Welcome, Christian James!

My new nephew, brother of Jordan and son of Karen (Android's sister) and Josh was born yesterday! Karen was induced, so it wasn't a huge surprise, but it's always nice when the anticipation is over and the new guy finally arrives.

My only beef with the name Christian is that it reminds me of my freshman college roommate's pompous militant-vegan boyfriend. God, he was such an ass.


As long as this child is neither pompous nor militant (vegan is okay... I don't understand it, but who am I to judge?) I think we'll get along just fine.



Welcome to the world, kid.

Happy wedding, Ben and Ruth!

So, my friends got married today. It was a lovely ceremony, and the reception was filled with much food, drink and karaoke.

However, I learned that going to a wedding where you really only know the bride and groom makes for an awkward social situation. The Android had another function, so I was all my my lonesome... lucky for me I can pretty much talk to anyone. And, having a giant belly (I'm way past the "Is she pregnant, or just fat?" stage) helps with the ice-breaking.

I really had a lovely time - mainly because a group of the bride's college friends let me pull up a chair at their table and hang with them. Also, the cake was good - which is what I go to weddings for in the first place.


So, Ben and Ruth - I'm fairly sure neither of you read this, so I'm really just tossing this out into the universe - congratulations. You are a lovely couple and I'm so very happy for you.







This has nothing to do with anything, but here's a picture of my cat (Finn) in a hat.

Scenes from a mall.

So, I took myself on a date tonight. The Android is off somewhere being manly and playing video games and ping pong and smoking a pipe (Like an actual Gandalf-lookin' pipe. I married a geek.). So, I went to the mall to stock up on yarn so I can knit things for the five million babies that are coming along in the next few months. I also went to see Baby Mama. It was cute and fluffy and not nearly as well thought out as Mean Girls was, but I love me some Tina Fey, so I'm willing to give her a pass.

Anyhoo, the theatre was packed and naturally, a group of teenage girls sit down next to me. The one closest to me (of course) is a movie talker. She peppered the ENTIRE movie with "Oh. My. God." and "Wow." and "He is so weird." and What is she wearing?" and "Seriously?".

Now normally I would have asked her to keep her comments to herself, but by the time it occurred to me we were already halfway through the movie and... well.

I digress.

Sigourney Weaver is in Baby Mama. In her first scene the girl next to me goes: "Where do I know her from?"

Are you fucking kidding me? She's Sigourney Weaver!




Also, just because mall cops have Segways now doesn't mean they aren't just mall cops.

How was the show?

I had an excellent weekend.

It began with the Tuesdays Robot Album Release Party for their new (duh.) album Peace Sing-a-Long. It was at the 331 Club in Nordeast Mpls - one of my favorite places to see shows because it's big and comfy and if you get there early enough to commandeer a booth you can basically sit and people watch for six hours and be happy as a clam. The night started off with Gabe Barnett... I don't dislike his music, but I don't really rate it higher than background music in a bar. Besides, the first show of the night is for talking over so you can catch up with friends you haven't seen in a while...right? Or perhaps I'm an asshole. Whatever.

Then TR came on. I think it was probably the largest audience I'd ever seen at a TR show, and they all seemed into it. The set was short (at least it felt that way) and sweet, a few songs from the new album, of course, and smattering of much loved songs from the previous Orange album. Rick Robot bounced around onstage in shiny new running shoes with a blue bandana on his head - looking not unlike an aging hippie rockin' out onstage. No matter that Rick is within weeks of his 27th birthday - the man is an old soul.

The last song was an epic (no, really.) medley of "Give Peace a Chance", "The Times They Are A-Changin" and "Hey, Jude". It was brilliantly woven together and ended with a round of the three choruses - everyone in the audience chose their favorite and sang right along. The hipsters were singing their guts out, for the first time that night dropping the perfectly coiffed coolness. I'm perpetually uncool, so I can be judge-y like that.

The evening ended with a sort of ridiculously long set from the Como Avenue Jug Band. I love them. I do. But more often than not, it feels as it they take themselves entirely too seriously, and not nearly seriously enough all at the same time. Considering they've been playing most of those songs for nearly three years, you'd think they'd be a little more polished.

No! No! You don't get it! That's not the jug band way!

Mmmhmm. All I'm saying is, you need to let the audience in on the fun. If we feel like we're watching a super fun band practice that we weren't even invited to play tamborine in we'll check out of the experience and start fiddling with our cellphones and counting the minutes til bar close. Or worse, (if you aren't sticking around to drive the drummer home) they'll leave.

There are always bright spots in the Jug Band shows, though. Claudia Holt is on of the lead singers and she's probably the most polished of the bunch. Girl has an enviable set of lungs on her, and they should showcase her more. Chuck Terhark is normally relegated to the back of the stage with his sweet upright bass made from a honey barrel, but occasionally he's called to the front mic for a song and it's a breath of fresh air. Ken Tyborski does a great job singing the majority of the tunes, but I wouldn't complain he he enunciated a bit more. But then again, I am the child of an elementary school teacher.

All in all, a successful release show for Tuesdays Robot. And as usual, I'm proud of my guys.

Spawn of the Devil.

The children of the awful howler monkey woman are playing next door. Playing consists of running, screaming and occasionally throwing rocks. I'm, glad I live on the second floor. They also cuss a lot. They speak in English, though the only words I can get out of their screeching are things like "I'll get you and cut you!" "Bitches!", etc.

They make my cats nervous. The poor things are all twitchy - running around the house with puffed up tails and a hunted look on their furry faces.

I love my apartment and moving would be a ridiculous notion right now, but I really hate those kids.

Ah, Spring.

The first sign of Spring in my neighborhood is not a robin, or buds on the trees... no, it's the dulcet tones of the Somali woman next door shrieking like a fucking howler monkey at her kids.

A few things...

I'm thinking of stealing my neighbor's cat. He's a huge, gorgeous orange long-hair named Louie. He keeps tying to escape into our house - maybe he has finally figured out that his owners are assholes and we are nice. Maybe he's in love with our cat, Lucy. Or Finn. Whatever, I don't judge. Anyway, I think they might notice if I steal their cat. So I won't. For the time being, anyway.

We're not getting back nearly as much in our tax return as originally thought. This saddens me - mainly because we're piss poor. What doesn't help is Android's dad (also our tax guy) who kept telling us that we "make too much money". Maybe for Podunk, MN - but not for Mpls. Rar. Too much money my ass.

People who ride buses are, in general, assholes. This afternoon I was waiting for my bus home, and I was second in line. While waiting for the people to get off the bus I noticed a man in a wheelchair waiting for the same bus. Because I know the etiquette, and I am a human being, I stood back so the bus driver could put down the wheelchair lift thingy. What actually happened? Everyone else pushed in front of me to get on the bus. Of course. Assholes. If it had been raining or snowing I would have put up more of a fuss, but since it was a beautiful, sunny afternoon I figured wheelchair guy wasn't going to mind the wait. Still, people are dicks.

America's Next Top Model makes me deliriously happy. It's so very trashy and delicious. Tyra is a scary and tall freak, but I kinda love her anyway.

Cow hookers.

There are two hookers on the corner across from our building.

First of all, it's freaking COLD outside. Second, as Android so charmingly put it, they look like cows.

Android: Geeze, if you're just looking for a hole to put it in...
Me: Get a nice cantaloupe or something.
Android: Yeah! Buy some fruit!
Me: ...or a nice papaya. Or a passionfruit?




Why do we have hookers on our corner? In March?






I don't know. I'm going to bed.

Apparently it's a boy.

Haven't yet adjusted to the fact that there's a tiny penis growing inside me right now, especially since I reallyreallyREALLY wanted a girl.


To read about my ultrasound-tastic morning, read here.

Hooray for Hollywood!

The 80th Annual Academy Awards was boring as hell. As usual.


Jon Stewart was adorable, though. And Helen Mirren just about knocked my socks off. And Javier Bardem may show up in my dirtier dreams from now on... Tilda Swinton is so weird and beautiful and a little scary. Johnny Depp is still rocking the mid-nineties hair and glasses combo, and it's a-ok with me.




I went to Zosia's house for the festivities. It feels like we've been doing this since the beginning of time, though I can probably count on one hand the number of Oscar broadcasts we've seen together. Through middle and high school we were in different countries, in college we had similar but not quite the same sets of friends... yet it's the most natural thing in the world to roll up to her place on a Sunday night and curl up on her couch and boo at the boring and/or stupid speeches, or gasp at the ridiculously beautiful women in their ridiculously beautiful gowns.


I love the Oscars, even if they are boring. I love the orchestra and the twelve montages, the requisite animated character presenting an award, the lame musical numbers. I just love 'em.

Happy Birthday.

Me: Today's my dad's birthday.
Android: Yeah? How old would he have been?
Me: 61.
Android: That's pretty good.
Me: Well, it would be if he hadn't died at 46.
(Silence)
Android: You have a point.



Happy birthday to the man who taught me to love The Beatles, James Taylor, Douglas Adams, The Hobbit, and Prairie Home Companion. He let me eat corn on the cob for breakfast. He drove too fast and apparently smoked a lot of pot and left me entirely too soon. He had a loud voice and sang beautifully and loved all things Mac and ate fried bologna sandwiches. He made the best chili in the world and let me rent She Devil over and over and over again without comment.



Mike Vargo 1947-1993

Maybe you agree.

I fucking hate leopard seals. Hate. March of the Penguins was like Psycho for me.

I just became REALLY available.

So... my show was cancelled yesterday. We were two weeks from opening and some not-completely-unforseen circumstances caused the company to decide to cut their losses and call it quits.

I'm bummed because we were right about to the fun part (for me, anyway) - tech, and running the show. I'm bummed because I really liked working with those people. I'm bummed because our rehearsal space was in the same building as Cupcake - they make a red velvet cupcake that will make you weep just a little bit.

The only thing consoling me is the fact that America's Next Top Model (Cycle 10!) begins this Wednesday, and I'm not always smart enough to put a tape in the VCR to record it.

Alas. Now I am rehearsal free for the time being. I probably won't get back into the game again until fall, and if I go back to school I may not have the time or the energy to study, work part time (maybe), take care of an infant AND sit in rehearsals five nights a week.






I backed out of the show I was slotted to do this Spring. I've never done that before and part of me wonders if it was a stupid move - if I essentially ended my career in theatre because I was too afraid.
I backed out because I will be 7 months pregnant by the time we tech. This doesn't seem like anything to someone who has neither been pregnant nor an SM during the tech of a show. My reasons were good ones - I have NO idea what is in store for me in the next few months, but I have a good idea it will involve exhaustion, high blood pressure, and stress that I should probably just avoid altogether.
I was told by someone whose opinion I hold very highly that what I was doing was "prudent". I don't think that is what that person meant. I think they meant "Seriously? You dropped out of an opportunity like this because you're PREGNANT? God, suck it up and do it anyway!"

Or something to that effect.

I think I made the right decision. It was a tough one, and I worried myself sick about it for days. I'm sure it would have been fine. I would have been huge and hippo-like, but otherwise fine and no more crabby than I ever am during a production. But how do you know something like that?


I understand that I'm totally rationalizing. I tend to do that. It makes stuff like this sting less.

Tuesdays Robot Peace Sing-along

It's done! Finally! Woo!


It's lovely, y'all. My boys are so very VERY talented.


I'll keep you posted on a CD release party (I'm assuming there will be one... ).


I'm just bustin' with pride.

Top Five Songs

I have been listening to the same five songs all damn week long.

And I still love 'em.


If You Leave - Orchestral Manouevres in the Dark
Radio Silence - Harvey Danger
Ladies' Choice - Zac Efron (From the Hairspray soundtrack)
The Power of Love - Huey Lewis and the News
I Melt With You - Modern English



Listen to them. I guarantee they will make you smile.

We was robbed.

Last night the 26th Annual Battle of the Jug Bands was held at the Cabooze.

Though my darling Como Ave. Jug Band put on one helluva show that the audience TOTALLY loved... they lost to Grandma's Saggy Jug Band. Who also won in 2006.

Bah.

I'm starting to think there is a conspiracy happening. This was the third year the CAJB competed, the third year that they were obviously the crowd favorite... and yet? No golden waffle iron.

Fuck 'em.



However, the Battle is great fun. The people watching is fantastic... lots of dancing hippies. Except for the lamentable lack of deodorant, it's a pleasurable experience for all the senses.


Next year there will be a very new and tiny member of the CAJB. They will have to win due to sheer cuteness. The kid will be about six months old... that's old enough to become proficient at the fiddle, right?

Good grief.

I have a LOT to say about my awesome cruise, but it will take me five million years to do it.

Until then, some bullet points:

*One of my actors dropped out of my show last week, another actor dropped out (then retracted her dropping out), apparently other shit went down... and I was there for none of it. I'm a teensy bit glad because I've always been better with clean-up than with actual confrontation.

*We set up the baby's crib today and it's fantastic. I'll take pictures at some point.

Hey, guess what?

I'm 12 weeks pregnant.




Yup. We told our families this weekend, so it's official. I mean, it was official before, but now...

Anyway, yeah. I'm going to start a new blog that will be all pregnancy all the time, so if you really don't give a shit about my gestation (and who can blame you?), you don't have to think about it.

But if you do indeed care, check it out. There should be a link to your right in the near future.

Hooray!

Back in the saddle again.

Sasha: This scene will take place at an apartment swimming pool.

Ellie: You know, like in Lady In The Water...

Nathaniel: So, a stupid, pointless swimming pool?




Started rehearsal on Monday. I'm loving it, even though I may be getting too damn old to be up so late... Oh, God. That statement just aged me another 10 years right there.

I adore everyone and I'm looking forward to this process - and I'll keep y'all updated so you can come see the show!

I'm not satisfied if I don't get my Buddah's Delight.

I don't care what anyone says, the Music and Lyrics soundtrack (yes, the one where Hugh Grant sings) is totally fucking awesome and I love it.

POP! Goes My Heart is brilliant.

Brilliant.


And Entering Bootytown? Musical GENIUS.

Happy new year and shit.

Hey. Happy 2008. I spent New Year's Eve sick. I watched the Simpsons, then 10 minutes of Family Guy, and was fast asleep on the couch at 10:40. Yet another lame NYE. It's okay. I'm used to it.




Movie Review: Juno

Pretty darn cute altogether.

This movie got a lot of press in my town because the writer (Diablo Cody) is originally from Mpls. And quite honestly, I was pretty annoyed by her after seeing articles in every city magazine and newspaper I've read (not to mention the national mags I read).

However, I still wanted to see the movie, so last night I did.

Once you get through the obnoxiously overwritten first 20 minutes, Juno turns into a really sweet, well-done little film. Ellen Page is charming, Michael Cera very nearly steals several scenes, and Allison Janney and J.K. Simmons as Juno's bewildered parents? Fantastic. Very Minnesotan without being MinneSOHtan.

I don't know where the fast-paced totally unreal dialogue finally gave way to understated charming REAL conversations, but I was relieved. I was hoping I hadn't dragged my single straight male friend to a girly poppy teen pregnancy movie.

I give it 4 and 1/4 stars out of five. It lost one quarter of a star for the first 20 minutes, and another half a star for the crappy ass soundtrack.