Saturday, January 27, 2007

We Love You Conrad!

The cast list is up, and students are upset. Okay, just my favorite student, but still.

I hate casting. I have to say it is the worst part of my job.

I am happy with the casting for the most part. I'm upset about the samething my fav is. She didn't get on of the two parts she really wanted, and she didn't get the part I really wanted her to have because she's an alto and "Kim" is a soprano.

I know we will all survive and it will be a great show, just upsetting non the less.

The vocal director (VD) pissed me off during the whole process. He had told his students how he does casting...1. Musical talent, 2. Movement, 3. Looks, 4. Acting.

ACTING, last! In a play! Acting last! He told kids that! What he was really telling them is that you don't need to take drama because ACTING IS THE LEAST IMPORTANT!!!!!!!!!!!! A student reported this to me.

Then during our meeting about the cast list he told me the same thing! I could have killed him. M left the room in a hurry when he heard VD telling me this. I proceeded to get in VDs face about the fact that would rather work with actors who can sing, than singers who CAN'T act. It was about to get ugly, but I changed the subject because I wanted to have a good rest of my day. (See I can be the bigger person).

Anyway, rehearsals start in a couple of weeks. I have an opera singer playing one of the leads the in a 1950's style musical, who isn't the strongest actor on the planet. This should be interesting.

Wednesday, January 24, 2007

house hunt

M and I have started that all too frustrating house hunting process.

I am working with the same person who did my refi on my townhouse. Mainly because he set up the loan so the townhouse can remain a rental so I am relying on him to get us approved for a second home. I can't sell the townhouse for at least 3 years because of the loan I'm in.

So, we got our first list of homes about two weeks ago, we took a day and went and looked at all the houses to see which ones we might be interested in. And let me tell you, there were some scarey neighborhoods on that list. M travels ALOT so I won't buy anywhere I don't feel immediately comfortable because I will be spending a lot of time alone.

We found a house we really really liked and I emailed mortgage guy that same night. This was last Monday. He tells me he will set up appointments to see the property, I say okay great, Thursday! (By the way, the Monday M and I looked at the houses mortgage guy was supposed to be with us, but cancelled.)

I email mortgage guy on Monday to comfirm for Thursday, no response.

I email mortage guy again on Tuesday, email that says he is working on setting up appointments - appointments that should have been set up a week prior.

I talk to mortgage guy today, says he hasn't heard back from anyone, but will call me back. He calls me back two hours later, tells me he has been told their "super key" doesn't work and the reality company won't show the house by appointment.

He sends me the contact information thinking maybe they will do it for the buyer.

I call reality guy on his cell phone and get his assistant who proceeds to tell me said perfect house is in ESCROW!!!!!!

ARGH!

I can't help but think that perhaps if mortgage guy had done what he told me he would do I might have actually had a chance to grab this house.

I called mortgage guy to tell him that the house was in escrow and he couldn't believe it. It figures the house had been on the market for 3 months, price lowered twice. An idiot could have figured out to move QUICK! But not my guy...take your time, put your client on hold, let them call you three times before you get your stuff together...

ARGH!!!!!!!

M and I are back at square one. And let me tell you, we can't live in my townhouse. It won't hold two people, much less the four it would have to hold when his girls are with us.

Once again...ARGH!!!!

Saturday, January 20, 2007

We booked the site!

The wedding plans are well on their way. I booked the location just 2 days ago. We are so excited. The wedding will be held at Longshadow Ranch Winery in Temecula.

It's great, the price we will be paying covers almost everything. I think all I need to do still are invitations, the cake, photographer, champagne, and any minor details we come up with. Oh, and my dress.
The only thing that bothers me a bit, we are having BBQ food. I'm more worried about nice dresses and BBQ than people thinking it's not classy. I'm known for having many a BBQ during the summer. M likes the idea of a BBQ, and I really want him to have a say in the planning (he really didn't get to his first time around). So, BBQ it is. And I know it means a lot to him that I am okay with that. I told him I wasn't totally excited about the it, but I knew he was and that made it okay for me. He really appreciated that.
Here are some pictures from Longshadow ...


Aren't the horses cool. They are actually at the winery, so they will be attending the wedding.








This is as you walk in from the parking lot.












This is where the majority of the event will take place. The picture was taken from the near the front of the tasting room.

This last picture is taken from the front of the rest rooms, which look like wooden outhouses but have full plumbing, looking at the side bar area right next to the tasting room.

So, more rustic than people would expect, but you know what, we LOVE this winery. They have some of the best wine in the valley, everyone is really nice, and it is beautiful in the summer. So, I will live with rustic, I won't regret it when I look back at my pictures and I know that M is really happy with the choice. And that makes it even better.

Monday, January 15, 2007

Wedding Plans!

Planning for the wedding has officially begun.

We went and looked at the where we really would like to have the wedding. And the more I think about it the less it fits with what I want to do, even though I LOVE this place. If you want to see where we are thinking about check out Longshadow Ranch Winery in Temecula.

Here's the lowdown on what we would get...

Full use the facility, it would be closed to the public at 5:00 pm.
BBQ chicken and tritip, green salad, a couple of sides, coffee, tea, sodas, hot chocolate.
Tables, chairs and linens.
Serviceware, black plates and clear utensils, napkins.
A DJ, the owner of the ranch says he's good.
Use the barn for the kids if we want (at a small extra charge to pay the girls working it).
3 drink tickets per person.
Veggie and fruit platters for during guest arrival.
Set up and take down.

The cost does not include the cake, offiant, center pieces or photographer. And I'm not sure if there is a place for me to get ready there or if I have to arrive ready. I wouldn't have to worry about decorations, because the facility is in the middle of wine country and is BEAUTIFUL in the summer.

The downside of having it here...it is very casual. I want a cocktail party. We can do our own food, but does that end up costing more money? The orignal idea was just little snacky foods. But M thinks since we are asking people to drive all the way to Temecula on a Sunday night we should provide them with food. That is fine with me. But do they serve BBQ at cocktail parties?

M really wants to have the wedding here. I might just say, okay we are splitting the cost between the two of us. We will each put in 5-6 thousand to make this really want WE want and just say to heck with the budget.

I will keep you posted on what happens. The last nice perk of having the wedding at Longshadow, just about all the planning will be done! Wouldn't that be nice!

Thursday, January 04, 2007

Shoes anyone?

So, I was cleaning out my shoe rack, okay the two shoe racks, and found these totally cute Bruno Magli dress shoes.


I remember buying them, I also remember them fitting when I bought them. They don't fit now! I am totally bummed.


If anyone is interested in buying them from me, they are for sale. They will hit Ebay in the next couple of weeks.


Cost...$50.00 plus shipping


They have NEVER been worn and were purchased from Off 5th, the Saks 5th Avenue outlet store. Just let me know.


Oh No!

I go back to work on Monday!

I haven't looked at a single paper, script, director's proposal, NOTHING!!!!

I'm screwed.

Monday, January 01, 2007

Farewell 2006

I am so glad that 2006 is OVER! I can honestly say that it was THE worst year of my life. I figure things can only get better from here.

A few resolutions...

1. Get more organized.
2. Get into a shape other than round.
3. Spend more time with family and friends (a lesson learned from 2006).

I hope you all have a fantabulous 2007 filled with much love and happiness.