*If you have no interest in theater then you should probably just skip this post.
Today is like Christmas morning for theater nerds everywhere. They set their alarms to wake up early and watch the Tony Award nominations announced. This year, I was a bad theater nerd and didn't wake up for the announcement. But once I did wake up, I eagerly got on Twitter to see the nominees and what everyone was saying about them. (Twitter is great for that.) Click here for a list of this seasons nominees.
What I've taken away from the announcements is that there are still so many shows I need to see! (Even though I've been lucky enough to see a good deal of shows this season what with my internship and family.) Many of the shows I saw were during the fall and they didn't get as much recognition as the spring shows. My favorite show that I saw so far this season, Mystery of Edwin Drood, was nominated for Best Revival of a Musical and so were the two lead performers, Stephanie J. Block and Will Chase (who definitely both deserve it). I was happy to see that show get noticed.
Leading the nominations are two shows that I have yet to see, Kinky Boots and Matilda. Both shows were actually not on my top shows to see this season. They just didn't appeal to me even though they are the top shows this season. Especially Matilda. (I've decided that little kids singing just doesn't do it for me. ) I'm thinking Matilda might be like my experience with Billy Elliot. I had no desire to see the show and I saw it way later in it's run, but I ended up really liking it.
The show I most want to see out of the nominated shows is Pippin. That show has always been on my list of things to see on Broadway. I've being hearing good things about this production and I always love Stephen Schwartz music!
Overall this season was a disappointing one for the Great White Way. There weren't many new works. It was a season for revivals. And even though I love the chance to see something that I originally missed, new musicals are my favorite. I like going into a show knowing nothing and being surprised.
I am really excited for the Tony Awards this June. And I hope to be able to see more shows before then!
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
I Appreciate the Cheesy Things In Life
I just finished watching the Fox Family TV movie, Lovestruck: The Musical. I know what you are thinking. Why would you watch that?! Ah you've touched upon today's blog topic. I am a big supporter of just enjoying the cheesy things in life. Sometimes the things you find most entertaining are also the things you know are truly terrible. You have to embrace the cheesy sometimes and just enjoy it.
I look for different things in my entertainment. Some things I enjoy for its quality. I like it because I believe it is great. Other things I enjoy knowing they are extremely terrible. I mean haven't you ever heard the term so bad its good?! That's the whole reason we have guilty pleasures. You watch it knowing and acknowledging it's bad.
If other people didn't feel the same as I do the Syfy channel wouldn't exist. Those Syfy movies are made for people like me who love watching things like Sharktopus and Ice Spiders. The cheap effects and terrible acting make the movie entertaining. Lifetime movies are the same way. They are so over the top yet you can't help but love to watch them. I'm not saying everything bad is entertaining. There is a fine line when it comes to fun cheesy and just plain bad. That's why cheesy bad entertainment should be respected.
Talking to some of my friends, I realized that not everyone can appreciate cheesy entertainment. I told my one friend they should watch this terrible movie and they looked at me like I was crazy. I know it's a terrible movie, but that's what makes it so fun! So that's why I watched Lovestruck tonight. Sometimes I'm in the mood to be entertained by something in all it's cheesy glory!
So in defense of Syfy movies, Fox Family shows, or any form of entertainment that is cheesy to the core, lighten up people. Sometimes it's fun to watch these things.
(Total cheesy count: 7)
I look for different things in my entertainment. Some things I enjoy for its quality. I like it because I believe it is great. Other things I enjoy knowing they are extremely terrible. I mean haven't you ever heard the term so bad its good?! That's the whole reason we have guilty pleasures. You watch it knowing and acknowledging it's bad.
If other people didn't feel the same as I do the Syfy channel wouldn't exist. Those Syfy movies are made for people like me who love watching things like Sharktopus and Ice Spiders. The cheap effects and terrible acting make the movie entertaining. Lifetime movies are the same way. They are so over the top yet you can't help but love to watch them. I'm not saying everything bad is entertaining. There is a fine line when it comes to fun cheesy and just plain bad. That's why cheesy bad entertainment should be respected.
Talking to some of my friends, I realized that not everyone can appreciate cheesy entertainment. I told my one friend they should watch this terrible movie and they looked at me like I was crazy. I know it's a terrible movie, but that's what makes it so fun! So that's why I watched Lovestruck tonight. Sometimes I'm in the mood to be entertained by something in all it's cheesy glory!
So in defense of Syfy movies, Fox Family shows, or any form of entertainment that is cheesy to the core, lighten up people. Sometimes it's fun to watch these things.
(Total cheesy count: 7)
Monday, April 29, 2013
A Nerd's Fun Weekend
I had an eventful weekend. It was mix of fun and work. I will just briefly mention that I missed two days of blogging, but did I mention it was a busy weekend?! BSDA (Blog Some Days in April) people!!
Friday I worked until seven so I still got to enjoy my night. My friends and I went to trivia. We came in second place, but we were proud of our effort. Our arch-nemesis, The Springfield Isotopes, came in first. They win most nights, which is why we consider them our arch-nemesis. I wouldn't be able to identify any member of their team except for one man, who we call "the Penguin" (he looks like the Penguin from Batman). They are worthy opponents. Recently they went to World Tavern Trivia's National Championship, so us scoring a close second to them says something about our team.
After trivia we played an old Jeopardy board game. My one friend bought it at a thrift shop. During my period of unemployment, I grew very addicted to Jeopardy. My friends and I began to watch it every night. I know super lame. But I love the show and trivia so this was fun for us. We took turns being Alex. The game even came with these cheap buzzers. They were a source of argument because at different times during the night someone always felt like their buzzer wasn't being heard.We ended up playing until like three in the morning.
Saturday I worked at the frozen yogurt shop in the morning and at the grocery store at night. It was nice out so the frozen yogurt place was pretty crowded. It was nice to finally interact with customers. Saturday, surprisingly, is a known slow day at a grocery store. I actually prefer it to be busy. When it's slow time moves so slowly I die of boredom.
Sunday was my day off so my only plan was to visit a potential summer room rental. Earlier in the week I had signed up to give out surveys at Newsies, but I was listed as an alternate. With my last internship, I was added to a list of volunteers who hand out surveys at Broadway shows and in return get to see the show for free. In the Winter I did it twice and it was fun. What they do is email you the show and the dates they are administrating surveys and you email back if you are available. Since there are only a few slots available, you don't always get picked. Because of my work schedule I haven't been able to do the last couple surveys.
Since I was the alternate and thinking that nobody would back out of doing it, I had scheduled to see the room at 12pm on Sunday. I wake up to an email saying someone called in sick. I had to be at the theater by 2pm for the 3pm matinee. To make it on time I would have to take the 12:06 train. So I quickly called the landlord and asked if I could come early and got dressed in five minutes. The landlord showed us two houses he owns and rents out. The one house was with all male tenants so he didn't think that would be a good fit for me. The second house was a seven bedroom old house that was a perfect location. It was fully furnished and the rooms were nice sizes. (Also I had actually already been in the house three years ago for a friend of a friends party.) All the other tenants are college/grad students or people in their early 20's. Basically everything is perfect about the place except for the price. It's a little more expensive then I wanted to spend. So I'm stressing out a little. I'm debating the pros and cons.
After seeing the room I went straight to the train station to head into the city. Giving out surveys consist of you approaching audience members trying to convince them to fill out surveys about audience demographic. During intermission and after the show we collect the surveys. When the show is about to start, the house manager gives the survey team any seats that are available. I got a great seat in the second row center balcony. The show was fun. The best part was the dance choreography. The dancers are full of energy and work so hard. One of the perks of handing out surveys is that we get to see behind the scenes. Today we were in the theater when they were warming up and practicing a fight scene that's in the show. Handing out surveys is a great (cheap) way to see a Broadway show.
That was my busy weekend filled with trivia, work, and Broadway. Basically it was a fun weekend for a nerd like me.
Friday I worked until seven so I still got to enjoy my night. My friends and I went to trivia. We came in second place, but we were proud of our effort. Our arch-nemesis, The Springfield Isotopes, came in first. They win most nights, which is why we consider them our arch-nemesis. I wouldn't be able to identify any member of their team except for one man, who we call "the Penguin" (he looks like the Penguin from Batman). They are worthy opponents. Recently they went to World Tavern Trivia's National Championship, so us scoring a close second to them says something about our team.
After trivia we played an old Jeopardy board game. My one friend bought it at a thrift shop. During my period of unemployment, I grew very addicted to Jeopardy. My friends and I began to watch it every night. I know super lame. But I love the show and trivia so this was fun for us. We took turns being Alex. The game even came with these cheap buzzers. They were a source of argument because at different times during the night someone always felt like their buzzer wasn't being heard.We ended up playing until like three in the morning.
Saturday I worked at the frozen yogurt shop in the morning and at the grocery store at night. It was nice out so the frozen yogurt place was pretty crowded. It was nice to finally interact with customers. Saturday, surprisingly, is a known slow day at a grocery store. I actually prefer it to be busy. When it's slow time moves so slowly I die of boredom.
Sunday was my day off so my only plan was to visit a potential summer room rental. Earlier in the week I had signed up to give out surveys at Newsies, but I was listed as an alternate. With my last internship, I was added to a list of volunteers who hand out surveys at Broadway shows and in return get to see the show for free. In the Winter I did it twice and it was fun. What they do is email you the show and the dates they are administrating surveys and you email back if you are available. Since there are only a few slots available, you don't always get picked. Because of my work schedule I haven't been able to do the last couple surveys.
Since I was the alternate and thinking that nobody would back out of doing it, I had scheduled to see the room at 12pm on Sunday. I wake up to an email saying someone called in sick. I had to be at the theater by 2pm for the 3pm matinee. To make it on time I would have to take the 12:06 train. So I quickly called the landlord and asked if I could come early and got dressed in five minutes. The landlord showed us two houses he owns and rents out. The one house was with all male tenants so he didn't think that would be a good fit for me. The second house was a seven bedroom old house that was a perfect location. It was fully furnished and the rooms were nice sizes. (Also I had actually already been in the house three years ago for a friend of a friends party.) All the other tenants are college/grad students or people in their early 20's. Basically everything is perfect about the place except for the price. It's a little more expensive then I wanted to spend. So I'm stressing out a little. I'm debating the pros and cons.
After seeing the room I went straight to the train station to head into the city. Giving out surveys consist of you approaching audience members trying to convince them to fill out surveys about audience demographic. During intermission and after the show we collect the surveys. When the show is about to start, the house manager gives the survey team any seats that are available. I got a great seat in the second row center balcony. The show was fun. The best part was the dance choreography. The dancers are full of energy and work so hard. One of the perks of handing out surveys is that we get to see behind the scenes. Today we were in the theater when they were warming up and practicing a fight scene that's in the show. Handing out surveys is a great (cheap) way to see a Broadway show.
That was my busy weekend filled with trivia, work, and Broadway. Basically it was a fun weekend for a nerd like me.
Friday, April 26, 2013
A Super Short Recap of My Day
I'm going to make it quick today. It's late and my bed is calling to me.
Nothing of importance happened today. I worked both jobs. It was a nice day out so the frozen yogurt place was actually pretty busy. The grocery store was the same as always. I did find out that I am the second top seller of scratch-off tickets, so woo hoo! Who knew that working at a grocery store was my calling?! (I may or may not be trying to be number one. Hey, if I'm going to work here I might as well be the best. Don't judge. It brings a little excitement to my shifts.)
I also have been in contact with two people looking to rent a room this summer. One of the rooms is a little pricier, but it sounds like a nicer arrangement. I'll have to wait until I see the rooms to decide which one will be a better fit for me. I'm probably going to see the rooms this weekend. Let's hope I have better luck with these rooms than with my first experience. (Keep your fingers crossed there is no elderly woman playing an organ.)
Well to bed I go. I apologize for the short and rather boring blog post, but they can't all be winners. Especially during BEDA.
Nothing of importance happened today. I worked both jobs. It was a nice day out so the frozen yogurt place was actually pretty busy. The grocery store was the same as always. I did find out that I am the second top seller of scratch-off tickets, so woo hoo! Who knew that working at a grocery store was my calling?! (I may or may not be trying to be number one. Hey, if I'm going to work here I might as well be the best. Don't judge. It brings a little excitement to my shifts.)
I also have been in contact with two people looking to rent a room this summer. One of the rooms is a little pricier, but it sounds like a nicer arrangement. I'll have to wait until I see the rooms to decide which one will be a better fit for me. I'm probably going to see the rooms this weekend. Let's hope I have better luck with these rooms than with my first experience. (Keep your fingers crossed there is no elderly woman playing an organ.)
Well to bed I go. I apologize for the short and rather boring blog post, but they can't all be winners. Especially during BEDA.
Thursday, April 25, 2013
The Power of Guilt
This past week at the grocery store, we have been selling scratch-off tickets at the register. All proceeds from the tickets go towards cancer research. So after I finish a customers transaction I have to ask "Would you like to donate a dollar to cancer research?". This experience has actually led me to observe the power of guilt.
Nobody can just say no. A no is always followed by an excuse. I've heard things like "I'm a teacher so I give money all the time." or "My (insert family member here) had cancer so I regularly give money to cancer related causes". I've heard long stories about personal battles with cancer. Some customers get angry. How dare I insinuate that they are bad human beings?! Just to clarify I only ask. I do not give any indication of my personal opinion in the matter. It's almost like they are trying to prove they are a good person. I don't know if they are trying to prove it to me or themselves but all the same the guilt is obvious. Sadly this has been the highlight of my shifts lately. I, the lowly grocery store clerk, hold all the power. I can guilt customers into donating or make them justify why they did not.
(Update on my plan to get in shape. I went running today. It was hard at first because it's obviously been a while, but I enjoyed it. It was a beautiful day out and the beach was so relaxing. I also drank more water today and only had one glass of soda at dinner. I would say Day 1 was a success.)
Nobody can just say no. A no is always followed by an excuse. I've heard things like "I'm a teacher so I give money all the time." or "My (insert family member here) had cancer so I regularly give money to cancer related causes". I've heard long stories about personal battles with cancer. Some customers get angry. How dare I insinuate that they are bad human beings?! Just to clarify I only ask. I do not give any indication of my personal opinion in the matter. It's almost like they are trying to prove they are a good person. I don't know if they are trying to prove it to me or themselves but all the same the guilt is obvious. Sadly this has been the highlight of my shifts lately. I, the lowly grocery store clerk, hold all the power. I can guilt customers into donating or make them justify why they did not.
(Update on my plan to get in shape. I went running today. It was hard at first because it's obviously been a while, but I enjoyed it. It was a beautiful day out and the beach was so relaxing. I also drank more water today and only had one glass of soda at dinner. I would say Day 1 was a success.)
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Becoming the Best Version of Myself
Starting this blog was my first step in trying to become a better version of myself. I was at a pretty low place and I knew I had to do something to get out of this funk. This blog allows me to voice my frustrations during my quarter life crisis and release some of my stress. So the next step, while I deal with work and finding a full time job, is to make me the best version of myself in every aspect. And that means getting in shape. (I eventually want to make a complete transformation and do something different like dye my hair, but I'm going to wait until I get a full time job aka come into money.)
There was a time in my life when I was a regularly active person who went to the gym five days a week. But with busy work schedules and the absence of a free gym(oh the perks of college) working out became something I kept forgetting to do. Even during my brief phase of unemployment when I had all the time in the world, I remained inactive. (I was in a bad head space people!) So here is a list of my goals for getting into shape.
1) Reach my goal weight by the end of summer. I am not overweight, but I don't think I am in the best shape I could be.
2) I want to run by the beach at least three days a week. I need to be active! Not only is this good for my body, but running could be a good way to release stress as well.
3) Watch my food intake/ eat healthier. I eat really badly and should probably weigh more than I do. I need to teach myself to eat like a normal human being. If I don't teach myself to eat better now. my bad eating habits will only get worse as I get older.
4) Drink more water. I don't smoke or drink, but my one addiction is soda. I drink soda almost every day. I can still drink soda (maybe not as much), but I need to make sure I drink more water. Everything I've read about getting healthier says drinking water is important.
I'm hoping that by writing my goals down for the whole Internet to see, I won't be able to make excuses and blow it off. When I was working out regularly, I had my friend that always went with me. I need someone to push me when I don't want to go. If I don't have a push, that's when I falter. So my blog is going to be that push. That persuasive voice to guilt me into doing what I promised.
I don't know why, but I just have this feeling that if I do everything to make me the best I can be and I'm completely happy with myself, than everything will work out. Besides, I am apparently in my prime so I want to look good for all the fellas out there. I'm looking at you tall, cute, nerdy guys.
So I swear to do everything in my power to be the best version of myself in the hopes that me being completely happy puts out a signal to the universe making everything work out! ( FULL TIME JOB!!!!)
(I should probably tell you that this passion to become a better version of myself may have been inspired by a Lifetime movie I saw yesterday. Don't judge.)
There was a time in my life when I was a regularly active person who went to the gym five days a week. But with busy work schedules and the absence of a free gym(oh the perks of college) working out became something I kept forgetting to do. Even during my brief phase of unemployment when I had all the time in the world, I remained inactive. (I was in a bad head space people!) So here is a list of my goals for getting into shape.
1) Reach my goal weight by the end of summer. I am not overweight, but I don't think I am in the best shape I could be.
2) I want to run by the beach at least three days a week. I need to be active! Not only is this good for my body, but running could be a good way to release stress as well.
3) Watch my food intake/ eat healthier. I eat really badly and should probably weigh more than I do. I need to teach myself to eat like a normal human being. If I don't teach myself to eat better now. my bad eating habits will only get worse as I get older.
4) Drink more water. I don't smoke or drink, but my one addiction is soda. I drink soda almost every day. I can still drink soda (maybe not as much), but I need to make sure I drink more water. Everything I've read about getting healthier says drinking water is important.
I'm hoping that by writing my goals down for the whole Internet to see, I won't be able to make excuses and blow it off. When I was working out regularly, I had my friend that always went with me. I need someone to push me when I don't want to go. If I don't have a push, that's when I falter. So my blog is going to be that push. That persuasive voice to guilt me into doing what I promised.
I don't know why, but I just have this feeling that if I do everything to make me the best I can be and I'm completely happy with myself, than everything will work out. Besides, I am apparently in my prime so I want to look good for all the fellas out there. I'm looking at you tall, cute, nerdy guys.
So I swear to do everything in my power to be the best version of myself in the hopes that me being completely happy puts out a signal to the universe making everything work out! ( FULL TIME JOB!!!!)
(I should probably tell you that this passion to become a better version of myself may have been inspired by a Lifetime movie I saw yesterday. Don't judge.)
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
My Unglamorous Marilyn Monroe Moment or That Time a Homeless Man Saw My Underwear
Does the rather lengthy title intrigue you? It should because I'm sharing my "movie story". Everyone has a "movie story". It's that one story that is so unreal it would make more sense inserted into a situational comedy. It's not your go to small talk story, but if you are in a small comfortable group, swapping stories back and forth, this story is the one you tell. It's also a good story to share on your blog when you don't know what else to talk about. So even though at the time it was just mortifying, looking back I can appreciate the situation. At least it makes for a good story.
It was a Monday morning and at the time I was still working at my internship in the city. Since it was surprisingly nice out, I decided to wear a dress. [Aside To clarify for later purposes, I was wearing a long dress that went down below my knee. I was not wearing some short dress that makes you paranoid about it riding up and you spend the whole day pulling it down. Maybe if I had been I would have been better off. End of aside] I was running late for some reason that I have now forgotten and I missed the train I normally take to work. The next train into the city would still allow me to make it to work on time, but I would be cutting it close. So I was already starting the day a little on edge because I knew I would have to be quick getting off the train and walking to work.
If you’ve never been to Penn Station on a Monday morning, let me paint you a picture. It’s a hectic explosion of people, all with different purposes, trying to get to their destination on time. It’s hard to fight the sea of business men and women so you move with them almost like a school of fish. You can try to dodge and weave, but at some point you just have to stop and go along with the crowd.
As I exited Penn Station tightly wedged in the commuter crowd, I walked over a subway grate. Just like Marilyn Monroe in The Seven Year Itch, I was standing over a subway grate when the train passed underneath causing a breeze to lift my skirt up. Unlike her it was not a sexy, iconic scene in cinema, but an awkward flailing of arms as I tried to quickly push my skirt down from above my head. I hoped that I was wedged in the large crowd enough that nobody saw my cute, yet still appropriate, underwear. Besides everyone was focused on getting to work and not paying attention to me. Boy was I wrong.
After just beginning to think that I had avoided embarrassment, I heard the voice of god, or Morgan Freeman or maybe the Allstate commercial guy, whichever you prefer, yell “I JUST SAW HER PANTIES”. I glance back and there, pointing directly at me, was a homeless man. Well if people didn’t notice me while it was happening they sure noticed me now. Who could miss the booming voice of [INSERT WHICHEVER VOICE YOU PREFERRED]? Everyone in the crowd turned toward me. Some people were laughing or smiling, many people looked very confused, others just wanted to get to work and were annoyed by this distraction that disrupted the flow of the group. I like to think one business man out there was thinking “Damn girl!”, but that may just be wishful thinking.
After that mortifying incident, I kept my head down trying not to make eye contact with anyone, especially the homeless man. I continued to walk with the crowd until the first opportunity I found to exit the mob. Just in case you were wondering I made it to work on time and my co-workers and friends all enjoyed hearing about my morning commute. My favorite comment was from one of my co-workers who said “Hey that was probably the highlight of that guy’s day.” That’s me. Helping the homeless of New York one pantie shot at a time.
It was a Monday morning and at the time I was still working at my internship in the city. Since it was surprisingly nice out, I decided to wear a dress. [Aside To clarify for later purposes, I was wearing a long dress that went down below my knee. I was not wearing some short dress that makes you paranoid about it riding up and you spend the whole day pulling it down. Maybe if I had been I would have been better off. End of aside] I was running late for some reason that I have now forgotten and I missed the train I normally take to work. The next train into the city would still allow me to make it to work on time, but I would be cutting it close. So I was already starting the day a little on edge because I knew I would have to be quick getting off the train and walking to work.
If you’ve never been to Penn Station on a Monday morning, let me paint you a picture. It’s a hectic explosion of people, all with different purposes, trying to get to their destination on time. It’s hard to fight the sea of business men and women so you move with them almost like a school of fish. You can try to dodge and weave, but at some point you just have to stop and go along with the crowd.
As I exited Penn Station tightly wedged in the commuter crowd, I walked over a subway grate. Just like Marilyn Monroe in The Seven Year Itch, I was standing over a subway grate when the train passed underneath causing a breeze to lift my skirt up. Unlike her it was not a sexy, iconic scene in cinema, but an awkward flailing of arms as I tried to quickly push my skirt down from above my head. I hoped that I was wedged in the large crowd enough that nobody saw my cute, yet still appropriate, underwear. Besides everyone was focused on getting to work and not paying attention to me. Boy was I wrong.
After just beginning to think that I had avoided embarrassment, I heard the voice of god, or Morgan Freeman or maybe the Allstate commercial guy, whichever you prefer, yell “I JUST SAW HER PANTIES”. I glance back and there, pointing directly at me, was a homeless man. Well if people didn’t notice me while it was happening they sure noticed me now. Who could miss the booming voice of [INSERT WHICHEVER VOICE YOU PREFERRED]? Everyone in the crowd turned toward me. Some people were laughing or smiling, many people looked very confused, others just wanted to get to work and were annoyed by this distraction that disrupted the flow of the group. I like to think one business man out there was thinking “Damn girl!”, but that may just be wishful thinking.
After that mortifying incident, I kept my head down trying not to make eye contact with anyone, especially the homeless man. I continued to walk with the crowd until the first opportunity I found to exit the mob. Just in case you were wondering I made it to work on time and my co-workers and friends all enjoyed hearing about my morning commute. My favorite comment was from one of my co-workers who said “Hey that was probably the highlight of that guy’s day.” That’s me. Helping the homeless of New York one pantie shot at a time.
Looking back, I don’t know if I should interpret
what happened as the cities way of saying “Welcome. You have been mortified in
public by a homeless man. You are now a true New Yorker!” or “Get out of here
Jersey girl. Give my regards to Chris Christie and the cast of the Jersey Shore.” I wonder how the story
would have played out if that morning I had decided to put on a thong or even worse
my period grandma drawers. But what puzzles me the most from that day is why
the homeless man used the word panties? There are so many other words he could have chosen. Underwear, undies, drawers, intimate things. (well I'm glad he didn't say the last one. That would be even weirder.) I guess it will just have to remain a mystery.
So there you go my "movie story". I hope it was everything you wanted and more. Moral of the story always wear clean underwear because you never know when the world might see them.
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