HIFI Interviews

Up on DC Theatre Scene is a fantastic interview with Andrew Baughman, Julie Herber and myself. All about High Fidelity, of course. You can read the interview HERE. Enjoy! Also - in related news, we are sold out on Saturday night!
www.landlesstheatrecompany.org

HIFI Tonight through Sunday Night!

Reviews are up in METRO WEEKLY and over on our side link, DC THEATRE SCENE. Check them out! And come out and see us this weekend - www.landlesstheatrecompany.org

Awkward Figure Skating Faces.

Top 20 Awkward Olympic Figure Skating Faces. Click HERE for it. lol.

HIFI - WE ARE OPEN FOR BUSINESS!

Culture Mob put a blurb about our show out on their site. Check it out HERE.

HIFI - Rehearsal Blog - Part 4; Opening Night

We had our last rehearsal last night, and tonight we open High Fidelity at DCAC. It has been a great experience thus far, and I am so psyched to be involved in the DC premiere of this show. I really have fallen in love with it. Here in these photos, you can see more of the full set, and can get some kind of idea what the record store looks like. So I hope all of you come on in for a vintage Decca! The other perks of coming to see our show, we are right across the street from Madam's Organ and also, my new favorite place on Earth: Jumbo Slice Pizza.
The neighborhood of Adams Morgan is so cool and diverse, and I really do love it. I saw this on Madam's Organ's website:
"Adams Morgan, gets it's name from the two schools that used to be located in this area; The Adams School and The Morgan School. In times of segregation, one school was designated for white people and the other for black people. The bringing together of the name represents the bringing together of the people. Now, the Adams Morgan neighborhood is much more than just black and white; it's a thriving and exceptionally harmonious multicultural society."
Cool, huh? I did not know that. Ok, so I will see you at the record store, folks!
For ticket info click HERE.

HIFI - Rehearsal Blog - Part 3; Coming Together

We had almost the entire band here today, and things are really fitting together now. Today was the last Morning rehearsal, so you know I am happy about that. lol. Here are some more rehearsal photos. Yes, that's a terrible sweater. It is supposed to be. Please don't think it a fashion "choice" on my part.
Enjoy!

HIFI - Rehearsal Blog - Part 2; Work in Progress

Here are some photos from rehearsal of HIFI. We open on Thursday, and we got some GREAT work done tonight. Having a fantastic time, and can't wait to get an audience in to see this show!!!

Song of the Moment: Sham-a-lam-a-ding-dong

This is a song that Fred brought to my attention that is hauntingly beautiful. It is not what the title might suggest. Enjoy.

Outdoor Balconies of DEATH - Adams Morgan Photos

Josh Speerstra spotted these stalagtites of doom on our way into the back entrance of the DCAC. I whipped out my camera and caught these icicles that could kill an elephant. Doesn't this look like a fun address to live in the event of a domestic dispute? Murder weapons are out on the balcony!
Here's to a quick thaw!

Meteorologist Jim Kosek

A story on Jim Kosek, the insane weatherman featured in the video that I posted earlier in the week. Full story in the Washington Post, HERE.

Dinner for One

I clearly am suffering from cabin fever to be finding gems like this on youtube, but here goes.
We still have power, but I have heard rumors that it is going off all over Alexandria. Fingers crossed.

It's Official - Snowiest Winter on Record.

At 3:10pm we reached our snow goal. Read more about it over at the Washington Post's Capital Weather Gang.
From the NWS statement:

AS OF 2 PM TODAY...WITH THE 9.8 INCH TWO-DAY SNOWFALL TOTAL AT RONALD REAGAN WASHINGTON NATIONAL AIRPORT...THE SEASONAL SNOWFALL TOTAL IN WASHINGTON DC STANDS AT 54.9 INCHES. THIS WOULD BREAK THE PREVIOUS ALL-TIME SEASONAL SNOWFALL RECORD FOR WASHINGTON DC OF 54.4 INCHES SET IN THE WINTER OF 1898-99.

Breaking News: No Mail

USPS: Mail Services Are Suspended From U.S. Postal Service spokesperson Deborah Yackley:

"We have suspended delivery and collection for today. There was limited retail but it is all closing down at 11 a.m. We don't know about tomorrow yet."

Almost there...

They just said on WTOP radio that we are now only 4.2 inches away from setting the record as the snowiest winter ever! Ok, at this point, after all that we have been through, I say come on! Let's break it! Snow is coming down at 1-2 inches an hour according to WTOP, so four more inches doesn't seem that hard to beat, does it?
We still have power but dear God is that wind howling out there!
We'll keep fingers crossed that the power remains on.
All of this and it's only 11:47AM.

Some things you should know in the snow.

Utility Phone Numbers

Pepco: 1- 877-737-2662
Dominion Virginia Power: 1- 888-667-3000
Allegheny Power: 1-800-255-3443
NOVEC - Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative: 1-888-335-0500
Baltimore Gas & Electric: 1-877-778-2222
SMECO - Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative: 1-877-74-SMECO
Rappahannock Electric Cooperative - 1-800-552-3904




Government Snow Hotlines:

D.C. - Residents can call 311

Maryland:
Montgomery County - 240-777-6000
Prince George's County - 301.350.0500
Frederick County - 301-600-3000
Anne Arundel County - 410- 222-0600
Howard County - 410-313-2900

Virginia:
Arlington County - 703-228-6485
Fairfax County - 703-817-7771
Stafford County - 540- 658-5751

Road Condition Information
In Virginia, you can call 511 for road conditions.



Proper Shoveling Techniques

Pace yourself. Take breaks.
Drink plenty of water.
Don't eat or smoke before shoveling.
Shovel close to the body.
Bend your knees.
Lift with your legs.

Cat and Pug

Buddha has been exposed to Fred's cats little by little over the past 6 months, and every time there is a little more progress on both accounts. This time I brought my camera to try to capture a few moments of their attempt to figure each other out.






While Buddha did really good, the real Kodak moment came later, when Buddha was getting sleepy and was closing his eyes on Fred's chair. Nicky took the opportunity to creep up and observe Buddha from a close distance.






In all of these photos, Buddha never had an idea that Nicky was even there.



That's one clever cat and one sleepy pug.

Bear learns to walk on hind feet.

This video made my jaw drop. This bear clearly has learned how to adapt to his limb loss, and if I was in the woods and saw this, I would not believe my own eyes. So here it is. The bear that has learned to walk like a man. Enjoy.

Breaking News: 4.3 Earthquake in Illinois

From: CNN Breaking News (BreakingNews@mail.cnn.com)
Sent: Wed 2/10/10 5:48 AM
To: textbreakingnews@ema3lsv06.turner.com

-- A magnitude 4.3 earthquake rattles northern Illinois early Wednesday, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.


Further story HERE at CNN, or over HERE at their local Channel 13 news.

White Out Wednesday: Blizzard Warning

Well, the conditions, as they say, are deteriorating rapidly. The Blizzard Warning has been expanded to now include most of the DC Metro Area. Winds will become northwest and increase to 20 to 30 mph with gusts around 45 mph. Blowing and drifting snow will reduce visibilities to between one quarter of a mile or less at times, producing blizzard conditions.
Looking outside my window right now, I can barely see anything. As you can see from the photo above, visibility is poor as it is, but then look at the photo below that I just this second took:




You can barely see the shopping center. I look at this and look at Buddha and think - wow. How are we going to get you to go potty this morning? Yikes. We'll have to think on that.
So again, everyone - charge up those phones and have someone you can call who lives far away who can look up information on a computer for you (like numbers to call when power goes out, etc.) And try to expect a power outage rather than hope you don't get one. I have my extra blankets laid out, along with my candles and flashlights. I have firewood (thanks, Karissa) and food that needs not be cooked to eat. So have a plan. And then have a back up plan. It might feel like being over prepared, but rather over than under.
I will keep blogging to you all today as long as I have power. So till we talk again, stay safe out there. It's a cold white mess.
xoxo
sgs

SNOVERKILL '10

The snow is pouring down at a steady rate now as we await our THIRD blizzard of the season.
In good news, Jill and I dug my car out, of course, just in time for another dumping, but at least the old snow is clear in preparation for the new snow. Thanks so much, Jill - you are so amazing!!
Then Karissa came over bearing two bundles of firewood and a fine visit, and as always, my guy Friday, Fred was here several times to check in and make sure I was doing ok. I have the best friends on earth and thank everyone for helping me through strep snow weekend.
I feel TONS better after Aunt Val got me a prescription for a Z pak, and my throat pain is finally numbing down. The Frederick preview weekend of HIFI has been cancelled due to the weather, but it is probably for the best. We now have more time to concentrate on our DCAC opening.
In further weather news, the Metro is only going to be operating below ground tomorrow, and no metrobuses will be running, according to WMATA.
So tuck yourselves in, it's going to be a bumpy night.

You spoke too soon.

Saw this shirt for sale on zazzle.com. Funny, but I suppose a bit premature...
Snow slated to begin in t-minus 3 hours...

Weatherman with too much stress.

A Baltimore Weatherman forecasting this past weekend's blizzard. Too funny.

Snow!

A cute time elapse video of this past weekend's blizzard, set to Irving Berlin's "Snow" from White Christmas. I particularly enjoy how all of the branches start to bend. Enjoy.

Icey Dicey Roads and Roofs.

Here are a few photos I snapped off my balcony last night as I watched with mounting humor the one,two,three,four cars get stuck on my street. First of all, all of the cars stuck were cars that NEVER belonged out in conditions like this. One was a little Mazda Miata. I understand how people have cabin fever (believe me I do), but when you take out a car like that, you are putting not only yourself, but everyone else out there in danger. Cars like that are not meant to function in weather like this, and are better left at home till we thaw out. Use your heads, folks.
OH - and while I'm at it - REMINDER (because I've seen it about a hundred times this weekend) - When you shovel out your car and brush it off - BRUSH OFF YOUR ROOF!!!!! You would think that it would not even need to be mentioned in this day and age, but it does. I have seen several vehicles driving around with 2 foot sheets of ready to go rear roof missle projectiles ready to fire at the car behind them. If you leave snow on your roof and do not brush it off, most likely it will freeze, thus becoming a hard missile. A hard missle that can slide off of your roof and go right through someone's windshield. This could easily kill someone. So take the extra 2 seconds and please, PLEASE brush off your roof.
Ok.
Enough preaching for one morning. Sorry.