Sponge [spuhnj] noun: a person or thing that absorbs something freely. There you have it folks, New York City. That's right, the biggest sponge in the world. "What does New York City soak up so freely?" Glad you asked.

Where to begin, oh, I know, we'll start with time. I must admit, I just love having to schedule my friends in to hang out. Seriously, if you want to grab a slice of pizza with me, you'd better be on the list, or made previous verbal agreements, because if not…sorry  pally. No can do. It's pathetic really. I mean, it would be one thing if I was a big shot actor who was on set or traveling from city to city, but no, I'm just an average Joe (Josh), who is consumed with work, shows, commuting(as discussed in previous blogs) and eating/sleeping(yes you have to schedule those in as well), and doesn't have time to hang out with his friends. Pathetic.

If time isn't enough to soak up, the City loves to get a hold of that good ol' ambition. Honestly, how many commercial auditions can you not get, and call backs you not receive before you start to go crazy and question your very purpose in this "Big City"? And I'm just talking about commercials! No wonder that I have seen so many of my friends come and go in the city. How much rejection can one man take? Hopefully more than that one man, who couldn't take that much.

O.k New York, you've got my time and ambition, but not my money…oh wait, you've had that from day one. Not that I have any thing for the City to soak up, but whatever I do have, the City will pry from my hands. It is ridiculous. Every dime goes to the City…seriously, every dime. There's a reason a man stands outside the subway everyday saying, "You gotta dime?" Because the City has taken all his, and he needs everyone else's to give back to the City again, thus taking every dime in the City. I won't even speak of rent. Seriously, it is to disturbing for young readers.

There you have it. The Great Sponge. Time, money, and ambition…all gone. "So what's left?" Well, my good friend, I ask myself that often. After much thought, I have come to this conclusion: The only thing left when all is gone, is the greatest city in the world. So I will not throw in the sponge yet, oh no, the sponge will not yet be thrown in.