dedicated to The May Queen, the elephant who always forgets
When I leave school to ride on home
Mom always asks of me
"What did you do in school today?
(is this school worth its fee?)"
At recess I did run about
and played I was a jet
But now I don't remember so:
"Oh... I forget"
And though I learned a lot about
making a robot
All I can think to say right now:
"Um... I forgot"
Then Mom asks after friends she knows,
and new ones I have met
And though Michelle was really nice:
"Oh...I forget"
In music we had lots of fun
dancing the Turkey Trot
but when I think back on my day:
"Um... I forgot"
When Mother asks me questions
I know I will regret
but somehow all I know to say is:
"Oh... I forget"
*****
This post is a publication of Monday Missions, Inc. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to write a post in the style of a children's story - one of Joy's favorite past missions. (if you click on the "children's story" link it will take you to the one I did last year, and you can get the links to all the others from that (you'll have to click on the "here" link). It was actually a rather popular one, so you can see several examples for inspiration.
If you write your own Children's Story Monday Mission, please post a link in the widget below.
December is chock full of nostalgic missions. Start planning yours now. Your missions, should you choose to accept them, are to write posts in the style of...
12/8 - a poem - a favorite of Mary G from back when I was just reading the Missions and not hosting them!
12/15 - a song (rewrite the lyrics to a familiar tune) - one of my favorites
12/22 - a Letter to Santa (this is not a nostalgic mission, but Joy suggested it and I couldn't resist.)
12/29 - no Mission - see you next year!
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Friday, November 28, 2008
The latest Halloween post ever
I am just now uploading the pictures from Halloween... because I am way behind like that. Here are a few of my favorite pictures of my little Halloween Kitty...
Meow.
******
December's Nostalgic Monday Missions begin THIS coming Monday with a mission to write a post in the style of a children's story - one of Joy's favorite past missions. (if you click on the "children's story" link it will take you to the one I did last year, and you can get the links to all the others from that (you'll have to click on the "here" link). It was actually a rather popular one, so you can see several examples for inspiration.
Thursday, November 27, 2008
A Season of Thanks
I, like you, have many things to be thankful for this Thanksgiving Day. And I, perhaps like you, spent a fair amount of the day grumbling... at least in my head.
I'm having a hard time reconciling the Thanksgiving in my brain with the one that actually happens, and this morning I felt awfully grumpy about the ordinariness of the day.
But by now, the end... as I sit sipping a glass (er...what number is it?) of wine and still stuffed to the gills from our 3:30 dinner, I am thankful for our quiet and relaxing day. Thankful for the fried turkey we bought from our church as a fundraiser to feed children in Haiti. Thankful for our friend who came to eat with us, bringing several yummy dishes. Thankful for my grandfather who is staying with us all this week, and today told stories about meeting my grandmother and getting the dog they had when my mother grew up. Thankful that The May Queen is old enough to play games like Uno, and that we could all gather around the table and laugh and enjoy each other's company.
It's not a loud bustling Thanksgiving. It was quiet, and almost ordinary. A sharing of a meal by a small group of family and friends. And that is truly something to be grateful for.
I'm having a hard time reconciling the Thanksgiving in my brain with the one that actually happens, and this morning I felt awfully grumpy about the ordinariness of the day.
But by now, the end... as I sit sipping a glass (er...what number is it?) of wine and still stuffed to the gills from our 3:30 dinner, I am thankful for our quiet and relaxing day. Thankful for the fried turkey we bought from our church as a fundraiser to feed children in Haiti. Thankful for our friend who came to eat with us, bringing several yummy dishes. Thankful for my grandfather who is staying with us all this week, and today told stories about meeting my grandmother and getting the dog they had when my mother grew up. Thankful that The May Queen is old enough to play games like Uno, and that we could all gather around the table and laugh and enjoy each other's company.
It's not a loud bustling Thanksgiving. It was quiet, and almost ordinary. A sharing of a meal by a small group of family and friends. And that is truly something to be grateful for.
I am also very thankful for this lovely decoration, which I won a few weeks ago over at Potted Frog. The photo does not do it justice, particularly with the sun shining on it like that, but it's a wonderful and warm welcome to my home, hanging just inside the door, and will be a reminder for years to come of how thankful I am for all of you... my bloggy friends. And Louise... THANKS! I love it!
A season of thanks... a season of blessings... a season of love
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
cheating
I'm listening to a book on CD as I drive to and from rehearsal. The book has been recommended to me, and I know it's been made into a made for cable movie, but I otherwise don't know a lot about it. I'm enjoying it, however... I'm afraid that the main character is about to have an extra marital affair.
I hate to sound all prudish and all, but I really hate it. It makes me want to chuck the CD out the window and into the lake as I drive across the bridge.
I'm hoping that's not where it's going.
I'm so sick and tired of novels and movies that all revolve around affairs. I've seen some movies and read some books I really enjoyed that have this as a central theme, but I find, particularly as I get older and become an"old married woman", that I have less and less tolerance for it. I'm tired of characters who don't value their marriage enough, I'm tired of being led to sympathize with the people who cheat, I'm tired of it being seen as romantic and daring and interesting. Show me the struggle in the relationship, show the temptation and the resistance, show the price that is paid for staying, and also the reward. Or show a woman who gets out of a bad relationship WITHOUT having an affair to do it.
Obviously there are some great works of fiction that I do, indeed, appreciate with this theme. But I'm tired of "bored wife (or battered wife, or ignored wife, or...), blah, blah, blah, has an AFFAIR! And it's hot! and interesting! and we've led you to sympathize with her, and now you can't decide if you can judge her actions or not!" (or you, know, the male version of the same story)
Anyone else feel this way?
I hate to sound all prudish and all, but I really hate it. It makes me want to chuck the CD out the window and into the lake as I drive across the bridge.
I'm hoping that's not where it's going.
I'm so sick and tired of novels and movies that all revolve around affairs. I've seen some movies and read some books I really enjoyed that have this as a central theme, but I find, particularly as I get older and become an"old married woman", that I have less and less tolerance for it. I'm tired of characters who don't value their marriage enough, I'm tired of being led to sympathize with the people who cheat, I'm tired of it being seen as romantic and daring and interesting. Show me the struggle in the relationship, show the temptation and the resistance, show the price that is paid for staying, and also the reward. Or show a woman who gets out of a bad relationship WITHOUT having an affair to do it.
Obviously there are some great works of fiction that I do, indeed, appreciate with this theme. But I'm tired of "bored wife (or battered wife, or ignored wife, or...), blah, blah, blah, has an AFFAIR! And it's hot! and interesting! and we've led you to sympathize with her, and now you can't decide if you can judge her actions or not!" (or you, know, the male version of the same story)
Anyone else feel this way?
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Due
5 hours of babysitting
1.5 tanks of gas
7 missed hours of sleep
5 missed evenings of bedtime stories
$10 in bridge tolls
7 1/2 hours of travel
20 hours in a dark theatre
-The price I paid for the last 7 days worth of performances and rehearsals (and I missed some in there, because I was home sick)
Golly, is it any wonder I'm feeling burnt out?
****
This post has been a Monday Mission. This week's mission, if you choose to accept it, is to write a post in the style of a Bill. If you participate please drop a link in the widget below.
********
Your Missions for the Nostalgic Month of December are to write posts in the style of:
12/1 - a children's story - one of Joy's favorites
12/8 - a poem - a favorite of Mary G from back when I was just reading the Missions and not hosting them!
12/15 - a song (rewrite the lyrics to a familiar tune) - one of my favorites
12/22 - a Letter to Santa (this is not a nostalgic mission, but Joy suggested it and I couldn't resist.)
12/29 - no Mission - because no one else told me a favorite past mission AND I will be out of town. So there.
1.5 tanks of gas
7 missed hours of sleep
5 missed evenings of bedtime stories
$10 in bridge tolls
7 1/2 hours of travel
20 hours in a dark theatre
-The price I paid for the last 7 days worth of performances and rehearsals (and I missed some in there, because I was home sick)
Golly, is it any wonder I'm feeling burnt out?
****
This post has been a Monday Mission. This week's mission, if you choose to accept it, is to write a post in the style of a Bill. If you participate please drop a link in the widget below.
********
Your Missions for the Nostalgic Month of December are to write posts in the style of:
12/1 - a children's story - one of Joy's favorites
12/8 - a poem - a favorite of Mary G from back when I was just reading the Missions and not hosting them!
12/15 - a song (rewrite the lyrics to a familiar tune) - one of my favorites
12/22 - a Letter to Santa (this is not a nostalgic mission, but Joy suggested it and I couldn't resist.)
12/29 - no Mission - because no one else told me a favorite past mission AND I will be out of town. So there.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Funny business
We've been getting small audiences for the current show. The smallest we had was four. Tonight we had five. One night we got up over twenty. That was pretty exciting.
I don't mean to sound ungrateful, or diva-ish, but it's really hard to perform for a small audience. Part of the joy of live theatre is the symbiosis between actors and audience. It's a shared experience.
Never is this more apparent than in comedy. Comedy needs a crowd. Most people will not laugh out loud if they are watching a movie in their living room. But put them in a crowded movie theatre and they laugh hysterically. This is why sitcoms add a laugh track or perform in front of a (laughing) studio audience- to give the viewer at home the perception of being in a crowd.
Small audiences are often afraid to laugh. They worry that if they bust out laughing they will disturb the person next to them, or bother the actors on stage. They worry they will laugh at the wrong time. In a crowd, if several people are laughing you have a buffer.
My advice to you as an audience member at a live performance? Laugh if it is funny. Please, please, PLEASE laugh. Often all it takes is one person to get the others to let loose a little chuckle. In fact, they used to have a person hired by the theatre to laugh at all the jokes. (Likewise there were people to lead the applause, etc.)
Look, I'll forgive you if your cell phone rings (as long as you don't ANSWER it) or you open a noisy candy wrapper if you would just. please. laugh.
****
Monday's Mission, should you choose to accept it, is to write a post in the style of a bill. If it's funny... I promise I'll laugh!
I don't mean to sound ungrateful, or diva-ish, but it's really hard to perform for a small audience. Part of the joy of live theatre is the symbiosis between actors and audience. It's a shared experience.
Never is this more apparent than in comedy. Comedy needs a crowd. Most people will not laugh out loud if they are watching a movie in their living room. But put them in a crowded movie theatre and they laugh hysterically. This is why sitcoms add a laugh track or perform in front of a (laughing) studio audience- to give the viewer at home the perception of being in a crowd.
Small audiences are often afraid to laugh. They worry that if they bust out laughing they will disturb the person next to them, or bother the actors on stage. They worry they will laugh at the wrong time. In a crowd, if several people are laughing you have a buffer.
My advice to you as an audience member at a live performance? Laugh if it is funny. Please, please, PLEASE laugh. Often all it takes is one person to get the others to let loose a little chuckle. In fact, they used to have a person hired by the theatre to laugh at all the jokes. (Likewise there were people to lead the applause, etc.)
Look, I'll forgive you if your cell phone rings (as long as you don't ANSWER it) or you open a noisy candy wrapper if you would just. please. laugh.
****
Monday's Mission, should you choose to accept it, is to write a post in the style of a bill. If it's funny... I promise I'll laugh!
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Through the fog (aka Brain Drain)
So apparently there was all this hubbub in the blogosphere over Motrin this weekend, and it WASN'T because I had to take so much Ibuprofen in order to suppress my fever so I could perform.
huh.
I'm slowly coming out of my sick-induced fog and seclusion (you know, except for those public performances and one Murder Mystery Party that I helped planned and was given the night off of my current show so I could do and how on earth could I miss THAT?) and trying to reintegrate. Apparently the world kept spinning without me.
huh.
I did just read, though, that some 8 year old boy apparently shot his father and his father's co-worker. But no, we don't need tighter gun control. The report I read said that there were no signs of abuse in the home. You know, EXCEPT for the fact that (as reported in the same story) the boy had access to the multiple guns in the house and would play with them without his father's knowledge. EXCEPT for the fact that this 8 year old boy was home alone when the two men returned from work. I suppose it's possible this kid really is a sociopath or something, but I suspect he was just really poorly parented and now his whole life will be ruined because of it. And he's 8.
huh.
I was listening to NPR on the way to rehearsal tonight, and Bill Ayers was on Fresh Air. Unfortunately I didn't get to hear the whole interview, but oddly enough he didn't seem to have any close ties to President-Elect Obama OR be the "terrorist" the McCain/Palin Campaign made him out to be.
huh.
When I did a spell check just now blogger didn't mind "Obama" at all but thought "Palin" was a suspect word.
huh.
huh.
I'm slowly coming out of my sick-induced fog and seclusion (you know, except for those public performances and one Murder Mystery Party that I helped planned and was given the night off of my current show so I could do and how on earth could I miss THAT?) and trying to reintegrate. Apparently the world kept spinning without me.
huh.
I did just read, though, that some 8 year old boy apparently shot his father and his father's co-worker. But no, we don't need tighter gun control. The report I read said that there were no signs of abuse in the home. You know, EXCEPT for the fact that (as reported in the same story) the boy had access to the multiple guns in the house and would play with them without his father's knowledge. EXCEPT for the fact that this 8 year old boy was home alone when the two men returned from work. I suppose it's possible this kid really is a sociopath or something, but I suspect he was just really poorly parented and now his whole life will be ruined because of it. And he's 8.
huh.
I was listening to NPR on the way to rehearsal tonight, and Bill Ayers was on Fresh Air. Unfortunately I didn't get to hear the whole interview, but oddly enough he didn't seem to have any close ties to President-Elect Obama OR be the "terrorist" the McCain/Palin Campaign made him out to be.
huh.
When I did a spell check just now blogger didn't mind "Obama" at all but thought "Palin" was a suspect word.
huh.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Totally Tubular Mystery Party
Songlist:1. Everybody Dress Up Tonight
2. Totally Trivia
2. Totally Trivia
3. You dropped a clue on me, baby
4. not so Safe to Dance
5. Eat It
6. Everybody was Verbal Sparring
7. Rubik's Cube to the Head
8. Who killed Alligator Dundee?
9. Careless Accusations
10. Pretty in Pink cake
11. Confessions
12. Celebration
13. You can leave your ears on
Lead vocalists: Alligator Dundee and Jessica Bunny
Backup vocals: Ladonna, Lindy Lauper, Toni Oregeno, Debbie Gribson, Nozzy Nozzborn and Wee Pee Vermon
The band: Danny Son on drums, Nork from Pork on "the special button", Louie Skullnick on keyboard, and El Vampira on Guitar
Produced by Polly Abdool and Spunky Brewster at Scabface studios in Miami, FL.
Special thanks to the makers of Ibuprofen for the suppression of fever and Howard Scott for special effect howls.
***
Alligator Dundee, Jessica Bunny and this post appear courtesy of Monday Missions. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to write a post in the form of CD liner notes. If you write a post, please link to your post in the widget below. (and yes, we did a murder mystery dinner party this weekend, with an 80s theme, and it was like, totally awesome, dude).
Join us next week when your mission will be to write a post in the style of a bill.
Also, I am declaring December a nostalgic month. Let me know what your favorite past mission was (one you want to try again, or one you missed and wish you had done) and I'll resurrect a month's worth of past missions. You can browse through all my past missions here. December Missions will be listed next Monday!
Thursday, November 13, 2008
An angel gets her wings
I have been tagged TWICE for the 6/6 meme - you know, the one where you show the sixth picture in your sixth folder. I decided to go to the backups of the old computer, since this computer is new enough that all the pictures are really recent.
This is a production shot from when I did Angels in America in 2004. I'm the Angel... in case the large wings coming out of my back didn't clue you in. This is the very last scene from Part I: Millennium Approaches. I won a best supporting actress award for that part... the first trophy I ever won, and it sits proudly on a shelf in my living room. I have loved this play since I first read it in 1994, and was thrilled to be a part of it (and although I loved playing the Angel, my heart belongs to Harper... she lives somewhere inside me and hopefully some day I'll get the chance to let her out...). I never got to do Part II because they waited 6 or so months between productions, and I moved. Alas. When I first created this blog I wanted to call it "The Great Work Begins" which is a quote from Part II, but the name was already taken. (and so I ended up with Painted Maypole instead. It seems my brain was stuck on phrases from plays I've done).
Random memories: Everyday in the green room before the show someone would start singing the theme song from Cheers, and the whole cast would join in. Also, I used to do the Wiggles ' Cold Spaghetti dance to crack up the guys in the cast... I did it once for some reason (MQ was about 20 months old at the time, and The Wiggles were her favorite) and they joked that it was very sexy, so I would do it at odd times (and at their frequent requests) just to be silly. Because I'm professional like that.
Oy. I miss working on a show that I adore as much as I adore that show.
(this actually wasn't the 6th pic - the 6th one was from the other angle... but I decided to cheat and go with #5 so you could see my face. And my WIG).
Thanks Mary G and nomotherearth for the trip down memory lane.
This is a production shot from when I did Angels in America in 2004. I'm the Angel... in case the large wings coming out of my back didn't clue you in. This is the very last scene from Part I: Millennium Approaches. I won a best supporting actress award for that part... the first trophy I ever won, and it sits proudly on a shelf in my living room. I have loved this play since I first read it in 1994, and was thrilled to be a part of it (and although I loved playing the Angel, my heart belongs to Harper... she lives somewhere inside me and hopefully some day I'll get the chance to let her out...). I never got to do Part II because they waited 6 or so months between productions, and I moved. Alas. When I first created this blog I wanted to call it "The Great Work Begins" which is a quote from Part II, but the name was already taken. (and so I ended up with Painted Maypole instead. It seems my brain was stuck on phrases from plays I've done).
Random memories: Everyday in the green room before the show someone would start singing the theme song from Cheers, and the whole cast would join in. Also, I used to do the Wiggles ' Cold Spaghetti dance to crack up the guys in the cast... I did it once for some reason (MQ was about 20 months old at the time, and The Wiggles were her favorite) and they joked that it was very sexy, so I would do it at odd times (and at their frequent requests) just to be silly. Because I'm professional like that.
Oy. I miss working on a show that I adore as much as I adore that show.
(this actually wasn't the 6th pic - the 6th one was from the other angle... but I decided to cheat and go with #5 so you could see my face. And my WIG).
Thanks Mary G and nomotherearth for the trip down memory lane.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
exit Little Mary Sunshine, stage left
I love the theatre. I do. Which is good, because I'm spending a lot time there these days. And will be until February, with all the shows I have lined up. And I'm grateful for it. Truly.
But I'm also tired. And feeling a bit frustrated. Because driving 45 minutes to rehearse the first act of a show that has me on stage for about 5 minutes... well, it's exhausting. And a bit wasteful. And unfulfilling.
I've frankly never bought into the old adage that there are no small parts, only small actors. There are both, and they do not always go hand in hand. I have seen enormous actors in small parts, and small actors in enormous parts.
Am I being a small actor for being frustrated with a string of small parts?
(the currently running show being an exception, of course, but then... well, don't even get me started on small audiences)
****
Hopefully Little Mary Sunshine will return soon. Thanks for allowing me a wee bit of venting. And trust me, this IS a wee bit. This post was much longer and much more ranting and "woe is me" as I thought it through in my head on that 45 minute drive home.
***
clarification: I am on stage quite a bit during the second act, playing 2 different parts in several scenes. But the nights that we only run the first act... And it's frustrating because I'm feeling like I've been doing this for so long, and have a degree in theatre, but with all the moving and the whatever I'm feeling like just when I start to get ahead... I'm sick and tired of "paying dues." Dude, I paid my dues in Philly... and then again in Los Angeles... and again... and again... and crud. there I go starting the longer rant...
But I'm also tired. And feeling a bit frustrated. Because driving 45 minutes to rehearse the first act of a show that has me on stage for about 5 minutes... well, it's exhausting. And a bit wasteful. And unfulfilling.
I've frankly never bought into the old adage that there are no small parts, only small actors. There are both, and they do not always go hand in hand. I have seen enormous actors in small parts, and small actors in enormous parts.
Am I being a small actor for being frustrated with a string of small parts?
(the currently running show being an exception, of course, but then... well, don't even get me started on small audiences)
****
Hopefully Little Mary Sunshine will return soon. Thanks for allowing me a wee bit of venting. And trust me, this IS a wee bit. This post was much longer and much more ranting and "woe is me" as I thought it through in my head on that 45 minute drive home.
***
clarification: I am on stage quite a bit during the second act, playing 2 different parts in several scenes. But the nights that we only run the first act... And it's frustrating because I'm feeling like I've been doing this for so long, and have a degree in theatre, but with all the moving and the whatever I'm feeling like just when I start to get ahead... I'm sick and tired of "paying dues." Dude, I paid my dues in Philly... and then again in Los Angeles... and again... and again... and crud. there I go starting the longer rant...
Sunday, November 9, 2008
You're a winner!
Your dreams have just been answered!
How on earth do I know what your dreams are? Well, I'm a mommy blogger myself, and it's not that hard to guess.
Hello. My name is Painted Maypole, and I am a representative of the mommy blogger's international lotto. I am pleased to inform you that you have just won an all expense paid European spa vacation for yourself and your partner - estimated retail value $20,000. On site child care will also be provided - and rest assured that your kiddos will be well taken care. All you need to do to claim this valuable vacation is to place a small deposit into a Swiss bank account. This will hold your prize until you are able to claim it. Once you enjoy your vacation your deposit will be returned.
Do not hesitate to respond immediately with your bank account information so that we may transfer the low, low deposit of $30,000. This offer is only good for 48 hours, and you certainly don't want to miss your opportunity for a child free vacation.
From one mom to another... you deserve it!
****
This lotto is sponsored by Monday's Mission. This week's Mission, should you choose to accept it, is to write a post in the style of a "congratulations you've just won!" e-mail or letter. If you write a post in this style please place your link in the widget below:
Join us next week when your Mission will be to write a post in the style of CD liner notes.
Also, I am declaring December a nostalgic month. Let me know what your favorite past mission was (one you want to try again, or one you missed and wish you had done) and I'll resurrect a month's worth of past missions. You can browse through all my past missions here.
How on earth do I know what your dreams are? Well, I'm a mommy blogger myself, and it's not that hard to guess.
Hello. My name is Painted Maypole, and I am a representative of the mommy blogger's international lotto. I am pleased to inform you that you have just won an all expense paid European spa vacation for yourself and your partner - estimated retail value $20,000. On site child care will also be provided - and rest assured that your kiddos will be well taken care. All you need to do to claim this valuable vacation is to place a small deposit into a Swiss bank account. This will hold your prize until you are able to claim it. Once you enjoy your vacation your deposit will be returned.
Do not hesitate to respond immediately with your bank account information so that we may transfer the low, low deposit of $30,000. This offer is only good for 48 hours, and you certainly don't want to miss your opportunity for a child free vacation.
From one mom to another... you deserve it!
****
This lotto is sponsored by Monday's Mission. This week's Mission, should you choose to accept it, is to write a post in the style of a "congratulations you've just won!" e-mail or letter. If you write a post in this style please place your link in the widget below:
Join us next week when your Mission will be to write a post in the style of CD liner notes.
Also, I am declaring December a nostalgic month. Let me know what your favorite past mission was (one you want to try again, or one you missed and wish you had done) and I'll resurrect a month's worth of past missions. You can browse through all my past missions here.
Friday, November 7, 2008
Who thought an election would turn me into a crying mess?
The other day I had a few hours to kill between dropping off my in laws at the airport and arriving at the theatre for opening night. I decided to pop into the movie theatre for a matinee.
The Secret Lives of Bees takes place during the summer of 1964, and about 10 minutes into the movie a black woman (played by Jennifer Hudson) gets accosted on her way to register to vote.
And there I was, weeping. Because all I could think about was how that was 44 years ago, and now, just this week, our country has elected a black man president. I'm sure the wait has seemed interminably long to many, and Lord knows the road has not been smooth. Nor does this mean the end of racism in our country. But it is a gigantic step, and for some reason it only really hit me after the polls closed. But with every news story I still get teary eyed.
I know that many people who proudly and bravely voted that year voted again this year. People who were once afraid to go to the polls for fear of their lives were able to vote for a man who looked like them.
And now I'm crying again.
****
MQ had a mock election at her school last week, so I told to vote for Obama in an attmept to brainwash her and subject her to lots of ridicule at her heavily Republican school. Kidding. I actually asked her if she knew who we were voting for and she said no. Seeing as how we talked about it all the time and I have a bumper sticker on my car I found this vaguely disturbing. Anyhow... I talked with her about how we were voting for Obama because we felt he would be the best president, but some people were voting for McCain because they thought he would be the best president, and isn't it great that in America everyone gets to vote for who they think will be best (wasn't that diplomatic of me?). After she voted at school on Monday she hopped in the car and announced proudly "I voted for the right guy!" "Who was that?" I asked. "Orack Obama!" she said. Orack. he he
****
and... Congratulations! You've just won a free idea for your post on Monday! Participate in Monday's Mission and write a post in the style of a "congratulations you've just won" letter or e-mail.
****
p.s. - the show went well tonight, our audience seemed to really enjoy it, and we're having a bit more fun with it. Yippee!
The Secret Lives of Bees takes place during the summer of 1964, and about 10 minutes into the movie a black woman (played by Jennifer Hudson) gets accosted on her way to register to vote.
And there I was, weeping. Because all I could think about was how that was 44 years ago, and now, just this week, our country has elected a black man president. I'm sure the wait has seemed interminably long to many, and Lord knows the road has not been smooth. Nor does this mean the end of racism in our country. But it is a gigantic step, and for some reason it only really hit me after the polls closed. But with every news story I still get teary eyed.
I know that many people who proudly and bravely voted that year voted again this year. People who were once afraid to go to the polls for fear of their lives were able to vote for a man who looked like them.
And now I'm crying again.
****
MQ had a mock election at her school last week, so I told to vote for Obama in an attmept to brainwash her and subject her to lots of ridicule at her heavily Republican school. Kidding. I actually asked her if she knew who we were voting for and she said no. Seeing as how we talked about it all the time and I have a bumper sticker on my car I found this vaguely disturbing. Anyhow... I talked with her about how we were voting for Obama because we felt he would be the best president, but some people were voting for McCain because they thought he would be the best president, and isn't it great that in America everyone gets to vote for who they think will be best (wasn't that diplomatic of me?). After she voted at school on Monday she hopped in the car and announced proudly "I voted for the right guy!" "Who was that?" I asked. "Orack Obama!" she said. Orack. he he
****
and... Congratulations! You've just won a free idea for your post on Monday! Participate in Monday's Mission and write a post in the style of a "congratulations you've just won" letter or e-mail.
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p.s. - the show went well tonight, our audience seemed to really enjoy it, and we're having a bit more fun with it. Yippee!
Thursday, November 6, 2008
opening night nerves
Today was opening night. This current show is much different than anything I've done before. The other actor and I basically sit at desks and read the letters, and the show spans from when they were elementary school up through adulthood. I've had to approach this show very differently than any other piece I've worked on. Usually I focus all my attention on the other actors and what my character wants from them. But in this piece I don't look at my co-star until the very end of the show. Instead I look out towards audience, the front row of which is so close I could spit on, if I were so inclined. But I don't look AT the audience, which would actually be easier. Instead I look up and around and listen to the letters. It's hard not to look at the audience when you're that close. And it's really hard to not think about how they are reacting and focus instead on the listening.
That said, I think it went fairly well. I think. I feel like all my usual barometers are out the window. It's uncharted territory.
It's scary.
As my fellow actor said about our jitters before we went onstage - "It's both the best and the worst feeling in the whole world."
That said, I think it went fairly well. I think. I feel like all my usual barometers are out the window. It's uncharted territory.
It's scary.
As my fellow actor said about our jitters before we went onstage - "It's both the best and the worst feeling in the whole world."
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
History
In November of 1992 I was in the living room of my director's apartment. It was fall quarter of my freshman year at college, and the cast and crew of the show I was stage managing had finished rehearsing early so that we could gather together at the apartment for libations and to watch the results of the election. I was a Michigan resident going to school outside of Chicago, so I had cast my first ever vote by absentee ballot. I was thrilled when my candidate, Bill Clinton, won. I remember singing along to the music as he left(or was it took?) the stage. "Don't stop thinking about tomorrow...."
Today as I waited in line to vote (with one of the two - and it should have been three - booths for my precinct broken) a woman in front of me in line couldn't remember the first presidential election she voted in. She had to think back at the dates of the elections, and figured she must have cast her first vote for "George Herbert." She was thinking about it because the volunteers running the polls cheered every time a first time voter signed the rolls. I was amazed that she couldn't remember.
I doubt those new voters will forget this first election. I hope they don't. Because whether they voted for Obama or not (and where I live it is most likely they did not), they were part of history. History that goes far beyond the kind of history that every presidential election is made of.
Tonight we were playing bridge with my in laws when both The Big Guy and I received text messages from a McCain voting friend of ours. "Congrats, guys!" Soon after CNN called it for Obama. And later we sat in our own living room and I watched, with tears in my eyes, as Obama spoke to our nation. And I felt, again, proud to be part of the process. And proud to be an American.
Today as I waited in line to vote (with one of the two - and it should have been three - booths for my precinct broken) a woman in front of me in line couldn't remember the first presidential election she voted in. She had to think back at the dates of the elections, and figured she must have cast her first vote for "George Herbert." She was thinking about it because the volunteers running the polls cheered every time a first time voter signed the rolls. I was amazed that she couldn't remember.
I doubt those new voters will forget this first election. I hope they don't. Because whether they voted for Obama or not (and where I live it is most likely they did not), they were part of history. History that goes far beyond the kind of history that every presidential election is made of.
Tonight we were playing bridge with my in laws when both The Big Guy and I received text messages from a McCain voting friend of ours. "Congrats, guys!" Soon after CNN called it for Obama. And later we sat in our own living room and I watched, with tears in my eyes, as Obama spoke to our nation. And I felt, again, proud to be part of the process. And proud to be an American.
Sunday, November 2, 2008
... we can believe in
This post has been a Monday Mission. Today's Mission, should you choose to accept it, is to write a post in the style of an ad posted in the grocery store. (You know the type... someone is selling something or looking for something and there's a bunch of little slips to tear off at the bottom with a phone number) When you get your post up leave a link in the widget below
Join us next Monday when your mission is to write a post in the style of a "congratulations! you just won!" letter/e-mail.
Also, I am declaring December a nostalgic month. Let me know what your favorite past mission was (one you want to try again, or one you missed and wish you had done) and I'll resurrect a month's worth of past missions. (I think that I've gone back and labeled all my Monday Missions if you want to go back and browse through them)
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas - ack!
Today was (because I'm writing this after midnight...) November 1st. All Saints Day. The day AFTER Halloween. There are 26 days until Thanksgiving. 3 days until the election. The season is autumn.
And today, some crazy person in my neighborhood has an inflatable Grinch in their yard - complete with Santa suit and his dog, Sam.
Insanity. As if Christmas in the stores already isn't bad enough.
*****
Here's your very late Monday Mission reminder: write a post in the style of an ad posted in the grocery store. (You know the type... someone is selling something or looking for something and there's a bunch of little slips to tear off at the bottom with a phone number) Come back here on Monday and post a link to your Mission, and read the others!
(and although I am in no way condoning the INSANITY that is NaPoBloMo, Monday Missions can help provide some good inspiration to start off your week of daily blogging)
*****
We are enjoying a visit from my in-laws, and today we took The May Queen bowling. I think dropping a bowling ball on my toes would have gotten the pain over with much more quickly. But at least the bowling alley didn't have any Christmas decorations up.
And today, some crazy person in my neighborhood has an inflatable Grinch in their yard - complete with Santa suit and his dog, Sam.
Insanity. As if Christmas in the stores already isn't bad enough.
*****
Here's your very late Monday Mission reminder: write a post in the style of an ad posted in the grocery store. (You know the type... someone is selling something or looking for something and there's a bunch of little slips to tear off at the bottom with a phone number) Come back here on Monday and post a link to your Mission, and read the others!
(and although I am in no way condoning the INSANITY that is NaPoBloMo, Monday Missions can help provide some good inspiration to start off your week of daily blogging)
*****
We are enjoying a visit from my in-laws, and today we took The May Queen bowling. I think dropping a bowling ball on my toes would have gotten the pain over with much more quickly. But at least the bowling alley didn't have any Christmas decorations up.
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