No- it is absolutely not what you are thinking. However…

Yours truly, Ms.Catalysta,  is the proud owner of a labradoodle!!!!!!! That’s right, I finally got the second dog I’ve been wanting forever! The story… 

Last week, Boyfriend tells me he has some secret Christmas errands to run after work and that he wouldn’t be home until late. I decided to let it go and not bug him about it as I normally would and try to figure it all out. So I’m sitting on the couch wasting time on Facebook and Google and then I hear Boyfriend’s car pulling into the garage. The knob turns and stops for a second- then the door opens slowly. Boyfriend pops his head and turns to show me what he’s got grasped in his arms. A brown fuzz ball. My jaw dropped to the floor. 

MsCatalysta- “What the hell is that?”
Boyfriend- “It’s a dog.”
MsCatalysta- “Seriously? Like, it’s mine?”
Boyfriend- “I got him for you… for Christmas.” 
MsCatalysta- “Ok, but seriously… What is it?” 
Boyfriend- “It’s a labradoodle.”
MsCatalysta- (stunned smiling silence) 
Boyfriend- “Well do you like him?” 

Did I like him? Was he serious? I’m over the moon. Joyful. Exuberant. Blissful. I’m running out of synonyms for my happiness. I had pretty much put the entire second dog notion out of my head because Boyfriend was adamant that getting one would basically make him not want to come back to his own home at night. So he compromised. He got a 6 month old labradoodle that does not shed or smell bad and he can take running when he gets a little older. 

He’s not exact potty trained yet so now we have Peeing Dog #2. I never thought I’d see the day where Peeing Dog #1 would be considered the “good pet.” Actually she’s still the middle child because Cat will always be the best pet since he poops in a box- though in Peeing Dog #1’s defense- I did just spend an entire Sunday Windex-ing and Febreze-ing a fake Christmas tree because when Cat recently had a UTI, he decided to make our poor Christmas tree his toilet for a day. 

And yet, none of this matters. I love my animals so much and I’m so happy I could burst. Mornings are ridiculous trying to feed 2 dogs and wrestle a cat away from the food bowls. I worry all day that Peeing Dog #2 has been in his crate too long and needs to go outside. I clean pee off the floor somewhere on a daily basis. His first vet visit was ridiculously expensive and he needs to be de-wormed (I’ll spare you the nasty details…). Today he chewed his travel crate zipper rendering it useless trash, escaped and jumped over the baby gate to the basement where Peeing Dog #1 is housed for the day. (They are already fast friends.) But despite the messiness and honestly pain in the ass- none of these things bother me. I actually love it! AND Boyfriend knew how badly I wanted a second dog and he did it just for me. This is the best present I could have ever gotten. 

I have a feeling that this is going to be the best holiday season ever. And I wish you all the same.

Have you received any early presents or bought anything good for someone you care about? 

Happy belated Thanksgiving everyone! Hope yours was filled with lots of turkey and gravy! Boyfriend and I decided not to travel and instead spend the lovely 4 blissful days of vacation in the (not-so-new-anymore) house! I cooked my very first Thanksgiving dinner, which in my opinion was fantastic, and had a quiet, lovely, relaxing break. It was great to take the time to actually be together instead of constantly busy with regular everyday life. 

Recently, Boyfriend and I have had some pretty intense conversations about how we have become boring and we don’t like it. Currently as young/mid twenty somethings, we are stuck in a very odd place. We aren’t old enough for the family and the kids, but we aren’t young enough for the college bar scene. We own a house and are a stable couple with full time jobs. When you work for 9 hours and get home, you have about enough time to take care of a peeing dog, feed yourself, and maybe catch something on TV before passing out. It’s tough to find interesting things to do that you both enjoy and fun enough that you are actually motivated to do them after a long work day. 

So this break we went out on a couple dates. It was great. We had great conversation and a lot of fun people watching. We went to an upscale martini bar and then to see the new James Bond movie. Another night we went out in our new town to a local bar where there was some country band playing and crazy tapered jeans wearing locals that lifted up their shirts showing off their tramp stamps- for reasons that are really beyond me, but I can only guess was to hopefully score a chance at going home with one of the hillbilly band members. Then we did some stuff on our own as well. I painted another hallway, and did some Christmas shopping for him and he worked on the motorcycle and went running. 

So I know you’re all probably riveted by my extremely interesting holiday and all but there is a point to my babbling. When you’re feeling like you’re stuck in a rut and you need some excitement- what do you do? Where do you go? What kinds of activities do you do with your significant others other than your everyday routines? Groups, clubs, sports? We need some extra suggestions here! 

(picture is from apple picking in October!) 

I suck at being on time. Ever since the move, my commute has more than doubled. Any normal person would probably then make sure they get in their car an extra twenty minutes to make up for that extra bit. But not this punctuality challenged twenty-something. Well that’s not exactly true. I try. I really do. But no matter what I do, I can’t seem to get my ass in gear. I get up early enough- it’s not the sleep that I need. I’m the oldest young person you’ll ever know crawling her ass into bed at 9:30. I get up and have some breakfast, a cup of coffee and turn on the TV. No, I’m not filling my morning with the News about the ever shit-canned economy and job losses or the serial rapist who’s torturing young women all around Columbus- I don’t like to start my morning with things that make me want to cry. Instead, I turn on some trashy reality TV that makes Boyfriend cringe with disgust but makes me feel a little happier when I can say, “well no matter how bad things get for me, at least I’m not some washed up porn star trying her hand at “Charm School” and the only claim to fame I have is trying to screw a washed up 80’s hair band member who’s double my age” or “Wow Spencer is such an asshole, why is Heidi still with him??!! Why is Audrina still talking to them?? The world would be a better place if that cast of tramps just got hit by a bus.” Actually, now that I think about it I’m not sure if that last one makes me feel happier or sadder about my life that I care… food for thought, I guess? 

Anyway, herein lies the problem. I can’t turn it off. Once I start a show- I can’t get up until it’s over. I slowly wake up to this junk, I drink my coffee, and then ever so slowly I drag my ass to the shower. The rest of my morning is a blur of me running around as fast as I can while simultaneously debating whether I want to go the day without wearing makeup or if I’d rather go to work with wet hair. Oh, I might also mention that I do this with reruns of Saved by the Bell playing in the background. Yes, I’m serious. 

Then, as it always happens- when you’re already slightly behind schedule, everything else decides to fuck with you as much as possible. Your dog decides to piss on the carpet after you’ve already taken her out twice and she just stared at you. You get stuck behind a bus full of special needs kids. That barely running train decides to barrel through. The senior citizen in front of you slams on their brakes at every hint of a yellow light. And then of course- BOOM you’re officially charging to your desk 20 minutes late in heels that are NOT inconspicuous, trying to avoid your boss who is getting coffee in the cafe which is conveniently located 15 feet from your desk, turning on your computer and booting up your email to pretend like you’ve been there all morning and secretly rubbing your sprained ankle that you maintained while tripping up the stairs on your rhinoceros-like stampede into the office. 

Here Mr. Senior VP- let me mark that review sheet for you… the punctuality category… hmm… is there a box for “sucks?” Or maybe I should just cancel my DVR service?. (Today is the day that I wish I had Dingo-like photoshop capabilities because this post would make for a classic pic… maybe she’ll take a break from thesis writing and make one for me! haha!)

So I went to Louisville for the concert with every intention of doing the most horribly embarrassing things to get Idina Menzel’s attention. But in the end- fate was on my side and seemed to cut me a break. Within being in the city for 5 minutes, my friend and I found a cute little Mexican restaurant across the street from the theatre. We had some time to kill and some margaritas sounded pretty damn good. We batted our eyelashes at the nice busboy who pulled a table outside for us to eat on the sidewalk. We get our margaritas and agree that life pretty much couldn’t get much better…. until Idina Menzel herself comes strolling past my table. 

I let out a GASP. I wasn’t prepared. I didn’t have my pumpkin! I didn’t want to chase her down the street… so she said “Hi” and I managed to stumble out a “hi” back. But then she walked away. I got no picture! I didn’t give her my pumpkin which was still sitting in my car in the parking garage around the corner!!!! DAMNIT! I proceeded to call every member of my family, Boyfriend, friend of family, everyone. I just let my idol walk past me and I didn’t get to actually meet her! So I turn to friend M- “M, you think she’ll come back? Maybe I should go get the pumpkin… you know just in case?” M- “Yes- definitely… just in case.” I take off running. I ran as fast as my 4 inch heels would allow. Luckily the car was close and I got my pumpkin and ran back. I sat down and starting drinking my delicious margarita. Another few minutes passed and I nearly strained my neck craning it looking for another glimpse of the amazing Idina. And then she came back! Walking back to the theatre and I wasn’t about to let this chance pass for a second time. 

I shot out of my seat and scooped up the not small pumpkin and ran to the corner she was about to step off to cross the street.

MsCatalysta- “Idina!!! Hi. I’m a huge fan. Huge. You don’t even know! I’ve been a fan for years!!!” 
Idina Menzel- “Hi. Oh thank you that’s so sweet.”
MsCatalysta- “Umm so I got you a pumpkin. Because it’s Halloween… and it has green on it… you know because you were green and it’s green… here” (Shoves pumpkin into Idina’s hands.)
Idina Menzel- “That’s so nice, thank you! What’s your name?”  
MsCatalysta- “I’m Megan…. and this is my friend, M.” 
Idina Menzel- “So nice to meet you… look I don’t really want to take pictures right now… but ask for my tour manager, Deb, at the end of the concert and we’ll make sure we get some later.”
MsCatalysta- “Seriously? Oh my god, thank you so much! Really… thank you!” 

And so I got a personal invite backstage from Idina, herself. I watched an unbelievable show where she had my pumpkin onstage!!!!! (See picture at right and my pumpkin is on the left). She even thanked me for the pumpkin giving me a shout out while she was onstage. Pretty awesome. I was like a little kid on Christmas. Or maybe Halloween? She was even wearing a cute little outfit for the holiday! She is freaking awesome. She did all her new songs and even a few covers. Then my all time favorite- her cover of “No Day But Today” from RENT and her remix of “Defying Gravity” from WICKED. 

Then I got to go backstage and meet her again. She signed my shirt and a program for some little girls that I know who idolize her as well- no thanks to me, I’m sure. She took pictures with everyone and spent time with each person and was so incredibly nice. 

I didn’t wear the witch hat… and I didn’t burst into song. (Though I was close.) But I did get to meet my idol. A person whose songs have influenced my life so much that it was impossible to convey to her in my whole 5 minutes spent in her presence. This is a person whose songs take me out of my awful days and a person whose songs help me get higher on my best days. It was such an honor to shake her hand, have her know my name, and be in her own words, “the only person to ever chase her down on a street with a pumpkin.” 

All in all… I think I managed to maintain at least a little bit of dignity but more importantly… mission accomplished! Thank you Idina!!!!  

I have BIG plans for this Halloween. Sadly- it’s not handing out candy to the snot nosed children that are going to run home and gorge themselves in front of their video games or watch the 12 year old girls of America flush their morals down the toilet have oodles fun as they run around dressed as slut-tastic tasteful cops, angels, cats, nurses, or naughty school girls. I won’t be perusing the neighborhoods for the pedophiles with their lights out and “NO CANDY” signs that Ohio is forcing them to put up. I’m forgoing the chili cook off and costume contest at work (in which normally I would not only be participating enthusiastically but most likely helping organize as well). I’m not going to pass out in a sugar coma with Boyfriend in mass hoards of chocolate wrappers that didn’t get make it into the hands of the aforementioned slutty 12 year olds…

Oh no… this year I’m meeting my inspiration. This year I’m going to see the person whose songs drag me up from some of my darkest days. I’m driving to Louisville, Kentucky and going to see Idina Menzel. Yes, Idina Menzel. She played the original Elphaba in the Broadway production of Wicked for which she won a Tony. She also received a Tony nomination for her original role Maureen in Rent. (Oh and did I mention she’s married to Taye Diggs? The gorgeous piece of man candy that helped Stella get her groove back? The hot doctor on Private Practice…) Whoops- ok just snapped out of lengthy involved daydream-back on track. I’m an admitted musical nerd so Idina’s extensive and impressive resume is just one of the many things that make me call her my idol. I cried when she announced she was leaving her role as Elphaba before I would get to see it.

I love everything about the theatre. I remember my parents taking me to shows and I would get all dressed up and wait for the curtain to rise and the music to take over. It was the best escape I had- pretend I was somewhere else, someone else. I was practically raised on a stage and I wouldn’t have had it any other way. My parents would come home from somewhere and catch me singing at the top of my lungs to The Phantom of the Opera and Les Miserables and Cats to my pretend audience who of course thought my performance was positively inspired. I begged my mother to let me audition for shows. I forced her to drive me to rehearsal after rehearsal- on top of private oboe lessons, gymnastics, and cheerleading practice. Some of my friends and family might say I have a flair for the dramatic but I have no idea what they are talking about… 

I’m so excited. I have my outfit picked out, I have my directions printed, camera charged, and tickets inhand. After the concert, I’m going to stand outside of that stage door like a little kid waiting for Santa mature adult and beg for an autograph and maybe a picture. I bought a pumpkin to give to her because I want her attention like a fat kid wants cake it’s Halloween and I even have a witch hat to wear for more attention to be festive. Sister thinks I’m nuts. Can’t say I blame her. She said, “Try not beg Idina to take you to Broadway and make you a star. Maintain your dignity.” I told her I’d do my best. 

I’ve waited 5 years to see Idina Menzel in person and tomorrow- my favorite holiday- I will finally see her in person! So if I break into a chorus of “Defying Gravity,” start hyperventilating, and stalk Idina’s tour bus to her hotel- could you really blame me? Sorry Sister… dignity is overrated.