October tybbling

Oh, October. You were filled with performances and other events surrounding Jekyll and Hyde. Turns out, the cast liked to party, and we liked to party together! But I'll talk about that another time (or will I?).

A few other things:

Fall is no longer kidding around

For some reason, the trees and leaves in this part of my condo's parking lot scream AUTUMN at me.

(Not literally, of course. Aaaaaah!)

"Every Autumn, I look forward to the day the leaves seem to leap from the trees and create a carpet of color. Tomorrow, the carpet will be pulverized by cars, but today all felt right with the world."

General Conference with my family

My brother David created this masterpiece with drafting help and suggestions from our nieces.
I love it. I should have stolen it so I could frame it. 

Breezy suddenly panicked that her mom's birthday was only a few weeks away and we needed to create birthday cards. This is my drawing of Lindsey crossing the finish line at the end of a race (the red things are the ribbon she is breaking through).

Cousins bonding while watching a video during the lunch break.

Day trip to the Utah Shakespeare Festival

I missed Twelfth Night during my trip in the summer. I'd never seen a live performance of the play but I adore the script, so I drove down for a Wednesday matinee, stayed for the talk-back afterwards, and then drove home.

The production wasn't perfect, but the music was delightful and I laughed a LOT for all the right reasons. I'm glad that I made the effort.

I started the day right, with a pumpkin bagel and honey-almond schmear from Einstein Bagels, and a frozen butterbeer* from Starbucks. I highly recommend both.
For the butterbeer, you have to give the barrista the recipe:
Cold Butterbeer:
cream frappucchino of whole milk
3 pumps caramel syrup
3 pumps toffee nut syrup
top with caramel drizzle

Hot Butterbeer:
(2 pumps tall, 3 granda, 4 venti)
Whole milk steamer w/caramel syrup
toffee nut syrup
cinnamon dolce syrup
top with whipped cream and salted caramel bits

*I have never been to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, so I have no idea how these compare to "real" butterbeer

During the drive home, I hit the 50000 mile milestone in my new car.
Not so new anymore, it seems!

Sent stuff to the dry cleaner

I know, this is kind of a lame entry, but I'd never taken my own stuff to a dry cleaner before, so it felt kind of momentous. Sadly, they wrecked the buckles on my trench coat; now I'm looking for new buckles so I can replace them...

Some of my siblings came to my play!

My siblings don't come to all of my many shows -- and I don't often make them come -- especially when my role is small and tickets are as expensive as they are at CenterPoint. I was awfully proud of the quality of Jekyll and Hyde, however, and I cannot express how special it felt that these fun-loving, discerning, and thoughtful people took the time out of their schedules to come. Their support and their love is very precious to me.

David and Aaron

Jordyn and Lindsey

Read Pride and Prejudice (adapted as a play) with Next Stage Productions friends

The friends I did Robin Hood with have formed their own theatre company, called Next Stage Productions. In addition to producing plays, about once a month someone from the group hosts different activities, most often reading a play. In October, we read Pride and Prejudice, and I have to say that the casting choices were spot-on, and a lot of the reads were just brilliant. I got to play Lydia and had a marvelous time!
Let me know if you want to join in the fun. This month they're reading The Crucible, and next month is Arabian Nights (the show they plan to produce next year). The more the merrier!

Liz, as Elizabeth Bennet, reacts to Mr. Collin's proposal (read hilariously by Anthony Buck).

It wasn't a costume party, but I dressed up as Sleeping Beauty anyway, because this was only my first party of the evening...

My one-and-only Halloween party

The second party was at Johnson Party Central, and comprised mainly of cast members from Jekyll and Hyde. I was there late enough that the Friday cast had completed their performance and were arriving as well. It's a crime that nobody got a clear photo of the two actors who played Jekyll wearing pink unicorn costumes -- they galloped into the house, through the kitchen, and back out the front door so quickly that those of us in the living room didn't even see them! Boo!

Chantryce and Amanda

Natalie, Silas, and Kristina

Baby-sat one of the world's cutest and most charming babies

Bamy got to baby-sit her Monster while his parents had rehearsal. Poor kid had a rough day that carried into our time together, so I think we both appreciated the short nap he took in the middle of the evening. He's such a perfect, squishable boy! Chip off the old block, for sure!

Gifted myself something nerdy

I've been waiting for months for the "Come Away with Me" design to come available on Companion Tees or TeeFury. I love it so much. It's kind of a shame I can't wear it every day! (Well, I could, but that would be weirder than a 36 year-old career woman buying this t-shirt in the first place.)

Halloween

My co-workers were disappointed that I didn't dress up this year. This was a little hypocritical because they didn't either! I DID consider wearing a costume to the movies that night, and then forgot about it and put on regular clothes after my workout. I rescued my mom and my grandma from having to answer their doors to trick-or-treaters and took them to see The Maze Runner. It was an entertaining movie and I like the child actors, and it was creepy enough to be a decent Halloween choice. I hadn't been to a movie in ages -- I've missed them!

I straightened my hair, so at least I didn't look quite like myself!
Bonus points for the scarf with the skulls printed on it :)

My show closed on the 28th. I auditioned for another on the 25th, but it didn't work out. I have an audition or two tentatively planned for this month.

Next stop, November. The holidays are upon us!

Important things I learned yesterday

My mom's and my older brother's favorite candy bar is the Almond Joy. The G-unit also likes Almond Joys... without the almonds. We informed him that means he likes Mounds. However, since we had no Mounds available last night, G ate about 8 fun-sized Almond Joys and spat out the almonds. Too funny!

Speaking of funny, Breezy spent quite a few minutes making baby PJ laugh. She had found a balloon from somewhere and would blow it up (as much as a 5 year-old can) until it naturally spat out of her mouth and across the kitchen table. PJ could not get enough. He laughed and laughed and laughed! And of course that made Breezy laugh and do it over and over again. And of course that meant all the adults in the room had to video tape it. Adorable to watch the two cousins bond.

Meanwhile, Zonks very seriously drew a photo of the world (including Arizona and Hawaii), space, and planet "Lurb." I thought she made Lurb up until I mentioned it to Lindsey and she said it was on some kid's television show. I tried looking it up and have no idea which show it's from. Any ideas?
My favorite part of the picture was where she drew a box to represent my neighborhood, with a dot for my house, a dot for my friend's house, and a stream flowing beneath it. It looked a lot like this:

(except that it was square and drawn in purple)

This time I managed not to laugh at her, but I sure wanted to! I don't think she noticed that she had drawn a face.

Lastly, my nieces and I made the very important discovery that I have magic. Specifically: I can magically stick flat buttons to my forehead and they stay (unless I wrinkle my forehead or move too quickly). The girls rightly thought this hilarious. For the next five minutes -- until it was time to go home -- they pulled various sized and shaped buttons from Grammy's button box and tried to stick them to my oily forehead (fine, it wasn't magic, but they didn't need to know that). They were delighted and so was I.

What have you learned about your family members lately?

All the world's a stage for the BBC

This is beautiful. Benedict Cumberbatch recites the "All the world's a stage speech" from As You Like It while clips from various BBC series illustrate the meanings behind Shakespeare's words. It's a powerful video.

Post by BBC One.

I wish I knew what more of these programs are! I recognize Doctor Who, Sherlock, Call the Midwife, Pride and Prejudice, and The Hollow Crown -- I haven't seen this last one but desperately want to. Surprisingly, there is no Downton Abbey.

Excuse me while I go watch a bunch of television now...

Megan reads As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making of The Princess Bride

As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making of The Princess Bride by Cary Elwes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I met Cary Elwes earlier this year at Salt Lake Comic Con. He was genuine and funny, and very excited about this book. I couldn't NOT read it after he personally asked me to!

Fortunately, his book is absolutely charming. Other than the director, Cary is the best person to tell the backstage story. His experience changed his whole life, and it's obvious he's very grateful and humble about it. Cary and co-writer Joe Layden have an easy-going way of speaking -- almost as if the actor and I were talking face-to-face. The tone is enthusiastic and it is evident he's still a little awe-struck over his first starring (and arguably best-known) role. The stories about the filming process, production team, and cast are both hilarious and touching. I am a huge fan of the book and movie versions of The Princess Bride, and this memoir is the perfect tie-in between the two.

An unexpected bonus is the look behind-the-scenes of making a movie in Hollywood (in the eighties, at least). Elwes begins with how difficult it was to even get the movie green-lit, let alone film and market. In the end, he talks about how surprised (and yet not surprised) he and his costars still are that it is still as popular as it is. It's nice to read a book about Hollywood that isn't cynical.  

Note: I requested my local library purchase this book, and I am the first to read it. I'm thrilled that there are already 6 people waiting to read this copy after I return it. I'm trying to decide whether to keep it long enough to read again, or just purchase my own copy. Tough choice!


View all my reviews

Cary Elwes, Theresa, and I Salt Lake Comic Con 2014

Fun fact: This is the 30th book I've read this year, and I've reached my second -- or third, I don't remember -- Goodreads goal. And I have every intention of reading quite a few more before the year is out!

Memes that make me giggle: Zak Gallifinakis is so Raven

Borrowed from Set Phasers to LOL

Things v experiences

After I read the article 15 Reasons Couples Should Go on Vacation Instead of Buying Stuff, I started to wonder: "Which do I value more: Experiences or Things?"

It didn't take long to decide:

Experiences. For sure.

My first two pair of new shoes in over a year.
I content myself with the knowledge they were both half price.
Hope they're still in style in the Spring!

I hate having to spend more than $30 for groceries in a week (especially when I have a $100 weekly limit for total living expenses), but I have no problem spending $30 on one dinner out with friends. I'm not one to upgrade electronics just because I can, and usually only do so when my device no longer functions properly and cannot be fixed cheaply. I'd much rather spend the money on a vacation, or even a pass to Comic Con. I loathe clothes shopping and love rehearsing a play where I get to know my fellow actors and discover a character. If I do buy something new, I always feel buyer's remorse and consider returning it. It's rare that I unwrap or wear anything right away. I have to force myself to remember that I'll end up loving it and I'll forget how much it cost.

A new Galaxy S4

For example, the power button on my phone stopped working on Tuesday, forcing me to buy a new phone. I'm sure I'll get used to it, but right now I resent having to spend the money (plus, the purchase made me late to see Gone with the Wind on the big screen).

I talked with my friend Theresa about this concept, and she sent me this article about Anticipating an Experience or a Purchase. This quote sums up my thoughts on buying things (at least for me):

It's well known that people get used to things that are around them every day, and they soon lose their appreciation for even the most expensive couches and cars. 

I love making memories. I love reliving memories. I am reliant on stuff and am grateful for their convenience, but they aren't the priority. People are. Living is.

I have a quick trip coming up, and a few ideas for a longer vacation this winter. I need something to look forward to, and I really need a break from regular life. It may not be a permanent change, but it's something!

What do you value? What do you spend money on? What do you plan for and look forward to? Are you looking forward to anything right now?