NYC Summa!

Hello darlings!!

It has been a while I know, but I've been busy and didn't want to just write any ole thing. Here's what's been happening since I last wrote: Started going back to school to set up my classroom, been working on lesson plans and I just came home today from NYC!!!! The greatest city in the world did not disappoint. I've been there what, like 4 times now?! Going and visiting for a week is just a teaser. I honestly can't wait to move there for real. Before I get into my reasons for wanting to move there, let me just tell you what I did for four days (not a week). Thursday: saw Mamma Mia! again just to see Lisa Brescia because she is breathtaking. Before the show started I looked to my left and literally had a heart attack. To most of the theater patrons, this man was just another theater lover, but to me he was anything but. It was none other than Craig Carnelia who is Lisa Brescia's husband. He's a fabulous composer/lyricist and I am a big fan of his. So while I am super stoked about seeing Lisa, my life had gotten even better because COME ON, in what other world would I be sitting next the man whose wife I kind of sort of worship??!!!! Anyways, Lisa did a kick ass job and like the crazy person I am had to stalk the stage door just to meet her. Along the way I met Patrick Boll who plays one of the dads, Jordan Dean who plays Skye and who is amazingly ripped and gorgeous and beautiful and did I mention ripped?? I also got to meet the lovely Liana Hunt who plays Sophie, Jennifer Perry who plays Rosie was so nice and talked to me for a little AND THEN Lisa walked out and my heart started beating so fast. She was so cute and nice and I got a picture with her. Best Thursday night of my life EVER!!!

Friday night my mother and I went and saw Wicked. I had been wanting to see this show ever since I started reading the books in June. Teal Wicks and Katie Rose Clarke did such a wonderful job. It really is so much better hearing and seeing it in person rather than watching it on YouTube. NO stage door stalking that night.
Saturday night my mom, my bestie Katelyn and I saw Baby It's You. I had been wanting to see this because Beth Leavel who is a genius was the lead actress. Of course I stalked her at the stage door. She was super nice and funny and I got a picture with her!

Sunday my mom and I went to see RENT. She wasn't all that excited about it because she knew the premise behind it but I talked her into it and she was thanking me afterwards. Yep, you guessed it...stalked the stage door because Annaleigh Ashford was Maureen. She was last cast member to come out but she was really nice so it was all worth it.

4 shows in 4 days = BEST 4 DAYS OF MY LIFE!!!!

I seriously can't wait to move NYC. Just looking at the pictures I took and thinking about the memories gets me even more excited. I'm sort of tired of people questioning by reasons for wanting to move there so here are some: It's a complete culture shock, nothing like Charleston. There's always something to do and it's just a hop skip and a walk away. It's just an experience that I have wanted to endure for the past three years and I might finally have the chance to do it. Sure, I know it's going to be tough and cold and lonely and expensive but you have to take chances in life or you'll never know.

I couldn't have asked for a better way to end my summer. I still have two weeks left before I officially go back to school but this was an overwhelmingly amazing and exhilarating trip that I doubt will ever be topped (unless I get to hang out with Lisa Brescia for a day). '

I should probably stop typing and unpack my suitcase so until next time.....

Oh, The Good Ole Days

It's been a few days but I'd rather have something semi conversational to write about than to write about nothing at all. I was watching the Women's World Cup today and couldn't help but think back to my youth( I say that as though I'm a 40 year old woman) and the many, many, many years I played soccer. I played for 15 years, most of which were spent in the goal (I was the goalie). For all of the trouble (physically and financially) that I put my parents through, I can't thank them enough for allowing me the opportunity to gain a sense of leadership and friendship for those 15 years.
I coach the girls JV team at the school I teach and my players tell me that when they play on their club teams, they don't have fun; they say it's more of a job than fun. Yes, soccer should be taken seriously but it shouldn't always be about winning. I can remember having some of the best times of my life on my club team because I was friends with all the players on the team and we were all playing something that we loved. Back then, all I thought about was being a professional soccer player, then I played for high school and those thoughts changed. Yes, I had a blast playing in high school, when I got to play, but I soon realized that high school sports are all about politics and not talent. Even though I wasn't given a chance to show how good I really was, I must have been good enough to be offered a scholarship at a private college. To all of those people who thought I wasn't up to par: "SUCK IT!!!" Not that I'm bitter or anything because I turned the scholarship down and really focused on something more important than a sport that wasn't going to get me anywhere in life: my education. I decided that playing a college sport was far more intense than I had imagined. Needless to say, my dad was so pissed that I turned the scholarship down. Honestly here's the low down on that school. The coach was going to give physical tests before each game to see who would get to put a jersey on, who would sit on the bench, and who would play. Also, the coach would come into my classes with me, make sure I was paying attention, AND was sitting in the front row of classes. If I wanted to be under that close of supervision, I would have gone to jail involuntarily.
Now that soccer was off of my plate I could solely focus on my education in education, well, special education. BUT WAIT....it just so happened that one of my high school friends played for the college rugby team and was recruiting. Me? Play rugby? What is rugby? Yeah, that's right...I decided to play. Little did I know that playing rugby for 3 years would turn into one of the best times in my life. What other sport do you get to tackle people for fun? And no, football doesn't count because you wear padding. Now rugby is a sport all about teamwork. I was the team slut. Not literally; I was just moved around into all different positions. I was a prop, flanker, 8 man, fly-half and full-back. I consider myself multi-talented :) Anyways, some of the friends that I made playing rugby are far better than most of the friendships I made playing soccer.
After I graduated college I got lucky and got a job working in the same high school where I attended. During the summer before my second year of teaching, I received an e-mail from the athletic director asking if I wanted to coach the girls JV team. WHAT?? Me coach soccer??? What's that about??? Oh, that's right...I played for the same team when I was there. I responded quickly with an "Of course." I can honestly say that after my first season of coaching, I miss some of my old soccer teammates. It's weird being on the other side of the team; coaching rather than playing. It brings back good memories and although I want the girls to have fun, I am definitely going to be A LOT more strict this upcoming season.
So this was a long post! If it makes sense...cool. If not...that's cool too. I know what's up. IT'S ALMOST FRIDAY.
Oh, and from now on I will have a countdown on how many days are left until I leave for NYC for a mini, but extremely fun, vacay!

15 MORE DAYS UNTIL I LEAVE FOR NYC!!!

Movie on the Green

First off...I would just like to say to all of the people who aren't teachers and have to work over the summer...happy 3 or 4 day weekend to you!!!!

Second, I got invited to go with my friend/colleague and her husband to their neighborhood to watch a movie outside. They live in really  nice neighborhood and I thought it would be fun because they are fun people to be around. I wasn't sure what to expect so I packed my bug spray and beach chair and headed for their house. Turns out, all of the set up and get up was going to be on their very nice golf course at the 17th hole. They had games for all the chillins, a catering company with food and drinks, free popcorn and cotton candy and even a station to make minions (we were watching Despicable Me) out of twinkies. It was nice chatting with strangers and yes, making fun of some people. One lady had a MAJOR Snookie poof on her head but it was better than that. You know how when you were younger and you would put your head in the water and then have all of your hair in your face and flip it back so it looked like you were Martha Washington? Well imagine doing that and then making a Snookie poof; that's what she looked like..it was AWESOME! Anyways, I had never seen Despicable Me before...turns out, it's a friggin adorable movie. Steve Carell is such an amazing actor and comedian. Other than a couple of crying children and mega bug bites, I am a fan of outdoor movies. I'll have to look around and find some other places that do them as well.

On a side note, not that I'm looking to be the next Emily Dickinson or Ernest Hemingway, but I get the feeling that no one is reading my blog.....but on the off-chance that someone is...please leave me a comment. Anything will do...a couple of letters, a word, a sentence, even a damn paragraph!!

Thanks and have a lovely weekend blogging world!!

Glue Movies

I'm currently reading the book "The Book of (Even More) Awesome and I stumbled across a section titled "Glue Movies." The definition says: any movie you can't stop watching whenever you see it on t.v. Because I have so many favorite "glue movies," I decided to make a top 5 list.

1. First Wives Club
2. A League of Their Own
3. McLintock
4. Harry Potter (any)
5. Pretty Woman

Now, there's no way I can make this list and not make a list of my ALL time favorite movies. So here are 5 of my faves.

1. Sense and Sensibility
2. To Wong Foo
3. The Wizard of Oz
4. Men of Honor
5. The Devil Wears Prada

If anyone is reading this, please feel free to tell me your favorite "glue movies" as well as your all time favorite movies.