Television notes

In no particular order:

1. I am very, very disappointed that Go On wasn't renewed for a second season. The ensemble in that show was magical together. I'm going to miss Julie White's biting-and-somehow-sweet sarcasm as Anne. I hope she gets another job, soon. 
2. Hulu has been acting up lately, and I don't appreciate it, since it always seems to be during the last 5 minutes of an episode, especially a season finale. 
3. Comcast called with a good deal on a cable package. They said they wouldn't charge me for it until they mailed me some stuff and I set it up. I can't bring myself to do it. Sometimes I miss actually watching television live, but do I miss it enough to double my Comcast bill? (I still get Internet through them.) Since I'm so rarely home, I'd need DVR to make it worth my while, but I don't want that added coast. I received the set-up package two weeks ago and I'm still debating. I might just return it. 
4. I know I've said this before, but this time I really have stopped watching Glee. This season was so, so annoying, and even the music wasn't very good. I told myself that if Rachael won the role of Fanny Brice that I was done (understudy, maybe, but the lead? No.) At her final callback they didn't even ask her to sing something from Funny Girl? What? However, the season finale was so, so negative and un-uplifting. Even the surprise wedding, Patti Duke and Meredith Baxter, and Regionals music selection couldn't save it. I can't believe they are slated for two more seasons. Buh-bye, New Directions. 
5. However, if Glee did a Rachael spin-off expounding on her experience with Funny Girl -- similar to the Smash concept -- I'd probably watch it. Even though I cannot stand Lea Michele's Rachael. Can. Not. Stand. She is so overrated!
6. Speaking of Smash, I'm also sad that one is ending. The second season was so much better than the first, and I wanted to see where else they could take all of the crazy plot twists. Too bad. I also hope Megan Hilty and Christian Borle (both of whom I have seen on Broadway) get another job, soon. I'm glad that Debra Messing has one already lined up.
7. A long time ago, I decided I was watching too many shows, so I cut a bunch of them out. They were shows I liked but didn't love and was content to live without. About halfway through this season, on the advice of several trusted folks, I picked a few of them back up: Psych, Castle, and The Office. I didn't try to catch up on what I'd missed, I just started with new episodes. I'm glad I did; I like them even more now than I did then. I'm sad to see The Office go (at least this season was a funny one and they wrapped up a lot of the story lines -- hooray!!), but glad that I have other television to look forward to,
8. like a surprise season of Drop Dead Diva!! I'm so happy it was uncancelled! Thank goodness they'll have a chance to hopefully resolve last season's cliffhanger. It was a doozy! 
9. After about 7 tonight, I'm going to have to avoid Facebook and The Morning After until Saturday. *Sigh* As if it isn't tough enough catching up on my Thursday watching (Hulu doesn't offer episodes until the next morning), I don't want any spoilers for the season finale of Grey's Anatomy or the series finale of The Office. I will probably watch one (Grey's) during my lunch break tomorrow, but then I won't have a chance to catch up on the rest (including The Big Bang Theory) until Saturday morning. First World Problems, eh? No spoilers, please! (Oh, I'll also be off Facebook until I've seen Star Trek Into Darkness, so it's necessary I see that one as early as possible on Saturday, as well!)
10. I haven't watched a single episode of Dancing with the Stars this season (season 16, can you believe it?!), and I don't miss it. I've even read snippets of recaps, but I still don't feel compelled to watch. It's the end of an era for me. It was time.
11. Tonight I'll start season 3 of My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic on Netflix. Thanks again, Stephen, for introducing me to this show. It's adorable and addictive! Sure, it's sugar-sweet and geared toward small children, but it's also smart in a way that Animaniacs was, with thinly-veiled pop-cultural references. Plus, I love the characters. I laugh any time Flutter Shy tries to raise her voice and can't ("Yay"). I kind of hope that Apple Bloom never gets her cutie mark... and I'll probably cry when she does! (Side note: Pinky Pie reminds me of my niece, Breezy, in so many wonderful ways!)
12. Looking forward to the summer and starting one or two new series on Netflix. Last year it was Doctor Who and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I haven't decided yet what this year's will be. Parenthood? The Good Wife? I'm not in a hurry to decide.

C'est tout!

Thanksgiving Weekend Highlights

1. Baking pies with my mom.

2. Watching the Dancing with the Stars finale with my parents, Aaron, and Jordyn. Of the final three stars, I am glad Donny won!

3. Having Aaron and Peter in town.

4. Pie Night, of course! Getting to see the Wadsworths, Michelle, Laren and her friends. Varieties of pie included pecan, cherry, apple, razzleberry, strawberry-rhubarb, banana cream, coconut cream, peanut butter, key lime, and chocolate ice cream.

5. Everyone helping my mom get Thanksgiving dinner ready.

6. Thanksgiving dinner with the Cravens.

7. Playing Boondah/Scum.

8. A short nap.

9. The Fantastic Mr. Fox. "Are you cussing with me?"

10. Homemade turkey soup.

11. Professional family photo taken by a handsome british guy more than willing to act silly if it will make the babies laugh.

12. Lunch at Wingers.

13. Six or more helpings of leftover pie.

14. Playing Guitar Hero for the first time.

15. Bowling with the siblings and getting a spare and a strike!

16. Getting some work done over the holiday weekend (not exactly a highlight, but it's nice to have less to do on Monday morning...)

17. Friends at all of the final three performances of Sleeping Beauty.

18. Lunch at Five Star Restaurant and the boys dressed as nerds.

19. Kudos from the director, artistic director, and producer.

20. Cast party watching the Disney version of our play.

I really enjoyed my holiday weekend. I feel blessed that the busy holiday was punctuated by quiet moments and a lot of laughter. My family and friends really are the best. I hope everyone else enjoyed Thanksgiving as much as I did!

Lessons Learned 10/26

Today I learned:

1. I do NOT like portabella mushrooms.

2. Watch where I put my hands. (Pretty much, just be aware of my surroundings.)

3. I WANT the "hard" notes. (Tell me what to fix so that I can grow as an actress and not stink up the show!)

4. To hum before I speak so that my voice is more lyrical and melodious.

5. If I tell the shop girl at the dance store that I need ballet slippers for a play, she will recommend the cheap ones. (Yay! Inexpensive shoes are still new shoes!)

6. The exact moment when I think I might catch up on work is when two more projects will drop in my lap.

7. My skin will break out before, after, and during any stressful event in at least seven places on my face.

8. I am capable of talking to cute boys without devolving into a goon.

9. More people are unashamed Star Trek fans than I would have ever suspected.

10. If I'm going to sit down really hard, make sure I'm not going to ram my tailbone on the corner of a wooden box.

and

11. The woman who taught me most of what I know about theatre etiquette and character work thinks I am a tremendous actress!

Been a busy day -- I think I'll go watch Dancing with the Stars, sit on an ice pack, and relax before bedtime!

Facebook Updates

Any of my Facebook friends will tell you that I don't get onto Facebook very often. This is because I spend all day at work on the computer, and the last thing I want to do when I get home is spend a whole lot more time on the computer. I sometimes get on during work, but Facebook is so addictive I purposely stay away. I could literally spend all day, every day on Facebook seeing what all my friends are up to and sending messages to so many people I like and never get to talk to. It's a dilemma.

Truth to be told, I'd much rather blog than spend time on Facebook. Guess I like the introspective-ness of blogging.

Oddly, however, I have begun to think in terms of updating my Facebook status. Following are some statuses I've wanted to post in the last week, but never got around to:

"Yo, matey. You just stabbed me with your pen[cil]."

"There are few things in life better than a nephew and two nieces."

"I didn't break my keyboard over my computer monitor today. I'd call that a success."

"It was nice to see Ty Murray again on Dancing with the Stars."

"Finished off two jars of pumpkin seeds in 8 days. Anyone carving a jack o lantern anytime soon? If so, may I have the seeds?"

"If it looks like a duck, and talks like a duck..."

"Is greatful for her own problems, because I couldn't handle what some of my friends are going through."

"Likes her job today."

Mark vs Derek

If I were to become famous enough to be considered for Dancing with the Stars, who would be the better ballroom partner for me? Mark or Derek?


Mark is hilarious -- he isn't afraid to look goofy, his choreography is a lot of fun, and he always seems to be having a good time. But, it bothers me that he likes to wear suits during the latin dances while his partner wears skimpy bikini tops. Plus, he's used to working with athletes and heaven knows I'm anything but.


Derek is darling -- he does a great job bringing out the best in his partner, isn't afraid to take a backseat, his choreography is original, and he's just so handsome! The drawbacks are that from what I can tell he gets frustrated easily during rehearsals, and he's so pretty nobody might notice me.

Who do you think? Do you have another dancer you think would be better at making me the best dancer I can be? Please comment on who and why!

Too Lazy to Look It Up

I'm not expecting anyone to answer any of these. Been thinking about these questions and want to ask, even if I'm too lazy to ever actually do the research. I'll probably add more later.

1. Is it what I'm wearing or the way that I move that results in my getting an electric shock every time I touch my car door? It usually happens when I'm getting out of the car. I have conditioned myself to cringe in anticipation.

2. What are the chances of my headphones at work falling into whatever I happen to be eating? They resist staying put in my ears, and they always just barely miss my lunch, or one of four snacks I pack every day.

3. Would a) larger or b) smaller rubber covers on my earbuds keep them from falling out of my ears so much?

4. Am I the only one who is not yet tired of the snow? Today's fall is the BEST KIND!! Not sticking to the roads, but the whole world is black, white and grey! Gorgeous and peaceful.

5. How ironic is it that my stress-induced headaches are causing me even more stress?

6. When was the last time I posted any photos on this blog?! (Dude, I should totally take photos at FHE tonight, if I can remember my camera in addition to everything else I've put myself in charge of.)

7. How tired do I have to be before I actually adhere to my goal of shutting off the t.v. at 10:30pm no matter what and going to bed?

8. Would the X-ray lady be willing to take a film of my chest as well as my sinuses on Wednesday, or do I have to make an extra appointment? I guess the ear, nose, and throat doctor has no need of a chest x-ray :P I just really want these sinus infections to leave me alone before I (hopefully) start rehearsals.

9. Been watching David Copperfield on Masterpiece Classic. Seriously, how cute is 9 year-old Daniel Radcliffe?!

10. What are the odds either or both of my nieces will be even more dramatic than my nephew?

11. Would reading the Sports page be enough to make me cooler and more well-rounded than I am, or would I actually have to play the sports? Would reading the Sports page give me enough information to have an intelligent conversation with someone who watches the games? I am not excited about watching sports on t.v., but I like going to games when invited.

12. How much milk have I wasted since moving into my condo, seeing as I don't even get through 1/2 gallon before it goes bad? Why doesn't Albertsons sell pints of milk?

13. Why am I so in crush with Ty Murray on Dancing with the Stars? His boyish smile? The fact that he's a cowboy? The accent? Because he did so much better the second week than the first? The likelihood that he did the show probably because his wife -- Jewel -- wanted to? It's a shame she had to drop out, but I'm glad he's still on. Ty is adorable!

14. How do hiccups work? And what is the best remedy for getting rid of them?

15. When did my ears stop sticking out the way they did when I was a baby? Is my hair simply covering them up? Is that why Heavenly Father made my hair so curly?

16. Why are my hands so beat up? I have little scratches, bruises and scabs all over them. I get a new one nearly every day, but it's not like I'm hammering up drywall or anything... sheesh! My poor little hands!

Today's To-Do-After-Work List

1. Call Amy to finalize plans for Jekyll and Hyde on Thursday.
2. Buy dish-separation shelves at Bed, Bath, and Beyond (my new favorite store).
3. Exchange an item at no-longer-nearby South Town Mall (South Towne? Southtown?).
4. Fill my car with gasoline that is currently cheaper than it's been in ages (hooray!)
5. Buy the external hard drive at Sam's Club that Hansen recommended, and install it on my computer when I arrive at home.
6. Cook something for dinner. Pork chop and sweet potato or scrambled eggs with cheese, green pepper and onions? I can't decide! Whatever I don't make today I'll do tomorrow anyway...
7. Learn patience by putting shelf paper on the shelves in my kitchen. I failed miserably last night. (I should probably buy shelf paper for the bathroom too...)
8. Watch Dancing with the Stars: the Results and keep my fingers crossed that Warren and Cody are both safe and Cloris is going home. This season has turned out quite good!
9. Rehearse the gypsy dance for BIT since I'll miss my only rehearsal this week.
10. Wash my hair.
11. Finish one of the two "tag" blog posts I've started.

Wish I could multi-task more of these items... Will I get all of this done in the five hours I have? Only time will tell.

Josh Groban is Funny!

Last night I watched the Emmy Awards with my mom and Lindsey. There were good moments and bad ones (the idea to have the nominated Best Reality TV Show Hosts host the show was not a good one), and I think my favorite was Josh Groban singing snippets from a bunch of T.V. theme songs. I like his songs though I've never been to a concert. I may have to go to one, however, if Josh is as much fun as he is on this clip:



Kudos to Tina Fey, who won for Best Writing in a Comedy, Best Actress in a Comedy, and 30 Rock the Best Comedy. Not only is she delightful on screen, but she seems to be a very giving, kind person. I like to think we'd be friends if we ever met. She completely deserved to win, and I don't think anyone minded that she gave three Thank-You speeches. My favorite quote from her is: "I thank my parents for somehow raising me to have confidence that is disproportionate with my looks and abilities. Well done. That is what all parents should do." Hooray for Tina Fey!

Meanwhile, Dancing with the Stars starts tonight!! It's a three-night event and I'm totally excited. Maks is back! Julianne is back! Oh, how I missed them.

Other shows I like that are starting this week: Heroes, The Big Bang Theory , The Office, and Desperate Housewives. I am so, so glad I opted for DVR with my cable package...

DWTS

One of my favorite television shows is Dancing with the Stars. I love the costumes, the hair, the backstage drama, Tom Bergeron, Len Goodman, and... oh yes, the dancing. And I love how they take a bunch of unknown or has-been "stars" and through the course of 26 episodes make me care about them! Every season I look at the cast list and think "Really? That guy?" It always looks like it's going to be lame, and then turns out wonderfully. (Last season was pretty close to lame, though. Kristy Yamaguchi was the only really good dancer. I don't care how hot Christian de la Fuente and Jason Taylor are, they let their professional partners do all the dancing and it was BORING! I can only watch Edyta skank it up for so long.)

They announced the new cast yesterday and again I thought, "Really? Um, okay." I have hopes though. I am always amazed at what the dancers can get their stars to do, and it's fun to see the stars gain confidence each week. So, Monday, September 22, you know where I'll be! Sitting in front of my television with my hands over my face just hoping the show surprises me once again!

The cast*:

- Lance Bass of 'N Sync fame, partnered with newbie Lacey Schwimmer

- Grammy-winning singer Toni Braxton, with Alec Mazo

- Actress/host Brooke Burke, with darling Derek Hough

- Celebrity chef Rocco Dispirito, with pouting Karina Smirnoff

- Olympic gold medal track star Maurice Greene, with sassy Cheryl Burke

- Paris Hilton wannabe Kim Kardashian, with adorable Mark Ballas

- Oscar-winning actress Cloris Leachman, with Corky Ballas (Mark's dad)

- Actor Cody Linley, with feisty Julianne Hough

- Soap star Susan Lucci, with boring Tony Dovolani

- Olympic gold medal volleyball player Misty May-Treanor, with my beloved Maxim Chmerikovskiy

- Actor Ted McGinley, with newcomer Inna Brayer

- Comedian Jeffrey Ross, with scantily-clad Edyta Sliwinska

- Superbowl champion Warren Sapp, with the delightful Kym Johnson

As an example of what I expect, at least by week 5, here is my favorite dance of all time: Apollo Anton Ohno and Julianne Hough dancing the Samba. (I was really surprised when this didn't make the judges' top ten at the DWTS 100th Episode Celebration.)



*For more information, see the official announcement at http://abc.go.com/primetime/dancingwiththestars/index?pn=announcement

On My Mind

Just some things I've been thinking about today:

1. It's possible the pants I'm wearing are too tight for polite company, and yet I don't feel fat in them. Weird.

2. Will Bella and Edward live happily ever after? I have 100 pages left of "Breaking Dawn" and just need to finish already!!! Seriously, I woke up last night all anxious because I need to know what happens.

3. I am super-excited for August 25. That's the day the powers that be announce the new cast on "Dancing with the Stars" on "Good Morning America".

4. At my friend's wedding reception Friday, I decided to stand in the humiliating group when the bride threw the bouqet, mostly because I knew there was one girl there who detests it more than I. I was relieved when I didn't catch it, but very proud that I made the effort.

5. I am actually enjoying running on the treadmill again. Yay! Physical activity!

6. It it just me, or are the womens US gymnist outfits hideous? I just can't get over the horrid shade of red!

7. Getting closer and closer to my condo closing and everything's coming together! Woo-hoo!

8. I heard today that Delicate Arch collapsed and felt so sad. What a loss! Then I found out it was Wall Arch, which is still sad, but didn't affect me quite as strongly.

9. Why is a conference room full of Engineers and Product Developers so intimidating? I know them all, and they are very nice individually. Hmmm.

All this while I'm trying to work. Sheesh! Good thing women multitask!