The Perfume Counter

The theater club at CCBC is called Barnstormers and they had a playwriting contest to determine their autumn production. Michelle, a former co-worker at the antique store, won the contest. A few weeks ago I was in Objects Found, chatting away and Michelle was telling me all about how her play was going to be performed and how it was almost completely cast and how excited she was, except that there was one small, but significant role that she couldn't find anyone for... at which point she stopped in mid-sentence and started to stare at me with narrowed eyes. You act, right? she said. Not really. I mean, i perform, but i don't really act... i stammered. But you can act, right? And you're comfortable on stage? This role needs someone who can be loud and over the top. I'm looking at you and i can't believe i didn't see it before. Would you be willing to audition? Wellllllll... I have never been in a play. I've done some workshopping and took theater both in high school and college, but i've never done an actual production. I have never even really been interested in being in a play, but i agreed to audition because i never have before. It's a new thing after all. Anyhoo, i auditioned (i'm not sure if it is considered an audition if i'm the only one who read for the role) and got the part, so now i'm in a play. I never imagined that i'd be in a play. My job is so unpredictable. But rehearsals are going to be during this down town between summer and school programming. It is only a small role with about 20 lines so it's not like if i suck the entire play is ruined. The Perfume Counter is a short one act about a disenfranchised young perfume girl who feels out of place in her life. I play a flamboyant old woman who makes her day go from bad to worse. It is kinda screwball and should be fun. I just had my first rehearsal and was happy that i held my own, but am still pretty scared. After all, i am a director, not an actor. Plus, i don't normally memorize lines; i am an improvisationalist. I am super nervous that i will just say what comes to mind instead of what is on the page. Of course, the point of doing new things is to stretch myself and leave my warm, fuzzy comfort zone. Let me tell you, i'm pretty frickin' far outside my comfort zone, people. Performances are the last full week of September, tentatively Thursday and Saturday at 8pm. More info will follow, if i survive the rehearsal process.

Open letter to my #1 Fan

Dear Olga - I am sorry that there haven't been as many updates here as promised while i have keys to a house with internet. I know we both thought you'd have hours of reading material during the third shift. I had good intentions, really i did. It is just that the house with AC and internet also has a few other things, like a ginormous tv and cable and Wii. I have played so much Wii Boxing and Wii Swordplay (on Wii Resort) every single night that i can barely lift my arms above my head. My mii (who looks just like me) is about to become a professional at both things and i just can't deny her dreams. Yes, it makes me sweaty and makes my triceps ache, but she's soooooo close to crossing the 1000 point line. Did i mention the cable? I have been swooning over Food Network all week and am delighted to find that they have another channel all about cooking. I watch, i learn, i absorb, i dream and then i go home to the itsy, bitsy little kitchen in my apartment and i sigh. Plus, last night, on my way to the Blogger Dashboard i stumbled on something called Sporcle. I'm sure it has been around forever, but you know how far i am from the center of the universe. It is full of trivia quizzes and you know who loves trivia quizzes, right? I got sucked in on some literature things -gosh i love books- and time stood still. When i realized it was 12:45am i started to go back to Blogger, but a tab marked MUSIC made itself known and you know that i love music even more than i love books. Name bands, name singers, identify songs by music clips: all with a countdown clock. [you'll be delighted to know that i can type 9 of Duran Duran's 12 albums in 38 seconds, btw] At 2:30am it occurred to me that i had to get up for work in 4 hours and i wasn't even in my own house yet. Know that i haven't forgotten you and i still love you. After all, you are my #1 fan, Olga. Keep the faith and there might be pictures of chickens in your somewhat near future (once i figure out how to spell the lead singer of Dire Strait's name: knopler, knofler, knopfler, knofler...) Much love and high regards, Niki

Trivia Bowl XXVI

For the second season in a row, Team Marge made it through the quarter and semi-finals of Final Score Trivia, Maryland and competed in the Trivia Bowl today. We weren't able to field our entire team as Jason and Kate are on vacation; however, we still kicked a**. I am somewhat flumozzled to report that we tied for FOURTH PLACE! It had to go to a best of 3 tie breaker, where we were tripped up by the atomic weight of Holmium. I am so glad that i didn't realize that we were guessing that question for $250 cash as i probably would have had a heart attack. No cash for us today, but i am so pleased with fifth place as my goal was to be in the top half of the pack. Congrats and thanks to Karen, Nancy, Jason, Kate and Chris for a fun season. Maybe some day we will have our whole team present - then they'll see some serious geek power.

afgan buffet

On TM Megan's last day on the team we were doing shows in Northern Virginia so TM Sam brought the Best of Cheap Eats edition of the Washingtonian magazine for us to pick a fun new place for lunch. We ended up choosing an Afghan grill as none of the three of us had eaten Afghan cuisine before, it was on the way, there was a lunch buffet and the article describes the decor as palatial. Maizbon in Alexandria, VA totally lived up to the hype. I was enchanted before we even went inside, by the traditional instruments and a hookah almost as tall as me in the windows. Look at this place: Really pictures don't do justice to the rich colors, incredible light fixtures, mirrored pillow and non-stop jewels. Did you spot the mannequins in traditional dress waaaay in the back? How about the jeweled containers glued to the ceiling? The chandelier that i wanted to for my dining room? I kinda wanted to live here. It is total sensory overload, just like i like it. I mean for goodness' sakes each table had been inlaid with jewels. Besides the main dining room and the large group room (both pictured above) there was a pillow covered banquette wall with small tables where we sat and individual booths. Yes, the entire table edge is decorated with tobacco boxes and the light brazier is hanging from stacked tambourines. A lot of the decor came directly from the owner's relatives in Afghanistan. I was enchanted. The lunch buffet was in a room that was decorated like a cave, complete with a life-sized horse statue: But this place isn't only about atmosphere. The food was delicious, plentiful and cheap. I couldn't decide if the curry chicken, the eggplant or the risotto with meatballs was my favorite. The flat bread was terrific. All three of us were astonished that each dish was better than the last. If you find yourself anywhere in the vicinity of Alexandria, VA it would behoove you to give Maizbon a try. There is a full menu and the lunch buffet is $10. I want to go back sometime with a larger group so that i can eat in the gold palacey room under the chandelier. [and i just realized while picking labels that trying Afghan food counts as another new thing]

college cousins

At 4 months old, Dashiell is getting bigger and bigger every time i see him. I swear that boy is growing exponentially. It seems like yesterday he was a wee baby that had to be held all of the time and now he is going to town in the exersaucer. Recently Mel and Mike were on a roadtrip with the twins and made a stopover at Jason and Kate's house. I've been watching their progress on their blog, but it was fun to play with James and Matthew in real life. The twins have come so far and are both rambunctious, beautiful boys. When toddlers attack! It seems unreal to remember that at this time last year they were still under strict medical care. Matthew is walking and climbing stairs and James is just on the verge of walking unsupported and he has a speedy crawl, people. My babies used to be this little. My babies used to be stationary; I didn't used to own 15 baby gates. I miss those days. Not only was it great to see the North Carolina branch of Scott House, it was funny to watch how 14 month old Matthew and James reacted to 4 month old Dashiell. ummmm... what's with the tiny person? He's a bit drooley, isn't he? Most of all, it was just nice to spend some time with the family that i chose, enjoying my dear friends being parents, knowing that i'll get to watch these little almost-cousins grow into men.

No tax on clothes or shoes next week!

I need new shoes, but i've been waiting for tax-free week and finally it's here. From Sunday August 8, 2010 - Saturday August 14, 2010, there will be no sales tax charged on clothes or shoes in the state of Maryland. The government is trying to give a break to all the families buying back-to-school clothes and give a little push for the retailers. I bet stores are gonna have sales galore to compete for people's money. As far as i can tell, the only exception is that the items you buy have to cost less than $100 per item to qualify for the tax break, which makes sense to me cause if you are buying a pair of $300 shoes, you have the money for 6% sales tax, don't ya? So my Maryland compatriots shop away for new clothes and shoes, even if you aren't going back to school, cause starting this weekend, we aren't paying sales tax. YIPPEE!

BREAKING NEWS!

First it was 0%. Then it was 47% Then it was 53%. Then it was 65% But now, now it is 100%! Reservations have been made. I am going on an awesome business trip. Not Altoona, PA. Not Dillsburg. Not Charlotte, NC. (which was cool) Not even St Paul, MN (which is the coolest place i've gone for work). I am going to Honolulu, HI! THAT'S HAWAII, PEOPLE! For work. Which means that i'm not paying for it. At least, i'm not paying for the plane tickets that i just purchased or the conference fees or the food or the hotel for the first 6 days. I am paying to stay 3 more days in a much cheaper hotel and for a rental car for those 3 days. But, travelocity was able to get me a deal where the 3 days of hotal and car costs less than $400, which is less that it cost to fly to Ohio last week and have a car there for 2 days. I've picked out one cool thing to try while i'm there, but i'm not telling what it is until i do it! Excited doesn't even begin to describe it. Firstly, i really do love going to the national conference for work; i always come home energized. Secondly, it will be a new state. Lastly, it's fricking HAWAII, which we all know i was never gonna get to on my own. Phew... i gotta go breathe into a paperbag or put my head down or something.

working the system

I wasn't much of a coupon clipper until last Spring. I started getting the Sunday paper and figured out that since the coupons were there i might as well use them. I really enjoy saving money (you might not know this, but there isn't a lot of money to be made in non-profit education :->) and am intrigued by the quest to find the best price possible. Though i use the little club cards at the stores i frequent the most often I never really paid attention to added bonuses that they offered. For instance, at CVS (as well as many others, but that's the one i use) after so much money spent, they give you money vouchers at the bottom of your receipt. I didn't notice them until too late, so usually they would expire before i even realized i had them. Then i realized that every week there would be certain items that when you bought them, you'd receive money vouchers; since you can only spend that "money" at the CVS it seemed like just a gimmick to get you to spend more money. Until i figured out how to work the system. Now when i am busily clipping coupons, i see if there is anything on sale at CVS that i need that week and i pre-plan how i will spend any money vouchers. For instance, here is the best i've done so far: *12-packs of Diet Coke are normally $3.49 (i would never pay that price), but there was a special where 4 12-packs were $13 ($3.25 per - i would never pay that price either), but you got $3 money voucher, bringing the price down to $2.50 per pack, as long as you used the $3 for something you would already be buying *the same week, 2L Diet Coke -normally $1.69 (WHO would pay that?!?)- was on special 3 for $4 ($1.34 is better, but still not good enough) with $1 money voucher ($1 is closer to what i pay). I had a $1 off coupon, bringing the price to 3 for $3 and i used the $3 money voucher from the 12-packs, thereby costing myself no more money *i had the $1 money voucher in my purse one night when i was doing a late-hour aisle exploration (everything looks cooler in the drug store when you are the only one in there) when i came across some awesome striped socks in the clearance box. The box said 50%, but there was no tag on this Hanes 3-pack so i scanned it at the price checker and found that normally they are $4.99, but for some inexplicable reason they were 49 cents. Yes, people, 90% off! I dug around and found another 3-pack of stripey socks in different colors (that happen to exactly match my uniform at work, i'll have you know) and used the $1 money voucher for both. To recap: -48 cans of soda, 3 2L bottles of soda and 6 pairs of stripey Hanes socks -regular price with tax, $29.63 -money spent, $13.o6 -savings, $16.57 All of that just from paying attention and doing a little bit of planning. It's like a super-fun game where the reward is free stuff!

chopity chop

You will notice if you glance through the archives here -or if you've known me for longer than 2 years- that i handle huge life changes and various degrees of stress by cutting me hair. The disastrous pre-Christmas layers with side fringe had thankfully almost grown out, so i prepared for my grandma's funeral by chopping about 7 inches off of my hair and cutting heavy bangs back into the front: why do i look like such a dork when i take pictures of myself? It will be harder to do braids and whimsy hair with the shorter do, but it makes my ponytail a lot shorter and lighter. I forget how heavy all of that hair is until i cut it off. These pictures were taken just a few days ago after i got back from Ohio and decided to do a red rinse on my hair. I like it, but it isn't nearly red enough. I am contemplating going back to copper as it has been 10 years since my hair was that light. We'll see.

my grandma

My father's mother had four sons - she knew a little something about being tough.
She was born at the end of World War I, survived the Great Depression, World War II, and sending a son to Vietnam and then ushered in a new century and a new millenium.
She beat breast cancer 35 years ago, long before survival was common.
She made the best gravy.
She always encouraged my creativity, taking me to the craft store in the summer and letting me pick something new to try.
She agreed to ride shotgun with my 18-year old BFF from Ohio to Maryland cause it was the only way Rea's parents would agree to let her drive to my high school graduation.
She never wanted to be a bother.
She had a great laugh.
My grandma died a week ago today.
It is a testament to how she was the actual center of this seemingly male-dominated family that all of her kids (4 sons, 4 daughters-in-law and even one ex-daughter-in-law), all of her grandkids and their spouses (including 2 estranged ones that haven't been to any family event in at least a decade), a lot of her great-grandkids and a few great-great-grandkids came together to honor her and share our grief.
But i find myself not that sad about her passing.
She lived a good, long life, at the end she was ready to go, she believed in Heaven and I know that my grandma continues to live on in each and every one of us that was touched by her love.