"rent" the movie

I did see the original Broadway cast when it came out 10 years ago. It was pretty amazing. I think it also makes a difference to be in New York at that time. 10 years ago, where they were living was probably the worst part of town, but now, it has been gentrified and became a hip place to be. I was also commenting to dwayne what a strange experience it must be for the original cast to go back to a role that they did 10 years ago. I think it gave me more of an appreciation for guys like Taye and Jesse. Anyway, I'm planning on seeing it, but I would prefer to have Dwayne see the stage show rather than the movie first.

Debbie Helmberger and I getting CRAZY at The Southern Junction...I mean come on- don't we look CRAZY!? Okay maybe we don't....but she's go 7 kids- THAT'S CRAZY! 

"Rent" the movie

So.....we saw "Rent" on the night it opened in movie theatres....

Um...this is how I feel- it is worth seeing. However, if you have seen the show as a play you will be dissapointed. There's just something about being in New York and being a part of that atmosphere that adds to seeing the show staged. You're in New York and you feel NY and you are a part of it- and you get the show. However, seeing it in a movie theatre in Dallas just doesn't make you feel part of the city and like you understand where these people are coming from. So much of that show was built on that NY atmosphere and bohemian attitude. It's lost on the screen.

Also, "Rent" is sort of a non-musical musical. I mean, it was not a show intended to be cheesy or cliche like other musicals, and for some reason on the screen it became that way. There were parts that were downright cheesy. On the stage it was just cool and edgy and original. I don't know. I was happy with it, but the stage production is just so much cooler. But of course, if you see the movie you can just go see the stage production some day and be very pleased. Either way, I recommend seeing it. The music is great, and the cast is stellar. When I saw the show I saw a few of those people. Jenny you've seen that show yes? I'm sure you saw a few more of the OBC than I did. I saw the more recent cast.

Oh, and everybody in the show really does have AIDS. As I heard this weekend...


"525,600 minutes...until I get AIDS-"

My week off...

So I had an entire week off...kindof. I worked about 25 hours at Old Navy during my "week off" from work. Oh well. It wasn't that bad.

So I spent Thanksgiving at the Goldapps. That was interesting. First of all, we started drinking at, oh, 9 a.m. Mimosas? Is that how you spell it? Anyways, it's a drink made of orange juice and champagne. (Does the orange juice qualify the drink as "breakfast"?) I don't know anyways, the best thing was that at 9 a.m. Cameron's uncle Kent (that they call "Uncle Bill". I don't know??) offered up Mimosas....to which Cameron's Grandma responds "Make mine strong!" It was hilarious.

So we drank and relaxed and watched Cameron's brother's/sister in-law's new baby Emory.....it mainly just sat there and looked cute. We ate Thanksgiving dinner around 2 ish? And then we played board games.....for roughly 5 hours. It was actually really fun. A little Trivial Pursuit (Cameron and I won because he's a genius) followed by some Cranium (losers) and then some Scattergories.....of course the entire time we're watching the Dallas Cowboys game which I don't give a shit about. But oh well. It was at least a good game.

Then we watched The Apprentice....which I also don't give a shit about. Oooo but let me mention this- Cameron is friends with this guy Bowie (sp?) who I met one night when we were out. Funny thing about Bowie- um, he was on the first season of The Apprentice. So I know someone famous.....yep, that pretty much makes me famous.

The shows didn't go as great as I hoped this weekend, but oh well. Um, the first one was really good and a lot of my friends from work came to see it....however MY PERFORMANCE- thumbs down. I was terrible. Luckily everyone else was hysterical and the audience was happy so that is great.

Second night- TERRIBLE. I personally didn't have a bad show. However, the show as a whole was terrible because some of the people performing. Oh well. I'm not doing it again until after Christmas, so I can just wipe that one off the record.

This week is busy- I have to have auditions for my One Act Play for competition this week. I'm excited. I think a lot of kids will come out and audition (hopefully or I'm screwed). The Theatre Club is also having a lock-in on Friday....and I have to be the adult supervision. Yeah, just let that roll around in your brain for a minute- I'M GOING TO PROVIDE ADULT SUPERVISION FOR SOMETHING. Being an adult SUCKS.

I'm posting a picture I think....In a post a bit ago I mentioned that Cam and I were going country dancing with the Helmbergers. Well, we had a BLAST, and we learned how to three-step. So we're pretty excited about that. Anyways, I'm posting a picture that I took of Debbie and I.

Love you guys and miss you as always. Good news- I may be flying home for Christmas? Hopefully.

Take care!

Happy Thanksgiving

Hope the holiday was good. Mine was great, but I missed everyone a lot.

Can't wait to see everyone on Christmas.

Lins

La Vita e' Bella

Okay, so Dwayne recommended a movie to me probably 5 years ago...that I finally watched.

Cameron made me watch this movie La Vita e' Bella (Life is Beautiful) telling me how wonderful it was....

And he was right. Wow. It's an Italian film with subtitles..and it doesn't even matter. It's so incredible.

Mom, if you do NOTHING ELSE OVER THANKSGIVING BREAK.....WATCH THIS MOVIE.

Testing

I am just testing to see if I am anywhere near right on this blog thing. I have no idea who may or may not read this, so at this point we will just leave it as a test. If my kids are the ones reading this - love to you all.

Lins News this week

Okay, so I have a busy week. Here's what's up-

This week I am so anxious b/c I get a WEEK vacation next week! Woo hoo! one of the only great things about being a teacher....of course it is going to super-suck b/c I will work at Old Navy, and as we know (andy), next week brings Black Friday. So that will be crazy.

I'm working and stuff this week (at both jobs) and then Friday a little break. My surrogate family, The Helmbergers (Catholic, 7 kids, several of my students, mom is a teacher), are celebrating their wedding anniversary by going out dancing. They invited a bunch of the teachers and their spouses (only the cool ones), and so Cam and I are going to at least do that for a while on Friday. He has a corporate show that night, but we're going to go out afterwards.

Sunday I am going to a baby shower of one of my students.....weird. But flattering that I got invited.

Next week I'll be working, as I said. However I will have Wednesday and Thursday off. Awesome. I don't have enough money to come home for Thanksgiving (awesome), so I'm having Thanksgiving with the Goldapps. That should be fun. Have I mentioned how much Cameron's parents are EXACTLY like our parents? Carbon copy almost.

Next week- awesome event! I have been performing with this improv troupe, The Big Show, at the West End Comedy Theatre, and next week Cameron is performing in the same show. Our friend Dan (I think andy amy, mom and dad all met Dan. He has the wife Kim who got hit by the bull and they have a cute little girl that I used to babysit) is also performing, so that should be not only a good show, but also fun. A bunch of our friends are coming to see the show. We're excited!!!!

Let's see...what else is going on? Oh, I'm sending you guys little postcards in the mail that you should get this week. They are so that you can get my employee discount for a few days. It tells you the days that you can get it. Also, every store should have a special time when "Friends and Family" can come and shop without other customers. Just call and find out the time. But either way, if you go to Old Navy with that coupon, you will get 20% off everything you buy. Merry F'in Christmas.

Speaking of Christmas, have we decided on a gift-giving plan yet? I need to start buying gifts (or not buying them). Let me know.

Also, wow, that e-mail that Andy sent out saying that my blog was self-involved and vain.....NOT THE RIGHT TIME FOR IT! I'm just saying. I was really down that night, and being depressed about my life (b/c that day I had worked my first job, then went to my second job, and then went back to take my kids on a field trip that I don't get paid extra for), and I was feeling like shit. Then I read this e-mail where Andy is a complete douche and makes me feel like a self-involved ass hole.....and I start crying all over myself. So, Andy, congratulations, you are still the biggest douchebag I've ever met.

I miss you guys. Post your news please.

More improv with my friend Dickey. 

Me doing improv with Cricket City Improv! Yay!  

Shots anyone? Partying in Dallas 

Mom, I don't think you ever got to see this for the alumni show. Sweet poster, right? 

Still testing out picture stuff. Okay, so posting pictures is really hard. It's complicated....well, it will be for mom. You boys won't have a hard time with it.  

Cameron and Lins partying hard in Dallas...and taking a moment to be affectionate...blegh! 

Welcome Note

Hey guys! Welcome to our new family blog! You can share news, photos, and pretty much just anything. Do I think blogs are lame? Yes. Have I tried my damnest to keep from creating one? Yes. However, I think that family is an acceptable reason for creating one. I miss you guys terribly, so keep me posted and I will keep you posted as well!

Lins