First Day

Next week people everywhere will be heading off to their first days of school, either for the first time ever for all the tiny little kids, or for the first time in a new environment for freshmen everywhere. So, I thought about all the first days of school I've been through, and really I can't recall any of them. I don't remember my first day of school ever, though I do remember being in Kindergarten, what the room looked like, my teacher Mrs. Turner. I remember the blow up letter people that we had to help us learn the alphabet (Mr. Tall Teeth). I remember that we had paste in old film containers, that one day we played with shaving cream. I remember the smell of the paint we used for sponge painting, and a day when we got out of class early because of snow. I remember that I rode bus 4 home, and that I had to switch buses at a different school, and that school always smelled like walnuts. But I don't actually remember my first day, nor any of the first days that followed.

The only one that I remember was my first day of school in Virginia, and I only remember that because of the fact that it was not a good day, that I wasn't happy, and that we spent a lot of it sitting in offices trying to get a schedule figured out.

So, as everyone goes off to school next week, I wish them well on their first day!

Blah

I can feel blah coming on.  Blah.  Something has to change, I'm sick of it.

A Quiet House

Well the house is now quiet. Saturday Sean headed back to college, and then today Jenna headed back home. So now it's just or regular occupants. It's a little weird. It's kind of nice to have some sort of hustle and bustle going on in the house. People coming and going, it makes the house feel alive. Though apparently too alive since our neighbors put a snarky note in our mailbox telling us what "they need us" to do and how it was a nice peaceful neighborhood before "you people" moved in. I'd care but it was cowardly and stupid. If you have a problem then stop by and talk about it, don't leave anonymous letters in my post box. Anyhow. That's about it.

A Successful Event

Today was the final day of our three day event at work, and everyone is very happy with the way it turned out! I'm happy that I don't have to work anymore overtime this week. The only sad thing is that I didn't really get to eat at any of the events, which I always like to do. I got to have a few snacks on Sunday night, and let me just say the citrus water is delicious (it's just water, but they put orange and lemon slices in the container so it's fresh with a little fruit flavor). I also tried this brie cheese with a Kahlua syrup that was so delicious I can't even deal with it. I'm not even really a brie fan!

So, that is over.

I'm also a little blah about it, because apparently this is "the most challenging thing my position will do" and it was a piece of cake and totally didn't require an ounce of brain power or extraordinary planning for me to coordinate. What the hell am I doing here? It's a waste of my time, and a dead end to my career. I need out of here.

One Small Step

A few days ago Neil Armstrong passed away, and I was sad when I heard the news for obvious reasons. So, in honor of him I will let Hank talk since he'll be way better than anything I could say:

Old TV

I enjoy watching older TV shows, and I've always been a fan. When I was little I loved watching I Love Lucy, Gilligan's Island, The Beverly Hillbillies. Now, I still like old shows like that, but then again I also enjoy what is now considered old shows that weren't really old when we watched them. But one thing that I always find interesting is watching the old commercials. Did you know there are entire YouTube videos of old commercials?? It's true, and it is entire possible I've spend entire nights watching them because they amuse me so much. For your enjoyment, here are some: And here are some fun tv show intros:

The 600 Mile Saturday

What a day!

Well today we decided we wanted to have some fun and since it was my only day off and Jenna's last weekend here we decided to head out to the lake to spend some time on the beach. So, we got up early and drove down to the Warren Dunes on the south end of Lake Michigan. It was a lovely day, the sun was shining, it was very warm, but not hot, and the lake water was crystal clear and a was a nice temperature too! So we spent a few hours sitting on the beach (the girls went swimming), I read some, and we watched the people (and since we were in the dog friendly part of the beach, we also watched the dogs). It was a nice morning/early afternoon.

We got to about three in the afternoon and decided that we had enough of the beach and instead wanted to have a nice dinner, so we packed up the car and headed back home. Once we got home we cleaned up, walked the dogs, and then headed down to Cleveland for a nice dinner at the Cheesecake Factory. It was delicious.

 So that was our Saturday, what did you do?

A Little Friday

Well, it is Friday again, and normally I'm thrilled by Friday but this time it's not as great because I have to work this weekend. BOO! Next week we have a big event and so I'll be working overtime to get everything done. So, tomorrow will be nice as it'll be my only real weekend day off. Then it'll be work work work for the last few days. I'm a little sad because it's the last few days Jenna is here, but I'll be working a lot. BOO!

Funny Videos

I'm grumpy, so did a search of YouTube to find some funny videos.  This is what I found:

Wednesday

al;dkfjewoigjnaeornewaoifgnoinv eo4iheht989h™4h43wt420EWQNUNQBNRUC80H4nh97n4FY4N98CPQX8BY4PQ9N83QGIAMAGIANTSQUIDOFANGERALKDJF;OEIRWJO94HTGAWNRONEGOH403Q4NB0!

Oh, The Internet

This amuses me.  I may even consider having a framed copy in my office.  I don't know why I find it so amusing, but I do.

So, there is my Tuesday internet fun.

Happy Monday!

Today, a typical Monday.  Well except that we all went out to dinner for my mom's birthday!  I also have to say, it was a lot nicer in some regards to be able to run today, but not have to get up at 6:00am to do it.  Not having a show to work on, being able to sit and just watch a movie with nothing in the back of my mind hanging over me and gnawing at me saying "you really should be working on something."  I promised that we wouldn't work on a show for at least six weeks after Caesar, and this is week two of six.  It's pretty nice.  Really It's been a long time since I've had nothing to work on, or nothing in my mind that I knew was coming up.  We did Caesar, Earnest, Pirates, Much Ado, Nevermore, One Acts, Guys and Dolls... so we're talking the summer of 2010!

As of right now there are no shows coming up (since we've been kicked out of LHS and currently aren't planning for a show with T.H.A.T.), and it's nice to just sit and not plan or work.  I little vacation if you will.  I guess we'll see what comes of everything.  I'm sure things will get busy again next month, but really it's hard to say.  I may be taking a longer break, or perhaps retiring completely from this business.  Only time will tell I guess.

But as for today, it's been a nice day for just doing nothing.

Feeling Content

Today was a pretty good day.  It was a super pretty day out, the temperature was great, it was sunny.  And really, we didn't do anything.  We ran our errands got our groceries, threw some laundry in, mowed the lawn.

But we also sat around and had a nice dinner.  Me, Becky, Jenna, Jasmine, and Anthony, all just sitting around eating delicious grilled chicken and veggies and cornbread and delicious!  And just sitting around, chatting, eating, laughing, it was just really nice and things felt balanced.

Also, thanks to Tori.  This week she said something, and it provided me a moment of clarity, which perhaps is also leading to me feeling content today.  So, happy Sunday all.

Wedding Saturday

Tonight we attended the wedding of The Lovely Meghan and CHAAAAAAARLIE!  It was a lovely event held at The Shire just like Kara's wedding.  Everyone looked great, and it was quite a nice ceremony.  Not-So-Tiny-Anymore Lucas had a very serious face when he brought the rings in, and there were some very funny and lighthearted moments.  I have to say you could certainly feel all the love an affection in the air, it really just kind of rolled over everyone.  Delightful.

Afterwards was the giant tent and reception.  They did this neat thing with everyone writing a wish for the couple and then put in these cool paper lanterns and they were sent up into the sky, just like in Tangled.  Well except for the guy who seemed like he was going to light himself on fire, that part was different.

And this leads to this video at minute 1:53.

So anyway, it was a wonderful evening, and congrats to Meghan and Charlie!

A Letter To The Weather

Dear Weather,

Why are you being so nice?  Last month you were all hot and blowing off steam.  I could really see your temperatures were boiling.  We were all baking in the heat of your anger and rage.  But now, you're just being all nice, and pleasant.  You'll have to forgive me if I just don't trust you, but I suppose I will enjoy your change of mood while I can.   

Sincerely,
Confused Weather User.

Full House

Our house is now at capacity.   Yes, that is right, we now have someone living in every single bedroom.  Or at least we do for the next week or so until Sean heads back to college. 

Yes, today Jenna arrived from Rhode Island, and she'll be staying with us for the next two weeks.  It's really full, there are people everywhere.  Plus we've got people always coming and going and visiting, and watching tv, or playing internet games.  The house really is quite busy.  It's going to be really weird when it empties out and people aren't around and it's all quiet.

So yeah, a full house, a lot of stuff happening.  Busy busy.

Sometimes

I just don't have it in me to blog.  Seriously.  I'm feeling cranky today, and wish not to spew my crankiness.

Today was also delivery day for our fundraiser.  It went well, so that's a positive! HOORAY!  Also, the cinnamon bread wasn't bad, little too much of the buttery sauce, but we can alter that for next time.

That is all.

The French Revolution

During the French Revolution the people struggled with an idea about the rights of the citizen.  They had a lot of influence from enlightenment thinkers, and the idea of what roles the governed have and how a kind played into that roll.  At first it seemed like France may go the way of Britain and go toward a constitutional monarchy.  This was a logical progression for the British, since they had a long history of checks on power dating back to the signing of the Magna Carta.  However, Louis of France made some mistakes, sent troops to Paris, massed an army at his palace, and tried to flee the country.  This didn't sit well with the people, and the more radical Jacobins decided that in order for the republic to survive, the king could not.  So, poor Louis was tried and convicted and met his fate at the guillotine. 

I find the French Revolution a really interesting period of history.  I suggest watching Crash Course, where John Green explains it even better.

 

A Night Off

What do I do?  A night off?  DURING THE WEEK!?

I have not seen this since February.  What is this strange and wondrous thing?  I almost don't know what to do.

Hmmm....

Post Show Clean

I'm amazed!  AMAZED I TELL YOU!

What has caused this wonderful amazement of wonder?  I have somehow cleaned the garage, and it ALL the T.H.A.T. stuff in, and still can get both cars parked in there.

WHAT THE WHAT?!

Yes, that happened.

Today Antony and Jasmine helped me to reorganize the garage, and clean it up.  It's pretty much been a mess since Earnest, so we haven't parked in there in ages.  Well that ended tonight because both cars are happily napping in the garage now! 

OH happy day.

Now to clean the inside of the house so it's ready for another guest this week! WOO!

Wedding Time

Today I took a trek across the state to attend my friend Becky's wedding.  I got a little more than I bargained for, what with having to transport flowers for the event, and then arriving and helping with the set up, and take down, and movement of the arrangements to the reception site.  It wasn't sweltering hot like it has been in the past, but I was sweating like a whore in church, and thought I was just going to go and sit and be a guest.  Do I mind?  No, absolutely not.  I'm happy to help and was glad I could help.

The wedding was excellent.  The beach was really nice, I liked the way all the chairs were set up, in kind of an oval rather than like a classroom or a church.  The location was a bit noisy because the lake was all HEY LOOK AT ME! HEY WATCH HOW HOW I CAN MAKE MY WAVES! But it didn't distract nor was it hard to hear what was happening.  Plus it was nice to be outside.  The reception was also really cool.  It had this kind of old boardwalk holiday feel.  There was the carousel, the photo booth, the cotton candy machine, the dessert table.  The food was fantastic!  I'm not really one for fish, but it was good, and the pasta was delicious! 

All in all, it was just a well done event, and of course the bride and groom seemed really happy, and that makes me happy too.  So CONGRATS to Becky and Jeremy!

Closing Night

For me, tonight is the last night I got to see Caesar.  So as of now, this show is closed.  It went pretty well, and I'm happy with the result.  I always wish that we had more time for this because I'm always looking and watching and thinking of how I could have made it better, and I've come to the conclusion that the way to make it better would be to have more time to polish it.  However, it was pretty durn good, and I'm always amazed what can take place in a matter of 33 rehearsals.  That's not much time.  We had 6 weeks from conception to completion.  So, here's to the cast of Julius Caesar!  I won't be with you for the actual closing night, but you did a great job!

Opening Night, The Sequel

Well another successful opening night.  The rain tried to come and be a pain, but it didn't work.  There was a little drizzle at first, but that even stopped.  We actually had a pretty good crowd considering the weather, and it was even larger than last week's opening night by about 30%.  I took a picture and posted it on Facebook (which was funny because I said it was a pretty good crowd, but you would only see like four people in the picture because everyone else was out of view of the camera, and really I was trying to take a picture of the cast... but I digress).

So, another successful opening night, we've got two more to go, and tomorrow might be rain, but it's looking like Saturday could be sunny.  I think we're in for a good wrap up to the end of this run!  Two more to go! Cast party tomorrow! 

Olympics

I love the Olympics, and I finally got to watch the opening ceremonies, and have been able to catch a little bit here and there.  I'm not enjoying the coverage of it though.  Now the coverage issue, I don't care much about.  There's most likely nothing going on during US "primetime" since the UK is a good five hours ahead of us, so by all means air things when people will actually be home to watch them.  And I do enjoy that things are on all the time. 

But, could you just stick to an event?  I mean, it's really irritating when we all know that these events have already taken place, that you flip between things.  Just stick to it, let me finish watching it, and then go to another sport.  I understand this isn't really a new thing, which is why for the longest time I just watched the olympics on CBC, but they don't seem to be carrying them anymore.  This makes me sad.

Anyhow, yay fun, boo format issue.

Primary Day

Well, today was election day! WOO. I was number 197 or something like that.  That disturbs me a little since I went around 5:30 pm, and there are nearly 2,000 registered voters in my precinct.  This is especially troubling since that means only about 10% of people are showing up, and this primary actually will pretty much decide the election.  The reason for this is that one party pretty much controls the area, so a candidate from the other party really has little chance (It's also helpful since no one from that party is running, so really if you win the primary you're winning the election).  Remember that people, only 10% of people to decide this election, and therefore you only need a tiny portion over 5% to vote for one side or the other. 

FIVER PERCENT!

Are you kidding me?  95% of you are letting ME make the choice for you.  Do you really want that?  I mean, obviously I support my ideas, but do you support my ideas?  I mean, I guess by default you do, since you're sitting on your butt and not voting and instead letting me and a small handful of others make the decision.  Everyone wants to bitch about the government, but we get the government that we deserve.  We don't show up, and we don't vote, and as a result, we get the government of the people who do. 

Anyhow, it was election day today, I voted, and it was great.  You should do it too.

Question Monday

Question of the day:
Money doesn't grow on trees...but most other things don't either. What do you wish grew on trees?

This is a wonderful question.  But that's so hard, what else would I want to grow on trees?  I mean, money is nice, and can get you pretty much anything you want, but perhaps there are other things that could grow on trees that would be equally valuable.

The first thought is food... but food does in fact grow on trees, so that hardly counts.  But I suppose there could be other foods that don't grow on trees that could.  This immediately led me to DOUGHNUTS! How brilliant would that be?!  Just walk out side and pick a nice delicious doughnut off the tree and nom on it... but then I started thinking about that, and it would never work.  Why wouldn't it work?  Simple: WASPS/BEES/YELLOWJACKETS/ or any other list of terrible things that would be attracted to the sweet delicious goodness and glazed wonder of the doughnut tree.  CURSE YOU EVIL STINGING BUGS!  My dream of a doughnut tree will never be fulfilled thanks to you.

So what else could grow on trees?  Judging by my electric bill due to the heat last month, electricity could grow on trees.  Just plug your house into a tree and BOOM, power.  That would be helpful. 

Gift Cards?  That's sort of like money, so no.

Teleportation devices?  That would be super helpful.

I don't know, I think the doughnut tree is the best.  Perhaps we can genetically engineer the tree to have lasers that shot any stingy jerkfaces that come near... but then they may turn on us... OH NO! THE HAPPENING!

Perhaps we should just stick to money growing on trees.

But hey, here's a goat tree. 

A Day Off, Of Sorts

Well today was a day off from plays, which we've had very few of since March when we started rehearsals for Earnest.  Earnest pretty much rehearsed 7 days a week and then we had a short vacation, then worked Romeo and Juliet, followed by Earnest again, and then had three days "Off" (and by off I mean we didn't have rehearsals but I was doing all the cutting, blocking, and prep for Caesar), then straight into Caesar.

It's really amazing what they can put together in just 33 days of rehearsals, but it's also very tiring to always be working on things every single night without a break, but that's ok.

Anyhow, today was a day off between the runs.  We start rehearsals back up tomorrow for the second cast.  But, despite being a day off, it really isn't.  Today we just get to do things we haven't been able to do really in like... six months.  Such as clean.  And go grocery shopping.  And go to CostCo.  It certainly didn't feel like a day off.

But now I have the Newsroom to watch. WOO!

Week One Closed

Well that's a wrap for week one, and cast one for Julius Caesar.  It went very well.  The crowds were a little smaller than I had hoped for, but we also have it diluted a bit by increasing the number of shows we'll be doing (last year only 3 shows, this year 6).  It's also great because we didn't get rained out.  Today looked a bit iffy, but the storms seemed to split and go east and west of us, and we didn't get a drop!  So, SCORE!  The cast did a great job, and I'm very happy with the performances they had, it was a great run this week!

Now, for a day off tomorrow, and then back to rehearsals for cast two which opens next Thursday.

Esther Day

Well, it's Esther Day 2012, and if you don't know what Esther Day is, there are some videos below that kind of explain it.  The short story is that in the worlds of Nerdfighteria today is the birthday of a Nerdfighter called Esther who was pretty sick with cancer, and John decided that he wanted to honor her birthday in any way she wanted, and she said she wanted it to be a day about celebrate love and family and friends.  Today would have been her 18th birthday if she hadn't lost her battle with cancer a little under two years ago (I have blogged about this before, especially in my blog about John's book The Fault In Our Stars).

This year for Esther Day Hank did a video talking about the meaning of Esther Day, and discussing the thought of living a valuable life.  He said that the value in your life comes from doing the things you love, and loving others and being loved by others.  He points out that often the only reason that things have value is because we have come together and decided that there is value in what we're doing.  I think, however, that loving other people, and being loved by other people doesn't take coming together to assign it value, it simply has value.  There are people that I love dearly that probably have no idea, but that love is valuable to me and having them in my life gives my life a little bit of value that I would never know if I didn't know them.  I'm sure there are people who love me and I don't know it, but that love is probably valuable to them.

 I never met Esther, or talked to her, I just quietly watched her videos, laughed at her silliness, and I am sad that she is gone.  I love that she had very honest thoughts, and loved the work she did to decrease world suck.  I love her for who she was and what she did, and yet we never met.  This love has value, and has had an influence on my life.

So, watching this and listening to Hank talk about doing what you love brings value to the world made me think about what I do with my life.  A lot of my blogs are complaints about what I spend a third of my day doing (my job), and I have to say that what I spend a lot of my time doing has no value to me.  I don't love it, and it gives no value to my life.  However, another third of my life has so much value to me, because I absolutely love what I do, which is my work with theatre.

When I talk about teaching, or I talk about how after work I spend hours and hours working on shows with students, and how I'm always planning, or so busy that I don't have time for hanging out with friends, or visiting people, or have to delay a vacation, people tell me that all of this stuff makes me crazy.  But I love it, and I love it because I love teaching, I love watching people grow and become more awesome human beings, and I love the people I work with.  My life  has value and I add value to the world because of what I do with them.  Watching them grow, seeing them build confidence, witnessing them leaving here and being successful, and building lasting friendships with them have a value that I could never express.

This is what I do with my life.  This is what I love.  When I am old nearing the twilight of my life I will point to this and say this is what had value to me, this is what I did.

So, for any of my theatre people who are reading this, I love you!  You bring me great joy and my life would be less if you weren't in it.  I'm so proud of all of you, and I'm thankful every day to have the chance to be a part of your lives, and to have had so many good times over the years.  You are all made of awesome!

And, for any of my other friends or family reading this (since only a few people actually read this blog so most likely if you're reading this I know you personally), I love you.  Your support of what I do, and indulgence as I talk about nothing but theatre, drama, and things like that is invaluable to me.  You are fantastic people, and I'm happy to have you all in my life.

And as for Esther, I love you.  Thank you so much for giving us this day.  Thank you for giving us a chance to say things that are often uncomfortable to say.  Thank you for all the awesome things that you did, and all the awesome things that still happen because of what you did.  Rest in awesome, Esther.

Esther Day 2012

Esther Day 2011

 

Esther Day 2010

They've Gone, They've All Gone. And We're Back.

So some of you may have tried to read my blog recently only to find that you needed a log in to view.   Well, I'm back!  I decided due to some ongoing BS that I was going to lock down my blog for a bit, but I don't think that will be necessary.

In other news tonight is opening night of our summer Shakespeare in the park.  As you should know we're doing Julius Caesar and we're quite excited to be ready to go tonight.  It's always a bit stressful on the first day.  Will anyone come?  Will anyone pay?  Will everything go ok?  Will it rain?  What's going to happen!?  But, we'll find out tonight!

Freedom Of Speech

For those of you following the whole Chick-fil-A thing, you know that today is either the "we love your homophobia, lets buy your stuff" day, or the "we hate your homophobia, lets go order a glass of water only because it'll cost you a few cents, and we can quote biblical passages about giving water and food to your enemy thus making you look kind of lame" day.  I think it's pretty needless to explain which side of the issue I'm on.

However, I'd like to take a minute to talk about another issue that people are tossing around.  You see, some people, like the ever moronic Sarah Palin, are complaining that a boycott on Chick-fil-A on account of what the owner of the company believes "has a chilling effect on our 1st amendment rights."  This is very convenient since it has been said that corporations are people, and that the use of money is a way of speech in political races, both ideas she surely supports, that she now has a problem with ACTUAL people speaking with their money and choosing to boycott a place that doesn't align with their personal views.

I'm sorry, but any way you cut this, a boycott doesn't hurt freedom of speech.  A boycott is a form of speech, so it could hardly be considered damaging.  The owners of Chick-fil-A still have as much right to say whatever hateful and backwards thing they want. They could come out and say they don't support the idea of people owning dogs, or sending children to college, or that they want to add the 10 commandments to the bill of rights.  They have every right to say it, and they are protected under the Constitution to say this.  However, so am I, and I can choose to say that's a load of horse crap, and that I won't be spending my money at their establishment. 

You see my decision as a private citizen to do something in reaction to what someone else publicly says, in no way makes it so that person can't say those things.  Perhaps it means it's in his or her best interest NOT to say things like that since they own a business and things like that could influence customers.  But it does not have a "chilling effect" except that if you operate a business where you want people to give you their money in exchange for a good or service, then it's best not to offend large portions of your customer base. 

Really it comes down to living with the consequences of our choices.  If this is the owners strongly held belief, he has the right to say what he wants, but he can't expect that it won't change the minds of some people.  Freedom of speech doesn't mean that there are no consequences for our actions, and when those consequences are negative, we can't claim that speech is being infringed or "chilled" because we don't like how things panned out.  So he will have to live with the fact that the way he is and the way he operates his business are against my beliefs, and I won't support it with my money. 

Freedom of speech is a two way street, and there are always consequences.