Baby Remember My Name...

My favourite TV show ever is finally out on DVD! I'm so very excited about this! I don't know how many of you remember the TV show FAME, but it ran through the early to mid-80s and it effected my life greatly.

Having been the kind of kid who was involved in theatre, dance, figure skating, piano, etc. from the age of 2, performing was all I ever knew. I had ambitions of being a skater, like my mother, but after an ankle shattering car accident, that wasn't a reality any more. Seeing the movie "FAME" gave me the ambition to focus more on acting (and writing). The TV game me the courage to do it.

I would spend hours singing & dancing in my basement to the music from the show, with lyrics that inspired, I was certain I could be good. And I wasn' t too bad. I did quite a bit of theatre over the years. I never had ambitions to be on Broadway (and never wanted anything to do with Hollywood), but I still have been pretty damn good. And most of all, I still pull out the music from the show now and then. And I still feel inspired to try hard. I still feel like I can make any dream happen when I listen to the lyrics. I dance around my house, and know, somewhere deep down, I still have "it".

So, as you can see, having the first season out on DVD now means I can rewatch all those episodes and feel inspired again! I will remember many, many Thursday nights glued inches from teh TV set in my parent's living room, wanting nothing more than to sing & dance. "I'm gonna live forever..."

Desperate Plea for Help!

Ok, perhaps not so desperate, but I really want to customize this blog (and others) to look the way I want it to look. The problem is, no matter how much I read about it, I just don't get it! I have the graphic I want on the pages. I just don't understand HOW to put it in! If ANYONE can please be kind enough to explain how to do this sort of thing for me, I'd really be grateful. I hope to someday give in an own a domain, but until then, I'd at least like to feel like this space truly is mine. Anyone????

Let Them Eat Cake! (the film)

Today is my final cake decorating class, of this session. It was fun to take as a family, though we've had more cake than we knew what to do with. (Shoving it off on people as often as possible!) So I have more frosting to make. ugh. I did make a lovely cake for the party over the weekend though, which I was quite proud of. Blue w/white roses all round the edge and a large W in fancy script, a shell border around the bottom. Today I'm opting to make a "brownie cake" instead of the usual cakes...I like them better!

Speaking of Cake, I simply cannot wait for the new film about Marie Antoinette to come out in October. It stars Kirstin Dunst (who I think is really a fine actress...and totally should have won awards for her portrayal of Claudia back when she was in "Interview w/a Vampire") and the film is directed by Sophia Coppola. Anywho, here's a link to watch the trailer.

We pick up the final pieces of our lawn furniture tonight, too. Yeah! Of course, the weather decided to jump backwards to winter (hello...it was just 75 degress, and now it's 34!), but it will be nice to have & enjoy the backyard this summer. The tulips & other flowers are just gorgeous right now (having gone & planted lots to restore our gardens) and we plan to do even more gardening. Stop by and see it!

In the Pink

Ok to begin with, the b-day party went great. Everyone seemed to have a good time. They were dressed appropriately to their characters, the food turned out well, and my hubby's character turned out to be the murderer. I think everyone had a good time. We painted pottery in the morning (I chose a square vase, that I hope turns out well). Overall, it was a really fun day!

Today, I rest.

I have found that, yet again, I really like the singer Pink. If you haven't heard her new single "Stupid Girls", here are some of the lyrics and a link to the video.

Stupid girl, stupid girls, stupid girlsMaybe if I act like that, that guy will call me backPorno Paparazzi girl, I don't wanna be a stupid girlGo to Fred Segal, you'll find them thereLaughing loud so all the little people stareLooking for a daddy to pay for the champagne.
What happened to the dreams of a girl presidentShe's dancing in the video next to 50 Cent.

They travel in packs of two or threeWith their itsy bitsy doggies and their teeny-weeny teesWhere, oh where, have the smart people gone?Oh where, oh where could they be?

Disease's growing, it's epidemicI'm scared that there ain't a cureThe world believes it and I'm going crazyI cannot take any moreI'm so glad that I'll never fit in. That will never be me Outcasts and girls with ambitionThat's what I wanna see Disasters all aroundWorld despairedTheir only concernWill they **** up my hair.

Happy Birthday Part 2

Today is MY birthday! Yeah! I'm not admitting my age...I find it irrelevant. I feel many year younger than my actual age, I'm healthy, happy, and ready to celebrate!

Ok, so my day is pretty much going to be spent cleaning the house, baking, prepping food for our b-day party tomorrow. Not exactly the most exciting birthday day. But tomorrow we are having a day out w/friends painting pottery and then having a 1930s murder mystery dinner party here at the house. I think it should be fun. Wish you could be here too to celebrate! We'll save ya a slice of cake!

Happy Birthday Part 1

Today is the hubby's birthday. Happy!!
Not certain if I'll do a special dinner for him or not...he'd be happy with leftovers. (Trust me, he told me this.) I have a few small gifts for him, though his big one has yet to arrive (sigh). I just believe that everyone's birthday should be special. It's your day alone, and it should be celebrated as such.

Since my b-day is Friday, we are having a joint party on Saturday. yeah!
Mi

Cold....

I hope everyone had a GREAT Easter. Mine was. Saturday we spent with Paul's family. This was the first Easter I've celebrated with them, it was pleasant enough. It felt somewhat rushed though...I'm not certain why. But dinner was good, the kids loved their Easter egg hunt. Sunday we started the day with a very nice mass at church which I enjoyed, except for the music. Why must we sing Victorian hymns? They are so...droning. I grew up in a church with fun, bright, celebratory music. The church I attend now has THE worst music director. I seriously dislike the music 99% of the time. Which I hate feeling that way, since I really do enjoy the mass otherwise. The priest is a good speaker, and I always feel refreshed and connected, the way I think you should feel after going to church. Oh well....

Then it was off to spend the day with some friends. It was an interesting way to spend such an important Christian holiday...with two Jewish friends, an ex-Catholic, a Baptist, a pagan, and us (Catholics). But we each held the day in some sort of esteem, and no "you're wrong" sort of attitude to one another, so it made the day celebratory, nonetheless.

I miss spending the day with my parents. But I'm certain I felt my father beside me at church, and it was a great comfort. I only wish I could be with my mom too. She's so far away in Florida. I hope her day with my sister down there was a good one. I tried calling too late, and they said she was in bed. I'll try again.

I made it through Lent without breaking my promises. As a reward the hubby gave me a 2 liter of Coca-cola and my favourite chocolates (which I'd given up for Lent). It was a happy reward. He & the kidlet got "Narnia" and "Avatar" dvds, respectively. They were happy. Now I have to hope my birthday gifts for him arrive before Wednesday!

MEME...because I'm too busy for anything more

Once you have been tagged (and if you're reading this blog, I have tagged you) you have to write an entry with 6 weird facts/things/habits about yourself.

After the last fact, choose 6 people who you want to tag and list their names (except for this blog, if you're reading this, you've been tagged) Then leave a comment that says "You are tagged" on their page telling them to read your blog. (If you haven't gotten it yet, "YOU ARE HEREBY TAGGED!")And I'm adding a rule, after YOU get tagged, you have to go back to the blog of the person who tagged you and let them know you have fullfilled your tagging obligation and put up your list of six things. That means you have to come back HERE and let me know you put up a post with your six items. The more people you tag, the more comments you should get with other people's lists. Got it?

And here are my 6:
1. I'm trying hard to be more "domestically creative". (I'm learning crochet, and sewing again)
2. I love the taste of garlic and use it in everything (almost).
3. I'm a magazine addict. As much as I read books, I also have this wierd thing for magazines.
4. I actually get depressed if I can't perform for long. (I guess that explains the amount of years of doing Renfest & why I'm now venturing into other eras of reenactment.)
5. I prefer candlelight to bright "modern" lights.
6. I am double jointed.


Here is where I tag 6 people, but I don't know that I know 6 people to tag. I can tag Niff & Kassi, but whom else?... So if you are randomly reading my blog...YOU ARE TAGGED.

Wind in My Hairs

Sunday I was gifted with an early birthday surprise from my husband...my own, brand new bike! I'm giddy with excitement. It's more pink & silver than the one in the photo (given the fact I'm so short, find a bike of the appropriate height tends to mean finding one a little girlier than I'd prefer, but oh well, I'll embrace my girliness!)

You have to understand, it has probably been about 17 years since I last rode a bike. I've wanted one for at least that long, but for a multitude of reasons (some just, some not) I either wasn't or couldn't get one. So now, at long last, I can hop on and pedal to my hearts content. Ok, so I was a little fearful for a moment, worried I'd end up scraping my arm or leg in an inadvertant fall. But I started to move, confidently gained my balance, and within moments felt that breeze that only comes from the movement of two wheels beneath you.

I guess riding a bike really is alot like life. You have to find your own balance, not give into fear, and just ride. You, after all, are the one in control. You steer the course, and can brake when you want to. And there is nothing quite as fun as feeling that wind on your face, the one with the girly smile.

Phaedra and Theseus by Girodet
We went to see a great exhibit at the Art Institute of Chicago by Girodet on Saturday. Very enjoyable Pre-Raphaelite works, many of which were created for Napolean. It made me realize just how much of life is the spin you put on it. I've recently been wrapped up in the Regency world, reading alot of Jane Austen and the like. From the British perspective, Napolean (obviously) was the bad guy. At this exhibit, you saw a French perspective of the Napolean Hero. It made me think about just how much of everyday is like that.

Let Them Eat Cake!

See what I made last night in my cake decorating class!!!
Ok, so I didn't really make this cake. It's from a great bakery called Simma's, in Milwaukee. But I did start a cake decorating class last night...with the hubby AND the child! I'm really excited to learn how to make beautiful cakes, with all the groovy details, rather than just plain cakes, that taste yummy, but aren't particularly spectacular in any way. Of course, it also means I now want ALL of the groovy tools and gadgets that go with it...even though I don't even know how to use them yet. Oh well...if I have the tools, it will inspire me, right?? Well, it s a good theory anyway.

I'm being overtaken with the need to be creative. Perhaps its the (finally) warm & sunny days outside? I've planted, I purchased a book & yarn to teach myself crocheting (so far I can do two stitches successfully...I have along way to go). And new pencils & paper and have doing some really good drawing lately. (hmmm...maybe I'll scan one to put up here?)

The GREAT news is I've officially been hired as an event planner! The Great Lakes Re-enactment Guilde has hired me to do a civil war inspired bridal shower...at their event in May! I'm really excited about it. I'm also working with two brides on their weddings. A Turn of Events is officially off the ground and running!!