Seriously, and I feel really bad for her because she clearly loves the ring. I looked all over the place for her and I even emptied out the garbage cans in the ladies restroom in the hope that maybe it slipped off while she was drying her hands. No luck. It was only as I was emailing the Box Office Manager with a description of the ring and the patron's phone number that I was suddenly hit with the irony. The show we're doing is a spoof of Wagner's ring cycle, and our tabloid style ad campaign has the tag "Maniacal Dwarf Steals Magic Texas Ring of Gold."
Heavens. I only hope it wasn't the maniacal dwarf who stole her ring. 'Cause that little bastard's fast.
Thursday, June 28, 2007
My Mom Is Better Than Your Mom (not really-it was just a good title)
...but she is really interesting.
I was talking with a few co-workers today about our respective moms. The mother/daughter relationship is a complex thing fraught with insecurities and aggravation. For some, there's that constant feeling that we aren't measuring up--that somehow we've disappointed mom with our life choices and she loves us even as she wears that expression. You know the one--the I-really-do-love-you-even-though-you-sort-of-fall-short expression. As I was listening to their stories about their moms, I couldn't help thinking how lucky I am.
My mom isn't like a lot of moms. She never really fussed over what I wore or whether I matched. She was always a big believer in people learning from their mistakes. She'd see me about to really mess something up and, provided it wasn't a life-threatening something, she'd let me mess it up royally. Then she'd help me figure out how to fix it. She did worry a lot if she didn't know where I was-a side effect of a career as a CSU certified latent finger print examiner. My mom was CSI way before it was cool. She likes to cook, but she's not any damn good at it. She'd rather read a book than go shopping at the mall. Her idea of mother/daughter bonding almost always involves learning something new and never once involved nail polish or hair grooming. Her fashion sense blows, and by that I mean she has an entire closet full of double knit polyester. And she feels just fine about that, thank you very much. She can talk eloquently about everything from gardening to Shakespearean theatre to the X-Files. She lacks, what am I looking for? Tact. She has little to no social graces. She feels just fine about that too.
She didn't grow up rich, and still isn't. She grew up dirt poor in a small house in East Texas with way too many brothers and one sister. But her upbringing has always seemed almost incidental. It shaped her but it didn't define her.
She has--
* been a journalist in Atlanta, GA. She had city beat and was so enthralled by what she was writing about that she decided to become a police officer.
* been a police officer, or more precisely a certified latent fingerprint examiner. She was the first female to hold that job in the state of Georgia and one of the first female officers in that state.
* battled sexism as an officer, ultimately earning the respect of her male counterparts by sheer brains and guts.
* been a teacher. She taught high school English for a little while, till she decided she wanted more.
* put herself through graduate school, ultimately earning a PhD in Creative Writing.
* been a professor of English.
* been a published author of over 15 police procedural mystery novels.
* established her own e-publishing company.
In short my mom never let being a woman or coming from an impovershed background prevent her from doing anything she set her mind to. She tried as hard as she could to pass that message along to each of her kids. She knows that we always have potential to do more no matter how old we are, and while aware of limitations, she looks at them as obstacles that can be surmounted instead of reasons why not.
She is coming to visit in August because she wants to see Chaucerian Girl and me in our show. She's managed to finagle a trip to San Antonio out of the whole deal because she wants to do some research on a new book she's writing. But mostly she wants to see Chaucerian Girl on stage for the first time. She wants to see us both perform words we've written. She wants to fall into that world for a little while and talk to her daughters about the things that matter to them. That's just one of a gazillion things I love about my mother. There are no illusions here--she's not that beautiful and gracefully aging ideal of motherhood. She looks her age and then some. Her hair is white. She walks with a cane. She won't tweeze her damn eyebrows. But I still think she's the most beautiful and perfect mother I could ever ask for.
So, yeah. My mom rules.
I was talking with a few co-workers today about our respective moms. The mother/daughter relationship is a complex thing fraught with insecurities and aggravation. For some, there's that constant feeling that we aren't measuring up--that somehow we've disappointed mom with our life choices and she loves us even as she wears that expression. You know the one--the I-really-do-love-you-even-though-you-sort-of-fall-short expression. As I was listening to their stories about their moms, I couldn't help thinking how lucky I am.
My mom isn't like a lot of moms. She never really fussed over what I wore or whether I matched. She was always a big believer in people learning from their mistakes. She'd see me about to really mess something up and, provided it wasn't a life-threatening something, she'd let me mess it up royally. Then she'd help me figure out how to fix it. She did worry a lot if she didn't know where I was-a side effect of a career as a CSU certified latent finger print examiner. My mom was CSI way before it was cool. She likes to cook, but she's not any damn good at it. She'd rather read a book than go shopping at the mall. Her idea of mother/daughter bonding almost always involves learning something new and never once involved nail polish or hair grooming. Her fashion sense blows, and by that I mean she has an entire closet full of double knit polyester. And she feels just fine about that, thank you very much. She can talk eloquently about everything from gardening to Shakespearean theatre to the X-Files. She lacks, what am I looking for? Tact. She has little to no social graces. She feels just fine about that too.
She didn't grow up rich, and still isn't. She grew up dirt poor in a small house in East Texas with way too many brothers and one sister. But her upbringing has always seemed almost incidental. It shaped her but it didn't define her.
She has--
* been a journalist in Atlanta, GA. She had city beat and was so enthralled by what she was writing about that she decided to become a police officer.
* been a police officer, or more precisely a certified latent fingerprint examiner. She was the first female to hold that job in the state of Georgia and one of the first female officers in that state.
* battled sexism as an officer, ultimately earning the respect of her male counterparts by sheer brains and guts.
* been a teacher. She taught high school English for a little while, till she decided she wanted more.
* put herself through graduate school, ultimately earning a PhD in Creative Writing.
* been a professor of English.
* been a published author of over 15 police procedural mystery novels.
* established her own e-publishing company.
In short my mom never let being a woman or coming from an impovershed background prevent her from doing anything she set her mind to. She tried as hard as she could to pass that message along to each of her kids. She knows that we always have potential to do more no matter how old we are, and while aware of limitations, she looks at them as obstacles that can be surmounted instead of reasons why not.
She is coming to visit in August because she wants to see Chaucerian Girl and me in our show. She's managed to finagle a trip to San Antonio out of the whole deal because she wants to do some research on a new book she's writing. But mostly she wants to see Chaucerian Girl on stage for the first time. She wants to see us both perform words we've written. She wants to fall into that world for a little while and talk to her daughters about the things that matter to them. That's just one of a gazillion things I love about my mother. There are no illusions here--she's not that beautiful and gracefully aging ideal of motherhood. She looks her age and then some. Her hair is white. She walks with a cane. She won't tweeze her damn eyebrows. But I still think she's the most beautiful and perfect mother I could ever ask for.
So, yeah. My mom rules.
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Clearly Dweebiness Runs In Our Family
Harry Potter Meme I stole from Chaucerian Girl:
1. Butterbeer or pumpkin juice?
If it tastes anything like what we tried to make when we had the Half Blood Prince reading party, butterbeer is definitely out.
2. What House would you most likely (or want to) be in in Hogwarts?
I would either be in Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff.
3. If you were an animagus, what animal would you turn into?
A yellow lab.
4. What character do you empathize with, or resemble best?
Which HP Kid Are You?
5. What position do you play at Quidditch?
I play the person sitting in the crowd watching the game with a Gryffindor lion on my head.
6. Which teacher is your favorite?
Gonna have to go with Flitwick. Actually, in the quiz above, I was disappointed because "Charms" wasn't an option for favorite class.
7. Any Harry Potter 7 predictions?
To (sort of, we totally disagree on Snape) quote Chaucerian Girl. Only about a hundred, all of which are subject to change at a moment’s whim. Right now: Snape’s eeevil. Harry will live. Voldemort will die. Snape will probably die. If Neville dies (which he dang well better not), he will take Bellatrix with him. Harry & Ron will be in-laws, and there will be lots of fat babies in the future.
1. Butterbeer or pumpkin juice?
If it tastes anything like what we tried to make when we had the Half Blood Prince reading party, butterbeer is definitely out.
2. What House would you most likely (or want to) be in in Hogwarts?
I would either be in Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff.
3. If you were an animagus, what animal would you turn into?
A yellow lab.
4. What character do you empathize with, or resemble best?
Which HP Kid Are You?
5. What position do you play at Quidditch?
I play the person sitting in the crowd watching the game with a Gryffindor lion on my head.
6. Which teacher is your favorite?
Gonna have to go with Flitwick. Actually, in the quiz above, I was disappointed because "Charms" wasn't an option for favorite class.
7. Any Harry Potter 7 predictions?
To (sort of, we totally disagree on Snape) quote Chaucerian Girl. Only about a hundred, all of which are subject to change at a moment’s whim. Right now: Snape’s eeevil. Harry will live. Voldemort will die. Snape will probably die. If Neville dies (which he dang well better not), he will take Bellatrix with him. Harry & Ron will be in-laws, and there will be lots of fat babies in the future.
Monday, June 25, 2007
Can't Stop the Serenity or Izzybella's First Ever Fan Event Frakkin' Ruled
So Saturday night was Can't Stop the Serenity night for North Texas. I went with Chaucerian Girl, Jehara, V and her husband, C. It was so awesome that there just isn't a word awesome enough to describe it. Except for awesome. Which is slightly overused, but if I imagine Neil Patrick Harris saying it, along with a hypothetical high-five, I get all giddy with happiness.
I'm so weird.
Anyway, we got there around 6:30, picked up our tickets and then meandered over to Borders where Jane Espenson was holding a Q&A. We couldn't hear very well, though, so since CG needed food, we headed over to McAllister's where she ate, and J and I had really good sweet tea. It was so fun--we talked for about two hours about Harry Potter theories. It was really fun geeking out like that. About 8:00 we headed back over to the theatre to get in line. And I'm really glad we did because we got there early enough that it enabled us to get really good seats. We were in line for about two hours and we talked Firefly, Buffy, Angel, Equality Now and Juarez. (happy side note--J wore one of our Juarez shirts to the show and when she went to the bathroom, someone asked her about it. J didn't have a program card on her, but she told her all about the show and how it benefits the families of the women killed in Juarez. The girl was really excited about it and she took a photo of the front and back of J's shirt. Hopefully she'll be at the show in July. The more people who come, the more likely we'll be able to raise the money they need. So exciting!!!)
Finally, they let us into the theatre and it was a good thing too, because I was really hungry. Very nice theatre, too, with a great big movie screen the perfect size for showing a BDM. They started with the Cedric from Bedlam Bards (I think?) I'd never heard of him before, but he's really talented and the Firefly-themed songs he sang were terrific. I liked the Joss-focused one. Because I have a really geeky fangirl crush on Joss. 'Cause he's real smart and talented and adorable and could I love the man any more after watching the speech he gave for Equality Now? I think not. Anyway, after Cedric, Jane Espenson came onstage for another Q&A. I sound so gushy and I'm really sorry, but she's so marvelously witty and humble and down-to-earth. They showed some clips from Shindig and a few Buffy episodes that were credited to her, only it turned out later, as she told us, that except for the Shindig episode, every single clip that played was actually written by Joss. She was a really good sport about it. I also liked the answer she gave to the question, "Would you ever consider doing a screenplay for a movie?" She said, and I'm not using quotation marks because I'm totally paraphrasing here, that she wouldn't because television affords the opportunity for her to go into much greater depth. She likened movies to a short story and television to a novel. Both are great story-telling mediums, but a novel allows you to spend more time with a character and, as a writer, she finds that incredibly rewarding. Someone also questioned her about whether she'd consider doing a radio-type show. There was a bit of debate about that because she felt like radio theatre was pretty much dead, but then this one guy raised his hand and said he was a truck driver and there was more call for something like that than she might realize. And then Jane was like "Really??" and then she made this hmmm..something to think about face. It was funny. Honestly, I enjoyed that part so much that I would have paid just to see her, but I got to see a BDM TOO. These Can't Stop the Serenity people just rule.
Next was the door prizes and raffle. I won nothing and neither did anyone else in my group, but J did score one of those cute little Chinese boxes containing many fun stickers and magnets. She gave me an I'll Be In My Bunk magnet. Which is funny except the magnet also has a knife on it, which seems very phallic and odd. Then they auctioned off the BDB (big damn bag). There were so many wonderful things in that bag and J and I both really wanted it, but alas, we are poor. This girl behind us got into a bidding war for the bag and J and I found ourselves really rooting for her to win it. We even scraped up $25 between us and passed it to her and I think someone in her group ponied up $100. She wound up winning the bag for something like $1100. I was really happy she got it and she even gave J and I an autographed CD, which we gave to CG because J knew CG would appreciate it more. It was so fun. I know I'm overusing that word right now, but J and I really enjoyed rooting for her to win.
And then the movie. Love the movie. I've seen it a zillion times and so has everyone who was with me, but that didn't stop CG from crying when a VERY bad thing happened to a certain beloved character, nor did it stop J and I from biting our nails during the big fight scene. And it was so cool watching it with an entire audience filled with BDFs (big dorky fans) like ourselves. The audience would applaud during certain scenes and laugh at others and you just know everything was a little funnier and a little sadder because we were all together. This was my first fan-type outing and I would totally do it again.
Oh, and costumes!!! There was a Wash and a Zoe who came together and they looked so great. And there was an Inara and a cute little Kaylee and more than one guy wearing a brown coat (in our really HOT Texas summer--very dedicated fan there). I'm not a go in costume person myself, but I was really impressed by the care they put into their costumes. These are the coolest people in the world.
Definitely will be doing this next year!!
I could enthuse more, but the real world (e.g. my job) would like me to return to it.
(is it me or does this read like a what I did over the weekend essay for high school English???)
I'm so weird.
Anyway, we got there around 6:30, picked up our tickets and then meandered over to Borders where Jane Espenson was holding a Q&A. We couldn't hear very well, though, so since CG needed food, we headed over to McAllister's where she ate, and J and I had really good sweet tea. It was so fun--we talked for about two hours about Harry Potter theories. It was really fun geeking out like that. About 8:00 we headed back over to the theatre to get in line. And I'm really glad we did because we got there early enough that it enabled us to get really good seats. We were in line for about two hours and we talked Firefly, Buffy, Angel, Equality Now and Juarez. (happy side note--J wore one of our Juarez shirts to the show and when she went to the bathroom, someone asked her about it. J didn't have a program card on her, but she told her all about the show and how it benefits the families of the women killed in Juarez. The girl was really excited about it and she took a photo of the front and back of J's shirt. Hopefully she'll be at the show in July. The more people who come, the more likely we'll be able to raise the money they need. So exciting!!!)
Finally, they let us into the theatre and it was a good thing too, because I was really hungry. Very nice theatre, too, with a great big movie screen the perfect size for showing a BDM. They started with the Cedric from Bedlam Bards (I think?) I'd never heard of him before, but he's really talented and the Firefly-themed songs he sang were terrific. I liked the Joss-focused one. Because I have a really geeky fangirl crush on Joss. 'Cause he's real smart and talented and adorable and could I love the man any more after watching the speech he gave for Equality Now? I think not. Anyway, after Cedric, Jane Espenson came onstage for another Q&A. I sound so gushy and I'm really sorry, but she's so marvelously witty and humble and down-to-earth. They showed some clips from Shindig and a few Buffy episodes that were credited to her, only it turned out later, as she told us, that except for the Shindig episode, every single clip that played was actually written by Joss. She was a really good sport about it. I also liked the answer she gave to the question, "Would you ever consider doing a screenplay for a movie?" She said, and I'm not using quotation marks because I'm totally paraphrasing here, that she wouldn't because television affords the opportunity for her to go into much greater depth. She likened movies to a short story and television to a novel. Both are great story-telling mediums, but a novel allows you to spend more time with a character and, as a writer, she finds that incredibly rewarding. Someone also questioned her about whether she'd consider doing a radio-type show. There was a bit of debate about that because she felt like radio theatre was pretty much dead, but then this one guy raised his hand and said he was a truck driver and there was more call for something like that than she might realize. And then Jane was like "Really??" and then she made this hmmm..something to think about face. It was funny. Honestly, I enjoyed that part so much that I would have paid just to see her, but I got to see a BDM TOO. These Can't Stop the Serenity people just rule.
Next was the door prizes and raffle. I won nothing and neither did anyone else in my group, but J did score one of those cute little Chinese boxes containing many fun stickers and magnets. She gave me an I'll Be In My Bunk magnet. Which is funny except the magnet also has a knife on it, which seems very phallic and odd. Then they auctioned off the BDB (big damn bag). There were so many wonderful things in that bag and J and I both really wanted it, but alas, we are poor. This girl behind us got into a bidding war for the bag and J and I found ourselves really rooting for her to win it. We even scraped up $25 between us and passed it to her and I think someone in her group ponied up $100. She wound up winning the bag for something like $1100. I was really happy she got it and she even gave J and I an autographed CD, which we gave to CG because J knew CG would appreciate it more. It was so fun. I know I'm overusing that word right now, but J and I really enjoyed rooting for her to win.
And then the movie. Love the movie. I've seen it a zillion times and so has everyone who was with me, but that didn't stop CG from crying when a VERY bad thing happened to a certain beloved character, nor did it stop J and I from biting our nails during the big fight scene. And it was so cool watching it with an entire audience filled with BDFs (big dorky fans) like ourselves. The audience would applaud during certain scenes and laugh at others and you just know everything was a little funnier and a little sadder because we were all together. This was my first fan-type outing and I would totally do it again.
Oh, and costumes!!! There was a Wash and a Zoe who came together and they looked so great. And there was an Inara and a cute little Kaylee and more than one guy wearing a brown coat (in our really HOT Texas summer--very dedicated fan there). I'm not a go in costume person myself, but I was really impressed by the care they put into their costumes. These are the coolest people in the world.
Definitely will be doing this next year!!
I could enthuse more, but the real world (e.g. my job) would like me to return to it.
(is it me or does this read like a what I did over the weekend essay for high school English???)
Friday, June 22, 2007
In Which Izzybella Feels Stupid
I'm sharing this not so you'll all agree how stupid I am (though I wouldn't blame you), but in the hopes that you've also had days where you did stupid things. It's nothing huge in the grand scheme of things. It's just kind of left me all squirmy with embarrassment. Here's what happened.
One of the functions of the group I work for is to provide continuing education to protective services professionals. Recently we scored a contract to provide a very specific training to caseworkers whose primary function is easing kids from state care to independent living. It's a very focused workshop, and we are only offering it about four times this fiscal year. So rather than have people register through the normal channels, they decided that people would register for the training locally--more specifically they email me and I email the training confirmation out. Up till today, it's been working like gangbusters [off topic]apropos of nothing, but what does doing anything "like gangbusters" mean anyway?[/off topic]. No problems at all. We're now on the last training for this fiscal year and I just sent out a mass email confirming the training to be held on Wednesday, June 27th. Well, someone emailed me back and told me the 27th was a Tuesday. Instead of confirming on my own calendar like a smart person, I attempted a recall of the email and resent with the confirmation now reading Tuesday, June 27th. Only right after I hit "send" I looked down on my desk calendar and lo and behold, June 27th is, in fact, on a Wednesday. So I had to send yet ANOTHER mass email out indicating the correct day of the week. Which made me feel very stupid.
I know it's not that big of a deal, but I have to say that if I were one of them getting about three different emails with a different day of the week on each one, I'd (one) exaggerate to all my friends that I got, like, six emails, and (two) I'd think the training organization lacked...organization. I would think less of them. So here's hoping they've all done stupid things themselves and are understanding.
In the future, I'm going to remember this just in case someone sends me three (or six!) different emails, each containing different information for the same event. I'm going to think they possibly are just having one of those mornings that results in the dreaded "dude, I'm stupid" feeling.
Aaaaand, scene.
One of the functions of the group I work for is to provide continuing education to protective services professionals. Recently we scored a contract to provide a very specific training to caseworkers whose primary function is easing kids from state care to independent living. It's a very focused workshop, and we are only offering it about four times this fiscal year. So rather than have people register through the normal channels, they decided that people would register for the training locally--more specifically they email me and I email the training confirmation out. Up till today, it's been working like gangbusters [off topic]apropos of nothing, but what does doing anything "like gangbusters" mean anyway?[/off topic]. No problems at all. We're now on the last training for this fiscal year and I just sent out a mass email confirming the training to be held on Wednesday, June 27th. Well, someone emailed me back and told me the 27th was a Tuesday. Instead of confirming on my own calendar like a smart person, I attempted a recall of the email and resent with the confirmation now reading Tuesday, June 27th. Only right after I hit "send" I looked down on my desk calendar and lo and behold, June 27th is, in fact, on a Wednesday. So I had to send yet ANOTHER mass email out indicating the correct day of the week. Which made me feel very stupid.
I know it's not that big of a deal, but I have to say that if I were one of them getting about three different emails with a different day of the week on each one, I'd (one) exaggerate to all my friends that I got, like, six emails, and (two) I'd think the training organization lacked...organization. I would think less of them. So here's hoping they've all done stupid things themselves and are understanding.
In the future, I'm going to remember this just in case someone sends me three (or six!) different emails, each containing different information for the same event. I'm going to think they possibly are just having one of those mornings that results in the dreaded "dude, I'm stupid" feeling.
Aaaaand, scene.
Thursday, June 21, 2007
In Which Izzybella Promises to Try to Avoid Whining Too Much...Whiney Baby
Or is that whinging baby? Como se dice in Harry Potter-ese? Or as Americans call it--English. Hee, that's funny. Goes back to a conversation my sister and I had a few weeks ago about how we've lost a bit of the HP flavor in America by having Scholastic translate from English to "American." And here I thought we spoke the same language. Clearly not. It's a shame because I think most kids would have been able to figure out, based on context, what (for example) a bogey is. And I'm sorry, but "bogey" is much more poetical than "booger." I mean really. Bat Booger Hex. Not so awe-inspiring as Bat Bogey Hex. I'm just saying.
I'm really tired today. I don't sleep that well during rehearsal month anyway, but it's been compounded lately by my over-enthusiastic puppy dog. Speaking of which, I think the Internet world at large needs another picture. It's been almost a year since I posted the last one. It's time. So for your viewing pleasure, here's my boy, Baxter. And my dad's foot. Sorry about that.
Anyway, back to the subject. Baxter is clingy. And by clingy, I mean he follows me around the house all day and sleeps at the side of my bed all night. Usually I find that incredibly adorable, because let's face it, we all like being loved, especially by cute puppy dogs. But last night it was sort of tiresome. See, I'm rehearsing right now, which means I get home much later than usual. Baxter is a neurotic dog--he gets really anxious when any of his people aren't home--he gnaws holes in his blanket (yes, he has a blanket--er rag--and we totally should have named him Linus) and then when they finally get home (much later than he would clearly like) he turns into anxious guard dog. So he barked all night last night. I kept getting up to check and see if there were burglars making off with our boston ferns or something (don't laugh, it's happened before) but nothing. I can only conclude that a butterfly in Japan was flapping it's wings and Baxter overheard. Seriously, he was driving me nuts and even though it is now daylight and I'm back to thinking he's the cutest thing ever, I was incredibly annoyed at him last night. Dad and Carol, who just two weeks ago were complaining about how I stole their dogs, were all Mr. and Mrs. Smug this morning. "Boy, your dog sure was noisy last night, huh?" Yes, he was. Bite me.
So I'm really tired today and I'm telling you there isn't enough caffiene in the world to keep me from being tired.
On the plus side, this is a really good show and I have lots of warm, fuzzy feelings about it. Naturally (since it's a V&S MoMentuM production) there's at least one scene that completely scares the crap out of me. That's a good thing, though, as it means I'm being challenged. So clearly, there are good times ahead.
Oh, and more to be excited about!! I'm going to a charity screening of Serenity benefitting Equality Now this weekend and lots of my friends are coming too. I expect a tremendously good time will be had by all.
Okay, I now return you to your regularly scheduled activities. Have a lovely day.
I'm really tired today. I don't sleep that well during rehearsal month anyway, but it's been compounded lately by my over-enthusiastic puppy dog. Speaking of which, I think the Internet world at large needs another picture. It's been almost a year since I posted the last one. It's time. So for your viewing pleasure, here's my boy, Baxter. And my dad's foot. Sorry about that.
Anyway, back to the subject. Baxter is clingy. And by clingy, I mean he follows me around the house all day and sleeps at the side of my bed all night. Usually I find that incredibly adorable, because let's face it, we all like being loved, especially by cute puppy dogs. But last night it was sort of tiresome. See, I'm rehearsing right now, which means I get home much later than usual. Baxter is a neurotic dog--he gets really anxious when any of his people aren't home--he gnaws holes in his blanket (yes, he has a blanket--er rag--and we totally should have named him Linus) and then when they finally get home (much later than he would clearly like) he turns into anxious guard dog. So he barked all night last night. I kept getting up to check and see if there were burglars making off with our boston ferns or something (don't laugh, it's happened before) but nothing. I can only conclude that a butterfly in Japan was flapping it's wings and Baxter overheard. Seriously, he was driving me nuts and even though it is now daylight and I'm back to thinking he's the cutest thing ever, I was incredibly annoyed at him last night. Dad and Carol, who just two weeks ago were complaining about how I stole their dogs, were all Mr. and Mrs. Smug this morning. "Boy, your dog sure was noisy last night, huh?" Yes, he was. Bite me.
So I'm really tired today and I'm telling you there isn't enough caffiene in the world to keep me from being tired.
On the plus side, this is a really good show and I have lots of warm, fuzzy feelings about it. Naturally (since it's a V&S MoMentuM production) there's at least one scene that completely scares the crap out of me. That's a good thing, though, as it means I'm being challenged. So clearly, there are good times ahead.
Oh, and more to be excited about!! I'm going to a charity screening of Serenity benefitting Equality Now this weekend and lots of my friends are coming too. I expect a tremendously good time will be had by all.
Okay, I now return you to your regularly scheduled activities. Have a lovely day.
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
S-Project
This is my latest for the S-Project. Please note that ordinarily I avoid any type of poetry writing with a 10 foot pole. I enjoy reading it, but I'm not very good at writing it. So please bear that in mind if this happens to make you roll your eyes and think to yourself, "that Izzybella's a sweetie, but she ain't no poet!"
The assignment this month was to write something based on a photograph, a newspaper/magazine story, or an observation made while people-watching. I occasionally go to church with my stepmother, and without fail, there is a lovely old woman who sits in the pew in front of ours. My stepmother is Presbyterian and they're a very ceremonial type of religion-lots of standing up and sitting down throughout the service. No one would think less of this woman if she stayed seated--she is clearly frail, so stooped over she can barely walk, and anymore her cane seems even to lack the support it once did. But she still stands up. This is for her.
Even when she sits, she is bent over
back stooped with the weight of
eighty-four years worth of living.
Her cane leans against the pew
in front of her.
Her gnarled hands shake
with the effort of holding the hymnal.
The opening chords play
and the congregation rises to its feet.
She stands, too, slowly,
back still stooped, one hand holding
the back of the pew in front of her for support;
the other still tightly clutching her hymnal.
Her hand shakes so badly she cannot read,
so instead she hums.
Though she is stooped and frail;
her faith supports her.
She is not proud.
She stands because she loves Him.
The assignment this month was to write something based on a photograph, a newspaper/magazine story, or an observation made while people-watching. I occasionally go to church with my stepmother, and without fail, there is a lovely old woman who sits in the pew in front of ours. My stepmother is Presbyterian and they're a very ceremonial type of religion-lots of standing up and sitting down throughout the service. No one would think less of this woman if she stayed seated--she is clearly frail, so stooped over she can barely walk, and anymore her cane seems even to lack the support it once did. But she still stands up. This is for her.
Even when she sits, she is bent over
back stooped with the weight of
eighty-four years worth of living.
Her cane leans against the pew
in front of her.
Her gnarled hands shake
with the effort of holding the hymnal.
The opening chords play
and the congregation rises to its feet.
She stands, too, slowly,
back still stooped, one hand holding
the back of the pew in front of her for support;
the other still tightly clutching her hymnal.
Her hand shakes so badly she cannot read,
so instead she hums.
Though she is stooped and frail;
her faith supports her.
She is not proud.
She stands because she loves Him.
Friday, June 15, 2007
Because I Can't Go A Day Without Copying Something From My Sister's Blog
Liz Needs. You know the drill. Go to Google, type your name and the word needs; enclose them in quotation marks and hit the button. Find thirteen responses that are reasonably coherent and post them in your blog.
1. Liz needs a hip display name What, someone objects to the highly creative and unique izzybella?
2. Liz needs catchy slogan You people are never satisfied.
3. Liz needs to ensure that proper steps are taken in the beginning so more serious actions aren't delayed. I hear that ALL the time.
4. Liz needs to devise a budget and stick to it. It's like they know me.
5. Liz needs to get off her pedistool and stop worrying about Jason I can hear at least one person who knows me really well saying, "Amen, sister."
6. Liz needs to calm down she was having an the big O right there. ... Um, blush.
7. Liz needs to assemble allies: I have assembled them and some day we will rule the world. Or just the town, maybe. Or the block. Baby steps.
8. liz needs a hero Seriously, for reals.
9. Liz needs to satisfy one person ... herself. Thank you, Oprah. I feel very empowered now.
10. Liz needs to be physical and energetic to avoid becoming restless. Okay, I'm going to work a lot harder on that running thing.
11. Liz needs to grow up and get a clue. Well, that's probably true, but you don't have to be nasty about it.
12. Liz needs to take voice lessons from Celine Dion Not even that would make me a good singer.
13. Liz needs her voice back. Is this my metaphorical voice or my literal one?
And the extra special bonus #14:
Liz needs her sleep, after all she is carrying Jon’s demon child in her womb. I'm speechless. I really am.
1. Liz needs a hip display name What, someone objects to the highly creative and unique izzybella?
2. Liz needs catchy slogan You people are never satisfied.
3. Liz needs to ensure that proper steps are taken in the beginning so more serious actions aren't delayed. I hear that ALL the time.
4. Liz needs to devise a budget and stick to it. It's like they know me.
5. Liz needs to get off her pedistool and stop worrying about Jason I can hear at least one person who knows me really well saying, "Amen, sister."
6. Liz needs to calm down she was having an the big O right there. ... Um, blush.
7. Liz needs to assemble allies: I have assembled them and some day we will rule the world. Or just the town, maybe. Or the block. Baby steps.
8. liz needs a hero Seriously, for reals.
9. Liz needs to satisfy one person ... herself. Thank you, Oprah. I feel very empowered now.
10. Liz needs to be physical and energetic to avoid becoming restless. Okay, I'm going to work a lot harder on that running thing.
11. Liz needs to grow up and get a clue. Well, that's probably true, but you don't have to be nasty about it.
12. Liz needs to take voice lessons from Celine Dion Not even that would make me a good singer.
13. Liz needs her voice back. Is this my metaphorical voice or my literal one?
And the extra special bonus #14:
Liz needs her sleep, after all she is carrying Jon’s demon child in her womb. I'm speechless. I really am.
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Stolen From My Sister: Item. One Meme.
My Roomate and I once: picked a bunch of lavender from a neighbor's yard in the middle of the night even though we knew the neighbor was a cranky-pants who would never in a million years voluntarily let us pick his lavender, hence the middle of the night excursion. It smelled so good though. We put it in a vase by our open window and slept really well the next three nights. Till it died. Then we stole some more.
Never in my life have I: taken an illegal substance (second-hand pot smoke does not count)
High school was: part nightmare, part fun. I wasn't popular exactly, but I knew and got along with everyone. Usual high-school traumas involving bad grades and unrequited love, but I lived for drama and my fellow drama-dorks.
When I am nervous: I talk too much. And too fast. I'm like a crazy talking machine who says stupid things and then obsesses over how stupid I'm acting.
My hair: hasn't been my natural color in about five years. Currently it's a light reddish brown, thanks to Aveda and a really good stylist.
When I was 5: I was in the first grade and I was really, really, really, quiet and painfully shy. I blushed any time I had to speak to anyone and I was so scared to ask my teacher for help that I wound up falling behind in my school work, thus beginning an endless cycle of flunking classes and making it up summer school. That continued all through high school until my senior year when I actually did pretty well in all my classes. I think all of my elementary and high school teachers would be surprised to find out that I graduated from college summa cum laude.
By this time next year: is there where I'm supposed to have a goal for next year? 'Cause really my goal is to make it through this one. One year at a time. Sheesh.
My favorite aunt is: Oh, I don't have a favorite aunt--I don't actually know any of my aunts all that well. Aunt Barbara is like super-woman. She can do anything and prefers to do three or four things at once. She has issues with sitting still. Aunt Wyann is nice, but I don't really know her well. I was blessed with many fine uncles though. So my favorite uncle is either Uncle Lee or Uncle Bill. Uncle Lee is always good for lots of fun, but Uncle Bill is the sort of uncle you can tell anything to and he'll still love you tons and tons.
I have a hard time understanding: math. I concur with Chauceriangirl. We took our math classes for college together. Neither of us would have passed if it hadn't been for her husband who spent many fine Saturday afternoons tutoring us.
You know I like you if: I'm willing to hug you. I'm really not a touchy-feely type of person, but I do hug my friends.
My ideal breakfast is: What Chauceriangirl said. Bacon, eggs, toast, and grits from Pitt Grill Fine Food. But you have to go eat breakfast BEFORE you shower, because you’ll stink from cigarette smoke and grease all day if you don’t shower after eating at Pitt Grill Fine Food.
If you visit my hometown: you'd be in Fort Worth, TX, which I consider home. But if you wanted to visit my birthplace, you'd be in Atlanta, GA. Have a mint julep and a very nice day.
If you spend the night at my house: you'd be woken up the next morning by two very large labrador retreivers who would kiss you and stick their noses right in your face. So if you don't like dogs, you should probably not stay overnight at my house.
My favorite blond is: my childhood friend, Ronnye.
My favorite brunette is: my sister.
The animal I would like to see flying is: a pegasus. What? They're cool.
I shouldn’t have been: so shy as a kid. I missed out on stuff because I was afraid someone would actually speak to me.
Last night: I worked late, went home and had dinner, and then read Harry Potter. I'm rereading in anticipation of book 7. I'm on Goblet of Fire now.
I’ve been told I look like: my Father.
If I could have any car it would be: an Escape hybrid. Then I can have the back of my truck to take my dogs places, but still get really good gas mileage.
Never in my life have I: taken an illegal substance (second-hand pot smoke does not count)
High school was: part nightmare, part fun. I wasn't popular exactly, but I knew and got along with everyone. Usual high-school traumas involving bad grades and unrequited love, but I lived for drama and my fellow drama-dorks.
When I am nervous: I talk too much. And too fast. I'm like a crazy talking machine who says stupid things and then obsesses over how stupid I'm acting.
My hair: hasn't been my natural color in about five years. Currently it's a light reddish brown, thanks to Aveda and a really good stylist.
When I was 5: I was in the first grade and I was really, really, really, quiet and painfully shy. I blushed any time I had to speak to anyone and I was so scared to ask my teacher for help that I wound up falling behind in my school work, thus beginning an endless cycle of flunking classes and making it up summer school. That continued all through high school until my senior year when I actually did pretty well in all my classes. I think all of my elementary and high school teachers would be surprised to find out that I graduated from college summa cum laude.
By this time next year: is there where I'm supposed to have a goal for next year? 'Cause really my goal is to make it through this one. One year at a time. Sheesh.
My favorite aunt is: Oh, I don't have a favorite aunt--I don't actually know any of my aunts all that well. Aunt Barbara is like super-woman. She can do anything and prefers to do three or four things at once. She has issues with sitting still. Aunt Wyann is nice, but I don't really know her well. I was blessed with many fine uncles though. So my favorite uncle is either Uncle Lee or Uncle Bill. Uncle Lee is always good for lots of fun, but Uncle Bill is the sort of uncle you can tell anything to and he'll still love you tons and tons.
I have a hard time understanding: math. I concur with Chauceriangirl. We took our math classes for college together. Neither of us would have passed if it hadn't been for her husband who spent many fine Saturday afternoons tutoring us.
You know I like you if: I'm willing to hug you. I'm really not a touchy-feely type of person, but I do hug my friends.
My ideal breakfast is: What Chauceriangirl said. Bacon, eggs, toast, and grits from Pitt Grill Fine Food. But you have to go eat breakfast BEFORE you shower, because you’ll stink from cigarette smoke and grease all day if you don’t shower after eating at Pitt Grill Fine Food.
If you visit my hometown: you'd be in Fort Worth, TX, which I consider home. But if you wanted to visit my birthplace, you'd be in Atlanta, GA. Have a mint julep and a very nice day.
If you spend the night at my house: you'd be woken up the next morning by two very large labrador retreivers who would kiss you and stick their noses right in your face. So if you don't like dogs, you should probably not stay overnight at my house.
My favorite blond is: my childhood friend, Ronnye.
My favorite brunette is: my sister.
The animal I would like to see flying is: a pegasus. What? They're cool.
I shouldn’t have been: so shy as a kid. I missed out on stuff because I was afraid someone would actually speak to me.
Last night: I worked late, went home and had dinner, and then read Harry Potter. I'm rereading in anticipation of book 7. I'm on Goblet of Fire now.
I’ve been told I look like: my Father.
If I could have any car it would be: an Escape hybrid. Then I can have the back of my truck to take my dogs places, but still get really good gas mileage.
Monday, June 11, 2007
It's No Longer Wednesday, But I Liked This Meme
Hello everyone! Welcome to another Hump. I just finished reading from a magazine, so today's meme will be about magazines.
1. Do you currently subscribe to any magazines? If so, which ones?
Yes. I subscribe to Entertainment Weekly, Glamour, Runner's World, Fitness, Cooking for Two, Interview, and US Weekly (which I wound up with after my Premier subscription was cancelled because they quite suddenly went out of business-am still sad)
2. What magazines have you subscribed to in the past?
All of the above plus Rolling Stone, Vogue, Allure, Elle, People, Jane, Self, Reader's Digest, TV Guide, and many years ago Seventeen and Sassy.
3. What do you do with the little cards that always fall out of the magazine? Do you toss them, or have you found a use for them?
I keep one as a place holder and toss the rest.
4. If you could start a magazine, what would it be about? Who or what would be on the cover of the first issue?
Ooh, how about a regional theatre magazine. The first cover would be an up and coming theatre company called MoMentuM Productions.
The rules are, there are no rules!!! All you need to do is copy and paste the above questions into your blog and add your responses. After you've finished, return here and leave us a comment so we'll know you've humped. Be sure your hump is linked back to http://bdinsanity.blogdrive.com so others can hump too.
Remember, there are no right or wrong answers. If one of the questions doesn't inspire you then simply "pass" it. Just use your imagination!
1. Do you currently subscribe to any magazines? If so, which ones?
Yes. I subscribe to Entertainment Weekly, Glamour, Runner's World, Fitness, Cooking for Two, Interview, and US Weekly (which I wound up with after my Premier subscription was cancelled because they quite suddenly went out of business-am still sad)
2. What magazines have you subscribed to in the past?
All of the above plus Rolling Stone, Vogue, Allure, Elle, People, Jane, Self, Reader's Digest, TV Guide, and many years ago Seventeen and Sassy.
3. What do you do with the little cards that always fall out of the magazine? Do you toss them, or have you found a use for them?
I keep one as a place holder and toss the rest.
4. If you could start a magazine, what would it be about? Who or what would be on the cover of the first issue?
Ooh, how about a regional theatre magazine. The first cover would be an up and coming theatre company called MoMentuM Productions.
The rules are, there are no rules!!! All you need to do is copy and paste the above questions into your blog and add your responses. After you've finished, return here and leave us a comment so we'll know you've humped. Be sure your hump is linked back to http://bdinsanity.blogdrive.com so others can hump too.
Remember, there are no right or wrong answers. If one of the questions doesn't inspire you then simply "pass" it. Just use your imagination!
Tuesday, June 5, 2007
Is That a Light I See I Before Me??
At the end of the tunnel, I mean. Teen Conference is almost over and to that I say, "yay." I've learned a couple of very important things over the last couple of days. Let me sum up:
1. I missed NOTHING by not having the dorm experience in college.
2. One cannot subsist on diet coke and ice cream alone (that's Latin for I really hope I make it to the cafeteria before they close tomorrow morning--I haven't had an actual meal since Sunday night)
3. The conference crew here at the University can be bribed with leftover lemon bars and whole fruit.
4. Even too-cool-for-words teenagers will act like a kid at the prospect of spending the day at Six Flags.
5. Also the too-cool teenagers will hightail it like nobody's beeswax to the evening session after having spent the day outdoors in 95 degree weather, if you even mention free ice cream sundaes in the ballroom.
6. I have actually met a man with a heart that's three sizes too small. Four sizes. He'd probably use Cindy Lou-Who for batting practice. Even my unflappable boss was all...flapped. Because he is mean and karma will put a big kick me sign on his back and then he'll be sorry. (wow, I'm still mad and that was over 24 hours ago...)
7. The 13-year-old band camp kids sharing our dormitory think I'm somewhere near Methusalah's age and called me ma'am twice. I am now old.
8. Also, it is officially too loud. See above re: old.
9. If you mention it's for the end-of-conference slide show, previously reluctant photographic subjects will immediately preen and ham it up.
10. If someone gives you the stink-eye as you pass them while holding your camera, do NOT stop. Just move it along. That way you get to live.
Those are good things to know, I think.
I have to go put together a slide show now. So, laters, okay? (That's what this girl said to me when I said good night to her a few minutes ago...)
1. I missed NOTHING by not having the dorm experience in college.
2. One cannot subsist on diet coke and ice cream alone (that's Latin for I really hope I make it to the cafeteria before they close tomorrow morning--I haven't had an actual meal since Sunday night)
3. The conference crew here at the University can be bribed with leftover lemon bars and whole fruit.
4. Even too-cool-for-words teenagers will act like a kid at the prospect of spending the day at Six Flags.
5. Also the too-cool teenagers will hightail it like nobody's beeswax to the evening session after having spent the day outdoors in 95 degree weather, if you even mention free ice cream sundaes in the ballroom.
6. I have actually met a man with a heart that's three sizes too small. Four sizes. He'd probably use Cindy Lou-Who for batting practice. Even my unflappable boss was all...flapped. Because he is mean and karma will put a big kick me sign on his back and then he'll be sorry. (wow, I'm still mad and that was over 24 hours ago...)
7. The 13-year-old band camp kids sharing our dormitory think I'm somewhere near Methusalah's age and called me ma'am twice. I am now old.
8. Also, it is officially too loud. See above re: old.
9. If you mention it's for the end-of-conference slide show, previously reluctant photographic subjects will immediately preen and ham it up.
10. If someone gives you the stink-eye as you pass them while holding your camera, do NOT stop. Just move it along. That way you get to live.
Those are good things to know, I think.
I have to go put together a slide show now. So, laters, okay? (That's what this girl said to me when I said good night to her a few minutes ago...)
Saturday, June 2, 2007
Random Thoughts and a Damn Good Idea
I had breakfast with my parents this morning. I love going out to breakfast because I enjoy eating all those breakfasty foods (eggs, bacon, toast) but I loathe making them. So eating out for breakfast is always good fun. Having said that, my advice to all and sundry is be sure and dry your hair before you go to the restaurant. This has nothing to do with fasion and everything to do with if-you-don't-your-hair-will-smell-like-bacon-all-day. Seriously. I want another shower. Or at the very least a shampoo.
I'm at work right now. Had a few more things to do before the mass of teenagers arrives here on Monday. If I didn't mention it before (and I'm sure I have 'cause for some reason I'm really whiney about it this year) I am on the planning and implementation committee for a conference held annually for teenagers aging out of foster care. These are GREAT kids and the purpose of the conference is to direct them to support systems that will be available when they age out and educate them on life skills. We also try to show them a good time.
This year, we're taking the kids to Six Flags. In years past, they did this and the kids loved it. But a few years ago, the budget people in Austin dictated that state funds couldn't be used for large amusement parks, even it was for the teenagers in care. So we did other less expensive things we could find ways of justifying. The kids always had a good time, but they made it clear on the conference evaluations (yes, we really do read them) that they wanted Six Flags back. Fortunately, some volunteers stepped up to the plate and offered to pay for the kids, so we didn't have to use the budget money. So the kids get Six Flags this year and I get five hours to catch up my sleep. Or you know, set up for the evening workshop. Whatever. :)
Anyway, I came into the office to work on some last minute conference stuff. Plus I need to put together materials for the lead adult rep for each region. I'm hoping to leave by about 11:00 or so, so I suppose I should stop blogging and start working. That'd be novel, wouldn't it.
Won't be online much this week-the conference ends on Wednesday and then I'm taking the rest of the week off for rest, relaxation and Pedicure Friday. Hey, that should be a national holiday. Pedicure Friday. I really like the idea. Everyone gets a paid day off to go get a pedicure. Or sleep in if they aren't fans of the pedicure. Whatever. Granted, it's not as meaningful as say, Memorial Day, when we remember and honor our military men and women who died in service of our country. Or Mother's Day, when we suck up to Mom and buy her flowers and candy in order to appease her for the crappy way we treat her the rest of the year. Kidding-that's my step-mother's rant, not mine. Besides I just gave her a used card and a $5 Sonic gift card. What? The card was Hallmark and all. And very funny, honest. I would like to tell you I was kidding about the Sonic gift card, but I'm not. I really truly bought her that. It's an inside joke. Trust me-she laughed. And hey, Mom got actual flowers. And a loving long-distance telephone call. I swear. Anyway the point is if we have a whole week for broccoli, why not one little day for pedicures? It would make the world a much happier place.
Okay, I'm outta here. Be good.
I'm at work right now. Had a few more things to do before the mass of teenagers arrives here on Monday. If I didn't mention it before (and I'm sure I have 'cause for some reason I'm really whiney about it this year) I am on the planning and implementation committee for a conference held annually for teenagers aging out of foster care. These are GREAT kids and the purpose of the conference is to direct them to support systems that will be available when they age out and educate them on life skills. We also try to show them a good time.
This year, we're taking the kids to Six Flags. In years past, they did this and the kids loved it. But a few years ago, the budget people in Austin dictated that state funds couldn't be used for large amusement parks, even it was for the teenagers in care. So we did other less expensive things we could find ways of justifying. The kids always had a good time, but they made it clear on the conference evaluations (yes, we really do read them) that they wanted Six Flags back. Fortunately, some volunteers stepped up to the plate and offered to pay for the kids, so we didn't have to use the budget money. So the kids get Six Flags this year and I get five hours to catch up my sleep. Or you know, set up for the evening workshop. Whatever. :)
Anyway, I came into the office to work on some last minute conference stuff. Plus I need to put together materials for the lead adult rep for each region. I'm hoping to leave by about 11:00 or so, so I suppose I should stop blogging and start working. That'd be novel, wouldn't it.
Won't be online much this week-the conference ends on Wednesday and then I'm taking the rest of the week off for rest, relaxation and Pedicure Friday. Hey, that should be a national holiday. Pedicure Friday. I really like the idea. Everyone gets a paid day off to go get a pedicure. Or sleep in if they aren't fans of the pedicure. Whatever. Granted, it's not as meaningful as say, Memorial Day, when we remember and honor our military men and women who died in service of our country. Or Mother's Day, when we suck up to Mom and buy her flowers and candy in order to appease her for the crappy way we treat her the rest of the year. Kidding-that's my step-mother's rant, not mine. Besides I just gave her a used card and a $5 Sonic gift card. What? The card was Hallmark and all. And very funny, honest. I would like to tell you I was kidding about the Sonic gift card, but I'm not. I really truly bought her that. It's an inside joke. Trust me-she laughed. And hey, Mom got actual flowers. And a loving long-distance telephone call. I swear. Anyway the point is if we have a whole week for broccoli, why not one little day for pedicures? It would make the world a much happier place.
Okay, I'm outta here. Be good.
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