Have some chocolate!

On me.  Click here. 

I was tired until...

I started playing the HAIR soundtrack. Holy addictive. I am physically unable to turn it off. Either way, I am searching through my room for the Green Baby (aka my ipod shuffle) which I can't find anywhere. I don't think the tunes will be off anytime soon. Ho hum... What's a few hours of missed sleep when it means I can put awesome music on the ipod and have it at work all day?

Have you seen the Green Baby anywhere? If so, please contact me immediately! You will be rewarded handsomely... If cookies can be described as handsome. The last time I remember having it was walking in from the gym on Saturday.

Do you ever...?

Have moments in life that you watch unfold in a way you didn't mean them to? And, you can see them happening but you have no idea how to take them back to square one? And people perceive your actions incorrectly? A couple of things have been on my mind recently and I keep beating myself up about the way they have turned out. I keep going back and analyzing every little detail and knowing that the end result could be different. And I have no one to blame but myself. So frustrating! Dear Alina, welcome to adulthood.

In other news: It is May 26th... 12:17 AM and that means one thing: HAIR for sale on itunes! God bless everyone at the Bravo Group. They will now hear hippie tunes for the next few days at work. But since they're all from that time, I don't think they will mind too much.

Time to FINALLY let the sun shine in.

Love,

A

Action=Marriage Equality Rally

 These are a compilation of my favorite pictures from the rally. I actually didn't take any of them... These were taken by other people, including press for BroadwayWorld.com and Playbill.com. Obviously, they are much better than the ones I did take. Sadly, I have zero pictures of me at the event... Anna and I were in charge of the press and celebrity area and spent most of the afternoon trying to get stalkarazzi away from the area. It was awesome... So much power. It was an amazing feeling to be part of something so monumental. The event got SO much positive press. Click here to read one of my favorite stories, as reported by Time Out New York. 

Two of my favorite Broadway Impact people, Heath and Corey, advertising the rally at the AIDS Walk.

Favorite picture of Gavin at the rally. Seriously, it makes me laugh every time... so cute. He was sooo excited. 

Ugly Betty star Anna Ortiz

Rory giving his speech. 

Mayor Michael Bloomberg speaks about equality

Governor David Paterson

Sex and the City star, Kristin Davis and the cast of HAIR

Sex and the City Star Cynthia Nixon

Cheyenne Jackson. Enough said. 

My favorite hippies: Gavin (Claude) and Will (Berger)

The cast of HAIR letting the sun shine in

The tribe

If you're a marriage equality supporter, and you're still asking yourself what to do, visit BroadwayImpact.com  and follow the link to find your senator. Call them today and tell them why marriage equality is important to you. It only take a few minutes! You can also email them, which is just as easy. Our senators need to know how much support they have. Take action... Do it...NOW. :) 

BYU Police Beat

How I've missed thee... BYU Police Beats ran in the Daily Universe on Tuesdays. Often, after an early Tuesday/Thursday class and before devotional/work, they provided me with loads of laughter... I would sit in the terrace and laugh at the things that are considered news worthy... Only at BYU. 

SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY

 A male student was reported suspiciously looking into cars in a campus parking lot. Police discovered that the student was actually looking into his own car, looking for his backpack.

A female reported a suspicious male in the Widtsoe Building. He had asked her for directions.

THEFT 

A male student picked up candy in the BYU Bookstore Sept. 7 thinking that it was part of a promotion. After confronted he agreed to pay the 25 cents.

An older male was reported for suspicious activity after someone noticed him opening all the washers and dryers in the laundry at Wyview Park. When he was confronted it was learned that he had personal items in each of the washers and dryers.

PROPERTY DAMAGE

A grounds employee was trimming a tree when an object flew up and broke a window in Harris Hall. No one was hurt.

ANIMAL PROBLEM

 A female student reported a wild duck in the basement of Whitney Hall. Police opened the door and ushered the duck out of the building.

Fact

If you talk at me (meaning, I can't get a word in) about things I care nothing about (i.e. estimates, baseball, money, drama, conspiracy theories, American Idol, Family Guy, etc.) I will probably fall asleep. As I just did when someone talked at me for an hour and a half about creating estimates. BORING.

Golden living dreams of visions

I am super tired and I do not want to go to bed. I am still so illusioned by today. I was at a Marriage Equality rally that will go down in the books. And, it's not about right/wrong/religion/or not. It's about basic human rights. And I believe in human rights and the right for all to be happy. As much as I believe in the Church. It's that simple. The end. Save your negative comments. I don't want them.

Then, I came home and got all jazzed up for the Drama Desk Awards, where I was forced to go down to the depths of some high school halls (read: a place I never want to go back to) and seated in the orchestra (read: 3rd row). I had a fabulous night. Sat in front of Megan Hilty, Stephanie J. Block and Allison Janney (who totally won an award). Saw Stockard Channing, Jane Fonda, Angela Lansburry and Liza Minelli. LIZA freakin MINELLI, guys! She is a legend, and I stood 3 feet away from her. HAIR won best revival...which was a given from day one. Billy Elliot rocked it and took away at least 6 Drama Desk Awards.

I had one of those "Is this really my life?" moments, and I am happy that the answer is yes. Also highlights of my day: Christopher Sieber conversation... what a nice, nice man. And Cheyenne Jackson. I don't think I need to explain why that is exciting. Seeing Gavin and Jenny jumping for joy that the rally was a success and seeing Scotty who gives the best hugs in the world.

I have pictures but I will post them later when I am not so tired and I am no longer squinting in order to read the screen.

Peace and love, friends. Spread it. Make the world a brighter place.

Today, I...

Went to an andvanced screening of Disney & Pixar's newest movie UP. It was so much better than expected. GO see it!!! It comes out May 29th. In the mean time, I have two words for you all: emotional rollercoaster. Be preapared.

A shout out to Little Emron who totally worked on the main character's clothing! He works at Pixar as a digital tailor. You better believe I waited until his name rolled in the credits to leave. AMAZING work!

I can't find a trailer I can actually post, but click here to see it.

A lot of stuff...

Today is the BYU Ballroom dance concert in Rahway! I am so excited to see it and see old friends! I am also excited to go on a train, for some dumb reason.

The BYU Ballroom latin team competing at Blackpool.

Today is also the longest day in the history of the world. It is le fact. 

Conference Ensign is out and I can't wait to read it! Which requires me buying a subscription... I really will do it this time! 

The Coraline show is SUPER weird. Clearly, it is in planning stages. Who thought Jane Houdyshell should play an 8 year old??? WHO? I mean, I love her, she is fantastic. She was in Wicked and was a great Madame Morrible, but as an 8 year old? Weird, weird, weird.

My boss is selling empanadas to raise money for her son who is traveling to Europe this summer as part of the People to People Ambassador program. Holla if you want to buy! I've had her empanadas, and they are thebomb.com. A dozen is $25. Why not support? Help this kid enhance his education! 

May 26th cannot come soon enough! Never, in the history of all Broadway musicals, have I needed a cast recording so badly. Time to let the sun shine in! HAIR for sale on itunes. 

I ran in the park without my shin splints killing my feet. Consequently, it was a windy evening which blowed allergens all over the place and I spent the following six hours trying to sneeze. ANNOYING. 

Sweet little Gavin put a video together for Broadway Impact. For all my marriage equality supporting readers:

Mommy and my cousin were here last week and I want them back! 

A welcomed change might soon come to pass. I'm optimistic!

I'm going to the Drama Desk Awards this Sunday and I am REALLY excited. 

Irena's Vow

Even though I am super TIRED (for real, I fell asleep on a bench at South Seaport), I wanted to let you all know about Irena's Vow.

Well, if you are lucky enough to live in NYC, it is definitely a must see. I went in having no idea what it was about but it turned out to be one of the most amazing theater experiences I've experienced thus far.

Irena's Vow (based on a true story) is the story of Irena Gut Opdyke, one of the most courageous heroines of World War II. During the German occupation of Poland, she was taken in as a housekeeper for the top general major in Germany. During that time, she risked her own life to protect and hide over 12 Jewish refugees. The role of Irena is played by Tovah Feldshuh and she was absolutely brilliant. She was just the right mix of comedic, compassionate and accepting. You just love her right away...

I have seriosuly never been in a show where the entire audience is completely stunned by the story. I think it really hit everyone when Irena started talking about her life and how she vowed she would not let the world forget that the Holocaust was a real thing. I don't think there was a dry eye in the house... even the grumpy old man sitting next to me was moved. When the show ended, there was complete silence and no one moved or said anything. It was truly an amazing experience to know that the show really reached its intended purpose. The silence said it all.

After the show, Irena's daughter held a talk back session where she answered questions from the audience... One of the questions asked was what happened to the German major. Her daughter explained that he had lost his military rank and was basically living on the street. When the Jewish refugees (who had been safely living in Israel) heard about this, they returned to Germany to search for him and took him in as a friend. WOW. Knowing that made the story even more beautiful.

I really have a strong fascination with the Holocaust. I love learning about it and helping others understand the important lessons that it teaches, but so often they make me cry... a lot. This one was a happy one, and it was refreshing to hear that for a change. The Holocaust is such an important part of history and things similar to the events that led up to it are happening now in the world (in the form of inacceptance of differences, I mean). Go see this. Learn about it, and tell others. Things like the Holocaust cannot happen again, and a good way to prevent them is if people become educated and learn to accept differences.

Please, please, go see this show! It is worth every penny and I am pretty sure they have a student rush. To learn more about the show or Irena's story, visit http://irenasvow.com/

The amazing Tovah Feldshuh

Cast of Irena's Vow

Decisions...

So I love school. For real. I do... and lately, all I want to do is go back to school. I was kind of an idiot to rush out of BYU and robbed myself of two ballroom-filled years. But now, I am looking into theater development, production and design programs in NYC, Michigan and England. I'm excited to learn about programs and if you know of any, please leave me a suggestion! I figure this gives me enough time to prepare for hell (AKA Alina does not remember any math, AKA the GRE) and to find good options for Fall 2010!

Chipotle and I are definitely in a fight

I found this link that calculates the nutritional information for your favorite Chipotle menu item. Click here if you want to be depressed.