Styx - For the 27th Time

In case you've been living under a rock for the past 13 years, here's a news flash for you: I have a strange obsession with the band Styx. This past week, in fact, I saw them live for the 27th time. I am a weirdo. But the story is cool.

I was standing in the Apple Store when Lawrence, their singer and keyboard player, walked in.

(He never did this pose in the store.)

I asked him if he needed any help, and then I divulged my bizarre love for his band. He was super cool and talked to me for about 20 minutes, and at the end of the conversation he took my email address and phone number and told me he would try to get me a couple of tickets to their show the following night. He ended up finding me on Facebook and messaging me that my tickets were being held at will call.

I took my buddy Tanner with me to the show, and even got to go backstage and eat special chips and salsa. (Another newsflash to those who haven't hung out with me a lot: if there's anything I love as much as Styx, it's chips and salsa.) It was a great show and a great night, and I feel very grateful to Lawrence hooking me up with the tickets. Lawrence, wherever you are, thank you!

LOST Explained

I really loved the ending of Lost, and the more I think about it, the more I love it. I was definetly a little consfused when the finale was over, but after reading this and then this, I felt like I could wrap my head around it.

Matt and I restarted with Season 1 last night. Have to find some way to fill the void!

LOST Live

Ellen and I started watching LOST together at the beginning of our relationship, and it's no surprise to anyone that knows us that the show has become a bit of an obsession. Since moving to LA we've been offered many more opportunities to go to events with the cast and creators of the show, and we've capitalized on pretty much all of them. Most recently, we attended a really amazing event called LOST Live.

Held at UCLA's Royce Hall, this event showcased the music that Michael Giacchino has composed for the show with a live orchestra conducted by the Oscar winner himself. It was incredible. 90% of the cast was in attendance, as well as the show's creative team. The orchestra played 6 songs from the show (as well as the main theme from "Up"), and then we got to see the penultimate episode 3 days prior to it airing. That was an incredible experience.

Being in a theatre with 1800 other LOST freaks, all watching this episode for the first time was awesome. There was crazy applause at every cliffhanger, laughs at places only LOST fanatics would laugh, and an all around respect for the ending of this series. A part of me wishes we could watch the finale with that same group of 1800.

Palomino

Not too long ago I auditioned for a play called The Lieutenant of Inishmore. It's one of my favorite plays, and it's being produced by an extremely prominent theatre here in LA called Center Theatre Group. I was shocked that I even got the audition, and I was even more shocked when the casting director (who turns out to be extremely cool) called me a few days later. Basically, Inishmore was not right for me, but she offered me a position as a stand in on another of Center Theatre Group's shows: Palomino.

If you're like I was, you probably have no idea what a stand in does. Well, the title is pretty descriptive - let me put it that way. Palomino is a one man show written, directed, and performed by the very talented David Cale. Since he is performing and directing, he needs to be able to see what his movements look like on stage with all the technical cues. My job was to be him onstage during the rehearsal process so he could see what the show would look like. It was a pretty cool job, and I'm very honored I got to do it.

Working with the cast and crew was amazing. We had a Tony awarding winning lighting designer and a crew full of experienced Broadway and film veterans. Not to mention working hand in hand with David Cale, a prominent songwriter (Elvis Costello), actor (Radio Days, Two Lovers), and playwright (The Redthroats). It was a great learning experience, and I'm hoping it leads to more work with CTG in the future.

The Big 100

Wowzers. We have made it to our 100th post! This is a milestone that begs to be celebrated, people. Who knew that so much could happen in our lives since this little post. In case you missed it, here is a recap to catch you people up.

Matt was in a show.

We said goodbye to a friend.

We realized it's good to be out of the teenage years.

Matt saw this band...again.

We spent a day at the beach.

We went to New York.

I left Snoozy's and started working at MBCC.

Matt had a solo show.

We creamed Auburn.

Jay Leno made a joke about my dad's painting.

We went to New York again.

We celebrated our first married Christmas.

I suprised Matt.

I gained a sister.

Matt was in another show.

You leanred 25 random things about me.

Matt got a tattoo.

You learned 25 random things about Matt.
I went to the beach again.

Matt spoke his mind.

I brought a lot of high school girls to the lake.

Matt saw that other band....again.

We ate and ate.

We decided to move to California.

We celebrated a year of marriage,

by going to the Happiest Place on Earth.

I went on a mission trip,

and then lead another trip.

Then we went on yet another trip.

We got a little nostalgic.

We drove a loooong way.

Then we got settled.

We were jobless and poor.

We watched a loooot of TV.

We got the golden ticket.

We befriended Buster.

We got out of the city.

We watched more TV.

We got to go home.

We kept chugging along.

We got to geek out.

Things started to look up.

We finally felt at home.

We geeked out again.

We bought some snowboards.

Still not done geeking out.

We watched a lot of movies.

We rocked the red carpet.

We biked.

We found our family.

We "discovered" a gem.

Whew! On to the next 100.

An LA Favorite: The Getty Center

You know the idea that is warm and sunny year round in California. Well, it's a lie. I, who hate cold weather with a passion, was ready and willing to kiss my seasons goodbye. I was planning on enjoying my year long summer (with a slight sadness to see fall leaves go). At first I thought the myth was truth. When we moved here in August, the days were warm and sunny for the first couple of months. Then abruptly in late November, LA turned into a windy, dreary city, with rain atleast once a week. What happened to being sunkissed all year long? What happened to my plan to leave my winter wardrobe tucked away in boxes all year long? In early January, we had a heat wave that left me thinking, "Oh here it is! That cold* weather must have just been a fluke." But just a couple of days later the rain and frigid temperatures returned. So out came the peacoat and sweaters and away went the flip flops and shorts. For the past month, I have found myself jealous of Birmingham's 80 degree temperature while I sulked when my high was only 65.

The weather being as unpleasant as it was, caused us to enjoy indoor activites which were wonderful and plentiful. Every once in a while, we would have a warm day so activities such as biking on the beach commenced but it was only until recently that we have had a steady stream of warm weather. I figured it was time to check out what the Getty Center was all about.

I had seen the gigantic Getty Center several times. It is easy to view while riding down the 405 and is only minutes from my office. I knew it was a museum so wrote it off as only that. I like museums but am not someone who can spend hours staring at art. I also knew parking was $15 per car so was not jumping the gun to pay the fee.

Last week, a co-worker of mine gave me some free parking passes for the Getty (a member of our church works at the Getty) so I figured now was as good a time to go as any (I later learned that parking at the Getty is free after 5:00 on Saturdays).

So on Saturday, Matt and I along with some friends drove to the Getty in late afternoon. We parked our car and got on the tram that takes you up to the center which is situated on top of a mountain. As the car lifted us up, I really felt the transformation take place. Everything in LA below starts to look very small and for some reason everything looks greener as the view is framed by hills.

As we exited the tram, the views were breathtaking and this building with its modern architecture suddenly turned from the stark modern picture I had before to a gigantic work of beautiful art. The grounds were lush, whimsical and scenic and filled with people laying on grass or strolling the paths.

Inside, we walked through a Leonardo DaVinci exhibit. It was so well done with the natural light filling the rooms.

I couldn't believe I had waited so long to visit the Getty. I look forward to many a visit and many a picnic on the grounds on warm summer evenings.

*Once again, be reminded that "cold" to me is 60 degrees and below so it really is a relative term.