Fashion in the 1800s

How cool is this*? I love this period of history. It's interesting to see how the fashion changes, and then think about the events going on during these times. The French Revolution, the Industrial Revolution, the American Civil War. Such a busy century!



*I should specify that I didn't draw this. I saw it posted somewhere and loved it, but I don't know where it comes from or who to give credit to. If you know, please add a comment telling me so that I can give the artist/historian the credit. Thanks!

Stupid, Lousy Phone

...At least, my old/new phone was stupid and lousy! Grrrr! The thing makes me angry just to think about!

Let me start at the beginning:

I have been with AT&T for four years. It's great! I like the service and the price for the package that I have. I signed on for a two-year contract and got a new phone. Three-and-a-half years later, I still had that same contract and phone. It was a great phone. I am clumsy and dropped that phone a LOT, but I never had any trouble with it.

But after three-and-a-half years I decided I wanted a new one. I wanted the new(ish) model that looks like a blackberry. And I found one! An LG Neon. It was grey and blue and had a camera on it! (I know iPhones are all the rage now, but I've always been at least one model or one clothing style behind. I think about my purchases for a LONG TIME before I spend my money.) $20 dollars later it was mine and I took it home. For about a month it worked perfectly. And then I dropped it.

The first time, it seemed to be okay. After the second time, it was fine.

I'd had it two months when I dropped it the third time. And then... I noticed that when I tried to call my mom, I didn't hear the phone ring and I couldn't hear her for about 10 seconds. She could hear me, though, so I was the creepy person who breathes on the phone while she says "Hello? Hello?"

As the weeks progressed, it got worse and worse. I had the problem with other phone numbers. My grandmother hung up on me. I missed the beginning of all of the voicemails I received and had to replay them in order to hear who the heck had called me. Drove me NUTS!

So, I called AT&T for a new phone. Since I'd dropped it (should have kept that quiet) it wasn't covered by the warranty. I do have insurance, so I called them. They said they could send me a new LG Neon, but it would cost $50. I wasn't happy about it, but I paid it. I wanted a phone that worked!

I did NOT get my wish. The second phone I only had to drop ONCE before all the old problems came back. Except, this time I had trouble with the buttons for text messaging. UNCOOL! This phone has been even more frustrating than the previous.

I don't see how it's too much to ask for, a phone that still works even if I drop it a few times. After all, that first phone worked just fine for three-and-a-half years!

I talked with an AT&T salesman at Sam's Club, and he verified that my phone sucks. He recommended that I call AT&T, angrily describe how crappy the phone is, demand a new phone and say I don't want to have to sign a new contract or pay full price. He even recommended a new model -- a Samsung Solstice. I've done some research on that model and talked to a few people who have it, and it looks like a good one.

I called AT&T and was uncharacteristically grumpy on the phone. I don't like being angry with service people. I worked in customer service and I know what it's like. But I was grumpy. He couldn't offer me the Samsung Solstice for free, but he said I could get it at a discount when I'm due for my next upgrade in September. Of the options he gave me, I took the option to buy a cheap, prepaid phone. It's not a great one, but I can keep my phone number, and it should see me through the next six months. At least, I hope it does.

I just want a phone that WORKS! I don't want to be the creepy breather anymore!

Wonderful, Wonderful Day!

*Updated

I landed my dream role yesterday! My #1, die-to-play, reach-for-the-stars dream role! I'm going to be playing Milly in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. I seriously can't believe it. I am not quite pinching myself, but I don't think it will feel real until I get to that first rehearsal and introduce myself... actually, maybe I still won't believe it until we actually read the script... or until we get to opening day.

When the director called yesterday to offer me the part, I nearly started to cry on the phone. I've wanted this part for so long, and the last time I auditioned and didn't get the part it shattered my self-esteem for nearly a year (I've grown a bit since then, so I don't think it would have crushed me quite so much this time). I'm stunned. This is the way I felt when I was cast as Ado Annie in Oklahoma, Amy in Little Women, and Kim in Bye Bye Birdie. I know I have talent and I always fight so hard for roles at auditions and callbacks, but it somehow still flabbergasts me when directors actually choose me for these iconic, fun, difficult, important roles. This is a big deal! This is such a huge responsibility and I am pretty freaked out and even more excited! This time, I'm the LEAD. Not just A lead, but THE lead. The last curtsey. The one with a ton of songs and even more lines. Holy granola, I've never had to memorize that many lines or sing that many songs.

I'm starting to freak out more.

AAAAAAAH! I'm so happy! I can't wait for the first rehearsal! I hope I can do this! I hope I don't disappoint the pro team! They've put a lot of faith in me. This is AWESOME!

It's going to be fun!

And then when it's over, I'll need a new #1, die-to-play, reach-for-the-stars dream role. Adelaide or Sarah in Guys and Dolls? Or maybe Millie in Thoroughly Modern Millie...?

*The play is being produced by the West Jordan Arts Council. Their venue was closed and they don't yet know where we will be performing, but as of now the performances are planned for June 17-29 at 7:30pm except Sundays. I am trying not to worry. No one is allowed to rain on my parade!

I Want to Go to There (everywhere)

Facebook Updates

I hardly ever actually go onto FaceBook to update my status, but I think of potential statuses pretty much all the time. It's a good thing I don't have internet on my phone, or else I'd be updating my status every 20 minutes (and, really, I don't want people to know absolutely everything going on in my jumbled mind). Here are a few I thought of during the last couple of days:

Megan enjoys my new job and is grateful for understanding and supportive coworkers!

Megan liked watching "What About Bob?" for the first time. "I sailed on my first try! I just let the boat do the work; that's my secret."

Megan hates when bad news masquerades as good news, especially on Friday afternoon.

Megan is grateful for naps.

Megan is tired of being Facebook friends with boys she wishes would ask her out. And yet i still hope. (For the record, most boys don't like to be asked out as much as they claim.)

Megan's favorite compliments people have given her after her show are "You're the prettiest angel I've ever seen!" (Who wouldn't want to hear that?) and "I'm sorry about the accident on the swing but... *shrug*" Awesome!

Megan has been wishing on stars for 30 years and they have yet to come through for her. Maybe I should try looking for 4 leaf clovers...

Megan went shopping today with a 30% off coupon and bought beautiful clothes while simultaneously donating to charity. What a lovely way to spend a Saturday evening!

Megan is really, really annoyed that the Unemployment Claim website always seems to be down. At some point, I will need to actually file my weekly reports and access my money. Stupid, cursed website!

Megan can't decide if she's willin' or ready to give up. (I'd rather not explain.)

Megan is good enough, smart enough, and doggone it, people like me!

Megan feels like "a chicken with it's legs cut off." (The only good quote from the movie "Sons of Provo")

Megan wants a fairy godmother to come and tell her what to do to find true happiness. Fairy tale heroines are so lucky! (You know, after they're locked in towers and cursed to sleep for X number of years and threatened by evil witches and such.)

It's a SECRET garden

I opened The Secret Garden tonight. "Already?" you say. "Didn't you just audition for that a few weeks ago?" Why, yes! And yes! Our cast has busted our fannies for the last two and-a-half weeks, and I am proud of our product. Opening night felt really good (I say, knowing full well I'm only onstage for about 8 minutes in the 100 minute show). The cast is really strong all around, but the main reason it worked was because of these kids:

Our leads are tremendous! I can't tell you how impressed I am by them. I was not nearly this focused or talented as a teenager. They have been friends forever and you can tell when they perform together. They are so fun to watch. And they're nice people, too. I love laughing with them backstage! We are really lucky to have them.


Above: My stage husband, Ricky (I got the shot before he could block the camera with his hand -- bwahahahaha!) It's our third show together, and he always makes me laugh. We are pretty goony. We have our work cut out for us, him playing a miserable shell of a man, and me playing a serene, elegant lady. Very, very different from our characters in Little Women two years ago, when he played Mr. Brooke (Meg's husband) and I was erratic Amy :D

Below: I play Colin's (the boy in the wheelchair above) dead mother. Colin has a painting of me in his room, and this is kind of what I think Colin's painting of me looks like. The photo isn't the greatest, but I love this whole look on me! I don't want to go back and live during the Victorian era at all, but it's fun to get dolled up in something sooo not contemporary. The dress is amazing, and I am thrilled that Mom let me borrow her long gloves! I'm even proud of the hairpiece I made up to get that "Gibson girl" style -- the product of major fatigue, a trip to Wal-Mart, and unexpected inspiration. It works perfectly! I feel so pretty!

Below: Scenes from the show. We've repainted the stage, but I kind of like the bright colors! ("It's a secret oasis!") I took these during our quasi-dress-tech-all day rehearsal last Saturday. We had a devil of a time working out some of the technical issues -- there are a lot of props and costume changes and scene changes that took forever to work out just right, but we managed to get them worked out without yelling at each other too much. Now that we know more or less what we're doing, we can just to relax and enjoy the run!



So, the show is open, which means that I can just enjoy performing, and I might start getting some good sleep again (Maybe not, since I just can't seem to get myself to go to bed early). Hooray! We have had favorable words from audience members so far, for which I am grateful. I love the compliments I've had on my very small part, and I love seeing the way the rest of our cast has grown together and individually.

I'm glad I am a part of this show! I hope a lot of people come see it! We were surprised to find that even 4 and 5 year olds are understanding and enjoying it. It's a pretty adult show -- a lot of talking and story-telling and not much spectacle to hide behind or keep the little ones entertained. Wonderfully, they are being entertained by our simple acting. It's refreshing. There is hope for future generations of audiences! Come and see, and then tell your friends to come, too!

Smile Songs

I put together a playlist on my iPod of songs that I just love to sing. These are songs that make me smile every time I hear them, and I listen to them over and over again. Oddly, I created this list the day before I lost my job. I've listened to and updated this list several times since then. How I love it!

Here is a sampling of my smile songs. Do any of them make you smile?

A New Temporary Job!

I have a job! Hooraaaaaaaaaaay!

It's a technical writing position at a medical billing software company. The contract is for about 4 months (plus or minus depending on how well the project I'm working on is received). Since it's not a full-time position, I still need to look for another job, but I'm not quite as worried about it for now. I am so relieved to have something to do during the day and some money coming in!

Better, yet, the company and my co-workers are great! I started on Wednesday and as far as I can tell, it's going well. I had some problem with my first computer. It froze multiple times on the first day while I was setting it up. After 4 1/2 hours I had all of the programs on it that I needed. The next morning, the machine froze every half hour. After rebooting it the 4th time, IT decided I needed a new machine. It took just an hour and-a-half to set the new machine up. Go figure. Aside from that, everything has gone swimmingly. The more we talk about my project and the more little things they give me to work on, the more my confidence grows and the more doable the project seems. I'm nervous, of course. But I'm glad to have a long-time friend there (Hi Karrie!) and like I said everyone else is great.

It's silly, but one of the other things to really impress me was the kitchen. My manager gave me a quick tour on my first day, and I looked around the room at all of the fancy gadgets and free food and drinks and I thought, "Wow, my last workplace was so ghetto!" (What? I did say it was silly.) To me, it's symbolic that I'm moving on to bigger and better things. This isn't the first time I've been laid off from a job, and it may not be the last. It isn't the worst thing that has ever happened to me, either. It's not my favorite thing, but it's not the worst. I feel optimistic.

I'm exhausted, but happy. I am looking forward to next week. What with working all day and rehearsing all night -- last week, performing three times and closing Kiss Me Kate -- I am not getting enough sleep. Ah well. After I open The Secret Garden, I'll have my weeknights free to rest, deep-clean my apartment, and hang out with my friends... at least, until I audition for another show. I already have several in mind. No rest for the wicked!

Sad Truth About My Generation

Thou Lovely Loon!

We're halfway through the run of Kiss Me Kate, and I have to say that this is a play I could do for months, if not years. I am having so much fun! The cast is wacky, sometimes inappropriate, and always accepting and kind. It's been amazing to associate with these people who are so confident of who they are. They know what they want and they are so strong! They encourage me to be my best self, and I'm not afraid to be that person!





And then there's the play itself, with the difficult choreography, bipolar costumes, hilarious audiences, funny lines, and gorgeous music. I love to perform in this show! I love the antics backstage and on. I love that I've had the chance to perform with both casts -- they are so different but both brilliant.







Anyway, this experience has been a blessing for me. It may even have been life changing. I am going to miss it when it's over. I am so grateful it has such a long run! I still have six performances left.

Thank you to all who have come. And thank you to all who have been supportive whether you can come or not!