Happy Monday!

As Mondays go, today wasn't nearly as bad as other Mondays have been.  Other than the fact that it's finally chilly - though that does mean I can wear my new winter coat which is fun - tiny little good things happened to turn this Monday around.  Hopefully this means that the rest of the week will be lovely as well.

First up, a review I wrote made someone actually go see a show.  Last week, I saw Poe and all the Others at Annapolis Shakespeare Company and wrote about just how wonderful it was for BroadwayWorld.  And this evening, a friend that loves Poe thanked me for my review after she had seen the fabulous show.  Yay!

Then it was the continuation of the Black and White Challenge, which my friend Jennifer won by leaps and bounds.  I assumed she wouldn't do the challenge because it's just not her thing.  She in fact did choose not to by sending the Cat shaking his head No GIF, and then took a picture of her Cruella Deville leggings, with the tag "These in black and white times 7" Ha!  She won the challenge by far!

Lastly, even though I promised not to get all political anymore, it must be said that the best thing that happened today was Paul Manafort being arrested.  One can only hope they'll be more arrests imminently and we'll finally get a Presidential President.

Happy Halloween Eve!

A Tale of Three Pictures

For the last few weeks on Facebook, there's been this photo challenge.  The challenge entails posting 7 black and white pictures of your everyday life - with no people in them - and then tagging a new friend each day to do the same.  Of course I assumed I'd eventually get tagged and because I'm a sucker, I knew I'd have to go for it.  Today, I'm 3 days in.  Now, the other part of the challenge is that you're not supposed to comment on the photos at all on Facebook.  But I love the stories behind pictures just as much as I love photos, so I'm going to tell you the tales of the first 3, even if they're not entirely exciting...

Photo 1 - Day 4 of a 4 day Adobe InDesign Class.  It was a long week, but it was also pretty great.  I learned a lot about the product, which I'm hoping will mean lots of opportunities in print and print production around the corner.  And of course, the banana is there because I love bananas and that was half of my breakfast.  : )

Photo 2 - The front page of my December Daily album this year. Yes I realize it's only October, but the only way I can stay on top of December Daily is by pre-doing a lot of the inserts.  Also, I LOVE the way it turned out.  This has been the cutest year so far for this scrapbook - even without any photos added.

Photo 3 - St. Mary's church in Annapolis MD.  Such a beautiful church inside and out.  I just couldn't resist a fun uppy shot of the steeple!

A Social Five

I spend a lot of time on social media - I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one.  The problem these days with social media is that with everything happening in the world, it's become a bit of a downer.  I get it, people need to vent.  However, what was once a place for silly cat videos and fun jokes, has become a place for hard core news.  Good for civilization, bad for a happy few minutes of wasted time.  However, there are a few accounts sill out there that never fail to make me smile.  And these are it.  So if you need a smile, I'd suggest checking these lovely, creative, fun people out.

1. Daniela Ruah (@danielaruah) on Instagram - By day she's kick-butt NCIS agent Kensi Bly on NCIS: Los Angeles, and by night she's a mom who does fun things like yoga with her kids or create dalmatian costumes for her little ones.  She seems fun, and seems like someone I'd love to have lunch with.

2. David Lebovitz (@davidlebovitz) on Instagram - David is an American pastry chef who moved to Paris to work in food journalism and writing.  He has a blog and his books on sweets and Paris are fabulous.  His Instagram account is pretty much chock full of pictures of mouth watering food, and funny things that could only happen in Paris.

3. Lin Manuel Miranda on every form of social media - Honestly, he has got to be the most positive and lovely person in the entire world.  He's creative, and funny.  He's also a humanitarian who is constantly helping.  The entire world loves Lin right now, and I pretty much agree with them.  He's definitely a light in dark times, and his musings never fail to make me smile.

4. Any Supernatural based account on Twitter - including everyone who's been on the show, specific bloggers that write about the show, and charities that the show supports.  - For such a dark and scary show, everyone in this show is positive and kind and lovely.  Lots has been written about the fandom, so it's very public that these people are amazing.  I'm just reiterating this fact.  All you need to do is search for videos on YouTube of any of the Supernatural Conventions to see exactly how much these people care about each other and their fans.  They take so much of their own time to give back, and that love is felt throughout the fandom.  They are just a group of truly amazing people - that's pretty much all there is to say.

5. Travel sites on Instagram on places that I've been (Cornwall, Edinburgh, London, Austin, New York, Savannah) or places I want to go (New Mexico, Canada, Italy) - These sites are like a virtual vacation.  They make me remember my fabulous vacations there, or add lovely sites and restaurants to the list of places I want to go.  What's a better way to get away than dreaming of warming climates and trips to far off lands? 

Something New

Tonight was the very first time I attended an event that was intended for the press.  I've been to other shows on press passes but that just required me to see a show for free.  Tonight was all about interacting socially - in person (not so good...) and online (sorta good...)  I have to say it was a blast and I can't wait to do it again!

I was asked to live tweet a new theatre announcement for a small theatre company in Baltimore City.  They were having a cocktail party, and wanted someone to be there to cover the festivities online.  We settled on Twitter to cover the event, since the people at the theatre would already be Facebook Live-ing.  I'm much more comfortable with tweeting anyway - I was terrified of the prospect of having my voice or my face on camera - even by accident.

For the most part, the live tweeting went pretty well.  If I had to grade myself, I'd give me a 6 or a 7.  I'm not fabulous, but I'm definitely not awful either.  It doesn't sound like it would be, but it's a wee bit stressful.  You need to keep track of hashtags, and handles, then you need to keep track of who's saying what and make sure you're attributing quotes to them.  Also, there's the spelling names correctly and proofreading to make sure everything is spelled correctly and is grammatically correct.  These are all of the thing I'm thinking about as I tweet so if they're not Lin Manuel Miranda-level clever, now you see why.

Anyway, the whole evening from start to finish was a blast.  I was reminded again, of just how much this theatre community rocks and just how kind and open these people are.  I hope opportunities like this keep popping up because they continue to make my heart very happy!

Friday Five

1. The rave reviews that Hello Dolly! is getting is making my wait until next month seem that much longer.  It sounds like Bette Midler and David Hyde Pierce are positively delightful - and really, was there ever any doubt?  I cannot wait to see it in all its glory!

2. This guy has some serious determination.  Andy Karl is a Maryland guy which makes me love him even more than I already did.  And his work in Groundhog day is gaining some rave reviews as well.  But when he hurt his knee 2 days before opening, everyone thought he'd never make opening night.  But somehow - knee brace, torn ACL and all - he managed to sing and dance his way to a standing ovation when the curtain came up. Love it! 

3. Saw someone post a quote on Twitter this week that perfectly sums up my very existence: "I'm sorry for the things I said when it was Winter!" : )

4. Ok, I've been holding on to this one for the last few weeks.  I'm sure everyone's seen it by now, but at the time it premiered, I may have gushed just a little too much and thought that blogging about it would be overkill.  Andrew Rannells singing Smash on Girls.  Seriously. The song is fabulous.  However, what I loved about this episode was the 10 minutes after this when he had to prove that he could not only dance (he can) but dance with basketballs (he can't).  I've honestly never laughed so hard at 3 minutes of television in my life, but I can't seem to find it anywhere online.  So if you have HBO, do yourself a favor and watch it (Excuse the language though, it is HBO not CBS...).  If not, this 40 second snippet of his beautiful voice will just have to tide you over.

5. I sort of love having the chance to learn way cool things about Social Media.  There's something in the works that's pushed me to learn, and I've been having a lot of fun with it.  Don't get me wrong, I'm not Lin Manuel Miranda yet but I'm at least getting a wee bit better!

Social Caterpillar

I just spent a good portion of my evening setting up a portfolio for myself online.  In this portfolio I added a few of my favorite articles that I've written.  I also retyped a few things so that I could create PDFs to add to the site - however, I can't seem to find a font pairing that I like so they haven't been uploaded yet. (I spent entirely too much time looking at fonts on Pinterest...)  I've also linked it to my Twitter account so that anyone who visits it can see my Twitter.  I also took the time to change my photo on my Twitter and Instagram accounts so that they all match and look the same.  I also spent a good deal of time trying to decide on a Biography that I could use for my portfolio, Twitter and Instagram so that they would all look and feel cohesive.  This is how I spent my evening.  But in the words of my friend Kevin - I have questions.

Do I now have to be clever on all of these platforms every day?  Must I write long in depth articles on theater or books or travel then figure out a way to make them sound clever in 140 characters or less than add a photo to Instagram that instantly tells my followers exactly what the article is about?  Must I share all of my daily musings on these 3 platforms while also telling close family and friends on Facebook?  And most importantly, how am I supposed to find time to do anything at all exciting to write about if I'm spending my entire day updating various social media platforms?

These are the ideas that keep me up at night and that keep me from sounding the least bit clever on social media.  I try, I really do, but I've decided I'm much more interesting in more than 140 characters....

52 Lists: Week 10

While compiling the list of the sites I visit EVERY day, I've learned 2 things.  One, I'm quite predictable in my site visiting as well as the order in which I visit them.  And two, the sites I visit are ridiculous.  No deep thoughts there...

There's the serious addiction to Social Media.  To be fair, I hardly ever post, but I do love looking at everyone else's posts. I'm quite partial to Twitter and Pinterest...

Then there's the requisite email check - usually full of stores wanting me to buy things.

Then I head over to Feedly Reader to read up on all the blogs that were post over night.  I have mostly crafting, food and entertainment blogs. I usually gravitate to articles posted by BuzzFeed, Studio Calico and TV Line. 

                                                                                                           

Then I actually start reading intelligent articles.  I like to check the news overnight and since the NY Times and the Baltimore Sun require you to actually pay for a subscription, I tend to go to the Huffington Post for the big headlines - the big headlines that is, that I didn't see already on Twitter.

Lastly, if I find something fabulous on Twitter, I head over to Broadway.com, NY Times Arts section, NY Times Travel section and Serious Eats.

Oh and last, but not least, it's most definitely a trip to YouTube - usually while I'm reading to listen to a loop of about 20 music videos that are my faves.  It's a pretty great playlist - wish there was a way to get it on my iPod!

 Like I said, there's not a lot of big thoughts happening on my daily internet searches.  However, there doesn't seem to be a lot of big thoughts happening in the hard news these days, so why not enjoy myself? 

The Awesomeness of Strangers

I went on and on about my love for Twitter last week and to be honest, the reasoning was pretty simplistic.  Basically I love reading funny things, is what it boils down to.  However, this weekend, I got to see the real power behind it.  And honestly?  It's awesome! Sometimes, complete strangers can be even more amazing than you give them credit for.  

So, what happened you might be asking?  Somewhere around Friday evening, this was posted: 

Jared Padalecki is one of the stars of Supernatural and he was supposed to be attending a convention in Rome all weekend, after attending one in England the previous weekend.  As fans who had spent a great deal of money to see him at that particular convention, you may expect a bit of annoyance or outrage.  You'd expect those fans to be angry and demand their money back.  

And since you're not heartless, you may be a bit worried about what was going on in his life. You wouldn't actually expect what did happen.  And that's the remarkable part.  

To understand why his update was so disconcerting, you'd have to know a bit about him. He recently shared with the press and fans, his own struggle with depression.  He wasn't asking for pity, he was using that as a stepping stone to start a huge movement "#AlwaysKeepFighting." Using that slogan and his (and Jensen Ackles') notoriety, they were able to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for depression and suicide prevention charities.  He's used it has his personal motto and has been collecting stories from fans about how they've always kept fighting and how the show and the cast have helped them in times of need (which is in it of itself, pretty amazing).  He's also one of the kindest human beings on the planet (based on accounts from pretty much everyone he's ever met.) 

That brings us to Saturday.  By Saturday afternoon, the entire cast of Supernatural (pretty much anyone who has ever been or who is currently on the show) had sent messages of care and concern via Twitter (even other actors from other shows that had heard about him being down).  They sent their love, and understanding in the most heartfelt ways.  They were even sure to address it at the convention and share how much he meant to them and how much the fan's caring about him meant to them.

           

But then, so did, basically the entire fandom. 

Pretty much, every one of his fans shared messages of care and concern.  They sent photos to him to cheer him up.  They sent notes saying how much he had helped them.  They sent stress relievers that have helped them in the past.  They sent videos of love and understanding.  They created projects on line to send him care packages and cards.  And most amazing of all, not one message I saw was scolding him for leaving the convention goers high and dry.  Not one person complained that "exhaustion" wasn't a good excuse. Everything I read was all love and all amazing!  And everything was tagged with his personal mantra - #AlwaysKeepFighting.

If you don't believe me, check out the #AlwaysKeepFighting hashtag on Twitter.  There are updates being added by the second.

I'm not sure if he's seen it all yet, but I'd like to think he has and these messages of hope and care, from complete strangers will help him deal with whatever it is he's dealing with. Because he deserves all the love he's receiving and I think he'll be ok. He's got a heck of a support system behind him. 

In a world, where you hear an awful lot about cyber bullying attacks, how can you not resist a story on a cyber love attack? : )

Love!

I'm sort of kind of in love.  I wouldn't say obsessed, but I'm most definitely a HUGE fan. This new fascination takes up way too much of my time.  I have it up on my computer all day long and if I'm not in front of my computer, it's up on my phone.  I quote it.  I reference it.  I even blog about it, apparently.

Twitter.  Why are you so addictive?

I'm usually slow on the uptake.  I take a long time to come around to things.  Facebook was out for years before I begrudgingly joined.  I was forced into Pinterest.  And Twitter was just another on the long list of un-needed social networks that I was convinced would die a quick death.  Also, who wants to follow what everyone is doing every second of every day?

I do, apparently.

On paper, it does sound ridiculous, doesn't it?  140 characters to tell people how you're feeling at this particular moment.  Anyone can join and you don't have to give someone access to your account - the entire world can see it if they want to.  Dangerous, to say the least.  And there are some seriously crazy people on Twitter that exploit this fact to no end.

But there are some super clever people too.  They are the reason I love it so much.

I'm one of those very picky Twitter-ers (still haven't gotten the lingo down).  I only follow very specific people or organizations.  I have to know the people - more specifically, I have to want to know the people I'm following. In other words, half of Hollywood and Geekdom - in my fantasy life, we're all besties!

I also don't tweet - like at all.  My last witty retort was a glowing review of Amy Poehler's book -  last month.  And yet I still have followers.  Why?  I'm super curious about this.  I'm a nobody.  I don't even RT things - I favorite things.  I feel it's the lowest fault of all the things you can do on Twitter.  If you favorite something that's also been favorited by like 3000 other people - there's no drawing attention to yourself.  (I said I loved Twitter, I didn't say I trusted it...)  No one cares that I had a great doughnut in Austin or read a great book, not even my friends half the time, so then why would someone follow me?  Or most importantly, how did they know to follow me?  I'm a little in the dark about the whole process...

But that doesn't stop me from doing the same each day.  What's most ridiculous, if you look at at my profile, is the range of people I follow.  There's no rhyme or reason to it.  (Ok there's a little rhyme or reason, like the cast of an entire show) but mostly it's a hodge podge of crazy characters that I know entirely too much about.  For instance, I follow:

BBC News: I receive 99.9% of my news from the BBC.  It's the only news station I follow.  I was way more in the know about the Scottish Referendum and the Parliamentary Election than I was for the 2012 Presidential Election.

Travel Sites: I'm especially fond of Airfare Watchdog and Budget Traveller.  Great information that totally fuels my Wanderlust.

Travel specific Sites: Just as I know a little too much British news, I also know a little too much of what's going on in Austin Texas, and London England.  I don't follow a single Maryland travel site, but I know exactly what's happening at all hours of the day in Austin and London.

Supernatural Cast: The cast is HUGE and I follow all of them - even the writers, producers and other Fangirls.  It's so weird but I swear to god, every single one of them is clever, witty and all out hilarious.

Food: Lots of Chefs & Food Writers including Bourdain, Bayless, CharmCityCook (Fun fact: I saw her at a food event last month and only recognized her because of her Twitter profile picture!), Ripert, Blais, Reichl, Collicchio, as well as restaurants (some in Maryland, some not so much...)

Randomness: Jenny Colgan (the writer of my favorite set of Brit books), Doctor Who Online, The Geekiary, Etsy, GISHWHES, Random Acts, the National Theatre (in England!), Ellen Degeneres, Michael's (as in the craft store), and about 100 other various actors, charities, and writers. 

Like I said, it's a mixed bag.  But you know what?  At least one of them makes me smile or laugh out loud every morning, which is what I'm assuming Mr. Twitter (I'm guessing this isn't the CEO's real name...) had in mind when he came up with this ridiculous idea in the first place.  Thank goodness for that, because honestly, I'm not sure what I'd do all day without it (which isn't as sad as it sounds, I promise : )

#NotaDirtyWord

I follow an actress on Twitter, Kim Rhodes, mostly because she was on Supernatural, but that's beside the point. She's also kinda awesome.  She's a mom of a little girl with autism, and she does all sorts of advocacy for the cause.  She also dyed her brunette hair lavender and blue.  Not that I would go that far, but you have to appreciate the guts.  She's also a feminist and is all about girl power.  

That's not really me.  But lately, I'm finding I'm siding with her on lots of what she has to say.  Most specifically today.  She started a hashtag (I can't believe I'm speaking in Social Media words - sorry for being that girl!) for her followers today: #NotaDirtyWord.  Her's was #Unladylike.  It sort of makes sense for her.  But then she asked what everyone else's was and some awesome photos came pouring in.  It was all a bunch of girls standing behind who they were and owning up to it.  How awesome is that!?

I, on the other hand, have finding it difficult to settle on one word.  #Emotional was one I saw a lot of, and I'm definitely that.  But I'm also Geeky, Nerdy and Quiet.  I'm also not ashamed of those.  I stand behind them.  So, for now, I think I'm focusing on:

#Different

I have weird interests that range from scrapbooking to sci-fi, baking and eating to British television.  I'm quiet and keep a lot in, but I'm also incredibly sarcastic.  I love to read and I fall in love with characters I've never met.  I'm crafty, and get bored easily. I'm restless and love seeing the world.  I have strong opinions about social justice issues.  I just don't understand people who hurt others for fun.  I want to do something to change the world, but I have no idea what that is.  That's who I am and that's most definitely #NotaDirtyWord!