One Man in His Time Plays Many Parts - His Acts Being Seven Ages

Last week, my friend J and I saw the Shakespeare play, As You Like It, at the Folger Theater.

I was a bit wary, given that I wasn’t thrilled with their staging of The Tempest this past spring, but I was pleasantly surprised. The acting was pretty consistent, although sometimes a bit on the hammy side, which can be expected. They threw in a little more gender-bending than it is usually staged, but it definitely worked in the spirit of the play. There was also a semi-celebrity playing Jaques – Joseph Marcell, who had played Geoffrey on the “Fresh Prince of Bel Air.”

We went to a preview performance of the play, so it was a little cheaper than normal. Yay! The set was very bare bones, but creative. A large part of the audience consisted of a busload of middle-school girls – I think it was a class trip- who looked like they had dressed up for the occasion. Oh, I’m so glad not to be 12 again . . .

For a full review, you can go here. Next up in a few weeks: The Taming of the Shrew.

Scenes from the Mall - Part II

The reflecting pool and the Washington Monument, seen from near the Lincoln Memorial.

The Vietnam Memorial

The World War II Memorial

Pictures from the excursion to see the Monuments a few weeks ago . . .

Scenes from the Mall - Part I

By the Korean War Memorial

Inside the Lincoln Memorial (Below: Outside the Lincoln Memorial)

What's the Buzz? Tell Me What's A Happenin'

Tree of Knowledge tagged me for a meme, and normally I would be all over it, but the problem is that my brain is having trouble with the concept at the moment and it seems WAY complicated for my little brain right now. I do thank Tree for the lovely mention though!

The Birthday Party – Mr. Random and I decided to get little P a fuzzy soft rabbit hand-puppet and a set of “Elephant and Piggy” books by Mo Willems (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mo_Willems). We LOVE Mr. Willems’ work, being fans of his sadly long departed “Sheep in the Big City” series. He also wrote for Sesame Street from 1993-2002.

The party . . . well, it was a one year old’s birthday party. P was oblivious to what was going on, didn’t care about the presents, was just happy to play with his ball and his trucks. These sorts of parties are just for the grown-ups, I think, although C & L did not seem to be having that great of a time, running around after the 4 little kids and making sure there was enough to eat and everyone was happy. L especially did not have time to finish any of her sentences. We will have to go see them again in a less frantic environment . . .

My sister is here! Yay! She has not done much besides sleep the past couple of days, but it was a rough trip over here. We drove down to visit my grandma yesterday, and my grandma was so happy to see her. We will play each day by ear. Her birthday is on Wednesday, so Mr. Random and I are going to take her out for some sushi – which is stuff they definitely don’t have in Iraq . . .

I have more to post, but if I don’t post now, it’ll be DAYS. I hope everyone had wonderful weekends!

Catching Up with My Random Life

Here are my “Random Bullets of Crap” to catch everyone up on what’s been going on with me:

Updates of the College Thing: I got a 97 on BOTH my Economics and my International Relations exams. Wooo Hooo! Rock on! However, I still have SO much work to do and can’t get complacent. I have a 5-7 page Econ paper due on Friday, and a 4 page Int’l Rel paper due on November 1. Econ homework problems due tomorrow. Econ exam coming up in three weeks. Much reading to be done. But at least I know I’m on the right track.

Speaking of the college thing, usually in most schools if you have part1 of a class at a certain day and time in the Fall semester, part 2 would be held at the same day and time for the Spring semester. Well, not at this school! Bummer! I have to take the next class either earlier in the day or much later, which will screw up the delicately balanced schedule that I have constructed around work and school. Not happy. I may just have to bite the bullet and reduce my work hours in the Spring, which while that would be great for my mental health, it will be quite lousy for the pocketbook.

Back to the Bard: The new theater season has started which means it’s time to go see some more plays! Tomorrow night I’m going to see Shakespeare’s “As You Like It” and in a few weeks (have to pin down the date soon) I hope to see “The Taming of the Shrew.” I LOVE being a “sophisticated theatergoer,” which is what my friend J and I like to call ourselves sometimes. One day, when I get my act together, I need to keep a list of all of the Shakespeare plays I’ve seen.

Movie Review: Saw "Rendition" on Saturday. It was OK, but it seemed like the writers should have just focused on one or two characters rather than having so many threads. Jake Gyllenhaal was pretty good, Reese Witherspoon did not seem to fit - in regards that she didn't have much to do except stand around and look indignant. Not enough Meryl Streep or Alan Arkin for my tastes. All of the actors who played in the North African parts were excellent, and as much as they were integral to the plot, I would have liked to see more about them and how they got to that point, instead of just all the hinting . . . I'm thinking that this is more a of rental in the future.

Pictures: I still have pictures to put up from the sightseeing we did last weekend. I did take the time to make the files “web ready,” I just need to figure out a better, easier way of posting them.

Observation: There is a young couple in my IR class, they can’t be more than 20 or 21 years old. Adorable. Quite smoochy. Sit next to each other when they show up to class. Last week, I noticed that the guy wasn’t taking any notes, but the girl was. I wanted to yell at the girl, “Don’t take notes for him! Make him do his own work!” I mean, I was kind of upset by that . . . my inner Feminist was not pleased.

Work Angst: I don’t know if I should talk about my work angst anymore. It’s hard to adequately convey the situation without you all knowing the place and the players. There’s a reason that most people who leave are hard and bitter for years afterward. I don’t want to get to that point, but I AM getting there . . .

National Novel Writing Month starts November 1st. Thirty days – 50,000 words. I’m in! I’m going to try. I’m setting my own mini goal of 10,000 words this year. http://www.nanowrimo.org/

Send Happy Vibes: My sister should be coming back to the states this week from Iraq for two weeks of R&R. Most of the time she is here she will be staying at the Random Condo with me and Mr. Random. Yay! She is supposed to fly out Wednesday night/Thursday, but it may take until Saturday for her to get here, since she is flying on a space available basis and has to change planes in Atlanta. I just want her to get here safely. I miss her a great deal and will be so happy to see her. Please send many happy vibes her way so that she has a safe trip here . . . anything can happen, you know. I’ve read too many stories about bad things happening at the last minute . . .

Status of the Random Condo: It’s a gosh-awful mess. It will be a miracle if we can get the place presentable in time for my sister to arrive. Need to at least get the bathroom and the guest room considerably neatened up. This also means that I will lose the use of my new desk/work area, but I can easily suck it up and work on my bed again for the next few weeks.

Updating of Wardrobe: Been going on a tear the past couple of weeks, getting some new clothes. Still haven’t found boots yet, but I do have a new winter coat . . . for once winter actually gets here. Get COLD, darn it! I’m trying to upgrade my wardrobe and have some nicer casual things that I can wear to school and on weekends, while at the same time upgrade my work wardrobe so at least I’ll feel like I look good not matter how lousy it is there . . .

Child’s Birthday Ideas: Have to go to a one year-old’s birthday party on Saturday. This child is not hurting for anything, so I am at a loss to know what to get him. He has very well-to-do parents, so I’m kind of feeling intimidated. Any ideas?

Overwhelmed: Yup, I’m there! There are a lot of wonderful things going on in my life right now, but are being outweighed by one really lousy one. It’s a big mental bummer. But I press onward, trying to stay optimistic.

I hope everything is going well for you, my lovely readers! I’m waving cheerfully at you through cyberspace and sending many happy vibes your way.

Going to the "Mall"

Mommanator duly noted that there are a ton of changes going on in my life right now, and maybe it wouldn’t be the wisest decision at the moment to dump the job, too. This is also advice that I personally would give anyone who came up to me with the same “symptoms.”

However, I’m sure you all have figured out by now that I suck at taking my own advice.

My horoscope over the weekend said something to the effect that I should start enjoying the "now" moments and that will make me feel better. The Sunday job section had an article about how leaving your current job in an emotional huff may not be the wisest thing in the world.

OK, OK, OK, UNIVERSE! I get the hint. Thanks! Kisses! 8^*

I had a wonderful Saturday. My friend J had a friend come into town who wanted to do touristy things, so touristy things we did.

Now there were a ton of things going on this weekend in DC that were quite noteworthy – the Solar Decathlon on the Mall, the opening of the Annie Leibovitz exhibit, along with an Ansel Adams exhibit, at the Corcoran, and an Edward Hopper exhibit . However, these are Random Kath-type activities, which normal people with only a day to spend in the Nation’s Capital don’t usually choose at first blush . . .

So we started the afternoon by having some yummy barbeque at Red, Hot and Blue. The friend is a sort of barbeque connoisseur, and he pronounced his ribs to be very good. Then we rode up to the National Mall, where we spent a bit of time trying to find a parking space. We found one nearby the Washington Monument (which as it turned out was a permit spot where we later found a $20 parking ticket on our windshield) and proceeded to visit several of the popular memorials.

We visited: the World War Two Memorial, the Vietnam Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial and the Korean War Memorial. Whew! Quite a few people around, since it was such a gorgeous day, and quite a bit of walking.

To see DC through the eyes of an honest-to-goodness, un-jaded, Midwestern American, is refreshing. Living around here all of the time, it is so easy to get so used to all of these iconic buildings and monuments and start viewing the huddled masses who come to the city on a daily basis as PITAs who are only here to tie up traffic, stop short and stand in the middle of sidewalks, and keep us regional residents from reaching our appointed rounds in a timely manner. But there are a lot of gosh, golly, gee and awe-inspiring things here, and playing tour guide reminds me of just how fabulous it is to live here so close to so much.

After the whirlwind tour, we stopped in Alexandria and got some ice cream at a local shop. The friend then went back to the hotel, which allowed J and I to head over to the Salvation Army for a little bit to do some thrift shop rummaging. I found a very nice, usually expensive wool sweater for only $4, an Asian-inspired black velvet vest for $10, and a flowy sort-of house/day dress for only $5, so I only spent $20. Yay!

All-in-all, good times were had. Being out and about always makes me happy and I’m hoping I have another fun weekend outing very, very soon . . . they do a soul quite well . . .

Friday Random Song in my Head

This is a song that my Mom said she used to use to quiet me to sleep when I was a baby. It was the only one that would work, she says.

Even today, I still think it is a beautiful and comforting song, especially with Art Garfunkel’s voice . . .

Here’s a little history of the song.

Paul Simon was right: you CAN tell that the third verse was tacked on later. I still love all the verses equally though, and agree that the song probably did need a third verse. It’s also interesting to see the names of everyone who has covered the song – that sounds like a future project, to collect all of the different cover versions of the song!

Bridge Over Troubled Water

Simon and Garfunkel (1970)

When you´re weary, feeling small

When tears are in your eyes, I'll dry them all...all...

I´m on your side, oh, when times get rough

And friends just can´t be found

Like a bridge over troubled water

I will lay me down

Like a bridge over troubled water

I will lay me down

When you´re down and out

When you´re on the street

When evening falls so hard

I will comfort you (ooh)

I´ll take your part, oh, when darkness comes

And pain is all around

Like a bridge over troubled water

I will lay me down

Like a bridge over troubled water

I will lay me down

(brief instrumental interlude)

Sail on silver girl

Sail on by

Your time has come to shine

All your dreams are on their way

See how they shine

Oh, if you need a friend

I´m sailing right behind

Like a bridge over troubled water

I will ease your mind

Like a bridge over troubled water

I will ease your mind

What's New, Pussycat? Woe, Woe, Woe

The Random Non-profit is wearying me to no end.

Sometimes you know that you have to make a change, but you don’t because there are always 8 million excuses – many very legitimate – but excuses just the same.

I think I am done freaking out about school for a while. Now I know how stuff works, what my schedule needs to be, what to expect, where I need to shore up my deficiencies. I can DO this! I am excited and confident. It may not go as perfectly as I hoped, but I can get through it pretty well I think. I have to keep in mind that the goal is to learn a lot and enjoy it . . . and get the piece of paper at the end so I can say I have one. Oh, and eventually get a Master’s degree. Because, that’s what I’ve wanted to do all along, but there’s the pesky thing about finishing undergrad. Mr. Random says I would do just as well as or better than the people in his program, and observing his work I’m like, “I can TOTALLY do that!” So I persevere.

The Random Non-profit? Not so much . . .

Since Mr. Random has moved on to another job and I have started school, I’m not as willing to suffer foolishness gladly anymore. I have other stuff to worry about. I’m not finding the same commitment or ardor in my work. Now, don’t misunderstand me, I am still very committed to the cause for which the organization labors and I still hold highly my interactions with the field and my determination to do my very best to provide them with the information and guidance that they need in an efficient and professional manner. It’s all this internal BS – all these roadblocks and layers and randomly annoying meetings – that has just pushed me to my limits. To use my favorite metaphor, I’m like a vacuum that can only suck up so much crap. The organization keeps going through the same cycles and questions and angst – which way do we want to go today? – and I’ve been here enough years to have been through three or four of these things, and each time the process was very long and drawn out and soul-killing.

I’ve worked in a number of places and I know that each place has its own problems and very special brands of dysfunction, but man! This place takes the cake. And I need to leave before I get so frustrated and angry that I damage my own reputation in a fit of pique. And it is getting to that point . . . getting wicked sick last week showed me that.

My life is more than my job. Yes, the job provides money which comes in rather handy, but it is no good if I spend every day with my stomach tied up in knots or crying out of utter frustration.

Parameters: Need flexibility to go to class two mornings a week. Can glom onto Mr. Random’s health insurance, but I can’t earn too much less than I’m earning right now, just because of the mortgage and stuff. Could freelance but no one I know is in need of any help right now, or they don’t have any money to hire me.

I have no idea what to do though . . . where do I begin? That is my question of the day. Need to figure it out fairly quickly . . .

Ten Second Random Movie Review

Photo by James Devaney - © WireImage.com - Image courtesy WireImage.com

Saw the new George Clooney movie, Michael Clayton, over the weekend. It was playing in only one theater in the area – I read that it only opened in 15 theaters in the country this week - and it will open wider within the next few weeks.

I don’t see that many movies, but darn it, I really liked this movie. It is a really gripping drama and you have to pay close attention through the whole thing. It isn’t violent, but in some ways it is disturbing and it will make you think a bit. If you like fast-paced action movies, this isn’t one of those.

I can’t really talk about the plot without giving some stuff away, but you can easily search for info online. George Clooney and Tom Wilkinson were awesome and Tilda Swinton was very believable as a General Counsel who is in way over her head. I identified with the insecurity way too much . . .

The scene that most disturbed me in the film, was a scene that happened much too quickly – but that was the whole point of it, I think . . .

If you like this kind of movie, please do go see it and support this sort of thoughtful film. And George doesn’t look too bad in it either . . .

Momma Needed A New Pair of Shoes

[Girly post alert: The below post contains a discussion about shoes. If you aren’t into that sort of thing, you can just read the first two paragraphs and consider yourself done. I promise it won’t hurt my feelings!]

So my exams are over now. One I know I did pretty well with, the other one . . . well, not as well. For the second exam, my brain just sort of gave out on me, and afterwards I was kicking myself for missing obvious things. I don’t know if it was because one exam was at 7:30 to 9:30 in the evening and the other was at 9:30 in the morning – I didn’t have enough “refresher time” for the second one, I guess. Plus, I had worked myself into a tizzy about both exams so I was bound to psych myself out on one of them. It kind of sucked that they were scheduled one right after another, and it’s going to happen that way for the final too, so I’m going to have to figure out an efficient way to handle studying for both at the same time . . .

So, being despondent when I left my exam today, I thought it would be a fine time to go look for some new pairs of boots. I usually wear my boots and shoes into the ground (I hate shoe shopping!) so I definitely feel the need for a couple of pairs of dress boots before the true cold weather sets in.

I went to a semi-famous shoe outlet and was rather disappointed in both the short and tall boot selections. Either the heels were too tall and I could see myself (a) tripping and falling a lot or (b) looking like I should stand on 14^th street, or the heels were too low and the boots looked pretty dumpy. I’m pretty short, but I’m also pretty picky and I don’t feel the need to add another 4 or 5 inches to my height. It is also a terrible time finding shoes in my size – usually my size is snapped up pretty quickly. I also have the problem of wearing one size for one type of shoe and another size for another type of shoe, so I really have to try EVERYTHING on and walk around in them – no “off the rack” shoes for me!

Feeling even more grumpy, I moved around the store to look at other stuff and then these two pairs of shoes caught my eye. They were actually sitting right across from each other and seemed to call out my name.

I was very excited to see the Mary Janes – They are black suede with patent leather trim. I have a very, very old pair that are black suede that I bought about 7 years ago and I could never find a pair in that style to replace them. I have been still wearing the old pair, even though a lot of the suede has rubbed off – see, I told you I wear shoes to death!

The other pair are black leather oxfords – I’d been looking for a nice, normal looking pair for a while to wear with suits and dress pants. They were not too high and not too big or small.

And both pairs had sizes available that actually fit me. Yay!

So while the day started off pretty lousy, I now have two nice pairs of shoes which I can wear into the ground until this time next year. Retail therapy is a good thing sometimes . . .

Random Hunkering Down

I have two exams this week so in theory I shouldn’t be writing anything at all until after they are over on Friday afternoon.

This means that this week I’ll either write nothing or, in many fits of procrastination, I will write many of the longest, most well thought-out posts I’ve ever done in the history of this blog.

We shall see . . .