Why I Love "The Office"

From the Season 4 episode, "Chair Model":

Michael:  You know I used to think that I had this perfect person out there waiting for me, but now I know that's just silly. Because she's dead. What do you do.

Dwight:  Wait 'till next year's chair catalog comes out and find someone who's still alive. Yeah.

Funny!  Random!!!  LOVE IT!!!

Defining "Necessity"

So, since I lost my full time job, I'm a little short on cash.  I got severance pay when I lost the job and that went right into the bank.  It was the equivalent of a month's salary.  So now I have to stretch that money out over who knows how long.  It's been 2 weeks and I don't have a new job yet.  I filed for unemployment, but if that goes through it won't come for awhile.

I now have to go beyond Want vs. Need and actually DEFINE "Necessity."

Normally, I have no issues paying a lot of money for theatre tickets.  I say that I'll go without eating for a couple of days because seeing live theatre is "research".  But now, I'd have to give up eating for a week.  Makes me stop and consider: "do I REALLY need to see this show?"

I bought a book today.  I may be able to give up eating for a couple of days, but I CAN'T give up reading.  Especially because I have all kinds of spare time at the moment.  I can only watch so much daytime TV.

I bought a package of scrapbook paper and two scrapbook albums.  I am in the middle of scrapbooking my England trip and have "42nd Street" and my Yellowstone trip still to go.  Necessity.

We've talked about going to Elitches this summer.  I'm going to have to pass.  Can't afford it.

New clothes?  I can wait.  I'm good for now.

Movies...well, that's tricky.  I'm keeping my Netflix subscription.  It's only $10 a month.  And I watch at least 2 a week.  I'm getting those DVDs for cheap, yo!  But in the theatre?  I'm missing a lot.  Some I won't miss, but I'm letting most pass for now and I'll catch them on DVD.

I have cut fast food out completely.  I'll go hungry and wait until I get home, if at all possible.

If I run out of cleaning supplies, I'll just go make them magically disappear from my parents' house.  HEY-OH!

Gas for the car = Need

Rent = Need

I'm thinking I'll cut out buying soap.  Just kidding!!!!!

GOOD THING I DIDN'T BUY A CAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  (Although, the dealership that I almost bought the Aveo from called me today.  I told him that my car hunting had come to a screeching halt when I lost my job.  He said he was sorry to hear about my job, but he wanted to be sure to let me know that I was still approved to buy a car.  SERIOUSLY?!  Dude, I am making a 4th of what I was making before.  I'm pretty sure I'm not approved to buy a car.)

Anything else that comes up, I'll just put it on my credit card.  Oy.  So much for that whole "debt-free" thing.  *sigh*

Ironic Twitter Feed Funnies

I've found there are some funny trends that happen on Twitter and Facebook.  Because I follow a lot of people, there sometimes tend to be the most interesting things that post right next to each other on the feeds.  Sometimes 4 people in a row will talk about the same thing!  Other times, like what is currently on my Twitter feed, you get stuff like this:

grantimahara:  Ever wonder what 5000 maggots look like? #fromset #Mythbusters http://twitpic.com/2edy20
(posted 20 minutes ago)


reba:  Going to get a bite to eat.  Talk to you all soon.
(posted 19 minutes ago)

I'm pretty sure that looking at the picture of 5000 maggots would not make me want to go out immediately and eat lunch.  I guess Reba isn't following Grant, or she wouldn't be racing out for lunch, either.

Okay, so maybe you had to be there.  But it was funny to me!

Critical Opinions

There is something that has been bugging me for a really long time.  I don't know why it's bothering me so much,  but it is.  I can't believe how extremely critical some people are.  Who made them the judge of the world?  It's one thing to share your opinion, but it's another thing to openly bash someone or something.

I try really hard to see the good in everything.  I also try to remember that there are things that I don't like that others do.  Do I openly tell them that what they like is wrong or bad?  No!  For this very reason, I rarely discuss political issues. 

But what's really been bugging me recently is people who are very vocal about not liking a certain book or a certain movie.  They make it clear in no uncertain terms that the book/movie/whatever is horrible and how in the world could ANYONE like them?  Well, gee, I'm sorry that you didn't enjoy it, but what gives you the right to be so judgmental?  Do you know how much your comments might hurt the people who like what it is you are criticizing?  ESPECIALLY if it's an unprovoked attack.  It's one thing to be asked "What did you think about [fill in the blank]" and to reply with your honest opinion of why you didn't like it.  It's another thing to just come out with "[Fill in the blank] totally sucked and is the worst [fill in the blank] ever."  I just want to say "Could you do better?"  Seriously, if you couldn't do a better job, then keep your mouth shut.  You are in no place to judge.  (I could write an entire blog about why I think theatre critics should have some theatre experience.  But that's a blog for another day.)

I'm not saying that you can't have your own opinion, but just be careful about what you say.  You never know who's feelings you might hurt because they really liked what you didn't like.  Saying mean and hateful things just makes you seem like a jerk.  If we all liked the same things, the world would be very boring.  It's what makes the world what it is that everyone likes different things.  But just be conscious of the people around you.  Be respectful of other people and their opinions.  And seriously...follow the advice of Thumper's dad:  If you can't say somethin' nice, don't say nothin' at all.

Yellowstone in a Day!

Here is the Trip Journal from our weekend trip to Yellowstone.  Original journal entries are in bold and added commentary is in italics.  Oh, and it is our tradition to include the song that was playing at the time, so we have a soundtrack for the trip.

Friday, August 6, 2010

12:12 pm  "Life is a Highway" Rascall Flatts
Depart from Craig and Robin's house

12:32 pm "Clocks" Red Hot Chilli Pipers
Welcome to Wyoming...Farewell to Trees

12:41 pm "Bad Romance"  Glee version
Now entering Cheyenne

1:15 pm "Just Let Me Cry" Hilary Weeks
Pit stop in Chugwater.  Strangely, it looks nothing like Austria
Explanation:  When LHS did "The Sound of Music" in 2002, we used a backdrop that we lovingly called "Chugwater".  The center was some mountains that looked like the Alps, but the sides had some sandstone cliffs.  We covered up the cliffs for purposes of the show, but the name stuck.

2:05 pm "My Immortal" Evanescense
Huge rainstorm in Glendo.  We can barely see!!!  It lasted about 5 minutes or so.

3:09 pm "I Dreamed a Dream" Susan Egan
Gas stop in Casper.  Driver Switch!

4:45 pm "Lessons Learned" Carrie Underwood
Stuck in one land only traffic, 95 degrees outside!

5:00 pm "My Life Would Suck Without You" Glee Version
Pit stop in Shoshoni, WY.  We have been told to get milkshakes.  We didn't get the specifics as to WHERE to get them, so we got ice cream bars at the gas station.  Almost the same, right?

5:14 pm "Beyond My Wildest Dreams" The Little Mermaid - Broadway
Entering Boysen State Park.  Pretty sure boysenberries won't grow here.  Also, don't drink the water in Bad Water Creek.

5:23 pm "We Will Rock You" Red Hot Chilli Pipers
Sign - "Slow Flagger Ahead"  Laughed long and hard over that one.  Especially when we saw the flagger.  Not to judge, but he did look a little slow.

7:04 pm "True Colors" Glee Version
Finally in Cody...now to hunt for food!

7:24 pm "I'll Walk"  Bucky Covington
Got our tickets for "Quilters", now the hunt for food.  Wendy's drive thru.  Original, I know.

8:18 pm  "You'll Be in My Heart" Tarzan - Broadway
Arrival at Rex Hale Campground.  We got the camp set up with no problems.  Enjoyed s'mores and hot chocolate and went to bed around 10 or 10:30 pm.

Saturday, August 7, 2010

7:10 am  "Get Out and Stay Out" 9 to 5: The Musical
On the road for Yellowstone.  First epic fail:  We were going to have cereal for breakfast and I brought a quart of milk, packed in the cooler.  The ice packs kept other things cool and not the milk.  Lame.

7:57 am "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" Glee Version (Matthew Morrison)
4-Wheeling by Yellowstone Lake!

8:22 am "Tell Her I Love Her" Urinetown
Mud Volcano The first of many really cool thermal features in Yellowstone!

8:45 am "Heaven Help my Heart" Chess
First sighting of a "Dude Animal"

8:50 am "Forget About the Boy" Thoroughly Modern Millie
BEAR!!

10:15 am "Shine Like the Sun" 9 to 5: The Musical
Angela almost dies coming up from the Lower Falls.  Okay, so I wouldn't have actually died, but it sure felt like it.  That was over 300 steps down to the falls.  Going down was no problem.  Coming up was another story.  We didn't have our water (we hadn't realized what the hike would be!) and I got a little bit of altitude sickness (which I have never gotten in my life!).  When I finally made it back to the car, I drank a Gatorade and ate some beef jerky and then I was fine.  Seriously, though, it's super easy to see the Upper Falls, but a chore to get to see the Lower Falls.

Upper Falls

Lower Falls

10:45 am "Suds in the Bucket" Sara Evans
Angela develops a testimony of Gatorade.

11:16 am "Feel it Comin' On" Sara Evans
Stuck in traffic - turned the car off and read the paper.

11:38 am "Honey Bun" South Pacific
Elk spotted! Big deal. We have those at home.

11:47 am "Find Your Grail" Spamalot
Entering Montana, just because we can.

11:49 am
Entering Wyoming. YESSSS!

12:20 pm "Rasputin" Barrage
Bear sighting. Mama Bear, Brother Bear, Sister Bear. They were up on a hill, across the river. There was a traffic jam, because everyone just stopped their cars and jumped out. The bears were going in and out of the trees, so it was hard to get a picture of them.

1:40 pm
Old Faithful erupts.  I was a little disappointed.  We waited for a long time for it to go off and then it was not nearly as exciting as they have built it up to be.  Seriously, it looks bigger on TV.  It was still pretty cool.  But it was really funny because another geyser went off about 200 yards away before Old Faithful, and it was taller!

Preshow Geyser (We aren't exactly sure which one it was!)

Old Faithful

2:35 pm "The Impossible Dream" Man of La Mancha
Leaving Old Faithful

2:40 pm "Dream a Little Dream" Glee Version
Sign: "Craig Pass - Drive Defensively" We find this sign oddly ironic.

4:23 pm "Temporary Home" Carrie Underwood
Goodbye, Yellowstone! We will be back, because we didn't see a moose.

4:32 pm "Black Roses Red" Alana Grace
MOOSE!!!!!!

5:03 pm "Bohemian Rhapsody" Glee Version
Epic Fail at the campsite:  Fought a rain/windstorm to break camp early.

 5:45 pm "Devil Went Down to Georgia" 
Back in Cody, organized car.  On the prowl for food.

We ate dinner at an Italian Restaurant, then walked around Cody a little bit.  It reminded me a lot of Estes Park, except the street was wider.  We then drove back up to the Buffalo Bill Cody Museum, where "Quilters" was playing.  The show was FANTASTIC!!!  We love this show to begin with, and this production was wonderful!  After the show, we went to the cast party for a little while with Katrina and then it was getting late and we needed to figure out exactly where we were going to sleep that night.

11:00 pm
Search for hotel = fail. Sleeping in the car in the AmericInn parking lot it is.

Sunday, August 8, 2010

5:30 am "Somebody to Love" Glee Version
Leaving Cody.  Stopped for gas and breakfast.  Angela asleep in back.

6:12 am "Saints and Angels" Sara Evans
Sunrise!

6:16 am "Watching You" Rodney Atkins
Pronghorn!

7:00 am "Running Horses" Barrage
Angela wakes up in Thermopolis.

8:38 am "Vincent (Starry, Starry Night)" Josh Groban
Waltman Rest Stop - Switch drivers.  Shauna is falling asleep.

9:25 am 
Casper - called home

10:10 am "The Lord Bless You and Keep You" John Rutter version
Ran out of songs on Shauna's iPod.  Switched to Angela's

11:27 am "Jesus Once of Humble Birth"
Took scenic route through Chugwater, looking for a gas station.  Such a cute little town.  We took the "Business Route" but there were no businesses.  Is this false advertising?  I think so.

12:16 pm "Man in the Sun" Kenneth Cope
Colorado Colorado once again!

12:22 pm "I am Another Witness" Steven Kapp Perry
Larimer County!!

12:39 pm "Teach Me to Walk in the Light"
Wellington!  We stopped at Craig and Robin's house to drop off the stuff we had borrowed.

1:22 pm "Though Deepening Trials"
HOME!!  Trip odometer reads:  1218.7 miles! 

Flashback Friday

10 years ago this summer, Neal and I were in a production of The King and I at Jesters:

Yellowstone and Volcanoes and Buffaloes, OH MY!!!!

In about a week and a half, Shauna and I are going to Yellowstone.  Actually, we're going to Cody, WY to see our good friend Katrina perform in the musical Quilters.  But Cody is like 30 minutes from Yellowstone and neither of us have ever been there.  So we're going. 

Well, this could be a coincidence, but you be the judge:

Last week I saw a thing on the news about some people who got attacked by a buffalo in Yellowstone.  This makes me not want to get out of the car if we see any buffalo.  Now tonight, I watched the movie 2012.  Yellowstone quite literally goes up in smoke in the movie when there's a MASSIVE volcanic eruption.  This makes me not want to get out of the car by any volcanoes. 

I know, I know...the volcano thing was movie magic.  But the buffalo thing was real!!  What are the odds that I would see these things just weeks before visiting Yellowstone!!??  I mean, seriously!  I'm already a cautious scaredy cat to begin with.  Now I'm going to have nightmares about outdriving volcanic missiles.  (I can't remember what they are really called.  It's been over 10 years since I took Geology in college!)  And don't even get me started on the nightmares about buffaloes!!!!

Sheesh...It's a wonder I ever leave my house.

42nd Street Final Wrap-Up

Some things I could have done without during the final weekend of 42nd Street:

• The costume rack completely falling apart.  It couldn't have lasted just ONE MORE PERFORMANCE?
• Running into a doorknob with my hip.  (OUCH!!!!!)
• Scrapes on both of ankles from getting stepped on.  Once by Adam, once by CJ.  What I suffer for a laugh, I tell you what!  ;)
• Missing the cast party completely, because no one texted me back to tell me if the party was still going on enough for me to make the drive at 10:00 pm to Longmont.  :(
• I shouldn't have been trying to climb out of the dressing room through the pit (underneath our big staircase), but I was doing it during strike.  And I rammed my left shoulder into a cross beam.  That hurt!!!  (Glad it wasn't my right shoulder.  That's my problem shoulder!)

Some things I wish had happened at every performance of 42nd Street:

• Pretending to get knocked over by Dorothy (Erin) after "Dames".  (It made sense...why was I mad at her during the Regency scene before?  Who knows?  But her making me fall on the floor was the perfect reason for me to be mad at her in the next scene.)  Should have done this for every show, not just the last 2.  But it did get on the video, so it's all good!
• Intermission drinks at Henry's.  We talked about it for weeks, but Mikeal and I FINALLY went to Henry's during intermission on closing Sunday!  Since I didn't have to be onstage until after "Lullaby of Broadway" and he didn't have to be on until "Quarter to Nine", we had tons of time to kill!  It was really funny, too.  We sat down at the bar and Mikeal looked over to our left and there were some audience members sitting there (they had their show program sitting on the bar.)  Mikeal goes "Getting some intermission drinks?"  They did a double take when they looked over at us.  I just grinned and said "Us, too!"  Talk about breaking the 4th wall!!!!  I can imagine the stories they told their friends.  "Yeah, we went over to Henry's at intermission and Pat Denning and Mac were there getting drinks, too!"  (My Shirley Temple was delish!  I got three cherries!  Woot!)  We made it back over to the theatre right after "There's a Sunnyside to Every Situation".  Go us!!
• Standing ovation from the audience!!!!  Yay for Standing O's!!!!!

I also wish that when I had pulled my papers off the clipboard so that they would scatter when I dropped it, that they would have ACTUALLY SCATTERED!!!!!  Darn those papers.  They just went straight down with the clipboard.  Boo.

By the way, the plot that Brinn wrote for "Pretty Lady" is amazing.  I LOVE IT!!!

42nd Street is now over.  I had a blast!  I'm so glad that I agreed to step in at the last minute to play Mac.  :)

Life Changes

Just when you think you've got everything figured out, life throws you a curve ball.  Or one of those crazy sliders that drop at the last second.  (Yes, I've been watching a lot of baseball this summer.  Go Rockies!)

I think the best way to get a trial in your life is to think to yourself:  "Wow, things are going pretty good right now!"  Then God hears that and says "Ha ha ha...you aren't getting off that easy.  This life is a test...and you are not being tested at the moment.  Here you go..." and hands you another trial.

That being said, here's my news:  As of the 1st week of August, I will no longer be employed at Falcon Properties, Inc.  The company has been sold to another property management company.  I am back in the job hunt again!  And it's no secret that I loathe job hunting.  Every job I have EVER had, I've gotten because I knew someone or the job literally dropped in my lap.  I'm really hoping that it will happen again!  I can't afford to be unemployed right now.  Okay, I'm not going to be totally unemployed.  I am still the Administrative Assistant for Loveland Opera Theatre, and I will bumping up my weekly hours from 4 to about 8 or 10.  But that's not enough moolah to pay the rent and all my other expenses.  While I'd love to just do theatre full time, that's not going to happen anytime soon.  And no, I won't be moving to New York City.  (Thanks for the vote of confidence in my abilities, though.)

So...here we are...on the cusp of a brand new adventure.  I really hope it's a happy adventure.  I don't think I could handle a sad one.  And seriously...if you know of anyone who needs an administrative assistant with 6 years of experience as a receptionist, office assistant, bookkeeper, etc (who also has previous experience as a bank teller and postal worker)....PLEASE LET ME KNOW ASAP!!!!  Or if you'd like to pay me to sing, heck yes I'll do that, too!  :)

The 42nd Street/Curtains Connection

Many people who will be coming to see 42nd Street over the next two weekends are also many of the people who saw Curtains last October.  They may notice some similarities in the characters.  Here is a little guide to show you the connections between the characters in 42nd Street and the characters in Curtains.

Please note:  42nd Street takes place in 1933.  Curtains takes place in 1959.

• Julian Marsh = has a nephew in England named Christopher Belling
• Dorothy Brock and Pat Denning = had a son named Robert.  His stage name is Bobby Pepper.
• Mac = her real name is Emily MacElroy Cranshaw, and she had a daughter named Jessica.  (Jessica spent a lot of time backstage at the shows her mom worked on!)
• Johnny = Johnny  (We see Johnny i2 his younger years during 42nd Street, when he was getting his start in show business and still had all of his hair.)
• Bert Berry = his 2nd cousin once removed on his mother's side is Lt. Frank Cioffi
• Billy Lawlor = his younger cousin, Aaron Fox, became a song writer
• Lorraine = had a daughter named Georgia Hendricks
• Various other characters in 42nd Street had children/nieces/nephews who are seen in Curtains.

Also of note:

• Bert Berry and Maggie Jones taught a class in Team-Writing Musicals.  Aaron Fox and Georgia Hendricks met in the class.
• Abner Dillion had a brief affair with Carmen Bernstein.  Bambi may or may not be his daughter.
• Peggy Sawyer's much younger half-sister is Niki Harris.