Web Site Story

A good old fashioned Social Media/West Side Story parody from College Humor to get your Friday started.

Since the embed code doesn’t seem to be working, go watch it here.

Happy Friday!!

Wings

“Call Me Home” A New Musical

Ok, a little self promotion.  If you are in the Nashville area, you’ve got to come out and see this brand new musical: Call Me Home written by local Nashvillians Rick Seay and Kevin Fogarty, opening July 24.

It’s an amazing story of a house and the generations that live within it.  From 1831 when it was built, to the Civil War, to the Depression and modern times, the stories of the families in its walls will be sure to touch your hearts!

The rehearsal process has been such an incredible experience.  This is a cast comprised of some of the most talented (and entertaining) people I’ve met!  One thing that drew me to audition for this show was the chance to be a part of something new–part of the creative process.  I know I wasn’t around for pre-readings and such, but just being a part of rewrites, new ideas, and experimental songs has been an amazing opportunity in itself.  I love being at rehearsals.  I’ve always found a lot of joy in being a part of productions, but this one has already found a special place in my heart.  For me the characters I play allow me to grow as an actress and a woman.  From the joy of Priscilla, to the anguish of Elizabeth, to the giddiness of Pauline, the women I have been charged to embody are women of strength, love, and depth.  What a blessing!

Check out the website with a few rehearsal pictures and blog entries.

Tasty Tuesday: Blueberry French Toast Bake

Here it is… a new recipe that my mom made on the 4th of July weekend! Quite tasty, if you ask me…

BLUEBERRY FRENCH TOAST BAKE
1/2 c. all-purpose flour
1 (3-oz.) package cream cheese, cut into 1/2 inch cubes
1 1/2 c. milk
1 T. sugar 1 c. fresh or frozen blueberries
1/2 tsp. vanilla 1/2 c. chopped nuts
1/4 tsp. salt Powdered sugar
6 eggs Blueberry or maple syrup
10 slices (1 inch thick) French bread, cut into 1 inch cubes

Generously grease a 2 1/2 quart casserole or 9 x 13 baking dish. Beat flour, milk, sugar, vanilla, salt and eggs in a large bowl by hand until smooth. Stir in bread cubes until coated. Pour bread mixture into pan. Top evenly with cream cheese, blueberries and nuts. Cover and refrigerate up to 24 hours. Heat oven to 400°. Uncover and bake 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. Sprinkle with powdered sugar and serve with syrup.

Yield: 8 Servings.

Nothing like a tasty breakfast out on the patio…

And a perfect place for the dog to sleep…

Fireworking

Time to post all those firework pictures!!

Fun Friday: A Joke from Dad…

Dad, every now and then you send a good one…

A man walks into a restaurant with a full-grown ostrich behind him. The waitress asks them for their orders.

The man says, ‘A hamburger, fries and a coke,’ and turns to the ostrich, ‘What’s yours?’

‘I’ll have the same,’ says the ostrich..

A short time later the waitress returns with the order ‘That will be $9.40 please,’ and the man reaches into his pocket and pulls out the exact change for payment.

The next day, the man and the ostrich come again and the man says, ‘A hamburger, fries and a coke.’

The ostrich says, ‘I’ll have the same.’

Again the man reaches into his pocket and pays with exact change.

This becomes routine until the two enter again. ‘The usual?’ asks the waitress.

‘No, this is Friday night, so I will have a steak, baked potato and a salad, says the man.

‘Same,’ says the ostrich.

Shortly the waitress brings the order and says, ‘That will be $32.62.’

Once again the man pulls the exact change out of his pocket and places it on the table.

The waitress cannot hold back her curiosity any longer. ‘Excuse me, sir. How do you manage to always come up with the exact change in your pocket every time?’

‘Well,’ says the man, ’several years ago I was cleaning the attic and found an old lamp.. When I rubbed it, a Genie appeared and offered me two wishes. My first wish was that if I ever had to pay for anything, I would just put my hand in my pocket and the right amount of money would always be there.’

‘That’s brilliant!’ says the waitress. ‘Most people would ask for a million dollars or something, but you’ll always be as rich as you want for as long as you live!’

‘That’s right. Whether it’s a gallon of milk or a Rolls Royce, the exact money is always there,’ says the man.

The waitress asks, ‘What’s with the ostrich?’

The man sighs, pauses and answers, ‘My second wish was for a tall chick with a big butt and long legs who agrees with everything I say.’

Clowns, Trucks, and Kids

This week’s Picture Thursday is a portion of my recent hometown ventures, brought to you by the hometown parade!

Truly Wisconsin Brew Tour

Something I’ve been wanting to do a long time? A tour of Sprecher Brewery! While home for the fourth, boyfriend, myself, my dad, and stepmom finally went for a tour. And the results were delicious!!!

And for only four dollars, you got four 8 oz. samples of beer, plus all the soda you want, AND we got to keep the glasses…

Lots of tanks and things…

And bottles…

And cheese…

And family!!!

On the road for my FAVORITE holiday!

Well, today Boyfriend and I are hitting the road to Wisconsin.  Who is totally pumped for a road trip and has two thumbs?  *This girl*  And hopefully *that guy* because he will be the one driving the stick shift car with awesome mileage for the whole six-hundred-something miles. 

So all of this to say I probably won’t be posting over the holiday weekend, but no worries!  I’m sure I’ll have pictures and stories to share when I return.  I’m completely excited–I love the 4th in my hometown!

HAPPY 4th OF JULY!!!

I shall leave you with this incredible art of food that I can only hope to do someday from Craftzine:

Solitude vs. Loneliness

I’ve written a similar post before, but I stumbled across this article yesterday, which I think does a better job of saying what I was trying to get at.

Recently I have discovered something important about myself: my definition of loneliness.  For me, being lonely is being alone when I don’t want to be.  It’s wanting to be with certain people when I can’t be.  According to the article, loneliness is a “negative state, marked by a state of isolation.”  I know this is definitely true for me.

But solitude is completely different – I love solitude when it’s at the right time.  After a crazy day of work or class, I pretty much have to have a quiet evening.  That may mean one other person, but absolutely not a group.  I need solitude because it feeds my creativity, my sense of peace, my time with God, and it allows me to think clearly and productively.  The article defines solitude as “the state of being alone without being lonely.”  Amen to that.

I’ve known a lot of people who almost can’t be alone without being lonely.  There was a time in my life when I felt like that.  The reason for that however was that my alone time was not a time for deep thoughts, peace, or creativity.  It became a time for me to focus on everything that was troubling me about myself or my life.  I didn’t look to God, or anything good, and I was totally alone and feeling lonely.  That’s a state that is hard to get out of, but we can!  When you’re there, it helps to remember brighter days always come.

So go and have some happy solitude this week and let it fill you up!!