Sunday, April 27, 2008
Monday, April 21, 2008
Interesting nonsequiter from today's show:
Me: "What do you think will happen next?"
Boy: "You'll be naked?"
Me: (In a tone of a maidenly aunt) "I should certainly hope not."
(I think all the british lit I'm reading is getting the better of me."
Me: "I have the chance to go to Yakima this weekend to visit my family."
Holly: "I didn't think there were any Jewish people in Yakima."
Me: "What do you think will happen next?"
Boy: "You'll be naked?"
Me: (In a tone of a maidenly aunt) "I should certainly hope not."
(I think all the british lit I'm reading is getting the better of me."
Me: "I have the chance to go to Yakima this weekend to visit my family."
Holly: "I didn't think there were any Jewish people in Yakima."
Friday, April 18, 2008
It's snowing today. Hard. With a bit of hail and rain thrown in. And lightning, of all things. We decided either global warming has taken a turn for the worse, or the apocalypse is here.
Tomorrow I have an audition for some industrial work. It isn't glamorous, but it pays the bills. (Industrial work is all of the acted out employee training or sensitivity lectures. Bet you didn't know they hired real actors for that, did you? Ditto, in film, for all corporate training videos and those flight safety informational featurettes.)
Alice's Wonderland is drawing to a close. Yesterday was hellishly cute. After the Red Queen threatened to cut everyone's head off, and retired backstage in a snit, the kids took my suggestion to hide at face value, and eight of them crowded under the set table and behind the curtains. I had to do an operatic move - namely, hide a bunch of people behind my skirts. Holly came out and broke character.
I decided that, in the face of an appalling lack of spring clothing, I could spend my Alice money this week to find two pairs of pants. And anything else I could afford for $36. As a woman on a mission who hates jeans shopping more than anything else (except swimsuits), I was proactive. I went to my favorite thrift store first, and invested in a girdle. Everything fit nicer after that, and at Goodwill, I found one pair of jeans that fits except for hemming, and three tops! All told, I spent $32 on clothes today. I feel very accomplished.
Having done my spring shopping, it began to snow as soon as I got home.
Tomorrow I have an audition for some industrial work. It isn't glamorous, but it pays the bills. (Industrial work is all of the acted out employee training or sensitivity lectures. Bet you didn't know they hired real actors for that, did you? Ditto, in film, for all corporate training videos and those flight safety informational featurettes.)
Alice's Wonderland is drawing to a close. Yesterday was hellishly cute. After the Red Queen threatened to cut everyone's head off, and retired backstage in a snit, the kids took my suggestion to hide at face value, and eight of them crowded under the set table and behind the curtains. I had to do an operatic move - namely, hide a bunch of people behind my skirts. Holly came out and broke character.
I decided that, in the face of an appalling lack of spring clothing, I could spend my Alice money this week to find two pairs of pants. And anything else I could afford for $36. As a woman on a mission who hates jeans shopping more than anything else (except swimsuits), I was proactive. I went to my favorite thrift store first, and invested in a girdle. Everything fit nicer after that, and at Goodwill, I found one pair of jeans that fits except for hemming, and three tops! All told, I spent $32 on clothes today. I feel very accomplished.
Having done my spring shopping, it began to snow as soon as I got home.
Saturday, April 12, 2008
It's a very religious day in Seattle today.
My bus was filled with people dressed up like proper Asian Buddhists for the appearance of the Dalai Lhama. Which I understand if you're of Asian descent and can conceivably worship in an ultra conservative wat-esque way. I was trying very hard on the bus not to judge the obviously western caucasian people dressed the same way, but then I went to my favorite chocolate shop, and I mentioned the costumes, and she said, "Were they white?" I said "Thank you! I know, right?" (I haven't been to enough Christian conferences to know for sure, but I don't recall anyone dressing like a biblical disciple, or a Catholic Priest or whatever to show solidarity - although we do wear enough Jesus t-shirts, wristbands, hats, and bumper stickers to be equally silly-looking in my mind).
I digress.
On the bus ride back the Christians were picketing the Christian Scientist building.
My bus was filled with people dressed up like proper Asian Buddhists for the appearance of the Dalai Lhama. Which I understand if you're of Asian descent and can conceivably worship in an ultra conservative wat-esque way. I was trying very hard on the bus not to judge the obviously western caucasian people dressed the same way, but then I went to my favorite chocolate shop, and I mentioned the costumes, and she said, "Were they white?" I said "Thank you! I know, right?" (I haven't been to enough Christian conferences to know for sure, but I don't recall anyone dressing like a biblical disciple, or a Catholic Priest or whatever to show solidarity - although we do wear enough Jesus t-shirts, wristbands, hats, and bumper stickers to be equally silly-looking in my mind).
I digress.
On the bus ride back the Christians were picketing the Christian Scientist building.
Today is the dreaded taxes day. Well, not so dreaded as I did all of the adding and computing yesterday, and now have only to go get a fresh copy of all of my forms and submit the thing. If I did everything correctly (Oh PLEASE!) I'm getting a nice refund. Plus the money our Mr. President is giving us back to make us feel better about our economy - instead of paying off our deficit.
Last night was a stay at home moving night for me. Hurrah! I've been running like mad this week. One of the former roommates had left behind two Danny Kaye movies. One of them, The Court Jester, was fantastic! Glynes Johns was the leading lady (Mrs. Banks from Mary Poppins), and Angela Lansbury was the Princess -and almost unrecognizable. All of the performances I've seen her in were from later in her career. Danny Kaye, of course, was brilliant as usual. And there are some immortal lines, like the "Flagon with the Flagon" speech.
I'm doing one more show of Alice this weekend, and 8 more shows of both roles from now until the end of the run on the 27th. Tech for Cinderella is Monday, and I perform two shows on the 29th.
I sat on the bus coming home yesterday with this woman across from me hollering into her cell phone almost the entire ride. She spoke very slowly, and was trying to get a prescription written from a receptionist in an office. As the bus went up hills or sped up, she got louder and louder to compensate - until I found myself humming to myself to escape from the noise. Finally, towards the end, she bellowed "I'm only slightly mentally ill!" That explained it. But it was very odd to sense behind me the discomfort of all of the other passengers, and to watch the faces of people getting on the bus who had to pass by the barrage to get to their seats. I feel sorry for the yelling lady, and glad she seems to be managing so well. My ears were ringing, though.
Last night was a stay at home moving night for me. Hurrah! I've been running like mad this week. One of the former roommates had left behind two Danny Kaye movies. One of them, The Court Jester, was fantastic! Glynes Johns was the leading lady (Mrs. Banks from Mary Poppins), and Angela Lansbury was the Princess -and almost unrecognizable. All of the performances I've seen her in were from later in her career. Danny Kaye, of course, was brilliant as usual. And there are some immortal lines, like the "Flagon with the Flagon" speech.
I'm doing one more show of Alice this weekend, and 8 more shows of both roles from now until the end of the run on the 27th. Tech for Cinderella is Monday, and I perform two shows on the 29th.
I sat on the bus coming home yesterday with this woman across from me hollering into her cell phone almost the entire ride. She spoke very slowly, and was trying to get a prescription written from a receptionist in an office. As the bus went up hills or sped up, she got louder and louder to compensate - until I found myself humming to myself to escape from the noise. Finally, towards the end, she bellowed "I'm only slightly mentally ill!" That explained it. But it was very odd to sense behind me the discomfort of all of the other passengers, and to watch the faces of people getting on the bus who had to pass by the barrage to get to their seats. I feel sorry for the yelling lady, and glad she seems to be managing so well. My ears were ringing, though.
Tuesday, April 08, 2008
We had our wrap party for "November" which is currently up for awards at the 168 Festival in LA. Our lead actress is also up for an award for her performance. I won an award as well - on behalf of my cast and crew, at least.
The Scarlett O'Hara Award - for ability to make costumes out of common household items.
The Scarlett O'Hara Award - for ability to make costumes out of common household items.
Friday, April 04, 2008
My Florida working vacation is almost over. So far no major catastrophies other than one child being rather sunburned. They're out shopping for "Lillys" right now, so I'm cleaning clothes and preparing to pack suitcases.
It's been pretty good. Other than the desperation that comes from trying to keep two girls (ages 7 and 10) on their best behavior all the time. Another unforseen problem, trying to get them to converse with Grandmama at the table. Trying to keep the playing from turning into fighting is a given, but since they operate in much the same way as my sister and I did at that age, I feel I've got a good handle on the dynamic.
It's funny, not having children of my own, how much work it is to be "mom" all day. I can't complete a phone call without someone calling for me, or needing me. I eat only after they've scarfed and left, and I disappoint them when I spend an hour in the pool with them, and the WHOLE REST OF THE DAY reading by the poolside, watching for drowning or unfair playing, and dragging them out to reapply sunscreen.
The best part of the trip was the eldest picking out the first book of the Lord of the Rings trilogy as her reading. Which, actually, became my reading - as I read them to bed at night, and on long car trips. I'm doing all the voices - though Pippin and Merry I haven't figured out yet. They kind of fluctuate between Irish and Yorkshire. Frodo is very proper British, and the Elves all talk very slowly - though not as slowly as Fangorn would, if we were to get there. Gandalf is the hardest -my voice doesn't go that low. (This is sort of a cop-out, but their parents did say to either have them read, or read to them. And since the youngest loves Lord of the Rings, and spent an hour in the pool one night grilling me for back history, it didn't seem fair not to let them both enjoy it. I had the oldest help me read my script last night - and she played half the characters. That counts).
So that's it. I hear the washing machine has stopped, so I'd better go take care of that.
Ciao from Florida!
It's been pretty good. Other than the desperation that comes from trying to keep two girls (ages 7 and 10) on their best behavior all the time. Another unforseen problem, trying to get them to converse with Grandmama at the table. Trying to keep the playing from turning into fighting is a given, but since they operate in much the same way as my sister and I did at that age, I feel I've got a good handle on the dynamic.
It's funny, not having children of my own, how much work it is to be "mom" all day. I can't complete a phone call without someone calling for me, or needing me. I eat only after they've scarfed and left, and I disappoint them when I spend an hour in the pool with them, and the WHOLE REST OF THE DAY reading by the poolside, watching for drowning or unfair playing, and dragging them out to reapply sunscreen.
The best part of the trip was the eldest picking out the first book of the Lord of the Rings trilogy as her reading. Which, actually, became my reading - as I read them to bed at night, and on long car trips. I'm doing all the voices - though Pippin and Merry I haven't figured out yet. They kind of fluctuate between Irish and Yorkshire. Frodo is very proper British, and the Elves all talk very slowly - though not as slowly as Fangorn would, if we were to get there. Gandalf is the hardest -my voice doesn't go that low. (This is sort of a cop-out, but their parents did say to either have them read, or read to them. And since the youngest loves Lord of the Rings, and spent an hour in the pool one night grilling me for back history, it didn't seem fair not to let them both enjoy it. I had the oldest help me read my script last night - and she played half the characters. That counts).
So that's it. I hear the washing machine has stopped, so I'd better go take care of that.
Ciao from Florida!
Thursday, April 03, 2008
Congratulations
Congratulations to Maurleine, one of my sponsor children, who just Graduated from the Compassion Program. One more woman in the world who has been allowed a chance to expand and grow and learn. It is an amazing thing for a girl in her country to go to school, much less to complete her education (the equivalent of finishing high school) and I'm very very proud of her!
If you'd like to give the gift of education to someone yourself, click the compassion icon on my sidebar and check into it!
If you'd like to give the gift of education to someone yourself, click the compassion icon on my sidebar and check into it!
Tuesday, April 01, 2008
Florida
Toddlers are the best form of birth control. I'm in Florida nannying my own usual charges, but their Aunt and two cousins (ages 5 and 2 1/2) are here as well. They fly out this evening after extending their trip a few days. They are a handful. The noise level is tremendous. And the Aunt, who was a lovely professional woman, now converses by way of a constant dialogue interspersed with indictments to her children, or answers to their millions of questions.
Would it be possible, do you think, to have a baby and then ship them off until they are, say 7?
Otherwise my working vacation is lovely. I spend ages in the pool, yesterday was at the beach, and we go every day to the ice cream store. I bought a new straw hat yesterday with a wonderful floppy brim, and there's an alligator in the fountain at the entrance of the resort. He comes complete with his own egret, who stalks around the pond and stares in the direction of the alligator, so you always know where he is. He's been removed by the grounds staff several times, but always comes tromping back to his habitat.
Tomorrow we're to go see the Everglades.
Would it be possible, do you think, to have a baby and then ship them off until they are, say 7?
Otherwise my working vacation is lovely. I spend ages in the pool, yesterday was at the beach, and we go every day to the ice cream store. I bought a new straw hat yesterday with a wonderful floppy brim, and there's an alligator in the fountain at the entrance of the resort. He comes complete with his own egret, who stalks around the pond and stares in the direction of the alligator, so you always know where he is. He's been removed by the grounds staff several times, but always comes tromping back to his habitat.
Tomorrow we're to go see the Everglades.
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