You asked for it, so here it is, my entire tour schedule. I've bolded the dates when I'll be near people I know. I've also bolded "local dates" which are shows in and around New York City, so I'll stay at my apartment at night. Anyway, here it is:
January 13 Travel Day-Spending the night in Zanesville, OH
January 15-22 Florissant, MO-Florissant Civic Center
January 23 Evansville, IN-Victory Theatre
January 25 Aurora, IL-Paramount Arts Center
January 27-29 Elgin, IL-Hemmens Cultural Center
January 30 Bloomington, IL-Bloomington Cultural District
January 31 Cedar Rapids, IA-Paramount Theater
February 1 Galesburg, IL-Orpheum Theatre
February 3-4 Green Bay, WI-Weidner Center
February 5-7 Madison, WI-Capitol Theater
February 8 Joliet, IL-Rialto Square Theatre
February 9-12 Whitewater, WI-University of Wisconsin, Young Auditorium
February 13 Hartford, WI-Shauer Arts Center
February 14 Plano, IL-Centennial School
February 16 Ann Arbor, MI-Michigan Theatre
February 20-21 Wilminton, DE-DuPont Theatre
February 23 New York, NY-The Calhoun School
February 26-27 Staten Island, NY-Snug Harbor
February 28-29 Manasquan, NJ-Algonquin Arts Theatre
March 1 Albany, NY-Lewis A. Swyer Theatre
March 3 Concord, MA-The Willard School
March 6-7 Hanover, NH-Dartmouth College
March 9 Storrs, CT-University of Connecticut at Storrs
March 10 Westfield, NJ-McKinley Elementary
March 12-13 Frostburg, MD-Performing Arts Center
March 14 Walkersville, MD-Walkersville Elementary
March 16-17 Raleigh, NC-North Carolina State University
March 19 Charlottesville, VA-Martin Luther King Jr. School
March 24 Burlington, VT-Flynn Center for the Performing Arts
March 26 Morristown, NJ-Community Theatre
March 27 Mamarneck, NY-Emelin Theatre
March 28 Syosset, NY-Berry Hill Elementary
March 29 Harrisburg, PA-Harrisburg Area Community Theatre
March 31 Greendell, NJ-Green Hills School
April 1 Paterson, NJ-Passaic County Community Theatre
April 2 Trenton, NJ-Patriots Theatre
April 3 Paterson, NJ-Passaic County Community Theatre
April 4 Brooklyn, NY-Klitgord Audiorium
April 6-7 University Park, PA-Pennsylvania State
April 8 Harrisburg, PA-The Forum
April 9 Milford, DE-Milford High School
April 10-11 Hempstead, NY-Adams Playhouse
April 14 Somers, NY-Somers Intermediate School
April 15 Red Bank, NJ-Count Basie Theatre
April 16 Newark, NJ-Symphony Hall
April 17 Hershey, PA-Hershey Elementary
April 18 Tarrytown, NY-Tarrytown Music Hall
April 19 Mamarneck, NY-Emelin Theatre
April 22 Monmouth Beach, NJ-Monmouth Beach Elementary School
April 23 Ellenville, NY-Shadowland Theatre
April 25 Brookville, PA-Pine Creek School
April 28 Corona, NY-PS 143
April 29 Flushing, NY-Kupferberg Center for Performing Arts
April 30 New York, NY-Town Hall Theatre
May 1 Englewood, NJ-Bergen Performing Arts Center
May 2 Valhalla, NY-Virginia Road Elementary
May 5 Turner Falls, MA-Shea Theatre
May 6 Boston, MA-Berklee Performance Center
May 7 New Haven, CT-Lyman Center
May 8 West Hartford, CT-Lincoln Theater
May 9 Montclair, NJ-Memorial Auditorium
May 12 Washington, DC-Lisner Auditorium
May 13 Fairfax, VA-Center for the Arts
May 14 Towson, MD-Kraushaar Auditorium
May 16 Frederick, MD-Weinberg Center for the Arts
May 19 Scranton, PA-Scranton Cultural Center
May 20 Bronx, NY-Lehman Center for the Performing Arts
May 21 Poughkeepsie, NY-Mid-Hudson Civic Center
May 22 Pittsfield, MA-Colonial Theatre Association
May 27 Monroe, NY-Pine Tree Elementary
May 28 Randolph, NJ-Ironia Elementary School
May 29 Camp Hill, PA-West Creek Hill Elementary
May 30 Scarsdale, NY-Heathcote School
June 2 Chappaqua, NY-West Orchard School
June 3 Chappaqua, NY-Roaring Brook School
June 4 Wrightstown, NJ-North Hanover Upper Elementary
June 5 Otisville, NY-Otisville Elementary School
June 6 Locust Valley, NY-Locust Valley School
June 9 Suffern, NY-Viola Elementary
June 11 Brooklyn, NY-PS 109K
June 16 Fairbanks, AK-Carlson Center
June 19-20 Archorage, AK-Atwood Concert Hall
It's Christmas! Which means it's time for my annual Christmas post. It was a good year, as always. I really enjoyed spending more time with my family this year. Last year I had to make a really quick trip due to rehearsal schedules. Anyway, now it's time to break down the list of what I got this year!
From Mom and Dad:
Little Miss Sunshine
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Socks
Two pairs of comfy shoes
An electric blanket
Sensual Amber body wash, shower gel, and lotion from Bath and Body Works
Nouveaux CD
From Adam:
Chop Wizard
Little Women on DVD
From Bo:
Swarovski crystal earrings
A little jewelry box
His Dark Materials trilogy all in one volume!
From Carolyn and Justin:
A big bottle of Framboise! (because they read my blog :-)
Globe ornament
Williams Sonoma hot chocolate
From Sara (in the family gift exchange):
Waterpik Shower head
Choxie chocolates
From Grandma and Grandpa:
Money (which will most likely go towards the purchase of a Wii)
In the stocking:
A T-shirt
Hand lotion
Candy including a chocolate ballerina
I think that's it. Good stuff! Tomorrow I'm jumping on a plane back to New York. Along with the cat (Lord, help us). Rehearsals for Junie B. Jones start right away. It's gonna be a very Junie New Year. I promise I'll post the tour schedule soon!
P.S. I'm posting Christmas pics to Flickr, so have a look! Labels: Christmas
So, in case you were in suspense, I took the Junie B. Jones job. At first I still felt a little unsettled about my decision because of all those cons I mentioned in the previous post. But I've been settling in to the idea the last few days and am actually starting to feel pretty excited about it. Many of you have asked when I might be coming to a city near you. I don't have a full schedule yet, but hopefully will have one after Monday, so I'll post something here as soon as I know.
I'm excited about coming home for Christmas. Even though my trip is going to be cut a little short because of Junie B. Jones rehearsals. This year Tangent will be accompanying me. This will be his first flight and I'm not sure how he'll do. He loves the car, but in the car he's allowed to climb all over the place and look out the window and everything. He's going with me in the cabin, but he still has to stay in his carrier the whole time. I just bought a nice new airline-ready carrier for him and I'm trying to get him used to it. He likes it when it's open.
I'm really looking forward to tomorrow. Bo and I are going to have an all-day Christmas date. We're going to church in the morning, then to the American Museum of Natural History because Bo got free passes through his job. I'm really excited about the Mythic Creatures and Water exhibits. Then we're going to see the Rockefeller Christmas Tree because I've never seen it all lit up...although several weeks ago I was there the day before the lighting, so I saw the tree, just not lit up at night. Anyway, then we're going to one of our new favorite places, Roberto Passon. And to cap it off, we're going to Cafe Lalo. Ah, doesn't it sound fun!?
Has anyone heard of Framboise? I discovered it about a year ago at a bar called HK. My friend Brandon introduced it to me to it. It's a Belgian beer that's fermented with raspberries. I don't even like beer, but I love this stuff. Anyway, it's rare to find at a bar, but last night we were at House of Brews and I saw the bartender opening the distinctive bottle. I was so excited to find it at another bar! Mmmmmm. And it's so festive looking too.
It looks like I may finally have gotten another stage management job. It's a national tour of Junie B. Jones Live. Yesterday I was almost positive I wasn't going to take this job. Today I'm almost positive that I will. It's a tough decision. Here's the run down of pros and cons:
Cons:
-I would be leaving my comfortable apartment here in New York to live out of a suitcase.
-I have to figure out something to do with Tangent, my cat.
-This is not the kind of job I will be able to coast through. I'll basically be in charge of EVERYTHING on the road from planning travel to booking hotels to loading up trucks in addition to my normal SM duties.
-The first day of rehearsal in New York is December 26th. Not only does that cut into my Christmas plans, but it means I have to change my plane ticket, which will cost me.
-I won't get to see my boyfriend for months at a time. (Sad but true.)
Ok, now let's move on to the PROS!
-The contract runs from December to June. That is a lot of weeks of employment and a steady paycheck.
-I will work enough to be eligible for a whole year of very cheap health insurance.
-It's tour experience, which I don't have on my resume yet.
-There are several blocks of time that we will be doing "local" tour dates in and around New York City, so I'll get to sleep in my own bed and see my friends and my cat.
-The tour may take a break the week of April 20th. Perfect timing because that is the day Bo's and my friends James and Natalie are getting married in Seattle. I might still get to go!
So, yeah, I didn't have all the information yesterday, but I met with the production manager today when he offered me the job and I got a lot more details and it just seems like taking the job would be the smart thing to do. And who knows, it might be fun!
If I do end up taking this job, it will certainly help ease the strain on my wallet this holiday shopping season. And help me enjoy it a little more. It is so true that New York is at it's best between Thanksgiving and New Year's. It's immaculately decorated everywhere you go, all the street musicians switch to playing Christmas carols (the other day there was a full mariachi band playing Feliz Navidad in the subway car I was riding), and people are more friendly and cheerful in general. Or maybe it's just me who's more cheerful. Oh well. The effect is the same. I love Christmastime!
Thanksgiving...And A Compass Askew
I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving! I did. I really like having family just a train-ride-over-the-river away. Because while most people spend their late adolescence to young adulthood trying to get as far away from their families as possible (including me), there are days when the only place you want to be is with your family. Thanksgiving is one of those days. This is the second year I've spent the holiday in New Jersey, but the gathering was slightly larger this year. The usual suspects were there: my Aunt Janice, cousins Anne Kelly, Katie, and Tom, Anne's husband Brian, and her kids Julia and Theo. But in addition to the family, we also had Brian's dad and step-mom, Katie's boyfriend, and my boyfriend in attendance. The more, the merrier, I say. I'm used to fairly large gatherings when it comes to family get-togethers. We had a GREAT dinner, good wine, and took in A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving with Julia.
After dinner with the family, Bo and I headed back into the city in time for dessert at our friends James and Natalie's Thanksgiving at their place. We were both pretty much in a food coma already by the time we got there, but we hung out with everyone and had fun. Now, where as we had watched the family classic Charlie Brown's Thanksgiving with the family, we watched the just-as-much-of-a-classic Thanksgiving episode of South Park with the friends. A good time was had by all.
Yesterday I finished reading The Golden Compass, the first book in the series His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman. I really enjoyed it. With the film version of this book hitting theaters in a few weeks, the campaign of people who have never read the book speaking out against the book is mounting. Now, I have only read the first in the series, so I've yet to reach the conclusion and therefore I've yet to find out what the author is ultimately trying to say with these books. However, I have completed the first book, and I just don't think any parallel between the religion of this world and the world that resides in this book can be drawn. To do so would be like trying to fit a square peg in a round hole. Unlike C.S. Lewis' Narnia books in which the parallels to Bible stories and Christian ideals are blatantly obvious, the so-called atheist propaganda in these books is not so easy to decipher, if it exists at all.
But if we are forced to draw parallels here is the only one I can find so far: The church in these books is corrupt. But the church in this world or any other was created by man and is not necessarily indicative of the nature of the God it is supposed to be representing. I would liken the actions of the church in The Golden Compass to the witch trials and witch executions that were conducted by the church of this world up until the 1600s, perhaps longer. Would anyone deny that these happenings were barbaric at best? Even Christians, who align themselves with those same churches today? But, of course, Christians would say, "We live in a different time. It's not the same church." To which I would reply, "Precisely!" The church in Pullman's books might as well be the church of the 1600s. It has nothing to do with present-day Christianity.
But the best argument I have for anyone allowing their children to read the book or see the film is that there is no possible way any child would come close to peeling back the layers of this story to find any kind of propaganda, atheist or otherwise. I had a difficult time understanding the book myself. I actually read a passage aloud to Bo to which his only reply was, "This is a children's book?" And this is a Shakespeare actor, friends. Unless your ten-year-old has a literature degree from Harvard, he's probably just going to see a movie about boats and polar bears and a little girl and a hot air balloon. And if he can actually make it through the book, he'd find the same.
Tonight I was watching one of my new favorite shows, Samantha Who, and there was a pretty funny flashback to Samantha's childhood when she played Annie in the school play. The girl playing young Samantha looked awfully familiar to me, but I couldn't quite place her with the big curly wig. I was trying to think...what show have I seen that girl in? Was it on TV? Was it a movie? Then it hit me. I KNOW that girl. We shared the stage at La Jolla Playhouse in the show Zhivago.
It's weird seeing people you know randomly on TV, and I'm not quite used to it. It also happened a few weeks ago while I was watching 30 Rock, I saw this guy I also happened to work with on Zhivago, Chris Hoch, who was also hard to recognize at first because he was wearing glasses. He played a guy that worked in the accounting department at NBC. And all accountants wear glasses.
Oh! Here, I found a picture I had of Chris and Kelsey together. And I've modified it to be an artistic representation of what they looked like on TV.
There'll Be Parties for Hosting, Marshmallows for Toasting, blah, blah, blah
Christmas is coming sooner than you think. There's a chill in the air, the commercials for jewelry and plasma TVs have increased, and they've switched over to the festive red cups at Starbucks. And there's one more indication that Christmas is coming...my wishlist has been updated! Take a look, to see what to buy me this year! Or, if you're just curious about what I want.
I know that it's this time of year when people's social calendars fill up, but I am usually not affected too much. Not so this year. I've already seen one play this month and I'm scheduled to see two more (free through my work). This past week I went to see my boyfriend in Middletown, NY while he was there all week on an acting job. Also, my friend Sarah came to New York on business this week, so I got to hang out with her quite a bit, since she only had to actually work for 20 minutes while she was here. This past Sunday Bo and I went out to New Jersey for my cousin Theo's first birthday party (photos are on flickr). In the coming weeks I have a fund raiser, a house party, my six month-iversary with Bo, another trip to New Jersey for Thanksgiving, those two plays I mentioned (one is C.S. Lewis' The Screwtape Letters and the other is called Trumpery at the Atlantic Theatre Company), two holiday parties, then flying to Ohio for Christmas which will most likely include a ski trip, seeing college friends, and a road trip to Illinois to see the family. Of course, this list doesn't include the every-day things I have to do like work, my church small group, and a doctor's appointment. Whew! I know what it feels like to have a crazy social calendar! But I think if you know me, you know that I get stir crazy if I'm not out of the house having fun a fair amount, so I'm more excited than overwhelmed by the coming months.
This week I discovered a blog dedicated entirely to cookies! It's probably a good thing that I don't have an oven or I would be wanting to make cookies all the time! Maybe I'll have to make just a batch or two at Bo's apartment. But this woman actually DOES make cookies all the time. But she's still skinny. Don't you hate people like that? (Note: I don't believe there's actually a picture of her on the blog, but I saw her on the Food Network when she won the Pillsbury Bake-Off. Ironically, her winning dish was chicken and stuffing.)
Is it lame that I just blogged about another blog? Well, too bad if it is!
Has anyone else seen the commercial letting us know that there are "live and active cultures" in Yoplait yogurt? I think that's one of those facts I've always known, but choose to try and forget, like what's in a hotdog. But seriously, isn't it not appetizing at all to hear that you're eating something live and active?
And when they dance around with little faces, it's even worse:
And now I'd like to make an update to my previous post about the TV shows I'm watching this fall. Yeah, Cavemen is not funny. Not at all. So, that one is off the schedule. But I have started watching Samantha Who, which is hilarious. It stars a few people who I'm already a fan of. Christina Applegate (who I've thought was funny for a while), Melissa McCarthy (who's character name I haven't learned yet, so I just call her Sookie, which was her name on Gilmore Girls), Jennifer Esposito (who was on the short lived, but pretty good show, Related...but she's much funnier on this), and Tim Russ (who was on one of my favorite shows in my youth, Star Trek Voyager.) I'm fairly certain this will be cleaning up at the Emmy's next year, so you may want to start watching now.
It's almost Halloween! Surprisingly, I'm pretty excited about Halloween. I mean, Halloween was always REALLY fun until I was about 12. But once you're too old to trick-or-treat, it just becomes stress over what I'm going to do and what costume I'm going to wear. I think the best costume I've had as an adult was my sophomore year of college I dressed up with a group and we were the four kids from Scooby-Doo. I was Daphne, and I think it's probably the best looking home made costume I've ever done. I'd post a picture, but that was before the days of my digital camera...anyway. This year I'm going to be a fairy princess, which is what I was in 1st grade. But it's alright to repeat costumes after 18 years, I think. But I'm sure my costume won't be as elaborate as the one I wore when I was 7. I was looking for something that wouldn't be too cumbersome on the subway. I'll be sure to get some pictures. I think we're going to a bar that we went to the other night...it's new and I forget the name of it. But anyway, we saw a flyer that they're having a Halloween party, and what's better than a party that you don't have to plan yourself?
Oh, so baseball season is officially over, which is a bummer. I'm happy that the Red Sox won though, because for a Yankees fan (which I'm not), the only thing worse than the Mets winning the World Series is the Red Sox winning the World Series. And in my head, that's still a small victory for me.
UPDATE: Here's a picture of me in costume! I seem to have someone (someone being my friend Bruce) hanging on my wings. See more photos by clicking my flikr badge to the right.
Fall Into Fall...Let's Hope It's a Soft Landing
A Good Farmer has come to an end. I really had a lot of fun doing this show. I would really love to hang out with everyone again, but, unfortunately, this is often easier said than done. I could count on one hand the number of people I've done a show with that I still hang out with once the show is over. But Bo and I have vowed to at least hang out with Sharon, a cast member, and her husband Stu. We got along with them really well, so hopefully we will keep up a friendship with them. I also hope I can hang out with my ASM Jimmy again...or perhaps even work together again. We just got along really well, and found ourselves particularly hilarious whenever we were around each other.
Stu and Sharon
Jimmy
I put in a few hours of work for the Public Theatre today, the same theatre that puts on the wildly popular Shakespeare In the Park productions every summer. I just helped load supplies into the rehearsal room and various other pre-rehearsal tasks for their up coming show, Yellow Face. It was only one day of work, but I'm hoping it's enough to get my foot in the door with this theatre. I'd love to work with them again...for more than one day.
There's really not much going on in my life right now that I feel is blog worthy, so to keep you occupied while I try to think of something to write, please enjoy this dancing cockatoo. He has amazing rhythm.
My Man...It Sounds Possessive...and I LIKE it!
This is just a little fluff and filler...because I saw this on my friend Kate's blog and thought it would be fun.
1. Who is your man? Bo Hallowes
2. How long have you been together? 4 months and 3 weeks.
3. How long dated? Um…how long we’ve dated is the same as how long we’ve been together.
4. How old is your man? 40. 15 years older than me.
5. Who eats more? He does. Often he eats too much and makes himself sick. But I'm trying to break him of that.
6. Who said "I love you" first? Me.
7. Who is taller? Him.
8. Who sings better? We’re probably about equal. We can both sing pretty well, although neither one of us are totally amazing vocalists.
9. Who is smarter? He would say I am. But I think it depends on the topic. I’m definitely smarter with computers and technology. And I probably have a little more common sense, although I think that’s kind of a girl thing. But he's well read and knows more Shakespeare than I do...and he probably knows more about what happened between 1967 and 1982.
10. Whose temper is worse? Temper makes me think of getting out of control, so I don’t think either of us has a really bad temper. But we’re pretty equally matched when we get angry in terms of how much we yell.
11. Who does the laundry? We do our own laundry. Well, actually, he does his own. I have mine done at the wash and fold down the street.
12. Who is better with the computer? Me. Totally me. Poor Bo still has dial-up internet, and if it weren’t for me, still wouldn’t know how to work his iPod.
13. Who mows the lawn? There are no lawns in New York!
14. Who cooks dinner? Neither one of us. We eat out more than we eat at home. I sometimes cook for myself at home. But we have never eaten a home cooked meal together.
15. Who drives when you are together? Neither of us own a car. If we were in a situation where we were driving somewhere, I’d probably let him drive. I like to be in charge of the map while someone else drives.
16. Who pays when you go out? He does most of the time. Every now and then I pay for myself. I have occasionally paid for both of us, but he’s pretty traditional in that he likes to pay when he can.
17. Who is most stubborn? He is. I chalk it up to him being older and stuck in his ways. But actually, it’s not really a problem. He’s not that stubborn.
18. Who is the first to admit when they are wrong? Me. I always like to resolve arguments immediately, so I’ll say sorry pretty quickly. He usually needs more time to process what has happened before he says he’s sorry. But he’s still good at apologizing when he gets around to it.
19. Whose parents do you see the most? We've seen my aunt and cousins in New Jersey more than anyone's parents. Well, I’ve never met his parents. They both live in Florida (although, they’re not together). He met my dad briefly when we were first dating, but he’s never met my mom. I’m sure we would have met each other’s parents by now if they lived in the same place we do. Hopefully the introductions will happen within the next year.
20. Who kissed who first? I don’t remember. I think it was a mutual decision.
21. Who asked who out? Bo asked me out, if you can call it that. It was after the show we were both working on one night, and he invited me to go hang out with him and his friends at a bar in midtown. But he said he couldn’t get ahold of them, so he wasn’t sure if they were still there. His story to get me to come was that if they weren’t at the bar anymore, he still needed someone to have a drink with. I pretty much knew that he was interested in me, but I was a little nervous about going. If his friends were there, I would be hanging out with all these people I didn’t know. If they weren’t there, it would just be the two of us. Would we have anything to talk about? As it turned out, his friends were just leaving as we got there, and that turned out for the best. We really got a chance to talk and get to know each other.
22. Who is more sensitive? It depends on what you mean by sensitive. I’m more sensitive in the girly, cry at movies, get overly emotional kind of way. He’s more sensitive in the easily offended and self conscious kind of way.
23. Who has more friends? We probably have the same amount of friends, but we hang out with his friends more. My friends are pretty much scattered across the world and it’s difficult to get together with my New York friends because we all have pretty separate lives here. Most of his friends are from his catering job, so he sees them all the time and it’s easy for them to all get together. But I really like his friends and basically consider them my friends too now.
24. Who has more siblings? We each have one sibling. He has a sister, Susie. I have a younger brother, Adam.
25. Who wears the pants? I don't think either one of us can really be told what to do by the other. Consequently, neither of us try to tell the other what to do very much. When we make decisions, we're both flexible and we're good at compromising. So, I guess what I'm saying neither of us wears the pants. Or both of us do.
Ok, now I'm supposed to tag other people to do this...I suppose I tag Sarah Cooney, Tiffany Knapp...that's all.Labels: Bo
See If You Can Follow My Train of Thought...Because I Can't
Isn't it weird when you find out about your old friends having babies? It's just crazy. I can't imagine having a baby right now. I can barely take care of myself. I'm not even a good mom to my cat. Maybe if I was married, I'd feel differently, but I don't know. I'm enjoying being a little carefree in my 20s. I don't really want a kid and a mortgage. Not yet.
The other day I was standing on the subway platform waiting for the 1 train to take me downtown. I was leaning against a support beam, looking down the dark tunnel waiting to see that headlight that tells me the train is on it's way. And I noticed some of the other people standing on the platform had a very strange little dance going on. There were three people staggered down the platform, who would lean to look down the tunnel, and then pace back to the wall, and then immediately turn around and walk back to the edge of the platform again, looking down the tunnel. I don't know that any of them realized how silly it looked that all three of them were doing this in unison. And I was thinking to myself, "Do they think this pacing will make the train come any quicker?" It's like those people who push the elevator button over and over again. Can't we all just learn to be patient? I try to be. But I have to admit, I get a little annoyed if there's even one person in front of me at the grocery store check-out. Why are we always in such a hurry?
I'm considering learning how to play golf. Bo has recently picked it up as a hobby. He had played in years past, but he just started playing fairly regularly again. He and his friend usually go up to Van Cortland Park in The Bronx to play. So, I thought it might be fun to learn so I could go along sometime. I think we'll go to Chelsea Piers driving range sometime soon so I can learn. But, I do already know all the lingo and theory from years of playing Mario Golf.
It's time for the 2007 edition of Christy's TV Lineup. The old favorites....the new potentials. It's all so exciting. So, here it is...what I'll be watching this fall.
Desperate Housewives. Sundays at 9 on ABC. This show has gone downhill, but I'm not quite ready to give up on it. It was SO good in its first season, but it's never really been as good since. But I do still enjoy it most of the time. And maybe this year will be the one that's as great as the first.
Heroes. Mondays at 9 on NBC. The first season was way beyond addictive. I can't wait to see what kind of complicated plots we get into in season two.
Cavemen. Tuesdays at 8 on ABC. This is the series spawned by the hilarious Geico commercials. It could be great. It could be that cavemen are only funny in 30 second increments. But I'm way to curious about this show not to watch.
Pushing Daisies. Wednesdays at 8 on ABC. This series wins for the most print advertising in NYC. There's an ad on every billboard, subway, bus shelter, and mailbox in the City. So I've decided to give it a shot. It looks really inventive. It's quite simply about a man who can resurrect the dead with his touch. The show is presented as a modern-day fairy tale, complete with British narrator.
Private Practice. Wednesdays at 9 on ABC. It's Grey's Anatomy South. Dr. McDreamy's ex-wife, Addison, has relocated to Los Angeles to join a brand new cast of gorgeous doctors with complicated love lives. When I first heard about this show, I was a little upset about this relocation of my favorite character. But I've learned to embrace this idea. It means a lot more Addison, and I can live with that.
30 Rock. Thursdays at 8:30 on NBC. The newly crowned "best comedy" is back. I'm so happy it's been moved to 8:30 because last year it was on opposite Grey's Anatomy, so I couldn't watch it regularly. But I LOVE Tina Fey and I think this show is hilarious. I'm looking forward to being a loyal viewer this season.
Grey's Anatomy. Thursdays at 9 on ABC. Best show on television. Period. That's really all I can say.
There you have it. My fall TV line-up. Feel free to leave me a comment with YOUR picks for this season!
A Tour of New York, and How Not to Look Like an Idiot While Touring It
I've been having a lot of fun with the cast of A Good Farmer. It's a really fun group of people, and they like to go out and be social. Comradery is one of my favorite parts of theatre, so it's always disappointing when casts aren't very fun or social. This is not one of those casts. And it's also been really fun to go to some new places and explore unfamiliar neighborhoods. Most shows rehearse in midtown Manhattan, which is where I spend about 75 percent of my life, so I get a little tired of the area and going to the same places all the time. But this show rehearsed in Chelsea, and we ended up trying out a great little wine bar in the area called Metro Cafe. They have these things called "Flights" of four little glasses of wine, so you can try different kinds. And it's a less expensive way to try some pretty expensive wines. So, I chose the "Down Under" flight which consisted of four white wines from New Zealand. Very tasty. Now we are in tech, so we've moved into the theatre, which is in the Meat Packing District. It's the cutest neighborhood ever, and there are so many crazy places to hang out. Last night we went to this really kitschy place called Tortilla Flats that's decorated with a light-up Santa Claus and an excess of mylar streamers, and has regular bingo night and hula hoop competitions. I think we're going to become regulars.
And I just have quick piece of advice this week. If you ever come to New York for a visit, I'm just letting you know now, it is not cool to not hold onto something in the subway. It seems like tourists think that all cool New Yorkers must have cat-like balance, and so the tourists think they'll try to be cool too by free standing on a train moving 55 mph. Friends, this is not only very un-cool, it is very stupid. Basically, you'll end up taking a spectacular fall, probably onto a fellow passenger. And it's not cool to spend your New York vacation with a concussion.
A few weeks ago I met Bo and a few other friends at one of our favorite bar/restaurants, Joshua Tree. I came to meet him straight from rehearsal, so he asked me how it went. I told him it was fine except for the fact that one of our actors, PJ, just booked a film shooting in Egypt, so naturally, he would be leaving our little show. Bo's immediate response to this news was, "What's the part? Am I right for it?" After a moment of consideration, I figured he probably could be right for the part, so I said I'd check and see if he could audition. Bo sent in his headshot and resume to our casting director...and he was asked to come in to audition. This is when I started to get nervous. I really wanted him to get the part...but what if he didn't? Would he be upset? Would he not want to hear about rehearsal anymore? Would it be awkward for him to come see the show? Probably not. But I was still nervous. Well, as it turned out, I didn't need to worry, because he got the part! So, now this is the second show Bo and I get to work on together (the first was Memory of Water...where we met). It's great to be on the same schedule. Especially after the US Open. Bo had to work out there with his catering job every day of the tournament for about 12 hours a day.
Lately I've been thinking about taking a trip to Napa, California. Of course, this is a total fantasy because I have neither the time, nor the funds to take any vacations any time soon. But I've never been to the north west, and it just sounds like fun...road trips up the coast line, wine tastings, vineyard tours. Sounds like a good time to me!
Speaking of taking trips, I did take a little day trip this past Sunday...to a farm! About 13 of us from the cast and crew of A Good Farmer (minus Bo...he was still working the Open) drove WAY out on Long Island to the Garden of Eve organic vegetable farm, where we got a first hand experience of what it's like to be a farmer. We picked green beans, weeded lettuce, collected eggs, pet the goats, and hoed sweet potatoes. It was a lot of fun. I got to know everyone really well and it's always fun to take a trip out of the city.
The Magical Underground Train
It's really just the first part of this clip that's relevant:
I really like the subway. Yes, sometimes you have to wait for a long time for a train to come. Yes, in the summer it's hotter than hell on the platform. Yes, sometimes you switch from a local to an express train, but the express train runs so slow that the local beats you anyway. But the benefits far outweigh these minor inconveniences. I love being able to do something else on my commute...read a book...play my gameboy...stare into nothingness. I love that I don't really have to go figure out how to get someplace. I just have to know which train will take me there. I love that I'm being nice to the environment without really trying. I REALLY love that I don't have to worry about the price of gas. But, really, the reason I love the subway is because of the direct contact with my fellow New Yorkers. People from all areas of the city, and from all walks of life ride the subway. Businessmen on their way to work, teenagers going to a movie, mothers with babies, young couples back from a day of Ikea shopping. The other day I was sitting across from an elderly Chinese man who must have had about 100 rubber bands around is wrist, a few laced around his fingers. He wore a bright, multi-colored polo shirt and socks emblazoned with "USA" in patriotic colors. And I was totally entertained on my way to work, just by looking at this man, and wondering what he was going to do with all those rubber bands.
My apartment building seems to be emptying. I guess summer is usually the time of change for people who are moving. A woman who lived on the third floor moved out recently, although I never really saw her much. A girl from Germany who lived on the 4th floor returned to her home country. And just yesterday, my neighbor, Marylin moved out, and she's headed to Spain to live with her fiance there. She met him on a bus when he was here visiting New York. At the end of his week-long stay, they were engaged. He's been back to visit her once since then, but they have basically only spent about 2 weeks total in the same country. I've already told her all the practical things...he might just want a green card...he might want her money...he might be...anything! She barely knows him! But she's promised she's not going there to marry him right away. Oh, well. It's her life. Anyway, now there are three empty apartments in my building not counting the one that has been empty since I moved in almost a year and a half ago. So, if anyone needs a place in New York, let me know! I'm pretty sure I live in the cheapest building in Manhattan.
"The Course of True Love Never Did Run Smooth"
This past Wednesday I took part in a New York tradition. I got up early and stood in line for three and a half hours to get free tickets to Shakespeare in the Park. Every summer The Public Theatre puts on classic plays at the outdoor Delacorte Theatre in Central Park, and the generous corporate sponsorship allows these plays (which have in the past has featured the likes of Meryl Streep, Kevin Kline, Liev Schreiber, Natalie Portman, etc) to be absolutely free. They give out tickets at 1pm on the day of the show. But of course, people begin queuing up at the crack of dawn...sometimes they even spend the night. I got there at about 9:30am, and had no problem getting tickets. Of course, it was a Wednesday, and the weather was a bit damp, so that may have deterred some people from coming out. Bo came to join me about an hour later. Usually line jumping is strictly prohibited by the other angry New Yorkers in line, but you are allowed two tickets per person, and we were only getting one ticket each anyway, so it didn't really matter.
The show we saw was A Midsummer Night's Dream. I haven't seen this play since my high school production, so it was fun to see again. I thought it was really well done. Most of the actors were great, and I thought it was cool that they cast children as the fairies instead of adults. It gave it a more magical feel. Bo has actually played almost every male character in that play, so he's a pretty tough critic, and he loved it too.
Speaking of Bo, we had a healthy debate the other night about modern movies versus classics. He said there was so much crap put out these days, and he thinks movies from the 50s and 60s were much better quality. I argued that there are still great movies put out these days, and that there were crap movies in the 50s and 60s too, but you just don't know about them...because they were crap. So, my question for you, dear readers, is what do you think of movies these days? Are they all crap? Or are there still innovative, good quality movies being made?
I'm back from Ohio/Illinois...and what a trip it was. It was really nice to get home for a while and see my family. Especially right now while I have no show to work on, and my boyfriend is also out of town. I got to spend a lot of time with my brother, which was cool. We got to do our annual The Beach Waterpark trip. And I also got to see his new apartment, right by Eden Park in downtown Cinci. And I got to meet his girlfriend, Katie. I think she's probably my favorite of his girlfriends to date.
The trip to Illinois was crazy as always. We went to my annual family reunion for my mom's side where I always meet new relatives. It gets sorta insane because not only do I have about 30 cousins including my first cousins' spouses and children, but my mom also has a gazillion cousins, many of whom have grandkids by this point. So the family just grows exponentially every year. But big families are a lot of fun, and I'm thankful for mine.
We also got to visit the Thede side while in Illinois, and it worked out great this year because I got to see all my cousins (although there are far fewer on the Thede side). In recent years it's been harder to get us all together with sports, college, jobs, etc. We played a crazy game of Polish Uno. I think I got the hang of it, but I could not for the life of me explain it to you.
So now I'm back in New York, where I should have started rehearsal for a new show last night. But it turns out, we're not starting until next week now. Oh well. That gives me a chance to get unpacked and run some errands this week. Oh, the new show is called A Good Farmer, and I'm sure you'll hear more about it from me in the coming weeks.
And finally, friends, it is a monumental week. This week, by boyfriend leaves his 30s behind and marches onward to those wonderfully "mature" years. This Wednesday, he turns 40. Scary...I think more for me than for him. But oh, well. It's one of those things that if I think about it for too long, it starts to seem a little weird. But in reality, it's no big deal. In fact, I like being with a guy who actually acts like a grown-up. So, I think that I'm of the opinion, now more than ever, that age is just a number. A relationship should be based on things far more important than the year we were born.
Back to Ohio, and A Few More Harry Thoughts
I'm in Ohio! Yes, I worked so hard trying to get out of here...but I'm only back for a visit. This is actually the first decent sized visit I've had since moving away. I've always just come home for a few days due to my crazy schedule. This time it's been nice to relax and hang out with friends and not feel like I always have to be someplace. And I have to admit, it's nice to have air conditioning in this kind of heat!
Yesterday I got to hang out in Dayton for the evening with all my coolest college friends. My brother Adam, Christine, Sarah, and I all went to Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix for the second time. Sarah and Christine had not yet had the IMAX 3D experience. Everyone should have the experience of seeing Dan Radcliffe's face eight stories tall and popping out of the screen. After the movie we met up with some more friends for dinner and hanging out. Just like old times.
(The following paragraph is spoiler-free...but feel free to skip it if you're being extra cautious before you finish the final Harry Potter book.)
So, after seeing the movie for a second time, I've decided that it contains my favorite line out of all five five films to date. Not to give the films the same credence as the books, but I don't think I've ever heard a better summation of the series than when Sirius Black said, "We have all got both light and dark inside us. What matters is the power we chose to act on. That’s who we really are." It's not a direct quote from the book, but I believe it encompasses the theme of the series (and it was so beautifully written by the wonderful new screen writer who I wish was staying to do the rest of the films). I think that one of the most defining things about this series that sets it apart from other children's literature is the complexity of its characters. The 'good' characters make bad choices. They have tragic flaws like pride, anger, selfishness, and greed. And these flaws sometimes even win out. The 'bad' characters become sympathetic, like when Snape was flipped on his head by James Potter or when we learn about Voldemort's tormented childhood. But that's how life is. I know I've felt the "light and dark" inside myself. I hope it is the light that I more often act upon.
Well, I've finished the book. The last book. I feel both excitement and regret. Excitement that I finally know all there is to know. That Jo Rowling can now freely answer any question asked of her. That a new era of Harry discussion has begun. That I have finally reached, along with Harry, the end of this incredible journey. But regret...regret that I have to, literally and figuratively, close the book on this nearly ten year chapter of my life. Regret that there will be no more wild but often very interesting theories about how it will all end. Regret that I will never again have to pre-order a book, and then wait in a long line at midnight to experience that amazing moment when a store worker hands over the coveted volume, full of all the answers to secrets I've been longing to find out!
And now, if you haven't finished reading Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, STOP READING NOW! The rest of this post is about my reactions to the book. Don't spoil it for yourself! Come back and read the rest of this post once you've finished the book...and now...
MERLIN'S PANTS
MERLIN'S PANTS
MERLIN'S PANTS
MERLIN'S PANTS
MERLIN'S PANTS
MERLIN'S PANTS
MERLIN'S PANTS
MERLIN'S PANTS
Ok, I hope if you're reading now, you've finished Deathly Hallows...or you never plan on reading it anyway, so you don't care about finding out how it ends!
It's still sinking in...but I really believe this is the best book of the series. Here's a few reasons why:
- The Deathly Hallows. I loved the idea of this children's story, The Tale of the Three Brothers, being so important for Harry. I really like legends and especially when a legend is so old, no one even knows how the story started or by who. And it's especially cool when the legend turns out to be true. And I was strongly reminded of CS Lewis when Harry had to decide: should he continue on the task set before him by Dumbledore, to destroy the Horcruxes, or should he pursue the Deathly Hallows, which were such a strong temptation to him. It was so like the Silver Chair, when the children are tempted to stray from their task, set for them by Aslan. But Harry showed his strength of character when he chose the Horcruxes. A decision which turned out to be exactly right.
- Dobby's death. If you had told me before I read this book that Dobby would die, I probably would have felt a little sad for the poor elf, but I wouldn't have been too torn up. After all, I didn't cry when Sirius died. I teared up only slightly for Dumbledore. I wouldn't have thought the death of a house elf would affect me too strongly. I would have been wrong. Dobby died a hero's death. He was frightened at the prospect of saving Harry and his friends from Malfoy Manor, where he was once a slave. But he did it. And the following chapter, when Harry picks up a shovel and digs Dobby's grave without using magic is, in my opinion, the most beautifully written passage in the entire series. And I cried throughout the entire thing. As Oprah says, it was an 'ugly cry'. The kind when your eyes get red and puffy and your nose starts to run and you can't catch your breath. But what can I say? It got to me!
- Harry's Sacrifice. After all these years of hearing "Harry Potter is evil" "It's witchcraft" "It teaches our children to be ill-behaved and turns them into little warlocks" it turns out, Harry Potter is a Christian allegory. Back in 2000, JK Rowling said, "Every time I've been asked if I believe in God, I've said yes, because I do, but no one ever really has gone any more deeply into it than that, and I have to say that does suit me, because if I talk too freely about that I think the intelligent reader, whether 10 or 60, will be able to guess what's coming in the books." And now that I've read the end of the book, this quote makes perfect sense. Harry finds out that he must die to kill Voldemort. He must die so that others can live. And he walks to his death fearful and sad. But although he does not want to die, he knows that there is no other way. Sound familiar? But what Harry doesn't know is that he will be resurrected. He willingly sacrificed himself. Just like Aslan. Just like Christ.
- Luna Lovegood. Always the optomist, even when she's being held captive in a dark chamber by Voldemort's followers. And I just loved when she took Harry to the Ravenclaw common room:
[Luna] knocked once, and in the silence it sounded to Harry like a cannon blast. At once the beak of the eagle opened, but instead of a bird’s call, a soft, musical voice said, “Which came first, the phoenix or the flame?”
“Hmm … What do you think, Harry?” said Luna, looking thoughtful.
“What? Isn’t there a password?”
“Oh no, you’ve got to answer a question,” said Luna.
“What if you get it wrong?”
“Well, you have to wait for somebody who gets it right,” said Luna. “That way you learn, you see?”
“Yeah … Trouble is, we can’t really afford to wait for anyone else, Luna.”
“No, I see what you mean,” said Luna seriously. “Well then, I think the answer is that a circle has no beginning.”
“Well reasoned,” said the voice, and the door swung open.
- Professor McGonagall rising to the occasion. She's always been a favorite of mine and in this book, she didn't disappoint. In particular, I loved her confrontation with Slughorn.
- Ron and his new attitude towards women. He was cracking me up with all his good manners and his compliments. He finally got a clue! It's about time, Ron!
- The battle at Hogwarts. Yes, there were some scary and sad moments, but I loved it. Neville and Sprout running down the hall with mandrakes, the suits of armour springing to life, the D.A. back together again, the old Quidditch team including Oliver Wood! It was great.
Harry Potter Induced Cardiac Arrest
It's here...after nearly ten years of reading, discussing, guessing, and waiting, the day has finally arrived. Tonight at midnight, I will have in my hand, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. I don't even think I can verbalize how I feel today! Euphoric, devastated, excited, nervous. But one thing is for sure. Tonight is going to be the most Harry Potter related fun I've ever had! Christine and I are going to be swinging by the Scholastic street fair before going to Barnes and Noble in Union Square where I'll get my book!
We had to go to the store this morning at 10:00 to get a numbered wristband, which will tell me where my place in line is tonight. The line was allllllllllllll the way around the block, and people were dressed in full wizard attire. Here's a little video I shot of the line:
And here I am getting my wristband!
Yesterday I turned the big 25. Christine and I had a fun day starting with an all-you-can-eat Indian buffet for only $6! Yum. And then we hung around the Rockefeller Plaza area and visited the Nintendo Store where I got to play the Harry Potter Wii game! We met up with Bo at the fondue restaurant Kashkaval where I was surprised with a cake and a rousing chorus of "Happy Birthday." Finally, we went to a bar and met up with some more friends, and got to watch the Mets beat the Dodgers. All in all, a great day.
I've added lots of new photos over the past couple days, so click on my flickr badge to the right to see them!
Having lived in New York for quite a while now, there are many things about the city and its quirks that I've come to enjoy. Some of them are obvious, and others are things you would probably never notice if you didn't live here...
Free straws! Whenever you get a can or bottle of soda from some deli or convenience store, you are always given a straw.
Three words. Wash and Fold. These laundry stores are located all over the city, where lovely women will wash, dry, and neatly fold all your laundry just like mom used to. They'll even pick it up and deliver it to your door. It always comes back smelling downy-fresh.
Swimming in the fountains. Back in Ohio, it is a popular summer pastime among high school and college students to visit fountains in the wee morning hours, so that they will hopefully not get caught splashing through them. In New York, it is common on a hot day (like today...97!) to see kids and adults alike swimming in the many public fountains...and it's totally legal.
People who say "on line" instead of "in line." Repeten. (A) I stood on line for 36 hours to get the new iPhone, and was very disappointed when it did not work properly. (B) You need to get on line very early in the morning to get tickets to the Spice Girls Reunion Tour. Muy Bien.
Crocs. The rest of the US may think these shoes are strange looking at best, and extremely dorky at worst. Nay! say New Yorkers. They are the most comfortable shoes on the planet and every man, woman, and child here owns a pair.
No need for a designated driver. Have you been out with your friends? Have you had a few too many? Not to worry! You can catch a ride home with your friendly Metropolitan Transit Authority. Or if you have money growing out your ears, take a cab!
Italian Ice. It's yummy. It's cheap. It's cold. It comes in hundreds of fruity flavors. And you can only get it on the east coast.
Speaking of cold and yummy things, has anyone else tried a Frosty Float at Wendy's? They are SO good. Good thing I have to go out of my way to go to Wendy's, or I'd get one every day.
It's officially July and that means it's the best month ever! Only 18 days until Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows!!!!! I can't believe it's so close. I can't believe it's going to be the last time I ever get to read a Harry Potter book not knowing how it will end. I can't believe I'm finally going to turn to that last page and read the word that JK Rowling has always said would be the last, "scar."
And before the book comes out, I want to go on record with just a couple of my theories. They may be wrong, but at least I'll have them in print.
I also have an idea as to why neither of them have wands. At the end of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Harry and Voldemort attempt to duel, but they can't because they have brother wands...their wands each have a Phoenix feather core, given from the the same Phoenix. JK Rowling has said that wandless magic will play an important role in the final book, and believe that's why, and that's why we see Harry and Voldemort without wands on the cover.
Ok, so now I have my theories in print and later I'll either look back and be impressed with my prediction skills, or laugh at how very wrong I was.
I'm excited about my plans for the eve of the big July 21st release. Scholastic, which has it's headquarters in SoHo, is holding a Harry Potter street fair starting at 5pm. I plan on stopping by there for a little while. Then, I'm going to be heading to the Union Square Barnes and Noble where Jim Dale, the reader of the audio books, will be reading excepts from the first six books starting at 10:30pm and counting down to midnight, when I will FINALLY have the book in hand.
There are other reasons to be happy it's July besides the final Harry Potter book. Bo gets home from Montana on July 5th. The Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix movie comes out July 11th, which I already have my tickets to see in IMAX! My friend Christine is coming to visit in the midst of all the Harry Potter hype. And my friend Sarah might be coming too. My birthday is July 19th! Whoa, too much excitement. My system might go into shock after a very boring June.
I'm trying to stop thinking of my life as boring and start thinking of it as relaxing. I mean, it's not like I never do anything. I go to work a few days a week. I go out with my friends a few days a week. But that does still leave a lot of unoccupied hours. Oh well. I like my apartment. I like my cat. So, I guess it's ok to be home a lot. I'm just really looking forward to Bo coming back to New York. Right now he's in Montana directing a play called Greater Tuna there, and he gets back to the city on July 5th. I guess I would be more glad of this free time if he was around. Right now it just feels like a waste, because I don't have much else to be doing.
I did have a little fun recently when I went to my friend Victoria's PENTHOUSE! Yes, she lives in a penthouse in Battery Park (the southern most part of Manhattan). You may wonder why my friend Victoria, the New York actress, is so well off. Well, her husband, Jeff Rovin, is a ghost writer for Tom Clancy. Anyway, we had some homemade pizza and watched Dreamgirls (in high definition Blu-ray, of course). I think one of my favorite things to do in New York is go to other people's apartments. It's so interesting to see how people live in this city. People often do a lot with a little, even in the very expensive apartments, like the one I was just in. The apartment itself wasn't huge. Nice, but not huge. But the VIEW is amazing:
There's so much more to apartments in this city than their size. There's location (Battery Park is not too shabby), view (river? park? skyline? all three??), terrace, roof access, the building as a whole. And the fact that many apartments are over 100 years old (like mine) and some extremely modern makes for a lot of different styles. Nope, no cookie cutter living spaces in New York.
Labels: apartmentsOn this first day of summer, I am reminded of not only the changing seasons of nature, but the changing seasons of my life. And so, I think it is high time for a new blog. Xanga, you've been great, but I believe this is a change for the better. There are several reasons why I decided to make the switch to blogspot:
1. COMMENTS! You no longer have to be a xanga user...or an anything user...to comment on my blog. Anyone can comment without having to sign up for a thing. So, that means I'll be expecting lots of comments!
2. Links to my favorite people. The links to the right are to ALL my favorite blogs. I can link to anyone's blog. No more exclusive "xanga only" blog links.
3. It looks pretty. There are much better templates for blogspot, and since I'm html challenged, I'm grateful.
So, friends. Let us not weep over my departure from xanga, but rejoice and look forward to a brighter tomorrow.
Guess what's coming up in about a month? My birthday! I'm going to be 25. The big quarter century. The downside of 50. Yikes, sounds old. Every year I keep thinking, "Ok, this is the age when people will stop thinking I'm a baby and start taking me seriously." But I'm starting to think that won't happen until I turn 35. That's cool, I guess. I'll just keep using my 20s as an excuse to run around and have fun. But anyway, I do have a list of cool things I want for my birthday, if anyone's interested!
So, I've been kinda bored lately, and when I'm bored I watch Dr. Phil. Today's episode is totally crazy. Dr. Phil has basically made his own little reality show with a house full of people who hate each other. There's a fat guy who hates skinny people, a skinny girl who hates fat people, a white supremacist, an older black woman, a lesbian, a homophobe...now this is good television. These people are totally extreme, but watching the show kind of makes you look at your own prejudices. Muy interesante.
I don't really like cheap dark chocolate (i.e. Hershey's Special Dark), but I love those dark chocolate M&Ms. They're just like really rich M&Ms...which is good because it means I can't eat too many of them.
I think that's enough random thoughts for now.