Tonight!

I will play a song on the guitar in front of people other than the people that live in my house. Whee!

I'm nervous, but I'm wearing cowboy boots, so I feel like everything is going to be alright.

noodles

Lifting boxes and putting things on shelves all day makes me feel like a noodle. Not a wet, soggy noodle, but an al dente noodle that didn't make it all the way into the pot, so it still has some really crunchy spots.

This crunchy noodle needs to settle into her schedule, take more satisfying naps, get a new set of knees, and feel some spring air on her face. Possibly, this crunchy noodle needs a vacation.

Some Things That Are Good:

Coraline



Thai Kitchen Pad Thai




No One Belongs Here More Than You

Lesson One

Pacific Natural Foods Hazelnut Milk

I drank some of this at room temperature (serving suggestion is chilled). Slightly chalky, but not as chalky as rice milk. Definitely nutty, a little bit sweet, apparently from a brown rice sweetener. Steamed for a latte, not quite as neutral a canvas for the coffee as soy, but my taste buds are pretty used to soy at this point. Made for a nutty cup of joe.




Michael Angelo's Roasted Chicken Bolognese

The pasta was nicely al dente, and the tomatoes were flavorful. The chicken's texture was a little bit lacking. Not bad as far as frozen pasta dishes go, although I need to remember to put frozen meals in a proper dish if I'm to feel like it's a real meal. Oh, and it was on sale. That makes it taste better.

Cultural Revolution

Try their vanilla yogurt. Try it by itself before you go adding anything to it. I mean it. Delish.

I need someone who knows me really well to recommend something new for me to listen to. Specifically, something you can burn for me and send me in the mail? Yeah? I need some fresh tunes in my life.

Food Education

I straightened products in the baking/snack/cereal aisle today, and there are things that I've never, ever noticed, for all of the co-ops I've frequented in my life.

Garbanzo bean flour.
Quinoa flakes.
Hazelnut milk.

I feel like trying everything in every aisle that I've never had before. Even the gross stuff. Just so I know what it's like. So, once I get some money in my wallet, I'm going to enjoy a little food self-educating, and I'll let you know what I try and how I like it.

I think it's going to take me a long time to figure out where everything is, but as far as first days go, this one was pretty good. And I got found a free orange, a free loaf of sunflower bread, a free cookie, and a free Ginger Spice tea bag before I hit the road.

Yum.

Now I know...

...why I once thought to myself, 'Man, I took a shower an hour ago,' and then realized I was just walking past a bratwurst stand.

Men Smell of Cheese and Women of Onions

Puff the Magic Dragon

I'm listening to recordings of my dad playing songs for my friend Megan.

I can hear Megan laugh sometimes, at jokes that I'll never know because I'm not there, and that makes me happy.

I wish we were sitting on my mom's porch, perched on the railing, while my dad plays and I sing along, drinking delicious beverages and feeling glad to know each other, and glad to be alive. You and me and everyone we know who likes that front porch.

***

In other news:

No need to worry, I have another part time job, one that will make sure me and mine are fed full of good foods all the time.

jazz 88

I think that the student DJ on the radio today is playing exactly the same set he played yesterday. Cause I know I heard something by the James Taylor Quartet AND a string version of 'Ding Dong! The Witch Is Dead' yesterday when I was working.

Seriously. Not cool, dude.

Some Notes on Life and Living

Notes on Life:

* I've got a brand new pair of *ice* skates, you've got a brand new *?*...

* Astronome at the Ontological looks awesome. Three friends are in it. Who wants to take me to New York on a little vacation to see it?

* I may become a grocery stocker. I may also become counter help at a French bakery that is very far from my house, but I hear makes great French eats. I may, if possible, go on tour doing plays for children.

* My birthday is in one month and one week.

* I still haven't sent out those challenge prizes. Damn that procrastination gene.

* We're making some petite performances. We're thinking to the future. Kevlar, are you thinking about containers? Dawn, remember when we were thinking of eggs and adolescence? I'm about ready to start sitting in cafes that aren't the one I work in, sipping hot drinks and thinking of objects and space.

***

Notes on living:

1. Eat lots of vegetables.
2. Go for walks.
3. Shovel the snow.
4. Clean your bowl right after you eat out of it, even if the dishwasher is full.
5. Plan your garden to dream of spring.
6. Play on the ice to make a dream of winter.
7. Change your socks before you go to bed.

Who's Lame?

Me, for how incredibly long it's been since I've written anything.

Sadly, I don't really have anything to say in this moment, other than that I'm looking for a job. Again. Sheesh.

Oh, and it's -5 degrees, -25 with the wind chill today. (Glad I got some outdoor time in on Sunday! Yay for some skating and lots of falling!)

I promise I'll write something more substantial soon. Cross my heart.

b

Merry Merry

I am excited for Christmas.

I am excited to see my mom and dad, my aunts, my grandparents, my uncles and cousins and second cousins. I am excited to eat delicious food and have hugs and dancing to jazzy Christmas music all day long. I'm excited to see Kyle and laugh until I can't breathe and see my old schoolmates and tell them over and over that yes, it's effing cold in Minnesota, and yes, I did actually quit smoking, thanks.

I'm excited for a road trip with two of my favoritest friend people.

Heck, I'm excited for the little drive South with another one of my favoritest friend people to get me to the bus.

So what I'm saying here is... watch out! I'm in a goooood mooooooood.

b-tistheseason

P.S. I not only remember how to knit after putting my knitting in the closet for 9 months, I also FINALLY figured out how to finish the end of the first thing I ever knitted! And it's off keeping someone's neck warm! Hooray!

Sleigh Bells Jinglin'

Dude.

I finally got some waterproof boots. (Thanks, Pops!)

Who wants to go play in all this freaking snow??? Yeah yeah yeah!

Also, who has the inventory necessary to take me on a one horse open sleight?

Acoustic

I'd forgotten just how much I like listening to acoustic music at coffeeshops until last night.

Two guitars, a ukulele, some poetry, some improv, a lot of coffee. Yes, thank you, I'll have some of all of that.

every pitch is a curveball

You still exist in this world?

And you want to know if I'm going to be home for Christmas?

The Small Hours Can Be Unkind

Last night I got caught in the web of the witching hour, and rather than my half-witch powers gaining strength and vivacity, instead my half-human doubts crushed me under their much-multiplied weight.

Tonight, come midnight, I will be fortified and ready.

Good Will Towards Men-Tality

Hey. You. Why don't you go and see this show? Tonight, okay?

Thanks.

Crash That...

I will poison you with my adorable poison bubbles, so WATCH OUT.

Fight to the Finish!

Ahhhhh!

We made it to the end of the challenge, people!

Now, we are all winners here. We all did some really nice work, and I plan to continue this kind of incessant, often inane posting, because 1. it gives me something to do, 2. it makes me remember how to form written sentences, which might prove useful in the future, and 3. it is an often hilarious way to conversate with my friendlings. I hope that you plan to do the same.

Yeah, yeah. But WHO WON?

Well.

That would MISS ZOE of Joseph and Zoe Tell It Like It Is, by being the only one to not be distracted by weekends, by staying the course, by posting at least once every day for 21 days!



CONGRATULATIONS! Please send me your address and any requests you might have for your Grand Prize.

While Zoe may have Capital-W Won the Challenge, there are other prizes to be handed out, to all those who have participated, because you're awesome and you did a freaking good job. So, send me your addresses, PRONTO. Thankyouthankyou to Todd, Au (dude, you almost tied for the Grand Prize), Justine, Kevin, and Zoe, for adventuring with me. You're all sexy geniuses.

Please note: we're cooking up some weekly themes for those who would like to participate in further challenges, so send me suggestions if you've got them.

Did you have fun? Would you do it again? Will you post daily without a challenge? Do you have a challenge you wish to administer? Let us know...

Thank you for making the Interwebs awesome.

-bebebeteerannosaurusrex

Who's the fairest of them all?

Snow White, that's who.



And don't you forget it.

Prunus Dulcis

Almond croissants are good, even when they're not very high quality.

Here's the question, though: why do I like the almond paste in almond croissants and not marzipan? I think marzipan is beautiful...



...but I do not like to eat it. This sad fact makes me a marzipan outcast in my family.

Marzip-anecdote: My sophomore year in college, I went to New York with my uncle and cousin for my cousin's birthday. My uncle pestered me the whole trip about if there were any boys that I liked at school, and finally I admitted to liking a particular one. He said, "Well, alright then. You need to buy him a present from New York!" He even offered to pay for it.

(I think it's funny that he was so insistent that I try to woo said boy. I think he just wanted me to be happy, but it was a little weird.)

So, what do you get for a college boy you like but only kind of know? A Yankees hat? (No.) An I Heart NY t-shirt? (Lame.) A book? A Playbill? What?

Finally, on the last day of our trip, we stopped for canoli, and my uncle said, "Look at that marzipan! That's what you're getting your friend." Now, I have plenty of friends who would totally dig that gift, if for nothing but the novelty, but really? Lacking any better ideas, though, I picked out all of the best marzipan vegetables in the case, including some radishes and carrots.

When I gave it to said young man upon my return, he was appropriately confused by the gift, as I had expected. Needless to say, my vegetable wooing proved fruitless.

I embrace the awkward in life, or try to (I have to. I am, after all, 'The Girl Who Makes Things Awkward'), but for some reason the marzipan incident got blocked from my memory for about 4 years.

Then I moved to New York, and one day I walked past the very shop where the marzipan was purchased. I stopped dead in the street, and remembered suddenly not only the candy but also the recipient, and the years of awkward gift giving that followed that forgotten marzipan, like a truck it all hit me. And I laughed.

I laughed and laughed and laughed.

Sometimes, things are just so weird that you know that life is a funny joke, not a cruel one.


Awesomely awkward
(and awkwardly AWESOME)
-sweet beet

P.S. Almond flavoring smells to me like poison. I had forgotten that until I was making a drink the other day. Teej is a man who knows his poisons, and he told me that cyanide smells like almonds.

Hm.

Hope I'm not poisoning the customers!

Sunshine

Too much sun will make you crazy.

Nuance

"As Harold took a bite of Bavarian sugar cookie, he finally felt as if everything was going to be ok. Sometimes, when we lose ourselves in fear and despair, in routine and constancy, in hopelessness and tragedy, we can thank God for Bavarian sugar cookies. And, fortunately, when there aren't any cookies, we can still find reassurance in a familiar hand on our skin, or a kind and loving gesture, or subtle encouragement, or a loving embrace, or an offer of comfort, not to mention hospital gurneys and nose plugs, an uneaten Danish, soft-spoken secrets, and Fender Stratocasters, and maybe the occasional piece of fiction. And we must remember that all these things, the nuances, the anomalies, the subtleties, which we assume only accessorize our days, are effective for a much larger and nobler cause. They are here to save our lives. I know the idea seems strange, but I also know that it just so happens to be true."

You never knew why you felt so good in the strangest of places...

There is a gorgeous light dusting of snow on the ground this morning, and my roommate made me an egg sandwich.

Which put me in a good mood as I left the house at 7:30 for work.

Which is good, since I stayed up too late last night playing Rock Band and drinking champagne. Also, when I walked in the door of the cafe, the espresso machine was clogged and leaking everywhere, and there was a flood on the floor from some mysterious source.

The floor is now mopped and dry and smelling vaguely of lavender, I got the machine to stop leaking (at least so horribly), all of the opening chores are finally done, and soon I'll have my second cup of coffee and decide to really be awake.

What I'm trying to say, I guess, is that my snow- and egg-infused good cheer is kicking the butt of this lame day. So there.

-b-funk


P.S. Dude. San Pellegrino Limonata is delicious.


P.P.S. This totally rad lady comes in every few days for an iced honey americano. She and her husband have different favorite coffeeshops, and rather than switching off where the go, or debating the merits of one over they other, they just go to both.

Every time. No questions asked. She gets a honey americano at Janine's, he gets a medium cup of dark roast with skim milk and one equal from Java Jay's. And they're happy as clams to do it that way.

I think that is awesome.


P.P.P.S. Pascal said of his yogurt today, "This is going to taste me good!"

Which, apparently, is perfect grammar, if you're speaking German.

The Peak

It rained, it sleeted, it snowed, and then it was sunny, crisp and clear, all in the trip to the top of this mountain.

(I just got the pictures from this trip that we took developed. Yeah!)

re: graffiti...

Nothing comes close to that whale, but...













(faile)

all heart,
double-b

He also tells great stories and remembers everything in exact chronological order.

Well, I definitely didn't touch a computer (but for a friend's iPod Touch - um, those things are SWEET) all fake-weekend (I have Sundays and Mondays off) long. So... whoops, again.

However, I did find out that this FREAKIN' AWESOME GUY is checking out the challenge:



This knowledge has rejuvenated my Challenge Spirit, and I'm ready for a new week.

Some things you should know about that guy up there:

1. He takes his coffee black, unless we're at a diner, in which case he lets me stir in two creams, because he knows that I like to.

2. He used to let me blow my little nose on his shirt sleeve when I was full of snot. I'm sure he still would if I asked.

3. He has a sweet bicycle.

4. He has been quietly wanting a puppy for at least 25 years. No one should have to wait that long for a puppy. Your time is coming, dude, I can feel it.

5. He doesn't fall asleep with peanut butter sandwiches in his mouth. Anymore.

6. He's really good at growing baby flowers.

7. He doesn't like listening to you chew, either.

8. He probably thinks you're pretty awesome. And he probably wants to watch a movie with you or play you some records. So call him up.



Your #1 Fan for Life,
b - snot factory - b


P.S. I saw a commercial for an iPhone this weekend that showed an application where you can know the exact whereabouts, on Google Map, of your friends who also have iPhones. This is TOO MUCH. Twitter, blog, text where you are, for everyone to find you, fine, great, but basically, I don't want to WANT to know where my friends are, literally and exactly, at every moment. That just feels too gross.

Now, the iPhone app that lets you hold your phone up to music playing and figures out what song it is and who it's by - that is gadgetry this girl can get behind.

Flirt Alert

Pascal keeps running behind the counter to get my attention.

Then he winks at me and runs away.

More Theatrical Nostalgia

Hey, remember that time I got to be in a Richard Foreman show as a stand in for a fighter pilot for half a rehearsal?

That was pretty sweet.

Making Up

Challenge, Day 11

!

I had big plans to post when I got off work yesterday, but then I ran errands and put squash in the oven, grated cheese and ate pasta and went to rehearsal and then rehearsed some more, watched some hockey highlights, then fell into bed.

All of which is great, but none of which is posting on my blog.

So. At least twice today as penance, okay?

***

Last night, and the night before, we had a rehearsal after rehearsal, and I was transported back to the days of yore when it was common practice to rehearse a show from 7-10 and then start the next rehearsal at 10:15, to continue until everyone fell down from exhaustion

That brings a few gems of college rehearsing to mind (lesson: why it's not safe to be too tired):


1. Watching TBuch try to demonstrate a Fireman's Carry, only to be foiled by the man on her back. Watching her face hit the ground. Catching her blood in my hands, trying not to let it get on the new dance floor in the rehearsal room. (Dr. Faustus, 2002)

2. Seeing Kevin get kicked in the head by Peter AND Flinn pass out from lack of oxygen in the same rehearsal. (Ugly Duckling, 2003)

3. Hitting my head on the ground so hard during a movement warm-up that I gave myself whip-lash. (There Is No More Firmament, 2005)


Oh, for real. Let's all try to be a little bit more careful, shall we?

-b.concussed.b

P.S. Mmmm. I want a bed, an electric blanket, a sleep mask, and two days to spend with said items.


Mmmm, I wish I was under an electric blanket, with a sleep mask on

dreams of the study of the nature of being

I had a dream last night that I was helping to throw a dinner party for this guy:



It was being thrown on some tiny college campus somewhere, and something essential to the party was missing (some notebooks), and it was my fault. And anyone who knows that guy, knows that you don't want to be the one who lost anything of his.

What's a challenge without a reward?

To all of my fine friends who are participating in The Challenge:

If you make it to the end of Week 3...

I will make you something special and send it to you in the mail.

How about that?

Heart,
beaniebebe

P.S. Cowboy Hat Guy is here right now. Today would be a very good day for a cowboy hat, what with all the freaking sleet.

P.P.S. Can I drink 8 glasses of water a day, like the proverbial 'they' say I should? Glasses of water so far today: 3 1/2. (Note: cups of coffee are approximately 3 1/2 also. Hmmm.)

Thinking

What's delicious?
A turkey sandwich with cranberry sauce, mayo and mixed greens.

What song is awesome?
Case of You by Joanie Mitchell.

What actor would you watch in anything?
Robert Downey, Jr.

Back 2 Skool

Somebody needs to start studying for the GRE, and that somebody is me. I miss book learnin', and while it will take a standardized test for me to get there, I need to get myself some more schoolin'.

I heart Zooey Deschanel...

...and I'm glad that I finally saw Elf.

You should watch it. Especially you, Dad.

Questions

Pascal: What's that?

Me: A flower vase. My friend dropped a flower vase yesterday and it looked like he laid an egg.

Pascal: What did he do?

Me: He said he was sorry.

Pascal: What did you do?

Me: I said it was okay.

Pascal: Did he clean it up?

Me: He did.

Pascal: What's his name? How old is he? Is he a man or a lady? Where does he live? Is he your dad? Do you have a kid?

Me: I don't.

Pascal: ... Me, either.

Saturday Morning

7AM comes only moments after I lay down, it seems, and I am so warm and cuddly in bed...

But then there is an old fashioned donut and a crunchy donut hole and an extra-strength cappuccino and some good company and Pascal will be here in 5 minutes to bring all the good cheer a girl could need on a rainy day and there will be good music all day long and a crossword puzzle and good friends later.

What a cozy little day.

What is that sticking to my hair and eyelashes?

Happy first snow.

It's looking pretty darn quaint outside the cafe window this morning. I'm just sayin'.

Gushy gush gush.

I have the best friends a girl could ever ask for, spread across the whole world. And while sometimes I get awfully lonely, and start to feel a little lost, I am lucky, and I know it.

Thanks, guys.

(It sounds mushy, I realize, but you know that I mean it.)

I promise to walk it and feed it and love it, okay?

This made me think of you, there in Japan.



And this made me want a puppy.




Challenge, Day 3

Wow wow wow!

Zoe at Joseph and Zoe Tell It Like It Is has joined the challenge!

AAAAAAANNNNND

Even though he insists he wasn't invited, my favorite Kevin has excepted/accepted the call and if you haven't already been there, go to I Like Drinks, start reading from the beginning, and get yourself all caught up.

Sooooo, now The Challenge is alive and well in Minneapolis, Baltimore, Athens, Lawrence, AND Brooklyn! Another cool thing? Not everyone involved in the challenge knows each other (yet).

While the internet has limitless potential to alienate, I'm glad we're taking this opportunity to connect, friends!

Proud To Be...

Cheers to the future.

Someone rearranged all of the magnetic poetry on the board that we keep by the window at the coffeeshop into the shape of a heart.

I just went over to look and see what phrase was in the middle of the heart.


"Yesterday is over."


Challenge, Day 2

Au officially accepted the challenge! Read her musings at Secret Plans. She just joined the blogolution, so I'm excited for this opportunity to read something she writes every. damn. day.

Justine will be joining us as well! She is smart and pretty and has adorable children! I'm new to her blog, so that will be some good reading, too! Find her at Welcome to Tink's!

Guys, this is pretty awesome. The challenge now includes amateur bloggers/cool cats living in Minneapolis, Baltimore AND Lawrence. That's fuckin' rock and roll.

***

Things I want for Christmas (if Target can have all their Christmas crap up, then I can start my Christmas list):


Dear Santa:

I've been really good. Please bring me:

Some skates.
A bass.
A new job for my friend Todd.
An Everlasting Gobstopper. The REAL kind, not the kind that comes in a box of 20.
A puppy.

And I'd like to make it home in time for Christmas Eve dinner. Can I catch a ride in your sleigh?

Thnx,
B.T.

(T is for T-Rex and don't you forget it.)

Challenge Accepted!

Challenge, Day 1

The call has been answered! The maestro over at Todd's Place took up my challenge with a *smack*, and Au will accept the challenge once I tell her the following information:

No, length is of no consequence. You can still expect short bursts of inane thought about food from this here blog during the challenge! Aren't you excited??? So don't panic, because you, too, can join! All you need to meet the challenge is at least one post a day for the next three weeks. Why, that's so much easier than getting homework done!

So, that's three of us taking part, isn't it? Any more takers?

Now, Au, please answer the following:

Is your blog yet public? Can I share it with the world on my list of blogs written by awesome people? Say yes, say yes!

Today is a List Full of Unrelated Thoughts and a Lot of Exclamation Points!:

1. Let's all vote!
2. Let's all drink a cup of coffee or three!
3. Welcome to the world, little Miles Forrest!
4. Welcome to Minnesota, sugarfree and db! Let's see each other soon and often.
5. There's a beautiful Indian Summer happening in Minnesota, at least for another day. Happy November! Who wants to play in the leaves with me before it snows?
6. Hot dog, french fries and a beer for $7! Oh, Triple Rock, there is more to you than just bouncers who bully Kevin on his birthday.
7. Don't Panic! Not quite yet, anyway!



Cheers!
-bebe

Zzzzzzz

Last night I was so sleepy at 630PM that I went to get a double espresso to cure what ailed me. I decided the Cliquot Club was the place to go, with it's cute boy waitstaff and it's connection to Kevin (and it's proximity to the Ivy Building where I would be rehearsing shortly).

I turned off the car, closed my burning, tired eyes for a second, and then?

I fell asleep in my car for 20 minutes.

When I did wake up, I almost decided to let myself fall back asleep, without checking to see how long I'd been conked out.

I dragged myself into the Club and ordered my coffee, but it's all a blur because basically, I was still asleep.

Choosing to nap in your car is one thing (lunch break at the McJob, waiting to pick up someone from work, etc.), but to fall asleep accidentally... is just kind of bizarre.

I think this means it's time for me to hibernate. See ya in spring, suckers.

Internet Challenge

I will post something every day for 3 weeks if someone else will take up the challenge and do the same. Any takers?

Seriously, guys

Who ate all the Halloween chocolate between 11AM and 5PM, and why wasn't it me?

Thinking

How can I go back in time and thank the person that discovered cheese?

How many sodas will I drink at work today?

Wish I had some pizza.

Anything Related to the Sea

The following traits are widely associated with Pisces.

* malleable / impressionable

* gentle

* good natured / easygoing

* likeable / kind

* compassionate / sympathetic

* sensitive

* impractical / dreamy

* instinctive / intuitive

* imaginative / artistically able

* versatile

* gullible / naive / easily led

* spiritual

* escapist

* selfless

Likes: Feeling appreciated, feeling loved, freedom, stability, mystical settings/enchantment, dreaming, having their input valued, being unique

Dislikes: Feeling vulnerable, having no goals to move toward, feeling invalidated, being criticized, illiteracy, noisy scenes and displays, having no sense of structure

Ideal Careers: caring for the needy, as in the fields of medicine or veterinary medicine • anything related to the sea • acting • psychics or mystics • religion • cooking • pharmacist

Dear Guy

Dear Guy in the Big, Black Cowboy Hat -

Your hat is awesome.
Your boots are, too.

You make me cooler by proximity. Thanks for drinking your coffee with soy milk at Janine's.

Your Fan,
b

decidedly

I may not have any inclination towards or talent for writing about the current political climate, but I'm sure glad that other people do.

Read this now:

Undecided by David Sedaris

My weekend, in brief.

Ready, Set, GO:

Drive.
Drive.
Drive.

IOWA!
Play Wii.
Power sleep.
Get up at 7.
Shower.
Bid adieu.
Fast food breakfast.
Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Tertiary Edition, Radio Play

Drive.
Drive.
Drive.

KANSAS!
Find Megan, Mike, Wendy, Jeb.
Eat thai.
Find wedding party.
Look at all those pretty faces.
Bowl a 96.
Bowl a 103.
Drink coffee.
Eat pizza.
Drink whiskey.
Dance.
Dance.
Dance.
Eat cake.
Remove shoes.
Prince.
Talking Heads.
'It's Raining Men.'
Sleep.
Eat muffins.
Drink coffee.
Eat India Palace.
Drink more coffee.

Drive.
Drive.
Drive.

IOWA!
Eat pizza.
Play video games.
Watch Darkman.
Sleep.
Donuts.
Allergy explosion.
Video games.
Serenity.
Video games.
Watchmen.

Drive.
Drive.
Drive.

(Nap nap nap.)

HOME!

Fin.

We Make Good Foods

Let it be known.

My task:

Grilled Cheese with Pesto Cheese, Winter Cheddar, and Tomatoes on Buttertop Bread
Carrot Ginger Soup
Thick-cut Pepper Bacon

SuperFriend task:

Halved Squash with Butter and Brown Sugar

On the side:

Dill Pickles

For dessert:

Light Roast Coffee with Cream and Sugar



We know how to make this one delicious life.

Somebody spoke, and I went into a dream

Woke up, fell outta bed, dragged a comb across my...

No, wait. Wake up, see the beginnings of sunlight, know that's a bad sign, roll over, look at my alarm clock, see 7AM, say MOTHERF***ER (not too loud, don't wake the roommates), pull on pants, find two socks that are vaguely similar, shove everything near me into my bag, curse my STUPID PHONE for shutting itself off in the middle of the night even though it was fully charged, thus not waking me up at 6:15 as planned, put on my shoes, run out the door (did I shut it?), pedal to the metal, GOTTA PEE GOTTA PEE, get in the back door of the shop, turn off the alarm, start the dark roast, open the door, turn on the OPEN sign, go to the bathroom (oh, thank goodness...), settle in, settle down, settle in, settle down.

Off work, three hours to myself, plan for phone repair, new socks, shower, clean hair, nice clothes, ready for DoG, instead drop off phone to get FLASHED (what?), go to Target, find no new socks, buy a drink and some gum, swing by to pick up my phone, sorry not ready, read 1 chapter... read 2 chapters... start a 3rd chapter and realize this is just too long, hey where's my phone, no one answers, I stand, I ask, I sit, I stand, I ask, I watch the guy who helped me first count out his drawer and avoid my eye contact, I ask a woman with a watch for the time, OH MY it's 5:25 and I have to be back at work by 6, lost all chance at shower, clean hair, nice clothes, fixed phone, I ask ONE MORE TIME, a girl comes out and says the flash fried it, nothing left, did anyone warn me that might happen?, no they did not, well, I'll get you a new phone, sorry about this, so sorry, well I have to go right now, can I come back tomorrow, sure come back between 8 and 5 and I'll help you, NO, sorry, I have to work and then play with astronauts.

Pedal to the metal, deep cleansing breaths, breathe in, breathe out, breathe breathe, GO car, GO FASTER.

Pull in.

Big hug.

Big laugh.

Breathing back to normal.

Genuine smile on my face.

Ready to make coffee, dirty face or no. Ready to belly laugh. Ready for the good bit.

Aaaaaannnnnd.... here we go.

DoG

Delusions of Grandeur, you rocked little ol' Janine's last night. The place was hopping, full of friendly, loud laughers, and you proved a good date for them all. You showed them a grand time. I, for one, am already ready for more.

What a fine premiere!

Repeat after me, everyone: DoG, Janine's, 1st Friday of every month.



Sarah Palin, in Australia, with a meteorite.

le petit, again

I asked Pascal how old he turned on his birthday, and he held up his fingers - 4. I asked him if he liked being 4, and he nodded.

Papa said that on the morning of Pascal's birthday, he came into the room, arms flung open wide, as though he felt noticeably bigger.

Today, Pascal asked me how I pick out the things that we sell, what is in the refrigerators, where the dishwasher was ('that's me!' I said, 'I'm the washer!).

He said, 'I'll see you next weekend!'

I told him I won't be here, because I'm going to a big party.

'Who's going to be at the party?'

See you in two weeks, mon petit!

le petit prince

So, the tiny, coffee-drinking, french-speaking prince-o-my-heart's name is Pascal.

And today was his birthday, so his papa told me. As an explanation for why he was particularly full of energy, running in and out the front door. I didn't mind all the running around, though, because le petit Pascal has the good manners to run around quietly when he's inside.

He came to ask what the ladles were for while I was doing some dishes, and I told him they were for soup. I told him, "Bon Anniversaire! Happy Birthday!"

To which he replied, "Happy Birthday!"

"What are you going to do for your Birthday?"

"Have presents!"

Later, he came behind the counter while I was making coffee, and asked what the espresso machine was for.

"It's for making coffees like the one your papa was drinking."

"Oh! Well. I'll see you next weekend! 'Bye!"

"Happy Birthday!"

"Happy Birthday! 'Bye!"

Bon anniversaire, mon petit chou!

Cry if you want to, I won't tell you not to.

Yesterday, my roommate got home just as I was getting done watching the season finale of Grey's Anatomy from last season. I had, as I am wont to do, cried my way through it (I finished my tuna sandwich before the real deluge began), and so there I was: tear-stained, sniffling, ready for the season premiere.

She asked me later why I watch shows that make me cry (lady shows, she called them, thank you for that), and I told her I that I think it's because I find it cathartic. All those emotions that I can't quite find an expression for in my own real life, that don't quite well up to climax of tears, I can let them come out all at once when I watch other people suffering or finding joy. I like to do the same thing when I read books and see performance, as well. (Strangely, more embarrassed to cry when I hurt myself than at a good piece of theater. Why is that, I wonder?) I feel like, maybe, it makes me more prepared and open to my own life, to feel so much for other (fake) people. So long as I don't forget to go out and live my own life, too.

I mean, I also like to laugh at funny shows and be horrified by gritty shows (many can't agree with me on this one), seeing some things I find recognizable from my own life, and others that I, thankfully, can't directly identify with. I feel kind of lucky, that my taste range runs large, so I can love goofy TV and vomit-inducing theater and everything in between.

Really, this post is just so the whole internet knows that I cry when I watch TV, in case anyone didn't already know. It's a good thing, I guess, that I couldn't get that episode of Grey's Anatomy to work while I was at the coffeeshop on Saturday. That would have been a little awkward.

There must be someone out there...

...who wants to buy me a present.

Je voudrais un cafe, s'il vous plait.

There is a four-year-old in the cafe right now, visiting for a blackberry Izze and a scone with his papa after french class.

Apparently, sometimes they share coffee, even though the little one is, let me say again, 4. Papa wouldn't give him any espresso, because 'it's not the kind of coffee you like,' much to the little one's dismay.

Seriously, this is my kind of kid.

Also, Papa asked him if his class today was easy or hard, and little one said, 'medium.'

He's a four-year-old genius coffee drinker. We're going to be best friends.

Wedding Bells

I'm going to the first wedding I've been to in 4 years tomorrow afternoon. The only wedding I was invited to that I'm really, truly sad to have missed in all that time was definitely Sara's wedding in Greenville. I'm still regretting not reading at the wedding. Alas, I was trying, unsuccessfully, to save up money to move to NY.

The last wedding (reception) I went to was Emily and Aaron, and I took my friend Steve as my pseudo-date, and he didn't know anyone but me. He got drunk without me noticing and colored me pictures in children's coloring books, and refused, for the most part, to dance. Oh, Steve. I had a good time, I hope you did, too.

Anyway! Now, I have new friends that are getting married! And tonight I will get to hang out at their rehearsal dinner! And tomorrow I will get to don some fun clothes and see two people who are really cool experience a really important ritual together, and see how happy they make each other, and eat food, and see a handsome friend of mine in a handsome rented suit, and dance a lot, and meet new folks.

Yay!

Congratulations!

Ouch

Somewhere between 8 hours of manual labor and reading for several hours propped up on many pillows last night, I have such a horrible crick in my neck that I keep dropping things at work. Much coffee has ended up on the counter, I can't really look up, and I keep inadvertently cursing under my breath.

I'm not actually in a bad mood about it, which is cool, but I really wish someone would come and fix it. Any takers?

Thanks...

...to all of the many generous tippers to come into Janine's today. You've totally made my day. I'm totally gonna buy an ice cream (or two) in your honor.

Shed His Grace On Thee

So. Where do you go when your one-time pick-me-up destination, your go-to vacation, has recently become your new home town? I'll tell you where.

The majestic mountains of Colorado.

Activities included (but were not limited to): playing cards, building fires, hiking, reading books, watching Firefly in its entirety, getting sunburns, riding horses in the Garden of the Gods, riding SCOOTERS in the Garden of the Gods, getting lost in the car on a dark, dark mountain, taking the Cog Rail all the way to the top of Pike's Peak, playing Skeeball, singing Karaoke, watching friends get engaged, drinking coffee, cooking, sleeping, laughing, and eating sooooo muuuuuch goooood fooooood.

Delicious treats included (but were not limited to): Cracker Barrel French toast, Mom's salad, Radina's and Edesia's coffee, vegetables from my Grandparents' garden, French toast stuffed with ham and swiss cheese, eggs, so much BACON!, Butterfinger ice cream, tortellini, hamburgers with pepperjack and mushrooms, some serious mac and cheese, PIROGIES! with Havarti cheese and horseradish, served with smoked salmon and an egg, fresh salt water taffy, fudge, carne asada, menudo (is that a pig's foot in my soup? yes, it certainly is), tots, barbecue chicken, and lots but not enough SONIC.

Thank you. Thank you thank you thank you.

Aside

People have told me about Devotchka.

But I've managed to ignore them for a long time.

Put some on this morning, and it immediately started to lift me out of the funk I found myself drowning in this morning when I woke up.

Between that, the surprisingly cool morning air, and this delicious cup of coffee I've found for myself, I may make it to the end of this day in one piece.

Thanks, Devotchka!

T-Minus 6 Hours

Please whisk me away, from this place that for so long was my Great Escape. Take me back to where I'm from, and then away amongst the trees and the clouds. Let's breathe easier (after the initial strained breath of higher altitudes) and remember how to share and how to be happy. These have been hard weeks and I want to become a better version of myself.

To the mountains, the valleys, the free meals, the big hugs, and the adventure that is to come: CHEERS!

I'm ready.

Good Things Come to Those Who...

You know.

Tuesday morning, I call my boss at Janine's, where I've been working part time since the end of the end at TJL, to ask a quick scheduling question. My boss says she's not sure where I am in my job search (I'd sent out another round of resumes to office jobs that morning), but she thinks I'm doing a really good job and doesn't want to lose me if she can help it, so can we figure out how to make the cafe my real job? Especially since she eventually wants to take some leave to have her baby?

Well, YEAH.

You know what I love? Making coffee. You know what I'm good at? Making coffee and being nice to customers. You know where I'd like to do these things? In a tiny cute shop with cute artwork and homemade soups and a garden in the back (as opposed to corporate chocolate with uniforms and chocolate sludge in my shoes and rules rules rules).

So. I am a happy, employed girl, who will have plenty of time and energy to start working on little theatrical projects and keep playing with her friends. How about that? Sounds like the best way to play grownup.

More

Maybe you should be looking at these pictures as well:

Fatal and The First, both directed by Laura Leffler-McCabe. Eventually to make up a trilogy of full-length pieces with Hey! That's My Mom!

Now, whoever wants to give us some money to produce these shows, please give me a call at your nearest convenience.

My Collegiate Romance with a Robot

A slide show of pictures is available here!

All pictures by Brad Dahlgaard.

Hooray!!!

Jasper Johns

JASPER JOHNS:
3 Works by Skewed Visions founders Charles Campbell, Gulgun Kayim, and Sean Kelley-Pegg
They respond to GREY PAINTINGS, TARGET PAINTINGS, and FLAG PAINTINGS

This Wednesday Through Saturday 8PM at the Ritz Theater in Northeast.

More information here.

Ahhhhh!

Bring May Flowers

Oh, man.

I am SICK.

Okay, alright, I'm a lot better than I was this morning. But this morning, when I couldn't breathe through my nose, when my snot was green, when I was coughing hard enough to almost vomit, and I was sitting on the couch using Kleenex not to blow my nose but to wipe up exhausted, spirit-crushed tears... Then I was SICK.

I'm spending the day futzing around on the internet, watching movies, drinking cup after cup of Twinings tea, and generally feeling sorry for myself. I'd just held on so long to the hope that the cold I'd been ignoring would just go the hell away, but today I had to give up hope and just give in to being a sick, crying little girl.


Anyhow, now that I'm feeling a little bit more upbeat (as much as can be expected), I figured it was HIGH TIME to BLOG.

Ready.

Set.

1. End of R&J
Thank God.

2. Vacation #2
CALI.
Orange.
Looks like the set from a movie about making movies. Reality twice removed.
The Doctor lives in a cute room in a cute house with beautiful, kind friends, most of whom make movies. I want to move in as soon as possible.

We ate grapefruit with lots of sugar and drank apricot beer and The Doctor read stories out loud and we wore dresses and played with friends and had the best frozen yogurt of my life. I saw LA and the Santa Monica pier and Erin Burns and the Chapman film school, where I ran into a guy I knew from college who's acting in movies now. I found sunglasses and bought shoes. I feel like The Doctor's friends will soon be my friends, too.

I went from being nearly sick with worry and various other forms of bad juju to breathing easy and being happy and seeing pretty visions of my future.

Thank you, OC, and thank you, Doctor.

3. FATAL and My Collegiate Romance with a Robot
Bedlam 10-Minute Play Festival
FATAL felt for awhile like it would not become... but it did, and at the Sunday performance we just busted that shit out and went CRAZY! What a stellar group of people. I continue to look forward to making it an evening-length shot to the face.

My Collegiate Romance... went from being a thing that LMac told me I should make, to a title, to a cast show, to a WRITTEN, cast show, to a piece that I really enjoyed, made what it was by a bunch of people I like and am really proud of. And other people enjoyed it, as well. Who could possibly ask for more than that? There will be pictures available soon, and I will be happy to share them here, there, and everywhere. Sunday, Eric was in the audience, and it was clear that every secret was open to him, and everything moment of catharsis for me was apparent to him in it, and hearing him laugh was like a gift just for me.

So, four performances, then strike, and a champagne toast, and a lot of beer on the rooftop patio, and me, happy as a clam.

4. This week
There is too much to say about the down-sides of this week.
But.
On the sunnier side.
There have been walks, and italian sodas, and movies, and grilled food, and painting, and stories, and a house full of friends, and all sorts of things that make me happy and break my heart at the same time. Which is how it should be, I think.

Okay. I'm going to listen to the rain and finish this movie and try to get all better.

Thanks for coming back.

Gremlins

I just wrote a really long post about the failing technology of my workplace, but upon re-reading, find it TOTALLY BORING.

Long story short? In the last week and half, my computer crashed, and was not backed up in any way. My co-worker's computer froze in the middle of a database upload and she has to leave it alone until a technician comes in next week. The phone system went on the fritz, and it took me 2 days, 36 phone calls, an hour on the phone with the technical director reading DOS-like menus outloud, to fix the damn thing.

CAN SOMETHING JUST WORK RIGHT FOR ONE MINUTE?

We are home to gremlins that come out at night and have drunken parties, and our technology is paying the price.

Did somebody say Macbeth? Who was it?

Seriously?

A month and a half?

Sorry, I've been learning to throw stage punches from a hot Canadian. Sue me.

Romeo y Julietta opened this weekend, a charmed weekend so I'm told. Friday was the day of several planets aligning for several hours in just such a way that everyone on earth is inevitably going to drop whatever their holding, fall down, lose a limb, forget someone's birthdays, etc. Sunday was the full moon, the special kind that happened when Christ and Buddha... yeah, I don't know, I was only half paying attention to my mom on the phone about this one. Sounded pretty SWEET though - especially the part about llamas.


Anyway.


Saturday's show, in between the planets mis-aligning and that full moon, was so full of mishaps we probably should have just called it quits at intermission. Balthazar shattered a glass bottle with a pipe, then fell on his ass when he fought Tybalt; the Prince punched Juliet in the nose as Romeo accidentally ripped open Juliet's dress at the boobs; Capulet gashed his arm open on - what? someone's zipper? - and on and on. Blood blood and more blood.


May we ward off death and severe injury for the next 9 performances.


IN RELATED NEWS: I'm about to start rehearsals for the 10-minute play that had a name and a cast well before it ever had a script.

'Cause THAT'S HOW I ROLL.

Winter Demons

Thinking again of inconvenient affections of eras past, of spring time, of big cities. Thinking of anywhere but here. Thinking of streets where all of the snow has been cleared away, of streets that smell like melting, burning, maybe even that sickly sweet smell of the underground. You know you'd better watch out when you'd rather smell subways than wear scarves and caps and sweaters one more day.

So.

I'm taking a vacation. A week from tomorrow I'm getting on a plane, with no money and high hopes. I'll have a whole week of paid vacation during which I will do absolutely anything I want in that dirty pretty city I used to call home. And this is better - every town is better when you're a visitor.

I will sleep on the couch of my old apartment.

I will visit my old haunts.

I will play a ghost in this particular scene.

I will try to regain my wits, since I seem to have lost them several months ago. Maybe I'll have an epiphany. At least I'll have some time to walk around. To do the things that I never had the energy for back then.

Do you think it's brainless to assume that making changes to your window's view will give a new perspective?

We'll see.

Time Flies

Holy crap.

I'm 24.

When did that happen?

Anyway, it's been good so far, all day of it. Gonna be a good year. I can feel it my blood.

Thanks to all the beauties that traveled from the far reaches of the Cities to attend my birthday party. I hope everyone had as good a time as I did, but even if you didn't, thank you thank you thank you.

Fishtank 2

Fishtank 1

Skewed

Did you know they have video excerpts on their website?

I would start with the ones here.

And most of the pictures of shows expand into albums if you click on them.

Seriously. It's for your own good.

Whoa.

So.

There's a gentleman.

There are Russian dancers.

And there's Skewed Visions.

(I have infiltrated to fortress.)

This . . . is my poor excuse for not writing. I've been planning a "2007: Year In Review," and I'd sure as hell better post it before the end of January or I'm officially a jerk.

Small-world coincidence of this evening: while at a potluck for the Russians, I met a Russian filmmaker who lives/works in New York. She looked really familiar, so I asked her to tell me about what she does in NY, to see if I could figure out a connection. Cool stuff, but no connection, until I told her what I was doing in NY last year. She said, "Oh, yeah. I went to Foreman's show last year." Which means I inevitably gave her her tickets. She was waiting for her boyfriend at the theatre, and he was late, so I likely saw her twice in the lobby when she turned back his ticket so he could pick it up himself, which explains why I remembered her face. (Also, she may have been one of the girls that the Eduardo was momentarily infatuated with - she is awfully pretty.)

Anyway, we talked about performance, she passed along some info on the new biennial performance festival in NY, and gave me her card so I can call her next time I'm in NY.

Sweet.

Death by Hard Candy

Every time the Marketing Director chews a piece of candy, a little piece of me dies.

There are only so many times that I can run to the bathroom to avoid the sound.

Seriously, I would chew off my own limbs if it would make the torture stop.

BBB and OHT

1. I'm tooling around on the interweb today, looking up venue information for US theatres. I opened the page for St. Ann's, and the picture at the beginning of the flash animation is a big group of people all standing out on the street outside of the warehouse, and right smack in the middle of the picture are Jason and Jessica from Banana Bag and Bodice. They've definitely gotten drunk in my living room.

2. That made me wonder what BBB is up to, and their website tells me that The Rising Fallen have a return engagement at PS 122 in January. If I can catch The Rising Fallen and Deep Trance Behavior in Potatoland in the same trip, I will be one happy lady.

3. I watched some live video feed of Deep Trance Behavior today. It's looking pretty sweet, with two video screens on the same wall, for a double vision effect. Lots of ladies in dresses. Fulya in elbow length gloves. After awhile there was a weird error where the video footage played with a free jazz show as the sound, instead of the sounds of rehearsal. Creepy.

Uh-oh. Missing New York. Better visit soon or I might to run away to Brooklyn before it's time.

White Christmas

It snowed eight inches on Saturday.

It snowed another four on Tuesday.

It's snowing right now, and it doesn't show signs of stopping.

I knew this was the Minnesota way, but I've never actually seen it happen. This is more snow that I've seen at once since I was 8.

Who's buying me snow boots for Christmas?

Glutony

Cheese and crackers
Curried Sweet Potato Soup
Vegan Sourdough Dressing
Sausage and Cornbread Stuffing
Cranberry Relish
Green Bean, Fennel, and Onion Relish
Applesauce
Peas and Pearl Onions
Vegan Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Potatoes with Cheese and Sour Cream
Homemade Rolls
Lentil Loaf
Turkey
White and Red Wine
Red Tea
Coffee
Apple Pie
Pumpkin Pie with Sherry/Contreau Whipped Cream
Sweet Potato Pecan Pie

I took a walk in between dinner and dessert and got a side cramp, and I feel a little like my eyes are going to pop out.

I am thankful for my roommates, and I am thankful that my roommates know how to cook.

A Christmas. . .

I'm in a musical.

What?



This is my first foray into musical theatre since. . .when?

Oh, yeah. Guys and Dolls, 2000. Does anyone actually remember me singing in that show? Yeah, that's because I didn't.

Needless to say, not usually my cup of tea, but you know, I'm hitting those notes better than I ever would have guessed. And rehearsals have been making me laugh a lot, which is certainly something I've been in dire need of.

The music is adorable, the show is charming, and we're a cute, weird, ragtag band of actors. If you live in the Twin Cities, I think that you're pretty much morally obligated to come and see it.

If not, I'll be taking requests when I hit the road for my holiday travels.

People I Like

As the week comes to a close, I've discovered myself on the blogroll here AND here!

!!!

Shame

I just posted a comment on one of my new favorite blogs, and as I was pressing the 'submit' button, realized that not only did I split an infinitive in an atrocious manner, I also changed tense mid-sentence. There's nothing I can do to take it back, my cheeks are burning, and I know, I just know, that the smart kids at Iceland Spar will never love me now.

We are a special breed, we who suffer guilt and shame and general physical discomfort for grammatical mistakes we make on the Internet.

It's been a weird day.

Ace of Cakes

They just made Scrabble edible.

Board, letters, score cards, timer (a regulation Scrabble game is 25 minutes - whoa), and Scrabble dictionary. All edible.

Those guys are my heroes.

Barrage

Okay, I've gotta make up for some lost time. Okay, 'some' may be an
understatement.

I've come back into the blog-fold for a few reasons: 1. I finally
read Kevin's travelblog, and it nearly had me in tears. Inspiring.
2. MegaClar asked me if I'd given up my blog, and she said she kind
of missed it. I like to make her happy, and since I can't manage to
pick up the phone and call her with any regularity, I thought I would
do this for her. 3. Joseph commented on my blog out of the blue,
without me having posted anything, and I thought, 'okay, now I have a
number 3 in my list of top 3 reasons to start blogging again.'

Plus: I really need a hobby.

Things I Think You Should Know About, If You Do Not Already

The healing power of The New Pornographers.

I've been really grumpy for about a month. All the time. I feel
sorry for everyone who's around me. For the most part, I think I keep
it to myself, but I know that at least my roommates know, because I
can't keep myself from banging around really loudly in the morning to
vent my frustration at life. Well, I'm kind of clumsy anyway,
especially in the morning, so maybe it doesn't seem any different than
regular morning-me. However, I know that I'm clomping on purpose.

Yesterday, when I was walking home, feeling a little like I was doing
the Charlie Brown walk, I put on The New Pornographers' Mass Romantic,
which I had forgotten has some sort of magical quality – I used to
listen to it over and over when I was in New York, I couldn't stop
myself, it just made the world seem to make so much more sense. My
mom was talking to me a few nights ago about learning to live in the
moment – a great idea in theory, but so hard to do – she said
something like "Am I okay right now? Yes, I am." A fruity
affirmation in writing, but if you know my mother, you can imagine her
voice, and it sounds pretty reasonable when you hear it from her. But
I digress. I put on Mass Romantic, decided that Halloween is fine day
to look like a crazy person walking down the street, and started
walk-dancing my way down Central Avenue. When I got home, I bought
their 2003 album Electric Version on iTunes (because I didn't want to
wait another day for my life to be so much better – sorry, Local Music
Store), put on my headphones, and cleaned my room (gasp). While I was
listening, I realized I must have heard the album before, though I
don't know where, because I knew some of the refrains before they
happened. It felt like fate.

I cannot tell you how much better I feel today. Thank you, New Pornographers.

Minnesota Public Radio Membership Drive

If you agree to let them thank you on the air, and fill in that bit in
the online form on why you've contributed (or, I assume, tell your
operator when you call), they will, in fact, read it on the air. I
got this message on callboard from someone I only vaguely know: 'you
didn't happen to just donate to NPR during their membership/fund drive
did you?

If you did, I TOTALLY heard them mention your name AND tell us why you donated.'

Be careful what you write on the internet. It may end up broadcast on
regional radio. (I'm totally putting that on my This American Life
application. Watch me.)

***Update: Nathan Keepers and Dominique Serrand also heard me mentioned on NPR. I'M FAMOUS.

Deep Trance Behavior In Potatoland

Richard Foreman's newest work at the Ontological. I'm pretty stoked
(did I just type that word? Who am I today?); I just have to decide
when I can feasibly arrange a trip to the Big Apple, what with my
vacation time not technically kicking in until March. I kind of want
to go to opening weekend. . .we'll see.

The big news (news to me, anyway): two of my fellow interns are in the
show this year! I'm totally delighted, and a little bit jealous
(apparently my stand-in work for the Aviator last year didn't capture
Richard's soul to quite the extent I might have hoped.) Caitlin and
Fulya both seem to have an appropriate presence for Richard's stage,
not to mention they know exactly what to expect in rehearsals. GO
INTERNS! Way to get paid a little to be there. That's what I'm
talkin' about.


The Deception



Holy crap, is this show beautiful. I wish that everyone could see it.
I wish that everyone in Minneapolis WOULD see it. Come on, people,
you don't have much time left.

Strange Love

I would pay money to watch Charles Campbell point and scratch his
head. In fact, I think that I have (Elliott's piece in Capture!Rama),
and I would gladly do it again. Strange Love, though, was so much
more than that. The first part – The Device – was a stark labyrinth
of surveillance and old, broken things that seemed to have secret
lives as instruments of torture – I wished that I hadn't been warned
not to take too long in the labyrinth, because then I took note of
everything quickly, and once I was through, I felt like I couldn't go
back. I also had a strong reaction to going through it with other
people. For some reason I felt like I wouldn't get the desired effect
if I experienced with other people, so I spent too much time worrying
if I was alone. Which was, in itself, part of my experience, so I
can't knock it.

The eventual (solo) performance was like nothing I've ever seen,
really. I've never seen someone playing a variety of characters, not
specifically for comic effect, or within a narrative (see: Spalding Gray) or to some undesired comic effect (see:
High School Dramatic Interpretation). His changes between characters
were subtle yet clear, always surprising but never inappropriately
jarring, and always in some kind of communication with what was
happening on the video screen behind him. One of the best uses of
video in theatre I've seen. And the few times that he entered into
the theatrical conversation as himself, specifically after the planned but unrehearsed interruption of a different guest artist each night (in my case a hula dancer playing a ukulele), were especially surprising and delightful.

Skewed Visions is trying to put together a grant for a residency, and if they work that out, I'm going to be the first in line.

The Dark Side of the Brothers Grimm

Don't let the name fool you - it was awesome.

Puppies In the Workplace

As long as they aren't a certain small dog that likes to bite girls that aren't their own, unprovoked, cute puppies in the workplace is a day maker. I'm waiting for Rico and Zach to have a playdate in the office. I plan to do no work that day, but play with puppies.

I can't believe I like dogs now. I blame Chuck from Dooce.com.



Whew. I think I'm done. Next time: A Gift from Planet BX63, and Why I'll Never Look At Ladybugs the Same Way.

More Nostalgia

Reverend Billy is reading from his book "What Would Jesus Buy?" on CSPAN-2.

He's looking healthier than the last time I spied him, on the steps of St. Mark's. Not being in jail looks good on him. Speaking of sermons and choirs and histrionics in Disneyland on Christmas day.

He knows how to work a reading.

Time Warp

Friday Afternoon, 2:00 PM. Used my lunch break to walk across the river to deposit the artistic director's check in the bank (he's in Cambridge. . .I still haven't even met him). Lunch from Surdyk's (not just for booze, who knew): smoked beet salad with sesame seeds and ginger, tuna melt on focaccia. The perks of payday.

Friday Afternoon, 2:45 PM. Walking back across the Hennepin Bridge, goodies in hand, thinking about where Eric and I will have drinks after I get off work. Also concerned with the way my skirt keeps slipping clockwise around my body.

I look up just in time to see Vince Vaughn as I'm about to walk right past him. He's on his cellphone, surrounded by a couple of cronies, looking unusually tall. I smile and nod my head.

Wait.

What the CRAP is Vince Vaughn doing walking across the World's Shortest Suspension Bridge at 2:45 on a Friday afternoon? I moved out of New York, right? Sheesh.

Employed

I've been officially paid, and I just had a pen explode all over me.

It's like I really work here.

Summer Vacation

The summers after 4th, 5th and 6th grade, I spent living with my aunt, uncle and cousin in Lawrence, KS. Both my aunt and uncle worked from home, so living with them meant that my mom and dad didn't have to worry about who was going to look after me, what activities I would be involved in, etc.

I went to Library camp and Sports camp, I was on the summer swim team, I spent a lot of time with my cousin and the neighbors spitting watermelon seeds on the sidewalk. I read books and learned to use a computer and watched the Olympics and Mystery on PBS. I had crushes on boys. I tried to learn to knit.

What I'm trying to say is: that was the last time I didn't really have every minute of my day dedicated to something, and even then I had some specific activities that I went to daily or weekly. That was the last time I was truly, as they call it, "carefree." I had a handle on "downtime."

THAT WAS 11 YEARS AGO.

I have so much time on my hands that I've actually gone out jogging twice this week. And I watched a Lifetime movie, start to finish. And I've stopped counting how much sleep I've gotten/how much time I've spent on the internet. I'm so far fallen into this pit of inaction that I can't even get myself to use the internet to find out what's going on in the world. Iran? Who knows. I do know, however, a lot about a few people's lives in Utah and New York, the ins and outs of OK GO's music videos, and the lives of a couple of robots here and there.

The moral? Vacations make me feel like a big ol' creep. HELP ME. I NEED TOO MUCH TO DO.

America! Huzzah!

Last night we had our first official showing of America:aciremA at the Bryant-Lake Bowl. It started out as an unintentional final dress rehearsal, as the performance was exclusively for Ben's parents and occasionally the waitress who was in and out of the space.

However.

A group of four gay Canadians on vacation came in to see the show about 10 minutes after it started, and they gave us their approval. (Eric and Laura seperately cornered them while they were bowling later. They took the cornering well.)

A friend of the cast came in later, also, because she had the wrong time.

So. Our audience grew from 2.25 to 7 within the hour. Who could ask for anything more? AND we're expecting almost infinitely more people tonight.

Now, if only I could teleport to see various Robots and Journeys in the Big Apple, and stars and monsters in the Little one. That would make my theatrical life closer to complete.

Uncomfortable Nod

The Rising Fallen have stolen my little heart. Maybe if you give them yours, they'll be willing to give mine back.

Find them: http://www.myspace.com/therisingfallenmusic

Buh-buh-buh-bye. Bye.

Dear Sarah and Brendan (and Brooklyn, NY),

Pizza, beer, and whiskey at the Alligator Lounge (reminiscent of the first time I met you, Brendan), and now I'm actually panicking about leaving the dirty, pretty city. A month ago, and I was gung ho. Now that I am packed and have a flight out tomorrow, I am melancholic, to put it mildly.

Don't get me wrong, I am secure in my decision to go and work on theatre with incredible friends in an incredible town. However, I don't know what I'll do without you and others like you.

Thank you for the flowers. Please don't forget me while I'm away.

Love always,
-b

Rockabye Baby (Automatically Real)

In less than half an hour, they will start striking the set that we began building last September.

By morning, it will be as though it had never been.

And in 10 days, it could be as though I never lived here.

And when I say, "Oh, yeah, I've lived in New York," I might feel as though I'm lying.

I'm sorry it has to be this way, New York. Maybe I'm just too young for this intense of a relationship.

Pop Culture News

Will John Norris report on the happenings of the Ontological Theatre for MTV?

We get the best avant-pop celebs in this place.

Tu me fais chier

After the latest hiatus, full of parents and friends and less lonely times, I'd love to offer you brilliant pearls of relevent wisdom.

However, all I really have to impart this evening is this: two very angry French (does this sound familiar?) parents, yelling in English about the opera, yelling in French about how disgusting, disturbing, and rude we all are, while their teenage son stands around, looking at the floor, quietly trying to calm them down. Their daughter picked up the tickets (on time) and is sitting inside, enjoying the show, and they are 5 minutes (too) late and completely livid.

No, we will not ask your daughter to come out here. Why? For the same reason that we won't let you inside to see the show. Hard to understand? Really?

Je vous deteste, aussi.

Suddenly Everything Has Changed

Yesterday, 10:30 A.M. A balmy 62 degrees in NYC. People are out without coats on.

Yesterday, 3:30 P.M. Rainy, 40 degrees. I check mattmat.com for the first time in ages, read the new posts, make plans to start listening to Mr. F's eternal mix as soon as possible.

Today, 4 P.M. It hasn't stopped snowing in 9 hours, and mattmat.com is now a website for flooring.

The world is crumbling all around me. I think I need a hug.

Tonight's Special Guest

Michael Stipe. Yes. Seriously.

In other Mr. Sleepy news, surf on over to http://christianscientistsonline.blogspot.com/, scroll to February 5th, and read what the Christian Scientists have to say about the show. Yes. Seriously.

189 Fiber Pills Later. . .

Thinner. More regular. Happily full of banana pancakes, eggs, and coffee.

It's a good day to be alive and no longer dietarily restricted.

Stars In My Eyes

Laurie Anderson and Lou Reed picked up tickets for the show tonight. Seeing Laurie Anderson in the flesh took my breath away, in the silliest, most wonderful schoolgirl way, while Eduardo kicked my chair like a little boy. Whee!

I did manage to pull it together enough to tell them that they had seats in Row 3.

Awkward Moon

Full Moon Treats Tonight, Kiddies:

Two cranky Parisians sat in seats at the theatre that were reserved for someone else, and when they were asked to kindly move their butts, they refused, and were promptly asked to leave. A small altercation between the Parisians and our Maestro ensued, in which he called them "very unpleasant people," they referred to him as the "very unpleasant manager," and claimed rights to any seat they liked as per the general seating advisory online. He's the Maestro, he tells you to jump and you jump, goddamit. They didnt' seem to understand this idea, or perhaps have any idea who they were dealing with.

Too bad they paid with a credit card so they had to stand around while I refunded their tickets via the internet and have Shannon print out the receipt, all the while the Maestro telling them just to take cash and telling me we'd eat the difference, just to get them out of the box office faster. (They ended up taking Shannon's name and number instead, and for that our cash box thanks them.)

The Cranky Parisian gentleman's last words? "Yes, well, take a good look at my face." Really? Now what is it, exactly, that this face is planning to do?

Uncomfortable.