LOVE

[purely from today, so not an exhaustive list]


- onion rings

- the AMC BPS, especially whoever pays attention to details like starting the movie "Zero Dark Thirty" at 12:30A (as in, true zero dark thirty)

- Hugh Jackman

- interns who like to bake

- Excel spreadsheets

- Dolly Parton and Porter Wagoner's "Old Flames Can't Hold a Candle to You"

- being at the theater for a show when I'm *not* in charge

- not dying in car accidents

- Cobra Starship's "Snakes on a Plane" credits song

- the knowledge that there will be an episode of 'Community' waiting for me when I get home

"Is that the voice you use to call Ryan Gosling?"

I'm at the point of illness where I feel okay, but have lost about 1/3 of my regular vocal register. Sultry sick voice: you're fun, but I have things to do. May I stop coughing now?

In all my rewatching of Animaniacs over the last few weeks (syndication is a wonderful thing), I've noticed that (1) even being a with-it kid, there were a lot of jokes I missed until now and (2) I still don't care two wits about the Goodfeathers or Mindy and Buttons. Sorry.

I guess I should check on the literal "and then I found $10 dollars" I discovered last week, and see if anyone came back to look for it after I left. Otherwise, milkshakes for everyone*!





*everyone meaning me, two and a half times

In unrelated news, my throat is vaguely on fire, and I keep almost throwing up. So that's helpful.

How not to sell your property: the large note of DO NOT DISTURB TENANT NEXT DOOR.

Let's not dwell on how hard it is to decide on places to check out when I need to see what bus route they're on ... and the Metro trip planner software is currently under "technical difficulties." Thanks, team.

Also, hey there! one week out from tech, even if I'm not in charge of the show. I should maybe edit together all those cues that I haven't edited together yet, huh? It's not like I'm currently making progress elsewhere.

Two things:

I'm working on sound (preshow and intermission) right now for Texaco, and I wanted to note that

- Elvis recorded so much music, there's a CD out of his specifically "inspirational" sort of songs.

- Five words: "The Johnny Cash Children's Album." I want to hear the same man who growled out "Boy Named Sue" perform something call "There's a Bear in the Woods," don't you?

$5000 ham napkin

Things that shouldn't matter, but do: if I have to turn in this DVR, that means the end of 2011 Game 6 goes with it. (Also, who knew I still had all 4+ hours of game five against the Nationals still saved? Certainly not me! Who is surprised that I sat and watched the last fifteen minutes when we came from behind to win the whole thing - also not me....)

There is so much afoot right now, and I just can't even. Apartment hunting, Stupid Adulthood Decisions, and the end of 30 Rock: my goodness. I'm gonna eat my feelings in the form of a large pizza.


[Side note: I am pretty good right now, for the record. I just hate dealing with decisions that have no clear-cut solutions. My brain refuses to see it as "then anything could work fine!" and flips into overdrive trying to find the item with the most flaws.]

...and then I realized it was quarter-'til-eleven and I hadn't eaten dinner yet

Don't worry, Mom. I ate a lot of Goldfish crackers today. BUNCHES. Anyway, on to the usual bullet list, eh?

* Note to self: redo fingernail polish before Saturday, as a small sign to the stage mothers of the world that I can keep myself together [and disguise the fact that I will spend all summer chomping my nails off from stress].

* Taking a day off in the middle of the work week is fantastic. (Even if I was still dipping into emails, just in case.)

* Lunch dates are even more fantastic, especially when they involve four extra people you didn't expect to see, and a baby. Babies are great. [Technical side note: let me qualify "babies are great" with the proviso of "...as long as they don't have to stick with me full time." Sorry, um, all my friends with kids. Your kids are great, but...you know.]

* Oh, show. I think I only watch you because I can predict the plot points before they happen, and then I feel good about myself.

* Excuse me while I go eat, well, anything with higher nutritional value.

"I would never ask you for four"

[This post is going to get a little stream-of-conscious. Go with it.]


My plan was going to be to type up the Anne/Gilbert sides for Saturday, but instead I've been doing other highly important things, like reading blog posts from two years ago and finding amusing .gifs from the Golden Globes. I know people will say I should focus on not doing work while I'm not at work, but my work hours keep getting eaten by other things. And I *so* don't want to end up spending my Saturday morning typing scenes.

I think every single person in my office spent time considering other jobs today. It was that sort of day. Nothing else needs to be said.

I need to cut my hair because it's at that state where I can't do anything with it except put it in a ponytail so it can get out of my way, or I can keep growing it for the sole purpose of being Clara for next Halloween. As always, what good is working for a place with a costume shop if you don't borrow a Victorian outfit now and again. Also, if DW is going to gift me with a short brunette character, I'm all for it.

TJ Manatee, you're a fantastic roommate, but you should wash the dishes now and again. The sink isn't going to clear itself.

I love how pleased Mr. Vandemaar looks when he's stuck the knife in his hand.

Sorry, that's a Nevewhere reference. Happy birthday, London Underground.

[Someday I think I'd like to go as Door for Halloween, but people have enough trouble figuring out who I am from my weird costumes.]

I've managed to bring my new email count down from twenty-one to seven [with many more than just the 21 hitting during the day], so I count that as a win.

The Houston Symphony was one of those emails, and they're apparently playing Dvorak's New World Symphony this weekend. Sometimes it's nice to not be at rehearsal.

This is apparently post #2102. I always miss the milestones.

I should add a subtitle to this blog about how it's [nearly] always lists and be done with it.

* What really pushed me over the edge to returning that dress I bought on impulse right before Christmas? That'd be setting up an appointment for a technician to come out and realign my satellite dish after the wind tried to destroy it earlier this week ... and the cost being almost exactly what the dress cost. Between that and my shoulders looking weird, I'm now ahead $1.59.

* I'm now glad I have internet, as I'll be slowly streaming the new episode of Downton Abbey off the PBS website instead of watching it on the DVR tomorrow.

* Also, this is now me working from home Tuesday afternoon so I can be around during the four hours that someone *might* show up. Also-also, this is me not buying season six of Doctor Who this month. (Oh well. Most of it is on my DVR anyway.)

* Unrelated (as we always reach on these type posts): it's January, meaning it's my pre-Oscar movie bonanza season! Hurrah for not working a show slot right now, huh? (Though I promise that wasn't my thinking at the time. When we set the schedule, all I saw was the first chance to *not* do a show, even if that was after [... um ... nevermind, too depressing] shows in a row. Excuse me while I try to track down rumored short features and reupdate my Netflix queue. It's not like I have TV to watch anyway.

life and things

* I don't know how many times I've seen the "Breaking the Magician's Code" specials, but I cannot NOT watch them whenever they're on. (Thanks, holiday marathons.) I think it's the snarky commentary - I *know* how we cut a gal in thirds, but I hadn't remembered the quips.

* Related fun fact: one of the specials covers the trick that broke my pinky toe a few summers ago.

* Seeing as it's now 3 p.m., I should try to be an adult and do real life things, such as finish unpacking from last week's trip, unload the dishwasher, and (only in my apartment) remove the heels from the bathtub after washing off mud. Instead I'm going down a rabbit hole of full broadway shows on youtube [yes, while watching the masked magician over-guesture] and steampunk crafts on blogs.

* I should maybe eat a full, real meal rather than the ridiculous amount of snacking I've been doing so far today. Bah, adulthood.

* Now all I really want to do is watch "The Prestige." Mmm, Hugh Jackman. (And Tesla. Don't forget Tesla.)

* The show is closed, there's a few weeks until auditions for the summer show, and I have chicken wings in the fridge. I think life it pretty grand.

Is there a more joyful scene in cinema than when the Oneders [that's the ONE-ders] hear their song on the radio for the first time? (If so, I don't want to know about it. Thanks.)

I'm not sure why, but my copy of That Thing You Do! is now randomly pulling up the subtitles mid-play. I'm not selecting them, and then go away when I turn the subtitles [back] off, but it's weird.

Phase two of mailing Christmas cards went out today - hurrah! Progress! Goodness, it's easy to mail things when you actually have *stamps.*

It's a good thing I have a variety of food in the house, because that makes it [slightly] easier to move past sitting on the couch and eating nothing but goldfish crackers. (Have we talk about how I'm essentially nine? I thought I'd aged up a bit, but I was wrong.)

Oh, Regional Holiday Music, how much I love you. You, and Baby Boomer Santa. And Danny Glover's facial expressions.

I burned my pizza, but I'm eating it anyway.

* I can't stop listening to this same Macklemore and Ryan Lewis song, which is weird since I normally don't like rap music. Chances are though, if you've seen me with headphones on in the office over the past two weeks, I'm still listening to "Can't Hold Us."

* I have functional hot water in my tub again, which is notable if only because I no longer have to wash like it's 1812. (Thanks for the training, fort years.)

* Two other techies and I spoke to a group of eighth graders today about what we do and why techies are the real reason shows happen [at least, that's all I cared about]. I sold stage management, as I always do, as getting to tell people what to do. I hope that doesn't backfire on their show.

* Today I also looked up for review of the new Spice Girls based musical (they were less than zigga-zigga-ah), Oscar nomination short lists, and how long Allie and Noah were apart in "The Notebook." I promise I did work, also.

Excuse me while we practice dropping a tree on an actress. Theater life, how glamorous!

This is me feeling bad about not posting, and then turning into even more of an emo teenager than I already felt.

Hello, today I feel atrocious. I have a headache that has only gotten worse, and no amount of free chocolate left at my office door or videos of Adam Savage recreating movie props or interviews with new DW cast members have cut back on the general funk an all-day headache causes.

Happy things:
* I love reading the books I'm going to give away as family Christmas presents, as it makes me pick up things I wouldn't normally and then I don't have to make room for them on my shelf.

* New 30 Rock tomorrow!

* Christmas crafting

* Discovering there's a large variety of blueprints online to create a TARDIS out of LEGO. I like when geekery combines.

Things I probably don't need to keep in my wallet:

* The Continental Airlines wings I gained in 2006 [post 2006 London trip]

* a book of one cent stamps (when all the other stamps are own are forever stamps)

* an address that I later found out was incorrect

* a one-day Missouri fishing license

* a small rubber snake

* that Staples gift card I've magically *not* spent in the past two years

* A receipt from two months ago that has a midly funny quote on it.

* All those pennies. I mean, really.

Costumes that didn't work out:

Because I'm such a visual person, I have a whole file on my computer of inspiration pictures of Halloween costume ideas. One or two have actually happened (I finally deleted my Mary Poppins folder a few months ago), but most are possibilities from the past or for the future that haven't managed to happen yet. [And some that didn't even make it to the picture stage, they were dropped so quickly.]

Kaylee - Oh, Firefly's Kaylee. I've been thinking about putting together this costume for, oh, five years? I'm probably one decent-priced jumpsuit away from going crazy on this one. Really, that's the only big hang up, seeing as I probably have everything else already in my closet.

Zombie Jane Austen - I ended up being Mary Poppins instead.

This was probably a good swap.

River Song as Cleopatra - This was my plan for last year, but then nobody had a party. I liked that it meant I got to be a Doctor Who character ... who is disguised as a real historical figure that I wouldn't have to explain to anyone. (Those in the know would've appreciate the exploding TARDIS Van Gogh print, I bet.)

Lady Sif - The same time I wasn't Cleo/River Song, I also wasn't part of a four person team of Thor's friends, Lady Sif and the Warriors Three. The best part was the boots with wings - I wish I could have those for real life. (I also wish they were acceptable for wear in real life.)

Liz Lemon - How did this not happen this year? Surely all I needed to do was print a ID badge and buy a bag of Spanish language cheese twists. I blame work schedule for preventing even that small effort.

River Song from 'Angels Take Manhattan' - I have pearl earrings and the hat. That's as far as I got. [I really just want to be River Song. Who doesn't want to rock heels, shoot bad guys, and banter with the Doctor.]

Miss Congeniality - Would it surprise you to know that I have a sparkily full-length gown in my closet? Any year that I actually put together a costume, this has been my backup if the Plan A doesn't work out. I mean, why not - all I'd need is to borrow a gun from the theater's prop shop and make a sash, and I'm ready to be Sandra Bullock.

GOD BLESS

I am thankful for TAA parents who buy too much food for showcase day, orchestra covers of pop songs, and the giant bag of carrots leftover from last night's Bunnicula preview event (and it's good friend, Bowl of Ranch Dressing).

this is not the return post I was planning

The past week I've been scrounging together all the scraps of paper of started posts, messages saved in text drafts, and other bits of non-posts posts from the past two months of nothing.

This is not that.

Instead, this is me celebrating upping my text messages, as it's ridiculous to me that I ever lasted on 250 per month for as long as I did. Ah, five year ago Hannah, who couldn't believe she'd ever use so many! (This is clearly before I was stage managing many shows. I can't possibly SM without texting anymore, as that's my best way to track down late actors AND share snark with the ASM.) But three months in a row of overage charges (and many a month before of being mad at people - don't they know I'm almost at my limit?!) means this is probably the best investment to make. Also, think of all the pictures I'll post on Twitter now that I don't have to choose between that and sending my designers information from rehearsal!

Fun fact: this *still* does not make it okay to text me just "K" in response to information.

I'm still alive. Snark Monster is still alive. (These are separate, yet very important items.)

Life is happening - Charley, Sherlock, NASA, family visits, sport stacking, beaching, keeping all my fingernails (except for the thumbs, which I chewed off during last night's awful rehearsal), and etc.

Someday I'll update more specifically again.

Tomorrow: six years

Things about Texas:

* You develop opinions about guacamole and queso.

* You learn to live with humidity reappearing in February.

* "Winter" is the magical time when you start to wear a jacket--a light jacket.

* The metro is the friend to the friendless. (Actually, the car-less.)

* If you haven't jumped in a pool by the end of May, you're wasting your life. (See also: go to Galveston on your Monday off, take the NASA tram tour, and free museum Thursday)

* Much like other circumstances where only the people closest to a subject are allowed to disparage it, you now are allowed to hate on the Astros.

Happiness is [something I've lost track of lately.]

I don't know what it's been with this show -- whether I've never fully bounced back from my long run of shows, or aren't as sharp after taking vacation, or a lovely combination of both -- but I've felt off my game during the rehearsals of this show. Let me tell you, that's a shaky place to stand as a stage manager. (Also, anyone who has seen me these past two or so weeks: sorry I've been an un-fun, sleepy ball of stress.)

Instead of that: things over the past month that have brought me happiness:

* Bacon. (I mean, it should always be on lists like this, but there's something that explodes with joy when I eat bacon after a rough rehearsal.)

* Whenever a friend listened to me work through my frustrations, sent a cheery text message, passed along a music recommendation, asked if I needed dinner, took me to dinner, and many other things. (I hope none of you took it personally when I just wanted to be left alone, also, whatever your best intentions. Sorry that I sometimes need to be hermit to like people again.)

* Delayed birthday presents: I am so okay with this. I mean, I don't want them all to be delayed, but they're a fun pop-up a month later.

* The country western version of the Star Wars cantina song toward the end of the movie "Paul" - the best part of an otherwise whatever movie. (Excuse me while I remember to check itunes to see if it's available for download.)

* Running in the rain Saturday on the way to the theater. Related: knowing I had a change of clothes waiting for me at the theater.

* The hot water pressure magically working again in my kitchen. Okay, so it wasn't magic - friendly apartment workman Jose fixed it, as he has many other things at the complex. He also left behind a small mess, as he has many other times. (I like to think of me cleaning up after his repair as taking part in the process.)

* The begonias someone else left to die by the street, roots exposed and drying, that now live in my office - you're one of the best things I've ever found on the sidewalk.

* Nicknames.