New things professionally

This year I am pretty much a full-fledged beginning band director!  Which means, I organize all registration paper work, organize a lessons schedule, contact all parents, organize all instruments, hand them out, and teach my students the awesomeness that is being a musician.  I am very much looking forward to next week and this school year - I enjoy my job! 

So, I'm going through some new obstacles right now... figure out the best way to schedule and group students.  I can't wait until the beginners have their instruments.  I remember 4th grade me being SO EXCITED about my clarinet and trying to figure out how to play it and having the instrument finally click with me.  Their faces will be such a wonderful sight to see.

Ciao for now! :)

One last new summer event... BEING A ZOMBIE

First: I hope everyone is okay and from Hurricane Irene!  She was a bit wicked.  Around me she didn't hit as hard as they were predicting, but I know some places got hammered, and I hope people are okay and recovery happens fast!
 
Second: tomorrow is the start of the new school year, so before it started, I wanted to make sure I posted a last summer entry.  This summer had a good number of exciting and memorable events.  As far as summers go for me, this is certainly up there on my "Best Summers" list.  I have 24 summers to choose from and this one's easily top 4. 

Third: So... Zombies.  Yes, I zombified myself for the Zombie Invasion at Dorney Park.  It was a really sweet deal; $25 to be in the park from 3:30-midnight.  Now, zombies were not allowed in the part until 8 p.m. So for the first part of our Dorney day we went to the park with a lively spirit and went on all the coasters and some fun rides.

Around 6:30 we went out to the parking lot to eat some dinner and to get into zombie mode.  The parking lot was actually a lot of fun.  All the undead were making themselves up or arriving at the park, while non-zombies were leaving.. so of course the zombies had to chase them out of the parking lot.  It was a very funny thing to see.
Make-up turned out pretty good!  Our make-up kit included pale foundation, bruise wheel, stage blood and fake blood, hair whitener, liquid latex, and toilet paper.  Here's my end results (yes, I am a hot pink zombie:)

We pretty much walked onto all of the coasters.  It was awesome!  Hydra is my favorite coaster there... we went on it about 5 times that evening.  The best and scariest part of the coaster is your first slow dip upside down right when you exit the coaster.

I loved the view of all the coasters coming in... and all the undead on board.  It was lovely!

 I should have filmed the carousel.  There's something eerie about a carousel with it's tinkering music and being filled with zombies.  It felt a bit Zombielandish actually... walking around like a zombie in an amusement park.  We stayed away from the Dominator.

Oh... here's a scary looking lion from the carousel.  He didn't need any zombie make-up to look scary and undead.  

Best moments of the day include:

-Basically walking on every coaster.

-Seeing zombie Santa and zombie Jack Sparrow.

-Walking through a dark path by one of the coasters when all of a sudden a guy dressed up like a zombie hunter jumps in front of us.  We should've been in character... but we just kind went... "uhh... heeeeyyyyy," and kept walking. 

-Zombie dancing to Jack Johnson with Chrissy at 11:30 p.m.

Suggestions:

Zombie crawls are fun!  If you find one, don't be afraid to attend.  The people are really nice. 

As far as make-up goes, there are plenty of great tutorials online (in article form and on youtube.)  Check them out, you won't be disappointed.

Bethlehem, PA Musikfest - Arts and crafts

So, last week I went to Musikfest for two days and while I enjoyed the musik and food, we did an arts and crafts project.

There was a stand where you could decorate your own silk scarf.  A one-of-a-kind. :)  So, Day 1, Matt and I made this pretty little thing:

The next day, we went with Chrissy, Melissa, and Brittany.  Here are our scarfs:

 Chrissy's final result.

 Brittany's scarf in the process.

 Me applying color to the "watery" solution

 Adding some more.

 Mixing up the colors to give a feathery look.

 Adding droplets for flowers.

 Shaping the flowers. :)

 Dip the scarf in.

 Let is soak for a few seconds.

 Voila!  Decorated one-of-a-kind scarf!

I realized after that that I should have used purples instead of red, because it would be a Tangled scarf then!  Oh well, it's still pretty! 

If you're ever in the PA area for a fair/fest/whatever check out Ebru RichSilk Designs schedule or register to have them at one of your events/parties/fairs to design your own scarf!

We also saw (my first) Straight No Chaser concert that night.  It was AWESOME!

Wow.  A rare non-Potter related post.  Another one is one it's way too from Dorney Park's ZOMBIE INVASION!  Oh the pictures are glorious!

More food, different city...

So today, after dropping off my little sister to the airport so she can work in Disney for the next 6 months, my mom, Chrissy, and I traveled to the wild, crazy city of Philadelphia to order my first official Philly cheesesteak.

First we ventured to the Italian market around 11 a.m. ended up eating gelato before lunch (and it was an awesome decision, thank you!)  Then we had to make the hard decision between Pat's or Geno's.
So we picked:

:)

 
Chrissy coached my mom and me how to properly order a Philly cheesesteak.
However there was also this helpful sign as well:

 

(Picture Credit Goes to this lovely travel blog. I forgot to take one myself.)

So, we ended up ordering "Four wit whiz."  Which was so weird for me.  My dad has owned a sandwich shop for the past 21...22 years.  I love those cheesesteaks... (specifically California cheesesteaks) but seriously, give me fried onions, sweet peppers, and mushrooms right there mix with the meat, please, and smother it in American cheese and sometimes provolone!   So that's how I usually enjoy a steak.  So this cheese whiz thing... was very new.

My first bite of a real Philly cheesteak (with ketchup!)

Chrissy's all smiles with her yummy food.

My mom enjoying her cheesesteak forgetting that her youngest daughter was currently flying to live in Florida for the rest of the year.  (What other daughter?  I love cheesesteak!)

Well, surprising to my tastes buds, I thoroughly enjoyed my Pat's cheesteak... even with the cheese whiz.  It was Philly and pretty tasty - reminded me of when I would cover crackers (and when I say cover, I mean cover and make a tower on top of the cracker) in cheese whiz at our Christmas parties.  Very philling and satisfying lunch wit Chrissy and Mom.  (Now that was cheesy.)

Yep... finished the whole thing.

 

Don't worry Geno's, I'll tackle you next time.

Tips:

 -When ordering a Philly Cheesesteak from Pat's or Geno's be sure to know what you want before you get to the window to order, say what you want with proper terminology, and HAVE YOUR MONEY READY.  :)  (Also, if you go to Geno's, remember to order in English.)

-Eating gelato before noon = totally worth it.  (At Anthony's.  Really great!  They have other goodies too!)

-For the best cheesesteak in PA, go to my dad's sandwich shop.  :)

Tomorrow and Thursday I'll be at the Musikfest in Bethlehem, PA, and seeing Straight No Chaser!  Woot woot!  Until then, ciao!

Stage dooring isn't new to me, but this experience totally was.

So this is how yesterday ended... but let's talk about the rest of it first.

My mom, sister, brother, and I headed up to NYC via bus.  I haven't taken the bus since October... I got so spoiled by the train in New Brunswick.  

First stop to NYC was Rockefeller Center... and to the NBC Shop.  I wanted to get myself a Chuck shirt.  I also discovered they sell DOCTOR WHO merchandise at the store.  SCORE!  So I also bought an Adpose stress doll!!

(The longer lines feel like tire tracks and the Adipose doll... well feels like adipose, I suppose.)

Shortly after that we met up with my friend, Chrissy, and made our way to the Al Hirschfeld Theatre to see 'How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.'

(Playbill signed by John Larroquette, Charlie Williams, Daniel Radcliffe, and Michael Park.)

The show was amazing and fun!  My school did a production of H2$ my senior year of high school (I was Miss Jones,) so I was very familiar with the story and music.  The way they portrayed the story and characters was brilliant.  I loved the block-set, the tap dance during 'Cinderella, Darling', and the elevator scene.  'Grand Old Ivy' WAS FANTASTIC!!!!!! I so enthralled but that scene and so many of the others.  Even the second act, which I didn't really like when I performed it.  The whole thing was just an amazing theatrical experience.  Daniel Racliffe made a superb Finch, and the rest of the cast were superbly casted as well, especially Christopher J. Hanke as Bud Frump.  You know it's something when you're waiting to get DanRad's signature, but also really want a signature from this other guy.  He was very memorable and hysterical!  I really wish we would have caught him after the show.

(Unfortunately, they don't come out after the matinee so we were told we could come back around 9.. 10 ish for a spot to stagedoor.)

Speaking of after the show, after the show we ventured to the Discovery Museum in Times Square (which was only like a block away from the theater,) and went to the Harry Potter Exhibit.  So many great things inside: costumes, props, monsters.  

Some highlights for me: 

1. Marissa got to do the Sorting Hat thing in the beginning of the tour.  The guide asked, "Do you have a preference of House?"  So she goes, "Gyffindor."  LIKE ALL THE OTHER PEOPLE.  >_<  Marissa, you fail me!
2. The details on every piece of fabric... or just EVERYTHING.  Stunning.  Especially the invisibility cloak.
3. SNAPE's Costume... I just stood there for a while wishing I could touch it.  *le sigh*  Why must I follow rules?
4. The trio's POA outfits during the big action part of the story.  (I could recognize those outfits anyway.)
5. Sitting in Hagrid's car... Holy GALATIC-WATERMELON-SIZED-CHAIR, Batman.
6. Speaking of HUGE chairs... how about the HUGE HAGRID OUTFIT.  I didn't realize the costume was THAT huge.  
7. Seeing a thestral... *shudders*
8. Luna's outfit to Fleur and Bill's wedding!
9. The Twin's robes!
10. The Sword of Gryffindor!

Bought a DA shirt and some pencils in the gift shop.  I really enjoyed the exhibit, I just wish there were more interactive things inside (you could pull a mandrake out of a pot, throw a quaffle, and sit in Hagrid's chair) and I wish picture taking was allowed!  That was such a bummer.  But overall, some very cool things to see.

We were starving by that point so ate dinner then got dessert at Donna Bell's Bake Shop.  Tasty!  I only wish we got there earlier in the day for a bigger selection of goodies.

After that we ventured to the theater to take some pictures and to see the crowd waiting for Daniel.  It wasn't too bad at that point, but we only knew it was going to get bigger.  It was 9 p.m. and there were already about 20 people there.  The security at the theater had 2 sets of barricades set up.  One for people who didn't see the show that day and want to try to get some autographs, and the other for people who saw the show that day (even Saturday, we saw the matinee and were able to stand there because they didn't come out after that performance.)  We got to be right at the front of the barricades and waited a long, long time for the end of the show.  I understand people want to get Daneil's autograph, however I can't believe that people from the evening show skipped the 2nd Act (some the whole thing) just for a chance of an autograph.  I heard someone say, "I'll just see it on DVD someday."  That just really upset me because "Brotherhood of Man" was just AMAZING live.  Certainly on my list of top production scenes in shows I've seen.  They've performed it on TV, but there's nothing like seeing it LIVE!!!  (To people that skipped half of the show: You're crazy.)  The police and security guards were extremely nice and handle the craziness of the fandom very well.  Apparently, they said they average about 500 people waiting out by the stage door each night.  We were VERY LUCKY to be right behind the barricades.

Around 11 p.m. John Larroquette came out of the theater and signed our Playbills.  He was extremely nice and looked at me when I told him how amazing the show was and responded with a very gracious thank you while looking straight at me.

After that, Charlie Williams who was Mr. Jenkins signed our Playbills. :)    Then around 11:15ish out appears Daniel Radcliffe from the stage door.  (Lots of pushing ensues.  These are times I'm thankful that I have a curvy behind to push people away.  Oh... lots of screaming too.  And Dan wasn't wearing earplugs.  Neither was I, but I was wishing I was.)  My sister and I both had little conversations with him.  He looked straight at me and said "Thank you."  I was very proud of myself that I held it together a lot more than when we met Adam Pascal.  (Although we did get a picture WITH him.)

These are my mom's pictures.  My picture is the one at the very top of the post.  I didn't use flash... I was so close to his face.  It was scary.  (Not his face.. just being that close.)

Michael Park (Mr. Bratt) was also signing while Dan was and switched sides with him.  He told my sister that our afternoon crowd as extremely responses, almost like the opening night crowd.  Woot!  It was a very energetic afternoon performance!

And yeah... that was our stage door experience.

Tips:

*Be positive and excited.  Just don't scream.

*Please don't push.  Seriously.  You want to see the person you came there to see, but you don't want to injure them by pushing down the barricades (or pushing unsuspecting people through the barricades.)

*When you're getting your Playbill or something signed by an actor/actress be sure to thank them!  (And again, don't scream at them!)

*Take pictures... but don't keep flashing things in their faces.  I put my camera on 'no flash.'  However I still felt bad for the orange light that appears before the picture takes.

*Please don't lean on other people... and their arms.  (Or they might have a strap mark on their arm for hours after the event.)

Nothing new... just a mini-rant type non-rant: I need to invest in a helicopter.

Yes, a helicopter or some kind of traveling device (firebolt, Nimbus 2000, flying car, dragon, phoenix, firefly...) to get to all of my friends who are so far away.

Other than my family, I really only hang out with one other person who lives within 10 minutes of me.  The closest after that is about an hour away.  My boyfriend (as of now) lives two hours from me.  Then I have some really good friends living in North Carolina, Tennessee, Orlando, and a cousin (who I'd love to visit) in San Francisco.

I suck at communication.  I'm forcing myself to get better and when I get to see these people I can talk to them for hours on end, but it's so strange to be apart from them for gigantic stretches of time.  I guess that's all a part of growing up, but it's awkward and I'm already awkward enough.  Oi.

So, I think I'm planning on traveling more in the future so I can see these lovely people and make some fun trips out of it on the way.  It probably won't start any time soon, but I'd like this to happen within a year.  That's my goal.  Let's see if I hold to it.

Ciao for now!

So by the trend of my blog, you can probably either guess this post will be about NYC or food or both...

My life is getting predictable. Boo.  But this is about food.  My sister and I made delicious cake pops for her graduations/going away party.
We used amybites.com recipe for the butterbeer cupcakes.  THEY ARE DELICIOUS!  However, instead of turning them into a snitch, we turned the cake pops into Mickey Mouse pops, since she's going to do the college program in Disney World.

This picture was taken from my sister's tumblr.

I think they turned out really well.  :)

That's all for now.  Saturday I'm going to the City (surprise) again to see H2$.   Soon, there will be some pictures from Bethlehem Musikfest.  Looking forward to it!