PHOTOCALL.

A few random shots from right before I left New York:

What you can't see in this one is that the woman standing in front of the parked car was flying a kite. It was a warm pre-summer evening and I just thought it was the sweetest thing to see a middle aged woman flying a kite in the middle of a New York street.

This was attached to a lamp post in my hood and I started laughing out loud when I read it:

It is a drink recipe for the "Sweet Coopie" which someone invented for Anderson Cooper's Birthday. HILARE. I will be making one soon.

And, a shot from California. I saw this when I was in the car the other day:

That giant truck has a carnival ride on it (presumably from the San Mateo County Fair). Any ride that can be transported on a truck is not safe, but I will never learn my lesson seeing as last summer in Maine I had the time of my life on the Swingy Swing ride.

Oh well.

HELLO, DAY OFF.

You were lovely. Let's do it again soon.

I'M ALL MESSED UP.

We only have one day off a week from rehearsals and it happens to be Mondays. I now find myself totally turned around and confused when Sunday night rolls around because I'm convinced that it is Friday night.

This morning I woke up at 11:00am!?!?!?!???? WHAT!?!!? I know. We had the first full run through of the show yesterday and let's just say it was rawther exhausting. This play is quite a roller coaster (in a great way) and very physical, so at the end of the day I am pooped. I am feeling rather disoriented because the rest of the world is emailing me and asking me questions and I want to tell them all to chill out because it is the weekend. How wrong I am.

The only thing right with the world is the fact that Liza will be launching her very own jewelry and clothing collection on HSN starting June 30th. How I did not know about this before, I will never quite understand, but I am going to TiVo the living daylights out of her appearance.

I am off to use a guest pass at my Mom's gym where they have a rooftop pool. The skies have cleared and the sun is out, so I am completely ready to sit my butt down on a lounge chair and occasionally glide around in the water. I asked my mother if they served drinks at the pool and she looked at me like I was nuts. "Molly, it's a gym. No." Well, I think that's LAME. Maybe I'll bring my own...

**To the friend who sent me the link: Who are you? Is it you, Miz Millah? Make yourself known because the email arrived through the website without your name and I need to thank you!

NOT TOO HOT.

Um, the weather here is a little chilly. When I was packing in New York (also known as Hot Sweaty Mess York) apparently I was not able to wrap my brain around the fact that it was going to be foggy on occasion in California; I should have packed a few more things.

The good news is that it is supposed to warm up next week and the place where they are housing 2 of the other out of town actors has a pool.

Huzzah!

I'm off to another full day of rehearsals. We all hit a little wall of exhaustion yesterday because being in a rehearsal studio for a million hours a day, six days a week, can make someone a little crazy. But, it was nothing that a giant glass of Malbec with the ladies from the show couldn't fix! We had a great night AWAY from rehearsals and I feel a lot better today. I am off to grab some coffee and am ready to tackle my toughest scene in the play.

BRING IT ON.

CHECKING THINGS OFF THE LIST.

My darlings!

I am so sorry that I have been so absent on le blog, and this post isn't going to be extremely long, but I will say that I am happy to announce that during the first week of being back I have managed to cross a few key things off my list.

Because my Mom is the best, she already had a frog from Copenhagen Bakery waiting for me. Because my Aunt rules, she sent me sweet and sour shrimp from Eric's, and then bought me a burrito from Taqueria Cancun the next day.

HOLY SCORE!

And, the best part of it all? My Mom taped the episode of Kathy Griffin's show where Liza Minnelli makes a guest appearance.

THAT IS LOVE. THAT IS THE BEST WELCOME HOME PRESENT EVER.

I have been rehearsing a lot, laughing a ton, and having a total and complete blast. I've also been eating buckets of delicious fresh fruit (blueberries!!!!!!), enjoying the sunshine, and the amount of space that exists in California. I love walking down the street and not bumping into people. I forgot how nice that is...

Tomorrow marks the beginning of week 2 of rehearsals and we are already going to start staging the show. We've spent the past week doing table work (talking about the text, asking questions, figuring out what we think it all means) and now it is already time to start blocking. The only semi-sad thing about the show, which is impacting my list, is that I have to grow out my hair a bit for the character, so I will not be making my pilgrimage to diPietro anytime soon. This is going to be interesting because we all know I would get my hair cut every day if I could.

Ok, I am off to bed but will be writing more soon!

XOXO.

I'M ALIVE.

Boy am I alive! I feel great!

I made it to California and I definitely hit the ground running. Arrived Monday night, was up early Tuesday morning for a run and then was off to rehearsal. We're rehearsing 6 days a week and I am already having such a fantastic time.

I promise to write more soon, but I am still on New York time and am tuckered out.

Rest assured, life out here is grand and I couldn't be happier. Also, sleeping has been going REALLY WELL for me. I can't believe how quiet it is here...

TODAY IS A DAY OF MANY THINGS.

Just like the title says, today is a day of many things.

To name a few, it is my last day here in New York for 2 months and it is the day of The Tony Awards. Or, this year I am calling them the MEMPHIS IS IN THE HOUSE awards.

I swear to all things theatre, if Montego Glover does not win Best Actress in a musical I will be all things devasted. I mean, same basically goes for every category the show is nominated for, but I am particularly rooting for Ms. Glover and for the show to win Best Musical. It is just the essence of what an original Broadway musical should be and the talent 'sploding from that cast is something fiercity fierce.

I am also praying to the Broadway Jesus that somehow I will run into Liza Minnelli tonight. The after party is going to be off the hook, so why wouldn't she show up? I know there are quite a few other well known homies on the guest list, but so far I haven't heard anything about the Z Master herself. One can only hope.

Side note about Liza:

We were talking about her last night at my going away gathering (obviously) and my friend McMurty mentioned that she still takes a dance lesson every day.

SHE DANCES EVERY DAY.

Does she ever.

Ok - per the usual, Liza has derailed me. I have to go run about a million errands, finish packing, clean my apartment, finish writing something to make my deadline, find a dress, and hustle off to get my make-up done. Next time I blog will most likely be from California.

Squee!!

And, to Team Memphis (particularly you, Miz Millah): Regardless of who wins tonight at the Tony's, you have all kicked so much Broadway and theatrical ass. I can't even tell you how honored I am to be able to spend tonight with such a fantastical group of people.

HOCKADOO!!!!

THANK GOD PARMERSAN SENT ME THIS.

GOLDEN STATE OF MIND.

It is almost time for me to return to the Golden State and I am getting all sorts of giddy about it. My brain is going in a bajillion different directions trying to make sure I get everything done before I have to leave, but I can't stop thinking about all of the places I am dying to go once I am back home. I keep getting this antsy, aching feeling in my bones like I just want to bust out of my skin and get on the airplane tomorrow.

I am just a liiiiiiiitle bit 'scited.

Places I will be hitting up upon arrival:

diPietro Todd for a haircut with my favorite guy, Peter.

There are few things I love more than a really bangin' haircut, and Peter never disappoints - like, I have been going to Peter for basically my whole life. Also, I have decided after an experience one holiday season where I was a little (understatement) hung-to-the-over, that the best remedy for feeling exhausted and bad about yourself is a trip to diPietro where they shampoo your hair and massage your head into oblivion. I swear to Liza you can walk in feeling like you are about to die and, after a cup of coffee, a shampoo, and a noggin rub, you will walk out feeling like June after she busted out all over.

Or something.

It is magical.

I will also be hitting up a few of my other favorite spots, most of which are in my old neighborhood:

The Curiosity Shoppe.

Little Otsu.

Cophenhagen Bakery.

Taqueria Cancun. Los Panchos. Papalote.

(Basically, anywhere that has guacamole.)

Mitchell's.

Toast.

Eric's.

But, the best place of all is my mother's kitchen, because that is where the yummiest food really is. Get ready, Mom. I'm dying for some of your homemade salad dressing.

NEW SUMMER TREND: OLD SKOOL SHOE.

Dammit, I'm a size 8.5

HONK IT OUT.

A MAXIM.

To live each day as if it might be the last

Is an injunction that Marcus Aurelius

Inscribes in his journal to remind himself

That he, too, however privileged, is mortal,

That whatever bounty is destined to reach him

Has reached him already, many times.

But if you take his maxim too literally

And devote your mornings to tinkering with your will,

Your afternoons and evenings to saying farewell

To friends and family, you’ll come to regret it.

Soon your lawyer won’t fit you into his schedule.

Soon your dear ones will hide in a closet

When they hear your heavy step on the porch.

And then your house will slide into disrepair.

If this is my last day, you’ll say to yourself,

Why waste time sealing drafts in the window frames

Or cleaning gutters or patching the driveway?

If you don’t want your heirs to curse the day

You first opened Marcus’s journals,

Take him simply to mean you should find an hour

Each day to pay a debt or forgive one,

Or write a letter of thanks or apology.

No shame in leaving behind some evidence

You were hoping to live beyond the moment.

No shame in a ticket to a concert seven months off,

Or, better yet, two tickets, as if you were hoping

To meet by then someone who’d love to join you,

Two seats near the front so you catch each note.

- Carl Dennis

CORRESPONDENCE.

An email transcript from today:

From: Reception

Anyone need anything?

From: Molly Coogan

Does Staples sell anything that helps you maintain your sanity while you’re stuck at a desk? If so, I’d like a large order of whatever it is. Actually, you can go ahead and supersize that.

Thanks.

As of now, we have not located anything from the Staples catalogue that matches what I'm looking for. Some things that could be marketed by Staples as a "Desktop Sanity Saver"

1. Tim Riggins sheets to put over everything in your office.

*Side note: why don't they sell these? They sold NKOTB sheets. Although we all know that I love NKOTB like nobody's business, Tim Riggins blowz them out of the water with his hotness factor by like, at least a billion percent. At least. Joey's blue eyes are great, but Number 33's everything makes me weak in the bodyparts.

2. Drinking Helmets.

3. Turning said desk into a chocolate fountain.

That's all I've got for now. If you have any better ideas, please let me know.

OKTHANKSBYE.

GRAFFITI TO GREET ME.

Scrawled on the subway car I was riding this morning:

"We are all in the gutter but some of us are looking at the stars."

Bless you, subway scrawler. You made my morning.

COVERED ORIGINAL.

Some people think that covering songs is a cop out - that you should write your own music. Besides the fact that there are very few people who actually write the very songs that they sing, I don't think that doing a cover is cheap or that it lacks creativity - if you do it well. I think there is a difference between just singing someone else's song versus making it your own and it is something we often discuss in my band. How do you find a new way to sing it? How do you make it different, but not just for the sake of being different? Whatcha tryin to say with it? We play a lot of our own material, but tend to be pretty selective about the covers we do. We really try to put our own spin on them as opposed to just copying what was done before and it is really, surprisingly, difficult. But, when it is done well, it can be something quite spectacular and makes it like a whole new song.

And, this is exactly what I'm talking about:

First listen to this in its entirety:

Now listen to this:

Being able to turn a pop song (that usually drives me crazy) into something oddly beautiful is a true talent. As I said to Parmersan, it makes you want to run outside into the sunshine, spin around in circles, and weep.

I love it.

So, kudos to you, British mister. I dig your tunes, both the covers and the originals, though I think your cover is pretty damn original, too.

HAPPY FRIDAY WHICH IS TODAY.

A week from today is my last day at work before I leave for California.

Today the sun is shining.

Today I will get some really yummy coffee before going to work.

Today I get paid.

Today I get to see a group of my friends that I haven't seen in over a week, which feels like a very long time.

Today is a good day.

And, this* is a good song.

*And, they're from San Francisco!

STICKY FINGERS.

Ok, this is too cute.

I totally identify with the little slugger. The lockets were in a bowl on the table, very similar to a situation I found myself in almost 20 years ago.

Ooof...20 years ago. I don't know how I feel about being old enough to even SAY that.

Anyways, I still remember when I was about 7 years old and my Mom and I had gone to Petrini's (the grocery store at Laurelwood back when it was still a Petrini's and not Piazza's). The Winter Olympics were going on at the time and when we were at the checkout counter I spotted a cardboard display box with silver metallic stickers in the shape of a female figure skater.

They were really pretty.

They were a sparkly silver.

I thought they were free.

So, I took one.

We got to the car and I was admiring my beautiful sticker when my Mom said, "Where did you get that?" I hesitantly told her I got it from the box by the cash register and she said, "Molly, those were not free."

Uh oh.

Busted. Doomed.

I remember freezing and feeling humiliated. I also remember that I instantly knew my Mom was going to make me go back inside to return it and I was dreading the walk into the store. I think I pleaded with her that it was an accident, that it was only a sticker, and they wouldn't even notice. But, no dice because my Momma's got morals and it was lesson time.

She made me go to the register, explain that I took it by accident, and give it back. Of course they were really nice about it, but I have remembered those 5 minutes my whole life.

I was never the kid who had a stealing problem, I was much more of an epic story teller (a good way of saying that I was an artful liar), but after that incident at the store and my Mom's proper handling of the situation, I never wanted to steal anything again, on purpose or by accident.

10 THINGS I'M LIKING.

1. Keeping my comforter on the couch.

There is something nice about being able to plop down on the couch and curl up in a comforter. It feels kind of like a sleepover or something.

2. Having my AC unit next to said couch.

3. Bubbly lemon water mixed with pomegranate juice. Always a warm weather favorite.

4. My all natural peanut butter.

It is all natural but you don't have to stir it! I used to be all, "Oh, I love stirring natural peanut butter because it feels so naturalicky and I am working for my delicious food!" But, really, I always totally hated how that peanut oil would inevitable goosh out of the top of the jar, and get all over my hands, and if it got on my shirt WELL that was really annoyerz. Thank goober for these folks.

5. The fact that I will be heading back to California in a matter of days.

6. The bottle of Malbec that I snagged for $9 and isn't half bad.

7. The Harry Potter theme park that is opening in 16 days. Must plan trip immediately.

8. That I already have my own real wand back from when I did a Harry Potter play for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

That's right.

I have MY OWN WAND (back somewhere in California), you bizards*.

9. Streaming Modern Family on Hulu.

10. The race to figure out if Mariah Carey is preggers. Can you even imagine that baby? It would be my most favorite behbeh of all time.

*This is my new term for b*tchy wizards.

WHAT'S UP WITH THAT?!?!!

Yo! What a holiday weekend it was!

I cleaned out my refrigerator!

Al and Tipper's marriage has tipped ovah!

My band had a show!

I saw Sex and the City 2 and it made me wish I hadn't!

There's still tons of sh*t spewing into the ocean!

There's a giant hole in Guatemala!

I listened to 4 episodes of This American Life in 3 days!

That's 4 hours!

In 3 days!

What's up with that!

No time to write now but more to come!

>