1. I’ll be a New York City resident in less than 17 days. Packing has been sporadic and usually reserved for late evening. I listen to Prokofiev for energy.

2. I heard from a little bird that the NYCB dancers who were here for “A Gala Evening” have been “raving about Mobile.” Supposedly they loved it here. I would too if I were treated to dinners in museums and lavish parties every night like they were! Hopefully this will result in more similar productions in the future.

3. From my own prying, I found out that Kathryn Morganwas cast as the “Sugarplum” in NYCB’s “The Nutcracker” on Dec. 15 at 2 p.m. Dione and I are seeing if we can make this performance. Mobilians: Kathryn used to dance with Dione in the Mobile Ballet Company.

4. I almost had a heart attack when I read Matt Murphy’s post on his blog Ranting Details. They’re coming out with a “Center Stage 2!” Can you believe it? Dione and I discussed this topic at length, and since Matt can’t give out any details about the film, we guessed that maybe this recent TV Dance craze will be an important element–for example, guest appearances by “So You Think You Can Dance” judges and dancers. If not that, we wondered if they would continue with the same story line–will Jodi Sawyer still be dancing in Cooper Nielsen’s new company? Will she still be dating Charlie? Will they have dozens of little ballerina kids? Worst case scenario: a film about a straight-laced ballerina who like to tear-it-up doing hip-hop every once and a while. I pray it’s not like that at all.

5. In addition, more life-altering news came from Matt–David Hallbergsaw me on Matt’s Facebook and said “Hi!” I nearly fainted with joy–he’s my most favorite dancer ever!

6. Mobile Symphonyexecutive director Stephen Hedrick came out with a coffee table book called “Tall Tales and Sonnets of the South.” According to a press release I received today, it’s written in “hillbilly haiku.” Interesting.

7. I learned Friday that Alexandre Hammoudi is no longer dancing in Mobile Ballet’s “The Nutcracker.” Blaine Hoven will dance his role, in addition to his role as “Cavalier.”

Reminder: The Mobile Press-Registers’ yearly extended arts section premieres tomorrow with dates, articles and schedules for the whole arts season! I always keep the section folded up near my office desk, as it’s a good resource for all the complete event information. Mr. Harrison always does a good job.

A friend and I were discussing art today. I shared with him Benjamin Shamback’swebsite. Shamback is an artist and faculty member at my university and his work is beyond amazing.

I jumped on the site as we spoke, and was glad to see that he’s opened up shopat Cafepress, and sells calendars, note-cards, and shirts of his work. Finally, I can have 12 of Shamback’s pieces just by buying a calendar! I know prints aren’t near the real thing, but hey, it’s what I can afford.