In Case You Haven't Noticed, I Love This Dress...

So, the other day I was driving through downtown Boise with my family. We happened to pass Anthropologie, which I had never dared enter before. But I know from interviews with Lou Erich that many of Quinn's wardrobe pieces come from there. I was just about to spring this little factoid on my less-than-interested family when I saw it: Quinn's New York dress. It was right in the front window! I vowed to return at a later time and scope it out...

I finally made it back Tuesday after my college orientation. I figured I deserved a reward after making it through THAT ordeal! I went in and found the dress almost immediately. Now, I did not plan to actually buy it--I figured I'd try it on, take a picture in the dressing room, and call it good. But it was love at first sight! I'm not much of a girly girl, but I love a good dress, and this is an AWESOME dress...much prettier in person than on film. All of the white detailing is actually embroidered, and it has TULLE under the skirt, for crying out loud! I love how it flares out when I spin around. And yes, I have spent a considerable amount of time twirling around in it. :)

I had a really interesting time with the staff, too. The gal that was helping me mentioned that they were all obsessed with that particular dress and she asked what had drawn me to it. I asked her if she watched Glee and she got all excited and fluttery and squealed, "This is Quinn's dress!" I told her THAT was exactly what had drawn me to the dress, and we had a fun little conversation about the show and the adorable cast. I told her that I'd just been to see them and she was so excited, especially because it turns out that Darren is her favorite. Then I went to check out, and the girl at the counter exclaimed, "Oh, it's Quinn's dress!" We had a little fangirl exchange, and I went on my merry way feeling invigorated for having spent a bit of time with some gleeks "out in the wild" so to speak.

And with that, I promise to never speak of this dress again. Thank you for indulging me!  :)

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

You're the Inspiration...

This is not strictly Glee related, but the impetus sort of is. Several days ago, Warbler Curt Mega posted a video in which he asked for help with a "collaborative project". He wants to know what inspires people, and encouraged everyone to share. Sooo...

I garden. I'm a bit of a hobbit, actually. I love the sunshine and the trees and the feel of grass and soil between my toes. I'm obsessed with seeds. Everything I plant, I start from seed. Because there's nothing like the thrill of seeing that little green head poking out of the ground. The birth of potential!

I love that the outside appearance of a seed is not a reliable indicator of the potential within.

I love that although the potential is there, a seed won't grow unless it is planted.

I love that simply planting a seed isn't enough. Diligent nurturing is required.

Every time I watch a seed sprout, I wonder, "How did all of that get IN there?". And then I stop wondering and just marvel.

Seeds are a metaphor for everything beautiful--love, friendship, faith, hope, knowledge. Even the individual. Anything that starts small and grows strong with care.

Watching my seeds grow makes me think about myself and my potential. Because, what's IN there? What will I be when I mature? Will my roots be strong? Will I bloom? And while I'm busy cultivating  myself, what can I do to encourage the growth of those around me?

I like to think that there's something amazing inside me. Something you can't see just by looking at the surface. Will I ever reach my full potential? Will you reach yours? What are we meant to be? Let's tend to each other and find out together. :)

Glee Live! Vol.2

 I apologize for the stupid spacing and picture layout here. I swear it all looks great until I publish and then things sort of rearrange themselves. I've been working on this all day and lack the patience/skill to figure out what I'm doing wrong, so please just bear with me. I want to get it posted and hopefully I'll get it sussed out at a later date. At any rate...

I got back from my trip around 2:30am yesterday. Whew! What a week...I have a feeling it's going to take me a few days to recover.

We went to the beach, Disneyland, California Adventure, and Hollywood, all of which were first time experiences for me. I will, however, spare you most of that. We did make a few little stops that might be of interest to my fellow gleeks, though...

Here we are at Madame Tussauds in Hollywood. It was simultaneously cool and creepy. And look who we met!

 

I had hoped to swing by the Gap at The Grove, but I decided I'd probably be too self-conscious to actually take pictures inside a store, so instead we detoured to Eagle Hills mall, which you'll recognize as the shooting location for both flash mob scenes. I was surprised at how ghetto the mall was! It's very small, and the escalators empty out right at the entrance of a seafood market, so the whole place smells like fish.



So, the main event was Friday. We actually bought Ultimate VIP tickets this year, which was an upgrade from last time when we had regular VIP tickets. We saved up all year and opted to drive rather than fly and rent a car so we could roll all our available funds into awesome seats. And they were awesome seats! But I'll get to that in a bit.

I had two primary wishes for this show: One was to make direct contact with cast members. The other was to deliver a birthday gift to Chris, since we'd be there on his big day. I'll be honest--when I bought this ticket, I planned for this to be my Glee swan song, so to speak. In the beginning, the show made me feel so good that I let it become a much bigger part of my life than was probably wise. Then this season happened, and I found that the show made me feel frustrated, sad, and even defensive far more often than it made me feel happy. The thing is, I still love the cast, and can't imagine ever NOT loving them. So I decided to go ahead and share this last hoorah with my sisters.

Naturally, being me, projects ensued. I made Chris a Scrabble scrapbook. He likes crafts and he likes Scrabble, so it seemed like the perfect combination. I've made Scrabble tile jewelry before, and initially I thought I'd make a keychain or something. But I found it impossible to choose just one moment to highlight, you know? So instead I assembled a tribute to his "yes" moments--those times when he was invited, or included, or celebrated, or validated: those moments that give hope to struggling kids everywhere (mine included), regardless of orientation, that things can get better. I also included some pictures of him being silly, because I think he does a great service to his fans by allowing them to see that he's just a regular guy who has accomplished extraordinary things not because he's perfect but because he utilized his unique talents, set goals, worked hard, and refused to give up. I don't know if he fully realizes the impression he makes on people simply by being honest about his fallibility and inherent goofiness, or how empowering that candor is for his audience. but I sincerely hope he knows that while Kurt is amazing, his positive influence extends far beyond that character.

 

It turned out to be quite an undertaking. But I think it turned out cool! It's a complete set of tiles, and they still lie flat when in use. I made the little bag also...I thought the Kermit print was apropos. :)

I also made these banners. I painted them on fabric using flat fabric paint, because I wanted to be able to fold them up and cram them in my purse and still have them look nice. I confess, I have a soft spot for the Warblers.

So, we were to meet our group at 5:00. We got checked in, and they sent us to the merchandise area to wait for the meet and greet. I exhibited remarkable control and did not buy anything, even though some of the stuff was pretty cute.

Me waiting anxiously for something to happen...

The hosts finally rounded us all up and marched us down literally into the bowels of the stadium where we waited some more.

They told us that we couldn't take pictures or carry anything in to the meet and greet. Bummer. However, they did tell us that they would collect any gifts for cast members and give them to the production crew, who would then distribute them. So I handed over Chris' gift, and hopefully he got it. I won't ever know for sure, but I'm choosing to believe that he did!

Finally, they started taking us in to the meet and greet. We knew there would be two cast members there, but they didn't tell us who. It felt like Christmas! We finally got to the door and saw that it was Kevin and Darren, who I have to tell you are adorable in person. They hugged us and everything! I told Kevin we came from Idaho to see them and he acted so flattered and thanked us for coming so far and said he hoped it was worth our while. Darren threw me off a little because he opened with "Hi, I'm Darren". I was like, "I know who you are!" and he said, "Oh, I never assume people know who I am." I think I told him something like "I think you're safe in assuming that here", but the camera person was rushing us into position for the picture, so that was the extent of the small talk. I'm the lucky one because I got to be in the middle. They're touching me! And I'm touching them! Aaaaaaaahh! I wish the photographer had snapped candids of the hugging part, because honestly, the whole thing is a blur.

My favorite part (weirdly) is that Kevin's stripey underpants are visible. Heehee! Also, Darren is wearing man capris, which makes me love him even more than I did before. Awww, such cute boys! After the picture, we wished them luck, they told us to have fun, and we said goodbye.

We were then delivered to the pre-show party, where they had snacks and such. My sister, Megan, participated in a sing-off, which was fun. She's way more outgoing than I am, not to mention a much better singer. We also got our goody bags, which were pretty decent. I like the backpack better than the tote from last year, and it was nice to actually get a program, since that was the only item I had planned on buying. Maybe I'll use the binder and insulated tumbler when I go back to school in the Fall. We were also supposed to get Warbler ties, but those are apparently delayed and will be sent to our homes. I'm actually pretty excited to have a fun package to look forward to!

After awhile, the hosts rounded us up again and escorted us to our seats. I'm not good at interpreting seat locations from ticket stubs, especially in an unfamiliar venue, so I was pleasantly surprised once we figured out where they were. Actually, that might be a mild understatement.

As it turned out, we were surrounded by stage on three sides, and my seat was right at the edge of the walkway between the main stage and the pop-out stage.

 

 

That opening in the curtain? Various cast members entered and retreated through it all during the show, and used these stairs to get on and off the stage. They passed within inches of me!

 

I'm sure by now, those of you who are interested already know about the set list and have seen bits of the show and whatever, so I'll try to stick to the highlights here...

As the show started, I got my birthday banner out and ready. At the end of DSB, Chris was at the edge of the stage directly in front of me. He looked down, saw the banner, smiled his winning Chris smile, looked right at me and mouthed "Thank you", at which point I required CPR.  Direct eye contact achieved! A few minutes later he was on the walkway right next to me and he looked down and smiled at me AGAIN. The girl in front of me turned around and said, "That was awesome". Yes, it was!

 

They were RIGHT THERE! No zoom necessary!

The only disadvantage of where we were was that some of the action took place on a separate stage in the center of the venue. Unfortunately, that's where the Get Happy/Happy Days duet, Single Ladies, Amber's big solo, and Teenage Dream were performed. Also, during "stationary" numbers (like Friday, where the boys were on stools), their backs were toward us the whole time. Well, you can't win 'em all, right?

  

Luckily, the Warblers moved closer for RYG, so we got our other sign out. During that number, the boys sort of circled around and Riker and Titus both acknowledged us, which was cool. I'm really excited for the 3-D movie now, because I'll be able to see the stuff we missed or couldn't see well. I'm secretly hoping we make it into the movie, because our sign is actually visible behind the boys as they're performing. I know this because we've turned up in various youtube videos! If we're lucky, the editors will want to take advantage of the extra punch of Warbler enthusiasm. I guess we'll see. Now I just hope the movie actually ends up playing here! You have two months to get it together, Idaho.

 

So the show went on and we screamed a LOT. I'm pretty sure the cast was told not to engage the crazies in the pit on the way in to and out of the magic portal, because most of the time they sort of acted like we weren't there, moving briskly and very purposefully from point A to point B. I imagine this was for their own safety as well as in the interest of moving the show along, and I in no way fault them or feel slighted. They were so close to us so many times, and if there had been much actual interaction, chaos might very well have erupted. Not because of us specifically (promise!), but we all know that overstimulated fans can get scary and grabby. Cory did give us high-fives once and smiled very genially (as he does), Darren high-fived my sister, and at the end of the show, Mark and Amber smiled and slapped hands with us on the way down the stairs (different cast members used that exit at different times and those two, along with Chord, happened to go out that way at the end).

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8fTB2y8GKc

And that was it! We had such a glorious time and I'm so glad we went. At this point, I really don't know what my future involvement with Glee will entail, but whatever happens, I'll always have this lovely memory of time spent with my beautiful, hilarious sisters and the remarkable cast that has impacted my life in ways I never imagined possible. All of us laughing, dancing, and singing together. It was well worth the price of admission and so much more. <3

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

In Hopes of Sleeping Tonight...

I've been thinking about the last couple of Glee episodes a lot lately. To the point of distraction. I've actually lost sleep over this. Obviously, I, like Rachel Berry, care too much.  This show is so powerful, and reaches so many eager viewers, young and old(er) alike.  I worry about those who may be led to make decisions they wouldn't have made otherwise. I get that this is a television show, and firmly believe that parents are ultimately responsible for teaching their children values. But to say that they aren't influenced by the media, and especially by shows like Glee, which is full of likable, relatable characters, is simply untrue.

In the last two episodes, we learned that it's "unrealistic" to ask children to refrain from drinking or from sexual activity.  We also learned that celibacy is "lame" and "naive". From an adult. An educator, no less. Because apparently teenagers are so full of hormones, they simply can't be expected to control themselves. Evidently, the only reasons a kid would choose to be celibate are a) she doesn't understand the mechanics of sex or b) she can't find anyone to do the deed with. I'm baffled that a show that advocates inclusion and open-mindedness is so quick to ridicule kids who make choices outside of what's supposedly "normal". I am a parent and have worked with teenagers in many capacities. I know they are impulsive and hormonal. I'm all for education, but at the end of the day, telling a kid that he should just give in and do whatever he feels like doing is irresponsible. That's how Lindsay and Miley were built. Surrendering to every impulse doesn't make a person enlightened. It makes him an animal. An enlightened person educates himself and then makes informed, rational decisions. Yeah, kids struggle with that concept, because they are still developing both physically and psychologically. My point is that they need to learn. I'm not trying to sound preachy here. I get that all this was supposed to be funny and ridiculous. But it mostly made me sad. There were those few promising moments between Burt and Kurt, but nowhere near enough to counteract the "Holly Effect".

I would also like to say a few (!) words about the Santana/Brittany situation. I don't understand why this is happening at all, other than there were a bunch of screaming fans at Comic Con who thought it was a swell idea. So, this is now the third sexual identity crisis the show has highlighted. This season.  I'm not even including Kurt, or whatever it is that Brittany is experiencing. Not only that, but Santana's situation essentially mirrors Karofsky's: "I'm a bully who insults people and pushes everyone around because I'm scared and have feelings I don't know how to deal with." Am I seriously the only person who notices this redundancy?!

Meanwhile, what significant developments have occurred with the other characters? Aside from comic relationship drama, not much. Again, I am baffled. Glee boasts a broad array of characters including a goth girl, a girl who is not only one of a handful of black students in the school, but also overweight, a boy in a wheelchair, a morbidly obese girl, a boy with learning disabilities, a girl who had a baby and subsequently gave it up for adoption, and a girl with Down Syndrome. In a real school, these kids would struggle. A lot. And yet somehow, none of these kids are given any real issues to overcome. Have they all been dealt with off screen? It seems like the only issue that is ever taken seriously or examined in any way is being gay. There seems to be some reluctance to give weight to any other situation, or to suggest that maybe the struggles of all kids are valid and worth exploring. Why is this?

I get that it's the "issue of the moment".  Now, I am in no way saying gay kids don't have a hard row to hoe, because they do. My heart aches for them and the things they go through; things no kid should have to deal with. I, like most people, am horrified when young people feel the need to end their lives because of bullying related to their sexual orientation. It's not right, and it's not okay. What I am saying is that they aren't the only ones who have a rough go of things.  Most teen suicides aren't related to sexuality at all. Kids give up for any number of reasons; self-esteem issues, bullying because they are perceived as different or unattractive in some way, even clinical depression. In most cases, they were "born this way", didn't choose their circumstances, and can't control what's happening to them. They all feel hopeless and isolated. The difference is that special interest groups don't launch campaigns to save overweight kids. Celebrities don't line up to make videos for kids who are run-of-the-mill depressed. Or kids from ethnic minorities. Or kids with learning or developmental disabilities. But aren't they worth saving, too? Who will tell those kids that "It Gets Better"? Glee could. But the writers won't.

Santana's setup has intrigued me from the beginning. My impression of her has always been that this is a kid with crippling self-esteem issues. On the outside, she seems to have everything going for her: beauty, talent, wit, wealth (assuming her dad is actually a doctor), and popularity. Yet she is clearly unhappy. Something is missing--either in her life or in her heart, and she can't figure out how to fill the void. Hence the false bravado, the self-destructive behavior (drinking, promiscuity)--heck, even the boob job plays into this scenario. It never once occurred to me that she was gay, even with her involvement with Brittany. She likes Brittany because Brittany is completely non-judgmental and loves unconditionally. Since Santana doesn't love herself, she lets Brittany do it for her. It is certainly not unheard of for an emotionally vulnerable girl to become attached to another girl. I realize this is not a popular thing to suggest. I'm not denying that some people are legitimately gay, but when hormones and emotions come into play, confusion is not outside the realm of possibility. Brittany is sweet and nurturing, and that is like a salve to Santana's aching heart.

I expected (and hoped) that this would somehow parlay into an extended storyline about self-worth. Yes, there have been fleeting messages about this. But nothing deep or particularly meaningful. I envisioned that at some point, the other girls would figure out that Santana's feelings of inadequacy and self-loathing were to blame for her bad behavior. Maybe it wouldn't make much sense to them at first, because to these girls (who, if this was a remotely realistic school, would deal with a fair amount of grief of their own), it would appear that she has nothing to feel badly about.  But I bet Mercedes, Tina, Lauren, Rachel, and even Quinn must experience similar feelings, even though they are rarely shown and never leave any lasting effect. It would have been very moving to see these girls reach out to Santana and take her in to their care. We might have actually had the opportunity to find out exactly HOW the other girls gained the self-assurance they now have. With their varied backgrounds and life situations, I have to believe actual adversity and growth occurred at some point. I think of all the kids who could have been inspired by this story. All those kids who feel sad or empty or who hate themselves and have no idea why. Most kids probably relate to those feelings to some extent, but not all (or even most) of them can relate to being gay. But it seems like straight kids aren't allowed to have real, painful, crippling emotions. As if they should simply suck it up because they don't have to also deal with sexual identity issues. This story could have had almost universal appeal. But instead of taking the opportunity to explore these sensitive and potentially life-threatening feelings in a general way, once again the show goes with the idea that only those who struggle with their sexuality have a legitimate excuse for real emotion. I still hope that at some point, Santana realizes that her issues are bigger than her sexuality, and that her shredded self-esteem is at the root of her problem. It would be great to see her actually address those issues rather than having them miraculously resolved once she (I'm sure inevitably, now) gets together with Brittany. Much as I would like for her to figure out that she isn't actually gay, but rather seeking comfort from a safe, nurturing relationship, I realize such a development would cause a riot in the LGBT community and there's no way the show would risk offense. Now that they've launched that ship, I don't see how they can turn it around.

I know that every time a new "sexual orientation" scenario is introduced, the writers and actors get lots of reinforcement. These stories are written with care and purpose. They get praise from Ellen, Rosie, and Elton John. The media go crazy. I'm not saying this is a bad thing, or that the accolades are undeserved. The problem is that these are the ONLY stories that are written with care and purpose. As a result, these storylines have worked out very, very well for the show. And yes, they empower many kids and give them confidence to be who they are. But I don't understand why the writers feel the need to bolster the same group of kids over and over again. Kurt and his dad have softened hearts and opened eyes. Karofsky has given a voice to kids who continue to struggle and aren't sure how to proceed. Blaine is charming, affable, and (mostly) confident...the ideal role model. Doesn't it seem like the bases have been covered here?

I'm continually surprised by the tunnel vision exhibited by the writers. The ingredients to make a rich, well-rounded show are all here. Yet the writers seem content to make grilled cheese every night. There could be inspirational, meaningful stories galore for every single character. I sometimes wonder if any of these guys have ever actually talked to a teenager, or if they are working exclusively from their own recollections. Because if they had conversed with any teens of late, they would know that every kid struggles with something big. And every kid thinks his problems are way bigger than those of any other kid. Fear and loneliness and frustration aren't monopolized by a single group. These are universal, human feelings.  So why not spread the love? Maybe venture out and validate the struggles of kids who  don't get a lot of attention? Allowing each character the opportunity to work through legitimate trials does nothing to minimize the gravity of individual issues. Rather, these characters could learn from each other, gain empathy, and grow stronger together. Maybe seeing that played out on screen would boost a kid who feels homely, or who mixes up his letters, or has different beliefs than her peers.  Instead of forcing kids to grasp at straws and extrapolate inspiration from the mere presence of certain characters, why not give them something concrete and meaningful to cling to?

So, yeah, that's a lot.  I've been thinking about all this for a long time, and the past few weeks have sort of brought things to a head. The thing is, I love this show. Rather, I WANT to love this show. I did love it, now not so much. I keep trying to talk myself down, telling myself that it's *just* a show. But I don't really believe that. Because I see the good it does. It hurts and frustrates me when opportunities for even more good fall by the wayside. Adults are listening! Kids are listening! Take advantage of that power and say things that are worth saying! Respect independent thought. Cherish the individual. Inspire love of self and others. Don't play favorites--take the time to make EVERY story worthwhile. More lives will be touched, many may even be saved.

Dream Performances (according to me)


Maybe I'm imagining things, but it seems like lately the song selection on Glee has skewed toward more recent top 40 hits. This is not all bad: I really enjoyed the Glee versions of "Teenage Dream", "Hey Soul Sister", "Just the Way You Are", and some of the others. "Tik-Tok"and "Blame it on the Alcohol"? Mmmm--not so much.

Now, I'm the first to admit I could stand to broaden my horizons a little.  In the past several episodes, most of the songs were completely new to me. Yes, even the Bieber stuff. Shocking, I know. I guess I'm not exactly up to date. I'm aware of what's popular. I'm just not that interested. That said, I have a hard time getting excited about covers of songs that are already played to death on the radio, especially when there is pretty much a limitless supply of wonderful music.

So, the other night while I was waiting for my boys to finish their scout meeting, I was thinking about songs I'd love to hear performed on the show. For some of them, I have an idea about who I would like to have sing them. The rest just make me happy. :)

"Maneater" by Hall and Oates--how has this one not been done already?! It's like Santana's theme song.

"Teenager in Love" by Dion and the Belmonts--I think it would be adorable if Mike sang this.

"Bye Bye Love" by The Everly Brothers--also cute for Mike, but I think it would also work for Sam.

"Respect" or "Chains of Love" by Erasure--when I was a teenager, Erasure was standard at ALL dances...it's just fun, feel-good music. I love all of their stuff, but I think these would make great group numbers.

"Freedom" or "Wake Me Up Before You Go Go" by Wham!--if you can't tell, I'm a huge fan of cheesy 80s music. It makes me very happy. Blaine channels that "happy" vibe like no one else. Blaine + cheesy 80s music=VERY happy me. :)

"Unforgettable" by Natalie and Nat King Cole--definitely on par with "Happy Days/Get Happy".

"Eye of the Tiger" by Survivor--again, how has this one not been done?

"At Last" by Etta James--I desperately need Kurt to sing this once he gets his boy issues sorted out. His lower register is so gorgeous and I'd love for him to get a jazzy, meaty ballad that he can really sink his teeth into. I think he would also kill "Stormy Weather", "Someone to Watch Over Me", or "Can't Help Loving that Man of Mine".

"Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" by Cindi Lauper. How cute would this be?

"Everybody Wants to Rule the World" by Tears for Fears--another dynamite group number.

"In Your Eyes" by Peter Gabriel--Puck could use this one to make restitution for the "Fat Bottom Girls" debacle. Bonus points if he manages to scrounge up a boom box.

"Forever Young" by Alphaville--please, PLEASE let this be the last song of the series. I think this is my favorite song ever; the great, iconic song of my youth. It's the quintessential last dance.

Obviously, this is not a comprehensive list. It barely scratches the surface, actually. I didn't even get to The Cars, Whitney Houston, Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis, Poison, Chicago, The Carpenters...not to mention the showtunes! The mind truly boggles...

 So, what songs are you dying to see covered on Glee?


xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Glee Live! Round 2

When I first saw the tour dates and venues last week, I was pretty bummed. I'd really hoped for something closer to home. Also, with all of the "happenings" on Glee of late, I wasn't sure if my sisters would even be game for going again. I called my youngest sister, Megan (the young, hip one), and to my surprise she was totally on board! I thought maybe we'd do Vegas, since it's the closest (only 15 hours...guh), but she's already going to see Gaga there next month. Like I said, she's young and hip. Instead, she suggested we really go for broke, drive to Anaheim and make a week of it. We're going to Disneyland! I've never been, so I'm super excited.

Since we're not flying like we did last year, and we've all been saving up in anticipation of this event since last year's tour, we decided to roll that money into REALLY good tickets. So, the fun began when pre-sales started Thursday. Due to a miscommunication with my AmEx carrying sister, we missed out on the first round of sales. Grrr! So the past few days I've been freaking out about missing the second batch of VIP packages, which were to be released today. I camped out in front of my computer all day practicing my quick-draw clicking so I could be ready when Anaheim opened up. I watched all of the other sales, and those packages were selling out in under a minute. Gleeks are a crazy, dedicated people indeed. As the moment of truth approached, I literally thought I was going to be sick, pass out, or both. I don't think I've ever been that nervous, which is really saying something as I've both gotten married and given birth (not simultaneously). I'm pretty sure the monster burrito I had for lunch coupled with the Pepsi Max didn't help matters much! The time arrived, I clicked like crazy (while shaking like a leaf and hyperventilating), got to the end, double checked the order, and it looked like they'd charged me for too many packages. At the bottom was a little box that said, 'Change your order', so I clicked it, and it KICKED ME OUT OF THE SYSTEM! Nooooooo! I had to start all over again, and I was sure in the 30 seconds it took for me to get back in to the order page, those tickets would be gone! By then, I was shaking like a leaf, hyperventilating, AND practically in tears. But the Glee Gods had mercy on me, because by some miracle, I got through and they still had my tickets. After all that, I took a long, brisk walk to regain my composure and to burn off some of the adrenaline. I think my poor kids were a little afraid of me for awhile there.

I have to give a shout-out to Barry, my long-suffering hubby, who didn't say a word about me sitting in front of the computer all day on Valentine's Day. Or about me blowing a big wad of our tax return on a silly concert. Or the fact that said concert takes place on our 16th wedding anniversary. What a guy, huh? I couldn't ask for a better Valentine. <3


xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Happy Hearts Day!

I can't call it "Single Awareness Day" anymore, since I'm not single. At least not yet. We'll see after today. Let's just say I have an endlessly patient spouse.  :/  But I digress. Today I'm celebrating "Half-price Candy Day Eve". Tomorrow, I'll send Hubby out to buy me twice as much candy as he would have today!

Also in the spirit of Valentine's Day...
I pass this street sign on my way back from my favorite burrito place. It reminds me of Chris Colfer every time. I like to think of it as the reclusive, socially awkward cousin of Lovers Lane. Heehee!

On a side note, I did a little Google Maps search out of curiosity, and it turns out there are actually three different Llama Lanes within 20 miles of my house. You gotta love Idaho.

Wishing you a squishy, lovey day! <3 <3 <3


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