Just wanted to share some thoughts before they completely left my brain. I'm a little overwhelmed by happy at the moment, and I am secretly kind of sad because I know this is the sort of happy that can't last and that I wish could last. Not even sure when I'll be this happy again, you know? Anyway...
Last week, I managed to work out EVERY DAY (2 of those days were just stretching or foam roller routines, but it still counts).
I also just finished what will most likely be my last pet-sitting gig for![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
melydia. Several of her cats aren't so fond of guests when she has us over, but when it's just them and me, usually all it takes is me sitting patiently for 30-45 seconds and the scared ones come right over for love. It's kind of nice having cats that would normally be hesitant come right over and flop over onto their backs or put their paws up in the air to indicate they want more petting. I'm going to miss being able to hang out with her three cats all on my own when they're not afraid of me. And both her tutles came out to say hi to me at least once as well, which was nice (last time I pet-sat, one of her turtles hid every time I came in the room, so this was a lovely change).
Friday, I assembled all of my stuffed animals for a group photo. There were a lot of them. Like, 300. I packed 'em in, but they still didn't take up my two couches and living room floor, so plenty of room to grow. LOL Afterward, I might have rolled around in the big pile of soft plush and fluff for a while. That was quite lovely. Definitely a fun and comforting sensation.
I started my fifth list of 101 Things in 1001 Days. I'm feeling really good about the list. It's a lot of things that will challenge me and that I've been meaning to do but have never gotten off my bum to do. So I think it'll be very good for me. My list this round: https://just-the-things.dreamwidth.org/425939.html
Saturday I volunteered at the library, ran errands, got my car state inspection (it passed, but my rear brakes on on their last legs, so I need to get those replaced this month), and then went to Wolf Trap, an outdoor National Park concert venue. I was instructed to park on the grass with the front of my car literally touching the road to get out. So all I had to do was pull forward and I was out of the parking lot; best parking spot ever. I was also instucted to stand in a side entrance line which turned out to be 1-entirely in the shade and 2-adjacent to the spot my group and I had decided to pick to picnic in. We had a nice picnic before the show, but I brought WAY too much water, and one of my 4 water bottles leaked in my bag. Oops! We saw Harry Potter & the Prisoner of Azkaban with the National Symphony Orchestra doing the whole score. I saw all the LotR movies that way and HP1, and I loved doing it with HP3 as well, even though I'd forgotten until last night just how much I HATE that movie. I was actually mad each time something came up to remind me of how terrible it is. But I brought my Morgan Bear and three blankets and a hoodie. So I ended up stretching out and curling up on my side throughout the movie under blankets and under the stars while listening to the magical music. It was a wonderful and unique experience. Such a great night, and I heard little things in the score I'd never noticed before! So that was really delightful.
Today, I went to see Hamilton at the Kennedy Center in DC. I was REALLY nervous about it and ended up leaving 2 1/2 hours early just to make sure I got into DC on time and there were no hiccups. For some reason, I worried that my ticket wouldn't be at Will Call; it was. And I worried my seat would be terrible; it wasn't (it was RIGHT in the middle of the opera house/theater). I was also worried that I wouldn't have the same bond with the characters because it wasn't going to be Lin-Manuel, Anthony, Leslie, Daveed, Renee, Christopher, Philipa, Oak, Groffsauce, etc. And I'm not going to lie, I definitely would have preferred to have seen it with the original cast. I love their portrayals SO MUCH. But I'm also super familiar with how they sing it. So it was actually a wonderful experience to get to see it the first time live with others' interpretations. Instead of comparing every single thing, I let them just make it their own. And there were still PLENTY of visual surprises and and blocking answers to questions I've had for years now. I enjoyed it more than words can say. I kept wanting to take notes about certain things--the way scenes were lit or things like John and Laurens with their arms around each other as they exit the stage after "The Story of Tonight." And I did make a couple notes when the show was over. But mostly I forgot the little details because I was so overwhelmed with how magnificent an overall performance it was. The singing was GORGEOUS, especially the actor who plays Hamilton and the actress who plays Eliza. And I still went through half a pack of tissues in Act 1 (I literally teared up the second it started and started crying during the very first song because I was overwhelmed with the beauty of getting to see it right there in person!) and a whole pack of tissues in Act 2 (I brought 3 packs with me total, so I only used half of what I brought! Not bad, I think!). The woman next to me was complaining that she wasn't catching all the words and was having a hard time understanding some. I totally understand that the magic of a play/musical is that you DON'T have to know it by heart to enjoy it the first time. But I also can't imagine spending $250-$600 on tickets for a show that I didn't know anything about. And I, personally, LOVED knowing every note and every word by heart so I could concentrate on the dancing and movements and delivery and everything other than the plot. Though, of course, I was fully swept away by the plot. I knew the Laurens song was going to kill me, and it did. That was when I sobbed for the first time during the show. I'm so glad the first time I heard it was in person (though I'd read it, including the stage directions, years ago, of course, so I was ready with the tissues); poor, sweet John Laurens. There really are no words for how beautiful and creative the staging is. The way the sound and lights work off each other. The way the two turntables help parts of songs move forward. The rewind. The war. The hurricane. The Reynolds Pamphlet. The forgiveness in Quiet Uptown. The three duels. Everything I knew would be stunning visually was even MORE than I could have imagined. Honestly, I loved every single second (except one of Burr's songs when he was creatively disobeying the tempo and it just did NOT work for me; he kept slowing down and speeding up and then hit the proper tempo and finally stayed there, but it felt rocky, not artistic, to that point). Afterward, I gathered up my tissues and hit the restroom, where I splashed water on my face for a few minutes. Lots of people adjusting their running make-up. Then I headed to the other side of the building in order to catch the free shuttle back to the Metro (Subway) and right there by the exit was the cast signing autographs! I didn't get everyone, but I did get the actor who played Hamilton and the actor who played Lafayette/Thomas Jefferson. I think having the two of them on there together is kind of a fun juxtiposition, don't you think? I missed 3 or 4 of the actors (we all let the kids go first and the actors didn't stay for long) and thought about staying to see who else might come out, but I was actually quite happy just meeting those two and getting their autographs. So I headed out. I'm still in a daze, and my eyes are so tired & dry; go figure. But it was such a magical, wonderful performance. I was SO worried I wouldn't like it as much because it wasn't the original cast. And maybe that's still true; I didn't like it as much. But I was also able to really enjoy it the way I probably wouldn't have enjoyed it on the same level if I'd been internally squeeing at the celebrities on stage "OMG OMG OMG ANTHONY'S FRECKLES! OMG OMG DAVEED'S SPEED DELIVERING LINES! OMG OMG OMG LIN-MANUEL!!!!!!!!!! Wait, were they just singing? I completely missed it. Did I mention FRECKLES???!!!!" So I could enjoy this performance without being star-struck and distracted. And I definitely, definitely enjoyed it. I feel SO glad it came to my town and I got to see it. And I am glad that past!Kate thought that the week of July 4 would be an expecially appropriate/patriotic time to see it in Washington, DC. Well done, past!Me!
*happy sigh*
Okay. Going to work out, shower, cook dinner, and print some labels for a new computer inventory process I'm starting at work tomorrow (the work printer hates printing labels for me, and I just had to buy myself new computer ink so I could get these printed this weekend.)
Oh, and Camp NaNoWriMo? I lost a WHOLE paragraph (several hundred words) the other day. And I am REALLY behind. I wrote a little by hand on the metro on my way home today (Strokesfic!), but I'm SO BEHIND. And I have 4 things to build for Brickfair and have built exactly NONE things. So... this is going to be a busy week ahead as I try to play catch up! But, right now? I'm happy. I'm SO HAPPY. I'm happier than I've been in a long, long, long time. I want to just bottle this happy so I can remember it exactly this way for always.
Last week, I managed to work out EVERY DAY (2 of those days were just stretching or foam roller routines, but it still counts).
I also just finished what will most likely be my last pet-sitting gig for
melydia. Several of her cats aren't so fond of guests when she has us over, but when it's just them and me, usually all it takes is me sitting patiently for 30-45 seconds and the scared ones come right over for love. It's kind of nice having cats that would normally be hesitant come right over and flop over onto their backs or put their paws up in the air to indicate they want more petting. I'm going to miss being able to hang out with her three cats all on my own when they're not afraid of me. And both her tutles came out to say hi to me at least once as well, which was nice (last time I pet-sat, one of her turtles hid every time I came in the room, so this was a lovely change). Friday, I assembled all of my stuffed animals for a group photo. There were a lot of them. Like, 300. I packed 'em in, but they still didn't take up my two couches and living room floor, so plenty of room to grow. LOL Afterward, I might have rolled around in the big pile of soft plush and fluff for a while. That was quite lovely. Definitely a fun and comforting sensation.
I started my fifth list of 101 Things in 1001 Days. I'm feeling really good about the list. It's a lot of things that will challenge me and that I've been meaning to do but have never gotten off my bum to do. So I think it'll be very good for me. My list this round: https://just-the-things.dreamwidth.org/425939.html
Saturday I volunteered at the library, ran errands, got my car state inspection (it passed, but my rear brakes on on their last legs, so I need to get those replaced this month), and then went to Wolf Trap, an outdoor National Park concert venue. I was instructed to park on the grass with the front of my car literally touching the road to get out. So all I had to do was pull forward and I was out of the parking lot; best parking spot ever. I was also instucted to stand in a side entrance line which turned out to be 1-entirely in the shade and 2-adjacent to the spot my group and I had decided to pick to picnic in. We had a nice picnic before the show, but I brought WAY too much water, and one of my 4 water bottles leaked in my bag. Oops! We saw Harry Potter & the Prisoner of Azkaban with the National Symphony Orchestra doing the whole score. I saw all the LotR movies that way and HP1, and I loved doing it with HP3 as well, even though I'd forgotten until last night just how much I HATE that movie. I was actually mad each time something came up to remind me of how terrible it is. But I brought my Morgan Bear and three blankets and a hoodie. So I ended up stretching out and curling up on my side throughout the movie under blankets and under the stars while listening to the magical music. It was a wonderful and unique experience. Such a great night, and I heard little things in the score I'd never noticed before! So that was really delightful.
Today, I went to see Hamilton at the Kennedy Center in DC. I was REALLY nervous about it and ended up leaving 2 1/2 hours early just to make sure I got into DC on time and there were no hiccups. For some reason, I worried that my ticket wouldn't be at Will Call; it was. And I worried my seat would be terrible; it wasn't (it was RIGHT in the middle of the opera house/theater). I was also worried that I wouldn't have the same bond with the characters because it wasn't going to be Lin-Manuel, Anthony, Leslie, Daveed, Renee, Christopher, Philipa, Oak, Groffsauce, etc. And I'm not going to lie, I definitely would have preferred to have seen it with the original cast. I love their portrayals SO MUCH. But I'm also super familiar with how they sing it. So it was actually a wonderful experience to get to see it the first time live with others' interpretations. Instead of comparing every single thing, I let them just make it their own. And there were still PLENTY of visual surprises and and blocking answers to questions I've had for years now. I enjoyed it more than words can say. I kept wanting to take notes about certain things--the way scenes were lit or things like John and Laurens with their arms around each other as they exit the stage after "The Story of Tonight." And I did make a couple notes when the show was over. But mostly I forgot the little details because I was so overwhelmed with how magnificent an overall performance it was. The singing was GORGEOUS, especially the actor who plays Hamilton and the actress who plays Eliza. And I still went through half a pack of tissues in Act 1 (I literally teared up the second it started and started crying during the very first song because I was overwhelmed with the beauty of getting to see it right there in person!) and a whole pack of tissues in Act 2 (I brought 3 packs with me total, so I only used half of what I brought! Not bad, I think!). The woman next to me was complaining that she wasn't catching all the words and was having a hard time understanding some. I totally understand that the magic of a play/musical is that you DON'T have to know it by heart to enjoy it the first time. But I also can't imagine spending $250-$600 on tickets for a show that I didn't know anything about. And I, personally, LOVED knowing every note and every word by heart so I could concentrate on the dancing and movements and delivery and everything other than the plot. Though, of course, I was fully swept away by the plot. I knew the Laurens song was going to kill me, and it did. That was when I sobbed for the first time during the show. I'm so glad the first time I heard it was in person (though I'd read it, including the stage directions, years ago, of course, so I was ready with the tissues); poor, sweet John Laurens. There really are no words for how beautiful and creative the staging is. The way the sound and lights work off each other. The way the two turntables help parts of songs move forward. The rewind. The war. The hurricane. The Reynolds Pamphlet. The forgiveness in Quiet Uptown. The three duels. Everything I knew would be stunning visually was even MORE than I could have imagined. Honestly, I loved every single second (except one of Burr's songs when he was creatively disobeying the tempo and it just did NOT work for me; he kept slowing down and speeding up and then hit the proper tempo and finally stayed there, but it felt rocky, not artistic, to that point). Afterward, I gathered up my tissues and hit the restroom, where I splashed water on my face for a few minutes. Lots of people adjusting their running make-up. Then I headed to the other side of the building in order to catch the free shuttle back to the Metro (Subway) and right there by the exit was the cast signing autographs! I didn't get everyone, but I did get the actor who played Hamilton and the actor who played Lafayette/Thomas Jefferson. I think having the two of them on there together is kind of a fun juxtiposition, don't you think? I missed 3 or 4 of the actors (we all let the kids go first and the actors didn't stay for long) and thought about staying to see who else might come out, but I was actually quite happy just meeting those two and getting their autographs. So I headed out. I'm still in a daze, and my eyes are so tired & dry; go figure. But it was such a magical, wonderful performance. I was SO worried I wouldn't like it as much because it wasn't the original cast. And maybe that's still true; I didn't like it as much. But I was also able to really enjoy it the way I probably wouldn't have enjoyed it on the same level if I'd been internally squeeing at the celebrities on stage "OMG OMG OMG ANTHONY'S FRECKLES! OMG OMG DAVEED'S SPEED DELIVERING LINES! OMG OMG OMG LIN-MANUEL!!!!!!!!!! Wait, were they just singing? I completely missed it. Did I mention FRECKLES???!!!!" So I could enjoy this performance without being star-struck and distracted. And I definitely, definitely enjoyed it. I feel SO glad it came to my town and I got to see it. And I am glad that past!Kate thought that the week of July 4 would be an expecially appropriate/patriotic time to see it in Washington, DC. Well done, past!Me!
*happy sigh*
Okay. Going to work out, shower, cook dinner, and print some labels for a new computer inventory process I'm starting at work tomorrow (the work printer hates printing labels for me, and I just had to buy myself new computer ink so I could get these printed this weekend.)
Oh, and Camp NaNoWriMo? I lost a WHOLE paragraph (several hundred words) the other day. And I am REALLY behind. I wrote a little by hand on the metro on my way home today (Strokesfic!), but I'm SO BEHIND. And I have 4 things to build for Brickfair and have built exactly NONE things. So... this is going to be a busy week ahead as I try to play catch up! But, right now? I'm happy. I'm SO HAPPY. I'm happier than I've been in a long, long, long time. I want to just bottle this happy so I can remember it exactly this way for always.
