Lights Out.

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Is there any moment more disorientating than when the lights go out?

I guess it’s not actually the lights that disorientate me. I mean, if I’m being honest, sometimes I know I’m going to be too lazy to turn the light off before I fall asleep, so I’ll sit in darkness instead. No, it’s not the darkness that’s weird.

It’s the silence.

The moment that buzz disappears from your house, when there’s no sound of indistinguishable voices coming from someone else’s tv, and even the hum of various appliances is gone.

That’s what I hear right now. Well, that and the cicadas outside my window. I mean, I THINK they’re cicadas. I could’ve made that up. Normally I’d google the hell out of the sound to make sure (and probably spend two hours learning more about bugs than I ever wanted to know), but guess what! No electricity = no interwebz. No googling. No enriching my brain with useless knowledge and close up pictures of many-legged creatures no one was meant to encounter with a 900x zoom lens.

I AM SITTING IN THE DARK AND GOING INSANE.

It’s only been a couple of hours at this point (I THINK…all of my clocks are digital, so God knows what time it actually is), but I might as well have gotten into a DeLorean and sling shot straight into the dark ages.

After the initial shock (aka, the moment my tv went out), I was prepared to embrace the blackout. I figured it would be an excuse to do all the things I normally don’t have time for.

My life is busy. Work, school, friends, the gym, other work, family– I mean, these are all things that take up a lot of our time, right? I’m a multi-tasker by nature, so I’m usually spending this time of night working on projects while watching tv and fostering the relationships I don’t want to lose completely due to lack of actual face-to-face contact. Some things require me to sit still too long doing ONE thing for me to give them the attention they deserve. When the lights went out, I thought that would be a perfect time to do those things.

Oh, how foolish I was.

Every single thing on the list of things I’d like to do that I normally don’t have time to focus on? Impossible without ELEC-EFFING-TRICITY.

Manicure? Not gonna happen. Even in broad daylight, my self-manicure looks like it was done by a blind lobster wearing mittens. Puffy ones. Nail polish and the tiny light from kyPhone seemed like a bad pairing.

Bubble bath? Oh sure, you can relax in the dark. As long as you’re ok with the creep factor of unseen things sneaking up on you. (And I’m NOT ok with that. I’ve seen Psycho, thankyouverymuch. I’m barely ok showering when I can SEE what’s sneaking up on me. Even in my house. Even with the doors locked.)

Eat the dinner you didn’t get to enjoy before? Bon appetite! As long as you like it cold.

Wanna know the other thing that got lost with the electricity? My short term memory. Like, not even short-term. IMMEDIATE term. Every time I enter a room I’m flipping the damn light switch. Like, oh! Right! The whole house is dark because no one had thought to FLIP THE EFFING SWITCH! You’re a genius, Kylene!

Nope.

And oh, how I’ve missed the internet. My laptop was charged enough for me to type this, but I have attempted to check my email preeeeeetttty much every time I start a new paragraph. (And also just that second even though it’s the middle of a paragraph.) I KNOW it isn’t going to work. But I keep refreshing anyway. Not out of hope. Nope, I’ll admit it’s because in that split second reflex, I forgot there’s a reason we’re in the dark.

kyPhone was fun for a while, until the battery depleted to the scary red zone and I figured I’d better conserve it. My car’s in the garage, see. And I can’t run it to charge my phone unless I can open the garage without, you know, gassing everyone up. And I can’t open the garage without electricity. <shakes fist at electricity>

So I played three rounds of Draw Something and updated my Facebook status before conserving it like a District 12 kid conserves bread.

I guess the best thing to do at this point is go to sleep, another activity I don’t typically have extra time for. Who wants to bet that the minute I doze off in slumber the power comes back and I discover just how many lights, tvs and other electrical things I’ve turned on in the last few hours?

(Note: This was entry was posted after power was restored. I’m actually a little surprised I survived a period without the ability to get my electrical fixes – the fact that I slept clutching kyPhone probably indicates an unhealthy level of dependence. However, if you think I’m going to get all nostalgic for a simpler time and use the blackout as a lesson in the importance of disconnecting once in a while, you’re insane. If anything, all I’ve learned from this is to have a back up plan.

Hm…my sister’s house is within walking distance…I wonder if she had power!)

Let the Shameless Plugs Begin!

I'm a big fan of tv. I watch it like it's my job. Once, I made a wish that I could watch it FOR my job.


Dreams come true, kids.

I have officially joined the staff of RealityWanted.com's blogging team, bringing you the best, the worst, and the downright ridiculous from reality tv. Ironically, I've been assigned to some shows about two topics that I am probably LEAST qualified to comment on: Dancing and Cooking.

Not that I'm a bad cook. I'm just picky. I don't eat things that live in the sea, I don't like to touch bones, and if it has the texture of flan....well, I'm probably going to poke it a few times before I trust it enough to put it in my mouth.

I'm sort of fascinated by people who CAN cook, especially when they're whipping up recipes in foreign places, which they certainly will be in Bravo's Around the World in 80 Plates. The show combines food with traveling, which is something else I wish I could get paid to do. I can't wait to see where their adventures take them and learn about the cultures they visit and watch as tempers in faraway kitchens heat up.

Over at Food Network Star, they're staying more local but trying to discover the next big food celebrity. That's the tricky thing - it's not only about what you put on the plate, it's also about what how much buzz you're cooking up on the screen. If anyone wants a kick ass recipe for Champagne Creamsicles (oh yes, as delicious as they sound), I'm pretty sure I could win this show. Unfortunately, however, they seem to value the ability to cook beyond ice cream and champagne as an important skill.

And then there's dancing. I can't dance. Like...it fascinates me even more than cooking that people just...can. Because I can't. I don't even THINK I can. Which is a great little joke between me and my tv when So You Think You Can Dance comes on. I'm amazed by it though - I really am. To be in such control of your body and dictating what every muscle is doing...and the fact that some of my favorite Newsies are veterans of the show just makes me appreciate it even more.

So there you have it. Keep up with me as I watch tv like it's my job.

Because it is.

Shameless Plug Tuesday!

Yeah, you've missed it over the last couple of weeks, so back by popular demand - Shameless Plug Tuesday brings you the Dancing With the Stars Performance Recap!

Click to read all about how Katherine and I are practically the same!

Dancing with the Stars Season 14: Week 6

Shameless Plug Wednesday!

I neglected Shameless Plug Wednesday last week, so I apologize for that, but Lord knows there's enough reading to do THIS week for you to get your fill.

Just in case you missed Dancing With the Stars this week (or you loved it so much you can't wait to relive it with words!), check out my Reality Wanted recaps!

 The Top 11 Cry Their Way Through Week 3!

Monday, 4/2 Performance Recap

Tuesday, 4/3 Results Recap

Write What You Know? Naaaah....

As an aspiring writer, the one piece of advice that I hear over and over and over again is "write what you know." So what am I doing writing about Dancing With the Stars?

Breaking that rule completely.

Nevertheless, I've got my dancing shoes on (assuming they look like little sheep slippers) to provide you with recaps for this season over at RealityWanted.com.

Check it out!

http://www.realitywanted.com/newsitem/5213-dancing-with-the-stars-season-14-week-1-performance-recap

Carryin' the Banner!

Totally have this collector's edition.
And two other copies.
And VHS.

"Sometimes, all it takes is a voice. One voice, that becomes a hundred. And then a thousand..."

These are the words spoken by Bryan Denton in Disney's 1992 BLOCKBUSTER "Newsies" (also known as my favorite movie in the history of the world.) Now, I put BLOCKBUSTER in giant letters with the hopes that it would be enough to revise history because, of course, the 1992 version of Newsies was not exactly a blockbuster. In fact, some would argue it was quite the opposite of a blockbuster. Some might have even suggested it was among the worst pictures of the year. (SUGGESTED. It did not WIN the Golden Raspberry that year. And I'd just like to add that The Bodyguard was also nominated, and that was a damn good movie.)

My point in all of this is that for nearly 20 years, the only thing about Newsies that got any respect was Christian Bale, who played lead Jack Kelly in the film. But the "Fansies" never forgot. And then one day....alllll that changed.

Maybe it didn't happen THAT quickly, but we kept carryin' the banner, and last spring, after years of rumors and false alarms, the announcement came that Newsies was FINALLY hitting the stage, albeit the Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn, NJ. And then the fun began.

In the age of social media, "cult favorite" has taken on new life. It may still refer to an active and devoted (though very specific) group of fans, but now those fans have the tools to take their favorite subject viral to get it the attention it deserves. As a Fansie myself, it has been interesting to watch the evolution of Newsies and the fanbase - from film to stage to BROADWAY, the team behind Newsies has exploded across various platforms.

Tommy Bracco, aka "Spot",
Carryin' the Banner

Just days after it opened at the Paper Mill, the cast performed a medley on the talk show "The View" (as seen in the YouTube clip above). Two months later, "Spot Conlon" was back at the show with the headline announcing that Newsies, after such a successful regional run, was coming to Broadway, and just days after that, I had something to be very thankful for when the cast gave a performance as part of the Macy's Parade. Like so many fans, I shared links to the videos with my fellow Fansies, with people who were skeptical about the show, and with anyone I could think of who might want to buy me a ticket to see it. (Note: I'm still taking donations.)

In addition to the official appearances, DisneyOnBroadway has provided fans with a growing library of videos to make us all part of this special show. Visits behind the scenes, introductions to the cast, even previews of new songs...these are all excellent ways to engage the eager existing fan base as well as curious potential ticket buyers.

"Whaddya...scared a' Brookyln?"

Speaking of ticket buyers...have you checked out the Newsies page on facebook? The show allows fans to RSVP the date they'll be attending so they can meet up with other fans. One of the neatest things they did was create a "map" of the cities, giving a cool visual of where people were coming from to see the show.




As a fan, it was also interesting to be part of the process on Twitter. The Newsies account began as part of the Paper Mill, and they have done an excellent job of interacting with fans as their popularity has grown. While so many similar entities use their accounts primarily for broadcasting announcements and perhaps occasionally mingling with the common folk, Newsies has consistently provided active conversation. Whether the personal accounts of cast members or the official account for the show, there is no shortage of "twitpics", retweets, and seemingly genuine gratitude. From answering questions about the show to sharing updates from backstage, @Newsies feels like another fan to me, just as excited to "Seize the Day" as the rest of us are.

To quote Jack Kelly: "They got voices now...and they're gonna be listened to...."

No doubt about it...these guys will be Kings of New York as soon as performances begin on March 15th!

Priceless.

While interviewing for a marketing position recently, I was asked to describe a campaign that I loved, one that was effective. Of course, this is a question we should always be prepared to answer, but often the answer changes depending on who's asking. Is it a firm rooted in tried and true methods of respected brands? Or is it a company that may be equally (if not more!) impressed by the innovative experiments of emerging businesses? Either way, it's smart to really learn about those campaigns so that you're not only naming them, but discussing them as well.

So which did I choose? Well, having already demonstrated by admiration for Disney's efforts in a previous question, the interviewer asked me to pick anything but my favorite brand to talk about. The first (well, second, but first behind anything associated with Disney) that came to mind has to be one of the most prolific of the last two decades. It is, in a word....Priceless.

MasterCard's "Priceless" campaign began running back in 1997, and since then, everyone has created their own version of their ads at least once. Admit it - you have. Maybe it was spending $200 on concert tickets and $60 on gas so that you could see NKOTB on tour with your sister. Maybe it was blowing your paycheck on a new tv and 25 lbs of hot wings so you could celebrate with your friends as your team won their first Super Bowl of your life time. Whatever it was, you've had a "Priceless" moment. And maybe MasterCard helped you pay for it.

Over on MasterCard's Twitter account, you'll find an feed full of hashtagged "#priceless" tweets. Literally. MasterCard invites their followers to submit their priceless moments in 140 characters or less, doling out retweets to the ones that catch their attention and, once a week, a prize based on whatever that week's topic was. In the past, they've prompted followers to submit their idea about what's priceless about school, or the summer, or baseball or Christmas. Sometimes, it's just priceless in general.

I love how MasterCard has given new life to a campaign that is 15 years old via twitter. I mean, it's not like the tv ads are ineffective - they still have enough of a following to merit their own page on MasterCard's website - but Twitter has allowed MasterCard to give their followers #priceless moments through trivia contests, instant win games, and, yes, the "tweet of the week".

Our "priceless" seats

I would know. Back in 2010, I won Yankee tickets via #pricelesstrivia, and my sister and I sat in seats that we couldn't even afford to breath on otherwise. It really was priceless. (Technically, for the Yankees, "priceless" was actually $250 a ticket that year, but I digress). And it was excellent marketing because after I won those tickets, and MasterCard started following me on Twitter?




I applied for one of these:

(Note: Not my actual card.)

Well played, MasterCard. Well played.