Cool pic from Backstage

Carl and Alec.

Anyone have anything they want to guest blog about? Let me know 'cuz as I start another busy week I am left with little time to blog. And something seems to be wrong with the wifi at the theatre. That is the worst.

My Sister's Dream

last night I dreamed that Jay, Beth and I were going to the movies but waiting in a really nice lounge/lobby area before it started. We were all three clean and neatly dressed, and not drunk or anything. The lounge was crowded with small groups of people talking to each other and drinking bottled beer.
Beth had on shorts, and I looked over and saw her take her beer bottle and take it like she was spilling some out, but instead of spilling some out, she just poured it down the area of her leg just above her ankle. The beer streamed down her foot and over her big toe like her big toe was a faucet. Jay was under her toe, drinking it as it flowed off of her toe! I saw them doing this, but didn't think anything of it. Someone in the room asked them "what are you doing???"!! Beth looked over at him calmly and said "what's wrong, you never drank a "toe beer" before??".

(I wonder what she had to eat before she went to sleep?)
Anybody have strange dreams?
Send them to me.

Thank you Guest Blogger Mim!!!!

Mim was kind enough to send me this info for a guest blog entry since I am still swamped with work and the play and can not post as often as I would like. These look yummy - I can't wait to try them myself!

TURNIP CAKES

Steam or simmer cut up turnips until soft enough to pierce them, then mash up, however you like to do that. I use a hand masher.

Mix with butter or margarine and add salt and pepper to taste. I use Spike natural seasoning.

Mix in one beaten egg, or two if you have a lot of turnips, like I had.

Add bread crumbs or instant potato flakes (I use Barbara's brand instant mashed potatoes) to thicken the turnips.

Form into cakes and coat with bread crumbs mixed with paprika, or matzah meal, which is what I had on hand.

Heat some olive oil in a skillet and fry the cakes, browning first on one side than the other (to state the obvious.)These are good hot or at room temperature.

I took this batch to the pot luck picnic at Victory Farms this past Sunday and they were a hit!Bon Appetit

m i m

The State Fair

Hungry piglets

Fried Oreo

Yep, that says fried dough.

Hatching Chickie's

Chicky

Big Hat

The Fairway

It had been a long time since I had been to any State Fair. I had some flashbacks that led me to believe I had once been to one but memory is a funny thing. I was later told by the rest of my family that we went to a State Fair while living in Allentown, PA. That made sense to me as I think I blocked out most of the time we lived there. (Not a pretty place - I do remember black snow)

Anyway, I was very excited to take HNS to the State Fair for his birthday. I was agonizing over what to do for his big day. For me a Birthday means having dinner in a fancy restaurant and perhaps having a few too many Cosmos. This past year my dear friend Erin threw me a great party which included a beautiful sit down dinner and a good time was had by all. Unfortunately, HNS was not able to attend as he was getting busy at his Nephew's bachelor party (No I haven't forgotten)...but enough about me...my point is HNS doesn't need anything fancy. He just likes to have fun. The Fair was a perfect match.

The Fair was all about eating everything we could get our hands on that was fried. We were so excited about this that we forgot to bring our camera with us. It turned out to be a good idea since most of the time we needed both our hands to hold the goods. We were joined by his Bro and Sis-in-law. The weather was perfect, if not a bit on the cool side (love that!) and we all had a great time. Thankfully they were just as excited about eating strange fried food as we were.

The Fair looked perfect. We could have been on the set of a Ray Bradbury film. Lots of lights and strange noises and odd smells. Almost spooky. No clowns though, that would have been overkill.

The first thing we ate were fried pickles and they did not disappoint. The salty, sour, crispy, bitter flavor was a great way to start the evening. We decided we would split everything we ate in an attempt to not make ourselves sick. Normally I am not a splitter so this took some sacrifice but I knew it would be the best thing under the circumstances. And as I watched those fried eating, Fair goers around me - most of them in scooters because the gravity of their own weight had betrayed them - splitting seemed like a fine idea.

I was on a mission to find fried Pepsi. Do I really need a reason for that people? Fried Pepsi, it boggles the mind. HNS had done some research on this and so we were pretty sure what to expect...or so we thought. That was fried Coke HNS knew about and apparently fried Pepsi is a whole different confection. It looked like a large deep fried dumpling. The outside was crispy and the inside was a soft mush that tasted exactly like Pepsi. Very interesting. Not a good "mouth feel" so I am glad we split this since HNS had the majority of it.

Next it was corn dog time. Well, lets call it corn dog #1 - this was the only thing we did not split since corn dogs are about as sacred to me as my Grandfathers Bar Mitzvah kiddish cup. (Not that I posses that but you get the picture.) It was a hand dipped piece of heaven.

After that it was time for some wandering. The rides did not tempt me at all since A.) I had a just eaten a variety of fried stuff and B.) they were nailed into the ground just a few days before. I am sure my Mother knows someone who rode on a State Fair ride and died. I am sure of it.

Eventually we made our way to a few freak tents. At first I loudly protested and was really hurt that these, well, these Freaks were still being exploited in this way. HNS laughed and told me it was all smoke and mirrors and none of the real Freaks were going to be here. Then I have to admit I was a little disappointed.

I still spent a dollar to see Snake Girl. They went to all that trouble. Snake Girl looked tired. I told her to "hang in there". I hope she never saw that just down the Fairway they were selling fried snake.

We went to see the animals too. Some were happier than others. I petted a pony who's eyes seemed to be saying "sure, pet me, everyone else has."

It had been a good 15 minutes or so since we last ate and I was getting hungry. We tried another type of fried pickles. See, the first kind were wedges and these next pickles were chips. It makes for a whole different experience. Both very good.

Finally it was time for the fried Oreo. Mmmm...fried Oreo. I was able to eat two before I gave up. Crispy on the outside and mushy, warm chocolate inside. Not bad. We had these at Galaxy Diner once served with Ice Cream and Whipped cream. I preferred the Diner ones to the State Fair ones for anyone keeping track.

We spent some time checking out all the sites and finding a few neat gifts that folks will be getting later.

It was getting late so I had Corn dog #2 and shared a few vinegar fries with everyone.

We took a few pics with my phone and I said goodbye to fresh corn dogs until next year.

I had a great time with everyone and I hope HNS had a great Birthday. Maybe we can make this an annual event.

Interview with Zac Wilson

I have known Zac since he was a little boy backstage at The Firehouse Theatre where he was on running crew and he would memorize everyone's lines. I thought then he would be an actor when he grew up. He has also become a wonderful young man. I am proud of his accomplishments and glad he is back in our city and thrilled to be working with him.

MF - Why did you want to be in this production?

Z- Well I was ask by 3 different people to do it!!

MF - What has been your favorite thing about it so far?

Z - Putting on my Football Costume!!..OO yea and I love the Cast!!

MF - What was the last role you played?

Z - I played Nathan Lukowski in The Full Monty! (MF - and he was great!)

MF - Why acting?

Z - I had done every thing that theater had to offer including Stage Crew, Lights, Sound, and I really wanted to do it so I went out and I have not looked back ever since!!

MF - What has been your favorite role?

Z - Nathan Lukowski.

MF - What is your dream role?

Z - Nathan Detroit..Guys and Dolls..I wish I could play him Now but to young =[

MF - List 3 words that describe you.

Z - Funny,Helpful,Loyal

MF - What is your favorite book?

Z - The Giving Tree!!!

MF - Favorite actor?

Z - Bruce Willis...I think he just FREAKING SWEET!!!.(I have every Movie he has done!!!)

MF - Best acting advice you have received?

Z - "Don't think to much just go for it"!!

MF - What would you say to other kids your age that want to be in this business?

Z - Make sure you want to do it and if you are sure this is where your heart is then go for it!!

MF - In what way is the Character of Barny Makean like you?

Z - We both like the Lady's and football

MF - In what way is he different?

Z - He gets angry Fast!!

MF -Anything else you want to add?

Z - I got Internship with Barksdale Theater and Theater IV!!...I do so much over there from hanging 55 feet in the air trying to change a light, moving flats from one place to somewhere else, panting and building. I am really grateful that they gave me this opportunity and I look forward to learning all kinds of things.... But My Heart is in acting!! There is nothing like being on a stage with 200-300 people looking at you..I love being on stage and knowing that people can forget about what's going on at home and for a little while the only thing they are thinking about is the show. I enjoy making them smile, cry or laugh. That just makes me fell so good inside!!

Hosting an HR Retreat

Fruit Salad

Lettuce salad

I decorated this pie for the occasion.

We actually did get a lot of work done but you have to eat sometime too. I offered my place for our meeting and was very excited to cook for my special guests. Thanks to Jacquie for taking the pics for documentation. She is always thinkin'.

I decided to make another artichoke pie since the last one was so yummy. I served it with a salad and mixed fruit. I picked the fruit that looked the best in the store and cut it up the night before. I added some amaretto and let it sit overnight in the fridge.

For the salad I started with a spring mix of greens and added goat cheese,cucumbers, chick peas, and a little shredded asiago. I put a simple balsamic vinaigrette on it.

Muffinface Q and A

more to come about the State Fair soon.

(Muffinface is having a busy day)

Check out Barksdale's blog to see Muffinface's answers to the Pivot/Lipton Questionnaire.

http://thebarksdalebuzz.blogspot.com/