perfect, shiny, and new

I guess traditionally this would be the "wrap up the year" post, but I'm really just looking to kill about twenty minutes before I need to start working on things for the evening, and frankly that's not enough time for anything productive.

(Well, unless you count popping open the bottle of sparkling grape juice you bought for the booth *now* rather than during the show as productive. Then, goodness, it's quite helpful.)

This patch of time has also been productive for:
* finishing my bowl of soup
* remembering the batch of paychecks in my desk for the children
* reaffirming that I know nearly all the lyrics to Everclear's "Buy You a New Life"

I need to decide if I'm actually going to wear my NYE-appropriate dress all evening, or slosh around in my usual blacks. It's extremely likely that comfort is going to win out on this one, but we'll see.

I can't get the newspaper to go on vacation hold, because they say I don't have an account even though the papers keep coming and the toilet that was "fixed" from leaking out the back on Wednesday now leaks out the front and for a moment there it sounded like a spaceship was trying to take off from my parking lot...

But THAT'S OKAY, because this time tomorrow I'll be on a flight to the northern lands, where--according to this morning's report, at least--we shouldn't end up snowed in anywhere.

Also, at that point, time needs to take some sort of slowing down potion (those exist, right?) because I won't see the fam again until probably next summer. [Also, I love my BCPE kids, but we all need some time apart. Yes, even with just one week to go.]

I'm trying to do an all carry-on Christmas this year, so we'll see how that goes. (That should also indicate how much shorter of a trip I get to have this year.) Also, please airport staff, don't break the [=======] for [-------] or else I'll cry big fat tears. Also-also, I should maybe see about getting a ride *from* the airport next week, seeing as I'll be headed straight to a show. (I'm already aware this was a bad plan. 3:57 at IAH, anyone?)

My favorite post-haircut game is "No, I didn't get a haircut."

Yes, I'm still nine.

There's a small part of me who kinda wishes I hadn't cut my hair, as it was fairly (within about two inches) of being Locks for Love ready again....but that side of me was happily beaten into submission by the 'tired of stringy hair' side. What kid wants my split ends, anyway? So, goodbye hair: you had a good year (wedding updo, Bellatrix updo, too many pigtails full of pencils to count), and I'm sure we'll do it again next year when I'm too busy to get you cut again.

Not so much with the productive today...

(though it's only 7 p.m., so I have at least another four hours)

Of all the things I attempted today, the only really successful endeavor was cleaning my bathroom (*you're welcome, soon to be here brother!*). I burned my casserole [which was supposed to feed me off and on for the week], I discovered that apparently the mall does NOT have a JCPenney [which then makes it hard to purchase family Christmas gifts from the JCPenney folks], and my day can always be torpedoed by a Top Model marathon on one of the style channels.

What *did* I accomplish? (a brief, somewhat disappointing list):
- bought a new gallon of milk
- washed dishes
- pulled out the vacuum (which is that much closer to actually using it...)
- caught up to middle of October of "Wait Wait" podcasts
- stared at all the cool kits in the LEGO store and again lamented that no one in the family asks for them for Christmas anymore, meaning I don't get to sort the bricks Christmas morning anymore
- bought discounted alligator earrings (the mouths chomp)

GOSH! I was productive today!

I should do this "stay home from work" thing more often. Grocery shopping, done. Cleaning kitchen, done. Laundry [including hanging things up after], done. Organizing junk boxes, done. (Though, regrettably, Finding address book to send out Christmas cards, failed from the start as I still cannot find the address book) Goofing off by reading half a book, done...and congrats to self on only spending that much time on it.

I need to vacuum, cook a casserole for the week, and finalize some Christmas presents, but I have tomorrow evening free as well (bliss!) to tackle the rest of my list. I should probably make a dent in my newspaper pile (only one week behind) before they become ridiculously out-of-date again. For now, though, I'm gonna eat another cookie based on my brand new stoneware. Thanks, Mamita.

I kinda wish now that I had just gone ahead and hung up the costumes backstage, but SERIOUSLY kids, you've got to remember these things. (Yes, even when there's free food involved.)

Note to self: make a sign for the exit door - in decreasing font size, "Did you earn your star sticker today? No, really? Sure? (Hannah says check again.)"

Last night I met an Apollo 13-era NASA engineer (who happens to be the grandfather of one of my favorite kids). He slept in his car during the Apollo 13 crisis and was one of the people trying to figure out how to change the filter so it fit properly. I only exchanged about a few sentences with him, but it involved him wishing [after hearing that I'm part of the design and implementing process, as far as pressing light buttons go] that he could've been in charge of doing the plans he and the other engineers created. So that's kinda awesome.

I should take some time this afternoon to clean and bake a casserole and otherwise put my jumbled apartment into order/prep for next week's collection of evening shows. Instead I'm still in my pajamas, breezing through movies saved on my DVR, seeing as I was awake before seven this morning.

Also, did you know that I'm three weeks behind on my newspapers? Jeepers.

But if I cut my hair before tech week, where will I store my pencils?

What's that? I'm about to hit tech week and might need to be reminded that there's joy in the world outside the theater? Okay then.

* I clearly should pay attention to measurements when purchasing online, since my new phone is roughly the size of a toy cellphone you give to children. It's ruggerized, which adds the bulk, but still. I've never wanted to paint something with bright primary colors more in my life. (I'll likely just end up covering it with stickers in the meantime.)

* COGSWORTH: And as I always say, if it's not Baroque, don't fix it.

* Side note (for next year, perhaps) - how have I never dressed as Belle for Halloween? I have the hazel eyes and [currently] brunette ponytail, I can probably whip up an enchanted rose, heaven knows I have enough books. This really wouldn't be hard.

* Dear Oreos: When you're on sale, it's like I have a reason to live again. (I'm joking. Kinda.)

* COGSWORTH: There's the usual things...flowers, chocolates, promises you don't intend to keep.

* Was anyone else aware that the kid who voiced Chip also was the boy in Jumanji? (Or--somewhat terrifying--he's the father of two children.)

* Gosh, I want to bake some pumpkin bread....but my kitchen is not prepared for that sort of disaster. Dear self: stop typing up this, and take five minutes to actually put things away in the kitchen.

* [How has this not been reedited into a purely B&tB post yet?] Gosh, the crane shot in the ballroom is just as magical as ever, isn't it?

Another good reason to bring the laptop to work today: currently downloading a NOVA special off iTunes

(Because no one should ever pass up free science.)

Remember over a year ago, when I was trying to decide on a new phone since my current phone had been dropped (and/or thrown across the room in disgust - hey, we all have ways of dealing with frustration) too many times and was starting to loose screen functionality? Yeah, I finally got a new phone in the mail today. (Don't get up in arms - I ordered it earlier in the week.) Add to the reasons I don't want to go to rehearsal tonight: 4. I just want to read my new technical instruction manual. I'm *that* person.

The rest of the list, in order:
1. Tired
2. I'ma gonna punch that kid.
3. [varies by day]

I did paperwork stuff all afternoon, though I didn't finish the main project I wanted to do (coming up with actors to do the turntable shifts). I'd like to blame decifering the director's plan, but it was probably just me turning lazy. That happens on Friday afternoons. (Also Wednesday mornings, for whatever reason. I really can't motivate myself to do much of anything on Wednesday mornings.)

dinner 2.0 brought to you by the fact that this ballgame is STILL going

Most of the time, I am not a sports person. I'd rather talk about movie release dates than player stats. I have a hard time keeping track of the lingo. I actually own a book called "The Smart Girl's Guide to Sports," all about non-sports people faking that knowledge.

[I don't think this is much of a secret. In fact, I was surprised when anyone believed I was actually going to soccer practice when I was attending "soccer practice."]

But....

Something seems to happen to me when the Cardinals end up in the post-season. I think this must be another genetic quirk from my mother, because I've noticed the same thing happens to her. They stop being the team that usually breaks my heart by the end of the season, turning into the team that Just Might Do it This Year, and that gives me license to truly care. I start to have opinions about the players, even beyond the known names. I'm able to have conversations over the sports section with the sports-obsessed house manager. Jeepers, I read the sports section. These past two weeks, I've been that obnoxious person at rehearsal who has the game updating on the phone when she should be writing down blocking.

So, yeah, it's unusual for me to do things like watch a four hour (and four minutes!) ballgame, or set a team logo as my facebook icon, and many other things I've done here lately. Just give it a week, people, and I'll be normal again.

"ROX-"

[Because I often need to be reminded] Things that have made me happy this past weekend:

* any jokes about tape recorders

* CARDINALS WIN! (My squirrel puppet approves.)

* this interview with the two current Doctor Who companions.

* this week's episode of Community. I seriously convulse with laughter when they hit Troy's timeline (and I would post a link, but it wouldn't be nearly as funny without context).

* graham crackers with icing, because I'm clearly nine

too long for twitter, OR twice in one day

I came in early before strike so I could print out my performance/rehearsal reports from yesterday. Someone left a box of cookies on my desk, which seems to say "PLEASE HANNAH, EAT THESE, YUM YUM, THANKS" but maybe that was their plan and if I eat one (or both - there's two!) I'll be horribly addicted to chocolate iced cookies for the rest of my life, and I really can't go broke four dollars at a time to Whole Foods.

I kinda think the meds I took earlier in the day for my congestion are kicking in. Who wants to hand me power tools?

If I could wear my pajamas to today's strike, I would do it.

My favorite moment of rehearsal yesterday is a toss-up between discovering that several of my teenage actors are Doctor Who fans AND the moment the director told our already-obnoxious youngest actor to "JUST LEAVE" (as in, the stage--this was a blocking rehearsal, after all--but with the tone of "get as far from my sight as possible").

That's a lie. The best part was going to Chuy's with Kat afterward. Creamy jalapeno always makes everything better.

So, we survived, which is the important thing. (Also important: all the large church scenes with the kids are blocked, meaning the majority of the show is roughly done. Whether they retained any of that knowledge is a question for next week.)

Not really related to anything above: but someone [with a larger apartment than mine] should throw a Halloween party, because this weekend I thought up a costume I could create almost exclusively from my closet. (Don't worry, my Thor-cohorts. I haven't forgotten the May plan. I just don't have any boots with wings at this time.)

this, on repeat

[but actually the live version from "Great Performances," which is apparently not yet online]

I had a rather long and rambling post set to publish, but I can apparently control my words better than my eating habits (what up, ice cream for supper!), because I'm gonna go ahead and call it too "girl-moody" to share with the general population.

Excuse me while I go elsewhere, such as to bed (seeing as it's now half 'til tomorrow).

Okay, people, it's like this:

I just really don't want to hang out with anyone right now, and I'm sorry that people keep asking. I'm stressed over a show that hasn't even started rehearsals yet, and constantly upset with my boss for throwing another (and another and another.....) thing on my to-do pile, even while he knows that I'm swamped. I don't want pity, I just want to be left alone so I can catch up again.

Also, the only people who are generally free at our odd-ball hours are fellow employees of this grand organization, which means--if we did hang out, we'd likely end up talking about work. (Don't even deny it, everyone knows the "when two or more ADPers are together, they must discuss the company" rule.) And that'll just remind me of all the above again.

I'm sorry that I've been short and huffy and generally less-than-pleasant lately, and I really am trying to not take out my stress on the general population. I'm just bad at it so far (and I'm sorry for that, too). I'd like to believe that a bunch of things currently stressing me will resolve themselves next week, and we can all be friendly croutons again. I'd just like to (politely) ask you to stay the heck away from me until then. Really, it's for the best.

I'm bad at this "posting online" thing.

Apparently the reason I haven't heard back from the manager at my appartment complex about a strange fine is because she is no longer the manager at my apartment complex (or, frankly, working at the company at all). So that explains things.

I wish you could add a message with friend requests on Pottermore, as I have no idea who (for example) LeviosaButtercup19 is, and no extra information is provided once you accept to make the chance worthwhile. (Yes, I'm fully aware I should say that to the Beta feedback page. If I could currently get PM to load, I would do so.)

Fun fact: when I tell someone "I can take of this project, but only if that's the only thing I have to think about for the rest of the week" ... and then that same person hands off a bunch of other small things, then I really don't know how to fix this communication problem.

Remember that one time I said I would write about the crazy Thursday show. Ha.

Dude! People with cars should always think happy thoughts about their transportation when they buy groceries. I can't express the joy I feel whenever I get to load my groceries into a backseat and not just my back.

Fun fact: I've had a headache nearly non-stop since Wednesday afternoon. Eh, I'm okay with this.

I can't go into details, as it'll end up as a Christmas present for [UNNAMED FAMILY PERSON], but the last thing I purchased at Borders today was so very random and out of place and unexpected and perfect, I can't help but feel it was the store saying goodbye and thanks.

slightly less depressing

Yes, Mr. Cashier, you bet pork potstickers and a quart of chocolate milk is the lunch of champions! Especially when you drip the potsticker dipping sauce on your skirt and get to lick it back off!

(Really, though, it isn't much better than the cold pizza I left at the other building which was *going* to be my lunch. Plus, woo-hoo, chocolate milk!)

(yeah, I'm just gonna backdate a bunch of things I never finished)

I want to write about Thursday's show, because it's one of those nights that reaffirmed some of the things I like about stage managing (fixing on the fly, knowing people trust you to work out problems, being okay with losing years of your life through stress), but I've just come from my fourth trip to Borders liquidation sale (now 50-70% off!), and I'm a little caught up in the emotions.



I think it's that line--toward the bottom--of "our spirits have been trampled on." I love books and movies and music, and my friendly neighborhood Borders (both at Kirby and in the mall) have been part of that fix for all five years I've been in Texas. It's where I've gone when I need to step out of work for a few minutes to clear my head. If I love a miniseries off Netflix so much that I need the next disc right now. I stood in line for the midnight sale of HP7 at the same Borders I was standing in today, in a similarly "all the way around the store" sort of line. Just like then, I stuck up conversations with the people in line around me (the dad with the infant who likes books "if they're chewy" and the mother-daughter team who kept handing their piles back and forth to grab something new), but it was about how we were sad to lose a place where we could come in and find a new book, etc.

And I know I should support independent booksellers and blah blah blah. But, you know what? I'm busy. I have limited means to get around. And I don't always know exactly what I want...which helps when you have a great big place to rummage through. If I was looking to pick up a book AND a MOVIE and a CD, I could walk out with all three from Borders rather than jumping around at multiple locations. I hope I'll fall in love with some great small bookstore (there's apparently one a few blocks down from work) and have many grand memories of it in the future. And I hope they take on some of those Borders employees that have complimented my purchases, recommended other items, and generally made pleasant small talk as I sat in their chairs, reading my next favorite book.

oh my goodness, sleep

I don't know what I'm allergic to, but we need to change seasons and flush it out of my system because all I want to do anymore is sleep. I'm not actually sick (no fever, no vomit, no pus--which I believe were the requirements my mother had for us staying home from school [hurrah, perfect attendance in high school, despite whatever tried to eat my soul/throat in junior year], which is the worst thing your body can feel when you don't feel like doing anything. My vague headaches and general listlessness are not enough to keep me home from work, especially not now that I'll have morning rehearsals for the Rotunda.

I have no other news, because this is my life right now. My apologies to the world that all I want to do at the moment is be antisocial and fall asleep on my couch by 10:30. Excuse me while I spend the rest of my lunch hour napping.

I think the first time I actually heard the song "Purple Rain" was while watching the movie "Purple Rain" yesterday. Sorry, Prince.

Still alive.

Still not stage managing the first slot Mainstage. (Phew.)

Still behind on my newspapers, magazines, and library books.

I'm gonna go make some fried eggs.