Auf wiedersehen, 2012!

I took some time this weekend to reflect on this year that's almost over. Compared to the few that came before, it was pretty sedate. We didn't move house, not once, across the world or the country or the street. We didn't make any huge life-altering decisions. We worked, and traveled, and lived our lives as they are. I think we had a good year.

Some highlights:

I survived Don Giovanni, Sweeney Todd, Le nozze di Figaro, L'elisir d'amore, Don Giovanni again (in which I had my first Met directing credit), and Maria Stuarda (assuming all goes as planned tonight).

I took a cruise with Legs McGee. Cruises might not be my thing, but I'll happily travel with Legs again, anytime, anywhere.

I crossed off 3 Bossy List items: #12,  #9, and #56.

I started taking my health more seriously. I visited doctors and dentists. I took up running again, and ran my first 5K race. I finished the Whole 30. I dabbled in Paleo and felt the best (and lightest) I've felt in years. Then I fell off the wagon. I think I'd like to climb back on in 2013. Who's with me?

I spent a glorious 2 months in Europe with CM—1 month at idyllic Glyndebourne, and 1 month traveling around and hearing lots of opera. I crossed off 3 more countries toward my goal of eating a meal in every European country.

I vowed to make the most of my free time in New York, and started the Sundays in New York feature. It worked—I fell in love with the city again.

We added a new member to our family: the adorable Bossy Kitten! She stole our hearts, and even the Bossy Cat is getting used to her.

I spent 183 days with CM, and 115 days at home. I'd like to break some records next year.


Tonight I'll have my last opening night of the year, and then say goodbye to 2012 in style on the Met's Grand Tier. I'm wishing you all a wonderful night. See you next year.

Adios, 2011
Tschüss, 2010
Addio, 2009
Adieu, 2008

Happy weekend!

How was your week, my dears? I've been struggling, as we all have, to find moments of lightness and joy after last week's tragedy. I'm so happy that CM arrives today to bring me out of the doldrums. This weekend we'll get cracking on our December list.

Some links to occupy you while we're at the circus:

I love this software that automatically adjusts the lighting on your computer at night. No more blue glow!

Thoughts on staying in love (via Planting Dandelions).

ACK! Puggles!

I enjoyed this article about Deb Perelman. Have you bought the Smitten Kitchen Cookbook yet?

Send a call from Santa.

How to help.


CM made his first batch of barrel-aged negronis! Don't they look gorgeous? (Custom-made labels are from Pinhole Press.)

Here's hoping your weekend is filled with holiday celebrations, hot chocolate, and strength in numbers. xoxo LMB

Makeover!

Welcome, friends, to the new and improved Little Ms. Bossy! It was time for a new look, so of course I contacted the fabulous Carolyn to help me out. I'm so pleased with what she's made—it's exactly what I was looking for. You like?

Happy weekend!

Have you had a good week, friends? Somehow this one has managed to both fly by AND be completely exhausting. Any good plans for the weekend? I've scheduled some time with friends, some time at work, and some time with colleagues at a Christmas party. Let the eggnog flow.

For your weekend, some links:

I don't really need one, but I'm wishing for this like crazy.

Homemade Girl Scout cookies!

If you're wondering what to get me for Christmas, I would also take any one of these.

Baby krazy? You might not want to look at my college friend Erin's website.

Owl Jolson! Amazing.


CM sent me this amazing pic of BOTH cats kneading our bedroom rug. We're so close to the dream (the 2 of them sleeping snuggled together in a pile, obvs).

Hope your weekend is filled with wassail, twinkly lights, and good cheer. xoxo LMB

Our own cheetah

CM sent me this amazing video from the Houston Zoo. I love it so much.




It reminds me a little of this other video CM sent me. See the resemblance?

I always wanted a pet cheetah.

WHO WANTS PRUNES

Rehearsals for Bohème start stomach-churningly soon, and I've been studying, and re-reading Murger, and answering questions about wigs, and thinking about supers, and generally attempting to CALM DOWN.

Thank goodness for comic relief. I highly recommend Opergasmic's brilliant synopsis (Act I, II, III, IV). Good medicine if you start to take yourself and your work just a little too seriously. If you find profanity offensive, these links are probably not for you.

Also, you saw this already, yes?

December to-do list

The past couple mornings it's actually been colder in Houston than in New York, and it's taken all my willpower not to jump on the next plane home, light a fire (turn on the fire), and get to snuggling with my sweet husband and those adorable kitties. It's a bummer not to be home at this time of year. Last Christmas was so lovely, with family time and friend time and together time, all in our cozy, Christmas-y house. BUT. I'm here until January 1, and CM will be here with me Dec 21–26. Christmas at home is not in the cards. Luckily, NYC is wonderful at Christmas (if it would only SNOW finally), so to cheer myself up I've made a holiday to-do list for the rest of the month.


1. Go to the Big Apple Circus at Lincoln Center

2. Buy a (real) tree and decorate it

3. New pjs on Christmas Eve

4. Watch Love Actually

5. Take a tour of department store windows

6. Drink peppermint hot chocolate with whipped cream (maybe simultaneously with #5)

7. Check out NYC's Christmas markets

8. See movies (tentative list, in no particular order: Les Mis, Skyfall, Lincoln, Life of Pi, Silver Linings Playbook, The Hobbit, This is 40)

9. Exchange stockings with CM

10. See the Rockettes  (Check. And it was everything I could have dreamed.)

11. See the tree lit up at Rockefeller Center


What's missing from this list? Anything we shouldn't miss during the holidays here?

New headshots

My time at home in October happened to overlap with our friend Simon, so CM and I both hired him to take some new headshots for us. My old ones didn't look like me anymore—I change my hair too often. Plus, I'm always worried that pictures of me tend to look like someone auditioning for the role of Zerlina. I wanted something a bit more directorial (whatever that means). What do you think?