Home For The Holidays

I love Christmastime.

Ross and I are always in charge of decorating the tree. This year we almost didn't have a tree, because originally my mom wanted to put a live tree outside (my dad is allergic). I voted for setting up the fake tree inside, because it just didn't seem as festive to have the Christmas tree outside, away from the festivities. Ross and I set to work:

Delicately placed ornaments (and stale candy canes) on the branches.

Tinsel flung unabashedly all over the place.

For Christmas Eve dinner the next night, we carved a “roast beast.” At one point the conversation branched into two completely separate conversations that managed to intersect hilariously. The topics were 'roast beef' and 'body anatomy' (with a focus on a particular region...ahem). I'll just say that at one point there was discussion of a “strip” and something being “clean cut”...it was either New York strip steak, or...Yeah.

And today is Christmas Day!!! I put red food coloring in the frosting for the cinnamon rolls that accompanied my dad's Christmas brunch pear pie. Yumm!!

Then it was time for presents! I don't care that I'm a “grown up,” the sight of presents under the tree still makes me giddy! I'm not being materialistic here...for me, presents under the tree adds to the festive atmosphere!

I always struggle with the feeling that unwrapping the presents is anticlimactic in some way, but ultimately curiosity wins out and I just focus on tearing through all the wrapping paper and tape!

Ross got gifts from "Victoria's Secret" and "L'Oreal." Hilarious!

I love all my gifts, though my favorite part about the presents this year was that mine (as in, the ones I gave) were all themed. I felt like I needed to make up for Christmas 2008 when I announced that everyone's Christmas present that year would be my presence (I was a scroogy recent college graduate, don't judge!). My conscience beat me into submission, and I ended up running to Safeway to purchase some truly last minute items: gift cards. I cringe whenever I look back on my 2008 Christmas spirit, so this year I went all out to make up for it. I bought everyone two gifts that correlated ingeniously, just like last night's dinner conversation about...steak.

Dad's theme: Music

Musicophilia: the effect of music on the brain (Oliver Sacks) and David Garrett's new CD

Mom's theme: Books

Kafka on the Shore (Haruki Murakami) and a mug that says "A book, a cat...life is great!"

Ross's theme: Money

The movie Blank Check and a homemade gambling certificate (just the slot machines, don't worry!)

I got many wonderful gifts, too! I did my Mary Murphy 'Hot Tamale Train' impression when I unwrapped this one! (skip ahead to :40 in the video):

 

Merry Christmas, everybody!

How do I love thee?

Do you know what your Love Language is?
Do you know what your significant other’s Love Language is? What about your friends?
It’s actually rather easy to figure it out, just by interacting with them. At least it has been in my experience: most of my friends are Words of Affirmation or Quality Time…which I suppose makes sense when you consider that those are my two top Languages, too.

When I first learned about the Love Languages in college, I scored highest on Physical Touch and Quality Time. A couple years have now elapsed, and of course with experience comes erudition.

My high regard for Quality Time has not changed: I still relish spending one-on-one time with the special people in my life. I also greatly value quality time spent introspectively, having some good ol' "me time." Both are important for personal growth.
As for Words of Affirmation, I have always felt a deep sense of personal satisfaction and self-confidence after engaging in a meaningful conversation or receiving a heartfelt compliment. I also frequently find myself wishing that I knew what people were thinking, particularly about me (don't you? At least occasionally??).

Usually there is a primary Language and a secondary Language, but I think my two Love Languages are pretty interconnected. Spending time with special people is important to me, as is being told that I am special and important to others. I'm pretty sure that everyone likes to know that, but when it's your Love Language the stakes are slightly higher.
I do not consider myself a snoop or a know-it-all (I hope nobody does!), but I do tend to use Quality Time as an opportunity to dig deeper inside a person. I ask a lot of questions, and I like giving advice when it's warranted (Words of Affirmation is the Love Language I use most frequently to give love, too).

All that said, I think our Love Languages are malleable depending on our socio-emotional needs, the same way our personality profiles change depending on those same circumstances. Thus, regardless of which Language expresses your deepest desires,

Sometimes you just need to hear “I love you.” (Words of Affirmation)

Sometimes a coffee date with a good friend quenches more than thirst. (Quality Time)

Sometimes a hug speaks louder than words. (Physical Touch)

Sometimes that little favor is seen (and appreciated) as a grand gesture. (Acts of Service)

Sometimes a bouquet of flowers brightens more than just the kitchen table. (Gifts)

Take the test and find out what your Love Language is!!

It's not worth the weight

It's no big secret that the female population is plagued by skewed perceptions of body image. Unfortunately, it's no big surprise, either.

I mean, think of all the opportunities for self-degradation women are subjected to every day, all because of the "expectations" placed on us by the next-to-nothing coverage of today's clothing trends (and the typical-sized women anorexia-thin waifs that model them).
Last weekend I went shopping for a dress to wear to my friend Megan's bridal shower. It was an incredibly discouraging process, because it was pretty slim-pickins out there! I mean, the dresses themselves were cute, but...

*These pics are for representation only. No copyright infringment intended

...when did practically-pelvic-bone hemlines become appropriate?? These are more akin to bathing-suit cover-ups (notice how you can't even see the models' knees, they're so far below the hemline!). One slightly forceful gust of wind and you're showing more than what you see in a regular bathroom mirror! When I was a kid, these get-ups got you sent home, or at least to the nurse for a sweatshirt. What happened to the finger-tip rule???

It doesn't help that the media is in on the hype, too. I mean if they weren't, the public eye (particularly that of women) would never be laid on this:

This obviously-altered image caused an uproar, no surprise there.

In fairness, a lot of the media attention (such as the above-mentioned article) has been backlash against such absurdly disproportionate representations of the female form. And there are clothing designers out there who understand the need for "curvy" women to have a fair shot at fashion, too!
Well, unless you're this guy. But who does he think he is, anyway??

Because of my own weight struggles, I am particularly affected by the emphasis placed on having that "perfect figure." I have been stuck at chronically overweight for over 10 years, with a few periods of yo-yo weight loss in between. It's not because I don't try to lose weight...in fact I try very hard. Two years ago I reached my lowest weight since pre-adolescence, but since then I've gone up and down and up again. I don't watch very much tv (at least not "reality" tv) and I don't read magazines, because there are just too many reminders that I will never meet the "standards" set by the women in the media.

Back in May I wrote about my weight loss struggles. Unfortunately nothing has changed since then...in fact, I've actually gained weight. But I'm gearing up to start all over again. My goal is to get back to where I was 2 years ago, when I was at a healthy weight and felt great.

Wish me luck!

All I'm Thinkin' About

Remember when I put together a Q&A to answer the common pre-roadtrip inquiries?

Well, I decided to do a road trip-wrap-up Q&A as well. It's fun, it's easy, it's informative, and it's concise!

What was your favorite city?

That's a tough question to answer, because I had so much fun in each and every city I visited!

Every city I stayed in with friends or family was a favorite because of the company (Carlsbad, Davis, Rough and Ready, “the middle of nowhere”, and Seattle).

In terms of activities, I would say Ashland, OR was my favorite. I had a blast at the Shakespeare festival, and Ashland is the home to my beloved Bloomsbury Books and Coffee!

Though I certainly can't overrule my adventure in Corvallis, OR with my aunt Charm, where I learned lots about my mom's “scandalous” past (just kidding, mom!). And Corvallis is such a quaint, charming little town even without the family history!

But my favorite B&B (and favorite host!) was in Crescent City, CA. I had a blast for the 20-ish hours I spent there, even though the most I saw of the city was the Thai food restaurant Paula recommended for dinner (I'm still not sure what it's name was, it just said 'THAI FOOD' on the roof!).

In short (or not so short!), I have favorite things about each city I visited.

What was your least favorite city?

I had a rough time In Portland, OR because many of the streets had been realigned (therefore rendering Michelle somewhat useless), and my aunt had warned me that Portland is not a city to wander around at night (which is exactly what I ended up doing after spending too much time at the fascinating Powell's City of Books!). But by no means did I dislike being there! Everything was all part of my Great Adventure!

How many miles, round trip, did you drive?

I'm still kicking myself for this...I forgot to set the odometer when I left. But thanks to MapQuest and Michelle, I was able to deduce that my total mileage came to approximately 3,200 miles (from Phoenix, AZ to Anacortes, WA).

And that's not even including all the in-between driving, such as my coastal adventure in Astoria, the commutes from my aunt's house into the surrounding towns, and my jaunt into Alameda for some historic-house touring! If you take into account all the “extraneous adventures,” I'll bet the more accurate calculations are closer to 4,000 miles! Whoo-ee!

Didn't you ever get lonely?

Nope. If anything, I grew to appreciate my solitude. I've always been an introspective person, which makes it easy for me to pass the time reflecting and enjoying my own company. I think that's an extremely important trait for everyone to develop, in fact. If you can't be comfortable with yourself, it will be that much more complicated for others to be comfortable with you.

Not to mention the fact that so much of my time was spent with either friends, family, or friendly people I met at my numerous B&Bs! Between trying on wigs with my cousin, making applesauce with Jerry, engaging in Dinnertime Courtroom antics with quirky lawyers, or discussing my future with breakfast companions, I had very little time (or reason) to feel lonely.

However, I will admit to occasionally feeling the pang of longing for my kitty-babies back in Phoenix. And frequently I would go days without talking to family or friends. That part got a little lonely. But those moments were few and far between!

How did you pass the many hours on the road?

For almost the entire “first leg” of my trip, I listened to music. My top playlist was of course Bruce Springsteen, but I also sang my heart out to musical theater selections such as The Lion King, Wicked, Mama Mia!, and RENT. At one point I even brought out the Christmas music- purely as a road-rage-defuser, I promise (I was stuck in really bad traffic on my way into Davis, CA and needed some serious mood-lifting). My mom and I had a book on tape we'd been listening to, but I didn't want to finish the story without her.

Interestingly, at some point during my 6 day stay with my aunt Charm I turned the music off. Or rather, I just never turned it on when I got in the car. Instead I allowed my mind to wander freely, flowing from topic to topic in a refreshing stream of consciousness. Sometimes a song would lodge itself between my ears, but I never felt the need to externalize it. Contrary to what you might think, there was no deep thinking taking place, at least on a conscious level. It goes back to being able to enjoy my own company. Though, according to Tanya I had to turn the music off to make room for the many voices inside my head that were busy discussing where I should go next. That would make me very much not alone, wouldn't it?! I'm grateful to Madame Facetious for her input, but a budding schitzo I am not! (Yoda maybe, but that's it!).

The music stayed off all the way through the rest of my “first leg” and into my “second leg” (aka return south) until the end of my time in Portland, OR (I needed the distraction after a particularly harrowing experience trying to find my way out of downtown).

Did you get enough sleep?

Probably not. But I didn't really start to feel it until Eugene, OR. Around that time I started to notice the exhaustion-baggies under my eyes (look closely, you'll see them too. Ugh!), as well as what I now refer to as my “sleep squint” look (which I think is especially obvious in the Crescent City and Alameda pics). I'm sure I could have done some cover-up with makeup...but I was too tired to deal with that extra effort!

What do you feel you “gained” from going on your trip?

Well, first of all, I gained the satisfaction of actually going! I know that there were plenty of people out there who did not believe that I would go through with it. Fortunately this trip was never about anyone else, just me, so I didn't (still don't) care that people had their doubts. But still, it was a nice confidence boost to be able to stare that collective Doubt in the eye and say "look at me, I've gone above and beyond," then swat triumphantly at the pesky hands of that collective Doubt, which had been insidiously pinching away my resolve. On the day I hit the road, I finally moved out of its reach.

Since returning, I truly feel like I'm a different person, at least in the way I approach the world. My eyes have been opened to all the world has to offer...as well as what I have to offer to the world. My road trip was never about "growing up," it wasn't a one-last-stand against joining the "real world." Rather, my road trip allowed me to find my place in said Real World. Or at the very least, it gave me the freedom to search, to break from the bonds of other people's expectations and focus on me, on where I was going, on where I wanted to be.

You mentioned that your entire trip was one coincidence after another. Were there any other good ones you haven't mentioned yet?

Uh, yeah! One of the more intriguing ones was the song “I'll Be Seeing You”... I swear I heard it in no less than 5 different places, possibly more! Let's see:

-at Von's getting groceries for my grandma (Carlsbad, CA- when it all started!)

-at the Evangeline's wig station (Davis, CA) ?? - I'm not 100% on that one. Input, Mollie?

-waiting to order coffee at the Key of C coffeeshop (Ashland, OR)

-inside the Cannery Landing bookstore (Friday Harbor, San Juan Islands, WA)

-while carousing inside the Westcore Center mall (Seattle, WA)

-at a smoothie place I no longer remember the name of (Astoria, OR)

-wandering around an outdoor shopping complex on 5^th ave (Eugene, OR- I specifically remember stopping in my tracks, muttering “are you kidding me?!” then hurrying back to my car completely spooked! That's the last time I remember hearing it- whew!)

Ok, so that's 7, whoa! I can think of a few other places I recall hearing music, but I can't remember if my “stalker song” was one of them. Still, that's an awful lot of recurrences for a not-particularly-mainstream song, isn't it??

I do kind of like the symbolism, though: even though I left each city as quickly as I arrived, it's like the city is serenading me, saying 'remember the memories, remember these places you've been, and come back someday.' A little over the top? Maybe. But when coincidence calls, I've got to answer!

You were supposed to be checking out grad schools along the way. Did you pick one?

My top 3 choices were SDSU (San Diego, CA), OSU (Corvallis, OR), and U of O (Eugene, OR). Unfortunately only one of them actually has a social work program. Fortunately, that made the selection process easy: SDSU (which was my first choice from the beginning, anyway)

Do you have any road trips planned for the future?

Heck yes I do! I plan to roadtrip the east coast on an Original 13 Colonies self-guided tour!!! Unfortunately you have to be 25 to rent a car, so I have to get through one more birthday before I can go - As much fun as it would be to road trip across the country and use my own car, that's just not a plausible option. Poor Roxy would probably keel over on me! Not to mention the amount of travel time that would require. Maybe after I retire and have plenty of time to see as much of the world as I want. Something else to look forward to!

What's next (in your immediate future)?

It just so happens that I recently had an interview for a care manager position at Sunrise Assisted Living in Carlsbad, CA (where my grandma lives!). Coincidentally, it took place two days after my birthday, so my mom and I postponed our return trip to Phoenix so I could attend! I'm still waiting to hear back from them...I really hope they call me for a second interview!!! My plan is to move to Carlsbad within the next 2 weeks, get a job (hopefully at Sunrise!), then apply to SDSU after I've established residency (1 year I believe). Sunrise strives to work with employees who are also in school, which is another reason why Sunrise would be the perfect place to work (second only to the fact that it's a perfect precursor to what I want to do...medical social work!). I can really see myself working at Sunrise, gaining experience, combining that experience with what I learn in the classroom, and truly making a name (and a life!) for myself in the social work field.

And that about sums it up! I loved my road trip, I had the time of my life, and I hope you enjoyed being a part of it! My amazing journey documented at Meryl's Meanderings will live on in my memory forever...especially because I'm a sentimentalist and will undoubtedly go back and re-live read about my adventures over and over again!

(Just so you know, this blog is not going anywhere. I'll be picking up here where I left off with observations and experiences as they come! Stay tuned!)

Where am I now? #6

So you may have noticed that it's been a long time since I've provided a "Where am I now" update. But if you've been following along at Meryl's Meanderings, you know that there has not been a shortage of material boasting my many adventures!

But back to the present...

Instead of asking "Where am I now," I'm going to reveal the mystery of my guest-passenger I've been hinting about over at Meryl's Meanderings. I'll reveal our location, as well!

Who am I with??

Here is your glimpse (aka hint) - only one this time:

Not sure who this is?

Wanna know for sure? Click here to find out!! - This link will take you to the clue-answering post only!

The FULL STORY -- This link will tell you where I am at present, as well as where I've been (in case you haven't checked up on me in a little while!)

Where am I now?? #5

After six days of dirt-road driveways and joy-riding sheepdogs, I'm no longer frolicking through hay fields or beating back the brambles of a wild blackberry patch.

There are no squirrels here...at least not of the paternity-prank variety.

But there is something fishy about my new location...especially when you get a whiff of the wharf.

Where am I now??

Here are your glimpses (aka hints)...

Not quite sure where I am/what these are??

Wanna know for sure? Click here to Find out!! -- This link will take you to the clue-answering post only!

The FULL STORY -- This link will tell you where I am at present, as well as where I've been! (in case you haven't checked up on me in a little while!)

I

Where am I now? #4

I retired from my rustic rendezvous just before noon yesterday, then coaxed my courageous little Roxy (my car) up and through some mountains. I could practically hear Roxy's sigh of relief as I cut the engine after pulling into the driveway of my newest destination.

Where am I now??

Here are your glimpses (aka hints)...

Not quite sure where I am/what these are??

Wanna know for sure? Click here to Find out!! -- This link will take you to the clue-answering post only!

The FULL STORY -- This link will tell you where I am at present, as well as where I've been! (in case you haven't checked up on me in a little while!)

Where am I now? #3

So I've kinda been slacking on the whole "periodic updating the regular blog" thing. It's certainly not for lack of update material...quite the contrary, actually! I've been busy exploring, and could never find enough time to sit down and formulate a new post to keep you readers of my "original blog" up to date! Sorry about that!

Anyway, my last update here at Meryl's Describetions found me wandering the quaint streets of Santa Barbara, CA. Since then, I've actually traversed north quite a ways... I've already been to and through Davis, California, visiting my cousin Mollie.

So where am I now??

Here are your glimpses (aka hints):

Not quite sure where I am/what these are??

Wanna know for sure? Click here to Find out!! -- This link will take you to the clue-answering post only!

The FULL STORY -- This link will tell you where I am at present, as well as where I've been! (in case you haven't checked up on me in a little while!)

Where am I now?? #2

I departed from beautiful Carlsbad late yesterday morning.

Where am I now??

Here are your glimpses (aka hints)...

Not quite sure where I am/what these are??

Wanna know for sure? Click here to Find out!! -- This link will take you to the clue-answering post only!

The FULL STORY -- This link will tell you where I am at present, as well as where I've been! (in case you haven't checked up on me in a little while!)

Chimes of freedom

Guess where I am????

Hint: I recently presented a very thorough de-scribe-tion of my plan to road trip up the West coast. Remember how I neglected to mention anything about where I would be going on my extended excursion, other than the evident locations witnessed by this map?



I also mentioned that I would be documenting my coastal journey in full, as well as maintaning frequent updates so that all my friends and family can keep track of me!

And I'm going to hold up to that, starting...

NOW!!!

I departed from The Valley of the Sun yesterday afternoon.

Where am I now??

Here are your glimpses (aka hints)...

Not quite sure where I am/what these are??

Wanna know for sure? Click here to Find out!! -- This link will take you to the clue-answering post only!

The FULL STORY -- This link will tell you where I am at present, as well as where I've been! (in case you haven't checked up on me in a little while!)

She's gonna miss me...

It took me right up to the last minute, but I finally got everything packed for my trip!!




Or so I thought...
 

All The Way Home

In the next few days I will be embarking on an adventure...a road trip up the West coast!! I intend to leave within this week...though the actual departure date depends my efficiency at tying up the loose-ends of the preparation. Leaving in a timely manner necessitates the implementation of some serious organizational skills.

Which should be a piece of cake.

Since, you know, I'm an overwhelmingly organized person.

Cough. Cough.

In reality, it will require a Herculean effort on my part to stay on top of everything. But I'm SO excited about this trip that, other than taking the time to write this blog entry, I've remained remarkably on task. I still have a slightly-daunting To-Do list to get through (the progression of which was hindered by my recent one-week-stint in NYC), but I'm determined to stay on schedule. My dates spent in a particular city are pretty solidly set in stone, because many times I'm visiting with friends or family. That doesn't allow for much schedule-flexibility...or rather, it would be incredibly rude of me to insist upon it.

 

Anyway, remember how sometimes I like using pictures instead of words to display something important? Well, here's what my road trip “itinerary” looks like:

Obviously that's a very vague portrayal...I did that on purpose. I'm going to be documenting each leg of my coastal journey and updating frequently, so that y'all can follow along!

More on that later!! For now, here's a little Q&A I put together for some of your more general inquiries:

Why are you going on the trip?

Because I can, and because I feel like I need to. I graduated from college over a year ago, but I feel like I've been standing in the same place ever since, not moving forward and unable to move back. After declining to return to my former nannying job for another school year, I fell into a lifestyle slump. My future job prospects were dismal, I was still living at home in less-than-perfect conditions, my Costa Rica plans had fallen through...I felt like I had nothing to say for myself, no worth to my name, and I was itching to make a change. I had always intended to spend part of this last year traveling, going away in order to come back to myself. Getting lost so I could be found. After thinking my options over, and taking a few precursory pilgrimages out to California, I finally started to feel like my life was headed in an encouraging direction. So I followed up on those feelings, and now I'm standing at the Starting Line of what promises to be a great adventure!!

When are you leaving?

Thursday, August 27

How long will you be gone?

The trip rounds out at just a few days shy of 5 weeks! I should be back in The Valley of the Sun in late September/early October

How many cities will you be visiting?

15, possibly one more depending on events and scheduling

Are you going by yourself?

Yup, I'm a solo flier! I need the time to reflect and explore my life and it's options, and this is a great way to do so.

You're terrible with directions. How will you find your way around?

I consider this road trip an “orientation” challenge. By using a simple compass and a handful of maps, I am resolved to find my way around with as few wrong turns as possible!

Your birthday is towards the end of your trip. Where will you be? What are your plans?

As it stands, my birthday is also the last official day of my roadtrip. By then I will also have my mother in tow (we'll meet up somewhere in the northern hemisphere of the Golden State a few days before my Big Day), so I'll have some company...more details to follow!!

So there you have it! If you have any other questions, comment or send me an e-mail, I'll happily answer them or direct you back to my blog at the appropriate time!

Good Eye

As a writer, I have a sharp eye for typos (and poor grammar). In fact, in college I gained the reputation of Grammar Nazi.
 

In my opinion, English majors should be mandated within every job market, not just journalism or publishing. Every company should have a trained eye on hand to prevent embarrassing grammatical oversights, or even just awkward wording/phrasing.

For example:

This sign (seen in a family-friendly neighborhood) could be a warning that there are "slow" children playing nearby, or asking that approaching drivers decrease their speed due to the presence of said children.

 

This sign (on the main doors at my grandma's assisted living facility) made me laugh out loud. If the door is automatic, why would it need to be pulled on to open? 

 

I want to be the copyeditor for whatever company creates these signs!

Spontaneity is the spice of life!

Yesterday Andrea and I had a chat about our college days, how we both miss the convenience of living just minutes away from frivolous friends and fun. Our conversation's culmination went something like this:

Andrea: "No one is spontaneous anymore."

Me: "Let's do something then, I'm not doing anything. Pottery painting, Tempe Marketplace, 30 minutes?"

Andrea: "YES."

Slightly longer than half an hour later, there we stood in front of my favorite pottery painting place, As You Wish. We took pictures to document our spontaneity, because that's how we roll. My favorite picture is the one where Andrea looks like a tourist in her own home town:

Since it was about 3,000 degrees outside and we were both roasting, we hurried inside. Andrea had never been before so I quickly explained the painting process, and we got to work!

The evening was A BLAST!! Which brings me to the other point of this post: the importance of being spontaneous.

Since graduating from college a year ago, one of the toughest lessons my friends and I have had to learn is that “real life” has a very structured schedule, which severely inhibits the freedom of whims.

Frequent discussions about such an injustice brought forth vehement rantings such as these:

"All I do is work."

"I don't have time for anything because I work all the time."
"By the time I'm off work I don't have energy to do anything else."

Though all inferences were indirect, the keywords of every discussion were Lack of Spontaneity.

There is no time to be spontaneous anymore.

Which is a shame because in my mind, spontaneity keeps life fresh, invigorating. It gives you something to talk about. To dream about.

Since I know you're wondering, here are some of my favorite Spontaneous Adventures of my College Years:

All 3 of us got a piercing!

Stuck and squelching at Mud Falls

Midnight mealtime outings to Denny's!

AZ state fair! Road trip!

There were plenty of others, and even if I didn't come away from them with picture proof, the memories are as vivid as any photograph. Late night card games in dormitory hallways. Home-made snowcones. Trips through the belly of a self-serve car wash. Even community trips to the grocery store. Each of them transpired simply because.

In a world of overtime and over-inflated work ethics, spontaneity has lost its valor. But it's value is still ever present. Who hasn't said any one of these things:

"I wish I could just pack up and head out."
"Wouldn't it be nice to get out of here for a few days?"

"Hey, that looks/sounds like fun! Too bad I have to work."
"We should just go."

And then sighed, simply because you knew that your stickler of a schedule superseded any spontaneous soirées.

Well, I hereby challenge you to "just go." The next time you get the urge, or a friend calls to complain, just go. Do something exciting, maybe even unprecedented. Give yourself an hour, an afternoon, a day, just to enjoy being where you are and who you're with. I guarantee it will be worth it, and you will find yourself saying what Andrea said to me at the end of the night:

"It was just what I needed."

Me, too.

So, go on. And then tell me about it!

That was Wicked awesome!!

It's no big secret that I am a musical theater freak lover. Therefore, I have no qualms about this shameless plug:

If you have not yet seen Wicked: the Musical, you are seriously missing out. It is the exceptionally creative backstory of the two witches from The Wizard of Oz, Glinda and Elphaba (the Wicked Witch of the West). The musical is based on the novel by Gregory Maguire.

~~ ~~ ~~ ~~
Me at Wicked in Los Angeles, CA, at the Pantages theater (May 2008):

After the show, I went here:

 

And I got these:

By palling around with these people!:

The amazing Caissie Levy (Elphaba)

~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~

The fantastic Megan Hilty (Glinda)

~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~

The winsomely handsome Kristoffer Cusick (Fiyero)

~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~

The felicitous Michael Drolet (Boq)

~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~

The ebullient Marcie Dodd (Nessarose)

~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~

The wonderful John Rubinstein (Wizard of Oz)

~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~

The dynamic Joanne Worley* (Madame Morrible)

~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~

The amiable Timothy Britten Parker* (Dr. Dillamond)

*I took pictures with Ms. Worley, but my camera malfunctioned. I forgot to get a picture with Mr. Parker. However, thanks to my savvy skills with the Paint program, I still got my photos! (Betcha didn't even notice till I said something, did you? hehe).

And because I am a writer, I couldn't let the photos stand by themselves. Behold, my “Wicked comic strip,” using a plethora of inside jokes from the production. I had a blast making this, and cracked myself up plenty of times in the process. For those of you who know the local wonders of Flagstaff, there is another plug...can you find it??

Wicked: the Musical is still on tour, and it just so happens to be playing in the Valley of the Sun through the month of July! You should all go see it...it will be a thrillifying experience!!