Christmas Parties!

[Nina, Me and Megan]

Last week, Wednesday through Sunday I worked sound for the Malibu Ballet company's performances of The Nutcracker at Pepperdine. I had never even seen The Nutcracker until I worked the LA Ballet company's show about a month ago. I knew all of the music of course, but now I know the show pretty well too. David, my boss and Technical Director of Smothers Theatre set up a small Christmas banquet for the crew between the matinee and evening performances on Sunday. We had Chinese food and a desert made by Carrie, Smothers' sound technician.
After the show we had to strike the set, which made me close to three and a half hours late for Megan, Nina and Scher's Christmas party. I wasn't too happy about that, but I calmed down once I finally got there. There were lots of cookies, finger foods and drinks and we played a party game I had never played before. Great people, great times, and a GREAT way to end a long week! Having been so late, I wasn't able to grab my camera for their party, sorry about that. But I do have some pictures from Stefanie and Abbi Butler's party the next night.
Megan and I carpooled over to Marina Del Rey Monday night to attend the Butler's Christmas Soiree. It was funny because all but two of the people there worked for The Kitchen catering services, so everyone took turns in the kitchen preparing food and drinks. Some of the food prepared included a salmon platter, coconut chicken fingers, mini hamburgers, mini mozzarella and tomato sandwiches, shrimp cocktail and a punch made of cranberry, pineapple, apple cider, slices of apples, strawberries, pears, and champagne (I think, there may have been more or less to it.)
[Left: Stef and Abbi]
We conversed for a while, then played a few rounds of Catch Phrase until security came around asking us to keep it down. Megan, Nina and I stayed for a while longer after everyone left and chatted for a while longer.
The last few days have been pretty quite. I was really hoping to work, but heard nothing from either catering job. Tuesday night I went over to Ashely Campbell's house to hang out. I met her mom and talked religion for a while, then she and Ashley lit four candles on a menorah and sang a prayer. It was my first Chanukah experience! They're Messianic Jews, and Ashley's mom explained a bit about it. It was very interesting. They also attend a Calvary Chapel every once and a while. Then her dad (Glen!) woke up from the living room and joined in on joking around. Ashley and I then watched an hour long behind-the-scenes featurette on Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, and then the actual movie.
Last night I went and hung out with Scher and Nina on their last night in town before heading home. Scher and I watched Hotel Rwanda. Nothing like a great film to make you mad at the world, eh? Then we watched a couple of student films Nina was in. This morning I took Scher to LAX at 6am and went right back to bed when I got home. My plan was to clean the appartment today, tidy up so that when Nate and Ricky come by after Christmas everything would look nice. It's now close to 1am and I have not found proper motivation to do such. I went to Blockbuster and rented a few movies. I'm watching Miami Vice as we speak. When this is over, I still plan on cleaning. I did some laundry, so I got something done! My plan is to take off tomorrow as close to Noon as possible, before or after, whatever. I can't wait to be in Fresno and see everyone!
Love you all! Merry Christmas!!!