The Holiday For the Rest Of Us!

Happy Festivus Everyone!

"Drain the fountain, put the fish in cups, and let's build a fire pit!!!"

The only reason I am writing in this today is because Amy Pfrimmer gave me such grief last night at the Le Petit Holiday Party.

So, here Amy, here is your damn post!
:-)

For the past two weeks, life has been filled with trips to the casino for major penny slot winnings and magical breakfast buffets, Lisa's Saints' themed birthday bash at Avenue Pub, The Princess and the Frog, latkes, and egg nog daiquiris.
So far, I would say, a pretty successful holiday season.

This past weekend was more of the same.
Well, Friday I couldn't get tickets to the Judith and Harry sing-a-long that Trina always raves about.
And I was completely exhausted from the 8 days of partying I had done prior, so I decided home, on my couch, was the best option.
Slept forever.

Went and had lunch on Saturday with my long lost friend Izzy.
We went to the new place, Catch, on Magazine St.
It is where my old restaurant used to be.
The people from Byblos took over.
It looks pretty nice on the inside, not one...not even two, but 3 giant flat screen TVs adorn the walls.
The food was actually quite yummy, too.
We split a few things...sauteed mushrooms, steamed mussels, a spinach salad with this weird, but awesomely tart raspberry dressing, and a celery root wrapped in smoked salmon with delicious dill dressing.
The best thing about it, though, was the fact that their version of bread service is jalapeno cheddar hush puppies.
I was very happy since I have been wanting one single hush puppy for about 6 months now.
So, yeah.
Goal achieved...tastily, too.
And the dessert crepes were yummy...pistachio cream filled with raspberry coulis on top.
They should do quite well in that locale.

Did the rest of the present shopping that day as well.
Plum is always my go to store.
It's just got the quirkiest little knick knacks.
I love it.
But the best gift I found was for AJ.
Literally, I saw this thing, and new I would never find a more appropriate gift for one of my friends.
I had promised to get him a Saints shirt for Christmas since he is now a bona fide fan.
AJ, also happens to be a large fan of the children's book, Where the Wild Things Are.
Miracle of miracles...there is a t-shirt with the Wild Things dressed in full Saints' gear.
I may have squealed in delight, just a bit.
Hopefully, this shirt will bring better luck than the Franken-Brees shirt he was wearing Saturday night.
(PS..I already gave it to him, so none of this is ruining the surprise)

Speaking of Saturday night.....sigh....
It was sad ya'll.
We know.
I don't want to delve into specifics because it makes me sad.
But I was with Keith, Sam, AJ, and Casie for the last half of the game.
And everyone kept saying we could still pull it out.

Cerveris sent a text that he had just gotten out of his show and could really concentrate on the important things, like the Saints, not Broadway.

Marshall was in TEXAS, in a TEXAS bar, wearing full SAINTS attire.
He kept sending me updates, saying how everyone was giving him a hard time.

And when Keith called the missed field goal from Dallas at the end, not only did we go nuts, but we all really thought that was a sign.
It just sucks that Drew didn't even get a chance to score on that last down.
Getting sacked just blew.
But as Keith kept saying...."13-FUN!"
As long as we don't drift to "13-BOO!", I'll be ok.

Sunday...bar tending for the old White Christmas, and then Holiday party at the theatre.
Quite nice that it was an open bar party.

At one point, everyone was on the balcony watching the drunk caroling going on in the Square(it was led by Becky Allen, can we all just take a moment to relish that very idea)...AJ asks Gary Solomon, "Gary, is the balcony supposed to lean?"
To which Gary responds, "It's charming AJ! It's got charm! And I checked the insurance policy, we're fine should we fall."

At the point of major tipsiness I kept saying how good the chicken looked, and how I wish I ate chicken.
AJ: "Why are you a vegetarian? If meat looks good, just eat it."
ME: "If I'm not, I don't really have anything else that is interesting about me."
AJ: "Oh, yeah, that's totally true. That's really the only thing you've got going for you. Except your giant glasses. You'll get rid of those, too, though, and then dye your hair blonde..and you'll be done for after that."

After this point...AJ convinced me a LUCKY DOG was the best thing I could do to myself.
So he bought me a lucky dog.

Which only conjures thoughts of my friend Kristin Popich, in a full ball gown after the Orpheuscapade, walking down Bourbon ( we are all completely wasted), yelling to us that we have to stop walking because she really REALLY needs a luck dog.
Like you do, when its 3AM and you're trashed on Bourbon during Mardi Gras.

I ate a lucky dog.
It was ok.
About ten minutes later I was sick in the bathroom.
I'm sure it was psychosomatic.
None the less, bad idea Natalie.
AJ was very proud of himself.
Happily yelling, "I just made you eat FIVE kinds of meat."
Ugh.

Yeah...so I guess that's that.
Are you happy Amy?

Hope everyone has a stellar Holiday, and enjoys their shortened work weeks.
If anyone wants to go see Nine or Sherlock Holmes with me.
I will be in attendance for both this Christmas.

And let's keep the support for the Boys going!

14-FUN here we come!

"Maxine, you're bigger than life, and twice as unnatural."

All right boys in Black and Gold.
Let's make sure that this weekend's game is a lot less stressful than the one in DC last week.
Yikes.

I was watching the game at my good friend Marshall's house when the tides began turning into a very bad direction.
I was so frustrated and angry that I silently removed myself from the living room, and went back into the bedroom where I curled into the fetal position and concentrated with all my might.

I could hear the guys' reactions to everything that was happening in the closing minutes of the game, and being the superstitious human that I am, I refused to move until the team had safely secured an overtime chance.

Slowly, as the game started shifting back in to Brees' oh so capable hands, I tip-toed out into the doorway of the living room.
I successfully got to watch most of the overtime before the boys saw me and started yelling for me to get back into bed before we did something stupid like miss a game winning field goal.
But I didn't, and they didn't, and the glorious streak of perfection was upheld for one more week.

It's a beautiful thing.

Onto a more theatrically inclined post...
I killed at my auditions last week! And I truly never think that I'm anything close to good at most auditions.
Nor, do I ever really think I deserve big roles, but, I wanted this role! And I know I can do it, and do it well.
My only problem is that on stage I look about 19...with the right costumes I can pass for my actual age, maybe late 20s...but c'mon, I've made a career out of highschoolers and toddlers!
So I was very nervous about the looking "age appropriate" factor.
But, I hear make-up can do wonders these days!

So, needless to say.
I am very happy to get to be in The Night of the Iguana for the Tennessee Williams Fest this year!
Huzzah!
I told my mom they were going to have to age me and she said, "To how old? Like my age?"
To which I responded, "Oh GOD NO! Not that old....jesus, mother."
Hehehe. I love teasing my mom about being old.
She has such a problem with it, and she shouldn't.
My mother is stunning and looks about 15 years younger than she actually is.
I just really, really like reminding her that she basically is a senior citizen, especially since she takes Centrum Silver.
HA!

Youth.
Overrated.

I already have the personality of a 45 year old divorcee and the dress code of a vintage librarian.


Speaking of getting older...
My prom is right around the corner, people.
February 20th.
I turn 25.
We are having prom at Southern Rep.
Dress codes, guest lists, corsages, and spiked punch.
It will be epic.
Plan accordingly.