April Showers Bring May Flowers...?

It's been exceptionally rainy in Central Ohio as of late.  And I'm really getting sick of it.  This past weekend, I spent time in sunny 80 degree weather in the beautiful city of New Orleans and come back to this... I think every day this week it's rained at some point and I know that those who were in Columbus over the weekend experienced rain on the regular.

But I've always tried to make the most of a Debbie Downer situation by finding the positive spin... and it made me remember the saying "April Showers Bring May Flowers."  It's April 27th.  May is just days away. 

So, of course, I then looked up where this saying came from and found it has American roots - traced back to Thomas Tusser in a poem he wrote in 1557.  So, if we've been saying this phrase for a few hundred years it has to be true.  All I have to say is I'm looking so very forward to May.

Farewell to a Hollywood icon

This morning, we were informed by national news or other avenues of communication that American movie star, Elizabeth Taylor passed away.  And although I'm not a die hard fan, I can't help but think of the impact the woman made in her 79 years with the American people and movie fanatics across the world.  Her beauty alone allowed her to play the part of Cleopatra and also put her at the status of a Hollywood icon.  And who could forget her multiple marriages that recieved huge media coverage and attention?

Elizabeth Taylor, along with other icons of her day make up my image of Hollywood - the glamour and the glitz of that period can never be topped.  Her career grew as did the technology to spread instant communication about the lives of celebrities.  And although I'm sure the fascination with celebrities came a bit before her time, Elizabeth Taylor really lived in the spotlight throughout her entire career. 

It makes me curious what stars of today are going to be the Elizabeth Taylors of our time?  I know that right now some names pop out, but that doesn't mean in a few years time that they could be unsuccessful and looking for the next role to serve as their comeback.  And although I sometimes questioned the company she kept (if you were unaware, Michael Jackson was one of her closet friends)... Elizabeth Taylor serves as an icon in American Hollywood history and should be honored for her career and her contribution to American culture.

It's Fun to Pretend

Cead Mile Failte!

St. Patrick's Day has always been a favorite holiday of mine... Why??
1) My favorite color is green, so I get to proudly wear it.  AND maybe be a bit obnoxious with it. 
2) My favorite country I've ever traveled to is IRELAND.  And, so naturally, I have always enjoyed trad music and step dancing. 
3) I'm mistaken all the time for being Irish.. probably due to my pale skin and freckles.  Fun Fact: I am Eastern European.  But today, I am IRISH.

Go get your Irish on and enjoy the day!

Farewell, Maggie's

Ask anyone you know and at any point in their life there has to be that place that makes you say... "Oh, your visiting (insert city)?  When you're there you have to go to (insert random establishment)!"

As many of you know, I did my undergraduate work at Western Michigan Unviversity in Kalamazoo, MI.  Kalamazoo is a great college town and is home to many little shops, Bell's Brewery, The Den, and (until Monday) Maggie's.  Maggie's was a little whole in the wall breakfast joint just west of WMU's campus.  Their claim to fame: The Breakfast Stew.  This dish was a cure all for anything - a mixture of hashbrowns, eggs, saugage, cheese, oinions, and peppers - the stew got many WMU students through their weekends.

Maggie's happend to be right around the corner from the house I lived in my last two years of undergrad.  Often, on a Saturday morning, we would wake up and roll into Maggie's still in our sweats.  The place itself was an old house and maybe had 15 tables in total - so often times there was a long wait, but it was worth it.

This past Monday, via Facebook as well as my phone many fellow Bronco Alumni informed me of the closing.  No one really knows why it happened and someone on Facebook had posted they called and Maggie's would not explain why.

Now when I venture back to Kalamazoo for homecoming, things just won't be the same.  There will be something missing.  Farewell, Maggie's. 

'That Couple'

I love eating local.  So, when my best friends were in town last weekend, I wanted to take them to a great local place called Skillet.  This place is phenomenal - they do a seasonal menu with everything being from 'farm to fork.'  In addition, the restaurant maybe has 10 tables total... it's cute, but a tight squeeze. So when my friends and I walk in (more like squeeze in) to put our names down, we had to wait almost an hour to get our table.  As we waited, we observed those already enjoying their meals...

Because of the limited space, you have the option of putting your name on the list and going to sit in your car and they can call you on the phone.  So, as we're waiting the man approaches the list and calls out a name... no one answers.  I'm sure everyone else was hoping what I was: this person is not in their car - they've already found another place to eat.  Yet, I do not see the man cross the name off the list - instead, he marks a table number. 

No less than 2 minutes later, a couple walks in.  As they walk in, they are directed to a table that has a booth on one side and two chairs on the other.  Where do they sit?  Next to one another in the booth.  They are 'that couple.'  My friends and I begin to judge.  I do have to say, I apologize if this is how you prefer to sit with your significant other, but honestly, it just seems awkward not only to me, but a good number of people.  They get all cozy in their booth and in a few minutes time, a cinnamon roll appears.  They split it and begin to feed it to each other.  This is breakfast people.  Not a dim lit romantic restaurant.

But maybe that's what this couple wants, to bring attention to their relationship.  I couldn't help but stare to see what they would do next.  Thankfully, a little while after the display began, my girlfriends and I sat at our booth... all next to each other.  That's right, we one up-ed the 'that couple.'

Standing Ovations

I love the theater.  I love everything about watching the performance, I love the wealth of emotion that floods over me when a singer hits a particular note, I love the energy that it gives me.  Some could say, I'm a theater junkie.  I performed in theater as a child and throughout high school and now at Ohio State, I am one of the advisors for the musical theater organization on campus.  I'm even planning on attending a play this weekend.

Let me get on topic... standing ovations.  So, this past weekend, I was fortunate enough to attend the Columbus Jazz Orchestra's Ode to Broadway.  It was a  lovely event that my department purchased tickets for our entire staff, including the 350 RAs on campus.  The performance was moving and a few times I did get the chills, I will admit.  Here's where the next part comes in... the finale.  I mean, some of the show was indeed phenomenal.  The rendition of "What I did for Love" from A Chorus Line was absolutely stunning, their rendition of West Side Story was inspiring.  Yet, the ending fell a bit flat.  So, when it was time to say goodbye - a good number of folks still gave a standing ovation.

Maybe this is a poor example to use because in some repect I do believe the show deserved a standing ovation.  But too often I attend a show, and there is always a standing ovation at the end.  I think we give it up too easily.  I think the performers need to earn it more.  How can they improve on their craft if we're always giving them a standing ovation?  Its like either it has to be completely awful or not.  If not, even if it's just OK - we stand up.  Quite possibly, it's in response to needing to grab ones jacket or stretch ones legs.  But I find this hard to believe.  All I ask is that we try our best to contemplate the giving of standing ovations - I see them as one of those special occurances that comes with a stellar performance.  Don't be easy, wait to give it up.

That's Such a Samantha Thing To Say...

I would say one of the greatest things a gal can have is a great group of girlfriends.  I would also like to add that I think I'm very fortunate to have some ladies near and dear to my heart and we are there for each other through think and thin.

Every time I think about the great friendships I have... I can't help but think about the ladies of Sex & The City - you know, Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte, and Samantha.  In college, my roommates and I used to sit around for hours watching marathons of the show, choosing which character fit which girl (according to them, I'm Charlotte).  I think by naming ourselves after characters helps us to feel more connected to the show and to one another.  I can imagine, just like the ladies in the show, being in my 30s meeting weekly with my gals over breakfast for our latest gossip. The women are fierce, fashion forward, and independent.  It may seem corny to say, but they empower me to live likewise.

I was fortunate enough to have my two best friends from college down to Columbus for the weekend, and let me tell you, when the three of us are together, it is nothing short of a good time.  We got to go out on the town, shop, and catch up on our latest gossip. And although we live hundreds of miles apart, it feels sometimes as if time has never passed.

And to make the weekend end the right way... how did we spend our Saturday night?  Eating junk food and watching Sex & The City.  I couldn't have asked for anything better.