Ringing in the new year with a cup of tea, a bowl of cereal, Movie Ticket Radio and Nikki Sixx's Heroin Diaries.  When did I become such a nana (albeit a rockin' one)?

Thanks to my lovely friend Lotta in Sweden for this one... love it!

Aaron Tveit really was the best thing about Les Miserables.  Anne Hathaway a close second.  Underwhelmed by Hugh and downright loathed Russell... their singing was pants.

A little shouty and some dodgy accents, but War Horse is absolutely beautiful.  Incredible puppetry and amazing effects.

My work life is about to get very busy... and not in a good way.

A sleep-in, a lovely lunch with my cousins and the Downton Abbey Christmas Special.  Fab boxing day.*




* Except Downton reduced me to tears yet again with their storyline.  Nooooooo!!!

Doesn't matter how many times I've seen Home Alone it still makes me giggle.

LB's making me watch Carols by Candlelight. Karl Stefanovic makes me want to puke.

My family clearly know my favourite city in the world... my lovely cousin made me these cushions for Christmas!

A big day driving to Ballarat to visit the rellies... I. Am. Cream. Crackered.

So glad I put my foot down and abandoned work for an hour tonight to go to the gym... not so glad I had to go back afterwards to finish off the mountain of work piling up.

Christmas Gingerbread Queen.

Christmas is less than a week away and I feel bizarrely calm and organised.  Weird.

A morning of pain having laser at the dermatologist followed by an afternoon of fun watching Girls, drinking chai and dancing in the kitchen with Kate.  Happy Tuesday.

It completely throws me when my work day is so busy that I have to cancel my yoga class.  On so many levels... the only cure is an early night.

Our little production of Compleat Female Stage Beauty won best production at the awards ceremony today... woohooo! What an awesome show we made.

The world is a fucked-up place sometimes... RIP beautiful souls of Newtown, CT.

Sometimes there is no better way to spend a Friday night than by taking advantage of technology (thanks Google+!) to have a group chat with your awesome mates in Edinburgh and New York City.  ♥♥

House clean.
Laundry done.
Filing up-to-date.
I think I've about procrastinated enough...

Don't be fooled by the rocks that she's got... she's just Jenny from the block. Except she's been sequinned and feathered and bejewelled.

A wonderful catch up lunch with another old London chum who I haven't seen in twelve years... we both agree that we look exactly the same... it's very reassuring!

My yoga instructor's constant referrals to herself in the third person make me snort with laughter. It's not very zen.

Technically media deprivation is over tomorrow morning, but I couldn't take it any more. Six and a half days is enough and I think I've done reasonably well considering I'm such a media-addict... I've not turned on the TV, picked up a book or read HuffPost even once!

Sarah Silverman at the Palais. Four rows from the stage, right in the centre. Effing. Amazeballs.

Work, pilates, quick run on the treadmill, dinner at the taco truck and an evening of design market shopping with the lovely Bridget. A fine way to spend a Friday!

Writing my Christmas cards... this year I've gone the inappropriate route...

The occasional slip-up, but not doing too badly on day three.  Powered through a bunch of stuff at work and then hit the gym for a pilates class plus a session on the treadmill and still made it home by 7.15pm!

Media Deprivation Day 2.  Easy morning - an awesome two-and-a-half hour conversation with the lovely Goldos.  Late afternoon/evening has been more challenging... it's not cheating if I listened to Movie Ticket Radio for a good portion of the time is it?  It's not TALK radio - just songs - and it's managed to prevent me from beating my head against wall in sheer frustration at the lack of social networking.

Day 1 of Media Deprivation.  Allowing myself 10 minutes each morning and evening to check emails and update the blog but otherwise, it's a banned substance.  Doing ok so far... SO FAR.  Ask me again tomorrow.

A morning at work being yelled at by crazed Wiggles parents. Ugh.
An afternoon with friends drinking wine, eating cheese and making each other laugh.  Awesome.

It's all about the little things... like the sheer joy and delight on the face of my neighbour's two-year-old when I gave him a bunch of blue hydrangeas from my balcony.  You're so right, Hayden.  Flowers ARE cool.

Trying to fix the internet after a repairman fecked it up is NOT how I envisioned spending my day off...  but a skype date with the awesome Ranikins in NYC made it better!

Britney: "To be happy I need to give up labels... does that mean I have to give up Hugo Boss?"
Me: "Not those kind of labels..."

Morning coffee with a visiting friend and finally getting up-to-date with filing and accounts.  Is it sad that I consider this a good day?

Turning an ordinary Sunday picnic into something a little more fun... and quirky.  Gosh I have creative friends.

There is a light at the end of the transcription tunnel, but it's still a little way away and I am soooooooo tired...  maybe just a little bit more and then I can start again tomorrow...

Sunny Sunday afternoon in the park with friends... croquet, food, wine and fab conversation - what more could you want?

Playing catch up... on SLEEP.  Oh and one more transcription to go... it's almost over!

Is it nanna-ish to go to bed at 8.30pm?  I only had 3 hours sleep last night...

Bourbon-brined turkey and the best pumpkin pie I've ever made... plus eight wonderful friends.  I have a lot to be thankful for!

Can't believe I'm still awake at 10pm, considering I've been on the go since 5am... must. get. sleep.

Another town, another average hotel room. At least there's a bathtub in this one... and room service.

Note to self:  don't use your mobile to check emails when travelling overseas next time.  40MB @ $20 per MB = a whole world of financial pain.

So much work to do but all I want to do is sleep...

Seven eps of Parks & Rec back-to-back?  Oh, including the one where my man Joe guest stars?  Hells. Yes.

Delicious food + the company of a great friend + season one of Girls = a perfect Friday night.

After a shiteful day at work, relaxing over fajitas and wine with awesome friends, discussing the merits of Empire's top 100 movies of all time; makes life feel so much better.

Hanging out with a buddy who's about to depart for five weeks o/s and catching up on JStew... love it.

12 hour work day. Knackered. Sore feet. Gagging for a cuppa. Coldplay concert #2 - done and dusted.

Finally getting around to reading some of my library books - it's amazing what prioritising your own needs after weeks of putting everyone else first can do for your mood!

A 27 hour day... which included a catch up (after 13 years!) with an old friend from London days.  Safely home from NZ and collapsing happily into bed.

Up at 3:45am
Cab at 4:15am
Flight at 6:30am
Land at 12:45pm
Start work at 1:00pm
Finish work at 10:15pm
Drink wine at 10:45pm
De-stress with a hot shower at 11:45pm
Collapse into bed at 12:15pm

Touring with rock bands is exhausting.

I was going to go to bed early tonight, because I have to get up at 3:45am to get to the airport for a 6am international flight.  It's 11pm.  Fail.

My house is a tip: there is washing drying everywhere, dishes in the sink, no food in the fridge, overflowing bins and dead flowers in the vase. Today I was planning to remedy this, but a job I agreed to do for someone has taken over my life this week and it's been shoved aside. And I don't even get to do it all on the weekend because I have to go to NZ for my other job. Why do I let myself get into these messes?

Thank. You. America.*

* Although Minnesota 6th, you look like you're voting Michelle Bachmann back in. That pisses me off no end.

Dear Lovely Citizens of America,

Please vote. I know it's not mandatory, but a lot of people (especially women) fought hard for you to have the right to.

(Just don't vote for Romney. Please. Just don't. He's evil and will make you look even dumber than you did when Dubya was POTUS.)

Sincerely,
The Rest of the World

Three days off from my main job and what will I be doing? Working for someone else. #dopey #warpedpriorities

This may well be what gets me through the next month...

Transcribing, transcribing, transcribing. My shoulder is killing me, but on the plus side, I am now much more knowledgable about place names in the South Pacific region.

Boy, when they chose the name 'Vigorous Thai' for their massage company, they sure weren't kidding.  Twenty minutes of having elbows dug into various points around my neck and shoulder and I feel battered (but much better!).

Five different chair options in my house and still I can't find one which is comfortable enough to sit and type 50,000 words worth of transcriptions in.  Also, I need a new shoulder please - my left one is about done in.

Achieved quite a lot this morning, but lost all motivation by about 2pm.  Now I need to finish what I should've finished yesterday.  Come back motivation; I neeeeeeed yoooooouuuu!

In June last year, we stayed in this apartment on 8th Avenue (between 14th & 15th) for my 40th birthday trip to NYC.  I slept in the bed in the top right-hand corner (with the red picture above it).  Today, Hurricane Sandy caused the facade to collapse and the building has been featured on news reports the world over.  What are the chances?!?!

Wise words from one of my favourite women...

Three shows in three days... now I need to actually do the work I have been putting off all weekend...

Opening night of 'A Funny Thing Happened On The Way to the Forum' with Geoffrey Rush.  Through the awesomeness of my GBF, we scored front row seats, which provided for some one-of-a-kind moments, including being clocked in the back of the head with a badly-aimed, curtain-call streamer courtesy of Kath Day-Knight herself.  Totes hilaire.

A trip to Ballarat to see my beautiful 98 year old great aunt and a night at Chapel Off Chapel, bawling my eyes out at a beautiful production of The Laramie Project.  I. Am. Exhausted.

Beyond tired, behind in chores, behind in work... slightly overwhelmed.  An early night?  I think so.

Took a little trip to the Wheeler Centre tonight to hear this delightful man deliver the annual Screenwriter's Address.  Engaging, funny, insightful, touching and honest. What a privilege. 

Murphy's Law:  as soon as I accept some extra work to bump up the cash flow; my regular job suddenly gets busy and I have to work extra days there.

Didn't realise quite how anxious I'd been about my test results until I got the all clear from the oncologist this afternoon.  Phew!

Sunday Skype with the Belgian Bestie is always a nice way to end the week!

So many books stacked up on the table, so little time to read them...

An unexpectedly long day and my planned weekend off in tatters... but the extra $$ on payday will be most welcome!

A late start, but a productive day.  Now awaiting the arrival of a mate who's on a stopover from Indonesia to Sydney... the kettle is on!

So much laughter tonight, courtesy of Jon Stewart. The man is hilarious.

Wobbly (post-yoga) legs and a core that just knows it's been engaged to the absolute limit... feels goooooood.

Who would've thought that wandering around the Melbourne Zoo at twilight, following instructions coming from an iPod Touch, would lead to such an amazing, emotional, magical experience? Thank you, 'I, Animal' team. That was beautiful.

A couple of days at the beach is always good for the soul...

Peter Pan, Noddy, Marty Maraschino, a cockroach, an Avatar and Sophia Grace & Rosie. Fancy dress fun in Ocean Grove.

Out the door of work at 5pm, mad dash via tram to Southern Cross, ticket purchased and seated on train to Geelong by 5:19pm. A raucous weekend in Ocean Grove awaits!

So tired I can barely stand. Hurry up train - my bed is calling!

A beautiful start to the day, courtesy of a very talented friend.  Everyone needs to take aMoment now and again.

A very full-on yoga class left me feeling good, but exhausted and slightly vulnerable.  Watching the finale of Doctor Who followed by the season opener of Grey's Anatomy was probably not the wisest of ideas... sobbed like a child.

Attending the launch of a new musical is always intriguing, but when that musical involves a six metre high animatronic gorilla, over 40 performers and musical contributions from Marius De Vries, Sarah McLachlan, Guy Garvey (Elbow) and Massive Attack, you know it's going to be... epic. King Kong epic.

Stupidly tired after a late night, very early start and long day.  Still slightly confused as to the exact time, but heading to bed...

As I finish work at 10:30pm and head over to a friend's birthday drink, I am trying really hard not to think about the fact daylight savings pushes the clocks forward an hour at 2am, making my 8am work start time tomorrow effectively a 7am start time. Ugh.

An unexpected early mark (6.30pm is an early mark this week)... and the prospect of a sleep in tomorrow.  HURRAH!

Working a Fringe shift with co-workers who like to randomly dance behind the bar, are awesome fun.  Thirsty Thursdays after work, catching up with old friends and making new ones, are also awesome fun.

"Sing in the shower. Dance to the radio. Tell stories. Write a poem to a friend, even a lousy poem. Do it as well as you possibly can.  You will get an enormous reward. You will have created something!"

~ Kurt Vonnegut

My 98-year-old great-aunt has been diagnosed with acute leukaemia. Seriously. She's been perfectly healthy her entire life and at now, at 98, the universe decides that this is how she will exit the world. That's just outright, batshit bonkers.

• Coffee and catch up with a lovely friend - tick
• Colouring in princess pictures with lovely friend's four-year-old daughter (very important!) - tick
• Two massive loads of laundry - tick
• Short story competition entry uploaded - tick
• Update of will (which has been on my to-do list for months!) - tick
• Reply to all my emails - tick

A day of small, but important ticks.

It took a while, but I've finally started reading "The Piano Shop on the Left Bank". It's making me miss my piano...

Despite an outstanding effort from Brad Sewell, we just didn't have what it takes to overcome a strong Swans side. Proud of you though Hawks... you can hold your heads high.

My next "how to" project is going to be creating gifs.  I've started using them in this blog because sometimes, a picture really is worth a thousand words.

A day of catching up with old friends and an evening at the theatre to see another friend's play reading. Lovely.

Week Four of TPH. The money history exercise is illuminating. On a totally different note, my performance review today was uninspiring.

Actually did quite a bit of proper work today.  Made a refreshing change.

If I could swap lives with anyone for a day it would probably be Amy Poehler. Funniest Emmy loser performance ever.

Sometimes a really good chat with a mate is just what you need, especially when they're working through similar issues.  Thanks Kris!

A nail-biting, narrow victory by the Hawks.  An evening of fondue and fun with friends.  Now I'm predicting weird cheese dreams!

Two loooong phone conversations took up most of my evening... one with an old flatmate and dear friend and one with the mater.  That one's still going in fact...

Seven things on my "to do" list today.  Six of them ticked off and the seventh soon will be (although may need to roll over onto tomorrow's list given its complexity).

[insert applause]

Worked all day, went to an amazing talk at the Wheeler Centre with my lovely friend K, then went to orientation for Fringe Festival (doing a few cheeky box shifts).  Ready for bed and looking forward to a day off tomorrow to pay catch up with life stuff!

Outgoings continuing to exceed incomings... it's frustrating me.

Woke up at 4:15am.  Took a 6:30am flight to Sydney, spent the day in meetings and presentations (until 9pm).  Took the 10:05pm flight home, walked in the door a couple of minutes ago.

I. Am. Beat.

Heading to bed at 9:30pm... because I have a 4am wake up call to fly to Sydney for the day. Ugh.

Hair is back to being all one colour again... and it only cost me $9.19 and an hour of my time. Win.

Slightly disturbing thought of the day...

A night of watching new TV shows... I am all caps LOVING The New Normal; lower case loving (and quite possibly identifying a little too closely to) The Mindy Project; and really enjoying Go On enough to keep watching for at least a few more episodes.

Made it to yoga two nights in a row! Now feeling absolutely knackered and ready for bed... at 9.20pm.

Kate and I did a monster drawing class tonight... FUN.

Finally got around to seeing The Sapphires today... it's sweet.  Brought back a lot of memories and made me happy.

A lovely afternoon with three of my CFSB cast-mates and our director, trekking out to the hills to watch another of our CFSB cast-mates and our operator strut their stuff in Moonlight & Magnolias.

Despite the fact I own Made of Honor on DVD, I still can't help watching it when it's shown on TV (as evidenced tonight).  Great cast, cute story and filmed in two of my favourite locations in the whole world... what's not to love?

Nice win by my beloved Hawks and an hilarious night at Melbourne Spring Fashion Week with my GBF. Bring on the weekend.

"The show doesn't go on because it's ready; it goes on because it's 11:30"
~ Lorne Michaels, Saturday Night Live

(I'm reading Tina Fey's book 'Bossypants' and that little nugget just leaped out at me)

Michelle Obama is awesome.  Inspirational, classy and awesome.

Well worth the 29 minutes of your time.

Is it wrong that I prefer the yoga instructor covering for the regular yoga instructor?  No.  Should I suggest to the gym that they replace the regular instructor with the cover on a permanent basis?  Hmmmm...

Today's great discovery...

http://oyc.yale.edu/

Awesome, Yale.  Just awesome.

A sleep in, an hour at the gym before work, a visit from an old friend, dinner and a few episodes of The West Wing (season 4) make for a good Sunday.

Opening night of The Mousetrap in Melbourne... long chats with some old friends and even a few new ones.  I love my city.

Working at the meet & greet for The Beach Boys concert.  Brian Wilson arrives in the room bang on time.  Mike Love is running late, as is the rest of the band. Brian starts chatting to me.  Asks me if I can sing.  "Sure" is my reply.  "Might be just you and me up on stage tonight then", he says.  "Know any Three Dog Night?".  "Absolutely!" is my reply... and thus goes the conversation for the next twenty minutes.

Mike Love, I was warned you were a tool, but your tardiness enabled me to have twenty minutes one-on-one with my birthday twin; and for that I will forever love you.

Brian Wilson... you are awesome.  Jeremiah WAS a bullfrog.

"Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year."
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

(thanks Gretchen for the advice!)

Made it to the gym for the first time in weeks.  The jasmine on the balcony is blooming. Two sure signs that Spring is around the corner!

Why am I sitting here watching Melrose Place? Go. To. Bed.

Starting the day with a Skype date with a lovely friend in NYC and ending the day with watching the season finale of The Newsroom makes for a very good Monday.

A last minute invitation to the premiere of the new Kath & Kim movie?  Noice. Diffrent.  Unewsewal. (Sadly, it wasn't any of those, but it was a bit of a giggle nonetheless)

From only scoring one point in the first quarter, to winning by seven points... what a game Hawks!  Always happy to score a win over the Swans.

The Prosperity Project begins with being gifted the book by a wonderful friend. Thank you Debs - can't wait to start!

Day one of three months of antibiotics... rosacea be gone (soon) (please).

An early mark from work meant I could stop by the hairdresser on my way to the station and get four inches of hair chopped off!  Feels (and looks) so much better!

Spent an hour or two today researching an idea... which may well lead to a path I've long wanted to take. Hmmmmm. Also, was sent this awesome book cover. Love it!

Just finished reading Diane Keaton's memoir, Then Again. So much of the book resonated with me, but none so more than this paragraph...

Feeling very relaxed after a lovely long weekend on the Peninsula.  Getting out of your surroundings, even for a couple of days, does wonders for the soul!

All Saturday nights should start like this...

Escaping the city for a weekend in Sorrento... good friends, good food, good wine... exactly what the doctor ordered!

Stamps are fun...

If I have two library books which are due back in five days time and two which are due back in twelve days time, which should I be reading first?  Common sense would dictate the former and yet despite several attempts, I just can't be arsed.  Think I'll skip straight to the latter.

I have amazing friends. Can't wait to start my next creative project with Debs and Kris!

Getting a text from a good friend (who's also the sister of an old flatmate), to say that their younger sister (who was only 4 days younger than me) has just died, is not the best start to the week.

RIP Martina. May flights of angels sing thee to thy rest. xox

I'm not very good at being sick.  After a day spent mostly sleeping and watching season two of The West Wing, I'm having another big slug of NyQuil and an early night... let's hope that fixes this cold once and for all!

Third head cold this winter... for someone who so rarely gets sick, this is annoying, to put it mildly.  NyQuil, work your magic overnight please!

Desperately need an early night, especially as I've agreed to cover a shift tomorrow morning, but I'm struggling to move from the sofa!

Why is it that even though I make a list for my (very rare) trip to the doctor, I end up not telling her half of what's on it for fear of sounding like a hypochondriac?

Only 8:30pm and I'm already tucked up in bed with my book (Bill Oddie's autobiography)... I must be tired!

So Olivia Munn has trichotillomania too... there's something oddly comforting in knowing that someone as attractive as her also has this totally weird, little-known disorder that has had me in its grip for most of my life.

The girls have gone home and it's back to work tomorrow.  What a fun 4 1/2 days it has been.  Love my friends.

Magic Mike is possibly one of the worst films I have ever seen. I wasn't expecting Citizen Kane, but still, I expected more from Steven Soderbergh.

Another massive day with the Sydney ladies... breakfast, shopping, wine, blow dry, wine, dinner and cocktails.  Knackered!

Margaritas, mexican food and good conversation with the girls.  Fun Friday.

Library books returned, grocery shopping done, house cleaned... now eagerly awaiting the arrival of my weekend house guests!

Love of theatre restored seeing MKA's 'Triangle' at a former office block in North Melbourne.  Who would've thought a fifty minute play about lesbian vampires in Fitzroy would have been so well written, engaging, funny, simply directed and brilliantly and truthfully performed?  Best thing I've seen all year - worth every cent of the (bargain) $25 I paid for my ticket.

MTC's Queen Lear. Biggest load of (Shakespearean) shite I've seen in years.  I left at interval.  Thank god they were comps.

Four of the big 'have-been-on-there-for-ages' to-do's were ticked off today... about bloody time.  Will I be able to achieve at least one more this week?  Stay tuned.

The Virgin Mobile ads with Brad Pitt's brother make me quite sad... how on earth did they talk him into this?!?

Kudos, Danny Boyle. That was a top-notch, beautifully British opening ceremony. Particularly loved Sir Ken reciting Shakespeare and Mr Bean's keyboard antics.

I haven't read any of the Twilight books and I refuse to read any of the Fifty Shades books either.

This is a very good argument as to why I won't waste my time on the latter:

http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/340987215

You know what, facebook 'friend' who writes snarky comments on my status about how I can do fun stuff because I "clearly don't have kids"?  I have friends with kids who do just as much fun stuff (read: mid-week partying with friends) as I do... not all parents are boring-stay-at-home-and-whinge-on-facebook-about-how-much-your-life-sucks-cupboard cleaner-outers like you.

PS.  I had an awesomely fun night drinking fishbowl-sized margaritas, eating quesadillas with my mates.

My new VS dresses arrived today - hurrah! Now I just need to lose a few inches of winter weight from around my waist so I don't look five months pregnant in them...

Vale, Sally Ride.  Making astrophysics cool since 1983.

Bang Bang by Dizzy Gillespie is on high rotation today and for some reason makes me so happy... to the point where I'm smiling and tapping my feet on the train.

A Sunday shift = extra $$ ∴ a post-shift trip to Ikea was in order.

New bookshelves + rearranged office = Happy M

Courtesy of the divine Ms E.

Yes.

YES.

Re-watching The West Wing and chuckling at the awesomeness of the scripts. Why can't all TV be this good?

Ouch-my-head this morning... just as well I had most of the day off and only had to work at 5pm!

Such a fun night at the Corner Hotel with Canadian Dan watching a Spice Girls tribute band and a DJ who played everything 90s - from Vengaboys to House of Pain!

Tuesday nights = new episodes of The Newsroom. Aaron Sorkin may just be my favourite TV scriptwriter.

Tax refund day - hooray!

An early start tomorrow, therefore I think an early night is in order... having 4 days off has gotten me into some bad sleeping habits!

A pyjama day... eight episodes of season one of The West Wing and lots of tea. Just what I needed.

Finally joined the local library today... all the fun of new books and DVDs without any cost whatsoever!

Work-Free Day 1 (of 5):  House cleaned; laundry done; filing completed; two chapters of The Happiness Project read; and episode 3 of The Newsroom watched.  Win.

There are some really sweet men out there... as evidenced by one of my customers today...

Getting a little bit over this cold; and the cold... and it's only July!

Another fun session playing reader for the Doubt auditions. How do I make this into a full-time, well-paid job?!

Being a reader at auditions really does open your eyes to a whole different world of what people think is appropriate audition behaviour... also, before you start spraying cockroach spray around the oven because you've just spotted one of the pesky creatures, you should make sure the oven is OFF.

Have started a new blog... Tales from the Ticketing World.  Which is basically about... yeah.  That. Cos really, I'm just procrastinating on writing the book I keep banging on about.

Tax. Done. Should get a refund. Win!

I think my computer may be about to have a total meltdown... it's being very slow and Google Chrome keeps popping up with a window telling me the page is not responding and suggesting I "kill it", which I find rather disconcerting.

The latest episode of the new Aaron Sorkin drama 'The Newsroom' and an early night... just what the doctor ordered.

Turned down a free ticket to Lady Gaga so I could come home and sleep... something which very few of my friends understand.  However in my defence, it's been an exhausting three days and I think I'm getting sick... plus, I'm not that big a Gaga fan.

A visit to Lu's office at Disney would not be complete without a photo op with Sully!!

Sitting in the bathtub at the Westin watching back to back episodes of The West Wing is a great way to deal with a hangover...

NYC Girls' Reunion: loads of champers, dinner at Felix, brief drink at the Ivy and karaoke at the Pickled Possum. This about sums up Saturday night...

It's always fascinating to watch a director act... especially when you're watching it with five castmates from the production he just directed you in!   ;)

Mid-afternoon movie date with a mate... The Cabin In The Woods.  My adoration of Bradley Whitford knows no bounds.  He. Is. Hysterical.

I vividly remember the first time I went to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.  It was 1995.  It was winter, but the skies were blue.  I walked alongside the Temple of Dendur and re-enacted this scene (in my head, since I was alone!) and did a little (internal) dance of glee that I was standing in the very same spot where Meg & Billy spoke those words from the movie that, to this day, remains one of my favourites.

Today, the writer of those words, Nora Ephron, passed away.  Vale Nora.  And thank you.

The more I think about it (and talk to others about it), the more ticked off I am.  Not that I didn't get a role, but that I was told so VIA TEXT MESSAGE.  Lame, lame, lame.  I thought he was my friend.

That's all I've got to say about that.  Rant over.

Monday night fabric cutting in preparation for Wednesday night's Stitch'n'Bitch.

You win some, you lose some.

Translation:

Didn't get the gig.

Nailed the monologue.  Didn't disgrace myself in the callback.  Saw an absolute legend of musical theatre in his one-man show.  Heading to bed exhausted and happy.

A lovely evening with my gorgeous friend, her sister in law and one of her friends, watching a mutual friend's play.  Helped (briefly) take my mind off tomorrow's audition!

Apart a couple of hours doing craft with the Jnr Harrys (and having Glee cupcakes!), the day has been spent in a hangover-induced fog.  Not ideal, when I wanted to spend it preparing for Saturday's audition!

A very different birthday to last year's, that's for sure.  A solo movie morning (The Way - loved it), home hair colouring in the afternoon and too many gingerbread martinis with the GBFs in the evening... oh and I walked home from the city because being on the tram made me feel woozy.

An earthquake in Melbourne tonight... 5.2 on the scale.  A tiddler really, but enough to get the windows rattling and ground shaking!

Have barely moved from the sofa since I got home. Knackered, I am... and it's only Monday.

A sleep in, finishing the tax spreadsheet, a two hour skype with the Belgium Bestie and lots and lots of tea.  That was my Sunday.

Tonight I saw a play called Ruby Moon, performed in a tiny little 36-seat space in Richmond with a tiny budget.  Sometimes the best theatre is the kind which forces you to look beyond big budgets and fancy sets and perfect costumes and just focus solely on the words as spoken by the performers.  The writing of this piece was good, but in the hands of the two utterly convincing performers it was superb.

Bruising. The gift that keeps on giving. #resultofsaturday'sstack #whyamisoclumsy #luckyit'swinter

An afternoon with friends at the new Napoleon exhibition at the art gallery and an evening at the theatre watching two of my favourite people performing in Macbeth.

Words to live by...

That awesome feeling when you find that play, with that character, with that incredible monologue, which ticks all the boxes for an audition you need to prepare for... wow.  Thank you Jon Robin Baitz.

Home, sweet home after five days in Tasmania.  Was a lovely weekend with lovely friends visiting lovely places - topped off by a visit to magnificent Port Arthur today.

I think it will be an enforced early night tonight... we're in Sticksville and everything is closed!

Did a massive (totally sober) stack on the streets of Launceston on our way to dinner... bent the new glasses, tore a huge hole in my new leggings and have a massively swollen knee. Winner. Not.

Spent the day at Mona (Museum of Old and New Art)... so cool.

Hobart cafés... hipster or quirky? Whatever it is, I love it.

Venus in transit this morning... the brightest sunshine I've seen in ages.  Felt the love.  A cancelled play this evening gave me a chance to catch up with two old cast-mates. Was a fascinating conversation!

Watching the Diamond Jubilee Concert from Buckingham Palace and missing London. Loads.

Today would have been the 40th birthday of my friend Steve, who took his own life earlier this year.  It breaks my heart that he decided no life was better than the one he had, but I hope wherever he is now he's happy, free of pain and knows that we will always love and remember him.  Happy Birthday Stevo.

Saw a production of Oliver this afternoon, which one of my friends was in... was seated next to a girl of about 10 who was with her dad... the same age I was when my dad took me to see Oliver for the first time. Bittersweet memories.

Really wishing I was in the UK this weekend...

Mmmmmm... free ticket to the Good Food & Wine Festival, where there was a 'Cheese Alley' and I joined a 'Cheese Club' (like a wine club, but instead of home delivery of wine you get home delivery of hand-made cheese).  Heaven on a Friday night in Melbourne.

I'd say today was pretty productive... brunch with two old friend (DK & BS); a few loads of laundry; scanning and printing some monologues for my next audition; and reading the play the audition is for... which makes me really, really, want to get the role.  It's a stunning piece and I want to be part of it... something I haven't felt in a long time.

There's really, really bad, and then there's just plain awful.

Moonshadow falls into one of these categories.

Trying very hard to convince myself that I'm NOT getting a cold... I'm just a bit tired and sniffly.  Mind over matter!

Last day of the Mater's visit was spent having a long, leisurely lunch with my cousins... lovely!

A lovely lunch with the East Ringwood posse and a night of Eurovision.  Great Sunday.

I love the fact my friends love Eurovision as much as I do... we've been facebooking and texting back and forth all night!

Eurovision time!  My mother doesn't quite get it... she thinks it's meant to be taken seriously.

Introduced to a new show tonight courtesy of LB's mate Jan... "The Family UK". Hilarious.

Auntie May... almost 92. The women in my family age well!

In Ballarat visiting my Great Aunt Susa... hope I'm doing as well as her when I'm 98!

A trip along the Great Ocean Road today...

Lazy day of beach walks and watching footy...

Visiting relatives = sleeping in a single bed. Hope I don't fall out in the middle of the night!

NKOTBSB... with four lovely friends. So. Much. Fun!!!

A day visiting the relatives with my mother necessitated a retreat to my room for a couple of ours with my laptop and a double episode of Glee... inner calm restored.

Practising my "yes, I'm listening" face as my mother yabbers away... I've got two weeks of it after all.

Worked the Prince VIP function again tonight; boss talked me into going in to watch the gig again, "just for a few songs".  Public Enemy were in the crowd and Flavor Flav got up and rapped with Prince.  So. Glad. I. Went. In. Again.

"I wrote this song while looking in the mirror", shouts Prince as he sings 'Cream'. I bet you did, your purple highness. You've had me in creases for the last 2 1/2 hours... never knew you were such a comedian. Yay for the venue manager sneaking me into a corporate box!!

A trip to Spotlight for sewing-related materials; grocery shopping; a bit of movie watching whilst painting the nails; ruining a perfect manicure by doing the dishes and melting the polish in the hot water (even though I was wearing gloves!); a lamb roast in the oven; and the heating on because it's only about 7℃.  Must be Sunday.

House is clean, laundry is mid-cycle, dinner is in the oven and old 80s tunes are blaring on the radio as I finish Week 11 of WITW.  I like these kinds of Saturdays.

Bridget & Mandi's Inaugural Stitch'n'Bitch'nW(h)ine evening was a success... one new cushion cover made by the complete novice and four crochet squares for the afghan made by the experienced crafter.

A successful Artist's Date/Day at the Grace Kelly: Style Icon exhibition in Bendigo today.  I was inspired by the sketchings of her hairdresser, Louis Alexandre Raimon, to dig out my sketchbook and copy down the way he drew faces... I really like it!  

Just a little bit excited about my all-day Artist's Date tomorrow... what a treat!

A huge night last night catching up with Britney, seeing The Avengers and chatting deep into the night over G&Ts = a much quieter night catching up with Roncey and Paul tonight.  Lovely to see old faces and hear their news regardless of the method!

So excited to be able to wear nail polish again.  Shallow?  Probably.

Post-show pajama day... I. Did. Nothing!

Last two shows done and dusted.  Very sad to say goodbye to some lovely new friends and will miss the thrill of performing, but oh-so-happy I don't have to trek out to the other side of the city every night!

Having one of your oldest friends fly over just to see your play?  Too amazing for words.

An unexpected offer of a lift home from a friend who came to see the show tonight meant no waiting for trains, no crazy people on the trains and home right on the dot of midnight.  Extremely grateful!

I discovered this video today, courtesy of this awesome performer's blog.

Wise words indeed.

Yay for home-made cards for the crew.  So much more personal (and fun to make!) than bought ones.

When I went to the Alexander McQueen 'Savage Beauty' exhibition (twice!) in NYC last year, I desperately wanted to buy the accompanying book, but lacked (a) the funds; and (b) the luggage space required (it's heavy!).  I did buy the poster though, which I've framed and hung in my bedroom - it's the first thing I look at when I wake up of a morning and I love it.  

Today I walked past my local bookstore and sitting in the window was the book... the very last copy they had.  

So it's come home with me.  I'm considering it my early, early birthday present to myself.

[does a happy jig]

A lovely long sleep in and planning a whole Artist's Date DAY to see the Grace Kelly exhibition in Bendigo, when the play is finished.  Sunday mornings are the best.

Brunch with Bridgi, cookie baking and WITW tasks and a disco nap. Now it's off to the theatre for show #9... half way!

Just got the early train home, with 2 mins to spare. Will be home at midnight. Bam!

Where I am right at this moment...

My first ever dawn service in the pouring rain. Lest We Forget.

Found a fascinating essay on writing for children by C.S. Lewis today... in which he states "Those of us who are blamed when old for reading childish books were blamed when children for reading books too old for us.  No reader worth his salt trots along in obedience to a time-table."  Describes me to a tee...

A relaxing, yet fairly productive day.  I like those... why don't I have more of them?

Home before 10pm... love the Sunday show!  Time for a bath and finishing off this week's Walking In This World tasks... then bed.  Ahhhh, bed.

Whilst I am grateful that one of my lovely co-stars drives me into the city after each show so I can get the train home, I am really tired of having to rely on others to be able to get home.  Hiring a car for the next fortnight would be awesome... ridiculously expensive, but awesome.  Ah well.  It's only a fortnight.

Would very much like a head, neck and shoulder massage. Right. Now.

Coffee with Lara and drawing butterflies and sticking princesses on paper with three year old Lotts has helped calm the butterflies in my tummy for opening night tonight.

Today's arrival from The Book Depository!

This is how I roll.  Most days.

Today I took a detour on the way to the supermarket... via the house owned by my great-grandparents in the late 1800s/early 1900s.

Tech today... a very, very, very long day.  However not too many tempers lost so it was quite enjoyable!

Pyjama day! A long sleep in, some writing, some craft work, finished the filing and made a yummy dinner. Calling it a win.

Took a detour on the way home so I could pick up some bath bombs at Lush... looking forward to soaking in the tub tonight!

Eight tubs of pumpkin soup and two of chilli con carne in the freezer ready for those "OMG I'm too tired to cook" moments I will no doubt have when the play opens.

Left rehearsal before notes were finished - to the director's extreme annoyance.  Too. Frickin'. Bad.  He knows how far away I live and that if I don't make the last train home I'm screwed.  It's not my issue if half the cast are pathetically show at getting changed and then like to discuss every note he gives them.  Notes should never take an entire hour or if they do, the director needs to re-think their process.

Looking forward to an EARLY night for a change...

I thought we might actually be finished at a decent time tonight, seeing as we started an hour earlier... unfortunately notes went for AN HOUR, so it's another post-midnight bedtime for me. Aaaaarrgh!! Now I'm going to be knackered for the rest of the week...

I'd forgotten how loooooong the rehearsals before tech week take... still here at the theatre having been here since 2.30pm. Neeeeeeed sleeeeeeep.

A massive day out with Shell and the boys... aquarium, shopping, playing the giant chess set at lunch, swimming and dinner on a boat cruising the bay.  Love my friends.

A huge sleep-in, lunch with my gorgeous niece and her boyfriend who are visiting Melbourne for the weekend and a 3 hour disco nap in the afternoon.  Perfect.

Just walked out the door from Job #2 knowing I don't have to ever go back there again (to work anyway!).  Feel like a huge boulder's been lifted from my shoulders!

Worked at the Tony Bennett pre-show function tonight.  The man is in his mid-80s and still tours the world sharing his voice with an adoring public.  Phenomenal.  Hope I'm that sprightly when I'm his age.

Coffee and shopping with Lara - done and enjoyed; shoes sold via eBay - posted; house - clean; bed sheets - changed; laundry (four loads) - done; Walking in This World week 6 - completed; WITW blog post for yesterday and today - posted.  Time for dinner and a spot of Smash!

Act 1 scene changes sorted, Act 1 run in its entirety with no major mishaps. We rock.

Open rehearsal today... ran all of Act 1 in front of an audience.  My scenes were shite, and that's being generous... however there are two other people in my scenes and one of them isn't pulling her weight.  I am forcing her into a line run tomorrow whether she likes it or not (so far, she's declined to do them, preferring to natter away to other people about non-show related stuff instead). Grrrr.  Rant over.

Today's Artist Date was to see Sondheim's 'Company'.  AH-MAAAAAAAAA-ZING.

Loved it.  Would've loved to have seen it live on Broadway, but seeing it on the big screen was almost better - it was captured so beautifully that you felt like you were right on stage with them.

A night of comedy at The Famous Spiegeltent.  First up was Bob.  He was ace (and I got a CD in the pop quiz segment AND he serenaded me with Barry Manilow).  Next up was Dixie.  Oh. My. Lordy. A hoot and a half and she gave me a hug on the way out.  Capped it off with the always hilarious Otto & Astrid.  Top night.

After a long day, an hour's show at the Athenaeum watching Jason Byrne's MICF show was exactly what I needed.  Laughter that has you clutching your stomach while sliding down the seat, with tears running down your cheeks... brilliant.

Too wired up from rehearsal to go to bed (it's actually 1.01am on Thursday), but I have to work tomorrow so MUST. SLEEP.  Gah!

A poem I came across today in Walking In This World by Julia Cameron...

"If your nose is held to the grindstone rough
and you hold it down there long enough
soon you'll say there's no such thing
as brooks that babble and birds that sing.
Three things will all your world compose - 
just you, the grindstone, and your darned old nose."

A full theatre of people giving one final standing ovation for a beautiful soul taken from us far too soon.  Farewell Marc.  I was blessed to have you in my life, even for such a short time.

Another fun, productive rehearsal... with a bit of a backstage girly bonding session... we're finally starting to feel more like an ensemble.  Love when that moment happens.

Officially an international TV nerd... wonder how many other people can use examples of both Degrassi and Grange Hill characters to ensure everyone at the dinner party can understand a childhood TV conversation?

For the first time in a week, it looks like a pre-midnight bedtime for me... HUZZAH!!!

One down, two to go... then it's bye bye job #2!

I pass this shop-turned-home on my way to rehearsal... the contents change regularly but they're always fascinating!

There's a "Seafarers & Wharfies... soup" sign to the left, an old bicycle at the back, a painting of the Virgin Mary (I think!) in the centre, and a life-sized poster of an AFL team on the right.  Totally eclectic!

My gorgeous mate Josie is one hot cabaret queen.  This show, which I saw tonight, proves it.  Inspirational stuff Jose!!

That was just a little bit amazeballs and I am collapsing into bed exhausted in the best possible way, having danced and sung my heart out a mere five rows back from the band I've loved since I was 12. Grateful beyond words for tonight... My. Life. Rocks.

A lovely catch up with a wonderful friend, an amazing concert by the ACO, a long walk (halfway) home in the late afternoon sunshine and an evening spent finishing this week's Walking In This World tasks.  Another day to be grateful to be alive.

Billy Joel had it spot on... only the good die young.  Vale Marc.  You were a beautiful man and will be sorely missed.

7.30pm tonight. I finished tapping away at an email on my iPhone (to the manager of job #2 on a particularly tedious issue which has been dragging on for months) and hit send... then this popped up in the next email I opened.

I laughed really hard at how appropriate it was, put my phone down, turned on the iPod, poured myself a glass of wine and started cooking dinner.

Thanks Gretchen!

I DID IT!!  I DID IT!!!

Wow.

Relief.

Roll on Thursday 5 April (my last day).

You know you're in for a bit of fun when the director instructs you to make your voice sound "like Patty and Selma from the Simpsons".

Today I treated myself to a pretty new mug for my first-thing-in-the-morning-whilst-writing tea.

A public holiday, a fantastic creative cluster skype, completing nearly everything on my to-do list, cooking up a storm at the final French cooking class and the happy prospect of another day off tomorrow... life is good!

That was a long rehearsal... only just home.  Good fun however, and the play is shaping up quite nicely!

Another huge night of fun at Jordan's 30th... although I'm not sure how much more 'fun' my liver and wallet will take...

A hilariously huge night at LMFF with Jerry, Glenn, Kitty Kat, Adam and co... ouch my head.

Third time around at A Chorus Line tonight... with SAB* Sally, who's a huge fan of the movie but had never seen the stage show.  Listening to her hum along to 'Nothing' and 'What I Did For Love' reminded me of how wonderful theatre is and why I love it so much.





* Separated At Birth (something Sally and I decided we were quite recently)

Today I discovered this site and subsequently picked up a pencil for the first time in years and did some drawing.  I think I might start doing it a little more often!

A late start, but eventually got most things done... although once agin spent far more money than I intended to on "stuff".

Soupe à l'oignon d'Avize...

Followed by Champagne Sabayon for pudding...

This is what you call a Smash. On. Supper.

Got home from rehearsal at 11.15pm and have spent the last 40-odd mins totally unable to move from the sofa... kerrrr-naaaackkkkeerrrreeddd.

A little kid at the 'How to Train Your Dragon' function I worked at today was an awesome reminder of how fun it is sometimes to just laugh so hard you need to throw yourself down on the floor... and all because his mum walked into the men's toilets instead of the women's.  LOL.

Today, on the other side of the world, the lovely Steve was laid to rest.  Here in Australia, tears were shed and memories of a life shared were remembered.  RIP buddy... look forward to seeing you beyond the curtain one day.

So today was all sweetness and light... which made it almost impossible for me to decide what to do.  Needless to say, I did not quit.  So much to ponder.

I think I'd rather be a little bit poor and happy (with more time to be creative), than deal with bullies in the workplace.

After all that's happened in the last few days, receiving a passive-aggressive email from one of my employers has tempted me to quit one of my jobs... best I weigh up the pros and cons properly before doing so.

What a day... awake at 5.30am. Morning pages, gym, work, French cooking class, first read-through of the play (on the other side of the city!) and home at 11.30pm.  I. Am. Knackered.  Night!

A sad day, with lots of tears... but a tomorrow to look forward to starting on Walking in This World and first read-through of the play. Yes, I have much to be thankful for.

A message from a friend saying another of our friends has taken his own life, leaving behind a wife and two beautiful little children.  All I can think is 'why?', but the truth is, we will never know.  RIP Steve. x

If I spent the afternoon cooking dinner for two friends who are due at 6.30pm and one texts me at 5.30pm to say he's not coming because his ex-boyfriend has gone off the rails, I'm allowed to be a little bit pissed off, right?

Spending an entire day doing the most boring data-entry style work (building price tables in a ticketing system) has reinforced that I really need to get my act together and find work which allows me creativity AND a decent pay packet.

Is it lame to be so excited about getting a steam mop? I don't care if it is. It's ace!

Making or rearranging playlists on my iPod makes me happy.

An hour's pampering at the beautician; a long (and long overdue!) chat over a coffee with a dear friend; an(other) Artist Date (twice in four days!) seeing The Artist; and about to head out for dinner with another dear friend. Today is officially... A. Good. Day.

Tonight was fondue night at French Cooking class. FON-FREAKIN-DUE.  I want a fondue set. Now.  I don't care if it's totally 70s kitch.  I love fondue.

Artist Date at the movies seeing My Week With Marilyn. Entire cast was fab, but Michelle Williams especially so. Stunningly fragile as Marilyn.

Is it wrong that for my Artists Date tomorrow I am taking myself to Bunnings?  I do so love Bunnings. I need a cover for my BBQ (and possibly some fold up chairs for my balcony) so there is a purpose to it... which is kind of against what an Artist Date is for... perhaps I should also take myself to the movies.  Yes. Yes. Perhaps I shall.

Tomorrow will be cleaning day.  This house is dusty!!

Digging out the old drama school notes and doing character studies and accent work... eeek!

Started back with morning pages today... it's small, but it's a win!

Yet again my good intentions of having an early night are thwarted... by self-sabotage.  And I wasn't even doing anything productive.  Sigh.

First night of French Regional Cooking class... Croque Monsieur washed down with a lovely Beaujolais. Y.U.M.

Brunch at Coin Laundry. An afternoon of art and high tea at NGV.  Mexican food and games night at home.  Perfect Sunday.

A day of eating, drinking, socialising and relaxing.  Awesome Saturday.

Massive night out with Rani & Sherlyn... hence a retrospective post... at 12.30am Sunday.  Yowzers.

Heading to bed early so I can start on the introduction to Walking In This World in preparation for starting work on it with the lovely Debster.  Yippeeee!!

If you're an actress and your role requires you to speak with a particular accent, then you should work your ass off to perfect it.  Sloppy accents are an insult to the role and your audience. (Talking about this show)

Everything in life is only for now...

Over the last week I've heard from so many friends whose relationships have broken up... some civilly, some violently, some after a long period of time, some after a brief period. What's in the air at the moment?

Watching 'When Harry Met Sally' for the first time in years and being reminded of all those places in NYC I went to last year... like lunch at The Boathouse in Central Park! ❤

New day, new hair!

Watched A Chorus Line again tonight... my original assessment from when I saw it in Adelaide a few weeks ago still stands.  Al and Val are two very weak links in an otherwise outstanding production.

The universe is a kooky thing... flicked on the TV when I got home from work (at 8.30pm... ugh!) and what's on TV?  The Wedding Date.  Starring the one from yesterday's post.  Ha!  Is that a justification for the choice of new hair colour or what?

I'm thinking it's time for new hair... this is my current inspiration. It all happens on Saturday.

A fab night out at Chapel Off Chapel with some lovely friends watching an amazing cabaret about Britney Spears.  Yes.  Britney.  It was brilliant!

Spent a lovely evening with the wonderful Bumpa eating tacos, drinking wine, introducing him to the joy of Smash and discussing everything under the sun.  Wonderful!

Top tip for today:  when using gluten-free flour to make muffins, fill the muffin cases all the way to the top, because the muffins won't rise the way they do with normal flour.  That is all.

Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy... what a fantastic piece of film-making that was.  Brilliant performances, kept me guessing right up until the last 20 mins or so and such amazing production detail.  Why it's only been nominated for 3 Oscars is beyond me.

Craig Ferguson is in Paris at Shakespeare and Company bookshop... his advice to Sylvia Beach Whitman (the owner) about writing a book is to "write one page a day... in a year you'll have 365 pages... that's a book!". Good advice Craig. Mind if I take it?

Spent Australia Day on the sofa watching movies... and it was great.

Catching up with old friends; meeting new friends; drinking gin; stopping off at Maccas on the way home. Two of these things must end soon.

Hmmmm... let's just go for it shall we? Could be fun.

After four years of being in pieces in a ziploc bag; today I finally got around to superglue-ing the lid for Grandma Nell's sugar bowl.  It's not the greatest fix in the world, but then the flatmate who broke it all those years ago did rather a good job of smashing it far and wide and I didn't manage to get quite ALL the pieces...