My Happenings For The Rest of 2009

So it has been a crazzzzy past couple of months! November and December flew by! Let me catch up with what has been going on!
Thanksgiving wasn't too bad, just the family over. Got to watch the parade, my Thanksgiving Tradition! As usual, it was awesome! Dan came over for dessert, which was nice! :)

Saturday the 28th Dan took me to New York City as part of my Christmas present! We went to Macy*s and saw Santa, and the "North Pole" on the "North Pole Express." The line was quick, and it was nice to take a picture together with Santa! I also took an individual picture with Santa, so I could frame it as part of my mom's Christmas present! (Which she loved!) We saw the decorated windows, they had done Miracle on 34th Street again, and they looked very nice! The other windows were "Believe", and it was more fun than the serious Miracle on 34th Street. It even had an interactive section where you could touch the screen and "send" things to Santa! We stopped at the Au Bon Pain near Santa inside to get gingerbread cookies too.(You want a good gingerbread cookie? Definitely check out Au Bon Pain at the Herald Square Macy*s in NYC to get one! You need to go early, as they sell out quick!) When we left Macy*s I went across the street to get pictures of the Macy*s tree on top of the doorway, as well as the huge tree of lights that scaled the building, and the "Believe" lighted sign, I also had to get a picture of the Sailor Mickey balloon on top of another doorway. (Sailor Mickey was the theme for 2009, and I wanted one of the stuffed animals because I LOVE Disney things, and Ma DID end up getting me one for Christmas, so I was thrilled! :)
After we left Macy*s we walked the (now very quick!) walk to Times Square.(New York did a wonderful thing by making some of the streets from Herald Square down to Times Square pedestrian-only, rerouting traffic differently to make the city safer for people to walk across!) We went over to the TKTS booth and climbed the stairs, taking in the breathtaking panoramic view of the city!(That truly is the BEST view of Times Square that you can get!) After we got off the TKTS booth we saw some of the Rockettes posing for pictures, so we each took a picture with them(Dan loved that, as you can imagine!) and then we headed to the Broadway Theatre, where we were going to take in the production of Shrek the Musical.(Which as I am writing this the Food Network is doing the Food Network Challenge and they are making Shrek the Musical cakes to have the winning one presented to the cast at the 100th performance! How perfect is that!) Anyway, I LOVED this musical! This was very true to the movie, but better! I loved how they gave you some background as to why Shrek was living alone in the swamp(He was sent away at 7 by his parents, because all Ogres must leave home at age 7 to make their own way in the world) and I loved how they showed Fiona passing by Shrek on HER journey(also at age 7) to be placed in the tower. The music was great, the actors extremely talented. I will provide a summary of the show, as well as the cast.

Cast: (Main Characters)
Shrek: Ben Crawford(Excellent Shrek, great performer. I had never seen him before, and I loved what I saw!)
Fiona: Sutton Foster(I love her! She has really made a name for herself in the Broadway world! She has a great voice and was a perfect Fiona!)
Donkey: Daniel Breaker(Another one I had never seen before, he was an AMAZING Donkey! He really played the part to the fullest!)
Lord Farquaad: Christopher Seiber(A Broadway vet, I had seen him before in Spamalot, he was excellent in that show and WONDERFUL as Farquaad! Plus, you have the give the guy props, he is at least 6 ' tall and he spent the entire show on his knees to play his part!)
Pinocchio, Magic Mirror, Dragon Puppeteer: Robb Sapp(Hilarious! He is another one who has been on Broadway awhile, and he pulled off Pinocchio with no problem! He looked like a wooden boy, and his nose even grew!)

Everyone else was equally as wonderful, but those are the main players.

Rest of the Cast:
Teen Fiona: Tessa Albertson
Young Fiona: Rozi Baker
Sugar Plum Fairy, Gingy, Dragonette: Haven Burton
Sticks, Bishop: Bobby Daye
Bricks, Skeleton: Ryan Duncan
Ugly Duckling, Blind Mouse: Sarah Jane Everman
Young Shrek, Dwarf: Maya Goldman
Fairy Godmother, Bluebird: Colleen Hawks
Baby Bear, Blind Mouse: Lisa Ho
Big Bad Wolf, Captain of the Guard: Chris Hoch
Guard: Marty Lawson
Papa Ogre, Straw: Jacob Ming-Trent
Peter Pan, Skeleton: Denny Paschall
Gnome, Skeleton, Pied Piper: Greg Reuter
White Rabbit, Skeleton: Noah Rivera
Wicked Witch: Jennifer Simard
Mama Ogre, Tweedledum, Dragonette: Rachel Stern
Papa Bear, Thelonius, Skeleton: Dennis Stowe
Mama Bear, Dragonette: Maia Nkenge Wilson
Shoemaker's Elf, Blind Mouse: Kirsten Wyatt

Story:

Act 1:
It opens with Shrek with his parents. It is his seventh birthday, and his parents have given him some bad news. He must leave his swamp and make his way in this "Big Bright Beautiful World." He is given parental advice, such as "make sure you scare everyone who comes your way, because they may try to kill you if you don't," and "find a piece of swamp for yourself," and of course, " life is wonderful! Just not for you." So Shrek gets older and he indeed finds his swamp. He is happy there, and he is content in his solitude. One day he wakes up and he finds his swamp has been invaded by other fairy-tale creatures, such as Pinocchio, The Big Bad Wolf, and the Three Bears. The Fairy-tale creatures aren't happy with their new placement, and lament about how this is the "Story of My Life." Shrek is outraged when he is informed the Fairy-tale creatures had been banished to his swamp under the orders of Lord Farquaad, so he decides to pay Farquaad a visit, to regain his swamp back and to get the Fairy-tale creatures off his land. (The Goodbye Song) One of the Fairy-tale creatures, Donkey, decides Shrek just can't go alone and offers to accompany him. Shrek declines, but Donkey persists, and tells him "Don't Let Me Go!" Shrek and Donkey embark on their journey together. In the meantime, Farquaad has decided he must take a princess for his bride, so he can become king. He summons the Magic Mirror to show him all the eligible bachlorettes. Mirror shows him three choices, the first being Snow White, the second being Sleeping Beauty, and the third being Princess Fiona. The Mirror zooms in on a tower, where we see Young Fiona preparing to tell a story to her dolls. She tells them about how every story ends in the princess ultimately finding her true love. She sounds optimistic as she tells them "I Know It's Today," and hopes for her prince to rescue her. Teen Fiona comes out then, and she tells a similar story, again hoping for her prince. Still no prince comes, and Fiona as she is today comes out to sing her story. She has been in this tower for 3428 days! Still, she says " I Know It's Today!" Farquaad is enthralled by her, and decides she is to be his bride. Shrek and Donkey have now made their way to the city of Duloc, under rule of Lord Farquaad. Because Farquaad is all about conformity, they notice all the townspeople are dressed identically. They get a brief introduction to the city.(What's Up, Duloc?) Farquaad himself comes out, and he hears Shrek's concern about his swamp. He tells Shrek he can have his swamp back, as long as he brings Princess Fiona for him to marry. Shrek decides it is a fine deal for his land, and he and Donkey head off for the tower. Donkey, chatty as always, decides that nothing is better when you go on a journey than a "Travel Song," and, to Shrek's dismay, sings the entire time! They arrive at Princess Fiona's tower, and find there is a Dragon guarding it. Shrek continues on his mission, not noticing that Donkey has straggled behind. The Dragon awakens and admonishes Donkey for waking her, and tells him she is going to turn him into a "Donkey Pot Pie." Donkey sweet talks her, and much to his relief, she ends up falling in love with him and decides she won't eat him after all! Meanwhile, Shrek has arrived at the tower and has met Princess Fiona. She is thrilled she has been rescued, but in her mind, the rescue didn't QUITE go as she had planned. She informs Shrek that certain things should have happened for her perfect rescue. (This is How a Dream Comes True) Shrek, Fiona, and Donkey begin their journey back to Duloc. They stop for the night, as per Fiona's request. Shrek and Donkey have a conversation about "Who'd I Be" if things were different. End of Act 1.

Act 2:

It is a beautiful sunny day, and Fiona is thrilled that it is almost the day of her wedding. She greets the birds and deer, because she is a "Morning Person." Shrek, Donkey, and Fiona all begin on their journey. On the way, Shrek and Fiona begin to talk about their past, and he tells her he was sent away on his birthday when he was seven, and he tells her he doubts she can top that. She responds with her story, about being sent away on Christmas Eve, and how she had nothing in her tower. They go back and forth, telling each other "I Think I Got You Beat." They begin to fall for each other. Back in Duloc, Farquaad is also preparing for his almost wedding day, by talking about his past with the Mirror. (The Ballad of Lord Farquaad) Donkey has realized the chemistry between Shrek and Fiona, and as they decide to stop for one more night, Shrek is pondering his feelings for Fiona. Donkey acts as his inner conscious, and tells him he just gotta "Make A Move." Shrek decided he will tell Fiona how he feels(When Words Fail) and takes a flower to her, but he hears her talking to Donkey about how no one would ever love such a "hideous, ugly beast." Not realizing Fiona is talking about herself and the transformation she endures every night from human to ogress, he drops the flower and goes off. Fiona awakens and again is happy for the day(Morning Person Reprise) but she is confused, because now she has feelings for Shrek. She goes to talk to Shrek, but Shrek angrily tells her he overheard her talking to Donkey last night, and can't wait to bring her to Farquaad and go back to his swamp, away from people, where he can "Build A Wall." Back at the swamp, the Fairy-tale creatures have decided to take a stand for themselves, and everyone who was a little different. They say there is nothing wrong with being unique, and everyone should be proud to let their "Freak Flag" wave! Shrek, Fiona, and Donkey arrive in Duloc and he delivers her to Farquaad. Farquaad gives him the deed to his swamp, and he sadly goes off, reminding himself that it's a "Big Bright Beautiful World"(Reprise)...but not for him. Donkey catches up to him and explains what Fiona said, and Shrek runs back to stop the wedding. He stops the wedding and makes Fiona realize she was the one for him. Fiona is nervous, it is sunset and she is about to turn into an ogre. She wants true loves kiss to return her to her true form. Shrek kisses her,and to her surprise, she remains an ogre, and realizes her true form IS an ogre, and she is meant to be with Shrek. Farquaad is outraged of course, but before he can do anything Dragon and Donkey burst through the church window and Dragon breathes fire at Farquaad, and he vanishes.
Fiona and Shrek marry. The show ends with Shrek and Fiona and all the Fairy-tale creatures telling how they all came to live on the swamp together.(This Is Our Story.) Curtain Call was to "I'm A Believer."

There is so much more to the show than what I wrote, of course! All I can say is, check it out! :)

After the show we went back to Times Square and we FINALLY managed to make it on the Times Square Toys R Us Ferris Wheel! We were put in the Barbie car(much to Dan's dismay!) but it was fun! It was definitely something that is a must do! After that we headed back to the bus, a long but fun day! We did stop by Rockefeller Center, but the tree wasn't lit yet. The snowflakes were lit up on the wall though! Radio City Music Hall had their tree up too, with their lights that changes color! We saw St Patricks Cathedral, but didn't stop in.

On December 12 Dan and I went to Lasalette Shrine to see the lights. It was a cooooold day, so cold we had to stop in the chapel to warm up on our way back to the car! But it was beautiful, as always! We could hear Father Pat performing his concert, but we didn't stop in because we had gotten there late and I thought it was rude. We did see all the nativitys from around the world though(Sooo beautiful! I had never seen them before, because every time I had gone previously it was later and the nativitys were closing for the night.) A new addition this year was Clopper, the Christmas Donkey. He was the donkey who had brought Mary to Bethlehem. They had a real donkey on display, and you could pet him. I heard a funny story from my aunt who was working at LaSalette that "Clopper"(who's real name was Don Quixote) had learned to open his pen when it was cold, and he would walk back to the barn to stay warm! They decided to only put him out at 5 when the lights came on, after that! They also had to lure him out with carrots! Animals are so funny! Who knew a donkey was so smart! It was a fun night, even thought it was cold! I took my mom back on that Tuesday to see Father Pat sing, and that was very nice! :)

December 19 was supposed to be Wicked at PPAC, but we did not go due to snow. Figures, it was a good show we would get snowed out for! I wouldn't of minded snow for when we have Xanadu!

Christmas Eve Eve we spent visiting his dad's and then going to his mom's, I had made both his parents a Christmas tree for Christmas and I wanted to give them to his parents. It was a fun night, we hung at his dad's til about 8:30, and Dan opened his Christmas presents from me! I gave him 2 Sox t shirts and a Sox hoodie, and a GPS unit. I also made him a scrapbook, he wanted me to do something with his ticket stubs, so I bought special stickers and made him (My best!) scrapbook ever! (There are pics on my Facebook!) I used over 300 WWE stickers in this scrapbook, and there were lift flaps, pop up, spin the wheels, a matching game, two spots that held special WWE magazines, pull tabs, an accordian book, and a mini book, and even pictures from live events we went to, and then there was a Red Sox Section that had a magic panel! you pull a tab and it shows you a ball field, then it magically changes into Fenway Park! Of course there was more pictures from games we had gone to and the tour of the field! There was a hockey page for his hockey stubs, and a movie page where I hand cut out a clapboard and attached all our ticket stubs, and finally the last page was for Spirit of America, and I covered the page in Army stickers with a special slot for the program. He LOVED it and showed everyone! :) It took me a month to put together!
Unfortunately, as he went to get my presents from his closet, his knee buckled and he was in such pain we went to the ER, turns out he tore a ligament in his leg, and he is now on crutches and a leg immobilizer! We didn't leave the ER til almost 3 am! Not fun! He still came for Christmas, though, it wasn't his right leg that was injured and he came to be with me on Christmas! :)

Christmas Day was nice, lazy! Ma, Ray, and I spent the day opening presents and watching A Christmas Story on tv(My favorite Christmas movie!) We went to Carol's around 6 for dinner. It was nice there, too. A lot of people! Dan met me there, and after he slept over Christmas Day and Saturday night.

Saturday I drove Ma, Dan, and I to the Enchanted Village in Avon, Ma at Jordan's Furniture! Luckily they had a wheel chair, Dan would not have been able to walk that! It was so much fun! I remembered going as a kid when it was up in Boston. It brought back nice memories! I am glad they brought it back! We all also saw LITE, a really awesome laser light show that had not only lasers but also pictures made up in the lasers, and it was set to Christmas music! Very cool! And finally, we went on MOM(Motion Oddessy Movie) where it was a 4D experience! Ma and Dan stayed in stationary seats because of their injurys, but I was in the regular motion seats of course! We saw the Polar Express, and you could smell the hot chocolate and the pine of the trees! You could feel the shock of Santa's whip as he cracked it over the reindeer! You got sprayed in the face with the snow the train sprayed as it skidded over the ice! And of course you could also feel the roller coaster-type ride the train went on as it went over the tracks! It was a wonderful experience! I am going to make this a Christmas tradition! We all went to the Christmas Tree Shop after that, because after all, who can go by a Christmas Tree Shop and NOT go in?? Very nice day!

New Year's Eve, we were snowed out AGAIN, so I didn't get to do much then. I saw Dan on Friday, we were supposed to go to the P Bruins game but we ended up just hanging out which was still fun!

Now it's back to work tomorrow :( Dan and I are going up to Boston after work on January 8th to see our first WWE event of 2010 at the Garden! I am looking forward to it, I hope we get to go, I heard it is supposed to snow AGAIN on Friday! (Of course, it always seems to fall on my weekend to ruin it!) Hopefully this doesn't cancel our plans! I am soooo sick of snow!