I’m a bit of a nerd…not smart enough to be a geek-nerd; just sort of weird. Ask anyone who knows me. They’ll tell you. And they luv me anyway (I think!). I luv me, too!

As a kid my favorite thing to do in the summer was to play school. See, told you? A nerd!

Thankfully the neighborhood kids and my younger sister and brother went along with me. We often set up the classroom in Lisa Poe’s garage back in southern Indiana and I was always the teacher.

So it made sense that for as long as I could remember I planned to be a teacher when I grew up. Funny how dreams and plans change.

I never became a teacher, although even today I toy with the idea. If the state I live in didn’t keep laying them off left and right, I would do it! It really is what I should have done all those years ago.

Plus it pairs nicely with my other dream–writing! My career has always included writing but I mean the book-writing-and-selling type writer. That one I’m still working on.

So what’s your dream and what are you doing to pursue it? My absolutely, positively dream job(s) would be a writer on the Ellen show or a writer with Cirque du Soleil.

I don’t really see myself moving to Paris…but haven’t ruled out Europe so who knows. But L.A. doesn’t seem so outrageous!

I chased it around for two years. New York City. Miami. Orlando. Finally I found it in Atlanta. The gods aligned and I was able to buy tickets one week before they were available to the general public. And when I realized in my haste I forgot to check the Atlanta Thrashers (NHL) schedule before buying tickets for Friday night, the only night the team had a home game that weekend…I was able to sell my tickets on Craigslist and buy another pair for a little more money but closer to stage on eBay.

Tickets for what? Wicked the Broadway musical. The story intrigued me from the moment I read about the three-year running play. It’s the backstory of the childhood classic, The Wizard of Oz. It’s the life of the witches, before a Kansas tornado dropped [pun intended] Dorothy and Toto in Munchkinland.

The play is a must-see. From a technical writing standpoint, it is extremely well-done. The story is complete and brings together all the loose ends. Humorous and timeless dialogue keeps it moving along, and assures it will be relevant for a long time. (Oh, if only I could write one piece half as well!)

The good witch’s, Glinda, character is reminiscent of Legally Blonde’s Elle. Very funny, very blonde. “Toss, toss” takes you right back to Elle in the salon.

Elphie, the so-called bad witch, reminded me a bit of Elaine in TV’s Seinfeld, and another character I haven’t yet pinned down. It’s hard to believe you can come to embrace a green character…who is not Kermit. Her coming-out song of sorts is about defying gravity, something we all need to regularly remind ourselves to do.

Most movies, plays, etc. I only need to see once. Quite often I think once is too much. But Wicked is right up there with Cats. I would go again (and again) in a heartbeat given the opportunity.

And now, I’m off to chase another clever, original play.

Saw a great play last night at Florida State University, Picasso at the Lapin Agile. Written by Steve Martin…yes, that Steve Martin.

The ad read, “So Picasso and Einstein meet in a bar…”. You can probably imagine from that how it went. Art and science collide!

Funny, a little bit naughty (wouldn’t take kids under 17) and the FSU cast was superb! What a talented group of young thespians!

If you get a chance to see this play anywhere, I recommend it. If you’re near FSU, you have this weekend and next to check it out!

http://www.theatre.fsu.edu/

Minutes ago I finished reading “The Art of Racing in the Rain,” which when I started, I expected to be another “Marley and Me.” In that it is about a dog’s love for its people and its peoples’ love of the dog, the two books are alike. But there is a sad undertone throughout “Racing in the Rain,” that I never felt in “Marley.”

Here’s why: from the beginning we know that Enzo (the pooch!) is recalling his life story on the eve of his death. That fact struck like an arrow in my heart because only a month ago I had to put my dog to sleep. A first for me even though I’ve been around for a few decades.

I’ve had other dogs die, but never before did I have to decide. This time I had to look my poor, sick, trusting Nikki in the eyes and tell her good-bye. Others have walked that walk and know how brutally hard it is. It was the right decision because she was a senior dog with a serious illness, but no less gut-wrenching.

Enzo’s tale helped me believe that if Nikki could have talked, she would have told me it was okay. She would have said that she was ready to stop hurting and to not be sick. She might have told me she loved me, our family, and would miss us, but she needed to rest peacefully.

For any dog lovers, the book is worth reading. For those who just like to read, I recommend it, too. It’s a life story, with the ups and downs and peaks and valleys of real life, yet it ends with hope. Something I always appreciate in my pleasure reading.

Especially for me, I am thankful for a newfound peace of mind from the book. My sense of guilt in making the decision to end Nikki’s struggle eased and I believe like Enzo, she will return to life in human form and I’ll bump into her someday.

It’s film festival weekend in North Florida, at least in Jacksonville and Tallahassee. If you’re close to either place, or a film festival in your city, make time to check out a film or two.

In my experience, they’re not usually box office quality but it’s always interesting to see the works these original and independent writers and producers were inspired to create. I am hoping to collaborate with some of them so I can get my creative fix once again. Moving from Northeast Florida to Big Bend Florida has kinda killed that and it is causing my stress!!

Check out an independent film the next chance you get! No matter what your opinion of it, you’ll look at some aspect of life a bit differently. I promise!