weekend update, Fourth of July version

Wahoo! I'm off of work for a week. Yay! Here's what's up this weekend:

Friday: I am going to get my hair cut in an hour. I need it soooo bad. My bangs are driving me nuts. Then we're going to dinner at Pastis with Al and Lisa. We have gift certificates, and the place is closing tomorrow. Am I worried about what kind of food will be served in its final hours? You betcha. But it's free!

Saturday: Must get up very early and clean the house. Not only are we having a Fourth of July shindig on Tuesday, but we are now having a houseguest beginning Sunday, so the cleaning frenzy must begin. Those of you with dogs know that anything I clean will be undone it about five seconds, but a girl's gotta try. Then in the afternoon I am going to my friend Heather's family Fourth (actually First) of July party. They do this every year, and since I'm a pseudo member of their family, I go. It's usually a lot of fun - I'm quite looking forward to it. Tomorrow night I'd really love to go see The Devil Wears Prada, because I loved the book and I need to see a good chick flick right now.

Sunday: More cleaning. Perhaps doing the food shop for the party. Dimitry will arrive. I have to do some theater stuff in the a.m., and then we have Into the Woods rehearsal in the p.m. I am going to stop by my mom's at some point as well.

That's the weekend. Have a great one, folks!

It's an honor just being nominated

Although the number one and number two pups of all time, Junior and Jimmy, did not make the final six in Old Navy's search for a new mascot, it's still worth checking out the finalists over at www.oldnavy.com/magic. My money's on Cooper - something about that pup just makes me smile. So go over there and vote! You only have until July 7, I believe.

free time

I'm not a person who schedules a lot of free time in my life. For someone without kids, my life seems incredibly insane most of the time, mostly due to various theater projects, friend and family obligations, and of course, work. So having a free night is a somewhat rare thing. Usually, when I do have a free night, I have to catch up on the many hours of TV I Tivoed that week. But now that it's summer, my Tivo is on a bit of a break. Sure, I'm still recording "The Daily Show" and "The Colbert Report," as well as Kathy Griffin's "My Life on the D-List," among other things. But overall, my TV obligations have decreased dramatically over the past few weeks.

I'm discovering that that is a good thing. Now, I'm not knocking TV - and you will never hear me do that - but it's truly amazing how much free time I feel I have when I'm not watching it. Take tonight, for example. Now, tonight wasn't technically a free night - I had rehearsal for Into the Woods - but I was able to leave early, around 7:45. Since then, I went to Target to pick up some kids' toys for our Fourth of July fiesta, I played outside with the dogs for quite a while, chatted with the neighbors, did some laundry, caught up on my blog-reading, and now I'm writing this. And it's only 9:18! Amazing! Oooh...speaking of which, I really miss "The Amazing Race".....well, September is right around the corner.

What the dog did

For those of you who have to listen to me in real life, you probably think this entry is about Jimmy's latest back-to-back trips to the emergency vet. But I'm so exhausted by all of that drama I don't feel like writing about it. So instead, I'm here to 100% wholeheartedly recommend the book What The Dog Did by Emily Yoffe. It just came out in paperback, and it's the story of a self-proclaimed "reluctant dog owner." At the constant begging of her daughter, she adopted a rescue beagle named Sasha for her family. I was laughing my arse off for the first three quarters of the book. Seriously making a scene of myself in Borders, where I bought it and started to read it. Greg was embarrassed, I think. But it hit home so much, and explained a whole lot about my dog Jimmy (who is half beagle). There are a few sad bits (don't worry, Sasha is still alive at the end; Emily, just talks about some other people's sad experiences - but she gets through them quickly) but overall it was really informational, and most importantly, hi-freaking-larious. I don't think you have to have a dog to truly appreciate this book, but it probably helps. I read a whole lotta books, and this is by far the best one I've read this year. Go buy it now!

another opening, another show

Sorry I haven't been blogging too regularly. It's been quite busy, what with an eye infection (me) and an emergency trip to the vet resulting in a big 'ol pink bandage (Jimmy). But tonight I get to go to the first rehearsal for the show I will be stage managing this summer, Into the Woods. I am so psyched. This is the summer theater group that I helped out with last summer, for college and post-college-aged people. It's a really great group and casting went so well last week that I think we are going to have a phenomenal show. I love this part, the part before we even start, where we can hope that everything will go smoothly, and there will be no problems, and hundreds of people will come see all of our work. Here's hoping it all comes true.

weekend update

Lisa requested that I do a weekend update. So here it is. First of all, may I just say I am so happy it's Friday? This week has sucked the life out of me. So here is what I am doing:

Tonight: I have been peer-pressured into seeing X-Men 3 by Greg and Heather. So off we will go, with Larry too, to see this movie I already hate. I don't see comic book movies, but I don't want to be a party pooper. So instead I will complain about it the whole time! Oh, OK, I'll try not to. Anyway, before that we are going to dinner. This is big doings because with twin boys and another boy on the way in a matter of weeks, Heather and Larry don't go out too much.

Tomorrow: I will watch with glee as 6 inches of rain fall on our lovely state. If by glee I mean all-consuming anger, and if by lovely I mean God-forsaken. This wretched state is cursed, I say. I have to do some shopping and some chores and stuff. I really don't have anything much planned for tomorrow, can ya tell?

Sunday: I have a thing to go to in the afternoon, and then I have improv rehearsal at night. I'm sorry Lisa - I'm so boring this weekend!

this week sucks @ss

Which is why I haven't blogged in a while.

Steamy!

It's the three H's today - hazy, hot and humid. I LOVE IT!

Bring it, summer. I'm ready.

weekend

OK it's the weekend. Why do I feel the need to itemize what I do on the weekends? I have no idea. But here goes:

Friday: I went to work, and then hung out with Greg and watched our Netflixed "Entourage" season 2 DVDs. Well, not all of them, but a pretty good chunk. Went out to dinner w/some friends later.

Saturday: Today we are doing yardwork. I am not one of those people who gets any sense of joy out of yardwork. For me it's a necessity, only so that the neighbors don't talk about us for having a shitty yard. Greg is currently cutting down two small trees in our front yard, which will improve things markedly, I think. I should be out there helping, and I will be, just as soon as I finish this. Not sure what we are doing tonight, because we cannot agree on a movie (he wants to see Superman; I don't. I gave up comic book movies a long time ago, as a result of another relationship in which half of us was comic-book focused. Hint: it wasn't my half). We'll figure something out, but I have a sneaking suspicion it won't be glamorous.

Sunday: It's supposed to be hot as a mo-fo tomorrow. Like, 97 degrees or something like that. We are going down to the beach to celebrate Father's Day with Greg's parents. I will probably be somewhat blue about the holiday - but perhaps I will be fine. This is the seventh Father's Day I have not been able to celebrate. So strange how time flies sometimes. Anyway. Then tomorrow night I have to go audition someone for Into the Woods who cannot make it to auditions next week because he'll be away.

And with that, my friends, I'm off to the yard.

I'm not even supposed to BE here today

(Did anyone get my Clerks reference? Because, you know, BEST MOVIE EVER.)

Anywho, I kind of make it a policy not to talk about my job on this blog. But two really great things happened that I wanted to touch upon:

1) I got a promotion!

2) Drinking games.

That is all.

The pups (because I never post pictures of them!)

Jimmy, the one-nut wonder

Well, I have to drop Jimmy off at the vet tomorrow to get fixed. And of course, because I'm a tried-and-true sap, I'm emotional about it. I know you have to get your pets fixed; it's the right thing to do. Also, it's probably the most common procedure that vets do on dogs. But I'm nervous. Because Jimmy is a true original, only one of his, uh, beans has descended, so they are going to have to go in and find the other one. This, I hear, is also fairly common. But the poor pup is going to be down for the count for a little bit. I feel so bad! OK - tell me I'm a loser now.

ETA: The patient is home and as good as new! Well, except for the lack of desire to hump his brother.

Playin' hooky.

Aw yeah, party people, I'm skipping work tomorrow! OK, not really. I mean, I have already told work I won't be there tomorrow, and I'm using one of my vacation days, so it's not like I'm calling in "sick" or anything. But yay - the weather is supposed to be great, and so I'm just going to sit my arse down on the back deck and read and enjoy the sunshine and actually celebrate that summer is here (well, at least this week, anyway). Wahoo! I can't think of a better way to spend a Tuesday.

Theater dork alert!

The Tony Awards start in 45 minutes. I have my fingers crossed for The Drowsy Chaperone and Awake and Sing (starring my boyfriend, Mark Ruffalo, who is also nominated for an award). It's a big night!

ETA: Nobody wants me to actually see the Tonys tonight. First a bird flew into the house and created much chaos, and then Jimmy somehow covered himself in poop outside and I had to give him an improptu bath in the sink. He used to fit in there fine when he was 5 pounds, but at 20 pounds, not so much. So now he smells like wet dog (because, well, he is a wet dog) and he's running around like a loon, as if the bird didn't excite the pups enough. Also, Mark Ruffalo didn't win best featured actor, but he still looks hot. And Awake and Sing won for best revival of a play. Drowsy is doing well too. Thank God I have Tivo or I would have completely missed all of this.

C'mon, book people!

This is fantastic. Those of you who love Pamie and Glark should love this too. They are raising money to provide books to libraries devastated by Katrina. Even though most of us here in the Northeast don't think about that hurricane anymore, there are many, many people who are still affected by its aftermath every single day. Come on peeps - crack open your wallets and supply some books to some fellow book lovers! (I'm partial to the libraries whose children's sections were completely destroyed. Because I think I was a child the last time I was in a library when I didn't owe a late fee.)

In other news - what in the hell? There's a glowing orb in the sky! What could that be? And I'm going to an outdoor wedding today - how did this manage to work out correctly? I don't need an umbrella or anything! Wahoo! I'm very happy for our blushing bride Christy, because I would have been shi**ing bricks all week watching it rain every single day.

That ain't right.

The restaurant where Greg and I had our first date has been completely demolished. It's just sitting there now in a big pile. What does that mean? Best not to read into it, methinks.

Breakin' up is hard to do

Just saw the movie The Break Up. It sucked monkey ass. Don't see it. There are about two funny parts in it, the ending is not satisfying, and I felt uncomfortable the whole time because the movie is basically Jennifer Aniston and Vince Vaughn fighting. If I want to hear a couple fighting, I'll pick a fight with Greg and I won't have to pay $9 to listen to it.

It's the weekend.

Couldn't really sleep last night, so my weekend is starting earlier than normal (I'd rather be sleeping right now.)

So, as usual, this is a busy one. Today I'm off to work, of course, and then tonight I'll be going out with Heather, Shelly and Maryann - yay! We're going out to dinner and then going to see The Break Up, which I know is going to suck but I still want to see anyway. What can I say - I'm hopelessly addicted to chick flicks.

Tomorrow I'll be doing the usual chores and stuff, and then tomorrow night I'm going to dinner with my friends Todd and Alan, and then the three of us will head off to Hole in the Wall Theater to work house and watch the show, Loot, that my friend directed and Flannery's fiance is in.

Sunday I am going to my friend Christy's wedding, which I am very excited about, particularly because Sunday marks the first day the sun is supposed to come out in a week. Isn't it supposed to be summer now? And Sunday night I'll be planted in front of the TV watching my favorite awards show of the year - the Tonys. I mentioned I'm a big-time theater nerd, right?

Have a good one!

Truthiness

I have a big nerdy crush on Stephen Colbert. I love love love "The Colbert Report," and the fact that some right-wingers actually think he's serious makes me love it (and him) even more. Check out this transcript of a commencement speech he made at a college in Illinois last weekend:

http://www.knox.edu/x12547.xml

You talkin' to me?

Tonight I got to act like a spoiled, obnoxious, bratty New York mob princess. And it was awesome. This is why I love to do theater - it lets me act like a beeyotch on purpose!

Deal or No Deal

What the F is up with this show? I always see the tail end of it when I'm waiting for The Apprentice to start, and I just don't get it. Right now I'm watching people screaming at a girl who is being harrassed by Howie Mandel and Celine Dion to make a deal or no deal. Yes, that's right - Celine Dion. I feel like I'm in the twilight zone.

My rock star life.

Lest anyone who reads this actually think I'm cool, let me give a snapshot of my big Monday night:

I just changed into my after-work ensemble, which includes pink striped sleeping pants from Old Navy and a t-shirt that says (in a very klassy way, mind you) "I do it in Hartford." Sweet. I am also sporting a fake tattoo that I put on today at work (mostly because I have more team spirit than anyone else, Flannery and Beth) that I completely forgot about until I was changing. It's the logo for the Broadway show Bklyn (coming to a theater near you!) and lemme tell ya, it's hot. Hope I remember to wash it off before work tomorrow. Anyway, I'm playing online and avoiding learning my lines (yes, still) and the big exciting focus of my night is the Apprentice finale, because it will feature my very very favorite band, Barenaked Ladies.

Who's cooler than me? Oh yeah. Everyone.

Procrastinator

Must. Go. Learn. My. Lines.

Why do I keep putting this off? Why can I learn a million lines for one show, but then when I have to learn much less for another show, I keep coming up with other things to do?

That's it, I'm going to do this now. No excuses. Right this second.

I wonder what's on TV?

All wet.

So we did Relay for Life last night. I was there from about 4 p.m. to just before midnight, when we decided to collapse the canopy (collapse=destroy, in this case) and head home. I don't think I've ever been so wet in my life. Yes, because Connecticut's new slogan is "The Rainy State," it was pouring last night as we made lap after lap around the track. I soaked a t-shirt, two sweatshirts, my shorts, and most especially, my socks and sneakers. Oh yeah, and my Red Sox hat. I think the whole pile is still dripping. I'm sooo tired today too, but we had fun and many laughs, and it was all for a worthy cause.

And right now I'm rewarding myself with my four Tivoed episodes of The Office. God, I love this show!

Weekend!

And we survived another work week (barely, after last night's festivities!). Anyway, here's what's up for me:

Today: Heading out to Relay for Life (a 24-hour relay to benefit the American Cancer Society) in a little bit. Unfortunately, it's going to rain, but Relay stops for nothing! I plan on earning all of the generous donations people gave by walking miles and miles and miles and miles (remember that Proclaimers song? 500 Miles? Yeah, it'll be like that). I plan on staying until the wee hours.

Tomorrow: Recover from Relay! And do general chores. And go over my lines for the show. And pick up the Into the Woods dvd from Mike to see what show I've gotten myself into for the summer. And then go hang with my girls Heather and Cheryl.

Sunday: Oh this is gonna be a very glamorous day - dropping off a dvd to Rich (Supertroopers - I didn't watch it - I should've, huh?) and going to cleanup at our theater hall. It needs a major cleaning/purging of props, set stuff, costumes, etc.

Who's jealous? Anyone else doing anything fun?

Cosmos + me = tipsy

I had three Cosmos tonight at an event here that is modeled after American Idol. My sister is involved with it, so I went down to check it out. And now I'm waay tipsy after several Cosmos. So, if you're in the CT area, and you want a strong Cosmo, go to Zen Bar in Farmington. YIKES.

Ouchie!

I just drove home in the most frightening thunderstorm I've ever seen. Actually, it was the incessent lightning that was freaking me out. It was non-stop! When I drove up my street, I saw a tree that had been knocked down onto my neighbor's car. Our grill was pushed 3/4 of the way across our porch, almost right through the other side. Mother Nature's pissed about something!