Getting Ready To go, or perhaps more stories...

One wedding story, then a packing story...

We were at a coffee shop on the way to the beach.  I bought a spiced chai with whipped cream.  The lids weren't fitting, so I gave an especially hard shove.  Whipped cream shot out of the hole, and into my right eye.  It coudln't have been more perfect if we'd planned it...

Last night I took two loads of boxes, pictures, rugs and blankets to the house my parents are at.  I have to be out by the 31st to avoid paying rent.  So today I'm going to get a suitcase so I can pack up that stuff, and I think dad is going to pick up a load of my furniture once I'm done unloading it.  Did I mention I have a lot to do?

Now for something completely different

Well, the wedding is over, and now I'm packing and shopping, and planning to leave.  The tour's tentative itenerary has been published, and I will be putting it online soon.    For my Texan friends out there, it looks like I'll be in the D/FW metroplex from September 1-19.  For my California relatives, I'll be in Southern California from October 20th through November 1st.

I have so much to do!  More stories from the wedding and the madness that is packing later.

You know what worries me most about the tour?  Reading the emails from my other actors.  They are all so devoted to reaching people for Christ through the ministry.  Not that I don't realise that is the whole point, and all.  But I'm not on fire like that.  I think Christian Drama can be a lot like anything else in the Christian Pop Culture -- cliched and poorly written.  And completely moot unless our lives reflect the story we're telling anyway.  In my opinion, the best thing about the drama we're doing this time is the lack of sermon or altar call.  Am I too jaded about Christian culture and performers to do this?

I'm back

The Wedding was beautiful.  After much weeping, wailing, and stuffing of baby's breath into things.  Anything that would hold still long enough to stuff it.  My mother was still making bows for the swags at the rehearsal, and would have been perfecting the topiaries on her way down the isle if we had let her.

The party was the best party ever.  The only glitch was the no-show of the dj.  But Andrea had the guy at the church stick around, we called him, and between me, my cousin, and Jason's sister, we rounded up all the cd's with her special music on it for the first three dances.  After all the wedding stuff was over, the real party began.

The real party was my side of the family and various friends that had assisted with the decorating, set up, and airport runs for the past week.  We broke out the champagne, told the DJ to play real music, and had a blast until 12:30.  Then the last four of us (Grant, Michelle, Jeff and myself) found two poor neglected leftover bottles of champagne.  We couldn't just leave them there.  So we found homes for them at the after party.  In the back room of my parents house we watched Monsters Inc.  Grant insisted we get to the 2nd bottle so he could pop the cork. 

The next day Grant had to leave, so after I ran to the airport and back with one of the guests, we all went to the beach, and ate lunch at a Thai restaurant on state street.  Grant left that evening.  Then there were three.

That night we three rented Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen (not my favorite Lindsay Lohan film, I've decided).  The next morning we three took my little sister and cousin Nick miniature golfing on the way to LAX.  Mom and Dad met us there to take the kids back, and Michelle and I took Jeff south.  Afterwards we spent the afternoon on Hollywood Boulevard doing tourist stuff and screaming along to Ace of Base, which was in my sister's CD case. 

Then Michelle had to fly home the next morning, and I had to work, so the party ended.  But it was great, and we all have plans to meet the day after thanksgiving for the after after AFTER party.

Weddings are rediculous.  I'm eloping.  Anyone want to come?

The Wedding that Wouldn't End

The Wedding that Wouldn't End

So I sang at the wedding saturday.  However, saturday morning I woke up with the twenty-four hour flu.   That was miserable.  I absolutely HAD to leave for the wedding at two.  I left at three, with my mother driving, and me trying not to throw up in my car.  I arrived at 4.  The wedding was starting at 4:30.  The sound people wanted me to run my song with the orchestra to check the mic.  It was hot.  The wedding was outdoors.  There was no shade.  I got through one run through, then first chair violin took over and wanted to run it from measure 61.  I blacked out.  I came to on the ground with a couple of strings looking at me like "what's her problem."  I got up and walked into the lobby and bought some water.   "I only have to last until 5:15."  5:15 came and went.  We hadn't even started.  5:30.  6:00.  6:15.  The wedding started at 6:30.  Thank heavens it did, because the sun set, it cooled off, and I had enough water in me finally to make it through the ceremony without blacking out or throwing up on anyone!  SCORE!  I've never been so glad to get a paycheck in my life.  It wouldn't END!

Two days off

I'm in Newport Beach, after a wedding rehearsal at the Ritz Carlton in Laguna Niguel.  This is going to be the poshest wedding I'm singing.  The bride has at least four processionals.  One of them is part of the 1812 overature, Handel's Water Music, and of course the obligatory Canon in D.

  Tomorrow Mom, Aunt Dawn and I are going shopping to kill time.  I have to shop for the three months of tour.  I can't carry a lot, but I need a second pair of jeans, and sneakers, and socks.

The brief blogs will end as soon as the stress is over.

New Job

We interrupt this blogging break to tell you that Rachel will be touring with Wycliffe Dinner theater in the fall.

Sorry

Hey guys, the blogging is on hold for a bit. I'm too busy doing wedding stuff. Yesterday I frosted flower blossoms onto 250 sugarcubes. I baked cakes, cupcakes, and petit fours. Drea made over 300 mints. And I helped hold up an arbor while dad screwed it together. Today, I'm running to Oxnard to pick up my bridesmaid dress. I work tonight. Tomorrow I'll be back to the baking and decorating. So, I'll try to update. There are lots of good stories, but no time to write them!

See some of you at the wedding, and the rest of you after!

Daily Bread

A guy walked into the bar and ordered a Tangueray and Tonic.

For a change, this is a happy story.

A pre-teen came up and was quite demanding, and very brusque. The guy turned to me after he left and was astonished at how many people seem to come here to be demanding and have a bad time over imagined neglect and poor service. They should just be greatful to have the prosperity to be able to be here, away from the city, and enjoying themselves and their families. I liked him right away.

We got onto the subject of musicals and opera. He likes both. We discussed our favorites. I'm not sure how it came up, but the conversation ended up on Tolkien, Lewis, and Chesterton. We discussed thinklings for an hour and a half. It was one of the best days I've ever had out there by the pool. And his last thought was, "You are very odd, you know that? For someone your age. But hold onto it. It must be very lonely, but you've really blessed my day." Need I mention, he's a "mere" Christian. He blessed me more than I could possibly have blessed him. It was a great day.

Everyone is coming

My parents are on the road here. They should be in late this evening. Then, let the wedding madness commence. I'll be going to my Grandmother's house tomorrow to start baking, planning, and all around getting ready for the briday shower. And my bridesmaid's dress is in at David's Bridal. So another trek to Oxnard is in order.

Did I mention I will be eloping?