I'm halfway through two weeks of rehearsals every night, so I'm not getting much down time.
That said, we open April 25th. This is a fantastic show so if you're in the Maine area I'd recommend making some reservations!
Lent Weeks 5 & 6, or I am a Human Chain Letter
I didn't realize it until a co-worker mentioned it today, but this is my lest week of Lent. It really flew by me this year. Maybe because I was working in two-week increments due to paychecks, but yeah, I can't believe I have only 3 more days (good thing too as my Pro Flickr account is due to expire come Sunday!)
Without further ado, Week 5:
A shiny new haircut courtesy of Nina at Bei Capelli, which I am quite fond of, which is a big deal if you're me - at least according to Mr. Cleaver.
Some travel essentials from Hannaford's (our local grocery chain). Where did I travel, you may ask? I spent a lovely weekend in New York City visiting friends, which brings us to...
Lent Week 6:
I'm going to preface this by saying my solo weekend in NYC, despite some plane delays and a vigorous rainstorm was incredibly awesome thanks to the lovely friends I stayed with and who guided me around the city. I had a blast - I had so much fun that I didn't take many photos - I think I took something around 42 before I deleted any out of focus ones, etc. The hardest thing I find about photography, aside from feeling a little awkward about whipping out my large SLR is that I feel like I can either be in the moment or I can document the moment - and this weekend I was far more about being in the moment.
Airport water and some snacks from home.
After a long airport delay I finally reached JFK and took a cab to Monica's (a friend from the Chicago days), where I was met with freshly baked cupcakes!
Monica with some tasty cupcakes in the apron I made her.
The next morning we went out for breakfast, which for me meant French toast and Fresh Apples juice at Gracie's (?- the diner at the corner of 86th and 1st).
Monica had to go to a performance for school around 1pm, but before depositing me on a train to my next meet-up she took me to a 107 year old bakery neat her apartment.
I bought a 1/2 lb of black & white cookies for Mr. Cleaver (which I'd never had before and thankfully my husband is the sharing kind) from Glaser's Bake Shop, whose payment policy was right up my alley (see below)
After I left Monica, I met up with Susie, a friend from high school I hadn't seen since we graduated back in 2001.
She toured me around the East and West villages with stops at Purl Soho and Purl Pactchwork, the latter of which I bought some awesome rooster fabric; downtown yarns where I got the wine-colored malabrigo lace-weight; Lupe's Kitchen for some mexican food (another cash-ony establishment); and Strand, where I eyeballed several books, but decided after a day of carrying all my possessions around New York that I didn't want to add any further weight.
We also stopped at lovely little tea shop for lavender and camomille tea, but unfortunately I have no clue whatsoever what the name of it is, though it does have some awesome wallpaper in the back.
Continuing as a human chain letter, Susie deposited me on the F train around 6:30 and sent me off to Brooklyn, where I met up with college buddies Jenna and Rebekah for a very tasty three-course dinner at the Vinegar Hill House, to celebrate my visit and Rebekah's news about her job at a summer camp in Maine. Our meal lasted for about 2:30 hours, when once again I was placed on a train and delivered to Washington Heights and Brenna, a roomie from my first go-around in Portland.
The next morning we headed out for brunch at Good Enough to Eat, where you knew if must be good because we had to wait in line to get a seat. And good it was, my apple pancakes, though not quite my Katie Cakes, were delicious.
Because my friends know me well, Brenna and I headed to another yarn store, Knitty City, which lives up to it's claim of being the friendliest yarn shop in NYC. I picked up some of my beloved Lorna's Laces Shephard Sock in the new Andersonville (my beloved neighborhood) colorway.
Street Art in Brooklyn.
We then rode over to Williamsburg for some vintage shopping and hipster watching at Beacon's Closet. Though the stock is overwhelming I didn't find anything to my fancy. Around this time we both realized we had to go to the bathroom and started the great Brooklyn bathroom hunt.
We stopped in Penny Licks bakery for a cookie and found their bathroom out of order. We kept peeking into shops hoping against hope and meeting no luck until a friendly store employee sent us to a nearby bagel shop.
When we made it back to Washington Heights it was around 6 and we were both pooped so we picked up some snacks at a convenience store, ordered a pizza, watched chick flicks on HBO on demand and knitted socks.
The next morning we ate bananas and bagel and I took a cab to the airport, reaching a waiting Mr. Cleaver at 2:30pm.
I didn't visit Time Square, Central Park, or the Empire State Building, but I had the best New York trip I could have imagined.
Lent Week 4
I sucked with taking pictures this week. I don't really carry my camera around daily so I missed a couple of things, like my tank of gas and the burger and beer I bought for dinner at my knitting circle this week. Of course now that Mr. Cleaver and I got new cell phone this week (as well as a new number for me) I have a camera phone, but alas, that doesn't help the past, so in addition to the items mentioned above:
All my weekend baking has required the purchase of a new sifter/sieve from Le Roux Kitchen to combat the clumpiness I've been noticing in my dry goods. It worked wonderfully on the doughnut I make this morning. And it was one of the serendipitous purchases where it cost exactly what I wanted to pay. Once I'm out of rehearsal/production (ie late May) I'd like to start doing a series of baking posts, but for now, alas I haven't the time.
Yoga.
Thrilling list, I know.
Lent Week 3
If you haven't figured it out yet, I'm a creature of habit. This week, with only $2 "whatever" dollars for the pay period and rehearsal every night, by spending fell into pre-designated purchases only - namely Saturday yoga and lunch.
That said, I did feel the crunch a little at the end of this week. I didn't have time to go the bank as usual on Thursday or Friday and really debated about going to an ATM, I held off and made it to the bank about 2 minutes before closing on Saturday and got my money for week 4. I also maybe cheated when last Saturday Mr. Cleaver bought me $6.25 worth of yarn. I told him I'd pay him back, but he'd hear none of it (he's a keeper, I know). That said, here's the pics.
The "Wrangler" with some rather intense horseradish mayo and a double chocolate cookie.
How's my form?
Lent Week 2
Week two, and I've resorted to paper clips. Making sure all my bases are covered. Including the important "whatever" category.
A yogitoes mat to keep me from from doing a face-plant into my mat during downward-facing dog.
A "Gemini" sandwich from North Star Cafe.
A tank of gas.
Lent: Week 1
So one week down. Not a big week for purchases, but I definitely have a greater consciousness about how much money I have in my wallet, what purchases I need/want to make, and when my next pay period is (Thursday if you were wondering).
The run-down for the week:
Saturday morning yoga class at The Yoga Exchange, which is dangerously close to my favorite yarn shop.
In a fit of high school nostalgia, Cake's Fashion Nugget and some Monty Python Flying Circus from Bull Moose.
A chicken and roasted root vegetable sandwich, extra roots, from O'Naturals between yoga and rehearsal.
Cash Only or 47 days
photo via zizzybaloobah
All the Catholics and certain branches of Protestants out there know that yesterday was the first day of Lent.
For longtime readers, you know that dispite not being Catholic, Lent is a big deal for me. I like to take on a personal challenge and why not? Last year, as some may remember, I gave up wearing jeans.
I spent a lot of time trying to come up with something good, that would fit the circumstances. I considered giving up prepared foods, but considered that since I'm stage-managing a show the entirety of Lent it wouldn't be terribly realistic. I cosidered taking the jeans thing a step farther and giving up pants and only wearing skirts and dresses and then I remember that I live in Maine and spring doesn't get here until May.
I finally settled on giving up non-tangible forms of payment - that is I'm going cash-only for the next 47 days (because the 40 day thing is not true - count it out from Ash Wednesday to Easter Sunday). No debit cards, no credit cards - just nickels, dimes, and dollars.
Since I'm a stickler about my challenges the Rules (and Exceptions) are as follows:
Rules
- I may only use tangible forms of payment. Cash, coins, silver ingots, gold doubloons. No credit, debit , check or paypal transactions. Paper gift certificates may be used if used in person.
- I will photograph every purchase made and post them here once a week for thrilling reading. ;)
- As I am using cash only, I will have to make all purchases in person. To further this I will attempt to make my purchases as local as possible.
Exceptions
- My cell phone bill is currently set up as an automatic online payment and I won't be changing that.
- The rules apply to personal use only. That is if I need to purchase something for work, as I occasionally do, it is exempt from the rules. Joint purchases with Mr. Cleaver are also exempt, provided he is present and doing the purchasing.
- Medical costs are exempt if over $50.00.
I think it's definitely doable, but if anyone has any thoughts or suggestions or thinks my exceptions are bull-honkey or something, feel free to comment and let me know!
Getaway in Boothbay
Mr. Cleaver and I have a somewhat annual tradition of a mid-winter getaway: that time somewhere between late January and mid-February when we get stick of being stuck inside and need to get away from the house. Ironically, we have often gone to somewhere colder than we're leaving, but its always been good for the soul nonetheless.
When we were dating it was a rainy day-trip to Boston. Two years ago we went to Lake Geneva, Wisc. where I had hands-down the best meal I've ever had in my life. This year we headed an hour north to Boothbay and stayed at the charming Kenniston Hill Inn.
This year's trip was a bit of a last minute decision, but we are both so glad we went. We spent two days at the inn, eating Valentine's cake and drinking tea by the fire, both in the living room and our room at the inn.
We wandered around Boothbay and nearby Wiscasset, and while a number of places were closed for the season, we still found some great antiques stores to visit (including one where I got a new apron for my collection), some tasty places to eat and my new favorite fabric store in Maine.
When it wasn't too windy we took in the area's outdoor area. In a park in central Boothbay someone had hung hundreds of fabric hearts from the trees.
We also attempted to visit the Coastal Maine Botanic Gardens, but the cold and lack of trails turned us back after about 20 minutes. We did see some small bits of green before we left.
All in all it was a fantastic time, which has bolstered our spirits in the continuing winter.
p.s. there's more photos of our trip on my flickr account (see the sidebar for a link).
Happy Valentines Day!
Happy Valentine's Day!
Mr. Cleaver and I are off to Boothbay Harbor for a few days, see you when we get back!
20/20 in my Dreams
I started wearing glasses in the 4th grade. I don't recall any big "I can see clearly now!" moment. It just was the way it was. Glasses seemed to suit my personality (nerd!) and I was fine with wearing them.
Then towards the end of my junior year of high school, when I still wanted to be an actor I decided I should get contacts so I didn't have to worry about wearing my glasses and/or squinting a lot onstage- only to be asked to wear my glasses in the first show I did after getting contacts. Ah well.
When I got those contacts I was honestly excited by the idea that I'd be wearing my contacts all the time, then one day I'd wear my glasses for one reason or another and someone would say "Hey! I didn't know you wore glasses!" It would be proof that I'd moved on from being the dork with glasses or more likely that I just wanted to be surprising to someone in someway.
Yesterday a co-worker asked about my glasses. I think I surprised her with my excitement about her question. She didn't know that I'd been waiting eight years. Of course even after all this time, I still have a preference for purple frames.
