2011 (More like 20!!)

A brief recap of what went down this hectic year:

January: Ran my first half marathon in Disney World with Team Hawabbadano. Then immediately stopped working out and went back to being my lazy anti-running self. 

February: It’s dark in Seattle. Not much happened. Except! I got cast in my first show at Stone Soup Theatre. I was in two 10 min plays, the first called Woman: Revised and the second What Happens in Verona. No one was invited to see them because they were terrible but I met a lot of great people and actually had some fun. Back on the scene, baby. 

March: The gala at the Rep was really fun and I wore a steel gray strapless bodice dress. I killed it on the dance floor. 

April: The Agony and the Ecstasy of Steve Jobs was at the Rep and I hit my work all time high: I built a Mac Museum. I probably worked a good 100+ hours on the thing. But even Mike said that he liked the museum and BOOM take that Whooly. 

May: Passed out on the side of the street and got my first black eye. Acquired heaps of street cred. Finished my last acting class (for the time being) at the Children’s Theatre with David Roby. Our kids performed on the last day to Joni Mitchell’s The Circle Game and every parent was down right weeping. 

June: Got cast in Sister Mary Ignatious Explains it All down in Renton. I played part of a camel. (Can’t make that up.)

July: Finally went to Europe with Jackie. We visited London and Paris for a week. It was fanfreakingtabulous. Then I went to Florida for a Tessitura Conference. While we were down there we obvi fit in trips to Harry Potter Wizarding World and the Magic Kingdom. This month was exhausting and expensive but oh so worth it. 

August: Finally packing up and moving off of Queen Anne to live in Greenwood with Antoinette. Also did a short play called Miss Dixie Makes a Deal. It sucked. The whole thing. But my cast was awesome. Rob and Noel are keepers. 

September: Bumbershoot 2011 brought me HALL & OATES. This was the happiest moment of my entire life. And I’m not even close to joking. Other highlights include The Kills, Big Boi, Fitz and the Tantrums, and Ray LaMontagne. I also embarked on my first ever Fantasy Football Team. Team Hail Mary ended up doing great 8-6. Michael Vick, Jordy Nelson, David Akers, Plaxico Burress and Frank Gore were my boos. 

October: Saw The Fleet Foxes at the Paramount. Went as “Purell” with Antoinette for Halloween and everyone said we looked like Dream Girls. I think it was because she’s black. Racism! Rob and I started work at Village Theatre on their Kidstage Program: Company Originals. We will work with 7 girls to produce a new musical. More on that potential hilarity in 2012. 

November: Saw Feist at the Moore. Went home for Thanksgiving. Hosted a flonking Dogs Night Out at the theatre for Sylvia. What is this life? I also worked on my first short film: The Little Matchgirl. I got to learn a bit of French and had a few days of shooting. I’ll even get a little money for it! Huzzah. 

December: The month of concerts. First up: Jingle Bell Bash with Death Cab, Mumford, Foster the People, and Young the Giant. Then I saw 2 amazing concerts in Tacoma: Jay Z and Kanye West’s Watch the Throne Tour and Prince’s Welcome to America Tour. Both mind blowing for way different reasons. A black woman behind me at the Throne said that I was so much fun to sit behind. I “worked it out” the whole time and it made her even more excited for what was happening. Point Abba. I also attended a Princess Bride Quote Along. This was equally rocking. Then I went home for Christmas and got to spend a few days in Dubuque with the family. New Years in Seattle (finally!) with Michael and fireworks. 

Airport Book

maybe i really should think about turning all of my airport blog posts into a book. not that they’re good. or interesting. or well written. but i have a lot of them and i should put them all in one place. and have you pay to read it instead of freely on the internets. your freedom: taken away. 

i’m waiting for a delayed flight to start boarding. i’m heading home for j romaine’s wedding and nabba’s graduation. it’s going to be so wonderful being at home with all of my family members. hasn’t happened in a very long time. plus we’ll be celebrating my 25th birthday so HOLLER. i think next year i’m going to vegas. you should come too. 

more importantly i’m almost done with this season at the rep. the agony and the ecstasy of steve jobs almost killed me. between the 100s of group sales events and general mayhem surrounding this beast, i also put together the apple museum. it is sweet as shit. that thing will be my legacy at the rep. well, that and the party i’m throwing for my 25th next week. did i mention my birthday is coming up? because it is. gift cards are always welcome. i’ll be so happy when it is summer and i can finally wear all of the cute dresses i’ve been buying for the last two months. let’s do this. 

My Kiki2k10 Mix

For the past 2 years I’ve tried to create a playlist of that year to help me remember what music I was listening to and what was generally going on. Here’s the list for 2k10. I know, some of the songs didn’t come out in 2k10, but this is when I listened to it and what it makes me think of. 

1. Empire State of Mind-Jay Z (I listened to think a lot on repeat as I was getting ready in the morning. It connected with the artist inside of me that just really wishes I was trying to make it as an actor in NYC. wah wah wah)

2. Bad Romance-Lady Gaga (By far, her best effort in 2k10. What a hot jam.)

3. Rock a Hula Baby-Elvis (Jessica and I went to Hawaii last January and this was our song that we kept singing over and over and over again on buses and street corners. People loved us.)

4. Freedom-George Michael (This song was the main reveal in the Rep’s show Speech and Debate. I was still working Front of House while this show was playing and I would hear it all the time in the lobby. It has a nice groove to bounce to as you’re stealing mini quiches for dinner.)

5. Skinny Love-Bon Iver (I saw this Valentine’s Day Dance show and one of the pieces was performed to this song and it blew me away. I have never been so moved by modern dance. Ask me about it.)

6. Hallelujah-Justin Timberlake (No list is complete without JT. He sang this song for the Haiti relief benefit and I feel in love with it. He kills it.)

7. Livin’ on a Prayer-Bon Jovi (Travis and I got free tickets to go and see the launch of the Bon Jovi tour and it was surprisingly AWESOME. I just had no idea.)

8. Carry Out-Timbaland (Hate it all you want, but I played this song on repeat about 10 times as we drove to Vancouver for the Olympics and it got the party going at 6am.)

9. Replay-Lyaz (This was the song that happened at the bar that we were watching the Canada vs. USA hockey game at. Antoinette hated it but I was making it look good.)

10. The Bird and the Worm-Owl City (Joanna got free tickets to an Owl City concert and the emo 14 year old within me couldn’t resist.)

11. Tik Tok-Ke$ha (The biggest song of 2k10? Whatever. It makes me laugh.)

12. Rude Boy-Rihanna (Thanks Rihanna for not doing more ballads. I was over them.)

13. Bartender-Dave Matthews (When Sarah and I went to see Conan’s Tour, Dave Matthews came out drunk as all get out and sang this song. For an impromptu drunk performance, I was pretty into it.)

14. Pure Imagination-Maroon 5 (I don’t remember how I found this cover on YouTube but I pretty much loved it from the moment I heard it.)

15. I Want to Break Free-Queen (I did a really small acting gig at Annex Theatre for their Spin the Bottle Friday Night cabaret. As I was riding the bus one afternoon back home this song came on my iPod and I vividly remember thinking, “Who is this? I love this.” Good job, Kiki.)

16. Nothin’ On You-B.o.b. (I just like it. It speaks to my emotional side.)

17. Hey, Soul Sister-Train (These lyrics make no sense. As does Train’s come back. But here I am, listening to it all the time. Guilty pleasure for sure.)

18. Tightrope-Janelle Monet (Kristin gave me this song when I visited her in May and it’s pretty bangarang. If you haven’t listened to it you need to get on that.)

19. Safety Dance-Glee Cast (OMFG Artie, you’re the best part of Glee and the only boy that can really sing and dance! I love you.)

20. Go Cubs Go-Steve Goodman (Travis, Beth and I got to go to a Cubs game at Safeco Field and we had an awesome time. It was about time I bought this song.)

21. I’m on a Boat-Lonely Island (They crack me up. I think they need a female member, amirightladies?)

22. Dynamite-Taio Cruz (Nikki played this song for Jackie and me when we were all driving down to the Harry Potter Wizarding World and we car danced so hard. Now it is the most played song on my iTunes list. I obsess easily.)

23. California Gurls-Katy Perry (I’m weak. This song is everywhere and it’s really catchy. I’m just weak.)

24. Whenever I Dream-A New Brain (Nick gave me this song when he came to visit Seattle. If I ever need to sing a song for an audition, it’ll be this one.)

25. The Suburbs-Arcade Fire (Best song. Best album. Best Concert I’ve ever been to. I’m in love with all that they’re about.)

26. Underground-Memphis (We danced to this song in my Broadway Fit class and I was working. it.)

27. Club Can’t Handle Me-Flo Rida (Jackie was all about this song when she came to visit me in Seattle so naturally I became all about it.)

28. DJ Got Us Fallin’ In Love-Usher (I just really like club music. In case you hadn’t noticed.)

29. Teenage Dream-Glee (Now this is what Glee should be doing more of. I single-handedly kept this song on the hulu most played clips list.)

30. Daylight-Matt & Kim (I finally got this song from someone and just listened to it over and over again. It makes me happy.)

31. Thinking ‘Bout Somethin’-Hanson (Don’t judge. Just listen. It’s so good!)

32. 1901-Phoenix (Nikki just gave this to me but I loved it in 2k10. Loved. It.)

Okay! That’s it. On to 20!!.

I almost forgot about this gem.

This is the worst list of movies, is this persons a complete morXX , I have seen more movies this clown, any day, I watch 45 to 60 movies a week, and I still work another 65 hours at my job driving, where do I start with the list of good and bad, ….. any ways, more-on he should be fired or at least posted nude with the sign, “2009 idoit of the year”

Someone posted this comment on an article about the best movies of 2009. Now I know how people get sucked into online dating. The prose from this man is unparalleled.

Packing

All I have packed are running shoes, all of the presents for my family and a New Year’s Eve dress. Priorities for this trip have been set. I can’t wait to be home!