persephone33

 LJ ate two posts yesterday.  Two LONG ones.  That brasses me off on a level previously only held by people who pull out in front of me in heavy traffic.

Anyway.  I thought Monday sucked out loud.  I can say that now, having perspective, and I know unequivocally and beyond a shadow of a doubt that yes, indeed, Monday did suck.

I got a raging headache from eating things I know that I shoudn't.  NO MORE DEVIATIONS.  NO sugar.  I don't care if people say I'm weird or not.  'Eff 'em and feed 'em fish heads,' my sweetly eloquent husband says.

BIL's father died.  He was a sweet man.  We're going to Denver on Sunday for the funeral.  It's a 16 hour drive round trip, or $1600 in airfare.  We drive.  Be back Tuesday.

And when did I get to the age that I go to more funerals than weddings?  Seriously.  I take it back.  I WANT to buy blenders and sit through wooden readings of 1 Cornthians 13.  Please.  

My week has been consumed with trying to sell this house or making decisions on the other one.  I swear if the flooring lady calls ONE MORE TIME, I will end her.  She's old, too.  I could totally take her.  BAM.  Just a clothesline and an elbow drop, and she's done.  (I'm kidding.  Sorta.  Mostly.)

I made videos of the interior rooms of the old house, more for me and the boys than for anyone else, but if I get ambitious, I might post them.  Gotta keep the stalkers happy.  *waves at the stalkers*

Playwrighting.  Arriving late and leaving early and not contibuting while you're there is not going to get a play written.  (It's a fabulous premise this semester, but I'm not writing it.  Completely fabulous, and could be flipping hysterical...  Still not writing it.  There was some action on Google docs yesterday, so that's encouraging.)

Caliga.  Still adore Caliga.  Still.  Though, Pansy's getting so very tired of being a captive.  I think she's going to make her move soon.  I hope she lives.  She wants to play with the new vampire friend!  And hug on Cormac.  What a sweetheart.  He doesn't even know it, which is, I think, the best part.  Lots of scenes going on right now.  Super fun.  *Huggles the people*

As for Michael, his life is so sweet and perfect that I find myself JEALOUS OF MY OWN FICTIONAL CHARACTER.  

Clearly, I need therapy.  Will I go?  No, for I am too busy freaking out about picking out cabinet pulls for the house.  Somebody shoot me, please.  Or maybe just come to Amarillo and help.  I'll buy you lunch and keep you entertained while you're here.

I was supposed to meet with Steph today.  It snowed three inches last night.  I hate driving on snow. (Celeste, Jessica, Mallory and Vicky can call me a wimp.  I'm not an excellent driver when there's NO white stuff all over.)  It was 65 earlier this week and now it's freezing.  That always makes my body freak out. Pick a temperature, y'all.  Either one.  I'm fine with either.

Gotta get the munchkins up for school.  Darn it.  I have a cute kid story, too.  Maybe later.

 

Yesterday I had a meeting with the powers that be about the ALT Academy, where I teach.  I think it's going to be a good thing...  it turns out that not only will I be teaching Acting 3 & 4, as well as Playwrighting (they had actually misspelled 'playwrighting' on the class list that went out to everyone :P), but I will also be doing guest spots several times in Junior and Senior companies.  That makes me very happy.  I'm thinking that they have it all straightened out, now; all of the teachers are actually teaching in their comfort zones, and no one that isn't comfortable with teenagers will be trying to teach the high school students.  That got frustrating last year, hearing the students complain about teachers and not being able to do anything about it.  But it's all better, now, hopefully.

Now I must go purchase vast amounts of food and booze for the company picnic.  Which means I have to go to....

Sam's.  

*gags*

...because really, it was.   The women I was nominated with all ROCKED, and the woman that did win played my mother in Steel Magnolias; she actually even looks a little like my mom.  To put it in her words when I hugged her after,

"Oh, Carrie, you just can't top a 20 minute monologue at the end of the show."

Yup.  A truer word was never spoken.  Soooooo...  I ate, drank, had hubs as arm candy, and I did win an award.  The staff of the theatre gives out "SALT" awards...  like jokes; but they're fun, everyone really likes them.  I got one for The Lonesome West (see all of March & April for my bitching and whining about that).  It's a black comedy set in Ireland with A LOT OF SWEARING.  It's a seriously funny script.  I was Asst. Director, and I had to read in lines for the actors that were missing (along with 4,563 other various duties).  There were only four characters in that show, so no one was absent much.  The first time they were I started reading, and had to stop half way through the line the language was so bad.  It had a hard time coming out of my mouth. (It's different when you're home alone and stub your toe, or are really mad - then they just roll right off ;)).  But by the end of the run, I could do it - no problem.  Anyhoo, they were proud that they'd corrupted me; I got the "Pardon my French" SALT award.  It was funny.

Maybe you had to be there.

Or have slammed back had three some  a few cocktails.


The Artistic Director of the theatre wants to set up a meeting for me to teach more classes.  (Heidi's leaving - how 'bout that for an inside scoop Carlee (if you'd ever comment I'd remember your damn username) & alittleredhood ?)  Maybe I'll get theatre 3 & 4 back?  Or better yet, Junior and Senior company?  That would be awesome.  I miss teaching acting.  

So all in all, a good evening.  Not the icing, but definitely the cake.  *wink*

So my last playwrighting class is next monday and  it has been such a productive year!  We wrote TWO plays, one that's about 30 pages with a story arc and a plot that took us till from September 'til the end of March, and then a 10 pager that I absolutely adore:  Superhero Therapy.  The class did a read-thru last night for the completed project and we laughed hard.  ALL of us.  It's so fun, I'm gonna post it, so you all can share in the goodness.  I'm not even going to post the character list.  It'll make perfect sense without it, I hope.  

The following is owned by the Amarillo Little Theatre and the script may not be reproduced without express permission.  Don't steal it!  We hardly worked worked really hard on this!  Cyd, Jake, Carlee, Sara, Amber & Carrie would love to hear what you think!

And gas prices are $3.25 a gallon.  For crying out loud, why not just hold a gun to our heads?

Netflix sent Oscar and Lucinda (1997) this weekend while we were gone.  Ironically, while we were visiting my mother she raved about how good this movie was and recommended it, and I already had it in my queue, as it turned out.  Anyway...  it's a fascinating character study, and the narration was interesting, rather like a documentary for the characters... or the commentary you get when you watch the special features of a DVD.  Not necessary, but helpful.  Ralph Fiennes is all kinds of awesome, and after the first 5 minutes I totally stopped imagining him with no nose and red eyes, he was really very good.  Cate Blanchett was young and pretty...  makes me wonder if she's had work done.  I was unprepared for the spectacularly unhappy ending.  When I recommend a movie, it's usually with a caveat; "It's sad. be forewarned".  Mom gave me none of that, and I can't even properly chastise her because she's on a cruise for the next week (poor girl)!  Even worse, Nolan has begun using the word "nab"  or "nabbed" and a euphemism for sex.  =P  Oh, dear.

The exchange fic is coming along.  I'd say that I have 3/4 of it written, and a quarter of it typed.  I abhor typing.  I do.  I got a lot done this weekend, staying up late and scribbling away.  It's gonna be a monster, probably longer than my last one.  Ah, well.  what're ya gonna do?

The weekend was really wonderful.  Tom & Nolan went to the Byron Nelson Golf Classic and mom and I stayed home and entertained the boys and ourselves.  Friday we went to the zoo, and Saturday we went to the park (there's a ridiculous amount of picspam under the cut).  We cooked, we drank good wine, the boys were introduced (via Papa Tom) to Rocky and Bullwinkle, and I have discovered my absolute love of Crystal Light Drink Mix in the 'Sunrise Ruby Red Grapefruit' flavor.  It's spectacular, and I'm not even a huge grapefruit fan.

Things I need to do:  Record the podcast (I have kind of a scratchy throat and deeper voice than normal right now; I might put that off for a few days) and I really must paint the boy's room this week and do touch-up paint in the rest of the house.  I MUST.  Tonight I have playwrighting class and have to go to Oklahoma! rehearsal so I can see if all of the props are being used properly.  Would it be rude to bring my ipod and listen to something else while I'm there?  (I'm kidding.  No I'm not.)

Have a good week everyone!

So.  Lots of positive stuff!

I watched a bit of auditions for the play my class and I wrote last year (which officially being produced at the theatre - YAY!).  There is something so satisfying at hearing your words spoken by an actor.  Even if the interp is off a little, it's worth it.  Can't wait to see what they do with it.  Ambrosia, Peanut Butter, Kool-Aid and Enchiladas, a Story of the Teenaged Gods of Ancient Greece.  Oh, how I love that title.  Late May.  Can't wait.

The ALTAs (an awards assembly that the theatre has every year which is like the Oscars, but much, much more lame) are in June, and I'm looking forward to that, not because I'm nominated and might win something, but because it'll be a great party.  Open bar, good food, a little entertainment, good times.

Preview night (half price tickets!) was fanfreakingtastic last night.  It was a very small, but properly appreciative crowd.  I always lose sight  (or faith) that people will actually laugh at the jokes.  I was thrilled and relieved standing backstage.  I couldn't have been prouder if they were my own children.  The actors were relaxed and happy, the director was able to take deep breaths again, and I'm just glad we're open and can stop messing about with things.  My job is officially over; the crew will do scene changes, all I have to to is prepare the "bourbon and wax " beforehand and then supervise, and take care of any emergencies that might crop up.

Bourbon and wax.  Heh.  It's not what it sounds like...  no kink involved...  maybe next season.

And the opening night party is tonight.  Woo-hoo.  Another (semi) open bar.

Something else that I've wanted to mention for awhile is that my boys, sweet Ethan and Aaron,  always open doors for me.  They'll hold open the front door, open my car door for me, kind of like mini-chivalric knights in shining armor.  Of course once we get in the car it's back to, "HE'S LOOKING AT ME!"  or wailing on each other--they both have black eyes right now-- (no one call CPS... ).  What can you do?  You take the good, and try to ignore (or tactfully discipline, perhaps) the bad.

You know how when you fill out forms you have to check a ticky box that says your age?  Like, 16-20, 20-25...  etc?
I just had to check the 31-40 box.  Thirty-one to Forty?  When the crap did that happen?  

Oh, well.   It can't be all bunnies.

This day is not going as planned.  

Tuesdays and Thursdays are "Mother's Day Out."  My sweet 4 year old has the croup, and thus cannot go to school today, and he has required much, much more of my attention than usual.  He needs breathing treatments, which he does NOT appreciate.  They are much easier to give to him now than when he was a baby, and for that I am grateful.  He wants me to hold him, (he weighs 55 lbs, so it's only when I'm sitting that I can do this) and watch movies with him, and so far I've been subjected to Sesame Street (kind of nostalgic), Star Wars, Attack of the Clones (Not too shabby, Hayden Christensen (sp?), yummy!) and Blue's Big Musical (Blue's Clues makes me want to poke my eyes out).  He categorically refuses to take a nap, which is really what he needs.

And WHY in heaven's name have they not come up with a way to make Robitussin taste better in the last 25 years?  It tastes every bit as crappy as it did when I was little!

I do enjoy cuddling the little one, he's usually moving so fast he doesn't have time for a hug.  My shopping excursion, grocery store trip, lunch with friends, and other superfluous errands can wait til my 'baby' is better.

I've got a major case of writer's block.  The only thing I seem to be able to write is the play for the class I teach, and that's supposed to be a group effort!  If anyone out there sees my muse, could you slap her around and send her back to Texas?

I'm teaching a playwrighting class this fall and I have a SUPER fun group of students that I gave just a crazy assignment...  which was only met with a few whines...  so I did it as well.  I thought it was fun.  I may, however, have a warped sense of fun.   It was definitely a challenge to make sure all of those elements listed were in the story , and that they made sense!  Anyway, click the link to read my ALT playwrighting scene entitled Madeline's Summer.

Or don't.  It's up to you.  It's pointless, mindless fluff and won't change the world, but it's cute, I think.

Lovely Sunday, all!