a list a list a list

WHY, HELLO THERE!
ummmmm I haven't written a blog in a long long time, March has kind of been a big fail for me as far as blogging (actually as far as doing anything productive,) but I do intend to do a lot better in April!! Right now I'm sitting in my bed surrounded by all the junk that I'm taking home for the weekend sipping on a bottle of Diet Coke, listening to some Gagz, and waiting for daddio to come pick me. I'm just going to spew out a quick list in however long I have before he calls saying he is outside my dorm. Ready, set, GO!

• Last weekend was St Patrick's Day weekend in my hometown. If you are not from Holyoke you really can't understand what it's like, so I won't bother going into much detail here, but it was lotsssss of fun. I, along the majority of the city plus all the outsiders that flock to our celebration, was pretty much shnackered for a good 48 hours straight. Sunday was a mess, but a pretty fantastic one.
• This week of school has been really kind of pointless. The whole week I just felt like I was waiting around killing time before I could go home again today.
• The reason I am going home today is because this weekend my high school is performing this years musical, FAME. I'm so excited to see all of my little babies put on what I know will be an unbelievable show. I've never seen a high school production as amazing as what we do in Holyoke. And I know that no one really reads this, but just in case anyone happens to, I will send a special shout out to my darling darling friend Bianca Flores who is starring as Carmen in the show. She's incredibly talented and a sweet, funny, beautiful girl who is going to be a real star! I love you babydoll, I can't wait to see the show & to give you the biggest hug and kiss ever afterwards! Also my baby bro, Jack, is part of the crew for the show and they have been working extremely hard, and putting in long hours for months, so I'm really thrilled for them that there beautiful sets are going to finally be seen this weekend. They opened last night and all I have heard is absolute RAVE reviews, and I could not be prouder. Break a leg again tonight, lovelies!
• I NEED GAGA TICKETSSSSSSSSSSSS. she will be in Boston on july 1st & 2nd and if I can't go I may literally die.
  
• My dad just called and said he's five minutes away so I'm going to go.

I hope everyone (anyone) has a great weekend. hugs and kisses all around.
(unless you have herpes. then just hugs. sorry)

listfully yours,
xoxo tess

a list written in Holyoke

I'm hoooooooooome!

I have nothing of real interest to report, but I'm back home in Holyoke for spring break so I figured I might as well say a quick hello.

• I'm so happy to have a week off from school right now. This vacation has come at the absolute moment when I needed it the very most. I am burrrrrnt out. I am so so looking forward to a week of relaxation, marathon barnes and noble trips, Glee nights with my best friends, and a little bit of craziness here and there.
• That being said, I'm already a little bit annoyed with my family. Ugh. Must work on my temper!
• I have been listening to the HAIR Broadway revival cast recording incessantly lately and bemoaning the fact that I never made it to see this cast perform on Broadway. I have to have to have to see Gavin Creel and Will Swenson as Claude and Berger. have to! Lucky for me, I have connections across the pond, which is where the entire original cast of this revilal is headed know, to produce the show for the West End, and so that's just another really great reason to go visit Megan in London as soon as humanly possible!
• And speaking of Meg (my aunt,) she and my adorable tiny baby cousin Oliver will be home for a visit on Monday. can't waitttttttt.
• Next weekend is St. Patrick's Day parade weekend in Holyoke. My city has a gigantic St paddy's day parade every year, second only to NYC, and it is absolutely insanity. The entire city explodes into one giant, green, drunken party for the whole weekend. It's 72 hours of complete debauchery, and I would never miss it for the world. I have two friends from school coming down on Friday to join in on the festivities. I will report on Monday as to how they manage.
• I am wearing really cozy socks right now.
• I'm currently (well not really currently as in at this moment, but recently I have been) rereading White Teeth by Zadie Smith. It's not even my favorite of her three novels (in fact I prefer her collections of essays to all of the books) yet it's completely amazing. I recommend wholeheartedly that everyone in the world read absolutely every word this woman writes. She is incredible.
• Hands up if you're excited for Glee to come back?!?!?!?!!!! Doesn't matter whether anyone else is really, I think I'm excited enough for everyone.

That'll be all because I'm going to go watch Toy Story and Toy Story 2 with my sister and my cat. I'm cool.

listfully yours,

xoxo tess

a list just because I haven't posted in a while

Hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

I'm half drunk and dead tired right now so I have very little to say, but I've really been neglecting this blog as of late (and actually the internet in general) so I just thought I would drop in and say a quick hello.

• Sara and I have spent most of the past week being really, really, really...er...fun? Yeah, fun is the word I'll go with. It's been real.
• I've recently become readdicted to dunkies iced coffees. yummerz.
• The weather has been a complete godsend for the past few days. So so so so beautiful. please don't change.
• I have a crush. Not my normal goofy one, but a potentially real one that I actually intend to pursue.
• My friends and I attended a sex and relationships themed comedy show tonight. The guy told us that there is no such thing as a slut. So there. Hahaha...kidding. We were by far the best (most obnoxious) members of the audience, and he loved it.
• I need to blog more. I really love doing it (that's what she said) but I've been distracted lately.
• I need to work out more.
• I need to study more.
• I'm dropping math...
• I'm lazy...
• I am literally about to pass out on Kelly's computer. Agghhhh
• I want to use formspring because I'm really self indulgent and love answering survey questions, but I'm afraid that no one would ask me anything hahaa.
• You know you grew up in Holyoke (AKA the city that is home to the largest percentage of Puerto Ricans outside of the island itself) when you're taking a multiple choice quiz, see PR as an answer, and automatically select it, without even reading the question. Ugh. Miss you, Yoke. (I got the answer wrong. Boooo. Boricua is never wrong hahaha. Oh god. what is my problem lol)
• I'm obsessed with Jay z. irrelevant, yes, but always true.
  
• I'm about to go sleep on the floor of Kelly and Sara's room for no reason other than we love slumber parties. G'night.

Much love, babies.

listfully yours,
xoxo tess

a list about behaving badly and SPRING!

I am very strongly anti-gun...but omg, marshmallow guns are possibly the greatest invention of all time. Everyone, especially those who live in college dorms surrounded by tons of easy targets, should have one.

• My friends and I had a lot of fun last night. We spent some time in Sara's room getting a little ( a lot) , err, "special" and then released or ridiculousness on the innoocent residents of Towers. This involved chasing a certain RA, with whom we have a particular interest in terrorizing at any chance we get, all around the building with marshmallow guns and silly string. We won.
• I also sprayed silly string all over the doors of some strangers...and then went back and left apology notes. It was a lot of good fun.
• Sara and I were thrilled to find out that the boys basketball team was chosen to play in another tournament, and so their season is actually not over, as we have thought for the past few days. The end of their season was unreasonably upsetting for us because we have taken up a largely unwarranted fascination with the entire team, and are quickly becoming their biggest fans. We have basically been in mourning since they lost on Saturday. They have a game tomorrow and we're going. We live to stalk another day...
• It's so beautiful out. Like, it's Spring out today! I'm sure the weather will return to the realm of cold and disgusting as swiftly as it got so lovely, but for now I am just basking in the fact that I can go for runs outside comfortably. IN SHORTS! win.
  
• I have been listening to Tegan and Sara incessantly lately. Them and the Spring Awakening ocr are literally all I have played for a week. And maybe some Glee...
• This list was super random and stupid, I need to up my game.
• It's March. Parade weekend is about t minus 3 weeks away. THANK GOD. I neeeeed drunken, tacky, Irish fun in Holyoke, like, now.
  

I have a half written blog post about Spring Awakening that I will finish soon. I've been unusually busy doing a lot of nothing lately, but the short version of that post is that the show was AMAZING (as always, but I thought it was extra great) and Andy Mientus is as precious and impressive as ever. And I cried a lot. Details to come.

I'm going outside now to enjoy the gorgus weather and I would recommend you do the same.

listfully yours,
xoxo tess

a list of some favorites

For some reason my brain just feels completely dead right now. I am entirely drained of anything worthwhile to say, but I really wanted to post some sort of something, so here is a list of various people/places/things that I would label as favorites of mine.

• My friends Sara and Katie. They are two wonderful humans with whom I spent literally every waking moment all this weekend. They're pretty great. Love you hoes.
• THIS : I have watched this video more times than I would like to admit, but if features three of my favorite people in the whole world (Sutton Foster, Susan Blackwell, and GROFF of course) It's kind of perfect. Susan licks Jonathan's face and then says that taking a carriage ride in central park with him has been like being a Make-A-Wish kid without the pesky terminal illness. I love it because I find both of those to be fully acceptable.
• pink nail polish. It just perks up my hands!
• sweatpants. the most beautiful invention ever. Lately all I want to do is lay around in them. Clearly, college is getting to me.
  
• New York City. You are beautiful and my favorite place on Earth. See you in two weeks. Much love, Tess.
• My Persuasive Writing project on Blood Donor Discrimination. It's gonna be bamf.
• And on that note, equality for ALL is my favorite <3>
• GLEEEEEEEEEEE. It's still about a month and a half away, but I'm getting more and more excited by the minute. Besides the joy of just having my wonderful little show back, Groffy is going to be on my tv (and romancing Lea, no less!)...I am not going to be able to handle it.
• Twizzlers. I'd love some right now.
  
• Sleeping is one of my favorite hobbies, and that is what I am about to do right now. Farewell.

this was pointless. whatever, I'll try and write something worthwhile soonish.
listfully yours,
xoxo tess

a list about Spring Awakening

So I saw Spring Awakening at the Bushnell in Hartford last night and, of course, it was incredible. I was genuinely blown away, I thought it was one of the very best productions of the show that I've seen, and of course getting to see my beloved Andy Mientus didn't hurt. This post isn't really going to be about my (amazing) experience last night, though, because it's not like my love for Spring Awakening is any new thing. I have been a raging SA fangirl, a "Guilty One" if you will, for years now, and here are some reasons why.

• The score is so breathtaking. Maybe the dark, moody themes aren't your thing, or the rock musical style just doesn't suit your tastes, but anyone who could listen to the score of Spring Awakening and find it to be anything less than gorgeous has a serious problem.
• I love musical theater A LOT, and I have loads of favorites, but Spring Awakening just really strikes me in a way that nothing ever has before. I don't know why exactly, but I guess it probably has a lot to do with the fact that it arrived on Broadway when I was in the perfect demographic for it.
• I am obsessed with Jonathan Groff (the original Broadway Melchior) . He is adorable and an amazingly gifted performer. Not only do I love his voice, but even more than that I love the passion and energy that he sings with. You can always see the emotions of the song right on his face and it's usually heartbreaking. Also did I mention that he is adorable? OHMYGOD. like, really, and it's not even a crush, I'm just completely in love with him. I know that he's gay, and that's totally fine. (also OMG he and Gavin Creel dating is probably the best thing that could ever occur. gay Broadway power couple, yesss) I just. ugh, I can't even put his preciousness into words. He is also flawlessly sweet. I've met him and he was absolutely perfect, and anyone else who has met him says the same thing. He is so incredibly nice! Just a genuinely nice person that makes you feel like you are the only person in the room whenever he is talking to you. (to paraphrase his "Taking Woodstock" costar Demitri Martin, who hit the nail right on the head) He is too lovely, and I am going to make this statement right now: when the new episodes of Glee with Jon as a costar premiere everyone and their mother is going to fall in love with him. Guaranteed. But I loved him first.
• Lea Michele has the voice of an angel. Like, it's not even human. But her acting often left something to be desired...and some of the Wendla's that followed her were actually better...like the girl I saw last night. She was fantastic. It kind of pains me to say it because I looove me some Lea, and I am not at all about to jump on the "hate on Lea now that she's becoming a mainstream success" bandwagon that a lot of other Broadway fans are. I adore Lea and she will always be Wendla in my heart (I am a huge OBC purist) buttt, Christy is really great too. (and so was Krysta Rodriguez. REALLY GOOD. maybe the best. okay there, I said it)
• And also on that note, Krysta Rodriguez (who was an Original swing, and understudied all the female parts SUPERBLY) is one of my favorite people ever. I saw her in A Chorus Line and almost peed in my pants. She is so fantastic, and I can't wait to see her Wednesday Addams when The Addams Family opens on Broadway.
• It just moves me. I am not feel particularly eloquent right now and so I don't have anything else to say really.
  
• The music isn't typical showtune-style by any means. As a huge broadway fan, I have no problem with showtunes, but for then many, many people who do not like the campy nature of the genre, Spring Awakening offers a change. It's indie rock. Really. A classic play set to indie rock music. And it's fantastic.
• Steffi D, who was apparently a runner up on Canadian Idol played Ilse in the production I saw last night and she was beyond incredible. God does she have a powerful voice. I really liked her haircut too, she's gorgeous.
  
• HANSCHEN HANSCHEN HANSCHEN. He is my favorite character in the entire play, so I have a strong opinion on every actor that has ever taken on the role, and as much as I adore the original, Jonny B Wright, I am OBSESSED with Andy Mientus. He's so so so so good. He just GETS Hanschen. And what a voice! He's just so powerful on stage and I love him. He is also really freakin' cute and very nice :)
• Also. the. vineyard. scene. Gahhhhhhhhhhh
• Because rape was never this hot! Kidding, kidding.
• No one ever told me that Jake Epstein (the kid from Degrassi) was megatalented and really really wonderful. He is, though.
• "Melchi Gabor...he's such a RADICAL!" best line ever.
• also, "And so you should" is the best reply when someone says they love you as
  
• Because My Junk describes the feeling of having a crush better than anything else I have encountered. And because Hanschen jerks of on stage during it. Rhythmically.
• Yes, it is melodramatic and dark, but HELLO, so is being 14. Anyone who thinks that this shows macabre view on puberty is over the top clearly has forgotten what their own sexual awakening felt like. Or maybe they haven't had it yet?
  
• Those You've Known kills me. Killlllssss meeeee.
• All shall know the wonder of purple summer <3>

There is a very good chance that none of this will make sense to anyone, let alone anyone who isn't an SA fan, but oh well, I'm too lazy to reread it.

listfully yours,
xoxo tess

a list that is really two lists

Hello.

I am excited about:

• The Ladies Figure Skating short program tonight. I geek out over skating so bad, it's just so amazing and beautiful to watch. I always end up really jealous of how wonderful they are and complaining that my mother never cared enough to put me in ice skating lessons, because if she had I would clearly be competing that the Olympic level now.
• Melissa and I are going to see Spring Awakening at the Bushnell Center in Hartford on Thursday! I am soooo incredibly excited for this. I love this play so much, and GOD do I adore the music, and I'm thrilled to have the privilege of seeing it live.
• Creative Writing was awesome today. Everyone actually was getting along and laughing and learning from each other the way I have been wishing we would all semester. I don't know what it was, but something just felt different today, like everyone was being more open, and I really hope that it stays this way.
  
• When I finish posting this I'm going to go take a walk to return the movies I rented the other day. Sort of a weird thing to be excited about, but I have the strangest love for taking long walks by myself. It's something that I've always liked, I need time to myself to just kinda be alone with my thoughts or whatever other cheesy cliche you want to apply to it, but it is something I've done a lot more since I've been in college. I get like a physical need to just get up and go off somewhere on my own for a while. I'll probably end up getting mugged or something someday, and that will ruin it, but until then I will be going along my merry way taking lots of solitary treks around the city.
• Watching the Oscars at home with Alyssa! this is kinda far off still, but I can't wait.
  

Some things that I am annoyed about:

• Math homework. Yeeaah, about that.
• Feeling overly attached to someone that you don't really want to have anything to do with anymore. This has been a problem in my life for awhile now, and it's getting old, but for some reason, I guess because I'm a silly teen girl, or probably for more serious, mature reasons that I don't like to dwell on, I can't quite beak the ties.
• I can't find my nail polish remover (STILL! after a week) and it's killing me slowly.
• Complainers. I guess I'm complaining right now by including a list of things that are annoying me as a part of this blog post, but whatever, at least I'm not droning on and on about my stupid issues to anyone and everyone who should have the misfortune of having to listen. *
  
• Anyone who thinks it is appropriate to own 10 pairs of the same Victoria's Secret yoga pants. Like, what is that?**

*yes, I am a bitch. I know. Whatever.
**Speaking of Victoria's Secret, did you know that every night when they close up their stores the employees have to literally cut up into pieces with scissors any item that is considered "damaged," which can be anything from having one bead missing on a bra, to a scratch on a bottle of lotion, or a pen mark on a tshirt. I mean, they really just cut this perfectly good stuff up into tiny pieces and then throw it away. Does this happen at other retail stores? Was I the only one who didn't know about? A friend who works at a VS store mentioned this in passing the other day and I was horrified. That's such a ridiculous waste. Couldn't they sell it for a reduced price, or even better, donate the items to people who need them? Something. I don't know, maybe I'm being silly but that just really seemd so strange to me. They literally pay girls to sit in the back room and squeeze all of the lotion out of a bottle before throwing it away so that no one will be able to steal the lotion out of the trash once it's thrown away. We can't let hobo's have some freakin' Love Spell body cream? Ugh. Weird.

have a lovely evening kiddos. byebyebyeeee
(nsync referenence unintended but appreciated.)

listfully yours,
xoxo tess