Angela's Old Blog

New York City Trip: Day 1

2009-03-10T10:57:00.000-07:00

Original Post Date: March 13, 2006

We are on our way to NYC at last! Our original flight was delayed, so they moved us to an earlier flight. Here’s the kicker: We got bumped to 1st Class! I have never flown 1st Class before. There are 2 seats instead of 3. Shauna and I are on the first row, so we have tons of leg room. They gave us water and orange juice while the flight was boarding. Now we have apple juice in glass cups. Fancy!! It makes up for us getting searched at security.

Oh, my gosh, I just got offered a warm towel! 1st Class ROCKS!!

Anyway, back to getting searched. We had to take our shoes off and not touch our bags while they searched them and gave us a pat down. Oh, well. I feel safer knowing that this could stop a potential terrorist.

We are on our way to Dallas and it will be on to New York City!! I am SO EXCITED!!

Okay, I am never flying coach ever again. We just got breakfast. First of all, the tray had its own tablecloth. The glass was a little goblet and the napkin was cloth. We got fresh fruit (kiwi, cantaloupe, and peaches), hot biscuit (or bagel) with butter & jam, and yogurt. This is the life.1st class is the way to fly. We feel bad for Steph, though, back there in coach. I hope they gave her more than pretzels & and a drink.

We got to Dallas and had about an hour layover. We saw a huge group of missionaries walk by us. They were obviously on their way out, because they were all clean and pressed. ☺ Turns out they are on their way to Honduras!

We boarded the next flight on time, but because of delays at La Guardia, we had to sit on the runway for about an hour. Talk about BORING! But, I’m almost done reading Pride and Prejudice, so it’s all good. We finally took off and will get into New York about 6:00. This flight has a movie, and the first one was “The Man” with Samuel L. Jackson & Eugene Levy. Didn’t care much about that one. However, the 2nd movie was “Walk the Line.” I immediately bought earphones so I could watch it. Awesome movie!

It’s now about an hour until we land, and I’m so anxious to get off this freaking plane. Not just because I’ll be in NYC, but because we’ve just been trapped on here way too long.

We have arrived! We got into La Guardia about 6:00. We waited a long time for our bags. Then we had to figure out how to get to Staten Island. The guy at Transportation Information was very helpful. We ended up buying an all week Metro pass for $24. We can use it the whole time we’re here for both subways and buses. We took a bus from the airport and then got on the subway at Lexington & 125th. We rode that all the way to Bowling Green and then it was a short walk to the ferry. That’s where we are now. It’s dark out, so it’s hard to see what stuff is out the window. I just saw the Statue of Liberty! We are passing it now! Oh, my gosh! It looks so cool!

*fun smell* The elevator down to the subway from the street smelled so bad!
*fun sight* The cops arguing with a guy, telling him he couldn’t smoke on the ferry. I think he was forcibly removed.
*dumb tourist moment* My metro card wouldn’t work at the subway, so I had to go ask for help. I didn’t hear her tell me which door to go through, so I wandered aimlessly for a minute. Luckily, Ashley was clueless with me on that.

It’s hard to take public transportation with our big luggage. We must do something different on Sunday morning, since our flight leaves so early. But first, we will enjoy the week. We’re in New York!!

Our house we are staying at is really cute. It’s on the main floor of a house, actually. 2 Queen beds and 2 singles. The house was built in the 1860s. The people that own it are really nice. They’ve made it like an anti-hotel. It’s like your own home in New York. We are just a few minutes from the ferry. We could have walked, but we had no idea where we were going, so we took two taxis. (I way overtipped the guy, but he was a cute little old man and he got us here quick and safe.)

We already found a great pizzeria down the street and around the corner. Great food and the people were very nice! I’ve noticed already that New Yorkers are very nice. Very helpful. They aren’t all rude and stuff like you always hear. That’s awesome!

We can hardly wait to start exploring tomorrow. Yay! We’re in New York!!

New York City Trip: Day 2

2009-03-10T10:54:00.000-07:00

Original Post Date: March 14, 2006

We went to a bakery near our house this morning. They had all kinds of good stuff there. We will probably go every morning. The croissant was delicious!

We made it to the ferry after not too bad of a walk (although one hill was a killer.) We’ll probably take a cab at night, though. It would be easy to get lost in the dark.

Today we are doing the stuff around the theatre district. Times Square, etc. It was raining a little, but the sun has come out, so we should be okay. The humidity is killing me, though. It’s not hot temperature-wise outside, but I’m getting hot. Oh, well. At least it’s not freezing cold!

What a day! We started out in Times Square. Now that is a sight to behold! So many things to look at. Huge, lighted signs. Tons of people. We weren’t sure what to do first. We did have to figure out which way was which. Where are the mountains when we need them? It’s easy to remember that streets run East-West and Avenues run North-South (just like Greeley), but I still don’t know which direction the numbers get higher & lower. We walked in the wrong direction a couple of times today.

We hadn’t been on Times Square more than five or ten minutes when the Scientologists attacked. It was this really nice girl who wanted us to come to see a movie about “Dienetics”. It took me about a minute to figure out that it was Scientology. Being the dumb tourist that we are, we followed her to their building. I was ready to day “Actually, we’re Mormon and we’re not interested” but then Shauna just said “Oh, we’re going to be late. We really have to go now.” As soon as the “nice girl” figured out we weren’t going to listen, she said “Bye” really quick and took off. So much for that. At least she didn’t hound us to come back. I should have given her a Book of Mormon. We did decide to get one at the Temple Visitor’s Center and leave it at the house.

After we escaped the grasp of Scientology, we went to the Gershwin Theatre to get our Backstage tour tickets for Wicked. Gorgeous theatre, I must say. We are trying to familiarize ourselves with where all the theatres are. We see lots of marquees. They’ve got the one up for “The Drowsy Chaperone” with Sutton Foster. It opens next month. (Why not now? Gah!)

After we left the theatre, we went in search of the Rockefeller Center. It’s not just that gold statue and the ice rink, like I thought. It was a huge complex of office buildings, including the NBC Studios. We watched the skaters for awhile and sat by where the tree goes at Christmas. The Radio City Music Hall is there, too. Next time we come, we are taking the backstage tour. I have a bet with Shauna that if she makes the tour guides cry or say “What?” at the Wicked Backstage tour, I’ll give her $5. This extends to any backstage tour in New York.

We visited the NBC Experience store. Pretty much any and all NBC products you can think of. It’s a HUGE store. We got our picture taken on the “Friends” set. Well, it was green screen. The picture turned out really cute. A definite keeper.

Next, we went to lunch. Okay, so we went to McDonalds. But it was a Times Square McDonalds. We sat on the 2nd floor. It was decorated really cool. A huge mural of Times Square, or Manhattan, or something.

We headed out from McDonalds and intended to go do One Shubert Alley. While standing on the corner, waiting for the light to change, we suddenly realized that Toys ‘R’ Us was behind us. Duh! So we went there instead.

Toys ‘R’ Us is the coolest store ever! There is a Ferris Wheel in the middle of the store! A HUGE ONE! We, of course, had to ride it. There is also a massive anamatronic T-Rex and tons of stuff made out of Legos. King Kong on the Empire State Building, The Statue of Liberty, the Hulk, etc. So cool! You could seriously spend a whole day in there!

Next it was off to One Shubert Alley, the actual store of broadwaynewyork.com (where Shauna and I have spent loads of money.) It was much smaller than I expected. In fact, it was TEENY!! But, we got some cool stuff. I never knew that Shubert Alley was an actual alley by the Shubert Theatre. Go figure.

After we left there, we caught the train up to Herald Square. Macy’s is right there, but our destination was the Empire State Building. Now let me just say that if “Sleepless in Seattle” took place post-9/11, the ending would have been TOTALLY anti-climactic. Meg Ryan would have had to wait in line, go through security, wait in another line, get her picture taken in front of a picture of the Empire State Building, wait in another line, go up one elevator to the 80th floor, wait in another line, go up another elevator to the Observation deck, and then get to where she was going. Tom Hanks would have been long gone. Oh, and it cost $16. It took about an hour to be up there in the freezing cold wind for about 15 minutes and there were tons of people. It was really cool, and now I can say I’ve been to the top of the Empire State Building. But the long lines were just too much. I probably won’t do that again.

After we got back down, Shauna and I went in search of the Post Office while the other girls went to Macys (New York at Rush Hour is fun, by the way.) The Post Office is HUGE! We had to wait in line awhile, but finally got our 5 packages of souvenirs mailed home.

After hooking back up with the girls, we went to dinner at Ollie’s Noodle Shop. (Recommended by Juliana. Must thank her.) Good Chinese food. Next it was off to the Gershwin for...WICKED!!

Now, we saw the show in Denver, but this time...wow!!! My 1st Broadway show. I started to cry when the Overture started. (I’m pathetic, I know.) I wish I could have been sitting more center, but I did have a good show. Eden Espinosa and Megan Hilty were Elphaba and Glinda. Both were totally amazing. The same guy we saw as Fiyero on the tour was in the show. He’s really good. The highlight was that Madame Morrible was played by Carol Kane and the Wizard was played by Ben Vereen. So cool!!!! The entire show was just amazing. It’s a wonderful show to begin with, but on Broadway – HOLY CRAP!

When the show ended (and I destroyed a kleenex with my crying), Shauna and I went to the Stage Door. We met Derrick, the guy playing Fiyero. He was really nice. We talkeda bout how he liked Denver. Then we met Eden Espinosa. Surreal moment for me when she thought she knew me. She said “Now, I’ve met you before, right?” When I told her no, she said I must look like someone she knew. Totally weird!!! Then we met Megan Hilty. She was really cool. It was FREEZING outside then, so we left.

We got on the wrong train and had to get off after one stop. Whoops, my bad! We finally got on the right train, but we had to wait awhile. We missed the 11:30 ferry by less than 10 minutes and had to take the midnight one. It’s about a 20 minute ride. Then we were going to take two taxis to the house, but this one cabbie said we could fit all 6, and we did!! Crazy!

All in all, a great day, despite the cold wind. Tomorrow promises to be just as good!

New York City Trip: Day 3

2009-03-10T10:48:00.000-07:00

Original Post Date: March 15, 2006

Back on the ferry again. This seems like the best place to write. Although, I need to write more during the day, so I don’t have to do it all at night. Sometimes I forget the order we did things and then it just took too long. I don’t think I got to bed much before 2 last night, and I was up at 6:30 this morning. Eh, who needs sleep? I’m in New York!!!

Well, I’m now sitting in a Starbucks in the East Village. I’d feel like a true New Yorker if I didn’t look like a total tourist. Oh, well.

Today has been SO WINDY!! Insanely windy, in fact. I’m very sick of wind now. The sun was shining, but the wind was cold. Enough!!

We started out the day doing our new favorite pastime: standing in line. We went to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. First, we stood in a massive line to get on the ferry. We had to go through security (which this time entailed taking off jackets, scarves, & belts.) Then we got on the ferry, which is much smaller than the Staten Island Ferry. And since it was windy, the water was choppy. Fun stuff! I got my sea leg, though. Go me! Once we got to Liberty Island, we had to go through Security again (after we had to pay a dollar to store our backpacks, since they were not allowed.) This security checkpoint had something new, though, and totally different. It was this air thing. You stepped into it and then these blowers blew at you, blowing your clothes in weird places. I don’t know how it does any good, but it was pretty cool. (Oh, and I had to take my belt off again. Curse the terrorists!)

We finally made it into the pedestal. When you first walk in there is a huge replica of the torch (Actually, I think it’s the original torch.) It was gorgeous! Then we made our way into the museum. It was a fascinating look at how the statue was designed, originally built, and then brought here. There were several great photo ops, which we, of course, took full advantage of. (Ah, the fun of accosting statues.)

They don’t allow anyone to climb up into the statue anymore. They haven’t since September 10, 2001. (The Park Ranger said that there had already been talk of closing it prior to that, due to it being unsafe. Hard to evacuate in an emergency.) We were able to climb all the way to the top of the pedestal. So many stairs. I thought I was going to die. We think it was about 10 stories up. (I should have done Stairmaster before coming.) We took pictures on the observation deck. It was super windy, of course. Got some great shots of the Manhattan skyline, including one of me hugging Manhattan. (I’m such a dork...and proud!)

Going down the stairs was way easier than going up. Once we got down, we spent a lot of money in the gift shop. Afterwards, we ate lunch at the snack bar there on the island. I had my first New York hot dog. Not bad! It was totally packed inside the building, so we braved the cold wind, and pigeons, to eat outside on the terrace. (Pigeons = rats with wings.) It was so cold!!

Next we caught the ferry for Ellis Island. Now, I have wanted to visit Ellis Island ever since I took American Immigration at UNC. I wish we would have had more time to spend there. We didn’t watch the movie or take the tour, but we did look at several of the exhibits, all totally fascinating. I want to come back here. Not to the Statue of Liberty, per se (except for the grounds), but definitely Ellis Island.

It was almost 3:00 by the time we got back to Manhattan. That took way longer than we had planned, but that was okay.

Next we caught the subway up to the World Trade Center. Ground Zero. I wasn’t sure what to expect at the site. It’s been 4 ½ years since that horrendous day. There is basically just a big Fence around the entire area. It’s still a massive hole in the ground with part of the foundation showing. It was the eeriest feeling, being there. Everywhere else in New York is so loud. Around there, this is a hush. I don’t think it’s a conscious “Oh, I have to be quiet here” kind of thing. It’s hard to explain. There is just a reverence. There is a train station underneath, or I guess right by there. People just walked through without making too much noise. It was seriously the quietest place we’d been all week. There is going to be a memorial built, but it’s going to take awhile. It looked like they were still cleaning up, but it was hard to tell. Maybe they are just reinforcing. Not sure. But wow, oh, wow. What an amazing place to be. I’d like to go back once the memorial is completed.

It was then time to figure out what to do next. It was about 4:00. We needed to get over to the East Village to see if we could get tickets to Blue Man Group. We had heard they were sold out, but wanted to check just in case. We got to see the Trinity Church on our way to the subway station! There’s not a cave full of treasure underneath, so we didn’t go in. Oh, well. Once we got on the correct train, we made it up to Astor Place. (Shauna and I are even now. We have both gotten on the wrong train once.) We found the theatre and went to the Box Office. I asked the guy if they had any tickets at all for tonight. He said they had actually just had some “limited view seats” returned. (GASP!!) And could we have 4 tickets? Yes, we could!! Further proof that you should never assume a show is sold out. Always check the box office. $65 a ticket (not bad at all) and we are seeing the Blue Man Group at 8:00 tonight! Yay!!

We are now waiting for Guizella & Steph to get here. I’m not sure what happened, but all the girls ended up on the Uptown train instead of the one to South Ferry. Shauna gave them instructions on how to find us, but they aren’t here yet. It’s almost 6:30. We’re not too worried yet, but I hope they get here soon. Nothing worse than getting lost in New York!

OH! MY! GOSH! The Blue Man Group ROCKS!! I have loved their music & loved their DVD, but seeing them in person is like nothing else. Now I’ve seen a lot of shows, and I thought I had seen it all, but Blue Man Group tops it all in terms of pure, hilarious fun. The music is so cool, they are just fall down funny, and it’s a total blast to be there! PVC pipe will never be the same to me again. And streamers. And black lights.

I can’t even begin to describe the show in its entirety. It’s something everyone should experience for themselves. Many of it I had seen & heard before. Some was new. All of it was SO MUCH FUN!!! Laughing burns calories. I probably dropped a pound tonight. ☺ It’s like a Rock Concert-Performance Art-Mega Experience. The first three or four rows have to wear ponchos. What does that tell you? I have never had more fun in a theatre. Seriously.

Oh, I should say that Guizella & Stephanie found us okay. They just had trouble with Rush Hour. We went to a Pizzeria called “Familia’s” or something like that. “New York’s Favorite Pizza”. Apparently it’s a famous place. Signed pictures on the wall of Barbra Streisand, Nicholas Cage, & Ashley Judd. The pizza was really good, too! I had spinach. Very, very good! And cheap! I paid $4.00 for a big slice and a lemonade (the 1st lemonade I’ve found so are, by the way.)

We walked so much today. We are all in serious pain. I could hardly walk after sitting at Starbucks for so long. Ouch!!!! I’m in great shape now. Bolder Boulder anyone?

New York City Trip: Day 4

2009-03-10T10:36:00.000-07:00

Original Post Date: March 16, 2006

We got in early enough last night that I could get everything organized for today. That was nice. Today will be an easier day. We won’t be outside as much. Today is “Culture Day”! But first, some little tidbits I’ve forgotten to write about so far:

HOMELESS MAN ON SUBWAY:
Kinda creepy. Begging for 99 cents to buy a burger to eat, but you couldn’t miss the overwhelming smell of alcohol. I sat there thinking, Lay off the booze, buddy, and you’d have money for food. It was sad. He stood there and talked for like 5 minutes while we all tried not to make eye contact. It’s the only time I have been a little scared the whole time we’ve been here.

OUR NEW CATCH PHRASE:
There are people whose job is to stand on the street and either promote something or just hand out fliers. They are always trying to get our attention. I now just say “No, thank you.” I’ve probably said it about 100 times. I’m actually to the point where I don’t even acknowledge them unless they shove the flier in my face. Then I use my catch phrase, “No, thank you!” This also works with street vendors. We could have bought handbags from a guy on the pier. They were all wrapped up in a big sheet. Something tells me they weren’t going to be real Prada.

ASHLEY’S PHONE CALL:
So, Ben Layman called Ashley on Tuesday to set up an appointment with Bishop Hatch for Wednesday. Instead of calling Ben back, she called Bishop Hatch’s cell phone and left the following message:

Hi, Bishop Hatch. This is Ashley Stieber. Ben Layman wanted me to meet with you tomorrow. I lost his number, so I’m just calling you. Yeah, tomorrow will be fine. I can do it at 10:00 am and you’ll just need to meet me at the Statue of Liberty. Oh, and I’m calling you from the top of the Empire State Building, so that’s why it’s so windy. Okay, see you tomorrow! Bye!

SCARF ENVY:
A homeless woman at Starbucks liked my scarf. Should I feel like a true New Yorker? I’m not sure. Maybe it’s good luck, like if a pigeon poops on you. (Thank heavens THAT hasn’t happened yet. KNOCK ON WOOD!)

And now, my adventures with Al Roker! We got up extra early and were able to make the 7:30 ferry. We got up to the Rockefeller Center to where The Today Show films. There’s this little alleyway across from the skating rink. They film right in the middle and surround the whole place with barriers. There were a lot of people there already by the time we arrived. The prime spot was directly behind the two mini-vans they were doing a segment on. We obviously couldn’t push our way to the front there. Shauna and I ended up just to the left of the revolving door. Great for taking pictures, but only if the crew members didn’t get in the way. When Al Roker came out, just after 9:00, he went straight across. Then he walked along to the left as he was doing the weather. Suddenly, he came right towards us! There were some people with a sign just to our left and he talked to them. I practically leapt in behind them. I’m not sure how long I was on camera, but I was DEFINITELY on TV! I’m hard to miss, too, with my bright green coat and fluorescent hat. We’re not sure if Shauna made it on. We’ll find out from Mom later. We called and had her tape it. Woo hoo! I was on TV!! We stuck around after that, thinking the minivan segment would be next. Half an hour later, after almost freezing solid, we finally got to see Al again. Katie Couric and Matt Lauer didn’t come out, but we saw them through the window. Janice Lieberman did the mini-van segment with Al. I didn’t really know who she was, but the lady to my right knew her and called to her. Janice came over to talk to her and I got a good picture. Better than most of the pictures of Al.

Next we caught the subway to Grand Central Station. It was so cool! Absolutely gorgeous inside. And HUGE!! We then walked a couple of blocks to the United Nations. It is really amazing to see all those flags flying out front. There were some neat sculptures, too. We opted to just take pictures from the outside and then call it good. None of us felt like going through security again, especially when we weren’t sure what we would be able to see.

Our next adventure was hailing a cab. It took forever, but they finally got one to stop. (Shauna and I let the other girls get the cab, since she had figured out the subway.) The cab that stopped was a mini-van, but he could only take 4 passengers. Shauna and I had to get our own, and lo and behold one had parked like 10 feet down the street!

We took the cabs back to Grand Central and ate at their food court. All kinds of food to choose from, but way, WAY too overpriced. And I did not get my money’s worth. My turkey sandwich was a little dry.

Then it was off to the Metropolitan Museum of Art! I’m going to write down cool stuff we see:

-Greek Art, 6th Century BC-An elephant tusk (a huge one!) completely carved with intricate pictures (18th Century Nigeria)
-Mayan carved pillar from 8th Century
-Beautiful works in gold from South America
-A Picasso painting “A Girl Asleep on the Table”
-A tapestry depicting America, commissioned by Louis XVI
-Four panel Screen with views of Vienna (ca. 1820)
-Huge gate in the Medieval Arts Section
-Armory, swords, etc.
-Full Suits of armor
-4 Jousters on horseback
-All types of guns
-Field Armor of King Henry VIII
-An Egyptian Temple
-You can walk inside it! It has “Leonardo 1820" carved in part of it. He must have discovered it.
-Reminded me (a lot!) of Solomon’s Temple
-Lots and lots of Grandfather Clocks
-“Washington Crossing the Delaware” (1851)
-Largest framed painting in the museum.
-Painting commemorates the event; does not recreate it. (Betsy Ross made 1st flag 6 months after the crossing, but there is one in the picture!)

MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS:
-Piccolo from 1897
-Ebonite flute-
DRUMS:
-Dadabwaan (Philippines 19th Century)
-Goblet Drum (Burma)
-Slento (Central Java)
-Yunluo (Mongol Yuan Dynasty 1280-1368)
-Tanggu
-Changgo (Korea)
-Kyobanggo (15th Century)
-Kakko (Theatrical Music “Noh” drama, 14th Century)
-Otsuzumi
-Kotsuzumi
-Shimedaiko (THE ONLY NAME I RECOGNIZED!!!!)
-Long Drums (Africa)
-Ngoma ya mukondo (Congo)
-Mukupiela
-Balo Xylophone (West Africa)
-Ngkul (Cameroon)
-Clapperless Iron Bells
-Zarb (Iran - Inscription“When it sounds, it makes everyone in the world happy.”

-Pipe Organ (1830 Boston)
-Gold Harpsichord
-Pedal Harpsichord (1967)
-Oldest of 3 pianos by Bartolomeo Cristofori (1720)
-Original Piano (first with hammer action)

PAINTINGS:
“The Abduction of the Sabine Women” (Poussin)
(“Oh, them women was sobbin’, sobbin’, sobbin’ fit to be tied...”)
“Study for “A Sunday on La Grande Jatte” (Georges Seurat)
-Final study before he made the 7 by 10 foot painting. Seurat’s final painting of “A Sunday...” was done using pointellism (all dots). This was small brush strokes. Watch Sondheim’s “Sunday in the Park with George”.
“By the Seashore” (Renoir)

There are so many things to see here! You could spend a week in here and not see it all! AMAZING!!!

We left the museum and needed to get to the Lincoln Center. I felt like my feet were going to burst into flames at any moment. They hurt SO BAD! However, we decided to walk across Central Park. I misread the map and thought it was a straight shot across to the Lincoln Center. Well, no, it was a straight shot across to the Nature & Science Museum. The Lincoln Center was about 15 blocks away. DOH!! We walked for awhile and then decided to hail a cab. Ashley, Guizella, & Steph got one fairly quickly, but Shauna, Diana, & I couldn’t get one. You have to be pretty aggressive to get one. And it was Rush Hour. All the cabs were either taken or off duty. We walked for a ways, and then...lo and behold, a taxi stopped right in front of us and people got out! We pounced instantly and got it.

The Lincoln Center is a complex of theatres. The Met is one of them. The first thing we did was go get our tickets for “The Light in the Piazza”. As we were decided who should go & who should scout out food, I suddenly looked to my left. There was the Angel Moroni! The temple is kitty-corner to the Lincoln Center! I remembered immediately that that was the case, but it was a total shock to look over and see the Angel Moroni!

So, we got the tickets (Good seats! Not cheap!) while the other girls went over to the temple. There is no Visitor’s Center. (Bummer!) Just a meeting house. And they didn’t have any free Book of Mormons (which I think is so odd) but we got some Pass Along Cards.

While we were standing by the temple, trying to figure out where to eat, Shauna had a close encounter with a celebrity. She almost ran directly into Rupert G., the owner of the Hello Deli, who is on Letterman all the time! I only got to see the back of him as he walking down the street.

We went to a Pizzeria down the street (and passed the ABC studio where Regis & Kelly is filmed. I’m really bummed we couldn’t go to that show.) Then it was back to the Met. Our seats for the opera were in the Family Circle. We were way up high. The opera glasses came in very handy. The opera was “Cyranno de Bergerac”. Placído Domingo was playing the title role. He was absolutely amazing! It was so cool to see him in person. The opera was very good. Gorgeous score. It sounded a lot like Puccini, which is probably because the composer is the one who edited “Turandot”. The chorus was HUGE! The Met itself is absolutely gorgeous. Gold, chandeliers. It is so grand! It wasn’t gaudy, though, which is very nice.

We were all so tired that some of the girls fell asleep during the opera. We are just totally wiped out. Sore mostly, but I’m suffering from lack of sleep. Luckily, I can sleep later tomorrow morning. Speaking of...zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

New York City Trip: Day 5

2009-03-10T10:32:00.000-07:00

Original Post Date: March 17, 2006

St. Patrick’s Day in New York! We slept in this morning, which was so nice! We made the 10:30 ferry after our usual stop at the bakery.

We didn’t take the South Ferry train, because we were going to the Lower East Side. Because of construction, we ended up walking through Battery Park. We got offered Rolexes and handbags. I didn’t make eye contact. I’m getting very good at ignoring pushy vendors. We also saw some guys dressed up like the Statue of Liberty. You’re supposed to get your picture taken with them, but they were a little creepy.

We happened upon a memorial to the World Trade Center. It was a sculpture that had been on the grounds. There was the eternal flame there, too. It was lit on September 11, 2002. If we hadn’t gotten detoured by the construction, we never would have found it!

Our first stop was Chinatown and Little Italy. Well, okay, it’s more like China Big City and Very Little Italy. The boundaries used to be so definite, and not it has blended together. Pretty much, Little Italy is a lot of restaurants.

Shauna and I went off in search of a Hat Shop we had read about that sold Bowler hats. We found the address, but it wasn’t there. So, we were going to take the subway back to Chinatown, but the signs were very confusing. We got on the right train, but it was going in the wrong direction. We didn’t realize this until the train went out of the tunnel and across the Williamsburg Bridge. Whoops! Normally when you get on the wrong train, the next stop isn’t too far away. But, when you have to cross a bridge, it takes o much longer! So, we crossed the river into Queens. Or maybe Brooklyn. I’ll have to check. It was a very lovely station, either way. Then we got on the correct train and went back across the river.

Back in Chinatown, we went down Mulberry Street and saw lots of Italian Restaurants. Boy, they smelled GOOD! We met the girls at a Chinese Restaurant for lunch.

After lunch, it was time to head up to do some shopping. Shauna and I got on the train right away, but the other girls got held up. Ashley has problems with her Metrocard, and it sometimes won’t let her through. So, we got off at the next stop and waited for their train. Luckily we all go together again.

We went to Bloomingdale’s first. What an amazing store! It’s huge and a total maze! Shauna and I just looked around for a bit and then left. There was no way we could afford anything there. When they have a DJ in the jeans department, you are in a super fancy store.

Our next stop was Tiffany’s. On the way, I had my crowning moment of the trip. We were about 2 blocks down the street and these old ladies, probably from England, asked me if Bloomingdale’s was close by. I told them to stay on that street and it would be on their left. They couldn’t miss it. Little did they know that I only knew that because I had just been there myself for the first time. Someone thought I knew where stuff is and I didn’t have to look at a map or say “I’m sorry, I’m not from here.” Yay!!

We got pictures of us having Breakfast at Tiffany’s. We’re such dorks. It was a croissant, and not a pastry like Audrey Hepburn had, but it’s the thought that counts.

We had decided not to go to the St Patrick’s Day parade, but who knew that it lasted all day! It was 3 o’clock and the parade was still going on. It made getting around on the sidewalk very, VERY hard. But we managed. At one point, we were walking along the parade route, in the same direction as the parade, with a marching band. We were in step with them. Without thinking about it. Once a band geek, always a band geek.

We saw the Plaza Hotel. They are in the process of restoring it, so there was scaffolding everywhere. After a little searching (So much construction everywhere!) , we found F.A.O. Schwartz. That was an amazing store! Life-sized stuffed animals, huge toys, the huge piano keyboard (featured in the Tom Hanks movie “Big”). We had to get Emily something, but everything was so expensive. We settled on a bear wearing a robe with “F.A.O. Schwartz on it. We had it shipped directly to her (which cost way too much, but we don’t have room to pack it home.)

Next, we walked along the South edge of Central Park to Carnegie Hall. It is gorgeous! The old architecture in New York is just breathtaking. We would have loved to have seen the inside, but we’re saving all the backstage tours (except “Wicked”, of course) for our next trip.

Then it was time to head back to Time’s Square to meet the girls for dinner. We went to the Hard Rock Café. It was 4 o’clock and really too early for dinner, but it was Friday and St. Patrick’s Day, and we knew we’d never get in later. They told us it would be a 25 - 30 minute wait, and it ended up being 5 minutes. Not bad! The food is so expensive there, so we all split a jumbo platter of appetizers and each had a side dish. And we got dessert.

Then Shauna, Ashley, and I split off and headed to J.C. Penney’s. Okay, that was the lamest J.C. Penney’s ever. They have very few things on display and then computers everywhere that you can use to order online. Lame! Then we went to the “Spirit of Broadway” store. It was packed full of souvenirs. Some cheap, some tacky, others good. Lots of funny t-shirts.

Next we headed uptown to the Lincoln Center. We wandered around a bit; tried to find the Julliard Bookstore but couldn’t. We killed time until we could get into the show I just HAD to see in New York: “The Light in the Piazza”. That show is the most gorgeous piece of theatre that I have seen in a long time. Years, even. Beautiful score by Adam Guettel, grandson of Richard Rodgers. The set was breathtaking. The show was...WOW! Amazing. Victoria Clark played the lead. (She was the original Alice Beane in “Titanic”, so I’ve loved her forever!) She won the Tony for this role. What a performer! WOW!!! We were so glad we went tonight and not Wednesday. She doesn’t do the show on Tuesdays and Wednesday nights. I’ve heard her understudy is fantastic (She plays Senora Nacarrelli. She was wonderful in that role.), but I only wanted to see Victoria. Bonus that Chris Sarandon (Prince Humperdink in “The Princess Bride” was Senor Nacarrelli) and Giuseppe was played by the guy we saw as Bill in “Kiss Me Kate” that was on PBS. Michael Berresse. He’s an amazing dancer and very funny.

I just can’t get over how incredible that show was. It’s been a long time since I have seen a show I knew practically nothing about. (I kind of knew the story and I had heard only 2 songs.) I cried at the end, of course. Now, normally when I cry at a show, I get over it, wipe my eyes and I’m done. This one had me choked up. I was trying to talk to Shauna and Ashley, and I sounded like I was going to cry again! Crazy!! I can’t wait to see this show again! The tour is coming to Denver!!

Saw some interesting people on the subway and ferry on the way home, but I need to go to bed! Tomorrow is a long day. I don’t think I’m going to bed at all tomorrow, so we can see another show!

New York City Trip: Day 6

2009-03-10T10:18:00.000-07:00

Original Post Date: March 18, 2006

Our last day here! How sad! We only have 24 hours left in New York City. Now, about the interesting people we saw yesterday:

In Chinatown, people would walk right up to you, practically right in your face, and say something about DVDs. I guess they were selling either cheap DVDs or Black Market ones. I just ignored them completely. (The first guy that did that to me, I couldn’t understand a word he was saying!)

On our “Oops” trip across the Williamsburg Bridge, there were some Orthodox Jews sitting right in front of us. A mother and two cute little boys. The boys both had the long hair in the front. And all three looked straight out of “Fiddler on the Roof.”

Since it was St Patrick’s Day, there were tons of extra people around. It seemed like most were large groups of annoying high school students. All they did was act obnoxious and show off. I just wanted to slap them. But I ignored them.

Once we found the parade, there were spots along the route where everyone was nicely watching the parade. But other spots, especially in front of the General Motors building, the sidewalk was just packed! And some people were already drunk. So much fun to navigate that mess.

A nice, older man took our picture by Carnegie Hall. And he didn’t try to steal the camera! Nice guy!

On the train home after “Piazza”, this group got on and this one blonde girl was incredibly obnoxious. She was so annoying. Reason #10321 not to drink. She’d had a few too many and thought she was the life of the party. (I think all people who’ve had “a few too man” should someday have to sit down and watch a video of every time they acted obnoxious while drunk. And be able to hear the thoughts of the people who witnessed it.) I just pretended to be asleep.

On the ferry, a scruffy looking man got on and sat near us. First he was going on about a murderer and the woman sitting by him was going to kill him, so we’d better watch his back. Then he announced that he was Jesus and wanted to let us know that he was down among the people. Hmm...that’s interesting. I got a little nervous at that point, but he quieted down after that.

There was a firefighter riding along in the cab we took from the ferry. Not sure why he was there. He was taking to us and couldn’t figure out why we would spend our Spring Break in New York City. Or why we were going home so early. (It was midnight!) He told us about a bar close by. No thanks, buddy.

WICKED “BEHIND THE EMERALD CURTAIN” BACKSTAGE TOUR:

Tour Guides: Sean McCort (Dr. Dillamond/Elphaba’s Father) & Anthony (Swing)

Costumes –
Asymmetrical (ensemble)
Symmetrical (principals)
Elphie & Glinda’s go from asymmetrical to symmetrical during the show

Costumes are first made in muslin, because it’s cheaper

Shoes are custom made

Everyone has their own costume; not shared by understudies/swings

Costumes designed specifically for each cast member – reflect their personality

The show made $1.6 million in one week. The show costs about $700,000 a week.

$35,000 for Glinda’s blue dress. Took 3 months to make

$1500 - $3500 for one pair of shoes

Idina’s dress - everyone looks amazing in the dress. Dimension/depth. Yards of fabric. It’s not just all black. There are many colors in it!

Masks - each built specific
Real human hair, several people’s hair in Midwife’s mask

Props–
letters all look real, have the actual writing
“Oz Week Magazine”

Scale model of Gershwin used in model of set

72 line sets and that’s not enough!
100 foot pipes
At intermission, they take down draperies and switch to Act 2 ones

Rehearsal every Thursday and Friday

Eddie Pierce - Technical Director

14 truck tour

90 wigs

Universal swings–
Know all roles in NY, Chicago, & Tour

Gershwin Theatre built in 1972
1805 seats (1933 total seats)

Percussion room
Percussionist wears a hat with a mic on it

Harpist room

One orchestra member is 70 years old. His first show was “The Music Man” with Robert Preston.

½ inch per foot rake

Stage is about 2 ½ feet higher than Gershwin floor at upstage line

Dog – reverse clothespin.
Sleeve in back of scenery. Knife goes inside sleeve to put set on the track.
“Knifing the Dog”

30 foot light towers – fly out during scene changes

4250 light bulbs, 19 miles of cable, 1,900,000 watts

Stage manager in the house! Above exit sign, house left balcony.
Show is called with music.
750 electric cues
32 cues before 1st line of dialogue
Rotate SMs – max 4 shows in a week

125 people make the show work

Computerized lights in “Defying Gravity” are rented. Probably $100,000 a week.

Shauna stumps the tour guide!
“How many people did it take to build the set, and how long did it take?”
They didn’t know! They knew it was built all over the world in different shops, and took about 9 months.
*This certifies that Angela paid up on the $5 bet*

Wow, that tour was absolutely amazing! So much goes into make that show work. So cool!

Once we left the Gershwin, we split up again. Shauna and I had lunch at Applebee’s. Our justification in going to restaurant that we have at home is this: A) It’s in Times Square. B) It is the largest Applebee’s in the world. So there.

Next we went to Colony Music. That store is chock FULL of sheet music & music books. Racks and racks worth. I could have bought half the store.

We went to the Hershey’s store next. I was a good girl and did not buy any chocolate. I did, however, drool over all the kinds of chocolate they had there. Huge variety. I bought a stuffed Hershey’s Kiss dressed up like the Statue of Liberty.

We are now at the Time’s Square Information Center. We had to get out of the wind. It’s so cold outside today!!

Okay, I just did the dumbest thing I have ever done in my life. I stood in line for over and hour to get discount tickets. I was frozen solid by the time the line even started moving. The wind was so cold. It just cut right through me!! The lamest thing is that Shauna left to go to the Post Office and showed up about 10 minutes before they started selling tickets. Lame! She’s standing in line next time and I’m taking off!

All that standing in line and we only got 35% off our last choice show. Shauna, Ashley, and I are seeing “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” and Guizella and Steph are seeing “Drumstruck”. Diana is going home early.

We probably could have gotten in to some of our other choices, but we just had to try TKTS. I’ll never stand in line again for that. It’s not worth the discount (unless it’s 50% off.)

I’m just barely thawing out now. We’re back in the Times Square Visitors Center. Compared to the windy outdoors, this place is heaven!

We had dinner at TGI Fridays, after locating the theatre where “Drumstruck” is at. Then we split up. Shauna, Ashley, and I went to see the Waldorf Astoria Hotel. Oh, my gosh that made me feel poor when we walked through the lobby. It is so extravagant!! Cole Porter’s piano is in the lobby. That’s pretty cool.

We’re now at Starbucks across the street, killing time until we need to go to the theatre. I AM SO TIRED!!!

First of all, the Imperial Theatre is absolutely gorgeous. It’s so elegant! Huge chandeliers, beautiful molding.

“Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” was so funny! It’s great to see actors genuinely having fun onstage. We got to see several well known actors. Norbert Leo Butz, for one. He won the Tony for that role, and it was obvious why. He was amazing! So much energy! (Norbert was the original Fiyero in “Wicked”.) We also saw Jonathan Pryce. What an honor to see such a wonderful actor. He was the original Engineer in “Miss Saigon”. He also played Governor Swan in the “Pirates of the Caribbean” movies. He is SUCH a good actor! An absolute joy! We were most excited, however, about seeing Rachel York. We’ve seen her on video playing Lili/Katherine in “Kiss Me Kate” and on TV playing Lucille Ball in the movie “Lucy”. She is also on Shauna’s “Scarlet Pimpernel Encore” CD. She is so cool! She was fantastic! The show has some questionable stuff and got a little vulgar, but overall was a super funny show.

New York City Trip: Day 7

2009-03-10T10:11:00.000-07:00

Original Post Date: March 19, 2007

We went back to the house and packed up as quick as we could. The taxis came at 1:30 am, and we are now on the ferry back to Manhattan. I can see the Statue of Liberty out the windows to my left. We have to take the subway to Queens and then catch a bus to the airport. We weren’t sure how long it will take, so we aren’t taking any chances. We can’t check in at the airport until 5:00, so we may be sleeping on the floor for awhile before then.

I fell asleep on the subway. All of the sudden it was our stop, and it hadn’t seemed long enough. It only took about half an hour to get from the south end of Manhattan to Astoria, Queens. Once we got off, however, at Astoria, and got all the way down all the sets of stairs with our suitcases, and then found the bus stop...we discovered that the next bus wasn’t coming until 4:20. It was 3:20. And it was freaking cold. And there was a bar or nightclub or something across the street. Taxi, anyone? And me, the only one with cash left. But we got two taxis and headed to the airport. That’s where we are now, sitting in the food court close to the American Airlines check-in desk. I’ve now been awake for almost 23 hours straight and I’m not really thinking straight anymore. I’m surprised I can write.

I finally have had my random celebrity siting. Now, granted, it was a celebrity I had seen before, but it was still random. We were sitting at our gate at LaGuardia and our flight was about to board. The people next to me started talking about seeing Al Roker down the concourse. The mom went to go see and I watched how far she went. When I saw it wasn’t far, I got up and sauntered over. Sure enough, Al Roker was standing in line for food. I pretended to check out the menu while really checking to make sure it was Al Roker. Sure enough, it was! I went back to my seat, satisfied with my celebrity siting. Well, it got better! When I stood up to wait to board the plane, I kind of watched the concourse to see if he would walk by. A minute later, I saw him carrying just coffee. I had seen him with luggage earlier. Suddenly, he turned around and reappeared about 10 seconds later with his luggage. I almost laughed out loud. How would that be for Al Roker to get his bags confiscated (and maybe destroyed) by leaving them unattended at the airport!

I slept most of the way to Chicago. Not very comfortably, I might add. I’m thoroughly exhausted.

I can’t believe our trip to New York is almost over! I’m so tired and I just want to go home, but I’m so sad that we have to leave. It’s been SUCH a fun week!! I can hardly wait to come back to New York again. I didn’t like the huge crowds or standing in lines, but the vibe of the city is just so cool!!

I don’t think I could ever live in New York City. There are so many amazing things about it that I wouldn’t want to become blasé about. I wouldn’t mind not having to drive, though. The traffic is insane! Thousands of people on foot and thousands of cars, trucks, taxis, and busses. I was amazed when we’d hear a siren and the fire trucks would be able to weave through all the cars.

I was amazed at all the different people, too. You’d hear one language, then another. Some we could figure out, other were totally unrecognizable. Some people looked right out of another century, like the Orthodox Jews on the subway. So many different kinds of people. If the United States is a melting pot, then New York City is a very thick, concentrated stew. It gets diluted in other parts of the country. Colorado is a thin soup compared to New York City. (Okay, the food analogy is making me hungry!)

Some classic New York staples I saw: pigeons, street vendors, guys selling handbags, watches, etc., homeless people, and I think I saw a tiny cockroach in the rest room at LaGuardia. I did not, however, see a rat. Nor did I get mugged. And I didn’t see anyone peeing in the subway. (I’m not sad about missing out on any of that, by the way.) I do have to say, though, that it wasn’t cool when we finally figured out the subway and then they changed it for the weekend. That was lame!! We never did figure out the bus system. Maybe next time!

We made it home safely. Everyone’s luggage got home safely, too. It’s weird being back in Colorado. It rained a little on the way to Greeley from the airport. I’m so glad it didn’t rain on us in New York.

The week seems almost like a dream now. We had a fabulous time! I can’t wait to go back!

THE END!!!!!

A few quick thoughts on the Emmys

2008-10-22T14:21:00.000-07:00

Original Post Date: September 22, 2008

That has to have been the LAMEST Emmys I have ever seen. Could it have gotten much worse? Next year, just let Tom Bergeron host the whole dang thing and ditch the other 4. Seriously. And he SHOULD HAVE ONE!!!! Why the heck did Probst win? Geez.....

There were some good things, though. My favorite moment of the night was the exchange between Ricky Gervais and Steve Carell. That was ABSOLUTELY PRICELESS!!!!!! Especially when Steve pulled the Emmy out from under his seat!!!! I laughed so hard!!!

Tina Fey and Amy Poehler's presentation. They have to be the funniest women on TV right now. "I thought you said you were going to practice this!" "I LIED!!!!!"

Yay for the wins for "John Adams". If you have not watched that miniseries, you MUST WATCH IT SOON!!! It was amazing. If Paul Giamatti had not won, I would have done something really drastic...like eat my hat or something. There was no one better than him in ANYTHING this year. Hands down. Laura Linney was amazing, too, and I'm glad she won (though Phylicia Rashad was equally amazing in "A Raisin in the Sun". If you haven't that...SEE IT!) I say BOOOOO that Audra didn't win, though. She rocks!

Josh Groban's musical tribute to TV Theme Songs was great! He does some pretty dang good impressions! That was...impressive. I'm sorry, I couldn't think of a better word. :)

All in all, the evening sucked, though. I'm very glad that I came in late and was able to fast forward through most of it. Thank heavens for DVR.

Lessons Learned

2008-10-22T14:20:00.000-07:00

Original Post Date: September 20, 2008

So, I've learned something this year. Last year, I auditioned for something and I wanted a specific role. I didn't get the role, and I was devastated at first. I moved on and did the role I was cast in, but it kind of threw me for a loop. But there was another show I auditioned for last year, where I would only accept one of 2 roles. And if I didn't get cast, that was okay, too. I got that role. (Well...I got one of them, and then ended up playing the other role instead. Yes, I'm talking about Fiddler.) But then there was another show...I said I'd take any role, and I didn't get called back for a specific role that I would have liked. I asked to be considered for it, which was a big step for me. I'm usually not that forward at auditions. I didn't get it, but that was okay. I had at least taken a chance. And I had a blast in the ensemble! Finally, I auditioned for another show and I wanted a specific part. I didn't get it, even though I thought I was the best for it. That made me more than a little frustrated, but I did as I was cast...and stressful as the show was, it was a good experience, on so many levels.

Then this year rolled around....

I had one week in between Savior of the World and Fiddler rehearsals. Before Fiddler was even done, I auditioned for The Miracle Worker. I didn't expect much out of that. I do musical theatre, and that was a play. So I went in with no expectations, just looking for a little audition experience. Especially, since I am notoriously bad at cold readings. It was a dream show, so I went. And I got Kate Keller. Turned out to be a HUGE growth experience for me. I'm much more comfortable with speaking lines on stage now. I really needed that! (Tzeitel helped with that, too. I'm not as stiff onstage as I once was. I still have a loooooooooooong way to go, though.) Well, the weekend before Tech Week started, I auditioned for Little Women. Again, I had no expectations. I knew I was too old to play one of the girls. But, I love the show to pieces, and would just be happy to be involved. If I got it, great! If not, I could have a break and cut my hair!!! I got it. I'm very excited to be playing Aunt March. Character Cameos are my forte!

So what have I learned? Not to take stuff so seriously. Go in with zero expectations. Don't go in wanting a specific role...and if I do, be okay with not getting it. I don't need to think it's life or death if I don't get the part. Because it's not. I don't work professionally, so I won't starve if I don't get the part. But at the same time, I have to show I have confidence. I still need to go in and give the best audition that I can...which is easy when I'm not super nervous about it. Okay, I don't really get nervous anymore...I get anxious. And I can get really worked up about stuff. It's all about getting the butterflies to fly in formation. That's all it is. And when I'm not worried about whether or not I'll get the part, it's easier to get the butterflies to do what I want them to.

So that's what I've learned. When I start taking stuff too seriously, theatre ceases to be fun. If it wasn't fun, I wouldn't do it. And if I wasn't doing theater...well, let's not go there. ;)

If you can't say something nice...

2008-10-22T14:19:00.000-07:00

Original Post Date: September 17, 2008

It never ceases to amaze me. People will say the most horrendous things about people they have never met. Just because a person is a celebrity, or person in the public eye...why does that make them fair game for people to say such awful thing about them? Would you EVER say those things to their face? I don't think so. Would you say those kinds of things to people you know? Probably not. Everyone just needs to follow the advice of Thumper's dad: If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all. Oh, yeah...Thumper's dad didn't say this, but it also applies: People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones. When you're perfect, go ahead and judge. Until that time...QUIT SAYING AWFUL THINGS ABOUT PEOPLE YOU DON'T KNOW! And while you're at it, don't say mean things about people you do know. JUST BE NICE, PEOPLE! GEEZ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

/steps off soap box

The Dream Plays List

2008-10-22T14:17:00.000-07:00

Original Post Date: September 10, 2008

I have put out a list a couple of time of shows I want to do, but they were all musicals. There are a handful of plays that I would like to do. Way more musicals, but the list of plays is pretty nice in and of itself.

Arsenic and Old Lace (This is my all time favorite play!!!)
Candida
A Christmas Carol
The Crucible (I want to play Elizabeth Proctor)
The Diary of Anne Frank
A Doll's House
I Remember Mama
The Man Who Came to Dinner
Much Ado About Nothing (My favorite Shakespeare)
Noises Off (I want to play Poppy, the Stage Manager)
Our Town
Steel Magnolias
The Taming of the Shrew

That's just a list from off the top of my head. I'm sure I missed a few. But those are the ones I'd really like to do!!!

Politics, Schmolitics: or Just Leave Me the H-E-Double Hockey Sticks ALONE!

2008-10-22T14:16:00.001-07:00

Original Post Date: September 8, 2008

Yesterday (Sunday afternoon…not even an hour after I got home from the theatre), someone came to my door representing the political party that I am not registered with. They asked for me or my sister. Well, since I was home, I went to the door. I immediately told him that I was registered with the other party. He asked me if I intended to vote along those party lines in the election. I said that at this point, I probably would. He then asked me what I thought was my most important issue in the election. I replied that I really didn't know yet. I have been really busy and I usually don't start paying attention until mid-October. He thanked me for my time and left. I was pretty mad that he had come to my door at all. Where does he get off? And where the HECK did he get my name and address?! I get enough junk mail and phone calls from the party I am affiliated with. I don't need the OTHER party harassing me!

Call me ignorant if you want, but I don't pay attention to politics if I can at all help it. I've got enough to worry about. I don't need to get sucked into the mud slinging mess that IS politics. I call myself a Flaming Moderate. (A term I stole from a History professor I had in college.) I don't always vote along party lines. There are certain issues I agree with on both sides. I registered with a party when I was 18, because I agreed with more of their issues, and so that I could participate in Primaries and Caucuses. (Fat lot of good that did me this year: the Caucus was the biggest snooze fest I've ever been to, and the Primary had no contested races, so I didn't even take the time to drive to the polls.) I probably should re-register as an Independent, but that just takes too much work. Especially when I don't give a rat's left toenail about politics.

Have I mentioned that I HATE POLITICS?! Seriously, people need to just get over themselves. Every time I hear an ad come on the radio, I change the station. I mute the TV when they come on there, or change the station. I have to feel very passionate about an issue or candidate to get involved at ALL. (And my candidate of choice dropped out of the race months ago, and didn't get the VP nomination.) And I'm really sick of hearing "I'm going to get in there and CHANGE WASHINGTON." That makes me laugh every single time. My response is "Yeah, you do that. Let me know how that works out for you." While I definitely agree that Washington needs to change, I have yet to see or hear from anyone again who made that promise to do so. The only way you will change Washington is to replace every single senator and congressperson. Everyone who gets elected goes in their with all their plans for change, and within a couple of months they have been influenced by the senior members of their party to lock arms with the party and do whatever everyone else is doing. It happens all the time. Don't tell me that it doesn't. This is why I hate politics. Nothing good comes from it…at least not very often.

I plan on waiting until mid to late October to really sit down and look at the issues. By that time, the dust is starting to settle and everything is laid out. There aren't many surprises. I will take the time to study it out then. If I start paying attention now, everything will change by the time November rolls around. I'll drive myself bonkers if I try to figure it all out now! I have enough on my plate right now. I don't have the time or energy to even care what's going on. So I'm going to ignore the political ads, skip over the commentary section of the paper, and stop watching TV. Oh, wait…I already stopped watching TV. There's nothing on yet, and I don't have time to watch it anyway.

So, please note: don't bug me about anything political. I don't want to hear it. Just leave me alone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Another check mark on the "Dream Shows List"

2008-10-22T14:15:00.000-07:00

Original Post Date: September 2, 2008

I must be living right. I've put 3 check marks on the list this year. First came Fiddler on the Roof. Then The Miracle Worker (one of the few plays that I have ever really wanted to do.) And now....(drum roll please)....

Little Women!

I will be playing Aunt March! Up In Lights Productions is putting it up in mid November at the Rialto! I'm super excited. I simply adore this show! We drove all the way to Salt Lake City to see the tour a couple of years ago, since it wasn't coming to Denver. Best geek trip ever...okay, 2nd only to the trip to NYC.

Just had to share the news! I expect to see you all there! :)

Dancing with the Stars Season 7!!!

2008-10-22T14:14:00.001-07:00

Original Post Date: August 25, 2008

I'm very excited! They announced the cast of Dancing with the Stars Season 7 today!!! As I learned last season, if I don't watch the show while it's on, I don't watch it. I was so busy with rehearsals that I missed most of season 6. But I did catch the finale, which was great. But here are my thoughts on the stars for Season 7:

Susan Lucci: Should be good. I think I've seen her dance with Regis before. Of course, I could be totally making that up.

Toni Braxton: She played Belle on Broadway. That makes her cool in my book.

Lance Bass: Boy Band-ers do well! Should be one to watch.

Cloris Leachman: Um...how old is she? Don't get me wrong, I love her work, but...how old is she?!

Kim Kardashian: Am I supposed to know who this person is?

Ted McGinley: Yay! He's cool! Gettin' a little Love Boat on DWTS!!!

Brooke Burke: Who?

Warren Sapp: again...who?

Misty May-Treanor: Sweet! I watched her win both of her Gold medals!

Maurice Green: Well, at least he'll do well on the fast footwork.

Rocco DiSpirito: I'm a broken record. WHO?

Cody Linley: Not sure who he is, but they say he's on Hannah Montana. I've watched that show once or twice.

Jeffrey Ross: Again...WHO?!

Wow...dancing with the C-Listers yet again. Oh, well. It's worth watching just to see how Tom Bergeron handles everything. He's great! I don't know how much I'll get to watch this season, as I'll have more rehearsals, but I'll do the best I can!!!! I do love that show!

Titanic: The Freaking Amazing Musical

2008-10-22T14:12:00.000-07:00

Original Post Date: August 16, 2008

You know, I always forget how fun it is to see great productions of shows that I love. Especially shows that I know backwards and forwards. I can sit back and enjoy the minute details. Most people don't notice the little things...they are trying to take in the show as a whole. But when I know every line and every song...when I have been in the show before...I can focus on those little things. That is one of the reasons that I so thoroughly enjoyed Augustana Arts production of "Titanic: The Musical" today. There are so many big things that make that show amazing. The build up to "Godspeed Titanic" is one. (That was the first time I cried, by the way.) But there are so many little details that make that show even more incredible. And Bryan...you're my hero for bringing them out. I knew I was a goner when I started with the waterworks 10 minutes into the show.

It was a little surreal today. I did that show 5 years ago. And some of the same people who were in that show were also in this one. 2 played the same roles, 4 played different roles. At times, I felt like I should have been up there with them. It's been so long since we did that show...but it all came back today. But that's only part of why I bawled throughout the entire show. Titanic is such an emotional show. You spend Act One getting attached to all of these characters. You know that the ship is going to sink, you know that some of them are going to die. But you really don't know who. The ship hits the iceberg at the end of Act One (Awesome sound effect, by the way. I like how my seat vibrated with the rumble. Felt so real!!!!) You spend the first half of Act 2 still wondering who is going to live or die. The class distinction is still there. (One of those little details I liked was during "Dressed in Your Pyjamas in the Grand Salon". After the teacart has its moment, the class distinction dissolves...it's everyone together after that.) Then the Lifeboat scene hits you right between the eyes. The separations start, and as you watch the passengers realize that they are going to be leaving their loved ones (or watch their loved ones leave on a lifeboat), the emotions go nuts. (This was Bawl-fest 2...and I pulled it together a bit by the time "We'll Meet Tomorrow" started, up until Seth's solo. Then it was all over for me. Watching him break down made ME break down!!! And the Strausses didn't help either!!!) And then there's the end. I loved the added touches to "Mr. Andrews Vision." Having cast members act out bits and pieces of what Andrews was describing made it that much more real and heart wrenching.

Can you tell that I just adore this show and adored this production? It was well done, from every aspect! I especially loved the use of the pit. The "fire" for "Barrett's Song", watching the lifeboats lower, seeing passengers jump off the ship at the end. All incredibly effective! I'm all about effectiveness on stage.

So a big THANK YOU to Augustana Arts for a wonderful performance of a wonderful show. I'm going to stop gushing now before I run out of adjectives. But first, KUDOS to: Aaron, Alison, Britta, Bryan, Jessica, Jimmy, Kendra, Lee Ann, Robert, Seth, & Staci. You guys ROCK MY SOCKS!!!!! Love you all!

No Vacation for You!

2008-10-22T14:10:00.000-07:00

Original Post Date: August 15, 2008

So, apparently, I'm not meant to take a vacation. Not even for one night! I have been so busy with shows this summer, that I haven't gotten to go anywhere but the theatre and home. Pretty much. The only "vacations" I've gotten this year are as follows:

-Winter Park/Granby for 1 night in January. But that was for a What is Opera? gig, so it's hardly a vacation.
-Utah for the weekend in April. 3 days off work and 16 hours in the car...it's vacation-ish.
-Laramie for the evening to see Katrina in "A Chorus Line." Totally not a vacation, but it was leaving the state, so I had to include it.

I didn't get to go to Nauvoo with my family in June, because of Fiddler. Now, I'm supposed to go camping tonight. And it's raining. And possibly snowing in the mountains. So even if the camping trip is still on, I probably won't go. We ALL know what happens when it snows when I'm camping. We are NOT reliving that, thanks. But, even if tonight's camping trip falls through, there's always next Friday night's camping at Grand Lake, right? RIGHT? Well, maybe not. Because of Back to School night next week, our Thursday rehearsal of "The Miracle Worker" might get changed to Friday night. Great. JUST GREAT!!!!!!!!! I am NOT driving by myself over Trail Ridge at 9:00 pm just to turn around come home the next morning. NO WAY!!!!

I guess I'm just going to have to resign myself to the fact that I am not getting away at all for the rest of the year. I wouldn't trade away my amazing shows, but a little break would be REALLY NICE!!!!!! I'm mentally exhausted, that's all there is to it. And now I'm thinking of auditioning for another show that will run in November. But it's one of the few shows I would drop everything to do, so I have to audition. I don't know when I'll get another chance to do the show, because it's widely known around here.

I kind of feel like young Jenny in Forrest Gump. "Dear Lord, make me a bird, so I can fly far, far away from here." Not for the same reason that she was praying for that, but I just want to get away. Too bad I'm poor and a) can't afford to go anywhere and b) really can't afford to take off work until I get my paid vacation time back. ACK!!!!!!!!!

Paper or Plastic: A New Musical

2008-10-22T14:09:00.000-07:00

Original Post Date: August 1, 2008

Have you ever wanted to change yourself just to you can be with someone? Have you wanted someone else to change for you? Have you ever found out something about someone you like that was a total deal breaker? Have you ever laughed so hard watching a musical that you almost fell off your chair? (Wait...that last one was just me.)

I had the opportunity...nay, the privilege of attending the World Premiere of a brand new musical tonight. Paper or Plastic, by Spencer Townshend Hughes, is WONDERFUL!!!! It's funny, witty, charming, touching, and an all-around awesome musical. It really speaks to those who have ever been in a relationship like that what I mentioned above. Doug hates singing, dancing, people who write songs, people who sing and write songs, etc....but yet, everyone around him sings and dances. Poor guy! He really likes Marilyn, and finally starts dating her, only to find out that she sings, too. What's a guy to do? You'll just have to go find out. Get yourself down to the Union Colony Dinner Theatre tomorrow night (Saturday, August 2) and see what happens. And if you can't make it, throw some money Spencer's way so he can get it produced! It's a piece that needs to be shared. The music is so wonderful, and the message is strong: What would you SACKrifice for love? The singing and dancing are a metaphor, and the cool thing is that they have a different meaning for each person. It's not just one specific thing. Each individual can see themselves and their own experiences. Now THAT'S something theatre should do: Speak to everyone, no matter what their situation.

So BIG KUDOS to Spencer for writing an amazing show! When it's on Broadway someday, I get to say that I saw it first. :)

Props to Spencer, Erin, Nick, Alison, JT, & Jalyn for a great show! Oh, yeah...and Raja's cameo. Loved the Fiddler references!!! I LOVE YOU GUYS!!!

Having a hard time letting go

2008-10-22T14:07:00.000-07:00

Original Post Date: July 23, 2008

I thought it might be easier than this. I really did. But I am suffering some severe Fiddler on the Roof withdrawal. I miss everybody! I'm so sad that I won't be playing Tzeitel again...at least not with the wonderful people I've spent the last 3+ months with at the UCDT!

I was doing really well. I changed my profile pictures on Myspace and Facebook. I changed my name on Myspace (and I'm even waiting a bit to put up my next character name.) I changed my signature on my e-mail. But today...I had to take the Fiddler music off my iPod. The past 2 days at work, I've had Musicals on random. Every time a song from Fiddler came on, I skipped through it. I couldn't bear to listen to it without getting a little misty-eyed. And then what did I go and do? I changed my desktop picture on my computer to a picture of me and my Fiddler sisters. I couldn't help myself!!!!

It's not like I'm going to see everyone again. We've got the Tiny Awards this Saturday, and Spencer's musical the next weekend. And I'll be going back to see more shows at the UCDT. But we will never be all together, performing Fiddler on the Roof, ever again! That is so sad! It's been an amazing ride, from beginning to end. I think the biggest struggle I'm having is coming to grips with the fact that it's finally over. It took so long for it to finally come, and now it's gone. I initially auditioned for the show in March of 2007. Callbacks were in June, and I found out soon after that I would be playing Fruma Sarah. I then spent 9 months waiting. Then came the fateful call from Seth in the middle of March. Would I play Tzeitel? Heck, yes! Then rehearsals started. Then we opened. Then we extended. And now....it's all over! Where did the time go? What happened? I'll tell you what happened! I had the most amazing theatrical experience of my entire life. I never thought I'd have that again after Titanic. And yet...here it was. Amazing cast, amazing show, amazing theatre...a cosmic boom of Theatrical Perfection. Okay, it wasn't perfect. Louise reminded us of that just last Saturday night. (RIP Louise). Then there was little baby Aizik. He was so abused. You'll all be interested to know that the abuse will continue. I'm going to use the doll as Mildred Keller in "The Miracle Worker." He is now a she, and she gets tossed out of the cradle by Helen.

I'm going to be okay. Rehearsals are in full swing for "The Miracle Worker" and I'm focusing on memorizing all my lines. After that I go right into rehearsals for the Loveland Opera Theatre Gala. And we have "The Elixir of Love" starting up right after that, so I'll be keeping very busy! No time to dwell on my Fiddler withdrawal. It'll help when I can scrapbook the show. The pictures are ordered. I'll be able to start soon! That always helps in the healing process. I can feel real closure once a show is fully scrapbooked.

I still can't believe it's over! Can't we do it one more time? No, we can't. I'm not hauling the sewing machine back into my van and back over to Greeley. I guess we're done, then!!

*sniffle*

I could ask one question

2008-10-22T14:06:00.000-07:00

Original Post Date: July 19, 2008

So, I was just over on Yahoo! Answers. They have this thing going right now where you can submit one question to ask Christian Bale. They'll pick the best one and he'll answer it. Well, I, of COURSE, had to submit something. Hmm...what to ask, what to ask. Something about Batman perhaps? Or what's it like to work with Hugh Jackman? No, I asked the following question:

With all your success in movies, especially with the Batman franchise, does it bother you at all that I (and most girls around my age) will always think of you as Jack Kelly from "Newsies"? It's one of my favorite movies!!

I don't think they'll pick that one, but given the chance I just HAD to ask!! No matter what movies he does, Christian Bale is Jack Kelly. That's all there is to it. Just like Neil Patrick Harris is always Doogie Howser, Johnny Depp is Sam from "Benny and Joon", and Leo DiCaprio is Luke on "Growing Pains"! It's just the way it is.

A few thoughts on the Emmy Nominations

2008-10-22T14:04:00.002-07:00

Original Post Date: July 17, 2008

I don't watch a lot of TV anymore...don't really have the time. But I know enough about what's going on. Here are my thoughts on the Emmy nominations that were announced today. (Bear in mind that I'm scrolling through the 40+ pages of nominations while I'm writing this.)

First of all: The HBO miniseries "John Adams" is freaking amazing! I've been watching it recently (thank you, Netflix) and it's AWESOME!!!!!! I'm going to watch the 7th and last installment tonight. Paul Giamatti recently trumped Tom Hanks as my favorite actor, and he ABSOLUTELY deserves to win the Emmy for his portrayal of John Adams. Laura Linney should win for Abigail Adams, too. She was awesome! The show deserves to win as well.

Oh my gosh! Julianne Hough is nominated for Best Choreography for Dancing with the Stars! Yay! She has to win. She just has to!

Hey!!! I didn't know they gave Emmys for commercials! The FedEx Carrier Pigeons commercial is nominated. That was a good one!

Aww....Chuck got nominated. I love that show. It's just for Outstanding Main Title Design, but still!!

Aw crap...Phylicia Rashad is up against Laura Linney. A Raisin the Sun totally rocked, too! OH, NO!!!!!!!!!!!!

YAY! Rainn Wilson is nominated! Go Dwight!!!!

Oooh! Double yay!!! Michael Emerson is nominated. He better win, or Ben will move the island again. :)

Nice...Tom Wilkinson, David Morse, & Stephen Dillane are all nominated for John Adams. :)

AUDRA! AUDRA!!!! She's nominated for A Raisin in the Sun! An Emmy would look so great next to her 4 Tonys! (And one of those Tonys she won for playing Ruth Younger in A Raisin in the Sun!)

Outstanding Comedy Series...THE OFFICE

Outstanding Drama Series...LOST

Outstanding Miniseries...JOHN ADAMS

Outstanding Made for TV Movie...A RAISIN IN THE SUN

Outstanding Reality Series...THE AMA....wait...WHERE'S THE AMAZING RACE?!?!? Oh, wait...there it is. Reality Competition Program. WHEW!!! Oh, and Dancing with the Stars is there, too. Cool!

Man, there are a lot of Emmy categories. They should give an Emmy for Outstanding TV watching or something. I wouldn't win, but I know a few people who would.

Why you shouldn't believe everything you see on the Internet

2008-10-22T14:04:00.001-07:00

Original Post Date: July 14, 2008

The picture is down now, but the website for Channel 7 gave us quite the chuckle this afternoon. Their 5 top story was that Ft. Collins was ranked one of the top places to live in the US. It was a nice article. However, their picture was a little...well...off. In the foreground of the picture, it was clearly Ft. Collins. You could see the dorms and the Key Bank building. However, the picture made it look like Ft Collins was right at the base of Longs Peak! Like literally in the shadow of it! My first response was "Where did the mountains come from!" Then I was like, "wait, you can't get a picture of Longs Peak like THAT in Ft. Collins." It was hilarious! They have a new picture up now, one of Old Town. But for awhile, it was quite the misrepresentation of just how close FoCo is to the mountains...and specfic mountains at that!!!

A show that's NOT a musical?!

2008-10-22T14:02:00.000-07:00

Original Post Date: July 11, 2008

Yes, it's true! I am going to be in a play! Not a musical, not an opera...A PLAY!!! Craaaaaaaazy!!!! I haven't done a play in years! And the last one, I was the stage manager and a musician. That was "Tom Sawyer" the summer after I graduated from high school. The last play that I was actually in was "Charlotte's Web" in 8th grade. Let me do the math...that would have been the Spring of 1992. 16 years! Daaaaaang!! (Wow, I'm old.) I have only done musicals and opera for the past 12 years. And now I'm branching out!!!

I will be playing Kate Keller in Loveland Community Theater's production of "The Miracle Worker". I'm really excited! This is a dream show for me. I did a school project on Helen Keller when I was in 2nd or 3rd grade and she's been a hero of mine ever since! I have always wanted to do this play! And now I get to!!! Yay!!!!

The downside is that now I can't cut my hair like I had planned. I've been saying since Fiddler started that I was chopping my hair off as soon as we closed. Well, now I have to wait until the middle of September. It's for a good cause, though, so I guess I'll be alright. Oh, and I also don't get a break. We start rehearsals on July 14th. Fiddler closes July 20th. (I had one week off between Savior of the World and Fiddler rehearsals.) We start rehearsals for the Loveland Opera Theatre Gala on the Monday in between our weekends of performances. And then right after the Gala, chorus rehearsals start for The Elixir of Love. This has been a busy year!! It's good for me, though. Keeps me off the streets and out of the bars.

"The Miracle Worker" will be the first two weekends of September at the Rialto Theater in Loveland. Be there!!!!

I just read the BEST BOOK!!!!

2008-10-22T14:01:00.000-07:00

Original Post Date: June 24, 2008

If you are a Jane Austen fan, or have ever been obsessed with Mr. Darcy...you have to read this book! It's called "Austenland" and it's by Shannon Hale. Here's what the back cover says:

Jane is a young New York woman who can never seem to find the right man - perhaps because of her secret obsession with Mr. Darcy, as played by Colin Firth in the BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice. But when a wealthy relative bequeaths to her a trip an English resort catering to Austen-obsessed women, Jane's fantasies of meeting the perfect Recency-era gentleman suddenly become more real than she ever could have imagined. Is this total immersion in a fake Austenland enough to make Jane kick the Austen obsession for good, or could all her dreams actually culminate in a Mr. Darcy of her own? In this addictive, charming, and compassionate story, Shannon Hale brings out the Jane Austen obsessive in all of us.

Addictive is right. I got the book from my cousin at about 3:45 pm yesterday. I finished it at 8:00 pm tonight. I couldn't put it down! I knew who I wanted Jane to fall for, and I couldn't wait to find out if it worked out or not. This book is amazing! It's so funny! The author is clearly obsessed with Jane Austen and she knows that all of us that share that obsession can't believe how obsessed we are...and that we wallow in the silliness of it all. And she plays right to us with is great book. It's a wonderful tribute to Jane Austen fans everywhere...especially to those who know what I mean when I say "Colin Firth in a wet shirt."

Get it....read it....LOVE IT!!!!!

Nature's Power and Majesty

2008-10-22T14:00:00.000-07:00

Original Post Date: June 21, 2008

So, I got the show of a lifetime on my way home from Greeley last night. There was a HUGE storm going on between Loveland and Greeley. And I got to watch the most amazing lightning I think I have ever seen! It was better than the 4th of July! (Okay, maybe not...) Huge bolts of lightning, and they lit up the ENTIRE sky! It was gorgeous!!!!!!!! And then the rain hit. I started getting drops falling about the time I got to the State Farm building. And then the torrential downpour started. There was so much water on the highway that I kept hitting huge puddles. I thought I was going to start hydroplaning. It was pretty scary there for a few minutes. Then I thought there was something wrong with my tires, because I was hearing weird noises. I think there was debris on the road from the preceding wind storm. Well, by the time I crossed the interstate, the rain was over. And as I got further into Loveland, everything was totally dry. It hadn't even rained there!!!! Gotta love the mountains...storms shoot right over Loveland dump on Greeley!

So it was a fun drive last night! Nice to break up the monotony of my 45 mile (round trip) drive!

The Updated Dream Roles/Dream Shows List

2008-10-22T13:59:00.000-07:00

Original Post Date: June 5, 2008

Last year, I wrote a blog listing the shows I want to do (but have never done) with the roles I'd like included. Well, it's time to update the list. This time, I'm going to list my dream roles and dream shows separately. I'm still a little bit in awe that I finally got to check off a dream role this year. Tzeitel is a BLAST AND A HALF!!!!! 10 performances down, 17 to go! I don't want it to end!!!

Anyway, here is my list of dream roles:

1. Winnifred in Once Upon a Mattress
2. Eliza in My Fair Lady
3. Annie in Annie Get Your Gun
4. Irene Molloy in Hello, Dolly!
5. Carrie in Carousel
6. Adelaide in Guys and Dolls
7. Beth in Little Women (Jason Howland version)
8. Sister Amnesia in Nunsense
9. Eulalie in The Music Man
10. Mother Abbess in The Sound of Music

And now my list of Dream Shows (just the ones I haven't done yet!)

Annie Get Your Gun
Carousel
Guys and Dolls
Hello, Dolly!
Kiss Me, Kate
Les Miserables
The Light in the Piazza
Little Women (Jason Howland version)
My Fair Lady
Nunsense
Once Upon a Mattress
The Scarlet Pimpernel
Thoroughly Modern Millie

And a quick list of some shows I'd really like to do again:

You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown (I was 13 when I played Lucy. I'd love another shot at that!)
The Music Man
Into the Woods
The Secret Garden
Beauty and the Beast

Consider this my wish list to my favorite theatres in the area. You know who you are.

Karaoke Mania!

2008-10-22T13:58:00.001-07:00

So, a couple of weeks ago, I did something that I had never done before in my entire life: KARAOKE!!! How I've gone this long without doing Karaoke, I'll never know. But whatever...I've done it now! Saturday night is Karaoke Night at the Island Grill across the street from the Union Colony Dinner Theatre, where I'm currently doing Fiddler on the Roof. We head over there after the show and have a blast!

Here's my problem, though: I was raised on classical music and Broadway musicals. I know a little Pop, but not much. Not enough to be comfortable singing it. Some people don't care whether they know the song or not. I, on the other hand, care a LOT. Luckily, my first time out I did have a song to sing: "Save the Best for Last" by Vanessa Williams. Didn't do too shabby. Well, the next week I didn't go, because I was sick. But last Saturday night, I went again. I was prepared this time. I had some showtunes in mind that I thought they might have. Turns out they didn't. I had wanted to do "Gimme, Gimme" from Thoroughly Modern Millie. Nope..didn't have it. My second choice: "The Wizard and I" from Wicked. Didn't have it either. I had to choose a new song immediately...and I couldn't think of anything! So I did "Save the Best for Last" again. But we did end up staying late enough that I got to sing again. And I did "I Won't Say I'm in Love" from Hercules. Yes, that's right. I did Disney Karaoke. And you know what? That's what I'm going to do from now on! If they don't have the showtunes that I want to sing, I'll just do Disney. Who cares? I don't!

I have a video of me singing, but the sound is awful. My camera doesn't do very well when the audio is too loud. But here's a picture:

Extreme Weather!

2008-10-22T13:57:00.000-07:00

Original Post Date: May 22, 2008

I didn't see any tornadoes, but I saw an awful lot of amazing clouds moving in really strange ways. I did get caught in a hailstorm...the hailstones were at the very least marble sized. They were exploding as they hit my car!!! I had to sit in my driveway for a few minutes waiting for the hail to pass. The chance of more storms this afternoon is pretty high, so I left work early and I'm hanging out in my basement for awhile. Being on the computer is probably not the smartest idea, but hey...I'm not the sharpest crayon in the shed!

Extreme weather can be cool to watch, not so much fun to be in. Scary stuff!!!!

Do I really need a REASON to blog?

2008-10-22T13:56:00.000-07:00

Original Post Date: May 21, 2008

No, I think not. Reasons? We don't need no stinkin' reasons! I'm sitting here at my computer, listening to Josh Groban. (Well, actually, I have the Showtunes and Vocal genres on random. "I Had a Dream About You" from the Maury Yeston Songbook is on now, sung by Betty Buckley...like you care.) Anyway, I have this overwhelming urge to write a blog. I usually wait until I have something important to share...or something funny...or something that made me really mad. But tonight, I'm just....tired. Yeah, that's all. Tired.

I am sporting a new haircut today, which is hardly something to write home...er, Blog...about. Although, it is a different color. I went red again. I wasn't going to, but I figured EH what the heck. No one REALLY sees my hair in Fiddler. It's mostly covered for most of Act 1 and the fake braid that I wear is ALMOST this color. No one will be able to tell. And you are are staring at my hair, then we are not doing our job on stage. And my hair is completely covered in Act 2...because I'm a married woman then! I really do like this hair color. I've had almost red hair for my entire life, so why not go all the way? Psh! I need to get out of the rut that is my incredibly boring existance. Sometimes all the drama in my life is OFF stage, but most times it's not.

So what else to ramble about...I am very glad that Kristi Yamaguchi won Dancing with the Stars. I didn't watch as much this season, because I didn't have any time. But I watched the finale last night. She was clearly the best, and I'm glad she finally broke the curse! Another girl wins! Yay! (Hey, I loved Helio last season, but Mel B. should have won!!!!)

Soooooooooooooo.....how about those Rockies? I should go to a game. Baseball games are fun to watch live. On TV, not as much fun.

I can't wait to see the new Indiana Jones movie. I didn't get tickets ahead of time, so I probably won't be able to get in tomorrow. I'll have to wait until next week. That's okay. I can be patient!!

So, yeah, Fiddler is going great! Between Nick and me dumping the Sabbath Prayer food all over the food during our scene and Spencer shattering the tray after the wedding...it was a fun weekend! And let's not forget Motel & Tzeitel's DEMON CHILD on Sunday!! LOL! 7 more weekends to go of fun, frivolity and fiddlers on roofs....YAY!!!!!!!!

Okay, I think I'm done rambling now. Mmmm.....yeah, I'm done. I can't think of anything else even MILDLY interesting to write about. Oh, and Josh Groban is back on.....mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.......what were we talking about?

The "Tech Week Diet"

2008-10-22T13:55:00.001-07:00

Original Post Date: May 15, 2008

If this wasn't an unhealthy way to lose weight, I would totally patent it!!
Here is an example of the "Tech Week Diet" (Based on what I've eaten this week):

Monday
11:00 am – one S'mores Granola Bar
2:00 pm – Double Decker Taco from Taco Bell and small Sierra Mist
4:30 pm – one piece of Lasagna and a garden salad with ranch dressing
(Hmmmm…that's not so bad. Just wait…it gets better)

Tuesday
7:00 am – Bowl of Frosted Mini Wheats
10:30 am – one S'mores Granola Bar
12:30 pm – Turkey Pesto Wrap from Safeway Deli, Cool Ranch Doritos, Apple Juice
9:30/10:00 ish – one S'mores Granola Bar

Wednesday
7:00 am – Bowl of Frosted Mini Wheats
11:00 am – one S'mores Granola Bar
4:00 pm – one piece of Lasagna and a large garden salad with ranch dressing
9:30 ish – one S'mores Granola Bar
11:30 pm – a bunch of Chips Ahoy Mini Cookies

Thursday
7:15 am – Bowl of Frosted Mini Wheats
…I don't know when or what I'll eat today.

I pretty much have time to eat lunch or dinner, but not both. I drink about 2 liters of water throughout the whole day, and when I'm at the theatre I barely sit down. I actually think I sit down more onstage than off! Some shows, I run around like a chicken with my head cut off. The most weight I've ever lost during Tech Week is 10 pounds. Usually it's around 5. I was already down 10 this time around BEFORE Tech week, and I think I might have dropped another pound or two. Go me! But actually, I am eating better this show than past shows. I remember shows where I would eat breakfast, eat lunch, and then not eat anything except a granola bar and an apple sometime that evening in the middle of the show. And I wasn't hungry! Adrenaline is an appetite suppressant. Who knew? Well, I'm sure scientists know that. I'm just an actress. What do I know? I know that I'm hungry….and freaking tired!!!!!

I KNOW that this is not the healthiest way to lose weight, but it's what my schedule allows. I don't have time for anything else!!!! My show opens tomorrow, and I will be eating regularly again during the week! I'll have the time!

Tony Nominations Announced

2008-10-22T13:54:00.001-07:00

Original Post Date: May 13, 2008

So, the Tony Award Nominations were announced today. The Tonys are like my Super Bowl. Seriously. I LIVE FOR THEM!! And you know what? I'm actually considering not watching them this year. Yeah. Don't worry...I'll watch. South Pacific is up for a bunch of awards...which totally rocks. But the new musical that I have already seen...twice...only got TWO!!!! WHAT THE CRAP?! Now, I know a lot of people don't like "The Little Mermaid", and to each his own. But I really love that show. It deserved more than it was given. Sierra, Sherie, Eddie, Tituss...in my opinion, all should have gotten nominations. It should have gotten a nom for Best Musical. The only two nominations it got were: Best Original Score for a Musical (and it rightly deserves to win. Alan Menken rules the WORLD!) and Best Lighting Design. HELLO?!?! THAT'S ALL?!?! YOU HAVE GOT TO BE FREAKING KIDDING ME!!!!!!

I'm actually madder about this than I was last year when Ashley Brown got snubbed. She's an amazing Mary Poppins. (She's going to tour! I hope they come to Denver!!!!!!!!)

So anyway, just had to get my gripe out there. It's a well known fact that the Oscars let me down a lot. But the Tonys? COME ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I don't feel like OLD Tzeitel anymore!

2008-10-22T13:53:00.000-07:00

Original Post Date: May 12, 2008

So I haven't felt too old to play Tzeitel for awhile. Totally gotten past that. I don't look or act my age. Most people will never know the age difference between Motel and myself. And none of it would bother me that much, except that I've had a hard time coming to grips with my age this year. I don't feel as old as I am, which is good. I don't look as old as I am, WHICH TOTALLY ROCKS...but I've still got this nagging little voice in the back of my head saying "You are FREAKING 30 YEARS OLD!! WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH YOUR LIFE!?!?" Shut up, voice. I hate you. I loathe you.

Today, I did a little research that I've been meaning to do for awhile. I have known for quite some time that, in the most recent revival of Fiddler on Broadway, Tzeitel was played by Sally Murphy. I'm sure that name means nothing to you, but it does to me. I absolutely adore my recording of the 1994 Lincoln Center Revival of "Carousel". She played a marvelous Julie. (Audra McDonald was Carrie, just for reference.) Anyway, it stuck me one day: If Sally was old enough in 1994 to play Julie, how old was she in 2004 when she played Tzeitel? I finally remembered to look it up today. She was 42. Suddenly, 30 doesn't seem so bad. Yay!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lack of sleep for a very good cause!

2008-10-22T13:52:00.000-07:00

Original Post Date: May 9, 2008

I am so freaking tired. I feel like my arms and legs weigh about 10,000 pounds each. My stomach is in knots because I'm so anxious...not nervous....just anxious. I want nothing more than to crawl back into bed and sleep until tomorrow night. My stress level is inching higher all the time. And you know what? I WOULDN'T CHANGE A THING!!!!!! All the pain, the tiredness, the anxious...ness (is that a word?) are all worth it. Why? Because I'm doing something that I love!!! MUSICAL THEATRE!!!!!!!! Fiddler opens a week from tonight. (ACK!) I'm not totally ready, but I'm getting there. I felt like a zombie last night, (and not just when I was playing one in The Dream!) but I made it through. I think I almost fell asleep at the wheel on the way home (NOT COOL!!!) but I got home safe and sound and pretty much fell right into bed. Work comes early in the morning. Five rehearsals to go until we have an audience, and I'm getting so excited! I am having a BALL! This is has been a lot of fun, and the 2 months of performances are going to be even more fun! (Do you like how I'm psyching myself up before Tech Week?) YAY!!!!!

Dear Abby printed me and I MISSED IT!!!!!

2008-10-22T13:51:00.000-07:00

Original Post Date: May 7, 2008

So, I was having a particularly annoying day at work a couple of months ago. Someone kept trying to fax something to us, and they dialed the main phone line instead of the fax line. It wasn't the first time it had happened, but that day it just really got on my nerves. So I wrote to Dear Abby about it. Well, she printed my letter on March 1st. Except, I didn't know that she printed it. I don't read her column every day. Well, I found out today that it had been printed, because someone wrote a response and it got printed today! So I went online and found my letter! Yay!

You can read the original letter here:
http://www.uexpress.com/dearabby/?uc_full_date=20080301

and the rubuttal in today's paper (May 7) or here:
http://www.uexpress.com/dearabby/

My response to the guy who wrote in: If I knew how to transfer calls to the fax line, I would do so. But our phone system is borderline archaeic.

On the plus side, it's been a couple of weeks since someone tried to fax to the main phone line. But I'm sure that, as I say this, someone will try today. LOL!

True Friendship (None of that Sissy Crap)

2008-10-22T13:49:00.000-07:00

Original Post Date: May 2, 2008

True Friendship - None of that Sissy Crap

Are you tired of those sissy 'friendship' poems that always sound good, But never actually come close to reality? Well, here is a series of promises that actually speak of true friendship. You will see no cutesy little smiley faces on this card-Just the stone cold truth of our great friendship.

1. When you are sad -- I will jump on the person who made you sad like a spider monkey jacked up on Mountain Dew.
2. When you are blue -- I will try to dislodge whatever is choking you.
3. When you smile -- I will know you are plotting something that I must be involved in. Heh-heh
4. When you are scared -- I will rag on you about it every chance I get.
5. When you are worried -- I will tell you horrible stories about how much worse it could be until you quit whining.
6. When you are confused -- I will use little words.
7. When you are sick -- Stay away from me until you are well
8. When you fall -- I will point and laugh at your clumsy self.
9. This is my oath.... I pledge it to the end. 'Why?' you may ask; 'because you are my friend'.

Welcome to the "Peaks and Valleys" yet again!

2008-10-22T13:48:00.000-07:00

Original Post Date: April 30, 2008

So the week started off well enough. Rehearsal was good on Monday. Learned a few key things to work on in regards to my acting style. Got out early...it was actually still light when I left the theater. That was nice. Tuesday rehearsal was just for the guys, so I was looking forward to a relaxing evening. Well, that is, until I left work and drove to the post office...same as every day. Got back out to the car, and it wouldn't start. CRAP! It did the clicking thing it used to do when it was cold, and then just wouldn't make a sound at all. Luckily, I was in downtown Loveland not at freaking Red Rocks. So I call home...no answer. I call Shauna...no answer. I think "I'll call Neal....wait....can't call Neal. CRAP!" I call home again, and my dad answers. So he comes down with the truck and we try to jump start the car. No luck. I refuse to drive while we tow it (because I don't feel confident enough to NOT wreck the car.) So we go home and get Shauna so she can drive it. So....we tow the car to the mechanics. I'm hoping it's just a fuse problem like last time. I have the money right now in case it's a pricey repair, but that money was earmarked for my car insurance and credit card. CRAP!!!!!!!

So, Shauna says to me "How are you going to get to rehearsal tonight." I say "I don't have rehearsal tonight, actually." She says "YOU DON'T? Since when?" "Since last night." "Because Heather and I are going up to Laramie to see 'A Chorus Line.'" So, I gave up my relaxing evening at home to drive 1 1/2 hours to Laramie to see "A Chorus Line" at the University of Wyoming...starring my dear friend (and adopted little sister) Katrina Despain as Cassie! She was absolutely wonderful and it was totally worth the 3 hours in the car and the lack of sleep.

So...those are my current peaks and valleys. I know that we have to experience the valleys so that we can appreciate the peaks more, but I'm getting a little sick of having so many valleys. They are becoming a little more common than the peaks...and it's getting ANNOYING!!!!!!

Decisions, Dilemmas...and TOO MUCH STRESS!

2008-10-22T13:47:00.001-07:00

Original Post Date: April 18, 2008

Why is it that I have so many choices to make? Darn that free agency. We are free to choose....but sometimes it's choosing between good things. It's not all black and white, good versus evil and all that. I have to decide what I want to do! AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT I WANT TO DO!!!!

I'm leaning more and more towards doing a solo recital. It's been 8 years since my senior recital in college (dang, I'm old). And I've been taking voice lessons from Juliana for 5 years now. It's about freaking time I allow myself to show off a little. Recitals are a lot of work, but they are really fun, too. And I'd be keeping my stress level to a minimum by titling the recital "Songs that I Love". So, I'd only sing songs that I already know. And with the list I have right now, I'd only have to memorize one...and who says I have to memorize it? Well, actually...it's the Habanera from Carmen. You have to ACT that piece, and being tied to the music makes that hard. Not that memorizing French isn't hard enough. Aw, craaaaap. But the other songs on the recital would be Una voce poco fa, which I've sung a BAZILLION times! And Danny Boy (Celtic Woman version). And Mr. Snow. And Adelaide's Lament. Fun stuff...that I already know. Okay, so...I will do this recital if I can go find that totally sweet red dress that Steph and I found last summer when we were shopping for my Gala dress. But alas, I don't have a lot of time to go shopping all the way in Centennial at that store.

So there's one dilemma...the recital. What's the other dilemma? Should I audition for "Jekyll & Hyde" at the UCDT? That's their next show. Auditions are two weeks from tomorrow. I LOVE LOVE LOVE that show! It won't open until late August, so I would have a tiny break after Fiddler. I would love to play Emma in that show...someday. Not now. I'm not comfortable singing HIGH that much. I pretend that I'm a soprano, but I'm really not. My range is now B below low C (one octave below middle C) and High C. Just over 3 octaves. Welcome to MEZZO-VILLE!!!!! The fun of being a mezzo is, you can either sing low or you can sing high. You can't do both at the same time...and if you can, not for long!!! And you have buy both the High Voice and Low Voice versions of EVERY music book. But I digress....should I audition for J&H? I don't know. I love the UCDT. I'm having a BLAST with Fiddler (and I promise to stop complaining about being a bad dancer. I'm getting better!!!!) The drive isn't so bad, either. Especially because I get to write the mileage off my taxes. SWEET! So, I don't know whether I'll audition for that or not. I'm still waiting to hear what the rest of the season will be at the Candlelight. But I can't wait around for that. And whatever I decide, I have to make sure that I'm available on October 18th to do the Loveland Opera Theatre Gala. We're doing an evening of George Gershwin and Cole Porter. I'm singing "Someone to Watch Over Me" and a yet-to-be-determined duet (possibly with Craig.) I'll move heaven and earth to make sure I'm available for that night. I'm super excited to be singing that song! I LOVE IT!!!!

And now for the stress....I haven't had a principal role in a show in a very long time. I haven't had to memorize more than a handful of lines in FOREVER! So I'm seriously stressing out over my lines in Fiddler. We haven't blocked any scenes yet, so I'm sure it will be fine once I know what I'll be doing. But being the freaker-outer that I am...I'm, well, freaked. It's going to be okay...I know it is...but I still have to wig out a little. It's just how I'm wired. My dancing is getting...less bad. Not easy by any stretch of the imagination, but it's not as bad as it was. I really should look into taking some dance classes someday. All this money spent on voice training has not been wasted, but I feel out of sorts when I am so far behind my fellow cast mates when it comes to dancing! Graceful I am not. Not even CLOSE!!!!! But I just need a little more confidence in myself. I HAVE CONFIDENCE IN SUNSHINE, I HAVE CONFIDENCE IN RAIN, I HAVE CONFIDENCE THAT SPRING WILL COME AGAIN! BESIDES WHICH YOU SEE, I HAVE CONFIDENCE IN ME!!!! Wow, Maria sure got that right.

Okay, I'm done freaking out now. I have learned recently that I cannot try to have ultimate control over every facet of my life...and everything that I want for my life. I really just have to go with the flow and let things happen as they happen. Everything is going to work out. I know that it will...I just have to have a little patience and faith.

The Last 5 Years

2008-10-22T13:46:00.000-07:00

Original Post Date: April 5, 2008

Can I just say how much I love this show? This is my second time seeing it, and I am amazed at the complex simplicity. Jason Robert Brown is a freaking genius!

The Last 5 Years chronicles the 5 year relationship of struggling actress Cathy and budding writer Jamie. Here’s the kicker, though: Jamie tells the story from beginning to end while Cathy tells it backwards, from end to beginning. The show is a series of solos, with a beautiful duet in the middle (that’s their wedding day.) The show is...well, it’s amazing. You start out wondering what a cute, nice, happy guy like Jamie could have possibly done to make Cathy so sad. By the end of the show, you know exactly what happened...from both sides. And you can totally see where it all went wrong. It’s not exactly a show I’d recommend for a first...or even a second...date. But couples should really see it. Seriously.

Anyway, the show I saw today was at the Denver Center. Johanna Brickey was Cathy and Chris Crouch was Jamie. (The roles are double cast, and anyone could be on at any time.) I really REALLY liked Chris’s portrayal of Jamie. He really nailed the exuberance of the early relationship Jamie. He was so cute singing "Shiksa Goddess". You could feel his excitement. As the show progesses, you can see his frustration and how tortured he becomes. He played happy as equally at ease as sad. And he had a great voice, too! He totally rocked the "Schmeuel Song"! I was less impressed with Johanna. She was too young and immature for the End of the Relationship Cathy. The pain we’re supposed to see just wasn’t ringing competely true for me. However, once we got to see the early Cathy, she was perfect. Her best song was "Summer in Ohio" which is my favorite of Cathy’s songs. She did great on that one. She did well overall, but just not as good as Chris. They didn’t seem like an even match, vocally and acting-wise.

The set was AMAZING! There were two apartments, one on either side of the stage. Each had boxes everywhere, waiting to be unpacked. When one character was singing, the other was in their apartment putting things away. Every now and then they would pull something out of a box and use it as a prop in their next song. Kind of like they were reminiscing about that item and the memory it evoked. By the time the show was over, the apartments were completely in order. It was like their lives were totally cluttered and as they told the story, everything got sorted out and put back together. This was a really cool concept, and every effective for the show. The Garner Galleria Theatre also has a revolve at center stage (For those of you non-theatre folks, that’s a part of the stage that rotates. They are super cool!) They made great use of that during the show. A clock was painted on it. At the surface, it represents the clock in the Schmueel song...but it really seemed like it was the clock ticking down the 5 years. Cool, eh? I thought so.

Overall, the show was really, REALLY GOOD!!! I want to go back and see the other two actors. It could be a totally different show! Oh, and a word of advice....if you’re going to sit on the front row, make sure you’re in the center. My neck hurts from looking back and forth so much!!!!!!!!!!

Those April Fool's Days Gone By

2008-10-22T13:16:00.000-07:00

Original Post Date: April 1, 2008

I say that the 4th of July is my favorite holiday, but really...it’s April Fools Day. There is just so much satisfaction to be had for playing fun pranks, telling fibs, etc...and totally getting away with it. I love it! And I have played some doozies in the past. In fact, I couldn’t even come up with anything this year that could top what I’ve done in the past. Which is fine, because if I take a year or two off, then no one expects anything. Then BOOM! I hit ’em again. It’s great!

I’ve been reminiscing today about April Fool’s Days gone by. There was the year I told everyone I was engaged to a guy I had just barely met. Then there was the year that I told them my ex-boyfriend had called me out of the blue and wanted to get married. (That one lasted for months, because I forgot to e-mail out a retraction. 6 months after the fact, my aunt found out about it and called me. It was hilarious!) I don’t think I can play the "I’m engaged" joke anymore, because if I ever actually do get engaged, no one will ever believe me.

My favorite joke was I think my junior year of college. I told everyone that I had been accepted into a Study Abroad program in Africa, studying ancient choral music. It seemed like something I might have done, so more people believed that one. Another fun one was when I told my boyfriend at the time (no, wait...we had broken up by that point.) that I had lost the Les Miz tickets. He freaked! I think it was last year that I sent out a message saying that I was moving to New York City to try and make it as an actress. A couple people believed that one. I know there have been some other great ones, but I just can’t think of them. And I can’t think of a way to top any of them. So you guys are off the hook this year. Although, we did play a fun one on my boss. All 4 of us were supposed to call or text him and say we were in car accidents and wouldn’t be into work today. Only 2 of us remembered, so it didn’t have the full effect we were looking for. But it was still fun. And here is the sign that I made that is currently posted on the bathroom door:

So, Happy April Fool’s Day everyone! Sorry I didn’t play a trick on you this year. Seriously, you don’t know how sorry I am.

Angela's Rant o' the Week

2008-10-22T13:15:00.000-07:00

Original Post Date: March 27, 2008

Let me first preface this with a few things. You need to understand what exactly it is that I do for a job. I work for a property management company. We manage rental properties and homeowner’s associations. I have many job titles, but one of them is HOA Bookkeeper. I am in charge of all the accounting for 15 HOAs. Because of this, I deal a lot with Real Estate Agents and Title Companies. Many of them are very nice, very easy to work with, and we can work together quite nicely to get records transferred over for buyers. HOWEVER....

Stop trying to make it my fault and my problem when something doesn’t go right. If you had sent me the Status Letter a week ago, instead of the night before your closing, you would have known how much was owed in back HOA dues. Sure, under the superlien law I can only collect 6 months worth of dues in a foreclosure. But I can’t take the other dues off the account without specific documentation. Yes, I know there was also a bankruptcy, but I don’t take past dues and fees off unless I get the official bankruptcy discharge notice. If I just start writing off dues willy-nilly, I’m going to get in trouble. You are not worth me getting in trouble. Oh, I’m sorry? You didn’t know that the actual name of the HOA is something different that what you show as the registered Subdivision name. That’s too bad. I’m sorry that you missed the HUGE SIGN at the two entrances to the HOA that clearly say the official name of the HOA (not the subdivision.) The Title Company wouldn’t have been out there, but the Real Estate Agent sure as heck was there. Unless they are blind...in which case they shouldn’t be driving.

I’m not going to do your job for you. If you want to put me on salary (with benefits, of course!) with your company, I will gladly do your job. But see...I have my own job for worry about. I can’t do yours as well. I won’t do yours. I will do everything in my power to help you, but there are times when I just have to draw the line and say "Look, this is not my problem. You get it figured out on your end and let me do my own job."

Seriously, most real estate agents and title companies are fine, good, nice people. But those few that are dumber than a box of rocks just really irk me.

Another song that sums up my life!

2008-10-22T13:14:00.002-07:00

Original Post Date: March 21, 2008

Every now and then, there is a song that totally sums up my life at that exact moment in time. Here’s the one for right now:

If only you could know the things I long to say. If only I could tell you what I wish I could convey. It’s in my every glance, my hearts an open book. You’d see it all at once if you would only look. If only you could glimpse the feeling that I feel. If only you would notice what I’m dying to reveal. The dreams I can’t declare, the needs I can’t deny. You’d understand them all if only you would try. All my secrets, you would learn them. All my longings, you’d return them. Then the silence would be broken. Not a word would need be spoken. If only it were true, if only for awhile. If only you would notice how I ache behind my smile. I guess you never will, I guess it doesn’t show. But if I never find a way to tell you so, Oh what I would give if only you could know!

I didn’t write them out as "lyrics", because this thing double-spaces when you hit enter. That song is from "The Little Mermaid". (Music by Alan Menken, Lyrics by Glenn Slater.) When I first heard that song, last summer, I cried. I could absolutely, totally and utterly empathize with Ariel. She can’t talk, she can’t tell Prince Eric how she feels. He needed to kiss her, and but he was looking for another girl...that voice. Now, I have full use of my voice (obviously...I out-sang an orchestra last night!!!), but I can’t tell a certain guy how I feel about him. I have been burned too many times in the past. I am scared to death of rejection. I have built this wall up too high around my heart. I protect it a little too fiercely, and I can’t stop...not yet. I know, I know...you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take. But statistically speaking, you miss 99% of the ones you do. Ariel finally got her chance. Hopefully, I can get mine.

I can't take much more of the emotional roller coaster!

2008-10-22T13:14:00.001-07:00

Original Post Date: March 18, 2008

First, I was sad about my birthday. Then my birthday turned out alright. Then I was devestated by the fact that my sister is going to NYC without me. THEN I find out today that I have been promoted from Fruma Sarah to Tzeital in UCDT’s Fiddler on the Roof. So, I’m over the moon right now!!!! Absolutely over the mooooooooooooooooooon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What a week and a half. Seriously!

I'm Tired.

2008-10-22T13:12:00.000-07:00

Original Post Date: March 13, 2008

I’m tired of:

-being the forgotten one.
-being left out of a lot of things.
-being left behind.
-being taken for granted.
-being ignored.
-being left in the dust.
-feeling like nobody but my family loves me.
-being trapped inside my own head because I’m just too freaking cautious.
-not being able to express my real feelings out loud sometimes.
-being a Party of One.
-being lonely.
-feeling alone in a crowd of people.
-not getting to do some of the things that I want to, because of money issues.
-spending evenings watching movies in my dark basement by myself.
-living vicariously through the books that I read.
-feeling like I’m treading water all the freaking time.
-feeling like the huge wall I’ve built around my heart is never going to be broken down.
-protecting my heart from being broken again.
-simply existing day to day.
-not feeling like I have a purpose.
-living so much inside my head.
-feeling sad about all of the above.

I’M JUST FREAKING TIRED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Somebody talk me out of this!!!

2008-10-22T13:11:00.001-07:00

Original Post Date: March 11, 2008

Quick! I need someone to give me some really good reasons why I should not do a solo voice recital. I've been on the fence about this for a couple of years now. It has been 8 years since I did my senior recital in college. I really am due to do another recital now. I sing WAY better now than I did then. And I've been taking lessons from Juliana for almost 5 years now. But recitals are just so stressful and a ton of work! While it is a great excuse to buy a new dress (I'm hoping that cute red one we found while looking for my dress for the Gala last year will be there in my size.) But no! Buying a new dress is no reason to go through the pain and agony of another recital. Okay, pain and agony might be a little...over the top. But have you MET ME? I'm always over the top. That's just me.

If I did a recital, it would be called "Songs that I Love". The stipulation for a song is that I have to love it...and I have to be able to tell you why I love it. So technically, I wouldn't have to learn any new songs. That's a bonus. But still...it's a lot of work. I don't have a lot of spare time these days. But if it's songs I already know....

ACK! SOMEBODY SLUG ME! HIT ME! DON'T LET ME DO THIS!!!!

I want to do a recital. No, I don't! But it would be fun! It would be stressful!

aiEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Something funny

2008-10-22T10:30:00.000-07:00

Original Post Date: March 9, 2008

Last night, my sister reminded me of something that happened a very long time ago. We were driving home from Greeley, listening to the Original Broadway Cast recording of "The Little Mermaid." She reminded me that when I was about 12 or 13, I wanted high heels really badly. My argument to my was this:

"Ariel had only had legs for a day, and she's wearing high heels. Why can't I wear them?"

Only smart-aleckly little Angela could come up with something like that and think it was a viable excuse. LOL! I had totally forgotten about that. I don't remember when I actually did get my first pair of high heels, but I do remember wearing some in a play in 8th grade, so it wasn't too long after that.

And the funny thing is, even though I am a vertically challenged individual, I now HATE high heels. With the burning passion of a thousand suns. I wear them if I have to...and it's usually just Character Shoes for shows. Even then, if I can get away without them, I do. They hurt my feet.

Weird...just weird.

2008-10-22T10:29:00.000-07:00

Original Post Date: February 29, 2008

So, I decided that I need to get my business card out to a few places...Bridal Shops, Funeral Homes, that kind of thing. I could probably get a few singing gigs that way. So, I get on the computer to print out some more cards. I haven't printed any in awhile, and I'm not sure exactly how long I've been out of them. Well, we got a new printer for Christmas. It's one of those fancy Scanner/Printer/Copier deals. It's been great, except for one thing. We have used WordPerfect for years, and the printer does NOT like that program. Not a bit. It prints right away when you're on Word, but with WordPerfect? FUHGEDDABOUDIT! I tried once to print, and it didn't work. So I tried again, and then let it sit. Still wasn't printing. I really need these business cards, so I went to VistaPrint.com to see about getting free ones. I didn't like the free ones, so I looked at the ones you have to pay for. I found a really nice one and got it set up. I was just finalizing it when all of the sudden, the printer starts making noises. It was going to print! Oh, no! I'd taken the business card paper out! If my cards printed on regular paper, I'd have to wait another hour to get the actual cards!!!! So, I yanked the paper out before anything started and shoved the business card paper in. I got the cards printed and, while they don't look as cool and professional as the ones on Vista Print, they will do for now. I have 8, and that should do me just fine. I was going to pay $19.99 for 250 cards. Which isn't bad, but if they suddenly became obsolete, I would have a lot of extra cards on my hands. And they aren't the kind you can cross stuff out on. They were all colorful and stuff.

So, apparently...I'm not supposed to have 250 business cards right now. Weird...just weird.

My Thoughts on the Oscars

2008-10-22T10:23:00.000-07:00

Original Post Date: February 24, 2008

I'm blogging as I watch. I should be easier this way...I hope.

First off: I LOVE JON STEWART!!!

Secondly...of the 24 categories, there are 15 categories in which I haven't seen any of the movies. I say boo! Read my previous Oscar blogs to see how I feel about THAT!!!!!!!!! So, yeah....I might zone out for awhile.

***Start Random Ramblings***

Who did Jennifer Garner's hair? Looks like she just threw it in a bun.

They keep making movies about Elizabeth I...how about a movie of "The Pirate Queen"? Cate Blanchett would be a great Elizabeth...can she sing that high? Hmm....

That was a very nice tribute to "80 Years of Oscar". Really nice!

Steve Carell rocks my world!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Okay, I was going to walk out if Ratatouille didn't win. YAY FOR RATATOUILLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That was seriously the cutest movie of the year, hands down. I LOVE IT!!

I kind of want to see La Vie en Rose. But I'd have to be in the mood to read subtitles...which I'm usually not.
Amy Adams was nervous. Who wouldn't be? But she hid it really well, though. Kudos to Amy!!! I adore that song! I can't wait to learn it when I get the music next week! :) I'm not going to lie, though: I missed the dancing cockroaches. I'm making my prediction now that "That's How You Know" will win the Oscar. You just can't beat it! It's perfection.

Wow! Cate Blanchett is pulling a Catherine Zeta-Jones/Annette Bening. She looks like she could pop that kiddo out at any moment!

Is it bad to be happy when people win who don't speak English as their first language? Their speeches are shorter. And their accents are awesome!

Didn't see Javier Bardem's win coming. Not at all. SHEESH! That one was a sure thing. Whatever that was that he said in Spanish, his mom sure liked.

Oscar's Salute to Binoculars and Periscopes? ROFL!!!!!!!

I love "Raise it Up" from August Rush. Great movie! Great song!!!

Wait...what? When did Owen Wilson get nominated for an Oscar? Research time: Ah...The Royal Tenenbaums, for writing. Good to know.

Okay, note to self: stay off of imdb.com when I'm not watching the show live. I just saw who won Best Live Action Short before it was announced. Whoops!!

Someone ran off with Tilda Swinton's sleeve!!!! But hey, she's mostly covered!! And it's a shock she even won! I thought Ruby Dee had that one in the bag!!!

Can I put James McAvoy in my pocket? And keep him forever? He's freaking adorable. I am such a sucker for a Scot.

Blah blah blah....president of the Academy...blah blah blah

"That's How You Know"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Kristin Chenoweth did a great job, but she's no Amy Adams. LOL! I never thought I would say that! I just checked, and this is supposed to be over at 9:30. HAH! Like THAT'LL happen. They still have 14 awards to present! We're not even half way through.

I think Seth Rogen does have a Halle Berry vibe, but that's just me. :)

The Bourne Ultimatum is a great movie. Yay for them winning Best Sound Editing! And Best Sound Mixing. I want to be a Foley Artist when I grow up.

Wait...isn't it a little early to be giving out Best Actress? It's only 8:10 pm! Oh, well...we all know it's going to Julie Christie. Okay, so I was wrong. Marion Cotillard won! Good for her. I really ought to check out that movie.

It's so refreshing to see winners that I just so overwhelmed that they can barely put two sentences together. I can't believe that won. I love that. It's not like they expected it (like so many do) and you can just see their utter bewilderment and excitement. I love it!

Sweet!!! Wii Tennis! I totally rocked that game the...one time I played it.

Okay...the song from "Once". They filmed the movie in 17 days. Sounds like they wrote the song in 17 minutes.

I'm glad that showed all the movies that have won Best Picture. It was fun to yell "THAT IS A GOOOOOOOD MOVIE!" several times.

Nicole Kidman's necklace is crooked. Don't they have people backstage to check that kind of thing?

Why is the guy winning the honorary Oscar wearing a scarf? Doesn't he know he's in LA?

"So Close"....sooooooooooooo amazing. Okay, so they can recreate Central Park and the Ballroom scene, but they can't recreate the dancing cockroaches? Seriously, people.

Here we go, people...the only category of the night that I really care about...Best Original Song:and the winner is.......... WHAT THE CRAP? THAT SONG SUCKED!!!! Falling Slowly had like three notes in it. I SAY BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am not amused. Boo. Again, I SAY BOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!

Boo.

I think if you took Kristin Chenoweth and stretched her, she would be Cameron Diaz.

You know..."there will be blood" is a turn off of a title for me. Usually, when I'm checking into a movie, that's one the things that will make me not want to see it. It's right up there with "there will be lots of swearing" and "there will be a sex scene."

That was cool to have servicemen and women in Iraq do one of the awards. Very nice!

4 awards to go, and only 10 minutes left in the "scheduled" broadcast. I don't think we're going to make it.

Diablo Cody just needs a bone in her hair and she's Pebbles. And apparently she's wearing $1 million dollar shoes that we can't see because her dress is floor length. Children are starving in Africa. Hellooooooooooo!!!

Helen Mirren's dress is GORGEOUS!!!!!!!!!!!! I love it.

And the Oscar for Best Actor goes to....Daniel Day Lewis. Didn't see that one coming. Pfffft.

Best Director was no surprise. And Best Picture probably won't be either. I've heard that the movie is awful. I don't know why they keep honoring it. Oh, well. That's Hollywood!

Yep...No Country for Old Men. No way I'll see that movie. And no way that I'll be happy it won. Bbbllllllllt.

***End Random Ramblings***

Overall, it was a fun night. Jon Stewart is hilarious! He did a great job as host. I hope they ask him back. He's no Billy Crystal, but then, who is? I'm still upset about Best Original Song, but I'll live. Happy 80th Birthday, Oscar!

I'm a Colorado Pioneer!

2008-10-22T10:09:00.000-07:00

Original Post Date: February 20, 2008

Okay, so I'm actually descended from them. But still, that's pretty dang cool!

My sister just bought a car and she was researching the many different license plates that we have here in Colorado. She wanted to get a vanity plate that says "Elphie", because her car is named Elphaba. (It's green.) But those are really expensive...and you keep paying for them every year. So alas, Elphie will not bear her name on the tags. But in her research, Shauna found that in order to get the Colorado Pioneer plates, you have to prove that you've had family in the state for at least 100 years. We've been hear awhile, but I never knew the exact dates. I knew that my grandpa was born in Campion in 1914...and his cousin was born in Loveland in 1911. But we needed proof that someone was here prior to 1908. Well, we found it! We found a history written by my great-grandfather, George Milligan. He said that they left Nebraska in late September 1900 and arrived in Colorado in early October. They came by covered wagon (which they built themselves!) George was 10 years old. My great-great grandfather, John Milligan, died the following year and is buried Loveland. If we can find his death certificate, or a deed to the house they bought...or anything like that, we would be eligible for Colorado Pioneer plates! Cool, huh? We've always thought maybe we could get them, but now we know for sure! I don't know if Shauna is going to get them or not, but it's nice to know that we could.

Guys and Dolls at LHS

2008-10-22T10:06:00.000-07:00

Original Post Date: February 16, 2008

Musical theatre excellence has returned to Loveland High School! They struggled for a few years...for reasons I will not go in to. But it's back, baby!

Tonight I saw "Guys and Dolls" at Loveland High School. It was a marvelous production! The kids had an amazing grasp of their characters....Adelaide and Nathan especially. Those too were incredible! I also got a big kick of out of Harry the Horse. He was, as his bio states "a ginormous freshman." Seriously, this kid was huge! And he stole every scene he was in. Hilarious!

I was surprised to see so many guys on stage, dancing that well. Kudos to John Garner for getting the guys back in the choir program. And kudos to the choreographer for making them look good! They danced great! I haven't seen that many guys, dancing that well, on that stage since...well, since "Fiddler on the Roof" in 1997! Granted, I haven't seen the LHS musical since 2004, due to my own performance conflicts, but I was involved in or I saw every musical from 1992 through 2002!

I thoroughly enjoyed myself tonight. It's fun to sit back and see high school kids having a ball on stage...and putting on a great show! Way to go, LHS!

PS. I now want to play Miss Adelaide more than ever.

My Fictitious Boyfriend

2008-10-22T10:05:00.000-07:00

Original Post Date: February 11, 2008

Fictitious...wow, that doesn't even look like a real word. But that's what Spell Check told me...so we'll go with that.

ANYWHO...

So, I am usually logged into to 3 instant messengers when I am online at home. MSN, Yahoo, & AIM. Occasionally, I will have random people send me IMs. I usually respond, if they are just saying hi. I've had some interesting conversations. But 99% of them want to know if I am married, if I have a boyfriend, or if I'm looking for some internet lovin'. I hate the last one, and that's the one I get asked the most. It's pretty ridiculous. Crazy people. I usually block them after they start heading down THAT road. Well, I've discovered a way to get them to leave me alone if that's their intent. I told the one today that I have a boyfriend. He didn't even respond after that. WOO HOO!!!! So, now I have this fake boyfriend. I wonder if he'll give me a fake call so that we can go on a fake date on V-Day. Wow...if that isn't the story of my life. LOL!!!!

My most anticipated movies of 2008

2008-10-22T10:03:00.000-07:00

Original Post Date: February 9, 2008

I stole this idea from Levi.

Here they are in order of release:
Be Kind Rewind: http://www.imdb.com/video/trailer/me60934803/
Penelope: http://www.imdb.com/video/trailer/me60379958/
Horton Hears a Who: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0451079/trailers-screenplay-E33915-314
Nim's Island: http://www.imdb.com/video/trailer/me60527969/
Leatherheads: http://www.imdb.com/video/trailer/me60563368/
Made of Honor: http://movieclock.com/aw/cvpa.aw/e/188240/Made_of_Honor.html
Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian: http://www.imdb.com/video/trailer/me60638658/
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull: no trailer yet!
The Happening: No trailer..but it's M. Night Shyamalan. Nuff said!
Get Smart: http://www.imdb.com/video/trailer/me60843468/
Wall-E: my favorite trailer was during the Super Bowl!!!!!
Kit Kitridge: An American Girl: http://www.imdb.com/video/trailer/me60909068/
The Dark Knight: http://www.imdb.com/video/trailer/me708114551/
The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emporer
The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants 2

There's more, but that was as far as they have them listed on imdb.com

The Democratic Process...

2008-10-22T10:01:00.000-07:00

Original Post Date: February 5, 2008

...IS FRIGGITY BORING!!!!!!!!!!!

I participated in my government this evening. I attended my precinct Caucus. After sitting through that, I make a motion and second for Colorado to switch to Primaries. Seriously. It was interesting, but OH SO BORING!!! I would have taken a nap, but we had to vote and say "aye" a lot so I needed to stay awake to do that.

My precinct rocks, though. We had an overwhelming majority for the candidate I support. Sure, there were only 46 total people there, but it was still pretty cool. Right on, yo.

Anyway...I feel good about being part the process, but duuuuuude...I need a stiff drink after that. Yep...time for a milkshake.

My greatest fear realized!

2008-10-22T09:59:00.000-07:00

Original Post Date: February 5, 2008

Okay, so it isn't my greatest fear anymore, but it was for 2 1/2 years. The bank where I used to work got robbed at gunpoint yesterday. I was so scared that was going to happen to me when I worked there. It's a constant fear for tellers. We used to blow it off, saying there was no way anyone would rob the place. It's too open and light on the inside, and you walk past about 20 people to get to the teller line. But that didn't deter this guy, apparently. Yikes!!!!! I'm a little wigged out about it today. It could have been me getting robbed! We were trained in what to do, but you just never know how you'll react. I'd like to think I would be levelheaded, but I'm sure I would have passed out on the floor or something.

My favorite Super Bowl Ads

2008-10-22T09:58:00.000-07:00

Original Post Date: February 4, 2008

Once again, the commercials were better than the game. (Well, until the last 2 minutes of the game.) Here are a few of my favorite commercials! Last year, I was able to imbed them in my blog, but it's looking like I can't do that this year. Oh, well.

Anyway, my favorite was the trailer for Wall-E (the new Pixar). I also enjoyed the Doritos one with the giant mouse, the Fed-Ex with the pigeons, the Bud Light with the breathing fire, the Bridgetone with the screaming animals, & the Career Builder with the singing firefly.

It was a pretty good year for ads. To see them all, visit www.myspace.com/superbowlads

President Gordon B. Hinckley: A Tribute

2008-10-22T09:55:00.000-07:00

Original Post Date: January 27, 2008

What better way to learn of the passing of the Prophet than to be driving down the interstate at 80 mph and have your brother get a text message with the news. That's how I found out. I immediately called my other brother to confirm the news on the internet. It was true. President Hinckley had passed away an hour and a half previous, at the age of 97. You can read about his life in numerous news stories on the net. I'm going to share some personal experiences. I never got to meet him face to face, but I got to see him a couple of times over the years:

The first time was at the dedication of the Denver Temple. I was 8 years old, and sitting on the front row. I don't remember much, except that President Benson wasn't there. This was one of the later sessions, so he was gone by that time. This session was conducted by President Hinckley. During his talk, he talked for a minute or two about children. The camera-man focused on me and kept the camera on me for awhile. My image was broadcast to each room in temple (freaking out my mom and grandma, who were with the choir.) Pretty cool, eh?

The next time was one summer when my mom and I went to the Booksellers Convention in Salt Lake City. We went to a concert at the Tabernacle one night, and suddenly, everyone just stood up and it got really quiet. I remember asking my mom what was going on, and she said that President and Sister Hinckley had just walked in. I tried to see them, but they were on the other side of the Tabernacle. They were short...I'm short...so I didn't really get to see them. But I remember thinking how cool it was that they were there!

The year was 1997 (I think), and we were celebrating the 100 years of the church in Colorado. The Hinckleys had lived in Denver once upon a time (when he worked for the railroad), so they came to the celebration. I remember that they were presented with two trees (Blue Spruce?) and President Hinckley said that they didn't have any place for them, so could they be planted on the grounds of the Denver Temple? They were, and they are now lovingly called the "Hinckley Trees".

The last time was in 2003. President Hinckley was speaking down at DU in a non-religious event. I can't remember exactly what it was, but a bunch of us went down. It was the oddest thing in the world when he walked in. Everyone started clapping. I was with Robin and Sandy and we were like "Um...are we supposed to clap for the Prophet?" Awkward!!! It really was weird. I was so used to just reverently standing up when he entered. And singing "We Thank Thee O God for a Prophet" as he was leaving. But we were clapping? Umm...okay! His speech was awesome, of course, and I'm so glad I went!

A lot of people have "Their Prophet". The one that was president during your formative years, or when you joined the church. President Hinckley will always be "My Prophet". I vaguely remember President Kimball. He died when I was in 2nd grade. I remember being a little scared of President Benson. He died when I was probably 15 or so. President Hunter was the president for such a short time. But I was 17 and a junior in high school when President Hinckley become the president of the church. He was with me through all of college and since then. He was a very powerful man for a short guy, and had such a wonderful sense of humor. I loved to hear him speak. He had such a way of making you feel special and happy and that everything was going to be okay. I've felt bad for him the past couple of years since Sister Hinckley passed. He missed her a lot...he said so himself in Conference! And now they are together again.

It's hard to say goodbye to a beloved Prophet. It's sad, really. But it's a part of life...a part of the church. I'm thankful for what I know. Everything is going to be fine!

Each life that touches ours for good
Reflects thine own great mercy Lord;
Thou sendest blessings from above
Thru words and deeds of those who love.

What greater gift dost thou bestow,
What greater goodness can we know
Than Christ-like friends, whose gentle way
Strengthen our faith, enrich our days.

When such a friend from us departs,
We hold forever in our hearts
A sweet and hallowed memory,
Bringing us nearer, Lord, to thee.

For worthy friends whose lives proclaim
Devotion to the Savior's name,
Who bless our days with peace and love,
We praise they goodness, Lord above.

Each Life that Touches Ours For Good
Hymn 293
Text: Karen Lynn Davidson
Music: A. Laurence Lyon

It's all a conspiracy (Or the Oscars snubbed ME)

2008-10-22T09:53:00.000-07:00

Original Post Date: January 22, 2008

Someone please tell my why they feel they need to honor films that the critics like and audiences hate? Seriously. I trust a critic about as far as I can throw him. And I have good reason. I hate critics...with a passion. Movie critics destroy good movies and theatre critics destroy theatre companies. Stupid critics.

Anyway...the Oscar nominations were announced today. I got one prediction right and one half right. I correctly predicted Ratatouille. I correctly predicted Johnny Depp, but just got the movie wrong. So I was half right. That still counts...right? RIGHT??!! Whatever.

I am EXTREMELY HAPPY that Enchanted's three nominations are for Best Original Song! If they cancel the ceremony and I can't see those songs performed...I'm going to be PISSED!!!!!!! Writers, I love you, but PLEASE don't boycott the Oscars. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PUH-LEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEZE!!!!!!!

As for the REST of the categories...I counted. I've only seen six of the movies that have received any nominations. I haven't counted the total number of movies that received nominations, but it's a lot. And only six out of that? Geez. I've had way better years that that. I saw some great movies this year, and most of them get no recognition for being high quality films. I, as a lowly filmgoer in Nowhere, USA, do not feel represented by the film community. I see their movies, sometimes more than once. I help pay for their movies with the huge prices I pay for movie tickets. Why do they choose to reward crappy movies with highly inappropriate content when good, wholesome, entertaining films get left in the dust? WHY?! It's not fair, it's not cool, and I'm getting a little sick of it. I don't want to watch those movies, and I won't be guilt tripped into watching them, just because they are considered Oscar-worthy. You're not getting my money or my respect. And I'm not sorry. So there.

How to tell how much of a Music Geek you are

2008-10-22T09:51:00.000-07:00

Original Post Date: January 17, 2008

So, I've been importing all of my CDs onto my computer in preparation for my inheritance of Neal's iPod in April. I've discovered that I'm having a bit of a problem classifying stuff into genre. And it's because I am SUCH a music (and theatre) geek. Here are some examples:

Classical is a term that is used as an all-encompassing term for convenience purposes and for people who don't know the other musical eras. The Classical period in music really only ran from about 1750 (after the death of Bach) until the early to mid 1800s. A good reference point for the transition from Classical into the Romantic Era is Beethoven. His writing career spanned both Eras. Bach was Baroque, Mozart was Classical, Chopin was Romantic. So, as I'm putting my CDs into genres, I'm using Classical for all those eras, even into 20th Century. However, I have PDQ Bach. That is NOT Classical. That's modern, but it's instrumental. I can't bring myself to put his music in Classical, because it's not Classical. So, I started the genre "Instrumental". Also in that genre I put a recording of the music of Frank Tichelli, John William's American Journey CD (for the 2002 Olympics), and James Galway's "Unbreak my Heart" CD. However, James Galway's CPE Bach Flute Concertos and Lowell Liebermann's Piccolo and Flute Concertos went into Classical. They are Baroque and 20th Century, but I'm going to allow the generalized "Classical" genre to fly in this case.

Another problem I had was with the "Choral" genre I began. I put all of my Mormon Tabernacle Choir CDs in there, along with some John Rutter and Robert Shaw. No problem, right? Wrong. I have a PDQ Bach CD of the Lieberslieder Polkas. I don't want to be listening to "Choral" on random and go from listening to "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing" into "Song to Celia" or something equally as silly. So I moved MoTab into their own genre "Mo Tab". Problem solved? We'll see.

I have a potential problem that I haven't come up with a good solution for yet. All of my Cast Recordings are in the genre "Broadway." Except, I have some London Cast recordings and the like. They aren't Broadway, even though the shows were on Broadway at some point. Do I change the genre to "Cast Recordings" or "Showtunes"? I haven't decided yet. Oh, and what about the movie soundtracks that are from Musical Movies? They are in "Soundtracks", but if I make the "Showtunes" genre, should they move there? The other part of the problem is that I've got some CDs of Broadway stars' solo albums. They are singing showtunes...should I put them in the Broadway category, even though they aren't cast recordings? I have them in "Vocal". That's too broad of a genre, in my opinion. I've got Josh Groban in there. And I have some CDs of Arts songs and stuff yet to be imported. They don't fit in with the other "Vocal" albums I have now, but I don't to put them in "Classical." I'll cross that bridge when I come to it. I'm still trying to decide where to put Ryan Shupe and Rubber Band. They aren't country, they aren't bluegrass, they aren't pop, they aren't rock. They're a cool mixture of everything. Didn't they call their style Funkadelic NewGrass? I think so. So right now, they are in the genre "Music." Kirby Heyborne is in there, too, though I guess I could put him in "Vocal". I don't know.

This is why you should never be a music major. It causes you to think WAY too much about stuff like this.

5th Annual Oscar Nomination Predictions

2008-10-22T09:47:00.000-07:00

Original Post Date: January 16, 2008

I've done this FIVE TIMES?! Holy smokes! I need to get a life.

Well, anyway...here are my predictions, once again based solely on the movies I have seen this year.

Best Picture
Freedom Writers
Dan in Real Life
Becoming Jane
Enchanted*
August Rush

Best Actor
Freddy Highmore (August Rush)*
Dustin Hoffman (Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium)
Johnny Depp (Pirates)
Steve Carell (Dan in Real Life)
Patrick Dempsey (Enchanted)

Best Actress
Hilary Swank (Freedom Writers)
Drew Barrymore (Music and Lyrics)
Keira Knightley (Pirates)
Anne Hathaway (Becoming Jane)
Amy Adams (Enchanted)*

Best Supporting Actor
Robin Williams (August Rush)
Rainn Wilson (The Last Mimsy)
James Franco (Spider-Man 3)
Justin Bartha (National Treasure: Book of Secrets)
James Marsden (Enchanted)

Best Supporting Actress
April Lee Hernandez (Freedom Writers)
Juliette Binoche (Dan in Real Life)
Kathryn Hahn (The Last Mimsy)
Abigail Breslin (No Reservations)
Helen Mirren (National Treasure: Book of Secrets)

Best Animated Feature
Shrek the Third
Ratatouille**
Bee Movie

*= really does deserve a nomination
**= will definitely win the Oscar

And here is the list of movies I saw:
Freedom Writers
Music and Lyrics
Amazing Grace
The Last Mimsy
Bridge to Terabithia
Spider-Man 3
Shrek the Third
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End
Ocean's 13
Evan Almighty
Ratatouille
No Reservations
Becoming Jane
Harry Potter & the Order of the Phoenix
Lucky You
Evening
Dan in Real Life
Bee Movie
The Astronaut Farmer
License to Wed
Transformers
Meet the Robinsons
Enchanted
August Rush
The Flying Scotsman
Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium
The Bourne Ultimatum
National Treasure: Book of Secrets
P.S. I Love You

And if you're interested, there is a list of all movies eligible for Oscars here: http://www.oscars.org/80academyawards/reminder/index.html

Real Life vs. Video Games

2008-10-22T09:46:00.000-07:00

Original Post Date: January 16, 2007

Last night I had my first true understanding of why video games are so popular. You can be really good at what you're playing on the video game while you totally suck at doing the same thing in real life. I understand that now, because of a little thing called Wii Bowling.

This past weekend, I played Wii Bowling a couple of times. I got pretty good at it, if I do say so myself. I'm usually not very good at video games, so this was a happy thing! Well...last night, I went bowling with my siblings and some folks from church. I don't know what happened...but I totally sucked. I bowled an 82...over 2 games. Yeah, I was throwing gutter balls like there was no tomorrow! SHEESH!!!! I did tons better when I bowled a couple of months ago. I blame my wrist...I've been having problems with it. My whole arm up to my shoulder, actually. I'm falling apart in my old age.

So anyway, I totally understand why someone would want to play video games all the time and not do the stuff in real life. I would much rather bowl on the Wii than at the bowling alley, after last night!!!!

I've gone green.

2008-10-22T09:44:00.000-07:00

Original Post Date: January 15, 2008

First of all...my thoughts on the Golden Globes: MEH. Bring back the ceremony, the speeches! That's what I like as much as finding out who won. PLEEEEEEEEEEEEEZE let the Oscars go on business as usual.

Anywhoo...

As some of you may know, I work in downtown Loveland, directly across the street from Safeway. I go over there at least once a week to get lunch. I've been getting a plastic grocery bag each time, and I throw it away (unless I bought something that needs to be taken home. Then I take the bag home and reuse it.) Well, yesterday I decided to spend a dollar and buy a reuseable Safeway grocery tote. I put it in my desk drawer. Hopefully, I will remember to use it! It always bugged me that I was throwing away all those grocery bags. At home, we reuse them quite well, but I have no use for them, or place to store them, at work. So, I've gone green. GO ME!!!!!!!!

NO GOLDEN GLOBES?!?!

2008-10-22T09:43:00.000-07:00

Original Post Date: January 7, 2008

First off...Viva la Writers! They totally deserve what they are asking for. Stop being to greedy, stupid producers...stupid networks. SERIOUSLY!!!

I am going to be deprived of one of my favorite nights of the year: The Golden Globes! It's being reduced to a one hour press conference. COME ON!!!!!!!!!! I agree with what George Clooney said at the Critics' Choice Awards tonight: Lock everyone involved in a room until it's resolved. The Stagehands strike shut down Broadway for a couple of weeks. This strike has gone on for 9 weeks. You've already deprived me of "The Office" for long enough, and when "Lost" comes back, we only get 8 of the 16 promised episodes. This is getting personal.

Fix it. Fix it now. That is all.

Gilbert Blythe is the "Man in Chair"!

2008-10-22T09:42:00.000-07:00

Original Post Date: December 31, 2007

My first reaction: "*GASP* NOOOOOOOOO."

I was just on the website for the National Tour of the musical "The Drowsy Chaperone." It's a show I've been dying to see for almost 2 years now. I never did make it back to NYC to see, and it sadly closed last night. BUT...the tour is coming to Denver next year. And I just found out who is playing the Man in the Chair:

JONATHAN CROMBIE!!!!

That name might mean nothing to you, but it meant something to me. He played Gilbert Blythe in all three Anne of Green Gable movies! I've had a school-girl crush on that guy for like 20 years!!! I really REALLY hope that he's still in cast when the tour rolls into Denver. (It's coming the end of October.) Oh, my gosh...I might just have to go all fan girl on him. No, I probably won't go that far. But still....oh my heck what a THRILL!

Okay, I'm fine. I'm good. Deep breaths, Master, DEEEEEEEEP BREEAAAAAAAATHS.

Angela's 2007 Year in Review

2008-10-22T09:33:00.000-07:00

Original Post Date: December 24, 2007

It's been an…interesting year. Yeah, that's how we'll put it. Interesting.

I started out the year working very part time for Loveland Opera Theatre. A couple hours a week. Not bad! Our first major production, Gilbert and Sullivan's The Gondoliers, turned out to feel like more of a part time job. I played the role of Vittoria, understudied the principal role of Tessa, was the props mistress, and did administrative stuff as well. By the time we got into production, I was stressed to the max! It was fun, but I just did too much. Luckily I never had to go on as Tessa except in a few rehearsals, because I never had the time to fully learn the part. (Most people want to kill the person they are understudying. Not me! I threatened Kristi to stay well!) All in all, the show turned out wonderfully!

I continued my job search and even signed up with a Temp Agency. They never called me with any jobs, though. I'm not sure why. But, around the middle of May, I got a call from Falcon Properties offering me my old job back. At first I kind of freaked out. Yes, I needed money desperately, but did I really want to go back? I went in and talked to them. They told me that everything had pretty much gone to crap since I left and no one knew as much about the job as me. It was nice be appreciated! We agreed that I would come back, but only work until 2:00 in the afternoon so that I can still work for Loveland Opera Theatre. It works out very nicely. I can be flexible to go to singing gigs during the day, which is nice. I haven't been as stressed as I was before, probably because I'm not working a full 40 hours a week.

My 2nd show of 2007 was Front Range Music Theatre's Beauty and the Beast. I was in the ensemble, so I played the Aristocratic Lady, the Bar Maid (I called myself the Ale Wench) and a Plate! My brother Craig was also in the ensemble. My sister Shauna built the set (in our driveway again) and we all helped paint it. I'm most proud of the bookshelves for the Beast's Library. There were over 600 books that we painted the spines for, and more than half of them were named. We had a blast doing that! My brother Neal worked backstage and did the flying effects. When we did Peter Pan two years ago, the only people that could fly were the ones in the show, because the harnesses were specially designed for the actors. Well, this year, the harnesses were pretty much one size fits all, so they were giving rides to whoever was brave enough. Before our closing performance, I got to fly! It was scary, and I screamed a lot, but it was TONS OF FUN!!!!! I'd do it again in a heartbeat! The funniest thing about our whole Beauty and the Beast experience was Emily. She had the show memorized. She's now watched the movie at least 20 times and can sing any of the songs with a little prompting. She also continues talking about going to the play and how Daddy was a plate! Too cute! She got to wear her "Princess Dress" to the show, and she got to meet Belle. That gave her quite the thrill!

Another big adventure this summer was hiking! Shauna and Neal hiked Long's Peak in August, and in preparation, we went on several hikes. Shauna hiked over 100 miles this summer, but the rest of us hiked much less than that. (And come to think of it, Neal just did Long's.) I went on a hike a month from April to September. I love living in Colorado. You just can't beat our awesome mountains! The night before the big Long's Peak hike, we all camped at a campground down the road from the trailhead. That was a lot of fun! I should definitely go camping more often!

September also brought the Loveland Opera Theatre 2007 Gala. Our concert this year was an Evening of Rodgers and Hammerstein. We had songs from The King and I, Carousel, South Pacific, The Sound of Music, State Fair, and Oklahoma! I was a featured soloist. I sang "Mister Snow" from Carousel and I sang Aunt Eller's solos in the title song from Oklahoma! Not only that, but I wrote the narration for the program. That was a lot fun, since I'm such a huge Rodgers and Hammerstein fan!

October was the best month of all, I think. I am now the proud aunt of 2 adorable nieces. Emily is 2 1/2 and cute as ever. She's talking up a storm and we can understand most of what she's saying. Rebekah Margaret was born on October 12th. She weighed 6 lbs. 11 oz. She looks a lot like Emily. She's a very sweet baby and pretty tough. Emily loves her sister...quite forcefully! Bekah was born on Grandma Milligan's birthday, so they share a middle name. That made Grandma's whole year!

The year is winding down now and I can hardly believe that it's almost 2008! I already have two shows lined up for next year. The Loveland and Greeley Stakes are doing "Savior of the World" in March, just before Easter. I will be playing the role of Salome (no, not THAT Salome) in Act 2. Then I'll dive right into rehearsals for my first paid show! I'll be playing Fruma Sarah in Fiddler on the Roof at the Union Colony Dinner Theatre in Greeley! I'm SUPER excited for this, and not because I'll be getting paid. (That's just icing on the cake!) Fruma Sarah is one of my dream roles! I've known since June that I would be doing that role, so it's been in all of my bios since then. I think it's already on my resume, too, as a "Future Engagement". I'm such a nerd.

There's a reason I'm not looking forward to it being 2008, and that involves a certain birthday that I will be celebrating. I'm not looking forward to turning that certain age, and I might just stay the age that I am for awhile. We'll see.......

But anyway, I hope everyone has a great Christmas and an even greater New Year!!!!

And now a few pictures from this year:

Rob Hoch and I during a Loveland Opera Theatre "What is Opera?" performance at Greeley Central High School. We're doing the Act 1 Finale of Cosi Fan Tutte by Mozart.

Me and Linda Akey in The Gondoliers.

An AMAZING picture that I took from backstage during the prologue of Beauty and the Beast.

What do I want for Christmas?

2008-10-22T09:28:00.000-07:00

Original Post Date: December 19, 2007

What do I want for Christmas? Sheesh, I don't know. My brother asked me this last night, and I was stumped. I don't know what I want. Everything that I have wanted during the year, and could afford, I have already bought. I don't wait for my birthday or Christmas. (Mainly because my birthday is in March, less than 3 months after Christmas.)

So, what do I want? How about Peace on Earth, Goodwill towards Men. Hmmm...that's what everyone wants. What about a Son-in-Law for my mom? I have to be careful about that wish these days. My sister could fulfill that one and not me. I'd ask Santa for a boyfriend, but that just sounds so utterly pathetic coming from me, and I'm doing really good about not dwelling on my single status.

I really want this new Nikon camera that is very expensive. And technically, I could use my bonus from work to buy that. But I don't NEED the camera...mine works. And I really should put that bonus towards my credit card bill. I'm still unburying myself from my 8 months of unemployment. But the camera is super nice. ACK!!! I hate asked for money, though. It seems so impersonal. And I just feel obligated to put it towards my student loan.

What do I want for Christmas? Current mood: jedi
What do I want for Christmas? Sheesh, I don't know. My brother asked me this last night, and I was stumped. I don't know what I want. Everything that I have wanted during the year, and could afford, I have already bought. I don't wait for my birthday or Christmas. (Mainly because my birthday is in March, less than 3 months after Christmas.)
So, what do I want? How about Peace on Earth, Goodwill towards Men. Hmmm...that's what everyone wants. What about a Son-in-Law for my mom? I have to be careful about that wish these days. My sister could fulfill that one and not me. I'd ask Santa for a boyfriend, but that just sounds so utterly pathetic coming from me, and I'm doing really good about not dwelling on my single status.
I really want this new Nikon camera that is very expensive. And technically, I could use my bonus from work to buy that. But I don't NEED the camera...mine works. And I really should put that bonus towards my credit card bill. I'm still unburying myself from my 8 months of unemployment. But the camera is super nice. ACK!!! I hate asked for money, though. It seems so impersonal. And I just feel obligated to put it towards my student loan.
I finally told my brother that a gift card to one of the 3 places where I spend the most money: Kohls, Moroni Books, and the movie theater. Or a gift certificate to the Denver Center. There's nothing better than the gift of theatre! Seriously.

You know, when I was a kid, I always had a list a mile long of stuff I wanted for Christmas. It gets harder when you're older. You really do have to weigh want vs. need, and you can buy stuff for yourself whenever you want. So when someone asks you what you want for Christmas, your best answer is "Duuuuh....I dunno. Harsher punishment for parole violators...and world peace?"

So with 5 days left until Christmas...just give me something you think I might like and should be able to use. I don't need any trinkets or something that I'll have to dust. I just cleaned a bunch of the old crap out of my room and I don't need anymore for awhile. But I really have wanted a Cabbage Patch Kid with dark brown (YARN) hair and blue eyes since I was a kid. Hmmmm......

MERRY CHRISTMAS, Y'ALL!!!

PS. On a side note, I'm not going to complain about gas prices anymore. I just figured out that I paid 16 cents an ounce for my hot chocolate from the coffee shop next door. Gas is about 2 cents an ounce. GOSH!!!

How to tell you're getting old

2008-10-22T09:27:00.000-07:00

Original Post Date: December 18, 2007

Here's a sure sign that you are getting old:

You find out that the girl who played Gretl in "The Sound of Music" with you when you were 19 years old is now a freshman in college and majoring in Pre-Med.

Dang....I'm old. SAY IT ISN'T SO!!!!!!!!!

I have been remiss in my duties!

2008-10-22T09:24:00.000-07:00

Original Post Date: December 17, 2007

I haven't posted any pictures of my ADORABLE nieces in awhile. Shame on me. What kind of a doting aunt am I? (A busy one.)

Here's Miss Rebekah at about 6 weeks:

Here's Emily and Rebekah together, taken just yesterday:

And here's me and my girls!:

Bekah is like "Just let me sleep! Geez!!!"

Anyways, there you go! Pictures of the cutest nieces in the world!!!

Golden Globes Nominations Announced

2008-10-22T09:21:00.002-07:00

Original Post Date: December 13, 2007

It's getting to be my favorite season: Awards Season!!! The Tony's might be my Super Bowl, but the Golden Globes and Oscars are my World Series! Yay!

Anywhoo...the Golden Globe nominations were announced today. You can view the entire list here: http://www.goldenglobes.org/nominations/

I'm at work and don't have access to my Oscar nomination predictions (I've been working on them all year, because I'm a nerd.) So, I'll just comment on how I feel about the nominations made today. (Look for my Oscar predictions a day or two before the actual nominations are announced.)

Cecil B. DeMille award to Steven Spielberg = YAY!

Best Motion Picture - Drama. Wow, haven't seen a single one! Haven't even HEARD of a few of them. And the Lead Acting noms...haven't seen them either.

Best Motion Picture - Comedy. Haven't seen any of them either, but a few are on my list to see soon. YAY FOR AMY ADAMS!!! She is awesome in "Enchanted" and totally deserves to win! Although, the buzz I've heard indicates that Ellen Page will win for "Juno".

Best Animated Motion Picture. "Bee Movie" is good, but "Ratatouille" is gonna take it. That movie is amazing! The view of Paris is worth the price of admission, and then you get a very good story, too! Pixar Rules!

Best Original Song. How can you NOT give it to "That's How You Know?" from "Enchanted"? Seriously, that song is fabulous!

Best Actress in a TV Series. Why are there 7 nominees? Awkward....

Best TV Series - Musical or Comedy. WHY IS "THE OFFICE" NOT ON THE LIST! I SAY BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!

Best Actor in a TV Series - Musical or Comedy. Steve Carell may have lost the Emmy to Ricky Gervais. (Ah, the irony.) But he will win the GG!!!

Best Actress in a Miniseries or Made for TV movie. I can't choose! Bryce Dallas Howard and Sissy Spacek were both awesome in those movies!

That's all I have for now. I'm sure once I get home and look at my Oscar list, I'm going to realize what's really missing from the GG noms.

Elder Neal Johnson

2008-10-22T09:21:00.001-07:00

Original Post Date: December 6, 2007

Neal got his mission call today! He's going to the England Manchester Mission. He reports to the MTC in Preston, England on April 25, 2008! We're all very excited. He's very close to where our dad went on his mission in 1960! Dad went to the British North Mission, which was headquartered in Manchester. He spent his entire mission in Scotland (and he was in the Scotland Edinburgh Mission by the time he left.) But still! Very cool!!

Anyway, just spreading the good news!

Disconcerting Dream

2008-10-22T09:20:00.000-07:00

Original Post Date: December 3, 2007

Ever have that dream where you're at your wedding and you can't see the groom's face? (Or the bride's face, if you're a guy reading this). I've had that dream a couple times. Well, last night I had the dream again...only this time I knew exactly who the groom was. And it's somebody I know. Creepy.

And no, I'm not going to tell you who it is.

You Know You're a Music Major if...

2008-10-22T09:17:00.000-07:00

Original Post Date: December 1, 2007

We're music majors, meaning we spend our college years on the brink of death at all times.

You know you're a music major if:

*You try to talk to your non-music major friends about your classes but you give up because they just don't understand
*You had to convince your parents that your life would be ok if you majored in music instead of bussiness
*You're pretty sure you're probably going to be kind of broke for the rest of your life because you majored in something you actually liked
*You've ever had to sing to yourself in class to understand the point the teacher was trying to make
*Someone's cell phone goes off in class and people try to name the interval, including the professor
*You took more semesters of keyboarding than you can count, and you STILL can't play the piano
*You're pretty sure it's going to take you more than four years to graduate college
*Everybody in your department knows everyone else, if not by name then at least by face and instrument
*Two people in your department start dating, and it's all anyone can talk about for the next week
*You've ever turned down a good time because you had to practice
*You actually know what "juries" mean, and no, it has nothing to do with the law
*Recital attendance credit will be the death of you
*You actually have some classical music and show tunes on your iPod
*You know the difference in between baroque, classical, and romantic music, and that Beethoven did not write all three
*You know the beauty of manuscript of paper, one packet can last you for years
*Your reputation has become defined by your instrument or voice part
*You understand there is a silent war between the vocalists and the instrumentalists
*You've wondered if God created more than one semester of music theory simply to torture you
*Your classes are randomly interrupted by the sound of someone loudly practicing down the hallway
*Someone says the words "sight-singing and ear training" and you feel a sudden urge to cry
*Even if you try to stay under the radar, most of the professors in your department actually know who you are
*You decided to skip one your classes for the day, so you had to skip them all. They were all in the music building and you would get caught by the professor who's class you were skipping
*You have more than one class with the same professor on the same day
*You've ever turned a pop song into an opera or classical piece*You get excited when key modulations occur
*You know what a key modulation is
*You've ever had to write a paper that was more than five pages long on a freakin piece of music
*You feel like less of a musican just because you'll be getting a B.A. in Music instead of a B.M. in whatever
*You understood what that just meant
*You're brave enough to eat lunch in the music building when you're skipping a music class to eat your lunch. You don't know where else to go.
*You've pretty much been in classes with all the same people since your freshman year
*You would count your private instructor as one of the people who know you best in this world
*You've been in music history for a few semesters now and you still haven't bought those NAWM cds
*You know what NAWM means
*Sometimes you pretty much hate making music, but it's such a part of you that you know you're not changing your major
*You've ever gotten dressed, slept, or gotten busy in the music building
*You could consider the music building as one of your residencies
*When you tell people you're a music major they give you a sceptic look and ask "What do you plan on doing with that . . . teaching?" If you say no, they look kind of sad for you
*You keep catching yourself randomly conducting music, even if it's "Money Maker" or "Bye Bye Bye"
*You've ever laughed at a really corny joke that used a musical term
*You've ever MADE a really corny joke that used a musical term, then actually laughed at your own stupid joke
*Meter changes in pop music make you cheer
*You even realize a pop song just had a meter change
*The most common pick-up lines you hear are "You want to play a duet sometime?" and "Do you need an Aural Skills tutor?"
* You associate Beethoven Symphonies with certain moods during your day
* You laugh when TV ads come on that have instruments in them and you know that the person is holding it wrong.
* You know that the person on TV playing the music but rather, Joshua Bell, or YO-yo ma dubbed over the person.
*You've ever spent more than an hour in the music reference/musical scores section of the library
*You know where the music reference/musical scores section is
*You and your library's local copy machine are very, very good friends
*There's all kinds of randomly assorted furniture around your department's building
*You own some type of clothing or accessory that clearly indicates that you are a musican: Anything with a musical note or symbol all over it, anything that says "Rock on," a guitar tshirt, and you're a freakin singer!

Ah, the sweet power of music!

2008-10-22T09:16:00.001-07:00

Original Post Date: November 19, 2007

So, I recently got a little radio to put in my office at work. It's been just too dang quiet, and I can only listen to the clock ticking for so long. I have the radio tuned to 90.1 FM, which is Classical Music. I have noticed an almost dramatic change since I started playing the music last week. I'm a little bit calmer at work. I can sometimes get worked up and become a bit of a spaz, especially when the day is not going well. (I work in property management...we have more than our fair share of bad days, if you ask me!) But I'm finding myself a lot less crazed with the beautiful music playing. There's really something special that music does to the soul. I know it's true.

Little Women (the Opera...not the Musical)

2008-10-22T09:14:00.000-07:00

Original Post Date: November 17, 2007

I saw the opera "Little Women" by Mark Adamo at UNC last night. The cast did a wonderful job. That is an INCREDIBLY difficult opera. It's definitely 20th Century. Woo baby! That stuff is HARD to sing. But they pulled it off quite well. The best aria in the entire show is Dr. Bhaer's. He first sings it in German and then continues in English. It's gorgeous!

The problem I had with it was that it was not the musical. I am absolutely in love with the musical by Jason Howland. I drove all the way to Salt Lake City to see it about 2 years ago. (Good thing, too...it never made it to Denver!) It's a show that I desperately want to do (I want to play Beth!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!).

But that aside, the cast did marvelously...especially that girl who played Aunt March. ;)

Climbing the Walls

2008-10-22T09:13:00.000-07:00

Original Post Date: November 14, 2007

I'm waiting to hear back after a callback I had last Saturday. Every time my phone rings, I just about hit the ceiling. Then I see that it's not them calling...and I get very disappointed. Hopefully I will hear today. I don't think my nerves can take much more of this! Normally I'm not this freaked out about an audition, but this time around I actually have a legitimate shot at a lead...so there's more on the line! And really, I just want to know who I'm going to be!!!!!!!! GAH!!!!!!!

In other news, I got a small radio for my office, so now I have tunes playing. The silence was killing me, and you can only listen to the clock ticking for so long, you know?

From the "Close Calls" and "It Could Have Been Worse" Files

2008-10-22T09:12:00.000-07:00

Original Post Date: November 12, 2007

So, I'm on my way to church yesterday. The road is closed, so we had to take a slight detour. I'm in the passenger seat, minding my own business, trying to figure out exactly where we were so that we could get on the right road to Berthoud. We stop at a stop sign at a strange intersection (I'm pretty sure we were in Campion.) We are waiting for other cars at the intersection to go while we are trying to figure out whether to turn left or right. Suddenly...BAM!!!! We are hit from behind! Luckily, we hadn't seen him coming, or we would have tensed up. As it was, we didn't get hit very hard. Just enough to pop the trunk a bit and crack the reverse lights. But the kid who hit us just hadn't been paying attention. He said he was trying to figure out which way to turn and didn't see us. We weren't even going to call the cops, just trade information, but a Sheriff drove by about a minute after it happened. So we were about half an hour late for choir practice and the kid got a ticket. I hope we don't have to go to court.

It could have been worse, though. He could have been going a lot faster than he was. That impact would have been nasty!! It could have been even worse than that, though. I can't help but think...if we hadn't have been there, he might have plowed right through the intersection and broadsided someone. There were a lot of cars that went through while we were sitting there. Because of the detour, it was busier than usual, I suspect. Had I been the one driving, we wouldn't have even gone that way, and there could have been some serious injuries. See...it could have been worse!

In related news, my neck kind of hurts a little today. I was okay yesterday, so I told the cop that I was fine. And really, my neck didn't start to hurt until I got to work this morning and got instantly stressed out. So it could be totally unrelated. And I've had neck problems in the past. I have my C7 vertebrae that likes to rotate. I've told it to stop, but it just won't listen. Grrr... Oh, well...................

So that was my adventure du jour for Sunday. Loads of fun. Let's NOT do it again. Oh, and in case you're wondering, it wasn't any of our cars. I was riding with a friend.

Welcome to Crazy! Population: Me!!!!

2008-10-22T09:07:00.000-07:00

Original Post Date: November 2, 2007

So Halloween was fun this year! I had 3 different costumes. My main costume was this:

Little Orphan Annie 20 Years Later (Complete with Sandy III in the purse)

I had been planning this costume for an entire year, and I've actually had all the pieces for a couple of weeks now. I have spent too many Halloweens racing around at the last minute trying to find stuff, and I wasn't going to play that game this year. Well, I should have put everything on earlier, because once the 30th rolled around and I was getting ready for the party at church, I realized with horror that the costume could go two ways: 30 year old Annie or a Hooker. YIKES!!!!! I pulled off Annie, though, because I sang "I'll be 30 years old, tomorrow!"

So, I wore the Annie costume to the Ward Party, but then we were going bowling. I have a hard enough time bowling to begin with, so I reeeeeeeally didn't want to bowl in the dress. So, we stopped off at home and I changed into: Ariel! I left the wig on and put on my Little Mermaid T-Shirt and capris. The wig didn't last the whole night, but I bowled pretty well. (122 the first game. That's really good for me!)

So, Halloween...There was no way I was wearing the Annie costume to work. I have a hard enough time wearing the wig for an hour, let alone 8 hours! So I couldn't be Ariel, either. So, I went as a Titanic Crew Member:

(Pre-Ice Berg, of course!)

Then for the big party that night, I was Annie again. The wig didn't last, though. The wig cap was eating into my flesh...or so it felt like. Yow!!!!!

So, that was my Halloween! One of my favorite holidays. I love to dress up!! I'm already thinking ahead to next Halloween. Planning ahead means less stress later on!!!

Happy Halloween from jaded, Celebutante Annie!!

Yikes!

What was lost is now FOUND!!!

2008-10-22T09:06:00.000-07:00

Original Post Date: October 27, 2007

Okay, so 4 1/2 years ago, I was in an AMAZING production of "Titanic: The Musical". We used a LOT of luggage in the 1st scene (obviously...everyone was boarding the ship.) Well, I brought in a few pieces of luggage to be used. Some were mine, but there were some that I borrowed from my grandma. Well, when the show closed, one piece of luggage got mixed in with the stuff going back to OpenStage's warehouse. I had 2 or 3 people that knew that it happened, and they were going to get it back for me. They never followed through, and I thought I'd never see the suitcase again.

Fast forward to today. I went with Shauna to pick up some flats, platforms, and stairs she needs for the "Oliver!" set. I didn't realize until we got there where we were. The Openstage warehouse! I could see their prop storage in the back. (Which, by the way, is like an awesome flea market! They had tons of totally sweet stuff!) Anyway, I head up the stairs, eying the suitcases. Suddenly, I see it. It's small, it's brown, and it has a ripped White Star Line sticker on it. I open it. Inside, is a funny flyer I made as well as the White Star Line Tourist Info brouchure I made to carry onstage when I entered as a 2nd Class Passenger. IT WAS MY SUITCASE!!!! I was sure I'd never see it again!!! I was so excited!!!! Made my whole day!

Now I have a happy ending for my story about why you shouldn't bring props in for a show unless you won't be heartbroken if they get lost or broken. Woo hoo!!!!!!

Now if the Rockies can have as good of a day as I have had. C'mon boys!

Baking Tip

2008-10-22T09:04:00.000-07:00

Original Post Date: October 27, 2007

Angela's Baking Tip of the Day:

When making cupcakes, just because the package on the aluminum cups say that you don't need to put them in a muffin tin, it's a really good idea to do that anyway. But if you don't have a muffin tin handy, be sure that the baking sheet you use is completely, totally flat. Not slightly warped so that the edges are higher than the middle. All the cupcakes will migrate to the center and then become one. After they are baked, and you pull them apart, they will look very odd shaped...as opposed to their muffin tin brothers who are perfectly round.

So now I have 18 perfectly shaped cupcakes and 12 odd balls. *sigh*

What kind of restaurant is this?

2008-10-22T09:03:00.000-07:00

Original Post Date: October 26, 2007

So, my dinner was interesting tonight. The fish was under cooked, and I had to send it back. And I found glass in my salad. I had a right mind not to leave a tip at all. What kind of a restaurant is this, anyway? I know I'm getting you all worked up now. "Oh, my! What pain Angela had to suffer! That restaurant must be horrible!" Go ahead...feel sorry for me. I'll wait....

Guess what! It wasn't a restaurant. It was my house.

Yep. Glass in my salad at my very own house. We don't know how it got there. But I threatened to sue the establishment if I broke a tooth. Oh, and if it WAS a restaurant, I never would have ordered fish. Blech. I don't care for seafood, thanks. I take after my grandpa in that department.

Anyway, I just thought it was an interesting dinner. We had to put all of the fish back in the oven. It was a new recipe my mom was trying out and the fish didn't get cooked enough. It was good, except for the fish. I told her to make it again, just with chicken instead. Mmmm...chicken.

I finally left the state!

2008-10-22T09:02:00.000-07:00

Original Post Date: October 21, 2007

So, I really needed to get out of Colorado. The last time I left the state was July 2006 when we went to Idaho for our family reunion. Since then, the farthest I've been away from home is Larkspur. An hour and a half from home. Woo. So this weekend, Shauna and I took a little road trip. And by little, I mean we drove over 1800 miles in just over 2 days.

Our trip of randomness came about because Lori Depew needed a ride home from Kansas City. She had a one way ticket there and no way home. So, we set out Friday at noon and headed east. We spent the night in Lawrence, KS and then spent Saturday in Springfield and Branson, MO. (Shauna went to school for a year in Springfield.) We went to the Titanic Museum (which is absolutely AMAZING!!!!!!) and ate at Lamberts (the best restaurant EVER!). We visited a few people that Shauna knew from when she was in school, and then we headed back up to Lawrence. We stayed overnight in Lansing, KS at Lori's friend's house, and then left for home at 6:00 am this morning. We got back home a little after 3:30 pm today. That was a LOT of time in the car, but totally worth the trip. It was great to get away and we had a lot of fun!! I'll be ready for another road trip, but not for awhile.

From the mouths of babes

2008-10-22T08:55:00.000-07:00

Original Post Date: October 15, 2007

Gotta love 2 year olds. Last Saturday, I had Emily with me and I was getting her into my car. She says to me "Your car is a mess." Okay, so there's a few candy wrappers and a water bottle. It's not too bad. But to have a 2 year old, who LOVES to throw all her toys all over the place and literally tear her room to shreds, tell me that MY car is a mess. Sheesh!!!!

She's Here!!!!!!!!!!!

2008-10-22T08:51:00.000-07:00

Rebekah Margaret Johnson
Born: October 12, 2007, 6:16 pm
6 lbs. 12 oz., 19 inches long

Everybody is doing great!

Original Post Date: October 13, 2007

Parking Lot Ding Dongs

2008-10-22T08:50:00.000-07:00

Original Post Date: October 9, 2007

Okay, so I am a bad, baaaaaaaaaaaaad girl.

We were leaving the hospital this evening, after meeting the adorable Brayden. Something on the ground caught my eye. It was an unopened Ding Dong. I picked it up. I inspected it. It wasn't smashed, and it wasn't opened at all. I played around with it for a bit, but then I opened. And then I ate it. Yes, I ate something I picked up in the parking lot. IT WASN'T OPENED, OKAY? IT WAS CLEAN!!! I figured, what the heck. If I die, at least my last meal was a Ding Dong. I made sure that Emily didn't see me eat it, though. That's the LAST thing you should do in front of a 2 1/2 year old, eat something off the ground.

An hour and a half later, and I'm still alive. I think we're good. But yes, I am a bad girl.

What a rip off!!!!!

2008-10-22T08:48:00.002-07:00

Original Post Date: October 4, 2007

Okay, so I'm technically a fair weather fan of Denver Sports teams. BUT ONLY A LITTLE!!!!! I'm happy for them when they do well, but I really don't care when they do poorly. If that makes me a fair weather fan, then so be it. I'm an Arts person. I think some of that money that gets thrown at sports should pay for stuff like, oh I don't know...THEATRE!!!!

But anyway...I'm very glad that the Colorado Rockies are kicking some trash in the playoffs this year. I'm told they are the best in Major League Baseball right now, so I'm expecting big things at the World Series this year. I don't really like watching baseball on TV very often, but I really like going to games. I don't do it very often, but I enjoy being in the ball park. Well, now that the Rocks are in the playoffs, I'd like to go to a game. But HOLY PRICE GOUGING BATMAN! Ticket prices are through the roof! Regular season, I can sit in the Rock Pile for $4. I just found tickets in the Rock Pile for this Saturday's game priced at $189. The cheapest tickets I found were $104. Now, I took Economics. I understand the whole "Supply and Demand" thing. But SERIOUSLY!!!!!! Next time someone complains about having to pay $20 to see me in a show, I'm going to pimp slap them. Why do people spend a crap load on sports tickets but balk at paying way less to see a high quality theatre production. They'll make the sports teams richer while local community theatre bites the dust. Priorities, people!

Okay, okay....so I paid $110 for my ticket to see Wicked on Broadway, but that was waaaaaaaaay more entertaining (to me) than a silly old baseball game.

I'm done venting now. I'll be watching the Rockies win from the comfort of my own home...if I watch the game. But don't come crying to me about paying more than $20 to see me perform when you've blown all your money on a play-off ticket.

Repeat after me: ARTS RULE, SPORTS DROOL!!!!

It's that time of year, yet again!

2008-10-22T08:48:00.001-07:00

Original Post Date: September 30, 2007

I had to scrape frost off my car windows this morning. The first time the Fall. Curses! I HATE SCRAPING MY WINDOWS!!!!!!!!!!! It means I have to get up earlier. I say boo.

But it is October, the month of the baby boom. Tyler's baby brother and Emily's baby sister will be with us shortly, and I can hardly wait. (Steph and Robin can hardly wait, too!)

Spamalot

2008-10-22T08:46:00.000-07:00

Original Post Date: September 27, 2007

I haven't laughed so hard in a really long time. As a long time fan of Monty Python, and as someone who grew up on Monty Python and the Holy Grail, this afternoon was a real treat. Spamalot is SO FUNNY!!!!!! I especially loved the jabs at other shows. ESPECIALLY the nods to The Phantom of the Opera and Les Miserables. PRICELESS!!!!!

One of the funnest parts of the show is the audience reaction. Come on, most of us there have seen the movie. They would be getting ready to start a scene and everyone would know exactly which scene it was and either a) laugh or b) cheer. Or c) both. It was fun to see the old favorites with some new funny stuff thrown in. And may I just say that the Lady of the Lake totally rocks the show. I'm a mezzo...I have to say that.

My one gripe was that I wasn't very impressed with the guy who played King Arthur. He wasn't strong enough and didn't have a commanding enough presence on the stage. Every single character upstaged him. He needed a booming voice, at least, and he mostly just sounded slightly inebriated. When everyone else is hamming it up to the hilt, Arthur needs to be the one that holds everything together. And he really wasn't. He showed a lot of potential during "I'm All Alone", but Patsy pretty much stole that from him, too. Now I'd really like to go see the show in Vegas, because John O'Hurley is playing Arthur. There's a commanding presence if there ever was one.

That aside, I laughed so hard that my sides hurt. The show is great for Monty Python fans and musical theatre fans alike!

2008-10-22T08:28:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was International Talk Like a Pirate Day, and we had a whale of a party. And yes, we talked like pirates. In attendance were:

The Black Spotts the Cabin Boy
Bonny Rose the Cabin Girl
Bright Blades Johnsen
The Dread Brian Roberts
The Pillaged Wench
Shauna O'Malley: The Pirate Queen
Skinny Bones Johnson
The Undead Monkian Spleen
The Unsinkable Melanie Brown
The Warbling Wench

I think I got some of those wrong. If so, correct me!

Anyway, we had a great time eating piratey food, giving piratey toasts with Rum-Flavored Root Beer (Hey, we be Mormon Pirates, after all!), playing Piratey Games, and being all around piratey. Here be some pictures:

And of course, I have to show off my lovely tattoo:

So that be our fun Pirate Party. Can't wait until next year!! ARRRRRRRRG!

Define Irony

2008-10-22T08:25:00.000-07:00

Original Post Date: September 18, 2007

So, I called the Rodgers and Hammerstein Organization today to verify how many piano scores they had sent us for the LOT Gala. I was on hold for about a minute or so. I was absolutely shocked to discover that the "hold music" was not by Richard Rodgers. Wouldn't you think it would be? I mean, seriously. You're the R&H Organization. Put your founding father's music on for us to listen to while we're on hold! He's the grandfather of the modern musical, after all. It's the least you can do. (Or put some Adam Guettel on there. He's Rodgers' grandson and he wrote one of the best musicals ever! The Light in the Piazza!!!!)

Gave me a nice chuckle during an otherwise blah kind of day. Tomorrow is International Talk Like a Pirate Day, so it will be a GREAT DAY!!! Arrrrrr!!

On this date...

2008-10-22T08:21:00.000-07:00

Original Post Date: September 5, 2007

...something happened. I just can't figure out what. Every year on September 5th, I have this feeling that something significant happened in my life (or someone's life) on that date. I have no idea what, though.

Does this mean I'm getting old?

The Little Mermaid (Regular Performance)

2008-10-22T08:19:00.000-07:00

Original Post Date: September 1, 2007

I saw The Little Mermaid again today. I am very happy to say: THEY FIXED THE ENDING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YAY!!!!!!!!!!! It was so abrupt before, and now it's not perfect but much more satisfying. I've decided that they figured out what the true conflict of the show is. The real conflict is that Ariel wants to be human. Ursula is more the means to that end rather than just being the "Bad Guy." Sure, she's pure evil, but the way the ending is now, they play up that Ariel has to choose who to trust and where she wants to be. It's a much better ending than before, where they just offed Ursula and all was well. It still needs a little tweaking, because there is still a little too much exposition. But they don't start previews in New York until November, so I have no doubts that all will be great by then!

They still haven't fixed Flounder's costume enough to make it look believable. They added a dorsal fin, but it's still lacking. He still looks like some sort of hip hop kid with heelie sneakers and a blue faux-hawk!

All in all, the show is fantastic and very entertaining! It's aimed more at adults, though. Kids don't get some of the stuff. Like why is Ariel singing when she can't talk? That was the question of the little girl in front of me. How do explain to a 6 year old about interior monologues? Um...you don't. But I love Ariel's songs in the 2nd Act. I really do. In fact, I'm hoping they are in the Vocal Selections, because I want to learn them!!! "If Only" still makes me cry. Gorgeous song. And it hits really close to home for me right now.

Anyhoo...I've felt so priviledged to be a part of the process, watching this show. I'm so glad that Denver FINALLY got an out-of-town tryout. Yay for Denver making it on the theatre map!! Please send more shows here! It really feeds my theatre geekiness. And hey...I'm not obsessed. I'm passionate. So there!!!!

One Year Ago

2008-10-21T12:49:00.000-07:00

Original Post Date: September 1, 2007

One year ago today, I was unemployed. And LOVING IT!!!! The stress just melted away and for a few months, I was very, very happy. Okay, so I wasn't blissfully happy the whole 8 months I wasn't working full time, but I was happier than usual. It was a much needed vacation. Now I've been back at work (at the job that I quit) for 3 1/2 months. And I need a vacation again. But I need money more to get out of the hole I got into when I wasn't working. So here we are. Publishers Clearing House can come through any time, you know. HELLLOOOOOOOOO!!!

Oh, well. C'est la vie.

The best laid plans of..well, you know.

2008-10-21T12:48:00.000-07:00

Original Post Date: August 27, 2007

So, I've been planning to audition for the Ft. Collins Children's Theatre production of "Oliver!". Well, okay, I've been going back and forth about whether or not to audition. But I decided yesterday for sure that I was going to audition. Then I looked up on their website today. Auditions for adults are on September 15 between 1 and 4 pm. That's the day of the Loveland Opera Theatre Gala and I have a dress rehearsal from 1 to 3. GAH!!!!!!!

Now, if I had worked with FCCT before, I'd see if I could just come to call backs or something. Or maybe audition at a different time. But I've never worked with them. I know their Production Manager and my sister is building their set, but I really don't feel comfortable asking for special favors and priviledges in regards to the audition. So, I guess I'm not auditioning.

*sigh* I really want to do a show this fall. I need to do something!!!!

Safeway is trying to tell me something

2008-10-21T12:47:00.000-07:00

Original Post Date: August 24, 2007

So, apparently Safeway knows something that I don't. Or their computer is SERIOUSLY messed up. Every now and then, coupons will print out when I'm checking out. (I go to Safeway several times a week, by the way. I work across the street from it.) Anyway, there have been a couple times now, including today, that the computer has printed out a coupon for Depends! WHAT THE HECK?! Sure I'm old, but I'm not old enough for DEPENDS!!!!!!!!! What's the deal?!

Geek Trip!!!!!

2008-10-21T12:46:00.000-07:00

Original Post Date: August 15, 2007

So.....I want to take a geek trip. I want to go to Aspen sometime within the next month to see "The Last 5 Years" at Theatre Aspen. Why do I want to go all this way, just to see a show I've already seen? Here's a list:

1) It's an absolutely AMAZING show. It's more of a song cycle than a show, actually. Cathy's songs start out at the end of the relationship and Jamie's start out at the beginning. The songs work towards each other and meet on their wedding day. It's an incredibly powerful piece of theatre.

2) Hadley Fraser is playing Jamie. This might be my only chance in my lifetime to see the guy who played Tiernan in "The Pirate Queen." Okay, so this should be listed as my 1 reason for going, but I'm trying to downplay the geekiness just a TAD. It's not working...I know.

3) I'm overdue for a geek trip. I haven't had one this year. I've had one each of the past 2 years, so it's time.

Okay, so herein lies the problem: It's a 4 1/2 hour drive to Aspen. I would not be able to drive back home after the show. Too far, too long of a drive. So I've got to sleep somewhere. Well, if you've ever tried to get a hotel room in Aspen, you know...it's freaking expensive! It's even very expensive to go up the road to Basalt, Carbondale, Snowmass, etc. You'd think it would be cheap in the summer...mmmyeah it's not. The closest Walmart is in Glenwood Springs, so I'm not opposed to sleeping in the car. I'd prefer not to, but it's looking that way.

Now for the other problem: I don't want to go by myself. My sister keeps going back and forth as to whether or not she'll go. She's poorer than me (if that's possible). So I need one or more people to go with me. The tickets are $40 (that is SOOOO cheap for seeing Broadway actors, TRUST ME!). I'm looking at going on either August 24 or 31st (both are Fridays). I'd be leaving around 2 or 2:30 when I get off work and driving up. If I go on the 31st, I won't be going all the way back to Loveland on the Saturday, because I'm going to see "The Little Mermaid" at the Ellie that day at 2.

So, if you'd be interested in going, please let me know ASAP. Or if you'd like to contribute to Angela and Shauna's Geek Trip Fund, make checks out to me. I accept cash, too. :)

Help a theatre geek out. PLEASE?!

What is the DEAL?!

2008-10-21T12:45:00.001-07:00

Original Post Date: August 13, 2007

Is there something written on my forehead in some sort of ink that isn't visible to me? Does it say "This girl can only be your friend. Just be friends with her. Don't like her more than that."? SERIOUSLY!

I know there is nothing wrong with me. I'm an awesome, somewhat intelligent, relatively disease-free, fun-loving girl. At least that's what I tell myself in the mirror every morning. So why in the freaking heck am I still single? And why can't I EVER get a 2nd date with a guy...especially with a guy that I like? (And it's hard getting the 1st date, too, come to think of it.) WHAT THE HECK!!!!

I'm getting two kinds of advice. Ask him to lunch. Ask him out again! Don't let him get away! That's one side. The other side is saying back off! Do group things. Let him come to you. ARG!!!!!!!!!! None of it is working and I'm just getting more and more frustrated. And I said some things yesterday that I probably shouldn't have. *le sigh* Why does this alway have to be so freaking complicated?! At this point I just want a 2nd date, and I want it to be his idea, his choice. But that doesn't look like it's going to be happening any time soon. Guess I'm just friend material. Normally, that would be okay. But this time....it's just different. That's all. It's different.

I'm starting to think that nuns have it easy. *le sigh* again.

The Little Mermaid (Preview Performance)

2008-10-21T12:41:00.000-07:00

Original Post Date: August 10, 2007

The first thing you see as you walk into the theatre is an amazing black curtain with glowing blue and purple sea creatures on it. It's gorgeous! I knew from the start, though, that I was going to miss a few things. Our seats were one row from the very top of the Ellie. That's the nosebleed section times 10! They had built their own little spotlight booth and it was rigged to hang from the ceiling. I couldn't see the top of the proscenium, and hoped I would still be able to see everything. Well, when the curtain opened on Prince Eric's ship, I couldn't see their heads!!! The ship was suspended in the air with fiberglass waves below. I'm sure it looks incredible from the orchestra seats (where I'll be seeing the show from on Sept. 1st.) The coolest part of the ship was at the end of "Fathoms Below", when it flew up and the faux water moved up as well. I really like I was plunging deep into the ocean. The set is absolutely revolutionary. How can you possibly do a show that takes place half underwater without doing something incredible with the set? 3M corp. made the fiberglass set pieces. When you get the lights on them, the iridescent quality is simply gorgeous. I really can't say enough about the set. They've done a phenomenal job on it! I especially liked Ariel's treasure trove, with all it's funny shaped objects she had collected. I don't think it's a coincidence that over half of them were shoes of some kind. Another thing that was really cool were these moving tree-like set pieces. They had two arms coming out that moved up and down. They were used several times, both under the ocean and on land. Very effective every time, too.

On to the costumes…I had wondered since I first heard about the show how in the world they were going to create mermaids for the stage. And then when I heard that they wouldn't be flying? How was this going to work? Well…it's ingenious, really. Everyone wears those little wheelie shoes! They sometimes walk, and sometime glide across the stage. It's like a roller ballet! And you really get the feeling that they are swimming! Brilliant! I wasn't too crazy at first about the mermaid tails sticking out like bustles behind their skirts, but apparently that looks better from the main floor, too. When Ariel is in her lair, at one point she's talking to Sebastian and she's laying across the hole in the set piece. You can't see her skirt, but you can see her mermaid tail swaying behind her. It looks totally cool! I loved it! After that, the mermaid tails didn't bug me so much. The costume I had a huge problem with was Flounder's. He didn't look like a fish! When everyone else has costume pieces that allude to fish or mermaids, to have the Flounder sporting a big yellow t-shirt, baggy shorts, wheelie sneakers, and bright blue faux-hawk just doesn't cut it. They obviously spared no expense on the other costumes, why does Flounder look like some kind of hip-hop mogul on wheels? Hopefully they can fix that. He just needs…fish parts. That's all! Scuttle's costume was great, though. A beak hat, kind of feathery vest and shorts, striped tights and big ol' mismatched clown shoes. Totally cute! And when he tap-danced in the clown shows…classic! Loved it! Ursula's costume was amazing, if a bit cumbersome. But she's an octopus, so how could it not be cumbersome? There were several sets of tentacles, depending on what she had to be doing. Some worked, some were weird. But all in all, an amazing costume. The coolest costumes, though, came during "Under the Sea" and "Kiss the Girl." The various fish and animals were gorgeous without being too "Lion King." Hats and other pieces allude to the animals without using puppetry. Very effective! The costumes I couldn't figure out, though, were the maid costumes. I thought they were chickens! The skirts were crazy big and bouncy. There's no way to describe them except…they looked like chickens. Cool, but weird.

The Cast: Sierra Boggess is the perfect Ariel. She absolutely captured the various stages of Ariel's character development…from flighty mermaid to tortured soul to the human who is in absolute awe of everything around her. She has a beautiful voice and she channeled Jodi Benson just enough to make Ariel just as loveable, but gave her a little more of her own touch. The new songs for Ariel totally help with the character development. Eddie Korbich plays Scuttle, and he absolutely amazes me. Here's this goofy looking, short, middle-aged guy and he has such command of the stage. He steals every scene he's in. He has an incredible energy, and everyone onstage with him just feeds off it. He has some of the best musical numbers in the show! Sherie Rene Scott as Ursula is AWESOME! She rocks my socks. It was obvious that she is still fighting the costume. She's only had it for a week or so, so I can totally understand that. (And I totally empathize with someone having an awkward costume. Hello! I was a PLATE in Beauty and the Beast!) And the character wasn't quite right. Ursula needs to get under your skin. I kinda felt bad for her, and you should never feel bad for the villain. But this is Sherie Rene Scott. She's amazing…she'll work it out. Now, with the guy playing Eric, Sean Palmer, I only had a slight problem with. His characterization was perfect, but there was just something not right with his voice. It was a little too…strained? I can't quite put my finger on it. He's a tenor and lacked a little bit of power that I expected for the role. And he strained a bit on the bigger stuff. But his Act One solo, "Her Voice" is absolutely to die for. (Someone sing it about me, please!!!) I can forgive the vocal stuff, though, because he really nailed the character.

The songs: All the old favorites are there. They added a few in Act One, which pushed "Under the Sea" later than it appears in the movie. There are a lot of new songs in Act Two, which makes sense. In the movie, there are more songs in the first 20 minutes than in the last hour. That's a lot of time to fill when you're making a stage musical. I especially loved what I call "Ariel's Inner Monologue songs". It's would totally defeat everything if Ariel was totally silent during Act. 2. You want to know what's going on in her head. So she sings…and you're really reading her thoughts. It's an amazingly awesome choice and I loved the songs! The song "If Only", which ends up being a duet with Eric, and then a quartet with the addition of Triton and Sebastian made me cry. The song parallels my life a LITTLE too much at this moment in time. If they end up cutting that song, I'll have to hurt someone. The best additions, entertainment-wise, are Scuttle's songs. "Human Stuff" is adorable. And the first song of Act Two, when Ariel has just become human, the seagulls sing "Posituvly" (or something like that. I don't have my program handy at the moment.) The song is awesome…and has the best dancing of the show, hands down. How often to you see people tap dancing in clown shoes…seriously. It rocks!

The plot: There have been a few changes. I especially like the addition of Eric teaching Ariel that it's okay that she can't talk. He shows her that dancing is a way to communicate. I loved that! It really makes her seem less…handicapped. She can't tell Eric with words that she loves him, but she can show him with dancing. Highly effective and a good message. One of the problems with the show is at the plot is slightly disjointed. It jumps around a lot. It's not as smooth of a transition between the two worlds as it could be. I'm sure they are trying to work that out. I don't envy the production staff one tiny bit! The biggest thing, and this will be a show-killer if they don't figure out a way to fix it, is the climax. There isn't one. Not that I could see, anyway. The climax should be when Ursula gets killed. There was no build up to it, first of all. Ursula just shows up and pretty much says "Time's up! You're mine now!" She doesn't come as "Vanessa" to woo Eric. Ariel doesn't get turned back into a mermaid. She just destroys the magic shell and that kills Ursula. It's very abrupt and not a climax at all. Then everything just kind of rushes to the finish. Eric proposes, Ariel's voice comes back, and they all live happily ever after. It's a huge let down. I really think that Ariel needs to turn back into a mermaid, even though I know that's a costuming nightmare. The battle with Ursula needs to be bigger. Her demise is cool, but they need to slow it down. And one of the best parts of the movie needs to be put back in…where Triton says that the only problem is how much he's going to miss her and then changes her back into a human so she can be with Eric. I love that part! Right now it's kind of a "Woo hoo! Let's get married now" kind of thing when it really needs some better, more fulfilling closure. They've written themselves in a corner, and I hope they can get it worked out before they get to Broadway. The kind of ending it is now will not fly with New York audiences. The general Colorado audiences probably aren't picking up on what's going on. They may not even realize what's missing. But I can see it…and I hope they can find a good resolution to the problem. This show has amazing potential. They've done a great job, but it just needs that ending tweaked. I'm hoping that when I see the show again on September 1st, they'll have it worked out. If not by then, they still have a couple months before it opens on Broadway. Someone has got to the find the solution by then, or else the critics are going to tear the show to pieces. A bad ending will kill a show in a heartbeat, now matter how good the rest of it is! The finale is the last thing the audience takes with them as they leave. It's the last thing they remember. If it's lacking, even a little bit, it clouds their judgement of the whole show…whether they realize it or not!

All in the all, the show is an amazing feat. I've been so excited to see how it would all work. They have done a great job of bring the movie and the stage together. The good out-weighs the bad…except for the ending. But I have no worries. They'll fix it. Oh, and I absolutely LOVE being able to see the process. Seeing a pre-Broadway engagement of a show is a dream come true for a theatre geek like myself. The very fact that I got to see the show before New York sees it totally makes my whole year!

My brother is a LIAR!!!!!!

2008-10-21T12:40:00.000-07:00

Original Post Date: August 8, 2007

Okay, so Neal told me that "Signs" wasn't scary. Umm...excuse me but that movie is freaking SCARY!!!!! Now, I should have known better. It's an M. Night Shyamalan movie. That dude is seriously messed up in the head. But yeah...Neal said that the only scary part was when you see the alien walking in the street. I jumped there, but seriously....later on? Yeah, I screamed when the alien grabbed the kid through the coal thing and then when the alien was in the living room. And I gasped a lot when they started banging on the doors. And now I'm going to have nightmares about aliens.

So thanks, bro. I'm not getting advice about movies from you anymore!!!!!!!

The hits just keep on coming!

2008-10-21T12:39:00.000-07:00

Original Post Date: August 8, 2007

Why is it that when you pay off your car, it suddenly goes to crap? First the incident at Red Rocks, of which the towing bill was the worst part. Now I had to get new tires today! Something's been wrong for awhile and I've put off taking the car in because I knew it would be expensive. Sure enough....one of my back tires was separating and so I had to buy a new one. Except you can't buy just one tire. Oh, no! You have to buy 2! $200 later and my car doesn't wobble anymore as I'm driving. That's nice. But I just bought tickets to "The Little Mermaid" down on the main floor and I really want to go see "The Last Five Years" in Aspen. Not to mention, I would LOVE to be out of debt. But no...a healthy car is a happy car. Woo-eee!

Will I ever get out of this hole that I'm in? *Angela shakes an angry fist*

I gotta go to Aspen!!!

2008-10-21T12:38:00.000-07:00

Original Post Date: August 5, 2007

Oh my freaking heck!!!! I just found out that there is a production of the musical "The Last Five Years" playing up in Aspen this month. The character of Jamie is being played by Hadley Fraser. Who is Hadley Fraser, you may ask? Well...he's a British actor who recently made is Broadway debut in "The Pirate Queen" in the role of Tiernan. My sister and I are pretty much OBSESSED with that show right now, even though it has already closed. And Tiernan has the BEST song in the show, in my opinion. "I'll Be There" is a gorgeous, GORGEOUS song! Tiernan sings it after Grania, his true love, is forced to marry Donal O'Flaherty so that the O'Malley and O'Flaherty clans can be joined. Tiernan should leave, but he can't allow himself to. He stays close to Grania, and that's what the song is about. It's freaking awesome!

Anyway, I am now DYING to go up to Aspen to see "The Last Five Years". That's an amazing show as well, and seeing Hadley Fraser in it would make my whole year! However it's a 4 hour drive to Aspen. We'd have to get a hotel. Unless someone has a suggestion on somewhere cheap we can stay?! Hint hint!!!! The tickets are pricey, too. (Well, it is ASPEN after all.) But not as expensive as "The Little Mermaid"!

I'm Not That Girl

2008-10-21T12:36:00.000-07:00

Original Post Date: August 2, 2007

This isn't really about anyone in particular. Maybe it's about a lot of people in particular. I don't know. I'm not in the mood to try and figure it all out. But these song lyrics are screaming in my head today:

Hands touch, eyes meet
Sudden silence, sudden heat
Hearts leap in a giddy whirl
He could be that boy
But I'm not that girl

Don't dream too far
Don't lose sight of who you are
Don't remember that rush of joy
He could be that boy
I'm not that girl

Ev'ry so often we long to steal
To the land of what-might-have-been
But that doesn't soften the ache we feel
When reality sets back in
Blithe smile, lithe limb
She who's winsome, she wins him
Gold hair with a gentle curl
That's the girl he chose
And Heaven knows
I'm not that girl

Don't wish, don't start
Wishing only wounds the heart
I wasn't born for the rose and the pearl
There's a girl I know
He loves her so
I'm not that girl.

That's from Wicked. Elphie sings this song when she thinks that Fiyero loves Glinda. The song pretty much sums up my life.

I'm going to turn into a house elf from Harry Potter and start flogging myself for doing stupid things. Maybe then I'll learn. I'm really like Ezma in The Emporer's New Groove. "There's a wall there."

*crawls back behind her protective barrier*

Buffalo Hot Frogs

2008-10-21T12:35:00.000-07:00

Original Post Date: August 1, 2007

So last night, we were at Steph and Brian's playing Piratey games. We were in the middle of a rousing (okay, not so rousing) game of Pirate's Dice when Shauna went outside to answer a phone call. She poked her head back in a few minutes later and said there was frog outside. Coooooooool! We all jumped up and ran outside. Sure enough, hopping his way across the driveway was a little frog! Neal caught it and we all admiring it when Neal goes "Aaaah! It peed on me!" He dropped it. No, it didn't die. Calm down. We caught it again and took him inside. Oh, and we named him Peety. Because he peed on Neal.

So, we get a box for him and put some water in it and then we're trying to figure out what frogs eat. There was no way we could let the frog go just yet, because Tyler would want to see it. And Tyler was sleeping. (It was about 9:45 pm). So, Neal and Brian go outside to stalk crickets to feed Peety. We got it on video. It's pretty funny. Anyway, they catch one tiny cricket and we take it inside to Peety. All of the sudden (and we have this on video, too), Neal goes "Is frog fighting illegal?" and drops another frog in the box. This one is a really little one. And he peed, too, but Neal was prepared and didn't get it on him. So I named this frog Wizzer. At this point, both frogs are trying to get out of the box. Frogs are acrobats, did you know that? More video of that. (Speaking of which...Steph, I want a copy of the video!!!!) The boys go back out to stalk crickets and come back with yet another frog! This one is the biggest of the three, and I name him Fessik. He's pretty agressive, too and was trying to beat his way out of the box. Poor guy.

At this point, the discussion turns to eating the frogs. There was still oil in the deep fryer, and Steph mentioned the possibility of Buffalo Hot Frogs. Sounds tasty? yeah, not so much. We were trying to decide what to do with the frogs. We had to save them so that Tyler could see them. But we didn't want to keep them in the house. The garage was a possiblity. Finally we opted for Tyler's pool on the back deck. The water in it was from rain water, so Tyler wasn't going to swim in it right way. We got a great video of the frogs sliding down the slide into the water, and then swimming around the pool. We let some of the water out and put some islands and grass and stuff in there. The plan was to leave them there overnight, let them get some Tyler-lovin' and then set them free. I haven't heard yet how they survived the night. I'm sure they had a lovely night lounging in the pool and will hop off later today to tell their little froggy friends about their close encounter with really weird humans who totally don't act their ages.

Always a step behind

2008-10-21T12:33:00.000-07:00

Original Post Date: July 31, 2007

Yesterday on my way to work, I saw some really strange things. First thing I saw after I turned off my street was an empty police car behind an empty car. No cop in sight. Hmmm...that's different. Well, then I get down to Taft and turn right. I head for the left lane, but immediately have to swerve back to the right lane because another police car was screaming down the road. Then I got up to Albertsons, and there was a police car with its front end smashed. On the corner was ANOTHER police car that had been broadsided. Now that's not something you see every day! And it had just barely happened, because there were no other emergency vehicles in sight! But I had to get to work, so I couldn't stick around to watch the action.

It was all explained in the paper this morning. The empty police car right by my street was because the cop had pulled some guy over and he had bolted. The cop chased him on foot and called for backup. The speeding cop car was the backup. The other two police cars had crashed into each other enroute to join the chase. The dude that ran was arrested about 2 blocks from my house. AND I MISSED THE WHOLE THING!!!!! Had I left my house about 2 minutes earlier, I could have hit the guy as he ran past my street. I could have saved the day. But alas, just like always, I'm a day late, a dollar short, and miss all the fun stuff. Oh, well!!!!!