Raise Your Hopeful Voice

One year ago was my last day at Job From Hell. I spent most of last July catching up with my family and relaxing for the first time since forever.

The last 366 (leap year, yo) days have been, well, lots of things. I've had tons of great thing happen (and, uh, all of them took place while traveling. Hmm), but there have been challenges.

I'm sure it looked like a party--me flitting off all over the world, seeing friends, kissing Hugh Jackman (nope, I won't stop saying it), seeing new places (Spain!), familiar places (London!), running races, dancing, being me. And yes, that wasn't bad, I am absolutely not complaining of that. I am beyond blessed, lucky, whatever to have experienced all that goodness. And I thank my lucky stars hourly for that gift.

But, there have been things that haven't been seen or shared, things that suck, things that have changed my life forever. Good things that happened, and scary things, things that led me to where I am and where I'm going. Or where I hope to go.

So, today I celebrate this milestone by spending time poolside with a dear friend and getting tan, because, well, I'm going back London (I KNOW) in two weeks and meeting my cousin there and she's 21 and gorgeous so I best look somewhat cute next to her!

Thus, in two weeks I will be in MY city. The place my soul resides. The place I dream of.

The place that, each time I visit changes my life for the better, touches my soul a little more, leaves memories on my heart that I cling to in the dark moments, memories I cling to in the sadness, and memories that make me burst into hysterical laughter too.

(Rach being spat on by Sweeney Todd; my dad falling in love with Carlotta in Phantom; laughing over flat notes and "cheap" dates; running through Piccadilly at 1:35AM; Michael Crawford; catching up with Expat friends over COLD Diet Coke; jam smuggling; chocolate sampling.... All make me laugh for their own silly, personal reasons!)

I'm looking forward to what memories I will make this time.

Will I end up sat on a park bench the entire time with a book? Will my cousin and I close down a restaurant or two like I'm prone to do with friends? Will I swindle Les Mis tickets from someone (let's be honest, probably. I'll flirt my way to tickets)? Will I cry for a week straight?

I've no idea. But, the city has never let me down. I pray it won't this time. Oh, how I pray.

I don't know what the next 365 days hold for me, but, I do know that the next few weeks will be filled with Tour (de France) talk and transatlantic travels. And if that's as far in advance as my life can go, so be it.

"Raise your hopeful voice you have a choice, you've made it now

Falling slowly, eyes that know me
And I can't go back
Moods that take me and erase me
And I'm painted black

You have suffered enough,
And warred with yourself
It's time that you've won

Take this sinking boat and point it home, we've still got time

Raise your hopeful voice you have a choice, you've made it now
Falling slowly, sing your melody
I'll sing it loud"

("Falling Slowly" from Once, by the way) (why isn't THAT showing in London?!)

Time marches on and we've no idea where it'll take us, for now, I'm holding on for the ride of my life.

Right. Random, rambling, emotional post over and out.

Swears.

Little Updates

It is seriously hotter than the hinges of hell outside, so, we're going to do a little staying inside with the A/C moment today. And probably every single day until well, October. Lawdy mercy. I love Texas, but DANG.

Thanking my stars I'm England and then mountain bound for bits of July! Cool weather! Even if my London friends think they are currently "positively boiling". False.

ANYWAYS.

I've done a few little updates around mi casa, so, here you go.

Entryway redo. I don't have a before, but, it didn't look like this. Also, I guess I like yellow? But the walls are a light brown, I swear!

Look, more yellow!! My beloved gingham couch, complete with Pottery Barn pillows. Love this look.

But? Maybe we try something a might chicer. What say ye?

Now, I just need a home for this lovely ditty.

That's right, a HUGE print of the London Underground. It is wrapping paper, y'all! I'm in love with it, I just need to get it matted and framed!!

What about y'all, any house updates these days?

On happiness and heartache

Sometimes being a grown up is sucky.

Sometimes it's fun because you can have ice cream for dinner and no one can say a dang thing--well, except maybe that voice that's all "hey, you're going to get fat!", but, let's be honest, we never listen to that voice anyway. Related, pass the cookies please.

All that to say, I've had to make some grown up choices recently. Sucky choices. Painful things and all that. Kids, don't grow up, it's a trap!

But, I've had some great friends and great times to get me through it and for that, I am a happy gal.  It's strange to find happiness in times of doubt, confusion and pain, but, thanks to some incredible girls, I am in fact finding just that.

My BFF Ren took me out  to Nobu after a particularly hard day (but, we got some really fun news that day too!)

Then, I went to Canton with my insomniac twin That Pink Girl and we found Boo's. It hasn't stopped being funny.

And I got a fried pie! I mean, if that doesn't spell happiness, I don't know what does!

Dinner at Wolfgang Puck's 560 in Reunion Tower with BFF Ren. Who's amazing, duh. Love!

Ren captured this shot of me and I think it's hilariously perfect.

Last night my angel of music, Aurora and I went to see Oklahoma and had the bestest time ever. Major friend pride tears!

I know life isn't easy. I know I'm not perfect. I know I'll continue to screw up and generally be a hot mess, but, even though life has killed the dream I dreamed, I know that even the darkest night will end and the sun will rise.

Victor Hugo told me so. 

And, if there was any doubt, I give you, the cast of Magic Mike.

I KNOW.

West End Love

Right.

Enough sad posts.

Yes, it's been a rough few weeks for me, and yes, I have found myself reaching for the phone to call her or finding the necklace she gave me for my 18th birthday and bursting into hysterical tears, but, I've had friends to lean on and memories to preserve. Honestly, and forgive me for being a drama queen--this is one loss I really don't think I'll ever get over.

BUT. There are happy times ahead, and like a zillion years ago when I introduced my sister to London's West End Theatre? Yep, that was a happy time too.

So. We shall talk theatre. Because that is always fun.

Sunburnt idiots at Phantom

We started our London adventures at the classic--you know, Phantom of The Opera. I know, I've seen it like a zillion times just this year alone, but, the London version is just THE BEST and I mean, we couldn't NOT see it. We had such a great time at Phantom--nudging each other, singing along, laughing. It was so much fun. I can't even tell you. I could have cried out of sheer joy.

Front balcony thankyouverymuch

On Saturday, we trekked around Knightbridge and then to see Mama Mia, because it is just so much fun. After being fancy lunching ladies at Harrod's (omg best dessert of MY LIFE) we sat third row for some awesome ABBA action. Dang I love that show!!

We then took off for a stroll around Green Park and the vicinity, which, as you know, my favorite spot in London. I promise, eventually I'll branch out, but, it's just my damn happy place.

Then there was Monday. Monday. MONDAY. Or the day we saw Les Mis. The day I had been waiting for--y'all, be so proud, I didn't even bust out my cheesy "ONE DAY MOOOOOOORE" on my sister while we were meandering 'round London on Sunday. GROWTH.

Alright, I am going to wax poetic here. It's my favorite show, we all know this. It's my favorite for many reasons, but, the most important is that it was my mom's too, that it was something we shared, and something we can still share today even without her.

Cossette is my homegirl. We sat fifth row, bee tee dubs.

I cry every damn time I see it, and I warned Rach that the second the music started, I would lose it. WELL. I showed great strength! I only cried like three times.Really!! This time I had a friend in the show, so, I was mostly invested on watching his idiot self not screw up (he didn't, he did great and it was really special to see him onstage in the best show ever). Although, those kiddos dying the on the barricades? Little harder. OH. And the finale? HOLY JESUS. "They will walk behind the ploughshare, they will put away the sword, the chain will be broken and all men will have their reward, do you hear the people sing, say do you hear the distant drums is the music that they bring when tomorrow comes" Yeah, lost my shit. Standard.

The 2011-2012 cast just changed out on Saturday night, so, I honestly have no idea who will be in the cast for any of you folks pond hopping for the Olympics, but, surely it will be an absolutely amazing cast--it always is!!

THEN. Because we hadn't been blessed enough, we were gifted FRONT ROW tickets to Sweeney Todd. My lands. I LOVE Sweeney Todd. I know it's not everyone's cup of tea, but I just love it. So different from Les Mis and Phantom of course, but I adore it. I haven't seen it since I was in it waaaaay back in high school but when I heard it was on the West End I was determined to see it. Unaware of our schedule I didn't book the tickets before we left, but, uh, when one is offered Sweeney Todd tickets, one takes them.

Especially when MICHAEL BALL--the original Marius in Les Mis plays the Demon Barber himself, you must see it. Y'all. Y'ALL. There really aren't words for how great the show was. I'm actually still in awe of it. The cast, oh the cast!! They were all so good. And Michael Ball?! I swear, he opened his mouth to sing and my heart stopped beating. And I mean, we were front row center, so, that didn't hurt.

Demon Barber of Fleet Street

I was texting a friend the other day and I proclaimed those few days, the best of my life. She asked if it topped Hugh Jackman, which, uhhh, honestly, it might. I know, I need to go wash my mouth out with soap!! But daaaaaang. It was just SO MUCH goodness. I don't know. I watch the Les Mis movie trailer with Hugh and then I remember how much I love him, soooo.....

All this to say, London theatre, I love you more than words. You've made my little heart smile and given me some great memories over the many, many years I've been blessed to enjoy your amazing productions. I will always come back to you--always! July 12th, baby!!! (although, I don't yet have any show tickets booked, for shame!!! Thinking I will hit up The Globe again, yesss)

I am SO LUCKY to have shared London's very best with my dad in September, my sister in April and I'm meeting my cousin there in July--not sure what we'll see yet (I know, the planner in me is freaking out but trying to coordinate with her schedule and the schedule of friends over there....just breathe... it'll all work out... we got Sweeney tickets the day before, surely I can just bat my eyelashes and it'll happen), but, I know that we'll have a blast. London is my city and home to honestly, the best actors in the world (why dear Tom Hooper and Cameron Mackintosh pulled from the West End for the Les Mis movie of course!) and I love sharing it with friends and family.

OK. OK. I'm done. Sorry. London theatre ramblings over. Until July. 

(Sweeney Todd picture from SweeenyToddWestEnd)

Mixed Blessings

Last week I lost one of my oldest and dearest friends in a sudden and very horrible accident, so, I've been a bit of a zombie since then. Appearently I'm still in the angry tears part of grief as I started on hot pissy tears when cooking supper tonight. So, that was fun.

BUT. Sometimes there are mixed blessings.

For example, I got to go home, which I wasn't planning on doing until the holidays, catch up with another lifelong friend and spend some time at the beach.

Let's recap, shall we?

Got into town on Sunday and set up shop at the hotel pool. Got mucho sun. Mucho needed.
 

 Totally wishing I could bottle the smell of the resort--it was absolutely delicious. Perfumey flowers and beach. Perfect. 

 

Had dinner on the beach and because we were on west coast time we weren't missing the Tony's (THANK GOD), but, I was getting play by play tweets.

This one totally made my life. DUH.

Also, can we discuss the Tony's real quick? HUGH JACKMAN I LOVE YOU. Also, Newsies, I die. And Once, ohhhh Once how I love thee. Falling Slowly is just--ahhh the most beautiful thing ever. I need to see it again.

And clearly we all need to hotfoot it Peter and The Starcatcher too!

Midway through the Tony's we made an ice cream run. The Diet Coke is there for well, irony, and also to show scale. That's a lot of salted caramel and brownie goodness!

Childhood bestie with her mess of goodness. We spent $25 on ice cream at 10:15PM. We rock.

Balcony view

Didn't get enough sun as I still have my Madird tanlines! Friend's car en route to the service.

Lunch with my big sister!

Early morning in Santa Barbara. Lovely.

Or, Hugh Jackman

Am having a rough week (one of my best friends was tragically taken from this world on Wednesday night), and even though I have some excellent blog fodder (two insomniacs at Canton, whhhhatttt), I can't wrap my mind around well, anything.

Except this card I found on Pinterest.

Only, I'll say "Hugh Jackman". Or, "Colin Firth". But I do love me some Depp.

Now, who wants to go get arrested?!

(image via littlewhitelion.com)