Whew!

I've been really, crazy busy lately, with no time to post. So, here's the update!

I worked until midnight last Thursday night- which actually wasn't that bad. I can get a lot done when I don't have meetings and conference calls and e-mails coming in. Friday was a long day because of my late night the day before, but Greg had a long day, too. When he was leaving Annapolis to drive up to New York, another driver pulled out of a parking space without looking and backed into Greg's passenger side door. The damage is only cosmetic, but it's a hassle- especially since Greg is moving early next week!

Greg finally arrived at my parents' house at about 10:00 pm. After some pasta and caffeine, we got back in the car, this time with me in the driver's seat. We drove up to Albany that night, arriving at the hotel around 1:00 am.

Saturday morning we were up at 7:30 am to attend a Pre-Cana class in Albany. I mentioned several posts ago that finding a place to fulfill our Pre-Cana requirements was very difficult, mainly because there was only one weekend between August and the wedding that it was possible for us to go. I looked everywhere from Boston to Albany to Pittsburgh to Richmond and finally found a one-day class that worked.

Pre-Cana wasn't nearly as painful as we had expected. We were pretty sure the topics would include Natural Family Planning, Natural Family Planning, Natural Family Planning, a few minutes on Conflict Resolution, and Natural Family Planning. To our pleasant surprise, there was a reasonable amount of time spent on Conflict Resolution, and even more on finances (budgeting, managing student loans and credit card debt, etc. Thank God neither Greg or I have any credit card debt!) Natural Family Planning was discussed a bit, but really only for about 20 minutes at the end of the day.

We left Albany around 3:00 pm and drove back down to New Rochelle. We fit in a quick (and much needed!) nap before hopping a train into the city.

We had a quick dinner at Grand Central before heading to the Snapple Theatre to see "The Fantasticks." Oh, I love that show! My parents took me to see it on my 16th birthday, (with Allie, my grandparents and friends Kate, Ellen and Jamie,) and I just loved it.

The story is about a boy and a girl (who do have names, but are primarily referred to as "the boy" and "the girl") who fall in love, but must grow up a bit before their love can grow from a childhood infatuation into a deeper, more meaningful love. The show played at the Sullivan Street Playhouse from 1960 to 2002 and holds the record for the longest running musical in the world. (It is the longest running show in the US, and the second longest running show in the world. That record is held by the production of "The Mousetrap" that has been running in London since 1952. For those arguing that Les Miz holds the long-run record in the states, realize that The Fantasticks ran Off-Broadway, which, incidentally, is a distinction based on capacity, not geography. Off-Broadway theatres have between 100 and 499 seats.)

The show is charmingly simple, with an eight member cast, a piano and a harp. The set is minimal, consisting of a low 4' x 8' platform, some poles, two trunks, a bench, one or two black boxes, a chair, and a painted bed sheet for a curtain. Oh- and a moon. That's it. There isn't really a stage; most of the action takes place on the floor, on the same level as the audience. Charmingly simple.

Well, Greg had never seen the show, and I was hugely excited to see it again with him. I knew that our tickets were for really good seats, (A105-106) but I don't think I had mentioned it to Greg. He was very surprised when we sat down literally front row, center. "How did you get these seats?!" :-D We were right in the action- there were literally times that I uncrossed my legs to avoid kicking an actor!

The characters in "The Fantasticks" occasionally address the audience directly, and Greg and I were spoken to directly more than once. "El Gallo" even gestured at the two of us when we were holding hands during a monologue:

El Gallo: (describing the scene where two lovers will meet in secret)

You wonder how these things begin. Well, this begins with a glen. It begins with a season which, for want of a better word we may as well call- September. It begins in a forest where the woodchucks woo, and the leaves wax green, and vines intertwine like lovers; try to see it. Not with your eyes, for they are wise, but see it with your ears: the cool green breathing of the leaves. And hear it with the inside of your hand: the soundless sound of shadows flicking light. Celebrate sensation. Recall that secret place. You've been there, you remember: That special place where once- Just once- in your crowded sunlit lifetime, you hid away in shadow from the tyranny of time. That spot beside the clover where someone's hand held your hand and love was sweeter than the berries, or the honey, or the stinging taste of mint. It is September- before a rainfall- a perfect time to be in love.

I think the most special parts of the show, though, was that "Thomas Bruce" was playing "The Old Actor." If you read his bio in the Playbill, this is what you will see:

THOMAS BRUCE (Henry) originated the role of Henry in the original Sullivan Street Playhouse production of The Fantasticks. This is his first appearance on the New York stage since December 1960.

Naturally, this had the audience buzzing about how neat it was to see the actor who originated the role in this famous show. What most of them didn't know, though, was that "Thomas Bruce" is a stage name. His real name is Tom Jones, and he wrote the book and lyrics for the show. I, of course, being the theatre nerd that I am, knew this before we walked into the theatre, and was absolutely giddy with excitement. (No, seriously- actually giddy.) He was just, well, fantastic! He was hysterical, and it was truly special to see him recreating this role after over 45 years.

After the show, Greg very patiently waited with me at the stage door to meet Tom Jones. We were the only people left there when he came out. I thanked him sincerely for both the show and the performance, and told him that the show had been very special to me since I first saw it eight years ago. As he was signing my book of "The Fantasticks" (yes, I have a book with the history of the show and the full script), he said "you waited all this time just to see me?" "Yes!" I don't know whose smile was bigger. It was a really nice experience that he probably won't remember, but I always will.

We left the theatre at 10:30 and headed down to the East Village to meet up with the Branford crowd. After searching for the bar for a little over an hour, we finally found them in an old speakeasy- very cool. We spent about two hours there, drinking wine and mixed drinks out of teacups! There was a book case next to where we were standing that was being guarded by a large bouncer- we eventually learned that it was the door to a back room. There was even a rumor that Scarlett Johansson and Jake Gyllenhaal were there while we were.

So, after a very long Thursday, a very long Friday, and a very long Saturday (I mean really- Pre-Cana in Albany, then a show, then a bar in the Village! Yeesh!), we slept in on Sunday. Which is not to say that Sunday wasn't ridiculously productive, too!

Greg and I had breakfast in the city, then my Mom picked us up at the train after church. The three of us headed straight to Rye to taste wedding cake samples. We decided on white cake with a layer of lemon curd and a layer of chocolate ganache. Seriously yummy. So, we've picked a flavor- the design will be decided some time this winter.

After cake, we went back to the house to wait for John Tucker; a family friend in the jewelry biz. We selected a yellow gold millgrain ring for Greg's wedding band. :-D

After cake and ring were checked off the list, we headed down to the Yacht Club for a drink on the porch with my Mom. Dad and Allie eventually came in off the water, then it was home for Pork Chops. Mmm mmm good.

Greg left for Annapolis after dinner, and I headed into the city to pass out at my apartment. I really can't believe how much we did this weekend- Pre-Cana, "The Fantasticks", picked a wedding cake, and picked a wedding band for Greg. It was a really productive weekend!

I'll write more soon, as I had a special visit last night from one of my very best friends, but this post is already inordinately long, and I need to get back to work! Ta!