Star Parker, a former welfare cheat who had multiple abortions, claimed to me that abortion is the leading cause of death among African American women between the ages of 25 and 34. Then she described her wish for the forced quarantine of all "sodomites." Parker was not a lone wacko milling around in the hallway; she was a speaker invited by the Family Research Council.
And that is why I am a liberal.
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Vacation, all I ever wanted
So up until an embarrassingly short time ago, I always that that the old Go-Go's song about vacations and such included the lyrics "vacation getaway." Hence my obsession with the phrase. It was quite depressing to discover that the peppy sounding little song is...well, kind of depressing. That's neither here nor there, it's just that the song has been in my head since I've been planning my kickass trip to Baltimore!!!
Garth (or G-money, as Kendra referred to him yesterday, thus causing me to dissolve into a fit of giggles) is definitely going to be joining me. He had coffee with Mr. Jim Jack yesterday, and the big star is excited about us gathering in Baltimore. But probably not as excited as I am.
I've also been speaking to Jason about the trip, obviously, and today he said he may be able to get us a deal on a super swanky hotel room where CenterStage occasionally houses actors and guests. Words can't express how badass this would be...but I'm trying not to get my hopes up, cause you never know.
Finally...pictures!
Carol and her IMPOSSIBLY CUTE steptwincousinbabies. How adorable are they in their little dresses?
Garth (or G-money, as Kendra referred to him yesterday, thus causing me to dissolve into a fit of giggles) is definitely going to be joining me. He had coffee with Mr. Jim Jack yesterday, and the big star is excited about us gathering in Baltimore. But probably not as excited as I am.
I've also been speaking to Jason about the trip, obviously, and today he said he may be able to get us a deal on a super swanky hotel room where CenterStage occasionally houses actors and guests. Words can't express how badass this would be...but I'm trying not to get my hopes up, cause you never know.
Finally...pictures!
Carol and her IMPOSSIBLY CUTE steptwincousinbabies. How adorable are they in their little dresses?
Look, Aaron Page was in town! I love him and I love Peter.
Me & CarolAriel
Beautiful little Jamie Monahan and my disembodied head
One of my all time favorite couples, looking hot.
Shockingly, Mich is sober in this picture. I know it's hard to believe.
Jen Bukovsky apparently occupied her time during Strike by giving Sharpie drawings tattoos to all the actors. This is my favorite example of her work as modeled by Mr. Andrew Bentley, otherwise known as King Alonso
The beautiful artist. And me.
Time for Carol's star treatment.
In every cabin she did flame amazement.
Monday, October 29, 2007
Smiling in the face of mankind
This weekend was completely fabulous. It was filled to the brim with adventures with my mom and with gorgeous TheaterCNU friends & babies. I also had a very exciting Friday night all by my lonesome - the plan was to watch Part II of No Direction Home and work on my portfolio...but instead I decided to make pasta, watch Part II of No Direction Home, drink red wine, and then watch High Fidelity. Oops. But seriously...that combination just lead to bliss.
In fact, the only bad part of my weekend: my poor portfolio was totally neglected. I did sit down with it a bit on Saturday, but then that was more of me realizing that I need a box cutter and a straight edge and I'm going to have to figure out how the hell I'm going to make high-quality resized copies of newspaper articles and paperwork and also wondering what the hell I should put in it aside from the obvious pictures & programs. Gulp.
But Saturday was great - I spent pretty much the whole day with Billy Harley, my little! We haven't played together in a million years, so we just spent the day playing and gossiping and catching up like we do. In the evening, my mommy came over!! We had dinner at good ol' Schooners and saw The Tempest together, and it was just an indescribably fun and wonderful evening. I got to show her off and re-introduce her to my friends and to Steven and the wonderful folks at Ferg, and she really enjoyed the show. I love my mommy :)
Afterward I went & partied with the kids...we went to the haunted house in the old student center and then did some drinking on the dry campus. Oh, CNU Apartments!
Sunday was just as wonderful...I had brunch with dear, sweet, amazing, one-of-a-kind Aaron Page and joined by Natalie, Lisa, and Jordan! There was much laughter and gossip. I headed over to the theatre again after that, because Carol Wilson is very silly.
Carol has taped the shows at TheaterCNU - all of them - for free - since her freshman year. She's provided an invaulable service to the department that everyone appreciates...but for this show, which she is the lead in, which is awesome and beautiful...there wasn't goign to be a tape! WTF, I say! So I told her to stop being dumb and to give me her camera, so I made my documentary-filmmaking-directorial-debut yesterday. It's probably a shakey and trippy and embarrassing filming job, but it's better than nothing! So that was fun.
Afterward, I celebrated not having to strike (benefits of graduation, suckas!) by going home and watching Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? I studied it in Playwriting last year and a bunch of my actor-friends did scenes from it for Scene Study, but I've never seen a production of it (or, obviously, the film). I looooooved it! Elizabeth Taylor was phenomenal, and Sandy Dennis was really compelling...I kind of hated her for the first 10-15 minutes she was onscreen, but as soon as Honey got wasted she was amazing. It was just a wonderful ensemble of actors overall, and it's such a staggeringly intense play/script/story/whatever.
Finally, the weekend was concluded by joining Tempest people at Schooners. Good times were had by all, and I had special bonding time with the cutest girl in the world, miss Jamie Monahan.
So...yes. That's the conclusion of Everything You Didn't Really Care To Know About My Weekend ;)
I'd like to say that I'm going to work on my portfolio this week, but the truth is I don't think I'll be able to make much progress until I can devote a big chunk of time specifically for it, and when I can run out and make copies of stuff when I need to. I'm going to buy a box cutter and a straight edge on my lunch hour today (I actually don't know what I'm looking for, I'm going on a very vague memory of what Kathy showed me at the last portfolio workshop...so I may very well wind up empty handed), but my routine as of late is pretty much Work, Gym, Cook A Lot, Go to Bed Early. I think I just have to make sure that I devote a considerable chunk of time this Sunday to work on it. So, Sunday it is!
I didn't go to the gym this weekend. Bad me.
As to my reading list...arg! I need to somehow get my head back into Heartbreaking Work because right now I'm just reading it when I only have like 10 minutes and because it's such dense, rambling prose it's hard to focus or enjoy it. As for Twelfth Night and Another Part of the Forest...I should finish the latter today (and it's really just a ginormous southern soap opera - which is great fun, but it's not as well-written as Little Foxes) and as for the former...I'll at least knock out Act III. My brain is losing steam and I'm losing discipline! Gah!
In conclusion, I have Both Sides Now by Joni stuck in my head, and due to some freak miracle, it's actually not making me depressed even though it's one of the saddest sounding songs ever (and it makes me think of sad Emma from Love Actually)
Also! In conclusion (again), I leave you with my current favorite quote, courtesy of Mr. Shakespeare:
The rarer action is in virtue than in vengeance.
-Prospero, The Tempest-
In fact, the only bad part of my weekend: my poor portfolio was totally neglected. I did sit down with it a bit on Saturday, but then that was more of me realizing that I need a box cutter and a straight edge and I'm going to have to figure out how the hell I'm going to make high-quality resized copies of newspaper articles and paperwork and also wondering what the hell I should put in it aside from the obvious pictures & programs. Gulp.
But Saturday was great - I spent pretty much the whole day with Billy Harley, my little! We haven't played together in a million years, so we just spent the day playing and gossiping and catching up like we do. In the evening, my mommy came over!! We had dinner at good ol' Schooners and saw The Tempest together, and it was just an indescribably fun and wonderful evening. I got to show her off and re-introduce her to my friends and to Steven and the wonderful folks at Ferg, and she really enjoyed the show. I love my mommy :)
Afterward I went & partied with the kids...we went to the haunted house in the old student center and then did some drinking on the dry campus. Oh, CNU Apartments!
Sunday was just as wonderful...I had brunch with dear, sweet, amazing, one-of-a-kind Aaron Page and joined by Natalie, Lisa, and Jordan! There was much laughter and gossip. I headed over to the theatre again after that, because Carol Wilson is very silly.
Carol has taped the shows at TheaterCNU - all of them - for free - since her freshman year. She's provided an invaulable service to the department that everyone appreciates...but for this show, which she is the lead in, which is awesome and beautiful...there wasn't goign to be a tape! WTF, I say! So I told her to stop being dumb and to give me her camera, so I made my documentary-filmmaking-directorial-debut yesterday. It's probably a shakey and trippy and embarrassing filming job, but it's better than nothing! So that was fun.
Afterward, I celebrated not having to strike (benefits of graduation, suckas!) by going home and watching Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? I studied it in Playwriting last year and a bunch of my actor-friends did scenes from it for Scene Study, but I've never seen a production of it (or, obviously, the film). I looooooved it! Elizabeth Taylor was phenomenal, and Sandy Dennis was really compelling...I kind of hated her for the first 10-15 minutes she was onscreen, but as soon as Honey got wasted she was amazing. It was just a wonderful ensemble of actors overall, and it's such a staggeringly intense play/script/story/whatever.
Finally, the weekend was concluded by joining Tempest people at Schooners. Good times were had by all, and I had special bonding time with the cutest girl in the world, miss Jamie Monahan.
So...yes. That's the conclusion of Everything You Didn't Really Care To Know About My Weekend ;)
I'd like to say that I'm going to work on my portfolio this week, but the truth is I don't think I'll be able to make much progress until I can devote a big chunk of time specifically for it, and when I can run out and make copies of stuff when I need to. I'm going to buy a box cutter and a straight edge on my lunch hour today (I actually don't know what I'm looking for, I'm going on a very vague memory of what Kathy showed me at the last portfolio workshop...so I may very well wind up empty handed), but my routine as of late is pretty much Work, Gym, Cook A Lot, Go to Bed Early. I think I just have to make sure that I devote a considerable chunk of time this Sunday to work on it. So, Sunday it is!
I didn't go to the gym this weekend. Bad me.
As to my reading list...arg! I need to somehow get my head back into Heartbreaking Work because right now I'm just reading it when I only have like 10 minutes and because it's such dense, rambling prose it's hard to focus or enjoy it. As for Twelfth Night and Another Part of the Forest...I should finish the latter today (and it's really just a ginormous southern soap opera - which is great fun, but it's not as well-written as Little Foxes) and as for the former...I'll at least knock out Act III. My brain is losing steam and I'm losing discipline! Gah!
In conclusion, I have Both Sides Now by Joni stuck in my head, and due to some freak miracle, it's actually not making me depressed even though it's one of the saddest sounding songs ever (and it makes me think of sad Emma from Love Actually)
Also! In conclusion (again), I leave you with my current favorite quote, courtesy of Mr. Shakespeare:
The rarer action is in virtue than in vengeance.
-Prospero, The Tempest-
Friday, October 26, 2007
Bring me a touch of bliss
This week has been awesome! Nothing too spectacular or out of the ordinary has happened (aside from planning my awesome Baltimore trip, which I will get to later), but...I don't know. I've just felt really happy all week. It probably has something to do with it being kicked off by seeing my beautiful Katieface on Monday. Being able to spend time with her is like taking shots of happiness!
Last night when I got home from the gym, I had two surprises waiting for me...the first was that my roommate was actually home. Monica and I have totally opposite work schedules, and when we don't, one of us is always out doing something else or asleep. So spending the evening with someone else in the apartment was really kind of bizarre - but very, very fun. I made myself an insanely delicious dinner - I just threw some olive oil, veggies, and chopped up raw chicken I had marinated in olive oil & spices, put all that on the stove, and then added some pasta. That was the first time I'd ever actually marinated a chicken, which is kind of embarrassing. It was an amazing meal! Also, Monica was making brownies, so our kitchen saw a lot of action last night.
The second surprise...my portfolio had arrived! Yay! I am getting really, really excited about this. I'm still terrified of screwing it all up and having it not be perfect, but I'm so getting into the fun, creative, archival, scrapbookiness of it (as well as the challenge of pursuing perfectionism!). And seriously...this thing is so beautiful. It's black leather and professional and gorgeous.
My ultimate goal is to have it finished by the time I leave for my sister's for Thanksgiving, which I guess will be November 21st-ish. Hopefully publishing that goal here where people canbut really, probably don't read this will push me into making it happen!
It wouldn't be the worst thing in the world if it took me until January, but with Yoder still being up in the air I guess my future's really more uncertain than ever in terms of my next theatre job. So I may be applying sooner than I'd imagined. YIKES.
The aforementioned Baltimore trip...O M G, I am so excited!
The idea all started when Garth told me that his wonderful friend Jim Jack, owner of the best name ever, was going to be Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing this fall in Baltimore's Everyman Theatre. Much Ado happens to be one of my all time favorite plays, and I'm sure Jim would be an amazing Benedick.
Then it occurs to me that one Jason Linett has been in Baltimore ever since he so cruelly graduated in 2005 (wow) working at Center Stage and I've never been to see one of his shows.
So I'm thinking about going, and am getting very excited - because I'm all young and free and stuff and I can do these things! It's not exactly backpacking across Europe, but I like to think it's very adventurous in its own way. I've never been to Baltimore before and I just decided I was going to do it.
Yesterday, I decided I should go ahead and get some numbers down and look at some hotels/attractions et al. I went to the first place that Google gave me on the "Baltimore" search, and what do I see?
Matisse.
That's right. My love, the man I was obsessed with last semester during my senior thesis.
NOT ONLY THAT...I had tentatively decided on the weekend of 11/16 as my trip date. Well, guess what's happening that Saturday - and that Saturday only?
This.
So, I'm dying of joy and excitement and the universe loving me right now.
The best part? Since Garth finishes getting decapitated in Henry VI 11/11, he might be joining me in this culturally decadent weekend!
For tonight, though, it's just going to be me, my unborn portfolio, and my boyfriend...
Last night when I got home from the gym, I had two surprises waiting for me...the first was that my roommate was actually home. Monica and I have totally opposite work schedules, and when we don't, one of us is always out doing something else or asleep. So spending the evening with someone else in the apartment was really kind of bizarre - but very, very fun. I made myself an insanely delicious dinner - I just threw some olive oil, veggies, and chopped up raw chicken I had marinated in olive oil & spices, put all that on the stove, and then added some pasta. That was the first time I'd ever actually marinated a chicken, which is kind of embarrassing. It was an amazing meal! Also, Monica was making brownies, so our kitchen saw a lot of action last night.
The second surprise...my portfolio had arrived! Yay! I am getting really, really excited about this. I'm still terrified of screwing it all up and having it not be perfect, but I'm so getting into the fun, creative, archival, scrapbookiness of it (as well as the challenge of pursuing perfectionism!). And seriously...this thing is so beautiful. It's black leather and professional and gorgeous.
My ultimate goal is to have it finished by the time I leave for my sister's for Thanksgiving, which I guess will be November 21st-ish. Hopefully publishing that goal here where people can
It wouldn't be the worst thing in the world if it took me until January, but with Yoder still being up in the air I guess my future's really more uncertain than ever in terms of my next theatre job. So I may be applying sooner than I'd imagined. YIKES.
The aforementioned Baltimore trip...O M G, I am so excited!
The idea all started when Garth told me that his wonderful friend Jim Jack, owner of the best name ever, was going to be Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing this fall in Baltimore's Everyman Theatre. Much Ado happens to be one of my all time favorite plays, and I'm sure Jim would be an amazing Benedick.
Then it occurs to me that one Jason Linett has been in Baltimore ever since he so cruelly graduated in 2005 (wow) working at Center Stage and I've never been to see one of his shows.
So I'm thinking about going, and am getting very excited - because I'm all young and free and stuff and I can do these things! It's not exactly backpacking across Europe, but I like to think it's very adventurous in its own way. I've never been to Baltimore before and I just decided I was going to do it.
Yesterday, I decided I should go ahead and get some numbers down and look at some hotels/attractions et al. I went to the first place that Google gave me on the "Baltimore" search, and what do I see?
Matisse.
That's right. My love, the man I was obsessed with last semester during my senior thesis.
NOT ONLY THAT...I had tentatively decided on the weekend of 11/16 as my trip date. Well, guess what's happening that Saturday - and that Saturday only?
This.
So, I'm dying of joy and excitement and the universe loving me right now.
The best part? Since Garth finishes getting decapitated in Henry VI 11/11, he might be joining me in this culturally decadent weekend!
For tonight, though, it's just going to be me, my unborn portfolio, and my boyfriend...
...courtesy of Mr. Scorsese.
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Friends & Family!
Yesterday was so awesome that I'm kind of afraid I've used up all of my awesome quota for the week.
First of all, Ben is home! I mentioned that before but it bears repeating because it's fantastic news.
Secondly, Katie Parker and I had our date last night and it was so wonderful. Pretty Lauren couldn't make it, so it was just the two of us. I can't even express how much I have needed quality Katie time lately! It was wonderful and I'm just so proud of everything she does.
Today I took a fun lunch hour field trip...I finished reading Bash by Neil LaBute - it's a collection of three one act plays, and they were so intense. Very, very haunting pieces. I copied the first one, Iphigenia in Orem for Billy Harley, and I went ahead and gave the whole damn book to Katie Parker. I also had the $20 I've owed Peter forever that I needed to drop off once and for all, so...Ferg Field Trip! I dropped the various goodies off in their boxes and then, of course, stopped by to visit Miss Elizabeth. Steven even poked his head out long enough to give me a kiss and say hi (in that order).
Miss E is amazing and procured free tickets for my mom and I to see Tempest on Saturday...plus, Mr. Aaron Page is going to be in town on Sunday to see the matinee, so we're going to do breakfast! My weekend is all filled with social gatherings!
Speaking of Tempest...I mentioned that I joined Carol & her family at Carrabba's on Sunday...here's a taste of that fun & games:
She got cards & presents!
Two years later & we've still got it
Family!
She's BLUE!
Monday, October 22, 2007
Hail the conquering hero!
The day I have been very impatiently anticipating for FOREVER six weeks has finally, finally, finally arrived!
BENJI IS HOME FROM TOBAGO!!!
This is excellent news. I have been growing increasingly more impatient, and this last week was actually starting to wonder if he had been eaten by a creepy horrible sea creature.
But he's safe and sound and jet-lagged and infinitely more experienced, cultured, and smart than me. Still. Jerk.
As for me...
This weekend was interesting...good overall. Filled with culture! That's how I like my weekends.
Saw Tempest Deconstructed on Friday and enjoyed it thoroughly...classic Big Steven Breese. And how can you not love Flying Carol Wilson and half the cast done up in body paint? Very cool.
It was also kind of hard Friday night. I'm good at being alone, I enjoy being alone. I can entertain myself just fine and I really like my current little routine. When I'm alone, it's easier to understand logically how I'm growing apart from my friends and how my CNU chapter o'life is over. I still love my friends and treasure any time I get to spend with them. I totally understand our insane schedules, and I remember how crazy things were for me when I was in school and had to schedule every single second of my day. But when I'm actually there and seeing people and feeling distant...it's a lot harder. Just when I think I'm "above" loneliness or "over" the loss of certain things, I'm reminded that I'm just not.
Anyway. The night ended well enough. I accompanied much of the cast/crew to Cheeseburger and Carol and I graced the world once again withher our mad dancing skills. Also, I went to Carrabba's last night to see her giant, wonderful family, as they came to yesterday's matinee. It was wonderful seeing them again, and meeting some for the first time. Pictures to come!
Saturday I was feeling kind of like crap. I'd been trying to deny it all week, but I was all stuffy and bleh. I had also agreed to puppy-sit Beauregard for my mom, so off to Richmond I went in my pajamas accompanied by Kleenex and DVD's. I finally, finally watched Martin Scorsese's documentary on my boyfriend Bob Dylan - No Direction Home - and it was so amazing. Well, I actually just watched the first part because it's really long and I wanted to spread the joy some. And I am so excited to see the second part. I just love and admire that man so much and I'm so fascinated by that point in American/artistic history.
...which is why I also finally, finally saw Across the Universe yesterday morning! Hooray! I loved it. In terms of Taymor's work, it wasn't my favorite, and the movie did have some storytelling/character development flaws, but as the New York Times said..."...I realized that falling in love with a movie is like falling in love with another person. Imperfections, however glaring, become endearing quirks once you've tumbled." For me, that statement more accurately applies to other films and such rather than this one, but the sentiment remains the same. I loved this movie because I love The Beatles, I love Julie Taymor (and the two are an absolute match made in artistic heaven), and Jim Sturgess and Joe Anderson were fantastic.
I've also been continuing the quest to read and write as much as I can...some days are more successful than others.
As far as the gym goes, I didn't go at all this weekend. Le sigh. But I couldn't help being sick. Today will mark my truimphant return, even though there is overwhelming temptation to skip, because...
Katie Parker's coming over tonight! Finally, for what feels like the first time since New York, we're going to spend an evening together! I think the beautiful and amazing Lauren Angwin is coming over with her, which can only mean delicious food and the best laugh known to mankind. I'm entirely too excited about this. I think that's one of the best parts of going from a near communal lifestyle where your friends/colleagues are constantly surrounding you to a monkish, loner lifestyle...you appreciate your friends' presence 1,000 times more.
BENJI IS HOME FROM TOBAGO!!!
This is excellent news. I have been growing increasingly more impatient, and this last week was actually starting to wonder if he had been eaten by a creepy horrible sea creature.
But he's safe and sound and jet-lagged and infinitely more experienced, cultured, and smart than me. Still. Jerk.
As for me...
This weekend was interesting...good overall. Filled with culture! That's how I like my weekends.
Saw Tempest Deconstructed on Friday and enjoyed it thoroughly...classic Big Steven Breese. And how can you not love Flying Carol Wilson and half the cast done up in body paint? Very cool.
It was also kind of hard Friday night. I'm good at being alone, I enjoy being alone. I can entertain myself just fine and I really like my current little routine. When I'm alone, it's easier to understand logically how I'm growing apart from my friends and how my CNU chapter o'life is over. I still love my friends and treasure any time I get to spend with them. I totally understand our insane schedules, and I remember how crazy things were for me when I was in school and had to schedule every single second of my day. But when I'm actually there and seeing people and feeling distant...it's a lot harder. Just when I think I'm "above" loneliness or "over" the loss of certain things, I'm reminded that I'm just not.
Anyway. The night ended well enough. I accompanied much of the cast/crew to Cheeseburger and Carol and I graced the world once again with
Saturday I was feeling kind of like crap. I'd been trying to deny it all week, but I was all stuffy and bleh. I had also agreed to puppy-sit Beauregard for my mom, so off to Richmond I went in my pajamas accompanied by Kleenex and DVD's. I finally, finally watched Martin Scorsese's documentary on my boyfriend Bob Dylan - No Direction Home - and it was so amazing. Well, I actually just watched the first part because it's really long and I wanted to spread the joy some. And I am so excited to see the second part. I just love and admire that man so much and I'm so fascinated by that point in American/artistic history.
...which is why I also finally, finally saw Across the Universe yesterday morning! Hooray! I loved it. In terms of Taymor's work, it wasn't my favorite, and the movie did have some storytelling/character development flaws, but as the New York Times said..."...I realized that falling in love with a movie is like falling in love with another person. Imperfections, however glaring, become endearing quirks once you've tumbled." For me, that statement more accurately applies to other films and such rather than this one, but the sentiment remains the same. I loved this movie because I love The Beatles, I love Julie Taymor (and the two are an absolute match made in artistic heaven), and Jim Sturgess and Joe Anderson were fantastic.
I've also been continuing the quest to read and write as much as I can...some days are more successful than others.
As far as the gym goes, I didn't go at all this weekend. Le sigh. But I couldn't help being sick. Today will mark my truimphant return, even though there is overwhelming temptation to skip, because...
Katie Parker's coming over tonight! Finally, for what feels like the first time since New York, we're going to spend an evening together! I think the beautiful and amazing Lauren Angwin is coming over with her, which can only mean delicious food and the best laugh known to mankind. I'm entirely too excited about this. I think that's one of the best parts of going from a near communal lifestyle where your friends/colleagues are constantly surrounding you to a monkish, loner lifestyle...you appreciate your friends' presence 1,000 times more.
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Portfolio-rific
So, I've suddenly gotten this burst of motivation to work on my portfolio...FINALLY. I think it came from getting my pictures back from Wal-Mart yesterday. I ordered 4(ish) each for Pericles, Bay at Nice, Actus Fidei, Terminal Bar, Be Aggressive, South Pacific, Danny and the Deep Blue Sea, Proof, and The Music Man. (I had to order my R&J pics seperately from some professional photographer who was at photocall...and his available selection was bizarre. There wasn't a single shot of Kip as Mercutio! wtf?)
It's all very exciting and the pictures are very shiney - unfortunately, my South Pacific pictures look absolutely hideous. The Danny ones aren't so great either. That's what I get for taking pictures myself. The Actus pictures are also kind of funky...they came out very dark and I was apparently on crack when I was selecting the shots. I think I need to go back and find one or two intimate, close shots. Not an easy task for a show as ridiculously huge as that was, but we'll see.
Speaking of ridiculously huge Steven Breese shows...I'm going to see The Tempest tomorrow with Miss Elizabeth! Hooray! It'll be a bizarre experience going to see a TheaterCNU show without knowing firsthand about the blood, sweat, tears, and deep-seated fears of disaster that goes into it. Hopefully Steven will make good on his promise to make the audience pee in their pants in awe of his precious special effects. Judging from how incredible Carol's makeup looks in this picture, though, I'm sure it'll be gorgeous!
In other news, I am now not only a member of Gold's Gym, I am the owner of some indescribably sore abs. Good GOD. I'm using this week to go to all the classes I'm interested in that are scheduled after work, and most of them have been awesome. (Though I felt like the world's biggest moron in a class called Sweat & Sculpt where for the first 20 minutes we had to do aerobics...I don't do aerobics.) The best of the bunch, so far, has to be Pilates with this insane tiny woman named Karen. She is a serious badass. This is like no other Pilates class I've ever taken ever! She is the culprit behind the deeply pained abs. I can't wait for next Tuesday so she can kick my ass again!
The last thing I wanted to mention before going back to mapping out my portfolio...which I've been frightened of forever, and now suddenly can't get enough of...is that I invented a recipe last night! That's right, with a couple suggestions from a New York Times article about pasta, I made myself a bitchin and very pretty dinner last night.
Basically, I threw some olive oil into a saucepan, then added some chopped red onions and later some chopped garlic to sautee.
While that was going on, I parboiled broccoli rabe in pot (they tell you to remove the leaves from the stems, but I kind of like the stems) and then removed it and added it into the saucepan, preserving the crazy green broccoli rabe water for the pasta.
I also threw in chopped red bell pepper, a chopped tomato, capers, and seasoning (white pepper, peppercorn medley, salt, garlic powder) and just let that simmer while I boiled the pasta in the aforementioned green water.
When the pasta was almost-done, I added it to the saucepan, along with a couple spoonfuls of the water...waited till I was too hungry to stand it anymore...and then devoured it! (Not all of it. I made a LOT)
So yay! It's not actually the most original or groundbreaking thing in the world, but for little ol' me...it was like discovering a new country!
It's all very exciting and the pictures are very shiney - unfortunately, my South Pacific pictures look absolutely hideous. The Danny ones aren't so great either. That's what I get for taking pictures myself. The Actus pictures are also kind of funky...they came out very dark and I was apparently on crack when I was selecting the shots. I think I need to go back and find one or two intimate, close shots. Not an easy task for a show as ridiculously huge as that was, but we'll see.
Speaking of ridiculously huge Steven Breese shows...I'm going to see The Tempest tomorrow with Miss Elizabeth! Hooray! It'll be a bizarre experience going to see a TheaterCNU show without knowing firsthand about the blood, sweat, tears, and deep-seated fears of disaster that goes into it. Hopefully Steven will make good on his promise to make the audience pee in their pants in awe of his precious special effects. Judging from how incredible Carol's makeup looks in this picture, though, I'm sure it'll be gorgeous!
In other news, I am now not only a member of Gold's Gym, I am the owner of some indescribably sore abs. Good GOD. I'm using this week to go to all the classes I'm interested in that are scheduled after work, and most of them have been awesome. (Though I felt like the world's biggest moron in a class called Sweat & Sculpt where for the first 20 minutes we had to do aerobics...I don't do aerobics.) The best of the bunch, so far, has to be Pilates with this insane tiny woman named Karen. She is a serious badass. This is like no other Pilates class I've ever taken ever! She is the culprit behind the deeply pained abs. I can't wait for next Tuesday so she can kick my ass again!
The last thing I wanted to mention before going back to mapping out my portfolio...which I've been frightened of forever, and now suddenly can't get enough of...is that I invented a recipe last night! That's right, with a couple suggestions from a New York Times article about pasta, I made myself a bitchin and very pretty dinner last night.
Basically, I threw some olive oil into a saucepan, then added some chopped red onions and later some chopped garlic to sautee.
While that was going on, I parboiled broccoli rabe in pot (they tell you to remove the leaves from the stems, but I kind of like the stems) and then removed it and added it into the saucepan, preserving the crazy green broccoli rabe water for the pasta.
I also threw in chopped red bell pepper, a chopped tomato, capers, and seasoning (white pepper, peppercorn medley, salt, garlic powder) and just let that simmer while I boiled the pasta in the aforementioned green water.
When the pasta was almost-done, I added it to the saucepan, along with a couple spoonfuls of the water...waited till I was too hungry to stand it anymore...and then devoured it! (Not all of it. I made a LOT)
So yay! It's not actually the most original or groundbreaking thing in the world, but for little ol' me...it was like discovering a new country!And now I'm hungry. Time for an unsatisfying turkey sandwich...sigh...
Monday, October 15, 2007
Foods
I had the most incredible dinner date last night with the beautiful Lauren Angwin! We made this insanely wonderful salmon recipe and drank some delicious Chilean Chardonnay, and topped it off with a crazy dessert that she made - it was a chocolate brownie/pudding combination. It sound weird and it tasted just as weird and delicious as it sounds. We were alternately puzzling and yumming over it. It was so much fun - words can't describe how much I love to hang out with that girl. I love my gorgeous new apartment, but I miss being the 5th roomie at her place sometimes.
This is the official picture of the dish...ours was better and more colorful because we used red onion instead of white, and broccoli rabe instead of little chilli peppers. Yum!
Saturday, October 13, 2007
Fun and Games and Gyms...
...on a bitchin' Saturday night.
I don't remember where I saw this, but it's endlessly entertaining.
Put in your name and "is" in Google and list the first ten hits you get. (i.e. "Annie is")
Annie is a musical based upon the popular Harold Gray comic strip. (of course...)
Annie is being taught humility after she lost. (ouch.)
Annie is the only child of her mother, and the fifth child after her father. (this changes so many things about my life!)
Annie is looking at stacks of teen magazines (what fun!)
Annie is already making waves (hells yeah! only 5 months of adulthood and look out, world...)
Annie is finally back and you can see her by purchasing Chicago Theatre tickets. (I'm going to pretend that has to do with me and not the musical)
Annie is an event surely not to be missed. (see above italics)
Annie is 53...and so is my grammy. (well, I will be someday. barring tragedy)
Annie is the real deal (I surely am)
Annie is definitely on her way in the music world. (not really a primary goal of mine, but OKAY!)
In other news, I've decided to march myself right on into Gold's Gym tomorrow and get a membership. I've gotten very positive reviews of the place from three different people, including a certain tiny Asian who I love more than chocolate (!!!) and the boss here who is in the most *amazing* shape of pretty much everyone in the world besides Lance Armstrong, and after looking at the kickass class schedule for the next month...I'm pretty sure I'm going to love the place.
As some of you four people who may be reading this right now may know, I decided at the end of August, when I'd gotten home from my amazing week in New York, that I wanted to Be a Runner. I'd always been a huge wimp when it came to running as a kid/high schooler - my asthma prevented me from breathing, my heart would explode, it was hard, etc etc etc. But I've always harbored a super secret desire to be a Runner.
So after spending a week with the insanely inspiring and impossibly cool Garth Wells McCardle in the Greatest City in the World, I decided to stop being such a pussy and just Go For It, as they say. I came home and just went nuts and went for it. For about 6-7 weeks, I just ran my little heart out for about 4-6 days a week. I loved it. I'd go for about 1.5-3 miles at a time and I was actually cracking out 9.30-12.00 minute miles. For someone who had to huff and puff and move mountains to achieve a 20 minute mile at age 12, this is AWESOME.
Unfortunately...
I'm an idiot.
I didn't consider the fact that my poor tiny shins and calves were unprepared for my brain and heart's sudden motivational gusto.
Now, they HURT MORE THAN WORDS CAN BEGIN TO DESCRIBE.
Sigh.
Oh, but the idiocy does not stop there. I seemed to skip the part where it says that if your shins hurt like someone's hammering nails into them, DO NOT RUN THROUGH THE PAIN. Instead I was under the clearly retarded impression that I was just "working out the kinks." Oh, the shame.
So anyway. That's where the sudden sure-to-be-too-expensive gym membership comes in. I've been trying to do yoga and pilates on my own just through PodCasts, but, just like with theatre and education, it's so much easier for me to find my focus and discipline through an outside source. It's disappointing and I wish it weren't true, but it is. Plus I'd have access to my long lost lover, The Elliptical Machine, which has never hurt my legs or any other part of me throughout our lifelong off-and-on affair.
I've been so frustrated having to take days off of running lately so I don't permanently cripple myself that I'm hoping I can find other ways to keep up the motivation momentum through this gym.
And I'm really hoping that I haven't already permanently crippled myself. Please god let this just be awful shin splints and not a stress fracture of any kind...
Finally, in brief news, I have the best mom ever. EVERRRR. We had so much fun today. The Virginia Living Museum is awesome!
I don't remember where I saw this, but it's endlessly entertaining.
Put in your name and "is" in Google and list the first ten hits you get. (i.e. "Annie is")
Annie is a musical based upon the popular Harold Gray comic strip. (of course...)
Annie is being taught humility after she lost. (ouch.)
Annie is the only child of her mother, and the fifth child after her father. (this changes so many things about my life!)
Annie is looking at stacks of teen magazines (what fun!)
Annie is already making waves (hells yeah! only 5 months of adulthood and look out, world...)
Annie is finally back and you can see her by purchasing Chicago Theatre tickets. (I'm going to pretend that has to do with me and not the musical)
Annie is an event surely not to be missed. (see above italics)
Annie is 53...and so is my grammy. (well, I will be someday. barring tragedy)
Annie is the real deal (I surely am)
Annie is definitely on her way in the music world. (not really a primary goal of mine, but OKAY!)
In other news, I've decided to march myself right on into Gold's Gym tomorrow and get a membership. I've gotten very positive reviews of the place from three different people, including a certain tiny Asian who I love more than chocolate (!!!) and the boss here who is in the most *amazing* shape of pretty much everyone in the world besides Lance Armstrong, and after looking at the kickass class schedule for the next month...I'm pretty sure I'm going to love the place.
As some of you four people who may be reading this right now may know, I decided at the end of August, when I'd gotten home from my amazing week in New York, that I wanted to Be a Runner. I'd always been a huge wimp when it came to running as a kid/high schooler - my asthma prevented me from breathing, my heart would explode, it was hard, etc etc etc. But I've always harbored a super secret desire to be a Runner.
So after spending a week with the insanely inspiring and impossibly cool Garth Wells McCardle in the Greatest City in the World, I decided to stop being such a pussy and just Go For It, as they say. I came home and just went nuts and went for it. For about 6-7 weeks, I just ran my little heart out for about 4-6 days a week. I loved it. I'd go for about 1.5-3 miles at a time and I was actually cracking out 9.30-12.00 minute miles. For someone who had to huff and puff and move mountains to achieve a 20 minute mile at age 12, this is AWESOME.
Unfortunately...
I'm an idiot.
I didn't consider the fact that my poor tiny shins and calves were unprepared for my brain and heart's sudden motivational gusto.
Now, they HURT MORE THAN WORDS CAN BEGIN TO DESCRIBE.
Sigh.
Oh, but the idiocy does not stop there. I seemed to skip the part where it says that if your shins hurt like someone's hammering nails into them, DO NOT RUN THROUGH THE PAIN. Instead I was under the clearly retarded impression that I was just "working out the kinks." Oh, the shame.
So anyway. That's where the sudden sure-to-be-too-expensive gym membership comes in. I've been trying to do yoga and pilates on my own just through PodCasts, but, just like with theatre and education, it's so much easier for me to find my focus and discipline through an outside source. It's disappointing and I wish it weren't true, but it is. Plus I'd have access to my long lost lover, The Elliptical Machine, which has never hurt my legs or any other part of me throughout our lifelong off-and-on affair.
I've been so frustrated having to take days off of running lately so I don't permanently cripple myself that I'm hoping I can find other ways to keep up the motivation momentum through this gym.
And I'm really hoping that I haven't already permanently crippled myself. Please god let this just be awful shin splints and not a stress fracture of any kind...
Finally, in brief news, I have the best mom ever. EVERRRR. We had so much fun today. The Virginia Living Museum is awesome!
Friday, October 12, 2007
Brave new world
Well, not really new. I'm not a stranger to blogging, per se, but back in the day when I used to do it obsessively it was "LJ-ing." I can't really decide which is easier to say.
So, I just made a big production out of "coming back" (ish) to livejournal, but I feel like I've outgrown it. Yesterday I was reading a bunch of old entries from my freshman year, and...good lord. How thankful am I to be beyond the year of 2004? Jesus.
Beautiful Sterling has had a blog for awhile, and I always thought that it made her cooler than everyone else in the world. Well, one of the many things that make her cooler.
So I'm mooching off of her pioneering Internet efforts and simultanously turning over a new virtual leaf in my Internet life (while I turn over a vast CARPET of leaves in my real life) by presenting...my shiney new blog! Yay!
(Though I will still visit my LJFriends. Especially Val, because she is my crack.)
It's a little ugly at the moment because I'm just playing with colors, and a little plain because, let's be serious, I"m at work and therefore my brain isn't functioning on the higher levels. As for the title...I imagine it's temporary. It comes from something really random you-had-to-be-there funny that happened junior year that cause Carol and I (or was it Kendra and I?) to pee in our pants laughing and decide that Rainbow Chip Frosting is a good metaphor for...well, me. It's hard to explain.
Tonight is very exciting...I'm having a date with myself! Not in the creepy way that it sounds. I fiiiiiinally got The Merchant of Venice in from Netflix after the post office had been holding my mail hostage while the whole change of address deal got sorted out, and so my plans for the night include:
-Some kind of small but yummy dinner
-Healthy(ish) popcorn!
-Me, Shakespeare, and Pacino (and Joseph Fiennes...yummy)
And other semi-productive things I can't think of at the moment that probably relate to getting my act together on my portfolio. I must buy one this weekend!
Speaking of the weekend, my mommy's coming to visit tomorrow! YAY! We're going to meet each other halfway in Williamsburg and we will finally, finally have the breakfast at Chickahominy House we didn't get to have when she & Jim came for Butler. Then we're going to go to the Living Museum, which I just went to last weekend, but I know Mom will adore it so I really want to take her there. Then, who knows?
And last thing before I go ahead and post this sucker and then peace out of here...I had my first dinner party in my NEW NEW NEW beautiful apartment last night! The gorgeous Caroline Dudley, the sunny Lisa Johanson, and the hairy Jordan McArthur all came over and we had mediocre chicken cacciatore (when Lauren & I did it with pork, it did not taste so olive-y!) and yummy wine. We had to end it kind of early, because Caroline had a Grey's date and I had an Office date with Kendra and I'm sure Lisa and Jordan had some actual adult, useful things to do, but I'm hoping we can all get together again and talk the night away sometime soon. It was wonderful to see all of them and to finally be able to "entertain" in a place where I feel comfortable.
Anyway. That's all for now. Look out, blogspot.
So, I just made a big production out of "coming back" (ish) to livejournal, but I feel like I've outgrown it. Yesterday I was reading a bunch of old entries from my freshman year, and...good lord. How thankful am I to be beyond the year of 2004? Jesus.
Beautiful Sterling has had a blog for awhile, and I always thought that it made her cooler than everyone else in the world. Well, one of the many things that make her cooler.
So I'm mooching off of her pioneering Internet efforts and simultanously turning over a new virtual leaf in my Internet life (while I turn over a vast CARPET of leaves in my real life) by presenting...my shiney new blog! Yay!
(Though I will still visit my LJFriends. Especially Val, because she is my crack.)
It's a little ugly at the moment because I'm just playing with colors, and a little plain because, let's be serious, I"m at work and therefore my brain isn't functioning on the higher levels. As for the title...I imagine it's temporary. It comes from something really random you-had-to-be-there funny that happened junior year that cause Carol and I (or was it Kendra and I?) to pee in our pants laughing and decide that Rainbow Chip Frosting is a good metaphor for...well, me. It's hard to explain.
Tonight is very exciting...I'm having a date with myself! Not in the creepy way that it sounds. I fiiiiiinally got The Merchant of Venice in from Netflix after the post office had been holding my mail hostage while the whole change of address deal got sorted out, and so my plans for the night include:
-Some kind of small but yummy dinner
-Healthy(ish) popcorn!
-Me, Shakespeare, and Pacino (and Joseph Fiennes...yummy)
And other semi-productive things I can't think of at the moment that probably relate to getting my act together on my portfolio. I must buy one this weekend!
Speaking of the weekend, my mommy's coming to visit tomorrow! YAY! We're going to meet each other halfway in Williamsburg and we will finally, finally have the breakfast at Chickahominy House we didn't get to have when she & Jim came for Butler. Then we're going to go to the Living Museum, which I just went to last weekend, but I know Mom will adore it so I really want to take her there. Then, who knows?
And last thing before I go ahead and post this sucker and then peace out of here...I had my first dinner party in my NEW NEW NEW beautiful apartment last night! The gorgeous Caroline Dudley, the sunny Lisa Johanson, and the hairy Jordan McArthur all came over and we had mediocre chicken cacciatore (when Lauren & I did it with pork, it did not taste so olive-y!) and yummy wine. We had to end it kind of early, because Caroline had a Grey's date and I had an Office date with Kendra and I'm sure Lisa and Jordan had some actual adult, useful things to do, but I'm hoping we can all get together again and talk the night away sometime soon. It was wonderful to see all of them and to finally be able to "entertain" in a place where I feel comfortable.
Anyway. That's all for now. Look out, blogspot.
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