The Holly Days

The week of December 10th was full of performances with the NY Dinner Theatre. We performed all over NY, Long Island, and New Jersey. I was exhausted by the end of the week but I’m so glad to be performing.
On Monday night I got to finally hang out with my friend Rachel from college. I ran into her a week earlier randomly at the subway station in Union Square. We ate dinner at the “Chat ‘n Chew” in Union Square. It was a really fun, inexpensive place to eat dinner. I loved it. I’ll have to introduce more of my friends to that place. We’re always looking for cheap places to eat!
I had a callback audition on Wednesday night that was pretty promising. Well, it wasn’t THAT promising because I didn’t get the part. Boo who…and I’m over it.
I went to the “spa” with my friend Annie on Friday before performing in a show. I got my hair “did.” The spa or shall I say “salon,” was very high fashion. Or so it seemed. There was loud techno music, lots of people, and a strong scent of high-end hairspray. I had no idea how I was gonna get out of there without dropping a small fortune. Somehow I managed to do alright, (with the help of my friend Annie’s previously purchased discount). I got my hair cut and highlighted, because the stylist insisted, (ouch) for about half what I probably could’ve paid. Not too shabby. I like my new do too!
I worked and performed and didn’t come up for air until I could let my hair down at my friend Lauren’s Christmas Party Sunday night. She had a few people over to her Upper East Side pad for a little holiday fête. I had a great time and some good grub to boot! This is Murph and I enjoying the party... .
Monday the 17th I worked at Sephora. I cut out early to go to the Knicks vs. Pacers game at Madison Square Garden. My Uncle Dan was in town with the Pacers just long enough to whip the Knickerbockers. He got me a free ticket and a pass to the team visitors’ area. The game was a lot of fun. I got to chat with him after the game for a little while before they jetted off to their next match city. It was really nice to see him.
Tuesday night (after work OF COURSE) I grabbed a bite with Annie before she headed out to Oregon for the holiday. We went to “The Burger Joint” by Carnegie Hall midtown (ish). It’s this popular, tiny burger place within the lobby of a very fancy hotel. The lobby is intimidating but you walk into the corner and right into an inane little dive to get a great burger. It’s a really small place and there where entirely too many people there. It’s definitely a New Yorker favorite. It’s off the beaten path so it’s relatively free of the hordes of tourists that hit the town. I liked it. I don’t eat many burgers so I didn’t have much to compare my meal with. I thought it was pretty good though. I liked the atmosphere most, I think.
Thursday I took the train out to Newark airport to buy a plane ticket to visit Oregon in January! The train ride was a giant pain in the…but I’m glad to have that over with because I’m one step closer to a much needed visit. I am loving it here in NY but I gotta visit home! I miss the good old OR and the family and friends I have there.
After my Newark excursion I went to a birthday party for my friend Murph. We played Cranium and celebrated Murph’s big day. It was so fun to play board games again. I don’t do that often enough if you ask me.
Friday I worked for the psychotic human beings that have decided Christmas shopping is a life or death matter. After that unfortunate endeavor I, once again, partied with some pals. This time we met up at the Belmont Lounge in Union Square. It was my co-worker Denise’s Birthday so we had a little dance/cocktail party with her. Denise is a lot of fun to work with. She does improve comedy like me so we never really stop laughing when we’re around each other. Glad to have her as a friend here; she’s a real New Yorker. haha.
Saturday the 22nd I had some coffee midtown with my friend Jason from church. Coffee midtown the Saturday before Christmas is just a bad idea. There were about 1 million people per square foot. Not exaggerating. Seriously. No really. Avoid midtown Manhattan for the entire month of December if you can help it at all. There are just too many people. All of which have somehow forgotten how to walk. But that’s just the “I really gotta get out of town for a while” Kira talking. But do avoid midtown nonetheless.
Jason is a really great friend I’ve made at church. We talked for a couple hours mainly about music and politics. Separately, of course. He really likes The Beatles too so we had plenty to talk about.
Sunday I went to the “Fourth Sunday in Advent” service at Apostles. There was a wonderful sermon on God’s love to hear. Sounds simple but it was very poignant at this time of year. If you ever wanna hear any of the sermons from Apostles you can hear any of them on Apostlesnyc.com. Good stuff.
Well, I’m up to date DAD! Hehe.

A little Christmas gift...

(I took this picture at the Christmas Party. Lauren had all these tiny little presents for decorations. I just had to catch 'em on film.)

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!