Louisa May Alcott

Today was lovely.
I went to Boston last night for an audition at speakeasy for 'The Drowsy Chaperone'. Hopefully I'll get it and I can be back in that beautiful city for a few months. I love it there. I got all happy inside on the bus ride in. The audition was good. I felt like I rocked it to the best of my ability. Next time I want to be more prepared with the sides that I'm sent in advance. It was kind of a last minute thing that I had work off to go so, I didn't invest time in the sides early. But it was fun. There were a lot of BOCO kids there. It was funny to see them all. Show biz is competitive, but everyone loves each other all the same. It was good to see Paul. I was surprised at how grateful he was that I was there. When I first met him it was me being late to class.... :S not a great first impression. But we've been on good terms since then. I wonder if he remembers that.

Anywho, the audition was loads of fun and I felt good about it. It also rocked to see the one and only Nick Connell. I need to call him to help me put together a stellar NY Christmas tree- trimming party, similar to last year when I spent a long while making a really killer star out of pretzels and gold ribbon. GOOD TIMES.

Then I walked through Boston. I could have taken the train. But I knew exactly where I was and how to get where I was going and I wanted to see everything in between. I walked down Huntington St., through the Christian Science Center (if I were more thorough in my Blogging I would provide links but I'm sure you'll get over it, and you can always google what you care about :) ). I walked past the Bookstore and I have to say I nearly teared up. I love that place. Good friends, such good friends from that store (Shannon says she's coming to town this weekend!!!). They also had up a KILLA Christmas display that I definitely will be texting Frank about tomorrow morning. So impressed. Past the school, the fens, down the ramp to Com Ave, up a couple streets and into Katie's new home (she doesn't live with me anymore...crazy). We stayed up til 3. Talking. About everything. We haven't really REALLY talked in several months. I love her

Then when we woke up today she made pumpkin pancakes with cinnamon drops in them (like a chocolate chip but cinnamon = amazing). We took the train to Harvard square and puttered around Anthropology while we waited for Linsey to pick us up. I LOVE anthropology. It makes me want to be crafty... and a mom. I want to be crafty with my kids, like have a room for it, with several drawers of glitter and buttons. We each bought this little book called "I like you" it's so cute. If I were more patient I would type out all the words and send it to everyone who reads this blog as a special Thanksgiving gift. At first I thought I would save this little treasure for my husband and give it to him and some special point in our relationship, but then I decided that the words apply to any real, good relationship and it would be sad to limit all the goodness it has to offer to one relationship that hasn't begun (as far as I know :S).

Linsey got there and we drove to Louisa May Alcott's house. It was so special. She wrote Little Women. In that house. I was so touched by everything. We got up to May's room (Amy in the book). And her wallpaper was blue, that was her favorite color. She had painted on the walls. And there was a bright strip of blue the color of painter's tape around the ceiling. And what touched me about this strip of blue was that her sisters had painted it in her room as a birthday present one year because that was her favorite color. I started crying. I want that. I want to give someone a gift that's personal. Something that they could only get from someone that really knows them. There were a lot of things about the house that made me really happy. The simplicity of their lives then. I felt like my life was a big mess of things compared to theirs. It also made me miss my family like mad. I'm so excited to see them. There is no greater feeling than having all of us under one roof. That is heaven. I'm so glad I know that families can be together forever, SO GLAD. So Grateful ;).

I bought a souvenir from the gift shop. I copy of Mr. Alcott's Schedule for the girls. It's so excellent:

Morning
5- Rise, Bathe, Dress
6- Breakfast
7-Housewifery Recreations (chores) in care of Miss Foord

Forenoon
9-Studies with Mr. Lane
10 1/2 - Recreations
11- Studies with Father

Noon
12- Dinner
(apparently the term 'lunch' is a bit more modern than I thought)

Afternoon
1- Rest (nice eh?)
2- Sewing, Conversation and Reading with Miss Foord and Mother
4- Errands (chores) and Recreations

Evening
6- Supper, Recreation, Conversation, Music
8-
8 1/2- Bed

Virtues-
Vigilence, Punctuality, Perseverance, Prompt, Cheerful, Unquestioning, Obedience, Government of Temper, Hands, and Tongue, Gentle Manners, Motions, and Words. Work, Studies and Play distinct. No interchange of Labors (can't switch chores with someone)


Doesn't that sound quaint! I'm hanging it on my wall to remind myself of this day, the things that matter, and not to get too wrapped up in making a schedule that's so crazy.

We drove back and Kates and I stopped in the BU bookstore real quick to look at a book she's interested in. And consequently I found a book I'm interested in... really interested in actually. It's called 'A Year of Living the Bible as Literally as Possible'. It sounds fascinating and a couple of the pages I read WERE just that. I can't afford to buy it right now so Mom, here's a shameless Christmas Gift plug!

I slept on the bus ride back to NY, but I must say in the intermittent moments when I was awake, all I could think about were all the nice things that I wanted to do for people. I want to send everyone a Christmas Card that I made from scratch that has at least 3 inside jokes in it, forgive everyone, call and catch up... stuff like that :). I also have decided that this year I'm decorating my apartment for Christmas. I've never even had a baby tree because I always went home for a month during Christmas break. But this year I'll be spending a lot of Holiday Time in New York, so it's only right that I have a tree and some lights. I'd love a little nativity as well :). Maybe I'll make one out of something since I'm feeling crafty.

Today was amazing. God is so good. I'm so happy. Life is good. and yes, there are things I want that I don't have now, and that I'll never be able to have. But He keeps promising me that if I keep working hard, and doing my best I'll have all I need and even better :). And He hasn't lied to me yet so... I look forward to life. I also love all of you who commented on my last post. I could be cynical, but I won't so just... thanks for loving me and letting me know that you do.

xo
Val