Jerry Curl

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news , world news , and news about the economy Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news , world news , and news about the economy [ Editor's note ] Absolutely, positively remarkable!

[ Editor’s note ] Reflecting on past experiences is always a tricky business. Trying to figure out why you did the things you did is never easy and learning something from those things is always not a little painful. But that’s the point of self-reflection: to avoid repeating the pitfalls of the past. My 2012 was better than most. I graduated from college, got a new job and the new iPhone. I met Patti Smith and Chaz Bono. I saw Lenny Kravitz, Elton John, Liza Minnelli, Neil Diamond, and Madonna in concert. Unfortunately, I never wrote about some of those concerts... My Vinylmation collection swelled to number in the triple digits. And I met a boy that I feel both privileged and lucky to know and love. Still, I suppose the overarching theme for my 2012 was that of inaction. I didn’t do anything productive this year. That's to say, productive in the ways that adults typically consider important like traveling or moving out or saving money. I spent the last twelve months living ...

[ Editor's note ] I had an epiphany tonight after watching this week’s episode of Glee . Although I was pleased to see that it has transitioned nicely from a high school dramady to something more adult and solid, the epiphany wasn’t about the show. No, tonight’s epiphany was about me and how I relate to the world. Or, as you will come to understand, how I don't relate to the world. At some point late last year I made a committed effort to remove myself from a lot of things that most people would consider essential for the modern world. I logged off Facebook. I stopped watching popular television shows (this is where Glee comes in). I stopped going to the movies. I stopped listening to Top 40 radio stations. I even stopped reading the news, which long-time Jerry Curl readers have undoubtedly noticed. My abject rejection of contemporary culture is not really anything new. I could probably write a lengthy dissertation on the inadequacies of Taylor Swift. However, the persi...

Thank you, random coworker .

[ Editor's note ] Today is my birthday. I have been 27 years old for approximately two hours and forty-five minutes, give or take a few seconds. On the occasion of this relentlessly annual event, I feel it incumbent upon me to share some of the "wisdom" I've gathered along the way. 1)  Speak softly and carry a big stick. Be nice, but be firm. Handle people as they handle you. Always try to make them laugh--  And if all else fails, date someone with a big stick. 2) Some friendships are but for a season. Have no doubt that their time with you had meaning and purpose. Sometimes, people come in just to help you learn to say goodbye.   3) Other friendships are forever. Fight time and tide for those because they can and will save your life at least thrice. 4) Read everything. Read often. And for Christ's sake, finish what you start reading! I would recommend you start by reading Tina Fey's book, Bossypants . You'll laugh and you'll learn. 5) Stop ...

[ Editor’s note ] I finally finished Patti LuPone’s memoir this week. I’m embarrassed to admit that it took me a whole summer to do so, but whatta ride it was! I thoroughly enjoy biographies and Ms. LuPone’s extraordinary life made for an excellent read. For the unfortunate few who may not know who she is, Patti LuPone is the award-winning actress of stage and screen who famously originated the role of Eva Perón in Broadway’s Evita . She was also Fantine in the original London cast of Les Misérables , Mrs. Lovett in the 2006 Sweeney Todd revival, and (my personal favorite!) Mama Rose in the 2008 Arthur Laurents-directed revival of Gypsy . She is, to put it simply, a living legend. Having been in show business for over four decades, Ms. Lupone’s memoir is a veritable tell-all account of a career replete with soaring highs and devastating lows. She discusses the challenges of being a student actress at Julliard and the hardships of being a working actress on the road. S...

[ Editor’s note ] I’m happy to report that Miami is still here after Isaac. Despite some pretty dire forecasts, we didn’t suffer any damage. Somehow though, all of our patio furniture ended up at the bottom of the pool anyway. This I suspect had less to do with the hurricane than it did with my nutty parents. But I digress. While the weather wizards were putting the fear of God in everyone, my boyfriend and I decided to skip town. Armed with a free park pass, we packed our bags and headed for the wonderful, wide open spaces of Walt Disney World. The first thing on our agenda was to visit Downtown Disney—specifically, D Street. Considered by many to be the premier store for all things Vinylmation , I was expecting it to be a sprawling multi-floor store, replete with old and new collections to pick and choose from. Maybe some gilded Vinylmations? As avid collectors, both Javi and I were prepared for an expensive visit but one that would justify the stock-piling of 3” M...