I’ve been obsessed with the show.
Obsessed. I’ve listened to certain songs 50 times, if I’ve listened to them once. I sing these same few all the time.

It’s not the story that has got me, even though I do really, really like the story.

It’s two things:
a) the part was written for my voice musically. If I was 20 years younger, I could be Elphaba.
b) the lyrics to several of the songs just pack such a punch for me. They are, for totally different reasons than how they serve the plot, my songs.

I’m not sure why I found it necessary to share that but I did.

Still and all, I need to get this show out of my head.

I guess my fondness for the word was prophetic, as I seem to have WAY more than average fondness for the thing itself.  I have so many little things…buttons and magnets and ticket stubs and photographs.  Before I went digital, I made photo albums.  I don’t want to know how many there are, but let’s just say they take up a 4 shelf bookcase. 

One of my collections is of ticket stubs.  I don’t always remember, but when I do, I keep the stubs to plays, concerts, ballets, operas, etc.  At one point, I put all that I had collected into a collage that I hang on my wall.  Well, the collage got really sun-faded, and I needed the wall space.  So I’m trying to re-collage them (I made up that word, too) to a plain wooden box that I purchased long ago at a craft store, back when I thought I might become crafty.  I’m working on that project now.  Due to drying time, it’s going to take a long time. And it’s become evident that not everything is going to fit, so I may need to acquire a second wooden box.  I’m guessing these wooden boxes will end up storing more memorabilia. Sigh. 

It’s been a fun process so far, though.  I’d forgotten how many wonderful things I got to see when I was younger.  Just seeing a show name on a stub brings back crazy memories.  I was a music major, and thus, went to a lot of stuff. I also worked at our performing arts center, and got comp tickets twice a semester.  I worked at the National Music Camp at Interlochen, and saw 6 performances a week for 4 summers.  I’ve also been in my fair share of things.  I’ve lost probably 75% of the stubs, but I still have tons.  I’d totally forgotten seeing Spyro Gyra, for example, and Carmina Burina (which I now remember seeing in Indianapolis while at a conference…I thought I was SO grown up), and Foxfire.  I remembered the Hubbard Street Dance Company, but I hadn’t remembered seeing them twice.  I’ve found stubs that are for shows that I was in….my parents must have given me the stubs afterward, and stubs for sentimental favorites–my first professional musical  (Godspell), the first musical I directed (Wizard of Oz), tickets to Rent that I was supposed to see with a date—who backed out of both the show and my life at the last minute.  I went anyway. Musicals are always better than tearfests. 

My grandmother had done this with postage stamps on a cigar box.  I always loved playing with that box, and wondering what the letters had contained.  Maybe my little ticket stub box will evoke similar mysteries for someone else. 

At the very least, it will get the stuff off my wall!

I made great progress on my cleanup project last weekend.  I have just 2 closets and one junk drawer to go before I’ve completed everything I set out to do.  (And one of the closets is going to be rather easy.) I expect to be done by the weekend. Then I must get cracking on some outstanding written projects. I seriously have worked my butt off on this project (perhaps that’s part of feeling so yucky, I don’t know) what with the moving furniture around and hauling bag upon bag out to the car….this is serious clean out folks!

Once THAT’s done, it’s back to finishing up that sermon project I started this summer (the one where I’m getting rid of all the paper copies of my sermons).  I like to have projects for the winter months, else sloth sets in.

But for now, sniffle, sniffle, sniffle sneeze, hack!

This weekend, I’m working on my entry way which has a lot of closets.  I had hoped to move a dresser into the coat closet to free up room for a bookcase (moving that from the dust trap), but it’s too big.  Rats. I’m trying to move these bookcases to spread them out in the apt. instead of loading them all in one room where they get out of control, but, though it’s a big apartment, it’s an apartment, and there are some limits of time and space.

LMK has found the furniture moving and sorting and purging process stressful. He is, you see, Lord of All He Surveys.

I am very easily distracted today (looking up essential things like how do they do elphaba’s makeup for the musical wicked online–because I really needed to know that. Now. ) I hope I can hold it together to get this hallway done.

I’m getting excited about having everything cleaned and sorted. Well, not everything, but everything on my list.  I feel organized when my place is organized.

1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before?

Went to Scotland.
2. Did you keep your New Years’ Resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don’t think I made any New Year’s resolutions last year. I think for next year, I’ll resolve to not make any resolutions.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

Alex’s baby was born in 2007, but joined their family in 2008. I think that counts.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
Close to me, no, but important to me? Paul Newman.

5. What countries did you visit?
US, Scotland.

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
A good job.

7. What date from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
None, really.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Getting the grant stuff pretty well situated.

9. What was your biggest failure?
Several failed job applications. Losing my wonderful part-time job (not a failure, per se, it was a temporary gig, but it feels like a failure.)

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

No.

11. What was the best thing you bought?

new guitar.
12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
TYCWP

13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
hmmm….a lot of people. My expectations are unrealistically high.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Student loans, and rent.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
A few of the jobs I interviewed for, the accomplishments of some rock-stars…traveling.

16. What song will always remind you of 2008?
I’d say, “I can’t wait to See You Again.” Yes, that is a Miley Cyrus song. No, I don’t own it. But yes, I have heard dozens of little girls sing it for stage nights at camp.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? the same.
ii. thinner or fatter? fatter (sigh)
iii. richer or poorer? poorer, but not by much.

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Exercising.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Eating. Fretting.

20. How did you spend Christmas?
At parent’s with family.

21. What LJ users did you meet?
I don’t think I met anyone that I had not previously met.

22. Did you fall in love in 2008?
no

23. How many one-night stands?
Um, none.

24. What was your favourite TV program?
Desperate Housewives. (i know, I know… shallow.. but fun!)

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
No.

26. What was the best book you read?

Nothing springs to mind. That’s sad.I did read 63 books, though…..

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
That the old girl still has it (I made a few self-recordings.)

28. What did you want and get?
a guitar.

29. What did you want and not get?
a good job. a size six figure.(Although seriously, just wanting that without leaving the couch doesn’t really count.)

30. What was your favourite film of this year?
I only saw 3: Sex and the City, Wall-E and that one about the dog. I liked Sex and the City the best.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

I turned 27 in early December. I spent it in Florida, volunteering at camp.

32.What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
sweater sets. I like sweater sets.
34. What kept you sane?
facebook? the internet?  seriously, the internet is the best thing ever.

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Paul Newman.

36. What political issue stirred you the most?

The marriage equality issues. I still don’t understand how a right can be removed.
37. Who did you miss?
Lana.

38. Who was the best new person you met?
I have a new friend at work who is really funny.

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.
Just do it.  I guess Nike said that first, but I am seconding the emotion.

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.

I’ve heard it said
That people come into our lives for a reason
Bringing something we must learn
And we are led
To those who help us most to grow
If we let them
And we help them in return
Well, I don’t know if I believe that’s true
But I know I’m who I am today
Because I knew you:

Like a comet pulled from orbit
As it passes a sun
Like a stream that meets a boulder
Halfway through the wood
Who can say if I’ve been changed for the better?
But because I knew you
I have been changed for good
(Wicked)

The room is a disaster. The kitty litter dust gets kicked EVERYWHERE. Both cats are kickers. And then there are those 100o plus books to absorb it. 

I began tackling it yesterday afternoon. First of all, and perhaps most important, I’m culling through books. REALLY culling through books.  I have 8 of those re-usable grocery bags full of books to give away.  I also have 2 tubs of books to go through, still. Yes, I ran out of space, and started storing books in rubbermaid tubs. (In my defense, I only have 1 shelf of personally owned books at work.) I’m getting ruthless in my culling, and hope that when I finish this room, I’ll be just as ruthless in the bedroom. (The books are going to the book bank that I’m so fond of.) What’s killing me is that even though I’m being super ruthless, I still don’t have an empty shelf. I had been double stacking the books. 

The dust, though…Oh the dust…..2 rolls of paper towels and counting.  Not surprisingly, this is the only room that the domestic goddess does not clean. This was at first to both save money and give the cats a place to hide during the onslaught. Clearly, I need to take on cleaning this room much more often.  

Right now the smell is overwhelming (nothing like kicking up a lot of dust to make it worse!) so I have the windows open and some fans going to try to force the air out.  

I have to take frequent breaks, as in at least every 45 minutes.  I’m feeling like I’m a youth group work project, and afterward everyone will get together and sing kumbyah and talk about how people get themselves into such a horrible state. 

Ay. 

Well, I have some errands to run later today, and the plan is to finish this room (but not the closet yet) today.  The rest of my break (I go back to work on Friday), I need to do all the outrageous amounts of grant paperwork (barf), and hope to also tackle the junk closet and my bedroom closets. 

Some people might actually relax while on vacation!

Where did I see that? Anyone know?  I want to use it for something, but it’s lost to me.

1.Started my own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than I can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sung a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched lightning at sea
14. Taught myself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child (someday)
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown my own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitchhiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run (Are you kidding me? hit the ball once, though!)
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of my ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught myself a new language (I’m counting this–I took French in high school–forget it all–and re-taught myself enough to go to France a few years ago….that counts, right?)
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance (I’m counting this one–though I wasn’t the victim–I rode in the back with a camper.)
47. Had my portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris (halfway up is all I got).
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63.Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone (I am the reigning princess of broken bones)
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had my picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person (and I remember it!)
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Ridden an elephant

I had never heard of her before, Vashti McKenzie, and that’s a crying shame.  I found her so very engaging during the interview, and the snippet of her sermon at the National Cathedral made me want to hear the whole thing–and that’s rare for me–I love sermons in context, but I’m not someone who listens to podcasts of sermons. 

I would love to hear her someday, and will be looking for her books. 

Speaking of faith has a nice blog, too, with cool comments by the staff. 

Hope you and yours had a nice Thanksgiving.

But, I like to think that thanksgiving is an experience not a day, so here are the things I am thankful for this week: 

* that I have a place to go for Christmas to look forward to. 

* that I have enough money to buy chicken and pie and movies. 

* that I have two very exciting opportunities ahead of me for the year–neither are sure things, but both are very likely. 

* that I have a pretty girl kitty and a goofy boy kitty who love me, and who are healthy. 

* that I joined a gym. that’s a weird thanksgiving, I know. I hate working out. But I’m grateful that when there’s something less than optimal about my health, I have enough resources to do something about it. 

* my computer and internet connection: my passport to the world outside my door. 

* camp 

* Diet Coke.

* music

* getting to go to Scotland last spring. 

* my family. 

* my friends. 

* young ministers that inspire me, and old ones that motivate me. A great cloud of witnesses that surrounds me. 

* you.