January 30, 2005

Troubles will slide away . . .

Remember how I was determined to have a relaxing weekend, full of fun? Well, I managed to only do two things which involved effort/work of any sort. I created a study guide for my 11/12 grade class (Which has grown by two people as of tomorrow! We jumped from 3 seniors to 5 in a matter of two weeks. Crazy.), and I did laundry. Everything else? Pure fun . . . mostly.

Friday was our first rehearsal for the whole cast of BATB. The read-through. Now, I don't mind read-throughs of plays, considering that if you're cast in a play, odds are you probably have lines. Not in this show! There are over 90 people in this production!!!!!!!!!! Ridiculous! And, they turned people away! Clearly something must be done. Not just 90 people involved; 90+ people in the cast!!!! What were Bob, Stephanie A., and Gina thinking???????????? Anyhoo, knowing that the odds of having lines as a napkin were fairly slim and that we weren't working on the music (so I have no idea when/where my solo is), I came prepared. I brought a book of puzzles (my particular favorites being the Logic Problems, and the Places, Please puzzles). Did I get to work on them? Nope. Stephanie A. (director) had me read Babette's lines, since Jenn wasn't there. I got to share my chair with both of the little boys playing Chip, since Sonja let me use her script, and neither of them have one yet. Three people in one chair wasn't as comfortable as they would like, so they sat elsewhere for Act II. These two boys are absolutely adorable!

Yesterday was the day I did laundry. I also read plenty, slept in, and watched a silly musical from the 1940s (I believe) called My Gal, Sal with Rita Hayworth and Victor Mature. Fluff and fun it was. I also went to see the Reno Little Theatre Production of Henry V with Chris, Jeff, and three of Jeff's students (he teaches acting at WNCC). Chris warned me that last year the same company had done Henry IV, and it wasn't good (though he warned me while on the way there, and too far out for me to be dropped off somewhere!). But, this play, along with Richard III, is my favorite Shakespearean History play. It wasn't too bad, I've got to say. The girl who was Katherine/Young Boy played Ariel in the horrid production of Footloose at UNR, and I wasn't impressed with her then. This, I felt like she did a pretty decent job. I even mostly liked Josh's portrayal as the young Henry V! After, he came out and talked to Chris and Jeff, and ignored me as usual (although he actually was "big" enough to look at me for about 1 second when I made a lame joke, and there was humor in his eyes!!!!!!!).

Today, I did the Study Guide. I also went to church (and learned that HCC will now have 1 1/2 Music Pastors!), lunch with my mom, visit with Aunt Laurie, Uncle Jacque, Grandma and Grandpa, and then up to Tahoe to see fun Esther Heath. That girl is sooooo much fun! Yeah for funny and entertaining friends!!!! She got a call from Cara Heffner, and now that I'm home, I've gotten an e-mail from Dawn Stuvland. It's like I'm on NNU overload. I caught her up on the lives of Becky, Kara, Jen, Tiffany, Gideon, and such. She filled me in on the goings on of Andrea, Sara C., Cara, and Lee. I also got to meet her two older brothers, and her two sisters-in-law. They were all great! I miss my NNU friends, probably more when I get to see only one of them every now and then. It sort of whets my appetite without actually satisfying a full 1% of it. :(

This title comes from the song in Ragtime called "Atlantic City." The song talks about the ability to escape from everyday life and have fun. I feel like that is how my weekend has been, overall. Bring on the Monday, I'm ready for ya!

January 27, 2005

Parody Tonight!

Visit this site, if you want a good laugh!

http://www.livejournal.com/community/m15m/6231.html

It should amuse everyone who has a good understanding of The Phantom of the Opera. I love the movie (though there are some things that bothered me--no consistent French accents being one), but I think it's hysterical. If you know the show or movie, it should be pretty entertaining. Or, if you hate the musical anyway **coughCHRIScough**, I imagine you'll enjoy this parody.

The title is the title of a song from a Forbidden Broadway show. I'd love to see one sometime! I love their stuff. I think one of my favorites was the Les Miserables "10 Years More" with the "Thenadier" solo--"Once a piece of art/now a piece of crap!/Just what New York needs/another tourist trap!" Hy.St.Er.Ic.Al!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

January 26, 2005

Bli-blip!

The semester/quarter has finally diminished down to a reasonable level. Report cards are due on Friday, and I think I actually may be done with them tomorrow! Huzzah! I'm so sick of mounds of grading. This weekend, I intend to do nothing but fun. I may go see Honk again at the BAC. I'm going up to Tahoe to play in the snow with Esther (whose moving from San Francisco in about a month--possibly to Boston!). I have our first rehearsal, and may just insist on doing something after with friends. I will be frolicking friviously, free from frustrating grading (I couldn't think of another "F" word to summarize what I'll be avoiding, sadly).

And, just when I think I have very intelligent students, one of my 8th graders just asked me what sort of picture I wanted for her homework. I asked her, very confused, exactly what she was referring to. She pointed to the board, where I'd written "Drawing Conclusions (144)." Oh my! These are the particular questions I want them to answer! A 7th grader, on his Bible test for Jeanne wrote that Jesus's coming to earth when he did was a good time instead of now, because He'd have been drafted into the army and not been able to do what He was supposed to do! They just keep rolling in with the good questions and such, don't they?

Well, that's all for the present. I felt like writing--going through my withdrawals, I suppose. There could be some worse outlets for my energy though. I could play video games incessantly. I could be the sort who whines about being bored (which rarely happens to me).

The title comes from the very fun musical Swing. It is a revue of various types of Swing music (which I love!). It covers everything from Country Swing to 1940s Big Band. I saw this show front row with Kami Watson in NYC--and didn't realize until the end of the show when one of the guy dancers winked at me that I'd watched the entire show with the biggest, dopiest grin on my face. Boy did I feel like an idiot! At least it was for something as worthwhile as Ann Hampton Calloway, Michael Gruber, Casey McGill, Laura Benanti and amazing dancers!!!!!! Since this is a pretty random post with no apparent theme, the scat singing lyrics seemed appropriate.

January 21, 2005

Look for the Silver Lining

This is a week worth remembering. I've laughed. I've cried. I've been frustrated. I've been entertained. I've been sick to my stomach with nerves. I've been calm and relaxed. I've been completely and utterly exhausted. Ever have one of these weeks? They're not my favorite. I have a feeling that the majority of people would agree with me. I have to say after experiencing a week like this, I pray for the next one to be mundane and very forgetable.

As you know, Tuesday I had my audition. Wednesday, I had my callback for The Fantasticks. I felt like it started off pretty well. I sang the bit from "Much More" with a surprising confidence, considering the first time I'd heard the song was Tuesday night. I read one of the Luisa monologues, which was a lot of fun (she's either living the world with the hugest imagination ever, or she's absolutely bonkers). I read the treehouse scene with Leoney as El Gallo (thankfully not Josh!). Then they had us sing a bit from "Round and Round" when Luisa hits the really high notes. Being a legitimate mezzo, but a comfortable alto, I did not impress them. I squeaked the last note on key (I think!). It was bad. Cross Luisa off the list of roles I'll be able to play someday.

Last night were the callbacks for BATB, which I felt infinitely more confident about. After all, I know the music, and the story. I've seen the movie, and the stage version twice. They started at 6 pm. They let all the minor characters go first. They didn't even have us sing for Belle until about 7:45! It was pure insanity. I read once for Belle (only two read twice), but it was weird. I read a funny scene between Belle, Gaston (Jerry), and LeFou (Alex). No one else read that scene. Everyone else got to read a dramatic scene! :( I think I would have preferred that. Ho-hum. Well, then they gave us the parts to read for a scene between Babette and Lumiere. Chris and I paired up, and I had a great time. He is a very good actor (actually surprising me multiple times last night with acting and singing), and I feel calmer around him. Plus, it was fun to do a flirtatious French accent. Good times to be had. At about 9:30, they sent everyone home, except for Marie, Therese, Leoney, Hana, Peter, Jenn, Josh, Chris, and myself. The first three were kept for Belle and Beast scenes. The rest of us were taught the Babette and Lumiere tango. I love dancing, so it was fun!

Well, the results are in. I will be playing . . . a napkin! And a soloist in the chorus. Yeah, I'm disappointed. However, it will be fun, I think. Plus, it's less stress on me! Less blocking, lines, music, etc. There's always a silver lining to be found, right?

Hence the title. It's actually from a song by the same title from a musical called Till the Clouds Roll By. I don't know that much about it, except that it's from the 1920s. No random Broadway facts, but the song is truly beautiful!

January 18, 2005

Poor fool, he makes me laug-ack!

To one and all (or just Steph, since she was the one who commented on my blog) I have just returned home after a tiring and long day. Today was a long day at school, given that auditions were at 6 pm, and I really didn't feel like teaching so much as I felt like working on my song for auditions! Icky. At 2:00, I was able to practice with Ann, so I could at least hear my accompaniment prior to auditions--novel idea, don't you think? Anyway, it worked, and she agreed to play for me at the audition. From 3:30 until 5:30ish, I was the scorekeeper at the basketball game for both the guys and girls against Bethelehem Lutheran. Our girls lost 25-12. Our boys won 39-31. Go us!

There were so many more people there than last time, which I expected, but less than I was expecting. Hmm . . . Anyway, I had a good time catching up with various people I met last time! It was lovely. We all had to do a dance, or movement audition while there. Huh. Ours was so easy. Naturally, I didn't do the dance, seeing as the last time I took dance, I was 9. Been awhile.

Overall, there weren't many females who impressed me with their singing, and I was the 55th person to go! Ann played brilliantly for me. I sang, and cracked a bit on the highest note--which I'd nailed several times today! Not an ideal time to crack in your singing! I did get a great amount of applause (friends are wonderful, aren't they?). Dom came up to me after and said, "Okay, I need to know the name of that song and what it's from!" Yeah!!!! I don't really know Domenic that well, but he seems pretty nice.

So, I sat there, feeling awful. Chris sat next to me, and kept trying to tell me that I'd done okay. Good friend. Anyway, Stephanie Dixon was the one running audition sheets and callback sheets. I got called back for Luisa in The Fantasticks tomorrow evening, and for the parts of Belle and Babette (the feather duster who's flirty) in Beauty and the Beast Thursday night! YEAH! I don't know The Fantasticks at all, so Chris loaned me his CD of it. At least I'll be a little ready for those callbacks! :)

The title comes from the song "Poor Fool, He Makes Me Laugh" from Phantom of the Opera. It is the part where the Phantom makes Carlotta choke up while singing in the opera. I figured that it was appropriate for my sad, sad audition. Most everything else, I was pleased with, but certainly not that!

January 15, 2005

I've always been SHY!!!!!!!

Okay, I've got about two and a half days before my audition for The Fantasticks and Beauty and the Beast. Breathe in, breathe out. I really do hate auditions. I get so nervous, it wears on my mind for the entire week leading up to them, and then after as well, until I know the results. Last time was truly scary, because I knew myself, and that was all. This time will be a little easier, in regards to knowing people and all. However, I think this audition is going to be packed! EEK! Last night, Stephanie and Chris heard my audition song, and they both said it sounded good. Stephanie said that the tone was great. Chris said he didn't know I could sing that well. At least that was encouraging!

Last night we celebrated Chris' 30th at a Mexican Resturant. I knew Chris (obviously!), Stephanie, Arthur (who was in Carousel), and Jeff--the gawker I met once. It was fun getting to meet new people. I got to meet some "bigwigs" from the BAC (where Chris now works; so long ClickBond). They encouraged me to audition for some of their plays sometime. It would be fun to do a play again, as You Can't Take It With You was my last one--three years seems so long ago! I met Chris' parents, who were very nice. It was fun to talk a little about Colorado with them, since they lived in Durango for a long time. After the party, Stephanie and I taught Chris how to play Phase 10, and he won. Figures.

I saw Carson High School's production of Macbeth on Thursday. It was wonderful in comparison to their production of Oliver Twist. I liked the guy who played Macbeth. Dom was great as Banquo. There were some very good things about this particular production. However, there were also things that were not great. For instance, they had about 18 girls playing the witches at one point, which didn't really work well (although I liked the dancing around the cauldron bit). Lady Macbeth said her lines so quickly that I couldn't even understand them--and I just taught the play last month! She did not really react to things well (I wanted to laugh when she fainted in order to keep Macbeth from confessing), was not manipulative or domineering, etc. Granted, I may be a little snobby in how I think things should be interpreted when it comes to Shakespeare, but I can usually at least appreciate a different perspective. However, there are some givens (Puck=funny), and I don't think that all of my expectations for the part of Lady Macbeth are really "out there." Oh well.

So, this week is it; the end of the quarter and first semester. I seem to be pretty on top of my grading at the moment, so this is a good thing. Next week, I have a test in every class on Friday, plus book reports this Wed. for the jr. high, reading log collections, grammar book corrections, author tests to grade, and on the list grows. Ick. Oh, and I also get to be the Basketball scorekeeper this year for CCS home games. Woo-hoo. Our first game is on Tuesday.

The title of this post comes from the song of the same title from Once Upon a Mattress. Very amusing song. It sort of encompasses how I'm feeling, and what I'll do about it. I may be feeling very shy about auditioning, but in order to do well, I want to be the exact opposite of it! BTW, I'm singing a song from The Scarlet Pimpernel prior to its Broadway run. It's called "Home Again." Very pretty, shows a good range, and keeps with the theme of some of the parts I'm hoping for. I think I'll know by Friday what part I have. Here's hoping!

January 12, 2005

Oh what a celebration we'll have today

Yesterday was yet another snow day, but this time it was a full-on snow day for all of Carson City. Considering the fact that IT DIDN'T SNOW AT ALL after the night before, I considered it a tad wasteful. I had to call all the parents of the 8th graders to inform them of this fact, but I had to call around 6:15 after I got my call! Sheesh! Oh well, Jeanne and I were ready and had another marvelous vacation day.

I'm reading several books right now that I've never read, all of them are interesting and good. I'm still reading Interpreter of Maladies which is good. I'm liking the look into Indian American culture, seeing as it's not something I'm all that familiar with. I'm reading a book Chris highly recommended called An Imaginary Life. It's the fictional account of Ovid's life after he was banished from Rome. He's living with a group of people who do not speak Latin. I think he's actually about to "adopt" a child whom they have discovered is living in the wild with the deer. It's pretty interesting. I'm reading The Prince and the Pauper for the first time, I guess I never realized that it was about Prince Edward, Henry VIII's son. Cool! Lady Jane Grey and Elizabeth have already made cameos in the book. I'm reading Stargirl, which both my mom and Devon highly recommended. It's funny, but I think it's getting down to the serious part. I really hope that Stargirl doesn't conform to the petty ways of Mica High School for that would be a grave disappointment indeed. I'm thinking that I may possibly teach it next year to a middle school class, we shall see. I'm also reading Animal Farm--whoa. It's intriguing, as is all of Orwell's writing in my opinion.

There are many good things happening around me of late, as well as several notes of congratulations/well wishes to be mentioned.
1) Congratulations to Mindy Depaz!!!!!!!!!! She teaches Kindergarten at my school (I love spending time with our Kindergarten teachers; they're both funny and great listeners), and informed me Monday that she is pregnant with her third child. YEAH!
2) Happy 30th Birthday to Chris tomorrow!
3) Happy 5th Birthday to Leigha on Friday!
4) Bon Voyage to Tiffany on Friday, enjoy your 4-5 month time in New Zealand!
5) Congrats to Kristen for having her talk with Kenny--it needed to happen! Plus, it ended with good results!

The lyrics come from Wicked, from the song "For Good." It's great!

January 08, 2005

Snow, snow, snow, snow, SNOW!

Yesterday, I walked out of my house at 7:10 so that I could enter all of the grading I had done on Thursday night and so I could fill out blue folders before the morning meeting at 7:45. I was feeling pretty good about it all. Then I opened our front door.

Snowflakes were swirling around--big flakes. Enormous amounts of flakes. It seemed as though they had banded together as a strong unit to give humans a surprise attack! It worked for me! My car was covered with about three inches of snow all the way around.

I sighed, unlocked my car, put down my bag, purse, and the 10 posterboards I was holding. I put my key in the ignition, and started the defrost. When I first got the car, my parents gave me a scraper that has proved to be invaluable to me. It is very long, with a scraper on one side and a broom on the other. I had to sweep snow off of every window on my car. Then, I had to scrape ice off of every window. I could probably have been deemed crazy by any sane person walking around by my bitter mutterings as to why a snow day had not been called. Jeanne had a scary experience/accident driving in the snow last year in Illinois (where she is from), so she sort of has a phobia about it now. I agreed to drive her to school.

We got to school, and Mr. Libby had cancelled our morning meeting. Since Friday meetings often times will come with breakfast (depending on who does devotions), I was a bit disappointed. Oh well. My grading was done and on the blue folder sheets quicker.

I had three students in my first period class. I had one student in my second period class. Ann came over and said that the students were going to hang out in Building C, if we wanted to join them. Trailing her was Mr. Libby saying we were going to have an early dismissal at 12:30. Lovely. Kids got pulled from every class all "day" long. The 7-12th grade just spent the day playing in Building C. It was, to say the least, a rather frustrating day. I've had my lesson plans planned through the end of the quarter/semester, which is the week after next. Now I have to figure out how we can make this up at some point. Ugh!

We almost had a couple of accidents while driving, but nothing came of them (thank God!). Perhaps I should have put the bloody chains back on, but I didn't think I'd need them. It's supposed to continue the snowing until Tuesday. Hooray. It really isn't spring yet??? It needs to be. I saw Stephanie on Thursday, and she said that they had 8 ft. of snow up in Tahoe! I watched the news last night. Apparently, it's supposed to reach 12 ft. this weekend!

Another thing I feel like telling the world (because this NEVER happens), I went to bed at 8 pm last night! I think the last time that really happened, I was, maybe, 3. I always read, played, or did the "Counting Challenge" as a kid when I went to bed, so even when 8:00 was my bedtime, it never happened. I was sooooo tired yesterday! I think part of it was just getting back into the swing of things. Anyway, I woke up after 9 this morning, and I feel great! Ha!

The title seemed like it was appropriate. It is called "Snow" and, once again, it's from Irving Berlin's collection of music used in White Christmas.

January 05, 2005

Granny dear, mother mine, old and gray at twenty-nine . . .

Do you ever feel like you're just sitting around waiting for life to truly start? I do. I don't know why, because I attempt to live my life. I mean, I'm not the sort who just sits around. I get up and go! I take some risks, but within a comfortable realm usually. I'd say the last two risks I took seemed to be my solo drive to Oregon, and auditioning for the WNMTC shows (it's very intimidating to sing to a room of people you don't know!). This is not sitting well with me right now.

I think part of it is the fact that I am comparing myself to so many college friends and such. Kara is at seminary, and living such a hectic life: student, Greek professor, working at the Nazarene Archives, teaching Sunday School, traveling everywhere from England to Turkey to Mexico to Washington D.C., and the list goes on from there. Jen is studying for her PhD, and still studying at Georgetown. Devon is working on her Masters. Laurissa is married, has a son (who gurgles at me on the phone), and she and her husband are attempting to start a theatre group in Baltimore. Esther is a travel nurse, and gets to live in all sorts of interesting places. Tiffany is going to New Zealand next week until May to work with missionaries. Kristina is teaching in Taiwan (I think she still is). Sara is working on her Masters. Tara is a nurse, and owns her own house. Melinda is teaching in Kuna (Wendy's job! Wendy is still working with the technology grant from the Albertson's foundation), and working on things she has no experience with (newspaper and such). Becky is still down in the southernest of Southern California working with the Border Patrol. Kami has her Masters and is still working for the police force in Nampa. Kelly is still at NNU (Working on the oh-so fun English Senior Project! Ah, the days when the Bronte sisters were at the top of my concern list!), and has been accepted to her first choice grad school for the fall. I could continue, but I think I'll stop.

I compare my life to these dear friends of mine, and I guess I feel so mediocre in comparison. I guess there really is no reason to compare our lives; it really does nothing. After all, how many of them can brag about Ginger Spice's dog running into their bathroom stall? How many can claim to have almost drowned in the ocean (along with a cousin) as a child, only to have a surreal Baywatch experience with the lifeguard saving them? I've had a fairly full 24 and 10 1/2 months of life. But I guess I'm feeling like my dreams are sitting on a shelf, collecting dust. These friends I've mentioned are at least working toward some of their dreams, if not fulfilling a dream once known. I don't like this feeling that my dreams are merely dusty knickknacks that I keep around because I like them, yet do nothing with them. I like them bright, shiny, and within an attainable possibility. Perhaps that's where my slightly frustrated feeling of complacency is coming from.

At the moment, I don't feel like I am actively pursuing any of my big dreams. And why not? I cannot come up with any answers that satisfy myself here. I haven't taken my GRE, nor have I really looked into it. I want to take a math class nearby beforehand (La Junta High School was where I took my last math class!). I guess I want to limit my 200+ areas of which I'd like to study a bit more, before I really look into it. I'm not planning to live abroad in the near future. I'm not writing a great American novel which will revolutionize the entire world. I'm not even trying to get a children's story going! I'm not a wonderful dancer, great actress, or phenomenal singer. I'm currently not even pursuing training in any of these categories. And why not? Am I too afraid of the risk now that I'm an "adult" and not under my parent's wing? Am I too afraid of failure? I can't accept these fears, yet I have a sneaking suspicion that I am. And the longer I wait to grab hold of these dreams and fly with them, I believe that it is less likely for them to actually take place. I need to get out of this rut, but I'm not quite sure how to do so . . .

Just some ramblings. I don't know if anything will come of them, but it helps to get them out into the open. If for nothing else, so that I can think about them in a more focused and clear manner.

The title comes from the reprise of "Not for the Life of Me" from Thoroughly Modern Millie. The one that Millie sings, anyway, not the one the brothers sing in Chinese (which is very funny with the subtitles!). Anyway, Millie sings this bit right after she's been mugged (they take her hat, purse, and one shoe) and talked to Jimmy who, in all his NYC worldly wisdom, advises her to go back home and tell about her one hour adventure in NYC for the rest of her life. Millie considers going back to Kansas, but then she remembers why she came to New York--adventure and a life far different from that which is expected of her. She will NOT be her mother, grandmother, etc. Brave Millie Dillmount. Silly, scared Lynette Brown.

January 01, 2005

I'll admit that I've dished you, gossiped and gloated, but I'm so devoted

Perhaps this will not be the way most blog posts would go on a day, such as the beginning of one's 25th year of life. Well, that is just fine by me. I've been inspired to tell the world some about my sister Janina. Those who have followed faithfully my accounts of life will realize that Janina is my youngest sister (with Jessica in between the two of us). Janina is the calm, "go with the flow" sort that neither Jessica or I have ever been (though it is something I have tried to work on for myself), therefore making her the peacemaker in our family. I adore Janina. I always did, even as a young child. I remember being a four year old and playing with this new baby as much as possible. In second grade, I got home about 30 minutes before Jessica because she was in afternoon kindergarten. I would hold off on everything, even a snack, because I knew that that half hour was the one chance I could count on to play with Janina by myself. Janina is 20 now (which still amazes me), and still a load of fun. She can also provide a great deal of laughter because she will just sometimes miss the obvious or have weird things happen to her. One such thing happened last night. I will share it, but here are some of my personal favorite "Janinaisms."

1) When we went to NYC a couple of summers ago. She'd never been. We took a subway from Queens (we'd flown into La Guardia) to Manhatten, where we were staying. We all were tired, and got off the train, hauling our bags. After we'd walked a couple of feet away, I said, "Where's Janina?" Jessica, Kelsey, Halley and I all turned to see that Janina was literally stuck in the subway doors. She couldn't move at all! Subway doors will usually bounce back open when the hit a person, but not in this case! They finally did open, but we were all howling with laughter.

2) Janina went to a movie with Kelsey and Halley once, and they were listening to No Doubt in the car. The next song was another No Doubt song, as was the third one. She thought they were listening to the radio, and commented on how strange it was to hear three in a row. Kelsey said, "It's a CD." So, they went and watched the movie. When they left, the song which they had been listening to picked up again. It was then that it clicked, "OH! It's a CD!"

3) Janina put her hair in dredlocks one year for Halloween with a special wax that was supposed to come out fairly quickly. It didn't. In fact, it took almost a month to get the stuff out. I remember laughing and telling my friends at NNU about it. That year, my family came up for Thanksgiving (NNU's Homecoming, so I had to stick around for music and other things). I remember how disappointed we all were that it was out of her hair, because we had conjured up so many great images in our minds of how she'd looked.

4) She bought a shirt once that she thought said she wasn't gay. It actually read, "Let's get one thing straight, I'm not" in rainbow letters. My cousins had to explain the shirt to her. She returned it, but she couldn't JUST return it. She went back into Hot Topic, "I need to return this shirt. I thought I knew what it said. But I didn't. Now I do, and I don't want it anymore," (direct quote). The guy said, "Well, that's never happened before!" He and the other salesperson were laughing every time she went back in there anytime in the next few months!

Last night, we had a small family New Year's Eve Party at my parents house. My parents, Janina, Jacque, Laurie and myself. We had a good time. We also called my aunt Denise (from the L.A. area) to wish her a happy birthday. Jacque called, and we were passing the phone around each leaving a message for her on her machine. Jacque went, mom, myself and I passed the phone onto Janina. She said, "Hello . . . how're ya doing? Hello?" My mom leaned in and said, "It's the machine!" We all died. Janina passed the phone to Laurie who couldn't even talk because she was laughing so hard, so dad finished our call amidst all of our laughing. Oh, it was hysterical!

Love ya, Nina! :D

The title comes from a song called "Bosom Buddies" from Mame. It is sung by two best friends who can be absolutely vicious at the same time completely loyal to each other. An amusing song, to be sure. Hopefully I've not been vicious. She's the first to laugh at her own "Janinaisms," so I doubt she'll think me so.