Goodbye Rock of Ages!

Sunday was the last performance of Rock of Ages in Melbourne, and Ness and I went along, dressed in semi 80's attire. Some people were REALLY dressed up and looked awesome. Some people were not dressed up at all, and that was lame. The guy who won the dress up competition went as Waitress #1...but I thought there were much better costumes.

We had nobody sitting next to us in the first half, but then this old couple turned up at intermission, and I'm sure they were someone's grandparents/parents or something, cause they didn't seem to really belong.
The audience was crazy, with everyone singing, and sometimes speaking along (the latter did get annoying), but the bit where everyone went "B. O. O. H. O. (Audience: "O")....what they said." was classic!
It was so good to have Francine Cain back as Regina - we missed her not being in it last time. It was also great to have Justin back as Drew - having recovered from hurting his ankle. But I really missed Samantha Hagen as Waitress #1 -silly girl hurt her knee. I just love her belt during 'Heaven/More Than Words/Be With You'.
It was the best night. SOOO much fun, and the cast just brought it. Lincoln (Franz) was on fire!

I wished they had said a few words at the end, but its good they didn't, cause we rushed to the stage door, and managed to catch Lincoln making an early escape -and finally got him to sign our programs. We were right at the door, so we got the best spot to chat to people as they came out. Francine came out and we finally got her to sign our programs, and then she came back and took a pic with us. Samantha chatted to us about her knee, and we got a pic with her. Then Amy came out and took pics of everyone standing outside the stage door, before taking a pic with us. -That made the 3rd time we chatted to her and its nice to be able to have a few chances to chat, its less pressure. We hung around and got a pic with Justin too. Everyone was just lovely, and so friendly. I'm really gonna miss them now that show has gone to Brisbane.

We also felt much less pressure having already had pretty much everyone we wanted sign our programs at our last 2 stage door trips, with the exception of Francine and Lincoln who we got this time. We missed Rachel, but didn't care tooo much about that.
It made it much more relaxing. We were happy to chat with everyone and tell them we're gonna miss them, and we went for photos...even if I don't think I look the best in some of them, its still good to have.

I rocked out on the way home to the OBC cast recording, but I like our cast soooo much better.

The best part of the night might be the fact that I was able to record it on my iphone, so I have listened to that a few times since Sunday...and will be stealing the other show that Ness has when I see her. 

I think overall 5 performances was a good number. They were semi spread out too, April, June, September, October, and finally November.
While I know there are people that saw it 30 times or more, but even with the cheap tickets, I don't have the money to go all the time....plus it loses something if you go TOO much.
We were also very lucky, we always had Amy as Sherrie...even though I would have LOVED to have seen Samantha play her. We had 1 performance without Francine (and we missed her greatly), and this one without Samantha. We had Jenson twice, and he rocks! But we had the mains for every other role, every single time...so can't complain. 

So huge thanks to the cast and crew of ROA. I loved every single minute of my time with you.

I've adopted a whole new bunch of Aussie theatre people as my own...and I am very loyal!  So I look forward to following them to new shows in the future hopefully. And hurry up Melbourne and bring me some theatre! Its a very cold harsh world with ROA gone, and nothing big coming for a while. I am gonna need my theatre fix.

.....oh and I'm STILL finding ROA glitter confetti around my house....I think it's multiplying!



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Carlie

Halloween Fun

So I had a good weekend, drove through scary rain on Friday night on my way to Ness'. It was crazy! Lucky it was over by the time I was coming home.

Monday night was Halloween and I went to Misty's American Diner in Prahran with Ness, Kay and Nick, Brett and Sarah. It was lots of fun. I dressed up as Regina from Rock of Ages. Ness was Reno from Anything Goes and Kay and Nick were Mulder and Scully.
It was a fun night, everyone there was dressed to impress! The food was pretty cool and they had awesome Oreo milkshakes in all kinds of flavors! After dinner we went to some bar in the city and hung around for a while.

Tuesday was Melbourne Cup day, so I got a day off work (course I didn't get paid for it like most other people. Doh!)  Had a nice sleep in, watched some tv and then headed down to Southland to meet Ness for an afternoon of shopping. I bought some shoes, a casual dress and a pair of pretty pink earrings. -Overall it was quite a successful trip for me. -Making up for all the times I buy nothing. Came home, watched more tv, including the Halloween/Horse Racing ep of Pushing Daisies, amongst other things.

It was hard to get up again to go to work this morning, but the cold weather wasn't helping there either!

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Carlie

Little Update

Been pretty quiet lately, had a nice quiet weekend. Friday night was a failure after I was falling asleep watching tv at 9:30, and was in bed by 11:30pm. Saturday I went to the Op Shop in Camberwell and found something to help my costume, and Mum found something to wear to her line dancing show.
Went to Ness' in the evening for a night of Everwood, junk food and other random tv. We're finally getting around to watching Everwood season 4, which means a lot of Chris Pratt, Emily VanCamp and Sarah Drew on our tvs at the moment.
Slept in on Sunday -after some really weird PPP dreams, including one with Violet, Addison and Charlotte getting locked in a cargo container. I'll blame that one on an ep of Revenge I watched Friday night.
Spent the day cleaning up and sorting stuff out, and watching random tv.

My new iphone 4s arrived yesterday, but I can't play with it till my new simcard arrives (hopefully tomorrow). Ordered a couple of cheap cases on ebay. Hopefully they'll be here my Christmas!
Today was a busy crazy day at work, with us down a few staff members, but it wasn't too bad. I am a bit worn out now though! -I am starting to get sick of constantly having to go along with being called Kelly, Callie, Kylie etc on the phones....I know after all these years I should just be used to it....but I think its just making my identity crisis worse! Plus if I hear the Charlie Sheen thing one more time I might SCREAM!!!!!!!

From Worse, To Not So Bad

So last week was bad. I mean it started out so good with the Rob Guest concert, but Tuesday was a bad day, and then well, Wednesday got worse. I ended up not working. After my ordeal with the car, was shaky and had a lot of trouble driving again at all. It's like I'm starting out on my own for the first time again. Plus I'm learning to drive a new car in a way, having only ever driven that one on short trips.

Thursday night Ness came up after work and we went to dinner at one of the cafes in Glen Waverley, then went to see Crazy Stupid Love at Century City. It was SOOO good!!!
I drove to her place after work on Friday - the first time I'd driven that car down there...plus its really busy traffic...I was kinda terrified the whole way. By the time I got there I was shaking a little...but that soon went away, and by the time I took the trip home, I was okay. -I think I've almost got my sea legs back now.
So anyways, back to Friday night....
We had fun. Vicky, Kay and Nick came and we got yummy chicken for dinner, and Vicky made a super yummy chocolate pie thing. Then Kay, Nick, Ness and I watched Iron Man, which was actually pretty entertaining.

Saturday I had pretty quiet day. I watched TV, cleaned out the car, did 3 loads of laundry. Went and got a movie from the Oovie box at Safeway and got Fish and Chips. Then I watched all my Friday tv -which I hadn't had time to watch yet, and some new shows. I borrowed Country Strong. It was really good and had great songs in it. I had been planning to watch a bunch of new hour length shows, but I was so sleepy by midnight that I didn't have the energy for the last show. I was in bed and half asleep before Mum and Nikki got home a bit after 1am!
Woke up earlier than expected on Sunday, but it wasn't THAT early, and there were things to do. It was Grandma's birthday and Mum was bringing her over for lunch. Mum made me bake a cake, she was cooking a roast. She went over and got Grandma and brought her back to our place. Neil, Marg, and Tracey came by for a bit, with their adorable puppy Dino. We had cake and then they left and we had our lunch. I showed Grandma my photos from last years trip, since she hadn't seen them yet. Then Mum took her back and I got organised to go out....I was all ready to leave, then couldn't find my keys anywhere...looked under cushions, in bags - everything. Had to wait till Mum got back to get the spare off her, and then I was on my way to Rock!!!!

Our seats were awesome...but when Regina came out and it wasn't Francine, we were crushed! Not that I don't LOVE all the others, but she's kinda my fave...and one I really wanted to meet at the stage door. The replacement girl was okay, but just not Francine. I've become very attached to my people. I thought overall the show was lacking something...I think they were just all worn out. But it was still a blast!!! We went to the stage door afterwards and got chat to a lot more of them this time, and got almost all the mains to sign our programs. We were going to get a hot drink afterwards...but nothing was open, so we went home. I was glad my ipod was working and let me rock out to the soundtrack on my way home.
I can't wait till the last show on November 6th..it's gonna be crazy! And also sad, I don't want it to go...I love it, and the cast too much!    Oh well....I'll live I suppose....and there's always Sydney I guess. hah!


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Carlie

Rob Guest Endowment Concert 2011

Last night the newly returned Ness and I went to see this years Rob Guest Endowment concert at Her Majesty's Theatre in the city. I did a quick after work dinner/change/drive into the city and met Ness before the show.
Funnily enough since I was hanging out with her on Sunday, I spent more time with her, than I did at home in last 2 days.

The new kids were awesome and and some of our theatre faves were there to give AWESOME performances.  I'd really missed Lucy Durack!!!!!
I had 3 faves to win, but then the other girl Ashlea Pyke knocked Don't Rain on My Parade out of the park!  I really liked the guy who won - Blake Bowden. He did two great songs. Overall there were SO many good songs. Oh and we had the best seats! 3rd row on the aisle just to the right - right in front of the podium. So we got to be right in front of ALL the action! They gave us goodie bags with water and malteasers too!
The live action was a lot of fun. I would have LOVED to have Lucy's Glinda wand from Wicked....but unfortunately I didn't have a spare $3000. Everyone got so excited when it got over 2 grand.... and these 2 just kept pushing it higher! It was a long night - didn't get home till 11:30pm. But it was totally worth it. Got to see some great performances by my theatre faves - Lucy Durack, Francine Cain, Esther Hannaford, Rob Mills, and the cast of Rock of Ages...sans a few of the guys. But I was glad Samantha Hagen got to do some belting, as did Lincoln Hall!

Its totally a tradition, I'll keep going every year now!


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Carlie

Busy Little Bee

Wow I've been really busy lately....and when I haven't, I haven't been blogging much. So I've got a fair bit to catch up on.

Ness has been gone a few weeks now, miss her like crazy...but I don't miss the drive to Frankston. :P

Not last weekend, but the one before, Jacinta and I did a major shopping weekend. On the Saturday we went over to the Chadstone Homemaker centre on warrigal road. I'd never been there, but I knew they had Freedom and JB, and I knew Jacinta is looking into getting a new bed, so I thought it'd a be worth a visit. Freedom had 15% off so I bought a couple of towels and mugs. -The towels are super soft and cuddly! I also bought my media player from JB -FINALLY! It's very cool. It plays all kinds of files on my tv- everything I could wish for.
Had a quiet night, as sleepy as I was the night before -where I was falling asleep at 9pm. I was watching all sorts of things  -including 3 eps of P-Rex and Cougar Town that for some reason I had skipped last season in the downloading....oops. They were good ones too!

Sunday I picked up Jacinta and we went to Chaddy. I was looking for shoes, bags, clothes etc, but found nothing, but a doona cover and makeup. 

Last week Nikki was away with Dad in Queensland, so it was nice and quiet just me and Mum. I took her out for dinner on the Tuesday night. It was fun, not having anyone sulking or calling us to come home. She came home Thursday, and was nice and friendly....for 5 minutes - she was back to normal by Friday.
They went off to the footy and I had the place to myself and I watched plenty of tv. I started Private Practice season 4 since that arrived on Thursday. And then watched the 2 hour Grey's Anatomy season premiere when that finally downloaded at 10pm -ish.

I didn't get much of a sleep in on Saturday cause I got up early so I could go and take my jeans down to be taken up. Mum and Nic when out after that, so I watched plenty more PPP and did some washing and cleaning up. Jacinta came over around 5:30 and we caught up - while my mum was getting her costume organised for the party she and Nic were going to. She went as Princess Leia. We went and got dinner from Camberwell and came back and watched some movies.
I had a good sleep in Sunday. Didn't get up to much. Mum and I went to Camberwell in the arvo, and I ended up buying almost $200 worth of clothes from Just Jeans...I let mum suggest some things to try on and I liked them all, but 1! Then I bought new pillows and other things from Target. I am looking forward to using my new sheets, doona cover and pillows this weekend.

I haven't done much this week except watch tv and work! When I wasn't watching new stuff, I was watching PPP - I gotta admit I have sacrificed watching some of the new stuff to make sure I got through PPPs4 before tonight. Only got 1 left and I'll watch that before I watch the premiere in a little bit.
We had another work morning tea today - a goodbye for Tara who got a new job. I ate so much food...its crazy just how much stuff there is. It nuts! I was baking brownies last night, but they didn't quite work out right...so I just brought some chips...and I was kinda glad. too too too too much food!
Getting my hair done tomorrow arvo, before going out to dinner tomorrow night. Can't wait to have my hair cut, and also be more blonde. I miss the blonde.

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Carlie

Social Butterfly!

So I've been pretty busy on my weekends lately, but have had at least 1 quiet night which has been good. Last weekend Ness and I did our thing Friday night and then I met her at Southland on Saturday to see The Help - which was AWESOME by the way...great cast, great writing! -but really long...not in a dragging way though! We also bought Brett's birthday pressie! A collection of fun silly stuff!


Last week I was pretty busy after work hours too. I went out to dinner with Jacinta after work on Wednesday in Glen Waverley. Picked her up at her place, and then went to Airstream at Century City. The food was good, the service was so so. Went back to her place after for some tv and ice-cream cake. I also got some advice on media players from her bro, since we had just been talking about them.
Friday night I had the place to myself. It was awesome! I had a normal dinner, and then choc ripple cake which I'd made the night before for dessert! I finished off Parenthood season 1, organised my hard drive and did some washing seeing as I would be busy all weekend.

Saturday Mum and Nicole were up and out before I was out of bed! I was at Ness' by 1pm too! We finished off Bones - I am now up to date, and was not quite prepared for that ending! SHOCKING...and also poor Mr Nigel Murray! 
Kay and Nick came later and we went out for Chinese -it was yummy! Ness and I shared our meals so we had variety. Then we decided to go to Stacks for dessert, Ness and I shared choc fudge crepes, a lighter option. Best of all we didn't feel sick by the end of night from too much food :P
Ness and I watched the pilot for The New Girl - Zooey Deschanel's show before bed. It doesn't look great, but I won't write it off just yet.
Sunday morning we walked the pooches and then got ready for the theatre! We picked the Sunday matinee because back when we bought the tickets we thought it was the final show in Melb....we were wrong. We picked up Brett on the way and gave him his pressie. We were listening to Wicked on the way in honor of the last performance in Australia that was happening last night in Perth. Before the show we got drinks and snacks at the little cafe next door to the Comedy Theatre. Our seats were good, but unfortunately we had the understudy for Drew...he wasn't very good...even though I didn't really notice until intermission that it wasn't Justin....but I did feel something was off. I think I was thrown off by the fact that I wasn't sure if Francine Cain was playing Regina or not...she was. I like that the cast have taken a few creative liberties by this point...it makes it a little more fun. I like noticing things that were different. -Just booked more tickets for October, since they are offering cheap ones. We also have tickets for the official final performance in Melb...its gonna be AWESOME and CRAZY!

Since it was a matinee, we skipped the stage door and headed home. I got my stuff together and was home around 7:30pm. I watched a rather crappy ep of SNL and got organised for work.
Today work just dragged, I was unfocused and tired. I was better after some lunch though.

Ness is off on her trip tomorrow, so its going to be an interesting 3 weeks without speaking to her...and I might actually be able to get through my own dvds on the weekends. -Also my aim is to have finished Tina Fey's book by the time she gets back!


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Carlie