ice snow slush thunderstorms tornadoes

We're spending an extra day in Iowa due to the large storm front stretching out from, oh about Dallas through Iowa. It's just as well, far as I'm concerned, seeing as I hadn't realized we were leaving today until about twelve hours ago.

I'd like to think that, if nothing else, this will let me progress beyond beginner drums on Guitar Hero. (I also hope that Caleb doesn't magically miss his flight tomorrow afternoon.)

Perhaps, we'll have internet at the apartment again someday. (A post-Christmas miracle?)

We're in Iowa, land of cows and (currently) snow. People keep making comments about the Amish due to my brother's Grizzly Adams beard. My cousin (who resembles Mr. Clean) is playing a paintball video game, despite having pulled out a Guitar Hero guitar to the living room also. My mom is talking about Dirty Jobs (specifically, the snake episode, but I'm sure they'll switch to something else soon). There's talk of staying up all night, just because. I love my family.

I need some hot chocolate.

Even if it's not really sticking anywhere (except the tops of cars), it is SNOWING in HOUSTON, and that necesitates a picture of my feet.

someday I'll actually use weekends to call people again

Any day that starts with David Bowie blasting in your head cannot steer you wrong.

Of course, my stomach waits until right before I'm heading for the bus to tell me how very hungry it is. Thanks.

This past weekend, all Muppet-tastic that is was, makes me want to carve things in styrofoam like back in college.

I don't know why I have so many dreams about being on dance competition shows.

Some things are just too ridiculous...which is why I should call people.

(especially after a week of online calendar mishaps, talk of understudies, and general scheduling crazines)

I didn't expect the "call me back" message from my boss to be about a cat carrier, but I'm very happy to tell him I don't have it.

(But it won't stop me from being on the internet or answering phones at work for four hours)

I'm pretty much non-functional right now, between the sleepover last night and early morning sales today.

remembering petticoat lane

My college self once mini ranted about this, so I don't feel the need to elaborate, but it still bums me out that no networks broadcast "Jurassic Park" on Thanksgiving anymore.

5 a.m. is for wimps

The Disney Store across the street from me will be open at midnight for Black Friday. That'd probably be the easiest sale to get to all day, actually, both in location and time.

I'm going to end up at all sorts of ridiculous places on Friday, aren't I?

I am thankful for not working much this week.

Here's the magically schedule of my Thankgsiving week:

today - morning off, followed by auditions in the afternoon

tomorrow - full day, though helped along by meetings in the morning

day after that - understudy rehearsal in the morning, afternoon off to make up for today's auditions

day after after that - turkey! parades! fireworks!

post day after after that - waking up at, I don't know, 4 a.m. and working the afternoon phone shift to get extra vacation time

I think I'm going to squander a lot of time this week.

I just entered a ridiculous contest.

You know what I'm horribly addicted to right now? Butterfinger crips (sadly in the miniture size, as that's all that was on post-Halloween sale). I should've bought more.

Dress tech yesterday went remarkably well, especially considering how tense cue to cue was the day prior. As a result, I no longer need to gaff-tape anyone's mouth shut.

I'm afraid to fold my laundry because all the pieces I can see have red fuzzy all over from my towels.

My box spring went on temporary loan to the theater about three days ago, and ever since I've been sleeping on the equivilant of a mattress on the floor. (Sure, the mattress edges are still on my bed frame, but the middle is not.) I have had the most vivid dreams since this occurred, probably because I'm not getting decent sleep and just haven't realized it yet.

from the confounded bells

I am still frustrated from this afternoon, which was one of the most stressful (and, yes, frustrating) cue to cues I've ever done. Anywhere. And, naturally, I'm frustrated that I let myself *become* so frustrated, and thus short with some cast members. Also, I wanted to gaffe tape others. I do not think this is how professional stage managers act. At least, not out loud.

it's November, and my daisies are blooming again

I love how tech week affords me the ability to ignore things I don't want to deal with. "Sorry, I'll be at the Rotunda all week. I'll deal with it if I can, but otherwise it'll have to wait until Monday." This also works out because I always run out of things to do on Monday. Tech week is the ultimate win-win, except for the figuring out where to call cues and creating the proper timing and trying to have patience with 13-year-old actors (I assume that one'll be an issue).

Also, I eat a bunch of Zingers out of the breakroom machine since I've convienced myself those are the official food of Tech Week.

In other parts of the world, I need to write back someone from August (and someone from March), put together a Christmas list that isn't half put together on a rehearsal report, and stop drafting entries to Best Buy's black Friday contest. Either write the whole thing, or forget about it. Also, I should stop looking at all pictures of London, pictures of Humane Society kittens, and pictures of scuba equipment, because that one's just too random.

remember, remember, the sixth of November

I wished my cast a happy Guy Fawkes Day yesterday, and it saddened me that nobody else knew what I was talking about. I figured between the other angliophiles (and the comic book nerds), I'd run into someone.

I consoled myself with a baked potato for dinner, even if I didn't roast in in the embers of a bonfire like they did in olden days. Or maybe even today; I'm not really certain since I have no first-hand experience.

Speaking of things (unsuccessfully) blowing up, this morning a beeping noise was coming from the kitchen table, and my half-awake state convinced me that it was inside the new phone books bag. As in, some diabolical mind had rigged phone books to explode once people brought them inside. (It was Deb's phone alarm.)

polling station, shortly after 7 a.m. (somewhere behind me as I voted)

"...I just don't understand how other states have so many issues. Look at this, you have the i.d. and people have to sign in, so you know they're only voting once. And that computer has the clicky wheel thing, so there's nothing to punch. But I guess I should just remember that everything's better in Texas."

Remember when I used to actually post consistantly? (I think it was in college.)

I guess the biggest discovery of the week is that, when using dissolved epson salts to become frost in your hair, you should allow plenty of time to let them reform before you leave the apartment. That way, you can actually see how iced out you are before the rest of the world does first. (Or, maybe not, as it was a big hit and people actually knew what I was without me bringing up Titanic myself.) Also, you will continue picking out bits from your eyebrows for days to come, as a result from slathering on more salts than needed.

While some would say I'm in it for the candy, what I like most about Halloween is the ridiculous dressing-up. Not only did I have my crazy complicated costume (yay! alliteration!) for the evening, but I also put together a costume for the day. Sure, that one was equal parts free candy and wanting to wear a wig at work (I've got to get my money out of my Hannah Montanta merchandise). But, then there's the week of pulling things together, and all the dressing up at the costume sale a few weeks back, and it all adds up to another reason why I'm still seven.

I sometimes wish stage managers got to have costumes matching the show (but in black) if only because that's one of things I would love best about being an actor. Would it cancel out having to audition and learn lines and trying not to throw up before every show? Not really, which is why I'm satisfied with teching. Maybe I'll just start theming my blacks on my own, and then the industry can follow.

snow index 0% (sadly)

I love, love, love, love this cold front that's been passing through. There are few things I like better at this time of year than to bundle up in any form (plump coat, plentiful blankets), and that's a bit harder to enjoy when it's eighty degrees outside.

bah, humbug

Blogger magically just ate the post I'd had here, so you'll have to hear my thoughts on ice make-up, HSM3, stress, and whatever else had just been here whenever it vamoosed.

My room smells like musty laundry, and I can't be bothered to deal with it anymore.

"...and then she's all, 'Oh, by the way! Here's a scheduling thing that would've been helpful for you to know three weeks ago. See you soon!'"

It just hit me that the cheesy high school movie comes out this week, which means I have to start working on securing my ride (for the midnight show, if possible. I may not have a car to leave after, but neither do the teeny-boppers.)

Tomorrow I'm planning on going hunting for the finishing touches for my halloween costume. What's the idea this year? A drowned Titanic victim. (Thanks, costume sale, for the inspiration and authentic-looking dress.) A life preserver would be nice, but I really need proper shoes and epson salts or shaving cream (whichever proves the better ice effect). It's the details that count in the costume contest.

Is it completely crazy that I'm pondering the pros/cons of going to London for the summer. As in, all of it?

four sweater vests

I don't think I even try to get my title-thingy to match with the rest of the post.

I bought a bunch of perishable groceries today in the effort to make me actually cook and not just microwave. I hope this doesn't end with $50 of garbage in three weeks.

My room now features new drywall along the bottom edge where Ike came inside to hang out. I assume someone will come back tomorrow and attempt to make the colors match, but I'm good either way. All my furniture sits along that wall, which is why my room has been out of sorts for a month.

Did you know that I finally got around to posting all the pictures I'd taken since, oh, May. This many pictures of trees across roads from Ike and pictures of wildflowers in Wyoming. Enjoy!

Did my skull just go in a vice or what?

Really, what's the point of coming up with a photo call list for a show with costume changes? No matter how I try to plan it, someone will change faster/slower/ridiculously slower than I plan, and we'll have to revamp the order. Why do I bother?

(Because I'm a stage manager, and we like to inflict pain and efficiency. Could this headache go away so I could decide what should be first, McSmogg or the Swamp?)

and I don't even need to talk about the creamy jalapeno

One of the best things about this fine state is the large quantity of fresh, locally made queso varieties that are sold at an obscenely cheap rate. God bless Texas, indeed.

I'm not supposed to have a headache *after* eating food.

I'm alternating between actually putting items on my flashly new portable hard drive thingy (it looks like a big block of candy!) and being too distracted by everything else to put things on my bitsy toy. It probably doesn't help that Iron Chef is on because I cannot pass up an episode of Iron Chef.

For some reason I keep spelling "chef" as "chif."

Maybe I'll also use this time to post pictures once tech feel secure?

I'm apparently going to use my day off to run to Best Buy and purchase an external hard drive since Merv tried to actually die this morning. (Lately he's been sticking with "warnings of doom" and must have noticed what little affect they had on my trying to fix him.) I've already poked around online, attempting to be an informed consumer and discover what would be the best use of my meager theater earnings. All the reviews, however, are the same mix of people squealing about "love it! must buy!" or received a defective one and/or had the most soul-sucking experience possible with customer service. Actually, it seems none of these companies have good customer service, if the reviews are to be believed.

Hopefully, talking to an actual human being will help.

We apparently get a free carpet shampoo. I don't know if it's from Ike or signing the lease.

The subject of pets came up during signing our lease this morning. (Incidentally, yay! Staying in the same place for another year!) It went something like this:

Hannah: So, about the pet deposit. It's still $200...

Lorainne, our awesome apartment manager: It's $500.

H: Really?

L,OAAM: It's always been $500. And now your pet will need to pay rent, too. That's new. It's $15 per month.

H: What if we had two of them? We're thinking of getting two cats so they aren't bored when we're not around.

L,OAAM: Huh. I don't know.

Debbie, other awesome apartment manager: Would we know there are two? Like, would they looking similar so we wouldn't notice?

Deb: With the ones we were thinking about, they might.

L,OAAM: I guess that'd be $15 then.


The important question, of course, was if we need to pay a deposit per pet. They'd allow us break the $500 into two payments over the course of a month, but even that might be a little steep for our theater paychecks, let alone paying it twice.

Maybe that siamese twin cat isn't such a bad idea after all. We could at least make back the pet rent by charging admission to see our bundle of (double) joy.

I like it in "ocean."

Well, that's interesting.

no good will come of my drinking a pure-sugar coke at 10 p.m.

(No good will come from re-Lysoling my carpet and staying in that room, either, from purely brain cell purposes.)

After fighting all the traffic necessary to reach the downtown aquarium for their $5 night, we discovered downtown itself is under a different curfew of 8 p.m. We arrived at 7:12.

Maybe we'll see fish (and ride the ferris wheel and watch the white tigers sleep) tomorrow?

Other things:
- I need to move my London snowglobe away from quick grab range, as I sit and absentmindedly shake it while reading emails...and then end up staring at the snow falling on the little red double decker. It's not a hopeless cause when people know they have a problem, right?

- I really should track down my alarm clock because cell phone alarms don't have a snooze function.

- I'm listening to a Meatloaf song and actually updating my blog (while avoiding doing other work). What is this, college?!

and the bitsy balls of yarn to claw apart!

Looking at pictures of all the kittens on the Humane Society website makes me tear up a little. With the tails and the tiny paws and whiskers!

Anyway. Our talk about "maybe? possibly? someday?" adopting a pet of someday suddenly spun into "Kitten! We'd need two of them! One each for when someone moves out!" earlier in the evening. As is everything else in the city, the Humane Society has temporarily paused adoptions due to the hurricane and treating incoming animals.

So, who's allergic to cats? Might as well tell us now so we can stop hanging out with you.

*still* still standing

We're back in the apartment with power (and a newly cleaned freezer). My work building either is still without power, or they haven't noticed I'm not there yet. (Out of the way offices will do that to you, I guess.)

I'm hoping to catch up on some life today, seeing as life is starting to get back to normal. I need to check with our apartment office about my carpet (which thankfully doesn't smell anymore), do laundry, buy stamps, return library stuff, and post a bunch of pictures (storm and otherwise). Do I see myself on the couch for about five hours instead, watching old things on the DVR? Possibly, but here's hoping for the best.

Thanks for all the thoughts and prayers (plus calls and texts) that went out over the weekend. I don't regret staying, but I do know we were very, very fortunate not to end with anything falling or seeping into our apartment more than a little water. If I ever find where I stashed my camera cord to keep it safe, I'll provide some examples.

Shall we gather at the river? (tomorrow, it may be my street)

I still have a little time, but I'm going to go ahead and start unplugging electronics to prepare for when the front of the storm hits my doorstep. My cell will be on for as long as it gets a signal, and hopefully even after. Jet me a text if need be, or try to get in by regular phone. (I will reimburse you, if needed, as it will amuse me to send fifteen cents in the mail.)

If you're going to be in a hurricane, we're on the safest side of town to ride it out. Prayers go out to all those spread around the storm path, especially people I know and wish could fit in Deb's closet with me.

I'll send word out tomorrow when things are clear-ish. Keep watching for twitters as long as reception holds out and I find things that amuse me to post.

Apparently, Galveston has yet to lose its sense of humor

A bit of youtube Bwah?!-ness for you all.

The tub is full of water, some windows are taped and others are soon to be, I've taken pictures of stuffed animals reading the hurricane prep guide (why not?), and I'm way tired of endless coverage on the news. Time to watch things on the DVR!

They don't have these in London, do they?

Flooding is already occuring in Galveston with most of a day to go before landfall. Remember that road we drove down to reach the beach, right in the middle of town? That's apparently underwater due to backups in the storm drain. The news this morning had awesome video of the waves erupting (that's what it looked like) over the main storm wall.

Right now, Ike is getting his strength mostly from how *huge* he is rather than wind speed or whatever normally powers hurricanes. The current track places him to land at Galveston, probably pop up Galveston Bay, and head for all of Houston. I am not a fan of this plan, though authorities are still saying that those who don't need to leave should stay put.

When Deb wakes up (ah, blissful days of rest, no matter the circumstances), I guess we'll reassess whether we want to relocate slightly. The recommendation is to be off the road by noon, so if we're going, we're going this morning.

In the meantime, I'm going to clean the tub and fill it (yes, Mom, I was already planning to do so), move all the nonperishables into one place, pack my "if we have to run for it" bag, and tend to the window situation. Also, I need to take some pictures, because it's not every day I get to tape a shower curtain to a sliding glass door.

"Remember how I said I'd be concerned when the locals got concerned?"

As of now, Deb and I are planning on hunkering down (such a great verb, huh?) here in Houston instead of fleeing elsewhere. I've filled water gallons and pulled in my porch stuff already tonight, and will mess with any boarding/taping of windows tomorrow. We shut down shows for the rest of the weekend, including tomorrow's opening, and won't be at work until hopefully Monday. We're also hopeful that things won't be underwater by that point.

I might go to the mall tomorrow. I don't think many other people will be there.

I'll keep people updated best as I can throughout the weekend. From what I hear, it's almost certain that power will go out and flooding commence. How long and how deep is up in the air. Watch for twitters as long as I can text.

One of my favorite things heard today: "I was really pulling for your hurricane to come this direction. That way, the newspapers would've been 'Hanna Hits Houston!' 'Ike Hits Houston' just isn't the same."

I've been spending lots of time on weather-themed websites lately.

I love how there's always that point of tech week when I think about what things I'd do in life if I were not a stage manager and therefore stressing about ridiculous things. (Examples? Tortise shell straps, bell dings, fake money, trees potentially killing the audience, fifteen scene shifts in one show. And, currently, ginormous yellow window frames.) Obviously, I always come to my senses (meaning: haven't come up with a solid alternative yet), but I do wonder how long I'll put up with the drama.

Also drama: Ike (Thanks, Mom! I still have all those milk gallons!) and the off-and-on sharp pain in my back/side that is potentially in the vicinity of my kidneys. Since I don't trust theater people to be up on their human anatomy, I'm using that as an excuse to not do anything about it. Excuse me while I download all manner of free NBC shows from iTunes to celebrate all the money I'll spend buying 30 Rock each week.

I really don't know what it means to be a vine.

Once Upon a Time, back at the evening of my first Spotlighter Awards, I stood at the far end of the hall, clutching my suitcase prop (for my part as "New Intern #2) and listening to the announcement of the technical awards. This was my first official day with the players, and I was already nervous about finding where I'd fit in with the company. And there I was, listening to people I already knew as actors winning designing awards, box office staff being named best director, and the like. The secret to extending your time with the players beyond the intern year, it seemed, was not only to find one area to excel, but *three.* I sincerely had the thought that myself, as stage manager (or assistant sm, at the time) and box office worker, wouldn't quite cut the line. Oh, the sound designs and posters I saw myself creating during those brief five minutes.

(I am now aware how delusional this idea was.)

There's some part of me that has never gotten over that moment. Clearly, I'm foolish for ever thinking a stage manager would never be in demand somewhere, but *three* positions in one company? Who really has time to devote to three seperate fields? If I "root quickly and getting into everything," as one person put it, it's only because I can't not be involved in a department. Part being raised not to shirk responsibility (even when it sucks), part frightened intern hoping not to be kicked out of Texas (all my stuff had moved), that's what makes up this vine.

so not related to what 4/5 of you might think (do 5 people even read this?)

Rather than whatever else I could say/type, I'm taking this moment to feel thankful for a theater company that lets me stage manager where I want to stage manage, puts up with me whenever I'm figuring out how best to manage a show, and lets me end production meetings like the soccer coach I'm not. Go, team, go.

in the continuing adventures of cleaning out my computer before it implodes

I just updated my resume. While I wish there was a reason behind it, it's probably best for the show I start in three days that it was purely on whim. (Fun fact: I had to Google past shows to figure out the character names I played. Chalk that up as another reason I tech.)

My computer keeps threatening to explode, but I'll hopefully make it through this post.

I've developed an unfortunate habit of hitting the Camera key on my phone while already talking to people...which then leads to me trying to stop it from focusing and disconnecting calls. Bear with me while I work on that.

I moved all 15 or so gigs of music off my computer and straight onto my iPod, as part of my explosion prevent (see title). I've also started pricing external hard drives and taken to not turning off my computer. If it's not off, I don't have to worry about whether it will turn back on again. I've actually backed up a fair amount of the documents and photos (and now music, sort of) on my computer, but I would prefer Merv not go staring into that good night, even if I could bring him back from the brink.

In other (repeating) news: I need to clean my room. Today I wanted to actually sit and read in my chair (placed in the room specifically for such reasons), and decided not to fight it through the laundry, papers, old mail, and my needing-restocked stage management kit.

I'm about six minutes away from purchasing "Mamma Mia" as my default ringtone.

Please be patient with me as I play with my new, much-more-complicated-than-a-regular-phone phone. I only have about 15 numbers programmed in as of yet (mostly people I've had to call for some reason or other), tend to forget that it answers as soon as I open it, and can only find the button to connect to the internet when under pressure. On the plus side, it came with a crazy thick instruction manual, so I have new bus reading material.

Would you like to hear about my life is more than 160 characters at a time?

Greetings, universe at large! Since last we talked, I've had my luggage "misplaced" twice (once on either side of Wyoming), hiked approximately 25 million miles around the national parks, had a joyful reunion with my typewriter (here to join me in Texas at last), hosted my mom, grandma, aunt, and cousin for an extended weekend of sleeping on my couches, took fields trips to the beach and NASA, cheered at the crazy baseball game where two runners hit home at the same time, survived the first real tropical storm/hurricane threat since moving here, stage managed a magic show, and potentially broke a toe.

Also, I apparently decided that extended run-on sentences were acceptable. (You already knew I liked them in general, right?)

It's weird to think that I've finished my double theater duty for the summer. (C'mon, people not in the know, you didn't actually think I was at a real soccer practice?) As much as my heart lives in children's theater, it was wonderful to venture back to other times of performance, like the big broadway musical and the "magic and movement" that closed yesterday. All the basics are the same, but there's different challenges (Why do parents take children to the bathroom five minutes before the show ends? That's not how the orchestra played the song last night. You have seven feet of curtain space between you and the audience to do what needs done - go.) to all three.

What will I do with my copious amounts of free time, you ask? Box office shifts, for one, as I've done about three the entire summer up to now. (Sleep is a close second, though.)

little darling

Merv pulling up "Here Comes the Sun" at 1:15 a.m. is probably a sign that I should pack it in for the night.

I fell asleep on the couch after work, woke up at 7:30, and was utterly convinced it was the next morning.

I feel terrible, so naturally I'm going to drink a Mexican coke and go to bed (or, at least, go to bed as soon as the natural sugars filter back out of my system around one a.m.)

first time back on my own computer since, approx., last post

I just reread the quote on the right sidebar and burst into laughter again.

I want to talk about last night, but I don't have enough proper words. I'll talk about it when I stop getting grime under my nails every night?

well, I'm not bad

folded laundry, even ironed things

cleaned my room (for probably the last time in the next two weeks)

full of fish sticks

misery upon misery

My stomach woke me up at some a.m. to tell me never to eat that much popcorn again.

My throat actually feels worse now that I've taken my giant horsepill of an antibiotic.

I dreamed that people were trying to break into our apartment last night, and it makes me want to board up my sliding glass door of a bedroom window.

I really, really, really need to clean and fold things and shower....and i just want to go back to sleep.

east central division

It hit me yesterday evening, while explaining to Deb why I wasn't at soccer practice, that this illness/allergies thing is just a less severe repeat of junior year of high school. That spring I magically developed allergies (along with a killer cold) right as I was finishing up papers, assistant direction the spring play, and singing in approximately twenty-five vocal groups for district contest. I'm not quite that hard-hit this time, but the similar congestion + throat weirdness started a week into my double scheduled life (and has only grown since).

Ways I medicated (last time): still singing with all my vocal groups, developing sign language to use with actors, nose spray, Claritin, cough syrup

Ways I'm medicating (this time): walking lost in the rain for an hour, making nice small talk with the pharmacy guy, avoiding actors for one night, Mexican Coke, nose spray, Claritin, gigantic pills

fleeting

I was terrifically pleased with myself for having insurance when I saw the "you saved $xx with your insurance" on my perscription bag...until I remembered how much less the $xx was to my monthly payment.

so people know I'm still alive (without waiting two weeks)

I originally set up a Twitter account (the program that only allows 140 characters per post, so it's just for quick updates) when I thought I was going to spend a week in New York and would want to update the world on the sights around me. That didn't quite happen, but I might as well use it for the everyday posting, seeing as I never seem to post for real without a five year gap anymore. It'll be there in the right column until I either run out of text messages or start regular posting again.

fried chicken in the fridge

Last night I dreamed that Melissa, Meredith, and I were in London, exploring a magnificent garden (that also happened to be sixty feet off the ground and feature a gift store with an amazing amount of Missouri memorabilia) facing Big Ben. (I also dreamed that an 1800s James McAvoy married me in a wedding officiated by JCG, but I don't even want to begin analyzing that.)

London has been on my brain lately, and not just because of soccer practice bringing it up every week night (and some weekends, as I do paperwork). My iPod keeps playing Sweeney Todd and Jekyll & Hyde, both set in the glorious city. I can't walk around my own apartment without seeing some mention of the Brits, from pictures and prints on the walls to titles in my DVD collection. More importantly, I've had questions/comments from people at work, people that I didn't realize knew about such things, about when I thought I might try to move to London.

The knee-jerk answer, of course, is three days from now, depending on how quickly I can find boxes and a storage rental place. The realistic answer becomes more complicated (and slightly depressing), what with its talk of exchange rates, work visas, dual citizenship taxes, and the distance across the ocean.

The distance from everyone I currently know would be the biggest deteriment right now, mostly because it's something I'd have to get over to start considering the others. It's hard enough trying to meet up with family and friends currently (as in: while we're on the same continent) where I can pull a quick long weekend by plane, if needed. Considering I seem to average two trips out of state per season in Texas, I can't see how my rate would improve when faced with $600 10ish hour flights. (Think about that one, Mom, the next time you're sad that this duckling is so far away. Actually, you probably already do.)

On the other hand, whenever I think about *not* moving to London, I get the same ache in my stomach that I used to feel every time I thought about ditching theater to do something else. And, as long as that keeps popping up, I'll keep checking exchange rates.

Fun Facts!

* It's illegal to drive in the state of Texas while wearing stage make-up. So illegal, in fact, that--should you be in an accident--you will automatically be called at fault for being "distracting."

* If budgets and plans and inclinations of the universe hadn't changed, I'd be in New York right now.

* I don't have to work tomorrow, and thus the dinner #2 of Coke and queso that I just slung back (and will use to stay awake until 2 or whatever).

* I think I'm coming down with something, but not in a consistant enough fashion (just every two minutes out of the hour) for me to care.

* Soccer practice is going just dandy, thanks, and we've almost worked out all our plays we'll use each match. Go team!

the woodpecker sighs

I've apparently been asleep for the past three years, given the number of emails, voicemails, and text messages I've gone through this morning. Other proof of this idea, the conversation I had with myself last night, reading in bed:

You're about to fall asleep.
-I know.
Don't you want to turn out the light first?
-Would I have to move?
About a foot and a half.
-How about we compromise, and I just take my glasses off?
...Yeah, okay.

Thus, how I woke up this morning with lights on, magazine in hand, and glasses on my night stand.

It's been a long week (no, really, Hannah?), but a mostly enjoyable one. All the freaking out I did this time last week hasn't played out ("yet," as one might say). I just don't know how to tactfully tell people that I'm tired, now that I have a day to finally crash, and thus am probably about to go running just as much as any other day this week.

hot pockets at 11 p.m.

Sorry, I've suddenly become extremely busy. The MO crew came and went (and are apparently off spraining ankles now, silly people), but only after they experienced both the Houston sun and metro. I came back to season renewal season, which was a special gift from the box office. People keep asking me how rehearsal is going before they remember that I am not queen of the Rotunda right now. Fortunately, I've found plenty of other crazy to fill the time (key items of my life currently: jokes about being "on the list," jokes in code, vagueness).

My ladies are here. John is just a few days away. Emperor is closed. I have a whole week off from the theater, and--when I left last night, asking if I'd left anything essentially--the only thing people wanted to make sure I had was candy.

Remind me to rinse my hand out with more rubbing alcohol in the morning. Thanks.(Mini explanation: sidewalk and skin don't mix.)

I want a pet...probably a cat. This is in no way affected by the fact that someone at work has kittens she wants to give away. What does affect it? The $200 pet security deposit, of course. (And the fear that I'd be a bad pet owner, what with my own sometimes inability to take proper care of myself.)

ALSO

While technically the first song I hear was "Shake Yer Tailfeather," as performed in the Blues Brothers movie, and the first song heard as a song was Sam and Dave's "Bring it On Home to Me," I think ultimately the new theme song award goes to Queen's "Under Pressure" for being the perfect walk-home song for a warm Houston dusk while in a breezy dress.

"not wanting show choir to be any part of this"

Theater schedule (and my phone dying halfway through the day) led to a low-key birthday this year. Of course, after all the running I'd done during 23, that was probably for the best. If nothing else, sitting in the same spot after afternoon meant a continual dropping off of chocolate, good wishes, and one awesome superhero story (part one).

Hopefully this weekend will present time to hang with all those people who had a show last night, especially on Saturday, when I've resigned myself to being at the theater all day for show/rehearsal/show. Maybe yesterday set up the start of several birthday weeks, as I have a package coming from home (as soon as Mom gets the pony to go in the box!) and delightful Truman folk heading down at the end of the month.

In the meantime, I have bubbles and a bag of tootsie rolls. Not bad.

Hi, Chris's Mom!

I like being random and in-jokey, especially when those who know what I'm talking about are also those who don't read this blog.

I take a slight joy in knowing what a phone conversation is about from the smattering (ah, how British) of words I can hear on one side.

I love midnight movie previews, midnight movie preview audience, and movies in general. Especially when they're as good as "Iron Man." I do not love getting up for the 9:30 children's show the next/same day.

I don't know why, but this is the time of day when I'm more likely to hit the repeat on a song fifteen times in a row instead of, I don't know, going to bed.

if I didn't ride the bus to work, I probably wouldn't dry my hair

We have our first sold out house today for Emperor's, so I'm interested to see what kind of chaos that causes. I played tetris with the seating arrangements yesterday, hoping that would help today. (Maybe no one will complain about the general admission proving to be less than?)

Either way, I already have a headache, but I'm going to spin it in a postive, help-me-focus way. (Especially since it'll probably disappear once I eat some breakfast, here after I blow-dry my hair.)

evidence of mental deranged-ness

I dreamed last night that I was on the finals of Top Model, except that--instead of eliminating girls as they went along, they had a huge group at the end to finish off like at a pagent. Tyra was helping me pick my dress. Apparently, when everyone else is wearing black, you should wear the opposite to help stand out. (The opposite was shiny with fringe and at least two inches shorter than I'd wear in real life.) Did I stand out? As we went to commercial break, I looked like a Vegas showgirl in a sea of cocktail dresses.

Probably worse than dreaming I was on a guilty pleasure reality competition were the commercials in between bouts of house drama. The one I remember most (as it played frequently) was the movie trailer for the writer doing everything he can do to avoid working on his latest book and the reader he meets who could be the first to provide him with real inspiration again. Key scene: the reader (Denise Richards) walks up to the writer (Ashton Kutcher) sitting at a bake sale booth, sets down her backpack, and the writer mocks her for having read six books already that morning.

Also, I'm about ten minutes from leaving to get the theater (on a 10:30 show day), just to avoid the possible rain when all my umbrellas are under my desk at work.

It's taken until now, but I think this can be called my room being as messy as before. It helps that I've done laundry (not put away), pulled out some boxes to look for an old piece of paper (not put away), and have worn several assorted pairs of shoes in the past weeks (not put away, not any, not how).

Since today is supposed to be all rainy and such, I think that calls for cleaning rather than shopping.

[this much sleep related posting prior to 10 p.m. does not bode well for the rest of tonight's projects]

I really wish I had a decent lawn so I could sleep outside. I could just fall asleep in a lounge chair, but it wouldn't be the same. (Plus, we have fierce looking spiders. And the Marriott's always lit up.)

Over the weekend, I did the next closest thing, which was sleep on my own floor. I guess that's either "next closest thing" or "weird nostalgia," as it was on the same smaller-than-myself air mattress I used the first week in this apartment before I had a bed, a couch, or any other sleeping-comprable furniture. My back has not been the same since, which is approximately how it was back then, too.

I wish there were a movie I actually wanted to "watch" right now, because then I'd so get to fall asleep before 10:30 like I kinda want.

I think this is the first tech week that *hasn't* turned into a post about tech week, quickly followed by five other stress-fueled posts.

That said, I am a bit nervous about today, seeing as I haven't run a sound board for a show since I was a naive little intern. (Oh, the things I've seen since then.) Also, I wasn't calling the show at the same time back then.

Big news yesterday was that, despite the change in personnel (We'll miss you, Lisa!), I will still be finished for the season once this show ends in a month (36 days and change, according to my phone countdown clock). Status of vacations during my grand summer of box officing: pending, approved, and pending.

Status of me for today: should be getting a move on it, even if rehearsal doesn't start until 10.

paper? ribbons? coupons? buttercups?

Any particular reason why I'm watching Making Fiends at almost midnight?

Not really. Hee-hee!

The leaf blower outside sounds like it's going to blow my door down.

Seriously, dude, just knock. And be delivering a pizza.


[That makes no sense, but I'm going to leave it anyway. Welcome to my dysfunctional, but highly entertaining, Friday!]

The IRS has accepted your form. Press next to continue.

ONE. I'm so glad (?) that I'm poor enough to not have to pay for e-filing.

TWO. I got to talk to the exact right person, and I suppose I will no longer be looking to move elsewhere at the end of this season. This is good, because my room's really clean right now, and I'd hate to tear it all apart.

TWO.1 I still don't think I overreacted to TWO by eating a dinner of popcorn and Peeps.

TWO.2 I'm probably not going to share about TWO unless your name starts with F and ends with Amily. Sorry. Just know that I've worked it out.

THREE. I wish NBC and iTunes weren't in a fight so I could download sweet 30 Rock goodness to travel everywhere.

FOUR. The whole world seems to want me to have a vespa. Anyone wanna help a poor girl out?

Guess what I'm forcing myself to do right now?

There's a small (apparently insecure) part of me that's afraid that, if I somehow screw up my taxes, that's grounds for revoking my Adulthood badge. Not, the IRS will track me down, not that I'll have to pay out the porthole; that I'll have an item that exists purely in my imagination taken away.

This is the world I live in daily. Amazing, isn't it?


[Edited: Oooh! That's a nice number...would buy much polish for shinning badges...]

no more room on my desk

Even when it ends up being a "two clicks together and you have your prize" toy, the Kinder Egg was worth it for it being the Fezzik of the Vikings: large and confused about the world.

five hours later, room still clean

I love the slickness of a freshly cleaned out computer mouse, especially when I've fought with it for several days before finally pulling out the tweezers.

taxes, taxes, taxes - do your taxes

I spent half of yesterday and most of today cleaning my room. It no longer looks like a derranged bag (and box) woman lives there with her infinite piles of unsorted stuff. (I give it about three days tops before that changes, but hopefully that's enough time to vaccum first.)

I love beverages best out of a cold glass bottle. Plus, then I get a mini-light show when opening my Coke. (Our bottle opener mimics a lava lamp when used.)

Must do taxes, send out birthday cards, find someone who wants to discuss the Battlestar opener, stop buying candy (based on the amounts found while cleaning).

right now

Right now, I'm still in the green sundress I threw on when blazing hot from this afternoon's humidity and sunshine on the walk back from the library. (Thankfully, no one else is home to see such blatant girl-ness occur midweek.)

Right now, I'm watching the John Adams miniseries on HBO, but I'm somehow on the LatinHBO channel, so George Washington is swearing in as el presidente de los Estados Unidos as Paul Giamatti stands by (without Paul Giamatti's voice). This is way funnier than it should be.

Right now, I should move the leftover pizza to the fridge to prevent staleness. Instead, I'll probably pop the last disc of Battlestar Galactic into the player so I can finish off the third season. (I have to combat the girliness with something.)

another dream-let

I just woke up from a "writing class assignment to find 20 adjectives for the following project." Based on the list I can remember, we were describing Super Mario in 'Peter and the Wolf' Tax Software.

Also, did you hear the story about calling the show with visual cues from backstage with no monitor? (If your name is not "Mom" or "Angelfish," the answer is no.)

I should take a moment this week to write down all the things I know about working a show at Miller, as I'll only know them *right now* and not *one year from now when I ineviatably do this again.* Future Hannah would like to express some thanks to Current Hannah, if Current Hannah ever pulls this off.

you all everybody

If last night's dream is to be believed, the newest characters on LOST are soon to be Orlando, Andrea, Stephen, Cooksey, and myself. Somehow, we'll evaide capture when a horse (called Winter's Tears) prefers me over the Other trying to coax it back. The dramatic end shot: snow covered island, me on snow covered horse; camera sliding down to horse eyes.

I don't know why I felt inclined to share this.

I need to go grocery shopping since I'm almost out of queso.

Just to mention it to the world (and my mother): the guitar purchasing has been put on temporary hold by (1) the crazy busy-ness and (2) the sudden discovery of the small amounts of piano sheet music I tuck along to Texas (followed by the searching out of massive amounts of other sheet music, as there's only so many times I can play the Moonlight Sonata). Ten years of piano lessons, you're finally being put to use in real life again.

A Love Letter (I apologize for how long this'll take to load each time)

Dear Houston Rodeo, You have no idea how upset I am that I didn't make your aquaintance last year, what with the utter love I have for you now. You took all my favorite things about the Missouri state fair (plethera of fried food, carnival rides, people talking loudly about absurd subjects as if no one can hear their conversations) and added people being thrown from angry bulls. Funnel cake in one hand, cowboy rubber duckie in the other, rodeo princess hat on top, this was a land of details. Livestock sharing my name? An alpaca named "Miss Hannah" - check. A stuffed rabbit filling the empty cage (picked to look like the actual breed) while the real was out for petting? - check The border patrol booth set up casually between a leather shop and the jewelry cleaner? There it is, conveniently across from the Ford trucks so I didn't get caught taking a direct picture. Letting me get just close enough to use my full zoom for moderately fuzzy pictures of famous country music stars? But, really Rodeo, it was the finale of closing out the park by country-swing dancing to "I Walk the Line" with an expert twirler that truly made my heart go pitter patter.

I'll miss you 'til next year. Love, Hannah

HANNAH, DO YOUR TAXES

I keep leaving that strategic places in the hopes that I'll actually pay attention to it.

All three of my shows seemed to knock me flat yesterday morning, which is the general reason why people try not to do three shows at once. Probably I would've been fine with each individual mini-fire, but it was the sheer mass that made it all.

Managed a sorta-run of the Easter show by the end of the day, despite having no time to run cues without the cast to know what issues might pop up (and, oh, they did). There should be some time to do a dry tech this afternoon, fortunately, so thanks to touring for having another booking this evening.

Further thanks: my camera for holding out as long as it did on Monday (more later there), jalepeno dip at Chuy's, Cutting Edge 3 for being so utterly ridiculous, and Netflix for coming through with just the right movie

I don't want to hear about the beauty of America (pre-settlers) in charming Disney form.

This is twice now that Merv has tried to pull up "Colors of the Wind" for my listening pleasure this evening. Clearly he's not getting that I want less Menken, more Yamagata.

Maybe it's just all against cartoons. I did also skip past Pinky and the Brain's "Cheese Roll Call"....

for external use only

I just rediscovered my Hershey's chocolate flavored lip balm, which is one of the best presents I've ever received from a source I can't recall. (Sorry, long title.) It's one of the those lip balm flavors that truly lives up to the "keep out of reach of children," as I could name a few 20+ year olds even that would eat it like candy, based on the scent.

keeping everyone posted on the important things

I'm shifting into the final phase of moving my music to the iPod: copying all those single files with no information attached to them yet into iTunes. What's that sound? Me sitting in my room for the next month as I do nothing but geek out on music organization? (And that other thing? The one that sounds like everyone abandoning me for the next while? Hey, I have to do something until the picks I want are back in stock.)

I guess I'm helping fill out the all-cousins band?

Post-bills, maybe even post-savings, baby is mine.

line of the day: "This is the first time I've really noticed your eyes. They're freaking me out."

I look so much more like myself with glasses than with contacts.

One more factoid:

Watching that many movies will help you top the company Oscar race, even if you don't win anything beyond bragging rights and a Twix.

REPEAT [checkmark]

Just to put my final two cents in, but "Falling Slowly" needs to win the Oscar, as it still makes me cry without even seeing the movie at the same time.

Do we miss me being a positive person? (it was a long week)

Things I learned from attending tweleve hours of Best Picture nominees yesterday:
* I have the same typewriter as James McAvoy's character in "Atonement," which puts be about half a degree closer to him.

* Another way to be closer to Mr. McAvoy: winning a poster through Pride and Prejudice knowledge (thanks, ADP!)

* There's apparently a slew of mystery novels out in the world set from Jane Austen's perspective. This is way cooler than all the novels stealing the P&P characters and telling the story from their point of view.

* I probably missed 1/5 of "No Country for Old Men" because I was shielding my eyes from blood shed.

* Also, you shouldn't believe the time listing on your ticket. I missed the last speech of "No Country" because I thought there was a half hour to go.

* I can go through two large popcorns and sodas, but I'll pay for it after.

* George Clooney must have some contract thing now that he has to play poker in every movie.

* I don't know if I understand the genius of PT Anderson, but I see it in Daniel-Day Lewis.

* Anyone who wants to send me a guitar (or, alternatively, the "Juno" soundtrack) may do so at their earliest convenience.

all manner of emotions

I've had this up for the past, oh, thirty minutes or so unable to put into coherant words this day. It started with a feeling of dread, fulfilled the feeling of dread, fulfilled it again, and ended with the most dysfunctional performance of Peter that we've had yet. In a way, Peter actually saved the day from total loss; if things hadn't been so laughably atrocious, I don't know what would've happened.

Here's where I'm going to become all vague-like.

I respect people's ability to make decisions for themselves, even as those same might affect [all] those around them. I maintain the right not to agree with those decisions, or even just how they're handled. I promise to [try] not to hold it against people afterwards, at least not for long.

Also, I promise to start getting SQ G right or else stop attempting it all together. (That's a seperate thought.)

Happy Valentine's Day, chitlins, and enjoy your half-off candy shopping!

Oh, Phil

It's not like we have real winter here anyway, but it's always good to keep up on your favorite second-tier holidays.

(seriously though, I would let you all know if I was thinking about changing jobs)

The Good:
-Strawberry cheesecake flavored yogurt, which I could eat until the end of time
-rediscovering favored soundtracks while working on filling the iPod
-actually having money to put into savings, two months running (yay, unofficial resolutions!)

The Bad:
-CD player suddenly losing ability to autopause before playing next track, mid-show...but only sometimes so it can't be anticipated until WAS THAT JUST THE NEXT CUE?
-inability to fall asleep prior to 1 a.m.
-8 a.m. call

The Eh:
-newest edition of Artsearch making me feel overqualified for most jobs I'd attempt; underqualified for all the jobs I'd be interested in
-being close to the end of "Sense and Sensibility," thus soon to finish the most boring Austen ever
-false alarms

beg pardon, English degree

Full-proof way to fall asleep: three chapters (tops) of Sense and Sensibility.

Since there's apparently been family talk:

No, there isn't a particular reason why I need to update my resume. I simply felt inclined. I have been doing a bit of job poking, but mostly in a "see what's what in the world" sort of way.

the fourth largest in the country, in fact

I think I'm going to name the knot on my back Leroy, seeing as it's (1) completely theater-stress related and (2) never, ever going to leave. It put up a fight on Wednesday, and Leroy hasn't let me forget it since then.

In other news, I think I'm going to pony up the money to sit in a movie theater for 12 hours and eat unlimited amounts of popcorn. This tidbit brought to you by my joy of living in a large city.

goo goo g'joob, not koo koo ka choo

Somewhere along the line, my song of the [whatever, anymore] seemed to switch to "I Am the Walrus." I guess this reflects when my life suddenly became rather odd and somewhat nonsensical (but in a Bono rocking out way).

blah blah, clever north wind

I'm updating my resume for the first time since moving to Texas. (No reason...yet.)

at least I'm posting anything at all

I think I've mostly conquered the cold, if only because I've decreased the number of times that I've switched into a coughing fit, mid-laughing.

[here's where I stopped sometime on Thursday evening]

Friday night I bounced a baby as he chewed on my shoulder, until I fell asleep on the couch by 9 p.m. (a produce of Thursday night's midnight movie). Yesterday I made my best batch of brownies yet, and today I've spent all afternoon on the couch watching movies that made me cry. Since I'm about to hit tech week, maybe it's best that I got emotion out of my system beforehand?

working on feeling human again

A collection of one-liners about being ill:

- I received my insurance card this week, just in time to need it.

- Every time I've laughed at something this week, it's turned into a coughing fit. It's like having consumption, but only when people fall over or give me sugar.

- Brilliant idea until executed: consume the maximum amount of cough syrup allowed in one go.

- I had one about feeling more druggy when the cough syrup was leaving my system than while actually under it, but I don't have the patience to phrase it out before things get all fuzzy again.

come on knock on my door

I feel like I should post something for New Year's/End of Year Wrap-Up-ness, but I also lack the motivation to do so. (I lack the motivation for other things as well, judging by my rousing dinner of pickles.)

I think 2007 had the unfair advantage of coming after 2006, which was one of the most awesomest, rockingest years up to that point. Sure, 2007 was the year I first became addicted to text messages, my first professional mainstage, my first time not being killed by a mainstage, and--I don't know--my obsession with polka dot flats. Otherwise, it was filled with lots of stress and not sleeping and plenty of laughter mixed with plenty of asking if this was how life was supposed to go.

Fun, I know.

To reiterate, as I did so many times in the previous year and today at lunch: I love what I do. I have no issues with people paying me to call shows and write blocking and coordinate tech and have in-jokes with actors and the other ten zillion tiny parts of being a SM. I'm just starting to feel the natural itch of wanting to travel and discover...and a fair amount of the year was spent deciding if the urge originated with myself or somewhere higher.

So. A few goals for 2008:

* Don't freak out about life. No, really, Smith.
* Stop killing my plants on the patio.

Yeah, that's all I have for now. Again, *pickles.* I'm going to look at all my food in the pantry until I find something I feel like eating. Happy New Year!