Kern and I may have had the luckiest, most "winning" (in my best Charlie Sheen voice), weekend EVER!
Kern arrived to the big apple on Friday morning, bright and ugly (not her, the cold morning time) and 67lbs lighter than last year.
We started the day off right with a trip to the Chelsea Market where we shopped, talked, lunched, and people watched. It was FREEZING and windy, but we continued the shopping by heading to TJ Maxx. Kern and I are such hardcore shoppers that this basically took up our whole day and by the time we got back home, it was time for supper. Kern took a quick power nap while we waited for our food to arrive (did I mention that it was FREEZING outside and Kern was tired from an early flight so going out was just not an option). We had dinner and a show on my couch with my new fave, "The Switch". Seriously, I cant get enough of this cute movie.
Good thing Kern rested up because she was about to be taken on an emotional roller coaster by our VCU Rams! She started 'litting' (lit into bawling) before the game even started because "IF they win, [she] will be just SO happy! And IF they lose, [she] just won't be able to take it!"
Heightened emotions? I dont understand this concept... Not.
I'm the apple. She's the tree.
Anyway, it was a nail-biter in the second half, but we pulled off a WIN as you can see in the previous post and in THIS video.
Saturday morning, it felt like it had all been a dream, but it wasn't - we had beat Florida State 72, 71. All day, we couldn't understand why NO ONE on the subway asked us about our team since Kern proudly sported her VCU pin and we talked about it as LOUDLY as possible. Attention draw, fail.
We went to our usual Saturday morning flea market for some treasures, stopped by the thrift store (where I scored this AWESOME red blazer), and grabbed a SUPER late lunch at the new greek place in my hood (delish!).
All weekend I had offered to get Kern and I tickets to a broadway show, but she had declined "for this trip"... suddenly, over zucchini pancakes, she decided she wanted to enter a lottery for the new, racy, broadway musical, 'The Book of Mormon'.
This show officially opened on Thursday and because it's SO new and got SUCH WILD reviews during previews, it has got to be one of the hardest shows to get into right now. I put up a fight initially because I wasn't sure if I could handle the emotional distress and anxiety of both being in times square and wanting to be chosen. Kern INSISTED that she KNEW we were going to win this time (we've entered approximately a billion broadway lotteries since I've lived in NY and NEVER won).
We, along with 500 other NYers and tourists entered the free lottery and waited patiently for our names to be called. Kern was lucky winner #4 and immediately SCREAMED, in her strongest southern accent, and over the silence of the crowd trying to hear the names being drawn, "WOOOOO-HOOOOOOO! IIIIIIII TOLD YA GIRL!!!" Everyone paused to look at her and after a moment, the man on the microphone said thoughtfully, "I guess it's all about trust." And as if they'd practiced it, the crowd of hundreds all laughed in unison before silencing again to hear the next name.
Kern and I were in! We had two front row seats to the newest smash hit broadway musical (usually $142 each) for a measly $32 each. We almost lit, yet again. But as excited as we were, I was worried that our luck had run out and that maybe this would mean we'd lose to KU the next day. Again Kern corrected the Debbie Downer in me and reminded me that things happen in 3's so that we would certainly win come Sunday.
(Only Me-Maw will get this, but "Ding-Dong. Hi-lo.")
'The Book of Mormon' (the musical - let's get that straight) was written by the creators of 'South Park' so needless to say, it's scandalous and inappropriate and offensive on all fronts and WE LOVED IT! The music was written by those of previous broadway musical 'Avenue Q' and aside from STRONG language, it was amazing!!! As uncomfortable as some of the gestures and topics made the audience, it had a great overall message of the importance of finding your own faith. The 'mormon' parts really just made for funny characters (lets face it, we're mostly freaks) and gave the basis for a plot. Any of the offensive parts would have made ANY person uncomfortable, not just mormons (I guess I'm trying to encourage my fellow M's to go see it. Don't be scurred - but do beware of strong language)
(And that pic was when I realized it's time for a haircut!)
I guess if you're going to win this particular lottery (which is already front row) you want to be called 4th because it puts you literally smack dab in the center of the stage... splitting the mistro's head between the two of you. We could reach out and touch him, but we refrained.
After the show, we headed to the stage door because Lawrence had put us on some sort of backstage list and we waited for him on the stage.
(The first time I met L, he gave me some sage advice on men/boys/everything in between that I have found to be true so far... If they ask for your number and haven't called you within 3days, they aint never gonna call!)
I had come prepared with a "congratulations on your new show opening" gift of 4, huge, cream-filled, cupcakes from Crumbs Bakery (I figured that outweighed flowers) and almost forgot to give them to him out of over-enthusiasm for the outcome of the show and the reaction from the crowd (the house was rolling with laughter!). While we were backstage we got to meet 3 of the 5 principle cast members, including hilarious Daly Show correspondent and film actor, Joshua Gad (Josh can be most recently seen in "Love & Other Drugs" and "Take Me Home Tonight"). Did I mention he was hilarious? HILARIOUS!!! Brilliantly so.
Thanks to Lawrence (and the rest of the cast) for such a great performance and for taking us backstage!!! Thanks to Earl for calling L last minute once we'd won the lottery and thanks to Kern for winning!
This morning, all we had time for was brunch before THE KERN had to be back at the airport. (Sad!) But we did get to brunch with THE DIDDZ! And while brunching at our favorite, Corner Cafe, we were surprised with a tap at the window from friends, Dave and Emily Waterfall. They came in for a quick hello and to peek at the new and improved Kern and then she was off.
Luckily the VCU game was starting as soon as I put her in a cab to distract me from how sad I was to see her go. She landed back in Richmond a little after half time which was just in time to see the boys win just as she'd predicted!!! (Kerrrrrrrn told me girl!) FINAL FOUR BABY!!!
Remember when I said that Kansas was the #1 seat? Well beating them means that we have a great possibility of beating out 1 or both of the next two teams... Bring on Butler and Houston, Tx! I'll be there Friday with my Pops and there will certainly be blogging to come!
~Kare
