Home
Off the Deep End
 
 [Most Recent Entries] [Calendar View] [Friends]

Below are the 20 most recent journal entries recorded in roya's LiveJournal:

    [ << Previous 20 ]
    Saturday, July 18th, 2009
    6:51 pm
    at kathleen and jamie's in portland, having a bit of downtime. its been three solid days of wedding craziness. I'm not even going to write any more, because I am wasting precious nap time. bachelorette party last night, then blueberry picking early(ish) this morning = sleep. now. time.
    Wednesday, July 15th, 2009
    1:46 pm
    happiness is smelling tomatoes.....
     So. Sunburned. So. So. So. Sunburned.


    4 hours at the Orange County Fair is like 12 hours in the sun anywhere else. Oh, dear, lord. Most upsetting part? That I'm wearing a strapless dress for Marina's wedding on Sunday. Oh well. Now I'll look like I have straps. Sigh.


    So I have been slowly realizing something, and it just occurred to me that it's a pattern. Did you know that every time I am around a garden, I get happy? And it's a strange, wonderful kind of happiness. I think it's the effect of extra oxygen getting to my brain, because I breathe that much deeper.

    I love gardens. Vegetable and herb gardens, to be specific. Every morning, no matter how late for work I am, I go to my garden and sit there for a little while just watching it. My cucumbers just started growing like crazy, and the tomatoes, woo boy, they're incredible! the basil is phenomenal and the radishes are beautiful to behold. I am happy just to sit and watch these wonderful leaves. My favorite smell is the smell of tomato plants. I love it.

    Anyways, what brings upon this realization is that I a) noticed my increased peacefulness when I go spend time in my garden - it's what i want to do to prepare myself right before work, and it's what I like to do to unwind when I get home from work. B)I went to the Orange County Fair today.

    The OC Fairgrounds has something called Centennial Farms. It's a non-profit organization that has a year-round garden and animal education program. Their purpose is to show kids where food comes from and to celebrate CA's agricultural heritage. They're open to the fair visitors, and to be honest, it's always been one of my favorite parts. Today, however, it was especially wonderful. There are just rows and rows and rows of plants! Tomatoes, zucchini, butternut squash, onions, kohlrabi, brussel sprouts, leeks, watermelon, pumpkins, peanuts, strawberries, artichokes, cabbage, cucumbers, celery, eggplant, bell peppers, hot peppers, beans, peas, watermelon, winter squash, cilantro, basil........on and on and on. It's beautiful. They do experiments with red mulch plastic, with square foot gardening, with tomato crates. They plant 5 rows of a veggie each 1 week apart so you can see the difference.

    I love my garden. It is 4x4 square feet of pure joy for me. But walking through ROWS AND ROWS of plants and veggies filled me to the brim. When you walked by the celery, there was enough that you could smell it. There were so many different types of tomatoes. So much planty goodness.

    In any case, 4 hours at the fair and I am sunburned beyond belief. But I also bought some zuchini, onions, cucumber, tomatoe, and purple peppers from the Centennial Garden. I'm happy. I can't wait to go home and work in mine.

    ...the cucumbers need some string strung, the peas need watering, and the radishes need to be harvested some time soon. I. Love. My. Garden.
    Tuesday, July 14th, 2009
    9:13 am
    Ethan visited yesterday! Yay for little brothers. We had fun at Joann's SUPERSTORE, with exploding watermelons, cooking steak, and watching How I Met Your Mother. I am 85% done with wedding stuff. Still to do:

    1. Bparty f's? since the sg didn't work out. hm.
    2. Call bparty place again
    3. 3 of 5 time capsules done
    4. Necklace made
    5. Sp done
    6. Wp - gather?
    7. bparty p - eek
    8. PACK CRAZY AMOUNTS OF STUFF INTO AS SMALL A SUITCASE AS POSSIBLE
    9. Fun stuff for bparty gathered, included ts
    10. cd for sh made? rox?
    11. song???? ethan?? something!
    12. dress altered, just need shorter straps. earrings and shoes bought.

    also, have the best boyfriend ever. who else gets up early on their day off to clean my car before I leave for work?
    Saturday, July 11th, 2009
    1:20 pm
    I want to spend the day drinking white wine at a pool sometime during which I get a massage. I want emily's birthday of.. last year? year before? back. That's all. Can't afford the spa. So what's plan B? I am in need of pampering. I am not going to post all the TMI but I have some serious freaking medical SHIT going down and I'm just so damn tired of it, and it's been what, two years of doctors doctors doctors try this try this oh that doesn't work okay try this and I want it to be OVER and I just want to FEEL GOOD and it's affecting other areas of my life and then the medication for one thing affects the other and it's a horrible, horrible cycle.

    GAH!

    So I want to go to a spa. It's also flipping hot, so all I want is water. I also had the weirdest freaking sleep pattern the last two days and now it's almost 2pm and I'm a zombie. A greasy, smelly, needs-a-shower zombie.

    So. Step one. Take shower.

    Step two. Beach? parent's pool? Something? I don't know. Can't think there yet. Step one: Shower.
    Friday, July 3rd, 2009
    9:15 am
    This post is brought to you by turtles! Aren't turtles wonderful? Let's focus on the turtles for a little while!




    This post is also brought to you by the cute that is my puppy dog. Usually when I say "Juno, bed" she heads happily to her crate which is NEXT to MY bed. This time, not so much.




    Juno and I start puppy training on Sunday. I'm very excited about that.

    Yesterday I decided I wanted to look outwardly the way I felt inside, so I put on a white halter top sundress, cowboy boots, and a gigantic straw hat (seriously, if it rained it would provide cover for my whole family) and went out to the garden to work on the grapes. I began the crazy untangling process - the grapes look horrible now, but the vines are longer and straighter and there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Speaking of which, I'm actually going to make a tunnel of grapes, so that's exciting. I just need more posts! And rope! And time... The garden is doing good - I have jalapenos already. The tomatoes look strong, as does the basil. The rest of the stuff I am impatient for. le sigh.

    Yesterday I was shopping at Costco with my mom and she tricked me into getting my eyes examined. Stupid headaches. Stupid costco. So today I am wearing glasses.


    Today the plan is to work til 3, drive around behind Home Depot and see if I can get any free wood for the grapes, work on those for a while, then clean the house and prepare for the parrrrrttyyy! Excited for tomorrow!

    I do miss my boyfriend, however. Tis the fly in the ointment. He's asleep when I leave and I'm asleep when he gets home. I always have him wake me up when he gets home, but I never remember our conversations the next day. Sigh. At least this only happens 4 days out of the week.
    Wednesday, July 1st, 2009
    1:10 pm
    I'm very pleased. I signed Juno and I up for some good old fashioned dog obedience training starting on Sunday. Yay.

    This is perfect - it's an 8 week class, which means I'll be done by the time other classes start. And I will be taking other classes - I'll be taking Middle Eastern Dance on Mondays, Beginning Painting on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and I have step on Wednesdays.

    Perfecto! Then by then maybe there will be another weekend dog training class so Juno can get all intermediated.

    Today is going sort of sloooowly. I still haven't had my lunch break, so in a few minuts I'll go take that - I'm going to go on a walk for my lunch break. I can get 2 miles in, come back, finalize up some Vegas trip and Color Me Mine stuff, and then after work head straight to Quartermaster to pick up Adam's uniforms. Then home, dishes, laundry, garden, dog poop, straighten up, and run with Dani. Also make lunches. And banana muffins.

    Tomorrow is work, and Julie's for a movie night, Friday is work and costco and cleaning the house for the 4th of July party. Saturday is that, Sunday is Color Me Mine and dog training, next Wednesday is the circus, and I love my life!

    Last night Adam and I drove all around Griffith Park, which was fun. I also rode my bike to the bank. I need to remember to do more errands that way.
    Tuesday, June 30th, 2009
    9:39 am
    Ani Difranco
     I saw Ani Difranco last night for the (third or fourth?) time, at the Orpheum in LA. The Orpheum is a beautiful old theatear (Judy Garland performed there in 1935) without a bad seat in the house, reasonably priced wine and small amounts of legroom. It's gilded, it's gold, and it's where I sat front and center to see the most amazing musician perform.

    It's been a while since I've been heavy into Ani - I will not turn her off if a song comes on, but I used to have every shirt, every poster, every album, knew and soaked in every word. She's got probably 6 or 7 albums out that I haven't even heard at this point. Until yesterday, I had no idea she'd gotten married and had a baby. I've been out of the Ani loop, and maybe it's a good thing because getting back in and seeing her last night hit me hard in such a good, good way.

    Front and center is awfully close to see someone that powerful onstage. It's the closest I've ever been to any performer, ever. It was amazing. She's amazing. You know - she's HAPPY now! Her new songs are so full of hope and contentment, and yet they don't lose their ability to stir you up and make you want to jump up and do something about it.

    Favorite new line of the night (I may be paraphrasing badly) was "If you're not getting happier as you're getting older...you're fucking up." Ani's radiating the way she always did with a guitar and a stage, but her shoes aren't so tall and her songs aren't fighting wars. They're building things.

    She wrote a song about Obama that made me swell with pride, she sang a "wedding song" that made me realize what I'm aiming for, she sang a good old fashioned labor song that had everyone joining in on the chorus reminding us that yes, she is a folk singer, yes, and as folk it is our right and joy to join on in.

    Throughout the 1.5 hour she played, I remembered that I want to run a camp, that I miss NBTSC, that I want to make my garden grow, that I need to take the intensity of 16 year old me from the last Ani show I went to, and learn how to channel it into appreciation and love. I can still be intense, she's still intense, but it doesn't have to be unhappy intense. Not ever. So my list of goals today include looking up Camp Ronald McDonald to see about volunteering there occasionally, and doing the same for Camp Scherman. It also includes looking at a few art therapy programs, and writing down my goals once I know the updated list.

    I keep thinking how amazing and annoying it must be for Ani to be able to so clearly look back at the life she's led and the issues she's had, because she has a stack of records to clearly chronicle all of it. She puts new spins on old songs, gracefully retires others, sings some just to make us happy, and knocked me over with her new material. It was her, a guitar, a stand up bass and a drum set, I had 3 friends who also love Ani, a car ride home where we listened to the favorites she didn't play and danced in our seats.

    So the moral of the story is that real musicality lives on. I'm inspired and impressed. I've been missing 16 year old me lately. And it's good to know I don't have to.
    Thursday, June 25th, 2009
    1:57 pm
    garden, new house, love!

    My garden! My wonderful garden! Which now has radishes in it. I also found a white eggplant at the store today, so tonight I'll be adding that to the last empty plot! Yay!




    Radishes! There is something so adorable about radishes!!!




    And I have grapes. So many grapes!




    The dogs. Oh man. I love the dogs. Isn't Juno getting big???




    The back of the house. I heart my house.




    I also have lemons. And yes, I have made lemonade.

    I freaking love my new house, I love my garden, love the backyard, love love love love. Yesterday Adam and I took both dogs for a walk on one split leash. Ah! Adam is being mister firefighter this week - tomorrow he actually gets to put out a real fire. I love having a happy and relaxed boyfriend. Life is good.
    Tuesday, June 23rd, 2009
    12:58 pm
    As of last night, my garden now has tomatoes, jalapenos, zucchini, marigolds, and basil. My darling puppy only dug where I hadn't planted anything! So there is hope. I planted three zucchini against the back wall of the unused storage room, without tilling or anything, almost as an experiment to see just how hardy they are. The grapes are growing crazy good back there, so the soil has to be liveable. The other one I planted inside the box. I would still like to acquire garlic, rosemary, cucumbers and eggplants. I would also like to figure out where to grow some potatoes.

    Inside the house - the living room looks like a living room! We don't have cable, but we have internet, and we don't have surround sound, but we have speakers. We have two couches, a crappy coffee table, an entertainment center, 2 potted plants, 2 bookshelves and a fish tank! It's huge, roomy, spacious.

    My bedroom looks like a hurricane hit it, but I still love it. It's so sunny in the morning, and cozy at night. I need to get another lamp in there for when it's dark, though.

    Anyways, I wish I didn't have to spend any time at work. I'd rather be at home!
    Monday, June 22nd, 2009
    4:48 pm
    My garden, if it still exists (my puppy digs), includes basil, jalapenos, and marigolds. Maybe today I can get the rest of the plants from my dad and put them in. I love my garden, oh yes I do.
    3:18 pm
    Westminster Art Supply Warehouse has something called the Artists Block - two more times this summer. The last one is on Saturday, August 15th - where for 20 bucks I can get a space to sell my artwork. I'm going to do it. What do I need to do to get ready?

    1. Get an easy up
    2. Get folding tables
    3. Figure out how to decorate these things
    4. Figure out what I'm selling - ceramics? granny square bags? felted bowls? magnets? everything?
    5. Take bisque ceramics in closet to the IFAC and glaze
    6. Get pretty bags/wrapping things
    7. Make sure I have updated business cards and that my etsy shop looks okay
    8. Get cashbox and change
    9. Make a banner with my shop name on it
    10. Price items
    Practice setting up the shop before hand

    What else????
    9:37 am
    100 things meme from Tenay
     (To do this, go to “notes” under tabs on your profile page, copy and paste this note, erase my answers and enter your own, tag people (in the right hand corner of the app) then click publish.)... Or realize that facebook people shouldn't know this much and take it to LJ.

    1. Last beverage: Crystal light lemonade

    2. Last phone call: Chris, asking him if he was bringing the uhaul over again

    3. Last text message: It was Jorge, but as soon as I started typing, Frank sent me a text

    4. Last song you listened to: I don't know. I listened to NPR this morning on the way to work, and yesterday was a blur of moving and I didn't listen to music, I had How I Met Your Mother on in the background.

    5. Last time you cried: I don't remember - it's been at least three days! ;)


    HAVE YOU EVER:

    6. Dated someone twice: Yes

    7. Been cheated on: Nope

    8. Kissed someone & regretted it: I can't think of anytime that's happened, but if I did, it was years ago.

    9. Lost someone special: Yes.

    10. Been depressed: Sure

    11. Been drunk and threw up: Yes. Poor Adam.

    LIST THREE FAVORITE COLORS:

    12. Purple
    13. Orange
    14. Brown


    THIS YEAR HAVE YOU: (2009)

    15. Made a new friend: ...suurree....

    16. Fallen out of love: No sirree, love is still love

    17. Laughed until you cried: Anytime I'm with my family this tends to happen! Last night at the Chinese restaurant there was a moment, but I can't remember what now.

    18. Met someone who changed you: I'm obviously not feeling this survey thing today. My answers are all vague. Yes, I'm sure I have. I work with people. People change you.

    19. Found out who your true friends were: I dislike this question. I don't require my friends to prove themselves on an annual basis or anything like that.

    20. Found out someone was talking about you: I just assume everyone is talking about me all the time (histrionic much?)

    21. Kissed anyone on your friend's list: Yeah

    22. How many people on your friends list do you know in real life: All of them on LJ, all of them on myspace, and the ones on facebook that I haven't met are my cousins in another country, so...

    23. How many kids do you want?: Three

    24. Do you have any pets: 2 german shepherds and a bunch of fish

    25. Do you want to change your name: One day.

    26. What did you do for your last birthday: Whined and bitched and moped, then tried to go shopping with my mom/sister, then got a bike, then went out for El Torito with family/friends.

    27. What time did you wake up today: 6:45am

    28. What were you doing at midnight: watching How I Met Your Mother and cleaning out the new closet where I dumped my clothes when we were moving.

    29. Name something you CANNOT wait for: to get to go home and garden and make lemonade from the tree outback and bake bread with rosemary from my garden and summer and having bbqs in the backyard and going running with my sisters/neighbors!

    30. Last time you saw your Mother: last night

    31. What is one thing you wish you could change about your life: Some of the negative circular habits Adam and I have gotten ourselves into, and the fact that my dog smells like skunk. Other than that, I am good.

    32. What are you listening to right now: My coworker has some music on behind me.

    33. Have you ever talked to a person named Tom: I have several clients with that name.

    34. What's getting on your nerves right now: The fact that it's always #$*^@#(^@#%^@#%^@#%^@#%^ cold in my office because everyone thinks that they need to have the perfect temp in THEIR office so they come into MY office and change it and I am sitting underneath where the air comes in, which means I work with fingerless gloves and a down blanket on. grr AND brr.

    35. Most visited webpage: earthlink, sparkpeople, livejournal, facebook, blogspot.

    36. Whats your real name: Roya

    37. Nicknames: RJ, royaboya, jeanne-bean, Scout

    38. Relationship Status: I've been with Adam for...3 years this October, officially. He says 5 years.

    39. Zodiac sign: Saggitarious

    40. Male or female?: I'm female.

    41. Primary school: Los Alamitos Elementary and Lee Elementary

    42. Secondary school: Unschooled

    43. High school/college/university?: I went to Cypress College and CSULB

    44. Hair color: brown

    45. Long or short: long. too long. much too long. time to get a haircut.

    46. Height: 5 6ish

    47. Do you have a crush on someone?: I know awesome, beautiful people. As I was trying to esplain to Kristen the other day, I don't crush on people so much as I am deeeeelighted by them!

    48: What do you like about yourself? Oh, man, everything! I'm freaking awesome. I like that I am inspired and inspirational, that I have an incredibly capacity for feeling, that I can type really fast, my green eyes, that I have Persian heritage, that I read quickly, that I tan easily, that I am dedicated, that I write well, that I'm smart, that I am good at event planning, that I love to make things beautiful, that I can knit, that I'm good at swimming, I love my collar bones and my shoulders and my neck, my art supply collection, the fact that I've journalled since kindergarten, my organizational methods, my voice... I have no shortage of things I like about me. I'm awesome.

    49. Piercings: I have some in my ears and one in my nose. I am so glad I did that. I think I was 19 years old, I got 50 bucks randomly one day, and decided I needed to do something stupid before I stopped being a teenager. So I got it pierced - in Santa Barbara, my ex's little sisters held my hands as I passed out! And I love it!

    51. Righty or lefty: I'm ridiculously right handed. I would shut down and not be able to function if something happened to my right.

    FIRSTS :

    52. First surgery: Wisdom teeth removal, three or four years ago

    53. First piercing: Ears pierced...no idea how old I was

    54. First best friend: Kate, she lived next door to me. Her older sister's name was Lane, and she used to babysit me. Justin was her older brother, and he used to tell us scary stories about the monster that lived in the bushes between our houses. They had an olive tree and we'd have olive wars all the time. I was in first grade when she moved.

    55. First sport you joined: I played a LOT of sports when I was little, so I don't know what came first, but here's a list: soccer, karate, track, basketball, golf, gymnastics, swimming

    56. First vacation: I was 9 months old when I went to Spain and Germany.

    58. First pair of trainers: shoes? I don't know, why would I know this?

    RIGHT NOW

    59. Eating: nectarine! yum!

    60. Drinking: water with crystal light lemonade

    61. I'm about to: finish the A2A newsletter and check messages

    62. Listening to: nada...can't have pandora and publisher open at the same time. my computer doesn't enjoy that.

    63. Waiting for: angels baseball to call me back

    YOUR FUTURE
    64. What kids?: 3 of them. The oldest should be a girl and her name will be Diana Jeanne. I don't know about the other two. It'd be neat to have three girls, like my mom and grandma.

    65. Get Married?: Yes please!

    66. Career?: I am doing well where I am, but one day I'd like to own my own art camp.

    **this is the part where Roya deleted a bunch of questions that just annoyed her**

    HAVE YOU EVER :

    76. Kissed a stranger: I've kissed people I didn't know very well, sure. But I didn't grab them off the street, so..

    77. Drank hard liquor: it's happened.

    78. Lost glasses/contacts: YES. YES. YES. ALL THE DAMN TIME! Okay, so there was Refugio of..whenever, when Carolyn wore my glasses kayaking and lost them in the ocean. There was also Alaska of '07 when I wore my prescription sunglasses fishing and...plop, overboard. You'd think, with this pattern, I'd learn.. but no.

    79. Sex on first date: nope

    80. Broken someone's heart: I try to use my power for good instead of evil, but, hey, I'm an awesome person (as mentioned above) - but I have faith that every person who's heart I might have broken has been able to fix it since.

    82. Been arrested: nope.

    83. Turned someone down: yes

    84. Cried when someone died: I cry a lot

    85. Fallen for a friend?: oh yes indeed

    DO YOU BELIEVE IN:

    86. Yourself: YES!
    87. Miracles: ehm. So even in the movie "Miracle" when it was supposed to be a "Miracle" (hence the name "Miracle") it was really about hard work. So. No. not really.

    88. Love at first sight: attraction at first sight which can lead to love, absolutely

    89. Heaven: not the whole gown and halo/harp combo, no.

    90. Santa Claus: You know, I was raised Baha'i'. We had the Ayyamihah camel (so not joking, shut up Alex)... and I never believed in Santa.

    91. Kiss on the first date: yes, I believe that they happen.

    92. Angels: no.

    ANSWER TRUTHFULLY:

    94. Had more than 1 girlfriend/boyfriend at a time: My attraction overlapped, but I always made sure to have "breaks" when strategically necessary.

    95. Did you sing today?: Yes!

    96. Ever cheated on somebody?: I once kissed someone else when I was with another person.

    97. If you could go back in time, how far would you go?: That kind of thing gives me a headache - I definitely wouldn't go back to anything I've been alive for...my first instinct was to say Civil War era, but I don't really want the war part, more the hoop dresses. I'd love to go back to every era and find the peaceful parts where I can learn fiber arts from them. :P

    98. If you could pick a day from last year and relive it, what would it be?: I can't think of anything I did last year except go on the Alaska cruise - so sure, I'd do that again for a day. It was fun.

    99. Are you afraid of falling in love?: That has never, ever, ever been a fear of mine.

    100. Posting this as 100 truths?: I'm posting it, but now I feel bad that I cut a bunch of questions.
    Thursday, June 18th, 2009
    4:25 pm
    anyone here heard of the Square Foot Gardening method? This is what I want today to be about. But instead I'm at work. And really restless. REALLY restless. waaannnttt tooo gooo hooommeee
    Tuesday, June 9th, 2009
    2:30 pm
    Haha! I've been struggling with what I should get Adam for a graduation gift...and I finally got it. I'm going to get him a pair of really good handcuffs from Galls and then take them to get engraved! Yes! He was talking about how he needs a second pair, and I read on some police forums that having a pair with your name engraved is great for getting them back, and for passing them on to your child. Mwhaha. So much better than a pocket watch.

    He's graduating the DAY AFTER TOMORROW!!!!! FINALLY!!!!!!! AH!!!!

    Stupid last-six-months! I am putting you on the ground and kicking you OUT THE DOOR! You're gone! So long! Hasta la pasta baby!!!

    AHHH

    I am giddy with the overness of the police academy, can you tell?

    Holy cow, I resented it so much.

    I mean, that was the shoulder-devil talking. Officially, I am incredibly proud of Adam for accomplishing this, happy to have been his support, and understanding of the fact that he needed to prove this to himself (in addition to it being necessary for his career).

    OH I WANT TO THROW OFF MY SHOES AND DANCE IN THE OCEAN IT MAKES ME THAT HAPPY TO HAVE THE POLICE ACADEMY NO LONGER RULING OUR LIVES!
    1:57 pm
    in which Roxana rocks some socks
     My little sister is awesome. Need documented proof? Read away...



    Even though "Peanuts," the most influential comic strip in American newspaper history, ended its decades-long original run with the 2000 death of creator Charles Schulz, its presence remains in reprints of the strip, the highly successful animated holiday TV specials and with the 1967 stage musical.

    The Clark Gesner musical "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown" received a face-lift in 1999 by Michael Mayer and Andrew Lipper, who strengthened an already fun, family-friendly show.

    And the Torrance Theatre Company's production, thanks to Jim Hormel's relaxed direction and smart casting, should click with parents who grew up on Charlie Brown and the gang, as well as with their not-yet-initiated children.

    With 100 minutes of gentle laughs, easy-to-hum songs and meaningful life lessons, there's more than enough fun to feel as joyous as Snoopy with a full tummy and time to nap.

    Like a week's worth of Schulz's original strip, the story consists of several vignettes rather than a plot.

    Charlie Brown (Joshua Lopez) is spending the day with his friends, trying to decide if he has what it takes to be a good man.

    Charlie Brown's friends, of course, are crabby Lucy (Roxana Sorooshian); her blanket-loving brother, Linus (Brent Lomas); and piano-playing Schroeder (Travis Ammann). There's also Charlie's little sister, Sally (Daina Bowler); and his wacky beagle, Snoopy (Jonathan Farnsworth).

    Several scenes are short exchanges
    Advertisement
    plucked from the pen of Schulz, taking place at the old brick wall or by Snoopy's doghouse (simple but effectively designed by All 7's Productions).

    The cartoon characterizations aren't emotionally challenging, but they require actors who can fit into these well-known roles while still making them original. And there's not a weak performance in the gang.

    The standouts are Sorooshian and Bowler, as Lucy and Sally, respectively.

    Sorooshian, dressed in the trademark blue dress, uses her intensity to sell the rude yet lovable Lucy. And in the musical number "Schroeder," she is able to inject a few purposeful off-key notes that express her anger, then flow right back to pitch-perfect pleasant.

    Bowler's facial expressions as the impudent Sally provide some of the funniest moments. Her scowls and head shakes are almost as animated as a cartoon.

    In the title role, Lopez brings Charlie Brown's sad-sack cynicism to life. Even with a bag on his head, hiding from embarrassment from the Little Red-Haired Girl, Lopez is able to display Charlie's resolve to fight for happiness, even against long odds.

    Hormel's inventive choreography includes a kick-line with the entire cast holding Linus-like blankets. There's also a witty chase scene between Sally, Snoopy and wild rabbits, in which a bunny dressed like Tom Cruise from "Mission: Impossible" makes an unexpected cameo.

    There are few Broadway musicals that connect equally with adults and young children, which is why "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown" remains in circulation after 40 years.

    Like the comic strip, it continues to be passed to future generations. The Torrance Theatre Company's vibrant revival can only help keep that tradition alive.
    Sunday, June 7th, 2009
    3:31 pm
    yesterday was getting Adam's motorcycle back and remembering again what it's like to feel so externally badass. This week has also been turbo kickboxing, running, and finding lots of other time to exercise. It's feeling strong. It's champagne. It's filet mignon and arguing about gun control with a table full of police academy cadets. It's reconnecting with Adam on several levels that we've put aside for a little while. It's realizing I'm good enough at my job that I need to be wary of phoning it in. It's remembering that I like talking to strangers. It's noticing every flower in my soon-to-be-neighborhood and being pleased with the noticing. It's reading 4 different YA fantasy books in two days. It's rereading Edward Eager. It's getting clawed at by my puppy. It's fighting a cold and loving my family and feeling like I can, yes I can.
    Friday, June 5th, 2009
    11:30 am
    V. busy. Lots of stuff. Short post today. at least for now. main point: taking middle eastern dance next semester. wtf. yes indeed. yay. excited. need to go now. bye.
    Friday, May 22nd, 2009
    2:24 pm
    Glad I have a job where I can bring my dog to work with me... waiting impatiently for 26 minutes to pass so I can go home. It's hot and stuffy in here. I feel gross. Hurt my knee pretty freaking badly at karate last night so movement is painful. Wondering how I will get my 30 min. of cardio in today...especially since my gym membership expired yesterday. GAH.

    why am I so discontent all of a sudden? I don't know. Have the urge to go to the ocean, go swim anywhere, or pay to have a maid clean my house really, really, really thoroughly while I lay around in swimwear.
    Thursday, May 21st, 2009
    4:07 pm
    I am extra tired today for no good reason! I couldn't bring myself to do more than 1.5 miles on the treadmill last night, so I compensated by doing an extra 2 on the bike. But I wasn't working hard.

    Today I've eaten 2 otter pops, which you would THINK would make life all better! And it's not that anything is wrong, I am just lacking in the energy department.

    I figured out money stuff, and the bank still thinks I have $250 more than I think I do, but at least the error is in my favor, annnnd I am doing SO MUCH BETTER on my spending than the last 2 months! I am really proud of myself. I've tracked obsessively for almost 3 months now and it's really paying off.

    Karate tonight, stripe tests start next week already. I have had a 5 week stretch of going to karate without missing a week, and I feel proud. I also feel pretty good technique wise. I was at a plateau and it made karate frustrating, but I am seeing improvements again.

    Adam and I are thinking about moving. Chris, Adam's best friend since he was 10 lives next to us, and we all pay way too much for our houses. We are thinking of relocating somewhere more central to EVERYONE's job, and finding a house with 3 or 4 bedrooms for less than what we are paying now. I've been stalking craigslist, so if any of you see anything in your neighborhoods - we are good with anything north of HB/Costa Mesa and inland some wouldn't be bad either.

    I am almost ready to start turning the heel of the Pippi Kneestockings from Stitch n Bitch that I found leftover from 5 years ago and started up again. Last month I spent almost 100 in yarn, and this month I vowed to ONLY FINISH projects rather than buy more yarn, so I am making good on that promise! These socks are pretty darn spiffy, but I don't want to describe them more because they might possibly be a gift for someone who reads this. We shall see.

    Tonight I am going to... go to the dry cleaners, go home and feed the dogs, clean up whatever medicine mess the big dog left, start cooking chicken (for both salads and for enchiladas), make the bed, make enchiladas, go to karate, do dishes, make lunches, do sparkpeople workout video, go to bed and start the whole damn day over tomorrow.
    Monday, May 18th, 2009
    11:12 am
    life: puppies, fish, dry cleaning. yeehaw.
     hello world. today I am tired and nauseous and extrememly fed up with current medication. Yesterday was good - lots of sleep, house cleaning, and then bbqing with friends in the evening, with enough alone time to knit and watch gilmore girls. I also spent vast amounts of time with the puppy dog, which was something I feel guilty about every day I'm at work. She is so wonderful. She's 4 months now, and got her rabies shot on Saturday - which means that starting this weekend, I can start taking her OUT places! I am so excited to start walking my dog!

    Adam got gassed with tear gas yesterday at the academy. jeez. Today he has the toughest test of the academy, and he graduates on June 11th!!! Whee.

    My momma fish died, but there are still probably 50-80 kid-chylids left. I changed the lightbulbs, adam cleaned out the tank, and I put a new backdrop in, and it looks like a wonderful place to be. One of our weird live-bulb things even grew and so we have lily pads.

    The big dog is chewing a hotspot - he has chewed himself a pretty decent sized bald spot. It's no bueno. Every morning before I leave I spray the bitter apple stuff (which HAS to sting, but he's a good sport) and Adam neosporins it in the evening. I think tonight we are going to have to cone him, it's gotten to that point.

    I signed up to run in my first 5k at Disneyland in September, so now I need to actually train to run 3 miles. I know that doesn't sound like a lot, but I AM NOT A RUNNER so here goes! There is a track biking-distance from my house, I went there and ran .75 of a mile on Saturday, (.25 more than my training schedule said to do, but I'm an overachiever) and will do that again today. I can't wait til I can take the puppy with me! I took the big dog with on Saturday. It's going to be awesome when I can run with both!

    I have now gone to 5 weight watchers meetings, and have lost 5 pounds (got a gold star sticker and everything). I indulged this weekend, but never got out of hand (just a little overfull) and didn't even use up all my extra weekly points! So I am still on track with that. I wish I was hungrier, today, actually. Food just does not sound appealing at the moment. Stupid meds.

    Yesterday we had an earthquake - the only earthquake I've been outside for. It was pretty crazy - one big shake and I watched the apartment buildings around me move. Then dogs started barking and people went "yeehaw!" up and down the street.

    I had knit about 1 foot of the Julianna sweater/wrap, but had messed up enough times (even though I think I recovered many of them, there were a lot of fixes) that I decided to frog the whole thing and start over. So now I have about 3 inches. Yeesh. But I will be happier with it in the long run.

    Anyways, that's what's going on with me. I'm on the 2nd season of Lost (again), I have 1 stripe on my blue belt in karate, I go to the dry cleaners daily, and I have the cutest puppy that ya ever did see.
[ << Previous 20 ]
caffeine free   About LiveJournal.com

Advertisement