Long Hiatus

Sorry for the log hiatus. After the most fun summer of my life it's time to get back to business! I also want to mention briefly that I've started writing a book. So far it's little vignettes from my life - humorous and truthful all at the same time. I'm sure it will include many embarrassing moments that cause the reader much pain.

I'm not very far into it, but I think it's a good goal. I may use this blog to work out a few stories. I'll let you know how it goes.

A New Book

I am reading the most delightful book. You know it's good when you say "delightful" after only reading 16 pages. It's called The Guernsey Literary and Potatoe Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows. It makes me want to write. So here I am writing. Nothing good enough to publish. The book is comical, heart warming and just plain witty. Beckles, we should write a book together!

Has anyone read it?

Let's Joust!

This weekend Jessie and I escaped the insanity of St. Patty's Day crowds (really, I forget how many people live in this city until the weather turns warm) and headed to Barrington. An organization was holding a fundraiser of designer second-hand wedding dresses on sale for $50. We had to go! Jessie wasn't feeling confident of her dress (which is gorgeous and she looks amazing in it) and thought this might be a fun opportunity.

There were some pretty dresses, interesting dresses, and dresses straight out of a 1989 bridal magazine (puff sleeves made of pure lace). As many times as I've gone dress shopping with people I've never been tempted to try on a dress...until this weekend! I found one that was originally $3,000 and on sale for 50 bucks. It looked like it was straight out of a Jane Austen novel - so I HAD to try it. I mean, it was only my duty as an avid fan and thespian.

What do you think? For $50 I should have bought it and put it in my closet for a rainy day or homemade rendition of Sense and Sensability. It was fun to wear, but who has room for something like that in their closet? Let it be known that I would NOT wear a dress like this for my wedding. Unless we were getting married at Medieval Times.

Twilight Before Christmas

For those Twilight fans who loved the books, but not so much the movie. HI-LARIOUS!

Bat Cave

I did it! I finally finished the Twilight series! I have hidden in my little cave for the past couple of weeks - pun INTENDED! Get it? Vampires? Cave? Bats? All I've been doing is reading. Now I can have a life again. I can shower, eat, socialize, floss, and remember that I have family and friends - real family and friends who do not exist only on paper or in my imagination.

I was oh so tempted to head to the mall yesterday to attend a meet and greet with the "star" of the Twilight movie. I would have had to fight with pre-teen girls. No one is stronger than a pre-teen girl. So I just couldn't do it. Plus, what would I have said to the guy? "Hi, I'm old enough to be your mother. I'm a COOOOOGAAAAAR!" Okay, so not mother, but definitely former baby-sitter. Creepy.

I seriously can't handle all the buzz the movie is receiving. It's making me dizzy. Sigh.

Twilight

I am so addicted to the Twilight series. I am tempted to stay home from work so I can read all day and all night. I am in love with a 17 year old vampire. And I'm not the only one. This really isn't good for my tendency to fantasize. Forbidden love, gorgeous vampires, danger, rescue, love...its a recipe to suck me right in and make me disappear into their world. Sometimes I look up from reading and expect to see the characters. That or I forget the world is going on around me.

The movie is coming out in two weeks! You can bet I'll be lined up early with all the giggling pre-teen girls. I'll probably join in with the giggling.

goodreads.com

Christine just introduced me to something that just might transform my life: Good Reads. My mom calls me all the time wanting book suggestions. She reads faster than anyone I know. This website would be a goldmine for her. You can find your friends online and see what books they've read, what they recommend, and you can even write your own book review. For instance:

1) Harry Potter: Go read it now because you'll absolutely fall in love with it. You'll wish you had never read it so you can read it again for the first time.

2) The Da Vinci Code: OVERRATED!

Go and explore! And let me know if you're a member so we can trade favorites.

The Martian Chronicles

I'm currently reading a book I never expected to find myself reading. I believe it's actually a collection of writings in newspapers and magazines. It's The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury. It's quite intriguing and a little weird, but then again, it is Ray Bradbury. Science Fiction fans have probably already read it. I have an audition for the play on Saturday. I'm not quite sure how they turn this book into a play but I'm sure it'll be interesting. I hope I get to the cold reading part of the audition. It'd be a boost of self-esteem.

Know-It-All

Jason and I dined together during lunch yesterday. We are definitely very different people but somehow we have so many things in common. For instance, we both are INFP's on the Myer Briggs personality test. Less than 1% of the world's population are INFP's. We would rather have one on one conversations than work a crowd. We both improvise. And finally, we both love learning and knowledge.

During our lunchtime conversation about Hip Hop music I asked him the question, "Do you feel the need to know everything there is to know?" He does and so do I. I know I was mostly asking myself this question. But why do I feel the need to know everything there is to know? I often feel pressure to be educated and well-versed on a multitude of topics. Is it the desire to be right all the time? Well yes, there's some truth in that statement. I'll admit it. But more than that I think it's my desire to be able to connect with everyone. If someone starts talking to me about Roth IRA's I want to know something about them so I can find a common denominator between us. Or maybe it's "Do you know how to play tennis?" "Why yes I do! Let's bond over it."

I am currently reading A.J. Jacob's book The Know-It-All: One Man's Humble Quest to Become the Smartest Person in the World. The author committed to reading the entire Encyclopedia Britannica in one year. That's 100 pages a day = 4 hours of reading a day. It's humerous, self-depricating and has even taught me a thing or two. Want to know why the Lacoste brand of clothing has a crocodile as it's mascot? Because the tennis player, Rene Lacoste, who started the brand of clothing was known as "The Crocodile." He once won an entire set of crocodile luggage. And there you have it. I'm so smart! Can't you just feel us connecting? If Rene were alive I could connect with him by saying, "Rene! I too love fashion and clothing. I also have a killer backhand."

Maybe I am meant to be in school for the rest of my life. Or maybe that's why I love being an actress. I can play a doctor, social worker, cop, mother, student, ninja and politician all in one year. Just think! I'll know a little of everything. Just enought to make me dangerous.

Hermione

Find out your Harry Potter personality at LiquidGeneration!

As if there was a question.

Brennan Manning

How I wish I didn't have rehearsal on Monday so I could go and hear Brennan Manning speak! If you live in Chicago I highly recommend going to see him. His book, The Ragamuffin Gospel, is one of my all time favorites and one of the most influential books I've ever read. And I read A LOT! Plus Phil Keaggy is playing. Many well-known musicians consider him to be the best guitarist in the world. That's some high praise.

My mom and dad met Brennan Manning years ago when we lived in Atlanta. I was all of two years old. When my mom asked him what he did for a living he responded, "I'm a lover." It doesn't make any sense unless you've read his books. To me it makes perfect sense.

So go see him!

Post Secret Bookstore Visit

Post Secret's Frank Warren is coming to Chicago again on November 15th. I have a work party that night, otherwise I'd be sure to go to Barbara's Bookstore. Scroll to the bottom to check out the tour schedule. I may have to purchase the new book he just published. The first one was pretty cool.