I’ve heard this question many times in my life: “You waited how long?” Followed by the inevitable: “Was it worth it?” And honestly, I don’t know that I’ve ever answered that question in the negative. I’ve waited for many an hour on many a line for my pop culture, and it’s totally worth it.

Most recently, I probably waited the longest I ever have on line, outside even, for Standing Room Only tickets to The Book of Mormon. Yes, not only did Emily and I wait eleven hours for tickets to a show we’d already seen, but the tickets we were waiting for entitled us to stand in the back of the theatre for the duration. No seats, no backrest. Just our feet and the seat-backs in front of us to lean on. And it was 100%, no doubt about it, worth it. I obviously knew the show would be worth it. But the wait itself was part of the fun:

Waiting on line is just like going on a roadtrip. Sure, it gets a little uncomfortable, sometimes boring, and long. But just like a roadtrip, you have to be prepared. Bring activities! Dress appropriately! Start sing-alongs! (You’d think this wouldn’t go over well, but since most of my line-waiting is music related, no one usually throws things at me.) And bring good company. Of course, if you go by yourself, make friends! When you’re waiting on line for something, all the other people on that line want it just as badly as you. They’re your people! Some of them are going to be weirdos, obviously, (I mean, I’m a weirdo), but some of them are going to be awesome. And even if you never talk to them again, you will always have this line.

I’ve waited on line for Broadway shows (obvi), signings (BBMak, Carol Channing, Patti LuPone), comedy shows (UCB), drag queens (Drag Race), midnight movie releases (HP), concerts (Adam Lambert), rollercoasters (Kingda Ka), after parties (*NSYNC), and screenings (HP), among other things. I even waited in line for a Harry Potter book release and wasn’t even buying the book. (I’m a fancypants and ordered the UK publications from Amazon.) So, if you’d rather take a plane somewhere or pay for the luxury of a seat, I’ll meet you on the other side. And while I’m waiting for you, I’ll pass the time with a good round of “Going on a Picnic.”

It’s a Valentine’s Day miracle! The most amazing thing has happened. No, I didn’t run into Jonathan Taylor Thomas on the street, making him fall in love with me. And no, *NSYNC isn’t reuniting. And we all know I didn’t get a call to come in for a Jeopardy interview. But something about as amazing as all of those things was announced today. In the fall, Paper Mill Playhouse will be starting their season with a production of Newsies!!! And while it’s not Broadway, Paper Mill is a well-respected and amazing theatre in New Jersey. Holy crap.

I can’t really say why this is so amazing, but trust me, it is. Ever since I was little, I’ve loved Newsies. I was nine when it came out, and after that it was on Disney channel nonstop. The songs, the story, and the boys were all a part of my childhood. Newsies planted in my head that New York was cool, even in the days of child labor. Brooklyn was tough, and Spot Conlon was a hottie. That’s where I wanted to be, and that’s where I live now. Speaking of, where’s my Spot Conlon? I guess I don’t hang out at the docks enough. Maybe I should buy a sling shot.

Anyway, as soon as I heard this news (Ha! News.), there was one person I needed to share it with: my friend Katie. Katie and I are friends because of Newsies. To make a long story short, we went to different high schools and got in a fight at a Speech team tournament about whether one of my classmates looked like Spot (he didn’t). Then she invited me to go swing dancing. Because it was 1999, and we had a mutual love of Swing Kids, obvi. We’ve been friends ever since, and while our relationship is more than Christian Bale movies, that was the catalyst.

And so, come fall many worlds will collide. This old idea of New York I’ve had in my head since I was nine will meet my current life in New York. I’ll be able to share Newsies with Emily for our Vlog, and also share it once again with Katie, but in a much different way. So, no pressure Alan Menken and Harvey Fierstein, but this show better not suck. You’ve got my childhood, friendships, and life choices in your hands.

P.S. If you need someone to sing Patrick’s Mom in Carrying the Banner, I’d be more than happy to help!

Well, it has begun: the holiday season.  For me, it starts with Halloween and goes straight through New Year’s.  Yep, about two months worth.  I’ve already caught flack for the fact that I start listening to Christmas music November 1st (more on that later), but I don’t care.  This is my celebration.  And if my Halloween was any indication of how awesome this year’s festivities will be, things are looking good! 

I had a great weekend of parties and costumes and babies.  As I’ve previously stated in this blog, I love Halloween costumes.  This year, I had a pretty amazing costume, and I’ve never been happier that ugly clothes are back in fashion.  You see, I was Clarissa Darling, that early ’90s Nickelodeon star who would explain it all.  She wore bright colors and lots of obnoxious jewelry.  And I spent about $55 at Kmart and Claire’s Accessories finding the perfect elements to make my costume.  The only thing I was missing were combat boots, which I own, but are at my parents’ house in Chicago.  If only I would have thought of it sooner…  Ah, well.  I went to a great party Friday and got delightfully (I think…I don’t recall slapping anyone) drunk.  The rest of the weekend was spent with adorable babies in costume and handing out candy to trick-or-treaters.  How fantastic.  Anyway, here’s my costume along with its inspiration:

So, onto the next holiday of the season, which you are correct to say is Thanksgiving.  But in my world, Thanksgiving may as well be Christmas Eve.  Don’t get me wrong; I love Thanksgiving.  To me, Thanksgiving is about sharing a meal with people you love and being with my New York family.  Now, I’m lucky enough to have a sister nearby, who is, obviously, my actual family.  But I’ve also been welcomed into this glorious chosen family of hers.  And every year since I’ve moved here, we’ve all had Thanksgiving together.  But I know that some year, were she not to be around for Thanksgiving, I would be welcome at numerous other tables of those in New York who I love and who love me.  Oh, the holidays do make me sentimental, don’t they?  On a lighter note, I also love Thanksgiving for the pie.

As I stated earlier, I caused a bit of an angry convo on facebook when I updated my status that I was listening to Christmas music.  That’s my rule: November 1st.  And that rule isn’t to make me start celebrating early, it’s to keep me from celebrating even sooner!  Christmas means all things winter to me, and winter is my most favorite season.  No joke, I love when the wind is so cold it stings your face.  And once you enter a warm building, you can still feel that sting on your face.  And you can just tell your cheeks and nose are red.  And snow!  Don’t get me started on snow.  In the words of Lorelai Gilmore, fellow snow-lover, “The world changes when it snows.  It gets quiet.  Everything softens.”  Now, I get why it annoys people that stores start putting out one holiday’s items before another holiday has even happened, but I can’t help it.  Sometimes, in the middle of the summer, I’ll just get this Christmasy feeling out of nowhere and wish it were December.  So you don’t have to break out your *NSYNC Home for Christmas CD, but I’m gonna go load it on my iPod.  Don’t begrudge me that.

Do you remember in Back to the Future Part II when they’re all talking to each other on video phones? On their TVs?! Well, that movie may take place in 2015, but the future is here y’all. Yesterday, I talked to my parents, sister, brother-in-law, nieces, and nephew in Illinois. And I not only talked to them, I SAW THEIR FACES?! I know Web cams have been around for a while now, but when I hear my five-year-old niece using Skype as a verb, times have changed. There’s now a very clear difference between calling, chatting, and Skyping, and children are aware of it.

I have vague recollections of people talking about video phones like they were a thing that was actually going to happen. For whatever reason, though, it never really caught on. Then with the Internet, eventually Web cams came along, but in the beginning they were reserved for sluts. I mean, they’re still pretty popular with the low self-esteem crowd, but now they’re built in to almost every new computer, so anybody can use them. And I have to say, they’re pretty awesome. If you know any kids, they change so exponentially every day that if you don’t see them for months, they’re like completely different people when you do see them. Now, I won’t miss out on my nieces and nephew growing up. I won’t come home for Christmas and see them magically in their awkward teen years. I can take that journey with them, from their first pimple to their poorly-timed growth spurts.

Of course, there are some problems that come with Skyping. I live by myself and can get pretty messy (because I’m both lazy and busy). So, I have to make sure my apartment, at least whatever can be seen by the Web cam, is clean. You also have to make sure you look semi-presentable. Sometimes tanktops make it look like you’re naked; depending on who you’re talking to and your level of self-esteem, you don’t want to make that mistake. Skyping could also pose a problem with the old mean girl standard of the three-way call (Watch this amazing video I found of some girls doing the Mean Girls scene for their directing class). If there’s video involved, there’s a much higher margin of error that your other friend will know someone is there: shadow moving around the room, you unable to refrain from making eye contact or rolling your eyes, etc. Mean Girls, just keep using Web cams to post inappropriate videos of yourself to facebook. Stick to landlines and cell phones for the bitchy pranks.

Also, I’ve had this song in my head since I began this post:

I’m feeling nostalgic today, nostalgic for boy bands.  If you know me, this should come as no surprise.  I’m a pretty (yes, present tense) rabid *NSYNC fan.  I listen to their CDs all the time, follow their individual careers, and hope for a reunion.  Hey, if NKOTB, my first boy band love, can do it, why not *NSYNC?  It may be several years down the line, but it’s not impossible.  Here are some reasons why:

1. JT

The main cause of the “hiatus,” Justin, hasn’t put out an album in four years.  He’s obviously still a hot commodity in every aspect of show business, but since his own music isn’t front and center right now, why not take on one of those ever cliché “side projects” and get the “band” back together?  Because he doesn’t have to, that’s why.  Ah, well.  A girl can dream.

2. Boy bands are (maybe) back! 

Perez Hilton is in the process of auditioning a boy band.  Now, say what you will about what an awful human being he may or may not be, but he knows good pop music.  I’m hoping he can start a boy band renaissance, bringing current pop sound to five part harmonies and slightly cheesy dance steps.  C’mon, Perez!  Do something good for the world!

3. Big Time Rush on Nickelodeon

Alright, so I’m 27 and this is the second of only three posts where I’ve mentioned a Nickelodeon channel.  Whatever.  So what if I like to start my morning flipping between Saved by the Bell on TBS and Full House on TeenNick?  I see commercials and promos for things, and I want to watch them.  Stop judging me.  Anyway…there’s a show called Big Time Rush about a boy band.  It’s silly and over the top, as many Nick shows are, but my love for it was cemented when I spied a 2ge+her poster hanging on the wall at the record label.  This show’s introducing the awesomeness that is a boy band to the current tween audience.  If tweens like something, then the entertainment business takes notice.  Do me proud, Big Time Rush.  The fate of the boy band may rest on your shoulders.

When you think about it, is there anything better than when four attractive guys and usually one not-so-attractive guy get together and sing pop music?  Not really, in my opinion.  If the stars align and Justin stops being selfish, maybe we can see an *NSYNC reunion in the next five years.  I know I’m not the only one hoping so.