cornbread, sweet tea, and fried okra.

It wasn't until I left the south that I even thought to consider myself southern. Sure, I only spent the first year of my life as a resident of Michigan before my family moved to North Carolina, but I still augmented the northern side of me. Now, there's times when I very happily claim southern. An example of those times is when I get to hang out with my lovely friend, Denise (a singer/actress here in Chicago originally from Atlanta), or my friend Hunter (film guy, old skydeck coworker, originally from Mississippi). A week and a half ago, I enjoyed a Saturday with Denise--Thai and Theatre!--and from it coming up in conversation, I really wanted cornbread . Well, Guess what? Dreams do come true. Hunter, his sister Katie Brook, her husband, and I had a heart warming dinner at the adorable "Dixie Kitchen" in Evanston. I've heard of this place on many occasions before from them, but I was finally able to have a taste of home--with very enjoyable company I might add.

As much as I had no clue that I would ever do it, I just recently, I became a Mary Kay lady! Marykay.com/rachelyn is my website if you or anyone you know is interested in their fabulous products or becoming a consultant. I've always loved the products, but I'm also excited about the positive atmosphere I stepped into when I attended the past couple of Mary Kay trainings. I also had no idea of the career possibilities with MK, and was inspired by meeting directors, particularly my director Kimberly, who is a Mary Kay millionaire!

Even though there have been many occasions when I've wanted to run downstairs and hug the neighbors below me for their song playlist, I had no idea as to what extent their awesomeness was. I had only briefly encountered one of the roommates who recently moved out. Saturday night I got a knock at my door, and it was the other one that I hadn't met yet. He invited me to his new roommate's housewarming party, and I went! It was so nice to finally meet him, his new roommate, and meet more new people. In fact, at least 5 of the attendees said that they are going to come to Phantom!

Yesterday we had our first full run of Phantom, and it went well! We open in a week and a half....crazy! One of the performances is sold out, and tickets are continuing to fly. Tomorrow morning on WGN Morning news from 7-9 AM, our production will be featured, which I've heard will boost ticket sales even more. I'll be on my way to work right around then, so I won't be on TV with them...BUT that shouldn't stop you from watching it ;).

Today is Sofia's/Alexander's/my 3 month anniversary! It's Alexander's spring break this week, so we were able to celebrate together by going to the Shedd Aquarium. I think I learned the most this time that I went, because I took more time than usual to read the signs and teach the kids about the exhibits. In spite of the bitter cold pouring rain and running together through it to get to the aquarium, we had a blast!!

Speaking of bitter cold rain....I had to scrape snow off of my car yesterday. I thought I was dreaming when I woke up to whiteness outside...

April!?

Every single year I try very hard to think of a brilliant April fool's joke. This year the only thing I could come up with was to either convince someone to let me be "married" to them on facebook or list Sofia as my daughter on facebook--both not very original BUT both would scare at least one person in my family/friends. I didn't follow through with any of them, but I found out later that my sister has been telling people that I really do have a secret daughter which explains my absence from NC over the past year. She doesn't quite have them convinced yet. I crack up every time I think of it. My sister and I have the perfect one for next year, though...or some other random time if we ever feel the need for more drama in our lives.

You know how thankful I am for skype? It's been so refreshing people able to skype my family here and there. It's hard to believe that it's been 4 months since I've seen them, and it will be 5 months when they're here for Phantom. 

Tickets for Phantom of the Opera at Morton College at the JPAC went on sale the first of this month! The performance dates are weekends April 29-May14, and tickets can be purchased through this link. 

Rehearsals have been fantastic for this show. I melt each time--always in awe of the talented cast! Everyone has continued to work hard which has helped us accomplish a lot in this short time that we have been rehearsing. Our masquerade rehearsal was especially fun. Our choreographer did a great job with this scene, and it's going to look so cool once we have the choreography in ourselves plus the complicated text down pat. 

Day job news: Within the past couple of weeks, darling little Sofia has made it a tradition to run to the window, wave, and kiss me goodbye. It's so adorable. This week, though, when it's the end of my workday, she has started to get her shoes and coat and squeal for me to help her and take her "bye-bye" with me. Talk about heart-melting. 

One day when we picked up Alexander from school, we arrived at home, and he gave his fish his dinner. (Notice that it's singular....the new fish died! :(... ) I noticed him rubbing the fish bowl and talking quietly to his fish saying, "Hii fishy! Fish, did you know that the opposite of up is down? And, the opposite of in is out!" I discovered that he likes to teach him what he learns in school each day, as well as provide artwork and reading material to keep his fish entertained during the day. Haha. Cute. 

I accidentally left my Phantom score at their house one evening, and the next morning I found a surprise:

THANKFULLY it's not a "return with no markings or else" score, and I get to keep it! A cast mate of mine loved it and said it's like a time capsule. Perfect description. Really funny thing about Alexander's drawings is that my brother jonathan used to draw very similar scenes!

This past week a dear friend that I met last year while working at the Willis (Sears) Tower came into town for a gig plus Chicago visit time. It was amazing fun getting to hang out with him again and getting to know him even more, since the time I met him last year was a little before I moved to NY with Becca and a little before he moved back home to Santa fe. A performance of his that I enjoy that you should check out: 

And lastly, one of the highlights of my upcoming weekend: