<p>We’ll be in NYC end of February - I just booked our flights and am scheduling hotels, etc. The first 2 days will be auditions, but we’ll kick back on the weekend. D knows the whole budget is for plays - her choice! Not sure yet what we’ll see, the thrill of the hunt, after all. We’d love to get to that Allan Rickman play (RenMom, it broke my heart your S had to miss it!), maybe Tennessee Williams, maybe The Importance of Being Earnest. Maybe a musical. We do our research before we go, then see what happens. It’s fun that way - never disappointing!</p>
<p>Snow here - gonna have to get a ton for no school. Maybe, if they’re right about the forecast. Perfect timing this week.</p>
<p>Definitely let’s all hug or call our moms. I think I’m preparing myself to lose mine, but I know it would hit very hard. I can’t imagine it.</p>
<p>D is in good spirits, good stuff going on. She had a “fight” with her BF - turns out it was a disagreement about taste in music! Well, they’re both passionate about that. What do you guys think: Stones or The Who? At least they agreed that the Beatles are #1, but D thinks the Stones should be #3. Plus she’s more of a Doors fan, and he’s into Led Z.</p>
<p>Yes, I know. Both of these kids were born way too late. But remember, this is my D who knows that Robert Russell Bennett was Cole Porter’s orchestrator …</p>
<p>EmmyBet, rather than standing in line for tickets, how about buying discounted tickets in advance. Do you know about broadwaybox.com and theatermania.com?</p>
<p>If you want to shop, my girls liked the stores along Broadway in SoHo and the little boutiques in NoLiTa (sp?) You have to be brave with the boutiques because they are tiny…some are way expensive and some are extremely affordable.</p>
<p>Amanda, My heart is breaking for you. I can not express my support for you and your family right now. I hope when you check back through your messages here the words of your cyber-friends comfort you. I can’t imagine your loss. Lots of hugs and prayers.</p>
<p>I’ll second missypie’s recommendation of broadwaybox.com. My experience was that their prices were pretty much the same as TKTS, but without having to wait in line.</p>
<p>Thanks about the ticket advice. We’ve done a mixture of online discounts, student tix at the box office (sadly never have enough time to risk student rush) and TKTS. Honestly I think my D likes TKTS - she loves the people we meet in line (even in the pouring rain!) and the lottery system of trying to see what’s available. We never want to see the most “popular” shows, anyway - we were in line for Company when people were agonizing over Spring Awakening, and A Behanding in Spokane when all they wanted was American Idiot. We consider ourselves the advisors to people who haven’t done their research - we’ve helped a lot of people find a great alternative they’ve never heard of when the hot shows are sold out.</p>
<p>At least we won’t be there over Passover this year!</p>
<p>emmybet: not sure if the alan rickman play will still be on then. i think BAM moves on to a play starring Geoffrey Rush called “Diary of Madman” by end of Feb. We subscribe to the BAM season and it’s always utterly amazing. I think there’s a bus from Manhattan to Brooklyn for the plays. two weeks ago we saw a wonderful production of Shakespeare’s Cymbeline produced by Theater for a New Audience at the New Victory theater on 42nd. that is also a non-missable experience. we have a bunch of restaurants that we love in the city – mexican, indian, italian, a great french bistro, best NYC breakfast (but it’s downtown – don’t know where you’re staying). PM me if you’d like more info.</p>
<p>Amanda: I am sorry for your loss. I lost my mom almost 2 years ago and its very tough. Please take it one day at a time and take care of yourself. (((HUGS)))</p>
<p>I took D to see “Wicked” for the 16th birthday and she loved it!!! She got the soundtrack and plays it in her car all the time.</p>
<p>Thanks for the advice, folks. RenMom - I’ll PM you. Just looked on Playbill … they’re reopening Merchant of Venice … hm. </p>
<p>Still no mail from URI! You are the only people who know - I haven’t even told my H yet. I hope I don’t have to hold this in for too long, never meant to be the first one to know. Honestly I was just making sure her packet was complete on this one and there it was.</p>
<p>Looks like some snow days coming up … kind of glad. Perfect timing for us.</p>
<p>Can we shout out for second semester yet? Is anyone not quite done?</p>
<p>Amanda, I can’t add any more thoughts than everyone else has already stated, other than to say your posts are usually the ones that crack me up and make me laugh out loud! I don’t know what your voice sounds like, but I can hear it in my head, reading your posts. I hope you and your family are getting through this and you will be back with your CC family soon – with all your wit and humor. Best wishes.</p>
<p>Second semester begins tomorrow (though D2 is going to be miss the first day- see below). Beginning to think about how different life is going to be next fall in a sad sort of way. D3 spent one night with D1 at college this weekend and was just saying how much she missed her big sister. What’s it going to be like with both big sisters gone?</p>
<p>H took D2 to West Point yesterday for an overnight visit. There won’t be a snow day here, but I’m starting to worry that H and D2 are going to have a hard time getting out of New York tomorrow based on the forecast.</p>
<p>No second semester yet…still in exams. One more snow day and they will call it and move on. What is odd is that any exams taken will be counted. If you had your most difficult exams first…too bad. If you had the class later in the day and didn’t take the exam yet, you’re in luck. Personally I think that stinks. Bluejr took AP Lit and AP Physics today…his hardest. All of his grades have nowhere to go but down. This doesn’t help him an iota and could hurt. I’m not against taking exams…I’m against having some students take them and count for 20% of their semester grade, while others are exempt. That burns my bum.</p>
<p>So, more lousy weather for tonight through Wednesday. Super-d-duper. Deep breath. It’s out of my hands. As it stands now mid-term reports will just be squeaking to the universities by mid-February deadlines. Makes me very nervous.</p>
<p>Anyone hear the shouts from South Florida!!! My son was just selected to attend Olin’s Candidate’s Weekend. It is his #1 choice. They have approx 70 kids come to the school over three weekends to be sure the fit is right both ways. Out of the 210, they will select the ones to admit. He’s up to bat. Now he has to hit a home run!!</p>