Mar. 30: Soooo done with March

March is almost over (good riddance, March weather!) so here’s my review of the month.

Special days I celebrated this month and how:

The kids went to a few birthday parties. We “celebrated” St. Patrick’s Day in that we used it as an excuse to eat corned beef in Reuben sandwich form. We marked a bittersweet day for Sunshine the other night that was way more fun than it should have been (mostly because it involved voodoo and some really, really fun people).

Gifts I gave and/or received this month:

Um… none? Not any memorable ones, anyway. I’m not pouting…

Books I read this month:

• The Shadow of the Wind. Still reading, and loving, this beautiful story.
• I wrote about the other books I’ve been reading here.
• I haven’t read it yet (obvy), but Anne Tyler’s new book comes out next week!

Movies and TV shows worth mentioning:

I so rarely see movies, and I already go on way too much about the TV shows I love. Can I talk instead about seeing the touring production of Wicked in Portland last night? It was Jack’s first time, and he really enjoyed it—I KNEW he would!—he saw one of his best buddies there so the shame factor was lowered considerably. Two shows left in our season: Million Dollar Quartet in May and Jersey Boys in July. We decided not to renew for next season, so Jack’s off the hook for at least a year and then I hope to start dragging him to musicals again.

New recipes or restaurants I tried:

Victor made pulled pork (heehee), which became delicious sandwiches. I tried a new recipe for chicken enchilada soup; Vic loved it but I thought it was “meh.” If I tried any new restaurants, they were unremarkable because I don’t remember them.

Special or unusual purchases I made:

I suppose we “purchased” Lucy’s fixin’… I got some new earrings… Vic got boring clothes… I bought all the good “Smash” songs from iTunes… I bought my first bottle of essential oil—lavender, one of my favorite scents—and now look forward to lots of homemade hair tonics, cleaners, deodorizers, etc. Pinterest has so many ideas that call for essential oil.

Can I be honest for a second? I never really understood what made essential oils “essential.” Like, are they really that necessary? So necessary that I can’t ever find them in regular stores and I really seem to be doing just fine without them all these years? Turns out “essential” in this context means “essence.” Duh.

This month’s disappointments:

Too many meetings… some way-awkward PTO stuff… all that friggin’ snow…

My accomplishments:

I managed to keep a very loose hold on my sanity. The kids were home for WAY too much of their spring break and—get this—they expected to be entertained. And fed! Given the circumstances, I’d say keeping my sanity was a pretty darn big accomplishment.

Something I considered doing: redesigning my web site. Sherilee did hers, and it got my wheels turning… but I finally decided that I just don’t have the energy to attempt such a project right now. I mean, I’ve got a billion work and school things going anyway, and a redesign always seems minor and then you lose all your archives and yell curse words and wish you’d never been born. So you’re gonna have to please just live with the current look for a while longer. Thanks.

Anything else noteworthy:

The kids’ report cards for the second trimester were great. Jack’s showed lots of improvement.

With all the rain and grey skies we’ve had lately, all the color in our yard is a welcome sight. Purple and white crocuses, yellow daffodils, pink hyacinths, periwinkle periwinkle (it is—it’s periwinkle), tulips on their way… and lots of new growth on the greenery. Now, if the sun would come out and dry the yard up a little, I could work in it. Also, some sun would make me way less grouchy.

That’s it, doods.

Jan. 11: Wicked yet subtle hint

The husbands like when the wives go away for a weekend together, right? Because we come back all renewed and refreshed and they know how important that is, right? And they know how much we girls love getting dressed up and going out to flirt like mad with bartenders flash our wedding bands? And that whenever it’s just us girls, we tend to get in big ol’ catfight-y arguments about whose husband is better and which of us is the luckiest wife? And the husbands know that because of all these things, money is no object when it comes to making the wives happy?

Yes, I’m pretty sure I have that right.

On a totally unrelated note, I got this email today:

Wicked Girls Getaway 2011
New York, NY
May 5 - 8 , 2011

Back by popular demand! Broadway Across America Travel is proud to announce the return of this very special Broadway weekend   With an emphasis on escaping from the everyday and an elegant level of service, this package is our ultimate “Girls Getaway” to New York City. 

First introduced in 2008, this trip has been quickly adopted as an annual tradition. Mothers and daughters, sisters, girlfriends as well as couples are invited to take a memorable excursion to the excitement and glamour of the Big Apple.   For 2011, we once again offer two weekends to choose from with our July option designed to make this package a good fit for high school and college-aged children.

Limited to just 30 guests in May (we also have another getaway scheduled for July, see left), your trip is highlighted by orchestra seating to Broadway’s huge sensation Wicked and two other shows, a welcome cocktail reception with fellow guests, elegant 4-diamond accommodations, an optional luxurious spa session, private town car service, round trip airfare, a meet-and-greet lunch at Sardi’s and a few behind-the-scenes exclusives including a look into the inner workings of WICKED.

There’s no need to put off that trip to New York City any longer.  Get the girls together or take that special someone for that “ultimate getaway” and come and experience a weekend you won’t soon forget!
Please find the details below.

Yes, please.

Honey???

Sep. 3: Green babies rule

Exciting news for Rent and Wicked fans: Idina Menzel and Taye Diggs became parents yesterday. Their son was named Walker Nathaniel Diggs and is sure to be gorgeous if he’s anything like his mom OR dad.

I have no photos of the new baby—Taye hasn’t e-mailed them to me yet, like he has more important things to do and I suppose it’s possible he may not know my e-mail address or that I exist. So here’s the next best thing; one of the few scenes in the Rent movie in which Idina/Maureen and Taye/Benny appear together when he’s not being an ass and she’s not trying to steal the spotlight—also one of the most beautiful songs from the film and HELLO! sing it, Jesse L. Martin!:

 

What? You say you want more? Alright, here’s another one of my favorites from the movie, which my sister calls “The Lumberjack Song.”

 

Alright, I’m going nuts with the videos. Ignore them if you want to. This is the song that always brings me to goosebumpy tears—the final song in the first act, “Defying Gravity.” (Yes, this is bootleg Broadway in all its finest.)

 

Here’s one of the most emotional performances of “For Good” from Wicked that I’ve seen. The first part of the video is an interview; other than a little bit o’ Taye Diggs talk it’s kinda boring. The song starts at 3:21.

Apr. 2: All Broadway, all the time

Last night Victor and I saw Wicked again. Know what? I’m still not tired of it. I’d go again tonight, and over and over until it leaves town, if it wasn’t totally ridiculous and expensive. It is such a good show.

My mini-review of last night’s performance (the one from a couple weeks ago is here): We had Glinda’s understudy, Marissa Lupp. She was good, but I think I preferred the “real” one. Sorry, Lori; I know you liked her. We had the same Fiyero as last time, didn’t like him any better so I just stared at his very cute butt when he was on stage. Elphaba, Madame Morrible, and the Wizard were perfect. Overall the cast was terrific. I think I was overly critical last time, and it was undeserved. These people work so hard and do an amazing job.

I was thrilled to discover that the line-up for the 09/10 Broadway in Portland season has been announced. There are six shows and two extras.

• Fiddler on the Roof. This stars Topol, who played Tevye in the 1971 movie. Kathy and I grew up with the movie soundtrack and loved it. I’m looking forward to seeing the stage production. Mom, you’ve gotta come up for it! August 25-30, 2009.
• August: Osage County. I’ve never even heard of this show, so I don’t know what to think. It’s “darkly comedic” and that means I still can’t tell if it’s something I’d enjoy. October 20-25, 2009.
• Xanadu. Vic didn’t believe me when I said this was in the schedule. Ha! Apparently roller disco is the new black. I’m embarrassed at how many songs I’ll recognize in this show, but it seems like it’ll be fun. January 12-17, 2010.
• Legally Blonde the Musical. I’ve heard good things about this musical. If it’s cute like the first movie, it ought to be a good one. February 16-21, 2010.
• Dreamgirls. Gotta see this show just for “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going.” April 6-11, 2010. (Speaking of that fab song, check out Jake Gyllenhaal performing it on SNL.)
• Cirque Dreams Illumination. The “Cirque” entertainment genre is completely lost on me. I don’t get the appeal and will probably pay someone to take my ticket off my hands. Blech. April 20-25, 2010.
• The extras are Cats (March 23-28, 2010) and The Lion King (June 16-July 11, 2010). I hate hate hate Cats and pretty much everything Andrew Lloyd Webber has done, but we’ve never seen The Lion King so we’ll definitely be going to that one.

I say this every year, and I’m going to say it again: If you’re in Portland and you want to go to more than one of the season’s shows, get season tickets. Cost-wise, it’s worth it. We like the excuse to have a date night every couple months and because we both enjoy musicals, it’s a lot of fun to see shows that we probably wouldn’t go to otherwise—we’ve been pleasantly surprised at a few very underrated ones.

One of the subscriber bonuses is that you can purchase additional tickets far in advance of their release to the public—they’re not necessarily cheaper, but you get a much better seat selection. You can also easily trade your tickets for a different night’s performance, and even for a show in a different city if you’re traveling.

If you’re not near Portland, check for other cities’ season schedules at Broadway Across America. You won’t regret it. For realsies.

I’m off to shop for opera glasses now. These utilitarian mini-binoculars are great but look so uncivilized! What do you think of these?

       

Mar. 6: “Wicked” hangover

Gah, I say. Gah.

Yesterday was busy busy busy. My mom and I spent the morning at IKEA and a bit of the afternoon at a few other stores in the area. That would have made the day exhausting enough—while it was fun, we were worn out from all the walking and could have easily spent the rest of the day relaxing. But, as they say, there’s no rest for the wicked. We beautified ourselves and took off to see “Wicked” with some friends.

Mom and I met her friends (and my first boss at WWC) Betty and Manford Simcock for dinner at McCormick & Schmick’s Harborside at the River Place Marina. That’s always been one of my favorite dining spots downtown because the area is lovely for walking and sightseeing, and the view from any table in the restaurant is impressive. However, last night it was dark and rainy so we mostly had to enjoy the view of each other. Which was fine. Because we were a handsome group.

Dinner conversation (and food!) was divine; the time went quickly and suddenly we were about to be late for the show. We got back up to Keller in record time and without me running over very many pedestrians. Yay me.

The Lovely Lori had seen “Wicked” the night before and texted me to say they had the Galinda/Glinda understudy but she was fabulous—it wasn’t one of those “No Bette Midler?” things—so not to worry if the “real” one wasn’t on for our show. Our Glinda (the “ga” is silent) was Katie Rose Clarke, not the understudy. I don’t think she was as good as Lori’s because although I thought she did a terrific job, I wouldn’t exactly go on and on about her. I admit, I still have a bias toward Kendra Kassebaum, who played Glinda at my first “Wicked.”

The Elphaba (Donna Vivino) was also very good, but her voice was not nearly as strong as Shoshana Bean’s, who played Elphaba on the last tour that came through Portland. Shoshana is from Beaverton but I don’t just love her because she’s one of Oregon’s few celebrities of which we can be proud—she really is quite amazing. Here’s the link to her appearance on Martha Stewart’s Halloween show when she was still performing on Broadway a few years ago.

April asked for my review so I’m going to be totally honest and a little negative here. I did not like the guy who played Fiyero (Richard H. Blake). I didn’t think his voice was very good and he danced super-weird. He did have a pretty nice butt though, so I concentrated on that. April, remember that if you get the same Fiyero: look to the butt.

Madame Morrible (Myra Lucretia Taylor) was good. She’s a fun character in the musical. Definitely not in the book. The first time I saw “Wicked” Morrible was played by Carol Kane, and it’s hard to top someone so perfect for that role. This one did well. The Wizard was played by Lenny Wolpe, whom I’ll always remember as a defendant with Tourette’s on L.A. Law; I thought he did a good job but I kept waiting for him to spit out a string of obscenities. He didn’t.

The only understudy we had was for Chistery. Who cares (besides the understudy’s parents)? Meh.

In spite of the cast not being jaw-droppingly phenomenal, the show still was. The two moments that made my eyes squirt a salty discharge: “Defying Gravity” and “For Good.” I could see “Wicked” show over and over. There were so many things I caught this time that I’d missed in previous shows and I can’t tell you what they are without giving away a whole bunch of good stuff that you have to see the show for yourself to understand so don’t ask me because all that info’s in the vault.

After the show Manford and I waited in the lobby for our small-bladdered companions and by the time we got back to the car, the line out of the parking garage was more than two levels high. We considered blasting the soundtrack out of the speakers and performing a little dance number or six for the waiting cars. Fortunately (for them) three of us weren’t nearly drunk enough to do that. After 20 minutes we finally got out of there, took the Simcocks back to their car near the restaurant, and Mom and I headed home.

The dogs went nuts when we walked in the front door, even when we reminded them that Katie and Jack were sleeping and they needed to greet us quietly. They did not listen.

The cat’s barricaded in our room while Mom’s giant puppy is here because, as Millie puts it, “Spit! Hiss! Claw the face of whoever’s holding me! Spit some more! I don’t like that big dog!” Because she gets very lonely and bored in there by herself, when we come in and sit with her she gets active and playful and we think some exposure to Gilly might not be such a bad thing. Last night after I turned off the lights she continued to jump up and down from the window sill, run across the bed, and play with a noisy bag that apparently wasn’t hidden well enough. In other words, I’m kinda blaming Millie for the fact that I feel 95 years old this morning.

This headache, sore feet, and overall muscle stiffness certainly could not be the from the hustle-y bustle-y day we had yesterday. ‘Scuse me, I gotta go brew another pot of coffee now.

P.S. Confidential to Melodie: my mom totally got away with calling your father-in-law a smartass last night. Seems he’s okay with that. You might want to file away that little tidbit for future use. “Grandpa Smartass” might not be so fine, though, so you probably shouldn’t share this info with your kids.