Barb’s Burblings

I love it when the Washington Post writes stories just for me. Today, on the front page of the Metro section, was a story about locals who aren’t rooting for the Redskins. They only mentioned in passing why I don’t like them (”unceasing hype”), but still (I mean, God knows I like to talk about sports, as long as that sport is baseball). I *heart* you, Washington Post!
In other sports-related news, I found out today that my ice-skating boyfriend Tim Goebel trains in Fairfax. Fairfax! Tim, hi, I’m not that far away! Call me!

Today, not one, but two people have told me that my hair looks good. It’s at the perfect length and both sides are flipping the correct way. I kind of think I should take pictures to document this. Except I’m sure my bangs look horrible, and that’s all I’d be able to concentrate on in the pictures.

1. Prescription-strength nasal descongestant. It totally works. Well, better than Sudafed. They taste horrible, but hey, I can breathe through my nose again! (Mostly.)
2. Tap starts up again tonight.
3. Apparently this diet-and-exercise thing works. After Week 1 of the diet, I lost 4 pounds. True, you usually lose more the first week, but that was definitely a good motivator.
4. We’re going to the sushi place for lunch today. Woot woot.
5. I can take a nap tonight. Lately, instead of napping after work, I’ve been going to the gym. Healthy, yes. But that takes away my nap! But since I have tap tonight, and that doesn’t start until 7, I have a portion of my evening free. And it says, “Nap!”
6. I get to see Butterstick on Friday. Yay!
Current song in my head:
“You’re Gonna Lose That Girl” by the Beatles

I’ve never been able to flirt. Not really flirt. I missed the class in middle school where girls learned how to go up to boys and flirt.
Case in point: When I was in Bye Bye Birdie the summer after 9th grade, I played Mrs. MacAfee. I remember a conversation with the guy playing Mr. McAfee, my “husband,” and a few other people. I don’t remember what exactly he said, but something about us being married…your typical meaningless flirtatious banter. Only I didn’t think he was flirting with me. I thought he was making fun of me. (Thank you, middle school!) I said something that bordered on rude (again…I don’t remember the specifics, but everyone was taken aback) and ran off. And then…it dawned on me. “He was flirting with me.”
So not only can I not flirt, I can’t reciprocate when someone is flirting with me. Unless, of course, the guy in question is someone that I’m already good friends with. Typical.
I was accused of being a flirt once. It was probably fifth grade or so. I was friends with a couple of kids down the street–a brother and a sister. The three of us were hanging out, the sister took off at one point and I kept hanging out with the brother. No biggie. I wasn’t even at the point of really thinking about boys yet. (Just a bit, in the abstract.) My sister told me that the sister was upset because I was flirting with the brother. I still don’t really understand that.
My inability haunts me to this day. Stick me next to a guy I don’t know and I won’t flirt. I’ll either a) clam up completely, or b) start babbling about random topics and look like a spaz. Or both! At FanFest, as I said, I was in the front row of the forum and, I believe, made eye contact with prospect Adam Loewen a couple of times. Later, I saw him giving a radio interview, and thought I’d get his autograph. A couple people were in front of me. When I got up to him, he looked at me kind of expectantly. If I had any sort of fliriting ability, I would’ve said something to him (hopefully other than, “Wow, you’re really tall!” which is what I was thinking). Something cute. Something witty. So, naturally, I…shoved his baseball card at him. Hi! I’m a dork!
Ah well. Clearly my man-luring abilities leave something to be desired. I hope I’m getting better, but…
Current song in my head:
“Magic” by Olivia Newton-John

Yesterday was the O’s FanFest and it was a blast. Due to new policies with the autographs and photo sessions, I spent most of my time at the forum, where fans could ask questions of various groups–coaches, the front office, media, prospects, players. And I scored a sweet seat in the front row.
Brian was, of course, adorable, though he did have his awful offseason goatee. The highlight of that session was when someone asked how the players liked to unwind after games. “I like to sleep,” he said. “I cherish every moment in my bed.” Audience: Laughter. Jay Gibbons: Shakes his head. Brian: “…Did I just say that out loud?”
Anyway, it was all very interesting. I also snagged a Bigbie shirt for cheap. Hello, nightshirt!
Then I came home and did what everyone does on a Saturday night: Took down my Christmas decorations and made beef stew for tonight’s dinner.
Current song in my head:
“I’ll Be Back” by the Beatles

Last night I saw Wicked at the Kennedy Center and found it to be very enjoyable. The performers all had good singing voices; the two leads were fantastic. I wasn’t blown away by the music. Part of that is that I think something was off with the sound levels–the orchestra frequently was easier to hear than the singers (particularly in ensemble numbers). Only a few songs were really memorable, and even those keep warping into other songs in my mind (”Popular” keeps becoming either “Impossible” from Cinderella or “Dressing Them Up” from Kiss of the Spider Woman). But still, it was funny, even if the ending did mess with Oz canon.
One of my rules for movies is that if I haven’t read the book it’s based on before the movie comes out, I’m not allowed to read it until I’ve seen the movie. If I read the book first, I just spend the entire time comparing the two and the movie almost always comes off looking the worse of the two. I find it a lot easier to accept changes in movies if I read the book second. (Prime example: Circle of Friends. I loved the movie, read the book, and still like both.) I’m more forgiving of some movies than others, but that’s my general rule.
Theater is no exception, apparently. The book Wicked and the musical Wicked are completely different. It has a number of similar elements and loose plot outline, but the vast majority of the specifics are different. Noticing the differences–and I knew that the musical was a lot different from the book–just makes it that much harder to become involved in the story.
Anyway, I recommend Wicked. I enjoyed it more than The Producers, at any rate. (Not that I didn’t like The Producers, but it was kind of a letdown. Besides, Brooks’s music didn’t impress me much. See July 19, 2004 for full recap.)
Current song in my head:
“Dressing Them Up” from Kiss of the Spider Woman

The current Southwest featured destination of the week is Portland, Oregon. If I book by Thursday and travel by June, I could get a flight there for $225. Total. You know how much I paid to fly there for Christmas? Close to $600. (Subsidized by my father.) It’s like they’re trying to drive me nuts. If I hadn’t just been there, I’d consider taking Southwest up on this deal. But now…too late. Argh.
In other fun news, back to work for the first time in almost two weeks…and email is down. Swell. I need my calendar, people! Also, I forgot to bring in tissues for my desk.
Despite all this, I’m not really in a bad mood. Kind of bemused, actually. Probably because it’s my first day at work in almost two weeks.
Current song in my head:
“Feel Good” by Gorillaz