Visions of Sugar Plums Dance in My Head...allllll day long!

This past month has gone by in a bit of a blur...a blur of picky families purchasing tickets, nutcrackers, screaming children, and lots of ballets (and maybe a couple of a drinks to help). The Nutcracker is a beast. It's the bread and butter of any major ballet company and Ballet Arizona is not different. It's a magical production that helps to put you in the holiday spirit...however, it can be a bit painful for those of us working every single show. All. Twenty-One. Shows. Being super friendly and helpful with a giant smile on your face to all those families who want and expect the perfect experience can be a tad bit draining. However, I've managed to weather through 17 of the performances looking pleasant and happy to help. So far, no yelling from customers. (Huge success let me tell ya!)

So before I run off to our Christmas party, I thought I'd share the happy parts of the Nutcracker Experience. (And just in case you are wondering, we have our company party on Christmas Eve because 1) most of our dancers (and some of us staff members) aren't from here and don't have family parties 2) it's our only day off!)

1. Watching all the cute little girls come in their holiday dresses

2. Comparing dancers in different roles and discussing / judging

3. Sneaking into the Loge for a private view of the show

4. Watching the glittery snow scene onstage every night since I can't have the real thing

5. Flirting with the Symphony Hall staff (gotta keep it fun!)

6. Joking around with other staff members to pass the time

7. Drinks in between shows with fellow staff members

8. Free coffee from cute Symphony Hall boy

9. Having an excuse to dress up every day.

10. Interpreting favorite parts in the lobby while no one is around.

And now I'm off to eat, drink, and be merry with the Sugar Plum Fairy, Cavalier, & Mother Ginger!

Empire State of Mind

Turkey, Football, and Family usually makes up my Thanksgiving day, but since moving to Arizona things have been a little different. The past few years I've spent the big dinner with some family and their friends. A different experience rather than surrounded by my entire family back home. This year was a little different. I finally, (finally!) took my sorority sister up on her offer to go to New York City with her family for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. I've been wanting to go so badly for the past 3 years and always stopped myself due to my work schedule and dwindling bank account. Sometimes you just reach a point where you just don't care though, and that was this year. As work is getting hectic, I knew it was my last chance at a vacation and God gave us plastic for a reason right?

So off to New York I went. The plane ride was interesting because I sat next to guy about my age who liked to chat (but not too much so I could still nap and read). Turns out he's a producer for MTV so that was an interesting perspective. Basically we just made fun of all the passengers around us. Like the lady that walked down the aisle with a swine flu mask. We both just looked at each other and grinned. I like how sometimes people have the same sense of humor and you don't have to say anything. He turned to me and said "I just want to sneeze on people like that". I thought it would be pretty amusing to watch. Hey, what else are you going to do to entertain yourself on a 5 hour flight without video?

Once I landed in Newark International, I started my brave city experience. Small town girl attempts to conquer city public transportation to Manhattan.

Step 1. board Airtrain and travel to NJ Transport station. Relatively easy since it's a new thing and they had so many helpful employees directing people without even being asked. (maybe I just had that look on my face, but I still didn't ask!).

Step 2. transfer from Airtrain to NJ Transport heading to Penn Station. Success. I even sat with a Marine on the way home to the city to visit his grandmother. We chatted and the 30 minute ride flew by.

Step 3. Navigate my way out of Penn Station at the start of a holiday weekend (dangerous). Then walk and try to find a cab not taken. Difficult. Walking briskly in the chilly air amongst New Yorkers felt so invigorating that I decided to just keep going the rest of the way to the hotel.

Step 4. Meet my Little (Beth) at the corner of 34th & Times Square. Squeals and Hugs ensue as we go to our room at the Westin. Pat myself on back for ease of navigating the big city.

The rest of the weekend flew by in a flash. Lots of laughing, amazing dinners with Beth's family, bottles of Prossecco with Thetas, heart to hearts, drooling over designer dresses and shoes in the windows at Saks, THE PARADE OF A LIFETIME, famous people performing right in front of my seat under the marquis, mobs of people on black friday, shopping at MACYS, wearing scarves and winter coats, and then sadly goodbyes to the city and my friend.

Retrace steps back to airport (only nervous for a teensy bit that I might not be on the right train. thankfully that was the case). Then long flight back to PHX. Sadness Ensues.