PSL

Wednesday, September 16

Never have I ever...had a Pumpkin Spice Latte in 2015.

I got my first PSL this year.  It wasn't even a chilly, crisp, Autumn day.  However, I was having a bad day, so I decided to treat myself...and let me tell you, it was the best decision I made all day.  It's the taste of Fall.  It's memories.  It's happiness.  It's so fascinating how  simple drink, taste, smell can bring back so many memories.  I was instantly transported to walking around Disneyland with Lauren at Halloweentime the last three years, to walking through Centeal Park, to going to Starbucks first thing in the morning on Thanksgiving with Danielle.  All good memories.  And so, I begin this Fall off the right way. 

Catfish

Tuesday, September 15 

Never have I ever...watched the MTV show "Catfish."  (Nor will I ever again btw)

I got home and Melissa and Andrew were watching an episode of MTV's "Catfish."  It was the dumbest show.  It's about people who meet people online, and this show gets them to meet and to figure out if it's all real or fake.  ie are they using fake pictures, false bios, etc.  In this particular episode, at the end, we found out that the one girl who they were helping actually got these other girls to be on it and "fake catfish" her so that she could announce to the world that she's gay.  What?! You're going to go through an elaborate scheme just so you can get your 15 seconds of fame...for what?  Society has made fame this thing that everyone wants and strives for for some reason.  It's bizarre.  Anyway, it's a mindless show, and it's sad that people act this way, and they actually exist. 

Mashed Potatoes and Gravy

Monday, September 14

Never have I ever...made spaghetti squash OR mashed potatoes.  

These posts are just as shocking to me as they may be to you.  How can it be that 30 years old, I've never made mashed potatoes from scratch.  What?! I love them, but never think to make them.  When I do have them, it's because someone else made them.  However, I really wanted them, so I headed to the store and bought what I needed, looked up the directions on Google (yes, I did), and with some guidance by Andrew, made some incredible mashed potatoes. Along with that, I really wanted spaghetti squash, as well, but also never made that.  Again, with the help of Google (what did they did before Google?) and Andrew, I baked a delicious squash.  Overall, my dinner was fantastic.  The best part?  Half of it was food I had never made before.  I absolutely love cooking, but rarely have an opportunity to make a big meal.  When I have the chance, and I try something new, AND it ends up being great? That's pretty rewarding.  I love trying new things. (I also made meatless meatballs and corn on the cob) 

Brunching

Sunday, September 13

Never have I ever...had brunch with Mattie in NYC, nor have I ever been to HK in Hell's Kitchen. 

When Mattie and I used to be roommates back in our LA times, we used to make it a point to have "roommate dates" and go to brunch.  This was to ensure we made time to actually see each other/hang out, and also make sure we were allowing ourselves to have a little Sunday Funday Afternoon Fun.  Since being in NYC, we have yet to have a free Sunday to go our for Brunch.  However, we finally did, and it was an amazing time.  We went to HK across the street from his apartment building, and loved it.  The food was great, we became friends with our server, and made a whole lot of other friends there that all had September birthdays, too.  (They had called us all up).  Virgos unite! I'm so thankful for such amazing long lasting friends in my life, and I am also thankful for making the time to hVe fun.  We all need some laughs and some smiles in our lives. 

Movie Night

Saturday, September 12

Never have I ever...binge watched "Grace & Frankie"

As anyone who knows me might know, I am horrible at watching television and movies.  I have the best of intentions to stay up to date, but I always seem to manage to fall behind on what is new and the thing to watch.  Saturday night I sat down to watch a movie and began watching the Netflix original series "Grace & Frankie" starring Jane Fonda, WSU alumni Lily Tomlin, Martin Sheen, and Sam Waterston.  I don't even remember the last time I watched a show and I was laughing out loud while sitting by myself on the couch.  ("Friends," maybe?). Anyway, what was supposed to be one episode turned into four! Four! I never do that.  However, it was worth.  It's hilarious, witty, and the acting is brilliant.  I highly recommend if you haven't watched it yet.  Just be warned - you'll get sucked in.

Coming Full Circle

Friday, September 11

Never have I ever...seen Jason Robert Brown in concert.

Jason Robert Brown is a brilliant composer, and I absolutely love his musicals.  So, when Julie asked me to join her in seeing him in concert on the Lower East Side, I clearly said yes.  I am so glad I did.  All of the musicians on stage were having the best time, including him on piano, as well as vocals at times. It was as though we had been invited to come and watch their jam session and join them in just having fun.  It was awesome.  They also had special guest Broadway stars Andrea Burns and Joshua Henry.  Their voices are insane and beautiful.  During the concert, as well as after, I was thinking about how seeing this concert was perfectly timed in my life.  I just finished production on my own musical, my first one, and here I am watching an inspiration perform some of his various stand out songs for us.  He was obviously at a similar point in his life at some point - just finishing his first musical, putting his work out into the world for people to hear.  And now here he is performing a concert of his songs that people in the audience are singing along to.  To go with that - I actually saw Andrea Burns on Broadway in "In the Heights" back in 2008.  I had come to NYC on spring break of my senior year in college to audition for Studio 5.  While here, I won the lottery to see that show.  That was before the rest of my life altered for the better, before I had experience life in NYC, LA, and even before I traveled to Moscow. What I found neat about seeing this concert was that here was a woman I saw doing her thing on stage right before I was about to embark on a new professional path, and here I see her again when I, again, am embarking on a new and exciting professional path.  Here I am seeing an inspiration to me as a composer perform, right after I finished my first work. The concert meant a lot to me and was an inspiration, and even a bit of a nudge to say keep doing what you're doing.  We all need moments like these.  I'm glad I had this one.  

The concert was at Subculture on the Lower East Side.  Sitting behind us was the famous and incredibly amazing director, Hal Prince.  This was my attempt to take an inconspicuous selfie of us with him in the background.

Movies and Stuff

Thursday, September 10

Never have I ever...been to the Museum of the Moving Image.

Katie and I were looking for something new and different to do before she had to take her bus back to DC, so I thought of the Museum of the Moving Image.  It's only two blocks away from my apartment, and yet I had never ventured to it.  I'm so glad we did; what an awesome museum!  There were original costumes, masks, set renderings and small scale designs, as well as actual cameras/microphones/sound equipment/televisions showing the evolution and advancement of such items.  There were interactive areas where you could dub your voice over famous movie scenes, as well others were you could pick the soundtrack and sound effects.  This was to show how they add that into the films.  It was a fascinating museum, we learned a ton, and we had a great time.  I highly recommend.  Plus, they have a Jim Henson exhibit coming soon.  Definitely going back.

www.movingimage.us