Paying homage to music.

It's been nearly a week since my last real post, with work, contest, and other mundane life processes. Nothing really too exciting in the lab lately, no one else has gotten fired. Out of necessity, Allison is getting a promotion to Specialist, the same rank Rob and I are. Basically, there's only a few difference between Techician and Specialist, other than the pay difference of 25 cents. For 25 cents more, you're expected to be able to run the lab by yourself without management constantly around, which means a good knowledge of the machines, how to do proper maintenance of said machines. Being a specialist carries more weight and responsibility. However, the task falls on management and myself to teach Allison just how to run the lab by herself, should the need arise. I'm also going beyond that by showing the remaining part-timers how to do stuff as well.

And my department manager can have the brain of a fruit bat sometimes--in the days and weeks leading up to yesterday and today, I had told everyone, including management, that I'll be in Albany, seeing Phantom--that guy that's in my icon. Even with this knowledge firmly lodged in everyone's brain, Laurie had the sense to call the apartment Wednesday night, thinking I'd be in bed, home from Phantom. She asked me to come in today, and I'd have Friday off. Then she left a message this morning wanting me to call her and let her know what's up. I got home tonight around 8, 8:30.

AND SHE KNEW I WAS GOING TO BE GONE! NOT IN TOWN!

I swear...

But, Phantom, once more, was an excellent, excellent performance. This time, we had considerably better seats. Proctor's Theatre was packed, and they've sold out every performance for the show's run there, which is all of February. Last night was no exception. The dude in my icon--that would be Gary Mauer, who plays the Phantom for the US Tour--this is my 2nd time seeing him play the role of the Phantom, and I think he sounded better this time than when I saw him in Boston. This time, he was just coming back after taking a week off, so he was in excellent voice. And again, we got to see the understudy Christine. Apparently, they alternate who plays Christine between 2 or 3 actresses. Elizabeth Southard was the Christine I've now seen twice, which comes as a funny coincidence. She makes an excellent Christine, and even funnier: she's the wife of Gary Mauer. She's the Phantom's wife! Which makes the "Point of No Return" scene that much more amusing--the song itself talks of sex in a completely literal and non-metaphorical way, and with the way she moves her body during that scene, I would not be surprised if she gave the Phantom, her husband, such a raging hard-on. Once again, I cried. A great Christmas present. I WILL see it again. And again.

Today, we went to Crossgates Mall, since I had a $50 Hot Topic gift card (courtesy of Annie) to burn. April had a Torrid gift card, also for $50. Ryan tagged along because he wanted to milk April's B&N discount. So, we get to Hot Topic, and April finds the clearance rack. And my eyes lit up. I got another Resident Evil hoodie/sweatshirt thing, 2 T-shirts, and an RE wristband. April got nothing at Torrid--nothing caught her eye there. So we'll go to the one in Poughkeepsie this Wednesday. Ryan got some manga, I picked up a Fullmetal Alchemist NOVEL, not manga, and bought April a couple of pocket classics.

Played some Mario Baseball with Ryan when we got back, dinner, and we came back home.

And back to work tomorrow, my next day off being Wednesday. Cape Cod in a week!!!

Nighty night, all.