So Friday night I went and saw a production of "Sweeney Todd" at Heinz Hall. I was greatly looking forward to this because I have long considered it a personal favorite of mine and until Friday have not even seen a live production.

I was horribly...Horribly...HORRIBLY disappointed.

Now..Sondheim is widely considered the gretest American musical composer of all time. (If not the greatest period.) Anyone who knows ANYTHING about Sondheim knows that his ability of compose complex and stunning scores is uncanny. To label him one who simply writes musical scores would be somewhat of an insult. He is also a master lyracist (Note: West side story).

Now this "performence" I saw... It was the national touring company from the 2005 Broadway revival. It is in my opinion that the director who "retooled" this show should never work in theater again. No let me re-phrase..He should never work with any kind of music ever again.

Now I consider myself somewhat of a snob when it comes to musical theater, so maybe I have a jaded traditionalist view, but juding by the opinions of the other theater goers that night, I dont think I missed the mark.

First off, there was one piece of secnery and the entire blocking scheme was centered around a coffin that was adjusted based on the scence playing out. Now granted there was just the movie that was released 2 months ago that generated a lot of interest for this, however had you not seen the film, and was unaware of the show in general...I guarentee you'd of had NO idea what was going on. Zero. There were no real blocking schemes, no transition of any sort and people were literally bumping into each other on stage.

Then there were the orchestrations, or lack thereof. There was no orchestra. In what I'd even admit was an interesting twist, all of the actors played their own instruments, so when their characters weren't in the scene they would sit on either side of the set piece and play. Problem: The cast only had TEN people in it which reduced a score that is simply majestic to something sounding like it was being played by a high school pep band. This show is (and always was) intended to be a large scale production. When you reduce it to a production of a glorified series of one acts you have a damned mess on your hands! Also on top of all of this...The performences were terrible. David Hess who played Todd acted like bizarre mix of a teen pervert and Ebeneezer Scrooge. Judge Terpin was played by a man who was WAY to young, and I dont even want to touch on the Pirelli situation. (Now this is not meant to be a sexist comment, but you do not cast a woman in that role. Especially one who is a weak singer and has no Italian accent to speak of!) The only performence that had any merit was that of Mrs. Lovett and that was only because the actress tried her hardest to channel Angela Lansbury for the whole performence.

So, to the post-gazette (who gave it a good review and was very obivouly BOUGHT by the CLO) I ask "What the fuck were you watching??"

anyhow, since it was a very short run, I cant advise anyone against seeing it. But should you live in a city outside of Pittsburgh and the touring production of Sweeney Todd comes to town...avoid it. Go catch the movie, or better yet, buy the original cast album with Len Cariou and Angela Lansbury, its a masterpiece.

He slams the door, he stomps his feet
he sends me to bed with zilch to eat
But my stepdad's not mean hes just adjusting!!
His temper's bad and he's a slob
He's bitter because he lost his job
But my stepdad's not mean he's just adjusting!
So three cheers for the man that I proudly call stan
he's not quite a dad or a brother
yes he gets cross, but he's still the boss
and besides he takes care of my mother
so be patient with new friends like stan
its not easy to be mom's second man
So remember kids, a stepdad is a lot like a new puppy. They need patience and love while they adjust to their new surroundings. But remember - if he is ever abusive to you or mommy, what are the magic numbers?

So I take a month off to focus on school...

(ok, who am I kidding, I hardly use this damn thing anymore..)

Fact is, with all that has happened in the last 30 days or so, I could sit here all night writing. Granted, most of it would be indecipherable ramblings but still, you get the point.

Really though, I'm near the end of my rope. Things I feel, think, say, do...It's just, not amounting to what I really want them to.
And all I really want at this point ... Well, lets just say what I really want, I dont think I'll ever be able to have. I'm pretty sure I missed that boat.

And if this is a bit vauge..well nothing personal, but I simply dont give a damn. This is as good as I can come across without spilling my guts and as I said, That would leave me here at the computer all night.

In any case, I'm out, its late, and that responsible adult in me is telling me that I have work in the morning.

and I'm now enrolled in College again. For what you ask? A Masters Degree

18 months and I'll have my MBA with an emphasis in marketing.

I think this is it, there was the selling out my soul to corprate America not once but twice. But now I'm paying for the privlege of attaining a degree that will cement my career in some sector of Evil Corprate Capitalism.

but having that MBA will be kick ass in the end.

South Beach

Day 10

Weight Lost: Approx 10 lbs

Current Weight: 223lbs

So after 10 days of eating nothing but grilled chicken, salads, and subsequently sombining the two, I've actually lost some weight! For the first time since college I am under 225. Considering that as recently as April I was 240, I'm thrilled. I have to make it through to thsi coming Monday and I can start to reintroduce carbs into my diet. Although with moderation, and healthy carbs like whole wheat bread and such.


...Moving on

Has anyone taken notice that idiocy dominates our headlines? Brittney Spears, OJ Simpson and of course, Geroge Bush (On a daily basis.) The fact that the majority of this country celebrates ignorance and purposeful stupidity makes my face ache! I, as recently as a few minutes ago made a comment saying that the ignorant vastly out number the intelligent and its pretty damn frightening.

Im not trying to make myself sound better than anyone else, but lets face it, there are people out there who had every opprotunity to succeed yet are highly ignorant or just plain stupid, and I feel that I'm WAY above that. I came from a low income, single parent family, my mother however KNEW how to raiser her children. I turned out pretty damn good considering. (OK, so yeah I have my flaws, but I DO have a college degree, a good paying job, and a good head on my shoulders)

anyhow, I'm about to finish up here at work. Also my allergies are murdering me, god bless sudafed!

...and that's why carbs are evil


So guess who's on the South Beach Diet?

So you know, Im not grotesque by any standard, but for years now I've been wanting to lose weight. For whatever reason however, I'm not been able to stay motivated.

Sunday I decided I had to change that. My Buddy (who I'll not name openly) had done this South Beach Diet for about 3 weeks sticking to it hard core and he lost 17 lbs. After seeing him I said to myself "You know..I can do this." So starting last Monday Carbs dissapeared from my diet. Im on day 5 and so far so good, I've even managed to lose 4 lbs.

Here is my gripe however. There is only one simple theme to the South beach Diet..No carbs. Virtually at all (technically less than 10 grams a day, which honestly may as well be zero) and they have multiple books reagrding the diet, recipies, etc..

All of it is totally unessacary

Here is the South Beach Diet. I can sum it up in less than 20 words.
-Meat
-Real Cheese
-Water
-Spring Mix Salad
-Vinegrette Dressing
-Diest Pepsi (or Coke)
-Fresh Vegtables (No Carrots)

So there: The Entire Diet in 17 words.

Ill keep you updated and the bulge dissapears

My goal is to have people see me in a montsh time and say "WOW, you've lost a lot a Ton of weight!"

RIP: Bread, Rice, Pasta September 9th, 2007

yesterday was 9/11 and something struck me. For the first time since 9/11/01 the country and the media at large just treated it as another day. Of course there were tributes and MSNBC even rebroadcat its original programming from 9/11. However, I think that 9/11 is slowly morphing from Current Event to History Lesson.

this is not to say that we as people, as a nation, will ever forget. Of course we wont, but this is now an event that is taught in classrooms, teaching us to look back on it as our nations greatest tragedy, yet an event with a historical magnitude that'll last for the rest of time, and that there were and still are lessons to be learned.

I think also that finally our nation has healed. Again let me say heal, not forget. We can look at it will a chilling rememberence, but are able to look toward the future without the fear that was once there.

For me yesterday was September 11, 2007. A day I had to wake up, go to work and proceed with my Normal Routine. I Went to a bar, watched the Daily show, and read the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Yes of cousre there was news on 9/11 but for me and most others it was just another Tuesday. Just another day.

About 2 weeks ago I was in Seattle with a few Friends (Steve and Sam) for a wedding.

Here's the thing...

Although beautiful, Seattle's Infrastructure is an ungodly mess. I love to drive and I've had to Opprotunity to drive through some of the Largest Cities in the US (NYC, Houston, Chicago, Miami) Yet Seattle was simply the worst, no so much the quality of the driving but its the fact that Seattle and its outlying areas only has the one major thoroughfare running through it (I-5)

Example. The Friday that we were there we decided to head into Downtown Seattle and do the touristy thing, we hit the Sapce Needle, Seattle Ceneter, etc. We left the downtown area at about 5:00pm, our Hotel, which was approx 30 miles away, took us over 2 1/2 hours to get back to. Wise up guys, Build some damn roads.

Anyhow um, well...Ok See the first part. I wrote that at roughly 10:30am, and now its after 3:00pm. Work sucks my soul. I guess I'll write more later

Ciao!

I woke up today and realized that we are just about through the first full week of September. Sure the weather is still hot, probably will be for a few more weeks yet. But Where did Summer go?

Maybe it comes with age, Maybe my added responsibility takes away the lazy afternoons, the long nights, the Baseball game that goes on for hours, or Maybe, its the fact that I have not allowed myself to appreciate those events as I had in the past.

Moving on...


In my last entry I discussed leaving Pittsburgh, not for good, but for a good while and the more I think about it, the more I realize that it simply might be the best thing for me. A refresher course in what I want in life so to speak. Im no fool, so if this happens proper steps will be taken to ensure my security, however Pittsburgh as much as I love her is getting to be like a roomate that you tolerate, but cant wait til the lease expires so you can pack you bags and move the hell out.

Also on a completely seperate train of though, I've grown quite tired of how I've been and am percieved as a person. This is not to say that I dont get along with people, I do, and I have a good core group of people that I would regard as friends. But I play a certian "role" and I've grown tired of it. Sure I'm Funny, and sure I have my moments where lapses in judgement cause me to look buffonish, but for god sakes, I'm no idiot. I have been known to surprise the hell out of people. Theater Goer, me? No way. (However if I knew any more about theater you'd be asking me about my boyfriend.) History Buff: yep that too, I'd love to lecture you about the Confederate General James Longstreet and how a simple request may have prevented Gettysburg. Trip Planning: Come to me, and for free, I'll find you a flight, hotel, car, and attractions for cheaper than any travel agent and probably better than you can find yourself (Maybe I should be a travel agent myself?) Human Almanac: Yes, even that..I'll be glad to trash your ass in a game of Jeopardy or Trivial Pursuit.

Funny will never go away, stupid things will never go away, But pay attention, and you'll have a better scope of who and what I am.

I remember in my last entry I touched on my love life: Yes I'm single, No Im not fretting about it, Yes I have made mistakes which I deeply Regret, and yes I would like to date again soon. This is where it gets tricky. I've let so few people that I've dated get close to me, that time and time again Im hurting someone, or myself and making myself look like the biggest ass to walk the planet. I really have nobody to blame but myself for this but here is the truth. I am a realist. I know what happens in stories and in movies dont happen in real life. But I do like to believe its possible though. I do believe that love at first sight although EXTREMELY rare (damn near never) is also possible. I also believe that given time, unconditional love can happen between two people (some call it soulmates, some call it blind luck) Im not saying tany of this has happened to me. Im just saying that it's a little thing I hold on to. Call it Hopeless Romanticism, call it damn foolish, call it what you will, but that is me. I've never said this out loud to anyone, and for god know what reason I'm typing it all out now :)

One final thing, none of this is being sent to illicit any specific responce, hell if you do respond, I'll be thrilled, I just want the people who actaully read this to think, "well damn I had no idea..."

Like I've said, I've been known to surprise people.

After a Very short summer, I stand on the Brink of September with a lot of questions with very few answers.

Is it ok that the only real reason I stay with my job is the money? Not that I ever found great joy in working in the Cell Phone Industry, but after 2 years I have no desire to get up mornings. I mean yes the Money is great, but I'm 27 and there simply has to be more than this.

Also, I've kept track of a few people that I've unfortunatly fallen out of touch with (not lets not get the wrong idea, Im not stalking) When I say "Keeping Track" I mean by reading their LJ's or checking out their myspace, or facebook page. Problem is I WANT to re-establish some sort of normal contact with these persons but I dont. One is the fear of being rebuffed, also in a few cases bridges were burned and I'd have no idea as to how to even try and fix it. I do miss these people though and wish them all well.

I'll also be honest, I'm tired of being single. Im not looking to run off and get married, but a few dates would be nice. However for whatever reason I just seem to take that first step. It's not really a self-esteem issue, I mean Im not a model by any stretch, but I dont find myself repulsive either. When the say Pittsburgh is terrible for singles, they aren't kidding. It doesn't help that almost every month another friend or colleuage is getting engaged, or married, or in several cases popping out a kid or two.

Which leads me to this--Do I even want to stay in Pittsburgh? I mean its pretty much all I've ever known. My Friends, Family, hell..My entire life is here, but for the last few months I've had teh desire to up and head west, or south. Warmer climates, new faces, a new start. But I don't know that I have the courage to do so?

This is not meant for people to think I'm a mess. Actually it's quite the contrary. I've been doing quite well and had a pretty solid summer. I just got back from a mini-vacation to Seattle (granted it was for a wedding...but lets not cross hairs here) I also spent some quality time with my friends and through the magic of facebook have managed to re-connect a few friends that I though previously lost.

So with that being said, I guess I'll ponder the following and head to bed, if you want to comment--by all means, feel free.