...was a crazy year for me on so many levels.  it had it's high highs and low lows, but at this moment i have a fantastic job, amazing friends, a cozy home, a supportive family, and i'm in love.  so i'm really looking forward to 2009.

happy new year, y'all.  :)

so it's official...i have the best boyfriend ever.  he drove up sunday night and left tuesday morning, so that was our christmas.  and i was spoiled with love and presents!  his parents got me a crock pot...woo hoo!  so excited about that.  and among other things, sk got me a beautiful necklace that has such a lovely sentiment behind it and is totally my taste.  we had a wonderful, relaxing monday which included massages, cheesesteaks (i am now a whiz lover!  wiz wit all the way!), a movie (the day the earth stood still: not worth seeing, btw), afternoon cocktails, and some christmas wine and meatballs at jen's housewarming.  saying goodbye was a bit easier this time around as there is more certainty in our future...he will be here for new year's, and then before long will be a philadelphian!

oh yeah...my roommate stuffed my stocking with junk food and a barbara streisand christmas album!

rehearsals are still going great, and i am totally excited for this show.  having a blast and feeling like we are all really going to shine in this production.  what more could i ask for?

saw "music man" at candlelight...god i love that show!  the production was good, mostly, and my friend kemper was perfection as marian.  and it is always great to spend time with my delaware friends who are fiercely loyal and so much fun.  i missed "wonderful life", but plan on definitely seeing "hairspray" and "greater tuna" ASAP.

currently watching "the view" on tivo, drinking coffee, and cooling batch #2 of fudge in the kitchen.  off to brooklyn later, and then jersey tomorrow.  ho ho ho, y'all!

* i took an awesome hip-hop class yesterday with my friend, the fab and talented sammy reyes, at koresh.  haven't taken class there in a while, and it felt good to be back.  gonna try to make it a regular thing.  sammy's not an easy teacher and it was a real workout, but i loved it.  guys, i crumped last night!

*i am the proud new owner of a black 99 pontiac sunfire coupe named roxie, a hand-me-down of sorts from my dear friend patrick who just moved to the west coast.  she has some minor snafus but runs like a champ.  and it will actually be the first car ever to be registered in my name.  shenequa (the 97 green corolla) stayed in my parents name to keep insurance cheap in college, and when i was married, they were "his" cars (you guys know how THAT turned out).  so this is exciting for me.

*on the flip side of good car karma, sun king left a bar last night to find his car completely jacked up.  the windsheild was smashed and the roof dented in.  he filed a police report, but it's not like anything will get done.  totally not fair and sucky.  but he will be here on sunday and we will have a couple days of christmas cheer and wine and chasing the blues away. 

*i think i got a photography gig for new year's eve.  i didn't really want to work, but i need the $$, and i negotiated a ticket to this party for SK, so i am actually looking forward to it.  basically i get two free tickets to a big open bar soiree plus a paycheck, and all i have to do is snap fun pics all night.  yay!  i just have to solidify some details with the organizers.

*i bought a really adorable cocktail hat to wear on NYE.  i don't have a dress yet but i needed this hat!


*started rehearsals for the tap review.  loving it so far!  cast is fun and good-natured, the creative team is a cool mix of talented brains, and the stage manager is way chill.  it's awesome to work on a piece where everything is pretty much catered to the strengths of the performers, i.e. the songs are in our key, and the choreography highlights what we do best.  so it should be a great show.  come see it!  runs jan 8-feb 1 at the kimmel center's innovation studio.

*this month has been chock full of fun holiday gatherings...rob's 40's party, katie's housewarming (she makes the most amazing chicken enchalada dip...it's unreal), and jen is having people to her new pad this monday.  also dalice & rache's potluck, which there will hopefully be more of.  and i have tons of theatre to see in the next two weeks or so...music man, greater tuna, wonderful life, hairspray, and cherry bomb.  if i can manage to find the time to see them all it will be a feat.  but i'm on it!

nothing warms the soul (and belly) like a good potluck dinner, a rousing game of celebrity, and an absinthe.  delicious in every way.

"The important thing is not that we can live on hope alone, but that life is not worth living without it."-Harvey Milk

SEE THIS FILM. Not just for the beautiful direction and performances, but to appreciate the legacy of an incredible person who is such an important part of this country's history.

*i can't stop eating honey bunches of oats with strawberries.

*i baked my roomie a bday cake...whole wheat peanut butter cinnamon cake with chocolate frosting.  how much do i rock.  that cake is tasty good.

*i am majorly po', so i have been eating in and doing some improvising based on what i have in the house.  who would have thought that ho fan noodles in spicy curry coconut milk with half a can of tuna mixed in would be as good as it was.  weird, but satisfying..

*probably going to VA for thanksgiving.  SK's parents are great cooks.  YUM.

*sometimes you just need mcdonald's fries and a chocolate shake.  just sayin.  however the mcD's at broad & snyder is super scary.  i do not recommend.

*speaking of junk food, i watched the "half ton" series on TLC the other day while consuming a bag of popcorn, a pint of ice cream, and a little bag of mini-oreos.  so wrong, but yet SO RIGHT.

*waffle house grits

*pumpkin butter

*seeing deer and bunnies every morning

*coming home to a clean, yummy-smelling apartment with candles burning and puppy dogs and a roomie who missed you

*this guy :)

so i got a job...it's a tap review called "give my regards to broadway", and it will be at the kimmel center's innovation studio here in philly.  i don't start rehearsals til december 15, which is good because i'm currently in physical therapy and still need a little time to heal.  my therapist doesn't think i have any muscle or tendon tears, just some misalignment and tendonitis most likely.

however, i kinda wish it started sooner because i am broke.  my unemployment has been held up several weeks because my last employer did not report my earnings.  i did one photography gig, but that's all i've done since the show closed.  looking desperately for more jobs.  stressful.

on that note, my photography website is up.  please remember i am just starting out and it is a work in progress!

www.kelleyfaulknerphoto.com

driving down to virginia to visit the boy tomorrow.  so excited to see him and to get away for a few days.  road trip, woo hoo!

so i haven't talked about the amazing event that occured on tuesday evening.  i had volunteered for the campaign on sunday, and was elated beyond belief when barack hussein obama was elected our 44th president.  i went to a little election gathering...here is a link to my friend sara's blog...she pretty much sums it up:

saramayorshemaynot.blogspot.com/

...i also want aperture.



and anything from fredflare.com.  seriously.  cutest stuff ever!


so....i like a boy.  a lot.  i mean, a whole lot.  i have felt pretty connected to a couple of people i have dated over the past couple years, but this one just...seems to make sense in a way that the others didn't.  if that makes any sense.

don't wanna say too much or jinx it.  but for now i am just enjoying having someone incredibly sweet in my life.  a welcome change from certain aspects of my past.


went out to the m room tonight to see my buddy joey's band thing-one.  i would support the band regardless, but i can truly say they kick major ass!  their sound has evolved over the past couple of years into something so awesome.  love them.  and always good to hang with joe.  in addition to the show, i had a few beers, half a cheesesteak, and some good conversation.  a very decent evening.

(photo by the fearless pierfrancisco, the official photog of thing-one.)

*it should be noted that joe no longer rocks the freddy mercury 'stache and headband.


back to editing, editing, editing............

btw here is a fave shot from the wedding i shot yesterday:

*a wide angle lens

*an external flash

*a multi-pocket camera bag

*restylane

*a teeth cleaning



i am officially old.

things that are good:

*huffingtonpost.com

*knee socks

*scrambled eggs, cooked perfectly (thanks sonny leo!)...a dash of cream, some hot sauce, and cooked on low until the very end.  PERFECT.

*mid-day margaritas and happy hour martinis

*the phillies in the series!

ok, honeycrisp apples are amazing.



speaking of dem apples, i really want to go apple/pumpkin picking this season.  i am loving the warm weather, but it really needs to get a bit cooler so autumn can be in full effect.  i have a really cute new coat i want to wear!  i've already worn it twice and ended up sweating my ass off.

*ok, so i may or may not have slammed my phone down a tad hard after an argument with a friend last week, causing the screen to crack and bleed.  so i traded in my palm treo for a lovely pink blackberry curve.  her name is barbie, and she is beautiful.


*i am again watching bad tv.  the rachel zoe project?  really, kelley?  but, i must say...i am LOVING the clothes.  the woman has amazing taste.  oscar de la renta, diane von f, zac posen, and everything vintage.  yum.  but she wears fur.  gross.

*made a batch of the thai chicken dish i love tonight, in preparation for the state fair cook-off we are having thursday.  emily arden's spicy thai chicken surprise is sure to take top honors!  not sure where the surprise is but i just like the way it sounds.

*i also plan on baking tomorrow.  chocolate cherry cookies.  just because.

yes, i'm still up.  no, i don't know why.  i have been watching CSI miami, a show i do not like, and reading political throwdowns on facebook.  also browsing cafepress, etsy, etc.

speaking of facebook, it tells me that wednesday is "hug an asian day".  le sigh.  i do fancy one in particular, but we don't hug much these days.   you know, i played an asian last year in miss saigon.  no really, i did.  maybe i will just hug my damn self. 

Been kicked around so long
You're starting to get used to how it feels
The taste of blood that's in your mouth
There's still somehow it always heals
Don't know how you keep on getting up
From all those ghostly blows
And all that pain that lingers
Deep down in the darkness where it grows

I know how hard it is
To keep your head up kid
To keep your head up
Kid

And there you sit on high
All tucked away and locked up in the clouds
Waiting for someone to finally
Come along and take you out
Into this bitter world
That also often treated you so cruel
When they turn away
You know that they will say that you're a fool

I know how hard it is
To keep your head up kid
I know how hard it is
To keep your head up kid

And so patiently
You waited for a love to come along
Take you out into this bitter world
So often done you wrong
There you sit alone
And there you shed a solitary tear
Listening to a song
You think that no one else would ever hear

I know how hard it is
To keep your head up kid
I know hard it is
To keep your head up
Keep your head up
Keep your head up
Keep your head up
Keep your head up

--A.L.

***********************************

had one hell of a week. 

monday, the barrymore's.  a dear friend from new york was randomly there, also performing, and i so loved seeing him.  had a lovely massage, haircut, and mani/pedi in between rehearsals, slipped into my old standby flamingo cocktail dress, and hit the wannamaker.  the performance went well, and the crowd loved us.  les miz won a few awards, and i drank too much bourbon.  spent some time with the brit.  still a confusing situation.

tuesday, recovered.  had a show.  post-show wine & cheese at joe and amy's place.  nice and low-key.

wednesday, actually blow-dried and flat ironed my hair.  put on my cute new plaid swing coat and biked into center city.  had tea with the brit.  walked around town for a bit, trying to sort out my head.  got home, took a pill, and as i was headed out to the theatre, was overcome with a feeling of horribleness.  dizzy, woozy, nauseous, and pretty much non-functional.  had to call out of show as my roommate looked after me.  called doctor who told me it probably had nothing to do with the medicine i'm taking, and that i'm likely coming down with the flu.  the brit had been feeling flu-ish the night before, so i figured i caught something from him.  men...they frustrate and confuse us, and then get us sick.  typical.

thursday, woke up feeling bad, but a little better.  took a pill and headed to the theatre.  started to feel progressively worse as i got into hair and make-up.  at five after curtain i found my dresser and told her i could not go on.  collapsed on the floor of my dressing room in convulsions.  was transported to jefferson hospital where i spent the next four hours being poked and prodded.  was released after being told i am in perfect health, and probably just over-exerting myself.  good news, but wha...?

friday, felt like i had been run over by a mac truck.  no show.

saturday, same, but was going to try and do the evening show.  talked to stage manager at 5pm who had already decided i was not doing the evening show.  thank god, because i took a pill and again felt shaky and horrible.  rode it out and felt much better once the pill wore off.

sunday, woke up feeling worn out but ready to re-join the world and workforce.  did NOT take a pill (obvi!), just two ibuprofen, which meant i was in a bit of pain during my dance numbers, but actually felt human.  survived a two-show day.

so here's the deal:  i've been taking a strong prescription anti-inflammatory for the hip/back pain i've been having, and it has on occasion made me feel a little light-headed and off-kilter.  AND...i think i took two by mistake on thursday, when i had my "episode".  no one at jeff seemed at all concerned about this, but after taking a pill for the first time since then last night and convulsing in my bathtub, i'm pretty sure it's the drug.  so no more indomethacin.  i did a little internet research, and i am not alone in this.  i got through today with five ibuprofen spread out through the day, and a muscle relaxer in between shows.

one more week of the fair.

oh man these are all funny

youtube.com/sarabenincasa

hilarious.

OBAMA/BIDEN 08!!