You Know...Prison

Apparently there is a hunger strike going on in one of the state maximum security prisons. It's been All. Over. The. News. lately and my question is: why should I get worked up over a hunger strike in a prison?
If the prison guards and/or administrators were starving the inmates as a form of torture, sure, then I could find some compassion.
But when guys who care so little about society's rules that they end up in Pelican Bay decide to exercise the only choice they should have left to make - to eat or not eat - why does it become national news and why does it divide the nation?
These individuals all CHOSE to flout the law, CHOSE to commit a crime - and a really serious one to end up in Pelican Bay - CHOSE to do it multiple times in some cases, and then CHOSE to stop eating.
I say, have at it.
Why does this guy:

"Beasley is serving a life sentence for murder. Once behind bars, he joined a violent white power prison gang. And that's when officials sent him to Pelican Bay"

Deserve my sympathy and support?
Sure, solitary confinement is not pleasant and I'm sure there are things the guy could be doing that would make him feel better. Next time, DON'T KILL SOMEONE! and then when you get to prison, DON'T JOIN A GANG! Especially a VIOLENT WHITE POWER PRISON GANG!
It's not rocket science people.
Not an easy call for the prison authorities to make. Lock the guy up; be called cruel and inhumane. Protesters, media coverage, extra audits and inspections.
Let him out with others; guards, inmates and innocents on the street die.
Nice options.
My two cents are these. We have some of the nicest prisons in the world. Offer these complainers a choice; same sentence in either place.
Stay here in America's maximum security facility or prison in North Korea.

This is me and they're not doing well with captivity.

High School Revisited

So, all these years I have been using Facebook for games and checking out photos posted by family. Sometimes I comment on thought provoking status-es from friends. I have searched for and found friends from high school, or grade school, always with half excitement of catching up and half trepidation that we won't have anything to talk about.
Inevitably we "friend" each other and maybe a brief message or two pass and then we cease to communicate ever again. They have lives, I have a life, we don't have much in common anymore except the few years at the same school.
It's not like I was an uber-popular thing anyway. There aren't THAT many for me to find.
I never parted from a boyfriend in anger, so there's no angst to meet them online again and most of them are married, I'm married, we're all happy, so no dramas or anything.
Again, not like I had a string to leave behind in any case.
In short, I've seen no need for FB. In fact, I stopped even logging in for about six months this year because there was no reason.
But recently, I received a friend request from a guy I went to high school with. Yes, we dated for a while and he was my first kiss, but neither of those are the reasons we got in touch and apparently can write miles of messages to each other. He is a really nice guy. Still a really nice guy. He had dreams of writing music when we were younger and he's actually gone on to do it - all without getting a big head about it. He loves musicals and get this - 'Wicked' is his favorite Broadway show too! He also likes 'Jekyll & Hyde' which makes him my best friend ever. (Tarzan is a doll and has many good qualities but he thinks musicals are dumb.)
For once I really am able to pick up where we left off, like the intervening 18 years don't matter. It's nice to have friends like that.

This is me and some things really are as good as I remember them.

An Epic Day In The Tale

As mentioned previously, the second day of our shed building experience deserved it's own post. It was one of those days that, if seen in a movie or something, would be dismissed as too far-fetched to be realistic.
This is my life.
You may recall an Ode I did a few months ago for my lovely MIL when she invited me to see Wicked with her and one of Tarzan's aunts, who'd never been. Tarzan's cousin VT went as well, and if not for her I might have jumped in front of a bus several times that night.
It started early at the job site, we naively believing we could still finish the shed that day. We spent a lot of time measuring the front beam for cutting - I checked the marks three times - squaring the posts and aligning everything - this will become important later. But I had to leave by 3:00. The show was at 8:00, we were meeting around 6:30-7 for dinner before and I figured if I left before 3, which meant 3:30, I'd be home in time to shower, dress and be ready to go. (All that heaving and running around leaves a girl with a certain 'glow.')
I didn't miss by too much, getting on the road by 3:45. I'd be home no later than 6.
Except traffic was atrocious.
I don't know why, I was going opposite to all the commuters, there were no accidents, no freeway construction, nothing but slow cars and blinking brake lights. Tarzan called me frequently to check on my progress and we discussed alternate routes to get home. (Thankfully there is more than one freeway between my parent's neighborhood and mine.) But nothing was any better. Shortly after 5:00 Tarzan's mother called to see how I was doing because in their eagerness to get to the show and beat the traffic - they were staying with family, a good distance south of us - they were at my house already.
I was nowhere close to being there.
Time became a real issue but what can you do when the cars just won't move? I raced when I could, took all the shortcuts Tarzan could find on the map, relaying it to me between calls from Gamma but nothing doing. I started revising my schedule for when I finally got back, skipping lots of frivolous things, like eating. Gamma, AuntReese and VT went and got dinner for themselves and me, but they had to eat it in their car because they couldn't get into my house and there aren't any parks or nice places to just hang out in the dark in the south central Jungle.
Sad, but true.
I finally pulled in to my house around 6:45pm. I opened the gate and let AuntReese pull her car into Tarzan's usual spot.
(I forgot to mention that the whole deal was we were going to drive in my car because AuntReese didn't want to take her fancy, red car into the neighborhood where the theater was. She was going to park it at my house, behind our secure gate and then pick it up when we dropped me off.)
My car was in it's spot, so there was about three feet for me to leave the car I was driving - Tarzan's - while I raced into the house, tore off my filthy, construction clothes, donned my Wicked green shirt and black pants and raced out the door again. No shower, no dinner, not even a chance to brush out my hair. The other three were already in the car so I hopped in and pressed the button to close the gate.
Then I remembered parking money. Gamma had bought the tickets, AuntReese had paid for dinner, it was only fair I pay for the parking, so - and this is the stupidest thing I have ever done - I clicked the remote to open the gate before it had shut completely and ran into the house to get some cash. When I came out, the gate was partially open, where I had left it and beeping.
I had forgotten about that safety feature.
So I tried to unscrew the bolts that hold the cover on the motor by hand but they were too tight so I raced to the shed to get a wrench - in my haste nearly tumbling suitcases on my head - and got them off, flipped the switch that shut off the horrible noise and waited the 30 seconds for the gate to reset itself. I turned it back on and clicked the remote.
Nothing.
I tried again, and still nothing. I called Tarzan, he mentioned the "really big allen wrench" that we use to crank the gate open when the power's out and I ran to get that from the shed. I found what I thought was the wrench but couldn't find the place where it fit on the motor box.
I'm in a panic. I'm filthy, now also covered in grease, sweaty, tired, late and my mother-in-law - plus company - is witness to this all. She's on the phone with Tarzan telling him to come and fix it - remember he's a two hour drive away, with neither of our cars available - it's getting later by the minute and I am nearly in tears.
Finally, it's about 7:10, AuntReese suggests that we just go or we'll miss the first act - not true, but whatever, I am in no mood to argue - and with one last longing look at her car and my half open gate, we hit the road. I am not chancing the freeways again, so we take the surface streets. About 15 blocks up the road we pass a Burger King with six police cars outside, flashing lights and megaphones. Apparently there is some sort of disturbance and the authorities are directing all traffic around the area.
Fortunately, I know an alternate route to the one they are suggesting and we get around the jam. I am probably going too fast but we figure all the police are already occupied for the evening and no one's going to bother me. Despite many careful questions from the passengers we arrive at the theater by 7:30pm. Even I am impressed with myself. There have been times ATL and I haven't even left our house by that time when making a show at 8, so for the first time in five hours, I can relax a bit. Parking is a breeze and right across the street from the venue. We get in, find our seats - which are phenomenal. I mean, able-to-see-the-expressions-on-the-cast-faces good - and there's time to text Tarzan about my mental state and his mother's before the lights flickered in warning.
It was a good show. It's Wicked - it's never a bad show - but I thought Mamie Parris did a nice job as Elphaba. Good balance of emotions and excellent voice. Katie Rose Clarke as Glinda was also very good. She didn't overplay the silliness which I appreciate. Liz McCartney as Madame Morrible was 'eh,' Kyle Dean Massey was a good voice for Fiyero, a little too slapstick in his actions. Boq wasn't too stupid and Nessarose, though a little violent, was strong. I was really glad to see it again, and as mentioned before the seats were amazing.At intermission I checked the dozens of texts Tarzan had sent me and he reminded me ATL got home from work shortly after we left; she was watching AuntReese's car so that made me feel a WHOLE LOT BETTER. I was able to reassure everyone, including myself.
After the show, we drove back to my house to see if we could get AuntReese's car out of my driveway somehow. Through Tarzan's second round of texts, he explained and I found the OTHER "really big allen wrench" in the shed, it also had a blue handle, and it fit, no problem, in the motor casing. We cranked open the gate - about 20 minutes of work - the car came out and since it was nearly midnight, the three of them left for the 45 minute drive they had to get home. I shut the gate, with the remote, after turning it back on, no sweat, threw all the tools in the wholly disarranged shed, went in the house and barely changed into pajamas before I fell into a pile and slept for nearly nine hours.
In the morning when I woke up, I finally got a shower and went back out to the Desert to finish the shed.

This is me and that was a crazy 24 hours.

Another Benefit Of My iPhone

At the risk of going backward in my narrative I relate that ATL and I went to see Celtic Thunder in concert last Wednesday night. (It was more of a companion thing on my regard, like when she went to see Wicked for the 133rd time with me.)Mistake me not, those boys can sing and they are surely amusing, but it's her thing and I am the ride.
But speaking of the ride, I met ATL about halfway between our house and the theater because of where Aunt Richie's house is relative to the other two places. I had to traverse one of the most famous streets of the Jungle and while waiting for a red light these fine gentlemen wandered on by my car:

No one else even seemed to notice, let alone care. There was no apparent reason for a horse to be walking down the street, it's not like it's normal here or anything. And I appreciated that I was stopped and that I had an iPhone to take a discernible picture with.

This is me and that was worth the price of admission.

Ode To The MIL

Her birthday is not for two months but her thoughtfulness and sweetness deserves an ode right now.
There are a lot of jokes about mothers-in-law, especially regarding the relationship between the wife and his mother, but Tarzan's mom does not embody the stereotype at all, at all. No resentment for "taking her firstborn," no judgements on my housekeeping - or lack thereof. She has welcomed me into the family and never looked back. She takes an interest in my likes and dislikes, she tries to accommodate my needs - more than Tarzan in some cases - and be helpful. I am very thankful for her and her talents, she has helped me out of a tight spot a number of times and two things in particular in the last week need to be shared.
I got a call from Gamma earlier this weekend inviting me to a performance of Wicked this holiday season when she -and it - is in town. Awesome! On so many levels. She remembered that I love the show, is coming to me to see it and thought to invite me.
Then, she called today to let me know she, Tarzan's father and assorted other family will be in town over Christmas to assist with family matters - two cousins are getting married - not to each other you weird people, but the same week - and house stuff. She did not call to tell me that though. She called to offer everyone's talents and services for the Christmas program in our ward which I am in charge of each year. (Partially because I'm the only one who wants to spend the time harassing everyone into rehearsals.) The first Christmas we were in the ward - nine or so years ago - Tarzan's family helped with the program - Christmas was a Sunday that year too - and it was lovely. I've had people ask me every year since if they are coming back to play again, and this year I can say YES! YES! They are. It's like a weight has been lifted from my shoulders. They will come and it will be awesome. I am so grateful that she remembered and is so thoughtful to spend the time with us in a ward with people they don't even know when they could be elsewhere with Tarzan's other uncles and cousins.
And that's just been this week.

This is me, thinking that THANK YOU GAMMA! is woefully inadequate.

Celtic Thunder

Under normal circumstances I would writing about USC vs ASU in this post, but that will have to wait until tomorrow. Because while I am crazy about Wicked, ATL is crazy about Celtic Thunder. (They are hot men in kilts who can sing real good.) And she managed to score tickets for tonight. Shortly we will be on our way - Tarzan is taking the crazy women to dinner first - for an evening of songs, music and hopefully some Celtic cheesecake:

Go George!

This is me and the football will have to wait.

SPLAT!

That, my friends, is what it sounded like last night when I was casually searching through the Internet Movie Database - tell me you all do that too - and found this little gem on Kristin Chenoweth's page

3. Wicked (2010) (announced) (rumored) .... Galinda

and my head exploded. Exploded all over the computer screen. It took me all night to clean it off enough to write this. They are making Wicked as a movie. Wicked! As a movie! AS A MOVIE, PEOPLE, A MOVIE! I can't even begin to tell you how excited I am. So excited, I am scared that it won't actually happen and someone is just teasing me.

It's been done before - the whole Gilmore Girls mini-series plot comes to mind.

But can you imagine how awesome a MOVIE of WICKED would be?

And with the original Broadway cast! I'm a tiny bit concerned because it lists a teen Galina - and a separate actress - on the movie page and that does not jive with the stage show I know and I would not be happy with a movie adaptation of the book, but still.

The possibility for my dream come true is there.

This is me and for once I would wish the next year upon us.

New Month, New Meme

Well, maybe not a new meme. New person tagged me though. My brother - who knew he was into this blogging thing?
Instructions:
This task is to compile a list of your 25 favorite songs. These are songs that you cannot live without. They are songs that have made you who you are. They make up the sound track of your life. They are the songs that you would want with you on a deserted island. These are...okay, you probably get the idea by now.
Once you have the list, tag 25 friends and share it with your world. Then, of course, your friends do the same.
By the way, it would be great to share the name of the artist.
Here is my list (in no particular order, because that would be impossible)
Though I may find selecting ONLY 25 songs to be impossible. I listen to and love a lot of music. How does one choose which song from Wicked is the best song? The whole musical changed my life. And I too have to save #4 because, well, it's awesome.
1. For Good, Wicked (the Broadway Musical)
2. This Is The Moment, Jekyll & Hyde (the Broadway Musical)
3. I Am Woman, Helen Reddy
4. November Rain, Guns 'N Roses
5. Standing Outside The Fire, Garth Brooks
6. Pour Some Sugar On Me, Def Leppard
7. You're The Inspiration, Chicago
8. Pomp And Circumstance, Edward Elgar
9. Jumpin' Jack, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
10. Fever, Peggy Lee
11. Separate Ways (Worlds Apart), Journey
12. Dancing Queen, ABBA
13. Jupiter, Gustav Holst
14. If I Had A $1,000,000, Barenaked Ladies
15. Marble Halls, Enya
16. It's Raining Men, The Weather Girls
17. You're Still You, Josh Groban
18. Oh L'Amour, Erasure
19. Black Velvet Band, The Irish Rovers
20. I Write The Songs, Barry Manilow
21. Stone In Love, Johnny Mathis
22. The Sound Of Silence, Simon and Garfunkel
23. Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring, Johann Sebastian Bach
24. Save A Horse Ride A Cowboy, Big & RIch
25. America, Neil Diamond
Since I got chided the last time for no tags, I will include some. There will not be 25 - I don't think I know 25 bloggers - and don't feel you have to, only if you like memes, music and me. Therefore: RHM, Rocketgirl, Elizabeth, Keah, Juliann, Phatfiddle, QC and Lola.

This is me, with my favorite songs. Honorable mention goes to Kristin Chenoweth, Stephanie J. Block, The Carpenters, Reba McIntyre, Yanni, Joan Baez, The Bangles, Idina Menzel, Elvis and John Denver - there just wasn't room for them all.

Goodbye Yellow Brick Road

::Onesome: "Goodbye,--Norma Jean"? Hmmm.... Best song ever? ...or did he top himself when he adapted it for Princess Diana?

• I was never too enthralled with either of them. The songs. But the first one made more sense to me. The second one was just a bid for attention.

::Twosome: Yellow--lights: run 'em or slam on the brakes? ...or do you plan your speed so you never hit them yellow? ...or maybe, "What yellow light, Officer?"

• I like to think of myself as a safe driver, so it all depends on the yellow light. Close enough to run it? Likelihood the left hand turn-er from the other lane will kill me if I do. Police officer nearby? Was I paying attention? Things like that make all the difference.

::Threesome: Brick Road--s and flying monkeys? Okay, did those things just creep you out? ...or were you one of those people who really, really, really wanted one for a pet? Just askin'...

• I was not creeped out by the flying monkeys. And after seeing Wicked, it all makes a certain kind of sense. Though I never did, and still don't want one for a pet. It's all make-believe you know.

This is me, too many memes for the week?

Eight Is Great

The show: Too. Many. Dances. Thirteen couples is a lot of people to keep track of. Suffice it to say that there was lots of dancing, Cody and Julianne had an awesome song (I Want You To Want Me), Cloris was hilarious again, Bruno said Rocco had "hips of fury" and I was sad but not surprised when Jeffrey got sent home. Stupid way to open a season though; standing for two hours, no warm up time, and all the stress of wondering. Plus there was one more dance to do after we found out who was going home? Weird. Uncomfortable I would think.
The apology: Well, now I feel the right loser of a person. After crying like a child day before yesterday, Keah went and edited her blog so that I could shut the freak up and just post the meme. I am such a whiner. And she is such a nice person. I don't deserve to be her in my next life.
(And here I am whining again! Gah! Is there a whiners anonymous or a whiners rehab a person could check into?)
The meme as promised from two days ago:
8 Things I'm Passionate About

1. Tarzan
2. Family
3. The gospel
4. Wicked
5. Fairness
6. Anything Irish
7. Stephanie J. Block
8. College Football

8 Words Or Phrases I Say Often

1. Dude
2. Groovy
3. Oy
4. Seriously?
5. I love you three
6. What's up?
7. Bad kitty
8. Honey, can you reach that?

8 Things I Want To Do Before I Die

1. Cruise Greek islands
2. Visit Australia
3. Tour Europe
4. Have a bunch of kids
5. Remodel my house (this one or another one)
6. Serve a couples mission for the church
7. Have a big garden
8. Own a Saturn Sky convertible - in forest green

8 Things I Pray For

1. Peace
2. Our families
3. Tarzan
4. The neighborhood
5. Continued safety
6. The government
7. Continued health
8. The kids at church

8 Things I Have Learned

1. Tarzan is awesome
2. The proper equipment makes ALL the difference
3. I cannot tell a joke well
4. How to work the DVR
5. Humor is essential for all relationships
6. Pie crust is very temperamental
7. My thumb is only a little bit green
8. To not say everything I am thinking

and now I tag Rocketgirl, RHM and PhatFiddle.

This is me, tagged! Whoot.

Maybe For The Last Time

In what will come as no surprise to most of you, we saw Wicked last night. It was just about the time we have seen the show every year for the last four years. One might think that we would know it backwards and forwards and inside out by now, and this is true. That does not in any way diminish the joy if seeing it over and over and over. And over and over. The cast had changed again, well the principles at least, and we were overjoyed to see Derrick Williams back as Fiyero. He had been with the touring company when the show first came through and compared to the actors that have followed we think he's the best. (It was a surprise at how different he was from what we remembered though. His voice was higher? Different register or something.)
Erin Mackey starred as Glinda and I really think she did well. She didn't overdo the comedic attitude and I noticed that as the show opens, she isn't completely happy that the wicked witch is dead, which I feel shows a lot about her understanding of the character. I really enjoyed her performance.
Teal Wicks was on the playbill as the lead, Elphaba, but when we got to our seats the little insert fell out that said Marcie Dodd would be playing the role that night. Having never seen Teal, I know not how good she would have been, but I thought that Marcie did an admirable job. I suppose it was on purpose, but I never like when performers or directors add in notes to songs, that weren't there previously. I really enjoyed "The Wizard and I," and Marcie's "Defying Gravity" was really, really well done. I did not get into her "No Good Deed" though which was a shame since the previous number "As Long As You're Mine" was right on. So, win some and lose some I guess.
John Rubinstein was satisfactory as the wizard. Nothing to write home about. I have been spoiled by David Garrison I suppose.
Sad to say, the one performance that really turned me off was that of JoAnne Worley as Madame Morrible. I did not like her interpretation. Not at all. It seemed very trailer park. Her speech was harsh and it didn't sound like she could sing very well. Not my cup of tea.
Briana Yacavone did a very sweet job of Nessarose. Just the right line between innocent and dictator. It worked well, and her one song was lovely.
Michael Drolet, as Boq, was better than some. He tended away from the shrill and laughable and more towards the amusing and sympathetic. Which I appreciate. So very much.
One thing I found amusing in this performance, Glinda was taller than Elphaba. That has never happened before and it made for an interesting dynamic. Nothing obvious, but it was different to see the big, dramatic figure be smaller than the lighter, comedic one.
Once again, three hours well spent. Love the show, always. The sad news is that it's leaving in September, so I may not see it again here at home. Or ever again, depending on tours and stuff. I really, REALLY, REALLY hope they make a movie and soon so that it can have the original people in it. Or, just the best people. I could help with that cast list, oh yes I could.

This is me, back from the greatest show on earth.

Amateurs With Potential

We saw Wicked again this weekend and I will say that though the show was a little different from others we have seen it was so cute! Twelve year olds should not play love scenes though. One of Tarzan's cousin's kids - she and I have a great time trying to figure out how to introduce each other - was in a summer stock production of the show. I for one was surprised at there even being a script out for them to use. What's the deal with copyrights and stuff for live shows that are still in original release? The company was all middle school kids and certainly not up to the caliber of a professional show, but no one expected them to be. They were really talented. A few of them could certainly make in show business in a few years. The boy who played Fiyero - this was definitely NOT his first show - did a really good job. The first girl who was Nessa Rose - interestingly there were two girls for Elphaba, Glinda and Nessa Rose, they traded at the intermission - was really good too. Quiet but strong. The Wizard was well played and Madame Morrible was really emotive. The staging was unique and a few solos became ensemble numbers, probably for more participation and vocal range ability. Parts of the dialogue were removed, and others rearranged for time but all in all, not too shabby.
Shouldn't make them play love scenes at the that age though. It's not like they kiss or anything, or even hug. But the hair stroking and shoulder rubbing. It's not quite right. Just...not.

This is me, loving it still.

Guys And Dolls

I know, not enough posts, loser, loser, busy, mundane, laundry, bills, family, very little that's interesting happens in my life, don't want to bore the readers - all three of you - yadda, yadda, yadda...
Here we are with another thought inspiring meme from the people at The Back Porch.
::Onesome: Guys-- do the darnedest things, -right? What's the darnedest thing you've had a male acquaintance do that you just know a gal would never even think of? (Okay, girls, toilet seats do not count on this one!)

• I'm going to pretend this said "darnedest ungross thing" because it's just better that way. And I have to go with putting on the same pants worn the day before, with the same underwear, over the new underwear of today...and NOT REALIZING it for almost half an hour in the car on the way to wherever. Would never happen to a girl.

::Twosome: and-- to turn it around, what's the darnedest thing you've had a female acquaintance do that you just know a guy would never even think of? (Okay, guys, that hair-flip move doesn't count either...)

• Besides being catty and getting mad for no reason? Yes, well, I'm going to go with putting on make up while driving to the beach.

::Threesome: Doll--ing yourself up? What is your idea of dress-up? Hmmm... Let's go with Summer wear for now!

• I am not a dressing up person really. Even my fancy clothes are comfortable and not too one-event-only. Probably my summer dress up clothes involve black skirt and green slinky cross over top because we always see Wicked in the summer and this summer is the last one (they say) for the sit down show in The Jungle.

This is me, with the reason you get at least one post a week from me.

Divided We Fall

We didn't get the job in The Temperate Zone - that's a little north of The Jungle - so we won't be moving before the summer is over. I know I didn't mention it before - mostly because I wasn't sure how I felt about it.
I still don't.
On the one hand, I'm disappointed because moving has an excitement to it; the houses are way cheap, big and gorgeous up there, the cost of living is much lower, but the salary was almost the same so we'd have been ahead that way. The chance for a garden, visiting U-Picks and having space for kids, a hot tub, whatever was there. Tarzan would have been perfect for the job - despite his repeated attempts to tell me he was too young, didn't have enough experience, blah, blah, blah, he's awesome and cares so much he would have done a fabulous job. The interview went well - he was prepped. While driving around the area we were more worried about what we were leaving behind than whether we'd get the job.
On the other hand, we LOVE The Jungle. It's happening. I love big cities, always have. The weather is awesome, the beach is next door practically, everything is here - EVERY thing anyone could want can be found in this town. We have our own production of Wicked for crying out loud! Tarzan and I have a place here. We have friends and family near, we have roots and ripping those up is never easy.
As it turns out we don't have to. Tarzan says he's happy to not have gotten the position and, to be fair, it would have been A LOT of work for him. Because of budget cuts and everything the school district was hiring one person not two, as advertised, to plan and execute the library program for all fourteen of their schools. Two people would have had a lot of work to do. One is just ridiculous. If I barely see him now what would that have been like? And our house here IS small, but it's just us for now, and let's be honest, how good would I be at keeping a garden? I can't keep the weeds out of the front yard as it is.
So that's where I am - happy we get to stay and yet sad because we've 'been here, done that' so to speak. Sad we don't get a new, bigger, fabulous house with a pool, yard and many bedrooms for less than half of what this tiny thing is appraised for, but happy that we get to keep this one to make better - I have GOT to get on that insulation thing...Happy that Tarzan gets to stay at his school where he is doing so much good and sad that he won't get to be in charge of all the schools and maybe get to have influence on a higher level; figure out this budget crisis somehow. (Don't I have large aspirations for the man?) I don't think I've ever been so torn on a decision in my life. This would have been a hard one to make...really glad I don't have to.

This is me, divided.

Oscar's 80

So the Academy Awards were okay. Not too surprising, or edgy - or too eventful - we hadn't seen most of the movies so what's to get indignant about? Go Bourne Supremacy.
We liked John Stewart. I love how he looks slightly embarrassed by his punchlines - like "I know, I can't believe they are making me say this either..." but he was funny. Little bit racy, not too dangerous.
As for the actual awards...eh. We didn't watch the speeches. Kinda sorry I missed Best Actor because it would have been amusing to see him kneel for his fake knighting but that's all.
It was great to see Kristin Chenoweth sing. She's got a great voice. (Please let them make a movie of Wicked...please let them make a movie of Wicked...) I was not surprised that Enchanted did not win Best Song - despite there being THREE songs from the movie nominated, and they ALL being written by Stephen Schwartz and Alan Menkin - but I was a little annoyed at the comments in the paper this morning. Yes, it was a cute movie. Yes, it was a Disney movie. Yes, there's very little angst or drama in a fairy tale come to life - but there's nothing WRONG with a happy story. Don't poo-poo the writer's ability just because no one dies.
Just for you Lola - we had gingersnaps and grapes (red AND green - this was the Oscar's after all) for dessert.

This is me, glad the stress of the awards season is off.

Harlem Globetrotters Basketball

::Onesome: Harlem-- Nights? The Apollo Theater? If we came to visit your area, where would you recommend we sight see?

• I suspect the people at The Back Porch are stalking me...this is the second week in a row they asked a question about something I had just done. With the AKSR being hosted in The Jungle this year I had compiled a partial list of places to visit to stimulate the minds and bring a plethora of suggestions and ideas for our outings. Yeah, well. We've got some time still before we decide where we play. And there were a lot of options. One thing about The Jungle; if you can think of it, we have it. Theaters (one playing Wicked), amusement parks, beaches, mountains, observatories, monuments, it's all here. Come on down and we can show you around!

::Twosome: (The) Globetrotters-- can be quite a show! Have you ever seen them? Are there any "show" teams you like to watch perform? Pep competitions? Bands?

• I have never seen the Harlem Globetrotters, but I have always wanted to. I hear they are pretty fantastic. The Spirit Of Troy - The Greatest Marching Band in the History of the Universe - is always good to see. They play at the Hollywood Bowl every summer and in parades and stuff all over. They recorded with Fleetwood Mac as well as a number of other groups and been in several movies.

::Threesome: Basketball-- is in full swing, and March Madness isn't all that far away? Any opinions on either NBA or NCAA teams? ...or is it all downhill after the Packers lost?

• Me no likey basketball. Tarzan stays current enough to know if USC is winning - not as often in the b-ball season as the football one - but that's all. After the SuperBowl - and we don't really care too much who goes, we pick a team to root for during the game but it's not too heated - the sports are over until the fall. We catch some baseball but as a family thing not as a sporting event.

This is me, knowing stuff.

And The Winner Is...

Do you watch the Academy Awards? We do, usually. Not in a fascinated, hang-on-every-word kind of way but in a "oh, huh, didn't see that movie either - hey! Kirk Douglas is still alive" kind of way. So I was not one of those who stayed home to wait for the Oscar nominations to be out this morning. Does not mean I don't know who is nominated however. I swear, if she has time to read the Oscar nominations aloud to the ENTIRE office, she has time to file, you know what I mean? Be that as it may, I am pleased to see some of the nominations.

1. Best Picture: Haven't seen a single one.
2. Best Actor/Actress, Best Supporting Actor/Actress: Having not seen a single of the pictures any of them were in, I can't say as they aren't all absolutely spectacular performances.
3. Best Director: Haven't seen a single of the pictures directed by these people, so I'm sure they all did their best.
4. Best Foreign Film: If I don't see the local films, what makes you think I would have seen the foreign ones?
5. Best Adapted Screenplay: Haven't seen any of these either.
6. Best Original Screenplay: Woot! Finally something I can comment on. Go Ratatouille!! I'm gonna go with a no on this one. Because...
7. Best Animated Feature: It's nominated in this category as well and in my opinion is much more likely to win here because it IS an animated feature and despite all the equality talk, a cartoon is still a cartoon.
8. Best Art Direction: Back to not having seen any of the nominated films.
9. Best Cinematography: Ditto here - one would think I don't get out much.
10. Best Sound Mixing: Not entirely sure what this category is even for, but for the first time we have some drama, having seen The Bourne Ultimatum, AND Transformers this could be a close race. I'm gonna be on the edge of my seat for this one.
11. Best Sound Editing: Again, not sure what this IS exactly, but both The Bourne Ultimatum AND Ratatouille are nominated again.
12. Best Original Score: Ratatouille could end up sweeping this Awards night. Wouldn't that be something for the record books?
13. Best Original Song: Oooooh baby, I'm all about this category this year. First, so cool about August Rush. I wanted to see that one. Hopefully the song is deep and meaningful, not schmoopy and manipulative. We shall see. It is a source of great, great sorrow that I did not get to see Enchanted because it is exactly the type of girly, musical, movie that I love. Second it had Patrick Dempsey and who doesn't love him? It ALSO has Idina Menzel who was the Broadway Elphaba (and is therefore on my much listened to CD) and also was in Rent. The girl has some pipes. THEN, to make it all perfect, the guys who wrote all the songs are none other than Alan Menken - of Little Mermaid, Aladdin, Hercules, Hunchback and Beauty & the Beast fame - and Stephen Schwartz. You don't know him? He's the man who wrote WICKED - my most favorite-ist musical of all time! How could these songs NOT be fabulous? But wait, it gets better! There are at least one, possibly three, songs from the movie to be nominated AND all the nominated songs get performed live at the Awards show. Sweet!!
14. Best Costume Design: Did not see the pictures, so this will likely be when we go to the kitchen for some dessert.
15. Best Documentary Feature: Didn't see any of them. Probably very informative.
16. Best Documentary (short subject): Didn't see any of them either. Probably very informative and short.
17. Best Film Editing: Go Bourne!
18. Best Make-Up: Hey! A newbie AND one I saw. Awesome. Go Pirates!
19. Best Animated Short Film: Did not see any of those either. Les sighs, I need to get out once in a while...
20. Best Live Action Short Film: What is this? Don't know, didn't see any of them. Is that phrase getting overused here today or what?
21. Best Visual Effects: We saw both Pirates of the Caribbean AND Transformers so it could be a nail biter too.

Let me know what you think of the nominations this year. Was any flick robbed? Is it an honor just to be nominated?

This is me, with the verdict: no messing with Tarzan's head via the dinner table.

Latest Craze

My latest obsession is another Broadway musical - never fear, Wicked and The Pirate Queen have NOT left the building - called Jekyll & Hyde, based, unsurprisingly, on the book 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde' by Robert Louis Stevenson. Very intriguing. I think I have to read the book now and see how accurate the show is.
My path of travel for this season's fixation takes a trip across the sea to China and back. My sister, ATL, is completely obsessed with a singer, Kris Philips, or Fei Xiang, who is HUGE in China. We got her his 2-CD Broadway album set for her birthday a couple of years ago. 'This Is The Moment' was one of the songs he sang in English. (I don't get a thrill from the songs sung in Chinese, but ATL does.) 'For Good' was another song but that's a different story. 'This Is The Moment' was such a great song we looked up the musical it came from. We Googled Jekyll & Hyde but it wasn't playing anywhere around us and we thought it was likely pretty depressing based on what little we knew of the book. Wicked took over my brain shortly thereafter and then my love affair with Stephanie J. Block and The Pirate Queen and I didn't think of Jekyll & Hyde until a few months ago when ATL and I discovered we could record snippets of songs on our phones and make them our ring tones. I know - we are SO behind the technology. Whatever. ATL recorded 'This Is The Moment' as her ring tone. So whenever she gets a call "...when all I've done, all of the dreaming, scheming and screaming become one..." blares across the room. So it was in my recent memory when I was ordering CDs in December. I was due some free ones, so I searched for Jekyll & Hyde and the Original Cast Recording was available. I figured, why the heck not? (I also got The Boy From Oz because Ms. Block is in it - but another day, another post.) It finally came and I finally got around to hearing it last week. OMG - so good! I love the rhyme schemes, I'm a sucker for clever rhymes and patterns (dialysis...pal, a sister anyone?), I think all the talent is great and Robert Cuccioli, especially, is awesome. Not as depressing as I thought it might be...it IS a little dark, naturally, but in a self reflective way. Classic Good vs. Evil plot. Am loving the character of Emma. Truly. She's strong, independent, smart, loving, and she doesn't apologize for any of it. Nothing to "get over." She doesn't waffle about her decisions, does not spend a lot of time questioning herself or motives. Does not develop any complexes. She makes up her mind and carries through. I like her a lot. Lucy, the other female lead, gets all the solos but she's the typical prostitute with a heart of gold. Ehn. I see a reason for her but I don't get behind her.
After devouring the CD and committing most of it to memory I looked the show up on YouTube in the hopes someone got all illegal (as they did with Wicked) and loaded the entire show so I could pretend I was seeing it live. Even better, a legit video copy - in 16 parts, but still - is available to see. The sad part; it's not the original Broadway cast. The funny part; it IS David Hasselhoff. I know - sad to say the first thing I think of for him is Baywatch - but he's not that bad. His performance does not blow my mind, but he does not stink. I just don't think of him as a song and dance man. It's interesting to get my mind around this concept. I am totally loving Andrea Rivette. Great performance. Great voice. Great character - I have to admit she is where a lot of my respect for Emma comes from. Just...great! Not to say the original girl, Christiane Noll, is a slouch, she is very talented as well. I am just in love with anything related to the show right now I think. Can't wait to find a live production somewhere, ANYwhere. Is it playing in your town right now?

This is me, happy in my obsessions.

::A to Z::

Not that I am looking for a reason not to blog, but I AM looking for a reason not to think too hard. Here we are:
Onesome: A--round this time of year? What's happening with the weather where you are? Ch-ch-changes? ...or are things still 'Summery'?

• We live in The Jungle. Other than being darker sooner than it was in July, the weather is pretty much the same. Sunny, +/-80 degrees, light breeze, it doesn't get any better for me. I've lived in The Frozen North and I've lived in The Real Desert and I'm good with it here. The trees are pretty when they change color, sure, but who wants to rake all those leaves and shovel snow before Halloween? Not me, thank you.

Twosome: to-- inventory your place for insurance coverage, what would it take? Too much work? How about ideas for the gang: is videotaping with a voiceover the way to go?

• We have So. Much. Crap. It's likely we could be burglarized and not know it. Ever. Seriously, one of the main things on my to do list next year is sort through, rearrange, clean out and throw out a lot of "stuff." Most of what we have isn't worth much anyway. The TV (it's a nice one - also way hard to transport because it weighs a ton), the laptops, but we mostly take those with us when we leave everyday. And how does one put a price on the picture albums and journals from years back and the programs from all seven of my trips to

Wicked?

Threesome: Z--one coverage? ...better than "man"? Are you following any football teams this year? How are they doing?

• As with all things, it depends. Depends on how the teams line up, depends on how fast the guys are, how many points need to be made up and how good their hands are. It depends. My teams are the USC Trojans naturally - Fight On! - and the San Diego Chargers. The Chargers are at 3-3 so we'll see how that goes. The guys in the office don't give them much hope. Whatevs. The Trojans are 5-1 but the BCS ranks us at #14 so we'll see how THAT goes as well. We'll have to DESTROY Notre Dame this weekend. And pretty much blow out every other opponent for the rest of the season if we want a Bowl game of any notoriety. Stupid Stanford.

This is me, with the weekly meme.

Plus One

Had I thought about it completely I would have started this blog before my last birthday so my first birthday post could be for my 30th. And then I considered that, really, 30 is a milestone. So it worked out - this is the end of my first year-beyond-30. It's been a good year, a busy year. In a Rocketgirl-esque moment I will summarize it for you. At least as far as my brain remembers.

• I became head of the Primary (little squirts) at church.
• I went on a cruise with Tarzan to celebrate our 6th wedding anniversary.
• I planned and executed the church Christmas party and Christmas Eve program, delegating and requesting as necessary.
• I handled a wedding and the Christmas party on the same day.
• Tarzan and I visited his family in The Rockies and introduced more people to the joy that is Wicked.
• I went to Middleton for Cogent's graduation from St. John's College.
• I visited a Military Camp for the first time.
• I have done a massive number of schematic and design development drawings for projects in the office
• I have learned how to better deal with annoying people.
• I made the goal, and we seem to be accomplishing it, to leave the work force at the end of this calendar year.
• I adopted a sixth cat.
• I got a digital camera and broke it. (Haven't replaced it yet, which is why there are so few pictures lately.)
• I started this blog! Thank you faithful readers!

I think those are the highlights. As for the party, the celebrations started Saturday with USC winning the football game. Not by much, true, but then LSU lost! (They had been #1 in the AP poll). That was a present in and of itself. Then Cal lost (they were #1 for about two hours) - ungrateful punks, after all my self sacrifice to support them despite they being a huge rival. The BCS rankings came out on Sunday and despite all the losing we are only ranked #14. Stupid system. But happy stuff on Saturday: There was an impromptu dinner with some friends at The Stinking Rose. Good food, good times were had by all. The office took me to lunch today - and there will be cake. Tarzan has promised presents when I go home too. Sweet!

This is me, 31.