Thank you Lake Ontario.

SO...

Here's what the weather currently looks like over the Great State of New York.

(photo cred: weather.com!)

And THIS is what it looks like outside my bedroom window. (Please, Ignore the prison like grate, as my apartment is on the first floor of the building..) Photo cred: my phone. 

P.S. See that big mound of snow furthest to the right in the picture? THAT'S MY CAR. So thank you, southwesterly moving low pressure system. Getting to work tomorrow's going to be a production. Thank god both of my places of employment have parking garages.

ANYWAY. News, since I haven't updated this blog in four months. Oops.

Since then, I've gone to Scotland, come back, decided to take a semester off entirely, worked at Dougherty's Masquerade for October, gotten a second job at Williams Sonoma and continued Orange Appeal business. I was also Evita Peron for Halloween, and now own two pairs of six inch platform heels that I can walk like a muthafuckah in due to a halted production of Rocky Horror. The show is currently not moving forward, but, who knows.

I have a bajillion picturs from Scotland (Actually more like 300.) BUT, That was one of the most incredible experiences of my life, and starting next month, I'm saving to go again this summer.

Note: IF YOU'RE EVER OFFERED THE CHANCE TO GO TO THE EDINBURGH FRINGE FESTIVAL, GO. Fly, don't paddle. GO. It's the most fascinating, amazing, awe inspiring, ridiculously fun someting I've EVER experienced. This usually sleepy capital city in Middle-Eastern Scotland literaly ERUPTS with art, theatre, film, music, comedy, street performance, culture, nightlife, shopping, food and drink and you can't HELP but have a gabulous time.  I created a blog about it that we all posted to somewhat while we were there. I intended to post every day, but I only posted once... There was just too much to do. From noon (when we usually woke up, which I regret, because we missed a lot of morning business) to 5AM, when we'd drag ourselves in from the pub, there was SO much to see, do and experience. Such fuun people, such culture, and ugh... God, I could write a novel.

Right now, it's currently blizzarding outside my apartment for the THIRD fucking day in a row, and it's not stopping until NEXT WEEK. There is currently 20 or so inches outside, and it ain't stopping anytime soon.

As I can't sleep, and can't shut my brain off, and don't really want to take a Nyquil beccause I don't want to turn into a Hollywood tragic case of drug dependancy and become Judy Garland before I attempt to have a career, I thought this would help me sleep. So I'll restart the blog. I love it, and really want to keep up with it.

What's on the agenda for tomorrow? Two shifts. One from 10 until 2 at W&S, and a second running food at Redfield's. After that, I'm decorating my first personal Christmas tree  with my boyfriend of 7 and a half months, Michael. :) More pictures and documentation of that to come, so don't worry about that. I know you're worried. It's all going to be ok.

So until tomorrow, when I take to the blog again.

PEACE OUT. <3

Through Security and waiting to board flight 69 to New York!

Hey kids!

Off to Edinburgh. :) I am now through security at the gate waiting to board at Hancock Airport in Syracuse. Security always makes me nervous. Don't know why, but I took every precaution, was wearing no metal, chose flip flops for easy removal, and walked up with all of my electronics out and ready to put in the bin. I bet they wish all people were that prepared. Or... paranoid in my case. Anyway, I went through without a hitch, and am now sitting here blogging. :) Perfect. Throughout the day, I'm going to try and post little blogs when I can about where I am and what's going on in the journey. I am currently across the airport from Jannae, our stage manager, (she's flying another airline. Boo.) I'm so excited to meet up with people also going performing with the show.

OH. UPDATE. Other than 'The Edin-BLOGH!' there is a blog that chronicles another group of SU Drama students (all '10 graduates) who are performing in Edinburgh in an all female production of The Tempest which they created, directed, and pretty much did everything themselves (along with their fabulous stage manager, Chelsea.) They are lovingly referred to as "The Tempist Ladies" and that is the name of their blog! They've been writing since I think, February and may be contributing to 'Edin-BLOGH!' from time to time, but check theirs out for their point of view of the Scotish Experience.

So now, I'm kicking back with Greg Louganis and probably finishing his book Breaking the Surface. Until then, PEACE OUT.

:D

Off to Washington, DC!!

The Capitol. nbd.

Photo cred: The Daily Green

Hey, kids. :)

I'm off to DC tomorrow morning to being the travel adventures of summer 2010. I'm going to see Alani Kravitz in the show I mentioned before, A Phoenix too Frequent, and possibly another show. More on that tomorrow. I am also probably meeting with the HRC to discuss getting more of a visable presence in Syracuse, and making it more accessable to the people of Upstate New York!

I also got a shiny, new, handy-dandy GORGEOUS camera that I will be taking THOUSANDS of pictures with, and posting many of them here to document and share my travels and experiences.

So, I'm off tomorrow at 5AM, (driving... alone... oy.) which is coincidentally in 5 hours. So, I'm off to bed.

Good night, all!

And see you tomorrow!!

~Liam

Chateau Lascaux!

Photo cred: Gale Chester Wgittington's "...........Somebody Needs To Say It!"

Maggie Griffin photographed by Adam Bouska and Jeff Parshley

Oops... ...where did that bottle of Chateau Lascaux wine go?

I have a glass in my apartment that was left here by the lovely Jessie Christen. She's been on Mercy. She's KIND OF A BIG DEAL.It's a lovely little glass with a deceivingly LARGE bowl that can appartently drain a bottle of wine in three glasses..

...oops.

Anyway... I really want to talk about "TIP IT!: The World According To Maggie. by Maggie Griffin."

for those of you seriously not in the know, or... heterosexual (WHOM I LOVE) who don't know a thing about Kathy Griffin... Kathy's mom wore a book.

...and this book is adorable.

It reminds me of my grandmother. And, she has an idea about life in the depression, and beyond that totallly reminds of me of things that my Nana said. :) She has a sweet outlook on life, (minus her love of Bill O'Reily, Sarah Palin and Dr. Laura...) and the last chapter is surprisingly fufilling. :) I didn't expect to love it as much as I did. I read it because I adore Kathy, and love her Mom on the show, but she has some things that people really should take to heart, and use as a mirror to the silly things most of us do in this generation, (I'm no different. I'm as much a product of my generation as the frat boy who lives up the street.) (And let's be honest... ...eight months ago, I was the frat boy who lived up the street.. ...so...)

If for nothing else, it's a page turner that I read in three days, and gives you a sweet perspective from a woman with 90 years of experience, and a refreshing point of view that's progressive, self-confident, and still holds enough of the ideals from eras gone by that she can really teach us a thing or two when we honestly think about the world today.

[Ps. Kathy Griffin's bracketed comments make the book more perfect. The book would have been adorable by itself, but having read Kathy's book, it's almost like a sequel cop-authored by an old friend... just from another angle. (Sharon Engel? ...not really.)]

Anyway, I love Kathy. Her last episode (other than the one I'm watching right now... ...she's wearing a shower cap and is on Joy Behar right now.)  was inspiring. I've spoken to the HRC (befre the episode, actually.) about how their not being at Syracuse pride gave the message that they didn't care about Syracuse and had other things to do.

However, I called the HRC and spoke with a lovely man who apologized that it seemed like that, and assured me that the HRC has been doing a lot in the Syracuse/Onondaga county area in the legislative area to repeal DADT and the Marriage business, and I asked him about trying to start an HRC office here in Syracuse to reallly get into the community and try to make a difference.

So, more updates on that sooon. :D

Meanwhile, I have to get to bed. (After I finish Kathy.)

Meanwhile, if i get the chance to date Rachel Maddow, I'M ON IT. (apologies to my boyfriend Michael and her girlfriend, Susan.)

I'll keep you updated on how that goes.

Anyway. I'm sure this post was fulfilling... not.

...and PS. Sarah Palin and the fucking Tea Party (see my last twitter update) are pissing me the fuck off. (However, I only watch MSNBC at work, and I haven't the stomach to watch FOX NEWS yet, so... until I can watch both sides and objectively make a decision... I'm still pissed off by Sarah and her Mama Grizzlies.)

Until tomorrow, when I have more upon which to be updated (and no wine buzz...),

PEACE OUT!! <3

Les Revisions!

So, I have a tendency to ramble and not have a ton of structure to my writing. ..Oops. (I guess that's what comes from not taking Writing 102, right SU?) So, in the mean time, I'm going to try and revise my current postings, and make them a bit more succint and to the point. :)

I googled "tips for writing a blog" and found this list on problogger.net

1.Make your opinion known (Okay.)
2.Link like crazy. (I think I do that pretty well, but always room for more links.)
3.Write less. (Scissors in hand!)
4.250 Words is enough (Uh....)
5.Make Headlines snappy (I think there's some snap. Always room for more.)
6.Write with passion (check.)
7.Include Bullet point lists (hey! this is easy!)
8.Edit your post (Here we go!)
9.Make your posts easy to scan (Isn't that part of editing?)
10.Be consistent with your style (I have to find it before I can be consistent!)
11.Litter the post with keywords (I'm on it!)

So, I'm trying to write less and tell you there are some renovations that were not expected! (ba dump chh.) All to make it more fun!

I'm also trying to find a good time of day to blog. I'm thinking later in the evening, or something, because I'm finding that I finish a blog, and do something that I want to also comment on. But, rather than having 1308853057 blog posts a day, I should have one with all my thoughts carefully planned out and executed. Or two. ...I think more than three blog entries a day is a bit much. (Unless you're Perez Hilton.)

A challenge. That's exciting.

Alright. Revisions, and then until tomorrow, readers (all two and a half of you, currently.),

PEACE OUT.

Fabulous Farmers! ...and minor unfabulousness.

Josh Kilmer-Purcell and Brent Ridge

Photo cred: greginhollywood.com

Today, a new show caught my attention that I am now officially hooked on called "The Fabulous Beekman Boys!" On Planet Green at 9PM (EST) on Wednesdays, it's a cute show about two New York City men who have been together for 10 years, and the farm that they bought in Upstate New York. (represent!) They've turned this farm into a business making and selling cheeses and soaps and other home products from their farm produce, and the show deals with their making the transition to farm life and a new business while keeping their relationship and life intact and not killing each other in the process.

The show is really sweet. Their eccentricities make for good reality TV, as they're both a little over-reactive and stubborn, (which probably was the reason they have a show in the first place.) but, I'm sure it's also very cut-and-spliced-together for the most drama possible. But, at the end of every argument, or at least end of every episode, you know that they really do love each other and the farm will live to see another day.

At first when the show started, I was intrigued because it was about a gay couple on a farm, proving that targeting demographics thing actually works. J The first topic -a gay couple- an unlikely TV show topic by itself, let alone plopped on a farm. But, as I watched, I realized it really wasn’t a show ABOUT a gay couple trying to live as a normal couple on a farm, it was just about a couple. This show says, even more powerfully because it doesn’t outwardly say it, that this is just a couple. Just two people in love living together and trying to make it all work in a lovely little village called Sharon Springs, NY, just like anybody else there. (I mean, one happens to be a New York Times Best -Seller, and the other is a former doctor who now works for Martha Stewart, but... Still. Normal.)

I also LOVE is the style of the show. That kind of Cape Cod-ish, East Hampton-y, very Ina Garten style. Their lawns aren't too manicured, but they're nicely kept. They preserve and live with the nature around them, rather than trying to control it and turn it into a cookie cutter, HYPER-LANSCAPED, anemic development style. It’s elegant, but roughed up a little, and down to earth.

(Plus, it looks like they're exclusively dressed by J. Crew, so... I'm sold.)

So, they make soaps and cheeses and other home products from their goat's milk, and the other produce of their farm, and because it's all hand made and hand-wrapped, (in one episode, Brent hand-wraps 11,000 soaps for Anthropologie, -which also shows you the kind of business they‘re doing with those 12-soap box sets selling at 64 bucks a pop) it harkens back to an era fifty or sixty years ago before things were factory made, and people cherished the little things. It's really a cool thing. (Or, a good thing, as Martha would say.) This, I think is the reason it’s on Planet Green. It goes back to the way things used to be. (But still fabulous) Because that's what it focuses on, though, the fact that they happen to be two men is almost inconsequential. Of course, they are, and that’s in now way attempted to be hidden, but it doesn’t seem stereotypical, or a gimmick. It’s just their honest mannerisms which inform the story of the show, rather than act as a gimmick to get people to tune in weekly to see the silly gay farmers.

However, I just watched one of the episodes where they slaughter two of their pigs, (named Porky and Bess... Gotta love the gays.). These two were the first pigs they’d ever owned or slaughtered, and this part of the episode was to show that “farming ain't all fun.” And, they show the slaughter, albeit in a rather tasteful, poignant manner, save for a little bit of playing up the drama factor, with off screen gun-shots, that even still didn’t seem gimmicky. It just seemed to serve to drive home the reality of farming, and raising animals. Then, we had the sad, mournful piano-accompanied montage which is customary after a death now (made me think, "...ok, I guess.") with Brent and Josh walking away wiping away tears, rain on the wildflowers, (“yeah, ok, I got it…”) a shot of the dead pigs with blood streaming out of the gun-wounds in their heads...

"wait, WHAT?!"

That was un-needed. I mean, I understand everything else, and support the pushing of boundaries to show the reality of farming in an honest, non-exploitative way, but… showing the damn dead pigs? It seems to me, if this is going to be such a plot point, how hard it is that they have to slaughter these pigs, doesn’t showing the bleeding, dying, unconscious animals that we were just so eloquently mourning negate the whole plot line, and cheapen all of the other lovely things abut the show? Bad form, I think.

And sure, all that for one four second shot out of four episodes? Well, it bothered me, and seemed to be the only slip up in this otherwise fun and understatedly progressive show. Of course, sometimes the way Josh and Brent treat each other is a little grating, but how much of that is editing?

In spite of that, I'm hooked. Fabulous Farming, Fabulous style, Fabulous people, and a fabulous new show to watch on Wednesday nights.

So YOU check it out! Wednesdays at 9PM EST on Planet Green!

Alright, until tomorrow, kids.

PEACE OUT!

The rest of Summer 2010

So, yeah... Four weeks into actual summer, and I am kind of feeling like it's already over. It's typical middle of July syndrome, I think. (You know that May-and-June-Are-Over-And-I-Haven't-Accomplished-Even-A-Third-Of-What-I-Had-Planned-Feeling?) What did I want to do? I think my list went something like

1. Work out every day (..uh..)
2. Re-read all of Geri's books (about that...)
3. Work a lot (Check!)
4. Save the money I make (...um... have you seen my closet lately?)

...get the picture?

I think there was something else about direct a play and travel, read a ton, re-decorate the apartment and other things you write down desperately trying to procrastinate as you study in the last three weeks before finals. (Don't you love writing that list? Makes you feel so productive.)

However, I have a great job, fantastic friends and a boyfriend who I've been with for two and a half months, AND... an August that could choke a horse. :D

Here's the point of this entry, I guess. A chance to gloat a little bit, probably, AND... make another one of those lists that we all love, that I still have the naive blind hope that I'll actually be able to finished in my art-festival-and-malt-liquor-theatre-infused whirlwindy haze. But, I'm gunna do it. :) Here's the schedule for the rest of the summer.

July 23rd-24th: Trip to Washington, D.C. to see Alani Jane Kravitz in Unexpected Stage's "A Phoenix Too Frequent" by Christopher Fry. It's this company's first production, and it's outside!

July 25th: A Day with my best friend. Just us. Since we work opposite schedules and haven't seen eachother all summer.

Theennn!
July 30th: A Trip to New York! Off to the city to see A Little Night Music with Bernadette Peters, and Elaine Stritch. Hopefully Elaine will have settled into the part by then, but I'm sure she will. And hopefully I won't have standing room seats this time. That show is not a standing room show. (Come to think of it, Spring Awakening and Les Mis sucked from standing room as well. Hmm...) Also, The Grand Manner which looks lovely. I also want to check out Marin Mazzie in N2N.

There are also some shows playing at 59E59 that are going to The Fringe Festival as well in their Fringe Preview called "East to Edinburgh!" Most of them are in the range of $10-$20, and look really interesting! Unfortunately, I won't be in town to catch most of their preview runs, BUT, two that sound really interesting are called "Skinny Bitch Jesus Meeting" by Katie Hartman and Leah Rudick and "Considering Georgia O'Keefe" by Allisn Hetzel. I'd love to see them in New York and then see them AGIAN in Scotland (More on that in a bit) and see how they change from city to city and spacce to space.

I also want to check out some museums in New York that I've never really seen, as well as just spend time in my favorite place in the world and see some friends I haven't seen in a while.

And then... the most exciting part.

August 3rd, we depart from JFK Airport to Edinburgh, Scotland for a two week stay where we'll be performing "Shipwrecked! An Entertainment. The Adventures of Louis De Rougemont (As told by himself!)" at Venue 40, (The Quaker Meeting House at 7 Victoria Terrace) at 2:15 every day from July 9th-14th. With four-ish days of rehearsal, and about 12 hours of performance... that leaves me with 8 and a half days of free time to explore and take in the city of Edinburgh! I've already been researching, and finding the best pubs, restaurants and places to visit (see my previous post for some of those suggestions). PLUS, I've never left the Eastern Standard Time Zone... ...so... this will be pretty sweet. :)

Top 5 MUST sees for this trip:
5. Apparently pub crawls down Rose Street are serious fun. Or so says the nice British Man at Borders in the mall who used to play at The Fringe.
4. The Museums are kick ass. So, I'm going!
3. Apparently everyone wants you to try haggis. ...After a few beers, who knows what I'll do...
2. Touring Edinburgh Castle
1.5. ALL THE OTHER SHOWS AT THE FRINGE
1. Climbing to the top of Arthur's Seat with a few beers and watching a sunset or a sunrise with a bunch of friends.

I'm getting a new Camera this week, and will be chronicling the trips to D.C, New York, and Scotland THOROUGHLY, so expect MANY pictures in the forthcoming weeks.

Also, check out the new Edin-BLOGH! that I started that hopefully everyone else going on the trip with me will be adding pictures and stories from the trip to.

Now, if I can clean my apartment, stop my New York Times Subscription, pay my bills on time, pack, and see everyone before I leave, everything will be fine. :)

I'll get back to you on how that goes.

So, I guess my summer isn't going to suck. It was that kind of neccessary evil part at the beginning filled with work and not-much else (except a lot of wonderful time with Michael and my family and friends here) that I got to relax in before a whirlwind of traveling in August that made me feel like I didn't get anything else done. But, I'm young and silly and can have restful summers like that. PLUS, a lot is happening and changing in mah life right now (more on that to come at a later time) and sometimes a summer like this is needed.

The first e-mail with itinerary was exciting to get the other day. Eee!! This is really happening. I can still remember trudging down to the stage on Monday nights to go to Fringe Rehearsal back when it was just rehearsals. Now... 3000someodd dollars later... THERE IS AN ACTUAL PLANE LEAVING THAT I HAVE A TICKET ON TO SCOTLAND.

Crazy.

So much exciting business going on.

AND I'll keep you updated.

(My plan (but... as you can see this blog is entitled "never the expected" because that's just how my life goes... so we'll see how we stick to this plan) is for this blog to morph into a kind of commentary on things that I see, hear about in the world (news stories, movies, plays, books, happenings in my own life) that I want to put into words and sent out into the blogoshpere to share with people and start a dialogue about things in the world. I want to start conversations, and see what other people's views infom about these issues. So, hopefully, that will come soon enough.. Until then...)

I need to sleep.

List for tomorrow:
Gym in the morning (wish me luck)
Clean my desk area in my room
Start a check list for traveling
Pick out a camera
Go grocery Shopping
Print out the rest of the Night Music score (back to front is SUCH A BITCH)
Wash, fold, and dry all of my laundry.
And hopefully all before 4:30.
When I have to go bring rich people cheese. And watch MSNBC for five hours.
Maybe I can use this list as practice for getting things done in Scotland!
ooh! incentive. I LIKE IT.

See you tomorrow!
~Liam

EDINBURGH: 18 days.

Hey kids!
I'm officially starting this blog with some posts about Edinburgh, as I'm going to be chronicling the trip here on mah blog. :D I'm going to post some videos I found on youtube about the city and some other business I found about what to do and what NOT to do when you're in the UK. (No striped ties in Scotland, it looks like you're trying to look like a British official, and they can get offended. I would not have known that.) ANYWAY. Stay tuned, and I'll be posting some later.

Now it's off to shower and get ready to go to The Turning Stone Casino with Michael (my boyfriend) for the night and part of the day tomorrow to hang out and have some fun.

Until later!

See you soon!

For now, here's one of the videos. Edinburgh University's introduction to the city!


also: From the BBC documentary "A Picture of Britain" hosted by David Dimbleby. I'll have to check this whole documentary out. Anybody got a copy? :)