tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81499281959785727512024-03-13T21:39:23.560-07:00Kittens, Bards, Movies, and GeeksElizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15546284197269130129noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8149928195978572751.post-76856379219036833222017-04-29T16:28:00.000-07:002017-04-29T16:28:32.866-07:00If music be the food of love...TAKE 2!...AND THIS TIME IT IS THE CORRECT SHAKESPEARE!!<br />
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So, as I referenced in my last blog on music and playlists, there was another show that was already in the works and for which I had started to put together a playlist.<br />
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As some of you have already seen on the Facebooks, I WILL be returning to loving embrace of the Bard Of Avon, and actually in an adaptation of the play that was my first professional show in Chicago (and also where I met my future husband...everyone say "AWHHHHH!")<br />
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<i>Illyria</i> is an "adaptation" of <i>Twelfth Night </i>being produced by EDGE Theatre (the folks who did <i>MacSith</i>) with the help of Otherworld Theatre Company (who are responsible for <i>A Princess of Mars</i>). This time through, I will be tackling the "Feste" roll, named here "Amethia".<br />
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As well as being a typical Shakespearian Fool (i.e., smarter than 50% of the people she is on stage with), Amethia is a land-mermaid, able to cross the border between ocean and land, and probably has more than a little Siren blood in her veins. Along with being in a body suit...again...the make-up is AWESOME!<br />
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I mean...<br />
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Anyway, this is a a list that is closer to the Shade playlist of <i>MacSith</i>, and I was actually pleasantly surprised by the number of sea, ocean, and water songs I was able to put together.<br />
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Therefore, without further ado and in no particular order...<br />
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1) "Miracle" by The Mediaeval Baebes, <i>Illumination</i><br />
The Baebes can be hit or miss with me, but I LOVE this song as a bit of a theme song for the entire show. It talks about wising up in who and how you love; instead of blindly loving what you think you should love, true beauty can be good, "giving love his sight and striking folly blind".<br />
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2) "Maelstrom" by Sirena, <i>The Odyssey</i><br />
It is a deep wish of mine that these ladies return to the Ren Faire circuit. If you had a chance to see them, then you know how wonderfully magical they were. "Maelstrom" was on the playlist for Sarkoja, and was a no-brainer when putting on together for Amethia. "For the demons below you doth wake, and the deck that you stand on doth quake..." Don't mess with the forces of the sea.<br />
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3) "Siren Sky" by Sirena, <i>The Odyssey</i><br />
I have been IN LOVE with this song from the minute I heard it, and knew instantly that it had to accompany Amethia. Whereas "Maelstrom" is about the force and vengefulness, this is about a different power. Not to spoil TOO much, but it is Amethia that saves Viola from the storm that wrecks the ship, and THIS is the song that, if we had the time to do a 60-second rescue montage, I would love to be playing as it happens.<br />
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Mermaids can lure some to their death, if they deem them unworthy. Those that have special spark, about them, however...<br />
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4) "Drawn To The Rhythm" by Sarah McLachlan, <i>The Celtic Circle, Vol. 2</i><br />
Amethia is incredibly powerful, and there was talk about how she does serve Olivia, but it is very much an Ariel/Prospero-type relationship, where there is a bond, promise, or geis that keeps this creature, who can rescue people from not-so-natural storms, as a SERVANT to someone. This song is a little sad, illustrating the song that keeps drawing her back to the ocean and away from Olivia's court.<br />
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5) "Haul Away Joe" by The Muses, <i>Passing Time</i><br />
I figured I needed one or two good, old-fashioned sailing songs on here, and this one was juuuuuust clean enough yet still dirty enough to be fun.<br />
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6) "Sailor's Prayer" by The Muses, <i>Passing Time</i><br />
Appease me with a song, Mortals. It may just save your soul...and maybe your life. No promises.<br />
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7) "Master of Tides" by Lindsey Stirling, <i>Shatter Me</i><br />
Ms Stirling is very quickly becoming like Mr McCreary (who, I will admit to being surprised myself, does not make an appearance on this playlist). Fun and poppy, energetic and full of all sorts of exciting beats, her songs can fill any slot on a playlist and only make it better. Here we have a sea-shanty beat, but the violin sings and dips and soars and speaks of something hidden in the depths, just waiting to surface...<br />
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You know what...just check out the video; I won't even make you search for it: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RrutzRWXkKs" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RrutzRWXkKs</a><br />
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8) "Dangerous" by Thomas Bergersen (feat. Linea), <i>Vanquish</i><br />
Here's the thing: you know that rule about how the most beautiful flower is often the most dangerous? This holds true beneath the sea, too.<br />
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Don't come into my element and expect to find me an easy target.<br />
Don't see the fool and think she can be easily bamboozled.<br />
Don't see the beauty and miss the danger.<br />
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You are dangerous. So am I.<br />
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So, there she is. Amethia in song. Come and watch me seduce, fool, and school mortals and fairies alike when Illyria opens.<br />
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TICKETS <a href="https://www.skokieparks.org/devtickets.html" target="_blank">HERE</a>!Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15546284197269130129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8149928195978572751.post-32737743602307842452017-03-13T11:03:00.000-07:002017-03-13T11:03:52.797-07:00Music fit for a Matriarch...As many of you know, I LOVE having a playlist for a show, and "Princess of Mars" is no different. While there wasn't much of an "arc" like there was for Irene, it still helped set the mood and became the work-out music as I got ready to squeeze into a green bodysuit that hid NOTHING...<br />
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So, without further ado, here is what Matriarch Sarkoja listens to as she gets ready to <strike>rule the Tharks</strike> support her hatchling, Tal Haljus, as HE rules the Tharks...<br />
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(In no particular order)<br />
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1-"Apocalypse" (Theme From "The Plan; Bonus Live Version) by Bear McCreary<br />
Long time readers will know my love of Mr. McCreary and my insistence that he appear at least once on ANY playlist...I will find a reason to include him. There is something alien about this song, something tribal, especially on the Live Version.<br />
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2-"Maelstrom" by Sirena<br />
You will be seeing MUCH more of these ladies on my NEXT playlist, but that is all I will say for now (no spoilers...). Haunting and pounding, it is the story of storm that you really can't win against.<br />
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3-"Welcome To The Jungle" by Guns N' Roses<br />
Alright, so not a jungle, per se...but don't tell Sarkoja doesn't have a LITTLE classic rock, especially one that ends with "its gonna bring you down".<br />
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4-"Paint It, Black" by Ciara<br />
I have adored this cover since I first heard it on the trailer for "The Last Witch Hunter". Forget what all those girls "dressed in their summer clothes" think...you don't need love...embrace the darkness inside of you...there will you find your power.<br />
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5-"Dragonland" by Thomas Bergersen<br />
I wanted something else instrumental and a little battle-back ground sounding. This struck me as the flowing and yet hard (which, if you've seen my weapons for this show...hehehe)<br />
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6-"The End Is Over" by Powerman 500<br />
Another rock song, very guttural and powerful.<br />
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7-"The Arena" by Lindsey Stirling<br />
Lindsey is a recent find, but already she had a prominent place in this and the next playlist. The first time I heard this song was when she premiered the video, so the decision to include this was influenced by the fact that it is set in a post-post-apocolyptic desert, but it is also very flowing and its called "The Arena"...I mean, come on...come see the show and you'll understand...<br />
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8-"Mirage" by Lindsey Stirling feat. Raja Kumari<br />
The play take place on a planet that is practically a desert...this needed to be included.<br />
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9-"El Dorado" by Two Steps From Hell<br />
This was the last song added because I didn't know how badly it needed to be on there until we started putting the show together...want to know why? Well, guess you'll just have to come and see us!<br />
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So, there we are. I am thrilled that Sarkoja gets some pretty awesome cuts. If you want to come see what this music has inspired, then get your butt over to Berger Park starting March 18th and running through April 1st. Tickets Can be purchased <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/a-princess-of-mars-tickets-30300378247" target="_blank">HERE</a>!Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15546284197269130129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8149928195978572751.post-21906218052945052062016-12-31T14:56:00.000-08:002016-12-31T14:56:47.403-08:00As 2016 Comes to a close...<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="MsoNormal">
Well, I think we can all agree that this year hasn’t been
the best. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, it has pretty much
sucked. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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I haven’t said a lot because there really isn’t anything I
feel that hasn’t been said a thousand times over. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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So many bright lights gone: princes, princesses, mothers,
fathers, sportsmen, those who made us laugh, those who made us cry, those who
made us cheer, those who made our blood boil, those who made our heart sing.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I know a lot of friends whose struggles have been much
closer to home, whose lives have been full of so much ugliness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Personally, there have been many days where I
have just huddled into a ball and wept. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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The lessons that learned and the lessons we will learn are
never easy. Change can be agonizingly slow, or so abrupt that it takes your
breath away. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And <span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">yet, for all the horror, for all the pain for all the loss, we are
still standing. We are still here. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">Yes, we have lost many. However, just because they are gone does not
mean the love, the music, the joy, the knowledge, the power, the HOPE they gave
us is gone. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">There is a quote at the end of the novelization of "Revenge of the Sith" (I know, I know, but hear me out) that I have always loved"</span></div>
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"> The dark is generous and it is patient and it always wins - but in the heart of its strength lies its weakness: one lone cancel is enough to hold it back.</span></div>
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"> Love is more than a candle.</span></div>
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"> Love can ignite the stars. </span></div>
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">That is one of the reasons why I started "Good Morning, Lovelies", as well as why I went through December doing 31 Days of Awesome. I need to remember that there is beauty, that there is love, and I really hope that some others saw that, too.</span></div>
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">I do refuse to be blind to the evil in the world, but I also refuse to let it be the only thing I see. Give to the world. Give beauty, give love. At the same time, it took me a long time to learn that you can give and give, and while you shouldn't expect anything in return, wisdom is knowing when you have given enough and need to walk away because no one is giving in </span>return.</div>
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<br /></div>
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So, my motto for 2017: Do no harm. But take no shit.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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And as for everyone we had to say good-bye to this year?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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I said earlier this month that one of the hardest lessons
you learn is that your heroes are not immortal.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This isn’t entirely true.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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WE are the keepers of their immortality. WE are their
legacy. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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We weep, we mourn, we hold each other.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Then, we stand up. We sing. We write. We create.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We hold the torch.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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We Have Hope. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15546284197269130129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8149928195978572751.post-37941350278345956192015-03-18T13:27:00.000-07:002015-03-18T13:27:12.202-07:00Shove...With Love<br />
There was an article that was floating around online recently about understudies, as well as my own current situation, that brought an event to the front of my mind.<br />
<br />
A few years ago, I was riding the CTA when I overheard a phone conversation a woman was having with someone.<br />
<br />
"Well, I'm not going to that rehearsal; I'm JUST the understudy, its not like they need me or anything."<br />
<br />
I couldn't decide if I wanted to fall out of my chair or smack her. I settled on getting a good look at her face when I exited the bus so I could remember her if she ever showed up at an audition I was running.<br />
<br />
JUST an understudy? Not going to the rehearsal? Oh sweetie, you can be very sure that if you ever show up at any audition I am running your name will get a big ol' black mark next to it.<br />
<br />
As I have already stated in a previous blog, I believe in the importance of showing up. As an understudy, you are in the unique situation of being able to show up and be helpful...<br />
<br />
When I understudied "Watership Down" I missed a total of 2 rehearsals: one was my birthday, and the second was when I was so sick I could barely stand (I figured it was my job to cover the actors when they were sick, not to MAKE them sick). Otherwise, I was there, two copies of the script (one for each actress I was covering) in a giant binder, jotting blocking, marking costume changes, and PRAYING with every bone in my terrified body that I would never have to go on.<br />
<br />
I never did. To this day, those two actresses still get hugs from me.<br />
<br />
But what DID end up happening was that I was there, so if another actor was missing, I would pop the lines from my seat in the corner; if they needed a warm body I was there. I actually ended up standing in for every character except Bigwig, the General, Hazel...and the two actresses I was covering. I got to sit and watch the amazing process that Lifeline goes through before they present an adaptation to the public. I got hang out with some pretty cool people, most of who are still very close friends.<br />
<br />
I know that understudies get put-in rehearsals if there is a confirmed show where they are going on. I have been BLESSED with two, and will have a third before I ever hit the stage at Chi-Fi, but what if that call comes and there is no time?<br />
<br />
When I was understudying the female tracts for "Frodo-A-Go-Go", I got the call that our "Legoland" wouldn't be able to go on for the shows that weekend...with less than 24 hours notice. HOWEVER, I had been to the rehearsals, I knew the shape of the show, I knew the fights.<br />
<br />
I know for a fact that there are actors who have been sitting in the audience when they have been gently tapped on the shoulder by an ASM and told to get their butt backstage... 10 minutes after the show has STARTED. I also know times when it has happened halfway through the first act.<br />
<br />
Now imagine if you have JUST watched the show once. You have learned your lines, great, you copied the blocking, fantastic...but what if something has changed? What if there is a costume change that you have to do, or one you have to help another actor with?<br />
<br />
Being at rehearsal is more than just learning your lines and blocking: it is becoming a part of the team that is putting this show together, becoming a part of the family that a show can become. There is a chemistry that can be missing if you haven't been participating.<br />
<br />
The article that was posted recently was about understudies on Broadway and their experiences. It talked about last minute calls, the "shove with love", and how many actors can make a pretty decent living being understudies, if not getting that one chance for a "big break".<br />
<br />
Being an understudy does not mean that I am hoping you get sick or that something horrible happens to you; I am not going to push you down the stairs or poison your food (see above re: Watership Down).<br />
<br />
It means that IF something happens, I am here, not only for you but for the rest of the cast and for the audience that is coming that night.<br />
<br />
SO WHAT if you never get to go on?<br />
You still get to add the credit to your resume, and the more tracks you were tasked with covering, then maybe another director will see that and be impressed.<br />
You still got to work with the theatre, and you got your foot in the door.<br />
You still got to work with a group of actors who will hopefully remember you, and maybe you made some friends along the way.<br />
<br />
So, to the amazing people I get to play with at Chi-Fi this weekend: thank you. Thank you for this chance and thank you for your patience.<br />
<br />
And especially to my fellow witches and my shades: SHOVE WITH LOVE!!!<br />
<br />
<br />Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15546284197269130129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8149928195978572751.post-11496091862118894012015-02-05T14:06:00.001-08:002015-02-05T14:06:47.155-08:00If music be the food of love...OK, wrong Shakespeare, I know...still, those of you who have read this blog before know that I usually try to do playlists for shows that I am in. Sometimes, they are as short as three songs. Other times, I will work out the full arc (check out the blog on Irene and "Sherlock").<br />
<br />
As we approach the first major break-out rehearsal for the Witches and their Shades, now is probably the best time to talk about this show's playlist.<br />
<br />
This character a very movement based character, and it is much more about setting a mood than tracing an arc. I also got to delve into some of the darker themes in my music collection.<br />
<br />
And every other song is off a "Battlestar Galactica" soundtrack. Because Bear McCreary is a GENIUS!<br />
<br />
1-Heeding The Call (BSG-Season 3): A good opening. Starts light and little exotic, and then builds to something a little more than ominous...<br />
<br />
2-Immortals (Big Hero 6, Fall Out Boy): Something upbeat after a slow start...<br />
<br />
3-Kara Remembers (BSG-Season 4): This is one of my favorite songs from the entire series. Much like "Heed The Call", it has that slow, slinking build punctuated by some truly amazing beats once it gets going (nerd moment, if I may: I see this as the song that plays during a Mara flashback to the night Vader came back from Cloud City).<br />
<br />
4-Animals (V, Maroon 5): There is something animalistic in the Weird Sisters, especially in this production. They are more and less than human, and fully willing to hunt their prey...<br />
<br />
5-Apocalypse (BSG-The Plan): SO, this song was actually on a previous playlist, when I was auditioning to be one of the Erinyes in "The Last Daughter of Oedipus". This song says unseen forces pulling and pushing twisting fate.<br />
<br />
6-Bad Things (Jace Everett, True Blood): We are seducing people to the Dark Side; why do YOU think this song is on here?<br />
<br />
7-Gaeta's Lament-Instr. (BSG-Season 4): At this point, it is good to assume that I just worship at the feat of Bear McCreary...<br />
<br />
8-Going Under (Fallen-Evanesance): The sweet surrender the Dark Side offers...don't fight it...<br />
<br />
9-Lords of Kobol (BSG-Season 2): See #7 above.<br />
<br />
10-Seven Devils(Ceremonials-Florence and the Machine): OK, so there are way more than seven witches/shades, but we will still pull your kingdom down...<br />
<br />
11-All Along The Watchtower (BSG-Season 3): "...Princes kept the view, while all the women came and went, barefoot servants, too...outside in the distance, a wild cat did growl...two riders were approaching...the wind began to howl..." HOW is that not a perfect song for this show?<br />
<br />
<br />
Bonus Tracks<br />
My Songs Know What You Did In The Dark (Fall Out Boy). Someone, ANYONE, choreograph a lightsaber fight to this song. <b><i><u>I will sacrifice my sanity and well being if you do!!</u></i></b><br />
<br />
Storming New Caprica (BSG-Season 3)-Another good fight song.Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15546284197269130129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8149928195978572751.post-53498037544250174382015-02-01T14:15:00.000-08:002015-02-01T14:15:27.916-08:00On Hard Work and Showing Up...I believe is hard work. I do. I believe that hard work should be rewarded.<br />
<br />
When we are younger, when we are in school, we are told that we should work hard. It was a lesson that was ingrained in me especially hard because, as a very young age, I was informed by my mother that I could do theatre so long as my grades stayed at a certain level. Something about my Scottish blood took that as a challenge, which led to one memorable day where I was up at 6:00 to be a school by 7:15 to take that quarter's AP English writing test (this after staying up to proofread the paper we had to turn in as well), followed by a full day of classes (including a meeting of the yearbook team), followed by rehearsal until 6:00 for the high school show followed by rehearsal at 7:00 for the local community theatre show.<br />
<br />
Yeah, I was nuts.<br />
<br />
But I believed in working hard. I believed that if you worked hard, then you would be rewarded. If you got good grades, then colleges would like you, and, maybe, even give you a little money.<br />
<br />
In high school, it paid off. I graduated 36 in a class of 536, and got into Loyola with a Scholarship.<br />
<br />
Yay hard work!<br />
<br />
At Loyola at the first meeting of the Theatre School, we were basically told that 55% of our time would be spent on Theatre, and 55% of our time would be spent on Academics. It took us all a second to do the math, and to make sure they weren't joking, and they weren't. The Theatre Department expected you to show up. They expected that, even if you were on the performance track, you would serve as House Crew, Costume Crew, Set Crew, Light Crew...you get the idea.<br />
<br />
So I worked hard. I ended up increasing my Academic Scholarship amount, and scoring a Theatre Scholarship by the end of my first year.<br />
<br />
Long story short, I ended up going into the "real" world with the expectation that my work ethic would yield rewards...<br />
<br />
It took nigh on 9 years for that illusion to be shattered. Yeah, I am a slow learner...<br />
<br />
In the real world, hard work SHOULD get you further, and I am sure it does... in most places.<br />
<br />
I am not afraid to say that 5 years with a company that I gave just about every summer to did not end well. Blood, sweat, tears, gas money, and when there started to be talk about taking the company Equity and using union actors, no consideration was made to those who had spent even longer than I had with the company when it came to making sure we would still be included in the shows. Even if they had had the courtesy to say that they would have ensured us getting our points, I would have stuck around.<br />
<br />
Instead, we were basically told that all our hard work meant nothing.<br />
<br />
It took me much longer to learn this lesson professionally than it did artistically. Nine years, in fact. Nine years of showing up and taking on not only my own duties, but others as well. Staying late, coming in early, and working like a dog lead to no vacation days, no sick days, no benefits, and mu hours being cut to three days a week. Not that I blame them: the economy was in the junk heap at the that point, and I was just grateful to have any job.<br />
<br />
However, when the opportunity came to leave both of these situations behind, both artistically and professionally, I am not afraid to say I ran.<br />
<br />
A theatre company that offers me membership after all I do is work box office and then show up at strike (because that's what I was taught you did at Loyola)? Where do I sign?<br />
<br />
An up-and-coming Chicago start-up that wants to offer me benefits, stock options, a 401K, and HOW many vacation days? Done!<br />
<br />
Since then, I won't say things have been perfect, but when is life ever? There have been heartbreaks and tears, late nights and lots of wine...and beer...and cider...but there have been lessons learned and triumphs.<br />
<br />
It is a hard lesson to learn, when you enter real life: sometimes, hard work DOES NOT get you ahead. You have to know the difference between being patient, and being complacent and comfortable. You have to know when you have given enough, and there has been no reward, no matter how small, that is time to move on.<br />
<br />
But I still believe that for every new venture, you SHOW UP. You work your butt off. When I was cast as an understudy for a production, the only time I didn't show up was when I was so sick I couldn't see straight.<br />
<br />
I figured, as an understudy, if was my job to cover for other actors when they got sick, not make other actors suffer from the plague I was carrying...<br />
<br />
But you work. Every new show, every new job, every new opportunity is a chance for you to make your mark. It is a chance to find a new home.<br />
<br />
Long story short (TOO LATE!) we come to the moral of my story, and the good news, and the connection to the show I am working on now...<br />
<br />
Fight rehearsals for <i>MacSith </i>are, for the most part, optional. But, as I have become something of the social media maven, and fight rehearsals are usually when you get the best shots of lightsaber fights, I have been showing up.<br />
<br />
This past Thursday, it was apparently discussed that the actress playing Lady M would not be able to make it to <a href="http://chi-fi.org/">ChiFi</a>, a convention occurring at the Palmer House Hilton in March where we will be doing two performances of <i>MacSith. </i>The current Witch 1 played the Lady last year, so she will be stepping into those shoes. That means they needed someone to play Witch Primus...<br />
<br />
Ladies and Gents, I will see you all on March 19th-20th.<br />
<br />
<br />Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15546284197269130129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8149928195978572751.post-24710670814890647262015-01-28T19:59:00.002-08:002015-01-28T19:59:57.901-08:00When Nerd and Stage meet...As I mentioned in the last blog, I will be taking a journey "a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away..."<br />
<br />
This made me think about how my theatre career has often intersected with my nerd world...and I am not just talking about theatre people in Chicago being total nerds...because they are. Seriously, my broadsword certification class had two "Buffy" scenes, one "Dragonheart", and two "Game of Thrones"...the last being the exact same scene.<br />
<br />
With "MacSith", I discovered, I continue my nerd/theatre melding. I have sampled from many of the geek food groups...I realize that I have MANY more to go: Battlestar...Marvel...maybe even (gulp) D.C., but I think I am off to a good start!<br />
<br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13;">"Lord of the Rings"/Frodo-A-Go-Go</span></b><br />
There is photographic evidence SOMEWHERE that I make a lovely blonde, but it has been lost...<br />
<br />
This fully improvised parody of "Lord of the Rings" was the second professional show I did in Chicago. I was the understudy for all the females, but this included the "Sam" and "Frodo" characters. My proudest moment was when I actually got to go on for two weekends as "Legoland", blond wig and all. The fact that one of those two weekends coincided with the weekend they won ALL the Academy Awards was just icing.<br />
<br />
<b><span style="color: #660000;">Steampunk/Sherlock/Sherlock Holmes: The Last Adventure</span></b><br />
It was a long break between nerd shows, but when it came again, it came big. For me, "Sherlock" is the show that all others are measured against, and that is a hard bar to reach. We performed just as the new series premiered in England and the movies were starting, so it could be said we came in on the ground floor, and we did a pretty darn good job. Not to sound too hipster, but we were doing Sherlock and Steampunk before it was cool!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9KUELRNnZ8Q4CLYX4Th1hohLsHt47QKNmBctiv_ashrD60DuMMm3mxFmJ1q485ce-h9_BUKZfZXHtYGbn2fcWe1_wOSgcRe9hvCcqM08HIpdKftv5qRHlCVZckhMuqPMKyasyR7c62taE/s1600/45687_425515824721_1047818_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9KUELRNnZ8Q4CLYX4Th1hohLsHt47QKNmBctiv_ashrD60DuMMm3mxFmJ1q485ce-h9_BUKZfZXHtYGbn2fcWe1_wOSgcRe9hvCcqM08HIpdKftv5qRHlCVZckhMuqPMKyasyR7c62taE/s1600/45687_425515824721_1047818_n.jpg" height="312" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Cast.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbTvVi77tpG_N4osyEZzqC5clsAOto-pLrB0KUR2rH6dcp0ezTm4sCvCQVhHDdaUpuP_elLByKo78Ss3Rjno4HcF6mdrhM1LS_VItVLqp6vNgTohZSXbOVx9JRHD3fX0xHKLzqgKVqqEBH/s1600/45256_1570994752055_8055795_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbTvVi77tpG_N4osyEZzqC5clsAOto-pLrB0KUR2rH6dcp0ezTm4sCvCQVhHDdaUpuP_elLByKo78Ss3Rjno4HcF6mdrhM1LS_VItVLqp6vNgTohZSXbOVx9JRHD3fX0xHKLzqgKVqqEBH/s1600/45256_1570994752055_8055795_n.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Corsets are FUN!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnu3mrV4AfNwMMewXUgFT3oXa8gWo8HToFSNkb_z5Mfrfn6t8ayWI2OYAyUcT7DmDuULMw0b7D6BICQH_dU69T-AcdoCyEoyL8luCqojwwIc_R-AXYI7p3qtGr32YpenOvo19fMtNkfbgr/s1600/45612_10150269518650193_6153357_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnu3mrV4AfNwMMewXUgFT3oXa8gWo8HToFSNkb_z5Mfrfn6t8ayWI2OYAyUcT7DmDuULMw0b7D6BICQH_dU69T-AcdoCyEoyL8luCqojwwIc_R-AXYI7p3qtGr32YpenOvo19fMtNkfbgr/s1600/45612_10150269518650193_6153357_n.jpg" height="320" width="236" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Irene and the King of Bohemia</td></tr>
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I'm sorry, I was Pinky Pie. The photographic evidence proves it:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYNI5RsN0ZlFdiscVS5YGpvbLY6we9XXtSY4yOT37H-Px1DXMnFI6n4g-2RPUnrgXvkY3LZekFNP8UE8GIk_IKUeizTBpeWzzrTkTXg9is4nQzMaXpAFsK70A8_6osvJyWMkNXrjSV755P/s1600/1016909_10203318963432107_5502429500009799145_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYNI5RsN0ZlFdiscVS5YGpvbLY6we9XXtSY4yOT37H-Px1DXMnFI6n4g-2RPUnrgXvkY3LZekFNP8UE8GIk_IKUeizTBpeWzzrTkTXg9is4nQzMaXpAFsK70A8_6osvJyWMkNXrjSV755P/s1600/1016909_10203318963432107_5502429500009799145_n.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a><br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV5gp4xzaHPif7rP5G2uH6knnmzIZYw0Ulcg2Co_ejSx9eweMmmBU0rucwzdsAAxI-PY2S2uj8FTeXvzHdTO8KI6H0P94rDoAhvkxahExPf5PHSPnvVLThq2S2fyLQB1aIXH7eL_rMKt4E/s1600/10363393_10203596139521336_3976448783152595543_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV5gp4xzaHPif7rP5G2uH6knnmzIZYw0Ulcg2Co_ejSx9eweMmmBU0rucwzdsAAxI-PY2S2uj8FTeXvzHdTO8KI6H0P94rDoAhvkxahExPf5PHSPnvVLThq2S2fyLQB1aIXH7eL_rMKt4E/s1600/10363393_10203596139521336_3976448783152595543_n.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption">Aww, the Three Courtiers...</td></tr>
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<span style="color: blue;">Star Trek/Klingon Christmas Carol</span><br />
You have not know challenge until you have to memorize Dickens...in Klingon. For months, I spit and twisted my tongue and slathered my face in adhesive and it was awesome. This was nerd heaven, and it brought up all sorts of lovely memories from when I was a kid.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjPjFHybz9eGMKC1wFl8mb_Y1XyThVNEbzU1W7r_qtnHiFPaBi3KP8_j41tzFFG__6eIEpkiPMeSNT2M6tnW1IRYEdP0UFKGiFNei_m7_AtsA2FCklGRyCzVOyprhLSeVa4E-DPfB1NDlA/s1600/B4Sd3oHIMAAV8dp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjPjFHybz9eGMKC1wFl8mb_Y1XyThVNEbzU1W7r_qtnHiFPaBi3KP8_j41tzFFG__6eIEpkiPMeSNT2M6tnW1IRYEdP0UFKGiFNei_m7_AtsA2FCklGRyCzVOyprhLSeVa4E-DPfB1NDlA/s1600/B4Sd3oHIMAAV8dp.jpg" height="233" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Klingon's Angels</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFFgH3lD8xrHRHZM46OFYQzTVdeKXYK6-wWffDUUkSv3z6zU4x_MNHIO-ZSllEBfBWY30nvf2K54apm1dulJacI7jIFfAytneQgtrzN2f9P1-SCNSt6ptS0g4Qd2Aqdm6YR_F26m42LJg9/s1600/B4yZaC3CEAAsDps.jpg" height="320" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="240" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and the targh...</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #990000;"><b>Buffy-verse/Broadsword Class & SPT</b></span><br />
When choosing a scene for our Broadsword SPT, my partner and I looked at a few scenes, but settled on the big Buffy/Faith fight from the end of Season 3. Not a full play, but close enough. And we passed our certification test, so YAY!<br />
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<b><span style="color: #bf9000;">Star Wars/Mac Sith</span></b><br />
So here we arrive at the present day. Star Wars and Shakespeare, in one glorious mash-up. We'll see how much saber-swinging I get to do, but, in the meanwhile, it is Force-pushing and witch-ing it up. And some pretty awesome Jedi Warriors...<br />
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And with that, I shall wish you all a very good night!</div>
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Middle school was not easy. Not that it is for anyone, but kids can be extra mean when you pick an extra-curricular activity like acting, and it isn't made much easier when you like things that are considered "nerdy". Like Star Wars. And Star Trek. And Fantasy.<br />
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Nope. The first half of Middle School was NOT fun.<br />
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Then, your mom goes into the office to file the paper work because you will be out of class for the first part of one certain day, and the office lady looks at the calendar.<br />
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"Oh, but she'll miss the field trip they have scheduled that day!"<br />
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And your mom gets to respond: "No, she IS the field trip."<br />
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Because the field trip is a viewing if "To Kill A Mockingbird" at the local community theatre, and yours truly is playing Scout.<br />
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And I don't think I am blowing my horn TOO much when I say I knocked it out of the park.<br />
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Yeah, middle school got ALOT easier after that day.<br />
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But, let's take small side trip: Westgate Mall...Waldenbooks...a 10 year old Star Wars fan uses some of her PRECIOUS allowance to buy "Heir To The Empire."<br />
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My love affair with the Star Wars EU exploded and I never really looked back. I stuck through the good times and the bad times, (Callista that blonde, whiny, wimpy, B...(looks at young co-stars possibly reading this) um...yeah, never mind).<br />
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I'll be honest: I had lost track of the EU (this was before the internet was as prevalent as it is) and so didn't even know the "Hand of Thrawn" books were out until I saw a friend reading them during a rehearsal. I made a comment about how much a certain farm boy and a certain red head just needed to get over themselves and get together. He snorted in derision and the subject was dropped until Tech week when he called me over and whispered "I hate you for being right," and showed me the end of a certain paragraph at the end of a certain chapter (page 481-82...not that I have it bookmarked or anything...shut up).<br />
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Stupid thin walls between greenroom and theatre; I wanted to scream in joy and I couldn't.<br />
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To make a long story short (TOO LATE)...Fast forward 16 years.<br />
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A local company is remounting a production, and are holding auditions: "MacBeth" set in the "Star Wars" universe.<br />
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Um, YES PLEASE!<br />
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If nothing else, I figure I can pick up the Lightsaber the director owes me from backing the Kickstarter from the original run. So I sign up for a slot, show up, do my Rosalind, speak the speech, swing a lightsaber in a fight, and head on my way home.<br />
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Then the e-mail comes in, and 13-year-old me screams in joy...<br />
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More to come as we go into rehearsals, but I cannot begin to say how excited I am to be a part of this production and working with this company. These are <a href="http://theatre.edgeoforion.com/">good folks</a>, and this is a great cast, and I am looking forward to helping transport the Bard to a galaxy far, far away...Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15546284197269130129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8149928195978572751.post-87533806730901167592014-08-24T15:23:00.000-07:002014-08-24T15:23:05.665-07:00Gen Con Day 2!<br />
So, long story long: I normally save the Copper Dragon for Saturday, but Wizards of the Coast forced me to change my plans (more on that later), so CD got all gussied up for Friday, including new experiment on scales (fishnet stockings, lip gloss, and iridescent eye shadow). Unfortunately, in the rush to get out of the hotel, I forgot my bag, which means, I forgot my camera. <div>
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Anyway, MOST of the day was spent walking the rest of the hall, but we did stop to play the winner of this year's Spiel des Jahres, or Game of the Year. </div>
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Camel Up is pretty adorable, though I can actually say I played all three nominees this year...</div>
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Camels. Racing.</div>
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There was the rest of the hall: a few more art prints, some pretty, shiny, pokey things, checking my phone to make sure the GPS wasn't on sucking power, but most of the focus was on the events that night...</div>
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Wizards of the Coast has been gearing up for the release of the new edition, Fifth, and the release of the first big adventure, Tyranny of Dragons. There were plans for a huge release party on Georgia Street, normally a hub of food trucks and the home to a very nice beer garden. Having wandered through earlier and seeing that our friend Liz Smith was working with the set-up company for the release party, I was truly excited. </div>
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And I was dressed as a polymorphed copper dragon. For the party. Yes, I am a nerd. </div>
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Steve had a company dinner with some of the higher-ups, so I wandered over to the tent to try and get a good position. It got crowded fast, and after hovering off to the side and watching them try to work a traffic flow, someone wrote out an exit only sign that I just grabbed and help and then used to help direct people. This put me into direct contact with Shelly Mazzanoble, author of the wonderful <a href="http://smile.amazon.com/Confessions-Part-time-Sorceress-Dungeons-Dragons/dp/0786947268/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1408916729&sr=8-1&keywords=confessions+of+a+part+time+sorceress">Confessions of a Part-time Sorceress</a> and the even better <a href="http://smile.amazon.com/Everything-Need-Learned-Dungeons-Dragons/dp/0786957751/ref=tmm_pap_title_0">Everything I Need To Know I Learned From Dungeons &Dragons</a>. Not to brag, but she and I kind of bonded. Very quickly.</div>
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NERD GIRLS UNITE!</div>
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So, other than the (and PLEASE forgive me for this) TOTALLY TYPICAL, ARCHETYPAL nerd "reviewer" who demanded to know if this was "seriously...really" the release party for Tyranny...no really, that was all he said...even after I said I was just helping the set-up company and had no official connection to WotC and hey dude my eyes are up here and are you really just going to keep rubbing the bridge of your nose and sighing without even saying what you have an issue with and hey how about you cut back on the chili-cheese fires and try a salad oh and maybe change your shirt...</div>
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Sorry, where was I...OH, right the release party that was turing into a huge success. They had a great improviser playing a legendary dragon relic "collector" who also happened to be an accomplished DJ, fun puzzles to help get people in the mood of the adventure, and some amazing props of from "Davian's" private collection. </div>
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Basically, Tiamat, the evil dragon goddess is trying to take over the world, and it is your job to stop her...One of the pieces she needed to make the "Mask of Tiamat" was the Blue Dragon mask that was guarded by the "very trust-worthy" guards hired by Davian. Yeah, not so much...</div>
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Yeah, you know, I just realized I left the stove on...</div>
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So, Steve and the others got back from diner and I got to hang out with all of the cool people. Chris Perkins. Rodney Thompson. Greg Bilsland. Keith Baker (who still remembers me and still loves that I am one of only two Eberon cos-players he has ever met...and that my husband I tried to run him over a few years ago). Oh, and the lecherous gentleman himself, Ed Greenwood. This guy is awesome. Like, "I ate my lunch off a lady" awesome. And he hit on me. In front of my husband. And I went with it and matched him innuendo for innuendo. And it was fantastic.</div>
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Now, the COOLEST part of the night was when they started giving out the prizes, because now I can talk about what Steve was called down to Indy early to sign. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpMiM7yNR8SuEW2FM6osxlnFHdBPt540Xt209CGxLuneub2lJq4UYNkSG9G3MxOM1quQo1hyxvZfV5QoArlKbCqTIcUxjrdYwpMBafSQrRwKeRgLxUN1Fx07wP-tdKhHdLtV5TQC6TgkfQ/s1600/IMG_2389.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpMiM7yNR8SuEW2FM6osxlnFHdBPt540Xt209CGxLuneub2lJq4UYNkSG9G3MxOM1quQo1hyxvZfV5QoArlKbCqTIcUxjrdYwpMBafSQrRwKeRgLxUN1Fx07wP-tdKhHdLtV5TQC6TgkfQ/s1600/IMG_2389.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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SCRIBBLE FASTER, MONKEYS! </div>
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(yeah, I took this picture Wednesday but could not release it until after the party)</div>
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Yeah, he was signing almost 300 copies of the 5E Monster Manual. That he helped write. Like, half of it. And people were winning a prize pack that included copies of this book that aren't even available until September. Of course, the fact that we had a copy back in our hotel room already was just icing.</div>
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Now, the loud music and lack of drinking water had caused both of us to have rather magnificent headaches, so once the prizes were handed out we said good night and headed back to the hotel.</div>
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Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15546284197269130129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8149928195978572751.post-85208534344121669042014-08-24T13:53:00.000-07:002014-08-24T13:53:20.186-07:00Gen Con! (Days 1...and 2, 3, and 4)They call Gen Con the Best Four Days in Gaming...this is true. But, as a friend pointed out to me, it is also the best Four Days in Sleep Deprivation.<br />
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You go with the best of intentions: you won't stay out late, you will get sleep, you won't watch the sun rise...and it all goes out the window that first day.<br />
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Sleeping is iffy.<br />
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Blogging is right out.<br />
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So, here I sit, ready to do a massive wrap up of an amazing time...<br />
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Let us begin...<br />
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THURSDAY<br />
Day One. The Kick Off. The Beginning. The Insanity. We managed to find decent parking not that far from the Con back behind Lucas Oil Field (pro-insiders tip: as long as there isn't a game it is less than 10 minutes from the hall and usually $10 all day).<br />
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I was trying to got to the class I had scheduled that morning at 11 AM, Introduction to Medieval Italian Longsword. Now, the SMART person would have taken advantage of the fact that the will call line was open 24-hours starting Wednesday and gone sometime before dinner the previous night, but I was not that smart, and the will call line was huge!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJsgCAmBZpitoCB34lEG9zyr99OXhi_mZjlbRorf6NUCAXDfxlm5uLEJS1xH6R27C8Mp_BTG2p0Pf0VcV8OQi9g80KXwcGySdcCq72w9zZunrA3hxG6fcoOmlNn2FXZYhgYUX-561Oljeh/s1600/IMG_2391.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJsgCAmBZpitoCB34lEG9zyr99OXhi_mZjlbRorf6NUCAXDfxlm5uLEJS1xH6R27C8Mp_BTG2p0Pf0VcV8OQi9g80KXwcGySdcCq72w9zZunrA3hxG6fcoOmlNn2FXZYhgYUX-561Oljeh/s1600/IMG_2391.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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The costumes just get cuter every year...</div>
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I had my e-mail confirmation, and, as the class was being taught by folks from the Chicago Swordplay Guild out of <a href="http://fortezafitness.com/">Forteza Fitness</a>, I figured I would be OK. The problem became that no one knew where the damn class was. Now, while wasting $2 is not the worst thing that could happen if I didn't go, I REALLY wanted to see how much I remembered from the Italian Longsword Class I took a few years ago with <a href="http://www.fightshop.org/index.html">R & D Choreography</a>. So, thank goodness for knowledgeable Gen Con info booths with smart phones. Yes, the class was all the way over at Union Station, but "all the way over" in Indy is less than 5 minutes at a brisk walk.<br />
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So, yes, I was a little late and, yes, there was an issue because I didn't have my actual ticket, but someone had a generic and I had cash, and it was a TON of fun re-learning how to kill people...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwoNdHRWwV7k9Uenj4yt548iMXnCEqzGN8MOgjjNeJ27oR8NdPBsQRE7DXar6MMCfb9xtyv9w-ZwRAlpk4uUGcAXtfQ-HrU_hN3bRG-XWK09_XwIITB1lgsDbBXOnSc9FI9LLaO1IMZQC0/s1600/IMG_2392.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwoNdHRWwV7k9Uenj4yt548iMXnCEqzGN8MOgjjNeJ27oR8NdPBsQRE7DXar6MMCfb9xtyv9w-ZwRAlpk4uUGcAXtfQ-HrU_hN3bRG-XWK09_XwIITB1lgsDbBXOnSc9FI9LLaO1IMZQC0/s1600/IMG_2392.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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So pretty...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAMkrs3O_Pd2Fnja6WARI6YjUjdQmixzAs6qB-loo_-w48gW5JwnDI9jNFw1AnlDIUbYHA4884Yz-3zKllyK59aP5JK1PULeCiybyDYQeCfPOZeW_TEVI-OjNwH6cnf0580J-3NrcD18kd/s1600/IMG_2394.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAMkrs3O_Pd2Fnja6WARI6YjUjdQmixzAs6qB-loo_-w48gW5JwnDI9jNFw1AnlDIUbYHA4884Yz-3zKllyK59aP5JK1PULeCiybyDYQeCfPOZeW_TEVI-OjNwH6cnf0580J-3NrcD18kd/s1600/IMG_2394.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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So pretty...</div>
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After that rousing good time, it was back to the hall, but then almost instantly out to lunch at that modern medieval tavern, Hooters. There is nothing classier than eating chicken wings in aelvin warrior outfit. </div>
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So, Gen Con has been hitting bigger every year, and the exhibitors' hall keeps growing to accomadate that. What used to take one day now takes about one and half. Steve and I started our journey through the hall, window shopping and enjoying the amazing sights to be seen. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil6pHgYjfNOntSowcqaYcVA8go9x26H-SEo-ewc-cpod1nUAs4Q5AAil4N09ULHnprDSW7u7id4eHuccU_WWXIx4HrLLBXcp2boC9pidmgnHkDJeze6kUWwSkNu9BcZtRa_rVJ-W8ODu0i/s1600/IMG_2396.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil6pHgYjfNOntSowcqaYcVA8go9x26H-SEo-ewc-cpod1nUAs4Q5AAil4N09ULHnprDSW7u7id4eHuccU_WWXIx4HrLLBXcp2boC9pidmgnHkDJeze6kUWwSkNu9BcZtRa_rVJ-W8ODu0i/s1600/IMG_2396.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizZXjf8GsXJDoxjRSJz39UUXhcEVR6J78rwMHWr9ltUtmxgoGLmdyWAYJEh_OLXyvtW0rSjwY_fX5pdwIMjea67NRCRKzMiPSu1AGmenZtaP8ZSFqn3ec2f9vgq1utl86HedxjOzDU3ZiT/s1600/IMG_2397.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizZXjf8GsXJDoxjRSJz39UUXhcEVR6J78rwMHWr9ltUtmxgoGLmdyWAYJEh_OLXyvtW0rSjwY_fX5pdwIMjea67NRCRKzMiPSu1AGmenZtaP8ZSFqn3ec2f9vgq1utl86HedxjOzDU3ZiT/s1600/IMG_2397.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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This also means stopping by the always amazing <a href="http://www.sasquatchgamestudio.com/">Sasquatch Games</a> and picking up copy of Primeval Thule, which you of course get signed by the authors, most of whom you are already friends with...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDWjSZqtXH-pAEiZEyVSuN0bDYizfqAOXzpHqUBEwSmoaXdbwp4RSth5rhIddfDmB3k9N-0gHGGLaDOb5vTHU5ZL7a2x1mm2WLXbJygxET1gsba83YV19ykIzFSM9GBwJ2Hm5wtAvFpCDi/s1600/IMG_2395.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDWjSZqtXH-pAEiZEyVSuN0bDYizfqAOXzpHqUBEwSmoaXdbwp4RSth5rhIddfDmB3k9N-0gHGGLaDOb5vTHU5ZL7a2x1mm2WLXbJygxET1gsba83YV19ykIzFSM9GBwJ2Hm5wtAvFpCDi/s1600/IMG_2395.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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In preparation for Saturday, I stopped by the <a href="http://www.timeless-trends.com/">Timeless Trends</a> booth, as the old corset for the Irene outfit was just getting painful to look at. As these are the people who provided me with the wonderful contraption that got me through "Sherlock", I just should have gone to then in the first place. Of course, not being able to work out for two months because you broke your wrist during one of the coldest winters in Chicago history isn't going to help much, either. </div>
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Nothing bought yet, I promised to stop back, and went to grab my phone to find out where Steve had gotten off to, only discover that the phone would...not...turn...on. Thank goodness the lovely folks at Sasquatch Games are SO cool, and then you keep you claws in your hubby for the rest of the day. </div>
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Realizing that doing the whole floor in one day was probably out, we made bee-line for the Artist Alley, as there was someone wanted to meet.</div>
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A few years ago, Steve worked on a very well received adventure, "Madness at Gardmore Abbey", which was preceded by another he worked on call "Siege at Gardmore Abbey." Here's the cover:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYuLM3MyYgmJ4Edz_nG8vTqlIsvC1Wi94E2ZcJ8c_ZSlb5VfIT639UkWr0tCY42K-B4DpwhRBu-QeCe2dtbiZqT1Nrhtme2JpwwYulyPbXSRKkz6RBYUob7ZwdzuAMuOlCAjt3peWMHtk/s1600/Red+Dragon+Attack_Horsley.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYuLM3MyYgmJ4Edz_nG8vTqlIsvC1Wi94E2ZcJ8c_ZSlb5VfIT639UkWr0tCY42K-B4DpwhRBu-QeCe2dtbiZqT1Nrhtme2JpwwYulyPbXSRKkz6RBYUob7ZwdzuAMuOlCAjt3peWMHtk/s1600/Red+Dragon+Attack_Horsley.jpg" height="320" width="252" /></a></div>
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Well, meeting the artist and introducing yourself and having the guy get excited to meet you back pretty much makes your Con...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2mBv_9CF6HfFCVH7nWk56YrEwE7VQKQY7XYSp46GcKcaLJ2RdPBEs6mAIb5lnpmD3HpGo5efPsUiExTQzFgJoMcU-N0UmCWgkqiWTHDeiS1xOzRKpLRlIfY0tNNhNgHZvT367rDNIjKvm/s1600/IMG_2399.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2mBv_9CF6HfFCVH7nWk56YrEwE7VQKQY7XYSp46GcKcaLJ2RdPBEs6mAIb5lnpmD3HpGo5efPsUiExTQzFgJoMcU-N0UmCWgkqiWTHDeiS1xOzRKpLRlIfY0tNNhNgHZvT367rDNIjKvm/s1600/IMG_2399.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Ladies and Gentlemen, <a href="http://www.ralphhorsley.co.uk/">Ralph Horsley</a>!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdskdq1I3NUXi9S7CNKmz1h_9Avp_EFzqEX4Ze19EnUYOTZt9oFyED-lDpqloIuGY6ZEGWYo8Qhn2l4giUnSfnEKkCMONls5Azyi4lwDMcybjNlx5Wbe1x7x7991DwjuU6l4___SzBlDJL/s1600/IMG_2398.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdskdq1I3NUXi9S7CNKmz1h_9Avp_EFzqEX4Ze19EnUYOTZt9oFyED-lDpqloIuGY6ZEGWYo8Qhn2l4giUnSfnEKkCMONls5Azyi4lwDMcybjNlx5Wbe1x7x7991DwjuU6l4___SzBlDJL/s1600/IMG_2398.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Yeah, he's pretty awesome.</div>
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So, we weren't done the the artwork yet. For years, Steve and I have been looking at the amazing artwork of Ms. <a href="http://www.echo-x.com/">Echo Chernik</a>. This woman does nouvea-Mucha that makes me DROOL. We have been specifically looking at her <a href="http://www.echo-gallery.com/category/70997951561/1/Goddesses-of-Cuisine.htm">Goddesses of Cuisine</a> set. This year, we just bit the bullet and did it. 12 prints. 1 bonus. Done.</div>
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Heading back to the car so we could change, we then wandered over and met up with Rob Schwalb, my husband's cohort on The Monster Manuel for 5E. We also got to hang out with Monte Cook and our friend, Shad. </div>
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We did dinner at The Ram, where we met up with Chicago Game designer Eric Simon, author of <a href="http://www.steamscapes.com/">Steamscapes</a>, for which Steve did a shorty story for flavor. Then, back to the hotel, and sleep. </div>
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Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15546284197269130129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8149928195978572751.post-24146328128532184162014-08-14T06:06:00.000-07:002014-08-14T06:06:18.045-07:00Gen Con: T-Minus 1 Day...well kinda...So, after a very long day, we all kinda got checked into the hotel and collapsed. So, this is being written on the 14, not the 13th...but whatever...<br />
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It was a day of happy reunions and much fun, as old friends joined us from the wilds of Tuscon...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-zoWAAaE0u-Y81_uGj4b4sQjOMyt_vhnUhhP4W96cvSS1ESrvgxS3hlLDD6gXlZ22IDFbQvn-kqaOmrob8I3JtV2eF_6ocEgiua0mHn5n-1OwdzWxIdBKm4bXaKa6jESnkC_QnXZ8wnGe/s1600/IMG_2372.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-zoWAAaE0u-Y81_uGj4b4sQjOMyt_vhnUhhP4W96cvSS1ESrvgxS3hlLDD6gXlZ22IDFbQvn-kqaOmrob8I3JtV2eF_6ocEgiua0mHn5n-1OwdzWxIdBKm4bXaKa6jESnkC_QnXZ8wnGe/s1600/IMG_2372.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Yes, those storm clouds look ominous. Fortunately, this time around, it was just some rain and not an air elemental trying to kill us while we huddled in a Starbucks.</div>
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Getting to Indy before a certain time had become imperative as Steve had gotten an e-mail asking to attend an event: a book signing.</div>
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That's right. My hubby was being asked to be part of a book signing. Due to NDAs, I cannot tell you what he was signing, as it was not a public come up and smile sappily at the author and tell him how awesome he is as you meekly hand over your well worn copy of the book and ask him to sign it please and oh goodness how much you enjoy his stories...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXOZy5ncUCqUPBWBOhVJFCKJqVac7NxFoRZkI-xUIip9E-REYTne6Al2eFfig017UxF6N5YZYX_nCTuU8GyS2fbc78RAnL3zprRa1voQiJiu5KtohQFKXGQ_c0u71FqiE2Dpl3GVj9i_-a/s1600/IMG_2381.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXOZy5ncUCqUPBWBOhVJFCKJqVac7NxFoRZkI-xUIip9E-REYTne6Al2eFfig017UxF6N5YZYX_nCTuU8GyS2fbc78RAnL3zprRa1voQiJiu5KtohQFKXGQ_c0u71FqiE2Dpl3GVj9i_-a/s1600/IMG_2381.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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This is me, being proud...yes, I know, I question my sanity sometimes...</div>
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Um, sorry, where was I?</div>
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RIGHT! On the road to Indy....</div>
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Blowing into town with time to spare, we got Steve's badge and headed to Hall D where the signing was to take place. We ran into Rob Schwalb, and, well, things just went downhill from there...</div>
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NSFW.</div>
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No, seriously, remove all children under the age of 13 from the room.</div>
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Alright, you have been warned.</div>
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Nice pus...I mean, kitty...</div>
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Steve has NEVER forgiven himself for introducing me to these books...</div>
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So, as I said, the signing turned out to be a bunch of the WotC guys stuck in a little curtained off area signing books until their hands bled. While they were doing that, I wandered around the Wizard play are to see what interesting things I could see...</div>
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Sweet Lich Queen.</div>
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Aww, thanks guys!</div>
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COPPER DRAGON! COPPER DRAGON!</div>
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Afterwards, we waiting out the frantic scrabbling and signing by playing a few games of Aquarius.<br />
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This is the dawning of the age of...</div>
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Drinks at the Cadillac Palace (I WAS TWO FEET FROM WIL WHEATON! GAHHHHH!!! 12 year old me was fan girl freaking out!!!) were followed by a late night dinner at Steak and Shake, and then a weary trek to our hotel where sleep was the only option...</div>
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ONWARD INTO THE CON!!!</div>
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Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15546284197269130129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8149928195978572751.post-9274911670981937482014-08-12T18:10:00.002-07:002014-08-12T18:10:44.764-07:00Gen Con 2014: T-minus 2 days...So, here we are. For the first time in many a year, I am able to do all four days of one of the largest gaming gatherings in the country. And I am pumped. Not only do I not have to fight to get the days off, I HAVE the days off.<br />
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Of course, there are some who are not happy about my leaving...<br />
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The weekend has already started, in a way, as LAST NIGHT was spent with the travelers from the west, those who traveled on what is known as "The Game Train", when Wizards of the Coast's best and brightest...</div>
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Yeah, OK, look, there was ALOT of tapas eaten...and a lot of nerd talk...and they jab been on a train for two days...and it was late...</div>
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Anyway, there is still a little packing to do, but I wanted to give a shout out to all of my friends who Cosplay...because this is looking a little daunting to get packed and I'm not even doing that much...so respect, ladies and gents...</div>
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Yikes.</div>
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Alright peeps I will see a bunch of you in Indy...</div>
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LET'S DO THIS THING!</div>
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Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15546284197269130129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8149928195978572751.post-23485523239158970882013-03-30T19:29:00.000-07:002013-03-30T19:29:01.246-07:00ITALY 2013-DAY 8!
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<br />
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After getting home safely through traffic and fog, everyone
was kind of OK with just hanging out at the Villa for the morning. We had all
decided that it would be Aquapendente for dinner. This is actually the town
closest to the villa, and we even thought we had found a good restaurant to
visit. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After finding parking in the center of the town we wandered
around another Italian town that seems to have almost stopped in time. We did a
bit more shopping and wandering. There
was a leather shop that opened just as we got there after the guy had come back
from a café break. There was the café that had Amaretto Coffee drinks. There
was a lovey church and cobblestone paved streets, and a fountain that looked
like it hadn’t changed since Roman times. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6wQ2eW-bPs4TY_XruA1MH7k-ooA0l3UJwJywRsxT7qOPKGFkUrsVkjj3qZNglKuvPTuVZm0GXiUR5R5jZDjMp0_SAyS3zxEwwnrvmUuYUgwFgeig8ywIyS-cHC23_thVGfnjbihRN5DxS/s1600/IMG_1935.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6wQ2eW-bPs4TY_XruA1MH7k-ooA0l3UJwJywRsxT7qOPKGFkUrsVkjj3qZNglKuvPTuVZm0GXiUR5R5jZDjMp0_SAyS3zxEwwnrvmUuYUgwFgeig8ywIyS-cHC23_thVGfnjbihRN5DxS/s1600/IMG_1935.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrMlukamLygvsSk4MmapBQldzG9KNpBM658B8gWtCBb5mZqb-EfNMcndMsS32G85_PQXnjtUJlUCADHP_50nCwul2v8ckIThd0QjL2cGCz1dK3FDaYnQ6pxNrv3Gz9ATHE14FYK6C7qwyn/s1600/IMG_1944.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrMlukamLygvsSk4MmapBQldzG9KNpBM658B8gWtCBb5mZqb-EfNMcndMsS32G85_PQXnjtUJlUCADHP_50nCwul2v8ckIThd0QjL2cGCz1dK3FDaYnQ6pxNrv3Gz9ATHE14FYK6C7qwyn/s1600/IMG_1944.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
We wandered over to restaurant to see if they were open yet
(it was close to 6:00 PM) and were told that it didn’t open until 8:00 PM. We
tried to find out if something else was open, but on Italy time most
restaurants don’t open for dinner until 7:00 PM. We found a small bakery shop
and planned to take a break until the restaurant opened. While waiting, we fell
into a conversation with a woman sitting next to us, We asked if she knew any
other good restaurants in the city. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She said she owned the best in Aquapendente.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Tristan and I walked with her to check the place out and
instantly fell in love.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We ended up having one of the best meal of the trip in a
building that used to be a stable and was REALLY old. There was an actual
spring from the wall. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW1_0tFKNDtHp5m6bK0abk9py3PqAfSquThnO-QL79K4RNirNrKCU6-rs7U0_PDFRmMqOF0XhQK9_V8eunIKBPUiY6mI_5Bp76P5Wa2NMORcgiseg7CCCxAanUkvvAsAn5FT8EPKN29lhI/s1600/IMG_1952.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW1_0tFKNDtHp5m6bK0abk9py3PqAfSquThnO-QL79K4RNirNrKCU6-rs7U0_PDFRmMqOF0XhQK9_V8eunIKBPUiY6mI_5Bp76P5Wa2NMORcgiseg7CCCxAanUkvvAsAn5FT8EPKN29lhI/s1600/IMG_1952.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjErpGIu3YbGWqSSl6NGvPpj__nJ75A9-edlIQqsfIe7ohOiPmERO7lvZTefwC4IfAE-K28e4xhU5q0PmoO1zL9RM5iLBKwL4zkA9dzWICS2IiGvlcl_opI5MlBcxQqji-LgiauAjnwEyOK/s1600/IMG_1954.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjErpGIu3YbGWqSSl6NGvPpj__nJ75A9-edlIQqsfIe7ohOiPmERO7lvZTefwC4IfAE-K28e4xhU5q0PmoO1zL9RM5iLBKwL4zkA9dzWICS2IiGvlcl_opI5MlBcxQqji-LgiauAjnwEyOK/s1600/IMG_1954.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The chef was British who had followed his girlfriend to
Florence and then stayed in Italy when she decided to go to Toronto. He helped
us with the menu and wine selection, and we had a truly amazing final night.
Melanie bought some of the wine we had with dinner and we gorged on pasta,
meat, and deserts. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAUdW08-ZGDt6G6KcB6CH2E1NTk1Uwa0b0zgh69o3HDXhW-CCE2LPy4ab0RDRhtaz9Vygdqgu8rkhaRTNv-Z0H7vHcvqY9A-ysBY3caiwkTv85JAR0Tjn1CAORn-RowItWYoIZvTOeSSNY/s1600/IMG_1955.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAUdW08-ZGDt6G6KcB6CH2E1NTk1Uwa0b0zgh69o3HDXhW-CCE2LPy4ab0RDRhtaz9Vygdqgu8rkhaRTNv-Z0H7vHcvqY9A-ysBY3caiwkTv85JAR0Tjn1CAORn-RowItWYoIZvTOeSSNY/s1600/IMG_1955.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />
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<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEgewfQLHuxN6Z4TJJ6C_aWXjnE0qYIdnlLNexnC1NmMOKqpTX5RylGIDqNvH65Uq4_gMKxogKMDNZbP_YP6Xz-vBO6cC2Kg7y1Nm3krCDz-AAlEYIoEazpE3HDlVxrmBndVOSgnpkQkEG/s1600/IMG_1962.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEgewfQLHuxN6Z4TJJ6C_aWXjnE0qYIdnlLNexnC1NmMOKqpTX5RylGIDqNvH65Uq4_gMKxogKMDNZbP_YP6Xz-vBO6cC2Kg7y1Nm3krCDz-AAlEYIoEazpE3HDlVxrmBndVOSgnpkQkEG/s1600/IMG_1962.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Steve and Fiona MAY have gotten into a fight over the desserts...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It was a great final dinner and we had a great time.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
However, just to make sure we hadn’t forgotten the lessons
of the first part of the trip, we came out to where we had parked to discover
that we must have read the parking meters incorrectly, and both cars had
parking tickets.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Well, it had to be something.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We had to get up early to make sure that we get our flight,
so it is off to bed…for about 4 hours of sleep…and some more very tight connections...<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
(cue ominous music now)</div>
<!--EndFragment-->Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15546284197269130129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8149928195978572751.post-42369599498891518362013-03-29T16:02:00.000-07:002013-03-29T16:02:26.435-07:00ITALY 2013-DAY 7!<br />
March 28th-Pompeii<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
After a night on surprisingly comfortable beds, we awoke to a rainy sky that followed us most of the way south. However, as we neared Pompeii, the skies slowly cleared and the sun came out.<br />
<br />
Finding Pompeii the site is pretty easy, and surprisingly, there is STREET PARKING! You don't realize how close you are to the old city until you walk up to one of the gates and it is RIGHT there.<br />
<br />
We entered first neat the amphitheater, which is one of the better preserved (or most reconstructed buildings) in the city. It is pretty solid, so I am guessing the latter. The place is no Coliseum, but it certainly was an impressive sight.<br />
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Next to the stadium was a working vineyard that they managed to build to almost exactly the way it was in 79 AD, down to the placement of the vines. In the heyday of the town, the vineyard would sell wine to spectators on their way to the games at the amphitheater so they could get roaring drunk and watch massacres...<br />
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...so, you know, just like Wrigley Field on a Cub's Game Day.<br />
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They are making wine again, though we weren't able to walk through the site.<br />
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We moved up and around the outskirts, where the city walls would have been, and then turned into the town proper. It was here that things get freaky and you start to realize how much of a town this was, and how much is still (relatively) well preserved. While some of the roads and sites were closed (as this is a still an active archaeological dig site and some buildings require stabilizing every so often, as well as consistent re-construction and cleaning) there were still plenty to wander around in. </div>
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The first major place that we hit was the Casa di Cecilio Giocondo. It was my first up close look at how wonderfully preserved some of these houses were.<br />
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The next major stop was the Terme Stabinae, or the Baths. These are seriously impressive, and kind of gives you the impression of how rich this town was.</div>
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The baths also included our first look at perhaps that most startling evidence of how fast the city was destroyed:<br />
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It is very unsettling to see the plaster casts of the bodies, so perfectly caught that you can see their expressions. There was a wave of sadness that just sweeps over you as you can't but feel the terror that you see on their faces.</div>
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Wandering through the forum brought us too a shed where they store most of the items they have found as they continue the excavation. Amphorae, wagons, tables, statues, and all of it in amazing condition.</div>
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And of course...</div>
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These are two of the saddest figures I saw while we are there. The figures speak for themselves.</div>
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After a quick bite, we moved on to some lighter fair at the Casa del Fauno, perhaps one the most famous houses in Pompeii, notable for its courtyard namesake...</div>
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Winding our way back to the Forum, we stopped in the Macellum, where there was both incredible beauty and incredible horror...</div>
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We stopped into the Basilica, where Fiona demanded worship...</div>
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Next it was over to the Temple of Apollo, from which we could see the clouds had cleared away from Vesuvius, leaving it looking deceptively calm in the background...</div>
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Next up, it seemed only appropriate that we go visit the home of the world's oldest profession, that just happened to have some of the best preserved imagery in the whole of the city.</div>
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Yup.</div>
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Next, for my actor friends, I have these questions: How would you like this as your entry?</div>
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And this as your lobby?</div>
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And this as your stage?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp_dcw1ZPn0lMXovcmXjbYxw2btcv5PV8a7gQbku_GLEme2hrr9HEzw6xM6VXXeheITSyFC60w3rGeHIt0cR3fen4DgbDW9C5GSyPLbUXGsJIilnvwZSgCOiCD4hFDFtenelqBsyXFWOhp/s1600/IMG_0890.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp_dcw1ZPn0lMXovcmXjbYxw2btcv5PV8a7gQbku_GLEme2hrr9HEzw6xM6VXXeheITSyFC60w3rGeHIt0cR3fen4DgbDW9C5GSyPLbUXGsJIilnvwZSgCOiCD4hFDFtenelqBsyXFWOhp/s1600/IMG_0890.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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It was a huge thrill to be standing SO close to the birth of theatre. They have actually made major steps in restoring the larger of the two theatres since Steve was here in 2007, and have brought it inching closer to what it might have looked like 2000 years ago. The acoustics are pretty damn near perfect, and I got chills as I got to do something that I have been wanting to do since this trip was finalized: do Shakespeare on a Roman stage.</div>
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It. Was. Awesome.</div>
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The citizens had the luxury of also having a smaller, "black box' theatre:</div>
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By this point it was getting closer to closing time, so we tried to see into as many houses as possible, walking into the "fast food" places with their grills empty and mills waiting for more grain, and the wall still showing the what must have been painstakingly made artwork that the citizens of this town must have enjoyed...</div>
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Unfortunately, the Villa that Steve REALLY wanted us to see was closed for restoration, but our feet were killing us and so we made our way out of the silent city and started to head toward Naples for diner.</div>
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Let me just say this: all of the horrors of the early part of this journey, from the delayed flights to the missed connections to the lost luggage to the closed roads...PALED in comparison the HORROR that was trying to get around the City of Naples. I give you all this warning now: I don't care how good you have heard the food is, or how pretty the castle...</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">DO NOT GO TO NAPLES! IT ISN'T WORTH YOUR LIFE!</span></div>
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After 20 minutes of just trying to get downtown, we texted the other car with what was basically a "Fly, you fools" message, and then spent the next thirty minutes dealing with Psychotic Suicidal Sociopaths as we tried to get out of the city. </div>
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I swear I saw my life flash in front of my eyes at least twice.</div>
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I have never been so grateful to be on windy mountain roads in my life. Even those SMOTHERED in fog as ours were trying to get home that night. </div>
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We made it back safely and went through two bottles of wine and then fell in to bed, looking forward to a chill final day.</div>
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Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15546284197269130129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8149928195978572751.post-56276771224093456842013-03-29T05:03:00.001-07:002013-03-29T05:06:56.077-07:00ITALY 2013-DAY 6!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
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March 27, 2013-ROME</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
So, after what may be our first “real” night of sleep
(i.e.-to bed at a decent hour and up at a decent hour) we got ready to head on
out to Rome. We did get a late start due to slept-thru alarms and
food-splitting and caretakers arriving, but then it was off to ROME!<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The drive was actually not that bad, and driving through
Italy is never boring. We made it into the city and found parking near our
hotel. After they let us check in early (our rooms were suddenly cleaned and
available after the offered to hold our bags so we could walk around and we
presented them with six pieces of luggage), we popped open maps and starting
making our way toward old Rome. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You know how Wrigley Field is kind of just plopped in the
middle of the city? Take that, multiply it by 10, and you will have the
Coliseum.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyMkAvzWzUaffXS5H0HNaE8YoVoDHHxwWNqSB5_yIXIi5MqC7tqUQlIGUru2FsDS3VmEcYQuNi46godTIXrDkcDA9zHoD0CPCm_NUnGIfuVFoZLCw55F4sIY9yE00Zi7Y5ciwBjc6o-Owx/s1600/IMG_1747.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyMkAvzWzUaffXS5H0HNaE8YoVoDHHxwWNqSB5_yIXIi5MqC7tqUQlIGUru2FsDS3VmEcYQuNi46godTIXrDkcDA9zHoD0CPCm_NUnGIfuVFoZLCw55F4sIY9yE00Zi7Y5ciwBjc6o-Owx/s1600/IMG_1747.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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You are just walking down a street, you look up, and there
it is. There is no way to describe how IMMENSE this place really is. Even after
time and earthquakes and marauding builders who stripped the marble and some of
the stone away (which, we learned, is why so few buildings in Rome are intact:
medieval builders stole many of the stones to make other buildings), it is
still one impressive structure. The line to get in was rather long, so we
decided to just walk around, and that was enough.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLJGaFXWK2Vv2sS8fTeu2l5-UByOlBskWJ7Tir1tUNfvzchP1m5b4w2Bn_cS-oOjrFQ2QCJ7kmoVLbIneJrEC4DmSFB_CBbIAyYoGak_GcV4i8VPB7Wr29VyeRMOKgs2VZGX26kZ4CC0F7/s1600/IMG_1752.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLJGaFXWK2Vv2sS8fTeu2l5-UByOlBskWJ7Tir1tUNfvzchP1m5b4w2Bn_cS-oOjrFQ2QCJ7kmoVLbIneJrEC4DmSFB_CBbIAyYoGak_GcV4i8VPB7Wr29VyeRMOKgs2VZGX26kZ4CC0F7/s1600/IMG_1752.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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Next, it was up the street to the entrance to the Forum and
Palatine Hill. Again, (to nerd quote) “much of once was, is now lost”, but for
something that was a cow field until (relatively) recently, it is still pretty
impressive. They have tried to clear away and excavate and put stones back in
place so that you have some idea of what it looked like back in the heyday of
the Republic and Imperial (?) period. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjICGeLi9Rj1awWPo_QFaTJBE3SdlFt3dddBuU9o_PBTZcY79DQXnRvvVIq2zIFHWhVldTAWY56QeYS1gmD1o-aEwkf2zo4xZ6k_Pta6MJSk_nTm5B808BqAgn-zgxZ_ckajCuMHZ5JgNLy/s1600/IMG_1764.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjICGeLi9Rj1awWPo_QFaTJBE3SdlFt3dddBuU9o_PBTZcY79DQXnRvvVIq2zIFHWhVldTAWY56QeYS1gmD1o-aEwkf2zo4xZ6k_Pta6MJSk_nTm5B808BqAgn-zgxZ_ckajCuMHZ5JgNLy/s1600/IMG_1764.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaIZAQpz5W08tqoOUDGmGD9FkO-SfBPboBKvzJHGG1-R7v4JsJPQ372Anx2nfirNJu6I4pYmK8JUoYFIXUev0mg9EOPVtDpE9J5naTmNruyykAFao4rgrrHw4-rYJbj7fueJ92bTvNBC5x/s1600/IMG_1778.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaIZAQpz5W08tqoOUDGmGD9FkO-SfBPboBKvzJHGG1-R7v4JsJPQ372Anx2nfirNJu6I4pYmK8JUoYFIXUev0mg9EOPVtDpE9J5naTmNruyykAFao4rgrrHw4-rYJbj7fueJ92bTvNBC5x/s1600/IMG_1778.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_99RYQs8lU58sKzpXGkC3XNK_-TL_X14opoGUw7GuHpIpSumb694aLPaX6b3M24EmlUIlXFDdiLews_dNqZQbC6FHR7XnoO8E5dGM3t65tukPxM55osZtpnzWZX55QksoOV-79q3CUHfN/s1600/IMG_1765.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_99RYQs8lU58sKzpXGkC3XNK_-TL_X14opoGUw7GuHpIpSumb694aLPaX6b3M24EmlUIlXFDdiLews_dNqZQbC6FHR7XnoO8E5dGM3t65tukPxM55osZtpnzWZX55QksoOV-79q3CUHfN/s1600/IMG_1765.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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The Temple of Saturn alone is enough to
inspire envy...</div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnBqx9c9ChEWUF5l1STqG7E4WH7iLSkKM2yZpza2q0AhaqRoRQUGOrsjsEVfEbJfERAjEChqzU5QGCcspfchKQK8TwStNLx5db2qwhZZwc-KfIAl-twPQTM5N85Kk_BY9VB9y73U2sIL-F/s1600/IMG_1780.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnBqx9c9ChEWUF5l1STqG7E4WH7iLSkKM2yZpza2q0AhaqRoRQUGOrsjsEVfEbJfERAjEChqzU5QGCcspfchKQK8TwStNLx5db2qwhZZwc-KfIAl-twPQTM5N85Kk_BY9VB9y73U2sIL-F/s1600/IMG_1780.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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...and it is rather cool to see where Julius Caesar was cremated
(though not stabbed; despite what Shakespeare would have us believe it did not
happen on the floor of the Senate) and then worshipped in a TEMPLE built by his
nephew and heir (seriously, the scale of the thing puts Daley Plaza to shame). <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Some of the areas are closed as they are shoring them up and
doing further excavations (so much of the new city was built on top of the new
city so it can get a bit tricky). The
Palatine Hill is the same way, as they are slowly peeling away layers to reveal
the houses of the rich and royal Romans that decided they wanted to live above
the mob. The drawings that can still be seen on the walls of the House of
Augustus are beautiful. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfP4HN7DuMDOg26uDbZbkI7CvIStevHhXLXFpn02d8OoYobLUSwzHwHnmoSu2Q38Mi6bGJc87d4jrewghvdegnq5Vf_YV252g8J7R-fqZWoFeR7jln1qJ3tDj221zbf9c8pUAoIwgUDfBK/s1600/IMG_1802.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfP4HN7DuMDOg26uDbZbkI7CvIStevHhXLXFpn02d8OoYobLUSwzHwHnmoSu2Q38Mi6bGJc87d4jrewghvdegnq5Vf_YV252g8J7R-fqZWoFeR7jln1qJ3tDj221zbf9c8pUAoIwgUDfBK/s1600/IMG_1802.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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</div>
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<br /></div>
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The view from the top of the Palatine was breathtaking, and
in the distance was the Basilica of St. Peter. I waved to the new Pope.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Coming down from the Palatine Hill we walked back around the
ruins and up past the Monument to Victor Emmanuelle. The thing looks like a giant
wedding cake and might just be the size of the Daley Center. It is there to
honor that one man, but considering it is honoring the man who united the
entire country (and also holds their Tomb of the Unknown Soldier), I guess it
might be worth it.</div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The next stop was a little more…interesting to find as the
map from the hotel had buildings drawn on it, but everything was “facing front”
as opposed to being oriented as they actually were. That meant we got slightly turned around, and
the fact that the street we needed to be on was under construction didn’t help.
<o:p></o:p></div>
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Eventually, we found the Plaza de Gesu and the lead church
of the Society of Jesus: The Jesuits! (GO LOYOLA!)<o:p></o:p></div>
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I will admit, though I am not a Catholic, ever since the new
Pope was announced and I found out he was a Jesuit (a first), I started
researching about the order more. This was the group that gave me the education
that I am VERY proud of, and I was excited to see their “base” in Rome. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The church is VERY impressive. If we weren’t going to St.
Peter’s, this was a lovely stand-in. It was incredible to see the original
Madonna della Strada. </div>
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The ceiling of the building is perhaps one of the best
parts: instead of a painting outlined by the gold-gilt work of scrolls and
cherubs, the painting flows out past that onto the ceiling as if the picture
was exploding from its confines and borders. They have a huge mirror set up so
you can actually look at the ceiling without craning your neck.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I went to check out what was next door while some of the
others found a bathroom, and discovered that it was the apartments for the
local Jesuit priests, but it also included the rooms where St. Ignatius spent
the last few years of his life. I wish I hadn’t been so rushed, but I did get
to see his rooms and some of his books and paper work, including the Papal Bull
that authorized the order.<o:p></o:p></div>
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On to the Pantheon, one of the few (if not the ONLY) ancient
structures that still stands. The dome looms above you and makes for an
impressive structure that shows you what people could do back then. <o:p></o:p></div>
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At the Plazza Nuovo, we saw the Fountain of the Four Rivers
and all the stands of STUFF. I stuffed my face with pasta with lobster and then
snagged three gorgeous scarves for practically nothing. As we were exiting the
plaza, we spotted a toy store with a huge, many-headed, moving dragon in the
window that drew all of us inside (yes, we are all nerds).</div>
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It was there
that I found two more masks (I had
already snagged a copper one at the Coliseum): a green and silver feathered
one, and a black filigree with crystals that became my Birthday Gift from
Steve. YAY!<o:p></o:p></div>
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We moved toward the river and past the Mausoleum of Augustus,
long since looted of the golden urns that once held the ashes of many an
Emperor, but still huge and imposing in the night. The Plazza de Popolo was
quiet for a Roman plaza, but had a huge obelisk from the 13<sup>th</sup>
Century BC in the center. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Winding our way up, up, and up, we reached the Medici Palace
(closed), but the Spanish Steps are always open, and provide one heck of a
view. </div>
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Going down is exciting in more ways than one, and not something I would
like to try in the rain. <o:p></o:p></div>
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We found a gelato shop that did more pieces of art than just
scoops of gelato. <o:p></o:p></div>
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So, there is NOTHING like the Trevi Fountain. Caesar’s
Palace can try, but the actual thing is amazing, and it is particularly lovely
at night when it is lit up. <o:p></o:p></div>
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At this point, we had seen what we needed to see and our
feet were about to rebel against us, so we trudged back to the hotel and
collapsed into our very nice beds, to dream of volcanoes and ancient disasters…<o:p></o:p></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15546284197269130129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8149928195978572751.post-65937615407769946182013-03-29T02:02:00.002-07:002013-03-29T02:02:43.505-07:00ITALY 2013-DAY 5!
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March 26<sup>th-</sup>San Casciani Dei Bagni</div>
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Well, the fact none of us were very tired when we got back
from Florence meant for a VERY late night and a very late morning. We did all
eventually get up and get breakfast in our stomach, and then it was off to find
San Casciano dei Bagni. We wound our way back through the hills to this lovely medieval
town that seems almost frozen in time. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4uFrXGCUI0-4U3PxHZZh6SxKTGS_LzJQb9lSgY34PHqzv_6zNIXkDlzMDHC38aB40w8MX7nzGqL2OJ7u6FA2ETb1UKzR1xzqsTnIAd3kGizSVS7n79QhyIS_dJqUP00onXm-y2diaj5rs/s1600/IMG_1716.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4uFrXGCUI0-4U3PxHZZh6SxKTGS_LzJQb9lSgY34PHqzv_6zNIXkDlzMDHC38aB40w8MX7nzGqL2OJ7u6FA2ETb1UKzR1xzqsTnIAd3kGizSVS7n79QhyIS_dJqUP00onXm-y2diaj5rs/s1600/IMG_1716.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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Apparently, the town is known for their hot springs even
today, and is one of those sleepy Italian towns that has held up very
well. The castle still stands, looming
over the rest of the town, but you can’t tour it…because people live in
it. We stared at the base of the hill
and moved up into something out of a D&D game. Narrow alleys would pop open
into mini plazas with ancient doors and overhanging balconies.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPRuuA0AwB_UoGaK-V8vWtZUFrEs7VSSS_HDyh0vZ6F-iTfnDSFXFeqN_TH_sjdcSE-JI0flH7YVPnHres9ZAyrz6T2eXaGc1UqtvhhdAxuiewmwi64gJaaUZuBQqDAJUIPSNUAYC4SsjM/s1600/IMG_1725.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPRuuA0AwB_UoGaK-V8vWtZUFrEs7VSSS_HDyh0vZ6F-iTfnDSFXFeqN_TH_sjdcSE-JI0flH7YVPnHres9ZAyrz6T2eXaGc1UqtvhhdAxuiewmwi64gJaaUZuBQqDAJUIPSNUAYC4SsjM/s1600/IMG_1725.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW3yJifTeAnmA9UjyDShJcRtsqYplnEmuoWxWR6He1wLGeCOyjxLCS_oM1P2SjK0s3Hu5g6UzR8sfaETGCHNbWsVrxfkNwJxucaPU3lJME3UWJkT1mLZJtPqkVwcU4joBHAidifLrOQBZ3/s1600/IMG_1718.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW3yJifTeAnmA9UjyDShJcRtsqYplnEmuoWxWR6He1wLGeCOyjxLCS_oM1P2SjK0s3Hu5g6UzR8sfaETGCHNbWsVrxfkNwJxucaPU3lJME3UWJkT1mLZJtPqkVwcU4joBHAidifLrOQBZ3/s1600/IMG_1718.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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We hit the town just at the end of the afternoon break, so
the stores were just opening back up. Bakeries and cafes and other stores
slowly opened up and started wafting smells out into the streets. There was an
AMAZING jewelry store that had some rather incredible pieces of which I did not
partake in, but others did. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The church was stuffed into the middle of the town, and had
that atmosphere of such imposing peace that you couldn’t but help and be quiet
when you entered. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I wandered alone by myself for a bit, and found some of the
many feral cats that populate the towns of Italy. This friendly boy immediately
came up and not only demanded pats, but also snuggles as when I sat down to
rest, he crawled into my lap and started purring.<o:p></o:p></div>
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It made me miss my own kittens both more and less. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The weather had been spotty all morning, and then as we were
deciding what to do about dinner, it started to pour! Taking refuge in the
“gift shop”, it started to hail. Like, badly. </div>
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It was fun to watch it all roll
down out of the down in a white mush, but walking up to the bar where we took
refuge before the restaurant we wanted to eat at was open was a bit of an
adventure. It was well worth it, as we
discovered the same woman who owned the bar also owned the restaurant AND a
meat/cheese/wine shop just a few steps away.
Daniela took very good care of us, and it turns out that she knows the
owner of the villa where we are staying, as he often comes to eat in the town
when he is in Italy. <o:p></o:p></div>
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After stuffing ourselves yet again, we made our way
carefully back to the cars and drove away, having missed the hot springs, but
knowing that we therefore had am excuse to come back. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Back at the Villa, we built a fire to warm up (the
temperature DROPS at night up in the hills) and discovered there were some
cheap hotel options for Rome…so we are off the city that all roads lead too!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15546284197269130129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8149928195978572751.post-14144952643136522832013-03-26T05:33:00.002-07:002013-03-26T05:33:52.641-07:00ITALY 2013-DAY 4!March 25th-FLORENCE<div>
(well, actually the 26th, but for the 25th)</div>
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So after sleeping in real beds for more than 5 hours for the first time in about three days...we got our butts out of bed, prayed to the travel gods, and got on the road to Florence. </div>
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Discovering how to avoid the road block lead us through some lovely countryside, including taking us past a lovely town by the name of <span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">San Casciano Dei Bagni.</span></div>
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The place has HOT SPRINGS!</div>
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Into to Florence we went, with such inspiring exchanges as:</div>
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"Well, we made it by the seat of our pants."</div>
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"But some of us don't even HAVE pants!"</div>
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and</div>
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"This is like the Wilmette of Florence."</div>
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"Yeah, you don't get much older money than this."</div>
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"Egypt."</div>
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"(pause)...Good Point." </div>
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We found our way back to the same garage that we had found before and started walking around, but didn't get to do so for too long as we had to head get back to the airport before 8:00 to (HOPEFULLY) get our luggage. We split up, with half of us staying in Florence and the other half taking the paper work and crossing our fingers and getting to the airport. We got to the lost and found...</div>
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Reunions are a lovely thing!</div>
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After finding our way back to the same parking garage, we wound our way to a LOVELY Trattoria that proceeded to let us stuff our faces on wine, cheese, pizza, and pasta. </div>
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After that we wound our way to Santa Maria de Novella...</div>
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...and the lovely Gelatto store that was across the plaza. </div>
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After stuffing our faces yet again with yummy goodness, we followed the winding streets to a seriously impressive site...</div>
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Pictures and words do not do the Duomo justice. The size alone is enough to boggle the mind, but when you get up close and see the DETAIL that went into EVERY PART of this church, and then think about when it was constructed, you have to stand in awe. </div>
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I am not even joking, but it reminds you of what humans can do when they get together, pool their knowledge and resources, and work together to create something beautiful that will last...</div>
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The Duomo is lovely during the day, but I think it is even better at night. The crowds are MUCH smaller, and even though the structure itself is closed, they have it lit in such a way that it practically glows in the night.</div>
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We were walking around the structure when Tristan saw a still-open leather shop and dashed inside. We all followed to try and stop him from doing something foolish...</div>
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...and may or may not have ended up making these guys' night. Oh hell, we probably made their week. This is the good stuff, handmade italian leather, and at RELATIVELY reasonable prices. There was a handmade white leather coat...with a white fox collar...and HAND-STITCHED accents...with real white-gold thread...that fit me like a glove...that was only 1,700 Euro. </div>
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I came THIS CLOSE! (I'm pretty sure it wouldn't have made it through a Chicago winter)</div>
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We wandered around to the Medici church and palace, which is probably better during the day, but it does remind you of the amount of power that this family help for a VERY long time.</div>
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Winding our way back to the cars and back onto the A1, we found our way back to the Villa, passing deer and GIANT rabbits and the even more beautiful at night <span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">San Casciano Dei Bagni, </span>then home to the villa where, despite the late hour, we were so excited from the day and have CLOTHES that we stayed up talking and unpacking for a while. Now, we look toward another lovely day wandering around this country side and seeing what we can see!</div>
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CIAO! </div>
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Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15546284197269130129noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8149928195978572751.post-49294702803560191122013-03-24T14:00:00.001-07:002013-03-24T14:00:20.691-07:00ITALY 2013-DAY 3!March 24th...<br />
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SO, the good the news is...WE'RE HERE! We are at the Villa. We got here.<br />
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The bad news...<br />
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Oh, where do I start...<br />
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Getting on the plane in Vienna to go to Zurich was a bit of an adventure. The jerk at the counter, despite the fact that the flight was about 25% full and they had made no indication to us when they booked the new flights, INSISTED that we had to check our bags and that they would meet us...IN FLORENCE. After we all threw a fit, he kinda threw it onto the airplane crew. I ran down the gang plank and talked to the lead flight attendant who, when I explained what the issue was and what the guy up at the desk was saying, looked at me and said "Of course that isn't a problem. We aren't full and have plenty of space, get on board."<br />
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So, the hotel in Zurich was actually quite nice. We absorbed the diner they comped us, slogged to our beds, I washed my socks in the sink in the bathroom, and then COLLAPSED into bed.<br />
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(yep, this is what you have to do when there is no dryer)</div>
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You know how they say you don't know what you've got till its gone? Yeah, I missed a hot meal and sleeping horizontally.<br />
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We were up bright and early, caught the shuttle to the airport, got through security, and were wandering through the Duty Free when I saw a little stuffed rabbit sitting alone, away from its buddies, at the other end of a display. She looked VERY lonely. And she bribed me with swiss chocolate.<br />
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So Fiona has joined our party.<br />
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They have these awesome moving walkways that actually go up inclines at the Zurich airport! I may or may not have pretended to be the Silver Surfer...<br />
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(OK, so I TOTALLY Silver Surfer-ed it...)</div>
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The flight to Florence was pretty cool. We got to fly over the Alps, and before the clouds got too thick we got some amazing views.<br />
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We landed in Florence and I have to say I just about wanted to kiss the ground. We went and got the suitcases they made us check in at Zurich...and then that was it. None of our larger suitcases came off the plane. Despite the fact that we had been promised OVER AND OVER that our luggage was tracking with us and would be there when we got off the plane...it turns out they never made it onto the plane...IN LONDON!</div>
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GAAAAHHHHH!!</div>
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They are getting it on a plane and we should be able to get it tomorrow and we have been instructed to save our receipts for whatever we needed to buy to get through the night. </div>
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Trust me, we considered going to Bulgari or some other high-end clothing and toiletry store.</div>
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At least we made it to Florence!!</div>
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We got the cars and managed to find stuff to get us through the night. We also found a lovely little Pizzeria with WiFi and House Wine. As you can see, Fiona imbibed.</div>
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Heading out of Florence, our stupid GPS couldn't find a satellite so it was up to Mel's roaming data to get us out of the city and out onto the A1. We did make it and started winding and rolling through the Umbrian countryside, seeing chicken and sheep and lovely hillside towns, getting ever closer to our destination. When our GPS (which we did finally get working) read less than 4 minutes from our destination, we crested a hill and discovered a large sign in Italian BLOCKING the road that read (basically, in translation) "Road Closed due to disintegration."</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">HEAD DESK!</span></div>
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After cursing the travel gods and trying to go down a road that was more dirt than road and may or may not have scrapped the underside of our rented car, Mel came to the rescue and found an alternative route that was about 30 minutes, but would HOPEFULLY get us there.</div>
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We wound through more country, finally turning back onto the road that our Villa was on, but at the other end, and slowly climbed ever closer...and then there, on our right...</div>
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(actually the view of the back)</div>
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There, in all its glory, was our destination. In all its early spring glory, with the rolling hills of Umbria out the back door and sofas and beds and hot showers and food.</div>
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We made it.</div>
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Now we just have to get our wayward luggage. And there was a bit of drama getting some people from Orvieto. </div>
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But we are HERE!</div>
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Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15546284197269130129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8149928195978572751.post-58390644682482897272013-03-23T07:57:00.002-07:002013-03-23T07:57:53.171-07:00ITALY 2013-DAY TWOMarch 23rd...VIENNA!<br />
<br />
So, here we are in the Vienna airport, having missed our connecting flight due to bad weather at Heathrow in England...<br />
<br />
The rest of the flight across the Atlantic was fine...except for whoever decided to FART every 20 minutes. I will admit to watching the end of "Twilight: Breaking Dawn Part 2"...it helped me sleep. I also ended up catching 'Hitchcock', 'Judge Dredd', and 'Hotel Transylvania'.<br />
<br />
When we disembarked, it was a literal mad dash from the gate, through security, and then huffing and puffing to the gate for the flight to Vienna. Heathrow is a LONG, WINDING maze of corridors that are very much "yes, I know that where you need to be is right there, but you can't get there from here."<br />
<br />
Anyway, we made the flight to Vienna...YAY!<br />
<br />
The flight was delayed due to weather and a parking problem when they landed...boo!<br />
<br />
We missed the connecting flight to Florence by about 15 minutes...Boo!<br />
<br />
There are no more flights to Florence from Vienna today...BOO!<br />
<br />
However, the saint of an Austrian Airlines rep got us (get this) booked on a flight to Zurich, hotel for the night, and then an early morning flight to Florence...<br />
<br />
We also got a voucher for lunch here in Vienna where I just had a goat cheese and salami sandwich TO DIE FOR.<br />
<br />
Oh...and Mozart Balls!<br />
<br />
So, we are delayed into Italy by a day...hopefully the travel gods have been appeased with our sweaty sacrifices so far and the rest of the trip will be much better...<br />
<br />
...cue ominous music...now!Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15546284197269130129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8149928195978572751.post-78948966304804006972013-03-23T06:51:00.002-07:002013-03-23T07:58:49.008-07:00ITALY 2013-DAY ONE!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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Friday, March 22<sup>nd</sup><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At least, I’m pretty sure it is the 22<sup>nd</sup>…we might
have traveled into the 23<sup>rd</sup>. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Yes, ladies and gents, I am actually leaving the continental
United Stated for the first time in my adult life…actually, for the first time
in my life. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The family reunions in Canada don’t count. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Come to think of it, the last time I took a REAL vacation
was January 2009 for my (long overdue) honeymoon. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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We are on our way to the lovely country of Italy, where we
will spend seven lovely days roaming the country of Tuscany, hopefully with
some day trips to Rome (during Holy Week, I know…we are all insane) and
Pompeii. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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I have scrapped and saved and dragged my butt into work
everyday to make sure I had enough vacation days to make this trip. I expedited
my Passport. I left behind two very
upset kittens…well, one upset kitty who saw the luggage and freaked and another
who probably just thought “wow, they have a lot of stuff this morning.” He’ll
get upset in about two days when he has seen only the sitter. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Meeting up with Evan, the intrepid instigator of this whole
trip, and Melanie, our blond nerd goddess, we winged our way to O’Hare where
Spring Break travel was in full swing. We got through fine, then started the
wait for Evan’s wife Mara and my hubby, Steve. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Stupid Blue Line.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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Check in went fine. So far, the only real issue was that
Tristan, the sixth member of our party, along with everyone else on the plane,
had been pulled of the flight due to a mechanical issue. They were delayed for
three hours, which meant that Tristan missed his connecting flight in
Washington to Rome and United didn’t seem to want to do anything about
that…they just loaded everyone on another plane and shipped them off to D.C. to
fend for themselves. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We counted ourselves lucky, having found our gate with time
to spare and being told that there would be a meal on the flight (this was a
good thing for us and for the rest of the people on the flight; you DO NOT want
to mess with me when I get hypoglaecemic).
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Then they announced that there was a mechanic crew on the
plane trying to fix the plane’s outer door…which is what was wrong with
Tristan’s plane. Now, please keep in
mind that we have ONE HOUR in London to get to our flight to Vienna…and then
LESS than that to catch the flight to Florence. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
GAH!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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We are on the plane now and winging our way across the
Atlantic. There might be some issue with the car in Florence, but here’s to
hoping it all works out…<o:p></o:p></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15546284197269130129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8149928195978572751.post-80325802777042096022013-02-24T07:55:00.000-08:002013-02-24T07:55:46.551-08:00SEEING THEM ALL...(wherein I ramble, sometimes coherently, about the Best Picture nominees...)So, every year, Steve has this thing about seeing ALL of the nominees for Best Picture. Obviously, with the increase in the number of possible nominees in recent years, this has become more difficult. At the same time, it is a fun challenge that means you see some of the best that Hollywood has to offer. It also means that you go into the Oscars as, one might say, a "well educated voter". There might be a movie that you go "They nominated THAT?!". Or you might have one favorite above all others. Or you might want every movie that you saw to go home with at least something.<br />
<br />
This year, of the NINE nominated films, Steve and I managed to see seven, which I personally think, with our crazy lives, is pretty impressive. While I go into the Oscars not having a FULL appreciation of what is happening, I hope I am going in with a good idea. With that in mind, here are MY thoughts on the Best Picture nominees I have seen, rambling as they may be...<br />
<br />
Argo: You know how it ends; it doesn't matter if you lived through it or heard your parents talk about it or have read about it in the history books, you know what happens. Doesn't matter. You get to the last 30 minutes of that movie and I DARE you not to be on the edge of your seat, gripping your arm rests, your heart pounding in your chest. Ben Affleck has created a tight, funny, touching, exciting look at a pretty dark time in our history, and takes you on a thrill ride that doesn't stop. On top of that, an excellent supporting cast, from Alan Arkin to John Goodman to Brian Cranston to Victor Garber to Kyle Chandler fills out the story that pulls you into the fact that THIS ACTUALLY HAPPENED!<br />
<br />
Beasts of the Southern Wild: One might call this the underdog of the Oscars: the little "independent film" that snuck in there with all the blockbusters and fancy foreign language entries, and while it probably won't win, it deserves to be in this category. There is a raw feeling to the whole film, about people with nothing living for everything. The two leads have little (to NO) previous acting experience and they break you heart. The "father" owned a bakery/deli across the street from the studio where film company set up, and has lived through at least two of the hurricanes that have devastated Louisiana, including Katrina. His passionate stubbornness to NOT leave his home, no matter what the cost is both wonderfully noble and face-palmingly stupid.<br />
<br />
Then there is Quvenzhane Wallis. She may have gotten the role because she had a great scream and could burp on command (both of which were used in the film) but oh my goodness does this little girl have a BIG screen presence. She brings you into her world and lets you see the world through the imaginative eyes of a young child. There is a raw, innocent (but NOT naive) beauty to the film that she embodies. I really hope I get to see more of her as she grows up. The girl has chops!<br />
<br />
Les Miserables: OK, so, when I was 7 years old, I saw this for the first time with my Aunt Janet, who, you may or may not know, passed away rather suddenly this past summer. Therefore, this musical holds a very special place in my heart. As a child of Children's Theatre, I grew up on this musical. The girls dreamed of belting out about tigers in the night or a heart full of love or of pavements shinning like silver (we were all smart enough to learn very early on that castles on clouds got tuned out very fast by casting directors). The boys dreamed of stars in their multitude or asking "who am I". And let's face it, any excuse to belt out "bastard" was met with utter joy by a bunch of pre-teens.<br />
<br />
So, yes, Russell Crowe looks and sounds terrified. Yes, Sacha Baron Cohen needs to be locked in a dark dungeon and never let out again (you wanna know what "Master of the House" should be like go find the 10th Anniversary concert on youtube; Colm Wilkinson should have to wait for a good 2 or 3 minutes because 1) the audience is still hollering and, 2) he has to get the smile wiped off his OWN face).<br />
<br />
But then there is Anne Hathaway, bearing her soul for all the dreams she has lost. There is Amanda Seyfried and Eddie Redmayne, shocking me with the fact that not only can they both act, they can both sing, AND they can make the love story honest and not completely sappy. Think about Enroljas, and Gavroche, and all the other members of the ABC's. Think about Samantha Barks singing the song that every girl who as ever felt even the SLIGHTEST bit of unrequited love knows by heart, and then making you feel every little fall of rain. Think about Colm Wilkinson passing those silver candlesticks off to Hugh Jackman, and watching Wolverine take up the torch and carry it to the end. Think of the spectacle, and the intensity, and the absolute grandeur of watching the barricade got up and of hearing the people sing.<br />
<br />
I don't know if I walked into this movie with high expectations because it is so special to me or if it was so special to me they could have blown it completely and I STILL would have loved it. All I know is, I bawled like a little baby and walked out of there humming the songs of my childhood.<br />
<br />
Life of Pi: Ang Lee has been mostly hit with me. "Brokeback Mountain" was good, "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" is lovely, and "Sense and Sensibility" was great. "The Hulk"...well, even Pixar has an off day. But this is another hit. I would say it isn't the best of the bunch, but the pictures that Lee paints on the screen will leave you breathless. There is such a simple message that the movie tells, but it is a powerful and beautiful one. The young unknown playing Pi carries a good portion of that movie on his shoulders, and carries it well.<br />
<br />
And there is a Bengal Tiger in the movie. Come on guys. Look at the title of the blog. How am I NOT going to like this movie?<br />
<br />
Lincoln: Once again, a true story of a not so good time in our nation's history, but also one of our shinning moments. You go into this movie thinking that back room political maneuvering cannot be exciting, especially political maneuvering that you know the end point of. And yet, as with "Argo", you watch, rapt in the back room dealing and the speeches and the plotting and the planning, watching as politics happen. It moves tightly, like a play, and keeps you wanting the next scene. I lay this on the shoulders of Mr. Tony Kushner. Considering the man already has two Tony's under his belt, and the fact that the sure hands of Steven Spielberg are at the reigns, you already have a pretty good chance of a good film.<br />
<br />
Now add Daniel Day Lewis, who disappears into this role. You can tell that he worked VERY hard to find Lincoln's voice (literally and figuratively) and it pays off in spades. It is a quiet power that Lewis exudes, and it draws you in. It makes you feel his pain and frustration when time start to run out. It makes you feel his joy when things start to work. It makes you want to scream at the screen as he leaves the White House for Ford's Theatre.<br />
<br />
If that wasn't enough, you add a fantastic supporting cast. David Strathairn IS William Seward, and you see the deep friendship that existed between these two men and how they worked together SO well. Sally Field, playing Mary Todd Lincoln, bounces back and forth between broken heart and spine of steel. Joseph Gordon-Leavitt does very well as the eldest son
Robert Todd Lincoln. Chaffing against the protectiveness of a father who just wants to spare
him from the horror of the battlefield, he sees what is happening and still
wants to be a part of it, despite the danger.<br />
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There are other smaller roles that get a moment or two: Gloria Reuben as Mary Todd Lincoln's confidante Elizabeth Keckley; Jackie Earle Haley as Alexander H. Stephens (who has a
fantastic moment while being escorted to the treaty negotiations); Bruce McGill
as Secretary of War Edwin Stanton (“NOT ANOTHER STORY”); Jared Harris as an
excellent U.S. Grant (nice to see Moriarity again); Hal Holbrook (who has himself portrayed Lincoln in the past) as Francis Preston Blair; S. Empatha Merkeson as
Lydia Smith (“You can’t take your housekeeper to the House); Walter Goggins as
Wells A. Hutchins (“Ah hell! Let them hang me!); Lee Pace as New York Rep.
Fernando Wood (who knew elves could be
so mean…and the peanut gallery can shut up); the triple team of James Spader,
Tim Blake Nelson, and John Hawkes as (respectively) William N. Bilbo, Richard
Schell, and Colonel Robert Latham (I want a movie about JUST these three and
their adventures).<o:p></o:p></div>
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Each of these players give something to the movie,
and once they have had their moment(s), you expect the focus to shift back to Daniel
Day Lewis: the movie is about his character, so no big surprise there. But the
one who NEARLY steals the movie away from its titular character is Tommy Lee
Jones as Thadeus Stevens. You are riveted from the first moment he appears on
screen. Biting, sarcastic, and persuasive, this is a man who, when he
sees a goal in site, goes after it uncompromisingly. He slowly comes to realize
that such an attitude may cost him that goal. The scene between Stevens and Lincoln
in the kitchen is amazing, and when he finally realizes that, sometimes, you
have to bite your tongue and temper your steps to make change happen, you want
to shout for joy not because you see a man compromising his principles, but
finding a way to make change happen, even if it is slow (it is a very Burke vs. Rousseau argument,
but I will leave that to Loyola Honors College 2<sup>nd</sup> semester students
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Silver Linings Playbook: The romantic comedy of the group, David O. Russell's movie based on the book of the same name is a touching look at coming back from an incredibly dark place. Another fantastic ensemble cast is full of Characters...and that is with a capital "C". While the two main characters are the ones that have the "mental" issues, each of the supporting ensemble could have their own entry in the DSM. Robert De Niro and Jackie Weaver play the obsessive compulsive and the enabler perfectly, and at the same time you want to smack them both you want to hug them for all the love they have for their family and each other. Julia Stiles and John Ortiz play Type-A and utterly whipped husband to a T who have just as many issues (if not more) than our leading man and his ex-wife. I have NO idea what is going on with Chris Tucker, but it is fantastic. The sanest one in the group is Anupam Kher as Pat Jr's therapist, a center of sweet, funny calm in the storm of madness. <br />
<br />
When it comes to our two leads, it is a thrilling journey to watch. These are two VERY damaged people putting their life back together any way they can. Bradley Cooper has grown up nicely, and was intriguing to watch. It can't be easy to break the mold that "The Hangover" placed him in, but this role allowed Cooper to not smash it completely, but to slowly chip and crack off pieces in a way that makes me hope more "adult" roles are in the future. Jennifer Lawrence grabs onto her character and makes it her own. With one Academy Award nomination under her belt, the 23-year old plays older than her summers and just made me love her in all her insanity. She and Cooper also make lovely dance partners!<br />
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Zero Dark Thirty- The story of one of the greatest manhunts
in the history of the United States: another true story that we know the end
of, and another one where that fact really doesn’t matter. <o:p></o:p></div>
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There is a difference, however, between this movie and Argo
and Lincoln. I would almost say that ZDT is the child of those two, taking the
real life spying of Argo and the revelation of what goes on behind the scenes (the
maneuvering, the paper work, the research) of Lincoln. The problem is that it
doesn’t do either of these things as quite well as those films. Argo had you on the edge of your seat with
the tension of if they would pull the escape off. Lincoln had you wanting to
see the cabinet meetings, the clandestine plotting sessions of the lobbyists,
the secret meetings in kitchens. ZDT did, at times, feel a bit slow.<o:p></o:p></div>
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You soon realize that you are not bored, but experiencing
the real story. Since this is RECENT history, Katheryn Bigelow hooks you from
the moment the movie starts, bringing this to a personal level. This is a long
story: a lot happened, and the important thing to remember is that not all of
it was sneaking through customs and snap decisions. It was hard, piecemeal,
inch-by-inch work. You remember hearing about London, the Islamabad Marriott, Camp Chapman on
the news. You don’t realize until it happens how the simplest research can lead
to the biggest break. You don’t realize how close they are until the camera
pulls back just slightly and shows the compound we all became so familiar with
for a few days in May, 2011. When the
end comes, it is not a massive, climactic firefight, but a real life build that
is slow, tense, edge of your seat…and then over in a second. That’s it. It’s
done. The brilliance of the movie is the fact that Ms. Bigelow takes you on
this journey from almost day one; she makes you feel how long and arduous it
was, and when it is over, there is a strange mixture of relief that it is
over…but also wanting to know: what now?<o:p></o:p></div>
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Your avatar for this journey is Jessica Chastain, who is
becoming one of my favorite actresses. She is quickly proving, in my opinion, to
be one of the most versatile actresses in Hollywood, and this film only helps.
She does not start as an innocent, but there is a difference between being wise
in the ways of your chosen profession and seeing them in action. By the end,
she is driven, exhausted, and frustrated, and she makes you feel all of these
things with her. She is supported in this by an excellent cast of both “known”
and “unknown": actors: Harold Perrineau, Jennifer Ehle (the face-palm when I
finally realized it was her might have echoed through the theatre), Kyle
Chandler (his second film this year involving espionage in the Middle East, see
Argo), Stephen Dillane, Tony Soprano, Joel Edgerton, Jason Clarke, Fares Fares, Edgar Ramirez, Mark Strong. <o:p></o:p></div>
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So, final notes: My HEART says Les Miserables, my HEAD says Argo, and my GUT says Lincoln.Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15546284197269130129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8149928195978572751.post-90875531848313604042013-01-01T10:32:00.000-08:002013-01-01T10:32:06.675-08:00Looking ahead and looking back....New Year's Resolution:<br />
<br />
BLOG MORE!<br />
<br />
I kinda just remembered that I have that, and even though it may not LOOK like much right now...something tells me 2013 could be a pretty good year...<br />
<br />
So what to talk about now...well, while Steve and I were frantically trying to get home ahead of Blizzard Euclid, we decided the best way to stay awake on the road was to look at what had happened in 2012, month by month...<br />
<br />
January: Winter Wonderland Land. While I cannot attend this year (sad, but people need their food), this always an AMAZING time, and I had a great time. Broadsword. Smallsword. Sword and Sheild. Broadsword and Dagger. LIGHTSABER!! Plus, I get to hang out with a bunch of friends and relax outside of the city for three days...<br />
<br />
February: Steve's Birthday. After giving myself a black eye at my very first fight rehearsal for a Babe's show just in time for Valentine's Day, we went and celebrated what Steve had requested: A Space Birthday. We went to the Planetarium and saw a Billy Crudup-voiced journey through space, moon landers, and all sorts of fun stuff. We then walked from the Planetarium to Cafe Iberico, where I gave Steve his pre-order slip for "Mass Effect 3".<br />
<br />
March: Rehearsal for "Trash" and the end of an era as I left IMAX...<br />
<br />
April: Opening "Trash"and starting GrubHub! Yeah, that is only two things, but those were pretty hug things!<br />
<br />
May: Driving to Pennsylvania, complete with Justin Beiber trivia...and Zombie Justin Beiber Marco Polo...oh, and Lowell and Carrie's wedding!!!<br />
<br />
June: Attending my very first Jeff Awards to cheer on the lovely boys from "Shakespeare's R & J"! Yes, we didn't win, but it was great to be there and let us hope it is the first of many trips.<br />
<br />
July: Helped the Babes with Blades celebrate 15 years of theatre that leaves a mark. PARTY!!!!<br />
<br />
August: Traveling to GenCon to not only FINALLY get the Aeryn Sun coat I have wanted for years, but to watch my boy walk away with TWO Ennie Awards for Best Monster/Adversary (Monster Vault: Threats to the Nentir Vale) and Best Adventure (Madness at Gardmore Abbey)!!! Later, hanging out at World Con and seeing Patrick Rothfuss.<br />
<br />
September: Flying off to Topeka, KS to celebrate Brett and April's wedding. Later, taking Steve to his very first Cubs came!<br />
<br />
October: Idle Muse Ensemble meetings and Swords for Rusty Broads, Lonsome Hallow auditions, Julius Caesar callbacks, and surprising Steve by staying home after he got back fron his trip to New York. Also, Halloween at GrubHub! I got to play a zombie and get killed, then win Best Costume for the night crew.<br />
<br />
November: New Mac, ChiTAG, Chocolate and Wine Show, "Skyfall", and then actually getting to eat dinner with family after switching shifts for Thanksgiving.<br />
<br />
December: I got to return to IMAX and help run Line Party events for the opening of THE HOBBIT! Also, new Headshots! There was also the crazy Christmas of driving to Dayton, Flying to Charlotte and then Newport News, celebrating Christmas Eve with lobsters, flying back to Charlotte and then Columbus, and then driving back to Chicago ahead of a crazy storm.<br />
<br />
And there we are. 2012. I am sure there things I am missing. Here's to an exciting new year!Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15546284197269130129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8149928195978572751.post-80262579754512559552010-12-31T06:51:00.000-08:002010-12-31T08:09:15.386-08:002010 Wrap-up: A VERY good year.I shall warn you all now: this is going to be a post where I toot my own horn a bit. I apologize in advance for this...<br /><br />As the final hours of 2010 wind down and the year comes to a close, I look back at all that has happened and think "DAMN! What a hot year it has been...". I am feeling more fulfilled professionally and physically than I think I have in a LONG time, if ever.<br /><br />That is not to say there have been downs along with the ups; there always are. Financially, the year sucked, but guess what, it did so for just about everyone else. And if I really look at the situation, I'm doing OK, though goodness knows I would love some decent health insurance.<br /><br />But these downs gave only served to heighten the ups, and they taught me valuable lessons along the way. The best I can sum up said lesson is this: THE UNIVERSE KNOWS WHAT IT IS DOING...most of the time. Whoever or whatever is out there has a pretty good grasp on things. I, personally, don't care what you name it, be it God, Fate, Buddha, Kharma, Goddess...I am not going to tell that you are wrong in what you believe because you are right, and as long as you don't tell me that I have to believe what you do or you are going to throw me in Lake Michigan or stretch me, then we are all good. Remember, "There are more things on heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy."<br /><br />(Climbs down off soap box, chops it up, tosses it into fireplace, lights RedEye newspapers, settles onto couch, and snuggles with cat)<br /><br />The foundations for this year actually started all the way back in 2008, when I left the wilderness and was embraced by some of the loveliest ladies I have ever known. In 2009, more ground work was laid in the summer when I met another theatre company, very close to home, who let me run around Scotland casting spells, and then, in the fall I became acquainted with a group of theatre geeks...who happened to be running around as pirates at the time.<br /><br />Anyway, I started the year cast, which is a lovely way to begin the year. I thought I would be playing a slutty soprano in "Lend Me A Tenor", but, in what proved to be the first of many mishaps that challenged the production, I ended up playing a frazzled 80's upper-middle class wife in "Rumors". Despite the fact we seemed to keep losing cast members, I had a really fun time and got to do my first spit take...<br /><br />February started well. It is nice seeing what should be a dead, empty Pier full of people who are there because of something that is being shown at your movie theatre. It is nice knowing that before or after they come watch the show, they are spending money at your neighboring businesses.<br /><br />The middle of February...was not so much fun. I am eternally grateful for the amazing circle of friends that hugged and held me. Hindsight being 20-20 and it is amazingly clear: the right choice was made. Being in the middle of it SUCKS.<br /><br />Here is where the valuable lesson comes in. Namely, the universe whacking my upside the head. I won't lie: it hurt. A lot. It always does. The universe, however, has plans for us, and sometimes to make us widen our gaze it SMACKS us so hard we can't even see through the tears. But, the tears end, we pick ourselves up, and then we see why...<br /><br />Then March rolled around, and I was asked if I would like to play a soprano...again, I just realized...and run around Victorian England.<br /><br />And the year REALLY got going.<br /><br />"Sherlock Holmes: The Last Adventure" was a truly amazing experience and I will never forget it. It challenged me professionally. It forced me to get into really good shape (YOU try wearing a corset with a muffin top). We were critically lauded. We were Jeff Recommended. We were financially successful. We were one of the tightest casts and crew I have ever worked with. The year could have ended in August and I would have ticked it off in the win column.<br /><br />But the universe wasn't done yet...<br /><br />I ended up in the late 50's in New York running around with a married man but then falling in love with the guy who had loved me from affair in "The Apartment". Being pulled in some two weeks into rehearsal was fun...<br /><br />Oh, and remember the theatre geeks who were running around as pirates? They want me to come play with them as a rabbit. Also, I get to go back to Victorian England, only this time as a sexy vampire vixen.<br /><br />I am starting 2011 the same way I started 2010, only instead of being booked until March I am booked till June!<br /><br />I am in some of the best shape of my life, and writhing around Castle Dracula and hopping around the English Countryside should help even more....<br /><br />I am a part of two amazing theatre companies, one of whom gladly lets me swing rapiers and broadswords, the other of whom makes me say Shakespeare backwards...<br /><br />I am married to someone who is writing for Wizards of the Coast...and writing...and writing...and having writers he looks up to rejoice in being eaten by monsters he created...<br /><br />I am turning (shudder) 30!<br /><br />I am surrounded by an amazing circle of friends, most of whom put up with me...<br /><br />I am desperately awaiting a number of books and movies that, even if they suck, I shall enjoy them...<br /><br />I am loved by a lovely boy and a WAY-too-smart-for-her-own-good kitteh...<br /><br />So as the year 2010 comes to an end and 2011 rolls over the hill, here is my message to you:<br /><br />Look around you. Everyone has something good that happened to them. Cherish those moments. Enjoy your friends and your loved ones. Know that the universe never smacks you unless it knows you can deal with it, and, sometimes, it is smacking you for your own good.<br /><br />Be thankful. Celebrate.<br /><br />Have a lovely 2011!Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15546284197269130129noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8149928195978572751.post-74644653288974986712010-04-13T20:36:00.000-07:002010-07-14T12:34:41.093-07:00Preping for a role...Go see a movie with me, and two things will probably happen:<br />1) I will look at an actress and start drooling like crazy over her costume. This happens often, and sometimes with regrettable consequences on my wallet...<br />2) I will, once the movie is over, immediately go across the street to the Borders, or go home to I-Tunes, and buy the soundtrack...<br /><br />Costumes are important for an actor, especially in a period piece like "Sherlock Holmes". How you move, how you react, even how you speak can be affected by what you are wearing. You try talking a mile a minute when you are wearing a corset that gives you LOVELY posture, but kills your breath intake...<br /><br />However, for me, music has, for a long time, played a very large role in getting ready for a part. A good soundtrack can make an OK movie better, and a good personal soundtrack can pump you up and get you into the right mood for whatever character you are getting ready to put under the lights and in front of an audience or a camera. Heck, I've even done soundtracks for big auditions...though having your I-Pod stay on all of the previous night and be out of juice the day of the audition and is never a good thing...<br /><br />While not as extensive as some people I could mention, my music library is pretty varried, so it is fun to come up with a playlist for pre-show preping. Playlists with me are most often chronological within the plot of the play, though sometimes songs are just tossed in where they seem to fit. Also, doing a period piece doesn't ever, for me, preclude modern songs. If the mood it right and fit the character, I'd probably throw rap on a playlist...OK, maybe not, but you get my point. Sometimes, the very act of going through your music and picking out songs can help you connect with that character, and trace their journey.<br /><br />There a few groups that I would reccomend to anyone looking for a good pre-show playlist. <a href="http://www.esposthumus.com/">E.S. Posthumus </a>is an absolute must. They are incredibly varied and good for both relaxing or getting your blood flowing. <a href="http://www.twostepsfromhell.com/">Two Steps From Hell</a> just put out their first public release: previoulsy, they worked only with studios on fantastic music for just about every action-adventure trailer in the past two years. <a href="http://www.quinlanroad.com/">Loreena McKennitt </a>is always a favorite, and usually makes it on.<br /><br />To prep for Irene Adler, I went all over the place...she is a complex woman, and "Sherlock Holmes: The Last Adventure" definitely takes her on a wild ride.<br /><br />1. Unstoppable by E.S. Posthumus: Probably best known as the trailer music for the Robert Downey, Jr. "Sherlock Holmes"...it kinda HAD to go on. Plus, it IS a good opener.<br /><br />2. American Woman by Lenny Kravitz: I'm playing Irene Adler...how could this NOT be on there?<br /><br />3. Black Velvet Band by Bully Ruse: The story of a man led astray by a bewitching woman...and I needed something calmer at this point...<br /><br />4. You Give Love A Bad Name by Bon Jovi: "I play my part, and you play your game..."nuff' said.<br /><br />5. In The Light by Full Blown Rose: This is just one of those songs that felt right..."lift me up, lead me from this place, let your love be mercy on my face..."<br /><br />6. Mysterious Ways by U2: Next to "American Woman", this is another one that had to be on there. Irene is someone who "can never be solved"...<br /><br />7. You Are Loved (Don't Give Up) by Josh Groban: Mr. Groban is another that makes it on more often than not, and sometimes more than once (see below). Simply because I am (most of the time) a hopeless romantic, this song had to go on the list.<br /><br />8. Bad Romance by Lady Gaga: Hush a quiet all of you. After three slower songs, this gets me pumped and, let's face it, there is ALOT of not so good romantice choices Irene makes, and even when she does, it ain't the safest relationship...plus the video ROCKS!<br /><br />9. What About Love by Heart: Because this SHERLOCK HOLMES, people. Someone who, felt that to the "softer passions" was "Grit in a sensative instrument, or a crack in one of his own high powered lenses, would not have been more disturbing than a strong emotion in a nature such as his." And because as Irene, I get to yell at him about that.<br /><br />10. The Rocky Road To Dublin by The High Kings: It was in the movie. It is fun and up-tempo. That's all I need.<br /><br />11: At The Beginning by Donna Lewis and Richard Marx: See hopeless romantic above.<br /><br />12. Moonlight Sonata by E.S. Posthumus: Heard this once and instantly threw it on the list. Traditional tune, modern spin. Lots of violins, so something Holmes would know, but also very dramatic and grand.<br /><br />13. Hallelujah by Rufus Wainwright: What happens when we let our guard down...more Irene and Larabee<br /><br />14. Breath No More by Evanesance: Who are we, really? This song just hits me the right way. I think it is the piano.<br /><br />15. Now Or Never by Josh Groban: Once again, hopeless romantic. There is one scene that needs about six songs, including this one, running beneath it. I also like the reference to a "clockwork silence" playing on the "man vs. machine", the denial of things being black and white, and the urgency of the refrain in a still, calm way.<br /><br />16. Let It Go by Cavo: The title says it all. "A chance to change, or stay the same, one night without, the blame, that'll never go away..."<br /><br />17. Fill My Heart by Two Steps From Hell: Belongs to that same scene that needs all kinds of songs running beneath it. Grand, romantic, and a bit traditional.<br /><br />18. Taking Chances by Celine Dion: Not. One. Word. The ultimate get over yourself and take a risk song.<br /><br />19. After The Fall by Two Steps From Hell: Anyone who knows Holmes cannon knows that, for title alone, this gets a spot. That and it plays as a lovely mix of heartbreak and hope.<br /><br />20. I'm Still Here by John Rzeznik: This may have to get shoehorned into all future playlists: I'll find a reason now that "Treasure Planet" FINALLY got loaded onto I-Tunes. I love the words, and the message behind them can be used for Irene easily. Also, anyone who knows Homes cannon knows that this, also based on title alone, gets a spot...<br /><br />Well, that's it. Want to see these in action? Then you'll just have to come check out "<a href="http://www.idlemuse.org/">Sherlock Holmes: The Last Adventure</a>"<br /><br />TaTa!Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15546284197269130129noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8149928195978572751.post-50318066293716090912009-10-04T09:57:00.000-07:002009-10-04T09:59:15.385-07:00Gen Con 09 Day 4Sunday, August 19th<br /> Well, last day. Green dress with corset in bag so I can get it put on and have Steve learn how to do it at the same time. Luggage ready to go and bursting at the seems with stuff. We checked out and then had the option to hold our bags in the lobby, but Steve decided that we should just drag the stuff to the garage he found that was cheap and load up now.<br /><br /> This was a fun trip.<br /><br /> I must have damn near tripped five times and landed on my face, the bags kept slipping, and even though it wasn’t that hot, the sweat was dripping of me by the time we got to the garage, only to discover that it was closed and you had to access the cars through the ramp in the front.<br /><br /> I was about ready to kill Steve.<br /><br /> We did get everything loaded and then tried to get breakfast at Cinnabon again only to discover it was closed. Stupid Sunday. Einstein’s was packed, but food is needed.<br /><br /> We got to the hall and I dragged Steve off to the corset place where he learned how to tie me up. He actually said it is pretty simple. Easy for him to say, he doesn’t have steel boning digging into his ribs!<br /><br />We were wandering around the hall just looking when a woman came up to me.<br /><br />“I just want to say you look lovely and to thank you for wearing a costume.”<br /><br />And then she hands me a Gen Con 2009 Floor Costume Contest Ribbon.<br /><br />I just about fainted.<br /><br />EEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!<br /><br />This wasn’t even my best outfit and it gets a ribbon! Heck, I wasn’t even planning to wear a costume on Sunday!<br /><br />Needless to say in kinda made my Con.<br /><br />Steve finally broke down and bought two of the Dwarven Forge sets. I subtly convinced him to only get the two and then got Lowell to get rid of him while I bought the third for his anniversary gift. Hehehehehehe!<br /><br />We hung out with Lowell and Abe at the Rio Grande booth as they did their end-of-the-Con-drawing and that was actually fun. I almost broke down and bought all of PS3238 but decided not to as I had dropped a bunch at the Nene Thomas booth. Two of the prints will be donated to Babes With Blades, and one shall come home with me.<br /><br />At this point it was starting to wind down, and even though the hall was more packed than I have seen it (attendance was apparently up this year despite the economy) things had been done, people seen, and, as much as we hated to admit it, it was time to go back to the real world. Abe, Lowell, and Steve also had BAD memories from last year when they were coming home and caught the traffic from the end of the Air and Water Show.<br /><br />So home we headed.<br /><br />The pictures were placed carefully next to my feat and the corset removed. We hit an Arby’s on 65 for late lunch/early dinner where I changed into normal clothes, and we are slowly making our way north on 231. I took a nap and now see storm clouds on the horizon…glad we didn’t get much more stuff, because tying it to the roof would have been a bad idea!<br /><br />Home we go to Kitty!Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15546284197269130129noreply@blogger.com0