Ta-Da!

Thanks to my aunt Marianne, I found a way to organize all of my jewelry! She suggested a... tackle box! So against all of my morals, I went to Wal Mart this afternoon (wow that place is cheap), and VIOLA!! A portable way to carry all it around, and I can see it all!

Organizing Ideas??

OK, the picture you see is all of the jewelry that I had in two different portable storage things for tour, in a drawer in my dresser, and in a little jewelry box. WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO WITH ALL OF IT??!! I want to keep it (I got rid of a lot of old stuff) but just can't figure out what sort of a storage contraption to put it in so I can see it all and keep it organized. I forget I have stuff because I can't see it buried in my drawer!

Anyone have an ideas, besides I totally separate piece of furniture?? Keep in mind I am moving to a temporary location for three months, then going back out on tour, so something like a drawer organizer is out of the question. I kind of need to take it around with me....

Fun In The Mud

This past weekend I got together with some friends, and we played in a mud volleyball tournament. I started playing in college with a friend, then continued on with another friend who's company sponsored teams, and for the last four years I have been the "team organizer". (Most of you know that I love to organize events, parties, etc. so this is right up my alley)!
Now while it is for charity (at $300 a team), don't be fooled. It's just one giant PARTY!! It takes place at the Cuyahoga County Airport, and well over 1,000 people go. People come from all over- the team set up next to us this year had come in from MI and camped out the night before. You couldn't pay me to sleep anywhere near this mud pit, but I guess some consider it a good time. Some teams come in theme, but we just opted to go for the old clothes we didn't care about. And new clothes from KMart if need be! You have to duct tape your shoes to your feet, or else they get stuck in the mud and come off. This is the first year I saw bright colored tape! I guess they sell it at Wal Mart. Which means I'll never buy it.

Anyway, as you will see from the pics, it is a fun and dirty day! Our first game was at 10:20, which is the latest we have ever started. By the time we got there at 9:45, the radio station was blasting music through the event, the beer tents had long lines, and people were already eating burgers and dogs.

Our team was named "A Few Too Many", for the obvious reason, but also because we had a few too many players this year. Three of us had to sit out every game. I decided to sit out four out of five on the sidelines and make sure everyone was nicely hydrated!! I also stink at playing, so what's the point?!

The only injury this year was Darrel- his back was a little torn up after a fall in the mud (there are rocks underneath). Two years ago my friend Casey had to go to the hospital by 9am, so I thought we did pretty good this year!

We lost every game. All five. But we had a great time, and can't wait to continue on with our annual event next year!

Not So New Every Two

After two and a half YEARS of having the same phone, I went to Verizon today for the scary switch. I had an old school BlackBerry, so I figured my best bet would be the new Pearl. Pretty much the same thing, right? Not really.

I knew about the "new every two" deal they have, so I figured it would pretty much just be an even trade. I would go in, get a new one, and that would be that. Once again, not really. After waiting for a half hour for someone to call my name (they do this fancy thing now where you use a computer to sign in when you go in the door and they put your name up on a screen so you know how many people are in front of you), I got a girl who let me know she had a stomach ache, and did I want silver, or pink? Pink of course.

Well I guess my company only had me on a one year plan, so I didn't really qualify for the new every two price, because it was not a two year contract. (What? I've had the old phone for over two years). And now with the BlackBerry, you have to buy a little SIM card because it does not have enough memory for pics and internet and contacts. That's just dumb. It's brand new- you would think they would know how much memory to put in it! Just another way to make you spend another $30. And now with the BlackBerry, you have to sign up for an internet plan, or they will not turn it on for you. Another $30. A month.

I literally argued (nicely) over the total she kept coming up with, saying, "there's just no way". Because they told me I would get this super cheap price when I walked in the door because it had been over two years.

So I take it home, open it all up, and go to put the SIM card in. Which I don't even understand. The stomach ache lady told me it was by the battery. I wound up with tears in my eyes when I could not figure it out, just thinking about going back there. But that's what I did. Back to Verizon, so they could show me where to put it. Turns out it was super easy, just not where I was looking.

There are so many more buttons and things on this one... I'm not sure about this! I had the internet and email turned off on my last one, but LOVED how easy it is to sync up to my address book and calendar on my Outlook email. I already figured out how to do that, so that's a step in the right direction.

So my free phone was $217 with a $70 rebate I have to send in. Needless to say, it's a company phone, but I hate spending money on dumb things, even when it's not mine!!

Hopefully in a few weeks I'll be crusin' around my new BlackBerry with no problem!

A New Chapter

Today I went to lunch at my office, to say goodbye to the only boss I have ever really had, and his wife. Lee sold Magic, and is moving out to Utah to enjoy a life of skiing and golfing (and working, no doubt). And I really can't think of a person who deserves it more.

I started interning at Magic when I was going into my Sophomore year in college. At the time, they were producing concerts, which I just thought was the coolest thing in the world! (It kind of was). They were working on Janet, Backstreet, Cher, CSNY, Brandy... even though I was just answering the phones and filing, I was in heaven.

The best thing about this office was the people. Lee once said at our Christmas dinner that he never hired anyone he didn't like. And because of that, we have always had a great group. The word "family" is often used. The second best thing about the office is that it is actually a house, in a nice suburb of Cleveland (Aurora). Kind of out there in the boonies, but how great was it to go to work in jeans, and work out of an old bedroom?! With Coco, Lee's dog running around?!

I decided to transfer from ASU to Cleveland State, and I worked part time in the office for the Titanic Exhibition, and a few other projects here and there.

I graduated from college, and after a few months, Lee hired me to work full time. I remember him telling me that he didn't have a position open, but to show up the next week and we would figure it out. Four years later, I was at the Olympics with Sasha and Evan, and had learned more than I ever could have imagined.

In Torino with Shelley, Evan, and Lee

At the Sports Illustrated Club Bud party in Torino

When the figure skating chapter was over, I decided to take the job with Superstar (Lee is a producer). And now two years later, I have learned about the road, and have worked with media and theatres in almost every city in the U.S. and Canada.

In Banff, Alberta for Superstar

I have always said that unless I absolutely have to, I never want to work for anyone but Lee. He has been the world's greatest boss and teacher, and has created something so special within his Magic world. While I am excited that they are starting a life in Utah, it's a little scary! He will always be in this business, because it's just what he does, and he's too good to not do it. I just hope that I will too, and that I use everything I have learned over the last 10 years to do it as well as he would expect me too.

Disney World

Last week, my mom, sister and I went to Disney World. It was so much fun! We really lucked out on numerous things to make it a fairly cheap vacation. I worked at the Disney Store in high school (so dorky) and my mom bought tickets at my discounted price, knowing they would never expire. Well, 11 years later, we used them! She bought the 4 day park hoppers for about $100, and now the same ticket is about $260. Then, my friends wife helped us out with booking The Beach Club hotel with her cast discount, so we got that for 40% off, split between the three of us. It was a GREAT location- walking distance to EPCOT, and a boat ride away from MGM (actually now it's called Hollywood Studios).We hit all four parks in three days. And let me tell ya- it was HOT!! It was fine in the morning and evening, but mid-day was pretty bad. It's not like it ruined our vacation or anything, but after about 15 minutes, we had to find AC. Even the bathrooms there are air conditioned, so there was always somewhere close to cool off! I swear, almost every person was walking around with these fans that had a water sprayer on them that Disney sold. They were $17 a pop! Gotta love Disney...

We had some great dinners while we were there, and tried a few new things. We ate at a seafood place in Downtown Disney, Morocco and France in EPCOT, and the Prime Time Cafe in MGM. EPCOT is by far my favorite park because I love the World Showcase! They really make you feel like you are in that country. We of course had to take pictures in all of them. I also really enjoyed the Animal Kingdom because I have not spent a lot of time there, so it was fairly new to me.

One thing that was just ridiculous to me was to see how over weight people are. It's really kind of gross. We actually saw fat KIDS. Like toddlers who were off the charts! And apparently, motorized wheel chairs (or Rascals, as BA refers to them as) are an acceptable way for obese people to tour Disney. They were everywhere! I mean, come on. I don't think that is going to help their situation! BA and I found one parked in a corner, so she posed on it for us. The other frustrating thing about the trip was the large amount of foreign people there. I would honestly say that about 1 in 5 people spoke English. I am pretty sure South America migrated to Florida for the week. Which is totally fine, but culturally, they are just louder than we are, and they have not been told about the "personal space bubble" us Americans need around us. :)Our legs and feet hurt so bad at the end of each day in was unreal! But overall, it was a really fun trip, and a nice week for us three girls!

Feelin' Blahgh

Not sure if that is a word or not, but that is how I physically feel. I had a FUN night, but just ate such crummy, terrible food! So that is my quick blog. It's late at night, and I can't sleep because I feel like crud.

I got home from Disney World (a blog in itself... coming) around 4:00 today, did the whole mail/email catch up thing, then decided last minute to go to the Indians game with some friends. Just in the same clothes I have had on since 8:00am in Florida. I was starving, so I grabbed a beer and a bag of peanuts when we got there. ($10 seats by the way, and we just moved up a bit and they were fine). I literally ate about the whole bag when I flipped it over and saw that it was 25% of my fat content for the day. GROSS!! Then I saw that that was for one serving, and there were five in the bag. Haha! So I am at 125% of my fat for the day. Might as well go for another beer and a hot dog! So good.

After the game and the best fireworks show I have ever seen in my life, I met my sister and my friend Nick at a place in Ohio City. They had these Belgium fries that I heard were a must, so we of course ordered them. They had some sort of a mayonaise sauce for dipping. Fat free, right??

I feel like hell. It's probably what that guy in "Supersize Me" felt like after eating McDonald's. Tomorrow I am going for a walk, and to the grocery store to buy fruit and veggies.

You really are what you eat!

Giving At All Away

I decided that today was clean out the closet(s) day. (I have four). Knowing that I am moving in about a month has really motivated me to organize life a bit more. Yesterday I went through linen closets.

It's SO SAD to get rid of clothes and shoes! It's so hard, because you remember what things cost when you bought them, and it's like you are flushing money down the toilet. I can't imagine having kids and having to do this every season. I see why mom's only shop at Target and Old Navy! Last year I gave away about 7 or 8 bags. But I kept stuff that I might fit into again one day. I packed on the lb's last year and have shed some of it off, so I'm happy I didn't get rid of all of it last time around.

I just spent about an hour trying on every pair of pants and every skirt I own. Kinda sad, but I was pleasantly surprised to discover that a few things fit, but others... I mean, come on. When the heck did I ever fit into size 2 pants from Guess?! Apparently within the last five years or so. I must have looked damn good. :) And I am giving so many shirts away. As my sister would say, they are too short. People are just wearing them longer now than a few years ago. And with the jeans being so low cut, if I were to wear them, it would be a nice crack show to everyone I sit down near.

I have decided to try and take the good stuff to a second hand store and see if they will give me any cash for it. Like my stuff from J. Crew, Banana, Nordstrom, etc. So I have a summer bag, and a winter bag for them. (I figure I'll hold on to the winter bag until Fall comes). Then I have a "no way will anyone pay for this crap" bag with Old Navy, and older stuff that is just not really in style anymore. Then, I have a mental list of items for eBay. Stuff that was expensive, and I feel someone might pay for. Even if I get $10 for a pair of jeans, it's better than giving them away just because my butt does not fit into them anymore, you know? And, I'm going to try and sell my bridesmaid dresses as well. Even though I love my married friends to death, I will never, ever, wear them again. Probably can't even zip them up ever again. Ha!

Pre-4th of July

Last night we went to a great FREE event in Cleveland! The Cleveland Orchestra was performing in Public Square at 9:00, with a fireworks show after. I went with my sister and two roommates. We didn't really know what to expect.

Turns out it's kind of a big deal. There were thousands of people camped out in their chairs in front of Tower City, with a huge stage set up. We of course decided to go to a bar when we got down there at 8:00, so by the time we were looking for a place to sit, there really were none. We wound up under some contraption that was holding up the TV crews, and it worked out quite nicely! Next year we'll know to bring our chairs.

The concert was about an hour, then the fireworks started. All of the sudden, torrential rain starts! It appeared to me that no one else expected it to rain either, because there were thousands of people running through the streets, drenched, trying to find somewhere to go. The poor people with their babies and strollers! For those of you not from here, Public Square is not a convenient place to get out of and get to your car. Most of the lots are blocks away. We of course just went back to the bar we were in before. :)
It rained so hard it was actually windy and raining IN the bar!

We then met up with my friend Nick who is in town with the show Jersey Boys, had some yummy wine flights, and called it a night!

Home Again, Home Again

Well, I'm back in Cleveland. I flew in yesterday, and am already kind of bored. Don't know how long this unemployment thing can last before I go nuts.

I don't really remember how I felt when I came home last year. It might sound dumb, but it's just such an adjustment. Life can be so fast paced on the road with moving around all the time. You always have somewhere to GO. Whether it's the theatre, or the next city, or to find food- you always have to leave to go do something. And, you always have SOMEONE to go with. I had about 45 people around me every day who needed to do the same things. Want to hang out at night? No problem. 45 people to choose from who are either with you on the bus or at the hotel. Mind you, I didn't want to see some of them, but they were still around. :) What's funny is that many nights I just wanted to do my own thing, but now that I'm home, I have the itch to always be doing something probably because I know I can't.

The other thing is adjusting to the time schedule of "normal" people. I ate dinner at 6:30 tonight! Honestly, there are days on the road when I didn't even eat lunch until 4:00. Really. It's just a later life. You work late, you eat late, you stay up late, you wake up late. It's 12:30pm right now, I've been up since 8:00, and I feel like it's super early to go to bed. Problem is there there is no one ELSE up! :) Gotta work on this one.

It's also hard to adjust to being in one place for a while. It just gets stagnant. The good news here is that I am going to Disney World next week, probably going to Chicago a few weeks after that, then going to Canada, then going to Germany and France. Sooooo.... that might help.

One more thing about touring and then coming home- you kind of expect everything to be as it was when you left, but it is so not the case. Friends have gotten married, had babies, moved, met new people. They're used to me being gone, but when I come home I think of it as being the same as when I left. Make sense?

Anyway, those are my thoughts on being home. I LOVE LOVE LOVE being back with my mom and sister and family, and it's going to be a fun summer, but it's just a little strange right now. I actually took my clothes off hangers today when I got dressed instead of out of a suitcase. Hhmmm.