The Wycliffe Dinner theater, due to a two and a half week longer tour in the spring, and a few shows cancelled, have found ourselves with far too much time on our hands. And with limited finances (our daily expense allowance doesn't stretch very far), and shopping out of the question, we've decided to donate our time where we can.
Today we're going to our latest venue to help pack relief boxes.
The church secretary's jaw dropped when we asked if we could join.
People, homestays and family especially, keep asking why I don't just buy a new pair. Almost every week I spend a good portion of my days off mending tears, patching holes, and finding something to do about seams that are worn.
Two reasons I suppose: It gives me something creative to do, and it feels good to keep mending and patching instead of throwing things away as soon as they look worn.
One hundred years ago your average person didn't toss something just because it was out of style or missing a button. Faded clothes were turned inside out and remade. Styles were refreshed. Several ratty bonnets were ripped apart and turned into one nice, new one. Granted, clothes then were made to last and of better quality, but the principle is the same. Even though I can sew, I often get rid of things that don't fit, or sent to the thrift store clothing that has a small tear or a missing anything. But on tour I can't. Partly because I can't afford to get anything new - so I have to make do. And mostly because I put so much wear on my clothing, it seems silly to buy a new pair of clothes to half-destroy by the time tour is over.
So I'm going to keep tearing and mending the clothes I brought. It's fun. And my hand sewing skills are improving daily.
Today I played volleyball.
I know.
But the group was hanging out, and I wanted to be a part. So I brought a book and some crochet and watched happily from the sidelines. I'm not much for organized sports, and this one particularly has bad memories. My grandfather (well meaning, but very competative) kicked me off his volleyball team at the family reunion because I kept hitting it into the dirt. So I haven't even wanted to join in a game since.
But I watched, and nobody seemed to be taking the game seriously. And everyone was messing up now and then. And those that couldn't hit the ball consistantly were being encouraged by both sides. Seemed pretty safe to me.
So I borrowed a tank top from Jessica, tossed aside my flip flops, and took Johnny's place in the fourth game. Did I mention I was wearing a jean skirt? I hit the ball five times total, and dodged, shrinking a bunch. But three of my serves went right where I wanted. And I think I bumped it once. Then my wrist got tired, and I couldn't hit straight to save my soul. It went over though. Vanessa made some amazing dives. Once, she fell and Torrie dove right over the top of her. Tasha tried to be everywhere at once. Aaron hit more than his share for the other team. Merry and Pippin did well for themselves, when they weren't distracted by rims. Whatever the heck. Jules hit several lovely shots. Liz had the worlds most consistant serve. Jessica could pop the ball just barely over the net, so you would think it was on their side, and not even go for it. Angie had two great serves right at the end when they were needed. And Austen hit some nice ones, when he wasn't fighting for Tasha over the ball. "Mine! This one's mine. Touch the ball and I'll kill you. The next one's mine, too!"
Then we were down to the final ... whatever it's called. Round I suppose. And we were tied. 14-13, and my team was up. We volleyed a bit. It came to me, and I hit it over. And they missed it.
I won the game point.
It makes me very sleepy on the off days.
Yesterday we went to Tasha's homestay and played Volleyball (I watched), then ordered Chinese takeout and played cards. Aaron and I played Speed, then Austen, Liz and Adam joined us for another game. Jonathan, Tasha, Angie and Torrie played Rummicubes. So a good day off was had by all.
It's going to be an odd week, though. We have one or two shows, then a day or two off from now until spring break. Tonight we begin the first of two shows. That means stage crew doesn't have to tear down tonight, but kitchen crew does our normal days work. Tomorrow will be work projects...
In the play, there's a scene where Anne and Jo are learning how to speak Balangao. Tekla teaches them the parts of a loom, and then asks if Jo wants to try it. Anne eggs her on, and Jo weaves successfully for a moment, then makes hash of things.
A homestay a few days ago had a large pillow covered with thread and long spindles. She was making thread lace, a skill she'd learned in Belgium. She laid it on the floor, and demonstrated how to weave the two main threads back and forth across the others. Then she looked at me and said, "Would you like to try?" I looked at Angie, who grinned and nodded. "Ok." I picked up the threads and started weaving. Then it hit me. I was living the play. Line for line, nod for nod, grin for grin. So I looked at Angie and said "Cha'a manafar!" And we both laughed.
Only I didn't make hash of it...
I have never much liked Hugh Grant. Mostly that's because in every movie I'd ever seen he played the same character. Smug, cocky, hind-end-of-a-mule's-father. Rumor had it that not only does he play that character extremely well, it doesn't really count as acting in the strictest sense because he's merely accentuating his personality. Especially in Notting Hill. Can't recall why I loathed that movie, but it makes me shudder.
And then I saw Love Actually. Which is now one of my favorite movies. And Hugh Grant was likeable. In fact, he's adorable. Not as adorable as Colin Firth. Or the guy whose name I can never recall, yet I can remember that his character name in Star Wars was Qui Gon Jinn. You know, the Schindler's list guy. But cute, and not playing the hind-end-of-a-mule's-father. So I grudgingly thought about giving up my prejudice Hugh Grant-wards. And two weeks notice was cute enough, and I liked him in Sense and Sensibility.
So, when Jess told me I had to see this movie, I agreed. Though she excused herself from any responsibility of my actually liking Hugh Grant because his character was remarkably similar to that which I hate of him.
But it was a good flick. The kid needs a haircut, but I think that's the point. Because at the end when he's finally allowed to be 'normal' - instead of a lunatic who clearly stepped too close to an alpaca - he wears oversized clothes, baggy jeans, and his hair is swept back from his part as if to show that he's finally 'one of the guys.' This is, of course, a British film. Because an American film would have actually cut his hair. This one relied too heavily on the audience making the leap that they are merely "implying" a change. That's a stage trick, you know. Actually, I rather suspect that his real mother informed them that her son could have an obviously butchered bowl cut, but under no circumstances was he to have a Mohawk.
Toni Colette was very good. She plays slightly neurotic very well (For those of you who don't recall, she was Harriet in the Gwenneth Paltrow Emma, and she was the mother in the "I see dead people" movie). And his love interest was the heroine from The Mummy (I can remember her name, I just can't recall how to spell it, and it's too much trouble to look up).
So, assuming I'm not the only person on the planet who hadn't seen it yet, you might consider renting it. And for more supremely-messed-up family movies, you might consider Home for the Holidays. We watched it last night. Very strange.
1. Never, under any circumstances, take a sleeping pill and a laxative on the same night.
2. If you had to identify, in one word, the reason why the human race has not achieved, and never will achieve, its full potential, that word would be "meetings."
3. There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."
4. People who want to share their religious views with you almost never want you to share yours with them.
5. You should not confuse your career with your life.
6. Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just get up and dance. (I wish I had!)
7. Never lick a steak knife. (Or try to open a milk carton with one)
8. The most destructive force in the universe is gossip.
9. You will never find anybody who can give you a clear and compelling reason why we observe daylight savings time.
10. You should never say anything to a woman that even remotely suggests that you think she's pregnant unless you can see an actual baby emerging from her at that moment.
11. There comes a time when you should stop expecting other people to make a big deal about your birthday. That time is age 21.
12. The one thing that unites all human beings, regardless of age, gender, religion, economic status or ethnic background, is that, deep own inside, we ALL believe that we are above average drivers.
13. A person, who is nice to you, but rude to a waiter, is not a nice erson. (This is very important. Pay attention. It never fails.)
14. Never be afraid to try something new. Remember that a lone amateur built the Ark. A large group of professionals built the Titanic.
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Last night our homestay took us out to an excellent Chinese restaurant, where we ordered family-style for three. They brought enough food for six. The fried prawns were the best, really, though sweet and sour pork is a long time favorite.
I'm looking at possibly heading to Tucson for the summer. I know. What a gosh-awful place to be in August. But my boss from the last place is heading there, and maybe, when he gets settled in, I'll be able to get a job. I'm in the process of researching apartments. And found one right away that has a short term lease, and allows pets. After that, who knows. I've been thinking semi-seriously about Portland. Maybe I could land a job at Powells to cover my book habit. It would be interesting to see exactly how many states I can move to in a single year...
The sun finally emerged for two days, and Jessica and I made the most of it. Yesterday and today we sat on our homestay's front lawn with knitting, crochet, and a few good books and munchies. It was perfect. Except I think I may have a sunburned face...
So we cooked, set up the house, and a general contractor brought us three generators to run the sound and lights. And we did the show. With the constant beeping of something electrical telling us that there was no power. In case we hadn't got the memo. Two somethings actually, which beeped in and out of synch with each other all day. It was very distracting onstage to be in the middle of a narration and hear *beep beep* *beep beep beep beep* *beep beep beep beep beep beep beep beep* Add to that a hearing aid that whistled and all my emotional monologues were out the window. Otherwise, it was a great show and a very receptive audience. The general dismay backstage was - how on earth are we going to tear down everything and wash dishes once we take down the lighting equipment.
By flashlight and Coleman lantern. The bathrooms had two candles apiece, and stage crew kept the lights up as long as possible. Then, 15 minutes before we loaded the trailers the power returned. And the people rejoiced...
The best part of the evening was finding out that enough money had been raised not only to cover our cost, but to help the missionaries of the evening refurbish a boat they will be taking to provide transportation of medical personnel and Bibles to a set of islands that are difficult to navigate.
