Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Tuesday once again....
Current mood: thoughtful
Category: Life
I still think about that fateful day in 2001. Like today, September 11th was on a Tuesday. Most people, like myself, went to work like it was any other Tuesday. We expected to have an ordinary day. And then came the news of the plane crashing into the WTC. I heard someone talking about it and brushed it off as an accident that wouldn't have much impact. Then I started hearing more talk about it and reading news flashes on the Internet. There was a TV in the convenience store in our office building and everyone was crowding around it, staring in shock as the 2nd tower was hit. Then, because the day wasn't ordinary anymore and there was a terrorist threat looming over the U.S., we were sent home for our own safety. I remember spending hours on the couch watching the events unfold on CNN. I remember thinking how I didn't want to do anything social that evening because it didn't matter when all these lives were irrevocably changed. Even though I didn't know anyone affected at the time, it was still sad and scary. It still made an impact on my life...on how I viewed things in general. I remember worrying about my friend being in Israel and then getting an e-mail from him making sure his family and friends in the Chicago area were okay. We weren't even hit, but it was still a global impact.
Even though it has been 6 years, people still commemorate the day the face of NYC, and the U.S., changed forever. I will always think about that day, no matter how many years it has been. I even tried my hardest not to deliver my child on 9/11 (and succeeded), as I did not want his birthday associated with this day. Had it been an ordinary day, as it should have been that Tuesday in 2001, it wouldn't have mattered as much in the present time. Or even if something in the future happens on my son's birthday, I would not associate things the same way. It's all about the history. It's just sad to think that we grew up in this country that felt "safe" and now my son (and all other children born after that fateful day) has to grow up in a country that isn't so safe. Tuesday, 9/11/01, has taught us that anything can happen at any time and even if we're not prepared, we should always tell the people we love how much we love them.
May our children be able to raise their children in a country that at least feels somewhat more safe. Maybe national security will be better by then. Who knows? Maybe the event will have happened so long ago that it will just be in history books, like the past wars have been. Ones that we just learn about but say that we're glad we weren't growing up during that time.
I still think about 9/11 a lot. Especially now that September is here and the 9th anniversary is coming up. Since it is on Shabbat this year, I won't be listening to the radio or watching TV shows that commemorate the event, if they still even do that. I think next year will be a big deal since it will be 10 years. In the meantime, it seems like people don't focus on 9/11 as much, save for that whole situation with the mosque and religious differences that I will not delve into personally.
I recently wrote a story about 9/11. It spawned from a "Fiction Friday" prompt. I was actually at dinner that evening and was thinking about how our kids will one day be asking about where we were when the planes hit the World Trade Center. My thoughts probably stemmed from a conversation about where people were when Kennedy was assassinated. Then I thought about the Challenger explosion which led me to think about 9/11. Anyway, check it out.
The other thing that gets me thinking about 9/11 is that the 5 year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina is around now. I remember visiting my grandma on her birthday and watching the aftermath of Katrina on the news. I was also very much pregnant with my older son and worrying more that he'd be born on 9/11 than anything to do with Katrina. Maybe because Katrina was a natural disaster and 9/11 was a hateful act against the U.S. In any case, both situations were horrible, but I hope people take a moment of silence on September 11th this year to think about all that was lost and how much we've all changed because of it, whether or not we can admit that to ourselves.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Friday, August 27, 2010
We'll always have chick lit
For this week's Friendship Friday post, I have chosen M.P. as my friend of the week.
M.P. and I go way back. I can't remember how old I was when she and her family first moved two doors down from us on our cul-de-sac in Buffalo Grove. She and her sister were close in age to my sister and me. We naturally would all get together to hang out, along with some other same-aged kids on our block. When I was 12, I remember working on a talent show for the block party with M.P. and her sister. We also went to each others' birthday parties every year. We also had the same style house and our address numbers were one digit apart. We had dogs, as well.
After I graduated high school and my family and I moved off our street, we didn't see each other, nor did we stay in touch. She and her family eventually moved out of state. A few years ago, I found M.P. and her sister on Facebook. When M.P. and I finally reconnected on there, we discovered a mutual love for chick lit novels. I think it started with talking about a Marian Keyes book. From that point, I invited her to join a small group discussion I had with two other friends about chick lit books. She was the most involved and enthusiastic though. I was always excited to tell her what new books I had bought. This in turn inspired me to start Chick Lit Central on Facebook. Shortly after that, I was able to arrange an interview with Jane Green and I invited her to help me with the questions. After that, I thought we'd form a partnership for the Chick Lit Central blog. We've paired up on a bunch of interviews and now she is starting to fly solo on some of them.
We have a lot of fun e-mailing about the interviews and books we've been reading, as well as other things going on in our lives. We keep finding other interests we have in common too. We're even trading books from time to time. She's definitely been helpful with all these interviews. I don't even know if I could do all the work alone anymore. She asks great questions to the authors and I know she has been doing more research than I have. She's also there when I need to vent about blog related stuff and she reassures me that I'm not going crazy. :)
We live three time zones away from each other, but I hope we can find a way to meet up soon. She seems to have quite a fun and idyllic life in AZ, based on all the updates and pictures I see on Facebook. I'm sure we'd end up partying a lot if I went out her way. Otherwise, we'd spend all our time lounging outside and reading. I know she's been interested in checking out DC, so I hope she can make it out here too. Until then, I plan to work with her on this blog for a long time and I know we'll always have chick lit.
M.P. and I go way back. I can't remember how old I was when she and her family first moved two doors down from us on our cul-de-sac in Buffalo Grove. She and her sister were close in age to my sister and me. We naturally would all get together to hang out, along with some other same-aged kids on our block. When I was 12, I remember working on a talent show for the block party with M.P. and her sister. We also went to each others' birthday parties every year. We also had the same style house and our address numbers were one digit apart. We had dogs, as well.
After I graduated high school and my family and I moved off our street, we didn't see each other, nor did we stay in touch. She and her family eventually moved out of state. A few years ago, I found M.P. and her sister on Facebook. When M.P. and I finally reconnected on there, we discovered a mutual love for chick lit novels. I think it started with talking about a Marian Keyes book. From that point, I invited her to join a small group discussion I had with two other friends about chick lit books. She was the most involved and enthusiastic though. I was always excited to tell her what new books I had bought. This in turn inspired me to start Chick Lit Central on Facebook. Shortly after that, I was able to arrange an interview with Jane Green and I invited her to help me with the questions. After that, I thought we'd form a partnership for the Chick Lit Central blog. We've paired up on a bunch of interviews and now she is starting to fly solo on some of them.
We have a lot of fun e-mailing about the interviews and books we've been reading, as well as other things going on in our lives. We keep finding other interests we have in common too. We're even trading books from time to time. She's definitely been helpful with all these interviews. I don't even know if I could do all the work alone anymore. She asks great questions to the authors and I know she has been doing more research than I have. She's also there when I need to vent about blog related stuff and she reassures me that I'm not going crazy. :)
We live three time zones away from each other, but I hope we can find a way to meet up soon. She seems to have quite a fun and idyllic life in AZ, based on all the updates and pictures I see on Facebook. I'm sure we'd end up partying a lot if I went out her way. Otherwise, we'd spend all our time lounging outside and reading. I know she's been interested in checking out DC, so I hope she can make it out here too. Until then, I plan to work with her on this blog for a long time and I know we'll always have chick lit.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
I love the 90's
Last week, I was watching a show on VH1 all about 90’s music. It was filmed in 2007 which made a few items of follow-up news a bit outdated. Still, it was fun to watch and it brought back a lot of memories. I thought that I’d devote some blog posts to my favorite 90’s songs (or possibly albums) and what role they played in my life or what memories they bring back for me.
"Nothing Compares 2 U" by Sinead O'Connor: This song came out in 1990 and it reminds me of when I went to overnight camp and had a crush on this gorgeous South African counselor. The song played sometimes when we were in the same room and I associated it with him. It also makes me think of “Saturday Night Live” because Jan Hooks impersonated Sinead O’Connor a few times. My favorite was for “The Frank Sinatra Group.”
“Nevermind” (Nirvana): This album was one of my saving graces during sophomore year of high school (1992). I listened to it all the time with my walkman while riding the bus to and from school. I also brought it with me when I went to England that summer. “Smells Like Teen Spirit” may be the most popular song on there, but there are some other songs that are even better. When Kurt Cobain killed himself in 1994, I listened to the album a lot again, but it had a more melancholy feel. I still listen to it nowadays and it brings back memories of that time period in my life.
”Under the Bridge” by Red Hot Chili Peppers: I first remember hearing this at my sister’s Bat Mitzvah celebration in 1992. I associated it with the hot DJ (another past crush of mine) who chose to play it that evening. Then I had to go out and get a cassette single (remember those?) of that song. I put it on a mix tape that I brought with for my England trip. There’s something about this song that is so catchy. I listen to it now and it still hasn’t lost the appeal it started with in the 90’s. I don’t know if it’s the instrumental combinations in the background, the slow buildup to a great ending, the music video, etc.
"Stay" by Lisa Loeb and Nine Stories: This song was popularized by the movie “Reality Bites,” which I saw before I started college in 1994. I immediately bought the soundtrack because I liked a lot of the music from the movie. “Stay” definitely stands out for me though. It’s so catchy and fun to sing along with. I had a hard time turning off the radio whenever it came on and would sit in the car to finish listening. It reminds me of the summer before college as well as my beginning months there. A year or so later, I got Lisa Loeb’s “Tails” album and I still love listening to that, as well. “Stay” is also on the album, but it has competition with “Do You Sleep?” It’s definitely a classic 90’s tune though.
"Blackhole Sun" by Soundgarden: This song also reminds me of freshman year of college. My friends and I played billiards a lot at the beginning of the year and this song always happened to be on in the Bowling and Billiards Center. I immediately associate it with that period of time anytime I hear it. It has a great sound and seems mellow even for grunge. The video is pretty crazy though. I still like it nowadays and put it on a mix CD for road trips.
"Dulcinea" (Toad the Wet Sprocket) and "August and Everything After" (Counting Crows): I first got into both of these albums during late 1994/early 1995, over winter vacation. I’d hear various songs from each of these albums on the radio and they stuck with me after a while. I remember that I was listening to Counting Crows on New Year’s Day on the way home from an overnight party. I was getting a ride home from one of my friends. A few days later, I bought the CD after getting a CD player to bring back to school. My favorite song from that CD is “Rain King.” It was played on the radio a lot during that winter break and it just stuck with me. I still like that song nowadays.
As for Toad the Wet Sprocket…I was told how good they are by a guy I was working with at Yen Yen around Thanksgiving time. During winter break, I exchanged some Hanukkah gift money or a gift card for the “Dulcinea” cassette at Tower Records. I listened to it all the time after that. I even got my friend (who got me into Counting Crows) to buy his own copy after he heard it. My favorite song at the time was “Fall Down”. However, I also love “Fly from Heaven,” , which is the first song on the album. I remember hearing it on an episode of “Party of Five” and becoming excited about recognizing it. (At the time, I wasn’t even a Po5 fan yet.) It has a great level of melody and harmony and I still love hearing it. “Dulcinea” is what got me started on my Toad addiction. After that, I had to have all their CDs/cassettes. I even became friends with someone during junior year of college who gave me a tape of rare Toad songs. I still have that somewhere.
I brought both albums back to college second semester and listened to them all the time. I was at a different place in my life between first and second semester and those albums remind me of that. I still have the original Counting Crows CD that I bought in 1995, but I upgraded “Dulcinea” to CD status.
"One of Us" by Joan Osborne: I first heard this song during sophomore year of college (1996), before it became popular. My friend had it on his answering machine and it was very catchy. Then he moved away (he was originally from Utah and only spent a year at Illinois State). After that, the song became popular on the radio and I thought of him whenever I heard it. It’s a great song and I still like listening to it from time to time. I even requested it during an 80’s and 90’s radio request hour earlier this year. I don’t hear from the friend who introduced me to this song, but I connected with his wife on Facebook and hear updates about him through her. She probably gives him updates about my life too.
That’s all for this week’s 90’s music flashback. More songs/albums coming soon...
"Nothing Compares 2 U" by Sinead O'Connor: This song came out in 1990 and it reminds me of when I went to overnight camp and had a crush on this gorgeous South African counselor. The song played sometimes when we were in the same room and I associated it with him. It also makes me think of “Saturday Night Live” because Jan Hooks impersonated Sinead O’Connor a few times. My favorite was for “The Frank Sinatra Group.”
“Nevermind” (Nirvana): This album was one of my saving graces during sophomore year of high school (1992). I listened to it all the time with my walkman while riding the bus to and from school. I also brought it with me when I went to England that summer. “Smells Like Teen Spirit” may be the most popular song on there, but there are some other songs that are even better. When Kurt Cobain killed himself in 1994, I listened to the album a lot again, but it had a more melancholy feel. I still listen to it nowadays and it brings back memories of that time period in my life.
”Under the Bridge” by Red Hot Chili Peppers: I first remember hearing this at my sister’s Bat Mitzvah celebration in 1992. I associated it with the hot DJ (another past crush of mine) who chose to play it that evening. Then I had to go out and get a cassette single (remember those?) of that song. I put it on a mix tape that I brought with for my England trip. There’s something about this song that is so catchy. I listen to it now and it still hasn’t lost the appeal it started with in the 90’s. I don’t know if it’s the instrumental combinations in the background, the slow buildup to a great ending, the music video, etc.
"Stay" by Lisa Loeb and Nine Stories: This song was popularized by the movie “Reality Bites,” which I saw before I started college in 1994. I immediately bought the soundtrack because I liked a lot of the music from the movie. “Stay” definitely stands out for me though. It’s so catchy and fun to sing along with. I had a hard time turning off the radio whenever it came on and would sit in the car to finish listening. It reminds me of the summer before college as well as my beginning months there. A year or so later, I got Lisa Loeb’s “Tails” album and I still love listening to that, as well. “Stay” is also on the album, but it has competition with “Do You Sleep?” It’s definitely a classic 90’s tune though.
"Blackhole Sun" by Soundgarden: This song also reminds me of freshman year of college. My friends and I played billiards a lot at the beginning of the year and this song always happened to be on in the Bowling and Billiards Center. I immediately associate it with that period of time anytime I hear it. It has a great sound and seems mellow even for grunge. The video is pretty crazy though. I still like it nowadays and put it on a mix CD for road trips.
"Dulcinea" (Toad the Wet Sprocket) and "August and Everything After" (Counting Crows): I first got into both of these albums during late 1994/early 1995, over winter vacation. I’d hear various songs from each of these albums on the radio and they stuck with me after a while. I remember that I was listening to Counting Crows on New Year’s Day on the way home from an overnight party. I was getting a ride home from one of my friends. A few days later, I bought the CD after getting a CD player to bring back to school. My favorite song from that CD is “Rain King.” It was played on the radio a lot during that winter break and it just stuck with me. I still like that song nowadays.
As for Toad the Wet Sprocket…I was told how good they are by a guy I was working with at Yen Yen around Thanksgiving time. During winter break, I exchanged some Hanukkah gift money or a gift card for the “Dulcinea” cassette at Tower Records. I listened to it all the time after that. I even got my friend (who got me into Counting Crows) to buy his own copy after he heard it. My favorite song at the time was “Fall Down”. However, I also love “Fly from Heaven,” , which is the first song on the album. I remember hearing it on an episode of “Party of Five” and becoming excited about recognizing it. (At the time, I wasn’t even a Po5 fan yet.) It has a great level of melody and harmony and I still love hearing it. “Dulcinea” is what got me started on my Toad addiction. After that, I had to have all their CDs/cassettes. I even became friends with someone during junior year of college who gave me a tape of rare Toad songs. I still have that somewhere.
I brought both albums back to college second semester and listened to them all the time. I was at a different place in my life between first and second semester and those albums remind me of that. I still have the original Counting Crows CD that I bought in 1995, but I upgraded “Dulcinea” to CD status.
"One of Us" by Joan Osborne: I first heard this song during sophomore year of college (1996), before it became popular. My friend had it on his answering machine and it was very catchy. Then he moved away (he was originally from Utah and only spent a year at Illinois State). After that, the song became popular on the radio and I thought of him whenever I heard it. It’s a great song and I still like listening to it from time to time. I even requested it during an 80’s and 90’s radio request hour earlier this year. I don’t hear from the friend who introduced me to this song, but I connected with his wife on Facebook and hear updates about him through her. She probably gives him updates about my life too.
That’s all for this week’s 90’s music flashback. More songs/albums coming soon...
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Back to the (Neo)Future
Anyone who knew me in the late 90's would remember my obsession with "Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind." For those of you who are scratching your heads and giving me a quizzical look right now, let me go into more detail.
"Too Much Light" is an ongoing show performed by the Neo-Futurists. It occurs every weekend (except the last two of the year, from what I remember). It's only an hour long, but you get to see 30 short plays during that time. If the time runs out before you get to see all 30 plays, then that's it.
Before the show, everyone waits in a lounge area and there are board games available. Sometimes there are baked goods sold in the kitchen on the way to the lounge. The first step into seeing the actual show is the payment process. You roll a die and the number that comes up gets added to a set number to decide how much you'll pay. I think it was usually an additional $5 after the roll. So you'd pay between $6-11. Then you'd give your name to someone wearing headphones and they'd write something totally different and unusual on a nametag. Afterward, you go to your seat and are handed a menu with the titles of all 30 plays and the actors performing that evening. Before the show starts, the actors assess the crowd and determine whether or not they have sold out. If they sell out, they order pizza for the audience and everyone yells their favorite toppings as they run around the room with the phone. Then the show starts. The audience shouts a number and the actors pick the first one they hear by tearing it off a clothesline and throwing it into the audience. Then they say "Go" and anything that happens after that point is the play. When they say "curtain," the play has ended and the audience has to choose a new number. The plays range from comedic to musical to dramatic. Sometimes they talk about pop culture or current events. Now can you see why I had trouble staying away?!?
The first time I ever saw the show was in 1993 during a theater night for the Thespian troupe I was in from high school. I had never heard of it and right before I saw it, they were featured on "Wild Chicago." It made the experience a lot easier to follow when I actually got to the show. Then I didn't start going again until the summer before my senior year of college, in 1997. That's when the addiction began....
I had an enjoyable time at the Neo-Futurarium during the years I attended TML. I got to know the actors just by being there every weekend and also through the Internet. I even had my 22nd birthday party there and they were very accommodating. I still talk to some of the actors on Facebook and saw one of them again last winter when he came with a group of Neo-Futurists to perform the show in DC. I loved their theme weekends, such as for Pride weekend, Halloween, Mother's Day and Father's Day. I took my parents to the last two and they enjoyed it too. They definitely fed my addiction for the show. I also took a lot of friends there to see it at different times. Some of them came back with me to see it again. I even made a scrapbook with all the menus, the numbers I caught, name tags and some pictures I took (I'll include a few here). I continued to go every so often in 1999-2002, depending on when I made it out to the city. Then I stopped for a while and returned in 2005 when a group of friends wanted to see it. At that time, it didn't have the same feel. There were new actors whom I wasn't familiar with and it felt amateur at the time. However, when I saw it last winter in DC, it regained the feeling I used to experience when I went all the time during my obsessed phase.
"Too Much Light..." still sticks with me in some ways. I set my cell phone ring tone to this whistling tune that reminds me of the music they'd play before the show each week. I also hear songs or certain phrases and those remind me of the show too. If you live in Chicago (or NYC, if they still perform there too), I highly recommend checking it out at least once in your life. And stay for the pizza at the end....
With Lusia at my 22nd birthday party
With Diana, whom I wish would show up on Facebook already!
With Dave, whom I still see on Facebook
With Sean, Phil, "The Clock," and Steve
With John in 1997
With John in 2009...reunion time!
"Too Much Light" is an ongoing show performed by the Neo-Futurists. It occurs every weekend (except the last two of the year, from what I remember). It's only an hour long, but you get to see 30 short plays during that time. If the time runs out before you get to see all 30 plays, then that's it.
Before the show, everyone waits in a lounge area and there are board games available. Sometimes there are baked goods sold in the kitchen on the way to the lounge. The first step into seeing the actual show is the payment process. You roll a die and the number that comes up gets added to a set number to decide how much you'll pay. I think it was usually an additional $5 after the roll. So you'd pay between $6-11. Then you'd give your name to someone wearing headphones and they'd write something totally different and unusual on a nametag. Afterward, you go to your seat and are handed a menu with the titles of all 30 plays and the actors performing that evening. Before the show starts, the actors assess the crowd and determine whether or not they have sold out. If they sell out, they order pizza for the audience and everyone yells their favorite toppings as they run around the room with the phone. Then the show starts. The audience shouts a number and the actors pick the first one they hear by tearing it off a clothesline and throwing it into the audience. Then they say "Go" and anything that happens after that point is the play. When they say "curtain," the play has ended and the audience has to choose a new number. The plays range from comedic to musical to dramatic. Sometimes they talk about pop culture or current events. Now can you see why I had trouble staying away?!?
The first time I ever saw the show was in 1993 during a theater night for the Thespian troupe I was in from high school. I had never heard of it and right before I saw it, they were featured on "Wild Chicago." It made the experience a lot easier to follow when I actually got to the show. Then I didn't start going again until the summer before my senior year of college, in 1997. That's when the addiction began....
I had an enjoyable time at the Neo-Futurarium during the years I attended TML. I got to know the actors just by being there every weekend and also through the Internet. I even had my 22nd birthday party there and they were very accommodating. I still talk to some of the actors on Facebook and saw one of them again last winter when he came with a group of Neo-Futurists to perform the show in DC. I loved their theme weekends, such as for Pride weekend, Halloween, Mother's Day and Father's Day. I took my parents to the last two and they enjoyed it too. They definitely fed my addiction for the show. I also took a lot of friends there to see it at different times. Some of them came back with me to see it again. I even made a scrapbook with all the menus, the numbers I caught, name tags and some pictures I took (I'll include a few here). I continued to go every so often in 1999-2002, depending on when I made it out to the city. Then I stopped for a while and returned in 2005 when a group of friends wanted to see it. At that time, it didn't have the same feel. There were new actors whom I wasn't familiar with and it felt amateur at the time. However, when I saw it last winter in DC, it regained the feeling I used to experience when I went all the time during my obsessed phase.
"Too Much Light..." still sticks with me in some ways. I set my cell phone ring tone to this whistling tune that reminds me of the music they'd play before the show each week. I also hear songs or certain phrases and those remind me of the show too. If you live in Chicago (or NYC, if they still perform there too), I highly recommend checking it out at least once in your life. And stay for the pizza at the end....
With Lusia at my 22nd birthday party
With Diana, whom I wish would show up on Facebook already!
With Dave, whom I still see on Facebook
With Sean, Phil, "The Clock," and Steve
With John in 1997
With John in 2009...reunion time!
Friday, August 20, 2010
We'll always have September Sprites
For this week's Friendship Friday post, I wanted to talk about three friends I met through a group I joined on iVillage during my first pregnancy and the months following my son's birth.
J.S.: After I first joined the group, I posted a quote from "Rent" at one point, either on a discussion or in my profile. It caught J.S.'s eye, as she was a "Rent" fan too. We started e-mailing every day after that, usually multiple times a day. We found a lot of other things we had in common. Eventually, we became sounding boards for each other. I still remember little things like how she'd always talk about getting Mexican food while I talked about getting Chinese food. We also gave each other book and movie recommendations. We were excited for each other at the births of our children and sent each other gifts for the babies. When our babies were almost a year old, we got to meet in person for the first time. I felt bad about running late to meet her because we got lost. It was fun to talk face to face. She actually lived not far from where we currently live. A short while later, she moved to NY and then we moved to NJ. We didn't get a chance to meet up, but we still e-mailed from time to time. We sent each other gifts when our second children were born too. We haven't really e-mailed in a while, but I see updated pics of her adorable girls on her Facebook page. I enjoyed the correspondence we had during our first pregnancies and I hope we can catch up with each other again soon.
S.W.: We didn't meet until after our babies were born. Our first common bond was that our first born sons have the same birthday. The next bond was that their names sounded similar. And finally, we lived relatively close to one another. (If you consider that people were scattered all over the US, living in the north/northwest suburbs of Chicago is close, no matter how far apart those suburbs are.) We met up right before our boys turned one. We hung out at a local mall and got lunch together. After that, we didn't get another chance to hang out. She had another baby that fall and was pretty busy. Then I moved to NJ the following spring. We stayed in touch the whole time, even though our schedules clashed every time I've been in town for a visit. This past year, she and I worked on a blog project along with two other friends. I got to know her even better that way. I think about her whenever I see Kristin Chenoweth or watch "Wall-E." I'm glad we've stayed friends and I hope we continue to stay in touch!
M.B.: Our paths crossed several times in the iVillage groups, but then she left to form a different group. I tried to join that one but had no time to keep up with it. However, her name was very memorable and that helped me reconnect with her a few years later. When I was living in NJ, I formed a group for moms on Facebook. I was looking for moms to tell about this group and came across her profile. I asked her about being in iVillage, as her name stood out from that time. Then we started finding lots of things we had in common, mostly our interest in Broadway shows, and certain TV shows and movies. We started a weekly e-mail discussion about "90210." (I think we both started watching it because of the mother from "Arrested Development" and then just got addicted, even when she left the show.) I met her in person once when we did something to help each other out. She was looking for clients for her massage school clinicals and I was looking for a massage that wouldn't burn a hole in my wallet. You'd think it would be weird to have a first encounter with an online friend this way, but it wasn't all that awkward and she did a great job. I wish her success in her career as a massage therapist. I feel bad that we never got to meet up for a play date with our kids before we moved. I hope our paths will cross in person again someday. Until then, I'm sure we'll find more shows that we both like and can discuss further. Right now, I know it's "Glee."
I connected with some other women in the group as well. There was another one that I met in person when she was in town for a day. We went to the same mall and restaurant that I went to with S.W.. We still see each other around on Facebook. There's another one I like to talk to about Adam Sandler movies. We've also exchanged e-mails about more personal stuff. She lives in Illinois too, but we never got to meet when I lived there. I've also connected with a few other moms from that group on Facebook, as well. There were some that I had stayed in touch with the whole time, even if only sporadically or through status updates. I am thankful that I was able to meet these women through the iVillage groups and stay in touch with them. I love seeing pics of how their "Sprites" have grown in these past 5 years and I enjoy sharing pics and news about my "Sprite." No matter where our lives take us, we'll always have September Sprites.
J.S.: After I first joined the group, I posted a quote from "Rent" at one point, either on a discussion or in my profile. It caught J.S.'s eye, as she was a "Rent" fan too. We started e-mailing every day after that, usually multiple times a day. We found a lot of other things we had in common. Eventually, we became sounding boards for each other. I still remember little things like how she'd always talk about getting Mexican food while I talked about getting Chinese food. We also gave each other book and movie recommendations. We were excited for each other at the births of our children and sent each other gifts for the babies. When our babies were almost a year old, we got to meet in person for the first time. I felt bad about running late to meet her because we got lost. It was fun to talk face to face. She actually lived not far from where we currently live. A short while later, she moved to NY and then we moved to NJ. We didn't get a chance to meet up, but we still e-mailed from time to time. We sent each other gifts when our second children were born too. We haven't really e-mailed in a while, but I see updated pics of her adorable girls on her Facebook page. I enjoyed the correspondence we had during our first pregnancies and I hope we can catch up with each other again soon.
S.W.: We didn't meet until after our babies were born. Our first common bond was that our first born sons have the same birthday. The next bond was that their names sounded similar. And finally, we lived relatively close to one another. (If you consider that people were scattered all over the US, living in the north/northwest suburbs of Chicago is close, no matter how far apart those suburbs are.) We met up right before our boys turned one. We hung out at a local mall and got lunch together. After that, we didn't get another chance to hang out. She had another baby that fall and was pretty busy. Then I moved to NJ the following spring. We stayed in touch the whole time, even though our schedules clashed every time I've been in town for a visit. This past year, she and I worked on a blog project along with two other friends. I got to know her even better that way. I think about her whenever I see Kristin Chenoweth or watch "Wall-E." I'm glad we've stayed friends and I hope we continue to stay in touch!
M.B.: Our paths crossed several times in the iVillage groups, but then she left to form a different group. I tried to join that one but had no time to keep up with it. However, her name was very memorable and that helped me reconnect with her a few years later. When I was living in NJ, I formed a group for moms on Facebook. I was looking for moms to tell about this group and came across her profile. I asked her about being in iVillage, as her name stood out from that time. Then we started finding lots of things we had in common, mostly our interest in Broadway shows, and certain TV shows and movies. We started a weekly e-mail discussion about "90210." (I think we both started watching it because of the mother from "Arrested Development" and then just got addicted, even when she left the show.) I met her in person once when we did something to help each other out. She was looking for clients for her massage school clinicals and I was looking for a massage that wouldn't burn a hole in my wallet. You'd think it would be weird to have a first encounter with an online friend this way, but it wasn't all that awkward and she did a great job. I wish her success in her career as a massage therapist. I feel bad that we never got to meet up for a play date with our kids before we moved. I hope our paths will cross in person again someday. Until then, I'm sure we'll find more shows that we both like and can discuss further. Right now, I know it's "Glee."
I connected with some other women in the group as well. There was another one that I met in person when she was in town for a day. We went to the same mall and restaurant that I went to with S.W.. We still see each other around on Facebook. There's another one I like to talk to about Adam Sandler movies. We've also exchanged e-mails about more personal stuff. She lives in Illinois too, but we never got to meet when I lived there. I've also connected with a few other moms from that group on Facebook, as well. There were some that I had stayed in touch with the whole time, even if only sporadically or through status updates. I am thankful that I was able to meet these women through the iVillage groups and stay in touch with them. I love seeing pics of how their "Sprites" have grown in these past 5 years and I enjoy sharing pics and news about my "Sprite." No matter where our lives take us, we'll always have September Sprites.
Liquid Courage
This week's [Fiction] Friday topic: The note taped to the door said: See you at Wild Notes Karaoke Bar.
Liquid Courage
It had been a long day of checking out hotels, visiting the Grand Canyon and hunting for the perfect souvenir by which they would remember their trip. They had also stayed up late the night before, going to a few adult-themed comedy shows and gambling till just about the crack of dawn. Lou needed to rest so that he could get his second wind before they made their way to the revolving restaurant at the top of the Stratosphere.
"That's fine. I'm going to try my hand at some slot machines. One of them has to be lucky!" Cat changed into a black mini-skirt and a hot pink sleeveless shirt with tiny beads framing the neckline. "Should I come back at seven?"
"Sure." Lou could barely keep his eyes open. Before he knew it, the sky had become dark and the bedside clock read 9:08. He rubbed the sleep out of his eyes, realizing he missed dinner. He looked around for Cat to see if she would want to go to a diner instead. All he found was a note taped to the door that said See you at Wild Notes Karaoke Bar.
Lou jumped into the shower to freshen up and put on a plain blue t-shirt and his only pair of jeans. He stopped at a sandwich shop on his way to the karaoke bar, as he realized he was starving. A meatball sub would fix that.
He almost missed the entrance to Wild Notes Karaoke Bar. It was tucked away on a side street and he had to ask a guy handing out prostitute pamphlets if he knew where the place was. He promptly tossed away the pamphlet when he was out of the guy's view.
The karaoke bar was roaring with music and noise from the crowd. Was this the only karaoke bar in town? He looked around anxiously for Cat and then spotted her waving him over. Who could miss that hot pink shirt?
"I'm sorry I made you miss dinner. You looked so peaceful that I didn't want to wake you. I went to a diner instead. Here, I got you a Coors." She handed him the icy bottle and he took a few swigs. "Need some liquid courage, huh? Well, you will when you go up there to sing."
"Cat, I am not going to sing."
"Drink up, hon. You're on next."
"What am I singing?"
"It's a surprise. Classic eighties stuff!"
He heard the announcer, who called himself Karaoke Joe, call his name. "We now have Lou Ames, singing an old Billy Joel hit. Lou, are you ready to rock and roll?"
Lou hoped it would be "Still Rock and Roll." He could have fun with that one, at least.
Then the title came on the screen: "We Didn't Start the Fire." His jaw dropped and sweat started forming on his brow. He had to be a good sport for Cat's sake, but this was going to be hard. "Um...Harry Truman, Doris Day..." He couldn't do it. He dropped the microphone on a table, sending off a reverberation of loud feedback. Then he ducked out of the bar before Cat could catch up to him.
"Jeez, what's his problem?"
"Such a weirdo!"
Cat pushed her way toward the exit, ignoring the mutter of the crowd. She briefly heard Karaoke Joe apologizing for the "technical difficulty." When she finally got outside, she looked for Lou. He couldn't have gone too far. Maybe the guy with the prostitute pamphlets could help her, as long as he wasn't some sort of pimp. That wouldn't be the way to top off her dreadful evening. She was only trying to have fun with Lou and didn't understand what his problem was. She thought he'd be less shy amongst people he'd never have to see again.
When she finally reached their seedy motel, she found a note on the door of their room. Heading home. Will catch a train. Don't call me. I'll call you when I'm ready to talk. Cat let out a sigh of frustration and packed up her clothes. She then got in her car and headed back toward California, wondering if she'd hear from Lou ever again.
This is a continuation from my posts on June 25th, July 2nd, July 9th and August 6th....in case you want to go back to the beginning.
Liquid Courage
It had been a long day of checking out hotels, visiting the Grand Canyon and hunting for the perfect souvenir by which they would remember their trip. They had also stayed up late the night before, going to a few adult-themed comedy shows and gambling till just about the crack of dawn. Lou needed to rest so that he could get his second wind before they made their way to the revolving restaurant at the top of the Stratosphere.
"That's fine. I'm going to try my hand at some slot machines. One of them has to be lucky!" Cat changed into a black mini-skirt and a hot pink sleeveless shirt with tiny beads framing the neckline. "Should I come back at seven?"
"Sure." Lou could barely keep his eyes open. Before he knew it, the sky had become dark and the bedside clock read 9:08. He rubbed the sleep out of his eyes, realizing he missed dinner. He looked around for Cat to see if she would want to go to a diner instead. All he found was a note taped to the door that said See you at Wild Notes Karaoke Bar.
Lou jumped into the shower to freshen up and put on a plain blue t-shirt and his only pair of jeans. He stopped at a sandwich shop on his way to the karaoke bar, as he realized he was starving. A meatball sub would fix that.
He almost missed the entrance to Wild Notes Karaoke Bar. It was tucked away on a side street and he had to ask a guy handing out prostitute pamphlets if he knew where the place was. He promptly tossed away the pamphlet when he was out of the guy's view.
The karaoke bar was roaring with music and noise from the crowd. Was this the only karaoke bar in town? He looked around anxiously for Cat and then spotted her waving him over. Who could miss that hot pink shirt?
"I'm sorry I made you miss dinner. You looked so peaceful that I didn't want to wake you. I went to a diner instead. Here, I got you a Coors." She handed him the icy bottle and he took a few swigs. "Need some liquid courage, huh? Well, you will when you go up there to sing."
"Cat, I am not going to sing."
"Drink up, hon. You're on next."
"What am I singing?"
"It's a surprise. Classic eighties stuff!"
He heard the announcer, who called himself Karaoke Joe, call his name. "We now have Lou Ames, singing an old Billy Joel hit. Lou, are you ready to rock and roll?"
Lou hoped it would be "Still Rock and Roll." He could have fun with that one, at least.
Then the title came on the screen: "We Didn't Start the Fire." His jaw dropped and sweat started forming on his brow. He had to be a good sport for Cat's sake, but this was going to be hard. "Um...Harry Truman, Doris Day..." He couldn't do it. He dropped the microphone on a table, sending off a reverberation of loud feedback. Then he ducked out of the bar before Cat could catch up to him.
"Jeez, what's his problem?"
"Such a weirdo!"
Cat pushed her way toward the exit, ignoring the mutter of the crowd. She briefly heard Karaoke Joe apologizing for the "technical difficulty." When she finally got outside, she looked for Lou. He couldn't have gone too far. Maybe the guy with the prostitute pamphlets could help her, as long as he wasn't some sort of pimp. That wouldn't be the way to top off her dreadful evening. She was only trying to have fun with Lou and didn't understand what his problem was. She thought he'd be less shy amongst people he'd never have to see again.
When she finally reached their seedy motel, she found a note on the door of their room. Heading home. Will catch a train. Don't call me. I'll call you when I'm ready to talk. Cat let out a sigh of frustration and packed up her clothes. She then got in her car and headed back toward California, wondering if she'd hear from Lou ever again.
This is a continuation from my posts on June 25th, July 2nd, July 9th and August 6th....in case you want to go back to the beginning.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
"Jenny's got a job, a cat named Jake..."
I heard “Something’s Gotta Give” by LeAnn Rimes in the car today and it took me back to the summer of 2005, prior to my older son’s birth. I listened to LeAnn Rimes’ “This Woman” CD so many times that it became the soundtrack of my summer and it also reminds me of my first pregnancy and my last summer without any kids. It’s a great CD. It has a mix of upbeat and somewhat sad songs. I still listen to it from time to time.
I mentioned in a previous post that “Wake Me Up When September Ends” by Green Day reminds me of my first pregnancy, as well. I didn’t mention “Holla Back Girl” by Gwen Stefani though. I used to hear that on the radio all the time and associated it with that time period in my life. I even sang it to my cat.
I don’t even remember what life was like without kids. However, that doesn’t bother me, as I still find ways to stay an individual and I love my kids more than anything. It’s so amazing to see how much my older son has changed and grown in 5 years.
I love being able to reflect upon my life through music.
I mentioned in a previous post that “Wake Me Up When September Ends” by Green Day reminds me of my first pregnancy, as well. I didn’t mention “Holla Back Girl” by Gwen Stefani though. I used to hear that on the radio all the time and associated it with that time period in my life. I even sang it to my cat.
I don’t even remember what life was like without kids. However, that doesn’t bother me, as I still find ways to stay an individual and I love my kids more than anything. It’s so amazing to see how much my older son has changed and grown in 5 years.
I love being able to reflect upon my life through music.
Friday, August 13, 2010
Where is Bruce Willis when you Need Him?
This week's [Fiction] Friday topic: The conversation took off when Louise mentioned Bruce Willis.
Where is Bruce Willis when you Need Him?
2001
When I got to the office this morning, I put my peanut butter and jelly sandwich in the refrigerator and filled my "Life's a Beach" mug (complete with a palm tree handle) with steaming hot decaf. It was just a typical day at work. The other accounting reps slowly made their way to their desks on this average Tuesday, talking about the pot roast they made last night and discussing the movie they recently watched. Louise had finally seen "Unbreakable."
"It's about time," I piped in. "Wasn't it so intense?"
"I didn't like it as much as "The Sixth Sense," but that Bruce Willis is really something.
Soon Dixie, Laura and the new girl (I think her name was Chelsea) were chatting incessantly about Bruce Willis and every movie and television appearance he has ever made.
"I love when he was on "Friends" and was like totally macking on Rachel. Can I just say yum?" Chelsea, or maybe it was Kelsey, talked through the huge wad of gum in her mouth.
"I liked him best in "Armageddon." I wanted to marry him after seeing that movie. I must have seen it 30 times in one year," Dixie said in her high pitched nasal screech.
"Girls! Two words for you. "Pulp Fiction." I just want to ride on the back of that chopper with him," Laura chimed in.
I was about to tell them that we had a huge deadline that wasn't going to wait for Bruce Willis to somehow convince our boss that we should move it back a week when I felt the thud.
"What was that?"
"I smell smoke."
Alarms started going off in the building. Having worked in the World Trade Center for the last fifteen years, I thought nothing could ever happen to such a grand building. Then I heard people telling us to evacuate down the stairs. That our tower had been hit by a plane and was starting to crumble from the top down.
"Ladies! We have to go. Now! Don't worry about your purses! Bruce Willis isn't going to save us this time." I shouted as I lunged for the door to the stairs and followed the immense crowd of panic stricken workers from floors further up than mine. I didn't look back. I couldn't see much behind me anyway. So many people were cramming into the stairwell.
"Who could do such a thing?"
"Maybe it was an accident?"
"This doesn't feel like an accident."
We gradually made it out of the building and into the fresh air, only to see the second tower get hit by another plane. Shrieks filled the streets of the city as everyone made their way as far from the towers as possible. Smoke and soot were starting to gather from the site of the disaster. We had to keep moving forward. I glanced back again for Louise, Laura, Dixie and Chelsea (Kelsey) but didn't have much luck spotting them. I figured I'd call them on their cells tonight, if they didn't try to reach me first. I first had to worry about finding my husband and picking up Lottie from day care, where I dropped her off only a few hours ago. I punched my husband's number into my cell, but only received a busy tone.
"Move!" I felt a shove from behind.
"Okay, okay..." I grumbled, making my way to Sunshine and Smiles, where I gathered my sticky toddler in my arms and held on to her for dear life.
2010
"Mom, are you okay?"
Carlotta was waving her hand in front of my face. Who knows how long I had zoned out this time?
Shaken, I replied "Yes, sweetie. I didn't get much sleep last night, thanks to you and your "Glee" marathon.
"I need your help with my social studies paper. So are you going to tell me where you were when the twin towers were hit by a plane on September 11th?"
"Nowhere that Bruce Willis could easily find me, that's for sure."
"Huh?" Carlotta looked as puzzled as she did the day I took her out of her favorite day care for the last time before relocating ourselves to Connecticut.
"Never mind. Do you have a pencil and paper ready? This is going to be a long story. Maybe your dad can tell his side too. He saw it all happen. I felt it though." I took a long sip of my decaf and prepared myself to tell Carlotta how the last normal event of that day was listening to my coworkers gushing about Bruce Willis.
Where is Bruce Willis when you Need Him?
2001
When I got to the office this morning, I put my peanut butter and jelly sandwich in the refrigerator and filled my "Life's a Beach" mug (complete with a palm tree handle) with steaming hot decaf. It was just a typical day at work. The other accounting reps slowly made their way to their desks on this average Tuesday, talking about the pot roast they made last night and discussing the movie they recently watched. Louise had finally seen "Unbreakable."
"It's about time," I piped in. "Wasn't it so intense?"
"I didn't like it as much as "The Sixth Sense," but that Bruce Willis is really something.
Soon Dixie, Laura and the new girl (I think her name was Chelsea) were chatting incessantly about Bruce Willis and every movie and television appearance he has ever made.
"I love when he was on "Friends" and was like totally macking on Rachel. Can I just say yum?" Chelsea, or maybe it was Kelsey, talked through the huge wad of gum in her mouth.
"I liked him best in "Armageddon." I wanted to marry him after seeing that movie. I must have seen it 30 times in one year," Dixie said in her high pitched nasal screech.
"Girls! Two words for you. "Pulp Fiction." I just want to ride on the back of that chopper with him," Laura chimed in.
I was about to tell them that we had a huge deadline that wasn't going to wait for Bruce Willis to somehow convince our boss that we should move it back a week when I felt the thud.
"What was that?"
"I smell smoke."
Alarms started going off in the building. Having worked in the World Trade Center for the last fifteen years, I thought nothing could ever happen to such a grand building. Then I heard people telling us to evacuate down the stairs. That our tower had been hit by a plane and was starting to crumble from the top down.
"Ladies! We have to go. Now! Don't worry about your purses! Bruce Willis isn't going to save us this time." I shouted as I lunged for the door to the stairs and followed the immense crowd of panic stricken workers from floors further up than mine. I didn't look back. I couldn't see much behind me anyway. So many people were cramming into the stairwell.
"Who could do such a thing?"
"Maybe it was an accident?"
"This doesn't feel like an accident."
We gradually made it out of the building and into the fresh air, only to see the second tower get hit by another plane. Shrieks filled the streets of the city as everyone made their way as far from the towers as possible. Smoke and soot were starting to gather from the site of the disaster. We had to keep moving forward. I glanced back again for Louise, Laura, Dixie and Chelsea (Kelsey) but didn't have much luck spotting them. I figured I'd call them on their cells tonight, if they didn't try to reach me first. I first had to worry about finding my husband and picking up Lottie from day care, where I dropped her off only a few hours ago. I punched my husband's number into my cell, but only received a busy tone.
"Move!" I felt a shove from behind.
"Okay, okay..." I grumbled, making my way to Sunshine and Smiles, where I gathered my sticky toddler in my arms and held on to her for dear life.
2010
"Mom, are you okay?"
Carlotta was waving her hand in front of my face. Who knows how long I had zoned out this time?
Shaken, I replied "Yes, sweetie. I didn't get much sleep last night, thanks to you and your "Glee" marathon.
"I need your help with my social studies paper. So are you going to tell me where you were when the twin towers were hit by a plane on September 11th?"
"Nowhere that Bruce Willis could easily find me, that's for sure."
"Huh?" Carlotta looked as puzzled as she did the day I took her out of her favorite day care for the last time before relocating ourselves to Connecticut.
"Never mind. Do you have a pencil and paper ready? This is going to be a long story. Maybe your dad can tell his side too. He saw it all happen. I felt it though." I took a long sip of my decaf and prepared myself to tell Carlotta how the last normal event of that day was listening to my coworkers gushing about Bruce Willis.
We'll always have V.C. Andrews
For this week's Friendship Friday post, I'm going to talk about a few women I met through a book club I created a long time ago (for V.C. Andrews fans) and still managed to stay in touch (or in some cases, reunite) with them after it dissipated.
S.B.: When she was in the club, she was one of the long distance (for me) members I got to talk with by phone. I think we may have lost contact for a few years but somehow managed to reunite way before Facebook even came about. I can't even remember how we were able to reunite. Maybe we just held onto each other's e-mail addresses? I do remember telling her when I was trying out for a community production of "Little Shop of Horrors" and that was in 2001. So not too much time was lost. At one point, she was pregnant with her second child and I was pregnant with my first. Our kids were born 6 months apart. We caught up with each other through livejournal for a while, but now it's all about Facebook. I hope we will continue to stay in touch.
C.K.: I don't think we ever lost touch because we were always e-mailing outside of the club. We both liked the same kinds of books and talked about Broadway musicals a lot. I think she's the one who initially recommended "Jemima J" to me. Over time, we continued to stay in contact and always share our good news with each other. In 2008, we finally got to meet in person (after 12 years) during my first visit to DC. It was nice to meet her and her husband and I was glad she got the opportunity to meet my family. She was really nice to my kids too. As luck would have it, she had to go to NYC the following spring for something work related. We met up with her in the city afterward and had a fun time chatting again. I think I'll always tease her about Abu-Dhabi as a result of that weekend. :) Recently, she had a baby girl and I'm very happy for her. She's going to be a wonderful mother.
J.G.: I think I stayed connected with her through S.B. We may have also lost track of each other for a short time, but that was it. She and I also have a lot of interests in common, such as all the Broadway musicals we both love. We also love Katherine Stone books and we used to read and discuss them all. I've introduced her to several of my friends with whom she also has things in common. I know she has a major soap opera obsession and she seems to meet a lot of the actors from her favorite soaps. I know she's also working on writing a novel and I wish her all the best with that. I'm glad we're able to keep up with each other through Facebook as she is sweet and fun to talk to.
B.P.: I think we lost track of each other for a longer period of time after the club dispersed. The next thing I knew was that she was married with children. Either that or time has gone by in a blur. I keep up with her on Facebook and through her blog. We still have a lot of similar interests and I enjoy catching up with her. She seems like she's enjoying life and that she always gets to do fun things with her kids. It's just too bad we weren't in touch the one time I was out in her neck of the woods. In any case, I'm glad we reconnected. She's very nice and down-to-earth. She sometimes surprises me with talking about stuff I didn't know we would have in common.
A.S.: We just reunited over the past year through a friend we know thanks to an ex-friend (who was also part of the club), if that makes any sense. (Long story there.) I think we probably surprised each other with how much we both changed in terms of our religious observance. She seems really happy and I'm glad things are going well for her. We don't catch up all that often, but I do see pictures and status updates once in a while. I know she also just had a baby and I'm very happy for her too.
A while back, I talked about J.J., whom I also met through the club. However, we still contact each other whenever we come across anything V.C. Andrews related. It's like a force of habit. :)
Even though it has been ages since I gave the club itself much thought, I still remember all the interesting people I met through it at the time. I'm very glad to still be in contact with the ones I mentioned in this blog. However, there are a few others with whom I would love to reconnect someday. I think it might be hard if they aren't on Facebook or don't go by a last name I'd remember from that time period. I figure that just like with the women mentioned here, even if I don't reconnect with anyone else from the club, we'll always have V.C. Andrews and those few years of bonding over her books.
S.B.: When she was in the club, she was one of the long distance (for me) members I got to talk with by phone. I think we may have lost contact for a few years but somehow managed to reunite way before Facebook even came about. I can't even remember how we were able to reunite. Maybe we just held onto each other's e-mail addresses? I do remember telling her when I was trying out for a community production of "Little Shop of Horrors" and that was in 2001. So not too much time was lost. At one point, she was pregnant with her second child and I was pregnant with my first. Our kids were born 6 months apart. We caught up with each other through livejournal for a while, but now it's all about Facebook. I hope we will continue to stay in touch.
C.K.: I don't think we ever lost touch because we were always e-mailing outside of the club. We both liked the same kinds of books and talked about Broadway musicals a lot. I think she's the one who initially recommended "Jemima J" to me. Over time, we continued to stay in contact and always share our good news with each other. In 2008, we finally got to meet in person (after 12 years) during my first visit to DC. It was nice to meet her and her husband and I was glad she got the opportunity to meet my family. She was really nice to my kids too. As luck would have it, she had to go to NYC the following spring for something work related. We met up with her in the city afterward and had a fun time chatting again. I think I'll always tease her about Abu-Dhabi as a result of that weekend. :) Recently, she had a baby girl and I'm very happy for her. She's going to be a wonderful mother.
J.G.: I think I stayed connected with her through S.B. We may have also lost track of each other for a short time, but that was it. She and I also have a lot of interests in common, such as all the Broadway musicals we both love. We also love Katherine Stone books and we used to read and discuss them all. I've introduced her to several of my friends with whom she also has things in common. I know she has a major soap opera obsession and she seems to meet a lot of the actors from her favorite soaps. I know she's also working on writing a novel and I wish her all the best with that. I'm glad we're able to keep up with each other through Facebook as she is sweet and fun to talk to.
B.P.: I think we lost track of each other for a longer period of time after the club dispersed. The next thing I knew was that she was married with children. Either that or time has gone by in a blur. I keep up with her on Facebook and through her blog. We still have a lot of similar interests and I enjoy catching up with her. She seems like she's enjoying life and that she always gets to do fun things with her kids. It's just too bad we weren't in touch the one time I was out in her neck of the woods. In any case, I'm glad we reconnected. She's very nice and down-to-earth. She sometimes surprises me with talking about stuff I didn't know we would have in common.
A.S.: We just reunited over the past year through a friend we know thanks to an ex-friend (who was also part of the club), if that makes any sense. (Long story there.) I think we probably surprised each other with how much we both changed in terms of our religious observance. She seems really happy and I'm glad things are going well for her. We don't catch up all that often, but I do see pictures and status updates once in a while. I know she also just had a baby and I'm very happy for her too.
A while back, I talked about J.J., whom I also met through the club. However, we still contact each other whenever we come across anything V.C. Andrews related. It's like a force of habit. :)
Even though it has been ages since I gave the club itself much thought, I still remember all the interesting people I met through it at the time. I'm very glad to still be in contact with the ones I mentioned in this blog. However, there are a few others with whom I would love to reconnect someday. I think it might be hard if they aren't on Facebook or don't go by a last name I'd remember from that time period. I figure that just like with the women mentioned here, even if I don't reconnect with anyone else from the club, we'll always have V.C. Andrews and those few years of bonding over her books.
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
"I would like, if I may, to take you on a strange journey..."
"How strange was it?"
"So strange they made a movie out of it. No, not the book. The movie!"
And so it goes...every Saturday at midnight during a screening of "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." There would be toast and toilet paper flying and people shouting everything imaginable as comeback lines. As you may already know, this show was my livelihood during my college years. I started going during my senior year of high school and then got caught up in the swing of things. I started making friends at the theater I attended and then decided to try my hand at performing in the stage shows. I first went on as Janet during an audience night show. That was quite a wild ride, but so liberating and fun. Then I decided I'd rather be Magenta, as I had the right kind of hair for the role. It was fun putting on the costume and make-up and getting to perform "Time Warp" and other songs. I loved being part of the cast that I performed with week after week during the summer of 1994 (and every so often after that). There was a special camaraderie involved that I didn't feel with my friends in high school at the time. (I had some good friends, but a lot of the time there was fighting involved.) Some of my favorite "Rocky Horror" memories include:
*Congregating at the Rainbow restaurant for hours afterward and getting to sit at the cast table
*Bringing friends who have never seen the show live and having them participate in the virgin ceremony...lucky for them, no one got picked to do anything embarrassing
*Ringing in the new year at the show and then the cast party afterward
*Learning more in detail about how to play Magenta and then singing along with the "Little Shop of Horrors" soundtrack while driving [the guy who was playing] Riff Raff home
*Going to some conventions in Wisconsin
*Learning this really long name that one of my friends liked to say before the show each week
*Attending a very "Rocky" wedding for two of my friends
*Making a costume that came pretty close to the real thing
*Getting to perform as Magenta for a cast I wasn't even part of (also in Wisconsin)
*Coming up with new lines and getting laughs
*Going to Peoria with a near stranger (who became a friend afterward) to see it because I was going through withdrawal in college
*Getting to put together a performance for my campus but playing Columbia for the first time
*Most importantly, the friends I've made through being in the cast and being able to find them again on Facebook
For me, "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" wasn't just about going to a movie at midnight. It was an experience that I enjoy thinking back upon. Would I let my kids see it when they're older? I guess I'll cross that bridge when I come to it. Something tells me the show will still be around entertaining and making memories for new generations.
This is me as Magenta and my friend John as Brad:
"So strange they made a movie out of it. No, not the book. The movie!"
And so it goes...every Saturday at midnight during a screening of "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." There would be toast and toilet paper flying and people shouting everything imaginable as comeback lines. As you may already know, this show was my livelihood during my college years. I started going during my senior year of high school and then got caught up in the swing of things. I started making friends at the theater I attended and then decided to try my hand at performing in the stage shows. I first went on as Janet during an audience night show. That was quite a wild ride, but so liberating and fun. Then I decided I'd rather be Magenta, as I had the right kind of hair for the role. It was fun putting on the costume and make-up and getting to perform "Time Warp" and other songs. I loved being part of the cast that I performed with week after week during the summer of 1994 (and every so often after that). There was a special camaraderie involved that I didn't feel with my friends in high school at the time. (I had some good friends, but a lot of the time there was fighting involved.) Some of my favorite "Rocky Horror" memories include:
*Congregating at the Rainbow restaurant for hours afterward and getting to sit at the cast table
*Bringing friends who have never seen the show live and having them participate in the virgin ceremony...lucky for them, no one got picked to do anything embarrassing
*Ringing in the new year at the show and then the cast party afterward
*Learning more in detail about how to play Magenta and then singing along with the "Little Shop of Horrors" soundtrack while driving [the guy who was playing] Riff Raff home
*Going to some conventions in Wisconsin
*Learning this really long name that one of my friends liked to say before the show each week
*Attending a very "Rocky" wedding for two of my friends
*Making a costume that came pretty close to the real thing
*Getting to perform as Magenta for a cast I wasn't even part of (also in Wisconsin)
*Coming up with new lines and getting laughs
*Going to Peoria with a near stranger (who became a friend afterward) to see it because I was going through withdrawal in college
*Getting to put together a performance for my campus but playing Columbia for the first time
*Most importantly, the friends I've made through being in the cast and being able to find them again on Facebook
For me, "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" wasn't just about going to a movie at midnight. It was an experience that I enjoy thinking back upon. Would I let my kids see it when they're older? I guess I'll cross that bridge when I come to it. Something tells me the show will still be around entertaining and making memories for new generations.
This is me as Magenta and my friend John as Brad:
Friday, August 6, 2010
We'll always have "Bribes"
This week's Friendship Friday post is about my sister, in honor of her birthday.
I wrote some blogs about my sister a while ago, which you are welcome to read. They really say a lot of what I would normally say in a Friendship Friday post.
Sisterly Love
Let's get Together, yeah, yeah, yeah
In addition, I thought that I'd share some favorite moments between my sister and myself:
*Playing "Bribes" (how she spelled Barbies) in the basement for hours and hours
*Acting out different TV shows and movies
*Playing with our Cabbage Patch Kids and pretending to be mothers
*Babysitting the two coolest boys ever (aside from my own sons, of course)
*Working at Yen Yen together for a short period of time
*Driving to and from school together during my senior year (her freshman year)
*Being on speech team together and helping each other practice
*Our inside jokes
*Going to Long Grove after school to get stickers for her sticker collection
*Rushing home from the bus to watch "Degrassi High"
*Watching "Don't Tell Mom The Babysitter's Dead" countless times in one summer
*Going to Mama Mollie's pool every summer and then stopping by the used book store to get V.C. Andrews and Katherine Stone novels
*Waiting outside all day (the day after a snowstorm, no less) for front row tickets to "Rent"
*Roller skating in the basement even though it was carpeted (the cement floor underneath helped)
*Dressing up the cats and taking pictures (I'm sure they hated us for it)
*Visiting each other in college
*Getting to meet Adam Pascal in NYC (2001)
*Taking our trip to NYC in 2004 to visit some friends and see "Wicked"
*Being in dance recitals together
*Going to overnight camp together (even though I'd cry when she got homesick)
*Seeing chick flicks and campy films together
*Finally getting to see "Bare" after talking about it for 3 years
I have lots of fond memories of stuff my sister and I did together as well as with our parents. I look forward to creating many more in the future. No matter how far apart we live from each other, our sisterly bond is solid. I wish my sister a fabulous birthday and lots of good things to come her way in the year ahead.
I wrote some blogs about my sister a while ago, which you are welcome to read. They really say a lot of what I would normally say in a Friendship Friday post.
Sisterly Love
Let's get Together, yeah, yeah, yeah
In addition, I thought that I'd share some favorite moments between my sister and myself:
*Playing "Bribes" (how she spelled Barbies) in the basement for hours and hours
*Acting out different TV shows and movies
*Playing with our Cabbage Patch Kids and pretending to be mothers
*Babysitting the two coolest boys ever (aside from my own sons, of course)
*Working at Yen Yen together for a short period of time
*Driving to and from school together during my senior year (her freshman year)
*Being on speech team together and helping each other practice
*Our inside jokes
*Going to Long Grove after school to get stickers for her sticker collection
*Rushing home from the bus to watch "Degrassi High"
*Watching "Don't Tell Mom The Babysitter's Dead" countless times in one summer
*Going to Mama Mollie's pool every summer and then stopping by the used book store to get V.C. Andrews and Katherine Stone novels
*Waiting outside all day (the day after a snowstorm, no less) for front row tickets to "Rent"
*Roller skating in the basement even though it was carpeted (the cement floor underneath helped)
*Dressing up the cats and taking pictures (I'm sure they hated us for it)
*Visiting each other in college
*Getting to meet Adam Pascal in NYC (2001)
*Taking our trip to NYC in 2004 to visit some friends and see "Wicked"
*Being in dance recitals together
*Going to overnight camp together (even though I'd cry when she got homesick)
*Seeing chick flicks and campy films together
*Finally getting to see "Bare" after talking about it for 3 years
I have lots of fond memories of stuff my sister and I did together as well as with our parents. I look forward to creating many more in the future. No matter how far apart we live from each other, our sisterly bond is solid. I wish my sister a fabulous birthday and lots of good things to come her way in the year ahead.
A Blast from the Past
This week's [Fiction] Friday post theme: Strains of Bobby McFerrin’s “Don’t Worry Be Happy” floated into the room.
"A Blast from the Past"
Manhattan
January 7th, 2005
When Andrew Fisher first stepped into The DeLorean, he was overwhelmed by all the 80's paraphernalia at the decade themed bar. He should have expected as much, with it being named after the time machine in "Back to the Future." Tonight was apparently movie night, as they were showing "Cocktail" on a huge screen in the back and strains of Bobby McFerrin’s “Don’t Worry Be Happy” floated into the room. He ordered a Coors and made his way to the group intently watching the film.
A few seats away from him, he spied a Molly Ringwald look-alike who was sitting heavily focused on the screen. He couldn't stop staring at her and wanted to approach her, but didn't know how. Sensing a pair of eyes on her, she turned around and focused right in his direction instead.
"Can I help you?"
"Um, no, I was just, um...never mind."
"Good. Can I get back to the movie now?"
"Okay, but first tell me, does everyone here dress like actors from the 80's?"
"Nope. I work here though and my shift just ended. Did you see the Ferris Bueller guy? That's my boss. He's very protective of his staff and will kick you out if you cause any trouble."
"That's cool. I'll leave you alone now." He made his way back to the tables set up in the front."
"Come back here! I was only kidding. Can I get you another drink? I didn't mean to freak you out. My name's Elaine, by the way."
"Andrew. I'm in my second year at veterinary school in Boston. I'm on my winter break now, staying at my aunt's place on 85th and Amsterdam."
"Well, Andrew, I live right over that way. Want to catch a train back together after the movie? I hate riding alone at night."
Then time seemed to speed up. He saw his first kiss with Elaine after their first real date. Another flash and she was visiting him at his flat in Boston. The months seemed to fly by and he felt like he was truly in love. And then he saw himself visiting Elaine in June to surprise her after his exams ended. He saw her walking out of her apartment building with another man's arm around her, leaning in close to him. He saw them heading to what looked like an office building, which should have been closed at night. A sign on the window said Randall Shipp, D.D.S.. He saw them getting very intimate inside one of the exam rooms. An even larger flash had him standing there with a lit match and a container of gasoline. And then he saw himself on the road that headed toward California.
Lou woke up a hot and sweaty mess. He went to the bathroom to take a shower and try to rid himself of the terrible memory that he saw in all his dreams. It was the night he said goodbye to Elaine--and to Andrew Fisher--for good.
This is a continuation from my posts on June 25th, July 2nd and July 9th....in case you want to go back to the beginning.
"A Blast from the Past"
Manhattan
January 7th, 2005
When Andrew Fisher first stepped into The DeLorean, he was overwhelmed by all the 80's paraphernalia at the decade themed bar. He should have expected as much, with it being named after the time machine in "Back to the Future." Tonight was apparently movie night, as they were showing "Cocktail" on a huge screen in the back and strains of Bobby McFerrin’s “Don’t Worry Be Happy” floated into the room. He ordered a Coors and made his way to the group intently watching the film.
A few seats away from him, he spied a Molly Ringwald look-alike who was sitting heavily focused on the screen. He couldn't stop staring at her and wanted to approach her, but didn't know how. Sensing a pair of eyes on her, she turned around and focused right in his direction instead.
"Can I help you?"
"Um, no, I was just, um...never mind."
"Good. Can I get back to the movie now?"
"Okay, but first tell me, does everyone here dress like actors from the 80's?"
"Nope. I work here though and my shift just ended. Did you see the Ferris Bueller guy? That's my boss. He's very protective of his staff and will kick you out if you cause any trouble."
"That's cool. I'll leave you alone now." He made his way back to the tables set up in the front."
"Come back here! I was only kidding. Can I get you another drink? I didn't mean to freak you out. My name's Elaine, by the way."
"Andrew. I'm in my second year at veterinary school in Boston. I'm on my winter break now, staying at my aunt's place on 85th and Amsterdam."
"Well, Andrew, I live right over that way. Want to catch a train back together after the movie? I hate riding alone at night."
Then time seemed to speed up. He saw his first kiss with Elaine after their first real date. Another flash and she was visiting him at his flat in Boston. The months seemed to fly by and he felt like he was truly in love. And then he saw himself visiting Elaine in June to surprise her after his exams ended. He saw her walking out of her apartment building with another man's arm around her, leaning in close to him. He saw them heading to what looked like an office building, which should have been closed at night. A sign on the window said Randall Shipp, D.D.S.. He saw them getting very intimate inside one of the exam rooms. An even larger flash had him standing there with a lit match and a container of gasoline. And then he saw himself on the road that headed toward California.
Lou woke up a hot and sweaty mess. He went to the bathroom to take a shower and try to rid himself of the terrible memory that he saw in all his dreams. It was the night he said goodbye to Elaine--and to Andrew Fisher--for good.
This is a continuation from my posts on June 25th, July 2nd and July 9th....in case you want to go back to the beginning.
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
What's missing?!?
I had every intention of doing a time warp post today and then the day just got away from me. I still have the idea in mind and will hopefully get it done by next Tuesday. I've been so busy recently at work and I just want to crash when I get home. Then I also have the Chick Lit Central stuff, even though I have a great partner on that end of things. :)
Thanks for your patience. :)
Thanks for your patience. :)
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