It's a new year and to kick off 2011, here is my report from my New York City adventures at the end of 2010. I've got my comfy casual clothes and freshly whipped hot chocolate, so settle in with me for this read... (And yes the title of this post comes courtesy of J.R.R. Tolkien: save the "hobbit," and "Homo floresiensis" comments for another time. I know I'm only 5'4", and there were no dragons named Smaug on this trip, no golden treasure, no riddles to solve, but certainly some fun adventures and a journey that felt epic enough, so read on.)
December 23, 4 AM, Central Standard Time. (Bonus points to you if you sang that line to the tune of the date/time stamp melody from the musical RENT." Extra bonus points to you if you didn't do that at first but then just did after reading my last sentence, knowing that there is some foreshadowing going on here.) I finished packing my layers of warm clothes in the dark of the St. Louis winter night and made my way to the neighboring MetroLink station to take the train to the airport.
Not quite the Hogwarts Express, but a decorated subway train certainly kicked off this trip in the right spirit.
OK, perhaps an overstatement, but I give it to St. Louis for the holiday trim in the MetroLink, making a "Holiday Express."
A short train ride later, and I was at the airport. A long line later, I was through security. Despite the break in the snow and ice weather, we still had to wait to be de-iced three times before taking off. The resulting one-hour delay meant I made the mad dash from O'Hare's Concourse G to Concourse B. Christmas Eve workout? Check. Fourth de-icing procedure of the morning? Check. On-time departure from a huge airport that knows how to prepare for winter weather? Check.
Ah, hello Airbus 319. What a welcome relief from the STL > ORD regional jet, you are!
The happy Travel Fairies must have been with me from the very start of the trip, because we actually landed at LaGuardia Airport (LGA) almost 30 minutes early. I rarely fly into LGA because JFK is usually better equipped to handle weather and delays, but the daytime arrival following a landing flight path that reminded me of growing up in Queens made for absolutely stunning views. Justification for a window seat? Check.
Clear skies, and apparently a fast tailwind.
Hello, Newark International (EWR). Sorry I won't be landing on you today.
Thanks for welcoming me back, Lady Liberty!
Lower Manhattan.
Midtown Manhattan: like a home away from home!
After the early morning start, there wasn't much energy left in me to do anything but unpack at Mom's house and nap. Which meant sleep until dinner at the Japanese restaurant across the street and then back to...sleep!
December 25, 2010. Christmas Day started with a mass being said in memory of my Mom's parents in the neighborhood church that is built in a 60s style circular shape.
Ceiling stained glass at American Martyrs Church.
An afternoon break called for presents to be exchanged and lots of snacking. What are holidays for?
Christmas flowers.
The remnants of the gift (card) exchanges!
Did someone say raspberry-chocolate Yule Log?
Then it was off to Manhattan for Italian food and my annual Christmas Date Night with Mom and Sis. This year, I kicked off the "Broadway Blitz" with the history-making second revival of La Cage Aux Folles, which was brilliant. Really excellent cast with strong evocative performances that breathed good fresh life into classic songs and an otherwise overly familiar story. As one of the stars cheekily told me later (Douglas Hodge, see below), this was a perfect Christmas show for the whole family!
Outside Da Marino: Ana-Liza, Lourdes, and me, happily stuffed on Italian food!
Welcome to La Cage - pink chandeliers and all!
My first full day in NYC, and the first show of my prized Broadway Blitz.
Kelsey Grammer (grey cap) at the stage door after the show (not stopping for photos but signing autographs). [Photo courtesy of Ana-Liza Quirolgico]
Forget the "Frasier" guy: me with Douglas Hodge, the Tony Award winning star of the show! [Photo courtesy of Ana-Liza Quirolgico]
December 26, 2010. The first of three (count 'em: 3!) Triple-Play days for me: three shows in one day (11 AM, 2 PM, and 7 or 8 PM). I know: exhausting just thinking about it - at least that's the case for mere theater mortals. But not for me. Love it!
First up was my first time (I think) at the New World Stages. I think from now on, I will try to include at least one Off-Broadway and at least one non-musical show into these Blitz trips. I chose this original musical, based on the children's books by Julianne Moore, after reading good reviews of the show. I was impressed by a very earnest adult cast with some solid vocal chops (I had seen one actress on tour with Spring Awakening).
Day 2, Show 2: Freckleface Strawberry.
And because there is ample waiting area space inside the New World Stages complex, I will certainly be back here!
Time Out New York Lounge at the New World Stages.
A break for lunch, then it was off to the next theaters...
I can't believe that this third show, La Bete, didn't do much better in its critical or commercial praises, and I also couldn't believe this was a revival - how have I not known about this play? It's genius! An original work that is told entirely in rhyming couplets! And the whole play is about language and reality and why the mediocre sometimes wins popularity over the intellectually brilliant, and it even uses the word "mimesis" in a rhyme! Oh wait, I guess now I know why it's not the huge hit that it deserves to be after all, despite the powerhouse cast (David Hyde-Pierce, lending his Tony Award and "Frasier" fame to the bill; Mark Rylance, who shows that he earned his Tony Award a thousand times over with an unbroken and unabashed 30-minute comedic monologue that would leave any other actor alive today out of breath and out of mind; and Joanna Lumley, from TVs "AbFab" who has a justifiably grand entrance as the Princess - let's just say that a lot of gold lame, glitter, and a wind machine are put to good use). It's sad that truly intelligent theater is not more successful because I thought this one was really smart and accessible all at once. (Personal note: I have always had good luck at the Music Box Theatre, which is also one of the most stunning interiors out of all the Broadway theaters: I've seen great plays here (Superior Donuts, The Farnsworth Invention), and have always been lucky with single-seat upgrades - thank you, Music Box!)
Day 2, Show 3: the revival of La Bete.
From one powerhouse cast to another, it was off to the musical adaptation of the Pedro Almodovar movie, Women On The Verge Of A Nervous Breakdown, with the likes of Patti Lupone, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Laura Benanti, Danny Burstein, and even Justin Guarini (sadly, Sherie Rene Scott and de'Adre Aziza were out that night). This show was a delight, albeit bittersweet: the day after I saw it, the producers announced it would close early, which is too bad. The cast really had fun bringing a complex movie to life on stage and they gave their best. It's always a treat to see La Lupone eat up the stage, and Brian Stokes Mitchell (and his gorgeous baritone-bass) has been off the stage for far too long. The true revelation though was Laura Benanti - forget the Tony Award for playing Baby June in the Patti Lupone revival of Gypsy - in this show she is all doe-eyed hilarity as the hopelessly sexy and saucy Candela: more Laura Benanti please! And Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, and every male model out there had better take note: this woman is abs-alicious and knows how to work it on the stage. Where does she hide the lungs to power her pipes?!?! But I suppose I understand the half-filled houses and lackluster reviews: this show is more visually stunning than musically memorable, which is not a good thing for a musical, of course. But imagine all the colorful energy of Almodovar's best movies blown up to Broadway proportions with moving sets, perfect costumes, bright lights, and splashy projection effects. I really wish this had come together to stay alive on Broadway longer and better - such high hopes! (And a note to future audiences: it pays to have a single seat, to pick-up your ticket early at the box office, and to persevere in bad weather - due to cancellations, my $35 balcony ticket was upgraded to center orchestra - a seat valued at $180: score!)
Day 2, Show 4: Women On The Verge Of A Nervous Breakdown.
Well, as you can tell from the Show 3 and Show 4 photos, this first Triple Pay Day was also the day that the blizzard hit New York. That's right: "Snowpocalypse 2010," as it was named on FourSquare (which also unlocked my Epic Swarm badge for more than 1,000 people checked in). The snow was falling heavily and steadily throughout the day, and the winds really picked up after the show at the Belasco Theater. This was not the pretty, cute, quaint, sentimental white stuff that is the subject of this song from the classic movie musical, White Christmas (Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney, Vera-Ellen [dubbed by Trudy Stevens]).
No, this was a genuine Nor'Easter thunderstorm that just happened to hit hard in sub-zero weather. So it was a blizzard peppered with thunder and lightning.
Blizzard at midday in midtown: still somewhat fluffy and pretty.
Times Square earlier in the day: lots of people still busy about.
Times Square as the afternoon came and went: Elmo's furry pelt is not doing well in the blizzard's snow and wind.
So on the night of December 26, 2010, I ran from the Belasco Theater to the nearest subway station and got on a Queens-bound train covered in snow and ice. The theater even announced that all cast and crew were being practically evacuated after the show (meaning no autographs or photos). Wearing my glasses above-ground no longer made sense. I made it to Kew Gardens only to witness no fewer than five MTA busses stranded in the roads, with one being blown into the overpass guard rail. No taxis. Emergency vehicles were barely making it through the roads. At least 200 people stuck underground in the subway station. So after a futile two hours, I decided to venture back to Manhattan. Several subways later, I was miraculously rescued by the hospitality of a friend from Regis High School (whom I only know from an alumni network and met once in San Francisco, so thank you, OPEN Regis!), Jim McCarrick
December 27, 2010. The next morning, the clothes were dry but roads were still a mess so I hunkered down in Manhattan for the next two days and made the most of it. It turns out that "walking distance" to a subway station is also a distance that can be traveled via snowmobile - wish I had a photo of that, but Jim and I witnessed it!
First stop after stranding: Apple Store on Fifth Avenue (open 24 hours!) to get a new charger for the iPhone - phew!
If the chickadees can survive the blizzard, so can I!
Fountain in front of the Plaza Hotel.
Morning brought clear skies over these wreaths at the Plaza Hotel.
Central Park South.
NYC Taxis are always crazy, but maybe not crazy enough to handle this weather!
Snowdrifts + Snowplows = Buried Cars. This is why most New Yorkers don't have them!
After Christmas sale: trees delivered for zero - what a bargain!
I think there is a fire hydrant under this blizzard snowman.
Day after the blizzard: still very windy - that's snow being blown off buildings and swirling around Times Square.
Bar at Sosa Borella (Italian and Argentian cuisine) - a great find!
Parmesan Cheese "crackers," parsley pesto, warm bread, and a mango mojito. What blizzard?
As the mayor himself announced, the city had survived and Broadway was still open for business. So my plans were intact... Off I went to the Al Hirschfeld Theater (another one of my favorite Broadway interiors) to see my friend Chad Beguelin's writing work transform a Will Ferrell holiday movie into a live show. All holiday themed shows seem to do well on Broadway (White Christmas, How The Grinch Stole Christmas, even Cirque du Soleil's Wintuk) and I've seen those and this one was also enjoyable. A simple plot with a nice "Christmas spirit" message - but then, don't all those holiday stories have that? Well, the performances were solid, the material was fun, the kid-friendly and sold-out family audience loved it, former "Jersey Boy" Sebastian Arcelus owned the show as Buddy the Elf, and everyone left smiling - back out into the cold wind and slushy mess.
Day 3, Show 5.
To celebrate surviving the blizzard, I had to stop at a favorite bar/restaurant, 44 & X in Hell's Kitchen for my annual Broadway-themed cocktail (or two) and some post-show nosh.
Jim McCarrick, my gracious snowstorm host and me at 44 & X.
Me with Scott Hart, co-owner and proprietor of 44 & X.
My chosen Broadway cocktails (that night): Angels in A-pear-ica, A Life in the 3-tre, Pee-Wee's Gin House. (I've always been tempted by the "Wicked" Cosmopolitan - sure it would be a fun drink and make for a fun photo, but I think I will stick by my rule of staying clear of bright green and bright blue drinks. Ladies, am I right?)
(Go ahead: refill the cocoa or switch to some hot cider or tea.
Half of the trip is now blogged. Almost done.)
Winter in New York City is my favorite season: the air is crisp and clear, everything sparkles, and the lights twinkle in a special way.
Subway stations were fairly deserted: people smartly stayed indoors in the blizzard.
Lonely streetlight in Central Park: where's Mister Tumnus? Is this the way to Narnia?
Approaching Chelsea - blizzard did not white-out this colorful building.
Prayer/Memorial Ribbons at Marble Collegiate Church.
Giant place setting window display made me hungry!
Even the garbage trucks were stuck and not moving anywhere.
Flatiron Building.
In Chelsea.
At Mario Batali's Eataly!
Greens galore.
More beverages (but not at BevMo).
Pasta, pasta, pasta.
A magical pasta machine.
Veggies prepped to order. Does Project Open Hand know about this?!?!
Afternoon munchies satisfied with some fresh mozzarella, basil, warm walnut bread, and a pinot grigio. Thanks, Eataly!
Time Warner Center in the daylight.
Columbus Circle.
Central Park.
Carriages awaiting everywhere!
Is anyone sitting here? Guess not...
Fifth Avenue, Central Park East.
Central Park Zoo.
Hotel Pierre - site of my high school prom!
Pegasus window display (Bergdorf Goodman).
The 57th Street snowflake.
More Fifth Avenue windows.
Trump Tower.
Emporio Armani.
Sometimes it's good to look up, not just around.
Building lobby.
A whole world of M&Ms? Awesome.
NYPD preparing for New Year's Eve in Times Square.
A canopy of lights blanketing West 55th Street.
December 28, 2010. The days continued, as did the Broadway Blitz.
Day 4, Show 6.
Yes indeed, he's a Tony Award winning star!
I had been a fan of Levi Kreis for years - having serendipitously found his music as an independent singer-songwriter. When I read that he was performing in a new musical in Chicago, I begged my sister to get me the cast recording and I jealously knew from the first listen that the sellout crowds in Chicago were witnessing a pre-Broadway spectacle. Months later, it was announced that the show got financial backing to go to Broadway and was transferring the original cast and I knew Million Dollar Quartet would be on my short list to see. The Nederlander Theater is totally transformed from its days hosting RENT, but it seemed fitting that a rock opera musical would be followed by this stomp-your-feet, clap-your-hands, stand-up-and-cheer non-stop virtual concert about a one-night only event that united four legends of rock-and-roll in a historic jam session. And Levi Kreis fully proved why he won the Tony Award - his musical and vocal prowess were certainly matched by the other performers (who all sang and played their own instruments live), but it was his facial expressions and exuberant personality that filled the stage like a master class in how an actor can fully embody a character, not just perform a caricature. This was 90 minutes of thrill, with a story that was more fully developed and realized than any other jukebox musical in recent memory.
December 29, 2010. The next day was the second of my three Triple Play Days, and I started back at New World Stages for the second of three kid-friendly family shows Off-Broadway. You might be asking why I would bother to see a cute musical about three fish on a hunt for secret treasure when the treasure is actually the power of their own imaginations and friendships. Altogether now: awww... But the show was created by John Tartaglia, who has already proven he is more than just a talented puppeteer and actor from Avenue Q. So I went to support his efforts, and this show was surprisingly fun - definitely more fulfilling than I expected. Note to Julie Taymor and the company of Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark: see this Off-Broadway teensy weensy show to see how theatrical special effects can really be done right - no wires, no stunt doubles, no accidents, no special rigging, and no 65-million dollar budget; just great puppetry, some glow-in-the-dark paint, a shadowbox puppet theater and a true artistic devotion to telling a story. Thank you, John Tartaglia for sticking to you your craft and doing it justice.
Day 5, Show 7: John Tartaglia's ImaginOcean at New World Stages.
A brief break in the schedule before the afternoon and evening shows to take in some more sights and make a seasonal pit stop...
Playground in Hell's Kitchen.
Worldwide Plaza.
Time Square.
Hello, DD. I've missed you!
Gingerbread Donut: a perfect fueling snack!
Day 5, Show 8: Sondheim strikes again!
Similar to my experiences at the Music Box Theatre, the Walter Kerr Theatre has also been good to me through the years. From Proof to Doubt to Grey Gardens, the shows I have seen here have been great, the views have been stunning, and the audiences have been very appreciative. This time out was no different: Broadway legends Bernadette Peters and Elaine Stritch, for crying out loud! Now, I'm not a Sondheim devotee, mind you. Yes, I appreciate the intricacies of his lyrics and music but I have always found some problems in the books of his shows: either the pacing or the overall clunkiness of his second acts, whatever. And I have always thought of A Little Night Music as not just somber and serious but dark and fairly twisted in some of its themes. But Bernadette Peters and Elaine Stritch defied my comprehension of this material by finding genuinely sharp comedic moments throughout the show. I couldn't believe I was laughing out loud and cheering during this musical - that has never happened with me and this show. And now more than ever, I am certain that Catherine Zeta-Jones (as talented as she may be) won her Tony Award by sheer force of will, stamina, and celebrity fame because Bernadette Peters gave the most emotionally powerful performance of "Send In The Clowns" I have ever heard or seen - the woman was singing with perfect pitch and clarity through genuinely acted and choked-back tears. How is that possible?!?! Three curtain calls for a deliriously pleased audience were well earned by both stars, and it was a joy to see them both skipping away into the wings: they should be happy with their turns in this show for a long time to come (but come back to the boards soon anyway)!
Day 5, Show 9.
Evening show that day was at one of the largest theaters on Broadway: and it was all "Mad Men" inspired mod style and fun. Sadly, my beloved Kristin Chenoweth had already left the show and will only be back for its final performance. But take note of this name: Sarah Jane Everman - not only did she nail the correct balance of comedy and drama in the tricky leading lady role, but her voice was uncannily Chenoweth-esque: pixie sweet soprano one moment and booming bellowing full voice the next moment. She will definitely appear in a future program in my collection. Sean Hayes was very funny with the physical comedy (like a combination of Buster Keaton, Charlie Chaplin, Lucille Ball, Carol Burnett and even "Jack" from Will & Grace), and his voice was steady and strong, tinged with a constant vibrato. Molly Shannon made a hilarious Broadway debut too, in a role perfectly suited to her best Saturday Night Live antics. It was an effervescent evening, a fine ending to the Triple Play Day, and a nice way to end my stranding in Manhattan.
Since one star was out and the other star was not exiting by the stage door, I happily settled for a photo with Flatboard Sean Hayes and Flatboard Kristin Chenoweth (both, possibly life-sized)!
December 30, 2010. Final full day in New York gave me a final Triple Play Day that once again started with a family show at New World Stages. (Lest you think it's all freckles, fish, and fun there, let me remind you that this is also the theater complex that was also currently showing the decidedly adult fare of The 39 Steps, Avenue Q, and Naked Boys Singing - so why didn't I see those shows? Oh yeah, I've seen them already. Multiple times in multiple cities.)
Day 6, Show 9: The Gazillion Bubble Show. Not much to say about this: one bubble artist, some bubble-making tools, audience participation, lasers, light effects, fog machines, and yes a whole lot of bubbles. The result: kids squealing with delight, a theater full of soapy spheres, and smiling adults.
Day 6, Show 11: Time Stands Still, with Laura Linney, Brian d'Arcy James, Eric Bogosian, and Christina Ricci.
For the afternoon show, it was an all-star cast of four, tightly performing a rather cerebral but predictable story. Still, it was a joy to see such strong talent take to the stage. In her Broadway debut, Christina Ricci more than holds her own against the three stage veterans - she should be back on Broadway soon enough. The story was serious and emotional, with a few moments of comedic release sprinkled around. Laura Linney's performance proves that she is a seriously under-appreciated and under-awarded actress of the finest caliber - absolutely in command! More, please.
Poster for Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson.
For the finale of my 2010 Broadway Blitz, I chose Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson (BBAJ). I had been following the news of this show since its Off-Broadway run and happy Broadway transfer. I had listened to the cast recording despite reports that the spirit of the show was not adequately captured in that format. And all week, I had seen posters proclaiming that even though the show was closing just days after I would see it, "Broadway just got all 'Sexy Pants'." Yeah, my expectations were high for Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson.
Day 6, Show 12.
My review in one word? - Awesome! Anyone who has not seen this musical? Well, I'm sorry to report that you have missed something truly magical. Like Fela! and Spring Awakening, the set and lighting design of this show extend fully through the house, so the moment the doors opened and I walked into the theater, the sense of something brooding and dazzling and mystical and grungy was palpable. And the "sexy pants?" Yeah, the entire ensemble cast and especially the leading man brought it, beat it, killed it, sexed it, ate it up, tore it up, and had a great time. The show is smart, surprisingly funny and sly, historically based, youthful, exuberant, and energetic. And yes, it is for sure sexy. A nonstop rock concert stomping through history in a way that makes modern politics relevant and conflicted and suspicious and familiar all over again - a bloody bloody good time and a great end to my New York City holiday! This one is my pick for the 2010 Best New Musical Tony Award.
Me with the utterly sensual rockstar personification of the seventh president of the United States, Benjamin Walker.
So there you have it: my holiday trip all summed up. I always consider myself fortunate for having grown up in New York City because I believe that upbringing makes it possible for me to survive any other location. Visits back there are always a treat. It is possible to go back home again. And again and again, I hope. One day to get there, one day to come back. All good days in between.
Hello, Airbus 319/320 at LGA: how I wish you were taking me home to St. Louis.
Somewhere between LGA > IAD > STL: morning rises over my two consecutive regional jets (Canadair and Embraer).
December 31, 2010. What did Santa give me this year? A Big Apple, and I took a hearty bite out of it. Thanks, NYC - I do love you and I'll see you again soon!
"Dessert" after breakfast for one; United Airlines Red Carpet Club, LaGuardia Airpoirt.
Nineteen days after arriving in St. Louis, I'm still here and still smiling. I've been happy remembering winter weather, and I have enjoyed bundling up to brace myself for the walk to/from work on very cold and windy days and nights. I've had a lot of meet-and-greet appointments to begin establishing new relationships that I am hopeful will develop into sustained collaborations. I've enjoyed more student events and staff gatherings (like a Division-wide holiday party that had a full hot and cold buffet, a dessert table, and a beer/wine open bar; and at least two holiday potlucks). One night I stayed late at work and even got locked into the building and had to wait for a Public Safety officer to escort me out. I've discovered new local merchants (like an auto parts store, a car repair station, and a great tailor). A coworker graciously invited me to a really nice holiday dinner with his circle of friends. I've slowly gotten through my pile of "homework" but have a lot more to read and study (division and department reports, policy manuals, assessment projects, background papers, etc.). But at the end of these first three weeks at work, I am happy for a week off in the semester break, and I am also still affirmed by my search and choice to be here.
Everyone keeps telling me that I came at a good time: the pace is generally slow enough to allow for careful study and I have not yet been overwhelmed with student contacts and complex issues or critical incidents. Perhaps most fortunately, I joined the SLU team at a time that the campus is really quite pretty and festive.
One of the many marker gates of this urban campus.
The university's seal and sign over one of the entryway arches.
St. Francis Xavier College Church - a stunning building on campus.
Another view of the campus church - gorgeous!
Among the many public art works that dot the campus, this Nativity scene was recently installed for the season.
On one street corner is a campus-owned sculpture garden and this is one seasonal addition.
So the holiday parties and gift exchanges and surprise cards and candy canes have just added to a lovely warm welcome and I feel like I will be able to make this workplace a solid home. Now I just need time in January to really locate that new permanent residential address! At one of the department meetings I attended, the staff members were going around identifying what they were thankful for this holiday season and several said that they were very thankful for health, shelter and a home, and (in this economy) a good job with great people. I echo their sentiments as I prepare to fly out of here tomorrow (narrowly missing an incoming snowstorm, I hope): I'm just happy to be employed and safe and healthy and happy.
To get myself into my own kind of holiday spirit, I have started to immerse myself into the local arts scene and I kicked off my holiday show season with the Cirque Dreams production of "Holidaze" at the historic Fox Theatre. I also subscribed to the Broadway season at this theater, so later I will have to take one of the historic tours of the place because the interior was as spectacular as the acrobatics on display, in another St. Louis first for me.
The self-proclaimed "Fabulous Fox Theatre" in St. Louis!
My first theatrical outing in St. Louis...
...an appropriately holiday themed spectacle!
After just one more sleep, I will be off to the New York City land of family, friends, food, and my annual "Broadway Blitz" which promises to set a personal best record for number of shows seen in one trip (that will be the post-trip post), so in the meantime, I wish you all warm welcomes, sincere reflections, good company, affirmed choices, and very happy holidays!
It's my first full weekend in St. Louis, a welcome relief after my first full week at work, so here is a summary of how things are going, told as a series of firsts:
First evening campus events attended (Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholars holiday reception, and Hanukkah celebration).
First staff meeting (Thursday morning).
(Thanks to Melanie) First shopping trip to West County Mall.
First good night's sleep (last night).
First weekend here without any driving outside of a single time zone.
First show in St. Louis: Gateway Men's Chorus perform "Christmas Around The World" in concert at the Edison Theatre at Washington University in St. Louis.
First winter storm, and all that comes with it: first news bulletins for "Winter Storm 2010," first traffic alerts for accidents on every major highway in my vicinity, first low visibility warnings, and first weather warnings for overnight lows for 4 degrees and wind chills below zero.
Early morning pre-dawn: a few inches of accumulation, and this is why I am thankful for a parking space in the underground garage!
Across the street: one of the St. Louis University residence halls obscured in nearly white-out conditions.
This still photo close-up does not capture the windy chill of the morning, but we definitely got more than the forecasted overnight "flurries" and the snow was being blown practically horizontally!
First time (in over 10 years) doing a load of laundry in a residence hall apartment laundry room. The machines did surprisingly well with a small load, but I did lose almost half of the $10 I loaded onto the access card just by inserting it to start the washer - what is up with that?
First work order called into Facilities: the electronic lock on the apartment front door was acting up and basically not securing my limited belongings here.
First "working weekend" - I'm going to the airport to pick up a longtime friend and colleague who is serving as a consultant to the division tomorrow, and then joining a co-worker to host the consultant for dinner.
First snow drive on my own through the city and on the highways (see above).
Okay, so now you might be wondering if this new job and the 2,000-mile move was worth it. Well, before I answer, I have to share three slightly veiled residual stories from the job search. #1) Before I left San Francisco, I received an automated e-mail from one of the searches I had already withdrawn from telling me that the requisition to fill the vacancy was now suspended, and under review, so if I wanted to be considered I had to resubmit my application to a new job number. That meant that if I held out for that option, it probably would never have happened and I would have been stuck with nothing. #2) On the drive out here, somewhere in Wyoming, I got a call from another search process that I had applied to back in August. They had just completed their paper review and wanted to do a phone interview with me...right then. So I explained that I was not in a position to be interviewed right then because I was currently driving across the country to start a new job (which is a better set of responsibilities anyway). The people on speakerphone seemed perplexed and asked, "Oh, so you're not interested in this job anymore?" Um, yeah. That would be "no." #3) After I forwarded a job announcement for a vacancy here at SLU to some listservs, I received many congratulatory messages from colleagues, including one from the search firm that was working with me on an earlier search - thanks, everyone!
So I have to say that all the signs in the universe continue to affirm my job search choices, and yes, I do believe it is right for me to be here. I haven't had this much fun getting bundled up against the winter weather to go to work or run my errands in a long time, and I still need to find a permanent residence address, but yes I am still having fun each day (or trying to have fun each day).
Happy Sunday, Little Squirrel (seen outside my kitchen window this morning)!
Week #2 on the job begins in less than 24 hours - the adventure continues!
A new world calls across the ocean
A new world calls across the sky
A new world whispers in the shadows
Time to fly, time to fly
It's about one moment
The moment before it all becomes clear
And in that one moment
You start to believe there's nothing to fear
It's about one second
And just when you're on the verge of success
The sky starts to change
And the wind starts to blow
And you're suddenly a stranger
There's no explaining where you stand
And you didn't know
That you sometimes have to go
‘Round an unexpected bend
And the road will end
In a new world
A new world calls for me to follow
A new world waits for my reply
A new world holds me to a promise
Standing by, standing by
It's about one moment
That moment you think you know where you stand
And in that one moment
The things that you're sure of slip from your hand
And you've got one second
To try to be clear, to try to stand tall
But nothing's the same
And the wind starts to blow
And you're suddenly a stranger
In some completely different land
And you thought you knew
But you didn't have a clue
That the surface sometimes cracks
To reveal the tracks
To a new world
You have a house in the hills
You have a job on the coast
You find a lover you're sure you believe in
You've got a pool in the back
You get to the part of your life
You hold the ring in your hand
But then the earthquake hits
And the bank closes in
Then you realize you didn't know anything
Nobody told you the best way to steer
When the wind starts to blow
And you're suddenly a stranger (All of a sudden)
You life is different than you planned
And you'll have to stay ‘til you somehow find a way
To be sure of what will be
Then you might be free
A new world crashes down like thunder
A new world charging through the air
A new world just beyond the mountain
Waiting there, waiting there
A new world shattering the silence
There's a new world I'm afraid to see
A new world louder every moment
Come to me, come to me
* * * * *
That's the opening number from one of my favorite musicals, and this song was one that I played on "repeat" several times during the last leg of my drive to St. Louis. The sentiment of being on the edge of a new horizon and facing a change in life almost caught me by surprise (I had just about forgotten that this unique abstract musical is really a revue of songs that are constructed around this theme and not a traditional song-and-dance show with a central plot). But the driving melody and dynamic boldness of this opening song hooked me once more and I was captivated by its message all over again. It seemed so fitting for the road that literally lies ahead of me.
The excitement and anticipation of starting my new job overwhelmed the inevitable exhaustion of the drive out here, so I had a fairly late and restless night on Sunday, December 5. But the morning came, along with a very low cold snap in the weather with the morning news forecasting a high of 40 degrees for the week and wind chill dips as low as single digits. (Throughout the day, friends in California and coworkers here in St. Louis had to keep asking me if I was OK, and despite the blood-thinning that must come with 13+ years in California, the cold and dry winter air felt seasonally refreshing, and the New Yorker in me knew how to dress snugly in it.)
So on a rather dark Monday morning, I started my job on December 6, 2010 with the required benefits orientation workshop in Human Resources, the employment and tax forms, and the walk-through of many required forms. The benefits workshop woke me up fully with a pot of coffee available in a building that had a malfunctioning heater (so we had no heat in an icebox of a training room for two hours) and the review of topics included the Accidental Death & Dismemberment coverage. Lovely: premiums that pay out in case of loss of hands or feet or other senses or body parts. Good morning; Welcome to SLU!
That morning, I also got my official staff ID (including handy ID card holder that is supposed to be clipped and worn visibly by all employees at all time), paid for my parking permit (which will be necessary when I can no longer walk to the office), and then a very welcome lunch break with my new AVP colleague. Then it was two back-to-back two-hour meetings: one on policies and one with my new supervisor. After 10 hours, the first day was over and I came home to essentially crash.
First day at SLU (shirt by Mona Lucero)!
Day 2 started with another cold morning. Forecasted high for the day was 35, and it was 16-19 degrees outside on the walk to the office. The weather report used a term that I had not heard before: "deceptive sunshine" so apparently St. Louis was being reminded that it can be very cold and sunny at the same time. The second day at work gave me more meetings that were 2+ hours long, more meetings with staff members, two student events (back-to-back holiday receptions at the end of the day), and even my first "heads up" alert from a direct report to notify me that the media had been on campus to run a news story about some thefts that had occurred on campus. At the second campus event I attended, I was casually introduced to several other faculty and staff members, and not once but twice I was asked, "So what year are you?" Since a big birthday (one for an age that ends with a zero) is coming up, I thought to myself, I'll accept that assumption that I'm a student as a compliment for sure! (And I guess I need to hang out at holiday social events on campus more often to get that kind of stroke to my ego.) After an 11-hour day, I headed home and crashed again.
Soon I will have my first "hump day" at work, then my first TGIF, and a very welcome first weekend break from work. So things are off and running and it all feels right. That's the happy report from here for now.
This is less of a diary and more of a journal: my musings and questions and reflections about whatever strikes my fancy. Perhaps you will feel engaged in a virtual conversation with me, with the thoughts, with the topics, and perhaps most importantly, with the questions. I hope you enjoy this!
