I had been on my own several times in my life -- summers in camp, college a thousand miles away and even Europe, across the Atlantic Ocean -- yet I was always defined by my activities. I was a Camper or a Student. Moving into New York City was the first time I would truly see what I was made of. I would now be defined by my city. I was going to become a New Yorker (a Neuw Yawkah, to the natives).

It wasn't at all that difficult to make that move. I grew up in New Jersey and went into the city all the time growing up, to visit my grandparents and numerous aunts and uncles, in Brooklyn. So it was home, but very different. It was up to me now, to make my way.

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Even though I lived on the island of Manhattan, it was really Manhattan Lite. My first apartment was in Washinton Heights; 190th Street to be exact. It was 150 blocks away from where any real New York experience was happening. I found myself spending a lot of day time lugging around all the stuff I'd need for the day; only to trek back up on the "A" train, through the Upper West Side and Harlem and another four or five stops before climbing the stairs to my room.

That didn't even last the year. My brother moved into the city soon after I did; and I moved to the newly yuppy area of NoHo. It was across from the Puck Building, which can be seen as Grace's Office in Will and Grace. I filmed my first music video there for Seiko Matsuda; and thought I was on my way to making it in the Big Apple.

I was determined to be an actor while in the city. You can check out my resume, if you really want the details. Here's just some highlights:

• I became a "supernumerary" (a spear carrier) at New York City Opera. I carried a number of famous people in carts and on my shoulder. I also met some people who will be my friends for life there.
• I told Brian Johnson of AC/DC during a video, "I've been your greatest fan... since this morning."
• I got cut out of Woody Allen's New York Stories.
• I acted in a small theater, where the cat urinated on my costumes, and we had to leave by 10, because it turned into a psycho-therapy S&M club at 11 pm.
• I never made it to Broadway, but I did get as far as Off-Broadway. I was the understudy for everyone and had to memorize the script word for word. After taking over the lead, I broke my toe and had to finish the second act before going to the hospital.