Another show! Each night before we go on stage I get to hang out with Holly Jo chillin' in her coffin. It's a really good way to get pumped up for the show! I'm actually kind of jealous of her, it looks real comfy in there. Moments after this picture was taken I'm on stage hearing the news of Evita's death and emote all over the place.
Amanda Kjar, a friend of mine from high school arranged a little get together for a bunch of us Viewmont High class of '95 grads... yes that's right class of 95. Sounds so wrong. I joke that I live like I'm 24, but I think I'm really starting to believe I am 24. As much as I enjoyed seeing people again, I really don't feel like I fit in with that group anymore. Not that I ever really fit in that well before, but now its even more of a divide. Amanda's house is about 2 or 3 blocks away from where she grew up, its a big "parents" type house. I can't believe friends my age live in houses like that. Wasn't just a starter home, and she has 4 kids, Heather has 4 as well. Mandi's oldest is 11!!! I felt a little out of place. But I really didn't feel bad about myself. I used to be jealous and compare myself to my friends that "had it all together." But I realized my life is going how I want it to. I liked going out and jumping in my little Acura that was surrounded by mini-vans. It was fun to tell them that I am hoping to live downtown again, or maybe Chicago, so many options for me. I know they are all happy with their lives too, we all have taken our own paths and each path is the right one for that person. Maybe I am growing up a little bit.
Tech day = hell on earth. Today was the day that starts off "Hell Week" 12 hours of rehearsal 8am-8pm. And we pretty much used every moment. We had pictures, then a run through to set light cues which took about 5 hours, then a little lunch break... During the lunch break Holly Jo and I wanted to slip away to get a drink. We had invited our friend Sean and I made the mistake of asking really loud if he was still going to come with us. He said "no" but another random cast member overheard and invited herself. Holly Jo and I spent a 10 minute awkward car ride to Starbucks with this strange cast member I'd never really talked to before. She spout out obscenties and told awkward stories of her personal life. Holly Jo and I both sat there wide eyed looking at each other trying to hold back the laughter... Gotta love a good awkward situation.
Nothin' like the State Fair to make pretty much everyone feel like plain white trash... That's what I like about the fair, everyone is equal. The fair proves everything can be fried, and that great works of art can be created by anyone. 
For example, what good Christian frat house wouldn't want a "Come Unto Me" paddle hanging on the wall?
Today was Sept 9th, so 09/09/09 and at exactly 9:09 PM I was sitting at Evita rehearsal... Peter (the musical director) was probably yelling some constructive criticism such as "YOU SUCK!!!" But anyway, 09.09.09 at 9:09 looked pretty much just like everyday the past month. Seems like all I do is go to work and then to rehearsal. What I sacrifice for art.
Just as Sam Malone did at Cheers, and Jack, Janet and Terri did in their Santa Monica apartment, and just like Chandler and Monica did at their Greenwich Village apartment, tonight I turned out the lights on my fabulous apartment in the avenues for the last time. 
One of the first weekends I was in my apartment we had a game night, it only seemed fitting that we have a final game night before I move back to the DC (Davis County). Just like we did last year, we had some Papa Murphy's take and bake pizza and some giant drinks. It was a good time, bitter sweet. I love my little dinning room, was perfect for dinner parties and game nights.
My last day in New York... tragically sad! I went into the city and rented a bike, the rode up and down the Hudson River Parkway, also rode through parts of Chelsea and Greenwich Village. When I'm in New York again I'm getting a bike for an entire day. Was so easy to get around and you get to see so much, rather than just riding below ground in a hot smelly subway. I also went to MOMA, but didn't have much time... I have to go back real soon, so much to see and not enough time. 
Today I met up with Nancy, James and Jeff for lunch. I felt so New Yorky. Nancy and I were trying to find each other, so we kept calling each other saying things like "I'm on the corner of 5th Ave and 42nd st" and "I'll meet you on Broadway" I loved it, every minute of it. After lunch we tried to win lottery tickets to "Hair" but we weren't as lucky as we had been the last 2 days (we won tickets for 9 to 5 again yesterday). 
So unfortunately I didn't get to see it. I guess this as close as I'll ever get to Gavin Creel. I did end up going to this funky dance, cirque de sole type show. You stood for the whole thing, then they would wrangle you around for different little spectacles. At one point a giant swimming pool thing was lowered down from above. Everyone had to get on there knees it came down so far, there were these three ladies doing these swishy water movements right above you. It was odd, but nothing I would ever go see or do in Utah, so of course I liked it.
YAY!!!! I made it, Look at me in Times Square. The first night in my week long visit to the best city in the world. It's off to a great start. We won lottery tickets to "9 to 5" we were on the 6th row. I loved it!!! It may be closing, but it was so much fun. Alison Janney, Megan Hilty and Stephanie Block. They were all awesome, after the show we enjoyed a big ole piece of Juniors cheese cake in the middle of Times Square.
We made it through the night! Just a few roots in the back, some barking dogs and unseasonably cold weather, but the camp out was a success! I loved it, Brandy has the perfect backyard for camping. Big tress, water features, fire pit, and drunkin neighbors. Who'd have thunk such an oasis existed in the heart of South Salt Lake.
Happy 35th Brandy! Next year will be even better!
Brandy's birthday celebration lasted most of the week. We had dinner at the Red Iguana one night, then she had several other events, but the finale to the week long festivities was the birthday camp out in her back yard. We had cake and watched "Strictly Ballroom" on the big projector outside.
So I was invited to a "Sound of Music" Party. I was told it was a big costume party and everyone was going to be dressing up like their favorite character and the such. I was also told to bring a dish to share that went with the theme. I stressed about the costume. I didn't want to go to over the top, and I didn't want to put much effort into it, and I'm really not a huge Sound of Music fan. So after a little thought I decided I would go as "Mi" a name I call myself. So I got a generic white shirt and ironed on "Mi" I also made some lemon drop cupcakes and called them "drop of golden sun" cupcakes. When I arrived at the party, NOBODY was dressed up, and I only knew 2 people. The pot luck was mainly middle eastern type food, nothing to do with Sound of Music. I spent most of the night sitting awkwardly quiet on a large sectional leather couch smashed between two strangers on a very hot July night... my arms and sides were drenched and I was pretty much stuck to the couch by the time movie was done.
On this fine Pioneer Day Eve I thought it would be fun to drive along 2nd East and see all the people camping out in anticipation for tomorrow's big parade. Apparently a young man from Taylorsville was also engrossed in the excitement, or possibly texting members of his young mens group to see where they were camped out and making bets on whether or not their Stake's Float was going to take home the Larry H. Miller memorial grand prize win. Whatever the reason, he was not paying attention, and his old school 80's Ford Bronco plowed into my little Mazda 6. It smunched it pretty good. I wasn't able to drive it, it had to be towed away. Poor little Ken couldn't get a hold of anyone to come pick him up, so he gathered all the belongings he could hold in his hand, then hung his head low and walked the long 5 block journey home... Now I know how the mormons must have felt.
Clete and Greg spent 3 weeks traveling Europe and Scandanavia. Tonight was the first time I'd seen them since they got back... They brought me some real Swiss Chocolate... Yum!!! It was soooo good. Smooth and creamy.
Jess, Tyson and I went up to see "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas" at the Egyptian Theater in Park City. We had a big case of the church giggles and got some not so pleasant looks from those sitting around us. The show was..... well, it was entertaining. Especially to us, we found it very amusing, and maybe not the way they had intended. The music was good, and everyone was real talented, just a little interesting choreography.... and maybe the show's a little cheesey to begin with. Dolly, Burt and Dom may be the only people that can actually pull it off.
Smores and So You Think You Can Dance at Brandy's. And obviously Cassie Pickle and I can dance somethin' fierce! The beauty of it really... It has such a bold statement. Cassie represents fear and I am courage rising and kicking fear in the gut... seek happiness!
Several summers have passed since I have been to Lagoon multiple times. When I was a kid we were there several times a week.... What were we thinking?? I went twice this year, and the second time I was all ready kind of over it. Alane and I went to see Josh Brodis in one of the shows. We spent most of the time in Pioneer Village at the little BBQ place just chatting, and then just rode the sky ride... Mainly because I only had an entrance pass and I was too chicken to try and sneak on to any of the big time rides.
