Learning Is Fun

I'm teaching kb to make a blog!

Ms. Boyd Goes to Court

Things I have learned from going to traffic court:

1. If cops don't show up, your case is dismissed.

2. If you go to traffic school, as ordered by the court, your case is dismissed.

3. If you go to traffic school before you go to court, you'll get 5 positive points for DMV but still have to pay your ticket because judges don't like you "double dipping".

4. Dressing up for court is pointless. People walk in with ripped up jeans and offensive t-shirts for a continuance, and I walk in wearing a black pin-stripped suit, with AMPLE evidence as to my innocence and pay $142.

5. In Chesterfield, they are faaaaar more organized. Before court even starts, they get everyone out who wants to go to traffic school. They give rules before court starts so the deputies are shushing people every 5 minutes. In Richmond, they still have all kinds of ceremony including, "Oh Yeah, Oh Yeah, Oh Yeah" following by... a PRAYER?! Yes, they prayed in court. Seems completely and totally foreign to me that the deputy prayed before court began.

6. If the judge is cheery, everyone gets traffic school.

7. If you're an asshole and come back in to contest your case RIGHT after he's given you a ticket fine that was LIGHT because your stupid ass is going to lose your CDL because you drive 90 in a 55... you're going to piss the judge off and make life hell for the TWO people who happen to be last and after you.

8. Richmond needs to fix the heat in their courtroom.

9. The cop who pulled me over was hotttt.

10. Don't speed thru the "speed" pass lanes on 76 coming from Richmond to Chesterfield. I swear that 90% of my cop's cases were folks going over 60 when the speed limit is 45. The speed limit is ridiculous, but it's set by DMV. We should start a letter-writing campaign to get that stupid speed changed.

I'm committed to Sparkle Motion

I know I've been an absent parent.

I'm sorry.

I just stopped by to say I'm so heartbroken that my first love has passed on.

"I'll give thee fairies to attend on thee.
And they shall fetch thee jewels from the deep
And sing while thou on pressed flowers dost sleep."

Worker Bee

So today was the first day back. It wasn't terrible and only one moron came to light-- and he's not even in my building! Hizzah! I do have that burning behind my eyes headache from being in a florescent-lit, dirty, dusty building with mold and mildew everywhere, but it could have been worse.

I hate to admit it, but I love the new teachers. It makes me feel guilty, like I'm not being loyal to my old friends, but Bryan, the new art guy, is awesome. Jeannie, the new FACS teacher is so friendly and interesting. Most of the stuff I was concerned about turned out to be nothing.

Now for the moron... I shouldn't say moron. He's very intelligent. He just really annoyed me today. Today I was sitting down with the other arts folk to finalize our calendar when the band teacher says, "No, I think you need to check the HS website and make sure the date is right." I checked. It was wrong. The show that I was supposed to take my students, along with about 300 others, to see was moved back 2 weeks and NO ONE mentioned this to me. WTF?! Planning this thing is logistical nightmare for a variety of reasons, but we were going to work it out-- UNTIL NOW. The most annoying thing is that they apparently contacted our principal about the date change, so it makes it look like I'm the one who's the moron. I just want to teach my kids to love theatre and not even deal with the HS anymore.

This brings me to my real point: are theatre people really just loners who work with other people so they can achieve their own personal goals or do we REALLY ACTUALLY like working with each other? Lemme esplain... I always say that I don't think there's any way that I could work with another me. I know I can be difficult and I TRY to be easier, but damn it (Janet) I'm normally right! It frustrates me when people can't do their jobs and when people try to tell me how to do mine. I mean, can you imagine me trying to be friends with someone just like me. Yikes. So-- I like to work alone to get stuff done. Sure, I like having kids around who can complete one menial task at a time so that it saves me time in the long run, but ultimately I do the important stuff myself. Much like Jesse with the laundry. My poor husband can't hang up a shirt straight to save his life.

Then again-- I like working with very creative people because they can always think of something I never would have! This is why Keith and I worked so well together in college. He was the creative genius and I was the worker bee. I don't mind being a worker bee. Maybe we just all need to find the right place to co-exist? Sigh...

Go. See. This.

Uh-mazing. Haters be damned. I can't think of a part of this movie that I didn't like. I'm definitely taking Jesse when he gets back from Vegas.

All bow to the might of Rob Zombie. Zombie be praised.

Sad News

Only 3 more days of summer.

I'll be posting more as soon as I stop enjoying the sunlight and fresh air of not being at work. Trust me... once I'm cast into the dungeon of my classroom with a crappy schedule for the kids... you'll be hearing tons from me.

For now, just go find a body of water to enjoy for me.

Ahhhhhh!

I know I've been m.i.a. but it's mostly because I've been enjoying my summer and my friends. Here's some awesome news!

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Nominations announced

Sorry for the delay in getting these out. Below is the text of a press release that will go out later this evening. Sorry if the formatting makes it hard to read. Congrats to all of the nominees. If you are getting to this page from Facebook and have questions, some may be answered by this post. More commentary to follow...

Theatre awards to feature new categories, special recognitions
Second annual "Artsies" to be held at Empire Theatre on October 18th

Richmond, VA - The Richmond Theatre Critics Circle (RTCC) has announced the nominees for the Second Annual RTCC "Artsies" Awards for the 2008-09 season, including several new nomination categories and several special recognitions. The group, which was organized to recognize excellence in professional theatre produced in the Richmond area, will hold a black-tie awards gala at 7:00 P.M. on Sunday, October 18th at the Empire Theatre with local NBC newscaster Aaron Gilchrist acting as Master of Ceremonies. Nominations for the Awards are listed below.

"We really hope to kick it up to the next level with this year's awards," asserts RTCC's newest member, John Porter, theatre critic for WCVE Public Radio. "A bigger venue, more star power, and an expanded number of nominees should help us build on the tremendous success of last year's inaugural event." The awards ceremony will feature musical performances from productions nominated for Best Musical. Scheduled presenters include Mayor Dwight Jones and best-selling author David L. Robbins.

RTCC has made nominations in twenty categories, adding recognition for Best Ensemble Acting, Outstanding Achievement in Sound Design, and Outstanding Achievement in Hair or Makeup Design. The Liz Marks award in recognition of extraordinary ongoing contribution to the Richmond-area theatre scene will be presented to the families of Wamer "Buddy" Callahan and Lou Rubin, two of the co-founders of the Swift Creek Mill Theatre.

"There were so many wonderful productions this year, it was difficult to narrow many of the categories down," adds Mary Burruss, an RTCC co-founder and theatre critic for Style Weekly magazine, citing the seven nominees included in the category for Outstanding Achievement in Set Design. RTCC is also giving special recognition for outstanding Fight Choreography to Vanessa Passini for her work on Richmond Shakespeare's "Henry V" and for Outstanding Dialect Direction to Amanda Durst for her work on several productions this past season.

Winners in each of the categories will be announced at a black-tie gala awards ceremony is being sponsored in part by the C.F. Sauer Company and Richmond CenterStage, with media sponsorship provided by the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

All proceeds from the awards ceremony will go to support the Richmond Theatre Artists Fund, a fund established by the Richmond Alliance of Professional Theatres to help those in the Richmond theatre community who fall on hard of times due to illness, injury or extenuating circumstances. Members of the RTCC include Mary Burruss (Style Weekly magazine), Susan Haubenstock (Richmond Times-Dispatch), Julinda Lewis (Richmond Times-Dispatch), John Porter (WCVE), David Timberline (Style Weekly magazine), and Joan Tupponce (JoanTupponce.com).

Formal attire is encouraged for the awards ceremony, which is open to the public. Tickets for the event are $10 and can be purchased from the Theatre IV box office by calling 344-8040.

Nominations for the Second Annual Richmond Theatre Critics Circle Awards
for the 2008-2009 theatre season

Category
Best Musical
Altar Boyz, Swift Creek Mill Theatre
Annie, Theatre IV
The Great American Trailer Park Musical, Firehouse Theatre Project
Thoroughly Modern Millie, Barksdale Theatre
tick, tick...Boom!, Stage 1 Theatre Company

Best Direction - Musical
Robin Arthur, Annie, Theatre IV
Patti D'Beck,, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Barksdale Theatre
Chase Kniffen, Children's Letters to God, Stage 1 Theatre Company
Chase Kniffen, tick, tick...Boom!, Stage 1 Theatre Company
Tom Width, Altar Boyz, Swift Creek Mill Theatre

Best Actor - Musical
Brett Ambler, tick, tick...Boom!, Stage 1 Theatre Company
Gordon Bass, Annie, Theatre IV
Zak Resnick, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Barksdale Theatre
Christopher Stewart, Summer of '42, Stage 1 Theatre Company
Paul Valley, The Great American Trailer Park Musical, Firehouse Theatre Project

Best Actress - Musical
Kim Jones Clark, The Great American Trailer Park Musical, Firehouse Theatre Project
Audra Honaker, tick, tick...Boom!, Stage 1 Theatre Company
Maggie Marlin, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Barksdale Theatre
Robyn O'Neill / Angela Shipley, Side Show, Swift Creek Mill Theatre
Joy Williams, Annie, Theatre IV

Best Supporting Actor - Musical
Timothy Ford, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Barksdale Theatre
Chris Hester, The Great American Trailer Park Musical, Firehouse Theatre Project
Christopher Hlusko, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Barksdale Theatre
Drew Seigla, Summer of '42, Stage 1 Theatre Company
Sean Williams, Altar Boyz, Swift Creek Mill Theatre

Best Supporting Actress - Musical
Ellie Atwood, Summer of '42, Stage 1 Theatre Company
Nancy McMahon, The Great American Trailer Park Musical, Firehouse Theatre Project
Linda Poser, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Barksdale Theatre
Maggie Roop, Annie, Theatre IV
Ali Thibodeau, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Barksdale Theatre

Best Musical Direction
Sandy Dacus, tick, tick...Boom!, Stage 1 Theatre Company
Paul Deiss, Altar Boyz, Swift Creek Mill Theatre
Paul Deiss, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Barksdale Theatre
Jimmy Hicks, Children's Letters to God, Stage 1 Theatre Company
Tony Williams, Summer of '42, Stage 1 Theatre Company

Best Choreography
Robin Arthur, Annie, Theatre IV
Patti D'Beck, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Barksdale Theatre
Mickey Nugent, Altar Boyz, Swift Creek Mill Theatre

Best Play
Children of a Lesser God, Barksdale Theatre
The Clean House, Barksdale Theatre
Eurydice, Firehouse Theatre Project
True West, Henley Street Theatre Co
Well, Barksdale Theatre

Best Direction
Steve Perigard, The Clean House, Barksdale Theatre
Bruce Miller, Children of a Lesser God, Barksdale Theatre
Bo Wilson, True West, Henley Street Theatre Co
Rusty Wilson, Eurydice, Firehouse Theatre Project
Keri Wormald, Well, Barksdale Theatre

Best Actor - Play
David Clark, True West, Henley Street Theatre Co
Tony Foley, True West, Henley Street Theatre Co
Joe Inscoe, Eurydice, Firehouse Theatre Project
Landon Nagel, Children of a Lesser God, Barksdale Theatre
Scott Wichmann, Richard III, Henley Street Theatre Co

Best Actress - Play
Robin Arthur, The Clean House, Barksdale Theatre
Bianca Bryan, The Clean House, Barksdale Theatre
Laine Satterfield, Eurydice, Firehouse Theatre Project
Erica Siegel, Children of a Lesser God, Barksdale Theatre
Jody Strickler, Well, Barksdale Theatre

Best Ensemble Acting
A Midsummer Night's Dream, Richmond Shakespeare
Altar Boyz, Swift Creek Mill Theatre
Children's Letters to God, Stage 1 Theatre Company
The Great American Trailer Park Musical, Firehouse Theatre Project
Driving Miss Daisy, Barksdale Theatre

Best Actor in a Supporting Role - Play
Larry Cook, Eurydice, Firehouse Theatre Project
Brandon Crowder, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Henley Street Theatre Co
Richard Gregory, Children of a Lesser God, Barksdale Theatre
Michael Hawke, Arsenic & Old Lace, Swift Creek Mill Theatre
Steve Moore, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Henley Street Theatre Co

Best Actress in a Supporting Role - Play
Jolene Carroll / Jackie Jones, Arsenic & Old Lace, Swift Creek Mill Theatre
Elise Boyd, Inspecting Carol, Sycamore Rouge
Jan Guarino, The Clean House, Barksdale Theatre
Marta Rainer, Rabbit Hole, Firehouse Theatre Project
Stefani Zabner, Of Mice and Men, Swift Creek Mill Theatre

Outstanding Achievement in Lighting Design
Joe Doran, Altar Boyz, Swift Creek Mill Theatre
Joe Doran, Of Mice and Men, Swift Creek Mill Theatre
Lynne Hartman, The Clean House, Barksdale Theatre
Kenny Mullens, Children's Letters to God, Stage 1 Theatre Company
Kenny Mullens, Summer of '42, Stage 1 Theatre Company

Outstanding Achievement in Costume Design
Rebecca Cairns / Ann Hoskins, Henry V, Richmond Shakespeare
Sue Griffin, The Clean House, Barksdale Theatre
Sue Griffin, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Barksdale Theatre
Elizabeth Weiss Hopper, Sideways Stories from Wayside School, Theatre IV
Charlotte Schiff / Betty Williams, All My Sons, Chamberlayne Actors Theatre

Outstanding Achievement in Set Design
Brian Barker, Sideways Stories from Wayside School, Theatre IV
Phil Hayes, Eurydice, Firehouse Theatre Project
Lin Heath, All My Sons, Chamberlayne Actors Theatre
Ron Keller, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Barksdale Theatre
Keith Saine, Translations , Sycamore Rouge
Mercedes Schaum, Summer of '42, Stage 1 Theatre Company
Tom Width, Of Mice and Men, Swift Creek Mill Theatre

Outstanding Achievement in Sound Design
Buddy Bishop, Chapter Two, Chamberlayne Actors Theatre
Derek Dumais, Sideways Stories from Wayside School, Theatre IV
Bryan Harris, Eurydice, Firehouse Theatre Project
Derome Scott Smith, From the Mississippi Delta, African American Repertory Theatre
Wendy Vandergrift, Summer of '42, Stage 1 Theatre Company

Outstanding Achievement in Hair / Makeup Design
Sue Griffin, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Barksdale Theatre
Sarah Grady, Annie, Theatre IV
Junior Oxendine, Pulp, Richmond Triangle Players
Elizabeth Weiss Hopper, Sideways Stories from Wayside School, Theatre IV

Outstanding Achievement, in Dialect Direction
Amanda Durst, Multiple productions

Outstanding Achievement in Fight Choreography
Vanessa Passini, Henry V, Richmond Shakespeare

Liz Marks Memorial Award for Ongoing Contribution to Richmond Area theatre
Wamer "Buddy" Callahan, Lou Rubin

Post Show Buzz

Reasons why yesterday was awesome:

1. I got to hang out with my fav.



2. I witnessed Merritt crowd-surfing and my first mosh pit.
I was subsequently yanked out of it's way by above bff when the pit started growing rapidly.



3. I got a new nosering.
I only paid $2.50 for it. Zing!



4. I've fallen in love again.
Yesterday I saw Marilyn Manson for the first time in the flesh. Good lord, he's fantastic. I'm sore from dancing around and yelling so much. I've never seen Jack so animated in my life and I've never felt such electricity in the air at a concert-- ever. And this was just a Fest. show-- not even a full concert! I've never sweat so much and not really cared. I've never seen myself as a metal person and kept bringing up how sad I was missing Dave this summer, but I think I could become a disciple of Marilyn Manson.



.post show.
.a good day.

Books (or How I Grew to Love My Shallow Side)

Today Jesse and I went to Barnes and Noble for good times looking at books. He has a 30% discount because Gamestop and B&N have sex or something. He also has 50% off in the cafe. Yes! While Jesse wandered around looking for smart current events type books, I wandered in fiction, then remembered the BBC Big Read Book List. Every blog or post about this I've seen says that the BBC "reckons people have only read 6 of the 100 books" when really it looks like to me that folks in the UK voted on books they like. Why do people want to make Brits out to be asses all the time?

When I looked through the list, I'd only read 17. That makes me sad because I consider myself well-read. So I looked through the classics section for something that struck my fancy. Jane Eyre jumped out at me. I've never read a Bronte novel and I thought it would make good beach reading. The problem is that if I'm going to BUY a book, it's gotta look cool or be thin enough to fit into my purse. The copy of Jane Eyre on the classics display was neither of those things. In fact, the spine was broken, which I can not abide.

I set out into the fiction section to find Bronte and there were editions of the book there. One was hideous, but thin. The next was the Penguin classic one, which is always the most attractive publisher, I feel and it was also thin. Penguin surely going to win over the big fat one on the shelf until I saw:

a.w.e.s.o.m.e

A tradeback size edition with the cool jagged page edged and illistrated by a chick named Dame Darcy. I was drawn in, because I (like everyone else on the plant, no matter what they say) judge books by their covers. I picked it up and looked at the price. $21. Yikes. I carried it around while I walked through the bargain books trying to talk myself into buying it. In the end, Penguin won out.

It's hot. It will look good on the beach. No worries.

Do Not Read This as Self-Depricating

So this weekend, a friend said this to me: "Elise, I really enjoy spending time with you. Sometimes I don't think you believe me." Annoyingly enough, I was doubtful.

I mean there are people that I love being around and could just sit in a room with, feeling totally satisfied. Strangely enough, most of these people I've met only within the last year. How is it that I had been alive 25 years before even meeting the most wonderful woman in the world- kb? For serious here, folks. I adore her and always find it shocking that she wants to hang out with me, too. And how is it that Jack was in existence for over thirty years before being my bff?

Do you have this issue? Your friends are so awesome that you can't believe they like YOU? I get to spend beach time with my top two people next week and I could only be more thrilled if Jesse was going to be there. Poor Jesse-- working like a dog with no reward at all. Gah. Send some love to my boy if you see him.

For real. I feel this year like I did my senior year at JMU-- when Ryan and Lauren moved in and I laughed more than any time in my life... until now. Thank you to my most beloved ones who have changed my life for the better in this past year. Thank you Sycamore Rouge for introducing me to my soul-mates.

Love you. Mean it.

Jehovah's Ass Clowns

I swear to god, if I'm awoken one more Saturday morning by the most annoying people on earth, there will be blood.

My neighborhood is on the verge of the ghetto. It's a nice enough place with lots and lots of old people but is in a weird location. Not an easy location to find from Hull St, and is across from a really trashing apartment complex on the other side. HOW DO THESE PEOPLE FIND US?! I kid you not, we have Jehovah's Witnesses on our doorstep every few weeks. WHY?! I don't need to be saved and no I don't want to talk about your insane cult!

I wouldn't be so angry about them if they weren't so damned annoying. Here's what I mean: This morning I'm laying in bed. I'm tired. I stayed up all night talking to kb. The doorbell rings. I KNOW it's them. I don't even have to get out of bed to know, because it's immediately followed by the yanking open of my storm door and the knocking. The knocking for a good minute. RUDE. If I WAS open to having you save my soul today, I'M CERTAINLY NOT NOW! Still, all this I can wait out. Until the dumb bitch rings the doorbell again and it gets stuck. My doorbell has a "ding" then a "dong" and in the middle is apparently this "holding buzz" noise. The noise isn't so annoying, but all I can imagine is the damn doorbell buzzing into it's death.

So I get up. I put on Jesse's robe and prepare to punch someone in the face. As I come around the corner, I see the girl leaving and thank my lucky stars. I open the door and of course a copy of the Watchtower falls down. I kick it onto the porch and un-stick the doorbell. If I'd had my glasses on, I'm sure I'd have seen the dirty looks of the others walking the street. I don't think they'd bother me so much if they just rang the bell and left the magazine, but it's like you OWE them to come to the door and listen to them go on about their freakish cult. And this isn't even the worst time!

When I auditioned for Henley Street, I was getting ready and I heard the bell. I knew. I ignored. Then came the knocking. This was all at my front door. Knocking for at least 2 or 3 minutes. Then I hear them banging on the door to the carport! WTF?! Not knocking, banging with a fist. I was about to go scald them with my straightener, when I thought better of it. Those assholes would be the kind to sue me. Then the clincher: they tried the doorknobs. I could hear them at both doors jiggling the doorknob. WTF!? As if when they turned it and it opened, they'd just welcome themselves in. Who do these ass-clowns think they are!?

I'm thinking of next time, inviting them in and then secretly calling the police to say I have lunatics in my house who are in need of medical care. "But really, officer... they just told me that Satan is the invisible ruler of the world. Please come quickly!"

Alice

So--- last night Jesse and I watched Alice In Wonderland as part of our "watching all our dvds" thing. It was annoying to say the least. The one we have is the TV version that was on NBC. Its one redeeming factor was the cast. Whoopi as Chesshire Cat, Martin Short as The Mad Hatter, Ben Kingsley as the Caterpillar, Hagrid and Norm from Cheers as Tweedledee and Tweedledum, and many others.

Over the past few years, I've run into "Alice" several times and every time I encounter her, I'm just not that into her. I tried to read Through the Looking Glass- fail. I tried to listen to it on tape- fail. I tried to read the script that Patrick gave me as a recommendation for the BBMS show- fail. I'm trying to get all excited about the Tim Burton film, but I really just like the cast, again.

I think one of my big problems is illogical absurdity. I'm just not smart enough to get a lot of it. I'm a rules and lines girl. You'd think as an actor I'd be all creative and quirky, but no. I need lists and handwashing. I'm also really lazy... which leads to me not wanting to go into what Lewis Caroll's little-girl-loving mind. Does ayone else struggle with this classic like I do?

Our next dvd is America's Sweethearts... maybe there's a REASON we haven't watched some of these!

QVC Sucker

Hi, my name is BootyDo and I'm a TV shopoholic.

I swear that I am victim to nearly anything that is sold on TV. I love infomercials and have no problem watching QVC for hours on end. Here is my latest dufus purchase: http://tinyurl.com/les5yw

Really, it's just a matter of "hey, it worked for that fatass, so why not me?" So, in 3-5 business days I will receive this miracle package and transform my lard ass into this:

Here's what I'm going to be sad about. I love my veluptuous breasts. I'm sure they'll shrink down to normal size when I start looking less like a humpback whale. Sad.

DVD #7

Today Jesse and I began a new adventure into our DVD collection. I have a bad--or not so bad-- habit of buying movies and then never watching them. Since I just reorganized and alphabetized all our films (both DVD and VHS), we are starting at the beginning of the collection and watching the DVDs that one or both of us has not seen.

The following are what we skipped today because we've both seen them:

-10 Things I Hate About You

-21

-40 Year Old Virgin

-About a Boy

-Addams Family

-Addams Family Values

-Addicted to Love

Then we came to Against the Ropes. A film starring Meg Ryan and Omar Epps, purchased soley because I love Meg Ryan. As it turns out, it's kind of an Erin Brockovitch type movie, only with boxing. It had terrible opening music and dialog, but got better as the story became more cliche and trite. Woman boxing manager breaking into a man's world, she loses herself in the publicity, Omas Epps gets mad at her and goes to her competition. She realizes her fault and makes a deal for him to fight for the title. The bad guy puts Omar in the ring too soon, Meg shows up at the end to give him the extra umph he needs to win. And he does. Classic.

Next on the docut is Ali (Will Smith), after skipping Airheads and PCU--because who HASN'T seen those two classics? I've seen most of Ali, but we need to watch the ending. I'll let you know how that pans out.

Paranoia

Everytime something tragic happens in a city where I have friends living, I freak out and must get in touch with them immediately. Example: yesterday the Staten Island Ferry ran into a pier. Now I know maybe 5 people who live on Staten Island and 20 more who live in NYC. As soon as I found out this news, I was obsessed with checking in.

Another example: 3 or 4 years ago a plane skidded off the runway in Chicago. I think it was at Midway, not even the airport my friends ever fly out of, but I freaked until I heard from them.

Another example: Two metro trains collided in DC last week. How ridiculous is it that I instantly sent texts to the appropriate folks? Like if they had been hurt, they'd be sure to T9 me back??

I guess here's my point. Tonight I watched Kevin Skinner on youtube. I LOVE the song he sang and it made me cry. Folks-- if tomorrow never comes, I really want you all to know how much I LOVE you.

Am I psycho?

if...

... there is a heaven, I'd like to think that Ed McMahon and Farrah Faucett are looking at Michael Jackson and saying, "WTF?"

Here are my true and honest feelings about today's sadness.

1. Michael Jackson was a pop icon. He was also a pedaphile. It's hard to separate one's genius and talent from one's actions as an adult and him naming his kid Prince Blanket.

2. Farrah Faucett seems to be relatively crime-free. Her son, however, is another story. Suffice it to say that I'm more sad for the fact that poor Farrah won't get her day in the sun because the world is going to erupt with an MJ lovefest... in 10 minutes.

3. Jesse said that the real mourning should be for Ed. He was a veteran and decorated pilot. he provided us years of entertainment with such shows as The Tonight Show and Star Search.

4. Lastly, death is just sad. Sometimes I think the BEST part about people having religion is not having to think about NOT existing. I'm terrified of death. You'd think that would make me become more healthy...

Anniversaried

Today (yesterday technically) Jesse and I celebrated our 2nd married anniversary. Our friend Melvin said that he though we'd been married forever and in a sense, we have. We've been together and committed to each other since 2003. Can you believe it?

Our relationship actually developed while I was in London and he was still back home in the states. We e-mailed regularly and sent letters while I was there for the summer and fell in lurve... aww. Big J and I have been through some rough patches these few years and I'm so proud of how we've grown together instead of apart. I'm taking a cue from my friend Cho Mama (who is also celebrating her anniversary today!) and offering this quote that I like about marriage:

"To get the full value of joy, you must have someone to divide it with." ~Mark Twain

Thank you Jesse for sharing in my joy. We went to our friends' wedding this weekend and the pastor, who was my youth pastor as a kid, said this:

"When you become married, your joys are doubled and your sorrows are halved."

Thank you Jesse for doubling my joy and halfing my sorrow.

I love you. Happy Anniversary.

i love my job

Not even kidding. I'm not talking about my "day-job," I'm talking about my chosen profession of theatre. Holy crap was today's rehearsal such a breath of fresh air in my stagnant world lately. We were all questioned as our characters by the director and everyone in the room about everything. It was awesome to BE in those imaginary circumstances. I can't express the exhilaration!

Also-- today:

228lbs

40.38 BMI

Yikes. Every day is a new day.

Good News

... I did NOT stop at McDonald's for breakfast. Baby steps.

Update

Was measured last night for my new show.

Hate myself again.

Summer is coming. Free time to be selfish and focus on me.

Zing.

For Hedi

Love. Love. Love. Love. Love. Love. Love.Love. Love. Love. Love. Love. Love. Love.Love. Love. Love. Love. Love. Love. Love.Love. Love. Love. Love. Love. Love. Love.Love. Love. Love. Love. Love. Love. Love.Love. Love. Love. Love. Love. Love. Love.Love. Love. Love. Love. Love. Love. Love.Love. Love. Love. Love. Love. Love. Love.Love. Love. Love. Love. Love. Love. Love.Love. Love. Love. Love. Love. Love. Love.Love. Love. Love. Love. Love. Love. Love.Love. Love. Love. Love. Love. Love. Love.Love. Love. Love. Love. Love. Love. Love.Love. Love. Love. Love. Love. Love. Love.Love. Love. Love. Love. Love. Love. Love.Love. Love. Love. Love. Love. Love. Love.Love. Love. Love. Love. Love. Love. Love.Love. Love. Love. Love. Love. Love. Love.Love. Love. Love. Love. Love. Love. Love.Love. Love. Love. Love. Love. Love. Love.Love. Love. Love. Love. Love. Love. Love.
Love. Love. Love. Love. Love. Love. Love.Love. Love. Love. Love. Love. Love. Love.
Love. Love. Love. Love. Love. Love. Love.Love. Love. Love. Love. Love. Love. Love.Love. Love. Love. Love. Love. Love. Love.

I cried all night. I received a confirmation of my Peace Corps application on May 21 and on May 26, they sent out a rejection letter. According to their website, only 5-10% of applications are outirght rejected. They said that most people give up during the lengthy application process. Not me... I was rejected. In trying to rack my brain to think of why... I'm coming back to weight.

I know, no one likes to hear the self-deprication, but weight and height are questions on the application. Do they calculate BMI and reject you if you're a lard ass? Am I a medical liability? I have tons of volunteer experience, some carpentry, some masonry, and teaching experience, but they rejected me. Without so much as an interview nor with a recruiter even contacting me! What the fuck is wrong with me?!

And the sad thing is that you'd think this would drive my ass into gear, that I'd go get on my eliptical right now... but all I want to do is lay in bed, eat Rocky Road and cry. Cry mostly because if a VOLUNTEER organization doesn't want me... what hope have I?

Memorial Day

Damn it! I have to work in new GOOD habits. My bad habits of sleeping as late as possible, avoiding water, and sitting as much as possible have twarted my restart day. I went to Annie's for lunch with Jen and didn't eat too much at least. I drank diet coke and enjoyed some good company.

Before I went to pick up Jen, I went by the cemetary to leave flowers on Jeff's grave. I've never been a particularly patriotic person, but I try to be a faithful friend. There were lots of flowers there already a few little American flags and a yard flag with his name and rank on it. It made me so sad to think about it all over again. I had a dream the other night that Jeff was in a movie similar to Mighty Ducks and I woke up crying. It's just too damn much.

I'm thinking of you today Reed fam. Love you.

Hiding

I hide when I've been bad. When I was a kid and I wanted to avoid my dad wrath, I hid in the bathroom and pretended to be using it. It was a very effective tool.

This same idea applies here. I've not been doing any of the things I promised myself... so I've been hiding. I haven't weighed myself for fear. Which is totally stupid because putting it off isn't going to change my mass. Duh. Jesse says when he hugs me, I feel thinner. I somehow doubt it.

Ok, picking back up tomorrow. Breakfast, Wii Fit, early lunch with Jen and Annie, afternoon with Jesse, then rehearsal tomorrow night. Go team!

Bad news. Arby's is the only fast food on the right side of the street on my way to rehearsal.

Sigh...

Baby- Makers

Happy Mothers' Day, baby-makers.

I hope all my wonderful friends who have delightful children enjoyed their days!

Sick-o

I am sick. I am sinus pressure-runny nose-coughing-headache-achy-fever-ears ringing sick. I've already whined about this, but I'm still sick and thought this would be a good time to talk about meds.

I do not like to take meds.

There are many reasons for this, not least of which are my conspiracy theories inspired by Kevin Trudeau. Why is it that we can create seedless watermelons but still don't have a cure for cancer? I'm with Kev-dawg when he says that the drug companies are trying to keep us sick. Case-in-point: the new doctor I went to for this current illness prescribed me some pill that ends in "-dryl". It is supposed to be a decongestant as well as an antihistamine. I have been taking it since yesterday and seen NO difference in my very painful sinus congestion. This is only the second time I can remember having such painful sinus pressure. I don't know how people with allergies survive. I digress. The point is that if I'm going to give up my principles to take a medicine, it had better fucking work! It isn't.

This brings me to Metformin. Metformin is a medication that my previous doctor prescribed for me to deal with the PCOS and weight issues. It's supposed to regulate your body in general, but what really happens is that it balances out blood sugar issues. Anyway-- a side effect is digestive discomfort. For me, this meant bathroom between every class for 2 weeks while my body got used to it then a general nauseous feeling most of the time after that. I'm sure after a while I would have gotten used to it, but I forgot to take it once, then another, then I lost the bottle. I actually lost 4 lbs the first week I was on it, so I'm guessing it does work. I hate the idea of being on a medication my whole life, but I think the PCOS might actually be hurting me more. I don't know. I'm torn.

Opinions?

Epic Fail

Elise,

Thank you for your interest in the Executive Director position at Sycamore Rouge. We have had the opportunity to review your resume and regret to inform you that we have chosen other candidates.

Again, we appreciate your interest in Sycamore Rouge. We wish you the best of luck in your future endeavors.


I'm really sad.

Under 40 BMI!

I'm still morbidly obese, but under 40 BMI!

Off the Wagon

Since it was a show week, I've allowed myself some leverage. Well... I've just been conscious of eating anything I can get my hands on when I'm hungry and avoided fast food until last night. Back on the wagon today.

I am also sick. On Friday morning I woke up with a sore throat, which isn't rare for me. I went to work because I was taking the kids to see Annie (which was cute, GO SHALANDIS!). During the show I started to get a headache and felt the shivers associated with a fever. By the time we got back to school, I was full on freezing and burning up simultaneously. I couldn't leave early because I was waiting on a check, so I just sit in the money lady's office all afternoon. When I got home, I immediately laid down in my bed to nap as long as I could before the show. I set my alarm for 5pm. You should also know that I DON'T nap. A friend of mine once tried to explain to me the benefits of a proper power nap, but I've never gotten the gist. I always make up feeling groggy and sweaty. This nap was no exception, but I couldn't keep my eyes open, so I just curled up in all my clothes, including my jacket, and slept.

When I woke up, I got out the thermometer, which gave me a temp reading of 100.1. Grr. (When I took my temp again yesterday, knowing I no longer felt the fever, it read 96.2. This makes me wonder if my temp on Friday was really 102.1!! Yikes! Incidentally, the thermometer currently reads 96.0 Go Figure.) I was half delirious, hot, tired, gross... but I still drove to Wawa to get a FRESH sandwich instead of hitting any one of the 6 fast food joints on Crater Rd. Yes! This is what I've been doing most of the week OR I've been stoping for California Rolls at Ukrops. It makes me FEEL like I'm doing better on the eating front, but I'm not sure. On days when I know I've gone over calories, I avoid Sparkpeople. It's like the good old spark is going to yell at me or something. I know it's not, but still. I've also avoided Wii Fit. I skipped Wednesday on accident. I didn't do Friday because I was sick and yesterday I laid in bed until close to 2pm. Excuses, excuses, right?

In good news, I'm going to be in another play. Copenhagen by Michael Frayn at Sycamore Rouge. This is part of their Six Blocks Series. Directors apply to do plays in their theatre with no set and minimal props, costumes, etc. They only use 6 acting blocks. I LOVE this idea as I am a minimalist at heart. I'll be playing Maragethe Bohr, wife to the legendary Niels Bohr. Little older than I, but I've been known to play older, more regal characters than myself. I'm excited and hope you'll come see it. The reason I bring it up is that rehearsals are the number one reason I don't eat correctly and at the right times of day. I'm going to have to really plan ahead, or starve. Starving is never a good option, so I'm going to having to hike up my big girl drawers and forge ahead.

Go team!

STFU

Instead of eating myself into obilvion, I've decided to write about emotional eating. I'm so fucking agitated right now I could punch someone. Facebook says I'd liek to kick someone in the balls. That's exactly how I feel. Like when I was in 2nd grade and Addison... I can't remember his last name... was picking on me, so I hit him right square in the boys with a baton. Don't fuck with me.

I am a completely emotional eater. I sooth myself into tranquility by stuffing as much sugary food into me as I possibly can. It's physically hard for me to NOT go eat a whole brick of fudge right now. You may chuckle and think I'm exaggerating, but I'm not.

Yet again, I'm agitated by people not doing their fucking job. I'm pissed at teachers who let their kids out form class early, which cuts into my already 15 MINUTE lunch. I'm pissed at the parent who complained about hit kid only having one line-- with 3 words-- THAT SHE CAN'T EVEN REMEMBER TO SAY~|! Really. You're riding me about your kids not having enough lines and you can't even get your kid to learn ONE line. Really?! I'm also pissed that my hair is so damn pink. It's my own fault and I'm going to go stand in the shower for a good long while to try to fade some of it, but damn it I'm pissed about it.

I'm also pissed about PCOS. I know I've already whined about this, but damn it, I'm tried of it! I'm tired of the hair lady syndrome. I'm tired of being fat. I'm tired of skin tags. I'm tired of sharp fucking pains coming from my reproductive organs!

I just had an epiphany. I'm going to clean the shower and then take a damn bath. Who is going to volunteer to be kicked in the balls?

Success!

Drumroll....

Sunday, April 19- 231.3 lbs (I said 235 last week accidentally)

Sunday, April 26- 226.4 lbs Down almost 5 lbs!

In other news, last night I discovered these little small cups of ice cream by Edy's. It was completely satisfying and ONLY 210 CALORIES. Worth it to me. I should also mention that this past week has seen NO change in physical activity, only eating. This coming week will see more physical changes in the form of walking during my planning with a co-worker. It will also prove challenging because I'm in a show at the end of the week.

Go team!

Keyed

Let me tell you about my day with my keys.

This morning I walk out of the house at 6:20am and lock the door behind me. I have done this 3 times in the last year and every time I am more disturbed by my lack of... brain? I mean it's not like the keys aren't hanging RIGHT BESIDE THE DAMN DOOR. I call Jesse who is at work doing inventory. He comes home to let me in. I get my keys and go to work.

When I get to work... lo and behold, I've left my work keys at home. So I go up to the office and the office manager there lets me use hers to unlock my room and the auditorium so I can have class. I plan to drive home during my planning to get the work keys because I need them for the show tonight. I come back from talking to Jack and the money chick in the office to find that my car keys are nowhere to be found. I specifically put them down on a big pile of party beads during my last class and they were gone. I think, "Maybe someone kicked them into my props closet on accident." Only I can't look in said closet because the lights are dying and flickering like a horror movie. I wander around the buidling lost and wallowing in self-loathing, thinking that some dumb kid stole my keys. The money chick tells me to look again then get with our SRO to see if he can shake down some kids.

I get a flashlight and go into the shallow domain of my props closet. I look under the old fashioned laundry bin, which also has a horror movie air about it. I look under the metal shelving, then I start to dig in bins. The first one was the last one. From what I can tell, this group of girls who is doing an office scene picked up the keys because they thought they were props for the scene. My keys were in the bottom, under the printer, clock, tiara, scarves and binoculars. Crisis averted.

THEN---- for the show I'm doing with the kids, we have scripted a very specific mode of getting the COW (computer on wheels-- I know, right?) to the center of the room and the screen for the projector down all with little disturbance to the show. The problem? We added an element at the last minute AND I FORGOT TO LEAVE MY KEYS IN THE DAMN PROJECTOR BUTTON. See it doesn't move unless there's a key. So... when I realize that my more than perfect student is not turning said key, I feel them in my pocket. I hop up on stage thinking I'll sneak around... nope. Because I have the kids on risers in the back all the way up against the wall, I can't hide behind the curtains. Our terrible stage also has one one exit, out the center back door. I have no choice. I walk across the center of the stage and go behind the risers to the curtain break. Here's the worst part...

The last minute element I mentioned? It's a thick tyvek sheet with stuff glued to it to resemble a "Jock" hallway. It's very krinkly and VERY LOUD. I make a huge racket as I climb behind the risers where we have it strategically stored so that people in my makeshift wings WON'T disturb it and make noise. Sigh...

All in all it was ok, but I feel so rattled by my lack of... brain? I mean, I pride myself and am totally bitchy about my attention to detail and then I go and lose the keys AGAIN after the show. They were on my desk, but still.

In other bad news: I ate pizza, 3 slices of Vinny's free pizza. I also had like 4 cups of punch. You have to have this punch and know that it is totally and completely irresistable. I don't even know how to put that in the calorie counter.

So... grand sum of today: Ok in spite of epic failures.

Epic Fail.

So-- after bragging about my self control, I failed today. 1700 calories. Yikes. Fuck you McDonalds and your glorious breakfast burrito.

Success!

Yesterday, I ate HALF a donut. I literally cut it in half so I could have some but "practice self control".

Today, I had a cake slices the size for a toddler.

I'm very proud. Praise Me. :)

Loser

Well well well... I'm one of those losers who has a blog but never writes in it. Since this one is about my struggle with being morbidly obese, I guess I should mention that today I started on "The Program". This is just a joke form my husband's teenage years. His best friend's dad would put them on "the program". The only rule that we're aware of is "steak once a week". To be honest... I'd LOVE to have steak once a week.

This morning I woke up and just decided to start over. Everyone has that right, don't they?

New Rules:
1. No more trying to be clever or funny. One reason I fell behind in writing is that I couldn't think of anything funny to say. I'm done trying to be funny. This will just be honest. If I'm funny on accident, then that's just an added bonus.
2. I'll be using www.sparkpeople.com for food tracking as well as Wii Fit and Orbitrek for exercise. Good times.
3. I'll only be drinking water. I know it sounds lame but this will be unbearably hard for me. I have a love affair with sugar in liquids as well as carbonation. Splenda makes me sick. Any other beverage suggestions are welcome.
4. No editing. I mean, of course I'll make sure I don't look like a moron and spell things incorrectly and it's only fair to expect impecable grammar from me, but I'm not going to front about how huge I am or edit any opinions or vocabulary. I am officially NSFW.

Therefore:
-Sunday, April 19, 2009
--235lbs
---BMI 41.6 (morbidly obese)
----yikes.