I trust you.

I laughed out loud a few times today reading a brief description of Spiderman: Turn Off the Dark, a musical slated to hit Broadway in January 2010.

Spiderman, a musical. Doesn't sound like a good idea, but ok. A $40 Million musical. ?!?!?!?! That's pretty much the most expensive musical ever, btw. U2 wrote the music for it. And they invented a new villain because all of the comic book ones obviously weren't enough... Swiss Miss. Whose costume includes rotating knives? This all sounds pretty wacked out to me.

And the director is none other than the amazing Julie Taymor.

Which is when it occurred to me: this could be the worst idea ever, or it could be A.M.A.Z.I.N.G. Because Julie's on board.

Here's a description of a sort of preview they did this past week. I'm excited.

Watch this immediately.

You guys, this trailer makes me want to cry and laugh in the middle. It gives me chills. It makes me yearn to have been a part of the process. What a fantastically crafted trailer, and what a magical and meaningful looking film. Thank you Spike Jonze, Dave Eggers, and co. I can't wait.

Lennox and the Bear

Lennox loved his Carebear. A lot. He would spend hours trying to chew its ears off and tear the button off its butt. He would toss that bear high into the air, and bring him to me for a friendly game of tug-of-war.

This is Lenno and his bear, in their favorite perch, gazing out the spare bedroom's window onto Amsterdam. What good times.

Until Lenno ate that bear.

He made sure every last piece of stuffing was sufficiently dead.

Don't eat your friends. Just don't do it.

Something in this picture is not the same

Am I in Xanadu?

After my big trip and disruption of normal programming, I finally had a day off unhindered by any sort of Plan. So my plan was to get back to "normal". Including, primarily, a trip to Whole Foods and a much-needed trip to the gym. Hahaha.

My day was delightful, and probably needed, and it didn't adhere to my plan. It included a trip to the dog park (dogs are so therapeutic, they get you out of the house, into the sunshine, in the company of other nice people and animals), catching up on TV (goodbye Big Love), tidying up the common living areas, grocery shopping (not to Whole Foods, but to Gristedes which is closer and not as fulfilling), and cooking, baking, movie-watching. And eating Reese's Peanut Butter Cups.

Sarah and I have visited a certain bar/restaurant in the Village which serves a certain Most Delicious Sandwich in the World Either of Us Have Ever Tasted. It is a panini. It has eggplant, goat cheese, and garlic. The combination is simple and heavenly. After stumbling upon it's existence on a previous outing months ago, we returned last week specifically for said sandwich. We had literally been talking about this sandwich for at least three months. Both times we've split it, and regretted doing so as it is so delicious we could both consume five whole sandwiches in one sitting. So today we had the brilliant idea of recreating the sandwich in our very own kitchen. And I must say that my first experiment with eggplant (did you know it is technically a berry?), as weird as this produce item is, was a success. We need better bread, less salt, and ideally a panini-press, and we are in business creating the Most Delicious Sandwich in the World every week for our very own consumption. You can come over, we'll share.

And what is a day off at home without baking up a little vegan treat? Today it was Apple Peanut Butter Caramel Bars. Oh, pardon me, let me wipe that drool off the keyboard. I think the title sums up the experience.

And throughout the kitchen marathon: Before Sunrise and Before Sunset playing in the background. What could be better?

Lately we've been thinking of moving out of the Heights. But a small experience today made me very glad we stayed. Walking to the grocery store on St. Nicholas, we suddenly passed a cloud of glittery confetti. A CLOUD. Not some confetti sweeping down the street, a CLOUD of glitter and confetti traveling down the street. Out of nowhere. It reminded me of that episode of Ducktales where that cloud is blowing around town, and the Beagle Boys are vanishing everything with a ray gun. The pieces soon separated from the pack, swirling around the feet of weary New Yorkers, rolling down the pavement, and gradually scattering. We were mesmerized.

Washington Heights is a magical place. Or I live in a musical.

I'm J.P. Morgan my friends, the wealthiest man on this earth...

points if you connect that to Ragtime.

Two things that people said about the Train the Trainer program are: it is crazy intense, and you will leave a different person. It was certainly crazy intense for a lot of people there. I think that the role of trainer comes naturally to me, and I have been unexpectedly well prepared for not only the job I've been doing for the past year and a half, but especially for the role of educator the way Seph0ra teaches it. This is because of my performance background. So it was not as intense for me. And I did leave a different person.

The program not only teaches you presentation and coaching skills, it also teaches you how to communicate differently, which is something that you do constantly, and therefore affects your entire life, not just your professional life. Not only has the week affected me in that way, it also taught me more about myself. How I learn, how I relate to others, how I behave and react under stress, the power of positive thinking. I'm sure as I distance myself from the experience I will realize other ways the week changed me.

So the week was a resounding success. I was given the title of Product Expert, I received excellent feedback, and I have potentially made a place for myself in the world of Seph0ra Education if I continue to pursue it. I will actually be giving an hour presentation on the company's initiative on natural skincare, cosmetics, and fragrance on Sunday to my entire cast-- leadership included. And the head of Seph0ra education will be attending. That is a BIG deal. Our presentations this last week were ten minutes each, so Sunday will be a big jump. I am just out of the gate, and I am already meeting, and will be succeeding, in a big challenge. Suffice it to say, this week will be a busy one for me. No resting time after my 70+ hour work week.

Add to that the potential of moving to a different apartment. More on that to come.

the sound of birds and tipico

I think it always feels good to get out of the city. And thank heavens it feels good coming back. After my quickest flight from coast to coast ever yesterday, I returned to a city still trekking through the last dregs of winter. After spending a week in a city where there were COLORS popping out of the ground, I thought this return may be a let-down. On the contrary, it felt great to get back home. And it feels like home. Soon after I lugged my 49 lb. bag and various carry-ons up my three flights of stairs, I popped out to grab some lunch at Jou Jou's. Walking through my neighborhood, I realized that's what it felt like, my neighborhood. In my city. I have made a place for myself here and I belong here. I have a snug, light-filled apartment of my very own. With two dear friends and the loveliest rascal of a dog I'm so glad we took in off the streets. This is mine, this is my life, and I made it.

Thank you artsy people.

yummy in my tummy

aaaaah, San Francisco. It's temperate, and the air isn't bone dry. 50-60 degrees. No coats. A scmorgasbord of architecture. Chillax is in the air. THERE ARE LEAVES ON THE TREES. When I saw that, I didn't want to tear my eyes away. My eyes were just eating it. Last night, coming home from dinner, we passed a little landscaped not-even-garden outside of an office building-- I almost dived over the railing into the green vegetation and flowers. No joke. But I was pretty sure my fellow Sephora girls whom I'd just met would think I was a little odd. I am supposed to be making friends, after all.

One of the most delightful things about traveling on Sephora's money is that they give me a per diem for dinner every day. As you know, I've been laying off the eating out lately, so I am pretty much in heaven right now what with leaves on the trees and ocean and chillax attitudes in addition to eating out every night. I am staying in the Nob Hill area I think, which is supposed to be pretty trendy-- there are plenty of great restaurants around and my doorman seems to know where all of them are. Last night we wanted Thai, he sent us to :

Delicious. Local ingredients (how many times can I say I love you San Francisco?) And since I have a per diem, I can get an appetizer AND dessert. Talk about spoiled.

Tonight we wanted sushi, doorman sent us to:

Barley tea + edamame+ miso soup + Pokemon roll + Philadelphia roll + fresh mango mousse with fruit + all organic + very hip atmosphere = a very contented Laura. I will probably be visiting again before I leave.

Oh yes, and my work is going fine. Today we learned about learning styles and presentation skills. Everyone promises me that it's going to get INTENSE, so let me enjoy my sushi in peace. Here's a little picture of the binder I found sitting on my desk this morning:

I included my hand so you could maybe get a sense of the size of this binder to scale. It is the most massive binder I've ever seen. I feel that it will add 15 lbs. to my suitcase on the way home. Good times.

I never want to leave San Francisco.