However...

THIS IS THE AGE OF HOPE!!!! and I still believe in justice and the good in people. There will be change in America, We can individually make a difference, This ban will not last forever, There will be peace someday.



THANK YOU OBAMA & BIDEN! YES WE CAN!

~B

Sometimes I get pissed off.....

Right now I have a big reason

What the eff America?!

Read this and stop being such pricks.

~B
This has been a public service announcement

Dear God, I'd like to apply for an extension?

Nobody told me that in "grown up" world time goes shooting by.
Now I get it.
All those times people said, "They grow up so fast" or, "I remember it like it was yesterday."
I get it. Well, I get in an I don't have a kid kind of way.
Suddenly it seems like there is no time, but I can't seem to point out where it went or what I'm doing that's taking up so much of it so I figured I'd lay out the arithmetic of a typical day for you:
6:15 Wake up, try to stumble my way into pants, shirt, shoes and get out the door with my lunchbox in tow.
6:30 Fall into a bus seat and resume sleeping in fetal position with my iPod on ( the iPod makes them think I'm listening to music...that's right, I love this music so much that I'm closing my eyes, lips parted and drooling - I REALLY love this band)
6:55 Get on the subway, resume position
7am Get to the gym and pretend that I like working out for the next hour. Do that thing where I squat 300 times and look like I'm peeing while feeling like I am about to die from a heart attack? I LOVE that thing!
9am Real work, un-interupted phone answering, email returning, expense doing goodness for the next 4 hours until...
1 Lunch! This is the part of the day where for one hour only I pretend I have a different life. One where I can walk leisurely through parks or curse the 20 yards in the rain that stand between me and the frozen yogurt man.
2pm Back to the grind. More coffee, more coffee, more coffee.
6 pm Start the trek home, I haven't done anything "taxing" yet I am exhausted and barely making it from work to the bus.
7pm HOME! I feel like I won a prize and also like my bed has some kind of Jenny magnet that makes me collapse forward, coat and bags still on me. There is just something so wonderful about doing a face plant into your bed.
7:15 (Yes, I stayed in the face plant for 15 minutes - don't judge me) I finally turn over, not ready to move yet and start thinking about dinner. I consider the amount of cash I have, how much I want Chinese food, how much I want pizza, how much I don't want to go outside, how much I don't want to cook and then finally I bite the bullet and just head to the kitchen where I'm hoping that magic will happen and chinese food and pizza will appear in the fridge.
8pm After lots of waxing and waning I go with pasta which is finally ready and I sit on my bed, turn on the boob tube, and eat.
It is now 8:30 pm and, I don't know if you have been following but, I have spend a grand total of 14 hours and 15 minutes of my life surviving, just surviving.

They say that time flies and it does. I'm starting to realize that the way you get through it, the way you love it, and the only way it makes sense is to put yourself in the pilot seat.
That said, Grad school better watch it, because I am about to kick it's ass.
My trajectory is focused and I am ready.
10 schools are on the list which means 10 auditions, 10 applications, and about 1 million things to do - so, God, do you think I could have an extension? I just need a little more time...


-j

The Unexpected Return of the Nickname

I've been hiding this secret inside of me for so long...

In college I was given a nickname that was, let's face it, completely accurate. I have made absolutely no mention of the nickname I received in my past life.

Last weekend IT hooked up new phones for the office and spilled the beans to all my colleagues. I don't know where or how they found out, but it seems like I have no choice but to shout it out to the world.



Perhaps now my true persona will finally flourish. I'm about to rock your world- Einstein style.


Create your own FACEinHOLE

~Brains

In the Spirit

This is how we do it in Jersey...



We're creepy like that.

~B

Words of Wisdom

I couldn't have said it better myself.

Now is the time to donate. Let your support be known.">

CALIFORNIA!! Absolutely Vote NO on Prop 8...

I know I'm not big on expressing my political belief, but this is important, so I'm speaking out... It's very disappointing that Proposition 8 is even in existance especially in a Liberal State like CA. This sort of discrimination is unacceptable and exactly what is tearing America apart today. Why do people continue to try to see the world in Black and White when there is SO MUCH COLOR all around us? They are missing a very important piece of life. True diversity. Diversity in religion is recognized. Diversity in ethnicity is still a stuggle for minorities. Diversity in lifestyle is still struggling to identify itself as an option. WHY can't we embrace our differences and the differences of others? WHY can't we stop exploiting people's lifestyles and using the media to incriminate and scandalize fellow citizens? WHY is the act of allowing two people who love each other to make a vow even a question in our society? This is the time to unite. This is the time to look at the world in technicolor.

Unfortunately, I won't be able to vote on this proposition because I just registered in NJ. Now I'm disappointed that I didn't register absentee. Please help spread the word and express your belief to any friends, family, or stranger who is voting on the CA Ballot. Be Smart. Think before you give your rights away.

~B
Proud supporter of the Obama/Biden Ticket. Yes, We Can.

NEW WEBSITE!!!

Hellooooooo!!!

The time has come. I have created my first professional website. Please let me know what you think! Comments and Criticisms are ABSOLUTELY encouraged!!

www.BriannGagnon.com

Thanks! I look forward to hearing from each and every one of you!

Love and Many Happy Thoughts,
Briann

Briann says I have to

Ahoy.
That was left over from Briann's blog.
She says that I should write something here and so I shall...
Very soon.
Thank you and goodnight!

A Pirate's Life for Me

Last Friday, September 19th, was International Talk Like a Pirate Day. If you don't know about this holiday..... you should.

In an effort to bring fun into the office I created the TLAPD scavenger hunt. I hid 5 pirate items around the office (a parrot, a sword, a skull, a treasure map, and a hook). My pirate colleagues were supposed to find the items- 1 item per pirate- and hold onto them for the rest of the day. Looting and trickery was encouraged to keep the items switching hands throughout the day. At COB the Manager drew the name of the winning item out of a captain's hat and the winner got the treasure of Bootstrap Phil which consisted of some Mardi Gras beads, chocolate coins and a $50 American Express Gift Certificate.

In addition to this looting madness, everyone in the office had pirate names which were typed out and written on nametags (mine was Encephalitic Helga Scarr) and they were to salute each other with a hearty "YARR!" or "Yo-ho-ho!" or other various pirate terms whenever they spoke.

I work in an IT office, so obviously I didn't think my colleagues would go all out for this festive holiday.......


....

Guess I underestimated them.... YARRRRR!!!!


~B

This Ain't Easy... Street

Round 1: Last Monday I auditioned for the National Tour of the musical Annie. I arrived at 7:30am and was number 80 or so out of approx. 250 women (that's right, it was so crowded that the men were auditioning a different day). Recently I've decided to stop trying to fit the conservative love interest roles, but rather to go for the whacky, out there, nutjob character roles... you know, the fun ones. So, I auditioned for Ms. Hannigan with J's encouragement. She said that I have that whole Carol Burnett thing going for me (awesome).


We were asked to sing 16 bars of our best song. My audition song: "How Lucky You Are" from Seussical. I LOVE this song because I get to be sexy, irritated, and goofy. The "egg" discussed in the song can represent anyone or anything and I can be as selfish, mean, or whiney as I want. This particular audition, of course, the egg represented "little girls." The casting director liked me and asked me to do the same song as Jessica Rabbit.... hmmmmmm. okay, maybe he sees me as Lilly (Rooster's girlfriend). I did what he asked and LO AND BEHOLD!! He asked me to come back. YAY! but...... what role am I called back for?


Round 2: 100 people (men and women) have made it through to this round. The Director is here this time. I wore the same outfit as the original audition, did my hair the same way, and had a very similar morning routine sort of for good luck and sort of because the casting team might recognize me better. We were asked to sing the same 16 bars that got us the callback in the first place. I wasn't sure which role to mold my song to fit... do I sing it like Jessica Rabbit? or did he just ask me to do that to see if I could think on my feet?? So, I sang it like Hannigan sticking to the "Carol Burnett" thought. The director looks at me quizzically before saying "good, but do you have a headvoice?" Oh, so maybe he's considering me for Grace! So I sing my Soprano-eist song and he asks me to come back for the dance call. And tells me he likes my haircut (uh oh, maybe time for new headshots... UGH!). YAY! but...... what role am I called back for?

Round 3: I'm back to dance with approx 50 people who have been invited back. FYI~ 8:30 is a terribly early time to be stuffed in a leotard and stretching with 30 other girls. We are "happily" stretching away when the Casting Director walked in and told us "if it were his audition.... he would wear the same clothes as the first audition/callback."

Shit.

Luckily I had just decided that morning that I should keep a dress at work just in case I feel the need to run to an audition last minute. I was going to bring the shoes the next work day, but I could fudge through that. The entire room went crazy and almost every woman was changed and applying more make-up in 5 minutes flat. The combination is easy enough. and very fun. We danced to "Easy Street" and it was more about showing personality than mastering the moves. After that was over they split us into 3 groups and had us sing our BEST 8 bars.... which we were informed very late that it should be from the same audition song we had been using. After that..... another round of cutting.

Round 4: I MADE IT THROUGH! YAY! but...... what role am I called back for?
Finally it's time for the part I've been waiting for- scene work. I'm paired up with 2 really fun and easy-going actors and we prepare a Hannigan, Rooster, Lilly scene. I was given the role of *trumpet call* LILLY St. Regis (named after the hotel). We had a blast and the scene was different and fun every time we went through it. We did a group cheer before and after we did the scene for the table. And then..... we waited. and waited. and waited.

Around 4pm (remember: we'd been there since 9am). They called out names and told us that it didn't mean anything that they were sending us home, they just saw everything they need from us, we're all fabulous, he's in love with every one of us, etc. (which is incredibly nice of the monitor to say) they let about 15-20 of us leave. Including yours truly- who went straight to work.

It was a WONDERFUL experience to be called back. It could be days or months before they call me- or they may not call at all. Regardless of what happens with this tour I am more sure than ever that this is where I belong and what I am supposed to be doing. This Tuesday is the audition for the Nat'l Tour of the Drowsy Chaperone (produced by the same company as Annie) and there are many more auditions to look forward to in the coming weeks. So as our dear friend little orphan Annie instructs, I will continue in this bustling metropolis to "pick up my chin, and grin, and say- Oh, the sun'll come out tomorrow... it's only a day away"

~B

The need for speed....

Do you ever have those days?? You know. The "cartoony" days.

Well, today I feel like Roadrunner. I'm running around the city with imaginary earplugs in my ears going from one place to another with a confident smile on my face. My adrenaline is sky high. I'm speedwalking around, through, and over people. Flying off of the cliff, straight over clouds and birds, to another piece of solid ground 25 feet away. Outrunning dynamite explosions, cayotes on rockets, and rolling boulders. Today my consistant thought is "eat my dust."

"Meep meep"

Maybe I should lay off the coffee.....

~B

If I had a Million Dollars

I've been bitten by the homesick bug in the past few weeks. I haven't just been aimlessly thinking about home here and there... no no no. I have been attacked by that vicious little tick inside the back of my head that floats down and morphs into a lump in my throat before landing and sitting heavily on my heart. To be more clear. I miss "home." Which to me is not actually a location, but a state of mind. It is a peaceful calm and serenity that occurs when I am around the people I love unconditionally and who love me back.

As many people who read my blog know (b/c they also read my mother's blog), my little brother K-man has moved to Indiana to start his college career. I have heard from him more in the past 2 weeks than I had in the past 3 months... so I think about him more, I worry about him more, and I miss him more. If I had a Million dollars, I would go to Indiana.

My best friend since high school, Ado, is living abroad in Venezuela. We are both extremely busy ladies and don't feel the need to talk to each other every day which makes the relationship low-maintenance and more of a comfort than a chore. However, even though we don't talk a lot, I pray for her and her colleagues every week at church and see her in every good deed I happen to see around this city. Yes, I know it's New York... but people really do have good inside them, even here. Anyway, I FINALLY was able to Skype with her 2 weeks ago and now I just miss the crap out of her. If I had a Million dollars, I would tour around Venezuela (and surrounding countries) with my lovely Ado.

Denver houses my other best friend (also affectionately known as my "wife") who I really DO talk to everyday and have begun playing online, cross-country, work-avoiding games of scrabble with. Now that we are talking more and more, it's harder to imagine being 28 states apart from her (and my numerous other college friends, of course). It's also quite convenient that I have a set of grandparents, aunt and uncle, and cousin's out there. If I had a Million dollars, I would spend time with my "wife" and family in Denver.

Chicago, Portland, Seattle, LA, Arizona, Texas, Minnesota, Florida, Virginia, DC, London... All these places have part of my home and part of my heart. But none so much as San Francisco. My Million dollars go mostly to the brother whose life is rapidly changing and will continue to change as he brings new life into the world and raises a lucky little baby boy. My Million goes mostly to the mom and dad and little lady that are on my computer background at work and I think about when I go to the zoo, or the movies, or I see the families walking around and playing in Central Park.

If I had a Million dollars... I'd go home.


~B

Re-focusing

Ladies and gents, I've made the decision and I'm taking the plunge...
I've decided to go to grad school.
That's right, I'm ready to shout it from the hills (blogs are like hills, right?), "I want to be an actor so seriously that I'm willing to dive into hundreds (gag) of thousands (sob) of dollars in debt to do it!"
Well, maybe not that dramatic, but I've decided and I'm thrilled.
Here's how it happened:
New York, for all of it's hustle, bustle, and booming population can actually be a very solitary place. For me, it began to serve as a mirror, I saw all of the things that I did and did not want to be reflected in the millions of people passing me by every day. Everyone here is, for better or worse, focused solely on themselves making it easy to spot the core of their being even just walking past. In seeing other people so focused I began to see exactly what I want and what I don't. I want to be an actor. Not part time, not just until I'm 30, and not as a filler until I figure out what I'm supposed to do with my life. This IS what I'm supposed to do with my life.
Once I figured that out, definitively, I started sorting through what the best route is to the kind of career that I'm looking for, and the answer was clear: Grad school.
Well, good thing that was so easy because the rest of the journey will be incredibly turbulent. Now I have the lovely task of figuring out where I want to go, applying, waiting to see if I get an audition, auditioning, waiting to see if I get a call back, going for a weekend of call backs, waiting to see if I get in, and then figuring out how to pay for the whole thing.
No biggie, right?

...No need to stress...right???

Well, you'll witness it all right here on this blog. I'm on the road to graduate school, so hop in the car!

( I know that last line was cheesy, but come on, I needed a tag line!)

- J

De Doo Doo Doo, De Da Da Da....

Yes, these fellas still rock....

Last night I went to see The Police at Nikon Stadium on Jones Beach Long Island with some people from my work. Our company was given 8 tickets and only 6 people from my office claimed the tickets. Um, Excuse me????? If you're given FREE tickets to see AMAZING musicians- TAKE THEM!

So one of the ladies that was already going claimed the extra tickets before I could get one for J. Sorry BroadwayBlooper fans. Only one went on this wild ride.

Sting (vocals, bass guitar): SO sexy..... needed to shave (there was a little too much grey showing through in his beard), but his tight pants and washboard stomach (which he showed us during the final encore) made up for any sign of age on his face. He had a stong voice and great energy throughout the entire concert. My favorite part of his performance was when a neon green, mushy, Koosh ball type toy was thrown onstage and he was so intrigued by it he said "I think I'm in love" bit it and proceeded to hold the toy as he went offstage after the set. Let me remind you that this man owns about 10 houses all over the world.... and he falls in love with a mushy ball toy that is probably made for 5 year olds.... Hi-larious!

Andy Summers (lead guitar, vocals): Although he didn't age quite as nicely as the other two, Andy could still break out those guitar solos without breaking a sweat. While Sting was playing up the audience, he was rocking out on that guitar. Very impressive.

Stewart Copeland (drums, percussion, vocals): He made some funny faces when the camera hit him, but thats because he was WAILING on the drums. This guy reminded me SO much of my friend Brendan that it was scary. A pretty skinny guy sporting the trademark Brendan bandana around the forehead with extreme energy and the stage presence of one of the Beatles. He was so captivating to watch that the audience actually broke out into riotous applause every time he transitioned from random percussion intruments (including a large gong and hanging chimes) to he drumset. This transition occurred several times in the middle of songs. He was genius.

I had a great time listening to all the famous hits of the band (my favorite of the night was "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic"). And I feel very lucky to be invited to all these AMAZING concerts! Keep 'em coming!

Oh, and did I mention that the Opener was Elvis Costello??? Freakin' Sweet.

~B

Say WHAT?!?!

My name has gone from "that can't be your real name" to "I heard that's a popular name now"....

Okay, maybe it hasn't reached that point yet. We're still not sure if it will make the "what the hell were they thinking" list. Perhaps it will be similar in quirkiness to the celebrity baby names "Apple" "Moses" or "Pilot Inspector." But regardless of the category my name lands in, thank you, Jamie Lynn for raising awareness for those of us with socially awkward names.

http://www.celebrity-babies.com/2008/07/maddie-briann-a.html

Crazy......

~B

Shea is Movin' Out!

What do Tony Bennett, Garth Brooks, Steven Tyler, Roger Daltry, Paul McCartney have in common???

They were all guest artists at the Billy Joel concert in Shea Stadium last night.
This artical forgot a big star, but it's pretty well written anyway.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/19/nyregion/19joel.html

A couple days ago my co-worker, Jeff, casually mentioned in an e-mail that he was going to the Billy Joel concert to which I jokingly replied "wow! You happen to have any extra tickets??" He said he might have two! I didn't want to get my hopes up, after all this concert was SOLD OUT in February, it was the last concert to be performed at Shea Stadium, and WHO WOULD TURN DOWN BILLY JOEL TICKETS?!?! But yesterday morning he told me the tickets were miraculously still available. So, of course, one of your beloved Broadway Bloopers spent the night with her good friend Billy (B-ster to the close friends).

Regardless of the fact that the stadium ran out of alcohol half-way through the concert- and they apparently bought over 450,000 cases of beer- the entire concert was fused with energy from an eclectic crowd of stoners, parents, bikers, youngsters, and hipsters. One of the biggest highlights of the night for me was looking around at everyone attempting (and mostly failing) to get out all the words to "We didn't start the fire" and accidently catching a show in the back of the stands. Subsequently the huge group in front of us took out binoculars and focused on the XXX show for about 20 minutes, giving my group the play by play. And there's always that wasted chick that you think is hysterical. Ours was standing next to us later in the night and when her beloved Garth Brooks came onstage she told us that if we were closer to the stage she would flash him. When Paul McCartney entered the stage for the final encore, she decided it was time to flash.... from the upper deck.

In the end, it didn't matter that we were too far back for the sound systems to work correctly and the lights to impact us. It was great to be there for a night of star-studded performances and emotional farewells. A night when the great Billy Joel decided to turn the stage over to the legendary Paul McCartney for the last song on the Shea Stadium stage.... "Let it Be"

What a night. What a performer.

~B

June: a recap

Okay, friends.... I've been waiting for pictures from Jenny for this blog, but I don't think that will happen in the near future. So let's chat.

We've been up to all sorts of mischief in the past month and a half. Beginning, of course, with amazing trips home to watch our siblings graduate High School. She drove her car down to Virginia and hung out with Heather to celebrate her accomplishment.

[Insert picture here...]

While I took the long plane ride to San Fran to watch Kyle recieve his diploma (I'm SO PROUD of my lil bro!!!) and to catch up with the family whom I love and miss every day.

The following week, my company hosted a cruise around the Hudson bay that your two lovely New Yorksey ladies were both invited to attend. The weather was fair and the views were gorgeous. We passed Lady Liberty, man made waterfall installations, and watched the Sunset onboard our "Great Gatsby" style yacht.

The next weekend we both flew to the state we know and love so well, to watch two of our good friends from college celebrate the next phase of their lives. The trip started off incredibly well. Our rental car was upgraded to a lovely spacious SUV. Kelsey and her bf were able to hang out with us the evening we flew in and we were allowed to use Kelsey's apartment as our home base (WE LOVE YOU KELS!). Just when we were ready for the bad luck storm to hit us, things just got better...

This trip was a whirlwind of nostalgia. CU Buffaloes that we hadn't seen for up to about 4 years were in attendance at the groom's gorgeous lake-side house in Loveland, CO. The music was live and perfectly scheduled (there was a Stage Manager for the wedding- to keep it on track, of course), the food was real Mexican cooking, the alcohol was free-flowing, the fireworks display and light show were phenominal, the fire pit was buzzing with conversation, and the dance floor was rocking all night long. Here are a smattering of pictures from the event (including the gorgeous couple who caught the bouquet and the garter belt).

On our last day we saw Company which Kelsey was performing at the Lakeshore Theater. She was beautiful and natural up on stage and I felt so lucky to be able to see her perform again. The perfect end to the perfect weekend.

After the show when we went to check in for our flight that evening things finally started to get Rocky (ha! "Rocky" get it?) when our flight home was cancelled and the airlines were very unconcerned that they couldn't get us home until the following Wednesday. After much yelling at customer service representatives, Jenny was able to get us both aboard the red-eye flight for the following night and we secured our rental car for an extra day without penalty fees or higher rates.

What were we to do with this day off from the Universe??? Sit around Kelsey's apartment sulking and fighting with the TV? Shopping in the Great Denver Mall? Contacting long lost friends for a short coffee visit? Or perhaps... just perhaps.... the Universe wanted us to go to Eliches Gardens Theme Park and scream our heads off on countless roller coasters. As if our choice of "day off activities" couldn't be more perfect, we discovered that Eliches was celebrating "Gay Day"- the day after pride weekend where Eliches is traditionally taken over by the gay Denver community. Needless to say, we had a BLAST!

[Insert SUPER CUTE Theme Park Pictures from JENNY'S CAMERA here...]

After our travels across the country and back we decided it was time to stay in our home for a while. Our next trip would be to Long Island for some wining and dining fun with a group of friends on the Fourth of July. But that is a story for another time...

Until we meet again.

~B

The American Evolution

Before I catch you up on our many adventures of the past month (combined we visited Virginia, California, and Colorado). I want to share a few pictures that stopped me dead in my tracks this morning.










If you can't change 'em..... Mold to fit 'em.
God Bless Unhealthy Americans.

~B

Here's to fans...

I think I've died...and I didn't go where I expected to.

It is hot as Hades in the Dunne-Gagnon household and we have officially gone crazy.

It started this morning. Unbearable heat. Choking heat. I would rather jump from a fifty foot building - just for the breeze- than stay here and feel this sweat-in-every-spot-makes-me-want-to-die heat.

But wait (lightbulb!) we are members of the few, the proud, the central air community!
We shut all of the windows, run to the thermostat (which was clocking in at a staunch 93 degrees) and flip it over to AC. Good glory here we come!

We wait. The fan clicks on. There is a strong whir of air from the vents and ...

IT'S HOT.

Hot air is funneling into our already hot apartment.

Maybe it needs a few minutes, so we wait.
15 minutes go by and I've started to sweat.
30 minutes go by and Briann and I are literally dripping.
45 minutes go by and we're getting faint.

Briann has a glorious idea and in a flash we're out the door and in the car - AC is heaven.
We proceed to spend the day gallivanting around the air condition wonders of Jersey City and Hoboken. Mostly we spend our time getting lost, but we don't care as long as it's cool.

Armed with two new fans and a number of other completely unnecessary accouterments from Target, we head back.
We hope against hope that a miracle has occur ed and our AC (which isn't slated to be fixed until tomorrow morning) has magically fixed itself, or at least that our apartment is a bearable temperature as we reach the second floor landing, 12 stairs waiting in front of us to spell our fate.
Stairs one through 7 seem great, it is very possible that tonight will be fine, warm but not overwhelming.
Then we reach the 8th step.
Oh dear, sweet Jesus.
Not only is it hot, it's humid. The air doesn't move and our current (and highest yet) temp is 97 degrees.
I am currently sitting catatonic on my bed drinking white wine (for the chill, of course - not to medicate my sad, sad, and did I mention HOT existence) with a wet towel wrapped around my head and a fan blowing HOT HUMID DEATH AIR directly on my barely clothed body. Briann and I have hit the wall, kids.
We are really hoping that we make it through the night and praying for a light fall of snow.
In the meantime we deliriously took these pictures, enjoy and...call us tomorrow, here's hoping we haven't melted.

Time to go take an ice bath.

- J