Bossypants, by Tina Fey

I really wanted to love this book. I like that it's written in a breezy narrative, kind of like she's in the room telling me her random stories, and I enjoyed hearing about her experience as a comedian and a woman fighting to be respected in a man's profession. As someone who works with mostly men, I know all too well how difficult it can be. Men and women think and approach work very, very differently.

My favorite part was that where she discussed the writers at 30 Rock, and gave examples of their best work. I laughed out loud at this one: 


DR. SPACEMAN ENTERS FROM I.C.U. HIS LAB COAT IS COVERED IN BLOOD. THE WOMEN ALL GASP.  



DR. SPACEMAN:



"WHAT, THIS? NO, NO, I WAS AT A COSTUME PARTY EARLIER THIS EVENING...AND THE HOSTESS'S DOG ATTACKED ME SO I HAD TO STAB IT."


However, I hated that she took every opportunity she could to be as crude as possible. I am offended by the "F" word, and vulgar language in general, and there was plenty of both in this book. It makes me sad her editors didn't encourage her to be more mild to attract a larger audience, and even more sad she might be using that language in front of her kids. Then again, nobody forced me to read her book, and it was definitely in-line with her jokes from SNL and 30 Rock. I shouldn't have been so surprised, but I was.

Also, it kind of bothered me that it seemed to be a hodge-podge of memories, loosely (actually, not very) connected. It isn't Ms. Fey's style to write an "And then this happened, and then this happened" sort of book, but she jumped from summer theater to moving to Chicago, to her first job at Second City to her honeymoon without connecting the dots in between. Made for kind of a confusing read. As a biography, it leaves something to be desired. As a collection of short stories (a la David Sedaris) it works.

In closing, I'd like to use a brilliant quote from her novel:

It is an impressively arrogant move to conclude that just because you don't like something, it is empirically not good. I don't like Chinese food, but I don't write articles trying to prove it doesn't exist.
I gave this book two stars because I didn't like the choice of language and probably won't read it again. If language doesn't bother you, then I would absolutely recommend it. It's a fun, quick read. Tina Fey knows how to entertain, and this book is a good example of why she's so popular.

And now I think I'll go watch her and Amy Poehler's Sarah Palin/Hillary Clinton sketch one more time...

The secret to winning at Monopoly

After dinner, my nephew pulled out Monopoly, and earnestly asked if I wanted to play. I didn't especially, but I said, "Yes I do!" 'cause how much longer is he really going to want to play with me? His mom said we only had time for a 20 minute game, and graciously offered to be the banker. She set up the board and gave Dave (the car), me (the battleship), herself (the top hat), and the G-unit (the horse and rider) the money we'd need to play. She also rolled the highest on the dice, so she got to start. Lucky!

I went last in the first round, and my first roll put me on the first Chance space. Wouldn't you know I'd be unlucky enough to pick the "Go to Jail" card?!! (I think it's highly unfair they don't even tell you why you're going to jail. Tax evasion, no doubt, in a game such as this.) I didn't want to pay to get out, so I tried three turns in a row to throw doubles, but no dice (ha! Pun intended!) 

Meanwhile, the others were buying properties like real-estate fiends! (It should be mentioned that Breezy decided to join us, and immediately grabbed all of the $5 bills from the cash box. G-unit said, "Gee, I wonder why she likes the 5s so much? ... we all laughed, 'cause Breezy sure does love the color pink!)

Once out of jail I managed to have enough time to buy one property, and pay rent to the G-unit and Dave for my other turns before Lindsey said we were out of time. We counted our money to determine the winner (to simplify, we didn't count properties). 

Guess what?! I won! Apparently hanging out in jail saved me from spending my money, so I still had $876 left. Ha ha!

So, there you have it. Jail time probably isn't a good strategy if you're going to actually play a full game (and it DEFINITELY isn't a good idea in real life), but this time, it worked like a charm.

Happy Sunday, friends. Hope your week is a good one!

Earnest closes tomorrow

 

 

 

 

 

 

"The good end happily, and the bad unhappily. That is what fiction means."

I made these "cards" for the little trailer video I made for my show. It was originally going to be a bit longer and include more story, but then I decided I didn't want to post any spoilers... and since my film-making skills are a little limited, the resulting original cut was too long and a little dull (which is unfortunate when I'm trying to entice people to see my latest comedy) :-P I'm a little sad I didn't get to use all of these cards, but the finished trailer is better without them.

We close tomorrow, and my feelings are bittersweet. On the one hand, I am exhausted and ready for a short break from performing before I jump into whatever project I do next. On the other, this has been a dream show, a dream cast, and just plain fun. I'm going to miss it.

I'm glad, though, that I know I'll be seeing some of these people again -- not about to let those friendships dwindle away!

Thank you to everyone who has come to support me. It means more to me than I can say, and I will be forever grateful. I hope you were entertained!

My big sister

Sometimes, I like to pretend I have a big sister.

I realize that having a big sister means I would have been the bratty little sister while growing up, but since I had a big brother I was that anyway, and my sister would have been older than my big brother. I read books like Little Women, Sense and Sensibility, and Ramona Quimby, and I wish I had had an older sister to guide me. Someone to watch and idolize as she got ready for dates, and went away to college. Someone to talk with about dating and what's going on in the family and to tell me when I'm being a pill and when she is proud of me. Someone I would have shared my entire life with.

Funny enough, lately when I think about my fictional big sister, I realize she acts just like Ramona's Aunt Bea (the epitome of the cool aunt), and looks just like Reese Witherspoon. Something tickles me about being known as the "tall Smyth girl", especially since my brothers are all so tall in comparison to me!
 
I've always had close girl friends. Girls I spend buckets of time with and talk about everything with and do crazy things with. I've never one who has really been with me through every change in her and my life. I know that not all sisters are best friends, but my brothers and I get along so well, why wouldn't my sister, too? Honestly, I imagine her being a lot like my mom -- terrific homemaker, empathetic, perfect listener, quirky, clever, excellent at Trivial Pursuit. I sure am glad for the relationship I have with my mom, especially now that we're grown-ups!

Let's get one thing straight: I wouldn't trade my brothers for anything. AT ALL. EVER. They are the kindest, smartest, most thoughtful, handsomest, funniest, most supportive and inspiring people I know, and I am so much better for the blessing of growing up with them. It's still weird to me sometimes to think about what we were like as kids, and suddenly they're these ambitious, hard-working, hard-playing, men. Better yet, they have awesome taste in women, and I have some brilliant sisters-in-law (since that's something I have no control over, I'm grateful the boys are choosing so well)! We are all so very different from each other, but we are all friends and we like to be together. I know that a lot of people would be jealous of my relationship with my family. I am in awe of who they are and all they have accomplished already in their young lives.

Men and women are so different. My brothers all seem so put-together and so often I feel like a big old mess. Sometimes, I just wonder how different I would be if I'd had a sister thrown into the mix, too... if I would have found more confidence in regards to dating, and had an identity within our family other than "the girl" (my perception, not necessarily my family's), and not been so self-conscious about my dual princess/tomboy nature. (I'd say, "and help train my brothers to be great to women", but they figured that out remarkably well on their own.)

Then again, I love the weird part of me that gets excited about the latest superhero movie, and has long conversations about the Lord of the Rings books, and knows a bajillion-and-one facts about Star Trek: The Next Generation. Something tells me I wouldn't have enjoyed playing Star Wars as much if I had had competition for the Princess Leia role. C3PO just isn't as alluring a part for an 8 year-old girl.

Even so, it's fun to pretend sometimes that things are different...

Are you close with your family? How do you think your siblings (or lack of siblings) affected your personality? Is there anything you would change?

The perfect date

It's today!

Miss Congeniality Perfect Date by whpd66

The weather is trying to kill me

Every time the weather changes, I can be sure of two things:

1. A LOT of my friends on Facebook will either complain about the snow/rain/wind, or cheer about the beautiful, sunny, warmth.
2. I will get sick.

#2 has been much improved since I went to the allergist late last year and got some meds. I am grateful, since the mild-to-warm winter was harder on the allergies than past winters were. Winter is supposed to be a time when cold weather makes plants dormant... but no such luck this year.

Now it's Spring again, and on the one hand I'm glad that means I get to start wearing skirts and short sleeves and spending time outside again.

On the other hand, pretty as they may be, I'm not excited about the trees and flowers blooming and pollinating. I was so whacked out and stuffy last week that I couldn't concentrate at work. I called in sick and spent a good deal of time in bed. Sadly, that's not something I can do continuously from Spring through Fall (well, I could, but I don't like working from home if I can help it).

I don't mind snow. I don't mind rain, and I don't mind sun. I live in Utah, and each of these options are pretty standard and wonderful in their own way. It's the rapid change from one to another that kills me. I know I'm not alone. I'm so sorry that so many have to go through this with me!

As far as chronic "illnesses" go, I'm aware this is a mild and very manageable one. Even so, it's obnoxious!

Hope Spring has been nicer to you than it has been to me. What has been your favorite thing so far? What are you looking forward to in the next couple of weeks?