It's Here!!!

Halloween is upon us!! My favorite holiday!! The weather is perfect - high 60's and clear! Perfect weather for trick or treating for the kiddies. We don't usually get many trick or treaters at our apartment complex so I am headed off to my brother/sister-in-law's for pumpkin carving with my two precious and adorable nephews Josh and Lucas! I picked up my pumpkin for carving during my lunch break at a local farmer's market along with a fresh pumpkin pie for desert. Then it's time for them to trick or treat! What a great evening planned!

I guess the Halloween spirit kicked off on Saturday night. Yep! The Halloween Party. It was so much fun this year!! Ice Sculptue Shot Luges, Beer Pong, Karaoke, Jello Shots, etc. Fun was definitely had by all!! I finally went to bed at 5:00 am and woke up at 10:30 to leave by 11:00 for my 2:00 pm matinee of Oliver! WARNING TO ALL - NEVER DO A SHOW HUNG OVER!! I got through it, but it was tough!! All I wanted to do was sleep!! BTW - Opening Weekend was a huge success!!

Last night, the Halloween festivities continues with my hubby and I watching "It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!" I love it! It's my favorite Peanuts movie next to "Snoopy, Come Home" and "Merry Christmas, Charlie Brown." After that we caught some of "Edward Scissorhands" and "Martha Stewart's Halloween Treats" - of which I learned quite a few new "tricks" to sprucing up a Halloween Party!! Such fun!!

I hope eveyone is filled with the fun spirit of Halloween and has a great "haunting" evening!!

Trick Or Treat!!!

My First Day Off

Well, not from work, but I am officially going home after work today! No rushing to get to rehearsal or a show. Don't get me wrong, I love doing shows, but it is so nice to have a "breather" every once in a while. I want to do some laundry and I'd love to cook dinner for me and the hubby! I seriously cannot wait! I am also looking forward to watching mindless TV tonight. Maybe catch up on some CSI, or watch reruns of LOST - SOMETHING - anything....as long as it's at home, with my hubby and her majesty, Serena Abagail. WOO HOO!

Sleep Deprivation & Hell Week

Hell Week has been in full swing, my friends! For those of you who are unfamiliar with the world of theatre, Hell Week is often referred to the week right before the show opens and/or Tech Week. We started Sunday, as a cast. I started Saturday, as a friend.

Amy, our esteemed Director, Jen, our fearless Stage Manager and Jennie, our oh-so-talented costume designer are some of my closest friends. Naturally I would step up to the plate to assist in any areas needed. I did - and my body is paying for it. I want the show to be tremendous, as everyone else does, and even if I just learned how to freaking sew a button this week, than so be it. So there I was, sewing buttons, distressing clothing, cutting fabric and sewing handkerchiefs to twine in between numbers I was in on stage. Not looking for glory here, just setting the scene for y'all. Trust me - my sewing is nothing to smile about - it works, plain and simple.

Let's just put it this way - the theatre is about 40 minutes from my apartment. I work from 9-5. I go straight to rehearsal after work, and this past week have been stopping on the way home to assist with and drop off costumes at Jennie's house. Tired is not even the word for it. OK - I do get up at 8 am to be at work by 9 am. But, leaving directly from work and driving for 40 minutes one way, WITH TRAFFIC, to go to rehearse all night until about 10:00 - 11:00 and then driving 40 minutes all the way back home.....etc, etc. - you get the idea - so I am EXHAUSTED.

Funny things occur when you don't get much sleep. For example, I was on my yahoo email yesterday and saw an article that read: "Emotions Run Amok in Sleep-Deprived Brains." WTF? Are you kidding me? I mean, I know we are all irritable when we don't get much sleep, but for this article to be staring me in the face.....was it a sign? So I read said article.

"Without sleep, the emotional centers of our brains dramatically overreact to bad experiences, research now reveals."

So that's why I wanted to strangle the bikers on North Park Drive yesterday who were riding their bikes with their spandex shorts in the middle of the road that I was driving on instead of on the nicely paved bike route?

"The researchers pinpointed this hyperactive response (to negative pictures) to a shutdown of the prefrontal lobe, a brain region that normally keeps emotions under control. Human beings are one of the few species that really deprive themselves of sleep. It's a real oddity in nature.

Oddity - like my boss, who just so happens to be in this week, has been more annoying than ever and all I want to do is book yet another flight for him and send him on his way so I can get some freaking work done!

I know you are saying, but Lani, if this is so difficult on you, why do you do it? Why? Because I am crazy. Also, because I enjoy performing on stage. Once I step in the spotlight and hear the applause and the audience's laughter, all the pain and anguish leading up to actual performances slips away. I suffer for my art, but in the end, it all balances out.

I need a nap!

We Have Liftoff!!!!!

I find the world of space aeronautics fascinating and can easily call myself a dork for it. Who else can stay up until 3:00 in the morning watching NASA TV just to see what song the astronauts get to wake up to in the morning? Seriously, I really find it amazing. When I see pictures of the space shuttle and earth in the background, I get chills! Unfortunately, I am not in the Air Force, nor do I like math or science. I also do not have perfect vision or a pilot's license or $20 billion dollars to take a quick ride. So, I guess space travel is out for me. It's ok though! I can live vicariously through other astronauts and what they show on TV!

My dad, grandfather and 8 year old nephew, Patrick, had the fabulous experience to watch the shuttle launch today. After massive traffic, they finally made it to Kennedy Space Center - just an hour or two from Ocala - and were able to hear, see, and fully experience a shuttle launch. WOW! I had tried several times when I lived in Florida to see a launch, as each one was scrubbed due to weather or other delays. I am envious of their experience, but happy that they were able to see a successful launch. Did I mention that my grandfather is 87 years old and flew an airplane a couple of weeks ago for his birthday? Amazing!

The Space Shuttle Discovery has a tough mission ahead of them! Taken from www.NASA.gov: "Discovery and its seven astronauts have a tight schedule that calls for placing the new Harmony segment to the International Space Station, moving a tower of solar arrays already in space to a new location and overseeing the station crew rotation that will see Discovery astronaut Dan Tani and station resident Clayton Anderson switch places."

HOW COOL IS THAT???
I want to be an astronaut when I grow up!

This Is Halloween

I just love this!!!!!

Costumes and Stuff

Soooooo......I am portraying the awful, mean, callous and funny Widow Corney in Oliver! We open next Friday! YEPPERS!! It's getting close, and of course, as there always is in theatre, there are some issues we are still working on ironing out. However, I think we really have a fantastic show! I must say, my dear friend Jennie Knackstedt, who is also our costume designer, is AMAZING! I can't wait to take pictures of the dresses she has made me! I'll post as soon as I get them. She gets major kudos for an awesome job on the costuming!!

Speaking of costumes, I am a little preturbed with an ebay purchase I made. I bought an item from an ebay store over 2 weeks ago and have yet to see my purchase. I emailed them last week and they told me it would be shipping out by Friday. Still, nothing! WTF?? It's actually a very important item that I need ASAP. I ordered a Dharma Initiative patch for my Halloween costume which I need to put together this weekend before next week's party. Bitches! I hate that. Don't promise me timely delivery of a product and not come through. I have purchased and bid on several items on ebay and this is the first time I have had any issues. I sent another email today requesting tracking information. It better arrive or I'll be PISSED!!!! Ok - rant is over.

We kicked butt last Saturday on decorating for THE HALLOWEEN PARTY! After an evening of shopping on Friday, Saturday was "Day 1 of Decor!" (said in a low voice like God or something) I stopped at the local farmer's stand and purchased corn stalks, pumpkins, mums and a hay bale then headed over to Beth & Glenn's (party location). After about 9 hours, we had most of the house inside and out finished. The outside is amazing!! We bought an arch for the walkway with orange lights and pumpkin lights lighting the entire walkway. We even have light up spiders coming down from the windows on the second floor. Add in a huge jack-o-lantern compliments of Target, and a huge red flood light and we're good to go. The only thing we really need to finish is the Garage - which will have the shot luges and beer pong, along with the spinning disco ball and the dining room - which is where the buffet and the food will be. Karaoke table for our DJ friend Tobe is set up, along with a black lights and other frivilous fun stuff! We have a spider room (the den), a haunted room (the living room) and a pumpkin room (the kitchen). It's going to be a kick ass party! The decor will be complete the day before/day of the party.

I have a show that night, but Lord willing and the creek don't rise, I'll be there later with drinks in hands.....Ahhhh Halloween!!

It's the Most WONDERFUL Time of the Year!

And in no means do I mean winter or Christmas! No silly's........FALL! It has FINALLY started after teasing us in late August/early September and a few weeks of record-breaking heat! The cool air has set in and let's hope it's here to stay! There is just something so amazing about crisp, cool, dry air. I love walking out of our home in the morning and taking it all in. I breathe in that fabulous air, along with the scent of leaves falling with the occasional aroma of a fireplace or wood-burning stove (insert heavenly angels singing Ahhhhhh!). The sunlight dances on the changing leaves illuminating the hues of red, orange and yellow against a cloudless deep blue sky. What's there not to love? Houses are adorned with hay bales, various colored mums, cornstalks, gourds and, of course, pumpkins. I feel completely at peace with Mother Nature during the autumn season. Hot apple cider, jeans and light sweaters, warm comfort food, the list goes on and on.

We live in a comfy one bedroom apartment that is adorable! A little cozy at times, but tons of closet space! Craig and I purchased our cornstalk, hay bale, mums, and pumpkins that sit nicely at the entrance to our place welcoming, and inviting. However, we have a little issue with the pumpkins......squirrels. They are insane where we live. By insane, I seriously mean crazy! They are fat, fast, and apparently LOVE my pumpkins. The beautiful orange gourds that they are now have huge bite marks in them and look like they have been through World War III! As much as I am OK with assisting these crazy little creatures with their appetite for hibernation, I am NOT OK with the appearance of the pumpkins. Tonight I shall try something new! I am going to pick up another pumpkin on my way home from work. With that, I am also going to sprinkle hot pepper around and on it. Hopefully that will work. I've done a bit of research online and it seems like that is the only solution other than poison.....we shall see. Even with the crazy kamikaze squirrels, Fall always has, and will be the most wonderful time of the year!

I leave you with this:
There is no season when such pleasant and sunny spots
may be lighted on, and produce so pleasant an effect on
the feelings, as now in October.
- Nathaniel Hawthorne

I Am A Lucky Girl!

So, as you know, I have been burning the candle at both ends with two shows at once. Many think I am crazy packing so many rehearsals into my evenings after working all day. Did I mention that I have to drive about 35 minutes - 45 with traffic to and from the theatre? Yep, and my way to rehearsal is right in the middle of rush hour too! FUN! Why do I do it? Because I LOVE it! I don't love the craziness of rehearsals and the long hours. I do love the fact that I put so much time and effort into something and it is greatly rewarded by the best "high" I have ever experienced - an audience's applause! It's amazing for a crowd of complete strangers to laugh, smile, and clap for what I do on stage. Plus, anytime I can sing in front of an audience makes me all tingly inside!

I must say, however, that I am so lucky to be able to do this. Long nights and getting home late, not completing all the household chores I wanted to accomplish, missing out on some good TV - so where's the luck? I am lucky that I have a husband who is so supportive of what I do and what I enjoy. I miss him terribly sometimes, and we're only 35 minutes away from each other. He wakes up early every morning, so we don't get to spend time then, either. The last time we had a conscious conversation face to face was Sunday night - it's now Wednesday. I'll get home and he'll be sleeping with dishes done, and laundry folded - AMAZING!!! He knows how much I love to perform and his support allows me to truck through it all. So I am sending out a "Thank You" to my husband, Craig. Thank you for supporting me, inspiring me, and most importantly, loving me. Without you, none of this would be possible!!

What's Going On?

Well, the Phillies let us down. The "Victory of Defeat" is prominent in the Philadelphia area. Rockies swept us - BIG TIME! At least my Shane Victorino got a homer in the last game tying it up and trying to rally the Phils. And, hey, at least we made it that far!! It was nice knocking the Mets off of their 1st place pedestal! I guess we MUST focus on football now! However, I WAS in a suicide pool and one of the last 4 along with the hubby, but the Packers went and blew it! I was doing so well too, and, I believe the only "chick" left in the pool. At least Craig is still in, and hopefully, the winning cash will come our way! Like they say - any given team can win on any given day! Enough about sports.....

Life has been pretty hectic recently. I am doing two shows right now - count them 2! Rehearsals have been pretty crazy, but at least we are getting it together. The first show is Oliver! in which I get to play a fantastic character role of Widow Corney. She's mean, abrasive, and fun and I am really enjoying delving into this character and making her my own. The second show is called "Home for the Holidays" and that's right - it's a Christmas show! There is something disturbing about going into rehearsal and singing "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year" and then walking out of rehearsal and it's a humid and hot day in October with the leaves trying to change. WTF? Both shows are at the Broadway Theatre in Pitman - a newly renovated 1,000 seat house that is absolutely beautiful. I am very excited to perform there! Other than singing the National Anthem with the Savoy Opera Company at the Phillies game this year, performing at this theatre will be the biggest house I have ever performed in. Exciting, yet, overwhelming at first. Let's just get through this week's rehearsal schedule!

This is all I have to say.....

Can you feel it? It's GOOSEBUMPS!!!!!!!!

The Comeback Kids

Ok - so this weekend was one of ups and downs for those who breathe and live in the Philadelphia region. Friday night - Phillies 1st place over the Mets!!! Saturday night - a gut-wrenching loss that made me nauseus like you cannot believe and tied again with the Mets. Sunday, however, was the Day of Days!!! The motto for the Philly Region involved with any sports teams is known as "The Victory of Defeat." It's nototious for Philly Sports teams to go so far - have victory in it's grasp - and then let it slip away in mere seconds. Not Sunday though! Sunday was the day for the Philadelphia Phillies to SHINE! As the Mets were loosing in New York, you could hear it in the crowd at Citizens Bank Park how excited everyone was. Jamie Moyer (who I am convinced is my cousin) pitched an excellent game and even my boy - Tom "Flash" Gordon came in for a bit and pitched a grounder for a double play. However, it was in the mere seconds of the end of the game when the Met's score was FINAL that they LOST that the crowd roared as Bret Meyers struck out the last batter to clinch our win and the NL East!

We were 17 games behind the Mets a few weeks ago. We only hoped of clinching the Wild Card. Never in our wildest dreams did we even dream of the title of NL East Champs! As the champagne poured, in glasses and on the team, we knew that it was REALLY OURS! With the help of the 10th Man (our Phans), a stellar team, The Philly Phanatic, and true support and devotion, the Philadelphia Phillies aka The Comeback Kids showed the world who they really are! Whether we meet the Rockies or the Padres on Wednesday - it's time for us to kick some ass and take some names! GO PHILLIES!!!!!!!