much began heckling us. Good thing I don’t typically perform in front of drunk bums. Will be interesting to see how much of the interview with the bum in the background makes it on air.

Nash and I met my friend Jewel later today. Seems like we were in and out of Starbucks all day. For someone who doesn’t like Starbucks, I sure do seem to spend a lot of time there. We then went for a walk, and it ends up there is a vet around the corner, so I went in and got Nash weighed. He has put a little weight on, so someone will be joining me on a diet. It was surprising as I am really careful not to let Nash be fed by anyone but me, so I am not sure how he put the weight on as he has been getting a regular amount of exercise. So we both will be getting more exercise, and hopefully Nash will be back to his slender self soon. Wish us luck.

And I thought Nash was only a blanket hog

Last night Nash and I went out to watch the Yankees clinch the first World Series of his life time. Unfortunately, the stupid Phillies had other plans. While we did enjoy a nice night out at Matt’s Grill, I was disappointed. I think Nash realized that I was disappointed, as when we got home, it was late, and I got into bed, and Nash wanted to still play. Normally when I get into bed, Nash lies down in his bed, and we both fall asleep to old Seinfeld episodes that I still tivo to this day. Yes, I still find it quite funny, and falling asleep to the imaginary sitcom world is quite pleasant. Nash was running up and down next to my bed, so I decided why not, and yelled break, and sure enough, Nash hopped into my bed. He cuddled up next to me, and hogged more than half the bed. I didn’t mind, as it was quite comforting. Nash did fiddle around for a few minutes until he got comfortable, but then he fell fast asleep, lying right up against me. I of course woke up in the middle of the night, and Nash was still up against me snoozing away. This morning, I kept hitting the snooze button, and Nash was still asleep next to me, then I think he decided enough with this snooze, as he got up, and with the little room there was, he began running around me in the bed. Then he stood over me, and started licking me saying yo idiot, get up, I’m hungary. It was quite the experience, and I guess saying that I slept with a dog last night takes on a whole new meaning. I went to a bar and woke up next to a dog really takes on a new meaning. I don’t think I would want Nash in my bed every night, and they say once you let him in, he will always want to come in, so it will be interesting to see what happens tonight when we lay down to go to sleep.

Catch Eddie Brill and me on BlogTalk Radio 11/3 9pm live online!

Eddie Brill, who will be a four time performer at this year’s Laugh For Sight 4, and who is a international comedian and the audience warm up at the Late Show with David Letterman and I will be on BlogTalk Radio with Dr. Blogstein tonight 11/3 at 9 pm est. You can listen in live online here.

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/DrBlogstein/2009/11/04/Charlaine-Harris

Comedian Eddie Brill

Took Nash for a walk by the Daily Show today

Nash is completely crashed out on feet as I took him for a nice long walk for our 6th month anniversary today. Since we always seem to walk by the Letterman Show, as Nash poops right down the block from them, and he seems to like weaving in and out of the crowd waiting to see the show, I took Nash all the way out to the Daily Show today. I am not real big into sight seeing, go figure, a blind guy that doesn’t like sight seeing, but Nash is such a curious fella, that he seems to love sight seeing. Every time we are on the bus, in a cab, or in a car, Nash looks out the window at all the sights. He didn’t have the smoothest of walks at all times today, as he had a few real bad streches where his sniffing was out of control, and he lost focus. He did though have some real nice long stretches where he wasn’t sniffing and was walking at a real fast pace, and he didn’t walk me into anything all the way out to the Daily Show and back. He did get kind of crazy in Duane Reade, as I had to stop there on the way back. Ends up there was another dog in the store. I am not sure why when we were in training, Nash did not have a dog distraction, but since we have gotten back to the city, he does have a fairly strong dog distraction, as he wants to say hi to every dog. Amazing that when they bark at him, Nash doesn’t bark back, but does pull me torwards them, and will try and drag me at times. I may have to have someone come out from Guiding Eyes, as a 6 month refresher might be beneficial to Nash and me. Hopefully the Yanks will actually show up tonight.

 

Eddie Brill who has performed at all four Laugh For Sight’s, tours all around the world, and is the audience warm up for the Late Show with David Letterman, and I will be on the Dr. Blogstein Radio Happy Hour on Tuesday, November 3 at 905pm. I will post a link to the show in the next few days, as you can listen to it over the internet, and we will be promoting Laugh For Sight 4 at Gotham Comedy Club, NYC, Monday, Nov. 16th. If you haven’t gotten your tickets yet, what are you waiting for? You can get them at www.laughforsight.com, or by calling Gotham Comedy Club at 212-367-9000.

Happy Six Month Anniversary Nash

I had to wait until midnight to post this, as today, October 29th marks Nash and my six month Anniversary together, as we were introduced on April 29th. Do you get you guide dog a 6th month Anniversary gift? It’s kind of weird as around midnight, Nash started licking me, and I am trying to tell him that it is late, and to lay down. I guess he reakuzed it before I did. We are going out tonight to watch game two of the World Series with some friends, and go to our favorite bar, Matt’s Grill. Hopefully the Yankees will actually show up. The only thing worst then the way the entire Yankee team played in game one, is I could have actually paid to have been there. Sitting in that cold and rain watching that game live would have really sucked. I wonder if any fans will ask for a refund, as I thought the customer was always right. The game was so bad that the Yankees gave Nash gas.

 

I plan to take Nash out for a nice long walk this afternoon, and maybe go by the pet store to get him a little gift, but what do you get for the dog that has plenty of toys that we already don’t always play with, and he loves the bones that he already has, but does like to hide them, as one is always missing somewhere in the apartment. I actually think two of his bones are currently in the witness protection program in my apartment. Amazingly, when I vacum, I don’t even find his bones. Nash is that good of a hider, and there is no one here who can see to seek. So happy six month Anniversary Nash, and if we’re lucky, maybe the Yankees will give us a gift, and actually show up for game two of the World Series, as a win would be a sweet gift.

Nash cheats at tug!!

I never like to lose, and if I recall correctly when I wasn’t blind, and was able to play sports, I was very competitive, and hated to lose. So you can imagine, giving in to Nash when we are playing tug, and letting him win most of the time, was quite frustrating at first. Now, like any good guide dog handler, I let him win most of the time, and since we have been together awhile, I don’t mind  losing, but, I do like to win every now and then. Nash has a pretty strong grip, so a lot of the time, losing isn’t even by choice, but I could possibly hang on longer. Nash has a big toy ball that we play tug with, as it is easy for both of us to grip, and I don’t really need to worry about him chomping down on any fingers. Today, I seemed to be winning a lot, and I was sitting on the floor while we were playing, so Nash proved he was smarter than me, as I put the ball in front of him, he would chomp down on it, and at the same time, he would take his right front paw, and smack it over my hand, as if he was saying, I am getting a good grip on the ball before you even touch it. Hey, that’s not fair Nash! He did this a few times, and it was really cute. Once again, Nash proves that he was very well named for the Noble Price winning mathematician, John Nash portrayed in a Beautiful Mind by Russell Crowe, and like John Nash, Nash the guide dog all has multiple personalities, all of which I love. He has his silly side when he lies on his back and puts all of his paws up in the air, either scratching his back, or telling me he wants his tummy rubbed. He has his serious work side, when he is in his harness and leading me through all the obstacles of NYC. He has his moody side when he groans telling me he wants more attention, or has to go to the bathroom, he has his playful side which we see everyday in my apartment, and he has his sad side when he gives me what looks like the puppy eyes, usually telling me he wants more food. I think my dog Nash has a very beautiful mind.

How do you teach your dog to play dead?

It poured all day in NYC yesterday, so Nash and I didn’t spend a lot of time outside. Oh yeah, and college football was on all day, so that may have had something to do with a fairly inactive day. Hey, Nash needs to learn that college football is only for 13 Saturday’s of the year, and he really needs to become a Gator fan. Considering how poorly the Gators have played this year, I do have to give Nash some credited, as I really have only had one yelling outburst all season, which is really mellow for me. Nash doesn’t like it when I yell of get upset, and he gets in my face to make sure everything is ok, which is pretty nice of him, but he does need to understand that it is good to show emotion about sports for us guys. Nash did have his bone to play with, and his toy balls are out in the apartment, but he does not seem to like to play with the toys as much as his bone. He loves to throw the bone up in the air, and while I was enthralled with the end of the Alabama game, Nash started groaning. He groans a lot when he wants attention, but this time it was something different, as he had thrown his bone underneath the couch, and because he has paws and not hands, he could not reach it. I am amazed that I actually realized that he had tossed his bone underneath the couch, as Nash does not realize that I am blind and likes to hide his bone and make me try and find it. Kind of mean of him. So Nash eventually got a little bored playing with his bone, and since he does not watch football, and was groaning for attention, I decided to try and teach him how to play dead. At first I made a gun out of my hand, and made a gun noise, but this didn’t do anything. I could tell he was just staring at me, so I decided to act like I got shot, and fell on to the floor. Well, this didn’t work either, and I found myself flopping around on the floor trying to teach Nash how to play dead. All this accomplished was Nash sniffing me and trying to get at my face to lick it. Hey Nash, weren’t you concerned that I was hurt? I would lay motionless  on the floor, and Nash would either lick my face, or stand over me, but he seemed to know that I was faking being shot. Smart guy, you can’t fool the Nashster. I did eventueally get him to lay down next to me, and we were cuddling on the floor, which was pretty cute. Then he would stick his front right paw out, and extend it to my chest, kind of like he saying close, but not that close buddy, I do need my own personal space. So even though we didn’t venture out much yesterday, we did have a lot of personal time together, but I still couldn’t get Nash to play dead. I guess he just loves life to much.