December Reads in Review

So based on the extreme amount of Christmas I needed to complete this month, I may have cheated a bit on my 3 book minimum.  Technically I did read 3 books - but one of them may have had about 30 words in the whole thing...

"Christmas at Little Beach Street Bakery" by Jenny Colgan: Yes it's another Jenny Colgan.  Yes it's a Christmas book.  Yes it's a sequel to another book I read this year.  And Yes I loved it just as much as I loved all the other Jenny Colgan Christmas and Beach Street Books I read this year.  So fun!  Such an easy and charming read and perfect for Christmas.

"Jim Henson's Labyrinth Tales" by Cory Godbey: This is the one I cheated with.  I LOVE Labyrinth so I was super happy to receive this one as a Christmas present.  Of course, when I saw it online, I wasn't aware that the tales were just a few words each.  But the pictures are just as adorable as the characters in the movie, so I was happy.

"Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" by J.K Rowling (Illustrated version): Yes I've read Harry Potter before.  I love them all.  However, I couldn't wait to re-read when I saw the illustrated versions were coming out.  Luckily, I received the first 2 for Christmas.  As amazing as they are the first time around, this illustrated version might be even cooler.  The graphics are gorgeous!  I always hated the movies because they changed what I saw in the books.  But somehow, these illustrations match up perfectly to what I imagined in my head.  I can't wait until the next 5 books come out! And I'm already hoping they release "The Cursed Child" in an illustrated version as well : )

Well, that's that.  My last post of 2016.  Here's hoping that 2017 will be a bit calmer and just a bit more lovely.  Happy New Year!

Friday Five

And just like that, we're here on the very last Friday of 2016.  I for one, had some very good experiences this year but I'm very ready for this year to be over.  Let's hope 2017 is much kinder and gentler.  And in that regard, here are the 5 things I'm hoping to do in 2017.

1. My one little word for 2017 is: 

I want to be open to new experiences, new feelings and new ideas.  I want to go to new places, and see new things.  I mean, I always want to do that but that's the focus for this year.

2. I'd very much like to cook and bake more. I'm terrible at this, and I really want to be better.  Maybe my nice new KitchenAid will help out with this goal.

3. I'm sort of loving the idea of doing the NYC once a month thing again.  It was super fun this year and I really enjoyed having that one fun plan that was set each month.  Also, the 2017 theatre scene is looking way too good to pass up any chance at a trip.

4. Lose weight - doesn't everyone have this resolution? We'll see if it happens.  It would be nice if I could combine Numbers 2 and 4 and cook more food that's better for me.  But where's the fun in that?

5. I'm upping 2016's goal for reading to 4 books a month. My bookshelf is growing immeasurably which is just fabulous (for my sanity, not necessarily my wallet...) and hitting the 3 mark each month was so exciting.  I live a quiet life, what can I say? : )

Manhattan at Christmas

New York at Christmas is pretty special.  There are the millions of extra people that need to be maneuvered around, but if you can put up with that, seeing the city all twinkly and sparkly is just a little more special than normal.  Unfortunately, this trip was to be a quick, jam-packed one so there wasn't to be much Christmas exploring, however we did manage to tick one of my Christmas items off the bucket list.

First up was lunch at Carmines on 91st Street.  We'd been to Carmines on 44th but it seems that everyone in Midtown wanted to go there so hoofing it up town to 91st, was what we did instead. If you haven't been there already, it's about the best Italian food in the city - all served family style.  This means you get about the amount of food that it would take to feed a small army.  However, that food is so darn delicious that you pretend you are a small army and shovel it all in. 

On the menu this time was a garden of fried zucchini (so light and so good!), a barnyard of Chicken parmigiana (a personal favorite!) and a mound of pasta with marinara (yum!) And all of this was eaten while surrounded by beautiful Christmas lights and trees.  I could have killed any vampires in a 3 mile radius - so much garlic! But I was quite stuffed and quite happy by the end of the meal! 

Next up, since we had a little time before the show, we stopped off at Columbus Circle to finally see the beautiful Stars that hang in the atrium of Time Warner Center - the bucket list item I talked about earlier.  They are most definitely very Instagrammy but they're also beautiful and I've been dying to see them since I first saw them on Instagram : )  They're all glass and change colors you watch them.  They were as gorgeous as I thought they might be!

Then it was down to 52nd street to see our show.  The last show of 2016 was to be "The Fiddler on the Roof."  Now, I've been avoiding this show all year, because I saw it in high school and wasn't all that thrilled by it.  I remember it being a bit of a downer.  However, my dad really wanted to see it and it's closing on New Year's Eve, so it was now or never.  If nothing else, I'd get to see Danny Berstein play Tevye, whom everyone has been saying is fabulous.  

Of course, this means that the Understudy would most definitely be going on in Berstein's place.  But, I have to say, he was fabulous!  I read in the Playbill that this was his Broadway debut, and I definitely believe he has an amazing career in front of him, because he ruled that stage.  And the show itself, was so much better than I assumed it would be.  It's a lot funnier than I remember.  Of course, it's still a bit of a downer, but Tevye keeps it light and it really moves along.  I'm very happy I got to see it!

Just as an extra, I have to add what I hated about the show.  Something I need to vent about because it's just so astounding to me.  The family that sat in front of us.  Not only did they decide to move their seats (by standing up for an extended period of time) just when the curtain went up, play with their phones to check the time, take photos of the show while it was in process, but the mother received a call during the show that she answered.  She answered the phone during the show!!!!!  Who does that?!  It's bad enough when a phone rings, but answering it is a new low.  It was by far the rudest thing I've ever seen in a theatre! Ok, I feel better now : )

After the show, we were still pretty stuffed from lunch so we just grabbed a snack and headed back to the bus.  But not before I finally got a picture with my favorite Deli (not that I've eaten there...) in the city.  It's the most clever name for a deli ever!  

The day was the perfect, last day in the city for 2016.  But then again, any day in NYC is perfect!

It's Christmas Time in the City

My very last trip to NYC of 2016 was fabulous as usual - full of yummy food, millions of people going all sorts of directions, beautiful Christmas decorations, and of course, Broadway.  But more on that tomorrow, as I'm off to sleep to dream of the many trips I already have planned to NYC in 2017 : )

Happy Birthday Bud!

It's this guy's birthday today and we've been happy to celebrate it all day today.  Because he most definitely deserves it!  He's funny, and kind and loving and a fabulous cook, and we're so lucky we get to call him ours.  

I love you bunches bud and I hope you had a fabulous day!

Happy Birthday!

Another Christmas Flew By

After all the craziness and preparation of the last month, It's so darn hard to believe that Christmas is all over.  I love Christmas!  I hate the prep and I get super stressed, but I just love it!  I hate that it goes so fast.  I'm currently sitting here by the light of the Christmas tree, with lots of fun new presents - all warm and toasty.  Which is super nice, and it's also lovely to know that I'll be off for the next week.  But I just wish the whole Chrstmas Even and Christmas Day went just a little more slowly...

However, I have to say, even though it flew by in the blink of an eye, Christmas was absolutely wonderful as always.  

Merry Christmas!

Hope your holiday was full of fun, family and friends as mine was.  Everything was just as special as I wanted it to be and I had a blast.  If every day of the coming year could be half was wonderful as this Christmas has been, things will be more than ok.

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night! 

Friday Five: 2017 Thoughts

It's almost 2017 - of course we have the awesomeness of Christmas to look forward to firs: Woohoo! - so I thought I'd focus on the five things I'm excited about in the new year today. With all the talk of ugly predictions for the new year, I'm trying to stay happy and ready for whatever wonderful things may happen.

1. I'm most looking forward another trip to England next summer.  I just can't get enough of that beautful country, and having the chance to see new parts is so exciting.

2. The ridiculous number of Broadway shows that are opening in the next few months that have fabulous casts and that sound absolute amazing.  I have a list of 11 that I need to purchase tickets for already, and I'm sure that list will grow into 2017.  

3. Focusing on the Positive.  I've decided that 2017 is the year of positive thinking. I'm going to focus on the good every day.  I mean, we have 4 more years of ugliness, the least I can do is to try not to focus on that.  If I don't, I'll just be angry everyday of the next presidential term.  I already have a few ideas, that I'll share soon.

4. Also focusing on creativity.  I want to read wonderful books and write about fabulous things.  I've been reading a bit about writing portfolios and getting writing out there, so I think I might want to try to see where the writing takes me.

5. Travel and art and museums, oh my! I've never  been a museum girl, but I'd like to become one.  Especially in New York, with some of the biggest and beautiful museums in the world - that I've never been to.  Not a single one.  I'm looking forward to exploring this new part of the city that I've never explored.  Then, of course trying the little cafes that I've been told inhabit the museums...

Christmas on TV

I love Christmas time.  I've said this a lot this season.  I may get hectic and crazy and feel like I'm going to lose my mind for the entire month of December, but I get like that because I just love the holiday so much and want everyone else to have as special holiday as they deserve.  I've always had fabulous Christmases so wanting to make everyone else's fabulous is my own personal hurdle each year.

I love Christmas for what it stands for - hope, family, love, friends, and caring. Christmas is meant to be spent and shared with those you love and care about most in the world.  And while it shouldn't be about presents, the very act of finding something for someone special - no matter how small - is a way to show that someone you care.  I love that idea!  When else do you have an entire season devoted to showing others you love them and care about them? 

I get a little over-enthusiastic about it, I admit. But I'd rather be over-enthusiastic than completely tone-deaf.  Here's where my rant begins...

Because this is a season of giving and sharing, most ads and marketing campaigns focus on the wonder and the love that goes along with Christmas.  For instance, that gorgeous new Amazon ad I shared a few weeks back. 

But then you have Xfinity with the absolute worst Christmas ad I've ever seen, which never fails to anger me every time it pops up on screen.  Let me set the stage.  You have a adorable older couple reading presumably their grandkid's social media account which says - "Heading into the gates of hell - grandma and gramdpa's house where there's no internet or wifi.  Cut to a few days later when the jerk grandkids arrive for Christmas and Grandma and Grandpa have completely re-wired their house to make the kids happy.

How is this anything but the very definition of #FirstWorldProblems.  It's bad enough that the kids are writing these horrible things about their grandparents, but having the solution be wifi and internet instead of a good kick in the butt is a horrible message.  I'm sure there are millions of people that would like to be spending their holidays with grandparents or loved ones that may not be around anymore - me being one of them.  And would gladly do without electronics to have the chance to laugh and reminisce. I just don't understand why a company like Xfinity would choose to run such a heartless ad.

Ok, now that that's off my chest - it's been sitting comfortably there for the last month or so, ask anyone whose had the pleasure of watching tv with me - I'm free to enjoy the holiday!

Merry (almost!) Christmas!

A Short History of 2016

In honor of today, December 21 - the shortest day of the year, I present my short history of 2016.  2016 was a pretty terrible year in regards to world events.  We were forced to accept a racist old white dude to office.  Lots of amazing musicians passed away.  And there were some pretty terrible happenings in other countries as well.  But, for me, 2016 wasn't too terrible.

Though my family might disagree since they were the ones that were forced to listen to me rail against Donald Trump for the last 9 months...

It was the year of New York.  I was able to complete the foal of once a month and saw lots of shows in the process.  I was a little better at being me, instead of trying to be someone I'm not.  Though, I'm still backbone-less - I didn't say I was totally cured yet.  

In regards to food, I ate in lots of new and yummy restaurants in different cities and at home.  However, my following of recipes hasn't really gotten much better.  I mad a few delicious meals and snacks, but haven't become a culinary wonder yet.

In the crafting department, I failed miserably at Project Life and #52 Lists. But progress was made in scrapbooking and cardmaking and just a little in photography. So that's a step in the right direction - though I'm still hopeful that 2017 will be the year of the Project Life.

My family and friends are happy and healthy which is the best thing that's come out of 2016 so far.

All in all, not a banner year - no Prince Charming or fabulous new job - but pretty memorable nonetheless.

Trivia Tuesday

~ It's, for some reason, endlessly amusing for the drunk girl (i.e. NOT me) to continually turn on the seat warmer of the driver (i.e. me) that drew the short straw and is now in charge of driving her butt home - laughing like a maniac each time she did it.

~ Turns out my particular niche in trivia - the one I've been trying to find for a while now - is Christmas.  I really should have known that.  Let me tell you, there are definitely worse niches to have.

~ Snowflakes traveling at 100 mph would decrease the magic of a snow storm for kids by quite a bit.  Black eyes, carnage, the works.  That's why it's good that snowflakes only travel at 2.7 mph as opposed to the 100 mph that a certain team member wanted to go with.

~ That I've never seen Charlie Brown's Christmas is apparently scandalous.  That I had no idea what Jen was talking about when she started Mr. Heat Miser was also scandalous but not nearly as much as the missing Charlie Brown.

~ Even when the drunk girl is completely drunk, I'm not the boss of anyone. (Apparently, everyone's the boss of someone else - except me who's never the boss of anyone.) Because of this, I was forced to listen to a Driving in a Truck playlist on the way home while I was going out of my way to drive her drunk butt home...

~ 25% of people use gift cards they've been given as gifts to purchase Christmas gifts for other people.  Why have I never thought of this scheme before?  It's genius!

~ Hanukkah does not mean to light or to endure.  It means to consecrate.  I'd very much like to know why it's the festival of lights then, instead of the festival of consecration...

~ Columbus's ship, the Santa Maria sank on Christmas Day 1492, which is just too ironic for us to not have known.

~ The fact that Santa in "I saw Mommy kissing Santa Claus" is actually the kid's father, is not something that is widely known.  Wouldn't this song just be a little too adult if Dad wasn't Santa?  I mean, really?  Did people think the Jacksons were singing about an affair?  That's not the happy Christmas I think they were going for...

Surprise!

After weeks of planning and conspiring, this guy right here was finally surprised by his family and friends this evening.  I'm and pretty sure he was really surprised so that definitely makes me feel good about our idea.  

I think sometimes he gets a little jipped because his birthday is so close to Christmas, but not this year.  We pulled out all the stops and had an awesome time in the process.

I just hope he enjoyed it as much as we did, because he most definitely deserves all sorts of wonderful things!

Love you bud!

All Christmas, All the Time

This is a photographic representation of what this weekend was - All Christmas, All the time. I don't know how I do it to myself every year, but I do.  So much so that there may or may not have been a slight breakdown last night complete with tears, that may have had something to do with me wasting 4 of my 6 pounds of pecans, OR listening to the Falsettos soundtrack.  I'm not really sure which.

However, aside from the breakdown, things got done.  I finished everything on my list including a few extras that weren't actually on the list but were added because I'm literally a crazy person. Yay!  Unfortunately, there are still a few other things on the list that need to get done, but I'm feeling much better about the list than I did on Friday afternoon. Thank goodness!  

And honestly, I still LOVE Christmas! And when I see everyone on Christmas, it's pretty much worth it!

A Trivial Saturday

Remember, when I mentioned that we had made the Trivia semi-finals again?  Well, that was today.  Usually that's a happy thing - however when the morning brings ice and terrible accidents everywhere, it becomes a bit of a stressful thing.  However, after a delay of about an hour, things went on without a hitch.  

This quarter's semi's were held at Horsehoe Casino in Baltimore.  Have I mentioned how much I hate that stupid casino?  Each week at trivia where we usually play, we have a lovely waitstaff, an awesome host, fun opponents, and yummy (if not entirely healthy) food to eat.  When it's semi-final time, we get stuck at the casino where the waitstaff are quite forgetful and slow, the hosts are so slow, too many opponents to chat with, and the food is relegated to about 5 specific items (a special menu is created for the trivia people) and something I don't care about but lots of other people do - the free shots you get when you win the toss- ups are actually a dollar here at the casino.  So you see, it kinda stinks.  However, it's the semi-finals, so you just have to go!

So you might be wondering, how it all went.  Well...there was some good and some bad.  By the end of the first half, we were in second place - a vast improvement over the last time we were at the semi-finals.  We were hot and were feeling pretty good about our knowledge.  Then the second half comes and blows it all to smithereens. I suppose I should clarify.  For the most part the second half went well.  It was the last round, where the points are worth 2, 7, 12 with a 6 point bonus for getting all 3 correct.  Yep, in that round we didn't answer a single question correctly.  Not one.

So, by the very end, our second place became 9th place with only the top 5 teams going to the finals.  So sad.  But it's actually a positive.  First, the next 2 Saturdays are Christmas Eve and New Years Eve - when the heck were they even going to have the finals.  And second, each time we go we improve - that totally means we're going to make the finals next time, right?  It's either that, or this week was a Christmas miracle. I'm not really sure which...

Friday Five

I read a whole heck of a lot of books this year.  I'm not sure the exact number, but as long as I finish another 1.5 this month, I reached my goal of at least 3 a month.  But it was definitely more than that, because I believe in every month but 2 I read more than 3 books.  Books for the win!  Because there were so many, it was hard to choose just 5 but I think I have them narrowed down.  So here they are in no particular order...

"Harry Potter and the Cursed Child" by J.K. Rowling: I think this choice had everything to do with having another Harry Potter to read after all this time.  Also, trying to imagine just how they pull off some of the amazing feats of magic on a stage.  Whenever it does come here, I plan to be first in line (seeing as getting tickets for England next year has been a bit of a no go - it seems that Harry has reached Hamilton proportions in England...)

"So Many Books, So Little Time" by Sara Nelson: I just love reading about how other people choose books to read.  My process is so arbitrary.  I'm never sure what's going to appeal to me on any given day.  It seems other people have more of a process than I do and that's pretty fascinating.  Also, any book about people loving books as much as I do is always going to be up there on the list of faves.

"The Rise and Fall of a Theater Geek" by Seth Rudetsky: I love Seth and I love the way he writes.  He's so funny in interviews and his books are written in exactly the same way as he speaks.  He's great at writing the way people speak. He's not too formal or stuffy.  And like I said, he's very, very funny! I flew this one because it was so fun and such a great beach read. I can't wait to read his others!

"The Traveling Tea Shop" by Belinda Jones: This one is an English book and we all know how I feel about English books.  However, I think I liked this one so much because it's about a girl who takes a risk on a job doing something crazy and it pays off.  I mean, how much fun would it be to drive around in a traveling tea shop?  I'm already dreaming of the possibilities.

"The Little Beach Street Bakery" by Jenny Colgan: I read so many books by Jenny this year, that it was hard to choose my favorite - they're all pretty much my favorite. But this one stood out because I breezed through it in about 24 hours.  I couldn't put it down.  It's also one of the main reasons I want to visit Cornwall.  Just hearing the way she speaks about the beauty and the people totally gets me in the mood to explore all the little villages that make up this part of England.  And if I were to see lots of little puffins around, it definitely wouldn't be a bad thing...

A Rocking Christmas

For about 10 years, Trans-Siberian Orchestra has been the epitome of Christmas music for me.  Every single song they sing is amazing!  And of course, seeing them in person is just a thousand times better.  There are lazers, and lights and hair-flipping, shirts with ripped sleeves, super cool screens and awesome music.  It's basically an 80s hair band concert with a Christmas twist.  

And as odd as that sounds, it all works together!  This year was no different.  It was just so much fun.  Concerts are not really my thing - I'm more of show girl.  But in this instance, you sort of get a concert mixed with a show, which makes my ADD very happy! 

Once again, TSO has gotten me completely in the Christmas mood! And now I'm ready for all the fun that comes with it!

December NYC

I've officially made my goal of once a month for the year 2016.  In some months I even doubled the goal - like this month for instance.  I've reached the goal but there's still one more trip waiting for me after Christmas.  I gotta say - this goal was super fun to reach!  

Today's trip consisted of a trip to Bryant Park - for more Arancinis of course, and more shopping, then an Off-Broadway show (more on the wonders of Sweet Charity and the awesomeness of Sutton Foster tomorrow).  Then it was off to dinner at John's and a pop-up Hamilton! shop!  Basically any day in NYC is perfect, but add to it the Christmas magic, and the city is down right irresistible.

Thanks for another awesome day NYC and here's to an even more fabulous 2017!

Trivia Tuesday

~ In weeks that are considered off season - the questions seem to get easier and we seem to get dumber.  We literally ended the evening with 1 point...

~ Having the chance to bet all the points on the last question, instead of capping it 40 would have been a whole lot more fun if we had gotten the answer correct. Turns out 68 points disappear pretty quick...

~ Squab is pigeon meat as opposed to quail or pheasant meat.  It's lovely when you know the answer to the question immediately.  It's not so lovely when you talk yourself out of that answer, in favor of a wrong one.

~ For once the spelling question wasn't a gotcha tonight.  Turns out the word "cynicism" looks really weird spelled any other way than the correct way.

~ It's a fact that the English nerds at the table will feel far superior to everyone else when it's discovered they're the only team that knew the 2 female characters in Hamlet (Ophelia & Gertrude).  Also those very same English nerds will judge everyone else harshly for not getting that answer correct.

~ Pop-Tarts are Kellog's answer to something called Country Squares.  In a million trillion years, I would never have thought of Pop-tarts as answer to a cereal. Also, Pop-Tarts are rectangular - if Kellogs was trying to beat a product called Country Squares, don't you think the pop-tarts should have been square?

~ How, how, how was Full Metal Jacket - a movie all about soldiers in Vietnam - filmed in the UK as opposed to the other more obvious choice, the Phillipines?  I'm shocked and also annoyed because that was yet another question we got wrong.

~ From the teachers at the table - the answer to "What percentage of parents believe their child's hyperactive behavior is just a phase that they will grow out of?" is not 100%.  It's not even 50%.  48% just doesn't seem high enough for as many times as this excuse is used in schools.

~ A Shakespeare question and a Musical question in one week - jackpot!  Unfortunately, the musical they chose was Annie which is just not high up on the list of wonderful musical lists.  But it might make it up there yet since we were able to gain some points by knowing Mrs. Hanigan's name.

Cyber for a Dummy

I have to vent about something.  I work for a cybersecurity company.  I listen to lots and lots of cybersecurity stuff all day every day.  Now I have no background in it, so I'm not saying I'm an expert.  But I do work with a lot of experts that have gone to many years of school and gained many certifications that make them very, very smart in the field of Cyber.  And I'm learning so I at least have a base of knowledge in the topic.

So when Donald Trump attacks the CIA/FBI on Twitter (which is an entirely other can of worms!) by saying that it's "almost impossible to track a hack after the fact" I'm pretty offended. Being offended by this man is par for the course these days, but let's just say I'm even more disgusted than usual.  Every single cyber security expert would disagree with this ludicrous statement.  The entire field of cybersecurity exists because this is patently false.

Forensic investigators have all sorts of tools and processes for tracking a system infiltration. In fact, there's an entire Framework built around these processes.  Investigators can not only track how an attack has happened, but where it came from and who did the attacking.  It is 100% possible and it's a point that's inarguable.  

So why exactly does Donald Trump think the American people are stupid enough to not realize this?  There are a lot of tech-savvy people out there. But, I suppose we can just add it to the list of things Donald Trump thinks we might overlook.  What's even worse is that these tactics of diversion seem to be working for him. Hasn't anyone in power realized this isn't normal?

Christmas Prep

I'm feeling really good about this weekend!  I'm exhausted, but I'm feeling good.  Scrapping, Tree Trimming, Cookie Making, and wrapping! There's still so much to do, of course, but I'm choosing not to focus on that : ) 2 weeks to go - oh dear...

Christmas in St. Michaels

On Thursday I wrote about how lovely Midnight Madness is in Annapolis.  So when we traveled to St. Michaels today for their Christmas event, I was sort of expecting more of that loveliness - stores open late, Christmas lights everywhere, maybe snacks in the stores.  Not so much... Don't get me wrong, I love St. Michaels and the shops on Main Street looked beautiful all lit up.  But that was about it.  The stores all closed by 6 pm.  The restaurants that looked delicious were all booked with reservations.  And to top it all off, there wasn't a single hot chocolate or cookie being given out anywhere.

It was definitely a let down after the fun of Thursday night.  However, any Christmas activity is a fun activity, so it definitely wasn't all bad.

Friday Five: 2016 in Review

This week is all about the best of the couch potato fun of 2016.  This year wasn't the best year of television, but there were some definite standouts.

1. Speechless (Most likely to make me laugh then say aww!): I love this show so darn much. It's funny and sweet at the same time.  And it totally gets special needs right.  They don't go too overly sweet but they don't go too mean either.  They show that a life with someone with disabilities is still just a life - with some extra add-ins.  It's just so good!

2. This is Us (Most likely to make me blubber sometime in the near future): I know everyone else is talking about this show, but they're doing it for good reason.  It's absolutely the best show I've seen in a long time.  I want to be friends with every actor on the show.  They're perfectly cast and are just awesome! I usually avoid anything that might make me cry, but this one's worth it.

3. Life in Pieces (Most likely to make me laugh out loud): I used to love Modern Family, but in the last few years it's gotten just a wee bit boring.  Life in Pieces is my replacement for it. It's another show that's so well cast, that you just want to be a part of the family so you can hang out with them every week.  On top of the acting and the laughs, it's creative too.  4 little stories every week - pretty perfect when you have TV-induced ADD like I do : )

4. Grease Live! (Most likely to make me smile from ear to ear, and get all sorts of nostalgic): For someone who loves musicals, this one wasn't even on my radar.  I mean, I LOVE the original Grease and I've seen it upwards of a hundred times.  So when they decided to remake it live, I wasn't willing to watch, because there's no way it was going to be as good as the original.  Oh, how wrong I was.  Aaron Tveit as Danny was amazing and dreamy and just awesome! They were able to keep all the fun and songs of the original while adding new fun to it. I gotta say, all future live musicals will have some high hills to climb.  Of course, if they're able to bag the genius Tommy Kail for their direction, like Grease was able to, I think they'll be just fine.

5. Gilmore Girls (Most likely to make me fan-girl): I must start by saying that I haven't seen the last episode yet.  I'm saving it because there are only 4 episodes and sometimes you just have to pace the awesomeness.  I never knew exactly how much I wanted a Gilmore Girls reunion until I started watching the episodes. Oh how I missed Stars Hollow!  The problem now is that now that I've had the 4 episodes, that's not really enough.  I could really use another few seasons...

Naptown Midnight Madness

A few years ago, the city of Annapolis started Midnight Madness on the Thursdays leading up to Christmas.  As a fan of all things Annapolis, let me just tell you this may be my favorite thing the city has ever done.  All of the shops are open late, serving hot chocolate and cookies.  There are bands playing Christmas music and carolers making the rounds.  And there are Christmas lights EVERYwhere - over the streets and in the windows.  There's even a Snowflake Alley covered in snowflake lights (obviously.)

Everything is just so festive and fun.  And it's a great opportunity to get some last minute Christmas shopping in.  However, most shops are chock full of people and that's just too much pressure, so there's not much shopping done for me.  But it pretty much is the best place to get in the Christmas spirit!

Rock the Red!

Caps games are so much more fun when the tickets are completely free!  Yay for working for a company that gives you stuff!  However, I have 2 complaints.  Why in the world are ice rinks so darn cold?! : ) And seriously Caps, OT?!  Do you not know I have to go to work tomorrow morning at the crack of dawn?!

Trivia Tuesday

~ First things first, We're in first place!  Woohoo!  That means another trip to the semi-finals - and if history repeats itself, a fairly terrible showing there.

~ Turns out that following Jeffrey Dean Morgan's career because he's fairly adorable comes in handy.  That's definitely the only reason why I knew he was currently playing Negan on The Walking Dead.

~ Trying to decipher the word Myrmecology by using the word myriad as a reference is fairly useless.  However, when the team decides to go with ants for know reason whatsoever, and it's right you will instantly regret not waging all the points.  Boo!

~ Our team does not contain a single movie buff - not even a partial movie buff.  In 5 questions about movie quotes, we managed to pull one out of thin air.  That's pretty terrible.

~ In the realm of of things we know nothing about - geography, world capitals, and basketball.

~ Using Stargate as a reference for all things Egyptian Mythology, is probably not the best way to answer a question.  However, if we could have remembered the name of the really bad dude on Stargate, we would have gotten the question correct.  Turns out Apophis wasn't just a bad guy in Stargate.  He was a real god that's the un-creator in Egyptian Mythology.  Also, he's an asteroid that's going to hit us soon, so I suppose you could say he's a REALLY bad dude.

~ Cartomaniacs are map lovers.  Also, doesn't that term make map lovers sound just a bit menacing? 

~ A Daffodil is also known as a Lent Lily.  So what have I been calling Easter Lillies all these years? 

~ Turns out that there was much more to see in Brussels than just waffles and chocolate.  Apparently the NATO headquarters is there.  I'm fairly certain that didn't appear once in all my reading on what to do there...

Bedtime...

Christmas stress and a throbbing head are demanding an 8:30 bedtime this evening.  Back tomorrow with Trivia fun.  For now, my lovely warm bed is calling my name...

Break a Leg, Dear Evan Hansen!

           
"Dear Evan Hansen" is opening on Broadway tonight and I'm super jealous of all the people that are seeing it tonight.  Let me say, I know next to nothing about this show, other than it did so well Off-Broadway that it's getting the chance to open on Broadway and this beautiful, heartbreaking, uplifting song - "Waving Through a Window."  I just love it and identify with it so much.  I can only assume that lots of people feel the same way, which is why this show is doing so well.  

Everyone feels completely on the outside sometimes - or just alone in living their lives.  And that's the beauty of live theatre.  Everyone that sees it gets something different out of it, and maybe, just maybe it changes the way you think or heals some hurt you may have.  Based on the little I know about this show, I'm confident it will do this and more for thousands of people.  I'm just crossing my fingers, that I'll get my tickets before it gets to Hamilton proportions, and I'll get to have my own experience.

Break a leg, Evan Hansen!

Not so Behind Afterall

Each year, I try very very hard to be organized.  I start shopping early.  I make lists.  I craft things ahead of time And what does it get me?  A whole lotta stress and trips to the mall 2 days before Christmas.  This year was pretty much the same.  I started in the beginning of November and thought for sure I had things under control.  Until earlier this week, when I sat down and made a list and had a minor panic attack at all that still needed to happen.

However, it turns out my list making capabilities have improved.  Well, my ability to stick to the list has improved, I suppose.  Because thanks to my trusty list and a whole day of errands, I'm not as behind as my freak out led me to believe.  I'm actually pretty ahead of where I usually am.  I'm sticking to a new philosophy - buy stuff when you see it instead of thinking about it.  Chances are if you think about it, you'll still decide to buy it but then you'll need to go back to the store at a later date to purchase whatever it is.  Then they might not have it and you're back to square one.  Just buy it when you see it.  It's a great philosophy - one I highly recommend.

Yay for super productive Saturdays because, thanks to them, I can enjoy the best part of the Christmas season - everything else, outside of shopping!

Friday Five: 2016 in Review

For the next 3 Fridays, I figured I'd write about my favorites in the year 2016. Today's post is on the top 5 shows I saw this year.  2016 is what I call, the year of theatre.  I was lucky enough to see 24 shows - not all on Broadway, but all were fabulous in their own ways.  It's definitely my record for a year, and one that I loved breaking!  Here's to beating that in 2017!

5. (Most Surprising) "School Of Rock": I totally didn't expect to love this show as much as I did.  It was the cheapest show that played on a Sunday night.  We needed to see something, since we had decided to not stand in line for Shakespeare in the Park.  I had seen the movie and thought it was cutesy and didn't really deserve a whole musical - scored by Andrew Lloyd Webber no less.  What I discovered was this show was awesome! I was blown away by the kids in the cast.  All of which played their own instruments, danced and sang perfectly.  The kids and the adults all sang the heck out of the super-fun rock and roll score.  It had a great message and some fabulous music - what's there not to like? I judge a musical by whether or not the music makes it onto my iPod and "Stick it to the Man" was most definitely downloaded when I got home, so it was definitely a hit in my book!

4. (Most Bizarre) "The Robber Bridegroom": I knew absolutely nothing about this show, other than I like Steven Pasquale and I wanted to see him sing.  Also, it was Off-Broadway which was new for me too.  I came away from this show being totally perplexed by the story in general, and never having laughed so hard in a theater in my life. It was uproariously funny!  This "southern fried fairy tale" was so, so, so weird.  (Just read the IMDB on the plot - I dare you not to think "huh?")  But what made the show completely awesome, was the cast that was having so much fun, that they broke on stage 2 separate times.  The show itself is very funny, but seeing the cast unable to make it through the funny parts - even funnier!  Based on my earlier scale - 3 songs made it to the iPod so it's definitely up there on my all-time faves list!

3. (Most Able to Turn me into a Blubbering Mess) "Falsettos":  Just as I've never laughed as hard as I did at "The Robber Bridegroom," I've never cried as hard as I did at "Falsettos."  Oh my goodness did I cry.  From about right after the curtain came up for Act 2 straight on through to the bitter end, I was crying while attempting to not disturb those around me.  It was bad.  But it was also so very good!  That cast - Christian Borle, Andrew Rannells, Stephanie J. Block, Brandon Uranowitz, Anthony Rosenthal, Tracie Thoms and Betsey Wolfe - every single one of them was perfectly cast for their part.  I once again went in knowing not much - other than the inevitable was going to happen and make me cry - but I walked out just blown away by a cast that can get that emotional every night, and then smile and laugh at curtain call.  The songs were beautiful.  The relationships were beautiful. And most of all the message - family is what you make it - was beautiful and so needed!  The soundtrack isn't out yet, so I can't tell you how many songs are on my iPod, however I already have the iTunes cash earmarked for the whole kit and caboodle.

2. (Most Obvious and Groundbreaking) "Hamilton": What can I say about it that hasn't already been said?  It is as good - maybe better - than everyone says.  What I loved most about it is that it's entirely new.  From the set design, to the musical styles, to the cast and the choreography.  All of it could have been a mess, but all of it works together to create something that's just gorgeous.  Seeing it with an audience that loved it as much as I did, was so energizing.  I knew exactly what would happen at the end, and it's never made me cry before. But I think just feeling that energy from the cast and the audience, I admit to tearing up a bit and getting major goosebumps!  Number of songs on the iPod - the whole darn album!

*Bet you thought Hamilton would be number one, didn't you? : )

1. (Most Able to Make me Smile Uncontrollably) "Come From Away": Not since "Jesus Christ Superstar" opened my eyes to how amazing musical theatre is, have I been more in love with a single show.  I've been talking, googling, watching, singing, and stalking this gorgeous show since I saw it in September.  I honestly can't get enough of it and the all together lovely cast. When I first heard about the 9/11 musical - I was completely against it.  Too soon, I thought.  Then I heard the storyline - 5 days in Gander when the US airspace was closed that day - and I thought, ok that's a bit better.  Then I saw it at Ford's (another theatre first for me!) and I fell in love.  I laughed.  I smiled from ear to ear.  I got goosebumps.  I teared up.  As the kids say, I felt all the feels! It is by far, the happiest show I had ever seen.  The message of acceptance, and love and kindness needs to be repeated over and over in today's world.  And a show devoted to singing that message 8 days a week - Perfection!  

The music is sort of Celtic-rock which works perfectly for the setting of New Foundland.  It's played by an on stage band instead of an orchestra which also makes it feel more intimate and more like a bunch of people hanging out in a bar on a Friday night.  And the cast!  Each cast member plays about a dozen characters each - going in and out of different nationalities or accents constantly - and they do it perfectly.  They're all perfectly suited to their particular parts and they honestly look like they're having the best time.  I'm sure some shows like Falsettos are rough each night, but these actors get to spread the word of kindness every night and smile and laugh the entire show, and I can only imagine - based on what I've seen - they're loving it!  Almost as much as I love them!

Number of songs on the iPod - Nothing, as it hasn't even opened on Broadway yet, but just like Falsettos - the iTunes money is already earmarked.  Now if you're basing it on my YouTube browsing history - that's chock full of every single video I can find!

She Loves Me - Again...

Three times in one year is enough, I think, for a show that I'm not even all that crazy about. Though, a not amazing show is much better than a lot of things, so I suppose there's that.  What am I yammering on about?  "She Loves Me", that's what.  One of the best things about living in the 21st century is that some very smart people have realized that if you film a Broadway show, you can charge people that may not have the chance to get to NYC, to see that show in a movie theatre and make tons more money.  The smart people haven't decided yet to film ALL the shows - which is entirely depressing.  However, a select few get the special treatment.  That's where "She Loves Me" comes in.

I saw it in March actually on stage because it's the bestie's favorite actor - Zac Levi.  Then they filmed it and broadcast it on Broadway HD so that people could rent it.  Then that went over so well, they showed it in movie theaters which is where I saw it again this evening.

Don't get me wrong, it's a super cute show with a fabulous cast.  Though, my favorite part is the gorgeous set design.  It's so sparkly and shiny.  It's just that the show is sort of drawn out.  It's a simple concept - Sleepless in Seattle and You've Got Mail were both based on this show, so you get the general idea.  But then at some point it goes dark for a hot second, then it's back to light and airy.  Then in the middle, there's some random samba number that contributes nothing to the story at all.  Fun, but so confusing!

I wasn't really there to see the show however.  I wanted to be there to see how the broadcast of the show went.  I've seen many plays broadcast like this from England, but this is the first Broadway musical they've tried it out on, and I wanted to see how it went.  There were some technical difficulties caused by the particular movie theater I went to  - 30 minutes of words on the screen about trash and concessions before the action started, and the tops of peoples heads being chopped off.  But other than that, I thought it was awesome!  The camera man tried to get a little too creative with the closeups, I think.  But that was a minor quibble that apparently only bothered me.

So there you have it, an ok show shown in a brand new way.  Not a bad way to spend an evening.  Now if we could just get them to broadcast Hamilton - they'd make a FORTUNE!