Hallelujah!

Blogger now allows posting of images. Although it's still a bit slow and almost like having dial-up again. Ah well, I'll take it.

Here are the long awaited pics from our trip to Dubuque and Galena those few weeks back.

My alma mater, snowing to beat hell the day we were there.



The symbol of Clarke, the atrium.


Mary Frances, or Mary Fran, where I lived all by my lonesome junior and senior years.


Galena Main Street, looking forlorn.


The epic staircase Moonlight Graham walks up every day and night in Field of Dreams, just off Main Street in Galena.


Alas, the 4th Street Elevator was a bit snowed in when we were there, so we didn't get to ride. Maybe we'll go back in the summer and ride it then!

Harumph....

After not sleeping for days last week, I contracted Rob's flu. He is finally back to normal, which makes me feel somewhat better. Like there is an end in sight.

Why have I been so sick this year? Is it because I hadn't lived here in 5 years? I was sick many MANY times in California, but attributed it to the mold, the dampness, the cold weather, and what folks in Humboldt county called "The Humboldt Ick". But why now? It's nearly April, and I am laid up with the same flu that has ransacked the entire Quad City area (well, Augie at least).

Today is the first day since Thursday that I've felt somewhat human... but not really. Today was, however, the first day I got out of my pajamas, and subsequently, out of bed. While being an atheist means we don't really celebrate any sort of Easter holiday, I still would have rather been eating brats with my parents than eating scrambled eggs in bed watching The Goonies.

Ah but I will say this. There is nothing like the Flu Diet to help you get back into svelte shape. With a diet of chicken noodle soup and scrambled eggs for 5 days, one is bound to lose a few pounds.

I am ready to get back to normal. To get back to work. To teach, to function in the outside world. Hopefully tomorrow....

I don't mean to bitch, but...

I'm exhausted.

I haven't slept through the night since last Thursday. Friday night was drinking with the Prenzies after the show, then up early. Saturday night? Drinking (and smoking cigars - why must I do this to myself?) with the Prenzies again, then up early Sunday, too. Plus auditions = exhausting. Then....

I have a sick husband at home battling the flu, which makes it nearly impossible to sleep because he either A. snores from having a stuffy nose or B. is coughing all damned night. Last night I fell asleep on top of the covers in my jammies snuggling with Ike. Woke up a little later and crawled into the bed. Awoke sometime before dawn to Rob hacking up a lung.

I just need to sleep. That's all.

It also doesn't help that teaching this MT Spring Break class over at New Ground A. eats into my morning gym routine (am total bitch when not getting my time on the elliptical machine in the AM) and B. having to teach kids for 2 hours straight. 1 hour works great, but 2? After a while, both they and I would rather be somewhere else. They would probably like to be running around outside or playing video games and watching tv. I'd like to be on a private beach in St. Barts, sipping a drink with an umbrella in it and getting a massage from Sven. Tomato, toe-mah-toe.

Tonight I'm settling for a vanilla steamer and some warm toast with cinnamon sugar and butter. May not be as sweet as Sven, but hopefully it does the trick.

Because the last one was so funny...

Drunk History Vol. 2. Not for those with weak stomachs.....

Week in Review

Well kiddies, Blogger still sucks ass. Am unsure what the hold-up is with the image posting, but hopefully it will be fixed soon!

I usually try not to advertise what I do on this blogspace, but I was able to cast my first season this weekend. Woot! If you're curious, please see the website to see all the great folks who will be joining us on our first season. YAHOO!!!

We all went to see the Prenzie's Taming of the Shrew this past weekend, which was a sublime evening of merriment (so was the partying at Blue Cat just following). What a wonderful show. While I enjoyed Othello back in October, this production just was too much fun not to like more than the other. Saturday night, we spent at Koski's, joining the Prenzies in post-show revelry.

In short, I'm exhausted from the partying, the auditions, and not seeing my dogs for nearly three days. I need another vacation...

Blogger sucks

For some reason, Blogger still wont let me post pics I've taken, but it will let me post stock photos. What the F, Blogger? Oh well, those pics from our trip will have to continue to wait, I s'pose.

Auditions are in two days. I'm like a kid in a candy shop. Hopefully we are inundated with so much talent I won't know what to do with myself.

Since seeing Marion Cottiliard be a badass in La Vie En Rose, I Amazoned myself Eternelle, the Songs of Edith Piaf. It's really quite something. God could that woman sing. And as a musical theatre singer who tries to teach her students to phonate in the proper place (the nasopharnx), Edith is a prime listening example. She rocks.

I'm back....

Hello kittens-

Have been trying to post pics since Saturday morning of our journey up north. However, I read that Blogger crashed the other day, and posting pics isn't working out, so when it's finally back up, I'll post them.

Today, I finished my grant for the Riverboat Development Authority. Six copies, plus the original, with attachments out the yang. It's been drudgery, but we've requested 10K, so if we get it, it'll be worth it. Now I get to write some smaller grants in hopes to suppliment our small take this summer. Auditions are Saturday and Sunday! I am excited, nervous, weirded out. I hope we get a good turn-out. Will see what happens!

More to come...

My boy is 30

Okay, I'm not usually such a geek girl about this sort of thing. And I meant to post this on Saturday, but forgot. Most everyone who reads this blog knows my obsession, love, and fangirl-dom for the tv show Supernatural (which was just picked up for season 4- woohoo!). This past Saturday, my dear boy Jensen turned 30. Jensen has always been hot, even during his time spent on Days of our Lives all those years ago (yep, was a fan of him then, too). And maybe it's because I'm getting older, but damn, the older Jensen gets, the hotter he is. That whole life-experience thing, I think. And those wrinkles around his eyes. And those freckles.




He is SO James Bond here.


My two boys. So cute.

Even my husband, who is now an avid SPN fan, can understand the allure of such a beautiful man. He even condones my pervy thoughts about him. Thanks, honey.


Who else looks this hot with a gun?

Commence Happy Dance

That's right, folks. I sent in the contracts (and money) to Samuel French today for our very first show! WEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!! Can't believe this is finally happening. Am too entirely happy. Now. Let's see if we can create an audience!

Also, I was informed today my one act, The Third Date, has been chosen to be presented at the Green Room's One Act Play Festival at the beginning of May! I am honored to be able to direct something I've actually written. How often does someone get to do that?


In other news, Rob and I are dogsitting for our friends Christine and Jemmie.

Ike, Maddy and Portia


As if two dogs weren't enough to create absolute mayhem, let's add a third. Portia is very sweet. She realizes Maddy is Alpha Dog, so she's been provoking poor Ike by batting at his head. Maddy went after her once. So protective of her little brother. They are all getting along just fine now, with a few whines and whimpers from Portia when Ike doesn't want to play. It's a 3 Dog Night at our house.

Week in Review

*giant sigh*

Yes, I feel so much better than I did on Monday. I was pissed off, and in desperate need of venting. So thank you, dear readers, for giving me your kind words and love while I huffed and puffed and blew my own house down.

Am desperately ready for Wednesday, as that is when Rob and I leave for a few days. Wednesday we are heading up to Dubuque. Plans? We will visit Clarke (my alma mater), where I haven't been since 2002. Should be nice to see old friends, see how the college has changed. Rob also wants to ride the funicular, or the 4th Street Elevator. It's this ancient thing that takes you all the way up the hill, for spectacular views of the city and river valley. Hopefully it won't be too cold that day. Then, dinner with college pal Megan and her beau. Thursday, it's over to Galena for shopping, relaxing, etc.. We will return home on Friday afternoon, as next weekend I am judging Miss Blackhawk Valley Outstanding Teen. Oh boy...

Had the opportunity this week to see some good movies. The first was The Jane Austen Book Club.

It didn't get reviewed well, but I really enjoyed it. 6 people (5 women and 1 man) get together to each review one of 6 Jane Austen novels. Romance, friendship, anger, fun ensues. I liked it because this is how real life IS. From the opening montage of folks trying to deal with what technology has done to our lives, to Jocelyn (Maria Bello) denying her feelings for Grigg (an adorable and sexy as hell Hugh Dancy), to Prudie's (an amazing as usual Emily Blunt) inability to communicate to her husband (Marc Blucas). I loved this movie. It made me want to find 5 friends and start my own Jane Austen Book Club.

Also this week, I had the opportunity to see La Vie En Rose.

I did not get the opportunity to watch the Oscars this year, as I was at rehearsal. I did catch the tail end of them when I got home, but I missed Best Actor/Actress. I had only seen one Best Actress nominee this year, and that was Ellen Page in Juno. Of course, curiosity made me want to see Marion Cotillards performance to see if she was worthy of taking home the statue. While I was not a fan of the movie, I will say that Miss Marion's performance of Edith Piaf is likely the most amazing performance by an actress I have EVER SEEN. She plays the famous heroin-shooting chanteuse from age 17-47, and those last years she portrayed for sure won her the award. She is a phenom. Anyone who can do that kind of performance is a badass. I also think whoever did her make-up is a f-ing genius. Anyone who can take this beautiful woman



And turn her into coked-out, aging this


Is amazing.