A Short Play about the Things You Can Get away with When You're far from Home.

I'm not sure how common they are in the Antipodes (pronounced 'anti-podes'), but I am signed up to about a dozen different e-coupon/deal notification services. Groupon is the major one, but there are heaps of smaller ones and sometimes they send pretty amazing stuff.

I started and erased three different descriptions of one I received today, but have decided that I can give myself the night off and let the jokes write themselves. Enjoy - it's champagne comedy from the headline on down.

Smokey Robinson Presents Human Nature: Australian Vocal Sensations Perform Motown Hits Orpheum Theatre (Boston, MA) FULL PRICE: $61.50 OUR PRICE: $15.00 - $31.75* Smokey Robinson presents Australia's most popular vocal group, Human Nature. They are coming to the Orpheum Theatre as part of their first ever U.S. tour. Formed originally as a doo-wop band, Human Nature have become huge pop stars at home, soaring up the charts with multiple top ten hits, as well as three multi-platinum records. Their success attracted the attention of Smokey Robinson, who recorded the song "Get Ready" with the band. Robinson then brought them to Las Vegas, where they've played sold out shows for more than two years. Their show, billed as "The Ultimate Celebration of Motown," showcases the distinctive, dynamic harmonies of members Toby Allen, Phil Burton, Andrew Tierney and Michael Tierney as they perform Motown's greatest hits, including songs from The Temptations, The Four Tops, The Supremes and more.

XOXO

A short play about the nature of modern relationships, and some other things

My boss, noticing that I'm about to change clothes before leaving work: Oh, do you have a date tonight?

Me: No... no.

My boss: So... what, then?

Me: I'm making dinner for The Lawyer.

My boss: Oh no. You're not back with her again, are you?

Me: No. She has a girlfriend now.

My boss: But... wait, what? I'm confused!

Me: Yeah, that makes six of us.

My boss: Six? Who's six? You, your girlfriend, her, her girlfriend....

Me: ...My flatmate, and you.

My boss: Wow. [beat] So, that's how you guys roll, huh?

Me: Apparently.

My boss: Well, bring me some leftovers if there are any.

*****

So yes, apparently that is how we roll. I don't know what else to say. I have bruises. These Things Are Not Easy.

Filed under 'Other Things Involving My Boss', I'm happy to say that the potentially nasty situation at work got ironed out without a problem on Monday. It turned out that there was so much confusion around what I was and was not allowed to do that not only did my boss and I not get in trouble for it, but she was actually able to make a case for bumping me up a pay grade and changing me to a salaried (rather than hourly-rate) position in the next budget. I wasn't in the room when she attempted this, but I wish to god I had been because that is some kind of spectacular maneuver. She is exceptional.

And I'm happy to say that apart from a small amount of lingering jet lag, I'm feeling pretty good about things. I was an anxiety-ridden disaster until Monday arvo, but once the work stuff got sorted out I found that I was... fine. Really, fine. I had expected my return to Boston to be much more tumultuous, especially given how great a visit I'd had, but instead I feel pretty resolved and calm about things. I don't know that this will last - I remember that early on after my move last year I felt way more settled than I'd expected, before crashing hard a few months later - but for now I'm trying to enjoy it.

It also helps that I've returned to a much warmer and more welcoming city than I left a month ago. The snow's all gone, we turned the clocks forward on Sunday so it's light well into the evening, and the weather's substantially better - it's not warm by any stretch, but it's warm enough that I can leave the house in only a warm jacket over a long-sleeved shirt and a singlet, rather than needing a long wool coat, a jumper, a hat, a scarf, and gloves as well. To me, that counts as progress.

All in all, things are... yes.

A short play about American mobile phone service.

Me: Did you just send me a test text?

Caitlin: Yes. My phone has stopped receiving texts again. So infuriating. They promised me this would not happen again. Did you reply?

Me: No, because I'm on the phone with Verizon because I have stopped receiving texts as well.

Caitlin: Awesome. Although it seems you got mine?

Me: Yes, but I missed several from Colleen all day. And I still can't work out if Liz can send to/receive from me. $60/month! Oh, I replied, by the way.

Caitlin: Yeah, I didn't get it. Fuck.

Me: I find it more than a little ridiculous that they thanked me for joining Verizon at the end of a call consisting almost entirely of my ranting about how I should never have joined Verizon.

Caitlin: Good stuff.

A Short Play about Working for a University in Summer.

Elena: My entire floor was empty today except for two young eastern-European girls who didn't speak English, cruising around the halls on roller chairs.

Elena: Apparently now I work in an Ionesco play.

Caitlin: There are worse places.

Elena: At least I get a rhinoceros.

Caitlin: Make sure you use it only for good. With great power comes great rhinocerosponsibility.

Elena: That. Was. Awesome.

Caitlin: I am completely cracking myself up over here.

Elena: You earned it, lady. You earned it.