After Christmas Post

Its 11:11. I don't actually ever post this late at night because usually i like to be in bed by now. Right now i wish i was, because Mr. Freckles is standing beside me eating an apple and chomping with his mouth open. Mostly just to irritate me.

I haven't made a comprehensive post in quite a while, but life has been going swimmingly. Today was a trying day, of work and cleaning and packing for work and trying to learn lines. Surprisingly despite trying to cram and cram lines into my brain, i am not feeling over taxed by Shakespeare. Just the rest of life.

Christmas was delightfully split between my parents and his and was a strange sort of chaos. My last day o work was Christmas Eve, MISTAKE! Not because of traffic, that was no problem, but because i came into the holiday a bit of a mess with unwrapped presents etc. etc. But my last day of work was wonderful, seeing my co-workers before i left really made me feel good. I will miss them. As i was saying goodbye, one of my regulars actually recited me a poem. He was a teacher.

It is remarkable to me how many kind people i met in such a busy place.

Other than Christmas itself, which was filled with baking and cooking (other people's not mine), Mr. F and I went to see Avatar. Which i thought was a GREAT movie. Mr. F was saying when we left that it was really well imagined. I thought that was a fitting description. The movie landscape was really beautiful. Now if only someone would explain whether this movie has anything to do with the Avatar TV series, i will be clear. Though i had wanted to see this movie, it was a dinner conversation with a friend that really set me off.

Two of my good friends and I went on a food experience down at the Staunton Grocery. http://www.stauntongrocery.com/

Sundays are my favorite day to go to the Grocery because they have a 30.00 (or so) set menu. Its a three course meal and for a marginal extra fee you can wine pairings with every course and bread in between. (no charge for the bread of course)

My meal consisted of the following:

Chilled Mussels and Sweet Shrimp on a bed of salad greens

Roasted Lamb and seasonal veggies (OMG....SOOO good and savory. The seasoning on this dish in particular was amazing)

Local Apple Cobbler (astoundingly fresh)

Of course, as is customary my friends and I all sort of sampled around, Milk-fed Chicken and Apple Soup and Sea Bass. I was quite proud of myself because i actually resisted ordering the Bass. I have serious affinity for fish, and if i'm not careful will order it over and over again. Sometimes its a chore to experiment.

Otherwise, i have been working on Shakespeare, both preparing for auditions for my production of Richard II, and learning lines for Hamlet and Taming of the Shrew. Additionally projects in the Publicity department have erupted! Below is my New Years message to all our patrons and fans. It'll come out in a newsletter tomorrow or the day after i suspect. Also i've been working on our poster. A friend/colleague and former camper of mine created some beautiful images for Much Ado and i've been piddling with them, placing text etc. etc. More of those forthcoming.

Hope everyone's holiday was great.

Ta

Merry Christmas All

Merry Christmas from me to you!

I hope that all of your holidays were as good, as white and as full of love and community as mine was.

Hectic Hectic

So much is going on that i have little brain space for blogging these days.

But. I had a very special moment today. Two...actually.

Starbux has started carrying french macaroons. They are beautiful in hues of yellow, and pink and cream and pale green. In the grey doldrums of the winter months i am fascinated by things that taste and are physically colorful. So Macaroons are so exciting! And small and yummy.

This image was provided by ifood.tv http://www.ifood.tv/blog/french-macaroons-at-starbucks

My second wonderful experience was eating at Cassatt's down the mall from the caffeine shop. My grandmother is German and as a child we had lots of great ethnic cuisine. One of the special soups today was cabbage and bacon and the consistency and taste was a combination of two of my favorite things: german cabbage and the pork that cooks in the sauerkraut. It was really divine and took me back to my home kitchen eating with my family.

Home for the pre-holidays

Ran home briefly this weekend. As always it was great to see Mr. Freckles' parents and my own.

The highlight of my weekend was definitely going to Charlottesville to go see The Performers Exchange Project's new play at Live Arts: Our American Ann Sisters.

http://www.performers-exchange.org/

D*mn that was a big pic. If you happen to be in town check it out i believe the show runs through the 19th. Its a great show with some really touching (not in the stupid way) things to say about being a lady. Also, the physical specificity of the performers was amazing. That was a horrible summation. Check out the website. I was really excited to see the shows since two mentors of mine took part in the performance and formation of the piece. It is my hope to one day do self created work. Right now i am boggled by learning lines for Hamlet and Shrew and preparing for auditions for Empty Chair's Richard II.

Auditions this Sunday. Check it out: http://emptychairtheatre.org/

NY for the weekend

Oh my gosh. What a great weekend.

For only the second time in my life i made the 4.5-ish hour bus trek up to NY city. My god. It was a magical weekend of catching up and shopping and traipsing around in freezing rain. My friends are all of the opinion that NY has MUCH more personality than DC. I tend to agree. It reminds me of London a great deal. And that is a city of personality i think. London is my own little Shangri-La. My GOD i can't wait to go back. I am once again reminded that i just need to live in a city. That much walking around was exhausting in a totally rewarding way.

I stayed in Spanish Harlem with some good friends who have a super cute apartment right beside a gospel church complete with Neon cross. AWESOME. My friend Katie and i were going up to see a show that KCST, Columbia U's Shakespeare Troupe was putting up. Good show! I feel like every time i see a show i just want to get my hands on it in some way. Direct it or be in it or something. This Othello definitely inspired me.

So overall it was a wonderful weekend of catching up with dear friends, ( i got to see my best friend who is currently dancing in a show about Human Rights...Step Up SADE !!! ) and eating good food (Alice's Tea cup was the bomb) and running around NY. I got a hot pair of boots at Bloomingdales (on sale).

I really value these sorts of experiences because they remind me that i am capable of navigating my way around large city's and being a little independent. Now i'm back to work, i close the store every day this week. Which is nice, since it means i can sleep in a bit.

Empty Chair Theatre Company, of which i am the PR gal, is having an inaugural winter season show in January and i'm sort of coordinating the creation of publicity for the shows and the company. I can barely believe its December, i'm cracking down on my work. Thats for sure.

Avett Brothers and Roads

Its after Thanksgiving and all around Arlington Christmas lights are popping up, and my coffee establishment has begun to to blare the carols. I think Jingle Bell Rock was as much as i could take today. Really though, the impending holidays hadn't sunk in until, driving out of Arlington to see Mr. Freckles i noticed the bare trees around ballston gleaming white lights. It was misting rain and the little webs reflected on the wet street. I felt very grown up for a second. What with living in a city, having a menial job and commuting to see a long term significant other. It was kind of romantic.

Then i hit the 66 traffic that was going 20 miles slower than usual because of said rain. Poof. Gone romance.

I am super excited that i have successfully finished three series of cards. Usually when i'm collaging, i'm working with canvases larger than 5x7. But i've really wanted to try to do some collaging on a smaller scale. These little greeting cards have been really fun. As soon as i get the photos off of the camera i'll post them.

Now back to the roads. The great thing that this commute (to Leesburg to visit Mr. Freckles) affords me is the time to think and listen to great music. I mentioned the Avett Brothers a few posts ago and i wanted to elaborate on why i love them and how they came into my life.

A friend of mine was in love with them a few years ago. At this time i professed to dislike all kinds of country music and called them the Aphid brothers. Like the bug. (A huge misunderstanding) The North Carolinian band went unnoticed on my radar until, while on tour i heard a fantastic song called I killed Sally's Lover . Its about as twangy and hillbilly as they get and riding in NC Shakes' touring van, i fell i love.

Interestingly enough, what interested my original friend the most in the Avett Bros. was their lyrics. This is what captivates me too, and i was so surprised to find the voice of my youth and most especially my 20's in the genre of country/bluegrass music. Especially songs that originated from young men. I can definitely chart the changes and upheavals of my life through their music.

Here are a few albums that really

Last year while Touring - Emotionalism

Last spring was both really difficult for me as well as a huge reprieve. I was fortunate enough to get the acting job and take my last semester of school off. It was a blessed escape from a school that no longer seemed like a home to me. It was a real growing up semester. Learned a lot. This album, though i don't know for sure, seems to be a growing up and touring album for the band too.

Last year graduation and back home working - Mignionette

Amusingly enough i didn't like this album that much at first, but after a stellar summer of Shakespeare ( and more growth ), i came back to it and really loved it. So much about love, and commitment and Nothing Short of Thankful is very near and dear to my heart as my way of life.

Right now, Arlington, and the future - I and Love and You

Again, and album i didn't like at first. One of the things i love most about the band is their fun countrified roots. This is a drastic departure toward a more refined and orchestrated sound, which was terrifying at first. But again, lyrics win out. Having just signed another touring contract and considering what that sort of commitment will mean for those important in my life, this album really is resonating with me right now. There are so many changes happening in my life and i feel as they say in The Perfect Space : "I want to have friends, that i can trust, that love me for the man i've become not the man that i was."