Laugh For Sight 4 Photos!

It has taken me awhile, but here are some of the photos from Laugh For Sight 4 at Gotham Comedy Club. All photos courtesy of Mark Liflander. Enjoy!

1010 WINS Alice Stockton-Rossini, Brian and Nash

Brian and Nash at the silent auction

Brian and Nash before the show

Brian & Nash telling em how it is!

Keeping Em' Laughing Til There's A Cure

Eddie Brill, Audience Warm Up Letterman Show

Eddie Brill, 4 time Laugh For Sight performer

Rich Vos having fun with the audience

Rich Vos from Last Comic Standing

Legendary Comedian Robert Klein

Robert Klein keeping em laughing

Robert Klein Tony and Grammy Nominee

Friend sharing a laugh with Erica Greenhouse

Jessica Greenhouse and Matt

Bonnie McFarlane from Last Comic Standing

Bonnie McFarlane making em laugh

Comedian John Morrison getting the crowd going

Michelle Brier from Guiding Eyes with a puppy

So Cute

SNL Alum and Tough Crowd's Colin Quinn

Colin Quinn sharing a laugh with the crowd

LFS4 Emcee and 1010 WINS Alice Stockton-Rossini

Comedian Tim Young

I Now Know What They Do With All the Snow in NYC

On Monday, Nash and I had a check up for him with his vet. Our main reason for the visit to the Animal Medical Center was to get Nash’s Howard Hughes length nails clipped. Since we had to head all the way over to York Ave on the East Side, Nash got the full check up. We took the 57th Street crosstown bus which cuts all the way across 57th street and then up York Ave dropping us a block from the AMC. Well, the bus driver dropped us off right into a foot of snow. Not being able to see, I thought he must have dropped us off in the middle of the street as there was so much snow. Nope, amazingly, we were on the sidewalk. I couldn’t believe the amount of snow on the sidewalks two days after the storm. My neighborhoods sidewalks were completely cleared, and it got me thinking, where do they take all the snow in the city? After walking or attempting to walk the one block to the AMC, my only answer is they drop it all on York Ave. The snow went way up my shin, and Nash really had no idea where to go. I couldn’t even tell which way was North the one block to the AMC. I was beginning to think I should of canceled my appointment. Nash and I eventually got to the AMC, but my shoes and socks were soak and wet. Nash of course enjoyed all the time in the snow, and it was a good thing we went, as it ends up Nash has a real bad ear infection. When we left Guiding Eyes Nash had a right ear infection, this time it is a left ear infection, and his vet thinks it could be allergies. The ear infection was so bad that his vet wants him to take a 4 in 1 antibiotic that the AMC doesn’t carry, so I will have to buy it through a pet pharmacy. His vet told me it would cost 40 bucks, so that’s not too bad. The good news is other then the ear infection, he is completely healthy, and his blood tests all came back good.

We left the AMC and headed up York in the snow to the bus stop. The snow was so bad, that there was no way to get around the snow to get on the bus. We had to head all the way down to 57th street to get on the bus. Unbelievable. Amazing the difference in amounts of snow two sides of the city can have. We finally did get on the bus and got home, but it was quite the adventure. Being the responsible guide dog handler, I immediately called the pharmacy to get his meds, and guess what, the drops aren’t 40 bucks they are $199.99! Damn, that is a major difference. I have been trying to get his vet on the phone to find out if there has been some mistake, and I have spoken to the vet at Guiding Eyes to see if the drops are something they could get for me. No luck so far, and now I hear there is some holiday the next two days, so we will not be getting his drops til next week. As least Nash does seem like his usual happy self, and playful, so I don’t think he is in to much discomfort from the ear infection.

Besides the vet, it has been a pretty busy week as Monday night we had the Broadway Comedy Club Holiday Party, always a fun time, and we run into a lot of people that we haven’t seen in a long time. I didn’t get to make it last year, so it was nice to be able to go this year. It was pretty crowded, so Nash and I didn’t stay as long as I might have stayed without Nash, as he did get bumped into a few times.

The rest of the week I have had a few conference calls about Laugh For Sight in 2010, and their are some exciting developments, but nothing concrete yet. I will let you know as soon as I know more.

On a final note, today, I heard my new favorite excuse for running over a blind guy and his guide dog, “I have fresh meat here the dog is going to attack it!” The guy just ran right into Nash and me and kept going, what an asshole. Of course, Nash didn’t even flinch, or go towards the meat. It’s good to see the Christmas spirit makes for an asshole on 8th Avenue.

Happy Only Three Years to the Apocalypse Day!

It’s 12/21, and several groups have predicted the latest end of the world apocalypse to be 12/21/12. The Mayans, Hopie Indians, Nostradamus, and scientists have all predicted something terrible to happen on 12/21/12. I just hope its not as bad as Y2K. What a disappointment that was, it was like a big budget movie with amazing coming attractions that just goes nowhere. So lets examine some of the info on the upcoming apocalypse. Most people point to the Mayan calendar ending on 12/21/12 as a warning to us that the world would end. Of course they designed this calendar like 4000 years ago, and I have put a lot of scientific research and study and come up with an amazing hypothesis that people brighter than me need to investigate. My theory you ask, what if the Mayan who designed the original calendar ran out of rocks while designing the calendar when he came to 12/21/12? I mean he had to be using rocks to design a calendar that ran 4000 years, how many rocks could they have? I assume they had to keep some of the rocks to use as weapons to defend themselves. Maybe they used to many rocks to design the calendar, and didn’t keep enough to defend themselves and that is why they became extinct? Something to look into.

Now lets examing Nostradamus. I do not recall what his quantrant says about 2012, and I am sure you can look it up somewhere online, but come on, how many times did this guy predict the end of the world? Yeah, so he did get some things right, but how many things has he missed on? I still do find it pretty interesting that he did supposedly predict Hitler and 9/11, and a lot of other calamities. He had to be a lot of laughs at a party. All that gloom and doom, I am surprised his head didn’t explode from all the stress.

Finally, lets explore the scientific phenomeon that will take place on 12/21/12. Our solar system will be in perfect alignment meaning that our sun will appear exactly in the center of the milky way, an event that happens once every 26,000 years. My question, where did the notes come from from the last time this event took place? Like I have said before, I am not the sharpest tool in the shed, but I am pretty sure they don’t have any written date from 26000 years ago, and last time I checked science was based on fact.

In conclusion, I am kind of curious will the end of the world be a time zone specific event? Will China and Japan be hit first at midnight on 12/21/2012 and will the apocalypse than move West across Asia, Europe, and eventually hit North America? This is something you never hear about, because after all, it will be 12/21/12 a lot earlier in China. If all of this is true, I am just pissed that California will get hit last, it just isn’t fair that they out last us New Yorkers by three hours. I am just so very happy that the creationists and evolutionists can finally agree on something, the shit is going to hit the fan on 12/21/12!

Is it wrong to throw snowballs at your dog?

We have gotten about a foot of snow from the Nor’easterner here in NYC. I have always loved snow, and it is good to see that Nash really loves the snow to. When I was a kid, I would come up to New York from Florida, and I would stay with my Grandparents in Yonlers. One of my favorite stories that my Grandma used to tell me was that one time I came up, and I kept looking out the window, and finally my Grandma asked me, “Brian what are you looking for?” I said, “snow.” She said, “sorry Brian, it’s July and doesn’t snow this time of year.” What can I say, I wasn’t a very bright kid.

Nash and I had a fun adventure yesterday with all the snow coming down. Luckily, we didn’t have any where that we had to go. We did go to Duane Reade which is a block away, and the snow wasn’t coming down hard yet. By late evening when we went out for Nash’s walk, it was really coming down, and it was difficult to just get to the street for Nash to go to the bathroom, as the sidewalks were covered, and I couldn’t tell where the sidewalk ended and the street began. As Nash did his business, I was just struggling to stay upright, and it hit me, Guiding Eyes never taught us what to with our guide dogs when it snows. I was feeling all around trying to find his poop, and finally said the hell with it. It amazed me that Nash did not sink into the snow, but his poop must have.

It hasn’t snowed today, and we have been out twice, and the amazing thing about NYC is the sidewalks are pretty much all cleared. At least today I can tell where the sidewalk and the street begin. Nash always goes to the bathroom in the street by the curb, and of course, that is where all the snow is, but he was able to pop up onto the snow and do his thing, but I still can’t seem to find it when he is done with it. Not sure how it disappears so quickly into the snow. Today Nash and I played a little in the snow. After he did his business, we moved down to what I thought was some fresh clean snow, and I let Nash run around in it. He was on his leash, but he was really enjoying running around in the snow. Then for some reason, I mashed up a snowball and gently tossed it at him. I began to shovel snow on to him, and what did he do. He actually began to shovel snow at me with his paws. What can I say, I guess he is smarter than me. I hope we have a lot of snow storms this winter, as Nash and I both enjoy them, and I think it probably has a lot to do with that I don’t have to travel that much in it, and I don’t have to shovel it.

Amazing that you can live in NYC for 10 years, and not know winter until you have a dog!

I have always loved the change of seasons, and on my long list of what is wrong with my, I have always loved Fall and Winter the most, but that may be changing, as I am beginning to think that I never really spent a lot of time outside during winter. The last few days it has been like they say in Boston, wicked cold. I take Nash out to do his business, and I am amazed how he likes to take his time, and enjoy the cold weather, but hey, he grew up in the Finger Lakes Region in upstate New York, so this is probably not even cold to him, but I grew up in Ft. Lauderdale. Nash loves to dilly dally, and yes the phrase dilly dally is not used enough in every day conversation. He takes his sweet time while I am freezing my you know what off. I have been going out with four layers on and gloves, but you can’t put a glove on your right hand, as I am not skilled enough to feel his backside with a glove on to tell when he is doing his business, and I can’t put a glove on to put into the plastic bag, as I can’t get the plastic bag open with gloves on. They should have a class to teach us people who do not grow up in the North how to do every day simple tasks with gloves on. New York feels like the ice planer Hoth right now. Had to get the Star Wars reference in.

Today we are heading down to the village to help out at my friend’s jewlery sale, so it will be interesting getting there in the cold, as I am going to have to layer up. Nash is currently napping in my bed, so I am assuming he is a little cold, as normally at this time of day, he is next to me at my desk on my feet. I am assuming that he is in the bed because the hard wood floors are to cold for him. There is a big snow storm coming tomorrow, so that should be interesting as it will be Nash and my first time with snow. With all of his sniffing and having to stick his tongue at everything, my only advice to him is don’t eat the yellow snow!

What to do when your doctor calls in sick!

I have been waiting a good part of my adult life to have a doctor’s appointment, and to have my doctor call in sick. What can I say, I despise their 24 hour cancelation policy. I’ve wanted to use the oh, I’m sorry, I require a 24 notice when canceling an appointment with me. Then the doctor would have to pay me for canceling. Well, today, it finally happened! Unfortunately, the appointment was for Nash for a routine check up and to get his nails clipped at the Animal Medical Center, and more unfortunately, they treat Nash for free, so I finally get a doc to cancel on me, and because the AMC is so amazing, I can’t use my attempt to get paid! Just my luck. I hope that Nash’s vet is feeling better, because she is fantastic, and it is like 20 degrees outside, so taking the hike all the way across the city was not something I really wanted to do, so I am kind of glad they canceled on me. We have rescheduled for Monday, so Nash will have a few more days with his claws. His nails have gotten a little too long, and he is looking like the Howard Hughes of dogs. Unlike Hughes though, Nash goes outside to pee.

Friday, Nash and I are volunteering over at my friend Susan Michel’s yearly jewlery sale, Gems For Sight. If you are in the city, and looking for a great gift idea, come on by, as there will be 17 jewlery designers down in Soho with great sales, and proceeds from the event will be going to the Foundation Fighting Blindness. Susan runs the silent auction at Laugh For Sight, and gets a bunch of her designer friends to donate pieces. Nash and I will be selling raffle tickets. Here is the info on the sale.

Susan Michel, a New York City chapter leader, is producing her eighth annual sample sale.  This successful event has been renamed Gems for Sight.  A portion of its proceeds are being donated to the Foundation Fighting Blindness.

Michel has been a jewelry designer for the past 25 years.  She began losing her vision five years ago due to a degenerative disease of the retina. Now legally blind, she continues to produce gorgeous designs thanks to a dedicated team of employees.  One of her staff members is an artist who sketches her ideas and projects them onto a large screen where Susan, who retains less than ten percent of her of vision, can view them.

Gems for Sight is supported by sixteen award-winning jewelry designers, each with a full showcase of fabulous designs offered at reduced prices for two days only: Amali Jewelry, Alberian & Aulde, Catherine Iskiw, DanaDavid, Diana Widman, EDE Studio, EmilyAmey, Emily Kiefer, Jessica Fields, Joyce Goodman, Kathleen DiResta, Maija Neimanis, Pearl Works by Sandy Jones, Robert Lee Morris, Susan Michel and Tarra Rosenbaum.
Divine Studio
21 East Fourth Street, Suite 6
New York, NY

Friday, December 18
and
Saturday, December 19

11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Were Gonna Need A Bigger Bed!

It is no longer my bed, it is our bed, Nash and me. He loves to get into my bed before and after our last walk of the evening.  Now during winter, he is even learning more, as I lay on the couch watching tv with my big comforter from my bed. Since Nash started getting into my bed, he would be in it before I would get in it, and I would throw the comforter on the bed before going to bed and I would have this big lump of  Nash underneath my comforter. Then before getting into bed, I would have to get Nash to scoot down to the foot of my bed, and come out from underneath the comforter which would take some time. One night, Nash was even laying in my bed like me, he was underneath the comforter with his head on my pillow, and the comforter covering him from his neck down. It was ridiculously cute, and I wish I would have taken a pic of it. Well, you ask, how is he learning. Tonight Nash was in my bed. Then he got out shortly before I was ready to go to bed, came over to the couch, got into his bed, and waited. I shortly there after went and threw my comforter on my bed, and a split second after doing so, Nash went and hopped into my bed. It was like, ok enough of this covering me with the comforter, I’ll just wait you out. He is a smart guy. The only problem I forsee is summer time, as Nash is pretty warm, and I think him sleeping up against me is going to make me way to warm, so I to steal a quote from Jaws, and change the last word, “Were gonne need a bigger bed.”

Nash and I also did some good route work today working on breaking his sniffing habit. He did a pretty good job, but could do a better job, as he did try and sniff a few to many times. I am now walking with the leash in my right hand so I can get a better feel of when Nash’s head drops to sniff, and immediately hit him with a leash correction.

Nash was also very interested in sniffing everything in sight in Duane Reade. Why is it come holiday time, Duane Reade feels it is necessary to cover every square inch of the store with displays of crap people don’t need to buy? Going to Duane Reade is like a blind man’s obstacle course, and I have yet to make it through without knocking something over.

Nash’s First Scolding

I haven’t been sleeping much lately, and I think Nash loves it because he has more space in the bed. This morning we both woke up pretty early, and I try and keep Nash on a feeding and walking schedule, so it was to early to do either. Nash decided he wanted to play, and I got down on the floor with him, and we were playing with one of his bones for a bit, then we started wrestling a little. He always wins, but for a bried moment, he will let me have my hands on his paws, then he will slap his paws over my hands. I will also put him in a gently headlock. We weere really going at it this morning, and Nash was having a lot of fun, and since I can’t get him to play dead, I will often play dead on the floor face down. Nash will then sniff me all over, sometimes licking my head, then I jump up and give him a little scare. Today, as I was laying down dead, Nash slammed both his paws on my back. I thought how nice, he is going to give me a massage. Then I heard something that I have not heard before. Nash was peeing all over the apartment. I guess I had got him to riled up before we went out for our morning walk. I had to scold Nash. I kept telling him, “bad, bad, bad” in a raised tone that I have not used with him before. I got him to sit in the corner so I could clean the apartment up. I could tell that Nash was sulking in the corner. Now, you ask, “how does a blind guy clean up pee?” Well, it isn’t a lot of fun. I had to walk around in my socks, and feel the wettness. So when my socks got wet, I would stop and clenn up with a paper towel. Yuck. Then I used a dog cleaning supply to go back over the floor. After, I fed Nash and took him out for his walk. Then I took a shower to delaus. Lets just say Nash better not get in a habit of having accidents in the aprtment, or I am going to have to buy more socks.

You can teach a new dog old tricks!

Nash and I have gotten into some bad habits. Actually, not really bad habits, more sloppy working. I think this happens with many first time guide dog teams, and especially people who have a dog for the first time. I am fairly laid back, and kind of let Nash walk all over me, I think we are still trying to distinguish who the alpha male in the relationship is. We have totally bonded which Guiding Eyes tells me is the most important thing between a guide dog and his handler, but Nash still loves to sniff, and since we have gotten back to NYC from GEB he has gotten into a bad habit of trying to say hello to every dog we pass on the street. It is strange because he did not have a dog distraction while we were at GEB. I finally broke down and called the GEB help line, and had a very nice conversation a few days ago with an instructor. It was nice to hear that they did not think they needed to send an instuctor out immediately to work with us, and it sounds like everything that we have been going through is fairly common. Even though we have been together for 7 months, it is still a new relationship. The instructor had a suggestion for me to walk with the harness in my left hand which is what we have been doing, but instead of having the leash over the harness, to walk with it in my right hand. It certaintly takes some getting used to as it is uncomfortable walking this way, but I immediately saw what she was talking about, as I was able to really feel every time Nash’s head would dip down to sniff, or he would try and vear off course. We had a great route walking this way yesterday at a very qyick tempo, and today while we cut our route short as it is very cold out, we had a good working route. I am not sure how long we will have to walk like this, but I really want to break Nash of his obsessive sniffing and attempting to be overly friendly to every dog in NYC. Yesterday, he did try and go up to welcome a tourist to NYC. He thinks he is the welcoming committee. The lady was very nice and offered Nash a cookie, but I told her that he couldn’t as he was working. So, I guess you can teach a new dog old tricks!

My Favorite TV Shows of the 2009-10 Season

Since Nash is keeping me up by hogging too much of my bed, I figured I would start on a new list. Since my vision has deterioated, I really can’t seem to follow movies anymore, as the action seems to move to quick. Also, they seem to be making better tv these days with continual story lines, and I have become a slave to my tivo, so here’s my list in order with a little blurb. You won’t see any CSI’s, NCIS, Cold Cases, or Law and Order’s on this list, as those shows all seem like the same thing to me, different week. Unfortunately, no Eli Stone or Dirty Sexy Money on the list because the morons at ABC canceled those shows.

1.Lost – Hands down the best show on tv. It is the most thought provoking show on the air, and I am so sad that this will be the last season, as there is nothing else like it on tv.

2. The Big Bang Theory- The funniest show on tv. The entire cast is amazing. Jim Parsons comedic timing, facial expressions, and mannerisms are pure gold!

3. Rescue Me – It just keeps getting better and better. Another amazing ensemble cast, led by Denis Leary. I love how every character has flaws.

4. Burn Notice – Michael Weston would kick James Bond’s ass!

5. Sons of Anarchy – Wow, season two was intense. The final two episodes were amazing. Charming, the most violent town in America.

6. Curb Your Enthsiasm – Please Larry David, one more season. I want to be a lovable asshole like Larry David, or at least have his money.

7. Lie To Me – Great story lines. Tim Roth is fantastic. I just hope it gets picked up for 2010.

8. Castle – A very unique original take on the detective dramedy. And the only thing sexier than the name Stana Katic is her! Again, I hope it gets picked up for 2010.

9. Two and A Half Men – Not as funny as it one was, but still good for some weekly laughs. And wow, who is the actress that plays Charlie Sheen’s fiance. Where has she been all my life?

10. Pysch – This season was not as good as the past, but still a very funny show, and I love all the movie references.

11. Family Guy – What do you know the show can survive without Cleveland! Long live Stewie and Brian!

12. 24 – I thought this past season was awful. Here’s hoping the upcoming season hasn’t “Jumped the Shark!”

13. Numbers – Funny, I am awful at Math, yet I love this show. Rob Morrow is truly one of the most underappreciated actors.

14. FlashForward – Still not completely sold on this one yet, as I think it can be great, but still needs to wow me. I am enjoying a lot of it, but not sure if they know where they are going.

15. Californication – Duchovny is fantastic, and I wish I could be as cool as Hank, and as laid back!

16. Gary Unmarried – Its hit or miss with this one, but getting to see Paula Marshall every week doesn’t suck, and with the lack of sitcoms out there, this one makes the list.

17. Mad Men – I don’t know why I haven’t bought into this show like everyone else, I am still a season and a half behind, so it may move up the list.

18. Entourage – Having worked in the movie biz for four years, this one brings back good memories and bad. And it gave us, “Hug it out!”

19. Chuck – Entertaining. I always enjoy a geek in a good spy story.

20. Royal Pains – Funny, I hate the Hamptons and hate the Hamtons crowd even more, but I like this show.

21. Leverage – Got to love a bunch of bad guys doing good and scamming worst guys in a Robin Hood style.

22. Smallville – Not sure why I keep watching. It is entertaining every now and then, but Siperman without Lex Luthor, just ain’t Superman.

23. Supernatural – Talk about unleashing hell! Another show that is hit or miss by episode.

24. White Collar – This show only had 7 episodes but it really caught me, especially the big cliff hanger ending, can’t wait for it to be back in January.

25. Monk – The plots were always weak, but Tony Shalloub made up for it. It had runs its course.

26. Big Love – Not a huge fan, but I do watch it.

27. Fringe – Still waiting to see where they are headed with this one. It’s no X-Files.

28.It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia – Another show that is hit or miss, either really funny or stupid.

29.Damages – The first season was really good, the second, not so much, should be interesting to see where the third goes.

30. New Adventures of Old Christine – What can I say, I love sitcoms, and this show is hit or miss, but more miss.

Shows That I Have Yet to Watch or Make A Decision On

Accidentatly on Purpose, The Good Wife, Heroes, CougarTown, The Vampire Diaries, The League, The Forgotten, Heroes this season, Modern Family, V, Melrose Place, Brothers