America, I'm putting you on notice. The things that you do and the decisions you make have broader impact on society than you may think. Lots of things hang in the balance here and you must remember to be thoughtful and deliberate. Of course I'm talking about American Idol last night. You got it right, voting public, by ousting Wasted Save - whoops, I mean, Matt, but ADAM was in the bottom two??? Say WHAT??? I mean, on the one hand there's Matt - who can't sing - was I the only one listening during Stayin' Alive last week? and then on the other hand, there's the lovely Adam, who's got artistry, presence and Star Quality. As Paula said, he dares to walk in the footsteps of greatness or whatever it was she said. I had no idea what he sang on Tuesday, I'd never heard it before, but he sang it well. He's in a whole other class than the rest of them. THAT, my friends, is why the save would be useful - when America truly gets it wrong and the best one gets booted off. May I remind you about Jennifer Hudson? Chris Daughtry? and I think there was one more (there always is!). Kara told Matt they made the right choice in saving him, but I really don't think so. Why save someone who, in the words of Cowell "Has no chance in winning the competition" Oh, but yeah, we're saving you!
So anyway, I would have stopped watching in protest had Adam gotten voted off, much like I did for Daughtry. But he's safe and so is Allison and next week it's time for rock 'n' roll!
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
spooky, scary...
What's really scary is that I know more lyrics to this than I should admit to... I also have it as a ringtone on my phone... It's kind of hypnotic... Yes! It's the full version of Tracy Jordan's novelty song, Werewolf Bar Mitzvah...
dear sneezing guy on the train...
Really, dude, really? Have you not been watching the news? What makes you think it is ok to go around on the train, sneezing your brains out and then noisily blowing your nose?? STAY HOME already. This is how these things spread, right? I don't care if you just have a cold - when you sneeze, your booger particles (scientific term!) travel around the very small train compartment to your fellow passengers (ME) who go to work, and home and shopping, etc, and then we spread those particles around and it goes on & on & on forever. So do me a favor, Chicago and keep your damn germs to yourselves, okay? Can you tell I am a wee bit freaked out by this flu thing? I feel like I'm in an episode of "24" and they keep showing those Worst Case Scenario maps, filling with color as the Virus spreads... All we need are some bad guys and a mysterious canister. Oh, and Jack Bauer saving the day, of course. "All in a day's work, Mr. President, sir..."
Right. Speaking of shows on Fox, last night was Rat Pack night on Idol! I always expect these things to be more exciting than they actually are, and I end up disappointed, like with Disco night, which was WAY anticlimactic. So yes, Rat Pack night, with mentor Jamie Foxx (I don't really get that one, actually, but he seemed to work well w/the contestants. He seems cool, and I am way disappointed that The Soloist is not doing really well in theaters. I cried during the preview...), was also a little disappointing. Where were the Sinatra tunes? Fly me to the Moon? My Way?? That's Amore? I mean, the Rat Pack was WAY before my time, so it must seem eons away for Allison who is only 17 but still. LAME song choices, people. And all of them taken to a ridiculously slow tempo that made them all come off as a little lounge-y. Actually, when Kris sang "The Way You Look Tonight" I characterized the performance as "cruise ship" and Simon referred to him as "wet" - because someone had thrown him overboard from the cruise ship (okay fine, I'm making that part up) which when pressed by Ryan he defined as "not dry" and I think it actually means sort of drippy, nerdy, dweeby, etc. British slang thing... Allison sang "Someone to Watch Over Me" and damn can that girl sing. I like her, but I think she may be in trouble.
Matt G sang "My Funny Valentine" and it was capital D-readful. Randy hit the nail on the head, saying it was "pitchy" (it was!) but Simon, my voice of reason, liked it. He called it "brilliant." I think maybe Paula slipped him a little of whatever it is she's got in her little coca cola cup...I don't get it at all. Overall, my faves were Adam, Allison, Danny, Kris and then Matt. I don't know who to predict for bottom two this week.
Right. Speaking of shows on Fox, last night was Rat Pack night on Idol! I always expect these things to be more exciting than they actually are, and I end up disappointed, like with Disco night, which was WAY anticlimactic. So yes, Rat Pack night, with mentor Jamie Foxx (I don't really get that one, actually, but he seemed to work well w/the contestants. He seems cool, and I am way disappointed that The Soloist is not doing really well in theaters. I cried during the preview...), was also a little disappointing. Where were the Sinatra tunes? Fly me to the Moon? My Way?? That's Amore? I mean, the Rat Pack was WAY before my time, so it must seem eons away for Allison who is only 17 but still. LAME song choices, people. And all of them taken to a ridiculously slow tempo that made them all come off as a little lounge-y. Actually, when Kris sang "The Way You Look Tonight" I characterized the performance as "cruise ship" and Simon referred to him as "wet" - because someone had thrown him overboard from the cruise ship (okay fine, I'm making that part up) which when pressed by Ryan he defined as "not dry" and I think it actually means sort of drippy, nerdy, dweeby, etc. British slang thing... Allison sang "Someone to Watch Over Me" and damn can that girl sing. I like her, but I think she may be in trouble.
Matt G sang "My Funny Valentine" and it was capital D-readful. Randy hit the nail on the head, saying it was "pitchy" (it was!) but Simon, my voice of reason, liked it. He called it "brilliant." I think maybe Paula slipped him a little of whatever it is she's got in her little coca cola cup...I don't get it at all. Overall, my faves were Adam, Allison, Danny, Kris and then Matt. I don't know who to predict for bottom two this week.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
be careful at the laundromat...
So, hypochondriac that I am, I have now started to imagine symptoms of Swine Flu. Yesterday, in between bouts of freaking the hell out about that (I am blaming the media, for putting these thoughts into my mind grapes)I was cruising YouTube and I came across... this... which blew my mind...and took my thoughts away from my imminent demise while I was pondering What?? How?? Why?? If you too are fearing the 'Flu, and think that you might join me in becoming the first known cases in Chicago, just watch this... you'll forget everything else, and think you're tripping, or something...
Monday, April 27, 2009
it was almost exactly like this...
Dear Patti, I am still basking in the warm glow of your presence and particularly the Being Alive...People, watch this and pretend you were there, sitting with me in Row A, getting a stiff neck. Whatever, she's worth it... YouTube, I {heart} you very much...
american, idle...
Guess where I am?? At home! After the last week of insanity, and keeping in mind that I have over 10 PTO days to take before June 30 that I can't carry over, I took today off. The first thing on the agenda - sleeping until 8! Whee! Next up, a trip to the dentist. Fun! I was encouraged to invest in a SoniCare toothbrush and so I visited Deerfield's most awesome Bed Bath & Beyond - hot damn, those things are EXPENSIVE and I had no coupon, which will require a return trip.
Now I am home - I gave myself a pedicure, and am happily watching trashy court shows on tv. I also have planned a visit to my gastroenterologist. Do I know how to live it up on a day off or what??
++ UPDATE - Am half watching Rachael Ray's show and this Hey Can You Cook 4 challenge thing (but why are they on a cruise ship??) and am amazed at all the crazy stuff that's advertised during the day time - I just saw a commercial for medical marijuana! Then there's ads for schools that I am not sure even really exist (East-West College? Really?) and for any number of legal services.
Now I am home - I gave myself a pedicure, and am happily watching trashy court shows on tv. I also have planned a visit to my gastroenterologist. Do I know how to live it up on a day off or what??
++ UPDATE - Am half watching Rachael Ray's show and this Hey Can You Cook 4 challenge thing (but why are they on a cruise ship??) and am amazed at all the crazy stuff that's advertised during the day time - I just saw a commercial for medical marijuana! Then there's ads for schools that I am not sure even really exist (East-West College? Really?) and for any number of legal services.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
why does it always rain when i see shows in naperville?
Last night - we trundled off in the rain to see Patti LuPone in Pleasantville, whoops, I mean Naperville. I've told y'all, right, about going to visit my aunt and uncle who live there, and running into their relentlessly cheery and helpful neighbors? It was like a scene out of a 50s movie or something, where everyone is tanned and wholesome and having bbqs and playing frisbee in the street and all the kids are football players and cheerleaders and in the boy/girl scouts where they have commited themselves to public service and Good Deeds, etc. Not that any of this is a bad thing, but compared to my neighborhood, they might as well be on another planet somewhere. It's weird, isn't it? Freakish. And incredibly Republican(which is why I will never live there). But I digress.
The last time I visited Pfeiffer Hall was a few years ago when I saw Bernadette Peters perform there. It's a little tiny hall on the campus of North Central College - as Bob put it, like a high school auditorium (although I think the NiWe auditorium is actually nicer!) so when Patti greeted us with "Gee whiz, it's like a dream come true!" I had to laugh. Since the weather was so gross (this had better bring some May flowers, dang it!) and because I live in constant fear of Missing Curtain, we left at 5:30. For an 8:00 show. I know. But it was pouring rain, and people turn into idiots when stuff starts falling out of the sky on them. And also we were in the front row - and I for one, did not want to get there late and face The Wrath. I didn't have to worry, because we got there ridiculously early. It would have been a nice night for a little stroll around the picturesque little campus, but even though it had stopped raining, it had gotten really really cold. No matter. We sat in the car for a while and watched people trying to park. What larks.
Finally we were allowed inside the theater, where we sat and then chatted with RivB and Gator for a while (our seats were directly in front of theirs and we didn't even plan it that way) and then it was... Show Time. Curtain up, light the lights, etc. But not so fast - the head of the organization walked out, and commenced to give a speech, accompanied by powerpoint presentation (am not making that one up, I swear) about their upcoming season. See? I didn't have to worry so much about being late, since I would have just missed that thrilling announcement. Their season featured Gloria Gaynor, Michael Feinstein, Boyz to Men and the Fab Four (from Beyond the Veil, apparently) and, oh yes, the season had a theme, and I wonder how long it took them to think it up - Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed and Something Blue (not making that one up, either.) Now, I understand the need to renew subscribers, because as a whole, subscription sales are down pretty much across the board, times is hard, etc. but there's a time and place, you know? And they handed out brochures later, which accomplished the same thing, without the powerpoint. Don't they do this subscription thing every year? Their patrons seemed kind of old, but I am assuming they're not morons. I am sure they could look at the brochure and figure it out, yes?? So I was a little annoyed. Hey, Mister Man, shuddup already, will ya? You're keeping me from seeing Patti! He was seconds away from incurring MY wrath, which is not as awesome to behold as others I could name, but I would like to think is plenty feasome...
But then he got off the stage and it really was showtime, and for the second time in a month, I was in the Presence of The Patti. And it was great. I have seen this show, Coulda Shoulda Woulda before (at the JCC gala a few years ago - they have only recently stopped sending me mail since I told them that 1. I am not Jewish and 2. the only reason I shelled out the cash for their event was to see Patti so unless they planned to bring her back, they were wasting their postage) so it was familiar, but she changed it up since I saw it last, adding in "Everything's Coming Up Roses" and "A Quiet Thing" to the first part, along with the others that are usually in there like "Easy to be Hard" and "Meadowlark" and "Don't Cry for Me, Argentina" and her West Side Story duet with herself. We were sitting close, and she worked both sides of the stage pretty well. She'd come over to our end and loom Fiercely (capital F - because that is Fierce, as in Tyra Banks'usage of the word "Giiirrrl, you are Fierce!")over us for a while, and I'd find myself shifting in my seat to look up at her, to avoid staring at her knees.
Anyway, I was already pretty happy going into the second half, but I was beside myself ecstatic when she went into what she called "the Sondheim section" which she'd also changed up from the last time I saw the show because it included - "I Never Do Anything Twice" (where she brandished the whip!) "Anyone Can Whistle" "Send in the Clowns" and "Being Alive" (!!!)- have I ever told you how much I've wanted to see her sing "Being Alive" live??? It's my favorite - and after a busy, hard week, I felt like she was singing it just for me (how did you know, Patti??). Cloud 9 time, for sure. She looked really great, too, in black and white, although I wanted to reach up there and straighten her shirt collar, since one side of it was flipped up and the other side was not. I was just thinking 'come over here, let me fix that...' Anyway, she ended it with "The Ladies Who Lunch" (another appropriate one, for me given that last week was Gala week) and "The Way You Look Tonight" where she ran around the stage taking pictures of the audience with a little disposable camera. She actually got a fun one (I think) of me and mom with Bob in the background - which would be an awesome one to have, dontcha think?? And then closed with "100 years from Today" a capella. And then it was over and we went back out into the rainy night. Over too soon.
Thanks again for another great show, Ms. Patti, and I can now die a happy woman, hearing you sing "Being Alive" right in front of me. Or, in Randy speak "Yo, yo, yo, listen up! Patti baby, you did your thing and I've got mad love for you."
The last time I visited Pfeiffer Hall was a few years ago when I saw Bernadette Peters perform there. It's a little tiny hall on the campus of North Central College - as Bob put it, like a high school auditorium (although I think the NiWe auditorium is actually nicer!) so when Patti greeted us with "Gee whiz, it's like a dream come true!" I had to laugh. Since the weather was so gross (this had better bring some May flowers, dang it!) and because I live in constant fear of Missing Curtain, we left at 5:30. For an 8:00 show. I know. But it was pouring rain, and people turn into idiots when stuff starts falling out of the sky on them. And also we were in the front row - and I for one, did not want to get there late and face The Wrath. I didn't have to worry, because we got there ridiculously early. It would have been a nice night for a little stroll around the picturesque little campus, but even though it had stopped raining, it had gotten really really cold. No matter. We sat in the car for a while and watched people trying to park. What larks.
Finally we were allowed inside the theater, where we sat and then chatted with RivB and Gator for a while (our seats were directly in front of theirs and we didn't even plan it that way) and then it was... Show Time. Curtain up, light the lights, etc. But not so fast - the head of the organization walked out, and commenced to give a speech, accompanied by powerpoint presentation (am not making that one up, I swear) about their upcoming season. See? I didn't have to worry so much about being late, since I would have just missed that thrilling announcement. Their season featured Gloria Gaynor, Michael Feinstein, Boyz to Men and the Fab Four (from Beyond the Veil, apparently) and, oh yes, the season had a theme, and I wonder how long it took them to think it up - Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed and Something Blue (not making that one up, either.) Now, I understand the need to renew subscribers, because as a whole, subscription sales are down pretty much across the board, times is hard, etc. but there's a time and place, you know? And they handed out brochures later, which accomplished the same thing, without the powerpoint. Don't they do this subscription thing every year? Their patrons seemed kind of old, but I am assuming they're not morons. I am sure they could look at the brochure and figure it out, yes?? So I was a little annoyed. Hey, Mister Man, shuddup already, will ya? You're keeping me from seeing Patti! He was seconds away from incurring MY wrath, which is not as awesome to behold as others I could name, but I would like to think is plenty feasome...
But then he got off the stage and it really was showtime, and for the second time in a month, I was in the Presence of The Patti. And it was great. I have seen this show, Coulda Shoulda Woulda before (at the JCC gala a few years ago - they have only recently stopped sending me mail since I told them that 1. I am not Jewish and 2. the only reason I shelled out the cash for their event was to see Patti so unless they planned to bring her back, they were wasting their postage) so it was familiar, but she changed it up since I saw it last, adding in "Everything's Coming Up Roses" and "A Quiet Thing" to the first part, along with the others that are usually in there like "Easy to be Hard" and "Meadowlark" and "Don't Cry for Me, Argentina" and her West Side Story duet with herself. We were sitting close, and she worked both sides of the stage pretty well. She'd come over to our end and loom Fiercely (capital F - because that is Fierce, as in Tyra Banks'usage of the word "Giiirrrl, you are Fierce!")over us for a while, and I'd find myself shifting in my seat to look up at her, to avoid staring at her knees.
Anyway, I was already pretty happy going into the second half, but I was beside myself ecstatic when she went into what she called "the Sondheim section" which she'd also changed up from the last time I saw the show because it included - "I Never Do Anything Twice" (where she brandished the whip!) "Anyone Can Whistle" "Send in the Clowns" and "Being Alive" (!!!)- have I ever told you how much I've wanted to see her sing "Being Alive" live??? It's my favorite - and after a busy, hard week, I felt like she was singing it just for me (how did you know, Patti??). Cloud 9 time, for sure. She looked really great, too, in black and white, although I wanted to reach up there and straighten her shirt collar, since one side of it was flipped up and the other side was not. I was just thinking 'come over here, let me fix that...' Anyway, she ended it with "The Ladies Who Lunch" (another appropriate one, for me given that last week was Gala week) and "The Way You Look Tonight" where she ran around the stage taking pictures of the audience with a little disposable camera. She actually got a fun one (I think) of me and mom with Bob in the background - which would be an awesome one to have, dontcha think?? And then closed with "100 years from Today" a capella. And then it was over and we went back out into the rainy night. Over too soon.
Thanks again for another great show, Ms. Patti, and I can now die a happy woman, hearing you sing "Being Alive" right in front of me. Or, in Randy speak "Yo, yo, yo, listen up! Patti baby, you did your thing and I've got mad love for you."
Friday, April 24, 2009
good sirs! i haft forgoteth to speaketh like shakespeare!
Forsooth and lackaday! Yesterday twas Talk Like Shakespeare Day in Chicago (did anyone get footage of Mayor Daley talking like Da Bard?? For THAT I would have liked to have seeneth) and I forgot to post about it. Methinks that we should haveth this day more often... for tonight, however, let us grooveth!
serenity now (!?)
It's Gala day! I am the only one here right now (the calm before the storm?) and I am trying to take deep, cleansing breaths and transport myself to the Land of the Blue Butterfly... it looks serene, right??Wednesday, April 22, 2009
disco night...
I made it home in time for Disco Night on Idol and I have to say I was a little bit disappointed. I was expecting crazy cheese, a whirling disco ball, etc. Right? Abba! The Brothers Gibb! Donna Summer! Most of the top 7 (including Matt "Wasted Save" Giraud) did disco songs but slowed the tempo way the hell down to try and showcase their "artistry." What the what??? I thought disco was supposed to be fun dance music. Although, I was born in the late 70s, and so wasn't actually alive during the disco era, so I could be wrong about that...
I liked Kris Allen's groovy "She Works Hard for the Money" and Adam singing anything. I didn't feel his pain like Paula did (turning her into a "pool of Abdul" per Mr. Seacrest), but whatever. And I love Allison, LOVE HER, but her Hot Stuff was so funky it sounded nothing like the original. Strangely the only two contestants who were more or less true to the disco theme were Lill Rounds (who did not follow my advice - sniff! - and sang "I'm Every Woman") and the aforementioned Matt G. What happened to Lill? I didn't like it at all last night. She was all like "I'm having fun" which prompted my Cowell-esque response that people also have fun at karaoke bars, but that don't make them artists! There was nothing at all original about her performance, it was BORING. And then Matt... "Stayin' Alive" was an appropriate song choice, what with the save and all, but he's just kind of blah. I didn't hate it as much as Simon did, but yeah. Not good.
Bottom three predictions: Lill, Matt, and Anoop
I think Anoop of the pink sweater will live to sing another day, but Lill and Matt are going down in this double elimination.
I liked Kris Allen's groovy "She Works Hard for the Money" and Adam singing anything. I didn't feel his pain like Paula did (turning her into a "pool of Abdul" per Mr. Seacrest), but whatever. And I love Allison, LOVE HER, but her Hot Stuff was so funky it sounded nothing like the original. Strangely the only two contestants who were more or less true to the disco theme were Lill Rounds (who did not follow my advice - sniff! - and sang "I'm Every Woman") and the aforementioned Matt G. What happened to Lill? I didn't like it at all last night. She was all like "I'm having fun" which prompted my Cowell-esque response that people also have fun at karaoke bars, but that don't make them artists! There was nothing at all original about her performance, it was BORING. And then Matt... "Stayin' Alive" was an appropriate song choice, what with the save and all, but he's just kind of blah. I didn't hate it as much as Simon did, but yeah. Not good.
Bottom three predictions: Lill, Matt, and Anoop
I think Anoop of the pink sweater will live to sing another day, but Lill and Matt are going down in this double elimination.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
happy birthday, dear patti...
Ms. Patti is a Taurus and so naturally, I checked out what's in her stars for today.The Chicago Tribune says that today is an 8 for her (which, by the way, is a better day than I am having, at a lousy 5. That is one away from "you should not have gotten out of bed this morning. Whatevs.)
Holiday Mathis, over at the Sun Times says the following: TAURUS (April 20-May 20): You'll notice certain people putting on airs, which doesn't impress you. You prefer a little less hype. Your down-to-earth approach to life will be infectious, and you can change the vibes just by being you.
Happy Birthday, Patti! I would have a drink in your honor, but I'm not technically supposed to drink, so let's just say I will scarf several sugary confections in your honor.
Monday, April 20, 2009
things that made me happy this weekend...
So. To quote my grandmother when she said grace one easter "here we are again." It's Monday & it's raining & people turn into such morons when stuff is falling from the sky. It was a good weekend though, and here's why:
1.) Got my hair done for the Big Event on Friday. At least it will look somewhat decent, although I never know what to do with it for the actual event, I will either try and get a blowout at lunchtime or just throw it up (which sounds gross. but you know what I mean, I hope).
2.) Also got my eyebrows done. It hurt like...something that hurts A LOT, but they look fantastic and we must suffer for beauty, yes?
3.) My friend Janey is engaged and asked me to be a bridesmaid! I've never been one before!
4.) Went out with Heidi & Amy - shopping first and then dinner.
5.) I am in love with my new Smashbox foundation and am still sort of in awe at those products that they used on Heidi that came out clear and then turned into blush on her cheeks and gloss on her lips. Like (FISH) magic! I am a sucker for packaging though, and bought some sort of eye kit from Benefit.
6.) I am also in love with Forever 21 and their dirt cheap accessories.
7.) Ditto my gorgeous new bag from Nine West (it's blue!)
8.) Dinner & grown up conversation with Heidi, Amy & Beth. You can take the girls out of Baker's Square, but you can't take Baker's Square out of the girls... Also, cruising the parking lot (just like the old days) laughing and then crying and then laughing again, all in the course of a few hours.
9.) Oh, and some kickass wedding plans. We're gonna rock this wedding, baby!
10.) Sundaysundaysunday... had no motivation to do anything, not even look down Golf Rd. for President Clinton's motorcade, so I took a nap. Sometimes it is all you need.
Which brings y'all up to speed, I think. Another busy week coming up for me, there is much on my mind grapes (oh Tracy Jordan, you make me smile) and you may not hear a lot from me until after the gala on Friday...
Don't forget, Chicagoans - Thursday is officially Talk Like Shakespeare Day, according to da Mare, and isn't THAT something you'd like to see?
1.) Got my hair done for the Big Event on Friday. At least it will look somewhat decent, although I never know what to do with it for the actual event, I will either try and get a blowout at lunchtime or just throw it up (which sounds gross. but you know what I mean, I hope).
2.) Also got my eyebrows done. It hurt like...something that hurts A LOT, but they look fantastic and we must suffer for beauty, yes?
3.) My friend Janey is engaged and asked me to be a bridesmaid! I've never been one before!
4.) Went out with Heidi & Amy - shopping first and then dinner.
5.) I am in love with my new Smashbox foundation and am still sort of in awe at those products that they used on Heidi that came out clear and then turned into blush on her cheeks and gloss on her lips. Like (FISH) magic! I am a sucker for packaging though, and bought some sort of eye kit from Benefit.
6.) I am also in love with Forever 21 and their dirt cheap accessories.
7.) Ditto my gorgeous new bag from Nine West (it's blue!)
8.) Dinner & grown up conversation with Heidi, Amy & Beth. You can take the girls out of Baker's Square, but you can't take Baker's Square out of the girls... Also, cruising the parking lot (just like the old days) laughing and then crying and then laughing again, all in the course of a few hours.
9.) Oh, and some kickass wedding plans. We're gonna rock this wedding, baby!
10.) Sundaysundaysunday... had no motivation to do anything, not even look down Golf Rd. for President Clinton's motorcade, so I took a nap. Sometimes it is all you need.
Which brings y'all up to speed, I think. Another busy week coming up for me, there is much on my mind grapes (oh Tracy Jordan, you make me smile) and you may not hear a lot from me until after the gala on Friday...
Don't forget, Chicagoans - Thursday is officially Talk Like Shakespeare Day, according to da Mare, and isn't THAT something you'd like to see?
Friday, April 17, 2009
friday!
Oh, thank GOD it is Friday! This week has been a whirl of wind, and next week will be even more nuts, because it is our Spring Gala. Which I love, and which will be lots of fun, but it will be bonkers. So if you don't hear from me, you will know why.
Not a lot to say today, unfortunately except...
1.) I got Ravinia tickets yesterday! As soon as I got to the office, I dropped my stuff and jumped online. And there was already a virtual "line" to purchase tickets, which begs the question - who ELSE was up and buying tickets at 8:00 am? Whatever. I got tickets for Patti, of course, and for the Abba dance spectacular on June 30. The rest I am holding off on for now, because I am also getting tickets to...
2.) A Chorus Line - which I have never seen and would like to see very much. I have to get over to the box office at some point and get some tickets but ohmigod, the Discover bill will be ridiculous this month (again). Thank god I will be getting...
3.) A big fat tax refund! Come soon, ok?
4.) Can I vent for a second about American Idol? Really, Simon, really? Using the save on Matt? After you told him that he had no chance of winning the competition? Really?? What were you thinking, saving someone who sang Have You Really Ever Loved a Woman. BLECH. What a creepy song. It should have been Lill who got booted off because NO ONE does that sort of shit to a great song like "The Rose." There is a fine line between artistic interpretation and totally butchering a song, okay? I hope next week Lill AND Matt get voted off. As Simon pointed out two people will get the ax - and it's Disco week! Yesss! Unfortunately, I will be here, as in work, so will have to record it. Lill might be able to redeem herself if she rocks out to some Donna Summer. Or maybe "I will survive" is that considered disco? And someone will have to bust out some beegees. Oy, I HATE the beegees, but this comes from working at AUP and having to listen to them all.the.time.
5.) Speaking of tv, what is going on with House? First they kill off Kutner (Kal Penn is going to work at the White House! So I don't blame him for leaving the show, but still... what a stunt.) and this week we are expected to care about Chase and Cameron? Out of nowhere? When we haven't even seen them for the past 2 seasons? Their engagement was supposed to be our happy ending, I suppose, to make up for Kutner. No way. And now House is seeing dead people, in the form of Amber AKA Cut throat bitch? Weird.... what's happening???
Not a lot to say today, unfortunately except...
1.) I got Ravinia tickets yesterday! As soon as I got to the office, I dropped my stuff and jumped online. And there was already a virtual "line" to purchase tickets, which begs the question - who ELSE was up and buying tickets at 8:00 am? Whatever. I got tickets for Patti, of course, and for the Abba dance spectacular on June 30. The rest I am holding off on for now, because I am also getting tickets to...
2.) A Chorus Line - which I have never seen and would like to see very much. I have to get over to the box office at some point and get some tickets but ohmigod, the Discover bill will be ridiculous this month (again). Thank god I will be getting...
3.) A big fat tax refund! Come soon, ok?
4.) Can I vent for a second about American Idol? Really, Simon, really? Using the save on Matt? After you told him that he had no chance of winning the competition? Really?? What were you thinking, saving someone who sang Have You Really Ever Loved a Woman. BLECH. What a creepy song. It should have been Lill who got booted off because NO ONE does that sort of shit to a great song like "The Rose." There is a fine line between artistic interpretation and totally butchering a song, okay? I hope next week Lill AND Matt get voted off. As Simon pointed out two people will get the ax - and it's Disco week! Yesss! Unfortunately, I will be here, as in work, so will have to record it. Lill might be able to redeem herself if she rocks out to some Donna Summer. Or maybe "I will survive" is that considered disco? And someone will have to bust out some beegees. Oy, I HATE the beegees, but this comes from working at AUP and having to listen to them all.the.time.
5.) Speaking of tv, what is going on with House? First they kill off Kutner (Kal Penn is going to work at the White House! So I don't blame him for leaving the show, but still... what a stunt.) and this week we are expected to care about Chase and Cameron? Out of nowhere? When we haven't even seen them for the past 2 seasons? Their engagement was supposed to be our happy ending, I suppose, to make up for Kutner. No way. And now House is seeing dead people, in the form of Amber AKA Cut throat bitch? Weird.... what's happening???
Monday, April 13, 2009
rainy days & mondays always get me down...
Or maybe it's just this danged cold weather. I know that "spring" and "Chicago" are pretty much mutally exclusive. Someone that I work with, not from these parts, asked me when the weather would start getting nice and I answered "June" and I was not entirely joking. It's pretty much true. We'll go from about 50 to about 80 with nothing in between. This crazy town. Ah well...
Anyway. How was Easter for everyone? I've turned into a heathen, or something, you'd never have thought that I spent four years of my life at LOYOLA (go Ramblers!) for god's sake... I colored eggs and ate a lot of chocolate... the Dibley Bunny brought me Season 2 of 30 Rock on DVD (thanks, Easter Bunny!) and so I spent most of my Sunday watching it.
Saturday was actually kind of fun, I went with Heidi and Jane to Chicago Bagel and Bialy which seriously felt like a New York delicatessen, right in the middle of Wheeling.
Anyway. How was Easter for everyone? I've turned into a heathen, or something, you'd never have thought that I spent four years of my life at LOYOLA (go Ramblers!) for god's sake... I colored eggs and ate a lot of chocolate... the Dibley Bunny brought me Season 2 of 30 Rock on DVD (thanks, Easter Bunny!) and so I spent most of my Sunday watching it.
Saturday was actually kind of fun, I went with Heidi and Jane to Chicago Bagel and Bialy which seriously felt like a New York delicatessen, right in the middle of Wheeling.
Friday, April 10, 2009
today's yahoo horoscope...
Just for yuks, I like to check out my daily horoscope on Yahoo! This is what it said and I'm intrigued...
"You're living out one of your oddest dreams today, and your attitude will be sunny."
You see, I have LOTS of odd dreams, so I am curious to know which one of them I am living out today. All I've been doing is normal work stuff, so unless I start losing my teeth (odd dream #1) or show up somewhere without any clothes on (OK, so I've never actually had that dream, but I do have the one where I'm trying to run somewhere but can't make my legs work) it looks like my attitude will not be very sunny. Alas.
"You're living out one of your oddest dreams today, and your attitude will be sunny."
You see, I have LOTS of odd dreams, so I am curious to know which one of them I am living out today. All I've been doing is normal work stuff, so unless I start losing my teeth (odd dream #1) or show up somewhere without any clothes on (OK, so I've never actually had that dream, but I do have the one where I'm trying to run somewhere but can't make my legs work) it looks like my attitude will not be very sunny. Alas.
ravinia ticket alert!
Tickets for Raviniaare on sale next week! Or, if you give them $250 and up in donations, I think you can buy tickets now, but personally, I don't have a lot of extra $$ lying around so I am going to have to just take my chances online next week. Some highlights, well, at least for me include...
June 30 - The music of ABBA, performed by Arrival from Sweden (LOVE this! I am excited already!!)
July 13 - Susan Graham
July 16 - Thomas Hampson
August 8 - Patti LuPone (Kurt Weil's 7 Deadly Sins)
August 16 - Cole Porter Evening featuring David Hyde Pierce and Victoria Clark
August 18 - Dmitri Hvorostovsky
August 30 - Carrie Underwood
Woohoo! See you on the lawn (or maybe in the pavillion! or maybe... on the dance floor!)
June 30 - The music of ABBA, performed by Arrival from Sweden (LOVE this! I am excited already!!)
July 13 - Susan Graham
July 16 - Thomas Hampson
August 8 - Patti LuPone (Kurt Weil's 7 Deadly Sins)
August 16 - Cole Porter Evening featuring David Hyde Pierce and Victoria Clark
August 18 - Dmitri Hvorostovsky
August 30 - Carrie Underwood
Woohoo! See you on the lawn (or maybe in the pavillion! or maybe... on the dance floor!)
happy easter!
Can you believe it's already Easter? I really can't. It totally snuck up on me this year. So, needless to say that although I did have some really delicious King cake on Mardi Gras, there was no giving up a single damn thing for Lent. Sometimes I try. I say something like "I'm gonna give up swearing!" or "I'm gonna give up drinking coffee!" The first one doesn't work and the second one gives me a headache. I haven't really made any kind of effort about Lent since was little and took CCD anyway. Case in point, I also had a cheeseburger last Friday. When I thought about it later on, I was like "Doh!" Whoops. And when my mom mentioned she had off today, I went "Really? How come?" Hellooooo???? I am not really a practicing anything although I do have faith in... something.
Wednesday, April 08, 2009
pictures!
...The Arch...
U R Here (Yikes!)
On top of the Arch
On the road again... with Heidi's cute bag...and one more from st. louis
Part 3: Around Town
Friday. I had no plan in mind - the whole point of the trip had been the show, and I was quite unprepared in terms of any other sights. Well, that's not entirely true, I'd kicked around going to the Anheuser Busch brewery (not for the beer, you understand. I don't like beer, I only wanted to visit the Clydesdale stables and see the horses), the revamped Union Station, the botanic garden... funnily enough, last weekend, when I was back home, both Chicago Sunday newspapers featured St. Louis as a getaway destination. What timing! So. I slept in. After the dinner I'd had the previous night (the al dente fettuccini with tomatoes and great giant chunks of onions) I decided I wanted to get a really nice breakfast. I asked the very helpful hotel staff for suggestions. Not only did I get a great suggestion, but I got a ride from the hotel shuttle driver. Breakfast was at Rooster, a cute little crepe shop and coffee house that be at home, I think in someplace like Evanston. Since crepes were the specialty of the house, I got a baked apple one. Oh, and a big honking vanilla latte. The crepe was HUGE! And really good.
Called the shuttle driver to come and get me. Over crepe, I decided to check out the Gateway Arch. Because really, I can shop just about anywhere, but the Arch is very distinctively St. Louis and since I was taking off later in the afternoon, decided to head there. Outside the Arch, I was overwhelmed by how BIG it is. I started debating - to go up or not to go up?? I asked myself then what would Patti do?? I'm not proud of this, ok, but I didn't get a lot of sleep and I was punchy as hell. And I actually did think about what she would do, even as I was questioning the wisdom of this philosophy, and I decided that she would probably go to the top of that bitch and no mistake. She seems bold, you know? Fearless. So that's what I decided to do. I got my ticket and the guy asked me (as he gave me the wrong change) if I had any claustrophobia issues or fear of heights etc. I said "I don't think so... guess we'll find out, huh?" And he did not seem amused. On with the show. I got in line with a bunch of families with screaming kids. Fun. We were escorted into an area, in front of teeny tiny doors. They would show us a film, and then the little doors would open and we'd get into a teeny tiny capsule that would bring us to the top of the Arch. 630 Feet. Yikes. Inside, I was with 4 other people, crammed into this tiny thing. Great. As the thing started moving, you could see the inside of the Arch, whizzing by and it was not comforting. What did I get myself in to?? Finally, we're at the top. I get out, take some pix, the view is AMAZING! and then I start freaking out. Don't ask me why. I was like ok, this has been great, can you get me down now please? So I got in line pretty fast to go down. While we were waiting for the return pods, you could feel the thing shaking in the wind. I ended up riding down with some fellow Chicagoans (suburbanites, too!) which was great, even though I think I probably looked pretty green on the ride down. I pretty much bolted out of that little pod and out into the sunlight as fast as I could. Fresh air and sunshine, with my stomach issuing protests the whole way. By the time I got out, it was time for lunch. My cab came to the hotel to take me to the airport shortly thereafter...
Friday. I had no plan in mind - the whole point of the trip had been the show, and I was quite unprepared in terms of any other sights. Well, that's not entirely true, I'd kicked around going to the Anheuser Busch brewery (not for the beer, you understand. I don't like beer, I only wanted to visit the Clydesdale stables and see the horses), the revamped Union Station, the botanic garden... funnily enough, last weekend, when I was back home, both Chicago Sunday newspapers featured St. Louis as a getaway destination. What timing! So. I slept in. After the dinner I'd had the previous night (the al dente fettuccini with tomatoes and great giant chunks of onions) I decided I wanted to get a really nice breakfast. I asked the very helpful hotel staff for suggestions. Not only did I get a great suggestion, but I got a ride from the hotel shuttle driver. Breakfast was at Rooster, a cute little crepe shop and coffee house that be at home, I think in someplace like Evanston. Since crepes were the specialty of the house, I got a baked apple one. Oh, and a big honking vanilla latte. The crepe was HUGE! And really good.
Called the shuttle driver to come and get me. Over crepe, I decided to check out the Gateway Arch. Because really, I can shop just about anywhere, but the Arch is very distinctively St. Louis and since I was taking off later in the afternoon, decided to head there. Outside the Arch, I was overwhelmed by how BIG it is. I started debating - to go up or not to go up?? I asked myself then what would Patti do?? I'm not proud of this, ok, but I didn't get a lot of sleep and I was punchy as hell. And I actually did think about what she would do, even as I was questioning the wisdom of this philosophy, and I decided that she would probably go to the top of that bitch and no mistake. She seems bold, you know? Fearless. So that's what I decided to do. I got my ticket and the guy asked me (as he gave me the wrong change) if I had any claustrophobia issues or fear of heights etc. I said "I don't think so... guess we'll find out, huh?" And he did not seem amused. On with the show. I got in line with a bunch of families with screaming kids. Fun. We were escorted into an area, in front of teeny tiny doors. They would show us a film, and then the little doors would open and we'd get into a teeny tiny capsule that would bring us to the top of the Arch. 630 Feet. Yikes. Inside, I was with 4 other people, crammed into this tiny thing. Great. As the thing started moving, you could see the inside of the Arch, whizzing by and it was not comforting. What did I get myself in to?? Finally, we're at the top. I get out, take some pix, the view is AMAZING! and then I start freaking out. Don't ask me why. I was like ok, this has been great, can you get me down now please? So I got in line pretty fast to go down. While we were waiting for the return pods, you could feel the thing shaking in the wind. I ended up riding down with some fellow Chicagoans (suburbanites, too!) which was great, even though I think I probably looked pretty green on the ride down. I pretty much bolted out of that little pod and out into the sunlight as fast as I could. Fresh air and sunshine, with my stomach issuing protests the whole way. By the time I got out, it was time for lunch. My cab came to the hotel to take me to the airport shortly thereafter...
Tuesday, April 07, 2009
wherefore art thou, kal penn?
SPOILER ALERT - please don't read this if you did not see House last night and you are planning to watch it! This was billed as one of those episodes that shocks your socks off. The teasers gave nothing away, and I was certainly surprised when early into the episode, Forman and 13 found Kutner dead on his bedroom floor, with a gunshot wound to his head, an apparent suicide. I'm sorry, what???
My first thought was dammit! I liked him! Why couldn't they have killed off 13? She's got an uncurable disease and she's very very annoying. Or, the other one, Taub. Or just about anyone else... I almost bought in to House's murder theory - because nothing really fit. If he and the rest of his team missed Kutner's depression, or whatever it might have been that led him to off himself, does it also mean that we, the audience also missed something? When I see this season in reruns, am I going to be sitting there, watching him, wondering where this came from, so out of the blue? House is one of the few shows where the characters are fairly well defined, I feel like I know them, in a way. This was so unexpected, so unlike the person we'd known Kutner to be. I suppose that is the point, really, that you can spend lots of time with a person, in the case of his team, or watching that person, in the case of us, in the audience, and never really know what is going on in someone else's head. Well played there, House. It was a good episode, and I guess it has much more impact when it was one of the central characters. Otherwise, why would we care? But why Kutner, why??
To go and pay homage to Lawrence Kutner, go here
The storyline with Meat Loaf seemed very secondary, I wasn't even officially sure what was going on with him and his wife. I was too busy following House on his murder theory (in my scenario, a jealous Taub killed him. He wasbeing so cold this week, after all, and last week, he totally stole Kutner's case-solving idea.). My favorite line, though? "Did you figure that out by slowly removing your sunglasses to strains of The Who?"
My first thought was dammit! I liked him! Why couldn't they have killed off 13? She's got an uncurable disease and she's very very annoying. Or, the other one, Taub. Or just about anyone else... I almost bought in to House's murder theory - because nothing really fit. If he and the rest of his team missed Kutner's depression, or whatever it might have been that led him to off himself, does it also mean that we, the audience also missed something? When I see this season in reruns, am I going to be sitting there, watching him, wondering where this came from, so out of the blue? House is one of the few shows where the characters are fairly well defined, I feel like I know them, in a way. This was so unexpected, so unlike the person we'd known Kutner to be. I suppose that is the point, really, that you can spend lots of time with a person, in the case of his team, or watching that person, in the case of us, in the audience, and never really know what is going on in someone else's head. Well played there, House. It was a good episode, and I guess it has much more impact when it was one of the central characters. Otherwise, why would we care? But why Kutner, why??
To go and pay homage to Lawrence Kutner, go here
The storyline with Meat Loaf seemed very secondary, I wasn't even officially sure what was going on with him and his wife. I was too busy following House on his murder theory (in my scenario, a jealous Taub killed him. He wasbeing so cold this week, after all, and last week, he totally stole Kutner's case-solving idea.). My favorite line, though? "Did you figure that out by slowly removing your sunglasses to strains of The Who?"
Monday, April 06, 2009
meet me in st. louis - 2
Part 2: The Fabulous Fox!
So, where were we? Oh, yes. I had just stumbled off the train after a 7 and a half hour ride, onto the mean (more on this later) and unfamiliar streets of St. Louis. I was starving, exhausted, anxious. I gobbled down some dinner (a pasta primavera that was basically fettuccini, tomatoes and huge-ass chunks of onion. No sauce to speak of. Mmmmmm..... Then I had to start worrying about how I was going to get myself to the theater. Walking was out - not only was my hotel too far away for that to be convenient, the theater's website cautioned against walking around the city at night. Lovely. Fortunately for me, the amazingly friendly and helpful staff at the Holiday Inn Select (near the Convention Center!) were able to help me out. They called me a cab AND gave me the number so I could summon one to the theater once the show was over - because unlike New York and even Chicago, cabs don't trawl the streets randomly. Every cab I was in had a radio tuned in to the dispatcher, sending cabs all over the place.
So off I went, cruising the rainy and very very silent streets. It was kind of eerie. I have no idea where anyone was - there wasn't even any traffic. I could see the sign for the Fabulous FoxTheatre from down the street. It was so big, I would bet that it could be seen from space. I allowed myself to breathe a sigh of relief - finally, I was here! I could get my ticket, relax, enjoy... Got the ticket, stepped into the lobby and geez! They are not kidding when they call themselves Fabulous! It was completely capital F Fabulous! But dark though. The lobby in there is as dark as the Auditorium Theater's where I spend mucho time. And that is saying something... Went in to find my seat. I had purchased a ticket somewhere called "orchestra pit" so I was aware that I would be close. I was unprepared though, when the usher brought me straight to the front row! Because while I LOVE being so close, I didn't actually do that on purpose. So it was a pleasant surprise and I could not stop smiling. Let's face it, it had been a long day, and when I wasn't gazing around the huge and ornate theater, with a sort of wondrous look, I was grinning like an idiot. I hope my seatmates didn't mind too much.
Before the show started, these random women came onto the stage to blab for a bit about a new presenting organization called Cabaret St. Louis - this concert was the first of a new series for it and they were hoping it would make St. Louis (are you ready for this?) the cabaret capital of the Midwest. Yeah, okay sure. Although heck, they had at least one audience member (me) travel down there for a show, so I guess anything is possible... They did some raffle but they had no clue what they were doing and it took WAY.TOO.LONG. Shut uuupppp, already!
And then, finally. The music started and Patti & Mandy took the stage. The audience (not just me, thank you!) went insane. Truly. They watched us, watching them. Patti smiled. Then they launched into "Another hundred people." And it was glorious. Suddenly, everything was right with the world, I had two amazing people singing to ME, about maybe 6 feet away (more? less? whatever, they were pretty damn close, ok? The spit was flying and everything!) and it made the whole mess of getting down there all worthwhile. I don't remember when I had this particular thought, but at some point, I was thinking that they could keep singing pretty much all night, and I'd be happy as a clam. I also thought that it might be fun to follow them both around the country (although it would mean trekking to places like Detroit and Cleveland and umm, no thank you. I'm a woman alone, after all. With limited wind and all of that) just to sit and listen and watch them be together. The show itself is structured a little strangely, and unlike their respective solo acts, does not include any dialogue or chatter with the audience. It was more like a little musical journey, with the songs all interwoven together. Sometimes it worked better than others, is all I will say. But they both sounded wonderful, looked good, and seemed to be having lots of fun up there. So it was fun to watch, even the rolling office chair choreography - which, really? You have Ann Reinking as your choreographer and really? But whatever, I kind of liked it. Have you noticed?
It all ended way too soon - as I say, I could have sat there forever. Is there any greater joy than having Ms. Patti sing "Don't cry for me Argentina" at you? With eye contact? And you're scared to look away? And then "Everything's Coming Up Roses"? Or Mandy singing (oh, crap, I've forgotten what it's called) that song from Follies something like the why don't you love me blues (I'll check the program later...) and then "If I Loved You" and "Some Enchanted Evening." Music, as one of the cabaret organization ladies called it "for mature listeners" - should I be offended? They are both such wonderful, animated performers. It was a pleasure. Maybe I was giddy, I don't know, but I loved every second of it.
Outside the theater, I noticed a warning sign posted on the door - no handguns allowed in the theater! And a picture of a gun with an "x" through it! We aren't in Kansas anymore, Toto. Because I was afraid of getting shot or stolen, I didn't try and find the stage door (I mean, I love you, Patti, I really do, but creeping around some dark alley somewhere struck me as the not incredibly intelligent option to pursue at this point in time) and I did not venture across the street to any number of clean, well lit establishments for dessert or an after dinner drink. I called a cab back to the hotel.
So, where were we? Oh, yes. I had just stumbled off the train after a 7 and a half hour ride, onto the mean (more on this later) and unfamiliar streets of St. Louis. I was starving, exhausted, anxious. I gobbled down some dinner (a pasta primavera that was basically fettuccini, tomatoes and huge-ass chunks of onion. No sauce to speak of. Mmmmmm..... Then I had to start worrying about how I was going to get myself to the theater. Walking was out - not only was my hotel too far away for that to be convenient, the theater's website cautioned against walking around the city at night. Lovely. Fortunately for me, the amazingly friendly and helpful staff at the Holiday Inn Select (near the Convention Center!) were able to help me out. They called me a cab AND gave me the number so I could summon one to the theater once the show was over - because unlike New York and even Chicago, cabs don't trawl the streets randomly. Every cab I was in had a radio tuned in to the dispatcher, sending cabs all over the place.
So off I went, cruising the rainy and very very silent streets. It was kind of eerie. I have no idea where anyone was - there wasn't even any traffic. I could see the sign for the Fabulous FoxTheatre from down the street. It was so big, I would bet that it could be seen from space. I allowed myself to breathe a sigh of relief - finally, I was here! I could get my ticket, relax, enjoy... Got the ticket, stepped into the lobby and geez! They are not kidding when they call themselves Fabulous! It was completely capital F Fabulous! But dark though. The lobby in there is as dark as the Auditorium Theater's where I spend mucho time. And that is saying something... Went in to find my seat. I had purchased a ticket somewhere called "orchestra pit" so I was aware that I would be close. I was unprepared though, when the usher brought me straight to the front row! Because while I LOVE being so close, I didn't actually do that on purpose. So it was a pleasant surprise and I could not stop smiling. Let's face it, it had been a long day, and when I wasn't gazing around the huge and ornate theater, with a sort of wondrous look, I was grinning like an idiot. I hope my seatmates didn't mind too much.
Before the show started, these random women came onto the stage to blab for a bit about a new presenting organization called Cabaret St. Louis - this concert was the first of a new series for it and they were hoping it would make St. Louis (are you ready for this?) the cabaret capital of the Midwest. Yeah, okay sure. Although heck, they had at least one audience member (me) travel down there for a show, so I guess anything is possible... They did some raffle but they had no clue what they were doing and it took WAY.TOO.LONG. Shut uuupppp, already!
And then, finally. The music started and Patti & Mandy took the stage. The audience (not just me, thank you!) went insane. Truly. They watched us, watching them. Patti smiled. Then they launched into "Another hundred people." And it was glorious. Suddenly, everything was right with the world, I had two amazing people singing to ME, about maybe 6 feet away (more? less? whatever, they were pretty damn close, ok? The spit was flying and everything!) and it made the whole mess of getting down there all worthwhile. I don't remember when I had this particular thought, but at some point, I was thinking that they could keep singing pretty much all night, and I'd be happy as a clam. I also thought that it might be fun to follow them both around the country (although it would mean trekking to places like Detroit and Cleveland and umm, no thank you. I'm a woman alone, after all. With limited wind and all of that) just to sit and listen and watch them be together. The show itself is structured a little strangely, and unlike their respective solo acts, does not include any dialogue or chatter with the audience. It was more like a little musical journey, with the songs all interwoven together. Sometimes it worked better than others, is all I will say. But they both sounded wonderful, looked good, and seemed to be having lots of fun up there. So it was fun to watch, even the rolling office chair choreography - which, really? You have Ann Reinking as your choreographer and really? But whatever, I kind of liked it. Have you noticed?
It all ended way too soon - as I say, I could have sat there forever. Is there any greater joy than having Ms. Patti sing "Don't cry for me Argentina" at you? With eye contact? And you're scared to look away? And then "Everything's Coming Up Roses"? Or Mandy singing (oh, crap, I've forgotten what it's called) that song from Follies something like the why don't you love me blues (I'll check the program later...) and then "If I Loved You" and "Some Enchanted Evening." Music, as one of the cabaret organization ladies called it "for mature listeners" - should I be offended? They are both such wonderful, animated performers. It was a pleasure. Maybe I was giddy, I don't know, but I loved every second of it.
Outside the theater, I noticed a warning sign posted on the door - no handguns allowed in the theater! And a picture of a gun with an "x" through it! We aren't in Kansas anymore, Toto. Because I was afraid of getting shot or stolen, I didn't try and find the stage door (I mean, I love you, Patti, I really do, but creeping around some dark alley somewhere struck me as the not incredibly intelligent option to pursue at this point in time) and I did not venture across the street to any number of clean, well lit establishments for dessert or an after dinner drink. I called a cab back to the hotel.
meet me in st. louis
Part 1: I've been riding on the railroad, all the livelong day...
Thursday morning, I got up at the crack of 6:00 am, and took my regular train downtown to Union Station. From there, though, it gets more interesting because today I'm not just trudging along Randolph to the office - I'm taking an Amtrak train to St. Louis! The train was scheduled to leave at 9:25, and since I am pathologically early to pretty much everything (I was even born early - I really think that this has something to do with this....) I was left with mucho time to kill. So I had breakfast and I bought a pile of magazines and I sat, waiting to board. It occured to me, sitting there, that if my one way economy ticket cost me only $23, what could it possibly cost to, say, upgrade? I am telling you, even though I wasn't yet firing on all cylinders, this was a pretty good idea, so I went to check it out. The upgrade to business class was only 35 additional dollars and I decided to do it. Let me tell you, I think this was the smartest decision I made all trip. 5 + hours on the train, but in business class, there were large cozy seats (with footrests!) lots of space, a free Chicago Tribune (and I HATE the Tribune! But the sight of the free issue made me very very happy) and beautiful, blissful silence, no screaming kids or annoying people on the phone. This was riding to St. Louis in STYLE.
So anyway. We're rolling along, leaving the station right on time. Lovely, I'm thinking. I don't have to drive, all I need to do is sit here, with my footrest, and relax. We were set to arrive in St. Louis at 3:00 something, plenty of time for me to eat, freshen up, take a nap, etc before the 8:00 show. Perfection itself, yes? What could possibly go wrong, right?
Yeah. Well, we got delayed outside Joliet for a bit (some weird track switcheroo type thing that required us to go in reverse for a while... fun) and then we arrived in Bloomington-Normal where our conductor informed us that we would be sitting there for "a while." All he would say was that there had been an "incident" involving another train and now "the authorities" and also "the coroner." Uh oh. The "little while" turned into to TWO HOURS sitting at the station in Bloomington-Normal, while the authorities cleared the tracks (or whatever) and I slowly became unglued. It was not pretty. All I could think of though was that if I missed the damn show, ie the entire reason I was going down to St. Louis in the first place, I would have just totally wasted this 5+ hour train ride. I don't deal with these sorts of things very calmly... but just as I was weighing the option of renting a damn car and driving to St. Louis, the conductor herded us all back on board (oh yes, they let us off to stretch and mill around) and... we were off again! Arrival time was now pushed back to around 5:00.
The rest of the ride was uneventful, although I spent lots of time gazing out the window, mentally urging the engineer to go faster, as in "Why are we going so SLOW? Let's GO, already!!" etc. And the scenery in downstate IL is less than thrilling, to say the least. Wide open spaces, farmland, the occasional cow... We passed over the Mississippi River (at least, I think it was the Mississippi River) and got a gorgeous view of the St. Louis skyline and I was elated that we had FINALLY arrived. But... it took another half hour (at least!) until we got anywhere near a station and I was getting anxious. At last, we were able to get off the train. I almost kissed the ground, but I didn't because you know, ew.
I checked into my hotel at 6:00. Quick dinner via room service allowed me to shower and generally chill the hell out before getting changed and heading out to the Fabulous Fox.
More to come...
Thursday morning, I got up at the crack of 6:00 am, and took my regular train downtown to Union Station. From there, though, it gets more interesting because today I'm not just trudging along Randolph to the office - I'm taking an Amtrak train to St. Louis! The train was scheduled to leave at 9:25, and since I am pathologically early to pretty much everything (I was even born early - I really think that this has something to do with this....) I was left with mucho time to kill. So I had breakfast and I bought a pile of magazines and I sat, waiting to board. It occured to me, sitting there, that if my one way economy ticket cost me only $23, what could it possibly cost to, say, upgrade? I am telling you, even though I wasn't yet firing on all cylinders, this was a pretty good idea, so I went to check it out. The upgrade to business class was only 35 additional dollars and I decided to do it. Let me tell you, I think this was the smartest decision I made all trip. 5 + hours on the train, but in business class, there were large cozy seats (with footrests!) lots of space, a free Chicago Tribune (and I HATE the Tribune! But the sight of the free issue made me very very happy) and beautiful, blissful silence, no screaming kids or annoying people on the phone. This was riding to St. Louis in STYLE.
So anyway. We're rolling along, leaving the station right on time. Lovely, I'm thinking. I don't have to drive, all I need to do is sit here, with my footrest, and relax. We were set to arrive in St. Louis at 3:00 something, plenty of time for me to eat, freshen up, take a nap, etc before the 8:00 show. Perfection itself, yes? What could possibly go wrong, right?
Yeah. Well, we got delayed outside Joliet for a bit (some weird track switcheroo type thing that required us to go in reverse for a while... fun) and then we arrived in Bloomington-Normal where our conductor informed us that we would be sitting there for "a while." All he would say was that there had been an "incident" involving another train and now "the authorities" and also "the coroner." Uh oh. The "little while" turned into to TWO HOURS sitting at the station in Bloomington-Normal, while the authorities cleared the tracks (or whatever) and I slowly became unglued. It was not pretty. All I could think of though was that if I missed the damn show, ie the entire reason I was going down to St. Louis in the first place, I would have just totally wasted this 5+ hour train ride. I don't deal with these sorts of things very calmly... but just as I was weighing the option of renting a damn car and driving to St. Louis, the conductor herded us all back on board (oh yes, they let us off to stretch and mill around) and... we were off again! Arrival time was now pushed back to around 5:00.
The rest of the ride was uneventful, although I spent lots of time gazing out the window, mentally urging the engineer to go faster, as in "Why are we going so SLOW? Let's GO, already!!" etc. And the scenery in downstate IL is less than thrilling, to say the least. Wide open spaces, farmland, the occasional cow... We passed over the Mississippi River (at least, I think it was the Mississippi River) and got a gorgeous view of the St. Louis skyline and I was elated that we had FINALLY arrived. But... it took another half hour (at least!) until we got anywhere near a station and I was getting anxious. At last, we were able to get off the train. I almost kissed the ground, but I didn't because you know, ew.
I checked into my hotel at 6:00. Quick dinner via room service allowed me to shower and generally chill the hell out before getting changed and heading out to the Fabulous Fox.
More to come...
Wednesday, April 01, 2009
missouri loves company...
So yes. I am going to St. Louis tomorrow - riding the rails on Amtrak, a genuine human Altoid experience. Before you really start to wonder about me though, let me assure you - this trip is entirely Diva motivated...
I'm seeing these two cats (can that picture be any smaller? geez) tomorrow at the Fabulous Fox theater! Then I am coming home. Just enough time to see the Arch...
I'm seeing these two cats (can that picture be any smaller? geez) tomorrow at the Fabulous Fox theater! Then I am coming home. Just enough time to see the Arch...
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