Blowin in the wind

After my softball game on Tuesday night in Encino (we lost but it was a good game) my teamates spotted what has to be the largest tumbleweed ever just chilling in the big dirt parking lot near the sports fields. It's also the first tubleweed I've seen outside of films and Bonanza. Who knew that they are simply a dead bush up rooted and rolling around? Not this Manhattanite.

We had to take photos in front of it for height comparisons, as you can see it's almost bigger than me (on the left). It looks like a bail of hay almost and even though the rolling weed was prickly and heavy, two of the girls picked the massive thing up.

Sweet Charity

Last night we caught an evening performance of Sweet Charity at the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood, which formerly was a movie house and home of The Academy Awards for 10 years. Compared to the tight theaters in Times Square this theater was pretty grand.  80s star Molly Ringwald plays the lead role as Charity Hope Valentine in the national tour of the free spirited late 60s musical about a lounge hall dancer in New York City trying to find love despite her profession and disappointments. There is also a film adaptation by Bob Fosse and stars another famous red head, Shirley MacLaine.  The story was written by the awesome Neil Simon (Odd Couple, The Goodbye Girl), and includes such hits as "Hey, Big Spender" and "If My Friends Could See Me Now."  The score has been playing in my head all night and this morning.

Two summers ago, I saw Sweet Charity on Broadway with Christina Applegate and really enjoyed the dancing and fun sets, plus Christina's quirkyness in the role and comedic timing. She also looked beautiful. I had blogged a review on the show here. It's too bad the musical didn't last long on Broadway though, but this production and choreography is based on the 2005 revival that I had originally seen. So the sets, costumes and dance numbers wee the same, just some new faces.

As for Molly, I always liked her but after seeing Applegate and MacLaine in the role, she came off looking more like orphan Annie in her red dress than the sexy and charming Sweet Charity. Her singing was better than I expected, no qualms there and I'm always impressed with actors that are triple threats, but I guess Molly is only a double threat since her dancing seemed forced and out done by the cast.  Just the fickle fingers of fate, I guess.

For more information on Sweet Charity and to see which cities the show will be stopping at next, go to: www.sweetcharitythemusical.com

Two glorious years

Today is my blog anniversary! :-D

It seems longer, but then again it also seems like just yesterday I was having an online poll to select a blog title. I had come up with a list of random titles for my friends to choose from. My blog was 3 votes away from being named 'Tiki Tara' or 'Tara's Tantrums' and 5 votes shy of being called 'A Blog With No Name.' The latter two wouldn't have been too bad. 

Stats:  

I've written 330 posts to date, that's 165 posts a year and averages to 14 entries a month

Paid $334 in hosting bills

Highest traffic days are Mondays and Wednesdays

I have two domains: WhenTaraMetBlog.com and TaraMetBlog.com; the first redirects visitors to the second

Received only eight negative comments (phew) but have been bashed on other blogs four times now

Almost gave up twice, but know that this blog has become a part of me and that life without it wouldn't be the same. I know, sad

Have a Google PageRank of 5

Been interviewed four times

Happy that you're reading this

Onion in a blender

"watch it spin around to a beautiful oblivion." Alright so Eve 6 sang 'heart' not 'onion' but it would do the same thing.

In fact, that's what happened to me yesterday. I had cooked brisket in a slow cooker for several hours mixed with apple juice, white wine, onion soup mix and 4 chopped onions. After the meat was done I poured all the cut onions and liquid into a blender to puree and make into a gravy. But it wouldn't start. So, my boyfriend starts pushing buttons at random to make it work, BUT he did not realize he had to hold down the top while doing so, just in case.

Boiling onion soup went flying around the kitchen, burning us and covering our counter, teapot, crockpot and cabinets. After running my hand under cold water, all I could do was laugh and clean it up.  I've only seen that happen in movies, yet he claims that he's never seen it--but I guess that part was already obvious. So, blenders erupting actually happens in real life too. 

PS: I scored my first media placement here at the new company, by getting my client in DM News (direct marketing news), check it out, New advergame builds brand Affinity. 

Step right up to the Costco Circus

Last night I opened a membership at Costco. Not at just any Costco but apparently the third busiest Costco in the country. The cashier said if I came on a weekend I'd never want to come back. The place was still a mad house after work and I was overwhelmed by the options. I needed paper plates but did I need a 200 count? I felt dwarfed by the shopping cart alone and was navigating like a child behind the wheel of a car as I swerved into each aisle adding soup, easy mac and other quick snacks into the cart. I wanted to get bottled water but couldn't even lift the thing to put it into the cart, so I gave up. It didn't help that I wasn't used to this store's layout since I'd only been to one in Connecticut before. A $50 membership and a $117 bill later I left with a headache and a filled trunk of junk that I probably didn't need. Can't wait to go back and get some more though :-/ 

Video: Wearing Patriotism on Your Sleeve (Or Back) My cousin, Ryan, designs the shirts featured in this video. Check it out.