I actually DO love fashion!

Gasp! It's true.  For anyone who has met me, I pretty much dress like a total shlump all the time.  Mostly because I work from home, and rarely go outside before 5pm.  My entire wardrobe pretty much consists of PJs.  C'est tout.

But I do love following fashion.  (Another big problem of mine, aside from PJ syndrome, is my size.  Not to beat myself up (although I DO), but I'm a pretty big girl.  The cool clothes I see online/in magazines? Yeah, I can't really wear them.  And even if they DO make my size, it usually isn't flattering.)  And I'm going to make more of an effort with my ensembles.  Maybe it'll finally be the motivation I need to get into shape (I would say get BACK into shape, but c'mon, who are we kidding here? :) I'm just dealing with facts, people.)

My biggest inspiration is Jess over at What I Wore (check here out HERE if you haven't already...it's pretty awesome, and SHE'S pretty awesome.)  The choices she makes and the incredible outfits she builds from her wardrobe rocks my socks (haha, socks! like, clothing. i funny girl.  FANNY BRYCE!  Ok, note to self...coffee in the afternoon = bad idea.)

So I have decided to clear out my wardrobe.  I can't afford much new right now, the moola, it is tight.  But maybe I'll start posting fashiony related stuff too.  OOOH, maybe I'll flea market it this weekend - I have been meaning to check out the Boston flea market scene, but I'm a lazy f*ckaboo.

Peace and love.

YouTube Obsessions.

I am obsessed with YouTube videos...specifically of the B'way nature.  A few of my favorites:

Jay Armstrong Johnson (Claude u/s in HAIR on B'way)...I also saw him as Link Larkin in Hairspray up in VT...last summer? Two summers ago? Whenever it was! LOL

A fan video from the GMA HAIR taping..."I've Got Life", which wasn't aired.  But I think this captures the brilliance of this cast, and how they just LIVE on that stage and have so much fun.  Plus, you can see my friend R dancing like a goof in the audience, because he was standing right behind whoever took this video.

Oh, and just for the heck of it, one more.  Elaine Stritch on Ellen.  She is a HOOT.  A salty, salty HOOT.

HAIR

OK, it's definitely been a while, and for that I fail fail fail.  BUT, exciting things have happened in the meanwhile, the MOST exciting of which was I saw HAIR on Broadway!!! It was absolutely everything I thought it was going to be, and so much more.  My thoughts (hardly a review):

I find HAIR to still be extremely relative, in it's own way.  Yes, most of us "young folk" don't know what it's like to be drafted, but aside from that, we certainly understand being in the middle of a war we don't find necessary, and being told who we are isn't acceptable.  (Andrew Kober's Margaret Meade speech about parents going home and telling their kids it's ok to be who they are got a HUGE round of applause.)  The only part I REALLY found outdated (though I'm sure in some parts of the country it would still be ick) is my favorite part of the show: the Black Boys/White Boys songs - interracial relations are SO not the deal they used to be - or maybe I don't see it that way because I'm part of an interracial family!  But I digress - the story is still profoundly relevant, so much so that I was in tears at the end.  

The performances given by the cast were absolutely INCREDIBLE.  Let's start with Will Swenson - who played Berger.  WOW.  SO robbed of the Tony.  I've never seen anyone give a performance like that in my LIFE.  I would imagine it would be very difficult to play someone who lives impulse to impulse (not to mention tiring), but Swenson is in it from beginning to end (and he has a sweet tush! LOL!!!)  Gavin Creel was also spectacular - his voice is divine.  Other standouts in the cast for me were Allison Case (Crissy), Jackie Burns (Black Boys Trio - FIERCEST BELTRESS EVER! I want to go back and see her Sheila!), Andrew Kober (Margaret Meade), Bryce Ryness (Woof) and Theo Stockman (Tribe - I don't know but I was so taken by his performance - so intense and a little creepy!).  Sasha Allen was out, which was disappointing, but Saycon Sengbloh was PHENOM.

Cast interactions - probably the best part of the show.  The cast was EVERYWHERE, almost all the time! Climbing on seats, handing out flowers/flyers, running up and down the aisles.  I scored a SICK seat - D2 (which is third row, on the aisle), and got tons of great interaction! I got smiled at, winked at, my hair played with, my sunglasses played with, I got a Be-In flyer, and my favorite - Darius Nichols, who plays Hud, kissed me on the forehead.  ADORABLE!! I was also close enough that I could rush up on stage at the end for the dance party.  Yes, I sang and danced on the B'way!!!

OK, so that was way too long and rambly.  But seriously, folks.  GO SEE THIS SHOW.  You really really really won't regret it.

I saw this and just had to steal it, because it's sadly a true, true fact in my life!

A beautiful quote by the brilliant Louise Erdrich, '76, who spoke at Dartmouth's commencement this year.

It is love of peace that makes you a warrior, love of process that binds you to your work, love of family that steadies you in all that you do.  Often, the only answer to the questions that will be posed all through your life is a mute and fierce love, an irrational love, a love that simply answers I am here.

Click HERE to read her entire, wonderful speech.

Summer Reading List

1.  A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius, by Dave Eggers

2.  The Plague of Doves, by Louise Erdrich (a '76! I got to see her speak at S's graduation, which prompted me to add her work to my list)

3.  The Letters of Noel Coward, edited by Barry Day

4.  The Time Traveler's Wife, by Audrey Niffenegger (ok, I admit this was added only after I saw the preview for the movie.  So kill me.  I do that sometimes.)

I am very excited.