My Woody Allen Experience

First off, I just have to say that I have the best husband in the world. He was willing to take off work and drum lessons for me, despite having missed a lot of both lately with the holidays. He drove the three hours to Austin and back, despite having had to be and perform in Houston on Saturday and Dallas Sunday. All just to make one of my biggest dreams come true. That is the definition of love right there, and I know it.

So, one sentimental ball of mush out of the way and on to another. I spent almost two hours less than 30 feet from Woody Allen. It was one of the greatest things that I have ever experienced. When we sat down in our seats I had a moment to be elated at how good they were before I started to nearly hyperventilate with excitement at what I was about to witness. We were really as close as one could hope to get when they bought last minute tickets, and I had a completely unobstructed direct view to Woody. Clearly, he was what I was there to see, but that whole band is amazing. It was so fascinating to watch a smaller band play together, since my only other experience watching jazz performers has been the much bigger UNT band. Aside from the phenomenal music, I took so much pleasure in being able to watch Woody be Woody. I've watched so many interviews of him over the years that a lot of his little mannerisms are known to me. So when he took his sweater off about two songs in and brushed his hair back with his hand, when he slid his finger between his glasses and face to rub his left eye, when he stretched his arms down his legs and rubbed his knees- it was just him being himself right in front of my eyes. And more than that, I got to see him doing something he truly loves to do, is passionate about doing. Like I said, it was a dream come true.

They played for a little over an hour, and then did two encores which Woody claimed was a record for them, but I find that hard to believe. And they were long encores as well, adding almost 45 minutes on to the show. It's hard for me to know all the songs they played, I am not as familiar with my New Orleans jazz catalog enough to always easily recognize them- especially with a music as variable as jazz can be. I'm still trying to figure more out, but I know they played:

Ice Cream
Tie Me to Your Apron Strings Again
St. Louis Blues
Listen to the Mockingbird
Down by the Riverside
All the Whores Like the Way I Ride
My Old Kentucky Home
Home Sweet Home
Easter Parade
Sweet Georgia Brown

Again, just amazing to me that I've actually done this. It has been a dream for so long that I hardly know what to do with myself now that it's actually come true. Where does one go from here? To be honest, one still wants to go to NYC and see him at the Carlyle, to do it all over again. :)



































Crappy iPhone pics from the evening.

Christmas Vacation

I will be leaving work shortly and off on my 5 day break. Hopefully be able to find some time to share Christmas photos in the next few days, but they'll be busy ones. Tonight I'll be trying to finish wrapping all the gifts and ordering a pizza so I can focus on them. Tomorrow I've got a lot of work ahead of me- cleaning house, setting the table, and preparing a Christmas Eve feast for ourselves and my mom, brother, sister-in-law, and niece. Josh and I will be spending the morning of our first Christmas in our new house just the two of us. Looking forward to sleeping in, breakfast, and leisurely opening our gifts to one another. Christmas night we'll be with Josh's mom, step dad, and brother- no doubt stuffing ourselves like we usually do and maybe playing some games. Josh has to jet off to Houston on Saturday, which makes me sad, but he'll be back already on Sunday. Sunday night he's got a show at the House of Blues in Dallas. Which brings us to my new most favorite part of our holiday break, Monday we'll be driving down to Austin to see Woody Allen and Eddy Davis's New Orleans Jazz Band!!! I am beyond excited for this. I discovered they were going to be in Texas today and was able to find good tickets. Not cheap, but I conveniently got a Christmas bonus yesterday that I didn't know what to do with. And Josh is taking off work and getting back on the road after one jaunt to go on another one as a special Christmas gift to me. Guys. I'm gonna be in the same room with Woody Allen. Listening to him play delicious New Orleans style jazz. So basically, I've got a date with heaven on Monday. I didn't know I could get any luckier, but then I did. Happy holidays everybody!!! I hope everyone has a fantastic Christmas and that your wishes come true! I know mine have.

Happy Birthday Woody!

Manhattan

Thanks to the book on Woody Allen's work that I just finished I am hankering to go back to NYC more than ever. I decided to watch Manhattan Saturday night while the boys worked on music. Manhattan is truly one of my favorite films and always holds up for me under repeated viewing. I couldn't help but laugh out loud, and as always the intro left me breathless. It is probably one of my most favorite things captured on film, just beautiful. I always had "Rhapsody In Blue" running through my head as we explored the streets of Manhattan ourselves.

Start Spreading The News

Josh and I are officially going to New York City in three weeks. Just a quick jaunt to the city that never sleeps, but I am so excited. I've never been to a big city. I mean, I've been to Dallas and Houston, but not for extended stays and they just don't compare to the impressiveness of the 5 boroughs. I've wanted to go to New York since I was, oh probably 14 or 15. And I'm finally going. It's almost unbelievable to me. But it's happening, and soon at that. I made our flight and hotel reservations this weekend, but other than that I only have lots of little ideas floating around in my head as to what to do and see. I got this awesome map book at Borders Monday night, it's very small, but has 50+ detailed maps. Each map covers a different thing, like the subways, buses, museums, restaurants split up by neighborhood, Central Park, etc. So they can give you lots of detail without it all being combined into one incredibly confusing map.

We're staying on the Upper West Side, just 2 blocks west of Central Park. There's a subway stop 2 blocks north and 2 blocks south from us at Hotel Belleclaire. We'll be taking one of those lines down to Battery Park to catch the ferry out to Ellis Island. I can't wait to see my Great-Grandpa's name on the Immigrant Wall of Honor. We'll go to Strawberry Fields and the Dakota. The Public Library and Bryant Park are on the list of stops. And of course, 30 Rock, ha. And I'm on a mission to find this spot from Woody Allen's Manhattan. Thanks to my handy book of maps, I've narrowed down the area, and just have to do a bit more research before I'll hopefully be taking my own picture sitting on that bench.

I'm going shopping this weekend for some stuff for the trip. I'm hoping to find some remnants of the winter stock on sale racks. And Stephanie gave me a tip about these super warm thermals that she gets for snowboarding. That should definitely help me keep warm on our turns around the wintry town. Need some new shoes for the trip too. I don't think my canvas Converse will keep my tootsies warm or dry enough.

The only downside of this trip is that the Carlyle didn't update their calendar quick enough and I'm now set to leave town just 12 hours before Woody Allen performs his Monday night show with the Eddy Davis New Orleans Band. It's no one's fault, but it is a big blow to my anticipation to know that I'm barely missing out on one of my biggest dreams of seeing him perform. This has made me determined to start saving for our next NY trip when I get back from this one.

Christmas Wishlist No. 5

I'm in a slightly more chipper mood after a successful dinner last night and some Christmas decorating. Still have a trillion chores, but they don't seem so overwhelming now. It must be the twinkle lights. Anyway, now that I'm in a more seasonal mood here's another item from my wishlist.













It is my goal in life to own all of Woody Allen's movies on DVD. I'm about halfway there, but this little gem has yet to make it into my collection. This movie is really quite sweet, a lovely nostalgic look at the growth of a little boy and his family when big radio was big entertainment. This is a movie I can easily watch over and over. I hope this flick will be nestled next to my other Allen movies this holiday season. And I couldn't help but share one of my favorite scenes from the movie. Diane Keaton's singing is simply divine!

My Christmas Wishlist No. 2

I foolishly ask for books every year. Why is this a foolish act? Have you seen my To-Read list to the right down there? I seriously have over 2 dozen books waiting to be read, and yet I buy and ask for more. But how can I not request this new(ish) book from one of my favorite people on the planet?

Zizanie

That means "ill feeling" in French. If I spelled it right. I've been home sick today. Well, actually I was sick most of the night, resulting in no sleep. So I've been home with lack of sleep I guess. I've got a few health problems, but I don't like to enumerate. They aren't life threatening. And although these problems can definitely make me feel miserable I know that I have it pretty good. But sometimes when your problems are flaring up it's hard to remember that. Anyway, not being woe-is-me. Just wanted to say that even though I don't feel well, and even though I'll have to work on Friday to make up for today, it's nice to sit on my comfy bed and watch Woody Allen movies. Even as I sit here typing this I'm enjoying the snippet of Gershwin that loops on the DVD menu.