Without fail, every time I return home from a trip, and the plane flys by the New York City skyline, I think, “Holy hell, I can’t believe I actually live there.” My friend Bryan put it well, “… to have moved to the biggest city in the country and made a life for yourself…” I love this city!

But I won’t be here for much longer. On June 15th I leave for Los Angeles for my six month stretch out there. But come 2009 I’ll be back in the Big Apple. But before I leave I’ve got some funny business to take care of. Check out my MySpace page for a complete listing of where I’ll be performing in the next couple of weeks. Come to a show, I guarantee you’ll laugh at least once (I’ll tickle ya if I have to).

My little brother has graduated from college. It’s an amazing achievement, I’m very proud. To honor the occassion, I’ve traveled half-way across the country to spend the holiday weekend with the family in St. Louis, MO.

First impressions? I’m loving the green. It’s everywhere! Holy hell, the tree’s, the grass, the hills, green, green, green. I’m in heaven, runner’s heaven!

Oh, being home, even for a short amount of time, is splendid. Holla for St. Louis!

Thought I’d share some pics I just uploaded from Christmas and New Year’s. What fun! Click on the photos to be taken to the gallery of all the pics.

The best picture of Lori and I ever!

What was that?!?!

Communist Scotty!

Some random guy and I. He was hot. Notice Lori sneaking through behind us.

Um, well, he said he’d show me a good time.

Tomorrow morning I’ll be leaving on a jet plane for New York City. Color me thrilled!

I can’t believe I’ve been away from the city since June. If absence makes the heart grow fonder, then my heart is literally leaking fondness. NYC is my home, which is funny because I never intended for it to be that. Initially it was just a stop on the path, not literally a place to settle down, just to hang my hat. But while I was there I established a life, a family, a very happy existence.

But first things first, it’s New Year’s Eve! Tonight Lori and I will be tearing St. Louis a new one, riding a bomb and toasting the Commies (we’re going to a Communist themed New Year’s Party).

Immediately following the party I head to the airport.

Living like a rock star. Of course I’ll try to take video of all the craziness and bring it to y’all once I land.

Happy New Year’s!

Send me an email at HAlanScott@gmail.com

I’ve joined a Christmas Choir. Celia’s Yuletide Express is not a professional choir, just a group of fun holiday song loving creative types who love to get together at locals bars and events around town and sing, sing, sing! We’re performing all month around St. Louis, MO, come see us if you can.
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I love being back in St. Louis. Everything seems to slow down here. People smile at one another on the streets (even the homeless say “Good Morning” to ya). When did we stop smiling at people?

I get to run today for the first time since the Marathon. After such an intense run you’re suppose to let your body rest for a while. But resting in December could prove to be dangerous? My six months in Los Angeles gave me an extra 10 pounds, I won’t let the most happily plump month of the year give me another 10. Plus I need to prepare for my big return to New York City on January 1st. I need to be able to bike 12 miles a day (to and from work), walk a ton, hit the subway steps without losing my breath, take tennis lessons and be in top shape to find a man. Phew! Health plan for December:
- WATCH THE FOOD, everything in moderation.
- Walk at least one hour everyday.
- Follow the running recovery plan.
- Bike, bike, bike.
- 8 Minute Abs everyday.
- Think skinny.
- Finally realize that crack is wack.

I can do it!
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Heading up to Iowa next week to volunteer for the John Edwards Presidential Campaign. Not sure that I’m supporting him yet, but my wonderful friend Meredith works for him. Check the blog out next week for lots of fun rural campaign stories!

Maybe I’ll be at the center of a bathroom sex scandal. Wouldn’t that be fantastic? I do need a date.

Send me an email at TheScottBlog@gmail.com

Why does someone choose to do a marathon? It’s sort of a silly thing to do, to put your body under that much stress. Maybe it’s just made for hardcore distance runners. The average person’s body is not meant for the sort of strain 26.2 miles puts on the body.

So why did I do it? Because I kick ass!

Yes friends, it’s true, I kick the ass like no other. I am Scott, the marathon running ass kicker. I started the marathon at 6:10am and finished 4 hours and 14 minutes later.

I beat Oprah’s time too! Doing something better than Oprah makes me feel special. It isn’t everyday one can feel above Queen Oppie.

Along the way I thought about a lot of things: how much weight I’ve lost, how far I’ve come physically, my friends and family, what I was going to eat after the race, Paula Abdul. But the one thought that really got me through the long stretches was how it felt to do stand up comedy. That feeling of being on stage, entertaining, being me; it’s what I need to be doing. 2008 is going to be all about doing all I need to do to hone my skills in comedy.

I’m so glad I ran the race. I’m even more glad that it’s over. I’ll be in St. Louis, MO in a couple of hours, with my family and friends, and will settle in to relax, laugh and explore the city that I love.

Send me an email at TheScottBlog@gmail.com

What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas. I’m so marrying a midget.

I arrived last night, the countdown to the marathan has begun. Sunday morning at 6:12 AM I will run 26.2 miles. I’m so nervous I can’t poop. Seriously. I’m nothing if not honest. All I want to do is poop. I’ve taken pills, drank coffee, upped my fiber - nothin. It will happen… I hope. Wouldn’t that be a nasty picture at the 15th mile of the marathon?

Pictures, stories and all sorts of other goodies will come, but probably not until December 4th when I’m sitting all cozy like in St. Louis, Missouri. Until then, be well blogger friends, wish me luck.

BTW, I think my friend Meaghan should be able to get my stand-up on YouTube. The moment it’s on there I will post it here.

Okay, take care, I’s got some exploring to do!

Send me an email at TheScottBlog@gmail.com

Thanksgiving is a time to be thankful for all the many wonderful things in your life. There are always things to be thankful for: your family, friends, possibly your fantastic job, maybe a new skill you picked up. Whatever it is it’s almost always something that defines who you are in some way. Every Thanksgiving I give thanks for all the typical things, but as I got older I recognized one thing in my life that was missing out on the love: the cinema!

The first Thanksgiving after I moved in with my mother (I was 11), I spent with my father in his crappy apartment in the ghetto of St. Louis. The turkey was dry, the stuffing looked a little too much like hash for comfort and the pumpkin pie had a chalky taste to it. Of course I ate every bite, had seconds, and acted like it was the best meal ever.

“You’ve gained weight since you’ve moved in with your mother,” my dad told me in his matter-of-fact way after I helped myself to a second piece of pie. I wanted to tell him the truth about the meal, payback for his insult, but the shame of food was just too strong.

Late that night I couldn’t sleep. The embarrassment of being a fatty, and being called on it, was too strong to bear. To ease the pain I put in a movie, Splash. That finished, still wasn’t sleepy, so I popped in The Adventures of Huck Finn. The sun started to come out when I put on Punchline. For the rest of the weekend I watched one movie after another. In between a couple films I would take quick naps. A League of Their Own, The Firm, sleep, Field of Dreams, poop, Annie, Heaven Can Wait, sleep, Rent-a-Cop, Days of Thunder (I had a thing for Tom Cruise), Big.

It was during that weekend when I discovered the power of movies. They took me away from the pain. If I got lonely, sad, embarrassed, even bored, all I needed to do was watch a movie and everything would be alright. At least for two hours. Half the time it didn’t matter what film it was, I could lose myself in it.

To this day I still see at least one movie in the theaters a week. Of course I also watch them at home. Now they’ve become something else altogether, no longer are they used as a mechanism to ignore grief, but more like I’m catching up with an old friend.

Below is a list of movies that I watch on a regular basis for all sorts of reasons. If you haven’t seen them, I highly recommend you check them out. What are some of your favorites?

~ Terms of Endearment: I watch this movie almost monthly. It’s difficult for me to explain why this film is so special to me, it moves me like no other film ever has.

~ Citizen Kane: Every time I watch this movie I’m amazed. I still cannot believe it was made in 1941. It seems so modern.

~ The Bicycle Thief: I get emotional just describing the plot of this film. A down on his luck father finally gets a job on war-torn Rome, but it requires a bike (and his was stolen). He takes his son on a walk around Rome trying to find a bike. Simple plot, beautifully shot and an ending you will never, EVER, forget.

~ The Purple Rose of Cairo: A hidden Woody Allen gem. A woman escapes her horrible life by going to the movies (sound familiar?). But then the film comes to life!

~ It’s a Wonderful Life: The scene where young George Bailey gets slapped by the drunk pharmacist for keeping him from possibly poisoning a prescription, and then the drunk pharmacist realizes what he was about to do- and what he did to Geroge, is possibly one of the single most saddest scenes I have ever seen. Beautiful!

~ Nights of Cabiria: A prostitute decides to change her ways and get her life on track. An Italian classic!

~ Billy Elliott: Poor boy + hidden talent as a dancer + hope = great film!

~ Torch Song Trilogy: I want this life (minus the career as a drag queen and the tragedy of losing a love).

~ All About My Mother: Really any film by Pedro Almodovar can take me out of a funk, but this one in particular.

***CLICK ON MOVIE TITLES TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THOSE FILMS***

Send me an email at TheScottBlog@gmail.com